[GreenKeys] Code, Hams, tty/rtty and stuff...

[Jeffrey D Angus]

Randy or Sherry Guttery wrote:
> So how about an informal survey for those with some manner of (radio 
> electronics) license
> Whatcha got - when'd ya' get it? 

1967 Amateur radio Novice class WN6FWI
1969 Upgraded to Advanced Class WA6FWI

Somewhere in there actually held a legitimate Citizens Band license KBTF9251

1995 decided I needed a Commercial license and took the test. Upgraded for
radar and marine. (See side story below)

1999 (I think) upgraded the Amateur license to Extra when the rules changed.

* I was studying the FCC commercial exam book for a while with the intent of
getting the license. I was on a job interview and informed I couldn't be 
hired without
one. That weekend I took the test and passed and called back the 
interviewer the
following Monday. "You said I need a license, I have one now."

But I'll add something else to all this:

What got you started in TTY and RTTY?

In my case it was working for Signal One in Gardena as a technician in 
1970. The
company owner (Ed Jay) walked up to me and said, "Here's a model 15 page 
printer.
Our CX7/A radio is supposed to work with it. Make it happen."

I was hooked.

I actually got hired by one small firm specifically to keep a pair of 
Klienschmidts
up and running as part of their test equipment for some little signaling 
device they
made.

While working at TRW I spotted a model 19 in the company new paper for sale.

Game over. I was doomed... I remember blocking traffic trying to back a 
trailer
up into the driveway to pick up said unit.

I used to listen to UPS and API on 11 MHz with a BC-348 receiver.

Then I had to buy a Gonset GC-105 VHF transceiver and a terminal unit to use
my new model 19. On 145.85 AM RTTY (before they moved FM almost all the
way down to the lower band edge.. Funny thing, I only had two others I 
talked to
on the air. But went out and had an eyeball meeting with them one day.

Things get in the way. I got married (and divorced....twice) and a 
friend gave me
a HAL ST-6000. The search was on again for a new TTY machine. I acquired
a 32 running at 66 WPM. Difficult to copy but it rekindled the want.

The same friend then sold me a Commodore C-64. Wrote a conversion program
in basic to take the raw data from the HAL ST-6000 and display it on the 
screen.

Sold the house, moved back home and with my newly acquired IBM PC I bought
a HAL ST-3000 (Is that the right name?) card for the PC and was back on 
the air
again on HF with a newer Icom IC-761 HF transceiver.

One of the older radio club members was cleaning his shack and gave me 
the HAL
ST-8000 a few years back. And I'm working on acquiring a model 28 for 
the shop.

Yuppers, "Real Keyboards have Green Keycaps" (Or in this case, gray.)

Jeff-1.0
wa6fwi

Still playing in the past after 38 years.