, PETER COGGON wrote to PAUL HENRY:

 PC> Hope you realize that I still don't want the CW to disappear.

Oh, I know. I'm not a CW geek. I like to know it's there whenever I get
around to improving my speed (currently about 15 wpm).

 PC>    Your point is noted..."That you can"...my point was that there
 PC> are other considerations when setting up a repeater.

Agreed. Many equate "can" with "should". It's not
always the case.

 PC> Anyone can run a commercial radio converted for use in the Amateur
 PC> Service.

Fair enough. What the rules were designed to prevent were yahoos without
test equipment disturbing meese with spurious emissions (except during
mating season). Rigs commercially designed to operate on amateur
frequencies (i.e. programmable rather than crystal-controlled) can be run
by basic qualification holders because the front-end does not need to be
adjusted. Anything that needs to be twiddled should be operated by an
advanced-qualification holder, in case something goes wrong (they should
know what the problem is and can fix it). My interpretation, but borne up
by others. What is the resonant frequency of a full antler rack, anyway?

 PC> As for the "grown-up present" this is only when there is a
 PC> non-licenced person there [...]

I don't know. Not sure if I want a basic-only without electronics training
fiddling with anything important. Makes the rest of us look bad. (Of
course, there is the "self-correcting error" factor -- guy
tweaking his kW amp with the power on -- but I digress. ;-)  )

 PC>   160?  As in 160meters?    Okay... can you give a frequency on
 PC> 160meters? I haven't been on 160meters after my pal in Barrie, Ontario
 PC> became a silent key   VE3AL .

I don't have enough swamp for 160M. I can put up a 40 without a compromise,
but that's it. There are a few LF and beacon-chasers in Ottawa, however --
lots of the right kind of land for those kinds of antennas.

I am hoping that HF without Morse will at least get more operators into the
service (they can learn code later). There are a lot more SKs than I am
comfortable with -- need to be bringing them in fresh at the other end.

73, and my best for the New Year.

... Korman's conclusion: The trouble with resisting temptation is it may
never come your way again.
--- GoldED+/LNX 1.1.5