This site is going to cover various aspects of Amateur Radio. My aim is to inform, educate and cause debate. I may succeed I may not.
Sadly Amateur Radio as a hobby is overlooked by the majority of people. This could be due to some of or all of the following reasons.
1, Not seen as a fashionable hobby.
Unfortunately, this hobby has a bit of an anorak status to it, how wrong that is. This hobby can be invigorating, exciting, and there is not many other hobbies that will give you a sense of achievement like amateur radio especially if you design and build your own kit.
2, The internet.
Shouldn't need to explain this one really, the internet is by far the easiest way for world wide communications. But as far as I am concerned, any MUG can do that, just like any one can use a telephone. At the end of the day the internet is just like talking on the phone. How ever there are some good programmes out there that now combine the internet and the radio, eQSO is such a programme. This programme allows you to talk world wide using your radio or using your PC.
3, Complexity.
This hobby can be as complex or as simple as you want it, it really depends on what you want out of it. If you just want to talk to other Amateurs all you need is an antenna, a radio the cables to connect them all together, a way of powering the radio and most of all the licence.
4, Lack of Publicity.
Be honest, how many people have heard of this hobby? If you don't know some one in to the hobby then the chances of knowing about it are very slim. I think the RSGB should find a way of promoting this hobby to the masses, A few TV/Radio adverts would do the job.