Date: Sun, 31 Oct 93 02:01:32 PST 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 #1293 To: Info-Hams Info-Hams Digest Sun, 31 Oct 93 Volume 93 : Issue 1293 Today's Topics: "Vanity" Call Signs 'Vanity' Call Signs characteristic impedance Contact with Space Shuttle linked repeaters question Mac ham software Mirage Amplifiers in Repeater Service STS-58 QSL TM-732 "involuntary shutdown" mode? Mic wiring plan? VK2SG RTTY DX Notes, 29 October WANTED: Shuttle Audio Freqs / Ham Radio Rebroadcasts in San Diego What logging program for CQ WW DX? 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: Sat, 30 Oct 1993 17:31:01 GMT From: library.ucla.edu!europa.eng.gtefsd.com!emory!swrinde!sdd.hp.com!col.hp.com!news.dtc.hp.com!hplextra!hpfcso!ajs@network.ucsd.edu Subject: "Vanity" Call Signs To: info-hams@ucsd.edu > Well I guess AL got his vanity call without the extra charge. Once upon a time, for a short period, extras (?) could get specific calls by request. For example, locally a guy known as OJ is K0OJ. ------------------------------ Date: 30 Oct 1993 14:07:26 GMT From: drt@athena.mit.edu Subject: 'Vanity' Call Signs To: info-hams@ucsd.edu In article <wier-291093131830@csci-wiermac.etsu.edu> wier@merlin.etsu.edu (Bob Wier) writes: I had a running battle with the Arizona DOT for years about auto registration. Turns out that state makes a MAJOR hassle about things along these lines. For example, they won't sell you a parking permit for the University UNLESS you have an Arizona Registration with ARIZONA insurance (I'd moved there from Colorado - had Colorado based insurance from a company which did business in both states - the company said "sure it's good in Arizona" - but I had to cancel it and buy friggin ARIZONA insurace at ARIZONA controlled rates!) All this time I owned property, paid taxes, voted, and maintained a year round residence back in Colorado - This sounds very, very familiar up here ... then I moved out of Cambridge, and we have no permit parking in Natick. However, at any rate - one reason I was fighting this was because I had Colorado call sign plates. And in Arizona when you register your car, not only do you have to put ARIZONA plates on your car, they CONFISCATE your old plates (called "surrendering" them). Couldn't you get out of this by cancelling your CO registration, then registering your "unregistered" car? You'd need to borrow a car to get to the Registry or whatever they call it. I also checked about call sign plates in RRIZONA (they cost $2/yr in Colorado) - turns out they are classed as vanity plates and have the same exhorbitant charge - and this is in Barry Goldwater land! Well, here in the Massachusetts (Dukakis/McGovern land), where ordinary registration is $35 every two years, I think, for renewal, vanity plates cost $35 per year, but amateur plates are special: they cost $70 every two years. (Or is it the other way around? I forget. :-] ) -drt -- ------------------------------------------------------------------------ |David R. Tucker KG2S 8P9CL drt@mit.edu| ------------------------------------------------------------------------ |`Most political sermons teach the congregation nothing except | |what newspapers are taken at the Rectory.' -C.S. Lewis | ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------ Date: 31 Oct 93 08:38:24 GMT From: library.ucla.edu!agate!howland.reston.ans.net!xlink.net!fauern!rz.unibw-muenchen.de!claude@network.ucsd.edu Subject: characteristic impedance To: info-hams@ucsd.edu What is the prefered method to measure the characteristic impedance of a coax line ? Thanks for your advice. -- Claude F. This message may contain opinions which are not shared by my employer. The facts can speak for themselves. ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 30 Oct 1993 17:43:44 GMT From: library.ucla.edu!europa.eng.gtefsd.com!emory!swrinde!sdd.hp.com!col.hp.com!news.dtc.hp.com!hplextra!hpfcso!ajs@network.ucsd.edu Subject: Contact with Space Shuttle To: info-hams@ucsd.edu > Can anybody tell me what equipment is needed to make 2-way contacts > with the space shuttle? I can tell you that this combination is very reliable: 160W with an 11-element steerable beam, rotated "by hand" (az/el remote controls, picking up numbers from QuikTrak on a PC). We got callsign acknowledgement on seven out of seven tries when there were no technical difficulties (wrong keps), although often there were other botches (lost track of which uplink freq we'd used, at least twice!). I can also tell you that at least one ham, N0TQN here in Fort Collins, Colorado, made contact with a RUBBER DUCK ANTENNA ON AN HT WITH 2 WATTS after hearing our contact and noting the uplink freq. Amazing! > ...wondering what time (UTC) of day the probability is higher to hear > phone QSOs. I suppose the crew has a more or less regular "daily" > schedule. I can only tell you that we didn't hear any voice before 10/23, none again until 10/26, and then on almost every pass we could use here (not too early and not too low). That meant about 0730, 0900, and 1030 MDT. (Passes were almost exactly 1.5 hours apart, but drifted slowly earlier, with peak passes drifting earlier faster.) Exceptions were 1027.0900, 1028.0730, and 1030.0900 (when we knew from NASA Select that the crew was busy). This information is now moot anyway since we heard they will pack up the SAREX gear this afternoon. I have noticed over several missions that, as you'd expect, there are more voice passes later in the mission. ------------------------------ Date: 31 Oct 93 08:14:05 GMT From: ogicse!uwm.edu!vixen.cso.uiuc.edu!uxa.cso.uiuc.edu!n-dade@network.ucsd.edu Subject: linked repeaters question To: info-hams@ucsd.edu We here have a question about linking ATV repeaters together. (actually it will happen with any repeaters---ATV is not required) When the first repeater stops transmitting the "user's" signal, it will transmit its ID picture for a few seconds and then go off the air. The second repeater will then transmits its ID picture and go off the air. However the first repeater could be reopened up by the second repeater's ID picture transmission, and so on, creating a loop where each repeater's sign off is retransmitted by the other, which then signs off itself, etc... . In California they seem to have this problem licked. How do they do it? - Nicolas Dade / n9rab / nicolas-dade@uiuc.edu (with the collaboration of Marcus Damburger / n9rze / marcus.damburger@) ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 29 Oct 1993 10:53:14 GMT From: dog.ee.lbl.gov!agate!spool.mu.edu!olivea!grapevine.lcs.mit.edu!lynx!sehrlich@network.ucsd.edu Subject: Mac ham software To: info-hams@ucsd.edu This is another reminder that the World (world.std.com) has an increasing amount of ham related Macintosh files. The subdirectory is: /pub/hamradio/mac If anyone has ANY ham related Macintosh programs they would like to offer, even if the archives already have them, please feel free to place them into the /pub/hamradio/Incoming directory or e-mail the program(s) to me. Also, if anyone has ANY comments about the hamradio FTP area, please e-mail them to me. Thanks much in advance. 73, Scott, WY1Z Maintainer of the World ~/hamradio FTP area =============================================================================== | Scott Ehrlich Internet: wy1z@neu.edu | | Amateur Radio: wy1z AX.25: wy1z@wa1phy.#ema.ma.usa.na | |-----------------------------------------------------------------------------| | Know your weaknesses, show your strengths - Anonymous | =============================================================================== -- =============================================================================== | Scott Ehrlich Internet: wy1z@neu.edu | | Amateur Radio: wy1z AX.25: wy1z@wa1phy.#ema.ma.usa.na | |-----------------------------------------------------------------------------| ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 29 Oct 1993 12:16:15 GMT From: psinntp!gdstech!gdstech!bat@uunet.uu.net Subject: Mirage Amplifiers in Repeater Service To: info-hams@ucsd.edu We had used 2 Mirage amps (100w) in repeater service on Long Island for many years. WE started having problems where some components would overheat, and meltdown. A few repairs were done by club members, but problems continued. So, we switched to a Vocomm amp, and it is doing quite a nice job. -- *-----------------------------------------------------------* * Pat Masterson D12-25 | KE2LJ@KC2FD * * Grumman Data Systems | 516-346-6316. * * Bethpage, NY 11746 | bat@gdstech.grumman.com * ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 30 Oct 1993 01:06:09 GMT From: sdd.hp.com!col.hp.com!news.dtc.hp.com!hplextra!hpfcso!ajs@network.ucsd.edu Subject: STS-58 QSL To: info-hams@ucsd.edu > ...I happened to hear one of the operators on the shuttle working > several stations. Yes! You can do it easily, although briefly. See my appended reports. We're having a great time making contacts here in Colorado at a school station. > Can I get a shuttle QSL for a reception-only report? Where do I send > the report? Should I include a SASE or stamps? Yes! From this newsgroup a while back: For radio amateurs who make or hear the SAREX station, you are invited to send a QSL card to confirm a packet or voice contact or a SWL report. Send your QSL card to the following address: ARRL EAD, STS-58 QSL 225 Main Street Newington, CT 06111 Please allow for up to 6-10 months for the STS-58 SAREX Mission QSL card to be mailed. Please include with your QSL card all the specific QSO information such as, date, time, mode, frequency, etc. Also, and most importantly, if you wish to receive a QSL card confirming a contact, YOU MUST INCLUDE A SELF-ADDRESS-STAMPED-ENVELOPE (SASE) WITH PROPER POSTAGE! If you do not include a SASE, you will not receive a QSL card. ... ___________ From: Alan Silverstein <ajs@hpfcajs.fc.hp.com> Subject: how to QSO Columbia This morning we had much better luck talking with Columbia... During orbit 161 (about 0730, groan) we heard neither packet nor voice. I hung around Webber for two more passes, doing stuff with the kids in between -- explaining radio stuff and orbital mechanics, and getting them on the air to make patch phone calls via CSU. During orbit 162 at about 9 am Grant Pahlau, N0QBA, was present. He's the teacher who set up the school SAREX contact but never got on the air during it. A student used his call sign. He did what I did yesterday -- grabbed the mike from the student -- and got a "59" acknowledgement from Bill, KC5ACR. In the heat of the moment he forgot to mention we were at Webber and to thank Marty for Saturday's QSO. But it was a kick. Columbia immediately went on to another contact, and Grant was quickly back teaching class. During orbit 163 Paul (KG0CZ) and I were present with just one student. We put the student on to call with Paul's sign, between trying packet connections. To our surprise the astronauts were on voice again. The student got an acknowledgement from KC5ACR at about 1038, almost mid-pass (24 degrees elevation in the SSW). The student kinda froze so Paul grabbed the mike from him and said we were at Webber in Fort Collins and thanked Marty for the Saturday QSO. Whereupon Marty, KC5AXA, responded. We were so high on adrenaline that we don't remember exactly what Marty said! I thought Paul hadn't mentioned Webber, so I grabbed the mike from him in turn and said something like, "N0 Mike Fox Whiskey with KG0C Zed, at the Webber Junior High station in Fort Collins. Thanks Marty for the great contact last Saturday. Hope you have a good flight." He said something about them enjoying themselves and it being a good day. I responded inanely with, "Please record KG0C Zed and November 0 Mike Fox Whiskey, and on to your next contact, thanks." Which he did. It's amazing how most everyone gets mike fright when you are on-line with the shuttle. We also forgot to start a voice recorder, sigh. ... ____________ From: Alan Silverstein <ajs@hpfcajs.fc.hp.com> Subject: how to QSO Columbia three more times The Webber Junior High station is having phenomenal success reaching Columbia. We connected with them on three successive orbits this morning, with different call signs and kids involved each time. That makes five successes in five attempts in two days. This morning I just couldn't make it out of bed and over there for the first good pass, but I listened on my HT from bed (!). I heard Columbia loud and clear with a hot rod antenna. I also heard John (N0LHW) at Webber get through on 144.97 MHz, so I programmed my radio to that uplink freq and made some calls myself -- with 2.5W! Why not? I didn't get acknowledged, of course... I was at the school for the later two passes. To my amazement there was someone onboard Columbia doing QSOs for all three orbits this morning. It's not so amazing that we got through each time considering the great equipment setup courtesy of John. (As Paul observed, "it's like shooting ducks in a barrel".) It is amazing, though, that several times in the last two days we've actually heard Columbia having to call CQ. The Webber station has now reached Columbia on seven different orbits... ------------------------------ Date: 30 Oct 93 18:52:29 GMT From: world!news.mtholyoke.edu!nic.umass.edu!risky.ecs.umass.edu!umaecs!gskibisk@uunet.uu.net Subject: TM-732 "involuntary shutdown" mode? Mic wiring plan? To: info-hams@ucsd.edu Does anyone know the mic plug witing scheme for the Kenwood TM-732A? It uses that modular Kenwood plug. I am trying to hook it up to an autopatch. I have the cable but I don't want to play with it because the first time I did that it went into this "protective" mode. Now, I am an electrical engineer so I was careful, but has anyone experienced this: The radio will not transmit at all, on either band, although it indicates that it is transmitting on the display. It will not make a sound. There is no audio out- not even a beep. It will not register incoming signals at all. Other then that, the display and functions work perfectly. Obviously, due to my poking, it has gone into some kind of protective mode- maybe I've blown an internal fuse? I tried all resets and the usual. I know how to op. the radio so I'm not missing something. Obviously, this is not a problem where I've broken something major as it is only 2 days old- it is in some mode and I can't get it out. Has this happened to anyone? Does anyone have any ideas about this type of "partial involuntary shutdown?" Insight would be appreciated!!! Greg N1NJW ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 30 Oct 93 12:10:36 GMT From: sdd.hp.com!usc!math.ohio-state.edu!magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu!cis.ohio-state.edu!mstar!n8emr!bulletin@network.ucsd.edu Subject: VK2SG RTTY DX Notes, 29 October To: info-hams@ucsd.edu ============================================================== | Automatic relayed from packet radio via | | N8EMR's Ham BBS, 614-895-2553 | ============================================================== SB DX @ ALLBBS $RTDX1029 VK2SG RTTY DX Notes, 29 October VK2SG RTTY DX Notes for week ending 29 October 1993 (BID RTDX1029) Our information this week comes from 9X5LJ, DJ3IW and the DB0BCC Cluster Node, I5FLN, I5ICY, I5IGY, KE6XJ, N0AFW, SP5AA, VP8BFH, WA1MPB, WB2CJL, W2TKU, W5KSI, ZS4Y, ZS5S, and the NJ0M Node of the Twin Cities DX Packet Cluster Network. Thanks to all for your help. Bandpass: Friday 22 0543-21071 J28BM ARQ 0543-14081 VU2RAK 0710-14082 NL7ZH 0759-14088 WL7EF 1105-24086 3A2LZ 1135-28081 J28BM QSL K1SE 1234-14087 SO6AD 1317-14088 4N7N QSL to Branko, Box 34, Novi Sad 21101, Yugoslavia 1410-14085 VK9CG 1450-14084 S21A 1537-21083 J28JJ see note 1622-14088 RJ7JYZ QSL Box 126, Dushanbe, 734000 Tadzhikistan 1748-14097 SV5AZK 1843-14088 FR5GS 1935-14092 ZD8VJ QSL G4ZVJ 2249-14087 HK0DPA 2255-14083 VK6HD Saturday 23 0700-21083 UH5E/UA9TK 0704-14087 RJ7JYZ 0735-14084 CN8NP 0739-14085 3C1EA 0838-21079 OK3NBG 1030-14082 3A2EZ 1100-21083 UW9CC 1105-14085 V73C 1158-21087 ZD8VJ 1232-14084 OM3CPA 1354-14084 9V1ZM QSL VE3MMB 1423-14085 VK9CG 1456-14087 ZD8VJ 1552-14088 S51GL 1620-14085 RJ7JYZ 1718-21086 CU1AC 1805-18095 3B9FR (that's right - 17m band) 1827-14080 VU2YK 1953-14084 HA9OA 2047-14086 UA1ZJD 2100-14089 VK2KM 2108-14085 KL7AJ 2130-14084 HK3CAA Sunday 24 0927-21081 SV2ASP/A see note 1109-21088 TR8MD QSL F6FNU 1311-21087 9H1ET 1324-21078 FT4WD QSL F6AAX 1451-21084 V51A 1503-14082 9J2HN 1537-21084 FR5GS 1544-21088 GW4YMJ 1551-21082 HJ6SQQ 1634-14084 LY1DD 1657-14087 RT4UZ 1707-14086 LA7AJ 1817-21086 J28BM 1830-21082 EP2A 2319-14086 UH5E/UA9TX Monday 25 0812-14086 9H1ET 0852-14086 YI1AZ 1209-21083 UH5E/UA9TX QSL DL1FCM 1553-14083 UH5E/UA9TX 1649-21085 TR8MD 2009-14089 PJ2MI 2148-14091 ZD8VJ 2223-14088 FG5GH 2236-14087 WL7EF Tuesday 26 1639-21090 GM0SZQ 1656-21084 TR8MD 1756-14082 TR8MD 2309-14083 PJ2MI Wednesday 27 0055-14086 BY1QH 0954-14087 YI1HS 1035-21084 EA6MR 1206-14087 UJ8JCQ 1224-14085 YO3FRI 1302-21089 Z32J 1438-14086 SV2BBJ 1523-14085 LX1DA 1549-14081 IS0AWP 1721-14086 4X6LM 1804-14088 T46RR 1814-14085 EA6MR 2042-14085 ZS4KK/ZS9 SEE NOTE Thursday 28 1221-14086 VP2V/K4ADK 1530-21086 VP2V/K4ADK 1630-21086 CU1AC 1957-14083 ZS4KK/ZS9 2024-14081 YV5NFL Notes of Interest: Djibouti - J28JJ. QSL Jean Jacques Chatelard, Box 1076, Republic Of Djibouti. Jean Jacques will be stationed there for 3-4 years. Walvis Bay - Coen, ZS4KK/ZS9 is operating here until 1 Nov. Check all bands 10-80m including WARC. QSL to CBA of ZS4NS. Mount Athos - SV2ASP/A, Apollo was heard in QSO with his manager, SV2WT, but he did not respond to calls from others. South Georgia - Keith, VP8CKB is still studying fur seals on Bird Island, but we have had no recent reports of RTTY activity from him. Perhaps Bob, VP8BFH can encourage him to become RTTY QRV again before he leaves next February. We hope for the quick recovery, from major surgery, of Angelo, W5KSI. send your message of encouragement to him at W5KSI.#NOLA.LA.USA.NA. He has a packet station at his hospital bedside. For next week's bulletin, send your Bandpass and Notes of Interest to Luciano, I5FLN @ ZS5S.ZAF.AF or I5FLN @ 9X5LJ.#KGL.RWA.AF. 73 and good hunting DE Jules W2JGR @ W2TKU.#SRQFL.FL.USA.NA /EX SP KT7H @ N7DUO.WA.USA.NA ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 31 Oct 1993 09:09:57 GMT From: csus.edu!netcom.com!benji@decwrl.dec.com Subject: WANTED: Shuttle Audio Freqs / Ham Radio Rebroadcasts in San Diego To: info-hams@ucsd.edu You can find the air-to-ground Shuttle repeated on 449.450Mhz -- _______----_______ Brad A. Pennock ___---~~~~~.. ... .... ... ..~~~~~---___ benji@netcom.com ============================================== ________________________- .. .. _--~~~~~-------____-------~~~~~ (____________________][__)____ - / /____---~~~.. .. ..~~-_~ "We put humans on the Moon in less time <_____________________________- than we've spent debating the space ~~~~~~----__ _- station." Daniel S. Goldin, NASA. ~~~~~~~~~~~ ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 29 Oct 1993 12:24:54 GMT From: psinntp!gdstech!gdstech!bat@uunet.uu.net Subject: What logging program for CQ WW DX? To: info-hams@ucsd.edu In this part of town, the definitive contest program is CT from K1EA. It has different setups for all of the different DX contests that come along. -- *-----------------------------------------------------------* * Pat Masterson D12-25 | KE2LJ@KC2FD * * Grumman Data Systems | 516-346-6316. * * Bethpage, NY 11746 | bat@gdstech.grumman.com * ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 29 Oct 93 07:32:56 EST From: noc.near.net!news.delphi.com!usenet@uunet.uu.net To: info-hams@ucsd.edu References <2ahec9INN6se@abyss.West.Sun.COM>, <1993Oct26.130817.1696@mwk.com>, <4760@eram.esi.COM.AU> Subject : Re: Bird watt-meters can't be exported? The only serious reason I can think of (aside from U.S. export restrictions, which seem doubtful) would be that Bird's distributors in other countries might be demanding that U.S. distributors not be allowed to compete with them by mail order. ------------------------------ Date: 30 Oct 93 21:43:03 GMT From: panix!not-for-mail@uunet.uu.net To: info-hams@ucsd.edu References <2agaqq$1fv@bigboote.WPI.EDU>, <2ahec9INN6se@abyss.West.Sun.COM>, <pschleck.751603812@cwis> Subject : Re: Bird watt-meters can't be exported? In <pschleck.751603812@cwis> pschleck@cwis.unomaha.edu (Paul W Schleck KD3FU) writes: >In <2ahec9INN6se@abyss.West.Sun.COM> myers@sunspot.West.Sun.COM (Dana Myers ) writes: >>In article <2agaqq$1fv@bigboote.WPI.EDU> gkd@wpi.WPI.EDU (Gregory K Doerschler) writes: >>>In article <4724@eram.esi.COM.AU> dave@esi.COM.AU (Dave Horsfall) writes: >>>>So, what's with the "Not available for export" notation across the >>>>photo of the Bird meter in the Barry ads? Too delicate? Upsets >>>>someone's monopoly? Munitions? Classified equipment? >>> >>>The meter would have to be recalibrated to read foreign watts. >>> >>> Greg >>Don't be silly. There is no such thing as foreign watts. >>For export, you need to recalibrate the Bird wattmeters to read >>in voltage watts, not current watts. >Ya know, someone is going to come along and take you guys seriously, no, boys and girls. the problem is that the coriolis effect would have the meter rotating backwards in the southern hemisphere. -- ---------------------------------- dannyb@panix.com adds: all the usual disclaimers regarding liability, intelligence, accuracy apply. spelling disclaimer is doubled. ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 30 Oct 1993 06:21:25 GMT From: sdd.hp.com!vixen.cso.uiuc.edu!howland.reston.ans.net!torn!nott!cunews!freenet.carleton.ca!Freenet.carleton.ca!aj467@network.ucsd.edu To: info-hams@ucsd.edu References <rohvm1.mah48d-291093075830@136.141.220.39>, <199310261649.JAA01502@ucsd.edu>, <CFJGAM.BB5@freenet.carleton.ca>e Reply-To : aj467@Freenet.carleton.ca (Bill Macpherson) Subject : Re: BAUD VS BAUDS In a previous article, rohvm1.mah48d@rohmhaas.com (John E. Taylor III) says: >> 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. > Well I do say my radio Hertz when the smoke leaks out. As to "knot rate" that could be used, for though it is cumbersome, knots derived from the number of knots turned in a rope teathered to a floating plank ... so many knots ... so many nautical miles ( knots ) so I think a knot rate is valid. Or am I off in space again. >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 > No problem John, at age 43 I'm used to the taste of my foot by now. Look forward to more briqbats and bouquets. -- Bill VE3NJW, VE3NJW@VE3KYT.#EON.ON.CAN ------------------------------ End of Info-Hams Digest V93 #1293 ****************************** ******************************