Ron, I will ensure that on the next net I run, we all get an opportunity  to
check in regardless of where the call is coming from.

I am going to Homestead today to a farm that my niece owns.

I am planning on setting up a station out there if tshe will permit it.

Thus, I have to sell it really well.  I just need internet and a place to
put up an antenna and she has the space but I don't know if she has internet
out there.

Wish me luck.




Jose - KK4JZX


-----Original Message-----
From: For blind ham radio operators [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
On Behalf Of Ronald E. Milliman
Sent: Thursday, May 02, 2013 12:32 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Ham radio and the Internet

Re: Echolink...

I use Echolink, and while it is a long, long way from having a real rig here
on my desk, it serves a purpose and allows me to communicate through
numerous repeaters and with many nets and groups and individuals that I
would not otherwise be able to communicate with. Admittedly, I miss the
dials and switches and being able to go from 75 to 40 to 30 to 20, to 17 to
15 to 10 and then, flip around on 2 meters to see who is on which repeaters
in the area. Even still, without Echolink, I would not be able to get on the
Handiham nets, including Jose's Tech Talk net tonight. 

However, I have experienced a very definite bias or negative reaction and
opposition to Echolink users. One net that I tried to get into a few weeks
ago completely ignored me and would not allow enough time for an Echolink
station to be recognized. Finally, the net control said: "If you are trying
to get into the net from Echolink, I'll pick up all Echolink check-ins at
the end of the net." To me that is like telling me that I have to go to the
back of the bus; we don't allow Echolink people to sit in the other seats.
For all the net control knew, I could have had some important traffic to be
handled or an emergency announcement, like a weather alert. At the beginning
of the net, he stood by for emergency traffic, but unless everyone with
emergency traffic checked-in right at the very beginning of the net, if one
were using Echolink, he/she would never get in or maybe not until it was too
late. 

I've even had a little trouble checking into our Handiham nets, but that was
because the net control didn't allow enough time for Echolink check-ins to
get into the repeater. That delay creates a little challenge for getting
into the nets some times.

Ron, K8HSY


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)