I was born in Gibraltar on the 14th April 1948. I was interested in radio from an early age and was a SWL from 1965 to 1979 when I got my A class licence. Those formative SWL years were very important as I learned how to listen, sadly something lacking these days. As things were in those days (1977) it took me the better part of two years to get my licence. First study for my City & Guilds Amateur Radio Examination. Then after passing this exam I needed to pass my CW (12 wpm ) at Cable & Wireless. There were no other options like novice or B class it was A class or nothing. I value my licence much more for having had to work hard to get it.
I was a clerk with the Ministry of Defence from 1964 to 1970. First with 224 Sqdn Supply Control & Accounting Flight. Later with the Command Education Centre at Bleak House and then at R.A.F. HQ North Front. I was bored with desk jobs so in 1970 I transferred to the Meteorological Communications Centre as an RTTY operator. Then in 1973 I trained at the Hemsby Radio Sonde Station in Great Yarmouth and started working with the Radio Sonde unit of the Met. Office in Gibraltar. This involved launching weather balloons trailing sondes that would transmit WX data back to the station ( on 27.975 Mhz. would you believe ? ). This data would be computed ( with slide rulers ) to evaluate upper air conditions. Our receivers were the trusty Racals RA17. Antennas were simple GPs & Dipoles.In the 70s our Radio Sondes were the MK2B which used low voltage valves. During the early 80s we were using a German Radio Sonde (Transistorised at last) known as Graw Sonde which transmitted a corrupt form of Morse that was decoded from letters to figures 0-9. Those who knew Morse proper (like myself) had a big problem as the codes conflicted with each other. The solution came from the Graw Sonde itself as the CW was so crude and distorted that on being heard (the human brain being what it is)you would automatically switch to the required decode.
These WX balloons also trailed a Radar Reflector so that with the aid of our Cossor tracking radar we could work out the upper air winds and any Jet Stream data. (no GPS in those days). Annoying occurences with this radar was when it suddenly locked on to a passing aircraft and began to follow it intead of the balloon. As can be imagined and due to the aircraft`s speed the Azimuth / Elevation dials and range readings would go wild. Once the unfortunate operator reacted he would put it on manual and search for the proper target refraining his language as best he could. Once the unwanted signal was removed from the tracking gate a horrendous alarm bell would add to the frustration of the moment. The leg pulling that would ensue from the rest of the shift added considerable insult to injury.
We also operated a Cathode Ray DFing section for thunderstorm detection. This network was known as the Med.Spherics unit and involved Malta , Cyprus and Gibraltar with Callsigns MPU, MKS and MLU respectively. C.W. was used on 13.382 supplemented by 11.662 , 8.126 and 5.045Mhz to keep the observation pips in sync. Bearings, (that were triggered by lightning) would be read off the CR screen and sent by Teleprinter to Bracknell U/K for Triangulation, plotting and subsequent location of Thunderstorms. When Net Flashes (flashes covering the whole screen) were seen you were supposed to send Thunderstorm Overhead and vacate the CRDF Cabin. On a day with suitable WX conditions there was an isolated incident when a renowned joker was caught red handed hiding in an adjacent building shorting a 12v battery whilst wearing a sadistic grin ! !
With the advent of computers all that fun and it`s department came to a sad ending in 1987 and the Radio Sonde dept. in 1993 so I had to go back to school ( Shinfield Park Met College in Reading ) at the ripe age of 45 to retrain as an observer in the main Met. Office in the Air Traffic Control building at Gibraltar Airport. My nickname in Met circles, family and friends is ( TiTo ).
I am now retired thank God so I have a lot more spare time to play radio. I am a member of the Gibraltar Amateur Radio Society GARS and also the RSGB. I got married to Helen in 1976 and Paul was born in 1986, unfortunately, like most youngsters these days he is not in the least interested in radio. Helen is a very tolerant XYL who puts up with a radio station in one corner of our living room ( CW is the solution when the TV is on).
I sometimes wonder if my preference for CW is hereditary as my Grand Dad on my Mother`s side was an experiencedTelegraphist from the "Old School"
My outdoor activities are boating, fishing and operating / P. One of OUR pastimes is singing. Helen sings soprano and I sing bass. We both sing at three different choirs. The HARMONICS CHOIR, The KING`S CHAPEL SINGERS and the CATHEDRAL CHOIR. ( My Choir nickname is UNCLE MAX ). So you see we DO have A common interest after all ! !
Q S L IN F O R M A T I O N.
I do NOT collect QSL cards but for those who might need mine for DXCC or other awards (SHORT WAVE LISTENERS INCLUDED) I advise them to use the direct system ONLY, with A SELF ADDRESSED ENVELOPE + ( 1$ for U/K & EU ) OR ( 2$s for the rest of the world ). PLEASE DO NOT SEND I.R.Cs BUT IF YOU FIND IT IRRESISTIBLE I REQUIRET W O FOR ALL REGIONS. PLEASE ENSURE THEY ARE STAMPED ON THE LEFT HAND SIDE BY THE ISSUING POST OFFICE AND THAT THEY ARE NOT EXPIRED. NO FURTHER IRCs WILL BE ACCEPTED AFTER SEPTEMBER 2013. Any QSLs received without the correct return postage cover as specified above will be swiftly vectored into file 13 (which is a Jimmy ZB2BL original) (OR THE RUBBISH BIN TO YOU AND ME ). DO NOT LIST QSOs FOR WHICH QSLs HAVE PREVIOUSLY BEEN SENT AS I THINK THEY ARE FIRST TIME REQUESTS AND AFTER DIGGING THROUGH THE OLD LOG BOOKS I FIND THEY HAVE ALREADY BEEN SENT TO YOU YEARS AGO !GGRRRRRR INFURIATING ! . Please limit yourself to 6 QSOs per envelope, (the record stands at 27 , some of which were PURELY IMAGINARY OR D.I.Y. TYPEwith lots of duplicate bands and repeats). I WILL NOT QSL MORE THAN ONE QSO ON THE SAME BAND OTHER THAN ON DIFFERENT MODES.
CHOICE OF QSL = THERE IS NOW TWO VERSIONS OF THE QSL ILLUSTRATED AT THE RIGHT HAND SIDE OF MY ADDRESS ABOVE. ONE IS IN MATT FINISH AND THE OTHER A GLOSSY VERSION. PLEASE SPECIFY YOUR PREFERENCE ON A NOTE WITH YOUR QSL REQUEST.
CLARIFICATION = VASIL RW6HS HAS NOW CORRECTED HIS qrz.com PAGE AND HAS SPECIFIED THAT HIS MANAGEMENT OF ZB2FK IS LIMITED TO RUSSIAN CONTACTS ONLY. WITH THIS ACTION THERE IS NOW NO ROOM FOR DOUBT OR CONFUSION.
Pile ups, split operations, band conditions , pseudo ZB2FKs and D.I.Y. experts can sometimes give rise to confusion, so, if you have any doubts as to YOUR call being in my LOG ? it is best to make sure by sending me an E mail. Remember I am antiquated and still use paper logs (if they crash by falling off the desk I just pick them up. A simple hassle free action!) so give callsign, date, and time of QSO to be checked. It is NOT pleasant to have to write SORRY NOT IN LOG on a QSL and send it back so a simple E mail could avoid all that.
Sorry for the inconvenience this might cause to S O M E but I do NOT consider THE BUREAU, SCHEDS, E QSLs or the use of LOTW.
The Special Prefix ZG2 / ZG3 is only authorised by the GRA (Gibraltar Regulatory Authority) once a year in September. You will only be able to work ZG2FK during National Day week. From the 4th TO 11th Sept. Nat. Day being 10th September.
CURRENT EQUIPMENT = FT 2000d & Hygain 14AVQVERTICAL, INV V DIPOLE FOR 80M, LONG WIRE SLOPER FOR HF including TOPBAND fed at 100ft with a Nevada 9-1 Balun. V2000VERT for 6m. FT 857d and ATAS 120A for /P OPS. The rest are boat anchors that are kept operational by being fired up every now and then. My favourite is the Yaesu FT101B on CW and the Kenwood TS520s on SSB.
A POINT TO PONDER ON, IS THE UNIQUE SITUATION OF THIS AREA OF THE WORLD ( THE STRAITS OF GIBRALTAR ) WHERE YOU HAVE WITHIN SIGHT OF EACH OTHER 4 DIFFERENT PREFIXES. TO THE NORTH GIBRALTAR ( ZB2 ) AND SPAIN (EA7) TO THE SOUTH ACROSS THE STRAITS CEUTA (EA9) AND MOROCCO (CN8). NOT AT A STONE`S THROW BUT CERTAINLY AT SEMAPHORE RANGE.
ERRATA : Your observations are correct there is an A missing in ALAMEDA on the rubber stamp I use on the back of your envelopes. However it seems a pity to destroy it because of that minute error. I think the local Post Office can live with that in the remote event a letter might come back.
DISCLAIMER=TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN = IT IS NOT MY INTENTION TO EMBARRASS OR OFFEND ANYONE WITH WHAT I HAVE WRITTEN IN THIS BIOGRAPHY . IT IS THEREFORE PURE COINCIDENCE IF ANYONE FEELS IDENTIFIED WITH CERTAIN COMMENTS OR SITUATIONS CONTAINED HERE IN. ALL HAS BEEN WRITTEN IN GOOD FAITH AND HUMOUR IN THE HOPE OF IMPROVING OPERATING STANDARDS AND ADDING SOME COMICAL SPICE TO OUR VALUED HOBBY. THOSE WHO HAVE SENT ME DISGRACEFUL, RUDE, NASTY, AND VICIOUS E MAILS ARE ALL FORGIVEN FOR HAVING DONE SO. AFTER ALL THESE E MAILS CAN BE REGARDED AS CONFESSIONS OF SOME SORT.
WARNING= STATIONS THAT ATTEMPT TO ALTER THEIR CALLSIGN AFTER THE QSO HAS BEEN COMPLETED WILL NOT BE ENTERED IN MY LOG. I NEVER CALL CQ DX. I JUST CALL CQ ON ITS OWN WHICH MEANS THERE IS NO NEED TO DISGUISE YOURSELF AS A DX STN IN ORDER TO WORK ME. I WORK EVERYONE WITHOUT DISTINCTION, EVEN THOSE ON MY ESTATE IF NEED BE. THEREFORE I FIND IT QUITE INSULTING AND TIME CONSUMING THAT YOU SHOULD TRY AND TRICK ME BY PRETENDING I GOT YOUR CALLSIGN WRONG. IF YOU GO TO THE EXTREME OF GIVING ME AN ATTITUDE I WILL PUT YOUR CALLSIGN ON MY NAME AND SHAME LIST.
EXPLANATION = FOR THOSE ZB2s /ZB3s WHO HAPPEN TO LIVE ON THE WEST SIDE OF THE ROCK (like myself, ZB2B, ZB3R, ZB2CW, ZB2JK, and others)THERE ARE CERTAIN LIMITATIONS BECAUSE THE ROCK SCREENS OUR PATH TO THE EAST. LONG PATH PROPAGATION IS INDEED RARE AND ONLY LASTS FOR VERY SHORT PERIODS WITH MAINLY WEAK SIGNALS. FOR US ON THE WEST SIDE OF THE ROCK IT IS THE ONLY CHANCE WE GET TO WORK CHINA, JAPAN, KOREA, AUSTRALIA AND ALL THE OTHER COUNTRIES IN THAT PART OF THE WORLD. SO WHEN YOU HEAR US SAY " FAR EAST ONLY " OR "JAPAN ONLY " WE ARE REALLY ASKING EVERYONE ELSE TO RESPECT OUR REQUEST AND NOT TO DESTROY THOSE OPPORTUNITIES WHICH FOR US ARE FEW AND FAR BETWEEN. I AM CERTAIN A WIDE MAJORITY ARE NOT AWARE OF THIS PECULIAR SITUATION AND THEREFORE TAKE OFFENCE WHEN WE ASK FOR A QRX AS IT COULD BE INTERPRETED AS DISCRIMINATION, SO PLEASE FEEL FREE TO DISSEMINATE THIS INFORMATION. I WOULD LIKE TO THANK ALL THOSE WHO ARE ALREADY CO-OPERATING WITH ME ON THIS MATTER BECAUSE WITH THEIR HELP I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO WORK A GREAT NUMBER OF THESE LONG PATH STNS.
SPECIAL PREFIX * * * Z Q 2WAS AUTHORIZED BY THE G.R.A. FOR THE DIAMOND JUBILEE CELEBRATIONS OF HER MAJESTY QUEEN ELIZABETH 2nd. FROM 0000Z 5th MAY TO 2359Z 10th JUNE 2012FOR THOSE WHO WORKED Z Q 2 F K A SPECIAL QSL FOR THIS HISTORICAL OCCASION IS NOW AVAILABLE. SAME DIRECT CONDITIONS APPLY.
I STILL HAVE SOME QSLs AVAILABLE FOR THE ZB300FK EVENT THAT TOOK PLACE IN 2004. THIS SPECIAL EVENT WAS TO CELEBRATE 300 YEARS OF BRITISH GIBRALTAR 1704 - 2004. IF YOU DID WORK ME AND WANT THE SPECIAL EVENT QSL YOU CAN STILL APPLY NOW. THIS CARD IS IN COLOUR AND BLACK & WHITE, CONTAINS A BRIEF HISTORY AND HAS PHOTOS OF SIX ZB OPERATORS. WHEN I SEE MYSELF IN THERE I CANNOT BELIEVE I HAVE CHANGED SO MUCH. HOW COULD I LOOK SO YOUNG IN THOSE DAYS ?
SPECIAL EVENT CALL ZB2LGT QSLs WILL BE AVAILABLE DIRECT FROM ZB2JK.
QUESTIONS OF THE MONTH for MARCH 2012 WHY DO SOME PEOPLE KEEP CALLING WHEN I AM IN QSO WITH SOMEONE AND WHEN I FINALLY STRUGGLE TO FINISH AND CALL QRZ THERE IS A DEADLY SILENCE ? ? WHY DOES EVERYONE KEEP CALLING WHEN I ONLY WANT AND KEEP REPEATING A SPECIFIC CALLSIGN ? ? WHY IS THIS GUY TELLING ME ABOUT HIS RIGS & WX WHEN HE CAN HEAR ALL THOSE OTHERS CALLING ? ? WHY ARE YOU CALLING CQ VERY NEARLY ON MY FREQUENCY AND CAUSING ME QRM WHEN WE HAVE JUST EXCHANGED 599 RSTs ? ? WHY DON`T YOU ANSWER MY PLEAS FOR A QSY ? ? ARE YOU RISKING BEING STRUCK OFF MY LOG ? ? WHY DON`T I REST MY CASE ? ?
QUESTIONS OF THE MONTH for APRIL 2012 WHY DO SOME " CW FOG HORNS "SEND ME ( ? ? ? ?) WHEN I GIVE THEM A 5 9 5 REPORT ? ? WHY IS IT THAT SOME REPEAT THEIR CALL 4 TIMES DESPITE HAVING HEARD ME COPY IT CORRECTLY FIRST TIME ? ? WHAT HAPPENS TO THESE CALLSIGNS THAT SUDDENLY GROW AN ( I ), (O) OR SOME OTHER LETTER INFRONT OF THE ( K ) OR ( W ) WHEN THEY SIGN OFF ? ? WHY DO I HEAR THESE SPASMODIC STREAMS OF Es OR Ts EVERY TIME THERE ARE MORE THAN 5 STNS CALLING ME ? ? ? COULD IT BE A NEW FORM OF CW CLAPPING OR JEERING PERHAPS ? ? ? SHOULD I LOOSE ANY SLEEP OVER SUCH IRRATIONAL BEHAVIOUR ? ?
QUESTIONS OF THE MONTH for MAY 2012 WHY DO SO MANY STNS. TEST THEIR TRANSMITTERS ON THE CLASSIC BANDS ON SATURDAYS & SUNDAYS ? ? WHY IS IT THAT WHEN YOU LET THEM KNOW THEIR TX IS WORKING OK THEY INCREASE THEIR SPEED TO 40WPM AND GIVE YOU SOME STRANGE NUMBERS AND LETTERS ? ? WHY DOES`NT ANYONE ASK IF THE FREQUENCY IS IN USE ON THE CLASSIC BANDS AT WEEKENDS ? ? WHY ARE THE W. A. R. C. BANDS A REFUGE WHEN THE WEEKLY CHAOS IS UNLEASHED ON THE CLASSIC BANDS ? ? WHY DID THIS GUY GET ANGRY WHEN I JUST SAID "SORRY I AM NOT PART OF THE TESTING PARTY ". IS IT POSSIBLE I AM BEING TOLD TO QSY TO THE W. A. R. C. BANDS JUST BECAUSE I CHOOSE NOT TO BE PART OF THE FRENZY? ? WHY AM I LEFT TONGUE IN CHEEK ? ?
QUESTIONS OF THE MONTH for JUNE 2012 WHY IS THIS STN WITH A 599+20 db SIGNAL TRYING TO WORK ME IF EVIDENTLY HE IS NOT COPYING ME AT ALL ? ? WHY IS IT THAT HE CONTINUES TO CALL CAUSING ME HAVOC WHEN I HAVE RESPONDED WITH A 599 REPORT 5 TIMES ? ? DO THESE STNS FALL INTO THE CATEGORY OF RADIOCROCS ? ? WHAT IS A RADIO CROCODILE ? ? ARE RADIO CROCS STNS WITH BIG MOUTHS AND NO EARS ? ? WHY HAS ONE GOT TO USE CELLOTAPE TO SEAL SOUTH AMERICAN ENVELOPES ? ? WHY DO I HAVE TO KEEP PLEADING TO BE POSTED ON THE CLUSTER ? ? DO YOU THINK I SUFFER FROM INSOMNIA WHEN I CALL CQ AT 0100Z (0300 MY TIME) AND THAT IS WHY YOU DON`T BOTHER TO POST ME ? ? WHY DON`T I LEARN MY LESSON AND NOT DRINK COFFEE UNLESS THERE IS A STEADY STREAM OF TAKERS? ?
QUESTIONS OF THE MONTH for JULY 2012 WHY IS IT THAT SINCE I WROTE THE EXPLANATION MANY MONTHS AGO I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO FILL MY LOGS WITH ZLs, VKs, Js etc. etc. ? ? IS IT BECAUSE THE MAJORITY ARE THANKFULLY TOP NOTCH OPERATORS ? ? WHY AM I SO APPREHENSIVE ABOUT WORKING STNS WITH THE LETTERS ( U P ) IN THEIR SUFFIX ? ? IS IT BECAUSE THE DUTY POLICEMAN CAN TRANSFORM THE WHOLE THING INTO A SPLIT OPERATION IN SECONDS ? ? WHY DO WE HAVE TO WASTE PRECIOUS PROPAGATION TIME ON 6M BY EXCHANGING LOCATORS ? ? IS IT NOT A VALID CONTACT IF STNS DO NOT PASS THEIR RESPECTIVE LOCATORS ? ? WHY DOES MY BLOOD CURDLE WHEN YOU ASK ME MY CALLSIGN AFTER WE HAVE FINISHED OUR QSO ? ?
QUESTIONS OF THE MONTH for AUGUST 2012 WHY DON`T I REMEMBER PROPAGATION ON HF AS POOR AS LATELY ? ? WHEN WILL WE BE OUT OF THE DOLDRUMS ? ? HAS IT COME TO THE POINT OF TRYING TO, RATHER THAN OPERATING ? ? WHY AFTER ALL THESE CARRIER PLAGUED YEARS HAS NO ONE THOUGHT OF ESTABLISHING A "LOADING UP " FREQUENCY / FREQUENCIES FOR EACH BAND ? ? WHY DO YOU INTERRUPT MY QSO WITH THAT RUDE AND PRIMITIVE " WWHHOOOOOOOOOLLLLLAAAAAAAAA" INSTEAD OF GIVING YOUR CALLSIGN ONCE I FINISH ? ? WHY DO YOU HAVE TO TREAT ME TO A SONG BY PLAYING WITH YOUR TUNING CONTROL WHILST TRANSMITTING A CARRIER ON THE FREQUENCY I AM TRYING TO OPERATE ON ? ?
QUESTIONS OF THE MONTH for SEPTEMBER 2012 WHY DO YOU HAVE TO SCRATCH YOUR MIKE BEFORE SPEAKING INTO IT ? ? IS IT PURELY RITUALISTIC OR IS THERE SUCH A THING AS MICROPHONE ECZEMA ? ? WHY DO YOU GIVE YOUR CALL CONTINOUSLY WITHOUT STOPPING EVERY NOW AND THEN TO LISTEN ? ? DO YOU EXPECT ME TO BELIEVE YOU CAN ACTUALLY HEAR ME COMING BACK TO YOU EVEN IF YOU ARE USING FULL BREAK IN ? ? DO THESE INSTANCES INEVITABLY END UP IN CROC TEARS ? ? WHAT WOULD I DO WITHOUT W3LPL MY FAITHFUL ROBOTIC FRIEND ? ? WHY DO I HAVE TO KEEP WRITING U. S. A. ON YOUR SAEs? ? IS IT NOT RISKY WITH SO MUCH POSTAL CONFUSION TO PUT SUCH THINGS AS (PA 15748) AND HOPE FOR THE BEST ? ?
QUESTIONS OF THE MONTH for OCTOBER 2012 WHY DO I KEEP HEARING THESE CALLSIGNS THAT HAVE NO NUMBERS IN THEM ? ? COULD THEY BE SOME SORT OF CODED MESSAGE DICTATING SOMETHING TO ME ? ? WHY IS IT THAT WHEN I QRS OUT OF COURTESY TO FACILITATE A QSO I START GETTING A SHOWER OF SUPERFLUOUS INFORMATION WHICH INEVITABLY MAKES TEMPERS FRAY AT THE WAITING END ? ? DO WE ALL AGREE QRX MEANS STAND BY ? ? WHY IS IT THAT I CAN GO BLUE IN THE FACE SENDING Q R X AND NO ONE STANDS BY TO LISTEN? ? WHY DO OLD RIGS SMELL DIFFERENT TO MODERN ONES ? ? DOES THAT AROMA OF PAXOLIN & SHELLAC MAKE YOU REMINISCE ABOUT THE DAYS WHEN A RADIO WAS A RADIO ? ? DO THE LATEST TWIN VFO RIGS CONTRIBUTE TO THE PROLIFERATION OF RADIO CROCS ??
QUESTIONS OF THE MONTH for NOVEMBER 2012 WHY IS IT SOME MEMBERS OF OUR FRATERNITY SEND " CQ DX CQ DX CQ DX CQ DX " FOR EVER AND EVER AND ONE HAS TO WAIT PATIENTLY FOR THE MANDATORY CALLSIGN THAT SOMETIMES NEVER COMES ? ? IS IT ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY TO WHISTLE INTO YOUR MICROPHONE ? ? WHY AM I SO GLAD I DO NOT OWN A DOG ? ? IS IT NOT A BIT CONFUSING FOR THE POOR ANIMALS ? ? WILL I HAVE TO END UP POSTING MYSELF ON THE CLUSTER OR WOULD THAT BE SEEN AS SINFUL? ? WHY DO YOU HAVE TO REST A HEFTY BRICK ON A MORSE KEY TO ADVERTISE A LINEAR ? ? WHY IS IT I CAN STILL HEAR CW WHEN ALL MY RADIOS ARE SWITCHED OFF ? ? HOW CAN YOU ASK ME TO QSY BAND IN THE MIDDLE OF A PILE UP BECAUSE YOU NEED ZB2 ELSEWHERE ? ? DO YOU NOT HAVE AN ATOM OF CONSIDERTATION FOR THOSE WHO ARE PATIENTLY WAITING TO HAVE THEIR QSO ON THE CURRENT BAND ? ? WHY AM I LEFT IN AWE ? ?
QUESTIONS OF THE MONTH for DECEMBER 2012 WHY IS IT NO ONE TRIES TO SEND A CQ ON A SEEMINGLY DEAD BAND ? ? WHY IS IT THAT A BAND, THAT HAS NO BEACONS, CAN BE OPEN AND NO ONE KNOWS ? ? WHY DON`T WE TUNE AROUND AND LISTEN FOR ANY ACTIVITY OR SEND A TENTATIVE CQ INSTEAD OF DEPENDING ENTIRELY ON THE CLUSTER ? ? HOW WAS IT THERE WAS SO MUCH MORE ACTIVITY ON THE BANDS DURING THOSE CLUSTERLESS YEARS ? ? HOW DO YOU EXPLAIN A HUGE SPLIT OPERATION WITH S9 SIGNALS ON A PORTION OF A BAND AND NOT EVEN A LONE CQ OR QSO ON THE REST OF THE BAND? ? WHY DON`T SOME GM STNS UNDERSTAND WHEN I SAY TO THEM " 73S AND LONG MAY YOUR LUM REEK " ? ? WHY DO FISHING TRAWLERS FROM A NATION (THAT SHALL REMAIN NAMELESS FOR THE MOMENT) HAVE TO USE THE AMATEUR RADIO FREQs, WITH APPARENT IMPUNITY, INSTEAD OF THE MARINE BANDS ? ? WHY DO YOU HAVE TO SEND A STREAM OF ? ? ?s WHEN I GIVE MY CALLSIGN EVERY 2MINS ? ? CANNOT YOU WAIT AND LISTEN LIKE THE OTHERS ? ?
QUESTIONS OF THE MONTH for JANUARY 2013 WILL WE NEED TO PUT PEDALS ON THIS CYCLE SO THAT WE CAN GET TO THE LEVELS EXPECTED ? ? WHY DOES MY DOCTOR ALWAYS ASK ME " ANY PROBLEMS READING YOUR MORSE ? " WHEN I GO FOR MY ROUTINE CHECKS ? ? WHAT SORT OF A MEDICAL QUESTION IS THAT ? ? WHAT DOES HE KNOW ABOUT AMATEUR RADIO ANYWAY OR AM I DETECTING A METHOD IN THE MADNESS ? ? WHY IS IT I SET MY ALARM CLOCK TO ACTIVATE 160M, END TRYING 80M AND FINALLY HAVE TO SETTLE FOR 40M ? ? DOES THE TERM " L I D " IN AMATEUR RADIO MEAN " LATEST INTERFERING DEVIL " OR HAS IT SOMETHING TO DO WITH COVERING YOUR SPEAKER WITH THE LID FROM A TOBACCO TIN ? ?? WHY IS IT I SOMETIMES CANNOT BELIEVE WHAT IS GOING ON IN THE BACKGROUND WHILST I AM HAVING A QSO ? ? ? HOW CAN YOU SEND ME 599 WHEN I AM IN QSO WITH SOMEONE ELSE AND THEN DASH OFF TO POST ME ON THE CLUSTER WITH " TNX FB QSO" ? ? ? DO THESE "D. I. Y. QSOs" INEVITABLY END IN THE UNPALATABLE NOT IN LOG ? ? ?
QUESTIONS OF THE MONTH for FEBRUARY 2013 WHY IS IT YOU SPOT BEACONS INSTEAD OF ANNOUNCING THEM ? ? HAVE THINGS ADVANCED SO MUCH THAT WE CAN NOW HAVE A QSO WITH A BEACON ? ? WHY IS QRP AND CW THE PERFECT MATCH ? ? HOW CAN A 5W QRP STN. KICK THE BLAZES OUT OF MY *S* METER ? ? WHY DO I INVARIABLY GET THE SAME ANSWER WHEN I ASK ABOUT THE ANTENNA IN USE ? ? DOES A 6 ELEMENT MONOBAND YAGI SOUND FAMILIAR ? ? HOW WAS IT THE LATE GERRY SMITH ZB2GS USED TO WORK VKs & ZLs WITH HOMEBREW ONE WATTERS AND A LOOP ANTENNA ? ? WHY DID THIS CHARMING, VENERABLE MAN ALWAYS SAY " TO QRP OR NOT TO QRP THAT IS THE QUESTION "? ? WHAT DOES A 3 3 9 REPORT REALLY MEAN? ? IS IT NOT DIFFICULT ENOUGH TO MAKE OUT A CALLSIGN AT 4 4 9 ? ? ? WHY IS IT YOU CAN MAKE OUT THAT WEAK SIGNAL AND COMPLETE A QSO BY CANCELLING YOUR A.G.C. ? ? HOW MANY OF US MAKE USE OF THAT MAGIC R. F. GAIN CONTROL ? ?
QUESTIONS OF THE MONTH for MARCH 2013 IS IT NOT TIME WE HAD A (W3LPL) EQUIVALENT FACILITY ON THE EUROPEAN SCENE ? ? WHY IS THERE SO MUCH FUTILE BICKERING ON THE ANNOUNCEMENTS COLUMNS ? ? CAN WE AT LEAST REFRAIN FROM USING THE INTERNATIONAL 4 LETTER WORD LIBERALLY ? ? DID YOU KNOW THIS WORD ORIGINATED IN THE DAYS WHEN IN ENGLAND ONE HAD TO OBTAIN A PERMIT FROM THE KING TO ( F ornicate U nder C onsent of the K ing )? ? ? CAN THE USE OF THE 4 LETTER WORD CONTRIBUTE IN ANY WAY TOWARDS THE ADVANCEMENT OF AMATEUR RADIO ? ? WHAT DO YOU THINK IS EASIER ON YOUR EARS, THE CONTINOUS RUSH OF BAND NOISE OR THE RANDOM HUFFING AND PUFFING OF THE DSP ? ? ? IS IT NOT A COWARDLY, DESPICABLE ACT TO ADOBT SOMEONE ELSE`SCALLSIGN OR A FICTITIOUS ONE IN ORDER TO POST NASTIES ON THE CLUSTER & ANNOUNCEMENTS COLUMNS ? ? ? WHY IS IT I KEEP GETTING E MAILS ASKING FOR SCHEDS ? ? ? HAVE I NOT GIVEN AN APOLOGY AND MADE MYSELF CLEAR IN THE Sorry for the inconvenience LINE ? ?
QUESTIONS OF THE MONTH for APRIL 2013 WHEN YOU SEND ME A QSL REQUEST WHY DON`T YOU TICK OR UNDERLINE THE PERTINENT CALLSIGN FROM THE MULTITUDE OF CALLSIGNS ON YOUR CARD ? ? HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO KNOW WHICH CALLSIGN YOU USED TO MAKE THE CONTACT ON THAT DAY ? ? AFTER CALLING CQ FOR THE BETTER PART OF 10MINS WHY IS IT THE MOMENT I SEND " NO TAKERS SO GOING QRT " THERE IS AN AVALANCHE OF CALLERS ? ? ARE YOU JUST SITTING THERE MONITORING AND WAITING FOR ME TO SEND QRT BEFORE CALLING ? ? WHY DO I FEEL SO PERPLEXED WHEN THESE THINGS HAPPEN ? ? WHY DO YOU HAVE TO MAKE MY TASK MORE DIFFICULT BY USING ROMAN NUMBERS ON YOUR QSLs INSTEAD OF THE NORMAL ONES? ? WHY IS IT THAT ALTHOUGH IT MIGHT BE MORE ROMAN--TIC FOR YOU, ROMAN COULD BE A HEADACHE FOR ME ? ? WHERE HAVE ALL THE Es GONE ? ?
QUESTIONS OF THE MONTH for MAY 2013 WHY AM I SO GLAD I AT LAST FOUND MY "Es" WITH AN OPENING ON 6M TODAY, THE 5TH OF MAY ? ? WHY WAS IT SUCH A PLEASURE NOT TO WASTE VALUABLE PROPAGATION AND ONLY GIVE THE ODD LOCATOR ? ? HAS MY LOCATOR GOT ANYTHING TO DO WITH AN INDIAn calledMIKEwho is 76 and lives in a HOTEL near a riverDELTA ? ? ( 9/5 ) WHO CLOSED THE "Es" TAP AGAIN ? ? WHY ARE JAPANESE STATIONS SO RELUCTANT TO SPOT ME ON THE CLUSTER ? ? DON`T THEY WANT TO SHARE THOSE SCARCE LONG PATH CONDITIONS WITH THEIR FRATERNITY ? ? WHY AM I LEFT FESTERING WHEN THIS PSEUDO ( Foxtrot Oscar zero Lima ) (FO0L) CALLS ME AND I TAKE LINE , SINKER & BAIT BY QUICKLY GIVING HIM A 599 ? ? IS IT NOT A BIT OUT OF SEASON FOR AN APRIL FOOL ? ? COULD YOU BELIEVE THE QRK HE GAVE ME WAS HI HI HI ? ? IS IT POSSIBLE WE ARE SUFFERING AN EPIDEMIC OR LIDFESTATION OF SOME SORT ? ?
Hope all the above information has been of some interest. 73s and 88s where applicable, & BCNU all on the bands.
Ernie ZB2FK
