Date: Thu, 6 Jan 94 03:42:33 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 #5 To: Info-Hams Info-Hams Digest Thu, 6 Jan 94 Volume 94 : Issue 5 Today's Topics: CMOS Super keyer (ARRL Manual) (2 msgs) Disability Waivers for CW scam Free access to digital terrain data Ground loops in Packet Gear (Re: WHERE ARE ALL THE YOU) Ham club at a University QST question OK - NO MORE REPLIES!!! RAMSEY KITS NOT TOO G Repeater database? TOYOTAS AND MOBILE RIGS WWV Seems to Have a Problem. 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: Thu, 6 Jan 1994 01:07:55 GMT From: sdd.hp.com!elroy.jpl.nasa.gov!usc!howland.reston.ans.net!news.intercon.com!psinntp!gdstech!gdstech!bat@network.ucsd.edu Subject: CMOS Super keyer (ARRL Manual) To: info-hams@ucsd.edu Dick, I built this keyer a few years ago, and love it. I sm looking at the manual for the keyer from Idiom Press, and there is no phone number listed on it. I believe this 'company' might be a 1-person operation, a part time job for somebody who works nites from his basement. So, they don't want any phone calls. If you write to them for infos, be sure to send them a SASE or they will yell at you. The address I have is Box 583, Deerfield, Ill., 60015, USA. -- *-----------------------------------------------------------* * Pat Masterson D12-25 | KE2LJ@KC2FD * * Grumman Data Systems | 516-346-6316. * * Bethpage, NY 11746 | bat@gdstech.grumman.com * ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 05 Jan 94 20:07:25 GMT From: agate!howland.reston.ans.net!EU.net!sun4nl!bsoatr!bsdihi!dihi@ames.arpa Subject: CMOS Super keyer (ARRL Manual) To: info-hams@ucsd.edu I am very enthousiastic about the CMOS Super Keyer II as described on page 29-6 from the 1994 ARRL Manual. Is there a european distributor for the part kit of this keyer?? I tried to figure out the phone number of Idiom Press in Deerfield, but the Dutch PTT could not find the company in their phone books. It seems rather risky to me to send USD 50 in an envelope and pray that everything comes right! Any sugestions welcome! 73's Dick Hissink PA3DSP Email:dihi@bsdihi.atr.bso.nl ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 06 Jan 94 03:38:08 GMT From: netcomsv!netcomsv!bongo!skyld!jangus@decwrl.dec.com Subject: Disability Waivers for CW scam To: info-hams@ucsd.edu In article <1994Jan4.202919.4052@mixcom.mixcom.com> kevin.jessup writes: > What if I'm paralyzed from the neck up?! ;-)) You'd fit right in with the rest of the "CW forever and the can have my key when they pry my cold dead fingers off of it" types that haven't figured out that CW is a mode like anything else and not the be all to end all. Yeah, I've been a ham since 1968, had to take the test for novice, had to go downtown and copy AND send correctly to upgrade. I operate CW on an occasional basis. I enjoy the challange and the simplicity of it. Meanwhile, I maintain a packet BBS with an e-mail gateway. Go on field day. Chase RTTY contacts and yack with the locals on 2 meter FM. Big deal. I enjoy the privilege the FCC granted me when they issued my license. 73 es GE from Jeff 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: 5 Jan 1994 21:53:08 -0500 From: digex.net!not-for-mail@uunet.uu.net Subject: Free access to digital terrain data To: info-hams@ucsd.edu Well, it's back! A long time ago, I offered free HAM access to perform point-to-point terrain profile. A lot of people used it, it became a pain-in-the-butt of Communications Data Services, and we killed the offer. But due to demand, and a few more modem lines, we can once again make the offer. UPDATE: 1/5/94 SORRY to many who have tried to send me mail, and who have tried to call into the system -- we choose the Xmas and New Year holiday to try to upgrade to the evil SOLARIS. Beware the SOLARIS which lurks! Everything should (!!) be running the way only Scott would want it... Here is the deal: Email me (rich@comm-data.com) a short (2 line will do it) note about what kind of project you are working on -- just so I know it is related to amateur radio -- and I'll mail you back instruction on using the system. You get 5 accesses for the asking, and more with a good argument. Right not you need to call our computer in Virginia. If someone can help me figure out telnet "ports", I'll have it up for telnet too! FREE ACCESS TO THE US GEOLOGICAL SURVEY's / DOD 3 ARC SECOND DIGITAL TERRAIN DATA BASE You get a tabular list of distance and height (sorry - metric ONLY!). Getting Fresnel Zone and 4/3 Earth is your problem -- at least for now. Right now, I am only willing/able to let single terrain radials out. If there are some interesting repeater coordination issues, or some high-tech left-winged wild ideas about propagation and antennas you want to talk about, please drop me a note. I have all kinds of other toys, but they are a little more commercial -- I can run them for you and send you the results or something like that. Cheers. Rich ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 5 Jan 94 15:58:40 GMT From: qualcomm.com!vixen.cso.uiuc.edu!howland.reston.ans.net!math.ohio-state.edu!cyber2.cyberstore.ca!nntp.cs.ubc.ca!alberta!adec23!mark@network.ucsd.edu Subject: Ground loops in Packet Gear (Re: WHERE ARE ALL THE YOU) To: info-hams@ucsd.edu steven.rosenberg@support.com writes: >Am I missing something here? is there a reason why a TNC and a VHF/UHF >radio can't share the same 12v power supply? Not in the KPC3's case, I think it runs on a 9V battery ... There are times when you set up a ground loop by connecting all the equipment together, on VHF/UHF flea (<25W, if you are running this much, I hope the local community calls you an a**h***) power it is not an issue. However, on HF Packet, I have had to decouple the mic and power connections to get rid of pickup induced in the microphone line from ground loops (the HF rig I had thought had an isolated microphone input, but if you ground one of the sides of the microphone input, the Icom 751A whirls into a flurry of noise once keyed up ...). An interim measure was using separate supplies ... The answer for the original poster, no problem connecting them together, and if there is, you will be learning an aspect of RF power decoupling ... Ciao, 73 de VE6MGS/Mark -sk- ------------------------------ Date: 5 Jan 1994 22:48:36 GMT From: hearst.acc.Virginia.EDU!portal.gmu.edu!fame!smasters@uunet.uu.net Subject: Ham club at a University To: info-hams@ucsd.edu I've started to put together an amateur radio club here at George Mason University. I was wondering if anyone out there had any words of wisdom/expereince in starting such clubs. Please e-mail me to keep the bandwidth usage down. Thanks and 73, Shawn (KE4GHS) -- Shawn C. Masters smasters@gmu.edu I speak for myself, not my department or institution. ------------------------------ Date: 5 Jan 1994 17:24:54 GMT From: haven.umd.edu!cville-srv.wam.umd.edu!ham@uunet.uu.net Subject: QST question OK - NO MORE REPLIES!!! To: info-hams@ucsd.edu Thanks to all of you who have responded (4 in last 45 minutes!). I most definitely did NOT get my January 1994 issue. Scott NF3I -- 73, _________ _________ The \ / Long Original Scott Rosenfeld Amateur Radio NF3I Burtonsville, MD | Live $5.00 WAC-CW/SSB WAS DXCC - 119 QSLed on dipoles __________| Dipoles! Antenna! ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 6 Jan 1994 01:15:26 GMT From: fluke!swifty@beaver.cs.washington.edu Subject: RAMSEY KITS NOT TOO G To: info-hams@ucsd.edu steven.rosenberg@support.com writes: >As the unproud owner of an non-working Ramsay 40m receiver, I would >rather the damn thing worked! It didn't even have so many parts that >troubleshooting was a big problem, but I thoroughly checked the wiring >and swapped out parts, including the NE602 chip ... nothing. >Ramsay kits may be cheaper, but since they seldom work, and if they do, >seldom work well -- it's just not worth the trouble. >Steven Rosenberg, KC6FYL [lots of stuff deleted] I purchased a Ramsey Shortwave Receiver kit for my 8 year daughter this Christmas. We haven't built it yet, but studying the schematic shows several fundamental design errors. Clearly their circuits are designed by people who know enough electronics to design "home projects" but not enough to come up with a marketable product. I suspect that the receiver may work to some degree, but I've already planned a few mods. Too bad I didn't take the time to design one myself. The LM358 op-amp with both inputs at Ovolts bias, with an AC signal coming in was the first clue. Steve Swift, Sr. Staff Engineer Domain: swifty@tc.fluke.COM Voice: (206) 356-5737 (Voice mail), FAX: (206) 356-5108 UUCP: {uw-beaver,microsof,sun}!fluke!swifty US mail: Fluke Corporation/ P.O. Box 9090/ MS 266D/ Everett WA 98206 -- Steve Swift, Sr. Staff Engineer Domain: swifty@tc.fluke.COM Voice: (206) 356-5737 (Voice mail), FAX: (206) 356-5108 UUCP: {uw-beaver,microsof,sun}!fluke!swifty US mail: Fluke Corporation/ P.O. Box 9090/ MS 266D/ Everett WA 98206 ------------------------------ Date: 5 Jan 1994 23:26:11 GMT From: koriel!newscast.West.Sun.COM!abyss.West.Sun.COM!sunspot!myers@ames.arpa Subject: Repeater database? To: info-hams@ucsd.edu In article lp9@skates.gsfc.nasa.gov, mitchell@aol14.wff.nasa.gov (Richard Mitchell 1026) writes: >In article <1994Jan5.125300.21517@mnemosyne.cs.du.edu>, jmaynard@nyx10.cs.du.edu (Jay Maynard) writes: >|> >|> It's real simple: lat/lon/haat information is enough to walk up to the tower >|> or building the repeater is on, and therefore enough to get the repeater >|> stolen, or for someone to talk to the site owner and get the repeater kicked >|> off of the site. Sites are very, very hard to get unless you're willing to pay >|> commercial rates - and very few hams are that rich. One local repeater was kicked out of the commercial site it was in when the trustee/owner of the repeater started hitting on the site owner's wife. Jay is quite correct about sites being hard to get; if you'd like, I can tell you some of the things commercial site owners have told me about amateur tenants. It doesn't surprise me that site owners aren't anxious to have amateurs in their buildings. >If someone really wanted to steal the repeater (or whatever), why >wouldn't they just go on a foxhunt to find it? I dunno, but >around here the physical locations aren't kept secret. In talking >with other club members, its usually pretty easy to find out where >the repeater is. Well, yes, people can try to DF a repeater, but most high-level sites are located at the end of roads with locked gates, often on private property. Furthermore, there are often several buildings on high-level sites, and you likely wouldn't be able to figure out which one had the machine. Sometimes, people get into a site as a favor, and they don't want the site owner to start getting a lot of requests for the same favor... --- * Dana H. Myers KK6JQ, DoD 466 | Views expressed here are * * (310) 348-6043 | mine and do not necessarily * * Dana.Myers@West.Sun.Com | reflect those of my employer * * This Extra supports the abolition of the 13 and 20 WPM tests * ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 5 Jan 1994 22:03:54 GMT From: agate!usenet.ins.cwru.edu!howland.reston.ans.net!noc.near.net!gateway-gw!newshost!wpns@ames.arpa Subject: TOYOTAS AND MOBILE RIGS To: info-hams@ucsd.edu In article <199312311454.GAA09219@ucsd.edu> MAYNARD@URIACC.URI.EDU writes: >I RECENTLY PURCHASED A 1991 TOYOTA PREVIA. AFTER INSTALLING A KENWOOD >2 METER RIG AND TRANSMITTING AT ABOUT 45 WATTS FOR A FEW MINUTES, I >DISCOVERED THAT THE AM/FM RADIO WAS NOW DEAD. I CANNOT STATE WITH >CERTAINTY THAT THE RADIO WAS NOT DEAD BEFORE TRANSMITTING, BUT BEING >PARANOID... I SEEM TO RECALL A FLURRY OF INFO A FEW YEARS BACK ABOUT >TOYOTAS AND MOBILE RIG S. ANYONE OUT THERE RECALL THE BASIC SCOOP? >TNX ES 73, BRIAN, WY2G Toyota recently changed their reccomendations from "You can't have a 2-way radio and a warrantee at the same time" to "You must follow certain reccomendations, available on request." -- Willie Smith wpns@pictel.com N1JBJ@amsat.org Some people you don't have to satirize, you just quote em - Tom Paxton ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 5 Jan 1994 16:49:36 GMT From: swrinde!cs.utexas.edu!math.ohio-state.edu!magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu!usenet.ins.cwru.edu!news.csuohio.edu!garfield.csuohio.edu!mike@network.ucsd.edu Subject: WWV Seems to Have a Problem. To: info-hams@ucsd.edu Charles.R.Hohenstein.1@nd.edu (Charles R. Hohenstein) writes: : 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. : > : WWV comes from Fort Collins, CO on 2.5, 5, 10, 15, and 20 Mhz. Keep in mind that on 2.5 and 20 Mhz they transmit at 2.5Kw and on 5, 10, and 15Mhz they transmit at 10Kw. I found this by looking in Passport to World Band Radio Blue Pages. Since you are picking up distortion more on 2.5Mhz than 10Mhz it may be due to 2.5Mhz being the weaker signal (lower transmitter power). I happened to be listening last night, and could only hear 5 and 10Mhz WWV, both sounded fine. I very rarely am even able to hear 2.5 and 20Mhz, since the signal does not make it to Cleveland very often, so I don't know the quality of the signal from 2.5Mhz. Could still be distorted regardless of transmitter power. You might check to see if there has been any local electrical interference introduced lately at your location. New power lines nearby? Did you put an alarm system or other electrical device in your home? I have found they create considerable trash noise on HF from 2 to 5 Mhz. -- ___---^^^---___---^^^---___---^^^---___---^^^--- Catch The WAVE ---___ Michael Mayer, Senior Technical Support Engineer Visual Numerics, Inc. 32915 Aurora Rd. Suite # 160, Solon, OH, 44139 USA Email: mayer@pvi.com Human: 216/248-4900 Fax: 216-248-2733 ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 5 Jan 1994 21:53:27 GMT From: elroy.jpl.nasa.gov!usc!howland.reston.ans.net!paladin.american.edu!constellation!osuunx.ucc.okstate.edu!datacomm.ucc.okstate.edu!martin@ames.arpa To: info-hams@ucsd.edu References <2gc4b3$ae6@oak.oakland.edu>, <1994Jan4.163149.9186@osuunx.ucc.okstate.edu>, <Charles.R.Hohenstein.1-040194162613@mac17.hesburgh.lab.nd.edu>.oks Subject : Re: WWV Seems to Have a Problem. As the person who started this thread, I must say that I am a little red-faced, today. Last night, when I listened to the 2.5MHZ signal, it was quite normal. In Oklahoma, the 5MHZ signal is usually the best one after dark in the Winter time and the 2.5MHZ signal is a close second. During sporadic E openings, the 20MHZ signal is audible. Several years ago, when WWV transmitted on 25MHZ, that signal was a good propagation indicator for showing that 10 and possibly 6 might be open. Martin McCormick WB5AGZ Stillwater, OK O.S.U. Computer Center Data Communications Group ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 5 Jan 94 18:43:15 GMT From: ncrgw2.ncr.com!ncrhub2!torynews!kevin@uunet.uu.net To: info-hams@ucsd.edu References <CIyCFB.CBI@sugar.NeoSoft.COM>, <2g4bc8$aeu@crl.crl.com>, <1994Jan05.065815.24300@wattres.SJ.CA.US>m Subject : Re: Repeater database? In article <1994Jan05.065815.24300@wattres.SJ.CA.US> steve@wattres.SJ.CA.US (Steve Watt -- KD6GGD) writes: > >If someone has the desire to go talk the various repeater coordination >bodies out of their data (they must know the exact location of all repeaters >in their jurisdiction, after all, to coordinate them reasonably) then >it might be worthwhile resurrecting the repeater database. Until that >time, I'm afraid, not much will happen. > Our local 2 meter coordinating body may know the location of all the repeaters, but even they don't use that information to determine which repeaters to coordinate. Coordination involves on-air testing of a new repeater to determine whether it interferes with existing machines on the frequency. I have attended one of the coordination group's meetings and was very unimpressed. No spirit of cooperation, only ugly ranting and raving. I have heard that some of these meetings have literally come to blows, and judging from the meeting I attended I would believe it. So I can see why the coordinators would be unwilling to cooperate: their job is hard enough as it is without people second-guessing them using information from a haat/la/lo database. -- ___________ Kevin Sanders, KN6FQ | ___ | kevin.sanders@torreypinesca.ncr.com |o o \_/ o o| Try Boatanchors kevin%beacons@cyber.net |o o @ o o| For A Real Lift |___________| ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 5 Jan 94 20:35:17 GMT From: mnemosyne.cs.du.edu!nyx10!jmaynard@uunet.uu.net To: info-hams@ucsd.edu References <2g4bc8$aeu@crl.crl.com>, <1994Jan05.065815.24300@wattres.SJ.CA.US>, <1994Jan5.184315.6577@torreypinesca.ncr.com> Subject : Re: Repeater database? [Followups to .policy.] In article <1994Jan5.184315.6577@torreypinesca.ncr.com>, Kevin Sanders <kevin@TorreyPinesCA.ncr.com> wrote: >I have attended one of the coordination group's meetings and was very >unimpressed. No spirit of cooperation, only ugly ranting and raving. >I have heard that some of these meetings have literally come to blows, >and judging from the meeting I attended I would believe it. If you only knew. The basic problem is simple: People think they have a right to put on a repeater, and not to have that repeater interfered with. This works fine until all of the channels have repeaters on them in a given area; after that, there's conflict - sometimes very ugly and violent, sometimes merely legal and expensive. Frequency coordination in the amateur service today is not a technical job - it's a political one. > So I can >see why the coordinators would be unwilling to cooperate: their job is >hard enough as it is without people second-guessing them using information >from a haat/la/lo database. This is a secondary consideration - we have enough of a problem now with folks who assume that, just because there is no listing for a given pair in an area, that the pair has not been allocated. As I said in another message, though, the primary consideration is more basic than that: if we didn't keep the data confidential, we wouldn't get it in the first place. -- Jay Maynard, EMT-P, K5ZC, PP-ASEL | Never ascribe to malice that which can jmaynard@oac.hsc.uth.tmc.edu | adequately be explained by stupidity. "A good flame is fuel to warm the soul." -- Karl Denninger ------------------------------ Date: 5 Jan 1994 22:56:25 GMT From: ucsnews!sol.ctr.columbia.edu!emory!europa.eng.gtefsd.com!news.umbc.edu!haven.umd.edu!cs.umd.edu!skates.gsfc.nasa.gov!aol14!mitchell@network.ucsd.edu To: info-hams@ucsd.edu References <2g4bc8$aeu@crl.crl.com>, <1994Jan05.065815.24300@wattres.sj.ca.us>, <1994Jan5.125300.21517@mnemosyne.cs.du.edu> Subject : Re: Repeater database? In article <1994Jan5.125300.21517@mnemosyne.cs.du.edu>, jmaynard@nyx10.cs.du.edu (Jay Maynard) writes: |> |> It's real simple: lat/lon/haat information is enough to walk up to the tower |> or building the repeater is on, and therefore enough to get the repeater |> stolen, or for someone to talk to the site owner and get the repeater kicked |> off of the site. Sites are very, very hard to get unless you're willing to pay |> commercial rates - and very few hams are that rich. |> If someone really wanted to steal the repeater (or whatever), why wouldn't they just go on a foxhunt to find it? I dunno, but around here the physical locations aren't kept secret. In talking with other club members, its usually pretty easy to find out where the repeater is. Maybe we just get along better over here...or maybe i'm just niave. -- Richard Mitchell | Learning to Do Doing to Learn mitchell@aol12.wff.nasa.gov | Earning to Live Living to Serve N3LNK | ------------------------------ Date: 5 Jan 94 09:34:46 -0700 From: sdd.hp.com!math.ohio-state.edu!sol.ctr.columbia.edu!hamblin.math.byu.edu!yvax.byu.edu!physc1.byu.edu!peterson@network.ucsd.edu To: info-hams@ucsd.edu References <CIsypt.BJ0.2@cs.cmu.edu>, <CItx4A.JzB@iat.holonet.net>, <2g1l4a$sa1@crl.crl.com>th.byu. Subject : Re: Repeater database? In article <2g1l4a$sa1@crl.crl.com>, mjr@crl.com (Matthew Rapaport) writes: > Well I think it doesn't have to be full-blown to begin with. For example > a good start could be made by scanning the ARRL book, and then enhancing > the information with additional material reported from users (as opposed > to secret material best kept to the coordinators and owners). I have > some experience designing database records for related purposes if I can be > of assistance. All of the characteristics you mention could be reflected > in the records gradually, as users step up to help fill them in. > Estimates of Repeater usage, coverage descriptions, etc. Note that it is > not necessary that a repeater be used heavily to be a good emergency > connection. It is only necessary that someone be listening most of the > time. > > For these reasons, I'd like to see something running in a telnet-able > system where a user can link in and perform searches in various ways. > For example list all repeaters covering a square bounded by a set of > coordinates (Mil grid or lat./long.). Ftp access to the DB by sections > or sorted in verious ways would also be valuable. Some of the > information one would want to keep (usage patterns for example) might > require frequent updates. An online system would be more condusive to > this. > > > -- > matthew rapaport Philosopher/Programmer at large KD6KVH > CIS: 70271,255 Internet: mjr@crl.com I got a little tired of trying to find things in the ARRL book so I did create my own database of repeaters in the areas I cover. This includes all the information in the ARRL book plus notes on location (USGS quad map name and lat./long./alt. as near as I could get it). I can now produce list sorted according to desired parameters (for instance I have one list I carry in my radio kit that is sorted by lat. and long. so I can estimate where I am and know where I fall in the list). Also I have a program that will give me a list of the repeaters according to distance from a certain location (again specified in lat./long.) along with the compass heading to that repeater. It has been very useful for my travels - especially for when I go backpacking since I can generate some lists for strategic locations along the route and always know approximately where the repeaters are located. I haven't tried to tackle the question of actual coverage yet but that may come up yet. I think a similar database that is generally available would be very useful. Possibly arranged as a set of ascii files in a standard format, separated by state or region, that could be downloaded and imported into my favorite database program if nothing more exotic is done. I don't see how this could violate anyone's privacy if the information is just what is in the ARRL book that everybody has access to. And it would really help if each state coordination group would include in this list their suggested local simplex frequencies. This would remove the need to publish the various "hidden" frequencies since you would then have locally acceptable simplex frequencies to choose from rather than just taking a stab in the dark at one. I consider this an idea whose time has come. It is not unworkable. And it can be done in such a way as to provide the needed information without compromising any link or control frequencies that are not already public. If no official body wanted to do it there is nothing that would stop individuals from submitting already public information to someone who wanted to archive it - it is public information so there can be no complaints about making it available in another form. In fact I would have no qualms about putting my current database for Utah, East Idaho, West Wyoming, and West Montana on an anonymous ftp server since it is all public information. Bryan G. Peterson, ki7td peterson@physc1.byu.edu ------------------------------ End of Info-Hams Digest V94 #5 ****************************** ******************************