Go to C W, they are a different breed than the fone gang.  73
Ed   K7UC

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From: "dustin thompson" <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Wednesday, June 12, 2013 3:46 PM
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: Re: Trying to get back into the swing of things again!

> the same thing happened to cb radio, 10 to 15 years ago, i could fire
> up the radio, and talk all day long, but now, i asked for a radio
> report, or check, if i get an answer they say it is working hand, and
> that is all i will ever get out of them, and that radio check, well i
> am lucky to get one most of the time. it is not like i set there all
> day long asking for one. it is after my radio has been turned off for
> a few days. i listen to a online ham receiver, there is a group on top
> band, they aren't that bad,  but i have heard some click like round
> tables. not from the guys on topband, but on a couple of the other
> frequencies  the receiver changes to.
>
> On 6/12/13, Ronald E. Milliman <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>> CQ CQ CQ de K8HSY
>>
>> I'm trying to get back into the swing of things on the ol' ham bands 
>> again!
>> As I have mentioned before, I got my ticket back in 1957, and was really
>> active for many years, but ham radio has really changed. I am trying to
>> figure it out. It seems like the bands are totally made up of clusters of
>> little cliques, and some of them aren't even all that little. They all 
>> know
>> each other, and either they don't acknowledge you, or if they do, they 
>> give
>> you the impression that you are a stranger, not welcome into their 
>> clique.
>>
>> When I was an active ham before, back a few years ago, I could call CQ on
>> any of the bands and there was a high probability that someone would come
>> back, and we would carry on a QSO for maybe a few minutes to maybe an 
>> hour
>> or so. I could break into a round table or QSO and they would usually 
>> make
>> you feel welcome, and after a while you fitted right into the group or 
>> QSO.
>>
>>
>> Am I wrong and missing something? I don't get that welcome, friendly
>> feeling hardly anywhere anymore on the bands, except for the "Do Drop In"
>> net and the HandiHam nets. We blind hams seem like a pretty friendly,
>> smooth bunch of hams.
>>
>> Also, I don't hear much of any activity on the repeaters anymore either. 
>> I
>> used to be able to jump onto a repeater and say: "This is K8HSY; is there
>> anyone around this afternoon," and about 70% of the time someone would 
>> come
>> back. Even if they were busy doing something else, they would often come
>> back and say something like: "K8HSY this KK4QL. I'm sort of tied up 
>> working
>> on a little work bench project right now, but I just wanted to let you 
>> know
>> you were being heard. Unless there is something you really need, I'll get
>> back to my project..."
>>
>> I feel like I've been sleeping for the last 10 years and have woken up 
>> into
>> a different world!
>>
>> Ron, K8HSY
>>
>>
>> At 01:58 PM 6/12/2013 -0600, you wrote:
>>>also listen for the fm repeaters on 29.62, 64, 66 and 68.
>>>there is a big one out of new york state running 1500W on 29.62.  Input 
>>>is
>>>
>>>100K down btw.
>>>also, you will hear CW beacons, which are continuous automated
>>> transmitters,
>>>from 28.3 down to around 28.185 or something like that.  They are a great
>>>way to practice your cw because they are usually no more than 10 words 
>>>per
>>>
>>>minute and they repeat the same message over and over.
>>>
>>>openings on 10 are pretty spiratic in the summer, but they certainly
>>> happen,
>>>and they can be relatively short distance openings which is fun.
>>>
>>>73
>>>Colin, V A6BKX
>>>----- Original Message -----
>>>From: "dustin thompson" <[log in to unmask]>
>>>To: <[log in to unmask]>
>>>Sent: Wednesday, June 12, 2013 1:16 PM
>>>Subject: 10M
>>>
>>>
>>>> there was some openings on 10 M, i heard some CW, and some net out of
>>>> Long Beach, CA. not sure what it was, because it was fading in and
>>>> out.  quite a few other stations too, i was going to look them up, but
>>>> they gave there call sign too fast,
>>>
>> 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)
>>