What can I do next? I have thought of veering off into a discussion of the mess the majority of American voters made last November. But that will certainly reduce to a small number those who would read the blog. No one likes to hear they did wrong!
Or given my newly initiated Sunday church activity with the Grief Grope I could talk about the stages of grief; but that will certainly turn off another segment. So, with that tangent it is likely I would be writing by and for myself as a single reader of the blog.
Cleverly we have eliminated the supposed two non-subjects to be discussed by hams.
But the technical side is also a minefield. It would be interesting to develop a demographic of today's average ham operator. Certainly not in the 18-34 demographic for that group has a focus on the third subject not discussed on ham radio.
Our target ham group is older but not necessarily in the licensed for 50 years group. Many are recently licensed hams following retirement. Interestingly many actually have money for the now somewhat expensive hobby. But given the dumbing down of what it takes to get a license the target group is not especially strong with the technical chops. Although likely they may have significant software skills.
My postings for the last month were a test of the waters. The Mostly Vacuum Tube SSB Transceiver received few emails, and none asked for schematics or even a block diagram. That is a project that could be reproduced but I doubt would ever see a second build by others. The truth is the ham arena has shifted to contests and operating. Hams as a lump group no longer build things!
If my project was presented to QST say in 1975 it may have been published as that was just about the last time such projects were seen as appropriate. As far back as 50 years ago, the influx of commercial gear from the Far East dramatically impacted sales of soldering irons and parts associated with vacuum tube radios.
I am not a contester, and my operating typically is to test something I have built not to rag chew. Or worse those that gloat on the air about the new $7K SDR they just bought and will keep for only long enough until the next bright shiny object appears in QST.
So, if I build anything new it will be just for me and not something to extensively share on a blog. I have a few things that are stirring on the back burner but not suitable for the demographic I described. Today you have to know stuff to do stuff.
Them that know can make it go.
73's
Pete N6QW