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- Date: Sat, 25 Dec 93 15:39:35 PST
- From: Info-Hams Mailing List and Newsgroup <info-hams@ucsd.edu>
- Errors-To: Info-Hams-Errors@UCSD.Edu
- Reply-To: Info-Hams@UCSD.Edu
- Precedence: Bulk
- Subject: Info-Hams Digest V93 #1509
- To: Info-Hams
-
-
- Info-Hams Digest Sat, 25 Dec 93 Volume 93 : Issue 1509
-
- Today's Topics:
- "Renewal" batteries -- a note (2 msgs)
- ANS-359 BULLETINS
- Attn: N6SLE
- Good Stores/Mail Order/Emergency Use in Car
- HDN Releases (2 msgs)
- Information needed
- Need info on building IF-232 for Knwd TS-850S
- QSL Route for XF4CI ???
- wanted: morse tutor for apple II
- WHERE ARE ALL THE YOU
-
- Send Replies or notes for publication to: <Info-Hams@UCSD.Edu>
- Send subscription requests to: <Info-Hams-REQUEST@UCSD.Edu>
- 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: Sat, 25 Dec 1993 17:56:56 GMT
- From: netcomsv!netcom.com!btoback@decwrl.dec.com
- Subject: "Renewal" batteries -- a note
- To: info-hams@ucsd.edu
-
- I bought a set of "Renewal" batteries for my Standard C58 -- a portable
- all-mode 2m transceiver -- because it goes through them very rapidly.
- I wanted something that would last longer than NiCd batteries (and besides,
- my charger is in storage).
-
- The C58 takes 9 AA cells: six in a nine-volt holder, and three in a 4.5v
- holder. When the radio is turned on, it runs on the full 13.5v; when it's
- off, the 4.5v is used to maintain the microprocessor memory. The problem
- with this arrangement is that the batteries in the three-cell holder
- discharge faster than the rest, so they can be subject to "reverse-charging"
- if the radio is operated after a period of disuse. (The three-cell battery
- will discharge completely after about two months with the radio off.)
-
- When I tried to charge the three Renewal cells that were in the 4.5-v holder,
- the charger refused to operate. Even leaving the cells in the holder
- overnight, which is the solution recommended by the manual by for this
- problem, didn't work.
-
- It turned out that the obvious thing worked in this case: I applied 9v from
- a handy 9v battery (I don't have much equipment here) to the recalcitrant
- cells for about a minute. The charger then accepted the cells, and they
- have come back to full charge. I don't know whether the total life of the
- cells have been affected by this treatment, but the solution should
- prolong the life of Renewal cells that have been accidentally subjected
- to reverse charging.
-
- Meanwhile, I need to find something to do to prevent this from happening
- again...
-
- -- Bruce Toback
- KN6MN
-
- ------------------------------
-
- Date: Sat, 25 Dec 1993 21:17:37 GMT
- From: gsm001!gsm001.mendelson.com!gsmlrn@uunet.uu.net
- Subject: "Renewal" batteries -- a note
- To: info-hams@ucsd.edu
-
- In article <btobackCILr6x.EEn@netcom.com> btoback@netcom.com (Bruce Toback) writes:
- >I bought a set of "Renewal" batteries for my Standard C58 -- a portable
- >all-mode 2m transceiver -- because it goes through them very rapidly.
- >I wanted something that would last longer than NiCd batteries (and besides,
- >my charger is in storage).
- >
- >The C58 takes 9 AA cells: six in a nine-volt holder, and three in a 4.5v
- >holder. When the radio is turned on, it runs on the full 13.5v; when it's
- >off, the 4.5v is used to maintain the microprocessor memory. The problem
- >with this arrangement is that the batteries in the three-cell holder
- >discharge faster than the rest, so they can be subject to "reverse-charging"
- >if the radio is operated after a period of disuse. (The three-cell battery
- >will discharge completely after about two months with the radio off.)
- >
- >When I tried to charge the three Renewal cells that were in the 4.5-v holder,
- >the charger refused to operate. Even leaving the cells in the holder
- >overnight, which is the solution recommended by the manual by for this
- >problem, didn't work.
- >
- >It turned out that the obvious thing worked in this case: I applied 9v from
- >a handy 9v battery (I don't have much equipment here) to the recalcitrant
- >cells for about a minute. The charger then accepted the cells, and they
- >have come back to full charge. I don't know whether the total life of the
- >cells have been affected by this treatment, but the solution should
- >prolong the life of Renewal cells that have been accidentally subjected
- >to reverse charging.
- >
- >Meanwhile, I need to find something to do to prevent this from happening
- >again...
-
-
- Thanks for the inof. I am in the process of converting my nicad "arsenal"
- to renewal batteries and any info would be helpful.
-
- As for the reverse charging, try placing a diode in series with the 4.5 volt
- pack. As no diode has infinite reverse resistance (0 reverse current) there
- may be some reverse charging, but it might be low enough (also depends on
- the interal resistance of the batteries) to fix your problem. Just about
- any rectifer diode would do.
-
- Ray-O-Vac aslo has a toll free info number and if you call when the enginers
- are there, they will transfer you to one.
-
- 73,
-
- Geoff.
- --
- I used to talk to myself..... Now that I am a ham, I send code to myself:
- -... --- -.-- - .... .. ... --. ..- -.-- .. ... .-- . .. .-. -.. .-.-.-
-
- Geoffrey S. Mendelson N3OWJ (215) 242-8712 gsm@mendelson.com
-
- ------------------------------
-
- Date: 25 Dec 93 22:30:22 GMT
- From: news-mail-gateway@ucsd.edu
- Subject: ANS-359 BULLETINS
- To: info-hams@ucsd.edu
-
- SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-359.01
- PHASE-3D FREQUENCIES
-
- HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 359.01 FROM AMSAT HQ
- SILVER SPRING, MD DECEMBER 26, 1993
- TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT
- BID: $ANS-359.01
-
- The Phase-3D Transponder Frequencies Are Solidified
-
- During the 3rd Payload Engineering meeting in Garching (near Munchen) the
- following frequencies are determined for the P-3D International Satellite:
-
- 1. 21.210 MHz - 21.250 MHz uplink only (HF band)
- Mode K
-
- 2. 29.330 MHz CAM (Compatible Amplitude Modulation)
- Downlink only. (no transponder)
- Spare Frequencies: 29.310, 29.320, 29.340, and 29.350 MHz
- Mode A
-
- 3. 145.805 MHz - 145.995 MHz Uplink and Downlink: Mode V
-
- 4. 435.200 - 435.700 MHz Uplink 1
- 436.000 - 436.500 MHz Uplink 2
- 435.300 - 435.700 MHz Downlink
- Mode U
-
- 5. 1268.5 - 1269.0 MHz Uplink 1
- 1269.0 - 1269.5 MHz Uplink 2
- Mode L
-
- 6. 2400.5 - 2400.9 MHz Downlink
- 2400.1 - 2400.5 MHz Uplink
- Mode S
-
- 7. 5840 MHz center frequency channel 25 kHz wide
- Downlink only
- Mode C
-
- 8. 10451.0 - 10451.5 MHz Downlink
- Mode X
-
- 9. 24048 MHz downlink channel 25 kHz wide
- Mode Ka
-
- Each frequency passband is 500 KHz wide on the uplink and 400 kHz wide on
- the downlink except the Mode V is divided in an analog segment and a
- digital segment. The digital segment is in the lower frequency part of the
- band, the analog segment is in the upper frequency part of the band. The
- uplink segments are of equal width for both analog and digital modes. The
- down-link segment for digital modes is 150 kHz wide analog modes downlink
- is 250 KHz wide. The exact position of the beacons will be determined as
- soon as all relevant information is available.
-
- These frequencies are FINAL and can only be changed for VERY good reasons.
-
- Note that with the P-3D, the mode designations are changed according to
- Dick Janson WD4FAB designations:
-
- Old Mode B = Mode UV
- Old Mode J = Mode VU
-
- To avoid confusion especially for newcomers, it is recommended that the new
- tranponder mode designations be used for all satellites.
-
- [The AMSAT News Service (ANS) would like to thank Freddy de Guchteneire
- (ON6UG), IARU Satellite Coordinator, for this bulletin item.]
-
- /EX
- SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-359.02
- AO-21 GOES MULTIMEDIA!
-
- HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 359.02 FROM AMSAT HQ
- SILVER SPRING, MD DECEMBER 26, 1993
- TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT
- BID: $ANS-359.02
-
- RUDAK/AO-21 Goes Multimedia!
-
- The RUDAK group of AMSAT-DL achieved another milestone with the development
- of more sophisticated software for the OSCAR-21/RUDAK satellite.
-
- Although some key members are already very busy with P-3D activities, much
- time has been invested to implement new and attractive modes on AO-21.
-
- Beside the Voice Broadcast which was successfully used throughout the last
- year with several greeting messages in different languages, RUDAK is now
- capable to transmit picture files in WEFAX compatible format. Unfortunate-
- ly there is no CCD camera onboard AO-21, so the pictures have to be up-
- loaded first by the AO-21 command station. But not only is RUDAK now
- capable of transmiting FAX pictures, the pictures themselves are uploaded
- and stored in JPEG format! They are also converted online by the RTX-2000
- RISC processor from JPEG into WEFAX during transmission, so not alot of
- memory is needed.
-
- JPEG compression gives an enormous reduction in file size compared to GIF
- picture format, without to much quality losses. This saves a lot of space
- in the 1MB ramdisk and will also speed-up the upload time drastically.
-
- RUDAK is also capable to hold several picture and voice broadcast files in
- the ramdisk at the same time. They can be transmitted on a schedule mixed
- with FM-Mode and 1200 baud AX.25 Telemetry.
-
- The "Multimedia" satellite premiere will be activated for the first time on
- December 24 and some special season greeting in voice and picture will be
- transmitted.
-
- Stay tuned to AMSAT OSCAR-21 for some more surprises!
-
- The RUDAK downlink mid-frequency is 145.987 MHz, Uplink for FM-Mode is
- 435.014 MHz. The WEFAX format is like METEOSAT WEFAX Specification (MGCS):
- FM, 2400 Hz Subcarrier frequency with double sideband AM modulation,
- 300 Hz start signal for 3 seconds, 450 Hz stop signal for 5 seconds,
- 800 x 800 Pixel Image format with 256 grey levels, 4 Lines/sec.
-
- *MERRY CHRISTMAS and a HAPPY NEW YEAR*
- AMSAT-DL, Germany and AMSAT-U, Russia
-
- /EX
- SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-359.03
- SKN IS COMING!
-
- HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 359.02 FROM AMSAT HQ
- SILVER SPRING, MD DECEMBER 26, 1993
- TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT
- BID: $ANS-359.03
-
- YOU'RE INVITED TO THE 22ND ANNUAL "STRAIGHT KEY NIGHT ON OSCAR"
-
- As you know, ARRL has for many years sponsored Straight Key Night (SKN) on
- New Year's Eve and New Year's Day; it is expected to do so again in 1994.
-
- On New Year's Eve, 1972 (January 1, 1973 UTC), a few of us from the AMSAT
- 75-meter Net decided that we would try to combine the best of the old and
- the new in Amateur Radio by operating in Straight Key Night on what was
- then the brand-new communications satellite, AMSAT-OSCAR 6. Since then,
- proud "brasspounders" have kept the tradition going by operating CW on
- OSCAR using straight keys for at least a little while on every New Year's
- Day (UTC) when there's been an OSCAR to work.
-
- You're most cordially invited to join in the 22nd annual celebration.
- It's entirely informal and unofficial; there are no rules, no scoring and
- no need to send in a log. Just call CQ SKN in the CW passband segment of
- any OSCAR satellite between 00:00 and 23:59 UTC on January 1, 1994, or
- answer a CQ SKN call from another station. This year, we're changing
- things a little: we'll also count QSOs made via the oldest, largest and
- most reliable communications satellite, OSCAR Zero, otherwise known as the
- moon. AMSAT didn't build it, but we can adopt it! Of course, all SKN
- operating must be done with a straight hand key.
-
- Just as in the ARRL HF version of this event, we're conducting a search
- for the OSCAR SKN operator with the "best fist." Please send in a nomin-
- ation of someone you worked; we'll announce the winner or winners via
- packet bulletin. Last year's winners were KB6A, W6HDO and W8JAQ.
- Nominations may be sent to Ray Soifer via packet to W2RS @ WA2SNA.NJ. USA.
- NA, from Europe to W2RS @ GB7HSN.#32.GBR.EU, via Internet to w2rs@amsat.
- org, or by mail via his Callbook address.
-
- [The AMSAT News Service (ANS) wold like to thank Ray Soifer (W2RS) for this
- bulletin item.]
-
-
- /EX
- SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-359.04
- W3XO & AO-21 SEND XMAS GREETINGS
-
- HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 359.04 FROM AMSAT HQ
- SILVER SPRING, MD DECEMBER 26, 1993
- TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT
- BID: $ANS-359.04
-
- AO-21 Sends Chrismas Greetings To All Radio Amateurs!
-
- "Surprise is hardly the word for it", says AMSAT-NA President Bill Tynan
- (W3XO). Bill caught an AO-21 pass Thursday evening immediately after
- reading DB2OS's message about the Holiday activity on this versatile
- satellite. He was pleased, of course, to hear the Christmas carol, "Silent
- Night", coming from his speaker while tuned to AO-21's 145.983 FM downlink.
-
- His first thought, probably like that of many others, on hearing any form
- of music on amateur frequencies was; "They can't do that!" Upon further
- reflection, he realized that, the prohibition against the transmission of
- music on Amateur Radio is a U.S. rule, not necessarily reflected by every
- other country. Since AO-21 was licensed by the Soviet Union and now by
- Russia, sending this form of Holiday greeting is subject to their rules.
-
- So, Bill advises, just listen and enjoy. Please do not complain, about
- music on the ham bands to the FCC, the ARRL or AMSAT. But also, just
- because you heard it on an amateur frequency, don't relay it to you your
- friends via Amateur Radio.
-
- On behalf of the organization, AMSAT-NA President Bill Tynan (W3XO) wishes
- satellite enthusiasts and all hams everywhere, season's greetings and the
- best of DX and good fortune in 1994.
-
-
- /EX
- SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-359.05
- AMSAT OPS NET SCHEDULE
-
- HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 359.05 FROM AMSAT HQ
- SILVER SPRING, MD DECEMBER 26, 1993
- TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT
- BID: $ANS-359.05
-
- Current AMSAT Operations Net Schedule For AO-13
-
- AMSAT Operations Nets are planned for the following times. Mode-B Nets
- are conducted on AO-13 on a downlink frequency of 145.950 MHz. If, at the
- start of the OPS Net, the frequency of 145.950 MHz is being used for a QSO,
- OPS Net enthusiasts are asked to move to the alternate frequency of 145.955
- MHz.
-
- Date UTC Mode Phs NCS Alt NCS
-
- 3-Jan-94 0200 B 160 WA5ZIB N7NQM
-
- Any stations with information on current events would be most welcomed.
- Also, those interested in discussing technical issues or who have questions
- about any particular aspect of OSCAR statellite operations, are encouraged
- to join the OPS Nets. In the unlikely event that either the Net Control
- Station (NCS) or the alternate NCS do not call on frequency, any
- participant is invited to act as the NCS.
-
- **************************************
-
- Slow Scan Television on AO-13
-
- SSTV sessions will be held on immediately after the OPS Nets a downlink
- on a Mode-B downlink frequency 145.960 MHz.
-
- /EX
- SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-359.06
- FO-21 GOES MULTIMEDIA!
-
- HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 359.06 FROM AMSAT HQ
- SILVER SPRING, MD DECEMBER 26, 1993
- TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT
- BID: $ANS-359.06
-
- First FO-20 Color Fax
-
- With the Japanese FO-20 satellite placed into analog mode for the week
- 1st to 8th of December 1993, Ted G6HMS and Ian G0NKA employed daily 16:00-
- 24:00 UTC passes experimenting at passing FAX pictures through the JA Mode
- transponder. Once the fine technique of holding the picture by following
- the Doppler movement on the downlink was overcome, the methodology worked
- well. Unlike voice transmissions where the ear can compensate for tonal
- frequency shift, computers decoding Fax signals are far more critical.
-
- By Monday 6th December Ian and Ted had the best yet black and white
- picture throughput. They then followed this with a full color transmission
- that produced a 50% success rate. On Tuesday 7th December between 19:59
- and 20:03 UTC, transmitting using JV-Fax 6.0 and receiving on the shareware
- version of Microfax, they succeeded in producing full colour throughput
- with better than 90% resolution.
-
- On all experiments the LSB uplink used is 145.980 MHz. The downlink USB
- frequency produced is 435.820 MHz +/- Doppler. The uplink frequency is
- maintained throughout the pass and the downlink is tuned to compensate for
- the change of doppler shift.
-
- Ian and Ted will be trying again between December 15th to Feb '94 whenever
- FO-20 is scheduled to be in analog mode. Please join them if you can.
- They look forward to seeing your pictures. Reports would be very welcome.
- For schedules, Ian may be contacted via PACKET as G0NKA @ GB7DTX.GBR.EU.
-
- [The AMSAT News Service (ANS) would like to thank G3IOR for this bulletin
- item. G3IOR can be reached at G3IOR @GB7VLS]
-
- /EX
- SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-359.07
- WEEKLY OSCAR STATUS REPORTS
-
- HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 359.07 FROM AMSAT HQ
- SILVER SPRING, MD DECEMBER 26, 1993
- TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT
- BID: $ANS-359.07
-
- Weekly OSCAR Status Reports: 26-DEC-93
-
- AO-13: Current Transponder Operating Schedule:
- L QST *** AO-13 TRANSPONDER SCHEDULE *** 1993 Nov 15-Jan 31
- Mode-B : MA 0 to MA 95 !
- Mode-B : MA 95 to MA 180 !
- Mode-B : MA 180 to MA 218 !
- Mode-S : MA 218 to MA 220 !<- S Beacon only
- Mode-S : MA 220 to MA 230 !<- S Transponder; B trsp. is OFF
- Mode-BS : MA 230 to MA 256 ! Blon/Blat 240/-5
- Omnis : MA 250 to MA 150 ! Move to attitude 180/0, Jan 31
- [G3RUH/DB2OS/VK5AGR]
-
- FO-20: The following is the current FO-20 operating schedule:
- From December '93 thru February '94, the analog mode and the
- digital mode will be on alternately for a week at a time.
- ANALOG MODE:
- 29-DEC-93 8:30 -TO- 05-JAN-94 8:50 UTC
- 12-JAN-94 7:30 -TO- 19-JAN-94 7:50 UTC
- 26-JAN-94 8:20 -TO- 02-FEB-94 6:50 UTC
- 09-FEB-94 7:15 -TO- 16-FEB-94 7:40 UTC
- DIGITAL MODE: Unless otherwise noted above. [JJ1WTK]
-
- DOVE: At 05:30 UTC, 24-DEC-93, WD0E put DOVE back into the state where it
- is sending telemetry every 20 seconds. The RF output transmitter
- power is back up to about 3 watts. Also, in response to several
- inquries, the S-band transmitter is back on. There is also a
- season's greetings message in the text broadcast. [WD0E]
-
- MIR: MIR has indeed been on voice recently! KB9BNR read that MIR has
- been QRT on voice for a long time. KB9BNR states it this has not been
- case. N9OUU worked Alexander Serebrov (R0MIR) two weeks ago as it
- passed over Davenport, IA. KB9BNR know this because everytime N9OUU
- works MIR, N9OUU calls him! Checkout KB9BNR's new landline BBS at
- (309) 797-3827. He has lots of AMSAT information.
- [KB9BNR AMSAT Area Coordinator]
-
- RS-12: The major solar event and Kp7 prediction produced some remarkable
- long distance sub-horizon paths for the RS-12 Mode 'K' satellite on
- December 1st. GM4IHJ alerted G3IOR that he had been copying the
- 29.407 MHz beacon long before his calculated horizon AOS. G3IOR
- took the pass that showed a AOS of 13:15 UTC, but had excellent copy
- of the downlink and beacon from 1300 when the satellite was passing
- over Mexico right up the central United States, in line of sight
- range of all US and VE call areas. The extension continued until
- the satellite was over UA9, within range of UA0 and JA. Sadly
- (apart from G3IOR) there were no stations active on RS-12 over the
- period of study. It would appear that such conditions are produced
- just before solar storms, and as GM4IHJ and NM7M forecast, when the
- interplanetary field is reversed. In a follow-up status report on
- this event, G3IOR says the extended northerly polar subhorizon paths
- for RS-12 seem to have disappeared this past week, to be replaced by
- extensions to the normal LOS by up to eight minutes on passes going
- out between 180 and 240 degrees azimuth. G3IOR worked K1FX (SSB)
- and N4ZC (CW) plus several Europeans mutual sub-horizon. Heard but
- got away included KN4UI and VE3CRG. Within mutual horizon QSO's
- inluded GW3NXR, EI7AF, UA9WE, UA1AP, UB5OA, EA7CEZ, LA1IC, UA1ADY,
- DJ6EA, G3FBN, SP4DCA, ER1RR and OZ4ZO. [G3IOR]
-
- PoSAT: G3AAJ reports that PoSAT will place it's amateur radio section on
- (38.4 KBauds?) on January 6, 1994. No OSCAR enumeration has yet
- been given (or sought?) for PoSAT. [G3IOR]
-
-
- The AMSAT NEWS Service (ANS) is looking for volunteers to contribute weekly
- OSCAR status reports. If you have a favorite OSCAR which you work on a
- regular basis and would like to contribute to this bulletin, please send
- your observations to WD0HHU at his CompuServe address of 70524,2272, on
- INTERNET at wd0hhu@amsat.org, or to his local packet BBS in the Denver, CO
- area, WD0HHU @ W0LJF.#NECO.CO.USA.NOAM. Also, if you find that the current
- set of orbital elements are not generating the correct AOS/LOS times at
- your QTH, PLEASE INCLUDE THAT INFORMATION AS WELL. The information you
- provide will be of value to all OSCAR enthusiasts.
-
- /EX
-
- ------------------------------
-
- Date: 14 Dec 93 18:28:24 GMT
- From: agate!howland.reston.ans.net!gatech!udel!news.sprintlink.net!news.dorsai.org!dorsai!bigsteve@ucbvax.berkeley.edu
- Subject: Attn: N6SLE
- To: info-hams@ucsd.edu
-
- Your E-Mail came in with an invaild domain portion of the address or
- incomplete address. I cannot reply. Please send me the complete address
- and/or gateway system address.
-
- -Steve
-
- ------------------------------
-
- Date: Sat, 25 Dec 1993 17:39:59 GMT
- From: netcomsv!netcom.com!btoback@decwrl.dec.com
- Subject: Good Stores/Mail Order/Emergency Use in Car
- To: info-hams@ucsd.edu
-
- In article <CIJt5v.5KG@cbnewsl.cb.att.com> dkk@cbnewsl.cb.att.com (david.k.kallman) writes:
- >Folks,
- >
- >I'm just getting started, so please excuse these elementary
- >questions.
- >
- >A bit of background; I have MS, just started using a
- >wheelchair, so people have advised me that I should have
- >emergency communications in my car just in case there is
- >any excitement. I first explored cellular and CB. Cellular
- >is expensive where I live (NJ) - $20/month for dialtone is
- >the least expensive I've found so far. Dialtone basically
- >is what I'm looking for since I want to listen to the
- >radio or books in the car, not do business.
-
- You can dial 911 on a cellular phone without actually being a
- subscriber. All you need is the phone.
-
- >Then I got a few suggestions to check out ham radio. The
- >ham radio crowd seems far more genteel than the CB crowd.
- >And the whole world of amateur radio from what I'm found
- >out so far seems incredibly diverve and exciting. Also my
- >12 year old seems to be getting the bug, and he's the one
- >who knows how to do all the "some assembly required"
- >projects.
- >
- >Two quick questions:
- >
- >1. [A question to which I have no answer.]
- >
- >2. The major question: would ham radio do what I need for
- >application number 1: summon emergency help if I had a
- >problem with my car? Note I'm not looking for 100%
- >reliability. Mostly I travel on the Garden State Parkway,
- >which is very well patroled, so I'm looking for 80-95%
- >reliability
-
- Depending on the facilities in your area, ham radio would give you
- phone patch capabilities as well as possible contact with other
- hams. So it could satisfy your emergency needs as well as being a
- lot of fun -- which you seem to have discovered anyway. If you have
- both a phone with no service -- which you should be able to pick up
- for under $100 -- and ham radio, you will have almost guaranteed
- emergency communications.
-
- -- Bruce Toback
- KN6MN
-
- ------------------------------
-
- Date: Fri, 24 Dec 1993 00:21:05
- From: usc.edu!cs.utexas.edu!howland.reston.ans.net!sol.ctr.columbia.edu!news.kei.com!news.oc.com!utacfd.uta.edu!rwsys!ocitor!FredGate@network.ucsd.edu
- Subject: HDN Releases
- To: info-hams@ucsd.edu
-
- The following files were processed Friday 12-24-93:
-
-
- HAMPACK [ HAM: Packet Communications programs ]
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------
- PTM_KM.ZIP ( 107471 bytes) PTM v5.29 Updated Version by OZ4ZK
- 21-Nov-1993
-
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------
- 107471 bytes in 1 file(s)
-
-
- Total of 107471 bytes in 1 file(s)
-
- Files are available via Anonymous-FTP from ftp.fidonet.org
- IP NET address 140.98.2.1
-
- Directories are:
- pub/fidonet/ham/hamnews (Bulletins)
- /hamant (Antennas)
- /hamsat (Sat. prg/Amsat Bulletins)
- /hampack (Packet)
- /hamelec (Formulas)
- /hamtrain (Training Material)
- /hamlog (Logging Programs)
- /hamcomm (APLink/JvFax/Rtty/etc)
- /hammods (Equip modification)
- /hamswl (SWBC Skeds/Frequencies)
- /hamscan (Scanner Frequencies)
- /hamutil (Operating aids/utils)
- /hamsrc (Source code to programs)
- /hamdemo (Demos of new ham software)
- /hamnos (TCP/IP and NOS related software)
-
- Files may be downloaded via land-line at (214) 226-1181 or (214) 226-1182.
- 1.2 to 16.8K, 23 hours a day .
-
- When ask for Full Name, enter: Guest;guest <return>
-
- lee - wa5eha
- Ham Distribution Net
-
-
- * Origin: Ham Distribution Net Coordinator / Node 1 (1:124/7009)
-
- ------------------------------
-
- Date: Fri, 24 Dec 1993 23:49:05
- From: library.ucla.edu!europa.eng.gtefsd.com!howland.reston.ans.net!spool.mu.edu!bloom-beacon.mit.edu!news.kei.com!news.oc.com!utacfd.uta.edu!rwsys!ocitor!FredGate@network.ucsd.edu
- Subject: HDN Releases
- To: info-hams@ucsd.edu
-
- The following files were processed Friday 12-24-93:
-
-
- HAMANT [ HAM: Antenna design and calculation programs ]
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------
- ANTDL6WU.ZIP ( 19040 bytes) V1.0 Yagi Design program for 50Mhz
- & up, by WA2TIF, K1DPP, W1JOT
- ANTFO.ZIP ( 17237 bytes) V2.0 Yagi Design program for
- 144Mhz & up, by WA2TIF
-
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------
- 36277 bytes in 2 file(s)
-
-
- HAMNEWS [ HAM: Bulletins and Newsletters ]
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------
- ARLB118.LZH ( 353 bytes) ARRL Bulletin 12/23/93
- ARLB119.LZH ( 311 bytes) ARRL Bulletin 12/23/93
- ARLD070.LZH ( 1713 bytes) ARRL DX Bulletin 12/23/93
- ARRL1214.LZH ( 7643 bytes) ARRL Newsletter 12/14/93
- OPDX140.LZH ( 3861 bytes) Ohio-Pa Packet Cluster DX Bulletin
- 12/20/93
- RACES305.LZH ( 1304 bytes) RACES Bulletin # 305 12/20/93
-
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------
- 15185 bytes in 6 file(s)
-
-
- HAMNOS [ HDN: TCP/IP and NOS related software ]
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------
- JNOS109.ZIP ( 172274 bytes) Latest Version JNOS 109
-
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------
- 172274 bytes in 1 file(s)
-
-
- HAMPACK [ HAM: Packet Communications programs ]
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------
- APRS306.ZIP ( 572284 bytes) Automatic Packet Report system
- V3.06 by WB4APR
-
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------
- 572284 bytes in 1 file(s)
-
-
- HAMSAT [ HAM: Satellite tracking and finding programs ]
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------
- SPC1227.LZH ( 3593 bytes) SPACE Bulletin 12/27/93
-
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------
- 3593 bytes in 1 file(s)
-
-
- Total of 799613 bytes in 11 file(s)
-
- Files are available via Anonymous-FTP from ftp.fidonet.org
- IP NET address 140.98.2.1
-
- Directories are:
- pub/fidonet/ham/hamnews (Bulletins)
- /hamant (Antennas)
- /hamsat (Sat. prg/Amsat Bulletins)
- /hampack (Packet)
- /hamelec (Formulas)
- /hamtrain (Training Material)
- /hamlog (Logging Programs)
- /hamcomm (APLink/JvFax/Rtty/etc)
- /hammods (Equip modification)
- /hamswl (SWBC Skeds/Frequencies)
- /hamscan (Scanner Frequencies)
- /hamutil (Operating aids/utils)
- /hamsrc (Source code to programs)
- /hamdemo (Demos of new ham software)
- /hamnos (TCP/IP and NOS related software)
-
- Files may be downloaded via land-line at (214) 226-1181 or (214) 226-1182.
- 1.2 to 16.8K, 23 hours a day .
-
- When ask for Full Name, enter: Guest;guest <return>
-
- lee - wa5eha
- Ham Distribution Net
-
-
- * Origin: Ham Distribution Net Coordinator / Node 1 (1:124/7009)
-
- ------------------------------
-
- Date: Sat, 25 Dec 1993 03:12:54 GMT
- From: murphy.com!jpradley!magpie!neal@uunet.uu.net
- Subject: Information needed
- To: info-hams@ucsd.edu
-
- Please advise me as to the e-mail address for the ARRL, and information
- about volunteer examiners in Minnesota, west and north of the Twin Cities.
-
- Reply to neal@bbsmail.magpie.com
-
- Thank you and best wishes for the holidays.
-
- Neal
-
- ------------------------------
-
- Date: Fri, 24 Dec 93 16:24:25 GMT
- From: zib-berlin.de!netmbx.de!Germany.EU.net!EU.net!sun4nl!bsoatr!bsdihi!dihi@uunet.uu.net
- Subject: Need info on building IF-232 for Knwd TS-850S
- To: info-hams@ucsd.edu
-
- Hi there,
-
-
- I have a TS450 S and connected my pc direct to the rig
- without any problems..it is a little risky however.
- The best solution is to buy an ic called MAX232 that converts
- the TTL to RS232 level signals and back. I bought this IC for
- just about two dollar or so, but still have to include it in the
- cable between the set and computer. It requires NO external power
- source what soever.
-
- 73's
-
- Dick Hissink PA3DSP
- Email:dihi@bsdihi.atr.bso.nl
-
- ------------------------------
-
- Date: 25 Dec 1993 23:10:57 GMT
- From: sdd.hp.com!col.hp.com!bobw@network.ucsd.edu
- Subject: QSL Route for XF4CI ???
- To: info-hams@ucsd.edu
-
- Anyone have a QSL route for XF4CI ??
- Thanks in advance,
-
- Bob Witte / HP PMO (Colo Springs) / bobw@col.hp.com / KB0CY / (719) 590-3230
-
- ------------------------------
-
- Date: Sat, 25 DEC 93 12:06:09 EST
- From: swrinde!gatech!howland.reston.ans.net!noc.near.net!news.delphi.com!usenet@network.ucsd.edu
- Subject: wanted: morse tutor for apple II
- To: info-hams@ucsd.edu
-
- Joe,
-
- If yu have a IIgs, there is a nifty program called "QSO Kid" available on
- services like GEnie.
-
- Dennis
-
- ------------------------------
-
- Date: Sat, 25 Dec 1993 14:30:37 GMT
- From: swrinde!emory!rsiatl!ke4zv!gary@network.ucsd.edu
- Subject: WHERE ARE ALL THE YOU
- To: info-hams@ucsd.edu
-
- In article <2ffvul$qi9@apple.com> kchen@apple.com (Kok Chen) writes:
- >lawrence.goodwin@support.com writes:
- >
- >>>Where are all the young enthusiasts?
- >>
- >>>> They are waiting for the obsolete code requirements to be eliminated.
- >>
- >>Nonsense. No real "enthusiast" would let 5 WPM or even 13 WPM stand in
- >>their way. Geez, I learned morse at 5 WPM in three evenings of casual
- >>practice; no reason why others can't.
-
- It took me 6 weeks of intensive work to get to 5 WPM, and 2 more years
- to reach 13 WPM, but I agree that I was extraordinarily motivated to
- get the amateur license and I wasn't going to let the code stop me.
- However, not everyone has an easy time with Morse, and some have
- learning quirks that make the sounds run together or even reverse,
- a sort of aural dyslexia. To them it's more than hard, it's often
- impossible, no matter how much they want the license. Some people
- are born to be guitar players, others are forever doomed to be a
- beat behind. Manual rhythm skills aren't something that people
- universally have a natural ability to acquire. I have a friend,
- an engineer, whose father is a long time ham, and who wanted to join
- in on the fun he saw his father and I having, but he just couldn't.
- No matter how hard the three of us worked at it, he couldn't get the
- code, even at 5 WPM. He's a ham now though, at least in a limited
- fashion, thanks to the code test free Tech license. So there are
- people who can't easily learn Morse, or even learn it at all, but
- who still have a burning desire to be hams.
-
- >5 wpm is as arbitrary a speed as 20 wpm. What if the rules say that
- >you have to pass 20 wpm to get access to HF? And, really, some of us
- >only had to practice a couple of weeks to attain that speed and no
- >real "enthusiast" would let a wimpy thing like that getting in their
- >way. Do you then still think that a Morse requirement is a good idea?
- >What if I think it is a good idea, and that you should live by that
- >rule too?
- >
- >There has been arguments made that 1 wpm is not a useful speed. Hey,
- >people, for a person who will never use Morse, 100 wpm is not a useful
- >speed.
- >
- >I am really tired of the "I can do it, so can you" or the "a six year
- >old could do it, so should you." Show me a six year old who is mature
- >enough to distinguish between a useful skill and a skill that is not.
-
- These are good points. I too am tired of that attitude. I know it
- isn't easy for many, and we've rarely heard from them until recently
- because *they weren't hams* due to the code barrier. That's changing
- a bit now thanks to the recent changes, but the attitude that "real
- hams do Morse", and it's "just laziness" that others don't, still
- persists.
-
- Of course *some* people don't learn code for that reason, but others
- don't learn it because they find it very difficult, or because they
- don't see a need for it. The former is easy to understand. The latter
- is just as real a barrier, however. It's not laziness to not want to
- perform some mindless hazing ritual that you see no useful reason
- to perform. If more Morse addicts tried to sell Morse for the useful
- features it has, and there are a few, rather than merely erecting it
- as a barrier to entry into the wide variety of other modes available to
- amateur operators, perhaps some of those people who see it as hazing
- would change their minds. But they'll never change their minds if
- faced with the attitude expessed above. It's nothing less than raw
- ignorant bigotry.
-
- Gary
- --
- Gary Coffman KE4ZV | You make it, | gatech!wa4mei!ke4zv!gary
- Destructive Testing Systems | we break it. | uunet!rsiatl!ke4zv!gary
- 534 Shannon Way | Guaranteed! | emory!kd4nc!ke4zv!gary
- Lawrenceville, GA 30244 | |
-
- ------------------------------
-
- End of Info-Hams Digest V93 #1509
- ******************************
- ******************************
-