Mendelsohn to ARRL Board

[R. Sigismonti]

John,
If we hadn't become so damned permissive and refused to give in to 
the no code crap in the first place, we wouldn't be facing into 
another CB situation!  The we I refer to is the entire community; 
FCC, ARRL, and all the hams who stood by and watched as the die 
was being cast.  This hobby has begun its slide down the toilet and 
at this point, we had better try to fix the problem with strict 
segregation between the real "Hams" and those who are in reality 
appliance operators a la the CB world.  Eliminating the code 
requirement is NOT an answer!  It goes in the wrong direction.  I 
suggest tougher theory exams AND continuation of the code requirement 
as is for full operating privileges.  Mr Mendelsohn is a director of 
a publishing firm and is focusing on what is important to that firm - 
more readers, regardless of their skills or abilities.  We need not 
give in to the liberalization of our hobby and watch it become a 
hobby of the past!

73 de Sig, N3RS
> Date:          Mon, 24 Jun 1996 12:23:13 -0400 (EDT)
> From:          jrouse at dc.infi.net (John Rouse / Capital Gazette)
> Reply-to:      jrouse at dc.infi.net (John Rouse / Capital Gazette)
> To:            kr2j at ix.netcom.com (Robert E. Naumann)
> Cc:            k4sb at avana.net, jreid at aloha.net ('Jim Reid'), cq-contest at tgv.com
> Subject:       RE: Mendelsohn to ARRL Board

>  As is usual here, some have gone dashing off a hyperbolic cliff in
> reaction to Steve's very incisive observations about the future of 
> the league (and, by default, ham radio). Like it or not, campers, 
> what he says is absolutely correct. If the subject isn't addressed 
> forcefully, and soon, then we'll probably all find more comfort 
> in trying to commune with the spirit world than in operating 
> 20 meters. Cling to the joys of yesteryear if you desire, but you'd 
> better take a good hard look at the reality of ham radio in 1996. 
> It's far too often not a pretty sight, to be sure, but the majority is 
> eventually 
> going to rule. That's political (and economic) reality. Give Steve 
> credit for addressing the issue rather than wallowing in nostalgia 
> for a ham radio era that's going, going.......gone.
>  I applaud Steve's effort.
> 
> 73,
> John KA3DBN
> =========
> John L. Rouse                             Packet: ka3dbn at ka3rfe.md.usa.noa
> Capital-Gazette Communications            FAX: 301-464-7027    
> jrouse at dc.infi.net                        PHONE: 301-262-3700 X200
> john.rouse at reporters.net                         410-268-5000
> 
> 
de Sig, N3RS
sig at newtech.net

>From 0004504465 at mcimail.com (Eugene Walsh)  Mon Jun 24 21:19:00 1996
From: 0004504465 at mcimail.com (Eugene Walsh) (Eugene Walsh)
Date: Mon, 24 Jun 96 15:19 EST
Subject: I love this old time stuff!
Message-ID: <83960624201938/0004504465DC4EM at MCIMAIL.COM>

W3ZZ mentions AC4RF, who was Bob Ford.  There was also
Reg Fox who I think was AC4YN.  Bob Ford's (AC4RF) book
about Tibet (Wind Between The Worlds) came with a blank
AC4RF QSL card packed inside the cover.  I still have'em
both, but I filled out the card to myself! (He was QRT
in a BY prison before I was licensed).

Would have been great in a CONTEST!

N2AA


>From kr4dl at mindspring.com (Steven R. Schmidt)  Tue Jun 25 02:02:43 1996
From: kr4dl at mindspring.com (Steven R. Schmidt) (Steven R. Schmidt)
Date: Mon, 24 Jun 1996 21:02:43 -0400
Subject: Steve Mendelsohn's letter
Message-ID: <1.5.4.32.19960625010243.0071243c at pop.atl.mindspring.com>

At 09:35 AM 6/24/96 -0400, you wrote:
>Gentlemen,
>
>Here are a couple of points I believe we should be considering.  Now, a few
years later, equipment
>manufacturers are putting pressure on policy brewers to find ways to keep
>numbers of new hams growing (quantity, not quality) and preserve and develop
>marketing niches for new equipment.  We have lost our bearings on quality in
>search of the ever growing bottom line.

John, I think you're right on target.  I'd bet that radio sales are as good
as ever, but "as good" doesn't cut it with corporate investors.  They feel
the need to show real sales increases.  The current lack of sunspot activity
may have slowed the  transition of no-coders into HF privileges and
flattened the sales curves.  That, coupled with ARRL's flat membership has
caused an acorn to fall out of the oak tree, land on Steve Mendelsohn's
head, and now he's running around proclaiming that the sky is falling.
Perhaps changes are in the works, but I don't think we should give the farm
away.

>Ham radio needs to continue to hold out rewards to those who are willing to
>invest the time and effort to earn them.
>It is pretty clear to me that people don't value what they haven't earned,
>and I'll never be convinced that any written test is a substitute for the
>"language requirement" which (language) Morse code is.  Why do we suppose
>universities used to (and some still do) require foreign language
>proficiency for matriculation?  Not just so one can carry on conversations
>in Latin, mind you.  It's the discipline - the mental work of learning a new
>language that is its own reward.

Once again, I agree.  Especially with the "don't value what they haven't
earned" part.  Any attempt to lower requirements to push no-coders into HF
is guaranteed to backfire.  Most of these no-coders just want a respectable
CB radio in their car, something with which to talk to their spouses and
friends on the way home from work.  It's cheaper and easier than a car phone
(or two if your spouse commutes).  They're not flocking to test sessions to
pass a 5 wpm test now, who will kid themselves into thinking these people
will rush to study for a difficult technical exam to get HF phone
privileges?  It's just not what they signed on for...  

>As far as league support, why should people who have been "given" something
>recognize the need to rally with others in their ranks to preserve hard-won
>priveleges?  Mark these words, if we further dilute licensing requirements,
>League support will drop, regardless of how much our numbers increase.
>  But for
>goodness sakes, let's not dilute our ranks any further!  Encourage others to
>oppose "democratic mathematics" in determining the future of amateur radio.

Further, why do we allow the ARRL to bow to the desires of the corporate
profiteers?  It's their business to make profits, not ours, and it's
certainly not  the business of a "non-profit" organization like the ARRL.
While Steve Mendelson is wailing that the sky is falling, Kenwood is
building TS-870s, Yaesu is building FT-1000MPs and ICOM is turning out
IC-775s.  I don't think they'd be doing that if there was no profit in it.
We're in a solar minimum, for goodness sakes.  Interest in HF has waned all
over, even into the ranks of the DX club I'm associated with.  I don't run
around wailing about declining membership being caused by the lack of
upgrading no-coders!  If I believed that, I would go about finding ways to
get them involved, not petition to lower test requirements.
I've been licensed for just under 3 years, so I'm one of those "newcomers"
Mendelson is bleating so plaintively for...does he really think other
newcomers will feel differently about this issue than I do?  I tell you they
don't!   While Steve digs a hole to protect us from the falling sky, he's
digging it large enough to bury  us... if he continues to pursue corporate
and ARRL increases as if he was hounded by stockholders.

>People do not value that which they do not "pay for".

Amen.

73,  Steve   KR4DL


>From thompson at mindspring.com (David L. Thompson)  Mon Jun 24 21:21:16 1996
From: thompson at mindspring.com (David L. Thompson) (David L. Thompson)
Date: Mon, 24 Jun 1996 16:21:16 -0400
Subject: Field Day
Message-ID: <199606242110.RAA18761 at borg.mindspring.com>

Nobody ever told the Old Natchez Amateur Radio Club that FD was not a
contest.  Starting in 1957, W5KHB/5 was a major player in 3A.   We operated
from several spots, but when the river allowed (no flooding) we operated
from the banks below the Bluff, South of Natchez, at the International Paper
Co Picnic grounds.

We put up three towers for 10 , 15, and 20 meter beams and put up 2 or 3 75
and 40 wire antennas.  These went up only 30 or 40 feet as there were few
trees and usually one end was tied off to a 40' tower.  Two of the towers
were Rohn 25 which we bolted together placed in a hinged base and pulled up
by muscle power.  The 20 meter tower was actually either a 50' Rohn push up
mast or a TBW-5 WW II aluminum sectional mast.  Each section is 5' and we
used the guys that came with them..one fellow had to hold the mast sections
up while another put the next section in.  This worked for 6 or 7 sections
with a G4ZU Birdcage or Gonset 2el Bow tie beam, but we stayed with the 50'
push up when we starting using my Gonset Tri-Bander (This also gave us multi
band back up).

We operated with all sorts of gear such as Gonset G-66/G-77 on 10 and 15 AM
(don't laugh these made over 1,000Q's in 1960 or 61), HT-37/SX-101,
DX-100/NC-300, KWM-1, Collins S-Line, SX-117/HT-44, Swan 240, HQ170/Eldico
SSB-100, and finally mostly Heath SB-100 or 101.  We placed in the top 10
almost every year, won 3A 3 times, runner-up twice, 3rd place three times
from 1957 to 1969.

Ops included W5KHB, W5IHP, K5IMT (he just got that call back), K5MDX/K4JRB,
K5LXZ/W5EW, K5SVC, WA5EBZ, WB5AHZ, W5IKK, W5DYJ, and our special CW only OPS
K5IIN (Bern with the Mon-Key) and Eddie K5QNF who could work them, log them,
and smoke a cigarette at the same time.  Most of the rest of us operated
some CW too.  Even in the days before 2 point CW contacts if you didn't work
CW you did not compete!

Competition was either W4FU, or the Kentuckiana Group, or W5YL/W5DDL (K5ARH
and W5WMU et al). 

W5KHB/5 became K5OCM in the early 1970's and many of us moved away.  They
still make a respectible score even tho its no longer a contest to them.

FD is the best training a young Op can get.  Long Live Field Day!

Dave K4JRB


>From k7fr at ncw.net (Gary Nieborsky)  Mon Jun 24 22:26:59 1996
From: k7fr at ncw.net (Gary Nieborsky) (Gary Nieborsky)
Date: Mon, 24 Jun 1996 14:26:59 -0700
Subject: PED et al and SS
Message-ID: <199606242126.OAA05784 at bing.ncw.net>

Is there a PED file or PED-type program for Sweepstakes?

Thanks in advance, reply direct please.

73 Gary K7FR


>From fmoore at msai.mea.com (Frank Moore)  Mon Jun 24 21:35:05 1996
From: fmoore at msai.mea.com (Frank Moore) (Frank Moore)
Date: Mon, 24 Jun 1996 16:35:05 -0400
Subject: KE4GY back in NC
Message-ID: <9606241635.ZM15708 at woodstock.msaiasic.com>

Yes,
  I know you can't believe that I gave up that great AL multiplier. What can I
say, it must be the tar on my heel. But the good news is that the new house in
Durham county has 2 acres and no restrictive covenants. It will take time to
get the rest of the family settled but hopefully a medium gun contest station
is in my future.
  Greg, the disc with your email address on it is in storage, so if you see
this send me your address again.
  Not sure I'll make Aug sprints and naqp but hope to work everybody in the
near future.   Frank

  PS The new email address here is fmoore at msai.mea.com

>From floydjr at Interpath.com (Jimmy R. Floyd)  Mon Jun 24 20:27:58 1996
From: floydjr at Interpath.com (Jimmy R. Floyd) (Jimmy R. Floyd)
Date: Mon, 24 Jun 1996 16:27:58 -0300
Subject: FD 96 High Claimed Scores
Message-ID: <199606242149.RAA07581 at mail-hub.interpath.net>

FIELD DAY 1996
High Claimed Raw Scores

Compiled by
WA4ZXA

Date Posted: 06/24/96


CALL          CLASS       SECT        SCORE            QSO'S      
                                                   CW        SSB = TOTAL
________________________________________________________________________

KX3J           2A         MDC         3,186        366       711    1077

N4ND           6A          VA         4,205        741       370    1113

WA4ZXA         1D          NC         2,766          0      1581    1581 
WB0OLA         1D          IN           472        132         0     132
WB5M           1D         WTX             8          0         4       4 

KK5ZX          1E          LA        13,167        198         3     198
KM9P           1E          GA         6,304       1576         0    1576

_________________________________________________________________________

This is my first attempt at the FD scores on here. I did breakdown the CW 
and SSB contacts. I feel that this will be the majority of the contacts. 
There just is not enough room to break down all the 2,6, 440, pkt, sat and
other contacts. Also not really enough room for all the Bonus pts. I did
not put the hours in since everyone should have done basically 24 hours. 
Also I am sorry but I cannot put an op list on this one. Not sure there 
would be enough bandwidth in my email if I started listing ops for some of
those 20A stations. 

I will take any suggestions on this and if possible I will try to work 
them in. Just remember that if I change something it means that I must go
back through all the email and reread them and update the scores. Can be
quite time comsuming. 

73's Jim
           ********************************************************** 
           * Jimmy R. Floyd  (Jim)   Thomasville, NC                *
           *                                                        *
           * Amateur Call:              >> WA4ZXA <<                *
           * Packet Node:               >> N4ZC <<                  *
           * Internet Address:          >> floydjr at interpath.com << *
           **********************************************************