Way before music downloads and Myspace, there was a cool group of people from teenagers to old men. What am I talking about? Amateur radio. That's what started our need to "social network" From truckers to guys in their room with parts from radioshack. They had "usernames" or rather call names and to this day I come across people with ham radios in the study.
This week after fixing a customer's computer,I was directed to his original setup. A computer with HAM/CB radios and (wait for it...)Windows 3.1. That's right,windows 3.1 people. He fired it up and it actually worked! He showed me all of the people he came across via the radio and how he logged it all in on the old computer. I've been told stories of how certain people would wash towns in radio waves just to show who was boss. Can't do that on Facebook. These are the fathers who taught their kids about transistors and tubes, the same things that started the personal computers. It was really cool seeing that link in technology up close. Hopefully we won't forget our humble beginnings...
The Original Social Network
Submitted by solacetech on February 27, 2008 - 1:21am.
WTF? You have CB and Amateur
WTF? You have CB and Amateur Radio all mixed
up into a pile and it all comes out making no sense at all. Do a little research on a subject before you post your opinions to the world
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The Truckers I know who uses the CB on the roads come home and continue their conversations at home with amateur radio equipment. Oops I'm sorry, I did my research and you gave an empty reply. That means without counterpoints...
Hams are here to stay
Ham radio is alive and well, and Delaware County has one of the largest collections of those hams. Only parts of California and Texas have more per capita!! There are many Ham clubs, they have an ARES group that shares space with the 911 center. (Amateur Radio Emergency Service)
WE, yes I am a HAM, an I do it all. We chat by bouncing signals of the ionisphere, we talk on local repeaters that extend our talk distance and use "all" the computer codes. I have used DOS too, in the past, but have used 3.1 and now use XP, and some linex stuff also. We can transmit Code, voice and data wirelessly over great distance "when all the rest fail!"
We are modern in what we create also. We have a reduntant communications system that, if the fit hits the Shan, will allow us to serve our communities with what might be the best and only communications source. (Phone lines fall, cell towers crash, but Ham radio goes on and on!!
Ham operators are indeed truck drivers, but they are also Doctors, Lawyers, Enginners, Chemist, SchoolTeachers and even Cable TV Executives.
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Thanx for the validation. HAM is hot!
ham radio - more info
For those that would like to learn more about ham radio check out www.emergencyradio.org or www.hello-radio.org.
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