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"Guy" wrote in message news:F64re.15840$mC.13248@okepread07... Landshark wrote: "Guy" wrote in message news:TKMqe.15606$mC.3822@okepread07... wrote: Why should people who *want* to use it have to test for it? Why not? If you want to drive, you have to take a test, if you want to get into college you have to take a test, so what's wrong with if you are going to use code only about taking a test? Landshark I don't understand the logic in what you're saying. Are there other tests that we should introduce into society? Should we implement taking a test before you are deemed qualified to open a credit card account? Should we implement taking a test before you are deemed qualified to take the mail out of your mailbox and bring it into your house for further sorting, opening, and reading? Should we implement taking a test before you are deemed qualified to operate a gas pump to fill your car with gasoline? Should we implement taking a test before you are deemed qualified to reproduce? Ok, I'm stating some crazy things here to try to make a point... A little, but a couple might have possibilities ;) How about just leaving some space in the ham bands for CW? If it gets used, fine, keep it. If CW dies out (and it will eventually--us old timers who got their ham ticket the hard way will eventually RIP) then reallocate it for other modes. Good, no problem there either. By the way, I don't remember having to take a test to get into college. I have a BS in Computer Science and a Masters in Computer Information Systems. As long as I paid my bill, they allowed me to go to class. Maybe not a community or Some state college's, but most want some sort of aptitude test to make sure you are not wasting the teachers & university's time. And the reason for the test to drive a car is to show something in the way of being able to drive a car and not kill someone else while doing it. I can understand the reason for the test to drive a car. I can explain valid reasons for some of my crazy examples above also. So why test for CW? It's not like anyone who attempts to operate CW without knowing all the letters at an arbitrary speed will endanger anyone or themselves while doing it. If you can read 20 to 30 WPM, would you want to here somebody pounding out only 5 WPM? Otherwise would you want to see the bands allocated to certain speeds? Point being, it would be called a qualifying test, to make sure you are able to operate in the mode you test for. Why have a test to operate any mode in any ham band these days? Most modes you are correct, but CW is almost an art, as such is dieing out. Guy Landshark -- Some of them are living an illusion Bounded by the darkness of their minds, In their eyes it's nation against nation, With racial pride, sad hearts they hide, Thinking only of themselves, They shun the light, They think they're right Living in the empty shells. |
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On Mon, 13 Jun 2005 13:27:31 GMT, "Landshark" wrote:
By the way, I don't remember having to take a test to get into college. I have a BS in Computer Science and a Masters in Computer Information Systems. I am sorry, but this is a poor example. First off, some colleges require a basic math/algebra and English test. Even where you don't have to take a test to get into college, you still have to take a ton of tests to graduate. If your point is that you don't need a test to start something, then you are correct. But in many skilled professions, jobs, etc, most require some sort of test taking or licensing procedure. Please find me a college you can attend that will give you a degree for just showing up, and not taking tests. As long as I paid my bill, they allowed me to go to class. So what? Are they going to give you a degree because you paid your bill? Were you allowed to sit in on advanced classes without passing earlier pre-requisites, just because you paid your bill? Vinnie S. |
Vinnie S. wrote:
As long as I paid my bill, they allowed me to go to class. So what? Are they going to give you a degree because you paid your bill? Were you allowed to sit in on advanced classes without passing earlier pre-requisites, just because you paid your bill? Vinnie S. No, to both questions. |
Landshark wrote:
If you can read 20 to 30 WPM, would you want to here somebody pounding out only 5 WPM? Otherwise would you want to see the bands allocated to certain speeds? Point being, it would be called a qualifying test, to make sure you are able to operate in the mode you test for. Landshark I've always been able to read *much* faster than I can copy code. I don't understand what you're getting at there. No need to divide up the freqs for different speeds. Generally, faster is lower in freq by gentlemen's agreement. Not always, but generally from what I've seen. FYI, there's currently a proposal to divide up the freqs based on bandwidth requirements. What's the difference between someone who passed the 5 WPM code test and has now forgotten it and someone who never learned 5 WPM? Neither operate the mode. So why not just have some freqs dedicated to those who want to use it and quit testing for it? If you can operate voice on 2M, you can operate voice on HF. Why make people qualify for a mode they have no interest in? If certain freqs are dedicated to CW, why make someone qualify for it if they're never going to use those freqs? There once was a time when the only way you could qualify for the highest class ham license was to show you could copy 20 WPM code. Someone stood up and said, "Hey, the international requirement is now at 5 WPM." So we did away with element 1b and 1c. WRC-03 did away with code entirely. So why are we still testing element 1a? Guy |
On 10 Jun 2005 23:06:45 GMT, Steveo wrote:
Vinnie S. wrote: On 10 Jun 2005 22:41:04 GMT, Steveo wrote: Take Care! Hydro Hello Hydro. Walkie talkies used to be fun! That is what got me started !!!!!! Vinnie S. Same here..an Archer something or other iirc. What a beast it created, eh? I think I was in the third grade. A pair of Soundesign Ch 14 kids walkie talkies, around 1976 or so. Dang now I really feel old. I was driving by then! I had a Sears 100 mW base station. Tuned all 23 channels, plus shortwave and transmitted in Ch 14. I thought I was working "rare" DX if I could make it to the end of the neighborhood... I hit a CB station (I didn't know what CB was at that time), and when I talked to someone, that was essentially it. I abused those radios pretty badly. But they had little to no range. It seemed I talked that one time, and never again hit anyone. But that didn't keep me from trying 1 million times. I know what you mean, Vin. I had that old Lafayette tube radio back in 1969, and I had to search to hear anyone, then yell for them 100 times in hopes of a response. My Mom is a fairly good seamstress so she even made me a jacket with my CB call on the back of it for the coffee breaks. Thinking back on it, I was a class A nerd! Yea, I used to stencil CB jargon, handles and callsigns on my school notebook. I took some ribbing from those who didn't "get it" Around the 8th grade, I was able to get one of thosetoy base stations, and talk regularly to someone. But had about 1/4 mile range. I did beg my father for a CB, but my parents really didn't support my hobbies at all. I had to wait until I got older before I was able to do the hobbies on my own. My sophmore year in HS, I finally got my first CB, a TRC-422A. Still have it. It seemed that my father finally got sick of me talking about it, and he finally got me one and a power suplly for Christmas. Of course, I was delivering papers until I ccould afford a Turner +3 and a Starduster. Did that for a couple years. Once I graduated HS, that was it until 2 years ago. Then I found you guys. I must admit, I feel like a kid again. Vinnie S. Well it sounds like you are a kid compared to me, Enzo. It's especially cool that the hobby still provides good friends like you and many others here. Rock on. Cripes! You sound older than me! Dave "Sandbagger" http://home.ptd.net/~n3cvj |
On Fri, 10 Jun 2005 20:36:48 -0400, Vinnie S.
wrote: You're freaking me out with your CB flashbacks now, Enzo! At any rate, congrats on the new rig. I am 38 now. The problem is, it took forever to get to 21 years old. It only too 2 weeks to get from 21 to 38 years old. That's the way it seems. The first 15 years goes by like molasses on a cold day. Then before you know it, you're out of school. Then 21 looms large just around the corner. Then, in what feels like 2 or 3 years, you hit 30. Then the next 15 years goes by just as fast as the last 7 or 8. I've been told by quite a few sage old timers that the older you get, the faster time seems to go by. I guess it's all relative. Dave "Sandbagger" |
On Sat, 11 Jun 2005 11:39:51 -0400, Scott in Baltimore
wrote: I "found" them a few minutes later when I tuned for someone else. That's one very good reason to have a locked clarifier. Every time I had a locked clarifier, I get off frequency comments. So you're going to believe that someone who's clarifier isn't at 12 o'clock on the 00's is right? I find it annoying to have to chase someone around because they tune to my on-frequency radio and they change their transmit frequency. A common complaint. But the alternative of having several different people on slightly different frequencies, requiring you to tune each one for clean fidelity is, IMHO, a bigger irritant. Have it properly aligned by a tech with calibrated equipment. That's good for you, but not for the other guys who align with a "galaxy" frequency counter. Also, the Unidens stay on freq better then the Galaxy and Connex crap. An old Cobra with the Uniden guts will stay on freq summer and winter, while a Galaxy will drift a lot from turn on to warmup. My old TRC-451 (Cobra 146) just keeps on going. Feed that into a 225 box on low using a 636L into a KW-7. Killer SSB combo. You are right about the TRC-451. I aligned mine 6 years ago, and it's still rock solid on. The radio was hacked up when I got it. Now it's back to stock with the final placed off the regulator for dependability. Mine is still basically stock, with the exception of an unlocked clarifier. I can stand locked-on ones. Dave "Sandbagger" http://home.ptd.net/~n3cvj |
Like trying to get my gay loser old man to get a job?
"Guy" wrote in message Where are today's challenges? |
On Sat, 11 Jun 2005 09:11:03 -0500, Guy wrote:
HarryHydro wrote: Hi Folks: Just remeniscing and old realistic CB walkie talkie I had. It had the metal ground-straps on the side and it could talk 2.4 miles (just measured on a map) with an S7. My Wife just picked up two similar walkie-talkies at a yard sale for $5! I was wide-eyed at the size of the thing! I remember when I was a kid wanting one of these walkie-talkies so bad that I got the dimensions and made a cardboard model to see 'how it felt holding one'! Wow! Thinking back! Anyone ever routinely talk further on a CB walkie talkie? The guy I use to talk to frequently in South Toms River was Electro-Express. I - you guessed it - was Hydro! (hydrofoil) He'd say, "The only walkie-talkie I know that'll talk that far is Hydro's". I currently use a Johnson Messenger Viking. Yes, I know it's 2005.. ;-) This radio talks and sounds nice too! Take Care! Hydro I was somewhere between 8 an 10 years old when I got my first pair of CB walkie-talkies for Christmas or my birthday back in the early 70s. This was the results of my parents recognizing a talent for electronics in me back then. By then, I'd put together a myiad of electronic projects like crystal radios, alarms, mosture detectors, dc motors, light detectors, etc. These little CB walkie-talkies were in little plastic blue briefcase-style boxes, less than 1 foot by 1 foot. You'd open them up, extend the telescopic antenna and turn it on. Ony one channel (14) and 100 milliwatts. They'd only work for about a block. I was hooked then. My father saw my frustration with them after he'd tell me stories of back when he was stationed in Morocco working the other side of the world with a Heathkit DX-40, a Hammurland receiver, and a knife switch to a long-wire antenna. After he retired from the Air Force, he commuted to school. We set up a 4 watt mobile into a ground plane strapped to the chimney and put an identical mobile rig in his Datsun B210 with a base loaded whip. And then we waited for our CB license to come from the FCC. KCN-6537! Not amazing I still remember that, we used it. We were scared to death of the law back then. Back in the mid-70s, when he took off for school, I'd talk to him until he was out of range. When he came home on Friday's, I'd be at that radio waiting to hear him and talk him in. Range was about 13 miles. It was fun! Back in the 70's, the locals in Louisiana made it difficult because their pleasure was to maliciously interfere with us. Then one day, he came home and showed me the window had been smashed and his CB was gone. At 12 years old, I became frustrated with CB. At 13 I became a ham. After my father saw me get a ham license, he passed his test soon after I did again, after letting his ham license expire years ago. I started off with an "N" in my call sign. Still have that call sign, but I made "extra" back when you had to pass a 20 WPM morse code test. When I was waiting for my "N" call sign, I put together a 6L6 oscillator/transmitter and borrowed an old tube-type receiver. My first few contacts in the novice band of 40 were miraculous to me--100s of miles away!. I was hooked at 13. Soon after, I put together a 6146 transmitter for a few more watts. Wow, I was fascinated. Sure was fun back then. Both my mother and father became nervous when they found out about the exposed plate voltage. I mounted that 6146 on top of the aluminum box so I could see the filiment glow and the plate connector was bare metal. My father finally broke down and bought an Yaesu FT-101. Wow! A radio that put out 180 watts AND a VFO AND all bands AND all MODES! I remember making sure it wasn't putting out more than 75 watts--that would have been breaking the rules. It didn't get any better than that. I still have that radio. Needs new tubes (and of course the modification for the available replacement tubes). I still always travel with channel 19 in the truck. It still works better than a radar detector. Today, I'm frustrated with hams. Back then, my ham friends were techies. It's hard to find a techie on the ham bands now-a-days. Yup, sure was fun back then. It's a new era today. That's my story and I'm sticking to it. :) I miss those days. I enjoyed working with tubes (even if I got shocked by them a few too many times). Radio was cooler, there was less competition from "other" tech devices. The people were cooler, less vulgar, and a lot more fun Dave "Sandbagger" |
"Dave Hall" wrote in message ... On Fri, 10 Jun 2005 20:36:48 -0400, Vinnie S. wrote: You're freaking me out with your CB flashbacks now, Enzo! At any rate, congrats on the new rig. I am 38 now. The problem is, it took forever to get to 21 years old. It only too 2 weeks to get from 21 to 38 years old. That's the way it seems. The first 15 years goes by like molasses on a cold day. Then before you know it, you're out of school. Then 21 looms large just around the corner. Then, in what feels like 2 or 3 years, you hit 30. Then the next 15 years goes by just as fast as the last 7 or 8. I've been told by quite a few sage old timers that the older you get, the faster time seems to go by. I guess it's all relative. Dave "Sandbagger" Dave, Did you hear the sonic boom last month? I just hit 58 (or did it hit me?)!!! Every time I pass a cemetary, I feel like I'm apartment hunting .... :)) 73 from Rochester, NY Jim |
"Landshark" wrote in message .. . "Steveo" wrote in message ... Vinnie S. wrote: On 10 Jun 2005 22:41:04 GMT, Steveo wrote: Take Care! Hydro Hello Hydro. Walkie talkies used to be fun! That is what got me started !!!!!! Vinnie S. Same here..an Archer something or other iirc. What a beast it created, eh? I think I was in the third grade. A pair of Soundesign Ch 14 kids walkie talkies, around 1976 or so. Dang now I really feel old. I was driving by then! I hit a CB station (I didn't know what CB was at that time), and when I talked to someone, that was essentially it. I abused those radios pretty badly. But they had little to no range. It seemed I talked that one time, and never again hit anyone. But that didn't keep me from trying 1 million times. I know what you mean, Vin. I had that old Lafayette tube radio back in 1969, and I had to search to hear anyone, then yell for them 100 times in hopes of a response. My Mom is a fairly good seamstress so she even made me a jacket with my CB call on the back of it for the coffee breaks. Thinking back on it, I was a class A nerd! Around the 8th grade, I was able to get one of thosetoy base stations, and talk regularly to someone. But had about 1/4 mile range. I did beg my father for a CB, but my parents really didn't support my hobbies at all. I had to wait until I got older before I was able to do the hobbies on my own. My sophmore year in HS, I finally got my first CB, a TRC-422A. Still have it. It seemed that my father finally got sick of me talking about it, and he finally got me one and a power suplly for Christmas. Of course, I was delivering papers until I ccould afford a Turner +3 and a Starduster. Did that for a couple years. Once I graduated HS, that was it until 2 years ago. Then I found you guys. I must admit, I feel like a kid again. Vinnie S. Well it sounds like you are a kid compared to me, Enzo. It's especially cool that the hobby still provides good friends like you and many others here. Rock on. Oh he's young compared to you and I Steveo, but he does have common sense that some that are older here don't have. Must have something to do with up bringing. Landshark Wheee ... driving by 1976? Good lord, I have my girl friends initials on my books along with my ham call sign ... and that was in 1962! I was driving in 1964. I had my 1st phone and commercial telegraph in 1966 (along with my extra). Does this mean I'm more decrepit than you and Mopar, Shark? :)) 73 from Rochester, NY Jim |
"Jim Hampton" wrote:
Does this mean I'm more decrepit than you and Mopar, Shark? :)) 73 from Rochester, NY Jim More experienced! :) |
Dave Hall wrote:
On 10 Jun 2005 23:06:45 GMT, Steveo wrote: Vinnie S. wrote: On 10 Jun 2005 22:41:04 GMT, Steveo wrote: Take Care! Hydro Hello Hydro. Walkie talkies used to be fun! That is what got me started !!!!!! Vinnie S. Same here..an Archer something or other iirc. What a beast it created, eh? I think I was in the third grade. A pair of Soundesign Ch 14 kids walkie talkies, around 1976 or so. Dang now I really feel old. I was driving by then! I had a Sears 100 mW base station. Tuned all 23 channels, plus shortwave and transmitted in Ch 14. I thought I was working "rare" DX if I could make it to the end of the neighborhood... Ha! I kow what you mean! "hey dad, how far is Parma"? WOW!! :) |
On Mon, 13 Jun 2005 13:18:30 -0400, Dave Hall wrote:
Have it properly aligned by a tech with calibrated equipment. That's good for you, but not for the other guys who align with a "galaxy" frequency counter. Dave, Do you recoomended a decent Freq counter I can get on ebay for aound $40? They have a ton of older HP and BK Precisions. I had a Fluke 1900A, but it died on me, and I am looking to replace it. Vinnie S. |
"Guy" wrote in message news:RDMqe.15605$mC.15053@okepread07... Scott in Baltimore wrote: I still always travel with channel 19 in the truck. It still works better than a radar detector. Today, I'm frustrated with hams. Back then, my ham friends were techies. It's hard to find a techie on the ham bands now-a-days. How do hams become techies when all they have to do is memorize some answers to a preprinted test? I'm for making it an essay/fill-in-the-blank test. Drop the code. Don't do away with code-only portions of the band. Code shouldn't be forced on you, but it shouldn't be brushed away. I wasn't allowed to use a calculator until I was a sophomore in college. Reason: What if you don't have a calculator later and you need to figure something out? You gotta learn how to interpolate with the tables in the back of the book first! Now calculators are less than $5. Now, when I figure out some simple math problem in my head, nobody gives a crap. I wasn't allowed to operate two meters with out first knowing morse code. Reason: When voice doesn't work, CW will get through! Now cell phones are free if you sign up for a minimum contract. Now, when I talk about a CW contact I made recently, nobody gives a crap. I passed my extra test more than 20 years ago. If I took it today, I'd fail it. Why did I have to take it and pass it more than 20 years ago? Why have a test at all today? There is no difference between putting a CB on the air and putting any ham gear on the air today. Where are today's challenges? Hello, guy The fact is that folks should posses some minimal knowledge lest they conflict with other folks. There was no regulation of radio back in the early 1900s. No need. Once radio started taking off, there had to be some coordination or stations would be jamming each other. Same with automobiles. At first, no licensing and no laws. Then, when some horses became scared of a horseless carriage, they put into effect 5 mph speed limits in some areas. Sometimes, someone had to walk ahead with a flag to warn folks that a horseless carriage was coming! Eventually, laws were formed to maximize usage to *everyone*. Otherwise, what if there were no stop lights, stop signs, and no rules about which side of the road to drive on? Orville and Wilbur Wright didn't have to apply to anyone for a license to fly. There were no laws at the beginning of aircraft. Only once a number of planes were flying did they start to regulate it. For obvious reasons LOL. As to taking your test, why would you have a problem today? I had last been on the air in 1969 and let my license drop around 1981 (not sure of the exact year). When I retook it in 1993, I passed the extra first time around. If you have copied code past 13 words per minute, you won't forget it. You might get a bit rusty, but can pick it back up. In my case, I didn't brush up. Nor on theory either. The basics remain the same; I've been into computers since 1976, so any questions on gates, cpus, memory, etc. is a no-brainer. Of course I missed some questions on where bands were. They've added a couple. You don't need 100%; in fact, I didn't feel like extracting square roots by hand (I can, but it is a pain - I'm not talking guessing here), so I simply checked off some answers. I knew I had already passed that portion so who cared. As to no difference; perhaps not to put it on the air, but to understand what emission you are using and where you can and can not use it may just make a tad bit of difference. I have to laugh about folks joking about IRLP and Echolink. I've used my 440 HT to chat with Australia with *no Internet* involved. All rf path, courtesy of a 10 meter link. Of course, that wasn't really a challenge; I simply heard the Aussies there. What is fun is having the ability to change mode in a heartbeat. One guy on a 440 repeater was squaking that everyone should *have* to use Morse. Since the repeater owner was in the group, I asked his permission and got it. 40 words per minute MFM sent over the repeater. Shut him up in a hurry. Is there a difference? I know one guy who *knows* so LOL. 73 from Rochester, NY Jim |
"Vinnie S." wrote in message ... On Mon, 13 Jun 2005 13:27:31 GMT, "Landshark" wrote: By the way, I don't remember having to take a test to get into college. I have a BS in Computer Science and a Masters in Computer Information Systems. I am sorry, but this is a poor example. First off, some colleges require a basic math/algebra and English test. Even where you don't have to take a test to get into college, you still have to take a ton of tests to graduate. I agree and yes you are correct on basic requirements. If your point is that you don't need a test to start something, then you are correct. But in many skilled professions, jobs, etc, most require some sort of test taking or licensing procedure. Please find me a college you can attend that will give you a degree for just showing up, and not taking tests. As long as I paid my bill, they allowed me to go to class. So what? Are they going to give you a degree because you paid your bill? Were by pass the class. you allowed to sit in on advanced classes without passing earlier pre-requisites, just because you paid your bill? Agreed. In 76 when I was at college, for one computer class I had to take trig or pass a test to take the class. Vinnie S. You were answering Guy, correct? You used my post as a qoute, I hope you know that I agree with you. I'll take resonable arguements, like the one with Guy any day of the week over the BS, the others have tried spew. Landshark |
"Guy" wrote in message news:C_ire.15872$mC.13811@okepread07... Landshark wrote: If you can read 20 to 30 WPM, would you want to here somebody pounding out only 5 WPM? Otherwise would you want to see the bands allocated to certain speeds? Point being, it would be called a qualifying test, to make sure you are able to operate in the mode you test for. Landshark I've always been able to read *much* faster than I can copy code. I don't understand what you're getting at there. Cool! What I was saying is that even though the code is a basic rate, wouldn't you rather have a test with more proficient people, than with people that aren't very good, but just enough to get their license? No need to divide up the freqs for different speeds. Generally, faster is lower in freq by gentlemen's agreement. Not always, but generally from what I've seen. FYI, there's currently a proposal to divide up the freqs based on bandwidth requirements. Yup I know that, but so is the gentlemen's agreement on 36 to 40 for sideband use on cb, but that not always the case. What's the difference between someone who passed the 5 WPM code test and has now forgotten it and someone who never learned 5 WPM? Neither operate the mode. So why not just have some freqs dedicated to those who want to use it and quit testing for it? If you can operate voice on 2M, you can operate voice on HF. Why make people qualify for a mode they have no interest in? If certain freqs are dedicated to CW, why make someone qualify for it if they're never going to use those freqs? Because they at least spent the time to learn it, not take a multiple choice test and sign their name at the bottom of the paper. There once was a time when the only way you could qualify for the highest class ham license was to show you could copy 20 WPM code. Someone stood up and said, "Hey, the international requirement is now at 5 WPM." So we did away with element 1b and 1c. WRC-03 did away with code entirely. So why are we still testing element 1a? Don't know, but it's still a requirement to get the upper class license. I don't agree with that, but if they were to have a "code" only requirement license, that would be fine with me. Guy Landshark |
Hey, Jim, my Echolink fake radio is on.
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"Steveo" wrote in message ... "Landshark" wrote: "Steveo" wrote in message ... Vinnie S. wrote: On 10 Jun 2005 22:41:04 GMT, Steveo wrote: Take Care! Hydro Hello Hydro. Walkie talkies used to be fun! That is what got me started !!!!!! Vinnie S. Same here..an Archer something or other iirc. What a beast it created, eh? I think I was in the third grade. A pair of Soundesign Ch 14 kids walkie talkies, around 1976 or so. Dang now I really feel old. I was driving by then! I hit a CB station (I didn't know what CB was at that time), and when I talked to someone, that was essentially it. I abused those radios pretty badly. But they had little to no range. It seemed I talked that one time, and never again hit anyone. But that didn't keep me from trying 1 million times. I know what you mean, Vin. I had that old Lafayette tube radio back in 1969, and I had to search to hear anyone, then yell for them 100 times in hopes of a response. My Mom is a fairly good seamstress so she even made me a jacket with my CB call on the back of it for the coffee breaks. Thinking back on it, I was a class A nerd! Around the 8th grade, I was able to get one of thosetoy base stations, and talk regularly to someone. But had about 1/4 mile range. I did beg my father for a CB, but my parents really didn't support my hobbies at all. I had to wait until I got older before I was able to do the hobbies on my own. My sophmore year in HS, I finally got my first CB, a TRC-422A. Still have it. It seemed that my father finally got sick of me talking about it, and he finally got me one and a power suplly for Christmas. Of course, I was delivering papers until I ccould afford a Turner +3 and a Starduster. Did that for a couple years. Once I graduated HS, that was it until 2 years ago. Then I found you guys. I must admit, I feel like a kid again. Vinnie S. Well it sounds like you are a kid compared to me, Enzo. It's especially cool that the hobby still provides good friends like you and many others here. Rock on. Oh he's young compared to you and I Steveo, but he does have common sense that some that are older here don't have. Must have something to do with up bringing. Landshark Yea, or mental health. I hope it's not in the genes ;) Landshark |
"Jim Hampton" wrote in message ... "Landshark" wrote in message .. . Wheee ... driving by 1976? Good lord, I have my girl friends initials on my books along with my ham call sign ... and that was in 1962! Hey, you knew my Mom :P LOL!! Did you ever have the chance to talk with Bill Orr? He was a friend of my parents when I was growing up from 61 to 67. He was a pilot and used to fly up to a place called "Sea Ranch" in northern Ca., they had a second home up there and used to go away for the weekend with my parents and other friends. I was driving in 1964. I had my 1st phone and commercial telegraph in 1966 (along with my extra). Does this mean I'm more decrepit than you and Mopar, Shark? :)) Naw, just older than the dirt I'm standing on right now ;) 73 from Rochester, NY Jim It's ok Jim, my dad's 80, so I'm used to dealing with old-timers disease(grin) |
"Steveo" wrote in message ... "Jim Hampton" wrote: Does this mean I'm more decrepit than you and Mopar, Shark? :)) 73 from Rochester, NY Jim More experienced! :) DAMN STRAIGHT!!!! Landshark |
"Landshark" wrote in message . .. "Jim Hampton" wrote in message ... "Landshark" wrote in message .. . Wheee ... driving by 1976? Good lord, I have my girl friends initials on my books along with my ham call sign ... and that was in 1962! Hey, you knew my Mom :P LOL!! Did you ever have the chance to talk with Bill Orr? He was a friend of my parents when I was growing up from 61 to 67. He was a pilot and used to fly up to a place called "Sea Ranch" in northern Ca., they had a second home up there and used to go away for the weekend with my parents and other friends. I was driving in 1964. I had my 1st phone and commercial telegraph in 1966 (along with my extra). Does this mean I'm more decrepit than you and Mopar, Shark? :)) Naw, just older than the dirt I'm standing on right now ;) 73 from Rochester, NY Jim It's ok Jim, my dad's 80, so I'm used to dealing with old-timers disease(grin) LOL - you guys! Don't worry, I'm gonna live another 40 years as I haven't p*ssed on enough graves yet! :)) Gawd, I wish folks could get along in this group. I gotta admit that you, Mopar, and Twist have a good sense of humor (not to mention thick skins, which is a necessity around here LOL). 73 from Rochester, NY Jim AA2QA |
"Jim Hampton" wrote:
"Landshark" wrote in message . .. "Jim Hampton" wrote in message ... "Landshark" wrote in message .. . Wheee ... driving by 1976? Good lord, I have my girl friends initials on my books along with my ham call sign ... and that was in 1962! Hey, you knew my Mom :P LOL!! Did you ever have the chance to talk with Bill Orr? He was a friend of my parents when I was growing up from 61 to 67. He was a pilot and used to fly up to a place called "Sea Ranch" in northern Ca., they had a second home up there and used to go away for the weekend with my parents and other friends. I was driving in 1964. I had my 1st phone and commercial telegraph in 1966 (along with my extra). Does this mean I'm more decrepit than you and Mopar, Shark? :)) Naw, just older than the dirt I'm standing on right now ;) 73 from Rochester, NY Jim It's ok Jim, my dad's 80, so I'm used to dealing with old-timers disease(grin) LOL - you guys! Don't worry, I'm gonna live another 40 years as I haven't p*ssed on enough graves yet! :)) Gawd, I wish folks could get along in this group. I gotta admit that you, Mopar, and Twist have a good sense of humor (not to mention thick skins, which is a necessity around here LOL). 73 from Rochester, NY Jim AA2QA We get along great in this group compared to some of the ****e I see in many other groups, Jim. You can't expect the demented dogie to act like he has any sense, or spine. The keyboard and Nad are his only friends. |
Remember back then there was not the cussing and name calling as what
goes on now. In ham there is not near the abusive crud going on as on the CB freq's. Don't know why but it is there. I wish that we didn't have to use a 10,000 watt kicker, even with a durned good antenna, to talk to the end of the block. And I put it in about the good antenna cause if you have a radio that won't get out without a kicker, it, once put in front of a kicker, all kinds of pitiful noises come out of it. It makes it hard to understand them and they keep others that have decent talking sets from enjoying what could be a really decent hobby for the price. |
"Jim Hampton" wrote in message ... "Landshark" wrote in message . .. "Jim Hampton" wrote in message ... "Landshark" wrote in message .. . Wheee ... driving by 1976? Good lord, I have my girl friends initials on my books along with my ham call sign ... and that was in 1962! Hey, you knew my Mom :P LOL!! Did you ever have the chance to talk with Bill Orr? He was a friend of my parents when I was growing up from 61 to 67. He was a pilot and used to fly up to a place called "Sea Ranch" in northern Ca., they had a second home up there and used to go away for the weekend with my parents and other friends. I was driving in 1964. I had my 1st phone and commercial telegraph in 1966 (along with my extra). Does this mean I'm more decrepit than you and Mopar, Shark? :)) Naw, just older than the dirt I'm standing on right now ;) 73 from Rochester, NY Jim It's ok Jim, my dad's 80, so I'm used to dealing with old-timers disease(grin) LOL - you guys! Don't worry, I'm gonna live another 40 years as I haven't p*ssed on enough graves yet! :)) Well aren't you just special :P Gawd, I wish folks could get along in this group. I gotta admit that you, Mopar, and Twist have a good sense of humor (not to mention thick skins, which is a necessity around here LOL). 73 from Rochester, NY Jim AA2QA Hey, other than two or three people here, most everyone gets along pretty good. Landshark -- The internet is fun but it's no substitute for books, people, nature, or direct experiences. But you think that you can get everything you need from your computer, you are a fool. Frank Gililland |
Jim Hampton wrote:
Hello, guy The fact is that folks should posses some minimal knowledge lest they conflict with other folks. I'm still trying to figure out the difference between learning morse code and not using it and not learning morse code and not using it. How can someone who doesn't learn it and doesn't use it conflict with others in an area dedicated to morse code? There was no regulation of radio back in the early 1900s. No need. Once radio started taking off, there had to be some coordination or stations would be jamming each other. Yes, back when there was no store bought gear. Yes, back when you had the challenge and the pleasure of building it and the sense of accomplishment of operating it yourself. Same with automobiles. At first, no licensing and no laws. Then, when some horses became scared of a horseless carriage, they put into effect 5 mph speed limits in some areas. Sometimes, someone had to walk ahead with a flag to warn folks that a horseless carriage was coming! Eventually, laws were formed to maximize usage to *everyone*. Otherwise, what if there were no stop lights, stop signs, and no rules about which side of the road to drive on? Yes, for the safety of others. Orville and Wilbur Wright didn't have to apply to anyone for a license to fly. There were no laws at the beginning of aircraft. Only once a number of planes were flying did they start to regulate it. For obvious reasons LOL. Yes, for the safety of others. As to taking your test, why would you have a problem today? I had last been on the air in 1969 and let my license drop around 1981 (not sure of the exact year). When I retook it in 1993, I passed the extra first time around. If you have copied code past 13 words per minute, you won't forget it. You might get a bit rusty, but can pick it back up. In my case, I didn't brush up. Nor on theory either. The basics remain the same; I've been into computers since 1976, so any questions on gates, cpus, memory, etc. is a no-brainer. Sure, multiple guess questions on computers to operate today's ham gear makes sense. But to test for CW? I'm still searching for a valid reason to keep doing so. All I've seen so far is, "why not?" or "to show you're qualified." Is it solely to limit the number of people who can operate voice on HF--but people are afraid to say this out loud? Yes, I was copying code at 35 WPM (about as fast as I could pencil it on paper) at one time. Right now, I can copy 13 solid. Yes, I could easily increase it again with just a little bit of practice. Of course I missed some questions on where bands were. They've added a couple. You don't need 100%; in fact, I didn't feel like extracting square roots by hand (I can, but it is a pain - I'm not talking guessing here), so I simply checked off some answers. I knew I had already passed that portion so who cared. Yes, you are aware of some practical strategies in passing a multiple guess test. This is part of the coaching that occurs for most potential hams these days. As to no difference; perhaps not to put it on the air, but to understand what emission you are using and where you can and can not use it may just make a tad bit of difference. Why only a practical test for CW? Why not a practical test for any of the digital modes or using a satellite or how to DF a fox or how to set up a radio? I have to laugh about folks joking about IRLP and Echolink. I've used my 440 HT to chat with Australia with *no Internet* involved. All rf path, courtesy of a 10 meter link. Of course, that wasn't really a challenge; I simply heard the Aussies there. What is fun is having the ability to change mode in a heartbeat. One guy or a practical test on switching modes on one of today's radios? on a 440 repeater was squaking that everyone should *have* to use Morse. Since the repeater owner was in the group, I asked his permission and got it. 40 words per minute MFM sent over the repeater. Shut him up in a hurry. Is there a difference? I know one guy who *knows* so LOL. 73 from Rochester, NY Jim I'm still waiting for someone to give me a convincing reason why we continue to test element 1a. Guy |
I'm still waiting for someone to give me a convincing reason why we continue
to test element 1a. o the old fuddy duddies say so o the FCC makes no money from dropping the requirement o "I had to, so you have to!" o no good reason whatsoever o the FCC is busy selling spectrum, so if HF is actually used, they can't sell it o too busy with killing the HF spectrum with BPL o too lazy to act because Powell sapped all their inhibition o no good reason whatsoever (oh, I said that) |
On Mon, 13 Jun 2005 17:50:26 -0400, Vinnie S.
wrote: On Mon, 13 Jun 2005 13:18:30 -0400, Dave Hall wrote: Have it properly aligned by a tech with calibrated equipment. That's good for you, but not for the other guys who align with a "galaxy" frequency counter. Dave, Do you recoomended a decent Freq counter I can get on ebay for aound $40? They have a ton of older HP and BK Precisions. I had a Fluke 1900A, but it died on me, and I am looking to replace it. Well, as a matter of course, you get what you pay for. To me $40 is in the "recreational user" category. For true lab precision quality test equipment, you're going to pay a lot more (Unless, of course, it's 30+ years old, and then I'd have my doubts about calibration). I have a Fluke counter, which I obtained about 8 years ago. At the time I got it, the calibration was about a year old. While the optional heated crystal oven high precision timebase is fairly stable, I'm sure there's been some drift in the last 8 or 9 years. So even if you get a "Lab quality" counter, unless the seller can provide calibration traceability, you still don't know how accurate it might be. Dave "Sandbagger" Vinnie S. |
On Mon, 13 Jun 2005 20:40:33 GMT, "Jim Hampton"
wrote: "Dave Hall" wrote in message .. . On Fri, 10 Jun 2005 20:36:48 -0400, Vinnie S. wrote: You're freaking me out with your CB flashbacks now, Enzo! At any rate, congrats on the new rig. I am 38 now. The problem is, it took forever to get to 21 years old. It only too 2 weeks to get from 21 to 38 years old. That's the way it seems. The first 15 years goes by like molasses on a cold day. Then before you know it, you're out of school. Then 21 looms large just around the corner. Then, in what feels like 2 or 3 years, you hit 30. Then the next 15 years goes by just as fast as the last 7 or 8. I've been told by quite a few sage old timers that the older you get, the faster time seems to go by. I guess it's all relative. Dave "Sandbagger" Dave, Did you hear the sonic boom last month? I just hit 58 (or did it hit me?)!!! Hence the term "hitting the wall". Every time I pass a cemetary, I feel like I'm apartment hunting .... :)) LOL! That's funny! The problem with this is I haven't seen one with a good view.... ;-) Dave "Sandbagger" |
On 14 Jun 2005 03:37:15 -0700, "Cliff" wrote:
Remember back then there was not the cussing and name calling as what goes on now. In ham there is not near the abusive crud going on as on the CB freq's. Don't know why but it is there. I wish that we didn't have to use a 10,000 watt kicker, even with a durned good antenna, to talk to the end of the block. Hell, we were glad when we could do that with .1 watt, and a 36" telescopic. Of course there wasn't as much QRN on the band and those weak signals could travel farther before being lost in the (lower) ambient noise. And I put it in about the good antenna cause if you have a radio that won't get out without a kicker, it, once put in front of a kicker, all kinds of pitiful noises come out of it. It makes it hard to understand them and they keep others that have decent talking sets from enjoying what could be a really decent hobby for the price. Human beings (especially males) tend to look at life as a series of challenges or competitions. Think about sports, NASCAR, etc. There's an almost irresistible drive to be the best you can be at something, or at least better than the next guy. On CB, that sense of competition is what drives people to run gobs of excessive power. It's not that they actually expect to talk consistently over 200 miles. They just want to be the only one heard in a 10 mile radius when they key up. The big dog as it were. Being a "Mud Duck" is akin to being a physical wimp. Dave "Sandbagger" |
On Wed, 15 Jun 2005 06:48:24 -0400, Dave Hall wrote:
Dave, Do you recoomended a decent Freq counter I can get on ebay for aound $40? They have a ton of older HP and BK Precisions. I had a Fluke 1900A, but it died on me, and I am looking to replace it. Well, as a matter of course, you get what you pay for. To me $40 is in the "recreational user" category. For true lab precision quality test equipment, you're going to pay a lot more (Unless, of course, it's 30+ years old, and then I'd have my doubts about calibration). Well, most of these are bench quality that have been removed from labs that have been shut down. For how often I have to do it, it doesn't pay to buy a $200 counter when it's going back in the closet after alignment. I have a Fluke counter, which I obtained about 8 years ago. At the time I got it, the calibration was about a year old. While the optional heated crystal oven high precision timebase is fairly stable, I'm sure there's been some drift in the last 8 or 9 years. So even if you get a "Lab quality" counter, unless the seller can provide calibration traceability, you still don't know how accurate it might be. I used to do calibrations, years ago on research instruments that was traceable to NIST, and NBS before that. At that time, traceability was at least $100 per piece. I don't see how it would be cost effective to get a counter with this traceability that could easily run you twice the cost of a new radio. Vinnie S. |
Galaxy freq counters should not be called "frequency counters" and
should be referred to as what they truly are,,,,, more of a freq "display" than true counter. |
On Tue, 14 Jun 2005 01:25:33 GMT, "Landshark" wrote:
As long as I paid my bill, they allowed me to go to class. So what? Are they going to give you a degree because you paid your bill? Were by pass the class. you allowed to sit in on advanced classes without passing earlier pre-requisites, just because you paid your bill? Agreed. In 76 when I was at college, for one computer class I had to take trig or pass a test to take the class. Vinnie S. You were answering Guy, correct? You used my post as a qoute, I hope you know that I agree with you. I'll take resonable arguements, like the one with Guy any day of the week over the BS, the others have tried spew. I was answering Guy. I do agree with some of the things he says. But I don't agree that you don't learn from preparing for the tests. I learned quite a bit just from the answer pool book. Vinnie S. |
Every time I pass a cemetary, I feel like I'm apartment hunting .... :))
LOL! That's funny! The problem with this is I haven't seen one with a good view.... ;-) Folks are just dying to get in! Are cemetery fences to keep the living out, or the dead in? |
The keyboard and playgirl magazine are mopathetics friends
|
You mean before the group's owners, the AKC, prohibited ebay auctions
and ratted out keyclown amps and illegal radios, |
On Wed, 15 Jun 2005 23:56:06 -0400, Scott in Baltimore
wrote: Every time I pass a cemetary, I feel like I'm apartment hunting .... :)) LOL! That's funny! The problem with this is I haven't seen one with a good view.... ;-) Folks are just dying to get in! Are cemetery fences to keep the living out, or the dead in? Yes. Dave "Sandbagger" |
On Wed, 15 Jun 2005 09:10:40 -0400, Vinnie S.
wrote: On Wed, 15 Jun 2005 06:48:24 -0400, Dave Hall wrote: Dave, Do you recomend a decent Freq counter I can get on ebay for aound $40? They have a ton of older HP and BK Precisions. I had a Fluke 1900A, but it died on me, and I am looking to replace it. Well, as a matter of course, you get what you pay for. To me $40 is in the "recreational user" category. For true lab precision quality test equipment, you're going to pay a lot more (Unless, of course, it's 30+ years old, and then I'd have my doubts about calibration). Well, most of these are bench quality that have been removed from labs that have been shut down. For how often I have to do it, it doesn't pay to buy a $200 counter when it's going back in the closet after alignment. Like I said before, accuracy costs money. How accurate do you want to be? I have a Fluke counter, which I obtained about 8 years ago. At the time I got it, the calibration was about a year old. While the optional heated crystal oven high precision timebase is fairly stable, I'm sure there's been some drift in the last 8 or 9 years. So even if you get a "Lab quality" counter, unless the seller can provide calibration traceability, you still don't know how accurate it might be. I used to do calibrations, years ago on research instruments that was traceable to NIST, and NBS before that. At that time, traceability was at least $100 per piece. I don't see how it would be cost effective to get a counter with this traceability that could easily run you twice the cost of a new radio. I was going to bring that up. The cost of calibration is often more than what you paid for the used instrument itself, unless you have access to a cal lab and can do it yourself. Once in a while I'll sneak one or two of my pieces into the pile at work when we send a bunch out to cal. But the bottom line here is that it makes little sense to buy a lab quality counter for its inherent accuracy, and not have it recently calibrated. But these are the issues you have to face. If you want something that is "Dead on, no argument, last word on the subject" accurate, you will have to pay for it. If, on the other hand, you are content with being "close", a $40 counter will fit the bill. The choice is yours. I get a kick out of guys on the air (SSB) arguing over who's on frequency and who isn't. One guy will tell another to tune to him because he's "a bit off". The other guy will respond that if there's a difference, it must be the first guy's radio, because his "XYZ brand" is "dead on", and it goes from there. In the grand scheme of things, does it really matter? As long as everyone has the ability to synchronize their transmit with their receive clarifier, and can tune to each other, where exactly they are becomes irrelevant. But you can see how the wide variation of quality test equipment and radio drift can make it nearly impossible to bring everyone's transmit frequency to the same exact point (Within 100 hz). That's why I don't like "locked on" transmit clarifiers. Dave "Sandbagger" |
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