TromboneAl
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
- Joined
- Jun 30, 2006
- Messages
- 12,880
Yeah, but how are you going to find the King of Jordan on the Internet?
two thoughts on ham radio:
1. I always found it amusing that the main thing that hams seemed to talk about was their equipment ("rig"). That is, they put together this stuff just to talk about the stuff they put together.
2. Doesn't the internet now fulfill many of the needs that ham radio was used for (that is, converse with strangers around the world)?
Two thoughts on ham radio:
1. I always found it amusing that the main thing that hams seemed to talk about was their equipment ("rig"). That is, they put together this stuff just to talk about the stuff they put together.
2. Doesn't the Internet now fulfill many of the needs that ham radio was used for (that is, converse with strangers around the world)?
2. Seems like for natural disasters, radio might be more robust?
That's one reason Morse code has been so long lived - on a weak/noisy signal, you can pick out the difference between a dash and a dot far more accurately than you can decode verbal communication.
For all we know, he walks among us commoners today. Maybe picking up some good asset allocation tips or something.
Yeah, but how are you going to find the King of Jordan on the Internet?
ta,
mew
(the late king, actually)
I remember many moons ago...when both my Dad and the King (of Jordan..NOT Elvis ) were still above the dirt....the day that my Dad talked to him. Dad had talked to folks all over the globe for many years, but making contact with the King was a high spot in his Ham experiences and memories! I don't recall now, if they exchanged QSL cards or not....someday I'll have to dig around and see if I can find one if they did.That's the son's gig - the current king.
Senior was a ham radio operator.
ta,
mew
In the case of TFFMC's interference, voice signals audible on her computer speakers are garbled and completely unintelligible because there is no circuitry to demodulate the signal and convert it to human-understandable audio. But when Morse signals are used, the content is easily interpreted.
But, you're right that today's digital signalling processing can, in many situations, rival Morse in being able to communicate under tough conditions.
For amateur radio operators, using Morse is analogous to a golfer actually going outdoors on the course and playing as opposed to staying inside and playing a simulation on his computer. Or a surfer actually going to the beach and surfing as opposed to staying inside and playing a simulation...... I'ts fun and requires a little mental agility to send and receive Morse without computer aids.
I remember many moons ago...when both my Dad and the King (of Jordan..NOT Elvis ) were still above the dirt....the day that my Dad talked to him. Dad had talked to folks all over the globe for many years, but making contact with the King was a high spot in his Ham experiences and memories! I don't recall now, if they exchanged QSL cards or not....someday I'll have to dig around and see if I can find one if they did.
morse code was done away with years ago as a requirement ...digital communications such as packet have surpassed it in efficiancy..
ARRLWeb: It's Official! Morse Code Requirement Ends Friday, February 23
As I recall, they just exchanged pleasantries for a few minutes, and then continued on with their lives....just like so many other contacts that they made over the years. Besides being a fairly unique opportunity for my Dad, it sure added some fuel to his bragging rights!By the way, what did Mr. Goonie Snr. and the King chat about?
Two thoughts on ham radio:
1. I always found it amusing that the main thing that hams seemed to talk about was their equipment ("rig"). That is, they put together this stuff just to talk about the stuff they put together.
2. Doesn't the Internet now fulfill many of the needs that ham radio was used for (that is, converse with strangers around the world)?
I noticed as a kid that all the hams talked about was their eqpt,
I noticed as a kid that all the hams talked about was their eqpt, too. Then they got into microprocessors in the '70s and starting sending each other digital pics... Guess what the pics were of.
Mike D.
Amateur radio: Playing with radio communications for the fun and pleasure of it.
There are on the HF frequencies many "ragchewers" who communicate daily about various topics, nut unlike here on this forum. Topics as here can range from hairballs, through investments, old age pins and remedies, to rocket science. No need for emoticons, tone of voice conveys tons of meaning.
Several people get together on the same frequency and do round table discussions. There are emergency nets, well coordinated and controlled by net control.
The users of amateur spectrum run the gamut form morse code with straight keys, iambic paddles at breakneck speed, radio locations digital modes by the bucket.
Some of the stuff can be lifesaving in an emergency, some are done just to pass the time. Yes, there are contests for maximum number of contacts in a day, or by continent, none of which ever interested me.
Frank belongs to a forum in which real names and contact information is readily available. They are ham radio operators, and many have been in contact with one another for years. They go by their call signs, and using that their names, addresses, and so on can be looked up.
Participants on that forum are NASTY to each other!! I was shocked. They had to completely remove their political forum (like our Soapbox) a couple of weeks ago, because it was getting so bad, and I mean BAD. They are not nearly as nice and civil as we are.
Surprised me, too! I told him they needed better moderation. He told me that their mods literally get phone calls in the middle of the night by incensed forum participants.
When I was a teenager, I was interested in Ham radio for the fun in electronics. Never an operator, but I read their periodicals to study the vacuum tube circuits. I chuckled at one incidence when two guys insulted each other over the airwave. One found out where the other guy was, seeked him out, and pumped several rounds of lead into the other guy's ...
... radio.
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us guys are still talking about our equipment ha ha haI noticed as a kid that all the hams talked about was their eqpt, too. Then they got into microprocessors in the '70s and starting sending each other digital pics... Guess what the pics were of.
Mike D.
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