John,

I am curious; regarding your comments about the internet, i.e. ""The minute
you put the internet to work to make your contacts for you, you're just
wasting your time, the VE's times who gave you the license you're
effectively not using, ..." Your comments seem to be a bit condescending to
me. I remember using the internet back in the packet days to receive
heads-up on DX stations, and that was using the internet. Most recently, we
have been working hard to develop the remote base access using our
computers and the internet to operate the two remotely controlled
transceivers sponsored by Handihams in Minnesota. For some of us, that is
the only way we have to get on the air. It is pretty cool that Handihams is
sponsoring this project, allowing some of us to fully operate two TS-480's
remotely from our locations hundreds, even thousands, of miles away from
the actual transceivers. That is using the internet, and I, personally,
think it is very cool to say the least. No, admittedly, it is not like
having the TS-480 sitting here on my desk, but it is certainly the next
best alternative. We can tune up and down the bands, change bands, adjust
the various controls, e.g. RF and AF gain, etc., all using our computers
with a microphone, and the power of internet connectivity. Now, John, tell
me: how cool is that? <Smile> 

I fully realize you are mostly taking a shot at those of us who use
Echolink, but again, for some of us, it offers another alternative to
engage in a hobby we love. It certainly isn't like having a real rig right
here on my desk, but right now, I only have an old 2 meter rig that doesn't
work very well. So, these other alternatives provide a way for me to still
get on the air and enjoy a very modern aspect of ham radio. In my case, I
earned my first ham ticket in 1957 and earned my Extra Class license before
the FCC dropped the 20 WPM CW requirement. I have engaged in about every
aspect of ham radio there was and is, including homebrewing many of my own
rigs, and antennas and blowing my share of fuses and popping more than my
share of circuit breakers! <lol>    

A few years ago, I sold off most of my ham gear because I wasn't using it.
Instead, I chose to concentrate on my career and family. Now, I can get
back into ham radio without investing in equipment or putting up more
antennas thanks to the remote access base stations sponsored by Handihams
and the wonders of technology, including the use of the internet. So, John,
I ask that you reconsider your rather condescending comments about those of
us who elect to engage in ham radio by taking advantage of the most current
technology available to us. 

73,
Ron, K8HSY

  

At 06:51 AM 5/1/2013 -0400, you wrote:
>That's the key. *without internet*. The minute you put the internet to work 
>to make your contacts for you, you're just wasting your time, the VE's times 
>who gave you the license you're effectively not using, and they don't need a 
>license to communicate over the internet anyway. There are hundreds of 
>programs you can do that on. The trick is to make the *radio* side of it 
>interesting be it via digital modes, voice, CW, what ever it takes.
>----- Original Message ----- 
>From: "Ron Miller" <[log in to unmask]>
>To: <[log in to unmask]>
>Sent: Tuesday, April 30, 2013 11:06 PM
>Subject: Re: 47 years as a ham
>
>
>> Hi Coleen,
>> That is a possibility. However, we've got to do with the blind kids what 
>> we
>> have to do with the sighted one, we've got to capture their interests and
>> apply them to ham radio. We've got to learn how to use the digital modes
>> with access tech and find the kids who like to text, or send emails a lot
>> and show how one can do those things using a computer and a radio to talk 
>> to
>> people far away without internet; or, how to use satellite communications,
>> both digital and voice, or how to talk to the ISS. SB and CW is an aspect
>> they may or may not find interesting, but the digi modes might capture 
>> some.
>>
>> I think.
>>
>> Ron Miller
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: For blind ham radio operators [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
>> On Behalf Of Colleen Roth
>> Sent: Monday, April 29, 2013 7:57 AM
>> To: [log in to unmask]
>> Subject: Re: 47 years as a ham
>>
>> Hello Ron and All,
>> I am happy that we have some young hams who were just licensed in our 
>> area.
>> We are truly blessed to have some interested young people. That could be
>> because some of our Amateur Radio Operators in the Greater Toledo Area are
>> working with a School in the area.
>> Unfortunately a lot of the blind kids got their licenses while attending
>> various schools for the blind.
>> Some of these schools do not have equipment any more.
>> Some of the schols also have students with other more significant
>> disabilities.
>> Maybe we should think about reaching out to blind people in our 
>> communities.
>> Colleen Roth, N8TNV;
>>
>>
>>
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: Ron Miller <[log in to unmask]>
>> To:  [log in to unmask]
>> Date: Sunday, Apr 28, 2013 11:58:13 PM
>> Subject: Re: 47 years as a ham
>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Well...ccgrats to Phil and everyone who has "busted" the half century
>>> mark as a ham. I was first licensed in 1985 in northern California. In
>>> fact, I wanted to be a ham since I was 8 years old and read the book
>>> "Today I am A Ham," which I got from the Braille Book Library. I had
>>> discovered that you can hear signals from far away on an am radio,
>>> etc. I sometimes heard cw and ssb signals on a rather poorly designed
>>> am broadcast radio (no bfo, of
>>> course) I played with as well as rtty. My dad told me they were
>>> airplanes talking and I thought that was neat too. My dad, however,
>>> was dead set against my getting any radio gear or becoming a ham. His
>>> father was a long time ham and MARS op and my dad had unpleasant
>>> memories of my grandfather's turning the radios in his basement shack
>>> up loud at all hours of the day and night, etc.
>>>
>>> I also didn't know where to get materials to study, as I grew up. I
>>> finally took the Hadley school course for Novice and was licensed,
>>> then their General course to upgrade. I was an swl and scanner
>>> hobbyist for at least 7 years before getting licensed (my dad was no
>>> longer living with us) and I can remember listening to Russ Kiehne,
>>> Curtis Delzer and others on a number of San Francisco bay area vhf and
>>> uhf repeaters and, finally being able to get onto those same repeaters,
>> and hf at long last.
>>>
>>> A comment made earlier by Howard #3 is very sad and one which we
>>> really should be trying to address, he mentioned that all of us are
>>> all older. This really does distress me and I would very much like to
>>> help blind kids and young adults (as well as any other kid or young
>>> adult) discover and embrace our hobby.
>>>
>>> 73
>>>
>>> Ron Miller
>>> N6MSA
>>> Dunedin, Fl.
>>> USA
>>> SKYPE: arjay1
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> From: For blind ham radio operators
>>> [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
>>> On Behalf Of Howard, W A 9 Y B W
>>> Sent: Friday, April 26, 2013 10:39 AM
>>> To: [log in to unmask]
>>> Subject: Re: 47 years as a ham
>>>
>>> Hi all,
>>>
>>> I just passed 45 years in February.  I have noticed something strange
>>> here, Most all of us are getting to be old farts!!
>>>
>>> 73
>>>
>>> Howard #3
>>>
>>> ----- Original Message -----
>>> From: "carolyn johnson" <[log in to unmask]>
>>> To: <[log in to unmask]>
>>> Sent: Friday, April 26, 2013 9:19 AM
>>> Subject: Re: 47 years as a ham
>>>
>>>
>>> > Hi,
>>> >
>>> > I just passed thirty years on April first.
>>> >
>>> > Carolyn kj4vt
>>> >
>>> >
>>> > --------------------------------------------------
>>> > From: "Phil Scovell" <[log in to unmask]>
>>> > Sent: Thursday, April 25, 2013 4:41 PM
>>> > To: <[log in to unmask]>
>>> > Subject: 47 years as a ham
>>> >
>>> >ar Today it has been 47 years since I got my novice at age 14.  I was
>>> >at = ar the Nebraska school for the blind on a Monday when I got a
>>> >call from my = ar mom.  My license had come and I was now WN0ORO.  I
>>> >hung up and ran for = ar the ham shack and worked 80 meters; working a
>> guy about 200 miles away.
>>> >ar =
>>> >ar My 6 months as a novice has been the highlight days of my years as
>>> >a = ar ham.
>>> >ar
>>> >ar Phil.
>>> >ar K0NX
>>> >ar
>>> >ar
>>> >ar -----
>>> >ar No virus found in this message.
>>> >ar Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
>>> >ar Version: 2013.0.3272 / Virus Database: 3162/6272 - Release Date:
>>> >04/25/13 ar
>>>
>>>
>>> -----
>>> No virus found in this message.
>>> Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
>>> Version: 2012.0.2241 / Virus Database: 3162/5773 - Release Date:
>>> 04/25/13
>>
>>
>> -----
>> No virus found in this message.
>> Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
>> Version: 2012.0.2241 / Virus Database: 3162/5787 - Release Date: 04/30/13 
>
Dr. Ronald E. Milliman, retired Professor Western Kentucky University
Ph: 270-782-9325 
Email: [log in to unmask]

Chair, American Council of the Blind Public Relations Committee

Chair, American Council of the Blind's Monthly Monetary Support Program
(MMS) Committee

President: South Central Kentucky Council of the Blind (SCKCB)