[Elecraft] Bad fist

[Ron D'Eau Claire]

What exactly is a "lid"? A derogatory term for someone who asks silly
questions I suppose. Anyone know the origin of the term?

73 Paul ZL3IN

----------------------

You'll get 100 answers at least to that question.

In modern vernacular, a "LID" is a new operator. Hence he/she is likely to
commit endless faux pas on the air, probably have a shaky, rough fist,
scramble copy often and generally require a lot of extra effort to
understand and to be understood by. Usually a good sort, a LID deserves
whatever help he can get from the rest of the ops as he develops his
operating skills. 

The most likely origin for "LID" comes from the days of wire telegraph in
which a messaging office might have a number of operating positions with the
individual sounders all clacking away with Morse. Newcomers were often
totally distracted by the cacophony of noise and unable to separate the
clacks of their sounder from those around them. One solution was to attach
something, usually the lid of a tobacco tin, to their sounder so it would
make a distinctive noise apart from all the others to help the new operator
copy. Hence, a new operator as a "LID".

Anyway, it's a nice story...

Ron AC7AC