[Elecraft] OT - 73 Magazine (was H mode mixer)

[Brian Lloyd]

On May 14, 2007, at 5:42 AM, J F wrote:

> In some ways, 73 represented a different side of Ham
> Radio. We do owe Wayne gratitude for keeping 220 mHz
> available for ham use.

Wayne was interesting to work for. He was aptly noted for being a  
cheapskate and it turned out that was true. OTOH, one time when I was  
up there he took me out to lunch and we had a great argument about  
the future of amateur radio. (Several people in the office dropped in  
a dead faint when they learned that Wayne actually bought me, an  
employee, lunch. :-) I was, of course, suggesting that digital  
communications was the future of amateur radio. He wasn't sure. Seems  
we were both at least part right because here it is 18 years later  
and we are only just starting to see changes in the communications  
landscape.

Anyway, he sure annoyed the hell out of everyone but you have to  
admit, he had an effect on what we do and how we do it.

Never Say Die.

And speaking of digital communications, the loss of The Code as a  
gating factor is going to prompt a shift away from CW as the  
minimalist mode for HF. I believe that PSK31 is probably going to  
slowly take over that position as it can be done with equipment  
almost as simple as a CW rig and provides the same level of  
communications at similar power levels.

(BTW, I am teaching code to my kids at school as I want them to be  
able to build the simplest radio possible to get on the air. I just  
don't think that CW will remain as the mainstay "last resort"  
communications mode.)

> We always had access to all of the US magazines. Wish
> it were easier to pick up a copy of none US radio
> magazines here (then and now)

I agree. The high cost of equipment in other parts of the world has  
created a cadre of experimenters and homebrewers that we don't really  
have in the US. Hopefully the ability to publish on the net will  
improve the flow of information back to the US.

>
> 73,
> Julius
> n2wn

73 de Brian, WB6RQN
Brian Lloyd - brian HYPHEN wb6rqn AT lloyd DOT com