bb wrote:

Dan/W4NTI wrote:

"Dee Flint" wrote in message
...

I and the OM also worked some of the VHF contest and noticed a very
strange thing. Only 10% of the contacts that we made were Technician
operators. On the other hand, 80% of them were Extra class operators. So
where are all the Techs who are "trapped" in VHF and above because they
"can't" pass the code (as some would have us believe)?

Dee D. Flint, N8UZE


Hey Dee,

Good question actually. Perhaps they are part of the vast majority of hams
that are inactive.

More likely they are all "stuck" on FM and have not a clue what else is
going on with V/Uhf. What a shame.

Dan/W4NTI


Ah, yes. The Shameful, Clueless Techs. With attitudes like yours,
it's no wonder they don't hang around.

They'd have to come around in order to hang around.

Dave K8MN

bb wrote:

Dan/W4NTI wrote:

wrote in message
groups.com...

Dee Flint wrote:


I and the OM also worked some of the VHF contest and noticed a very
strange
thing. Only 10% of the contacts that we made were Technician operators.
On
the other hand, 80% of them were Extra class operators. So where are all
the Techs who are "trapped" in VHF and above because they "can't" pass
the
code (as some would have us believe)?

It's Techs being Techs again, they're too busy "advancing the state of
the art" to be bothered with learning the code and contesting.


Dee D. Flint, N8UZE

w3rv


BWAHHHHHHHHH....we both know the "Tech" license stopped being technical in
nature way back in the early 60s.


Dan, I've never seen you advocating "Truth in Licensing." Have you
said as much to the FCC in any of your NPRM comments?


And MOST VHF/UHF contesting is done in SSB mode.

Dan/W4NTI


If most of the VHF/UHF Contestors are Extra's as Dee says, why isn't CW
used most often?

It is used, "bb", but ops are attempting to maximize score by working
everyone, even those not using CW. I switch modes quite often during
the course of a VHF/UHF contest. During heavy aurora, CW works much
better than SSB. I'd have thought you'd have already known it.

Dave K8MN

"bb" wrote in message
oups.com...


Dee Flint wrote:

I and the OM also worked some of the VHF contest and noticed a very
strange
thing. Only 10% of the contacts that we made were Technician operators.
On
the other hand, 80% of them were Extra class operators. So where are all
the Techs who are "trapped" in VHF and above because they "can't" pass
the
code (as some would have us believe)?

Dee D. Flint, N8UZE

Dee, I'm going to guess (i.e., don't ask me for facts, figures,
substantive studies, reports from the FCC/ARRL, etc) that of the Techs
that have stayed in amateur radio, most have done so for the emergency
communications aspect of the service. As such, they would typically
stay on FM.

The ones who could learn Morse Code and have had to time to do so have
moved up. Those who didn't have the time or couldn't learn it have
moved on.


There are none who cannot learn the code. However there are those for whom
other activities can and should have priority on their time. However that
is no excuse for eliminating it as a test element since the same argument
can be applied to the theory.

Dee D. Flint, N8UZE

"bb" wrote in message
oups.com...


Dan/W4NTI wrote:
wrote in message
oups.com...

Dee Flint wrote:

I and the OM also worked some of the VHF contest and noticed a very
strange
thing. Only 10% of the contacts that we made were Technician
operators.
On
the other hand, 80% of them were Extra class operators. So where are
all
the Techs who are "trapped" in VHF and above because they "can't" pass
the
code (as some would have us believe)?

It's Techs being Techs again, they're too busy "advancing the state of
the art" to be bothered with learning the code and contesting.

Dee D. Flint, N8UZE

w3rv


BWAHHHHHHHHH....we both know the "Tech" license stopped being technical
in
nature way back in the early 60s.

Dan, I've never seen you advocating "Truth in Licensing." Have you
said as much to the FCC in any of your NPRM comments?

And MOST VHF/UHF contesting is done in SSB mode.

Dan/W4NTI

If most of the VHF/UHF Contestors are Extra's as Dee says, why isn't CW
used most often?


How do you know it wasn't/isn't? I worked a fair number of stations on CW
in that contest.

Dee D. Flint, N8UZE

"Dave Heil" wrote in message
ink.net...
bb wrote:

Dave Heil wrote:

Dee Flint wrote:

"Dan/W4NTI" wrote in message
rthlink.net...


[snip]



Why do I contest? To improve my score by improving my station and
myself.

Its as simple as that.

Have a good day

PS; I worked a bunch of sporadic skip yesterday on six meters in the
June
VHF contest.....with 8 watts and a 3 ele yagi at 20'.

It's all a matter of perspective.

Dan/W4NTI




I and the OM also worked some of the VHF contest and noticed a very
strange
thing. Only 10% of the contacts that we made were Technician operators.
On
the other hand, 80% of them were Extra class operators. So where are
all
the Techs who are "trapped" in VHF and above because they "can't" pass
the
code (as some would have us believe)?

Oh, they're still trapped on VHF, Dee. Most of 'em are so trapped that
they know only one mode--FM and do all of their operating via repeaters.

What a wunnerful attitude you have toward Techs, Oh Mighty DXer. And
people have to ask who chased away the Techs. I guess the only time
you would embrace a Tech is if he were calling you out of band on 6M.
Hi!

I don't embrace radio amateurs at all, "bb". A firm handshake is good
enough for me.

My attitude toward many of the current crop of new techs is one bathed
upon five years observation, since returning to the U.S. I haven't chased
them anywhere. In fact, it has been just the opposite. I've tried to
encourage them to use simplex on FM. I've tried to encourage them to try
6 meters along with 432 and 144 MHz SSB and CW. I can't be faulted that
they don't act after being encouraged. If these folks are, in fact
"trapped" in a world of 2m only FM repeater operation, they have fashioned
the trap themselves by not being more curious about the rest of VHF/UHF
amateur radio. There are avenues open to them but they aren't
participating.

Dave K8MN


I agree with you Dave, I and the OM (who is our local club's VHF/UHF SSB
guru) have worked hard at trying to get Techs involved with something other
than repeater FM. While we have had some modest success, it's only a small
percentage of the Techs who have jumped into these waters.

Dee D. Flint, N8UZE

"Dave Heil" wrote in message
ink.net...
bb wrote:

Dan/W4NTI wrote:

wrote in message
egroups.com...

Dee Flint wrote:


I and the OM also worked some of the VHF contest and noticed a very
strange
thing. Only 10% of the contacts that we made were Technician
operators.
On
the other hand, 80% of them were Extra class operators. So where are
all
the Techs who are "trapped" in VHF and above because they "can't" pass
the
code (as some would have us believe)?

It's Techs being Techs again, they're too busy "advancing the state of
the art" to be bothered with learning the code and contesting.


Dee D. Flint, N8UZE

w3rv


BWAHHHHHHHHH....we both know the "Tech" license stopped being technical
in
nature way back in the early 60s.


Dan, I've never seen you advocating "Truth in Licensing." Have you
said as much to the FCC in any of your NPRM comments?


And MOST VHF/UHF contesting is done in SSB mode.

Dan/W4NTI


If most of the VHF/UHF Contestors are Extra's as Dee says, why isn't CW
used most often?

It is used, "bb", but ops are attempting to maximize score by working
everyone, even those not using CW. I switch modes quite often during the
course of a VHF/UHF contest. During heavy aurora, CW works much better
than SSB. I'd have thought you'd have already known it.

Dave K8MN


In one case the other station wasn't hearing me through the pile up (SSB) so
I switched to CW and threw in the call sign. He immediately called for me
(in voice) so I switched back to voice to do the contact. Worked pretty
slick.

Dee D. Flint, N8UZE

Dee Flint wrote:
"bb" wrote in message
oups.com...


Dan/W4NTI wrote:
wrote in message
oups.com...

Dee Flint wrote:

I and the OM also worked some of the VHF contest and noticed a very
strange
thing. Only 10% of the contacts that we made were Technician
operators.
On
the other hand, 80% of them were Extra class operators. So where are
all
the Techs who are "trapped" in VHF and above because they "can't" pass
the
code (as some would have us believe)?

It's Techs being Techs again, they're too busy "advancing the state of
the art" to be bothered with learning the code and contesting.

Dee D. Flint, N8UZE

w3rv


BWAHHHHHHHHH....we both know the "Tech" license stopped being technical
in
nature way back in the early 60s.

Dan, I've never seen you advocating "Truth in Licensing." Have you
said as much to the FCC in any of your NPRM comments?

And MOST VHF/UHF contesting is done in SSB mode.

Dan/W4NTI

If most of the VHF/UHF Contestors are Extra's as Dee says, why isn't CW
used most often?


How do you know it wasn't/isn't? I worked a fair number of stations on CW
in that contest.

Dee D. Flint, N8UZE

I only know what you told us. Extra's working Extras on SSB.

Dave Heil wrote:
bb wrote:

Dan/W4NTI wrote:

wrote in message
groups.com...

Dee Flint wrote:


I and the OM also worked some of the VHF contest and noticed a very
strange
thing. Only 10% of the contacts that we made were Technician operators.
On
the other hand, 80% of them were Extra class operators. So where are all
the Techs who are "trapped" in VHF and above because they "can't" pass
the
code (as some would have us believe)?

It's Techs being Techs again, they're too busy "advancing the state of
the art" to be bothered with learning the code and contesting.


Dee D. Flint, N8UZE

w3rv


BWAHHHHHHHHH....we both know the "Tech" license stopped being technical in
nature way back in the early 60s.


Dan, I've never seen you advocating "Truth in Licensing." Have you
said as much to the FCC in any of your NPRM comments?


And MOST VHF/UHF contesting is done in SSB mode.

Dan/W4NTI


If most of the VHF/UHF Contestors are Extra's as Dee says, why isn't CW
used most often?

It is used, "bb", but ops are attempting to maximize score by working
everyone, even those not using CW. I switch modes quite often during
the course of a VHF/UHF contest. During heavy aurora, CW works much
better than SSB. I'd have thought you'd have already known it.

Dave K8MN

Dee made it sound like Extras were working Extras on SSB. I guess it
wasn't at all like Dee claimed.

Dee Flint wrote:
"bb" wrote in message
oups.com...


Dan/W4NTI wrote:
wrote in message
oups.com...

Dee Flint wrote:

I and the OM also worked some of the VHF contest and noticed a very
strange
thing. Only 10% of the contacts that we made were Technician
operators.
On
the other hand, 80% of them were Extra class operators. So where are
all
the Techs who are "trapped" in VHF and above because they "can't" pass
the
code (as some would have us believe)?

It's Techs being Techs again, they're too busy "advancing the state of
the art" to be bothered with learning the code and contesting.

Dee D. Flint, N8UZE

w3rv


BWAHHHHHHHHH....we both know the "Tech" license stopped being technical
in
nature way back in the early 60s.

Dan, I've never seen you advocating "Truth in Licensing." Have you
said as much to the FCC in any of your NPRM comments?

And MOST VHF/UHF contesting is done in SSB mode.

Dan/W4NTI

If most of the VHF/UHF Contestors are Extra's as Dee says, why isn't CW
used most often?


How do you know it wasn't/isn't? I worked a fair number of stations on CW
in that contest.

Dee D. Flint, N8UZE

Because Dan said, "And MOST VHF/UHF contesting is done in SSB mode."

Was Dan wrong?

You know, you and David Heil K8MN ought to let Dan answer the questions
that I asked of Dan instead of jumping in here and getting it wrong.

Best of Luck.

Dave Heil wrote:
bb wrote:

Dave Heil wrote:

Dee Flint wrote:

"Dan/W4NTI" wrote in message
thlink.net...


[snip]



Why do I contest? To improve my score by improving my station and myself.

Its as simple as that.

Have a good day

PS; I worked a bunch of sporadic skip yesterday on six meters in the June
VHF contest.....with 8 watts and a 3 ele yagi at 20'.

It's all a matter of perspective.

Dan/W4NTI




I and the OM also worked some of the VHF contest and noticed a very strange
thing. Only 10% of the contacts that we made were Technician operators. On
the other hand, 80% of them were Extra class operators. So where are all
the Techs who are "trapped" in VHF and above because they "can't" pass the
code (as some would have us believe)?

Oh, they're still trapped on VHF, Dee. Most of 'em are so trapped that
they know only one mode--FM and do all of their operating via repeaters.

What a wunnerful attitude you have toward Techs, Oh Mighty DXer. And
people have to ask who chased away the Techs. I guess the only time
you would embrace a Tech is if he were calling you out of band on 6M.
Hi!

I don't embrace radio amateurs at all, "bb". A firm handshake is good
enough for me.

That's not what the French do. They kiss you on both cheeks,
especially for handing out contacts and QSL cards for out of band
contacts.

My attitude toward many of the current crop of new techs is one bathed
upon five years observation, since returning to the U.S. I haven't
chased them anywhere. In fact, it has been just the opposite. I've
tried to encourage them to use simplex on FM. I've tried to encourage
them to try 6 meters along with 432 and 144 MHz SSB and CW. I can't be
faulted that they don't act after being encouraged. If these folks are,
in fact "trapped" in a world of 2m only FM repeater operation, they have
fashioned the trap themselves by not being more curious about the rest
of VHF/UHF amateur radio. There are avenues open to them but they
aren't participating.

Dave K8MN

A penny for your thoughts.

Maybe they are on FM yet not trapped at all. Maybe if you let Dee and
Dan finish their thoughts on why they think the Techs are trapped we
would have something worth discussing.

My opinion (that means it's my opinion and I don't have to spend weeks
at the Library of Congress to back up anything that I might say or
forever be known as a liar and/or a gay man) is that those who joined
for emergency communications purposes are perfectly happy with FM, and
do not consider themselves as "trapped." All the "encouragement" in
the world doesn't change their perspective. They're getting what they
want out of amateur radio. What they don't need is to be denigrated by
the Extras that think they need to do more to be a "real" ham.