[Amps] Amps Digest, Vol 31, Issue 60

[Will Matney]

Bill,

See Below;


On 8/1/05 at 11:25 AM Bill Fuqua wrote:

>OK, I have got to reply.
>
>     Most of the hams that build amplifiers for 11 meter operators and 
>those that know little about RF are illegal CBers that have taken the 
>relative easy exams and gotten ham tickets and are operating their ham
>rigs 
>on CB and Ham bands. Hams that make amplifiers for illegal CB use and
>those 
>that use their ham gear out of band  are the most despicable in my mind.


Bill, that happens every day whether we want to believe it or not. However, it's not quiet as bad now as it was as the old timers who were thick into it are long gone, or retired. What most don't know is that one of the largest manufacturers that built these illegal amplifiers was the very man who got me interested in electronics and kind of give me the kick I needed while in school to take electricity and electronics for an occupation. That very man was Ed Dulaney in Scottsbluff Nebraska, who died of Cancer in 1984 I think it was. Matter of fact, he was one of the teachers in a national corrospondence course during his time, and an advanced class ham. His picture was in a bunch of old magazines in the ads for the corrospondence school. I still have a few of them around here some where. On top of that, two others also got me interested was Abe Brewer in Oklahoma, and another in Memphis, TN. I dont want to bring the latter person up as he's still kicking around. Abe's designs were even used by some of the amateur manufacturers where he was one of the first to ever build the items, especially when solid state showed its head. Both again, licensed operators, and one is the main Motorola service around the Memphis area. Abe was also the only one ever to beat the FCC at its own game by taking them to court. He won, but what did the FCC do, they turned him over to the IRS to harass him until he had to quit. That was pretty dirty I think on the governments part, even though his products were FCC type accepted. Though this was some history, it's not what made me give up my ticket. What did was when the FCCs discriminated against a friend of mine because he just never could get Morse code down pat. Even though he was as smart as me on every other aspect, he just couldn't do it like a handicap. However the FCC didn't see him as having a handicap, he was denied. When I seen this discrimination take place, that did it, and I walked away. I'm sorry, but I think Morse code is useless (as useless as tits on a boar hog) when it comes to determining what one knows. I know I'll never pick a license back up when they discriminate against folks for not being able to hit a key fast enough with their finger. Matter of fact, I think it's the worst kind of descrimination to say one is better than another because of how many words a minute one can do. What about all the other knowledge they posess, is it not worth a red cent? Right now, if a person knew everything, enough to pass an advanced class tickets questions 100%, they could not even get a general class ticket because of this. It used to be novice class and my friend couldn't do it either (5 words per min.). It was something the way his brain worked they he couldn't make his finger do what his mind was thinking. On top of that, my religion tells me that discrimination is not right, and not to uphold it. One wonders why the amateur licenses has fallen off as much as they have. This I think is what's causing it 100%. So when I hear others insinuate that they're better than anyone else because they hold that ticket, it runs right through me. I know a lot of good folks who talk on 11 meters as do I know some on the amateur bands. To me, ones no better than the other.
 
>A 
>license is an an agreement with the Government and Society that you will 
>abide the law and these activities violate those laws.  If you do so, 
>giving up your license is the right thing to do.

There not going to do it, it all has to do with money, including the FCC. The ones who have done it sure wont admit to it and the numbers are more than you think. It's in the Bible very well, money if the root of all evil!


>     I can only hope that most that enter ham radio from the illegal CB 
>ranks will reform and abide by the law. Ham radio offers them so much more 
>and it is legal. Hams also provide education for those that really want to 
>learn.

I joined, and in a few years quit over the reasons above. When Morse is dead, and the FCCs Gestopo tactics have stopped, I'll be back. I'd say I'm not alone on this.


>     You may have noticed that I used the term  "illegal CB operators", 
>this  is because there may be a few that do operate legally by using
>proper 
>CB equipment, using proper operating procedures (courtesy) ,  and  using 
>profanity.  If you just listen to the frequencies just below 10 meters 
>you 
>will see what I mean.


There's no "they may be", they are. For the most part, they're the same as you and I. For some, it's all they can afford where amateur equipment is as high as it is. Now I'm not speaking for the channel 6 crowd on 11 meters here at all. They should be dealt with. I've heard it's worse now on a few higher channels, but it's been so long since I've had one on, I couldn't comment and be truthful about it.  A huge amount dont want to go to ham over one reason, Morse code. I've heard all the arguments about it, and some comment that they done it as a kid. Well, I did too, but why discriminate?

>     Even worse are those that encourage young people to participate in 
>such practices. I certainly would not give a young person a CB radio after 
>listening to the "CB community".  It is no place for minors just as some
>TV 
>programs, channels  or internet web sites and chat rooms. Unfortunately, 
>there is no V chip for CB radios.

There's a lot of TV's with no V chips. Kids are going to do a lot of stuff we wish they hadn't. Why build walls to keep them out of a legal hobby like amateur radio, like there are now? If the FCC would make licensing over what you know instead of for how many words per minute one can deal out, the hobby would boom like it was once when radio was king over other forms of communication. Right now, a child can communicate more freely, with no license over the internet. Why would they want to set and learn Morse code when they can do that? There not going to do it in todays age. Make it easy for them to get their ticket, and they'll come. Kids aren't dumb, they know discrimination when they see it. If all they had to do was learn the questions for the written portion, they would do it. They do need that portion so they can stay within the law, and know what they are doing. Sorry for rattleing on, that's just my point of view.


>
>
>73
>Bill wa4lav
>
>
>At 09:44 PM 7/31/2005 -0400, Will Matney wrote:
>>Tony,
>>
>>Amen! It seems some get uptight about the mere mention of using anything 
>>concerning 11 meters when the equipment is made the same as amateur 
>>equipment and/or can be readily adapted to it.  I think some who hold
>that 
>>paper ticket thinks using something like this is beneath them, or that 
>>paper ticket might make them better than some without it. That is the
>very 
>>reason, I proudly dropped my piece of paper back in the 80's. That piece 
>>of paper don't make one an amateur radio operator, ones knowledge does. 
>>Matter of fact, I know some 11 meter folks with more knowledge than a 
>>bunch of licensed amateur folks. Also, some of the very amateurs who hold 
>>that piece of paper were the very people who designed and built a huge 
>>amount of those 11 meter amps! So to say that the information here is not 
>>useful to any amateur in that he may consider using these 11 meter amps
>as 
>>amateur amps is as Senator Byrd once said to a reporter about his 
>>question, it's twaddle.
>>
>>Best,
>>
>>Will
>>
>>*********** REPLY SEPARATOR  ***********
>>
>>On 7/31/05 at 8:39 PM Tony King - W4ZT wrote:
>>
>> >Seems that Will brought the subject up because there are a lot of CB
>> >amps that are candidates for conversion to amateur service... not the
>> >other way around. Seems like a good way to put get into a moderate power
>> >PA or IPA for low dollars and a little technical expertise. As such,
>> >doesn't need to be type accepted any more than a home brew amp.
>> >
>> >73, Tony W4ZT
>> >
>> >w5grg wrote:
>> >> How come people are discussing CB amps on this reflector? Is this
>thing
>> >> FCC type accepted? I guess this list is one where it is ok to post
>ebay
>> >> info.
>> >> Thanks 73's George W5GRG
>> >
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>> >Amps at contesting.com
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Best,

Will