[GreenKeys] MMTY

[Roy Morgan]

At 09:56 PM 9/5/2006, you wrote:
>This is getting to be a very complex philosophical issue.

Lee,

I agree with you.  Though normally I don't spend a lot of time being 
philosophical,  I have some comments:

>... the novel idea was proposed that we use voice
>recognition and synthesis along with PKS31 (or some such)  to have a
>"digital QSO" while still having the "humanity" of the voice?

Rube Goldberg would be pleased. Baffled, but pleased.

>... amateur emergency communications in
>Wisconsin would be done using the internet

THAT is idiocy, in my opinion.  I suspect no one in that situation asked if 
the Internet would be reliably available in all situations needing 
emergency communication.  It may not matter, however. I have heard AERC 
managers wail that their services are simply ignored by "local officials".

>... she had a problem with her ISP that extended over ten days!

We may be forgetting that ISP's are for profit.  Emergency communications 
systems would be "for the common good".  Not the same thing at all. Viewing 
the situation from that angle is getting down to basics.

>At what point do we draw the line?

I'm reminded of a 1940's minstrel show type record (The Three Black Crows) 
wherein they are planning to meet at the railroad station. One of them 
says: "If I get there first, I'll draw a blue line. If you get there first, 
you rub it out."

>... the mechanical systems ... are special to me.

Hear, Hear!

>   I may not be able to give a rational explanation

May I offer one point of view?  It may be useful to think about our 
priorities. For *ME*, they generally line up this way:

1) Spend pleasant time messing with old equipment (mechanical and 
electronic), making it work as well as, or better than, new.  This involves 
troubleshooting, learning about the equipment, correction of faults and the 
effects of age and the work of earlier owners.

2) Spend pleasant time doing alignments and measurements.  I do not have a 
requirement to measure components or transmission lines to one percent or 
less, but I can in many cases.  Why do a sweep alignment and stagger tune 
an IF strip, when the simpler by-the-book adjustments would work ok?  I 
just *like* that sort of thing.

3) Help other folks get their equipment running.  I will probably never own 
a Collins KW-1, but I've contributed to the restoration of a couple of them 
that are once again in use on the air.

Notice the absence of the following:
  - Competing successfully in any contest
  - Chasing rare DX
  - Profit
  - Having a complete collection of anything
  - Wanting the latest KenYaesA-Hoosie full of computer chips

>...  I love these old things as they are

I have an R-390A whose front panel has been worn at the tuning knob to a 
depth of 1/16 inch into the metal in a 3/4 moon shape. I can just imagine 
the hours of tuning that thing did, presumably at the hands of cold war 
radio intercept operators.  No, I will not fill it with JB Weld and 
refinish the panel.  The thing reminds me of aging Veterans who march in 
parades and go to reunions wearing medals they earned many decades ago.

>... I will adjust them with a fox box and I will not throw
>away my old tuning fork frequency standard.

I expect to use a Model 14 T/D with a tape loop in it playing THE QUICK 
BROWN FOX ...  And I have a modest collection of old frequency standard 
crystals and some tuning fork audio frequency generators. They can't 
perform as well as a GPS-based master oscillator, but having them sing 
again is very satisfying to me.

>...I do have MMTTY available as an emergency communications tool just as I 
>keep both straight key and bug no more than inches from the microphone!

Sounds like a fine policy!  I do look forward to running the Vibroplex 
Wartime Deluxe Blue Racer I got at a swap meet, and a restored SX-28, all 
three of us the same age.

Roy



- Roy Morgan, K1LKY since 1959 - Keep 'em Glowing
13033 Downey Mill Road
Lovettsville, VA 20180
Phone 540-822-5911
Cell 301-928-7794
Work: Voice: 301-975-3254,  Fax: 301-975-6097
roy.morgan at nist.gov --