QRZ! Ham Radio 4/QRZ Ham Radio Callsign Database - Volume 4.iso/digests/equip/940154.txt

Internet Message Format | 1994-11-14 | 22KB

Date: Sun, 22 May 94 04:30:38 PDT
From: Ham-Equip Mailing List and Newsgroup <[e-mail]>
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Subject: Ham-Equip Digest V94 #154
To: Ham-Equip


Ham-Equip Digest            Sun, 22 May 94       Volume 94 : Issue  154

Today's Topics:
              6-meter Mobile (and the new TS60) (2 msgs)
             [Summary] Kenwood TH-78A  *OR*  Yaesu FT-530
                  [SUMMARY] PK-232MBX vs. MFJ-1278B
             Advice sought: 10m rig & car don't get along
                       AM Mod on Alinco DJ-F1T
                 Is it worth re-tubing GLA-1000B amp
         Is it worth re-tubing GLA-1000B amp based on 6LQ6's?
                       TH78 No more 800 mhz rx?
                   TS50 Users - Comments? (2 msgs)
               WANTED: Current MODS for Kenwood TH 78A
                 Wanted:Laptop or Portable for Packet

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: 21 May 94 12:25:34 GMT
From: agate!howland.reston.ans.net!darwin.sura.net!blackhole.delmarva.com!blackhole.delmarva.com![e-mail]
Subject: 6-meter Mobile (and the new TS60)
To: [e-mail]

Is 6-meter mobile DX a practical concept?  I have been seeing/hearing of
sporadic band openings and was curious.

I'm a new ham (waiting for the folks in Gettysburg to print my ticket) and
wondered if 6 meters would provide some challenge.

Anyone operating with the new TS60 out there?

    - John

---
+---------------------------------------------------------------------+
|  John K. Scoggin, Jr.            Email: [e-mail]   |
|  Supervisor, Network Operations              [e-mail]    |
|  Delmarva Power & Light Company       Phone: [phone]         |
|  500 N. Wakefield Drive               NOC:   [phone]         |
|  Newark, DE 19714-6066        Fax:   [phone]         |
|                      Ham:   N3??? (real soon now!) |
|  The opinions expressed are not those of Delmarva Power, simply the |
|  product of an over-active imagination...                           |
|  Just a pothole-patcher on the Information Superhighway.            |
+---------------------------------------------------------------------+

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

Date: 22 May 94 00:34:50 GMT
From: dog.ee.lbl.gov!agate!spool.mu.edu!sdd.hp.com!col.hp.com![e-mail]
Subject: 6-meter Mobile (and the new TS60)
To: [e-mail]

John K Scoggin Jr ([e-mail]) wrote:

: Is 6-meter mobile DX a practical concept?  I have been seeing/hearing of
: sporadic band openings and was curious.

  Let's see... define "practical". I've run 6 meters mobile and have
  enjoyed it immensely. The thing you've got to understand about 6M operation
  is that its generally long periods of boredom punctuated by short
  periods of excitement. The band openings are fun, somewhat infrequent,
  and difficult to predict.

Bob Witte / [e-mail]  / Hewlett Packard PMO / KB0CY  / [phone]

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

Date: Sun, 22 May 1994 09:05:46 GMT
From: vigra.com![e-mail]
Subject: [Summary] Kenwood TH-78A  *OR*  Yaesu FT-530
To: [e-mail]

A while back I was following the thread on the Kenwood TH-78A vs.
Yaesu FT-530, and I thought I'd post a summary of what I learned from
y'all, since it seems there's a few other people out there faced with
the same choice.

First, I had a lot of incorrect info in my post.  Specifically:
- The Yaesu digital microphone is NOT alphanumeric.
- CTCSS *does* come standard with the Kenwood in the U.S.  Other
  countries maybe not, so check.
- The Kenwood keypad *does* light up with the display, just like the Yaesu.

All told, it sounds like the two radios are very close in features.
Only the Kenwood has alphanumeric memory, but it costs you half of
your slots.  An expansion to 250 memories (125 alpha) is available,
but the standard memory (50) is less than the Yaesu (82).

The Yaesu has an internal voltmeter, PL tone search, and Vox built in.

Some say that the keypad on the Yaesu is a bit easier to use because
it does't have the sliding cover like the Kenwood.  Others like the
cover.

Apparently, the antenna that comes with the Kenwood is not too good,
and it's a little shorter than the Yaesu's.  Some recommend a
third-party add-on duckie.

As far as reception, they sound pretty much the same.  The Yaesu may
have a little better intermod rejection, but not that much.

The decision???
I chose the Yaesu FT-530, and have had it for about a few weeks now.
I like it very much, but it has a few ergonomic snags.  I also did the
recieve-only expansion mod (13 & 15), and it seems to work fine.  I'll
probably post a summary of my impressions after I give it a few more
weeks.  By then, I may even have paging figured out. :-)

Thanks very much for all your input, especially Marc Wollemborg
<[e-mail]> for passing info along.  My thanks to:

  [e-mail] (Scott F. Migaldi)
  prvalko <[e-mail]>
  [e-mail] (Marsolais, Pierre)
  [e-mail] (David R Tucker)
  Robert Penneys <[e-mail]>
  Gerwitz James <[e-mail]>
  [e-mail]
  [e-mail]
  Troyce <[e-mail]>
  William A. Kirsanoff <[e-mail]>
  [e-mail] (Bob Levine)
  [e-mail] (Roger Buffington)

-Steve

Steve Haehnichen                 Vigra, Inc.  San Diego, CA
[e-mail]                  [phone] x116   Fax: [phone]

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

Date: Sun, 22 May 1994 08:35:25 GMT
From: vigra.com![e-mail]
Subject: [SUMMARY] PK-232MBX vs. MFJ-1278B
To: [e-mail]

I got a lot of helpful replies to my recent "PK-232MBX vs. MFJ-1278B"
post.  Thanks much!  Here's what I learned:

Most people strongly prefer AEA's gear over MFJ.  Apparently, MFJ's
quality control leaves something to be desired.  Some have had better
luck than others, but some replies indicate that MFJ does much poorer
with weak signal HF, and the MFJ leaks significant amounts of RF,
which hurts some more than others.  The filtering on the PK-232 is
much better than the MFJ's, and the tuning indicator is more useful.

Both units are about equal for local VHF packet, where filtering and
discrimination isn't too much of an issue.  Many recommended checking
into the KAM units or PK900 as well, but I haven't yet.

ROM upgrades for the PK-232 are more expensive ($75 + $25 for docs)
than the MFJ upgrades ($25).  If you plan on upgrading often, this may
be an issue.

It's true that only the MFJ does SSTV and shaded Fax, so for those who
use it for that, the AEA can't substitute.  However, most replies
recommended getting a basic Fax-only box if Fax is going to be a
significant factor.  The AEA-FAX (~$100 hardware & software) is well
recommended.

Apparently, AEA doesn't provide or make available any software to
decode the Fax data from the PK-232, making it pretty useless.  MFJ is
a better about it, but doesn't get along with Windows very well.  The
MFJ software may also be minimally copy-protected, which seems odd.

The internal BBS feature on the MFJ (pbbs) seems a bit better than the
PK-232's (PakMail).  People like the CHAT command and some
auto-forwarding features.  It sounds like gobs of RAM aren't really an
issue for personal mailboxes with medium traffic.

Overall, it sounds like the PK-232 is a much more reliable unit for
Packet and other modes, but if SSTV or Fax are critical, MFJ or
specialized boxes are the only option.  Many suggested starting with
the inexpensive Baycom (~$50), but it only work's on DOS machines.

Thanks very much for all your responses!  Especially these helpful folks:
  [e-mail] (Barry Kutner)
  Kok Chen <[e-mail]>
  [e-mail] (R M Kriss)
  [e-mail] (Geoffrey S. Mendelson)
  [e-mail] (Joe Gregg)
  [e-mail] (Jim Lynch)
  [e-mail] (John Donaldson)
  [e-mail] (Bob Levine)

Happy Hacking!
-Steve
Steve Haehnichen                 Vigra, Inc.  San Diego, CA
[e-mail]                  [phone] x116   Fax: [phone]

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

Date: Fri, 20 May 1994 18:04:54 GMT
From: ihnp4.ucsd.edu!library.ucla.edu!csulb.edu!nic-nac.CSU.net!usc!howland.reston.ans.net!europa.eng.gtefsd.com!emory!rsiatl!ke4zv![e-mail]
Subject: Advice sought: 10m rig & car don't get along
To: [e-mail]

In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail] (Bernhard Stepke) writes:
>I have a HR2510 inside a diesel powered 87 VW. When I key up I experience one
>or more of the following symptoms: an alarm I have never heard before, a wild
>tachometer, seat belt warning light, oil warning light, clicking noise in the
>fuse box. The latter is the most common. I am glad that I don't have a
>computer in there controlling an engine (my diesel is mechanically inclined so
>to speak).
>
>I have a direct power line to the battery and a glass mounted antenna.
>I tried 3 other antennas & coax cables...no difference. SWR is within
>acceptable limits. Does anybody have any suggestions ?

Were any of those 3 other antennas thru-hole mounted?

If not, you've just found the root of your trouble. When I tried a
glass mounted dummy load on my Camaro, its instruments went nuts too.
A magmount caused less trouble, and even radiated a fair signal, but
it took *drilling the hole* and mounting a real antenna to solve the
problem of RF in the cabin.

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     |                     |

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

Date: Fri, 20 May 94 21:40:00 -0500
From: iat.holonet.net!wwswinc![e-mail]
Subject: AM Mod on Alinco DJ-F1T
To: [e-mail]

I clipped the appropriate wire to enable AM aircraft receive on my
Alinco DJ-F1T, but the aircraft audio seems distorted and the
sensituvity somewhat poor on AM.

Anyone else notice this on Alinco or other HTs?

Any comments or suggestions are welcome.

73
Art N2AH

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

Date: 22 May 94 05:13:14 GMT
From: dog.ee.lbl.gov!agate!cat.cis.Brown.EDU!noc.near.net!news.delphi.com![e-mail]
Subject: Is it worth re-tubing GLA-1000B amp
To: [e-mail]

>I have a Dentron GLA-1000B amplifier (80-15/10, ~600W out from four
6LQ6's).
>I'm trying to decide what to do with it - the tubes are pretty well shot
and
>I'm told that new sweep tubes are expensive, difficult to obtain, and
>may not work as well (i.e., lifetime) as tubes that were contemporary with
>the amplifier (early 80s). Can someone tell me a good source for good
quality,
>inexpensive 6LQ6's (this would fix my problem but such a source may not
exist),
>or should I try to rebuild the amp using real transmitting tube(s),
>or should I trash it? If I rebuild it using real tube(s), what tube would
>be a good choice for a similar operating point (about 1100V on the plate,
about
>750 mA on the plate). I've been looking at tube spec sheets and it seems
that
>most tubes in this power class are designed for higher (2KV or more) plate
>voltage and I don't think I have room inside the box for the larger plate
>tuning capacitor that would be required. It would, however, make a fun
project.
>--- Comments?  Thanx!! 73 dave WB0GAZ [e-mail]
>
>
Dave,

Try using 6MJ6's instead. I used an amp w/them and got pretty good life out
of them (>8 years w/heavy use on 80M cw/ssb).

Andy N3LCW

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

Date: 21 May 94 23:33:46 GMT
From: agate!library.ucla.edu!csulb.edu!csus.edu!netcom.com![e-mail]
Subject: Is it worth re-tubing GLA-1000B amp based on 6LQ6's?
To: [e-mail]

I have a Dentron GLA-1000B amplifier (80-15/10, ~600W out from four 6LQ6's).
I'm trying to decide what to do with it - the tubes are pretty well shot and
I'm told that new sweep tubes are expensive, difficult to obtain, and
may not work as well (i.e., lifetime) as tubes that were contemporary with
the amplifier (early 80s). Can someone tell me a good source for good quality,
inexpensive 6LQ6's (this would fix my problem but such a source may not exist),
or should I try to rebuild the amp using real transmitting tube(s),
or should I trash it? If I rebuild it using real tube(s), what tube would
be a good choice for a similar operating point (about 1100V on the plate, about
750 mA on the plate). I've been looking at tube spec sheets and it seems that
most tubes in this power class are designed for higher (2KV or more) plate
voltage and I don't think I have room inside the box for the larger plate
tuning capacitor that would be required. It would, however, make a fun project.
--- Comments?  Thanx!! 73 dave WB0GAZ [e-mail]

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

Date: Fri, 20 May 1994 15:24:33 GMT
From: mvb.saic.com!unogate!news.service.uci.edu!usc!howland.reston.ans.net!gatech!udel!news2.sprintlink.net!news.sprintlink.net!sundog.tiac.net!usenet.elf.com!rpi!psinntp!arrl.@@ihnp4.ucsd.edu
Subject: TH78 No more 800 mhz rx?
To: [e-mail]

There was a recent posting in the scanner newsgroup to the effect
that Kenwood worked real hard to eliminate 800-900 MHz coverage
on this radio.  In the USA Congress told the FCC to make it more
difficult for people to modify scanners to cover cellular phones.

[e-mail] VE3ZDC wrote:
: I just bought a Kenwood TH78A Dual Band at Dayton and have had the wide band
: modifications done to it.  Important to me was 800 mhz public safety receive
: but it seems that it will not cover there.  It will receive the 300 mhz
: extended rx but not 800 mhz.

: The tech did the D3, D4, and removed the W1 jumper. D1, D2, D5 and D6 are
: all present.  We did the memory reset.  Did we miss something?

--
Zack Lau  KH6CP/1           2 way QRP WAS
                           8 States on 10 GHz
Internet: [e-mail]   10 grids on 2304 MHz

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

Date: 21 May 94 12:15:34 GMT
From: [e-mail]
Subject: TS50 Users - Comments?
To: [e-mail]

Any Hams using the TS-50 compact HS Txcvr that have good or bad experiences?

Jack/aa1fh

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

Date: Sat, 21 May 94 08:37:59 PDT
From: usenet.elf.com!sundog.tiac.net!news.sprintlink.net!news.onramp.net![e-mail]
Subject: TS50 Users - Comments?
To: [e-mail]

I have had a TS-50 for a year...first Kenwood I've been real happy with. It is s fine rig
for mobile operation. Lets me do hamming, cbing and swling. I keep as default antenna a 4
foot ten meter whip on a trunk lip mount, and with that setup it is great for swling,
etc. I keep a supply of Hamstick antennas in the trunk, just in case i get serious while
out and about.

I would not reccomend the TS-50 for home operation. It lacks the ammenities that you
would need there, but for mobile ops it is top of its class.

-George Csahanin
WB2DYB/5

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

Date: 20 May 94 17:23:24 GMT
From: elroy.jpl.nasa.gov!usc!cs.utexas.edu!news.unt.edu!sol![e-mail]
Subject: WANTED: Current MODS for Kenwood TH 78A
To: [e-mail]

Hiya Folks,
    Does anyone have the current mods list for the 78A?  The latest
one I found was DEC of 93. If its easier just email it to me at
[e-mail] .  And also, if anyone here happens to be an
EMT/Paramed, will it TX and RX on med emergencyy frequencies <Sure
wouldbe better than having to use the old maxoms we have.

TNX

Trey

[e-mail]

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

Date: Sat, 21 May 1994 08:01:36 GMT
From: ihnp4.ucsd.edu!mvb.saic.com!news.cerf.net!usc!sdd.hp.com!saimiri.primate.wisc.edu!news.doit.wisc.edu!F180-155.net.wisc.edu![e-mail]
Subject: Wanted:Laptop or Portable for Packet
To: [e-mail]

Hi and thanks for reading this,

    I am interested in getting hold of a laptop or portable computer to
be used only with my packet station.  I am looking for something that is a
286 to 386, can run MSDOS (4 or 5 - I have the software), has at least one
floppy drive (3.5" or 5.25") and at least a 10 meg hard drive.

    I am hoping :) to find one for less that $250.00.  If anyone out
there as one that is "collecting dust", please contact me either at:

    Home phone # [phone]
        E mail Address : [e-mail]
        Packet PBBS : WA2DEU@WD9ESU.#SCWI.WI.USA.NOAM
                      Verona, WI  53593

    Looking forward to any comments and/or offers.  73 de WA2DEU



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

Date: 22 May 94 03:53:04 GMT
From: agate!ihnp4.ucsd.edu!news.cerf.net!ccnet.com!ccnet.com![e-mail]
To: [e-mail]

References <2qdrf1$[e-mail]>, <2qdt0e$[e-mail]>, <CSLE87-100594161425@145.39.1.10>for
Subject : Re: FT-530 AM Mode on 800 Band Possible?

Karl Beckman ([e-mail]) wrote:
: In article <2qdt0e$[e-mail]>, [e-mail] (Ken Stamm) wrote:

: > VFO    Band    AM Possible?
: > -----    ------    ------------
: > Right    800Mhz    No (FM Only)

: That's OK, Ken, you aren't missing anything. Nobody runs AM on 800
: MHz in the USA because the FCC generally does not allow it on any
: land mobile band anymore. Therefore I would expect that the AM mode
: is in the radio ONLY for aircraft band reception from 108-136 MHz
: because that's the only place they still use AM.

The new 900 MHz air phone band uses narrow band amplitude compandered
technology. Frequency spacing of 6 kHz. To demodulate these signals the
am detector works best in the simple handheld radios.



--
     Bob Wilkins                     work    [e-mail]
 Berkeley, California                home    [e-mail]
     94701-0710                      play    n6fri@n6eeg.#nocal.ca.usa.noam

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

Date: Sat, 21 May 1994 08:50:18 -0700 (PDT)
From: ronald jackson <[e-mail]>
To: [e-mail]

delete [e-mail] ham-equip

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

Date: Sat, 21 May 1994 03:11:14 GMT
From: rde!gator!tous!ocelot!sgb![e-mail]
To: [e-mail]

References <[e-mail]>, <2qp6r0$[e-mail]>, <phb.768831409@melpar>sgb
Subject : Re: Newbie WARNING to fellow Newbies

Paul H. Bock ([e-mail]) wrote:
: [e-mail] (richard nimtz) writes:

: >What are the legalities of using a headset/earphone while mobile? I searched
: >the Indiana Code index the other day and didn't find anything related to it.

:      Can't speak for Indiana, but in Virginia wearing any type of headset
: while driving is against the law; I think the fine is in the $75 range.
: Several urban counties enacted this legislation a number of years ago before
: the state did, but now it's a statewide law.

It seems I thought Florida had such a rule on the books as well, except I
noticed the other day the guys who drive the county fire trucks always are
wearing headsets, presumably for information/directions, etc.

I guess the question might be are emergency vehicles/drivers exempt when
in an emergency vehicle from this rule (if it exists, I just thought it
did, for some reason).

They probably ought to do something about headsets and joggers/walkers...
I often ride my bicycle along the bicycle/jogging trails (they were on
the books as bicycle paths -long- before jogging trails ever was mentioned)
and I absolutely hate, despise these idiot joggers with their headphones
on their walkmans who can't hear you coming, can hear an "excuse me", they
just keep on puffing at 5mph not able to hear a darn thing!  And if you
happened to be in their path, expect to get ran-over.  They seem to think
you will shift out of their way (even though they are pedestrian traffic
which should go -around- a stationary item, not over or through it!!).

Yeah, I know this got slightly off topic... Sorry guys,

Steven
---
Internet:        [e-mail]         |  Steven G. Bradley
                 [e-mail]            |  Forest City, Florida
GEnie:           [e-mail]  |-----------------------
CompuServe:      [e-mail]   |  Phone:   [phone]
America Online:  [e-mail]          |  Modem:   407/862-8088

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

End of Ham-Equip Digest V94 #154
******************************