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Radio Check! Radio Check!
I was testing a new VHF handheld the other day, and I switched to
Channel 9 and asked for a "radio check" from anyone who was picking up my signal. Got a couple of good responses, including one farther away than I thought a handheld could reach, and one response from some a**hole who was "annoyed" that I was asking for a radio check. He said, "use another channel, dammit." Well... I know channel 16 is inappropriate for a radio check, but I always thought channel 9 was just fine. If you want a VHF radio check, what channel do you use? |
Radio Check! Radio Check!
John H. wrote:
On Wed, 03 Oct 2007 08:02:10 -0400, HK wrote: I was testing a new VHF handheld the other day, and I switched to Channel 9 and asked for a "radio check" from anyone who was picking up my signal. Got a couple of good responses, including one farther away than I thought a handheld could reach, and one response from some a**hole who was "annoyed" that I was asking for a radio check. He said, "use another channel, dammit." Well... I know channel 16 is inappropriate for a radio check, but I always thought channel 9 was just fine. If you want a VHF radio check, what channel do you use? I use Channel 9. Herring Bay Marina usually has someone monitoring Ch 9, and I'll call them. They've always been responsive and I've never gotten any **** from them. Out on the water, I've often contacted Tidalfish guys on Ch 68. I normally call a specific marina or SeaTow on channel 9. |
Radio Check! Radio Check!
On Wed, 03 Oct 2007 08:02:10 -0400, HK wrote:
I know channel 16 is inappropriate for a radio check, but I always thought channel 9 was just fine. If you want a VHF radio check, what channel do you use? Channel 9 is fine. Another strategy is to call SeaTow on channel 16, switch to their working channel and ask for a signal report. SeaTow seems to be OK with it, free advertising for them. |
Radio Check! Radio Check!
"HK" wrote in message . .. I was testing a new VHF handheld the other day, and I switched to Channel 9 and asked for a "radio check" from anyone who was picking up my signal. Got a couple of good responses, including one farther away than I thought a handheld could reach, and one response from some a**hole who was "annoyed" that I was asking for a radio check. He said, "use another channel, dammit." Well... I know channel 16 is inappropriate for a radio check, but I always thought channel 9 was just fine. If you want a VHF radio check, what channel do you use? Dunno. But your response should have been "10-4 good buddy. Keep the shiny side up" -- Posted via a free Usenet account from http://www.teranews.com |
Radio Check! Radio Check!
On Wed, 03 Oct 2007 08:02:10 -0400, HK wrote:
I was testing a new VHF handheld the other day, and I switched to Channel 9 and asked for a "radio check" from anyone who was picking up my signal. Got a couple of good responses, including one farther away than I thought a handheld could reach, and one response from some a**hole who was "annoyed" that I was asking for a radio check. He said, "use another channel, dammit." Well... I know channel 16 is inappropriate for a radio check, but I always thought channel 9 was just fine. If you want a VHF radio check, what channel do you use? I use Channel 9. Herring Bay Marina usually has someone monitoring Ch 9, and I'll call them. They've always been responsive and I've never gotten any **** from them. Out on the water, I've often contacted Tidalfish guys on Ch 68. |
Radio Check! Radio Check!
On Oct 3, 5:02?am, HK wrote:
I was testing a new VHF handheld the other day, and I switched to Channel 9 and asked for a "radio check" from anyone who was picking up my signal. Got a couple of good responses, including one farther away than I thought a handheld could reach, and one response from some a**hole who was "annoyed" that I was asking for a radio check. He said, "use another channel, dammit." Well... I know channel 16 is inappropriate for a radio check, but I always thought channel 9 was just fine. If you want a VHF radio check, what channel do you use? Harry, how do you happen to annoy people who only hear you utter a short phrase? Doesn't it normally require an entire sentence or two? :-) Any working channel should be fine for a radio check. It's been so long since anybody was required to have an FTC license to broadcast VHF within the US that maybe 1/3 or more of the boaters don't *really* know how to use it. CB slang is rampant. It's one of the few aspects in life where the careless and uninformed publicly announce their ignorance. Reminds me of a time about a yeat after the FTC suspended licensing. I hailed somebody in proper format, including the call sign of my station. Some goombah cuts in on 16 immediately and snarks, "Asshole! Nobody has call letters any more." Of course everybody with a license had call letters until the license expired, but 16 wasn't the place to debate this fool- nor was it worth the effort. |
Radio Check! Radio Check!
Chuck Gould wrote:
On Oct 3, 5:02?am, HK wrote: I was testing a new VHF handheld the other day, and I switched to Channel 9 and asked for a "radio check" from anyone who was picking up my signal. Got a couple of good responses, including one farther away than I thought a handheld could reach, and one response from some a**hole who was "annoyed" that I was asking for a radio check. He said, "use another channel, dammit." Well... I know channel 16 is inappropriate for a radio check, but I always thought channel 9 was just fine. If you want a VHF radio check, what channel do you use? Harry, how do you happen to annoy people who only hear you utter a short phrase? Doesn't it normally require an entire sentence or two? :-) Gee, all I said was this: "Chuck Gould on Slow Old Tub asking for a radio check...please report my signal." |
Radio Check! Radio Check!
On Wed, 03 Oct 2007 07:27:11 -0700, Chuck Gould
wrote: Some goombah cuts in on 16 immediately and snarks, "Asshole! Nobody has call letters any more." I hear commercial boats using call letters fairly frequently. |
Radio Check! Radio Check!
On Wed, 03 Oct 2007 10:31:08 -0400, HK wrote:
Gee, all I said was this: "Chuck Gould on Slow Old Tub asking for a radio check...please report my signal." Was your low transom showing? |
Radio Check! Radio Check!
Wayne.B wrote:
On Wed, 03 Oct 2007 10:31:08 -0400, HK wrote: Gee, all I said was this: "Chuck Gould on Slow Old Tub asking for a radio check...please report my signal." Was your low transom showing? LT hanging over his belt. |
Radio Check! Radio Check!
HK wrote:
I was testing a new VHF handheld the other day, and I switched to Channel 9 and asked for a "radio check" from anyone who was picking up my signal. Got a couple of good responses, including one farther away than I thought a handheld could reach, and one response from some a**hole who was "annoyed" that I was asking for a radio check. He said, "use another channel, dammit." Well... I know channel 16 is inappropriate for a radio check, but I always thought channel 9 was just fine. If you want a VHF radio check, what channel do you use? And you pilot a lobster boat? Really? |
Radio Check! Radio Check!
On Oct 3, 7:02 am, HK wrote:
I was testing a new VHF handheld the other day, and I switched to Channel 9 and asked for a "radio check" from anyone who was picking up my signal. Got a couple of good responses, including one farther away than I thought a handheld could reach, and one response from some a**hole who was "annoyed" that I was asking for a radio check. He said, "use another channel, dammit." Well... I know channel 16 is inappropriate for a radio check, but I always thought channel 9 was just fine. If you want a VHF radio check, what channel do you use? those of us in the USCG use channel 9 for radio checks with boaters... |
Radio Check! Radio Check!
Around 10/3/2007 9:05 AM, Wayne.B wrote:
On Wed, 03 Oct 2007 07:27:11 -0700, Chuck Gould wrote: Some goombah cuts in on 16 immediately and snarks, "Asshole! Nobody has call letters any more." I hear commercial boats using call letters fairly frequently. Oh, they're still around all right; just last month I ponied up for a shiny new SA license and call letters from the FCC. -- ~/Garth - 1966 Glastron V-142 Skiflite: "Blue-Boat" "There is nothing - absolutely nothing - half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats." -- Kenneth Grahame ~~ Ventis secundis, tene cursum ~~ |
Radio Check! Radio Check!
Garth Almgren wrote in news:5mp15eFeendpU1
@mid.individual.net: Some goombah cuts in on 16 immediately and snarks, "Asshole! Nobody has call letters any more." I hear commercial boats using call letters fairly frequently. Oh, they're still around all right; just last month I ponied up for a shiny new SA license and call letters from the FCC. If you go outside the territorial waters of the USA, assuming of course you are in the USA, you MUST get a "Ship Station License" (SA) from the FCC to use even the most miniscule VHF walkie talkie, or be in violation of international law (ITU). http://wireless.fcc.gov/services/ind...=ship_stations If you operate ANY marine HF/SSB equipment, anywhere, you MUST be in possession of a Ship Station License (SA), no matter where you are. Your Ship License should also be issued a REAL MMSI for your VHF and HF DSC equipment, not the bogus Boat/US block, which means nothing outside the US. You need not use your Ship License callsign on VHF inside US waters....but you better well properly ID your station on HF, anywhere, or on VHF outside the US. You are required to have in your possession a Restricted Radiotelephone Operator's Permit, licensing YOU, personally, to operate the licensed radio station, last time I checked, too. My first RROP had its own "callsign" of sorts, 20J0121, which was exactly like the old CB callsigns back around 1957 when I got mine...(c; http://wireless.fcc.gov/commoperators/rp.html Of additional interest, and requirement if you have GMDSS transmit capabilities, you are also required to have one of the GMDSS operator's licenses! http://wireless.fcc.gov/commoperators/rg.html If you go no further than 20 miles offshore and have ONLY VHF GMDSS aboard, you only need this restricted operator permit by taking test elements 1 and 7R at any FCC office or approved testing facility. If you go further than 20 miles offshore, as many of us do, you must have a full GMDSS Operator's License, test elements 1 and 7 to operate GMDSS offshore. Now, take a look at: http://wireless.fcc.gov/commoperators/wncol.html which tells you who needs an OPERATOR's license for WHAT...... It says: "You need a commercial radio operator license to operate the following: Ship radio stations if: the vessel carries more than six passengers for hire; or the radio operates on medium or high frequencies; or the ship sails to foreign ports; or the ship is larger than 300 gross tons and is required to carry a radio station for safety purposes." Notice the keyword "or" in this statement.....There is NO EXCEPTION or EXEMPTION for "voluntary" ship stations (SA classification), like your yacht. The ONLY time you don't need an OPERATOR's license is if you are on VHF Marine in US waters. I've argued this with many. VHF DSC is part of the GMDSS system. IF you operate DSC on Channel 70 in a non-emergency, non-life-threatening situation, according to these rules, you MUST get at LEAST a Restricted GMDSS Operator's License, if not the full GMDSS Operator's License. This means standing for testing of Elements 1 and 7R at an FCC test facility! Are these new VHF DSC radios with some DSC capability other than calling for help being operated legally w/o the licenses? So far, I've gotten no answer.... FCC's website says you must have a full GMDSS Operator's License to use it OUTSIDE THE USA. As usual, FCC/ITU rules are a hodge-podge of conflicting statements you need a government law firm to translate into English. Larry W4CSC NOT operating DSC on S/V Lionheart WDB-6254 |
Radio Check! Radio Check!
On Oct 6, 8:43 pm, Larry wrote:
Of additional interest, and requirement if you have GMDSS transmit capabilities, you are also required to have one of the GMDSS operator's licenses!http://wireless.fcc.gov/commoperators/rg.html If you go no further than 20 miles offshore and have ONLY VHF GMDSS aboard, you only need this restricted operator permit by taking test elements 1 and 7R at any FCC office or approved testing facility. If you go further than 20 miles offshore, as many of us do, you must have a full GMDSS Operator's License, test elements 1 and 7 to operate GMDSS offshore. i I've argued this with many. VHF DSC is part of the GMDSS system. IF you operate DSC on Channel 70 in a non-emergency, non-life-threatening situation, according to these rules, you MUST get at LEAST a Restricted GMDSS Operator's License, if not the full GMDSS Operator's License. This means standing for testing of Elements 1 and 7R at an FCC test facility! i wonder how this is enforced. i'm willing to bet few CG watchstanders know or care about this provision. probably if you use the GMDSS feature on your VHF radio, if there's some kind of legal ramifications, the FCC would get involved. Are these new VHF DSC radios with some DSC capability other than calling for help being operated legally w/o the licenses? So far, I've gotten no answer.... FCC's website says you must have a full GMDSS Operator's License to use it OUTSIDE THE USA. As usual, FCC/ITU rules are a hodge-podge of conflicting statements you need a government law firm to translate into English. pretty much the case, i'd say. |
Radio Check! Radio Check!
On Oct 3, 9:27 am, Chuck Gould wrote:
It's been so long since anybody was required to have an FTC license to broadcast VHF within the US that maybe 1/3 or more of the boaters don't *really* know how to use it. CB slang is rampant. It's one of the few aspects in life where the careless and uninformed publicly announce their ignorance. For a long time I'd said that there were two things (minimum) that can turn grown adults into babbling fools. 1) An infant. 2) a cb radio. ?: |
Radio Check! Radio Check!
Around 10/6/2007 6:43 PM, Larry wrote:
Garth Almgren wrote in news:5mp15eFeendpU1 @mid.individual.net: Some goombah cuts in on 16 immediately and snarks, "Asshole! Nobody has call letters any more." I hear commercial boats using call letters fairly frequently. Oh, they're still around all right; just last month I ponied up for a shiny new SA license and call letters from the FCC. If you go outside the territorial waters of the USA, assuming of course you are in the USA, you MUST get a "Ship Station License" (SA) from the FCC to use even the most miniscule VHF walkie talkie, or be in violation of international law (ITU). Bingo. Though it seems to be completely unenforced for small pleasurecraft in the Gulf Islands of BC, I have a few radiomen in my family and didn't like the idea of illegally broadcasting. :) For the same reason, I also picked up a ZA license so that I could use my handheld GMRS at full power on those frequencies not restricted by my being north of line A: http://www.nwlink.com/~evenfall/radi...ne_a_gmrs.html I'm starting to really dig radio. I've already got a plain VHF (no SSB, DSC, or anything fancy) for the boat, GMRS/FRS for camping, hiking, and Jeeping, CB for Jeeping and driving, and I'm also thinking about studying up and adding ham to the list. -- ~/Garth - 1966 Glastron V-142 Skiflite: "Blue-Boat" "There is nothing - absolutely nothing - half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats." -- Kenneth Grahame ~~ Ventis secundis, tene cursum ~~ |
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On Sat, 06 Oct 2007 23:19:13 -0700, Garth Almgren
wrote: I'm also thinking about studying up and adding ham to the list Hey - why not? All you need to do is memorize the question pool over a week or so and you can go from zero to Extra in nothing flat - no pain, no code - no knowledge beyond being able to answer questions on a test. |
Radio Check! Radio Check!
Short Wave Sportfishing wrote:
On Sat, 06 Oct 2007 23:19:13 -0700, Garth Almgren wrote: I'm also thinking about studying up and adding ham to the list Hey - why not? All you need to do is memorize the question pool over a week or so and you can go from zero to Extra in nothing flat - no pain, no code - no knowledge beyond being able to answer questions on a test. Do I detect a tinge of sarcasm concerning the current method of issuing licenses? |
Radio Check! Radio Check!
wf3h wrote in news:1191723567.937872.229660@
22g2000hsm.googlegroups.com: i wonder how this is enforced. i'm willing to bet few CG watchstanders know or care about this provision. probably if you use the GMDSS feature on your VHF radio, if there's some kind of legal ramifications, the FCC would get involved. It's not enforced until someone becomes "interested in you", like most of the rest of the laws. CG isn't, no matter what the PO2 bitching at you on the radio says, the radio enforcement officers. The FCC is, for civilians. FCC doesn't become "interested" until there's a complaint, which CG would be the source of, I suppose. After being told to **** off by a fancy boat dealer using marine VHF for boat show comms on the dock and parking lot, I reported him to the FCC, mostly because he ****ed me off with his "boat dealer attitude". (We always attend boat shows in a little group wearing the jeans/t-shirts we wear mowing the lawns, which makes us immune from most salesmen.) FCC sent me a nice letter thanking me for my report, which I MAILED to them, and had contact said boat dealer with an NAL (Notice of Apparent Liability), the FCC's speeding ticket, which requires them to respond within 30 days, IN WRITING. All FCC wants is it to stop and you to explain that you know it was wrong and you won't do it again. That's reasonable the first time. I doubt boat dealer told the FCC to **** off and that he could do any damned thing he wanted with his VHF walkie, like he did me. Larry -- If you're gonna buy a big, expensive boat, have a little fun with your purchase. Dress like you're going to mow the grass when you're at the boatshow. See if any of the Panama hat boys will give you the time of day. If you find one treating you with respect, he's your man! The rest of them are just assholes, anyway, you don't want to deal with. My rich friend Dan sold his Hat 56 FBMY liveaboard and bought a big house. We went to the boatshow dressed like this to buy Dan a new 20- something runabout to play in. Everyone treated us like dirt, except this one young man at Seel's Marine, who let us inspect the nice Grady White with the Yam 150 and bimini top. His gross, that day at the boat show, was $34,000 more than it would have been if he'd treated us like dirt, too..............................PRICELESS..(c; |
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Garth Almgren wrote in news:5mrc2nFem6taU1
@mid.individual.net: I'm also thinking about studying up and adding ham to the list. Oh, do get your ham license, Garth. I've been a ham since 1957. I was 11...(c; It's been a helluva great ride. I don't use ham radio much any more, but would never give up my license and vanity call.... Come join us! Find your local ham club, who also does licensing and testing. You can get your license through their volunteers. I used to be very active helping new hams get licensed. My record was a 7-year- old. He flunked the code test you no longer have to take because he ran out of paper to put the BIG letters on during the test and was afraid to raise his hand for more...(c; He passed, easily, with more paper and is now an Amateur Extra Class licensee with an MSEE from Georgia Tech. I probably ruined his whole life. He came up to see me at a hamfest convention and said, "Do you remember me?" Hmm...no, sorry. He was about 25 by then. Somehow, he looked a lot different...(c; I'm working on 2 yachties with HF aboard at the moment trying to get them to interrupt their busy lives chasing dollars long enough to get the General Class license, at least. They are fascinated when I come aboard and work Europe or Hawaii or Russia on their boat radios. Some shortwave listener heard the boat and sent me his QSL card for mine a couple of weeks ago. He's in Arkansas. I always return SWL QSLs with my card to encourage them to get their licenses. It's a great hobby. I have QSL cards from all over, including King Hussein's and his wife Nina. I made contact with her on 20 meters in the 1960's MOBILE TO MOBILE from Charleston, SC, to Amman, Jordan. The cards were gold edged and simply beautiful from the palace.....JY1 and JY1B Larry -- You can tell there's extremely intelligent life in the universe because they have never called Earth. |
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Tim wrote in news:1191728577.061414.313520
@y42g2000hsy.googlegroups.com: On Oct 3, 9:27 am, Chuck Gould wrote: It's been so long since anybody was required to have an FTC license to broadcast VHF within the US that maybe 1/3 or more of the boaters don't *really* know how to use it. CB slang is rampant. It's one of the few aspects in life where the careless and uninformed publicly announce their ignorance. For a long time I'd said that there were two things (minimum) that can turn grown adults into babbling fools. 1) An infant. 2) a cb radio. ?: What used to be fun on CB going down the interstate was to come on the air and NOT sound like a hick with a clothespin over your nose. I used to ask them, "Do you REALLY talk that way were you come from?", in my best, most sophisticated-sounding voice. Within a hundred miles, the interstate would be full of really nice people speaking as if they were on the telephone, not sounding like rednecks at a BBQ drunk on beer. "What's your handle, good buddy?"....."I'm Larry! I used to be 20W1956 but they reissued me KLP9928 in the mid 60's before they took our licenses.", I'd respond enthousiastically, "What's your name?" The mere mention of any real license and real names always made it really quiet on CB until the shock wore off a few minutes later. Almost invariably, I'd find some old-time CBer who'd heard me and that would start a conversation with 6W1207 from Knoxville about those old tube rigs we used in those days. I used to build Knightkit CBs when I was a kid or a Heathkit walkie talkie that looked like a black leather box. I built so many I could put one together in 2 hours without the instructions...(c; Another fun thing to do on CB on the interstate is find another ham and start talking about ham radio. Lots of CBers are hams or want to be hams. Some go berserk from some stupid jealousy or pride, never sure which. "Mike, can you hear the 147.270 repeater where you are?", I'd ask him on CB. CB is great fun on the road, still. I have a few I've resurrected from thrift shops and keep one in the traveling vehicles. It has its place. Larry 20W1956 in 1957....(c; You had to be 18 to get a CB license. I was only 11 so my mother was terrified I was going to be DRAFTED in the ARMY... |
Radio Check! Radio Check!
"John H." wrote in message ... Dan? Rich? Damn, why didn't we know? That could change a whole lot of attitudes around here! Why...gonna suck up to him now? |
Radio Check! Radio Check!
On Sun, 07 Oct 2007 14:53:57 +0000, Larry wrote:
wf3h wrote in news:1191723567.937872.229660@ 22g2000hsm.googlegroups.com: i wonder how this is enforced. i'm willing to bet few CG watchstanders know or care about this provision. probably if you use the GMDSS feature on your VHF radio, if there's some kind of legal ramifications, the FCC would get involved. It's not enforced until someone becomes "interested in you", like most of the rest of the laws. CG isn't, no matter what the PO2 bitching at you on the radio says, the radio enforcement officers. The FCC is, for civilians. FCC doesn't become "interested" until there's a complaint, which CG would be the source of, I suppose. After being told to **** off by a fancy boat dealer using marine VHF for boat show comms on the dock and parking lot, I reported him to the FCC, mostly because he ****ed me off with his "boat dealer attitude". (We always attend boat shows in a little group wearing the jeans/t-shirts we wear mowing the lawns, which makes us immune from most salesmen.) FCC sent me a nice letter thanking me for my report, which I MAILED to them, and had contact said boat dealer with an NAL (Notice of Apparent Liability), the FCC's speeding ticket, which requires them to respond within 30 days, IN WRITING. All FCC wants is it to stop and you to explain that you know it was wrong and you won't do it again. That's reasonable the first time. I doubt boat dealer told the FCC to **** off and that he could do any damned thing he wanted with his VHF walkie, like he did me. Larry Dan? Rich? Damn, why didn't we know? That could change a whole lot of attitudes around here! |
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On Sun, 7 Oct 2007 12:28:23 -0300, "Don White"
wrote: "John H." wrote in message .. . Dan? Rich? Damn, why didn't we know? That could change a whole lot of attitudes around here! Why...gonna suck up to him now? Me? In case you've not noticed, I've not engaged in that practice. As a matter of fact, I've tried to lay off the rancorous posts. Ever thought of it? |
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On Sat, 06 Oct 2007 20:42:57 -0700, Tim wrote:
For a long time I'd said that there were two things (minimum) that can turn grown adults into babbling fools. 1) An infant. 2) a cb radio. ?: 3. A 6 pack 4. The internet. |
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On Sun, 07 Oct 2007 14:11:38 -0400, Wayne.B
wrote: On Sat, 06 Oct 2007 20:42:57 -0700, Tim wrote: For a long time I'd said that there were two things (minimum) that can turn grown adults into babbling fools. 1) An infant. 2) a cb radio. ?: 3. A 6 pack 4. The internet. 5. A packrat wife |
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On Sun, 07 Oct 2007 06:51:23 -0400, "Reginald P. Smithers III"
wrote: Short Wave Sportfishing wrote: On Sat, 06 Oct 2007 23:19:13 -0700, Garth Almgren wrote: I'm also thinking about studying up and adding ham to the list Hey - why not? All you need to do is memorize the question pool over a week or so and you can go from zero to Extra in nothing flat - no pain, no code - no knowledge beyond being able to answer questions on a test. Do I detect a tinge of sarcasm concerning the current method of issuing licenses? Ya think? :) Ham radio is now nothing more than glorified CB. |
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Around 10/7/2007 3:43 AM, Short Wave Sportfishing wrote:
On Sat, 06 Oct 2007 23:19:13 -0700, Garth Almgren wrote: I'm also thinking about studying up and adding ham to the list Hey - why not? All you need to do is memorize the question pool over a week or so and you can go from zero to Extra in nothing flat - no pain, no code - no knowledge beyond being able to answer questions on a test. Aw, no fun doing it the easy way. ;) -- ~/Garth - 1966 Glastron V-142 Skiflite: "Blue-Boat" "There is nothing - absolutely nothing - half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats." -- Kenneth Grahame ~~ Ventis secundis, tene cursum ~~ |
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On Sun, 07 Oct 2007 22:20:38 GMT, Short Wave Sportfishing
wrote: Ya think? :) Ham radio is now nothing more than glorified CB. ===================================== Check your EMAIL. Good article in today's Wall Street Journal. |
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On Mon, 08 Oct 2007 09:35:15 -0400, Wayne.B
wrote: On Sun, 07 Oct 2007 22:20:38 GMT, Short Wave Sportfishing wrote: Ya think? :) Ham radio is now nothing more than glorified CB. ===================================== Check your EMAIL. Good article in today's Wall Street Journal. I did and thank you for that. Great article. I was never in those guys league, but in my heyday, I had solid copy on 60 WPM and believe it or not, I could copy 60 baud RTTY. Learned that trick from my Dad. It's sad to see a great communications mode just die off. What the heck could be simpler than Morse code? A little time, a little practice and your in the groove at 20 WPM. I saw his comment about Morse and the League - I'm in total agreement with him on that one. That was the reason why I cancelled my QST and QEX subscriptions and left my position with the League totally disillusioned. That was also during the Great W1AW "renovation" cleverly disguised as a certain high ranking Corporate Officer's wet dream operating station and his connection to Harris Corporation. Now that all the old timers on the lower end of 80 are all dying off, there's nobody left to play high speed yacking anymore. :) Time marches on I guess. Oh well. I will get the last laugh though. When all this digital crap lays down and dies in a massive solar burst, those of us who still have analog gear and a bug or key will be the ones who can communicate and then WE WILL RULE THE WORLD!! Er...ahem... Sorry. :) Thanks again - that was a great read. |
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"Short Wave Sportfishing" wrote in message ... On Mon, 08 Oct 2007 11:30:25 -0400, wrote: On Mon, 08 Oct 2007 14:19:56 GMT, Short Wave Sportfishing wrote: It's sad to see a great communications mode just die off. What the heck could be simpler than Morse code? A little time, a little practice and your in the groove at 20 WPM You needed 6 WPM flashing light to get out of USCG boot camp in the 60s. I guess that went away too now that everyone has a radio or phone on their belt. Heh... Got it in one. :) To be a pilot you needed 5 wpm. I just looked at the keys on the Tacan and read the code. The ID of a station is still probably Morris. |
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On Mon, 08 Oct 2007 14:19:56 GMT, Short Wave Sportfishing
wrote: I will get the last laugh though. When all this digital crap lays down and dies in a massive solar burst, those of us who still have analog gear and a bug or key will be the ones who can communicate and then WE WILL RULE THE WORLD!! Then you should practice your skills at hand making a decent triode. It's unlikely that there will be any close at hand when needed. Almost everything else is pretty low tech when you think about it. |
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Garth Almgren wrote in news:5mtvdsFf8cs8U1
@mid.individual.net: Aw, no fun doing it the easy way. ;) Actually, I got lots of people higher-class ham licenses who couldn't put batteries in a 2-cell flashlight, by using Dale Carnegie's rote memorization techniques..... One - Run Two - Zoo Three - Tree Four - Door Five - Hive ......etc. Never read the wrong answers. Look at the question and associate what it tells you is the RIGHT answer, whether it's the right answer or not. Try to make a picture of the question associated with some silly picture, the sillier the better, with what you're told is the correct answer. You need a separate silly picture for each question. Dirty pictures seem to work even better...(c; Makes test taking real easy. You can learn about ham radio and electronics later, after you get on the air with your new license. The object is to get the LICENSE, not become an electronic technician or professional radio operator. Once you adjust to this thinking, getting any ham license is real easy, now that the "Code Test Punishment" is over. Larry W4CSC -- You can tell there's extremely intelligent life in the universe because they have never called Earth. |
Radio Check! Radio Check!
Short Wave Sportfishing wrote in
: I will get the last laugh though. When all this digital crap lays down and dies in a massive solar burst, those of us who still have analog gear and a bug or key will be the ones who can communicate and then WE WILL RULE THE WORLD!! What nonsense. My PSK31 station can copy a signal so weak I can't even hear the tones and it barely makes a track on the waterfall display of Winwarbler, which can copy THREE of them SIMULTANEOUSLY. You don't even need to buy some bogus "box" hams always seem to need. Just let the computer listen to the headphone jack. I worked a guy in New Zealand on 14.070 PSK31 running 80mw to a 20M vertical! NO MORSE operator is that good.....or that fast. Bull****. Larry W4CSC -- If you have an HF receiver and a Windows PC, download Winwarbler from: http://www.dxlabsuite.com/winwarbler/ Plug your receiver's headphone audio output into your computer sound card's mic or line in jack so the sound card can listen to the radio. Tune the receiver to LSB on 14.070 Mhz and leave it there. The sideband receiver's bandwidth is around 4Khz, the full width of the 20 meter PSK band. Every tiny pair of faint lines running down that display are SEPARATE stations chatting away on PSK31 or 63. Click one of the three Winwarbler windows to highlight and switch to that window. Then, click your mouse over the center of one of the little tracks, no matter how faint. Repeat this with the other two channels of Winwarbler on different stations across the display, ever so slightly a few hertz apart in frequency. All three stations will print SIMULTANEOUSLY as they are typing. This technology was invented BY HAMS, FOR HAMS, to replace quirky, pulsating commercial nonsense. PSK stations typically run only 10 watts, not kilowatts, to reduce interference between each other caused by intermodulation distortion in the transmitters and overloading of the receivers listening worldwide. We can run the power up to 1500W PEP, but that's never necessary or wanted, jamming the narrow bandwidth it uses. It's simply AMAZING how far DOWN you can turn your power output on PSK and still carry on a full text conversation with someone on the other side of this planet. 80 milliwatts to New Zealand, both ways....simply amazing. Download and install WinWarbler. It's free. Give it a listen while you're bored to tears sitting becalmed and fed up doing boatwork. |
Radio Check! Radio Check!
On Mon, 08 Oct 2007 18:33:01 +0000, Larry wrote:
Makes test taking real easy. You can learn about ham radio and electronics later, after you get on the air with your new license. The object is to get the LICENSE, not become an electronic technician or professional radio operator. Once you adjust to this thinking, getting any ham license is real easy, now that the "Code Test Punishment" is over. Exactly why it's all glorified CB now. What a bunch of (as my Grandfather used to say in polite company) bullfeathers. Learn electronics later - jeezum pete. Oh, and do be sure to join the ARRL so they can keep their pensions intact. |
Radio Check! Radio Check!
"Short Wave Sportfishing" wrote in message ... On Mon, 08 Oct 2007 18:33:01 +0000, Larry wrote: Makes test taking real easy. You can learn about ham radio and electronics later, after you get on the air with your new license. The object is to get the LICENSE, not become an electronic technician or professional radio operator. Once you adjust to this thinking, getting any ham license is real easy, now that the "Code Test Punishment" is over. Exactly why it's all glorified CB now. What a bunch of (as my Grandfather used to say in polite company) bullfeathers. Learn electronics later - jeezum pete. Oh, and do be sure to join the ARRL so they can keep their pensions intact. What was the name of the book series that always pushed the ARRL? Scifi, where the guy ended up on an alien planet. |
Radio Check! Radio Check!
On Mon, 8 Oct 2007 15:04:36 -0700, "Calif Bill"
wrote: "Short Wave Sportfishing" wrote in message .. . On Mon, 08 Oct 2007 18:33:01 +0000, Larry wrote: Makes test taking real easy. You can learn about ham radio and electronics later, after you get on the air with your new license. The object is to get the LICENSE, not become an electronic technician or professional radio operator. Once you adjust to this thinking, getting any ham license is real easy, now that the "Code Test Punishment" is over. Exactly why it's all glorified CB now. What a bunch of (as my Grandfather used to say in polite company) bullfeathers. Learn electronics later - jeezum pete. Oh, and do be sure to join the ARRL so they can keep their pensions intact. What was the name of the book series that always pushed the ARRL? Scifi, where the guy ended up on an alien planet. Well, there was the Radio Boys mysteries of the early 30/40s. Juvenile adventures. And of course the Hardy Boys did one involving radio. There was a series from the early 60's but for some reason I can't find the name of the series. And recently Cynthia Wall, KA7ITT wrote a series of youth books about amateur radio. There was a Star Trek:TNG episode about amateur radio - Episode 41: Pen Pals. Intersting bit of trivia: Several of the Star Trek: TOS and TNG writers and producers were hams and incorporated Morse code into a lot of the episodes as "easter eggs" for hams to decipher. Probably the most famous was the flashing lights on TNG that broadcast "Shatner is bald". :) Can't remember which episode that was. |
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