Hi Group,
I couldn't resist in chiming in here. I and a few blind friends used to use
code of a sort. For laughs and giggles, we used to get on a local repeater
and communicate in 'Braille' code. Yes that's right; 'Braille code.' When
we knew a bunch of folks could be listening and when the repeater was not in
use, we would get on the repeater and say to one another: 'OK switch to
Braille Mode.' Then we would key up and start reciting messages in
'Braille' code by giving cell dot positions as in:
'6 <small pause> 1-2-5 <small pause> 2-4 <larger pause> 6 <small pause>
2-4-5 <small pause> 1-3-5 <small pause> 1-5 <larger pause> 6 <small pause>
1-5-6 <small pause> 1 <small pause> 2-3-4-5 <small pause> 3 <small pause>
2-3-4 <larger pause> 1-3-6 <small pause> 1-2-3-4 <small pause > 2-3-6
<un-key>'
[which being interpreted is simply: 'Hi Joe What's up?']
Boy that would drive some folks nuts. Now every 5 minutes or so we would
identify normally. People used to ask us what we were doing and we said we
were using code. They said 'that's not International Morse Code and it's
illegal' to which we would say 'no it's not a secret code; it's Braille
code. and we announce it as such' We did that just a few times--since
there were a bunch of old crotch breaths that used to ramble on about how
evil things had gotten since they reduced (and then eliminated later) the
code requirements and all those no good CB-ers were now on 2 meters.
Actually, there was nothing illegal at all with what we were doing--since
the FCC rules state that only secret codes were impermissible. I wonder if
the old farts ever got the message that we were simply spoofing them; they
wanted code so we gave them code--a standard non-secret recognizable
code--that if anyone cared to look up the meaning, they could have recorded
it and played it back and with reasonable ease could have deciphered it.
----- Original Message -----
From: "John Miller" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Saturday, April 30, 2011 8:03 PM
Subject: Re: Dumbing down, was Re: Selling Gear Online
I know a few people who have just got the interest in CW out of nowhere and
started playing around with it.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Lou Kolb" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Saturday, April 30, 2011 6:28 PM
Subject: Re: Dumbing down, was Re: Selling Gear Online
> Some clubs have actually reported an increased interest in CW now that
> it's
> not manditory. Speaking as some one who operates it a lot and for whom
> it's
> my favorite mode, I hope that's not just wishful thinking. Sure it's
> outmoded by other digital modes but it sure is a fun and relaxing skill to
> exercise. Lou WA3MIX
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Steve Dresser" <[log in to unmask]>
> To: <[log in to unmask]>
> Sent: Saturday, April 30, 2011 5:04 PM
> Subject: Re: Dumbing down, was Re: Selling Gear Online
>
>
>> Buddy,
>>
>> Despite the no-code license, there seems to be a die-hard bunch of
>> devoted
>> CW operators. If we want to look at why ham radio is dying (and I think
>> it
>> is to some extent), it's because there are so many other ways to
>> communicate--cell phones and the Internet, for example. All that said,
>> though, people seem to find ways to enjoy the hobby if they're truly
>> interested.
>>
>> Steve
>>
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: "Buddy Brannan" <[log in to unmask]>
>> To: <[log in to unmask]>
>> Sent: Saturday, April 30, 2011 16:26
>> Subject: Dumbing down, was Re: Selling Gear Online
>>
>>
>>> Oh boy, here we go. So, passing a code test pases on interest in hf? =
>>> That's a bit convoluted. I agree that the tests have gotten easier. I =
>>> was also one of the first to get up in arms when we got our first =
>>> codeless license. I was, however, also one of the first to admit that I
>>> =
>>> was wrong about the codeless tech brnging an end to my beloved hobby. =
>>> The hobby's been dying now since the introduction of the Novice license
>>> =
>>> in 1951, if not before. And it's still alive and well. You don't think =
>>> the difficulty in erecting hf antennas, owing to cc&r's and HOA's, might
>>> =
>>> not have something to do with the seemling lack of interest in HF
>>> gear?=20=
>>>
>>>
>>> I, for one, have observed that when people talk about "dumbing down", =
>>> what that really means is "Things aren't the same as they were back =
>>> in*my(*day." Believe me, I can be as curmudgeonly as the next guy. I =
>>> didn't dub myself "the world's youngest old fart" years ago for nothing,
>>> =
>>> you know. But change is inevitable. Roll with it.=20
>>>
>>> And, more to the point, has anyone else noticed that the people who =
>>> often holler the loudest about how the tests are dumbed down and we =
>>> should still have a code requirement, aren't cw ops? Interesting.=20
>>> --
>>> Buddy Brannan, KB5ELV - Erie, PA
>>> Phone: (814) 860-3194 or 888-75-BUDDY
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> On Apr 30, 2011, at 4:17 PM, Tom Brennan wrote:
>>>
>>>> Steve, unfortunately we're seeing the result of the no code and =
>>> dumbing down of
>>>> the tests. Now we've got a bunch of techs that are only interested in
>>>> =
>>> 2m
>>>> repeaters. I'd think that online selling of gear would be fairly easy
>>>> =
>>> either
>>>> through Ebay or even through this list or sales lists run by sites =
>>> such as QRZ
>>>> etc.
>>>>=20
>>>> Tom
>>>>=20
>>>>=20
>>>> Tom Brennan KD5VIJ, CCC-A/SLP
>>>> web page http://titan.sfasu.edu/~g_brennantg/sonicpage.html
>>>>=20
>>>> On Sat, 30 Apr 2011, Steve Matzura wrote:
>>>>=20
>>>>> Date: Sat, 30 Apr 2011 14:56:01 -0400
>>>>> From: Steve Matzura <[log in to unmask]>
>>>>> Reply-To: For blind ham radio operators =
>>> <[log in to unmask]>
>>>>> To: [log in to unmask]
>>>>> Subject: Selling Gear Online
>>>>>=20
>>>>> Where's the best place to go to put some gear for sale online? =
>>> Someone
>>>>> I know has a relative who's giving up the hobby because they'll be
>>>>> moving into an assisted living facility and will have no space or
>>>>> other wherewithal to work the hobby other than via either a handheld
>>>>> or a mobile rig with a magmount out the window. I'm told he have =
>>> quite
>>>>> a modern HF station, but have no specifics as to what gear is =
>>> actually
>>>>> involved. Funny thing, the ham wanted to donate it to a local club or
>>>>> school, but the few takers he could find were only interested in
>>>>> VHF/UHF gear. Any recommendations greatly appreciated and will be
>>>>> passed along.
>>>>>=20
>>>
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