"Geoffrey S. Mendelson" wrote:

wrote:
I just got me Tech license this weekend. Now I need to look into
actually purchasing some equiptment. I don't have much space ( or
money ) and can't put a big atenna on our roof. Could you make some
suggestions? Also, what equiptment is required to run off your
computer??

Don't buy anything. Look around for antennas, ham radio license plates,
and search the callsign directory (www.qrz.com) for hams in your area.

If he took the exam he must know some hams... ya think? It's not as if he pulled
it out of a Cracker-Jack box. (Well, not quite)

dxAce
Michigan
USA

"If he took the exam he must know some hams... ya think? It's not as if
he pulled
it out of a Cracker-Jack box. (Well, not quite) "


Yes, Ace you're very astute. However, I did just walk into the meeting
- a month before I took the test. So, while I have been introduced to
a few people at the meeting, I don't really know any very well. And
besides, one can never be too informed.

" wrote:

"If he took the exam he must know some hams... ya think? It's not as if
he pulled
it out of a Cracker-Jack box. (Well, not quite) "

Yes, Ace you're very astute.

Damn straight.

Good luck.

dxAce
Michigan
USA

Maybe each State's Department of Motor Vehicles should do away with
requiring people to get Drivers Licenses too.Judging from the way some
people around here drive,running red lights and stop signs and failing
to yield the right of way and speeding and doing everything they are not
suppose to do,,, they might as well.Operating a motor vehicle on public
roads is not a Right,it is a Privaledge.It should be the same way with
Ham Radio Operators too.
cuhulin

wrote:
Maybe each State's Department of Motor Vehicles should do away with
requiring people to get Drivers Licenses too.Judging from the way some
people around here drive,running red lights and stop signs and failing
to yield the right of way and speeding and doing everything they are not
suppose to do,,, they might as well.Operating a motor vehicle on public
roads is not a Right,it is a Privaledge.It should be the same way with
Ham Radio Operators too.
cuhulin

The question isn't whether a test should be applied, but what questions
should be asked in the test. Or said another way what questions if
answered correctly will give some indication that the test taker
understands concepts like safe, efficient and courteous operation of
the equipment.

If we were to test prospective hams on their ability to safely set up a
rig and antenna for transmission and combine that with written
questions about radio theory that would provide some level of assurance
the guy wouldn't fry himself or cause interference to neighbors. If we
also required prospective hams to be observed in actual operation of
the radio we could test somewhat for their ability to conduct courteous
and efficient communication in the most commonly used mode - voice.

Requiring that a test taker be able to translate dits and dahs into
letters is only proof that the prospective ham has some command of a
little used language - morse code. It does nothing to show that the
prospective ham can operate a station effectively, safely and
courteously. It is akin to requiring that prospective drivers also be
able to use a buggy whip.

If I get my one finger huntin n peckin in high gear on this hear cute
little wireless battery powered keyboard,I can easily (and most times I
do) type more than five words per minute.I know,I know,it isn't the same
as learning Morse Code,but if I want to talk to Ham Radio Operators on a
Ham Radio,I wont gripe about learning some Morse Code.
cuhulin

Yep. And putting aside the whole debate over whether or not the code
is an anachronism, I can't imagine that learning Morse would be *that*
arduous a task, especially if you're only talkin' about 5 WPM. The
code is relatively straightforward. Standard Roman alphabet as we use
in the English language. Then you've got your numbers and minimal
punctuation. No special characters to speak of.

http://www.babbage.demon.co.uk/morseabc.html

junius


wrote:
If I get my one finger huntin n peckin in high gear on this hear cute
little wireless battery powered keyboard,I can easily (and most times I
do) type more than five words per minute.I know,I know,it isn't the same
as learning Morse Code,but if I want to talk to Ham Radio Operators on a
Ham Radio,I wont gripe about learning some Morse Code.
cuhulin

"John S." wrote:

wrote:
Maybe each State's Department of Motor Vehicles should do away with
requiring people to get Drivers Licenses too.Judging from the way some
people around here drive,running red lights and stop signs and failing
to yield the right of way and speeding and doing everything they are not
suppose to do,,, they might as well.Operating a motor vehicle on public
roads is not a Right,it is a Privaledge.It should be the same way with
Ham Radio Operators too.
cuhulin

Requiring that a test taker be able to translate dits and dahs into
letters is only proof that the prospective ham has some command of a
little used language - morse code. It does nothing to show that the
prospective ham can operate a station effectively, safely and
courteously. It is akin to requiring that prospective drivers also be
able to use a buggy whip.

Same old tired excuse thrown out by those who are too lazy and unwilling to
learn.

dxAce
Michigan
USA

dxAce wrote:
"John S." wrote:

cut
Requiring that a test taker be able to translate dits and dahs into
letters is only proof that the prospective ham has some command of a
little used language - morse code. It does nothing to show that the
prospective ham can operate a station effectively, safely and
courteously. It is akin to requiring that prospective drivers also be
able to use a buggy whip.

Same old tired excuse thrown out by those who are too lazy and unwilling to
learn.

nah your post was the same tired chestnut of a hypocrtie that is more
in frat boy stuff than radio

dxAce
Michigan
USA

wrote:

Yes, Ace you're very astute. However, I did just walk into the meeting
- a month before I took the test. So, while I have been introduced to
a few people at the meeting, I don't really know any very well. And
besides, one can never be too informed.

You never did say where you lived. If you lived in a big city, it's likely
that you did meet the hams at the test beforehand. If you lived in a
rural area, you might have come from a relativly long distance.

For example, If I have to take a test to upgrade to Extra, the nearest
place I can go is Kuwait. The Israeli government specificly asked the VECs
to not test here.

Geoff.


--
Geoffrey S. Mendelson, Jerusalem, Israel N3OWJ/4X1GM
IL Voice: (07)-7424-1667 IL Fax: 972-2-648-1443 U.S. Voice: 1-215-821-1838
The trouble with being a futurist is that when people get around to believing
you, it's too late. We lost. Google 2,000,000:Hams 0.