Date: Thu, 2 Dec 93 04:30:32 PST
From: Ham-Equip Mailing List and Newsgroup <ham-equip@ucsd.edu>
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Subject: Ham-Equip Digest V93 #119
To: Ham-Equip
Ham-Equip Digest Thu, 2 Dec 93 Volume 93 : Issue 119
Today's Topics:
comments on FT990/IC765/TS850
entry-level rigs - recommendations?
FT 530 - mods...
IC-22S help needed (2 msgs)
ICOM IC2410 Info
Need Manual or Pin-out for Wilson 1402 HT Speaker/Mic conn.
Opinion on Kenwood TS-430S
PK-88 vs KPC-3 vs DPK-2 - Comments? (2 msgs)
VHF/UHF SSB/CW fans please read!
Send Replies or notes for publication to: <Ham-Equip@UCSD.Edu>
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Archives of past issues of the Ham-Equip 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.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Wed, 1 Dec 1993 17:28:09 GMT
From: uniwa!harbinger.cc.monash.edu.au!yeshua.marcam.com!nic.hookup.net!medusa.hookup.net!news.kei.com!sol.ctr.columbia.edu!howland.reston.ans.net!vixen.cso.uiuc.edu!sdd.hp.@@munnari.oz.au
Subject: comments on FT990/IC765/TS850
To: ham-equip@ucsd.edu
Count me in for a cynical view about DSP.. The things being done with
it at the monent are just the equivalent of audio filters, very nice
audio filters, but far far too late in the gain profile of the receiver.
Your DSP filter can reject an unwanted signal, but if the unwanted
signal is overloading stages before the DSP, all the DSP in the world
won't unravel the effects of the overloading on the wanted signal.
When DSP with little gain in front of it is feasible with 18-20 bit
digitising at IF, things will be very different.
I looked long and hard at those radios. Got loaners, looked inside,
read the service manuals and took them into the lab. I was swayed by the
filter quality of the ICOM.
I was looking at the FT1000, from which the FT990 was derived, and
then a year later looked at the FT990.
For the money, the FT990 is very very tempting, but if cost is
relatively unimportant, the 765 has more artfully shaped (less ringing)
main IF filters, and a superb speech processor on SSB.
After owning the 765 for a year or so, I'd call the auto atu OK but
with some nuisance foibles.
The 850 has a lot of clever programmable features, but I must confess
I've never missed them.
765 controls are a bit scattered, but I got used to them. Noise
blanker doesn't seem to do much, but never really needed it in quiet
location.
If the Icom was stolen, I'd just order another.
Just my personal opinions, but the result of a lot of using and
measuring...
David GM4ZNX
------------------------------
Date: 1 Dec 93 14:30:38 GMT
From: ogicse!uwm.edu!rpi!newsserver.pixel.kodak.com!newsserver.raster.Kodak.COM!usenet@network.ucsd.edu
Subject: entry-level rigs - recommendations?
To: ham-equip@ucsd.edu
Hi,
i am expecting my license to arrive between now and christmas, so i
am looking for a rig to start with. Can somebody tell me if the
entry-level rigs like the IC-707 or FT-840 are any good? Is there
anything else out there in the same price range? Which one would
you suggest?
Thanks
Karl Heinz
--
Karl Heinz Kremer Performance Technology & Evaluation
Eastman Kodak Company, Department 294, 901 Elmgrove Road
Rochester, NY 16453-5810, USA FAX: +1-716-726-0374
EMail: khk@raster.kodak.com Phone: +1-716-726-7882
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 25 Nov 93 03:34:00 +0100
From: news.acns.nwu.edu!math.ohio-state.edu!howland.reston.ans.net!pipex!sunic!seunet!seunet!cindy!nntp@network.ucsd.edu
Subject: FT 530 - mods...
To: ham-equip@ucsd.edu
The modification of the FT530 that I have makes the 530 transmit between
400 to 500Mc and on the lower band.
Why any limits at all? There's got to be a mod which "opens" the
transceiver totally just like the other Yaesus.
True or false?
// Stefan
------------------------------
Date: 30 Nov 1993 13:32:11 GMT
From: swrinde!cs.utexas.edu!math.ohio-state.edu!magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu!usenet.ins.cwru.edu!nigel.msen.com!caen!destroyer!news1.oakland.edu!vela.acs.oakland.edu!prvalko@network.ucsd.edu
Subject: IC-22S help needed
To: ham-equip@ucsd.edu
Clint Hastings (hastings@dseg.ti.com) wrote:
: I have this Icom IC-22S hanging around from years ago and
: I want to put it to some use. The diode-matrix programmed
: frequency synthesizer won't go below 145.8 MHz, and most
: of the action here in my new location is below 146. I can
: program it below that frequency, but the unit appears not
: to function - just like if there are no diodes in that
: slot at all.
: Does anyone have any ideas on how to extend the frequency
: range on this unit, down to say 144?
As I recall, the design of the synthesizer precluded putting the unit on
the "new" 145 MHz repeater sub-band. You would really have to do some
major redesign to make it work there.
I bought a 22S in 1977. It was quite the rig at that time (being
semi-synthesized) and was several HUNDRED dollars less than the U.S.
built (yup, there were US made VHF rigs way back then) Clegg FM-DX.
I still see a 22s at swaps out here (Michigan). They sell for $50-$80.
I doubt it's worth the effort to try and get it to operate on 145.
73 paul wb8zjl
: thanks, clint KC7XX
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 30 Nov 1993 22:21:27 GMT
From: olivea!pagesat!direct!herald.indirect.com!kg7bk@ames.arpa
Subject: IC-22S help needed
To: ham-equip@ucsd.edu
Clint Hastings (hastings@dseg.ti.com) wrote:
: Does anyone have any ideas on how to extend the frequency
: range on this unit, down to say 144?
: thanks, clint KC7XX
Clint, Quoting from TechnoLogic Concepts' IC22S modification notes,
"To unlock the PLL, remove D6, D7, and R38(connected to IC-1, pin 13)
from the PLL board and solder a jumper from pin 13 to pin 16 on IC-1."
This will allow simplex operation down to 144.72 with 15KHz spacing.
They sell a kit to allow repeater offsets and 5KHz spacing.
Their address is 1803 Mission St., Suite 308, Santa Cruz, CA 95060.
73, Cecil, kg7bk@indirect.com
------------------------------
Date: 30 Nov 1993 18:13:31 GMT
From: swrinde!gatech!howland.reston.ans.net!noc.near.net!jericho.mc.com!fugu!levine@network.ucsd.edu
Subject: ICOM IC2410 Info
To: ham-equip@ucsd.edu
If you have an ICOM 2410 Mobile rig, I have a few questions
to ask.
1) Does it have a button somewhere to monitor the input
freq of a repeater? (ie monitor the offset freq)
2) How does one use the function buttons on the mic?
I mean how do you access the function on the button
rather than the DTMF code on that button?
Thanks.
------------------------------------------------------------
|| // ||\\ //|| //\\ //\\
|| // || \\ // || // //
||// || \\ || // //
||\\ || || || \\ === \\ ===
|| \\ || // || \\ // \\ //
|| \\ || // || \\// \\//
---------------------------------------------------------FTAC
Bob Levine KD1GG 7J1AIS VK2GYN formerly KA1JFP
levine@mc.com <--Internet email Phone(508) 256-1300 x247
kd1gg@wa1phy.ma <--Packet Mail FAX(508) 256-3599
------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------
Date: 1 Dec 93 22:18:08 GMT
From: ogicse!ese.ogi.edu!dreeves@network.ucsd.edu
Subject: Need Manual or Pin-out for Wilson 1402 HT Speaker/Mic conn.
To: ham-equip@ucsd.edu
I have an OLD Wilson 1402 HT - XL controled, looks like a brick -
and want to use it for packet. Can anyone point we towards a
manual or provide information on the pin-outs of what appears
to be the Speaker-Mic connector? It has 6 pins and is a locking
ring type (as found on modern mobile units, but smaller) but I
have no clue as to which pin is what.
Also, if anyone knows of sources for odd-sized connectors like
this, please e-mail.
TNX and 73, de N6XHW
D. Reeves
--
|B. Douglas Reeves Dept. Env. Sci.& Eng. Oregon Graduate Institute|
|N6XHW on 146.900 in PDX dreeves@ese.ogi.edu everywhere else|
|"... life itself represents a nonequilibrium condition." - J. F. Pankow |
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 30 Nov 1993 16:28:24 GMT
From: boulder!beagle!eesnyder@uunet.uu.net
Subject: Opinion on Kenwood TS-430S
To: ham-equip@ucsd.edu
I have a line on a used Kenwood TS-430S and I was wondering if
anyone had any strong opinions on this radio, positive or negative.
I have been working VHF/UHF for about six months now and would like
to get some experience on the HF bands (listening first so I can pass
my code test!). Is this a good rig to start out on? How about a
price of $525?
Any comments, suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
73,
Eric E. Snyder, N0XSU
Department of MCD Biology ...making feet for childrens' shoes.
University of Colorado, Boulder
Boulder, Colorado 80309-0347
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 30 Nov 1993 13:34:41 GMT
From: swrinde!cs.utexas.edu!howland.reston.ans.net!pipex!uknet!icsbelf!mark@network.ucsd.edu
Subject: PK-88 vs KPC-3 vs DPK-2 - Comments?
To: ham-equip@ucsd.edu
In article <fmitchCHA6Gu.632@netcom.com>,
Felton Mitchell <fmitch@netcom.com> wrote:
>Dave Jenkins (djenkins@wang.com) wrote:
>
>: I am trying to decide between asking for a PK-88, KPC-3 or DPK-2. Some of
>: the relative merits that I know of include:
>
>: PK-88: Y Y N Y ? ? $139.95
>
>: KPC-3: L 1 Y Y Y Y $119.95
>
>: DPK-2: L Y N Y 2 3 $109.95
>: ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^
>: | | | | | | |
>: | | | | | | +------- HRO Price
>: | | | | | |
>: | | | | | +--------- Open squelch operation
>: | | | | +------------ TNC-2 Compatible
>: | | | +--------------- PBBS
>: | | +------------------ WEFAX
>: | +--------------------- Kiss Mode
>: +------------------------ 12 Operation (L = Low power consumption)
>
>: 1) The guy at HRO said it does KISS Mode but it didn't say in the catalog.
>: 2) "100% firmware compatability with TAPR TNC-2"
>: "* TNC-2 Compatible * Runs all TNC-2proms"
>: 3) $31.95 optional board
>
>
>i have had all of the tnc's you mention (including the bay-pac)... i still
>have the dpk-2! it is a semi-clone of the tnc-2, and it does run KISS
>mode with the standard rom that comes with it... any software that runs
>in a tnc-2 will run in/with the dpk-2... the changes/improvements over
>the tnc-2 is much smaller size, has a 9.+ mhz clock and a real baud rate
>generator... it will go up to 38.4 kbaud to your terminal... it has the
>standard tnc-2 modem disconnect header in case u want to run an external 9600
>baud modem with it... my dpk-2 is from the first production run that
>drsi made... i have had absolutely no problems with it...
I have 2 PK-88's and one DPK-2. The PK-88 comes in a strong case, is RF quiet,
but draws 500ma and isn't TNC-2 compatible. I don't know if an open squelch
add on is available. I run both of mine permanently in KISS mode. No problems.
The DPK-2 comes in a strong but lightweight case, is low power and TNC-2
compatible. Mine has been running TheNet X-1J continuously for a month now,
without problems. I bought mine with the 10MHz upgrade and the open squelch
add on board. It came in at a *lot* more than $109, but then electronic goods
are generally a rip-off over here anyway... There's a slight problem with RF
noise from mine, but it only affects one radio which appears to have virtually
no IF filtering - an Alinco DR-112EM.
I'm going to be in Atlanta & LA next month (Dec). Anyone care to recommend a
ham shop where I can get another DPK-2 at a sensible price?
-mark
--
Mark Willis Internet: mark@icsbelf.co.uk
ICS Computing Group Ltd. Packet: GI0PEZ@GB7TED.#63.GBR.EU
Belfast AmprNet: 44.131.15.3
Northern Ireland CompuServe: 100317,3025
------------------------------
Date: 30 Nov 1993 14:01:28 GMT
From: swrinde!gatech!usenet.ufl.edu!mailer.acns.fsu.edu!freenet2.scri.fsu.edu!dodsonm@network.ucsd.edu
Subject: PK-88 vs KPC-3 vs DPK-2 - Comments?
To: ham-equip@ucsd.edu
djenkins@wang.com (Dave Jenkins) writes:
>
> The BayPac (BayCom) modem was fun, but, it is time to upgrade to a REAL TNC.
>
> I am trying to decide between asking for a PK-88, KPC-3 or DPK-2. Some of
Dave,
You might find the comparison article in the current issue of QST
helpful. My copy came in the mail on Saturday. Good luck.
73,
--
Michael Dodson Internet: dodsonm@freenet.scri.fsu.edu
2305 Forsythe Court Packet: N4JEL@N0ARY.#nocal.ca.usa.noam
Tallahassee FL 32308 USA Compu$erve: 71310,2673
------------------------------
Date: 1 Dec 93 18:09:14 GMT
From: ogicse!uwm.edu!vixen.cso.uiuc.edu!cs.uiuc.edu!news1.oakland.edu!vela.acs.oakland.edu!prvalko@network.ucsd.edu
Subject: VHF/UHF SSB/CW fans please read!
To: ham-equip@ucsd.edu
Hi. Am am interested in getting more involved with VHF/UHF work.
Last weekend I made my FIRST OSCAR contact through RS-10/11. I am
hooked. :-)
I am all set with antenna and such, but I would like some radio ideas.
I have a TS-700SP, and am looking to replace it with a
TS-790
IC-940 or
FT-736 or
FT-290/490 rII combinations.
Main use, tropo/scatter openings and OSCARs mode A/B.
Comments greatly appreciated. 73 paul wb8zjl (email OK)
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 1 Dec 1993 21:18:40 GMT
From: telesoft!garym@uunet.uu.net
To: ham-equip@ucsd.edu
References <CGr4H8.B9F@alsys.com>, <CHADso.2Dx@alsys.com>, <2dfqf3$i9b@nntpd.lkg.dec.com>
Subject : Re: Problems with Kenwood TM-742A (and TM-942A)
In <2dfqf3$i9b@nntpd.lkg.dec.com> legerlotz@smaug.enet.dec.com () writes:
>My radio is at (or on its way to) Kenwood to have these changes made.
>Gary, about how long did this take to get fixed (from the time it arrived
>at Kenwood until they were ready to ship it to you).
I dropped my radio off at HRO on Friday, November 19th and I picked my
radio up at HRO today, Dec 1st. Considering that the 2 day Thanksgiving
holiday was during that period, it was a reasonable turnaround.... if the
radio had been fixed...
However, when I got my radio back I read the service department paper that
was with it and it says they "reset the microprocessor". It said nothing
about replacing anything. So I powered it up, played with the options for a
while and the !&^%#@&$&!@^%! radio locked up again. HRO rewrote up the
service order and this time they attached a copy of the Kenwood service
bulletin and wrote that it doesn't need a MPU reset but that the specified
IC's need to be replaced. We will see how long it takes to really fix it.
>I'm pretty anxious to have this done so I can get the radio back and decide
>whether I'm happy with it in its "repaired" state. The people I'm dealing
>with at my local store know that if I'm not happy with it that I'll want my
>money back. They've assured me that that won't be a problem.
I suggest you call the Kenwood service department that it was sent to and
let them know you want the modification that is specified in the service
bulletin ASB-1033 done to the radio and NOT just a microprocessor reset.
The number for the Long Beach service department is 1-310-639-7140. I don't
have the number for the other service department. Perhaps the store where
you bought the radio can do this for you.
--GaryM
--
Gary Morris KK6YB Internet: garym@alsys.com
San Diego, CA USA Phone: +1 619-457-2700 x128 (work)
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 24 Nov 1993 19:02:03 -0600
From: dog.ee.lbl.gov!agate!howland.reston.ans.net!cs.utexas.edu!utah-morgan!hellgate.utah.edu!cc.usu.edu!sy_j.pgh.wec.com!user@network.ucsd.edu
To: ham-equip@ucsd.edu
References <2cu017$f5o@crchh941.bnr.ca>, <1993Nov24.130144.11677@lmpsbbs.comm.mot.com>, <CH0G9t.8vJ@ipars.sds.com>e
Subject : Re: Indestructable HTs?
In article <CH0G9t.8vJ@ipars.sds.com>, scotto@ipars.sds.com (Scott
O'Connell) wrote:
> WB4YUC (burke_br@adcae1.comm.mot.com) wrote:
>
> : There is such an HT, but you probably can't afford it.
>
> I could, and did.
>
> : It would be Motorola's Ruggedized Saber line.
>
> : Probably about $3000.00 or so.....
>
not to get carried away, but
I think that unless you are sure you are going to smash or submerge your
HT more than 10 times, just buy 10 HTs worth $300 each. Least hassle,
even if it falls into a ravine, you don't need to bother fishing it
out. ;^)
> It's less than that if you don't buy all the accessories and/or programming
> cables/software. The radio itself is around $1800 for a hi-power Saber III.
> At least that's what I paid directly from Motorola.
>
> It's a nice radio. I own a hi-band III and have a county issued uhf II. The
> II is an early Saber and has a lot of problems. The III with a newer
> processor and software is much better.
>
> As far as ruggedized, I think other Motorola HT's are better. Our department
> has a lot of MT1000's that appear (case wise) to withstand a lot more. The
> Saber line seems to be a much thinner-wall case material.
>
> : BTW - Most of the Motorola HT's will survive about everything you described
> : with the exception of submersion.
>
> And they even have submersible models! (at least for the Saber)
> --
--
"Beware of bugs in the above code; I have only proved it correct, not
tried it."
-- Donald Knuth
------------------------------
Date: 30 Nov 1993 15:56:19 GMT
From: pa.dec.com!nntpd.lkg.dec.com!smaug.enet.dec.com!legerlotz@decwrl.dec.com
To: ham-equip@ucsd.edu
References <2cth7t$9j@nntpd.lkg.dec.com>, <CHA1I6.LyB@alsys.com>, <CHADso.2Dx@alsys.com>
Reply-To : legerlotz@smaug.enet.dec.com ()
Subject : Re: Problems with Kenwood TM-742A (and TM-942A)
My radio is at (or on its way to) Kenwood to have these changes made.
Gary, about how long did this take to get fixed (from the time it arrived
at Kenwood until they were ready to ship it to you).
I'm pretty anxious to have this done so I can get the radio back and decide
whether I'm happy with it in its "repaired" state. The people I'm dealing
with at my local store know that if I'm not happy with it that I'll want my
money back. They've assured me that that won't be a problem.
FWIW, the new HRO catalog arrived yesterday. ICOM has a new tri band radio
out with 642 memories and lots of bells and whistles. It only comes setup
like the TM-942, however, so if you want to fry eggs on the roof of your car
with the 1200 MHz module that's great - if you want talk on 6 or 10 meters, the TM742 is the only option at this point. Who knows about the ICOM price, I'm affraid to see what it is. My guess is that list will be in excess of $1500...
-Al
--
------------------------------------------------------------------------
These comments are my own and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of
Digital Equipment Corporation.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------
End of Ham-Equip Digest V93 #119
******************************
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