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   MSGID: 580.fidonet-ls_arrl@1:2320/33 2914be50   
   PID: Synchronet 3.20a-Win32 master/777fb6d8b Jun 13 2023 MSC 1929   
   TID: SBBSecho 3.20-Win32 master/777fb6d8b Jun 13 2023 MSC 1929   
   BBSID: TBOLT   
   CHRS: ASCII 1   
   (CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS MESSASGE)   
      
   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, AllStar, D-Star, D-Rats, DMR, Echolink,   
   Fusion, M17, P25, WIRES-X, 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 into the net 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:   
      
   1) Their computer with a DV Dongle, a DVAP, a ThumbDV, or a DV MegaStick   
   30...all which connect to the computer's USB port.   
      
   2) Their rig, which also may have a cable connected to the computer, if   
   they are running a certain software for the particular mode.   
      
   D-Star is 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   
   Group on groups.io (Yahoo Groups is no more, due to security issues).   
      
   For that matter, any DIGITAL mode transmits your callsign each time you   
   key up, or type in a message...but it's still a good idea to identify   
   your station, per the amateur radio rules of your country. In the US and   
   its territories, it's every 10 minutes, and once you sign off.   
      
   **   
      
   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 Hamvention (tm),   
   held in mid-May each year in Xenia, 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. Note   
   that these costs, especially for transportation and lodging, can be rather   
   expensive...about what you'd pay for buying a nice piece of RF gear.   
      
   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).   
      
   **   
      
   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, PSK31,   
   radioteletype (also known as RTTY or "ritty"...there are at least 2 big   
   RTTY contests each year), 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. Also, "mic fright" is a very real fear for   
   new hams.   
      
   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.   
      
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   --- SBBSecho 3.20-Win32   
    * Origin: The Thunderbolt BBS - Little Rock, Arkansas (1:2320/33)   
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