Vshah101 wrote:
From N2EY:


I've seen that happen time and again. The CW setups at Field Day get the most
attention from nonhams, for some reason.


How did non-Hams see any setup, not even a CW setup, at field day? Were they
invited or did they see the field day setup when they were driving by, and
decided to stop by?

Also, were they male or female, and about what ages were they? Were they
anti-social?

Did they just stop by, or stay a while?

Please explain.

------------------------------------------------------------------
At this year's Field Day, we had a (*rather un-attractive) female non-Ham
visitor.

Shame on you. Where on earth do you get off saying something like that?


-----------------------------------------------------------------
*Sorry I don't qualify for any sensitivity awards.


NO you don't.

- Mike KB3EIA -

How did non-Hams see any setup, not even a CW setup, at field day? Were
they
invited or did they see the field day setup when they were driving by,
and
decided to stop by?

At our field day -- many many posters were distributed over three cities --
we had lots of non-hams attend. It was held right down town near shopping
centers at a local school. All local high school science teachers and Scout
groups were informed. We operated on battery, solar, and generator power.
They saw CW, Satellite, QRP, bicycle propelled generator, solar cells and
dazzling antennas, tuna can homebrew rigs. ATV and videos of Ham Radio. They
were able to talk on the radio by virtue of the GOTA station. A giant
picture board explaining Amateur Radio, Emergency Communications, and
repeaters was fabricated. Also explained what Field Day was for. Handout
sheets -- 200 of them disappeared.

Also, were they male or female, and about what ages were they? Were they
anti-social?

They were every gender and age imaginable as though that would be relevant.
One gal and her two sons 10 and 12 got their ham tickets later on. Another
couple sed wow and both now have tickets. Had a troop of boy scouts show as
well. Several of them now have licenses. Several high schools now have Youth
Ham Clubs. All were very sociable as if that has any bearing on the matter.
We had several volunteers bus in local high school students that were
interested. Ya gotta work at PR and it takes effort and time -- GET INVOLVED

Did they just stop by, or stay a while?

Both, one 11 year old worked Australia and was enthralled --- Mom had to
drag him home for dinner. He now has a Ham ticket, passed the code test as
well later on.


Please explain.

Just did

On 23 Jul 2003 03:14:23 GMT, ospam (Larry Roll K3LT)
wrote:

Oh, you mean like "disconnecting" antenna rotor control boxes with a
pair of dikes? Yes, indeed.

Is that how you highly technical CW ops handle it? Wow, I'll have to
suggest that to our ops next year...NOT!

12 hours to set up, 2 to tear down!

Amazing what you can do when gravity is working in your favor rather
than against you, isn't it? That wire that took six shots with a
slingshot to get over just the right tree branch comes down on the
*first* try when you cut the rope, almost as if by magic!

Fortunately, I'm not that hard on my own equipment, just a bit
unmotivated to get the station set back up for at least a month after
Field Day.

Most of my FD stuff is still in my van. However, since that's where it
also spends most of the rest of the year, that's no problem. Still, I
could stand to do some tidying up in the rear cargo area.

Since I run the digital mode station for my club, I have
to take not only my radios, but my whole bloody computer system
as well.

Sorry to break it to you now rather than before Field Day, OM, but
there now exist these wonderful little devices called laptop
computers. For that matter you can do some digital stuff with a Palm
handheld computer. Want a quick hundred bonus points next year? Get
somebody to load the APRS software on a Palm and mate it to their HT,
and demo APRS. I think there's also PSK31 software for the Palm.

BTW, don't try it at night unless you're good with the Palm graffitti.
Typing on that little Palm "keyboard" at a FD station at 3:00 in the
morning is bound to make your eye doctor independently wealthy. Been
there, done that, bought the t-shirt, later burned the t-shirt. :-)

Fortunately, that's the easiest thing to return to functional
normalcy at the home QTH. Can't be missing out on rrap now, can I?

Well, I managed to live without it for about four years, but then
again, here I am back again.

73 DE John, KC2HMZ

On 24 Jul 2003 00:22:02 GMT, (N2EY) wrote:

In article , Mike Coslo
writes:

I think things like that only help the case for CW. The newbies were
looking at that paddle on the bench, and you could see the gears turning....

I've seen that happen time and again. The CW setups at Field Day get the most
attention from nonhams, for some reason.

Wierdness always attracts attention. That's why at the circus, the
line to get in and see the three-legged lady is longer than the line
to get in and see the dancing girls.

73 DE John, KC2HMZ

On 23 Jul 2003 03:14:23 GMT, ospam (Larry Roll K3LT)
wrote:

In article , Scott Unit 69
writes:

My own participation in the "online" code test debate dates back to
1991 when I returned from the UK and purchased my first US modem.
I had limited participation in Fidonet from the UK from late '89 to '91,
but at the time, the Ham Radio forum was tightly moderated, and anyone
with a pro-code stance was persona non-grata.


And the rest of the world would appreciate if you'd stop
taking it out on us. It's not my fault. I don't care.

Then don't read this newsgroup. I'm not going away.

Not even if we ask pretty please and offer an extremely good severance
package? :-)

73 DE John, KC2HMZ

"Mike Coslo" wrote in message
...
Dee D. Flint wrote:
"N2EY" wrote in message
...

In article , Mike Coslo



writes:


I think things like that only help the case for CW. The newbies were
looking at that paddle on the bench, and you could see the gears

turning....

I've seen that happen time and again. The CW setups at Field Day get the

most

attention from nonhams, for some reason.

73 de Jim, N2EY


Simple, it's more "exotic" than voice or keyboard.


When you watch a person using no apparent effort, save what looks like
a nervous tremor in their hand, make a QSO - now that is pretty exotic!

- Mike KB3EIA -


Doing CW at around 28 wpm is like talking to a Southerner. Layed back.

Dan/W4NTI

The night before fielday we all put on our batboy suits and captured them.
Fed the instant grits and forced them to enjoy.

Your in idiot "Vshah101"

Dan/W4NTI

"Vshah101" wrote in message
...
From N2EY:

I've seen that happen time and again. The CW setups at Field Day get the
most
attention from nonhams, for some reason.

How did non-Hams see any setup, not even a CW setup, at field day? Were
they
invited or did they see the field day setup when they were driving by, and
decided to stop by?

Also, were they male or female, and about what ages were they? Were they
anti-social?

Did they just stop by, or stay a while?

Please explain.

------------------------------------------------------------------
At this year's Field Day, we had a (*rather un-attractive) female non-Ham
visitor. (I don't know if she was invited). She was a reporter and claimed
to
be asking questions for the local paper.

No, I didn't stay there the whole time. Also, there was some extra food
left
over, and I managed to take some with me.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
*Sorry I don't qualify for any sensitivity awards. I don't want to (be
sensitive) and I don't need to.