Tech Arsenal 1/Tech Arsenal (Arsenal Computer).ISO/tek-20/ih91057.zip/IH91057.TXT

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Subject: Info-Hams Digest V91 #57
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Info-Hams Digest            Fri, 11 Jan 91       Volume 91 : Issue  57

Today's Topics:
                              2sat mods
          A New Topic to Beat to Death! (Was Codeless Tech)
                     A question about scanners...
          CAPACITORS, RESONNANT FREQUENCY, R7000 to NRD 525
         Giving out information (was Re: Radio Shack bashing
                             Homebrewing
                  HT with tone burst and CTCSS tone
                            Non-acidic RTV
                       Others' view of codefree
                       QST CMOS Super Keyer II
                             Radio Shack
                     Radio Shack bashing (5 msgs)
             Recommendations Needed: Cable through Window
                    Subj: Re: An Outside Viewpoint
                    Thanks from the rank beginner

Send Replies or notes for publication to: <[e-mail]>
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Problems you can't solve otherwise to [e-mail].

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
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policies or positions of any party.  Your mileage may vary.  So there.
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Date: 11 Jan 91 20:40:44 GMT
From: hpcc05!col![e-mail]  (Ken Wyatt)
Subject: 2sat mods
To: [e-mail]

The USUAL next step is to tweak the pll slightly.  There is normally a
test point where the pll (dc) voltage may be measured.  Connect a dvm
there and notice how the voltage changes as frequency is changed.  Record
the pll voltage at 162 MHz (or wherever the radio loses lock).  Carefully
tweak the pll adjustment (refer to the service manual for location) until
the pll achieves lock at the higher frequency (in your case 165 MHz).
Of course, the downside of this is loss of low frequency range; i.e.,
as you shift the pll tuning range upward, you lose at the low end.  You
probably don't need the range 139 to 144 MHz anyway, do you?

------------------------------

Date: 11 Jan 91 19:26:29 GMT
From: hpfcso![e-mail]  (John Schmidt)
Subject: A New Topic to Beat to Death! (Was Codeless Tech)
To: [e-mail]

If you ask FCC for a duplicate license to replace a lost/destroyed one,
the duplicate has the same issue/expiration dates as the original, with
a "DUPLICATE" designation on the ticket. (I did this a couple years ago.)

John, NK0R

------------------------------

Date: 12 Jan 91 01:52:42 GMT
From: unccvax![e-mail]  (brian daniels)
Subject: A question about scanners...
To: [e-mail]

I have a radio shack pro-36 handheld scanner that I got this Xmas.
I have heard rumors that this sort of scanner can be modified to increase
the frequency range that it covers.

I would appreciate pointers to info on how to do this,
and the legality (or lack therof) of this modification.

(My apologies if this is the wrong group to ask this in...)

Unrelated question:
Anyone know when the next Raleigh, NC hamfest is going to be?

Thanks in advance,
Brian Daniels

--
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Reality is what YOU make of it.                    Brian Daniels
                                                   [e-mail]
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

------------------------------

Date: 10 Jan 91 19:39:24 GMT
From: hpfcso!hpfcdj![e-mail]  (Bob Myers)
Subject: CAPACITORS, RESONNANT FREQUENCY, R7000 to NRD 525
To: [e-mail]

>>With that said, let's just choose a cap which will meet the requirement of
>>low impedance at 10.7 MHz.  For the cap to be 1 ohm or less at this frequency,
>>it should be greater than about 150 nF (0.15 uF).  You also want a cap of
>>this value that can still be expected to be a cap at this frequency; in other

>Your decimal point slipped.  It's actually 15 nF (0.015 uF).


Oops.  Right!  (Damn "scientific" mode on the old - and I do mean old - 19C).
Well, anyway, the 0.2 uF value suggested would just work that much better -
if you can find one that's still a cap at that frequency.  :-)


Bob Myers  KC0EW   HP Graphics Tech. Div.|  Opinions expressed here are not
                   Ft. Collins, Colorado |  those of my employer or any other
[e-mail]                          |  sentient life-form on this planet.

------------------------------

Date: 11 Jan 91 20:09:59 GMT
From: hpl-opus!hpnmdla![e-mail]  (Alan Bloom)
Subject: Giving out information (was Re: Radio Shack bashing
To: [e-mail]

I'm amazed at how much trouble people have had with Radio Shack insisting
on their address.  I always just say "I'm already on your mailing list"
and they don't hassle me.  This is in every Radio Shack I've ever been
in, on both coasts.

AL N1AL

------------------------------

Date: Fri, 11 Jan 91 09:33:49 -0600
From: [e-mail]
Subject: Homebrewing
To: [e-mail]

In <[e-mail] (Alan Bloom)> Al writes:

>In rec.ham-radio, [e-mail] (Dave Heller) writes:

>>A Voltmeter measures Volts.

>>A Potentiometer measures potentios.

>>See any hamfest for bargains on potentios.

>>See me when you ;find a use for them.

>I also have a batch of milli's and kilo's to measure.

Sign seen on a piece of equipment:  "CAUTION - 1 MILLION OHMS"

73,
Dube   N5PDK

"Why waste time learning, when ignorance is instantaneous?"  -Hobbes

------------------------------

Date: 11 Jan 91 20:37:20 GMT
From: motcid![e-mail]  (Larry Svec)
Subject: HT with tone burst and CTCSS tone
To: [e-mail]

Does anyone know if any of the new dual band HTs available in the US have
both 1750Hz tone burst and PL tone capability in the same HT which would
ideally be front-panel programmable or easily jumperable without major
surgery to convert back and forth.  I understand in Europe this can be
found rather easily so perhaps the radios DO do both but the one's sold
in USA have that not enabled???
I talked to Yaesu and they said these were solder-in modules, not
easily swappable (on their FT470).
Thanks...
--
Larry Svec - KD9OF
  home: 708-526-1256   e-mail: uunet!motcid!svecl     VHF: 145.150-
  work: 708-632-5259      fax: [phone], -3741    UHF: 443.575+
  "I know everything... even some things that are true!"

------------------------------

Date: 7 Jan 91 22:22:47 GMT
From: agate!shelby!unix!synoptics![e-mail]  (Jerome Kaidor)
Subject: Non-acidic RTV
To: [e-mail]

In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail] (Chris Elmquist) writes:
>In article <07.Jan.91.14:07:15.GMT.#[e-mail]> [e-mail] ("Pete Lucas, NCS-TLC, Holbrook House, Swindon") writes:
>
>         [ some stuff about the Comet antenna deleted ]
>
>>using 1Kv silver-mica capacitors of higher quality, and slathered the whole
>>feedpoint in non-acidic RTV rubber to keep out what passes for weather
>              ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
>
>Hey! Where can you get this stuff...?  seems most all of the RTV available
>to the consumer (at your favorite hardware store...) is acidic.  Does
>anyone have a manufacturer or source for some...?
>
>>           Pete Lucas [e-mail]  [e-mail]
>
   Non-acidic silicone can be got at your local aquarium supply store.
Just don't have a heart attack when you see the price.  There are also
"advanced" car repair-gasket silicones that are non-acidic.
Apparently this is required for continued health of oxygen sensors....
       - Jerry Kaidor

Another good way to keep out the weather is  "COAX SEAL", which is
sold at your local Radio Shack....

     - Jerry Kaidor, KF6VB














------------------------------

Date: Thu, 10 Jan 91 13:45:18 -0600
From: [e-mail]
Subject: Others' view of codefree
To: [e-mail]



------------------------------

Date: 9 Jan 91 21:03:14 GMT
From: agate!shelby!unix!synoptics![e-mail]  (Jerome Kaidor)
Subject: QST CMOS Super Keyer II
To: [e-mail]

In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail] (Dale Mosby) writes:
>I constructed the CMOS Super Keyer II seen in the November QST.
>It powered up and works fine, is a simple construction project,
>and is easy to use.
>
>I also have a MFJ Multi-Mode Data Controller which will operate
>as a keyer.  I wanted something that would let me operate without
>having to connect my terminal to the MFJ as well as let me have a
>portable keyer -- the MFJ requires the terminal for control.
>

   There is another "feature" of the MFJ1278 that I'd like to comment
on.  In CW mode it supports "full break in".  What this means, is that
the PTT output pulses right along with the keying output!  Now, this
is fine for a modern rig that supports full-breakin, but on an older
radio like my TS830, it's liable to wear out the transmit/receive
relays FAR before their time.  Now, there _are_ workarounds.  For
example, in the particular case of the '830, one could just disconnect
the TNC from the radio mike input, turn the VOX on, and let the CW
waveform switch the rig via the radio's "semi-break-in" feature.  Or
one could build a gadget with a 555 timer to produce "semi-breakin
output".   OR MFJ COULD HAVE JUST BUILT IT INTO THE FIRMWARE!!!!

    - Jerry Kaidor
      ( KF6VB )

------------------------------

Date: 9 Jan 91 21:19:53 GMT
From: agate!shelby!unix!synoptics![e-mail]  (Jerome Kaidor)
Subject: Radio Shack
To: [e-mail]

In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail] writes:
>I've been reading with interest the notes from people who feel, as I
>do, that Radio Shack can do without my help in building up their
>database of names, addresses and phone numbers. More than anything
>else, it's a real pain to have to spend the extra time giving them
>all that stuff. I no longer fight it; I now give them what they ask
>for, the last four digits of my phone number...at work. I give them
>my real name and my mailing address at work. Now I'm in their
>database but I'm not bothered at home by anyone they care to sell it
>to. BTW, nothing yet in the mail from them here at work & I've been
>doing this for a couple of months, now.

     It seems to me, that the "last four digits" they're asking for
are just a hash code.  They're not going to use them to call you up,
because they're lacking three digits.  It's just a way to get to the
store's database, so that it can print out your receipt.  Once you
give them the #, they get a display with the few people who have the
same number, and ask you which one you are.  Now, this scheme _could_
be sabotaged, if everybody gave the same number.  Then the hash
wouldn't be random enough anymore.  But why bother?  At least it saves
them from having to scribble down your name and address every time you
buy something, given that they're committed to getting that
information.  And they HAVE been committed to getting that information
ever since they became a national chain.  This "last four numbers"
business is just a streamlining of the old procedure.

    - Jerry Kaidor, KF6VB

------------------------------

Date: Wed, 9 Jan 91 17:18:26 -0600
From: [e-mail]
Subject: Radio Shack bashing
To: [e-mail]

In <[e-mail] (Alan Bloom)> Alan says:

>I wouldn't mind if store employees ADMITTED it when they don't know something.
>I went to buy a telephone answering machine recently (Good Guys, I think)
>and was informed by the salesman that the machine operates on a frequency
>of 49 kHz.  I heard another salesman tell someone else that no one can listen
>into their brand of cordless phone because of its digitally-encoded ringer.

Al, thanks for reminding us that nearly every store has uninformed sales people.
This problem is obviously not unique to RS.  Perhaps it would help if some of
the people who complain about store help would spend a week or two in retail
sales, meeting the public on a daily basis.  That's where you find that the
problem definitely has two sides.

73,
Dube  N5PDK

"Why waste time learning, when ignorance is instantaneous?"  -Hobbes

------------------------------

Date: Fri, 11 Jan 91 09:12:45 -0600
From: [e-mail]
Subject: Radio Shack bashing
To: [e-mail]

In <[e-mail] (Leonard J. Popyack)> Leonard says:

>I go into their stores.  So one time I **HAD** to have my fun...
>
>"Can I help you find something, sir?"
>"Yes, I am looking for a Metal Oxide Semiconductor FET having a transconductance
>of at least 20000 mhos.  Where can I find it?"

Want to have some more fun?  Walk into a *real* electronics parts house and
hand 'em that line.

73,
Dube   N5PDK

"Why waste time learning, when ignorance is instantaneous?"  -Hobbes

------------------------------

Date: 12 Jan 91 03:53:16 GMT
From: w8grt![e-mail]  (Jim Grubs)
Subject: Radio Shack bashing
To: [e-mail]

 > From: [e-mail] (BACS Data Communications Group)
 > Date: 11 Jan 91 15:33:16 GMT
 > Organization: Indiana University
 > Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
 > Newsgroups: rec.ham-radio,misc.consumers
 >
 > Radio Shack was soundly bashed on rec.humor about 2 years ago.  Some
 > excerpts:
 >
 > >>I'm looking for ways to gracefully/creatively avoid giving my name
 > >>and address to a computer when paying cash at Radio Shack, Service
 > >>Merchandise and other stores which request it for their junk-mail

I guess you could say you're a retired hit man in the witness relocation
program....

--
Jim Grubs - via the friendly folks at UUNET
UUCP: ...!uunet!w8grt!jim.grubs
INTERNET: [e-mail]

------------------------------

Date: 7 Jan 91 22:26:34 GMT
From: agate!shelby!unix!synoptics![e-mail]  (Jerome Kaidor)
Subject: Radio Shack bashing
To: [e-mail]

In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail] (John Stanley) writes:
>
>   I have never had a K-Mart, Sears, etc, salesperson refuse to make a
>cash sale to me. I HAVE had Radio Shack people refuse CASH. Why? Because
>I wouldn't give them my name and address. No, cash being waved in their
>face is NOT sufficient to buy something from Radio Shack.
>
>> RS's policy on refunds and warranties is also quite
>> beneficial to the customer, particularly if you complain to the district
>> manager.  RS will bend over backwards if you yell loud enough.
>
>   I complain VERY loudly whenever they refuse to accept a cash
>transaction. Has anything changed? Ha!

     Of course, they don't ask for I.D. when they get all that
info....

        - Jerry Kaidor, KF6VB ( AKA Flipskwa Foombottle )

------------------------------

Date: 11 Jan 91 21:53:48 GMT
From: hpfcso![e-mail]  (John Schmidt)
Subject: Radio Shack Bashing
To: [e-mail]

I don't care about RS having my name and address because I WANT to stay on
the mailing list...I think too many folks in this group (and USENET/Internet
in general) are overly paranoid about such things. I couldn't care less if they
track what parts or other goodies I buy there. (Are you worried that someday
the government might track down your unregistered radio???)

John, NK0R

(But I don't give my phone number at gas stations -- if they ask for "a phone"
303 499-7111 is a good one.)

------------------------------

Date: 8 Jan 91 19:19:03 GMT
From: agate!shelby!unix!synoptics![e-mail]  (Jerome Kaidor)
Subject: Recommendations Needed: Cable through Window
To: [e-mail]

    I too, used to have similar problems, living in an assortment of
rented apartments.  Since I bought my house, I have come up with the
following algorithm for getting cables in and out:

cable_in_out()
    {
    obtain power drill with long 1/2 inch bit;
    apply drill to wall;
    while( drill not through wall )
        {
        press button on drill;
        }
    }


   ( AHHH!  didn't that feel good? )

        - Jerry Kaidor, KF6VB

------------------------------

Date: Fri, 11 Jan 91 09:04:10 -0600
From: [e-mail]
Subject: Subj: Re: An Outside Viewpoint
To: [e-mail]

In <[e-mail] (D. Robert Spexet II)> Robert writes:

Subject: Re: Subj: Re: An Outside Viewpoint

>In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail] (Tad Cook) writes:
>>This reminds me....I have heard that if some minor part on the motherboard
>>of your average clone computer fails (say a DIODE, which costs about 9 cents)
>>that NO ONE who you take your PC to for repair will ever replace the
>>diode.  They always charge you for a NEW MOTHERBOARD, since a failure on
>>the motherboard is regarded as too complex, and they never attempt
>>component level troubleshooting on these things anyway.
>>
>>Is this true?

>In many cases, yes.  I would bet that the average computer repair shop (not
>just a clone shop, this goes for the major brands such as IBM, Apple, etc.)
>will not go into any more detail than, say, replacing a motherboard.
>
>What usually happens to a machine with a problem is this:  The machine is
>brought in for service.  Then the cause of the problem is localized to a few
>major components, i.e. disk drive, motherboard, power supply, etc.  Then the
>troubled component is replaced with a good one.  The troubled component is then
>usually sent back to the manufacturer for rebuilding.
>
>On some components, i.e. the motherboard, it takes less time (and money, at
>the rates most service people charge) to just replace the component, since it
>might take a while to find the problem on, say, a bad motherboard.

I offer another scenario:  You bring your malfunctioning equipment in and
the repair shop locates the board or major component at fault; replaces it;
and then, as time allows, troubleshoots it.  After finding and replacing the
defective part, the board is then set aside to be used on the next piece of
equipment that has a problem on that board or component.

73,
Dube   N5PDK

"Why waste time learning, when ignorance is instantaneous?"  -Hobbes

------------------------------

Date: 11 Jan 91 23:13:14 GMT
From: usc!wuarchive!kuhub.cc.ukans.edu![e-mail]  (Doug Heacock)
Subject: Thanks from the rank beginner
To: [e-mail]

Thanks to all who responded to my recent request for help getting
started in ham radio.  Just reading this group has been educational,
but I especially want to thank Dave Heller, Gary Coffman and John
Woods for their helpful and encouraging notes.

Now I've got a list of books to search for, some magazine titles, and
several good ideas about where to begin, all within a couple of days
of my original posting.  Isn't the net great?!  (I envision the world
of ham radio to be much the same...)

+===========================================+============================+
| Doug Heacock, Academic Computing Services | [e-mail] |
| The University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS    | [e-mail]     |
+===========================================+============================+

------------------------------

Date: (null)
From: (null)
Subject: Others' view of codefree


>The following is part of the text of an article that appearred this week in
>FidoNews <tm>, the weekly newsletter of the amateur computer network called
>Fidonet <tm>. I am reproducing it here to demonstrate that the fears that only
>radical outlaw CB'ers will be attracted by the codefree license are unfounded.

(selected passages of FIDONET IN 1991 text deleted)


I read the entire thing twice, and I found nothing whatever to suggest that
"fears that only outlaw CB'ers will be attracted by the codefree license
are unfounded".

What I did infer was that there are a lot of technically-inclined computer
hobbyists who don't seem to be interested in Amateur Radio.

Also, here is an interesting comment that seems to bear out my previously-
voiced contention that many computer enthusiasts have found Amateur Radio
to be just another peripheral, a substitute for land-line connections so
to speak, and thereby avoid long-distance phone charges.

>     2) There are no long distance charges in amateur radio.  Thus,
>     it may have great appeal to those in rural areas.  Those using
>     amateur radio for data transmission need not be quite so
>     concerned with shaving every last byte off of a transmission in
>     order to save phone charges (I'm not saying that efficient
>     protocols should not be used, but it's simply not going to be
>     quite as big a concern).  The fact that phone charges are not
>     an issue may mean that there are fundamental differences in the
>     way traffic is moved via amateur radio.

and the article goes on to point out that *radio* hobbyists seem only to
want to talk about their hobby:

>     4) Again, I must point out that I'm not an amateur, but it
>     seems that one of the problems with amateur radio is that many
>     hams seem to want to talk only about amateur radio, and nothing
>     else!  We have those types in Fidonet, too, of course - the
>     folks that participate only in the computer- and
>     communications-oriented conferences.  But in Fidonet, there are
>     conferences on a fairly wide range of other subjects as well.
>     I'm not sure if amateur radio has this diversity now, but if it
>     doesn't it probably will.

Radio hobbyists will probably still talk mostly about *radio*.  Computer
hobbyists using Amateur Radio as a connecting medium will probably continue
to discuss their own areas of major interest.

>     But now that the psychological barrier of the code has been removed,
>        (some deleted for effect)
>     This cross-pollination of the two technologies could ultimately
>     affect us in ways we don't yet realize.

This profound statement may still be ringing in our ears years from now.
IMHO, there is going to have to be some compromise on both sides for it to
occur.  Both the OF's and the NF's need to realize that this is the joining
of two hobbies: computers and radio; and each *should* be willing to become
knowledgeable (at least marginally) in the other "technology".  Which means
that each should be willing to abide by the other's rules without all this
finger-pointing and name-calling.

This is going to be important in order for Amateur Radio *not* to become
CB-ized (not the same as Jim's allusion to fears of outlaw CB'ers
coming into the hobby); and for Amateur Radio not to cease to exist as a
hobby medium for *radio* hobbyists.

73,
Dube    N5PDK

"Why waste time learning, when ignorance is instantaneous?"  -Hobbes

------------------------------

End of Info-Hams Digest
******************************