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Date: Wed, 19 Jan 94 22:34:57 PST From: Info-Hams Mailing List and Newsgroup <info-hams@ucsd.edu> Errors-To: Info-Hams-Errors@UCSD.Edu Reply-To: Info-Hams@UCSD.Edu Precedence: Bulk Subject: Info-Hams Digest V94 #56 To: Info-Hams Info-Hams Digest Wed, 19 Jan 94 Volume 94 : Issue 56 Today's Topics: ANARTS RTTY NEWS BULLETIN 792 16/01/94 Dipole Antenna Getting my FT-101 tuned Ham Radio FTP area on World Recommendations for 2m/440 base verticals? VK2WI Weekly News, 16th January, 1994 WANTED: W21AT mod for full UHF band TX What could this mean? Send Replies or notes for publication to: <Info-Hams@UCSD.Edu> Send subscription requests to: <Info-Hams-REQUEST@UCSD.Edu> Problems you can't solve otherwise to brian@ucsd.edu. Archives of past issues of the Info-Hams Digest are available (by FTP only) from UCSD.Edu in directory "mailarchives/info-hams". We trust that readers are intelligent enough to realize that all text herein consists of personal comments and does not represent the official policies or positions of any party. Your mileage may vary. So there. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: 18 Jan 94 23:44:38 GMT From: munnari.oz.au!newshost.anu.edu.au!sserve!usage!metro!news.ci.com.au!eram!dave@network.ucsd.edu Subject: ANARTS RTTY NEWS BULLETIN 792 16/01/94 To: info-hams@ucsd.edu [ ANARTS - Australian National Amateur Radio Teletype Society ] ANARTS NEWS BULLETIN 792 16/01/94 SUNDAY BROADCAST SCHEDULES. 3.545 mhz 0930 utc VK2BQS (Jim) 7.045 mhz -3 0030 utc VK2CTD (COL) 14.070 mhz (amtor/fec) 0030 utc VK2DPM (ALAN) 14.091 mhz 0030 utc VK2BQS (JIM) 146.675 mhz 0030/0930 utc VK2JPA (PAT) 144.850 mhz (ax25 bbs) VK2JPA AT VK2RWI 146.675 mhz (rtty mmbbs/repeater) VK2RTY Views expressed in this news bulletin are not necessarily those of the Broadcast Officer, the Relay Officers, or of the Society. Thanks to all the helpers ========================= ANARTS says thanks to all the helpers who came to fight the fires and to man the communications where needed. Had it not been for all the assistance from other states, we would have had a much harder time of it. When the usual communications could not cope, about 140 WICEN members and other amateur radio operators stepped in and held them together, often risking their lives as the fires raced through at a rate beyond expectation. They were even coordinating helicopter operations at some places, I hear. Our heartfelt thanks to you all. ------------------------------------- Guidelines for the preparation of programs for transmission by -------------------------------------------------------------- Amateur Radio Teletype : By FRANK VK2FJL. -------------------------------------------- Due to the diversity of RTTY equipment in common use among Radio Amateurs, it is desirable that a few simple guidelines be observed in order to ensure that transmitted data is received as it is intended by the variety of receiving equipment in use. For instance - it is known that at least four different keyboard layouts using different keys for the upper case or upshift characters are in use by Amateur RTTY stations. Certain characters are therefore incompatible and their use should be avoided. Indeed characters used on some machines are not used at all on others. Some examples are the exclamation mark, the commercial at, the ampersand, semi-colon and quotes. Also, some RTTY'ers use `hard copy' teleprinter machines of various types, the most common being teletype (both CCITT and USA keyboard versions) Siemens, Creed and Olivetti. Others use `Glass' or computers which run a variety of RTTY programs, the main difference here being that computers reset almost instantly to the beginning of a new line, whilst the mechanical machines require longer time (usually 2-3 charact- ers ) for the carriage to fly back to the other end, recover, and prepare to `do it again'. These machines require a separ- ate (CR) and (LF) to be received at the end of each line, whereas the computer only needs the (CR). It does not see the (LF) and automatically inserts one for itself everytime it sees a (CR). Line lengths also vary for different equipment : e.g 24, 32, 64, 69, 72, 76, and 80 or even more characters per line. These mechanical differences, as well as the need for uni- formity of layout, e.g. in broadcast production, necessitate the publication of a standard or protocol for the preparation of RTTY material. Uniformity will also result in the perpetuation of a higher standard of transmitted RTTY, of which the individual amateur can be justly proud. This `punch tape protocol' is recommended for use by all who prepare RTTY pictures, stories, programs, text or broadcast items for re-transmission, or for those who just enjoy having a higher standard associated with their callsign. (1) END-OF-LINE PROTOCOL. At the end of each line type (CR) and (LF). Always type (CR) before (LF) - never the other way around. For multiple line feeds type (CR)(LF)(CR)(LF)(CR)(LF), etc. following the last (LF) add (LTRS) or (FIGS) as applicable. For single line feed two (FIGS) or (LTRS) are recommended, this ensures adequate non-printing characters following the first (CR) for mechanical machines. more next week -------------------------------------------- IPS weekly report ----------------- 7 January - 13 January 1994 Issue no.: 02 Date of issue: 14 January 1994 Date 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 10cm 126 123 117 110 101 98 95 A 05 05 02 03 16 20 (20 estimated) T 68 89 53 77 72 30 59 Summary of activity Solar activity was very low 8th, and 10th - 13th January, low on 9th, and moderate on 7th. There was an M1 flare on 7th. The geomagnetic field at Learmonth (WA) was quiet 7th - 10th, active on 11th, unsettled to active on 12th, and mostly quiet on 13th January apart from active to minor storm levels 1200 - 1800 UT. Ionospheric F2 critical frequencies at Sydney were mostly enhanced 10 to 40 per cent except for a short 15 per cent depressed period on 11th, and near normal on 12th and most of 13th. Forecast for the next week (14 - 20 January) Solar : Low to moderate. Geomagnetic: Quiet to unsettled. Ionospheric: Mostly 10 - 20 per cent above monthly predicted values. Courtesy of IPS Radio and Space Services VK2SG RTTY DX NOTES FOR WEEKENDING JAN. 7, 1994 (BID RTDX0107) A Happy New Year to you all, and may the good DXcome to your shack with a 599 signal. May all the good wishes that you have sent to your friends be returned to you manyfold. We all hope for a Peaceful and Happy Year. Surely this week has been a good start for 1994. Our thanks this week go to: ZS5S, W2JGR WB2CJL, BV5AF, SP5AA, I5ICY, OH2BBF, DJ3IW and the Central Eu Dx-Cluster node DB0SPC, and NJ0M node of the Twin Cities Dx Packet Cluster. BANDPASS: FRIDAY 31 0109-14083 HL9DG 1240-21087 UN5PR 1305-14089 RA2FB 1312-21089 KG4HG 1400-14091 LX1DA 1403-21083 4O9S Qsl YU7KMN 1510-21086 CU1AC 1534-21090 S57JZ 1552-14091 YL2KF 1600-14084 OM3TZW 1626-14088 4X6UO 1652-14082 VQ9WL 1912-21083 CH2STN Jesus Is. 2013-21089 J88BS 2215-21084 C6A/AA5AU 2250-14087 9Y4/I5JHW 2348-14083 XF4CI Revilla G. SATURDAY 1 (HAPPY NEW YEAR) 0024-14080 XF4CI 0031-14083 V31JU 0804-14083 S92ZM 0849-21081 OH0MFP 0920-12084 4X85TA 1303-14088 S21A 1425-21090 J88BS 1523-28085 V50CM Qsl BOX 1500 Tsumeb Namibia 1601-21082 C6A/AA5AU 1645-28087 PJ0/N9FTC 1652-14082 5R8DG 1722-21085 TI2YO 1853-14983 HI8LEZ 2133--3588 UN7RX 2246-14091 9Y4/I5JHW Qsl I5JHW 2317-14086 VQ9WL 2337-14083 HL5AWS SUNDAY 2 0028-14090 KG4CB 0905-21088 A45ZX 1134-14090 ER5OK 1153-14085 EY8CQ 1250-21086 UX0KN 1254-14087 UT2UZ 1320-21089 FG5FI 1323-28082 V50CM 1347-21088 PJ0/N9FTC 1352-21091 KG4HG 1356-14090 LI3OWG FER PFX (Olympic World Games) 1420-14088 SV5AZP 1445-21073 C91BN ARQ 1534-21086 CU1AC 1557-21086 HJ6SQQ 1610-28089 PJ0/N9FTC 1617-21085 C6A/AA5AU 1713-14085 J28JJ Qsl BOX 1076 Djibouti MONDAY 3 0152--3585 C6A/AA5AU 0201-10122 C6A/AA5AU 0915-14088 UH8AAB 1157-14082 EY8CQ 1316-28088 OH0MFP 1355-21090 ET3YU 1407-14087 ER1PE Rev. 1420-14085 LI3OWG 1430-14081 4U1ITU Qsl DK7UY 1431-21085 4X/OK1FGC TUESDAY 4 0051-14084 XF4CI 0140--7082 C6A/AA5AU 0752-14088 HP2CWB 0846-14083 UT5RP 1114-21089 4U1ITU 1119-21086 CU1AC 1120-21090 UH8AAB 1145-14084 EY8CQ 1239-21086 PJ0/N9FTC 1418-14086 LI3OWG 1450-14084 S53MJ 1500-14087 CN8LU 1628-14084 FR5GS 1631-21079 XF4CI 1636-18105 4U1ITU 1907-14085 7P8SR 2243-14088 C6A/AA5AU WEDNESDAY 5 1104-14085 4Z85TA 1256-21083 4X/OK1FGC 1313-14088 VP5/WA0VQR 1315-14089 US5TCP 1341-14086 EA9DX 1602--7043 4U1ITU THURSDAY 6 0606-14084 4Z85TA 0726-14087 LZ1DB 1114-14084 YL1ZE 1332-14088 5B4VX 1416-21083 4U1ITU 1312-21087 VP5/WA0VQR 1422-14088 9H1EL 1450-14089 S53MJ 1606-14084 J28JJ NOTES OF INTEREST: Regarding the RTTY Roundup contest Eric, OH2BBF/OH0BBF fired a big way 1800z sharp on Jan. 1st. After an hour and two QSOs switched to CW. He realized that was something wrong with the contest. The OH league magazine says "first weekend in Jan", CQ Magazine contest calendar says 1-2 Jan. 1994...He is sorry could not make another trip for the contest and informs that he is looking forward to be there again in the major RTTY contest. (what a pity). PRATAS IS. The first trip into this Island now is over. BV9P has been active only on Jan. 5th from 0300z to 0700z on 14, 18, and 21 Mhz CW and SSB. Operators were BV2AP, BV4AS, BV4OB, BV5AF, OH2BH. Bolon, BV5AF President of CTARL informs that the 2nd BV9P DXped team will be available on air during March 1994. (we all wish for a longer stay and RTTY as well). Send your bandpass and notes for next week to Bob, WB2CJL at W5KSI.#NOLA.LA.USA.NA or ZS5S.ZAF.AF. GL de (DX2) Luciano, I5FLN AT ZS5S.ZAF.AF [via HF AMTOR] -------------------------------------- Coming events ------------- 1994 ---- February 4th ANARTS meeting 12th-13th EA WW RTTY Contest March 19th-20th BARTG WW RTTY Contest April 16th-17th SARTG WW AMTOR Contest Society information The Society may be contacted at : PO Box 860, Crows Nest 2065 Australia, for such matters as membership and general enquiries. Enquiries can also be made by packet to the President (Col) VK2CTD, or the Secretary (Pat) VK2JPA @ VK2RWI News items may be sent to Broadcast Officer PO Box 60 Blacktown 2148 Australia, or by packet to VK2JPA @ VK2RWI. The Internet address for the Broadcast Officer is : patl@extro.edu.su.oz.au [???] The Society welcomes news items on any digital subjects from anywhere in the broadcast coverage area. We know we reach New Zealand and many South Pacific islands, we are looking forward to news from your areas to let other amateurs know what you are doing in the hobby. Hope to hear from you. 73s de Pat VK2JPA Broadcast Officer That concludes ANARTS NEWS792 16/01/94. Inserted by VK2BQS Jim, Vice-President ANARTS. -- Dave Horsfall (VK2KFU) VK2KFU @ VK2OP.NSW.AUS.OC PGP 2.3 dave@esi.COM.AU ...munnari!esi.COM.AU!dave available ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 18 Jan 1994 01:08:31 GMT From: news.sprintlink.net!direct!news.direct.net!kg7bk@uunet.uu.net Subject: Dipole Antenna To: info-hams@ucsd.edu Alan Bloom (alanb@sr.hp.com) wrote: : However, after you run through a few feet of twinlead/ladder line, : the impedance will no longer be so high anyway, so I don't think : it's much of a consideration. AL N1AL Al, if the impedence were 50 ohms at the antenna fed with 450 ohm ladder-line, the impedence would go straight up to a maximum of 4000 ohms a quarter-wavelength down the transmission line from the antenna. I think you know better than what you said above. 73, Cecil, kg7bk@indirect.com ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 18 Jan 1994 20:21:44 GMT From: news.kpc.com!kpc!asrini@decwrl.dec.com Subject: Getting my FT-101 tuned To: info-hams@ucsd.edu Hello, Could someone tell me where I can get my FT-101 tuned? I bought it used for my brother in India and I'd like to get it tuned locally before shipping it. Does Yaesu tune their old radios anymore? If so can I get a ph no? Ashok Srinivasan (ham-to-be) ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 18 Jan 1994 23:54:52 MST From: library.ucla.edu!europa.eng.gtefsd.com!howland.reston.ans.net!math.ohio-state.edu!cyber2.cyberstore.ca!nntp.cs.ubc.ca!alberta!adec23!ve6mgs!rec-radio-info@network.ucsd.edu Subject: Ham Radio FTP area on World To: info-hams@ucsd.edu This is a periodic reminder that the Boston Amateur Radio Club maintains an FTP area on world.std.com (192.74.137.5) in pub/hamradio. This area is accessible via: anonymous ftp, gopher, and World Wide Web (and possibly other methods I'm not yet aware of). World is not *fsp*-able yet (I asked them). Via Gopher, the easiest path to the area is by selecting the following from World's main menu: 18. Membership and Professional Associations 3. Boston Amateur Radio Club And go from there... Please feel free to browse through the area. If anyone has any questions about it, please do not hesitate to e-mail me. Also, up-to-date copies of the files on the ARRL's information server (info@arrl.org) are available in the directory pub/hamradio/ARRL/Server-files. All text files are uncompressed, so they are both retrievable and viewable via Gopher and World Wide Web. (If you have any troubles with any text file, please e-mail me). Source code for programs is always welcome. It can permit people to use those programs on other computers with other operating systems. Scott ------------------------------ Date: 19 Jan 1994 20:58:34 GMT From: csulb.edu!paris.ics.uci.edu!news.claremont.edu!elroy.jpl.nasa.gov!sdd.hp.com!vixen.cso.uiuc.edu!howland.reston.ans.net!sol.ctr.columbia.edu!news.cs.columbia.edu!news@library.ucla.edu Subject: Recommendations for 2m/440 base verticals? To: info-hams@ucsd.edu Hi all! I'm looking for recommendations for 2m/440 dual band base vertical gain antennas, such as the following: Comet CA-2x4 series Diamond X-500 and X-700 series Cushcraft ARX-270 and AR-270 series (I hope I get a reply from Gary KE4ZV :-) Naturally, comments, flames or smileys regarding these or any other models are welcome. (these just seem to be common on the market) I plan on mast mounting approx 25' above ground, and am looking for durability and good design and construction, with inflated gain figures as a secondary consideration. Since this may be of interest to other hams, I'll summarize & post. Would appreciate a cc: to ken@boxhill.com in case I miss a reply on the group. 73 and thanks! Ken Stamm N2TIA BBBB H H i ll ll (ken@boxhill.com) B B H H l l BoxHill Systems Corporation BBBB ooo x x HHHH ii l l 161 Avenue of the Americas B B o o x H H i l l New York, NY 10013 BBBB ooo x x H H iii lll lll Tel: (212)989-HILL (4455) Fax: (212)989-6817 S y s t e m s C o r p o r a t i o n ------------------------------ Date: 19 Jan 94 00:05:26 GMT From: munnari.oz.au!newshost.anu.edu.au!sserve!usage!metro!news.ci.com.au!eram!dave@network.ucsd.edu Subject: VK2WI Weekly News, 16th January, 1994 To: info-hams@ucsd.edu [ Taken from Packet Radio ] SILENT KEY We record the passing of Reginal V. Bulman VK2YL Reg passed away suddenly in Armidale Hospital on the 16th of December, following an extended illness. Apart from his last call, Reg previously held the callsigns VK9RL and VK4YL. Born in Tasmania in 1912, he became interested in radio in 1921, at the age of nine. His interest was sparked by an Uncle who was an Infantry Signalman in World War 1. After leaving college in 1930, Reg was employed installing and servicing radio receivers, as well as doing electrical wiring of homes and businesses. In 1938, he attended a Radio Mechanics course plus a course for his Amateur Operators Certificate of Proficiency. He joined the Citizens Military Forces as a signalman in 1940, later being transferred to the RAAF as a radio mechanic. Reg served in New Guinea during World War 2. After the war, Reg joined the then PMG (now known as Telecom), with whom he remained for 22 years. Reg's widow, Elsie, writes: "I shall always cherish many happy memories of Reg's generous help with his technical skills, to me, and the community at large; unforgettable times with tape recorders, cameras and projectors, the Scout Jamboree-of-the-air. He must have made a multitude of friends in the ham world." Item submitted by Reg's wife, Elsie Bulman. MEMBERSHIP RECRUITMENT & RETENTION CAMPAIGN HOW WOULD YOU LIKE TO WIN A BRAND NEW RIG? Members who renew, or non-members who join up between the 1st of December 1993 and the 28th of February 1994 will be eligible to win a new rig from Kenwood. First prize will be a TM-241A 2m, 50 watt mobile rig, while second prize will be one of the very new TH-28A 2m, 5 watt handheld rigs. Total value of the prizes is over $1400. There are no special forms to fill in or convoluted quizzes to answer - all you have to do is either join, if you're a non-member, or renew if you're already a member. If your renewal does not fall within this period, no matter - you can renew early! If you do renew early, please do it through our Administrative Secretary, Margaret Morris, NOT through the Federal Office in Victoria. Both prizes will be awarded by way of a draw and presented to the winners at the earliest opportunity this year after the close of the promotion. Thanks go to Kenwood Electronics Australia who have generously sponsored the promotion by donating the prizes. So, if your membership renewal falls due between 1st December this year and 28th February next year, or if you're considering joining - DO IT - you could be one of two lucky winners. All grades of membership are eligible. Members currently on a three-year term will be included in the draw, as will life members. A reminder about the Extraordinary General Meeting. The EGM will be held on Saturday the 26th of February, at Doonside Community Centre, where the November EGM was held. It will open at 2.00 pm, or 1400 hours local time. Official notice of the EGM will appear in the February issue of AR magazine. Note that the 26th is the day before the Central Coast Field Day at Wyong. UK MORSE CODE SURVEY: Through late-1992 to March 1993, The Radio Society of Great Britain conducted a survey concerning the requirement of Morse Code as part of the British licensing examinations, particularly canvassing opinions on a "Code-free" HF licence. The RSGB has published a detailed, three-page report in its December 1993 issue of the society journal, Radio Communication. It makes fascinating reading. By the closing date of March 8th last year, the survey had generated a total of 1413 replies from the UK and 86 from outside the country. The report, titled "To Key or Not to Key?", noted that the raw data, "...shows that on this occasion there is a two-to-one majority in favour of retaining the Morse test as a means of access to the amateur bands below 30 MHz." The report further noted that the majority of those wishing to retain the Morse test were Class A licensees (who have full priviliges, equating to our full licensees), while the majority of those wanting to do away with it were Class B licensees (limited, no-code, VHF and up). In addition, "...of the 86 letters received from overseas there is a much higher proportion in favour of retaining the Morse test," the report noted. Of those replies expressing a view, 67.5% voted 'no' to a code-free HF licence, while 32.5% voted 'yes'. More shortwave listeners replying to the survey voted 'yes' to retaining the Morse test than voted 'no'. In summing up, the report said, "Gone are the days when a knowledge of Morse code was considered essential for communication between radio amateurs. "However, CW has been used, even in recent years, by other Services to communicate with amateurs and it is used, for example, to identify marine and aviation beacons. "For a long time, it has been accepted that the Morse test does provide a limiting effect on the number of radio amateurs using the finite resource of the HF amateur bands." Further, the report concluded that Morse code proficiency demonstrates a practical skill, "...which is certainly relevant to amateur radio, but acquiring this skill will put some at a disadvantage. "However, few would dispute the fact that practical skills are an important facet of amateur radio." Noting that relevant knowledge and practical skills are required, the report said, "There are some useful arguments both for and against a Code Free Licence. "It is primarily up to the amateur community World-wide, and its representatives, to determine what qualifications are necessary and what standards need to be met to gain different types of transmitting licence." The RSGB pointed out that the views expressed in the report do not represent RSGB policy. A ten-point table of "perceived benefits of Morse Code" was included with the report in Radio Communication magazine and cited the mode's narrow bandwidth advantages; its ideal nature for low power communications; advantages for beginners in simple, low cost equipment; the use of Morse in developing nations; lack of language difficulties and its advantage as the lowest common denominator for emergency communications. IPS REPORT Here is the IPS Weekly Report, courtesy of IPS Radio & Space Services. This report was issued on the 14th of January and covers the 7th to the 13th of January. First the ionospheric indices: These are for January 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th and 13th respictively. The 10 centimetre flux: 126 123 117 110 101 98 95 Now the A index: 5 5 2 3 16 20 20 forecast. Finally, the T index: 68 89 53 77 72 30 59 Summary of activity: solar activity was moderate on the 7th with an M-class solar flare at 0943UT. It was active to very low on the 8th and low on the 9th. Activity fell to very low from the 10th through the 13th. Ionospheric critical frequencies over Sydney were enhanced by between 10 per cent and up to 40 per cent from the 7th through the 11th when the critical frequencies fell to predicted monthly values before falling to 15 per cent depressed after 1700UT. On the 12th they rose to near predicted monthly values and were enhanced by 15 to 40 per cent for a period on the 13th. Forecast for the next week, 14 to 20 January is as follows: solar activity - low to moderate, geomagnetic activity - quiet to unsettled. Ionospheric critical frequencies will be mostly 10 to 20 per cent above monthly predicted values. Thanks to the IPS Radio & Space Services for that report. CLASSES Get your ticket! Classes for those wanting to study for their licence examination will be held at Amateur Radio House again this year, starting on Monday February 7th. Be there at 7.00 pm. The classes are conducted each Monday night over a period of 40 weeks, public holidays excepted. A licence exam is scheduled for just after the course ends. EXAMINATIONS The next licence examinations to be conducted at Amateur Radio House in Parramatta will be on February 20th. Avoid the rush, get your applications in now. This year, apart from February 20th, examinations will be held on the 9th of April (the day before the Divisional AGM), the 15th of May, the 26th of June, the 7th of August, 18th September, 30th October and the 11th of December. Thanks to Jim Walker VK2XJW for that information on classes and exams. DIVISIONAL NEWS For the benefit of those who missed last week's broadcast, in part or in whole, either because we only went out on limited frequencies or because the transmissions suffered from deliberate jamming, particularly to the evening broadcast, we are repeating much of the information broadcast last week. For those who know "the whole story", please bear with us. CLOSURE OF THE DURAL STATION Two recent events have brought about the closure of the Division's Dural station. On Friday, December 31st, the Division was served with a letter from Solicitors Marshall Marks Kennedy, acting for Ms Val Bergman. The letter alleged that she was seriously affronted by two packet radio bulletins which named her, transmitted to the Division's Bulletin Board VK2RWI on the 28th of December under the callsign of David Horsfall VK2KFU. We must point out at this stage that Val Bergman is married to the Divisional Secretary, Roger Harrison. Val's full surname is Bergman-Harrison. In addition, the solicitor said that the bulletins were defamatory of her and pointed out that, under the Radiocommunications Act, the Division's station licence was subject to a condition that the station could not be operated, or permitted to be operated, in such a manner. The Division was given until 5.00 pm on Friday the 7th of January to undertake to prevent such transmissions via the VK2RWI BBS in the future, or else an injunction to stop its operation would be sought. In addition, an action seeking damages for defamation was threatened. This resulted in a decision to take the VK2RWI packet BBS off-air for the time being. Vice-President John Robinson VK2XY handled this legal business for the Division as Secretary Roger Harrison declined owing to his relationship with Val Bergman. This action is very serious indeed, not only for the Division, but consequently for all packet radio BBS operators, users of packet radio and the entire amateur radio service. So what is a defamation? It is anything in writing which attacks or injures the "good name" or reputation of someone, either directly or by inference. One of the packet bulletins complained of, alleged that she had sold a secondhand 9-pin dot-matrix printer to the Division for the unrealistically high figure of $350. The allegation made in the packet bulletin, under the callsign of David Horsfall VK2KFU, is known to be totally untrue, as the Division's accounts will testify. Other bulletins were complained of but the one just detailed illustrates the issue. The Division, and any other packet BBS operator, is a "knowing publisher" of whatever is posted to the packet BBS. Anyone who may be knowingly involved in the publication of defamatory material can be enjoined in a defamation action and thus includes ALL BBS Sysops who may subsequently carry defamatory items on their BBSes. That action only affected the VK2RWI packet bulletin board. However, on Sunday morning the 2nd of January, there was a broadcast made from Dural, which was purported to be an "official" broadcast. The text of that broadcast was also transmitted as a series of bulletins to the packet radio network under the callsign of VK2WI. Those involved in that broadcast of the 2nd of January include: Councillor Cesar Miranda VK2TCM, Steve Pullan VK2QZ and David Horsfall VK2KFU. No broadcast was scheduled for the 2nd of January. Indeed, the then Broadcast Coordinator Steve Pullan VK2QZ [sic] had informed Council that the first broadcast for the year would be on January the 9th. [ NB: VK2QZ is _not_ the Broadcast Coordinator. DH ] These voice and packet broadcasts contained material which is untrue and would likely mislead members and other listeners. The fact that the Divisional News content was purported to be "official" could also mislead members and other listeners as to the Division's true position and actions. For example, the resignation of the Chairman of NTAC was not known to Council prior to the broadcast and the reason he gave, saying that Council was exercising too much control over NTAC, is quite untrue, as came out at Council's meeting in Wollongong on the 4th of January. No control was exercised by Council. Over the three months from October to December last year, there were ten Council meetings at which he could have raised and had passed repeater applications and did not do so. The fact that no broadcast was scheduled and that material was broadcast of which neither the responsible Executive Officers or the Council had any knowledge in the ordinary course of business before it was broadcast, in addition to untrue material likely to mislead listeners, the broadcast was therefore unauthorised. This is a breach of the Division's licence conditions. Unconditional authority is not given to those appointed to organise broadcasts. We might also point out that unauthorised use by an amateur of anyone else's callsign is a breach of their own licence conditions. In view of these serious events, and following considerable discussion among the President, Vice-President, Secretary, and two other Councillors, being a majority of the Council including the executive, firstly, the Institute's packet radio bulletin board system VK2RWI, was removed from Dural on Sunday 2nd January 1994. In addition, the other transmitting equipment at Dural was secured against unauthorised use and the lock to the building changed as the broadcast of the 2nd of January was not the first occasion there was an unauthorised broadcast. Others were made on the 12th and 19th of December. A notice detailing the closure of the station has been posted on the door of the building, and the same notice has been transmitted to the packet radio network in New South Wales. The Division's solicitors have advised that the station closure was an appropriate action in view of all the circumstances. However, the VK2RWI voice repeater was restored to operation on Saturdy the 8th of January for the use of WICEN in support of bushfire operations around Sydney. We aim to have the Dural station back in operation as soon as possible. The broadcast team and arrangements for broadcasts are to be re-formed. More details on action plans for Dural will be given in coming broadcasts. It is unfortunate and regrettable that we have been forced to take these steps owing to the acts of people who, for quite erroneous reasons, believe that they have rights superior to the other members of the Institute and superior to the management of the Division, which is a company. Next Council meeting The next Council meeting will be on Friday the 21st of February [sic]. Following an invitation from the Westlakes Radio Club, the meeting will be held at the Westlakes Club rooms, at 1 York Street, Teralba, just south of Newcastle. The Club's invitation to Council was received on the 5th of January. Notices to all Councillors were posted at the end of last week. Listeners may be aware that Westlakes operates the VK2 Inwards and Outwards QSL Bureau on behalf of the Division. Council has not made an official visit to Westlakes for some years. COMING EVENTS Next Divisional Council meeting . . . . . . 21st January - note that it will be held at the Westlakes Club in Teralba. Divisional Trash & Treasure Sale . . . . . . 23rd January Packet Radio users meeting at Amateur Radio House. . . 23rd January Amateur Licence Classes at Parramatta, start . . . 7th February WICEN (NSW) Committee meeting. . . . . . . . 12th February AATC meeting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13th February Licence Examinations at Parrammatta . . . . . . 20th February Divisional EGM . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26th February Central Coast Field Day at Wyong. . . . . . . . 27th February Closing date for the Division's AGM . . . . . . 27th February Daylight Saving ends . . . . . . . . . . . 6th March Bungonia Cave Rescue (WICEN). . . . . . . . . 19th & 20th March AATC Workshop. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20th March Divisional Annual General Meeting . . . . . . . 10th April The Councillor on duty at Parramatta next Wednesday the 19th of January, is Julie Kentwell VK2XBR. -- Dave Horsfall (VK2KFU) VK2KFU @ VK2OP.NSW.AUS.OC PGP 2.3 dave@esi.COM.AU ...munnari!esi.COM.AU!dave available ------------------------------ Date: 18 Jan 1994 15:53:19 GMT From: utcsri!newsflash.concordia.ca!canopus.cc.umanitoba.ca!umthoma5@uunet.uu.net Subject: WANTED: W21AT mod for full UHF band TX To: info-hams@ucsd.edu I am looking for a mod for the Icom W21AT that will expand the TX range of the 70 cm band from 440 - 450 Mhz to cover the entire amateur band 430-450 Mhz. I have not been on this newsgroup for a while so I apologize for asking for something that might have been posted just recently. Does anyone know if such a mod exists? Is there someplace where I can get it from? I would greatly appreciate any help as there are various activities around here that occur on the "lower" half of the 70 cm band that my radio cannot Tx on. Thanks in advance. -- Craig Thomasson VE4 CET "If your parents didn't have kids, umthoma5@ccu.umanitoba.ca chances are, you won't either." Model Railroading... Amateur Radio... Computers... Engineering... More fun than any human being should be allowed to endure... ------------------------------ Date: 20 Jan 94 02:16:57 GMT From: sdd.hp.com!col.hp.com!srgenprp!alanb@hplabs.hp.com Subject: What could this mean? To: info-hams@ucsd.edu Jack Hamilton (jfh@netcom.com) wrote: : The following paragraph appeared in an article in today's San Francisco : Chronicle about what local companies are doing to help prepare for the next : earthquake: : Finally, in an attempt to encourage the use of amateur (Ham) radios, : which are used by many relief agencies during an emergency, Pacific : Bell has reduced the cost of operating a Ham radio to the basic : service rate of $8.35 a month. Ham radios are licensed through the : phone company. I think it refers to the fact that amateur repeater autopatches and landline control links have had to pay commercial rates in the past. Pac Bell now allows us the residential rates, on the theory that Amateurs are prohibited by law from making a profit by Amateur Radio, so we are thereby non-commercial. AL N1AL ------------------------------ End of Info-Hams Digest V94 #56 ****************************** 
