Date: Sat, 30 Oct 93 04:30:05 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: Bulk
Subject: Info-Hams Digest V93 #1288
To: Info-Hams
Info-Hams Digest Sat, 30 Oct 93 Volume 93 : Issue 1288
Today's Topics:
Amateur Radio Newsline #845
BAUD VS BAUDS
CELLULAR SURVEILLANCE
magazine article about antenna tuners
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: Wed, 27 Oct 1993 12:52:30 GMT
From: agate!usenet.ins.cwru.edu!magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu!math.ohio-state.edu!cyber2.cyberstore.ca!nntp.cs.ubc.ca!unixg.ubc.ca!kakwa.ucs.ualberta.ca!alberta!adec23!ve6mgs!usenet@dog.ee.lbl.gov
Subject: Amateur Radio Newsline #845
To: info-hams@ucsd.edu
The electronic edition of Amateur Radio Newsline is transcribed from source
material by Dale Cary. Newsline is reprinted here courtesy of Bill
Pasternak, WA6ITF, Editor of Newsline. Editorial comment should be
E-mailed to newsline@mcimail.com or B.PASTERNAK@genie.geis.com. Voice or
FAX to +1 805-296-7180.
Personal Note: Bill is very happy with the additional feedback he's been
getting since we began posting this transcribed version on the nets. He
would personally like to thank all of you for your input.
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The following is late news about Amateur Radio for Radio
Amateurs as prepared from NEWSLINE RADIO scripts by the staff of
the AMATEUR RADIO NEWSLINE, INC. -- formerly the WESTLINK RADIO
NETWORK. The electronic version of newsline is posted on this
CBBS twice monthly. For current information updates, please call
(213) 462-0008, (407) 259-4479, (708) 289-0423, (513) 275-9991,
or (718) 353-2801. For the latest breaking info call the Instant
Update Line at (805) 296-2407. To provide information please
call (805) 296-7180. This line answers automatically and will
accept up to 30 minutes of material.
Check with your local amateur radio club to see if NEWSLINE
can be heard weekly on the air in your area.
Articles may be reproduced if printed in their entirety and
credit is given to AMATEUR RADIO NEWSLINE as being the source.
For further information about the AMATEUR RADIO NEWSLINE,
please write to us with an SASE at P.O. Box 463, Pasadena, CA
91102.
Thank You
NEWSLINE
*****************************************************************
Some of the hams of NEWSLINE RADIO...
WA6ITF WB6MQV WB6FDF K6DUE W6RCL N6AHU N6AWE N6TCQ K6PGX N6PNY
KU8R N8DTN W9JUV KC9RP K9XI KB5KCH KC5UD KC0HF G8AUU WD0AKO DJ0QN
and many others in the United States and around the globe!!!
*****************************************************************
[845]
* * * * C L O S E D C I R C U I T A D V I S O R A Y * * * *
* *
* The following is a closed circuit advisory and is NOT for *
* transmission over ham radio. According to Dr. Norm Chalfin, *
* K6PGX, Newsline is once again very broke. Dr. Chalfin is *
* the administrator of the Newsline Support Fund. He says *
* that there is still less than three hundred dollars *
* available in the account and that at least seven hundred *
* dollars is needed to make the monthly expenses. *
* As you probably know, the vast majority of the donations *
* goes directly toward paying our monthly phone bills and *
* electronic mail services. This is how we get the news, and *
* it is how we deliver it to you. If we loose the telephone, *
* the E-Mail or both, we will have no way to get the news and *
* no way to disseminate it to you. *
* Simply said, we need the assistance of every listener who *
* appreciates Newsline to help to keep it on the air. The *
* Newsline Support Fund is separate from the service itself *
* and exists for the purpose of channeling donations directly *
* to the those providing services to the Newsline *
* organization. *
* The address for the Newsline Support Fund is Post Office *
* Box number 463, Pasadena, California 91102. As always, we *
* thank you for your support. *
* *
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
NEW FINE SCHEDULE
The FCC has released its updated schedule of fines that it can
charge you for violating its rules. When you hear the new numbers
you are defiantly going to think twice before willfully breaking
any Part 97 regulation.
We will start from the bottom of the monetary forfeiture list
and work our way up to the big money. On the low end of its fine
schedule, the FCC has added a new category called assorted minor
violations. Breaking any of these carry a $625 price tag.
Failure to identify your station is now a $1,250 offense and
using unauthorized equipment can cost you five thousand
green-backs.
But that's nothing in comparison to the next three. Running
excessive power, failing to respond to an FCC communication or
operating on an unauthorized frequency now carries a ten thousand
dollar price tag. Transmitting material or words that are deemed
to be legally indecent will cost $12,500, being the source of
malicious interference to another ham is now a $17,500 monetary
forfeiture and failing to permit the FCC to inspect your station
now has a hefty $18,500 price tag.
And if you really want to help reduce the national debt, just
get caught sending out a false SOS. Misusing a distress or
safety frequency or issuing a false distress communication is now
the kind of an activity that brings with it a twenty thousand
dollar fine for each transmission. That's right. Twenty
thousand dollars per violation.
And we should also remind you that these dollar amounts are
what the FCC calls base fines. The recommended amount for a
first offense. And while the commission does reserve the right
to make downward adjustments if a violator cooperates and shows
good faith, it can also raise the amount by up to 90 percent.
This, if it can prove that the violation was intentional or that
it caused substantial harm. Or, in simpler terms, you could be
dinged as much as 33,250 dollars for something as simple as
jamming an emergency call on a local repeater.
This is only part of a very long list of violations for which
the commission can issue monetary forfeitures. Most are aimed at
commercial users of the radio spectrum, but the FCC notes that
any can apply to personal radio users as well.
*****
HAM NEWS PHOTOG QUESTIONED IN INTERFERENCE TO BIG MAC
Customers who suffered insults at the take-out window of a
Dallas, Texas Mc Donald's restaurant have now been told that a
local television news photographer has been questioned in the
case. The September 30th issue of he Dallas Observer newspaper
reported that Federal Bureau of Investigation agents detained
thirty-four year old Terry Van Sickle after noticing him driving
in the same area as the McDonalds restaurant in what the agency
describes as an antenna-laden vehicle.
Van Sickle holds the Amateur Radio call sign WB5WXI. He is
described as a self-employed television news photographer under
exclusive contract to Dallas television station WFAA. He told
the Observer that he was detained by FBI agents after driving
his car into the area of the restaurant that was having its radio
relayed take out order window harassed.
Although no charges have been filed against him, Van Sickle
says that he is under what amounts to suspension by WFAA
television until the matter is resolved. And, on the advice of
his lawyer he would not comment further on the investigation. He
did however tell the Observer that it is a common practice for
electronic enthusiasts to talk to fast food restaurants in this
way. He says that radio buffs regularly post the frequencies of
fast-food restaurant radio systems on computer bulletin boards
and that the frequencies used by the Mc Donald's was readily
accessible to almost anyone.
WB5WXI says that he was not arrested but only questioned and
released by the FBI investigators. He says that the only reason
that he became a suspect is because he drives a vehicle that
carries a lot of radio gear.
*****
NEW PHONE SCAM
The Federal Communications Commission is warning of a new
telephone scam in which consumers are tricked into accepting
long-distance charges for calls placed by con artists. The con
works when a unwitting consumer tells an operator "yes" when
asked to accept charges for a call being made from another phone
to another number elsewhere in the country or the world.
The commission says the caller claims to be an FCC inspector
or representative of a long-distance company investigating calls
or trouble on the line. The caller tells the consumer that a
supervisor will soon be calling, and that the consumer should
just say "yes" when asked to accept the charges.
The FCC says it doesn't do business that way, and neither do
phone companies.
*****
MODULATION MONITORS
The FCC has launched an inquiry to explore rules and policies
that relate to the definition of measurement of FM broadcast
station aural modulation limits. The Maximum aural modulation
limits are specified in the broadcast rules. For FM stations
the total modulation must not exceed 100% on peaks of frequent
reoccurrence to 75 KHz deviation.
Until 1983, the FCC required FM broadcasters to use type
accepted modulation monitors to determine if they were operating
within the rules. But that year saw a regulatory change that
permitted stations to use other devices to monitor with. Some of
these says the commission respond differently than those built
under the pre 1983 FCC specification. This the FCC says has
lead to some cases of over modulation being noted on the air.
Recognizing that the cost of the equipment needed to determine
compliance with emission standards may be more expensive than
those used to make traditional measurements, the commission says
that it wants to get information on what equipment is needed by a
station to comply. It also wants to know if it should continue
to permit stations to use the older conventional modulation
monitors as an alternative if new emission limits are adopted for
the service.
*****
STS-58 SAREX MISSION LIFTS OFF
After two frustrating delays, the STS-58 SAREX space shuttle
mission began on Monday, October 18th with a spectacular launch
amid sunny skies at the Kennedy Space Center. Liftoff of the
Space Shuttle Columbia was ten seconds late due to an intruding
aircraft in the shuttle's projected flight path. As a result,
liftoff occurred at 14:53 UTC.
The primary objective of this fourteen day, high inclination
flight is to perform human and animal life science experiments as
part of the Spacelab Life Sciences Two payload. The crew is
taking part in a series of experiments to gain more knowledge on
how the human body adapts to the weightless environment of space.
In addition to the astronaut crew thirty-nine rats flying on
Columbia as part of the weightless environment experiment.
Also on board is SAREX -- the Shuttle Amateur Radio
Experiment. Pilot Richard Searfoss, KC5CKM, joins Mission
Specialist William McArthur Jr., KC5ACR and Payload Specialist
Martin Fettman, KC5AXA as the crews most recent licensee. FM
voice and packet are being operated throughout the flight.
Student groups in Arkansas, Texas, Ohio, Missouri, Arizona,
Tennessee, New Hampshire, Kentucky, Colorado, North Carolina,
Indiana and France have been selected for scheduled contacts with
the crew.
At airtime, its not known if the high flying hams will have
time for any non-scheduled open contacts on FM voice but there
will be plenty of automated packet radio operation during the
flight with the regular SAREX frequencies being used. There is
also a SAREX information desk set up at The Johnson Space Center
in Houston. Those manning it will keep the amateur radio
community posted on developments as STS-58 writes another chapter
in mans conquest of the unknown and sets new records for ham
radio operations from space.
*****
ANNOUNCING HAM SAT
LW2DTZ is asking all hams to listen for a special message on
AMSAT OSCAR 21 ham radio satellite. This, from October 15th
through the 31st. Gustavo is not saying what the message
contains, but he has said that it will be broadcast in several
languages over the 2 meter downlink frequency of 145.985 MHz.
That's 145.895 plus or minus the normal satellite Doppler shift.
LW2DTZ says that this operating event is jointly sponsored by
AMSAT-DL and Technischer Jugendfreizeit-Und Bildungsverein for
the purpose of interesting young people in amateur radio and
satellite techniques. All those who send a letter or postcard
with a reception report and location will receive a special QSL.
*****
MIR GEAR
Plans are afoot to change the amateur radio equipment on board
the Russian Mir Space Station. In the future not only 2 Meters
but also 70 cm and even 23cm operation can be expected. ATV
equipment for use aboard the space station is presently being
developed.
*****
PETER I ISLAND UPDATE
In DX, word that the long awaited Peter I Island expedition
is still a ''GO'' for early next year. This, according to
DXpedition planner Tony De Prato, WA4JQS who says that everything
is still on schedule for the operation.
Tony says that he has equipment to operate five high frequency
stations including a pair of tri-band beams and several monoband
beams including one for 40 meters. He has also secured a Gap and
a Battle Creek Special, four Alpha amps and a number of four
kilowatt generators for power. He says that there will be one
rig dedicated to RTTY, and they plan to be on RTTY on all bands.
They also have satellite and EME gear in the works. The
operation is planned for 16 days. QSL's will go via AA6BB and
KA6V. Tony adds that you should stay tuned for more details as
they become available.
*****
HALLOWEEN
And on what we believe should be called a scarier note, word
that the Transylvania County ARC of Brevard North Carolina will
operate as W4ZCB to celebrate Halloween. And, as you might
expect, the club has chosen an apropos location for the
expedition. It will operate from the Devil's Courthouse in
Transylvania County.
Operation hours will be from 20:00 hours UTC on October the
31st to 02:00 hours UTC on November 1st. Frequencies are 7.234,
14.295, 21.365, 28.335 SSB, and locally on 146.52 FM simplex.
*****
HAM NAMED WINNER OF NOBEL PRIZE
The winner of the 1993 Nobel Prize in Physics, Princeton
University Professor Joseph H. Taylor, K1JT, says that he
attributes his success in the sciences to his early involvement
in Amateur Radio.
According to news reports Taylor, who shared this years award
with Princeton colleague Russell A. Hulse says that he developed
his scientific skills through ham radio while he was a student at
the Morristown Friends Academy in New Jersey. He went on to earn
a Bachelors Degree from Harvard in 1963 and later received a
Doctorate in Astronomy from the same university.
The Nobel Committee awarded this years Physics prize to
Professors Taylor and Hulse for their work in the field of study
of the gigantic gravitational forces exerted by pulsars. Hulse
is a former student of Dr. Taylor and their work has been lauded
by the scientific community because it appears to confirm many of
the predictions made by the late Professor Albert Einstein in his
"General Theory of Relativity."
*****
For this week, that's all from the Amateur Radio Newsline.
You can write to us at Post Office Box 463 in Pasadena, CA
91102.
* * * Newsline Copyright 1993 all rights are reserved. * * *
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 29 Oct 1993 08:03:14 -0400
From: sdd.hp.com!vixen.cso.uiuc.edu!howland.reston.ans.net!news.cac.psu.edu!psuvm!cunyvm!rohvm1!rohvm1.mah48d@network.ucsd.edu
Subject: BAUD VS BAUDS
To: info-hams@ucsd.edu
In article <CFJGAM.BB5@freenet.carleton.ca>, aj467@Freenet.carleton.ca
(Bill Macpherson) wrote, in part:
>
> I believe the term to be baud as in "baud rate"
Bill, do you refer to the Hertz rate of your transmitter, or the knot rate
of your sailboat? Baud is a rate unit itself.
Sorry, I'm sure you'll get all kinds of similar responses, but I had to
speak in defense of the language :-)
73 de John, W3ZID
------------------------------
Date: 30 Oct 93 02:05:07 GMT
From: news-mail-gateway@ucsd.edu
Subject: CELLULAR SURVEILLANCE
To: info-hams@ucsd.edu
In a previous issue, we mentioned that we would provide a e-mail copy of our
Cellular Surveillance Interface (CSI) product brochure to those readers that
were scanner enthusiasts. Unfortunately, our Internet e-mail address was
transcribed incorrectly. The correct address is noted below. Our apologies to
those readers that had e-mail returned, and to those of you who telephoned to
advise us of the problem.
E-mail via Internet: bill.fischer@t8000.cuc.ab.ca
Regards,
Bill Fischer
Electronic Countermeasures Inc.
65 - 31 Avenue South West
Calgary, AB, CANADA T2S 2Y7
+1-403-233-0644
------------------------------
Date: 29 Oct 93 16:33:06 EDT
From: world!ksr!jfw@decwrl.dec.com
Subject: magazine article about antenna tuners
To: info-hams@ucsd.edu
Cecil_A_Moore@ccm.hf.INTel.COM (Cecil A Moore) writes:
>Here is a quote from a recent magazine article about antenna tuners:
>"... it (the antenna tuner) also tunes out all mismatches in the system,
>including transmission line to antenna mismatch, and also any non-
>resonance in the antenna itself."
>Question: Is the meaning clear and if so, what is the meaning?
The meaning is clear. The meaning is that the author hasn't got a clue as
to what he or she is talking about.
_Reflections: Transmission Lines and Antennas_, by Walt Maxwell ($20 from the
ARRL). Buy this book. Live it.
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 29 Oct 1993 14:17:33 GMT
From: mustang.mst6.lanl.gov!nntp-server.caltech.edu!elroy.jpl.nasa.gov!sdd.hp.com!vixen.cso.uiuc.edu!howland.reston.ans.net!spool.mu.edu!sgiblab!news.kpc.com!amd!amdahl!netcomsv@nntp.ucsb.edu
To: info-hams@ucsd.edu
References <CFJ304.Bp5@fc.hp.com>, <jfhCFKJK1.C53@netcom.com>, <CFMqx6.Cvt@fc.hp.com>cso.u
Subject : Re: GAY INTERNATIONAL HAM RADIO CLUB
perry@fc.hp.com (Perry Scott) wrote:
>Jack Hamilton (jfh@netcom.com) wrote:
>: perry@fc.hp.com (Perry Scott) wrote:
>Sorry to beat this to death.
Don't worry about it. The road to USENET is littered with dead horses.
>: >As I understand the 1st amendment, the ARRL can print whatever they
>: >want. Do the civil rights of LARC exceed those of the ARRL?
>
>: The ARRL is not an ordinary private citizen. It receives government
>: support (non-profit status) and has some governmental privileges
>: (administering tests, for example).
>
>A technical nit - I thought the LARC complaint was lodged against the
>ARRL on the basis of CT law, not Federal law.
I suspect that Connecticut also recognizes the concept of non-profits.
>Another technical nit -
>state law is superceded by the US Constitution. Freedom of press is
>ACTUALLY MENTIONED there.
Freedom of press may be mentioned there, but it's not defined there.
Freedom of press usually means "no prior restraint", not "you can publish
whatever you want with impunity".
In any case, commercial speech, which is what we're talking about here, is
often treated differently (I'm not sure that it should be, but that's the
way it is).
>The "sexual minority" patchwork of case law
>is a recent machination of the Judicial Branch.
That's using language in a devious way. "Machination" implies some kind of
perversion or evil intent. That may be *your* opinion, but it's not
universally shared. Was Marbury v. Madison a machination?
>I think what bothers me about the LARC complaint is that it seeks to
>make LARC more equal than everyone else.
No, it seeks to allow LARC to operate under the same rules as other
organizations.
>Under the envisioned scenario,
>the ARRL must justify their decision to conduct or not conduct business
>when minority organizations are involved.
When different rules seem to be applied to minorities and non-minorities.
>By virtue of the ad, LARC
>identifies its self-described "minority" status
Not just self-described. The state of Connecticut, at least in the
preliminary hearings, has agreed that LARC has minority status.
>and exacts an extra
>quantum of deliberation over and above any other individual or
>organization.
The deliberation is intended to make sure that a historical pattern of
discrimination is not continued.
>What was a "can we use this?" decision (apropos to
>an Editor) becomes a "how do we refuse this and still be Politically
>Correct?"
"How do we refuse this without breaking the law" is the question.
>exercise in semantic gymnastics.
Semantics is the study of meaning and how it is conveyed. An important
concept, I think.
>: If the ARRL said "We won't print your article because you're gay/black/
>: jewish", then yes, you should sue.
>
>Gee. The ARRL was nonspecific - the old "don't need it right now" line
>as I recall. How silly of me not to have pressed them for the REAL
>reason. It's hard to work a homosexual thread into a construction
>project.
You forget - we're talking about a paid advertisement, not a feature. It's
a lot more difficult to refuse an ad than a story.
--
----------------------------------------------------
Jack Hamilton POB 281107 SF CA 94128 USA
jfh@netcom.com kd6ttl@w6pw.#nocal.ca.us.na
------------------------------
Date: 28 Oct 1993 18:15:45 GMT
From: spool.mu.edu!howland.reston.ans.net!usenet.ins.cwru.edu!news.ecn.bgu.edu!anaxagoras.ils.nwu.edu!news.acns.nwu.edu!casbah.acns.nwu.edu!rdewan@decwrl.dec.com
To: info-hams@ucsd.edu
References <1993Oct17.233220.19586@ssc.com>, <CF2wpI.vx@news.Hawaii.Edu>, <jlrCFL2rF.4uo@netcom.com>an
Subject : Re: Homonauseated (Was: Newsline #842)
In article <jlrCFL2rF.4uo@netcom.com>, Joe L. Reda <jlr@netcom.com> wrote:
Gosh! Am I going to add to this thread? ;( Well, the following
statement piqued my evolution theory instinct:
... a few lines have been mercifully deleted for brevity ...
>empty arguments . . I've heard that one before: "We love the sinner but
>we hate the sin!". Here's a consciousness-raiser for you: with the
>exception of homosexuality, all of the above behaviors are learned or
>chosen. No one *chooses* to be gay. Ever heard of genetics?
Curious. Based on my rudimentary understanding of theory of evolution,
I would have thought that if being gay was genetic there would not be
any one around left to talk about it. The fact that there are gay people
would seem to imply the opposite.
*Disclaimer: the above is purely a left-brained statement. Any implied
value judgements are purely coincidental.
I think that this is the first time I have had to add a disclaimer
to a posting in this group.
:)
Rajiv
aa9ch
r-dewan@nwu.edu
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 29 Oct 1993 15:49:12 GMT
From: agate!howland.reston.ans.net!usc!cs.utexas.edu!convex!horak@ames.arpa
To: info-hams@ucsd.edu
References <jlrCFL2rF.4uo@netcom.com>, <2ap28h$pj5@news.acns.nwu.edu>, <timi-281093153936@kos4mac20.berkeley.edu>
Subject : Re: Homonauseated (Was: Newsline #842)
In <timi-281093153936@kos4mac20.berkeley.edu> timi@mendel.berkeley.edu (Tim Ikeda) writes:
>Besides, being homosexual doesn't eliminate the ability to reproduce
Sure! Haven't you ever heard of butt babies? :')
------------------------------
End of Info-Hams Digest V93 #1288
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