Off-topic, But Related To Amateur Radio
Amateur radio was part of this week's episode of AMC's "Halt and Catch Fire".
In the opening part, the character Gordon had set up his ham shack in a closet in his house and he was fiddling with his transceiver. He says it was home-brew, but it was really an FT-101B, which I found rather amusing. I thought I recognized the radio and, when I looked closely during the replay of that episode, the model number could be clearly seen.
I'm sure his on-air manner would have branded him as a lid, unless such behaviour was permitted 30 years ago when the episode is supposed to be set.
One thing I found odd was that it sounded like he was operating AM as I think he was on HF. I remember when AM was common on those bands where I grew up but that was during the mid-1960s. I thought that by the 1980s, SSB was the main voice mode.
He was having problems making contacts, and his wife suggested that maybe a lot of hams were possibly on-line. In the mid-'80s? I'm not so sure about that, even though there were dial-in services and bulletin boards available back then (I was active on a CompuServe space board at the time). Even the use of the term "on-line" seems a bit suspicious, as I don't recall it ever being used in those days.
Anyway, I thought it was interesting that amateur radio was part of this week's story, despite some questionable details. Unfortunately, nothing about satellites.
73s
Bernhard VA6BMJ @ DO33FL
Hi Bernhard, I just checked that episode out on-line. It's Season 3,Episode 3. Yep, it's a Yaesu FT-101B like I had myselfmany years ago. It's funny that he has his shack in acloset just as I did in our first small house. It's hard to tell what Mode he's in from the RX audio, butit looks like the switch is in the Tune position. HIHI A latershot shows a Bug Key next to the XCVR. He's using the Call KC4L which is registered to a Hamin Gainesville, FL. I wonder if he knows that?? Thanks for the tip on the Show. 73, Bob K8BL
From: B J va6bmj@gmail.com To: amsat-bb amsat-bb@amsat.org Sent: Friday, September 2, 2016 10:06 PM Subject: [amsat-bb] Off-topic, But Related To Amateur Radio
Amateur radio was part of this week's episode of AMC's "Halt and Catch Fire".
In the opening part, the character Gordon had set up his ham shack in a closet in his house and he was fiddling with his transceiver. He says it was home-brew, but it was really an FT-101B, which I found rather amusing. I thought I recognized the radio and, when I looked closely during the replay of that episode, the model number could be clearly seen.
I'm sure his on-air manner would have branded him as a lid, unless such behaviour was permitted 30 years ago when the episode is supposed to be set.
One thing I found odd was that it sounded like he was operating AM as I think he was on HF. I remember when AM was common on those bands where I grew up but that was during the mid-1960s. I thought that by the 1980s, SSB was the main voice mode.
He was having problems making contacts, and his wife suggested that maybe a lot of hams were possibly on-line. In the mid-'80s? I'm not so sure about that, even though there were dial-in services and bulletin boards available back then (I was active on a CompuServe space board at the time). Even the use of the term "on-line" seems a bit suspicious, as I don't recall it ever being used in those days.
Anyway, I thought it was interesting that amateur radio was part of this week's story, despite some questionable details. Unfortunately, nothing about satellites.
73s
Bernhard VA6BMJ @ DO33FL _______________________________________________ Sent via AMSAT-BB@amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions expressed are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of AMSAT-NA. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
On 9/3/16, R.T.Liddy k8bl@ameritech.net wrote:
Hi Bernhard, I just checked that episode out on-line. It's Season 3,Episode 3. Yep, it's a Yaesu FT-101B like I had myselfmany years ago. It's funny that he has his shack in acloset just as I did in our first small house. It's hard to tell what Mode he's in from the RX audio, butit looks like the switch is in the Tune position. HIHI A latershot shows a Bug Key next to the XCVR. He's using the Call KC4L which is registered to a Hamin Gainesville, FL. I wonder if he knows that?? Thanks for the tip on the Show. 73, Bob K8BL
You're welcome. While we're at it, the opening scene in the movie "Contact" starts with Ellie Arroway calling CQ and then making contact with a station in Pensacola. She figures she needs a bigger antenna and then the scene changes to when she's an adult (played by Jodie Foster) standing beside the dish at Arecibo.
Of course, she later goes on to make the ultimate DX catch, hi.
73s
Bernhard VA6BMJ @ DO33FL
participants (2)
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B J -
R.T.Liddy