Tom, What a great history you have. I envy your photos on your QRZ page. My folks did not have cash for casual pictures. I do not have a pix of my BC348, ARC 5 or BC454 radios or the power supplies that I built to run them.Back then power supplies were basically finding an old boob tube and tearing it apart for transformer, rectifier tube, drilling out the riveted octal sockets and cleaning up the terminal strips. A combine knocked over a road sign and with some convincing from a hammer and angle iron vice with C clamps became the chassis for a few things. It takes quite a bit of wire cup brushing to get the red off the chassis. LOL. Later I got an Ameco transmitter, very similar to your transmitter in the pix. It was fun. I got my first pink slip running an EICO 720. I was CW on 40 and 599+ on 20 into the FCC monitoring station. I was 14 then. Everything at that time was a twin lead fed dipole with an L network made from surplus tuning units from old military equipment. I used a light bulb to tune the radio and the hum of the transformer and the brightness of the bulb and I was good to go. I remember working Malta on 15 meters during the winter. He was on AM and I was running CW to him. I was 13 then. Unfortunately, I do not have that QSL card. But I still have my first QSL card from WN9CNF. He used a magic marker on an index card and sent it to me. I worked tossing hay for cash and bought what stamps I could afford to send cards back. Today I love LOTW.
I have never had a big DX station and never will. I am content to be a little pistol with a 38 foot tower and 2 elements on 20-10. A vertical for 40 and inverted L on 80 then end loaded with a 174 microhenry coil for a shortened 160 inverted L. All of this on a city lot with houses nearby. I love my Elecraft radios and Amp. I am looking forward to learning SO2R skills. Hopefully it will chase away alzheimers. Additionally, I am thinking about buying a welder to learn TIG welding. I just can't decide if i want to do aluminum or just everything else. AC or DC is the decision factor. But again, I ramble. BTW, I have done anesthesia for many electrophysiology labs for atrial ablation. I am now retired and your story brings back many many memories, again dangerous visions of the past. Keep well and strong, 73, Morgan NJ8M BS + MS + $2.98 = COFFEE Real Life Experience = Priceless, says the man who set his back yard on fire with a bread board tuner loading a 160 meter inverted L with 1000 watts. LOL On Sun, Jan 3, 2021 at 12:25 PM Dave Sublette <k4to.d...@gmail.com> wrote: > Well I have been an extra class since 1963. I too, have patents and am a > retired EE design engineer. I run three Elecraft rigs and two computers. > But I admit that I feel dumber than a hammer when looking at all the > software options and menu items. I haven't even considered a Flex because > of my limited computer skills. > > Btw, at age 79, I can still build with SMDs. It's a matter of being > blessed with good enough eyesight and steady hands. > > I got over looking down on others without my level of expertise when I > realized there were just as many who have skills I don't have. > > If amateur radio is to survive, we need to be teammates, not adversaries. > > End of soapbox session. > > 73, > > Dave, K4TO > > On Sun, Jan 3, 2021, 11:01 AM Buddy Brannan <bu...@brannan.name> wrote: > > > I am, sadly, one of those dumber than a hammer types. Never learned to > > solder anything. Theory was not my strength, and if you sat me in front > of > > an Extra test, chances are better than even that I’d fail it. I mean a > lot > > better than even. Like…OK, I’d fail it for sure. But I passed the 20 wpm > > three times, twice with 100% perfect copy for all five minutes. This > skill, > > while handy in a pinch, doesn’t confer much more than bragging rights, > > whereas actually being good at the technical side would actually be dead > > useful. As opposed to, well, making me dead by some crazy accident. > > > > Still, and getting back to the age divide, I’d agree that if we’re > > focusing on the ability to talk to people anywhere in the world, we’re > > focusing on the wrong thing. Radio is magic? Yeah, closer, because it is, > > and I think we all of us who do this thing appreciate that. But I think > the > > ARRL had the right idea when it started an initiative to court the > > so-called maker community, because there’s a lot of common ground there, > > harkening back to old traditions of home brewing (an aspect of the hobby > on > > which I Feel I’ve sadly missed). Also, communication without > infrastructure > > has a certain appeal, and I don’t think it gets enough press. Sure, we’ll > > use it if it’s there. But we don’t have to, and this is an aspect that > > definitely deserves more airplay than it gets. Add in competitive aspects > > to the no infrastructure. I think all of these things could appeal to > > younger people if presented right. > > > > On the other hand, I was a 14-year-old ham in 1987, and I had exactly > zero > > success in getting much of anyone interested in this greatest of all > > hobbies, so that could mean I don’t have any idea what I’m talking about. > > > > > > Buddy Brannan, KB5ELV - Erie, PA > > Email: bu...@brannan.name > > Mobile: (814) 431-0962 > > > > > > > > > On Jan 3, 2021, at 10:21 AM, <l...@ka7ftp.com> <l...@ka7ftp.com> wrote: > > > > > > This is funny: > > > > > > " I expect a fire war when I say this and that is, most extra class > hams > > > licensed with in the last 15 years are dumber than a bag of hammers > when > > it > > > comes to radio theory, operation, station building, safe practices or > > > anything as simple as soldering or crimping on a PL259." > > > > > > I'm one of those Hams that is dumber than a hammer. I got my Novice > > license > > > in 1974 and finally got around to upgrading to Extra in the last 15 > year. > > > Actually since CW is my favorite mode of operation I was ambivalent > about > > > upgrading. Only till I realized Extras don't need to memorize that > band > > > edges did I upgrade. > > > > > > No, I don't waste time on games. I spent the last forty years > building a > > > career. I ran an R&D team for 5, was CTO of multiple companies, I do > > both > > > electronic and software engineering, oh did I mention I have 14 > > patents? I > > > can solder the smallest surface mount devices by hand. I just finished > > > building an observatory in my back yard. I built a 1965 replica > Cobra, a > > > GIANT analog synth, and I restore vintage computers. (Real ones > > 8008/8080 > > > era...) > > > > > > No, please just send me the golden hammer, I admit, I'm the dumbest of > > all > > > dummies and proud of it. > > > > > > 73 > > > > > > len > > > > > > > > > > > > -----Original Message----- > > > From: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net > > > [mailto:elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Morgan Bailey > > > Sent: Saturday, January 02, 2021 1:32 PM > > > To: Tom Azlin W7SUA <t...@nilza.org>; Elecraft@mailman.qth.net > > > Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Reaching across the chronological divide > > > > > > Chronological divide, Heh. I am 67 years old, for 7 years I played WoW, > > for > > > 6 years I played Everquest and for 5 years I have played Guild Wars 2. > I > > > enjoyed each of these games. I moved on to the more progressive game > but > > > still enjoy playing them from time to time. I only play GW2 at this > time. > > > Making the games set up and work with all peripherals is no harder than > > > setting up FT8. Setting up RTTY with 2 or 3 decoders and getting > > everything > > > to work...much harder. I am finding that many people in their 40s and > 50s > > > are getting into Amateur Radio. Some want the challenge of making stuff > > > work, some want the antenna building experience, some want kit building > > but > > > most seem to be from a subset of the population that are what one might > > call > > > internet geeks. These guys do great in the transition to ham radio. > > > Many gamers spend upwards to 2k$ on a video card only for their game > box. > > > So, $$$ is generally not a limiting option for this group. When they > get > > > hooked, they are hooked hard. In NCJ a few years ago, there was an > > article > > > about contesting and video games. The parallels between the 2 of being > > "in > > > the zone" were made. The same psychological high is involved but > > actually, > > > it is more involved and dynamic than an online game. > > > > > > Pile ups, gotta love them, any mode you can get them, cw or ssb will > > provide > > > that psychological high that melts the time away and keeps you on your > > toes. > > > One can get so involved that you have to force yourself to take a deep > > > breath and relax the shoulders and refocus on your posture so you can > > > continue to run. 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 hours later, you have to pee, get a > > drink, > > > grab a snack and get at it again. It is addicting. I am glad that cw > > > contests are not every weekend because my life would end. LOL. SERIOUS > > > online gaming requires raiding to really advance in MMORPG games. > Serious > > > ranking for WRTC takes the same. It takes tech, engineering, $$$ and > > > commitment to advance in the world of contesting. What reward? Well, if > > you > > > like to compete then this is your mojo. If you like to collect > wallpaper > > for > > > working all places, counties, countries, etc it is there. If you want > to > > be > > > recognised in a magazine for contest performance that is here. > > > > > > In the ham radio world there are no cash prizes. Not so in the gaming > > world, > > > there really are professional gamers. Heh for that matter, I used to > farm > > > gold in games and sell it for $$$. I did this while waiting to Raid. > > > In games you have dps meters and one always tried to be on the top of > the > > > pile by being best in your class for whatever your function was. N1MM > > has a > > > rate meter and mults window based on band population and feedback and > > > spotting networks. How does one get these gamers to transition to > Amateur > > > Radio? Good question. When I state that my hobby is Ham Radio, I get, > "I > > did > > > not think people did that now. Or Really, what is that? Why would you > do > > > that?" the conclusion that I get from these comments is: there is not > > enough > > > exposure of the population to Amateur Radio. Plain and simple people > just > > > don't hear about it or see it in action. There are no public special > > events. > > > There are not enough elmers to encourage people. There are no longer > any > > > towers being put up because of HOA and zoning ordinance rules. > > > Towers used to be focal points for people to talk about. Why does he > > have a > > > tower? Once that question was asked then a tour of the shack generally > > was > > > involved and maybe 1 in 10 or 20 became interested to progress into the > > > hobby. Rarely do you see a tower any more. Less exposure, less > questions, > > > about the hobby. People in general are curious. > > > > > > If we want Amateur Radio to survive, we as a whole have to whet that > > > curiosity. We have to be Elmers. We have to welcome people and > encourage > > > them to get involved. We have to be honest about the realistic > > expectations > > > of the hobby both in what it can and can not do, what is going to be > the > > > realistic cost to get going from marginal rig/station to contest > capable > > > station. The greatest disservice that is currently being done is > > licensing. > > > I traveled for 23 years up and down the east coast. I have attended > many > > > radio club meetings and the focus has been licensing, getting more > hams. > > > Sadly, that is not the answer. Many of those that got the license never > > > operated. Then there are the shack-on-the-crack 2 meter hams that just > > get > > > on repeaters and yack all day long. The same 3 or 4 guys on the > repeater > > day > > > in and day out talking about the same thing. Heck if I were a new ham, > I > > > would give it up in short order and try to sell my baufong asap. The > > problem > > > is even though we get people licensed there is little or No followup > with > > > helping them get on the air. When I got my license over 50 years ago, I > > > studied the Ameco Radio theory course. I bought the ARRL handbook. That > > was > > > my bible, my religion when I was 12 years old and living on the farm. > > Today > > > you buy a license manual. It has all the questions and answers. Marking > > out > > > all the wrong answers so that only the question and right answer > appears > > and > > > after reading just the question and the answer through 6 times and > never > > > reading anything else, there is a good chance that a person will pass > the > > > exam and never know a damned thing about radio but they will be an > Extra. > > > Whoopie. I expect a fire war when I say this and that is, most extra > > class > > > hams licensed with in the last 15 years are dumber than a bag of > hammers > > > when it comes to radio theory, operation, station building, safe > > practices > > > or anything as simple as soldering or crimping on a PL259. Much less do > > they > > > know what an SO239 is and what it is used for. Then there are those > that > > > sell new hams broken or marginal radios and that despoils them on the > > hobby. > > > There are tons of pitfalls to getting new hams into the hobby. The > > problem > > > is not licensing, it is helping the peer get going so they can have > fun. > > > Whether it be CW, SSB, Contesting, Satellite work, building antennas or > > kits > > > or just helping choose equipment and antennas and helping with that > first > > > QSO, those are the things we need to be doing. I have no proof of this, > > but, > > > if a new ham does not get on HF quickly after getting licensed he or > she > > > will not be long for the hobby. > > > Getting them invested in more than listening to a squelch tail is what > > needs > > > to be done. > > > > > > I praise Elecraft in their business model. First and foremost, they do > > not > > > produce crap radios. They are clean. They can be used in tough > > conditions. > > > For the most part with reasonable care and feeding, they are bombproof. > > > Plus, they have a price point for almost every entry into the HF > > spectrum of > > > the hobby. Their KX2 is a marvel for mountain top operating or the > > traveling > > > ham that wants a park-bench QSO in his down time. It is a quality radio > > > under the 1k$ mark. Next is their KX3. It has a way better RX, extra > > bands > > > and more power and sells well equipped for under 2K$. Then enter the > K3S, > > > now discontinued. It was the gold standard of all contest radios well > > > equipped for Under 4k$. Now they have the K4 iterations which I believe > > will > > > set a new standard for further manufacture of ham radios. In wondering > if > > > Eric and Wayne were gamers, they made a radio that can be upgraded by > > > plugging in new cards which is congruent with upgrading a computer game > > > machine. Because their focus has been quality before beauty, seemingly, > > they > > > produce an excellent radio, which is durable and does not have the LS > > > branding of chrome and fancy knobs to detract from lack of performance > > found > > > in other brands. Any of their radios can be used to contest and they > are > > not > > > painful to use. Every time I have called Elecraft, I get someone who > > answers > > > my questions. Honest, to the point answers and service beyond what any > > other > > > manufacturer has today. I am not forwarded to the call center where it > is > > > like working DX with QRM and QSB trying to understand the person on the > > > other end. Yes, I own some junk radios, 991A, 450D, 746, Xeigu, and not > > one > > > of those radios compares to a KX2 in functionality of RX. If you can't > > hear > > > them you can't work them. My current radio for the past 5 years is the > > K3S > > > with a second RX. I have worked thousands of QSOs on that radio. > Nothing > > > keeps its trade in value like an Elecraft. If a new ham can afford an > > > Elecraft, you have not done him a disservice in recommending one to > him. > > For > > > a new ham, buying an Elecraft and putting up a resonant antenna is > > almost a > > > guarantee for successful communication. > > > > > > Yes, I drank the koolaid, and I continue to do so. It tastes great. I > > want > > > more. I guess that is why I ordered 2 K4s in group 1. > > > > > > 73, > > > Morgan NJ8M > > > > > > > > > BS + MS + $2.98 = COFFEE > > > Real Life Experience = Priceless, says the man who set his back yard on > > fire > > > with a breadboard tuner loading a 160 meter inverted L with 1000 watts. > > LOL > > > > > > > > > On Sat, Jan 2, 2021 at 12:27 PM Tom Azlin W7SUA <t...@nilza.org> wrote: > > > > > >> Sorry to not agree EricJ. > > >> > > >> I have made a lot of friends over multiple QSOs, in my case digital > > >> modes. To me that is the magic that continues. Including long QSOs > > >> with hams across the ponds. But then I got my Novice in 1972. > > >> > > >> At local neighborhood watch got asked if I could help if we in this > > >> rural area lost land lines and cell phone service. So I explained how > > >> ham radio can help. No kids there so getting them excited still work > > >> in progress. > > >> > > >> 73, tom w7sua > > >> > > >> On 12/14/2019 7:46 PM, EricJ wrote: > > >>> We're missing the point here somehow. Siri's answer should have been > > >>> "The best way to contact Helen is to pick up your phone and call > > >>> her." > > >>> > > >>> Anything else is pretty much a waste of time and resources just to > > >>> talk to Helen. Seriously, there's a sizable investment in > > >>> specialized equipment to make contact via AMSAT or whatever. The > > >>> contact is set up for them. Then Jon and Helen wait to be told when > > >>> the link is ready. If that's worth doing and will attract young > > >>> people, then just shoot me. It sounds terminally boring. > > >>> > > >>> Making that investment in specialized equipment can't be justified > > >>> as utilitarian communication because it's expensive and > > >>> inefficient. If the point is to contact your friends any time you > > >>> want to, they are already doing that with a half a dozen reliable > > >>> instant technologies all accessible from the same smartphone. I > > >>> don't get where ham radio comes in to solve a problem they have > > >>> already solved. Certainly not with a system that requires waiting 15 > > >>> minutes for a satellite to get in position, and a Cupertino Robot to > > set > > > up the call. > > >>> > > >>> I don't have the answer to attracting young people to a rapidly > > >>> changing hobby in an even more rapidly changing world. The aspects > > >>> of the hobby that attracted many of us was the sheer magic of radio > > >>> itself. We weren't attracted to it because it let us contact our > > >>> friends. Even then we had the telephone for that. We were attracted > > >>> to the magic. Nine times out of ten, the communication part was "599 > > >>> OM PSE QSL". > > >>> > > >>> I always heard how DX contacts would allow me to learn about other > > >>> cultures. Actually, it did. After exchanging signal reports, I'd > > >>> look up their city with an atlas or encyclopedia. But I learned zip > > >>> on the air. A few California Kilowatts could hog a DX station, and > > >>> chit chat for a few minutes, and did because they could. But the > > >>> rest of us never got beyond the basic exchange and fought like hell > for > > > that. > > >>> But it was magic so it didn't matter that it wasn't all that > > >>> practical. > > >>> > > >>> The magic that attracted us is gone. Maybe there's new magic to be > > >>> found, but it's different magic that most of us with 30-70 years in > > >>> the hobby won't understand...and probably won't like. We are the > > >>> wrong people to even be considering answers but anyone expecting to > > >>> make a living from the hobby will have to find that new magic. It > > >>> ain't instant communication and it ain't the ham radio equivalent of > > >>> retro turntables. > > >>> > > >>> Eric KE6US > > >>> > > >>> ex-K1DCK, WA6YCF, WB2PVW > > >>> > > >>> > > >>> On 12/14/2019 5:35 PM, andy.moorw...@moorcom.com wrote: > > >>>> Question: Can amateur radio reach across the digital divide ? My > > >>>> answer: It could Follow up Question: Do you think it will ? My > > >>>> answer: No, not with current products and modes of use > > >>>> > > >>>> Why do I say this ? My 20 year old wants a turntable for Christmas. > > >>>> Why on earth does he want one when he can download any song he > > >>>> wants from his apple music account ? Answer: People of his > > >>>> generation are moving beyond mere utility (listening to any song > > >>>> anywhere anytime), they now want a musical experience, playing a > > >>>> vinyl record - could be one of mine - with all the "atmosphere" > > >>>> (hiss and scratches) to experience the music as it was "made". > > >>>> > > >>>> Could this experiential notion morph to a communications form? > > >>>> Communications utility is being able to contact your friends at > > >>>> anytime from anywhere, instantly, AKA the ubiquitous smartphone. > > >>>> A communications experience could be one where the path / mode is > > >>>> dynamic and not guaranteed to succeed (applies to VHF linked > > >>>> repeater systems and HF). > > >>>> > > >>>> So why won't this happen ? We (amateur radio hobbyists and > > >>>> industry) don't follow the usage paradigms they are used to and > > >>>> frankly expect, built around their smartphones. > > >>>> > > >>>> The turn tables I'm looking at have RCA jacks to connect to an > > >>>> amplifier but they also have Bluetooth to connect to your phone and > > >>>> speakers, and of course "there's an App for that" on the > > >>>> smartphone. > > >>>> > > >>>> People of this generation are not going to configure virtual COM > > >>>> ports so their apps can access a radio. Neither will they work > > >>>> through windows "wizard" configuration screens. Apple and the > > >>>> other developers have made set up effortlessly work and offer > > >>>> digital assistants to help you on your way. For example, below is > > >>>> a conversation from a possible radio future. > > >>>> > > >>>> Jon, Ham Radio Operator: "Hey Siri what repeaters are near me and > > >>>> can I link to Helen in Scotland ?" Siri: " Yes Jon there are > > >>>> several repeaters nearby but the best way to contact Helen is via > > >>>> Amsat, one will be over horizon in 15 minutes, shall I let Helen > > >>>> know you want to contact her ? conditions are favorable" Jon: " Yes > > >>>> Siri, let her know, I'll get the antenna ready" > > >>>> > > >>>> Sounds like science fiction ?- no this is technically feasible > > >>>> today - question is will some entity make the investments to make > > >>>> it happen ? > > >>>> > > >>>> Best Regards Andy K3CAQ > > >>>> > > >>>> -----Original Message----- From: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net > > >>>> <elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net> On Behalf Of Wayne Burdick Sent: > > >>>> Friday, December 13, 2019 6:24 PM To: Elecraft Reflector > > >>>> <elecraft@mailman.qth.net> Subject: [Elecraft] Reaching across the > > >>>> chronological divide > > >>>> > > >>>> Hams of a certain age, including yours truly (first licensed in > > >>>> 1971) recall their excitement on joining the hobby: there was the > > >>>> promise of contact with faraway places, collection of vivid QSL > > >>>> cards, mastery of esoteric equipment, synchrony with the rhythms of > > >>>> Morse code, and the crafting of antennas to harness action at a > > >>>> distance. > > >>>> > > >>>> Most of us still feel that spark, occasionally--some on a daily > > >>>> basis--experiencing the wonder all over again. > > >>>> > > >>>> While the accoutrements and equipage of youth have evolved over the > > >>>> decades, their DNA has not. Somewhere, nestled between the genetic > > >>>> codes for half-pipe snowboarding, Instagram, Juul, and ambient > > >>>> house, there's a dormant sequence for the Radio Art waiting to be > > >>>> stirred. > > >>>> > > >>>> Is there a Battle Royale for ham radio? A tactical RPG? > > >>>> > > >>>> What is our sorcerer's stone? Our rap? > > >>>> > > >>>> Will Gen-Z or Gen-Alpha tickle the ionosphere, and if so...why? > > >>>> > > >>>> To hand our batons across the chronological divide, we'll need > > >>>> empathetic, open-ended inquiry. > > >>>> > > >>>> 73, Wayne N6KR > > >> > > >> ______________________________________________________________ > > >> Elecraft mailing list > > >> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft > > >> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm > > >> Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net > > >> > > >> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this > email > > >> list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to > > >> mbaileyc...@gmail.com > > >> > > > ______________________________________________________________ > > > Elecraft mailing list > > > Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft > > > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm > > > Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net > > > > > > This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net > > > Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html > > Message > > > delivered to l...@ka7ftp.com > > > > > > > > > ______________________________________________________________ > > > Elecraft mailing list > > > Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft > > > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm > > > Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net > > > > > > This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net > > > Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html > > > Message delivered to bu...@brannan.name > > > > ______________________________________________________________ > > Elecraft mailing list > > Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft > > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm > > Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net > > > > This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net > > Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html > > Message delivered to k...@arrl.net > ______________________________________________________________ > Elecraft mailing list > Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm > Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net > > This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net > Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html > Message delivered to mbaileyc...@gmail.com ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
