[Hallicrafters] Opinions on the SX-110

Fri Aug 19 15:55:57 EDT 2005

Glen is exactly on the mark, unfortunately. It is unfortunate because it should
not be this way, but it is every bit as bad as he states, perhaps even worse. It
depends when you listen!	

I recently helped a local Ham with a Technician license who had his Icom 746 Pro
so screwed up the only cure was a total reset. Now let me state clearly, i have
NOTHING against a Tech no code license holder! many of them are the ones who
help with the invaluable Sky Warn programs and a host of other public safety
programs. However, because of the mental view too many have of this "CB" class
of Ham license, many of those who have the license do not bother to learn what
they really do need to know. Regardless of what others think, some self-respect
is the only cure for this!	

Now the older man i helped is one of the nicest people you want to meet, polite,
appreciative, honest, helpful and willing. unfortunately, he is never going to
understand this radio! He just does not have the right dots upstairs to make the
connections between. If all he had to do was to turn it on, pick a frequency and
operate, he would be fine. But he is one of those who have this irresistible
drive to 'push buttons to see what happens'. Which is why I got the radio to
begin with!	

When he picks it up tomorrow morning, he is NOT leaving here until he and I go
over this rig one on one! I want him to write down what knobs to turn, what
buttons it is "OK" to push etc. He needs to learn to turn off what he turns on
and what it does. I will be sure he writes it all down, for I know he will keep
the notes and refer to them. Maybe it will keep him from creating the disaster
he achieved this time.	

Glen, I agree that people must want to learn. You can not teach an unwilling
student. However, hwo do we get them to want to learn?	

I am reminded of one young Ham about nineteen. He had a Tech no code ticket, a
computer and ECHO link. He worked some So. African station on two meters via the
computer. Now how does one convince this young man that he needs to upgrade to a
General and operate HF? He already thinks that DX is what he just did, but it is
no more DX than picking up the telephone and calling a friend in Capetown, So.
Africa! It is a tremendous challenge for Hams nowadays to convince young people,
who are our future, that Ham Radio is more, MUCH MORE than a computer interface
to the Internet! Perhaps the way is for each of us to show our own family what
it really is about and what it truly can do. For if there is to be Ham Radio
with an understanding of electronics in the future, it is going to be up to the
Hams today to make it happen! Otherwise those with the wisdom, the skill and the
knowledge, will be gone and only some history pages and fading QSL cards will
remain.	

DBF	

----------
From: Glen Zook <gzook at yahoo.com>
To: Troglodite at aol.com; carolew at bellatlantic.net
Cc: hallicrafters at mailman.qth.net
Subject: Re: [Hallicrafters] Opinions on the SX-110
Date: Friday, August 19, 2005 3:29 PM

Actually, if newcomers today had to use the older
equipment they would have to learn how to use the
equipment.  Frankly, at least 95% of the complaints
that I hear today are due to the fact that the person
doesn't have a "clue" as to how to operate his/her
equipment.  That is why I sometimes wish that it were
a requirement to have to use the older equipment. 
Then they would appreciate the fact that equipment is,
generally, much better today IF operated correctly.

They run preamplifiers wide open (overloading the
front ends considerably), don't have a clue as to how
to use their filters, run the transmit audio gain wide
open as to "flat top" and otherwise distort, and so
on.  But, unfortunately, a lot of them not only don't
know how to use their equipment they have no intention
of learning.

I am one of the moderators on QRZ.com and the
complaints from people about QRM, distortion, etc.,
come across on a too regular basis.  People regularily
complain about CW signals that are over 1 KHz away as
interferring with their QSO, complain about SSB
signals that are over 3 KHz away, and so on.  They
complain about signals 10 KHz away "overloading" their
receiver yet they are running the preamplifier wide
open, and so on.  They really need to learn how to use
their own equipment instead of expecting everyone else
to stop operating.

I realize that technology has improved the possible
performance of "modern" equipment.  I also know that
this technology, when improperly used, can cause more
problems than anyone ever expected.

Glen, K9STH

--- Troglodite at aol.com wrote:

I get the impression that you feel newcomers must
"suffer what we suffered" or "pay their dues." Both of
these carry connotations of an unpleasant  experience.

Glen, K9STH

Web sites

http://home.comcast.net/~k9sth
http://home.comcast.net/~zcomco

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