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October 28th 03, 03:15 AM

Leo wrote:

On 28 Oct 2003 01:17:46 GMT, (N2EY) wrote:

Only problem with "200" is that it stops at 1936 and there was never a followup
book.

If you want a really good history of US amateur radio from the very beginning
to almost the present day, google up W2XOY's "Wayback Machine". Excellent
history in many chapters. Free for the download.

Great articles - thanks!

(extra bonus question: what is the significance of that callsign?)

Found this reference on Google:

Feb. 1, 1939. Broadcasting reports General Electric engineers recently
set up two experimental frequency modulation transmitters at Albany
and Schenectady, operating on the same frequency. They drove a test
car between the two cities and found almost no areas of interference
between the stations. The stations were W2XDA Schenectady and W2XOY
New Scotland

Years ago, here in Canada, there was a special licence class required
to operate using the Digital modes (!). This was dropped after only a
few years. presumably because it was not demonstrated that there was
any real benefit gained from the additional testing of digital
proficiency. After all, the idea of a hobby is to be able to
experiment and learn those aspects that are of interest or use to the
individual!

I thought it was dropped because so few applied for it. I recall something like
150 in 4 years.

Haven't seen those stats - but seperate testing for Digital modes died
out with it!

And merely because something is old doesn't make it bad. Look at the way words
are spelled...

Certainly wasn't connecting 'old' with 'bad', Jim - just an
observation that as times change, priorities tend to shift as well.

Try telling the hams who searched for shuttle pieces, or who are right now
helping fight the wildfires in California, that it's "a hobby". They might not
agree.

It's a unique hobby - one where the skills learned and practised
within it can be taken out into the community in times of need, to
augment the 'professional' emergency services.

Is there any value in doing longhand math now? Why should we if we have
a calculator?

Exactly!

Not quite - longhand is still required to be understood before relying
on calculators, as it teaches the underlying principles of division
(and works without batteries!). It is simply a more rigorous method
of accomplishing the identical task - but without competence in it,
how would you know if the answer the calculator gave you was correct?
How would you check it? You would not really understand the mechanics
of division.

Indeed, why should anyone learn longhand? (substitute Morse CW or
abacus) Calculators (substitute Yeacomwood boxes) are so available and
inexpensive, that there is no need to learn longhand mathematics
(Substitute Morse CW) any more. I have personally seen little children
crying over their difficulties with learning longhand math. If they just
used calculators they wouldn't be so frustrated, and perhaps even learn
to love math. Longhand math is keeping potential mathematicians from
getting their degrees and infusing the field with their fresh ideas! 8^)

CW, in this analogy, is a different animal - more like comparing an
abacus to a calculator. In skilled hands, an abacus can give you the
same answer as a calculator (faster, too - watched a guy do it once!)
- but it is outmoded, in a world where calculators are cheap and
common.....one would be hard pressed to devise a compelling arguement
for teaching the abacus nowadays!

Actually, if you at all buy the argument about longhand vs a
calculator, you can hardly toss out CW by calling it an abacus (BTW, I
learned how to use an abacus in grade school) Toss 'em both out or
accept them both.

- Mike KB3EIA -

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