Ham Radio/Ham Radio CD-ROM (Emerald Software) (1995).ISO/news/inham07/901

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Subject: INFO-HAMS Digest V89 #901
To: [e-mail]

INFO-HAMS Digest            Sat, 18 Nov 89       Volume 89 : Issue 901

Today's Topics:
                   A Contesters Viewpoint on QSLing
                           airport security
                      AR on TV, now celebrities
                     Costas Loop in Digital Form
                         doppler vs. superDF
                          FM Parasitics....
                          Hams in disasters
                   looking for apple code software
                 looking for catalog of used HF gear
            Military aircraft callsigns...Eugene Balinski
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Date: 13 Nov 89 16:23:13 GMT
From: netcom!stratus!cloud9!jjmhome!cpoint![e-mail]  (Ken Wolff)
Subject: A Contesters Viewpoint on QSLing

As the author of the K1EA contest program I figure I should finally post
something. I share N2IC's problem and views on QSL'ing almost entirely.
The cards come from the buro in 1 to 5 pound packages and I have stopped
opening them because they are easier to store that way. What I HAVE done, in
fairness to the many stations who want my card, is write a program that
accepts K1EA .BIN files and produces QSL labels. The program keeps a
MASTER.QSL file which contains all the band-calls from all the .BIN
files ever run through the program. The first time a station works me
on a band he gets a card, thereafter he never gets one again for that
band. Up to four band contacts fit on a label to further reduce the
number of cards sent. This algorithm results in about 50% fewer cards
sent than 100% QSLing. Roughly 40% of the stations worked each year are
new to the hobby. Callsigns seem to appear for 1 to 2 years then drop
out. I try to reduce the QSL burden further by asking guest ops to
use their own call. The net result is that of the 25,000 QSO's my station
made last year I only had to send 4,000 cards, I didn't have to look at
the incoming pile and everyone who wanted my card got one. My apologies
to the stations who didn't want my card who got it.

If there is interest, I am willing to post comments on the design of
my program (CT) and post the data structures so other people can fool
with K1EA .BIN files.

The reason I haven't distributed sources to CT is that my family life
can't tolerate any more phone calls. There are 400 registered users of
CT who have manuals and roughly 2,000 unregistered users who don't. I
have no objection borrowed copies, as long as I don't have to support them.
A normal weekday evening results in 1 to 10 calls starting in the middle
of dinner and continuing through my kids bedtime stories. I'm proud of
my code, but it really wasn't written with the idea that dozens or
hundreds of programmers of unknown experience would have a whirl. It
really needs a full program specification and alot of internal comments
before it could be unleased upon the world...

73 - Ken, K1EA

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

Date: 17 Nov 89 22:26:21 GMT
From: hp-sdd!ncr-sd!ncrlnk!ncrcce![e-mail]  (Chuck Rissmeyer)
Subject: airport security

On my way home from Hawaii last January, the Honolulu airport security
xrayed my carry-on baggage and checked baggage.  Well the HT in my
carry-on baggage went through without a notice.  But, my checked baggage
caused a big scene when they xrayed and found my bocce ball set.

I got no reply when I asked them what they thought they had found.
Contraband coconuts maybe :-)


--
  Chuck Rissmeyer (KE0VG)                  | All ideas are mine alone!
  [e-mail]
  PACKET - KE0VG @ WB0GDB

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

Date: Fri, 17 Nov 89 16:55:18 MST
From: [e-mail] (Rusty Carruth)
Subject: AR on TV, now celebrities

Hi, Doug (and the rest of info-hams :-) ) You said:

>The newest Newsline claims that Marlon Brando has had many different
>ham calls, and that a biographer is looking for people who may have
>had contacts with him.  I looked up Brando on marvin, with no results.
>He probably has a real name that he has on his license.
>

Thats a pretty good bet. Anybody know Marlon (sp?) Brando's real name?

(Sure, we could check one of the rec.tv or rec.movies groups, but
lets check here first...)

--rusty

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

Date: 17 Nov 89 15:22:05 GMT
From: gem.mps.ohio-state.edu!uakari.primate.wisc.edu!uwm.edu!ux1.cso.uiuc.edu!tank!eecae!abaa![e-mail]  (Lawrence Esker)
Subject: Costas Loop in Digital Form

In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail] (Charlie Thompson) writes:
>I am looking for software implementations of a Costas Loop. I
>have the original old paper written by the man himself but I
>was looking for someone who might have done this in software
>such as DSP code for one of the DSP's or even C for that matter.
>-Charlie Thompson

I've found that the Costas loop is not very good compared to some later
developments.  It was also impossible to convert to a digital form (as hardware
counters, multipliers, etc.)  Get the book Phaselock Techniques by Floyd M.
Gardner and read chapter 11.  It presents several evolved forms, such as the
Early-Late gate and the Transition Tracking Loop that are superior in
performance than the Costas loop, are hybrid digital/analog designs, and can
trace their functional for back to the Costas loop.

I've personally designed an all digital version of the Transition Tracking Loop
and it was an order of magnetude less complexity than an all digital version
of the Costas loop would be.  Admittadly, this has nothing to do with DSP or
C code, but if an all digital hardware solution is obvious from the theory and
simpler to design, I would think a software solution would be obvious and
computationally less expensive.
--
---------- Lawrence W. Esker ----------  Modern Amish: Thou shalt not need any
                                         computer that is not IBM compatible.
UseNet Path: __!mailrus!sharkey!itivax!abaa!esker  ==  [e-mail]

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

Date: 17 Nov 89 19:34:01 GMT
From: cs.utexas.edu!asuvax!anasaz![e-mail]  (John Moore)
Subject: doppler vs. superDF

In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail] writes:
]
]Is SuperDF a commercial product or a technical project?
]Sorry John, but mail to you is still getting bounced back.
It started as a technical project. It is now a commercial product.
--
John Moore (NJ7E)           mcdphx!anasaz!john asuvax!anasaz!john
[phone] (day or eve) long palladium, short petroleum
7525 Clearwater Pkwy, Scottsdale, AZ 85253
The 2nd amendment is about military weapons, NOT JUST hunting weapons!

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

Date: 15 Nov 89 19:07:35 GMT
From: hpfcso!hpfcdj![e-mail]  (Bob Myers)
Subject: FM Parasitics....

Re: too much signal in the wrong places...

If you're determined to keep the 3000W, have you considered asking
Uncle Charlie for permission to change the pattern?  You'd still be
"3000 watts" as far as the advertisers are concerned, but you'd cut out
that nasty lobe that's causing all the trouble.

(I am assuming that the usual checks have already been made, and you *are*
broadcasting with a nice, clean, legal signal....right? :-))


Bob Myers  KC0EW   HP Graphics Tech. Div.|  Opinions expressed here are not
                   Ft. Collins, Colorado |  those of my employer or any other
[e-mail]               |  sentient life-form on this planet.

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

Date: 18 Nov 89 15:29:19 GMT
From: cs.utexas.edu!asuvax!anasaz![e-mail]  (John Moore)
Subject: Hams in disasters

In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail] (Joe Herbster) writes:
...many words about Huntsville disaster deleted...
]    was obvious they were in over their heads.  WE were organized,
]    WE were capable, WE had practiced, but for some reason, the
]    whole thing was handled rather poorly (IMHO).  What is a group
]    to do??

(1) For the weather reporting, get with the NWS Skywarn program. They
should provide training to the hams (yes... in this case, as John DeArmond
said, the hams need to be able to do more than communicate). Then,
you can feed weather reports to them and be believed!

(2) As far as local authorities, there is no way to force yourself on
them. However, now might be a good time to talk to them - they will
no doubt be reviewing all of their disaster planning after this event.

--
John Moore (NJ7E)           mcdphx!anasaz!john asuvax!anasaz!john
[phone] (day or eve) long palladium, short petroleum
7525 Clearwater Pkwy, Scottsdale, AZ 85253
The 2nd amendment is about military weapons, NOT JUST hunting weapons!

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

Date: 17 Nov 89 19:59:57 GMT
From: iconsys!ohs![e-mail]  (Clarence Whetten)
Subject: looking for apple code software

I am currently taking a novice class.  There are some people who would
like an apple II and Mac program for learning code.  If anyone knows of a good
public domain or shareware code learning program for the apple II or mac
would you please send me information about how to obtain it.   Thanks from
a whole new group of novices
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Clarence Whetten   Computer Science Teacher       [e-mail]
Orem High School                                  uunet!iconsys!ohs!cwhetten
175 South 400 East
Orem Utah 84058   USA   [phone]

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

Date: 18 Nov 89 11:42:53 GMT
From: att!cbnewsj![e-mail]  (The QRPer)
Subject: looking for catalog of used HF gear

>From article <[e-mail]>, by [e-mail] (Bob Tidd):
> I'm looking for a summary of used HF gear.
> ...
> Tnx es 73, Bob KJ6CS

Associated Radio in Overland Park, Kansas used to have just
such a list.  I don't remember their phone number or address
off hand but I'm sure directory assistance has it.  Seems to
me their catalog cost about $2.

--
===================================================================
Bob Schreibmaier K2PH  | UUCP: att!mtuxo!k2ph or [e-mail]
AT&T Bell Laboratories | ARPA: [e-mail]
Middletown, N.J. 07748 | ICBM: 40o21'N, 74o8'W

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

Date: 18 Nov 89 21:36:35 GMT
From: cs.utexas.edu!asuvax!stjhmc!f1.n234.z1.fidonet.org![e-mail]  (Jim Grubs)
Subject: Military aircraft callsigns...Eugene Balinski

> From: [e-mail] (EUGENE BALINSKI)
 >
 > In article <[e-mail]>, [e-mail] (DUBE
 > TODD) writes:
 > > My question is:  Why would you be interested in what the call signs are
 > or
 > > represent?
 > >
 > > "Knowledge improperly used is worse than ignorance"
 > >
 > > 73,
 > > Dube Todd, N5PDK
 >
 >     Why am I interested ? Because it is one part of the hobby (the hobby
 > being
 > radio in general) that I enjoy. There are many people who enjoy scanning
 > the
 > mil aircraft band or the FBI or the CIA or the DEA etc.

...and the fact you're eavesdropping on things not intended for you is
irrelevant, right?


you is
irrelevant, right?

--
Uucp: ...{gatech,ames,rutgers}!ncar!noao!asuvax!stjhmc!234!1!Jim.Grubs
Internet: [e-mail]

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End of INFO-HAMS Digest V89 Issue #901
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