Ham population stats

From: John Lawson <jpl15_at_netcom.com>
Date: Tue Feb 15 22:39:56 2000

  So far: 23 respondents to my "Who's a Ham" question; not counting
the several commercial licensees among us.

  Off Topic: I am hoping that the recent US FCC relaxing of the
license requirements will breathe a little New Life into the bands in
this country... the average age of the Ham population is now in the
late 50s or something. There was a time when our communication system
in this country, and especially emergency communication, was
augmented positively by Hams... but there was a time when computers
were as big as the ones in my living room... times have changed. To
all who grouse about having had to learn 13WPM (Im a General Class)
or 20 WPM (for Extra Class) I say this: It's only a hobby, and a
great, though dying one... I welcome all the new hams to come...
5WPM will still be a good "sincerity" filter, and c'mon, people....
it's only *one* character every *two* freakin seconds!! [you do the
math: 5 WPM, 5 letters/word avg... 25 char in 60 secs avg]

 On Topic: I want to use the PDP 11/44 to talk to my (vintage) AEA
PK232 Multi-Mode terminal node controller... but even more I want
to lash up an RTTY program for the PDP, to send and recieve Baudot
in real time.

  This is in addition to the vintage 60's RTTY station I am
assembling... just looking for a good Transmitter. Major components
are Model 19, Collins R-388 (51-J) [serial number 235..!] and Irv
Hoff TU made homebrew from 60s QST articles.


  And now back to your originally scheduled Classic Computer
Collector's List already in progress..


  Cheers

John
Received on Tue Feb 15 2000 - 22:39:56 GMT