As *some* of you know, I build and sell the Carolina Cyclone line of
screwdriver antennas. Sometimes I run
into some "doosies". I don't (normally) do installs because
they are more trouble than they are worth. But.......I was
recently persuaded to install a "used" screwdriver in trade
for an Icom 735 transceiver. Hmmmm, I needed a base
rig, so..........................I reluctantly agreed. I spent the better of
a day drilling holes, chasing cables, and, finally,
checking everything to assure that it worked. We put up our tools and the
customer (ham) left and shortly checked into a net. I had a very nice IC735
for my trouble. Couple days later, his signal was almost non-existant, and
he was not too responsive to my efforts to troubleshoot
the problem from a distance (100 miles to his QTH). It seemed that he
blamed ME for his trouble (which often happens when non-experienced hams buy
antennas) and
wanted me to drive to ********, NC to fix his antenna.
Upon my arrival, to show him that the antenna was not at
fault, I put the screwdriver on my pickup and it resonated
FB. Put it on his, it received but the SWR was WAY off.
I performed several checks, including criticizing a PL 259
he had changed, nothing. As I inspected another thing,
he piped up, "Um, would this jack cause trouble?"

What? Jack? What jack.

"Uh, the one that I left loose; it fell over on the wall of the
van". It was touching against (barely) the inside of the ball
mount and creating an intermittent short. As the van hit bumps, the jack
would vibrate and alternately short, alternately not. Once we got it out of
the way, the antenna was fine. (I remember asking him in the beginning
to take it to the Chrysler place and remount the jack, but he hadn't got
round to it). This "fixed" it. He checked into a net loud and clear. One
hour's work, and 4 hours driving..all for lunch and gas money. Point? Now
you know why I don't do installs! If I did, I would be trouble-
shooting and working 12 hour days for hams that have no
idea what they are doing.

What does it have to do with no code? Not much, except to say that it seems
to me that we dread to do anything that we deem to be drudgery, only want to
yak yak on a radio. We memorize answers, learn formulas, then forget about
them once we get that little
paper in our hand; the books go onto the bookshelf never
to be seen again (until the next yard sale). The key is LEARNING at least
some of what we have studied (?)
whether it be code or the formula for a radiowave in
free space. It is a form of discipline. Maybe code isn't
necessary anymore, but I do wonder what will be next
to go. Will we one day take a pill to memorize the questions/answers because
we no long want to do ANY-
thing to learn what we are doing? Will learning become
obsolete?

We all have to start somewhere, and I am willing to help
in any way I can, but the ones that burn me up are the ones who expect
someone else to do it all and just refuse to learn anything. Then assume
that a problem is the fault of someone else.

Learning CW is not a matter of "I did it, so should you". It is somewhat
like licking a tart-tasting lollipop to get down to the more enticing
center--the meat of the thing. Doing
CW was, for me, a price I had to pay to get down to the
sweet center. Then, along the way, I found out that I
LIKED that sucker, and the outer candy was as sweet, or sweeter, than the
center!

So when I see people "diss" code, and then, in turn, have to go help someone
who "won't" try to help themselves,
it just makes me wonder................

73

Jerry
K4KWH

Sometimes I run
into some "doosies".
I was
recently persuaded to install a "used" screwdriver in trade
for an Icom 735 transceiver.
It seemed that he
blamed ME for his trouble (which often happens when non-experienced hams buy
antennas)
"Uh, the one that I left loose; it fell over on the wall of the van".
What does it have to do with no code?

Absolutely nothing. Stereotyping only irritates people. Was the person who
purchased the antenna a technician class licensee? I doubt it, as the
screwdriver is an HF antenna. What was he.... General, Advanced or Extra?
THERE is where you should concentrate your comments...on those who HAVE gained
some level of license and yet can't even figure out a dipole or simple install.
Best RF engineer I know is a tech class licensee. Disciplined? He's got 2
advanced degrees..he's working on CW also to upgrade, but his time is limited.
I know a Tech who has fixed several installs for Extras and Advanced class
licensees...OTs who have been licensed for years.

I know this is useless trying to explain this...but if you try to shove
something down one's throat they will most likely resent the action.
Denigration only makes the denigrator look foolish. First rule of
sales...make it appealing. Not sugar coated, not "dumbed down." Make it
appealing, a challenge! "See ya on CW"

Most of the "I had to do it, you've got to or you're stupid" comments show how
the commentator actually resented that he had it shoved down HIS throat. Psych
101. Jerry, you've made good comments, just targeted the wrong attitude. Most
(but obviously not all) Tech class licensees would probably want to upgrade,
but some of the vocal minority who snub and insult Techs basically are just
looking to start a fight. I liked your comment ref. working at CW....once
again, make it a CHALLENGE....don't use it as a bludgeon. And don't
stereotype!

A

Hi Jerry

It seems like your comparing apples to oranges in your post!

But I would like to make a comment about your observation on learning
and retaining information.

I was a not to shabby chip level service technician for a moderately
large entertainment company for several years. Although the
technology advances so fast and quarterly seminars must be attended to
keep up, basic electronic theory virtually never changes.

I had to take off work due to an illness in the family, unfortunately
this illness lingered for a few years.
Being his ace tech, the boss had the doors wide open for me to return
to work any time I needed my job back.
Well, the day came that I decided to go back to work. But it was
futile, not the new technology currently in use, I couldn't even fix a
simple analog power supply.
Sometime during that short span off work, I completely lost it. Not
just the technical, but the most simplistic of everyday electronic
repair tasks.
There is something to the phrase 'use it or lose it' that really hit
home with me!

TTUL
Gary

You took a story about a lazy SOB of at least general class and turned it
into a pro code rant. So, the obvious conclusion from this would be that the
more code you know, the stupider you get. Was that your point?


"Jerry" wrote in message
...
As *some* of you know, I build and sell the Carolina Cyclone line of
screwdriver antennas. Sometimes I run
into some "doosies". I don't (normally) do installs because
they are more trouble than they are worth. But.......I was

It was hardly a rant. I agree that he stretched to make the connection with
code, but the point was quite clear. The major premise (and, I am NOT
commenting pro or con on this) is simply that learning code is an exercise
in discipline. The minor premise is that discipline is a Good Thing for
Hams.

I'd love to get a Car. Cyclone, but need someone to install it for me. Since
Jerry seems against doing that ... grin

Paul AB0SI


"CW" wrote in message
news:u%yob.55978$9E1.247721@attbi_s52...
You took a story about a lazy SOB of at least general class and turned it
into a pro code rant. So, the obvious conclusion from this would be that
the
more code you know, the stupider you get. Was that your point?


"Jerry" wrote in message
...
As *some* of you know, I build and sell the Carolina Cyclone line of
screwdriver antennas. Sometimes I run
into some "doosies". I don't (normally) do installs because
they are more trouble than they are worth. But.......I was

On Fri, 31 Oct 2003 19:47:38 GMT, "CW"
wrote:

First...To clarify, I don't care if some one has to learn the code to
get on the air or not. Nor do I care if it's a qualification, but...
I do see it as many things are going today, where people want more for
less.

You took a story about a lazy SOB of at least general class and turned it
into a pro code rant. So, the obvious conclusion from this would be that the
more code you know, the stupider you get. Was that your point?

How could you come to that conclusion. Unless the ham in question had
been licensed for a while at most he'd have had to do was 5 wpm.

Learning has absolutely nothing to do with character.
As the old saying goes, "Send a jackass to college and what do you
get? An educated Jackass".

The amateur radio *service* (defined as a service by the FCC) has a
place for the technically oriented, the mechanically oriented, and the
"communicator". Each can be an asset to the service and often a
person proficient in one may not be proficient in one of, or any of
the others.

For instance, I can weld, I've built my own transmitter, amps, and
antennas in the past. I'm fairly proficient with a lathe and milling
machine. I'm a pilot with over 1300 hours total and over a 1000 in
high performance, complex retracts and I'm instrument rated. I
installed my current antenna system,
http://www.rogerhalstead.com/tower.htm and I still do my own tower
climbing. I quite work at age 47 and went back to college to get a
degree in Computer Science... And yes I have the Extra with 20 WPM
passed, BUT with all that I can't saw a board in two and get it back
together straight.

Personally I see about as much connection with the CW and technical
ability as I do with my degree, or Extra class license and my
inability to get that board back together straight. Rather I see a
symptom of society today where people want and expect more, but expect
to exert less effort to get it.

Even if the licensing structure were changed to require every one to
pass the CW test at some arbitrary speed, it would not change the
character of those people one bit. With or without CW the individual
is going to have the same character traits before and after the test.

Some of the worst offenders on the bands are Extras. I think they
expected some kind of recognition for reaching the goal and when they
didn't receive it, they demanded attention in the only way they knew
how. They never realized the

Some individuals are success oriented (always setting new goals and do
things for the sake of doing them), some are object oriented (working
to acquire more toys), and some are recognition oriented ( do things
for public recognition). That list is in descending order when it
comes to desirable character traits. There are other character
traits, both desirable and undesirable, but the CW requirement is not
going to change them either. To some CW is seen as a challenge, to
some a chore, and to some it is to be avoided.

Just as music is often first learned mechanically, with practice it
becomes automatic. You see the note(s) and your fingers automatically
press the right key, or pick and hold the right string. So too in
flying. You practice until muscle memory takes over, or with ice
skating, or typing. I don't have to think where my fingers are going
while I type this. I don't have to think about an A being didah, or
a B as dadididit. When writhing it down you have to learn how to
spell as you hear word sounds, not individual letters.

So too as in music, skating, or flying, not everyone has the
capability, or coordination to master the art. That the art is only a
portion of the whole should not keep them out. OTOH if the inability
is due to lack of ambition....forcing them to memorize the code is not
going to miraculously turn them into the epitome of ambition either.

A certain percent of the population is going to be blessed (or cursed)
with any specific character trait. With or without CW a percent of
those are going to end up in our ranks. They always have and most
likely will continue to do so.

OTOH, as the Extra is mainly a prestige license any way, I'd like to
see them put the speed for the Extra back up to 20 WPM. :-))
After all, I had to do it so why not them :-))

'Roger Halstead (K8RI EN73 & ARRL Life Member)
www.rogerhalstead.com
N833R World's oldest Debonair? (S# CD-2)


"Jerry" wrote in message
. ..
As *some* of you know, I build and sell the Carolina Cyclone line of
screwdriver antennas. Sometimes I run
into some "doosies". I don't (normally) do installs because
they are more trouble than they are worth. But.......I was

" wrote in message
news:LFzob.72858$e01.251495@attbi_s02...
It was hardly a rant. I agree that he stretched to make the connection
with
code, but the point was quite clear. The major premise (and, I am NOT
commenting pro or con on this) is simply that learning code is an exercise
in discipline. The minor premise is that discipline is a Good Thing for
Hams.

I'd love to get a Car. Cyclone, but need someone to install it for me.
Since
Jerry seems against doing that ... grin

Paul AB0SI

It'd be a bit far from NC to "0* land, don't ya think.

Usually I don't do installs for the reasons stated. It has gotten so that
the "learning" part of ham radio has become
more memorize-the-answers-so-I-can-pass-the-test than
REALLY learning something about what is going on.
Incidently, the antennas come with clear instructions how to install and
maintain them.

Cheers :-)

Jerry


"CW" wrote in message
news:u%yob.55978$9E1.247721@attbi_s52...
You took a story about a lazy SOB of at least general class and turned
it
into a pro code rant. So, the obvious conclusion from this would be that
the
more code you know, the stupider you get. Was that your point?


"Jerry" wrote in message
...
As *some* of you know, I build and sell the Carolina Cyclone line of
screwdriver antennas. Sometimes I run
into some "doosies". I don't (normally) do installs because
they are more trouble than they are worth. But.......I was

Time to drag out the Florescent PAINT FOR ANTENNAS, again!! Worked well for
CB! (at least for a SELLING POINT !), and could sell TONS now to the no
codes!! Reason? Well, when you hold a neon lamp to a antenna, while
xmitting, and you see the PURPLE COLOR--, If you could SEE the RADIO WAVE ,
that is the COLOR IT WOULD BE! , So, paint your antenna with MY RF
ENHANCEING, Purple Florescent paint, and watch your RADIATION from your
antenna improve, exponentially!! :) Jim NN7K




"Roger Halstead" wrote in message
...
On Fri, 31 Oct 2003 19:47:38 GMT, "CW"
wrote:

First...To clarify, I don't care if some one has to learn the code to
get on the air or not. Nor do I care if it's a qualification, but...
I do see it as many things are going today, where people want more for
less.

And another idiot gets plonked.


"Jim" wrote in message
...
Time to drag out the Florescent PAINT FOR ANTENNAS, again!! Worked well
for
CB! (at least for a SELLING POINT !), and could sell TONS now to the no
codes!! Reason? Well, when you hold a neon lamp to a antenna, while
xmitting, and you see the PURPLE COLOR--, If you could SEE the RADIO WAVE
,
that is the COLOR IT WOULD BE! , So, paint your antenna with MY RF
ENHANCEING, Purple Florescent paint, and watch your RADIATION from your
antenna improve, exponentially!! :) Jim NN7K




"Roger Halstead" wrote in message
...
On Fri, 31 Oct 2003 19:47:38 GMT, "CW"
wrote:

First...To clarify, I don't care if some one has to learn the code to
get on the air or not. Nor do I care if it's a qualification, but...
I do see it as many things are going today, where people want more for
less.