[R-390] $5000.00 390A????

[barry williams]

Bob,

Yes, you are quite correct when you point out how much you haven't 
learned. It's hard to find a starting point in replying.

You did step on a lot of toes, but let me set you straight if possible. 
SWL and DX is a huge world. I've spent a lot of time with SWL, HF DX, 
chasing pirates, manpack clandestine stations in the jungle, TIS, and 
even drift net bouys. There are large networks of people with the same 
likes, some hams and some not.

It really doesn't take exotic equipment. That's a fairy tale. You do 
have to understand something about antennas past turning the rotator 
knob on your Cushman or Bird. My 'exotic' antenna for flea powered NDBs 
putting out a norm of 25 watts is a tabletop Quantum QX Pro. Les 
Locklear steered me to this antenna. It's a rotating ferrite rod type. 
I've pulled in little NDBs from Chile with it (4000+ miles) and a $50 
RBL-5 from the Navy with a service date of 1944. Les tipped me off on 
that auction. Just about everything else DX or SWL is on a nice HP 3586B 
that was $100 from a ham in Huntsville. Again, Les gave me to heads up 
on it. About the only thing 'exotic' is a Timewave 599zx.

I've done a lot of listening, but I couldn't begin to run with the guys 
that Chuck Rippel goes with on DXpeditions. Those guys know radio. 
Propagation. Antennas. Radio stations. You name it.

I hate to say this in front of the forum, but it is the truth that 
attitudes like yours is why I never got my license. I started out DXing 
on my own. My best friends and neighbors were hams and encouraged me to 
take the test. A lot of other good friends happened to be hams too. 
While being some of my best friends, they suddenly got the attitude that 
I was unwashed when I mentioned any interest past the ham bands. I've 
heard this a lot from others without their tickets.

There's a whole world of radio out there past the limitations of the ham 
bands. DXing is certainly more than turning on appliances and chatting.


the other Barry


> Barry, Et al,
>
> I have been very aware of Chuck Rippel and his work for about 10 to 12
> years.
>
> As to my lack of specific knowledge regarding an event within the realm
> of those that pursue SWL, I do not now, nor have ever followed them.
>
> The numbers of SWLs is a large one.  The part that would take the upon
> themselves the expense and efforts to go to this level is most likely a
> fairly small one.
>
> The singular event simply did not rise to a level that would catch my
> attention.  I am solely interested in the realm of Amateur Radio.  I've
> been in that arena since 1980.
>
> I do not have the time, nor the wherewithal to follow and chase all
> aspects of all the variations of differences in hobbies.  I do not
> believe that many on this list deal with optical instruments, nor would
> they have interest in 1/10 wavelength of light accuracy in the mirrors
> of a telescope.
>
> I had pointed out that the entire circumstances of the "event" were not
> listed by the seller.
>
> If I stepped on the toes of the SWL community, I apologize.
>
> I have enough on my plate to deal with, and do not profess to follow
> everything that takes place.  I have more than enough to deal with here
> at my home.  I've had the population of my home double unexpectedly, and
> it has been an ongoing issue for at least two years.
>
> We are dealing with "our" high priority items.  They happen to be family
> health issues.  They have been occupying a significant amount of time,
> attention, and methods of dealing with them.
>
> I use the information from several sources to restore, maintain, and
> repair the radio equipment that I have had, and do have and currently have.
>
> Regarding putting my foot in my mouth, I happen to be one of the humans
> that will indeed put my foot in my mouth, simply by virtue of doing
> things.  Those that do not do anything, never make an error.
>
> Those that do, will make errors.
>
> Bob - N0DGN
>
>
>