[Boatanchors] Collins Listening Frequency

[david knepper]

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT: (This email is being sent as a "blind copy" so your
email address will not appear to others)

The CRA wishes to announce that  a new national "calling frequency" on 40
meters has been established.  This idea was first conceived by Bill Wheeler,
K0DEW.  Bill and I have been discussing both over the phone and on the air
how this might be accomplished..  What Bill had in mind was a calling
frequency or "Chatroom," as I call it, for those of us who wish to discuss
Collins, specifically, to get help in  restoring/repairing our Collins, to
find, to get signal reports,  to  sell/buy Collins,  swap stories, etc. The
format will be highly  unstructured as you can well imagine.  This is not a
new NET!. The format is rather like a round-table with a  specific focus -
Collins Radio. Anyone can "pull up a chair" to discuss Collins. There will
be no net control operator, just an open channel or open mike.

So, starting on Monday, September 18th at 4 PM EDST or 3 PM CDST, 8 PM GMT,
on 7203 Khz + or -,  Bill and I will be on 7203 Khz listening for stations
to break in.  Bill will be using his familiar K0DEW and I will be at the
Collins Radio Center using W3CRA.

Hopefully, we can establish a "calling frequency" that might be thought of
as a kind of "Collins Chatroom."  Rather than designate certain days of the
week, this so-called calling frequency will be our own "street corner" to
meet throughout the day.  Bill and I  chose 3 PM CDST or 4 PM EDST because
that time is a convenient time for the both of us. However, I want to
emphasize, that this is a 24 hour calling frequency, so keep your receiver
tuned to 7203 Khz whenever you are in the shack and don't be hesitant to
make a call in the event someone is listening.

Don't be surprised if you hear Bill or I at other times throughout the 24
hours in order to test propagation to the Westcoast, etc. Remember, don't
rely on us - just get on frequency and make a call that you are listening
for folks using Collins etc.

It should be a lot of fun without the formality of a net, etc. in order to
meet other Collins enthusiasts throughout the
week.   I would suggest that you give your call and say that you are
listening on the frequency for other Collins operators, that is, of course,
if there isn't a round-table already on the frequency.

See you on Monday and throughout the week on 7205 Khz at 4 PM EDST or 8 PM
GMT.

One more thing - Bill and I have also discussed a calling frequency on 20
meters as well - say around 14.292 Mhz.

Your comments and suggestions are always appreciated.  Also, plese pass the
word along - it is difficult to reach everyone by email and "word of mouth"
on the air, etc. works best to let everyone know about this new Collins
calling fequency.

Thank you for your support of the CRA.

Dave, W3ST
Publisher of the Collins Journal
Secretary to the Collins Radio Association
www.collinsra.com - the CRA Website
Now with PayPal
CRA Nets: 3.805 Mhz every Monday at 8 PM EDST
and 14.253 Mhz every Saturday at 12 Noon EDST
Collins Chatroom - Daily at 4 PM EDST on 7.203 Mhz