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- Date: Mon, 31 Jan 94 00:07:42 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 #94
- To: Info-Hams
-
-
- Info-Hams Digest Mon, 31 Jan 94 Volume 94 : Issue 94
-
- Today's Topics:
- Art & Millie of K6MYK
- Callbook Server
- Code tapes, looking for.
- Computing antenna coverage
- CW filters and DSP-9 - morse1.jpg
- FCC Database Online For Calif.
- FTP site for Keps
- Help - your Vertical Ant. experences.
- How to "Convert" Ham Radio HyperCard Stack?
- Interesting and unique things people do in Amateur Radio
- New Jersey Tax on Radio Transmitters?
- Yaesu FT-416 MODS wanted!
- Your experiences on 40 meter CW QRP
-
- 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: 26 Jan 1994 19:18:12 GMT
- From: unogate!news.service.uci.edu!usc!howland.reston.ans.net!cs.utexas.edu!swrinde!sgiblab!sgigate.sgi.com!olivea!koriel!male.EBay.Sun.COM!newscast.West.Sun.COM!abyss.West.Sun.@@mvb.saic.com
- Subject: Art & Millie of K6MYK
- To: info-hams@ucsd.edu
-
- In article <arog.759188308@BIX.com> arog@BIX.com (arog on BIX) writes:
- >I just talked with Art and Millie Gentry. Art is w6mep and I've forgotten
- >Millie's call. These are the folks that put the first Los Angeles two-meter
- >repater on the air in the mid.fifties and are very special folks to a lot
- >of us that hung out there...
- >
- >Both are fine and only had modest damage to things... other than the
- >kind of mess that happens when racks and such get slammed about by
- >an earthquake.
-
- Of course, the W6MEP repeater, known as the "Duck Mountain"
- machine, was down for a few days until the site could be reached
- and the errant PA fixed :-)
-
- --
- * Dana H. Myers KK6JQ, DoD 466 | Views expressed here are *
- * (310) 348-6043 | mine and do not necessarily *
- * Dana.Myers@West.Sun.Com | reflect those of my employer *
- * This Extra supports the abolition of the 13 and 20 WPM tests *
-
- ------------------------------
-
- Date: 28 Jan 1994 20:55:49 GMT
- From: agate!spool.mu.edu!howland.reston.ans.net!usc!elroy.jpl.nasa.gov!swrinde!sgiblab!sgigate.sgi.com!olivea!koriel!news2me.EBay.Sun.COM!cronkite.Central.Sun.COM!webrider!doc@network.ucsd.edu
- Subject: Callbook Server
- To: info-hams@ucsd.edu
-
- I heard on a local repeater about a callsign server (also an ".edu" machne)
- that would give you information about a callsign by sending email to it
- with the callsign in the subject(?) line. As I wasn't in a position to
- jump into the conversation at the time and only caught part of it, does
- anyone out there know about this and what the email address would be?
-
- Thanks,
-
- Steve
-
-
- In article 2hq@bigfoot.wustl.edu, jlw3@cec1.wustl.edu (Jesse L Wei) writes:
- > Shawn Conahan (sconahan@ccantares.wcupa.EDU) wrote:
- > : Willie Smith writes:
- >
- > : >...Did the internet call book go away,...
- >
- > : No, it hasn't vanished, it can still be reached by telnet at
- >
- > : cc.buffalo.edu 2000
- >
- > : (notice the word "callsign" is omitted from the address). 73
- > : --
- > : Shawn T. Conahan, Ph.D.
- > : N3CGT
- > : sconahan@ccantares.wcupa.edu
- >
- > Is it just me or does this really not work? I have always used the other
- > one, but I tried this out--
- > callsign.cs.buffalo.edu 2000 works much better from here (considering that
- > cs.buffalo.edu gives me an "unknown host" reply)
- >
- >
-
-
-
- ---
- --
- -- Steve Bunis, Sun Microsystems ***DoD #0795*** 93-ST1100
- -- Itasca, IL ***AMA #682049***
- -- ***HRCA #HM125617**
- -- *** N9VLP ***
-
- ------------------------------
-
- Date: 29 Jan 94 15:08:53 GMT
- From: noc.near.net!news.delphi.com!BIX.com!hamilton@uunet.uu.net
- Subject: Code tapes, looking for.
- To: info-hams@ucsd.edu
-
- mmollere@triton.uwf.edu (Sluggo) writes:
-
- >Am looking for code tapes in Pensacola, FL. If anyone knows where
- >where I can get same, please advise. Also, is there code on
- >instruction on CD? Thanx.
-
- I heartily recommend the ARRL tapes. They really work. They have tapes
- for anyone from the rankest beginner (like I was!) to those working on
- their Extra licenses. Each tape progresses slowly, adding a new character
- at a time (on the "Your Introduction to Morse Code" tape) or gradually
- increasing the speed on the other tapes. Except for one tape offered
- with standard timing, everything is done with Farnsworth timing, meaning
- the characters are sent at 18 wpm but spaced to give an overall lower
- speed.
-
- I started working with them around the end of December, spending a few
- minutes here and few minutes there. Not what you'd call a rigorous
- schedule. My starting point was knowing almost nothing. Already, just
- a month later, I'm finding I can copy quite solidly up to around 8 wpm
- or so (I'm amazed to be able to say 5 wpm actually sounds SLOW now!) and
- do pretty well (say 80% or so) copying up to around 10 to 13 wpm. And
- because the tapes have drilled me to recognize 18 wpm character timings,
- I find I can even listen to the W1AW code bulletins (at 18 wpm) and
- even recognize the characters as they go by (though I can't think fast
- enough to translate that to writing them down or recognizing what the
- words are at that rate.)
-
- I'll be taking my Novice & Technician exams on the 7th; I'm now _totally_
- comfortable knowing I can walk in and do it.
-
- I really didn't expect to make anything like this sort of progress and I
- do attribute it to the ARRL tapes. I should mention I did also buy the
- AMECO tapes (to try them also) and they were useless IMHO. So there
- really is a difference.
-
- You can get the ARRL tapes direct from ARRL (look in QST) or from most
- ham stores like Ham Radio Outlet.
-
- Regards,
- Doug Hamilton hamilton@bix.com Ph 508-358-5715
-
- ------------------------------
-
- Date: 29 Jan 94 20:19:12 GMT
- From: psinntp!psinntp!arrl.org!zlau@rutgers.rutgers.edu
- Subject: Computing antenna coverage
- To: info-hams@ucsd.edu
-
- Pages 23-8 to 23-10 of the ARRL Antenna Book discuss this
- for VHF. The RSGB Microwave Handbook volume I and the
- VHF/UHF DX book also have useful information on coverage.
-
- Actually, coverage area for an antenna is misleading--it
- ignores the capability of the equipment and the effect
- atmospheric conditions have on propagation.
-
- For example, there are long line of sight paths that
- might be too long for the free space range of simple
- wide bandwidth microwave gear. On the other hand,
- the coverage with 1500 watt transmitters and narrow
- bandwidth sensitive receivers can be considerably
- in excess of line of sight.
-
- Matthew B Cravit (cravit@world.std.com) wrote:
- : A friend of mine asked me this question, and I do not know the answer.
- : If one has an antenna (say a vertical or something, as opposed to a
- : beam) that is x feet above ground level, how does one compute the
- : approximate coverage area of that antenna (in square miles)? For
- : example, see the following diagram
- : _
- : | |
- : | |
- : | |
- : | _|_
- : |x | |
- : | | |
- : | | | Tower
- : | | |
- : | | |
- : | | |
- : ----------------------------------------Ground---------
-
- : If we assume that the distance x is, say, 200 feet and that the ground
- : around the antenna is relatively flat, is there a way to estimate the
- : area of coverage for that antenna?
-
- --
- Zack Lau KH6CP/1 2 way QRP WAS
- 8 States on 10 GHz
- Internet: zlau@arrl.org 10 grids on 2304 MHz
-
- ------------------------------
-
- Date: Sat, 29 Jan 1994 15:00:48 GMT
- From: library.ucla.edu!europa.eng.gtefsd.com!howland.reston.ans.net!xlink.net!fauern!lrz-muenchen.de!news@network.ucsd.edu
- Subject: CW filters and DSP-9 - morse1.jpg
- To: info-hams@ucsd.edu
-
- In article <CKDFx7.M0u@ve6mgs.ampr.ab.ca> mark@ve6mgs.ampr.ab.ca (Mark Gregory
- Salyzyn) writes:
- > me@next45.wsi.physik.tu-muenchen.de (Matthias Rosenberger) writes:
- >
- > >According to the CW fiter discussion, I want to
- > >supply some calcualtions shown in two pictures in following postings
- > >based on a Fourier analysis of a morse signal of 10 times 'e':
- > >00000101010101010101010100000
- >
- > Back to the drawing board, Matthias, 10 `e's is:
- >
- > 0001000100010001000100010001000100010001000
- >
-
- Ooops! You're right - I was wrong, but perhaps there will remain
- some information of interest, however :^)
-
- Matthias
- --
- Matthias Rosenberger, Walter Schottky Institut, TU Muenchen
- email: mrosen@next45.wsi.physik.tu-muenchen.de (NeXTmail wellcome)
-
-
-
-
-
- ------------------------------
-
- Date: 30 Jan 1994 10:55:25 -0800
- From: nntp.crl.com!tcomeng.com!tcomeng.com!not-for-mail@decwrl.dec.com
- Subject: FCC Database Online For Calif.
- To: info-hams@ucsd.edu
-
- We're experimenting with providing free public-access to our Informix
- database of FCC license information for radio transmitters located in
- California. The information should be accurate as of 09/30/93. More
- than 300,000 records are on file. Microwave, satellite, broadcast, and
- cellular records are included as well as business and public safety.
-
- Telnet to: tcomeng.com
- Login: fcc (no password)
-
- VT-100 terminal terminal emulation is required. If there is enough
- interest, we will enhance the query interface and support other
- terminal types. You will need to carefully read the introduction in
- order to successfully use the database.
-
- This service is provided in the public interest by Telecommunications
- Engineering Associates of South San Francisco, California. Send comments
- to fcc@tcomeng.com.
- --
- Daryl Jones daryl@tcomeng.com
- Telecommunications Engineering Associates {decwrl}!tcomeng!daryl
- South San Francisco, California Phone: (415) 871-4200
-
- ------------------------------
-
- Date: Sun, 30 Jan 1994 05:43:47 GMT
- From: netcomsv!netcom.com!wy1z@decwrl.dec.com
- Subject: FTP site for Keps
- To: info-hams@ucsd.edu
-
- In article <9401290147301913@springsboard.org> alex.lane@springsboard.org (ALEX LANE) writes:
- >Gary R. Smith AA9JS posted a note asking about ftp sites for Keplerian
- >elements, and I'd like to go further and ask:
- >
- >Does anyone know if there is a listserv mailing list one can subscribe
- >to in order to obtain this info? My BBS doesn't have ftp capability.
- >
- >Thanks in advance.
- >Cheers...
- >+----------------------------------------------------------------------+
- > Alex Lane (303) 264-2339 | alex.lane@springsboard.org
- > The SpringsBoard BBS | KD6JJA
- > Pagosa Springs, Colorado | "You *can* get here from there!"
- >+----------------------------------------------------------------------+
-
-
- Everyone is welcome to subscribe to the Boston Amateur Radio Club's
- e-mail reflector of the ARRL's Bulletins, which includes Keps.
-
- To subscribe, send a message to: majordomo@world.std.com
-
- In the body of your message, type: subscribe w1aw-list
-
- That's it!
-
- For past keps sets, try anonymous ftp into World:
- ftp world.std.com, cd pub/hamradio/BARC/w1aw-list/Keplerian-Data
-
- 73,
- Scott, WY1Z
-
-
- --
- ===============================================================================
- | Scott Ehrlich Internet: wy1z@neu.edu BITNET: wy1z@NUHUB |
- | Amateur Radio: wy1z AX.25: wy1z@k1ugm.ma.usa.na |
- |-----------------------------------------------------------------------------|
- | Maintainer of the Boston Amateur Radio Club hamradio FTP area on |
- | the World - world.std.com pub/hamradio |
- ===============================================================================
-
- ------------------------------
-
- Date: 28 Jan 1994 16:26:15 GMT
- From: agate!howland.reston.ans.net!usenet.ins.cwru.edu!eff!linus!linus.mitre.org!mwvm.mitre.org!m14494@network.ucsd.edu
- Subject: Help - your Vertical Ant. experences.
- To: info-hams@ucsd.edu
-
- Dan Bowker writes:
- > I'm looking to buy this weekend a ground independent vertical for HF...
- > What's your opinion on:
- > Cushcraft R5 (R7 too $)
- > Butternut HF6V ...
-
- Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but I think the Butternut
- is very ground *dependent*. It needs either a very good ground
- rod, radials, or both. The R5/R7, on the other hand, works best
- when it's up high, away from the ground. A friend has the R7 and
- swears by it; says it's the best vert. he's ever used. He runs low
- power, and has still worked over 200 countries with it. I've never
- heard anything bad about them. A beam is obviously better, but
- if you can't hack a beam, an R5/R7 seems like a very good alternative.
-
- Mike, N4PDY
-
- *****************************
- * These are my opinions only*
- *****************************
-
- ------------------------------
-
- Date: 27 Jan 1994 19:09:45 GMT
- From: lll-winken.llnl.gov!overload.lbl.gov!agate!library.ucla.edu!europa.eng.gtefsd.com!MathWorks.Com!uhog.mit.edu!xn.ll.mit.edu!hsdndev!dartvax.dartmouth.edu!Daniel.W.Collison@seismo.css.gov
- Subject: How to "Convert" Ham Radio HyperCard Stack?
- To: info-hams@ucsd.edu
-
- There's an easy solution. You're right, it does have to do with the
- fact that you're using HyperCard (2.1), which is a newer version than
- was used to make the original stack.
-
- All you have to do is choose "Convert Stack" from the "File" menu. If
- the "File" menu isn't visible, type the "Apple" key and the spacebar at
- the same time to make it show. If you still have trouble, send me
- E-mail and I'll help out.
-
- Dan N1PNE
- dwc@dartmouth.edu
-
- ------------------------------
-
- Date: Fri, 28 Jan 1994 15:57:11 GMT
- From: ucsnews!sol.ctr.columbia.edu!emory!europa.eng.gtefsd.com!howland.reston.ans.net!cs.utexas.edu!swrinde!sgiblab!sgigate.sgi.com!olivea!news.bu.edu!att-in!cbnewsm!jeffj@network.ucsd.edu
- Subject: Interesting and unique things people do in Amateur Radio
- To: info-hams@ucsd.edu
-
- I was talking to a fellow ham, KC6WYA Barry, and he was telling me
- how he uses MIR's packet digipeater to work other hams around the
- country. I thought that was kinda unique and started thinking about
- other interesting things hams do in amateur radio. I've heard of
- hams playing Dungeon and Dragons via packet radio, chess on HF,
- weather on packet. Has anyone else heard or seen other interesting
- things being done with amateur radio?
-
- Jeff
- --
- Jeff Jones AB6MB | Vote out those who voted for the North American
- jeffj@seeker.mystic.com | Free Trade Agreement!
- Infolinc BBS 510-778-5929 |
-
- ------------------------------
-
- Date: Fri, 28 Jan 1994 16:19:51 GMT
- From: microsoft!wingnut!edmitch@uunet.uu.net
- Subject: New Jersey Tax on Radio Transmitters?
- To: info-hams@ucsd.edu
-
- What ever resulted from the public hearing that
- New Jersey was to have held a week or to ago?
-
- Prior to the public hearing there was all sorts
- of wild stories floating around the net. Now that
- we are past the first hearing, what happened?
-
- Ed Mitchell
- KF7VY@N7FSP.WA.USA
- edmitch@microsoft.com
- "These opinions are my own and not the property of my
- employer who has no responsibility for me or my
- mouth."
-
- ------------------------------
-
- Date: Sun, 30 Jan 1994 05:19:49 GMT
- From: netcomsv!netcom.com!nolesc@decwrl.dec.com
- Subject: Yaesu FT-416 MODS wanted!
- To: info-hams@ucsd.edu
-
- Hello everyone,
- I am desperately trying to find the FT-416 MODS. Could somebody
- please post them here or give me an address where I can FTP them? I
- tried World.std.com, but I don't want to pay to use it.
-
- Any help would be appreciated.
- Chris
- KC4VTT Tech +
-
- ------------------------------
-
- Date: Mon, 31 Jan 1994 01:44:39 GMT
- From: dog.ee.lbl.gov!agate!iat.holonet.net!rohrwerk@network.ucsd.edu
- Subject: Your experiences on 40 meter CW QRP
- To: info-hams@ucsd.edu
-
- turner@safety.ics.uci.edu (Clark Savage Turner) writes:
-
- >In <2ie8ki$2ih@clarknet.clark.net> andy@clark.net (Andrew M. Cohn) writes:
-
- >>If you work 40 meter CW, with 5 watts or less, and use less than ideal
- >>antennas (no beams, dipoles or rhombics, etc), I would like to hear about
- >>your experiences. No...I'm not writing a book; I just want to know what
- >>I can expect before investing in a QRP station!
-
- >Hello Andy:
-
- >It is really hard to predict what sort of experience you will have with
- >QRP from your QTH. Really hard. I have had a lot of luck, even with
- >a mobile whip on the car using QRP. You muse realistic, but also
- >know that things can happen with QRP that others just won't beleve.
-
- [discreet cuts]
-
- >40 CW is really interesting. The antenna is the key, not really the power.
- >5 watts is plenty for most contacts under a lot of circumstances. My only
- >advice to you is to very carefully consider the sort of antenna you will
- >use. A good dipole, even shortened, up 20 feet or more should be fin.
-
- >Clark
- >WA3JPG
-
- 5 watts really can be a lot of power. I've been building a rig based on
- rick Campbell's R2 receiver (jan. 1993 QST). I really wasn't so much
- interested in QRP as in the pride of homebrew, but along the way I was
- surprised to have lots of nice ragchews where I expected to be fighting
- for a decent report. Daytime ragchews with the retired old timers have
- been best -- good luck at night also, but folks don't want to ragchew.
- I'm feeding a horizontal loop cut for 80 meters -- the more wire the
- better, as a general rule!
-
- I will probably still build a 100 watt or so amplifier somewhere along the
- way, but it will now be used only when truly needed!
-
- John K0JD
-
- ------------------------------
-
- Date: Sat, 29 Jan 1994 14:30:04 GMT
- From: library.ucla.edu!europa.eng.gtefsd.com!emory!wa4mei.ping.com!ke4zv!gary@network.ucsd.edu
- To: info-hams@ucsd.edu
-
- References <19940112231936OSYSMAS@MVS.OAC.UCLA.EDU>, <1994Jan14.005918.1@auvax1.adelphi.edu>, <19940128.22405579.edellers@delphi.com>
- Reply-To : gary@ke4zv.atl.ga.us (Gary Coffman)
- Subject : Re: why 29.94 fps?
-
- In article <19940128.22405579.edellers@delphi.com> Ed Ellers <edellers@delphi.com> writes:
- ><schmidt@auvax1.adelphi.edu> writes:
- >
- >>Most every little two-bit local station now has frame synchronizers these days
- >>I think the least expensive ones are only a few thousand dollars now. If so,
- >>their colorburst frequency is set by their local reference, and not the
- >>network. Also some cable systems use processing which destroys the burst
- >>integrity. therefore, don't count on this way of calibrating your frequency
- >>counter....
- >
- >Dunno about the others, but NBC provides its OWN frame synchronizers to each
- >affiliate as part of their KU-band downlink package. So that's one item down
- >right there.
-
- If this wasn't clear, the NBC provided frame sync uses the local station's
- generator as it's reference. However, there is one NBC provided frame sync
- and 4 NBC provided receivers, so only one of the downlinks can be using
- the frame sync at a time. The local station engineers have control of that
- via their Fluke touchscreen terminal. At times they may wish to use the
- frame sync for their own purposes while airing network "raw", or through
- one of their other in house frame syncs, or from one of the other receiver
- channels. For example WXIA-TV delay broadcasts _Friday Night_ an hour
- later than the East coast feed on K2-1. So they use the 2E receiver to
- pick up the Mountain feed on K2-9 and air that through one of their own
- in house frame syncs while leaving the NBC frame sync on the 1R receiver
- from which they are taping another program for a different delayed broadcast.
-
- Worse, some stations use a frame sync on their output line as a final
- TBC and proc amp. So everything transmitted is referenced to whatever
- timing source drives that frame sync's reference input. This is sometimes
- done at the transmitter site using a local sync generator. A good reason
- to do this is to protect the transmitter from ever being fed a signal
- with no sync. (That makes transmitters very unhappy since it sets their
- duty cycle to 100% CW. A frame sync always outputs sync, even if it has
- no input signal.) A Grass Valley 900 proc amp can do the same thing,
- but as has been noted, frame syncs are so cheap now that proc amps
- are obsolete.
-
- 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: 25 Jan 1994 05:49:58 GMT
- From: unogate!news.service.uci.edu!usc!howland.reston.ans.net!cs.utexas.edu!swrinde!sgiblab!sgigate.sgi.com!olivea!koriel!male.EBay.Sun.COM!newscast.West.Sun.COM!abyss.West.Sun.@@mvb.saic.com
- To: info-hams@ucsd.edu
-
- References <CJr5Fu.GGD@world.std.com>, <kmBagc1w165w@beagle.UUCP>, <741@comix.UUCP>.reston.
- Subject : Re: Ramsey FX Transceivers
-
- In article <741@comix.UUCP> jeffl@comix.UUCP (Jeff Liebermann) writes:
- >
- >4. Consistancy is difficult to achieve. This is because of
- >accumulated component tolerances. Volume manufacturers compensate
- >for this with incoming inspection, grading, post-assembly
- >component value selection, and statistical performance analysis.
- >A small kit manufacturer cannot do any of these economically.
- >What it usually done is to use low gain, low impedance, inefficient,
- >and broad band design with a large number of adjustments to compensate
- >for component and construction variables. The result is increased
- >cost.
-
- C'mon, another way to deal with component and construction variation
- is to provide tune-up instructions and methods to compensate for
- the tolerances. Ramsey does neither.
-
- >6. The Ramsey kits are not state of the art, high quality,
- >or a fabulous bargain. They are adequate for the purpose intended:
- >a kit for those that still believe that radio construction is a
- >part of ham radio and that believe they may profit from the
- >experience.
-
- Yeah, if people just built them for the experience, that would be
- one thing. But people get the impression they can put those radios
- on the air and use them like a normal radio, too.
-
- --
- * Dana H. Myers KK6JQ, DoD 466 | Views expressed here are *
- * (310) 348-6043 | mine and do not necessarily *
- * Dana.Myers@West.Sun.Com | reflect those of my employer *
- * This Extra supports the abolition of the 13 and 20 WPM tests *
-
- ------------------------------
-
- Date: 25 Jan 1994 05:46:03 GMT
- From: unogate!news.service.uci.edu!usc!howland.reston.ans.net!cs.utexas.edu!swrinde!sgiblab!sgigate.sgi.com!olivea!koriel!male.EBay.Sun.COM!newscast.West.Sun.COM!abyss.West.Sun.@@mvb.saic.com
- To: info-hams@ucsd.edu
-
- References <kmBagc1w165w@beagle.UUCP>, <741@comix.UUCP>, <2ht0ia$9r8@unbc.edu>xa
- Subject : Re: Ramsey FX Transceivers
-
- In article <2ht0ia$9r8@unbc.edu> lyndon@unbc.edu (Lyndon Nerenberg) writes:
- >jeffl@comix.UUCP (Jeff Liebermann) writes:
- >
- >[ Lots of good common sense arguments deleted for brevity ]
- >
- >>6. The Ramsey kits are not state of the art, high quality,
- >>or a fabulous bargain. They are adequate for the purpose intended:
- >>a kit for those that still believe that radio construction is a
- >>part of ham radio and that believe they may profit from the
- >>experience.
- >
- >Exactly. I picked up a pair of Ramsey's (2m, 440) to run on packet. Why?
- >For one, it seemed silly to buy an all-singing all-dancing 400 memory PL
- >rig just to wire down onto one frequency for packet. The Ramsey kit is
- >easily interfaced to a packet modem.
-
- I agree it doesn't make sense to put a general purpose radio on packet.
- For one thing. most general purpose radios are too prone to desense
- and/or intermod from other radios in the shack (I run VHF packet,
- VHF and HF voice/data). I use a Motorola MCX100 for packet, I have
- a Motorola Maxar-80 set up that is on loan to a high-level BBS, I
- have a GE Custom MVP with GaAsFET amplifier as a backup radio.
- Guess what? I spent under $60 on each radio, including buying the
- manual from the manufacturer. I had the experience of tinkering
- with well-built, high-performance radios. An FX-440, for example,
- is de-sensed by anything transmitting below 440MHz.
-
- >As for price, the Ramsey kit is marginally less expensive than a comparable
- >single band radio WITH THE SAME FEATURES. I defy you to find a commercially
- >manufactured 2m (or 440) rig, with as few features as the Ramsey, to compare
- >the price to. When you do, *then* we'll argue about the relative expense of
- >the Ramsey kit.
-
- Well, I've pointed out three radios that are far superior to the
- Ramsey FX-146, and I bought all of them for under the cost of one
- Ramsey FX-146 and cabinet.
-
- >I agree that the front end on the Ramsey kit is wider than it should be.
- >I was aware of this from the outset. Prior to buying it, I asked around
- >about it's good and bad points. If you did not do this, that's your problem.
- >It should be noted that the 2m kit comes with an addendum that states
- >quite plainly that the 2m kit is prone to intermod, and provides alternate
- >component values for the front-end filter that will tighten things up. I'm
- >not sympathetic at all to the whining about wide front-ends' since this
- >whining almost always comes from the same people that want DC-to-daylight
- >coverage.
-
- The UHF kit has no warning that normal component tolerances can render
- the radio deaf; the one I sampled requires 50mV for a useful quieting
- at 446Mhz.
-
- >One thing about the Ramsey kit that does interest me is the PLL design. It
- >appears to be able to lock up quickly after large frequency shifts. I'm
- >curious to see if this can be exploited to run frequency-hopping spread
- >spectrum. Not being an RF guru I might well be on drugs, but that's another
- >reason why I bought a kit - there is enough room (and design documentation)
- >in the kit that I can get my fat fingers in there and try out my ideas.
-
- The method to generate useful SS is either by DDS frequency hopping
- or I/Q modulated carrier. PLL approach to SS is doomed to relatively
- few hops/second and/or considerable "bounce" in the desired frequency.
-
- >It's a shame that the Amateur Experimental Service has turned into the
- >Amateur Appliance Service.
-
- It is a shame amateurs won't take advantage of readily available
- high-quality surplus to use as a platform for experimentation and spend
- considerable effort defending junk radios that don't even come up to the
- performance standards of a Part 15 cordlesst telephone. :-)
-
-
- --
- * Dana H. Myers KK6JQ, DoD 466 | Views expressed here are *
- * (310) 348-6043 | mine and do not necessarily *
- * Dana.Myers@West.Sun.Com | reflect those of my employer *
- * This Extra supports the abolition of the 13 and 20 WPM tests *
-
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-
- End of Info-Hams Digest V94 #94
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-