QRZ! Ham Radio 5/QRZ Ham Radio Callsign Database - Volume 5.iso/digests/infoham/940868.txt

Internet Message Format | 1994-11-13 | 23.2 KB

Date: Tue,  2 Aug 94 16:41:46 PDT
From: Info-Hams Mailing List and Newsgroup <[e-mail]>
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Reply-To: [e-mail]
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Subject: Info-Hams Digest V94 #868
To: Info-Hams


Info-Hams Digest            Tue,  2 Aug 94       Volume 94 : Issue  868

Today's Topics:
                          144/440 duo-bander
                              15mW QSO's
                       Cushcraft A50-5S info??
                        Ham Software Pirates?
                   HEATHKIT radio clock and Linux?
                      Info-Hams Digest V94 #858
                     INFO WANTED: Alinco DJ-580T
                      INFO WANTED:  Yaesu FT-530
                        Need advice on towers
                   S. California Repeaters (2 msgs)
                 Simulcasting repeaters on same freq
                       SWL QSLs and the bureaus
                          Technician No Code
                      Weather fax/satelite pics
                                  y

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: Mon, 1 Aug 1994 17:25:59 GMT
From: hplntx!hpcc01![e-mail]
Subject: 144/440 duo-bander
To: [e-mail]

Need a design for 144/440 duo-bander base antenna.
collinear or arreys with gain will be better.

from the log of AA6AD

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

Date: Tue, 2 Aug 1994 05:21:23 GMT
From: news.Hawaii.Edu!kahuna![e-mail]
Subject: 15mW QSO's
To: [e-mail]

In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail] (Ed Hare (KA1CV)) writes:
>
>Actually, 15 mW would do a good job from here to several local repeaters.
>
>Now on HF...
>
>Well, on HF, I am up to 30 states worked with 10 mW, so I wouldn't discount
>the low-power claim at all. :-)

Earlier this year I posted an article on here about a 20mW CW QSO
between the Mainland US and Hungary in Europe; believe it was on 15M.

My output on HF is never more than 1W.

Jeff NH6IL
[e-mail]

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

Date: 2 Aug 1994 13:41:25 GMT
From: ihnp4.ucsd.edu!dog.ee.lbl.gov!agate!howland.reston.ans.net!gatech!udel!news.udel.edu!diusys![e-mail]
Subject: Cushcraft A50-5S info??
To: [e-mail]

I'd like to find the proper element lengths for a
Cushcraft A50-5S  5 element 6 meter yagi.  Anyone have
a manual handy?

Thanks,  Dave  WA3U
         [e-mail]

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

Date: Tue, 2 Aug 1994 15:07:20 GMT
From: ihnp4.ucsd.edu!agate!library.ucla.edu!csulb.edu!nic-nac.CSU.net!usc!math.ohio-state.edu!cs.utexas.edu!swrinde!gatech!ncar!csn![e-mail]
Subject: Ham Software Pirates?
To: [e-mail]

In August '94 QST, Brian Beezley, K6STI, is quoted as saying "Many
software developers have no defense against the widespread software
piracy that occurs in the Amateur Radio market."

Without implicating any specific person, is this valid? Are hams really
any worse than the rest of the population?

Larry James, KG0GB

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

Date: Sun, 31 Jul 94 22:18:03 GMT
From: hookup!yeshua.marcam.com!charnel.ecst.csuchico.edu!olivea!isc-br!tau-ceti!jupiter!opus-ovh![e-mail]
Subject: HEATHKIT radio clock and Linux?
To: [e-mail]

[e-mail] (Al Longyear) writes:

> (The completed clock, around the time time that the kit was being
> offered for $130, was $400. The kit was a nice week project and it works
> quite well still.)

For $400, one could buy an OEM GPS module that outputs the time.


---
Brian Mork UUCP [e-mail] / ARO ka9snf@ka7fvv.#ewa.wa.usa
....  .... USMail 6006-B Eaker, Fairchild, WA 99011
.. .. ..  .V:509-244-3764  D:509-244-9260

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

Date: 2 Aug 94 22:13:14 GMT
From: [e-mail]
Subject: Info-Hams Digest V94 #858
To: [e-mail]

 >Subject: Lightbulb's as antennas?
 >yes, lightbulbs radiate RF fairly well.  I made serveral contacts as
 >a Novice on a 100 Watt Light Bulb.....When you live in an apartment, you
 >will load up anything.. including the Bed Springs...hi hi

 >Herb
 >WA5YKO

But Herb, this is the no-code, water-bed generation....what's a bed spring?!?

Bob, WB5FBS
[e-mail]

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

Date: Tue, 2 Aug 1994 14:07:05 GMT
From: ihnp4.ucsd.edu!agate!spool.mu.edu!uwm.edu!mixcom.com![e-mail]
Subject: INFO WANTED: Alinco DJ-580T
To: [e-mail]

In <[e-mail]> [e-mail] (Mike Wallendahl) writes:

>Help!

>I am new to the world of ham radio, and want to get started.  I am
>thinking of purchasing a handheld unit, and have just about fallen in
>love with the Alinco DJ-580T.  It is a dual band 2M/440MHz unit.

After living with the 580T for a year and a half, I must say that I
really love the ergonomics (mechanical and software) of the unit.


>Before I go out and fork out $380 for this thing I want to know a few things:
>Is Alinco any good?  Is there anything the Alinco does not have that I
>might miss if I start using Ham radio frequently?  The Alinco comes with
>40 memory channels total for both bands.  Is that enough?  Should I go up
>$80 more and buy a Kenwood radio instead with more memory channels?

The scanner crowd will say that 40 isn't enough.  If your ownly interested
in 2 meter and 70cm repeaters, 3 or 4 police and fire dispatch
frequencies and a NOAA weather channel or two, 40 channels should
be more than enough.  It is not a scanner.  Scan speed is incredibly
slow (as it is on most amateur HTs).  Maybe 3 or 4 channels a second.

If you need more, get the Yaesu FT530.  Better yet, get a Standard.
Standards have memory chips that can be installed and, IMO, Standard
is far more rugged and has better RF performance than anyone else
short of Motorola and the other professional rigs.

I'd avoid any used Alinco DJ580Ts.  I think Alinco has a quality
control problem.  There have been widely varying reports on them
as far as intermod problems and electrical and mechanical assembly
quality.  Mine has been rock-solid.

I have also heard from those who say the Yaesu FT530 dual-band HT
is the best thing since sliced bread.  Its DOES have a few more
software gizmos, but RF-wise, I don't think it offers much more.

Note that ALL HT's will have intermod problems when you connect
them to the 5/8 wave whip on your car and go cruising through
the RF jungles of big-city business and industrial zones.

If you are going to do a lot of mobile work, have you considered
skipping the HT route and going with a 2-meter mobile.  The dual-
band mobiles are a bit expensive for an entry-level ham.  You
might still find a new Yaesu FT2400H 50-watt 2-meter mobile
around.  AES in Milwaukee is sold out.  The replacement for
the FT2400H is the FT2500.  I have both.  They are excellent
2-meter rigs with a mil-spec mechanical rating.  The FT2500
is going for around $350.00.

For a little more than the cost of the 580, you can get the
FT2500 and a dual-band mag-mount or trunk-lip mount mobile
antenna.  Commet, Diamond and ANLI (and a few others) make
nice mobile antennas and mounting hardware.


--
 [e-mail]  |  Vote Libertarian!
                          |
                          |  Call 1-800-682-1776
                          |  for more information.

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

Date: 2 Aug 1994 14:44:32 GMT
From: agate!darkstar.UCSC.EDU!news.hal.COM!olivea!charnel.ecst.csuchico.edu!nic-nac.CSU.net!usc!cs.utexas.edu!swrinde!gatech!newsxfer.itd.umich.edu!newsrelay.iastate.edu!news.@@ihnp4.ucsd.edu
Subject: INFO WANTED:  Yaesu FT-530
To: [e-mail]

In article <[e-mail]>, [e-mail] (Mike Wallendahl) writes:
>I got lots of replies to my last query about the Alinco, and now I'm
>leaning towards maybe a Yaesu.  Anyone have any horrible experiences with
>this radio?

I recently bought a FT-530, and I really like it.  I heard lots of good things
about the radio, and very few--if any--negatives.

As for the price, I bought mine from AES, and the price was less than $400.

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

Date: 2 Aug 1994 14:09:49 GMT
From: meaddata![e-mail]
Subject: Need advice on towers
To: [e-mail]

In article <[e-mail]>, [e-mail] (Robert H.B. Netzer) writes:
|> I would like to get the net's advice/wisdom/experience/opinions on fixed
|> towers (not crankups) on the order of 50' to 100'.  Who is regarded as making
|> the highest quality towers?  What can I expect to spend?  Where can I obtain
|> info on installation (guy wires, concrete for the base, etc)?  Is there a
|> knowledgeable person in the vicinity of Providence, RI who would be willing
|> to chat in person and provide some help?
|>
|> Rob Netzer, KD1TS
|> [e-mail]

I have a 90' Rohn model 25 guyed tower.  This supports a Mosley Classic 33
3-element HF yagi and a FO-22 22-element UHF yagi.

I have always considered Rohn to be a quality tower manufacture.  The model
25 and 45 are probabally the most popular guyed tower for amateur use.  Rohn
does have some self supporting towers to 56 feet, but you must be carefull
on loading.  I do not consider the models 25 and 45 selfsupporting above
30 feet.  For the big HF beams I would go with a Rohn 45, but it will
cost twice as much as the 25.

As for price, I think I paid about $55 per ten foot section in 1987.  I
found prices between $55 and $110 per section.  The local Ham stores in
Ohio provided the lowest price.  I was amazed at the range of price.
Check mail order.  Check ads in QST (like Texas Tower).

I had a    commercial installer put the tower up for me.  I paid him $700 for
job, but did the hole digging and concrete work myself.  The base section
is in a 2 x 2 foot square hole, 3-feet deep.  The guy anchors are in 4-foot
holes about half in concrete, 2-foot square.

Rohn has a technical manual that provides design information on all their
products.  This is a good reference in designing the installation.  If you    can find their phone number call them and see if you can get a copy.  I
don't have their address or phone number with me or I would post it.

by the way, I am using Phillystrand non-conductive guys.  This is a nice
product, but more expensive than the standard galvanized guy wire.  If
you use galvanized guy wire plan on replacing it every seven to ten years.
I know a few people that had tower up over ten years and the guy wires
rusted and broke.  Phillystrand told me they exptect a 30-year life out of
their product.  I think I am spelling the name wrong.  The tower suppliers
in QST sell this stuff also.  For guy anchors I went to the junk yard and
obtained three 4-inch I-beams, ten foot long.  I had a welding shop attach
a plate with three holes for the guy turnbuckels.  I guy my 90-foot tower
at 30, 60, and 90 feet.  Angle on the top guy wire is under 60 degrees.

Use a trust bearing at the top to take the load off of the rotor.  Ground
the tower and all coax lines where they leave the tower.

This tower has survived one lightning strike and 60 MPH wind gusts

--

Mike Suhar  WB8GXB
[e-mail]



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

Date: Mon, 1 Aug 94 16:49:29 CDT
From: ncar!uchinews!vixen.cso.uiuc.edu![e-mail]
Subject: S. California Repeaters
To: [e-mail]

On Sun, 31 Jul 1994 15:27:07 GMT,
Brian Webb  <[e-mail]> wrote:

>I'm trying to program my HT with the best line up of 2-meter repeaters
>that I can. What I'd like to know is which repeaters in the southern
>third of California (San Luis Obispo to San Diego and the coast to the
>eastern stateline) have the following characteristics:
>
>1. Wide coverage
>
>2. Are heavily used
>
>3. Are open
>
>Our problem in southern California is that we have over 200 2-meter
>repeaters but most of them have limited coverage or are hardly ever
>used.

Hi Brian,

As you can see, I'm not from California, but I have a recomendation. A few
weeks ago we were on vacation in the L.A. area, and had our radios along --
that's my son and I (me - N9XDC, he - N9XDD).  While in the area we
listened a lot to the 147.210 repeater run by a group called the Bomb
Squad (open). My son eventually got enough courage (he's 12, and we've both
only had our tickets about 5 weeks) to jump in on one of their roundtables.
They were very encouraging and patient, and my son had a great experience.
He also made his first maritime mobile contact on that repeater - one of
the regulars is stationed on a USN destroyer tender.  There seemed to be
activity on it most of the time.

The repeater location is Sunset Point (I think, supposedly somewhere
between LA and San Diego), and I think it had a PL.  (I lent my repeater
directory to a friend for his vacation, so I can't look it up to be sure).
It seems to have great range, as we picked it up east of San Bernadino. At
any rate, I think you'll enjoy this group...they certainly left a favorable
impression of So. California 2m on me, despite what I've read here....  :-)

Good luck!  Let me know how you do.

-Steve-
N9XDC

______________________________________________________________________
Steve Hilberg                       *    /==
[e-mail]                     * *  x
                                    *
                           "Some people are weatherwise but
                           most are otherwise."

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

Date: Mon, 1 Aug 1994 22:43:45 GMT
From: netcomsv!netcom.com![e-mail]
Subject: S. California Repeaters
To: [e-mail]

The Catalina repeater is 147.090. And, it is a good one. I used it once
from Santa Barbara, talking to a friend in San Clemente (in between
LA and San Diego).

--
Andrew Parker
KD6TGM
[e-mail]

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

Date: Tue, 2 Aug 1994 06:09:57 GMT
From: maestro![e-mail]
Subject: Simulcasting repeaters on same freq
To: [e-mail]

Clifford Yamamoto ([e-mail]) wrote:

: I was wondering if anyone has any experience with repeater simulcast.

: What I'd like to know is if this is plausible for ham radio use for
: say two sites?  Is there a simple way to get reused Micors/Mitreks/etc.
: to be phased locked together?  It doesn't seem easy.  The receiver
: voting portion seems easier than getting both sites to xmit in phase.

: Is there equipment from Motorola that already does this?  How much
: would something like that be?  Could I get a DDS board that replaces
: the elements in the Micors/Mitreks that can be fed a 10MHz reference
: signal from a GPS/WWVB receiver?

: Any suggestions or hints would be appreciated.
: Thanks & 73's
: - Cliff

Cliff,

  I vaguely recall reading an article in Mobile Radio Technology about a
radio shop that did a base station/repeater install in a tunnel and they
got their Micors to lock phase by referring the TCXO's AFC to a master
high-stability oscillator. Check the back issues.

-Gene    WA2BCM     [e-mail]   [e-mail]


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

Date: 01 Aug 1994 19:57:56 GMT
From: lll-winken.llnl.gov!overload.lbl.gov!agate!cat.cis.Brown.EDU!noc.near.net!news2.near.net!info-server.bbn.com!news![e-mail]
Subject: SWL QSLs and the bureaus
To: [e-mail]

I usually get at least one or two SWL QSL cards with each incoming
batch.  They have SWL id's where one might expect a call sign to go,
and the numbers fall withint the ITU assignments for the country of
origin - for instance a card from France might have something like
"F123ABC".

So, since I'd like to QSL these people too, I want to know:
  (a) Will the the ARRL Outgoing Bureau handle them? and
  (b) Will the intended recipient's country's incoming burea handle
      them?

I sent the last one direct, but that could get expensive if I start
getting a lot of these (yeah, that's so likely).

    Thx / JBL
==
Nets: [e-mail]  |  "Earn more sessions by sleeving."
pots: [phone]  |
KD1ON (@KB4N.NH.USA) |                               -- Roxanne Kowalski

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

Date: Tue, 2 Aug 1994 14:57:51 GMT
From: ihnp4.ucsd.edu!agate!spool.mu.edu!umn.edu!maroon![e-mail]
Subject: Technician No Code
To: [e-mail]

I am currently preparing for the Technician no-code FCC amateur liscence.
If anyone has passed this examination and moved on to a higher class, I
would like to know whether it is really worth it to spend all that time
learning the code.  I am mainly interested in microwave data transfer
right now, but I may like to get into DX someday. (???).  I have
successfully DXed with my CB & a homebrew antenna on  the standard 4
watts, but don't care for the CB crowd much.  I have listened to the
2 meter band on my scanner, but can't quite get a good feel for what it's
all about.  I have been fooling around with circuts and electronics for
about eight years now, and really find an interest in making antennas,
circuts, etc.  Any opinions (especially about the value of a higher
liscence) appreciated.

PS  I am having a hard time finding out where to take my technician no
code examination in the Minneapolis area.  Anyone know who to contact?

RDE

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

Date: Mon,  1 Aug 94 16:46:00 +0100
From: elroy.jpl.nasa.gov!usc!math.ohio-state.edu!jussieu.fr!univ-lyon1.fr!taloa.unice.fr!ws41.cnusc.fr!ciril.fr!muller!julienas!EU.net!dkuug!dkuug!ic.dk!dkb![e-mail]
Subject: Weather fax/satelite pics
To: [e-mail]

I'm very interested in receiving weather fax and satellite/press
pictures etc. using my PC, but don't know where to start!

If anybody can help in any of the following areas it would be much
appreciated.

1. What type of radio/receiver do I need to buy? Models, price etc.
   I believe the frequencies in question are between 0 - 20Mhz?

2. What kind of Modem do I need?  I've heard that they're relatively
   cheap to make, but I'm no electronics wiz. Can I buy one?

3. Software - is there any shareware software available that I could
   try out, to view these faxes/pictures?

4. Is it all legal?

5. Is there a FAQ anywhere on the Internet that I could download on
   the subject?


Thanks in advance.
Graham.
[e-mail]

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

Date: 2 Aug 94 10:54:47 EDT
From: ihnp4.ucsd.edu!agate!usenet.ins.cwru.edu!gatech!newsxfer.itd.umich.edu!gumby!wmichgw![e-mail]
Subject: y
To: [e-mail]

Hello all,

   I just got my Tech No-Code ticket and a HT.  I would like to get
a mobile antenna, preferrably trunk-lip mount, that I can use to xmit
on 2-meters as well as receive wide-band for a scanner.  Please respond
with your comments via e-mail or this group.

                              Thanks,


Ham: N9XLS
 ___________________________________________         __         ______ |
  \            ANIL VERMA                   \       /   \___-=O`/|O`/__|
   \ Electrical Engineer and Pilot-at-Large  \_______\ ---       / | /  )
   /    e-mail: [e-mail]        /       `/-==__ _/__|/__=-|
  /     Western Michigan University         /        *             \ | |
 /________________________________________ /                        (*)

                              "Fly or Die"

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

Date: Tue, 2 Aug 1994 13:56:27 GMT
From: netcomsv!netcom.com![e-mail]
To: [e-mail]

References <[e-mail]>, <[e-mail]>, <[e-mail]>
Subject : Re: What to do with old OST's

: Sandy, my mother lives in a tiny town called Minden, Nevada. Their
: library has copies of QST donated by the local radio club. The pages
: are dog-eared showing lots of use. This is a small town yet those
: QST's are read widely.

Well, isn't that just precious .....

: While visiting the small beach town of Carpenteria last year I went
: to the public library and found QST. Again, this is a small town yet
: those issues showed signs of wear.

: >   (Oh boy ..... I'll bet ur gonna tell me about all the non-hams
: >you know who've read an old QST cover-to-cover and came to see the light.

Thanks for confirming it.

: Sheesh yourself. My elmer had stacks of QST's lying around his garage.
: As a young pup I practically memorized them cover-to-cover. Those mags
: along with his encouragement made me a ham.

Now .... this is more like it. Course, I'll bet you didn't just sit in
his garage either ..... get to take a few home at night to peruse, eh?
As a "young pup", betcha also ran down to your local library to look thru
all the back issues as well, huh?  I would've too ..... but .... it was
more fun for me to go to the local ham who had them.

: Phooey

Pitooy.  Ah yes... diversity of opinion .... ain't it grand?
Well, maybe the original poster of this thread can make up his mind
about what he wants to do with his magazines ...... since their
his to do with as he chooses. He asked for advice from the masses
and we are just two of the more vocal ones.

Cheers/73
Sandy WA6BXH/7J1ABV  <[e-mail]>

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

Date: Mon, 1 Aug 1994 20:02:20 GMT
From: ihnp4.ucsd.edu!news.acns.nwu.edu!math.ohio-state.edu!sdd.hp.com!hpscit.sc.hp.com!cupnews0.cup.hp.com![e-mail]
To: [e-mail]

References <[e-mail]>, <[e-mail]>, <31e6o9$[e-mail]>com
Subject : Re: CT:Re: Did someone say . . . bolus ?┘N2>Message-ID: <774847

Kok Chen ([e-mail]) wrote:
: [e-mail] (Forrest Gehrke) writes:

: >N2>In article <30ml9p$[e-mail]> [e-mail] writ
: >N2>>I remember when we told our Elmer we got our tickets, he told us we must've
: >N2>>made a mistake, as there was no such thing as a KA7 call.  He thought that
: >N2>>was a DX prefix!
: >N2>>

: >And he was right!  KA was the prefix for the Philippine Islands
: >before their independence.


: If memory serves, back in my SWL days in 9M2-land during the early- to
: mid-60s,  I was hearing a lot of KAs from Japan.

: I think they might be licenses issued to folks posted to the U.S. military
: bases there.

Yes, that is correct. I got a card from KA2CC just before it shut down.
The military issued licenses were KA.

Jim, WA6SDM
[e-mail]

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

End of Info-Hams Digest V94 #868
******************************