Date: Thu, 24 Feb 94 21:59:39 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 #203 To: Info-Hams Info-Hams Digest Thu, 24 Feb 94 Volume 94 : Issue 203 Today's Topics: ACE Communications - good? bad? ARRL Repeater Directory Collins Mods HAMBLASTER INCORRECT STATEMENTS Hamfest List? Heathkits (2 msgs) Honda ignition recall - now NOISE!! (2 msgs) QSL Bureau help (Stupid question) RAMSEY FX TRANSCEIVER Special Events Question Suggestion for a layman... Super Morse 4.10 is out! Super Morse version 4.04 question 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: 23 Feb 1994 01:54:29 -0500 From: agate!howland.reston.ans.net!torn!nott!cunews!revcan!aficom!zone4!zone4!not-for-mail@ames.arpa Subject: ACE Communications - good? bad? To: info-hams@ucsd.edu I'm thinking of buying a scanner from ACE Communications in Indianapolis, Indiana. I sent a request for info to their fax line, and called their tech support; both times, I got ignored---so I'm kind of wary. Nonetheless, they've got the best price I've seen. I'd like to hear comments about them one way or another---anybody do business with them? I'm especially interested if you did business with them from a country other than the USA, since that's my situation... but *any* info would be helpful. Thanks... Andrew Jr. -- Andrew Cornwall andrew@zone4.ocunix.on.ca ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 24 Feb 1994 10:41:33 -0500 From: unogate!news.service.uci.edu!ihnp4.ucsd.edu!library.ucla.edu!europa.eng.gtefsd.com!news.msfc.nasa.gov!sol.ctr.columbia.edu!hamblin.math.byu.edu!yvax.byu.edu!cunyvm!rohvm1!@mvb.saic.com Subject: ARRL Repeater Directory To: info-hams@ucsd.edu In article <199402231618.IAA20284@ucsd.edu>, William=E.=Newkirk%Pubs%GenAv.Mlb@ns14.cca.CR.rockwell.COM wrote: > I don't know how much "work" would be included in the repeater directory that > is direct league work. they get their "feed" from the repeater coordination > bodies around the country (in the belief that the only good repeater is a > coordinated repeater). i have heard a news story on the radio about how > southern bell's copyright on a yellow pages book does not cover facts like > where the advertiser is. They do have the copyright on the way their book is > assembled. All the disclaimer stuff about my not being an attorney...that's my understanding of copyright law. Facts are public domain, but the presentation of those facts is protectable by copyright. Also, I seem to recall that, even though the effort may have been relatively small, still the courts seem to have looked askance at merely copying somebody else's listing without doing any original work yourself, and then claiming it's your own. ARRL at least assembles the input from the different coordinators. > Maybe if the online callbook guys make it easy for MACC, et al. to submit data > to them, they could produce a book that cannot be said to infringe on the ARRL > publication since it's based on the same facts as the ARRL book because it's > taken from the same sources as the ARRL's book. Yes! If whoever it was that wanted to do the on-line directory were to contact the coordinators himself, or solicit e-mail listings of repeaters here...that sort of thing, then that, as I understand it, is okay. (Insert "I am not an attorney" disclaimer here again) > I have a real big problem with the idea that there are deliberate errors > purposely induced into what should be a reference book. Maybe we should start > a "repeater directory accuracy project" to confirm all the listings in the > ARRL directory to see if content errors exist. Not suggesting that the ARRL does this...I think the city directory guys put in a few phantom addresses or something, which doesn't really affect the overall accuracy. I'm working from memory of something I read in the BNA Patent, Trademark & Copyright Journal a few years ago. -- 73 de John Taylor W3ZID rohvm1.mah48d@rohmhaas.com ------------------------------ Date: 25 Feb 94 04:10:58 GMT From: news-mail-gateway@ucsd.edu Subject: Collins Mods To: info-hams@ucsd.edu Hi All, Maybe this is not the right place to post this inquiry, but ... Having searched the better known FTP sites for radio mods, and not finding what I am looking for, is there a site that has mods for Collins gear (any and all models)? I am making this request on the behalf of a non-ham friend. IF (big if), there are mods for Collins rigs, would you please send them to me directly (unless there are others out there, who would benefit from this request). BTW, does anybody know if K6ZTI has access to internet? If he does, give him my e-mail address. He should get a big kick out of this. Thanks in advance, Lynn Geitgey KB0LRB geitgey@ukanvm.bitnet ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 24 Feb 94 09:35:24 GMT From: agate!library.ucla.edu!csulb.edu!csus.edu!netcom.com!netcomsv!skyld!jangus@ames.arpa Subject: HAMBLASTER INCORRECT STATEMENTS To: info-hams@ucsd.edu In article <CLpIK1.n0u@news.Hawaii.Edu> jherman@uhunix3.uhcc.Hawaii.Edu writes: > My goodness, Jeff; are you my shadow? Just because we share the same name > doesn't mean you have to follow me around like a pesty little brother. Trust me, I am NOT your little brother. You're the one acting like someone whos testicles haven't descended yet. Have you considered getting professional counseling for your persecution complex? Most major universities have excellent out patient services. Perhaps after several sessions you should be able to walk around without being convinced that everyone is staring at your crotch and laughing. Amateur: WA6FWI@WA6FWI.#SOCA.CA.USA.NA | "You have a flair for adding Internet: jangus@skyld.grendel.com | a fanciful dimension to any US Mail: PO Box 4425 Carson, CA 90749 | story." Phone: 1 (310) 324-6080 | Peking Noodle Co. ------------------------------ Date: 24 Feb 1994 02:15:15 -0500 From: elroy.jpl.nasa.gov!usc!howland.reston.ans.net!news.intercon.com!digex.net!digex.net!not-for-mail@ames.arpa Subject: Hamfest List? To: info-hams@ucsd.edu Can someone either post, email me, or tell me from which ftp site I can get a list of hamfests, specifically in the Northeast USA? Thanks, Chris ------------------------------ Date: 24 Feb 94 15:23:54 GMT From: nprdc!ihnp4.ucsd.edu!news.service.uci.edu!unogate!mvb.saic.com!connected.com!news.sprintlink.net!bga.com!cs.utexas.edu!math.ohio-state.edu!news.acns.nwu.edu!casbah.acns.nwu.edu!rdewan@@ Subject: Heathkits To: info-hams@ucsd.edu In article <CLp0pA.2yx@srgenprp.sr.hp.com>, Alan Bloom <alanb@sr.hp.com> wrote: >Cecil A Moore (Cecil_A_Moore@ccm.hf.INTel.COM) wrote: > >: ... My point was that in any >: normal distribution of customers, by definition, there will be some on >: each end of the spectrum outside the three sigma limit. ... > >Right. Anecdotes do not a proof make. > >However it seems clear that on average Heathkits were better designed, >packaged and documented than Ramsey kits. I haven't built a Ramsey kit, >but I have examined ones others have purchased. It seems like with every >one I saw, I could see design problems just by looking at the schematic. >I've seen some Heathkits with design flaws too, but not to that extent. >And the Heath construction manuals were fabulous. They always prided >themselves on the quality of their manuals and over the years they >developed it into an art form. The Ramsey manuals are not bad, but they >are not up to Heathkit standards. > Not only were the Heathkits, by and large, well designed from a functionality standpoint, they were specifically designed for the home-builder. This is a `critical success factor' for kits. For instance, the HW99, the last Heathkit that I worked on, had an on-board rf probe. You hooked up jumpers between portions circuits and the probe and aligned tuned circuits and oscillators using a vtvm and a freq counter. Clever. I think that a well designed kit should be: - easy to put together using simple tools - be designed to work without requiring expensive instrumentation . this may require very conservative designs . design must deal with component to component variance in characteristics. For instance, for bipolar amp stages, have feed back to provide guaranteed gainn. Sure, this may require more stages, but the design will work for most builders. It is the lack of this kind of design philosophy in Ramsey Kits that I do not like. >I'm rooting for Ramsey. Amateur Radio needs a good kit company, with >just the kinds of products that Ramsey offers. With better designs >and quality control, they could be making a real contribution to the >hobby. We sure do need a good kit company. Unfortunately, Heathkit kit quit ham radio stuff before I got into it. :( Rajiv aa9ch r-dewan@nwu.edu ------------------------------ Date: 24 Feb 1994 08:39:39 -0500 From: unogate!news.service.uci.edu!ihnp4.ucsd.edu!agate!howland.reston.ans.net!usenet.ins.cwru.edu!magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu!csn!col.hp.com!news.dtc.hp.com!hplextra!hpscit.sc.@@mvb.saic.com Subject: Heathkits To: info-hams@ucsd.edu In <940223091541_10@ccm.hf.intel.com> Cecil_A_Moore@ccm.hf.INTel.COM (Cecil A Moore) writes: >My experience with six Heathkits was >worse than my experience with four Ramsey FXs but I am only one point on >either distribution and I don't know exactly where either of my >experiences fall on the plot. We tend not to hear from customers with >average experiences. I guess I had average experiences. In the past I have bought pre-owned Heathkits (SB-104) that I had trouble tuning up (ended up needing some non-obvious parts replaced). I have built five "major" kits, of which I had problems with one where I lifted and broke a trace (hard to find, but not Heathkits fault) on a HW-9. My keyer has never had ALL the status LEDs working at once: since I can't easily get the original part, I've tries substitutes with no success. Now I've given up. All the _functions_ work, even if I can't just glance at the LED display to see what it is I'm doing. No problems at all with other projects, including my handheld frequency counter. When I originally calibrated it following the Heath instructions, I subsequently took it to work to check it out on the calibration lab's equipment. It was so solid to all displayable precision the tech couldn't believe I'd constructed it. No complaints from this average user :-) Cheers & 73 Ed Humphries N5RCK Hewlett Packard NARC Atlanta GA ------------------------------ Date: 24 Feb 94 16:44:15 GMT From: world!dts@uunet.uu.net Subject: Honda ignition recall - now NOISE!! To: info-hams@ucsd.edu In article <1994Feb23.120537.4087@arrl.org> ehare@arrl.org (Ed Hare (KA1CV)) writes: >baxter@kuhub.cc.ukans.edu wrote: > >: This past month, Honda sent out a recall notice for their 90-91 Accords. >: They were wanting to replace a part in the distributor which failed when >: the car got high mileage. > >: I had this recall work done on my car a couple of weeks ago, and now have >: terrible ignition noise on 2 meters and 440. Before this work had been >: done, the ignition had been really quite quiet -- now it is nearly >: unbearable. > >: Has anyone else had this problem? The local Honda folks seem lukewarm about >: fixing this problem they created, probably because theyt really don't >: understand it. > >: Any one dealt with Honda about this problem? > >Kirk, > >If he still works at Honda, the fellow who wrote their EMC policy is: > >American Honda Motor Company, Inc. >National Consumer Affairs >Richard Downing >1919 Torrance Blvd. >Torrance, CA 90501-2746 >(213) 783-2000 > >His letter also has the following phone number, but I am not sure that >the area code is correct: (310) 783-3260. > >For those that are interested, when asked if the installation of typical >ham equipment would affect their cars, he says "Simply put, this has not >been a 'problem' for Honda automobile products." FWIW. > >73 from ARRL HQ, Ed If this is the same fellow I talked to at American Honda last year, I'll be curious to see what kind of response anyone gets. The man was unpleasant and condescending on the telephone. He basically indicated that he had told Ed Hare that there was no problem, so why was I bothering him? My basic feeling after the call was: "OK, I won't bother you again, or buy your product ever again". I got the impression from comments made by the regional FCC fellow who talked at Manchester, NH last year that the FCC is concerned with the excessive RF emissions from automobile systems. He also praised Chrysler for spending significant dollars to build a test chamber and make their vehicles RF quiet. His comments have sparked some interest with me in buying from Chrysler. Oh, and the Chrysler person who wrote their EMC policy indicated the proper ordering code when having a car constructed to ensure low RF emissions electronic modules will be used (adds maybe $17 to the sticker price). Dan N1JEB -- --------------------------------------------------------------- Daniel Senie Internet: dts@world.std.com Daniel Senie Consulting n1jeb@world.std.com 508-365-5352 Compuserve: 74176,1347 ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 23 Feb 1994 12:05:37 GMT From: agate!usenet.ins.cwru.edu!eff!news.kei.com!ub!newserve!sarah!rpi!psinntp!psinntp!arrl.org!ehare@ames.arpa Subject: Honda ignition recall - now NOISE!! To: info-hams@ucsd.edu baxter@kuhub.cc.ukans.edu wrote: : This past month, Honda sent out a recall notice for their 90-91 Accords. : They were wanting to replace a part in the distributor which failed when : the car got high mileage. : I had this recall work done on my car a couple of weeks ago, and now have : terrible ignition noise on 2 meters and 440. Before this work had been : done, the ignition had been really quite quiet -- now it is nearly : unbearable. : Has anyone else had this problem? The local Honda folks seem lukewarm about : fixing this problem they created, probably because theyt really don't : understand it. : Any one dealt with Honda about this problem? Kirk, If he still works at Honda, the fellow who wrote their EMC policy is: American Honda Motor Company, Inc. National Consumer Affairs Richard Downing 1919 Torrance Blvd. Torrance, CA 90501-2746 (213) 783-2000 His letter also has the following phone number, but I am not sure that the area code is correct: (310) 783-3260. For those that are interested, when asked if the installation of typical ham equipment would affect their cars, he says "Simply put, this has not been a 'problem' for Honda automobile products." FWIW. 73 from ARRL HQ, Ed -- ----- Ed Hare, KA1CV ehare@arrl.org American Radio Relay League ------------------------------ Date: 24 Feb 1994 11:10:40 GMT From: agate!howland.reston.ans.net!torn!nott!cunews!freenet.carleton.ca!freenet3.scri.fsu.edu!freenet2.scri.fsu.edu!michaela@ames.arpa Subject: QSL Bureau help (Stupid question) To: info-hams@ucsd.edu Using 5" x 7 1/2" manila envelopes, place your call sign in the upper left hand corner (large, block style) on the front side + self-address and provide first class postage on each. Mail a handful of them to the 7th district QSL bureau and they will put them on file for you. Their address is: Williamette Valley DX Club P.O. Box 555 Portland, OR 97207 If you've been moderately active DX-wise, expect an envelope every three months or so; if very active, monthly. Welcome back to the folds of HF! 73, Michael Christie, K7RLS Crawfordville, Florida ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 24 Feb 94 09:40:13 GMT From: agate!library.ucla.edu!csulb.edu!csus.edu!netcom.com!netcomsv!skyld!jangus@ames.arpa Subject: RAMSEY FX TRANSCEIVER To: info-hams@ucsd.edu In article <CLnz3x.I7B@news.Hawaii.Edu> jherman@uhunix3.uhcc.Hawaii.Edu writes: > > That's old news. BUT the HF maritime CW bands are still jumping with > activity and the C.G. is still monitoring them, so CW on the high seas > frequencies is still very much in use. And what frequencies might those be? How about posting them so we can practice our CW listening to *real manly men* pounding brass. (Unless of course you're afraid that some anal rententive might accuse you of promoting the jamming of HF maritime CW ops...) Amateur: WA6FWI@WA6FWI.#SOCA.CA.USA.NA | "You have a flair for adding Internet: jangus@skyld.grendel.com | a fanciful dimension to any US Mail: PO Box 4425 Carson, CA 90749 | story." Phone: 1 (310) 324-6080 | Peking Noodle Co. ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 24 Feb 1994 10:22:51 -0500 From: unogate!news.service.uci.edu!ihnp4.ucsd.edu!library.ucla.edu!europa.eng.gtefsd.com!news.msfc.nasa.gov!sol.ctr.columbia.edu!hamblin.math.byu.edu!yvax.byu.edu!cunyvm!rohvm1!@mvb.saic.com Subject: Special Events Question To: info-hams@ucsd.edu In article <2kgjem$o6o@pegasus.cc.ucf.edu>, kr4ah@pegasus.cc.ucf.edu (John Meaker) wrote: > I am part of a group of hams that is planning a special event > for July 4 - 10, 1994. > 2) We wanted to send a commemorative certificate and a QSL > card. Is it OK to ask the contact to send a 9x12 SASE? > Will this reduce the number of contacts appreciably? Indicate this in whatever publicity you send out. Also, you'll probably be asked on the air about how to get a QSL, and you can explain then, or just include in the exchange, "By the way, if you want our QSL/certificate, please send a 9x12 SASE to... No, I don't think it'll reduce the number of contacts; people contact special-events stations even when they don't want a card. > 3) How is the best way to spread the word about this event? > 4) None of the hams involved has had a call or address for > long enough to be in any older callbook. How should the > QSL information be handled? Sending an address over the > air can be a problem. How can this be avoided? Put the QSL address in your publicity. I'd recommend the following: QST - Check their section on special-event operations, and get your information to them _early_ (like _now_). CQ - Same thing. Send _early_. WorldRadio - Same thing - all of these guys set up the issue for publi- cation _'way_ in advance, so if you want to be listed, _send now_. This newsgroup (and perhaps one of the other rec.radio.amateur groups) but this time, send a week or two before the event (as a reminder). Packet Radio BBS system - also about two weeks before the event. > 5) Are there any hidden obstacles lurking out there to take > us by surprise? Never participated myself, just enjoy working special-event stations. -- 73 de John Taylor W3ZID rohvm1.mah48d@rohmhaas.com ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 24 Feb 1994 15:55:56 GMT From: nctuccca.edu.tw!news!ccds3.ntu.edu.tw!usenet@uunet.uu.net Subject: Suggestion for a layman... To: info-hams@ucsd.edu Hi, I'm totally new to the field of ham-radio. Any information about ftp-able faqs and/or suggestion is appreciated. More specifically, where can one find the faq about communication terms? cq? Thanks! Joseph Chen PS. Please e-mail me! ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 24 Feb 1994 12:26:11 GMT From: mvb.saic.com!unogate!news.service.uci.edu!ihnp4.ucsd.edu!library.ucla.edu!europa.eng.gtefsd.com!howland.reston.ans.net!wupost!udel!gvls1!ean@network.ucsd.edu Subject: Super Morse 4.10 is out! To: info-hams@ucsd.edu In article <dino-230294164850@dino.hip.cam.org> dino@cam.org (Dino Moriello) writes: >I read a note somewhere that 4.06 was available from some FTP site. >Well super Morse 4.10 is out and available on Compuserve and possibly >somewhere on the NET. If you can't find it, let me know and if someone >tells me how to get permission to PUT it on their FTP server, I can send it >there. > The latest on SIMTEL BBS is 4.04 so if you can post it there, do it, if you can't post it there, send it to me and I'll do it. -- Ed Naratil (All standard disclaimers apply) ean@VFL.Paramax.COM Amateur Packet: w3bnr@wb3joe.#epa.PA.USA ------------------------------ Date: 24 Feb 94 17:08:49 GMT From: pipex!howland.reston.ans.net!sol.ctr.columbia.edu!math.ohio-state.edu!magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu!rwiley@uunet.uu.net Subject: Super Morse version 4.04 question To: info-hams@ucsd.edu I have been using Super Morse version 4.04 for a while now, and have encountered a problem while attempting to use it in Windows v. 3.1. When I attempt to have it send code, it groups letters together. For example, if I had it send the word 'AT', it comes out with a letter W. This, however, does not happen if I shut down windows, and load it from DOS. I don't really believe my system would be in question (486 SX-25 w/4 megs of RAM), since it's a fairly normal setup. Any suggestions? Thanks and 73 de Bob, N8MMR -- =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= =-= Bob Wiley, N8MMR Internet: rwiley@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu =-= =-= P.O. Box 3164 Amateur Radio Packet: N8MMR@W8CQK.OH.USA.NA =-= =-= Columbus, Ohio 43210 =-= ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 24 Feb 1994 14:18:00 GMT From: agate!library.ucla.edu!csulb.edu!csus.edu!netcom.com!greg@ames.arpa To: info-hams@ucsd.edu References <2733@indep1.chi.il.us>, <rohvm1.mah48d-220294100035@136.141.220.39>, <tcjCLpvwz.M5C@netcom.com> Subject : Re: Probable demise of the online repeater directory project 'Of by and for the Radio Amateur...' What an example of the ARRL 'not invented here' syndrome. I submit that: 1. League Pubs supposedly don't make money, so if a workable free-ware replacement is available, great, as it reduces costs associated with this very perishable publication. Not to mention the costs associated with obtaining it, since it's kind of hard to find at Walden books. 2. There is one hell of a conflict-of-interest if the ARRL wants to, at once, act as the official frequency coordination authority, and then be proprietary with the information which it collects. As a matter of fact, it would seem that there is an unfair competitive advantage. As a League member I publically call upon the organization to make available, at cost, the information it derives from its frequency coordination activitys to Mr. Yee's project. Or perhaps for free, since this gentleman is volunteering to do something "Of by and for the Radio Amateur." As far as I'm concerned, the League has two choices: either cooperate with the on-line directory project, or at least get out of the way, or abdicate its role as frequency coordinator for the United States, resulting in chaos on the bands. To me the choice is clear. Mr. Sumner, get it done. And get out of the way. Now. Greg P.S.: Personal to the ARRL reader of this newsgroup, the 'worm' that sicced the legal sharks on Mr. Yee in the first place: describing you as a species of vermin is probably too good for you. You know who you are. There's a bus leaving in a little while. Be under it. ------------------------------ End of Info-Hams Digest V94 #203 ****************************** ******************************