[SOC] Bill Windle QSO Party

[David Ring]

Hello Ian,

Only a few FOC operators can copy 60 wpm.  The FOC rules require that
you can send above 18 wpm - which is a reasonable speed.

One of the FOC members, Marvin Carter, W4ZMQ used to QSO Jim Ricks,
W9TO (invented the TO keyer and sold it to Hallicrafters) on 3518 kHz
at night.  They used to send about 60+ wpm.  Jim was founder of
Chicken Fat Operator's Club - CFO
http://home.aurora.edu/~bdillon/cfo/cfo.html

Marv used to sign "Both SOC and then Marv would send his social
security number - trying to mock the FOC practice of putting "Both
FOC" after signing call signs.  That W9TO was not considered by FOC to
be a member potential probably has most to do with how the FOC
developed through time.  At one time, you just had to be an active ham
and have a UK sponsor.  W1BB was one FOC operator like this.  But then
the club changed several times and became even more of a DX club with
emphasis on being able to work even more than one band.  W1BB was a
one band pony, but he was a FOC member.

The fellows on 3518 kHz used to sign SOC also - they were all great operators.
W4AX Dave Shafer (FOC), W4ZMQ Marv Carter (FOC), K4BI he taught
physics at GA tech, W4DA Fred Pharo (later FOC), Fergus YV1NX (later
FOC), David Ring, N1EA (FOC), Al Kahn, K4FW (FOC), Jim Ricks W9TO.
Now you'll notice that the majority of the people were FOC also - but
not everyone - so the SOC gag caught on.

Groups such as SOC and CFO have common roots - both CW groups - and
the histories are not writen - at a certain time CFO became an
organized club - but it wasn't before that - it was on the air - it
was an "alternate SOC" in origin and format.  Jim Ricks, W9TO was the
founder of that group and W4ZMQ Marvin was a founding member but he
never got a membership number!  I was in the "original" group also,
but never bothered to get a number until years later!  That's how
these groups start!!!

73

David Ring, N1EA (since 1977) ex-WA1DRS (1965-1984)
CFO 864, FISTS 9227, SOC 264, SKCC 587, ex-FOC 1271,
SOWP 3709M, VWOA, MTC


On 6/6/07, Ian C. Purdie <ianpurdie at integritynet.com.au> wrote:
>
> This [our] august body [SOC] came into being around about a million
> years ago as a consequence of FOC whom we believe are limited to the
> best 500 of the best 60 wpm operators around the world.
>
> Exclusive!
>
> Back a long time ago some of the clowns among us realised we could
> never, ever join their ranks. Unkind folks would even talk about "their
> uppity closed shop" and mumble all sorts of unkind comments [even in
> writing!], then again our good friend Bob Patten is a member so they
> can't be all that bad.
>
> Anyhoo, as one consequence, we scoured among all the dregs of the
> International AR community, the absolute bottom of the barrel types AND;
>
> Here we are as SOC
>
> True story. Where is our founding father?
>
> Where art thou horatio?
>
> Lurking....
>
> It ain't me BTW
>
> I could "out him" but that's unfair
>
> 72/73's
>
> Ian C. Purdie
> Budgewoi N.S.W. Australia - Co-ords S33°14', E151°34'
> VK2TIP "I'll give ya the TIP mate" QRP-L #1978. SOC #171 FP#91
> http://www.electronics-tutorials.com/