Chess and Morse radiotelegraphy have been mentioned in the same sentence many times. I was wondering, since they are both “mind” hobbies, what percentage of players are also licensed amateur radio operators, and how many hams are rated by USCF?
Is there any way to combine these two hobbies that is not cringworthingly hokey?
Are any of you out there licensed hams who would be interested in a regular HF net, either via phone or CW?
Any any any interest in this idea at all?
Angelo
KD2HPQ
We have someone active in the forums (and, I think, a TD) who is also active in (possibly working for) the ARRL, so there are at least a few hams who also play chess.
I worked for ARRL for about 12 years in two stints, the last seven or so years as their Chief Technology Officer (a specialized advocacy position–I did not do any IT) before leaving (defenestration by a new CEO is a type of leaving) for the satellite industry in 2016. I also served as AMSAT’s Secretary in 2019-20.
I am still active on the air to the extent work and fatherhood permit, but prefer to separate my chess from my radio. Others’ mileage may vary. There are countless ways to enjoy amateur radio and chess, none of which, including enjoying them together, are wrong, so don’t let my preference stop you.
73 de Brennan N4QX
I had a cup of coffee with Ham Radio decades ago when morse code was still a requirement.
My older brother, Andy, was the devotee. He used to partake in Field Day religiously (and I often helped set them up.) He had cards from over 300 countries representing contacts (more than the current number of countries because countries sometimes change). He spoke with King Hussein whose call letters were JY1. He contacted Apollo 8. He regularly did satellite tracking and moon-bounces and also built the first uplink fast scan TV antenna for the Space Shuttle and installed it personally, replacing a window.
radioexperimenter.us/rm-199 … earch.html
yumpu.com/en/document/read/ … -klofascom (third article)
worldradiohistory.com/Archive-D … Summer.pdf (second from left on cover)
By the time he and I started thinking about combining Ham Radio and Chess - the Internet and precursors were becoming possible - so we never chased it down.