Date: Tue, 8 Feb 94 20:12:13 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 #124
To: Info-Hams
Info-Hams Digest Tue, 8 Feb 94 Volume 94 : Issue 124
Today's Topics:
40 meter QRP (cw or ssb)
ARLB016 Georgia bill introduced
BEGINNER! - Advice on Radio
FT980/FTV250.
htx-202 or dj-162 ?
HTX202 belt clip
MICOWAVE OVENS
Parking at the Dayton Hamvention
RF? problem with TS-440...need advice
Smithsonian amateur station
soldering PL-259 to coax
Tuned feeder for SB-200
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: Sun, 06 Feb 1994 19:28:16 GMT
From: ucsnews!sol.ctr.columbia.edu!howland.reston.ans.net!news.intercon.com!pipeline.com!malgudi.oar.net!witch!ted!mjsilva@network.ucsd.edu
Subject: 40 meter QRP (cw or ssb)
To: info-hams@ucsd.edu
>BTW, how do some of the people key
>so darned fast CW? Its like 30-40 wpm on my computer. Can they really decode
>this by ear or do they use computers for decoding too?
>
>
Can only tell you that the world record for receiving CW (via ear,
to manual typewriter), is 77.5 wpm, c. 1939. Sends a shudder up
your spine, no?
Mike Silva, KK6GM
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 7 Feb 1994 16:21:33 GMT
From: netcomsv!netcom.com!marcbg@decwrl.dec.com
Subject: ARLB016 Georgia bill introduced
To: info-hams@ucsd.edu
SB QST @ ARL $ARLB016
ARLB016 Georgia bill introduced
ZCZC AG80
QST de W1AW
ARRL Bulletin 16 ARLB016
>From ARRL Headquarters
Newington CT February 4, 1994
To all radio amateurs
SB QST ARL ARLB016
ARLB016 Georgia bill introduced
A bill introduced in the Georgia Legislature that would eliminate
the effect of restrictive property covenants on amateurs is believed
to be the first of its type in the nation, according to Georgia
Section Manager Jim Altman, N4UCK.
The bill, H.B. 1134, would prevent all new and renewed covenants
from regulating, controlling, or restricting antennas owned and
operated by licensed amateurs in the state.
Altman said that, in Georgia, all restrictive covenants have a life
of 20 years, but can be renewed. This law, in banning new and
renewed covenants, would leave the existing covenants in place until
their natural expiration, and prevent new ones. Over the next 20
years, all existing covenants would disappear.
The bill was initially referred to the State Bar committee on real
property law, which gave the measure a ''do pass'' recommendation.
Amateurs in Georgia are urged to contact their state legislators and
urge their support of H.B. 1134. For more information, contact
Altman or the Regulatory Information Branch at ARRL Headquarters.
NNNN
/EX
--
============================================
Marc B. Grant 214-359-1010
marcbg@netcom.com Amateur Radio N5MEI
marcbg@esy.com
============================================
------------------------------
Date: 3 Feb 94 12:58:25 GMT
From: utcsri!newsflash.concordia.ca!altitude!altitude!not-for-mail@rutgers.rutgers.edu
Subject: BEGINNER! - Advice on Radio
To: info-hams@ucsd.edu
"F. Clayton Rote" <p00936@psilink.com> writes:
>Hi all:
>I have decided to dip my toe into the HAM radio hobby. I have a
>general idea of what I want but I want to make sure it is possible and
>that I purchase the correct equipment. I thought I would put the
>features I am looking for in a message and solicit any feedback.
Well the features you listed are all very popular, but the point that I
think you need to consider the most is the ruggedness of a portable. I
have have a dozen HT since my carreer began and you can have the nicest
radio with all the bell and whistles you want but if it breaks the first
time you carry it then it is of no use to you. Also remeber that HTs are
Hts and if you plan using it for all around talking from your home and
work place and car, you will soon find out that irtt is a pain to carry
cables and amplifier, speaker mikes and spare batteries.
Mobile are nice. I have both and I used to carry my HT everywhere, but
found after a year or so that I really didnt use it that much. As a
result I still have 2 hts, one on 220 Mhz and a dual band IC32At and I
have had a smallest ones too, but if I have to take care of a radio like
a human baby then, I find it a drag anyhow its your call but it pays to
consider it along with all the features you are looking for.
good luck, Dino VE2DM dino.cam.org
------------------------------
Date: 8 Feb 94 07:50:53 GMT
From: ogicse!news.tek.com!cascade.ens.tek.com!not-for-mail@network.ucsd.edu
Subject: FT980/FTV250.
To: info-hams@ucsd.edu
Has any of the netters used an FTV-250 2 meter transverter with an FT-980
or similar solid state rig? I have never used a transverter and would like
to try this if I could figure out how to hook it up to a rig it was never
designed for and how to not transmit on 10 meters without having a switch
to turn off the heaters like on the FT-101EE. The FT-101 connects into the
transverter thru an accessory cable but the FT-980 dosen't have the same
connector and I am not certain as to what exactly is being switched in the
transceiver.
Terry Burge
KI7M
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 6 Feb 1994 20:52:43 GMT
From: agate!howland.reston.ans.net!news.intercon.com!psinntp!psinntp!psinntp!colmiks!psc@network.ucsd.edu
Subject: htx-202 or dj-162 ?
To: info-hams@ucsd.edu
Joel B Levin (levin@bbn.com) wrote:
: In article <2ire53$o2g@explorer.clark.net> robocop@clark.net (matt roberts) writes:
: In article <CKM79r.45H@sunsrvr6.cci.com>, James D. Cronin <jdc@cci.com> wrote:
: >In article <2i8rnf$o5n@explorer.clark.net>,
: >matt roberts <robocop@clark.net> wrote:
: >>The HTX202 is a good radio. It comes with the CTCSS, DTMF squelch, and
: >>it can store telephone numbers. It has 14 memories, I think.
: >I'll second the motion. The HTX-202 is also more sensitive on receive
: >than my ICOM-27H, of a late 70's or early 80's vintage. And the price
: >is right when Radio Shack runs one of their periodic "sales".
: The radio is also free of intermod. I hear a lot of complaints on the
: air about intermod, but I never hear these from HTX202 owners.
: On the other hand you hear complaints here about the inability to
: expand the receive capabilities of the HTX-202 so one can monitor the
: NOAA weather or public service agencies. It is because you can't that
: the receiver is so clean. If expanded VHF reception is important to
: you, the Alinco would be the correct choice (of the two mentioned
: here).
: /JBL KD1ON
: =
: Nets: levin@bbn.com | "Earn more sessions by sleeving."
: pots: (617)873-3463 |
: ARS: KD1ON | -- Roxanne Kowalski
--
+-------------------------------------------------------------------------+
: Philip Cook : Sysop of Dragon's World BBS : Amateur Radio Operator :
: psc@colmiks. : 203-294-1813 : N1OKM :
: colmiks.com : A Commodore C*Base BBS : ARRL member :
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 7 Feb 1994 22:47:13 GMT
From: agate!spool.mu.edu!howland.reston.ans.net!news.intercon.com!psinntp!psinntp!psinntp!colmiks!psc@network.ucsd.edu
Subject: HTX202 belt clip
To: info-hams@ucsd.edu
hlb (hlb@li.loral.com) wrote:
: Is the belt clip of the HTX202 used as a heat sink or can it be operated
: without the belt clip attached?
: Thank you.
: hlb@li.loral.com
: --
: hlb@li.loral.com
--
+-------------------------------------------------------------------------+
: Philip Cook : Sysop of Dragon's World BBS : Amateur Radio Operator :
: psc@colmiks. : 203-294-1813 : N1OKM :
: colmiks.com : A Commodore C*Base BBS : ARRL member :
------------------------------
Date: 8 Feb 94 14:17:00 GMT
From: agate!howland.reston.ans.net!vixen.cso.uiuc.edu!moe.ksu.ksu.edu!engr.uark.edu!news.ualr.edu!chaos!bob.hilton@network.ucsd.edu
Subject: MICOWAVE OVENS
To: info-hams@ucsd.edu
to:all@rec.radio.amateur.misc
This may not be exactly the right group to ask, but I figure somebody
here has the answer. My employer just bought a new microwave oven
for the breakroom; it's a home-style (not commercial grade) Magic
Chef. I was surprised to see this warning on the front cover of
the "Use and Care" booklet:
"YOU MUST REGISTER YOUR MICROWAVE OVEN
The Federal Government requires that records be filed on the
location of all microwave ovens. A registration card, packed
inside this oven, is used to track the location of our micro-
wave ovens. ... If you bought this oven from a previous owner,
please establish your ownership by writing to: [address]."
The address given matches that of the Magic Chef company, not some
Gov't office. So my questions are:
1. Is this a real law?
2. What if I don't register? Will OSHA, if they EVER visit,
slap our hands?
3. If we worked in New Jersey, could we be fined for
tax evasion (not registering an RF emitter)?
4. Is this for safety recall purposes?
5. Or is this a sneaky way to add our name to somebody's
mailing list?
Bob
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 7 Feb 1994 20:35:29 GMT
From: agate!howland.reston.ans.net!paladin.american.edu!zombie.ncsc.mil!blackbird.afit.af.mil!mdesimio@network.ucsd.edu
Subject: Parking at the Dayton Hamvention
To: info-hams@ucsd.edu
i live in Dayton and have gotten word from
some Hamvention committee types that a change
has been made in the free buses this year.
there will no longer be service available from
individual hotels to hara arena. however, free
shuttle service will be provided from the usual
satellite parking areas: salem mall, forest park
plaza, air force museum, meijers in englewood,
mendelson's, and so on.
i believe that this information is accurate, but
am not associated with the transportation committee
of the dayton hamvention.
73,
marty
---
Martin P. DeSimio
mdesimio@afit.af.mil
AFIT/ENG
2950 P Street
Wright-Patterson AFB, OH 45433-7765
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 8 Feb 1994 18:50:33 GMT
From: munnari.oz.au!spool.mu.edu!howland.reston.ans.net!vixen.cso.uiuc.edu!sdd.hp.com!hpscit.sc.hp.com!cupnews0.cup.hp.com!jholly@network.ucsd.edu
Subject: RF? problem with TS-440...need advice
To: info-hams@ucsd.edu
Mark E. Bailey (mebly@eng.umd.edu) wrote:
: A local ham is having an odd problem with a TS-440. Usually, when the
: transmitter is keyed on 15 meters, the radio IMMEDIATELY shuts itself off.
: It is necessary to turn off the power supply to the radio for several
: seconds before the radio will turn back on. On occasion, the radio will
: work fine on 15 meters.
: This happens on SSB also, and at low output power levels. The shutdown
: when using SSB is not immediate...it takes several seconds. It does not
: occur when the radio is connected to a dummy load...just when it is
: connected to a dipole in the attic. The SWR on 15 meters is reasonable.
: The symptoms do not occur on 10, 17, 13 or 10 meters, even when the SWR on
: the coax is very high.
: I've seen RF problems cause transmitters to lock up, but I've never seen
: them immediately cause the radio to turn off. Can anyone offer any insight?
: If it is RF, I hope to be dealing with the MIC cable, the KEY line or the
: power supply. My first brilliant idea is to try a 15-meter counterpoise
: connected to radio ground.
: Thanks in advance for your advice. 73.
No problem into the dummy load is a good check...the transmitter is probably
good. Your first brilliant idea is probably a GOOD idea. The problem soulnds
like a resonant ground ... I had a problem with bad audio on 20m, fine on
other bands. Since I was not operating much at the time, I just didn't
operate 15m. Once I got around to thinking about the problem I found my
ground wire to be around 16 foot long...oh, well, win some lose some.
I don't think the problem is the mike or key lead...I favor the ground more
at this point.
Jim, WA6SDM
jholly@cup.hp.com
: --
: Mark Bailey KD4D Motto: Life's too short to drink cheap beer.
: mebly@glue.umd.edu Disclaimer: I didn't really say this.
------------------------------
Date: 07 Feb 1994 19:05:57 GMT
From: ucsnews!sol.ctr.columbia.edu!spool.mu.edu!olivea!news.bbn.com!news!levin@network.ucsd.edu
Subject: Smithsonian amateur station
To: info-hams@ucsd.edu
In article <CMM.0.90.4.760366622.hcheyney@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu> hcheyney@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu (Harold E Cheyney) writes:
I remember reading something on this group about an amateur station located
somewhere in the Smithsonian in D.C.. Anyone know anything about it?
You'll find NN3SI (yes, really) in the lower level of the Technology
building (whatever it's called these days - the big one next to the
Natural History building) in a walk through area covering the topic of
Communication.
At least that's where it was last May. I don't remember the hours of
operation posted, but it's all there.
/JBL KD1ON
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 8 Feb 1994 22:28:17 GMT
From: agate!howland.reston.ans.net!sol.ctr.columbia.edu!usenet.ucs.indiana.edu!reid.ucs.indiana.edu!reid@network.ucsd.edu
Subject: soldering PL-259 to coax
To: info-hams@ucsd.edu
In article <2j8nvs$44o@inews.intel.com> dbraun@scdtintel.com (Doug Braun ) writes:
>In article <1994Feb8.173652.8765@rsg1.er.usgs.gov>, junger@rsg1.er.usgs.gov (John Unger) writes:
>|> Has anyone had any experience (either good or bad) using one of
>|> the small butane torch/soldering irons to solder PL-259 connectors
>|> to RG-8U coax. Do they work as well as or better than a big
>|> (>100W) soldering iron?
>
>I tried one, and it tended to melt down everything. You need more
>concentrated heat.
>
>By the way, be careful when comparing soldering irons and soldering guns.
>A 100 watt soldering iron is turning all 100 watts into useful heat.
>But a 100 watt soldering gun is losing maybe 20-30% of that power
>in its transformer. Also, if you have even slightly imperfect
>connections from the element to the gun, you lose even more power.
>...
Butane irons are not big enough for soldering PL-259, even with the largest
available tip. Soldering guns are utterly worthless! I use a 200-watt
iron (WW-II surplus) that has a massive copper tip. The THERMAL MASS of the
tip is more important than the wattage: With a soldering gun, for example,
the tip is so small that even though it's high-powered, the PL-259 body
soaks up the heat faster than it can be produced. A large mass of copper
stays hot long enough to bring the PL-259 to solder-melting temperature, and
does it quickly enough that the plastic insulation of the coax doesn't melt.
I haven't tried soldering PL-259s with a propane torch (Bernz-O-Matic, et
al.) with copper-tipped soldering attachment, but that should work well.
Old-fashioned "soldering coppers" (big bar of copper on steel/wood handle,
to be heated over gas or gasoline stove) should also work well. You can buy
them at flea markets.
--
Frank reid@ucs.indiana.edu W9MKV
------------------------------
Date: 7 Feb 1994 21:09:15 GMT
From: ucsnews!sol.ctr.columbia.edu!spool.mu.edu!news.clark.edu!netnews.nwnet.net!news.uoregon.edu!fp2-st-affairs-11.uoregon.edu!user@network.ucsd.edu
Subject: Tuned feeder for SB-200
To: info-hams@ucsd.edu
Does anyone have the plans or know a source where I can find the plans to
build a tuned feeder to work with the SB-200?
Thanks,
Steve
------------------------------
Date: 8 Feb 94 06:25:06 GMT
From: ogicse!news.tek.com!cascade.ens.tek.com!not-for-mail@network.ucsd.edu
To: info-hams@ucsd.edu
References <2j6hr2$gl8@cascade.ens.tek.com>, <CKwpB9.C1p@world.std.com>, <1994Feb8.155316.10036@ke4zv.atl.ga.us>
Subject : Vertical Antennas
To Mark Curran,
Sorry about the way I have to reply to your Email. I can't directly
replay out of my account to the Internet at Tek so when someone sends me
mail I have a time sending directly to them. I have to start up 'read
news' and then read in the message. Probably a way around this but I have
not figured it out yet. Then there is the problem of remembering not to
make my lines in the post too long...I'm learning.
Terry
To: t1terryb@cascade.ENS.TEK.COM (Terry Burge)
In-Reply-To: t1terryb@cascade.ens.tek.com's message of 4 Feb 1994 14:29:13 -0800
Subject: Re: Vertical Antennas
Content-Length: 523
Hello Terry,
Hope you don't mind radion mail cluttering your disk.
I noticed in your post on verticals that you have had some
experience with homebrew groundplanes. I'm considering
one for either 20 or 40 (thought I'd start small) to try and
get a lower radiation angle than my centerfed ant.
I'm mostly curious as to materials for the vertical member,
and what your experience has been. I'm condidering either
cooper tube or aluminum conduit.
Most height I can get is about 25' on top of my roof top.
Tnx,
Mark C.
Hi Mark,
My vertical is a Butternutt HF6V made of aluminum and trapped for 10-160 meters. It
is approximately 26 feet high. If you are going to build a single band vertical for 20 or
40 meters it isn't too hard. I suggest either aluminum tubing or possably(sp) slip together
TV mast like you can buy at Radio Shack (Rohn, I believe). For 20 meters you can easily make
a quarter or 1/2, or even 5/8 wavelength ground plane. Quarter I believe is somewhere around
16 feet. A true ground plane antenna, one that is over 1/2 wavelength above ground, is suppose
to need only five or so radials. My installation is on a mobile home so I try to improve things
by adding 8-12 radials for 10,12,15,17,20 meters, 8 on 40 meters. A quarterwave on 40 meters is
about 32 feet so that may need to be loaded with a coil to give you the resonance. If I were you I
would definately look into buying a Butternut HF2V(think that is what they call it. It is
for 80, 40 and 20 meters and can have 160 meters added.) But like I said, a 20 or 40 meter
quarterwave vertical is fairly easy to build.
The ground plane on my antenna is made of galvanized electric fence wire. A spool of
that stuff is one of the best investments a Ham can make. Only cost about 8-10 dollars for a
quarter mile roll at your local farm store or Bi-Mart, whatever. Cut the radials for 1/4
wavelength at the lowest frequency on each band. Some people say 5 % longer than the 1/4 wave
radiator. Either will do. Just lay your radials out as evenly as possible deviding up 360 degrees
so that you get as clean, semetrical a pattern as possible.
Depending on weather you make a 1/4 wave or 1/2 or 5/8 wave, you will need to come up
with a matching system. The ARRL Antenna Handbook is the place to go and find that info. I believe
for 1/2 wavelength you will have a high impedance input and may not be able to feed it directly
with coax without some sort of impedance matching device. 1/4 wavelength verticals have somewhere
between 36 and 52 ohms. Feeding them with coax is no problem usally. Your radial system
has a significant effect on feed point so you will probably want to read chapters 2 and 3 in the
antenna handbook. That book is also a good investment.
Good luck and let me know what you decide and how it works out. When I first got into
Ham radio back in 76 I put up a 1/4 wave groundplane for 20 meters on a mast of that slip together
TV mast I told you about. The antenna was very similar to a CB supper maggy or whatever they call
them. Worked very well getting out but like all radials, it was subject to static interference.
The neat thing about it was that I was easily able to get approximately 60 feet of height using
a dual set of guide wires. The radials were the guyed wires cut for the bottom of 20 meters with
insulator and slopeing down.
Terry Burge
KI7M
------------------------------
Date: 8 Feb 1994 18:52:09 GMT
From: agate!howland.reston.ans.net!vixen.cso.uiuc.edu!sdd.hp.com!hpscit.sc.hp.com!hpubmaa.esr.hp.com!garhow@network.ucsd.edu
To: info-hams@ucsd.edu
References <CKo1pB.MBJ@nrtpa22.bnr.ca>, <3FEB199417000730@zeus.tamu.edu>, <hamilton.760464153@BIX.com>com
Subject : Re: Radar Detector Detectors
In article <hamilton.760464153@BIX.com>, hamilton@BIX.com (hamilton on BIX) writes:
|> tskloss@zeus.tamu.edu (SKLOSS, TIMOTHY WILLIAM) writes:
|>
|> >In article <CKo1pB.MBJ@nrtpa22.bnr.ca>, billag@b4pphff.bnr.ca (Bill Gutknecht) writes...
|> >> Since this group contains all the RF types ... I was wondering
|> >> if anyone here knows where I can find out about radar detector
|> >> "detectors" ... specifically something published ... I have
|> >> a friend who is quite the sceptic and doesn't believe me that
|> >> they exist ...
|>
|>
|> >Tell your friend to drive around Canada, or a state which outlaws radar
|> >detectors, with a powered up radar detector in the glove box and see what
|> >happens. They will probably even show the detector to him.
|>
|> >-tim
|> But no sooner have radar detector detectors arrived, than I see ads now
|> for "undetectable" radar detectors. Right here in front of me, I have
|> one in a Herrington catalog (Ph 800-622-5221/FAX 603-437-3492) for a
|> Bel SuperWideband "Undetectable" Radar/LaserDetector for $339. Do you
|> know if in fact these "undetectable" detectors are really undetectable?
|>
|> Regards,
|> Doug Hamilton hamilton@bix.com Ph 508-358-5715
Unless they have an Undetectable Radar Detector Detector.
Garry
KE0SH
--
Garry Howard - Cambridge, MA - garhow@a4450gh.esr.hp.com
------------------------------
Date: 7 Feb 1994 21:56:54 GMT
From: ucsnews!sol.ctr.columbia.edu!howland.reston.ans.net!spool.mu.edu!olivea!inews.intel.com!scdt!dbraun@network.ucsd.edu
To: info-hams@ucsd.edu
References <CKo1pB.MBJ@nrtpa22.bnr.ca>, <3FEB199417000730@zeus.tamu.edu>, <hamilton.760464153@BIX.com>inews
Reply-To : dbraun@iil.intel.com
Subject : Re: Radar Detector Detectors
>In article <CKo1pB.MBJ@nrtpa22.bnr.ca>, billag@b4pphff.bnr.ca (Bill Gutknecht) writes...
> Since this group contains all the RF types ... I was wondering
> if anyone here knows where I can find out about radar detector
> "detectors" ... specifically something published ... I have
> a friend who is quite the sceptic and doesn't believe me that
> they exist ...
I believe the rador detector detectors work by detecting the leakage
of the Local Oscillator for the radar detector. Three ways come
to mind on how to make an undetectable radar detector:
1: Use a really cheap old detector that is not a superhet design.
Useless in practice.
2: Have better isolation between the local oscillator and the
horn, so no LO signal is radiated.
3: Use non-standard LO and IF frequencies, so the detector-detector
will not be looking at the right frequency.
--
Doug Braun Intel Design Technology
408 765-4279
dbraun@scdt.intel.com
/ decwrl \
| hplabs |
or maybe: -| oliveb |- !intelca!mipos3!cadev6!dbraun
| amd |
\ qantel /
"There is no human problem which could not be solved if
people would simply do as I advise." -- Gore Vidal
------------------------------
End of Info-Hams Digest V94 #124
******************************
******************************