QRZ! Ham Radio 4/QRZ Ham Radio Callsign Database - Volume 4.iso/digests/equip/940113.txt

Internet Message Format | 1994-11-14 | 25KB

Date: Mon, 18 Apr 94 04:30:13 PDT
From: Ham-Equip Mailing List and Newsgroup <[e-mail]>
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Subject: Ham-Equip Digest V94 #113
To: Ham-Equip


Ham-Equip Digest            Mon, 18 Apr 94       Volume 94 : Issue  113

Today's Topics:
                             Amps (plans)
                   Dual band mobile recommendation?
        HT with extended RX (and the winner is . . . (2 msgs)
         Info on Ham for an interested could-be HAM (2 msgs)
                KENWOOD 850SAT - Experiences (2 msgs)
                               MFJ-9040
                     Need Linear Amplifier info..
                        Radio Shack problems!!
               Screen voltage for pr. 4cx250B's on 2M?
                    Wanted: info on Cheap O-Scope
                   WANTED: Sony or Grunding radios

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 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: 17 Apr 1994 19:29:01 -0400
From: ihnp4.ucsd.edu!library.ucla.edu!europa.eng.gtefsd.com!news.ans.net!hp81.prod.aol.net!search01.news.aol.com![e-mail]
Subject: Amps (plans)
To: [e-mail]

Does anyone have a plans (or a source) for an inexpensive home-brew 2 meter
and/or 440 amp? I'd like to have one for volunteer events, ARES and SKYWARN
work, and the like. However, these $200 & up units are budget busters. A
no-frills model would be fine.

If anyone can help me, I'd really appreciate it.

73 de KB5ZBR

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

Date: 17 Apr 1994 19:24:59 -0500
From: ihnp4.ucsd.edu!swrinde!cs.utexas.edu![e-mail]
Subject: Dual band mobile recommendation?
To: [e-mail]

I am interested in comments from users of the Kenwood TM-732 about the
performance of the 2-meter receiver, intermod susceptibility, etc.  I am
considering that rig as well as possibly the Standard dual band, and would
like to know if these radios really get crunched in high signal areas.  Do
any of the dual band radios perform as well as the Yaesu 2400 RX?

73

==========================================================================
David C. Gingrich, K9DC|                   |    Lockman Mills & Associates
Fishers Town Council   |                   |Telecommunications Consultants
11550 Crestview Drive  |                   |   7007 Graham Road, Suite 201
Fishers, Indiana 46038 |                   |   Indianapolis, Indiana 46220
[phone]         | [e-mail] |                [phone]
==========================================================================

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

Date: Sun, 17 Apr 1994 17:16:54 GMT
From: ihnp4.ucsd.edu!library.ucla.edu!europa.eng.gtefsd.com!news.umbc.edu!eff!news.kei.com!world![e-mail]
Subject: HT with extended RX (and the winner is . . .
To: [e-mail]

            And the winner is . . . the Standard C558A, even though it
        lacks  the  Yaesu FT-530's lighted keyboard and  dual  in-band
        receive and cost $120 more.

            I  was *all set*  for the Yaesu.   It had many  attractive
        features  missing from the Standard,  and while some  intermod
        problems  had been reported,  I  decided they weren't critical
        because,   while I work in Boston,  I  live outside the  city.
        Other  hams have Yaesu's and argue that where intermod is most
        severe  (the towers on Route 128)  there's no HT that  doesn't
        suffer  some intermod.   People who wrote to me about  Yaesu's
        were *truly*  enthusiastic about their units.   The people  at
        HRO  were enthusiastic about Yaesu's;  even the  salesman  who
        admitted he thought the Standard was a better unit had a Yaesu
        on his belt (he bought it before the 558A was available).  The
        unit clearly had a nice set of features, the best bang for the
        buck, and was manufactured to high production standards.

            The choice was clear.  Get the Yaesu.   The lighted keypad
        was  a  big  plus.   The dual in-band  receive  had  important
        consequences for scanning as well as for hamming.  If intermod
        turned  out to be a problem,  I  could move up to the  rumored
        Standard  when it came out and would probably take  a  smaller
        financial loss selling the Yaesu than the Standard (if, in the
        meantime,  one of my sons didn't get licensed and get the unit
        as a hand-me-down).  My credit card was in my hand.

          But  there was one *little detail*.   As I reported publicly
        and  mentioned  privately,  I  was going to compare  the  HT's
        against  my  PRO-43  to see how they functioned  as  makeshift
        scanners.   As luck would have it,  HRO had a used FT-530  for
        sale, and *it had been modified for extended receive*.

            It is illegal to listen in on cellular frequencies, but, I
        believe  (and  others more knowledgeable should comment)   one
        exception  to the rule is for the purpose of antenna  testing.
        So, we set the volume and squelch on the Yaesu and the 43  and
        got  ready to see just how many transmissions each would  lock
        on as we went up the band.

            No company publishes specs for out-of-band behavior.  Even
        though the Yaesu has steps of 5, 10, 12.5, 15, 20, 25,  and 50
        kHz in band,  in this particular range it would allow steps of
        12.5 kHz only.

            This is a political issue for me.  It is illegal to listen
        to  cellular,  so I do not listen to cellular.   However,   I,
        along with many others,  believe that this  law is foolish and
        inappropriate because  if signals pass through our bodies,  we
        should  be free to listen to them as we please.   (Some  would
        say we should be free to do *whatever we want* with them.)   I
        also think there is a good chance that as soon as this  law is
        tested in federal court  it  will  be  found unconstitutional.
        For this reason, I  do not wish to own any equipment  that has
        been permanently crippled like the FT-530,  if an  alternative
        is available.

            As  far as I can tell,  the Standard is not crippled  this
        way.    Its  steps  (the same as the FT-530's)  appear  to  be
        available for out of band RX.  And so I purchased a 558A.

            If I acted too hastily,  it's only that I probably  should
        have  given the IC-W21AT some further consideration.    Having
        decided  earlier that the FT-530  overshadowed the W21-AT,   I
        neglected  to  move  it back to the list of possibilities when
        the  FT-530  was eliminated.   The W21AT,  too,   has  lighted
        keyboard and dual in-band receive.  I didn't check out-of-band
        step sizes, though.

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

Date: 17 Apr 1994 14:48:41 -0500
From: ihnp4.ucsd.edu!usc!howland.reston.ans.net!news.ans.net!mailhost.interaccess.com!interaccess.com![e-mail]
Subject: HT with extended RX (and the winner is . . .
To: [e-mail]

[e-mail] (Jerry Dallal) writes:

... Misc text deleted.

>        Other  hams have Yaesu's and argue that where intermod is most
>        severe  (the towers on Route 128)  there's no HT that  doesn't
                                                    ^^^^^^

>        suffer  some intermod.   People who wrote to me about  Yaesu's
>        were *truly*  enthusiastic about their units.   The people  at
>        HRO  were enthusiastic about Yaesu's;  even the  salesman  who

... More deleted.

I use a Motorola System Saber, and I never get any intermod.  In fact,
I've been on a 50+ story building that had radio/commerical/paging
transmitters on it and was able to talk to someone simplex without an
antenna.  If you want quality, don't buy Amateur Radio Japanese crap.

Ken-wood, would you?
Standard, NOT.
Ick-com.
Ick-zoo.

(Go ahead, flame me.)

73, de N9KET
Andrew

--
Andrew J. Doane            Nuclear Greenhouse BBS    [e-mail]
1010 W. Springfield Ave           [phone]        Amateur Radio N9KET
Apt #303            Running GTalk/GTnet        [phone] Pager
Urbana, IL  61801          Agent_X (Sysop)        andyd@IRC (IRC Op)

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

Date: Sun, 17 Apr 1994 16:13:26 GMT
From: ihnp4.ucsd.edu!swrinde!gatech!news.ans.net!malgudi.oar.net!witch!oldhagbug![e-mail]
Subject: Info on Ham for an interested could-be HAM
To: [e-mail]

First off let me say I am currently a Cber and I enjoy it. I hope
that doesn't influence any of you hams in the wrong way as I
understand there is some adversity between illegal CBers and ham
operators. Nuff said bout that lets get down to picking your ham
brains for info!

I have heard much about ham operation that interests me. I don't
know if all of what I will type is true or not, but that's what
I'm here for.

I have heard that on ?2 meters? and a "dial-pad" you can connect up
to a ?repeater? and make local phone calls? Do you need to belong
to any club to use someone elses repeater? Can anyone copy your
"phone" conversation? Is this an alternative to Cellular? Does the
new no-code (I don't know morse, but I could learn if I had to)
allow this band and.or this type of communicating?

Here is one that should stir many opinions. On 27Mhz we get alot
of skip and it destroys local communications. Although it is
illegal to talk skip (I have read) sometimes it is fun and
sometimes it is aggrevating. So, what is the best ham band to use
to avoid skip? What is the best ham band to talk skip? I hear skip
on ham is legal. Is it? I would assume 10-meters would be a good
skip area because of it closeness to CB freqs. Again am I able to
use these bands with the no-code?

Do ham radios usually cover many ham bands? Will one antenna cover
many ham bands? What is a good starter radio? What would you
expect me to pay to enter the ham arena? Bargain shopping and all.
I need radio and antenna, unless I can use my existing CB antenna,
wishful thinking on my part probably.

Obviously I have a computer and I have heard about ?packet? radio.
What is this? What band is this done on?

I think that covers all that I can think of now. If you have
anything to add please feel free to put it in words and type your
fingers to the bone. Looking forward to your responses!

I think messages should be posted and not e-mailed in case and
other interested passerbys happen to want the same information.

Thanks in advance for your help.


John
Magician

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

Date: 17 Apr 1994 19:27:09 GMT
From: ihnp4.ucsd.edu!usc!howland.reston.ans.net!usenet.ins.cwru.edu!odin![e-mail]
Subject: Info on Ham for an interested could-be HAM
To: [e-mail]

In article <[e-mail]>, John Dick <[e-mail]> wrote:
>I have heard that on ?2 meters? and a "dial-pad" you can connect up
>to a ?repeater? and make local phone calls?

On the 2 meter band, repeaters are quite popular.  These are
special-purpose radios, mounted in advantageous locations with good
antennas, that receive and retransmit weak signals.  Mobile and
portable 2m ham rigs talking to each other ("simplex") have a typical
range of maybe 0.5 to 10 miles, depending on the antennas available.
Going through a repeater can increase that range to 30 or 40 miles or
more.  Linked repeaters can give hundreds of miles of coverage.

Many, but not all, repeaters have "autopatches" which can make phone
calls.

>Do you need to belong to any club to use someone elses repeater?

Sometimes.  Many repeaters are "open", meaning anyone can use them.
It's considered proper to join the club supporting a repeater if you
use it often.  Repeaters are expensive and hard work to operate.

Autopatches are less often open.  (A repeater can be open but have a
closed autopatch.)  For autopatch access, it's usually necessary to
join the club that operates that repeater.

>Can anyone copy your "phone" conversation?

Yes.  A popular repeater probably has a couple dozen hams and maybe
another couple dozen scanner owners listening to every conversation.

Ham radio rules are set up so that anyone can copy any conversation.
Secrets are forbidden.

>Is this an alternative to Cellular?

Maybe.  Autopatch phone calls have to be kept short, whereas cellular
calls can be as long as you want.  Autopatches are less private than
cellular.  You have to be in range of a repeater on which you have
autopatch acces.  No business use is permitted, period.

Cellular is plug-and-play; autopatches aren't.

>Does the new no-code (I don't know morse, but I could learn if I had to)
>allow this band and.or this type of communicating?

Yes.

>So, what is the best ham band to use to avoid skip?  What is the best
>ham band to talk skip?

Hams have many bands available.  There are also many different ways to
"skip" from one place to another, and each band has its own characteristics
for long-distance propagation.

In general, the higher-frequency the band, the less often you will see
long-distance communications happen by accident.  2 meters, 1.25 meters,
and 70 centimeters are popular bands for local communications.

For ionospheric reflection, which is probably what you are seeing on
11m, the choice of the best band changes with the sunspot cycle, the
time of day, and conditions of the sun's surface and earth's upper
atmosphere.

>I hear skip on ham is legal. Is it?

Yes, quite legal, as long as the ham is operating within the
frequencies allowed for his/her license.  Some hams really get into
long-distance communications, called "DX".  There are even awards for
making lots of DX contacts.

>I would assume 10-meters would be a good skip area because of it closeness
>to CB freqs.

It is a good band for skip during the strong part of the 11-year
sunspot cycle.  We're on the declining edge of the cycle right now, so
10 meters is not going to be very good for DX for another 5 years or
so.  There are lots of other bands that can be used for DX, however,
and there will always be freak occurences that will open up 10 meters.
My first HF contact, a few weeks ago, was a conversation from Ohio to
California on 10 meters.  That is fairly respectable for a new ham using
a "dead" band.  :-)

(To give you an idea of what is possible, my second contact ("QSO") was
with a ham in Spain on 20m morse code.)

>Again am I able to use these bands with the no-code?

No.  The no-code Technician license can use 6 meters, which has a wide
variety of unpredictable propagation modes, but you need morse code in
order to get onto 10m and below, where world-wide communications is
common and somewhat reliable.

If you spend a couple of weeks with code tapes and learn 5 WPM morse
code, you can get onto 10 meters voice and 80, 40, 15, and 10 meter
morse code.  You can do worldwide communications with these bands.

>Do ham radios usually cover many ham bands?

It depends.  Commercial rigs for HF (the bands that get ionospheric
skip) tend to cover all HF bands.  Rigs for VHF and up often handle
only one band, or sometimes two.  It's also possible to buy a rig for
one band and hook up a converter to use it on other bands; hams who are
into VHF, UHF, and microwave do that a lot.

>Will one antenna cover many ham bands?

It depends on the antenna and the bands in question.  The answer to
this question is "maybe", and that's final.  ;-)

You may be able to use your CB antenna for 10 meters, but if you're
going for no-code, that won't be very useful.

Hams often build antennas.  It's not too hard to put up a good antenna
for $10 to $30.

>What is a good starter radio? What would you expect me to pay to enter
>the ham arena?

Your choice of start radio depends on which bands you plan to work.

>Obviously I have a computer and I have heard about ?packet? radio.
>What is this? What band is this done on?

Packet radio is, in essence, building a network using radio links.
There is a lot of room for experimentation here!  Packet activity
occurs on all bands, but most of it is on 2 meters.

There are some good books about ham radio out there.  They answer all
of these questions and more.  Look for them in your local library,
bookstores, ham radio stores (most are pretty friendly), or Radio
Shack.  Watch out for older books in the library.  While they get the
idea of ham radio across, the license requirements, procedures, and
privleges have changed a lot in recent years.

Another good way to get information is to find some area hams.  Ask
around and some may surface, or just show up at a meeting of a ham
radio club!  You'll probably find someone friendly who can help you get
into ham radio.

       Stephen  KB8PWA/AA

--
Stephen Trier  KB8PWA       "It don't mean a thing if it ain't got that
Other: [e-mail]     certain je ne sais quoi."
Home: [e-mail]                         - Peter Schickele

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

Date: Mon, 18 Apr 1994 00:04:22 GMT
From: ihnp4.ucsd.edu!agate!howland.reston.ans.net!torn!nott!cunews!freenet.carleton.ca!FreeNet.Carleton.CA![e-mail]
Subject: KENWOOD 850SAT - Experiences
To: [e-mail]

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 ?

MANY THANKS FOR ANY INFORMATION THAT YOU MAY HAVE.

JOEL LEVIS
VE3CJJ

AS459 OR [e-mail]

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

Date: 18 Apr 1994 02:24:03 -0400
From: ihnp4.ucsd.edu!usc!howland.reston.ans.net!news.ans.net!hp81.prod.aol.net!search01.news.aol.com![e-mail]
Subject: KENWOOD 850SAT - Experiences
To: [e-mail]

I've had one for over a year.  It has proven to be an outstanding rig at this
QTH for both SSB and CW operation.  Antenna tuner is very fast, and band
memories are very helpful.

Danny Goodman AE9F/6

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

Date: 17 Apr 1994 11:40:09 GMT
From: ihnp4.ucsd.edu!usc!sol.ctr.columbia.edu!newsxfer.itd.umich.edu!news1.oakland.edu!vela.acs.oakland.edu![e-mail]
Subject: MFJ-9040
To: [e-mail]

Keith M. Hamilton ([e-mail]) wrote:

: I am considering the purchase of the MFJ-9040 at Dayton.  I would
: appreciate your comments pro and con about the rig.  Seems like
: the very best radio for the money as far as I've seen.
: Agree?

Nope.  The very best radio for @$160 (being reasonable here) would be a
used TenTec Century 21.

Now if you are talking brand-new-in-the box, I personally can't think of
any other HF tranceivers availble for that price.  I have a 9040 and it
is VERY nice.  Works GREAT with the new Radio Shack DSP unit too.

73 paul wb8zjl

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

Date: 17 Apr 1994 14:38:12 GMT
From: ihnp4.ucsd.edu!agate!howland.reston.ans.net!pipex!sunic!trane.uninett.no!nac.no!nntp-oslo.uninett.no!mac_inge![e-mail]
Subject: Need Linear Amplifier info..
To: [e-mail]

Hi!

I am thinking of buying a Linear Amplifier for
my HF rig (FT757GX2).

I can buy the DRAKE L4D, the YAESU FL-7000, or
the KENWOOD TL922.

I wonder if somebody can tell me somthing about
any of these Amplifiers because I have no information
about them.
I would like to know about output power, which tubes
etc.

vy 73s de Tom
LA1BJA
e-mail: tomrune@mac_inge.itek.norut.no

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

Date: 15 Apr 94 03:01:49 GMT
From: agate!howland.reston.ans.net!europa.eng.gtefsd.com!uhog.mit.edu!xn.ll.mit.edu!noc.near.net!news.delphi.com![e-mail]
Subject: Radio Shack problems!!
To: [e-mail]

I knew someone that also had problems with a Radio Shack HT, I'm not sure what
kind it was.  I know myself from experience, I had a tandy computer, and it was
pure garbage.  I'm glad I finally invested in an IBM.  I think radio wise, you
are better getting
 a Yasue or Kenwood.  I know this friend had his HT in the shop more than he
used the thing.  I hope this helped a little.

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

Date: Sun, 17 Apr 1994 15:53:11 GMT
From: ihnp4.ucsd.edu!library.ucla.edu!csulb.edu!csus.edu!netcom.com![e-mail]
Subject: Screen voltage for pr. 4cx250B's on 2M?
To: [e-mail]

I was fortunate (!) to acquire the RF deck from a push-pull pair of 4CX250Bs
on 2M, built verbatim from an article in Feb. 1964 QST. The P/S was in pieces
and I decided to build a new one. Most screen supply design's I've seen are
regulated (the unit here had VR *tubes*). I can VR with tubes, string of
zener diodes, (presumably) a pass transistor linear regulator, or just build
an unregulated supply with excess bleeder resistor dissipation. How important
is regulation on the screen supply? I've seen screen voltages for this kind of
tube from 200V to 350V --- how do I pick the best value? Plate voltage will be
~2200V under load. Advice & comments appreciated! 73 Dave WB0GAZ [e-mail]

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

Date: 18 Apr 1994 06:39:50 GMT
From: mozz.unh.edu!christa.unh.edu![e-mail]
Subject: Wanted: info on Cheap O-Scope
To: [e-mail]

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    | [phone] {W}  +
+      Rm 323 Morse Hall    |   [e-mail]    | [phone] {H}  +
+ University of New Hampshire    |  [e-mail]|---------------------+
+   Space Science Center    | Mechanical Engineering| Lookin' for work in +
+     Durham, NH 03824        |    Department    |       May '94          +
===============================================================================

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

Date: 17 Apr 1994 11:45:08 -0400
From: ihnp4.ucsd.edu!swrinde!gatech!news.ans.net!hp81.prod.aol.net!search01.news.aol.com![e-mail]
Subject: WANTED: Sony or Grunding radios
To: [e-mail]

WANTED
------

SONY ICF-2010  or  SONY ICF-SW77  or  GRUNDING SATELLITE 700  or
GRUNDING YACHT BOY 400 short wave radio

Please state condition & asking price.

Contact Joe at:

Voice [phone]
Fax   [phone]

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

End of Ham-Equip Digest V94 #113
******************************