QRZ! Ham Radio 3/QRZ Ham Radio Callsign Database - Volume 3.iso/digests/infoham/931416.txt

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Date: Thu,  2 Dec 93 14:02:52 PST
From: Info-Hams Mailing List and Newsgroup <[e-mail]>
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Reply-To: [e-mail]
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Subject: Info-Hams Digest V93 #1416
To: Info-Hams


Info-Hams Digest            Thu,  2 Dec 93       Volume 93 : Issue 1416

Today's Topics:
                         Alinco DJF1T-HP dead
                           API for HAM CALL
                     ARRL Information Mail Server
                           Baycom and OS/2
                      Dial/meter marking program
                    First Radiotelephone Broadcast
                                 help
                    Radio Shack frequency counter
                 Reply to: INFO-HAMS DIGEST V93 #1398
                        Soundblaster Software
                                 SWR
                          TS440 Xmit Hangup
          W5YI's coverage of "temporary callsigns" (3 msgs)

Send Replies or notes for publication to: <[e-mail]>
Send subscription requests to: <[e-mail]>
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
herein consists of personal comments and does not represent the official
policies or positions of any party.  Your mileage may vary.  So there.
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Date: 1 Dec 1993 15:35:09 GMT
From: ucsnews!sol.ctr.columbia.edu!howland.reston.ans.net!darwin.sura.net!haven.umd.edu!umd5.umd.edu!w3eax.umd.edu![e-mail]
Subject: Alinco DJF1T-HP dead
To: [e-mail]

I purchased a new ALINCO DJF1T-HP, and ever since the day I bought it, I
have been having problems with it.  The first problem was with the
keyboard lighting (only half of the keyboard would light).  Then I have
been having problems with the internal ribbon cables, which would
intermittently cause loss of certain functions.  And just recently,
the radio started to smoke and has ceased to function at all (now
at the shop for gut replacement) :(.
Has anyone had any problems with their ALINCO DJF1T-HP?

Thanks.

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

Date: Wed, 1 Dec 1993 23:40:06 GMT
From: world![e-mail]
Subject: API for HAM CALL
To: [e-mail]

In article <1993Nov30.215654.1@tntvax> [e-mail] (Dan Bowker [x 6587]) writes:
>I'm about to buy the new HAMCALL CD.
>
>Is there an API for the database, or is there a way to read it directly?
>
>Dan Bowker - NY9K
>[e-mail]
>
>Please note that any of the opinions (etc...) I may have expressed are my own
>and don't reflect anyone else's (Including my employer).

I talked with the Buckmaster folks about this at Dayton last year. They
seemed lukewarm to the idea of an API, and to a Windows interface, but had
no real commitment to do it from what I heard. The data is encoded in some
wierd way, and they seem to want to keep it private.

The QRZ! CDROM from Walnut Creek has the data in a few different formats, and
it is quite readable from programs. They've also released information on the
indexing scheme they use for the DOS program and that info could be used
to read the data directly. A Windows interface is rumored to be on the next
version of the disc, and that next version is rumored to be almost ready
to ship...

The QRZ! disc is cheaper and better (though it is domestic only).


--
---------------------------------------------------------------
Daniel Senie                 Internet:     [e-mail]
Daniel Senie Consulting                    [e-mail]
508-365-5352                 Compuserve:   74176,1347

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

Date: 2 Dec 93 21:40:04 GMT
From: [e-mail]
Subject: ARRL Information Mail Server
To: [e-mail]

The address for the ARRL Information Mail SErver is as follows:
       [e-mail]

Your first message to them should have these lines:
       INDEXINDEX
       QUIT

  This will get you a list of all available text files. The index will be
delivered by E-mail in less than 2 hours.  After getting the list of
filenames, your susequent requests would go as follows:
      SEND filename
      QUIT

  "filename" is the name of the file you want. Request as many as you want
in the same E-mail request. Another command is:
     HELP         sends the help file

  Some files available are:   PROSPECT, EXAM-SCHEDULE, ADDRESSES, BIOEFFECTS, E
EMI-GEN, KITS,  SOFTWRE, PRODUCT-REVIEW, FAQ-1, FAQ-2, FAQ-3, FTP-INFO,
MAC-STACK, POOL-EXTRA-1, AUTH-GUIDE, AWARDS, CONTESTS-93, FORM-10M,
PACKET-INTRO,QSL-IN, QSL-OUT, 10-10INFO, and many more.
Ed Hare, KA1CV , seems to be involved with this ( [e-mail])

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

Date: Tue, 30 Nov 1993 23:29:54 GMT
From: munnari.oz.au!bruce.cs.monash.edu.au!harbinger.cc.monash.edu.au!msuinfo!agate!howland.reston.ans.net!usc!yeshua.marcam.com!zip.eecs.umich.edu!umn.edu!maroon.tc.umn.edu!weiss@network.
Subject: Baycom and OS/2
To: [e-mail]

In <[e-mail]> [e-mail] (Charles Daley) writes:

>
>>I have a 386-25 and am guessing the level of interrupt activity in an
>>already busy system would make it impossible--but I don't want to plunk
>down
>>$100 for a new 1200 baud modem just yet!
>>
>>Thanks,
>>__jeffrey weiss N0IRR
>>

>I shouldn't think that you would have any problem.  The modem in a Baycom
>should be a type 202 asynchronous modem and shouldn't present any more of a
>burden to your OS/2 system than any other type of modem.  Just how much
>stuff are you doing with your "already busy system?"

>******************************************************************
>* Chuck Daley KD4LXQ             Internet:    [e-mail] *
>* 10565 Willow Meadow Circle     Compuserve:  73457,3114         *
>* Alpharetta, GA  30202          Genie        C.DALEY.1          *
>******************************************************************





Well, I heard from an OS/2 guru that a DOS VDM cannot process over 1100 ]
interrupts (virtual)/second. The problem seems only to be with the ax25
driver which generates many ints while performing software HDLC.

Funny--even in DOS on my system I must boot DOS 3.3 to get the ax25 driver
working at all...

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

Date: Wed, 1 Dec 1993 23:15:21 GMT
From: netcomsv!netcom.com![e-mail]
Subject: Dial/meter marking program
To: [e-mail]

In a previous post, Eric Williams (that's me!) wrote:

: Does anybody know of a program that will generate Postscript files for
: printing labels for dials, rotary switches, meters, etc.?  I thought I
: remembered seeing such a thing and I thought I'd check before trying to
: write one myself.  Thanks.

I spent a few hours learning PostScript and came up with the following,
which isn't very general-purpose but it got the job done on my rotary
switches.  If anyone wants it, you're welcome to it.  I'm still looking
for something more universal if anybody runs across it.
========================================================================
/radius 25 def              % Dial radius
/length 5 def      % Tick length
/label (Amps) def           % Switch label

/halfwidth { stringwidth pop 2 div } def
/halfheight {
 gsave newpath 0 0 moveto (0) false charpath flattenpath pathbbox grestore
 4 1 roll pop pop pop 2 div
 } def

%
% Do one tick of the dial.  Stack: element from label array.
%
/tick {
 gsave

 dup 0 get rotate
 radius 0 moveto
 length 0 rlineto
 gsave stroke grestore
 dup 2 get 0 rmoveto

 currentpoint translate
 dup 0 get neg rotate
 0 0 moveto
 dup 1 get halfwidth neg halfheight neg rmoveto    % compensate for text size
 dup 1 get show

 pop
 grestore
 } def

%
% Initialization
%
0 setlinecap % Butt caps
250 400 translate
1 setlinewidth
-5 0 moveto 5 0 lineto stroke
0 -5 moveto 0 5 lineto stroke

/Helvetica findfont 8 scalefont setfont

%
% Array of dial position labels.
% Each entry is [<degrees rotation> <label text> <delta radius to label>]
% Fiddle with third value until label position looks right.
%
[
 [30 (.2) 5]
 [0 (.3) 5]
 [330 (.4) 4]
 [300 (.5) 5]
 [270 (.6) 5]
 [240 (.8) 5]
 [210 (1) 4]
 [180 (1.25) 9]
 [150 (1.5) 7]
 [120 (2) 5]
 [90 (2.5) 5]
 ]

{ tick } forall

/Helvetica findfont 12 scalefont setfont
0 radius neg 25 sub moveto        % May have to adjust offset
label halfwidth neg 0 rmoveto     % Center text
label show

showpage

--
Eric Williams     | DGC Vincent: MC (B+S)t G+Y 1.2 Y L++ C+ T+ I+++ H+ S++ V+ F++
[e-mail] | Murphy: DS W+(B+R)t+R Y 1.3 Y L C+ T- I+++ H+ A+ F+ B--
WD6CMU@WD6CMU.#NOCAL.CA.USA.NA

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

Date: 2 Dec 93 15:31:14 GMT
From: [e-mail]
Subject: First Radiotelephone Broadcast
To: [e-mail]

>Well speaking of first contacts...the following was attached to the door
> here tonight along with some pizza junk ads and other fluff from the
> building management....
>
>The First Christmas Radio Broadcast
>
>        Christmas Eve in 1906, sitting at his radio in the mid-Atlantic, the
> ship's wireless operator could hardly believe his ears.  Instead of Morse
> Code, he heard the strains of a violin, followed by a crackly voice that
> seemed to come from nowhere: "If anybody hears me, please write to Mr.
> Fessenden at Brant Rock, Mass."

(deleted for brevity)

> so there you are.  Truth or urban legend?


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

Date: 2 Dec 93 18:32:06 GMT
From: [e-mail]
Subject: help
To: [e-mail]

help

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

Date: 2 Dec 93 21:23:19 GMT
From: [e-mail]
Subject: Radio Shack frequency counter
To: [e-mail]

Now that the RS frequency counter has been out for awhile, has anyone had a
chance to evaluate its performance?

I'm preparing to buy the RS counter and would appreciate any input from those
of you that have used it.  The kinds of data I seek fall into the categories
of: frequency stability, frequency accuracy if better than 100ppm, sensitivity
across the frequency range, random counting problems, battery drain or recharge
rate when using nicads, and any application information that would or would not
support  the counter.  Also, does the antenna connector lend itself for use
with a preamp?

Thanks in advance

Hugh Wells,  W6WTU

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

Date: 2 Dec 93 16:39:00 GMT
From: [e-mail]
Subject: Reply to: INFO-HAMS DIGEST V93 #1398
To: [e-mail]

Please keep the copy coming - those that don't want it can simply
zip to the end and delete it.   Thanks

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

Date: 2 Dec 93 16:38:41 GMT
From: ogicse!hp-cv!sdd.hp.com!col.hp.com!fc.hp.com![e-mail]
Subject: Soundblaster Software
To: [e-mail]

John W. Albert ([e-mail]) wrote:
: characters and displayed on the screen.
:
: The problem is, it's very difficult to write software for
: a PC that is downward compatable and do the math that is
: required to properly filter the signal. I'm sure it can be
: done but I don't think it can perform as well as a PK232,
: for example.

: Unless your using a 486 with a math co-processor, there would
: be timing problems that would make it difficult for the PC to
: filter and decode FSK especially at 300 baud.  There are programs,
: like  Hamcom, that can copy RTTY and decode FSK without an FSK
: demodulator or sound board but it performs poorly even in moderate,
: noisey conditions.

I have a real time SSTV system which will run on a 25 MHZ 386-sx.  OF
course, the really fancy filtering requires more CPU, but it the PC CPU
perfectly adequete for most things.

73,

Bret

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

Date: 2 Dec 93 16:16:01 GMT
From: [e-mail]
Subject: SWR
To: [e-mail]

Text item: Text_1

>If you get only about 2 % back of your initial power, you still get
>about 98 % in the desired direction or less than 0.1 dB missmatch loss.
>Paul OH3LWR

Just a reminder for those who don't know... the above conditions can
be achieved with 100 ft. of RG-58 on 220 MHz with no antenna attached.

73, Cecil, [e-mail] (No hablo para Intel)

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

Date: 2 Dec 93 15:26:18 GMT
From: [e-mail]
Subject: TS440 Xmit Hangup
To: [e-mail]

Bill,

I have had the exact same problem with my TS440 when I was attempting to test
my beam while it was sitting on a ladder on top of the roof.  It would lock
into XMIT until I turned off the 440.  After mounting the beam on the tower the
problem has not reoccured so I just wrote it off as RF getting back into the
radio.
Good Luck!

73
Doug KK6OU

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

Date: Wed, 1 Dec 1993 05:09:14 GMT
From: netcomsv!netcom.com![e-mail]
Subject: W5YI's coverage of "temporary callsigns"
To: [e-mail]

I believe that the potential callsign collisions and
accountability problems make the "instant callsign"
proposal troubling.

What I'd like to see is the VECs using a (gasp) laptop
computer to exchange the passing applicant's names
& addresses for an instant valid callsign via the FCC
computer system.  Just like the 20th century.
--

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Michael S. Sattler         [e-mail]        [phone]
Digital Jungle Software    Encrypt now; ask me how.   (finger for PGP key)

               All that is required for evil to triumph is
                for {wo}men of good will to do nothing.

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

Date: Mon, 29 Nov 93 23:06:43 EST
From: ucsnews!sol.ctr.columbia.edu!howland.reston.ans.net!usenet.ins.cwru.edu!wariat.org!mystis![e-mail]
Subject: W5YI's coverage of "temporary callsigns"
To: [e-mail]

[e-mail] (Michael P. Deignan) writes:

(Instant callsign proposed...)
> The reasons I feel the proposal is flawed are as follows:
>
> 1. There is no accountability as to who has what callsign. It is entirely
> possible that a dozen people with common names will all be sharing the
> same callsign in the same area.  You can draw your own conclusions as to
> the mass confusion this will cause.
>
> 2. The lack of accountability also creates problems when hams with
> instant tickets break the rules. How do you contact someone whom the
> FCC has no record of?
>
> 3. The potential for abuse of "instant" callsigns is very great. If I am
> unlicensed, all I have to do is make up a new instant callsign once every
> few months, and I can operate indefinitely.
>
> 4. As a licensed ham, my ticket is at stake when I key up and speak to
> a station. If I am in a QSO with an unlicensed station, my ticket is
> in jeopardy (although in all reality I doubt the FCC would issue a fine,
> but you never know...)
>
> 5. What happens when a person with an "instant ticket" gains access to
> HF, or upgrades? WZ1MPD/AA? Or just WZ1MPD still, since its an "instant
> ticket" after all?
>
>
> I do not believe that the "instant callsign" can be compared to someone
> who upgrades and then operates with the temporary identifier /whatever.
> For one thing, the person is already licensed and is on file with the
> FCC. Again, accountability.
>
> The FCC states that the reason for the "instant callsign" is that they
> receive hundreds of phone calls from people asking what their callsign
> is. This proposal was put forth by the FCC as a way of decreasing the
> number of phone calls they get.
>
> <KNOCK> Hello? McFly? Seems the answer to the FCC's problem is not to
> enact a rule change, but to simply STOP taking the damn calls asking
> "what's my callsign?" Once word got around that you can't call the FCC
> anymore, guess what? People will stop calling. Duhhhhh. Its so obvious,
> only something as stupid as a government bureaucrat couldn't think of it.
>
> And yes, furthermore I believe that it is yet another step in the trend
> we've seen over the past ten years of the FCC "getting out" of the Amateur
> Radio business. First VECs, then lack of enforcement, now "instant
> callsigns". How soon before we don't need callsigns at all, because the
> FCC considers it "too much work"?
>

I could not agree more. As I have stated, I feel that one of the major
reasons for ham radio being as "clean" as it is, is accountability.
Remove the accountability and the system WILL breakdown (as some falsely
clain it has). And it makes self policing almost impossible.


 --------------------------------------------------------------------
 | Dan Pickersgill  N8PKV    |  'Pots have handles, Magazines have  |
 | [e-mail]     |      Personals, Hams have Names'     |
 --------------------------------------------------------------------
 | '$100 placed at 7 percent interest compounded quarterly for      |
 |  200 years will increase to more than $100,000,000 - by which    |
 |  time it will be worth nothing.      -Lazarus Long               |
 --------------------------------------------------------------------

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

Date: 2 Dec 93 17:01:17 GMT
From: brunix!maxcy2.maxcy.brown.edu![e-mail]
Subject: W5YI's coverage of "temporary callsigns"
To: [e-mail]

[e-mail] (Dan Pickersgill  N8PKV) writes:

> The FCC, in an agreement with the ARRL, established a "ham-cop" as you
> call it. THAT was the FCC's intent. And NO, according to the above
> mentioned document (and the way the ARRL interprets it), self-policing
> means Hams policing Hams, NOT Hams policing him/herself.

Well, gee Dan, I don't know *how* I could be wrong. After all, just
yesterday after mentioning that I personally check each new contact
I make in the callbook, etc., I was called a "ham-cop" with a penis
fixation.

In fact, after being shown the err of my ways, I've decided to write
a counterpart to "My Gun, My Penis - An NRA GunOwners Bible" called
"My D104 Lollipop, My Penis - A Ham-Cop's Overview of Regulating
The Amateur Bands".


> The Amateur
 Auxiliary, Official Observers, Local Interference Committiees, et. al. The
> Amateur Auxiliary is responsible for maintance monitoring and amateur to
> amateur interfearance.

You *MUST* be kidding. Around here, these things either don't exist, or
they are next to worthless.

You know that the Rhode Island Section Manager and OOC does? Takes phone
calls from separated wives complaining about their husbands "talking about
them" on amateur radio. The SM calls the OOC, the OOC calls a *relative*
of the ham to "tell him to stop talking about her like that on the air".

*THAT* is what our League officials do in RI.


> That was 1982, where have you been? Policing yourself and ignoring the
> actions of others? If you are serious about wanting the situation to
> improve, get involved in the solution.

Oh, but Dan, I wouldn't *possibly* want to get involved. To do so would
prove that I have an impotence problem.


MD
--
-- Michael P. Deignan
-- Population Studies & Training Center
-- Brown University, Box 1916, Providence, RI  02912
-- [phone]

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

Date: 2 Dec 93 13:42:47 GMT
From: world![e-mail]
To: [e-mail]

References <2df2jt$[e-mail]>, <2di6g3$[e-mail]>, <[e-mail]>
Subject : Re: Life is too short for 2 KW!!!!!

[e-mail] (Galen Watts) writes:

>Life is too short to not know how to run your own gear.  Why do AM broadcasters
>run 50kW and not splatter?

>Galen, KF0YJ

I wouldn't necessarily hold up AM broadcasters as an example for us all!
There's a commercial AM station more than 3 miles away ... I hear them all
the time in my telephone (clear enough to pick out news, traffic reports, etc.)

Sharon KC1YR
--
electronic address: [e-mail]

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

Date: 2 Dec 93 15:23:06 GMT
From: ogicse!hp-cv!sdd.hp.com!col.hp.com!csn!yuma![e-mail]
To: [e-mail]

References <2di6g3$[e-mail]>, <[e-mail]>, <[e-mail]>
Subject : Re: Life is too short for 2 KW!!!!!

In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail] (slm) writes:
>[e-mail] (Galen Watts) writes:
>
>>Life is too short to not know how to run your own gear.  Why do AM broadcasters
>>run 50kW and not splatter?
>>Galen, KF0YJ
>I wouldn't necessarily hold up AM broadcasters as an example for us all!
>There's a commercial AM station more than 3 miles away ... I hear them all
>the time in my telephone (clear enough to pick out news, traffic reports, etc.)
>Sharon KC1YR

This was also sent to me via e-mail and since I read the mail before the news,
I have to write it again...

How much did you spend on your phone?  I live about 600 yards from the WWV
transmitter site and I don't hear them on my phone.  My neighbors do, and they
set their clocks that way!!!

All to often the transmitter gets blamed.  Occasionally, the ham is pushing
the amp a little too hard and splatters,  but how does WWV run 50-500kW
and I'm still able to get SW stations 10 kc away with no interferance?
Either it's my radio (possibly) or WWV has taken the time to be sure their
signal is clean (more likely, I only spent $1k on the radio).

Consumer grade goods are made for one thing: PROFIT.  If they can save a few
pennies on each unit by not putting a filter in, they do it, and you'll buy
it because it's a buck cheaper, then you find youself picking up the phone
to get the traffic report, no dialing required!!!

If you want to run 1 uWatt, go for it!!! Have fun, that's what it's all
about, but some of us like to be sure we can run 2kW in case someone's life
depends on it, and it's kind of a kick to know you can run that much power
and not start a fire or blow something up.

To each his own,
galen, KF0YJ

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

Date: (null)
From: (null)
+-------------------------------+--------------------------------------------+
| Robert G. Schaffrath, N2JTX   | Internet:   [e-mail] |
| Systems Engineer              | CompuServe: 70541,435                      |
| Maxwell House Coffee Company  | Phone:      [phone]                   |
| Kraft General Foods Corp.     | Slogan:     "ervice is ur mott"            |
+-------------------------------+--------------------------------------------+

river ra

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

Date: Thu, 2 Dec 93 00:25:56 GMT
From: ncrgw2.ncr.com!ncrhub2!torynews![e-mail]
To: [e-mail]

References <[e-mail]>, <[e-mail]>, <edh.754687121@hpuerca>d
Subject : Re: Repeater calling procedure (Was: Elm

In article <edh.754687121@hpuerca> [e-mail] (Ed Humphries) writes:
>
>MY biggest gripe is the guy yelling "testing. TESTING." and then
>does not responding when I offer to help with a signal report.
>Maybe their speakers are busted but their mic's are good?
>

I agree this is rude on a repeater.  I have done this on a clear simplex
frequency however, usually when making antenna or feedline adjustments and
observing a meter.  When I'm ready for a signal report I'll ask for one ;-)
Actually (and not to open another worm can) saying "KN6FQ Testing" on a
repeater is the correct procedure to follow for a pass/fail test, if all
you are doing is listening for the beep.  Far better than simply kerchunking.

--
                                          ___________
  Kevin Sanders, KN6FQ                   |    ___    |
  [e-mail]    |o o \_/ o o|     Try Boatanchors
  [e-mail]                |o o  @  o o|     For A Real Lift
                                         |___________|

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

End of Info-Hams Digest V93 #1416
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