Date: Wed, 16 Feb 94 06:11:55 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 #160
To: Info-Hams
Info-Hams Digest Wed, 16 Feb 94 Volume 94 : Issue 160
Today's Topics:
6 Meter Big Wheel Ant?
Amateur Radio Newsline #860 4 Feb 94
Amateur Radio Newsline #861 11 Feb 94
W6GO QSL MGR LIST-ACCESS?
WANTED: Manuals for Heathkit
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: 14 Feb 1994 16:47:49 GMT
From: swrinde!cs.utexas.edu!sdd.hp.com!col.hp.com!srgenprp!news.dtc.hp.com!hpscit.sc.hp.com!rkarlqu@network.ucsd.edu
Subject: 6 Meter Big Wheel Ant?
To: info-hams@ucsd.edu
In article <henrysCL7yMn.H1x@netcom.com>,
Henry B. Smith <henrys@netcom.com> wrote:
>Has anybody ever seen the plans for a 6 Meter Big Wheel Antenna?
>
>If so, please pass along the reference.
>
>Thanks,
>
>Smitty, NA5K
The Big Wheel was described in the ARRL VHF Manual a number
of years ago. I have an old copy (circa 1965) that has this
antenna and also the old halo mobile antennas in it. They
quit publishing omni-directional horizontally polarized antennas
when hams switched from AM-horizontal-simplex-mobile to
FM-vertical-repeater-mobile in the early 70's.
It's basically 3 loops a full wavelength long built like a
3 leaf clover. Much better than a halo, according to the book.
I think you drive the loops in parallel, but don't quote me,
I'm working from memory here.
Rick Karlquist N6RK
rkarlqu@scd.hp.com
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 14 Feb 1994 06:56:30 MST
From: swrinde!cs.utexas.edu!howland.reston.ans.net!wupost!gumby!destroyer!nntp.cs.ubc.ca!alberta!ve6mgs!usenet@network.ucsd.edu
Subject: Amateur Radio Newsline #860 4 Feb 94
To: info-hams@ucsd.edu
The electronic publication of the Amateur Radio Newsline is distributed
with the permission of Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF, President and Editor of
Newsline. The text is transcribed from the audio service by Dale Cary and
is first published on Genie.
Editorial comment or news items should be E-mailed to 3241437@mcimail.com
or B.PASTERNAK@genie.geis.com. Voice or FAX to +1 805-296-7180.
All other information and disclaimers are in the text header below.
- - - - -
NEWSLINE RADIO - CBBS EDITION #110 - POSTED 02/09/94
*****************************************************************
* *
* * * ***** * * **** * ***** * * ***** *
* ** * * * * * * * ** * * *
* * * * *** * ** * *** * * * * * *** *
* * ** * * ** * * * * * ** * *
* * * ***** * * **** ***** ***** * * ***** *
* *
* **** * **** ***** *** *
* * * * * * * * * * *
* **** ***** * * * * * *
* * * * * * * * * * *
* * * * * **** ***** *** *
* *
*****************************************************************
The following is late news about Amateur Radio for Radio
Amateurs as prepared from NEWSLINE RADIO scripts by the staff of
the AMATEUR RADIO NEWSLINE, INC. -- formerly the WESTLINK RADIO
NET
CBBS twice monthly. For current information updates, please call
Los Angeles............................ (213) 462-0008
Los Angeles (Instant Update Line)...... (805) 296-2407
Seattle................................ (206) 368-3969
Seattle................................ (206) 281-8455
Tacoma................................. (206) 927-7373
Louisville............................. (502) 894-8559
Dayton................................. (513) 275-9991
Chicago................................ (708) 289-0423
New York City.......................... (718) 353-2801
Melbourne, FL.......................... (407) 259-4479
For the latest breaking info call the Instant Update Line listed
above. To provide information please call (805) 296-7180. This
line answers automatically and will accept up to 30 minutes of
material.
Check with your local amateur radio club to see if NEWSLINE
can be heard weekly on the air in your area.
Articles may be reproduced if printed in their entirety and
credit is given to AMATEUR RADIO NEWSLINE as being the source.
For further information about the AMATEUR RADIO NEWSLINE,
please write to us with an SASE at P.O. Box 463, Pasadena, CA
91102.
Thank You
NEWSLINE
*****************************************************************
Some of the hams of NEWSLINE RADIO...
WA6ITF WB6MQV WB6FDF K6DUE W6RCL N6AHU N6AWE N6TCQ K6PGX N6PNY
KU8R N8DTN W9JUV KC9RP K9XI KB5KCH KC5UD KC0HF G8AUU WD0AKO DJ0QN
and many others in the United States and around the globe!!!
*****************************************************************
[860]
* * * * C L O S E D C I R C U I T A D V I S O R Y * * * *
* *
* The following is a closed circuit advisory and is not *
* for transmission over amateur radio. Repeat, not for *
* broadcast. This is just a reminder that the address for *
* the Newsline Support Fund is Newsline, in care of Dr. Norm *
* Chalfin, K6PGX, Post Office Box 463, Pasadena, CA 91102. *
* Again, and as always, we thank you. That ends the closed *
* circuit with Newsline report number 860 for release on *
* Friday February, 4 1994 to follow. *
* *
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
The following is a QST
The ARRL petitions for an lifetime ham radio ticket and a
court says that a ham does have a right to a tower and antenna.
*****
LIFETIME HAM LICENSE PET
The ARRL has petitioned the FCC to make Amateur Radio operator
licenses valid for life. The League says in its petition that
there is nothing in the Communications Act of 1934 that would
prevent such a license term for radio amateurs. It wants a
lifetime operator's license to allow inactive amateurs to return
to the Service at the same class of license without the necessity
for retesting.
This proposal will apply only to operator licenses, Amateur
radio station licenses would still, by law, be limited to a
10-year term. A person with a lifetime operator license but no
station license would not be permitted to operate a station of
his own but would be able to operate from the station of another
amateur. The League says that nothing in this proposal should
have any effect on the FCC's call sign issuance program either as
it currently exists or as proposed in the vanity call sign
program.
The ARRL says that it is not proposing at this time to make
this rule change retroactive. Rather it suggests the easiest way
to implement it is simply to extend currently held operator
licenses from 10 years to life. No rule making number has yet
been assigned to this ARRL regulatory change request.
*****
TOWER VICTORY
A federal appeals court has found in favor of a Minnesota ham
in the latest round of her three-year battle to install a tower
and antenna.
Back in January of 1991 Sylvia Pentel, N0MRW, applied to the
city of Mendota Heights for a zoning variance for a 68-foot
crank-up tower. At the time, she was using a roof-mounted
vertical which she was unaware, violated the city's zoning rules.
The city denied her application for a tower but did grant Pentel
a special-use permit to allow her to keep the vertical.
But that did not satisfy N0MRW. Pentel sued the city in U S
district court. Her attorney John B. Bellows Jr, K0QBE argued
that the ordinance restricting her tower and antenna was
preempted by federal law. A law known as PRB-1 which recognizes
the needs of both municipalities and amateurs radio operators. A
law which requires a reasonable accommodation of the needs of
radio amateurs.
When the district court found in favor of the city Pentel
appealed. It was the United States Court of Appeals for the 8th
Circuit that has now ruled that in establishing PRB-1 the FCC
was attempting to strike a balance between the interests of
municipalities and ham radio operators. The court noted that
granting a special-use permit for Pentel's vertical was not an
acceptable accommodation to the radio amateur under the terms of
PRB-1 and ordered the city to try again.
The court did put some limit on its decision. It said that
its finding does not mean that the city must necessarily grant
Pentel's application for a tower as it stands. Rather, it stated
the Mendota Heights Minnesota must make a reasonable
accommodation to insure her interests as a radio amateur are
protected.
*****
VAN SICKLE
A United States District Court in Texas has written the end to
the story of Terry Van Sickle, WB5WXI by sentencing him to 90
days of home confinement, three years probation, fining him one
thousand dollars and ordering that he undergo a group counseling
program as directed by the probation office.
Van Sickle is the WFAA television news cameraman who had been
accused by the Federal Bureau of Investigation of harassing
customers at a Mc Donalds restraint drive-thru window last
summer. He initially protested his innocence to the media. One
newspaper even ran a two column feature about Van Sickle, quoting
him as saying that the frequencies used by Mc Donalds are posted
on computer bulletin boards and anyone could have been
responsible.
But on October 18th Terry Van Sickle changed his story. He
pleaded guilty to one count of violating Title 47, section 333 of
the United States Code by willfully and maliciously interfering
with radio communications. Sentencing was set for early January.
At that time he faced a maximum term of a year in prison and
$100,000 fine.
The lighter sentence of 90 days home confinement and probation
falls under federal sentencing guidelines. It is mitigated by
the fact that Van Sickle has also lost some fifteen thousand
dollars worth of scanners, two-way radios and other gear that was
confiscated at the time he was detained.
Van Sickle's troubles may not be over yet. There is every
likelihood of FCC administrative action to strip him of any
federally issued radio licenses. There is also the possibility
of civil action against him by Mc Donalds Corporation to recoup
any losses incurred as the result of his jamming of their radio
system.
*****
QUAKE
Amateur Radio Emergency Service and Radio Amateur Civil
Emergency Service operators are still involved emergency
communication in the aftermath of last weeks 6.6 magnitude
earthquake in Los Angeles' San Fernando Valley. Even though most
normal lines of communications were restored within 48 to 72
hours, ham operators are still assisting police, fire, Red Cross
and local emergency management officials with disaster assessment
using local VHF and UHF communications.
As a result, all hams in the affected areas not involved in
the emergency communications effort have been asked to give
priority to meeting these emergency communications demands.
These hams should not transmit on emergency net frequencies,
except when directed to do so by net control stations. Also,
priority is being given to outgoing messages since most amateurs
in some affected areas are still unable to deliver incoming
messages until phone service is restored and roads are repaired.
Health and welfare traffic was not accepted from the public until
authorities in the affected areas indicate they are able to
process such inquiries. Some emergency net operations are
expected to continue for at least another two weeks.
*****
ARRL SAY NO TO NJ RADIO TAX
Officials of the American Radio Relay League have told the New
Jersey Department of Environmental Protection and Energy that a
state proposal to register and impose fees on radio transmitters
and other RF sources was contrary to federal law. At least as
the law is related to radio amateurs.
As reported several weeks ago, the New Jersey proposal
exempted Amateur Radio stations at this time but leaves a door
open for future regulation of hams and imposition of fees.
But ARRL General Counsel Chris Imlay, N3AKD says that only
the FCC has the power to license and regulate radio transmitters.
Imlay says that applying the proposed regulations to amateurs
would effectively preclude Amateur Radio communications in New
Jersey.
By the way, the New Jersey Department of Environmental
Protection and Energy has extended the deadline for comments on
the proposal until February 22nd. Hams in New Jersey and the
surrounding states are being encouraged to write the New Jersey
legislature in opposition to the radio tax proposal.
*****
SAREX STS-60
This word just in. There will be three ham radio-licensed
crew members aboard Space Shuttle Discovery, STS-60, scheduled
for launch February 3rd. Commander Charles Bolden, KE4IQB, and
Mission Specialist Ronald Sega, KC5ETH, have now received their
Technician Class licenses. The third licensed crew member is
Russian Cosmonaut Sergei Krikalev, U5MIR who is a Mission
Specialist on the STS-60 SAREX flight.
*****
DX
In DX, word that The Lambda Amateur Radio Club will sponsor
it's third DXpedition from March 5th to the 10th. Larc members
are planning to operate on HF and OSCAR-13 Mode B and Mode S
from the Caribbean island of Anguilla in British West Indies.
The operators making the trip will be Jim Kelly KK3K, Don
Bledsoe WB6LYI, Mark Wilcox KC3XC, Tom Hendrix KI4ZN, Howard
Wyman W9BVD, Norm Gray KF7IK, James Keeth AF9A, and Wayne
Schuler AI9Q. QSL for all operators is direct to their
respective current Callbook addresses. By the way, this may be
the first OSCAR-13 Mode S DXpedition for the record books.
*****
QRP-DX
Also, two QRP Nets located in the Pacific Northwest are now
available to help you to meet other low power enthusiasts
throughout the country. The North West QRP Club meets every
Monday evening at 03:00 UTC on 10.123 MHz. The Northwest QRP
Club Saturday morning Net can be found at 07:30 UTC on 3.561
MHz. If you are interested in receiving a free copy of their
NWQ Newsletter, please send a SASE to Bill Todd 4153 49th Ave.
Southwest, Seattle, Washington 98116.
*****
NAT
Two ARRL National Exam Days have been set for 1994. The
dates are May 14 and October 29. Details will be in February
issue of QST
*****
DOOB
A ham who ran last Novembers' New York City Marathon to
raise money for cancer research will be doing it again on the
west coast. Fred Doob, AA8FQ has announced that he will run in
the March 6th Los Angeles Marathon and will be on the air before
and during the race.
With backing from Icom America, Doob says that he will hold as
many QSO's as he can while running the course. He says he plans
to operate repeaters on 145.200, 146.925, 445.325 and 447.235
MHz. Fred will also try his luck on the national simplex calling
channel of 146.52 MHz. His frequency coordination is being
handheld by the Baldwin Hills Amateur Radio Club and if band
conditions warrant, he may try some 20 meter remote base
operation on 14.295 MHz as well.
AA8FQ's participation in the New York City Marathon raised
approximately $2500 that was donated to the Sloan Kettering
Memorial Cancer Center. This time the proceeds of sponsored
miles will benefit the Los Angeles Childrens Cancer Research
Fund. This organization is considered one of the leading
pediatric cancer research organizations in the country.
Hams interested in sponsoring miles to be run by Fred can
contact him at area code 216-721-2466. In the meantime, Newsline
wishes Fred Doob AA8FQ good luck in his next run to save lives.
*****
* * * Newsline Copyright 1994 all rights are reserved. * * *
< ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^>
< "Big Steve" Coletti >
< Shortwave Listener, Broadcaster, Computer Consultant >
< and all around nice guy >
< Internet: bigsteve@dorsai.dorsai.org ==== S.COLETTI2@genie.geis.com >
< UUCP: Steve_Cole@islenet.com ==== steveny@lopez.marquette.mi.us >
< Fidonet: 1:278/712 US Mail: P.O. Box 396, New York, NY 10002 >
< Voice: +1 212 995-2637 >
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 14 Feb 1994 06:56:35 MST
From: agate!howland.reston.ans.net!wupost!gumby!destroyer!nntp.cs.ubc.ca!alberta!ve6mgs!usenet@ames.arpa
Subject: Amateur Radio Newsline #861 11 Feb 94
To: info-hams@ucsd.edu
The electronic publication of the Amateur Radio Newsline is distributed
with the permission of Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF, President and Editor of
Newsline. The text is transcribed from the audio service by Dale Cary and
is first published on Genie.
Editorial comment or news items should be E-mailed to 3241437@mcimail.com
or B.PASTERNAK@genie.geis.com. Voice or FAX to +1 805-296-7180.
All other information and disclaimers are in the text header below.
- - - - -
NEWSLINE RADIO - CBBS EDITION #111 - POSTED 02/13/94
*****************************************************************
* *
* * * ***** * * **** * ***** * * ***** *
* ** * * * * * * * ** * * *
* * * * *** * ** * *** * * * * * *** *
* * ** * * ** * * * * * ** * *
* * * ***** * * **** ***** ***** * * ***** *
* *
* **** * **** ***** *** *
* * * * * * * * * * *
* **** ***** * * * * * *
* * * * * * * * * * *
* * * * * **** ***** *** *
* *
*****************************************************************
The following is late news about Amateur Radio for Radio
Amateurs as prepared from NEWSLINE RADIO scripts by the staff of
the AMATEUR RADIO NEWSLINE, INC. -- formerly the WESTLINK RADIO
NET
CBBS twice monthly. For current information updates, please call
Los Angeles............................ (213) 462-0008
Los Angeles (Instant Update Line)...... (805) 296-2407
Seattle................................ (206) 368-3969
Seattle................................ (206) 281-8455
Tacoma................................. (206) 927-7373
Louisville............................. (502) 894-8559
Dayton................................. (513) 275-9991
Chicago................................ (708) 289-0423
New York City.......................... (718) 353-2801
Melbourne, FL.......................... (407) 259-4479
For the latest breaking info call the Instant Update Line listed
above. To provide information please call (805) 296-7180. This
line answers automatically and will accept up to 30 minutes of
material.
Check with your local amateur radio club to see if NEWSLINE
can be heard weekly on the air in your area.
Articles may be reproduced if printed in their entirety and
credit is given to AMATEUR RADIO NEWSLINE as being the source.
For further information about the AMATEUR RADIO NEWSLINE,
please write to us with an SASE at P.O. Box 463, Pasadena, CA
91102.
Thank You
NEWSLINE
*****************************************************************
Some of the hams of NEWSLINE RADIO...
WA6ITF WB6MQV WB6FDF K6DUE W6RCL N6AHU N6AWE N6TCQ K6PGX N6PNY
KU8R N8DTN W9JUV KC9RP K9XI KB5KCH KC5UD KC0HF G8AUU WD0AKO DJ0QN
and many others in the United States and around the globe!!!
*****************************************************************
[861]
* * * * C L O S E D C I R C U I T A D V I S O R Y * * * *
* *
* The following is a closed circuit advisory and is not for *
* air over amateur radio. Repeat, not for broadcast. This is *
* just a reminder that the address for the Newsline Support *
* Fund is Newsline, in care of Dr. Norm Chalfin, K6PGX, Post *
* Office Box 463, Pasadena, CA 91102. Again, and as always, *
* we thank you. That ends the closed circuit with Newsline *
* report number 861 for release on Friday, 02/11/94. *
* *
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
The following is a QST
When the information super highway arrives, ham radio will be
riding on it at the front of the pack. So says a high ranking
FCC official on Newsline report number 861 coming your way.
*****
INFORMATION SUPER HIGHWAY
Ham radio definitely will play an important part in President
Clinton's information super highway. So says FCC Private Radio
Bureau Chief Ralph Haller, N4RH. Speaking on Saturday, February
5th at the 1994 Tropical Hamboree in Miami, Haller told the group
that it's the inventive nature of radio amateurs that makes them
so important to the emerging information flow.
"The amateur service, I think is going to play a major role in
the information super highway and the advancements that come
online in the future. You're the people that have the practical
knowledge of communications. You're the people that have come up
with the innovative networks. Your packet data systems that are
now very common in the commercial world.
I guess what I am saying to you is, while I am not
particularly concerned about any more of your frequencies being
in jeopardy at this time, because there is no plans for that. I
am concerned that you continue to move forward and keep pace with
the commercial side, so that the technologies you have on the
air will in fact provide you all of the kinds of feature rich
functions that are going to be available to the general public.
In fact you ought to have even more features because you are more
qualified, you know what else is available besides just a device
that can only be operated by someone that is not sophisticated in
communications. It is an exciting time. I hope you share that
view with me. Because it really, I think, is going to make a
difference in the way we live in the future." FCC Private Radio
Bureau Chief, Ralph Haller, N4RH.
Haller also took note of the success of the expansion of
public service activities as a result of the FCC action to
change its rules governing business communications. N4RH
singled out the recent New York City Marathon as a primary
example of the ham radio success brought about by this regulatory
change.
"I recently had the opportunity to visit the New York
Marathon. And to watch how amateur radio communications actually
made that event occur. Without it, it would not occur. It is
hard perhaps, to think about, to believe that the city of New
York Police Department is unable to communicate over the entire
26 miles of that marathon. The only communications that worked
over the entire 26 miles of that race was the amateur
communications. The amateurs provided medical support, provide
physician information, provided a whole host of communications
capabilities. In fact it goes so far as to this. It was an
amateur radio transmission that in fact signaled start the race.
It wasn't on police radio, it wasn't on anything else, it was
amateur that was the only communications capability that provided
an instant notification to everyone in all parts of that race.
Pretty amazing what you people have done." Ralph Haller, N4RH.
N4RH says that this one rules change has forever expanded the
public service abilities of the ham radio community.
*****
ARRL SAYS NO TO RF STANDARDS
The ARRL has told the FCC that a proposal to adopt new
standards for exposure to radio frequency radiation should be
terminated.
The League says that the proposal, which would change the
Commission's guidelines to match those adopted by the American
National Standards Institute and the Institute of Electrical
and Electronic Engineers in 1992, was premature. It also asserts
that the commission has an obligation to introduce this matter as
an FCC notice of inquiry to allow a wider range of commentary.
The ARRL claims that the proposed standards were not properly
delineated and not a proper basis for evaluating communications
facilities. It also said that an FCC Report and Order in 1987
that concluded that amateur stations should be exempted from such
RF exposure guidelines, because amateur stations operate only
intermittently, and at low power levels, still applies. Only
rarely, the League said, would amateur stations even exceed the
proposed, more stringent 1992 standard.
The League wants the current FCC proceeding terminated in
favor of more study by a more appropriate government agency, such
as the Environmental Protection Agency. If not, then it says the
obligation of he FCC is to issue a notice of inquiry.
The current proposal, in ET Docket 93-62, was made in the
spring of 1993 and its comment deadline has been extended several
times, most recently to January 25, 1994, based on a request by
CBS Inc. The reply comment deadline is February 24th.
*****
SAREX
The STS 60 Shuttle Amateur Radio Experiment has successfully
completed another first. At 10:42 UTC on February 6, Cosmonaut
Sergei Krikalev, U5MIR, on board the space ship Discovery made
contact with the House of Science and Technology for Youth in
Moscow. This is the first time a cosmonaut on a U.S. space
shuttle has communicated with a school group in Russia. Leonid
Lebutin, UA3CR and Valery Agabekov, UA6HZ were the prime school
coordinators for the contact. Six students were able to ask
their questions to the crew on the Space Shuttle DIscovery. In
addition, several cosmonauts were on hand to hear the
communications and witness the event.
*****
SAREX PACKET QSL INFO
While voice contacts with the hams on Discovery have been
scarce due to problems with the Wake Shield satellite experiment,
the packet robot ham station has been quite busy. As we go to
air just prior to landing, there have been several thousand
automatic SAREX contacts made with hams from around the world
reporting a booming packet radio signal from the shuttle.
For those of you who have heard or worked the STS-60 crew
and wish to receive a QSL card you need to send your signal
report and an SASE or an envelope with International Reply
Coupons to the QSL manager. This time its the ARRL. The address
is STS 60 QSL, in care of the Educational Activities Division,
The American Radio Relay League, 225 Main Street, Newington,
Connecticut 06111.
*****
Anik E2 Lost in Space?
Still with satellite related news, word that Thursday January
20th was not a good day for Telesat Canada.
Within a 12 hour period they lost both of their $300 million
geostationary satellites Anik E1 and E2. E1 was eventually
recovered by switching to a backup momentum wheel but the E2 bird
may be permanently disabled.
Both satellites are of the GE Series 5000 family of birds.
Experts believe that electromagnetic disturbances in space may
have caused the damage. Canadian radio and television
broadcasting, telephone services, data carriers and even a
national ham radio satellite repeater intertie have all been
seriously affected. Some believe the transponder shortage will
cause a rush toward the introduction of video compression on the
surviving Canadian satellite. This would greatly enhance its
throughput while at the same time making it unviewable by home
satellite viewers.
*****
2 MET
Amateur Radio may have saved a life when Diana Carlson, KC1SP,
used a local repeater to report a possible suicide attempt to
police. Carlson, of Hudson, New Hampshire, was on her way to
work in Concord, Massachusetts, the morning of January 10, when
she and another motorist observed a man climbing the railing of
the Merrimack Bridge. The man's auto was parked directly in
front of Carlson.
While the other motorist talked to the man, Carlson first
tried a call on 146.52, which she knew was sometimes monitored by
the Westford, Massachusetts police. When no response came she
switched to the 147.12 repeater in Billerica. There, Larry
Garneau, N1QEZ, who was mobile, responded and passed the message
to his wife, Virginia N1QFA, who telephoned police. An officer
of the Tyngsboro Police arrived in time to pull the 27-year-old
man from the railing of the bridge.
By the way, Diana Carlson comes from an all ham family. Her
husband David is N1JYX, her son is KA1VWX, and her daughter is
KA1VUA.
*****
STOLEN REPEATER
From England comes word that the GB3GF repeater operated by
the Guildford UHF Repeater Group in England has been stolen. The
radio gear was sited at Guildford near Surrey and was last heard
on the air on December the 29th. Sometime between midnight and 8
am on the 30th, the entire installation was skillfully dismantled
and removed from the site. The thieves even took the time to
climb a fifty foot high tower to take the antennas as well.
The system was made up of a modified Pye Communications model
F9U wall mounted base station, a Pye AE 450 F cavity filter and
home made copper cavity circulator. It was crystalled to operate
on the European RB 12 UHF repeater frequency pair of 433.300 MHz
in and transmitted on 434.900 MHz. It also had an automatic
Morse Code identifier of GB3GF every fifteen minutes.
While its doubtful that this machine will show up on North
American shores, be aware that any leads in locating the repeater
and those who took it are welcome. Any information should go
directly to the Guildford Police Department. The telephone
number from the United States is a long one. You dial 0114448
followed by the local number 331111. When you get an answer, ask
for extension 3128.
*****
UK REPEATER DELINQUENCY
From the United Kingdom comes word that the Radio Society of
Great Britain has issued an urgent advisory to twenty-four of
that nations repeater trustees telling them to respond to a
letter or loose the right to keep their systems on the air. This
is because the British Radio Communications Agency abandoned the
single repeater license to the RSGB and is now individually
licensing each of the nations repeaters.
Actually, the RSGB repeater keepers license expired at the
end of last November. Now the government has told the national
society that it must have a letter requesting a Notice of
Variation from each repeater license holder to keep the machines
on the air. The society says that it has received all but two
dozen of these requests, and it is urging the users of the
repeaters that have not filed to urge the license holder to do so
immediately. The RSGB says that its under increasing pressure
from the Radio Communications Agency to let it know which
repeaters have not filed for the required Notices of Variation.
As far as the British Government is concerned, these systems are
operating illegally without a proper license.
*****
PSA
The ARRL has some new Public Service Television commercials
available to its Public Information Officers and Public
Information Coordinators. The tapes feature astronaut Linda
Godwin, N5RAX, and Nobel Prize-winning physicist Dr Joel Taylor,
K1JT. The full-color PSA's include testimonials from Godwin and
Taylor in varying lengths for both commercial and public-access
television use. Be sure to specify videotape format required by
television station or cable television system when placing your
order. If you are not certain, we strongly suggest that you call
the TV station or cablecaster and ask what type of videotape they
require.
*****
PSA TAPE FORMATS
By the way, it may be time for a quick lesson on how to get a
public service spot on the air. Let's start off by saying that
its getting a lot harder to these spots aired these days. Only
a few years ago, TV stations were happy to have them to fill the
gaps in late night time slots where no commercials had been sold.
The advent of the long format commercial called the infomercial
changed all of that. Infomercials are known as time buys and
they supplant individual commercials in a given period. As a
result, free time for PSA's is getting scarce.
Complicating things further is the kind of videotape you must
submit to a TV station. A decade ago, that too was easy. Big
stations required 2" quad tape while the little ones would accept
the then popular 3/4 inch U-Matic. But its not that way anymore.
Now a days commercials and PSA's are run by automated
machinery that use cassette format tapes. As a rule of thumb,
television stations that make their own cassettes require any
commercial to be delivered to them on what is known as 1 inch
type C open reel tape. But with manpower cutbacks and the
introduction of even more automation, that trend is changing too.
More and more stations now require you to submit 1/2 inch Betacam
SP cassettes that can be placed directly into their automated
tape players known as cart machines. This saves the station the
cost of having to transfer the original you supply to a cassette
that will fit their commercial playback machine. A small number
still accept 3/4" tape but that number is shrinking daily as
U-Matic and quad is replaced by Betacam SP as the defacto
standard.
Complicating matters further is that some stations; mainly
those affiliated with the National Broadcasting Company may
require your submitting the PSA's on the Panasonic M2 video
format while some Tribune and independent stations utilize the
new D2 digital 19mm videocassettes for their Ampex built ACR 225
cart machines.
The majority of cablecasters are a lot more lenient than
commercial broadcasters but even here its not like it used to be.
While some will accept the older 3/4" U-Matic cassettes the vast
majority now are switching over to the Super VHS. That's Super
VHS and not the home type VHS we have in our houses. Except for
undercover news stories, VHS is not acceptable for over the air
broadcast and is rarely used any longer in cable transmission.
VHS cassettes are used only for viewing purposes in offices to
see if the material in the PSA or commercial is acceptable for
air.
*****
DX
In DX, word that Walis Island as ZS9DX was to be active by
operators ZS6BRZ and ZS6WPX, but there have been no QSN reports.
To date, the only activity seen from Walis has been by ZS9A on
21.335 MHz at 14:00 UTC. ZS9A also frequents 10 meters at
various times.
*****
FORM 610
This important note to any ham who contributes time as a
Volunteer Examiner. Beginning March 1st the FCC will accept
only the new version of its Form 610. Information about the new
610 is explained on page 103 of the February QST
Those hams who serve under the ARRL VEC have been assured of
having the needed materials before the implementation date. The
latest issue of their VE Express newsletter includes a full size
version of the new Form 610 and the ARRL VEC has also mailed
bulk quantities of the new form to all of its 650 plus field
stocked VE teams. The ARRL VEC recommends that its VE teams
begin using the new form on February 12 to allow for sufficient
turnaround time.
The W5YI national VEC is also getting supplies of the new
form out to its VE teams very quickly and should have them in
place by the time this newscast goes to air.
Its not known what action other VEC's have taken to provide
their VE's with the new Form 610 prior to its implementation
date. If you are not an ARRL or W5YI VE, and have not been
restocked with new form 610's by your VEC, consider requesting
the new version to be sent to you from that VEC right away. If
these VEC's will contact us with their plans, we will be happy to
pass along the information in future Newsline reports.
*****
BOSWELL OBIT
It's no exaggeration to say that one Alabama ham radio
operator has touched thousands of lives. But you probably won't
recognize his name. Nonetheless, friends of Ken Boswell,
KB4BWO, were saddened at the news of his death in early January.
This man has been considered an inspiration in their lives.
If there is one point everyone that met Ken Boswell agrees
about, it's the smile. He always had one.
"He tried desperately to look and find the good in
situations." Ron Arap, N4PHP.
Ron remembers the man who worked hard to help students at
Bessemer State Technical College. That's where Boswell taught
electronics courses.
"If the student was interested, and applies themselves, he
would go out of his way to help them." Ron Arap, N4PHP.
Boswell setup an amateur station at the college to build
interest in ham radio. He was active in the Birmingham Amateur
Radio Club. At the school fellow instructor Clarence Johnson
deals with the loss of a close friend.
"He cared about people. He was a people kind of person. As a
matter of fact the memory that I will probably have that will
linger with me about Ken is just how much he really showed he
really loved humanity. He got along well with his students. Ken
was just the kind of person that get along with anybody. Ken met
no strangers." Clarence Johnson, fellow instructor.
In his nearly thirty years in vocational education. Ken
Boswell thousands of people a powerful tool, knowledge to make
their lives better.
A special tribute may be in the works to honor Ken Boswell.
Friends and co-workers want to set up a scholarship fund in his
honor. Ken Boswell was 57 years old.
*****
For this week that is all from the Amateur Radio Newsline.
You can write to us at Post Office Box 463, Pasadena, CA 91102.
* * * Newsline Copyright 1994 all rights are reserved. * * *
------------
< ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^>
< "Big Steve" Coletti >
< Shortwave Listener, Broadcaster, Computer Consultant >
< and all around nice guy >
< Internet: bigsteve@dorsai.dorsai.org ==== S.COLETTI2@genie.geis.com >
< UUCP: Steve_Cole@islenet.com ==== steveny@lopez.marquette.mi.us >
< Fidonet: 1:278/712 US Mail: P.O. Box 396, New York, NY 10002 >
< Voice: +1 212 995-2637 >
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
------------------------------
Date: 16 Feb 1994 11:56:33 GMT
From: agate!usenet.ins.cwru.edu!lerc.nasa.gov!magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu!math.ohio-state.edu!caen!usenet.cis.ufl.edu!usenet.ufl.edu!mailer.acns.fsu.edu!freenet3.scri.fsu.edu!freenet2.scri.fsu.
Subject: W6GO QSL MGR LIST-ACCESS?
To: info-hams@ucsd.edu
What access is there for the W6GO QSL manager's list? [Keep
it simple, please. I am new at this computer stuff.]
Michael Christie, K7RLS
Crawfordville, Florida
------------------------------
Date: 15 Feb 1994 16:30:32 GMT
From: orca.es.com!cnn.sim.es.com!usenet@uunet.uu.net
Subject: WANTED: Manuals for Heathkit
To: info-hams@ucsd.edu
Sorry if this has appeared before. Looking for original manuals or copies
of the following:
HEATHKIT IG-5282 Audio Generator
HEATHKIT IG-5280 RF Oscillator
HEATHKIT ??????? matching power supply for above units
I will gladly reimburse you for copy/postage costs.
73's
Fred Orrell
WB5NOE
Phone: 801-944-1332
Work: 801-582-5847 ext. 3420
EMAIL: forrell@sim.es.com
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 13 Feb 1994 05:39:27 GMT
From: news.Hawaii.Edu!uhunix3.uhcc.Hawaii.Edu!jherman@ames.arpa
To: info-hams@ucsd.edu
References <1994Feb11.001239.2842@ke4zv.atl.ga.us>, <CL1p2x.8s2@news.Hawaii.Edu>, <1994Feb12.161053.4486@ke4zv.atl.ga.us>
Subject : Re: 40 meter QRP (cw or ssb)
In article <1994Feb12.161053.4486@ke4zv.atl.ga.us> gary@ke4zv.atl.ga.us (Gary Coffman) writes:
>In article <CL1p2x.8s2@news.Hawaii.Edu> jherman@uhunix3.uhcc.Hawaii.Edu (Jeff Herman) writes:
>>In article <1994Feb11.001239.2842@ke4zv.atl.ga.us> gary@ke4zv.atl.ga.us (Gary Coffman) writes:
>>>I can wait and recognize "the", but when it turns out to be the
>>>opening character group in "Thessalonian", I'm screwed. Dealing
>>>character by character on paper insures I get either correctly.
>>
>>Geez Gary, what kind of QSOs do you have? In 18 years I've never had
>>someone send that word to me; phooey - your QSOs sound MUCH more
>>interesting than mine.
>
>I've been claiming that all along, Jeff. The high information rate
>of voice transmission allows complex ideas to be expressed quickly
>enough to be interesting.
>
Now wait a minute! I meant CW QSOs - if folks are sending you words
such as Thessalonian on CW THEN your QSOs are more interesting than
mine.
You never miss an opportunity to kick CW in the okole (Hawaiian word
for what you sit on).
===============================================================================
Jeffrey Herman, NH6IL, jherman@hawaii.edu, who, in his spare time, cannibalizes
old TV sets to make QRP transmitters (CW of course).
Previously: WA6QIJ, WH6AEQ, NMO (U.S. Coast Guard Radio Honolulu: 500kc CW)
It is said that CW is the second most popular mode on HF, but scanning the
bands I frequently count more CW QSOs than SSB QSOs.
==============================================================================
------------------------------
End of Info-Hams Digest V94 #160
******************************
******************************