North Florida Amateur Radio Society
W4IZ Jacksonville FL
nofars.net
Editor: Billy Williams, N4UF
n4uf
Page Three
2019 WRAP UP
Another good year. Two very successful outdoor gatherings at Terry Parker Baptist Church. Over 40 sellers at Jax Radio FREE Flea in March and 60 in October at the 19th Jacksonville FREE Hamfest . A fun June Field Day.
After almost 40 years, NOFARS left Ed White High School when a steep cost schedule for outside groups was implemented by the school board. Hogan Baptist Church and Pastor Peter Copeland, KK4WAY generously offered us very nice meeting space there.
Rajesh Verma, K4SK and Jax Laurel VEs kept up their pace in 2019. They started offering exams just over two years ago and have generated almost 300 new operators. Laurel exams are free and applicants here have avoided over $6,000 in fees.
Late May marked twenty years of operation for the W4IZ 146.7 repeater. It stayed busy and upgrades to the downtown receiver provided better backup when the Dames Point remote is not working. WA4B, WB4LEQ and KS4CA with help from KM4RAY, KK4JHG, WJ4CC and others provided mental and physical firepower to keep the system working.
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Something For Everyone
WORLD'S GREATEST HOBBY: AMATEUR RADIO
By Ross Goodall, WD4NJV
Searching the internet, there are many opinions of what the world’s greatest or best hobby is. There are thousands of different hobbies. Amateur radio in the United States alone has over 740,000 currently licensed persons and thousands worldwide.
To this writer, no one will be able to exhaust all the facets of our hobby because our technology is increasing at a phenomenal rate and there are so many areas to learn about. One can go in any direction and learn and enjoy what amateur radio has to offer. Radio has also been a springboard to many for an enjoyable and profitable career.
Here are some of the many facets that come to mind:
Building and repair, collecting and restoring antique equipment, home brewing, DXing, community service including race coordination and storm spotting, teaching and introducing people to amateur radio, volunteer examiner program, learning more and keeping our minds sharp and in a ready to learn mode, encouraging people to study and get licensed, making new friendships, QRP, Field Day operating, Fox hunting, HF, VHF, UHF, AM, SSB, FM, C4FM, digital, amateur television, contesting, award chasing, DX expeditions, experimenting with antennas and equipment.
Also, radio propagation study, EME (earth-moon-earth), packet, RTTY, AX25, PSK 31, FSK 441, WSJT, meteor scatter, club presentations and newsletter writing, repeater and repeater maintenance, club presentations, international space station, nets, antennas, field trips to broadcast stations and repeater sites, Hamfests and conventions, free flea fests, ARRL and publications.
Learn more, enjoy and share our hobby with others, especially young people.
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Amateur Radio: Better Now than in 2000? In 2007?
By Ross Goodall, WD4NJV
The Numbers:
April 2000: 678,539 licenses. Restructuring begins with five license classes reduced to three.
July 2003: 687,104 licenses. Gain of approximately 9,000.
August 2003 thru February 2007: Decrease of 30,000. Many licenses expired, silent keys and fewer new licenses issued.
February 2007: 655,477 licenses. Morse code requirement dropped
September 2017: 745,201 licenses. Net increase of approximately 90,000. Average of 9,000 a year. 1
My opinion is that Amateur Radio is much better off now. The numbers above show that interest in Amateur Radio is not dying. Keeping our license numbers up and increasing each year makes a strong case to the FCC that we need all of the spectrum that we have and perhaps more spectrum as our numbers grow.
As a Volunteer Examiner, I have been pleased with the increase in numbers of students and younger persons joining our ranks. Most are interested in computers and technology which fits well with Amateur Radio. It is great to have new blood coming in especially as older hams become silent keys. Amateur Radio can open the doors to a rewarding career.
I wrote the FCC in 2005 when they were soliciting feedback on considering dropping the Morse code requirement. My argument was posted of the FCC website and was written along the lines of:
1. My struggles with getting my code speed up
2. Having a new HF transceiver that I could not use for HF emergency communications, such as during hurricane nets
3. There were persons interested in Amateur Radio but did not want to have to learn the code and did not desire to use the code, if licensed.
I heard the other side of the argument from those opposed to dropping the code requirement that it would turn the amateur bands into glorified CB bands and would let a lot of riff-raff in and lower Amateur Radio operating standards.
Though over the past ten years, there have been some cases of encroachment in amateur bands from unlicensed persons, internet websites devoted to pirate radio and music on amateur bands, we have been self-policing.
Dropping the code requirement did not cause these problems. The increased availability of inexpensive equipment like VHF/UHF handheld units for personal communications as well as internet and flea market sales of amateur gear have been factors.
Another argument for keeping the code requirement was many had studied hard and “if I did it, newcomers should have to master code also.”
I have been licensed since 1977 and was “stuck” in technician class because I could not get over the 13 WPM code hurdle as hard as I tried. With the code requirement removed, I gained a desire to achieve Extra and learned much during my upgrade studies including logic circuits, radio math, advanced electrical principles, a refreshment of algebra, digital modes and radio propagation.
As a VE, I have enjoyed helping and encouraging others to get licensed.
With the numbers of licensed amateurs increasing over the last seventeen years, all of us have witnessed a growing investment by manufacturers in new technologies.
Reference:
1 Laurelvec.com: Did you know?
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MEDICAL DEVICE RADIO COMMUNICATIONS SERVICE (MedRadio)
By Ross Goodall, WD4NJV
MedRadio is a service in the 401-406, 413-419, 426-432, 438-444 and 451-457 MHz and is used for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes in implanted medical devices worn on a body. These include
pacemakers, defibrillators, and neuromuscular stimulators.
Stimulators can restore sensation, mobility in the human body. Medical Body Area Networks MBAN’s are low power networks worn on the body and operate in the 2360-2400 MHz band.
MedRadio began in 1999 when only three MHz was allocated. In 2011 the FCC authorized the additional spectrum and in 2012 authorized the 2360-2400 MHz band. The technical name is Medical Micro-Power Networks (MMNs).
MedRadio is licensed by rule, meaning that an individual license is not required except in order to protect aeronautical mobile telemetry from harmful interference and they must be registered with the MBAN frequency coordinator.
Only authorized health care providers are eligible to operate MedRadio implant devices as well as manufacturers and their representatives for the purposes of demonstrating, installing and maintaining equipment. MedRadio devices are authorized on secondary status and must accept users authorized on a primary basis. 1
During the infancy of radio the authorities thought that frequencies above 3 MHz were useless.
How wrong the experts at that time were. MedRadio is a great example of communications improving our health and quality of life.
Note: You may see a telemetry question on amateur radio exams.
Reference:
1. FCC.gov, Medical Device Radio Communications Service (MedRadio)
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THE LOWDOWN ON ZULU TIME-or-THE CREEPING MERIDIAN
Many HF Amateur Radio operators keep logs using Greenwich (pronounced GREN-itch) Mean Time. It is also called Zulu (Z) time or UTC and is based on the solar time at the prime meridian, exactly zero degrees longitude near Greenwich, England. GMT is 5 hours ahead of EST, 4 hours ahead during EDT.
Advantages include not having to reset clocks twice a year. Also, GMT allows operators in time zones worldwide to keep track of time using a universal standard. GMT is necessary for ships and aircraft that change time zones often. When confirming, or trying to confirm, contacts with DX stations, always use GMT or Z on cards.
Some years ago, scientists shifted the exact location of the zero degree prime meridian because of the ability to measure gravity more accurately at Greenwich. Upon adoption of the World Geodetic System (WGS84), the Greenwich meridian shifted a distance of 102 meters or about 335 feet.
If you go to Greenwich observatory, where the exact spot is marked, your GPS coordinates won't read exactly zero degrees of longitude.
Earth gravity model that GPS satellites use to determine positions have greater accuracy today and modern satellites have greatly improved the mapping of the Earth's gravity field. This results in much better models of the paths of GPS satellites and improved positional accuracy.
Atomic clocks are so accurate on GPS satellites now that they have to adjust their timing signals for drift due to Einstein's relativity equations. So, the actual prime meridian is 102 meters east of where it was marked at Greenwich.
See http://www.thegreenwichmeridian.org/tgm/articles.php?article=7 for more.
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AMATEUR RADIO: PAYING IT FORWARD
By Ross Goodall, WD4NJV
"Paying it forward" is a third party beneficiary concept that involves doing something good for someone in response to a good deed done on your behalf or a gift you received.1
In our hobby we see numerous examples of paying it forward. The best example is perhaps someone, our mentor, stirring up in us an interest in Amateur Radio. We get licensed and we encourage others to get licensed, and it continues on and on.
As another example, ARRL and others have provided disaster relief in New Orleans and beneficiaries from New Orleans went to help with recovery in Houston, providing enhanced public awareness of Amateur Radio as well.
Be on the lookout for ways that you can pay it forward.
1. WiseGeek.org
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EARLY KEYBOARDS
By Bob Voss, N4CD--County Hunter News Online
Blickensderfer Model V typewriter
Pre-QWERTY keyboard layout – designed in the 1890s and sold up to WW1 - and fairly 'rare' despite hundreds of thousands being made.
The first widely successful production model was the Blickensderfer 5, introduced at the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago.The 5 was the first portable, full keyboard, typewriter and came with the DHIATENSOR keyboard as standard.
The Blick 5 was the simplest of all Blickensderfer models and more were produced than any other Blickensderfer machine. About 74,000 or 37% of the 200,000 typewriters produced were Model 5s. Blickensderfer's typewriter became the world's best seller, and the company became one of the world's largest typewriter manufacturers.
The factory employed about 200 people and produced about 10,000 typewriters per year at its peak (1903-1907) until the factory closed in 1919. The first No. 5, which sold for $35, compared to the benchmark machines of the day which cost $100 or more. Each new model 5 came in a simple wooden carrying case with an extra typewheel, a dozen ink rolls and a tool kit.
George Blickensderfer's invention dramatically reduced the complexity of the typewriter design. A typical Blick contained only 250 parts, compared to the 2,500 parts of a standard typewriter.
It was much smaller, lighter and cheaper than others. Instead of the common mechanism with letters on the end of individual type bars connected to the keys, the first Blickensderfer used a cylindrical typewheel with three rows of characters; lower case, upper case, italics.
Depressing a key caused the typewheel to turn so the correct letter was positioned over the paper. As the wheel turned it moved downward, contacting an ink roller prior to striking the paper. This allowed for greater speed in typing as there were no keys to become jammed or stuck together.
The interchangeable typewheel principle is very similar to the IBM Selectric design introduced almost 70 years later in 1961. Like the Selectric, one could easily change the typeface or the font style on a Blickensderfer simply by changing the typewheel.
Blickensderfers were also notable for their unique keyboard layout developed by George Blickensderfer after careful analysis of the English language. The home, or lowest row of keys, contained the most commonly used letters. Blickensderfer determined that 70% of the most commonly used letters and 85% of words contained the letters DHIATENSOR.
This positioning allowed the typist to keep his hands on the home row as much as possible, minimizing extraneous hand movement and increasing efficiency.
The QWERTY keyboard introduced on the Sholes & Glidden typewriter in 1874 was designed for purely mechanical reasons and the chances of the keys striking each other and jamming was more limited with this configuration.
Because the Blickensderfer used the typewheel, the "scientific" keyboard layout could be used for maximum typing efficiency.
In the end, QWERTY won out – that's what's on your computer despite keys never jamming on a computer keyboard.
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JAX FREE HAMFEST LOG
Oh-Dark Thirty: Flashlights shine, sellers arrange their wares and some pitch canopies. Early bargain hunters look for their next deal.
Daylight appears and activity ramps up. Equipment sellers line both sides of the driveway in Terry Parker Baptist Church's large parking area.
Beneath an overhang near the church entrance, hamfest volunteers work supporting various functions. Boat Anchor Auction treasures beckon bidders.
Skywarn meeting starts at 10:00 and then the auction at 10:30. Bidding continues for over an hour. Then, prize drawings conclude the 18th Jacksonville FREE Hamfest, except for a quickly-arranged FCC exam session. (See below).
Another successful gathering, thanks to everyone who participated and especially to the volunteers who helped stage it.
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BEN DICKERSON, K4EL
Ben Dickerson, K4EL is a silent key. There will be a Celebration Of Life this Sunday, October 27, 2019 in Starke 3pm at Jones-Gallagher Funeral Home, Nona St. & S. Water St. (SR100) followed by a reception at Tony & Al's Deli at 200 E. Call St. All who knew Ben are invited.
Ben owned WEAG-FM in Starke--one of few remaining successful independent broadcast stations in Florida. Ben moved to Starke in the mid 1980s following retirement from broadcast engineering at WCAU AM/FM/TV, CBS outlets in Philadelphia.
He played a very important role in starting the NOFARS W4IZ repeater system in 1999. His talents contributed to the start-up of NOFARS Dames Point Bridge site in 2001. Ben attended NOFARS meetings regularly until declining health took its toll earlier this year.
K4EL served many terms as NOFARS Vice President. He was VP for the Greater Jacksonville Hamfest Assn. during the 1990s and an officer in the North Florida DX Assn. Ben participated in W4IZ Field Day every year until these large-scale operations ended in 2003.
Ben was a friendly, talented and conscientious Amateur Radio operator who leaves behind a large imprint in northeastern Florida.
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NEW FLORIDA MOBILE LAW
By Billy Williams, N4UF
The Wireless Communications While Driving Law takes full effect on January 1st. It was phased in during late 2019.
The law consists of Florida Statutes (FS) Sections 316.305 and 316.306
The two parts of the new law limit texting while driving and use of handheld communications equipment.
Here are excerpts from
https://www.flhsmv.gov/safety-center/driving-safety/distracted-driving/
with my comments.
What is the Wireless Communications While Driving Law?
Section 316.305, Florida Statutes allows law enforcement to stop motor vehicles and issue citations to motorists that are texting and driving. A person may not operate a motor vehicle while manually typing or entering multiple letters, numbers or symbols into a wireless communications device to text, email and instant message.
Section 316.306, Florida Statutes, is a prohibition on using wireless communications devices in a handheld manner in school and work zones. A person may not operate a motor vehicle while using a wireless communications device in a handheld manner in a designated school crossing, school zone or active work zone area.
Section 316.306 applies only to school and construction zones.
DEFINITION
Wireless communications device means any handheld device capable of being used in a handheld manner, that is designed or intended to receive or transmit text or character-based messages, access or store data, or connect to the Internet or any communication service and that allows text communications.
This includes a cell phone, tablet, laptop, two-way messaging device, or an electronic game that can be used in a handheld manner.
This definition could exclude analog voice radios. Whether holding the microphone of a mounted mobile unit is exempt from limitation is open to interpretation too.
PENALTIES
Not using a device hands-free in a school zone and work zone
is a moving traffic violation, with a base $60 fine, not including court costs and other fees, and 3 points assessed against the driver license.
316.306 EXCEPTIONS
**Performing official duties as an operator of an authorized emergency vehicle (law enforcement, fire service or emergency medical services professional).
**Reporting an emergency or criminal or suspicious activity to law enforcement authorities.
**Receiving messages that are: related to the operation or navigation of the motor vehicle; safety-related information, including emergency, traffic, or weather alerts; data used primarily by the motor vehicle; or radio broadcasts.
**Using a device in a hands-free manner for navigation purposes.
**Using a wireless communications device hands-free or hands-free in voice-operated mode, including, but not limited to, a factory-installed or after-market Bluetooth device.
**Operating an autonomous vehicle in autonomous mode.
OTHER POINTS TO CONSIDER
Prohibitions are applicable in work zone areas if construction personnel are immediately present or are operating equipment on the road or immediately adjacent to the work zone area.
Police are not allowed to ask for or take a driver’s phone to see if they were texting on a traffic stop. Officers are trained to identify and articulate when a driver is typing into a wireless device.
You are allowed to answer the phone but in school zones or construction zones, you can just tap the phone and not physically hold the phone in your hands. Remember, if you use a hands-free device, you must have at least one ear free without an ear bud.
Police officers can only stop a driver for texting and driving when the car is in motion. Officers cannot stop someone seen texting at a stop light or toll booth.
However, a driver could be cited for impeding the flow of traffic if they are required to be in motion and are distracted by their phone.
As the dust settles, court cases and interpretations will clarify the law.
DISTRACTED DRIVING DANGER
Pay close attention to road conditions and hazards when operating mobile or using electronic devices. Even a few seconds of diversion can have serious consequences.
Here is an informative website that details hazards of inattentive driving.
And https://drivingtestsample.com/distracted-driving/ is a good site with driving safety-related resources. It includes free sample tests for those wishing to pass the first time.
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ARRL Correspondence
By Ross Goodall, WD4NJV
Recently a question came to mind about ARRL Division Directors. I emailed Greg Sarratt W4OZK who served several terms as ARRL Southeastern Director.
I asked if ARRL Directors are paid and he promptly replied that the position is not paid but reasonable travel expenses are reimbursed.
We exchanged several emails and told him of some things we are doing locally to encourage new licensees. For those passing license exams, we try to make available copies of QST that we have finished reading and also Harbor Freight volt ohm meters.
I told him that I have a goal of seeing one million licensed amateur radio operators during my lifetime.
ARRL represents us and we need to keep them informed of our thoughts and ideas. ARRL email addresses are printed in every issue of QST.
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NOFARS NEWSLETTER ARTICLES
By Ross Goodall. WD4NJV
Anyone can write and submit articles to be considered for inclusion in the Balanced Modulator. You do not need to be an English major or an electrical engineer, have an FCC Commercial license, or have held an amateur license for a long time. Articles can be e-mailed to n4uf@nofars.net
Thinking of our NOFARS club, we have all levels of knowledge ranging from operators just licensed to those who have been licensed for decades and have had a career in electronics.
Everyone can share and write. For example, a person just licensed might write on what materials they studied for license preparation, their impressions of the study process and what topics they found the hardest. Those with more experience could share their ideas about operating.
Here are considerations when I select a topic to write about: Will it be of general interest to readers? Is there an area that comes to mind that I want to know more about?
Next, I do some research by asking others and looking online, giving credit as a reference at the bottom of articles. Examples: Digital Television- I visited a local television station, met the chief engineer and asked plenty of questions.
Radio Jingles- contacted PAMS, Tube manufacturing- contacted Eimac, Computers used in broadcast radio- visited WSM in Nashville, TN. Antique radio- visited antique radio museum in Asheville, NC.
Suggested topics to consider: What stirred your interest in Amateur Radio. Hamfests, repeater work and maintenance, DXing, Jamboree on the Air (scouts), Elmers-who helped you get licensed and who you are helping, Field Day, satellite communication, new radio reviews, C4FM, licensing, etc.
Articles do not have to be long. N4UF will edit for clarity. We welcome articles on diverse topics related to electronics and communications.
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DRIVE-IN FCC EXAMS ATTRACT A CROWD (SORT OF)
Billy Williams, N4UF
March started strong in Jacksonville. On Saturday March 7th, Duval County ham operators continued a 40+ year tradition by assisting with communications at the 2020 Gate River Run. In the main event, the nation's largest 15K, runners followed a nine-mile course that wound through scenic neighborhoods and historic streets near the St. Johns River bank and then back across the tall Hart Bridge to the finish line near the football stadium. Over 20,000 runners participated.
Coronavirus was an emerging threat but another week would pass before reality started settling in as sports leagues and golf tournaments closed shop. By mid-March, opportunities for aspiring operators to pass FCC license exams evaporated as state and local government imposed "stay home" mandates.
Jacksonville's largest ham group, the North Florida Amateur Radio Society (NOFARS), moved to online meetings. With extra study time available to prepare for new licenses and upgrades, requests for testing sessions mounted. April passed with little improvement in the outlook.
Enter Jacksonville's Laurel Volunteer Exam Team with free FCC exams. Since 2017, they have assisted in licensing 350 new operators and upgrading many more. Lack of open suitable sites led to several scheduled March and April sessions being canceled.
In early May, Team Leader Rajesh Verma, K4SK wrote "we have been searching for a place where we could hold exams, but our usual locations of libraries, churches, schools, and hospitals are not capable of hosting. As a result, we are going to have an exam in a parking lot of a public park."
Rajesh and Brandi Kiehl, K4PL went to work and lined up the large Ed Austin Regional Park located midway between central Jacksonville and the beach. They made meticulous plans and waited for Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry to reopen parks.
With favorable long range weather forecasts, Jacksonville Laurel announced four testing sessions for Saturday, May 16th starting at 5:00, 5:30, 6:00, and 6:30 PM with a limited number of pre-registered applicants for each time slot. Each session included from four to ten persons taking tests policed by a dozen Laurel VEs.
Publicity consisted of announcements on area nets and local radio websites plus a presentation during the May 14th online NOFARS meeting.
Volunteer Examiner Ross Goodall, WD4NJV summarized "our Jacksonville Laurel Group selected a large city park which is several acres in size and formerly the site of a golf course. An 18x24 sign was posted on the road indicating directions to the site. A VE stationed in the parking lot directed those to be tested to park along the curb. Examinees were given a packet and a slip to post on their dashboard and were required to remain in their vehicles.
"Another VE used a laminated list of Covid 19 symptoms and asked each applicant if they were experiencing any. Another delivered the examination packet and checked IDs while a third checked calculator memory. Several VE’s circulated the parking area keeping close watch to ensure that proper testing procedures were being followed and to pick up completed exams. Exams were graded immediately."
More requests followed the Saturday sessions and plans are underway to schedule another outdoor testing date if suitable sites do not become available soon.
VE Testing During COVID-19 Outbreak
By Ross Goodall, WD4NJV
Testing has been a learning curve for all VEs during the outbreak. The Laurel Group successfully navigated through CDC, state and local regulations. Rajesh Verma K4SK, Brandi Kiehl K4PL and twelve other VEs participated in four testing sessions under almost-Field Day conditions (82 degrees, cloudy and windy weather).
We had 27 candidates, administered 37 exam elements and gained 16 technicians, 6 generals (4 from zero to general) and 3 extra class licenses.
What worked for us:
**Having a road side sign directing everyone to the proper location in the large park.
**Using a VE to insure parking in the right spaces.
**Having tables, water, and all testing supplies available.
**Tests were administered separately in each candidates’ vehicle having them park along the curb.
Before giving out the test, three VE’s went to each car: one showing list of Covid-19 symptoms asking if they had any, the second VE checking ID’s and the third checking calculator memory. VE’s roamed the parking area during the exam to ensure test integrity.
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FCC TESTING HERE BEFORE THE VE PROGRAM
By Billy Williams, N4UF
In Jacksonville during the 1960s, this meant only two opportunities each year at the old armory downtown. Taking an exam usually meant at least a half day off from work and less-than-friendly FCC examiners in some cases.
Reservations were required and no walk-ins. Sometimes 100+ applicants showed up including those from Gainesville, Ocala, Daytona, Waycross, etc.
Morse Code tests were first, a challenge with multiple echoes in the large main auditorium with no headphones allowed. When they set up their code sender, a modified record player, experienced applicants chose seats strategically around several large tables to minimize extraneous beeps.
After the last beep sounded, they collected papers quickly. Very little time for making corrections. Code tests lasted five minutes. No multiple choices. One minute of solid correct copy was required to pass--65 consecutive characters for General and 100 characters for Extra. One mistake though reset the count. Confident applicants stopped copying after four minutes or so to use the remaining time to review their copy and correct obvious mistakes.
Applicants waited in the lobby while FCC staffers slowly examined each paper. "Flunks" were called up first one-at-a-time to receive the bad news. The more time that passed before hearing your name called, the better your chances of passing.
Code tests usually weeded out half the crowd. If you failed, your testing was over in most cases. No CSCEs or partial credits.
Around lunch time, written tests were distributed. None were graded on the spot. You watched the mail not wanting to see any FCC correspondence for at least two weeks. No quick notification usually meant you passed and that your application had been forwarded to FCC Gettysburg for processing your new license, which took an additional two or three weeks.
During FCC visits to Jacksonville, Amateur Radio exams were offered one weekday with a second day for FCC commercial license testing. Some hams also held commercial licenses which were handy for earning extra income doing business-band radio service or reading meters at broadcast stations. Passing an FCC commercial radiotelegraph license exam often led to a lucrative career as a shipboard radio officer or operator.
A good article "Demise Of The FCC First Phone" is posted via https://www.radioworld.com/miscellaneous/the-demise-of-the-first-phone
Some took trips to Miami or Atlanta which were the closest FCC Field Offices that offered daily or weekly testing then. Tampa and Savannah added regular testing in the 1970s.
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R F Energy And Onboard Computers in Modern Vehicles
By Ross Goodall, WD4NJV
Vehicles manufactured recently have at least one computer which monitors emissions and makes adjustments to keep emissions as low as possible. The information is sent from numerous sensors through the vehicle to a central computer known as an ECU (engine control unit).
The ECU is the most powerful computer on most vehicles. It uses closed- loop control that monitors numerous sensor outputs.
Gathering data from numerous sensors, the ECU knows everything and performs numerous calculations each second to decide the best spark timing and determining how long the fuel injectors are open. 1
Some, but not all the sensors, include: the oxygen sensor, the air pressure sensor, the air temperature sensor, the throttle position sensor, the knock sensor, the oxygen sensor, the fuel cap sensor, the tire pressure sensor, coolant temperature sensor. Computers may control the automatic transmission.
Anti-lock brakes may be controlled by a computer that senses speed of travel. Keyless entry and security systems are also computer-controlled. Automatic climate controls may be computer controlled. Some cars having motorized seating and mirrors that remember multiple drivers rely on computers. Some include info-entertainment systems, adaptive cruise control and lane departure systems that rely on computers. The ECU can sense if something has gone wrong and illuminate the check engine light or other warning lights. Diagnostic codes can be read from the computer to correct the problem. 2
Some auto manufacturers discourage installation of radios and other electronic devices (though presumably a dealership may be able to install without voiding warranties).
The Toyota 2020 Highlander book includes a warning against installation of electronic devices such as mobile two-way radios and CD players.
Bloomberg Businessweek states cars these days are in many respects computers on wheels, with electronics accounting for about 40% of a vehicle's value. 3
Remember good Amateur practice is to use only the minimum power needed to communicate and now we should consider the possible effects of RF power on vehicle computers. Having the dealer reset or replace the computer may be costly.
References:
1 WWW. Auto, How Stuff Works
2 WWW.edgefx.in/importance-of-embedded systems-in-automobiles-with-applications/
3 Bloomberg Businesweek 2/1/21 p.20
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Editor: Billy Williams, N4UF
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