The AM Forum

From the ARRL web site dated 1/5/16:

Highlights
"After serving three 2-year terms, ARRL President Kay Craigie, N3KN, of Blacksburg, Virginia, is stepping aside, and the Board will choose her successor — and the League’s 16th president — when it convenes on January 15. The Board also will elect other officers, as well as vice presidents, Executive Committee members, and ARRL Foundation directors.

The annual meeting also will be the last for ARRL Chief Executive Officer David Sumner, K1ZZ, and for ARRL Chief Operating Officer Harold Kramer, WJ1B. Both are retiring this year. Kramer will depart at the end of February. Sumner has targeted May 1 as his last day.

The Board of Directors also will receive the report of the Strategic Planning Working Group, which has been working on a revised Strategic Plan to guide the League in the coming years. In addition the Administration & Finance Committee will ask the Board to ratify the operational budget plan for 2016-17."

So, with so many of the existing senior members moving on, and changes within their structure, it will be interesting to see how all this plays out going forward over the next several years.

Going forward? What else is there, unless we've developed time travel.

The last issue of QST seems smaller than usual.  I wonder if advertising is dropping off and the outlook for the long term is not as good as I would like to see it?

Page Count (not counting front and rear covers):
Oct. 2015 - 160
Nov. 2015 - 160
Dec. 2015 - 168
Jan. 2016 - 160
Feb. 2016 - 160

Dec. is holiday edition; more advertising.
With magazine structuring, page count increases in groups of 8.
So, if you have filled 160 pages, and you need to add one article, one ad, one page, etc., you have to add and fill 8 pages.

 ;D ;D ;D

Going sideways? Axe any crab you meet.


I would count the ad pages as a good indication of viability.  It's surprising that QST, or any magazine for that matter, still exists.  How many of you still have magazine subscriptions to anything?  I used to have quite a few, but now get everything off the web.

Same with newspapers. Dying industry.  

And same with books - I "read" about 5-6 books per month but 80% of them are downloaded audio. (Audible e-book)  I find my comprehension is better with audio vs: visual anyway.  That's strange considering that light (eyes) has a huge bandwidth advantage over audio (ears).

T

I would suspect manufacturers of ham equipment embrace publications like QST and CQ to get their products visibility. With pop up and ad blockers used by many on the Internet, it's difficult to gauge how many would/could read their ads if they were to throw them out there. And, I would suspect, that the majority of the costs associated with getting QST out every month comes from ad revenue.

Printed magazines still have use. I always bring one or two when I wait for my car to be serviced, doctor's visits, and other places where you have to sit and wait and wait for attention. Looking at a smart phone screen is not my idea of reading. After a few minutes, my eyes hurt.



When I was little, my mother use to read books to me. Now I do it myself.  :D

You're old Pete. Anyone under 30 does all their reading on a phone or tablet. Just the way it is. The sooner QST and the ARRL wake up to this, the better for them. Otherwise, they will slide into irrelevance like so many other print publications.

ARRL does provide QST in digital form each month, I believe, for at least the last 2 or 3 years. I know my son opted for only the electronic version each month. And yes, maybe in time when all of us old farts die off, they'll move to an only electronic format. Probably in a couple of hundred years, children will be born with a smart screen embedded in the palm of one of their hands (depending if they're left or right handed).  :D

But I'm still happy; besides my print CQ and QST, my AARP, AAA, Consumer Reports, National Geographic, and several of my trade magazines still come in print form.

I'm old, too, and so are a lot of other hams. When your target audience is old hams, you sell the things old hams can buy - big ticket radios that offer a lot of features. That's why the well-known equipment manufacturers keep buying ads in QST: young hams don't have that kind of cash.

Of course, QST will, at some point, have to cease printed publication. Wayne Green tried it when 73 was on the ropes: the time wasn't right, but now there has been enough of a transition to keep QST afloat without the dead tree version. Of course, that means the ARRL will have to hire lots of web designers, instead of having an "online" edition which is a photo-image of the printed one.

FWIW. YMMV.

KW4OC

I believe they use recycled papers.
Why more web designers; what's wrong with the current digital version?

Getting away from QST for a moment and back to the overall changes at ARRL, we know there has been a significant increase in dues for 2016. I can tell you from experience there has been a significant increase in advertising rates in QST over the past year. And we a seeing a replacement of top management. My suspicion is that ARRL has been stung by the lobbying efforts of the real estate and HOA associations and, the board has come to the realization that in Washington money and influence = legislation.  My guess is ARRL is about to become  a larger player in Congress with top leadership that is  politically experienced and politically connected. It will be interesting to see the backgrounds of the new leadership. I will bet they will have Washington connections.

I prefer the hard copy version too. Then again, I'm old. :'(

I remember when you were young  ;D

The new president will come from within; the CEO will come from the outside.

As long as we CAN remember...... :)

It is a literal copy of the print version.

An attractive page for a printed magazine is different than an attractive online presentation. They are two different art forms, with separate academic disciplines and training.

KW4OC

Move over guys and make room for another old fart.  I like the paper copy too.  There's a reason why I call the "head" the "QST Reading Room."

BTW, I do read portions of the digital version also, especially the reviews that have a movie.

Al

Actually, since the entire magazine is done in electronic form first, the print edition is the printed copy without the additional features.

The web site is already there if changes need to be made for some further "enhanced" electronic version of QST although I see no advantage and reason to do so. Further, since their first president proposed and made available the membership journal back on day 1, tradition might dictate keeping the journal, whether print or electronic, in a similar format to what we have had over these last 100 years.

Speculation can hurt my brain, so I really don't know and probably really don't care, since I get all my monthly amateur information from the owl.

The both versions have online links to more info or details on a particular subject or article. Not a bad idea.

The ARRL is no longer relevant. They haven't had the ears of the FCC in decades and their membership is only a small portion of the total amateur population.

Darrell

The ARRL has been a strong advocate of our amateur radio for the last 100 years.  Without them, we would have no advocate representing the general and specific interests of amateur radio and, most likely without them, amateur radio would be and look a lot different today, if it even still existed. I don’t recall the ARRL ever having “the ears of the FCC” (whatever that really means) for any kind of preferential treatment involving amateur radio over these last many years.

Having roughly 25% of the total amateur population as ARRL members is not a bad percentage considering that many amateurs just want to sit back and have a free ride. The free loaders don’t want to be members and support the ARRL, don’t really have interest in what the ARRL does, probably care less about amateur radio interests other than their own, and, in the long term, probably don’t care if amateur radio survives or not. If they really did care about the future of amateur radio, they would support the only advocate the amateur radio community has for them.

There are a lot of amateurs who's vision of what amateur radio should look like is in stark contrast to the ARRL's vision. That doesn't make them freeloaders. Why should they support an organization who goals are diametrically different than their idea of what the hobby should look like?

Darrell

What's a lot?? 2, 10, 100, 1000??

You might want to set some examples as to what these visions of amateur radio should look like from this "a lot" and how and why these visions would be beneficial to all of amateur radio. Further, what steps are these "a lot" doing to advocate and promote these visions? What other amateur radio organizations are supportable that can advocate for all of amateur radio? Has the "a lot" made known and discussed their visions with the ARRL Directors, Vice Directors, and other senior management?

Being "Stark" doesn't make them right!   Let them form their own organization. Let's see what percentage they really represent.  ;)

p.s. I don't agree with everything the ARRL does or all the positions they take.  However, if there was no ARRL we amateurs would have no effective say in the hobby.

Pete,

The point is simple. Why would someone support an organization that advocates a point of view they disagree with? Since you clearly agree with their objectives, by all means support them. But I, and I assure you others, find the path they've taken the hobby down objectionable. We have are not freeloaders and have no obligation to provide an alternative.

Darrell

Cause, sometimes you have to put your own personal wants and desires in perspective as it relates to the overall betterment and future of amateur radio. The hobby isn't about "I" or "me".


What path has the ARRL taken the hobby down that is so objectionable to "you and others"? Innuendos and vague references aren't telling us a whole lot.

Further, if you and others feel the ARRL is traveling down some wrong path, whether you're a member or not, make them aware of how you feel about it. Get your "others" to do it too. The ARRL is very receptive to all amateur's opinions.

Pete,

I will leave you with two points. You and I will never find common ground on this subject and my decision to refrain from supporting an organization I have serious differences with does not make me a freeloader.

Darrell

Yep. it's hard to find common ground when you don't know the other person(s) specifics. But, that's OK with me. We who are members will applaud the good things that the ARRL does and definitely let them know when they do things that make us unhappy. The Directors and Vice-Directors, who we all vote into those positions, are all well aware of that.

Individuals decide into which value-sharing associations to expend individual resources. It's not free loading.
Free loading is to request and then obtain something, for which payment is customarily expected, without paying for it.
Like any hobby there are those take more activist or publicly large scale acknowledgeable roles and those who work in silence or in private or local pursuit. The difference is the freedom of each individual to direct their value whether it is time, talent, or treasure.

I’m in agreement with Darrell on this one.   I have serious differences as well.  I ended my membership back in the 80s when it was perfectly clear that the League did not support AM, my preferred operating mode.  Current Leadership even has an obvious bias against the mode and/or its operators. 

This is borne out by lack of AM technical coverage in the Handbook (yet there’s extensive coverage of less utilized, more esoteric modes), lack of AM phone privileges on 10m to Technician Class licensees (insisted upon by the ARRL), past correspondence I’ve had with League leadership on the subject of AM, and from an AM operator formerly employed at the League who was told that his promotions within the organization would be adversely affected if he didn’t “distance himself” from the AMers.   

Has any of that changed in the last 30 years? 

I would be supportive of the ARRL if they would lose the AM bias.  I’m hoping that the upcoming changes in leadership will change that attitude.   

I'm in agreement that back in the 70's and probably even into the early 80's, the general trend in amateur radio operating was toward the more efficient SSB phone mode. Manufacturers were pushing it, better S/N radio, made less crowded bands, etc. and amateurs were dumping their old AM rigs by the boat load, and the ARRL, QST, CQ, Ham Radio Magazine, and 73 magazine were all on the SSB bandwagon. Back in those days, I bought a Ranger for $65, two working Apache's for $25 (and a 3rd for free) and I could go on. A vast majority of the amateurs were moving on to the SSB mode, many amateurs had no use or interest for AM only equipment anymore, and the Japanese manufacturers were fueling a lot of this activity too.

You said: "Current Leadership even has an obvious bias against the mode and/or its operators."
I'll make the assumption since it was stated in the first paragraph, talking about the 80's, this is the time frame you're referring too.
Given that, I don't think it was as much bias as it was the general trend of many amateurs (members and nonmembers) that were just moving on to the more efficient SSB modes for general contacts, contesting, and DXing.

I can only think of one or two AM amateurs back in the day (with their on the air antics) that may have "rattled" the ARRL management to some degree.


The AM mode in detail has been covered in many many Handbook publications over the past years. Makes no sense to repeat the same information countless times. The Handbook also doesn't have much (any?) coverage on spark gap stuff either. Maybe we should raise the flag on that one.  :D


They were lucky to get any phone privileges on any HF band.


Interesting, not to laugh, but maybe it was style or how you approached them with the topic. Difficult to tell; we would probably have to see both sides of the discussion.
Over the last  25 years, any discussions I've had with ARRL management, Directors and Vice-Directors has always been positive. We may have not always agreed on various points, but I never went away pissed off.


Obviously hearsay, and difficult to discuss and even to substantiate. But, back in the 80's, I was told by senior management at a 3-day customer conference after I arrived, that unless I wore a dress white shirt and tie I couldn't attend any of the customer meetings. I only had the ties and non-white dress shirts. So, depending on the manager, wacky things can sometimes be said.


I think a lot has changed at the ARRL over the last 30 years. It had to as amateur radio has changed a lot over the last 30 years too. Back in the early 21st century, when Paul, Mark, and I pushed changes to the WAS award to include the AM mode, we met some resistance, but eventually we got it changed to include AM.

Our own AM page on the ARRL web site has been there for many years. There's no SSB page.  :D There are a number of ARRL staffers that are active AM operators. During the year long 2014 centennial celebration, W1AW/ appeared many times, from many states, on many bands, operating on the AM mode. QST still posts a classic radio-type article on occasion. I believe there is no AM mode bias, but in today's amateur radio world, there are a lot more modes that have a very active amateur interest and the ARRL and the membership journal needs to keep up with all of them as best they can. That's probably not an easy task to keep everyone happy.

However, one needs to remember that the ARRL isn't just about modes and articles in QST. Their activities reach into the entire domestic radio broadcast world and also provide us a voice in any international radio regulatory matters. One only has to remember their great and persistent actions during the BPL craziness that went on several years ago. Now they're fighting the HOA's on behalf of all amateur radio operators trying to get legislation passed in Washington.

I honestly don't understand this antagonism towards the ARRL, especially saying it's because of AM. Are you also upset because they aren't pushing Double Sideband Suppressed Carrier? The ARRL is fighting for much more than just a mode that you read about in a article now and then in QST. But even then, they are often publishing articles about AM, even have a vintage AM station:

http://www.arrl.org/vintage-station-qrv-at-w1aw

See the AM page at:

http://www.arrl.org/am-phone-operating-and-activities

If you're not supporting the ARRL in the battles against HOAs, BPL, Commercial users who want our bands, Grow-Light ballasts, and the myriad of other things that can make ham radio useless, then you shouldn't complain when one of these things hits you. There is NO other organization looking out for you on these fronts!

I don't always agree with what the ARRL wants to do, but I've been a supporter since I got my Novice license in 1984 and I will continue! I'm a strong user of AM and vintage equipment, the combined weight of the rigs I have piled here is in the 1000's of pounds. I will support the ARRL so I can continue to use them.

August KG7BZ

Money talks and famous names certainly can help a cause.

I saw a huge sway in positive attitude for AM by the ARRL after Joe Walsh showed his loyal support for AM.  After he donated the vintage station and about 25 of us AMers showed up at the ARRL to do the installation, things changed.

Not to miss an opportunity, the league also held a "Dinner with Joe Walsh" fund raiser at $1000 a head when he was in town. I think that went toward the W1AW rehab fund at the time.  There are a few pictures floating around of that event.

Then there was Bob Heil of mics fame who graciously aligned himself with AM.  Large advertising revenue can certainly change attitudes.

Eric, I think you were talking about "Master Jeff" in the late 80's.   He has long left that ARRL position, but was very muted and miffed about the reasons he didn't get on AM anymore the day I visited with him at W1AW.  He loved AM and was a popular personality at the time. 'Nuff said.

All in all, I think AM has successfully gotten through the dark ages with the ARRL and the league now realizes that there is huge support for AM -  and to rock the boat would just make an unnecessary hornet's nest again.  We all get along just fine these days, in my opinion.  They listen when we speak and give us the respect we deserve. 


T

 I no longer am an ARRL member. Back when I was a member I went onto their website, they had the pop up and flashing type of advertising, I find this type of advertising OBNOXIOUS. I'm trying to read something and here along comes an advertisement deliberately intended to distract me! Annoying to say the least.

 I sent an email to the ARRL advertising contact describing this type of annoying advertising on their website, I got an answer in less than 10 minutes. A very snotty email informing me that this is the type of advertising that "gets clicked on". I emailed that person back and cc'ed a number of other ARRL contacts and restated that this type of advertising was obnoxious and distracting and I would consider this when my membership renewal came up. Never received a reply.

 QST is almost entirely advertising, there is very little of interest to me, Electric Radio Magazine is of more interest and I save the issues. I throw away the old QST issues in a few months.


 QST does not archive their back issues in a timely manner, there was an article I wanted to reread, I contacted them to see it were possible to get a copy, never got an answer.

 I did not renew my membership, they still send me periodic letters asking me to join.

T,

"  I did not renew my membership, they still send me periodic letters asking me to join. "

They send me gift offerings to join. So I guess I have more value than you .... ..


klc

P.S. I save my ERs' too.
I do have a QST under my Bird Wattmeter.

Some manufacturers who advertise on their web site do have ads that have animation. So do 1000's of other web sites. Of course, you could always invest in a free ad blocker.



Not true. QST's are archived right up to the current issue: http://www.nxtbook.com/fx/archives/view.php?id=4d8f3fb65736c8b1e83e4879a8b0ef57
Of course, you have to be a member to read them.
From December 2011 and back to 1915, you have to go here:
http://www.arrl.org/arrl-periodicals-archive-search
Of course, you have to be a member to read them

 
ARRL membership is a lot more then QST magazine. Many members value the work the ARRL does, and has done, and will do, and not just the monthly QST perk.