Date: Tue, 4 Jan 94 23:40:44 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 V94 #1 To: Info-Hams Info-Hams Digest Tue, 4 Jan 94 Volume 94 : Issue 1 Today's Topics: "Renewal" batteries -- a note Daily Summary of Solar Geophysical Activity for 03 January Hamwindows Plus Looking for information, a follow up. R&R associates keyer kit Repeaters in Keystone, Breckenridge CO area? What goes on, on 6 meters ? (2 msgs) 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: Tue, 4 Jan 1994 23:15:28 GMT From: gsm001!gsm001.mendelson.com!gsmlrn@uunet.uu.net Subject: "Renewal" batteries -- a note To: info-hams@ucsd.edu In article <24010320233180@vms3.macc.wisc.edu> THADLEY@macc.wisc.EDU (Timothy Hadley) writes: >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.) Will there be a replace/repair/upgrade for those of us who bought the early ones? 73, Geoff. I guess I should go read the warranty. (is that RTFW?) -- I used to talk to myself..... Now that I am a ham, I send code to myself: -... --- -.-- - .... .. ... --. ..- -.-- .. ... .-- . .. .-. -.. .-.-.- Geoffrey S. Mendelson N3OWJ (215) 242-8712 gsm@mendelson.com ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 3 Jan 1994 23:28:07 MST From: agate!howland.reston.ans.net!gatech!destroyer!nntp.cs.ubc.ca!alberta!nebulus!ve6mgs!usenet@ames.arpa Subject: Daily Summary of Solar Geophysical Activity for 03 January To: info-hams@ucsd.edu /\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\ DAILY SUMMARY OF SOLAR GEOPHYSICAL ACTIVITY 03 JANUARY, 1994 /\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\ (Based In-Part On SESC Observational Data) SOLAR AND GEOPHYSICAL ACTIVITY INDICES FOR 03 JANUARY, 1994 ----------------------------------------------------------- NOTE: The intense stratospheric warming which has occurred over Siberia, Alaska, and northern Canada continues. The temperature gradient between 60N and the pole is reversed throughout the stratosphere. !!BEGIN!! (1.0) S.T.D. Solar Geophysical Data Broadcast for DAY 003, 01/03/94 10.7 FLUX=133.1 90-AVG=101 SSN=134 BKI=2133 3331 BAI=011 BGND-XRAY=B3.6 FLU1=6.9E+05 FLU10=1.2E+04 PKI=3133 3331 PAI=011 BOU-DEV=015,005,025,036,027,023,025,007 DEV-AVG=020 NT SWF=00:000 XRAY-MAX= C4.9 @ 0001UT XRAY-MIN= B3.1 @ 1617UT XRAY-AVG= B6.4 NEUTN-MAX= +000% @ 0000UT NEUTN-MIN= +000% @ 0000UT NEUTN-AVG= +0.0% PCA-MAX= +0.0DB @ 0000UT PCA-MIN= +0.0DB @ 0000UT PCA-AVG= +0.0DB BOUTF-MAX=55353NT @ 1428UT BOUTF-MIN=55318NT @ 1914UT BOUTF-AVG=55341NT GOES7-MAX=P:+000NT@ 0000UT GOES7-MIN=N:+000NT@ 0000UT G7-AVG=+068,+000,+000 GOES6-MAX=P:+125NT@ 1638UT GOES6-MIN=N:-067NT@ 0809UT G6-AVG=+091,+025,-031 FLUXFCST=STD:125,120,120;SESC:125,120,120 BAI/PAI-FCST=005,005,005/008,008,008 KFCST=0123 4321 0123 4321 27DAY-AP=015,051 27DAY-KP=3112 5434 5666 5442 WARNINGS=*MAJFLR;*SWF ALERTS= !!END-DATA!! NOTE: The Effective Sunspot Number for 02 JAN 94 was 65.0. The Full Kp Indices for 02 JAN 94 are: 2+ 3+ 4o 4+ 5- 3o 3- 2+ SYNOPSIS OF ACTIVITY -------------------- Solar activity was high on 03 January. Region 7645 (N13E02) produced an impulsive M6/SN flare accompanied by small discrete frequency radio bursts at 02/2256Z. Some decay has occurred in the region today, and it has been very quiet since the major flare. Elsewhere, two new regions were assigned, 7648 (N06E66), and 7649 (S12E12). Region 7648 had frequent small subflares during the latter part of the interval. STD: The delta configuration in Region 7645 diminished over the last 24 hours. The National Solar Observatory reported intense Ca XV emission on the northwest limb on 02 January near N11. This emission was associated with old Region 7640, which is now 2 days beyond the west limb. Solar activity forecast: solar activity is expected to be low. However, Region 7645 retains the potential for another isolated M-class event. The geomagnetic field has been at quiet to unsettled levels. Geophysical activity forecast: the geomagnetic field is expected to be quiet to unsettled for the duration of the period. Event probabilities 04 jan-06 jan Class M 30/30/30 Class X 05/05/05 Proton 05/05/05 PCAF Green Geomagnetic activity probabilities 04 jan-06 jan A. Middle Latitudes Active 30/20/20 Minor Storm 10/10/10 Major-Severe Storm 01/01/01 B. High Latitudes Active 20/20/20 Minor Storm 30/30/20 Major-Severe Storm 01/01/01 HF propagation conditions continued normal over all regions today. Sporadic fading on the lower frequencies was reported for night-sector transauroral paths, although the signal degradation was not very serious. Similar conditions are expected over the next 72 hours, through at least 06 January inclusive. COPIES OF JOINT USAF/NOAA SESC SOLAR GEOPHYSICAL REPORTS ======================================================== REGIONS WITH SUNSPOTS. LOCATIONS VALID AT 03/2400Z JANUARY ---------------------------------------------------------- NMBR LOCATION LO AREA Z LL NN MAG TYPE 7645 N13E03 084 0630 FKI 16 042 BETA-GAMMA 7646 S08E01 086 0660 DKI 10 030 BETA 7647 S14W06 093 0110 DAO 09 009 BETA 7648 N06E67 020 0040 DAO 06 002 BETA 7649 S12E12 075 0000 AXX 00 001 ALPHA REGIONS DUE TO RETURN 04 JANUARY TO 06 JANUARY NMBR LAT LO NONE LISTING OF SOLAR ENERGETIC EVENTS FOR 03 JANUARY, 1994 ------------------------------------------------------ BEGIN MAX END RGN LOC XRAY OP 245MHZ 10CM SWEEP 0818 0819 0821 100 1701 1701 1701 110 POSSIBLE CORONAL MASS EJECTION EVENTS FOR 03 JANUARY, 1994 ---------------------------------------------------------- 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 ------ ---- ---- ---- ---- -- ------ ------ --------- --------- --------- 02 Jan: 0214 0215 0217 SF 7646 S10E25 0229 0236 0240 C1.5 27 91 0546 0555 0602 C1.5 0826 0832 0836 C1.0 1139 1149 1155 C1.1 1404 1408 1414 C1.1 1508 1511 1513 B9.2 1542 1543 1548 SF 7645 N12E24 1848 1848 1851 SF 7646 S10E17 1913 1956 2010 C1.8 2159 2159 2208 SF 7645 N12E17 2317 2318 2325 SF 7645 N12E17 REGION FLARE STATISTICS FOR THE PREVIOUS UTC DAY ------------------------------------------------ C M X S 1 2 3 4 Total (%) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --- ------ Region 7645: 0 1 0 4 0 0 0 0 004 (30.8) Region 7646: 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 002 (15.4) Uncorrellated: 6 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 ------ ---- ---- ---- ---- -- ------ ------ --------------------------- 02 Jan: 2248 2256 2303 M6.5 SN 7645 N13E15 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: 4 Jan 94 22:37:06 GMT From: news-mail-gateway@ucsd.edu Subject: Hamwindows Plus To: info-hams@ucsd.edu Does anyone have experiences with Hamwindows Plus by California Software Incorporated? I would be interested in recommendations or opinions Colin Schmutter SHMC0874@BCIT.BC.CA ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 04 Jan 94 15:32:08 GMT From: netcomsv!netcomsv!bongo!skyld!jangus@decwrl.dec.com Subject: Looking for information, a follow up. To: info-hams@ucsd.edu A follow up to my original posting concerning the instant ask syndrome. I am amazed by the number of people that apparently have a reading comprehension problem. Nowhere did I say not to ask for information on net. I took issue with the number of people that rather than open a book on their desk, or walk down the hall, will post to the world and ask something that is readily accessible by other means. Equally amazing is the number of people that couldn't find anything to say one way or the other, but flamed me for not crossposting. Sorry, I tried that, my posting software is broken. It only handles a 2 group cross post. For the cognitively impaired, I'll type slower.... Have a question? Before you post to the net, have you done the following: Checked the owners manual. Looked in a reference book. Called a friend. After trying local resources, then post to the net. What started this tirade? Among other things. I had an amateur when asked if he had read the manual tell me; "I write manuals for a living, I'll be damned if I'm going to read them on my spare time." By the way, go look in the elmers list. I am on it. And I have helped all persons that have sent me mail or otherwise contacted me. Amateur: WA6FWI@WA6FWI.#SOCA.CA.USA.NA | "It is difficult to imagine our Internet: jangus@skyld.tele.com | universe run by a single omni- US Mail: PO Box 4425 Carson, CA 90749 | potent god. I see it more as a Phone: 1 (310) 324-6080 | badly run corporation." ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 4 Jan 1994 16:50:33 -0600 From: pa.dec.com!SALCIUS2.csg.mot.com!scottm@decwrl.dec.com Subject: R&R associates keyer kit To: info-hams@ucsd.edu >Note 52002 in newsgroup rec.radio.amateur.misc >From: ag821@yfn.ysu.edu (Jeff Gold) >Subject: R&R associates keyer kit > > >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 In this day in age reputations is everything in bussiness. Remember a satisfied customer tells two or three people a dissatisfied customer tells 20 to 30 people. With usenet multipy all those number by a large number. After hearing the dbate over ramsey kits the past few days I for one will NEVER purchase one. A comany that cannot stand behind its product is not a company I wish to deal with. -- **************************************************************** * _/_/_/_/ _/_/_/_/ _/_/_/_/ _/_/_/_/_/ _/_/_/_/_/ * * _/ _/ _/ _/ _/ _/ * * _/_/_/_/ _/ _/ _/ _/ _/ * * _/ _/ _/ _/ _/ _/ * *_/_/_/_/ _/_/_/_/ _/_/_/_/ _/ _/ * **************************************************************** *Scott F. Migaldi, KF5JQ *email: Scott_Migaldi@csg.mot.com ------------------------------ Date: 4 Jan 94 22:42:11 GMT From: ogicse!cs.uoregon.edu!sgiblab!sdd.hp.com!col.hp.com!fc.hp.com!paulc@network.ucsd.edu Subject: Repeaters in Keystone, Breckenridge CO area? To: info-hams@ucsd.edu I'll post this in addition to email, in case there are other people interested in the response... ============================================================= Repeaters that cover the Keystone-Breckenridge area are listed, but you have to know the towns in the area since it's not clear from the repeater directory what the coverage is. Anyway, here's what I've found to be useful. 146.610 - On top of Vail Mountain. Has the best overall coverage of the Central Colorado ski areas, from Eagle (30 mi west of Vail) to the Eisenhower tunnel on the east of Summit County. Haven't tried it skiing at Breckenridge, could have trouble getting into that particular area. 146.790 - Status is questionable, it's a remote mountain site that wasn't quite finished and may be having troubles. Listed as "Dillon" in the directory. Normally a part of the "Colorado Connection" a linked system that covers the middle and northeast part of the state, from Grand Junction to Nebraska. The Denver link is on 145.310. The best coverage for the Keystone-Breck (Dillon valley) area. Doesn't get into Copper Mtn very well. 146.700 - I've heard someone say this was working, but I haven't been able to bring it up. Maybe it has a PL tone that I don't know about. Listed under Dillon in the directory. 145.445 - Another link in the Colorado Connection, near Leadville. It may not be currently linked, due to some failures. Has marginal coverage into the Dillon valley (Keystone, Breck area), and some coverage into Copper Mtn and Vail. There are also some 440 repeaters in the area, also listed in the directory, but I haven't used them... Have fun, -Paul Christofanelli Fort Collins, Colorado ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 4 Jan 1994 19:33:42 GMT From: walter!dancer.cc.bellcore.com!not-for-mail@uunet.uu.net Subject: What goes on, on 6 meters ? To: info-hams@ucsd.edu In article <2gc7fl$23d@agate.berkeley.edu>, Ronald Viegelahn <ron@etch-eshop.Berkeley.EDU> wrote: > > Is AM phone used on 6 meters ? or is it mostly ssb and fm . > ron@etcheshop.Berekeley.EDU AM is used on 6 meters, but as you suggest, most activity is a compination of SSB, FM AND CW. Use of AM on 6 meters may be more prevalent than other bands because of the lack of 6 meter equipment in general (especially at hamfests etc.) and the use of older AM equipment can continue without significantly impacting available bandwidth for other modes. Standard Disclaimer- Any opinions, etc. are mine and NOT my employer's. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Bill Sohl (K2UNK) BELLCORE (Bell Communications Research, Inc.) Morristown, NJ email via UUCP bcr!cc!whs70 201-829-2879 Weekdays email via Internet whs70@cc.bellcore.com ------------------------------ Date: 4 Jan 1994 11:47:30 -0800 From: ucsnews!sol.ctr.columbia.edu!howland.reston.ans.net!cs.utexas.edu!asuvax!chnews!ornews.intel.com!ornews.intel.com!not-for-mail@network.ucsd.edu Subject: What goes on, on 6 meters ? To: info-hams@ucsd.edu In article <2gc7fl$23d@agate.berkeley.edu> ron@etch-eshop.Berkeley.EDU (Ronald Viegelahn) writes: >I m new to amatuer radio, and have a question. > Is AM phone used on 6 meters ? or is it mostly ssb and fm . It is mostly hiss and static in my limited experience. The whole 4 Mhz is almost always completely dead but this may be a Pacific Northwest phenonemon and it could be a real hotbed of activity back East for all I know. You might hear occasional FM activity of 52.525 or an extremely rare AM'er on 50.4 but its SSB and CW down around 50.1 mostly. I was running a lot of 10 meter AM a couple of years ago and a Japanese contact told me that 6 meter AM was very popular over there while 10 meters is mostly FM for them. I have a Clegg 66'er that I've talked to a couple of fellas across town with on AM but I've never heard any AM DX. I remember when I was showing a new guy how to run his old Hammarlund HQ-110 receiver. It had the 6 meter band on it and he asked about what was on there. "Oh, there's never anything on there", I said as I flipped the bandswitch over to 6. To my surprise the lower part of the band was full of strong SSB signals. I guess its working once in a while. -- zardoz@ornews.intel.com WA7LDV ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 4 Jan 1994 22:40:47 GMT From: netcomsv!netcom.com!n1ist@decwrl.dec.com To: info-hams@ucsd.edu References <1993Dec30.155838.21384@rchland.ibm.com>, <horak.757274780@convex.com>, <CIv74H.7LK@stortek.com> Subject : Re: Ramsey kits not too good? In article <CIv74H.7LK@stortek.com> georgen@stortek.com (George Noyes x5698) writes: -It always amazes me when I hear stories like these. Look guys, you get -what you pay for. Things that work correctly are usually assembled, -tested and guaranteed by the manufacturer. These items, contrary to -popular belief, cost money, and more than just parts cost..... When you buy a kit, you usually can expect to get working and correct parts and a design that actually works. Sure, you can't blame poor assembly on the kit manufacturer, but off-frequency crystals, bad ICs and missing parts is the manufacturer's problem. So is lousy design. So is tune-up instructions that basically state 'adjust all the knobs until it works'. All said, the Ramsey kits *do* make interesting starting points for some homebrew projects. Just expect that they probably won't work the first time (and if it is a transmitter, *put it on a spectrum analyser* before hooking up an antenna - some have some rather nasty and illegal spurs) -SO: Stop your whining! or/ -Pay full for a real box..... Depends on what you want to do. If you just want to be an appliance operator with know knowlege of how radio works, or of which end of the soldering iron to pick up, go ahead. You will definetely learn a lot from a Ramsey kit :-) Actually, do both. Buy your HT or big HF rig fully assembled, since you wouldn't be able to build that yourself. Then build some kits or homebrew to actually learn about radio. /mike -- \|/ Michael L. Ardai N1IST Teradyne ATG Boston --- ------------------------------------------------------------------------- /|\ ardai@maven.dnet.teradyne.com n1ist@netcom.com ------------------------------ Date: 4 Jan 94 21:32:01 GMT From: ogicse!hp-cv!sdd.hp.com!news.cs.indiana.edu!bsu-cs!news.nd.edu!mac17@network.ucsd.edu To: info-hams@ucsd.edu References <willmore.757376779@metropolis.gis.iastate.edu>, <2gc4b3$ae6@oak.oakland.edu>, <1994Jan4.163149.9186@osuunx.ucc.okstate.edu> Subject : Re: WWV Seems to Have a Problem. In article <1994Jan4.163149.9186@osuunx.ucc.okstate.edu>, martin@datacomm.ucc.okstate.edu (Martin McCormick) wrote: > > > Has anybody noticed how distorted the audio is from WWV on 2.5MHZ? > I have noticed this off and on for several months and first thought that > it was my receiver. The distortion is worst on 2.5MHZ but is also found > to a lesser degreee on 10MHZ. > > Martin McCormick WB5AGZ Stillwater, OK > O.S.U. Computer Center Data Communications Group Yes, I keep hearing a dreadful clicking or ticking sound. Obviously some form of distortion or interference. Charles Hohenstein N9SQE ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 4 Jan 1994 23:40:39 GMT From: swrinde!cs.utexas.edu!howland.reston.ans.net!torn!csd.unb.ca!news.ucs.mun.ca!kean.ucs.mun.ca!jcraig@network.ucsd.edu To: info-hams@ucsd.edu References <CIHv67.6z5@cbnewsm.cb.att.com>, <rohvm1.mah48d-030194155946@136.141.220.39>, <2gc08r$65f@news.acns.nwu.edu>.ca Subject : Re: QHH In article <2gc08r$65f@news.acns.nwu.edu>, rdewan@casbah.acns.nwu.edu (Rajiv Dewan) writes: > In article <rohvm1.mah48d-030194155946@136.141.220.39>, > John E. Taylor III W3ZID <rohvm1.mah48d@rohmhaas.com> wrote: > > ... a few lines have been deleted for brevity ... > >>present heading and altitude are..." (Yes, Gary, people used to send Morse >>code from airplanes with a straight key strapped to their legs!) > > Ah! A reference to a J45. This is the straight key I use and the one > I used when I was CW mobile for a while. BTW, a couple of SKNs ago > I had a qso with a ham in the Yukon who had used a J45 aeronautical mobile. > > Rajiv > aa9ch > r-dewan@nwu.edu What does a J45 look like? I have a key with 2 two leg straps. It says "westclox" on the end. 73 de Joe, VO1NA ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 5 Jan 1994 00:49:20 GMT From: netcomsv!netcom.com!wa2ise@decwrl.dec.com To: info-hams@ucsd.edu References <horak.757274780@convex.com>, <CIv74H.7LK@stortek.com>, <n1istCJ4n00.Jvs@netcom.com> Subject : Re: Ramsey kits not too good? an update: (started this thread complaining that my packet kit wouldn't recieve anything). Tried my P-IBM kit with my AT clone (just an old '286) (used an old XT before), with my KPC2 with its radio nearby. I can now connect via radio from the Ramsey kit to the KPC2 to my mailbox. And now can see occasional beacons of the local PBBS. Couldn't connect to that PBBS, but I think eighter the Baycom software needs to be correctly configured, or the PBBS is goofed up. Point is that the Ramsey kit seems to be behaving now. Not sure why I had trouble before, maybe the PBBSs I tried in NJ couldn't hear my HT's 1W signal (but I didn't demod loud packets off air there eighter). RFI from the XT clone? ------------------------------ Date: 5 Jan 1994 00:31:20 GMT From: sgiblab!swrinde!cs.utexas.edu!math.ohio-state.edu!news.acns.nwu.edu!casbah.acns.nwu.edu!rdewan@ames.arpa To: info-hams@ucsd.edu References <rohvm1.mah48d-030194155946@136.141.220.39>, <2gc08r$65f@news.acns.nwu.edu>, <1994Jan4.201039.1@kean.ucs.mun.ca> Subject : Re: QHH In article <1994Jan4.201039.1@kean.ucs.mun.ca>, <jcraig@kean.ucs.mun.ca> wrote: >What does a J45 look like? I have a key with 2 two leg straps. It says >"westclox" on the end. > A J45 is essentially a J38 straight key mounted on a spring steel clamp that is shaped like upper case omega (without the serifs). The clamp is designed to fit on your thigh above the knee so that if you are sitting, the knob is exactly where your hand would fall on your lap. The key is hinged on the clamp so that you can also turn it upside down and operate it while you are standing. Neat design. Rajiv aa9ch r-dewan@nwu.edu ------------------------------ End of Info-Hams Digest V94 #1 ****************************** ******************************