A missionary amateur in the Philippines discovers the pleasures of MMTTY software for RTTY--and his children discover a new appreciation for Amateur Radio.

There was a foul mood in the home of DU9/N0NM. Dad had just requisitioned the computer for the whole weekend to compete in a RTTY contest. With a chorus of "Oh, daaaaaad!" the two children made their views known. This weekend there would be no barrel rolls in the Boeing 777 over the pyramids in Egypt. The defeat of the evil Harkonnen on the planet Dune would have to wait. And that new plumbing system for the Sim City town of Rudyville would be delayed yet again.

"Explain to me again why you need this computer," the wife said. "The boys have had a tough week at school and need to relax before Monday and you know how important their computer time is on the weekend."

The dad retorted, "I just downloaded a free radioteletype program called MMTTY written by Mako, JE3HHT, and I want to give it a try. I need two computers, one for logging and one for MMTTY."

So, with the cloud of gloom over the house dad fired up the amp and started the contest. As the high-pitched chirp of RTTY reverberated through the house. "Turn it down!" was the last remaining protest from those resigned to computerlessness. As he launched into the digital fray, it soon became clear to the dad why this particular program, which takes a Pentium processor and sound card, had become so popular. With only 500 W and wire antennas, he didn't entertain hopes of fame and glory, but just perhaps he could turn in the top Philippine contest score...if no one else competed against him.

It wasn't long before the anemic warble from DU land drew its first catch. JH2LPY started a run on a whole stringer full of JAs who were soon sitting handsomely in the log. An unexpected nibble came from the dad oldest son, aged 11. Still fuming over lack of computer to play his favorite games, he came in to the shack to see if one more line of logic would pry the computer loose from the dad's fingers. When he saw the MMTTY waterfall display, the mark/space scope and saw the dad logging with his left hand while tuning with his right, the youngster was intrigued. The OM offered him the logging seat and he quickly agreed. Continuing the run of JAs was becoming a bit mundane when K4XG called and they both lit up with a big yea! W4 land was home turf for this nearly rootless missionary kid as the thin line of RF made radio contact.

Not to be outdone, the dad's youngest son, age nine, wanted his chance at the keyboard. After an hour of search and pounce he was still there at the keyboard, memorized as could be with each cast of the "CQ contest" call. With every JA entered he would look at the zone and inform the dad that it was "another 25 . . . Japan." When they snagged the first European station in zone 16, he jumped up and ran to announce the accomplishment to the others in the house. It was during a lull in the run rate that this pre teen likened contesting to his favorite past time, fishing. "Sometimes you catch a string of bluegills, dad, but then the big old bass hits the line." As if to reinforce his point it, HC8N suddenly called.

The dad had been a ham long before his boys were born. They heard CW in the crib before they could talk. As infants they toddled around with him as he worked on antenna projects. They have been encouraged to investigate this hobby and have an insider's view of it. Yet, nothing could have snagged their interest in the hobby like MMTTY and its vivid, fascinating displays. Mako and crew have done a real service to Amateur Radio by offering this excellent piece of software. The spirit of the hobby is alive and well and thanks to contests, absconded computers and RTTY, it is even gaining a few new recruits.

The final score from DU was not too hot. But perhaps the biggest catch was the two boys who became hooked on ham radio. A pretty successful contest, the dad would speculate later.

You can contact the author at n0nm@arrl.net.