[BC] Re: No code And antenna trimming

[Xmitters@aol.com]

In a message dated 7/24/05 10:25:14 AM Central Daylight Time, 
broadcast-request at radiolists.net writes:

<< BUT there can be no excuse for someone with the proper license not knowing
 basic theory, etc....too many of them have become appliance operators....if
 they ever tried to troubleshoot a regular linear power supply, they would be
 lost beyond checking the fuse!! (and Im not talking about those license just
 last week either!..of course I have seen some broadcast engineers I could
 throw in the same boat; I think we all have at one time or another! For some
 reason, it seems to be getting worse these days in every field ;)
 
 > Jeff Glass, Advanced
 > WB9ETG since 1970 
 
 Chris
 WB5ITT - Advanced since Aug1974 
 WN5ITT 1973-1974 :)  >>

Chris:

First, my apology for getting your name mixed up with another poster. Thank 
you for clearing up your original post regarding cutting Vs matching the 
antenna. Yup, going for min VSWR is a guarantee of nothing, except a low VSWR :-) 
Now maybe if I did not get the point, maybe this new Extra misunderstood too. At 
any rate :-)

My main point is/was, we should not get all hung up in theory and the lack of 
complete understanding. Where I would hold someone responsible for 
understanding theory is, if this person was causing interference. Anyone operating a 
transmitter must be able to prove its proper functioning. Now if we have some 
jerk that does not how to tune his transmitter or has no clue about shaking down 
an interference problem, then I would say such a person is unqualified due to 
lack of technical ability. But to arbitrarily grab a theory topic and quiz the 
person about it and judge the person based on his answers, sorry that dog 
does not hunt.

I believe that nowadays, we live in a need-to-know type world because things 
change so much and it's hard to keep up with all of the changes. What's more 
important than the ability to regurgitate FM deviation adjustment technique or 
VSWR minimization, is for that person to know where to find the information 
_and_ when to look for it. Fewer and fewer things are field repairable anymore. 
Presumably, new ham equipment will either be disposable or factory-only 
serviceable. Obviously circuit knowledge will be less and less important at that 
point.

New hams I believe should have a good understanding on a system level. What 
equipment do I need to accomplish a given task? Where do I get the equipment 
and who can I ask if I don't know what I need? Moreover, understanding proper 
operating procedure is just as valuable if not more so, than understanding of 
advanced theory.
How to organize a team of hams to carry out some emergency communications 
task is a vital skill as is the desire to work as a team member and the 
willingness to follow instructions.

The other problem that we have nowadays that we can live without is that 
sales/technical people at ham equipment outlets talk to you like you're an idiot. 
Don't give me the "if you talked to idiots eight hours a day..." because 
that's no excuse. A little bit of respect will go a long way to get everyone on the 
same page.

Such attitudes do little to encourage a person to become more technically 
savvy. I've had several ham/broadcast mentors over the years and I learned the 
most when working with someone that did not humiliate me. I learnt the most when 
I was given the respect of being an equal.

Theory is important, sure. It does however, have to be kept in its proper 
perspective.


Jeff Glass, WB9ETG