View Full Version : 5 things to remember ( really 4 )
ai4ep
12-20-2006, 02:00 PM
In spite of what has happened with the FCC the past dew days, it IS important to rememeber a few things that problably WILL NOT change , concerning amateur radio ---
1) There are still 3 written tests to be passed to become an EXTRA class operator.
2) The morse code test is all that is eliminated, the mode can still be used.
3) End an argument " on-the-air " in good terms, even if you do disagree on a topic.
4) Any one can be an elmer that is a licensed amateur radio operator, sharing what you DO know with others.
5) YOUR ideas / thoughts ?
Regardless of your license class, remember that you're not above everybody. There's a lot to learn, especially from the older generation. Likewise, there's stuff to be learned from the newer generation as well.
Don't forget the roots of the hobby - electronics experimentation with the purpose of radio communication. Part 97 lists keeping a pool of qualified electronics experts as one of the ARS's goals.
Remember that good antennas are more important than running more power.
And while we're at it, it is always better to listen first, talk after.
Activists - the same way you pushed for morse testing to be eliminated, push your local government folks to pass legislation supporting amateur radio. Antenna bills should be at the top of your list, because what good is an extra class license without permission to erect a reasonable antenna. We live in an era where people are afraid that antenna towers are going to give them cancer, or are going to drive down their property values. We need to be protected from these people.
KC2PBJ
12-20-2006, 03:14 PM
You are completely correct in all cases. As a re-tread licensee, I will QSO with anyone at any time. Where my experience can assist others, it will be gladly given because I still learn something from each QSO and improved my skills as well as a widening circle of friends made on the air. While our species is well known for change resistance (in megaohms), let's hope the burn-in time is a short one (but I doubt it).
For the most part, I feel that the old farts, and old timers (myself included) will treat the new HF’ers with respect that show respect.
1. Be certain you REALLY know what you are talking about when you give out information. Be ready to back it up with direct quotes, if necessary, from legitimate sources, such as ARRL Handbooks, various Engineering Manuals, etc. Mis-information is so easy to spread, and once it hits the Internet, many people take it as gospel !
2. On the other hand, don't put down or criticize someone if you disagree with or don't understand what they are trying to tell you. Check the statements against a known authoritative source, and only when you are sure YOU are correct, offer your correction. But do it in a respectful manner.
3. When you hear someone on the air that is not operating in a professional manner, or is operating in violation of his license class, kindly offer correctional advice. If he/she comes back with an unflattering retort, spin the dial, or if he/she is really nasty and insists on being an a$$, make records of the frequency, time, mode, etc. , recordings of the audio if possible, and send them off to Mr. Hollingsworth C/O the FCC
( do treat him with great respect, he can be your greatest friend, or your greatest enemy, depending on how good or bad you are ! ! )
Enough for now, I suppose I will think of more later.
Good topic ! 73, Jim
k6jpd
12-20-2006, 06:25 PM
finally!, some calmer,pertinent, and constructive posts.
we ALL need to join the BPL fight and present a unified front.
thanks for the post http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif
Quote[/b] (AG3Y @ Dec. 20 2006,05:04)]3. #When you hear someone on the air that is not operating in a professional manner, or is operating in violation of his license class, kindly offer correctional advice.
Well someone has to be the spoiler here!
My grand daddy always told me, "Praise in public, scold in private."
No one likes the "radio police". No matter how kindly you attempt to be with your correctional advice, you will come off sounding like a big fat jerk for reprimanding them over the air where the entire world can hear what a idiot they are.
If you hear someone behaving badly, see if they have an email address. If they do, consider dropping them a note with the specifics. If it was a particularly serious offense and there is no email address, you can always send them a note via "snail mail".
As long as we are talking about taking the moral high road, let's remember the Golder Rule, "Do Unto Others As You Would Have Others Do Unto You". The bottom line is that if you insist on meddling in someone else's business, don't do it on the air.
Scott NØIU
n0jaa
12-20-2006, 08:06 PM
You forgot one...
Never go anywhere without your towel.
Quote[/b] (WZ4I @ Dec. 20 2006,08:19)]For the most part, I feel that the old farts, and old timers (myself included) will treat the new HF’ers with respect that show respect.
Exactly. From some of the posts on here regarding the elimination of CW tests, I venture to say some of those folks won't fit well on the bands when they migrate to SSB with attitudes that they display. That is a shame.
This is a hobby with lots of avenues to pursue and some make it a political issue, flamming and making verbal threats and whines. Man, that gets as tiresome as political mudslinging prior to elections.
I choose to continue operating as I always have. if you don't know CW, then I suppose you won't be able to QSO with me when I am on CW.
Other then that, you act like an ass on the air, and I won't be entertaining you with my presence either.
Act intelligent and show mutual respect and you will get the same back.
Act like a foul mouthed CBer and you will be talking to yourself...
ab8ma
12-20-2006, 08:33 PM
Quote[/b] (n0jaa @ Dec. 20 2006,20:06)]You forgot one...
Never go anywhere without your towel.
Don't Panic.
KC0NBW
12-21-2006, 03:11 AM
as individual groups i would say that the ofs probably have more respect for the ncts than the ncts have for the ofs.
kf4vgx
12-21-2006, 03:20 AM
Quote[/b] (KC0NBW @ Dec. 19 2006,21:11)]as individual groups i would say that the ofs probably have more respect for the ncts than the ncts have for the ofs.
Good luck ,with that http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif .
Quote[/b] (n0iu @ Dec. 20 2006,15:02)]Quote[/b] (AG3Y @ Dec. 20 2006,05:04)]3. #When you hear someone on the air that is not operating in a professional manner, or is operating in violation of his license class, kindly offer correctional advice.
Well someone has to be the spoiler here!
My grand daddy always told me, "Praise in public, scold in private."
No one likes the "radio police". No matter how kindly you attempt to be with your correctional advice, you will come off sounding like a big fat jerk for reprimanding them over the air where the entire world can hear what a idiot they are.
If you hear someone behaving badly, see if they have an email address. If they do, consider dropping them a note with the specifics. If it was a particularly serious offense and there is no email address, you can always send them a note via "snail mail".
As long as we are talking about taking the moral high road, let's remember the Golder Rule, "Do Unto Others As You Would Have Others Do Unto You". The bottom line is that if you insist on meddling in someone else's business, don't do it on the air.
Scott NØIU
I'd rather have somebody tell me RIGHT NOW that I had hum on my audio, or RF feedback, or I was transmitting on a frequency not authorized by my license class, than to get a "pink slip" or worse from the FCC !
All this "political correctness" is a sham if it leads to refusing to offer correctional advice in a friendly manner, and results in some other operator getting a wrist slapping or worse from some official source.
We are supposed to be "self policing" but I haven't really seen that policy carried out in a correct manner for a long time, possibly years, now.
Some people may not be able to correct someone else's mistake without making the other party feel like an "idiot" and acting like a "big fat jerk" themselves, but I have never purposefully done that myself.
And another BTW, when someone stomps all over my QSO, or forcefully barges in on the frequency I was occupying or swears, or acts in some other borish manner, I don't believe that anybody else listening in would have any trouble figuring out what an "idiot" they are. It is painfully apparent to everybody on the frequency.
I do remember an old saying, "when arguing with a fool, make sure that he is not similarly occupied ! " That is why I don't get to the point of arguing. That is what the VFO dial is for !
73, Jim
w5alt
12-21-2006, 02:24 PM
Quote[/b] (AG3Y @ Dec. 21 2006,00:56)]We are supposed to be "self policing" but I haven't really seen that policy carried out in a correct manner for a long time, possibly years, now.
Jim, it's still happening, just not as much as before. Earlier this year I turned on my IC-735, gave the dial a spin across 30m and heard nothing, so I called CQ. After the 2nd try a bad raspy signal came back to me. It was all I could do to copy him, but I found he was telling me that my signal was terrible and splattering all over the place. I asked him if he was sure it was me, since his signal sounded so bad. He assured me it was me, so I thanked him and signed.
I hooked up the dummy load and sure enough, my trusty IC-735 had developed a problem. I don't know how the fellow copied me! It turned out to be some trimmer caps in the VCO circuitry on the IC-735. The day before they were fine and I had made quite a few QSOs. If the fellow hadn't made the effort to copy my trashy signal and the patience to let me know, and if I hadn't listened to him, who knows how long it would have taken me to figure out there was a problem.
So, that sort of self-policing does still go on and it should. I encourage every ham to honestly tell others if there's a problem and for all of us to take such comments as being constructive, not a personal attack. That's the best defense we have to keep decent signals on the bands and to keep us from wreaking havoc on others, even though unintentionally.
Of course policing behavioral issues is another matter. Usually I just spin the dial, but if someone does really have a bad signal I will give them an honest report and hope they take it in the spirit it was intended, just as I hope people will do with me.
73,
Walt, W5ALT
W3MIV
12-21-2006, 02:44 PM
Quote[/b] (w5alt @ Dec. 21 2006,10:24)]I encourage every ham to honestly tell others if there's a problem and for all of us to take such comments as being constructive, not a personal attack. That's the best defense we have to keep decent signals on the bands and to keep us from wreaking havoc on others, even though unintentionally.
That deserves a repeat.
I cannot possibly number the times using PSK31 that I have seen signals with sidebars making them wider than MFSK or PacTOR traces. And not all of them are newbies or Cubanos.
I absolutely hate whatever software program it is that gives text on the waterfall that occupies a few hundred Hertz. In my opinion, it is the digital equivalent of a "roger beep" and the lid that wrote the program is a real jerk.
k6jpd
12-21-2006, 03:14 PM
Quote[/b] (KC0NBW @ Dec. 20 2006,20:11)]as individual groups i would say that the ofs probably have more respect for the ncts than the ncts have for the ofs.
[QUOTE]
ok.... perhaps as a start, the term "OF" is most often #used by the (please excuse me here) "of's' themselves to describe themselves. it really (from my perspective) is not a derogatory term; rather it is a "left handed compliment" type of thing, however, the term NCT is taken as "less than a compliment" by those concerned. the class is TECHNICIAN, even "TECH" is much better recieved and doesn't carry any "built-in" bias.
merry christmas
KC0NBW
12-21-2006, 03:36 PM
Quote[/b] (k6jpd @ Dec. 21 2006,08:14)][quote=KC0NBW,Dec. 20 2006,20:11]as individual groups i would say that the ofs probably have more respect for the ncts than the ncts have for the ofs.
Quote[/b] ]
ok.... perhaps as a start, the term "OF" is most often #used by the (please excuse me here) "of's' themselves to describe themselves. it really (from my perspective) is not a derogatory term; rather it is a "left handed compliment" type of thing, however, the term NCT is taken as "less than a compliment" by those concerned. the class is TECHNICIAN, even "TECH" is much better recieved and doesn't carry any "built-in" bias.
merry christmas
kind of like ''extra lite'' is tossed around here and on the air ?
the whiners are real good at running down the people that have been around a long time, although some old timers do their share of running others down also.
things are not perfect out here but we can keep trying.
w5alt
12-21-2006, 03:45 PM
Quote[/b] (W3MIV @ Dec. 21 2006,10:44)]I cannot possibly number the times using PSK31 that I have seen signals with sidebars making them wider than MFSK or PacTOR traces. And not all of them are newbies or Cubanos.
You're right, Albert, but it behooves us to make sure the problem is not on our end. With PSK31 and strong signals, it's quite possible to generate the splatter in the receiver, too. Before we offer constructive criticism, it behooves us all to make sure our end is not the problem.
Note, i am not saying this is the problem with your receiving. I'm speaking from experience. When I first got on PSK31, I saw lots of wide signals until I turned off the AGC, cut the audio input to the sound card back, etc. Then it finally hit me that my receiving was the problem with some of the apparently wide signals.
At any rate if someone tells me my signal is bad, I will definitely check it for myself and make any corrections needed. If I can't find a problem, I will ask others if they see something amiss with my signal.
On the waterfall display of text, I agree with you 100%. It looks "cute" the first time you see it, but it is neither a proper ID nor spectrum efficient.
73,
Walt, W5ALT
It's interesting, though, in that ALL of the digital SSTV programs I am familiar with have the capability of sending tones that will write words in the waterfall. Those words are typically the station's callsign, and the name of the software!
The analog software that I use ( MMSSTV ) does not write words in a waterfall, but does send out a series of tones that can be modified to send your callsign in a digital format that will place your callsign in the "station received" block of the electronic log portion of the program.
I do not necessarily consider these functions to be "liddish", but somewhat useful. However, I do question their legality considering what frequency they are found in.
Some years ago, a very popular multi-digital program had a function which allowed thumbnail type pictures to be sent and received using a modification of the MFSK type of protocol. Its legality was questioned by many operators, and its use fell out of vogue. However, you do still see some of those types of things occurring! Whether words on the waterfall ever become an issue or not is very questionable. I suspect we are going to have our hands full of other problems in the future. But only time will tell!
73, Jim
KC2ESD
12-21-2006, 04:36 PM
Quote[/b] ]Never go anywhere without your towel.
I have one better, never go anywhere without your VX-2R. http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif
ab8ro
12-22-2006, 12:39 AM
Quote[/b] (kf4vgx @ Dec. 19 2006,21:20)]Quote[/b] (KC0NBW @ Dec. 19 2006,21:11)]as individual groups i would say that the ofs probably have more respect for the ncts than the ncts have for the ofs.
Good luck ,with that http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif .
Exactly.
PE1RDW
12-22-2006, 09:00 AM
Quote[/b] (AG3Y @ Dec. 21 2006,18:21)]It's interesting, though, in that ALL of the digital SSTV programs I am familiar with have the capability of sending tones that will write words in the waterfall. #Those words are typically the station's callsign, and the name of the software! #
The analog software that I use ( MMSSTV ) does not write words in a waterfall, but does send out a series of tones that can be modified to send your callsign in a digital format that will place your callsign in the "station received" block of the electronic log portion of the program.
I do not necessarily consider these functions to be "liddish", but somewhat useful. #However, I do question their legality considering what frequency they are found in. #
Some years ago, a very popular multi-digital program had a function which allowed thumbnail type pictures to be sent and received using a modification of the MFSK type of protocol. #Its legality was questioned by many operators, and its use fell out of vogue. #However, you do still see some of those types of things occurring! #Whether words on the waterfall ever become an issue or not is very questionable. #I suspect we are going to have our hands full of other problems in the future. #But only time will tell!
73, Jim
At times these waterfall words can be more efficient then the traditional ways of afirming good reception.
In the analog sstv world it is very common to send back the picture if something was wrong with it, in digital sstv it is either good reception or no reception so a quick good copy or bad copy works better.
It also is usefull to identify the mode in use with digital sstv, again in the analog sstv world you only had timing differences so with the aid of the VIS signal the software could quickly decide what mode it was, digital sstv uses completly different modultation forms that can be hard to identify so a quick text makes it easy.
However for naroband modes it is indeed wastefull to send waterfall text because it is wider then the actual mode you try to identify.