[TenTec] A tongue-in-cheek response to OM Carl

James Parsons k5rov@earthlink.net
Mon, 18 Oct 1999 19:37:30 -0500


Ok, you mentioned the good points about rag-chewers. Now, what are the
bad points?

AL_LORONA@HP-USA-om33.om.hp.com wrote:
> 
> 
> 
>      Carl Hyde wrote:
> 
>      > Lets talk about contesters. Hmmmm they sit at a radio and call cq,
>      > exchange call letters and a signal report and go on to the next cq.
>      > Whats the point? That isn't communications its headhunting.
>      > Personally I wouldn't give a hoot in hell what any contester thought
>      > about anything! All they do is ruin the bands for a whole weekend
>      > that I could be using to carry on intelligent conversations.  When
>      > they start giving cash prizes for contests then maybe it will mean
>      > something. Hi Hi
> 
> 
>      Hi, Carl,
> 
>      Thanks for your comments. Points taken. I know you're a good sport, so
>      now, let's talk about ragchewers and other non-contesters. They sit at
>      a radio and call their friends. God forbid that you answer them or
>      break in on their conversations; they're not interested in talking to
>      you, they're interested only in talking with their buddies across
>      town. Heaven help you if you, after calling "Is this frequency in
>      use?" start to make a call on *their* frequency, because after all
>      they have been using the same frequency for 30 years every single
>      night at this time, so Yes, I'm sorry, the frequency *is* in use,
>      please go away and quit bothering me.
> 
>      They exchange small talk and the latest news on their dog's
>      hydrophobia and how many guns they are currently bidding on at eBay
>      and the latest FTS-1,000,000 transceiver. What's the point? That's not
>      communications, it's RF pollution. All they do is ruin the bands for
>      weeks and weeks on end, bands that could otherwise be used for
>      intelligent conversations, tuning operator skills (instead of tuning
>      linear amplifiers), and inviting fresh innovation into the hobby. When
>      they start giving prizes for trying to educate these poor souls, then
>      it will mean something.
> 
>      An important reminder for all of us: nowhere is it written that every
>      amateur, at all times and on all frequencies, will be guaranteed a
>      QRM-free experience. Every individual operator is solely responsible
>      for creating the best receiving conditions necessary for the
>      communications desired by him or her. That's what IF filters, notch
>      filters, RF gain controls, AGC controls, passband tuning, IF shift,
>      DSP noise reduction, directional antennas, receive-optimized antennas,
>      timing, operating efficiency, different modes, computers, and ham
>      creativity are for.
> 
>      Thank goodness for the occasional contest to liven things up a little
>      bit and give each of us a chance to solve interesting communications
>      problems, don't you think?
> 
>      R,
> 
>      Al W6LX
> 
> 
> 
> 
> --
> FAQ on WWW:               http://www.contesting.com/tentecfaq.htm
> Submissions:              tentec@contesting.com
> Administrative requests:  tentec-REQUEST@contesting.com
> Problems:                 owner-tentec@contesting.com
> Search:                   http://www.contesting.com/km9p/search.htm

-- 

James (Jim) Parsons, K5ROV   USAF, Ret. Ham for 58 yrs.
k5rov@earthlink.net     QCWA, NWQRP, Fists, ARRL
EX: W1RLA, K5FBB, K4FEO, SV0WN (CRETE), SV0WN (RHODES),
DL4NC, DL4JP, KA2FC (JAPAN), KA2JP (JAPAN).
JOHN 3:16

--
FAQ on WWW:               http://www.contesting.com/tentecfaq.htm
Submissions:              tentec@contesting.com
Administrative requests:  tentec-REQUEST@contesting.com
Problems:                 owner-tentec@contesting.com
Search:                   http://www.contesting.com/km9p/search.htm