QRZ! Ham Radio 5/QRZ Ham Radio Callsign Database - Volume 5.iso/digests/infoham/940759.txt

Internet Message Format | 1994-11-13 | 23.3 KB

Date: Thu,  7 Jul 94 13:36:22 PDT
From: Info-Hams Mailing List and Newsgroup <[e-mail]>
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Subject: Info-Hams Digest V94 #759
To: Info-Hams


Info-Hams Digest            Thu,  7 Jul 94       Volume 94 : Issue  759

Today's Topics:
                Amateur calls on auto license plates?
                       Camcorder viewer needed.
            Copying CW, and why it's friendlier than phone
              Does CW as a pre-req REALLY Work? (2 msgs)
                     Humorous Field Day Stories?
            Keyers and Positive/Negative keylines (3 msgs)
                       More Humorous Field Days
       Show work for full credit (was: Temp. Conversion Chart:

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Archives of past issues of the Info-Hams Digest are available
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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: 7 Jul 1994 15:25:14 GMT
From: ihnp4.ucsd.edu!swrinde!gatech!howland.reston.ans.net!europa.eng.gtefsd.com!newsxfer.itd.umich.edu!zip.eecs.umich.edu!umn.edu!mr.net!tccn.com!suzie![e-mail]
Subject: Amateur calls on auto license plates?
To: [e-mail]

I've got call plates on my car - like others, I've made removal of my Kenwood
742A pretty difficult - mounted the rig in the trunk and used the remote mounting
kit.  Too much hassle for thieves.

An alarm is a good idea - I've been thinking about designing a silent alarm
that pages me rather than using a noisemaker.  If I mark the car properly and
make thieves aware that there is a silent alarm, they should think twice about
hitting the car...

73

Jim
----
Jim Henderson - W0/KD4LDO     Internet:    [e-mail]
Crystal, Minnesota  USA                    [e-mail]
NetWire Forum SysOp (NETW4X)  CompuServe:  76702,1452

"OK, so the guy is cool, but...I mean own up, this is barking time, this is
 major lunch, this is stool approaching critical mass, this is...this is...
 total vocabulary failure!" - Zaphod Beeblebrox's Left Head

#include <disclaimer.h>

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

Date: Thu, 7 Jul 1994 18:01:56 GMT
From: ihnp4.ucsd.edu!sdd.hp.com!news.cs.indiana.edu!noose.ecn.purdue.edu!constellation.ecn.purdue.edu![e-mail]
Subject: Camcorder viewer needed.
To: [e-mail]

[e-mail] (Dale Lukas Peterson) writes:

>Hello all-

>I am interested in making some "VR" glasses except instead of using small
>computer screens or whatever they are, I would like to use the small
>screen that is looked into when you use a camcorder.  Does anybody have
>any idea where I could obtain these?  I would appreciate addresses,
>phone#'s, and, prices.  Thanx in advance.

    Second this.  I am working on a small CCD camera system and would
like a fairly small viewfinder for them, preferably one that requires
12 volts DC for supply....

Duane
[e-mail]

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

Date: 7 Jul 1994 10:34:37 -0400
From: ihnp4.ucsd.edu!usc!howland.reston.ans.net!news.intercon.com!news1.digex.net!digex.net![e-mail]
Subject: Copying CW, and why it's friendlier than phone
To: [e-mail]

In article <2vejbp$[e-mail]>, Scott Richard Rosen wrote:
>
> _______________________________________________________________________
> Code requires a great deal of effort compared to phone, for most people.
> It's held in high regard as an ART form by many.  Besides, how long
> would it take to say
>
>   "Get off this net frequency now, you stupid moron, it's here every day"
>    ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
> In phone it's about 3-5 seconds.  CW, maybe 30 seconds (just tried
> both).  Being rude just ain't worth the time - besides, with 300 Hz
> bandwidth, you can always be notched out...

> Scott Rosenfeld

Pretty much what you hear every day. There are legitimate traffic handling
and phone patch nets, they're providing a service. But these daily we're
here cause we're here and it's 'our' daily spot, well, I STILL can't find
the NET freq's in my handbook, maybe they're broadcasters?

Andy N3LCW

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

Date: 07 Jul 1994 16:16:46 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: Does CW as a pre-req REALLY Work?
To: [e-mail]

In article <2vh303$[e-mail]> [e-mail] (Andrew B. White) writes:
   Once we have vanity callsigns, one of the last advantages of being an Extra
   will be gone anyway - the distinctive call.

Under the proposed plans for vanity calls, a ham would only be able to
select a call in a class for which her current license makes her
eligible.  That is, a General for example would not be able to request
a 2x2, a 1x2 or a 2x1 (in the ConUS call districts anyhow).

    /JBL

Nets: [e-mail]  |  "There were sweetheart roses on Yancey Wilmerding's
POTS: [phone]  |  bureau that morning.  Wide-eyed and distraught, she
ARS:  KD1ON          |  stood with all her faculties rooted to the floor."
                     |                    -- S. J. Perelman

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

Date: 7 Jul 1994 10:34:27 -0400
From: ihnp4.ucsd.edu!swrinde!gatech!howland.reston.ans.net!news.intercon.com!news1.digex.net!digex.net![e-mail]
Subject: Does CW as a pre-req REALLY Work?
To: [e-mail]

Peter, Bill,

The question pools are a major contributor to the present problems on the
bands. I became licensed before the question pools and had to 'learn' the
theory. The whole idea of the priviledge of the license means accepting
technical and ethical responsibility (too often I hear people who don't
even know how to measure SWR...). Some of the feedback I get about this
has been 'if <they> needed to know theory <they> wouldn't have been able
to get their license...' what am I missing here?

I agree that the classes of licenses should be cut, while increasing the
technical and operational content requirements. A majority of candidates
will likely agree. Those not interested in passing a technical exam
shouldn't operate a transmitter anyway.

The previous volunteer examiner policy was plagued w/fraud; too many hams
brought their 'buddies' in by vouching for their CW certificates (back
in the days when an Advanced could administer the General exam, etc). This
'back door' approach may have led to the many lids out there now.

CW lids, they are there, but rare. Nothing a 250Hz filter can't handle!

Andy N3LCW

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

Date: Thu, 7 Jul 1994 17:49:19 GMT
From: ihnp4.ucsd.edu!pacbell.com!amdahl!netcomsv!netcom.com![e-mail]
Subject: Humorous Field Day Stories?
To: [e-mail]

In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail] (Stan Olochwoszcz N2AYJ) writes:
>was legit and what was not. Well, W*2*** decided this was too good to pass up,
>so he became "RG8U, portable W2", with just a hint of not identifiable accent.
>
>The real pile-ups should have been so good!

Hardly took any coaxing at all, huh?

Greg

(Sorry, sorry)

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

Date: 07 Jul 1994 16:53:30 GMT
From: ihnp4.ucsd.edu!swrinde!gatech!newsfeed.pitt.edu!dsinc!netnews.upenn.edu!netnews.upenn.edu![e-mail]
Subject: Keyers and Positive/Negative keylines
To: [e-mail]

I was rereading an old QST article about using power MOSFETS as key
line shifters.  The idea is that most rigs take the key line (normally at
some voltage) and bring it to ground in order to generate dits and
dahs.  There were four combinations:

1) positive to positive
2) positive to negative
3) negative to negative
4) negative to positive.

Numbers 1 and 3 make sense to me.  If the rig draws more current than
the keyer can deliver, something is required to allow the additional
current to be drawn.

Why would 2 and 4 be necessary?  The keyer is a different unit from
the rig so why couldn't the wires be switched around so that the
polarity is the exact opposite?

As a side issue, I believe most rigs have positive key lines.  How
common are rigs with negative key lines?


--
Medical Image Processing Group     |        73 de Conway Yee, N2JWQ
411 Blockley Hall                  |  EMAIL     : [e-mail]
423 Guardian Drive                 |  TELEPHONE : [phone]
Philadelphia, PA 19104-6021 (USA)  |  FAX       : [phone]

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

Date: Thu, 7 Jul 1994 19:12:42 GMT
From: ihnp4.ucsd.edu!sdd.hp.com!col.hp.com!srgenprp![e-mail]
Subject: Keyers and Positive/Negative keylines
To: [e-mail]

Conway Yee ([e-mail]) wrote:
: I was rereading an old QST article about using power MOSFETS as key
: line shifters.  ...

There are basically two combinations in common use.  Older tube-type
transmitters used grid-block keying:  A negative voltage biases OFF
the final amplifier tube.  When you close the key contacts, the
negative voltage is shorted to ground, allowing the amplifier tube
to conduct.  Open-circuit key jack voltage typically runs minus 50
to minus 150 volts or so.  Short-circuit current is a few milliamps.

Solid-state radios use a positive key voltage, again shorted to ground
to enable the transmitter.  Open-circuit voltage is typically around
+5V to +12V.  Short-circuit current is again a few milliamps.

A few of the really old tube-type transmitters used cathode keying.
In that case, the open-circuit voltage can run +50 to +300V or more
with closed-circuit current being equal to the final amplifier current,
perhaps as much as an Amp.  Make sure you have a well-insulated key
if you use one of these monsters!

AL N1AL

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

Date: Thu, 7 Jul 1994 19:55:10 GMT
From: ihnp4.ucsd.edu!swrinde!howland.reston.ans.net!darwin.sura.net!fconvx.ncifcrf.gov![e-mail]
Subject: Keyers and Positive/Negative keylines
To: [e-mail]

In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail] (Conway Yee) writes:
>I was rereading an old QST article about using power MOSFETS as key
>line shifters.  The idea is that most rigs take the key line (normally at
>some voltage) and bring it to ground in order to generate dits and
>dahs.  There were four combinations:
>

>
>As a side issue, I believe most rigs have positive key lines.  How
>common are rigs with negative key lines?

Transistor rigs conventionally key positive. Tube rigs were (are) keyed
at the grid which is -ve.
    Joe Mack NA3T
    [e-mail]

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

Date: 7 Jul 94 15:57:10 -0500
From: ihnp4.ucsd.edu!usc!howland.reston.ans.net!europa.eng.gtefsd.com!ulowell!woods.uml.edu![e-mail]
Subject: More Humorous Field Days
To: [e-mail]

Then there was the time...

in 1983 in Biloxi, Mississippi while operating Keesler Amateur Radio Club's
K5TYP "Tiny Yellow Polka-dots" the weather started getting rough...the tiny
ship was tossed...uh sorry 'bout that folks..flashbacks.  &-D

Most us abandoned the site at Thrower Park, part of Keesler Air Force Base
housing, where I lived.  A few of us went to my house.  While at home I
quickly disconnected my antennas (I don't like -ae at the end) and threw the
cable on the floor.

Within minutes there was a loud "POP!" and an arc flashed across from the
shield to the center conductor of the PL-259 connected to the cable sitting
on the floor.  This was followed almost instantly by a loud roar of thunder.
"Man, that was close!"

A short time later after the storm drifted eastward and out of the area, we
began straggling back to the Field Day site.  WA7*** stayed at the site
during the storm.  Being a Technician class licensee he wasn't supposed to
be talking on HF when a control operator of sufficient class wasn't present.
He knew that.  But being so anxious to talk on HF he decided to do so whilst
we was gone.  Using an Icom 730 rig and with one of those small Icom gooseneck
microphones WA7*** was making contacts galore.

Remember that loud POP followed by the thunder?  Well ole sizzle lips WA7***
had his mouth very near the mic when that happened.  Yeah, God got him for
operating beyond his privileges without a proper control op present...

Hope you're reading this Mike, I'll never forget that.

73 all -

de -jim-
WK1V formerly KA5MWD, N1CLS, KB1LW

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

Date: 07 Jul 1994 17:11:19 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: Show work for full credit (was: Temp. Conversion Chart:
To: [e-mail]

In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail] (Jeffrey Herman) writes:
   In article <2vh2ps$[e-mail]> [e-mail] (Jenkins, David F.) writes:
      >
+-->  >But if -40F = -40C, then F always = C, and *that* isn't right, either...
|
|     I hope you're not serious. You can't cancel the -40 on both sides.
|     The F and C are units of measurement not multiplicative factors.
|
|     Sheesh - the TV generation.
|
|
|  Jeff NH6IL
|
+--<  Joke, son.

 Sometimes I wonder about the state of people's irony detectors.
 Maybe they suffer from too much intermod these days?

    /JBL  KD1ON

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

Date: 7 Jul 1994 07:30:30 -0700
From: ihnp4.ucsd.edu!library.ucla.edu!psgrain!news.tek.com!macs!macs![e-mail]
To: [e-mail]

References <2vbodi$[e-mail]>, <[e-mail]>, <[e-mail]>
Subject : Re: Radios for Emergency Use

In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail] (Eugene N. Miya) writes:

>              The problems I have with Hal's text as it stands involve
>the philosophical problem of carrying that kind of technology into the woods.

I see no problems with such technology as long as:

1.  It is voluntary and

2.  It does not intrude unduely on the experience of others.  I think
a good rule of thumb would be that the radio should provide no more
intrusion than two members of the same party talking to one another.

Each should be free to choose how he wants to enjoy the backcountry,
provided only that his choice leaves the freedom for others to also
enjoy it and does not damage the area.  If Joe wants to go out with
only the clothes on his back and a little food that is fine but he
shouldn't insist that Jim do likewise.  Similarly Jim is free to take
his ham radio, tent, and whatever else he can carry but not to impose
his style on Joe.  I hope we can keep this freedom, there are those
who want to impose rules requiring GPS systems, cell phones or their
successors, emergency beacons etc.  I oppose that regimentation.

>           The fact is that some organizations who lead trips forbid
>the use of some of this technology.  (Period.)

I was unaware of that.  Which organizations?  I know the Mazamas
actively encourages use of ham radios and has offered classes to
help members get licensed.

>                                          The problem of "false
>sense of security" is another area not addressed by Hal's text; this has been
>known for decades as the bodies of 9 Russian women who had a radio can attest
>with their last words: "We die now."  So a radio is not a panacea.

But would the Russian women have lived without the radio?  Were they
there because they had a radio and thought it would get them out of
trouble or would they have been there anyway?  Agreed the radio is
not a panacea and I hope nothing I have written implies otherwise.

>Leaving the text as it is represents a tacit assumption that this is
>generally condoned in the woods: and in large part, it is not.

While there may be those who object to two way radios in the woods, I
reject the idea that they should impose their style on others.  To
each his own.


>The question is how to achieve the right sense of balance which Hal's text
>lacks.  In case the reader (more radio oriented) thinks this is a joke,
>I refer to the article in Backpacker "Galen Rowell [a noted climber and
>photographer] Almost Killed Me" and Rowell's side bar response.  I doubt
>Hal would like a similar "Hal (or me or any rec.radio poster name)
>Almost Killed Me" net.post.

I don't suscribe to _Backpacker_.  Could you summarize please?

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

Date: 7 Jul 1994 19:15:12 GMT
From: ihnp4.ucsd.edu!usc!howland.reston.ans.net!vixen.cso.uiuc.edu!newsrelay.iastate.edu!news.iastate.edu![e-mail]
To: [e-mail]

References <2vh2ps$[e-mail]>, <[e-mail]>, <[e-mail]>│ç
Subject : Re: Show work for full credit (was: Temp. Conversion Chart:


In article <[e-mail]>, [e-mail] (Joel B Levin) writes:
|>  Sometimes I wonder about the state of people's irony detectors.
|>  Maybe they suffer from too much intermod these days?

Haven't seen much irony in this thread...Sarcasm, yes; irony, no.

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

Date: Thu, 7 Jul 1994 15:55:13 GMT
From: news.Hawaii.Edu!kahuna![e-mail]
To: [e-mail]

References <[e-mail]>, <2vf65f$[e-mail]>, <2vh2ps$[e-mail]>
Subject : Re: Show work for full credit (was: Temp. Conversion Chart:

In article <2vh2ps$[e-mail]> [e-mail] (Jenkins, David F.) writes:
>
>But if -40F = -40C, then F always = C, and *that* isn't right, either...

I hope you're not serious. You can't cancel the -40 on both sides.
The F and C are units of measurement not multiplicative factors.

Sheesh - the TV generation.


Jeff NH6IL

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

Date: Thu, 7 Jul 1994 17:44:57 GMT
From: newsgate.melpar.esys.com!melpar![e-mail]
To: [e-mail]

References <[e-mail]>, <2vcapc$[e-mail]>, <hawley.773439481@aries>eff
Subject : Re: Does CW as a pre-req REALLY Work?

[e-mail] (Chuck Hawley) writes:

>>the CB bands.  In all my months of operation (and about a year of
>>just listening), I have only heard one gentleman use one profane
>>word, and he immediatley appologized for his slip.  The first time I
>>listened to HF transmissions on 80 meters, I heard enough 4 letter
>>words for an R-rated movie.  I have listened to other QSOs and have
>>heard even more profanity.  I don't talk like that and I don't want
>>to listen to it.

>>So, to bring this post to a close, the real barrier for me is not CW,
>>but it is the desire NOT to listen to a bunch of foul-mouthed CBers
>>turning our HF amateur bands into other CB bands.  I am very content

>There are lots of nice people on 75 Meters...I think a lot of the
>skumbags you hear are at night, and full of booze.
>I talk to a bunch of good people on 3.875 MHz., everybody's welcome.
>I obviously can't speak for everyone, but in general, checkin's are
>well received and encouraged to join in. I notice that in the morning
>most frequencies are friendly. Go ahead and upgrade. We need you.

     I second the "upgrade, we need you" sentiment.  The BEST way to
get rid of the trash element (and BTW, I've heard some on 2-meter
simplex who were just as bad as anything on 75 or 40) is for *decent*
operators to (a) be active on the bands and set a good example;
(b) report flagrant violations, particularly groups of slimeys who
park on the same freq night after night (or day after day), to the
FCC (giving callsigns and locations, if known); and (3) refrain
from EVER verbally attacking or abusing a slimey over the air EVEN
WHEN HE QRMs AND CURSES YOU AND TRIES TO GOAD YOU INTO A RESPONSE.
*Don't* play their game; they only want attention.  If you ignore
them, and flagrant groups keep getting mysteriously reported to the
FCC (thus making the pages of QST under headlines such as "Topeka
Hams Fined For Rules Violations" or "FCC Revokes Licenses of
75-meter Malicious Interferers"), eventually they'll be few and far
between.

     Good always triumphs over Evil unless Good wimps out and becomes
an ostrich.....

   73 DE K4MSG

(|_|)  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: 7 Jul 1994 10:34:21 -0400
From: ihnp4.ucsd.edu!swrinde!gatech!howland.reston.ans.net!news.intercon.com!news1.digex.net!digex.net![e-mail]
To: [e-mail]

References <[e-mail]>, <2vg6vg$[e-mail]>, <2vg80k$[e-mail]>gex.ne
Subject : Re: Does CW as a pre-req REALLY Work?

In article <2vg80k$[e-mail]>, Matthew Rupert wrote:

...snip
>
>     I'm about ready to burst wanting to learn code, when, five
> months ago, after passing my test, I was convinced CW was for
> old geezers who don't like to use a microphone.
>     As soon as I can get up to 13 WPM, I will take my General
> upgrade(from Tech as I am now...without code, I should add in case
> someone missed that point), and get on the HF bands somehow.
> ............................................................................
> Matt Rupert - 2984 Pheasant Run Dr. Apt D - Jackson MI 49202 - [e-mail]
>        Personal Security / UNIX Enthusiast / Amatuer Radio - KB8SGL
>        Which is worse: ignorance or apathy?  Who knows?  Who cares?
Matt,

Good luck and don't be discourged w/the previous comments. Most of the
HF spectrum is free of the garbage posted. The anti-no-code  attitude
is being stressed by the few elitists left that are afraid of losing 'their'
precious net frequencies to the volume of newcomers. It should happen, maybe
the frequencies won't be commandeered around the clock and people will once
again learn to share the HF resources. The HF bands could use a fresher,
courteous bunch. Sure, there will be some ill-feelings by many if the CW
requirements are eased (but technical/operational requirements increased),
that'll pass in time...

Andy N3LCW

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

Date: 7 Jul 1994 10:55:25 -0700
From: ihnp4.ucsd.edu!library.ucla.edu!psgrain!news.tek.com!cascade.ens.tek.com![e-mail]
To: [e-mail]

References <2v1rjm$[e-mail]>, <[e-mail]>, <2v7iup$[e-mail]>om
Subject : Re: Call-Sign Prefixes


I miss the old KC6, KS6, KM6, etc. prefixes. Seems like they were alot
easier to learn and remember. I still have to look sometimes now even though
the KH#'s have been out for several years.

Terry, KI7M

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

End of Info-Hams Digest V94 #759
******************************