Date: Mon, 28 Feb 94 08:09:04 PST
From: Info-Hams Mailing List and Newsgroup <info-hams@ucsd.edu>
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Subject: Info-Hams Digest V94 #220
To: Info-Hams
Info-Hams Digest Mon, 28 Feb 94 Volume 94 : Issue 220
Today's Topics:
ARRL--->Online Repeater directory
Electric Fence RFI
jargon
LOOKING FOR HAMS ON USENE
New IonCAP Package
New IonCAP Package supports MiniNec/Elnec output
Nude Radio Amateurs (2 msgs)
RB315 Semantics - Telecommunicators
Rural telecoms info wanted
Yaesu 2400H recs
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: 28 Feb 94 14:33:53 GMT
From: news-mail-gateway@ucsd.edu
Subject: ARRL--->Online Repeater directory
To: info-hams@ucsd.edu
The league publishes the repeater directory which it currently enjoys monopoly
status. This must be enormously profitable for them as they are the sole source
for such a directory, (maps aside). I wonder if they have priviledged access to
this information by virtue of some role they play in the frequency coordination
process?
If this is the case, then there is a conflict of interest issue here, and they
should not in the repeatern directory business and frequency coordination
business simultaneously if they will harrass competition.
As a league member, I feel it is the role of the League to encourage such
innovations as an online repeater directory and callbook and should be providing
these services to it's membership at cost or free themselves! I question how
responsive the league is to the needs of the membership and to innovation. The
league should evaluate it's programs for relevance and cost effectiveness. Is
the code practice program worth the tremendous cost? Could that money be better
spent setting up 800 lines for their BBS where code practice software could be
downloaded? What would an internet RISC server cost to set up a server for
callbook lookups, FTP, online repeater directories, packet gateway's, cellular
vhf coordination (see 3/94 QST) etc.
Ham radio has entered an age where these sorts of things are where
experimentation is happening and as the central organized body in the hobby, the
ARRL is the only group in a position to do some of these things. If they don't
take a leadership role, some other group will eventually emerge to do this and
they will have lost their chance to serve the hobby.
--
Stephen P. Baker phone: (508) 856-2625
Lecturer in Biostatistics (508) 856-3131 fax
Department of Academic Computing (413) 253-3923 home
University of Massachusetts Medical School e-mail: sbaker@umassmed.ummed.edu
55 Lake Avenue North -.- -.. .---- .--. ..-.
Worcester, MA 01655
------------------------------
Date: 27 Feb 1994 19:05:53 GMT
From: ihnp4.ucsd.edu!swrinde!gatech!howland.reston.ans.net!noc.near.net!news.delphi.com!gilbaronw0mn@network.ucsd.edu
Subject: Electric Fence RFI
To: info-hams@ucsd.edu
>I've got some bad interference on 80 through 10
>meter bands from an electric fence about 500
>feet away. The effect is very sharp clicks
>about 3-4 per second. Analog noise blanker
>works some but not 100%.
>
>Anyone have any cures?
>
>Tnx,
>Ned Hamilton, AB6FI
>
Well, if you ground the fence, case closed.
Gil Baron, El Baron Rojo, W0MN Rochester,MN
"Bailar es Vivir"
PGP2.3 key at key servers or upon request
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 27 Feb 1994 21:41:47 +0000
From: ihnp4.ucsd.edu!swrinde!gatech!howland.reston.ans.net!pipex!demon!golflima.demon.co.uk!GEORGE@network.ucsd.edu
Subject: jargon
To: info-hams@ucsd.edu
How about PUNK? Long before the word was in general use it was used by
hams to mean *bad* or *rotten*.
--
Russell Lee
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 27 Feb 94 11:33:00 -0600
From: ihnp4.ucsd.edu!swrinde!menudo.uh.edu!nuchat!bgbbs!david.gibson@network.ucsd.edu
Subject: LOOKING FOR HAMS ON USENE
To: info-hams@ucsd.edu
I have need to contact a number of hams, many whom may be USENET members. At
one point we used to see a 4 (or more) part index of Hams on Usenet. Is
I send a message to reqnet@ve6mgs.ampr.ab.ca to do a search of the
list. In the body of your message, enter:
return xxx@xxx.xxx (your return address)
lookup smith w9xyz
David
* 1st 1.11 #1864 *
------------------------------
Date: 27 Feb 1994 15:27:53 -0500
From: ihnp4.ucsd.edu!library.ucla.edu!europa.eng.gtefsd.com!howland.reston.ans.net!noc.near.net!news.delphi.com!news.delphi.com!not-for-mail@network.ucsd.edu
Subject: New IonCAP Package
To: info-hams@ucsd.edu
Skywave Analysis Package
CAPMAN -- Computer Assisted Prediction Manager
At last, a professional-quality IONCAP package that allows
anyone to use the most advanced propagation routine interfacing
with the ELNEC and MININEC antenna analysis gain patterns.
CAPMAN is the versatile menu/mouse driven IONCAP
propagation package developed by Kangaroo Tabor Software and
the prime author of IONCAP. CAPMAN delivers IONCAP input file
construction and management, two integrated execute functions,
the ability to view and manipulate huge output files and
display of multicolor output graphs. The package allows you to
customize it for your own station -- painlessly. A
full-featured location database, indexed on both country name
and call prefix, provides access to over 490 prefixes. Each
database entry establishes associated information such as
prefix, continent, country, city, geographic coordinates, CQ
zone, ITU zone, a 900 character note pad, forward and reverse
azimuths and distances, and the current local sunrise and
sunset times. CAPMAN provides management of "input records"
through the use of libraries. Input records may be created,
revised, renamed, copied, deleted and combined into "input
files" for performing custom predictions. An extensive on-line
help system is provided and includes documentation from the
IONCAP user's manual. Sunset and sunrise times, for any day,
are accessible through the use of a calendar that also displays
the current Local Mean, Local Civil and Greenwich Mean times.
The predicted Smoothed Sunspot Number may be configured and
automatically set for the coming 12 months, providing quick
one-step predictions. Many more features are provided in a
"friendly" yet powerful "HF Analysis" package.
CAPMAN is completely fool-proof for the most advanced or
beginning user. Your contacts and friends may be added to
the library and run any time with a few keystrokes. A wide
choice of antenna routines is available, to be configured for
your station, or use the antenna analysis computed using ELNEC
or MININEC. Numerous output methods, including a "Long
distance" model for the DXer, are easily accessible.
The choices of output include MUF, FOT, S/N, Reliability,
Service Probability, angles of take-off and arrival at
receiver, S-meter units, field strength and modes of
propagation -- many more -- using the Es, E, F1 and F2-layers
for the HF bands. Graphs of the predicted vertical ionogram,
MUF, FOT and LUF are available.
This menu driven package features the newest "updated" full
commercial version (LU9402) of IONCAP used by over 450
government agencies and commercial communications departments
in the USA and more than 100 other countries.
This CAPMAN package is a 32 bit version and requires an
IBM compatible 80386 or above.
For more information on the CAPMAN package contact:
LUCAS Radio / Kangaroo Tabor Software
2900 Valmont Road, Suite "H"
Boulder, CO 80301
Phone 303-494-4647 / Fax 303-494-0937
------------------------------
Date: 27 Feb 1994 15:42:37 -0500
From: ihnp4.ucsd.edu!sdd.hp.com!nigel.msen.com!yale.edu!noc.near.net!news.delphi.com!news.delphi.com!not-for-mail@network.ucsd.edu
Subject: New IonCAP Package supports MiniNec/Elnec output
To: info-hams@ucsd.edu
Skywave Analysis Package
CAPMAN -- Computer Assisted Prediction Manager
At last, a professional-quality IONCAP package that allows
anyone to use the most advanced propagation routine interfacing
with the ELNEC and MININEC antenna analysis gain patterns.
CAPMAN is the versatile menu/mouse driven IONCAP
propagation package developed by Kangaroo Tabor Software and
the prime author of IONCAP. CAPMAN delivers IONCAP input file
construction and management, two integrated execute functions,
the ability to view and manipulate huge output files and
display of multicolor output graphs. The package allows you to
customize it for your own station -- painlessly. A
full-featured location database, indexed on both country name
and call prefix, provides access to over 490 prefixes. Each
database entry establishes associated information such as
prefix, continent, country, city, geographic coordinates, CQ
zone, ITU zone, a 900 character note pad, forward and reverse
azimuths and distances, and the current local sunrise and
sunset times. CAPMAN provides management of "input records"
through the use of libraries. Input records may be created,
revised, renamed, copied, deleted and combined into "input
files" for performing custom predictions. An extensive on-line
help system is provided and includes documentation from the
IONCAP user's manual. Sunset and sunrise times, for any day,
are accessible through the use of a calendar that also displays
the current Local Mean, Local Civil and Greenwich Mean times.
The predicted Smoothed Sunspot Number may be configured and
automatically set for the coming 12 months, providing quick
one-step predictions. Many more features are provided in a
"friendly" yet powerful "HF Analysis" package.
CAPMAN is completely fool-proof for the most advanced or
beginning user. Your contacts and friends may be added to
the library and run any time with a few keystrokes. A wide
choice of antenna routines is available, to be configured for
your station, or use the antenna analysis computed using ELNEC
or MININEC. Numerous output methods, including a "Long
distance" model for the DXer, are easily accessible.
The choices of output include MUF, FOT, S/N, Reliability,
Service Probability, angles of take-off and arrival at
receiver, S-meter units, field strength and modes of
propagation -- many more -- using the Es, E, F1 and F2-layers
for the HF bands. Graphs of the predicted vertical ionogram,
MUF, FOT and LUF are available.
This menu driven package features the newest "updated" full
commercial version (LU9402) of IONCAP used by over 450
government agencies and commercial communications departments
in the USA and more than 100 other countries.
This CAPMAN package is a 32 bit version and requires an
IBM compatible 80386 or above.
For more information on the CAPMAN package contact:
LUCAS Radio / Kangaroo Tabor Software
2900 Valmont Road, Suite "H"
Boulder, CO 80301
Phone 303-494-4647 / Fax 303-494-0937
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 27 Feb 1994 21:26:46 GMT
From: ihnp4.ucsd.edu!swrinde!cs.utexas.edu!howland.reston.ans.net!torn!nott!cunews!freenet.carleton.ca!FreeNet.Carleton.CA!ap164@network.ucsd.edu
Subject: Nude Radio Amateurs
To: info-hams@ucsd.edu
I dunno--I got my special events QSL card last year from hams of
the American Sunbathers Association when they operated during
National Nude Weekend, and I thought it was a very tasteful card,
as nude QSL cards go. Soft focus, geometric diffusion--certainly
a MUCH more tasteful f
card than (sorry about the typo, my editor is off)
some of the ones I've received bearing buxom cartoon or real
babes.
In the almost 18 years I've been a ham, I have to confess that
no one has ever asked me what I was or wasn't wearing--
actually, they might have been shocked--which is CERTAINLY
more than I can say for the users of telephones! :) (hi hi)
Cheers...
Maria L. Evans, KT5Y "I would never belong to a club
Columbia, MO that would have me as a member."
mevans01@bigcat.missouri.edu --Groucho Marx
------------------------------
Date: 27 Feb 1994 21:19:55 GMT
From: news.larc.nasa.gov!grissom.larc.nasa.gov!kludge@ames.arpa
Subject: Nude Radio Amateurs
To: info-hams@ucsd.edu
In article <1994Feb25.074115.14979@bongo.tele.com> julian@bongo.tele.com (Julian Macassey) writes:
>
> I belong to a group with higher purposes. We would never
>transmit naked. Furthermore, we would never send QSL cards depicting
>members in the buff.
>
> The Conservative radio amateurs always make sure they are
>properly attired before engaging in QSOs. I always make sure I have on
>a cute bra and matching pair of clean panties when I pick up the mike.
I think that we need to start up a nude net. No checking in until you
have _all_ of your clothes off, even that bra and that baseball cap. Surely
we can find a frequency open on 40M.
In fact, I think that this discussion is so much out of hand that I am
going to get a friend of mine to photograph me in the nude, in the shack,
so that I can issue my own nude QSL. No naughty bits will be seen, as I
hope to have a large piece of E.F. Johnson equipment blocking the view.
If more people had large boatanchors hanging around their shack, the way
I do, there would be less concern about them being naked. So move that
Continental out of the garage and take your clothes off.
--scott
--
"C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."
------------------------------
Date: 28 Feb 94 15:38:19 GMT
From: news-mail-gateway@ucsd.edu
Subject: RB315 Semantics - Telecommunicators
To: info-hams@ucsd.edu
Bid: $RACESBUL.315
TO: ALL ES, CD, AND PUBLIC SAFETY DIRECTORS VIA AMATEUR RADIO
INFO: ALL RACES OPERATORS IN CALIFORNIA
INFO: ALL AMATEUR RADIO OPERATORS
FROM: CA STATE OFFICE OF EMERGENCY SERVICES
(W6SIG@WA6NWE.CA) Ph: 916-262-1600
2800 MEADOWVIEW RD., SACRAMENTO, CA 95832
LANDLINE BBS OPEN TO ALL 916-262-1657
RACESBUL.315 RELEASE DATE: February 28, 1994
Subject: MGT - Semantics - Telecommunicator (5 of 7 parts)
TELECOMMUNICATOR is a more professional title adopted an
increasing number of jurisdictions for what they used to call
DISPATCHERS. They operate the public safety communications
centers public safety answering points for Nine-One-One. They
should be made aware periodically of your jurisdiction's RACES
program and how Amateur Radio phone patches work.
RACES: The Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service. The RACES is a
program established by any jurisdiction's civil defense official
by appointing a radio officer, preparing a RACES Plan, and
training and utilizing Amateur Radio operators. The latter are
screened for loyalty and reliability prior to taking and signing
an oath. The RACES is not a condition; it is a program and unit
of local government providing public safety communications. Thus
the RACES is not a club, association, or self-governing body.
(Series authored by Stanly E. Harter, originally titled "From My
Lookout". Edited for digital transmission. Continued.)
-----------------
RACES Bulletins are archived on the Internet at ucsd.edu in hamradio/races
and can be retrieved using FTP.
------------------------------
Date: 27 Feb 1994 19:55:54 +0200
From: ihnp4.ucsd.edu!swrinde!gatech!howland.reston.ans.net!ee.und.ac.za!csir.co.za!frcs.alt.za!tantrum.frcs.alt.za!paul@network.ucsd.edu
Subject: Rural telecoms info wanted
To: info-hams@ucsd.edu
Request for information
=======================
A major Southern African organisation is planning to deliver a "Rural
Information Workstation", to provide access to information resources in
remote areas. This will assist workers in health care, community
resource centres, etc.
A major concern is the lack of telecommunications infrastructure in the
region. Some areas have telephone lines (usually impaired), while
others not only have no lines, but are geographically far from any
existing telecommunications infrastructure. Because of this, they wish
to do a survey of techniques that can be used to provide a link for
store-and-forward e-mail in almost all conditions.
No one technology will cover the entire spectrum, so a heterogenous
network will evolve from this investigation. The primary technologies
under consideration include (but are not limited to):
Dial-up telephone with PEP/MNP-10
Low-orbit satellite (LEOs)
Inmarsat and similar geo-stationary satellites
Microwave links
HF, VHF and UHF packet radio
"Sneaker-net"
Any input on the technologies above, or any other technologies that
might assist with this project, are welcome. This is not limited to
commercial (or non-commercial) products, and ideas and suggestions for
custom-built equipment will also be considered. In the case of existing
equipment, however, information about cost and availability would be
valuable.
Any user experiences with any of the above, or other, systems will be
most valuable, and will help them to determine the directions to
investigate first.
As always, time is limited, as the initial technologies must be chosen
by mid-March 1994. Even a brief note, if there is no time for a more
complete response, would be appreciated.
--------------------
You may just have noticed how many groups this is cross-posted to :-).
It is humanly impossible to check all of them for responses, especially
as I have a limited and flakey newsfeeds. I therefore implore you to
respond by e-mail, to <paul@frcs.alt.za>.
--
Paul Nash network grunt and bit-pusher extraordinaire
paul@frcs.alt.za PO Box 12475, Onderstepoort, 0110 South Africa
------------------------------
Date: 27 Feb 1994 16:39:20 GMT
From: ihnp4.ucsd.edu!swrinde!cs.utexas.edu!math.ohio-state.edu!magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu!usenet.ins.cwru.edu!nigel.msen.com!yale.edu!noc.near.net!news.delphi.com!gilbaronw0mn@network.ucsd.edu
Subject: Yaesu 2400H recs
To: info-hams@ucsd.edu
>Hi,
>
> I've been using a HT as my all around 2M rig, but
> have been itching to get a mobile rig. I've been
> eyeing the Yaesu 2400H and now that it is $50 off
> ($299.95) it seems like it may be time to scratch
> that itch.
>
> I would appreciate feedback from those who have
> the 2400 as to what they like or dislike about the
> rig. I'm also open to any other suggestions on the
> choice of a 2M mobile rig. Thanks.
>
> -- Rich N1QVT
>--
>+--------------------------------------------------------------------+
>| Richard A. Cuti Voice: 617-942-2000 x3309 |
>| TASC Internet: racuti@tasc.com |
>| 55 Walkers Brook Drive Compu$erve: 76170,420 |
>| Reading, MA 01867 Amateur Radio: N1QVT |
>| |
>| (Opinions are strictly those of me, myself and I) |
>+--------------------------------------------------------------------+
>
>
I have had the 2400 (it was ripped off) and it was a very good radio. It
has a very good front end and it has a lot of features. The negative side
is that the controls are hard to learn and to remember becasue a lot of
things are done with few buttons. It is also not very good for packet
because you don't have any eay way to control it. If you use the microphone
plug the speaker is on. You could plug the audio form the back and the
controlform the microphone and then you have two places. I would recommend
this radio very highly and especially if you are in an area with a lot of
strong signals. It has an extremely good front end and it is a very rugged
radio.
Gil Baron, El Baron Rojo, W0MN Rochester,MN
"Bailar es Vivir"
PGP2.3 key at key servers or upon request
------------------------------
Date: 27 Feb 1994 14:46:22 -0500
From: ihnp4.ucsd.edu!agate!howland.reston.ans.net!noc.near.net!news.delphi.com!news.delphi.com!not-for-mail@network.ucsd.edu
To: info-hams@ucsd.edu
References <1994Feb17.144029.3459@ke4zv.atl.ga.us>, <CLL8pn.LAM@cscsun.rmc.edu>, <CLsIK8.FC2@pacifier.rain.com>
Subject : Re: Keyboards at testing sessions
It would seem to me that being alowed to use a keyboard doesn't conform
to the whole reason CW is required. It is used on an international scale, and
if you are ever in any type of emergency or spontaneous situation where you
need to receive code with no keyboard, then you would be worthless.
Mike
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 27 Feb 1994 20:54:35 GMT
From: ihnp4.ucsd.edu!agate!doc.ic.ac.uk!uknet!pipex!sunic!psinntp!psinntp!arrl.org!zlau@network.ucsd.edu
To: info-hams@ucsd.edu
References <1994Feb26.153307.8030@ke4zv.atl.ga.us>, <1994Feb27.012117.11788@arrl.org>, <1994Feb27.140958.12495@ke4zv.atl.ga.us>
Subject : Re: Medium range point-to-point digital links
Gary Coffman (gary@ke4zv.atl.ga.us) wrote:
: In article <1994Feb27.012117.11788@arrl.org> zlau@arrl.org (Zack Lau (KH6CP)) writes:
: Ha, Ha. The problem doesn't come with mounting the gunnplexer, or
: even aiming them, the problem is making sure they're on frequency
: and making rated power, and that the detector diodes haven't gone
: south. Most hams don't have the appropriate test equipment, or the
: skills to fabricate cheap alterative test equipment. Yeah, yeah,
: a radar detector can serve as a minimal activity checker, but that's
: not good enough to set up and maintain a legal and efficient link.
You could be right about that, Gary. Maybe you can no longer
expect people to fabricate blocks of wood to act as attenuators
to see which gunnplexers work the best. I have to admit I cheat
on this--if I stick a gunnplexer inside our screen room and close
the door, the attenuation to one of the lab benches is just right
for weak signal testing. Incidentally, if you are serious about
getting on 10 GHz, the March 10 GHz contest results in QST list
a number of stations on the band.
: >One of the tricks to making microwave gear resistant to
: >interference is to use horn antennas or waveguide in your
: >input circuit. They make a very low loss high pass filter.
: >The waveguide below cutoff effect is quite effective in
: >reducing low frequency interference.
: Sure, that helps, especially if you use *enough* waveguide. You
: need at least a 1/4 wave depth at the frequency of the *interference*
Where did you get this idea? I tried coupling two 10 GHz antennas,
a scalar dish feed with 9 dB of gain, and a 17 dBi horn, and didn't
see it on the spectrum analyzer (at least 70 dB of isolation below
110 MHz). I'd love to see a 1 x 1 x 2 inch 2 meter antenna that had
no meaningful attenuation (size of the feed without the scalar rings).
: to get meaningful attenuation. That is often in the 100 MHz region
: because of colocated FM broadcast transmitters. Remember you've got
: a simple diode detector in there that will respond to *any* RF of
: sufficient magnitude, and one of it's terminals is exposed on the
: outside of the gunnplexer. When the interference is at 10 GHz or
: higher, the waveguide doesn't act as a filter, of course, and there
: are thousands of 10 GHz emitters in LOS of a typical downtown rooftop
The exposed terminal problems is easily fixed--you shield it, just like
any other piece of electronic equipment you want to work next to an
antenna radiating more than a kW. Unfortunately, even the IF circuitry
of microwave gear has to be shielded, but this goes with the territory.
But, shielding is trivial compared to trying to filter out a signal of
nearly the same frequency. Thus, I don't expect people to have much
luck using 219 MHz for receive on the same tower as a channel 13
broadcast station. As I said before, it doesn't make sense to try
and do everything on one band--especially since we do have a selection
to choose from.
--
Zack Lau KH6CP/1 2 way QRP WAS
8 States on 10 GHz
Internet: zlau@arrl.org 10 grids on 2304 MHz
------------------------------
End of Info-Hams Digest V94 #220
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