Date: Fri, 29 Apr 94 04:30:21 PDT From: Ham-Equip Mailing List and Newsgroup Errors-To: Ham-Equip-Errors@UCSD.Edu Reply-To: Ham-Equip@UCSD.Edu Precedence: Bulk Subject: Ham-Equip Digest V94 #128 To: Ham-Equip Ham-Equip Digest Fri, 29 Apr 94 Volume 94 : Issue 128 Today's Topics: 10-11 meter mods... Help with ATV antenna tuning, UHF SWR meter advice, general ATV stuff? How to get more power out of handheld? KENWOOD 850SAT - Experiences NEED INFO ON TM732A Question about dual in-band rcv (2 msgs) Virtually new Icom R-1 for sale vy Wanted: info on Cheap O-Scope Wanted MT1000 UHF 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 Ham-Equip Digest are available (by FTP only) from UCSD.Edu in directory "mailarchives/ham-equip". 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: 28 Apr 94 16:24:18 GMT From: ihnp4.ucsd.edu!swrinde!emory!hubcap.clemson.edu!hubcap!jdwyatt@network.ucsd.edu Subject: 10-11 meter mods... To: ham-equip@ucsd.edu Anybody know of any good FTP sites for mods on a 10-11 meter radios? I have everything found in /pub/ham/rigmods. Please reply before 5-9-94. Thanx, Josh! ------------------------------ Date: 28 Apr 1994 21:04:41 GMT From: library.ucla.edu!europa.eng.gtefsd.com!howland.reston.ans.net!news.cac.psu.edu!news.tc.cornell.edu!travelers.mail.cornell.edu!newsstand.cit.cornell.edu!newsstand.cit.cornell@ihnp4.ucsd.edu Subject: Help with ATV antenna tuning, UHF SWR meter advice, general ATV stuff? To: ham-equip@ucsd.edu In article Jeff Mann, jefman@utcc.utoronto.ca writes: >don't seem to be getting the kind of performance I think I should, it's >pretty fuzzy at only three miles away with a direct line of sight. I need >some advice on how to go about tuning the antenna. What kind of test >equipment do people use? I've gone to both my local ham stores and they've >told me they don't have any SWR meters that will work up to 500MHz with >under one watt of power. With no SWR or power meter, it's pretty hard to >tune the antenna. Are there any other methods? Can anyone recommend a good >SWR meter? Or should I give up on making my own antenna and just buy one >(what the ham store recommended)? Anyone else with experience using the >8-element quagi for ATV? What kind of performance should I expect if it's >working properly? Hi Jeff, I've been using quagis on ATV and other stuff for several years now with good results. I suspect that the bandwidth of a quagi, though better than a straight yagi, is still a bit narrow for a full atv signal, but it seems to work. I get a low swr for about 3-4 mhz bandwidth typically. I've typically cut mine for the video carrier frequency or a little higher, tuned them using a radio shack VHF/UHF wattmeter/SWR bridge and my ht and then tweaked them with the video signal. The RS meter has a 15 and 60 watt scales, isn't terribly accurate, but it can tell you when you are reducing the reflected power and give you a feeling for how good or bad the antenna is. Do I trust the SWR measurement, not a bit. But that doesn't mean it isn't useful. (cheap too, $30 currently) I usually use my HT to take swr measurements at 1 mhz intervals and trim the driven element and if necessary the reflector to get the response I want. SWR with the video signal will be higher than with a carrier because parts of the signal (sound carrier, etc) will be up the swr curve a bit and you have a lower sideband (well,you don't) that is out of the passband of the beam. Haven't toasted any finals yet with this rough and ready method. I took the data in the handbook for the 440 and 432 quagis, developed a simple pascal program to interpolate them to get data for other frequencies, and use that to calculate antennas for need (421 for repeater reception, 439 for the input or simplex, 435 for Oscar work, etc) Currently we are using a home brewed quagi (built on a 2x4 boom - usually I use a 1x2) for our ATV repeaters transmit antenna. I use a couple for field shots, other stations in the area use them for both transmitting and receiving. So they do work. Ranges are in the 10-20 mile range for P4-P5 from the repeater running 10 watts at good elevation. Talking back to the repeater range with a watt runs in the 5 mile plus range with good results. Sounds like there is something awry in your system at one end or another - or it could just be terrain. Be interested in hearing about your experiences - here or email. 73 de Kevin, WB2EMS ------------------------------ Date: 28 Apr 94 21:35:19 GMT From: dog.ee.lbl.gov!ihnp4.ucsd.edu!pacbell.com!rtech!ingres!kerry@ucbvax.berkeley.edu Subject: How to get more power out of handheld? To: ham-equip@ucsd.edu In article <2pmbt3$rqo@senator-bedfellow.MIT.EDU> crispy@space.mit.edu (Chris Pak) writes: >I am planning to purchase a dual-band HT. How can I get more power if I want to >transmit from my house or automobile? I think what you are looking for if greater Effective Radiated Power. IMHO, getting a better antenna first is much more important than installing that planet killing linear amplifier. Your rubber duckie is probably on the order of -10/-6 db from a 1/4 wave vertical and a 5/8ths wave is 3db above that. Getting the RF outside the car or house into a 5/8ths wave should give you at least 10x the ERP. I have a $25 1/4 wave on the roof of my car and can hit repeaters > 50 mi away with only 7w from my HT. You can go with a 5/8ths dualbander for less than $60 and sound much better than putting $350 into a VHF amp. Then again, you can get the antenna AND the amp... ------------------------------ Date: 23 Apr 94 05:19:49 GMT From: agate!howland.reston.ans.net!gatech!newsxfer.itd.umich.edu!nntp.cs.ubc.ca!cyber2.cyberstore.ca!nwnexus!jhgrud!eskimo!wrt@ucbvax.berkeley.edu Subject: KENWOOD 850SAT - Experiences To: ham-equip@ucsd.edu In article <0hgeWQ6SMUYN4hclcb@transarc.com>, wrote: > >as459@FreeNet.Carleton.CA (Joel Levis) writes: > >>I AM IN THE MARKET FOR A KENWOOD 850SAT RADIO AND HOPE TO BUY ONE >>SHORTLY. I HAVE RECEIVED EXCELLENT ADVICE FROM OTHER AMATEURS >THE >PROS/CONS OF SUCH AN ACQUISITION. HAS ANYONE ANY PERSONAL >>OBSERVATIONS THAT THEY MIGHT BE ABLE TO MAKE ON SUCH A UNIT ? > >I purchased a new one and kept it for a while and absolutely hated it. >The SSB is dirtier then anything else on the market (suprios emssions >only 28 to 32 db below fundamental, ack! cheezy). If you decide to >run it with an Amplifier, hope you have very co-operative neigbours. >The power supply I got made noise and I sent is back and they send me >a new one. Still the same (seem like power supply have bug) after >changing it couple of times. > >The worst part is that the RIT/XIT knob cannot be made worst. There >is no center detent so if you have to look at the display to center is >to 0.0 if you don't like to turn it off and there is not clear button >either as it used to be with 940 (reserved for 950 of course). The >main tuning knob is worst than in any rig in its class (for example >FT-990 or IC-765). I can't believe that they put such a cheezy tuning >knob on a $2k+ rig and get away with it. I dumped my TS850SAT after >few months, take a loss, get the FT-1000D and never regreted it. What >happens to Kenwood of yore years when it used to be the King (TS-940). >Don't even think about TS-450. Its dynamic blocking range is less >then few home-brew rigs from 1960s, ouch!. > >The good things about the radio. The reciever is very good with >extremely fine tuning.(actually better then the 950S and 950SD. The >950SDX has pretty much the same receiver as 850) but fell little short >to FT-1000 or 3rd order intercept (you can tell the difference if you >listen them side by side). Perfect rig if CW is your thing (perfect >FSK, better then my FT-1000D) but lousy if your heart is into SSB. >For that get you probably need the 950 but 950 is a nightmare to >operate (you will alway keep the manual handy even after ten years :-) >better yet a FT-1000 or something from the ICOM line. > >If you got to get the TS850, don't purchase the matching power supply. >There can't be anything worst then that (if there is I like to take a >look at it and HEAR it :-). > >Hope this will be of some help. > >Tanvir >WN1P/3 (Living now in the state of PA). Tanvir's '850 had something wrong with it. I have had one for over a year and love it. I have gotten tons of unsolicited "outstanding audio" comments using a $19.95 Radio Shack mike, and have heard lots of 'em on the air with no evidence of splatter. Well, ok, I just remembered I did have to homebrew a preamp for the mike - one op amp, no biggie - the mike amp is a tad short on gain unless you use the factory mikes. The only complaint: would like the noise blanker to be more effective. Part of the reason I bought it was that it has two (count 'em!) blankers, but my little Uniden 10 meter rig in the car has a far superior blanker. A letter to the factory got the usual "gee, never heard that complaint before" answer. Well, then they're not listenting because I have heard other hams on the air with the same complaint. If that were fixed, it would be perfect....! 73 es gl Bill, W7LZP ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 28 Apr 1994 13:40:28 GMT From: ihnp4.ucsd.edu!swrinde!cs.utexas.edu!geraldo.cc.utexas.edu!portal.austin.ibm.com!awdprime.austin.ibm.com!blood@network.ucsd.edu Subject: NEED INFO ON TM732A To: ham-equip@ucsd.edu After a long decision process, I finally bought a 732A for my car. I had some hesitation since I had previously bought a th78a (HT) and was very unhappy with the intermod, (on 2 mtrs) which was so bad that the HT could not be used mobile, resulting in a separate mobile purchase. The 732 is basically a good radio but incredibly, has a bad intermod problem on 440MHZ (the opposite from the th78a) which is starting to annoy me. The 440 receiver is easily overloaded, making the cross band repeat performance quite bad. Also I found an annoying clicking on the 2 mtr band whenever you are scanning and also monitioring a station on 440. It was bad enough that I brought it back to the store where we found out that they all do this. Also, I found out that the remote mount cables are not available. I had to cut and make my own. The rig has dual ant. cables, resulting in the need to purchase either 2 antennas or a duplexer. I have good reports on my audio, and the control functions are acceptable. I also noticed that a new model has just been announced that replaces it. Summary: If I were to do it again, I would buy the standard dual band. (You get what you pay for) My own opinion, not my employeers. ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 28 Apr 1994 15:08:59 GMT From: ihnp4.ucsd.edu!swrinde!gatech!news-feed-1.peachnet.edu!darwin.sura.net!rsg1.er.usgs.gov!dgg.cr.usgs.gov!bodoh@network.ucsd.edu Subject: Question about dual in-band rcv To: ham-equip@ucsd.edu Radios such as the Yaesu ft-5100 and Kenwood tm-732 boast of dual in-band receive. Does this mean that I can program the memory bank for the UHF side to hold VHF and UHF frequencies? I would like to have a rig that I can have the VHF half scan the local repeater frequencies (mostly 2M) while the UHF half scans public service VHF/UHF frequencies. Do either of these radios allow you to program VHF frequencies on the UHF side memories or is the dual-watch feature for the VFO only? Thanks... -- +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ + Tom Bodoh - Sr. systems software engineer, Hughes STX, N0YGT + + USGS/EROS Data Center, Sioux Falls, SD, USA 57198 (605) 594-6830 + + Internet; bodoh@dgg.cr.usgs.gov (152.61.192.66) + + "Welcome back my friends to the show that never ends!" EL&P + +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ ------------------------------ Date: 28 Apr 1994 20:34:48 -0700 From: ihnp4.ucsd.edu!usc!nic-nac.CSU.net!csulb.edu!paris.ics.uci.edu!news.claremont.edu!kaiwan.com!not-for-mail@network.ucsd.edu Subject: Question about dual in-band rcv To: ham-equip@ucsd.edu Tom Bodoh (bodoh@dgg.cr.usgs.gov) wrote: > Radios such as the Yaesu ft-5100 and Kenwood tm-732 boast of dual in-band > receive. Does this mean that I can program the memory bank for the UHF > side to hold VHF and UHF frequencies? I would like to have a rig that I > can have the VHF half scan the local repeater frequencies (mostly 2M) while > the UHF half scans public service VHF/UHF frequencies. Do either of these > radios allow you to program VHF frequencies on the UHF side memories or is > the dual-watch feature for the VFO only? Thanks... The FT-5100 will not let you bank both VHF and UHF freqs in the same bank. The way the 5100 handles dual in-band receive is by putting two 2m banks on the same display (pressing "band" in this mode will switch both banks to 440). The 5100 also does not RX in the UHF public-service band without a hardware modification (darn it)! -- ____[ Robb Topolski ]___[ San Clemente, CA ]___[ topolski@kaiwan.com ]____ "When people ask me what it's like to be No. 2 at the White House, I say, `She seems to enjoy it,'" Vice President Al Gore, at the 109th annual Gridiron Club dinner. He also said that he was thought of as so boring that his secret service code name was "Al Gore." (AP 3/20/94) ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 28 Apr 1994 18:38:18 GMT From: ihnp4.ucsd.edu!agate!howland.reston.ans.net!sol.ctr.columbia.edu!jabba.ess.harris.com!news.ess.harris.com!nuntius@network.ucsd.edu Subject: Virtually new Icom R-1 for sale To: ham-equip@ucsd.edu I have recently passed my amateur radio Tech Licence exam and I will need to sell my R1 (which I dearly love) in order to buy a dual band tranceiver. Can't understand it, my wife just won't let me tie up more than a thousand dollars in radio equipment :-). The R1 is virtually new. Purchased from Grove last Christmas for $459. It is still under manufacturers warrantee and includes a spare registration card to register the new owner. Internal batteries have had about 6 charge cycles on them. The unit is in perfect condition and includes the following accessories: Standard: Handstrap Antenna (FA-4B) Wall charger Belt clip Extras included: BP-90 battery pack w/ 6 AA replaceable Ni-Cads (retail $19 + bat cost), Protective Leather case fitted to R1 with BP-90 attached (retail $19). I won't bore anyone with a listing of the R1's extensive array features, but anyone with questions is welcome to contact me. I'm sure everyone knows the R1 receives cellular with no modification needed. TERMS: Price for the whole package: $ 445 + shipping, COD-Cash, I will pay shipping insurance. CONTACT: Steve Willingham, E-Mail: swilling@harris.com or swilling@ic1d.harris.com Voice phone: (407) 729-7204, (If I'm not in, leave message, I'll call back) ------------------------------ Date: 28 Apr 1994 14:06:19 GMT From: ihnp4.ucsd.edu!swrinde!cs.utexas.edu!convex!news.duke.edu!eff!news.kei.com!yeshua.marcam.com!zip.eecs.umich.edu!newsxfer.itd.umich.edu!nntp.cs.ubc.ca!unixg.ubc.ca!graf@network.ucsd. Subject: vy To: ham-equip@ucsd.edu ------------------------------ Date: 23 Apr 94 05:31:14 GMT From: agate!howland.reston.ans.net!gatech!newsxfer.itd.umich.edu!nntp.cs.ubc.ca!cyber2.cyberstore.ca!nwnexus!jhgrud!eskimo!wrt@ucbvax.berkeley.edu Subject: Wanted: info on Cheap O-Scope To: ham-equip@ucsd.edu In article <2ot9vm$2nv@mozz.unh.edu>, Richard D Miller wrote: >I would like to purchase an O-scope for general use. I would prefer a 40 to >50 MHz dual trace scope. However, I don't want to spend a small fortune, >nor do I want to get stuck with a boat anchor. (I already have plenty of >those in storage :) I've been looking through surplus catalogs as well as >_Popular Electronics_. Everything listed in the surplus places seems like >overpriced antiques. > >In the May issue of _Popular Electronics_ there are several brand names listed >that I havent heard of, but would fall into my price range. > >(all of these are Dual Trace) >Alplab has a 25 MHz D.T. scope for $315. >Kelvin lists a 20 MHz for $385, and a 40 MHz at $655. the latter is said to > have delayed sweep, is this a useful feature? >Elenco has a 25MHz for 349, and $100 more gets you delayed sweep. > >Finally, Elenco also offers a Digital storage scope good to 20MHz, switch-able >between Digital and Analog. This goes for $730. > >I've had some experience with digital scopes in the past, and like the ability >to capture a waveform. > > > > >Given these choices, (or feel free to provide alternative suggestions) which is >the best scope for the money. And, should I stay away from a particular brand? > > >Thanks for you feedback. > >73's DE Rick > >======================================================================= ======== >+ Rick Miller | KA3BZX | (603) 862-4315 {W} + >+ Rm 323 Morse Hall | rdm@christa.unh.edu | (603) 742-8958 {H} + >+ University of New Hampshire | R_MILLER@unhh.unh.edu|---------------------+ >+ Space Science Center | Mechanical Engineering| Lookin' for work in + >+ Durham, NH 03824 | Department | May '94 + >======================================================================= ======== May I suggest the best general purpose, low cost oscilloscope in the world: a used Tektronix 465B. Ok, I'm a little prejudiced since I worked on the production line for several years (no longer affiliated), but at the time it was the best selling oscilloscope in the world by far, and for good reason. 100 MHz, dual trace, delayed sweep and the sweep trigger system is still regarded by many as the best ever made. Granted, they're getting a little long in the tooth, but if you find a good one, snap it up. You won't be disappointed. 73 es gl Bill, W7LZP ------------------------------ Date: 29 Apr 94 01:27:04 GMT From: dog.ee.lbl.gov!newshub.nosc.mil!crash!ipars!scotto@ucbvax.berkeley.edu Subject: Wanted MT1000 UHF To: ham-equip@ucsd.edu I'm looking for a new or near-perfect condition 16 ch, MT-1000 UHF for use in the 450-470 range. Only the radio is required. 32 or 99 channel will also be considered if the price is right. I'm ready to buy now. -- Scott O'Connell - N6ZEK UUCP: {nosc, ucsd}!crash!ipars!scotto Spectrum Data Services ARPA: crash!ipars!scotto@nosc.mil Carlsbad, CA INET: scotto@ipars.sds.com ------------------------------ End of Ham-Equip Digest V94 #128 ******************************