JimAndLeahs Online Tuner

Jim Southwick n7js, has once again ‘updated’ his online tuner. And, almost each time he has done so, there have been improvements.

This time, he has changed the tuner page ‘look’. I for one appreciate the cleaner style he has adopted; not to mention that the new colors and fonts are a lot easier on these old eyes.

He has also included a LARGE easy to see, link that once clicked EXPLAINS the nature of the software package that needs to be downloaded, what it is, and why it is needed. Listener’s on the tuner no longer need to be paranoid about this software and bombard those of us ‘in’ the tuner about it. Something I for one, am thankful for.

There is also a NEW LARGE, easy to see link that once clicked, points out the RULES for using the tuner, clearly and precisely! (It is so nice just to be able to refer an ‘offender’ to this link.) Those rules, though they desperately need to be ‘simplified, follow:


RULES FOR USE OF JIMANDLEAH'S USER CONTROLLED ONLINE TUNER: 1. PLEASE ASK FIRST BEFORE TUNING. IF YOU RECEIVE NO ANSWER AFTER APPROX. 30 SECONDS GO AHEAD AND TUNE. IF SOMEONE IS ALREADY LISTENING TO A FREQUENCY BEFORE YOU - THIS MEANS YOU HAVE UP TO 5 MINUTES BEFORE THEY CAN ASK FOR IT BACK. YOU MUST RELINQUISH CONTROL BACK AFTER 5 MINUTES IF THE PREVIOUS USER IS STILL INTERESTED. YOU CAN THEN REQUEST CONTROL AGAIN AFTER 5 MINUTES. 2. DO NOT MONOPOLIZE THE ON-LINE TUNER. NO ONE HAS ANY MORE AUTHORITY OVER THE TUNER THAN ANYONE ELSE. IF YOU DO NOT ALLOW SOMEONE ELSE TO TUNE AFTER USING IT YOURSELF FOR 5 MINUTES OR YOU TAKE CONTROL BEFORE THE 5 MINUTES, OR YOU DO NOT ALLOW SOMEONE TO TUNE TO A PARTICULAR FREUQUENCY, THEN YOU ARE MONOPOLIZING IT. 3. IF YOU WANT TO MONITOR A FREQUENCY, LET SOMEONE ELSE TUNE IT FOR UP TO 5 MINUTES AND THEN RETURN IT TO THE FREQUENCY OF YOUR CHOICE. MOST PEOPLE SIMPLY WANT TO DO QUICK CHECKS. THE TUNER COVERS 0-30 MHz AND ALSO PORTIONS OF 49-50 MHz. 4. THERE ARE 8 AVAILABLE TUNER SLOTS. DO NOT MONOPOLIZE MORE THAN ONE TUNER SLOT. THIS MEANS GOING UNDER THE SAME OR DIFFERENT NAME FROM THE SAME LOCATION. 5. ANY REPORTED FORM OR SUBSEQUENT VERIFICATION OF MONOPOLIZING IS GROUNDS FOR REMOVAL OR COMPLETE IP OR IP SUBSET BANNING. WE RESERVE THE RIGHT TO NOT WARN ALTHOUGH I USUALLY DO. (I HIGHLY BELIEVE IN "FIRST TIME SHAME ON YOU, SECOND TIME SHAME ON ME") 6. ALL CHAT ENTRIES, TUNER CONTROL CHANGES, AND LOG IN IP'S ARE CONSTANTLY RECORDED AND MAINTAINED FOR UP TO 1 YEAR. I HAVE NO INTEREST IN REVIEWING THEM UNLESS A COMPLAINT IS FORWARDED IN WHICH CASE THIS ALLOWS ME TO DETERMINE THE HISTORY ACCURATELY. 7. MOST OF ALL, PLEASE REALIZE THIS SYSTEM IS A SERVICE THAT IS PROVIDED FREE AND SUBSEQUENTLY SUPPORTED BY DONATIONS. THIS GIVES THOSE WHO DON'T HAVE THE MEANS OR DESIRE TO PAY FOR AN ON- LINE TUNER THE CHANCE TO USE ONE. IT ALSO TENDS TO MAKE IT FAIRLY POPULAR AND NECESSARY TO SHARE QUITE A BIT. IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR TUNERS YOU CAN PRETTY MUCH HAVE ALL TO YOURSELF - PLEASE VISIT A PAID SITE SUCH AS WWW.DXTUNERS.COM. IF NOT, PLEASE SHARE AND KEEP THIS SYSTEM ORIGINAL AND FREE - JUST AS IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN. THANKS FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT AND COOPERATION AND MOST OF ALL - ENJOY. JIM SOUTHWICK, N7JS



Since Jim Southwick n7js has put these ‘new’ rules into effect, and enforced them, the tuner has been a much less stressful place for legitimate users. Also, is not full of 24/7 ‘sitters’ (well, perhaps Vout – who is there ‘sitting’ in the tuner, right now, as I write, at 3:30p with the tuner on 14.230 USB and broadcasting nothing but static). You seldom see an ‘anon’ anymore, whereas before the ‘rules’, out of 8 tuner slots there could be 6 anon sitters, probably many of them duplicates!

I do hope though, that Jim DOES randomly check the tuner logs for those that change frequency without asking, and those that won’t ‘allow’ the frequency to be changed as these are still all too frequent happenings.

And one can’t help but wonder why Jim runs banners for HamCams, MidNight Hams, but not HamFanz? Though I have emailed Jim the HamFanz Banner twice. Hmm, does he not approve of HamFanz? Or does he get pressured by the MH group (which I’m told is almost defunct).

There is also a guide to implement setting up your own stream at http://weatherstation.tripod.com/audio.html. Wish more HAMS all over the world would take advantage of this ‘how to’ as well as the free hosting!

Overall, it is now a much better situation at JimAndLeah’s online tuner; especially given the fact that http://www.jimandleah.com/ is the only game in town right now! (The Pahrump receiver is NOT a tuner!)

Thank you so very much Jim, for hours of enjoyable listening!