QRZ! Ham Radio 4/QRZ Ham Radio Callsign Database - Volume 4.iso/digests/infoham/940789.txt

Internet Message Format | 1994-11-13 | 26KB

Date: Wed, 13 Jul 94 15:37:22 PDT
From: Info-Hams Mailing List and Newsgroup <[e-mail]>
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Subject: Info-Hams Digest V94 #789
To: Info-Hams


Info-Hams Digest            Wed, 13 Jul 94       Volume 94 : Issue  789

Today's Topics:
                      440 Repeaters in NNJ area?
                             6M Warnings
                            70cm microsats
                Anyone experienced with Cushcraft R7?
                          Beginner Questions
                      CW: Complete the Sentence
                      Learning the dreaded CODE!
                  Looking for AM portable handhelds
       Need help interfacing 3rd party microphone with ICOM 751
                 Now You're Talking @ RS - only $17!

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: Wed, 13 Jul 1994 13:04:12 GMT
From: ihnp4.ucsd.edu!swrinde!gatech!ukma!ovation!ramcad.pica.army.mil![e-mail]
Subject: 440 Repeaters in NNJ area?
To: [e-mail]

Looking for freqs (splits, PLs, etc) of 440 band repeaters in the
Northern NJ area. I checked the Online Repeater Database Project via
the Web, but only found 1 in the 440 zone.

Thanks! I guess email to me would be best, so as not to interfere with
the Code/NoCode/LicenseDelay/ARRL/BioEffects/LicensePlates discussions {:-)


Mark E. Ellis   N2WZB        Systems Administrator
                                 PA&TD Software Quality Engineering Branch
<[e-mail]>    SMCAR-QAH-A, Bldg 62N, Picatinny Arsenal, NJ

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

Date: Wed, 13 Jul 1994 07:57:55 -0500
From: psinntp!pbs.org!jernandez.pbs.org![e-mail]
Subject: 6M Warnings
To: [e-mail]

In article <2vt88h$[e-mail]>,
[e-mail] (Mike "Sir Galahad" Polkinghorn) wrote:

>     As a new 6M operator, I wanted to find out what other operators used
> to alert themselves when the band has been opened.  In lieu of any other
> system, I have been leaving my rig on 50.125 and keeping an ear out for other
> stations when I hear 10M open up.
>     Any Suggestions?
>

        Keep an eye on TV channels 2 and 3. When the band is open distant
stations on these frequencies will come up.
--
John J. Ernandez
Communication Systems Engineer
Public Broadcasting Service

E-Mail [e-mail]    Member:PRR Technical & Historical Society
Phone: [phone]                Southern Railway Historical Association
Amateur Radio: KA2YAP

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

Date: 13 Jul 94 21:37:14 GMT
From: [e-mail]
Subject: 70cm microsats
To: [e-mail]

From: Colin Schmutter
I have started taking an interest in the microsats, mainly those with mode J
configuration.

I have been monitoring the downlink signals using a J-pole antenna and 70 cm
pre-amp (homebrew ARRL handbook designs) and an AOR 2002 scanner set to NBFM
to get an idea of the downlink signal strength.

I have found the signals to be very weak using the above and the S meter o
receiver barely lights, even at mid pass.

I have monitored LO19, AO16, KO23, KO25 and others and they all seem very weak.

Given the above configuration would this be what I should expect as far as
downlink signal strength.

I didn't want to spend any money on modems etc until I am sure that I have the
RF
side of things set up correctly.

Any comments would be appreciated.



Colin Schmutter

[e-mail]

      COLIN SCHMUTTER  <[e-mail]>
      COMPUTER RESOURCES, B.C.I.T. [phone]

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

Date: Tue, 12 Jul 1994 21:01:04 GMT
From: world![e-mail]
Subject: Anyone experienced with Cushcraft R7?
To: [e-mail]

In article <[e-mail]>,
Roger Buffington <[e-mail]> wrote:
>Herb Rosenberg ([e-mail]) wrote:
>: Subject: Anyone experienced with Cushcraft R7?
>: Newsgroups: rec.radio.amateur.antenna
>: Organization: NETCOM On-line Communication Services (408 261-4700 guest)
>: Summary:
>: Keywords:
>
>The Cushcraft antennas are wonderful with one caveat:  the R-7 has a
>propensity to blow traps if you use any power level over perhaps 100
>watts.  This is a very well-known problem with the R-7, and is apparently
>inherent in the design.

Interesting. I guess the only thing I can disagree with you on is it being
a "well known" problem. I have not experienced any such problems with
my R7, but I have not run high power through it either. I guess the
problem may not be commonly known on this coast...

>
>The R-5, which is identical except that it does not cover 40 meters and
>has better 20 meter bandwidth, does not have this problem.
>
>Both antennas perform very very well.
>
>In my opinion the best system is to go with an R-5, and string a dipole,
>shortened if necessary, for 40 meters.  Except for dxing, often a dipole
>does better on 40 due to polarization and angle of radiation (higher).

and another one for 30 meters.

>
>The R-5 is a truly wonderful antenna.  I've worked the world with mine,
>using only 100 watts.
>
>The R-7 is probably OK if you won't be running over 100 watts.  I still
>would go with the r-5 due to the foregoing.

I've worked the world with my R7, and find it works very well on 30 meters.
on 40 it is too narrow to be useful outside a selected subband.

--
---------------------------------------------------------------
Daniel Senie                 Internet:     [e-mail]
Daniel Senie Consulting                    [e-mail]
508-779-0439                 Compuserve:   74176,1347

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

Date: 13 Jul 1994 16:09:28 GMT
From: ihnp4.ucsd.edu!swrinde!howland.reston.ans.net!europa.eng.gtefsd.com!ceylon!news2.near.net!info-server.bbn.com!news![e-mail]
Subject: Beginner Questions
To: [e-mail]

In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail] (hamilton on BIX) writes:
   [e-mail] (Dan Brown) writes:
   >       I would really like a book that covers the stuff for the licences,
   >but in a different format--something like an actual book on the subject,
   >rather than "these are the answers to the questions they'll ask, and the
   >reasons why they're right."  I'd really like something I'd have a chance
   >at finding in a rather well-stocked general bookstore, but any
   >recommendations for such a book would be appreciated.

   Check out the ARRL publications.  The starter book is "Now You're
   Talking!" (subtitle: "All You Need to Get Your First Ham Radio License.")
   This is a very good, very readable discussion of all the material that
   appears in the Novice and Technician exams, presented in a tutorial
   fashion.  Cost is $19.  You can get it at most ham-related stores (e.g.,
   any Ham Radio Outlet) or direct from ARRL at 203-666-1541.

Also should be available in Radio Shack stores everywhere.

   For General, Advanced and Extra classes, the ARRL publishes a license
   manual series.  Each book ($12 for General, $8 for Advanced/Extra) gives
   tutorial coverage of the appropriate material plus the complete text of
   the questions at the end of the book.

These do not cover the (small) part of the material based on FCC
rules, though they do include all the question pools; see below.
. . . .
   Another book worth buying is the FCC Rule Book, also from the ARRL.  Cost
   is $9.  You get, certainly, the complete text of Part 97, the FCC rules
   covering amateur radio, but you also get a lot of common sensical
   interpretation of the rules, including FAQ's, what about zoning limits
   on antennas and stuff like that.

This is a necessity.  You'll refer to it a lot, as I mentioned, you'll
need it to supplement the three higher level manuals described above.
This is not the case for NOW YOU'RE TALKING, which is complete.

[code tests:]
   If you don't pass the multiple choice, they'll check over your written
   copy, looking for that solid minute of copy.  But realistically, if you
   couldn't pass the multiple choice, you probably don't have the solid
   minute either, is my suspicion.

Of course if you're confident in your copy, you don't need to take the
multiple choice test.  At 5 wpm, one minute is only 25 congiguous
correct characters (it's 100 characters at 20 wpm).
                                   But after
   passing 5 wpm, the examiners talked me into trying 13 wpm anyway (you
   pay just one fee, no matter how many tests you take, so the 13 wpm test
   was "free") and to my amazement, I passed that too.

In most sessions I've seen, the tests are given: 20 wpm first, then
13, then 5.  At least sit for the next test higher than one you're
planning to pass; it will help you warm up and get used to the sound,
and you might pass it anyway!  and if you don't, the next one you take
will sound really slow and easy by comparison.

   >       Other than these tapes, what else might I want to try for learning
   >code?  Listening to actual radio stuff is out right now, as I don't have a
   >radio.  I'm doing pretty well at 5 wpm so far (about 1/2-way through the
   >course, and still copying 95-100%).

Computer programs like SUPERMORSE for the PC are also a useful tool.
(There are also tools for other platforms, most notably the Mac.)

   Good luck!

Ditto!

    /JBL
=
Nets: [e-mail]  |  "Earn more sessions by sleeving."
pots: [phone]  |
ARS:  KD1ONd         |                               -- Roxanne Kowalski

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

Date: Wed, 13 Jul 1994 15:55:58 GMT
From: newsgate.melpar.esys.com!melpar![e-mail]
Subject: CW: Complete the Sentence
To: [e-mail]

[e-mail] (Don Montgomery) writes:

>Back in the dark days when I was learning the code, there were a
>couple of word groups for sending practice, particularly on a
>bug or electronic key.  For example:

>SUBSTITUTE 66 SHIPS

>but the one I forget goes something like:

>BENS BEST BENT _____

>what's the last word?

     Try 22 FEET BEST BENT WIRE /EE.....it was a favorite of Navy
Radiomen back when they still operated lots of CW.  Sounds really
cool on a Vibroplex bug (don't know about keyers; never use them
new-fangled gadgets.....).

(|_|)  Paul H. Bock, Jr. K4MSG     Internet: [e-mail]
 | |)  Principal Systems Engineer  Telephone: [phone] x2062

   "You can have my bug when you can pry my cold, dead fingers from
    around it....." - anonymous radiotelegraph operator

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

Date: 13 JUL 94 11:22:45
From: src.dec.com!crl.dec.com!nntpd.lkg.dec.com!mrnews.mro.dec.com!est.enet.dec.com![e-mail]
Subject: Learning the dreaded CODE!
To: [e-mail]

In article <300hvs$[e-mail]>, Erich Franz Stocker <[e-mail]> writes...
>For the past year I have been trying to get up to 13wpm.  I practice
>every day for at least 30min and many days twice for 30min.  I can,
>with 90% accuracy, take 5, 6 or 7 character random code groups (on
>my computer not with pencil) at 18wpm.  However, when I shift to
>random length code groups, I have trouble even getting 10 wpm at a
>less than 90% accuracy rate.
>*  Erich Franz Stocker                    *
>*  N3OXM                                  *

Good for you! Sounds to me like you're nearly ready to take the test. Remember,
you do not have to copy 100%, you just have to answer some questions on
content.

BTW, try some different approaches to get your speed up. For instance, try 5
letter groups at 20 or 22 wpm. Try shorter, or longer practice runs. Try plain
text at 13 wpm. I too found that if I stuck to a set format, I could copy much
faster than otherwise. My approach was to get up to about 75% copy at one
speed, then start trying 1 wpm faster. This got me up to 15-16 wpm in 2 or 3
months. I also found random letters and numbers much easier than plain text - I
suspect it's because I try to read what's being sent, when I should be copying.
Good luck and 73 de N1OOQ
-Tom R.   [e-mail]

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

Date: Wed, 13 Jul 1994 08:15:41 GMT
From: ihnp4.ucsd.edu!usc!howland.reston.ans.net!europa.eng.gtefsd.com!uhog.mit.edu!news.media.mit.edu![e-mail]
Subject: Looking for AM portable handhelds
To: [e-mail]

I am looking for an AM transceiver, in a frequency above 144.1 MHz.

Does anyone know if an AM handheld unit is available?
(I also need it to be 1 watt or less, for remote control, in
compliance with the power limitation, or easily modifiable down to 1w.)

According to the Radio Shack books, ``All amateur modes and emissions
are authorized above 144.1 MHz.  In actual practice, the
modes/emissions used are somewhat more complicated than shown due to
the existence of various band plans and ``gentlemen's agreements''
concerning where certain operations should take place.''

Assuming I were to build my own AM Double Sideband Supressed Carrier
(DSBSC) radio for remote control use, could anyone recommend a
frequency that would be the least bother to other hams, and would also
be free of interference?

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

Date: 12 Jul 1994 20:41:11 GMT
From: solaris.cc.vt.edu!news.duke.edu!duke.edu![e-mail]
Subject: Need help interfacing 3rd party microphone with ICOM 751
To: [e-mail]

My girlfriend bought me an Azden HS-03 boom-mike headset (eat yer hearts
out, guys - it wasn't even my birthday or anything ;-), and I've found that
my ICOM 751 doesn't like it.  I put a decoupling capacitor in the mike audio
line to get rid of the 8VDC that Icom sends down the mike line, but I have
another problem: the audio signal produced by this mike isn't nearly strong
enough to properly drive the rig.

Not knowing a whole lot about microphones, I called Azden for advice and told
them that the 751's manual specifies 12mV for "typical microphone input;" the
Azden guy said no microphone produces that kind of level without a preamp.

So I guess my question is this:  who produces, in kit or finished form, an
appropriate mic preamp module I could put in line?  Or, failing that, can
anybody provide me a pointer to schematics for a simple and inexpensive preamp
circuit I can build myself?  The 751 looks for a 600-ohm mic impedence, and
the Azden mic is a 500-ohm mic (close enough?  I may have gotten those
backwards).

My other question is why, when I disassembled the hand mike that came with
the 751, did I find nothing resembling a preamp circuit there, if "no mic
produces a 12mV level" and yet the hand mike drives my rig just fine?

Any advice appreciated.

Please e-mail responses to [e-mail].

Thanks in advance!

  -joe KD4LLV


--

        "When personal freedom's being abused, you have to move to limit it."

                        - U.S. President Bill Clinton, 1994

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

Date: 13 Jul 1994 17:02:03 GMT
From: ihnp4.ucsd.edu!usc!howland.reston.ans.net!europa.eng.gtefsd.com!news.umbc.edu!haven.umd.edu!cville-srv.wam.umd.edu![e-mail]
Subject: Now You're Talking @ RS - only $17!
To: [e-mail]

For all who look for a copy of Now You're Talking:

It's sold for $19 everywhere, right?

NO!  Don't overlook Radio Shack - they have it for $17 EVERYWHERE!

I'm 99% sure of this price - easy way to save a copule of bucks.
And they're everywhere!

Scott NF3I

--
73,                            _________   _________  The
                            \ /  Long   Original
Scott Rosenfeld  Amateur Radio NF3I  Burtonsville, MD     |   Live    $5.00
  WAC-CW/SSB  WAS  DXCC - 125 QSLed on dipoles __________| Dipoles! Antenna!

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

Date: 12 Jul 1994 20:38:08 GMT
From: ncd.com!newshost.ncd.com!sheridan.ncd.com![e-mail]
To: [e-mail]

References <2vptct$[e-mail]>, <[e-mail]>, <[e-mail]>φ
Subject : Re: ARRL bashing

In article <[e-mail]>, [e-mail] (Tony Pelliccio) writes:
|> In article <[e-mail]>, [e-mail] (Jack Hamilton)
|> wrote:
|>
|> > [e-mail] (Derek Wills) wrote:
|> >
|> > >Before all you knee-jerk ARRL bashers make more of these predictable
|> > >posts, let's remember that it is very easy to spit on the League,
|> > >knowing that they do not have time to respond here to everything that
|> > >is heaped on them.
|> >
|> > Do they ever respond publicly to *anything* which is "heaped on them" here?
|> > Does QST ever publish letters critical of ARRL policies?
|>
|> Funny you should mention that. Ever seen anything in QST that could be
|> considered truly critical of the ARRL? Never! They're so self-serving that
|> it's sickening.
|>
|> --
|> == Tony Pelliccio, KD1NR, VE ARRL/W5YI Tel. [phone]

I'm responding to this as well as the latter postings on the subject of
the BIO-EFFECTS committee.

First off, I'm a member of the PSAC, consequently, I've had a chance to
see how League committees work(or don't work :-( and also have an idea of
the committee's relationship to the BOD.

It sure seems that the majority of the problems suffered by
the folks on the BIO-EFFECTS committee have to do with lack of communications.
For a hobby that proports(sp?) itself to be a collection of communicators
we do a marvelously poor job.  I think there is a fair amount of just
criticism within the resignation letter posted concerning lack of
communications by league staff, and the BOD/President towards the committee.
ON THE OTHER HAND, some of the expectations of the committee chairman
were unreasonable also!

A couple of the complaints were about not being notified about of BOD liason
appointments for the committee.  From my experience on PSAC, this particular
complaint is groundless.  Every January, the BOD appoints new liasons for the
various standing committees from it's membership, i.e. nominally, every year
each committee potentially gets a new liason.  If you want to know who it
is this time...read the BOD minutes!  For that matter, the committee chairman
can change and you won't know it unless you get a note from the new chairman!
That is just the way their committee system works.

Another complaint of the committee seems groundless to me also.  The fact that
they WEREN'T assigned to work on the NPRM.  Now would it make sense for them
to work on the NPRM, Yep.  On the other hand, the BOD, for whatever reason, can
choose to move by itself and make decisions without ever consulting their
respective committees.  These committees are BOD ADVISORY groups.  They
exist at the pleasure of the BOD, and work nominally on tasks assigned by
the BOD.  They do also generate some of their own work, but their primary
tasks are determined by the BOD.  If the BOD doesn't task them with something,
there is nothing inherently structurally wrong!  Sometimes, for timing reasons,
or some other considerations, the BOD may choose to take up a matter an act
directly.  That is their perogative.   In this light, it seems to me that the
committee members' expectation of their (the committee's) place within the
ARRL structure was extended a bit beyond the reality of the situation.  This
point seems to re-inforce itself repeatedly in complaints by the chairman
in the letter about not being informed of BOD actions or considerations.
Hey guys...the committee reports to the BOD, not the BOD reporting to the
committee!

All this said, I think the league's handling of the affair was terrible!
The quote attributed to George Wilson in a recent ARRL letter
concerning the resignation was harsh in the extreme. In fact, if had been
directed at me, I'd have been more than just a little pissed off!  I don't
think anyone's interest were served by the wording of that statement.

Further, George's reaction to the committee's independent reply to the NPRM
was wholely inappropriate.  We don't sign away our first amendment rights to
speak as individuals when we join these committees.(This letter ought
to prove that ;-) If the fileing with FCC was truly as individuals, i.e. no
affiliation with the committee was mentioned, then the league is simply
wrong!

With all this said, I'd like to point out that there IS something constructive
that can come from this.  Whether you agree or disagree with what I've just
said, and especially if you disagree with some of the BOD's or Goerge's actions
then your best bet is to get on the phone and yell at your Director about the
topic.  Let them know what YOU think should occur.  There is a BOD meeting
THIS WEEKEND!!!!!  A phone call to your director in the next couple days
might have ASTOUNDING effect...I've already spoken to my director and know
his take on the whole subject..why not get a recent QST out and find the
appropriate phone number on page 8 and let your fingers do the walking!

Steve KA6S






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

Date: 13 Jul 94 02:07:43 -0500
From: ihnp4.ucsd.edu!swrinde!gatech!usenet.ufl.edu!gnv.ifas.ufl.edu![e-mail]
To: [e-mail]

References <[e-mail]>, <[e-mail]>, <2vnt9m$[e-mail]>to
Subject : Re: NTS traffic

In article <2vnt9m$[e-mail]>, [e-mail] (Brian Kantor) writes:
> The NTS is an obsolete system for transferring small bits of information
> in an inefficient way.  It is primarily of interest to old-time hams.
> When the best method of communication was hand-sent Morse, the NTS had
> a reason to exist.  It no longer does.
>
> In today's environment of cellular telephones, trunked radio systems
> with data screens, and nearly universal deployment of FAX machines,
> the NTS people could best serve their community by staying out of the
> way of real emergency personnel doing their jobs.
>     - Brian

During hurricane Andrew and miscellaneous less flamboyent disasters, Florida
disaster management officials who **used** to share your opinion discovered
that
1) A typical hand-held cellular phone battery doesn't last nearly as long
   as the typical disaster.  They weren't prepared for that.
2) Commercial radio networks of all types (cellular phone, trunked radio,
   and even police and fire department repeaters) tend to fall victim to
   the disasters.
3) Cellular phone networks, in particular, rapidly choke with the volume of
   traffic they are asked to handle during emergencies, if they are working
   at all.  Everyone who owns a celphone seems to think they need to provide
   on-the-spot reports to all their relatives, and true emergency
   communications can't get through.
4) Despite years of claiming they were working on it, inter-agency
   communications capability often just doesn't exist.  Fire chiefs of
   neighboring communities don't have common frequencies on their radios,
   etc.

... and more.

As a result, the state of Florida officially endorses the use of Amateur
Radio as a backup communications medium, to the extent of requiring that
local disaster management plans include plans for the use of Amateur Radio.
Why?  Because experience has shown that hams can get messages through when
no other method can.  And handle them on a prioritized basis, so the really
important stuff doesn't get choked out by the trivia.  Not all of this is
really NTS, but it is all closely related, and the key is that PRACTICE is
important.  That, in my mind, is the real benefit of NTS.  It provides a
forum where hams can practice moving traffic WITHOUT CORRUPTING IT.
If you've ever participated in a RACES drill where 90% of the hams
participating had never handled formal traffic before, you know that
getting the message through uncorrupted is not something most hams can
do without training and practice.

-- Bob,  WB4JCM
   [e-mail]


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

Date: 13 Jul 1994 17:13:15 GMT
From: ihnp4.ucsd.edu!sdd.hp.com!math.ohio-state.edu!howland.reston.ans.net!agate!cat.cis.Brown.EDU!pstc3![e-mail]
To: [e-mail]

References <[e-mail]>, <[e-mail]>, <[e-mail]>
Subject : Re: Anyone experienced with Cushcraft R7?

In article <[e-mail]>,
    [e-mail] (Roger Buffington) writes:

|> IT IS THE R-7, NOT THE R-5, WHICH HAS THE PROBLEMS WITH THE TRAPS.
|>
|> SORRY ABOUT THE SCREWUP.  THE R-5 TO MY KNOWLEDGE HAS ***NO*** PROBLEMS
|> WITH TRAPS.


Its my understanding that the R5 and R7 use the same traps (i.e. the
10 meter trap on both antennas is the same). If indeed this is the
case, then is it only the 20 and 30 meter traps on the R7 that have
problems? I can't imagine a 15 meter trap on an R7 having a problem
yet the same exact trap on an R5 doesn't.


MD
--
--   The best way for Bill Clinton to keep his
--   legal fees down is to keep his zipper up.
--

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

End of Info-Hams Digest V94 #789
******************************