From wang!elf.wang.com!ucsd.edu!info-hams-relay Fri Jan 11 23:40:19 1991 remote from tosspot Received: by tosspot (1.63/waf) via UUCP; Sat, 12 Jan 91 12:24:41 EST for lee Received: from somewhere by elf.wang.com id aa12596; Fri, 11 Jan 91 23:40:18 GMT Received: from UCSD.EDU by uunet.UU.NET (5.61/1.14) with SMTP id AA02532; Fri, 11 Jan 91 16:57:12 -0500 Received: by ucsd.edu; id AA05225 sendmail 5.64/UCSD-2.1-sun Fri, 11 Jan 91 12:12:10 -0800 for claris!netcom!teda!fester.dnet!rideout Received: by ucsd.edu; id AA05151 sendmail 5.64/UCSD-2.1-sun Fri, 11 Jan 91 12:11:39 -0800 for /usr/lib/sendmail -oc -odb -oQ/var/spool/lqueue -oi -finfo-hams-relay info-hams-list Message-Id: <9101112011.AA05151@ucsd.edu> Date: Fri, 11 Jan 91 12:11:32 PST From: Info-Hams Mailing List and Newsgroup Reply-To: Info-Hams@ucsd.edu Subject: Info-Hams Digest V91 #53 To: Info-Hams@ucsd.edu Info-Hams Digest Fri, 11 Jan 91 Volume 91 : Issue 53 Today's Topics: Code vs. No-Code Compromise? Cushcraft R5 Exam Procedure homebrewing Novice loses privilege - ARRL response (2 msgs) Other's view of codefree PACKET PATH FROM INTER-NET?? Passive Reflectors (2 msgs) R7000 Remote Control Mod Radio Shack bashing (4 msgs) Ramsey kits this area? What rig is best for VHF/UHF Work? Send Replies or notes for publication to: Send subscription requests to: Problems you can't solve otherwise to brian@ucsd.edu. Archives of past issues of the Info-Hams Digest are available (by FTP only) from UCSD.Edu in directory "mailarchives/info-hams". We trust that readers are intelligent enough to realize that all text herein consists of personal comments and does not represent the official policies or positions of any party. Your mileage may vary. So there. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: 11 Jan 91 17:17:52 GMT From: chiton!rec@ucsd.edu (Richard Currier) Subject: Code vs. No-Code Compromise? To: info-hams@ucsd.edu In article <1991Jan5.012152.18259@NCoast.ORG> allbery@ncoast.ORG (Brandon S. Allbery KB8JRR) writes: >I should also take the chance to apologize for some of the comments I've made >to you on here; going from reading NK8H on my packet rig to reading a bunch of >derisive comments about no-code in a row (primarily due to catching up on a >week or so --- at least --- of unread news) tripped my safeties. You, >unfortunately, posted the last 2 I'd read... I gotta do something about my >temper, it gets away from me sometimes. Thats ok Brandon, no offense taken. This is the best place for an open discuss- ion. The code/no-code issue is an important one and should be aired in public. Sometimes long time CW OPs can get a little overbearing. One reason for this is ,and I admit this with some reluctance, simple fear. The fear that CW operation IS dying and that if there is no exposure to it at the entry level new hams will never take it up. At the same time, I agree that forcing people to learn CW will not make them take up the mode. They will continue to use it only if they find it useful as I do to get around antenna restrictions and mandatory barefoot operation. So even though I try to talk up the virtues of CW, I still support the new no-code licence and will welcome any new hams with open arms. AA6PN >++Brandon >-- >Me: Brandon S. Allbery VHF/UHF: KB8JRR on 220, 2m, 440 >Internet: allbery@NCoast.ORG Packet: KB8JRR @ WA8BXN >America OnLine: KB8JRR AMPR: KB8JRR.AmPR.ORG [44.70.4.88] >uunet!usenet.ins.cwru.edu!ncoast!allbery Delphi: ALLBERY -- richard currier marine physical lab u.c. san diego rec@mpl.ucsd.edu 619-534-1730 ------------------------------ Date: 11 Jan 91 15:06:15 GMT From: news.miami.edu!rcf.rsmas.miami.edu!eakin@handies.ucar.edu Subject: Cushcraft R5 To: info-hams@ucsd.edu In article <7880406@hpfcdc.HP.COM>, perry@hpfcdc.HP.COM (Perry Scott) writes: > > The advantage of the HF6VX is that it offers multiple quarter wave > operation on 10/15/20 (slightly more gain). There are no traps - the > whole antenna radiates on all bands. The disadvantage is that it > requires radials to perform well. > If you intend to move the antenna > a lot, you probably want an R5, and use a horizontal wire loop and > Transmatch for 40/80/160. > For those of us that are less well informed, what sort of wire loop do you recommend? -- C. Mark Eakin Internet: Eakin@RCF@RSMAS.miami.edu Amateur Radio: N4SYK Packet Radio: N4SYK@AB4LU.FL.USA.NA USnail: Univ. of Miami, RSMAS-BLR, 4600 Rickenbacker Cswy. Miami, FL 33149-1098 ------------------------------ Date: 11 Jan 91 16:00:03 GMT From: midway!midway.uchicago.edu!pbhx@handies.ucar.edu (Peter B. Hayward) Subject: Exam Procedure To: info-hams@ucsd.edu In article MOSIER@UNCG.BITNET (Steve Mosier) writes: > I know that the VE organization doesn't presently (before no-code) give Novice > exams. But I would assume that if a non-ham goes into a walk-in exam site for > his Technician, that he would be given the Novice and Tech written as well as > the 5 wpm code. Is this correct? A friend of mine wants to get his Tech > license before no-code starts, and there is a local walk-in exam on the first > Saturday in February. I don't know where you got this information. All VE organizations give Novice exams. Novice exams can also be given by two Generals. However, only VE organizations can give Tech and up. --------------------------- Peter B. Hayward WX9T University of Chicago Computing Organizations ------------------------------ Date: 10 Jan 91 04:20:10 GMT From: pilchuck!ssc!markz@uunet.uu.net (Mark Zenier) Subject: homebrewing To: info-hams@ucsd.edu In article <1991Jan8.184642.19354@athena.cs.uga.edu>, mcovingt@athena.cs.uga.edu (Michael A. Covington) writes: > I wonder if a super-simple homebrew 2-meter transmitter might be feasible. > > Motivation: Many new hams already have a receiver (a scanner) but no > transmitter, and would like to talk on the local repeater. > > Approach: Get a scanner crystal that is designed for 10.7 MHz above ... What about a phase locked loop. With something like a MC145152, and a prescaler you should be able to get any frequency in 2 meters with 3 to 5 ICS and a transistor or three. The problem I see, in this electronic age, is getting the test equipment necessary to insure you aren't jamming police calls or the like. What would be the best set of instruments to use when homebrewing in 6 meters and up? Would one of those TV tuner derived spectrum monitors be more than a waste of money? markz@ssc.uucp ------------------------------ Date: 11 Jan 91 17:50:08 GMT From: kchen@apple.com (Kok Chen) Subject: Novice loses privilege - ARRL response To: info-hams@ucsd.edu A little while back, there was some discusssion on whether a Novice would have to retake the code test after upgrading to Technician in order to retain his or her HF privileges. I just received a letter from Larry Price dated January 7 that seems to indicate that the ARRL's interpretation of the rules is that a "Novice who passes the new Tech will lose his [sic] HF privileges until he [sic] retakes the 5 wpm exam once again". This was one of the reasons he gave for the ARRL's unwillingness to endorse 90-55. He indicated that the ARRL will ask the FCC to change the wording (re novice having to retake code test) and also "including if neccessary, a Petition for Reconsideration" Anyway, there is still time (Board of Director's meeting is on the 18th of January) to write your Directors asking them not to petition the FCC for any reduction of the new Technician privileges. By the way, whether you agree with the philosophy of the League or not, I have found from this one experience that the League is very *responsive* to it's common member. I received a response within the week from my Section Manager [through e-mail] and Division Director [QSL card :-)]. And, within 3 weeks from Larry Price [letter, US mail]. 73, Kok Chen, AA6TY kchen@apple.com Apple Computer, Inc. ------------------------------ Date: 11 Jan 91 18:34:56 GMT From: lrj@cu-arpa.cs.cornell.edu (Lew Jansen) Subject: Novice loses privilege - ARRL response To: info-hams@ucsd.edu In article <47979@apple.Apple.COM> kchen@Apple.COM (Kok Chen) writes: >I just received a letter from Larry Price dated January 7 that >seems to indicate that the ARRL's interpretation of the rules >is that a "Novice who passes the new Tech will lose his [sic] >HF privileges until he [sic] retakes the 5 wpm exam once again". >Kok Chen, AA6TY kchen@apple.com This is odd. When I took (and passed) my Novice & Tech exams at a VE session here on 5 March 1990, I received a CSCE for all the elements I'd passed. When one shows ones Novice license to a VE when taking the Tech exam, cannot one obtain a CSCE for the 5 wpm code?? -- Lewis R. Jansen, N2KNV lrj@helios.tn.cornell.edu LASSP/LNS Systems Manager (607) 255-6065 "You can't fight in here, this is the War Room!" ------------------------------ Date: 11 Jan 91 18:01:01 GMT From: w8grt!jim.grubs@uunet.uu.net (Jim Grubs) Subject: Other's view of codefree To: info-hams@ucsd.edu > From: stanley@phoenix.com (John Stanley) > Date: 11 Jan 91 01:00:10 GMT > Organization: Not BIFF At All (NBAA) > Message-ID: > Newsgroups: rec.ham-radio > > > jim.grubs@w8grt.fidonet.org (Jim Grubs) writes: > > > > So, since the Fido document doesn't show that anyone is attracted, > > > then it does not demonstrate that any fears are unfounded. It may still > > > be that only radical outlaw CB'ers will be attracted. The Fido post > > > didn't > > > say any Fido people were. > > > > "Attracted" = "Their curiosity is aroused". > > > > Sheesh! > > Nothing in that document showed that anyone (including the author) > was attracted to ham radio. Or, in terms you want, nothing said that > anyone had their curiosity aroused. The mere fact someone was interested enough to write the article and the editor was interested enough to publish it demonstrate my point. Sorry I brought it up. I forgot that the purpose of Usenet newsgroups is to generate opportunities for little people to demonstrate their intellectual prowess by picking to pieces even the most innocuous comments. -- Jim Grubs - via the friendly folks at UUNET UUCP: ...!uunet!w8grt!jim.grubs INTERNET: jim.grubs@w8grt.fidonet.org ------------------------------ Date: 11 Jan 91 15:06:27 GMT From: abvax!iccgcc!macmillan@tut.cis.ohio-state.edu Subject: PACKET PATH FROM INTER-NET?? To: info-hams@ucsd.edu I see many addresses containing packet network addresses such as WA8BXN on this newsgroup. How do I address an E-MAIL to get it to someone out there. 73 de WA8ZHN / Jim ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 11 Jan 1991 09:13:49 PST From: Hugh_E._Wells.El_Segundo@xerox.com Subject: Passive Reflectors To: Info-Hams@ucsd.edu The comments from KD9OF about the use of 17" inverted antennas in buildings is very accurate. These antennas are really PASSIVE REPEATERS for use with handheld radios. Ground plane antennas have been used for years by hams to gain outside access from basements and from inside buildings. I suspect that a ham was part of the installation team for the hospital that was described. For those familiar with the tunnels on the Harbor Freeway transitioning to the Pasadena Freeway (Los Angeles), you may have observed wires on the ceiling running the full length of the tunnel (wires have been in place there for over 50 years). These wires are passive repeaters for improving signal reception from AM broadcast to 512mhz. 73 Hugh Wells W6WTU ------------------------------ Date: 11 Jan 91 16:53:35 GMT From: mojo!chuck@mimsy.umd.edu (Chuck Harris - WA3UQV) Subject: Passive Reflectors To: info-hams@ucsd.edu In article <5533@feldspar2.UUCP> svec@motcid.UUCP (Larry Svec) writes: >I recently spent a half-day in a hospital emergency room and saw they >had an inverted 17" antenna hanging from the ceiling which appeared >to have a co-ax running to the outside of the hospital hooked to >another similar antenna. I did not trace the coax to see if there >were any modules of any sort along the way but it was my thought that >this was to help RF get in/out of the ER when paramedics come in with >their HTs... any comments from anyone who knows for sure are welcome??? I was told by one of the nurses at the cardiac center at George Washington Hospital that these antenna units were used to receive the heart monitor telemetry from the portable heart monitors that their patients wear when walking around the halls, or are on crash carts heading for help. Chuck Harris - WA3UQV chuck@eng.umd.edu ------------------------------ Date: 11 Jan 91 15:35:16 GMT From: swrinde!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!know!tegra!vail@ucsd.edu (Johnathan Vail) Subject: R7000 Remote Control Mod To: info-hams@ucsd.edu Here are the details of a mod I sent to MT a few years ago: This will change the function of the MS key on the remote control to select SELECTED MEMORY SCAN instead of MODE scan. Why they didn't provide this as a function in the first place seems rather odd. On the remote control option board inside the R7000, remove the cathode of D40 from the board and bend the diode up slightly. Attach a small wire, like #30 wire-wrap or something, to the lifted cathode and tack solder it to the cathode of D32. You could do this with cuts on the board but the tack solder method allows the mod to be backed out easily if needed. An alternative method is to run the wire from D40 through the hole where it used to be, and solder to the gray wire (pin 8) of P1. I figured this out with a scope and the schematic. The switches are all polled by the CPU through a diode matrix. Lots of combinations are possible but I didn't fool around too much. 73s, jv "Cheerio-Magnetics: The tendency of the last few cheerios in a bowl of milk to cling together for survival." _____ | | Johnathan Vail | n1dxg@tegra.com |Tegra| (508) 663-7435 | N1DXG@448.625-(WorldNet) ----- jv@n1dxg.ampr.org {...sun!sunne ..uunet}!tegra!vail ------------------------------ Date: 11 Jan 91 16:39:00 GMT From: masters@louie.udel.edu (paul masters) Subject: Radio Shack bashing To: info-hams@ucsd.edu > >I really hate it when RS people jump on you like a cat on a mouse everytime >I go into their stores. So one time I **HAD** to have my fun... > I had a ball with one here in Newark, DE. First of all, I have nothing but *good* things to say about the manager of this store, along with one of the sales-men who seems to be quite an Elmer. But, they have some other clown with all the tact of a brick. I was getting my car fixed at Pep-Boy's, next door. They said repairs would be a while, so I decided to look around RS for a while, and he was right on me: Clown: Can I help you with something? Me: I'm getting my car fixed, so I am just looking around. Clown: They have some really good guys over there. Me: I don't know. The one, I talked to wanted to, PLAY SALES-MAN with my repair order. He didn't have much to say after that. Paul -- I will not waste chalk..I will not skateboard down the halls..I will not burp in class..I will not instigate revolution..I will not draw naked ladies .....I will not program brahms.udel.edu to murder itself.... Paul Masters N3IRU (The ham license arived 12/04/90) ------------------------------ Date: 11 Jan 91 16:20:26 GMT From: albert@endor.harvard.edu (David Albert) Subject: Radio Shack bashing To: info-hams@ucsd.edu commgrp@silver.ucs.indiana.edu (BACS Data Communications Group) writes: >>(unconfirmed): If you tell them you don't have a phone, they won't >>pester you further. No telephone, nothing! When *I* pay cash, I just tell them I don't have a *name*! That usually stops the conversation pretty quickly. ----------------------------------------------__------------------------------ David Albert | / ) / UUCP: ...!harvard!albert | / / __. , ___o __/ INTERNET: albert@harvard.edu |/__/__(_/|__\/ <___(_/_ ------------------------------ Date: 11 Jan 91 17:50:59 GMT From: media-lab!garp!henry@eddie.mit.edu (Henry Mensch) Subject: Radio Shack bashing To: info-hams@ucsd.edu yetsko@interlan.interlan.com (Mike Yetsko) writes: |> It's easy to say shop somewhere else, but in my hometown, the Shack was the |> ONLY store to get certain parts on the spur of the moment. The next nearest |> store non-shack wise, was over 60 miles away. The next nearest shack was |> about 40 miles. not my problem. let's see how you could solve this problem: you could plan your purchases better ... or (if you're incapable of planning your purchases) you could live in an area which offers a wider range of merchandise. |> People in places like Cambridge really are spoiled when they spout |> "I'll just go elsewhere". Fine if you can without a major hassle. But |> your corner of the world is not everyone elses corner of the world. you chose your residence; adapt to it. take your bitching elsewhere. -- # Henry Mensch / / E40-379 MIT, Cambridge, MA # / / # via X.400: S=mensch; OU=informatik; P=tu-muenchen; A=dbp; C=de ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 11 Jan 91 14:32 EST From: Steve Mosier Subject: Radio Shack Bashing To: info-hams@ucsd.edu I just hate making this comment, because this discussion is getting SO OLD! But I just say, "It's unlisted." when asked for my phone number. The store people recognize me now and don't even ask. (My phone is listed, but I feel like the rest of you about giving it out to RS). 73 de W3GRG steve ------------------------------ Date: 11 Jan 91 19:23:01 GMT From: usc!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!sol.ctr.columbia.edu!cica!bronze!silver!anachem@ucsd.edu (|mehcana| (undersampled)) Subject: Ramsey kits To: info-hams@ucsd.edu In article <"11-Jan-91..9:50:54.CST".*.Mike_Beezley.Houston@Xerox.com> Mike_Beezley.Houston@XEROX.COM writes: > >Walter > >Although I haven't finished the Ramsey 40M QRP rig I have read through the >instruction book and I would say that Ramsey appears to be trying to emulate >the Heathkit approach to kit building..... > so....Where can one obtain these Ramsey kits? ------------------------------ Date: 11 Jan 91 00:37:02 GMT From: usc!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!lavaca.uh.edu!menudo.uh.edu!lobster!urchin!f8324.n106.z1.fidonet.org!Christopher.Boone@ucsd.edu (Christopher Boone) Subject: this area? To: info-hams@ucsd.edu is this area dead or is it just this end of the system?? Sure has been quiet! WB5ITT ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 11 Jan 91 12:59:34 EDT From: Michael Owen W9IP/2 Subject: What rig is best for VHF/UHF Work? To: Hams In a recent posting, Jeff Zell NK3O asked for opinions on VHF/UHF rigs. I have has a FT-736R ever since they first came out (almost 4 years, I guess). It would be a very fine rig if Yaesu didn't try to cram everyting possible into it. Basically, the '736 appears to have been designed with the following sequence of users in mind: 1. Satellite Ops 2. FM/repeater ops 3. Casual VHF/UHF weak-signal (SSB/CW) 4. Serious weak signal (contests, EME). If your interests are near the top, the '736 is a great rig. It can do lots of tricks for satellites, such as automatic VFO tracking, full duplex w/out desense, etc. It has a zillion (= 1.0EZ) memories and changing them is not terribly tricky. However, memories are NOT tunable. For those of us at the bottom of the list, all the knobs, memories, and buttons just get in the way. I have found that the rig is operationally fine - nice and stable, decent (but not outstanding) overload-handling on RX, and good-sounding TX. I have installed the 220 and 50 MHz modules, and they work just great. I do a lot of VHF contesting, and it's nice to have four bands in a single box. However, by the time I get preamps and power amps and relays and footswitches hooked up, there are STILL a lot of cables draped across the back of the desk. Major drawbacks, from my point of view: 1. Adding relay-switched outboard preamps is a #1 MAJOR pain; invest in NEC/GasFETS. 2. Band switching is awkward - to get from 2m to 6m you have to go through 220 and 432 3. You can't copy SSB while in the CW mode, even w/o the CW filter 4. There is no provision for out-of-band RX. 5. I have been told that it's hard to connect to a TNC, but ask someone who has tried. 6. Incredibly, there is no provision for A=B with the VFOs. There you go. ------------------------------ End of Info-Hams Digest ******************************