Date: Thu, 17 Feb 94 04:30:14 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 #165
To: Info-Hams
Info-Hams Digest Thu, 17 Feb 94 Volume 94 : Issue 165
Today's Topics:
Baycom and TFPCX
callsign server info
CELLULAR SURVEILLANCE
FCC Daily Digests for the
FT530 dtmf decoding
GAP DX EAGLE comments?
Index to the rec.rad
John Ramsey (2 msgs)
Morse code program for Macs
MS PowerPoint used for Amateur Radio Promotion/Training ?
QSL Questions
UHF repeater antenna bug
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: 17 Feb 94 09:22:19 +0100
From: agate!howland.reston.ans.net!pipex!sunic!EU.net!sun4nl!tudelft.nl!tudedv.et.tudelft.nl!mljteijn@network.ucsd.edu
Subject: Baycom and TFPCX
To: info-hams@ucsd.edu
In article <8335@gold.gvg.tek.com>, groverc@gvgadg.gvg.tek.com writes:
>
> I need English documentation for the program TFPCX.
Haven't seen one yet, but I do use TFPCX without any problems, so
if you have any questions, mail them to MLJTeijn@ET.TUDelft.NL
>
> This is a piece of software that lets one use GraphPac
> with a tnc in kiss mode or with a Baycom module.
A tnc in KISS mode requires tfpcR, not tfpcX!
>
> Any help appreciated.
>
> 73
>
> Grover, WT6P
Grtnx Marcel
/----------------------------------------------------------------------------\
| Marcel L.J. Teijn |
| University of Technology (Sorry, no cool signature yet... ) |
| Delft, The Netherlands |
| E-mail: MLJTeijn@Et.TUDelft.NL |
\----------------------------------------------------------------------------/
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 15 Feb 1994 18:26:22 GMT
From: gulfaero.com!vixen.cso.uiuc.edu!howland.reston.ans.net!europa.eng.gtefsd.com!library.ucla.edu!csulb.edu!csus.edu!netcom.com!wy1z@network.ucsd.edu
Subject: callsign server info
To: info-hams@ucsd.edu
In article <ah301-130294211517@129.228.248.119>,
Jerry Sy <ah301@yfn.ysu.edu> wrote:
>which port do I telnet to get to callsign server on
>cs.buffalo.edu ?
>
>thanks
>jerry
>n3rkd
telnet callsign.cs.buffalo.edu 2000
also
telnet electra.cs.buffalo.edu 2000
Same system.
Scott
--
===============================================================================
| Scott Ehrlich Internet: wy1z@neu.edu BITNET: wy1z@NUHUB |
| Amateur Radio: wy1z AX.25: wy1z@k1ugm.ma.usa.na |
|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Maintainer of the Boston Amateur Radio Club hamradio FTP area on |
| the World - world.std.com pub/hamradio |
===============================================================================
------------------------------
Date: 17 Feb 94 07:01:48 GMT
From: news-mail-gateway@ucsd.edu
Subject: CELLULAR SURVEILLANCE
To: info-hams@ucsd.edu
------------------------------
On 15 Feb 1994 17:31:34 GMT
gulfaero.com!vixen.cso.uiuc.edu!howland.reston.ans.net!cs.utexas.edu!swri
or somebody, somewhere (my apologies, I could never decypher these
headers) wrote:
QUESTION: So what does it do?
>In article <9402141902.A9592wk@t8000.cuc.ab.ca>,
>bill.fischer@t8000.cuc.ab.ca wrote:
>94-02-14
>Finally, as the result of the efforts of a number of Internet gurus,
>we're able to tell you how to download a demo copy of the software
>that controls our Cellular Surveillance Interface, via e-mail. The
>program is entitled CELLDEMO.ZIP
------------------------------
ANSWER: The Cellular Surveillance Interface (CSI) is the proverbial
software driven black box between your scanner and PC that monitors the
cellular data channel and automatically switches your radio to the
designated voice channel when a cell phone originates or receives a call
in the cell that you're monitoring. It enables you to monitor all or
specific cellular phone calls from beginning to end, even when they
switch to a new voice channel in the middle of the call.
Rather than commercialize the net, anyone that's interested in more
detail can e-mail us for a product brochure. The purpose of the
original e-mail was to advise how to obtain the demo software via
FTPMAIL, and also to provide a tutorial on the FTPMAIL process.
Regards,
Bill Fischer Internet: bill.fischer@t8000.cuc.ab.ca
---
SLMR 2.0 Bill Fischer Internet: bill.fischer@T8000.cuc.ab.ca
------------------------------
Date: 16 Feb 1994 05:06:56 GMT
From: ucsnews!newshub.sdsu.edu!usc!howland.reston.ans.net!europa.eng.gtefsd.com!news.umbc.edu!haven.umd.edu!umd5.umd.edu!w3eax.umd.edu!phil@network.ucsd.edu
Subject: FCC Daily Digests for the
To: info-hams@ucsd.edu
Steve,
A wise man once said "Opinions are like assholes, Everybodys got one."
I find the posts interesting and informative. Just because you
have been granted an Amatuer license that doesn't mean that shouldn't
be aware of what is going on with NONamatuer radio services.
If you find the posts "less than suitable" for your taste then
simply skip thhe NEXT post. (That takes less bandwidth than your flame
and my flame extinguisher)
73
73 Phil
------------------------------
Date: 15 Feb 1994 23:28:51 -0500
From: ucsnews!newshub.sdsu.edu!usc!howland.reston.ans.net!agate!msuinfo!news.mtu.edu!news.mtu.edu!not-for-mail@network.ucsd.edu
Subject: FT530 dtmf decoding
To: info-hams@ucsd.edu
Found this on the net quite a while back and havn't seen it
since, so I thought people might be interested.
Don't blame me if it doesn't work. I don't even own a 530.
(Wich I did tho!)
Matt Adair N8SHA
mladai@mtu.edu
DTMF Decoding
A nifty little "feature" that isn't mentioned in the manual.
Steps to follow:
1) tune to the freq you want to monitor and turn on the code squelch
2) press Function-Page(Code) to select a code memory
3) dial up to memory #7
4) watch the dtmf's scroll by as they are heard by the radio!
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 17 Feb 1994 03:48:58 GMT
From: psinntp!gdc!sneezy!kurdzo@uunet.uu.net
Subject: GAP DX EAGLE comments?
To: info-hams@ucsd.edu
Alan P. Biddle (BIDDLEAP@ctrvax.Vanderbilt.Edu) wrote:
: Hi,
: I was wondering if anyone has had any experience with the DX Eagle antenna
: which GAP makes. It is a smaller version which is roughly comparable
: to the R-7. I have a lot of input on the Cushcraft, but not much
After several calls to GAP and LOTS of tweaking, I've managed to get 5
out of the 6 bands working quite well. I've been waiting for the weather
to get a little better before I attempt to improve the SWR on 17m.
In A/B comparisons with my G5RV/Tuner combo, the GAP was consistently
better on DX, while MUCH worse with local contacts (probably due to
polarization differences). Also, the GAP is VERY quiet.
Another advantage of the GAP: Full-band coverage on all but 10m.
All in all, I guess I'm happy with the GAP. I'm not sure I would buy
another, however.
--
Jim Kurdzo AA1GZ
General DataComm
Middlebury, CT 06762-1299
(203) 574-1118 x6443
kurdzo@gdc.com
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 17 Feb 1994 03:16:00 GMT
From: ax!sec21!gerson.rissin@uunet.uu.net
Subject: Index to the rec.rad
To: info-hams@ucsd.edu
Dear Paul,
PWSK-.Archive-name: radio/ham-radio/archives
Thanks for your list. I'm interested in the following files listed
below:
How can I get them?
antenna_refs - references for articles about antenna designs
arrl_fo_jobs - descriptions of some ARRL Field Organization jobs
carpet.loop.2 - Antenna for apartments and small spaces
comb6.zip - HF Propagation Predication program
dxcc-k2di - ARRL DXCC country list
dx_w2iol.dat - data for all country prefix, position, etc
dx_w2iol.doc - documentation for the above database
florida_antenna - Florida State antenna law info
hams_on_usenet - list of ham operators and e-mail addresses on the ne
hf_rigs - QST reviews of available HF rigs
mail_order - a database of electronic mail order shops
manufacturers - names and addresses of ham gear manufacturers
newcomers - tips and hints for those new to amateur radio
pio_handbook - ARRL Public Information Officer's Handbook
qsl_bureau1 - information about the ARRL QSL bureau
qsl_bureau2 - "what should I do if" list for the QSL bureau
qst_prodrev - index of ARRL product reviews in QST
Thank you for any help!
73, Gerson Rissin - PY1APS & PY7APS
############################ Super Tag #############################
# #
# [] Gerson Rissin - Rio de Janeiro, RJ. - BRASIL #
#
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 16 Feb 1994 17:20:09 -0500
From: titan.ksc.nasa.gov!k4dii.ksc.nasa.gov!user@ames.arpa
Subject: John Ramsey
To: info-hams@ucsd.edu
In article <CLAz5v.Iss@news.direct.net>, kg7bk@indirect.com (Cecil Moore)
wrote:
> John Ramsey and I have never met in person. We have exchanged letters and
> e-mail and I perceive him to be a friendly, helpful, and assertive
> businessman who is trying to make a living at his hobby.
Cecil-
Over the years, I have seen John at his booth at several hamfests. He may
even be at the Orlando Hamfest this coming weekend, if you happen to be in
the Central Florida area.
My impression is as yours, that he is a reputable person. While his
products are not in the Kenwood or Icom category, neither are his prices.
I have a nice solid-state, dual trace, 20 MHz oscilloscope, purchased from
him several years ago. Except for the nameplate, it is identical to one
sold by several other companies. However, the other companies charged a
LOT more for theirs!
I think the kits he sells are aimed towards people like ourselves, who are
quite willing to go through the ordeal of de-bugging a kit, for the feeling
of accomplishment from getting it to work! Unfortunately, we are like
dinosaurs about to become extinct.
The modern ham seems to think a kit is something you merely plug the parts
into, like assembling an IBM-clone computer from modules. From that point
of view, I'll admit that John's kits are not "modern".
73, Fred, K4DII
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 16 Feb 1994 05:56:18 GMT
From: ucsnews!newshub.sdsu.edu!usc!math.ohio-state.edu!magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu!usenet.ins.cwru.edu!agate!library.ucla.edu!csulb.edu!csus.edu!wupost!udel!news.sprintlink.net!direct!kg7bk@network.
Subject: John Ramsey
To: info-hams@ucsd.edu
JEFF M. GOLD (JMG@tntech.edu) wrote:
: Well I will say it flat out: John Ramsey is a liar.
Jeff, a psychologist will tell you that anyone who says a person is
a "thing" rather than saying a person acted in a certain manner under
certain circumstances, has at least abandoned objectivity and at worst,
abandoned rationality. I think I've seen these exact words before. Do
you have this file stored on your disk drive somewhere?
: I purchased one of the original 2 meter transceiver kits.
I did, also. For those who don't know, we are talking about the
earlier FTR-146, Ramsey's first 2m transceiver, which they stopped
shipping *two years ago*. I don't know why Jeff keeps beating a dead horse.
My good friend, Don, KE6AJH, still uses that FTR-146 and it works great.
The present FX-146 incorporates some of my suggestions for improving the
FTR-146. But my approach was not, "you idiots don't know your ass from..."
: It didn't work correctly when I finished.
Mine didn't either... kits rarely do. I never did get the controlled-carrier
modulation working right on my HeathKit DX-40 and Heath was completely
unsympathic and unresponsive... and I learn more when the kit doesn't work.
: I called tech support.
I wrote a letter explaining in objective terms what the problem was. I got
an immediate helpful response from Ramsey's technical support group.
: At the time there were long discussions about MANY people exeperiencing
: the same difficulties I had.
I encountered every one of the difficulties that you did and Ramsey (the
company) bent over backwards to help me solve them. That's where the idea
of EPROMs for frequency control came from. The offset is done in the EPROMs
and the offset oscillators are not used.
: ...having to stretch some of the coils ...to get power out of the TX.
Jeff, if you don't have a variable cap, how else are you supposed
to adjust a tuned circuit? I have been stretching and squeezing coils
for 40 years. Air wound inductors are variable inductors, you know.
: ... don't know where that came from..
: Jeff, AC4HF
I'll bet a lot of readers of your posting know where it came from. Seems
like a self-evident primary to the most casual gentleman observer. If
you called a Texan a liar, I would worry about your health.
John Ramsey and I have never met in person. We have exchanged letters and
e-mail and I perceive him to be a friendly, helpful, and assertive
businessman who is trying to make a living at his hobby. I personally
learned a lot from the FTR and FX transceivers and own four of them.
I've tuned up a dozen others and the owners are happy with them. I put
an 80C51 in mine and now have all the features that a Japanese transceiver
has... encoder tuning, digital display, selectable offset, selectable PL,
16 memories, IBM-PC control, etc... all for less than $200. Thanks, John,
you have at least one satisfied and grateful customer.
73, Cecil, kg7bk@indirect.com
------------------------------
Date: 15 Feb 1994 18:53:24 GMT
From: gulfaero.com!vixen.cso.uiuc.edu!howland.reston.ans.net!europa.eng.gtefsd.com!paladin.american.edu!constellation!geohub.gcn.uoknor.edu!jalexand@network.ucsd.edu
Subject: Morse code program for Macs
To: info-hams@ucsd.edu
I have two friends who are studying for their 1-A test, but they have
MacIntoshes. Are there any Morse code
programs available? Thank you for any input. J. C. Alexander
------------------------------
Date: 17 Feb 94 11:14:42 GMT
From: news-mail-gateway@ucsd.edu
Subject: MS PowerPoint used for Amateur Radio Promotion/Training ?
To: info-hams@ucsd.edu
Does anyone know of professionally packaged Microsoft PowerPoint modules
that can be used for Amateur Radio training purposes ? (License training,
Intro to AR, Digital Communications FAQ's, etc.)
One of the biggest advantages of PowerPoint is it's flexibility to be used
with a normal Windows based PC and have full sound support when used with
a Sound Blaster type card. If such packages where available, they can easily be
transferred by FTP, diskettes, packet etc. Video format isn't as flexible.
It's an eye-catcher and would make a nice display at trade shows, technology
forums, libraries etc. - to attract people into the hobby.
Training on a PC doesn't tie up the family TV and VCR either.
Having the ability to view 'screen-by-screen'is much more effective than the
video' "pause-review-play" method.
I tried putting a package together myself but the results were only mediocre.
Professional multi-media folks could put together a much more impressive
package. Perhaps the ARRL should support such efforts. The money invested
to have professionals do the work would come back eventually in the form of
new membership.
I'd be happy to hear from anyone who has seen PowerPoint used in Amateur Radio
promotion/training.
73,
Rich
WB2JBS
------------------------------
Date: 17 Feb 1994 09:16:27 GMT
From: agate!howland.reston.ans.net!math.ohio-state.edu!jussieu.fr!univ-lyon1.fr!elendir@network.ucsd.edu
Subject: QSL Questions
To: info-hams@ucsd.edu
Alan Bloom (alanb@sr.hp.com) wrote:
: Andrew B. White (k9cw@prairienet.org) wrote:
: I think what people object to is that F6FNU does not do the QSL'ing
: as a public service, as most QSL managers do, but to make a profit.
Really ? That surprises me. Thought that all QSL management was free of
charge.
Vince (11 weeks, still waiting, future F1...)
--
------------------------------
Date: 16 Feb 94 05:00:00 GMT
From: hearst.acc.Virginia.EDU!concert!news.duke.edu!duke!wolves!psybbs!fredmail@uunet.uu.net
Subject: UHF repeater antenna bug
To: info-hams@ucsd.edu
To: ALL
Subj: REPEATER ANTENNA PROBLEMS...
I have a situation on a UHF repeater installation that has me
puzzled. I could certainly use any input that might be out there...
Here are the system specifics...Antenna: Anli A-1000 (looks like the
Diamond x-500 inside and out). We have one of these antennas down in
Wilson, NC on the 147,30+ repeater and it performs very nicely on VHF.
It was quite an improvement over a sick 4 bay dipole array that was
up....Feedline: 200 feet of Andrews Heliax 7/8". The feedline is
terminated with a UHF connector on the bottom, a jumper of RG-225
connects the lower end of the hardline to the duplexers. The upper end
of the heliax is terminated with a type N connector. Another short
jumper (about 2 feet long) of RG-225 connects the hardline to the
antenna. The antenna is mounted on top of a 150 foot tower.
At the duplexers, looking up through the first rg-225
jumper/hardline/jumper/antenna I see about 22 watts out with about 5
coming back(!!). This is measured with a URM-120 mil-spec directional
wattmeter...a Daiwa uhf swr meter sees about 2.5:1(!). Now, if I move
the URM-120 to the hardline input (immediately after the first jumper)
I see about 28 watts out with 3 coming back and about 1.7:1 on the
Daiwa. I climbed the tower, terminated the hardline at the top with a
50 ohm dummy load that's good to 1 ghz, came back down, pumped 20 watts
on UHF directly into the hardline at the bottom. I measured about 11
watts making it out the top (the specs for at 450 mhz are about
2.8db/200 ft)...about right for the length...It seems to me that the
feedline impedance is more like either 38ish or 75ish ohms with that
type of response...The antenna measures flat at the feedpoint, but the
rest of the system is a bit nutty. With the reflected power at
the duplexers, I'm having a little desense.
Any ideas on the problem?? It really has me stumped...Oh yeah, if I
vary the length of the jumper at the top between the hardline and
antenna, the reflected power and swr at the bottom runs all over the
place!! Please help if you have any input. 73 de WB4IUY
___
X OLX 2.2 X "What ?!? This isn't the file section ?!?"
------------------------------
Date: 17 Feb 1994 10:28:04 +0200
From: agate!howland.reston.ans.net!pipex!uknet!EU.net!news.funet.fi!news.cc.tut.fi!lehtori.cc.tut.fi!not-for-mail@network.ucsd.edu
To: info-hams@ucsd.edu
References <1994Feb14.131000.8706@arrl.org>, <1994Feb15.160936.23577@ke4zv.atl.ga.us>, <1994Feb16.173115.8288@arrl.org>ut.f
Subject : Re: Medium range point-to-point digital links
Jon Bloom (KE3Z) (jbloom@arrl.org) wrote:
> Of course, to realize the 50-dB SNR from the 8-bit system, the signals
> have to use all of the available signal range. If you use less, the
> SNR is reduced proportionally, as the signal is closer to the noise
> floor. That probably argues for something on the order of a 12-bit
> converter for "overhead." But with good ALC ahead of the A/D, 8 bits
> might be acceptable.
Why not use standard u-law or A-law compression as used in telephone
systems for decades. The input signal is band-limited to 3.4 kHz,
sampled at 8 kHz and converted with a 12 bit linear ADC. The output
from the ADC (an integer) is converted to a floating point format
consisting of 1 bit sign, 4 bit mantissa and 3 bit exponent. This
is then serialized to 64 kbit/s.
If this quality is adequate for normal telephone networks, then
it should be adequate for inter-repeater links.
This has been used for decades and there should be surplus equipment
avilable.
All modern compression systems are much more bit effective than this,
but I don't think that there are surplus equipment available yet.
Paul OH3LWR
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 16 Feb 1994 21:29:48 GMT
From: news.Hawaii.Edu!uhunix3.uhcc.Hawaii.Edu!jherman@ames.arpa
To: info-hams@ucsd.edu
References <1994Feb14.144321.10990@tellab5.tellabs.com>, <CL8qE6.Lxz@news.direct.net>, <1994Feb16.130055.21938@tellab5.tellabs.com>v
Subject : Re: HAMBLASTER INCORRECT STATEMENTS
In article <1994Feb16.130055.21938@tellab5.tellabs.com> jwa@tellabs.com (John W. Albert) writes:
>In article <CL8qE6.Lxz@news.direct.net> kg7bk@indirect.com (Cecil Moore) writes:
>>John W. Albert (jwa@tellabs.com) wrote:
>>
>>: Several add-ons will include, a better A/D...
>>: ... for Ham use you only need an... 8 bit A/D.
>>: Jack Albert WA9FVP
>>
>>Jack, if for Ham use you only need an 8 bit A/D then why will your add-ons
>>include a better A/D? I have a direct conversion receiver and have found
>>that an 8-bit A/D is not good enough for weak signal CW reception. With
>>8-bits of dynamic range, I spent all my processing power in scaling and
>>avoiding saturation from strong signals. 16-bits gives me some needed
>>headroom.
>
>The Hamblaster has a 14 bit A/D. The add-on (I don't have the details
>about this) may use a sigma-delta A/D. There may even be a super fast
>sampler to do I.F. processing in the works.
You know, this IS starting to sound like an ad. The above exchange
could have been conducted via email; it sounds a bit contrived,
doesn't it?
Jeff NH6IL
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 17 Feb 1994 03:37:02 GMT
From: agate!howland.reston.ans.net!wupost!csus.edu!netcom.com!evidence@network.ucsd.edu
To: info-hams@ucsd.edu
References <CKotv0.Fry@iat.holonet.net>, <CKpnK4.47D@ucdavis.edu>, <arog.761317495@BIX.com>
Subject : Re: FCC Database Online For Calif.
I probably missed this, but, what is the address for the FCC database?
Evidence.
------------------------------
End of Info-Hams Digest V94 #165
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