Directory: Internet¹ Discussion & Support Forums[ Lincolnshire Post-Polio Network]

Internet¹ Discussion & Support Forums

Newsgroups, Mailing Lists, Online Chat Room

Internet¹ Discussion & Support Forums Index
¹ Includes proprietry networks such as AOL etc

Newsgroups | Bulletin Boards | Mailing Lists | Online Chat | Ham Radio

These are in the main forums where Polio Survivors can exchange views and information not only on polio related subjects but also other matters that may interest them. Some are purely social groups while others focus on specific areas of interest, e.g. medical and healthcare issues, organising support groups etc.

Newsgroups

There is a newsgroup named alt.support.post-polio. If you do not have access to newsgroups via a newsserver you can read and post to newsgroups via Dejanews. The charter for the newsgroup is available at the Polio Survivors' Page Web Site.

AmericaOnLine subscribers should read the Bulletin Boards section.

Bulletin Boards

America Online
AOL Members Route to PPS Bulletin Boards

Information supplied by Tom Walter (Tomincal)

In the first week of June '98 America Online changed and enhanced the opening screens to the *"Better Health"* section of the service where Post Polio self-help support activities are located. Members who have put the PPS Message Board in their "Favorite Places" folder can still access it using that method.

To reach the Post-Polio topic board on AOL, after you are signed on to the service, click on the KEYWORD button in the upper right-hand corner of the screen. Type in Keyword: BETTER HEALTH; then click on GO or press ENTER. At the next screen, select the MESSAGE BOARDS button in the top center then click on it or press ENTER.

At the next screen, scroll down the window list box to "Physically Disabled" and select it. Click on Physically Disabled or on OPEN or press ENTER.

The next screen displays a window with all the bulletin board topics available in this Physically Disabled section. Scroll down to the bottom of the window and notice the "Post Polio Syndrome" topic and select it.

(At the next screen, after you've gone through all these gyrations to get here the first time, users of AOL Version 3.0 and above -- both Windows and MAC -- will be sure to want to add it to their "Favorite Places" folder. On this screen that displays the individual PPS messages, double-click on the HEART icon in the upper-right corner of the window, or "drag" it to the folder with the heart on it at the top center-right of your screen.

Now you have added this PPS Message Board to your "Favorite Places" -- and you can return here in the future by double-clicking or selecting the item in that folder, accessible in the "Personal Filing Cabinet" or by clicking on the folder with the heart on it.)

Then from the choices available under this window list box, select "List All" to review all the messages available here -- right now, back to mid-1996, if you have your "Preferences" set to check back that far.

Or select "List Unread" to review the messages you have not yet seen -- on your first visit you will be considered a "new visitor" and all messages will be displayed.

Or select "Find Since" for a dialog box where you can choose how many days back you want to go for postings available during that period.

And here's a feature I find very useful -- select "Read Offline" and new messages will be downloaded to your computer and your responses uploaded to the bulletin board whenever you run a FlashSession to upload and download E-mail. Then you can read and respond to postings while you're offline -- and save them in your "Personal Filing Cabinet" if you wish.

If you make this selection, before leaving this area be sure to choose "Mark Read". This will alert the system that you only desire to have new messages downloaded and not all that are still available.

And check your FlashSession settings -- click on MAIL up at the top center of your screen, then click on "Set Up FlashSession . . . " Then click on the boxes to put a check mark in front of "Retrieve unread newsgroup messages" and in front of "Send outgoing newsgroup messages."

After download, messages from the bulletin board will be found in your "Personal Filing Cabinet" in a directory the system will establish. To access your "Personal Filing Cabinet" click on the file cabinet icon at the top center-right of your screen -- or click on "File" at the top left of your screen, then select "Personal Filing Cabinet."

This same procedure to read and write messages offline can be used for the bulletin boards on the Internet known as "Usenet Newsgroups," including the one for PPS. To access from AOL, use Keyword: newsgroups. Select "Expert Add" and sign up for -- alt.support.post-polio

When you read individual posts from the screen where they are all listed they will not automatically be available to you next time you visit. If you want to "save" an individual message for a later return or automatic download, select "Mark Unread."

When responding to a post, you decide whether you want to reply only to the sender directly by E-mail, or post your response on the public board, or both.

[Only post your response both to the public board AND by direct email to the individual if you have specific reasons for doing so. Also make clear in both mails that you are responding both publicly and privately. Certainly in the Usenet newsgroup community such duplication is generally frowned upon. It can be irritating to spend time replying to what you believe to be a private email only to discover later that you may need to repeat your response in public! LincsPPN Administration]

To post a message about a new subject that is not a reply to a message already on the PPS board, select "Send New Message" then write and send it.

Hope you find these message boards useful for asking and answering questions you may have, sharing your experiences and knowledge -- and just to "keep in touch" with other polio survivors on AOL, and around the world in the case of the Usenet Newsgroup.

Mailing Lists

There are a number of active mailing lists. The lists are complimentary and each has a different focus. You may need to subscribe to more than one list depending on what you wish to discuss or ask questions about. Remember that the reason for each list having it's own particular focus is to give you the subscriber control over what is discussed in the list mail you receive. Select the listname to read a more detailed description of the mailing list including information on how to subscribe.

Listname	Server	Overview
polio	listserv.icors.org	A social list. Caring support in a friendly environment.
polio-life	eskimo.com	A debating list. 'Few holds barred' discussion.
post-polio	egroups.com	Low-key, PPS-Centric; light, positive and laid-back. Evolved from pps list.
post-polio-med	listserv.icors.org	Late Effects of Polio Infocentric Email list.
polio-groups	egroups.com	Polio support group information. Covers finding, starting and running local support groups.
PoliOntario	egroups.com	Canadian support group list but non-members welcome. Anything post-polio related.
vent-users	eskimo.com	Ventilator (Respirator) discussion.
pps-cg	egroups.com	For PPS family members and caregivers.
pps	pmihwy.com	Largely superseded by post-polio list. Remains active for non-polio related discussion.
polio-list		Ceased

Important Notes:

Do not send email to the list email addresses until after you have successfully subscribed (see below) to the particular mailing list.
The use of the term "moderated" is used here to mean that all posts to a mailing list will be received by a human moderator who will decide whether the post meets the list guidelines before forwarding on to list subscribers, i.e. a "fully moderated list". This ensures that 'inappropriate' posts do not reach the subscribers. Elsewhere you may find the term "moderated" applied to lists in which posts are not individually vetted. Here we describe such lists as "unmoderated". This does not mean that an unmoderated mailing list is uncontrolled. The list adminstrators may still exercise control by unsubscribing anyone who continually ignores the list guidelines.

A selection of additional 'non-polio' mailing lists which may nevertheless be of interest to Polio Survivors can be found at POST POLIO SYNDROME CENTRAL PPS & DISABILITY EMAIL DISCUSSION LISTS.

An excellent and long established database of mailing lists can be found at http://www.liszt.com/. The database offers both search facilites and a catagorised directory of mailing lists.

polio

The Polio list is a private unmoderated subscription based forum. Subscription to this list is conditional on accepting and working within a set of guidelines provided at the time of subscription. The intent of the list is to "Serve two purposes: To supply information, and to provide support and friendship in an informal and friendly environment."

To subscribe send an e-mail to listserv@listserv.icors.org with a blank subject line and sub Polio yourfirstname yourlastname in the body of the message.

Alternatively you can use the form here.

polio-life

" The Polio-Life list is an unmoderated, user maintained list dedicated to exploring the full range of ideas and activities of persons who have survived polio. The focus is intended to be on polio survivors as complete individuals with varied lifestyles, experiences and beliefs who belong to the broad disability community.'

'The model for the list is not a support group but rather a forum where people with a common experience or interest in polio can share experiences and insights. Topics might include (but are not limited to) medical issues, as well as recreational, intellectual, social, political, disability rights and advocacy, and literary interests of the list members."

To subscribe to polio-life send an e-mail to:
polio-life-request@eskimo.com
In the "Subject:" field type: subscribe

For more details see Polio-Life Mailing List - General information and Charter.

post-polio

A meeting place for discussions on Post-Polio Syndrome (PPS) and the effect on all our lives and lifestyles. Evolved from the pps list which was described as "low-key, PPS-Centric, meant to be kept LIGHT and POSITIVE, and will be KEPT that way!!"

Note: The post-polio list operates a policy of requesting MINIMAL identification of the subscriber, i.e. your real name and location, plus a statement that you not be advertising or soliciting ANYTHING. According to the listowner this tactic has been very successful in stopping spammers and ne'er do wells that can temporarily disrupt the activities of any mailing list. It was the policy of the parent pps list and remains in operation for the post-polio list. The listowner is a long-standing respected member of the post-polio Internet community and while you may feel happy about providing limited personal infromation in this case, you should always consider carefully before divulging personal information on the Internet.

To subscribe, send an empty message to post-polio-subscribe@egroups.com

To unsubscribe, send a message to post-polio-usubscribe@egroups.com

Alternatively, you can use the form below:

Sending a message to post-polio@egroups.com will distribute it to all of its subscribers. Because the list is a private list it will require the sender to be a list member.

A private archive of messages sent to the mailing list is available on the Web at http://www.egroups.com/group/post-polio/.

List Owner: Tom McKeever post-polio-owner@egroups.com

post-polio-med

Post-Polio-Med is a forum for questions and answers to and from post-polio syndrome researchers, physicians and other post-polio syndrome medical professionals, polio Survivors, family, friends, students and others who are interested in post-polio syndrome.

This includes, but is not limited to: questions, answers and information about post-polio syndrome research, clinical issues, clinical trials and current treatment practices.

For more info on Post-Polio-Med, go to the Post-Polio-Med Web Page: http://www.skally.net/ppmed/ .

Post-Polio-Med was placed to compliment the other PPS forums, not compete with them.

To subscribe send an email to:
listserv@listserv.icors.org
in the message enter:
sub post-polio-med YourFirstName YourLastName

Alternatively you can use the form here.

LISTOWNERS: Talmadge E. King, Jr., M.D., F.A.C.P., F.C.C.P.; Diana M. Hu, B.Sc.Pharm.; Elizabeth Hewitt; Deborah Gately McKeen, M.Ed; Cleo Kiernan; Lilith Adams

polio-groups

The Polio-Groups List is for the exchange of Polio Support Group information. This is intended to cover both requests for assistance in locating a support group and discussions of all issues concerned with starting and running a support group. Specific questions of a medical nature and general discussion of any other polio related issues are outside the remit of this list and a number of other polio related lists exist, one or more of which will be more appropriate depending on the nature of your requirements.

Whether you belong to a support group or not, whether you are a member or officer of a support group, you are most welcome to subscribe.

To subscribe, send an empty message to polio-groups-subscribe@egroups.com

To unsubscribe, send a message to polio-groups-usubscribe@egroups.com

Alternatively, you can use the form below:

Sending a message to polio-groups@egroups.com will distribute it to all of its subscribers. Because the list is a private list it will require the sender to be a list member.

A private archive of messages sent to the mailing list is available on the Web at http://www.egroups.com/group/polio-groups/.

Organizations that participate in this list include:
Post-Polio Network S A
Post-Polio Network (NSW, Australia) Inc
Mornington Peninsula Post-Polio Support Group Australia
Ontario March of Dimes Canada
The Lincolnshire Post-Polio Network UK
Colorado Post-Polio Connection USA
Minneapolis Area Support Group USA
Polio Experience Network (Spokane, Washington) USA
San Diego (CA) Polio Survivors Group USA
West Georgia Area Post-Polio Support Group USA
West Central Iowa Post Polio Support Group USA

List Owner: Chris Salter polio-groups-owner@egroups.com or polio-groups-owner@loncps.demon.co.uk
Polio-Groups is a service of the Lincolnshire Post-Polio Network.
Polio-Groups was founded by the late Larry White.

PoliOntario

This forum was created as an additional service of the Ontario March of Dimes' Post Polio Program. The Ontario March of Dimes was founded in 1951 in response to the severe polio epidemics of the 1930s, '40s and '50s. Our mandate was to find a cure for polio and fund research into polio rehabilitation. In the early '80s, polio survivors became aware of new symptoms and by 1985 approximately 1,000 persons had registered with the Ontario March of Dimes as polio survivors. Today, the registry continues to grow with over 4,800 individuals who are experiencing the late of effects of polio.

Like our 20 Post Polio Chapters around Ontario - these online forums are a good way to meet other polio survivors, friends and family members, receive information, support and encouragement and conquer that feeling of isolation.

Have a question to ask? Want to find out if others are experiencing the same symptoms? Need advice about your chapter or support group? Want to let people know about something? Want to know what is going on in Canada and around the world? Want to talk, vent or lean on a shoulder? This is the place to do it. We hope you will find these forums useful, informative and most of all fun. Remember you are not alone - we are here to help!

Join the PoliOntario mailing list!

To subscribe, send an empty message to poliontario-subscribe@egroups.com

To unsubscribe, send a message to poliontario-usubscribe@egroups.com

Alternatively, you can use the form below:

Sending a message to poliontario@egroups.com will distribute it to all of its subscribers. Because the list is a private list it will require the sender to be a list member.

A private archive of messages sent to the mailing list is available on the Web at http://www.egroups.com/group/poliontario/.

List Owner: Kim Sialtsis - Post Polio Coordinator - Ontario March of Dimes poliontario-owner@egroups.com or ksialtsis@dimes.on.ca

See also the OMOD entry in our International/National/Local Support Organizations Directory.

vent-users

The purpose of this list is to provide a forum for people who require a ventilator (respirator) to breathe, to communicate with others who share the same condition.

For more information including access to list archives see http://www.makoa.org/ventuser.htm.

To subscribe to VENT-USERS send an e-mail to:
vent-users-request@eskimo.com
In the "Subject:" line type: subscribe

pps-cg@egroups.com

An E-mail list is now available for those who love and care for people with PPS.

The purpose of this group is share experiences, questions, joys, and sorrows as we care for those who are suffering with this illness.

As a caregiver himself, Gary Utz the listowner feels there is a very real need for this list. It will be an unmoderated but closed list; he will screen the people joining to try to be sure they really have a genuine need and interest.

To subscribe send an e-mail to <pps-cg-subscribe@egroups.com> or to the list owner at <gutz@alltel.net>.

Please note that only genuine caregivers should subscribe to this list. The list-owner wishes to provide a forum where caregivers feel they can freely discuss any matters of interest to them and believes this can only be achieved by limiting subscriptions to caregivers only.

pps

Largely superseded by post-polio list. The pps list remains active for non-polio related discussion for the time being.

Tom McKeever has moved his long standing Post-Polio FIDONET Echo to the Internet.

"As a service to the FIDONET folks who have Internet access, we have established a Moderated List-Server at "pps@pmihwy.com". This List is a "controlled" list, in that rules are established, and WILL be enforced. The List is meant to be an adjunct only to established list(s) and not to supersede or replace any others. The List is low-key, PPS-Centric, meant to be kept LIGHT and POSITIVE, and will be KEPT that way!! <G> - Consider it a laid-back, light alternative. :-) Humor, poetry, POSITIVE stories welcomed. Negativities discouraged!!'

'You can get info or subscribe by sending a no-subject message to: majordomo@pmihwy.com and putting either "info pps" or "subscribe pps" or "help" (OR all three on separate lines! <G> ) in the BODY of the message (NO ""'s)"

Note: This list operates a policy of requesting MINIMAL identification of the subscriber, i.e. your real name and location, plus a statement that you not be advertising or soliciting ANYTHING. This tactic has been very successful in stopping spammers and ne'er do wells that can temporarily disrupt the activities of any mailing list.

polio-list

This list has been ceased by the list-owner Denis Lang due to "the extremely small amount of activity and such activity being primarily cross postings from other lists".

Online Chat

This section is dedicated to the late Larry White who supplied the information on which it was originally based.

This information on Internet Relay Chat (IRC) is being given to provide polio survivors and others with disabilities an opportunity beyond the email and usenet forum formats, to participate in real-time, live on-line discussions.

The rules of the rooms are really quite simple -- each chat room is predominately for the use of polio survivors and others with disabilities, however the chat rooms are open to all others who are prepared to listen to 'polio' or 'disability' talk and participate. The chat rooms are for the benefit of 'polio survivors' and others with a disability in any way necessary -- that is to say information, emotional and moral support, friendship.

In addition to IRC and ICQ chat rooms which this section covers, there are also a number of web-based chat forums that can be accessed with JAVA enabled browsers. We hope to compile a list of such forums when time allows. However, mailing lists hosted at egroups (i.e. those whose address is listname@egroups.com) may have web-based chat facilities if the list owner has activated them.

Finally, there are security exposures with both IRC and ICQ that you should be aware of and take steps to minimise. Here is a short list of web sites that will assist you to that end.

IRChelp.org Internet Relay Chat (IRC) help archive
http://www.irchelp.org/ (IRC).
Peace And Protection
http://pairc.com/pnp/ (IRC).

Don't forget to convert any published chat time schedules to your Local Time Zone and to assist you, here is an online Time Zone Converter (New Converter 28/05/1999).
IRC chat program download options and installation instructions for mIRC in particlar are given below.

America Online

Information supplied by Tom Walter (Tomincal)

In June, 1998, the "Better Health" section on AOL where PPS activities are housed changed the introductory screens and procedures for signing on. So the regular "spiel" I send out and which appeared here about AOL chat rooms is no longer valid.

But here's a quick rundown. Once signed on the service, click on Keyword in the upper right corner of the screen and type in keyword -- BETTER HEALTH.

On the next screen, select the chats button in the top center. On the next screen select the @ box on the lower left hand side of the screen next to the All Chat Rooms text.

Then on the next screen, double-click on the "Equal Access Cafe" line in the list box. We're there every Tuesday night for one hour starting at 9:30 pm ET. Once you've found it, put it in your "Favorite Places" folder to return easily the next time."

For more info write tomincal@aol.com

-postpolio- on AOL:

There are several other chats during the week on AOL (not affiliated with Equal Access Cafe)...click on private room and type in _postpolio_ (without dashes) Sunday night 9:00 EST, Monday afternoon 4:00 EST, Monday night 9:00 EST, Thursday afternoon 4:00 EST, Friday afternoon 4:00 EST. [EST is GMT/UTC +7]

The AOL chat rooms do not require the mIRC chat program but are only available to AOL subscribers.

For other chat rooms not on AOL which use the mIRC program, the AOL folks can use this program. Just remember to MINIMIZE AOL and then SWITCH to mIRC, so that you will be using mIRC through AOL.

#Disabled on NewNet IRC

Every Wednesday there is a weekly online meeting on a NewNet IRC server in the #Disabled chat room which has a scheduled topic. Whether you are disabled or not, and no matter what your disability, join the discussion.

The meeting starts at 6:00pm Pacific, 8:00pm Central and 9:00pm Eastern Time on the NewNet IRC network.

The server for NewNet on port 6667 is irc.eskimo.com

There is a complete listing on the homepage
http://members.tripod.com/~disabled/

While you're there, take a second to sign up for on the mailing list so that announcements can be sent directly to you by email.

Daniel P. Stasinski (Mooooooo on IRC)
Co-Moderator for #Disabled

#Polio on Afternet

This chat room was originally located on Anothernet.

Finally, after trying a few different environments Polio Support Chat has found a new home. You will now find us on AfterNet, still listed #polio. Your Mirc program should give you a list of AfterNet servers, in the event that you may be using an older version and you do not have AfterNet servers listed you may find a list of their servers on their web page located at www.Afternet.Org. You may copy those and add them to your server list or you may add the following one which is located in Vancouver Canada and seems to work very well for our North American users. [As with other IRC services, the individual servers within an IRC network, in this case Afternet, are interlinked. Consequently, while UK users may prefer to use the Afternet UK server for a faster response, they will still be able to participate in the Afternet Polio chat room which is accessible from all the Afternet IRC servers.] In your setup options you will find a list of servers, at the top of that list there is a box where you can type in a server address or click add, depending on your program, it will give you small window with the following:

Description: (type in) Afternet.Vancouver.BC

IRC Server: (type in) Infinet.AfterNet.Org

Port: (type in) 6667

Group: (type in) Afternet

Click OK

This will automatically add the Afternet server to your list, then you simply have to click on connect to server.

Should you encounter any difficulties please feel free to email me at peggybran@home.com

Carolann Normandin is the Founder/Owner of the Polio Support Chat Room.

I am the Master (hehe) of the Polio Support Chat Room and run a nightly shift starting at around 6:00 pm Pacific Time. The room has a channel serve bot. This allows us to have the room open 24 hours a day. You will see this little guy listed in the list of names so if you get to the room and see @X2 and start trying to communicate with him you will become frustrated indeed. Our friendly little bot doesn't speak, he just hangs around.

We will try to schedule a regular chat hour for those not living in North America, in order for me to do this I need you to email me with your location, the time you would prefer to have the Chat scheduled and what that time would be here in my location which is Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. I will take all your emails and requests and try and come up with a time slot that will suit everyone. Please don't expect me to accomplish this overnight, my superwoman suit is presently at the cleaners.

I look forward to seeing you all in polio chat.

Be well my dear friends.

Peggy Bran aka Flakes peggybran@home.com

#Post-Polio on Anothernet

At this time we are not aware of any active polio-related groups on Anothernet. For a period of time, the Anothernet IRC service was replaced by a web-based chat service. Of the two original polio related IRC rooms on this server, #Polio moved to Afternet but we have no information on the #Post-Polio room which may have closed down some time ago.

We have been recently informed that AnotherNet Chat has been back in operation since February 1999. They are once again an IRC-based network, and advise us that they have installed security features not found on any other IRC-based network. You can find information about AnotherNet at http://www.another.net/

#LifeChallenges on Dalnet

The #LifeChallenges channel on Dalnet is a STAY&CHAT self-running Disability Support Channel open 24 hours a day just for you! Honesty, Love, Trust, Friendship, 1st-Names, Typos mandatory! Make it your haven and share it with others like yourself. This is a "caring and safe chat channel."

There are several servers for Dalnet all on port 7000:

voyager.DAL.net
spider.DAL.net
skypoint.DAL.net
toast.DAL.net
dreamscape.DAL.net
phoenix.DAL.net
dragon.DAL.net

TRYING FOR SPECIALIZED CHATS ON SUN, TUES, THURS 8-12 pm. See:
http://www.nh.ultranet.com/~hp304h/

Cindy Callahan hp304h@nh.ultranet.com is the System Operator.

SPACECON

SPACECON IRC Address: 204.215.239.123 Port 6667 (default IRC Port).

Tom McKeever is the system operator.

Global Christian Chat

A christian polio chat room has been set up at:

http://www.gcnhome.com/scripts/chatsupport.idc?

The emphasis on GCN [Global Christian Net] polio chat is on spiritual things, our faith and the problems we have with it; understanding God's love for us in the midst of our pain; and dealing with all the problems that are discussed here as in other PPS forums, but from a different perspective.

GCN does not require the mIRC program to participate.

Art Coburn at Polio-ArtInFla@Juno.Com in Florida, USA is the System Operator.

KIONI RecoveryRM

KIONI has set up the RecoveryRM World-Wide Polio Chat.

"The RecoveryRM is a 24/7 trendy place for great live chat. You can meet current friends and new friends, discuss the ravages of post polio syndrome, or trade recipes. Whatever your interest, there is always someone in the RecoveryRM willing to listen and chat."

Contact: mystic1@nexusprime.org

IRC Chat Program Download options and mIRC Installation Instructions

General information: - an irc program is required -- mIRC and Pirch are two of a number of applications to choose from. For an up to date list of all the best irc applications including reviews and links to download sites consult the Stroud's Consummate Winsock Applications Web Site.

IRC 32 bit Applications IRC 16 bit Applications

Alternatively, mIRC is certainly easy enough to set up and learn how to use. It is basically self-explanatory. It is available for 16 bit and 32 bit platforms from:

In order to set up the program once it is installed -- go to 'file, setup, irc servers' -- complete real name, email address, your nickname and alternate nickname that you will be known as once online. Scroll down the list of servers -- find the 'Afternet' servers. If there aren't any listed: click 'add' and complete the information:

description: Afternet.Vancouver.BC

Infinet.AfterNet.Org

port: 6667

Click ok and then again on the irc setup menu, and you are ready to go.

Once the irc program is setup, it is ready to use at any time. To go online -- file, setup, click on the appropriate server and click on connect. Once you are connected, a 'status window' will appear. On the dialogue line, type '/join #polio' without the quotes and you are in!

If you have problems connecting to Afternet remember that the above instructions are just an example and there are other IRC servers listed in this section that might interest you

ICQ chat program

Another chat program and network in use by polio survivors is the ICQ chat program. When the program is downloaded and installed, the user registers on the ICQ network and is given a user identification number. From that point on, the user creates a "buddy" list and is notified if a buddy is on-line.

The recommended site for downloading all versions of ICQ is http://www.mirabilis.com/

Ham Radio

Not strictly "Internet" nor specifically post-polio. However, as the organiser is a polio survivor who is on the Internet as well, this forum deserves a special mention.

If you're a ham radio operator with a disability or without one, why not join me for my weekly Disability Net on 20-meter SSB. We meet on 14.272 MHZ each Friday night at 8 PM NY time (which is Saturday 01:00 GMT). If that frequency is busy, listen plus or minus it a few Kcs.

We can discuss all issues of disability. So join me this Friday night for our Disability Net. It should be fun!

Now, a number of you have asked me how you, as a person with a disability, can become a ham radio operator. It's not that difficult. If you can handle Windows 95 or 98, or even good old DOS, you won't have trouble becoming an amateur radio operator. For a full explanation of just how to do so, watch for an upcoming issue of Accent Magazine. You'll see me and my ham radio "shack" and learn everything you ever wanted to know about ham radio.

To become a ham, you need to take a multiple-choice test on radio theory and operation procedures. These test are given locally by volunteer examiners. If you are homebound, you can take the test at home. I did.

There are classes of ham privileges from Novice to Extra Class. I got my Novice license in 1964 and my Extra in about 1983. To operate all bands, both voice and code, you need at least a General Class license. That will require you to learn Morse code and be able to send and receive it at 13 Words Per Minute.

Once you get your "ticket" (license), you need a rig (transceiver) and an antenna. The rig can be even an old clunker, like my Ten-Tec Omni-A. I bought it used from HandiHams for $350. It transmits 100 watts and I've talked to people as far away as Australia. My antenna is a simple tri-band dipole. A dipole is generally a wire, costing about $50 or so. You can make them yourself.

To find out more, go to the American Radio Relay League at www.arrl.org. Or go to the HandiHams web site at www.mtn.org/handiham. Go to your local library and get a copy of the ARRL's book on become an amateur radio operator. Most ARRL books are available on Amazon.Com.

73's, Bob, KZ2G
Check out my ham radio web page at:
http://idt.net/~mauro/kz2g.html
Bob Mauro, Mauro@Idt.Net

As stated above www.amazon.com have a selection of ARRL books. For UK online bookstores including the UK Amazon Store see our Online Book Stores Directory.

Prospective Hams in the UK may like to reference the following:
Radio Society of Great Britain
United Kingdom Radio Society

The Lincolnshire Post-Polio Network
Registered Charity No. 1064177
An Information Service for Polio Survivors and Medical Professionals

WWW Site URL: http://www.ott.zynet.co.uk/polio/lincolnshire/

We subscribe to the HONcode principles
of the Health On the Net Foundation
HON, an international initiative and non-profit organisation headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, dedicated to realising the benefits of the Internet and related technologies in the fields of medicine and healthcare.

Member of the
Internet Healthcare Coalition
The mission of the Internet Healthcare Coalition is Quality Healthcare Resources on the Internet.

Member of the
British Healthcare Internet Association
The advancement of healthcare through the application of Internet technologies.

The inclusion of a resource in this directory does not necessarily constitute endorsement or approval by the Lincolnshire Post-Polio Network.

Document preparation: Chris Salter, Original Think-tank, Cornwall, United Kingdom.
Original map graphic courtesy of www.graphicmaps.com
Primary Document Reference: <URL:http://www.ott.zynet.co.uk/polio/lincolnshire/directory/forums.html>
Alternate Document Reference: <URL:http://www.zynet.co.uk/ott/polio/lincolnshire/directory/forums.html>
Last modification: 12th May 2006.
Last information content change: 12th May 2006.

Subscribe to Post-Polio Syndrome Group
Enter your e-mail address:

post-polio archive
An e-group hosted by eGroups.com

Subscribe to Polio Support Groups
Enter your e-mail address:

polio-groups archive
An e-group hosted by eGroups.com

Subscribe to PoliOntario
Enter your e-mail address:

poliontario archive
An e-group hosted by eGroups.com