home *** CD-ROM | disk | FTP | other *** search
- Date: Thu, 24 Feb 94 04:30:06 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 #200
- To: Info-Hams
-
-
- Info-Hams Digest Thu, 24 Feb 94 Volume 94 : Issue 200
-
- Today's Topics:
- ARLP007 Propagation de KT7H ZCZC
- ARLX009 Radio show offered
- Daily Summary of Solar Geophysical Activity for 22 February
- ftp for files
- Honda ignition recall - now NOISE!!
- Low power Bird slugs
- repeater list
- Travelling to Egypt
-
- 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: Mon, 21 Feb 1994 09:18:25 -0700
- From: agate!howland.reston.ans.net!sol.ctr.columbia.edu!newsxfer.itd.umich.edu!nntp.cs.ubc.ca!alberta!ve6mgs!usenet@ames.arpa
- Subject: ARLP007 Propagation de KT7H ZCZC
- To: info-hams@ucsd.edu
-
- SB PROP @ ARL $ARLP007
- ARLP007 Propagation de KT7H ZCZC
- AP21 QST de W1AW Propagation Forecast Bulletin 7 ARLP007
- radio amateurs
-
- Unstable geomagnetic conditions finally started settling
- down this week. A very disruptive coronal hole in the
- Sun's Southern hemisphere was the cause of all the grief.
- Conditions may worsen again on the day this bulletin is
- released, and again around March 6 when the recent
- disruptive region rotates back into view on the solar
- disk.
-
- Look for flux values to drop after this weekend, reaching
- a minimum around 85 on March 2 or 3.
-
- For the DX contest this weekend, look for a flux between
- 100 and 105, and A and K indices dropping after Friday.
-
- Sunspot Numbers from February 10 through 16 were 49, 49,
- 53, 72, 59, 59 and 71, with a mean of 58.9. 10.7 cm flux
- was 94.2, 93.1, 97.6, 97.8, 101, 103.8 and 104.7, with a
- mean of 98.9.
-
- The path projection for this weekend is from Orem, Utah to
- Bolivia.
-
- 80 meters should be open from 0100z to 1030z, with the
- best signals around 0300z. 40 meters should be open from
- 0030z to 1130z, with the best conditions from 0100z to
- 1000z. 30 meters should be good from 2330z to 1200z, with
- the best signals from 0130z to 1000z. 20 meters should be
- good after 2200z until 0230z on most days, until 0530z on
- some days, and on a few days until 0800z. The peak period
- for 20 meters should be from 0000z to 0230z. 17 meters
- should be open from 1430z to 0200z, with the best time
- around 2230z to 0130z. 15 meters should be open from 1530z
- to 0030z, with the best signals late in that period. 12
- meters looks good from 1600z to 2300z. The best signals
- on 10 meters should be around 1800z, with a possibility of
- openings from 1700z to 2200z on most days. On some days
- 10 meters could open as early as 1500z and close as late
- as 0130z.
- NNNN
- /EX
-
- ------------------------------
-
- Date: Wed, 23 Feb 1994 14:50:44 GMT
- From: netcomsv!netcom.com!marcbg@decwrl.dec.com
- Subject: ARLX009 Radio show offered
- To: info-hams@ucsd.edu
-
- SB SPCL @ ARL $ARLX009
- ARLX009 Radio show offered
-
- ZCZC AX41
- QST de W1AW
- Special Bulletin 9 ARLX009
- >From ARRL Headquarters
- Newington CT February 22, 1994
- To all radio amateurs
-
- SB SPCL ARL ARLX009
- ARLX009 Radio show offered
-
- Radio show offered
-
- ''This Week in Amateur Radio,'' an Amateur Radio audio bulletin
- service, celebrates its first anniversary on March 5.
-
- The show, offering news stories of interest to amateurs, lasts 60 to
- 90 minutes. It is carried on the Omega Radio Network on Saturdays,
- at 7:30 PM EST.
-
- The program also is available on satellite Galaxy III, transponder
- 17 (9H), 5.8 MHz wideband audio (4.040 GHz).
-
- Weekly program summaries are circulated on amateur packet bulletin
- boards, FidoNet, GEnie, USenet, and the Internet. The program is
- produced by Stephan Anderman, WA3RKB, and George Bowen, N2LQS.
-
- For more information, contact Anderman at PO Box 8592, Albany NY
- 12208, or via amateur packet at WA2UMX.ENY.NY.USA.NA.
- NNNN
- /EX
-
-
-
- --
- ================================================
- Marc B. Grant Voice Mail: 214-246-1150
- marcbg@netcom.com Amateur Radio N5MEI
- marcbg@esy.com
- ================================================
-
- ------------------------------
-
- Date: 23 Feb 94 05:27:58 GMT
- From: nprdc!ihnp4.ucsd.edu!ucsnews!sol.ctr.columbia.edu!newsxfer.itd.umich.edu!nntp.cs.ubc.ca!alberta!ve6mgs!usenet@network.ucsd.edu
- Subject: Daily Summary of Solar Geophysical Activity for 22 February
- To: info-hams@ucsd.edu
-
- /\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\
-
- DAILY SUMMARY OF SOLAR GEOPHYSICAL ACT
-
- 22 FEBRUARY, 1994
-
- /\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\
-
- (Based In-Part On SESC Observational Data)
-
-
- SOLAR AND GEOPHYSICAL ACT
- ------------------------------------------------------------
-
- NOTE: The GOES greater than 2 MeV electron detectors are contaminated during
- high energy proton events. For this reason, the electron fluence
- values for 20 to 22 February are suspect and should be disregarded.
-
- !!BEGIN!! (1.0) S.T.D. Solar Geophysical Data Broadcast for DAY 053, 02/22/94
- 10.7 FLUX=106.7 90-AVG=106 SSN=068 BKI=7844 3312 BAI=059
- BGND-XRAY=B1.7 FLU1=3.8E+07 FLU10=2.8E+05 PKI=7645 4333 PAI=046
- BOU-DEV=201,342,061,067,038,028,006,013 DEV-AVG=094 NT SWF=00:000
- XRAY-MAX= C1.2 @ 0234UT XRAY-MIN= B1.5 @ 1056UT XRAY-AVG= B2.5
- NEUTN-MAX= +000% @ 2035UT NEUTN-MIN= -006% @ 0735UT NEUTN-AVG= -2.8%
- PCA-MAX= +0.4DB @ 0010UT PCA-MIN= -0.2DB @ 1015UT PCA-AVG= +0.1DB
- BOUTF-MAX=55441NT @ 0105UT BOUTF-MIN=55316NT @ 1756UT BOUTF-AVG=55342NT
- GOES7-MAX=P:+000NT@ 0000UT GOES7-MIN=N:+000NT@ 0000UT G7-AVG=+050,+000,+000
- GOES6-MAX=E:+142NT@ 0330UT GOES6-MIN=N:-131NT@ 0344UT G6-AVG=+078,+066,-046
- FLUXFCST=STD:105,105,100;SESC:105,105,100 BAI/PAI-FCST=025,015,010/030,020,015
- KFCST=4455 5432 3445 4332 27DAY-AP=017,016 27DAY-KP=1353 4432 2343 3433
- WARNINGS=*GSTRM;*AURMIDWCH
- ALERTS=**FORBUSH;**MAJSTRM;**PROTN10:ENDED
- !!END-DATA!!
-
- NOTE: The Effective Sunspot Number for 21 FEB 94 was 42.2.
- The Full Kp Indices for 21 FEB 94 are: 2o 2o 3o 7- 7- 7- 5- 6o
- The 3-Hr Ap Indices for 21 FEB 94 are: 8 9 14 110 103 122 42 87
- Greater than 2 MeV Electron Fluence for 21 FEB is: 1.6E+08
-
-
- SYNOPSIS OF ACT
- --------------------
-
- Solar activity was low. Just one unobserved C-class event
- was recorded. Region 7671 (N10W42) continues its slow decay.
- Three new regions were assigned, 7675 (S12E41), 7676 (N09E50),
- and 7677 (N20W12).
-
- Solar activity forecast: solar activity is expected to be
- low.
-
- The geomagnetic field has been at predominantly major
- storm levels the past 24 hours. Intervals of severe storm
- conditions were observed in nighttime sectors. This disturbance
- has gradually weakened throughout the day. The greater than 10
- MeV proton event ended at 0050Z. The polar cap absorption ended
- at 1525Z.
-
- Geophysical activity forecast: the geomagnetic field is
- expected to be at active to minor storm levels during the
- next 24 hours. Episodes of major storming may occur in
- nighttime sectors. A small coronal hole now positioned
- near W30 may further fuel the activity in the near term.
- Strictly unsettled conditions are anticipated by Feb. 25.
-
- Event probabilities 23 feb-25 feb
-
- Class M 05/05/05
- Class X 01/01/01
- Proton 05/05/05
- PCAF Yellow
-
- Geomagnetic activity probabilities 23 feb-25 feb
-
- A. Middle Latitudes
- Active 15/20/15
- Minor Storm 25/20/10
- Major-Severe Storm 25/10/01
-
- B. High Latitudes
- Active 15/25/20
- Minor Storm 25/20/15
- Major-Severe Storm 35/15/05
-
- HF propagation conditions over the high and polar latitude
- paths continued to be essentially useless throughout the day.
- Moderate to periods of strong degradation were also observed
- throughout the day over many middle latitude regions, although
- some improvements are gradually becoming apparent over these
- regions. Gradual improvements are expected over the next 72
- hours, although a return to near-normal conditions is not
- expected for several days yet, particularly over the high and
- polar latitude paths where residual substorm activity and
- renewed activity from the above-noted coronal hole may keep
- propagation at poor to very poor levels for much of this week.
-
-
- COPIES OF JOINT USAF/NOAA SESC SOLAR GEOPHYSICAL REPORTS
- ========================================================
-
- REGIONS WIT
- -----------------------------------------------------------
- NMBR LOCATION LO AREA Z LL NN MAG TYPE
- 7671 N10W42 191 0290 DAO 06 010 BET
- 7675 S12E41 108 0040 CAO 06 006 BET
- 7676 N09E50 099 0030 BXO 09 008 BET
- 7677 N20W12 161 0010 BXO 03 004 BET
- 7669 N08W60 209 PLAGE
- 7670 N09W50 199 PLAGE
- 7674 S14W17 166 PLAGE
- REGIONS DUE TO RET
- NMBR LAT
- 7664 S13 036
- 7665 N03 029
-
-
- LISTING OF SOLAR ENERGETIC EVENTS FOR 22 FEBRUARY, 1994
- -------------------------------------------------------
- BEGIN MAX END RGN LOC XRAY OP 245MHZ 10CM SWEEP SWF
- NO EVENTS OBSERVED
-
-
- POSSIBLE CORONAL MASS EJECTION EVENTS FOR 22 FEBRUARY, 1994
- -----------------------------------------------------------
- ISOLATED HOLES AND POLAR EXT
- EAST SOUTH WEST NORTH CAR TYPE POL AREA OBSN
- 63 S30W12 S30W17 S28W40 S04W30 187 ISO POS 008 10830A
- 64 N40W02 N10W22 N25W36 N40W02 179 ISO POS 015 10830A
- 65 S18E53 S30E43 S18E34 S10E36 117 ISO POS 003 10830A
-
-
- SUMMARY OF FLARE EVENTS FOR THE PREVIOUS UTC DAY
- ------------------------------------------------
-
- Date Begin Max End Xray Op Region Locn 2695 MHz 8800 MHz 15.4 GHz
- ------ ---- ---- ---- ---- -- ------ ------ --------- --------- ---------
- 21 Feb: 0459 0504 0511 B2.5
- 0635 0651 0658 B5.5
- 1704 1707 1711 B3.7
-
-
- REGION FLARE STATISTICS FOR THE PREVIOUS UTC DAY
- ------------------------------------------------
-
- C M X S 1 2 3 4 Total (%)
- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --- ------
- Uncorrellated: 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 003 (100.0)
-
- Total Events: 003 optical and x-ray.
-
-
- EVENTS WIT
- ----------------------------------------------------------------
-
- Date Begin Max End Xray Op Region Locn Sweeps/Optical Observations
- ------ ---- ---- ---- ---- -- ------ ------ ---------------------------
- NO EVENTS OBSERVED.
-
- NOTES:
- All times are in Universal Time (UT). Characters preceding begin, max,
- and end times are defined as: B = Before, U = Uncertain, A = After.
- All times associated with x-ray flares (ex. flares which produce
- associated x-ray bursts) refer to the begin, max, and end times of the
- x-rays. Flares which are not associated with x-ray signatures use the
- optical observations to determine the begin, max, and end times.
-
- Acronyms used to identify sweeps and optical phenomena include:
-
- II = Type II Sweep Frequency Event
- III = Type III Sweep
- IV = Type IV Sweep
- V = Type V Sweep
- Continuum = Continuum Radio Event
- Loop = Loop Prominence System,
- Spray = Limb Spray,
- Surge = Bright Limb Surge,
- EPL = Eruptive Prominence on the Limb.
-
-
- ** End of Daily Report **
-
- ------------------------------
-
- Date: 24 Feb 94 06:00:34 GMT
- From: nprdc!ihnp4.ucsd.edu!library.ucla.edu!csulb.edu!csus.edu!netcom.com!wy1z@network.ucsd.edu
- Subject: ftp for files
- To: info-hams@ucsd.edu
-
- In article <5c.13488.23.0N17A716@pplace.com> pat.wilson@pplace.com (Pat Wilson) writes:
- >In your experience, what is the best site to ftp for ham files? I am
- >looking to fill up my phoneline bbs with amateur files. I would like to
- >find the best sources for the newer files that come out, or is there a
- >single source?
- >
- >N0RDQ
-
-
- You are more than welcome to venture through the mod archives on World:
- anonymously ftp into: ftp.std.com:/pub/hamradio/mods
-
- The directory structure branches from this point per the different
- manufactureres.
-
- I still have a LOT of mods on disk which I haven't had time to view and
- upload.
-
- Please let me know what you think.
-
- Thanks.
-
- Scott
-
-
- --
- ===============================================================================
- | 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 - ftp.std.com pub/hamradio |
- ===============================================================================
-
- ------------------------------
-
- Date: 24 Feb 94 04:03:00 GMT
- From: nprdc!ihnp4.ucsd.edu!ucsnews!sol.ctr.columbia.edu!howland.reston.ans.net!cs.utexas.edu!utnut!utcsri!newsflash.concordia.ca!altitude!dino.hip.cam.org!user@network.ucsd.edu
- Subject: Honda ignition recall - now NOISE!!
- To: info-hams@ucsd.edu
-
- In article <1994Feb21.204344.59186@kuhub.cc.ukans.edu>,
- baxter@kuhub.cc.ukans.edu wrote:
-
- > This past month, Honda sent out a recall notice for their 90-91 Accords.
- > They were wanting to replace a part in the distributor which failed when
- > the car got high mileage.
- >
- > I had this recall work done on my car a couple of weeks ago, and now have
- > terrible ignition noise on 2 meters and 440. Before this work had been
- > done, the ignition had been really quite quiet -- now it is nearly
- > unbearable.
- >
- > One fellow ham said the thought that he'd read something about this on packet
- > or in one of the ham magazines.
- >
- > Has anyone else had this problem? The local Honda folks seem lukewarm about
- > fixing this problem they created, probably because theyt really don't
- > understand it.
- >
- > Any one dealt with Honda about this problem?
- >
- > Thanks.
- >
- > Kirk Baxter, N0FPZ/VK1KU
-
-
-
- Well Kirk, I have had the same mod done about one month ago and have the
- same noise problem as you. However, after my last tune up, about a year
- ago they had changed the plugs and rotor among other things, and I noticed
- the problem with the noise was also there at that time.
-
- With time the noise should go away, relatively, if I go by what I
- experienced after the tune up last year. I am still waiting for the
- problem to go down right now. It's not too bad on good strong sigs, but
- weaker ones get very hard to make out. I haven't tried any type of noise
- filtering yet, but my power is directly at the battery and I do have a
- choke I may try when I have the time.
-
- Let me know what you find.
-
- Bye---- from a fellow honda owner, Dino
-
- --
- """""""""""""""""""""
- | Dino Moriello """"""""""""""""""""""
- | PO BOX 105 Internet: dino@CAM.ORG """""""""""""""""""""
- | Radisson,Quebec Compuserve: 76120,1472 Tel.: 514-974-0773 |
- | CANADA J0Y 2X0 Packet: VE2DM@VE2FKB 819-638-8281 |
- """""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
- Please E-mail replies since I can't always read the USENET postings.
-
- ------------------------------
-
- Date: 23 Feb 1994 16:31:18 GMT
- From: elroy.jpl.nasa.gov!swrinde!gatech!concert!bigblue.oit.unc.edu!cheech@ames.arpa
- Subject: Low power Bird slugs
- To: info-hams@ucsd.edu
-
- In article <8377@gold.gvg.tek.com>, <groverc@gvgadg.gvg.tek.com> wrote:
- >
- >Is there a Bird slug available that would do a credible job
- >of measuring <5w signals in the range 3-30MHz?
- >
- >WT6P
-
- The lowest power slug available from Bird for 2-30 MHz is the Model
- 50H. It does 50 Watts full scale.
-
- I suspect that the problem with HF is that the pickoff element is
- such a small fraction of a wavelength at HF that it can't get enough
- power to drive the meter. Other manufacturers may make a compatible
- slug that will do lower power, but all I've got is the Bird catalog.
-
- They do make a multirange meter (the 4410) that will give you 1 Watt
- full scale at 2-30 MHz. All you need is $599 + $179/slug that you
- just have to get rid of. Fat Chance.
-
- Prices are from the 1991 catalog. They've probably gone up.
-
- Greg AC4YT
- cheech@med.unc.edu
-
- ------------------------------
-
- Date: 23 Feb 94 15:17:07 GMT
- From: spsgate!mogate!newsgate!hofbrau.sps.mot.com!user@uunet.uu.net
- Subject: repeater list
- To: info-hams@ucsd.edu
-
- This whole issue is just another indication that the ARRL is more
- interested in protecting itself than serving the amateur community.
- How can the ARRL possibly claim copyright on data collected and
- compiled by individual volunteers from sources other than the ARRL? Surely
- they don't believe the volunteers sat down and transcribed the contents of
- the ARRL repeater directory... I have one of those and it's the last place
- I look for valid information ( lots of inaccurate listings for Arizona).
- Since the ARRL doesn't seem to pursue other published repeater directories
- (go look in any HRO across the country), it would seem it has no legal
- claim to data or format. I might add that those rags usually charge money,
- Conway's on-line directory is free.
- Is the ARRL just upset because somebody beat them to it? Internet
- users have been asking for an on-line directory for years. Now that
- somebody has finally taken the challenge, the ARRL gets nasty and legal
- instead of helpful and supportive.
- I am a member of the ARRL and I am not happy. I expect the ARRL to be
- out there fighting the battles that really matter such as spectrum
- disappearing to the government auction block, streamlining the FCC's
- licensing procedures, and protecting our rights to communicate. Instead I
- get an ARRL that seems only concerned with protecting itself (fighting with
- other VEC's about who's going to administer callsigns, defending high speed
- CW code tests, and this directory matter).
- They better take a clue from the NRA. If the ARRL wants to be another
- organization that slowly erodes its own members support and continually
- loses influence, then it can continue to pursue these petty matters. If
- however, the ARRL wants to be a leader, grow in support and influence, then
- it better start listening to the members and doing whatever it takes to
- help the amateur community.
-
- --
- * Chris Terwilliger, AA7WD a229aa@email.sps.mot.com *
- * Motorola AA7WD@N7MRP.AZ.USA.NA *
- * Phoenix Corporate Research Labs those who forget the past *
- * 2100 E. Elliot Rd. EL508 are condemned to repeat it *
- * Tempe, AZ 85284 - George Santayana *
-
- ------------------------------
-
- Date: Wednesday, 23 Feb 1994 10:06:34 PST
- From: lll-winken.llnl.gov!unixhub!slacvm!lmwhite@ames.arpa
- Subject: Travelling to Egypt
- To: info-hams@ucsd.edu
-
- In article <2kdlug$nvb@gdls.com>, turini@gdls.com (Bill Turini) says:
- >
- >I will be travelling to Cairo in the near future. I have been told to forget
- >about
- >bringing any amateur radio equipment as there is no possibility of getting an
- >operating license there.
- >
- >But I was also told by the ARRL to not even bring a short wave receiver/alarm
- >clock/AM/FM Radio as they were very strict on any type of radio equipment.
- >
- >Does anyone have any first hand knowledge of this?
- >
- There will be no problem taking an ordinary shortwave/alarm/am/fm radio
- into Egypt for your own use. If there are restrictions on radio equipment,
- it is probably on the type which can broadcast as well as receive.
-
- ------------------------------
-
- Date: 24 Feb 94 03:11:27 GMT
- From: nprdc!ihnp4.ucsd.edu!ucsnews!sol.ctr.columbia.edu!news.kei.com!eff!usenet.ins.cwru.edu!agate!library.ucla.edu!news.ucdavis.edu!chip.ucdavis.edu!ez006683@network.ucsd.edu
- To: info-hams@ucsd.edu
-
- References <762016156snx@skyld.grendel.com>, <CLp60o.Dn3@ucdavis.edu>, <CLpJ87.8r@news.Hawaii.Edu>ary.
- Subject : Re: RFD: rec.radio.pendantic
-
- Jeff Herman (jherman@uhunix3.uhcc.Hawaii.Edu) wrote:
-
- : I don't get it - what's a wannabe basket-weave belt?
-
- wannabe implies one who wishes or acts in a way more consistent with a
- group of individuals of which they are not a member. It is usually
- used in a derogatory fashion. For example some people call no-codes
- wannabe hams. If one were to speak with an artificial French accent they
- may be called a wannbe french(wo)man. And if one acts like it is their
- responsibility to enforce laws when it is not they are often called
- wannabe cops (can you say security officer?).
- Most police uniforms include a leather belt (and often wallet) imprinted
- with a basket-weave design.
- ergo. You were called a wannabe cop.
-
- : What's gerbils got to do with gays? Is this 2 meter talk?
- It has nothing to do with 2 meters. Perhaps 2 feet, but not 2 meters. If
- you don't know, you really don't want to know. (is there an
- alt.fan.Richard.Gere? :-)
-
- Now, tell me, are you a born again Christian? HOw tall are your?
-
- Dan
- --
- *---------------------------------------------------------------------*
- * Daniel D. Todd Packet: KC6UUD@KE6LW.#nocal.ca.usa *
- * Internet: ddtodd@ucdavis.edu *
- * Snail Mail: 1750 Hanover #102 *
- * Davis CA 95616 *
- *---------------------------------------------------------------------*
- * The only thing I can officially say for the University is: *
- * What I say is in no way related to oficial University policy *
- *---------------------------------------------------------------------*
-
-
- ------------------------------
-
- Date: 24 Feb 94 07:10:09 GMT
- From: netcomsv!netcom.com!tcj@decwrl.dec.com
- To: info-hams@ucsd.edu
-
- References <YEE.94Feb18143836@mipgsun.mipg.upenn.edu>, <2733@indep1.chi.il.us>, <rohvm1.mah48d-220294100035@136.141.220.39>
- Subject : Re: Probable demise of the online repeater directory project
-
- Conway Yee (yee@mipg.upenn.edu) writes:
-
- > Recently, I received a polite letter from the ARRL lawyers
- > threatening legal action if I continue on this project.
- > Specifically, they state that the ARRL owns the FACTS present in the
- > repeater directory and that the format of the database infringes
- > upon the ARRL copyright.
-
- John E. Taylor III (rohvm1.mah48d@rohmhaas.com) replies:
-
- > I'm an ARRL member, and considering ARRL put a fair amount of effort
- > into compiling the Repeater Directory, I'd feel they weren't using
- > my money wisely if they did _not_ enforce their copyright to the
- > Directory.
-
- I'm an ARRL member, too, but I couldn't disagree more with John's opinion on
- this issue.
-
- The ARRL Repeater Directory is a wonderfully handy little publication, and at
- six bucks a pop it's also one of the best deals around. I buy three of them
- whenever a new edition comes out: one for the shack, one for the car, and one
- that lives in the portable radio bag with the HTs. But for all its utility
- the Directory suffers from the same limitations as any hardcopy publication.
- For example,
-
- o I live in an area blessed with tons of repeater activity. When I
- pull in a signal on a frequency with which I am unfamiliar, it's
- a painstaking task to identify all of the candidate repeaters. An
- online database could easily support this with a frequency lookup
- qualified by geographic are, distance from my QTH as calculated
- from great circle coordinates or grid square, etc.
-
- o Keeping abreast of the local repeaters while traveling is also
- difficult since the Directory is usually not organized according to
- my travel route. With an online directory, I could extract and
- print a "repeater itinerary" that I could scan from top to bottom
- during the course of my trip.
-
- o Although exploring the packet network via digipeaters is somewhat
- passe these days, I used to find it handy to select only high-level
- repeaters for this purpose. With location and altitude information
- from an online database, it would be possible to build
- theoretically promising paths for exploration.
-
- I'm sure that other folks can think of many practical applications for an
- online database of repeater information that I haven't mentioned here, and
- I'll bet that may of then would be difficult or impossible armed only with
- The ARRL directory.
-
- While I certainly recognize the ARRL's right and obligation to protect its
- commercial interests, its primary purpose is supposed to be furthering the art
- and practice of amateur radio. When these two objectives come into conflict I
- for one expect it League to support the latter objective without even a moment
- of hesitation. The day the League's fiscal interests take priority over the
- best interests of amateur radio is the day my membership terminates.
-
- I generally avoid the frequent ARRL flamefests in this forum, but this one
- really bothers me. Conway, I strongly encourage you to post the text of the
- letter you received from the League's counsel. Does anyone in the Pacific
- Division know if Brad Wyatt can be reached via the Internet?
-
- And just for the record, I'd *still* buy my three annual copies of the
- Directory even if an online database were available.
-
-
- Todd, KB6JXT
-
- ------------------------------
-
- End of Info-Hams Digest V94 #200
- ******************************
-