Howdy from Texas

[forty_caliber]

Did some chores around the "Shack" earlier today. Among other things, I did an analysis of my contact log book. It was a little bit of a shocker.

4553 stations contacted
145 countries

Sometimes this sort of a can reveal weaknesses in antenna systems. This turned out well enough, I can cross it off the list.

.40

 

[taxlady]

Ham radio?

 

[caseydog]

Ham radio?

Do ya' think?

CD

 

[taxlady]

Do ya' think?

CD

Less likely, but it could have been CB radio.

 

[forty_caliber]

Ham radio?

Yes. The usage of the word ham in this context while ubiquitous is a somewhat derogatory term. We are Federally licensed Amateur Radio Operators. That license allows us the use of a very broad spectrum of bands and power not to exceed 2.5 kilowatts. The government considers this a service to the country.

Just for the record, CB (citizens band) can only use channelized portions of the 11m band. These unlicensed operators are limited to 5 watts.

Bonus question: How does the frequency designation in meters relate to the frequency in MHz?

.40

 

[dragnlaw]

A frequency designation in meters refers to the wavelength of a radio wave, and to convert it to MHz, you need to use the formula: Frequency (MHz) = 300 / Wavelength (meters); essentially, a shorter wavelength corresponds to a higher frequency in MHz.

LOL - I cheated! Have no idea what it means!

 

[dragnlaw]

So you personally have chatted with each of those contacts? What language do you all communicate with? English, French, Esperanza?

 

[forty_caliber]

A frequency designation in meters refers to the wavelength of a radio wave, and to convert it to MHz, you need to use the formula: Frequency (MHz) = 300 / Wavelength (meters); essentially, a shorter wavelength corresponds to a higher frequency in MHz.

LOL - I cheated! Have no idea what it means!

It refers to the physical length of the antenna needed to operate on that frequency.

.40

 

[forty_caliber]

So you personally have chatted with each of those contacts? What language do you all communicate with? English, French, Esperanza?

That's a complicated question. In addition to bands, frequency, there are also modes (phone, ssb, cw, rtty, psk, msk and the list goes on.) I use a lot of digital. Voice modes can be problematic due to language especially within the DX (distance comms) realm where I like to operate. English is pretty universal but so is BAD English.

.40

 

[dragnlaw]

So you don't actually carry on a conversation as in "how's your weather? What did you have for breakfast? Going fishing today?"

It's more along the lines of an acknowledge signal as in a shout over the shoulder of "Hey honey! look I'm receiving a signal from the southern part of the United States!"

 

[forty_caliber]

So you don't actually carry on a conversation as in "how's your weather? What did you have for breakfast? Going fishing today?"

It's more along the lines of an acknowledge signal as in a shout over the shoulder of "Hey honey! look I'm receiving a signal from the southern part of the United States!"

Yes and no. For DX contesting it's digital all the way. I also "rag chew" with groups via ssb voice on a regular basis. Sometimes those conversations are formalized into a "Net" with a control operator and members wait their turn to speak when recognized by net control. Other times it's more of a roundtable with a much more relaxed approach. Then still other times it's "CQ CQ CQ Kilowatt Juliet Five Charlie Tango Xray"... fishing for a conversation without knowing what you'll catch. From the Texas that signal can be heard from India to China and Iceland to Antartica and all points in between.

Alice, this rabbit hole just keeps getting deeper and weirder.

.40

 

[dragnlaw]

Yup, I just climbed out a side hole on languages. Mostly inane charts and figures but some pretty deep and interesting.
OK, Mr. White Rabbit, I'll let you and the Walrus rest for a bit as it's getting to the point of a cave in on my brain.

But I can see your fascination for it - weird comparison but like when Dungeons & Dragons became popular and they'd get lost in the game, play all night, can't wait to get back to it, etc. Wasn't for me but I understood.

 

[forty_caliber]

Thanks for your interest. Here is my radio bio page. It helps me to keep my technical savvy sharp.

KJ5CTX Callsign Page

KJ5CTX personal biography

www.qrz.com

.40

 

[Kathleen]

It is all very cool, .40. Thank you for sharing!

 

[dragnlaw]

Thanks! fascinating... another rabbit warren branch, arghhh!
From your history of Brenham - was it common that soldiers from the same town would be in the same group? As in that disastrous expedition into Mexico?

 

[forty_caliber]

Thanks! fascinating... another rabbit warren branch, arghhh!
From your history of Brenham - was it common that soldiers from the same town would be in the same group? As in that disastrous expedition into Mexico?

Texas history is pretty complicated, like it's a whole other country. Oh wait IT IS a whole other country. The Republic of Texas of old. The Texas declaration of independence was signed under an oak tree that is less than 20 miles from my house. One of the main highways through this part of the state is called the Texas Independence Trail. We have been occupied by six different countries in the course of history.

During the days of the frontier it was commonplace for John Q Public to be pressed into service for all kinds of things. There are many times many stories of this occurring. In one such story, a shop keeper lady manned Austin's cannon battery to fight off the Indians during an attack and saved the city. To this day there is a bronze statue commemorating the event.

That independent spirit still runs deep here and it is evident in some of our colloquialisms. Ever heard this one?

• Never ask a man where he is from. If he is from Texas he will let you know, otherwise you don't want to embarrass him.
• He's all hat and no cattle.
• You might want to thank your lucky stars that you were born in Texas
• Might as well. Can’t dance, never could sing, and it’s too wet to plow
• I can explain it to you but I can't understand it for you.
  
  

.40

 

[dragnlaw]

Love it .40. Goes right along with this, eh?

 

[caseydog]

Yes and no. For DX contesting it's digital all the way. I also "rag chew" with groups via ssb voice on a regular basis. Sometimes those conversations are formalized into a "Net" with a control operator and members wait their turn to speak when recognized by net control. Other times it's more of a roundtable with a much more relaxed approach. Then still other times it's "CQ CQ CQ Kilowatt Juliet Five Charlie Tango Xray"... fishing for a conversation without knowing what you'll catch. From the Texas that signal can be heard from India to China and Iceland to Antartica and all points in between.

Whiskey Tango Foxtrot?

CD

 

[caseydog]

Ever heard this one?

• Never ask a man where he is from. If he is from Texas he will let you know, otherwise you don't want to embarrass him.
• He's all hat and no cattle.
• You might want to thank your lucky stars that you were born in Texas
• Might as well. Can’t dance, never could sing, and it’s too wet to plow
• I can explain it to you but I can't understand it for you.
  

.40

You forgot a favorite of mine, "That dog won't hunt."

CD

 

[caseydog]

Love it .40. Goes right along with this, eh?
View attachment 73055

It's at least 160mph on some parts of 1-10 in Texas. At least that's what we got away with.

CD