Yeah I agree, BBSing is old tech for us old folks hi hi. At least ham radio is alive and well, my other hobbie is racing RC cars at a few
local tracks. That is very alive and well!!
First, apologies for the long message, but I've got a lot to talk about
Ham radio operators love to talk and eat...and I do both with this reply
(hi hi). I have to put humor in my conversations, as if I don't, I'm prone
to crying and depression. It sucks living alone (I've been a widower for
over 16 years, and my wife and I never had kids to medical issues), and
without driving anymore (noted below), except for medical appointments
(at least I get groceries and medications delivered), I'm home 24/7 now.
I've done a lot of technical stuff the last few days. I normally can
write a batchfile for the BBS, but my programming ENDS at setting the
clock on the microwave oven...if I forget how to do that, I'll starve
to death. The microwave oven is the ONLY way I cook, and that's my
extent of microwave communications (hi hi). The arthritis is so bad now,
that I have to use a cane or walker around the house, and a walker when
I go out on errands.
I'm just a decrepit old f@r+ (hi hi)...but I tell folks that "I'm too
old to cut the mustard, but I can still stir the mayonnaise, and lick
the jar. So, pass the BLT, Onion Ring, and Doctor Pepper, and no one
gets hurt" (hi hi).
Anyway, I figured out how to use Fusion with the BlueDV program by
David, PA7LIM, with my DVMegaStick 30 from GigaParts (I also have a
couple of the THumbDV devices from Northwest Digital Radio)...each are
CHEAPER than the DV Dongle (which I don't think is made or supported
anymore).
I had been using the BlueDV program mainly for D-Star, and at times,
TGIF on the QuadNet Array. But, I figured out how to use it on Fusion
on the KC-WIDE Network, and made several contacts with it. I added a
bunch of their nets to the Excel Net List Spreadsheets of selected
D-Star, Echolink, and D-Rats Nets, in Eastern, Central, Mountain, and
Pacific Time.
I started those, as the data at dstarinfo.com, WAS (and likely STILL IS) woefully out of date. There are well over 200 nets in there...you can get
these from the hyperlink on my bio (WX4QZ) on the QRZ website, or go to
http://www.wx4qz.net/elk.htm -- also on that page are several PDF files
related to amateur radio...including:
A) An explanation of UTC Time, with a converting link...and links to
other modes and nets (DMR, AllStar, Fusion, HamSphere, CQ100, etc.).
Those who are lamenting "there aren't any ham radio nets" just aren't
looking for them. In some slots with the spreadsheets, there can be
6 nets (or more) meeting at the same time!!
B) Operating Internet Radio. For those with HOA's, CC&R's, or medical
issues (I myself have congestive heart failure), one can still take part
in the hobby, and their license "isn't just a sheet of paper". I'm on
Lasix (which wasn't my pee-rogative (hi hi)), but I've known several who
have had that for years.
C) Ham Radio Humor. If you need a laugh, there are a bunch of items in
this file...including where I united Ham and Radio in Holy Telephony,
with "the first night together", verified from "a trusted group of Offical Observers" (hi hi), plus 12 things from the ham radio hobby as "The 12
Days Of Hamming". Also in that file, is "The E.D. Net" (you had to be
there (hi hi)), "The Missing Q Signals" (some not suitable for on the
air, but great for eyeball QSO's, as "dirty old hams need love, too"),
and a joke of what happens with CW (in this case, Continuous Whoopee)
with the Quick Disconnect Antennas (for a quickie)(hi hi).
D) Mode Overview on Net Etiquette (I wish that was in the Question
Pools), setting up D-Star, D-Rats, the BlueDV program, working with
the QuadNet Array, and more.
Next, last night, I went to install a .NET security update on the
Windows 10 desktop (where the BBS is), and the Windows 11 laptop,
where I answer my BBS mail, and do my email, web surfing, etc. Due
to sound card issues on the Lenovo Laptop and Windows 11, I have to
do the BlueDV and the nets with the Windows 10 computer. Yet, I can
run CQ100, Echolink, D-Rats, and RMS Express (for Winlink 2000) on
the Windows 11 laptop. If I knew then, what I know now...I *NEVER*
would've upgraded to Windows 11. And, I've heard several hams note
that Windows 11 stopped several programs and radios from working
properly. At least that .NET security update didn't lock the reboot
on the Windows 11 machine, although it took 2 cycles of reboots on
its own to finish things.
The problem developed when the Windows 10 system got hung during
the reboot...and I thought "the BBS and my nets were history". So,
I did some "Windows Repair" deals (I did it twice), and I finally
got it to boot right, and reload the BBS.
We had severe storms and flash flooding in my area last Friday,
and my internet has been erratic at best, and non-existent at worst,
over the last week. I couldn't do the Trains Net last Friday night,
or the QCWA Digital Net last Sunday. At least I can still go in over
the LAN to logon to the BBS, even if the internet is out. I did see
where some Gulf Of Mexico water temperatures have now eclipsed the
100 degree mark...that's "hot tub" water!! If a hurricane gets into
that, it's going to be "Katie Bar The Door" along the Gulf Coast.
Today, I figured out how to get the LetaSoft sound enhancer to
work on the laptop. Originally, it had disabled the sound drivers,
and I thought "Well, I wasted my money". But today, I discovered a
setting "Fix Compatability Issues", and Voila!! I have a bit louder
volume from the laptop than before. This is helpful when I have the
air conditioning running (we've been under Heat Advisories as well
as Excessive Heat Warnings lately, and that looks to last through
much of next week), or a small oscillating fan in the bedroom.
I normally use a headset mic on the Windows 10 machine when I do
D-Star, Fusion, or TGIF. I've used DMR very SPARINGLY, and think
of the meme where a ham radio operator has a cardboard sign "NOT
HOMELESS. NEED HELP WITH DMR. PLEASE HELP!!" (hi hi).
Next, I was finally able to redeem most of my Amtrak Guest Rewards
points for Amazon Gift Cards, in the amount of $475. So, I bought
several items (but the last one didn't arrive until yesterday). My
final cost was only $35 (shipping was free, since the order was over $25)...which WAS music to my ears ...and bank account (hi hi).
I got these items:
1) A pair of simple oven mitts. I have one of those "pasta boats" to
cook macaroni with the microwave oven. I add water to the desired fill
line, add the macaroni, and cook for 15 minutes. The mitts keep me
from burning myself when I put the lid on it to drain off the water
after cooking (that steam is scalding hot!). Then, I can add powdered
cheese mix to it, or just eat it plain, for the carbs and starch. When
someone told me to cut carbs, I sliced a pizza...and I burned 500
calories when I left a pizza in the oven (hi hi).
I've determined that H.A.M. stands for 2 things:
A) Have Another Meal. You don't call us late for dinner...and if you eat
ham, you're cannibalistic!!
B) Haven't Any Money. If you've looked at the "porn catalogs" for
gear...if it says CALL/WEB, you know you CAN'T afford it!! It's
"porn" as the prices are so nasty!! A few years ago at Hamvention,
there was a DC to Daylight rig for $20,000!! Now, one could outfit
a nice ham shack, or buy a nice pre-owned car for that...but for
one rig, that's OVERKILL...pure and simple.
Yet, I've seen at the big hamfests, where hams will lay down 1 or
more $100 bills to get a "brick" of 250 prize tickets. Admittedly,
if you win the grand prize or a nice rig, you more than got your
money back, especially if someone wants to buy it off of you.
However, these same folks will scream bloody murder about dues to
a ham radio club, or organization (the deal with ARRL raising their
dues comes to mind...I know several hams who are going to let their
ARRL membership lapse, because of it). Now, if you have expenses for
food, shelter, utilities, or medical issues, those are obviously far
more important than paying membership dues.
Along that line, it reminds me of the meme where The Grim Reaper
confronts this guy on the corner, and says to him "You know that
fancy DC To Daylight Rig you purchased online behind your wife's
back?? It came to your house while you were at work, and she
signed for it. Do you want to go home and face the music, or do
you want to come with me now??".
2) Two small portable lights, that are charged via a USB cable. They
are perfect for sitting here at the computer desk, and you just press
the "spot" to turn it on or off, and hold it to increase or decrease
the brightness. It can be folded up and taken anywhere you need a
little bit of extra light.
3) Numeric decals for my mailbox. The old numbers had fallen off,
and while these turned out to be too big, I put them on top of the
box, then put a second set on a piece of decal paper, and used 3
paper clips to hold it in place. This way, emergency personnel can
see the address from the street.
4) AAA batteries. I still had plenty of AA batteries, but needed
some AAA...and I don't mean the American Automobile Association
(hi hi). I had to quit driving and sell my car over a year ago, due
to dry corneas, causing blurred vision without warning. I do have
suspect glaucoma, but the eye pressures are good, there's no sign
of macular degeneration, or going blind...although I need blind
hams to help me out of hamfest parking lots and hospital parking
decks (see the Ham Radio Humor file for that)(hi hi).
5) The best part -- FOOD!! These included:
A) Several varieties of the small bags of Grandma's Cookies. These
include chocolate chip (big and small), chocolate brownie, peanut
butter, small vanilla cream sandwich cookies, and oatmeal raisin.
Got to satisfy the sweet tooth, and to me, a meal isn't complete
without dessert. Besides, STRESSED spelled backwards is DESSERTS!!
B) Kraft Macaroni and Cheese. In small microwave containers, you
add water to the fill line BEFORE microwaving (it'll catch fire
otherwise), and microwave for 3 1/2 minutes. Then, add the powdered
cheese, stir it up, and you have a quick snack of Mac and Cheese.
In the past, I've cooked up more than one, put it in a Corningware
container, after adding things like microwaveable frozen peas, hot
dogs, etc., for a nice casserole combination.
C) Several varieties of Hormel Compleats. You microwave them for
1 minute, then they're ready to eat. These include rice, chicken,
and vegetables...chicken alfredo...spaghetti and meat sauce...turkey
and dressing, salisbury steak with mashed potatoes and gravy...and
a variety pack of several other items.
Quantity wise, there's not much to these food items (they're smaller
than the Banquet mini TV Dinner), but it's food nonetheless...and it
gives me something to eat while taking my daily medications.
If all goes well, except for some medical items, I won't need
groceries again until October!!
I've got to get away from the computer now...the dry corneas are
acting up, so I'm going to crash out for a bit, before I go get some
of that food I noted earlier.
Daryl, WX4QZ
... "I never forget a face. In your case, I'll make an exception". -Groucho
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