[sdiy] some great noise sources to try

[Rainer Buchty]

>Basically I think Ham radio was popular because there wasn't much else an
>electronics hobbyist could to. We simply have a lot broarder choice of
>expression for our interest now. 

Being an "OM" myself since 1988 (DL1GRA) with almost lifelong 
"infection" (my dad is DF4GD), I would say that the main interest point, 
i.e. world-wide communication, pretty much vanished since everyone has 
internet access.

Back in the days (boy, do I sound like an old fart now :) it was really 
adventurous, to just spit out some CQ via RTTY and see what's coming 
back. Later, Packet Radio allowed multiple QSOs at the same time. Great 
stuff.

But during the 90s things changed dramatically:

(1) There was no way your hardware DIY approach would beat some DSP box. 
No way your DJ6HP filter converter could come even close to some 
PTC(-II) controller. While the DSP-approach definitely is a nice one, it 
just took off a big part of fun out of that very hobby.

(2) The internet offered faster and more reliable means of 
communication. Yes, I know, it's a completely different thing, but for 
me the driving force was communication and not to get with 10 Watts all 
over the world.

Now where's that ASCII punch tape where I saved my first ZX81 programs 
to...

Rainer