Date: Sat, 11 Dec 93 04:30:12 PST
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Subject: Info-Hams Digest V93 #1450
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Info-Hams Digest            Sat, 11 Dec 93       Volume 93 : Issue 1450

Today's Topics:
     Daily Summary of Solar Geophysical Activity for 08 December
                           Motorola Radios
                       Recommendations on HT's
                    RF Ground for 2nd story shack?
                       Scratchi, January, 1960
                    Yaesu FT-530 receiver problem

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policies or positions of any party.  Your mileage may vary.  So there.
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Date: Wed, 8 Dec 1993 20:51:39 MST
From: pacbell.com!sgiblab!swrinde!cs.utexas.edu!math.ohio-state.edu!news.cyberstore.ca!nntp.cs.ubc.ca!alberta!adec23!ve6mgs!usenet@network.ucsd.edu
Subject: Daily Summary of Solar Geophysical Activity for 08 December
To: info-hams@ucsd.edu

                /\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\

                 DAILY SUMMARY OF SOLAR GEOPHYSICAL ACTIVITY

                                08 DECEMBER, 1993

                /\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\

                  (Based In-Part On SESC Observational Data)


SOLAR AND GEOPHYSICAL ACTIVITY INDICES FOR 08 DECEMBER, 1993
------------------------------------------------------------

!!BEGIN!! (1.0) S.T.D. Solar Geophysical Data Broadcast for DAY 342, 12/08/93
10.7 FLUX=105.1  90-AVG=097        SSN=084      BKI=5565 5331  BAI=038
BGND-XRAY=B2.1     FLU1=1.2E+06  FLU10=1.1E+04  PKI=5666 5442  PAI=051
  BOU-DEV=100,100,123,079,105,025,30319,005   DEV-AVG=3857 NT     SWF=00:000
 XRAY-MAX= C1.8   @ 0941UT    XRAY-MIN= B1.7   @ 1758UT   XRAY-AVG= B3.0
NEUTN-MAX= +001%  @ 0800UT   NEUTN-MIN= -004%  @ 1730UT  NEUTN-AVG= -1.2%
  PCA-MAX= +0.1DB @ 1050UT     PCA-MIN= -0.4DB @ 1120UT    PCA-AVG= -0.0DB
BOUTF-MAX=55373NT @ 0226UT   BOUTF-MIN=55306NT @ 1106UT  BOUTF-AVG=55337NT
GOES7-MAX=P:+000NT@ 0000UT   GOES7-MIN=N:+000NT@ 0000UT  G7-AVG=+033,+000,+000
GOES6-MAX=P:+104NT@ 1729UT   GOES6-MIN=N:-117NT@ 0732UT  G6-AVG=+058,+038,-065
 FLUXFCST=STD:105,100,100;SESC:105,100,100 BAI/PAI-FCST=015,010,010/023,015,010
    KFCST=3345 6321 1223 5322  27DAY-AP=006,005   27DAY-KP=2322 2111 2221 2111
 WARNINGS=*SWF;*GSTRM;*AURMIDWCH
   ALERTS=**MINSTRM
!!END-DATA!!

NOTE: The Effective Sunspot Number for 07 DEC 93 was  48.0.
      The Full Kp Indices for 07 DEC 93 are: 3- 1+ 1- 2-   5- 4- 3+ 4- 


SYNOPSIS OF ACTIVITY
--------------------

             Solar activity was low. Region 7629 (S21W13) continued to
       simplify, producing two C-class flares in the process. A 17
       degree-long filament disappeared from S39E32 early in the day.
       A prominence erupted from N13E90 during the latter part of the
       period.

            Solar activity forecast:  solar activity is expected to be
       low.

            The geomagnetic field varied from unsettled to major storm
       conditions over the past 24 hours. This disturbance is
       occurring during what had been a recurrent quiet interval over
       the past five months. It is not clear as to what transitory
       phenomenon caused the storming.

            Geophysical activity forecast:  the geomagnetic field is
       expected to be unsettled to active over the next 24 hours, as
       the disturbance wanes. Strictly unsettled conditions should
       end the period.

       STD: Auroral activity was observed into the northern United
       States over the last 24 hours.  Several reports of strong
       activity were received early in the UTC day, including color
       variations and rapid pulsations.  Activity has since subsided
       substantially. Conditions are no longer visible over the middle
       latitudes.

            Event probabilities 09 dec-11 dec

                             Class M    10/10/10
                             Class X    01/01/01
                             Proton     01/01/01
                             PCAF       Green

            Geomagnetic activity probabilities 09 dec-11 dec

                        A.  Middle Latitudes
                        Active                50/30/15
                        Minor Storm           25/15/05
                        Major-Severe Storm    05/05/01

                        B.  High Latitudes
                        Active                45/35/30
                        Minor Storm           35/25/10
                        Major-Severe Storm    10/05/05

            STD: HF propagation conditions were well below-normal over
       the last 24 hours.  Strong geomagnetic and auroral activity
       produced a particularly strong corresponding ionospheric
       disturbance over the middle, high, and polar latitude regions.
       MUFs were depressed by up to 40 percent for high-latitude
       paths.  This, combined with periods of strong fading,
       multipathing, and auroral absorption, resulted in near-useless
       propagation for transauroral and many transpolar circuits.
       Middle latitude paths also saw periods of strong signal
       degradation, particularly during the local night hours.
       Conditions began improving fairly rapidly after 18:00 UTC and
       are now well on the way toward reaching near-normal levels by
       the end of 09 December for most regions.  Australian stations
       have reported periods of strong continent-wide VHF
       communications (including TV) on frequencies approaching (and
       perhaps in a few cases exceeding) 100 MHz, likely attributed to
       persistent sporadic-E.


COPIES OF JOINT USAF/NOAA SESC SOLAR GEOPHYSICAL REPORTS
========================================================

REGIONS WITH SUNSPOTS. LOCATIONS VALID AT 08/2400Z DECEMBER
-----------------------------------------------------------
NMBR LOCATION  LO  AREA  Z   LL   NN MAG TYPE
7627  S18W38  108  0020 CSO  04  003 BETA
7629  S21W13  083  0120 DAO  10  026 BETA
7630  S09W13  083  0120 DAO  09  025 BETA
REGIONS DUE TO RETURN 09 DECEMBER TO 11 DECEMBER
NMBR LAT    LO
7618 N07   339


LISTING OF SOLAR ENERGETIC EVENTS FOR 08 DECEMBER, 1993
-------------------------------------------------------
BEGIN  MAX  END  RGN   LOC   XRAY  OP 245MHZ 10CM   SWEEP
NONE


POSSIBLE CORONAL MASS EJECTION EVENTS FOR 08 DECEMBER, 1993
-----------------------------------------------------------
 BEGIN        MAX      END     LOCATION   TYPE   SIZE  DUR  II IV
08/A0224             B1509       S35E21   DSF
08/A0930             B2210       S38E20   DSF    C1.8   18
08/ 1937     1941     2013       S10W11   LDE    B8.3   36


INFERRED CORONAL HOLES. LOCATIONS VALID AT 08/2400Z
---------------------------------------------------
               ISOLATED HOLES AND POLAR EXTENSIONS
      EAST   SOUTH  WEST   NORTH  CAR  TYPE  POL  AREA   OBSN
                 NO DATA AVAILABLE FOR ANALYSIS


SUMMARY OF FLARE EVENTS FOR THE PREVIOUS UTC DAY
------------------------------------------------

 Date   Begin  Max   End  Xray  Op Region  Locn    2695 MHz  8800 MHz  15.4 GHz
------  ----  ----  ----  ----  -- ------ ------  --------- --------- ---------
07 Dec: 0030  0050  0104  C3.8  SF  7629  S22E12                       
        0208  0219  0229  C4.2  SF  7629  S21E12                       
        0415  0423  0429  C1.7  SF  7629  S21E10                       
        0618  0623  0630  C1.0                                         
        0711  0712  0732        SF  7629  S22E09                       
        0819  0828  0832  B9.3  SF  7627  S18W11                       
        0837  0845  0849  B9.6                                         
        1129  1206  1221  B8.0                                         
        1500  1508  1513  B4.5                                         
        1715  1722  1720  B6.2                                         
        1943  1950  1959  B5.7                                         
        2047  2052  2056  B6.2  SF  7630  S11E02                       
        2159  2203  2210  B3.3                                         


REGION FLARE STATISTICS FOR THE PREVIOUS UTC DAY
------------------------------------------------

                C   M   X     S   1   2   3   4   Total   (%)
               --  --  --    --  --  --  --  --    ---  ------
  Region 7627:  0   0   0     1   0   0   0   0    001  ( 7.7)
  Region 7629:  3   0   0     4   0   0   0   0    004  (30.8)
  Region 7630:  0   0   0     1   0   0   0   0    001  ( 7.7)
Uncorrellated: 1   0   0     0   0   0   0   0    007  (53.8)

 Total Events: 013 optical and x-ray.


EVENTS WITH SWEEPS AND/OR OPTICAL PHENOMENA FOR THE LAST UTC DAY
----------------------------------------------------------------

 Date   Begin  Max   End  Xray  Op Region  Locn    Sweeps/Optical Observations
------  ----  ----  ----  ----  -- ------ ------   ---------------------------
07 Dec: 2159  2203  2210  B3.3                     III

NOTES:
     All times are in Universal Time (UT).  Characters preceding begin, max,
     and end times are defined as:  B = Before,  U = Uncertain,  A = After.
     All times associated with x-ray flares (ex. flares which produce
     associated x-ray bursts) refer to the begin, max, and end times of the
     x-rays.  Flares which are not associated with x-ray signatures use the
     optical observations to determine the begin, max, and end times.

     Acronyms used to identify sweeps and optical phenomena include:

          II        = Type II Sweep Frequency Event
          III       = Type III Sweep
          IV        = Type IV Sweep
          V         = Type V Sweep
          Continuum = Continuum Radio Event
          Loop      = Loop Prominence System,
          Spray     = Limb Spray,
          Surge     = Bright Limb Surge,
          EPL       = Eruptive Prominence on the Limb.


**  End of Daily Report  **

------------------------------

Date: 9 Dec 93 23:57:47 GMT
From: psinntp!pool!osay@uunet.uu.net
Subject: Motorola Radios
To: info-hams@ucsd.edu

 I need to know where to find good prices on Motorola radios.  The fire
 department I belong to in going to purchase some new Hi-Lo band radios
 in the near future and we would like to get a good price.

 I know this is not a ateur radio request, but I thought someone out
 there would know a good distributor of Motorola products.  BTW I dont
 know the exact model number of the radios yet.

Thanks for any help.

  P.S.  Please send E-mail to this account (This is the account of a 
        friend but I can can use the account to get the replies)

  osay@sunyit.edu

------------------------------

Date: 11 Dec 93 10:03:39 GMT
From: news-mail-gateway@ucsd.edu
Subject: Recommendations on HT's
To: info-hams@ucsd.edu

I'm a brand-spanking new ham, and I'm currently radioless.  I've heard
or seen good things about the Standard C-168A, Icom IC-W2A, and Motorolas
in general.  From a (relatively biased, I might add) local ham group, I
recieved the general consensus that Alinco HT's aren't worth the boxes they
come in.  Discussions in this forum have not changed this opinion, although
some people have said that they like their Alinco's.  I'm not looking for
flames here, but simply reviews/recommendations for HT's.  I'm a college
student (no extra $ here!!!), and I'd like 5W capability.  2m/440 dualband
would be nice, but maybe a dream for the $ I'm willing to spend ($200 tops
for 2m only, $300 for dualband).  If anyone has any suggestions/help/extra
radios :-), please email me with them.  If I get enough, I'll compile them
and post them on the forum for other new hams like me.

I'm also looking for a TNC, like a KPC-3 or PK-88.

Thanks a lot.

73, Scott Gigot     N9VOM
segigot@students.wisc.edu

     Now I have my ticket, but when will the FCC send me my radio?

------------------------------

Date: Wed, 8 Dec 1993 14:41:44 GMT
From: news.cerf.net!pagesat!olivea!sgigate.sgi.com!sgiblab!swrinde!cs.utexas.edu!howland.reston.ans.net!sol.ctr.columbia.edu!news.unomaha.edu!cwis.unomaha.edu!rerickso@network.ucsd.edu
Subject: RF Ground for 2nd story shack?
To: info-hams@ucsd.edu

Another way I have heard to do it is to use old RG-8 type
coax and run the inner connector to earth ground and
a .01 ufd/1000 volt capcitor on each end of the coax going
from the shield to inner connector.  The shield then is
floating.   What you want to avoid is grounding any 1/4-wave
radials to an earth ground to kill off the RF.  You want only
one wire or inner conductor to earth ground and at least
two or three 8-foot ground rods at least 10-foot apart brazened
with hard solder.  If you use soft solder or a mechanical
connection, in time you could have a resistance induced into
your ground connection which is no good at RF and maybe DC
return to earth.

I would try the coax with capacitors before I would run 1/4-wave
radials.  I think the MFJ ground tuner might be worth having if
you can afford it.

73,

Ron
AK0N
rerickso@cwis.unomaha.edu

------------------------------

Date: Wed, 8 Dec 1993 14:20:35 GMT
From: netcomsv!netcom.com!greg@decwrl.dec.com
Subject: Scratchi, January, 1960
To: info-hams@ucsd.edu

In article <CHp2FM.4s6@srgenprp.sr.hp.com> alanb@sr.hp.com (Alan Bloom) writes:
>Faith Senie (fms@sw.stratus.com) wrote:
>: I must be missing something.  Could somebody please explain to me how the 
>: Scratchi article was racist?  I certainly didn't read anything racist in it.
>: Matter of fact, I rather liked the article.  
>
>I'm not old enough to have read the "Scratchi" column in CQ when it first
>came out, but I have seen plenty of back issues, so it never occurred to me
>that people wouldn't realize that Scratchi was Japanese.  But sure enough,
>there is nothing in the posted article that would give the unitiated a clue.

I think there is. The specific pidgin idiom used is one which was commonly
used by Americans to mimic Japanese.

The important thing to remember (and please get this):

The people being offended (Japanese people, Japanese-Americans, and other
Asian people) will very quickly recognize the offensive idiom. They have
been sensitized to that kind of stereotype and are a deal better at realizing
than all the apologists with European surnames who have posted in Scratchi's
defense.

>(The magazine articles included a drawing of the "author" with obviously
>oriental features.)

More like an 'oriental caricature.' Again, an offensive idiom because it
is the way in which the white race mocked or sterotyped the Asian.

>I can understand how the pidgin English might be offensive to some Asians.
>It is worth mentioning, though, that I don't ever remember any other type
>of racial slur in any of the Scratchi articles.  In other words, Scratchi's
>personality was not such as to propagate the "evil, devious" stereotype
>of Japanese prevalent at the time.

That was only one of the stereotypes which operated at that time. Another
was the hapless, amusing little man who is always bowing and saying 
'honorable.' 'Oriental people are all very polite, and the women are
very good housekeepers,' to quote my Grandma. 

All of these stereotypes are offensive to many Asians. It's a truism that
people don't like to be sterotyped, even with supposedly positive 
characteristics. The clearest example is the old saw about rhythm being
"in the blood" of black people. It took many of us a damn long time to
get through our heads that that is really offensive. Most of us have
learned it, by now.

This has been an interesting discussion. It makes it clear to me that
there are still a number of so-called intellectuals who understand very
little about the politics of prejudice. That many of these addresses
seem to come from academic institutions, where there is so much opportunity
to learn what it's like from the other side, is truly sad.

Greg

------------------------------

Date: Fri, 10 Dec 1993 15:05:55 GMT
From: mvb.saic.com!unogate!news.service.uci.edu!usc!howland.reston.ans.net!torn!news.ccs.queensu.ca!venus!pas@network.ucsd.edu
Subject: Yaesu FT-530 receiver problem
To: info-hams@ucsd.edu

In article <CHr58y.DCB@cbnewsj.cb.att.com>, ker@mtgzfs3.att.com (131P2[sfm]-k.e.roser(MT4084)1047MT) writes:
|> Has anyone noticed a problem with their FT-530, with weak 2 meter
|> signals having a clicking sound, something like automobile ignition
|> noise, on the received audio?  My radio exhibited this problem and so
|> did my friends brand-new unit.  Other friends didn't notice this problem
|> on the 530s until I pointed it out to them.  Apparently it's quite a
|> widespread problem.  The noise originates in the radio!  I've held other
|> 2 Meter HTs side-by-side with the 530 and the other radios also pick up
|> this noise.
|> 
|> A call to Yaesu revealed this is a known problem and they have a fix to
|> eliminate the noise.  Just wanted to let the net know just in case
|> anyone's warranty is about to expire.
|> 
|> My friend's radio has been repaired already by Yaesu.  He reports the
|> noise is now gone.  My radio's on the way back from California as I type
|> this.  Hopefully mine is fixed too!

Yes, mine does that too.   It's a click with a slight chirp
characteristic to it.   I'd be interested in knowing what
the fix is.   I've heard that some manufacturer fixes
reduce radio performance :-(  Wasn't there a intermod fix
for some brand of HT that simply reduced sensitivity?  I
would guess the fix in this case won't... Please post the
outcome of your dealings with Yaesu; I think the community
would be interested.

Peter

PS:  Has anyone ever seen a user-written user guide to the 
FT530?   I come across undocumented how-to's every once in a
while.   For example, pusing PTT when the unit is off 
changes the time display to reveal the seconds!

Peter A. Stokes ______________________ Voice & Voice mail: (613) 545-2923
Engineering Applications Support ____________________ FAX: (613) 548-8104
Canadian Microelectronics Corporation ________________ Net: stokes@cmc.ca
Kingston, Ontario, CANADA _________________________________ Radio: VE3ZXT

------------------------------

End of Info-Hams Digest V93 #1450
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