Hi, Kevin.  Sure enjoyed your post.  I'm just starting to get into packet,
and wonder what program you're using with your TNC?  I'm a JFW user and want
to stick with a Windows based program.  Always enjoy your posts on the list.
I'm also looking for a good dual band antenna for 2 meters and 440MHZ.  Any
suggestions?  Take care, and have a great day!  Brian Zolo WA8SYX
----- Original Message -----
From: "Nathan, Kevin" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Monday, February 11, 2002 11:48 AM
Subject: This Weekend on the Radio


> Hi All,
>
> I just wanted to share something I did this weekend that I hope may
> encourage others to try something new.  Please remember during the
following
> explanation that I am totally blind so am doing everything by speech and
> sound.  I have a Kam TNC which is a dual port TNC capable of operating a
vhf
> and an hf radio.  This weekend there was an RTTY contest going on.  I had
> worked one RTTY contact before and thought I would try it again this
> weekend.  Here is how I did it.  First, I turn my IC-746 to lower sideband
> (I was on ten meters).  Next, I set one of the band pass tuning controls
to
> cut off low tones and emphasize the higher tones by turning it all the way
> to the high side.  I then set my TNC to rtty 45 which is the typical speed
> used in amateur RTTY.  Here is the tricky part for a blind guy.  Normally,
> you would tune across the teletype signal and watch the bar graph on the
> TNC.  However, I can't do that.  So, I turned on the monitor of my 746 and
> transmitted a tone with the tnc.  This is the mark tone.  Next I would
tune
> in a signal, match the low tone to my memory of my mark tone and low and
> behold, I would have words spoken by the terminal program I am using and
> could copy the conversation or cq of the station to which I was tuned.
> Using this method I worked France, Germany, Belgium, Spain, Canada and
Costa
> Rica in a period of maybe 20 minutes.
>
> Will this turn me into a hard core teletype enthusiast?  Probably not.
But,
> when I see a good dx spot come across the packet cluster, and note it is
on
> RTTY, I probably won't hesitate to give it a shot.  I guess my purpose
here
> is to encourage all of us who may be reluctant to try new things to jump
> right in and give them a shot any way.
>
> Take care all and 73.
> Kevin, K7RX
>
> Kevin Nathan, Independent Living Coordinator
> Dept. of Services for the Blind
> 3411 S. Alaska
> Seattle, Wa 98118
> Voice:  (206) 721-6450
> Cell:  (206) 604-4767
> Toll Free:  (800) 552-7103
> Fax:  (206) 721-6403
> Email:  [log in to unmask]
>