TZUTC: -0500   
   MSGID: 383.fidonet-ls_arrl@1:2320/33 289cc4d7   
   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 9th day of Hamming, my radio gave to me:    
      
   9 modes on digital, 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.    
      
   Operating digital is the beauty of ham radio, as you can go farther on   
   that mode than with voice, although many hams refer to voice as "phone".   
   Nine such modes are CW (also known as Morse Code), Packet, APRS,   
   radioteletype (also known as RTTY or "ritty"...there are at least 2 big   
   RTTY contests each year), PSK31, JT65, Amateur Television, MT63, and   
   Amtor (Amateur Teleprinting Over Radio).   
      
   There are many more modes in the hobby...digital and otherwise...but   
   for now, this will do. And, the digital modes can be used on the   
   "digital portions" of nearly all amateur radio bands available to your   
   license class...digital modes are not just for HF.   
      
   As a side note, when I was still able to have an HF setup and indoor   
   antennas at my residence; one day, on 20 meters, using an indoor antenna,   
   with just 15 watts of power, inside my apartment with the windows closed,   
   I worked a station in Utah, 1000 miles away, on JT-65!! Plus, I was   
   seeing other stations on the other side of the world!!   
      
   And, one time, I saw a demo of PSK31, where you had around 10 QSO's in a   
   narrow bandwidth space. Various software programs, freeware and shareware,   
   are available, for these digital modes.   
      
   For those who don't want to "talk" on ham radio, digital is the mode for   
   you!! Depending on the mode of operation, and the software used...the   
   computer will do the logging, and identify your station for you. You just   
   type in what you want to say.   
      
   Awhile back, I heard of 2 amateur radio operators in the Hawaiian Islands,   
   who could not get a decent voice QSO. So, they went up into the digital   
   portion of the 70 centimeter band, fired up their computers, software, and   
   went to PSK31 mode. They reportedly "never had such a good QSO".   
      
   While PSK31 is not "error free", as packet radio is, you can still get a   
   good idea as to the conversation, with what is being typed.   
      
   On the 10th day of Hamming, my radio gave to me:    
      
   10 Different Wouff Hongs, 9 modes on digital, 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.   
      
   Founded by T.O.M. ("The Old Man", W1AW, Hiram Percy Maxim himself), The   
   Royal Order Of The Wouff Hong is a "secret society", with the "device"   
   to be used as a mode of discipline and correction on "lids" (ham radio   
   operators with poor on the air operating habits). No explanation or   
   details are known on how the discipline, or the mode of discipline, is   
   to be administered to the miscreant amateur radio operator.   
      
   You must be a paid up ARRL member...either for the current year, or an   
   ARRL Life Member...to participate; and the initiation ceremony is done   
   only at ARRL Division or National Conventions.   
      
   There are no dues, no officers, and no politics in The Royal Order Of   
   The Wouff Hong. And, there's nothing degrading or vulgar during the   
   ceremony. You will do a lot of laughing...plus, all of the participants   
   get a very nice certificate afterwards. I personally have gone through   
   it twice, and look forward to doing so again.   
      
   As for the laughter; for both the Wouff Hong Ceremony, as was for this   
   net...you better "have an empty bladder", as it were, before the   
   ceremony starts. While that wasn't my problem, I laughed until I hurt,   
   and thought I was going to cry!!   
      
   On the 11th day of Hamming, my radio gave to me:    
      
   11 New Harmonics, 10 Different Wouff Hongs, 9 modes on digital, 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.   
      
   While not all ham radio operators will get married and have a family...   
   especially a large one...and the total of harmonics may be more like one   
   or two, instead of eleven; the bottom line is that we need to get new   
   blood into the hobby...to replace those who are leaving the hobby by   
   either letting their licenses lapse...or they die (becoming Silent Keys).    
      
   I've personally been at license exam sessions, as a VE Session Liaison,   
   as well as an administering VE, where the entire family (father, mother,   
   and children) have all gotten their Technician Class license in the same   
   day...talk about spreading the happiness around of the new licensees!!   
   It was truly a joy to sign the CSCE's of the newly licensed family of   
   hams!!   
      
   Basically, the youth of today are the amateur radio operators of   
   tomorrow. In short, if we don't replace these operators that are no   
   longer in the hobby, attrition will kill ham radio...no pun intended.   
      
   On the 12th day of Hamming, my radio gave to me:    
      
   12 Hours at Field Day, 11 New Harmonics, 10 Different Wouff Hongs, 9   
   modes on digital, 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.   
      
   Always held on the 4th full weekend of June each year, ARRL Field Day   
   is a chance for ham radio operators to set up portable operations in a   
   wide variety of locations, running on emergency power for 24 hours,   
   and to show the public, that truly..."when all else fails, ham radio is   
   there".   
      
   A similar event, known as Winter Field Day, is held during the latter   
   part of January...usually the last full weekend of the month. Further   
   details are available at http://www.winterfielday.com, and on Facebook   
   at https://www.facebook.com/groups/winterfieldday/   
   --- SBBSecho 3.14-Win32   
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