(Hans calls me a 'LID') DU9/DL5SDF on 17M

My QTH: A shrine in Haramachi Village (原町) not far from our house, Chiba Prefecture, Japan.
Rig: ATS3B, NB6M paddles, Elecraft T1 ATU, radio shack powered speaker
Antenna: about 30 meters of wire up 5 meters in trees/10 meter counterpoise
Power: 3~4 watts

Just another average day, out with my wife and son, biking through the rice fields and concrete neighborhoods. My first foray into the 17 Meter band (18.068-18.168 MHz) came out well. Purported to be using only wire antennae, Hans DL5SDF, is stationed in Mindanao, Philippines with 100 watts. I was pleased as punch to hear this one station on this WARC band--but I made the mistake of working him twice. He came back with my signal report of 529 and LID LID.

I found this old quote from a hundred years ago, from a telegraph operator's letter. It cites the usage of the word 'lid' do describe a bad operator.
"As an employee of the Western Union Telegraph Company, W. L. Matteson was familiar with the rich vocabulary of insults that telegraph line operators had developed over the years, including, as noted in this article, "lid" and "ham" to describe incompetents. However, at the time this letter appeared popular usage was changing, and many amateur radio enthusiasts had already begun to use "ham" as a casual general description for their fellow amateurs. (In contrast, referring to amateurs as "lids" continues to this day to mean that you are questioning their basic competency.)"

I have been called a LID before--but by Japanese hams who didn't identify themselves, just transmitting the word on my frequency during my CQ--if I happened to fall asleep while calling CQ (happens A LOT to me)--or if I accidentally start calling my American callsign KC7FYS and then have to delete it with a string of dits. Or even when I have had problems with my paddles and it was sending defectively. Either way, it makes a big impression on me when I would be called this in front of whomever is monitoring the frequency.

I wouldn't say it to somebody unless they were intentionally causing QRM. You hear Japanese hams on the air drunk fairly often, and it's just understood that it's night, and who doesn't have a nightcap? Everybody deserves a chance to make mistakes in Amateur Radio without being called a 'bad operator.' Next time I'm called a LID, I will remember that I built all the equipment that emits my signal, and that although I may have committed an on-air faux pas, I am not a bona fide LID. C'mon.

Category:

Film & Animation

Tags:

• DU9
• DL5SDF
• Hans
• Ham
• Radio
• QRP
• LID
• CW
• Morse

[gliderrider]

I've seen you on the ATSgroup. Nice to operate as the DX huh? In late june I operated as DU9/N5VWN. Didn't bring the ats3b this trip. Used the k2 (100w) and a g5rv. It was kind of neat to operate 8 USA stations on fieldday 40 meters. I could tell a couple of "expert" amateurs were irritated with me slowing up their qso count that counted towards thier score. Others were thrilled to see how well they were getting out. Almost forgot, NICE BACKGROUND OM! 73's

[kc7fys]

I had a great time. See my Vietnamese radio exploits on flickr. (It will not allow me to post the URL, however. I am jonathancharles on that site.)

[kn9ioutom]

73 OM DE K9IOU K

[acridotherestristis]

The faults of our neighbours with freedom we blame, but tax not ourselves, though we may practise the same.

-William Cowper

Good Luck and many a Good DX!

[tkdteen2]

wow he called you a lid how nice of him or she to do so

[G0IMB]

I've got this kind of attitude from some. Like one Portuguese ham who didn't like me replying in his language which I speak reasonably well:-))) NOT in the ham radio spirit, but never mind.