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NPRM - "Pro" Comments for Dropping Code
I am glad the FCC finally took charge of the situation and decided to drop the code requirements. Here's why ...
I like Amateur Radio and want it to be a life-long hobby for me ... however, I just plainly can't take time to effectively study the code at this point in my life. I think my story is pretty common for most of the new people entering Amateur Radio today. I am a 43 year old married father of three children. I have a background in Aerospace Engineering and my full time work is in the high technology sector working with many well known computing infrastructure companies. I got my Technician license about two and a half years ago because it was a neat little challenge for me to combine radio communications with some of the newer digital modes. Basically, it was fun, not really technical challenging, but a nice way to relax. I do enjoy making contacts on 6 meters. I would play around with some different radio, antenna, and computer configurations and started to develop a relationship with some fellow ham buddies. Soon I became limited with the VHF/UHF band and wanted to hop onto HF. Of course, by the current rules one would have to jump on and take on learning Morse Code. I am absolutely sure I could do this if I had enough time. Having an ongoing career and being a family man, doesn't really leave a whole lot of time to practice dits and dahs. I have actually played around with the code several times, but real life events and changing priorities always got in the way; not en excuse just reality. I really do see learning the code as similar to my older engineering brethren making me learn how to use a slide rule; it's kind of neat, but not really effective for me, or most folks, given the advance of other computing methods and devices. Fellow hams need to sit back and take an objective look at this hobby because it is dying a rapid death! Amateur Radio needs me and people just like me to join in on the HF bands and to use our real world high tech expertise to help further Amateur Radio. Amateur Radio also needs my $$$$. Take a look at the declining number of amateur radio manufacturers and radios. How could any business justify spending a lot on research and development in a market that is collapsing? Finally, I honor all those of you who are code proficient. I too may one day still be code proficient even if there is no formal testing. However, I do think that the right decision has been made by the FCC and will ultimately be finalized with little changes. This will not kill our hobby, but will inject more life into it. 73's to All, Joe / KG4YJS |
Boy did you fall for a bunch of propaganda! Although we have fallen off the all time high as far as numbers go, we are in no significant decline. Rather we are in a period of stabilization. Some weeks ago, I had shown the hams as a percentage of population and it's been holding pretty stable. Unfortunately, I had a bit of a computer problem and lost the file. When I get time, I'll have to research the data again and recreate the file.
As far as the declining number of manufacturers goes, the normal progression in any business is towards fewer companies serving the market. Unless one takes steps to stop it, a free market economy goes through a cycle. New product with lots of new companies. Then continuing consolidation until there is a near monopoly by one or a handful of companies. Occasionally, a new company will break in but not too often. This has happened in EVERY industry not just radio manufacturing. At least a dozen car companies, if not more, have come and gone in the US and we are down to three. Dozens of computer companies have come and gone. Dozens of software companies and so on. Dee D. Flint, N8UZE "Joe Guthart" wrote in message ... I am glad the FCC finally took charge of the situation and decided to drop the code requirements. Here's why ... I like Amateur Radio and want it to be a life-long hobby for me ... however, I just plainly can't take time to effectively study the code at this point in my life. I think my story is pretty common for most of the new people entering Amateur Radio today. I am a 43 year old married father of three children. I have a background in Aerospace Engineering and my full time work is in the high technology sector working with many well known computing infrastructure companies. I got my Technician license about two and a half years ago because it was a neat little challenge for me to combine radio communications with some of the newer digital modes. Basically, it was fun, not really technical challenging, but a nice way to relax. I do enjoy making contacts on 6 meters. I would play around with some different radio, antenna, and computer configurations and started to develop a relationship with some fellow ham buddies. Soon I became limited with the VHF/UHF band and wanted to hop onto HF. Of course, by the current rules one would have to jump on and take on learning Morse Code. I am absolutely sure I could do this if I had enough time. Having an ongoing career and being a family man, doesn't really leave a whole lot of time to practice dits and dahs. I have actually played around with the code several times, but real life events and changing priorities always got in the way; not en excuse just reality. I really do see learning the code as similar to my older engineering brethren making me learn how to use a slide rule; it's kind of neat, but not really effective for me, or most folks, given the advance of other computing methods and devices. Fellow hams need to sit back and take an objective look at this hobby because it is dying a rapid death! Amateur Radio needs me and people just like me to join in on the HF bands and to use our real world high tech expertise to help further Amateur Radio. Amateur Radio also needs my $$$$. Take a look at the declining number of amateur radio manufacturers and radios. How could any business justify spending a lot on research and development in a market that is collapsing? Finally, I honor all those of you who are code proficient. I too may one day still be code proficient even if there is no formal testing. However, I do think that the right decision has been made by the FCC and will ultimately be finalized with little changes. This will not kill our hobby, but will inject more life into it. 73's to All, Joe / KG4YJS |
"Joe Guthart" wrote in message ... I am glad the FCC finally took charge of the situation and decided to drop the code requirements. Here's why ... I like Amateur Radio and want it to be a life-long hobby for me ... however, I just plainly can't take time to effectively study the code at this point in my life. 10 min a night Joe would get you there in several weeks ..... don't have to be an expert just 5 wpm ..... I think my story is pretty common for most of the new people entering Amateur Radio today. I am a 43 year old married father of three children. I have a background in Aerospace Engineering and my full time work is in the high technology sector working with many well known computing infrastructure companies. I got my Technician license about two and a half years ago because it was a neat little challenge for me to combine radio communications with some of the newer digital modes. Basically, it was fun, not really technical challenging, but a nice way to relax. Exactly Joe it is a good way to relax ....... if it were work then I wouldn't be doing it ...... I do enjoy making contacts on 6 meters. I would play around with some different radio, antenna, and computer configurations and started to develop a relationship with some fellow ham buddies. Soon I became limited with the VHF/UHF band and wanted to hop onto HF. Of course, by the current rules one would have to jump on and take on learning Morse Code. I am absolutely sure I could do this if I had enough time. Having an ongoing career and being a family man, doesn't really leave a whole lot of time to practice dits and dahs. I have actually played around with the code 10 min a night for several weeks would get the job done quite well ..... no problem for 5 wpm Finally, I honor all those of you who are code proficient. Joe .... honor the vets not people who have a simple skill ..... proficient ???? I don't have a good answer for that except 5 WPM is proficient for a 5 WPM op .... I too may one day still be code proficient even if there is no formal testing. Good Joe as you will be missing out on one "relaxing" mode ..... excuse me protocol ..... I look forward to seeing you on the lower edges ....... However, I do think that the right decision has been made by the FCC and will ultimately be finalized with little changes. This will not kill our hobby, but will inject more life into it. Joe I wish I could agree with you but I just don't see how that will happen ........ unless testing is done away with entirely. However if it does .......I will buy all a virtual beer on this group. 73's to All, Joe / KG4YJS Take care Joe ...73 Tom Popovic KI3R Belle Vernon Pa. |
Fat people would look a lot better and be healthier by losing just 10
pounds a month... .... just about as much chance as someone studying a worthless means of communication as that... .... well, I did, but I am kinda slow, by the time I passed the test it was too late to protest effectively! ROFLOL!!! John "garigue" wrote in message ... "Joe Guthart" wrote in message ... I am glad the FCC finally took charge of the situation and decided to drop the code requirements. Here's why ... I like Amateur Radio and want it to be a life-long hobby for me ... however, I just plainly can't take time to effectively study the code at this point in my life. 10 min a night Joe would get you there in several weeks ..... don't have to be an expert just 5 wpm ..... I think my story is pretty common for most of the new people entering Amateur Radio today. I am a 43 year old married father of three children. I have a background in Aerospace Engineering and my full time work is in the high technology sector working with many well known computing infrastructure companies. I got my Technician license about two and a half years ago because it was a neat little challenge for me to combine radio communications with some of the newer digital modes. Basically, it was fun, not really technical challenging, but a nice way to relax. Exactly Joe it is a good way to relax ....... if it were work then I wouldn't be doing it ...... I do enjoy making contacts on 6 meters. I would play around with some different radio, antenna, and computer configurations and started to develop a relationship with some fellow ham buddies. Soon I became limited with the VHF/UHF band and wanted to hop onto HF. Of course, by the current rules one would have to jump on and take on learning Morse Code. I am absolutely sure I could do this if I had enough time. Having an ongoing career and being a family man, doesn't really leave a whole lot of time to practice dits and dahs. I have actually played around with the code 10 min a night for several weeks would get the job done quite well ..... no problem for 5 wpm Finally, I honor all those of you who are code proficient. Joe .... honor the vets not people who have a simple skill ..... proficient ???? I don't have a good answer for that except 5 WPM is proficient for a 5 WPM op .... I too may one day still be code proficient even if there is no formal testing. Good Joe as you will be missing out on one "relaxing" mode ..... excuse me protocol ..... I look forward to seeing you on the lower edges ....... However, I do think that the right decision has been made by the FCC and will ultimately be finalized with little changes. This will not kill our hobby, but will inject more life into it. Joe I wish I could agree with you but I just don't see how that will happen ........ unless testing is done away with entirely. However if it does .......I will buy all a virtual beer on this group. 73's to All, Joe / KG4YJS Take care Joe ...73 Tom Popovic KI3R Belle Vernon Pa. |
"John Smith" wrote in message ... Fat people would look a lot better and be healthier by losing just 10 pounds a month... ... just about as much chance as someone studying a worthless means of communication as that... ... well, I did, but I am kinda slow, by the time I passed the test it was too late to protest effectively! ROFLOL!!! John Huh ?????? I am glad it is Friday night and you don't have to work tomorrow ...... how about sharing some of that stuff you are drinking or smoking ........ cough syrup ?????? John get off of that bedspring antenna your using for that KW I think something has fried ....... dit dit 73 Tom KI3R ...... |
Geesh...
You guys are for real huh? You think code and a radio makes you special guys? Was the license really so difficult for you, you believe the rest of us with much different opinions are stupid and find it that big a challenge? I started building tesla coils at ~10, I got my novice ticket and built my first single tube transmitter when I was 12, my first degree was in electronic engineering in '72... I ate this chit up... I was bored and didn't know what I wanted to be--until they invented the computer... I returned to college in 1978 and got my BS in CS in 1981 along with a BA in journalism, I completed my MS in CS in '83... since then I have always taught a night class at the local jr. college and continue to take classes at the local university to stay current and be with fresh young minds... Get real... lay down the opium pipe and step out of the gutter! And, I just consider myself an average guy (you should see my sister, she has all the brains in the family!)... of course, I do live in a nice neighborhood and have nice neighbors... John "garigue" wrote in message ... "John Smith" wrote in message ... Fat people would look a lot better and be healthier by losing just 10 pounds a month... ... just about as much chance as someone studying a worthless means of communication as that... ... well, I did, but I am kinda slow, by the time I passed the test it was too late to protest effectively! ROFLOL!!! John Huh ?????? I am glad it is Friday night and you don't have to work tomorrow ...... how about sharing some of that stuff you are drinking or smoking ........ cough syrup ?????? John get off of that bedspring antenna your using for that KW I think something has fried ....... dit dit 73 Tom KI3R ...... |
Joe Guthart wrote I am glad the FCC finally took charge of the situation and decided to drop the code requirements. Here's why ... "I like Amateur Radio and want it to be a life-long hobby for me ... however, I just plainly can't take time to effectively study the code at this point in my life . . . I got my Technician license about two and a half years ago . . because it was a neat little challenge for me to combine radio communications with some of the newer digital modes . .. . Basically, it was fun, not really technical challenging, but a nice way to relax. I do enjoy making contacts on 6 meters. I would play around with some different radio, antenna, and computer configurations and started to develop a relationship with some fellow ham buddies." - - - - If you had the time to do all that you had the time to learn 5wpm. - - - - "Fellow hams need to sit back and take an objective look at this hobby because it is dying a rapid death!" - - - - The hobby will have to "die" by about 80% before the number of hams becomes the same as it was when I first got on the bands. - - - - "Take a look at the declining number of amateur radio manufacturers and radios. How could any business justify spending a lot on research and development in a market that is collapsing?" - - - - Within the past 2-3 years the ham equipment manufacturers have introduced or are about to introduce at least new top-of-the-line HF xcvrs, the least expensive $3,500, the most expensive, the Icom 7800 costs around $10.5k. Icom didn't thnk they'd sell more than 200 of them in this country. They sold the whole batch in six weeks. This is a "collapse"?! You've been listening to the wrong talking heads and you're simply parroting them and/or rationales are where you find 'em eh? . - - - - "This will not kill our hobby, but will inject more life into it." - - - - For maybe two years. Then what? - - - - 73's to All, Joe / KG4YJS w3rv |
Within the past 2-3 years the ham equipment manufacturers have introduced or are about to introduce at least *three* new top-of-the-line HF xcvrs . . . |
kelly:
Yep, really dynamic chit goin' on here. Just a quick tune across those old HF's and you are taken back with the overcrowding and congestion, my gawd man--it is a damn nightmare! zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.... Ohhhh, that was just a dream, huh? Darn, was just starting to get interesting! (or, shortly will grin) John wrote in message oups.com... Joe Guthart wrote I am glad the FCC finally took charge of the situation and decided to drop the code requirements. Here's why ... "I like Amateur Radio and want it to be a life-long hobby for me ... however, I just plainly can't take time to effectively study the code at this point in my life . . . I got my Technician license about two and a half years ago . . because it was a neat little challenge for me to combine radio communications with some of the newer digital modes . . . Basically, it was fun, not really technical challenging, but a nice way to relax. I do enjoy making contacts on 6 meters. I would play around with some different radio, antenna, and computer configurations and started to develop a relationship with some fellow ham buddies." - - - - If you had the time to do all that you had the time to learn 5wpm. - - - - "Fellow hams need to sit back and take an objective look at this hobby because it is dying a rapid death!" - - - - The hobby will have to "die" by about 80% before the number of hams becomes the same as it was when I first got on the bands. - - - - "Take a look at the declining number of amateur radio manufacturers and radios. How could any business justify spending a lot on research and development in a market that is collapsing?" - - - - Within the past 2-3 years the ham equipment manufacturers have introduced or are about to introduce at least new top-of-the-line HF xcvrs, the least expensive $3,500, the most expensive, the Icom 7800 costs around $10.5k. Icom didn't thnk they'd sell more than 200 of them in this country. They sold the whole batch in six weeks. This is a "collapse"?! You've been listening to the wrong talking heads and you're simply parroting them and/or rationales are where you find 'em eh? . - - - - "This will not kill our hobby, but will inject more life into it." - - - - For maybe two years. Then what? - - - - 73's to All, Joe / KG4YJS w3rv |
Dee Flint wrote:
Boy did you fall for a bunch of propaganda! Amen. In spades. As far as the declining number of manufacturers goes, the normal progression in any business is towards fewer companies serving the market. Unless one takes steps to stop it, a free market economy goes through a cycle. New product with lots of new companies. Then continuing consolidation until there is a near monopoly by one or a handful of companies. That's true in general Dee but what "declining number of manufacturers" - within the context of ham radio? It just ain't so. I suspect that if somebody put the effort into pulling together the actual facts they'd find that the total number of manufacturers in the ham radio market is higher today than it's ever been in the past. Almost all of the "glory-days" U.S. supply siders went bust or abandoned the ham radio market and moved on to survive when the JA's landed 1975-1980. Yaesu, Icom, Kenwood, Alinco, Honda, Toyota and Datsun pulled off what Yamamoto and Nagumo failed to pull off their way a bit earlier. Within ham radio Hallicrafters, Swan, National, Hammarlund, Drake and Heath simply evaporated with barely a trace left in the ham biz, Collins is one which simply moved on. Not a consolidation in sight anywhere. Off on another tangent consider the implications of another aspect: Collins offered only two basics routes a ham could use to get on the HF bands with their gear at any given point in time. One xcvr and one pair of separates. Period. Ditto Drake and for the most part Heath too. Those three companies overwhelmingly dominated the HF ham gear market for years. Today Icom is offering four desktop HF xcvrs with two more in the pipeline, Kenwood offers four, and Yeasu has seven in their catalog with another one coming. Ten-tec and Elecraft are doing nicely. Not counting all the HF mobile rigs and the equipment being developed in various skunk works. Yeah it's a free market economy cycle alrighty. We've never had it better and it keeps getting better. These Junior Grade "the sky is falling" yahoos need to be written off as as just that. w3rv |
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From: "John Smith" on Fri 22 Jul 2005 21:08
Geesh... You guys are for real huh? You think code and a radio makes you special guys? It does in their minds. They are the PCTA *Extras*! Was the license really so difficult for you, you believe the rest of us with much different opinions are stupid and find it that big a challenge? Yes they do. :-) PCTA extras are the Gods of Radio! [amateur radio, that is] I started building tesla coils at ~10, I got my novice ticket and built my first single tube transmitter when I was 12, my first degree was in electronic engineering in '72... I ate this chit up... I was bored and didn't know what I wanted to be--until they invented the computer... I returned to college in 1978 and got my BS in CS in 1981 along with a BA in journalism, I completed my MS in CS in '83... since then I have always taught a night class at the local jr. college and continue to take classes at the local university to stay current and be with fresh young minds... Careful, John, careful. Gonad the Librarian (K4YZ) will come in here and totally denounce "night classes" as something for immigrants or "stupids." :-) Get real... lay down the opium pipe and step out of the gutter! That be a bit strong, John. Tom/Garique is basically an OK kind of guy. It's the OTHER PCTA extras in here who need their hairy legs (covered by jackboots) shaved a bit (words toned down considerably to be 'courteous' to the arrogant). And, I just consider myself an average guy (you should see my sister, she has all the brains in the family!)... of course, I do live in a nice neighborhood and have nice neighbors... Oh, no...another segue into Real Estate and Mortgages! :-) That's even worse than "ham balloons reaching the threshold of space!" [which others have already done but one in here wants congratulatory messages praising him for announcing he is "going to do it!"] There can be NO controversial commentary on the code test for radio amateurs in here. All MUST do it to show their dedication and committment to the amateur community! It has always been that way and it must always be! It is the heart and soul of U.S. amateur radio! CW uber alles!! Sieg heil!!! Oops, got carried away with PCTA spirit words there... :-) bit bit |
From: John Smith on Jul 23, 11:38 am
[ on Night School ] Trust me, there are no "stupid people" in the class I will be instructing this fall... "C++", well, they are all gone by the end of the first quiz, at the latest... You are a TOUGH instructor! Not letting students get a B, making them settle for a C++....... :-) I think you should insert at least one class on the morse code. That's the state-of-the-art communications code first used in 1844 and again in 1896 at the first demonstrations of radio as a communications means! "Tradition" and all that... :-) For the geeks, there is Fortran IV. For the get-ahead-in- business types, Cobol. For the girlie-men, Lisp. :-) Then there's Bentley's Commercial Codes, a superencipherment on top of morse code, several editions...one of the bringers of the "five-letter-group" concept for a telegraphic "word." By the time you get to DES you will have everyone primed for NSA and CIA and DIA. But, FIRST, they ALL have to do the morse CODE! Muy importante! bit bit [a former voting member of the ACM] |
Yep Len:
Bit tough here. Gawd, I was shocked last semester... thought a couple of girly-men had snuck into my class... on closer inspection I found it was just some very assertive women--I let 'em stay... Lisp for girly-men? I love that idea! ROFLOL! grin John wrote in message oups.com... From: John Smith on Jul 23, 11:38 am [ on Night School ] Trust me, there are no "stupid people" in the class I will be instructing this fall... "C++", well, they are all gone by the end of the first quiz, at the latest... You are a TOUGH instructor! Not letting students get a B, making them settle for a C++....... :-) I think you should insert at least one class on the morse code. That's the state-of-the-art communications code first used in 1844 and again in 1896 at the first demonstrations of radio as a communications means! "Tradition" and all that... :-) For the geeks, there is Fortran IV. For the get-ahead-in- business types, Cobol. For the girlie-men, Lisp. :-) Then there's Bentley's Commercial Codes, a superencipherment on top of morse code, several editions...one of the bringers of the "five-letter-group" concept for a telegraphic "word." By the time you get to DES you will have everyone primed for NSA and CIA and DIA. But, FIRST, they ALL have to do the morse CODE! Muy importante! bit bit [a former voting member of the ACM] |
wrote: wrote: I knew I'd coax you outta yer lair when I tossed that one out. I suspect that if somebody put the effort into pulling together the actual facts they'd find that the total number of manufacturers in the ham radio market is higher today than it's ever been in the past. Well, let's see... Back in the '60s we had Collins, Drake, National, Hallicrafters, Hammarlund, Gonset, Heath, Swan, Johnson... .. . . five dollar 12V ARC-5 Jeep radios . . . or were they 6V? and that's about it for major manufacturers of ham gear that lasted more than a few years and made more than a few products. Even in the above list there were limitations because many of the above did not offer a complete line (EFJ made mostly transmitters, for example). Today we have Yaesu, Icom, Kenwood, TenTec, Alinco, Standard, Elecraft, SGC, and maybe a few more. But see below. .. . . yeah, OK so far . . . . . . Within ham radio Hallicrafters, Swan, National, Hammarlund, Drake and Heath simply evaporated with barely a trace left . . . Yep. In some cases it was that the founder had died or retired, and the company wasn't able to adjust to the new market reality. Founders exits aside it was the "adjusting to the new market realities" which knocked out the U.S. radio builders. GM is still trying to catch up with Honda. Darwin prevails. . . . Collins offered only two basics routes a ham could use to get on the HF bands with their gear at any given point in time. One xcvr and one pair of separates. Period. Ditto Drake and for the most part Heath too. Drake and Heath had slightly more elaborate product lines - but not by much. The point is still valid, though. The variety of new rigs today is amazing. Not even a discussion. Here's a game: Look up all the "100 watt class" HF rigs available today (mid 2005). Compare to what was available 10, 20, 30, 40, 50 years ago. I bet today's variety is the largest. Not even a discussion Not counting all the HF mobile rigs and the equipment being developed in various skunk works. *And* not counting the enormous variety of clean, late-model used equipment that is still very much usable. Take TenTec - if an Orion is too much and you don't like the Jupiter, there's the Omni 6 in various flavors, its predecessor the Omni V, the Pegasus, the Paragon, and the Corsair 2, among others. Well yeah, scarfing up used gear to get more bang for the buck has been a ham tradition going back into the mists of time long before either of us came about. The other night I saw an ad for the Kenwood TS-520 in a 1975 QST. $629. That was back in the days when a new car was less than $4000 and starting salary for a degreed engineer was maybe $12,000. Sounds low to me because most of my classmates started for $9-10k right out of school in 1963. I started for $7,600 for the gummint which was quite low then. Or look at the SB-101 from the mid 1960s. $369 for the rig, almost another hundred for the power supply, CW filter and speaker. Say $450 - for a kit! What's that in today's dollars? Beats me but the point is there. 73 de Jim, N2EY w3rv |
Geesh... You guys are for real huh? You think code and a radio makes you special guys? Ah com' on John ....did you ever hear me say anything about CW being special ...... in fact the older I get the less "specialness" means to be ..... as if it really meant anything back then ..... Was the license really so difficult for you, you believe the rest of us with much different opinions are stupid and find it that big a challenge? Never studpidity ....motivation .... well based on some of the arguments I have seen here and in my ham d'jour life ....it just seems that if someone really wanted HF privlidges then suck it up ...study a bit ...pass and have the ritualistic back yard key burial .......then get on with life ..... but that apparently will not be necessary now .....no carping ...just fact .....and I will welcome anyone to the bands and if they are on CW without being tested ...no big deal. I call that a win for band useage which we need and for ham radio in general .... I started building tesla coils at ~10, I got my novice ticket and built my first single tube transmitter when I was 12, my first degree was in electronic engineering in '72... I ate this chit up... I was bored and didn't know what I wanted to be--until they invented the computer... I returned to college in 1978 and got my BS in CS in 1981 along with a BA in journalism, I completed my MS in CS in '83... since then I have always taught a night class at the local jr. college and continue to take classes at the local university to stay current and be with fresh young minds... Gee John ...then why are your posts so bizzare ??? I really don't like to prejudge anyone but your comments over the last several months really don't reflect the above ...I am sorry if I say this but I am a bit surprized .... I deal a lot with "old timers" in my profession .....and I find them interesting and their journey through this life more so in a positive rather then a negative ..... Also comments about people with problems, disabilities and diseases don't fit. Get real... lay down the opium pipe and step out of the gutter! Huh .....???? oh well ...never tried the stuff thank God but I do like a couple of beers now and then .... And, I just consider myself an average guy (you should see my sister, she has all the brains in the family!)... of course, I do live in a nice neighborhood and have nice neighbors... John I'm glad you do ...as I have good ones also ....have to tell you one of these days about my old ones ... .."adventures in paradise" ...... complete with the pit bulls and multiple 20 second visits from strangers throughout the day .... Take care John ...73 Tom KI3R |
That be a bit strong, John. Tom/Garique is basically an OK kind of guy. Gee Len ...thanks .... my wife tells me the same thing ..... I think that most of the people in here are OK .....just some more OK than others .... Have a good one Len ..take care ..... dit dit beep beep or brap brap .....whatever that means .... Tom KI3R |
wrote:
wrote: wrote: I knew I'd coax you outta yer lair when I tossed that one out. bwaahaahaa Back in the '60s we had Collins, Drake, National, Hallicrafters, Hammarlund, Gonset, Heath, Swan, Johnson... . . . five dollar 12V ARC-5 Jeep radios . . . or were they 6V? I've seen 12 volt ARC-5s (special units from a collection) and it was no hard task to convert them for six volts. Easy compared to homebrewing. and that's about it for major manufacturers of ham gear that lasted more than a few years and made more than a few products. Even in the above list there were limitations because many of the above did not offer a complete line (EFJ made mostly transmitters, for example). Today we have Yaesu, Icom, Kenwood, TenTec, Alinco, Standard, Elecraft, SGC, and maybe a few more. But see below. . . . yeah, OK so far . . . . . . Within ham radio Hallicrafters, Swan, National, Hammarlund, Drake and Heath simply evaporated with barely a trace left . . . Yep. In some cases it was that the founder had died or retired, and the company wasn't able to adjust to the new market reality. Founders exits aside it was the "adjusting to the new market realities" which knocked out the U.S. radio builders. GM is still trying to catch up with Honda. Darwin prevails. Darwin got some help in those areas, though. Detroit spent the '50s and '60s building big cars and was completely surprised by the oil embargoes. American electronics manufacturers, run by "PROFESSIONALS IN RADIO", didn't know how to compete with Japanese products. The rest is history. . . . Collins offered only two basics routes a ham could use to get on the HF bands with their gear at any given point in time. One xcvr and one pair of separates. Period. Ditto Drake and for the most part Heath too. Drake and Heath had slightly more elaborate product lines - but not by much. The point is still valid, though. The variety of new rigs today is amazing. Not even a discussion. Here's a game: Look up all the "100 watt class" HF rigs available today (mid 2005). Compare to what was available 10, 20, 30, 40, 50 years ago. I bet today's variety is the largest. Not even a discussion Not counting all the HF mobile rigs and the equipment being developed in various skunk works. *And* not counting the enormous variety of clean, late-model used equipment that is still very much usable. Take TenTec - if an Orion is too much and you don't like the Jupiter, there's the Omni 6 in various flavors, its predecessor the Omni V, the Pegasus, the Paragon, and the Corsair 2, among others. Well yeah, scarfing up used gear to get more bang for the buck has been a ham tradition going back into the mists of time long before either of us came about. Yup. Or converting surplus - military or otherwise. Hams were doing that in the 1920s with surplus tubes - WW1 surplus tubes.... The other night I saw an ad for the Kenwood TS-520 in a 1975 QST. $629. That was back in the days when a new car was less than $4000 and starting salary for a degreed engineer was maybe $12,000. Sounds low to me because most of my classmates started for $9- 10k right out of school in 1963. I started for $7,600 for the gummint which was quite low then. Inflation in the '60s was quite low too until the end. Or look at the SB-101 from the mid 1960s. $369 for the rig, almost another hundred for the power supply, CW filter and speaker. Say $450 - for a kit! What's that in today's dollars? Beats me but the point is there. http://www.westegg.com/inflation says: $629 in 1975 inflates to $2355.99 in 2005 and $450 in 1965 inflates to $2681.16 in 2005 Either of those will buy quite a bit more rig than a TS-520S or SB-101. 73 de Jim, N2EY |
garigue:
Ahhh, this is all a moot point. From here on out we will just have to concentrate on keeping CW to a minimum. All CW will do is PI$$ OFF the CB'ers as they screw to have the key thumpers shove the morse where the sun doesn't shine... Shhhhhhhhhhhhh.... grin John "garigue" wrote in message ... Geesh... You guys are for real huh? You think code and a radio makes you special guys? Ah com' on John ....did you ever hear me say anything about CW being special ..... in fact the older I get the less "specialness" means to be ..... as if it really meant anything back then ..... Was the license really so difficult for you, you believe the rest of us with much different opinions are stupid and find it that big a challenge? Never studpidity ....motivation .... well based on some of the arguments I have seen here and in my ham d'jour life ....it just seems that if someone really wanted HF privlidges then suck it up ...study a bit ...pass and have the ritualistic back yard key burial .......then get on with life ..... but that apparently will not be necessary now .....no carping ...just fact ....and I will welcome anyone to the bands and if they are on CW without being tested ...no big deal. I call that a win for band useage which we need and for ham radio in general .... I started building tesla coils at ~10, I got my novice ticket and built my first single tube transmitter when I was 12, my first degree was in electronic engineering in '72... I ate this chit up... I was bored and didn't know what I wanted to be--until they invented the computer... I returned to college in 1978 and got my BS in CS in 1981 along with a BA in journalism, I completed my MS in CS in '83... since then I have always taught a night class at the local jr. college and continue to take classes at the local university to stay current and be with fresh young minds... Gee John ...then why are your posts so bizzare ??? I really don't like to prejudge anyone but your comments over the last several months really don't reflect the above ...I am sorry if I say this but I am a bit surprized .... I deal a lot with "old timers" in my profession .....and I find them interesting and their journey through this life more so in a positive rather then a negative ..... Also comments about people with problems, disabilities and diseases don't fit. Get real... lay down the opium pipe and step out of the gutter! Huh .....???? oh well ...never tried the stuff thank God but I do like a couple of beers now and then .... And, I just consider myself an average guy (you should see my sister, she has all the brains in the family!)... of course, I do live in a nice neighborhood and have nice neighbors... John I'm glad you do ...as I have good ones also ....have to tell you one of these days about my old ones ... .."adventures in paradise" ...... complete with the pit bulls and multiple 20 second visits from strangers throughout the day .... Take care John ...73 Tom KI3R |
wrote: wrote: . . . five dollar 12V ARC-5 Jeep radios . . . or were they 6V? I've seen 12 volt ARC-5s (special units from a collection) and it was no hard task to convert them for six volts. Easy compared to homebrewing. . . mmmm . . maybe mine was a 24V unit . . heh . . The only mods I made to my 80M version to change it from a military version to a Novice ham version were (1) rewired the filaments (2) yanked the the tubes in the calibration circuit and circular filed 'em (3) disconnected the roller inductor loading coil from the PA tank circuit (4) fired it up and used a flourescent lamp tube taped to the antenna wire to find the "hot spot" along tank coil and soldered the end of the wire to that spot on the coil and took it to the airwaves. Founders exits aside it was the "adjusting to the new market realities" which knocked out the U.S. radio builders. GM is still trying to catch up with Honda. Darwin prevails. Darwin got some help in those areas, though. Detroit spent the '50s and '60s building big cars and was completely surprised by the oil embargoes. American electronics manufacturers, run by "PROFESSIONALS IN RADIO", didn't know how I can see him now, sternly lecturing Art Collins about how to design a ham rig . . . to compete with Japanese products. The rest is history. .. . . Darwin treated those of us out here in the trenches well . . he did not treat Detroit, Collins or Drake well . . Or look at the SB-101 from the mid 1960s. $369 for the rig, almost another hundred for the power supply, CW filter and speaker. Say $450 - for a kit! What's that in today's dollars? Beats me but the point is there. http://www.westegg.com/inflation says: $629 in 1975 inflates to $2355.99 in 2005 Slick. Love those little Java calculators. and $450 in 1965 inflates to $2681.16 in 2005 Either of those will buy quite a bit more rig than a TS-520S or SB-101. I did a "reverse" run. I paid $500 for my little TS-50 HF mobile xcvr a few years ago which is far more radio than either of those boat anchors. I would have paid $99.25 in 1970. Which is about what one of the early clunker CB SSB xcvrs cost in those days. If I paid $500 for it in 1965 it would be $2,900+ today, I coulda bought an S-Line for $2,900. Ahhh . . the "good old days" . . but enough of wallowing in 'em . . ONWARD! 73 de Jim, N2EY w3rv |
Joe Guthart wrote: I am glad the FCC finally took charge of the situation and decided to drop the code requirements. Well, it's what they're proposing to do, anyway. Here's why ... I like Amateur Radio and want it to be a life-long hobby for me ... however, I just plainly can't take time to effectively study the code at this point in my life. I think my story is pretty common for most of the new people entering Amateur Radio today. I am a 43 year old married father of three children. I have a background in Aerospace Engineering and my full time work is in the high technology sector working with many well known computing infrastructure companies. I got my Technician license about two and a half years ago because it was a neat little challenge for me to combine radio communications with some of the newer digital modes. Basically, it was fun, not really technical challenging, but a nice way to relax. I do enjoy making contacts on 6 meters. I would play around with some different radio, antenna, and computer configurations and started to develop a relationship with some fellow ham buddies. Soon I became limited with the VHF/UHF band and wanted to hop onto HF. Of course, by the current rules one would have to jump on and take on learning Morse Code. I am absolutely sure I could do this if I had enough time. Having an ongoing career and being a family man, doesn't really leave a whole lot of time to practice dits and dahs. I have actually played around with the code several times, but real life events and changing priorities always got in the way; not en excuse just reality. I really do see learning the code as similar to my older engineering brethren making me learn how to use a slide rule; it's kind of neat, but not really effective for me, or most folks, given the advance of other computing methods and devices. So what that boils down to is this, Joe: You don't want to spend the time or effort needed to learn enough Morse Code to pass the test. What about the written tests for General and Extra? In order to use digital modes on HF, you need at least a General Class license. Fellow hams need to sit back and take an objective look at this hobby because it is dying a rapid death! How do you figure? When I became a ham in 1967, there were about 260,000 US hams. Now there are over 650,000. The peak was about two years ago, but there have been ups and downs before. Amateur Radio needs me and people just like me to join in on the HF bands and to use our real world high tech expertise to help further Amateur Radio. OK, fine, how *exactly* will that happen? Will you design and build new high tech radios? Develop new high-performance modes of communication? Set up some sort of new radio network? Get more people interested in amateur radio by demos, articles, etc.? Where will the time come from to do that stuff? For that matter, where will the time come from for you to set up an HF station and operate it? Amateur Radio also needs my $$$$. Take a look at the declining number of amateur radio manufacturers and radios. Did that in another part of this thread. The trend is opposite to what you're saying. How could any business justify spending a lot on research and development in a market that is collapsing? Well, the manufacturers don't think it's collapsing! Finally, I honor all those of you who are code proficient. Thank you! I too may one day still be code proficient even if there is no formal testing. Why not now? 20-45 minutes a day for 4-6 weeks should get you to 5 wpm. There are freeware Morse Code trainers that will run on most PCs. I recommend the G4FON one. However, I do think that the right decision has been made by the FCC and will ultimately be finalized with little changes. I don't think it's the right thing, but I'm afraid FCC will do it anyway. This will not kill our hobby, but will inject more life into it. I hope you're right. 73 de Jim, N2EY |
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wrote: wrote: . . . five dollar 12V ARC-5 Jeep radios . . . or were they 6V? I've seen 12 volt ARC-5s (special units from a collection) and it was no hard task to convert them for six volts. Easy compared to homebrewing. . . mmmm . . maybe mine was a 24V unit . . heh . . Most of them were 24 volt units, but some 12 volt ones were made. I've seen 'em. The only mods I made to my 80M version to change it from a military version to a Novice ham version were (1) rewired the filaments (2) yanked the the tubes in the calibration circuit and circular filed 'em (3) disconnected the roller inductor loading coil from the PA tank circuit (4) fired it up and used a flourescent lamp tube taped to the antenna wire to find the "hot spot" along tank coil and soldered the end of the wire to that spot on the coil and took it to the airwaves. I did all sorts of mods to the transmitters but they weren't really that good unless you got lucky. The receivers were and are much better. They're also good as parts sources and VFOs. The Southgate Type 6 design has a lot of ARC-5 parts in it. You should see the VFO - took a transmitter, cut off the chassis from just behind the 1625 sockets forward, drilled out the rivets and made a squashed chassis for the VFO. A lot less work than making one from scratch. Which I did for the Type 7 Founders exits aside it was the "adjusting to the new market realities" which knocked out the U.S. radio builders. GM is still trying to catch up with Honda. Darwin prevails. Darwin got some help in those areas, though. Detroit spent the '50s and '60s building big cars and was completely surprised by the oil embargoes. American electronics manufacturers, run by "PROFESSIONALS IN RADIO", didn't know how I can see him now, sternly lecturing Art Collins about how to design a ham rig . . . yeah, right - couldn't even solve a simple heterodyne design problem... to compete with Japanese products. The rest is history. . . . Darwin treated those of us out here in the trenches well . . he did not treat Detroit, Collins or Drake well . . Collins was still selling the S-line in 1975 (saw it in the same QST as the TS-520). What finally happened to Collins was that it was bought out by Rockwell. Part of the deal was that they'd still make ham gear. So Rockwell/Collins developed the KWM-380, an advanced rig with an incredible price tag. Not many were sold, of course. There was a general-coverage version called the HF-380, too. It should be remembered that Collins' main products were avionics, BC transmitters and such. Ham gear was a sideline - some sources say the ham division was not intended to show a profit. Drake, OTOH, is still around in a way, making general coverage receivers. But not a line of ham gear. Or look at the SB-101 from the mid 1960s. $369 for the rig, almost another hundred for the power supply, CW filter and speaker. Say $450 - for a kit! What's that in today's dollars? Beats me but the point is there. http://www.westegg.com/inflation says: $629 in 1975 inflates to $2355.99 in 2005 Slick. Love those little Java calculators. and $450 in 1965 inflates to $2681.16 in 2005 Either of those will buy quite a bit more rig than a TS-520S or SB-101. I did a "reverse" run. I paid $500 for my little TS-50 HF mobile xcvr a few years ago which is far more radio than either of those boat anchors. I would have paid $99.25 in 1970. Which would have got you a Heath HW-16. As a kit, without any accessories. Which is about what one of the early clunker CB SSB xcvrs cost in those days. Never followed that stuff closely. As I recall the AM ones cost about that much back then. They were primitive single-conversion 455 kc IF jobs with basic MOPA transmitters. If I paid $500 for it in 1965 it would be $2,900+ today, I coulda bought an S-Line for $2,900. Well, IIRC, the cost of a 75S-3, 32S-3, power supply and filters would run you more than $1500 back then. Which works out to almost $9000 today. Ahhh . . the "good old days" . . but enough of wallowing in 'em . . ONWARD! The best part is that if someone wants to use old gear, it's out there. Some bargains, some not, but we have more choice now than ever before. 73 de Jim, N2EY 73 de Jim, N2EY w3rv |
From: on Jul 24, 6:26 pm
Joe Guthart wrote: I am glad the FCC finally took charge of the situation and decided to drop the code requirements. Well, it's what they're proposing to do, anyway. You thought that out by yourself from Notice of PROPOSED Rule Making (NPRM)? :-) Here's why ... I like Amateur Radio and want it to be a life-long hobby for me ... however, I just plainly can't take time to effectively study the code at this point in my life. I think my story is pretty common for most of the new people entering Amateur Radio today. I am a 43 year old married father of three children. I have a background in Aerospace Engineering and my full time work is in the high technology sector working with many well known computing infrastructure companies. I got my Technician license about two and a half years ago because it was a neat little challenge for me to combine radio communications with some of the newer digital modes. Basically, it was fun, not really technical challenging, but a nice way to relax. I do enjoy making contacts on 6 meters. I would play around with some different radio, antenna, and computer configurations and started to develop a relationship with some fellow ham buddies. Soon I became limited with the VHF/UHF band and wanted to hop onto HF. Of course, by the current rules one would have to jump on and take on learning Morse Code. I am absolutely sure I could do this if I had enough time. Having an ongoing career and being a family man, doesn't really leave a whole lot of time to practice dits and dahs. I have actually played around with the code several times, but real life events and changing priorities always got in the way; not en excuse just reality. I really do see learning the code as similar to my older engineering brethren making me learn how to use a slide rule; it's kind of neat, but not really effective for me, or most folks, given the advance of other computing methods and devices. So what that boils down to is this, Joe: You don't want to spend the time or effort needed to learn enough Morse Code to pass the test. Amazing intellect you display, Jimmie! However, before you slide into more snide remarks, try to understand that NOT everybody lives a life of radiotelegraphy. True! What about the written tests for General and Extra? In order to use digital modes on HF, you need at least a General Class license. Tsk, tsk. Misdirecting into the writtens again, are you? Let's get back to the MORSE CODE TEST NPRM, WT Docket 05-235. NOTHING in that NPRM proposes to change anydamnthing in the WRITTEN test elements. Fellow hams need to sit back and take an objective look at this hobby because it is dying a rapid death! How do you figure? Is morse code ANYTHING in radio in this new millennium besides being a niche interest area for a bunch of olde-tyme hammes stuck on telegraphy? When I became a ham in 1967, there were about 260,000 US hams. Now there are over 650,000. The peak was about two years ago, but there have been ups and downs before. Tsk. There has been a slow but STEADY decline in licenses for two years. Amateur Radio needs me and people just like me to join in on the HF bands and to use our real world high tech expertise to help further Amateur Radio. OK, fine, how *exactly* will that happen? Will you design and build new high tech radios? Develop new high-performance modes of communication? Set up some sort of new radio network? Get more people interested in amateur radio by demos, articles, etc.? Let's put it this way: It AIN'T gonna be by "designing and building state-of-the-art VACUUM TUBE transmitters in the 1990s!" :-) Where will the time come from to do that stuff? What...are you now a time-study man for the "amateur community" management?!? For that matter, where will the time come from for you to set up an HF station and operate it? Isn't it about time YOU came up with some solid-state designs yourself?!? The solid-state era in all electronics happened 40 years ago. Finally, I honor all those of you who are code proficient. Thank you! Jimmie, you are an absolute CREDIT to amateur radio...of the 1940s. I too may one day still be code proficient even if there is no formal testing. Why not now? Why EVER? 20-45 minutes a day for 4-6 weeks should get you to 5 wpm. There are freeware Morse Code trainers that will run on most PCs. I recommend the G4FON one. Gosh, Jimmie, a half hour to an hour a day studying solid- state circuitry could get you into shape to "design and build your very own TRUE state-of-the-art transmitter!" Why, heck and darn, all your neighbors could come over and admire it, go oooh and aaahh and you explain every solid- state bit of it! However, I do think that the right decision has been made by the FCC and will ultimately be finalized with little changes. I don't think it's the right thing, but I'm afraid FCC will do it anyway. Have courage. Do not be afraid! The sun will come up...tomorrow...down music This will not kill our hobby, but will inject more life into it. I hope you're right. He IS right, sweetums. All this radiotelegraphy was beginning to stagnate in-place. Gangrene is sure to follow. New, BETTER blood needed, stuff that doesn't want to revert to 1940s and 1930s in standards and practices! But...YOUR amateur radio world looks dark and dreary indeed. No more will you be able to show off your "federally authorized" morsemanship rank/title/privileges! What will your neighbors say then? dot dot |
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From: on Jul 24, 6:26 pm For that matter, where will the time come from for you to set up an HF station and operate it? Isn't it about time YOU came up with some solid-state designs yourself?!? The question was " . . . you to set up an HF station and operate it?" When was the last time you set up your personally-owned station and operatated it yourself solid state or otherwise Sweetums? Thought so. One more laughable pot calling the kettle black pile of bafflegab from the bowels of L.A. But...YOUR amateur radio world looks dark and dreary indeed. No more will you be able to show off your "federally authorized" morsemanship rank/title/privileges! Nah, all we have to do is quietly show up at a Field Day getogether and go brasspounding and watch the crowd of codeless wonders gather 'round in amazement. What will your neighbors say then? dot dot w3rv |
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wrote: From: on Jul 24, 6:26 pm For that matter, where will the time come from for you to set up an HF station and operate it? Isn't it about time YOU came up with some solid-state designs yourself?!? The question was " . . . you to set up an HF station and operate it?" When was the last time you set up your personally-owned station and operatated it yourself solid state or otherwise Sweetums? Thought so. One more laughable pot calling the kettle black pile of bafflegab from the bowels of L.A. But...YOUR amateur radio world looks dark and dreary indeed. No more will you be able to show off your "federally authorized" morsemanship rank/title/privileges! Nah, all we have to do is quietly show up at a Field Day getogether and go brasspounding and watch the crowd of codeless wonders gather 'round in amazement. I'm sure that the world of amateur radio looks bleak indeed to a sourball standing on the outside, looking in. Morse Code testing or no, Mr. Anderson will still be on the outside looking in. There isn't a snowball's chance in hell that Leonard will obtain his "Extra right out of the box" before he completes his mission of taking up space and using up oxygen. Dave K8MN |
Dave Heil wrote: wrote: wrote: From: on Jul 24, 6:26 pm For that matter, where will the time come from for you to set up an HF station and operate it? Isn't it about time YOU came up with some solid-state designs yourself?!? The question was " . . . you to set up an HF station and operate it?" When was the last time you set up your personally-owned station and operatated it yourself solid state or otherwise Sweetums? Thought so. One more laughable pot calling the kettle black pile of bafflegab from the bowels of L.A. But...YOUR amateur radio world looks dark and dreary indeed. No more will you be able to show off your "federally authorized" morsemanship rank/title/privileges! Nah, all we have to do is quietly show up at a Field Day getogether and go brasspounding and watch the crowd of codeless wonders gather 'round in amazement. I'm sure that the world of amateur radio looks bleak indeed to a sourball standing on the outside, looking in. Morse Code testing or no, Mr. Anderson will still be on the outside looking in. And he built that wall around himself himself. Unbelievable . . . There isn't a snowball's chance in hell that Leonard will obtain his "Extra right out of the box" before he completes his mission of taking up space and using up oxygen. Yeah but yoicks would you really like to have him show up on the bands?? Ye Gods . . ! Maybe we oughta just leave well enough alone before he goes ape and climbs over his wall and does something we'll regret. Dave K8MN w3rv |
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Dave Heil wrote: wrote: wrote: From: on Jul 24, 6:26 pm For that matter, where will the time come from for you to set up an HF station and operate it? Isn't it about time YOU came up with some solid-state designs yourself?!? The question was " . . . you to set up an HF station and operate it?" When was the last time you set up your personally-owned station and operatated it yourself solid state or otherwise Sweetums? Thought so. Well, we know that he once had a cb set. And was once co-owner of some sort of land-mobile VHF system. And about a quarter-century ago he plunked down the coin for an R-70 - a manufactured general-covverage receiver. All the rest I've read has been about his use of stations owned and set up by others. One more laughable pot calling the kettle black pile of bafflegab from the bowels of L.A. But...YOUR amateur radio world looks dark and dreary indeed. No more will you be able to show off your "federally authorized" morsemanship rank/title/privileges! Nah, all we have to do is quietly show up at a Field Day getogether and go brasspounding and watch the crowd of codeless wonders gather 'round in amazement. Been there. Done that. Remember the year the one CW station made more points than the three 'phone stations put together? Oh wait - that was every year we operated... I'm sure that the world of amateur radio looks bleak indeed to a sourball standing on the outside, looking in. Morse Code testing or no, Mr. Anderson will still be on the outside looking in. And he built that wall around himself himself. Unbelievable . . . Like those "gated communities" where the houses are walled in... There isn't a snowball's chance in hell that Leonard will obtain his "Extra right out of the box" before he completes his mission of taking up space and using up oxygen. Maybe he will get a license once the code test goes away. Doubtful, since he's never held any class of amateur radio license, despite code test waivers, accomodations, the creation of a license class with no code testing at all, etc. Yeah but yoicks would you really like to have him show up on the bands?? Ye Gods . . ! Maybe we oughta just leave well enough alone before he goes ape and climbs over his wall and does something we'll regret. Getting a license is one thing. Actually setting up an effective station is something quite different. For all of his talk and bluster, he doesn't have a single ham radio project to show us. Sure, he did some articles for a defunct magazine - a quarter century ago. All basic theiry, covered elsewhere long before. Nor will he set up a station unless somebody else is paying the way and it's all manufactured appliances. Antennas? Don't hold yer breath. All talk - no action. That's ol' Len. 73 de Jim, N2EY |
wrote: Nah, all we have to do is quietly show up at a Field Day getogether and go brasspounding and watch the crowd of codeless wonders gather 'round in amazement. You're certain that it's amazement? |
Dave Heil wrote: I'm sure that the world of amateur radio looks bleak indeed to a sourball standing on the outside, looking in. Morse Code testing or no, Mr. Anderson will still be on the outside looking in. There isn't a snowball's chance in hell that Leonard will obtain his "Extra right out of the box" before he completes his mission of taking up space and using up oxygen. Dave K8MN Always the optimist. |
Dave Heil wrote: wrote: wrote: From: on Jul 24, 6:26 pm For that matter, where will the time come from for you to set up an HF station and operate it? Isn't it about time YOU came up with some solid-state designs yourself?!? The question was " . . . you to set up an HF station and operate it?" When was the last time you set up your personally-owned station and operatated it yourself solid state or otherwise Sweetums? Thought so. One more laughable pot calling the kettle black pile of bafflegab from the bowels of L.A. But...YOUR amateur radio world looks dark and dreary indeed. No more will you be able to show off your "federally authorized" morsemanship rank/title/privileges! Nah, all we have to do is quietly show up at a Field Day getogether and go brasspounding and watch the crowd of codeless wonders gather 'round in amazement. I'm sure that the world of amateur radio looks bleak indeed to a sourball standing on the outside, looking in. Morse Code testing or no, Mr. Anderson will still be on the outside looking in. There isn't a snowball's chance in hell that Leonard will obtain his "Extra right out of the box" before he completes his mission of taking up space and using up oxygen. Personally I am saving up diuretics and caffinated beverages in anticipation of paying my "final respects" to the Licenseless One. 73 Steve, K4YZ |
b.b. wrote: wrote: Nah, all we have to do is quietly show up at a Field Day getogether and go brasspounding and watch the crowd of codeless wonders gather 'round in amazement. You're certain that it's amazement? No actually I'm not certain. At one point I jumped out of the seat to do a pit stop and asked one of 'em to fill in for me while was gone. In his case the look on his face was either fear or embarrassment, I couldn't tell which . . . |
wrote: wrote: Thought so. Well, we know that he once had a cb set. And was once co-owner of some sort of land-mobile VHF system. My MOTHER had her own CB mobile rig and was also part owner of VHF/FM biz band xcvrs and she knew how to wire 'em and operate 'em. When she she was seventy-something. codeless wonders gather 'round in amazement. Been there. Done that. Remember the year the one CW station made more points than the three 'phone stations put together? Oh wait - that was every year we operated... Then you Noel and I decided we were tired of doing all the work again and didn't go back the following year. The year 50 of their ops ran up a grand total of around 150 contacts for the entire 24 hour event. BWAAAHAHA! All talk - no action. That's ol' Len. "The Global Example" 73 de Jim, N2EY w3rv |
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From: b.b. on Jul 25, 2:38 pm
wrote: b.b. wrote: wrote: No actually I'm not certain. At one point I jumped out of the seat to do a pit stop and asked one of 'em to fill in for me while was gone. In his case the look on his face was either fear or embarrassment, I couldn't tell which . . . Figured you to have been outfitted with a catheter for such an important event. How could he talk with that tube in his mouth? :-) hee haw |
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wrote: wrote: Thought so. Well, we know that he once had a cb set. And was once co-owner of some sort of land-mobile VHF system. My MOTHER had her own CB mobile rig and was also part owner of VHF/FM biz band xcvrs and she knew how to wire 'em and operate 'em. When she she was seventy-something. Excellent! codeless wonders gather 'round in amazement. Been there. Done that. Remember the year the one CW station made more points than the three 'phone stations put together? Oh wait - that was every year we operated... Then you Noel and I decided we were tired of doing all the work again and didn't go back the following year. The year 50 of their ops ran up a grand total of around 150 contacts for the entire 24 hour event. BWAAAHAHA! Man -you guys are hangin with the wrong crowd! All talk - no action. That's ol' Len. "The Global Example" 73 de Jim, N2EY w3rv |
wrote: From: b.b. on Jul 25, 2:38 pm wrote: b.b. wrote: wrote: No actually I'm not certain. At one point I jumped out of the seat to do a pit stop and asked one of 'em to fill in for me while was gone. In his case the look on his face was either fear or embarrassment, I couldn't tell which . . . Figured you to have been outfitted with a catheter for such an important event. How could he talk with that tube in his mouth? :-) he doesn't need to, he just works his keyer after all CW always gets through wether anyone understand it or not hee haw |
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