QRZ! Ham Radio 5/QRZ Ham Radio Callsign Database - Volume 5.iso/digests/infoham/940414.txt

Text File | 1994-11-13 | 28.7 KB | 711 lines

Date: Wed, 13 Apr 94 19:13:13 PDT
From: Info-Hams Mailing List and Newsgroup <[e-mail]>
Errors-To: [e-mail]
Reply-To: [e-mail]
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Subject: Info-Hams Digest V94 #414
To: Info-Hams


Info-Hams Digest            Wed, 13 Apr 94       Volume 94 : Issue  414

Today's Topics:
                  ARLB031 ARRL Vanity call proposal
                           ARLX015 KH6IJ SK
                          Checks, as in $$$
                           Heinous? hardly
                              Icom 2SRA
                    Katashi Nose, KH6IJ, 1916-1994
                     SAREX Keps 4/14 at 0:40 UTC
                       solar charge controller
                            Special Event
                  Special receiver needed? (2 msgs)

Send Replies or notes for publication to: <[e-mail]>
Send subscription requests to: <[e-mail]>
Problems you can't solve otherwise to [e-mail].

Archives of past issues of the Info-Hams Digest are available
(by FTP only) from UCSD.Edu in directory "mailarchives/info-hams".

We trust that readers are intelligent enough to realize that all text
herein consists of personal comments and does not represent the official
policies or positions of any party.  Your mileage may vary.  So there.
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Date: Tue, 12 Apr 1994 08:54:43 -0600
From: agate!howland.reston.ans.net!math.ohio-state.edu!cyber2.cyberstore.ca!nntp.cs.ubc.ca!alberta!ve6mgs![e-mail]
Subject: ARLB031 ARRL Vanity call proposal
To: [e-mail]

SB QST @ ARL $ARLB031
ARLB031 ARRL Vanity call proposal

ZCZC AG95
QST de W1AW
ARRL Bulletin 31  ARLB031

------------------------------

Date: Tue, 12 Apr 1994 08:54:55 -0600
From: agate!howland.reston.ans.net!math.ohio-state.edu!cyber2.cyberstore.ca!nntp.cs.ubc.ca!alberta!ve6mgs![e-mail]
Subject: ARLX015 KH6IJ SK
To: [e-mail]

SB SPCL @ ARL $ARLX015
ARLX015 KH6IJ SK

ZCZC AX47
QST de W1AW
Special Bulletin 15  ARLX015

------------------------------

Date: 08 Apr 1994 17:08:21 GMT
From: agate!howland.reston.ans.net!news.intercon.com!uhog.mit.edu!xn.ll.mit.edu!noc.near.net!info-server.bbn.com!news.bbn.com![e-mail]
Subject: Checks, as in $$$
To: [e-mail]

In article <2o407j$[e-mail]> [e-mail] (RuthAnn Todd) writes:
   |> I wonder if the ARRL has any kind of similar "HAM RADIO CHECK" printing
   |> service?
   |>
   |> And if not, why not?
   |>

[You should try to remember to trim your lines to 78 or fewer
characters instead of posting the following as a single line:]

   Maybe I'm not getting the point of this the way you intended, Scott,
   but why would they?  The ARRL is a service organization...perhaps your
   idea would be best addressed by the numerous printers that do QSL
   printing.  You are aware that check paper is usually a different
   type/quality.  If it is a profitable idea, I'm sure someone will take
   the lead.

If I get what you're asking, check the catalogs of Current Inc. and
Checks In The Mail, both of whom do mail order check printing.  It is
likely that they have at least an ARRL logo or some other ham radio
insignia they can imprint on checks, and they'll both take artwork
from you and do a custom job.

Or did the original poster mean something else?

    /JBL
=
Nets: [e-mail]  |  "Earn more sessions by sleeving."
pots: [phone]  |
KD1ON (@KB4N.NH.USA) |                               -- Roxanne Kowalski

------------------------------

Date: 13 Apr 1994 15:23:38 GMT
From: ihnp4.ucsd.edu!agate!howland.reston.ans.net!sol.ctr.columbia.edu!news.cs.columbia.edu!news.columbia.edu!watsun.cc.columbia.edu![e-mail]
Subject: Heinous? hardly
To: [e-mail]

A really nice (IMHO) net practice used to be (still is?) the Penna. CAP HF
net (was 4464.5, now 4582.0? 1700-1800 EST). The state is divided into
geographical "groups" (which are administrative entities outside of radio
nets, which I suppose makes life easier) where the Big Net Control would
acll down a list of groups (Group 10, 20, &c) for a group control station,
who would then call roll and report back to the Big Net Control, who would
then tell stations, in priority and then group order, to pass traffic. Roll
call for ~~40 checkins was about 10 minutes long. Of course, being CAP, it
had that certain miliary je ne sais quois which kept everything in order.
As well, each group had maybe only 3 or 4 checkins, making the likelihood
of stepping small.

Oh, by the way, CAP Radio Operating Procdedure had each station say (e.g.)
"This is Keystone 107 {no traffic, n routines, n priorities} over". A group
control station might be called:

"Group 100 control, this is Keystone 18, call your roll, out."

(me) "This is Keystone 107, no traffic. Group 100 stations, this is
Keystone 107, over"

(stations in order "this is keystone so-and-so...over")

"This is Keystone 107, roger Keystone so-and-so, ... Out. Net control, this
is Keystone 107, roll call complete, over.

"This is Keystone 18, roger Keystone 107 no traffic and roll call. Group
1100..."

and so on.

(CAP has a fleet call beginning with K for each "large" administrative
unit--something like KGC 465 but the PA fleet call has changed recently,
and they use "tactical" word call-signs like Keystone, and so forth)

//jbaltz
jerry b. altzman   Entropy just isn't what it used to be      [phone]
[e-mail]   [e-mail]  ke3ml  (HEPNET) NEVIS::jbaltz

------------------------------

Date: Wed, 13 Apr 1994 12:28:28
From: news.cerf.net!pravda.sdsc.edu!nic-nac.CSU.net!charnel.net.csuchico.edu!charnel!yeshua.marcam.com!news.kei.com!ssd.intel.com!chnews!ornews.intel.com!ccm.hf.intel.com!@@ihnp4.ucsd.edu
Subject: Icom 2SRA
To: [e-mail]

In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail] (x3670) writes:

>I'm planning to take my first (Tech) exam in the near future, and
>was thinking of buying an Icom 2SRA so as to have some scanner
>coverage in addition to the ability to transmit on 144-148MHz.
>Are there any problems with coupling a wide-coverage scanner with
>the transmitter?  Is the 2SRA easy to use, and is its performance
>good?  I'm wondering if I should just go with a simpler (and cheaper)
>rig.

The 2SRA is a great radio, but i\like most Icom HT's its not that intuitive to
operate.  The wideband receive side of the radio is totally separate from the
2m side, so there are no problems.  Its like the W2A dual band except the 440
side is replaced with a 25-950 MHz receiver.  Its performance is very good and
has all the bells and whistles.


Brett Miller N7OLQ                  [e-mail]
Intel Corp.
American Fork, UT

------------------------------

Date: Wed, 13 Apr 1994 16:08:27 GMT
From: news.Hawaii.Edu!kahuna![e-mail]
Subject: Katashi Nose, KH6IJ, 1916-1994
To: [e-mail]

It is with deep regret that I inform the amateur community on here
that the well-loved Katashi Nose, KH6IJ, passed away.

The following newspaper article appeared in the Honolulu-Star Bulletin.
Please forgive the length of this article.

In his 60 years on the air he was truly an ambassador to the world for
amateur radio.

Jeff NH6IL
************************************************************************

KATASHI NOSE, KH6IL, DIES AT AGE 78

The former UH professor wrote a radio comumn for many years.

By Harold Morse, Star-Bulletin.

   Katashi Nose,  Star-Bulletin radio columnist for 50 years and a
   retired university of Hawaii physics professor, died Thursday
   in St. Francis Hospital. He was 78.

   A longtime ham radio operator born in Honolulu, who won a number
   of awards, Nose learned the Morse Code overnight in 1931 and
   qualified as an operator in 1932. He made his own radio set from
   odds and ends that same year.

   His radio activity got him locked up for having radio equipment
   at his home for a class he was teaching at Kauai High School at
   the time of the Pearl Harbor attack. He was released 10 days later
   after notable people, including Joseph Farrington, territorial
   delegate to Congress and Star-Bulletin publisher, vouched for him.
   Both his parents worked for the Farrington family.

   Daughter Elizabeth Nose recalled that although her father was
   always busy, he still had time for family.

   ``Whenever possible, he'd always take his family with him on
   his travels,'' she said.

   Daughter Frances McKenney said: ``My most vivid memory of him is how
   he hand-carried me thrugh my math and science courses when I was
   in high school.''

   Her father was a celebrity in the ham radio world, she said. ``When
   we would go to Japan, for example, there would be a whole group
   of hams meeting him, and I remember they met him at the airport
   with a miniature antennae. This was in Japan.''

   Nose's ham activity helped in rescues at sea and enabled him to
   communicate with other operators in 365 countries, using his call
   letters, KH6IJ.

   He said his greatest thrill was to hear his voice bounce back the
   the word ``one'' in one-third second from a satellite 53,000
   miles up. He was using bargain-basement equipment he put together
   at the University of Hawaii while teaching there.

   A UH graduate, he earned a master's degree at Harvard on scholar-
   ships and did graduate work at Stanford, also on a scholarchip.

   He taught radio, science and chemistry and a class of gifted
   students at Kauai High School, and made extra money doing radio
   repairs before moving to the University of Hawaii in 1962. He
   later designed, built and installed PeaceSat ground terminals in
   Saipan, Fiji and American Samoa.

   Nose suffered a stroke in March 1979 and retired from the univer-
   sity, although he continued to produce his column. He was very
   determined and made a real comeback from his stroke, his family
   said.

   He wrote his final Star-Bulletin column early last year. His first
   had appeared in 1936.

   By the 1970's, the column, ``With Hawaii's Radio Amateurs,'' had
   become the newspaper's longest-running continuously published column
   (with a break during WW II years). Nose also wrote numerous articles
   for amateur radio magazines with international circulation. Honpa
   Hongwanji Hawaii Betsuin [a Buddhist association. J.H.] named him
   a ``Living Treasure'' in 1985.

   Nose is survived by wife Matsuyo; son Joseph; and his two daughters.

   There will be a memorial service at 8 p.m. Wednesday at Hosoi
   Garden Mortuary. Casual attire. No Flowers.

------------------------------

Date: 14 Apr 94 00:52:52 GMT
From: [e-mail]
Subject: SAREX Keps 4/14 at 0:40 UTC
To: [e-mail]

SB SAREX @ AMSAT $STS-59.017
SAREX Keps 4/14 at 0:40 UTC

Greenbelt, MD, 4/14/94 at 0:40 UTC

The official SAREX element set at this time is GSFC-016.  This element set
was generated by Ron Parise, WA4SIR, of the Goddard Space Flight Center.
Gil Carman, WA5NOM, reports that the predictions using GSFC-016 were 6
seconds earlier than GSFC-014 as of 15:00 UTC on 4/13.


 STS-59
 1 23042U 94020A   94103.28423883 0.00019321  11073-4  10308-4 0   169
 2 23042  56.9943 245.4685 0009256 288.8199  71.1887 16.21374060   631

 Satellite: STS-59
 Catalog number: 23042
 Epoch time:      94103.28423883         (13 APR 94   06:49:18.24 UTC)
 Element set:     GSFC-016
 Inclination:       56.9943 deg
 RA of node:       245.4685 deg          Space Shuttle Flight STS-59
 Eccentricity:    0.0009256                  Keplerian Elements
 Arg of perigee:   288.8199 deg
 Mean anomaly:      71.1887 deg
 Mean motion:   16.21374060 rev/day      Semi-major Axis: 6593.9561 Km
 Decay rate:       0.19E-03 rev/day*2    Apogee  Alt:        221.67 Km
 Epoch rev:              63              Perigee Alt:        209.46 Km


 NOTE - This element set is based on NORAD element set # 016.
        The spacecraft has been propagated to the next ascending
        node, and the orbit number has been adjusted to bring it
        into agreement with the NASA numbering convention.

Submitted by Frank H. Bauer, KA3HDO for the SAREX Working Group

/EX

------------------------------

Date: 13 Apr 94 02:41:00 GMT
From: dog.ee.lbl.gov!agate!iat.holonet.net!kbsbbs![e-mail]
Subject: solar charge controller
To: [e-mail]

To: [e-mail]

R>anybosy have plans or ideas for a really cheap, simple charge controller
R>for solar panels...(charging 12v lead acid cells).

The November/93 issue of 73 Amateur Radio Today has an article on
building one.  One my future projects :)

 * QMPro 1.52 * SYSTEM ERROR:  press F13 to continue...

------------------------------

Date: 13 Apr 94 08:18:33 -0600
From: agate!usenet.ins.cwru.edu!howland.reston.ans.net!darwin.sura.net!atlas.tntech.edu![e-mail]
Subject: Special Event
To: [e-mail]

        Tennessee Technological University
            QRP Expedition
            TTARS-WA4UCE

The QRP expedition is this weekend April 16, 17. So far
looks like the Yaesu 301S and the MFJ 20 meter SSB travel
radio are definites, as well as testing out a MFJ Super
HI Q loop and a ZS6??? multiband dipole (variation of a G5RV
that seems to perform better).

The two main purposes of the expedition are to foster
interest in HF with the college hams here in Cookeville, and
to demonstrate the effectiveness of low power operation with
SSB, even with portable battery operated setups.

We will be operating from Fall Creek Falls state Park in the
south central part of Tennessee. We will be setting up one
base station from a campground and another portable
operation that will go to some remote sections of the park.


For a nice certificate send a 9X12 SASE with QSL card and
contact number to:

TTARS-WA4UCE
Tennessee Tech. U.
Box 5262
Cookeville, TN 38505


*probably start afternoon of Friday April 15.

    WA4UCE Club Station
Sat. April 16 and Sunday April 17
----------------------------------
14:00-16:00Z (7.250-2.270)
         (7.055-7.065)

16:00-17:00Z (14.250-14.265)
         (14.055-14.065)* if enough ops

17:00-18:00Z (28.350-28.365)

18:00-20:00Z (21.250-21.265)
         (21.050-21.065)*

20:00-22:00Z (14.250-14.265)
         (10.110-10.115)*

22:00-24:00Z (7.250-7.270)

00:00-02:00Z (3.900-3.915) or
             (7.250-7.270)

=======================================================

* we will operate on whichever band has best propogation. We
will attempt to stay with the above frequencies as much as
possible. The way conditions have been lately, 20 meters
will most likely be our main backup band.


thanks

73

Jeff, AC4HF


------------------------------

Date: 13 Apr 1994 16:03:57 GMT
From: ihnp4.ucsd.edu!agate!howland.reston.ans.net!europa.eng.gtefsd.com!emory!swrinde!sgiblab!sgigate.sgi.com!olivea!koriel!male.EBay.Sun.COM!uranium![e-mail]
Subject: Special receiver needed?
To: [e-mail]

In article [e-mail], [e-mail] (Karen deWeeger) writes:
.>
.>I have a question about a special S.C.A. (sorry, I don't know what it stands
.>for) receiver that is required to receive Boadcast Services for the Blind.
.>I've talked to the BSB people, and they will loan me the receiver (I can't
.>buy it) but I would have to go to downtown San Francisco to pick it up (not :-).

                     ...... details deleted ..........


.>My question is: is this some sort of encoded broadcast that requires a special
.>decoder ring (receiver), or is it just broadcast outside of the normal AM/FM
.>broadcast frequencies? I have receiver coverage from 25Khz - 2000Mhz, so if
.>I could find out the frequency I should be able to listen to BSB (if it's
.>not encoded) without having to go to San Francisco to pick up the S.C.A.
.>receiver. Any ideas would be much appreciated.

.>
.>    Karen deWeeger  ([e-mail])
.>
.>                          (:>

    I'm not familiar with the BSB service in particular, but SCA stands
for sub carrier authorization. This means that program material (be it
BSB material, Muzak, Stock Quotes, Traffic Alerts etc.) is transmitted on
the same carrier as the main program material by means of modulating it
onto a subcarrier.

    A receiver without a SCA decoder will never notice that the extra
material is being transmitted. The subcarrier frequencies vary with the
particular station and service but are in the range of 40 kHz to 80 KHz usually.

    So to answer your basic questions:

    They are broadcast on standard FM broadcast stations, so if you can
    receive the normal programs, most likeley with an appropriate
    receiver you should be able to get the SCA stuff too.

    A wideband receiver (like your 25kHz to 2GHz unit) will be usable
    to receive the SCA broadcastd only if it has a SCA decoder
    attached to it. (Most receivers do not come standard with such
    circuitry)

    The SCA program material is not "encoded" in the sense that it
    is encrypted  or anything like that, but you need the appropriate
    demodulator to hear it.

    Although it is possible to get a generic SCA decoder and interface
    it to a receiver and align it to the proper subcarrier frequency,
    in your case it would seem likely that it would be simpler just to
    get the BSB receiver from SF and go that route.

    Good Luck,
        Ray Anderson WB6TPU
        [e-mail]

------------------------------

Date: 14 Apr 94 00:07:04 GMT
From: dog.ee.lbl.gov!ihnp4.ucsd.edu!pacbell.com!ptsfa![e-mail]
Subject: Special receiver needed?
To: [e-mail]

In article <2oh55d$[e-mail]> [e-mail] writes:
>
>    I'm not familiar with the BSB service in particular, but SCA stands
>for sub carrier authorization. This means that program material (be it
     ^^^^^^^^^^^

Nope, it is Subsidiary Communications Authorization.

--
Dave Turner    [phone]    {att,bellcore,sun,ames,decwrl}!pacbell!dmturne

------------------------------

Date: (null)
From: (null)
SB QST ARL ARLB031
ARLB031 ARRL Vanity call proposal

ARRL Develops Position in ''Vanity'' Call Sign Proposal

On April 9, the League's Executive Committee approved the
recommendations of the Ad Hoc Committee on Preferred Call Signs in
preparation for the ARRL's filing of formal comments in PR Docket
93-305, the FCC's ''Vanity'' call sign proposal.  The recommendations
were based on membership input solicited by the committee.

The committee feels that all amateurs should be eligible for
participation in the program. A phase-in period and priority system
of ''gates'' should be adopted to allow the Commission relief from the
administrative burden expected from the heavy initial submission of
applications, and to afford licensees the opportunity to regain lost
call signs. Included in the first ''gate'' would be those who wish to
obtain the call sign of a direct family member. Clubs with lapsed
club licenses and call signs should be allowed to recoup those call
signs in the first priority group. The second gate in the priority
system would be opened to Extra Class licensees; a priority third
gate would be opened to Advanced Class licensees.

The League will recommend that 1 X 1 call signs, such as K2A, be
made available for limited duration special events of national
significance.

A copy of the committee's complete report is available for an SASE
from the Regulatory Information Branch at League Headquarters, and
on electronic services including CompuServe, America On Line,
Prodigy, and the ARRL Bulletin Board.  It is also available by
e-mail from infoarrl.org, or by FTP from oak.oakland.edu. The file
name is ''93-305.rpt.''
NNNN
/EX

------------------------------

Date: (null)
From: (null)
SB SPCL ARL ARLX015
ARLX015 KH6IJ SK

''PACIFIC POWERHOUSE'' KATASHI NOSE, KH6IJ, SK

On April 7, 79-year-old Katashi Nose, KH6IJ, of Honolulu, Hawaii-
-one of Amateur Radio's best-liked operators--died from a severe
stroke.

Nose, a famous contest op and DXer with a string of ham radio firsts
and accomplishments, was also famous for patiently working and
tutoring Novices on 15 and 10 meters.

KH6IJ, licensed in 1932 as K6CGK, was the first KH6 ham to qualify
for the League's DX Century Club and Worked All States Awards. In
1952, he received his Amateur Extra Class ticket, the fifth US ham
to do so.

For 56 years, Katashi wrote a newspaper column on ham radio for his
local newspaper. He also wrote many articles for QST and other ham
magazines.

Nose earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Hawaii in
1937, and a masters degree from Harvard in 1960. He is survived by
his wife Matsuyo, daughters Elizabeth Nose and Frances McKenney, son
Joseph, and a son-in-law, Michael McKenney.

Funeral services are scheduled for Wednesday, April 13.
NNNN
/EX

------------------------------

Date: 13 Apr 94 20:13:53 GMT
From: sdd.hp.com!col.hp.com!fc.hp.com![e-mail]
To: [e-mail]

References <phb.766181648@melpar>, <1994Apr13.135601.118284@yuma>, <phb.766252802@melpar>
Subject : Re: Heinous? hardly

Paul H. Bock ([e-mail]) wrote:
>      Another point:  Before checking into a net, *good operating
> procedure* dictates that the newcomer spend a couple of sessions
> *listening* to the net BUT NOT CHECKING IN, so he/she can *learn*
> what the proper procedure is.  The same procedure is also good
> at other times, like *listening* to the DX station in the pileup
> BEFORE jumping in, so you know how he/she is handling the callers,
> where he/she is listening for replies, etc.

I'd certainly second the above, but also note that the local traffic
nets are generally viewed as "training" nets; they do exist to get the
traffic-handling job done, but also to give the newcomer a chance to hone
their traffic-handling and general net skills before advancing to the
"big-time" (regional nets, etc.).  As such, it is a good idea for the net
control to spend and extra minute or two, just after checking for emergency
or priority traffic (and possibly after getting the liason from the "big
net" checked in) to go over the expected procedures.

I used to be one of the net controls for the Northern Colorado Traffic Net
(which is hosted by the NCARC repeater in Ft. Collins, on 145.115), and
still check in occasionally.  The procedure I was taught to use as control
still seems to be pretty much in use; we'd do it something like this:

"This is KC0EW calling the Northern Colorado Traffic Net; any
stations with emergency traffic, please call now."

And after a sufficient pause, and calling for the check-in of our liason,
we'd always do something along the lines of:

"KC0EW, net control for the Northern Colorado Traffic Net.  This net meets
nightly at 8 PM, for the purpose of handling traffic into and out of the
Northern Colorado area.  All stations, with or without traffic, are
invited to check in and participate regularly on this net.  When checking in,
please state your call, your name, your location, and whether or not you have
traffic to pass; if you have traffic for destinations outside the Northern
Colorado area, please list it as "TWN" for "Twelfth Region Net".  Any stations
wishing to check in, please call now...."

Your mileage may vary, of course, but the point is that for such "beginner's"
nets, there should be no need for the newcomer to have to listen very long
to catch on to what's happening; he or she can be given sufficient info
to get checked in - and thus feel like they've "made it" - right up front.
Net control should, of course, be aware of who the newcomer is, and not start
out routing a dozen messages to them; you might, on the other hand, route
a couple via your "old hands" and then let the newcomer handle one, if time
is available.  The biggest hurdle to overcome is to get that person *involved*
and feeling like they're participating.  THEN they've got some motivation to
learn all the ropes.


Bob Myers  KC0EW   Hewlett-Packard Co.     |Opinions expressed here are not
                   Advanced Systems Div.   |those of my employer or any other
[e-mail]    Fort Collins, Colorado  |sentient life-form on this planet.

------------------------------

Date: 13 Apr 94 16:00:02 GMT
From: newsgate.melpar.esys.com!melpar![e-mail]
To: [e-mail]

References <[e-mail]>, <phb.766181648@melpar>, <1994Apr13.135601.118284@yuma>p
Subject : Re: Heinous? hardly

[e-mail] (Galen Watts) writes:

>Maybe that's why some nets around here are called 'Traffic and Information
>Net'.
>You can argue for all the professionalism you want, but the fact remains
>that we are ***amateurs***  and unless your checkin procedure is flexible
>enough for someone who hasn't checked in before, you'll still have the
>problems you're complaining about.  Net control still has to ask a few
>checkins for fills, so doesn't 'good operating practice' imply that you
>should take into account the inexperienced operators?

     Of course, the NCS should be flexible and accomodating to the new
checkin.  But, since traffic nets which handle formal written traffic as
part of NTS are *directed* nets, it means that some set of *rules* is
probably necessary to ensure the *expeditious* handling of traffic.
Remember that many hams who check into these nets are experienced
traffic handlers who check into SEVERAL NETS A NIGHT; they haven't
the time to hang around for a couple of hours while time is wasted
with disorganized checkin or traffic-listing procdures.  The Virginia
Net (VN), for example, is usually on the air LESS THAN 15 MINUTES
and handles all it's traffic (it's a CW net).  The Virginia Late Net
(VLN), which is SSB, isn't quite as efficient but a half-hour session
is running a bit long.  These two examples are *traffic* nets, and
that's all.

     Another point:  Before checking into a net, *good operating
procedure* dictates that the newcomer spend a couple of sessions
*listening* to the net BUT NOT CHECKING IN, so he/she can *learn*
what the proper procedure is.  The same procedure is also good
at other times, like *listening* to the DX station in the pileup
BEFORE jumping in, so you know how he/she is handling the callers,
where he/she is listening for replies, etc.

     I have nothing against traffic and information nets, or
information nets, or just plain old BS nets.  There used to be one
called the "Graveyard Net" on 75 meter 'phone (AM, that is) which
a) typically lasted 2-3 hours per night; b) had very little in the
wy of procedures; c) refused to acknowledge anyone trying to check
in on SSB (or "slop bucket," as it was popularly known in the late
'50s); d) refused to accept traffic.  A "fringe" example, or course,
but they do exist.  Nevertheless, *procedures* are useful things in
many kinds of nets; the "Bicentennial WAS Net" on 75 in 1976 had
very definite procedures even though it was NOT a traffic net, and
you could find yourself being "persona non grata" very quickly by
not playing by their rules.

    Radio communication is a combination of art, science, and inter-
personal relations.  Licensed amateur activity in the U.S. has it's
rules, set by the FCC, and its "good operating practice," which is
based on a combination of common sense, experience, and courtesy.
Those who wish to regard it as some inalienable "right" which can
be practiced however the individual chooses are misguided; never
forget that the ONLY REASON the Amateur Service (note carefully
the word "Service") exists is that the government, through the FCC,
find that it is "in the public interest." Traffic nets exist
*primarily* to train amateurs in the proper handling of traffic
so that during an emergency they can once again, indeed, show the
FCC and the world their "professionalism" in dealing with life or
property-threatening situations.

     A ham license is like a driver's license in that it is a
*granted privelige*, not a "right."  That means that it carries with
it a certain responsibility.  Those unwilling to accept that premise
should - as suggested - use the telephone.

       * Paul H. Bock, Jr. K4MSG  * Senior Systems Engineer
(|_|)  * E-Systems/Melpar Div.    * Telephone: [phone] x2062
 | |)  * 7700 Arlington Blvd.     * Internet: [e-mail]
       * Falls Church, VA 22046   * Mailstop: N301

     "What?  Us, Interfere?  Of course we're going to interfere!
    Do what you're best at, that's what I always say!"  --  Dr. Who

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End of Info-Hams Digest V94 #414
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