Re: TS-990 (Don Wilhelm)

[Doug Ellmore Sr.]

Don,

Isn't that the nice thing about Amateur Radio,  *different strokes for
different folks.  **And as our knowledge expands, we can try different
things or not.*

Myself, I really enjoy integrating a lot of "operating software tools" in
my station.  But, even with the DX Cluster up in the background, many times
I just sit listening to a randow frequency or watching the RF spectrum of
my Win4K3 driven  scope powered by a K3 or KX3.

I can't tell how many times I've been on some random frequency with nothing
going on, and then  someone pops up and calls CQ or asks if the frequency
was in use.  Just last night, BD9XE/QRP popped up last night on a random
20m cw frequency and I worked him before he was ever spotted.

In this way, I learn about propagation openings, propagation timing, and
such.

When it comes to radios, the thing that excites me about the K3 and KX3
rigs are that you can operate using knobs or software.  The Elecraft K3 and
KX3 rigs gives you the best of many worlds...and over time the gear keeps
getting better.

*Back to different strokes for different folks*...A radio buddy, K3FK was
asked by a reporter at our Field Day event in 2013, and I paraphrase, "what
is it about ham radio that interests him", he answered "what is it about
catch and release fishing that attracts people?"

Doug NA1DX

------------------
Message: 1
Date: Tue, 10 Mar 2015 19:35:26 -0400
From: Don Wilhelm <[hidden email]>
To: [hidden email]
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] TS-990
Message-ID: <[hidden email]>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=windows-1252; format=flowed

I am "old school".  Yes, I have a 6 core AMD computer with 8GB of memory
dedicated to the ham station, but I do not use it a lot for rig control
- its main use right now is to give me a panadapter display, but that
part will soon be replaced by a P3.
I still paper log, and automated spots do not excite me - I can bring up
the spots on the computer and then dial the K3 to that frequency should
I be so inclined.
It causes me to think about what I am doing in the hamshack.  Those hams
who arbitrarily click on spots do not excite me.  I prefer to hear the
DX first rather than just transmitting without regard to others just
because a spot says there is something of interest at that frequency.
In other words, if you can't hear them, don't transmit - the ham bands
would be much more sane if everyone did likewise.  Just my not so humble
opinion.

73,
Don W3FPR
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[Eric Swartz - WA6HHQ]

Guys - I have now closed this thread twice.
We are way past the threshold for too many posts on a single topic.

Thread closed - really!

73,
Eric
List moderator
elecraft.com

On 3/11/2015 8:05 AM, Doug Ellmore wrote:

> Don,
>
> Isn't that the nice thing about Amateur Radio,  *different strokes for
> different folks.  **And as our knowledge expands, we can try different
> things or not.*
>
> Myself, I really enjoy integrating a lot of "operating software tools" in
> my station.  But, even with the DX Cluster up in the background, many times
> I just sit listening to a randow frequency or watching the RF spectrum of
> my Win4K3 driven  scope powered by a K3 or KX3.
>
> I can't tell how many times I've been on some random frequency with nothing
> going on, and then  someone pops up and calls CQ or asks if the frequency
> was in use.  Just last night, BD9XE/QRP popped up last night on a random
> 20m cw frequency and I worked him before he was ever spotted.
>
> In this way, I learn about propagation openings, propagation timing, and
> such.
>
> When it comes to radios, the thing that excites me about the K3 and KX3
> rigs are that you can operate using knobs or software.  The Elecraft K3 and
> KX3 rigs gives you the best of many worlds...and over time the gear keeps
> getting better.
>
> *Back to different strokes for different folks*...A radio buddy, K3FK was
> asked by a reporter at our Field Day event in 2013, and I paraphrase, "what
> is it about ham radio that interests him", he answered "what is it about
> catch and release fishing that attracts people?"
>
> Doug NA1DX
>
> ------------------
> Message: 1
> Date: Tue, 10 Mar 2015 19:35:26 -0400
> From: Don Wilhelm <[hidden email]>
> To: [hidden email]
> Subject: Re: [Elecraft] TS-990
> Message-ID: <[hidden email]>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=windows-1252; format=flowed
>
> I am "old school".  Yes, I have a 6 core AMD computer with 8GB of memory
> dedicated to the ham station, but I do not use it a lot for rig control
> - its main use right now is to give me a panadapter display, but that
> part will soon be replaced by a P3.
> I still paper log, and automated spots do not excite me - I can bring up
> the spots on the computer and then dial the K3 to that frequency should
> I be so inclined.
> It causes me to think about what I am doing in the hamshack.  Those hams
> who arbitrarily click on spots do not excite me.  I prefer to hear the
> DX first rather than just transmitting without regard to others just
> because a spot says there is something of interest at that frequency.
> In other words, if you can't hear them, don't transmit - the ham bands
> would be much more sane if everyone did likewise.  Just my not so humble
> opinion.
>
> 73,
> Don W3FPR
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>
> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
> Message delivered to [hidden email]

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[Todd - k1tm]

Don, Nice analogy.  Catch and release fishing.  So, you can sit quietly by the stream and wait for a rise or use a full color fish finder while trolling.  I like to do both styles of fishing and both forms of radio operation.  Both take skill and a knowledge of how to use the basic tools.  To each his own, because the one thing we won't hold back is the rate and pace of innovation.  Might as well enjoy whatever is in front you and roll with the changes.  

For what it is worth, at least the guy operating from a spot probably got the split set correctly via the automatic QSX features offered by many programs.  Many "Old Schoolers" still can't get that correct (Just some levity and not a poke at anyone).  I make that mistake all the time when I stumble upon a new one starting up split.  

73, Todd.