I just spent the past hour [in between two cups of tea] reading ALL the posts from this list [from Friday], had a really good laugh and almost fell otta my chair here in the shack with quips like, "at our VE sessions, state up front that you are not allowed to copy dots and dashes and then go back and decode them","We have a local examiner who not only requires 100% solid copy... he also requires you to send as well", "they didn't need to attach their "amplified microphone " to their new 2 meter rig", "Failure to communicate..... turn up your squelch, I can't hear you is another one!", "Ahh yes-the "tinfirgudbudy" crowd. Or as we like to call them, the 'light-bar brigade'.Turn up your volume. I can't hear you", "Turn up your RF Gain, you arent using enough power to get into the repeater". On, and on ,and on and....
Just last week I was listening to a conversation on one of our local 440 UHF repeaters and the fella often instead of saying, yes, or "Roger That" or OK. He often kept repeating, "10-4!". Now indeed I just have to make one or a few comments then throw out a way for everyone on this list to educate these "newcomers" to the ranks of Amateur Radio. My comments are that I got my Ham license back in 1959 [I was a CB'er before I got my Ham tix and not ashamed to admit it] and was tested in front of an FCC examiner [641 Washington Street the old federal building, NYC where the twin towers were built and once stood]. I did the Morse Code testing having to receive and send back then, at 5wpm for the Novice then 13wpm for my General!. I have seen how attitudes have changed these past 47 years [February was the month I tested] yet the hobby still is the BEST on this planet, even with some of its faults....and I still ONLY have a General Class tix! That will change come July when I test for my Extra and its about time!! So having said that, regardless on where the person started [citizen band frequencies aka 11-meters], or some guy or gal named Joe Schmoe or Sally Three-Fingers that can't count to ten, or know the difference between a 1/2 wave and a 1/4 wave mobile antenna or is shown a resistor and can't read it [you know, the colored bands around the device]. We as the so-called "Oldtimers" [I'm 62] need to help these folks succeed in their quest to be the BEST Ham Radio Operator they can be. This will ONLY come from education, hand holding, on air conversation through your local friendly repeater and sidebars of one-to-one sharing of experiences and knowledge....agreed? So as I go outside to pull the weeds, cleanup the front yard landscaping rocks otta the gutter [the kids like to roll their bikes on my property with CC&R's] and other "Honey-Do's". I'd like to come back to this list this afternoon and see that indeed some of you can select a topic and educate the many new Hams in the fraternity.....OK? So answer this thread [if you are bold enough and have the time] with some educational thoughts and experiences about Repeaters. What is a repeater, how does it work, what components are used to make up the system, what does the COS circuit or PL circuit do in a typcal repeater, how much power is normally required to access a typical repeater from the mobile, why do Hams NOT use an amplified microphone in the FM mode and finally, how and why is it necessary for a typical repeater to ID [CW or voice] and the operator to ID as well every ten minutes and NOT with every "over" or exchange of conversation. Many, many subjects so pick one, pick any subject of your choice and have at it. I'll be back.........best 73!! Doug W7FDF Vail, Arizona U.S.A. PS: I am a former two-way shop owner from the NYC area, have been designing and building repeaters since about 1979 and operate three Ham repeaters here at my home [449.925, 448.450 and 927.8500] still employed [in my third career change] as a Tucson Bus Operator the past 12 years...so why can't I afford a "Golden Screwdriver?"....he he he Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Repeater-Builder/ <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/