John Beckman - W4BTX HAM RADIO "A PAST TIME FOR A LIFETIME"
Okay. Today I am royally Pissed! As an old time RTTYer I gravitated to PSK-31 as everyone mothballed their old TTY machines. And I listen during the week to 20 and 30 meters and since we have no sun spots the PSK portions of those bands are just dead. So I decided that I would give a listen on the weekend. Maybe there would be more activity on a Saturday.
I tuned up on 14.070 which is the recognized frequency for PSK-31 operators. And what do I hear? Some assholes running a ton of power and operating computer to computer CW! And their key clicks were so bad they blotted out the whole PSK portion of the band. Their key clicks ran from 14.067 to 14.0167 wiping out 14.070. And since they were working computer to computer they were sending at about 50 words a minute so I couldn't read their calls, or I would have jumped all over them . PSK operators run 20 to 30 watts so there was no way to compete with these phony-baloney, plastic banana, good time rock and roll "CW" interference generators.
Yes, I know that CW can operate anywhere, remember I've been doing this ham stuff for 67 years and I was working hand-key CW before most of you were even a gleam in your parent 's eyes. But there is plenty of space from 14.000 on up for these pseudo CW jerks who are just punching computer keys to jam up the works.
And I know what you're saying, "He's just an old fart who is behind the times. He needs to get with technology." My complaint has NOTHING to do with technology. It has to do with RESPECT for others who would also like to operate. 14.070 has long since been recognized as the PSK portion of 20 meters, and it was done so by a "gentleman's agreement." There is nothing even remotely gentlemanly about inconsiderate assholes blowing out the band with key clicks so bad an old time CW operator would have run them off the band. In some cultures there is still respect for others - but he current generation of hams who waltzed into this hobby when some compliant "ham instructor" handed them a license must have skipped the class on respect for others. Yes, I am pissed, and anyone else who tried to work PSK last Saturday feels the same way.
Thank you for dropping by...Send comments HERE. Until next week 73 and Straight Ahead ->