From: "cl" on Sun,Apr 17 2005 11:33 pm

"bb" wrote in message
roups.com...

cl wrote:



The biggest problem with most is "laziness".

Was that your problem? If you hadn't been so lazy you could have
learned the code in under a week?


Eh - I had the code down in 2 weeks for the Novice exam. AND I'm now
an
Extra. Been licensed since the early 80s.
Yeah, I probably could have learned it in under a week, if I pushed
myself.
Most anyone will tell you - it isn't good to do such.

Sorry, according to many in here you have to approach it as
THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IN YOUR LIFE!!! :-)

Besides, at that time,
I was chasing rug rats - so study time was premium.

Excuses, excuses, excuses! :-)

Most recommendations are
15 minutes to a half hour a day. That hardly makes it possible in a
week. I
used the words " "AT LEAST" 2 WEEKS". Some are faster learners than
others,
that is a given. BUT my point was, you have to get started to learn
ANYTHING. You can't absorb it through osmosis. Back to the timing
thing, I
hope someone from the military can step in to tell us how much time
they
were given to get the code down. I think they had to "Cram".

"Caveat," I was in the military, the United States Army,
voluntary enlistment beginning 13 March 1953. Went from
Basic to Signal School at Fort Monmouth, NJ. Amount of
Signal School time spent on morse code? ZERO! NO class,
NO "cramming."

At that time the ONLY military occupation specialty
in the Army requiring morsemanship was Field Radio.

Field Radio then required passing 20 WPM, was taught
at Camp Gordon (later Fort Gordon, now the home of the
Signal Corps). Drop-out rate was roughly a quarter of
all starting...that I know about. Those that didn't
make it, but had some apitude for electronics, got to
go to Inside Plant Telephone, Outside Plant Telephone,
Carrier, Teleprinter Operator, Field Wireman...or the
Infantry. :-)

My Signal School classes taught Microwave Radio Relay
(at a time when there was little of such operational).
Radar was also taught at Fort Monmouth, had the same
basic electronics as Microwave. I got assigned to a
Fixed Station Transmitter site in Japan. Got all of
about a day's worth of on-site "training" to operate
one of three dozen HF transmitters having a minimum of
1 KW output. NO MORSEMANSHIP NEEDED THERE. NO MORSE
USED at the third-largest station in the Army Command
and Administrative Network.


Maybe you never will use it again.

Perhaps. I've found little use for it so far. Maybe once I'm an
old
fart, have loads of time, and wax nostalgic for things that never
were,
I'll take it up and enjoy it, and demand that all learn it.

Probably the same age bracket as me. I do listen to call signs now and
then
on the scanner to pick out the services they represent - if I don't
immediately know who the service is. I do listen some times to code on
the
H.F. Bands.

...or what you think is morse. :-) There's very LITTLE
morse code on HF nowadays...EXCEPT inside the ham bands.

There are many things you learn in life and may never use
again, unless you plan to play on Jeopardy.

Tell that to Ken Jennings! :-)

Many people learned the skeletal
system in health class, microorganisms in Biology class. It doesn't
mean
they use it now. Probably forgot it as soon as they graduated. But,
it was
"required". It's not a big deal people. Once you get past the "do I
have to"
and start doing it, you'll amaze yourself at how fast and easy it
can
be.

Indeed. I never had the "do I have to?" attitude as there was no
code-free license when I became a ham. Yet it took me about 9 weeks
of
daily practice.

And you stuck with it!!!!!!!! You didn't quit, and it got you where
you
wanted to be. OR had to be - for your class of license. 2 weeks, 9
weeks, so
what... you did it. A milestone to be proud of. No one can fault you
for
that effort.

Riiiight, Coach Lector. :-)

After my release from active duty in 1956, I thought it
good to get a Commercial Radiotelephone License. Lots of
job opportunities with that then. Couldn't find a Q&A
book in town but I got a copy of the entire FCC regulations
from a good guy at a local broadcast station, studied that
and got my First 'Phone on the first sitting in Chicago,
90 miles away (didn't walk, rode the train, kept my shoes
on even if there was no snow). Moved to L.A. at the end of
'56, started at Art Center School of Design to become an
illustrator. Worked during the day at Hughes Aircraft,
found out that illustrators didn't make much money, liked
electronics (already spent three years in Army
communications) and switched to Electronics Engineering.
Took me 15 years to complete that due to job requirements
making me miss whole semesters. Got engineering
responsibility, title, and pay before any "certificate"
(suitable for framing) awarded (sheep did not sacrifice
their skins for graduates, regardless of what is said).

In between semesters, I thought it a neat thing to learn
this morse code stuff, get a fancy callsign to "sign
after my name" (youth can be misleading on what is
important). Got to roughly 8 WPM clean copy using
practice tapes (magnetic, reel-to-reel, cassettes had
not yet been invented in those 60s days). Stopped after
that plateau, wondered "whatinhell am I doing spending
all this time on morse?" I'd already spent three full
years on Army communications at a major station (220
thousand messages a month in 1955), had become a
supervisor, did finally work on microwave radio relay
operations in the service, was now an employee of Ramo-
Wooldridge Corp. in electronic warfare group, and the
Class D CBs had already started. I'd gotten the First
'Phone, worked on HF, was now working on more of the EM
spectrum than any ham of today can use, already had a
good home workshop and was coming along on professional
design. I didn't "NEED MORSE" to GET ON THE AIR. I had
already done that, perfectly legal, without fault.

I had tossed the idea of getting a "title" (the callsign)
since there was MUCH MORE electronics coming along. The
first of the ICs had already hit the market and some of
us were tinkering with the first personal computers,
rolling our own without benefit of MITs or Apple or SwTP
kits (hadn't come out yet). PLENTY of fun and games in
electronics AND radio to be interested in.

I DO use code now and then, but not daily like many others do.
Everyone has
their own thing. Some are into Packet, RTTY, AMTOR, etc, I'm
not...To each
his own. But we all had to learn "something" about those modes to
pass an
exam.

Oooooo! "PASS THE (code) EXAM!"

Geez, poor babies, like an amateur exam is "Nobel
Laureate" material? Like "rocket science?" Yeah...
a "life accomplishment!" :-)

I used to "pass a test" every week...on payday. If
I didn't KNOW what was needed on the job, to do the
things my bosses had given me responsibility for, I
wouldn't "pass that exam." No paycheck. Bye.

I never failed such an exam. I never failed any exam
in college courses, either. I just kept on working
in engineering design...and having to constantly keep
on learning. The state of the electronics arts have
NOT ceased to advance...not one iota of stopping.


Funny thing is, we're all arguing pros and cons and in the end, it
won't
matter. WE do not have control.

NO NO NO!!! WRONG IN HERE!!!

The NO-CODE TEST ADVOCATE extras "HAVE CONTROL!" At
least three have "forbidden" any non-amateur to EVER
say anything about getting INTO amateur radio! Such
folk are, as these gods of radio put it, "NOT INVOLVED!"

Damn the First Amendment (say those three). THEY "rule"
on What Shall Be in U.S. amateur radio!

Their clubhouse door is CLOSED to "outsiders." [so are
their minds, BTASE...)

So, if we're going to debate the issues we
have no control over, may as well keep it clean.

What is "clean?" Anything done the way the ARRL says
is "clean?" Anything done to show "committment" and
"dedication" to amateurism is "clean?" Does "clean"
mean that ALL must obey the olde-fahrt amateur extras
who cuss at all the (evil) no-coders?

Does "clean" mean the usual Double Standard in this
newsgroup? All the PCTA extras can cuss at others
but everyone else has to be OH so polite, civil,
obediant, and respectful to their MIGHTY personal
accomplishments?

Hardly any of us know the
other and it isn't worth making enemies over.

Quite true, but that is NOT practiced in here. Look
at the labels of "PUTZ," "LIAR," "COWARD" that are
tossed out freely by these MIGHTY PCTA extras!

Certainly not worth name calling....

It MUST be "worth it" to these stalwart, noble, good
and true MORSEMEN. They seem to thrive on it.

Whether I'm right or wrong, I do value opposing view points.
Everyone has a right to his/her own opinion.

Commendable and should be the operative ethic in here.

Unfortunately, it is NOT SO.

Pro or con, it is a matter of time. May be a year, may be 5, but it
will
come to pass.

Absolutely. But...that will be the END of the ARS
(Archaic Radiotelegraphy Society).



retired (from regular hours) electronic engineer person

wrote:
From: "cl" on Sun,Apr 17 2005 11:33 pm

Eh - I had the code down in 2 weeks for the Novice exam. AND I'm now
an
Extra. Been licensed since the early 80s.
Yeah, I probably could have learned it in under a week, if I pushed
myself.
Most anyone will tell you - it isn't good to do such.

Sorry, according to many in here you have to approach it as
THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IN YOUR LIFE!!!

Actually, Lennie, YOU are the only one making that assertion.

Back to the timing
thing, I
hope someone from the military can step in to tell us how much time
they
were given to get the code down. I think they had to "Cram".

"Caveat," I was in the military, the United States Army,
voluntary enlistment beginning 13 March 1953. Went from
Basic to Signal School at Fort Monmouth, NJ. Amount of
Signal School time spent on morse code? ZERO! NO class,
NO "cramming."

I guess it was too much to ask you to actually comment on
something you KNOW about, is it, Lennie...?!?!

HUUUUUUGGGGGGGEEEEEE snip of usual Lennie reliving his youth by
recounting his "good ole Army days..."...But still without really
answering the original correspondant's questions...

Pro or con, it is a matter of time. May be a year, may be 5, but it
will
come to pass.

Absolutely. But...that will be the END of the ARS
(Archaic Radiotelegraphy Society).





retired (from regular hours) electronic engineer person

Retired from what he alledges to have been an engineering
career...

Now full time newsgroup insulting.

Steve, K4YZ

K4YZ wrote:
wrote:
From: "cl" on Sun,Apr 17 2005 11:33 pm

Eh - I had the code down in 2 weeks for the Novice exam. AND I'm
now
an
Extra. Been licensed since the early 80s.
Yeah, I probably could have learned it in under a week, if I
pushed
myself.
Most anyone will tell you - it isn't good to do such.

Sorry, according to many in here you have to approach it as
THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IN YOUR LIFE!!!

Actually, Lennie, YOU are the only one making that assertion.

Nope, in-between homosexual and pedophilia inuendo, you have made such
assertions. So that makes lie #25.

bb wrote:
K4YZ wrote:
wrote:

Sorry, according to many in here you have to approach it as
THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IN YOUR LIFE!!!

Actually, Lennie, YOU are the only one making that assertion.

Nope, in-between homosexual and pedophilia inuendo, you have made
such
assertions. So that makes lie #25.

Then here's yet another chance for you to prove yourself, Brain,
and provide SOME sample of a post I have EVER made that asserts that
ANYthing having to to with Amateur Radio must be approched as the "MOST
IMPORTANT THING" in ANYone's life.

You said it exists. Let's see it.

Steve, K4YZ

K4YZ wrote:
bb wrote:
K4YZ wrote:
wrote:

Sorry, according to many in here you have to approach it as
THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IN YOUR LIFE!!!

Actually, Lennie, YOU are the only one making that assertion.

Nope, in-between homosexual and pedophilia inuendo, you have made
such
assertions. So that makes lie #25.

Then here's yet another chance for you to prove yourself, Brain,
and provide SOME sample of a post I have EVER made that asserts that
ANYthing having to to with Amateur Radio must be approched as the
"MOST
IMPORTANT THING" in ANYone's life.

Good thing you didn't deny the homosexual and pedophilia inuendo. That
would have made Lies #27 and #28.

You said it exists. Let's see it.

Steve, K4YZ

Sorry, Steve, but I don't have to show you anything. BTW, you're up to
Lie #26 with the "Bwhahaha..." laugh that you claimed you don't use.

wrote in message
oups.com...
From: "cl" on Sun,Apr 17 2005 11:33 pm

"bb" wrote in message
groups.com...

cl wrote:



The biggest problem with most is "laziness".

Was that your problem? If you hadn't been so lazy you could have
learned the code in under a week?


Eh - I had the code down in 2 weeks for the Novice exam. AND I'm now
an
Extra. Been licensed since the early 80s.
Yeah, I probably could have learned it in under a week, if I pushed
myself.
Most anyone will tell you - it isn't good to do such.

Sorry, according to many in here you have to approach it as
THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IN YOUR LIFE!!! :-)

Besides, at that time,
I was chasing rug rats - so study time was premium.

Excuses, excuses, excuses! :-)

Most recommendations are
15 minutes to a half hour a day. That hardly makes it possible in a
week. I
used the words " "AT LEAST" 2 WEEKS". Some are faster learners than
others,
that is a given. BUT my point was, you have to get started to learn
ANYTHING. You can't absorb it through osmosis. Back to the timing
thing, I
hope someone from the military can step in to tell us how much time
they
were given to get the code down. I think they had to "Cram".

"Caveat," I was in the military, the United States Army,
voluntary enlistment beginning 13 March 1953. Went from
Basic to Signal School at Fort Monmouth, NJ. Amount of
Signal School time spent on morse code? ZERO! NO class,
NO "cramming."

At that time the ONLY military occupation specialty
in the Army requiring morsemanship was Field Radio.

Field Radio then required passing 20 WPM, was taught
at Camp Gordon (later Fort Gordon, now the home of the
Signal Corps). Drop-out rate was roughly a quarter of
all starting...that I know about. Those that didn't
make it, but had some apitude for electronics, got to
go to Inside Plant Telephone, Outside Plant Telephone,
Carrier, Teleprinter Operator, Field Wireman...or the
Infantry. :-)

My Signal School classes taught Microwave Radio Relay
(at a time when there was little of such operational).
Radar was also taught at Fort Monmouth, had the same
basic electronics as Microwave. I got assigned to a
Fixed Station Transmitter site in Japan. Got all of
about a day's worth of on-site "training" to operate
one of three dozen HF transmitters having a minimum of
1 KW output. NO MORSEMANSHIP NEEDED THERE. NO MORSE
USED at the third-largest station in the Army Command
and Administrative Network.


Maybe you never will use it again.

Perhaps. I've found little use for it so far. Maybe once I'm an
old
fart, have loads of time, and wax nostalgic for things that never
were,
I'll take it up and enjoy it, and demand that all learn it.

Probably the same age bracket as me. I do listen to call signs now and
then
on the scanner to pick out the services they represent - if I don't
immediately know who the service is. I do listen some times to code on
the
H.F. Bands.

...or what you think is morse. :-) There's very LITTLE
morse code on HF nowadays...EXCEPT inside the ham bands.

There are many things you learn in life and may never use
again, unless you plan to play on Jeopardy.

Tell that to Ken Jennings! :-)

Many people learned the skeletal
system in health class, microorganisms in Biology class. It doesn't
mean
they use it now. Probably forgot it as soon as they graduated. But,
it was
"required". It's not a big deal people. Once you get past the "do I
have to"
and start doing it, you'll amaze yourself at how fast and easy it
can
be.

Indeed. I never had the "do I have to?" attitude as there was no
code-free license when I became a ham. Yet it took me about 9 weeks
of
daily practice.

And you stuck with it!!!!!!!! You didn't quit, and it got you where
you
wanted to be. OR had to be - for your class of license. 2 weeks, 9
weeks, so
what... you did it. A milestone to be proud of. No one can fault you
for
that effort.

Riiiight, Coach Lector. :-)

After my release from active duty in 1956, I thought it
good to get a Commercial Radiotelephone License. Lots of
job opportunities with that then. Couldn't find a Q&A
book in town but I got a copy of the entire FCC regulations
from a good guy at a local broadcast station, studied that
and got my First 'Phone on the first sitting in Chicago,
90 miles away (didn't walk, rode the train, kept my shoes
on even if there was no snow). Moved to L.A. at the end of
'56, started at Art Center School of Design to become an
illustrator. Worked during the day at Hughes Aircraft,
found out that illustrators didn't make much money, liked
electronics (already spent three years in Army
communications) and switched to Electronics Engineering.
Took me 15 years to complete that due to job requirements
making me miss whole semesters. Got engineering
responsibility, title, and pay before any "certificate"
(suitable for framing) awarded (sheep did not sacrifice
their skins for graduates, regardless of what is said).

In between semesters, I thought it a neat thing to learn
this morse code stuff, get a fancy callsign to "sign
after my name" (youth can be misleading on what is
important). Got to roughly 8 WPM clean copy using
practice tapes (magnetic, reel-to-reel, cassettes had
not yet been invented in those 60s days). Stopped after
that plateau, wondered "whatinhell am I doing spending
all this time on morse?" I'd already spent three full
years on Army communications at a major station (220
thousand messages a month in 1955), had become a
supervisor, did finally work on microwave radio relay
operations in the service, was now an employee of Ramo-
Wooldridge Corp. in electronic warfare group, and the
Class D CBs had already started. I'd gotten the First
'Phone, worked on HF, was now working on more of the EM
spectrum than any ham of today can use, already had a
good home workshop and was coming along on professional
design. I didn't "NEED MORSE" to GET ON THE AIR. I had
already done that, perfectly legal, without fault.

I had tossed the idea of getting a "title" (the callsign)
since there was MUCH MORE electronics coming along. The
first of the ICs had already hit the market and some of
us were tinkering with the first personal computers,
rolling our own without benefit of MITs or Apple or SwTP
kits (hadn't come out yet). PLENTY of fun and games in
electronics AND radio to be interested in.

I DO use code now and then, but not daily like many others do.
Everyone has
their own thing. Some are into Packet, RTTY, AMTOR, etc, I'm
not...To each
his own. But we all had to learn "something" about those modes to
pass an
exam.

Oooooo! "PASS THE (code) EXAM!"

Geez, poor babies, like an amateur exam is "Nobel
Laureate" material? Like "rocket science?" Yeah...
a "life accomplishment!" :-)

I used to "pass a test" every week...on payday. If
I didn't KNOW what was needed on the job, to do the
things my bosses had given me responsibility for, I
wouldn't "pass that exam." No paycheck. Bye.

I never failed such an exam. I never failed any exam
in college courses, either. I just kept on working
in engineering design...and having to constantly keep
on learning. The state of the electronics arts have
NOT ceased to advance...not one iota of stopping.


Funny thing is, we're all arguing pros and cons and in the end, it
won't
matter. WE do not have control.

NO NO NO!!! WRONG IN HERE!!!

The NO-CODE TEST ADVOCATE extras "HAVE CONTROL!" At
least three have "forbidden" any non-amateur to EVER
say anything about getting INTO amateur radio! Such
folk are, as these gods of radio put it, "NOT INVOLVED!"

Damn the First Amendment (say those three). THEY "rule"
on What Shall Be in U.S. amateur radio!

Their clubhouse door is CLOSED to "outsiders." [so are
their minds, BTASE...)

So, if we're going to debate the issues we
have no control over, may as well keep it clean.

What is "clean?" Anything done the way the ARRL says
is "clean?" Anything done to show "committment" and
"dedication" to amateurism is "clean?" Does "clean"
mean that ALL must obey the olde-fahrt amateur extras
who cuss at all the (evil) no-coders?

Does "clean" mean the usual Double Standard in this
newsgroup? All the PCTA extras can cuss at others
but everyone else has to be OH so polite, civil,
obediant, and respectful to their MIGHTY personal
accomplishments?

Hardly any of us know the
other and it isn't worth making enemies over.

Quite true, but that is NOT practiced in here. Look
at the labels of "PUTZ," "LIAR," "COWARD" that are
tossed out freely by these MIGHTY PCTA extras!

Certainly not worth name calling....

It MUST be "worth it" to these stalwart, noble, good
and true MORSEMEN. They seem to thrive on it.

Whether I'm right or wrong, I do value opposing view points.
Everyone has a right to his/her own opinion.

Commendable and should be the operative ethic in here.

Unfortunately, it is NOT SO.

Pro or con, it is a matter of time. May be a year, may be 5, but it
will
come to pass.

Absolutely. But...that will be the END of the ARS
(Archaic Radiotelegraphy Society).



retired (from regular hours) electronic engineer person


Correction - I'm "not" Caveat Lector........ I use small case cl, he uses
capitals. See my address within!

cl

come to pass.

Absolutely. But...that will be the END of the ARS
(Archaic Radiotelegraphy Society).



retired (from regular hours) electronic engineer person


Correction - I'm "not" Caveat Lector........ I use small case cl, he
uses
capitals. See my address within!

cl

Sorry, Mr. Lowercase. Apologies redered. Correction
so noted.

wrote:

"Caveat," I was in the military, the United States Army,
voluntary enlistment beginning 13 March 1953. Went from
Basic to Signal School at Fort Monmouth, NJ. Amount of
Signal School time spent on morse code? ZERO! NO class,
NO "cramming."


Len, I was drafted in 1972. I was working in a TV shop and repairing
ham radios on the side. They told me I would either drive a truck or be
a cook. I raised hell. I was told by the draft board that if I didn't
have a background in electronics they would not only not draft me, but
they wouldn't even let me enlist because of my health. So a couple
months later I'm yelling at an E8 and a Captain that I was not going to
drive a truck, and I was not going to cook. I told them about the
conversation with my draft board. The sergeant laughed and told me "I'm
going to do you a favor and prove you don't know the first dam thing
about electronics" He scheduled a 6 AM for me to take the 26T20 MOS
test which was called" Television equipment repairman" It was the
Army's equivalent of the FCC first class ticket. They pulled every
trick in the book to make sure I failed, including ripping the last two
pages from the test so only 88 of the 110 questions were there. I had 2
hours & 15 minutes to take the test. I turned it in 17 minutes later.
The sergeant laughed and said, I see you've given up. I grinned and
said, No, I'm done. He started grading it and his eyes kept getting
larger. He got to the end ant went over it two more times then stuck
out his hand and said, "Son, I apologize. You got 82 of the 88
questions right. That's the best score I've seen on this test, even
when I had the full copy." I was awarded 26T20 as a civilian acquired
skill that was a three year school at Ft. Monmoth. I worked in CATV,
CARS, installed a nice PA system for the General's conference room at Ft
Rucker, and did a little RADAR before I was sent to Alaska to the AFRTS
radio & TV station to work as one of the engineers. I made E4 in 18
months and received a letter of commendation from the commanding general
of the three Army bases in Alaska.


After my release from active duty in 1956, I thought it
good to get a Commercial Radiotelephone License. Lots of
job opportunities with that then. Couldn't find a Q&A
book in town but I got a copy of the entire FCC regulations
from a good guy at a local broadcast station, studied that
and got my First 'Phone on the first sitting in Chicago,
90 miles away (didn't walk, rode the train, kept my shoes
on even if there was no snow). Moved to L.A. at the end of
'56, started at Art Center School of Design to become an
illustrator. Worked during the day at Hughes Aircraft,
found out that illustrators didn't make much money, liked
electronics (already spent three years in Army
communications) and switched to Electronics Engineering.
Took me 15 years to complete that due to job requirements
making me miss whole semesters. Got engineering
responsibility, title, and pay before any "certificate"
(suitable for framing) awarded (sheep did not sacrifice
their skins for graduates, regardless of what is said).


Just before I got out of the Army the FCC stopped allowing veterans
to convert the 26T20 rating to a First phone without taking the test
again. I was bored with broadcast anyway so I did commercial sound and
industrial electronics. Later I did early personal computer and monitor
repair.

Several engineers at Microdyne wanted to know why I didn't have an EE
degree because I knew more about some of our older products than they
did. They also knew they couldn't bull**** me when I limped into
engineering with a handful of papers. I was there for results. I could
walk into the engineering department and the place would go quiet as
they looked for any excuse to grab something and leave through the other
hallway. It didn't take them long to find out that I not only found a
problem, I had found a least one valid solution. My supervisor laughed
and told me, "You just won't take no for an answer, will you?" I
shrugged and said, No, and I won't take "Yes" if I don't believe them.


In between semesters, I thought it a neat thing to learn
this morse code stuff, get a fancy callsign to "sign
after my name" (youth can be misleading on what is
important). Got to roughly 8 WPM clean copy using
practice tapes (magnetic, reel-to-reel, cassettes had
not yet been invented in those 60s days). Stopped after
that plateau, wondered "whatinhell am I doing spending
all this time on morse?" I'd already spent three full
years on Army communications at a major station (220
thousand messages a month in 1955), had become a
supervisor, did finally work on microwave radio relay
operations in the service, was now an employee of Ramo-
Wooldridge Corp. in electronic warfare group, and the
Class D CBs had already started. I'd gotten the First
'Phone, worked on HF, was now working on more of the EM
spectrum than any ham of today can use, already had a
good home workshop and was coming along on professional
design. I didn't "NEED MORSE" to GET ON THE AIR. I had
already done that, perfectly legal, without fault.

I had tossed the idea of getting a "title" (the callsign)
since there was MUCH MORE electronics coming along. The
first of the ICs had already hit the market and some of
us were tinkering with the first personal computers,
rolling our own without benefit of MITs or Apple or SwTP
kits (hadn't come out yet). PLENTY of fun and games in
electronics AND radio to be interested in.

I used to "pass a test" every week...on payday. If
I didn't KNOW what was needed on the job, to do the
things my bosses had given me responsibility for, I
wouldn't "pass that exam." No paycheck. Bye.

I never failed such an exam. I never failed any exam
in college courses, either. I just kept on working
in engineering design...and having to constantly keep
on learning. The state of the electronics arts have
NOT ceased to advance...not one iota of stopping.


After all the early problems with engineering my supervisor was asked
to release me to them to be an EET on their newest DSP based telemetry
system. They knew I would iron out a lot of problems before the radio
hit the production floor. I redesigned several test fixtures and
re-wrote most of the test procedures into a form the guys on the floor
could follow. Then I went through all the BS of our becoming ISO 9001
certified. I told my bosses that they better keep the UL inspector away
from my bench during their quarterly audits because I didn't mind
calling an idiot an idiot to their face.

We had basic models that were customized to the customer's needs. I
also did a lot of preliminary testing of new components, boards, and
modules before they were released to production so I had a lot of data
books and marked drawings on my bench. ISO 9001, as they set it up did
not let the techs keep any notes or write anything on any drawing for
future reference. I was no longer allowed to maintain test software I
wrote for an automated test fixture and I didn't want a pencil pushing
outsider in my way while I was working. I had a 350 MHz four channel
scope on my bench, but if a test procedure specified a 20 Mhz scope the
idiots insisted that you couldn't use the 20 Mhz filter in a better
scope. Even worse, they sent someone new for every audit so we had to
go through the same mess each time. One would insist a process was
wrong. We would change it to suit him or her. The next one wanted it
changed back.

BTW I worked on almost every board or module for a special broadband
telemetry receiver we built for the International Space Station. These
days I work on old ham receivers and test equipment when I feel well
enough to spend a couple hours at the bench.


--
Former professional electron wrangler.

Michael A. Terrell
Central Florida

From: Michael A. Terrell on Apr 18, 8:00 pm

wrote:


when I had the full copy." I was awarded 26T20 as a civilian acquired

skill that was a three year school at Ft. Monmoth. I worked in CATV,
CARS, installed a nice PA system for the General's conference room at
Ft
Rucker, and did a little RADAR before I was sent to Alaska to the
AFRTS
radio & TV station to work as one of the engineers. I made E4 in 18
months and received a letter of commendation from the commanding
general
of the three Army bases in Alaska.

Great! But Fort Monmouth changed considerably from
when I was there in '52 to when you were there 20
years later. :-)

A prime example was that there was NO CATV or any
TV courses available nor the curricula for same.
I'm not even sure where the AFRS (later AFRTS) guys
went to get electronics training for their broadcast
stations. AFRS was quite separate from regular Army
communications.

Also, in an odd quirk at the time, ALL rank promotions
were frozen while IN any school. Once one got out
(no "graduation ceremonies"), they started counting
time-in-grade. :-)


Just before I got out of the Army the FCC stopped allowing veterans

to convert the 26T20 rating to a First phone without taking the test
again. I was bored with broadcast anyway so I did commercial sound
and
industrial electronics. Later I did early personal computer and
monitor
repair.

Sigh. I didn't know the Army had gotten so generous
with conversions of skills to civilian licenses. :-)

I lucked out on assignments after Signal School, even
though it was overseas. Couldn't have asked for a
better assignment except maybe in Europe as part of
ACAN.


We had basic models that were customized to the customer's needs.
I
also did a lot of preliminary testing of new components, boards, and
modules before they were released to production so I had a lot of data

books and marked drawings on my bench. ISO 9001, as they set it up
did
not let the techs keep any notes or write anything on any drawing for
future reference. I was no longer allowed to maintain test software I

wrote for an automated test fixture and I didn't want a pencil pushing

outsider in my way while I was working. I had a 350 MHz four channel
scope on my bench, but if a test procedure specified a 20 Mhz scope
the
idiots insisted that you couldn't use the 20 Mhz filter in a better
scope. Even worse, they sent someone new for every audit so we had to

go through the same mess each time. One would insist a process was
wrong. We would change it to suit him or her. The next one wanted it

changed back.

Heh heh heh...sounds all too familiar. While we may not
have been in the same place, we got T-shirts in the
same style! :-)


BTW I worked on almost every board or module for a special
broadband
telemetry receiver we built for the International Space Station.
These
days I work on old ham receivers and test equipment when I feel well
enough to spend a couple hours at the bench.

Outstanding that you are still active! My old office
cubicle buddy from RCA days (only a month younger than
myself) suffers from Parkinson's disease (kept down
from deleterious effects, thank God), yet he had
enough soup left that he fixed me up with an HP 608 and
HP 606 generator when I got married (again). He's
on 20 meters every Saturday after fixing up his old
tube clunker transceiver.

I'm still bopping around with only minor problems, none
worth mentioning. But, I come from a family of long
livers (oh...about three feet or so, some would say).
:-)

wrote:

Great! But Fort Monmouth changed considerably from
when I was there in '52 to when you were there 20
years later. :-)


I was born in '52. :-)


I was never at Ft Monmoth. I was tested at Ft Knox, Ky. I caught a
lot of hell for it from other soldiers at my different duty stations
because they didn't believe anyone could test out of a three year
school. The station manager in Alaska told me "No civilian knows a damn
thing about electronics". In fact, someone on another newsgroup was
mailing me and calling me a liar because he insists that no one ever
tested out of a tech school. I am requesting my full military records
package from the archives to shut him up.


A prime example was that there was NO CATV or any
TV courses available nor the curricula for same.
I'm not even sure where the AFRS (later AFRTS) guys
went to get electronics training for their broadcast
stations. AFRS was quite separate from regular Army
communications.


The radio station at Ft Greely, Ak was built in 1948 as the first
permanent "Armed Forces Radio Network" station. It was the first site
built with commercial broadcast equipment instead of modified military
gear used at some sites during WW II. The radio transmitter was a gates
BC250 In the early '70s AFRTS claimed to be the only all tube network
in the world.

I wish I had a photo copy of the FCC license for the two stations.

The radio station: frequency 980 KHz.
Power: 250 watts, or as deemed necessary.
Expiration date: Until no longer needed.

The TV station: Frequency Channel 8.
Power: 500 watts, or as deemed necessary.
Expiration date: Until no longer needed.


Sigh. I didn't know the Army had gotten so generous
with conversions of skills to civilian licenses. :-)


Actually, it was the FCC who no longer accepted the military records
in lieu of testing.

There were a few other skills that were convertible. I know guys that
worked high pressure steam who said they just walked into the state's
licensing office with their military records, paid the fee and left with
their state license. There were a couple EEs who worked at the Ft
Greely power plant. That was where I first got my hands on the IEEE
magazine. Of course, air traffic controllers were in demand in civilian
airports. Ft Tucker trained helicopter pilots and Air traffic
controllers at Carin Air field, a few miles from the Daleville gate.
The airfield was Air Force, but the students were Army and Air Force, as
well as some foreign militaries. My main job was to maintain two 12
channel CATV systems and 350 monitors used to distribute educational TV
and weather data to student pilots.


I lucked out on assignments after Signal School, even
though it was overseas. Couldn't have asked for a
better assignment except maybe in Europe as part of
ACAN.

We had basic models that were customized to the customer's needs.
I
also did a lot of preliminary testing of new components, boards, and
modules before they were released to production so I had a lot of data

books and marked drawings on my bench. ISO 9001, as they set it up
did
not let the techs keep any notes or write anything on any drawing for
future reference. I was no longer allowed to maintain test software I

wrote for an automated test fixture and I didn't want a pencil pushing

outsider in my way while I was working. I had a 350 MHz four channel
scope on my bench, but if a test procedure specified a 20 Mhz scope
the
idiots insisted that you couldn't use the 20 Mhz filter in a better
scope. Even worse, they sent someone new for every audit so we had to

go through the same mess each time. One would insist a process was
wrong. We would change it to suit him or her. The next one wanted it

changed back.

Heh heh heh...sounds all too familiar. While we may not
have been in the same place, we got T-shirts in the
same style! :-)

BTW I worked on almost every board or module for a special
broadband
telemetry receiver we built for the International Space Station.
These
days I work on old ham receivers and test equipment when I feel well
enough to spend a couple hours at the bench.

Outstanding that you are still active! My old office
cubicle buddy from RCA days (only a month younger than
myself) suffers from Parkinson's disease (kept down
from deleterious effects, thank God), yet he had
enough soup left that he fixed me up with an HP 608 and
HP 606 generator when I got married (again). He's
on 20 meters every Saturday after fixing up his old
tube clunker transceiver.


http://home.earthlink.net/~mike.terrell/Projects.html has some of my
test equipment listed. Its on the "Current Projects" page because I
went two years that I couldn't do anything so I am in the process of
checking out all my equipment before I start using it again.



I'm still bopping around with only minor problems, none
worth mentioning. But, I come from a family of long
livers (oh...about three feet or so, some would say).
:-)




My retired dad lives next door. Other than some problems with his
hip he's in better shape than I am. I'm 100% disabled due to a laundry
list of "Little" problems. I still try to keep busy with some
projects. I am trying to set up a program to collect old and dead
computers, refurbish them and give them to disabled vets in my area.
This part of Florida is full of retired and disabled vets trying to
survive on a small pension or Social Security.

--
Former professional electron wrangler.

Michael A. Terrell
Central Florida