Saturday, May 02, 2009
RTFM!
I'm sure you have all uttered the words or had them uttered to you at some point in time. RTFM or "read the fine manual". Now I have to say that I have heard other nouns and adjectives with different levels of frustration used in place of these four letters as I'm sure you have also. For the moments though we will stick with my current definition.
I am coming to understand that there is really some value in the words and following their suggestion. I own a Yaesu FT-60 hand held transceiver have been using it for about a eight or nine months now and enjoying it very much. Now I have to tell you being a geek and somewhat of a gadget nut one of my litmus test for how well a piece of equipment is designed is if can I take it out of the box and get all of the basic functions it has working without looking at the manual.
The problem with this attitude is that I have started in my old age to let the process end there and just use what I can figure out by playing with a new radio PDA phone or whatever. Add to this the fact that now days most new radio equipment has a computer interface that will let you program it with a GUI interface and that lessens the need to know what all those key combination are to get a particular feature enabled and the brain starts to atrophy. The next thing you know you find yourself out there in the field with no idea how to turn that darn beeping off that happens every time you push the PTT button. Or worse how to turn on or set the tone encoder so that you can access a repeater in a new location that you have just wandered into.
My point here is that after the new and shiny wears off you should take a little time to sit with the manual and figure out all of the little intricacies of your new toy. More and more manufactures are making it easy because the manuals are available in PDF format so that you can search for what that button does really fast. If your experience is like mine I think you will find yourself enjoying your equipment even more than you already do. I have found some neat features with my FT-60 that I didn't realize were there. Give it a try and see if you get the same results.
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I am coming to understand that there is really some value in the words and following their suggestion. I own a Yaesu FT-60 hand held transceiver have been using it for about a eight or nine months now and enjoying it very much. Now I have to tell you being a geek and somewhat of a gadget nut one of my litmus test for how well a piece of equipment is designed is if can I take it out of the box and get all of the basic functions it has working without looking at the manual.
The problem with this attitude is that I have started in my old age to let the process end there and just use what I can figure out by playing with a new radio PDA phone or whatever. Add to this the fact that now days most new radio equipment has a computer interface that will let you program it with a GUI interface and that lessens the need to know what all those key combination are to get a particular feature enabled and the brain starts to atrophy. The next thing you know you find yourself out there in the field with no idea how to turn that darn beeping off that happens every time you push the PTT button. Or worse how to turn on or set the tone encoder so that you can access a repeater in a new location that you have just wandered into.
My point here is that after the new and shiny wears off you should take a little time to sit with the manual and figure out all of the little intricacies of your new toy. More and more manufactures are making it easy because the manuals are available in PDF format so that you can search for what that button does really fast. If your experience is like mine I think you will find yourself enjoying your equipment even more than you already do. I have found some neat features with my FT-60 that I didn't realize were there. Give it a try and see if you get the same results.
Labels: RTFM manuals equipment
Friday, May 01, 2009
Looking to get your license or upgrade?
There will be classes and tests at The Salvation Army, Parish Street, Greentree, PA 15220, on Wednesdays and Thursdays until and including 5/21/09.
Bring Photo ID for the test, as well as a copy of any current license. Please have the $15- test fee, in cash.
Information or registration
KA3TDQ@VERIZON.NET
or
K3FKI@VERIZON.NET
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Bring Photo ID for the test, as well as a copy of any current license. Please have the $15- test fee, in cash.
Information or registration
KA3TDQ@VERIZON.NET
or
K3FKI@VERIZON.NET
Labels: new license amateur radio upgrade test sessions
Thursday, April 30, 2009
An oldie but goodie
You would have to be a little older to remember Lafayette Radio and Electronics. Similar to Radio Shack and Olsons this chain of stores sold everything from parts to consumer electronics like stereos and ham radio equipment. I lusted after and managed to obtain one of their ham band only receivers the model HA-350 shortly after I got my novice license in 1966 and was sorry latter that I let it go. If I ever run across one in mint condition at a reasonable price I will add it to my collection of equipment. This is how it looked and sounded.
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