Argos wrote to Sean Dennis <=-

ahh ... good point!

I moderate 14 echoes here in Fidonet and I can't get people to post in half
of them even though I try to seed the echoes for coversation.

73,
Sean KD5COL

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Sean,

I moderate 14 echoes here in Fidonet and I can't get people to post in half SD>of them even though I try to seed the echoes for coversation.

I co-moderate the WEATHER echo with Mike Powell...I'm still waiting
for word of the updated ECHOLIST UPDATER site, since the passing of Ben Ritchey...but, I haven't seen anything else on that. I can either send
the MOD UPD via email or netmail.

On Facebook, I moderate several groups, but that's the ONLY thing I do
on there anymore. I got so BURNED OUT, and fed up with all the messages
on the Timeline and in Messenger, "demanding" that I "Share this", "Look
At This", etc. (and some of that was malware). Right around the time of
my Mom's death on August 9, I decided that I'd had enough, so I
UNFRIENDED EVERYONE, family, relatives, everyone.

One ham radio operator was so infuriated that I had the absolute gall
to unfriend him, that he said "I don't want to be your friend anymore",
and that "I should send back to him, the ThumbDV that he had sent me
earlier in the year". It was meant as a birthday present, but with his
demand for its return, that makes him "An Indian Giver" in my eyes. So,
I sent it back overnight on Friday, and he got it on Monday (his wife
signed for it).

I do NOT spend every waking moment with Facebook, the BBS, ham radio,
square dancing, etc. On the BBS, if some days, I don't feel like logging
on to check QWK Mail, I don't -- although I update the weather and ham
radio related bulletins (unless I'm offline for thunderstorms or
internet outages). As for Facebook, I'm still a member of about 10
groups, but have unjoined all the others, as well as the pages.

Back to ham radio, my involvement is on selected Saturdays with
license exam sessions (I'm one of the few VE Team Liaisons in the
central Arkansas area), and during the evenings with nets.

As for being on the air, I purchased a replacement ThumbDV from
Northwest Digital Radio for around $125 (with shipping), and it got here
Friday (it wasn't supposed to arrive until Monday...but it was back
ordered, and delayed a week). Yet, that's $75 cheaper than the DV Dongle
from Robin, AA4RC. Plus, his DV Tool program ONLY allows access to the
US Trust Servers (REF)...but NOT access to the X-Reflectors (XRF, XLX,
DCS, etc.). Yet, the BlueDV program from David, PA7LIM, *DOES* -- and it
also allows access to DMR...plus it soon will allow access to Fusion.

The only REF systems I'm on are for the Arklatex D-Star Net on
Tuesday, the CERT D-Star Net on the 1st Thursday, and the New Mexico
D-Star Net on the second Thursday. I am on the QuadNet Array for the
QCWA Net on Sunday, the Trains Net on Friday, and the Food Net on the
first Saturday (schedule conflicts forced me to reduce the frequency of
that net). I also do Packet Via Telnet to/from the NS2B BBS in Penfield,
New York (being scribe for their weekly net on Monday), and check into a
"laid back" net on Echolink on Wednesday. It's a roundtable format, with
no "mad rush" to check in. I've been a part of that net since March,
2006, when I first started using Echolink. Otherwise, I'm not on the air
at all.

To me a hobby...whether a BBS, ham radio, or something else, should
NEVER take priority over things like church, family, health, job, or
especially honey-do's -- in the latter case, that nice rig you have your
eye on for Christmas or your birthday, may be going "bye-bye" (hi hi).

Daryl, WX4QZ


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Hello Daryl.

15 Sep 19 13:01, you wrote to me:

I co-moderate the WEATHER echo with Mike Powell...I'm still waiting
for word of the updated ECHOLIST UPDATER site, since the passing of
Ben Ritchey...but, I haven't seen anything else on that. I can either
send the MOD UPD via email or netmail.

Dale Barnes, the Intermail author, is converting Ben's PowerBASIC elist bot to a C++ program using SQLite currently. He's doing it in his spare time so there's no rush on it right now.

around the time of my Mom's death on August 9, I decided that I'd had enough, so I UNFRIENDED EVERYONE, family, relatives, everyone.

I noticed that. You should install Social Fixer. Takes care a lot of FB's annoyances.

eyes. So, I sent it back overnight on Friday, and he got it on Monday
(his wife signed for it).

What a lid. :(

To me a hobby...whether a BBS, ham radio, or something else, should NEVER take priority over things like church, family, health, job, or especially honey-do's -- in the latter case, that nice rig you have
your eye on for Christmas or your birthday, may be going "bye-bye" (hi hi).

Like it says in "The Amateur's Code": [A ham is] balanced: radio is a hobby, never interfering with duties owed to family, job, school, or community. Written in 1928, that's still very true today.

I am off the air due to antenna problems. I want to put up my Mosley RV-4C vertical but I need a new base. It's $50 with shipping but I am having so many
financial issues due to losing my IT job after my car accident that I will probably remain off the air indefinitely.

I'm also wanting to sell my Yaesu FT-450D and get an ICOM IC-718. The 450D is a nice radio but it has too many menus and button-pushing for my tastes.

My current project is resurrecting an old project if I can find my code: a text-based modern logging program for casual use that will export ADIF files for use with TQSL. There's nothing for OS/2 these days and I have the capability to create it for OS/2, Win32, and DOS/DOS32 using Pascal. Since the
Max/2 BBS is stabilized now (though it always can use work), I'm working on this side project. My program will be freeware, of course.

73 DE KD5COL,
Sean

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Hello Daryl.

Hi, Sean...

Dale Barnes, the Intermail author, is converting Ben's PowerBASIC elist bot SD>a C++ program using SQLite currently. He's doing it in his spare time so SD>there's no rush on it right now.

I used InterMail when I was on dial-up only. I really liked
the setup...although I had registered copies of it and FrontDoor.

With the death of my Mom, August 9th, I haven't had a lot of time for
BBSing or social media lately. I'm physically, mentally, and emotionally
spent from the stress of the last 2+ years.

around the time of my Mom's death on August 9, I decided that I'd had enough, so I UNFRIENDED EVERYONE, family, relatives, everyone.

I noticed that. You should install Social Fixer. Takes care a lot of FB's SD>annoyances.

I already use Fluff Busting Purity to get rid of all the ads, group suggestions, and other garbage. I never heard of Social Fixer.

eyes. So, I sent it back overnight on Friday, and he got it on Monday (his wife signed for it).

What a lid. :(

Agreed. Another ham said "he needs to get a life regarding social
media".

Like it says in "The Amateur's Code": [A ham is] balanced: radio is a hobby, SD>never interfering with duties owed to family, job, school, or community. SD>Written in 1928, that's still very true today.

THANK YOU!! You hit the nail on the head.

I am off the air due to antenna problems. I want to put up my Mosley RV-4C SD>vertical but I need a new base. It's $50 with shipping but I am having so m SD>financial issues due to losing my IT job after my car accident that I will SD>probably remain off the air indefinitely.

Bummer. I'm only on the air now when I have nets that I'm Net Control
for on D-Star, D-Rats, and Packet Via Telnet. There is one Echolink Net
that I'm not net control for, which is in a roundtable format, with no
mad rush to checkin. I've been part of that net (the atmosphere is laid
back) since 2006. The nights I don't have to be Net Controk, I enjoy the
time off for myself.

I'm also wanting to sell my Yaesu FT-450D and get an ICOM IC-718. The 450D SD>a nice radio but it has too many menus and button-pushing for my tastes.

I think that IC-718 was the "get your feet wet in HF rig". I used to
have one, but sold it years ago. The last time I operated HF was on the Arkansas and Missouri Railroad Memorial Day Troop Train in 2011, when we
were doing 20 meter HF railroad mobile, with a hamstick antenna. A link
of me in a QSO (from the moving train) is on my QRZ profile.

My current project is resurrecting an old project if I can find my code: a SD>text-based modern logging program for casual use that will export ADIF files SD>for use with TQSL. There's nothing for OS/2 these days and I have the SD>capability to create it for OS/2, Win32, and DOS/DOS32 using Pascal. Since SD>Max/2 BBS is stabilized now (though it always can use work), I'm working on SD>this side project. My program will be freeware, of course.

Well, considering most hams are "frugal cheapskates" (hi hi), but we
do it for the reward of doing it. At times, at a test session, if I had
extra cash, I paid for an examinee to re-test, because they missed it by
1, and only had enough money for the 1 exam. When they passed it on the re-test, they wanted to reimburse me, but I said "you're getting your
ticket is good enough".

Contesting never did appeal to me...but there's something in ham radio
for everybody.

Daryl, WX4QZ


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Daryl Stout wrote to SEAN DENNIS <=-

I already use Fluff Busting Purity to get rid of all the ads, group suggestions, and other garbage. I never heard of Social Fixer.

Social Fixer does it all. It's a really great add-on.

Agreed. Another ham said "he needs to get a life regarding social media".

Some hams need to get their head out of their ass. ;) Let's call a spade a spade on this.

I think that IC-718 was the "get your feet wet in HF rig". I used to have one, but sold it years ago. The last time I operated HF was on the Arkansas and Missouri Railroad Memorial Day Troop Train in 2011, when
we were doing 20 meter HF railroad mobile, with a hamstick antenna. A
link of me in a QSO (from the moving train) is on my QRZ profile.

It was and really still is. It's a very simple radio and has a front-firing speaker which is nice. You can do direct frequency input from the front
panel. I worked a LOT of DX with that radio. I sold mine because I needed
to make rent. I bought this 450D and while it is a nice radio, it really
has too many features for me to use and everything is buried under menu
after menu, which is annoying to me.

Well, considering most hams are "frugal cheapskates" (hi hi), but we
do it for the reward of doing it. At times, at a test session, if I had extra cash, I paid for an examinee to re-test, because they missed it
by 1, and only had enough money for the 1 exam. When they passed it on
the re-test, they wanted to reimburse me, but I said "you're getting
your ticket is good enough".

Did I tell you I'm now an ARRL-accredited VE? I decided to do that once I
got my Extra ticket. Not that it's really needed around here but just
another certificate to hang on the shack wall...

Contesting never did appeal to me...but there's something in ham
radio for everybody.

My stepdad (whom you met), KD7SXQ, and I had a discussion about contesting
on the way home from the hospital Tuesday after he had a procedure done (I
was his driver). He told me he just couldn't understand the appeal of contesting. I explained to him that for me, it's a chance to sharpen my skills. I have hearing loss in both ears and I continually try to "tune" my ears to be able to hear voices through static. I know, grand solar minimum
and all, but I still like it. I'm also a paper chaser so contesting can go hand in hand with that.

It's much like digital radio: to me, that holds no interest. I do enjoy digital modes though, such as Feld Hell, Olivia, PSK31, RTTY, and the like.

One of the reasons why I love amateur radio so much: there's something for everyone.

73,
Sean

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Sean,

Social Fixer does it all. It's a really great add-on.

I'll have to lok for it.

Some hams need to get their head out of their ass. ;) Let's call a spade a SD>spade on this.

Spade and neutered. <G>

It was and really still is. It's a very simple radio and has a front-firing SD>speaker which is nice. You can do direct frequency input from the front SD>panel. I worked a LOT of DX with that radio. I sold mine because I needed SD>to make rent. I bought this 450D and while it is a nice radio, it really SD>has too many features for me to use and everything is buried under menu SD>after menu, which is annoying to me.

Years ago, it was so easy to set up and program a rig. Nowadays, if
you don't have the programming cable and software, you'll never get that
deal working.

Did I tell you I'm now an ARRL-accredited VE? I decided to do that once I SD>got my Extra ticket. Not that it's really needed around here but just SD>another certificate to hang on the shack wall...

Congratulations. I'm only 1 of 4 VE's in Arkansas that have over 200 sessions. The hardest thing I've had to do is to convince someone who
didn't pass, that they're not a failure...I've had 2 women cry on me.

My stepdad (whom you met), KD7SXQ, and I had a discussion about contesting SD>on the way home from the hospital Tuesday after he had a procedure done (I SD>was his driver). He told me he just couldn't understand the appeal of SD>contesting. I explained to him that for me, it's a chance to sharpen my SD>skills. I have hearing loss in both ears and I continually try to "tune" my SD>ears to be able to hear voices through static. I know, grand solar minimum SD>and all, but I still like it. I'm also a paper chaser so contesting can go SD>hand in hand with that.

Well, there's something in the hobby for everybody. Did your stepdad
take a turn for the nurse?? (hi hi). As a side note, some of the
paramedics with the local ambulance service, are also hams.

It's much like digital radio: to me, that holds no interest. I do enjoy SD>digital modes though, such as Feld Hell, Olivia, PSK31, RTTY, and the like.

And, you can pull them out of the weeds better on digital.

One of the reasons why I love amateur radio so much: there's something for SD>everyone.

Exactly.

Daryl, WX4QZ


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Hello Daryl.

21 Sep 19 15:31, you wrote to me:

Years ago, it was so easy to set up and program a rig. Nowadays, if
you don't have the programming cable and software, you'll never get
that deal working.

You can do all you need from the front panel of a 718. It has computer control
though if you want to do digital modes AFSK (which I still do with the SignaLink you gifted me).

Congratulations. I'm only 1 of 4 VE's in Arkansas that have over 200 sessions. The hardest thing I've had to do is to convince someone who didn't pass, that they're not a failure...I've had 2 women cry on me.

It's a difficult thing to do. I squeaked by passing my Extra test. If they told me I'd failed, I'd been disappointed but not surprised.

And, you can pull them out of the weeds better on digital.

Usually, yes. I really love Feld Hell since you have to use what's between your ears to decode and not the computer.

73 DE KD5COL.
Sean

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Hello Daryl.

Hi, Sean...

You can do all you need from the front panel of a 718. It has computer cont SD>though if you want to do digital modes AFSK (which I still do with the SD>SignaLink you gifted me).

The technology has gotten so complicated and daunting.

It's a difficult thing to do. I squeaked by passing my Extra test. If they SD>told me I'd failed, I'd been disappointed but not surprised.

I missed 13 on my Extra Exam...it was good enough for a pass, though.

And, you can pull them out of the weeds better on digital.

Usually, yes. I really love Feld Hell since you have to use what's between SD>your ears to decode and not the computer.

There is a city I think in Michigan or Wisconsin, called Hell...and in
the winter, they say "Hell Froze Over". <G>

Daryl


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