"Cmd Buzz Corey" wrote in message
...
Dan/W4NTI wrote:
wrote in message
ups.com...

KC8GXW wrote:

But you still have to pay the VE fee, and have earned that
Tech in the first place. Not a giveaway or a free upgrade.

73 de Jim, N2EY

I was just being sarcastic because I have been told I have a give
away tech license! :)

Well, whoever told you that was full of beans and didn't know
what s/he was talking about. Probably just sour grapes.

73 de Jim, N2EY


I said that. And I mean it. The tests today are a joke. Why you ask?
Because the questions and answers are right there in front of the
person.
Sure he has to study a lot of questions. But there they are on the
test. A
give away.

And lets not even talk about the CW situation.

It's NOT numbers we need, it people that respect the traditions of ham
radio and want to continue them. Its people that love ham radio and
don't
want to use to to order a pizza.

Call me old fashioned and out of touch. It won't be the first time.

Dan/W4NTI



Is there really any need for much technical knowledge to obtain a ham
license anymore? Why a need for technical knowlege when setting up and
operating a station today is simply plug-an-play? How many hams constuct
any equipment they use on the air any more? The most tech knowledge that
might be required is maybe how to build and put up and adjust an
antenna. Perhaps the test should focus more on rules, regulations and
proper operating procedures. The most technical that hams get today is
knowing how many frequencies they can store in the radios memory.

As you say Dan, with the joke they use for testing today, no technical
knowledge is required anyway, just memorize the answers to the questions
and off you go. So maybe if the tests were geared more to regs and
operating procedures, then even with the memoriziation some of it might
soak in and maybe there would less cb type operating on the ham bands.

It is pretty bad when as I heard not long ago on a 2 meter reperter, "I
just got my license, can someone tell me what frequencies I can
operate?" Cheeese.

Even wogie wussman passed the test, that in itself speaks volumns about
how easy the they are.


Hi, gang

Well, I am at a loss to reply to one post. The gentleman asked about the
necessity of needing an rf bridge to measure the impedance of his antenna.
He asked if he could simply use an ohm meter.

He is a general. I think. Maybe an extra ... :(

My honest belief is that folks should understand reactance and resistance to
obtain a general class license. We aren't talking brain surgery here.

My concern is not over cw as it is really an old mode of transmission;
however, that should not excuse folks from learning at least the basics of
theory.

I'm still contemplating a further post on a Hammond Organ site. One guy
wants to replace an impedance transformer and a tube amp with a solid state
amp. He seems concerned with "reflected power". My guess is that he is a
newly minted general or extra class licensee. I did reply that I'd suggest
only replacing the pre-amp and leave the impedance matching transformer. It
will be easier. I just don't know how to explain about emitter followers or
igfets (or mosfets, whatever). If he is licensed, it should be a no-brainer
at audio frequencies (only to around 6 kHz at that!), but his concern about
"reflected power" really leaves me brain-boggled. Of course, he might have
several miles of feedline between the transformer and pre-amp, but I sort of
doubt that.

As to frequencies, anyone can transmit on any frequency. As to what
frequencies the *may* legally operate on, that is another question - and one
that individual should know. Or, at least have the reference materials
around so he/she doesn't have to ask. It would be like going into an
operating room for an operation and hearing the doctor ask "what is a
scalpel?".

Gaaaaaah! Which way to the exit?



73 from Rochester, NY
Jim AA2QA

Hello, John

You've seen technical knowledge amongst the new folks? Glad you've seen
some. As to me, I like to rag-chew. Like I did with that professor from
the U of R concerning theoretical physics. Of course, he's an old guy too
....

My neighbor called me again last week. Make that week before last.

Seems her computer is on the fritz. The last time she had taken it to a
"tech" who simply ran the restore disk. No more partitions - and he didn't
even put the antivirus nor firewall back in! It took me two trips and
probably 3 hours to fix the bloody thing. Not to mention putting a second
partition on the drive and trying to organize it a bit.

She got a "copy" of XP (notice the quotes - take it any way you wish). This
was perhaps 4 months ago.

Well, she called (it will be two weeks this coming Thursday) and her
compooter is all bogged down. I told her I was busy, but I'd call.

Well, I'd plead Alzheimer's, but obviously I remember telling her that.
Maybe I'm too busy. In any case, I think she should take that thing back to
the young buck that "fixes" 'em and chargers her for his time (which I did
*not*).

Tell ya what, the old coots can and do learn.

Fool me once, shame on you.
Fool me twice, shame on me :))



73 from Rochester, NY
Jim AA2QA
(first licensed in 1962 and had 1st radiotelephone in 1966 along with a
commercial telegraph license - but don't know anything, obviously LOL)

ps - there is no respect for technically oriented folks in this country.
This is slowly being reflected by the drop folks opting for engineering
degrees. Everyone wants to be a lawyer or engineer.



"John Smith" wrote in message
...
... absolutely not, that is why ham radio has failed, the old guys keep
trying to turn it into a darn religion with a bunch of traditions (or is
that an A.A. meeting?)...
We need some young active technical people to bring some technology to
the focus in this hobby and breathe some life back into it...

Warmest regards,
John

"Dan/W4NTI" wrote in message
link.net...

wrote in message
ups.com...
KC8GXW wrote:
But you still have to pay the VE fee, and have earned that
Tech in the first place. Not a giveaway or a free upgrade.

73 de Jim, N2EY

I was just being sarcastic because I have been told I have a
give away tech license! :)

Well, whoever told you that was full of beans and didn't know
what s/he was talking about. Probably just sour grapes.

73 de Jim, N2EY

I said that. And I mean it. The tests today are a joke. Why you
ask? Because the questions and answers are right there in front of the
person. Sure he has to study a lot of questions. But there they are
on the test. A give away.

And lets not even talk about the CW situation.

It's NOT numbers we need, it people that respect the traditions of
ham radio and want to continue them. Its people that love ham radio
and don't want to use to to order a pizza.

Call me old fashioned and out of touch. It won't be the first time.

Dan/W4NTI

Jim:

I think you can "know all the answers" to the exam, and yet be a total
loss of how to apply it all, and how it all "really works"...
Years ago when I was a teenager, it was at clubs and activities I picked
up the "hands on", plus--even in the small town I lived in there were 3
hams! Now-a-days they are few and far between...

And, now with everyone hiding from terrorists, afraid your neighbor is a
child-molester, and too busy having to make a buck (wife too these days)
the new comers miss a whole lot--in the city I live in, can walk-about
all day long and not have one other citizen speak a greeting--if I don't
speak first... things have changed, I am afraid it is "adapt-or-die"
frown

Warmest regards,
John
"Jim Hampton" wrote in message
...

"Cmd Buzz Corey" wrote in message
...
Dan/W4NTI wrote:
wrote in message
ups.com...

KC8GXW wrote:

But you still have to pay the VE fee, and have earned that
Tech in the first place. Not a giveaway or a free upgrade.

73 de Jim, N2EY

I was just being sarcastic because I have been told I have a
give
away tech license! :)

Well, whoever told you that was full of beans and didn't know
what s/he was talking about. Probably just sour grapes.

73 de Jim, N2EY


I said that. And I mean it. The tests today are a joke. Why you
ask?
Because the questions and answers are right there in front of the
person.
Sure he has to study a lot of questions. But there they are on the
test. A
give away.

And lets not even talk about the CW situation.

It's NOT numbers we need, it people that respect the traditions of
ham
radio and want to continue them. Its people that love ham radio
and
don't
want to use to to order a pizza.

Call me old fashioned and out of touch. It won't be the first
time.

Dan/W4NTI



Is there really any need for much technical knowledge to obtain a ham
license anymore? Why a need for technical knowlege when setting up
and
operating a station today is simply plug-an-play? How many hams
constuct
any equipment they use on the air any more? The most tech knowledge
that
might be required is maybe how to build and put up and adjust an
antenna. Perhaps the test should focus more on rules, regulations and
proper operating procedures. The most technical that hams get today
is
knowing how many frequencies they can store in the radios memory.

As you say Dan, with the joke they use for testing today, no
technical
knowledge is required anyway, just memorize the answers to the
questions
and off you go. So maybe if the tests were geared more to regs and
operating procedures, then even with the memoriziation some of it
might
soak in and maybe there would less cb type operating on the ham
bands.

It is pretty bad when as I heard not long ago on a 2 meter reperter,
"I
just got my license, can someone tell me what frequencies I can
operate?" Cheeese.

Even wogie wussman passed the test, that in itself speaks volumns
about
how easy the they are.


Hi, gang

Well, I am at a loss to reply to one post. The gentleman asked about
the
necessity of needing an rf bridge to measure the impedance of his
antenna.
He asked if he could simply use an ohm meter.

He is a general. I think. Maybe an extra ... :(

My honest belief is that folks should understand reactance and
resistance to
obtain a general class license. We aren't talking brain surgery here.

My concern is not over cw as it is really an old mode of transmission;
however, that should not excuse folks from learning at least the
basics of
theory.

I'm still contemplating a further post on a Hammond Organ site. One
guy
wants to replace an impedance transformer and a tube amp with a solid
state
amp. He seems concerned with "reflected power". My guess is that he
is a
newly minted general or extra class licensee. I did reply that I'd
suggest
only replacing the pre-amp and leave the impedance matching
transformer. It
will be easier. I just don't know how to explain about emitter
followers or
igfets (or mosfets, whatever). If he is licensed, it should be a
no-brainer
at audio frequencies (only to around 6 kHz at that!), but his concern
about
"reflected power" really leaves me brain-boggled. Of course, he might
have
several miles of feedline between the transformer and pre-amp, but I
sort of
doubt that.

As to frequencies, anyone can transmit on any frequency. As to what
frequencies the *may* legally operate on, that is another question -
and one
that individual should know. Or, at least have the reference
materials
around so he/she doesn't have to ask. It would be like going into an
operating room for an operation and hearing the doctor ask "what is a
scalpel?".

Gaaaaaah! Which way to the exit?



73 from Rochester, NY
Jim AA2QA

"John Smith" wrote in message
...
Jim:

I think you can "know all the answers" to the exam, and yet be a total
loss of how to apply it all, and how it all "really works"...
Years ago when I was a teenager, it was at clubs and activities I picked
up the "hands on", plus--even in the small town I lived in there were 3
hams! Now-a-days they are few and far between...

And, now with everyone hiding from terrorists, afraid your neighbor is a
child-molester, and too busy having to make a buck (wife too these days)
the new comers miss a whole lot--in the city I live in, can walk-about
all day long and not have one other citizen speak a greeting--if I don't
speak first... things have changed, I am afraid it is "adapt-or-die"
frown

Warmest regards,
John


Likely true, John

Unfortunately, our dear administration has been pointing the finger at a few
things (weapons of mass destruction, terrorists, and the gay issue) to avoid
the things that should likely concern us most (at least in my mind).

The stupid deficit is beyond comprehension. Not that long ago, we wanted a
weaker dollar so we could export more. Now, in the paper, Wall Street
responds positively to a *stronger* dollar. Could we be praying that folks
don't figure out that the dollar isn't worth the paper it is printed on?
What is going on?

We are turning into a nation of "turn in thy neighbor if you think they
aren't exactly 'right'". Sounds like Russia, China, or pre-WWII Germany.

Meanwhile, as you have discovered, both parents have to work today. Minimum
wage isn't increasing. Income tax for the 6 figure plus folks has been
decreasing, but how about your property tax?

I must admit that I am in danger of becoming a curmudgeon. Wages are
terrible. I was making less than 1/3 of what I made in 1989 (not counting
inflation!) and all of us were let go that were hired the first of February.

I have a small pension; I think I can live on somewhat over $300 per week
take-home. It would not be smart to take a $10.00 per hour job as the tax
will be "off the top" and I'd be lucky to take home $300 of the $400.
Meanwhile, I have to pay for gas to get to work? BTW, I had taken a $13.00
per hour tech job. Engineers (contract, anyhow) aren't paid much more.
Meanwhile, the city has a job for $11.85 as a parking attendant. The tough
requirement is that you have to be able to make change without the use of a
calculator or computer. Is something wrong with this picture.

So, I've been resting on my backside. I'm waiting for some small signs of
intelligence so that I will feel safe that there will be a *big* change in
the coming elections.

Then, and only then, will I go back to work.

Meanwhile, the FBI is getting a substation less than a mile away from me.
The police have moved back to a block from me. Somehow, however, I don't
feel a whole lot safer. Two shootings in the past 4 months within 6 blocks
of me.

Dang! Ain't Bush doing a heck of a job? Don'tcha just feel so safe? :))

Meanwhile, I'd just like a few women to molest me. It has been so many
years .... :))

It is tough getting old, but it beats the alternative ;)


73 from Rochester, NY
Jim AA2QA

ps - this background may be why you see some old timers getting their
panties in a knot. I don't care about cw (although I've enjoyed it), but
feel folks should have some *minimal* background for their ticket.

pps - it isn't about applying the knowledge; it is the fact that knowing the
answers to certain questions does *not* mean you even understand the
material.

Heck, John, he was pushing the Art Bell show for a while :))

73 from Rochester, NY
Jim AA2QA
ps - ya got it right!



"John Smith" wrote in message
...
Jim:

The Wayne Green? The one who was even thrown off the Art Bell show for
being such a shill con-artist? Wow, you live-ya learn...

John

"Jim Hampton" wrote in message
...

"Dan/W4NTI" wrote in message
link.net...

"Dee Flint" wrote in message
...


Dan's point of a 1X3 being an indicator of an old timer does not
hold
water.

Definitely not. Many holders of 1x3 calls got their licenses in
the
1990s
and many new licenses today are getting 1x3 calls through the
vanity
system since there are none available for sequential issue.
However if
one looks only at the sequentially issued calls, the Ws are older
than
the
Ks which in turn are older than the Ns.

Dee D. Flint, N8UZE


I think you are trying to be a devils advocate here Dee. You should
know
I
was refering to the time before incentive licensing. If you
don't...you
do
now. So my comments are valid and correct.

Dan/W4NTI



Hello, Dan

That you may also have mis-read what I was saying. Before vanity
calls
(incentive licensing was in the 1960s), you could be certain of an old
timer
by the callsign. You could not be positive of a newer type call
because if
you changed radio districts, you were issued a new sequentially
assigned
call.

This is why Wayne Greene operated as W2NSD/1 for years. I don't know
if he
owned or licensed real estate in New York to keep the W2NSD call, but
finally was able to keep it for his new QTH.

W2NSD is quite some time after a 1X2 call and Wayne goes back a *lot*
of
years. He got his 50th (or was it more than 50?) year membership pin
from
the ARRL back quite some time ago. I subscribed to 73 about 10 years
ago,
so it may have been in that time frame. Assuming he did not get his
license
at the age of two or three, plus quite a few years between the 1X2s
and
W2NSD, I would suspect most of the original 1X1s are long SK. I
suspect a
fair number of the original 1X3s are also gone. Perhaps not the
majority,
but a fair number.

I make this statement only by personally knowing some of them and
having an
idea of their age. The ones I knew are all SK.

Ooops. I do know a 1X2. He was WA2SEY and obtained a 1X2 via the
vanity
call system. The only one I know is through the vanity call system.
Ooops,
wait. I've heard a couple on the air locally. All vanity call signs.

Going through posts in one group, I've seen a lot of folks grabbing
the 1X3s
via the vanity call system.

Due to personal experience, I suspect that a fair number of 1X3s are
vanity
issue and am convinced that most, if not all, of the 1X2s are vanity
issues.

Certainly, there are still a large number of 1X3s still around with a
non-vanity issued call. However, I suspect that in the 2nd district,
these
would have run out sometime around 1959 or 1960. This sets a lower
limit on
age of around 50. This would be for a child who obtained his or her
ticket
just before they started with the WA prefixes here. Someone obtaining
their
ticket then as a teenager should be around 60. You don't have to go
too far
back through the K2XXX to approach W2XXX and now you're likely looking
at
someone 80 years old or more. There were fewer amateurs then and
callsigns
weren't issued at the machine-gun rate they were some decades later.

I mentioned K2BRE. Were he still alive, he would be in his mid to
upper
80s. And that is still after the W2XXX calls. You expect me to
believe
most of the 1X3s are 80 years old and older?

How many hams are around that are 90 years old?

This is why I suspect a fair number of the 1X3s are vanity calls. Of
course, other radio districts may not need go back nearly as many
years to
achieve the 1X3s.

My first post was to point out that the WA and WB prefixes indicate
folks
that are approaching 60 years old. I doubt any were obtained via
vanity
calls. So, I suspect these folks have been licensed well over 40
years. I
cannot assume that with a 1X2 or 1X3.

Oh, I almost forgot W2OY. He's been SK for many years now, but other
lids
have jumped right in to fill the gap.

"Jim Hampton" wrote in message
...

"Dan/W4NTI" wrote in message
hlink.net...

"Jim Hampton" wrote in message
...

Oh, I almost forgot W2OY. He's been SK for many years now, but other
lids
have jumped right in to fill the gap.

I remember his well. In fact I was insulted by him several times on 75
when
he slapped me around for having a K8 call.....hi.

Didn't a club pick up his call?

Dan/W4NTI



Hello, Dan

Yes, it is a club call now. OY jumped on my frequency once on 75 when I
was
chatting with a station in Ohio. Guess what? The Ohio station was a good
cw op and we changed to cw. At first, I tried signing 73 with him at
about
20 words per minute. He came back stating cw was fine with him. Inside
of
30 seconds we kept asking each other "qrq?" and rapidly cranked up to
about
40 words per minute. With the q-multiplier cranked up, I couldn't even
hear
W2OY. I briefly turned it down to hear him moaning and groaning for us to
"take those toys down into the cw band!". LOL. He didn't bither us a
bot!

73 from Rochester, NY
Jim AA2QA



And this after the goof jumped on top of your qso, my oh my a two letter
suffix LID... hi.

Dan/W4NTI

"Cmd Buzz Corey" wrote in message
...
Dan/W4NTI wrote:
wrote in message
ups.com...

KC8GXW wrote:

But you still have to pay the VE fee, and have earned that
Tech in the first place. Not a giveaway or a free upgrade.

73 de Jim, N2EY

I was just being sarcastic because I have been told I have a give
away tech license! :)

Well, whoever told you that was full of beans and didn't know
what s/he was talking about. Probably just sour grapes.

73 de Jim, N2EY


I said that. And I mean it. The tests today are a joke. Why you ask?
Because the questions and answers are right there in front of the person.
Sure he has to study a lot of questions. But there they are on the test.
A give away.

And lets not even talk about the CW situation.

It's NOT numbers we need, it people that respect the traditions of ham
radio and want to continue them. Its people that love ham radio and
don't want to use to to order a pizza.

Call me old fashioned and out of touch. It won't be the first time.

Dan/W4NTI



Is there really any need for much technical knowledge to obtain a ham
license anymore? Why a need for technical knowlege when setting up and
operating a station today is simply plug-an-play? How many hams constuct
any equipment they use on the air any more? The most tech knowledge that
might be required is maybe how to build and put up and adjust an antenna.
Perhaps the test should focus more on rules, regulations and proper
operating procedures. The most technical that hams get today is knowing
how many frequencies they can store in the radios memory.


I am not all that concerned about the "technical knowledge" side of the
test.
I think basic technical knowledge is all that is really necessary. Like
being
able to cut a simple dipole, understand the terminology, have a working
knowledge in block diagram format, for what is happening inside that radio.

And I totally agree that the test should be heavy on rules, regs, and PROPER
OPERATING PROCEDURES....like don't talk CB Crap on HF SSB. \

As you say Dan, with the joke they use for testing today, no technical
knowledge is required anyway, just memorize the answers to the questions
and off you go. So maybe if the tests were geared more to regs and
operating procedures, then even with the memoriziation some of it might
soak in and maybe there would less cb type operating on the ham bands.

We agree it lots here, eh?

It is pretty bad when as I heard not long ago on a 2 meter reperter, "I
just got my license, can someone tell me what frequencies I can operate?"
Cheeese.


Or what I heard on the 75meter EKTRA band......I wanna cut a new dipole
for 80m phone (First off what is 80 meter phone?)(I always thought it was
75meter phone). Out of the 5 people in the group, one had it right.
Amazing.

Even wogie wussman passed the test, that in itself speaks volumns about
how easy the they are.

He should have done real good the second time around...yuk yuk.

Dan/W4NTI

We have plenty of hi-tech stuff going on in Amateur Radio. Just not all
that much at HF or on the two meter CB band of FM machines.

Just off the top of my head.....ever hear of AMSAT? You know those
satellite thingy's?

Or how about digital voice on HF? Digital SlowScan? Or for that matter
digital fast scan TV? Then of course the utter glut of new and experimental
digital modes....too many to even talk about here. Then don't forget the
EME (moonbounce) with WSJT program that allows you to do what it took a KW
and 4 / 16 element phased yagis to do just a decade ago, with only 150
watts OR LESS?

So lets not talk about hams not doing anything technical.

Next BS line.

Dan/W4NTI

"John Smith" wrote in message
...
... absolutely not, that is why ham radio has failed, the old guys keep
trying to turn it into a darn religion with a bunch of traditions (or is
that an A.A. meeting?)...
We need some young active technical people to bring some technology to the
focus in this hobby and breathe some life back into it...

Warmest regards,
John

"Dan/W4NTI" wrote in message
link.net...

wrote in message
ups.com...
KC8GXW wrote:
But you still have to pay the VE fee, and have earned that
Tech in the first place. Not a giveaway or a free upgrade.

73 de Jim, N2EY

I was just being sarcastic because I have been told I have a give
away tech license! :)

Well, whoever told you that was full of beans and didn't know
what s/he was talking about. Probably just sour grapes.

73 de Jim, N2EY

I said that. And I mean it. The tests today are a joke. Why you ask?
Because the questions and answers are right there in front of the person.
Sure he has to study a lot of questions. But there they are on the test.
A give away.

And lets not even talk about the CW situation.

It's NOT numbers we need, it people that respect the traditions of ham
radio and want to continue them. Its people that love ham radio and
don't want to use to to order a pizza.

Call me old fashioned and out of touch. It won't be the first time.

Dan/W4NTI

From: "K4YZ" on Mon 6 Jun 2005 04:24


wrote:
From: "bb" on 4 Jun 2005 11:13:35 -0700

I can't "insult" anyone who doesn't present the opportunity to
BE insulted, Lennie.

You lie. You deceive. You attempt to humiliate other's sincerity
and accomplishments for your own demeaning reasons.

You ARE your own worst enemy.


...the sun sets on the Tomb of the Unknown Solder as a solitary
figure in a patch-adorned flight suit slowly paces out his lonely
path of anger, J-38 in one hand, bayonetted USMC soldering iron
in the other. Pre-recorded marine marches softly fill the air,
interspersed with dits and dahs of a few PCTA morsebirds not yet
extinct. The Tomb of the Unknown Solder is a lonely place, deep
in the valley of neuroses, anger, and frustration. The single
sentinel counts cadennce to himself, muttering "flux you, flux
you" between the slow steps. His fists are clenched, eager to do
bottle but only sipping a cup of unkindness. It is sad but the
sentinel at the Tomb of the Unknown Solder keeps going. He does
not know why and that is the tragedy. The sun slowly sets on the
Tomb of the Unknown Solder leaving only the red light of fire in
the eyes of the muttering sentinel. Those glow in the dark like
LED pilot lights. Hatred lives on in his twilight of despair.

Temper fry.

"Dan/W4NTI" wrote in message
k.net...

"Jim Hampton" wrote in message
...

"Dan/W4NTI" wrote in message
hlink.net...

"Jim Hampton" wrote in message
...

Oh, I almost forgot W2OY. He's been SK for many years now, but other
lids
have jumped right in to fill the gap.

I remember his well. In fact I was insulted by him several times on 75
when
he slapped me around for having a K8 call.....hi.

Didn't a club pick up his call?

Dan/W4NTI



Hello, Dan

Yes, it is a club call now. OY jumped on my frequency once on 75 when I
was
chatting with a station in Ohio. Guess what? The Ohio station was a
good
cw op and we changed to cw. At first, I tried signing 73 with him at
about
20 words per minute. He came back stating cw was fine with him. Inside
of
30 seconds we kept asking each other "qrq?" and rapidly cranked up to
about
40 words per minute. With the q-multiplier cranked up, I couldn't even
hear
W2OY. I briefly turned it down to hear him moaning and groaning for us
to
"take those toys down into the cw band!". LOL. He didn't bither us a
bot!

73 from Rochester, NY
Jim AA2QA



And this after the goof jumped on top of your qso, my oh my a two letter
suffix LID... hi.

Dan/W4NTI



Hello, Dan

Since you have been licensed since 1961, I shouldn't have to point out that
there has never been a sanity test for an amateur radio license :))


73 from Rochester, NY
Jim AA2QA