On 6/23/05, peter markavage <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > bad manners - be piss weak and talk long, direct all your dialogue to one > person, make fun of Heil mikes, only talk about Class E rigs
Folks have covered much of the 'good', so I wanted to add to what Pete has said here, from experience: if the band conditions are above or even near the level that won't support pissweak (low power) operations, be smart enough to realize it and don't lose the frequency to some inconsiderate (or even 'unknowing', although you never hear many of them actually ask) SSB op because you want to make an old buzzard transmission but lack the power to be heard. I know what it's like to want to participate from the times when even the 32V-2 wouldn't cut the mustard. Sometimes you just have to listen and let the guys talk who can actually hear each other. Low power is fine, even quite challenging. Just don't assume that others will want to lose their conversation for it when conditions are questionable. True, occasionally someone will drone on endlessly, but sometimes there is a reason: they have a strapping signal and some SSB group has decided to cozy up next to their frequency (maybe because some pissweaker has tried to ramble on), so an extended transmission can help clarify that the frequency is indeed in use. Deciding if the conversation/roundtable is of interest to you is probably an important thing to do as well. If there are a bunch of guys discussing Class E and you're not interested, don't expect them to halt their roundtable to talk about your new garden hose attachment or power drill. Listening before transmitting yields excellent results. Besides, Class E is in that category of 'the advancement of ham radio' that Pete refers to from time to time. As for Heil mics, I'd never make fun of them. Everyone knows they work pretty well on SSB. (o: Good manners work both ways. Someone wanting to join or someone already in conversation. Unfortunately, politeness is often in the same category as common sense in today's world: not common to all. ~ Todd/'Boomer' KA1KAQ BTW - along the lines of SSB stations deciding to move in on your frequency by zero beating: AM reception is broad enough that you don't need to be *exactly* on the same frequency. Someone a few hz high, someone a few hz low makes it a lot less likely you'll be intefered with.
