In article ,
(William) writes:

How does a cellphone contest work?

Dave K8MN

David, now you're being obtuse. What's new?

Obtuse? I think he's tangential. Maybe a sign...

Careful or he'll trig another spate of personal attacks.

LHA / WMD

On Wed, 03 Mar 2004 16:16:28 -0700, JJ
wrote:

Len Over 21 wrote:



The answer is painfully obvious...except for mobile installations
and shacks in the deep woods, there is very little emergency
preparedness by radio amateurs...in everything from equipment
to individual training.

Lennyboy you are so far off base it isn't even funny.

How so, JJ? I'd say that Len was quite correct on this one.

With few exceptions, all of the hams that I know are ragchewers,
contesters or experimenters. There are only a couple who actively
participate in the local ARES group, and they are the only ones with
the rudimentary training to handle an emergency situation without
hindering or interfering with it.

In fact, this appears to be the norm in the hobby, from my perspective
anyway - only a small percentage are actively involved in this area -
the rest, like me, are just in it for the hobby. Why not?

Of course, in an emergency situation, any of us would be willing to
pitch in and do whatever we could to help - but the vast majority of
us lack the organization, equipment and training that the professional
services have. For example, if an earthquake hit your area right now,
what would you do? Who would you contact, and on what frequency? Who
are the alternates, if he / she is not reachable? Who coordinates what
with the various professional agencies? Do you have a preassigned role
and duties that you have been trained and have rehearsed for? How
about radio equipment - do you have sufficient spare batteries to keep
operating during a prolonged power outage (and are they charged and
fully tested?), or a generator to keep a base station on the air? Do
you have back-up radio equipment in the event that yours fails? If
not, how much could you be counted on to be there if needed throughout
the entire emergency?

YMM, of course, V.....

73, Leo

William wrote:

Dave Heil wrote in message ...
William wrote:

The fact remains that many emergency calls were placed and got through
using cellular telephones.

Does that upset you or do you find it some sort of validation for your
latest peculiar theory?

David, there is no theory. I merely stated a fact.

Actually, that isn't quite correct. You've made this latest statement
in response to another's statement. It appears that your goal is to
attempt demonstrating that amateur radio is not something which would be
useful in an emergency. Personally I'd want some amateur gear and a
cellular phone.

Heaven forbid an emergency happens during a contest weekend!

How does a cellphone contest work?

David, now you're being obtuse. What's new?

Not at all, William/Brian. I simply responded to what you wrote. If
you had a more complex thought, you didn't express it.

Dave K8MN

William wrote:

(Michael Black) wrote in message ...
Dave Heil ) writes:
William wrote:

The fact remains that many emergency calls were placed and got through
using cellular telephones.

Does that upset you or do you find it some sort of validation for your
latest peculiar theory?

Heaven forbid an emergency happens during a contest weekend!

How does a cellphone contest work?

Dave K8MN

This was discussed in CQ in the mid-sixties. The phone company wanted
to set up an alternative to amateur radio, including sending equipment
to rare countries for DXpeditions. But it would be all done over phone
lines.

I can't remember which year, 1965 or 1968 somehow ring a bell, but I
can definitely tell you it was in the April issue.

Michael

Michael, thank you. Now David's curiousity has an answer.

If he were even slightly interested in amateur radio contests, he
could seek out the publication "CQ," not defunct.

You wrote nothing of amateur radio contests, Brian. I subscribe to CQ
though they are not the only sponsor of amateur radio contests. Do you
know something about amateur radio contesting? Is your contest
knowledge equal to your knowledge of DXing?

Dave K8MN

Dave Heil wrote in message ...
William wrote:

(Michael Black) wrote in message ...
Dave Heil ) writes:
William wrote:

The fact remains that many emergency calls were placed and got through
using cellular telephones.

Does that upset you or do you find it some sort of validation for your
latest peculiar theory?

Heaven forbid an emergency happens during a contest weekend!

How does a cellphone contest work?

Dave K8MN

This was discussed in CQ in the mid-sixties. The phone company wanted
to set up an alternative to amateur radio, including sending equipment
to rare countries for DXpeditions. But it would be all done over phone
lines.

I can't remember which year, 1965 or 1968 somehow ring a bell, but I
can definitely tell you it was in the April issue.

Michael

Michael, thank you. Now David's curiousity has an answer.

If he were even slightly interested in amateur radio contests, he
could seek out the publication "CQ," not defunct.

You wrote nothing of amateur radio contests, Brian. I subscribe to CQ
though they are not the only sponsor of amateur radio contests. Do you
know something about amateur radio contesting? Is your contest
knowledge equal to your knowledge of DXing?

Dave K8MN

David, I know enough to not use a cellular telephone in an amateur
radio contest. Wherever did you get that idea?

Dave Heil wrote in message ...
William wrote:

Dave Heil wrote in message ...
William wrote:

The fact remains that many emergency calls were placed and got through
using cellular telephones.

Does that upset you or do you find it some sort of validation for your
latest peculiar theory?

David, there is no theory. I merely stated a fact.

Actually, that isn't quite correct. You've made this latest statement
in response to another's statement. It appears that your goal is to
attempt demonstrating that amateur radio is not something which would be
useful in an emergency.

That would be your theory, not mine.

Personally I'd want some amateur gear and a
cellular phone.

Personally, I try to avoid placing myself in a situation which becomes
an emergency. The next best thing is a cellular telephone, followed
by amateur radio.

Do you see evil in this?

Heaven forbid an emergency happens during a contest weekend!

How does a cellphone contest work?

David, now you're being obtuse. What's new?

Not at all, William/Brian. I simply responded to what you wrote. If
you had a more complex thought, you didn't express it.

Dave K8MN

Dave, it is you who lacks complex thought. I enjoyed your little
escapade of bringing a cellular telephone to an amateur radio
contest. Maybe even France will call you. You're still good for a
few laughs.

(William) wrote in
m:

Dave Heil wrote in message
...
William wrote:

Dave Heil wrote in message
...
William wrote:

The fact remains that many emergency calls were placed and got
through using cellular telephones.

Does that upset you or do you find it some sort of validation for
your latest peculiar theory?

David, there is no theory. I merely stated a fact.

Actually, that isn't quite correct. You've made this latest statement
in response to another's statement. It appears that your goal is to
attempt demonstrating that amateur radio is not something which would
be useful in an emergency.

That would be your theory, not mine.

Personally I'd want some amateur gear and a
cellular phone.

Personally, I try to avoid placing myself in a situation which becomes
an emergency. The next best thing is a cellular telephone, followed
by amateur radio.

Do you see evil in this?

Heaven forbid an emergency happens during a contest weekend!

How does a cellphone contest work?

David, now you're being obtuse. What's new?

Not at all, William/Brian. I simply responded to what you wrote. If
you had a more complex thought, you didn't express it.

Dave K8MN

Dave, it is you who lacks complex thought. I enjoyed your little
escapade of bringing a cellular telephone to an amateur radio
contest. Maybe even France will call you. You're still good for a
few laughs.


Cellular phone relies on a lot of infrastructure. Sure, if all the towers
are still up and there's power, then it will work. The same applies to our
repeaters, but we don't just have repeaters, we can still communicate
without them. If the whole area is levelled it will still be possible to
use ham radio.

Personally, I don't have a cell phone, so if I lost wired phone service I
would only have ham radio to fall back on. Oddly enough, cell phones have
not yet spread to every man, woman and child, but I don't know anyone who
doesn't have a phone number.

William wrote:

Dave Heil wrote in message ...
William wrote:

(Michael Black) wrote in message ...
Dave Heil ) writes:
William wrote:

The fact remains that many emergency calls were placed and got through
using cellular telephones.

Does that upset you or do you find it some sort of validation for your
latest peculiar theory?

Heaven forbid an emergency happens during a contest weekend!

How does a cellphone contest work?

Dave K8MN

This was discussed in CQ in the mid-sixties. The phone company wanted
to set up an alternative to amateur radio, including sending equipment
to rare countries for DXpeditions. But it would be all done over phone
lines.

I can't remember which year, 1965 or 1968 somehow ring a bell, but I
can definitely tell you it was in the April issue.

Michael

Michael, thank you. Now David's curiousity has an answer.

If he were even slightly interested in amateur radio contests, he
could seek out the publication "CQ," not defunct.

You wrote nothing of amateur radio contests, Brian. I subscribe to CQ
though they are not the only sponsor of amateur radio contests. Do you
know something about amateur radio contesting? Is your contest
knowledge equal to your knowledge of DXing?

Dave K8MN

David, I know enough to not use a cellular telephone in an amateur
radio contest. Wherever did you get that idea?

I never had that idea, William/Brian. You wrote nothing about an
amateur radio contest.

Dave K8MN

William wrote:

Dave Heil wrote in message ...
William wrote:

Dave Heil wrote in message ...
William wrote:

The fact remains that many emergency calls were placed and got through
using cellular telephones.

Does that upset you or do you find it some sort of validation for your
latest peculiar theory?

David, there is no theory. I merely stated a fact.

Actually, that isn't quite correct. You've made this latest statement
in response to another's statement. It appears that your goal is to
attempt demonstrating that amateur radio is not something which would be
useful in an emergency.

That would be your theory, not mine.

That is simply incorrect, William/Brian. I made no attempt to disparage
amateur radio's role in an emergency. I leave that to the tag team of
"Len or Lenda".

Personally I'd want some amateur gear and a
cellular phone.

Personally, I try to avoid placing myself in a situation which becomes
an emergency. The next best thing is a cellular telephone, followed
by amateur radio.

Do you see evil in this?

Evil? Spring can't come early enough for you, can it?

Heaven forbid an emergency happens during a contest weekend!

How does a cellphone contest work?

David, now you're being obtuse. What's new?

Not at all, William/Brian. I simply responded to what you wrote. If
you had a more complex thought, you didn't express it.


Dave, it is you who lacks complex thought. I enjoyed your little
escapade of bringing a cellular telephone to an amateur radio
contest.

Please point out the portion of your original statement which contains
anything about an amateur radio contest.

Maybe even France will call you.

I've often received calls from France, both on the amateur bands and on
the telephone.

You're still good for a
few laughs.

The laughs, as usual, appear to be on you. I'd love to hear more of
your amateur radio contesting exploits. I'd probably pick up a tip or
too.
Your insight into DXing was extremely valueable.

Dave K8MN

Dave Heil wrote in message ...
William wrote:

Dave Heil wrote in message ...
William wrote:

Dave Heil wrote in message ...
William wrote:

The fact remains that many emergency calls were placed and got through
using cellular telephones.

Does that upset you or do you find it some sort of validation for your
latest peculiar theory?

David, there is no theory. I merely stated a fact.

Actually, that isn't quite correct. You've made this latest statement
in response to another's statement. It appears that your goal is to
attempt demonstrating that amateur radio is not something which would be
useful in an emergency.

That would be your theory, not mine.

That is simply incorrect, William/Brian.

Then where did it come from? I did not state such a theory.

I made no attempt to disparage
amateur radio's role in an emergency.

Nor have I.

I leave that to the tag team of
"Len or Lenda".

Who are they?

Personally I'd want some amateur gear and a
cellular phone.

Personally, I try to avoid placing myself in a situation which becomes
an emergency. The next best thing is a cellular telephone, followed
by amateur radio.

Do you see evil in this?

Evil? Spring can't come early enough for you, can it?

Vernal Equinox?

Heaven forbid an emergency happens during a contest weekend!

How does a cellphone contest work?

David, now you're being obtuse. What's new?

Not at all, William/Brian.

Yes, you are.

I simply responded to what you wrote.

Impossible. You responded with a theory. I presented no theory.

If
you had a more complex thought, you didn't express it.

Correct. You made an assumption. Not my problem.

Dave, it is you who lacks complex thought. I enjoyed your little
escapade of bringing a cellular telephone to an amateur radio
contest.

Please point out the portion of your original statement which contains
anything about an amateur radio contest.

David, David, David. This is an amateur radio forum. Did you forget?

Maybe even France will call you.

I've often received calls from France, both on the amateur bands and on
the telephone.

David, we know this all too well. Try to keep it under control.

You're still good for a
few laughs.

The laughs, as usual, appear to be on you.

Not at all. You get your exercise jumping to conclusions. You ought
to go back to being sedentary and obtuse.

I'd love to hear more of
your amateur radio contesting exploits. I'd probably pick up a tip or
too.
Your insight into DXing was extremely valueable.

Dave K8MN

Ditto your suggestion to contest with cell phones. You Go, Dave.