Hi again.<\/p>\n
Visit to<\/em> the UK\u00a0<\/strong> So, what did I think of the Hamfest? Not much really, although others might say different.\u00a0Yes, it was \u2018OK\u2019 but I do not think I will fly 2,000kms again just for the Rally.<\/p>\n The Rally was not a patch on the old \u2018Pickets Lock\u2019 days and, yes, I know that was a different era, but even so as a \u2018National\u2019 event, it should have been better.<\/p>\n Oh, and then there were the dogs. Why were people allowed in with them? There were bloody dogs everywhere, always barking and even fighting at one stage . . .<\/p>\n No RSGB, this was not the way to run a Rally.<\/p>\n October RadCom\u00a0<\/strong> I also see that the HF News in future will incorporate the IOTA news. Why?\u00a0I thought the column was about HF News as the title implied, not about a load of twats running round on some rock somewhere . . .<\/p>\n I do wonder where this hobby is going.\u00a0As has been said before, Amateur Radio is a \u2018broad church\u2019 and caters for all interests, from those who want to run QRP, to ATV, Moonbounce or just Rag Chewing. There are those who refurbish old gear and run AM on the bands as well as those who use digital modes only or contest every weekend, as I say, it is a \u2018broad church\u2019.<\/p>\n However, I fear that \u2018modern technology\u2019 is taking over and that within a couple of years; the \u2018average\u2019 Amateur will be looked on as a dinosaur.\u00a0Two recent reports\/articles in RadComic highlight the point.<\/p>\n The first was at the RSGB Centenary Dinner, where there was an after dinner talk by G3RVC. RadComic quotes:\u201d He went on to challenge those radio amateurs in the room to look at the hobby differently by going up in frequency and to think about going well beyond what we know and do. He encouraged us to get into new forms of radio relay and explore things like optical fibre technology\u201d<\/p>\n So when did playing with fibre optical cable become Amateur Radio?\u00a0I think the answer may lay in the word \u2013 Radio.\u00a0We are not Amateur Fibre Optical Cable Enthusiasts.\u00a0Fiddling with BTs optical fibre cable network is not<\/i><\/b> radio . . .<\/p>\n Second: Once again, it is assumed that we are all Microsoft competent engineers and understand all the computer gobbledegook. But hang on \u2013 if you read the stuff, it also assumes that you are on the Internet all the time so that your SDR Server is connected to it \u2013 and anyway, what has graphics got to do with listening to CW or working your Mate on 80m SSB?<\/p>\n Using the internet to do the work for you is not, <\/i><\/b>and never will be, Amateur Radio!<\/p>\n Both the VKs and G3RVC need telling in no uncertain terms that the average chap just wants to get on the bands and have a few contacts. He does not want to have to study for a University Degree in Computers just to \u2018play radio\u2019. I fear that if no one stands up to these sorts of people, they will become the \u2018norm\u2019 as \u2018they know best\u2019 and the Average Radio Amateur will be a thing of the past within 10 years.<\/p>\n Visitors from<\/em> the UK<\/strong> He and I played radio and had fun in the Russian RTTY shindig. Not a serious entry but just throwing away some points . . .<\/p>\n We had a shower of rain during the evening of 16th<\/sup> which was our first rain since 12th<\/sup> June.Still, at least the rain was warm!\u00a0Of course this coincided with Dave, G3VGR\u2019s arrival on the island.\u00a0Something tells me we just put the rain on to make him feel at home . . .<\/p>\n This month\u2019s Country and Western line is a sure fire winner . . ..<\/p>\n It\u2019s:<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve been flushed from the bathroom of your heart.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Yammas!<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Dick. SV0XBN<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Hi again. Visit to the UK\u00a0 I have just got back from the UK after a ‘flying visit’, and one week of chasing hither and yon and it is nice to get back to our chill-out mode.\u00a0Good to see some … Continue reading
\nI have just got back from the UK after a ‘flying visit’, and one week of chasing hither and yon and it is nice to get back to our chill-out mode.\u00a0Good to see some of you at the Robin Hood last Sunday and also at the National Rally thing last Friday.<\/p>\n\n
\nWhile in the UK I picked up my October copy of RadComic. Again not much of interest except Jim Bacon\u2019s piece. I see in the RSGB half-year figures that \u2018administration\u2019 costs rose by over \u00a360 grand, which they say was expected. That\u2019s a lot of subscriptions to be wasted on an IT system so that it can accommodate the IOTA records.<\/p>\n
\nDid you read, or more importantly, did you understand, the complete twaddle written by the two VKs about SDR stuff in the last two RadComics?\u00a0Here again those who are not into computing or cannot understand things like \u2013 and here again I quote \u2013 \u201cCuda is a parallel computing platform and programming model that makes using graphics simple and elegant\u2026\u2026\u201d will be thought of as second class citizens.<\/p>\n
\nWe had \u2018Judge\u2019, G4KAR and his XYL Pat, G8TNH, staying with us recently. It was like being on holiday ourselves sometimes. Had to go over to Hania to meet up with an old work colleague of my XYL and that took up three days and made a nice change from this end of the island. When we returned we did not stray very far from our favourite eating places and, of course, the little beach down the road.<\/p>\n