--------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 135 AMATEUR RADIO Ref: F3300028 Date: 03/01/98 From: MODERATOR Time: 06:01am \/To: ALL (Read 1 times) Subj: Ham Echo Frequently Asked Questions (1 o06:01:0403/01/98 Welcome to the Ham Echo (Modified 02 August 1997) New participates often have questions about an echo. This Q/A was prepared in an effort to better understand the HAM Echo. 1. What is the echos purpose - Provide a free and open exchange of ideas and discussions on issues concerning amateur radio operating techniques and practices. 2. What types of amateur discussion - AM, FM, U/LSB, CW, RTTY, Amtor, Packet, Pactor, Clover, ATV, AmSat, Spread Spectrum, Repeaters, Repeater coordinations, amateur band plans, WARC, cross band operation, links, bulletins, newsletters, digests, orbital elements, dx notes, club announcements, hamfest activities, RACES, ARES, MARS, CAP, field day, cross posts of interest from other amateur radio echos, QSL information, propaga- tion forecasts, equipment review, equipment modifications for MARS and CAP, new amateur radio software announcements and review, on air schedules with other echo participants, amateur radio purpose, how to obtain an amateur license, NPRM, and part 97 rules and regulations, just to name a few subjects. 3. Do I need an amateur radio license to participate in this echo - NO. A valid amateur radio license is not required. 4. Are there subjects which may not be discussed - Yes. Because amateur radio operators have such a diverse interest in radio communications it is difficult to separate the many elements. The following radio related topics have been determined not to be within the scope of this echo and are not permitted: Scanner, Shortwave, Broadcast, FCC, Citizen Band radio, Equipment for sale, Pirate radio, or any thing that is not directly related to the advocation of amateur radio as defined in FCC Rules and Regulations, Part 97. 5. Are there other echos that permit these discussions - Yes. The following sister echos are carried on the Fido backbone and available to any Fido sysop. Scanner discussions : SCANRADIO Shortwave/pirate discussions: SHORTWAVE Broadcast discussions : BROADCAST FCC discussions : FCC Equipment for sale : HAM-SALE Looking up callsigns : AMATEUR RADIO CALLSIGN SERVER Discussions about CB belong in the following echos: Low Power FM, CB, RADIO_HOBBY-ALL, CB_RADIO, CB_RADIO_2, CB_RADIO_4SALE, CB_RADIO_C4SALE --- FMail 1.02 * Origin: Electronic Avenue-San Antonio,TX 210.533.5668 (1:387/510) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 135 AMATEUR RADIO Ref: F3300029 Date: 03/01/98 From: MODERATOR Time: 06:01am \/To: ALL (Read 1 times) Subj: Ham Echo Frequently Asked Questions (2 o06:01:0503/01/98 6. Are there other amateur radio related echos - Yes. There are many ham related echos, both on and off the fido echo backbone and several alternate nets with ham related echos too. Backbone echos include: AMATEUR_RADIO: Amateur radio discussion HAM-SALE : Equip for sale, swap, buy HAM_REQ : Ham File Echo Announcements and file requests HAM_TECH : Technical discussions RTTY : Digital communications PACKET : Packet & digital communications Non-backbone echos include: TEN-TEN : 10-10 International Echo Additional information on non-backbone echos and feeds may be obtained by netmailing or writing the Ham Echo Moderator. 7. What happens if a message not related to amateur radio is posted - Depends. Many times, messages not related to amateur radio or posted by bbs users without them ever realizing their error. No action or warnings are sent to the user. However, it is not at all uncommon for others to regularly post messages on subjects that have little, or no, connection to amateur radio. These individuals will be netmailed warnings that their post is not in keeping with the purpose of the echo. If they are not the bbs sysop, the sysop of the board they use will also be carbon copied. In the most extreme and annoying cases that cannot be resolved, a bbs' link to the echo may be removed. 8. I have seen reference to messages being off-topic. What does that mean - Since amateur radio is so diverse, and since many readers have a hard time deciding on the boundaries of the echo, messages will often be posted that are really better suited for another echo. In the past, one of the moderators would let the person posting the message know that the content of their message was not related to amateur radio. In the future, this will be handled by netmail and not occupy echo space. 9. What makes a subject off-topic - The rule of thumb for the moderators is whether the message "relates to the subject of amateur radio in some manner." If the answer is no, then it is off-topic. Another yard stick for determining if a message is off-topic are the echo guidelines. Some subjects have proven over time not to be very good topics of discussion, and are strongly discouraged. The moderators often get netmail concerning topics of discussion and are ask by other echo users to have a thread ended. Once the thread has been declared closed, any continued discussion would be off-topic. 10.What are the echo guidelines, and when are they posted - Echo guidelines are the very basic do's and dont's. They are posted on the 1st and 15th of each month. --- FMail 1.02 * Origin: Electronic Avenue-San Antonio,TX 210.533.5668 (1:387/510) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 135 AMATEUR RADIO Ref: F3300030 Date: 03/01/98 From: MODERATOR Time: 06:01am \/To: ALL (Read 1 times) Subj: Ham Echo Frequently Asked Questions (3 o06:01:0603/01/98 11.What are the guidelines concerning antagonistic behavior to others - Flames, insults, slander, innuendoes, personal attacks, or the use of derogatory or negative connotations is not permitted in this echo. This is an international forum and this type of behavior does not promote amateur radio goodwill. Participants of the echo are expected to follow the echo guidelines and to treat others the way they would want to be treated. Those who simply feel they must flame or attack another user, should do so in private, via netmail, or use the flame echo. 12.Is profanity permitted in the ham echo - NO. The use of profanity is not tolerated at any time in the ham echo. Minors read this echo and adults should have a command of the English language, which would permit them to express themselves without resorting to any form of lewdness. 13.What if there is a complaint against another echo participant, or the moderator - Complaints of any kind are best handled in private, via netmail, between the two parties. Complaints against the moderator should be directed to them via netmail. Disputes between individuals or the moderator is not to be handled in the echo. That is not the purpose of the ham echo. 14.Is there a way to change the echo guidelines - Yes. Every participate has a right to an input into what the echo guide- lines should contain. If an echo user does not like one of the guidelines, or decision of the moderator, they should bring it to the moderators attention, via netmail. Every suggestion will be considered, and if there is enough support for a change, it will be implemented. 15.Is there a way to send mail to the moderator? Yes. Not everyone has access to netmail. Postcards and letters, both good and bad, may be addressed to the moderator. The name, address, are available in the Callsign Book or by using the Fidonet Callsign Server Echo, or any of the Callsign areas available on the Internet. If this is not possible, send a request to the Moderator, and an address will be sent to you. HAM ECHO All correspondence will be processed and answered as soon as time permits. The Ham Echo can only be as good as the participants make it. Your sug- gestions and criticism are both appreciated and solicited. --- FMail 1.02 * Origin: Electronic Avenue-San Antonio,TX 210.533.5668 (1:387/510) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 135 AMATEUR RADIO Ref: F3300031 Date: 03/01/98 From: MODERATOR Time: 06:01am \/To: ALL (Read 1 times) Subj: Ham Echo Guidelines HAMGUIDE.TXT revised 02 August 1997 1. Topics MUST relate to amateur radio. 2. -NO profanity, flames, insults or slander. -NO discussions of Citizen Band Radio, shortwave, or scanners. There are specific echos for those topics/subjects. -NO promotion of illegal operating practices. It's just not legal! -NO NO-CODE vs. CODE. This is history, there is nothing left to discuss. -NO equipment for sale, swap, or trade. The HAM_SALE echo fits that bill nicely. -NO taglines containing controversial subjects. 3. Do not use excessive quoting and please change the message subject line when you change topics. 4. The official language of Fidonet is English. Therefore, the language of the HAM echo is also English. 5. There is a Moderator and no others. Please leave the moderating to the moderator. 6. Any disputes with other echo users, or the Moderator, should be handled in Netmail and not on the echo. 7. As Moderator, I reserve the right to change the guidelines as situations arise, or as I see fit. Jeff Edmonson - KA5THB Moderator Fidonet HAM echo --- FMail 1.02 * Origin: Electronic Avenue-San Antonio,TX 210.533.5668 (1:387/510) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 135 AMATEUR RADIO Ref: F3300032 Date: 03/01/98 From: JEFF EDMONSON Time: 06:37am \/To: BOB ALBERT (Read 1 times) Subj: I have a gripe! > I was NOT advocating deliberate interference. I > simply said that I felt > the American ham was within his rights to operate on > his assigned > frequency, and that interference works both ways. Bottom line is, that according to ITU convetions, 40m is a "shared" band, and we, as Amateurs, must share with the Broadcasters, regardless of where their transmitter is. 73 = Best Regards -Jeff KA5THB --- FMail 1.02 * Origin: Electronic Avenue BBS 210-533-5668 San Antonio, TX (1:387/510) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 135 AMATEUR RADIO Ref: F3300033 Date: 03/01/98 From: JEFF EDMONSON Time: 06:56am \/To: ALL (Read 1 times) Subj: Ham Echo Rules. Excuse me for the interruption here, but something needs to be said... It's come to my attention (again) that there are some disgruntled echo users who don't agree with the echo rules, or my thought processes as far as the HAM echo is run. I have One positive question I must ask to that effect; Where has the bickering and arguing gone? (Hint: It's not HERE, in the echo!) ;-) I see some potential for other flare-ups, however. Please, everyone - before you respond with some brand of insulting witticism, count to 10, read, and re-read your message and -do- let common sense prevail ;-) There will probably be a change in the HAM Echo rules, as soon as I get time. Right now, work is long and hard but that doesn't mean I don't still come in here and read through the echo. What I'd -really- like is for some of the "Ol' Timers" to gently guide the young/new people who wander in here down the HAM Radio Path. I'd also like for the New Hams, or new participants to try to understand that some of the older Hams seem to have a "crust" about them, but that's only from years and years (and years -g-) of close affiliation with the Hobby. HAM Radio -is- a Hobby, that provides a fantastic vehicle for assistment in several emergency services. Through the Hobby, -and- those services, the key word is "communication". Many people hear the words, but don't always follow the meaning. The Fidonet HAM echo is an extention of our beloved Hobby, coupled with another seemingly and timely hobby - computers ;-) Let's try to "communicate" our thoughts to one another in a civil manner like adults. *IF* for some reason you feel you MUST tell someone something specifically about what they've said, or how they've said it, remember the two rules of Fidonet's governing document: 1) "Don't Be Exessively Annoying" 2) "Don't be easily Annoyed" :-) If you HAVE a problem with a post from another echo participant, you are hereby advised and highly encouraged to take the problem either to another echo, Netmail or even e-mail, if it's available to you. There will be no moderating from other echo participants. One of the echo rules state that; "There is a Moderator, and no others. Please leave the moderating to the moderator." Ok - I'm off my soap-box, now ;-) I wish each and everyone a Wonderful day, and hope that this finds you well. Vy 73 de KA5THB MODERATOR: Fidonet HAM echo --- FMail 1.02 * Origin: Electronic Avenue BBS 210-533-5668 San Antonio, TX (1:387/510) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 135 AMATEUR RADIO Ref: F3300034 Date: 02/28/98 From: DAVID PRATT Time: 08:43am \/To: ALEX VASAUSKAS (Read 1 times) Subj: MORSE -=> Quoting Alex Vasauskas to Jeff Edmonson <=- AV> I am learning Morse with my wife. I know that we don't need to AV> for the Technician no-code rating, but we are into languages and AV> it is kind of fun.... That's what I like to hear, Alex. Learning Morse _should_ be fun and it usually is providing people take a positive approach like you. So many eople these days are lazy and impatient. If they can't achieve something without any effort, then they just lose interest. AV> And speaking of the benefit of technology, I found a wonderful AV> freeware program for learning code, and we have been using this AV> to get the dit-dah patterns ingrained in our unconscious before AV> we go out to practice. Just have to wait for Radio Shack to AV> get in their code keys to practice sending like a real AV> "amateur". Which program is that, Alex? I found an excellent one which sends either ive character groups or word passages at speeds from 2.5 to 25wpm at a tone of your choice. I used it for getting up to speed for my Extra Class and can thoroughly recommend it. The program is MORSE21.ZIP (54k) and can be F'req'd from here. AV> Notwithstanding the amusement and occasional benefit of code, AV> Morse will invariably have to be alot slower than talking, typing, AV> or signing. I could disagree with you there! On phone we tend to fill the time with all sorts of unnecessary words and information. On CW we send just the essentials, the result being that the message is more easily understood and remembered. The same information can often be got over quicker on CW than on phone. 73 David G4DMP / KK7GL ... G4DMP - A sign of Amateur Radio - the world's finest hobby ___ Blue Wave/DOS v2.30 --- FLAME v1.1 * Origin: SpeedMail TBBS, Leeds UK * +44 (0)113 232 0351 * V.34+ (2:250/355) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 135 AMATEUR RADIO Ref: F3300035 Date: 02/28/98 From: DAVID PRATT Time: 12:46pm \/To: LAURENCE TAYLOR (Read 1 times) Subj: The 7MHz band -=> Quoting Laurence Taylor to Bob Albert <=- LT> Bruce was trying to receive Radio Sweden on 7280 kHz. Outside the LT> Americas, the band 7100-7300 is allocated to broacdasting, and LT> therefore RS was operating in accordance with ITU regulations. If you LT> disagree with this, then take it up with the ITU. I think that is being taken care of Laurence. There is a proposal to move the 40 metre Region 2 band down to 6.9 to 7.2 MHz and allocate the band also to Region 1. This is referred to on pp32-33 of the February QST, but is nlikely to happen until 2001. David ... G4DMP - A sign of Amateur Radio - the world's finest hobby ___ Blue Wave/DOS v2.30 --- FLAME v1.1 * Origin: SpeedMail TBBS, Leeds UK * +44 (0)113 232 0351 * V.34+ (2:250/355) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 135 AMATEUR RADIO Ref: F3300036 Date: 03/01/98 From: PAUL YOUNG Time: 02:00am \/To: ALL (Read 1 times) Subj: Ham Radio BBS ͻ Ŀ Ŀ Ŀ Ŀ Ŀ Ŀ Ŀ Ĵ Ŀ Ŀ Ŀ Ŀ Ŀ Ŀ Ŀ Ŀ Ĵ Ŀ The Cellular BBS has over 50 areas just for Ham-Radio Packet-Radio / RTTY / Oscar / Radio-Mods / Cat ETC ETC And all the other files that GOOD BBS's carry ------ Over 700 File areas and 240 Mail areas ------ Sysop - Paul Young - G0HWC The BBS has 4 phone lines Three on 01604-757777 one on 01604-464647 FIDO / TekNet / BBSNet / DogNet / MsiNet / EuroNet "Points Welcome" all 4 lines are 33,600 baud 24 hours a day Use the BBS for FREE with Ratios or Membership is 10 > 20 All the latest software 01604-464647 --- 01604-757777 --- 01604-464647 --- 01604-464647 ͼ This message was posted using The Messenger v 1.0 for Wildcat! --- ViaMAIL!/WC4 v1.40h * Origin: Cellular BBS 01604-757777 "4 lines all 33k6" (2:2503/422) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 135 AMATEUR RADIO Ref: F3300037 Date: 03/01/98 From: MIKE JORDAN Time: 08:26am \/To: MICHAEL STRATES (Read 1 times) Subj: Linux and Packet Radio ->Just been setting up my Linux box to be a packet station. This is ->super-cool, what Linux can do, and hopefully this post might stir some ->amateur's curiosity in the Linux arena. ... ->I hope I've stirred people's interest in a Linux-based packet solution, if ->you want more information go to http://sunsite.unc.edu/LDP and view the ->AX-25 and the HAM HOWTOs for Linux. You failed to mention the part that would grab attention after stiring up interest. Linux can be had for free off the Internet (although it's a lot of files), for about $40 on a CD that has a installation program, or for about $40-$50 as a CD with one of the dozens of books you can buy about Linux. Linux will run on a lowely 386 with 8 megs of memory (there is a version that will run on a 286) and as little as 80 megs of disks space (actually less if you don't want room for anything). I've run Linux on a 386/40 with 16 megs and 120 megs of disk space and then moved it too a 486/66 to run a ppp connection via a dedicated 33.6 modem to my ISP. Linux will interface with other TCP/IP boxes, like Win 95/NT and OS/2 and makes an excellent server for a network. I'm just getting back into Ham radio after a 7 year absense (computers, running a BBS and money sidetracked me) and while I've not used it for packet, I have noted the info that tells how to do it and plan on giving it a try one of these days. It sure beats the Apple II+ (lots of RFI) and the Commodore 64 I used years ago. Mike (mike.jordan@comm-dat.com) KJ4TX --- WILDMAIL!/WC v4.12 * Origin: Com-Dat BBS - Hillsboro, OR. HST DS (503)681-0543 (1:105/314.0)