WEBVTT 00:00:09.890 --> 00:00:12.689 Thanks for tuning in. HamTalk Live will be on 00:00:12.689 --> 00:00:30.210 the air shortly. Please stand by. This episode 00:00:30.210 --> 00:00:33.770 of HamTalk Live is brought to you by Tower Electronics. 00:00:34.229 --> 00:00:38.490 For connectors, cables, and more, call 920 -435 00:00:38.490 --> 00:00:45.229 -2973 or visit pl -259 .com. And by ICOM, heard 00:00:45.229 --> 00:00:50.429 it, worked it, logged it. Visit www .icomamerica 00:00:50.429 --> 00:00:54.189 .com slash amateur for more information about 00:00:54.189 --> 00:01:27.049 ICOM radios. Hey, good evening, everyone. It's 00:01:27.049 --> 00:01:33.450 time for HamTalk Live episode number 197. Big 00:01:33.450 --> 00:01:36.489 changes coming to the National Contest Journal 00:01:36.489 --> 00:01:42.209 recorded live on Thursday, January 23, 2020. 00:01:42.390 --> 00:01:46.769 I'm your host, Neil Rapp, WB9VPG. Thanks for 00:01:46.769 --> 00:01:51.590 tuning in to this episode. of HamTalk Live. Tonight 00:01:51.590 --> 00:01:54.590 we're joined by my good friend, Dr. Scott Wright, 00:01:55.329 --> 00:01:59.390 KZeroMD, the editor of the National Contest Journal, 00:01:59.390 --> 00:02:02.769 and we'll take your calls live in just a few 00:02:02.769 --> 00:02:06.689 minutes. Last week, Michael Colley, W4MCA, was 00:02:06.689 --> 00:02:10.780 here. Talk about the Orlando hamcation if you 00:02:10.780 --> 00:02:13.740 missed that you can listen anytime at hamtalklive 00:02:13.740 --> 00:02:16.620 .com or your favorite podcast app or YouTube 00:02:16.620 --> 00:02:23.879 or catch the rebroadcast on WTWW 5085 a .m. Saturday 00:02:23.879 --> 00:02:29.080 evenings at about 6 30 p .m. Eastern Time. Well 00:02:29.080 --> 00:02:33.259 this is episode 197 and 200 will be here before 00:02:33.259 --> 00:02:36.069 you know it looks like That's going to land on 00:02:36.069 --> 00:02:40.050 February 20th. So be sure to tune in that night. 00:02:40.069 --> 00:02:42.430 We're going to have some giveaways. In fact, 00:02:42.569 --> 00:02:46.830 I just got a box from ICOM today. So we've got 00:02:46.830 --> 00:02:50.689 some giveaways planned from ICOM. I'm going to 00:02:50.689 --> 00:02:53.629 pick up some prizes from Tower Electronics this 00:02:53.629 --> 00:02:57.590 weekend over at Collinsville at Winterfest. And 00:02:57.590 --> 00:03:02.050 LDG Electronics is sending a tuner. So we're 00:03:02.050 --> 00:03:05.789 going to give away several things. And so you 00:03:05.789 --> 00:03:10.849 need to listen live and call in and win. So February 00:03:10.849 --> 00:03:13.569 20th, keep that on your calendar and maybe you 00:03:13.569 --> 00:03:17.590 too can win. So get your questions ready to go. 00:03:17.650 --> 00:03:20.169 If you're listening to us live on Thursday night, 00:03:20.169 --> 00:03:22.969 you'll have a chance to give us a call after 00:03:22.969 --> 00:03:26.949 we talk to Scott for a little while. We'll announce 00:03:26.949 --> 00:03:30.050 the phone number once again to call and that 00:03:30.050 --> 00:03:38.409 number will be 812 -638 -4261. That's 812 -NET 00:03:38.409 --> 00:03:43.030 -HAM -1. You can also send your question via 00:03:43.030 --> 00:03:46.469 Twitter. The Twitter handle is at HamTalk Live. 00:03:46.530 --> 00:03:48.689 I'll be checking that throughout the evening 00:03:48.689 --> 00:03:51.189 and of course if you're on Spreaker you can... 00:03:51.229 --> 00:03:53.990 Type into the comments there that'll pop up on 00:03:53.990 --> 00:03:57.750 the screen as well. So again, keep that number 00:03:57.750 --> 00:04:03.629 handy 812 -638 -4261 and You can give us a call 00:04:03.629 --> 00:04:06.169 So I'll be back with Scott right after this word 00:04:06.169 --> 00:04:09.009 from tower electronics right here on ham talk 00:04:09.009 --> 00:04:11.830 live Thank you for a lovely dinner. Aren't you 00:04:11.830 --> 00:04:16.649 going to ask me in to solder some PL 259s? Well, 00:04:16.649 --> 00:04:19.860 I do have some from tower electronics How can 00:04:19.860 --> 00:04:22.939 I refuse? Consider the sophisticated quality 00:04:22.939 --> 00:04:26.800 of PL259s from Tower Electronics. From soldering 00:04:26.800 --> 00:04:29.680 supplies to adapters, connectors to cables, and 00:04:29.680 --> 00:04:32.540 all types of connectors, Tower Electronics has 00:04:32.540 --> 00:04:36.139 the parts you're looking for. Well? Just one 00:04:36.139 --> 00:04:39.819 more connector? You know I love your PL259s. 00:04:40.120 --> 00:04:42.879 Then by all means, take some with you. Don't 00:04:42.879 --> 00:04:46.360 be caught without PL259s. Visit Tower Electronics 00:04:46.360 --> 00:04:48.860 at a ham fest near you. or visit them online 00:04:48.860 --> 00:04:55.759 anytime at PL -259 .com or call 920 -435 -2973. 00:04:56.379 --> 00:04:58.920 They also have hamsticks, mobile antennas, and 00:04:58.920 --> 00:05:02.860 meters too. See the whole catalog. Go to PL -259 00:05:02.860 --> 00:05:06.040 .com Tower Electronics, the Ham's Dime Store 00:05:06.040 --> 00:05:10.019 since 1978. This portion of the show sponsored 00:05:10.019 --> 00:05:13.220 by our mystery sponsor, a product so good they 00:05:13.220 --> 00:05:16.420 are paying us not to advertise it on this program. 00:05:16.569 --> 00:05:19.649 You're listening to HamTalk Live with Neil Rapp. 00:05:44.159 --> 00:05:47.259 Thanks to Scott and Jill from Tower Electronics 00:05:47.259 --> 00:05:50.000 for sponsoring the show tonight. They help bring 00:05:50.000 --> 00:05:52.800 you HamTalk Live each and every week. They will 00:05:52.800 --> 00:05:58.740 be at Arcadia, Florida this weekend on the 25th. 00:05:58.740 --> 00:06:02.639 They'll also be in Collinsville, Illinois at 00:06:02.639 --> 00:06:05.560 Winterfest over by St. Louis, and I look forward 00:06:05.560 --> 00:06:09.839 to seeing Jill over there. So I'll be over there 00:06:09.839 --> 00:06:14.939 doing some... Youth on the Air promotion and 00:06:14.939 --> 00:06:17.579 we'll be giving a couple of little lightning 00:06:17.579 --> 00:06:22.579 talks and then Sterling N0SSC and I will be conducting 00:06:22.579 --> 00:06:25.259 the youth forum at noon over there. So if you 00:06:25.259 --> 00:06:29.279 get a chance stop by and stop by Tower Electronics 00:06:29.279 --> 00:06:33.160 and of course, they'll be at Hamcation as well. 00:06:33.680 --> 00:06:36.699 February 7th, 8th and 9th, but you can visit 00:06:36.699 --> 00:06:44.009 them anytime at PL -259 .com. Joining me tonight 00:06:44.009 --> 00:06:47.470 is Dr. Scott Wright, KZeroMD. He is the editor 00:06:47.470 --> 00:06:50.170 of the National Contest Journal from Rochester, 00:06:50.189 --> 00:06:53.389 Minnesota. Scott works for the Mayo Clinic, teaching 00:06:53.389 --> 00:06:55.949 cardiology, which often takes him abroad, where 00:06:55.949 --> 00:06:59.310 his ham radio habit can go with him. Scott is 00:06:59.310 --> 00:07:01.509 an excellent contester, has been on several de 00:07:01.509 --> 00:07:04.689 -expeditions, and we met when we were kids in 00:07:04.689 --> 00:07:06.629 Louisville, Kentucky, taking a test in front 00:07:06.629 --> 00:07:10.649 of the FCC examiner, so... He's in his third 00:07:10.649 --> 00:07:13.730 year now as the editor of NCJ and has added some 00:07:13.730 --> 00:07:16.110 great content to the bi -monthly publication 00:07:16.110 --> 00:07:20.069 from ARRL. And we're going to talk about some 00:07:20.069 --> 00:07:23.930 some new things that are coming to NCJ yet this 00:07:23.930 --> 00:07:27.069 year. And he is a graduate of the University 00:07:27.069 --> 00:07:30.610 of Kentucky. So Scott, before I let you talk, 00:07:30.629 --> 00:07:35.980 we have to play the UK fight song. Except I'll 00:07:35.980 --> 00:07:38.180 probably get named for a copyright violation 00:07:38.180 --> 00:07:41.519 because it's probably a violation. But Scott, 00:07:41.540 --> 00:07:46.259 welcome back to HamTalk Live. Thank you, Neil. 00:07:46.439 --> 00:07:48.019 It's a pleasure. Should we do the cat's cheer? 00:07:49.579 --> 00:07:54.759 I don't remember that. You know, the C -A -T 00:07:54.759 --> 00:07:58.180 -S. Cats, cats, cats. Well, this year the season 00:07:58.180 --> 00:08:01.019 is not as exciting as it could be because of 00:08:01.019 --> 00:08:03.170 the way the team's playing. They're doing okay, 00:08:03.370 --> 00:08:07.209 but I'm afraid coach Cal may have a, uh, uh, 00:08:07.329 --> 00:08:09.129 shall we say a health incident if they continue 00:08:09.129 --> 00:08:13.470 to play. You may need your cardiology services. 00:08:13.709 --> 00:08:16.370 Is that what you're saying? You may need someone's 00:08:16.370 --> 00:08:19.589 services. Uh, but you know, it's, it's, it's 00:08:19.589 --> 00:08:21.769 always a bad year for Kentucky fans unless the 00:08:21.769 --> 00:08:23.709 wildcats are in the final four. I hate to say 00:08:23.709 --> 00:08:27.660 it, but that's true. You know, you're not, you're 00:08:27.660 --> 00:08:30.079 what number 18 in the country and, you know, 00:08:30.240 --> 00:08:34.080 won most of your games and it's a bad year. Yeah, 00:08:34.799 --> 00:08:40.639 it's a dismal season. Oh, so true. John with 00:08:40.639 --> 00:08:43.899 you. Congratulations on coming close to the 200th 00:08:43.899 --> 00:08:46.820 episode. I'm looking forward to that show. I'm 00:08:46.820 --> 00:08:50.100 hoping I can win a PL two 59 from tower electronics, 00:08:50.440 --> 00:08:53.830 but I know those will be high demand. And I do 00:08:53.830 --> 00:08:56.929 remember those days before the FCC examiner and 00:08:56.929 --> 00:08:59.710 Louisville. Those were scary times, but, uh, 00:08:59.710 --> 00:09:02.509 we got through that. And as they say, a lot of 00:09:02.509 --> 00:09:04.789 water has gone down the Ohio river since that 00:09:04.789 --> 00:09:08.769 time. That is true. And, uh, you know, Jerry 00:09:08.769 --> 00:09:11.889 Freebo turned out to be a really good friend, 00:09:12.070 --> 00:09:17.570 but at the time he was. One of the scariest people 00:09:17.570 --> 00:09:23.110 I think I ever met that Examiner and I mean he 00:09:23.110 --> 00:09:26.950 he he didn't crack a smile No, they were they 00:09:26.950 --> 00:09:29.029 were all serious. They were the G men of those 00:09:29.029 --> 00:09:32.929 days But let's just say that one of the great 00:09:32.929 --> 00:09:35.350 changes in ham radio is the volunteer examiner 00:09:35.350 --> 00:09:41.370 program Yes, most definitely Well, we've got 00:09:41.370 --> 00:09:44.710 you here tonight to talk about NCJ. So we'll 00:09:45.120 --> 00:09:48.419 We'll get to that. So how's, how's NCJ going? 00:09:48.559 --> 00:09:51.720 This is what, year three? For year three, it's 00:09:51.720 --> 00:09:54.600 going by quickly in some respects. It's been 00:09:54.600 --> 00:09:57.139 a fun project. The journal's going well. We have 00:09:57.139 --> 00:09:59.980 a reasonably solid subscriber base of almost 00:09:59.980 --> 00:10:03.500 2000 paid subscriptions. It's the subscriber 00:10:03.500 --> 00:10:08.460 base falls every year by Oh, 10 to 30 subscribers, 00:10:08.799 --> 00:10:11.919 unfortunately, as contesters fail to renew, largely 00:10:11.919 --> 00:10:14.559 because they become silent keys or they go QRT 00:10:14.559 --> 00:10:18.120 in the nursing home. I'm really pleased with 00:10:18.120 --> 00:10:20.679 the last several years, Neil. You and others 00:10:20.679 --> 00:10:23.340 have enriched the content dramatically. We made 00:10:23.340 --> 00:10:26.320 an intentional focus when I became editor to 00:10:26.320 --> 00:10:29.200 bring you on board as the contributing editor 00:10:29.200 --> 00:10:33.019 for next -gen contesters. That's had a real impact. 00:10:33.220 --> 00:10:35.120 We've had a number of next -gen contesters on 00:10:35.120 --> 00:10:39.860 the cover, and we'll continue to promote new 00:10:39.860 --> 00:10:42.259 contesters, whether they be new at age 12 or 00:10:42.259 --> 00:10:46.840 new at age 82. We'll welcome all new ones. The 00:10:46.840 --> 00:10:49.960 journal's got some new features as well. We have 00:10:49.960 --> 00:10:52.919 sort of new technology now with Ned Stearns that 00:10:52.919 --> 00:10:56.240 started earlier last year, and Ned's doing a 00:10:56.240 --> 00:11:00.509 marvelous job. He followed on the steps of Mark 00:11:00.509 --> 00:11:04.090 Aker, K6UFO, who did remote contesting for about 00:11:04.090 --> 00:11:06.909 a year and then decided that he'd really written 00:11:06.909 --> 00:11:09.009 all that he could and wanted to take a break 00:11:09.009 --> 00:11:11.669 and just go back to managing the ready sprint, 00:11:12.009 --> 00:11:15.250 I'm sorry, the NAQP ready full time. So he's 00:11:15.250 --> 00:11:18.750 doing that. And the solid, you know, contributing 00:11:18.750 --> 00:11:21.429 editors, including the deputy editor Fred Reganetter, 00:11:21.549 --> 00:11:24.950 K4IU, and all of those who write every issue. 00:11:25.070 --> 00:11:27.049 I can't name them all because I might forget 00:11:27.049 --> 00:11:29.590 someone and I don't want to... insult anyone, 00:11:29.830 --> 00:11:32.230 but they all contribute greatly in the readership. 00:11:32.590 --> 00:11:34.950 It's nice to hear from the readership. So the 00:11:34.950 --> 00:11:37.809 feedback is always welcome and I think based 00:11:37.809 --> 00:11:40.370 on the feedback I'm getting and others are getting 00:11:40.370 --> 00:11:44.029 that the contest community at large is still 00:11:44.029 --> 00:11:48.289 appreciating what NCJ is doing. Well, what are 00:11:48.289 --> 00:11:50.870 your biggest challenges with the journal except 00:11:50.870 --> 00:11:53.429 for getting the next -gen contestor's editor 00:11:53.429 --> 00:11:57.409 to submit his articles on time? Well, I have 00:11:57.409 --> 00:11:59.750 a secret weapon for that individual contributing 00:11:59.750 --> 00:12:01.750 editor. I call Julie and she makes sure he gets 00:12:01.750 --> 00:12:07.470 them out The biggest challenges editor is the 00:12:07.470 --> 00:12:11.610 time It's 20 to 40 hours per issue of my own 00:12:11.610 --> 00:12:14.269 time and there are times and months that I'm 00:12:14.269 --> 00:12:18.250 extremely busy With work and my research activities 00:12:18.250 --> 00:12:21.360 and it can be stressful I've had to take time 00:12:21.360 --> 00:12:23.820 out of contesting to do the journal, which I 00:12:23.820 --> 00:12:26.039 regret, but it's the only way to make the equation 00:12:26.039 --> 00:12:29.659 balance. Sometimes it gets a little scary when 00:12:29.659 --> 00:12:33.480 you don't have any new content, but the contest 00:12:33.480 --> 00:12:35.360 community writ large has always come through 00:12:35.360 --> 00:12:38.259 for me. Almost everyone's written an article 00:12:38.259 --> 00:12:41.399 that I've asked. I've got a couple of hams who 00:12:41.399 --> 00:12:43.759 have some... potentially tremendous articles, 00:12:43.820 --> 00:12:45.720 but they can't seem to get over writer's block 00:12:45.720 --> 00:12:48.639 and I I regret that because I've heard them speak 00:12:48.639 --> 00:12:51.240 at contest you in other places and I know what 00:12:51.240 --> 00:12:55.639 they have to say is so meaningful and the other 00:12:55.639 --> 00:12:58.159 hard part really is that Once everyone sends 00:12:58.159 --> 00:13:00.340 me their material, I have a really tight timeline 00:13:00.340 --> 00:13:03.120 of about 10 days, sometimes five days, to get 00:13:03.120 --> 00:13:05.059 it all to the managing editor so that he has 00:13:05.059 --> 00:13:07.639 adequate time to write it, format it, get it 00:13:07.639 --> 00:13:10.980 to the headquarters in Newington so the professionals 00:13:10.980 --> 00:13:13.580 there, like Matty Weinberg and others, can get 00:13:13.580 --> 00:13:16.399 it formatted and then sent to the printer. Believe 00:13:16.399 --> 00:13:20.419 it or not, we need a long timeline for this. 00:13:20.779 --> 00:13:22.580 We ask you and the other contributing editors 00:13:22.580 --> 00:13:24.659 to get the material to me by the 10th of the 00:13:24.659 --> 00:13:27.740 month, two months ahead of the print date. January 00:13:27.740 --> 00:13:31.580 10th for the March issue and Rick Lindquist will 00:13:31.580 --> 00:13:34.580 finish his editing probably around the end of 00:13:34.580 --> 00:13:37.139 the month and then the formatting editors in 00:13:37.139 --> 00:13:39.240 Newington really have about five or ten days 00:13:39.240 --> 00:13:41.860 at most to finish it all up so they're constantly 00:13:41.860 --> 00:13:45.360 laying it out working on it many times they will 00:13:45.360 --> 00:13:47.720 contact us and say we're five pages over who 00:13:47.720 --> 00:13:50.220 can we cut and then of course that leads to some 00:13:50.220 --> 00:13:52.519 disappointed feelings by the writers but they've 00:13:52.519 --> 00:13:55.539 been good sports and understand and We've had 00:13:55.539 --> 00:13:58.419 plenty of content generally, and for example, 00:13:58.480 --> 00:14:01.679 the March issue had 70 % of its content already 00:14:01.679 --> 00:14:05.659 created by overflow from January. But the May 00:14:05.659 --> 00:14:08.500 Journal doesn't have any content, so if you're 00:14:08.500 --> 00:14:10.639 out there and you want to write an article for 00:14:10.639 --> 00:14:13.419 NCJ and be published in the world's premier radio 00:14:13.419 --> 00:14:16.799 sport journal, send your ideas to me or to K4IU, 00:14:16.960 --> 00:14:19.600 and we'll vet them and get back to you and help 00:14:19.600 --> 00:14:21.639 you get an article together. That's been the 00:14:21.639 --> 00:14:23.279 hard part and the tough part, I think, the biggest 00:14:23.279 --> 00:14:27.899 challenges. Yeah, so we just finished up well 00:14:27.899 --> 00:14:31.500 or I just finished up the March Contribution 00:14:31.500 --> 00:14:35.340 and I know you've got a few of those kind of 00:14:35.340 --> 00:14:38.980 coming in here, but I Was just thinking the next 00:14:38.980 --> 00:14:43.519 one is May that's dating Right and it's due in 00:14:43.519 --> 00:14:47.259 March right before your spring break. Yeah, so 00:14:47.259 --> 00:14:51.220 You know here here we are in January and we're 00:14:51.220 --> 00:14:53.299 already thinking. Okay, we got to write an article 00:14:53.720 --> 00:14:55.879 that's going to come out right before hand -vention. 00:14:57.120 --> 00:15:02.940 So that lead time creeps up on you. It sure does. 00:15:02.940 --> 00:15:07.600 It truly does. Well, what are some of those highlights 00:15:07.600 --> 00:15:11.059 of being an editor that, you know, I'm sure you 00:15:11.059 --> 00:15:13.960 had a pretty good idea what to expect when you 00:15:13.960 --> 00:15:16.559 came on board. But what are some of the unexpected 00:15:16.559 --> 00:15:21.559 things that have come up along the way? Neil, 00:15:21.559 --> 00:15:26.200 that's a really good question. probably the opportunity 00:15:26.200 --> 00:15:30.379 to meet so many new people who are touched by 00:15:30.379 --> 00:15:34.059 NCJ. I've said for many years to the staff in 00:15:34.059 --> 00:15:36.919 Newington, you may think you're putting out a 00:15:36.919 --> 00:15:41.340 QST, a journal simply about ham radio, but for 00:15:41.340 --> 00:15:44.820 a busy, hard -working, sometimes stressed professional 00:15:44.820 --> 00:15:48.340 like me, it's a wonderful outlet to relax and 00:15:48.340 --> 00:15:51.879 to... Round out my life and to give me something 00:15:51.879 --> 00:15:54.240 to enjoy so that I could do my day job better 00:15:54.240 --> 00:15:58.139 and NCJ I guess touches the same people the same 00:15:58.139 --> 00:16:02.240 way and offers them that it inspires them People 00:16:02.240 --> 00:16:04.879 will write and say I'm so happy to see the contest 00:16:04.879 --> 00:16:07.179 scores in this issue because I saw my call sign 00:16:07.179 --> 00:16:10.179 and that means so much to me and Just the goodwill 00:16:10.179 --> 00:16:15.659 of the contest community Fred is Just a wonderful 00:16:16.230 --> 00:16:18.649 Deputy editor. We were traveling back from Visalia 00:16:18.649 --> 00:16:21.830 together and he was enjoying introducing me as 00:16:21.830 --> 00:16:24.090 the editor to all the contesters who got on the 00:16:24.090 --> 00:16:27.509 flight out of Fresno Who recognized his call 00:16:27.509 --> 00:16:30.409 sign because he's so active in the CW test every 00:16:30.409 --> 00:16:33.470 week then he would introduce them to me and you 00:16:33.470 --> 00:16:36.970 know, they They'd never met a journal editor 00:16:36.970 --> 00:16:39.509 before whether it was QST and CJ whatever or 00:16:39.509 --> 00:16:42.230 didn't think they had and That was that was really 00:16:42.230 --> 00:16:44.570 cool to see who the journal touches and how much 00:16:44.570 --> 00:16:49.720 it means to people And I also think, Neil, that 00:16:49.720 --> 00:16:52.100 the opportunity to create new content for the 00:16:52.100 --> 00:16:55.720 contest community is a great privilege. You've 00:16:55.720 --> 00:16:59.519 been a part of that. Many of the individuals 00:16:59.519 --> 00:17:03.960 you work with at K9SOU, as well as at the Indiana 00:17:03.960 --> 00:17:06.920 University radio station, the Ham radio station, 00:17:06.940 --> 00:17:10.700 and your now Yoda team, including CE2LR in Chile 00:17:10.700 --> 00:17:14.819 and Bryant KV5HVO, have all contributed. Marty, 00:17:14.859 --> 00:17:18.559 as well. We've been able to get new content for 00:17:18.559 --> 00:17:24.880 next -gen as well as trying to help individuals 00:17:24.880 --> 00:17:27.519 who may live what we call in landlocked situations 00:17:27.519 --> 00:17:30.740 in a small city lot or have to go to a park to 00:17:30.740 --> 00:17:33.259 contest. We're creating content that makes it 00:17:33.259 --> 00:17:35.880 able for them to understand they contribute equally 00:17:35.880 --> 00:17:38.680 to contesting. Not everyone can be like K9CT 00:17:38.680 --> 00:17:42.420 or K3LR and have multiple towers and stacked 00:17:42.420 --> 00:17:45.440 yogis. In fact, most contesters are not in it 00:17:45.440 --> 00:17:47.200 to win they're in it to make a few contacts have 00:17:47.200 --> 00:17:49.460 a few hours of enjoyment and maybe work some 00:17:49.460 --> 00:17:53.259 new dx so that's really been enjoyable to create 00:17:53.259 --> 00:17:56.539 new content and create another vision for another 00:17:56.539 --> 00:17:58.779 expanded vision of what contesting can be beyond 00:17:58.779 --> 00:18:01.880 the traditional thoughts of you know cq worldwide 00:18:01.880 --> 00:18:04.980 a double rl dx to also what can it be for city 00:18:04.980 --> 00:18:10.680 dwellers and younger hams well i know one of 00:18:10.680 --> 00:18:13.339 the things that's been on your mind for quite 00:18:13.339 --> 00:18:17.980 a while and we've talked about it before is getting 00:18:17.980 --> 00:18:22.680 a digital version of NCJ going. And I know you 00:18:22.680 --> 00:18:25.579 asked for that and there was some time when we 00:18:25.579 --> 00:18:27.460 thought it wasn't going to happen and now it 00:18:27.460 --> 00:18:31.539 is going to happen. And so what prompted you 00:18:31.539 --> 00:18:37.660 to ask for this and get NCJ in a digital format? 00:18:39.630 --> 00:18:42.230 That's a really insightful question. I really 00:18:42.230 --> 00:18:45.569 appreciate you asking me that because I Do a 00:18:45.569 --> 00:18:47.569 lot of work with journals. I'm an associate editor 00:18:47.569 --> 00:18:49.450 of one of the most widely circulated medical 00:18:49.450 --> 00:18:52.289 journals in the world I've been reading medical 00:18:52.289 --> 00:18:54.730 journals for 30 years and reading them digitally 00:18:54.730 --> 00:18:59.369 for 15 to 20 and Many years before I became editor 00:18:59.369 --> 00:19:02.710 of NCJ I had conversations with Dave Sumner asking 00:19:02.710 --> 00:19:05.789 if QST could be digital or be stored digitally 00:19:05.789 --> 00:19:07.970 I enjoyed reading the print version, but I wanted 00:19:07.970 --> 00:19:11.319 to be able to access QST from anywhere I was 00:19:11.319 --> 00:19:13.079 in the world and pull an article up and read 00:19:13.079 --> 00:19:16.420 it, not have to carry 10 magazines with me. The 00:19:16.420 --> 00:19:18.940 big driver is, Neil, that the publishing world 00:19:18.940 --> 00:19:21.880 is going digital. Ham radio contesters will be 00:19:21.880 --> 00:19:25.059 the last group to ever be fully digital. We will 00:19:25.059 --> 00:19:27.359 drag them kicking and screaming into the 21st 00:19:27.359 --> 00:19:30.940 century because they want the print. Most of 00:19:30.940 --> 00:19:32.819 them want the print. I understand that and I 00:19:32.819 --> 00:19:35.140 respect that. I like to read printed newspapers, 00:19:35.319 --> 00:19:38.880 but it's impractical, largely. So I have learned 00:19:38.880 --> 00:19:41.980 to read journals and newspapers on 24 inch monitors 00:19:41.980 --> 00:19:45.299 and to synthesize the material and almost all 00:19:45.299 --> 00:19:47.160 the medical journals that I read are not digital. 00:19:47.440 --> 00:19:49.559 They make print versions, but those get tossed. 00:19:50.400 --> 00:19:52.740 And I've even offered to double my dues to my 00:19:52.740 --> 00:19:55.000 cardiology groups that I belong to if they will 00:19:55.000 --> 00:19:57.039 quit sending me the printed journals because 00:19:57.039 --> 00:20:00.059 they really are taking a lot of effort to recycle 00:20:00.059 --> 00:20:03.769 and... and to be a good environmental steward. 00:20:04.109 --> 00:20:05.829 So the printing world is going digital. Even 00:20:05.829 --> 00:20:07.509 the journal I'm an associate editor on, we've 00:20:07.509 --> 00:20:09.849 been told you're to be prepared to go fully digital 00:20:09.849 --> 00:20:13.450 in just a few years. Secondly, I think NCJ should 00:20:13.450 --> 00:20:15.609 be a worldwide resource. I still believe it's 00:20:15.609 --> 00:20:17.690 the premier journal of radio sport globally. 00:20:18.230 --> 00:20:20.829 But we cannot sell subscriptions overseas because 00:20:20.829 --> 00:20:23.670 it's outrageously expensive. We're talking over 00:20:23.670 --> 00:20:26.589 $100 typically for someone in Europe or South 00:20:26.589 --> 00:20:29.650 America to subscribe and then have it delivered 00:20:29.650 --> 00:20:32.920 by mail. and a digital subscription, really they 00:20:32.920 --> 00:20:35.339 can download it and look at it and even print 00:20:35.339 --> 00:20:37.839 it out on their own paper for nothing more than 00:20:37.839 --> 00:20:40.880 what it would cost to just have the print subscription 00:20:40.880 --> 00:20:44.500 in the United States. And finally, I think NCJ 00:20:44.500 --> 00:20:47.839 should be the number one resource that contesters 00:20:47.839 --> 00:20:51.799 of all skill sets and skill levels go to for 00:20:51.799 --> 00:20:54.099 material. And I'd like to broaden the content 00:20:54.099 --> 00:20:56.440 of NCJ even more. I'd like to have it good for 00:20:56.440 --> 00:20:59.940 lifelong learning. I'd like to see NCJ offer 00:20:59.940 --> 00:21:02.079 beginning contesters a lot of practical tips 00:21:02.079 --> 00:21:05.319 and skill sets to how to learn and understand 00:21:05.319 --> 00:21:08.960 things more in depth, to be a forum for you to 00:21:08.960 --> 00:21:11.000 mentor people who want to bring young people 00:21:11.000 --> 00:21:15.380 into contesting, for groups like the Nashua Amateur 00:21:15.380 --> 00:21:18.779 Radio Society to be a part of, Fred and his wife 00:21:18.779 --> 00:21:21.740 and their team in New Hampshire to talk about 00:21:21.740 --> 00:21:24.839 how you get all kinds of people active into contesting. 00:21:25.539 --> 00:21:27.380 And to be able to do that, we just can't, there's 00:21:27.380 --> 00:21:30.250 just not enough money. in ham radio let alone 00:21:30.250 --> 00:21:32.250 in the entirety of the United States to print 00:21:32.250 --> 00:21:34.170 all of that material every month or every other 00:21:34.170 --> 00:21:37.390 month and So we can easily expand our focus and 00:21:37.390 --> 00:21:39.970 content and offer more if we do it digitally 00:21:39.970 --> 00:21:43.509 because it's just the cost of editing and Formatting 00:21:43.509 --> 00:21:45.950 to make it digital versus the cost of printing 00:21:45.950 --> 00:21:48.690 it. So those are the three drivers publishing 00:21:48.690 --> 00:21:52.849 worlds moving to be digital the desire to see 00:21:52.849 --> 00:21:55.250 NCJ read widely in the world and have worldwide 00:21:55.250 --> 00:21:57.509 contributors like we have from South America 00:21:57.509 --> 00:22:01.589 now with CE3CT and then a need to be able to 00:22:01.589 --> 00:22:04.230 push more content out to help people on a just 00:22:04.230 --> 00:22:07.029 -in -time basis so that the web is the ideal 00:22:07.029 --> 00:22:09.150 place for that. So those were the three reasons 00:22:09.150 --> 00:22:11.930 that I started advocating for digital NCJ and 00:22:11.930 --> 00:22:15.140 I began that soon after I was made editor. And 00:22:15.140 --> 00:22:17.200 I had an agreement with Barry Shelley, who was 00:22:17.200 --> 00:22:19.559 the former CEO and now the current CEO of the 00:22:19.559 --> 00:22:21.640 ARRL, to come to Newington and talk with him 00:22:21.640 --> 00:22:24.519 about it and to pitch the idea. And Barry, as 00:22:24.519 --> 00:22:27.380 you know, was the CFO for the ARRL for many years, 00:22:27.420 --> 00:22:29.359 so he knows where every penny is buried in the 00:22:29.359 --> 00:22:31.559 league. And he's a good steward for Ham Radio. 00:22:31.660 --> 00:22:34.759 He does his best to free up every available resource 00:22:34.759 --> 00:22:38.619 to promote the hobby. And I contacted Howard 00:22:38.619 --> 00:22:41.359 Mikkel and the spring, in the early spring in 00:22:41.359 --> 00:22:43.819 March, if his first term is, his only term is 00:22:43.819 --> 00:22:47.339 CEO, and ask if we could have a discussion, sit 00:22:47.339 --> 00:22:49.460 down and have a discussion that Fred and I would 00:22:49.460 --> 00:22:51.220 pay our own ways and come to Newington to meet. 00:22:52.680 --> 00:22:55.940 And Howard declined, instead commissioned a survey 00:22:55.940 --> 00:22:59.700 that Steve Ford managed to then survey people 00:22:59.700 --> 00:23:02.160 who have recently turned in a contest score to 00:23:02.160 --> 00:23:05.380 the ARRL. And based upon the survey results, 00:23:05.579 --> 00:23:07.460 Howard felt there was not a business case for 00:23:07.460 --> 00:23:10.839 a digital NCGA, so he turned us down in the spring 00:23:10.839 --> 00:23:13.839 of last year because he was concerned that the 00:23:13.839 --> 00:23:16.220 subscriber base was going to continue to dwindle, 00:23:16.380 --> 00:23:20.619 that there was not widespread support. It was 00:23:20.619 --> 00:23:24.380 about 50 -50, frankly. It was 45 in favor, 55 00:23:24.380 --> 00:23:26.619 said they would not pay extra, 45 % said they 00:23:26.619 --> 00:23:28.779 would pay for a digital version. And he felt 00:23:28.779 --> 00:23:30.900 that that was just too risky given the precarious 00:23:30.900 --> 00:23:34.359 nature of ARRL finances. Howard declined and 00:23:34.359 --> 00:23:38.119 we had to live with that situation. Ultimately, 00:23:38.619 --> 00:23:44.200 Steve Ford, in his very kind and insightful way, 00:23:44.240 --> 00:23:46.259 brokered a compromise that we could potentially 00:23:46.259 --> 00:23:50.359 put the PDF of NCJ on the web and then figure 00:23:50.359 --> 00:23:53.059 out a way with IT security to let current subscribers 00:23:53.059 --> 00:23:57.380 access that. But before we could get League resources 00:23:57.380 --> 00:24:04.019 dedicated to develop the IT pathway, Howard and 00:24:04.019 --> 00:24:08.019 his executive team at Newington had decided that 00:24:08.019 --> 00:24:11.420 the ARRL needed to enhance the value to membership 00:24:11.420 --> 00:24:15.579 for the $49 a year dues and they could do that 00:24:15.579 --> 00:24:21.039 by allowing access to QST on the air, QEX and 00:24:21.039 --> 00:24:23.740 NCJ as digital subscriptions to any league member. 00:24:24.579 --> 00:24:26.859 And so much to my surprise, I learned in December 00:24:26.859 --> 00:24:28.880 from Steve that Howard had proposed that we go 00:24:28.880 --> 00:24:31.500 forward with a digital NCJ and a digital QEX. 00:24:32.660 --> 00:24:36.319 I really credit N2RJ, Ria Jiram, for working 00:24:36.319 --> 00:24:39.180 behind the scenes as a director. I'm sure she 00:24:39.180 --> 00:24:42.259 built a coalition of our directors for the league 00:24:42.259 --> 00:24:48.799 to support this. And I think just time and common 00:24:48.799 --> 00:24:51.200 sense prevailed and they finally saw the value 00:24:51.200 --> 00:24:54.460 equation of this. And I credit the staff at Newington 00:24:54.460 --> 00:25:00.079 with making... Making the case successfully with 00:25:00.079 --> 00:25:04.480 Howard that I was unable to make an email Well, 00:25:04.680 --> 00:25:10.500 we're looking forward to that happening and Do 00:25:10.500 --> 00:25:14.240 you have a projected timeline for that to to 00:25:14.240 --> 00:25:18.099 take place I do I do do you have a drum roll? 00:25:20.420 --> 00:25:25.480 I don't Okay, well, but I don't I've got an electric 00:25:25.480 --> 00:25:29.130 shock Oh, let's not do that. We don't want any 00:25:29.130 --> 00:25:31.970 cats or humans injured in this broadcast. Okay. 00:25:32.809 --> 00:25:36.029 I'm told that we can, we can give you applause 00:25:36.029 --> 00:25:39.130 afterwards. How's that? Okay. You know, I can 00:25:39.130 --> 00:25:44.029 always say valve. Yep. Yep. You can say, yep. 00:25:44.150 --> 00:25:49.009 Oh, you said it. Yep. Anyway, we think the May 00:25:49.009 --> 00:25:51.170 -June issue will be the first issue that comes 00:25:51.170 --> 00:25:54.650 as digital. So for the current subscriber base, 00:25:54.789 --> 00:25:56.690 thank you for subscribing. Please keep it up. 00:25:57.690 --> 00:26:00.150 You will also have access to a digital NCJ, we 00:26:00.150 --> 00:26:03.029 think, in May. And to all ARRL members who don't 00:26:03.029 --> 00:26:04.890 subscribe, you can have access to the digital 00:26:04.890 --> 00:26:08.089 version in May, likely. And to anyone who would 00:26:08.089 --> 00:26:10.769 like access to NCJ, who might be listening from 00:26:10.769 --> 00:26:14.170 Europe, South America, Asia, or even Bouvier, 00:26:14.539 --> 00:26:18.180 You can subscribe and join the ARRL for $49 a 00:26:18.180 --> 00:26:20.400 year and have access to all of the journals the 00:26:20.400 --> 00:26:23.720 flagship journal QST As well as the other flagship 00:26:23.720 --> 00:26:27.099 journal NCJ and then of course QEX and on the 00:26:27.099 --> 00:26:34.000 air Well sounds great but it's time for a break 00:26:34.000 --> 00:26:36.740 so we're going to take a break and We're going 00:26:36.740 --> 00:26:38.839 to come back with Scott and take your questions 00:26:38.839 --> 00:26:42.019 right after this word from ICOM America right 00:26:42.019 --> 00:26:46.140 here on ham talk live New Year? 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ICom helps 00:29:25.160 --> 00:29:29.039 bring HamTalk Live your way each and every Thursday 00:29:29.039 --> 00:29:33.059 night at 9 p .m. Eastern time. Right here at 00:29:33.059 --> 00:29:35.339 HamTalkLive .com. Be sure to check us out on 00:29:35.339 --> 00:29:39.319 Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as well. And 00:29:39.319 --> 00:29:41.839 it's time now for your calls. So if you have 00:29:41.839 --> 00:29:44.180 a question for Scott, give us a call right now 00:29:44.180 --> 00:29:50.799 at 812 -NET. ham one that's eight one two six 00:29:50.799 --> 00:29:55.160 three eight four two six one or you can tweet 00:29:55.160 --> 00:29:57.720 us at ham talk live several have we'll get to 00:29:57.720 --> 00:30:00.220 those here in just a second and if you're listening 00:30:00.220 --> 00:30:05.519 to us on wtww or on the podcast version uh you 00:30:05.519 --> 00:30:07.960 won't be able to reach us because uh we're live 00:30:07.960 --> 00:30:11.259 on thursday night so i'm afraid you won't be 00:30:11.259 --> 00:30:14.640 able to uh to reach us on the phone here. But 00:30:14.640 --> 00:30:21.759 again, the number 812 -638 -4261. Have several 00:30:21.759 --> 00:30:27.740 tweets here. First of all, John N0JSD says, can't 00:30:27.740 --> 00:30:29.619 wait to hear what Scott and Neil got in store 00:30:29.619 --> 00:30:32.980 for this episode. And tomorrow is my birthday. 00:30:34.960 --> 00:30:37.980 Happy birthday, John. So happy birthday, John. 00:30:39.420 --> 00:30:42.039 Look forward to working in the next CW contest 00:30:42.039 --> 00:30:44.019 John. We need you on the air I heard you had 00:30:44.019 --> 00:30:46.839 a little rig trouble with the Yoda event. Hopefully 00:30:46.839 --> 00:30:50.680 that's gotten fixed Yeah, we were hoping he'd 00:30:50.680 --> 00:30:55.019 get in on Yoda month, but Had some rig trouble, 00:30:55.059 --> 00:30:58.339 but hopefully they'll be on for the next one 00:30:58.339 --> 00:31:01.839 Let's see. We also have some tweets from Jim 00:31:01.839 --> 00:31:08.319 k5 nd says kudos to some guy named Neil I'm on 00:31:08.319 --> 00:31:11.099 next gen contesters and scott's wisdom and adding 00:31:11.099 --> 00:31:15.740 me into the editorial mix. Wow okay. Well thank 00:31:15.740 --> 00:31:18.940 you Jim. It's so nice to hear from you and I 00:31:18.940 --> 00:31:21.220 want to commend your listeners to look at some 00:31:21.220 --> 00:31:25.480 of Jim's articles in NCJ on being a rover station 00:31:25.480 --> 00:31:28.920 for VHF contesting. Jim's an accomplished hand 00:31:28.920 --> 00:31:32.220 contester, mentor, leader with the Boy Scouts 00:31:32.220 --> 00:31:35.019 and others but took time to write for NCJ and 00:31:35.200 --> 00:31:37.400 We're putting his articles on the website so 00:31:37.400 --> 00:31:39.740 that people can have access to them going forward. 00:31:39.940 --> 00:31:42.440 Jim, thank you for writing and for all you do 00:31:42.440 --> 00:31:45.940 to help promote more activity on the air across 00:31:45.940 --> 00:31:50.359 all age ranges and spectrums. Absolutely. Jim's 00:31:50.359 --> 00:31:54.539 got an incredible Rover set up and it's impressive. 00:31:54.720 --> 00:31:57.079 And I started asking him questions the other 00:31:57.079 --> 00:32:00.529 day. I'm like, okay, I got to do something. I 00:32:00.529 --> 00:32:02.970 got I got to get something figured out on satellite 00:32:02.970 --> 00:32:06.130 and and he was also helping me with some some 00:32:06.130 --> 00:32:08.569 of the youth on the air stuff so Jim thank you 00:32:08.569 --> 00:32:12.130 so much for for all your help and all that you 00:32:12.130 --> 00:32:15.089 contribute here and he's also says kudos to the 00:32:15.089 --> 00:32:19.430 great editions on VHF contesting and also says 00:32:19.430 --> 00:32:21.910 great insight on the digital editions broaden 00:32:21.910 --> 00:32:25.049 the reach and open up to more content at limited 00:32:25.049 --> 00:32:28.289 additional costs so great work Scott so Good 00:32:28.289 --> 00:32:30.630 job. I appreciate Jim saying that and I want 00:32:30.630 --> 00:32:33.349 to commend my Deputy Editor Fred Reaganetter 00:32:33.349 --> 00:32:36.170 K4IU for bringing the message to me from the 00:32:36.170 --> 00:32:39.029 Huntsville Hamfest Group in particular who thanked 00:32:39.029 --> 00:32:42.630 us for adding some additional VHF material and 00:32:42.630 --> 00:32:45.910 said they wanted to see more so we have intentionally 00:32:45.910 --> 00:32:50.390 covered VHF contesting more in NCJ in the last 00:32:50.390 --> 00:32:53.130 year or two than probably the last 20 years saw 00:32:53.130 --> 00:32:56.069 because we have been missing a real opportunity 00:32:56.069 --> 00:33:00.089 to include a large segment of contesters. And 00:33:00.089 --> 00:33:03.170 we're going to continue to emphasize VHF contesting. 00:33:03.930 --> 00:33:06.349 And Jim, if you have some suggestions for potential 00:33:06.349 --> 00:33:09.390 articles by colleagues and friends, please send 00:33:09.390 --> 00:33:12.369 them to me. Because May and June is really a 00:33:12.369 --> 00:33:15.630 perfect time to put in some more articles about 00:33:15.630 --> 00:33:18.950 how to get on for the June VHF contest. And if 00:33:18.950 --> 00:33:21.049 any of your listeners, Neil, have thoughts or 00:33:21.049 --> 00:33:24.650 ideas, please contact me, kzeromikedelta at ARRL 00:33:24.650 --> 00:33:28.829 .net. And we will be glad to consider those ideas 00:33:28.829 --> 00:33:33.390 and try to get articles together. Sounds like 00:33:33.390 --> 00:33:36.230 a good idea. And you can also give us a call 00:33:36.230 --> 00:33:43.109 right now at 812 -638 -4261, 812 -NET -HAM -1. 00:33:43.369 --> 00:33:46.970 If you have a question or a comment to add here 00:33:46.970 --> 00:33:49.470 about the National Contest Journal with Dr. Scott 00:33:49.470 --> 00:33:54.680 Wright, K0MD. the editor of NCJ. We've got one 00:33:54.680 --> 00:34:02.059 more tweet here for you from David N4YHC says, 00:34:02.279 --> 00:34:04.720 please make sure you keep a print copy option 00:34:04.720 --> 00:34:08.039 for now while the online magazines can be handy. 00:34:08.059 --> 00:34:10.800 It's a lot easier for me anyway to read a paper 00:34:10.800 --> 00:34:14.780 magazine while riding on airplanes and cars and 00:34:14.780 --> 00:34:17.179 also sets a better example for our children when 00:34:17.179 --> 00:34:20.539 we're teaching. keeping that scream time limited. 00:34:21.320 --> 00:34:24.400 So you want to respond to that? David, it's nice 00:34:24.400 --> 00:34:29.039 to hear from you and Union Kentucky. As you probably 00:34:29.039 --> 00:34:32.019 can tell, I'm a native Kentuckian. I used to 00:34:32.019 --> 00:34:35.440 have a QTH about 150 miles east of where you 00:34:35.440 --> 00:34:39.000 are. But the propagation is so good in the purchase 00:34:39.000 --> 00:34:41.159 region where you are, and it's nice to work you 00:34:41.159 --> 00:34:44.119 in contests. David, I completely agree. I find 00:34:44.119 --> 00:34:46.760 it easier to read the print versions when I'm 00:34:46.760 --> 00:34:51.219 traveling. without Wi -Fi access and going forward 00:34:51.219 --> 00:34:54.139 we will continue to have a print edition of NCJ 00:34:54.139 --> 00:34:58.039 as long as the subscriber base is able to maintain 00:34:58.039 --> 00:35:01.400 the cost or the ARRL will subsidize the cost. 00:35:02.039 --> 00:35:04.579 There are no plans at this time to discontinue 00:35:04.579 --> 00:35:08.300 the print edition. I can't commit to that being 00:35:08.300 --> 00:35:11.420 the case going forward 20 years but I don't think 00:35:11.420 --> 00:35:13.260 in the short term, we're going to have any trouble 00:35:13.260 --> 00:35:16.400 with that. And maybe, just maybe we'll have enough 00:35:16.400 --> 00:35:18.880 uptick from the digital NCJ bringing new league 00:35:18.880 --> 00:35:21.960 members in that the ARRL will make a commitment 00:35:21.960 --> 00:35:24.840 to keep it going out in a paper edition as one 00:35:24.840 --> 00:35:26.900 option for membership. We'll, we'll know more, 00:35:26.900 --> 00:35:29.360 I think, as a new CEO comes on board to see what 00:35:29.360 --> 00:35:31.980 his or her vision is for maybe offering more 00:35:31.980 --> 00:35:36.900 member benefits, including a print to NCJ. Yeah, 00:35:36.900 --> 00:35:42.860 there's always that. feel of the print copy but 00:35:42.860 --> 00:35:45.400 then there's the convenience of the digital copy 00:35:45.400 --> 00:35:48.860 and and I think you know it's kind of split down 00:35:48.860 --> 00:35:53.360 the middle which one people prefer and I kind 00:35:53.360 --> 00:35:56.079 of like the digital because I can search it and 00:35:56.079 --> 00:35:59.079 I can you know go back in the archives and find 00:35:59.079 --> 00:36:01.860 stuff easier but you know there's also something 00:36:01.860 --> 00:36:05.219 about you know holding a script in your hand 00:36:05.219 --> 00:36:09.940 you know holding the paper and so For right now, 00:36:10.519 --> 00:36:15.159 there's both available. Well, John says what 00:36:15.159 --> 00:36:17.719 happened to the rig, it was a static discharge 00:36:17.719 --> 00:36:20.000 in the rig. Doesn't know what happened, but he's 00:36:20.000 --> 00:36:22.679 getting a new antenna soon and an amplifier, 00:36:23.179 --> 00:36:27.360 and he's still got his portable set up for now. 00:36:27.920 --> 00:36:32.380 So he's still waiting on the rig, but at least 00:36:32.380 --> 00:36:35.420 he's got his portable set up. So we look forward 00:36:35.420 --> 00:36:39.309 to hearing you on the air. with your main rig 00:36:39.309 --> 00:36:44.650 soon. 812 -638 -4261 is the phone number if you'd 00:36:44.650 --> 00:36:47.809 like to chime in tonight. This is your chance 00:36:47.809 --> 00:36:52.050 to do that. That's what the show is about, is 00:36:52.050 --> 00:36:55.230 taking your questions and comments. So give us 00:36:55.230 --> 00:37:00.590 a call 812 -638 -4261 or you can tweet us. It's 00:37:00.590 --> 00:37:04.989 at HamTalk Live. And if you're listening on Spreaker, 00:37:05.170 --> 00:37:08.510 you can comment and I'll get that on the screen 00:37:08.510 --> 00:37:12.750 here as well. Well, while we're waiting for calls 00:37:12.750 --> 00:37:16.590 to come in and tweets to come in, Scott, let's 00:37:16.590 --> 00:37:19.630 talk a little bit about some of the trends in 00:37:19.630 --> 00:37:23.170 contesting right now. What are some of the current 00:37:23.170 --> 00:37:30.809 trends in contesting? Neil, I'm delighted to 00:37:30.809 --> 00:37:35.000 talk about that. Contesting in the United States 00:37:35.000 --> 00:37:39.000 is somewhat different than in Europe in this 00:37:39.000 --> 00:37:43.500 regard. Europe has seen a resurgence of new contesters 00:37:43.500 --> 00:37:47.199 who are, shall we say, 30 to 50 years of age. 00:37:47.800 --> 00:37:51.860 Individuals who probably didn't have access to 00:37:51.860 --> 00:37:55.219 electronics and just the elegance and beauty 00:37:55.219 --> 00:38:01.829 of HF radio that we grew up accustomed to. us 00:38:01.829 --> 00:38:04.110 to have because of living in the United States 00:38:04.110 --> 00:38:07.849 with its freedom and economic liberty and so 00:38:07.849 --> 00:38:10.489 now they're where we were maybe 20 years ago 00:38:10.489 --> 00:38:14.130 and so they have active contest clubs and attracting 00:38:14.130 --> 00:38:17.489 a lot of youth you know that from go to work 00:38:17.489 --> 00:38:20.630 and watching the young people whereas in the 00:38:20.630 --> 00:38:24.369 US the younger people with notable exceptions 00:38:24.369 --> 00:38:26.989 including some that we've mentioned tonight and 00:38:26.989 --> 00:38:29.650 some who have tweeted in are more interested 00:38:29.650 --> 00:38:34.820 in digital communication via GHF with the smartphone. 00:38:36.460 --> 00:38:40.500 Contesting in the U .S., we know that contesters 00:38:40.500 --> 00:38:44.920 are largely older than average hams. The modal 00:38:44.920 --> 00:38:50.260 distribution of contesters is, well, the two 00:38:50.260 --> 00:38:53.980 largest groups are in their 70 to 79 year bracket 00:38:53.980 --> 00:38:57.280 and 60 to 69 year bracket. I received an interesting 00:38:57.280 --> 00:39:00.519 figure tonight from Dr. Frank Howell. from Mississippi 00:39:00.519 --> 00:39:03.480 who's working on a demographic article for NCJ 00:39:03.480 --> 00:39:08.039 and a strategy to help us convince the mature 00:39:08.039 --> 00:39:10.239 contesting community that we have to reach out 00:39:10.239 --> 00:39:12.699 to even younger adults, meaning 50 to 60 year 00:39:12.699 --> 00:39:15.820 olds, to get them in. Because compared to the 00:39:15.820 --> 00:39:21.500 population at large, contesters are three to 00:39:21.500 --> 00:39:23.579 four times more likely to be in their 60s or 00:39:23.579 --> 00:39:26.619 70s than the population would predict. And the 00:39:26.619 --> 00:39:31.000 danger of that is that as they get older and 00:39:31.000 --> 00:39:33.460 need to move into housing situations where it's 00:39:33.460 --> 00:39:35.820 difficult to have a tower and a radio or an antenna, 00:39:36.440 --> 00:39:40.380 they are often going off the air and unless something 00:39:40.380 --> 00:39:43.179 dramatically changes in life expectancy, those 00:39:43.179 --> 00:39:46.139 who are 70, 75 may not be on the air for more 00:39:46.139 --> 00:39:50.579 than 10 more years. So we're watching, the contesting 00:39:50.579 --> 00:39:52.760 itself is at risk in the U .S. unless we can 00:39:52.760 --> 00:39:56.260 get newer hams and sort of younger hams, meaning 00:39:56.260 --> 00:39:59.829 under 60 year olds, into contesting. Neil, you 00:39:59.829 --> 00:40:02.530 and I are relatively young compared to the average 00:40:02.530 --> 00:40:04.590 contestor age and we both have been hamps over 00:40:04.590 --> 00:40:07.949 40 years. I think you're gonna have your 45th 00:40:07.949 --> 00:40:11.409 anniversary as a ham very shortly and I will 00:40:11.409 --> 00:40:16.469 too. So I really would like to see us ask, I 00:40:16.469 --> 00:40:18.769 think there are two groups of individuals that 00:40:18.769 --> 00:40:21.469 we ought to attract into contesting on top of 00:40:21.469 --> 00:40:23.789 the youth that you're working in, Tim Duffy and 00:40:23.789 --> 00:40:25.929 Bryant and Marty and others are working to draw 00:40:25.929 --> 00:40:30.480 in. And those are recent retirees. who have left 00:40:30.480 --> 00:40:33.539 the workforce and now have time on their hands 00:40:33.539 --> 00:40:35.380 and are looking for something meaningful to do. 00:40:36.239 --> 00:40:39.800 And PAM radio is a wonderful hobby. It can be 00:40:39.800 --> 00:40:41.900 done indoors or outdoors. It can be done in all 00:40:41.900 --> 00:40:45.460 seasons. It requires you to mentally think through 00:40:45.460 --> 00:40:47.579 issues. And so it helps you to grow. And I think 00:40:47.579 --> 00:40:51.119 it keeps you from maybe getting dementia because 00:40:51.119 --> 00:40:54.599 you're using your brain more. And it helps you 00:40:54.599 --> 00:40:56.679 to have social connections and to stay connected. 00:40:57.260 --> 00:40:59.920 And then I think we also should target the 40 00:40:59.920 --> 00:41:03.860 to 55 year olds who have completed college and 00:41:03.860 --> 00:41:06.840 graduate school and are well established in careers 00:41:06.840 --> 00:41:09.719 and have children who are either teenagers or 00:41:09.719 --> 00:41:13.019 in college. And it's really a well known fact 00:41:13.019 --> 00:41:15.000 that once children hit the teenage years, they 00:41:15.000 --> 00:41:17.980 suddenly stop talking to their parents and they 00:41:17.980 --> 00:41:22.300 start going to their classmates via Instagram 00:41:22.300 --> 00:41:25.780 and WhatsApp and Snapchat and all of those wonderful 00:41:25.780 --> 00:41:29.239 tools. The face -to -face conversations go away 00:41:29.239 --> 00:41:33.139 and most spouses need their other spouse to take 00:41:33.139 --> 00:41:35.420 a break periodically from having conversations 00:41:35.420 --> 00:41:37.940 constantly and probably wouldn't mind if they 00:41:37.940 --> 00:41:41.599 were on CW or Sideband or Ready or FT8 a few 00:41:41.599 --> 00:41:44.139 hours a week. And so I think there are a lot 00:41:44.139 --> 00:41:47.980 of people your age, my age, even Fred's age who 00:41:47.980 --> 00:41:50.719 would always wanted to be ham operator but never 00:41:50.719 --> 00:41:52.980 had time or energy and now they have time and 00:41:52.980 --> 00:41:55.440 resources. They just don't know how. I think 00:41:55.440 --> 00:41:57.900 we should take Ward Silver's advice and have 00:41:57.900 --> 00:42:00.780 some open houses and invite friends over for 00:42:00.780 --> 00:42:04.019 a tour of the shack and reintroduce them to Ham 00:42:04.019 --> 00:42:06.860 Radio. It's not the way it was, Neil, when we 00:42:06.860 --> 00:42:09.679 were young. The radios are largely solid state 00:42:09.679 --> 00:42:13.340 now. I don't have to load and dip my HW101 anymore. 00:42:14.920 --> 00:42:17.800 And some people like Brett can even copy signals 00:42:17.800 --> 00:42:20.139 below the noise with FT8. I haven't graduated 00:42:20.139 --> 00:42:22.139 to that degree of sophistication. I'm still a 00:42:22.139 --> 00:42:26.820 CW, RIDI, and sideband operator, but boy, it's... 00:42:26.820 --> 00:42:28.920 Contesting in some respects has never seen days 00:42:28.920 --> 00:42:32.260 as good as they are now. Technology has made 00:42:32.260 --> 00:42:34.860 receivers and transmitters and antennas better 00:42:34.860 --> 00:42:38.159 than ever. So you could talk further with less 00:42:38.159 --> 00:42:41.360 power on a smaller antenna, on a smaller lot, 00:42:41.420 --> 00:42:45.139 shall we say, using something like the new stepper 00:42:45.139 --> 00:42:48.039 beams that look like a butterfly or you can put 00:42:48.039 --> 00:42:50.800 up wires and trees as K4IU does and talk around 00:42:50.800 --> 00:42:54.579 the world and all the bands. So you don't have 00:42:54.579 --> 00:42:57.420 to have a rotating tower like I have to be successful 00:42:57.420 --> 00:43:00.440 as a contestor. You can get by with a tree and 00:43:00.440 --> 00:43:04.079 a wire or even we have a ham operator in town, 00:43:04.400 --> 00:43:07.099 Mark Kelm, who puts up a temporary loop and can 00:43:07.099 --> 00:43:09.800 make a lot of contacts, digital and sideband, 00:43:10.179 --> 00:43:14.019 has a wonderful time, fun time contesting. I 00:43:14.019 --> 00:43:16.980 think Mark would be a wonderful NCJ or QST story 00:43:16.980 --> 00:43:19.579 because he's a gentleman who retired from the 00:43:19.579 --> 00:43:22.599 professional printing world as a business executive 00:43:22.599 --> 00:43:25.000 from a local newspaper and then picked up ham 00:43:25.000 --> 00:43:28.780 radio as a hobby and really enjoys it and he 00:43:28.780 --> 00:43:31.179 makes time for everything and ham radio fits 00:43:31.179 --> 00:43:34.019 into that time and there used to be a poster 00:43:34.019 --> 00:43:36.059 right that said ham radio is not a hobby it's 00:43:36.059 --> 00:43:37.880 a way of life and we need to break that myth 00:43:37.880 --> 00:43:39.860 it really is a hobby it's not a way of life for 00:43:39.860 --> 00:43:43.250 most people. And you can balance your family 00:43:43.250 --> 00:43:46.070 and your grandchildren and your work and also 00:43:46.070 --> 00:43:49.530 have fun with the hobby. Well, we've got a caller 00:43:49.530 --> 00:43:53.269 that's been patiently waiting. So let's go to 00:43:53.269 --> 00:43:57.309 the caller. Welcome to HamTalk Live. Hi, Neil 00:43:57.309 --> 00:44:01.130 and Scott. This is Dan, W5DNT down in Texas. 00:44:01.730 --> 00:44:05.889 And I've got a question for you, Scott, really 00:44:05.889 --> 00:44:09.300 two questions. We've all recently heard about 00:44:09.300 --> 00:44:12.019 Howard Mikkel's departure from the ARRL following 00:44:12.019 --> 00:44:15.000 this weekend's board meeting. What's the impact 00:44:15.000 --> 00:44:17.900 of this change on your work, and what are your 00:44:17.900 --> 00:44:20.840 dreams for a post -Howard Mikkel future for the 00:44:20.840 --> 00:44:25.019 ARRL? Hello, Dan. It's nice to hear from you. 00:44:26.019 --> 00:44:28.679 And Dan is really an accomplished HF operator 00:44:28.679 --> 00:44:32.260 in DXR in Texas and someone I greatly respect. 00:44:32.719 --> 00:44:34.420 So really thank you for the call and question, 00:44:34.440 --> 00:44:39.179 Dan. As you can probably imagine, Howard and 00:44:39.179 --> 00:44:43.699 I did not see eye to eye on how contesting and 00:44:43.699 --> 00:44:46.920 the printing of the NCJ should go, but I respected 00:44:46.920 --> 00:44:48.880 his position and didn't really have a place to 00:44:48.880 --> 00:44:52.159 turn. And I really never felt that he understood 00:44:52.159 --> 00:44:56.019 contesting as well as an ARRL CEO should because 00:44:56.019 --> 00:44:59.019 I watched a YouTube video of Howard and Chattanooga 00:44:59.019 --> 00:45:02.099 where he talked about the need to develop a distinct 00:45:02.099 --> 00:45:04.800 journal for radio sport. on top of the journals 00:45:04.800 --> 00:45:07.599 that we have for contesting and experimentation. 00:45:08.300 --> 00:45:10.300 And it made me really worry that maybe Howard 00:45:10.300 --> 00:45:13.300 didn't understand contesting very well. Dan, 00:45:13.420 --> 00:45:17.639 I think an ARRL CEO should be a hams ham. Maybe 00:45:17.639 --> 00:45:20.380 I'm spoiled and have such admiration for Dave 00:45:20.380 --> 00:45:23.099 Sumner, but Dave Sumner was a good executive 00:45:23.099 --> 00:45:25.760 and he was on the air. You could work him in 00:45:25.760 --> 00:45:29.780 contests and he was on VHF as well. And I sure 00:45:29.780 --> 00:45:33.210 would like to see a CEO who understands contesting, 00:45:33.530 --> 00:45:36.130 maybe does some contesting, does some HF operations 00:45:36.130 --> 00:45:38.909 as well as two meter income, maybe satellite 00:45:38.909 --> 00:45:42.289 work. I know in the last round of interviews 00:45:42.289 --> 00:45:44.369 they had a very, had a number of outstanding 00:45:44.369 --> 00:45:46.650 applicants, one in particular who sort of checks 00:45:46.650 --> 00:45:49.590 all those boxes and I talked with him at Dayton 00:45:49.590 --> 00:45:51.869 a little bit about contesting. He'd gotten word 00:45:51.869 --> 00:45:54.570 that I had asked about a digital NCJ and had 00:45:54.570 --> 00:45:57.210 shared with me that he Had he been named CEO, 00:45:57.289 --> 00:46:00.429 he was going to make a digital NCJ part of the 00:46:00.429 --> 00:46:03.909 membership benefits, which turns out that Howard 00:46:03.909 --> 00:46:07.469 and the team in Newington decided to do. So maybe 00:46:07.469 --> 00:46:09.309 they heard about his idea and decided to run 00:46:09.309 --> 00:46:12.269 with it. So I think we have a real opportunity 00:46:12.269 --> 00:46:15.429 to put a ham operator back in the seat in Newington 00:46:15.429 --> 00:46:18.429 who can relate to the average ham who's on the 00:46:18.429 --> 00:46:22.030 air and can understand where the hobby is. In 00:46:22.030 --> 00:46:24.820 my field of medicine, And I work at the Mayo 00:46:24.820 --> 00:46:27.619 Clinic where we have a CEO who's a physician 00:46:27.619 --> 00:46:30.179 and a practicing physician. And it's always been 00:46:30.179 --> 00:46:32.420 my experience that if the boss does the work 00:46:32.420 --> 00:46:34.380 of the everyday people, they better understand 00:46:34.380 --> 00:46:37.559 what life is like. And that's why we have such 00:46:37.559 --> 00:46:40.860 a great CEO. And I would say if we get somebody 00:46:40.860 --> 00:46:44.300 in Newington who's a CEO, man or woman, who understands 00:46:44.300 --> 00:46:47.380 the work of ham radio and does ham radio activities, 00:46:48.000 --> 00:46:50.139 then the future will be bright. So I'm hopeful, 00:46:50.360 --> 00:46:53.280 Dan, that we can get a CEO who will embrace contesting. 00:46:53.530 --> 00:46:56.329 who will understand its impact on ham radio just 00:46:56.329 --> 00:46:58.730 as we have a wonderful impact from mcom work 00:46:58.730 --> 00:47:02.170 and emergency services weather spotting satellites 00:47:02.170 --> 00:47:05.809 youth promotion and who will do all he or she 00:47:05.809 --> 00:47:10.070 can to put resources in to grow contesting to 00:47:10.070 --> 00:47:12.730 help groups like what neil is working with the 00:47:12.730 --> 00:47:16.590 k9 sou and many other school clubs as well as 00:47:16.590 --> 00:47:19.389 like the nashua amateur radio society who have 00:47:19.389 --> 00:47:21.710 brought in over 200 new members into ham radio 00:47:21.710 --> 00:47:25.059 in the last couple of years who will understand 00:47:25.059 --> 00:47:28.420 how to grow ham radio and who understands the 00:47:28.420 --> 00:47:31.559 pivotal role that contesting plays and pushing 00:47:31.559 --> 00:47:35.719 manufacturers to make better radios. Contesters 00:47:35.719 --> 00:47:38.480 like to believe they drive the R &D of ham radio, 00:47:38.539 --> 00:47:40.659 HF equipment. It's probably true, contesters 00:47:40.659 --> 00:47:43.639 and DXers do. That doesn't mean the radios are 00:47:43.639 --> 00:47:45.500 not important to the casual ham. They're very 00:47:45.500 --> 00:47:49.000 important. But if we can make contesting better, 00:47:49.500 --> 00:47:52.739 we make all of HF ham and VHF ham radio better. 00:47:53.309 --> 00:47:56.170 I'm really hopeful that we can turn a page and 00:47:56.170 --> 00:47:59.530 we can get a CEO in who will embrace contesting 00:47:59.530 --> 00:48:02.449 and try contesting and get on the air and let 00:48:02.449 --> 00:48:04.269 us all work him or her a little bit. You know 00:48:04.269 --> 00:48:07.309 it was always exciting to work K1ZZ in the contest 00:48:07.309 --> 00:48:11.070 and you know I'm sure Dave felt like a celebrity 00:48:11.070 --> 00:48:12.889 having so many people call him and I think a 00:48:12.889 --> 00:48:15.469 new CEO would find it just as fun. So thank you 00:48:15.469 --> 00:48:19.949 for that question. Thank you Scott. Thank you 00:48:19.949 --> 00:48:29.920 so much for calling in. All right, well Scott 00:48:29.920 --> 00:48:33.199 I think we're about out of time tonight, but 00:48:33.199 --> 00:48:38.099 any any final thoughts here before we go? Neil 00:48:38.099 --> 00:48:41.539 I just want to congratulate you on your Show 00:48:41.539 --> 00:48:43.500 or remember we did the first show together. I 00:48:43.500 --> 00:48:47.159 believe now you're on episode 97 soon to make 00:48:47.159 --> 00:48:52.659 200 Congratulations, and also Congratulations 00:48:52.659 --> 00:48:54.739 to you and your school club for continuing to 00:48:54.739 --> 00:48:58.210 do so well and school club roundup You're really 00:48:58.210 --> 00:49:00.929 doing an excellent job. If I could just leave 00:49:00.929 --> 00:49:03.250 one thought with your listeners about contesting, 00:49:03.530 --> 00:49:07.889 it's this. You don't have to be a superstar to 00:49:07.889 --> 00:49:11.210 contest. Most of the contacts during contests 00:49:11.210 --> 00:49:13.530 are made by casual operators working others. 00:49:14.150 --> 00:49:16.030 And if you can only get on for an hour or two 00:49:16.030 --> 00:49:20.150 and make 25 contacts, that helps all of us. And 00:49:20.150 --> 00:49:23.050 it also helps you because you get better trained 00:49:23.050 --> 00:49:26.170 for using your radio for any emergency situation. 00:49:28.299 --> 00:49:31.139 If you need help figuring out which contest to 00:49:31.139 --> 00:49:35.659 try, drop an email to us at NCJ. We will try 00:49:35.659 --> 00:49:37.519 to find someone in your region to help you get 00:49:37.519 --> 00:49:41.119 set up and get going. And let us also know what 00:49:41.119 --> 00:49:43.880 kind of content you want to read about so that 00:49:43.880 --> 00:49:46.360 we can continue to meet your needs to grow your 00:49:46.360 --> 00:49:50.159 radio sport skills. Neil, thanks again. And it's 00:49:50.159 --> 00:49:54.539 nice to be on in 2020 with you. And that's all 00:49:54.539 --> 00:50:00.010 I have to say. I won't wrap it up at all. Well, 00:50:00.010 --> 00:50:02.869 Scott, thank you so much for coming on once again 00:50:02.869 --> 00:50:06.409 and sharing with us about the National Contest 00:50:06.409 --> 00:50:08.829 Journal and a lot of these big changes that are 00:50:08.829 --> 00:50:13.929 coming up and hope that things continue to expand 00:50:13.929 --> 00:50:17.650 and grow and we'll look forward to seeing it 00:50:17.650 --> 00:50:21.050 all happen and kind of kicking off this summer. 00:50:23.329 --> 00:50:26.190 And we wish you the best with the Youth on the 00:50:26.190 --> 00:50:28.230 Air event. That's an exciting thing, too. Thanks 00:50:28.230 --> 00:50:31.150 again, Neil. All right. Thank you very much, 00:50:31.349 --> 00:50:34.110 Scott. Well, y 'all, speaking of Youth on the 00:50:34.110 --> 00:50:36.869 Air, we have a matching fun drive going on right 00:50:36.869 --> 00:50:40.969 now for the Youth on the Air camp through the 00:50:40.969 --> 00:50:44.550 end of February. And we sent out some announcements 00:50:44.550 --> 00:50:47.289 on that today and was on Ham Nation last night 00:50:47.289 --> 00:50:51.389 talking about that. So if you donate at youthontheair 00:50:51.389 --> 00:50:56.000 .org, Between now and the end of February your 00:50:56.000 --> 00:51:00.039 donation is matched dollar for dollar up to $4 00:51:00.039 --> 00:51:07.300 ,000 thanks to our generous donor Steve. So make 00:51:07.300 --> 00:51:12.800 sure you consider that as a possibility to help 00:51:12.800 --> 00:51:15.239 young people learn all about ham radio, including 00:51:15.239 --> 00:51:17.340 contesting. There'll be a lot of contesting things 00:51:17.340 --> 00:51:22.239 there at the camp. So that's going to finish 00:51:22.239 --> 00:51:26.659 it up for this week. That is a wrap for this 00:51:26.659 --> 00:51:29.539 week's Sam Talk Live. Thanks to Dr. Scott Wright, 00:51:29.679 --> 00:51:32.920 KZeroMD and everybody out there in cyberspace 00:51:32.920 --> 00:51:35.840 for listening and calling in and invite you back 00:51:35.840 --> 00:51:38.059 next Thursday night at 9 p .m. Eastern Time. 00:51:38.740 --> 00:51:42.920 We hope to bring you Riley Hollingsworth, K4ZDH, 00:51:43.139 --> 00:51:46.880 to talk about the ARRL volunteer monitor program 00:51:46.880 --> 00:51:50.880 next week. So hopefully that will work into his 00:51:50.880 --> 00:51:53.519 schedule. So that's our plan. And for a list 00:51:53.519 --> 00:51:56.079 of all of our upcoming guests, just go over to 00:51:56.079 --> 00:51:59.550 HamTalk Live. And if you like the show, please 00:51:59.550 --> 00:52:03.670 leave us a review. That's a real big help if 00:52:03.670 --> 00:52:06.750 you will do that. So please leave us a review 00:52:06.750 --> 00:52:09.130 wherever you listen. That helps others find us 00:52:09.130 --> 00:52:12.989 faster. So for now, this is Neil Rapp, WB9VPG, 00:52:13.070 --> 00:52:26.860 saying 7375, and may the good DX be yours. Thanks 00:52:26.860 --> 00:52:27.659 for watching!