Ed,   
      
   EV>Thanks for taking the time to write about the problems Hams have with   
   EV>CC&R's and using the internet to work stations on the air.   
      
     Nowadays, folks will file a lawsuit at the drop of a hat. I think with   
   the H.U.D. subsidized housing for the disabled, they only have to give   
   24 hours notice for an inspection.   
      
     They unfortunately have had a problem with meth labs and drug runners   
   out here before. However, they can't do "random drug tests" of the   
   residents, as it'd be "an invasion of privacy". The management has a   
   complete list of my medications, surgeries, doctors, conditions, etc. --   
   and can request blood work, etc. at any time.   
      
     During one inspection, they literally inspected the medicine cabinet   
   in my bathroom. But, all of it had been legally prescribed, and it was   
   on the medications list, so they couldn't touch me. The strongest pain   
   medicine I have is prescription strength Ibuprofen, with Excederin   
   Migraine tablets (over the counter) the next one down, as it were. Those   
   are the ONLY 2 medications I have...and they're obviously much weaker   
   than the more powerful Hydrocodone, Oxycodone, etc..., of which there   
   are now new regulations on obtaining such.   
      
     And, on the inspections, I can't have antennas here (lightning dances   
   around here like an ungrounded Faraday cage during storms...during one   
   storm, I saw one bolt strike the sidewalk grate not 50 feet from my   
   front door!!), and can't have coaxial cable across the floor, as it's a   
   "tripping hazard". If they were to do a "surprise inspection", they'd   
   write me up for it.   
      
   EV>The first time I heard about internet radio, I too didn't think it   
   EV>was real radio, but after reading Your message I now understand the   
   EV>problems some Hams face when they don't own the property their License   
   EV>is listed at.   
      
     Far more hams are getting put into this situation nowadays, and while   
   these are obviously "off the air" if the internet is down, I can't see   
   depriving them of the joy of the hobby, while they're able to do so. I   
   run 2 Echolink and 2 D-Star Nets a week, and check into at least a dozen   
   others.   
      
     Besides, it was a lot quicker to set up a portable demo at a   
   mini-Field Day site (called Hamming In The Park), than to set up a   
   tower, antennas, coaxial cable, etc. Plus, when I did a demo for a high   
   school ham radio club, I pointed out to the kids that "you don't have to   
   worry about asking your parents if you can put up a tower". If you have   
   a computer, high speed internet connection, and either a headset mic or   
   desktop mic and speakers...plus the appropriate ham radio license, and   
   required software...once you've been validated by the servers (within   
   24-48 hours), you're good to go.   
      
   EV>It has been a long time since I've been on the air due to the wife not   
   EV>liking the co-ax cables running through the doorway up to the attic to   
   EV>get to where my 80 Meter and 20 Meter antennas are.   
      
     Do you, Ham...take Radio...to be your lawfully wedded spouse?? (hi   
   hi). Seriously, I've seen a lot of instances where one of the couple is   
   crazy about ham radio...and the other one couldn't care less. Did I ever   
   send you the file on "The Triple Play"...with "The Ham Radio Wedding",   
   "The Honeymoon And More", and "Ham For The Holidays"?? If not, send me   
   an email reminder, and I'll send the PDF file back to you (I think the   
   file is around 85K in size).   
      
   EV>You've got me thinking about using one of those internet radio programs   
   EV>so I could get my Radio-Fix.   
   EV>Maybe I'll try it out one day.   
      
     I have some PDF files on D-Rats (with D-Star) and Packet Via   
   Telnet...and can help you get set up with Echolink. I've had a blast on   
   these nets...and two instances come to mind. If I've told these to you   
   before, my apologies. But, they show "with friends like us, you don't   
   need any enemies"...plus, it gives folks something to laugh at. :)   
      
   1) On a D-Star net, one ham (Bill, WB5LYB) had told Net Control (Roy,   
   WJ5Z), that "I hear you've been taking a lot of time off of work. You   
   need to quit that, and get back to your job".   
      
      
   (Continued to next message)   
   ---   
    þ OLX 1.53 þ Chocolate lovers 12 step plan: < 12 steps from chocolate.   
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
                                                                                     
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