Topband: ham radio- NOT

[Jeff AC0C]

I really don't understand the debate.  The universe moves on and that 
includes ham radio.  We can't rewind the clock - even if we could although I 
just bought a SX-101 so I could get the old feeling I had as a kid when I 
look at it.

There is something in ham radio for about every possible technical or 
competitive interest.  The remote station thing appeals to the younger guys 
who may not be in the hobby otherwise.  And for those who live in the 
tied-in-regulations neighborhoods - who may be inactive otherwise.  But I 
moved to the country so I could build my own stuff, try my ideas out and see 
how good I could make things from my hands.

Others take different paths than I did.  Good for them.

We are not personally responsible for the choices or preferences of any 
other ham than ourselves.   Participate in the hobby as you like, and focus 
on the areas that you find interesting.  And have some fun.

73/jeff/ac0c
www.ac0c.com
alpha-charlie-zero-charlie

-----Original Message----- 
From: Tom W8JI
Sent: Thursday, February 26, 2015 9:19 PM
To: topband at contesting.com
Subject: Re: Topband: ham radio- NOT

This is a good example of something to consider:

> i am considering selling my station and renting one for the next
DXpedition or contest. i can easily be the big gun. probably win the 160
meter contest from the W8JI rent a station. maybe i will rent a huge station
on the east coast and operate from my kitchen. beat the pants off you guys.
>

My site on RHR is 800-1000 watts on a single rotating tower for HF, with
access to a 160 meter omni vertical and no receiving antennas (or one fixed
Beverage that cannot be switched) on 160.

The 80 meter antenna was an Inverted Vee dipole at 50-60 feet. It was an IAC
double bazooka or coaxial dipole antenna drooped from a tower ring at 60
feet apex height. I finally swapped the 80 antenna over to a collinear at
140-160 feet a few weeks ago. So now 80 meters is a collinear fed through
about 700 feet of coax, with about 300 feet of it RG6 CATV cable.

The 40 meter antenna is stacked 3 element Yagis.

The other bands are 5 element Yagi's at about 1-1/2 wavelengths, except for
ten and six. Ten is six elements at maybe 45 feet (not sure), and six is two
five element antennas fed through 250 feet of LMR400.

While that is a very nice station for someone without an outside antenna,
and super for someone with no way to get on the air, I do not agree with
anyone claiming this is a "super station" with an unreasonable or grossly
unfair advantage.

The primary use of my station, thus far, has been for people who do not have
their own radios and still want to stay on the air.

***My*** compensation for allowing that access covers the Internet data
charges and electricity, with a little left over for infrastructure and
maintenance. For example, I bought a K3 for that station (mostly because I
wanted a spare anyway), and I donate an ALS1306 so I can play with getting
it to run on remote. My policy is this...I care less what someone else
charges as long as it is controlled, and is not over used. I do not want my
stuff wearing out. I'm getting too old to climb.

For me, playing with the wiring and interfaces is very educational. After a
long discussion about remote interfaces with a VE1 and with long time Ham
friend of mine (from DX60 days), I actually looked for a way to get activity
via remote.

I've never worked on a remote system before, although in the 1970's I had an
up converter and down converter on a 2 GHz microwave link I built (from
scratch) that translated receive signals across a one-two mile path. That
system taught me about oscillators, multipliers, and weird things like rat
race mixers.

What I am enjoying is building interface equipment and seeing how this stuff
works, what breaks, and I really don't care if someone else uses it or makes
money reselling it as long as it is never becomes a PITA to me.

I understand people like Larry want to complain about my site, and some
think I've personally hastened the end of Ham radio, but it is actually
listed as a beta site. I had a choice of experimenting with it in any one of
a few free networks, but those networks (that no one here complains about)
have virtually no supervision.  I didn't think that was a good idea for
anyone.

I do regret allowing use of my 160 omni vertical and my rotating tower with
800-1000 watts has completely destroyed people's lives, but I enjoy learning
some neat things about station interfacing. I especially enjoy letting
people who have no station, or who have very restricted antennas, get on the
air with (what I consider) modest power and fairly good outside antennas.

I also do not think it is fair, and I do not think it is rational, logical,
or reasonable, for anyone to grossly exaggerate or just make things up. I
can't understand what motivates people to do things like that, so I thought
I'd set the record straight.

If someone thinks 800-1000 watts to a single tower system (and a single 160
and 80 antenna), with controlled access is going to completely ruin life, or
wants to give up their gear and use my station, the problem really isn't
anything I can help with. I am going to enjoy working on things and learning
thing, whether anyone else thinks I should be allowed to enjoy my aspect of
the hobby or not. I'm not going to let someone else bully me out of the
hobby.

73 Tom

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