The AM Forum

12/9/10

Title: FCC Engineer

Job Summary: The FCC’s Enforcement Bureau is looking for an engineer (Electrical/Electronics, etc. education and/or background) for its Seattle District Office.  Since this posting is only open until 12/22/10, I am hoping that you may assist us in publicizing this outside hire via your industry, governmental or company outlets.  

  This position is posted as a GS-855-13 and is open to those outside the agency and the government.  For more information, see: this link
(http://jobs.mgsapps.monster.com/fcc/vacancy/preview!printVacancy.hms?orgId=4&popup=true&jnum=4990)

(GS-13 engineer pay appears to be $80,510 – $104,910)

Too low on my pay scale. I have needs!  8)

Yea, but it only requires $40K a year worth of work

The badge.  Don't forget to tell them about the badge!

That got me laughing!

The badge is made of plastic.

Dont forget the SX-28 in the car

Better to bust the the Nazi sympathizer spies on CW. Antenna wire hidden up the chimney.

"Badges? We don't need no stinking Badges"

Book 'em Dano.   This evening I stumbled over a Chicago tv station that runs old shows on one of its sub-channels.  I watched two episodes of Dragnet, then two of Highway Patrol.  Then part of M Squad (who remembers M Squad with Lee Marvin?).   It was great TV.  Had not seen Highway Patrol in probably 47 years.  I watched more tv tonight than I have in the past six weeks.

Unfortunately that now describes every ham who lives in one of those weird developments populated by people who make him hide his hobby as if he's a drug dealer or some other criminal.

This thread is frickin hilarious! ;D

Too bad the job's in Seattle - I'd almost be interested  ;)

My thought as well. All the jobs are in places I don't want to live in.

I looked at some of the requirements and qualifications on their various jobs. Some of their demands are a bit extreme and are for things that would probably never be used on the job. I'm not sure I ever was able to do differential equations in my head but that's what it may amount to because they test applicants. How is it I make satisfactory money in an honest way as an engineer and technican, and yet have never done a differential equation or the calculus since school?

gee whiz, why not a job that just reads,"find illegal transmitters and use whatever method is least expensive to shut them down. resistance is futile."  Could have a heyday with that around this burg.

then there's always the bribes.

Whadda you mean 'as if he's a drug dealer'.  If the ham was a drug dealer, he wouldn't have to hide.  It's only the legal stuff that needs hidden nowadays.  Remember:  criminals have 'rights', lotsa rights.  Wonder what a 160 M chimney would look like?  Maybe obvious?

The FCC job would be a good gig for someone who wanted good job security, good benefits and was satisfied being a cog in the machine.


Speaking of hidden chimney antennas -  I've always liked the big white PVC pipe flag pole in the front yard idea. Add three more and make it a 4-square. Heck with base loading, the verticals would have to be only 33' high (1/8 wave) and would work well.

Let's see, a US flag, a state flag, a Marines flag and an AM flag would do it.


Dean/WA1KNX proved a point with his truck. He once strapped on a huge 2X4 stud wooden platform to the truck bed to hold his very large 75M mobile antenna system. The base coil was 1/2" copper tubing wound on a 5 gallon plastic pail. What an eyesore.  But going down the highway nobody even paid attention to it, thinking he was just another construction worker hauling a bunch of junk.   Whereas my Blazer following behind him had just a single homebrew bug catcher style whip on the back bumper and got all the weird stares. Go figure.... ;)

Same thing for neighborhoods FILLED with telephone poles loaded with power lines, phone lines, cable TV junk, etc. Nobody even sees it, but put up a simple openwire-fed dipole in the front yard and the necks crane as they drive by.  Funny stuff.

T

"Badges?...We don't need no stinking Badges!...."

I was thinking this exact same thing yesterday.   Put up a 60 foot tower and beam in a neighborhood with 100 foot tall old trees and no one cares.  put up same antenna in a new neighborhood where the tallest things are roofs up 25 or 30 feet and everyone s!!!s a brick.  It's almost never really about the antenna but about the setting.  It's all psychology -- nothing about it is rational.  Most of it is knee jerk reaction to the landscape change.   If nothing is done, after a few months people will have stopped noticing it, if the antenna is allowed to stay up that long.

Badgers? 

(http://www.steveguntrip.co.uk/dump/badgers.jpg)

Yep, it certainly is in the eyes of the beholder. When you walk down a busy city street, focus on the power lines and all the JS connections hanging everywhere. It's amazing what we see and block out.

I remember once visiting an elderly tree-hugger at his hilltop home during the evening. He had an incredible view of the forested horizon for maybe 20 miles. On the distant hills I could see the warm glow of blinking red lights - that of various cell/communication  or AM broadcash towers on a few of the highest peaks. I commented to him on what a beautiful view he had. Just before I was gonna mention the nice towers he jumped in and started complaining that the towers have ruined his view over the last few years... ;D  Perfect example of how hams see beauty in things others loathe.

T