Date: Mon, 6 Dec 93 04:30:37 PST
From: Ham-Equip Mailing List and Newsgroup <ham-equip@ucsd.edu>
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Subject: Ham-Equip Digest V93 #123
To: Ham-Equip
Ham-Equip Digest Mon, 6 Dec 93 Volume 93 : Issue 123
Today's Topics:
2M HTX 202 For Sale CHEAP
comments on ICOM 2AT HT
Has anyone got comments on the AEA RL-1 Controller?
Kenwood HT Battery Charger Questions
Kenwood TH-78A -- Opinions wanted
Looking for advice
Need Manual for HEATH HW2P (2m handheld)
New Ham 'bout to arrive
PK-232MBX Packet TNC For Sale
Ramsey FX-146 & FX-440 (4 msgs)
Signal/One CX7A help
Slow Scan TV on a C= Amiga computer.
TEKK Radios
TS-940s dead, any help?
VHF/UHF SSB/CW fans please read!
Send Replies or notes for publication to: <Ham-Equip@UCSD.Edu>
Send subscription requests to: <Ham-Equip-REQUEST@UCSD.Edu>
Problems you can't solve otherwise to brian@ucsd.edu.
Archives of past issues of the Ham-Equip Digest are available
(by FTP only) from UCSD.Edu in directory "mailarchives/ham-equip".
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: 5 Dec 93 14:56:14 GMT
From: saimiri.primate.wisc.edu!sdd.hp.com!col.hp.com!csn!copper!mercury.cair.du.edu!mnemosyne.cs.du.edu!nyx10!rchalk@ames.arpa
Subject: 2M HTX 202 For Sale CHEAP
To: ham-equip@ucsd.edu
have a Radio Shack HTX-202 2-Meter Hand-held. With Alkaline Battery
Pack only, no charger or antenna, but in good working order, and good
physical condition. Will sell for $120.00 OBO..
e-mail, or call 404-587-1613.
Richard
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 03 Dec 1993 11:44:28 -0600
From: ucsnews!sol.ctr.columbia.edu!howland.reston.ans.net!agate!dog.ee.lbl.gov!hellgate.utah.edu!cc.usu.edu!sy_j.pgh.wec.com!user@network.ucsd.edu
Subject: comments on ICOM 2AT HT
To: ham-equip@ucsd.edu
I need comments from IC2AT owners about specs,performance and reliability
of this HT.
please email replies if possible.
thanks in advance.
--
"Beware of bugs in the above code; I have only proved it correct, not
tried it."
-- Donald Knuth
------------------------------
Date: 5 Dec 1993 11:02:22 -0800
From: library.ucla.edu!europa.eng.gtefsd.com!howland.reston.ans.net!spool.mu.edu!news.clark.edu!netnews.nwnet.net!saturn.wwc.edu!shasta.wwc.edu!not-for-mail@network.ucsd.edu
Subject: Has anyone got comments on the AEA RL-1 Controller?
To: ham-equip@ucsd.edu
I am thinking of purchasing the AEA RL-1 as a controller for a 440MHz
HF remote repeater. Does anyone have any experience with this unit?
Any and all recommendations gladly sought!
Thanks!
Rob Frohne
E. F. Cross School of Engineering, Walla Walla College
204 S. College Ave., College Place, WA 99324
(509) 527-2075 frohro@wwc.edu
--
Rob Frohne
E. F. Cross School of Engineering, Walla Walla College
204 S. College Ave., College Place, WA 99324
(509) 527-2075 frohro@wwc.edu
------------------------------
Date: 5 Dec 1993 16:28:34 GMT
From: lll-winken.llnl.gov!overload.lbl.gov!dog.ee.lbl.gov!biocca@decwrl.dec.com
Subject: Kenwood HT Battery Charger Questions
To: ham-equip@ucsd.edu
I recently got a Kenwood HT and now I have to decide what to do about
batteries and chargers. The recommended Kenwood charger is the BC-15A.
My questions are:
How long does this charger take to charge the various batteries?
Does it fast-charge the aftermarket batteries as well?
Can it run from other than house current (ie 12vdc)?
What technology does it use to regulate charging?
Thanks,
Alan
------------------------------
Date: 2 Dec 1993 22:09:33 GMT
From: nntp.ucsb.edu!library.ucla.edu!agate!msuinfo!arctic2!cravitma@network.ucsd.edu
Subject: Kenwood TH-78A -- Opinions wanted
To: ham-equip@ucsd.edu
I passed my Technician ticket 4 weeks ago, and am thinking about
trying to get a Kenwood TH-78A 2m/440 HT for Christmas. Anyone out
there who has one, has used one, or whatever and has any opinions,
praise, condemnation etc. for them, please e-mail me. I would greatly
appreciate as much info as possible before I ask my parents to spend
>$400.00 on a Christmas present.
Thanks.
/Matthew
--
Matthew Cravit | "So I sent him to ask of the
Michigan State University | owl, if he's there, how to
East Lansing, MI 48825 | loosen a jar from the nose
E-Mail: cravitma@cps.msu.edu | of a bear..."
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 1 Dec 1993 23:50:22 GMT
From: elroy.jpl.nasa.gov!swrinde!emory!europa.eng.gtefsd.com!howland.reston.ans.net!math.ohio-state.edu!news.cyberstore.ca!nntp.cs.ubc.ca!newsserver.sfu.ca!cfiler@ames.arpa
Subject: Looking for advice
To: ham-equip@ucsd.edu
My husband has no access to this newsgroup, so I'm posting this for him.
He has just received his Amateur radio license with BASIC qualifications
and has decided that his first rig will be a handheld. He's pretty much
decided to buy a Kenwood TH78A, because of the features it offers. But,
being new to amateur radio, he just wanted to know whether there are
any other competing units he should also consider. I realize this question
is phrased vaguely, but I *know nothing* about this, so I'm hoping
anyone responding to this posting can fill in the gaps themselves.
Thanks in advance. Please EMAIL replies to rfiler@glenayre.com
Christine
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 4 Dec 1993 15:54:33 GMT
From: rosevax!animal!mikef@uunet.uu.net
Subject: Need Manual for HEATH HW2P (2m handheld)
To: ham-equip@ucsd.edu
I need a copy of the users manual for the Heath HW2P Handheld.
Mine was lost on a recent vacation and I purchased the Tone
Encoder/decoder for it and need detailed instructions on programing
the codes for the memory channels. I still have the schematic so I
don't need that.
I would of course be glad to pay copying and shipping costs.
Mikef WA0VNH
mikef@rosemount.com
wa0vnh@n0ihy.mn.usa
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 5 Dec 1993 14:06:17 GMT
From: agate!library.ucla.edu!europa.eng.gtefsd.com!emory!kd4nc!ke4zv!gary@ames.arpa
Subject: New Ham 'bout to arrive
To: ham-equip@ucsd.edu
In article <2dmlo1$eij@umcc.umcc.umich.edu> hoagy@umcc.umcc.umich.edu (Matthew Rupert) writes:
>
>In January 1994, I'll be taking my technician class ham test.
>Aside from the fact that I'm overwhelmed with a lot of the 'technical'
>aspects, here's my problem.
>
>I live on the bottom-floor of an apartment complex. They do not
>permit whatsoever any external antenna/rigs/etc.
>
>Q1: Will it be possible to set up a transceiver in my apartment
> and still maintain decent tx and rx of other hams?
> (I mean decent as in I can hope to at least TRANSMIT around 30-50
> miles, or am I dreaming?)
It's extremely terrain dependent. Even a handheld radio can work 30-50
miles if there's line of sight between the stations. If you're down
in a hole, it's high power forward scatter, satellites, or forget it.
And with limits on outside antennas, high power or satellites are
pretty much out of the question. (Note that if you were going for
a license class with HF priviledges, the situation would be different.
You'd not worry much about having a high vantage, but you'd need much
larger antennas which would be difficult to conceal in your ground
floor apartment.)
In most cases there will be a repeater located on a high site that
you can access from your apartment. That repeater will then give you
a 30-50, or sometimes greater than 100, mile range. If your apartment
is in a really bad location, you may have to settle for a mobile rig
and drive to a better location to ham.
>Q2: I don't wish to spend $5,000 for a super-duper rig. I want something
> simple, easy-to-use-and-set-up, and HOPEFULLY under $700. Used equipment
> is not out of the question. For my needs, is this also a dream?
This is not a dream. There are many options depending on what you want
to do. If your interest is mainly FM and repeaters, there are many many
good radios for under $700 that will fill the bill. Look at mobile rigs
that you can operate in the apartment with a 12 volt power supply. New
prices start under $300 and peak around $900. Used prices will, of course,
be less. If you're adventurous, you can convert an old commercial radio
to amateur service. These are usually very high quality radios that show
up in surplus for $20-$100. Look for Motorola or GE radios at hamfests.
Many of these run 100 watts or so and have excellent receivers.
If your interests tend more toward SSB/CW operating, your choices are
much more restricted. New radios for this purpose usually push, or
exceed, $1000. There are a few used radios that will do without breaking
your budget. Look for clean Icom 211, 251, 271, 451, or 471 radios. Even
used, the 275, 475, and 970 are likely to be out of your budget range.
They're what you'd want if you could afford them. You might find a used
Yaesu 726R in your price range as well, and if you can find a 736R in your
price range, jump on it. I'd avoid the Kenwoods, 711, 811, 790A, because
they don't have great receivers, their thermal design is sadly lacking,
and their user interface is poor. However, if you find one at a dynamite
deal, they can be usable for casual operating.
>Q3: The hand-held transceivers I see on a few folks - these things actually
> get any good distance, or are they limited to under 10 miles???
> I just can't see a hand-held going over 5 miles. But, then again,
> I'm thinking in terms of CB and non-repeater business radio.
I consider HTs to be specialty tools. Yes you *can* get 50 or more
miles range from one under ideal conditions, say mountaintop to
mountaintop, but once out of direct line of sight range their simplex
capabilities are poor. Of course if you can hit a repeater solidly,
then you can take advantage of it's great coverage area. The problem
is that the HT has a small signal margin and you'll likely be constantly
dropping in and out of most repeaters. This is unpleasant for other operators
who listen to the repeater. Also, HTs are very prone to intermod. This
makes them squeal and squall in high RF areas, making it difficult for
you to hear other stations. They're the tool of choice in certain restricted
situations, such as hamfests, public service walks, search and rescue, etc,
but for most communications situations, such as a daily commute, or casual
chatting from home, a mobile rig or base rig will serve you much better.
Gary
--
Gary Coffman KE4ZV | Where my job's going, | gatech!wa4mei!ke4zv!gary
Destructive Testing Systems | I don't know. It might | uunet!rsiatl!ke4zv!gary
534 Shannon Way | wind up in Mexico. | emory!kd4nc!ke4zv!gary
Lawrenceville, GA 30244 | -NAFTA Blues |
------------------------------
Date: 5 Dec 93 15:00:14 GMT
From: elroy.jpl.nasa.gov!sdd.hp.com!col.hp.com!csn!copper!mercury.cair.du.edu!mnemosyne.cs.du.edu!nyx10!rchalk@ames.arpa
Subject: PK-232MBX Packet TNC For Sale
To: ham-equip@ucsd.edu
I have an AEA PK-232MBX in good condition for sale. Best REASONABLE Offer.
e-mail, or call 404-587-1613
Richard
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 2 Dec 1993 15:11:12 GMT
From: nevada.edu!jimi!envoy!jim@uunet.uu.net
Subject: Ramsey FX-146 & FX-440
To: ham-equip@ucsd.edu
I would like to hear comments on the Ramsey FX-146 & FX-440 kits. Has
anyone built either of these? How well do they perform? Are there many
of them on the air? Thanks.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Jim Mueller | Work : (702) 689-3111 | net: jim@unssun.scs.unr.edu
11865 Deodar Way | Home : (702) 677-2775 | Ham Call: WB7AUE
Reno, NV 89506 | FAX : (702) 689-3995 |
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 3 Dec 1993 17:52:54 GMT
From: ucsnews!sol.ctr.columbia.edu!spool.mu.edu!olivea!apple.com!amd!netcomsv!netcom.com!greg@network.ucsd.edu
Subject: Ramsey FX-146 & FX-440
To: ham-equip@ucsd.edu
In article <1993Dec2.151112.1791@news.unr.edu> jim@unssun.scs.unr.edu (James Mueller) writes:
>I would like to hear comments on the Ramsey FX-146 & FX-440 kits. Has
>anyone built either of these? How well do they perform? Are there many
>of them on the air? Thanks.
QST did a review of the 2-meter rig within the last several months. When
they were finished, they found that the design was such that it emitted
spurious signals at levels higher than allowed by FCC regs.
Ramsey fixed the problem, BUT: it does not speak well of Ramsey that they
would ship a product with this kind of defect.
Greg
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 02 Dec 1993 20:37:10 GMT
From: mustang.mst6.lanl.gov!nntp-server.caltech.edu!news.claremont.edu!paris.ics.uci.edu!csulb.edu!library.ucla.edu!agate!usenet.ins.cwru.edu!magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu!csn!yuma!@@nntp.ucsb.edu
Subject: Ramsey FX-146 & FX-440
To: ham-equip@ucsd.edu
In article <1993Dec2.151112.1791@news.unr.edu> jim@unssun.scs.unr.edu (James Mueller) writes:
>I would like to hear comments on the Ramsey FX-146 & FX-440 kits. Has
>anyone built either of these? How well do they perform? Are there many
>of them on the air? Thanks.
> Jim Mueller, jim@unssun.scs.unr.edu
I don't know about the 146 but when I built a 440, I had a bear of a time
getting the PLL to lock. I ended up putting in surface mount caps in place
of the leaded ones and soldering the stripline inductor much farther down
the strip than the manual said. I also got a bum 3335 chip, which is next
to impossible to find locally.
Once I got past these problems, the radio worked fine, but we used it
as an RF data link for a weather station near Nalchik, Russia on 432 MHz.
The Russian customs guard was amazed that you could buy a kit for that
kind of radio and gave me his address so I could send him some Ramsey
literature.
It's a brave, new world,
Galen, KF0YJ
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 2 Dec 93 18:14:27 GMT
From: mnemosyne.cs.du.edu!nyx10!rdavis@uunet.uu.net
Subject: Ramsey FX-146 & FX-440
To: ham-equip@ucsd.edu
jim@unssun.scs.unr.edu (James Mueller) writes:
>I would like to hear comments on the Ramsey FX-146 & FX-440 kits. Has
>anyone built either of these? How well do they perform? Are there many
>of them on the air? Thanks.
>------------------------------------------------------------------------
------
> Jim Mueller | Work : (702) 689-3111 | net: jim@unssun.scs.unr.edu
> 11865 Deodar Way | Home : (702) 677-2775 | Ham Call: WB7AUE
> Reno, NV 89506 | FAX : (702) 689-3995 |
I have no direct experience ... but a friend of mine built the FX146 kit.
AARRGGHH.
The receiver is poor. No matter what he does to improve it, the receiver
just is not very sensitive. In comparison with two mter handhelds which
have be properly specced on a Motorola test set, he estimates the receiver
sensitivity at 1 microvolt for 20 db quieting. The Yaesu and Icom talkies
used for comparison were measured at 0.25 and 0.33 uv respectively.
'Scuze my typing, this thing is echoing characters about five seconds
after I type them.
K0FPC
------------------------------
Date: 6 Dec 93 04:02:03 GMT
From: ogicse!uwm.edu!vixen.cso.uiuc.edu!howland.reston.ans.net!agate!iat.holonet.net!rohrwerk@network.ucsd.edu
Subject: Signal/One CX7A help
To: ham-equip@ucsd.edu
Got a Signal/One CX7A for cheap at a hamfest recently. Boy, did it need a
LOT of work, but it was kind of fun to get heavy into troubleshooting.
After 5 months of on and off headscratching, and a mind-boggling array of
problems that had more than one cause, it's putting out its full rated
output! Hooray!
So, woould be interested in corresponding with other owners/users on
details. The stability of the rig is not great (tolerable), and it would
be interesting to know how much is the basic design and how much is some
aging components. Also, the rig was missing its audio power output stage,
using a Motorola MFC9020 (*a rather ancient chip, about the size of a DIP
package but with thicker leads). I wonder if it would be better to just
build up another audio amp with modern power amp chips (LM380, etc)
Would also love to get a CW filter for it. Any leads?
John K0JD
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 3 Dec 1993 16:10:18 GMT
From: elroy.jpl.nasa.gov!usc!howland.reston.ans.net!pipex!uknet!brunel!kmws-13.brunel.ac.uk!ed92mdw@ames.arpa
Subject: Slow Scan TV on a C= Amiga computer.
To: ham-equip@ucsd.edu
Well, my Dad has asked me if he can use my Amiga with it's new digitiser
(Vidi-Amiga 12) to send Slow-Scan TV pictures over the airwaves.
At the moment he's using my old Sinclair Spectrum, but the Amiga can
produce nicer looking graphics and doesn't take five minutes to load
the program and another couple of minutes to load a picture from tape.
You can get Spectrum emulators for the Amiga, but there's no mic socket
on the Amiga to use with the program!
Anyway, any information on programs, any circuits etc.. appricated such exists -
I don't know whether I'll fully understand it but I sure my Dad will.
Thanks,
- Matt.
+---------------------------------+
"It's not fair to have the | Matthew Wilson, BA2 D&T with Ed.|
same rules for everybody | Brunel University (Runnymede), |
when we're all different." | Egham, Surrey, England. |
+---------------------------------+
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 3 Dec 1993 15:45:42 GMT
From: newsgate.watson.ibm.com!watnews.watson.ibm.com!sernews!news@uunet.uu.net
Subject: TEKK Radios
To: ham-equip@ucsd.edu
Can anyone tell me about the TEKK 440 based Radios? I know they
are only 2watts, but are they good performers? Any information
will be greatly appreciated.
73, Mike KB4LFH
====================================
KB4LFH @ VNET.IBM.COM
====================================
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 3 DEC 93 14:27:48 EST
From: noc.near.net!news.delphi.com!usenet@uunet.uu.net
Subject: TS-940s dead, any help?
To: ham-equip@ucsd.edu
Pete, my primary rig is an icom IC-751A, but I just repaired the PLL on a
TS-940S. It seems that they like to come unlocked. Specifically, I found that
the VCOs in the synthesizer drifted out of their nominal range, and well......
Get yourself a service manual, and VTVM (or oscilloscope), and give the VCOs
a good aleignment. 73's...Woody AK2F
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 3 DEC 93 14:34:14 EST
From: noc.near.net!news.delphi.com!usenet@uunet.uu.net
Subject: VHF/UHF SSB/CW fans please read!
To: ham-equip@ucsd.edu
Paul, welcome to where the gentlemen hang out! On the satellite, I would say
that 4 out of 5 use the FT-736R. There are roumors that a replacement rig is
in the wings, but they are rumors only.
I like my HF rig with a transverter (and IC-471A for 70cm/satellite full duplex
The HF rig has better filters, and IF strip, but as well suited as "everything
in a box". See you on AO-13 soon? 73...Woody AK2F
------------------------------
Date: 3 Dec 1993 20:15:11 GMT
From: ucsnews!sol.ctr.columbia.edu!howland.reston.ans.net!europa.eng.gtefsd.com!uhog.mit.edu!news.intercon.com!pipeline.com!malgudi.oar.net!news.ysu.edu!yfn.ysu.edu!ag821@network.ucsd.edu
To: ham-equip@ucsd.edu
References <1993Dec3.145132.16554@ke4zv.atl.ga.us>, <1993Dec2.151112.1791@news.unr.edu>, <1993Dec2.181427.25410@mnemosyne.cs.du.educom
Reply-To : ag821@yfn.ysu.edu (Jeff Gold)
Subject : Re: Ramsey FX-146 & FX-440
In a previous article, gary@ke4zv.atl.ga.us (Gary Coffman) says:
>In article <1993Dec2.181427.25410@mnemosyne.cs.du.edu> rdavis@nyx10.cs.du.edu (Robert Davis) writes:
>>
>>I have no direct experience ... but a friend of mine built the FX146 kit.
>>AARRGGHH.
>>The receiver is poor. No matter what he does to improve it, the receiver
>>just is not very sensitive. In comparison with two mter handhelds which
>>have be properly specced on a Motorola test set, he estimates the receiver
>>sensitivity at 1 microvolt for 20 db quieting.
>You can make these things work
>OK, but it's a non-trivial exercise.
>
>Gary
>
This was my exact experience.
73
Jeff, AC4HF
--
>Gary Coffman KE4ZV | Where my job's going, | gatech!wa4mei!ke4zv!gary
>Destructive Testing Systems | I don't know. It might | uunet!rsiatl!ke4zv!gary
>534 Shannon Way | wind up in Mexico. | emory!kd4nc!ke4zv!gary
>Lawrenceville, GA 30244 | -NAFTA Blues |
>
--
Jeff M. Gold, AC4HF
Manager, Academic Computing Support
Tennessee Technological University
------------------------------
End of Ham-Equip Digest V93 #123
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