Lancer wrote:
Thinking back on it, I was a class A nerd!

Hey maybe class B? :-)

Hey, I resembled that remark!

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.

Have it properly aligned by a tech with calibrated equipment.

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.

The radio was hacked up when I got it. Now it's back to stock
with the final placed off the regulator for dependability.

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.

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.

I find other things in life more annoying. But to me, chasing down people is
like cleaning my contact lenses. I do it so often, I don't even realize I am
doing it.

Have it properly aligned by a tech with calibrated equipment.

I can do that myself, and I won't hack it.


Also, the Unidens stay on freq better then the Galaxy and Connex crap.

Agreed.

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 Galaxy 949 was brutal on SSB.

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.

The radio was hacked up when I got it. Now it's back to stock
with the final placed off the regulator for dependability.

I kept all the components I removed for the unlock. Labled and everything.

BTW, my 2510 is not unlocked. I left that alone because I can get so close with
the RIT.


Vinnie S.

On Sat, 11 Jun 2005 11:45:07 -0400, 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.

I used the answers in the book method. I learned quite a bit just from that. Now
that I passed the tests, I will get the standard ARRL tech and general books,
before I go on the air.

I think the problem with essay, it time and age. I studied for a month, almost
every night. Having no kids, that wasn't a problem. Get a kid or 2, and you will
have a harder time. Also, it seems the youth are so preoccupied with the Net,
IPODs and cell phones, making the tested harder is not going to get any new
members. Most of the hams I talked to want to get more young people interested
in ham, because it appears to be on it's way out with that age group.

Code shouldn't be forced on you, but it shouldn't be brushed away.


Code is a complete waste. I studied for a month, passed the test, and already
have forgotten the letters. What they should do if make it optional for code
users. Give a real test, and give out licenses for code users. IOW, those who
want to use it, test for it.

Vinnie S.

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?

Vinnie S. wrote:

On Sat, 11 Jun 2005 11:45:07 -0400, 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.

I used the answers in the book method. I learned quite a bit just from
that. Now that I passed the tests, I will get the standard ARRL tech and
general books, before I go on the air.

I think the problem with essay, it time and age. I studied for a month,
almost every night. Having no kids, that wasn't a problem. Get a kid or 2,
and you will have a harder time. Also, it seems the youth are so
preoccupied with the Net, IPODs and cell phones, making the tested harder
is not going to get any new members. Most of the hams I talked to want to
get more young people interested in ham, because it appears to be on it's
way out with that age group.

Code shouldn't be forced on you, but it shouldn't be brushed away.


Code is a complete waste. I studied for a month, passed the test, and
already have forgotten the letters. What they should do if make it
optional for code users. Give a real test, and give out licenses for code
users. IOW, those who want to use it, test for it.

Vinnie S.

Why should people who *want* to use it have to test for it?

Lancer wrote:
On 11 Jun 2005 14:41:44 GMT, Steveo wrote:

Lancer wrote:
Thinking back on it, I was a class A nerd!

Hey maybe class B? :-)

Hey, I resembled that remark!

When I was in shop class they taught us now to make molds and poor
aluminum into it.. I had a 2 or 3 pound aluminum paper weight with my
call on it...

Ah yes, the foundry was fun!

Never did put it on my jacket tho...:-)

Jealous? :)

What was great about the foundry was, someone always managed to but a
bullet in the pile of aluminum chair tubing, that was gonna be melted
down. High School humor at its greatest. That was defiantly a tear and
snott blowing stunt.

I wake up in my sleep laughing about that!

Jay in the Mojave



Steveo wrote:

Lancer wrote:

On 11 Jun 2005 14:41:44 GMT, Steveo wrote:


Lancer wrote:

Thinking back on it, I was a class A nerd!

Hey maybe class B? :-)


Hey, I resembled that remark!

When I was in shop class they taught us now to make molds and poor
aluminum into it.. I had a 2 or 3 pound aluminum paper weight with my
call on it...


Ah yes, the foundry was fun!

Never did put it on my jacket tho...:-)


Jealous? :)

On Sat, 11 Jun 2005 20:54:39 -0500, Guy wrote:

Code is a complete waste. I studied for a month, passed the test, and
already have forgotten the letters. What they should do if make it
optional for code users. Give a real test, and give out licenses for code
users. IOW, those who want to use it, test for it.

Vinnie S.

Why should people who *want* to use it have to test for it?

Because it's the opposite right now. People who don't use it, test for it. Might
as well right that ship.

Vinnie S.