QRZ! Ham Radio 4/QRZ Ham Radio Callsign Database - Volume 4.iso/digests/infoham/940752.txt

Text File | 1994-11-13 | 27KB | 634 lines

Date: Wed,  6 Jul 94 12:06:20 PDT
From: Info-Hams Mailing List and Newsgroup <[e-mail]>
Errors-To: [e-mail]
Reply-To: [e-mail]
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Subject: Info-Hams Digest V94 #752
To: Info-Hams


Info-Hams Digest            Wed,  6 Jul 94       Volume 94 : Issue  752

Today's Topics:
                           A3 Yagi  problem
            Amateur calls on auto license plates? (2 msgs)
                        Buying in the Far East
            Copying CW, and why it's friendlier than phone
                  Does CW as a pre-req REALLY Work?
                        FM/TV-DX Publications
               New York State's new ham license plates
                      Please help with paKet 6.0
                       Radios for Emergency Use
                Sock Size Conversion Chart: Inches/CM

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: 6 Jul 94 18:35:46 GMT
From: [e-mail]
Subject: A3 Yagi  problem
To: [e-mail]

I have a A3 beam with 40 meter extentions for 4 years on a 40 foot tower.
Yesterday I was unable to load my TS-950 on 7mhz, 14 mhz and 28mhz.  It works
fine on 21mhz and 29mhz.  The rig works fine into dummy load and  dipole.  HELP

   KW1L
[e-mail]

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

Date: 6 Jul 1994 12:01:04 -0400
From: ihnp4.ucsd.edu!usc!howland.reston.ans.net!gatech!newsxfer.itd.umich.edu!montego![e-mail]
Subject: Amateur calls on auto license plates?
To: [e-mail]

[e-mail] (David A. Johnson) writes:

>Fred Lloyd [Phoenix SE] writes
>In article <2vbdpk$[e-mail]> [e-mail] (Dan
>Hughes) writes:
>>
>>I see a lot of vehicles with ham calls on their plates, but I am wary of
>>doing this for fear that the specialized plates are a billboard to
>>thieves that there might be expensive radio equipment in the vehicle.
>>
>>Any comments pro or con?  Thanks!     ---Dan, N9XDK


>I guess I'm the exception!  I decided to change my plates to Ham plates
>when I purchased my last car.  I had 2m and 10m rigs mounted (rather
>ridgedly) under the dash.  My girlfriend at the time (now my wife)
>lived in a neiborhood of Chicago that boardered a rather gang ridden
>region (as most of the city is).  One night as you might predict by now,

[rest deleted]

I too have HAM Radio plates... but I currently have no amateur radio gear
in my car... I don't think they really make a difference, most thieves will
think they are vanity plates or something.  However, my car was hit, parked
in my car port at my apartment in Novi michigan (and to think i moved to
Novi to be FARTHER from DETROIT and avoid crime... heh!)

I had an Alpine in Dash CD, stolen.. also all my CDs, hand held car phone in
the glove box, and computer tools were stolen.

Made a nice mess of the dash not to mention the shattered window..

Anyway, the moral here is to make your car less of a target I think..
I put in an alarm, and now i remove the face plate from the radio when
ever I leave the car for long periods...  What really irkes me is having to
change my lifestyle because of them! So I say get the HAM plates!

>david...... N9HAM

Great call sign! I couldn't believe it at first, so i had
to look it up! sure enough!


--
* Matt Weisberg, CNE         MILLIWAYS - Computer and Network Consulting  *
* PP-ASEL                                21650 West Eleven Mile Road #202 *
* Amateur Radio: KF8OH                   Southfield, MI 48076             *
* Internet: [e-mail] [phone] x11  Fax:[phone]  *

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

Date: Wed, 6 Jul 1994 16:51:11 GMT
From: ihnp4.ucsd.edu!sdd.hp.com!col.hp.com!csn!yuma![e-mail]
Subject: Amateur calls on auto license plates?
To: [e-mail]

In article <[e-mail]> William=E.=[e-mail] writes:
>>I see a lot of vehicles with ham calls on their plates, but I am wary of
>>doing this for fear that the specialized plates are a billboard to
>>thieves that there might be expensive radio equipment in the vehicle.
>>Any comments pro or con?  Thanks!     ---Dan, N9XDK
>
>the radio antennas are a giveaway as well.

You mean you put around $1k in radios in your car and don't have an alarm?

I don't have an alarm either, but I do have a red LED on top of the dash and
alarm stickers on the windows.  Thieves want minimum hassle, make your
vehicle look like it's gonna be a pain to rip off, and they'll go away.

Galen, KF0YJ

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

Date: Wed, 06 Jul 1994 13:51:37 -0500
From: ihnp4.ucsd.edu!agate!howland.reston.ans.net!gatech!newsxfer.itd.umich.edu!jobone!opeo!fiesta.srl.ford.com!raven.srl.ford.com!osprey.srl.ford.com![e-mail]
Subject: Buying in the Far East
To: [e-mail]

In article <[e-mail]>, [e-mail] () wrote:

> The text was supposed to be, "Are there any bargins left in Tokyo or
Singapore  in the way of 2meter or hp transceivers? I may go there next
month. Thanks, Tom
>

Tokyo? Bargains? Surely you're joking Mr. Adams. I was in Tokyo last Sept
(when the dollar was hanging at about 102 yen) and found nothing that
could not be had for a good bit less in New York.

If you're going, check out the Akhibara district, right outside the
Akhibara JR station. Even if you don't buy it's a trip. The back alleys
are filled with tiny electronics shops and stands -- it sort of looks like
a scene from Blade Runner. I was looking for a bargain on a Sony SW77 and
never found it. I did however, get a Sony AN-101 active antenna for about
US $90 which I think is no more than I would have paid in the US. Lot's of
fun looking and quite a few Japan-only products that haven't made it to
the US yet.

I don't know about Singapore (wish I did!) but Hong Kong is definitely
worth checking out. Prices in Kowloon seemed to be about 20% to 30% lower
than the US for consumer electronics. Be careful about warrantys -- some
manufacturers (read Sony) don't honor non-US warrantys. At least our local
Sony service center can get quite nasty about it. I actually watched them
tell a Korean gentlemen that was clearly stationed in the US on assignment
that his radio was grey-market and wouldn't touch it. I don't know if he
ever got it fixed.

--
Jeff Greenberg              Ford Research Laboratory     Dearborn,MI
[e-mail]                Phone: [phone]

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

Date: 6 Jul 94 12:14:37 -0500
From: ihnp4.ucsd.edu!library.ucla.edu!europa.eng.gtefsd.com!ulowell!woods.uml.edu![e-mail]
Subject: Copying CW, and why it's friendlier than phone
To: [e-mail]

In article <2vejbp$[e-mail]>, [e-mail]
(Scott Richard Rosenfeld) writes:

> It's held in high regard as an ART form by many.  Besides, how long
> would it take to say
>
>   "Get off this net frequency now, you stupid moron, it's here every day"

Try this?   QRT LID, NET HR DLY

I'm sure you thought of this didn't you Scott?  Says the same thing and saves
a lot of time.  Of course without the comma you'd think there was a LID net
going on daily.  he hehe.  Yeah, imagine that, a LID net.  Now, how would a
LID tell a good operator to get off the freq?  He wouldn't.  He'd just key
over him like he wasn't there and call CQ all day without signing his callsign.
He he hehe.

Cheers!
  &
  73!

-jim-  WK1V

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

Date: 6 Jul 1994 11:46:02 -0400
From: ihnp4.ucsd.edu!swrinde!gatech!news.ans.net!newstf01.cr1.aol.com!search01.news.aol.com![e-mail]
Subject: Does CW as a pre-req REALLY Work?
To: [e-mail]

In article <[e-mail]>, [e-mail]
(Andy Domonkos) writes:

>BTW, the previously described garbage doesn't seem to appear in the
>Extra-class portions of the bands as much as it does elsewhere

Unfortunately, most of the convicted screwballs are Extras.  I guess some
Extras feel they get more privileges than just some extra khz.  Also, the
majority of U.S. net operations are in the General portions, so there is
plenty of fodder for the lids.

Perhaps one of the things that disguises the lids on CW is that except for
blatant cases of QRMing a station by holding the left side of the keyer
paddle, you have to really listen to hear what the lid is saying.  Voice
comes and grabs you too readily.  By the same token, it's much easier for
a lid to find something to jam on voice than on CW.

Danny Goodman AE9F/6

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

Date: Wed, 6 Jul 1994 17:37:42 GMT
From: ihnp4.ucsd.edu!swrinde!howland.reston.ans.net!EU.net!Germany.EU.net!netmbx.de!zrz.TU-Berlin.DE!math.fu-berlin.de!fub46![e-mail]
Subject: FM/TV-DX Publications
To: [e-mail]

           UKW/TV-Arbeitskreis - Redaktion REFLEXION
      Frank Helmbold, St.Gotthard-Str. 57, D-28325 Bremen
         email internet: Frank_Helmbold @ hb2.maus.de


Introduction to two new useful publications from UKW/TV-Arbeitskreis
--------------------------------------------------------------------

         2nd edition of  "Feeders and Harmonics"
          (now bilingual in English and German)

Especially in Italy, but also in France, broadcasters are using
frequencies within VHF band I between 45 and 70 MHz as feeder links
from their studios to the main transmitter sites.

Our publication gives a detailed introduction to this sort of DX,
receivers, antennas, conditions and so on.
Then there are four listings:
- all known feeder frequencies in VHF-band I, programmes, locations,
  plus observed harmonic outlets originating from shortwave transmitters
- addresses of over 130 stations
- parallel frequencies of the same programmes in the range 87 to
  108 MHz, to enable comparison
as well especially for travellers:
- the same feeder frequencies, sorted by countries and provinces.
The publication consists of 32 pages, A4 format, and costs
DM 5,- (3 IRCs oder 4 US$).

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

        "TV-MAP" - a vhf band I TV transmitter atlas

As a completion of it's "TV-LIST", the german "UKW/TV-Arbeitskreis"
now publishes "TV-MAP". This kind of atlas (28 pages in A4 format)
contains 24 maps, showing the location of all TV vision and sound
carriers of more than 1 KW power in Europe and the Middle East in the
TV-Band 48 to 100 MHz. Another map shows the location of the amateur
radio beacons in the 50 MHz-band in the same region. Furthermore,
"TV-MAP" contains two transparents which can be laid over the maps:
one transparent with a geographic coordinates grid and amateur-radio
locators and another transparent with distance circles.

This atlas is in frequency order and offers a good overview of all
frequency users in this range whose transmissions might be watched
with a TV or received with a scanner.

Furthermore it is conceived especially to facilitate quick identifi-
cation of stations that may be received in this band by Sporadic-E
propagation (from May till September). Using the distance circle
transparent you can see which transmitters you are able to receive by
Sporadic-E (and which not). You can determine quickly and easily the
approximate distance between you and the transmitter.

For amateur radio: The TV-carriers also are very useful for estimating
the propagation conditions in the 50 MHz and 70 MHz amateur bands.

Prices:
"TV-MAP":                DM 10,-- (5 IRC, 6 US-$)
"TV-LIST":               DM 12,50 (7 IRC, 8 US-$)
"TV-MAP" and "TV-LIST":  DM 20,00 (10 IRC, 12 US-$)

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

All these publications are available via the following address:
UKW/TV-Arbeitskreis, c/o Hans-Jrgen Kuhlo, Im Strehling 8,
D-64342 Seeheim-Jugenheim, Germany.
Pay by international money order or transfer to postal giro
account Dortmund No 201100-466 (BLZ 440 100 46), c/o H.-J. Kuhlo. No
airmail delivery possible to overseas countries.

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

The UKW/TV-Arbeitskreis is a non-profit organization.
======================================================================

***********************************************************************
* Posted by Michael Woldt                    [e-mail] *
***********************************************************************

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

Date: 6 Jul 1994 11:52:37 -0400
From: ihnp4.ucsd.edu!usc!howland.reston.ans.net!gatech!newsxfer.itd.umich.edu!montego![e-mail]
Subject: New York State's new ham license plates
To: [e-mail]

[e-mail] (Tom_Jennings) writes:


>> Date: Mon, 4 Jul 94 22:44:26 -0500
>> From: news.delphi.com![e-mail]
>> Subject: New-style NY ham plates?
>> To: [e-mail]
>>
>> I read somewhere a few months ago that New York was about to introduce new,
>> "distinctive", ham call license plates.  Has anyone heard when this is going
>> to happen?  Will current ham-plate holders be notified automatically?
>>
>> John Kent - AA2DY
>> Hopewell Junction, NY
>>

I wish more states had distinctive plates.  Here in Michigan they are
regular plates and I regularily get people asking me what kinda of "crazy"
license plate is that. Or worse yet, i have had people trying to PRONOUNCE
my call sign like it was a puzzle or something!!!!

Anyone know if Michigan will ever get "distinctive" Ham plates?
(or anyone care for that matter? heh...)...


--
* Matt Weisberg, CNE         MILLIWAYS - Computer and Network Consulting  *
* PP-ASEL                                21650 West Eleven Mile Road #202 *
* Amateur Radio: KF8OH                   Southfield, MI 48076             *
* Internet: [e-mail] [phone] x11  Fax:[phone]  *

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

Date: 6 Jul 1994 12:12:20 -0400
From: ihnp4.ucsd.edu!usc!howland.reston.ans.net!gatech!mailer.acns.fsu.edu!freenet3.scri.fsu.edu!freenet3.scri.fsu.edu![e-mail]
Subject: Please help with paKet 6.0
To: [e-mail]

I just obtained a copy of paKet 6.0 from a friend of mine.
He installed his without a hitch, but I am having no luck installing
mine.  I am using 8088 XT machine with monochrome monitor.

Here are the events that follow when running the install program:

     1.  Displays read.me file
     2.  Displays install.doc file
     3.  Asks to print install.doc file
     4.  Asks for display setting
     5.  I input 1
     6.  Displays the next screen:

            1.  Full Installation of the paKet system.
            2.  Record your Serial Number.

     7.  At this point, the keyboard is dead.  It will not take either
         command!  I might also point out that the highlighted video
         that is supposed to appear on option 1 is but a quick scrolling
         flash, and again keyboard is dead !!!!

         What goes?  Can you give me any help?


     Another note:

          I have tried to run paKet 6 by exploding the paKet6@.exe
          file and adding the paKet.cfg file.  I have modified the
          paKet.cfg file to the right comm settings (1,4800,etc.)
          When I run paKet 6.0, the keyboard is still dead.

     Any ideas?  I am so much looking forward to getting version 6.0
     to run.  What a super program!  My friend, Bob, WA1YOF, from
     whom I got the 6.0 from, has it installed on his 386 and everything
     seems to be working fine, and the features I see and read about
     are a great enhancement to an already great version 5.1.

     What the heck am I doing wrong?  Will 6.0 run on an old antique
     8088?

     Thanks for your help.

     73/DX
     Tim, NO0C


--
[e-mail]

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

Date: Wed, 6 Jul 1994 17:19:54 GMT
From: swrinde!howland.reston.ans.net!europa.eng.gtefsd.com!newsxfer.itd.umich.edu!jobone!lynx.unm.edu!news.cs.indiana.edu!noose.ecn.purdue.edu!constellation.ecn.purdue.edu!wb9omc@@ihnp4.ucsd.edu
Subject: Radios for Emergency Use
To: [e-mail]

[e-mail] (Hal Lillywhite) writes:

>[I tried to email this but it bounced.]

    Hmmmm....don't know why....oh well.

>n article <[e-mail]> [e-mail] writes:

>[About lower frequency ham radios in the backcountry]

>>    There *are* some radios in this category that are reasonably smallish,
>>although not so much as a 2 meter handheld...

>Good information.  Wouldn't you like to write something for an
>FAW/frequent posting on the subject?  I'm sure Eugene would add it
>to the collection if you email it to him.

    I think before I or anyone else should submit something for an
FAQ, a little broader concensus might be a good idea.  I am but one person,
and I will have to say to be honest that I am *NOT* what most of the
readers of this group would call a real backcountry hiker in any sense
of the phrase.   Some further input from those who ARE and DO carry
radios would be extremely useful.

    Hence, I have crossposted to rec.radio.amateur.misc.  My goal
in doing so is NOT to create a clutter about "you gotta have a license"
since we have been all through that already, but to get perhaps a
better cross-section of hams who are hikers/backpackers/campers and
find out WHAT they carry, WHEN they carry it, etc.

    If we're going to put some of this into an FAQ, we ought to try and
get it right (whatever "right" actually is  :-)  ).

    To give you an idea, there are some incredibly small 2meter
handhelds on the market these days.  Downside: reduced wattage out.
There are some really dandy portable 2meter antennas that disassemble
and make a passable hiking staff!

    I think perhaps also crossposting to rec.radio.cb is in order to get
some input from them, too.  Might as well be reasonably inclusive.
This is also NOT an invitation to get into the "ham vs. CB" debate.

    Perhaps some general guidlines/thoughts should be in order for
radio gear to be carried whilst hiking.  I would think that desireable
characteristics would be:

1) lightweight

2) as physically small in size as possible to get the job done

3) antenna simple to use and somewhat ruggedized

4) minimal "tuning" of any kind required

5) reasonably battery efficient - keeps down on how much extra battery
    and/or charger you might need to also carry

6) battery that can be trickle charged with a small solar panel
    (I have seen these for AA NiCads - the panel is maybe 4 inches
    by 4 inches at the most, and the niftiest ones clip onto the
    TOP of a backpack so that a set of batteries can be trickle
    charging all day while you hike)

6a) speaking of commonly available NiCads, I will point something out
    about the 2meter handheld that I use, the Icom IC02AT.  I
    have an accessory battery pack that lets you put in either
    8 AA Alkalines OR 8 AA NiCads.  Yes, the voltages are different.
    8 Alkalines = 12 volts, which will allow you to achieve
    pretty much full power.  8 NiCads = 10 volts, which gives a
    bit less power output but *IS* rechargeable either IN the pack
    or separately as you wish.  The IC02AT (which I'm sorry to
    say is either not made anymore or soon will cease being made
    from what I am told) is NOT a very small rig, nor especially
    lightweight as "modern" handhelds go.  But IMHO, for a
    rig to carry in the hiking mode, the battery flexibility
    and voltage/power flexibility is hard to beat.  I would think
    that such flexibility would be highly desireable.

    I do not know if any of the currently available CB (that's
    11 meters, BTW, for those who don't know) radios have these
    kind of features.  I have been away from CB for quite a few
    years, so I'm not as familiar with those units.  My *guess*
    is that for CB handhelds, Radio Shack is probably the best
    place to start.

********

OK, let's see what we get.  Responders, PLEASE try to limit this discussion
to the topic of "good radio gear to use while hiking in the backcountry
for emergency purposes".

Duane
wb9omc

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

Date: Wed, 6 Jul 1994 17:56:16 GMT
From: ihnp4.ucsd.edu!usc!nic-nac.CSU.net!charnel.ecst.csuchico.edu!yeshua.marcam.com!news.kei.com!wang![e-mail]
Subject: Sock Size Conversion Chart: Inches/CM
To: [e-mail]

[e-mail] (Art Winterbauer) writes:

>I'm not sure why, but in the past week or so, I've had qsos with a
>number of people who, in addition to telling me the temperature at
>their QTH, have volunteered the size and color of their socks.  I
>don't know if this is the beginning of a fad, or if I've simply missed
>this bit of info in previous qsos, but I am now responding in kind.

Art,

In many parts of Europe, the word "sock" is a slang term that refers
to the external differentiator of the male anatomy, if you get my
meaning.  So when they are asking your "sock" size, they are really
referring to something else.  When they ask the "color" of it, they
are asking to know if you are gay or not.

>However, in qsos with foreign amateurs, I wish to state my sock size
>metrically.  Does anyone have a simple chart listing lengths in
>inches on one side and the metric equivalent on the other?  Most of my
>socks range in length between 7 and 14 inches.  A chart that could round
>off lengths to the nearest quarter inch would be most appreciated.

Lorena Bobbitt could help you round it off to any size you want.
Just tell her that you're a "ham".


--
Dave Bushong, Wang Imaging

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

Date: 6 Jul 1994 18:19:43 GMT
From: ihnp4.ucsd.edu!agate!cat.cis.Brown.EDU!NewsWatcher![e-mail]
To: [e-mail]

References <2vcqi3$[e-mail]>, <2vebqq$[e-mail]>, <2vekg0$[e-mail]>│▒
Subject : Re: Amateur calls on auto license plates?

In article <2vekg0$[e-mail]>, [e-mail]
(Matthew Scott Weisberg) wrote:

> Anyway, the moral here is to make your car less of a target I think..
> I put in an alarm, and now i remove the face plate from the radio when
> ever I leave the car for long periods...  What really irkes me is having to
> change my lifestyle because of them! So I say get the HAM plates!
>

Actually a better way is to shoot the S.O.B.'s so they never break into a
car again. And remember folks... when people are on your property that
don't belong there (ie, thieves) shoot to kill not to maim because they can
sue you if you maim them. :)


--
== Tony Pelliccio, KD1NR
== [e-mail], Tel. [phone] Fax. [phone]
== The opinions above are my own and not those of my employer.

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

Date: 6 Jul 94 10:43:18 EDT
From: ihnp4.ucsd.edu!swrinde!howland.reston.ans.net!europa.eng.gtefsd.com!sundog.tiac.net!usenet.elf.com!rpi!psinntp!main03![e-mail]
To: [e-mail]

References <2upulv$[e-mail]>, <2uv5qr$[e-mail]><YEE.94Jun30180803@, <[e-mail]>psinnt
Subject : Re: FIELD DAY 1994 REPORT

In article <[e-mail]>, [e-mail] (Conway Yee) writes:
> Oops.  I think we may have goofed.  I'll have to check with our Field
> Day leader to see if we were within spec.
>
> The rules do state that "All equipment (including antennas) must lie
> within a circle whose diameter does not exceed 300 meters (1000 feet)"
> QST May, 1994 p. 132.
>
> --
> Medical Image Processing Group     |        73 de Conway Yee, N2JWQ
> 411 Blockley Hall                  |  EMAIL     : [e-mail]
> 423 Guardian Drive                 |  TELEPHONE : [phone]
> Philadelphia, PA 19104-6021 (USA)  |  FAX       : [phone]
Conway, we were definately within a 1000 foot circle. That was checked out when
we surveyed the site back in May.
73, Joe - AA3GN
--
Joe Landis - System & Network Mgr. - North American Drager Co. Telford, PA
[e-mail] | uupsi5!main03!landisj | AA3GN@WB3JOE.#EPA.PA.USA
Opinions are mine only, and do not reflect those of my employer.

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

Date: Wed, 6 Jul 1994 12:43:27 GMT
From: amd!amdahl!juts.ccc.amdahl.com![e-mail]
To: [e-mail]

References <[e-mail]>, <[e-mail]>, <[e-mail]>∙
Reply-To : [e-mail] (Sid Boyce)
Subject : Re: QST H/Brew Isoloop


I have used a loop for 80m, till water got in the box, will waterproof
again and get back with it. It works fine.
Some others have used them on th HF bands with good results, one G-station
maintaining a daily sched with VK with 60W PEP.
They work remarkably well, they are not a gimmick.
CAPACITORS .... split stators are preferred as they eliminate the resistance
of the rotor contact. I use a vacuum only because I'm useless at mechanicals
although an ugly one would probably work every bit as well.
    Some guys have made up capacitors from thin copper sheet or double-sided
PCB and threaded brass rods and good soldered joints everywhere.
    The first one I made was 4 feet diameter 3/8 inch tube and an ordinary
variable, with 7 Watts I was able to hit all of Europe on 40m.
    I was impressed when I saw the first commercial units by Tony Johnston
G4OGP, this was in an almost fully enclosed metal exhibition hall in Leicester,
everyone else was saying they couldn't test rigs in the hall, Tony was working
Spain on 40m getting 57 report back and giving a good 59 back.
    I would say to any doubters what was said to me the day before I built
mine, it's dirt cheap, easy to build and a lot of fun.
73..... Sid ... G3VBV ..Amdahl(UK)....

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

End of Info-Hams Digest V94 #752
******************************