Dropping the Code Test
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In a message dated 9/3/05 1:29:28 AM Eastern Daylight Time,
[hidden email] writes: > So doesn't that make those portions of a band where other modes are not > allowed "CW Only"? > There are only two such subbands in the USA: 50.0 to 50.1 and 144.0 to 144.1 MHz. What some folks call "the CW subbands" on HF are all shared with data modes like PSK31. 73 de Jim, N2EY _______________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Post to: [hidden email] You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com |
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In reply to this post by Stephen W. Kercel
In a message dated 9/3/05 1:19:06 AM Eastern Daylight Time,
[hidden email] writes: > The Extra written exam is significantly harder today than > it was 30 years ago. That all depends on what you mean by "harder". With all due respect, the youngest Extra on record was 8 years old and in the third grade when that license was granted. And that was the old 5 written test 20 wpm code test Extra of 1996 or so. There is a lot more detailed EE theory in it now > > than there was back then. I took the test twice - in 1974, when I > didn't have the EE knowledge (but _was_ a student in EE), and last > October (well after earning my degrees). This one was far harder than > the first try, even if I did miss only two questions. The degrees, 25 > years of EE/CS experience and a lot of advanced experimentation in > digital communication modes (both in ham radio and professionally) > really helped. The current Extra exam contains very little EE level material. What it does contain is a wide spread of subjects covered in very little depth. For example, the most complex Ohms-Law-for-DC problem I've seen on the Extra is a simple Thevenin equivalent. The 1970 Extra had lots more complex problems on the same subject. A lot of the exam is rules/regs, too. Plus the current 50 question Extra contains everything needed to go from General to Extra. Between 1967 and 2000, the step from General to Extra took two written exams totaling 90 questions. A valid comparison would look at the combined Advanced/Extra of the past vs. the current Extra. The only way I could see non-technical folks passing > > the exam is to memorize all the questions/answers. Not at all. Consider the test *method* as well as the subject material. Were all your EE tests multiple choice from a published pool of Q&A? Could you take the tests when you felt ready, and get a second or third try on the same day if needed? Would a grade of 75 be the same as a grade of 100 for all practical purposes? > > I believe that it is important to keep the Extra test hard - with > advanced technology questions. Why? And who decides what is "hard"? >But is CW important for the exam? Yes. Because hams use Morse Code extensively. > > Probably about as much as knowing which PN codes are the best for > Spread Spectrum, and why. Or maybe why FEC is used in data > transmissions and how to design a good scheme. Perhaps things like > that should be on the exam... How many hams use SS compared to how many use Morse Code? How many hams design data modes for use by hams, compared to how many use Morse Code? Should the license exams be aboout what hams actually do? Or should they be about what some people consider "advanced technology" regardless of whether such technology is used in amateur radio? Why not questions on HDTV? One of the biggest arguments aimed against the Morse Code test is: "why should someone have to learn Morse Code if they don't intend to use it?" That argument has apparently gained favor with FCC despite the fact that Morse Code is the second most popular mode on the amateur HF/MF bands, and is only tested for licenses that grant access to those bands. How are you going to argue against someone who says "why should someone have to learn those advanced technologies if they don't intend to use them and they are not very popular in amateur radio?" > > The use of CW is an important and very enjoyable part of ham radio, > just as much as any other mode. At this point it is important for us > to once again fill the bands with CW, voice and data transmissions or > we will start to lose them (as is being attempted by the BPL folks). > If it takes deleting the CW requirement to accomplish that, then go > for it! But will dropping Element 1 cause the bands to be "full"? Is the Morse Code exam so difficult that it stops large numbers of would-be hams? Look at the growth in US amateur radio from 1977 to 1991, and again from 1991 to 2005. Which period had greater growth, both in numbers and percentage? Yet before 1991, *all* US hams had to pass at least 5 wpm Morse Code. Before 1990, there were no code waivers, either. Or are there other things going on, like changes in people's lives, difficulties setting up a station, competing activities, and even stuff like the sunspot cycle? Just two examples: - How much time did most people spend on their cell phones and home computers 10 years ago? 15 years ago? 20 years ago? today? - How many hams live in "traditional Ward and June Cleaver" families where one spouse works a 9-5 job and the other does most of the care of home and children? --- There's an Elecraft connection to all this: Look at the success Elecraft has had with their products. Yet most of them are Morse Code only! A full-up K2/100 *kit* costs more than many manufactured transceivers, and lacks some of the "standard features" like general coverage. Yet with almost no advertising (compared to Ikensu), thousands have been sold and put on the air. Could it be that the sort of folks who really want to be hams are looking for a challenge, and not the easiest path? 73 de Jim, N2EY _______________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Post to: [hidden email] You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com |
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In reply to this post by EricJ-2
On Sep 3, 2005, at 1:20 AM, EricJ wrote: > > So doesn't that make those portions of a band where other modes are > not > allowed "CW Only"? The only portions of the amateur radio spectrum that are CW only are 50.0-50.1 MHz and 144.0-144.1 MHz. On HF, CW is permitted everywhere. Digital communications are only permitted in the lower half (typically) of the band, and Analog communication modes are only permitted in the upper half (typically) of the band. (At least, that is the case until the regulations change to restriction by bandwidth) Bill Coleman, AA4LR, PP-ASEL Mail: [hidden email] Quote: "Not within a thousand years will man ever fly!" -- Wilbur Wright, 1901 _______________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Post to: [hidden email] You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com |
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In reply to this post by N2EY
On Sep 3, 2005, at 10:03 AM, [hidden email] wrote: > Plus the current 50 question Extra contains everything needed to go > from > General to Extra. Between 1967 and 2000, the step from General to > Extra took two > written > exams totaling 90 questions. A valid comparison would look at the > combined > Advanced/Extra of the past vs. the current Extra. As I remember the 1980-era Extra exam was a lot easier than the Advanced. Of course, you also had to deal with the 20 wpm code test, too. But, one certainly didn't need to be an EE to pass the Extra exam at that time. Bill Coleman, AA4LR, PP-ASEL Mail: [hidden email] Quote: "Not within a thousand years will man ever fly!" -- Wilbur Wright, 1901 _______________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Post to: [hidden email] You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com |
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Bill Coleman wrote:
> > > As I remember the 1980-era Extra exam was a lot easier than the > Advanced. Of course, you also had to deal with the 20 wpm code test, > too. But, one certainly didn't need to be an EE to pass the Extra exam > at that time. > > Bill Coleman, AA4LR, PP-ASEL Mail: [hidden email] > Quote: "Not within a thousand years will man ever fly!" > -- Wilbur Wright, 1901 Well, I took both the Amateur Extra and the First Class Commercial Radiotelephone back in 1974. At that time at least, they were comparable. Of course, by the 80's, the "dumbing-down" mat have started. -- _ _ _ _ _ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ John L. Sielke ( W ) ( 2 ) ( A ) ( G ) ( N ) http://w2agn.net \_/ \_/ \_/ \_/ \_/ _______________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Post to: [hidden email] You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com |
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In reply to this post by Stephen W. Kercel
When I took the Extra exam in 1968, it was several years after taking the
General exam and there was no Advanced class. I had to study for it quite a lot. Those who got their Extra license earlier would tell me that the exam was much easier when I took it than when they did as they needed to draw schematics of circuitry to pass and I didn't. That did not take the edge off my feeling of accomplishment. I assume that the more recent Extra class hams share in that feeling of accomplishment. 73 Dan NØTK Highlands Ranch,CO _______________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Post to: [hidden email] You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com |
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In reply to this post by N2EY
On Sat, 3 Sep 2005 10:03:28 EDT, [hidden email] wrote:
> >But will dropping Element 1 cause the bands to be "full"? Is the Morse Code >exam so difficult that it stops large numbers of would-be hams? The ability to read Morse Code is a talent which people possess to a greater or lessor degree. Like reading and math, geometry vs algebra, some find Morse relatively simple while others find it very difficult. I'm a 59 year old software engineer who decided last May to try Amateur Radio. I spent two weeks earning the technician license, not tough at all. I bought a K2 with all QRP options, assembled the kits, learned a lot about electronics, radios and operating. I'm currently studying for the Extra license. I've spent 30-45 minutes every day since May listening to Morse Code and I still can't get pass 'g'. I've tried all known methods, Chuck Adams CD, the Koch method (G4FON), flash cards, sending first, etc. There is a disconnect somewhere between the Morse Code and intelligibility. I've tried to identify why Morse is so difficult to learn. There is the problem of translation of dits and dahs to letters. I've avoided that problem by learning at 13 WPM character speed. To me, each character presents itself as a sequence of one or more sounds. Combined into individual characters, these 'tunes' are straight forward and easy to identify. When placed in context with other characters, however, the sequence of sounds that make up individual characters merge with sounds of the leading and trailing characters such that they lose their correct associations. In short, they don't make any sense. How many give up the hobby because Morse Code is so difficult for them to learn is impossible to know. They didn't become hams first and then quit, so there really is no record. We could look at the numbers of technicians who have stayed Technicians over the years. Is it Morse Code that keeps so many Technicians from becoming Generals? I don't know, but I do know that the test for General is a piece of cake, not more than a week or two of study. The final aspect is the number of Technicians. Does the number of Technicians accurately reflect the number of people who wish to become Hams but can't (or won't) learn Morse Code? Again, not having studied the numbers, I simply don't know. It is reasonable to assume that Technicians who lack the wherewithal to seriously pursue line of sight communications soon lose interest in the service. That is, there might very well be a high turnover rate among Technicians. Many come in, some stay and some drop out. Then of course, there are those who refuse to even consider learning Morse Code and never enter the hobby at all. We have no way of knowing about these folks except that 'I can't learn Morse Code' is an oft heard phrase. The latter is often, wrongly in my opinion, discounted as laziness by Morse operators All in all, I would suggest that Morse Code is a significant barrier to the service. Does the value of that barrier offset its cost? _______________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Post to: [hidden email] You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com |
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In reply to this post by N0tk
I guess I have to ask myself how many people have we picked up since the 13
and 20 went away. Aren't we hearing the same old arguments for 5 now? I don't think folks are going to come flocking in unless we find ways to make the hobby appealing. In fact one of the rumors I heard was that 'No code International' was going to sue the FCC on behalf of handicapped folks unless they dropped the code. I am not sure about that but it is a rumor that I have read in several places. The FCC action item came out [supposedly] just before the final date? It is more important than this silly in-fighting, we need to convince the FEMA, fire, and police folks that all the technology they have counted on may not always fill the bill and a solid back up plan [can we say ham radio] has to be in place. If the fact that ham radio is working [New Orleans area] and the newer technologies are not. If that does not spur an interest to be followed up I am not sure what will. Put down a battery, antenna, 5 watt rig, and you have the world open up to you both SSB, code, and other forms of digital communication. That to me should be the real fascination of the hobby. PSK31 provides communication that folks who chat on internet can understand very easily. To be able to do this without computers, internet, the grid, or cell phones.... -- 73 Chuck AA8VS http://www.aa8vs.org/nren [hidden email] _______________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Post to: [hidden email] You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com |
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In reply to this post by N2EY
I think the top license class should include demonstrating the ability to
play the guitar. At just about every QRP get-together all around the country a dozen or more of the "elite" suddenly pull out their guitars and banjos and start playing. It's not advanced technology, but it seems to be what hams do. I don't play the guitar, but a new license class and the loss of some privileges might give me the incentive to learn. Eric KE6US www.ke6us.com -----Original Message----- From: [hidden email] [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of [hidden email] Sent: Saturday, September 03, 2005 7:03 AM To: [hidden email]; [hidden email] Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Dropping the Code Test In a message dated 9/3/05 1:19:06 AM Eastern Daylight Time, [hidden email] writes: >Should the license exams be aboout what hams actually do? Or should they >be about what some people consider "advanced technology" regardless of >whether such technology is used in amateur radio? _______________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Post to: [hidden email] You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com |
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In reply to this post by N2EY
[hidden email] wrote:
> > Could it be that the sort of folks who really want to be hams are looking for > a > challenge, and not the easiest path? > > 73 de Jim, N2EY > _______________________________________________ Exactly right Jim, 73 Deni GM3SKN / F5VJC K21188 _______________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Post to: [hidden email] You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com |
Re: Dropping the Code Test [OT: in favor of guitar]
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In reply to this post by EricJ-2
Eric, KE6US, wrote:
> I think the top license class should include demonstrating the ability > to play the guitar. What a great idea. I can't count how many hams I've run into who are musicians. Perhaps only ham/musicians should be required to learn CW ;) 73, Wayne N6KR P.S. Coincidentally, I *do* play guitar. Here's a tune I threw together for my dad, FWIW: http://home.comcast.net/~wayneb74/songs/Kid_from_1939.mp3 ---- http://www.elecraft.com _______________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Post to: [hidden email] You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com |
Changes (WAS: Dropping the Code Test)
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In reply to this post by Jack Brindle
Jack wrote:
he Extra written exam is significantly harder today than it was 30 years ago. There is a lot more detailed EE theory in it now than there was back then. -------------------------------- Wow, how experiences differ. I found the Extra exam comparable to the FCC tests I took for the radiotelephone and radiotelegraph licenses to maintain and operate commercial equipment: broadcast transmitters, airborne and marine radars, radios, etc. You have an excellent point though, even though our experiences are different. A few years ago I was asked to teach a class for aspiring Extra Class Hams. I'll readily admit that, having gotten my Extra in the 70's, I found myself scrambling. You're quite right, it wasn't really simple stuff. But, compared to the tests I had taken, it was different. Very different. My students needed to know how to calculate satellite orbits in order to predict their position, but they didn't need to demonstrate how to measure the deviation of an FM transmitter, or even how to produce an FM signal. They needed to know expected baud rates for various digital modes, but they didn't need to know how a superheterodyne receiver worked or how to neutralize an RF amplifier. In short, they needed to know a lot about the buttons to push on their radios, but not much about what went on inside. That fits with the changes in Amateur Radio since I was licensed. No longer do most aspiring Hams look into the books for a rig he/she can build to get on the air like I and my buddies did in the 1950's. Today most Hams go to the store and buy a rig built by ABC company, take it home and plug it in, then connect it to an antenna from DEF company and reach for the microphone or keyboard. The FCC tests today seem to focus on ensuring Hams know what buttons to push, where in my day we didn't care about buttons. Instead of being concerned about the shape of the knobs and layout of the front panel, we were concerned about which circuit configurations worked best and the FCC was concerned that we know one circuit from another. Times change. While building many not be "mainstream" today, that doesn't mean that Hams don't build. Just look at this reflector. Look at Elecraft. Look at all the people scrounging parts for home projects. Ham radio has always included the odd operators who didn't stay in the "mainstream". Many of them pushed the rest of the community forward, such as those who insisted tubes were better than crystal detectors, that CW was better than damped wave spark, that 80 meters would get out better than 200 meters, or that "Donald duck talk" on SSB was more effective than AM phone. At each step the "mainstream" was elsewhere while the few tinkered their rigs and their skills into new territory. I'll try to remember that next time I feel like a dinosaur <G>. Ron AC7AC _______________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Post to: [hidden email] You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com |
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In reply to this post by wayne burdick
Commercial CW station KSM in Northern California is currently (2041 Z)
running a "code wheel" on 6474kc/s and 12993kc/s. (1 kc/s = 1 kHz) K2's will tune 6474 kHz and I believe the KX1 will cover the 12993 kHz frequency. KSM is pounding into N.W. Oregon on 6474 at this time. The code wheel sends this message repeatedly: CQ CQ CQ DE KSM KSM KSM QSX 6/12 CH3 OBS? AMVER? QRU? K CQ CQ CQ DE KSM KSM KSM QSX 6/12 CH3 OBS? AMVER? QRU? K KSM WILL FORWARD MESSAGES TO EMAIL ADDRESSES FREE OF CHARGE K Originally they really were motor driven cog wheels with notches that tripped the keying contacts. Many of the newer systems use motor driven punched paper tapes. Ron AC7AC _______________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Post to: [hidden email] You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com |
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I can hear both stations on the K2 (for 12993, use 20 m; most K2s will
tune this low). The KX1 should be able to receive both, too. Wayne On Sep 3, 2005, at 1:48 PM, Ron D'Eau Claire wrote: > Commercial CW station KSM in Northern California is currently (2041 Z) > running a "code wheel" on 6474kc/s and 12993kc/s. --- http://www.elecraft.com _______________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Post to: [hidden email] You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com |
RE: CW SWL Opportunity On Now
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In reply to this post by Ron D'Eau Claire-2
Nil heard here on the east coast with my wire antenna. Can barely hear WWV
on 10. Ken K3IU -----Original Message----- From: [hidden email] [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of Ron D'Eau Claire Sent: Saturday, September 03, 2005 4:49 PM To: 'wayne burdick'; 'Elecraft Reflector' Subject: [Elecraft] CW SWL Opportunity On Now Commercial CW station KSM in Northern California is currently (2041 Z) running a "code wheel" on 6474kc/s and 12993kc/s. (1 kc/s = 1 kHz) K2's will tune 6474 kHz and I believe the KX1 will cover the 12993 kHz frequency. KSM is pounding into N.W. Oregon on 6474 at this time. The code wheel sends this message repeatedly: CQ CQ CQ DE KSM KSM KSM QSX 6/12 CH3 OBS? AMVER? QRU? K CQ CQ CQ DE KSM KSM KSM QSX 6/12 CH3 OBS? AMVER? QRU? K KSM WILL FORWARD MESSAGES TO EMAIL ADDRESSES FREE OF CHARGE K Originally they really were motor driven cog wheels with notches that tripped the keying contacts. Many of the newer systems use motor driven punched paper tapes. Ron AC7AC _______________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Post to: [hidden email] You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com _______________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Post to: [hidden email] You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com |
RE: CW SWL Opportunity On Now
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In reply to this post by wayne burdick
Wayne wrote:
I can hear both stations on the K2 (for 12993, use 20 m; most K2s will tune this low). The KX1 should be able to receive both, too. ------------------------ I tried direct frequency entry for 12993 on my K2 and it refused to do it, instead jumping to a 30 meter frequency. Didn't try to spin the knob <G>. Ron AC7AC _______________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Post to: [hidden email] You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com |
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In reply to this post by Ron D'Eau Claire-2
Thanks Ron,
In case some don't know, KSM is the new licensed call sign of the Historical society that maintains (and occasionally operates on Marconi Day with original equipment) at KPH on the northern California coast. I believe it is the first commercial license issued for the MF radiomarine band -- roughly 400 - 550 kc/s and certain HF radiomarine bands in many years. I generally copy them on 425 and 500 kc/s during those events and report it to K6KPH in the ham bands. I knew they had been licensed and were planning to start a traffic wheel, I just didn't know they had. I wonder if anyone afloat is listening anymore? www.radiomarine.org Ain't old time radio fun? Fred K6DGW Auburn CA CM98lw Ron D'Eau Claire wrote: > Commercial CW station KSM in Northern California is currently (2041 Z) > running a "code wheel" on 6474kc/s and 12993kc/s. _______________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Post to: [hidden email] You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com |
Re: RE: CW SWL Opportunity On Now
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In reply to this post by Ron D'Eau Claire-2
On Sat, 3 Sep 2005 15:28:23 -0700, "Ron D'Eau Claire"
<[hidden email]> wrote: >Wayne wrote: >I can hear both stations on the K2 (for 12993, use 20 m; most K2s will >tune this low). The KX1 should be able to receive both, too. > >------------------------ > >I tried direct frequency entry for 12993 on my K2 and it refused to do it, >instead jumping to a 30 meter frequency. Didn't try to spin the knob <G>. > >Ron AC7AC > My K2 picked up 12993 here in Minneapolis but it couldn't pickup the signal at 6474 kilocycles though. _______________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Post to: [hidden email] You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com |
RE: CW SWL Opportunity On Now
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In reply to this post by k6dgw
When I visited KPH last July during their "night of nights" event we were
chatting in the operating room while the "code wheel" ground away when we suddenly heard a ship calling! Denise (DS) was the op on duty and sat down at her operating position only to discover that her key line was disconnected somewhere. There ensued about 5 minutes of chaos pulling patch cables, etc., until the problem was found and she had a live key. She responded to the call. It was a ship wondering about hearing a US station operating CW on the 600 meter band again! Just goes to show that some of the chaos with cables that we see at Ham Field Days and the like aren't limited to Ham activities <G>. For those who haven't seen one of these stations, a photog friend of mine who lives in the area went along and shot some pictures. Some of them are still available on line at http://tinyurl.com/7q58c. When she gets the time she'll post some more. (A perfectionist!). Not a "radio person" she mistakenly identified the tape reader doing "code wheel" duty as a teletype. Good guess. Similar tapes were used for teletype machines. The long fingernails on the Vibroplex are DS at her key talking to the ship. DS was the first woman operator at KPH. What are identified as "antennas" are really the poles holding the open wire feeders leading to the real antenna farm in the distance! Huge weights mounted on pulley arrangements at the station held tension on the lines. Many of the wires are broken now. The gang there are fixing them up as time permits, but it's a big effort. Talk about having a little real estate for a decent dipole, and that's only the receiving end! When DS hits the key, the closure travels by phone line to Bolinas about 20 miles south where the transmitters and transmitter antenna farm is located. It is true, full QSK since she hears her transmitted signal in the 'phones' just like the ship at sea does. No special switching, muting, or other tricks needed. Ron AC7AC -----Original Message----- Thanks Ron, In case some don't know, KSM is the new licensed call sign of the Historical society that maintains (and occasionally operates on Marconi Day with original equipment) at KPH on the northern California coast. I believe it is the first commercial license issued for the MF radiomarine band -- roughly 400 - 550 kc/s and certain HF radiomarine bands in many years. I generally copy them on 425 and 500 kc/s during those events and report it to K6KPH in the ham bands. I knew they had been licensed and were planning to start a traffic wheel, I just didn't know they had. I wonder if anyone afloat is listening anymore? www.radiomarine.org Ain't old time radio fun? Fred K6DGW Auburn CA CM98lw _______________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Post to: [hidden email] You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com |
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In reply to this post by EricJ-2
This is really tiring to hear. "CW subbands" has always been the short way of saying "the frequency segments where voice (and later other wide modes) are not allowed". Nobody actually thinks that CW is restricted to those frequencies or that only CW is allowed to be used in them. Next someone will be bitching about 73 because there might be somebody that doesn't know it's shorthand for "best regards"... > CW is allowed EVERYWHERE. Other modes are currently > confined to restricted subbands. -- 73 de Thomas M. Beaudry K8LA / YS1ZTM ARS # 1566 ARRL Life member FPQRP # 1005 NAQCC # 0223 K2 # 3422 _______________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Post to: [hidden email] You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com |
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