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Date: Tue, 4 Oct 94 13:51:25 PDT From: Info-Hams Mailing List and Newsgroup <info-hams@ucsd.edu> Errors-To: Info-Hams-Errors@UCSD.Edu Reply-To: Info-Hams@UCSD.Edu Precedence: List Subject: Info-Hams Digest V94 #1093 To: Info-Hams Info-Hams Digest Tue, 4 Oct 94 Volume 94 : Issue 1093 Today's Topics: 2nd Floor Ground or No Ground? Another Classroom net Daily Summary of Solar Geophysical Activity for 02 October HF rig turns off the VCR?? Hombrew Hardline Connectors Interference from computer causing receive problems Lightning protection advice needed!!! Operation in Bahama's w/US license? Receiving Morse code transmissions Scouting on the Net during JOTA (World Jamboree On The Air) Want hp-415A/B What does all call signs have been issued? Send Replies or notes for publication to: <Info-Hams@UCSD.Edu> Send subscription requests to: <Info-Hams-REQUEST@UCSD.Edu> Problems you can't solve otherwise to brian@ucsd.edu. 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: 3 Oct 1994 17:51:14 -0400 From: jmesser@satelnet.org (James Messer) Subject: 2nd Floor Ground or No Ground? I've recently moved into a new house, and my shack is now on the 2nd floor. This new location has provided me with few questions, one of which includes the ground for my rigs and antenna. Some folks say to keep a ground, even though the ground might be as long as 40 feet. Others say to do without a ground completely. Still others suggest using the existing ground that is used in the house's electrical system. To confuse things further, I've also seen the artificial grounds that are advertised in catalogs (MFJs, for instance). So, what to do? What options do I actually have? What are others on the 2nd floor doing? Any suggestions would be appreciated. 73, James - KE4LAY ------------------------------ Date: 3 Oct 1994 18:34 EDT From: werner@UTKVX.UTCC.UTK.EDU (KC4URW) Subject: Another Classroom net that is on right after Joe (WB2JKJ) gets finished. I start at approx. 8:45 ET on 7.235 +- for QRM. I would welcome any and all checkins. Stop by and say hello to the students in 7th grade. Thanks and gud dx Bob Werner KC4URW ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 3 Oct 94 12:13:05 MDT From: oler@ultrix.uleth.ca (Cary Oler) Subject: Daily Summary of Solar Geophysical Activity for 02 October /\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\ DAILY SUMMARY OF SOLAR GEOPHYSICAL ACTIVITY 02 OCTOBER, 1994 /\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\ (Based In-Part On SESC Observational Data) SOLAR AND GEOPHYSICAL ACTIVITY INDICES FOR 02 OCTOBER, 1994 ----------------------------------------------------------- NOTE: The background x-ray flux has fallen to values less than class A1.0. !!BEGIN!! (1.0) S.T.D. Solar Geophysical Data Broadcast for DAY 275, 10/02/94 10.7 FLUX=074.5 90-AVG=078 SSN=022 BKI=0111 2325 BAI=010 BGND-XRAY=A1.0 FLU1=9.9E+05 FLU10=1.4E+04 PKI=1012 2324 PAI=009 BOU-DEV=003,006,005,006,013,028,018,078 DEV-AVG=019 NT SWF=00:000 XRAY-MAX= A2.1 @ 0429UT XRAY-MIN= A1.0 @ 2351UT XRAY-AVG= A1.2 NEUTN-MAX= +002% @ 2025UT NEUTN-MIN= -002% @ 2240UT NEUTN-AVG= -0.0% PCA-MAX= +0.1DB @ 1720UT PCA-MIN= -0.2DB @ 2210UT PCA-AVG= -0.0DB BOUTF-MAX=55217NT @ 2204UT BOUTF-MIN=55185NT @ 1723UT BOUTF-AVG=55203NT GOES7-MAX=P:+000NT@ 0000UT GOES7-MIN=N:+000NT@ 0000UT G7-AVG=+084,+000,+000 GOES6-MAX=P:+162NT@ 2021UT GOES6-MIN=N:-010NT@ 1719UT G6-AVG=+110,+024,+006 FLUXFCST=STD:076,077,077;SESC:076,077,077 BAI/PAI-FCST=015,025,025/015,025,030 KFCST=1113 2111 3334 4333 27DAY-AP=008,015 27DAY-KP=2233 2222 1335 3322 WARNINGS=*GSTRM;*AURMIDWCH ALERTS= !!END-DATA!! NOTE: The Effective Sunspot Number for 01 OCT 94 was 22.0. The Full Kp Indices for 01 OCT 94 are: 1o 1o 1+ 1+ 0+ 1o 1o 0o The 3-Hr Ap Indices for 01 OCT 94 are: 4 4 5 5 2 4 4 0 Greater than 2 MeV Electron Fluence for 02 OCT is: 2.9E+07 SYNOPSIS OF ACTIVITY -------------------- Solar activity was very low. No significant activity was noted on the disk or limb. Solar activity forecast: solar activity is expected to be very low. The geomagnetic field has been at quiet to unsettled levels for the past 24 hours. Geophysical activity forecast: the geomagnetic field is expected to be at unsettled levels during the first day with active to minor storm levels expected for the remaining period. Major storming is forecast for the third day at high latitudes. Activity is expected due to coronal hole effects. Event probabilities 03 oct-05 oct Class M 01/01/01 Class X 01/01/01 Proton 01/01/01 PCAF Green Geomagnetic activity probabilities 03 oct-05 oct A. Middle Latitudes Active 25/35/35 Minor Storm 15/25/25 Major-Severe Storm 05/10/10 B. High Latitudes Active 30/35/35 Minor Storm 25/30/30 Major-Severe Storm 10/15/15 HF propagation conditions were normal over all regions. Conditions are expected to begin deteriorating over the next 24 hours. Even middle latitude paths are expected to begin deteriorating. Conditions may not begin improving notably until 06 or 07 October. COPIES OF JOINT USAF/NOAA SESC SOLAR GEOPHYSICAL REPORTS ======================================================== REGIONS WITH SUNSPOTS. LOCATIONS VALID AT 02/2400Z OCTOBER ---------------------------------------------------------- NMBR LOCATION LO AREA Z LL NN MAG TYPE 7783 S06W09 105 0060 HSX 01 001 ALPHA 7784 S05E45 051 0090 HSX 02 001 ALPHA REGIONS DUE TO RETURN 03 OCTOBER TO 05 OCTOBER NMBR LAT LO 7780 S06 355 LISTING OF SOLAR ENERGETIC EVENTS FOR 02 OCTOBER, 1994 ------------------------------------------------------ BEGIN MAX END RGN LOC XRAY OP 245MHZ 10CM SWEEP NONE POSSIBLE CORONAL MASS EJECTION EVENTS FOR 02 OCTOBER, 1994 ---------------------------------------------------------- BEGIN MAX END LOCATION TYPE SIZE DUR II IV NO EVENTS OBSERVED INFERRED CORONAL HOLES. LOCATIONS VALID AT 02/2400Z --------------------------------------------------- ISOLATED HOLES AND POLAR EXTENSIONS EAST SOUTH WEST NORTH CAR TYPE POL AREA OBSN 06 N25E01 N10W17 N12W33 N43W01 111 ISO POS 014 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 ------ ---- ---- ---- ---- -- ------ ------ --------- --------- --------- 01 Oct: 0225 0229 0232 B1.4 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 ------ ---- ---- ---- ---- -- ------ ------ --------------------------- 01 Oct: 0225 0229 0232 B1.4 III 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: Mon, 3 Oct 1994 16:10:54 GMT From: gary@ke4zv.atl.ga.us (Gary Coffman) Subject: HF rig turns off the VCR?? In article <Cx3sK1.EIp@tandem.com> hausman@patch.tandem.com (hausman_john) writes: > >Has anyone ever seen anything like this? My transmitter (on certain >frequencies) causes the VCR to stop playing. > >I put together my HF station last weekend. I have a Kenwood TS-430 >running barefoot (100 watts) into an MFJ tuner feeding a roof-mounted >multi-band dipole. > >While checking the antenna for SWR on 20 meters (CW transmission), >our VCR stopped. We restarted the VCR and, sure enough, when I >keyed the transmitter, the VCR stopped again. It almost seems >like the motor changes speed for a moment, then the picture goes >to "dead channel" snow for a few seconds, then the VCR stops >playing. Perhaps I'm affecting the tape speed sync??? > >Strangely, if I tune the transmitter a few hundred KHz away, then >I just get a light snow on the picture. With the VCR off, the TV >picture (cable) is perfect. The place that gives the problem seems >to be where the antenna is best tuned (about a 1:1.2 SWR). The VCR has a PLL circuit working at 14.318 MHz (4 times subcarrier). Your transmissions are disturbing the PLL and causing the master oscillator to be pulled far enough off frequency to affect tracking. This will cause the motor speed to change as the servo tries to compensate, and the tension sensor to detect excess (or slack) tape tension and automatically shut down the machine. Better shielding, and moving the antenna further away, should reduce or eliminate the problem. Gary -- Gary Coffman KE4ZV | You make it, | gatech!wa4mei!ke4zv!gary Destructive Testing Systems | we break it. | emory!kd4nc!ke4zv!gary 534 Shannon Way | Guaranteed! | gary@ke4zv.atl.ga.us Lawrenceville, GA 30244 | | ------------------------------ Date: 4 Oct 94 16:31:47 GMT From: Waltk@pica.army.mil Subject: Hombrew Hardline Connectors kraus writes: We'll, iv'e done it with just those items. get a copper reducer, and saw cut some notches in it so it can be clamped down. Strip the cable so there is enough center conducter sticking out to fit into the barrel.Put the barrel in one end of the fitting, and the cable in the other. Use small hose clamps to tighten everything down. If it's going to be outside, weatherproof the hell out of it. It ai'nt pretty but if done carefully, it works. I have too. Never thought of sawing slits in the connector, though. Will have to try it. I go a bit further and silver solder the whole mess. I use 3/4" to 5/8" copper reducers. Waterproof the hell out of it. I use silicone glue. Has anyone made hardline connectors using gas pipe fittings? ...................................................................... 73 de Walt Kornienko - K2WK Internet: waltk@pica.army.mil DX PacketCluster: K2WK > W3MM (FRC) Packet: K2WK@N2ERH.NJ.USA.NOAM ______________________________________________________________________ ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 3 Oct 1994 21:22:25 GMT From: gcouger@olesun.okstate.edu (Gordon Couger) Subject: Interference from computer causing receive problems In article <Cx3z4w.63v@cscsun.rmc.edu>, David Tiller <dtiller@cscsun.rmc.edu> wrote: >Russ Blaine (rblaine@max.tiac.net) wrote: >: My friend has a CB radio that works fine - when his computer is off. When >: he turns the computer and monitor on, the static and hiss level on his >: radio go way up, making transmissions very hard to hear and some almost >: indiscernable. > >: Questions: >: How can we get rid of this? >: 1) Would something like a lead box around the actual CB radio eliminate >: this? I have had simular problems. They have always got a lot better if every thing is grounded correctly. First make sure the CB rig has a good short path (less than 5 foot if possible. Make sure that all the computer stuff uses a grounded(3 prong ac plug) and make sure that the ground wire on the house wiring goes to ground. If this hasen't fixed your problem. Disconect every thing from the computer and turn on the computer then add each perrifial(sp) and turn it on. This should find the problem. I think that fixing the grounds will probably fix your problem. It always has for me using some pretty sorry instaltions. In one appartment the computer was about 6 feet from the antenna and they were both on the same breaker. I never got rid of the noise but I got it down low enough that I could operate. Good luck Gordon AB5DG Gordon Couger Biosystems & Agricultural Engineering Oklahoma State University 114 Ag Hall, Stillwater, OK 74074 gcouger@olesun.agen.okstate.edu 405-744-9763 day 624-2855 evenings I do not speak for my employer ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 3 Oct 1994 20:25:04 GMT From: bro@alpha1.rtpnc.epa.gov (Russ Bullock) Subject: Lightning protection advice needed!!! I'm looking for some advice that anyone can offer on how I might protect my tower-mounted wind sensors from lightning damage. I've posted this on sci.geo.meteorology, but who knows more about electronic equipment on towers than a ham? Here's the situation. The cup generator for the anemometer and the electrical distributor for the wind vane are mounted on a 64-ft free-standing metal tower in order to get them above the trees nearby. Thunderstorms are quite common in my area, and I have mounted these sensors a foot to each side and 3 feet from the top of an 8-ft aluminum mast in hopes that the solid tip of the mast would receive any lightning that struck the tower. The tower is well grounded with a 4-gauge braided copper cable connected to an 8-ft copper grounding rod. Yet, in 2 years of operation I've had three instances of lightning damage to the sensors and indoor display. The connections from the junction box at the tower base to the sensors at the top are made with a 7-wire bundle of solid 18-gauge individually-insulated copper wires. This wire bundle is plastic covered, but it is not electromagnetically shielded. Is it possible that the lightning discharge through the tower is inducing a damaging current in these wires? The 200-ft run from the tower to my house is made with 50-wire 24-gauge telephone cable (2 wires per circuit, 36 spares) and is buried from 6 to 12 inches deep inside a plastic conduit. Can this buried cable be affected by ground currents from the lightning discharge? The wind direction lights on the indoor display are powered by an external step-down AC transformer plugged into a regular 120 Volt outlet. This transformer has also been damaged each time, but none of the other appliances on the same house circuit have been damaged, so I don't think the jolt is coming from the 120 V supply. I'd appreciate any advice from you radio folks out there. I'll try anything not too expensive or ridiculous, including grounded conduit on the tower or spiritual incantations. Thanks in advance. -- Russ Bullock | bro@hpcc.epa.gov | (919) 541-1349 ----------------------------------------------------------------------- "What you don't know can't hurt you. What kills you are the things you know for sure that just ain't so!" ............ Yogi Berra ------------------------------ Date: 3 Oct 1994 21:51:48 GMT From: dbarton@emoryu1.cc.emory.edu ( ) Subject: Operation in Bahama's w/US license? I will be travelling in the Bahama's and/or Carribean in December and am wondering about the rules relating to VHF and HF operation in the ham bands within the areas controlled by these countries, and in International waters. I currently hold a Tech- license, and will soon be upgrading to General or maybe Advanced (depending on how much study time I have :-). All help is greatly appreciated... Doug KE6LZM ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 28 Sep 1994 00:08:32 GMT From: tomb@lsid.hp.com (Tom Bruhns) Subject: Receiving Morse code transmissions Dave Munroe (dmunroe@vcd.hp.com) wrote: : Jerry Dallal <jerry@hnrc.tufts.edu> wrote: : >You'll hear morse code on many frequencies. Stations are required to : >identify themselves and CW is legal for id regardless of the usual mode : >of transmission. : Can my scanner (a Pro-37) receive a true CW (A1A) transmission? I've picked up : id's in Morse code from Ham repeaters, but I thought those were generated tones : sent out on FM. : The reason I ask is because I'd like to receive the slow-code and fast-code : practice sessions sent out by W1AW on 147.555 MHz. Problem is, I've never : been able to get anything. I've not been able to receive W1AW voice broadcasts : either, so maybe I just need to get up on a hill or replace the rubber duck : with something better. Dave, I think you are hoping for a bit much to receive W1AW on 147MHz in Vancouver, WA. -- There are lots of code practice programs for computers kicking around; perhaps that would help you. You could put the output onto cassette tapes, if you don't have a computer available where you want to practice. This reminds me of something we are looking at adding to our club repeater, which doesn't get a whole lot of use (the 440 repeaters around here are fairly quiet most of the time). We are looking at adding code practice which could come up at specific times/days, and also be brought up with touch-tone access; the latter would probably be limited to club-member access. I'm wondering if people in netland who are interested in learning code would find something like that useful. Comments? 73, K7ITM -- Tom ------------------------------ Date: 3 Oct 1994 20:11:42 GMT From: macman@bernina.ethz.ch (Danny Schwendener) Subject: Scouting on the Net during JOTA (World Jamboree On The Air) Here are the side events to the Worldwide Jamboree on the Air, which will be held on October 15-16 on the amateur radio frequencies worldwide. More details on JOTA 94 and the frequencies used can be found on ftp.ethz.ch in the directory rec.scouting/worldwide. (Note: this is an extract of the upcoming release of rec.scouting FAQ#2 on worldwide scouting. Since JOTA is so close, I decided not to wait until the normally scheduled posting) At this time, I've received the announcements for three Internet Happenings to be held during JOTA 94 (October 15-16): A. JAMBOREE ON THE IRC (JOTIRC) IRC stands for Internet Relay Chat. IRC is devoted to just "type-talking" with other users around the world. You join what they call a channel (similar to AOL's rooms, if you're familiar) and type words which appear on the channel. Everyone on that channel receives your words and can respond. The software needed is basically a client. Clients can be obtained from many ftp sites. See Scott Yanoff's "Internet Services" list on alt.internet.services for public IRC clients, or find out if your own system has the client installed by typing the following from your UNIX prompt: irc /join #scouting For more information on IRC, anonymous FTP to: cs.bu.edu:/irc/support/tutorial* One of the permanent channels on IRC is #scouting, which will be the central meeting point for JOTIRC participants. B. CIBER CAMPAMENT The mexican scouts have set up a local chat server called "Ciber Campament". While it is set up for JOTA 94, the server is already up and running today. To connect, telnet to 129.108.3.7 on port 7777 (type 'telnet 129.108.3.7 7777' from your UNIX or PC host, or use NCSA Telnet from a Macintosh). You can log in with any alias and any password. C. E-MAIL JOTA 94 Mosman District Scouts, located in Sydney Australia, invite you and the girls and boys in your Scout/Guide unit to participate in EMAIL JOTA'94. At 1st Balmoral Sea Scout Hall Mosman District Scouts, Guides, Brownies, Cubs, Rovers, Rangers, Venturers and their Leaders will be broadcasting on 2 or 3 amateur radio rigs provided by alocal radio club. There will also be a dial-up phone link between a UNIX computer called 'scoutnet', and a commercial UNIX email service connected to the Internet. In the weeks leading up to JOTA which happens worldwide on during October Scouts and Guides will be able to use the email service to pre-arrange times and frequencies for radio contact with other Scouts/Guides. For more information on this event or to get in contact with 1st Balmoral, contact John Young at yo@sydney.sgi.com. ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 3 Oct 1994 15:03:13 GMT From: dickrb@lsid.hp.com (Dick Bingham) Subject: Want hp-415A/B Greetings I am looking for an hp-415. Let me Know if you have one that you want to sell or trade... Tnx, de w7wkr ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 29 Sep 1994 16:20:39 GMT From: tomb@lsid.hp.com (Tom Bruhns) Subject: What does all call signs have been issued? Sam Noonan (snoonan@netcom.com) wrote: : There was an earlier message stating that All call signs for tech/gen in : group 6 were issued. : I just passed my tech exams this last weekend. So what happens now? Well, obviously, you have to wait for someone to die. ;-) Seriously, I'm sure the federal bureaucracy will find some solution. With some luck they even planned ahead for it. But don't be too surprised if you get a call that doesn't look quite like you expected. 73, K7ITM (still not fully comfortable with the current call sign system, and just can't _wait_ for more nuances in it.) ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 3 Oct 1994 12:08:38 GMT From: gary@ke4zv.atl.ga.us (Gary Coffman) References<Cwws62.Fpr@vcd.hp.com> <tjaCx1tz8.3xq@netcom.com>, <36mrbc$2vd@safety.ics.uci.edu> Reply-To: gary@ke4zv.atl.ga.us (Gary Coffman) Subject: Re: Should I build or buy a TV antenna? In article <36mrbc$2vd@safety.ics.uci.edu> turner@safety.ics.uci.edu (Clark Savage Turner) writes: >It all depends on the general reception in your area. Are you in a >Metro area? If the signals are generally strong, I would just build >a small dipole or hang a little wire off the TV connector. That is all >it takes down here, no $50 needed. It always amuses me to build a small >folded dipole for FM and beat the reception of the big, fancy Radio >Shack FM antennas costing $30 and more. BUT, if you are in a fringe >area, I would probably go and buy a commercial antenna...and a small >rotor. Actually, in dense metro areas, it is often best to use a very high gain, narrow beamwidth, antenna and an attenuator. That's because the sharp antenna can be rotated to minimize multipath. Using just a dipole or rabbit ears, you're likely to have severe ghosting. Gary -- Gary Coffman KE4ZV | You make it, | gatech!wa4mei!ke4zv!gary Destructive Testing Systems | we break it. | emory!kd4nc!ke4zv!gary 534 Shannon Way | Guaranteed! | gary@ke4zv.atl.ga.us Lawrenceville, GA 30244 | | ------------------------------ Date: 3 Oct 1994 20:17:09 GMT From: danb@acme.csusb.edu (Dan Brown) References<9409300400112135@pcappbbs.com> <1994Sep30.172734.23514@news.csuohio.edu>, <lestrade.780958492@Ra.MsState.Edu> Subject: Re: Radio Shack Violation John Patrick Lestrade (lestrade@Ra.MsState.Edu) wrote: : Is it any more of a `violation' for someone to pick up an ht on the rs : counter and `kerchunk' a repeater as it is for someone who does NOT have : a driver's license to start the engine of a car in a showroom? Actually, yes. When you "kerchunk" the repeater, you're transmitting without a license (assuming you don't have the license). Anyone may start the engine of a car, and even drive it, without a license--they just can't drive it on the public streets. -- Dan Brown, KE6MKS danb@acme.csusb.edu -- finger for PGP 2.6.1 public key Don't Tread on Me ------------------------------ Date: 3 Oct 1994 14:40:30 -0700 From: turner@safety.ics.uci.edu (Clark Savage Turner) References<Cwy4C6.LJ@cscsun.rmc.edu> <36hrmc$7pn@safety.ics.uci.edu>, <36pnba$ld0$1@rosebud.ncd.com> Subject: Re: Restrictive Covenants: I can't have *any* antenna? In <36pnba$ld0$1@rosebud.ncd.com> stevew@sheridan.ncd.com (Steve Wilson) writes: >I suspect that Clark's point should be well taken, on the other hand, >it can also depend on the audience you are addressing. I had to make >a presentation to the local county Planning Commission about a year ago. >This is the place where the epicenter of the Loma Prieta Quake of 89 is >located. We also suffer from periodic wild fires. ARES/RACES is well >integrated into the county, and the local politicians are aware of our >presence mostly due to constant exposure over time during real emergencies. Very good. Your audience was perfect - they already understood our value! This is not what I am talking about, that is not the place where people will laugh at you. There are many communities where this is just NOT so. >But to parallel what Clark is saying, If I was trying to make a presentation >to the local garden club, I'd have to go alot further, and into a lot more Well, unfortunately, I am usually addressing the local Planning Commission, too. And, there are not the well integrated RACES programs going on in most communities I have worked in. And, my presentation is very good, usually bolstered by some ARRL person (last time by our Vice Director here) who can speak directly to the issues with personal experience. This does not always do it. Not in our local communities. The point I am trying to make is that we, as hams, do not have a special place in the hearts and minds of the general population - and that we must understand that, and treat the general public with respect for their opinions, yet we must help to show the true value of ham radio to those who might understand. This is very important, especially with the current commercial pressure to take over some of our spectrum - there is no constitutional right to ham radio. There is no constitutional right to have an antenna. If, tomorrow, congress decided that ham radio was not a valuable public resource (look at the other silly things they do :-) - we would be past history in a minute. That is my point. It is not to our benefit to take the "we have rights - we're the best even if you don't believe it" approach here. We could lose. We need to be constantly aware of the reality that the general population does not necessarily see ham radio as a valued national resource - and I believe we need to work, little by little, to change that and show our value to the community. Clark WA3JPG ------------------------------ End of Info-Hams Digest V94 #1093 ******************************