QRZ! Ham Radio 5/QRZ Ham Radio Callsign Database - Volume 5.iso/digests/infoham/940896.txt

Internet Message Format | 1994-11-13 | 28.9 KB

Date: Wed, 10 Aug 94 20:28:26 PDT
From: Info-Hams Mailing List and Newsgroup <[e-mail]>
Errors-To: [e-mail]
Reply-To: [e-mail]
Precedence: Bulk
Subject: Info-Hams Digest V94 #896
To: Info-Hams


Info-Hams Digest            Wed, 10 Aug 94       Volume 94 : Issue  896

Today's Topics:
                               "We..."
                              cell sites
                Crossband repeating rigs & auto IDers
      Daily Summary of Solar Geophysical Activity for 09 August
             Gaithersburg MD Hamfest - 1994 Dates???????
                  Help!  How to Improve my CW Speed?
                       Icom 735 Production Run
                     Info on UK operation needed.
                Interference to X-10 home automation?
                        mods for ALINCO DR510T
                          Technician No Code

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: 10 Aug 1994 16:55:00 GMT
From: ihnp4.ucsd.edu!agate!library.ucla.edu!europa.eng.gtefsd.com!howland.reston.ans.net!vixen.cso.uiuc.edu!newsfeed.ksu.ksu.edu!moe.ksu.ksu.edu!crcnis1.unl.edu!unlinfo.unl.edu!gbrown@network
Subject: "We..."
To: [e-mail]

The other day I heard the best (!) use of the ham-radio "we" I've
heard yet...overheard:   "We just had an operation to remove a
blood-clot in our leg".  Now that would be a sight!

Greg WB0RTK

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

Date: 10 Aug 1994 04:39:49 GMT
From: ihnp4.ucsd.edu!dog.ee.lbl.gov!agate!howland.reston.ans.net!gatech!news-feed-1.peachnet.edu!news.duke.edu!MathWorks.Com!yeshua.marcam.com!insosf1.infonet.net![e-mail]
Subject: cell sites
To: [e-mail]

In article <329e3j$[e-mail]>, [e-mail] (Brian M. Perkin) writes:
>[e-mail] wrote:
>
>: Does anyone have any info regarding the rate paid by PacBell (AirTouch) for
>: establishing a cell site lease. The offers been made however I'd be interested to
>: find out just what being paid these days.
>
>
>I'd negotiate for a phone or two with free airtime as part of the deal.
>Brian

I know of a ham tt negotiated tt the outfit install and provide maint.
for a ham band repeater, plus the electricity to operate it and they also
would maintain the repeater!

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

Date: 10 Aug 1994 15:31:50 GMT
From: dog.ee.lbl.gov!agate!library.ucla.edu!csulb.edu!nic-nac.CSU.net!charnel.ecst.csuchico.edu!yeshua.marcam.com!zip.eecs.umich.edu!newsxfer.itd.umich.edu!gatech!news-feed-1.@@ihnp4.ucsd.edu
Subject: Crossband repeating rigs & auto IDers
To: [e-mail]

In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail] (Stan Olochwoszcz N2AYJ) writes:
>>
>>...there's been lots of talk lately about the legality of
>>using crossband repeating rigs that don't ID themselves.
>
>Once upon a time repeaters didn't auto ID. If WX2ABC sets up a rig
>to do crossband, it's a repeater, right? I don't know anything in the
>rules that makes "N2AYJ, WX2ABC repeat" an invalid ID. You've ID'ed,
>and the repeater's been ID'ed.

But only on one output.  I guess every ten minutes you could switch to the
other band and ID there again (the repeater has to ID on all freq's it's
transmitting on).

But the real problem is when you've set up a crossband repeater because you're
in an emergency setting and need local communications, you're not likely to
remember (or to want to have to remember) to ID every 10 minutes on two bands.

   -joe
--
"When personal freedom's being abused, | "In Canada we have something called
     you have to move to limit it."    |  multiculturalism - you will find the
                                       |  whole spectrum of races living in
   - U.S. President Bill Clinton, 1994 |  Toronto's slums."       -A Canadian

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

Date: Tue, 9 Aug 1994 21:21:18 MDT
From: ihnp4.ucsd.edu!dog.ee.lbl.gov!agate!howland.reston.ans.net!europa.eng.gtefsd.com!newsxfer.itd.umich.edu!nntp.cs.ubc.ca!alberta!ve6mgs![e-mail]
Subject: Daily Summary of Solar Geophysical Activity for 09 August
To: [e-mail]

                /\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\

                 DAILY SUMMARY OF SOLAR GEOPHYSICAL ACTIVITY

                                 09 AUGUST, 1994

                /\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\

                  (Based In-Part On SESC Observational Data)


SOLAR AND GEOPHYSICAL ACTIVITY INDICES FOR 09 AUGUST, 1994
----------------------------------------------------------

!!BEGIN!! (1.0) S.T.D. Solar Geophysical Data Broadcast for DAY 221, 08/09/94
10.7 FLUX=073.5  90-AVG=079        SSN=018      BKI=0220 0021  BAI=003
BGND-XRAY=A2.2     FLU1=1.5E+06  FLU10=1.4E+04  PKI=1210 1223  PAI=005
  BOU-DEV=002,010,012,003,003,004,010,008   DEV-AVG=006 NT     SWF=00:000
 XRAY-MAX= B1.1   @ 1023UT    XRAY-MIN= A1.4   @ 0113UT   XRAY-AVG= A2.7
NEUTN-MAX= +002%  @ 1300UT   NEUTN-MIN= -003%  @ 1835UT  NEUTN-AVG= -0.2%
  PCA-MAX= +0.1DB @ 1425UT     PCA-MIN= -0.5DB @ 1645UT    PCA-AVG= -0.0DB
BOUTF-MAX=55233NT @ 1317UT   BOUTF-MIN=55195NT @ 1802UT  BOUTF-AVG=55217NT
GOES7-MAX=P:+000NT@ 0000UT   GOES7-MIN=N:+000NT@ 0000UT  G7-AVG=+096,+000,+000
GOES6-MAX=P:+160NT@ 1934UT   GOES6-MIN=N:-025NT@ 2334UT  G6-AVG=+124,+032,-005
 FLUXFCST=STD:076,076,077;SESC:076,076,077 BAI/PAI-FCST=020,020,020/020,020,020
    KFCST=2323 5434 3245 3432  27DAY-AP=004,024   27DAY-KP=2010 1122 1124 5545
 WARNINGS=
   ALERTS=
!!END-DATA!!

NOTE: The Effective Sunspot Number for 08 AUG 94 was  28.0.
      The Full Kp Indices for 08 AUG 94 are: 1o 0o 0o 0o   1- 1o 1o 2-
      The 3-Hr Ap Indices for 08 AUG 94 are:   4   1   1   1   3   4   4   7
      Greater than 2 MeV Electron Fluence for 08 AUG is: 4.2E+06


SYNOPSIS OF ACTIVITY
--------------------

             Solar activity continued at a very low level. There is
       one spotted region which showed little evolution. In x-ray
       imagery, a small region is visible at the east limb.

            Solar activity forecast:  solar activity should
       continue very low.

            The geomagnetic field was mostly quiet but trended toward
       unsettled at the end of the period.

            Geophysical activity forecast:  the geomagnetic field
       should be generally active for the next three days due to a
       coronal hole related disturbance. Minor storm intervals are
       probable during local nighttimes. Occasional major storm
       levels are possible at high latitudes.

            Event probabilities 10 aug-12 aug

                             Class M    01/01/01
                             Class X    01/01/01
                             Proton     01/01/01
                             PCAF       Green

            Geomagnetic activity probabilities 10 aug-12 aug

                        A.  Middle Latitudes
                        Active                40/40/40
                        Minor Storm           20/20/20
                        Major-Severe Storm    10/10/10

                        B.  High Latitudes
                        Active                50/50/50
                        Minor Storm           30/30/30
                        Major-Severe Storm    10/10/10

            HF propagation conditions were normal over all regions
       today.  Conditions are expected to deteriorate slightly over
       the next 72 hours, particularly over the high and polar
       latitude paths.  Minor signal instability with possible periods
       of stronger instability will be possible on transauroral
       night-crossing circuits through 12 August inclusive.


COPIES OF JOINT USAF/NOAA SESC SOLAR GEOPHYSICAL REPORTS
========================================================

REGIONS WITH SUNSPOTS. LOCATIONS VALID AT 09/2400Z AUGUST
---------------------------------------------------------
NMBR LOCATION  LO  AREA  Z   LL   NN MAG TYPE
7762  N05W25  114  0090 CSO  05  008 BETA
REGIONS DUE TO RETURN 10 AUGUST TO 12 AUGUST
NMBR LAT    LO
7757 N12   333


LISTING OF SOLAR ENERGETIC EVENTS FOR 09 AUGUST, 1994
-----------------------------------------------------
BEGIN  MAX  END  RGN   LOC   XRAY  OP 245MHZ 10CM   SWEEP SWF
     NO EVENTS OBSERVED


POSSIBLE CORONAL MASS EJECTION EVENTS FOR 09 AUGUST, 1994
---------------------------------------------------------
 BEGIN        MAX      END     LOCATION   TYPE   SIZE  DUR  II IV
09/ 0703              0803      N11W07     DSF


INFERRED CORONAL HOLES: LOCATIONS VALID AT 09/2400Z
---------------------------------------------------
               ISOLATED HOLES AND POLAR EXTENSIONS
      EAST   SOUTH  WEST   NORTH  CAR  TYPE  POL  AREA   OBSN
96   S06E04 S06E04 N10W28 N27W23  101  ISO   POS   015 10830A
97   N36W29 N24W47 N24W47 N36W29  129  ISO   POS   002 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
------  ----  ----  ----  ----  -- ------ ------  --------- --------- ---------
08 Aug: 0908  0913  0920  B2.0


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    001  (100.0)

 Total Events: 001 optical and x-ray.


EVENTS WITH SWEEPS AND/OR OPTICAL PHENOMENA FOR THE LAST UTC DAY
----------------------------------------------------------------

 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: 8 Aug 1994 21:41:05 -0400
From: ihnp4.ucsd.edu!galaxy.ucr.edu!library.ucla.edu!europa.eng.gtefsd.com!howland.reston.ans.net!sol.ctr.columbia.edu!proto.ida.org!bah.com!bah.com![e-mail]
Subject: Gaithersburg MD Hamfest - 1994 Dates???????
To: [e-mail]

Michael Crestohl ([e-mail]) wrote:
: Does anybody know the 1994 dates for the Gaithersburg MD hamfest/flea
: Michael Crestohl KH6KD/W1

According to the "lit" I've seen F.A.R. Fest 1994 (aka Gaithersburg)
will be Sunday 11 Sep 94 at the Montgomery County Agricultural
Center (Fairgrounds).  Exit 11 off I-270.  Since it's a FAR event
(Foundation for Amateur Radio), N4OSD probably could give you
other details; he's at 301-249-6544.  You probably could drop
a line to FAR, POB 7612 Falls Church VA 22040-7612 with equal
results.

     jd

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

Date: 9 Aug 1994 17:49:37 GMT
From: ihnp4.ucsd.edu!ucsnews!newshub.sdsu.edu!nic-nac.CSU.net!usc!howland.reston.ans.net!europa.eng.gtefsd.com!news.umbc.edu!haven.umd.edu!cs.umd.edu!newsfeed.gsfc.nasa.gov![e-mail].
Subject: Help!  How to Improve my CW Speed?
To: [e-mail]

In article <323232$[e-mail]>,
Yuzuru Suzuki <[e-mail]> wrote:
>I am having difficulty going over 30 WPM....
>
>73, Yuzuru Suzuki, AA1JA
>

Pracitce, practice, practice ;-)

Two ideas:

 - On a big CW contest weekend, listen to the contesters. Many good
   contesters hover in the 30-35 wpm range. Find the ones that are
   CQ'ing - you can hear their exchange several times to be sure you got
   it right. Of course, you have to keep moving, but it's good practice
   for call signs, numbers, etc.

 - Get a computer program that will send random 5 letter sequences. (The
   one I use is the N6TR contest logging package, but there are probably
   others that will do this. Have it send the sequence at whatever speed
   you want, then have it repeat the sequence to see if you got it
   right.

Neither of these techniques will help you for copying long strings of
text, but they'll do wonders to speed up you short sequence copying.

- Larry, K3TLX
.

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

Date: Wed, 10 Aug 1994 14:03:56 GMT
From: ihnp4.ucsd.edu!dog.ee.lbl.gov!agate!library.ucla.edu!europa.eng.gtefsd.com!gatech!wa4mei!ke4zv![e-mail]
Subject: Icom 735 Production Run
To: [e-mail]

In article <3280ob$[e-mail]> [e-mail] (Jerry Palsson) writes:
>I heard recently that the Icom 735 has been in continuous production
>longer than any other currently manufactured rig.  This raises a few
>questions:
>
>1. Is it true?
>2. How many years?
>3. Is this a record?

Yeah, it's true. It's been in production for 10 years. That's not a
record though. I believe the Collins KWM-2 and S-line were in production
longer. The IC-735 is truly a great radio though.

Gary

--
Gary Coffman KE4ZV          |    You make it,     | gatech!wa4mei!ke4zv!gary
Destructive Testing Systems |    we break it.     | uunet!rsiatl!ke4zv!gary
534 Shannon Way             |    Guaranteed!      | emory!kd4nc!ke4zv!gary
Lawrenceville, GA 30244     |                     |

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

Date: Wed, 10 Aug 1994 04:22:17 GMT
From: ihnp4.ucsd.edu!dog.ee.lbl.gov!agate!howland.reston.ans.net!usc!nic-nac.CSU.net!charnel.ecst.csuchico.edu!csusac!csus.edu!netcom.com![e-mail]
Subject: Info on UK operation needed.
To: [e-mail]

I'm a US amateur that may spend a year or so in the UK.
I'm not familiar with the necesities for obtaining permission.
If anyone could point me in the right direction, I'd
be most grateful. Thanks,  Elan WB2IOL, [e-mail]

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

Date: 5 Aug 1994 08:45:53 -0700
From: agate!library.ucla.edu!psgrain!rainrgnews0!pacifier!news.alpha.net!mvb.saic.com!bethel.connected.com!hebron.connected.com![e-mail]
Subject: Interference to X-10 home automation?
To: [e-mail]

   I've been using the x-10 system for a bit more then 10 years now. I
have noticed no problems on any band I work (80m - 432 Mhz). Since this
includes weak signal work on the vhf/uhf I have to conclude that there is
no problems at these frequencys

73's Ralph
--
Ralph Lindberg N7BSN                     More hobbies than time
Ellen Winnie N7PYK                       Just because I'm not doing anything
email => [e-mail]          doesn't mean I have nothing to do.
or => [e-mail]                   Members of too MANY clubs!

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

Date: Mon, 8 Aug 1994 18:49:48 GMT
From: ihnp4.ucsd.edu!nntp.ucsb.edu!library.ucla.edu!news.mic.ucla.edu!unixg.ubc.ca!nntp.cs.ubc.ca!torn!news.unb.ca!coranto.ucs.mun.ca!nstn.ns.ca!cs.dal.ca!cfn.cs.dal.ca!aa568@@.
Subject: mods for ALINCO DR510T
To: [e-mail]

hello all, I have the Alinco DR510t and was wondering if there
were any mods to give it extended Receive.
Thanks in advance,  post here or e-mail me direct.
73 de VE1RFB
-Ross-


--

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

Date: 5 Aug 94 15:59:02 GMT
From: munnari.oz.au!sgiblab!bridge2!news.claremont.edu!paris.ics.uci.edu!csulb.edu!nic-nac.CSU.net!usc!howland.reston.ans.net!gatech!newsxfer.itd.umich.edu!newsrelay.iastate.edu!@ihnp4.ucsd.edu
Subject: Technician No Code
To: [e-mail]

In article <31tlkr$[e-mail]>, [e-mail] (John A. Evans) writes:
>[e-mail] writes:
>>worked 6m and 2m DX, played with some satellites, worked HF DX under the club
>                                                   ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
>I don't think you can do this.  Correct me if I am wrong, but don't you
>need the priviledges yourself to work HF before you can do the same under
>the club's call??

Yes, unless he wasn't the control operator.  (That doesn't sound like
the case, though.)

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

Date: Wed, 10 Aug 1994 13:54:33 GMT
From: ihnp4.ucsd.edu!dog.ee.lbl.gov!agate!library.ucla.edu!europa.eng.gtefsd.com!gatech!wa4mei!ke4zv![e-mail]
To: [e-mail]

References <[e-mail]>, <32966a$[e-mail]>, <[e-mail]>
Reply-To : [e-mail] (Gary Coffman)
Subject : Re: Crossband repeating rigs & auto IDers

In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail] (Timo Patana) writes:
>
>Well, I would like to know how you can make a "repeater extension"
>with Xband repeater (that depends on what type of repeaters you
>are using, of course). I think the problem looks like this:
>
>You want to operate 2m repeater using Xband mobile and 70cm HT
>
>1. You push PTT to open the repeater, mobile rig repeats O.K
>
>2. Carrier from repeater opens the 2m squelch on your mobile, starts
>   transmitting on 70cm, and transmits as long as there is a
>   carrier, so, you arent able to talk through to input, right?
>
>(at least here in OH most of the repeaters stay on maybe 15s after
>squelch closed, so it dont have to be a problem everywhere)

Yes, aside from the IDing problem, the fact that many repeaters use
a long tail time can lock you out of your own crossband "repeater"
for long periods. It is frustrating to want to break, but be unable
to because no one allows the repeater carrier to drop so the crossband
unit will turn around the link.

The problem, of course, is the half duplex nature of the system.
It can't listen on the band on which it's transmitting until
the signal on the other band making it transmit disappears. What's
really needed is a different sort of system. The link to the remote
HT could be duplex so that positive control can always be exercised.
That would require in-band duplexers in the radio. Or the system
could use channel *sampling* like the simpatches do. But none of
the current amateur transievers has either of these options, so
they make lousy "remote bases".

It may be possible to fool some of the rigs that have dual in-band
receive capability by setting up the priority channel on the 2 meter
side to monitor a 440 MHz frequency. You could then operate the 440
side split with the HT transmitting on one frequency and listening
on another. If you held the PTT down for a moment, the priority
scan would catch it and give you back control of the radio. It would
still be "repeating" on 440 though, and you'd have to remote control
it (perhaps by changing the 2 meter CTCSS squelch frequency) so the
radio would stop retransmitting the 2 meter signal and perform a
turnaround. Sounds like a kludge.

The best way is still to set up a true in-car repeater system on 440
and have a TT controllable link to 2 meters. That solves both the
hang time problem, and the ID problem since the in-car repeater
can have automatic ID. I note with interest that the new SERA 440
bandplan has provision for low power CTCSS controlled repeaters for
itenerant operation.

Gary
--
Gary Coffman KE4ZV          |    You make it,     | gatech!wa4mei!ke4zv!gary
Destructive Testing Systems |    we break it.     | uunet!rsiatl!ke4zv!gary
534 Shannon Way             |    Guaranteed!      | emory!kd4nc!ke4zv!gary
Lawrenceville, GA 30244     |                     |

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

Date: 10 Aug 1994 15:36:29 GMT
From: dog.ee.lbl.gov!agate!darkstar.UCSC.EDU!news.hal.COM!olivea!charnel.ecst.csuchico.edu!yeshua.marcam.com!zip.eecs.umich.edu!newsxfer.itd.umich.edu!gatech![e-mail]
To: [e-mail]

References <[e-mail]>, <32966a$[e-mail]>, <[e-mail]>hi
Subject : Re: Crossband repeating rigs & auto IDers

In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail] (Timo Patana) writes:
>
>Well, I would like to know how you can make a "repeater extension"
>with Xband repeater (that depends on what type of repeaters you
>are using, of course). I think the problem looks like this:
>
>You want to operate 2m repeater using Xband mobile and 70cm HT
>
>1. You push PTT to open the repeater, mobile rig repeats O.K
>
>2. Carrier from repeater opens the 2m squelch on your mobile, starts
>   transmitting on 70cm, and transmits as long as there is a
>   carrier, so, you arent able to talk through to input, right?

Carrier from repeater doesn't switch your mobile rig into rx:2m/tx:70cm until
you drop your 70cm carrier, and vice-versa.  In other words, it is keyed up
by the first signal it gets, and doesn't swap bands until that signal goes
away and a signal on the other band appears.

>(at least here in OH most of the repeaters stay on maybe 15s after
>squelch closed, so it dont have to be a problem everywhere)

The repeater hangtime problem is neatly solved by using tone squelch.
If the repeater has an output tone, or if it will pass a tone from the
input, you just use that tone to open the squelch on your mobile x-band
repeater.

  -joe
--
"When personal freedom's being abused, | "In Canada we have something called
     you have to move to limit it."    |  multiculturalism - you will find the
                                       |  whole spectrum of races living in
   - U.S. President Bill Clinton, 1994 |  Toronto's slums."       -A Canadian

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

Date: 10 Aug 1994 15:34:30 GMT
From: ihnp4.ucsd.edu!agate!darkstar.UCSC.EDU!news.hal.COM!olivea!charnel.ecst.csuchico.edu!nic-nac.CSU.net!usc!cs.utexas.edu!convex!news.duke.edu!duke.edu![e-mail]
To: [e-mail]

References <32872b$[e-mail]>, <[e-mail]>, <32966a$[e-mail]>co.edu
Subject : Re: Crossband repeating rigs & auto IDers

In article <32966a$[e-mail]> [e-mail] (Ken A. Nishimura) writes:
>
>Is this a real problem?  Not, unless you are gonna split hairs about
>rules.  But it IS illegal.  The bigger problem with X-band are the
>bozos out there that don't know how to pick the right frequencies.
>The example given above is somewhat risky, since you are xbanding
>onto a repeater input.

Not to mention that technically your mobile crossband repeater must be
remotely controllable so you can disable its transmit at any time...

  -joe
--
"When personal freedom's being abused, | "In Canada we have something called
     you have to move to limit it."    |  multiculturalism - you will find the
                                       |  whole spectrum of races living in
   - U.S. President Bill Clinton, 1994 |  Toronto's slums."       -A Canadian

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

Date: 5 Aug 94 15:33:54 GMT
From: ihnp4.ucsd.edu!munnari.oz.au!sgiblab!bridge2!news.claremont.edu!paris.ics.uci.edu!csulb.edu!csus.edu!netcom.com![e-mail]
To: [e-mail]

References <[e-mail]>, <[e-mail]>, <[e-mail]>.uci
Subject : Re: Ramsey SlyFox

In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail] writes:
>Greg Bullough <[e-mail]> writes:

[mis-attributed text deleted]

>If you follow the directions and tune up as we say, the unit will
>operate and meet spec properly! Do we have to make the kits work
>without the builder reading the insrtuctions?

First, John, a number of criticisms which have been leveled have
been by very respected and capable builders. They are credible.

Second, you consistently ignore those who point out the dichotomy
between the way in which the kits are marketed (please read
your own ad copy) and the degree of technical experience, expertise,
and equipment required to be assured of a final product which meets
FCC specs. I know you disagree with the reviews... ...however they
have some credibility, and are sufficient for me, as a consumer, to
be circumspect in my approach to the product.

Why, John, do you continue to publish ads which are very tempting
to new hams who are not fully equipped to judge the magnitude of
the task which they are undertaking? According to Joe's review,
the SlyFox manual indicates that you'd rather see a newcomer
pick a different first project (presumably because of the RF
section). Why doesn't your ad copy for the SlyFox and for the
FM transceivers reflect these doubts?


>>Heath sure did. They told you how to align their kits.  If it was beyond
>>the stated target market, they shipped that section, pre-built and aligned.
>
>Is reading English and following directions, "beyond our target market"?

The ability to follow those directions, and to understand whether they
have successfully complied, is beyond the ability of a certain percentage
of those who will be tempted by those who will be tempted by: '...breaks
the price barrier... ...proven EASY assembly... ...for less... ...pro
look.' I'd quote the ad copy on the technical requirements for 'EASY
assembly' but there isn't.

Many readers won't realize that they'd be much better off, dollar for
dollar and feature for feature, buying a new (or used) HTX-202/404,
if their goal is to get a few watts on VHF or UHF. They don't have
the experience and circumspection to understand that they aren't
saving 50 or 75 bucks, by the time they meet their (likely) goals.

>>So you see, if Ramsey would look at the dichotomy between the abilities
>>of the people who are buying this stuff, and the requirements of the
>>kit, and do what is needed to close the gap, we wouldn't  have to have
>>these discussions again and again. They have several options, but don't
>>seem to choose any of them.
>
>Greg, why don't you build one and tell the folks how hard it is??

I'm not qualified. I've been a ham since '76. I built my first receiver
from a Heathkit (point-to-point and tubes yikes) in 1973. Like copying
code at N WPM, it's just something I do, and things like Cecil points
out are obvious.

Now, if you had my XYL, who's been studying off-and-on for her first
ticket, and who's done some basic soldering, and who has a good sense
for things technical but not a lot of hardware construction experience
try one, you'd be more on target with the ability level of many of the
purchasers. These are folks with 'potential.' I'll contend that some
OT's will buy a kit as a lark, or to a purpose, but that most of the
FX-series goes to hams with lots of potential. Success will help them
realize it.

>Call me and I'll send you a kit for nothing - is that reasonable?

Thank you, no. I will not put myself in a position of being beholden.
And I've seen the FX-146 kit, and the book, and I don't think I'm
going to endorse our ad copy. In light of that, thank you, no.

(By the way, folks, I did try and take John up on his offer of
testing out the SX-20, but when I did, he informed me that no
trial units were available.)

>works for all you other folks out there too, quit your belly-
>aching and call me if you have a question, problem or gripe.
>Fair enough???

But John, when you characterize good-faith reviews, expressions
of concern, etc., as 'bellyaching,' how can you expect people to
want to work with you? Most of the reviewers have pointed out
difficulties in a professional manner. I've said that, as far as
I can tell, the products are okay, but I have some real concerns
over how some are represented. Heck, I use the PA-10-2 all the
time. Best deal going, especially at the discount they gave at
Halted.

John, you claim to be responsive to your clientele. How about
updating that old ad copy so that you'll have fewer customers
for the FX kits, with a higher percentage of likely successes?

Greg

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End of Info-Hams Digest V94 #896
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