New York City Indians

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Originally Posted by W3WN

I remember Fred Feldman & Helicopter Seven-Ten. Isn't he credited with coining the term "rubbernecking delays"?

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Fred Feldman aka "Fearless Fred" was a fixture in the NY Metro area during the 60's and 70's. I remember as a kid being thrilled when we saw him and his helicopter circling over Atlantic Avenue in Brooklyn one morning while we were on our way to school. I think he did coin that term

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Do you by chance remember the day that the relief pilot was filling in for him & crashed?

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Yes. I remember that well. The pilots name was "Frank McDermott", he used to fill in for Fred. He experienced a tail rotor malfunction under very windy conditions and crashed into a building. I remember Fred was devastated when he heard the sad news. Fred continued to fly. Contrary to many rumors Fred did not die in a helicopter crash. He died from complications related to heart troubles. He retired from flying because of his health.

Re: Hide and seek repeater on the Gee Dub:
"Is it written up anywhere?"
Not that I know of.
"If not, don't suppose you'd like to regale us with it, one day?"
A long time ago on a repeater far away (on Long Island) it's from a discussion about fox hunting. I don't recall details but basically it was a long disused repeater after the owner died and left no clues about it. The controller crapped out and for years it would periodically transmit dead air and the transmitter developed spurs that caused interference, it was tracked down to the bridge but with all the spaghetti inside and access doors locked it was impossible to find with normal means. One day techs connected to LIMARC working in an equipment room trying to resolve interference issues stumbled upon it and investigation by other club members nailed it down. The repeater was removed, problem solved, never did find out if a high iron monkey removed the antenna or not.

"Certainly better than the "pink" repeater in Butler PA."
Oh DO tell, were there several species of small furry animals grooving with a Pict on it? Never! Never shall ye get me alive ye rotten hound of the burnie crew!

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Originally Posted by kb2vxa

Re: Hide and seek repeater on the Gee Dub:
"Is it written up anywhere?"
Not that I know of.
"If not, don't suppose you'd like to regale us with it, one day?"
A long time ago on a repeater far away (on Long Island) it's from a discussion about fox hunting. I don't recall details but basically it was a long disused repeater after the owner died and left no clues about it. The controller crapped out and for years it would periodically transmit dead air and the transmitter developed spurs that caused interference, it was tracked down to the bridge but with all the spaghetti inside and access doors locked it was impossible to find with normal means. One day techs connected to LIMARC working in an equipment room trying to resolve interference issues stumbled upon it and investigation by other club members nailed it down. The repeater was removed, problem solved, never did find out if a high iron monkey removed the antenna or not.

"Certainly better than the "pink" repeater in Butler PA."
Oh DO tell, were there several species of small furry animals grooving with a Pict on it? Never! Never shall ye get me alive ye rotten hound of the burnie crew!

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I can remember a repeater war that raged for a few years in the NJ/Staten Island area. I had suspicions about it because something about the attitude of the NJ repeater owner reeked. Finally I got a HT that had a spectrum analyzer built in (Alinco made it). I watched for a few weeks and found the problem. The NJ repeater was down in frequency and someone had set it to take the same PL tone as the Staten Island repeater - even though it wasn't supposed to recognize it. This meant that a transmitter on the SI repeater was also keying up the NJ repeater. One night the owner of the NJ repeater was on. I monitored both machines as he complained bitterly. Everyone on the SI repeater was walking on eggshells afraid he'd complain to the FCC about them. I popped in and made small talk with him for a few minutes. Then I casually mentioned that I had a spectrum analyzer and was monitoring both machines. There was a slight pause, he recovered and we chatted for a minute or so more. Then he bid 73. After a minute or so, I watched as he or someone connected with the repeater moved the center frequency back to where it belonged.

There was never a complaint made again. Makes you wonder what the FCC was doing that they didn't pick up on this, but I guess they're very busy. Mind you, a few months after, someone complained about me, I suspect from the club I helped. Must've been a heck of a good complaint because a car with gov't plates came by complete with measuring equipment and an agent. Agent saw me and ran into the car and took off. Nothing found, no pink slip. Small wonder. I hadn't been active for months. Let no good deed go unpunished.

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Originally Posted by W3WN

Your dad knew Franz Liebkind?

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May have been talking about the guy in Heavy Traffic!

Re: The two Johns' observations of the Deegan....

Thanks, guys, for trying to steer people off of it! Or, either you guys are the must unlucky people in the world, or I'm one of the luckiest. Never, in 40 years, have I seen anything like what you described, and that includes a few years of daily commuting to Yonkers. Worst thing I ever saw was the tie-up at George and Martha; if I've seen a bad smash-up, it must have been a long time ago because I can't bring to mind anything of that magnitude.

And speaking of George and Martha -- in the 70's (maybe earlier), they were referred to as George (top level) and Martha (bottom level). It was commonplace to hear on Shadow Traffic, "George has long delays, you'll be better off on Martha." Wonder who or what was behind banning that particular part of the lexicon?

One thing about George and Martha....if you're traveling north on 95 or east on 80 and need to use that bridge, do not approach the bridge from either of those. That approach can be a nightmare. I always get off, drive through Teaneck, and catch Rte. 4. It's always better.

Can't find the particular post right now, but I've taken the kind request to stop using "GWB" to heart. Hadn't noticed that. After all, we have to deal with how Washington National airport was renamed by the brain-dead for the brain-dead.

Time to "crank up" a heartfelt rendition of "George Washington Bridge", with the oom-pah-pah's and the rusty cranks!

Pity I can't find that version on YouTube. Here's a solo rendition. The version I'm talking about has at least three parts. The bass voice are going "oom-pah-pah", while a middle voices are going "rusty crank crank, rusty crank crane, etc." But I think I've left out a part. Little help from anyone who will actually admit they know the song? Mebbe ya gotta be drunk to even think that song's even worth mentioning?

So here's that great song in a straight ahead setting...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BTBePXgL1Ak

And another video of the bridge itself with some nice time-lapse photography. Brings back memories of when I commuted to Yonkers from Teaneck. One thing I learned when I worked in Yonkers -- Westchester County has the highest level of "I know everything and I'm the greatest" conceit I've ever encountered -- even from wannabe B&T people. If I ever take up hot-air ballooning, I'd want one of them along with me -- they're a GREAT emergency source! But I'd have to have along some earplugs.

Oh, yea, back to the video. That guy "cheated". He approached from the Henry Hudson (but that parkway does provide a great view of the bridge, as you'll see) one that's much, much better than the Deegan; soon's I discovered it I never went back to the Deegan. But nowadays, the bridge is EZ-Pass only, so I can't.

Matter of fact, that Marriott that the car pulls into was being built when I lived in Teaneck; the property was just at the end of the road I lived on, Grant Terrace. Ah......life was good back then, pre-AIDS in the mid-70's when everyone was schtooping everyone else, and I mean that quite literally. Made lots of wet spots there! Not to mention the outstanding bar bands that were playing the circuit.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A3zQ4WDgRGg