Subj : HamData Callsign Updates To : Daryl Stout From : Barry Martin Date : Mon May 30 2022 07:44:00 Hi Daryl! BM> That's not good. I'd expect to take a test some review studying but BM> not a full-blown colege-graduation type of test. It seems like they BM> are testing on things that don't nned to know the details but do need BM> the information. I'd use my 'Black Box' knowledge: I know there are BM> various types of coax cable, Hams use the 52ê, TV reception uses 72ê, BM> there are sub-types within those. Probably good to know those basics BM> but I wouldn't have to know the detail of the thickness of the BM> insulation core is 2.1 mm. DS> Originally, you had to take EVERYTHING again...a 5, 13, and a DS> 20 WPM Morse Code test...plus the written exams for Novice, DS> Technician, General, Advanced, and Amateur Extra. Years ago, DS> there was no Question Pools in the public domain, and you had to DS> draw things like schematic diagrams, oscillators, and there were DS> no multiple choice questions. Also, you had to pass the Morse DS> Code exam first, or you were sent home...and, the FCC usually DS> came to the Federal building maybe 3 or 4 times a year at most. Almost sounds like one of those "back in my day I had to go to school in the ice storm ...uphill both ways" but things like that were stricter. Not necessarily right or wrong, just the way things were and things evolve. DS> They have a deal for folks whose license had lapsed (expired DS> more than 2 years)...in which case, they lose their license, DS> privileges, and callsign. But, they have to take and pass only DS> the 35 question Technician Class exam, on rules, regulations, DS> frequencies, propagation, RF safety, and basic electronic DS> theory...no more Morse Code test is needed. Almost seems would be a good idea to have a periodic review for everyone. especially RF safety -- thinking general electrical safety too. Just because using it doesn't mean using it right. OTOH they'd probably never be able to keep up with inspections. DS> If they previously had a Novice or Technician license, they are DS> basically starting over, as if they had never taken a ham radio DS> license exam. If they formerly held an Advanced Class license, DS> they still have to take and pass the Technician exam, but are DS> DOWNGRADED to General (the FCC stopped issuing Novice and DS> Advanced licenses in 2000). However, they can get the lost 250 DS> kilohertz of spectrum back, and get 250 kilohertz more, by taking DS> and passing the Amateur Extra exam. So the moral of the story is don't let the license lapse! DS> While several ham radio operators complained vociferously about DS> that $35 fee for the 10 year term, I understand that in some DS> countries, the fee for the license term is over $500. So to me, DS> $35 is a bargain. Yet, many of these folks will lay down a $100 DS> bill or more at a big "hamfest" for a "brick" of 250 prize DS> tickets. Of course, if you win a big rig, you more than got your DS> money back, especially if you can sell it. Or not spend the money (except for the ticket cost) on purchasing the new. BM> I can see a reasonable fee to cover the necessary paperwork; otherwise BM> it's nickle-and-diming which is wrong. DS> Most all of it is electronic (the FCC doesn't mail out paper DS> copies anymore), but you still have to keep a current mailing DS> address on file with them. Otherwise, if they send you mail, and DS> it's returned to them, your license can be revoked...then DS> operating without a license can cost $10,000 every time you key DS> the mic. That's where the big money is! "All electronic" -- stll have to have someone doing data entry. Even if filled the form online (so the applicant is doing the data entry for free) someone had to create the software to create the database and send/receive the data. Plus the cost of the computers, electricity to run, web connectivity.... Sounding more and more like a pretty good bargain! BM> It is! Breaks down to $3.50 per year! OTOH that hundreds of dollars BM> fee charged by other countries is either a really bad exchange rate to BM> the U.S. dollar or inflation or bribery to the officials. DS> It could be both. Plus, you can't get a decent meal for under DS> $4. You want fries with that?! BM> Different purchase considerations. I'd spend $100 on a party-size BM> snack tray (cheese, crackers, etc.) but I'd not spend the same $100 on BM> a case of booze -- the difference is I rarely drink but I do eat! BM> (Probaby not the best couter-example but was trying to think of BM> something to match your $100 reference.) DS> A moderator in one of the other FIDONet echoes (I got to meet DS> him a few years ago, before Covid-19, when he was traveling), DS> said that once when he was younger, all these kids going to a DS> party were responsible for bringing something. He ended up DS> bringing the drinks (booze ), and he said "it wasn't long DS> before we were as drunk as monkeys on a lawn". Haven't heard that particular phrasing but can relate! BM> Wanting to learn something is always better than having to learn BM> something! Wonder if they use Morse code like a 'secret language'? BM> I'm thinking of that semi-joke where kids don't understand the cursive BM> writing of their grandparents. DS> They were trying to outlaw it in schools. I think of the old DS> Tex Avery cartoon, where this wolf was to be the schoolmaster DS> (the "kids" were all dogs (aka Droopy, Jr. ). The wolf is DS> going through, seeing what they need to study. It went like this: DS> Reading....no (throws the book aside). Writing...no (throws the DS> book aside). 'Rithmetic...no (throws the book aside). DS> Fingerpainting, man!! That's what we need!! The "kids" are DS> elated. DS> So, he has them paint "a confederate flag", but he notes they DS> forgot the stars. He is then hit on the head by a bat from one of DS> the kids, and the stars to the flag. He growls "There's a damn DS> Yankee in this here crowd". Almost would bet can't air that cartoon any more! BM> So that's how the 'beep!' got started to cover audio outbursts! DS> Possibly. Many radio and TV stations would have a 7 second DS> delay, instead of being "live". I'm not sure how the filter DS> worked to get rid of the expletives. Some guy with his finger on a switch. AFAICT it's still being used: when the weather is being giving on a local station can see some of their monitors. There is roughly a six or seven second delay from what is live (meteorologist giving the forecast) and what is seen on the monitor in the background. (The monitor displays what we saw at home about seven seconds ago.) DS> Years ago in central Arkansas, the guy playing Bozo The Clown, DS> was doing a live show, and the kids were bouncing a ball, and DS> trying to bounce it into this barrel. When one boy's ball missed, DS> he said the S expletive. When admonished "Now, son...that's a DS> Bozo No-No"...the kid retorted "STUFF IT, CLOWNIE!!". That ENDED DS> the live show. :P Quick! Cut to commercial!! BM> The problem with speaking in a non-native language is there are other BM> non-natives! DS> And, the natives can get restless. "What does 'fidgit' mean?" BM> If only the poor guy had been told of the correct pronunciation before BM> or during the first ordering. But then wouldn't make a decent joke! DS> This is true...but I'm not enthused about having it. Eggs-actly! BM> And one can't always assume the kids are listening/watch "junk": for BM> all we know the kid would have recorded the class and is reviewing. We BM> used to do the same thing: it was called taking notes. DS> When an EMP occurs, everything gets fried...ALL DS> electronics...cellphones, cars, calculators, cash registers, etc. DS> The kids are going to panic!! And us older folke can't watch the events on TV! BM> Clever on the element symbol, but wonder how many listeners got it? DS> No clue. That station is long gone. But gold is supposed to last forever! BM> ...I can't talk intelligently about local/regional radio for the past BM> few years as I essentially don't listen. Have Pandora playing here in BM> the Computer Room. When I was working my commute was 12-15 minutes. DS> So, Pandora has her own box?? Pbbbtt!! DS> There you go, blubbering again. BM> Argh! You krill me! DS> You can't tune a fish. Excuse me...Charlie is at the DS> Starkist door. He left: you better go catch him! BM> Drizzle-drizzle-drizzle! I had a draw several years ago which required BM> multiple tubes: by the last one I was barely getting blood into the BM> tube. I don't watch the actual puncture but am sort of fascinated by BM> the flow into the vial. On the last I was sort of kidding with the BM> phlebotomist/nurse doing the draw and cheering on the vein to complete BM> the draw. DS> I knew of a woman who originally was a phlebotomist...now, she DS> helps with colonoscopies. :P I don't think she'd want to be cheering like before! DS> ... Sign in Restroom: Toilet Out Of Order. Use Floor Below. BM> Well if you insist! DS> Clean up in stall 4. Some can be very gross! ¯ BarryMartin3@ ® ¯ @MyMetronet.NET ® .... Q: How do you kill a circus troupe? A: Go for the juggler! --- MultiMail/Win32 v0.47 þ wcECHO 4.2 ÷ ILink: The Safe BBS þ Bettendorf, IA --- QScan/PCB v1.20a / 01-0462 * Origin: ILink: CFBBS | cfbbs.no-ip.com | 856-933-7096 (454:1/1) .