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powerful walkie talkie
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 |
"HarryHydro" wrote in message ups.com... 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 Hello, Hydro Careful, or you'll be giving away your age :)) Yep, as a kid, I had used some of the very low power stuff a bit. In college, in 1966, I hadn't taken my ham gear down and my roomate and I decided to see how far a cb walkie could go. We had only gotten about a mile down the road when the local cops pulled us over and told us to get off the radio. It turned out that their had been a fight at a bar just outside of town the previous night between to rival gangs, one of which threatened to come back the next day. The cops were really clamping down on everything. Never did find out how far the things could reach :( Best regards from Rochester, NY Jim - old as air and twice as polluted :)) |
On 10 Jun 2005 09:11:11 -0700, "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! Higher power walkie-talkies back in the 70's routinely could talk 5 miles or so. I had a 1 watt Midland with a 5 foot telescopic antenna that I could get 4 or 5 miles out of. Alot of it depends on terrain. If you are on a high hill, you can talk a lot further than if you're in a valley. Also close proximity to water, as you have, and flat land will allow your signal to travel farther. Don't apologize for the vintage gear. Radio was more fun when that stuff was the state of the art..... Dave "Sandbagger" http://home.ptd.net/~n3cvj |
Hello Harry Hydro:
Great story there. I use to have a pair of Lloyds 100 walkie takies, with a massive 100 mw (.1 watts or 100 Milli watts) of power from a 9 volt transistor radio battery. I use to live in Lake View Terrace, near the San Ferenando Valley. Behind out house was some hills with about a 1000 foot above the valley floor. Well with the Lloyds 100 walkie talkies us kids climbed the hills and where able to talk all over the place on a Saturday. We where able to talk to boats and people on a picnic near Hanson Dam and Lake. Yeah we was somebody all right, being able to talk all that way. Then we hit the big times when dear ol Dad traded his Bowling Ball for a Gonset G12 CB Radio with a massive 5 watts of input power, and a 102 inch whip antenna on the roof, gee whiz we talked all over the place. We even talked to the Sunland Tujunga area, almost 3 miles away I think. The power supply was Dads truck 12 volt battery out of his 1964 Custom Cab Ford F100 Truck, with red bucket seats, simply custom back in 1966. The battery eat up the carpet too much after leaving the charger on all night long, but I don't think Dad knew about the carpet, or didn't yell at us for it. Dad was able to talk to Rebel in down town San Fernando, on channel 5, who talked skip all the time, to back east. This must have been 1966 or 67. Dads friends Ray (Buckshot)and Jim (Jimmey Cat) use to go deer hunting in the hills and mountains behide us at times and they could even talk ship on the top of the mountains with there 5 watt walkie talkies. Many of he locals would go nutzoid when they could hear Jimmy Cat say to Buckshot "No Ray that one is too small wait for the bigger one comes around the hill, ect......" They wouldn't respond to any of the local stations, as they where deer hunting, or so goes the story. But thats another story.......... Jay in the Mojave 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 |
"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 Hello Hydro. Walkie talkies used to be fun! |
On 10 Jun 2005 21:04:48 GMT, Steveo 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 Hello Hydro. Walkie talkies used to be fun! That is what got me started !!!!!! Vinnie S. |
Vinnie S. wrote:
On 10 Jun 2005 21:04:48 GMT, Steveo 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 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? |
"Vinnie S." wrote in message ... On 10 Jun 2005 21:04:48 GMT, Steveo 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 Hello Hydro. Walkie talkies used to be fun! That is what got me started !!!!!! Vinnie S. Hello, Vinnie Too bad we can't all just have fun instead of arguing LOL. Those were the days, I agree. 73 from Rochester, NY Jim |
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. 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. 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. |
On Fri, 10 Jun 2005 22:43:51 GMT, "Jim Hampton" wrote:
Take Care! Hydro Hello Hydro. Walkie talkies used to be fun! That is what got me started !!!!!! Vinnie S. Hello, Vinnie Too bad we can't all just have fun instead of arguing LOL. Those were the days, I agree. I do that now right here. I KF most of the assholes, and hardly ever see then except when they get piggybacked. This place is so much better now ! Vinnie S. |
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. |
On 10 Jun 2005 23:06:45 GMT, Steveo wrote:
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. Amen. I picked up a new Grant LT on ebay. They are the same radio as the XL, but for some reason, the XL is geeting $250 for new in box. I emailed Uniden and asked them, and they said it was the same radio, except the LT has backlight and DSC circuit. Some mine was half the cost of the XL. I unlocked the clarifier and will stick it in my car. The receive is great. I have to say, these old school looking meters and chrome are too damn pretty. The backlight looks awesome. My wife left tonight, so I am alone for the next couple hours. Going to do some chatting on the radio ! Vinnie S. |
Vinnie S. wrote:
On 10 Jun 2005 23:06:45 GMT, Steveo wrote: 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. Amen. I picked up a new Grant LT on ebay. They are the same radio as the XL, but for some reason, the XL is geeting $250 for new in box. I emailed Uniden and asked them, and they said it was the same radio, except the LT has backlight and DSC circuit. Some mine was half the cost of the XL. I unlocked the clarifier and will stick it in my car. The receive is great. I have to say, these old school looking meters and chrome are too damn pretty. The backlight looks awesome. My wife left tonight, so I am alone for the next couple hours. Going to do some chatting on the radio ! Vinnie S. After you watch the porno videos? (j/k) :) You're freaking me out with your CB flashbacks now, Enzo! At any rate, congrats on the new rig. |
On 10 Jun 2005 23:44:21 GMT, Steveo wrote:
I picked up a new Grant LT on ebay. They are the same radio as the XL, but for some reason, the XL is geeting $250 for new in box. I emailed Uniden and asked them, and they said it was the same radio, except the LT has backlight and DSC circuit. Some mine was half the cost of the XL. I unlocked the clarifier and will stick it in my car. The receive is great. I have to say, these old school looking meters and chrome are too damn pretty. The backlight looks awesome. My wife left tonight, so I am alone for the next couple hours. Going to do some chatting on the radio ! Vinnie S. After you watch the porno videos? (j/k) :) 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. Vinnie S. |
I unlocked the clarifier and will stick it in my car.
I talked some skip last Saturday. I answered someone, then they turned their clarifier. I lost them in the racket because their frequency changed. I "found" them a few minutes later when I tuned for someone else. That's one very good reason to have a locked clarifier. |
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. You just blinked, right? |
mopathetic watches NAMBLA and LAMBDA videos.It is how he psyches up
each night for those Petro bathrooms. |
Keyclownism is not a hobby. It is a federally prohibitied exploitation
of spectrum. Keyclowns have no consideration for legal CB'ers. Now, mopathetic...threaten us again, whydoncha? |
On Sat, 11 Jun 2005 00:09:21 -0400, Scott in Baltimore
wrote: I unlocked the clarifier and will stick it in my car. I talked some skip last Saturday. I answered someone, then they turned their clarifier. I lost them in the racket because their frequency changed. 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. Vinnie S. |
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. :) Guy |
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. |
Vinnie S. wrote:
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. Why not just do away with the morse code test? WRC-03 did away with the international requirement. As a matter of fact, can you think of a reason to have *any* testing requirements to operate in the ham bands these days? You say code is a complete waste. I could say the same about memorizing things like the frequencies of a particular ham band, or answering "yes" to radio waves travelling at the speed of light in a vacuum, or which ionospheric region is closest to earth, or the meaning of the term "73", or the meaning of the Q-Signal "QRS", or how much voltage is there from an automobile battery, or the difference between microfarad and picofarad, or how to figure out a 1/4 wavelength, or ... I just finished looking through the element 2 question pool and I can't think of a reason why people are tested on this stuff anymore. Can't buy any ham gear today that operates outside the ham bands. Why not just make it illegal to modify store-bought ham gear and then just call it the Citizen's Bands (bandS -- plural). A few decades ago, you had to have a little bit of knowledge to build/operate home brew equipment, and a little less knowledge to operate store-bought gear and keep it inside the ham bands and prevent unintentional interference. Now-a-days, it's not economically feasible to home-brew your own ham gear anymore. It's cheaper to buy it from a store. And the stuff you buy from the store today almost can't be made to operate outside the ham bands or un-intentionally interfere with others unless you pop the lid and screw it up with silly modifications. Element 4 has questions like, "What's the audio frequency of the color Black in amateur SSTV?" Who cares? Why would knowing this make you more qualified to download MMSSTV, hook up your computer sound card to your radio (using a store bought interface) and start exchanging pictures? If CW has been superceded by technology, couldn't you say the same thing about all of amateur radio? Heck, I just saw an advertisement for a cell phone that accepts broadband TV now. I don't mean to sound combative to you or anyone else, I just woke up a few days ago and started having some epiphanies on this subject. Guy |
"Vinnie S." wrote in message ... On 10 Jun 2005 22:41:04 GMT, Steveo wrote: ----- Original Message ----- From: "Vinnie S." Newsgroups: rec.radio.cb Sent: Friday, June 10, 2005 3:52 PM Subject: powerful walkie talkie I think I was in the third grade. A pair of Soundesign Ch 14 kids walkie talkies, around 1976 or so. 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. 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. Damn young-in's :) Landshark |
"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 |
"Scott in Baltimore" wrote in message ... I unlocked the clarifier and will stick it in my car. I talked some skip last Saturday. I answered someone, then they turned their clarifier. I lost them in the racket because their frequency changed. I "found" them a few minutes later when I tuned for someone else. That's one very good reason to have a locked clarifier. I was up at Lake Tahoe this weekend, took a trip over to Reno see a friend. Talked a bunch of am skip to Vancouver BC from the top of Mt. Rose. Landshark |
"Vinnie S." wrote in message ... On Sat, 11 Jun 2005 11:39:51 -0400, Scott in Baltimore BTW, my 2510 is not unlocked. I left that alone because I can get so close with the RIT. Vinnie S. Amen, I never unlocked any of mine. My 2510 is just about the best rig I've got, and believe me I've got a lot of radio's. Landshark |
"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 |
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... 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. 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. 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. Why have a test to operate any mode in any ham band these days? Guy |
On Sun, 12 Jun 2005 16:10:06 -0500, Guy wrote:
.. Because it's the opposite right now. People who don't use it, test for it. Might as well right that ship. Vinnie S. Why not just do away with the morse code test? WRC-03 did away with the international requirement. You'd have to ask a morse guy. I don't know. As a matter of fact, can you think of a reason to have *any* testing requirements to operate in the ham bands these days? Yeah, regulation. Clearly, there is working regulation on ham bands. And there is no regulation on CB band, unless you are running 10,000 watts. So, you already have both. If you don't want to test for anything, there is CB. You say code is a complete waste. I could say the same about memorizing things like the frequencies of a particular ham band, or answering "yes" to radio waves travelling at the speed of light in a vacuum, or which ionospheric region is closest to earth, or the meaning of the term "73", or the meaning of the Q-Signal "QRS", or how much voltage is there from an automobile battery, or the difference between microfarad and picofarad, or how to figure out a 1/4 wavelength, or ... I just finished looking through the element 2 question pool and I can't think of a reason why people are tested on this stuff anymore. Well, they ask you 35 questions. I read the queston pool book 3 times. There had to be hundreds of questions. So to answer your question, ye, I think they should keep the test. Clearly, I learned from it. Can't buy any ham gear today that operates outside the ham bands. Why not just make it illegal to modify store-bought ham gear and then just call it the Citizen's Bands (bandS -- plural). A few decades ago, you had to have a little bit of knowledge to build/operate home brew equipment, and a little less knowledge to operate store-bought gear and keep it inside the ham bands and prevent unintentional interference. Now-a-days, it's not economically feasible to home-brew your own ham gear anymore. It's cheaper to buy it from a store. And the stuff you buy from the store today almost can't be made to operate outside the ham bands or un-intentionally interfere with others unless you pop the lid and screw it up with silly modifications. Element 4 has questions like, "What's the audio frequency of the color Black in amateur SSTV?" Who cares? Why would knowing this make you more qualified to download MMSSTV, hook up your computer sound card to your radio (using a store bought interface) and start exchanging pictures? If CW has been superceded by technology, couldn't you say the same thing about all of amateur radio? Heck, I just saw an advertisement for a cell phone that accepts broadband TV now. I don't mean to sound combative to you or anyone else, I just woke up a few days ago and started having some epiphanies on this subject. You don't sound combative. You have a different opinion. You make some valid points. But as I said before, there is a licensed and unlicensed option. Now, what you might be asking it to expand the CB band to have more unlicensed frequencies. I would not have a problem with that. I did actually enjoy reading those books. So whether the questions are dumb or not, I did learn a few things. Vinnie S. |
Jay in the Mojave wrote:
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 Dang Jay, a bullet? That sounds slightly dangerous. ;) |
"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. |
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