QRZ! Ham Radio 5/QRZ Ham Radio Callsign Database - Volume 5.iso/digests/infoham/940929.txt

Internet Message Format | 1994-11-13 | 25.7 KB

Date: Wed, 17 Aug 94 22:29:51 PDT
From: Info-Hams Mailing List and Newsgroup <[e-mail]>
Errors-To: [e-mail]
Reply-To: [e-mail]
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Subject: Info-Hams Digest V94 #929
To: Info-Hams


Info-Hams Digest            Wed, 17 Aug 94       Volume 94 : Issue  929

Today's Topics:
         Amateurs on USENET List ending at end of month :-(.
        ARRL Educational Workshop - EMI and the Radio Amateur
                        clip art for QSL card
                        Have You Ever Noticed?
                          I Passed the Test!
               Kenwood TM-733A undocumented functions.
                  Ragchewing conversational protocol
                       Slow Code idea by Wayne
                       TNC construction article
                  Where can I find RG-302 & RG-303 ?
                    Where did Beverage come from?
               Where did Beverage come from? (Addendum)

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: Wed, 17 Aug 94 15:57:13 GMT
From: ihnp4.ucsd.edu!news.cerf.net!gopher.sdsc.edu!nic-nac.CSU.net!charnel.ecst.csuchico.edu!yeshua.marcam.com!zip.eecs.umich.edu!newsxfer.itd.umich.edu!nntp.cs.ubc.ca!alberta!adec23!mark@@.
Subject: Amateurs on USENET List ending at end of month :-(.
To: [e-mail]

Due to a personal dilemma beyond my control, I must terminate my activities
associated with the Amateurs on USENET email list. I will continue to let
the email server function for lookups. I will be posting the entire list at
the end of the month, rather than the current `update' posting (unless a
volunteer can be found).

If someone wants to volunteer to take over the list, I'd recommend that
they have *good* administrative access to a UNIX machine running Cnews, but
do not necessarily have to be on a mainstream site (The list was maintained
for three years on a 68000 running V7 UNIX three UUCP hops off an Internet
host). I have written many automated tools, mainly written using shell scripts
using awk, sed, grep and /usr/lib/spell (for part of the database). I spend an
average of about 10 minutes/day performing duties centered around the list
(currently backed down to 3 minutes/day now that the news tracking software
for identifying new addresses is turned off) and requires constant vigilance
or the duties add up, as I often hold off for a week and spend an hour on
the weekend.

I have appreciated the helpful comments over the past four years from many
well wishers and people and their friends that have benefited from the
information on the list. I feel that this service I have provided has been a
useful part of the rec.ham-radio/rec.radio.amateur community. It would be a
shame to see it disappear into history ...

A replacement moderator for rec.radio.info is also being sought, but currently
discussions are already on with a prospective volunteer. I appologise for
any inconveniences my speedy resignation to these two duties will create.

Ciao -- 73 de VE6MGS/Mark Salyzyn -sk-

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

Date: Wed, 17 Aug 1994 13:58:20 GMT
From: news2.near.net!usenet.elf.com!rpi!psinntp!arrl.org![e-mail]
Subject: ARRL Educational Workshop - EMI and the Radio Amateur
To: [e-mail]

The ARRL Educational Activities Department is sponsoring a 6-hour
Educational Workshop, "Electromagnetic Interference and the Radio
Amateur," Friday, August 26, 1994, 9:00 - 4:00 at the ARRL SW
Division Convention, Town and Country Recreational Center,
San Diego, CA. (The course will be repeated at the New England
Division Convention on September 30.)

This course will be taught by Ed Hare, KA1CV, ARRL Laboratory
Supervisor and co-editor of the ARRL book, "Radio Frequency
Interference -- How to Find It and Fix It." Those who attend the
entire workshop and turn in an evaluation form can receive 0.6
Continuing Education Units. The cost of the course is $10.00 for
ARRL Members, $15.00 for others, to cover the cost of the
printing of course materials.

This course, designed to help radio operators, their neighbors
and others, covers most aspects of EMI and EMC problems, ranging
from a morning of interpersonal aspects and technical theory through
an afternoon of practical solutions. The course doesn't use complex
math or cover EMC engineering, but concentrates on off-the-shelf,
practical solutions to most EMC problems.

   Outline:

   EMC Fundamentals
   EMC Regulations
   Personal Aspects of EMC Problems
   Sources of Help
   Solutions for:
      Audio       Automotive    Transmitters
      Computers   Television    Intermodulation
      Telephone   Power lines   More!

To attend the San Diego course, pre-register by contacting Sybil
Allbright, W6GIG, at 619-278-4284, or call the ARRL Educational
Activities Department at 800-326-3942. Contact the ARRL about the
New England course.

(Do NOT reply by email to the poster; I will be on vacation
starting Friday!)

73 from ARRL HQ, Ed
--
Ed Hare, KA1CV, ARRL Laboratory, 225 Main, Newington, CT 06111
203-666-1541 [e-mail]

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

Date: 17 Aug 1994 11:04:48 -0500
From: ihnp4.ucsd.edu!agate!howland.reston.ans.net!cs.utexas.edu!news.tamu.edu![e-mail]
Subject: clip art for QSL card
To: [e-mail]

In article <[e-mail]>,
 <[e-mail]> wrote:
>Just for the sake of starting a flame session, I don't
>use clip art on my qsl. Of course, I don't have to,
>because I print my with a printing press and rollers and
>ink and all that......
>*various deletia*<
>
>73 & QRP
>Nils
>WB8IJN &c
>

Gee, Nils, aren't you soooooo *special?*  Gosh, you are so cool... gee can
I hang out with you?

(Ok, there's the flame you requested... did you enjoy it?)

Actually, I don't have a use for the "professional" cards...  I don't do
enough HF or DX to warrant that.... every now and then, however, I will
want to QSL with someone, but I don't see the need to spend big bucks on
QSL cards (Yeah, I know, most print shops have budget cards where you
can get 200 cards for about $15 or so, but what am I gonna do with the
195 cards I have left with the wrong address on 'em when I graduate
and move away from here?)

Anyway, dunno why I felt the need to justify something like this... guess
I felt more like explaining that to someone as special and *modest* as
Nils.

--
Mark S. Whitsitt, N5RJF        Texas A&M University, Dept of Biochemistry
Internet:  [e-mail]          College Station, Tx. 77843-2128
AMPRnet:   [e-mail]                [phone]

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

Date: Tue, 16 Aug 1994 22:41:21 GMT
From: munnari.oz.au!hpg30a.csc.cuhk.hk!saimiri.primate.wisc.edu!caen!math.ohio-state.edu!howland.reston.ans.net!gatech!newsxfer.itd.umich.edu!zip.eecs.umich.edu![e-mail]
Subject: Have You Ever Noticed?
To: [e-mail]

Although I've been a ham for 30 years, I don't know if that qualifies me
as an Old Timer.

In the days before PTT, a ham on AM often had to kick his receiver to
standby, key his VFO, manually switch his antenna T-R switch and key his
transmitter to go from receive to transmit.  This does not make for
zippy, short QSOs.  Many of these individuals got in the habit of being
extremely long-winded out of necessity.

Give the OTs a break.  Most of them were once young tower-climbers like
you, and most of them built their own gear and antennas.

73, John

AE7P


ere intelligent). I do know
teachers who have adopted some software I recommended and have
been VERY happy with it. Teachers should NOT be required to
write their own program for gradebooks: in fact, that is the
antithesis of the basic purpose.

>It is a common delusion to assume that computerizing
>something is inherently "better" than the manual
>version of something.  Perhaps, in your mind that
>makes me "computer Illerate", but I prefer to keep
>control of my grade recording and reporting mechanism
>myself.  Computer just gets in the way.

Egads, I'd hoped that on this forum no one would resort to
setting up and fighting a strawman of their own construction!
Did I _say_ that computerization (as a generalization) is
inherently "better" than the manual version of something. You
argue from my specific instance to a gross generalization AND
attribute motives and attitudes to me that don't exist. Please.

I would certainly NOT call someone who who their own gradebook
program as "computer illiterate". Of course, the purpose of a
computerized gradebook is to _increase_ control of grade recording
and reporting while also improving the accuracy and uniformity.
One of my son's high school teachers managed to drop a grade from
his average and (since it was a top score) managed to record a
full letter-grade lower than my son's average should have been.
That would not have happened had the books been computerized.
I'm not sure how a computer can "get in the way" any more than
the paper gradebook does (not to mention the tedium of posting,
averaging, running stats, etc).

>I don't have
>single classes of more than 30 or so and I don't
>need a computer to help me keep track of 30 or so
>people at a time.  Just a waste of a computer resource
>for me.  Others I know find the computerization has
>made them more productive and for them computerization
>is great. It is for the individual teacher to decide
>not for those not on the spot.

Typical short-sightedness if you ask me. The benefits of
a computer program only _start_ with the teacher. As you
should know, every grade you post has to be reported up:
maintained at the school level, the district level, and
often up to the state level (not to mention in-betweens).
If YOU don't keep computer records, the next level must.
And so on. Where is the cheapest best point of collection?

Their are lot's of things _I_ want to control when I teach.
But there are lot's of things that are givens: a uniform
gradebook system is usually one of them.

>73, Erich
And to you!

Shall we move to email or .policy?

Cheers & 73 Ed Humphries
HP Atlanta GA

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

Date: 15 Aug 1994 22:04:48 GMT
From: ihnp4.ucsd.edu!pacbell.com!sgiblab!uhog.mit.edu!news.mtholyoke.edu!news.umass.edu!rcfnews.cs.umass.edu!ovid![e-mail]
Subject: I Passed the Test!
To: [e-mail]

Congratulations, Mike. A truly momentous achievement. I wish you many years of enjoyment of the hobby. I have been licensed since 1968 (now advanced class), and it has been one of my major forms of personal growth.

Bernie  WA3SLJ

Mike Wallendahl ([e-mail]) wrote:
: I just wanted to tell everyone that on Saturday I passed my tests for a
: Technician No-Code license.  Now comes the waiting.  How long is the
: average wait time now?  I heard 17 weeks and 13 weeks.  Anyone hear any
: more optimistic times? :)

: Mike, No callsign yet, but 2 days and waiting. :) :)


--
A. Bernard Pleet, MD, FACP    |    Office [phone]
Chief of Neurology        |    Fax    [phone]
Baystate Medical Center        |    Home   [phone]
Springfield, Massachusetts    |    [e-mail]

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

Date: Thu, 18 Aug 1994 00:44:51 GMT
From: vigra.com!news.vigra.com![e-mail]
Subject: Kenwood TM-733A undocumented functions.
To: [e-mail]

I just talked to Kenwood and found out a few new things about the
TM-733A.  I haven't tried most of these yet (because my radio is all
taken apart), but I'll pass the info along.

////
The extended range modification:
  They *do* have an official extended range modification, but they will
  not send it to you unless you first send them proof of MARS or CAP
  enrollment.  I tried to explain to them that I want to transmit into
  the hamsats at 435 MHz, but they didn't care.

////
The official word on the dirty CTCSS tones is that it's still an
unknown problem, and there is no Service Bulletin to correct it.  If
enough people notices the grunge in the outgoing tone and call them
about it, maybe they will check into it.

////
The partially-documented "External Remote Control Operation" is
documented in App Note AAN-0006.  Some people have found that when
remote control is enabled, the microphone is hot and will hear DTMF
tones coming from the speaker if the volume is turned up and the mic
is near.

To remote-control the radio with the microphone disconnected (yeah!),
they offer this procedure:
- Pick a UHF control frequency.
- Turn on the UHF DTSS function and select a tone sequence.
- Turn the UHF DTSS function back off.
- Press Band Select to move to the VHF band.
- Turn OFF the radio, press and hold the [CONT SEL] key, turn on the
  radio, and then release the cont key.  This will place you in the
  EXT standby mode.  The S-meter scale and the DT indicators for the UHF
  band will begin flashing ON and OFF.  The LOCK indicator will turn ON,
  and most front-panel keys (PWR stays) will be disabled.
- To begin remote control, you should key the external radio and
  press the following key sequence: "Axxx#" where "xxx" is the preset
  DTSS code selected earlier.
- If the proper code is received by the 733, the beeper will sound and
  the "DT" indicator will stop flashing.  The radio can now be
  remote-controlled, using the function chart in the manual (p. 81?).
- The return to standby mode, press "A#" on the remote radio.
- To return the radio to normal operation, turn the radio off, then
  press and hold [CONT SEL] while turning the radio back on.  Repeat
  one more time. (really!)

Wow!  I would have never figured this out on my own.  I was beginning
to think that the acoustic-coupled mic/speaker was the only way to
remote control it.

My reading of the instructions is that it starts off the remote
control mode "locked", which is a good idea.  You can then unlock and
relock it with the DTMF code sequence.  Pretty cool.

////
The advertised but undocumented Wireless Clone function is described
in App Note AAN-0008 which they will mail out on request.  (Maybe if
enough people ask for it, they will include all the functions in
future instruction manuals.)  In summary:
- Prepare the two radios for simplex operation on the same frequency.
- Turn both radios off
- Press [CALL]+[SHIFT] + [Pwr On].
- This should place the radios is clone mode with "CLonE" on the display.
- Press PTT on the "Master" radio momentarily.  This will start
  sending the programming DTMF tones.
- After all data has been transferred, the display of all radios will
  read "End", indicating success.
- If the signal is interrupted or corrupted, the "Slave" displays will
  read "Err".  Turn them off and try again.
Notes:
- Both the Master and Slave radios must have the same number of
  memory channels available for each band.  Example: You can not clone a
  stock Master to a Slave with ME-1 memory expantion.
- You can not clone between different Kenwood radio models, even if
  they seem identical.

////
The advertised but undocumented cross-band repeat function is
described in App Note ANN-0009.  Most people have already figured this
one out.

Basically, you set up the VHF and UHF bands, then select the "X" icon
from the [F](for 1 second) menu.  For bi-directional repeater
operation, make sure the PTT and Control bands are different, usually
by pressing Cont Sel once.  If the PTT and Control indicator are on
the same side, then it will only retransmit the other band to that
side (for one-way extender operation).  All the decimal points will
light up when in repeater mode.  The remote control sequence to turn
on/off repeater mode is "DC".

The transmitter hang time can be toggled between 500ms to 0ms by
turning on the radio with [LOW] pressed.  They also recommend enabling
the Time-out Timer, for obvious reasons.

////
The "Assembly Mode" for testing the control panel indicators, buttons,
and knobs is documented only in the Service Manual.  I posted a
summary a few days ago.

////
So, there you have it!  When I get the mods all figured out and
tested, I'll try to post a full report with details on all the
undocumented features and the mods.  This should end up in the
archives somewhere.

Happy Hacking!
-Steve

Steve Haehnichen                 Vigra, Inc.  San Diego, CA
[e-mail]                  [phone] x116   Fax: [phone]

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

Date: Wed, 17 Aug 1994 13:13:38 GMT
From: ihnp4.ucsd.edu!news.cerf.net!nntp-server.caltech.edu!netline-fddi.jpl.nasa.gov!elroy.jpl.nasa.gov!swrinde!gatech!wa4mei!ke4zv![e-mail]
Subject: Ragchewing conversational protocol
To: [e-mail]

In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail] (Freeman A. Kilpatrick) writes:
>Hi All!
>
>I just got my license a few weeks ago, and I noticed a
>conversational oddity that I hadn't expected.  The simplex
>nature of conversation is kind of difficult to get used to.
>When ragchewing, you *have* to say something when the other
>person unkeys their mike.  This is in contrast to normal
>conversation, where a person will usually continue to talk
>if a response is not elicited.  Sometimes the person I'm
>talking to will stop talking, and I won't have anything to
>say.  I feel like I can't just sit there, so I have to come
>up with some banal comment or something.

Ah, but you *can* remain silent if you have nothing to contribute.
That happens all the time on our repeater. We may have a dozen
stations in QSO, and none may have anything of interest to say at a
particular moment, so we all remain silent. Sooner or later, someone
will have something to say and conversation will pick back up hot and
heavy. We eschew strict rotation format because that does tend to lead
to banal comments and stilted conversation. We call ourselves purely
interrupt driven. That can sometimes lead to incredible doubles and
triples, but that's OK, it quickly sorts itself out and discussions
remain lively.

>Obviously, this phenomena is less of a problem when there
>is an actual purpose to the QSO (like a contest or something).

Well of course contests remove the problem by removing the necessity
of having *content* in the conversation. It's just a meaningless
formalized exchange, over quickly, and on to the next station so the
same contentless exchange can be repeated ad infinitum, ad nauesam.
It has nothing whatsoever to do with conversation or with conveying
ideas from one person to another. For those with nothing intelligent
to say, it does offer an excuse to generate RF.

Many amateurs appear not to have good conversational skills in any
event, and many contacts are repetitive and boring. If most amateurs
had good social skills, they might not have gravitated to amateur
radio in the first place. Amateur radio has a disproportionate number
of geeks and loners.  (The most common comment made by the shocked
neighbors to the news media is "He was such a quiet boy.") But if you
can get somebody to talk about something that really interests them,
they'll talk your ear off. The key to conversation is the ability to
listen to what the other person is really saying, and to respond
appropriately with either your own ideas, or with questions. You'll
be surprised how easy conversation can be when you actually have
something meaningful to say.

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     |                     | [e-mail]

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

Date: 16 Aug 94 15:36:22 -0500
From: newshub.sdsu.edu!nic-nac.CSU.net!charnel.ecst.csuchico.edu!yeshua.marcam.com!zip.eecs.umich.edu!newsxfer.itd.umich.edu!europa.eng.gtefsd.com!ulowell!aspen.uml.edu!martinja@@ihnp4.ucsd.edu
Subject: Slow Code idea by Wayne
To: [e-mail]

In article <[e-mail]>, [e-mail]
(Alan Bloom) writes:

  (In the old days, the Tech and General written exams were the same.)

Oh c'mon Al.  I'm trying to stay young and it doesn't help if the times of
things of not too long ago are referred to as "the old days. 8-D

Anyhoo, I agree with your original post.

73 de WK1V
  -jim-

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

Date: Tue, 16 Aug 1994 19:35:07 GMT
From: ihnp4.ucsd.edu!news.cerf.net!mvb.saic.com!eskimo![e-mail]
Subject: TNC construction article
To: [e-mail]

[e-mail] wrote:
: Does anybody know of a construction article for a "general purpose" TNC?



: These are my reguirements:
: 1) Standard serial connection. (I have 4 different computers and would like
:    to be able to connect to all).

: 2) An internal processor of some type to minimize the overhead on the
:    computer.

: If these are too strict, please let me know.
: Thanks.

: Bill Soranno -- KB0NKX
: 7 Fairfax
: Winona, MN 55987
: 507/452-3789

No - most of the construction articles would be for RTTY terminal units, and
pretty old now.  Other than some of the now outdated packet-only controllers
offered in the mid 80's, there have not been any construction articles I
know of for an intellegent data interface.  The closest you would have been
likely to come was Heathkit's HK-232 clone of the AEA's PK-232, offered as a
kit.  Heath has been out of the kit business for about 3 years now, so
unless you find someone who got a kit and never started it, you're pretty
much out of luck.  Part of the problem is that the companies that make the
multi-mode TNCs have invested lots of money in the programming of their
products to support the various modes, and are not interested in giving away
their efforts.  Also, since these are tightly integrated hardware and
software products, the software wouldn't really work on anything else.

I have seen programs mentioned for non-intellegent interfaces usign a PC for
the processing, as I'm sure you have, and that, combined with an older dumb
modem or terminal unit design is going to be your best chance to get
something going that you build.  Even with the inexpense of used PC systems
to dedicate, its usually not cost effective as compared to one of the
commercially manufactured products.

Good luck in your search.

73, Bob

--
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bob Donnell, kd7nm     [e-mail]   [e-mail]
Western Washington Amateur IP Address Coordinator   [phone]
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

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

Date: Wed, 17 Aug 94 07:53:52 PDT
From: ihnp4.ucsd.edu!agate!howland.reston.ans.net!cs.utexas.edu!convex!news.duke.edu!MathWorks.Com!news.kei.com!ssd.intel.com!chnews![e-mail]
Subject: Where can I find RG-302 & RG-303 ?
To: [e-mail]

Im rebuilding the phaseing delay lines for my KLM amateur satellite yagis and
need to located a source to acquire about ten feet of RG-302 75 ohms and ten
feet of RG-303 50 ohms, teflon coax cable.

RG-302 & RG-303 both have teflon dielectric and a silvered copper shield, both
have inner conductors of silver-plated copper-plated steel. They are designed
for high-temperature operation. I suspect they were selected by the antenna
manufacturer because of low temperature coefficients. I don't want to use Radio
Shack 75 ohm TV cable.

Different velocity factors between teflon and polyethylene.

polyethylene = 66.5%               teflon  =  69%

KLM sells the complete phaseing kit replacements for $49 each, however I feel
I should be able to replace just the coax for at least half that price.

If anyone knows of a source for RG-302 & RG-303, please post here or reply via
eMAIL direct.

Thanks and 73s,
Tom - WB7ASR...          (not speaking for Intel)

[e-mail]

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

Date: Tue, 16 Aug 1994 22:33:56 GMT
From: munnari.oz.au!hpg30a.csc.cuhk.hk!saimiri.primate.wisc.edu!caen!math.ohio-state.edu!howland.reston.ans.net!gatech!newsxfer.itd.umich.edu!zip.eecs.umich.edu![e-mail]
Subject: Where did Beverage come from?
To: [e-mail]

I believe I read it was after the last name of the inventor of the
antenna.  I know I read this in some old ham mag 20+ years ago and I very
rarely forget unimportant stuff like this.

I only forget important stuff, like eating, plugging parking meters, etc.

73, John
AE7P

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

Date: 16 Aug 94 15:30:17 -0500
From: ihnp4.ucsd.edu!newshub.sdsu.edu!nic-nac.CSU.net!usc!howland.reston.ans.net!europa.eng.gtefsd.com!ulowell!aspen.uml.edu![e-mail]
Subject: Where did Beverage come from? (Addendum)
To: [e-mail]

Oh, I forgot to answer the main question:  "Where did Beverage Come From?"

Harold Henry Beverage was born on the island of North Haven, Maine.
Not only did he invent the antenna that bears his name he was also the co-
inventor of the "diversity reception system."   But you knew that.

73 again de WK1V
   -jim-

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

End of Info-Hams Digest V94 #929
******************************