QRZ! Ham Radio 5/QRZ Ham Radio Callsign Database - Volume 5.iso/digests/infoham/940962.txt

Internet Message Format | 1994-11-13 | 14.5 KB

Date: Fri, 26 Aug 94 04:30:07 PDT
From: Info-Hams Mailing List and Newsgroup <[e-mail]>
Errors-To: [e-mail]
Reply-To: [e-mail]
Precedence: Bulk
Subject: Info-Hams Digest V94 #962
To: Info-Hams


Info-Hams Digest            Fri, 26 Aug 94       Volume 94 : Issue  962

Today's Topics:
                    district 9 callsigns 1 AUG 94
                             learning CW
                       Lightning Bolt Antennas
                         UN-FLAME the FCC  ??
                        W6RO @ The Queen Mary

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: Thu, 25 Aug 1994 11:13:41 -0500
From: ihnp4.ucsd.edu!dog.ee.lbl.gov!agate!howland.reston.ans.net!europa.eng.gtefsd.com!newsxfer.itd.umich.edu!news1.oakland.edu!news.nd.edu!nimtziici.edmedia.nd.edu![e-mail]
Subject: district 9 callsigns 1 AUG 94
To: [e-mail]

My XYL is waiting patiently for her ticket, she tested on 15 July- 6 weeks ago.

 I called the FCC today and their recording talked to me. It said that
their computer system is currently down. It also said that it is taking
10-12 weeks to process the paperwork after it is received by the FCC.

Here is the callsign update as of August 1, 1994 for the 9 area:

AA9LL
KF9WU
N9YCQ
KB9JAN

I didn't get any other districts other than 9 and I didn't talk to a human.
The license I delay could be my XYL's!

73 N9TJG
 -------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Rick Nimtz                                       INTERNET: [e-mail]
 Chief Technician/LAN Administrator               FAX:     [phone]
 Educational Media                                Voice:   [phone]
 University of Notre Dame,   B16 DeBartolo Hall,  Notre Dame, IN 46556 USA
 -------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Vanity of vanities, says the Teacher, vanity of vanities! All is vanity.
 What do people gain from all the toil at which they toil under the sun?
 A generation goes, and a generation comes, but the earth remains forever.
                                                 Eccl. 1:2-4  (NSRV)

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

Date: 25 Aug 1994 18:04:58 GMT
From: athos.cc.bellcore.com!briscas.gamekeeper.bellcore.com![e-mail]
Subject: learning CW
To: [e-mail]

In article <3397dj$[e-mail]>, [e-mail] (Derek Wills) writes:
|> in learning "the code".   Some of us real oldies who were born before
|> there were such things as computers learned our CW by listening on the
[chomp]
|> I'm curious to know whether those who learn it from computer programs
|> that send perfect code in a quiet room find it a shock once they get
|> on the air and have to contend with real people sending code, fading
|> signals, QRM, all that stuff?   Is it easy to make the transition to
|> the real world?


Hello!

I learned CW using different medium.  I started with computer alone
and I just could not do it.  I did not have the will nor the time to finish
the whole course.  I had to do it the old way.  I got tapes and I learned
from tapes.  After I learned the whole alphabet I tried to tune my SW radio
and copy.  And it was hard.  The first times on SW radio were not
easy, I'll tell you, the real as you say is not as easy as on the
tapes or computer.  However the computer program can be used to make
the transition from CW tapes to Real World (TM) listening. And so I did
After learning the alphabet, I use my computer for simulated QSO's, I
reviewed them on the computer and then after I got confidence, I went
to the Real World (TM) and copied a bunch of QSO's.  I did that every night
for two hours straight until the day of the test.

I used a program called MTrainer for the Amiga Computer and Super Morse
on the PC.  MTrainer has many cool features like simulated noise,
simulated QSO's with different speed, tones and waves.  Because you
can control those conditions manually you can practice from perfect
conditions to copying a 1 nanowatt QRP station at the other side of the
world. :).  IMO MTrainer is an excellent program to get used to Real
World conditions and at least it gives you the chance to review your copy
against the computer's one.  OTOH, Super Morse has the ability to train your
ear for paperless copy, it measures your sending and receiving speed but
no noise training.  I used the two of them and i bennefited of each programs
strenghts.

|> Perhaps it helps to learn the code without the distractions, but it
|> must be a shock to some people - does this turn people off using it
|> even after they have passed a code test?

Not to me.. I'm saving for my HF rig and CQ my way out. :).  However I see
your point.  Other people might feel intimidated the first
time they sit down in front of a key, having to pick up your desired
signal between three of four ones and all that good stuff (otherwise
it might be the amount of buttons and displays on the rig :) )

|> Anyone have any real data on this?  Do people who teach the code ever
|> use real radios in class, and do teachers even have students send code?
|>
|> Derek Wills (AA5BT, G3NMX)

That's my personal experience and it worked for me.  I passed Element 1B
on the first shot (now I have to go for my General Ticket) first day first
anything.  So it looks like it worked for me perfectly.   I agree that if
CW is going to be taught on school, the student must have the opportunity
to copy Real World (TM) code.  It is fun anyway. :)

Now I'm just wondering if mixing CW short hand and Internet short hand
would be understandable....

smileymode{
OTOH AA IS FB, BTW OM CUL TU FER UR CALL 73 L8R SK
}

--
Luis Roberto Anaya-Rivera       [e-mail]
A True PL/1 Hacker              [e-mail]
Bellcore, NJ                    Ham: N2ZXE+

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

Date: 24 Aug 1994 19:19:35 -0400
From: mozz.unh.edu!toto.plymouth.edu!oz.plymouth.edu![e-mail]
Subject: Lightning Bolt Antennas
To: [e-mail]

Does anyone have experience with the Lightning Bolt quad antennas?  I'm looking at
either the 10-15-20 or 10-12-15-17-20 model.

73...
Peter, AE1T

--
Peter Drexel                       |
Department of Computer Science     |     ae1t @ oz.plymouth.edu  (Internet)
Plymouth State College             |     ae1t @ ae1t.nh.usa.noam (Packet)
Plymouth, NH  03264                |

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

Date: 24 Aug 1994 22:40:37 GMT
From: ihnp4.ucsd.edu!news.cerf.net!gopher.sdsc.edu!nic-nac.CSU.net!charnel.ecst.csuchico.edu!yeshua.marcam.com!news.kei.com!eff!usenet.ins.cwru.edu!cleveland.Freenet.Edu![e-mail]
Subject: UN-FLAME the FCC  ??
To: [e-mail]

This message is designed to respond to the kind responses and the
lectures I got from some golden spoons who can afford the most
expensive gear in the world and who are willing (?) to pay for a
license. (Didn't know I hit such a sore spot with many of you).
Normally I roam the railroad net.

Understand a few things: I have no problem with anyone taking time
to do a job. I do have a problem when they tell me it will take 6 to
10 weeks. I start counting on that. I do not understand your comments
about license questions changing. We walked into a computer show ne
one day and heard about ham radio. First time I ever heard of that.
Sounded neat. Got info, studied and passed the test. Upgrades and all
that stuff you guys talk about. Gimme a break. Trying to understand what
an HT is now. There are a ton of different transmitters out there and
it's quite intimidating to a newcomer.

If the government changed computers, changed tests, changed governments,
fixed the potholes on the info highway, it does not matter to me. The
FCC was established by Congress to administer this program. That is
their clear duty. They wanted it so badly that they have done for
some 50 or more years. They get oddles of OUR tax money for that. If
I run my businesslike they do, I would not have any customers left.
I had high hopes that this bein such an elite exclusive rich peolepeople
people hoby that the FCC would handle it quicker.

I did call them and they heard of us. They assured me (I WAS nice)
that everything would come by snail mail.  :)

So, back to the railnet. Thanks for the lectures and help from well meaning
people.
--
Bill and Tim  . . . .  Father and Son
Hard core railfans and photographers
No track is safe from us, anywhere, anytime.

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

Date: 25 Aug 1994 11:54:57 GMT
From: george.inhouse.compuserve.com!news.inhouse.compuserve.com!compuserve.com![e-mail]
Subject: W6RO @ The Queen Mary
To: [e-mail]

When I was there several years ago (1992), all you had to do was
find the "Radio" room. As I recall, the current radio room is not
the same as the room used when the QM was actually in service. The
current room was located a deck below and just aft of the bridge
(if memory serve me correctly).

I also read that the QM was closed (or at least Disney, which ran
the QM exhibit) and the attraction was closed. But I may not have
my facts straight.

73s

--
I'm ...
An EMT-A, certified in Heavy Rescue, a general aviation pilot, and
a ham radio operator (WA2JDJ).
.. I need to get a life.

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

Date: 25 Aug 1994 17:35:12 GMT
From: athos.cc.bellcore.com!briscas.gamekeeper.bellcore.com![e-mail]
To: [e-mail]

References <[e-mail]>, <[e-mail]>, <[e-mail]>o
Subject : Re: Ragchewing conversational protocol

Ragchewing conversational protocol.. Hmmm.. I'm having problems
with ragchewing myself so I'm going to write a couple
of things regarding this subject, but first a question, how's the
best way to talk throught an HT?  I am having a hard time being understood
at the other end and I do not know if it is the rig or if it is me or
what's the problem.

Anyway, I'm starting to get dissapointed with VHF ragchewing, I've seen
better opportunities for conversation in a bar full of couples.

|> > Many amateurs appear not to have good conversational skills in any
|> > event, and many contacts are repetitive and boring. If most amateurs

That's true, this also happens also when you are monitoring CW.
All the times is just:

CQCQ... DE XX#XXX
XX#XXX DE YY#YYY
FB FB FB UR RST IS ### ### MY NAME IS FOO FOO FOO
MY QTH IS FOOVILLE FOOVILLE MY RIG IS FOOTRONICS 1000
MY ATN IS DIPOLE ...weather.. etc. you get the picture.KN

YY#YYY repeats the same thing as above

And then TNX FER TRAFFIC 73 .. The end.

Repeat the same until doomsday.

|> > of geeks and loners.

Well, maybe because people do not know what to say.  It is hard to sit down
and talk, specially if you are introvert.  Many of those loner and geeks
are introverts, they might feel more comfortable doing CW, packet or
RTTY than phone.  Being in front of a mike can be sometimes intimidating.
Then you might add other factors, like talking in a second or third language
(that's my personal case), when you are talking in a second language is
is just hard to ramble because you are not taught how to ramble in
a foreign languate, everything is pretty much "goal oriented".


|>     "I could never figure out if one needed the personality hang-up first
|>     to get a licence, or if one got it after one was licenced."      :)

May I quote him.. :)

|> support in order to keep our hobby in the 2000's) only see the wierdo's, i.e.
|> the geeks and loners described above.  A friend of mine once listed a basic set

Well, geeks and loners (as described above) are usually technically inclined.
people that are not technically inclined usually get a CB or a Cell Phone
(one because you look rough and the other because you look
sexy and sophisticated).  Well, not all the geeks.. those artsy people look kind
of geeky to me :).

But as I said before , being introvert (a more accurate term) can be the
cause of those 'boring' conversations. And Being introvert is not a bad thing
,I'm introvert myself last time I took a personality test, usually Introvert
operators are better "goal oriented" (i. e. Net Controllers, Emergency
Communications, Packet, etc..) operator than Extrovert operators (non loner or
geek)that are better "rag chewers" over phone.  That's my perception.


|> occupation in which one spends most of one's time *physically* isolated from
|> others.  Try this one on yourself:  ever tried sharing a shack with another
|> op? :)

Err.. I could explain how I did it with my GF but it would not be appropiate
to this forum :D :D :D.    But yes, introverts do those kind of things
alone.  Ham Radio, or Computers, or Modelling they are usually good at
non participation sports like Chess or Racqetball or Swiming (I am a lousy
baseball player but a fairly good swimmer)

|> places, i.e. the world in which we live.  Ham radio can be like death and
|> taxes: it's a great leveller, as you cannot be prejudiced about the other op -

Even with a weird accent over VHF phone?  I'm honest with you that still
scares the hell out of me.


Anyway, my first encounters on ragchewing have received mix feelings
or they either do not understand me or I'm sounding muffled or the
HT goes to the sandbox or whatever.  I have to do something quick or my HT
is starting to become of part of endangered species and might become
extinct (I live in a third floor.. hint hint. :) ).

*sigh* It looks like I have to either joint to a club or shy away from VHF phone
for a while and do CW, I might have better luck.

Other than that, '73 I'll drop from soap opera mode.

--
Luis Roberto Anaya-Rivera       [e-mail]
A True PL/1 Hacker              [e-mail]
Bellcore, NJ                    Ham: N2ZXE+

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

End of Info-Hams Digest V94 #962
******************************