QRZ! Ham Radio 1/QRZ Ham Radio Callsign Database - December 1993.iso/buffalo/elmers.txt

Internet Message Format | 1993-10-05 | 9KB

From [e-mail] Sun Jan 31 16:00:54 1993
Subject: Elmers on Internet
To: [e-mail]

This administrivia file and the companion Amateur Radio Elmers Resource
Directory are intended for non-commercial distribution via Usenet.  Any
other uses, please E-mail for permission.

A Brief Historical Overview:
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

If there is any one constant in the changing state of the communications
art, it is that "Hams" (Amateur Radio Operators) have always been on
the forefront of it.  Rumors abound where the term "Ham" came from.
Some of the more amusing are described at the end of this article.

Regardless of origin of the name, a "Ham" is universally recognizable as
one who experiments in radio and communications.

Whether it be constructing a low-power CW radio with vacuum tubes, or
designing TCP/IP packet networks, such experimentation has historically
spilled over into the mainstream such as was the case with Edwin
Armstrong, who developed the regenerative oscillator and FM radio, or
General Curtis LeMay (W6EZV) who was instrumental in making Single-
Sideband the communications standard for the Strategic Air Command
(1947-1992, now reorganized into a joint command called StratComm) and
eventually the U.S. Air Force.  Although packet-switching techniques
originated from DARPA (Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency) and
the ARPANet, no one can deny the tremendous influence that amateurs
have had in demonstrating the viability of TCP/IP and AX.25
communications via radio links.  The efforts of AMSAT (the Amateur
Satellite Corporation), including the development of many ham satellites
and the low-orbiting Microsats (communications satellites no bigger than
a breadbox that use store-and forward packet techniques), have certainly
advanced the state-of-the-art in communications, one of the defined
purposes of the Amateur Radio Service, as recognized by international
treaty.

Since in many cases hams are writing "the book", there is often no
"book" or other established reference for a beginner to refer to.
Traditionally, information has been passed on from ham to ham via word-
of-mouth.  Like many of the traditional crafts, a variation of the
Master-Apprentice system has emerged, the Elmer-Novice relationship.
Called "Elmers" because they are usually older and wiser, having the
benefit of many years in the hobby, including several failed projects,
and an electric shock or two, they have traditionally been the mainstay
of amateur radio, and the source of many new hams, particularly those
interested in working on emerging technologies.

Even more importantly, Elmers provided an outlet for the impatient
newcomer who wanted "to know everything, and right away."  Faced with
such a request, a good Elmer will smile and proceed to lead the novice
through some project or operating experience.  Several hours, days, or
weeks later, the novice would have his answers, but would have earned
them.  Even better, the sense of accomplishment would boost the novice's
confidence and nudge him or her down the road to being a model,
experienced ham operator.

Many present hams feel that such an experience is missing today.  In
today's hustle-bustle world, the response to such natural curiosity and
desire to learn is, more often than not, "I'm too busy" or "RTFM." As a
result, the quality of new hams declines and the knowledge and operating
habits they develop in their first formative months and years leave much
to be desired. And the very same hams who claim that they "can't
understand the new generation" also, in almost the same breath, lament
about the "decline of amateur radio."

What is an Elmer today?
+++++++++++++++++++++++

An Elmer today is of any age, male or female, who has some expertise and
is willing to share it with beginners.  Elmers don't even need to be
licensed amateurs, just people with knowledge in some area of
electronics or communications technology.

What is a Usenet Elmer?
+++++++++++++++++++++++

With the ever-widening scope of the Internet, and the amateur radio
newsgroups on Usenet, the potential for Elmers to share their
knowledge to a wide audience has never been greater.  To that end, I
have started to maintain a list of such Elmers. Volunteers need only
send me their name, E-mail address, and area of expertise.  I have set
up an administrivia mailbox for this purpose (elmers-request@
unomaha.edu, the default Reply-To: of this message).

Those desiring a more extensive list, or who need more specific
assistance, are encouraged to contact Rosalie White, WA1STO, Educational
Services Manager at the American Radio Relay League, 225 Main St.,
Newington, CT  06111 or via electronic mail addressed to
[e-mail].

How may I obtain the latest copy of the Elmers List?
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

There are currently 4 ways of obtaining the Elmers List.  Any site
at least reachable by Internet E-mail can use options 3 or 4:

1.  Usenet News:  The latest copy of the list can be found in the
companion posting to this message, "Amateur Radio Elmers Resource
Directory."  Since the list is cross-posted to rec.radio.amateur.misc,
rec.radio.info, rec.answers, and news.answers on the 1st of each month,
with an expiration date 6 weeks into the future, there should always be
a copy available at most news sites.  Check your newsreader
documentation for information about reading previously-read articles.

2.  Anonymous FTP:  If your site is directly connected to the Internet,
you may retrieve the latest copy via File Transfer Protocol (FTP) from
the following sites:

ftp.cs.buffalo.edu   /pub/ham-radio/elmers*
pit-manager.mit.edu  /pub/usenet/news.answers/radio/ham-radio/elmers/*

3.  Mailing-List:  Since the list is cross-posted to rec.radio.info, the
latest copy may be obtained from the mailing-list gateway for that
newsgroup (along with many other informational articles about radio)
when it is published each month.  To subscribe, send E-mail to:

[e-mail]

and in the BODY (not the Subject) of the message, write:

subscribe radio-info

The server may not be able to determine your return address.  In that
case write:

subscribe radio-info (your E-mail address)

You should get an acknowledgement very shortly.

4.  Mail-Server:  If you don't want to read through the entire gateway
of rec.radio.info, or want a copy of the list right away, send E-mail
to:

[e-mail]

and in the BODY (not the Subject) of the message, write:

send usenet/news.answers/radio/ham-radio/elmers/admin
send usenet/news.answers/radio/ham-radio/elmers/list
send usenet/news.answers/radio/ham-radio/elmers/diff

and the latest copy of the list should be sent to you E-mail within 24
hours (the mail-server uses batch priority to reduce system demand).

How may I contribute to the Elmers List?
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

By using this resource, you are benefitting the net by obtaining
assistance in the fastest and most efficient way possible.  By
volunteering to appear on this list, you are contributing to the good
reputation of the radio-related newsgroups.

Thanks to all the volunteer Elmers, as well as courteous list users, for
making this service a success.

--
73, Paul W. Schleck, KD3FU

[e-mail] (personal mail)
[e-mail] (Elmers List administrivia)

* Possible origins of the word HAM:

The acronym "Home Amateur Mechanic" or...

from the Cockney pronunciation of "L'amateur" or...

the initials of the founder of the American Radio Relay League, Hiram
Maxim, W1AW (his actual middle name being Percy apparently
notwithstanding) or...

from the call letters of one of the first amateur stations at Harvard,
H.A.M. (please, no flames from W1XM at MIT)

Dale Mosby, N7PEX, offers the explanation that HAM must stand for "Hardly
Any Money," considering the investment one could make in the hobby.

Knowledgeable individuals from the American Radio Relay League (ARRL),
and other radio historians, seem to agree that the terms "Ham" and "Lid"
(an inept operator) both originated with landline telegraphy.  A "Ham"
was a show-off and a "Lid" was a telegraph operator so inexperienced, he
had to use a pot or can lid to rest his telegraph sounder on to properly
copy the code.

As an interesting historical footnote, early telegraph operators may
have been the first to experience the infamous curse of our
communications age, Repetitive Stress (or "Carpal Tunnel") Syndrome
(called "Glass Arm" in those days, which encouraged the invention of the
semi-automatic or "bug" key).

(Larry E. McDonald, N6ZMB, wrote to point out another plausible origin,
which doesn't necessarily contradict the ARRL version.  The term "ham"
may have been derived from "ham-fisted" or "ham-handed" to describe poor
telegraph operators who were hired from the ranks of radio operators.
Or maybe "ham-fisted" and "ham-handed" are derived from "ham."  Who
knows?)