I know what you mean. And I appreciate your want/need to use 11-Meter. I used to use 11-meter A LOT before I got my license. And I'll carry a portable one on long Interstate trips. I rarely get on the highway much anymore, where the ticket writers and traffic problems are spotted a lot easier, preferring back roads to go to work. But the idiot population, as you say, got extremely dense before I jumped ship to HAM radio. Besides, my radio training in the Army helped me pass the tests. It was an easy transition.
As for licensing costs, I only spent $15 total for any and all testing fees in my HAM career and a $14 one time fee to be able to pick a Vanity Callsign.
Items I don't miss from 11-Meter days: Limited ranges and the long antennas to get any decent performance. I drive a low profile car. A decent CB antenna on it would make me look like a bumper car trying to reach up for the top electric grid panel. That's why I also don't run 10-Meter and HF in the car (or 6-Meter for that matter) Plus, AM modulation is very noisy. I rarely do Shortwave HF. When I do, it's primarily for listening. I can do that in the HAM shack at a low enough volume where the static is less irritating and I can focus my attention on the signal coming through. In a car, I'll have to turn things up just to hear the chatter and deal with static plus traffic.
But in all that posting, you didn't even lead the reader to think that you even TRIED using HAM radio for more than a couple minutes.
Most of the times, I see hams talking on their radios more about being hams than about anything useful. Such-and-such repeater is acting up, So-and-so's ratty homebuilt antenna took damage in yesterday's wind, would you please show up early and make the coffee for the weekly radio club meeting this Thursday, I'm standing in the park in $towntwentymilesaway talking into an HT HOW DO I SOUND?
It's a hobby also. People in the HOBBY will probably talk about the HOBBY a lot. Gather a bunch of model railroaders or geocachers together and try to figure out what they talk about. I'll bet the hot topic isn't about sports or something. Personally, I don't do a lot of hobby chat myself. But I talk a lot about current events and politics.
That $towntwentymilesaway person may sound annoying to you, but they ask the question for a reason. They are learning the limits of their equipment when they ask how they sound so far away. Unless you listened further, you might not have heard them follow up with the specs of their HT. It could have been at 600mw where 20 miles is a very good acheivement depending on terrain. And cell phones are not immune to the method of equipment checking like that HT guy. "Can you hear me now?"
On another level, I'd trust my kids to chat with any other hams around the world (to strangers) before I'd let them IM, SMS, or chatroom with strangers on the Internet.
The free calling argument is flawed, because it's NOT truly free. Actually, your statement was flawed on two levels. First, Hams don't pay $24.95 per month for the privilege of talking overseas. Second, part of the hobby is the challenge of not using a high powered transmitter. There are a lot of active and successful attempts at communicating around the world on less than 5W of power. When you're listening to the HAMs around you, listen for the letters QRP.
glamour that and visibility that the mainstream geek lifestyle provides
There is no such thing as a mainstream geek lifestyle until Ikea comes up with a furniture collection to match it. I'll keep a lookout for the Gïk line of products. The instructions for these are probably written in Klingon.
My friends and I use ham radio because our cell phones drop all the time.
Yep, I ragchew all the time to/from work. I have a 45 minute commute. The time on the road (and time in traffic jams) generally breezes by. The topics vary, but it's always interesting conversation.
For those who say: "I can do the same thing on my cell phone", let me ask you this? How much does your 1800 minute per month plan cost? Mine costs $0. Plus, I'm usually chatting (rountable style) with more than three people. I never heard of Four or Five Way Calling on a cell phone plan.
I did, and on several laptops I got free (as in beer) with a street value of $50 each. I'm unable to check all the model numbers at the moment. One ia a Toshiba Tecra with a P166, the next is a Compaq Presario (PII 450, I think), and an eMachines eSlate 450.
With a copy of DSL Linux and a D-Link Compact Flash wi-fi card in a PCMCIA adapter for wireless networking, I was able to get each computer to boot to DSL Linux from CD and have an IP address assigned automatically and was running Firefox and Sylpheed for web and email access. I was actually surprised that it picked up the wi-fi card so easily. I've always had to jump through hoops configuring a PCMCIA connected card.
DSL Linux is really a nice distro to turn nearly any wired PC into an Internet workstation.
I think a lot of people here would agree that WC was a major milestone in PC Gaming.
Yes, I remember watching the frames "paint" onto the screen during the FMV segments. They were really pushing the limits at that time. Otherwise, the gameplay was pretty good.
But, I got bored easily and went back to my Amiga for some more games.
An interesting and somewhat rare one in the portable's category is the Commodore SX-64
Yes it is. I keep one on a table in my office for others to take notice of. I don't get as many questions about it as I first thought I would. I need to interface it with my office computer to give people something to "fiddle" with.
You might want to contact MARCH, The Mid-Atlantic Retro Computer Hobbyist group. They've only been around for a very short time, but they're gathering a lot of informative members. They are running an exhibit this weekend (May 13) in Wall, NJ. Their website is still just basic info, but they have a discussion forum on Yahoo as linked on their main page.
Get everything you can find that remotely resembles a classic computer. You can sort it out later. If space is a problem, split the collection across the basements/closets of several people in your group. I got a lot of stuff (mostly broken) that is sitting in storage, waiting for my retirement so that I may fix them in about 25 years.
Whatever you do, think about it as saving the stuff from going to a landfill overseas, which is where this stuff is heading. You'd be surprised as to who may want to buy some of your leftover "junk". You may not get much for it, but the proceeds can be useful to buy displays and shelves for your collection. You may also make some 'ol "geezer" (my next evolution in this life) happy to have found something for sale for their collection. Something they grew up with, but forgot about.
I'd have to get the "Drug runner/Smuggler" add-on package for Flight Simulator.
There was an older virtual airline that did just that. I forgot the name. It's based out of Australia. The flights you download have a "co-pilot" that makes you stay low to the ground to avoid radar as you're flying "questionable" carge/people around in mainly a DC-3. If you don't follow his instructions, you'll develop a sudden "headache" from a high speed projectile pointed at you (then the flight ends). No autopilot allowed until you become skilled. I checked up on it a while back and they didn't update their flights for the latest FS2004. Such a shame, because it was a cool VA.
like they ask you for any id when you change your address and say you've lost you cards. They didn't even check my date of birth!
Not at my bank!!!! And I didn't actually like the result.
I call up informing them that checks I ordered didn't arrive. I was immediately (without retort) transfered to the fraud department. A process that automatically puts a fraud lock on my account. After what seemed like an hour of yelling at them (at a neighbor complaint volume level) for putting on the fraud lock, I found it was no use to fight it. They simply would not relent. ATM/Debit cards and all checks would not be honored.
I could only get to my money by going directly to a teller in a local branch. So I did. I pulled all my money and went to a new bank.
but all i was saying was that the customers that walk into the store would not... they'd think you're feeding them a line of bull...
Using cars as an analogy to computers works well on many levels. In this case, I would compare it to a small four cylinder engine, when designed properly, tweaked, and with the proper supporting components, can outrace a stock V6 from another vehicle. And it will probably use less gas in the process.
It's a rough comparison, but it begins to paint the picture. Raw power means nothing if you can't make it efficient.
How do you accomplish this? Do you slam on the brakes for tailgaters and ride the bumper of the person in front of you if they go less than the speed limit all wile weaving back and forth in your lane?
I'm not trying to be a smart-a**. I'm curious how to best project a presence. Is it the way you sit on the bike, or is is a steady (maybe spirited) rate of travel with the safest last minute reactions possible (just enough to make the other driver think twice next time)?
Who was arguing? I was simply adding to the GP list of things people try to be more noticeable. There has been no formal study on the loud pipes/save lives idea anyway.
Given the choice, I'd rather add to the chance of being noticed than running whisper quiet and removing a sensory cue that I'm rightfully sharing the road. I don't necessarily believe in slash or straight pipes, but my V4 with four Jardine Megaphone pipes have a presence without being deafening. I also switch the high beams on at questionable intersections.
But most of the time, my MSF training helps me notice potential problems so I can be ready to react. After several years, those techniques become instinct.
On the other hand, I live near a Harley plant, so the area has a large number of motorcycles per capita. Most people in my area expect to see them.
Headlight off, headlight on, dark coloured clothes, light coloured clothes the cars drivers just don't see you.
You're right. Even after adding loud pipes and bright paint to the list.
That's why I resorted to hanging carnival lights all around my bike and playing loud circus music from PA horns mounted on the handlebars (think trombones and sousaphones). If that don't get their attention, I'll probably have to resort to putting on the clown suit next.....
Like the old, OLD Activision method of a single developer designing a game and actually getting credited on the product packaging. When someone figures out how to implement that design model again, you'll have the next craze of video games.
Let's not forget: many radio stations stream their audio already, and how hard is it to record that stream?
Very good point. Because with today's style of music, you don't even have to worry about the voiceover intros by the DJs. Simply extract the repeated music clip from the middle of the song and replace the beginning. Since all top 40 music these days rehash backbeats from the 70's and 80's, you can get a karaoke album from that decade for about a $1 to get that backbeat track if you needed to.
Slashdot Mirror
Nothing beats having a tangible magazine to pick up and read...
Besides, the hot surface under the laptop burns the skin when on the toilet.
I know what you mean. And I appreciate your want/need to use 11-Meter. I used to use 11-meter A LOT before I got my license. And I'll carry a portable one on long Interstate trips. I rarely get on the highway much anymore, where the ticket writers and traffic problems are spotted a lot easier, preferring back roads to go to work. But the idiot population, as you say, got extremely dense before I jumped ship to HAM radio. Besides, my radio training in the Army helped me pass the tests. It was an easy transition.
As for licensing costs, I only spent $15 total for any and all testing fees in my HAM career and a $14 one time fee to be able to pick a Vanity Callsign.
Items I don't miss from 11-Meter days: Limited ranges and the long antennas to get any decent performance. I drive a low profile car. A decent CB antenna on it would make me look like a bumper car trying to reach up for the top electric grid panel. That's why I also don't run 10-Meter and HF in the car (or 6-Meter for that matter) Plus, AM modulation is very noisy. I rarely do Shortwave HF. When I do, it's primarily for listening. I can do that in the HAM shack at a low enough volume where the static is less irritating and I can focus my attention on the signal coming through. In a car, I'll have to turn things up just to hear the chatter and deal with static plus traffic.
And yes, echo-mics suck big time....
Nice rant....
But in all that posting, you didn't even lead the reader to think that you even TRIED using HAM radio for more than a couple minutes.
Most of the times, I see hams talking on their radios more about being hams than about anything useful. Such-and-such repeater is acting up, So-and-so's ratty homebuilt antenna took damage in yesterday's wind, would you please show up early and make the coffee for the weekly radio club meeting this Thursday, I'm standing in the park in $towntwentymilesaway talking into an HT HOW DO I SOUND?
It's a hobby also. People in the HOBBY will probably talk about the HOBBY a lot. Gather a bunch of model railroaders or geocachers together and try to figure out what they talk about. I'll bet the hot topic isn't about sports or something. Personally, I don't do a lot of hobby chat myself. But I talk a lot about current events and politics.
That $towntwentymilesaway person may sound annoying to you, but they ask the question for a reason. They are learning the limits of their equipment when they ask how they sound so far away. Unless you listened further, you might not have heard them follow up with the specs of their HT. It could have been at 600mw where 20 miles is a very good acheivement depending on terrain. And cell phones are not immune to the method of equipment checking like that HT guy. "Can you hear me now?"
On another level, I'd trust my kids to chat with any other hams around the world (to strangers) before I'd let them IM, SMS, or chatroom with strangers on the Internet.
The free calling argument is flawed, because it's NOT truly free. Actually, your statement was flawed on two levels. First, Hams don't pay $24.95 per month for the privilege of talking overseas. Second, part of the hobby is the challenge of not using a high powered transmitter. There are a lot of active and successful attempts at communicating around the world on less than 5W of power. When you're listening to the HAMs around you, listen for the letters QRP.
Condumers would LIKE no copy.......
Oh my, I hope you get over that cold soon....
Either that, or like me, sometimes the "fat finger" slips a bit on the keyboard.
glamour that and visibility that the mainstream geek lifestyle provides
There is no such thing as a mainstream geek lifestyle until Ikea comes up with a furniture collection to match it. I'll keep a lookout for the Gïk line of products. The instructions for these are probably written in Klingon.
My friends and I use ham radio because our cell phones drop all the time.
Yep, I ragchew all the time to/from work. I have a 45 minute commute. The time on the road (and time in traffic jams) generally breezes by. The topics vary, but it's always interesting conversation.
For those who say: "I can do the same thing on my cell phone", let me ask you this? How much does your 1800 minute per month plan cost? Mine costs $0. Plus, I'm usually chatting (rountable style) with more than three people. I never heard of Four or Five Way Calling on a cell phone plan.
73 and I'm QRT
Programming isn't a joke and telling a novice how to program and introducing all that sperflous crap is only going to confuse them even more.
You mean like all those <foo> for Dummies books?
I'll be ignoring the fact that for every "Sixpack" in the family, the odds are much better these days that a nerd exists in the family to help him.
Has anybody ever tried DSL Linux yet?
I did, and on several laptops I got free (as in beer) with a street value of $50 each. I'm unable to check all the model numbers at the moment. One ia a Toshiba Tecra with a P166, the next is a Compaq Presario (PII 450, I think), and an eMachines eSlate 450.
With a copy of DSL Linux and a D-Link Compact Flash wi-fi card in a PCMCIA adapter for wireless networking, I was able to get each computer to boot to DSL Linux from CD and have an IP address assigned automatically and was running Firefox and Sylpheed for web and email access. I was actually surprised that it picked up the wi-fi card so easily. I've always had to jump through hoops configuring a PCMCIA connected card.
DSL Linux is really a nice distro to turn nearly any wired PC into an Internet workstation.
I'll just start using Q-Link again!!!
I think a lot of people here would agree that WC was a major milestone in PC Gaming.
Yes, I remember watching the frames "paint" onto the screen during the FMV segments. They were really pushing the limits at that time. Otherwise, the gameplay was pretty good.
But, I got bored easily and went back to my Amiga for some more games.
I never actually saw the 80's since I was born in 1990
After reading this, I mysteriously heard every joint CRACK on my aging skeleton!!!
To give you an idea of my age, I still have one of the first production VIC-20's (with the 9VAC P/S) that I got as a teenager.
An interesting and somewhat rare one in the portable's category is the Commodore SX-64
Yes it is. I keep one on a table in my office for others to take notice of. I don't get as many questions about it as I first thought I would. I need to interface it with my office computer to give people something to "fiddle" with.
You might want to contact MARCH, The Mid-Atlantic Retro Computer Hobbyist group. They've only been around for a very short time, but they're gathering a lot of informative members. They are running an exhibit this weekend (May 13) in Wall, NJ. Their website is still just basic info, but they have a discussion forum on Yahoo as linked on their main page.
Get everything you can find that remotely resembles a classic computer. You can sort it out later. If space is a problem, split the collection across the basements/closets of several people in your group. I got a lot of stuff (mostly broken) that is sitting in storage, waiting for my retirement so that I may fix them in about 25 years.
Whatever you do, think about it as saving the stuff from going to a landfill overseas, which is where this stuff is heading. You'd be surprised as to who may want to buy some of your leftover "junk". You may not get much for it, but the proceeds can be useful to buy displays and shelves for your collection. You may also make some 'ol "geezer" (my next evolution in this life) happy to have found something for sale for their collection. Something they grew up with, but forgot about.
I'd have to get the "Drug runner/Smuggler" add-on package for Flight Simulator.
There was an older virtual airline that did just that. I forgot the name. It's based out of Australia. The flights you download have a "co-pilot" that makes you stay low to the ground to avoid radar as you're flying "questionable" carge/people around in mainly a DC-3. If you don't follow his instructions, you'll develop a sudden "headache" from a high speed projectile pointed at you (then the flight ends). No autopilot allowed until you become skilled. I checked up on it a while back and they didn't update their flights for the latest FS2004. Such a shame, because it was a cool VA.
like they ask you for any id when you change your address and say you've lost you cards. They didn't even check my date of birth!
Not at my bank!!!! And I didn't actually like the result.
I call up informing them that checks I ordered didn't arrive. I was immediately (without retort) transfered to the fraud department. A process that automatically puts a fraud lock on my account. After what seemed like an hour of yelling at them (at a neighbor complaint volume level) for putting on the fraud lock, I found it was no use to fight it. They simply would not relent. ATM/Debit cards and all checks would not be honored.
I could only get to my money by going directly to a teller in a local branch. So I did. I pulled all my money and went to a new bank.
but all i was saying was that the customers that walk into the store would not ... they'd think you're feeding them a line of bull ...
Using cars as an analogy to computers works well on many levels. In this case, I would compare it to a small four cylinder engine, when designed properly, tweaked, and with the proper supporting components, can outrace a stock V6 from another vehicle. And it will probably use less gas in the process.
It's a rough comparison, but it begins to paint the picture. Raw power means nothing if you can't make it efficient.
projection of attitude
How do you accomplish this? Do you slam on the brakes for tailgaters and ride the bumper of the person in front of you if they go less than the speed limit all wile weaving back and forth in your lane?
I'm not trying to be a smart-a**. I'm curious how to best project a presence. Is it the way you sit on the bike, or is is a steady (maybe spirited) rate of travel with the safest last minute reactions possible (just enough to make the other driver think twice next time)?
I love this argument, that loud pipes save lives
Who was arguing? I was simply adding to the GP list of things people try to be more noticeable. There has been no formal study on the loud pipes/save lives idea anyway.
Given the choice, I'd rather add to the chance of being noticed than running whisper quiet and removing a sensory cue that I'm rightfully sharing the road. I don't necessarily believe in slash or straight pipes, but my V4 with four Jardine Megaphone pipes have a presence without being deafening. I also switch the high beams on at questionable intersections.
But most of the time, my MSF training helps me notice potential problems so I can be ready to react. After several years, those techniques become instinct.
On the other hand, I live near a Harley plant, so the area has a large number of motorcycles per capita. Most people in my area expect to see them.
Headlight off, headlight on, dark coloured clothes, light coloured clothes the cars drivers just don't see you.
You're right. Even after adding loud pipes and bright paint to the list.
That's why I resorted to hanging carnival lights all around my bike and playing loud circus music from PA horns mounted on the handlebars (think trombones and sousaphones). If that don't get their attention, I'll probably have to resort to putting on the clown suit next.....
Not the pro wrestling version of Starcade (although I wouldn't put it past G4 to do that these days).
I'm talking about the classic video game "game show" from the early 80's with Geoff Edwards.
Like the old, OLD Activision method of a single developer designing a game and actually getting credited on the product packaging. When someone figures out how to implement that design model again, you'll have the next craze of video games.
Let's not forget: many radio stations stream their audio already, and how hard is it to record that stream?
Very good point. Because with today's style of music, you don't even have to worry about the voiceover intros by the DJs. Simply extract the repeated music clip from the middle of the song and replace the beginning. Since all top 40 music these days rehash backbeats from the 70's and 80's, you can get a karaoke album from that decade for about a $1 to get that backbeat track if you needed to.
There are a lot of things the 'other guy' did first, before the U.S. took it and tried to make it better.
So Micrsoft wasn't the first to operate like this?
You mean people actually believe this stuff?!?!