QRZ! Ham Radio 5/QRZ Ham Radio Callsign Database - Volume 5.iso/digests/infoham/940763.txt

Internet Message Format | 1994-11-13 | 24.5 KB

Date: Fri,  8 Jul 94 10:06:27 PDT
From: Info-Hams Mailing List and Newsgroup <[e-mail]>
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Subject: Info-Hams Digest V94 #763
To: Info-Hams


Info-Hams Digest            Fri,  8 Jul 94       Volume 94 : Issue  763

Today's Topics:
                       * SpaceNews 11-Jul-94 *
            Amateur calls on auto license plates? (2 msgs)
                    CW practice program for Sun4?
              Does CW as a pre-req REALLY Work? (2 msgs)
                            F.E.M.A. Freq.
                        FIELD DAY 1994 REPORT
                Keyers and Positive/Negative keylines
                            Legal question
                       Radios for Emergency Use
               twin diode mixer article: GOT IT, THANKS

Send Replies or notes for publication to: <[e-mail]>
Send subscription requests to: <[e-mail]>
Problems you can't solve otherwise to [e-mail].

Archives of past issues of the Info-Hams Digest are available
(by FTP only) from UCSD.Edu in directory "mailarchives/info-hams".

We trust that readers are intelligent enough to realize that all text
herein consists of personal comments and does not represent the official
policies or positions of any party.  Your mileage may vary.  So there.
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Date: 8 Jul 94 15:25:15 GMT
From: [e-mail]
Subject: * SpaceNews 11-Jul-94 *
To: [e-mail]

SB NEWS @ AMSAT $SPC0711
* SpaceNews 11-Jul-94 *


BID: $SPC0711


                               =========
                               SpaceNews
                               =========


                          MONDAY JULY 11, 1994


SpaceNews originates at KD2BD in Wall Township, New Jersey, USA.  It is
published every week and is made available for unlimited distribution.


* UNAMSAT-1 NEWS *
==================
David Liberman, XE1TU, reports that the UNAMSAT-1 spacecraft has not yet
been launched.  A postponment was announced through official correspondence
from the Russian Space Agency just a few days before project officials had
to depart for Russia, and no statement regarding the length of the delay
was mentioned.  It has now become apparent that the civil and military
crew involved in the launch of UNAMSAT-1 are on summer vacation, possibly
delaying the launch until September.

In the mean time, project officials are experimenting with the satellite on
the ground, making small adjustments, and testing the satellite for all
possible situations.  Through this experimentation, a problem with the
fire code not resetting the CPU was discovered.  All the operating software
has been loaded on the satellite and is running well.  The BBS is being
used by local amateurs with microsat ground stations.

[Info via David, XE1TU of the UNAMSAT-1 Team]


* AO-13 ATTITUDE CHANGE *
=========================
The AMSAT-OSCAR-13 satellite has undergone a recent attitude change.  The
following message issued by spacecraft controller G3RUH explains some of
the details:

L QST de G3RUH 1994 Jul 05.  Magnetorquing from attitude 243/+5 to 180/0
commences on Jul 07 [Thu] 0510 utc, orbit 4642/224, and continues for 10+
perigees.  Estimated interim attitudes are: Orbit Alon/Alat: 4643 235/+4:
4645 221/-2: 4647 211/-10: 4649 205/-10: 4651 193/-12: 4653 181/-13, then
a final adjustment.  For command purposes during this 4-day period mode-S
beacon is ON MA 140-150, i.e. mode-B OFF for 26 mins.  The new schedule
will start orbit 4651 MA 150 Jul 11 [Mon] 0851 utc. 73 James.

Magnetorquing (attitude changing) is not an exact science, and minor
deviations from the above plan sometimes occurs.

Please don't rely on gossip and rumour!  Continuous up to date information
about AO-13 operations is always available on the beacons, 145.812 MHz or
2400.664 MHz in CW, RTTY and 400 bps PSK.  These bulletins are also posted
to Internet, ANS, Packet, PacSats etc., and many international newsletters.
A 400 bps PSK decoder is available from G3RUH and several DSP products;
display software P3C.EXE etc. from many AMSAT groups.

The active command stations are listed below, and constructive feedback
about operations is always welcome.

  Peter   DB2OS  @ DB0FAU.#NDS.DEU.EU
  James   G3RUH  @ GB7DDX.#22.GBR.EU
  Graham  VK5AGR @ VK5WI.#ADL.#SA.AUS.OC

The above may also be reached via Internet ([e-mail]) and KO-23.
Please remember to state clearly a return address.

[Info via James Miller, G3RUH @ GB7DDX.#22.GBR.EU]


* LUSAT-OSCAR-19 NEWS *
=======================
The LUSAT-OSCAR-19 satellite continues to operate without its file server
running.  The following beacon was received from LO-19 by KD2BD in New
Jersey last week:

LUSAT-1>AMARG <UI>:

May 21.

OBC crashed on May 17 at +/- 2:45 utc, lat 45s, lon 43 w.
Only digipeater is available.

LU8DYF, LO-19 command station.

Although the file server is not available, the satellite does function as
a digipeater, and other ground stations can be connected to via LUSAT-1.


* DOVE DECODER AVAILABLE *
==========================
A DOVE-OSCAR-17 satellite telemetry decoding program for the MS-DOS
operating system has been created by KD2BD and is now available via
anonymous FTP at pilot.njin.net.  The program has been compressed into
a file called "duvdec10.zip", and is located in the /pub/SpaceNews/software
sub-directory at pilot.njin.net.

The program will read and interpret ASCII telemetry transmissions made by
DOVE-OSCAR-17 and generate reports based on that data.  The software is
free and is intended for non-commercial use.


* THANKS! *
===========
Thanks to all those who sent messages of appreciation to SpaceNews,
especially:

    GM1SXX    N2SMT    N2WYU    VU3KNA    ZR6AIU    N8BMA    Jay Respler


* FEEDBACK/INPUT WELCOMED *
===========================
Mail to SpaceNews should be directed to the editor (John, KD2BD) via any
of the following paths:

FAX      : [phone]
PACKET   : KD2BD @ N2KZH.NJ.USA.NA
INTERNET : [e-mail] -or- [e-mail]

MAIL     : John A. Magliacane, KD2BD
           Department of Engineering and Technology
           Advanced Technology Center
           Brookdale Community College
           Lincroft, New Jersey  07738
           U.S.A.


       <<=- SpaceNews: The first amateur newsletter read in space! -=>>

/EX

--
John A. Magliacane, KD2BD   * /\/\ * Voice   : 1-908-224-2948
Advanced Technology Center  |/\/\/\| Packet  : KD2BD @ N2KZH.NJ.USA.NA
Brookdale Community College |\/\/\/| Internet: [e-mail]
Lincroft, NJ  07738         * \/\/ * Morse   : -.-  -..  ..---  -...  -..

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

Date: 8 Jul 1994 15:38:36 GMT
From: ihnp4.ucsd.edu!usc!howland.reston.ans.net!vixen.cso.uiuc.edu!usenet.ucs.indiana.edu!master.cs.rose-hulman.edu![e-mail]
Subject: Amateur calls on auto license plates?
To: [e-mail]

QST

I haven't had call letter plates (as they are called here in Indiana) for
many years.

Reason:

Why advertise that you've got fence-able equipment in your car?

73 de Jack, K9CUN

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

Date: 8 Jul 1994 15:46:55 GMT
From: ihnp4.ucsd.edu!usc!sol.ctr.columbia.edu!usenet.ucs.indiana.edu!master.cs.rose-hulman.edu![e-mail]
Subject: Amateur calls on auto license plates?
To: [e-mail]

Bill recently sed...

> ...I don't suspect the standard thief would think a call plate to
> be anything  different than a vanity plate...
----------------------------------------------------------

Maybe not.  But maybe an Icom thief or a Kenwwod thief wud.  :-)

73 de Jack, K9CUN

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

Date: 8 Jul 1994 16:27:34 GMT
From: ihnp4.ucsd.edu!swrinde!cs.utexas.edu!convex!news.duke.edu!solaris.cc.vt.edu![e-mail]
Subject: CW practice program for Sun4?
To: [e-mail]

In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail] (David Kohn) writes:
> I'm trying to find a code-drill program for the Sun4 platform.
> I've seen only PC and mac stuff so far..
> (And no, the Mac emulator software here doesn't provide audio support.. :(  )

There's a program called superior morse for unix boxes.  It only has sound
support for Sun, HP, and generic X11.  The X11 support did not work for me, but
I have created a sound support file for NeXT  using the NeXT soundkit.  It can
be found at oak.oakland.edu below the /pub/hamradio directory.  Can't recall
the exact location, but it's somewhere like programs/unix.

--
Tim Rhodes ................................... [e-mail]
Sr Systems Engineer .......................... [e-mail]
Virginia Tech ................................
-- .- .. - .. -. --.    ..-. --- .-.    -- -.--    - .. -.-. -.- .. -

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

Date: 8 Jul 1994 12:50:24 GMT
From: ihnp4.ucsd.edu!agate!cat.cis.Brown.EDU!pstc3.pstc.brown.edu![e-mail]
Subject: Does CW as a pre-req REALLY Work?
To: [e-mail]

[e-mail] (Wwhitby) writes:

> 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.

Obviously you haven't listened to [VU]HF in L'il G'Rhody, or several
repeaters in Southern California.

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

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

Date: 8 Jul 1994 11:05:10 -0400
From: ihnp4.ucsd.edu!swrinde!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]

In article <[e-mail]>, Warren E. Lewis wrote:
>
> .......................................... And if you
> hear improper operating practice or technique from an
> operator you are in QSO with give them some gentle
> criticism. Isn't that one of the principles of Amateur
> Radio.
>
Warren,

Oh yeah, gentle criticism to a lid who lays into you w/the attitutde
'don't tell me what to do young man, I've been doin dis fer 50 yrs...'.

It's encouraging to see more folks genuinley concerned w/the service, perhaps
there's hope...

Andy

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

Date: 8 Jul 1994 13:44:40 GMT
From: ihnp4.ucsd.edu!dog.ee.lbl.gov!agate!howland.reston.ans.net!vixen.cso.uiuc.edu!newsfeed.ksu.ksu.edu!moe.ksu.ksu.edu!news.mid.net!crcnis1.unl.edu!unlinfo.unl.edu![e-mail]
Subject: F.E.M.A. Freq.
To: [e-mail]

[e-mail] (David L. Wilson) writes:

>The list of FEMA freqs posted to this group contains various error.
>In particular, who ever typed the list had their right hand placed
>one key right of where it should be when typind the freq for F-24 to
>F-27.  For example, the day primary calling channel of 10493 was
>mistyped as 10483.  Also, 10194 (mistyped as 10184 was listed twice).
>--
>David L. Wilson            INTERNET:  [e-mail]
>Phone: [phone] (H)   Amateur callsign: AC4IU  G.S.: FM18fg


  Nahhh! That's just BOB GROVE(proper reverence shown)"encoding"
his frequency lists to make sure nobody rips HIM off!!!! (:->


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

Date: 8 Jul 94 15:11:18 GMT
From: ncrgw2.ncr.com!ncrhub2!tdbunews!nsc32![e-mail]
Subject: FIELD DAY 1994 REPORT
To: [e-mail]

In article [e-mail], [e-mail] (Joel B Levin) writes:
-->In article <2v865b$[e-mail]> [e-mail] (Douglas J Renze) writes:
-->   [e-mail] (Joe Salemi) writes:
-->   >We also ran 6A, and I do remember contacting a 16A on 40m -- think they
-->   >were from one of the New England states -- Mass. maybe, or VT.  We
-->   >also ran into a 15A.
-->
-->   I hit a 14A on 40-m SSB, I believe.  Heh, I was a bit shocked when I QSL'd
-->   it.  I can't imagine being on a site with 40 rigs in what sort of radius of
-->   one another?  . . .
-->
-->OK, it can be told.  We were 15A: N1NH, the Nashua Area Radio Club,
-->operating out of Hollis, NH (next town over from Nashua).  While
-->working 75m I contacted a 16A operation in Michigan.  Our usual
-->competition is a California club which has in the past operated 23A or
-->25A.  I was told that they were out again this year, but I didn't
-->reach anyone that far west this year on my station.
-->
-->    /JBL KD1ON
-->=
-->Nets: [e-mail]  |  "Earn more sessions by sleeving."
-->pots: [phone]  |
-->ARS:  KD1ON          |                               -- Roxanne Kowalski


Reaching the west coast is like us reaching the east coast.  Sat. morning
during field day while I was logging, my friend did contact NY and NJ on
20m CW.  He started on 40m CW but seemed to have contacted everyone at that
time so he switched to 20m.  Later that night when the band opened up, he
made a lot of contacts to Europe.  No we were not the 23A or 25A site.  We
were only 4A.

73's

Bill

+-----------------------------------------------------------------+
| Bill Starkgraf                          [e-mail] |
| AT&T Global Information Solutions       [phone]          |
| El Segundo, CA                          [phone] x5754    |
|                                                                 |
| Call: KD6UQB                            Simi Settlers ARC       |
|                                         Simi Valley, CA         |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------+

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

Date: 08 Jul 1994 16:27:39 GMT
From: ihnp4.ucsd.edu!dog.ee.lbl.gov!agate!msuinfo!netnews.upenn.edu!netnews.upenn.edu![e-mail]
Subject: Keyers and Positive/Negative keylines
To: [e-mail]

Thanks to those who answered my queries regarding positive and
negative key lines.

Now let me explain the reason why I asked.  Any suggestions would be
most appreciated.

I built the basic CMOS Super Keyer II awhile back.  My intent is to
eventually have a keyer that is as compatible as possible to any sort
of radio equipment out there.  The basic CMOS Super Keyer II uses a
2N2222 (?) for a positive key line.

I reasoned that there are several possibilities out there:
1) the to the rig could be either a phone or a phono jack.
2) the rig could be positive or negative key line
3) an external power supply may or may not be available.
4) ????

For possibility 1, I put in phono and phone jacks when I originally
built the unit.

For possibility 2: When I originally built the unit, I installed a
DPDT switch for the purpose of switching between the two types of key
lines.  I built the MOSFET level converters (both positive and
negative) in an old QST article.  The positive was built on the off
chance there is a rig out there that has a positive key line but draws
a lot of current.  These were built over the last two nights and
tested.  I have not yet been put into the keyer since I need to
purchase a 2P3T switch.  I would prefer to use the DPDT switch as I
have plenty of them but the both ends of a nine volt battery needs to
be switched so that I have +9V and -9V depending upon which level
converter is on line.  Further, I figured out the I need to use a
switch on the output of the two level converters.  For some reason,
the level converter not on line seems to short out the output of the
other level converter if both outputs are wired together.  While I
hope to figure out how to avoid using a switch here, I am resigned to
spending the money.

For possibility 3: I inserted an extra RCA jack to put in +12V when I
built the unit.  I would have preferred to use the ARRL standard MOLEX
plug for this purpose but didn't want to use up the real estate on the
case and I have plenty of RCA plugs lying around.  My plan is to use a
1N400x (i.e. whichever I happen to have lying around) in case the
polarity of the external power supply is screwed up.  From the looks
of it, the +9V is not critical so I will either use a 7810 or a
crowbar IC to power the positive level converter.  A 7805 will be used
to power the keyer itself.  The -9V for the is a bit more difficult
but according to Horowitz and Hill, I can use a MAX632 (?) to get
-12V. Unfortunately, I have no experience in using a switching
regulator. I am hoping that the voltage drop due to the 1N400x will
not screw up the MAX632; I don't have the data sheet.  Hopefully, the
output of a few hundred mils will be all that I need.  I suppose I'll
need some sort of relay to switch between the internal and the
external power but I haven't even begun to figure what parts I will
use.

An unexpected  problem is that I started this project with a rather
SMALL box and am afraid that I will run out of real estate.  As it is,
the box already has three layers.  The lowest is the keyer circuit
itself.  The highest is the AA battery holder glued to the top of the
box.  I am hoping that I can squeeze the level converters in the
middle.  The 9V battery is squeezed on the side of the box.  I have no
idea where I can put the power supply circuits.

--
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: Fri, 8 Jul 1994 04:35:24 GMT
From: ihnp4.ucsd.edu!library.ucla.edu!europa.eng.gtefsd.com!uhog.mit.edu!news.media.mit.edu!news.media.mit.edu.![e-mail]
Subject: Legal question
To: [e-mail]

No problemo.  If you can order the delivery of a pizza by phone patch,
you can order the delivery of a message.

Who's paying for the pager calls, anyway?  There are "pagers" that
work on ham radios, by the way.

--Shawn

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

Date: Fri, 8 Jul 94 12:27:45 GMT
From: ihnp4.ucsd.edu!swrinde!howland.reston.ans.net!torn!nott!dgbt!clark.dgim.doc.ca![e-mail]
Subject: Radios for Emergency Use
To: [e-mail]

In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail] writes:
>
>Assuming that you're serious (I've never seen the magazine you mention),
>and that what you want is emergency communications, I suggest you use a
>portable cellular telephone - since you don't need any special license,
>can talk directly to public safety agencies, and presently have coverage
>in most of North America as well.
>
Well my friend, I live in Ottawa Ontario, which has close to a million people
in the surrounding area. If I drive North for 30 minutes I can go do a day hike
and be out of cellular phone range for most of the day. Cellular phone coverage
is for areas where people are, not the backcountry. There may be coverage in
most of the U.S. but most of Canada has no coverage. There are major roads
where you can drive for four hours between the spots of cellular coverage. Try
using that cellular phone on any of the rivers in Canada's north. An earlier
thread on the net was "is there anywhere in the continental U.S. that is more
than 10 miles from a road". We have lots of places that are over 500 miles from
the nearest road. THAT'S BACKCOUNTRY!!!!!

>If you're a ham, you probably already have a portable VHF or UHF radio,
>most of which are reasonably compact - maybe 1 X 2 X 6, and hams often
>have repeaters which greatly extend the range of the radio, as well as
>allowing, in many cases, autopatches (self dialled telephone
>interconnects) to the telephone system.

Same problem, but not as bad. VHF and UHF radios tend to be "line of sight".
Try picking up that repeater as you canoe down that steep canyon.

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

Date: Fri, 8 Jul 1994 12:31:12 GMT
From: spsgate!mogate!newsgate![e-mail]
Subject: twin diode mixer article: GOT IT, THANKS
To: [e-mail]

In article <[e-mail]> David DiCarlo,
[e-mail] writes:
>Does anyone have an archive of Ham Radio that includes the Oct. 1978
>issue where Jim Dietrich WA0RDX had an article entitled "Twin-Diode
>Mixer" published?  I have no local source (Austin, TX) and would
>gladly pay copying and shipping expenses.

I got a copy of the article yesterday.  Many thanks to all who replied.

--Dave

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

Date: 8 Jul 1994 05:52:44 -0700
From: nntp.crl.com!crl3.crl.com![e-mail]
To: [e-mail]

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

Matthew Rupert ([e-mail]) wrote:
: I've not become discouraged ; in fact, I want to get onto the HF
: bands and chat with people who know a helluva lot more than I do.

: stuff deleted...

: I don't care if I have to learn 13 WPM for my general upgrade.
: I don't care if it's 20 WPM.  I'll learn it if that's what the FCC
: says I gotta do.  ... etc ...

You have the right attitude Matt!  The point is: if you want on HF
then you have to do the code. The requirements may change in the future
but for the time being, "no CW, no HF".  I encourage you and anyone else
who is struggling along with the code to keep at it.

: When I get older, and have been doing it for 20+ years, I'm sure the
: FCC will have new regulations and rules, and I'll be doing MY set
: of bitching and whining.  In amatuer radio, the more the merrier.
  ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

You dont have to bitch and whine if you dont want to.

There is a natural generation gap between "old hams" and "new hams".

40 years ago, when I got my novice license, a few of the old timers
complained about these young kids who only needed to do 5 WPM to get
on the air.

Later on, I complained about losing my priviledges when incentive
licensing came along.

No ham ever forgets the excitement he/she experienced when we first
started.  We get confortable with our technology and our operating
habits.

Heres my point:  The "Ham generation gap" will always be there.  It is
up to us to bridge it.  It wont happen naturally, we have to make a
concentrated effort.  The "old hams" have to understand that technology
changes and the "new hams" have to understand that "old hams" are
set in their ways.

Enjoy the hobby, ignore the trouble makers.

Smitty, NA5K

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

Date: 8 Jul 1994 06:14:44 -0700
From: nntp.crl.com!crl3.crl.com![e-mail]
To: [e-mail]

References <[e-mail]>, <[e-mail]>, <[e-mail]>m
Subject : Re: Copying CW, and why it's friendlier than phone

I do mobile CW and everything is copied in the head.


Permit me to make a few suggestions when you work a mobile CW
station:


  When answering a CQ from a /M CW station, send your call more than
  once.  I get frustrated when someone only sends their call once and
  I miss it.

  Use common abbreviations.  Not being able to write it down, if I am
  unfamiliar with the abbreviation, it just flys right on by.

  Dontruneverythingtogether.  Once again, I cant go back and attempt
  to decypher what was sent.

My commute is about an hour long and I work 40 CW in the morning
(about 6 AM CST) and 20 CW in the evening (about 4:30 PM CST).

Give me a call if you hear me!

Smitty, NA5K/M

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

Date: 8 Jul 1994 11:05:17 -0400
From: ihnp4.ucsd.edu!usc!howland.reston.ans.net!news.intercon.com!news1.digex.net!digex.net![e-mail]
To: [e-mail]

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

In article <2visoe$[e-mail]>, Matthew Rupert wrote:
>
> The influx of "Tech No-Code" (like me) certainly sours the old-timers
> who think that Extra Class is the ONLY class, and 20 WPM is too slow
> (add a ! on the end)
>
Matt,

I got the cold shoulder from many fellow Generals when I went straight for
the General ticket 17 years ago (since I hadn't come up through the 'ranks').
I set my eyes on specific priviledges and went for it.


Andy

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

End of Info-Hams Digest V94 #763
******************************