Jimmy,

JA>TNC?

  Terminal Node Controller. It's basically "a modem for ham radio", used
in applications like packet and APRS.

  Speaking of APRS, I have a QST set up with D-Rats to send out my GPS
location at the bottom of every hour...so, I'm visible on aprs.fi (just
look for WX4QZ in Little Rock, Arkansas).

JA>I thought Win10 was a free upgrade from 7? I know for a while there it
JA>would force itself? Was that a period of free or something?

  They did that initially, but I think that offer has long since
expired. It'd be nice if it was back, though.

JA>Speaking of money, that's why I never did anything with D-Star. For what
JA>it would cost to get into I could buy other stuff that I like or need. :-)

  You can get a ThumbDV from Northwest Digital Radio for under $150.
That's cheaper than a DV Dongle ($200) or a basic DT-Star HT (well over
$400). After all, hams are "frugal cheapskates". <G>

JA>I collect comics so I have a small budget for that every month, plus I
JA>play the Star Wars X-Wing miniatures game. I don't spend a ton with it,
JA>but I do spend some, plus some gas to drive for tourneys and such...

  I never was a fan of comics or a bookworm, but my late XYL was a
bookworm.

JA>On your phone? I use Safari on laptop as well as phone, but I do
JA>use Chrome for Google based stuff at work. We are a Google Apps for
JA>Education school system, and the admin stuff works better with
JA>Chrome, plus I can keep my logins seperate. :-)

  Yep...Firefox for Android. I also use the Dashlane Password Manager.
That way, it creates funky passwords for me, and remembers them for me.

JA>Never was a fan of Firefox, but that's a Ford/Chevy issue to me. :-)

  I never thought I would be, but it loads so much faster than Chrome.

JA>I always learn new stuff from you. :-) Just installed FB Purity and will
JA>see how it goes!

  It'll take a good bit of tweaking before you get it to where you want
it. But, it's a free web browser on. Of course, Facebook is NOT happy
that YOU HAVE CONTROL over what you see, instead of it being them. Yet,
they're wasting their time sending me ads...I can barely survive
financially now.

  Plus, at times, I got ads for feminine hygiene products. Being a
widower nearly 12 years now (and probably until the day I die), I want
to know "what am I supposed to do with stuff like that??!!". 

JA>Yeah, I'm not a FB 'fan,' but not a hater either. It turns out that the
JA>podcasts I listen to all have groups there for chat/discussion/feedback
JA>so it's the default place to 'talk' to people.

  I never got into podcasts. To me, a podcast is plaster on a container
for peas. <G>

JA>I've gotten on there a few times just to play around. One of my early
JA>times I made a connection with someone in Corinth Mississippi. He was
JA>sitting outside the local tire shop waiting for it to open and didn't
JA>know their local repeater was connected to echolink, so I was sitting
JA>with my laptop talking over the air to him. :-)

  I've used the smartphone app when I'm away from the QTH and the shack.

JA>I might have told you but there was a local 'interest' in DMR several
JA>months ago. I never got into it, as I don't have a DMR radio, and then
JA>interest seemed to die out just as fast, so no reason to get into it.

  To me, DMR "Doesn't Mean Radio". I've done very little with it, and
will likely stay with D-Star and D-Rats as my main modes...although I am
on packet radio at WX4QZ@NS2B.#WNY.NY.USA.NOAM -- the original packet
BBS I was on is QRT, since the Sysop and his XYL are now Silent Keys.
The BBS I'm on has a digital net every Monday night at 8pm Eastern Time.
If you want, email me at either wx4qz@arrl.net or wx1der@gmail.com --
and ask for "The PCL Net" and "The E.D. Net"...the latter was a funny
net after I had first gotten my previous callsign...and what another ham
thought E.D. actually meant!! <BG>.

JA>I've been on stage off and on since I was 14 years old - got over 'mic
JA>fright' a loooong time ago - LOL.

  I remember being in theatre arts in high school and college. And, no
matter how many plays I was in, right before coming out on stage, I
wondered "You dumb $***!! Why are you doing this again??!!" <G>.

JA>Yeah, that makes sense! I guess it's like us using the echonets to 'talk'
JA>when we could email directly. I'm not dialing up, but I am 'connecting'
JA>to a BBS with software, etc. And I'm using an offline mail reader, though
JA>time on the BBS is no longer limited like in the old days. :-)

  My BBS is the only one I logon to. As with other hobbies, it's a
HOBBY...though some consider it an OBSESSION. I've never really set up a
sked, but have offered it to some hams to contact me, and I'd do one.
But, everyone is so busy nowadays. Then, you have summer vacation, etc.
coming up soon...never mind folks going to Hamvention.

  If I could get a financial benefit, I'd love to do one FINAL out of
state trip via Amtrak to the Duke City Hamfest in Albuquerque in
September...but, I'm not overly optimistic.

JA>Hmm... I may have to give it a whirl then... I was turned off by the
JA>Windows Only part of it, but I do have the capacity to run Windows on
JA>my Mac via Parallels. I used to have to do it a LOT for work, but as
JA>time has gone on we've managed to move more and more away from "windows
JA>only" things...

  That may be the one drawback (Windows). But, to me, it's another way
to communicate. Yet, I'm only on the air for nets...which is usually in
the evenings.

JA>More interesting stuff! Thanks! I always get a ton of info from you. :-)

  That'll be a dollar two ninety-eight processing fee. Oops...I forgot!!
No pecuniary interest on ham radio!! (hi hi).

Daryl

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