Polls
(#231-236 October 2018-April 2019)
#236 - Check all hobbies you share with me.
Date: 3/15/19-4/14/19 --- Voters: 41
Which Nr %
Computing 24 59%
Watching Informative Videos 23 56%
Photography 21 51%
Walking 20 49%
Model Railroading 14 34%
Meteorology 12 29%
Fishing 12 29%
Woodworking 12 29%
Astronomy 10 24%
Gardening 10 24%
Only Ham Radio 6 15%
Walking dogs 5 12%
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This was a very important poll to close out my long run of polls since July of 1999. I think the results justify what I've always said. That is that most hams are very balanced with many other hobbies including ham radio. That confirms my glad feeling that including activities besides ham radio in my diary has been enjoyed by the vast majority of site visitors. Thanks to all who have voted in these polls over the years. Perhaps I'll start them up again sometime in the future. I don't know at this time.
#235 - Check all of the following you have NEVER done.
Date: 2/15/19-3/14/19 --- Voters: 31
What Nr %
Earned WPX 21 68%
Used a KW and beam 21 68%
Contacted a satellite station 21 68%
Earned DXCC 20 65%
Earned WAC 19 61%
Operated in a traffic net 17 55%
Used a panadapter 16 52%
Earned WAS 15 48%
Built a xcvr from scratch 15 48%
Operated mobile 11 35%
Built a xmtr from scratch 11 35%
Operated portable 6 19%
Operated a contest or sprint 5 16%
Operated VHF 4 13%
Worked DX 3 10%
I have done them all 3 10%
Operated HF 2 6%
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I'm not sure I understand some of the votes in this poll. Very surprising that nearly 2 out of 3 hams have never earned WAC for example. Another example is half have never earned WAS. Otherwise thinking about the other choices, perhaps they do make sense. I don't know
#234 - How much are you planning to spend on ham radio in 2019?
Date: 1/15/19-2/14/19 --- Voters: 32
Amount Nr %
501-1000 dollars 9 28%
101-300 dollars 7 22%
100 dollars or less 4 13%
301-500 dollars 4 13%
2501 or more dollars 4 13%
Nothing 3 9%
1001-1500 dollars 1 3%
1501-2500 dollars 0 0%
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I have the best CW QRP rig in the world, and I can't afford to move to a more ham friendly location, so I don't plan to spend any money on ham radio this year. As for the rest of you, I hope your spending plans work out successfully, whatever they may be.
#233 - What are your ham radio plans for 2019?
Date: 12/15/18-1/14/19 --- Voters: 37
What Nr %
Be more active on the bands 19 51%
Improve CW skills and speed 18 49%
Do more portable ops 12 32%
Erect a new antenna 8 22%
Earn more awards 5 14%
Enter more contests 5 14%
Keep the status quo 4 11%
Something not listed here 4 11%
Get a new rig 0 0%
Get a new key 0 0%
Move to a better location 0 0%
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I'm glad to see the way the results turned out with the choices concerned with operating garnering the most votes and the "monetary" choices at the bottom. Based on that, my next poll about money spent on the hobby in 2019 will have a lot of "Nothing" votes. We'll see.
#232 - What would you most like for Christmas?
Date: 11/15/18-12/14/18 --- Voters: 58
What Nr %
I have all I need 22 38%
A new rig 11 19%
A new antenna 5 9%
A new shack computer 4 7%
A new key bug or paddle 3 5%
A new operating desk 3 5%
A new location 3 5%
A new antenna tuner 2 3%
A new tower 2 3%
New headphones 2 3%
A new keyer 1 2%
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I guess most of us are happy with what we have or wish to make it easy on Santa this year. It was nice to see a hefty increase in the number of voters for this poll. The more votes, the more interesting and a more accurate representation in the results.
#231 - How old were you when you started using QRP CW regularly?
Date: 10/15/18-11/14/18 --- Voters: 29
Age Nr %
Less than 15 1 3%
15 to 19 3 10%
20 to 29 3 10%
30 to 39 3 10%
40 to 49 7 24%
50 to 59 4 14%
60 to 69 3 10%
70 or older 2 7%
I never use QRP CW 3 10%
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It looks like there is no specific age when the urge to use QRP first strikes. A slight peak in the 40-49 age group, but that's about the only anomaly I see in the results.
