Coming back into ham radio after 40 odd years QRT I feel like I have woken into
a new world. I finally found out what the strange warbling noise around 1840 is
but have no desire to investigate it further. Absolutely the most annoying
thing I have found is the universal practice of everybody giving 599 reports in
contests which gives me no information at all as to how I am getting out. The
first time I received one I was overjoyed but later realised the truth. Perhaps
I am of the last generation, but I will continue to give accurate reports
contest or no contest. Once upon a time I could recognise most of my regular
contacts simply by their CW fist.
However I am really enjoying it.
Richard G3OQT
> On 23 Apr 2019, at 23:32, W7RH <midnight18@cox.net> wrote:
>
> Greetings Top Band,
>
>
> I guess I’m truly an old fart, now in my 54^th year as a ham. I’ve done
> contests, EME, Dxing, RTTY, Fast Scan and slow scan TV and still build a lot
> of my equipment.
>
>
> I do find the lack of CW activity frustrating. It’s not just 160m it’s all
> bands. I operate primarily 160 and dabble in 80 and 40m operation. Seldom do
> I venture higher, as my operations stem from the times I have had available
> to play most of my working years. Fortunately, I find many of the top band
> guys on 80 and 40m as well.
>
>
> With about 46 years of operation on the 160m band there have obviously been
> some changes in operating styles. In old days we would ragchew on SSB about
> 1840 or so all the while listening or keeping the 2^nd VFO or receiver for
> listening down band. Geeze, been over 30 years since that.
>
>
> Today we have panoramic receive adapters, skimmers, reflectors, chat rooms,
> Skype and RBNs. We also have numerous tools available in the form of
> ionospheric predictions and tons of NASA generated solar numbers, geomagnetic
> field sensors et all. In the case of RBNs which many seem to rely upon most
> are dreadful in RX performance. Very seldom do I get spotted in EU, JA, VK or
> ZL but work them all the time. Even with FT8 I’ve called numerous South
> Pacific stations for a half hour only to get no response due to their high
> ambient noise levels.
>
>
> On the Dark Side we have moved into the the digital world with computer
> operated TVs, wall warts, direct drive washers, variable speed AC units,
> clocks, WIFI, digital cable, leaky power lines, PC cabinets with glowing
> lights, no shielding and bad neutral connections just to name a few. I can
> honestly tell you that locally you have to go to 1296 mHz in order to have
> acceptable noise levels. Hence I built a remote.
>
>
> In the 33 years I’ve lived in Las Vegas I’ve seen the city increase in
> population form 300K to 3 Million. The average lot size dipped from horse
> properties of 5 acres or more with modest sub division plots of 12,000 sqft
> to Gated communities with CC&R and HOA antenna restrictions to a minuscule
> 4000sqft lot. Currently the objective is high density urban living. The
> resultant cramped space combined with noise sources has forced Amateurs
> worldwide to go to FT8 or not operate at all. I’m sorry but it’s true.
>
>
> In the US the FCC has long since let electronic manufacturers submit self
> tests for part 15 interference compliance. I’m sure the rest of the world is
> even more relaxed. The amount of these devices their noise is out of control.
> Add to the problem most consumer devices here are two wire power AC power
> including most TVs. The only survivor of three wire power cord in NEMA
> equipped desktop PCs.
>
>
> I grew up in the 60’s and TV antennas and ham radio antennas were everywhere.
> At that time even mid sized cities still had 2-3 radio stores. You didn’t
> have to get permission or permits to stick antennas up on the roof, or erect
> a tower. Most neighbors then didn’t give a crap or least kept their mouths
> shut. Now the consensus is antennas damage property values and view of the
> smog filled skies or are a source of community revenue to perpetuate lazy ass
> building inspectors in the name of safety.
>
>
> To my top band friends, thanks to the many that have made the effort to be
> heard and hear! I’m QRV most nights after 0300 pending conditions and again
> in the morning 1130 UTC until sunrise. I hope I’ve put a few things into
> perspective.
>
>
> I am now and forever a Analog guy.
>
> Bob, W7RH
>
> --
> W7RH DM35os
>
> "It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has exceeded our
> humanity." - Albert Einstein
>
> _________________
> Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector
_________________
Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector
|