Date: Thu, 11 Nov 93 22:01:32 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 #1338
To: Info-Hams
Info-Hams Digest Thu, 11 Nov 93 Volume 93 : Issue 1338
Today's Topics:
80m on 20m dipole
Amateur Radio Newsline #847 (3 msgs)
Amiga software available
Care and Feeding LARGE Gel-Cells?
Daily Solar Geophysical Data Broadcast for 11 November
Handy TRANSMITS on Airband AM???
HELP on QSL Routes
NMO Help
radio help needed
Tuning CW ??
WANTED ICOM 726R
Send Replies or notes for publication to: <Info-Hams@UCSD.Edu>
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Problems you can't solve otherwise to brian@ucsd.edu.
Archives of past issues of the Info-Hams 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: 9 Nov 93 19:50:50 GMT
From: att-out!pacbell.com!amdahl!netcomsv!netcom.com!greg@rutgers.rutgers.edu
Subject: 80m on 20m dipole
To: info-hams@ucsd.edu
In article <1993Nov9.150614.3294@osuunx.ucc.okstate.edu> gcouger@olesun.okstate.edu (Gordon Couger) writes:
>Each side of a 20 meter dipole is a half wave on 10 meters this presents
>somthing over 2000 ohms impeadence on 10 meters resulting in a about a
>1:40 SWR. This will give you a great deal of loss in the coax if you
>are able to match it. Also if you go to open line to get away from the
>loss it is likely to put RF in the shack. The only way to fix this is
>to shorten or lengthen the antenna to an odd number of quarter wave
>length i.e. 1, 3, 5, 7 and so on.
The thing I always wonder is why traps are never suggested to perform
this function on tuned feeder dipoles and 'random' wire antennas. Anybody
have any thoughts on this?
Greg
------------------------------
Date: 9 Nov 1993 21:11:29 GMT
From: drt@athena.mit.edu
Subject: Amateur Radio Newsline #847
To: info-hams@ucsd.edu
In article <2bnrvv$jn1@charm.magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu> wvanhorn@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu (William E Van Horne) writes:
M.Willis@ee.surrey.ac.uk (Mike Willis) writes:
>> NEWSLINE RADIO - CBBS EDITION #97 - POSTED 11/05/93
>What 11th May ! This is old stuff, why post it now in November?
>Mike
Columbus, Ohio 11\09\93
I believe it was Shaw who said something like: "Britain and the
U.S. are two countries separated by a common language".
They are also separated by the fact that Brits always write
their dates backwards! :-)
Right. SO everyone take a lesson and write "9 Nov 93" or " Nov 9, 93"
or, for those who love numbers, 9.XI.93 or 93.11.9.
Then you won't be reading stuff like this!
-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: 11 Nov 1993 09:33:36 CST
From: ftpbox!mothost!schbbs!maccvm.corp.mot.com!CSLE87@uunet.uu.net
Subject: Amateur Radio Newsline #847
To: info-hams@ucsd.edu
Actually, if one reads carefully the previous comments, he/she will note
that the European format is separated by PERIODS, not slant bars. Most
computer operating systems (Apple & IBM/Microsoft for sure) are set up
to allow either, with the proper separators. Simple rule for all of us:
If the separator looks like it is about to fall over, it's MM/DD/YY;
if it already fell over, it's European DD.MM.YY; if someone's smart
enough to use text for month name, he knows people get confused easily.
------------------------- Original Article -------------------------
From: waco@cbnewst.cb.att.com (WB9VGJ)
Subject: Re: Amateur Radio Newsline #847
Date: 10 Nov 93 14:56:11 GMT
In article <DRT.93Nov9161136@carbonara.mit.edu> drt@athena.mit.edu
(David R Tucker) writes
> >> NEWSLINE RADIO - CBBS EDITION #97 - POSTED 11/05/93
>
> >What 11th May ! This is old stuff, why post it now in November?
>
> >Mike
>
> Columbus, Ohio 11\09\93
>
> I believe it was Shaw who said something like: "Britain and the
> U.S. are two countries separated by a common language".
>
> They are also separated by the fact that Brits always write
> their dates backwards! :-)
>
>Right. SO everyone take a lesson and write "9 Nov 93" or " Nov 9, 93"
>or, for those who love numbers, 9.XI.93 or 93.11.9.
>
>Then you won't be reading stuff like this!
>
>-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 |
>------------------------------------------------------------------------
Good point, David. As the DXers among us know, most of the rest of the
world writes dates in dd/mm/yy or yy/mm/dd format as opposed to the
mm/dd/yy format used in the U.S. Even here at work our International
Switching Systems Business Unit folks usually don't use the mm/dd/yy format
for dates to be consistent with their customers, all countries outside
the U.S. This confuses some folks. But, what the hey, 24-hour time
confuses most folks in the U.S., but is commonly used in other countries.
With the dd/mm/yy format, it sometimes is difficult to locate a log entry when
receiving a QSL card if you aren't familiar with the dating method. Using
the Roman numeral for the month is not uncommon on foreign QSL cards as
you show above. Now, some dates are not confusing. When one sees 24/6/93,
one realizes it is June 24th. On my QSL cards I always note the date using
letters for the month, e.g., 11 Nov. 93.
We already talk meters (metres) and 24-hour time. Might as well get on the
international practice of writing dates, or at least make it clear which
is the month. I actually like the Roman numeral format, but don't use it.
Of course, some QSL cards have the / / already printed, so if that were the
case, I would use Roman numerals.
73,
John, WB9VGJ
=========================================================
John L. Broughton | snail mail: Room 1K-324
AT&T | 1200 E. Warrenville Rd.
| P.O. Box 3045
| Naperville, IL 60566-7045
| (708) 713-4319
| e-mail: john.l.broughton@att.com
| att!john.l.broughton
| air mail: WB9VGJ
=========================================================
------------------------------
Date: 12 Nov 93 00:49:10 GMT
From: news.uiowa.edu!news@uunet.uu.net
Subject: Amateur Radio Newsline #847
To: info-hams@ucsd.edu
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 10 Nov 1993 04:15:44 GMT
From: swrinde!cs.utexas.edu!uwm.edu!spool.mu.edu!bloom-beacon.mit.edu!noc.near.net!lynx!chaos.dac!wy1z@network.ucsd.edu
Subject: Amiga software available
To: info-hams@ucsd.edu
I've taken the liberty of FTPing the ham software for the Commodore Amiga
from nic.funet.fi /pub/ham/amiga and have placed it in the directory
/pub/hamradio/amiga on world.std.com.
73,
Scott
--
===============================================================================
| Scott Ehrlich Internet: wy1z@neu.edu |
| Amateur Radio: wy1z AX.25: wy1z@wa1phy.#ema.ma.usa.na |
|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Maintainer of the Boston Amateur Radio Club hamradio FTP area on |
| the World - world.std.com /pub/hamradio |
===============================================================================
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 10 Nov 1993 20:25:13 GMT
From: news.cerf.net!pagesat!olivea!spool.mu.edu!howland.reston.ans.net!europa.eng.gtefsd.com!library.ucla.edu!csulb.edu!csus.edu!netcom.com!dparker@network.ucsd.edu
Subject: Care and Feeding LARGE Gel-Cells?
To: info-hams@ucsd.edu
>Try Pep Boys, or any of the other chain automotive stores. They sell a
>2 amp trickle charger for $9 that would be perfect for keeping these
>boys in top condition. You could also use any of their other chargers,
>up to and including the monsters on wheels. Just make sure you don't
>overheat the batteries. If you boil a gel cell, you can't replace the
>water. (Well you sometimes can with a hypodermic needle, but it's tricky.)
Good ideas! I found a charger at WalMart that is designed to be connected
all the time to a battery to maintain a constant charge. It was 20 bucks,
I use it to keep my gel-cells charged in my shack which is my main power
source BTW. If the battery drops below 12 volts the 1 amp charger kicks
in. The only thing I don't like about it is that it seems to get a little
hot, but so far it does not seem to be a problem other than making me nervous.
Dave
********************************************************
* Dave Parker: e-mail: dparker@netcom.com *
* Tracy, California USA *
********************************************************
------------------------------
Date: 12 Nov 93 04:20:52 GMT
From: news-mail-gateway@ucsd.edu
Subject: Daily Solar Geophysical Data Broadcast for 11 November
To: info-hams@ucsd.edu
!!BEGIN!! (1.0) S.T.D. Solar Geophysical Data Broadcast for DAY 315, 11/11/93
10.7 FLUX=088.8 90-AVG=093 SSN=037 BKI=0222 1111 BAI=004
BGND-XRAY=B1.3 FLU1=8.0E+05 FLU10=1.2E+04 PKI=2322 2111 PAI=006
BOU-DEV=002,017,010,011,008,008,006,005 DEV-AVG=008 NT SWF=00:000
XRAY-MAX= C9.7 @ 1127UT XRAY-MIN= A8.5 @ 0124UT XRAY-AVG= B3.3
NEUTN-MAX= +004% @ 1920UT NEUTN-MIN= +000% @ 2355UT NEUTN-AVG= +1.0%
PCA-MAX= +0.1DB @ 2235UT PCA-MIN= -0.3DB @ 1425UT PCA-AVG= +0.0DB
BOUTF-MAX=55365NT @ 1354UT BOUTF-MIN=55341NT @ 1905UT BOUTF-AVG=55355NT
GOES7-MAX=P:+000NT@ 0000UT GOES7-MIN=N:+000NT@ 0000UT G7-AVG=+065,+000,+000
GOES6-MAX=P:+111NT@ 1916UT GOES6-MIN=N:-068NT@ 1158UT G6-AVG=+089,+018,-039
FLUXFCST=STD:085,085,085;SESC:085,085,085 BAI/PAI-FCST=005,010,010/010,015,015
KFCST=0123 3211 1234 4211 27DAY-AP=005,004 27DAY-KP=2221 2111 1122 1211
WARNINGS=*SWF
ALERTS=
!!END-DATA!!
NOTE: The Effective Sunspot Number for 10 NOV 93 was 34.6.
The Full Kp Indices for 10 NOV 93 are: 3- 3- 3o 3- 3o 3- 3- 1+
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 10 Nov 1993 04:01:59 GMT
From: swrinde!cs.utexas.edu!utnut!torn!newshost.uwo.ca!uwovax.uwo.ca!ppddgc@network.ucsd.edu
Subject: Handy TRANSMITS on Airband AM???
To: info-hams@ucsd.edu
A friend just bought a Yaesu FT530 and it TRANSMITS aeronautical AM. Is this
a documented mod? Do other dual band handies do this? How bout the Kenwood
TH78?
Thanks,
Dave Colvin VE3ZDC
ARES DEC
Civil Air Search and Rescue
University of Western Ontario
London, Ontario, Canada
ppddgc@uwocc1.uwo.ca
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 11 Nov 1993 15:40:01 GMT
From: library.ucla.edu!agate!spool.mu.edu!sdd.hp.com!col.hp.com!news.dtc.hp.com!hpscit.sc.hp.com!cupnews0.cup.hp.com!jholly@network.ucsd.edu
Subject: HELP on QSL Routes
To: info-hams@ucsd.edu
Brian J. Pennebaker (bjp@icd.ab.com) wrote:
: following Calls that I contacted during the CQ Worldwide DX
: Contest.
: V26B --> WT3Q
: A22MN --> WA8JOC
: ZD8VJ --> G4ZVJ
: C56V --> KD7E
: 6V6U --> K3IPK
: 7Z2AB --> AA0BC
: 7P8SR --> Raymond Shankweiler --> I think greenstamps are no good
POB 333 for raymond. Seems like it was
Maseru 100 4 or 5 irc's.
Lesotho
: V7X --> KH6HH
: VK9LI --> K6VNX
Arlen Turrif
8819 E. Callita St.
San Gabriel, CA 91775
: VR6BX --> Brian Young
Box 21
Pitcairn Island. --> expect to wait a LONG time for this one.
: Thank you,
: Brian N8RPA
your welcome
Jim, WA6SDM
jholly@cup.hp.com
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 10 Nov 1993 21:58:03 GMT
From: pa.dec.com!nntpd.lkg.dec.com!ryn.mro4.dec.com!est.enet.dec.com!randolph@decwrl.dec.com
Subject: NMO Help
To: info-hams@ucsd.edu
In article <2225@bridge2.NSD.3Com.COM>, peter@3com.com (Peter Z. Simpson) writes...
>I have two Toyotas and on each, was able to remove the dome light and work through
>the hole in the headliner. I used a Greenlee 3/4" punch, but I understand
>the drill is also quite popular. Make sure you scrape the paint on the inside of
>the roof. I did it by tightning the mount slightly and rotating it, using
>the ground clamps to scrape away the paint. Then I removed the mount, cleaned
>the ground clamps and reinstalled it.
Yah, I did exactly this on a Chevy S10. Take apart your dome light and look
around. I have a little bit of structural sheet metal around it (the light), so
I had to punch the hole clear of all that - about 6" forward of the dome light.
Push the coax, inside the headliner, toward the windshield pillar, snag it from
the outside edge of the headliner with a bent coathanger, and finish routing
it. Very clean, very easy, headliner remains in place throughout.
Punch the hole. I wouldn't hesitate to do exactly the same to a brand new car.
If I ever sell it (doubt it), it'll just put a little plastic cap over the NMO
- "cellular ready"!
-Tom R. N1OOQ randolph@est.enet.dec.com
------------------------------
Date: 11 Nov 1993 17:46:05 GMT
From: sdd.hp.com!vixen.cso.uiuc.edu!howland.reston.ans.net!usenet.ins.cwru.edu!eff!news.kei.com!news.byu.edu!news.mtholyoke.edu!mhc.mtholyoke.edu!swiley@network.ucsd.edu
Subject: radio help needed
To: info-hams@ucsd.edu
has anyone had any experience with a 'GE PSX SE ' mobile radio?
if so what where you able to do to it?
tnx in advance and 3s'
de wayne N1OFF
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 11 Nov 1993 17:49:36 GMT
From: sdd.hp.com!spool.mu.edu!darwin.sura.net!fconvx.ncifcrf.gov!fcs260c!mack@network.ucsd.edu
Subject: Tuning CW ??
To: info-hams@ucsd.edu
In article <2bs090$3k0@explorer.clark.net> jaevans@clark.net (John A. Evans) writes:
>Greetings,
> I was an avid SWLer as a teen (an aspiring ham actually) and used a a
>few 5 tube superhets for Shortwave and CW, back when you couldn't tell
>what frequency you were receiving (parallax, tuning dial inaccuracy,
>receiver alignment, etc) - ball park was good enough.
>
> Well, I have a fancy Yaesu 8800 with digital frequency readout which
>seems to be more accurate than I need. However, while tuning to CW in
>the 80 and 40m ham bands, It struck me that, due to selectivity (or lack
>thereof), fine tuning, and BFO adjustments, it is not really possible
>for me to know just what frequency (within the receiver's accuracy specs)
>the station is on. I can switch to narrow selectivity but can always get
>a few code stations within the bandpass.
>
> Now, I know I should get the greatest signal at the transmitting
>carrier frequency, but finding that while receiving AM while the station
>is transmitting is like hitting a rabbit popping out of its hole.
>
> Any suggestions out there on how I can further discriminate the station
>frequency?? Just a question to stir the pot and generate discussion
>(before I get my antenna tuned up for my first ever contact (CW on 80M).
>
>thanks in advance,
>john
>
>-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>John A. Evans, Capt, USAF "My number one goal as a
>VHDL/EDA Engineer runner is to live long enough
>N3QOO Tech Plus !!! to place in my age group!!!"
>
>jaevans@clark.net Linux - the OS of choice !!
>-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>Once data encryption is outlawed, only outlaws will have data encryption !!!
>-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
Dear John,
Do you know about the 800Hz offset they've done sinc e the
old days to make it easier (ha) to tune SSB and CW. I can't figure it
out, and I wish they'd never done it. Maybe someone can explain it
to you , if you think that this may be your problem.
Joe Mack (NA3T)
mack@ncifcrf.gov
------------------------------
Date: 11 Nov 93 22:41:24 GMT
From: world!dts@uunet.uu.net
Subject: WANTED ICOM 726R
To: info-hams@ucsd.edu
In article <1993Nov11.210950.1850@icd.ab.com> bjp@icd.ab.com (Brian J. Pennebaker) writes:
>Must be in good condition and priced fairly. Looking to work
>shuttle missions. Also what accessories it comes with.
>
>Thanks,
>
>Brian Pennebaker N8RPA
>
You are looking for a YAESU 726R. Icom also made a rig designated 726, but it
will not help with shuttle missions, since it is an HF Rig which also covers
6 meters.
Dan
--
---------------------------------------------------------------
Daniel Senie Internet: dts@world.std.com
Daniel Senie Consulting n1jeb@world.std.com
508-365-5352 Compuserve: 74176,1347
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 10 Nov 1993 05:32:43 GMT
From: swrinde!cs.utexas.edu!howland.reston.ans.net!vixen.cso.uiuc.edu!moe.ksu.ksu.edu!osuunx.ucc.okstate.edu!olesun!gcouger@network.ucsd.edu
To: info-hams@ucsd.edu
References <CG8AH6.B1q@usenet.ucs.indiana.edu>, <1993Nov9.150614.3294@osuunx.ucc.okstate.edu>, <2bp64b$kuq@organpipe.uug.arizona.edu>olesun
Subject : Re: 80m on 20m dipole
>>loss it is likely to put RF in the shack. The only way to fix this is
> ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
>
>This has not been my experience. I say the benefits of open wire/ladder line
>far outweighs its disadvantages. There seems to be a lot of fear about this
>stuff.
You are correct. The only case that wire feeders in the shack are when the antena
presents a high impeadence load and the the feeders are an half wave or a
multiple half wave length long. This can be corrected by inserting a
quarter wave length in the feeders or doing some stub matching some
where along the line.
I have a 170 foot double zep in the back yard it works great with a
tuner. I just need to get it higher. it is only 20 foot at the center
and about 3 feet at the ends.
Gordon AB5Dg
/* Gordon Couger */
/* Biosystems & Agricultural Engineering */
/* Oklahoma State University */
/* 114 Ag Hall, Stillwater, OK 74074 */
/* gcouger@olesun.agen.okstate.edu 405-744-9763 day 624-2855 evenings */
/* I Speak only for myself and not for anyone else */
------------------------------
Date: (null)
From: (null)
73 Napoleon
--
________________________________________________________________________
Napoleon Mau
mau@herky.cs.uiowa.edu
_________________________________________________________________________
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 9 Nov 1993 21:38:37 GMT
From: munnari.oz.au!spool.mu.edu!howland.reston.ans.net!vixen.cso.uiuc.edu!cs.uiuc.edu!asimov!watanabe@network.ucsd.edu
To: info-hams@ucsd.edu
References <8NOV199313080974@zeus.tamu.edu>, <931108.79382.GREGL@delphi.com>, <1993Nov9.141925.17444@ke4zv.atl.ga.us>
Subject : Re: Care and Feeding LARGE Gel-Cells?
gary@ke4zv.atl.ga.us (Gary Coffman) writes:
>In article <931108.79382.GREGL@delphi.com> Greg Law <GREGL@delphi.com> writes:
>>Somewhat along the same lines. . .
>>
>>I purchase two Panasonic LCR12V2.2P lead-acid batteries for use with the
>>HTX-202. These are fairly nice 2.2 amp/hour batteries that are about the same
>>size as my HTX-202. I've used these batteries for hours on end without
>>having to recharge them -- much better than the stock NiCds. The only
>>"problem" I've run into so far is charging them. I have a small lead-acid
>>charger of the type you can get in the Automotive departments at Wal-Mart,
>>K-Mart, Target, etc. that is settable between 2A/6A charging rates. So far
>>this charger seems to be working well but it's a manual type and I'm not
>>sure how long I should charge the batteries.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Powersonic makes a nice dual-rate charger, the PSC-12800A.
There is a local company that sold me one of these for $33.
They will ship out of state, but the actual cost depends on the
weight and distance, but should be $3-$4.50. They are:
Klaus Radio
3103 Research Rd.
Champaign, IL
(217) 356-1896
They also sold me a Powersonic 12V 7.0 AH gelcel for $22,
about the same as Mouser.
--------------------------------------------------------------
Some background info:
Battery charging: (Powersonic info)
-----------------
Cycle Applications: Limit initial current to 0.20C (C is the nominal
A.H. capacity of the battery). Charge until battery voltage (under charge)
reaches 2.45 volts per cell at 68 F (20 C). Hold at 2.45 volts per
cell until current drops to approximately 0.01C ampere. Battery
is fully charged under these conditions, and charger should
either be disconnected or switched to "float" voltage.
"Float" or "Stand-By" Service: Hold battery across constant
voltage source of 2.25 to 2.30 volts per cell continuously.
When held at this voltage, the battery will seek its own
current level and maintain itself in a fully charged condition.
Battery Chargers: (Powersonic)
-----------------
"F" series: float chargers - constant voltage 2.25-2.30 volts per cell.
"A" Series: Automatic dual rate chargers sense battery requirements
and automatically switch from teh fast charge to float mode, or
vice versa. LED's provide visual indication of the charging mode.
Automatic chrgers combine the advantages of float and cycle
chargers; recharge time is short yet batteries are safe from
being overcharged. This charger is ideal for cyclic
applications where recharge time is critical and the battery
may be left on charge indefinitely. As a result charging
is fool-proof.
Powersonic chargers usually sell for $35 (for 300 ma) to
$42 (for 500 ma). However, their newest charger is 750 ma,
and sells for $38 from Mouser. I think it is $47 from Allied.
Unfortunately these are back-ordered. It is the
PSC-12800A. The "PSC" stands for "powersonic charger",
the "12" stands for "12V", the "800" stands for current
(800 ma, but really 750 ma), and the "A" stands for the
series - "A" series.
They also make:
PSC-6250F
PSC-6300A
PSC-64000A
PSC-12250F
PSC-12300A
PSC-12500F
PSC-12500A
PSC-12800A
PSC-124000A
PSC-12-10A
2A-6A sounds like too much current for a 2.3 AH battery.
I think in general you shouldn't charge at more than
.2C, so that would be 400 ma or so. The PSC-12500A,
or PSC-12300A would probably be better choices.
-Larry Watanabe
------------------------------
End of Info-Hams Digest V93 #1338
******************************
******************************