Ed,

EV>Thanks for taking the time to write about the problems Hams have with
EV>CC&R's and using the internet to work stations on the air.

  Nowadays, folks will file a lawsuit at the drop of a hat. I think with
the H.U.D. subsidized housing for the disabled, they only have to give
24 hours notice for an inspection.

  They unfortunately have had a problem with meth labs and drug runners
out here before. However, they can't do "random drug tests" of the
residents, as it'd be "an invasion of privacy". The management has a
complete list of my medications, surgeries, doctors, conditions, etc. --
and can request blood work, etc. at any time.

  During one inspection, they literally inspected the medicine cabinet
in my bathroom. But, all of it had been legally prescribed, and it was
on the medications list, so they couldn't touch me. The strongest pain
medicine I have is prescription strength Ibuprofen, with Excederin
Migraine tablets (over the counter) the next one down, as it were. Those
are the ONLY 2 medications I have...and they're obviously much weaker
than the more powerful Hydrocodone, Oxycodone, etc..., of which there
are now new regulations on obtaining such.

  And, on the inspections, I can't have antennas here (lightning dances
around here like an ungrounded Faraday cage during storms...during one
storm, I saw one bolt strike the sidewalk grate not 50 feet from my
front door!!), and can't have coaxial cable across the floor, as it's a
"tripping hazard". If they were to do a "surprise
inspection", they'd
write me up for it.

EV>The first time I heard about internet radio, I too didn't think it
EV>was real radio, but after reading Your message I now understand the
EV>problems some Hams face when they don't own the property their License
EV>is listed at.

  Far more hams are getting put into this situation nowadays, and while
these are obviously "off the air" if the internet is down, I can't see
depriving them of the joy of the hobby, while they're able to do so. I
run 2 Echolink and 2 D-Star Nets a week, and check into at least a dozen
others.

  Besides, it was a lot quicker to set up a portable demo at a
mini-Field Day site (called Hamming In The Park), than to set up a
tower, antennas, coaxial cable, etc. Plus, when I did a demo for a high
school ham radio club, I pointed out to the kids that "you don't have to
worry about asking your parents if you can put up a tower". If you have
a computer, high speed internet connection, and either a headset mic or
desktop mic and speakers...plus the appropriate ham radio license, and
required software...once you've been validated by the servers (within
24-48 hours), you're good to go.

EV>It has been a long time since I've been on the air due to the wife not
EV>liking the co-ax cables running through the doorway up to the attic to
EV>get to where my 80 Meter and 20 Meter antennas are.

  Do you, Ham...take Radio...to be your lawfully wedded spouse?? (hi
hi). Seriously, I've seen a lot of instances where one of the couple is
crazy about ham radio...and the other one couldn't care less. Did I ever
send you the file on "The Triple Play"...with "The Ham Radio
Wedding",
"The Honeymoon And More", and "Ham For The Holidays"??
If not, send me
an email reminder, and I'll send the PDF file back to you (I think the
file is around 85K in size).

EV>You've got me thinking about using one of those internet radio programs
EV>so I could get my Radio-Fix.
EV>Maybe I'll try it out one day.

  I have some PDF files on D-Rats (with D-Star) and Packet Via
Telnet...and can help you get set up with Echolink. I've had a blast on
these nets...and two instances come to mind. If I've told these to you
before, my apologies. But, they show "with friends like us, you don't
need any enemies"...plus, it gives folks something to laugh at. :)

1) On a D-Star net, one ham (Bill, WB5LYB) had told Net Control (Roy,
WJ5Z), that "I hear you've been taking a lot of time off of work. You
need to quit that, and get back to your job".


(Continued to next message)
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