Date: Tue, 30 Nov 93 16:30:22 PST
From: Info-Hams Mailing List and Newsgroup <info-hams@ucsd.edu>
Errors-To: Info-Hams-Errors@UCSD.Edu
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Subject: Info-Hams Digest V93 #1407
To: Info-Hams
Info-Hams Digest Tue, 30 Nov 93 Volume 93 : Issue 1407
Today's Topics:
Aluminum towers
Cross-band 2m/220mhz repeaters?
Dial/meter marking program
Ed Hare has no tie!
Info-Hams Digest V93 #139
License Datapoints...got it : )
Mailer test...ignore, please.
Microwave Power Amps
Poor Man's Spectrum Analyzer --- comments?
Repeater calling procedure (Was: Elmers are dead, god help us hams!)
Space Shuttle coverage?
using a radio off frequency in emergencies
W5YI's coverage of "temporary callsigns" (2 msgs)
WANTED: Inet <-> Packet gateways
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: 30 Nov 93 17:49:23 GMT
From: ogicse!emory!kd4nc!ke4zv!gary@network.ucsd.edu
Subject: Aluminum towers
To: info-hams@ucsd.edu
In article <9311291443.AA10891@wa2cjt.wellfleet> ginsburg@wellfleet.COM (Scott Ginsburg) writes:
>
>I'm interested in hearing about any good/bad experiences people have had with
>freestanding aluminum towers. I'm considering something like a Universal Mfg.
>50' tower. I'd probably mount a small tri-bander on it (14 to 18' boom).
Aluminum has a much lower fatigue strength than steel. Towers develop
fairly unique vibrational modes depending on particular location and
loading. So it's difficult to engineer them to fit any particular fatigue
pattern. That means for aluminum that the tower must be heavily over
engineered in order to withstand unpredictable fatigue stresses. Most
aluminum towers are *not* so over engineered, and those that are are
more expensive and larger than a similar steel tower. Aluminum also
loses strength as it ages. So aluminum towers generally don't last
as long as steel towers. Therefore, I don't recomend aluminum towers.
Ordinary galvanized steel towers are usually the first choice, but in
highly corrosive environments stainless steel towers are the best
choice. Aluminum should only be considered if weight is the only
criteria, and that's almost never the case, even for roof mounting.
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: Mon, 29 Nov 1993 22:57:58 GMT
From: qualcomm.com!vixen.cso.uiuc.edu!howland.reston.ans.net!sol.ctr.columbia.edu!hamblin.math.byu.edu!wicat!keithm@network.ucsd.edu
Subject: Cross-band 2m/220mhz repeaters?
To: info-hams@ucsd.edu
> How many cities and where? I'm curious.....
Utah County ARES in the Orem/Provo Utah area runs one.
--
Keith McQueen, Wicat Systems Inc. , (801)223-3284 | My opinions are |
Packet: n7hmf @ nv7v.UT.USA.NA | all mine... |
Internet: keithm@wicat.com | ...so there! |
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 29 Nov 1993 21:41:55 GMT
From: netcomsv!netcom.com!wd6cmu@decwrl.dec.com
Subject: Dial/meter marking program
To: info-hams@ucsd.edu
Does anybody know of a program that will generate Postscript files for
printing labels for dials, rotary switches, meters, etc.? I thought I
remembered seeing such a thing and I thought I'd check before trying to
write one myself. Thanks.
--
Eric Williams | DGC Vincent: MC (B+S)t G+Y 1.2 Y L++ C+ T+ I+++ H+ S++ V+ F++
wd6cmu@netcom.com | Murphy: DS W+(B+R)t+R Y 1.3 Y L C+ T- I+++ H+ A+ F+ B--
WD6CMU@WD6CMU.#NOCAL.CA.USA.NA
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 30 Nov 1993 01:07:40 GMT
From: world!dts@uunet.uu.net
Subject: Ed Hare has no tie!
To: info-hams@ucsd.edu
In article <2650@arrl.org> ehare@arrl.org (Ed Hare - KA1CV) writes:
>In rec.radio.amateur.misc, hellman@cbnewsm.cb.att.com (eric.s.hellman) writes:
>
>>Yesterday I visited the ARRL in Newington and met Ed Hare in his
>>office. He could not produce even one tie! (There was a rumpled
>>sport jacket hanging behind the door).
>
>>Thanks, Ed, for the nice visit.
>
>>Shel WA2UBK dara@physics.att.com
>
>My pleasure, Shel. I am always pleased when one of my friends on
>r.r.a. stops by to say "hello" when they are here in CT.
>
>Now, about the tie --- I can explain. You see, the legend of my tie
>is greatly exaggerated! I ONLY wear a tie when I go to do a club talk,
>or when we are having important visitors. That is why it was so
Oh, NOW I'm insulted :-). We (KC1SP, N1JIT, WA1RHP and I) were not IMPORTANT
visitors??? :-) We'll just have to see what happens on our next trip to
Newington!
>horrifying when my tie was ripped from my neck when I did my
>talk in western Massachusetts (by WA1RHP -- a longtime usenet denizen)!
>Of course, it was okay, because this evil deed was perpetrated by
>a friend, but ... if this is how I am treated by my friends, how horrible
>it will be if I am ever mistreated by an enemy! :-)
>
>However, there is a bit more to the story! About a year ago or so I
>was suddenly siezed by a tie madness. I went out and purchased about
>two or three hundred ties, mostly at vintage clothing stores. They
>represent the best of several decades of tie wearing! I will select one
>for you and send it as a souvenir of your visit to HQ. You might even
>dare to wear it in front of your boss!
>
>Glad you stopped by! It was nice to meet you.
>
>73 and Happy Holidays from ARRL HQ, Ed -- KA1CV
>
>-----
>Ed Hare, KA1CV ehare@arrl.org
>American Radio Relay League
>225 Main St.
>Newington, CT 06111 If you tie a strip of colored cloth to
>(203) 666-1541 - voice part of your body, the tribe acts
>ARRL Laboratory Supervisor differently!
>RFI, xmtr and rcvr testing
>-----
--
---------------------------------------------------------------
Daniel Senie Internet: dts@world.std.com
Daniel Senie Consulting n1jeb@world.std.com
508-365-5352 Compuserve: 74176,1347
------------------------------
Date: 30 Nov 93 13:01:00 GMT
From: news-mail-gateway@ucsd.edu
Subject: Info-Hams Digest V93 #139
To: info-hams@ucsd.edu
-> Speaking of WSSH, has anyone in the Boston area had any intermittent
-> reception problems during any of the above mentioned shows (like
-> their transmitter loses power for a period of time), or is it just
-> me?
Yes, it has been happening alot.
Most noticeably on the 28th -- when the loss lasted
about 20 minutes! Sigh!
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 29 Nov 1993 20:00:54 GMT
From: munnari.oz.au!uniwa!harbinger.cc.monash.edu.au!msuinfo!agate!howland.reston.ans.net!newsserver.jvnc.net!yale.edu!cs.yale.edu!csusys.ctstateu.edu!white@network.ucsd.edu
Subject: License Datapoints...got it : )
To: info-hams@ucsd.edu
The long-awaited envelope arrived today....7 weeks and 1 day
after the test (Oct 10).... It's an honor to join the ranks
of amateur radio operators.
73s
+---- --- -- - - -- --- ----+
Harry White white@sleepy.ctstateu.edu white@csusys.ctstateu.edu
N1QVE Central Connecticut State University, New Britain, CT 06050
- -- -+- -- -
"The real meaning of the word _educate_ is _to lead the way out_." -Anais Nin
+---- --- -- - - -- --- ----+
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 29 Nov 1993 20:35:39 GMT
From: munnari.oz.au!uniwa!harbinger.cc.monash.edu.au!msuinfo!agate!howland.reston.ans.net!newsserver.jvnc.net!yale.edu!cs.yale.edu!csusys.ctstateu.edu!white@network.ucsd.edu
Subject: Mailer test...ignore, please.
To: info-hams@ucsd.edu
mailer test
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 30 Nov 1993 00:08:34 GMT
From: munnari.oz.au!uniwa!harbinger.cc.monash.edu.au!msuinfo!uwm.edu!vixen.cso.uiuc.edu!howland.reston.ans.net!math.ohio-state.edu!darwin.sura.net!fconvx.ncifcrf.gov!fcs260c!mack@network.ucsd.
Subject: Microwave Power Amps
To: info-hams@ucsd.edu
In article <CH9ItM.539@ncifcrf.gov> mack@fcs260c.ncifcrf.gov (Joe Mack) writes:
Sorry about the first posting which was missing some things...
Jeff Kruth has TWTs and solid state amps from 3-10GHz. They are used
and he tests them to see which are OK. His guarantee is that they will
work on arrival. He trades and sells surplus stuff in this area. I don't know
much about hi except that no-one has complained about stuff they get
from him.
> Jeff Kruth
> K-MEC
> 2600 Cabover Dr, Suite H
> Hanover MD, 21076
> (410)-768-6666
>
> Joe NA3T
> mack@ncifcrf.gov
>
>
>
Joe NA3T
mack@ncifcrf.gov
------------------------------
Date: 30 Nov 93 14:20:36 GMT
From: ogicse!uwm.edu!caen!saimiri.primate.wisc.edu!mimbres.cs.unm.edu!nmt.edu!bateman@network.ucsd.edu
Subject: Poor Man's Spectrum Analyzer --- comments?
To: info-hams@ucsd.edu
I am considering buying the kit(s) for the Poor Man's Spectrum Analyzer
from Science Workshop.
Has anybody had any experiences with this unit (in either building or
operating)?
Any comments appreciated!
Please e-mail: bateman @ nmt.edu
Thanks,
Monte
--
===============================================================================
Dr. Monte Bateman -- Physics PostDoc | InterNet: bateman @ nmt.edu
Langmuir Laboratory for | Amateur Radio: WB5RZX
Atmospheric Research, |
New Mexico Institute of Mining |
and Technology, Socorro, NM |
------------------------------
Date: 30 Nov 1993 00:11:55 GMT
From: qualcomm.com!vixen.cso.uiuc.edu!howland.reston.ans.net!math.ohio-state.edu!magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu!csn!col.hp.com!bobw@network.ucsd.edu
Subject: Repeater calling procedure (Was: Elmers are dead, god help us hams!)
To: info-hams@ucsd.edu
Brian Battles WS1O (bbattles@arrl.org) wrote:
: I believe the pamphlet you're referring to is Welcome to Amateur Radio,
: which I wrote (sent by the ARRL free to all new Amateur Radio licensees).
: Here's the lowdown:
: The information was taken from personal experience and extensive
: contact with friends, ARRL officials and many various "random"
: repeater owners and users around the US over a few years. The use of
: "WS1O monitoring" or "WS1O listening" is essentially the de facto
: standard way of announcing that you're on the machine and would enjoy
: a QSO. Calling CQ is in no way "expressly verboten," it's just generally
: considered substandard operating procedure on VHF repeaters (as is the
: use of Q signals and CW abbreviations, eg, XYL, HI, etc).
: You can call CQ, but I'd bet that most hams--especially those with
: some experience--would take you for, at best, an uninformed newcomer
: or, at worst, a lid. Then, depending on the other hams' attitudes,
: they'd either politely instruct you or rudely rag you out. 8-)
Negativo, Senor.
Clearly, the use of a LLLLOOOONNNNGGGGG CQ is inappropriate on
VHF repeaters but in some parts of the woods a single "CQ" is
accepted as just fine. Often "monitoring" gets interpreted as
"I am here if you really wanted to call me but I'm not actively
looking for a contact."
Different strokes...
Bob Witte / HP PMO (Colo Springs) / bobw@col.hp.com / KB0CY / (719) 590-3230
------------------------------
Date: 30 Nov 93 21:00:41 GMT
From: ogicse!emory!gatech!howland.reston.ans.net!paperboy.amoco.com!apctrc!zrmo05@network.ucsd.edu
Subject: Space Shuttle coverage?
To: info-hams@ucsd.edu
Does anyone know the frequencies which carry the Space Shuttle
launch? I seem to recall that an amateur radio group at JSC
broadcast the missions but don't remember more than that.
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 30 Nov 1993 00:22:45 GMT
From: qualcomm.com!vixen.cso.uiuc.edu!howland.reston.ans.net!usenet.ins.cwru.edu!news.ecn.bgu.edu!willis1.cis.uab.edu!right.dom.uab.edu!user@network.ucsd.edu
Subject: using a radio off frequency in emergencies
To: info-hams@ucsd.edu
I was looking at the Amateur radio news postings and came across an
article about an amateur that was in a remote area who had an injured
friend. The story went that after trying several repeaters without
success and trying to use a cellular phone without success, he called
for help on a police frequency. He was forced to forfeit his radio
when the sherriffs department complained. The story goes on from there,
and the FCC, the ham, and the Sherriffs office will be meeting in court.
I was wondering what is the correct thing to do if one has a radio that
can transmit outside of amateur bands and a real, life threatening
emergency arises. I thought there was a rule about amateurs being
authorized to use any radio at their disposal if normal communications
were not available when there was a life threatening emergency. Has
anyone any advice on what one should do if a similar event happened to
me? No legal advice expected, just interested on what the folks on
the net may have to say.
Reply to rec.radio.radio.amateur
Steve Holland
------------------------------
Date: 30 Nov 93 17:05:35 GMT
From: mnemosyne.cs.du.edu!nyx10!jmaynard@uunet.uu.net
Subject: W5YI's coverage of "temporary callsigns"
To: info-hams@ucsd.edu
[This belongs in .policy; crossposted, and followups redirected.]
In article <CHBBzq.9HJ@cup.hp.com>, Jim Hollenback <jholly@cup.hp.com> wrote:
>I personally can not see one reason for not adopting the proposal. Currently
>we allow instant access to new privileges on upgrading, why not access to
>the privileges when first obtaining a license?
Verification. How do I know that WZ5RFK is legit? I can find out, at least,
who belongs to KC5CZR; that's not the case with the temporary calls.
I understand the problem the FCC, and new hams, face...but, like every knotty
problem, it has a simple and easy-to-understand wrong answer. The FCC has come
up with exactly that.
They're already going to upgrade their systems; let's get that in place, as
well as improving their work flow, and perhaps even let the VECs do more of
the work. If we can't get the turnaround time under two weeks, something's
horribly wrong. _That_ is the right answer.
--
Jay Maynard, EMT-P, K5ZC, PP-ASEL | Never ascribe to malice that which can
jmaynard@oac.hsc.uth.tmc.edu | adequately be explained by stupidity.
"The road to Usenet is littered with dead horses." -- Jack Hamilton
------------------------------
Date: 30 Nov 1993 07:41:20 -0500
From: noc.near.net!genrad.com!genrad.com!not-for-mail@uunet.uu.net
Subject: W5YI's coverage of "temporary callsigns"
To: info-hams@ucsd.edu
I just got my most recent W5YI Report, and of course I had to read
it before anything else. One of the articles disturbed me and I
was curious what others think.
He (Fred Maia, W5YI, for those of you who don't know) described a
new petition that has been before the FCC for awhile (after a new
ham passes his tests, he can immediately start talking on the radio
by using the callsign "WZ" plus call area number plus his initials.
This would be good for 12 weeks or until he gets his real callsign).
He said that he looked at some of the letters that had been coming
in to the FCC on this subject, and then he printed portions of
some of these letters.
The thing that bothered me was that EVERY ONE OF THE LETTERS
described why this proposal would NOT be good for ham radio. Not
a single one described any reason why this proposal would be good
for ham radio. Now, it may be true that this proposal IS NOT GOOD
for ham radio (I do not offer an opinion). But, the fact that the
proposal is before the FCC must indicate that at least ONE PERSON
saw it as beneficial, and possibly more than one. Do the people
who support this proposal NOT send letters to the FCC? Or is
Fred's article simply biased because he does not like the proposal,
so he's only reporting a one-sided argument?
I'm curious as to what others think of this article. Am I being
too sensitive?
Diana
--
->Diana L. Carlson dls@genrad.com Ham: KC1SP (Sweet Pea) <-
->I'D RATHER BE FLYING! P-ASEL, INST CAP: CPT, Freedom 690M, MAWG<-
->GenRad, 300 Baker Ave MS/1, Concord, MA 01742 (508)369-4400 x2459 <-
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 29 Nov 1993 23:01:59 GMT
From: pacbell.com!sgiblab!spool.mu.edu!howland.reston.ans.net!noc.near.net!lynx!chaos.dac!wy1z@network.ucsd.edu
Subject: WANTED: Inet <-> Packet gateways
To: info-hams@ucsd.edu
I want to compile as complete a listing/library as possible of all the
different Internet <-> packet gateways and instruction on how to use
them.
When I have received the information, I will place all the messages
into the Boston Amateur Radio Club's FTP area on the World Public
Access Internet system (see my .sig below).
Thanks much in advance!
73,
Scott
--
===============================================================================
| Scott Ehrlich Internet: wy1z@neu.edu |
| Amateur Radio: wy1z AX.25: wy1z@n0ary.#nocal.ca.usa.na |
|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Maintainer of the Boston Amateur Radio Club hamradio FTP area on |
| the World - world.std.com /pub/hamradio |
===============================================================================
------------------------------
Date: 29 Nov 1993 16:22:33 -0800
From: qualcomm.com!vixen.cso.uiuc.edu!howland.reston.ans.net!math.ohio-state.edu!news.cyberstore.ca!vanbc.wimsey.com!vanbc.wimsey.com!not-for-mail@network.ucsd.edu
To: info-hams@ucsd.edu
References <931128034939811@pubcon.fort-worth.tx.us>, <D>, <1993Nov29.210113.8647@merlin.dev.cdx.mot.com>ne
Subject : Re: DSP units
With spelling like that, you get lousy sentence structure.
("That" is ".... like this your asking ...) [We all assume you mean
"You're" or "You are"
/Mark
------------------------------
Date: 30 Nov 93 17:14:55 GMT
From: ogicse!emory!europa.eng.gtefsd.com!howland.reston.ans.net!spool.mu.edu!news.nd.edu!mac13@network.ucsd.edu
To: info-hams@ucsd.edu
References <754583670.19snx@mu.apana.org.au>, <Nov29.194927.39093@yuma.acns.colostate.edu>, <4926@eram.esi.com.au>
Subject : Re: Calculating SWR
In article <4926@eram.esi.com.au>, dave@eram.esi.com.au (Dave Horsfall)
wrote:
>
> In article <Nov29.194927.39093@yuma.acns.colostate.edu>,
> galen@picea.CFNR.ColoState.EDU (Galen Watts) writes:
>
> | >I am not trying to be mean, but did you sit a radio theory test for your
> | >amateur license ?
> |
> | Yes, he did. SWR formulae are not on amateur tests in America.
>
> Notwithstanding the fact that I distinctly remember seeing that formula
> on my own exam (in Australia) and no doubt getting it wrong, don't they
> teach you to look up a reference book over there?
>
> This is getting to be like sci.electronics; can anyone tell me what
> the pinout of a 555 is?
>
The whole point is that this is NOT an electronics newsgroup, but rather a
newsgroup for amateur radio operators, not all of whom have--or even need
to have--a detailed understanding of how the equipment they operate
actually works. When such a person does express an interest in a technical
matter, one might hope that those whose specialities center around
technical aspects of the hobby would respond with encouragement, or if that
is impossible, politeness. Fortunately, I can state that my own questions
in this newsgroup have been answered with unfailing courtesy.
In this same vein, I will admit my surprise, after sitting for all the U.S.
amateur radio examination elements, that there was such an emphasis on
electronics, and so very little concerning public service, disaster
readiness, first aid procedures, emergeny traffic handling, and so on. If
we are really intended to be a provider of alternative communications
services in times of national emergencies or local disasters, surely such
knowledge is at least as important as the ability to homebrew a radio. But
for some odd reason these topics are left almost entirely to specific
organizations, while EVERYONE is required to have a general knowledge of
electronics. Surely both are important. And maybe we could do more to test
normal operating procedures as well.
Charles R. Hohenstein
N9SQE
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 30 Nov 1993 12:07:31 GMT
From: swrinde!menudo.uh.edu!uuneo!sugar!jreese@network.ucsd.edu
To: info-hams@ucsd.edu
References <2651@arrl.org>, <9311292209592.gilbaronw0mn.DLITE@delphi.com>, <williams.754643364@maui>
Subject : Re: Repeater calling procedure (Was: Elm
In article <williams.754643364@maui> williams@maui.qualcomm.com (Paul Williamson) writes:
>
>Interesting you should say that. I had to read the rest of the paragraph
>to figure out what *you* think it means.
>
>I was once active on a repeater in southeast Texas where "monitoring"
>meant "I'm a control operator and I'm in charge here", and ordinary
>users were strongly discouraged from saying it. We were supposed to say
>"listening" instead.
...Sounds like ECHO .09 :)
What I've always told people is that they should use a radio just like they
would a telephone. You wouldn't say "The Personal is Jim" on the phone,
don't do it on the radio...it just sounds silly there.
--
Jim Reese, WD5IYT | "I can do more in two minutes than Rush can in
jreese@sugar.neosoft.com | three hours" --Jim Hightower
------------------------------
End of Info-Hams Digest V93 #1407
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