Are Hackers the Future of Amateur Radio? Thoughts from Lex PH2LB

Thanks Lex:  Your message reminded me of a comment sent to me on the YouTube channel.  The commenter seemed to criticize my use of a digital oscilloscope.  Well, the criticism came to me via the internet, computers, and Starlink, so, yes, there are great advantages to using new technology!  73 from HI7   Bill  N2CQR

Hello Bill and Pete,

On hackaday there is a post with the question : Are Hackers the future of amateur radio?

See: https://hackaday.com/2024/07/18/are-hackers-the-future-of-amateur-radio/ 

I want to share my thoughts on this.

 

Although the term "hackers" is only seen by the masses as a term for someone who gains unauthorized access to computer systems (it even appears in the dictionary that way), IMHO it is much broader. I always explain it as someone who is interested in technology and uses techniques to use things in a different way than what they where intended or to add new functionality to existing things. But also inventing new things, whether or not to satisfy his curiosity, or to learn new things in order to expand his knowledge or be able to make new things. 

With this in mind let us go back to the question: "Are hackers the future for amateur radio?"

I think that from the beginning of amateur radio, the OMs were a kind of "hackers" who satisfied their curiosity and tried things out by making things themselves. And I think it will certainly remain that way. The fact that we have started using more computer technology / digital things in our hobby is nothing but progress. You take technology as you can or want to use it. Think about the analog VFO from Bill and the Si5351 VFO from Pete, or petrol cars and electronics cars. Both have the same goal, just different tech. Or for example you can tighten a screw by hand, but you can also use a cordless drill. Do you have less technical skills? No, I don't think so, you are just more efficient, digital technology and computer technology have added efficiency to our hobby. And if other invent new things that we can use, who are we not to use those techniques to be more efficient our self or make new things?

Dan, KB6NU's put some nice HamRadio Hacking examples in his presentation (https://www.kb6nu.com/there-is-hope-for-amateur-radio/) like the SBITX (Full SDR with Raspberry PI), creating new firmware for Chinese ports, etc.  We could even return to the question discussed earlier on soldersmoke: Are radio hams 'makers'. 

And yes, the availability of off-the-shelf transmitters/receivers allows OMs, who are not so technically skilled or don't want to spend the time on it, to practice facets of our wonderful and broad hobby. So you don't have to be a "hacker" to enjoy our hobby.  And to all the (self-styled) soldering iron moral knights who criticize these OMs, take a look around your shack, you probably didn't (or even can) make everything yourself and once you have bought things. It could be that boatanchor, your  brass morse key or your first rig. And have you ever thought about you soldering iron, multi meter, magnifier lamp, wire cutters etc. . . Ok I'm just teasing now, but you all get the point. 

Most of all, aside from the question if hackers are the future of amateur radio, lets enjoy our great hobby and when you like to melt some solder . . . Just do it. 

73 from PA

Lex PH2LB