[Milsurplus] QRMing the MilRadio Net

[Todd, KA1KAQ]

On 1/22/07, Mike Morrow <kk5f at earthlink.net> wrote:

> Phone operator QRO LIDS...gotta' love 'em!  It never changes.  You'll find complaints about this type of nonsense in ham radio magazines from 75 years ago!

I think 'lids' is more accurate. Plenty of guys on the band run power
when appropriate, with no issues.

> Unfortunately for AM operators today, AM does not compete well against SSB.  The battle is unequal due to the technical inferiority of the AM mode, except for its novelty in a vintage radio setting.

Must be you haven't heard of the Class E group, Mike. These guys are
building multi-fet transmitters that sound as good as any commercial
broadcast transmitter. Novelty? Technical inferiority? AM is no more
inferior than SSB in today's digital world.

Also, AM activity is way up in the last ten years, especially the last
1-2. It likely shows the most growth in activity and interest overall.
Many folks getting on with their new Yaecomwood riceboxes, even. We
may enjoy the vintage/military angle more, but AM certainly isn't
confined to only that area. You should get on the air more. (o:

> You'd find much less of this problem if the activity were Morse, conducted with vintage and milradios in the Morse portion of the band.  Something there is about those "highly-skilled" microphone button-pushers and VOX-jockeys that brings out the jerk.

Shouldn't that read "You'd find much less activity with Morse"?
Finding someone to talk with tends to be a challenge more often than
not, and when you do they often complain if you're not using a keyer.
Nothing is more laughable than the "highly-skilled" keyer-jockey who
needs a computer program to read the code for him.

But I do get a kick out of the guy who is apparently still in a lather
over the phone band expansion, and makes his annoyance known by
sending pissweak V's or strings of dits into our conversations. He
first tried calling CQ over us for a few weeks, then either lost his
place or forgot most of the code through non-use. He's like those
little no-see-um flies you can almost hear buzzing near your ear.

>In ham radio, if I want an on-air QSO with people who are relaxed,
civil, and generally of much better than average technical
qualification and skill as operators, I have found that best obtained
in the Morse QRP community.

I prefer the AM group for actual hands-on technical experience,
advice, and the lack of a perception of some pompous superiority over
others. Some are broadcast or electronics engineers, many are IEEE
members. Some work for the networks or cable interests, still others
are just OTs with excellent homebrewing skills who use wonderfully
made tube (and solid state) transmitters, receivers, even homeomade
ribbon microphones. Some use mil gear like the ART-13, BC-375, and
some of the large Navy transmitters. The best tips and help I've been
given have come from this group, which includes veterans, military
gear afficionados, former W.U. & Maritime telegraphers, an engineer
for ABC, a producer for (*cough*) CNN, truck drivers, auto mechanics,
and so on. http://amfone.net/ is a good place to get more info.

And if you're into the history of radio, they also tell the *BEST*
stories - bar none.  Just listen in to the military net some weekend
morning on AM. Not to take anything away from the CW QRPers, mind you.
I'm sure they're a fun bunch.  (o:

~ Todd,  KA1KAQ