46
Debate Forum / How to Speak Democrat
« on: July 11, 2008, 04:41:23 PM »
He pretty much covered everything! :arf2:
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47
Ham Radio Chit Chat / Any one read this mess?
« on: July 11, 2008, 04:30:19 PM »
Well, from being an SWL at about the age of 8, building crystal sets and stringing dipoles, I get into walkie talkies (the CB channel 14 variety at about 250mW), I got into CB.
Up until about 1975, all was well (CB was licensed), until a pesky little rash of CB related country tunes came out, closely followed by Kris Kristopherson\'s movie Convoy. The instant popularity pretty well killed CB, definitely killed the lower 23 channels and as soon as the 40 channel rigs started flooding the market, the escape to 22A and 22B was on. Following that SSB rigs was the only way to enjoy the hobby.
The next evolution led to the modifications that led to \'upstairs and downstairs\' channels to escape the masses on the \'regular\' 40 channels and all of the echo, roger beep and cussing and fussing in general. It had become a zoo and the last dregs that are left on 11 meters today are in my opinion, pretty much just that, the dregs, the bottom dwellers of society. Judging by what is heard on 20, 40 and 75 meters almost every day (evening) now, there is little difference between what CB had evolved into in the early 1990\'s and what can be heard on spots on our bands today.
My rigs evolved along the way from 23 channel Realistic and Pierce Simpson rigs to Lafayette and SBE and yeah, believe it or not, a President Jackson \'export rig\' followed by an HR2510 and a Galaxy Saturn. Within a year of the Galaxy Saturn\'s purchase, it was replaced by a slightly less expensive Kenwood TS450S/AT along with the realization of the fact that you did NOT need to be a rocket scientist to get an amateur radio license and there was a class of license that did NOT require you to learn the dreaded Morse Code (this was at the dawn of the internet era and having the entire sum knowledge of the known universe at everyone, everyone you had about $5,000 to spare\'s, finger tips). Still at this time, just into the 90\'s, the question I had was, "Why the heck does amateur gear cost the same or less than CB garbage like the Galaxy Saturn?" The waste of money on CB equipment pretty well ticked me off, but, that was (and is) still the way it is today. An alleged \'top end\' CB will run you a good $500 or so and an Icom 718 or a Yaesu 857D will run you about $600. It\'s a complete rip off and always has been.
My point? Most of us came from there and many from there will likely still follow, good, bad, indifferent, it doesn\'t matter, it\'s always been that way and likely always will. There will continue to be, adding to the ranks of CB, those who will not become licensed amateurs, well until they hear there are operators just like themselves on the amateur bands, or, they will elect to haunt anything between 25 and 30MHz and with our \'no testicular fortitude\' FCC, it will never change. Like it or not, they are no longer staffed for real enforcement and the Amateur Auxiliary (the OO program) are only there to remind us when we step out of line as licensed amateurs. This is my point, licensed hams are fined if they step out of line, unlicensed operators are ignored and slip through the cracks in the legal system and we can choose to like it or not, it isn\'t going to change. :icon_rolleyes:
Up until about 1975, all was well (CB was licensed), until a pesky little rash of CB related country tunes came out, closely followed by Kris Kristopherson\'s movie Convoy. The instant popularity pretty well killed CB, definitely killed the lower 23 channels and as soon as the 40 channel rigs started flooding the market, the escape to 22A and 22B was on. Following that SSB rigs was the only way to enjoy the hobby.
The next evolution led to the modifications that led to \'upstairs and downstairs\' channels to escape the masses on the \'regular\' 40 channels and all of the echo, roger beep and cussing and fussing in general. It had become a zoo and the last dregs that are left on 11 meters today are in my opinion, pretty much just that, the dregs, the bottom dwellers of society. Judging by what is heard on 20, 40 and 75 meters almost every day (evening) now, there is little difference between what CB had evolved into in the early 1990\'s and what can be heard on spots on our bands today.
My rigs evolved along the way from 23 channel Realistic and Pierce Simpson rigs to Lafayette and SBE and yeah, believe it or not, a President Jackson \'export rig\' followed by an HR2510 and a Galaxy Saturn. Within a year of the Galaxy Saturn\'s purchase, it was replaced by a slightly less expensive Kenwood TS450S/AT along with the realization of the fact that you did NOT need to be a rocket scientist to get an amateur radio license and there was a class of license that did NOT require you to learn the dreaded Morse Code (this was at the dawn of the internet era and having the entire sum knowledge of the known universe at everyone, everyone you had about $5,000 to spare\'s, finger tips). Still at this time, just into the 90\'s, the question I had was, "Why the heck does amateur gear cost the same or less than CB garbage like the Galaxy Saturn?" The waste of money on CB equipment pretty well ticked me off, but, that was (and is) still the way it is today. An alleged \'top end\' CB will run you a good $500 or so and an Icom 718 or a Yaesu 857D will run you about $600. It\'s a complete rip off and always has been.
My point? Most of us came from there and many from there will likely still follow, good, bad, indifferent, it doesn\'t matter, it\'s always been that way and likely always will. There will continue to be, adding to the ranks of CB, those who will not become licensed amateurs, well until they hear there are operators just like themselves on the amateur bands, or, they will elect to haunt anything between 25 and 30MHz and with our \'no testicular fortitude\' FCC, it will never change. Like it or not, they are no longer staffed for real enforcement and the Amateur Auxiliary (the OO program) are only there to remind us when we step out of line as licensed amateurs. This is my point, licensed hams are fined if they step out of line, unlicensed operators are ignored and slip through the cracks in the legal system and we can choose to like it or not, it isn\'t going to change. :icon_rolleyes:
48
Open Chat / Satanist Couple charged with Rape and Kidnapping
« on: July 05, 2008, 11:06:59 AM »
WOW! Now that is creepy!
49
Antennas and Towers / Hygain TH6DXX triband monster
« on: July 02, 2008, 01:00:03 AM »
Very sweet!
50
Ham Radio Chit Chat / Fd \'08
« on: June 29, 2008, 10:21:37 PM »
Field Day \'08 pictures are posted here.....
http://wv6z.webs.com/fieldday2008.htm
http://wv6z.webs.com/fieldday2008.htm
51
Ham Radio Chit Chat / Fd \'08
« on: June 28, 2008, 08:23:27 PM »
Well, 60m was as dead as a box of hammers, so I worked 15m from Stumphouse Mountain. Did a lot of listening, made about 20 contacts, would have likely made more if I had remembered to go back to 100w from 5w after tuning up. :arf2:
Stopped by FD at our Civic Center where our local club was set up. Almost died of boredom so I came home and downloaded the camera. I will post pictures to my web site.
Stopped by FD at our Civic Center where our local club was set up. Almost died of boredom so I came home and downloaded the camera. I will post pictures to my web site.
52
Ham Radio Chit Chat / Fd \'08
« on: June 28, 2008, 10:14:20 AM »
I will be operating 1C from here http://www.alleneasler.com/issa.html
I will try to work a lot of 60m channel 4, if it\'s not too busy, just so that I am in a spot where I am easily found.
I will try to work a lot of 60m channel 4, if it\'s not too busy, just so that I am in a spot where I am easily found.
53
Ham Radio Chit Chat / Fd \'08
« on: June 27, 2008, 12:59:55 AM »
I may head for the mountains, if I don\'t participate with the club here in town. My goal is to find a cool shady spot, high elevation, cool stream and a comfy spot for the dog to snore all day. What are you guys going to do?
54
New member welcome / Kf4fmt
« on: June 26, 2008, 06:30:07 PM »
Great to meet you Stewart..... WELCOME!
56
Debate Forum / Drilling for Oil off our coast
« on: June 19, 2008, 07:51:29 PM »
Can\'t blame that one on Cal, either, I was the one that messed up. :icon_rolleyes:
I do agree though sugar cane is the way to go.
I do agree though sugar cane is the way to go.
57
Debate Forum / Drilling for Oil off our coast
« on: June 19, 2008, 05:12:27 AM »
Kinda sounds like the right time to do a little research in to alternative fuels to me.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5XDTDSGZK0s
Version II is on the drawing board right now......
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5XDTDSGZK0s
Version II is on the drawing board right now......
58
News / Encryption Defeated
« on: June 19, 2008, 12:17:07 AM »
Does seem like it might be a tad bit easier to freeze the chip if you can, well, actually be there to freeze it, huh? 
59
Antennas and Towers / WV6Z Screwdriver Install
« on: June 18, 2008, 11:42:30 PM »
Let me know where you may be monitoring Buddy, I will schedule a coffee break around then so that we can try some mobile to mobile if you like.
60
Debate Forum / Drilling for Oil off our coast
« on: June 18, 2008, 11:40:18 PM »
Not to worry, Obama immediately said he will not allow it to happen due to the risk of the environmental impacts.