AOR UK is No More
 

This is definitely the end of an era: AOR UK will cease to exist after
June 2010.

See details he http://www.aoruk.com/Index.htm

There is now only one tabletop shortwave communications on the market
(so far as I know): the ICOM IC-R75 which is hardly in the class of
some of the great tabletops of years past (at least in my opinion)
though it's leagues ahead of most portables (and, I believe, can be
greatly improved with the addition of the Sherwood SE-3).

Many people have said that the shortwave hobby is dying and I'm afraid
I'm now inclined to agree with them. What's really sad (and possibly
dangerous) is that, if shortwave communications "goes," how will
"captive" countries - and make no mistake: there are plenty of them
and there will be many more to come - be reached? Internet is
certainly no substitute for shortwave radio.

It's possible that, just when we need shortwave, it may no longer
exist.

In any case, if you do own a good tabletop shortwave receiver, hold on
to it and keep it in good repair because you probably won't be able to
replace it.

Joe

AOR UK is No More
 

Joe Analssandrini wrote:
Many people have said that the shortwave hobby is dying and I'm afraid
I'm now inclined to agree with them. What's really sad (and possibly
dangerous) is that, if shortwave communications "goes," how will
"captive" countries - and make no mistake: there are plenty of them
and there will be many more to come - be reached? Internet is
certainly no substitute for shortwave radio.

It's possible that, just when we need shortwave, it may no longer
exist.

In any case, if you do own a good tabletop shortwave receiver, hold on
to it and keep it in good repair because you probably won't be able to
replace it.

I disagree. The market has stratifed into two classes of radios. Portables,
ranging from cheap to mid priced, from analog tuning AM only to digital
with sync detectors, etc and ham transceivers with full coverage.

For example, Universal sells a new Yaseu FT-817nd for $600, which covers
100kHz to 470mHz (with gaps), receives USB, LSB, CW, AM, FM, W-FM, Digital
(AFSK) and Packet (1200/9600 FM).

If you want something a more "desktop" the 857 is $750 and includes DSP.

Universal lists an Alinco not yet available, for probably $650 with a
30kHz to 30Mhz AM/FM/SSB receiver.

The ICOM 706 is $970 and it can be split into a radio and a control head
to take less space. $970 sounds like a lot of money, but it's less than a
Kenwood R5000 cost in 1991 and about half of what it cost if you added the
good AM filter and VHF convertor.

The 703+ which is a similar rig with low power output is only $750. It's
limited to 30kHz to 60mHz reception, without the VHF and UHF reception.

Granted anything beyond the 817 needs a power supply but a 3-4 amp one will
do for reception.

In 1991 terms the $600 today to buy the 817 would have been about $300 and
bought you a Radio Shack HTX-100. A nice 10m SSB/CW rig.

By that reckoning, an NRD-535D with all the extras would be close to $5000
today. How many ham rigs with DC to Daylight reception, DSP, 100 or more
memories, computer interfaces etc can you get for that.

Granted some countries, for example the one I live in restricts the ownership
of transmitters to hams, but the US does not.

Geoff.

--
Geoffrey S. Mendelson, Jerusalem, Israel N3OWJ/4X1GM
I do multitasking. If that bothers you, file a complaint and I will start
ignoring it immediately.

AOR UK is No More
 

On Jun 14, 5:16*pm, Joe Analssandrini
wrote:
This is definitely the end of an era: AOR UK will cease to exist after
June 2010.

See details he http://www.aoruk.com/Index.htm

There is now only one tabletop shortwave communications on the market
(so far as I know): the ICOM IC-R75 which is hardly in the class of
some of the great tabletops of years past (at least in my opinion)
though it's leagues ahead of most portables (and, I believe, can be
greatly improved with the addition of the Sherwood SE-3).

Many people have said that the shortwave hobby is dying and I'm afraid
I'm now inclined to agree with them. What's really sad (and possibly
dangerous) is that, if shortwave communications "goes," how will
"captive" countries - and make no mistake: there are plenty of them
and there will be many more to come - be reached? Internet is
certainly no substitute for shortwave radio.

It's possible that, just when we need shortwave, it may no longer
exist.

In any case, if you do own a good tabletop shortwave receiver, hold on
to it and keep it in good repair because you probably won't be able to
replace it.

Joe

AOR does not produce any hf receivers for the hobby,since they
discontinued their highly rated 7030. Also, Icom may stop making the
misfortunate R75 in the near future. But,we do have Ten-
Tec,Palstar,Sangean,NASA (aka AKD,Sitex),Eton (junk). And we also have
a whole new breed of SDRs from different places. Sometimes I wonder
why Elecraft does not make just a receiver- it could become a real
super-seller.

AOR UK is No More
 

On Jun 14, 8:49*pm, wrote:
On Jun 14, 5:16*pm, Joe Analssandrini
wrote:





This is definitely the end of an era: AOR UK will cease to exist after
June 2010.

See details he http://www.aoruk.com/Index.htm

There is now only one tabletop shortwave communications on the market
(so far as I know): the ICOM IC-R75 which is hardly in the class of
some of the great tabletops of years past (at least in my opinion)
though it's leagues ahead of most portables (and, I believe, can be
greatly improved with the addition of the Sherwood SE-3).

Many people have said that the shortwave hobby is dying and I'm afraid
I'm now inclined to agree with them. What's really sad (and possibly
dangerous) is that, if shortwave communications "goes," how will
"captive" countries - and make no mistake: there are plenty of them
and there will be many more to come - be reached? Internet is
certainly no substitute for shortwave radio.

It's possible that, just when we need shortwave, it may no longer
exist.

In any case, if you do own a good tabletop shortwave receiver, hold on
to it and keep it in good repair because you probably won't be able to
replace it.

Joe

AOR does not produce any hf receivers for the hobby,since they
discontinued their highly rated 7030. Also, Icom may stop making the
misfortunate R75 in the near future. But,we do have Ten-
Tec,Palstar,Sangean,NASA (aka AKD,Sitex),Eton (junk). And we also have
a whole new breed of SDRs from different places. Sometimes I wonder
why Elecraft does not make just a receiver- it could become a real
super-seller.

I have an R75, and am generally very happy with it. Nonetheless, an
Elecraft RX would be just dynamite.

AOR UK is No More
 

Joe Analssandrini wrote:

It's possible that, just when we need shortwave, it may no longer
exist.

In any case, if you do own a good tabletop shortwave receiver, hold on
to it and keep it in good repair because you probably won't be able to
replace it.

Joe

HFBC went away 10 years ago. It was replaced by the internet. You're
soaking in it.

AOR UK is No More
 

Geoffrey S. Mendelson wrote:


I disagree. The market has stratifed into two classes of radios. Portables,
ranging from cheap to mid priced, from analog tuning AM only to digital
with sync detectors, etc and ham transceivers with full coverage.

For example, Universal sells a new Yaseu FT-817nd for $600, which covers
100kHz to 470mHz (with gaps), receives USB, LSB, CW, AM, FM, W-FM, Digital
(AFSK) and Packet (1200/9600 FM).

If you want something a more "desktop" the 857 is $750 and includes DSP.

Universal lists an Alinco not yet available, for probably $650 with a
30kHz to 30Mhz AM/FM/SSB receiver.

The ICOM 706 is $970 and it can be split into a radio and a control head
to take less space. $970 sounds like a lot of money, but it's less than a
Kenwood R5000 cost in 1991 and about half of what it cost if you added the
good AM filter and VHF convertor.

The 703+ which is a similar rig with low power output is only $750. It's
limited to 30kHz to 60mHz reception, without the VHF and UHF reception.

Granted anything beyond the 817 needs a power supply but a 3-4 amp one will
do for reception.

In 1991 terms the $600 today to buy the 817 would have been about $300 and
bought you a Radio Shack HTX-100. A nice 10m SSB/CW rig.

By that reckoning, an NRD-535D with all the extras would be close to $5000
today. How many ham rigs with DC to Daylight reception, DSP, 100 or more
memories, computer interfaces etc can you get for that.

Granted some countries, for example the one I live in restricts the ownership
of transmitters to hams, but the US does not.

Geoff.


You can get a nice SDR-IQ black box, a laptop, a USB sound card, and a
nice set of active speakers for less than an R8B. better performance, too.

AOR UK is No More
 

On Jun 15, 5:24*am, m II wrote:
dave wrote:
You can get a nice SDR-IQ black box, a laptop, a USB sound card, and a
nice set of active speakers for less than an R8B. *better performance, too.

This seems to be a good example of such an item.

http://www.scannermaster.com/SDR_IQ_.../43-501312.htm

mike

Note the user comment/review at the bottom.

What does [paraphrased] "panoramic support of communication receivers"
mean?

Bruce Jensen

AOR UK is No More
 

On Jun 15, 6:00*am, dave wrote:
bpnjensen wrote:
On Jun 14, 8:49 pm, wrote:
On Jun 14, 5:16 pm, Joe
wrote:

This is definitely the end of an era: AOR UK will cease to exist after
June 2010.

See details hehttp://www.aoruk.com/Index.htm

There is now only one tabletop shortwave communications on the market
(so far as I know): the ICOM IC-R75 which is hardly in the class of
some of the great tabletops of years past (at least in my opinion)
though it's leagues ahead of most portables (and, I believe, can be
greatly improved with the addition of the Sherwood SE-3).

Many people have said that the shortwave hobby is dying and I'm afraid
I'm now inclined to agree with them. What's really sad (and possibly
dangerous) is that, if shortwave communications "goes," how will
"captive" countries - and make no mistake: there are plenty of them
and there will be many more to come - be reached? Internet is
certainly no substitute for shortwave radio.

It's possible that, just when we need shortwave, it may no longer
exist.

In any case, if you do own a good tabletop shortwave receiver, hold on
to it and keep it in good repair because you probably won't be able to
replace it.

Joe

AOR does not produce any hf receivers for the hobby,since they
discontinued their highly rated 7030. Also, Icom may stop making the
misfortunate R75 in the near future. But,we do have Ten-
Tec,Palstar,Sangean,NASA (aka AKD,Sitex),Eton (junk). And we also have
a whole new breed of SDRs from different places. Sometimes I wonder
why Elecraft does not make just a receiver- it could become a real
super-seller.

I have an R75, and am generally very happy with it. *Nonetheless, an
Elecraft RX would be just dynamite.

So get a General class license and transmit once in a while.

http://kb6nu.com/tech-manual/

http://www.qrz.com/testing.html

I went from nothing to Extra Amateur class in 5 weeks.- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

No desire whatsoever - just doesn't grab me.

AOR UK is No More
 

bpnjensen wrote:

http://www.scannermaster.com/SDR_IQ_.../43-501312.htm

mike

Note the user comment/review at the bottom.

What does [paraphrased] "panoramic support of communication receivers"
mean?


It's quite obvious.

Remember the Greek god Pan? Well, with each purchase, this company
supplies little goat like legs to support any other receivers you may
connect in a semicircular pattern around the SDR receiver.

The uneducated masses may think that the phrase actually means 'wide
ranging', but we know better.



mike

AOR UK is No More
 

On Jun 15, 1:07*pm, m II wrote:
bpnjensen wrote:
http://www.scannermaster.com/SDR_IQ_.../43-501312.htm

mike

Note the user comment/review at the bottom.

What does [paraphrased] "panoramic support of communication receivers"
mean?

It's quite obvious.

Remember the Greek god Pan? Well, with each purchase, this company
supplies little goat like legs to support any other receivers you may
connect in a semicircular pattern around the *SDR receiver.

The uneducated masses may think that the phrase actually means 'wide
ranging', but we know better.

mike

Oh, sure, I undrstood THAT underlying principle right away ;-)

AOR UK is No More
 

On Jun 15, 6:12*am, dave wrote:
dxAce wrote:

Just another no-coder. They might just as well give away the ticket nowadays
in a box of Cracker Jack.

dxAce
Michigan
USA

- You represent everything bad about Amateur Radio.
-*People like you scare young people away from the hobby.

Nah Dave in the 21st Century 'pocket' sized Cellular
Phones have made World Wide Communications so
very easy and non-technical that to today's young
people Amateur Radio has lost it's mystic and a
certain je ne sais quoi that it had in the pre-1950s.

Then can along the Boy's Pocket Transistor Radio
and Amateur Radio has been in a decline every since.
http://home.ca.inter.net/~hagelin/BoysRadio-1.jpg

Next the CB Craze made Talking-on-Da-Radio
an 'act' that any Good Buddy could do.

Followed by the Personal Computer Age and the
youth had a new set of their own technologies to
grow and adventure in.

And now we are in the Age-of-the-Internet INTERNET !
where you to can control the multi channel audio and
the full spectrum video : My Space is your space and
You-Tube has replaced the Boob-Tube; then Twitter
over to Face-Book or simply Google yourself . . .

yes kids - you can have it your way in the 4G'esus
of your very own hands ~ RHF
http://blog1.ebates.com/ebates/alfre...-to-solder.jpg

AOR UK is No More
 

On Jun 15, 5:24*am, m II wrote:
dave wrote:
You can get a nice SDR-IQ black box, a laptop, a USB sound card, and a
nice set of active speakers for less than an R8B. *better performance, too.

This seems to be a good example of such an item.

http://www.scannermaster.com/SDR_IQ_.../43-501312.htm

mike

Mike [M II],

Many would still ask . . . Where's the Knob ?

For many old time Shortwave Listeners (SWLs)

Listening to the Radio had a certain 'feel' to it.

Plus Turning-the-Knob on a Radio with an
Analog Dial/Scale often brought the awe
and joy of 'discovery' to the Radio Listener.

While keying in a Frequency Number or
having the Computer Scan and Log lacks
the 'bond' between a Man and His Radio.

from an age when people knew that
real radios 'glowed' in the dark ~ RHF
{and a young boy's eyes were wide with
amazement far into the wee hours of the
morning}

AOR UK is No More
 

bpnjensen wrote:

"panoramic support of communication receivers



I should be ashamed of myself.


http://www.bunkerofdoom.com/panoramict100/index.html
http://amfone.net/Amforum/index.php?topic=17291.0


I've heard Panoramic also used to refer to a type of stereo emulating
broadcast, but I wasn't paying attention. The details went in one ear
and out the other, so that claim may be out to lunch.




mike

AOR UK is No More
 

On 16/06/2010 6:32 AM, RHF wrote:
On Jun 15, 5:24 am, m wrote:
dave wrote:
You can get a nice SDR-IQ black box, a laptop, a USB sound card, and a
nice set of active speakers for less than an R8B. better performance, too.

This seems to be a good example of such an item.

http://www.scannermaster.com/SDR_IQ_.../43-501312.htm

mike

Mike [M II],

Many would still ask . . . Where's the Knob ?

For many old time Shortwave Listeners (SWLs)

Listening to the Radio had a certain 'feel' to it.

The word you're looking for is "mystique".

Plus Turning-the-Knob on a Radio with an
Analog Dial/Scale often brought the awe
and joy of 'discovery' to the Radio Listener.

I got that from the first crystal set I built. I was amazed at how
something so simple could pull in radio stations from far away, and that
wasn't even shortwave! I didn't even consider the deficiencies of the
medium such as lack of selectivity. I would listen for hours even when
the content of the programs was lacking, such was my fascination with
the medium.

While keying in a Frequency Number or
having the Computer Scan and Log lacks
the 'bond' between a Man and His Radio.

It depends upon the era you grew up in. To the tech savvy kids of today,
keying in a frequency number is as natural as keying in a phone number
on their cell phones.

from an age when people knew that
real radios 'glowed' in the dark ~ RHF
{and a young boy's eyes were wide with
amazement far into the wee hours of the
morning}
.
I'm betting there was a lot more interesting stuff to listen to in those
days! TV has had a degenerative effect on the mystique of far flung
cultures. Why listen to it on the radio when you can see it all on the
news or the documentary channels. Kids these days just don't see the
point of shortwave radio. They want high definition 3D realism. That and
the total lack of patience with anything that isn't 100% perfect and
totally store bought. Fading dx signals, no time for that! You have to
build it before you can use it? Get outta here!!

You would have more success with kids from third world countries than
you would with kids from our tech-savvy world.

Krypsis

AOR UK is No More
 

RHF wrote:
Many would still ask . . . Where's the Knob ?

What's a knob?

Seriously, kids today don't like knobs. They like push buttons and touchpads.

For many old time Shortwave Listeners (SWLs)

Listening to the Radio had a certain 'feel' to it.

Which is why I have lots of radios with knobs. In fact in the last 5 years,
I've bought 3 radios with PTO's and restrung the dial cord and relamped a
fourth.

But will my kids like them? Will they use them? probably not.

They are too spoiled by either picking up a phone and calling anyone in
the world (most places they would ever call are included in a montly plan
so they "free") or if they don't want to get up off their chair and pause
their "computing" using SKYPE.

TV comes directly to their TV on a cable connected to a DBS dish, and if
they don't like the programs that are one, there is a large library
accessable locally and almost an infinte choice on the internet.

Plus Turning-the-Knob on a Radio with an Analog Dial/Scale often brought
the awe and joy of 'discovery' to the Radio Listener.

I am sorry to say it, but the current generation has been spoon fed so
much awe and discovery that they are not interested in looking for themselves.
Ask my kids to define discovery and they will answer "channel 34". :-(

While keying in a Frequency Number or having the Computer Scan and Log lacks
the 'bond' between a Man and His Radio.

It's what I call the "Dancing Bear Phenomeon". We were impressed by a
dancing bear. Our kids have seen so many they are concerend with the
quality of the dance.

For example, I recentyly aquired a Drake SPR-4. IMHO it is the worst ergonmic
design I have ever used. To tune a frequency, you have to set the band switch
to the correct band (within 500kHz). Then reading the little numbers off of the
band switch, there is a SECOND band switch (really front end filters) that needs
to be set. Once that is set, you adjust the preselector. A hint is on the bottom
of the numbers on the band switch.

Then you can tune in your frequency. On the AM BCB the preselector has to be
retuned every 50kHz or so.

I love it, I even invested in colored LEDs to replace burnt out light bulbs
with fading filters.

If I want my kids to listen, it either has to be a channel they can enter,
a file location they can browse, or a URL. If I'm lucky it they will turn
a volume control if it does not have a remote.

IMHO sad. But that's the price of progress. When my mother was their age,
her mother owned a candy store and had the only telephone on the block.
People used to call neighbors at the store, my mom and her sisters would get
a small tip to run and get them.

When I was growing up, we had a telephone. We could make local calls only,
a one minute call across the country cost enough to buy hamburgers, fries
and 'shakes for 10 at the burger joint across the street from my highschool.

from an age when people knew that real radios 'glowed' in the dark ~ RHF
{and a young boy's eyes were wide with amazement far into the wee hours
of the morning}.

Sexist. My wife used to do the same with old tube AM radios he father would
fish out of the trash. When we met she had a Sony IFC-2010 and knew how
to use it. :-)

Geoff.


--
Geoffrey S. Mendelson, Jerusalem, Israel N3OWJ/4X1GM
I do multitasking. If that bothers you, file a complaint and I will start
ignoring it immediately.

AOR UK is No More
 

On 6/15/2010 6:24 PM, Geoffrey S. Mendelson wrote:
RHF wrote:
Many would still ask . . . Where's the Knob ?

What's a knob?

Seriously, kids today don't like knobs. They like push buttons and touchpads.

For many old time Shortwave Listeners (SWLs)

Listening to the Radio had a certain 'feel' to it.

Which is why I have lots of radios with knobs. In fact in the last 5 years,
I've bought 3 radios with PTO's and restrung the dial cord and relamped a
fourth.

But will my kids like them? Will they use them? probably not.

They are too spoiled by either picking up a phone and calling anyone in
the world (most places they would ever call are included in a montly plan
so they "free") or if they don't want to get up off their chair and pause
their "computing" using SKYPE.

TV comes directly to their TV on a cable connected to a DBS dish, and if
they don't like the programs that are one, there is a large library
accessable locally and almost an infinte choice on the internet.

Plus Turning-the-Knob on a Radio with an Analog Dial/Scale often brought
the awe and joy of 'discovery' to the Radio Listener.

I am sorry to say it, but the current generation has been spoon fed so
much awe and discovery that they are not interested in looking for themselves.
Ask my kids to define discovery and they will answer "channel 34". :-(

While keying in a Frequency Number or having the Computer Scan and Log lacks
the 'bond' between a Man and His Radio.

It's what I call the "Dancing Bear Phenomeon". We were impressed by a
dancing bear. Our kids have seen so many they are concerend with the
quality of the dance.

For example, I recentyly aquired a Drake SPR-4. IMHO it is the worst ergonmic
design I have ever used. To tune a frequency, you have to set the band switch
to the correct band (within 500kHz). Then reading the little numbers off of the
band switch, there is a SECOND band switch (really front end filters) that needs
to be set. Once that is set, you adjust the preselector. A hint is on the bottom
of the numbers on the band switch.

Then you can tune in your frequency. On the AM BCB the preselector has to be
retuned every 50kHz or so.

I love it, I even invested in colored LEDs to replace burnt out light bulbs
with fading filters.

If I want my kids to listen, it either has to be a channel they can enter,
a file location they can browse, or a URL. If I'm lucky it they will turn
a volume control if it does not have a remote.

IMHO sad. But that's the price of progress. When my mother was their age,
her mother owned a candy store and had the only telephone on the block.
People used to call neighbors at the store, my mom and her sisters would get
a small tip to run and get them.

When I was growing up, we had a telephone. We could make local calls only,
a one minute call across the country cost enough to buy hamburgers, fries
and 'shakes for 10 at the burger joint across the street from my highschool.

from an age when people knew that real radios 'glowed' in the dark ~ RHF
{and a young boy's eyes were wide with amazement far into the wee hours
of the morning}.

Sexist. My wife used to do the same with old tube AM radios he father would
fish out of the trash. When we met she had a Sony IFC-2010 and knew how
to use it. :-)

Geoff.



"When we met she had a Sony IFC-2010 and knew how
to use it". :-)


Lucky you. I would call the Lady a keeper.

Drifter...

AOR UK is No More
 

On Jun 15, 9:12*am, dave wrote:
dxAce wrote:

Just another no-coder. They might just as well give away the ticket nowadays
in a box of Cracker Jack.

dxAce
Michigan
USA

You represent everything bad about Amateur Radio. *People like you scare
young people away from the hobby.

Of course, the flip side of this is figuring out just how watered down
and popularized we're willing to make the hobby in order to attract
"young people". In my opinion, if young people don't want to come to
the party, let them go elsewhere. I'll be too busy on the radio to
notice.

AOR UK is No More
 

Steve wrote:
Of course, the flip side of this is figuring out just how watered down
and popularized we're willing to make the hobby in order to attract
"young people". In my opinion, if young people don't want to come to
the party, let them go elsewhere. I'll be too busy on the radio to
notice.

Unfortunately, at least in the US, Amateur Radio was a "service" and afforded
a lot of legal protection and privleges.

For example, you don't see a PRB-1 for CB or FRS. We don't have that and have
to register any antennas where we transmit an average of over 20 watts
(based on a 24 hour average).

You don't pay for licenses. ( I just paid $10 a year for a 4 year renewal).

You don't have to get a permit every time you buy a transmitter.

Eventually as enough "old people" die off, and "young people" go elsewhere,
even in the US Amateur Radio will go from a service to a hobby.

I remember the wonderful results when UPS wanted 220-222mHz for a nationwide
digital network. It disappeared faster from ham radio than you could say
"drop my package".

Ironicaly they never used it, but it was not given back.

How much longer is it going to be that the biggest ham radio company in the
US is MFJ? How many ham radio stores are there in your neighborhood.

I'm in a country the size of New Jersey and we have NONE!!!

Geoff.

--
Geoffrey S. Mendelson, Jerusalem, Israel N3OWJ/4X1GM
I do multitasking. If that bothers you, file a complaint and I will start
ignoring it immediately.

AOR UK is No More
 

As a younger person (25 in July), I must say that I actually have to
agree with the fact that it's the knobs that make SWL fun. There's
just a sort of thrill of the hunt you get when you're slowly turning
through a band "stalking" a signal and there's the thrill of
"conquest" once you've pulled something in. If I had a newer radio
where you could just punch in a frequency, I don't think I would
listen NEARLY as often as I do.

AOR UK is No More
 

On Jun 16, 9:39*am, "Geoffrey S. Mendelson"
wrote:

(snip)

Eventually as enough "old people" die off, and "young people" go elsewhere,
even in the US Amateur Radio will go from a service to a hobby.

(snip)

Geoffrey S. Mendelson, Jerusalem, Israel *N3OWJ/4X1GM
I do multitasking. If that bothers you, file a complaint and I will start
ignoring it immediately.

Good points all. I agree with you that ham radio in the US might
become a "hobby" rather than a "service", and one thing that could
bring this about is failure to recruit enough young people. Another
thing that could bring it about, though, is watering down the hobby to
the point where it can no longer provide the kind of service that it
once did. Some (not all, but some) young hams entering the hobby
simply purchase an ht, connect to echolink and never give the rest of
the hobby a second thought. Is that the future that young people will
bring to ham radio? If that's the "service" we will one day provide,
why bother? We already have the internet. And cell phones. I'd rather
see ham radio die an honorable death now than suffer through this
death of a thousand compromises.

AOR UK is No More
 

bpnjensen wrote:
On Jun 15, 5:24 am, m wrote:
dave wrote:
You can get a nice SDR-IQ black box, a laptop, a USB sound card, and a
nice set of active speakers for less than an R8B. better performance, too.

This seems to be a good example of such an item.

http://www.scannermaster.com/SDR_IQ_.../43-501312.htm

mike

Note the user comment/review at the bottom.

What does [paraphrased] "panoramic support of communication receivers"
mean?

Bruce Jensen

It means if your existing radio has an IF Out you can use the SDR IQ to
view the passband.

AOR UK is No More
 

bpnjensen wrote:


No desire whatsoever - just doesn't grab me.

I enjoy interacting with the plasma in the sky. Sound card digital
modes are really simple. i have a tiny yard, therefore I use a vertical
with built in counterpoise. Takes up about 5 square inches of the yard.

AOR UK is No More
 

RHF wrote:


Mike [M II],

Many would still ask . . . Where's the Knob ?

For many old time Shortwave Listeners (SWLs)

Listening to the Radio had a certain 'feel' to it.

Plus Turning-the-Knob on a Radio with an
Analog Dial/Scale often brought the awe
and joy of 'discovery' to the Radio Listener.

While keying in a Frequency Number or
having the Computer Scan and Log lacks
the 'bond' between a Man and His Radio.

from an age when people knew that
real radios 'glowed' in the dark ~ RHF
{and a young boy's eyes were wide with
amazement far into the wee hours of the
morning}
.

I suggest you learn about the waterfall. It has the enchantment you
describe. You can QSL digital hams and they will send you a verie.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ybzLs...eature=related

AOR UK is No More
 

On 17/06/2010 12:19 AM, Steve wrote:
On Jun 16, 9:39 am, "Geoffrey S.
wrote:

(snip)

Eventually as enough "old people" die off, and "young people" go elsewhere,
even in the US Amateur Radio will go from a service to a hobby.

(snip)

Geoffrey S. Mendelson, Jerusalem, Israel N3OWJ/4X1GM
I do multitasking. If that bothers you, file a complaint and I will start
ignoring it immediately.

Good points all. I agree with you that ham radio in the US might
become a "hobby" rather than a "service", and one thing that could
bring this about is failure to recruit enough young people. Another
thing that could bring it about, though, is watering down the hobby to
the point where it can no longer provide the kind of service that it
once did. Some (not all, but some) young hams entering the hobby
simply purchase an ht, connect to echolink and never give the rest of
the hobby a second thought. Is that the future that young people will
bring to ham radio? If that's the "service" we will one day provide,
why bother? We already have the internet. And cell phones. I'd rather
see ham radio die an honorable death now than suffer through this
death of a thousand compromises.

Well, cell phones can provide a service but, as recent bushfires in this
state proved, they cannot always be counted on in an emergency. A little
over a year ago, we had some quite devastating bushfires quite close to
the city of Melbourne. The cell phone network was unable to provide
emergency communications in this instance as many of the cell phone
transmitting towers burnt down. The ones that didn't burn down were left
without power as the electricity network suffered as well. Might add
that landlines were put out of action also. That left entire areas
without any form of coverage except for HF, VHF and UHF radio. A person
I know, a radio amateur in fact, was one of the persons involved with
re-establishing the cell phone network infrastructure. That involved
putting up emergency towers throughout the fire ravaged region. It took
quite a few days before even a rudimentary cell phone network was
re-established. Amateurs were able to assist in providing emergency
radio communications in this instance.

A "wired world" is not foolproof.

Krypsis

AOR UK is No More
 

Steve wrote:
On Jun 15, 9:12 am, wrote:
dxAce wrote:

Just another no-coder. They might just as well give away the ticket nowadays
in a box of Cracker Jack.

dxAce
Michigan
USA

You represent everything bad about Amateur Radio. People like you scare
young people away from the hobby.

Of course, the flip side of this is figuring out just how watered down
and popularized we're willing to make the hobby in order to attract
"young people". In my opinion, if young people don't want to come to
the party, let them go elsewhere. I'll be too busy on the radio to
notice.

Keeping a civil tongue is "...watered down...popularized...?

Not everyone is able to learn code. Just like everybody can't play the
piano. As nobody uses code anymore except for automatic identifiers,
QRP, and automated contesting, why require EVERYONE to learn it
proficiently just to use the shortwave?

AOR UK is No More
 

On Tue, 15 Jun 2010 08:03:15 -0400, dxAce
wrote:



dave wrote:

bpnjensen wrote:
On Jun 14, 8:49 pm, wrote:
On Jun 14, 5:16 pm, Joe
wrote:





This is definitely the end of an era: AOR UK will cease to exist after
June 2010.

See details hehttp://www.aoruk.com/Index.htm

There is now only one tabletop shortwave communications on the market
(so far as I know): the ICOM IC-R75 which is hardly in the class of
some of the great tabletops of years past (at least in my opinion)
though it's leagues ahead of most portables (and, I believe, can be
greatly improved with the addition of the Sherwood SE-3).

Many people have said that the shortwave hobby is dying and I'm afraid
I'm now inclined to agree with them. What's really sad (and possibly
dangerous) is that, if shortwave communications "goes," how will
"captive" countries - and make no mistake: there are plenty of them
and there will be many more to come - be reached? Internet is
certainly no substitute for shortwave radio.

It's possible that, just when we need shortwave, it may no longer
exist.

In any case, if you do own a good tabletop shortwave receiver, hold on
to it and keep it in good repair because you probably won't be able to
replace it.

Joe

AOR does not produce any hf receivers for the hobby,since they
discontinued their highly rated 7030. Also, Icom may stop making the
misfortunate R75 in the near future. But,we do have Ten-
Tec,Palstar,Sangean,NASA (aka AKD,Sitex),Eton (junk). And we also have
a whole new breed of SDRs from different places. Sometimes I wonder
why Elecraft does not make just a receiver- it could become a real
super-seller.

I have an R75, and am generally very happy with it. Nonetheless, an
Elecraft RX would be just dynamite.

So get a General class license and transmit once in a while.

http://kb6nu.com/tech-manual/

http://www.qrz.com/testing.html

I went from nothing to Extra Amateur class in 5 weeks.

Just another no-coder. They might just as well give away the ticket nowadays
in a box of Cracker Jack.

dxAce
Michigan
USA


True. With a bunch of hacks operating you can't be sure of what
station is sending out a signal.

Case in point: 3C0C on the island near Guinea. If you worked this
station on CW 40M, check the C30C station logs online because there
was a fake on sending CW and taking calls. A bunch of hams were
complaining about it today on 20M because they were not in the log.

http://www.3c0c-annobon.com/logs/

Jim

AOR UK is No More
 

Bob Dobbs wrote:
Steve wrote:
On Jun 15, 9:12 am, wrote:
dxAce wrote:

Just another no-coder. They might just as well give away the ticket nowadays
in a box of Cracker Jack.

dxAce
Michigan
USA

You represent everything bad about Amateur Radio. People like you scare
young people away from the hobby.

Of course, the flip side of this is figuring out just how watered down
and popularized we're willing to make the hobby in order to attract
"young people". In my opinion, if young people don't want to come to
the party, let them go elsewhere. I'll be too busy on the radio to
notice.

They're not 'watering' it down to attract young people
as much as any person with the resources to purchase
one of the multi-kilobuck HF rigs.
The big push to dumb down requirements like the slow code of the early 90s and
now no code at all is from equipment dealers like AES and HRO. Some day they'll
go for no skills requirements altogether and go after the CBer types.


So far I've bought a Ten-Tec and an Elecraft, both USA factory direct.
I use a sound card digital mode (bpsk31) that works pretty well with 30
Watts into an "imaginative" GAP vertical dipole. I use about a 30th of
a single SSB voice channel; and I sincerely apologize for helping to
ruin Ham Radio for you.

AOR UK is No More
 

Bob Dobbs wrote:


You haven't 'ruined' anything for me.
I just wish the hobby had remained as such
and hadn't become such a cash cow for the equipment dealers.
It tends to cheapen the efforts someone puts into something
when it's later degraded for the sake of a sale.
IOW: If you can get a HAM ticket
without having to develop a skill set or knowledge base,
then having one isn't indicative of anything
and in turn that ticket is worthless.


You just miss Collins and Drake; I understand. Note, both companies
named after persons long deceased. At least they had the good sense not
to name Ten-Tec "Kahn".

AOR UK is No More
 

"Mike K." wrote in message
...
As a younger person (25 in July), I must say that I actually have to
agree with the fact that it's the knobs that make SWL fun. There's
just a sort of thrill of the hunt you get when you're slowly turning
through a band "stalking" a signal and there's the thrill of
"conquest" once you've pulled something in. If I had a newer radio
where you could just punch in a frequency, I don't think I would
listen NEARLY as often as I do.

Up and Down buttons can be used in this way, but they're not as good.
I do a fair but of tuning around with my Sony ICF-SW7600G which can step up
and down the HF bands in 1kHz or 5kHz steps.

--

Brian Gregory. (In the UK)

To email me remove the letter vee.

AOR UK is No More
 

"Steve" wrote in message
...
Of course, the flip side of this is figuring out just how watered down
and popularized we're willing to make the hobby in order to attract
"young people". In my opinion, if young people don't want to come to
the party, let them go elsewhere. I'll be too busy on the radio to
notice.

If there's hardly anyone left on the bands governments will just start
taking them away to sell off.

--

Brian Gregory. (In the UK)

To email me remove the letter vee.

AOR UK is No More
 

Brian Gregory [UK] wrote:


Up and Down buttons can be used in this way, but they're not as good.
I do a fair but of tuning around with my Sony ICF-SW7600G which can step up
and down the HF bands in 1kHz or 5kHz steps.


The K3 has a big heavy knob and a keypad and RS-232 serial control via
PC. It can be tuned in 1 Hz increments. It has sync detection and
virtually infintely variable final IF width. You have room for 5 first
IF roofing filters from 200 KHz (for CW and digital modes) to I think
around 3500 to 4k wide band for music and entertainment.

I really like my K3.

AOR UK is No More
 

On Jun 18, 5:50*am, dave wrote:
Brian Gregory [UK] wrote:

Up and Down buttons can be used in this way, but they're not as good.
I do a fair but of tuning around with my Sony ICF-SW7600G which can step up
and down the HF bands in 1kHz or 5kHz steps.

The K3 has a big heavy knob and a keypad and RS-232 serial control via
PC. *It can be tuned in 1 Hz increments. *It has sync detection and
virtually infintely variable final IF width. *You have room for 5 first
IF roofing filters from 200 *KHz (for CW and digital modes) to I think
around 3500 to 4k wide band for music and entertainment.

I really like my K3.

Can it go to 6k wide? Better for AM voice and music...

AOR UK is No More
 

bpnjensen wrote:
On Jun 18, 5:50 am, wrote:
Brian Gregory [UK] wrote:

Up and Down buttons can be used in this way, but they're not as good.
I do a fair but of tuning around with my Sony ICF-SW7600G which can step up
and down the HF bands in 1kHz or 5kHz steps.

The K3 has a big heavy knob and a keypad and RS-232 serial control via
PC. It can be tuned in 1 Hz increments. It has sync detection and
virtually infintely variable final IF width. You have room for 5 first
IF roofing filters from 200 KHz (for CW and digital modes) to I think
around 3500 to 4k wide band for music and entertainment.

I really like my K3.

Can it go to 6k wide? Better for AM voice and music...

Add $126

http://www.elecraft.com/elecraft_prod_list.htm