Date: Wed, 1 Dec 93 02:31:14 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 #1408
To: Info-Hams
Info-Hams Digest Wed, 1 Dec 93 Volume 93 : Issue 1408
Today's Topics:
Amateur Radio Newsline #850
API for HAM CALL
Ed Hare has no tie!
For Sale: icom IC-W2A, access.
HAM-server index file (2 msgs)
HF Priv for Advanced Licensee
Modem Software to Alert Many Pagers?
modifiable radios
Repeater calling procedure (Was: Elm (2 msgs)
Repeater calling procedure (Was: Elmers are dead, god help us hams!) (2 msgs)
smith14.zip - Hams: Interactive Smith chart calculator
Talk America Radio Network
TS50a
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: 29 Nov 1993 01:07:46 -0500
From: dorsai.dorsai.org!dorsai.dorsai.org!not-for-mail@uunet.uu.net
Subject: Amateur Radio Newsline #850
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. Voice calls will not be returned due to the
current fiscal situation at Newsline.
NEWSLINE RADIO - CBBS EDITION #100 - POSTED 11/26/93
*****************************************************************
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* * ** * * ** * * * * * ** * *
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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
Los Angeles............................ (213) 462-0008
Los Angeles (Instant Update Line)...... (805) 296-2407
Seattle................................ (206) 368-3969
Seattle................................ (206) 281-8455
Tacoma................................. (206) 927-7373
Louisville............................. (502) 894-8559
Dayton................................. (513) 275-9991
Chicago................................ (708) 289-0423
New York City.......................... (718) 353-2801
Melbourne, FL.......................... (407) 259-4479
For the latest breaking info call the Instant Update Line listed
above. 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!!!
*****************************************************************
[850]
* * * * C L O S E D C I R C U I T A D V I S O R Y * * * *
* *
* The following is a closed circuit advisory and NOT *
* for air on amateur radio. We have received late word from *
* our support fund administrator that the monies needed to *
* pay the our monthly bills is still dangerously low. *
* Yes, there are many sources of ham radio news, but only *
* Newsline brings up to the minute ham radio news direct to *
* you over your favorite repeater. But doing this costs *
* money. It takes over $700 a month to keep Newsline alive. *
* Recognizing this, Dr. norm Chalfin, K6PGX established the *
* Newsline Support Fund. It's kept separate from Newsline *
* and exists only to pay the week to week operating expenses *
* of the operation. It again needs the support of all of *
* you who want to see Newsline survive so that these weekly *
* bulletins can continue to air. *
* *
* The address for the Newsline Support Fund is Post *
* Office Box 463, Pasadena, CA 91102. *
* *
* Your assistance is needed as soon as possible. We thank *
* you all for your ongoing generosity and support. *
* *
* That ends the closed circuit advisory with Newsline *
* report number 850 for release on Friday, November 26, 93 *
* to follow. *
* *
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
BOYER vs. FCC
The San Diego Union Tribune reports that a ham wants his hand
held radio back after agreeing to surrender the radio to the FCC.
This, after he used the allegedly illegally modified device to
place an emergency call to the county sheriff on a department
frequency.
The FCC says that Chris Boyer, KC6UQG violated its regulations
when he showed up on a Sheriffs department administrative
channel seeking assistance for his friend Craig Bosworth who had
been injured in a cycling accident. This is exactly what
happened because KC6UQG decided to be Good Samaritan and, in he
process he seems to have stepped on the toes of some apparent
bureaucrats in the San Diego Sheriffs Office. Bureaucrats, who
seem to feel that their radio channels should never be used by
anyone outside of the bureau, even if it if the situation could
be a matter of life and death. Bureaucrats, who know the nations
communications law and seem intent on using it against KC6UQG.
Boyer contends that he made a responsible decision to use the
sheriffs frequency only after exhausting all other communications
options. He told the newspaper that Bosworth was in a ravine and
that he tried five other radio channels and a cellular telephone
without any success. It was then that he tuned his radio over to
the Sheriffs department administrative channel to call for help.
Two weeks after the incident Boyer says that he received a
letter from Bill Kahn, the Communications Coordinator for the
Sheriffs Department. Kahn directed Boyer to bring his hand held
to a meeting with Kahn and a representative of the San Diego FCC.
While the newspaper story does get a bit convoluted here, it
appears as if Boyer was given a choice of facing prosecution in
federal court for using an illegally modified radio on an
unauthorized frequency or forfeiting the hand held to the
government. He chose the latter and that should have been the
end of it, but it was not.
A few weeks later Kahn found himself in a similar situation.
He was out on what the newspaper described as a pleasure hike
when he took ill. The Tribune says that Kahn used a similar
frequency to call in a Sheriff's Department helicopter to get
him. When Boyer learned of this incident. He termed it elitist
and hired a lawyer to go up against the Sheriff's Department and
the F.C.C..
But the Commission says that there is a big difference between
Boyer using an illegally modified piece of ham gear on the
Sheriffs' Administrative channel and a department employee doing
the same using a properly Type Accepted hand-held with proper FCC
licensing.
At the request of Boyer and his legal counsel the
investigation of this matter has been re-opened. Because of this
the FCC cannot comment any further at this time.
And this final note. Please don't blame the FCC for this one.
As far as we can tell, the San Diego FCC office would not have
gotten involved except for the Sheriff's complaint. The People
running the FCC Office in San Diego appear to be leaning over
backward to try and satisfy both parties in this case. Its the
sheriff, or at least someone in the Sheriff's office that is
making all the noise.
*****
CALLING FOR HELP IS ILLEGAL
By the way, there are many hams who believe that any citizen
can use any radio on any frequency to report an emergency
situation and request aid. We thought so also, and that used to
be the case, but not anymore.
It all changed very quietly back on October 18, 1984. That's
when the FCC passed Docket 83-991. This action modified Part
90.47, subpart A of the rules to read -- and we quote:
"Persons or organizations maintaining an eligibility in
isolated areas where public communications facilities are not
available and where the use of radio is the only feasible means
of establishing communications with a center of population, or
other point from where emergency assistance might be obtained if
needed, are eligible to hold authorizations to operate radio
stations for the transmission of messages only during an actual
or impending emergency endangering life, health or property for
the transmission of essential communications arising from the
emergency. The transmission of routine or non-emergency
communications is strictly prohibited." -- end quote.
That's the text of Section 90-47A of the FCC rules governing
who is prohibited from using radio to report emergency
situations. It also appears to be the regulation that the San
Diego Sheriffs department seems to have come on to use against
Chris Boyer, KC6UQG.
*****
NEW FORM 610
A totally new Form 610 is on its way into ham radio as the
result of the new computer at the FCC. As a result, the long
standing traditional version will soon be a thing of the past.
Among the significant changes, the new 610 does away with all
of the boxes previously contained in the Administering VE's
Report. The report itself has now been moved to the bottom of
the front side of the form, right above the VE Certification
area. As a result, an administering VE will now only need to
indicate one of six classes of license that an applicant is
qualified for. The sixth category is the Technician Plus and its
inclusion on the new 610 is an indicator that the Commission
plans on tracking the holders of the Tech Plus license using its
new computer and software.
Eliminated are areas to report current station location, the
older Novice Test VE certification and the change of station
location areas. Still included is the Physicians Certification
of Disability to be used by candidates qualified to request
waivers of the 13 and 20 word per minute code tests due to a
physical handicap. This aspect of the 610 has been expanded to
provide the FCC with more detail on both the applicant and the
doctor providing the certification.
The new 610 replaces the March 1992 version which carries a
February 1995 expiration date, but which can no longer be used
after the new version is available to the public.
*****
ARRL ELECTIONS
The results are in for 1994 and hams from across the country
have elected four ARRL Division Directors. Ballots were counted
at League headquarters November 19th. Amateurs in two Divisions
decided to stick with familiar names.
Frank Butler, W4RH, is no stranger to the office he sought.
Butler has served as Southeast Division Director for 13 years.
Now amateurs decide he should serve two more years. Butler
defeats three challengers, including the leagues section manager
from Northern Florida. Butler wins by nearly a thousand votes
over his closest challenger. In the ARRL's Delta Division
another incumbent returns to office, Joel Harrison, WB5IGF, wins
with a three hundred seventy four vote margin. In the Midwest
Division Lou Gordon, K4VX, wins the Directors post with a sixty
five vote margin. On the west coast Brad Wyatt, K6WR, formerly
the Pacific Division Vice Director is elected Director. All four
directors have been elected to two year terms. The winners take
office at noon New Years Day 1994.
Four Vice-Director positions were also announced on November
19th. Evelyn Gauzens, W4WYR, was re-elected in the Southeast
Division. In the Midwest Division, amateurs selected Bruce
Frahm, K0BJ. Jim Maxwell, W6CF, was elected in the Pacific
Division. Finally, the Dakota Division's Vice Director slot goes
to Hans Brakob, K0HB.
*****
MORE PREFERRED CALL SIGNS SOUGHT
The ARRL has asked the FCC to consider a method of expanding
the number of so called preferred call signs in Alaska, Hawaii,
and Puerto Rico. The Group A call signs for Extra Class
licensees have run out in all three areas, and Group B call signs
for Advanced Class licensees are nearly exhausted for Puerto
Rico.
So, in a letter to the FCC, the ARRL has suggested that more
call signs could be made available by a change in its Public
Notice announcing available call sign blocks. The League said
the incentive of preferred call signs was important to the
continued upgrading of amateurs' skills.
The League's proposal is this. For Alaska, that's Region 11,
allow numerals other than 7, which currently is required in all
Alaska call signs. In Region 12, Puerto Rico, allow the numeral
3 as well as the current numeral 4, with provisions for Desecheo.
Finally for Hawaii which is Region 13, allow the numeral 7 as
well as the current numeral 6, with provisions for the other U.S.
territories and possessions in the Pacific.
The ARRL says that this proposal is not related to any other
currently before the FCC and requires no notice or comment rule
making proceeding.
*****
CODELESS CONQUEST
"Codeless Hams Conquer the World" is the banner in column
three of page 39 of the November 1993 issue of Popular
Communications. In his column, author Harry Helms, AA6FW, makes
it very clear that he believes that the day is not far off when
the codeless Technician class amateur will take over and rule the
political end of Amateur Radio.
Its after reviewing the unprecedented success of the no-code
Technician class license that Helms gets to the meat of the
story. He asks the rhetorical question of how much longer can --
what he calls the ham radio establishment hold out -- when an
eventual majority of United States hams will be holders of
codefree Technician class tickets. Helms says that eventually,
these Technician class operators will elect their own ARRL
Directors more to their liking, or throw their collective
political might to some new organization that better represents
their needs. Helms who holds the call sign AA6FW says that
either way, the current ham radio establishment -- we guess he is
referring to the higher class license holders such as General,
Advanced and Extra -- he says -- and we quote -- "the ham radio
establishment is picking a fight it can't win." -- end quote.
Helms also takes a swipe at the reluctance of the ham radio
operators of today not being willing to let go of the Morse Code
as a requisite to operate on bands below thirty megahertz. AA6FW
feels that the last stand for Morse Code will be at the next
World Administrative Radio Conference. He predicts that in less
than two decades anyone will be able to get any class of ham
radio license without having to take a Morse Code test.
This rather intriguing Harry Helms article begins on page 39
of the November issue of Popular Communications Magazine.
*****
TEACHING RS
On the educational scene, word that James Sweitzer, KB9HRB,
the Assistant Director of the Center for Astrophysical Research
in Antarctica, Astronomy and Astrophysics Center University of
Chicago is teaching an outreach class to students in that venue's
inner city. The entire curriculum involves the study of Earth
orbiting satellites including among others, tracking of the
Russian RS10/11 ham radio satellite.
*****
FUJI OSCAR 20 SCHEDULE CHANGES
Effective December 1, 1993, the Fuji-OSCAR 20 satellite will
change its digital and analog operating schedule. At present,
the satellite functions as a packet radio bulletin board every
day except Wednesday when it switches to the analog transponder
CW SSB mode for approximately 24 hours. But beginning on
December 1st at 08:43 UTC, OSCAR 20 will be switched to the
analog mode, Mode JA, where it will remain for one week. On
December 11th at 07:51 UTC, it will be switched back to the
digital BBS mode, Mode JD, for one week. The modes will continue
to alternate on a weekly basis until further notice.
*****
HAMSHOWS WEST CANCELED
Hamshows-San Diego and Hamshows-San Jose, both scheduled for
January of 1994 have been canceled. This, due to health problems
encountered by the company's President Mike Forsyth, N7KQE.
According to CQ Magazine publisher Dick Ross K2MGA, the illness
from which Forsyth is suffering is in no way life threatening,
but Mike is required to refrain from strenuous activity at this
time. Hamshows events slated for other venues later in 1994 are
not affected by the January cancellations in California. Ross's
CQ Communications is a co-sponsor of Hamshows conventions in
association with Forsyth's Hamshows Corporation.
*****
BALLOON REWARD
The ARRL reports Mississippi balloonist Robert Vandaman N5KBQ
may be in the market for some new ham equipment. This is because
Vandaman was the winner of the Key Grab in the 1993 Sky Parade
held at an aerial exposition held at the Jackson Mississippi
International Airport over Labor Day.
In the competition, pilots attempt to manipulate their
balloons into position that permits them to grab a key from atop
a thirty foot high pole. Because of the complexity of the
maneuvers that are required this is a balloon show event that
rarely sees a winner. And when someone does succeed, the prize
is usually nothing larger than a new car.
But it was a lot more than a car -- or even two cars that
Vandaman wound up with. The prize for this key grab was fifty
thousand dollars in cold United States cash! Now you see why
the ARRL is saying that N5KBQ may be in the market for some new
ham gear. With these winnings he can set up a world class DX or
contest station and still have money to spare.
*****
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: 30 Nov 93 15:56:54 GMT
From: ogicse!uwm.edu!math.ohio-state.edu!howland.reston.ans.net!mrtnt.ntrs.com!tntvax!ddb@network.ucsd.edu
Subject: API for HAM CALL
To: info-hams@ucsd.edu
I'm about to buy the new HAMCALL CD.
Is there an API for the database, or is there a way to read it directly?
Dan Bowker - NY9K
bowker.dan@ntrs.com
Please note that any of the opinions (etc...) I may have expressed are my own
and don't reflect anyone else's (Including my employer).
------------------------------
Date: 29 Nov 1993 19:41:07 -0800
From: qualcomm.com!vixen.cso.uiuc.edu!howland.reston.ans.net!agate!apple.com!apple.com!not-for-mail@network.ucsd.edu
Subject: Ed Hare has no tie!
To: info-hams@ucsd.edu
ehare@arrl.org (Ed Hare - KA1CV) writes:
>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! :-)
I tell ya, Ed gets no respect.
First, the tie thing, and now, I find that his book review that is
supposed to appear in QEX is nowhere to be found. Jon mentions it
in the editorial, but I looked everywhere. I looked for it in the
fine print, I looked to see if it was masquerading in Beezley's
NEC ad, I even looked to see if it appeared as comments within the
program listings. Still couldn't find it. Did his own colleague,
The Editor, axe the article? Too bad, it probably would have been
more interesting reading than some of the other stuff in November's
QEX :-).
To rectify this injustice, I think QST should publish Ed's photo
in the next issue. WithOUT a tie, of course :-).
73,
Kok Chen, AA6TY kchen@apple.com
Apple Computer, Inc.
------------------------------
Date: 30 Nov 1993 05:59:55 GMT
From: pacbell.com!sgiblab!spool.mu.edu!howland.reston.ans.net!math.ohio-state.edu!caen!malgudi.oar.net!wariat.org!gazpacho.wariat.org!jamie@network.ucsd.edu
Subject: For Sale: icom IC-W2A, access.
To: info-hams@ucsd.edu
For sale immediately:
icom IC-W2a Dual Band 2m/70cm Handheld
Pager/DTMF/dual VFO/priority watch/code squelch/clock/timer
Cross band repeater option (fun).. all the nifty bells and whistles :)
Incl. slo charger/NiCD
BP-84 1000 maH NiCD battery pack
BP-90 Alkaline(AA) battery pack
HM-70 Speakermike
Very good condition.. had unit since Summer 93, used only for recv, and
occasionally for Xmit (Im not lic'd) by friends. Cap on antenna is
in lala land, HAM shop quoted $1.19 to replace. :)
Still have boxes, warranty card, Operating guide, schematic..
Amateur Electronic Supply list is ~$475 new (QST) for package.. I am
completely open to any offers.. will ship 2nd day no xtra cost..
"73"
jamie
jamie@wariat.org
--
jamie rishaw
jamie@wariat.org
You've been a very bad boy. Go to my room.
------------------------------
Date: 30 Nov 1993 03:15:47 GMT
From: munnari.oz.au!uniwa!harbinger.cc.monash.edu.au!yeshua.marcam.com!news.kei.com!bloom-beacon.mit.edu!noc.near.net!news.delphi.com!gilbaronw0mn@network.ucsd.edu
Subject: HAM-server index file
To: info-hams@ucsd.edu
>ARRLINDX.TXT 17591 3-02-93
>ARRLINFO.TXT 3321 2-02-93
>ARRLJOB.TXT 18455 2-02-93
Why do we WASTE bandwidth with long garbage like this list of files? The
place for that is in a data base somewhere. If you want this list you should
ftp it or have it emailed to you. IT DOES NOT BELONG on the newsgroup taking
up an obscene amount of space.
Gil Baron, El Baron Rojo, W0MN Rochester,MN
"Bailar es Vivir"
PGP2.X key at key servers or upon request
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 30 Nov 1993 05:36:47 GMT
From: news.Hawaii.Edu!uhunix3.uhcc.Hawaii.Edu!jherman@ames.arpa
Subject: HAM-server index file
To: info-hams@ucsd.edu
In article <9311292209591.gilbaronw0mn.DLITE@delphi.com> gilbaronw0mn@delphi.com (Gilbert Baron) writes:
>>ARRLINDX.TXT 17591 3-02-93
>>ARRLINFO.TXT 3321 2-02-93
>>ARRLJOB.TXT 18455 2-02-93
>
>Why do we WASTE bandwidth with long garbage like this list of files? The
>place for that is in a data base somewhere. If you want this list you should
>ftp it or have it emailed to you. IT DOES NOT BELONG on the newsgroup taking
>up an obscene amount of space.
>
> Gil Baron, El Baron Rojo, W0MN Rochester,MN
Phooey on you Gil! I for one am glad to see the list of files. This
ham-server is a gold mine of info - I've gotten so many goodies off
that list - I would have never known what they had to offer unless
they had posted on here.
Jeff NH6IL
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 25 Nov 93 00:35:38 MST
From: mvb.saic.com!unogate!news.service.uci.edu!usc!cs.utexas.edu!asuvax!ennews!stat!david@network.ucsd.edu
Subject: HF Priv for Advanced Licensee
To: info-hams@ucsd.edu
I'm just getting back on HF after a 15 year absence ... is there a
server someplace that would have the list of available HF frequencies I
can use with my Advanced license?
david wb7tpy
---
Editor, HICNet Medical Newsletter
Internet: david@stat.com FAX: +1 (602) 451-6135
Bitnet : ATW1H@ASUACAD
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 30 Nov 1993 02:51:22 GMT
From: spsgate!mogate!newsgate!nuntius@uunet.uu.net
Subject: Modem Software to Alert Many Pagers?
To: info-hams@ucsd.edu
Subject: Re: Modem Software to Alert Many Pagers?
From: William A. Frieder, friederw@freenet2.scri.fsu.edu
In article <2d2n07$qkm@mailer.fsu.edu> William A. Frieder,
friederw@freenet2.scri.fsu.edu writes:
>If you get a response that looks promising I would sure like to know
>what you came up with. I have been passively looking for the same
>thing for some time for our jump team! 73
>--
If you have a mac, "Notify!" by Ex Machina will work.
212-831-3142
Rick Aldom
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 30 Nov 1993 03:02:45 GMT
From: spsgate!mogate!newsgate!nuntius@uunet.uu.net
Subject: modifiable radios
To: info-hams@ucsd.edu
In article <754339940.AA01756@rochgte.fidonet.org> David Stark,
David.Stark@p2.f333.n2613.z1.fidonet.org writes:
> > On the other hand, where is the compelling need for amateurs to
transmit
> > beyond the terms of their licenses on frequencies allocated by the FCC
> > to public safety agencies? Why do so many hams feel that they have an
> > absolute right to any piece of spectrum at any time?
I think you have missed the point. In the original thread, the injury
was believed to be serious enough to prevent movement or transport. The
ham involved made reasonable efforts to use the ham spectrum and a cell
phone. Put yourself in the shoes of the guy on the ground spurting
blood.....His friend used his HT in a RESPONSIBLE fashion. He ASKED for
permission before continuing his report. He cleared the frequency when
it was appropriate. I hope if I am on the ground with a serious injury
that someone will risk the red tape and do the morally correct act of
getting me help even if it means using a radio or starting a signal
fire......
I feel morally responsible to save a life......Do you?
------------------------------
Date: 1 Dec 93 02:51:50 GMT
From: ogicse!emory!europa.eng.gtefsd.com!howland.reston.ans.net!noc.near.net!news.delphi.com!tedtrost@network.ucsd.edu
Subject: Repeater calling procedure (Was: Elm
To: info-hams@ucsd.edu
>In article <CH9L8F.n4E@mentor.cc.purdue.edu> Bill Blum,
>blumb@sage.cc.purdue.edu writes:
>
>having a hard time doing is figuring out how to talk
>to a stranger but new member of the brother(and sister)hood with out
>hurting their feelings, making them think we are being uppity, or
>generally creating some sort of bad feelings.
I was previously licensed in Canada (VE3TTD), and one of the first things I
did was to join a repeater club. In addition to the latest newsletter,
their first mailer to me included the link map, autopatch codes, repeater
FAQ, and etiquette guidelines. Although I had listened for a while while
waiting for my license, there were several good pointers. They were, of
course, interested in proper use of the repeater, and instead of expecting
others to learn by trial and error, they made an attempt at creating a
"proper" repeater user out of every new member out there.
I would suggest having something like the above made up for your
repeater(s), and offering it to new licensees when they are heard (with
mistakes, or without). Offering it "to make it easier to those who are new
to THIS repeater" should take the sting out of it by making it clear that it
is for thier benefit.
Ted Trost
Internet: tedtrost@delphi.com Delphi: TEDTROST CompuServe: 71175,1043
Amateur Radio call pending.
"I want to decide who lives and who dies." --Crow, MST3K
------------------------------
Date: 30 Nov 1993 03:16:06 GMT
From: munnari.oz.au!uniwa!harbinger.cc.monash.edu.au!yeshua.marcam.com!news.kei.com!bloom-beacon.mit.edu!noc.near.net!news.delphi.com!gilbaronw0mn@network.ucsd.edu
Subject: Repeater calling procedure (Was: Elm
To: info-hams@ucsd.edu
>In rec.radio.amateur.misc, sds@cs.brown.edu (Scott Swanson) writes:
>>>If you want to talk to someone on a repeater, just say so.
>>>"Monitoring" means just that. Call CQ, or say "anyone wanna talk?" or
I never did understand why CQ on the repeater is frowned upon. Isn't it
really the same thing when you say monitoring. Maybe CQ CQ etc doesn't sound
quite right but what is wrong with W0MN on the frequency. I would
apppreciate a call to chat. Repeated once or something along that line. I
know it is frowned on but that is because most repeaters are more of a
private clique than anything else and people don't want to talk to anyone
that is not a part of that and they hate to be asked to because it makes them
realize that they are ignoring people.
Gil Baron, El Baron Rojo, W0MN Rochester,MN
"Bailar es Vivir"
PGP2.X key at key servers or upon request
------------------------------
Date: 29 Nov 93 20:35:05 GMT
From: newsstand.cit.cornell.edu!newsstand.cit.cornell.edu!usenet@cu-arpa.cs.cornell.edu
Subject: Repeater calling procedure (Was: Elmers are dead, god help us hams!)
To: info-hams@ucsd.edu
In article <CH9L8F.n4E@mentor.cc.purdue.edu> Bill Blum,
blumb@sage.cc.purdue.edu writes:
>I was going to take my HT to a friends apt. and check the SWR of a 1/4w I
>made using his wattmeter.... on my way out of my apt. building, I checked
>my mailbox. 30 seconds later, I was keying up. :)
>
>"N9VLS monitoring...."
>
>Two hams who were chatting about traffic seemed utterly oblivious to my
>call.... a third ham joined in.... then, I hear:
Ummm, you dropped your "monitoring" call in on top of an ongoing
conversation?? Or was it quiet and the guys started up chatting about the
traffic a moment or two after you made your call? If you just popped in
on top of them saying you were monitoring, it would be a fair assumption
on their part that you weren't listening where you were transmitting and
might not actually be making a call that involved them. (i.e. confused
about what offset, memory, whatever. If some talks over a conversation
here, we give him a moment to figure out what is wrong) If you were
monitoring, you would have known that a conversation was in progress.
>
>"You know...I thought I heard a new ham in there...."
>"Bet he7s a nocode....."
I'd have said - "Hey a new guy, welcome in. Is this your first qso?" and
then tried to help you out getting things squared away - maybe taken you
over on simplex to talk about the local etiquette on the repeater.
The no-code crack is just a burr up somebody's saddle. We have all kinds
of new folks here, coded and not, and you can't tell them by the manners
on the air. We've taken to trying to give them some in class 'operating
experience' to sort out the typical newbie errors though. With mixed
success (so we have to figure out how to help them better! :-)
>
>"Let's drag him in shall we?"
>"Yeah, let's..."
>"n9VLS, N9VLS, <callsign removed to protect the local ham community>,
>welcome to ham radio."
>
Well, at least they did welcome you. It sounds like you might have
started off on the wrong foot by busting into the middle of an ongoing
conversation (or I could be misinterpreting what you wrote about how
things went) - which is kind of rude. You wouldn't do that to a couple of
strangers in the mall would you? So why would you do it on the repeater?
(because you were really excited about a new ticket is a good excuse! :-)
A good rule of thumb is be polite - more polite than you would if you
were face to face. (not a bad policy here either, you've probably watched
lots of flame wars start here over trivial things that might have passed
face to face) I would have been a bit taken aback, but once I realized
you were new, would have cut you a lot of slack, and maybe tried to
suggest that wasn't the best way to join into a conversation.
Here's something you can do to help me. We have a lot of new techs on the
repeater (like everywhere else I guess) and some of them are bringing
habits that kind of ruffle other people's feathers. A bunch of us have
been talking about it and while we can agree on what we'd like to see
change, what we are having a hard time doing is figuring out how to talk
to a stranger but new member of the brother(and sister)hood with out
hurting their feelings, making them think we are being uppity, or
generally creating some sort of bad feelings.
We don't want to put down anybody, or their previous radio habits. We
don't want to make them feel unwelcome. We don't want to make them feel
there is a clique and nobody else is invited. We don't want to come
across as technical holier than thous. We'd just like to see the repeater
run more or less as it has, with more, new, and varied people to share it
with. As someone who is sort of in the other side of the equation, how
would you suggest we communicate our wishes/feelings/rules of the
repeater without making someone feel uncomfortable?
Mostly we've been leading by example, taking pains to include newcomers
in the larger group, and just gritting our teeth at the "The Personal
here is..." and other irritations - but it's starting to become an issue
that is dividing the repeater denizens into two groups, the newbies who
tend to talk mostly to each other because many of them know each other
and the pre-existing hams who tend also to talk to each other and not the
newbies because they find some of the new habits really annoying. This
tends to reinforce the division, and both groups will tend to solidify in
time I'm afraid. I think we would do a lot better if we could just say
"that's really irritating, could you cut that out?" in a friendly (!) way
and get past it and talk about important stuff - like the weather :-) So
I'm really looking for suggestions here and appreciate any feedback you
can give me. We could do this via email if you prefer. Or keep it here
and see if it can develop into a useful dialog instead of a flamewar.
>Fun welcome.
>
It's happened to me to when travelling or showing up on new modes and
stuff. I'd concentrate on having fun and let it go. There's too much good
stuff in the hobby to let a couple of experiences like that spoil it for
you.
73 for now, and welcome to ham radio.
Kevin, WB2EMS
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 30 Nov 1993 05:55:25 GMT
From: mentor.cc.purdue.edu!sage.cc.purdue.edu!blumb@purdue.edu
Subject: Repeater calling procedure (Was: Elmers are dead, god help us hams!)
To: info-hams@ucsd.edu
ARGH!
Maybe I didn't explain my first QSO very well.........
I listened for a few minutes.....
I -waited- for a break in the convo to give my "N9VLS monitoring" call....
(I know that doubling over someone is a Bad Thing.)
I knew I had a chance when one ham said he was pulling into a gas station,
and away from his mike.....
And, they weren't ragging me about being a lazy nocode.
They were quite happy to see me on the air.
It was a FUN welcome.
--
Bill Blum N9VLS blumb@sage.cc.purdue.edu Purdue University, W. Lafayette, IN
Reality is for those who can't handle subscribing to IASFM and Model Railroader
------------------------------
Date: 1 Dec 93 09:02:21 GMT
From: simtel.coast.net!msdos-ann-request@uunet.uu.net
Subject: smith14.zip - Hams: Interactive Smith chart calculator
To: info-hams@ucsd.edu
I have uploaded to the SimTel Software Repository (available by anonymous
ftp from the primary mirror site OAK.Oakland.Edu and its mirrors):
pub/msdos/hamradio/
smith14.zip Hams: Interactive Smith chart calculator
This program is a Smith chart calculator. It displays on an EGA screen
the impedance chart, the admittance chart, the coefficient of reflection
chart and the Q chart.
An info display and a graphics cursor is used to explore numerically the
plane. Elements (impedances, capacitors, inductors, transmission lines,
stubs and ideal transformers) are entered by the keyboard and the resulting
graph is immediately drawn on the chart. Up to two parameters of each
element can be trimmed using two individual keys (up and down, upper and
lower case).
The program offers: hardcopy, frequency sweep, circle drawing, montecarlo
analysis, schematic synthesis, and autotuning. A pop-up calculator for
complex numbers is also included.
smith14.zip has replaced smith13.zip.
Uploaded by the author.
Greetings,
Giorgio Fontana
fontana@itnvax.science.unitn.it
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 29 Nov 1993 04:59:29 GMT
From: elroy.jpl.nasa.gov!swrinde!gatech!asuvax!ennews!anasaz!john@decwrl.dec.com
Subject: Talk America Radio Network
To: info-hams@ucsd.edu
wy1z@splinter.coe.northeastern.edu (Scott Ehrlich) writes:
>I would like to compile a listing of broadcast stations across the
>country which carry the Talk America Radio Network.
>This network carries the following shows (that I know of):
>Computer Exchange, 1700 - 1900 UTC (12pm - 2pm EST)
>Modem Mania, 1900 - 2000 UTC (2pm - 3pm EST)
>A Ham Radio Talkshow (I forget the name), 2300 - 2400 UTC (6pm - 7pm EST)
>The local affiliate of Talk America in the Greater Boston area is:
>1510 AM, WSSH
>
>I'll post a summary if I receive enough responses.
>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?
Hey, Scott, aren't you the guy that called into our show today to
talk about the internet? That was our very first national call.
I'll try to get a list of Talk America stations. I should point out that
the show is not limitted to Talk America. Any station can take it off the
satellite and use it (I'm not sure of what they must do to get permission,
but I am told it does not include being an affiliate of Talk America).
John Moore NJ7E
Cohost - Ham Radio and More
--
DISCLAIMER: These views are mine alone, and do not reflect my employer's!
John Moore 7525 Clearwater Pkwy, Scottsdale, AZ 85253 USA (602-951-9326)
john@anasazi.com Amateur call:NJ7E Civil Air Patrol:Thunderbird 381
- - My gun is safer than Ted Kennedy's car - -
- - - "It is better to be judged by twelve, than carried by six." - - -
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 24 Nov 93 22:42:38 MST
From: mvb.saic.com!unogate!news.service.uci.edu!usc!cs.utexas.edu!asuvax!ennews!stat!david@network.ucsd.edu
Subject: TS50a
To: info-hams@ucsd.edu
Is there an out-of-band transmit mod for the TS50 for MARS etc
operation?
david wb7tpy
---
Editor, HICNet Medical Newsletter
Internet: david@stat.com FAX: +1 (602) 451-6135
Bitnet : ATW1H@ASUACAD
------------------------------
Date: 29 Nov 1993 20:12:34 -0800
From: pacbell.com!sgiblab!spool.mu.edu!agate!apple.com!apple.com!not-for-mail@network.ucsd.edu
To: info-hams@ucsd.edu
References <1993Nov26.200816.19512@combdyn.com>, <754583670.19snx@mu.apana.org.au>, <Nov29.194927.39093@yuma.ACNS.ColoState.EDU>
Subject : Re: Calculating SWR
galen@picea.CFNR.ColoState.EDU (Galen Watts) writes:
>In article <754583670.19snx@mu.apana.org.au> jmorris@mu.apana.org.au (James Morris) writes:
>>In article <1993Nov26.200816.19512@combdyn.com> lawrence@combdyn.com writes:
>>>
>>>How do you calculate SWR? I have a power meter...and I can measure the forward
>>>and reflected power. How to I take the two values to determine the SWR?
>>
>>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.
America as in the U. S. of A. or does that include Canada? The
original poser of the question posted from Canada, I believe.
We all know how easy the written tests are in the U.S., but don't
the folks up in the great white north have to take real tests?
73,
Kok Chen, AA6TY kchen@apple.com
Apple Computer, Inc.
------------------------------
End of Info-Hams Digest V93 #1408
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