Get over it move on and enjoy the hobby.

 


We have a very diverse hobby with a huge array of opportunities in many directions. You can stick with one forte and then jump in another direction. For me it keeps things interesting and challenging, our hobby has doors of interest that can be opened by old and young alike. But I just don't get it, in this great hobby we have a minority that spends most of their time, energy and blog posts on bashing. FT8, DXpeditions and contesting seem to be the flavour of the times. Some just go on and on seeking to discredit it at every corner. Why...I just don't get it! Move on and spend your time and energy doing other things and get lost in the pleasure our hobby has to offer. 


I get it I too like to work rare ones and yes I have been disappointed that some operations spend more time on certain modes than others. The solution is not to DQRM them.
Get over it move on and enjoy the hobby.


 I get it PCs are getting more involved to some way too involved within ham radio While you complain and whine you at the same time miss opportunities. Get over it move on and enjoy the hobby. 


I get it contesting can be a great thing and to others a thorn. The larger contests happen now and then but they do light up the bands with energy and that is good for keeping our bandwidth from the commercial vultures Do what I do hit the WARC bands for a day if you want. Get over it and enjoy the hobby. 


The World of CW is my blog name and for me it's my passion at this time in the hobby, this is the aspect I want to explore. I have gone down SSB, digital and now CW but to bash a part of the hobby is throwing my time away. To those who get bent out of shape, I just don't get it. Get over it and enjoy the hobby.

Mike Weir, VE9KK, is a regular contributor to AmateurRadio.com and writes from New Brunswick, Canada. Contact him at [email protected].

18 Responses to “Get over it move on and enjoy the hobby.”

  • Howard AC4FS:

    Yeah, I don’t get it either. FT8 is just a mode. Don’t like it? don’t use it. I use every mode at my disposal to work contacts, be it CW, FT4/8, RTTY, or SSB. Like Mike said, get over it and enjoy the hobby!

    de Howard, AC4FS

  • Mike VE9KK:

    Good morning Howard and very nice to hear from you, our hobby is one of the few that offers folks so much to do and no to do. It’s up to you and your interests. Have a good weekend and thanks for taking the time to read the post and leave a comment.
    73,
    Mike
    VE9KK

  • Chris Hart, CT7AMT:

    Agreed. I tried FT8 and loved it, especially portable, but my tablet PC was crap and I have ditched it.
    I would love to have a go at CW but my skill, 30 years ago, has been hard to recover. I go portable when I can, mostly SOTA, on SSB.
    Bottom line – I am thinking about ME, and what I like. I can’t get upset about FT8 (which I have failed to sustain) or CW (which I have failed to resurrect), why should I? Neither of those modes take up any of the bandwidth I want to use.
    Live and let live. If, one day, I get no SSB contacts because everybody else is somewhere else, then I will worry. That is not going to happen. 73 to all.

  • Mike VK2OZ:

    Hello All,,,,Whilst i agree with with comments on this matter i after being on air since 1960’s have seen a decline in our hobby standards such as swearing on the increase rules and regs not adhered to talk about almost anything but our hobby it seems to have turned into CB band especially 80 & 40 mts i know we are not all technical pundits but at least try also one can call cq till blue in the face no reply but you will hear plenty of nets talking about anything but radio i object to dx nets especially when you hear net control telling the dx station ‘can you hear such and such station’ well if he cant hear you on your own accord you have not worked him and every signal report 5×9 ? in contests it is the same well this is what i have noticed after on the air so long 73’s Mike VK2OZ.

  • Mike VE9KK:

    Hello Chris thanks for taking the time to read the post and leaving a comment. There are any areas in our hobby and areas that some find do not tickle their fancy BUT other areas they like. As you said Live and let live.
    73,
    Mike
    VE9KK

  • Mike VE9KK:

    Good morning Mike thanks for stopping by the blog, it seems that this day and time that a lower standard in many things has been happening. As for the nets and the topics I am just happy the band is being used and activity is going on. As for the topics it would be nice if it was all radio related but if not the band is still being used. The most important thing is that it is being used in a respectful manner.
    73 and have a great weekend,
    Mike
    VE9KK

  • Ken W7OD:

    Mike, you have hit the nail on the head! I have not been active for 30 years, I am out of date and I feel it. I attend local club meetings and coffee meetings and I feel lost with all the projects being discussed with digital formats. My experience years ago was building a transmitter, winding coils and mounting components on a chassis, now I am on the local 2m repeater and collecting parts to connect my new iCOM 7300 rig and get on 20m. I have learned I must let go on other projects and choose the direction I like. The iCOM 7300 is such a “smart” radio, it will be a real learning challenge to operate it.
    73s, Ken W7OD

  • Good morning Ken and thanks for taking the time to read and comment. Well yes I too am in that boat. I at times am lost at the complexity of parts of the hobby but then again there are spots I can fit into just fine. The Icom 7300 is a great radio and the challenge of the radio and the hobby keeps the mind sharp.
    73,
    Mike
    VE9KK

  • KD2EH:

    Yes…the IC-7200 is a great (smart) radio, and it’s fun to learn all its features and how to use it. Want even more challenge? Try a new “Shack-in-a-Box” FT991A radio!
    73 all…
    Dave
    KD2EH

  • Bill Mader K8TE:

    While it may seem the complaining is new, it isn’t. First licensed in 1960, only the names (of the modes and people complaining) have changed. I often think some people don’t like others having fun, especially when the former don’t understand why or can’t figure out how to have the fun.

    If a mode is boring or doesn’t interest you, just use a different mode. If chasing DX, Contesting (the top of the line IMHO), nets, etc., don’t interest you, don’t utilize them. But, get radio-active! Find something that interests you and become excellent at it and enjoy it! And, quit complaining about whatever others enjoy.

    And just as importantly, share your joy and expertise with others! Help them to become radio-active. Be sure you tell them accurate information and facts, not what you heard on the air, or worse, read on the Internet. Fact check and become expert in something. It’s fun!

    73, Bill, K8TE

  • Mike VE9KK:

    Good evening Dave, I believe you are referring to the Icom 7300 and not 7200? But yes the 7300 is a very nice radio with lots of features. As for the Shack in a box I have heard of the product but not really have looked into it much.
    73,
    Mike
    VE9KK

  • Mike VE9KK:

    Good evening Bill, yes I fully agree with you in regards to sharing our radio joy with others and be a good ambassador for ham radio.
    Have a good week Bill.
    73,
    Mike
    VE9KK

  • Brian ab9zi:

    It’s a communication hobby. CW, FT8, SSB,AM, FM, all the same. Don’t like one. Use another!

  • Mike VE9KK:

    Good evening Bob and thanks for stopping by, you are correct and some just get lost in the drama.
    73,
    Mike
    VE9KK

  • Alex W5ALX:

    I get what you are saying, but for some of us FT8 is simply not an option if we have older rigs, and a DXpedition running FT8 means only a few will be able to work them. In that, I understand. This is a form of elitism, and unfortunately, DXpeditions last only a few days.
    CW is fine – but many modern Hams DO NOT HAVE IT! I am an Amateur Extra, and had to learn it when I got my ticket, but I am not proficient, and I certainly do not enjoy working a CW DXpedition blazing away at 40 wpm. Modern Hams without a command of CW are just out of luck.
    Working a DXpedition should be for ll Hams, not just a select few.
    I don’t care what modes you want to work, just go SSB for a good portion of the time, and just deal with the pileups. We all want to work you, and on some modes we just can’t.

  • Mike VE9KK:

    Good morning Alex, I am in full agreement with you and am not promoting that CW is the only way…yes my blog is entitled “The world of CW” but I firmly believe all other modes are on equal standing. For some time I lived in a condo in downtown Toronto and at that time FT8 was the only way I could make decent DX contacts. I follow your thought and agree with it that which ever mode works for you use it and get on the air.
    73 and have a good weekend,
    Mike
    VE9KK

  • Matt - KG0E:

    This is spot on . The hobby is big enough that everyone can do the things they like. You do what you like and I’ll do what I like. Ones choice of activities within our hobby doesn’t make someone a better ham or a real ham.

  • Mike VE9KK:

    Good morning Matt thanks for taking the time to leave a comment. No point in getting putting down tea drinkers when you only drink coffee. Enjoy your ham radio pie and don’t get to concerned about other pies you may not prefer.
    73,
    Mike
    VE9KK

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