View Full Version : MID CARS
I think it is just IGNORANT to tune up over the net whistling and blowing in to your mic,,,,,nice job,,,maybe you should just get a cobra 29 and go back to the chicken bands http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mad.gif
you know who you are http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mad.gif
SAD
EastCARS = East Coast Amateur Radio Service
WestCARD = West Coast Amateur Radio Service
MidCARS = MID-COAST Amateur Radio Service?? I never understood that. By the way, ages ago, in the early 70's, when EastCARS was slow, people would sometimes request signal reports. The reports would come in from Virginia, NY, New England.... I remember once asking for a signal report on MidCARS and was told by K9MKM "No signal reports, no way, no how." Made me think mid-westerners were particularly uptight.
Random ramblings....
Out.
and there is SOUTHCARS... which takes care of the Southern part of the USA (FLA, SC, etc.) that EASTCARS, MIDCARS, and WESTCARS don't cover.
Nice thing about those ops, you can go almost anwhere in the US of A (save maybe KH6 or KL7) and some parts of VE) and be able to work them.
When mobiling (for SY - 'MUBBLE THREE!" <guess who said that?> HI) it is nice to just be able to drive along reading hte mail OR know that you can reach someone if you need to and have a pretty good chance of getting some help.
Yes, I know.. I know, you can use your celltell or 2M rig or ONSTAR, but it's nice having something to listen to that is benign and easy on the ears.
"KAY TOO PEEEE JAY GEEE for EASTCARS!!"
(inside joke for SY! and other old pharts who used to operate ECARS..
K3FT, HERE! CLEAR!
73
W0UZR
03-08-2004, 03:56 AM
The assistant director and one of the best service operators on Mid cars got kicked out altogether for trying to do something about the whistling, throwing carriers, blowing into the mic, and what have you.
W0LPQ
03-08-2004, 01:13 PM
UZR: Steve, the original charter of Midcars, as written in the 60's before you were licensed, specifically stated to "Ignore QRM". It is plain and simple and has worked for many years. If you do ignore it, usually it will go away as you are not stroking their ego. That is the reason.
The current director of Midcars, AB8EZ, became a SK on 3-06-2004.
Bill, WØLPQ
K8ERV
03-08-2004, 01:42 PM
Idon't work the low bands, so will someone explain what the "cars" are?
TOM K8ERV
W0LPQ mentions a long-standing bedrock rule when dealing with QRM and intentional attempts to bother.
I G N O R E I T!!!
The old adage 'Give a fool an audience and he'll play on your stage for as long as the curtain is up' is quite true.
All op guides I have ever read, or written, or edited ALL contain a proviso that states 'WHEN AT ALL POSSIBLE ignore intentional interference to the extent you can.'
This means, don't talk about it, don't acknowledge it, don't bother to give it credence.
For those who say 'FINE. NOW how do you deal with it?'
You use the gray matter between your ears, for starters.
THE QRM'ER DOES NOT KNOW what effect or level of disrupton that they are inflicting UNTIL they hear feedback comments from the targeted group. Keep them ignorant and they will - unless they are totally focusedon the issue -go away.
If the signal bothers YOU.. have a plan in mind to have someone 'relay' for you. Simply say, 'Bill, I have a landline (or some other item) Pick up hte mobile. I'll be right back' and let that method happen.
Ignore the QRM and talk 'through it' Make your comments natural and neutral. Don't give the QRM'er the feedback that he's bugging you. JUst 'act like you are having a normal QSO'. Become a decent actor in your voice.
Trust me.. it's not a bad habit to perfect.
Have a couple 'canned patter' lines that you can revert to whe you need calm, collected, normal sounding patter. Believe me.. learn how to do this and most QRM'ers will not be be able to rattle you.
LEARN to use the controls on your rig. DSP, IF shift, Notch filters, Noise blankers, RIT/XIT.. Noise reduction.
I work contests for fun and there are MANY times that frequencies are QUITE crowded. It is impossible to dig out weaker stations without LEARNING how to use the various filtering/shift options that most rigs have nowadays for HF use.
The bottom line.. Plan your defense against the QRM and become skilled at it. PRACTICE! Learn to use your rig.
You'll find MOST QRM'ers will be able to be defeated.
IF someone on the net wants to talk about it, just quickly and calmly say 'Yeah, Joe I heard something there, but it's not bothering me and I can hear you all fine'.
Don't give the idiots the audience they want and they will go away.
73
K3FT
W0LPQ
03-08-2004, 01:51 PM
Hi Tom. #They are service groups, who monitor/operate on semi assigned frequencies. #They provide a common meeting ground, usually to get mobile stations in contact with a base station or another mobile. #Having a more or less specific frequency to meet at, then move off to another spot, provides an easier chance to meet someone on a prearranged schedule. #Road reports are relayed during inclement weather. #We on Midcars also work with other stations when they decide to install another antenna or radio and make sure it works in accordance with accepted procedures.
MidCars - 7258
EastCars - 7255
SouthCars - 7251
WestCars - 7258
NorthCars - 7240
MidCars and EastCars usually run from 730AM to around 2-3PM. #SouthCars usually a couple hours in the morning and a couple of hours in the afternoon.
Give them a listen.
FT: Our posts were almost at the same time. Thanks for the post. You are so correct. Do not inflate their egos. It will only add to the problem.
SY: MidCars - In the charter it is the MidWest Amateur Radio Service. Some say MidCoast, but not correct. Thanks for mentioning this, as we have heard it for quite a while and is hard for some to break.
73
Bill, WØLPQ
Anyone who has seen the Great Lakes would understand the appropriate use of the term "MIDwest Coast Amateur Radio Service". Some of the biggest boats in the world operate there. (All Great Lakes vessels are called "boats" but that's a topic for another thread).
Cheers, Mike K9MDJ
KC2KFC
03-08-2004, 02:57 PM
</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (K3FT @ Mar. 08 2004,06:49)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">W0LPQ mentions a long-standing bedrock rule when dealing with QRM and intentional attempts to bother.
I G N O R #E # # # I #T!!!
The old adage 'Give a fool an audience and he'll play on your stage for as long as the curtain is up' is quite true.
All op guides I have ever read, or written, or edited ALL contain a proviso that states 'WHEN AT ALL POSSIBLE ignore intentional interference to the extent you can.'
This means, don't talk about it, don't acknowledge it, don't bother to give it credence.
For those who say 'FINE. NOW how do you deal with it?'
You use the gray matter between your ears, for starters.
THE QRM'ER DOES NOT KNOW what effect or level of disrupton that they are inflicting UNTIL they hear feedback comments from the targeted group. Keep them ignorant and they will - unless they are totally focusedon the issue -go away.
If the signal bothers YOU.. have a plan in mind to have someone 'relay' for you. #Simply say, 'Bill, I have a landline (or some other item) Pick up hte mobile. I'll be right back' and let that method happen.
Ignore the QRM and talk 'through it' #Make your comments natural and neutral. Don't give the QRM'er the feedback that he's bugging you. JUst 'act like you are having a normal QSO'. #Become a decent actor in your voice.
Trust me.. it's not a bad habit to perfect.
Have a couple 'canned patter' lines that you can revert to whe you need calm, collected, normal sounding patter. #Believe me.. learn how to do this and most QRM'ers will not be be able to rattle you.
LEARN to use the controls on your rig. DSP, IF shift, Notch filters, Noise blankers, RIT/XIT.. Noise reduction.
I work contests for fun and there are MANY times that frequencies are QUITE crowded. It is impossible to dig out weaker stations without LEARNING how to use the various filtering/shift options that most rigs have nowadays for HF use.
The bottom line.. Plan your defense against the QRM and become skilled at it. PRACTICE! #Learn to use your rig.
You'll find MOST QRM'ers will be able to be defeated.
IF someone on the net wants to talk about it, just quickly and calmly say 'Yeah, Joe I heard something there, but it's not bothering me and I can hear you all fine'.
Don't give the idiots the audience they want and they will go away.
73
K3FT[/QUOTE]<span id='postcolor'>
This is excellent advice to follow.
All the training I ever received in the military in regards to "jamming" was to continue operating as if the jamming was not taking place. This is to give the impression the jamming has no effect on your communications operations. If they don't think they have an audience, they will move elsewhere so they can try to get a response from someone else.
</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote </td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">kc9aiy Posted on Mar. 08 2004,10:30
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Anyone who has seen the Great Lakes would understand the appropriate use of the term "MIDwest Coast Amateur Radio Service". Some of the biggest boats in the world operate there. (All Great Lakes vessels are called "boats" but that's a topic for another thread).
Cheers, Mike K9MDJ [/QUOTE]<span id='postcolor'>
Another great song with another great line, " As big ships go, she was bigger than most ! "
Who ( which boat ) am I referring to ? And who ( which person ) sang it ?
73 from Jim
kc5nyo
03-08-2004, 03:23 PM
</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (AG3Y @ Mar. 08 2004,09:10)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE"></span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote </td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">kc9aiy Posted on Mar. 08 2004,10:30
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Anyone who has seen the Great Lakes would understand the appropriate use of the term "MIDwest Coast Amateur Radio Service". Some of the biggest boats in the world operate there. (All Great Lakes vessels are called "boats" but that's a topic for another thread).
Cheers, Mike K9MDJ [/QUOTE]<span id='postcolor'>
Another great song with another great line, " As big ships go, she was bigger than most ! "
Who ( which boat ) am I referring to ? #And who ( which person ) sang it ?
73 from Jim[/QUOTE]<span id='postcolor'>
The Edmond Fitzgerald of course, by Gordon Lightfoot.
EasCARS used to be a pretty cool frequency back in the early 70's. A lot of the high school and college ops used to meet up there. Many of the younger ops would take net control and do a pretty good job.
My opinion of EasCARS has taken a nose dive recently. Now you get net controls who babble on and on when they should be taking checkins. There are also a couple "regulars" who sound like hardcore CB'ers.
Not too terribly long ago, while doing some work around the shack, I was monitoring EasCARS when I heard the net control begging for someone to take over so he could leave. After it became apparent that nobody was going to "step up," I offered to take the net for him, since I had been net control for EasCARS many times over many years, and knew how they like the net to be run.
Soooo, I slipped on my trusty Heil HC-4 "boomset" headphone/mic combo and went to work with my usual W3SY efficiency. Within a few minutes, though, some goof (I don't remember the callsign) came on frequency and scolded me for having "contest-style audio." He also identified himself as some muckety-muck in the EasCARS administrative hierarchy.
(Note: For those who are unfamiliar with Heil equipment, the HC-4 mic element delivers crisp audio for maximum intelligibility through QRM, QRN, QSB, whatever.)
This idiot continued to berate me, telling me that the net control for EasCARS needs to have more "pleasing" audio. Sure, I could have lectured him on the (gasp) BENEFITS of a net control station having maximum INTELLIGIBILITY (duh), and I could have suggested that if he wanted to hear a broadcast station, he could go find a 75 meter AM enthusiast to listen to. But that wouldn't have been The W3SY Way.
I thanked him for his critique, turned net control over to HIM (whether he wanted it or not), signed, and went QRT. Like Pontius Pilate, I washed my hands of the situation, moved on, and never looked back.
So EasCARS.... bite me. That's the last time I try to do something nice for you. Jesus....
I'm out.
K8ERV
03-08-2004, 05:37 PM
Bigger than most? Gotta be Dolly Parton!!! http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif
TOM K8ERV
WA2ZDY
03-08-2004, 09:01 PM
Yes, I used to do the ECARS thing, acted as NCS a bunch of times even. Usually from the HS or college radio clubs in the 70s. It was nice to feel helpful.
When I had my TS130 in the car and was doing a lot of travelling (112,000 miles on a Dodge Omni in three years!) I would monitor one of the CARS nets or the Maritime Mobile Net. It was a really nice feeling to know someone would be there if I needed to call for something. And sometimes I did. It was almost like flying VFR but having flight following. A nice safety net feeling.
Ah well, I'm sorry to hear things have deteriorated for the CARS nets. No surprise I guess. Society in general has taken a dive, ham radio would follow the curve. It's just a special shame with the timing since I just got an HF rig I am installing in my truck. I had figured on looking into ECARS soon.
Oh well. Welcome to the 21st century.
ae4fa
03-09-2004, 12:24 AM
I had heard ECARS was out of control. Hope they get it straightened out.
On road trips, I either rag-chew on 20 or 30 CW. If not much is happening, or if I'm in some sparsely populated counties, I go to CHN (County Hunters Net) on 14.056.5MHz. Good ops & nice folks there. When it's dead you can do a short rag-chew. Never tried their SSB net, so I don't know the story there.
I have heard ECARS just shut down because no net control is available. And apparently you have to be a "member" of ECARS to be net control now.
Does ECARS charge dues? If so, why? What kind of expenses do they have?? Why do you have to be a "member" (with your own special ID number) to be net control? Does it require special training? 15 and 16 year old operators used to take net control with NO PROBLEM back in the day. How big of a LID does one have to be to mess up being net control of an informal "net" like ECARS? Sorry, but I'm just not too impressed with those cats these days.
Out.
Yep, sad to say EASTCARS has descended into the 'Pit Of Bureaucratic Nonesense'
You MUST be a paid-up member of ECARS to be an NCS. (Now THIS is a brilliant move because it removes any possibility of a new guy or an interested re-tread who might want to learn to do it. EXCELLENT STRATEGY!http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif
Recently (early 2004) a number of the ECARS officials resigned in disgust due to the actions of one of the directors. Whenever an ECARS members happens to ASK someone - on the net - about what happened, becuase they are looking for honest accurate information - the are rather brusquely told that it is NOT to be disussed AT ALL on the air and they should call someone on the phone to inquire. (To which I reply 'YAH VOHL MEIN KOMMANDANTE!'http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif
As SY points out.. the 'NCS' is more of a 'meet, greet, and gab' guy. Just for kicks and grins, I decided to track one solid hour to see how effective or efficient ECARS was.
Like ZDY I used to be an NCS of ECARS quite a bit. Many hours, many days. Learned a lot and enjoyed it.
It was 1100 - 1200 on an average day.
1100 - NEW NCS ASSUMES CONTROL. Is greeted by departing NCS as an experienced NCS and wishes him well.
New NCS starts at 1100.
1100 - 1102 NCS gives opening spield (normally this is about 30 seconds of opening patter, but he draws it out in a nice 'backyard fence chat type of speed' interspersed with commentary)
1102 - 1103 - More spiel about how ECARS can be contacted, website URL, data, etc.
1103 - 1105 - Asks for check-ins (mobiles only) and gets 2 mobiles. Spends the 2 minutes chattering about non essential stuff before gets data and signs wtih them.
1105- 1110 - Asks for regular checkins and gets jumble of stations cuz there are LOTS of folks (me included) waiting to check in. If you are familiar with a DX pileup on a RARE station.. that is about how it sounded. (NCS gets, out of the mess about 3 stations checked in. Each check-in takes average of 1.5 minutes. Lots of back and forth 'QSO -like' chatter between NCS and check in'http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif
Total time. 10 minutes. Total business - 5 checkins. No traffic listed or passed.
1110 - 1115 - Gets a 'contact' or two handles them. That takes 1 minute of the 5 becuase has to chatter wth them. Calls for more checkins. Gets 3 more. 3 minutes to check them in. Lots of 'QSO like chatter)
Grand total - 15 minutes.. 8 checkins. GREAT RATE!
1115-1118 - Two Folks that moved off frequency with the prior hour NCS come back. 'RECHECK'. NCS has to have QSO like chatter with them.
1118 - 1132 - NCS gets 5 more checkins (I finally make it through the pile up and get 'on the list'. (HUZZAH!http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif NCS takes average of 2.5 minutes per station before he gets to me. (I was 5th of the 5 checkins) LOTS of QSO like banter between NCS, the checkin and OTHER stations on the net whom the NCS knows and the Checkin station know. Kinda like a roundtable. Nice, casual, carefree.
Before he gets to me, he has to give spiel about EASTCARS again. Why here, webURL, etc.
Finally.. at 1130 he gets to me. I simply say, "K3FT. Good morning! (I give name and QTH and 'NO TRAFFIC, Be monitoring. 73!' and I cleaer with my callsign. Total time about 20 seconds tops.
NCS comes back and in a 'AM ROUNDTABLE LIKE MODE' proceeds to confirm everything I said and that I'm around the net and how my signal sounds, etc. Takes 1.5 minutes to do this.
1138 - 1158 - same deal, but handles 10 checkins total, even though when he CALLED for check ins the PILEUP was rather heavy. I counted at least 3 - 4 deep each time.
TOTAL checkins (including MOBILES) for 58 minutes was 23 checkins, couple 'contacts' and a couple 'rechecks'.
I just shook my head and went away convinced that EASTCARS had devolved into another 'good old boys hang out frequnency masquerading as a Service Net'.
SIGH..
73
Chuck K3FT
kk7jk
03-10-2004, 08:57 AM
Chuck, I just fell out of my chair and can't get up, with laughter.
I can't hear any CARS, not noisey enough at this Ponderosa from the East.
Perhaps they should issue you a check-in number, your number 44 today, JK.
Go take a healthy one, scramble some eggs and bacon, take the dog outside, start the grass watering, throw out the garbage, wash your hands, sit down and you'll be next for your check-in.
I gotta have a drink now.
Is there a SIDE CARS NET anywhere?
CU ALL.
Actually, I didn't laugh at Chuck's post. Not because it wasn't humorous, but because it was SO TRUE.
I really have no objection to relaxed, friendly operating. And when the net is slow, it's okay to gab a little to keep the frequency alive. But I've heard the ECARS ops dawdle and ramble while numerous stations - mobiles in particular - waited to check in. But maybe "efficient operation" isn't their charter any more, so maybe I should just shut my yap.
Can ANYONE explain why ECARS needs to collect dues and have a board of directors? Why do you need an administrative organization to occupy what is essentially a calling frequency for several hours a day? Seems to me that way back when, anybody could get on 7255 and say, "ECARS 7255, this is WA3PQM. Name is Steve, QTH is Baltimore. Checkins?"
Now they have rules, and directors, and politics, and people quitting in disgust, and dues, and yadda yadda diddle dee dee.
Damn thing reminds me of LITTLE LEAGUE BASEBALL. When I was a kid, we just got together and played ball. No parents, no league, no dues, no political crapola. Seems sometimes the more you try to ORGANIZE something, the more chaotic it becomes!
**** BRIEFING OVER ****
out.