TZUTC: -0500   
   MSGID: 72.fidonet-ham@1:19/33 21ebc67f   
   REPLY: 1:18/200.0 5d83aaf2   
   PID: Synchronet 3.17c-Win32  Sep 16 2019 MSC 1922   
   TID: SBBSecho 3.09-Win32 r3.140 Sep 16 2019 MSC 1922   
   CHRS: ASCII 1   
   Sean,   
      
   SD>Social Fixer does it all.  It's a really great add-on.   
      
     I'll have to lok for it.   
      
   SD>Some hams need to get their head out of their ass. ;)  Let's call a spade a   
   SD>spade on this.   
      
     Spade and neutered.    
      
   SD>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.   
      
   SD>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.   
      
   SD>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.   
      
   SD>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.   
      
   SD>One of the reasons why I love amateur radio so much: there's something for   
   SD>everyone.   
      
     Exactly.   
      
   Daryl, WX4QZ   
      
      
    * OLX 1.53 * The Bottom Line: The vertical crack in your butt.   
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