Date: Mon, 3 Jan 94 21:34:08 PST
From: Info-Hams Mailing List and Newsgroup <info-hams@ucsd.edu>
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Subject: Info-Hams Digest V93 #1540
To: Info-Hams
Info-Hams Digest Mon, 3 Jan 94 Volume 93 : Issue 1540
Today's Topics:
"Renewal" batteries -- a note
ARLD071 DX News (2 msgs)
Bad Ham Company
Buckmaster HAMCALL CD-ROM
Disability Waivers for CW scam (2 msgs)
FFTMORSE
R&R associates keyer kit
Strange Antenna
Transmission Technology
UK scanner listeners arrested; called
Wanted: Morse code software
Where to Start? (3 msgs)
Send Replies or notes for publication to: <Info-Hams@UCSD.Edu>
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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
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policies or positions of any party. Your mileage may vary. So there.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: 4 Jan 94 01:23:00 GMT
From: news-mail-gateway@ucsd.edu
Subject: "Renewal" batteries -- a note
To: info-hams@ucsd.edu
In reference to the Rayovac Renewal batteries -
> Geoff-
> A problem with the idea of replacing NiCds with the new alkalines, is that
> it is necessary to recharge the alkalines relatively early, in order to
> realize the long life they are claimed to have. By not recharging until
> they reach zero volts, the number of times they can be recharged is
> reduced.
My father works as a process engineering manager for Rayovac, and when I
mentioned this to him, he said that their tests have been finding the
same results. He noted that their current charger units don't charge
much at all if the voltage of the battery is below 0.4 volts. However,
if an expended battery is allowed to sit overnight (or for a period of
several hours), it will recover voltage up to 1.2 volts, after which it
will charge better. Still, Rayovac will be updating their charger systems
to reduce/eliminate charging problems. (The new chargers should ship by
March.)
--Tim (no callsign yet - the application is probably sitting in a stack
of papers somewhere at the FCC...)
(thadley@macc.wisc.edu)
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 3 Jan 1994 07:33:24 -0700
From: library.ucla.edu!europa.eng.gtefsd.com!howland.reston.ans.net!math.ohio-state.edu!cyber2.cyberstore.ca!nntp.cs.ubc.ca!alberta!nebulus!ve6mgs!usenet@network.ucsd.edu
Subject: ARLD071 DX News
To: info-hams@ucsd.edu
SB DX @ ARL $ARLD071
ARLD071 DX news
ZCZC AE97
QST de W1AW
DX Bulletin 71 ARLD071
------------------------------
Date: 4 Jan 94 05:03:12 GMT
From: ogicse!emory!europa.eng.gtefsd.com!howland.reston.ans.net!noc.near.net!news.delphi.com!usenet@network.ucsd.edu
Subject: ARLD071 DX News
To: info-hams@ucsd.edu
Luck --
I just recently got onto the Internet, after basically being QRT on landline
BBSing after dropping the Prodigy membership last summer. It's nice to see
you here.
73 de Lee/KE3FB in Md.
leevankoten@delphi.com
------------------------------
Date: 3 Jan 1994 23:51:21 GMT
From: qualcomm.com!vixen.cso.uiuc.edu!howland.reston.ans.net!usenet.ins.cwru.edu!news.ysu.edu!yfn.ysu.edu!ag821@network.ucsd.edu
Subject: Bad Ham Company
To: info-hams@ucsd.edu
In a previous article, jholly@cup.hp.com (Jim Hollenback) says:
>Jeff Gold (ag821@yfn.ysu.edu) wrote:
>
> [stuff about bad keyer deleted]
>
>: Wrote a long letter and sent the chip back to R&R. Dick had chip for a
>: long time. .got it back today.. he told me to send it back to Bud
>: Southard.. no address or anything.. told me to check for a bad soldering
>: joint.. also gave me the address of Innovative Electronics and told me
>: to deal with them .. because that is where he gets the chips from..
>:
>: I bought the kit from R&R.. think they should have done something.
>:
>
>It seems that Bud Southard is the contact at Innovative Electronics and
>Bud deals with the problems with bad chips...Did you try to contact
>Innovative Electronics?
>
>What more would want R&R do for you? You feel that you may have isolated the
>problem with the kit. But then from the description of the problem it does
>seem likely you may have a bad solder joint. About the only other thing that
>crosses my mind is that R&R could have sent you a new chip. Are you sure you
>got your original chip back? Maybe R&R can't get returns from Innovative
>and that is why Dick suggested you contact Innovative.
>
>The days of Heathkit are only enjoyed in the history books. From what I
>have read about Ramsey on the net, you seem to have had the luck of getting
>you project working.
>
>73, Jim, WA6SDM
>
>
Jim,
Well, actually as I explained to him in the letter, I had spent a lot
of time checking it out before I sent it back. I had an Idiom press
version of the same keyer that I have had working for about 2 years. I
checked all the voltages and such. Finally I pulled the chip out of the
Idiom Press version and stuck it into the R&R keyer I built. everything
worked fine. I have built a lot of equipment.. there is NO doubt in this
case as to what the problem was.
I have been working in the computer busineess for about
12 years now. I am curently Manager of Computer Suport for a University
and have fixed many computer type devices. No matter how good the company,
there are bad chips. The chips usually go in the first 30 days or so.. in
their burn in period.
I would expect someone who has a business to stand behand their
product and not use the "ship it and forget it approach"
73
Jeff, AC4HF
--
Jeff M. Gold, AC4HF
Manager, Academic Computing Support
Tennessee Technological University
------------------------------
Date: 3 Jan 94 19:10:00 GMT
From: sdd.hp.com!vixen.cso.uiuc.edu!howland.reston.ans.net!pipex!uknet!ernie.almac.co.uk!almac!martin.briscoe@network.ucsd.edu
Subject: Buckmaster HAMCALL CD-ROM
To: info-hams@ucsd.edu
How does the Buckmaster HAMCALL CD-ROM get its information on non-USA
calls?
I have been looking through and there are a lot of mistakes, some are
mistakes in the RSGB produced call book, but many look as if someone has
just typed in the wrong details for a callsign.
I would have expected the information to be either straight off a computer
tape/disc or scanned from the text in the callbook, so just wonder how
there are so many mistakes - not typed in by hand I hope !
* RM 1.2 00964 * Martin Briscoe - Inverness-shire - Scotland
------------------------------
Date: 3 Jan 1994 23:10:00 GMT
From: library.ucla.edu!europa.eng.gtefsd.com!avdms8.msfc.nasa.gov!news.larc.nasa.gov!grissom.larc.nasa.gov!kludge@network.ucsd.edu
Subject: Disability Waivers for CW scam
To: info-hams@ucsd.edu
In article <rohvm1.mah48d-030194123800@136.141.220.39> rohvm1.mah48d@rohmhaas.com (John E. Taylor III) writes:
>
>The concensus among visually impaired amateurs I've spoken to is that they
>resent the CW waivers, and feel that they are quite capable of copying
>Morse. Of course they had already passed the Morse exam--but it does make
>one wonder if some of the people relying on the waivers aren't getting a
>free ride rather than legitimate relief for a handicap.
My grandmother was blind from about age fifteen, the result of a detached
retina. She could do 30 wpm with a straight key, and was the reason I
first got interested in amateur radio.
--scott
--
"C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 3 Jan 1994 12:40:06 -0500
From: library.ucla.edu!europa.eng.gtefsd.com!howland.reston.ans.net!sol.ctr.columbia.edu!hamblin.math.byu.edu!yvax.byu.edu!cunyvm!rohvm1!rohvm1.mah48d@network.ucsd.edu
Subject: Disability Waivers for CW scam
To: info-hams@ucsd.edu
In article <344.popyackl@erplab.erp.rl.af.mil_POPMail/PC_3.2.2>,
popyackl@erplab.erp.rl.af.mil (Leonard J Popyack, Jr.) wrote, in part:
> I have a question concerning the newest type of license "scam." Our VE group just
> had a guy come through with a disability waiver which was signed by his doctor
> indicating that his blindness prevented him from copying CW.
>
> What makes this incident so interesting is the fact that at the same VE session,
> another blind man came in without a waiver and passed a 13 WPM code test with
> flying colors.
>
> The question to the net is how can blindness prevent a person from copying CW?
The concensus among visually impaired amateurs I've spoken to is that they
resent the CW waivers, and feel that they are quite capable of copying
Morse. Of course they had already passed the Morse exam--but it does make
one wonder if some of the people relying on the waivers aren't getting a
free ride rather than legitimate relief for a handicap.
John Taylor W3ZID
rohvm1.mah48d@rohmhaas.com
------------------------------
Date: 3 Jan 1994 23:36:15 -0500
From: sdd.hp.com!cs.utexas.edu!swrinde!gatech!news.ans.net!inca.gate.net!not-for-mail@network.ucsd.edu
Subject: FFTMORSE
To: info-hams@ucsd.edu
P.S.: I'm satisfied with my mods to FFTMORSE, and am now looking for FSK
demodulation algorithms for RTTY, WEFAX, and whatever else I can get my hands
onto. FSK shows up real nice on the spectrum analyzer that FFTMORSE displays,
and I want to add more decoding options.
--
-><- Rocco Caputo (troc@inca.gate.net) PGP 2.3a public key available by finger.
------------------------------
Date: 3 Jan 1994 23:41:41 GMT
From: qualcomm.com!vixen.cso.uiuc.edu!howland.reston.ans.net!usenet.ins.cwru.edu!news.ysu.edu!yfn.ysu.edu!ag821@network.ucsd.edu
Subject: R&R associates keyer kit
To: info-hams@ucsd.edu
quick follow up on R&R associates and the Cmos Super Keyer II.
I got Dick Rathburns number and gave him a call. I re-explained
everything I had said in the letter. The guy has a mouth like a sewer
and sure doesn't want anything to do with any problems.. just told me it
wasn't his problem and I should send the chip to the author of the
original article. I explained I didn't buy the kit from the author, and
didn't even know him and felt the problem should be handled by the
company selling the kits. He didn't have anything nice to say and
continued to use short words.
Well, on the bright side, I have found all the other people I have dealt
with in this hobby to be the opposite.
If you deal with this guy, good luck.
73,
Jeff, AC4HF
--
Jeff M. Gold, AC4HF
Manager, Academic Computing Support
Tennessee Technological University
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 4 Jan 1994 01:58:06 GMT
From: library.ucla.edu!europa.eng.gtefsd.com!howland.reston.ans.net!math.ohio-state.edu!cyber2.cyberstore.ca!nntp.cs.ubc.ca!unixg.ubc.ca!acs.ucalgary.ca!fusion!root@network.ucsd.edu
Subject: Strange Antenna
To: info-hams@ucsd.edu
brian@nothing.ucsd.edu (Brian Kantor) writes:
> It's a cell-phone antenna. Why does it look like that? Well, it
> doesn't get snagged in the car wash brush quite so easily, and it
> doesn't get ripped off by the garage door quite so easily, and it
> looks space age and is less efficient.
Actually, it sounds more like a 2-way diversity antenna to me.. The
loops are placed 90 degrees apart so they can take advantage of angle
diversity (the smallest feasible diversity antenna of this type is
about 3 cm x 3 cm, so this sounds reasonable).
> - Brian
c4
--
Christopher Lau- "Mr. Unix" | / Fusion: Playing With Fire!
StarBright Research | / / H + H -> He + 24 MeV
-- | /_/_/_ "Bring back Trudeau!"
root,lauc@fusion.cuc.ab.ca |____________ "This space for rent"
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 3 Jan 1994 23:44:21 GMT
From: yeshua.marcam.com!zip.eecs.umich.edu!umn.edu!maroon.tc.umn.edu!fasul001@uunet.uu.net
Subject: Transmission Technology
To: info-hams@ucsd.edu
I just thought this would be one good starting point in looking into new
transmission technology. I'm interested in satelite, fiber-optics, you
know. Could someone point me in the righ direction to find this stuff on
the net? The conventional methods aren't working for me.
TIA
--
---------------------------------------------------------
Ed Fasula
------------------------------
Date: 4 Jan 94 01:15:17 GMT
From: ogicse!cs.uoregon.edu!sgiblab!sdd.hp.com!hpscit.sc.hp.com!cupnews0.cup.hp.com!lamont@network.ucsd.edu
Subject: UK scanner listeners arrested; called
To: info-hams@ucsd.edu
David Adams (dadams@cray.com) wrote:
: In article 281293150945@msanders.sim.es.com, msanders@sim.es.com (Milt Sanders) writes:
: ... federal agents sent announcements
: in the mail to the last known addresses of a list of criminals saying,
: "Congradulations, you are the lucky winner in our drawing..." A whole swarm
: of these guys showed up, produced ID, and were immediately handcuffed.
: There is something in all this that really bothers me about a system that
: would allow it's police force, those we hire to enforce laws dealing with
: honesty, to lie, ...
They didn't lie. They held a drawing of suspected-criminals-that-we-have-
a-prior-address-for, and everyone in the pile won. The prize is overnight
accomodations in a remote location. Now, if they said that you had a chance
at a specific prize, and named the prize, they could probably be forced to
award that prize to some individual, although that trip to Hawaii might be
hard to make if you're in prison...
lamont
KD6VTV
The above is not a statement of the Hewlett-Packard Company.
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 3 Jan 1994 23:10:37 GMT
From: adobe!juventud.mv.us.adobe.com!user@decwrl.dec.com
Subject: Wanted: Morse code software
To: info-hams@ucsd.edu
Hi,
I'm learning morse code, and I'm hoping that there is a software package
out there that will help me out. You know, dot & dash sounds and
everything. I have access to Mac/Windows/DOS. Any ideas?
Drop me a line at Jsjordal@adobe.com
I love my country, but fear my government.
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 3 Jan 1994 20:11:11 GMT
From: qualcomm.com!vixen.cso.uiuc.edu!howland.reston.ans.net!gatech!news-feed-1.peachnet.edu!umn.edu!uum1!ncrtimes!csdpc214.stpaul.ncr.com!tony.blake@network.ucsd.edu
Subject: Where to Start?
To: info-hams@ucsd.edu
Hi Gang,
I hope I'm posting in the right area. I'm currently waiting for
the FCC to issue my license. I'm using this waiting period to
decide on my first rig. When I started studying for my ticket, I
thought I would start out on the HF bands. However, during the course
of my studies, satellite communications sounded really appealing. And
of course, there is the local 2m and 70 cm FM traffic as well.
I am looking for those satellite operators who would like to recommend
radio/antenna combinations for working the satellites. I'm am currently
leaning more towards the VHF bands for my first radio, mainly due to
the sizes of the antennas. (Which is sort of ironic considering I
decided to get my amateur license to DX on the HF bands). From what
I can tell, you can't use a dual band FM transceiver to work most of
the satellites because they require SSB and CW modes. Any
recommendations concerning equipment necessary for sat work would be
greatly appreciated.
I'm not sure i'll be running any packet radio. I work on data
communications software all day, and I'd like my hobby to revolve
around something else. I have two locations I'll be operating
from, my home in a very urban setting, and our cabin in a very
rural setting. My guess is I'll run most of my HF traffic at the
cabin where I can put up a fairly good sized antenna farm and no
one will care considering the remoteness of the property, and run
the VHF traffic back home in the city. Sound reasonable?
I realize that amateur radio has a wide range of interests and
opportunities. Right now I'm interrested in HF, 2m FM repeater, and
satellite. Although I have a good sized budget, it looks as though
I can't get into HF and satellite right away. Any opions as to which
would be better to start out in would be greatly appreciated.
73's
Tony
===================================================================
Tony Blake DoD#9045 NCR Corporation
tony.blake@ccmsmtp.stpaul.ncr.com Network Products Division
(612) 638-7259 voice 2700 Snelling Avenue North
(612) 638-8173 fax St Paul, MN 55113-1784
Disclaimer: The smelling pistakes are all my own.
===================================================================
------------------------------
Date: 4 Jan 94 00:30:55 GMT
From: ogicse!news.tek.com!gvgpsa.gvg.tek.com!gold.gvg.tek.com!gvgadg.gvg.tek.com!groverc@network.ucsd.edu
Subject: Where to Start?
To: info-hams@ucsd.edu
> Hi Gang,
>
> I hope I'm posting in the right area. I'm currently waiting for
> the FCC to issue my license. I'm using this waiting period to
> decide on my first rig. When I started studying for my ticket, I
> thought I would start out on the HF bands. However, during the course
> of my studies, satellite communications sounded really appealing. And
> of course, there is the local 2m and 70 cm FM traffic as well.
>
> ===================================================================
>
> Tony Blake DoD#9045 NCR Corporation
> tony.blake@ccmsmtp.stpaul.ncr.com Network Products Division
Wonderful, wonderful! A new ham who can spell "satellite."
There is hope for the world after all. He's also got a DoD number.
Things are really looking up on this newsgroup.
73
Grover
WT6P
DoD#7388
------------------------------
Date: 3 Jan 1994 21:41:51 GMT
From: ipxpress.aws.waii.com!ep130.wg2.waii.com!ep130.wg2.waii.com!mjg@uunet.uu.net
Subject: Where to Start?
To: info-hams@ucsd.edu
In article <tony.blake.17.2D287BDF@stpaul.ncr.com>, tony.blake@stpaul.ncr.com
(Tony C Blake) writes:
|> Hi Gang,
|>
|> I hope I'm posting in the right area. I'm currently waiting for
|> the FCC to issue my license. I'm using this waiting period to
|> decide on my first rig. When I started studying for my ticket, I
|> thought I would start out on the HF bands. However, during the course
|> of my studies, satellite communications sounded really appealing. And
|> of course, there is the local 2m and 70 cm FM traffic as well.
|>
|> I am looking for those satellite operators who would like to recommend
|> radio/antenna combinations for working the satellites. I'm am currently
|> leaning more towards the VHF bands for my first radio, mainly due to
|> the sizes of the antennas. (Which is sort of ironic considering I
|> decided to get my amateur license to DX on the HF bands). From what
|> I can tell, you can't use a dual band FM transceiver to work most of
|> the satellites because they require SSB and CW modes. Any
|> recommendations concerning equipment necessary for sat work would be
|> greatly appreciated.
|>
|> I'm not sure i'll be running any packet radio. I work on data
|> communications software all day, and I'd like my hobby to revolve
|> around something else. I have two locations I'll be operating
|> from, my home in a very urban setting, and our cabin in a very
|> rural setting. My guess is I'll run most of my HF traffic at the
|> cabin where I can put up a fairly good sized antenna farm and no
|> one will care considering the remoteness of the property, and run
|> the VHF traffic back home in the city. Sound reasonable?|>
|> I realize that amateur radio has a wide range of interests and
|> opportunities. Right now I'm interrested in HF, 2m FM repeater, and
|> satellite. Although I have a good sized budget, it looks as though
|> I can't get into HF and satellite right away. Any opions as to which
|> would be better to start out in would be greatly appreciated.
|>
|> 73's
|>
|>
|> Tony
|>
|> ===================================================================
|>
|> Tony Blake DoD#9045 NCR Corporation
|> tony.blake@ccmsmtp.stpaul.ncr.com Network Products Division
|> (612) 638-7259 voice 2700 Snelling Avenue North
|> (612) 638-8173 fax St Paul, MN 55113-1784
|>
|> Disclaimer: The smelling pistakes are all my own.
|> ===================================================================
What class ticket did you get?
Mike KB5TOJ
------------------------------
Date: (null)
From: (null)
SB DX ARL ARLD071
ARLD071 DX news
Thanks to Bob, W5KNE; QRZ DX; Chod, VP2ML; the DX Bulletin; and the
Yankee Clipper Contest Club PacketCluster Network for the items in
this week's bulletin.
IRAQ. Club station YI1IRL should be on the air soon. YI1MH has
been worked on 21214 kHz at 1326z. And finally, G0MMI is NOT the
QSL manager for YI1BGD. QSL YI1BGD via DF3NZ.
REVILLA GIGEDO ISLANDS. XF4CI has been worked on 3797 kHz at 1004z,
14195 kHz at 0944z and even via OSCAR 13 on 145900 kHz at 0905z.
QSL via XE1CI.
VANUATU. YJOAXX has been a good catch on the lower bands. Try 1830
kHz around 1200z and 7005 kHz from 1245 to 1345z.
MARTINIQUE. FM5BH has been on 1835 kHz at 1014z and 3798 kHz at
1030z. Listen for FM5DP on 3795 kHz around 1015z.
EAST MALAYSIA. An SSB/CW operation by 9M6/JA0VBJ and 9M6/JH0SPE is
expected to start January 7 for about one week. QSL via JA0VBJ.
TROMELIN. FR5ZQ/T should be on the air in January. Operations from
Glorioso should commence sometime in the Summer.
WHERE ARE THEY? As of Thursday afternoon as this bulletin was being
prepared, there were no spots for the following planned operations.
Nauru, C21/AH0F by JA2NQG. Maldive Islands, 8Q7BX by Carlo, I4ALU.
Gambia, C56/SM4TQO by Gunnar. Bangladesh, S21ZX. Belau, KC6YK.
Niue, ZK2XJ. Listen around and keep an eye on the PacketCluster for
these to become active.
CHRISTMAS ISLAND WRAP UP. Although plagued with high noise levels,
unity gain antennas on all bands except 17 and 12 meters, and ho hum
propagation at best, a total of around 16,000 Qs were logged for
this DXpedition, 9,000 by VK9XO and 7,500 by VI9XN. QSL VI9XN via
W5KNE and VK9XO via VK4CRR.
W6KG SK. World renowned DXer Lloyd Colvin, W6KG, died in Ankara,
Turkey, in mid-December. Lloyd and his wife Iris, W6QL, are the DX
end of countless DXCC country credits.
THIS WEEKEND ON THE RADIO. ARRL Straight Key Night, SKN, is a safe
alternative to other New Year's Eve celebrating. It runs from 0000z
to 2400z on January 1. This casual event is a relaxing way to wind
down 1993 and open 1994 operations. For more information check page
127 of November QST.
If the word casual never applies to your hamming, try the AGCW DL
QRP Winter Contest from 1500z January 1 until 1500z January 2. This
is a low power event on CW only. Details appear on page 128 of
December QST.
NNNN
/EX
------------------------------
End of Info-Hams Digest V93 #1540
******************************
******************************