I just got a couple of very nice e-mails about our web page, and it really makes me feel good when that happens! These e-mails both spoke of the service that we in the Tech Bench Elmers provide to Ham Radio. Let me add in the same breath that I am cognizant that our web page is "a tool", just as the radio spectrum is a tool. In the case of our web page, I'm very thankful of the Elmer who is our web master!

One of the chaps who wrote in to us and filled out our basic survey form said that the reason he became a Radio Amateur was because of the "Wonder". In my estimation, there is probably no better single word description a Ham could use! He also made a few lengthier comments about the status of Ham Radio today, and some candid views on "older Hams", but I'll get to those later!

If there is any single element that I have seen that reflects upon the nature of Ham Radio it's, the "Wonder Factor" and its relative ratio amongst the Ham populace. Hams that I have known that got licensed with a "No-Code Tech" license, and have not upgraded, seem to be in sort of a rut. They don't seem to see much "Wonder". They tend to use the radio mostly as an intercom, or a distraction from everyday tedium. They will use it only to keep from becoming bored on the daily commute etc. Hams who have upgraded either by license class, or even better by a diverse exploration of license privileges, are much more upbeat.

I have run into a few Hams who upgrade their license but seem to fail in an overall appreciation of what a higher class of license is really good for! This is most notable in Hams who go from a "No Code" license to "Extra" very quickly. By quickly I mean in a "week-end" licensing class, or something only a bit longer. I remember coaching a Ham friend that I feared would "burn-out" on Ham Radio, because it seemed he was just moving too fast. Well, he's been licensed now for about 9 years, and while he has a number of other "hobbies", I think he's pretty much "hooked" as a Ham. A damn good one, I might add!

Using him as an example, he has upgraded consistently, both in class of license, and also diversity of Ham activity! He told me once, "I'll quit Ham Radio when I can no longer learn anything from it". I expect he and I both think this means, he will be a Ham all his life! He has in these last several years been active on many bands and modes. He has investigated various activities in the MF and HF spectrum. He has played around with FM, repeaters, and packet. He is now looking forward to getting on the Phase 3D satellite, as am I, and I expect he will go on to such things as terrestrial VHF or UHF DX'ing. Who knows what's next, Moonbounce maybe? He is the kind of Ham that I generally call "a good Ham"! Maybe I should start saying, "one who has the Wonder"!

Now I promised that I would address some of e-mailer's other comments. He said something that troubled me a bit but, I think the solution to his concerns is letting these "older Hams" know of his frustration. What he said was, "it's hard to find older Hams who will help as Elmers". By "older Hams", I'm sure he meant those who had been licensed longer and had lengthier experience. He may though have hit one nail on the head. At 48 years of age I find it's somewhat of a pain to solder up close anymore. Just as it's harder to read without holding a book at arms length HiHi! I think his greater point though was that it's hard to get experienced Hams to "break the ice" and show neophyte Hams how things work. We should all be cognizant of this, and lend a helping hand! If we allow ignorance to become propounded, it will change the very nature of what Ham Radio is!

Some Hams may simply not want to go to the trouble. There isn't much I can say in answer of that! Other Hams may simply not know what to do to help, or how to go about it. Here are some tips that individual "elmers" can do on their own, or maybe better yet through the benefit of their local clubs.

1) Form a "technical tutoring committee" within your club. When problems such as TVI or Audio Rectification crop up, use the opportunity to demonstrate the physics of what is going on. If a Ham asks a question such as "why is Single Sideband superior to Frequency Modulation", use it as an opportunity to investigate this and come up with some good scientific answers. I myself could make a pretty strong argument that FM is actually better, dependent of course on occupied bandwidth and receiver design!

2) Try offering to help Hams build some desirable kits. This could be done to help out or tutor a single Ham, or it could be done for a slightly larger group. There are lots of kits out there! It wouldn't matter too much if say amongst 6 or 8 "student builders", 3 or 4 different kinds of kit devices were being built within the same classroom environment. You will really see "the wonder", when you see that Ham that you helped to understand the radio he or she just built, make their first "contact" with it!

3) Sponsor some "technical talks". A Ham club might even be able to bolster its treasury by asking a modest fee for attendance at such a lecture discussion. A guaranteed topic is "How Antennas Work"! Everybody wants to know this but, it is seldom explained in a scientific manner!

What say ye guys and gals? Try these ideas out, and even tell me of some others that you come up with? For anyone who does this, you will find it's really rewarding when someone picks up and builds upon the knowledge you helped impart. Besides, it's an old Ham tradition!