TZUTC: -0500   
   MSGID: 382.fidonet-ls_arrl@1:2320/33 289cc4d1   
   PID: Synchronet 3.19b-Win32 master/a2a9dc027 Jan  2 2022 MSC 1928   
   TID: SBBSecho 3.14-Win32 master/a2a9dc027 Jan  2 2022 MSC 1928   
   BBSID: TBOLT   
   CHRS: ASCII 1   
   On the 3rd day of Hamming, my radio gave to me:    
      
   Three different radios, two license upgrades, and a license, callsign   
   from the FCC.   
      
   The "main bands" in ham radio are now HF (which has 160, 80, 75, 60, 40,   
   30, 20, 17, 15, 12, and 10 meters)...VHF (6, 2, and 1.25 meters), and   
   UHF (70, 33, and 23 centimeters). There are other bands as well; but   
   these are the main ones, on frequency charts of various license class   
   privileges.   
      
   Many Ham Radio Transceivers, whether base station, handi-talkie, or   
   mobile, are transmitting in just a single band. However, others now can   
   have transmitting capabilities via dual band, triband, or even quad-band.   
   And, the way that technology is advancing, in the not too distant future,   
   more transmitting bands in a radio may be covered.   
      
   Some radios even have"out of band receive", where you can listen to such   
   things as aircraft, railroads, NOAA Weather Radio, regular broadcast   
   stations, and more.   
      
   On the 4th day of Hamming, my radio gave to me:    
      
   Four sets of antennas, three different radios, two license upgrades, and   
   a license, callsign from the FCC.   
      
   G5RV's, J-Poles, Cubical Quads, and Magmounts, are among the many types   
   of antennas available to work the various bands. Some are small and   
   simple to build, set up, and work with; while others are on huge towers   
   of stations that literally "work the world" with amateur radio.   
      
   On the 5th day of Hamming, my radio gave to me:    
      
   5 Band DXCC. Four sets of antennas, three different radios, two license   
   upgrades, and a license, callsign from the FCC.    
      
   One of the most prized awards in amateur radio...and one of the most   
   difficult to obtain...it's gained by making contacts in at least 100   
   different countries around the world, on 5 different amateur radio bands,   
   using the desired mode...voice or digital.   
      
   On the 6th day of Hamming, my radio gave to me:    
      
   6 Meter Clean Sweep, 5 Band DXCC. Four sets of antennas, three different   
   radios, two license upgrades, and a license, callsign from the FCC.   
      
   Called "the magic band", the area just above HF, and at the low end of the   
   VHF spectrum...when tropospheric ducting occurs, inducing skip; one can   
   literally work coast to coast, or even across the ocean, on 6 meters.   
   Technician Class licensees and above have full access to this band.   
      
   On the 7th day of Hamming, my radio gave to me:    
      
   7 Nights Of Net Logs, 6 Meter Clean Sweep, 5 Band DXCC. Four sets of   
   antennas, three different radios, two license upgrades, and a license,   
   callsign from the FCC.   
      
   There are literally nets on every night of the week, on various bands and   
   modes...whether HF, VHF, UHF, D-Star, or VoIP (Echolink, CQ100, HamSphere,   
   etc.); and can be phone or digital.   
      
   The nets can be for formal written traffic, traders nets (where ham radio   
   operators can list ham radio equipment that they want to buy, sell, or   
   trade)...on a special topic (such as trains, weather, cooking, ham radio   
   technology, or even Bible Study)...or just a general ragchew or roundtable   
   net...the format of each is determined by Net Control.   
      
   With very few exceptions, all nets are DIRECTED, and all stations will   
   contact Net Control before attempting to contact another station on the   
   net. Plus, all stations checking in are required to follow the   
   instructions of Net Control, as well as the protocol and format of the   
   net. Stations failing to do risk being muted or blocked from the net.   
      
   As a side note, on D-Star, the callsign of the transmitting station is   
   automatically sent when they key up...whether to speak, or for what's   
   known as a "quick key checkin to a net"...done either into a D-Star   
   repeater, or a D-Star Reflector, if these are connected into an internet   
   gateway. So, there basically is "no way to hide ones identity" on   
   D-Star...whether one is transmitting via a DVDongle, using a DVAP with   
   their radio, or on a D-Star repeater via their rig.   
      
   It's affectionately known as "Echolink On Steroids", and I personally   
   use it more than Echolink for nets during the week. Several nets also   
   meet on D-Rats during the net, on various Ratflectors, where they can   
   chat, exchange files and messages in real time, and find other hams   
   with the Maps Feature.   
      
   There are several files in my D-Rats Shared Folder on getting started   
   with D-Rats, mostly in PDF format...and other files are in the D-Star   
   Users Yahoo Group.   
      
   On the 8th day of Hamming, my radio gave to me:    
      
   8 the Hamfest Start Time, 7 Nights Of Net Logs, 6 Meter Clean Sweep, 5   
   Band DXCC. Four sets of antennas, three different radios, two license   
   upgrades, and a license, callsign from the FCC.   
      
   Most hamfests are just half day events for a few hours...usually on a   
   Saturday...although some can be as much as 3 days, such as the Dayton   
   Hamvention (tm), held in mid-May each year in Ohio. Venues of where the   
   activities are held, the availability of license exam sessions, the   
   number of forums, dealers, and flea market vendors, etc.; plus costs   
   for transportation, lodging and meals in the area, event admission,   
   prize tickets, prizes offered, and tables for vendors, among other   
   things, vary by event.   
      
   In most cases, the start time for these events is 8am local time. And,   
   for many, that means an "early wake up call"...so, they can make the   
   long drive, to get there when the hamfest opens, to either get good   
   deals at the flea market, or from dealers; or taking part in a forum,   
   a license exam session, and more. Some 2 day events may start on a   
   Friday afternoon, and then continue for much of the day on Saturday.   
      
   With these hamfests, you must be a licensed amateur radio operator to   
   win the radio prizes. Everyone must be present to win any of the prizes   
   awarded...the exception is the grand prize, awarded at the end of the   
   hamfest...when the crowd then usually "parts like the Red Sea" (hi hi).   
   --- SBBSecho 3.14-Win32   
    * Origin: The Thunderbolt BBS - Little Rock, Arkansas (1:2320/33)   
   SEEN-BY: 1/19 120 123 15/0 16/0 18/0 19/10 37 50/109 90/1 105/81 106/201   
   SEEN-BY: 116/17 18 116 123/0 10 25 130 131 170 180 200 525 755 3001   
   SEEN-BY: 135/300 142/104 153/7715 154/10 30 40 50 700 203/0 218/700   
   SEEN-BY: 220/90 221/1 6 360 222/2 226/18 30 227/114 229/110 112 113   
   SEEN-BY: 229/206 307 317 424 426 428 470 664 700 240/1120 1200 5832   
   SEEN-BY: 250/1 266/512 275/1000 280/5003 282/1038 299/6 301/1 113   
   SEEN-BY: 317/3 320/119 219 319 2119 322/0 757 335/364 341/66 342/200   
   SEEN-BY: 396/45 423/81 460/58 467/888 633/280 712/848 1321 2320/0   
   SEEN-BY: 2320/33 105 304 401 3634/0 12 27 56 57 119 4500/1 5001/100   
   SEEN-BY: 5005/49 5020/715 1042 4441 5030/49 5054/8 5058/104 5064/56   
   SEEN-BY: 5075/128 5083/1 444 5090/958   
   PATH: 2320/33 105 154/10 3634/12 5020/1042 301/1 221/6 1 320/219   
   PATH: 229/426