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Amigan Beacon 3
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1988-01-19
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January 1988 Amigan Beacon Issue # 3
Greetings: Happy New Year to all. Our list of Amigan Amateurs has grown
to 100 ! Ham Radio oriented Amiga software is increasing, and our first
Public Domain disk is almost completed, it looks like another good year for
Amigan Amateurs.
AmigaNet: The 75 meter AmigaNet ( 3882 khz + or - for QRM, Tuesday
Evenings, at 7:00 PM EST ) had a bit of a rocky start in October 1987. Doug
Frie - NG2G is the Net Control Station. There have been as many as 8
stations checking in, with many less some nights. We sure would like to
hear more folks getting in on the fun, so if you can get on 75 meters,
check in !
If you are interested in participating in a 20 meter AmigaNet, please
contact me with your suggestions for the time, day, and frequency. We are
looking for several Net Control Stations for this Net, spread out across the
Continent.
Amateur Radio PD Software: Amateur Radio Public Domain Disk # 1 should be
ready for release by the time you read this. It contains programs for Morse
Code training, MUF calculation, Satellite Tracking, Contest Logging, Packet
BBS, all previous "Amigan Beacon" Newsletters, a list of Amigan Amateurs,
and more. If you want a copy of the Amateur Radio PD Disk, send me a disk
(blank, or one with PD software on it), along with enough postage included
inside to get it mailed back to you, and an self addressed label.
Another PD disk (#2) will be started soon. If you have any Public Domain
software which you think should be considered for inclusion on a future PD
disk, please send it to me. I've received word of several interesting
programs which should be ready for PD use "soon", stay tuned.
Packet: KA5CNK has converted the popular W0RLI Packet Bulletin Board
System software so it can be run on the Amiga. He is currently converting
the latest version of the PBBS software, and has indicated that he will send
me a copy so that it can go on the next PD disk.
N3ET's (Randy) PBBS software is KAM oriented. It has limited forwarding
capabilities, but is small in size. It multitasks well, so it can run in
the background without stealing many CPU cycles while the PBBS is quiet.
This means it can run WHILE you work on something else.
N3ET and I have successfully sent IFF pictures via the packet mail
forwarding system. Starting with a simple 8 color message created using
Deluxe Paint II, to test the concept, I then sent a lo-res digitized picture
of myself with color text. The total number of colors in the palette was
32. File size was 29k, and it took 29 minutes to send to the local PBBS.
Obviously, hi-res pictures will probably not be attempted until higher baud
rates and clear channels are used for mail transfer between PBBSs. We used
ARC to compress the pictures, and software which Randy wrote converted the
file from binary to ASCII and back. These programs for sending pictures and
object code are on the PD disk, plus a text file on how to use them.
END OF PAGE 1 LOOK ON THIS PBBS FOR PAGE 2
WB3KRN @ K3RLI
Amigan Beacon Issue # 3 Page 2
Packet Distribution: One of the areas I'd like to improve this year is
packet distribution of this newsletter. The last issue was sent out via US
mail to all known Amigan Amateurs, and a packet version was sent out via
"skip-net" to "all". The packet version resulted in some Amigan Amateurs
reading the newsletter and hearing of the Group for the first time, so our
database grew, and some of these folks also sent in PD software, so our PD
disk benefited also ! Ideally, if I knew everyone who received the
newsletter via packet, I'd mail out copies only to Amigan Amateurs who are
not on packet, but with the current packet distribution, I don't know of any
way to be sure that everybody on packet (who wanted one) got one. Also, we
want to continue to use "skip-net" to spread the Newsletter to all PBBSs in
hopes of finding more Amigan Amateurs. I'm looking for suggestions on this
one, folks !
Note to PACKET readers of this newsletter: If you are reading the packet
version of this newsletter, and are an Amiga user, please send a packet
message to me (WB3KRN @ K3RLI) so I can tell where the packet readers are.
Fax: I've received word that someone is working on a program to convert
FAX files to IFF for use in paint programs. No information yet on when it
will be available.
Hardware hack: Bud - KV2U passed along this hardware project one night on
the AmigaNET. Several of us were discussing how difficult it is to take a
digital video picture of one's self using Digi-View and a video camera,
without having another person in the room to rotate the 3 color (red, green,
blue) camera filter. Bud solved that problem long ago by fastening a 60
cycle clock motor to the 3 color filter, and running the power switch to
beside the Amiga. This way, when one color is finished digitizing, he can
activate the motor switch to advance the color filter to the next color, and
press the Amiga keys to begin the digitizing process without much movement !
Thanks for the great idea, Bud.
Thank you: Several people wrote to me via mail and packet, about the
PK-232 Fax interface problem I had, which I mentioned in the last Amigan
Beacon. With their helpful information, I can now receive FAX pictures too.
Thanks to all who took time to assist.
Software Request: Several hams have asked about Amiga software which would
be usable with radios that have RS-232 type interfaces (like the Icom 761,
and Kenwood 940, 440 rigs) If you are using your Amiga with these radios,
please send info.
Call for "Articles": Some of the letters I receive from Amigan Amateurs
briefly mention hardware and software projects which sound like they would
be of interest to the whole group. Projects like RS-232 driven switches to
control tape decks, and using Amigas with ATV (Amateur Television). If you
are using your Amiga in a way which other hams could benefit by knowing
about, please write a little information down, and send it to me so I can
pass it along to the group in a future newsletter. I also appreciate your
comments about the newsletter.
Till next time, 73 & Happy Amiga-ing...
Kathy Wehr - WB3KRN ( @ K3RLI for packet mail )
RD#1 Box 193
Watsontown, PA 17777