QRZ! Ham Radio 5/QRZ Ham Radio Callsign Database - Volume 5.iso/digests/infoham/940870.txt

Internet Message Format | 1994-11-13 | 9.0 KB

Date: Wed,  3 Aug 94 04:30:08 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 #870
To: Info-Hams


Info-Hams Digest            Wed,  3 Aug 94       Volume 94 : Issue  870

Today's Topics:
                      Info-Hams Digest V94 #858
                       Lightbulb's as antennas?
                 REQUEST: Help finding WWV receiver!

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Problems you can't solve otherwise to [e-mail].

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.
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Date: 2 Aug 94 19:06:17 -0500
From: europa.eng.gtefsd.com!ulowell!woods.uml.edu![e-mail]
Subject: Info-Hams Digest V94 #858
To: [e-mail]

In article <[e-mail]>, [e-mail]
(Robert G. Priez) writes:

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

Hey Bob!

Does this generation still use traverse or curtain rods?  I've used a Dentron
transmatch before and talked to California from Florida on 10.  Of course a
really active set of sunspots helps immensely.  We'll have to wait a few years
to try that again.

73 de WK1V
  -jim-

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Date: Tue, 2 Aug 1994 20:05:29 GMT
From: ihnp4.ucsd.edu!dog.ee.lbl.gov!agate!howland.reston.ans.net!europa.eng.gtefsd.com!gatech!news.ans.net!sitka.wsipc.wednet.edu!egreen!egreen![e-mail]
Subject: Lightbulb's as antennas?
To: [e-mail]

In article <[e-mail]>,
Alan Wilensky <[e-mail]> wrote:
>
>TS>I thought I heard someone say that a recent Newsline featured a HF
>TS>contact made by Gorden West using a lightbulb as an antenna.  Does
>TS>anyone have some information on this?  Or was I hearing things
>TS>(again!)?
>
>He stated it in one of his study guides. He was tuning up a transmitter.
>
>Alan Wilensky, N1SSO
>General Manager
>Interactive Workplace Division
>Vicom, LTD.
>Phone: Edmonton Office
>11603 165 St.
>[e-mail]
>---
>│ CmpQwk #UNREG│ UNREGISTERED EVALUATION COPY
>
I used to demonstrate how to tune up a transmitter to my novice classes
in the "tube days. "  A 100 watt bulb loaded nicely and you could see the
bulb brighten as the current dips.  I actually did have a few short
distance QSOs on 10 at this time, even though I was in a concrete
building and the other station was several miles away.
This might also me a good demonstration of how to use a tuner.

I have also held QSOs with both stations on dummy loads.
I'm still working on my WAD (Worked All Dummies) award, although the
number of dummies to work seems to increase each year.

Some other fun antennas are bed springs, metal gutters, aluminum window
screens and metallized mylar kite strings (except during thinder storms(

Anyway, keep on experimenting.  That's what HR is all about

John, AE7P

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Date: Tue, 2 Aug 1994 13:49:25 +0000
From: pipex!demon!alcarg.demon.co.uk![e-mail]
Subject: REQUEST: Help finding WWV receiver!
To: [e-mail]

Sorry for being a dumbo - my interest has being raised! What is WWV?
Is this a North American only broadcast or can it be received
in Europe? The reason I ask is that I have tuned a short wave radio
in to the bands given and dont hear anything. I am ready to be
laughed off this group !!

Al

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Date: Tue, 2 Aug 1994 22:22:09 GMT
From: omen![e-mail]
To: [e-mail]

References <3161lg$[e-mail]>, <316ff7$[e-mail]>, <[e-mail]>
Subject : Re: REQUEST: Help finding WWV receiver!

>>: OK, I'm at my wits end.  I have tried to locate a WWV receiver

The last Radio Shack flyer I received shows their low end multiband
portable at $39.00.  This appears to be a newer version of a $49
Sangean portable I purchased shortly before Desert Storm.  My
radio was almost dead on SW before I tweeked it up.  Now it is
about as sensitive as other tiny radios, and better sounding than
some.  It might even be possible to realign the set so one can
get WWV at the same spot on the (original) 49, 31, and 19 meter bands.
And if you break it you haven't ransomed your firstborn.
--
  Chuck Forsberg WA7KGX       [e-mail]      503-621-3406
Author of YMODEM, ZMODEM, Professional-YAM, ZCOMM, GSZ and DSZ
   Omen Technology Inc      "The High Reliability Software"
TeleGodzilla BBS: 503-621-3746     FAX:-3735    CIS:70007,2304

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Date: 2 Aug 1994 22:28:45 GMT
From: ihnp4.ucsd.edu!agate!howland.reston.ans.net!europa.eng.gtefsd.com!uhog.mit.edu!news.kei.com!ssd.intel.com!chnews!scorpion.ch.intel.com![e-mail]
To: [e-mail]

References <[e-mail]>, <31i4ps$[e-mail]>, <[e-mail]>d.intel
Subject : Re: Ramsey SlyFox

In article <[e-mail]>,
Joseph Joe Moell <[e-mail]> wrote:
>
>>CM  The original problem was based on a prepublication leak of your
>>CM  article.
>
>JM  I didn't see that post.
>
IMHO, the gist of the original post was, "the SlyFox doesn't meet FCC specs
and there is a 73 article on the way that will verify that fact!". It was
posted so far in advance of your article that it had expired by the time
I got my 73 and read the article. It was that original posting which
prompted the start of this thread, not your article.

>>CM  someone said the SlyFox didn't meet FCC specs, and it does
>>CM  when tuned properly.

>JM True, and the big problem is that the manual does not give sufficient info
>JM to assure that it will be tuned properly.  I stand by that.

Then get with the manufacturer and fix the problem! After all it is simply
a paper problem. The manual is not fixed in concrete.

In the past, (sigh), a reputable magazine would have immediately
notified the kit manufacturer of any problems with the kit (including the
manual). They would not have published something designed to hurt sales
unless the company refused to fix the problem. You could have been of
service to the ham community instead of a disservice... amateurs tend to
be _very_ unprofessional. ;-)

>>CM I think your review was subjective rather than objective

>JM Please explain that remark.  I made no judgement or conclusions, just
>JM stated my experiences factually.  The only comment that seems subjectively
>JM critical to me was my disagreement with Ramsey's suggestion to poorly
>JM equipped hams that a light bulb is sufficient as a tuning indicator.  But
>JM I value your opinion.

If it had been me reviewing the kit, I would have immediately notified
the company that the manual needs improving. I would have published the
suggested manual improvements in the article and posted them on
oak.oakland.edu (did you?) I would not have taken a "poor me" attitude.
There is nothing wrong with the kit as far as I can tell, just with the
manual. An addendum mailed to previous purchasers and included in the
manual solves the problem.

>>CM but I admit to being old-fashioned... real hams don't cry.
>
>JM I'm not crying for me.  My concern is for the ham without access to a watt-
>JM meter and spectrum analyzer who builds this kit, follows the instructions
>JM to the letter, and ends up with a dirty signal.  The bottom line is that
>JM if you don't properly tune the low pass filter on this rig (and there are
>JM no instructions for doing so), there is a good chance this will happen.
>JM What's more, the builder may never realize it.
>JM 73 de Joe K0OV

The kit builder does _not_ need a spectrum analyzer! He probably does need
a wattmeter, available from Radio shack for peanuts or the nearest Elmer
for nothing. He also needs an 8.5"x11" piece of paper explaining the problems
that a brand new manual may have. What he does not need is a person writing
for a popular ham magazine scaring him away from a profitable learning
experience by a biased review of a reasonable product.

Again, there appears to be nothing wrong with the SlyFox if it is tuned
properly. (1) Spread the coils to raise the low-pass filter frequency
above 150 MHz. (2) Buy, beg, borrow, or steal a Radio Shack (or better)
VHF watt-meter and tune the transmitter for close to 5 watts output.
(3) Enjoy your foxhunt.

73, Cecil, KG7BK, OOTC  (Not speaking for Intel)

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End of Info-Hams Digest V94 #870
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