[GreenKeys] RTTY HF technician license? Not so fast.

[Gerry Block (sbcglobal)]

FYI I got my novice at 8 and my general at 9 and was 
on RTTY at 10.

I was using a using TTL-II just designed at that time 
by Irv and Keith Petersen.  I built it from a copy of 
a hand-drawn schematic from Keith later published in 
RTTY journal.  Still wish I had the demodulator 
(junked) and the schematic (junked).

I made money for all my projects fixing teletype 
machines.  I could disassemble and reassemble a model 
26 or model 15 without manuals (didn't have any).   It 
was only later I obtained the unobtainium - a model 28 
built up from parts - from a friend of Keith's at the 
Bell system, including a NEW surplus cabinet.

My skills were at their peak.  All downhill from there.

Ask Jack.  He'll vouch for me.  It's true.


Regards
Gerry
AD6MC

--- Original Message ---
From: Gary <gcarlist at garychatters.com>
To: Eugene Hertz <ehertz at tcaf.org>
CC: greenkeys at mailman.qth.net
Subject: Re: [GreenKeys] RTTY HF technician license? 
Not so fast.

>Eugene Hertz wrote:
>[...]
>> Nine-year-olds have passed it. How, I can't 
imagine). I can not
>> imagine how hard the general test would be to get 
me the proper
>> ability to use RTTY on HF (and run my model 28--ok, 
this message is
>> only "near-topic").
>> 
>> Very dissapointing and a little discouraging :( 
>> 
>
>I have a few comments, but, as this is mostly off 
topic I'll try to keep 
>them limited.
>
>- High school age is rather common for getting an 
amateur radio license. 
>   High schools may have ham radio clubs or 
stations.  My high school 
>did, and, of course, several students were licensed, 
mostly general 
>class. I think that is a more appropriate age, 
compared to nine, for 
>getting kids started.
>
>- You don't have to imagine how hard the general test 
is.  The question 
>pool can be downloaded from the ARRL web site.  The 
conceptual level for 
>general is about the same as for technician.  The 
emphasis is on HF 
>operating, but otherwise not greatly different.
>
>- If you would like to operate HF RTTY the best 
approach would be to 
>plan to get a general class license.
>
>- It has been a while since I actually operated HF 
RTTY.  I got my start 
>back in high school with a Model 15, a Heathkit DX-60 
transmitter, a 
>Hallicrafters SX-100 receiver and a Twin City TU 
built from parts picked 
>up at hamfests and scrounged from old dead TVs.  I 
only operated on 80M 
>with a dipole back then.  For me, making a contact 
two states away was 
>DX, but it kind of amazed me how well such a simple 
setup could do.
>
>73,
>Gary
>[So much for "limited" comments.]
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