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#21
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Mel A. Nomah wrote:
"Jeffrey Herman" wrote : : * We purposely operate using as little power as possible (QRP), they don't : * We have antenna measuring contests with home-built antennas, they don't : * We conduct emergency comms when other services are down, they're down : * We don't have to operate on pre-assigned frequencies, they do : * We have on-the-air contests (lots of them), they can't : * We can vary our power from 0 to 2KW, they can't : * We exchange post cards after a QSO, they don't : * We're frequency-agile with a VFO, they aren't : * We have swapmeets ("ham fests"), they don't : * We can build our own equipment, they can't : * We operate for the fun of it, they don't : * We have radio club meetings, they don't : * We can ragchew for hours, they can't : * We can operate at will, they can't : * We go on DXpeditions, they don't : * We're licensed, you're not : With the exception of the first and the last item, everything you list can also be claimed by freebanders as part of their hobby. Do the math, chief lecturer, 14-out-of-16 ain't too shabby. Right, the Freebanders can just substitute: * We're criminals, you're not. - Mike KB3EIA - |
#23
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In article , Mike Coslo
writes: Len Over 21 wrote: In article , Mike Coslo writes: So...now you've got this "instant gratification" thing going again? Yes sir! Just like you have your thing going again. My "thing" has been "going" all the while...no problems. :-) Okay, good enough. "Good enough?" :-) So has this ridiculous "necessity" of amateur radio to pass a morse test in order to "qualify" for HF privileges for over a half century. A mere 51 years I did not even have to pass any special test to operate an HF transmitter outputting more power than any ham is supposed to have (in 1953 that was 15 KW from the old Press Wireless transmitters, went to 40 KW with the Collins rigs of 1955). No morse test needed. Didn't even have the MOS for Fixed Station Transmitters, was MOS for microwave radio relay. Did you just walk in off the street and operate the transmitters with no instruction, training, or supervision? There were no "streets" on Tsukishima Island in Tokyo in the 1950s. Those were eventually put in when both the USA and USAF vacated the island by the 1960s. We didn't "walk in" either since the billet was a half hour shuttle bus trip from the transmitter station prior to assignment. Seven months of Signal School were completed in Fort Monmouth...but that was only on very basics of HF receivers-transmitters since the majority of that MOS's school was on microwave radio relay and most of those were using pulse code modulation (principally pulse-position modulation). The intended microwave radio relay system hadn't arrived yet and would not be there until the next year...and the only schooling we got was a super-condensed two-week formal course taught by the two General Electric field engineers stuck in their civilian assignment. [Army Signal Office didn't give the commercial GE equipment a military designation until 1955] The Korean War had interrupted a few more permanent installation intentions and this was one of them. When IN the military, one does what one is told to do. Period. You either know your basics or you don't. If you don't you get re-assigned and the re-assignment is not negotiable. So, us microwave types got less than a one day of informal instruction, some real hands-on training by the NCOIC (Non-Commissioned Officer In Charge) and left the rest up to the "trick chief" (team supervisor, usually E-5, and there were four teams on a rotating schedule). Gene Rosenbaum, N2JTV, was assigned there about a month before I was and assigned to another team, same duties. There really isn't a lot of smarts necessary to tune up a 1940s era transmitter, whether 1 KW or 15 KW. All the finals were tube type and it was "dip the plate, peak the grid" kind of thing after peaking the driver stages. Always, always, always remember to neutralize that final...all of which seemed to be push-pull power triode things. We had an 833 bottle on a stand at the central control console where failure to neutralize on a QSY caused plate overheating which in turn softened the glass envelope until air pushed in and caused all the overload relay and breakers in that transmitter to trip. Radio circuit went dead and such outage is a definite NO-NO when the assignment is to maintain communications 24/7. Transmitters, per se, were not the complicated things to operate besides being 7 feet tall with lethal voltages inside. The FSK exciters for the RTTY radio circuits needed to be fine-tuned even though they had quartz crystal control. That proceedure needed the distant receiver site to tune up on the carrier and send a zero beat over the telephone circuit, then apply Fox Test keying and adjust the "spread" or Space frequency for as close to 850 cycles as possible (carrier zero beat was on Mark frequency) using an ears-only audio beat with a standard 850 cycle loudspeaker tone. Receivers frequency standards would then measure everything again and put it on the order-wire (dedicated TTY loop) shared with us and Control. If Control liked the numbers, they would remove the Fox Test and put "traffic" on it...if not, they would ask all to do it again. We rarely repeated anything. Each team would do anywhere from 6 to 12 QSYs per shift (approximate) on the RTTY circuits. We also had preset-tuned SSB transmitters which QSYed in a minute, replacing the most cranky of SSB stuff designed before WW2. A full QSY, from order-wire notification to frequency standards okay, took 3 to 4 minutes with RTTY. At the Tuskushima Island site, primary AC power depended on commercial Japanese 50-cycle input. That tended to be erratic and at least one power outage happened each week. When that happened, the single power man in the diesel generator wing had to get at least 350 KWe supplied and the team on duty had to check out every single "up" transmitter all over again. Frequency standards went into a tizzy because they had to check out every single frequency to make sure it was where it was supposed to be. That meant an average of 30 different radio circuits with 30 different carriers and different modulations. Control had to hop and tell the torn tape relay crew to reset all the p-tapes on the transmitting distributors...which involved at least a 100 different TTY p-tape machines. A mere 5-minute outage would result in losing over two hours total traffic capability. NOT good...but we didn't get chewed for something not our fault. The newer Kashiwa site had its own 600 KWe generators and we were spared those damn power outages. NONE of what I described was taught in Signal School, not even for Field Radio MOSs (which required morsemanship ability even if it wasn't used in the field in Korea). It could all be "taught" by laying hands on the working equipment and doing it like the sergeants described how to do it. If anyone knew more than basics of electronics/radio, they got up- graded, perhaps transferred to the VHF and UHF radio relay which used frequency-multiplexed audio handling 4 voice channels per radio circuit. None of that was taught to microwave MOSs so we learned how on-the-job, verbally and by the TMs (Technical Manuals) which were excellent then on giving theory of How Things Work from a practical operations perspaective. Those of us who kept our minds open, willing to learn, had a wonderful opportunity to see how the Big Time in communications of the 1950s operated and stayed operating. When the TTY traffic is 220,000 messages a month, it IS the big time...and the station I was assigned to was only the 3rd largest in the Army Command and Administrative Network (ACAN). No, we didn't just "walk in from the street" and start in. We were told what to do by those who actually did it, and most of those would explain more detail and theory if one really showed an interest. After three years on that assignment I had a wonderful crash course in real HF radio plus the beginning of microwaves and wound up an E-5 doing some of the explaining of procedure and theory behind it all. Wouldn't have missed it for the world, even with the threat of WW3 hanging around for everyone to get nervous about. But, in 2004, U.S. radio amateurs MUST still pass a morse test to "qualify" for operating an amateur radio transmitter on HF. No other radio service (other than certain Maritime radio services) require morsemanship testing. Yes, that is pretty much the case. WHY is that? There's no real reason for keeping that old test in there. All that morse test satisfies is the egos of the olde-tyme hammes who will never have to take another morse test in their lives (if they renew on-time). THEY had to do it so everyone else MUST do so. Ptui. My whole point is that if you want to be a Ham with HF access at this time, that is a hoop you have to jump through. Fine. Be a lemming or sheep. I'm just advocating a change in the radio regulations. Without any personal needs, desires, or ego. I don't need any Titles or Status or a bunch of alphanumerics to "sign behind or in front of my name. Been there, done that a long time ago, and a little while ago (early this year), all without any legal requirement to pass some morse test. If that morse test is so absolutely "needed," then the definition of the ARS should be changed in Part 97 to "Archaic Radiotelegraphy Service" for the USA. No need to fixate on the Morse code test. Then why DO you? Why do you wish to CONTROL newcomers by keeping that morse test? Folks will think you have a Hoop Holder complex, somebody trying to be a guru or knowitall about "radio." If someone LIKES morse code operations, fine say I let them do their thing. But, to keep on enforcing an antiquated regulation necessity about taking a morse test is, to me, downright stupid. There's lots more to amateur radio than trying to recreate the 1920s and 1930s "pioneering days" by keeping old, out-of-date tests. Happy New Year on this last day of the 4th year into the new millennium... |
#24
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![]() Lenof21 wrote: In article , Mike Coslo writes: Len Over 21 wrote: In article , Mike Coslo writes: So...now you've got this "instant gratification" thing going again? Yes sir! Just like you have your thing going again. My "thing" has been "going" all the while...no problems. :-) Okay, good enough. "Good enough?" :-) Good enough, indeed! I wonder what Mikes "war" contributions were? So has this ridiculous "necessity" of amateur radio to pass a morse test in order to "qualify" for HF privileges for over a half century. A mere 51 years I did not even have to pass any special test to operate an HF transmitter outputting more power than any ham is supposed to have (in 1953 that was 15 KW from the old Press Wireless transmitters, went to 40 KW with the Collins rigs of 1955). No morse test needed. Didn't even have the MOS for Fixed Station Transmitters, was MOS for microwave radio relay. Did you just walk in off the street and operate the transmitters with no instruction, training, or supervision? There were no "streets" on Tsukishima Island in Tokyo in the 1950s. Those were eventually put in when both the USA and USAF vacated the island by the 1960s. Damned USAF. Always trying to find a civilized way to do sumptin. We didn't "walk in" either since the billet was a half hour shuttle bus trip from the transmitter station prior to assignment. Shush! We'll have none of this no point A, point B nonsense. Transmitting sites are always wherever you happen to be. Seven months of Signal School were completed in Fort Monmouth...but that was only on very basics of HF receivers-transmitters since the majority of that MOS's school was on microwave radio relay and most of those were using pulse code modulation (principally pulse-position modulation). Len, dammit, none of this pulse crappola. It was either CW or it was RTTY. Doan confuse us widda facts. The intended microwave radio relay system hadn't arrived yet and would not be there until the next year...and the only schooling we got was a super-condensed two-week formal course taught by the two General Electric field engineers stuck in their civilian assignment. [Army Signal Office didn't give the commercial GE equipment a military designation until 1955] The Korean War had interrupted a few more permanent installation intentions and this was one of them. When IN the military, one does what one is told to do. Period. You either know your basics or you don't. If you don't you get re-assigned and the re-assignment is not negotiable. So, us microwave types got less than a one day of informal instruction, some real hands-on training by the NCOIC (Non-Commissioned Officer In Charge) and left the rest up to the "trick chief" (team supervisor, usually E-5, and there were four teams on a rotating schedule). Gene Rosenbaum, N2JTV, was assigned there about a month before I was and assigned to another team, same duties. There really isn't a lot of smarts necessary to tune up a 1940s era transmitter, whether 1 KW or 15 KW. All the finals were tube type and it was "dip the plate, peak the grid" kind of thing after peaking the driver stages. Always, always, always remember to neutralize that final...all of which seemed to be push-pull power triode things. We had an 833 bottle on a stand at the central control console where failure to neutralize on a QSY caused plate overheating which in turn softened the glass envelope until air pushed in and caused all the overload relay and breakers in that transmitter to trip. Radio circuit went dead and such outage is a definite NO-NO when the assignment is to maintain communications 24/7. Transmitters, per se, were not the complicated things to operate besides being 7 feet tall with lethal voltages inside. The FSK exciters for the RTTY radio circuits needed to be fine-tuned even though they had quartz crystal control. That proceedure needed the distant receiver site to tune up on the carrier and send a zero beat over the telephone circuit, then apply Fox Test keying and adjust the "spread" or Space frequency for as close to 850 cycles as possible (carrier zero beat was on Mark frequency) using an ears-only audio beat with a standard 850 cycle loudspeaker tone. Receivers frequency standards would then measure everything again and put it on the order-wire (dedicated TTY loop) shared with us and Control. If Control liked the numbers, they would remove the Fox Test and put "traffic" on it...if not, they would ask all to do it again. We rarely repeated anything. Each team would do anywhere from 6 to 12 QSYs per shift (approximate) on the RTTY circuits. We also had preset-tuned SSB transmitters which QSYed in a minute, replacing the most cranky of SSB stuff designed before WW2. A full QSY, from order-wire notification to frequency standards okay, took 3 to 4 minutes with RTTY. At the Tuskushima Island site, primary AC power depended on commercial Japanese 50-cycle input. That tended to be erratic and at least one power outage happened each week. When that happened, the single power man in the diesel generator wing had to get at least 350 KWe supplied and the team on duty had to check out every single "up" transmitter all over again. Frequency standards went into a tizzy because they had to check out every single frequency to make sure it was where it was supposed to be. That meant an average of 30 different radio circuits with 30 different carriers and different modulations. Control had to hop and tell the torn tape relay crew to reset all the p-tapes on the transmitting distributors...which involved at least a 100 different TTY p-tape machines. A mere 5-minute outage would result in losing over two hours total traffic capability. NOT good...but we didn't get chewed for something not our fault. The newer Kashiwa site had its own 600 KWe generators and we were spared those damn power outages. NONE of what I described was taught in Signal School, not even for Field Radio MOSs (which required morsemanship ability even if it wasn't used in the field in Korea). It could all be "taught" by laying hands on the working equipment and doing it like the sergeants described how to do it. If anyone knew more than basics of electronics/radio, they got up- graded, perhaps transferred to the VHF and UHF radio relay which used frequency-multiplexed audio handling 4 voice channels per radio circuit. None of that was taught to microwave MOSs so we learned how on-the-job, verbally and by the TMs (Technical Manuals) which were excellent then on giving theory of How Things Work from a practical operations perspaective. Those of us who kept our minds open, willing to learn, had a wonderful opportunity to see how the Big Time in communications of the 1950s operated and stayed operating. When the TTY traffic is 220,000 messages a month, it IS the big time...and the station I was assigned to was only the 3rd largest in the Army Command and Administrative Network (ACAN). No, we didn't just "walk in from the street" and start in. We were told what to do by those who actually did it, and most of those would explain more detail and theory if one really showed an interest. After three years on that assignment I had a wonderful crash course in real HF radio plus the beginning of microwaves and wound up an E-5 doing some of the explaining of procedure and theory behind it all. Wouldn't have missed it for the world, even with the threat of WW3 hanging around for everyone to get nervous about. Stoppit, dammit, stoppit!!! I'm just sick and tired of you tellin' it like it was. The truth doan count for sh*t aroun here anyways! Now if you have a magazine like QST to relate real radio stories, well then there might be sum dat lissen. Guys like Jimmy Who dat doan know sh*t about real commitment, real sacrifice. Only know about ENG101 and if the government loans are going through. Forget about Fuchu and DaNang. They gots more important tings to do so dey can tell us about how it really was. But, in 2004, U.S. radio amateurs MUST still pass a morse test to "qualify" for operating an amateur radio transmitter on HF. Sadly true. Gotta makesure you not Taliban. No other radio service (other than certain Maritime radio services) require morsemanship testing. Yes, that is pretty much the case. Taliban welcome to FAA license. WHY is that? There's no real reason for keeping that old test in there. All that morse test satisfies is the egos of the olde-tyme hammes who will never have to take another morse test in their lives (if they renew on-time). THEY had to do it so everyone else MUST do so. Ptui. Hey, Mister!!! If the Taliban can master the Morris Code, so can you. Only then are you worthy to wageth war on the hypocphyphal. My whole point is that if you want to be a Ham with HF access at this time, that is a hoop you have to jump through. Wonder if our Twin-Trade Tower Terrs were accomplished codesters? Fine. Be a lemming or sheep. I'm just advocating a change in the radio regulations. Without any personal needs, desires, or ego. I don't need any Titles or Status or a bunch of alphanumerics to "sign behind or in front of my name. Been there, done that a long time ago, and a little while ago (early this year), all without any legal requirement to pass some morse test. If that morse test is so absolutely "needed," then the definition of the ARS should be changed in Part 97 to "Archaic Radiotelegraphy Service" for the USA. Thot it was the Ars? No need to fixate on the Morse code test. Then why DO you? indeed? Why do you wish to CONTROL newcomers by keeping that morse test? Folks will think you have a Hoop Holder complex, somebody trying to be a guru or knowitall about "radio." If someone LIKES morse code operations, fine say I let them do their thing. But, to keep on enforcing an antiquated regulation necessity about taking a morse test is, to me, downright stupid. There's lots more to amateur radio than trying to recreate the 1920s and 1930s "pioneering days" by keeping old, out-of-date tests. Happy New Year on this last day of the 4th year into the new millennium... On this last day of the 4th year of the new millenium, I can only add, "didit!" All of the rest of amateur radio should be embarassed. bb/N0iMD |
#25
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![]() Jeffrey Herman wrote: Len Over 21 wrote: But, in 2004, U.S. radio amateurs MUST still pass a morse test to "qualify" for operating an amateur radio transmitter on HF. No other radio service (other than certain Maritime radio services) require morsemanship testing. Since you opened the door, let's do some further comparisons of the ARS to other services: * We purposely operate using as little power as possible (QRP), they don't Wonder where the sales figures are WRT amplifiers? * We have antenna measuring contests with home-built antennas, they don't Name the last antenna measuring conest that you were at? * We conduct emergency comms when other services are down, they're down Name the last commercially comms that were down that you stood in for. * We don't have to operate on pre-assigned frequencies, they do Absolutely no one has to operate on any designated frequency when an emergency is taking place. Thought you were a ham an knew that. * We have on-the-air contests (lots of them), they can't BFD * We can vary our power from 0 to 2KW, they can't No we can't. * We exchange post cards after a QSO, they don't They could. * We're frequency-agile with a VFO, they aren't You assume too much. Way too much. * We have swapmeets ("ham fests"), they don't They swap yachts. You swap mailboxes so's you can collect sall signs. Idiot. * We can build our own equipment, they can't Why can't they? * We operate for the fun of it, they don't Liar. * We have radio club meetings, they don't Liar. * We can ragchew for hours, they can't Liar. * We can operate at will, they can't Liar. * We go on DXpeditions, they don't Liar. * We're licensed, you're not Liar. No 73 for you, Jeff KH6O -- Chief Petty Officer, U.S. Coast Guard Mathematics Lecturer, University of Hawaii System CPO MailBoxIdiot is our first line of defense? God help us. |
#26
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liar
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#27
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![]() Mel A. Nomah wrote: "Jeffrey Herman" wrote : : * We purposely operate using as little power as possible (QRP), they don't : * We have antenna measuring contests with home-built antennas, they don't : * We conduct emergency comms when other services are down, they're down : * We don't have to operate on pre-assigned frequencies, they do : * We have on-the-air contests (lots of them), they can't : * We can vary our power from 0 to 2KW, they can't : * We exchange post cards after a QSO, they don't : * We're frequency-agile with a VFO, they aren't : * We have swapmeets ("ham fests"), they don't : * We can build our own equipment, they can't : * We operate for the fun of it, they don't : * We have radio club meetings, they don't : * We can ragchew for hours, they can't : * We can operate at will, they can't : * We go on DXpeditions, they don't : * We're licensed, you're not : With the exception of the first and the last item, everything you list can also be claimed by freebanders as part of their hobby. Do the math, chief lecturer, 14-out-of-16 ain't too shabby. Jeff doan know the diff betw 14 and 16. Either age is legal for marryin where he's from. |
#28
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Steve, for whatever cosmic you and I have gotten along for the past
couple of weeks. But it isn't for the behavio[u]r that you've just exhibited. Is there any chance in hell that you and Len can find some common ground? Dances with Wolves and all that? Private email is good for this. Thanks, bb |
#29
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No it don't. And you ain't in the know.
Tnx for playin. bb |
#30
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In article , (Jeffrey Herman)
writes: Len Over 21 wrote: But, in 2004, U.S. radio amateurs MUST still pass a morse test to "qualify" for operating an amateur radio transmitter on HF. No other radio service (other than certain Maritime radio services) require morsemanship testing. Since you opened the door, let's do some further comparisons of the ARS to other services: * We purposely operate using as little power as possible (QRP), they don't Heh heh heh. Crock of something. All one has to do is listen to the HF bands during contests and observe the S-Meter readings. Tsk. The military has built-in "QRP" (equivalent) controls to HF through UHF transceivers and has done so since at least 1989. * We have antenna measuring contests with home-built antennas, they don't Most other radio services use already-measured antennas with professional installations plus more measurements after installations. No "contests" needed. :-) * We conduct emergency comms when other services are down, they're down Another crock. Tsk. You should see some of the urban emergency services' communications facilities, their training plans, listen to their on-air exercises and drills. Better yet, live through a real, live emergency and see how the entire network can operate with "work-arounds." Case in point: The 1994 Northridge Earthquake in Los Angeles where all the public safety and utility companies' were "netted" together to keep things going. The only thing "down" was buildings, poles, etc., but the emergency power was there and working...even though the primary AC power to 10 million was cut off for hours. * We don't have to operate on pre-assigned frequencies, they do Tsk. Ham repeaters "operate on pre-assigned frequencies." :-) * We have on-the-air contests (lots of them), they can't "They can't?!?" Why should "they?" * We can vary our power from 0 to 2KW, they can't Please, make a QSO with 0 KW RF output. I dare ya. :-) * We exchange post cards after a QSO, they don't Wow! [a big Ben Stein "wow..."] Post cards from the edge? :-) I know of no non-amateur radio licensee who has a "QSL Buro." * We're frequency-agile with a VFO, they aren't Not all of you. A few of you "own" a frequency. :-) * We have swapmeets ("ham fests"), they don't Non-ham licensees have NO NEED of "ham fests." :-) * We can build our own equipment, they can't Untrue, even in broadcasting service. Get details on studio electronics in broadcasting sometime. The major reason that there's so little "homebuilding" with other (non-ham) radio services is CO$T. Cheaper to buy ready-made than to homebrew. * We operate for the fun of it, they don't First thing you've written that is close to the truth... * We have radio club meetings, they don't WRONG. The very first radio club is the Radio Club of America, incorporated 1909 (five years before the ARRL and before every other local/national radio club here). RCA is still alive and meeting but they've gone away from amateurism. They have a website with lots of informative, historical data there. * We can ragchew for hours, they can't You don't listen to "Talk Radio" do you? :-) Tsk. Almost every radio service (other than broadcasting) has a form of "ragchewing," including the military. * We can operate at will, they can't As long as you don't operate ON Will, it's okay...unless you are an MD. You can operate WITH a Will if you are an attorney. :-) * We go on DXpeditions, they don't Cook and Magellan had amateur radio licenses? Columbus? Vasco de Gama? Hams "discover" the undiscovered country? I don't think so. * We're licensed, you're not WRONG! I have several licenses. :-) I just don't have an amateur radio license. I could show you my poetic license ability but then I'd have to bill you for services. :-) No 73 for you, Jeff KH6O Tsk. No "best regards?" Not even an "88?" :-) Lecture on those numbers, sweetums. Close your classroom door on the way out. Bye.... |
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