Date: Sat, 5 Mar 94 15:41:05 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 #247 To: Info-Hams Info-Hams Digest Sat, 5 Mar 94 Volume 94 : Issue 247 Today's Topics: Announcement - ARRL Information Server Chest Harness for HT? frg-8800 stops operation after short time Help: Neighbor's CW interference Keyboards at testing sessions Mail Order mods for TR-751A Status of Online Repeater Directory Project.... tax exempt 501 (c) status 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: Fri, 4 Mar 1994 18:19:00 GMT From: ihnp4.ucsd.edu!ucsnews!sol.ctr.columbia.edu!howland.reston.ans.net!gatech!swrinde!sgiblab!wetware!spunky.RedBrick.COM!psinntp!psinntp!arrl.org!mtracy@network.ucsd.edu Subject: Announcement - ARRL Information Server To: info-hams@ucsd.edu Announcement - ARRL Information Email Server (info@arrl.org) The services that the ARRL provides via the internet include the Email Information Server and the Technical Information Service. The Information Server is an automated mail server that gives you access to many of information files relating to various facets of Amateur Radio. You can retrieve any or all of these files by sending an email message to info@arrl.org here at ARRL HQ. Each file you request is then mailed to you automatically. To use it, mail messages to: info@arrl.org Each line of the message body should contain a command as shown below. The subject of your message is not processed and may be omitted. You may place as many commands in a message as you want. The files you request will be sent to you in separate messages. Only ASCII text files are supported. Valid INFO commands: reply <address> (may be needed - see below for explanation) help index send FILENAME (example: send prospect.txt) quit In the above message example, "help" retrieves a brief set of instructions for info, "index" retrieves a list of available files and "prospect.txt" retrieves a text file containing information on becoming a radio amateur. Note to users with FTP capability: All of these files are also available by anonymous ftp to ftp.std.com in the /pub/hamradio/ARRL/Server-files/info area. If you want to retrieve several text files with one message, use a separate line for each "send filename" request. Your From: field or Reply-to: field in your header should contain a valid Internet address, including full domain name. If your From: field does not contain a valid Internet address, the answer will not reach you. If this is the case, then use the reply command as shown above. When needed, this command should always be the first command in your message. IMPORTANT: Please use the quit command in your message. This will prevent processing errors from message signatures. PLEASE NOTE!: This is an automated system not capable of handling written requests. Any questions on the info-server or the content of any of its files should be directed to mtracy@arrl.org. ALSO NOTE!: Do *NOT* reply to messages sent from info@arrl.org - the reply address is redirected to keep bounced messages from endlessly looping. Write a new message to info@arrl.org instead. The Technical Information Service gives League members on the internet better access to the knowledgeable technical staff here at ARRL HQ. Questions relating to Amateur Radio and related technical topics are welcome. To use this service, send a normal e-mail message to tis@arrl.org with your question spelled out in plain english. For best service, be as specific as possible and keep your line length in messages to a maximum of 80 characters. Due to personnel limitations, priority will be given to questions from League members. Best Regards, Michael Tracy, KC1SX, ARRL Technical Information Services Coordinator (e-mail mtracy@arrl.org) Sample of files available from INFO: (There are lots more!) Note - If you are not yet an Amateur Radio operator retrieve the file prospect (send prospect) for information on how to easily get started in this fun hobby. FILENAME SIZE DATE DESCRIPTION ---------------- ---- ------ -------------------- PROSPECT.TXT 2k 930514 How to get your Amateur Radio license EXAMS.TXT 52k 930629 Current exam schedule info - updated bi-weekly EXAMINFO.TXT 9k 921020 Examinations - what to bring - requirements USERS.TXT 6k 930119 List of HQ Email addresses ARRLCAT.TXT 39k 930709 Catalog of ARRL Publications - commercial content JOIN.TXT 2k 930621 How become an ARRL member SERVICES.TXT 5k 930621 A condensed list of ARRL membership services TOUR.TXT 28k 930621 An electronic tour of ARRL Headquarters DIR.HQ 5k 930310 Visiting ARRL HQ - diretions and tour information HFBANDS 7k 921203 Breakdown of users of HF spectrum Q-SIGS 1k 921203 ARRL list of Amateur Radio Q-signals W1AW.SKD 2k 930120 W1AW schedule of transmissions and operation PRODREV1.TXT 12k 930227 Which rig is best? Part 1 - QST Lab Notes PRODREV2.TXT 22k 930227 Which rig is best? Part 2 - QST Lab Notes !LIST.TXT 6k 931120 QST Bibliographies List RFIGEN.TXT 37k 930120 How to solve an EMI/RFI problem - QST Lab Notes RFISOURC.TXT 13k 930607 Where to buy filters - EMI-proof telephones etc. ADDRESS.TXT 16k 930318 Lots and lots of ham/electonic company addresses KITS.TXT 6k 930430 List of companies that sell kits BBS.TXT 12k 930601 List of ham-radio land-line bulletin boards FAQ1.TXT 25k 930707 Introduction to the FAQ and Amateur Radio FAQ2.TXT 45k 930707 Amateur Radio Orgs, Services and Info Sources FAQ3.TXT 32k 930707 Amateur Radio Advanced and Technical Questions ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 4 Mar 1994 22:20:55 GMT From: news.cerf.net!pravda.sdsc.edu!nic-nac.CSU.net!newshub.sdsu.edu!ucsnews!sol.ctr.columbia.edu!howland.reston.ans.net!europa.eng.gtefsd.com!news.umbc.edu!eff!news.kei.com!@ihnp4.ucsd.edu Subject: Chest Harness for HT? To: info-hams@ucsd.edu In article <CM48Mr.B9C@world.std.com> dbr@world.std.com (Dan Reiner) writes: >A few years ago, at a cross-country ski center, I saw an employee with a >handheld radio attached to his chest with some sort of harness. It held >the radio at a diagonal angle such that the antenna (VHF duck) pointed at >his left shoulder and the base of the radio pointed at the right side of >his waist. > >The harness seemed to be made out of neoprene or nylon and was black in >color. I want one. It would be terrific for cross-country skiing, >because if you fall, you don't fall on your radio. Even if you >don't fall, it makes the radio easier to use because you can simply >press the ptt switch without removing the radio from the harness. > >Does anyone have any information? > >-- Dan N2EDC Call Antennas West. They carry a very nice one. Look for their small ads in the back of most of the ham mags. -- --------------------------------------------------------------- Daniel Senie Internet: dts@world.std.com Daniel Senie Consulting n1jeb@world.std.com 508-365-5352 Compuserve: 74176,1347 ------------------------------ Date: 5 Mar 94 00:31:16 GMT From: nprdc!ihnp4.ucsd.edu!news.cerf.net!pravda.sdsc.edu!nic-nac.CSU.net!newshub.sdsu.edu!ucsnews!sol.ctr.columbia.edu!howland.reston.ans.net!gatech!udel!news.sprintlink.net!news.clark.net!news Subject: frg-8800 stops operation after short time To: info-hams@ucsd.edu pbauer@rnivh.rni.sub.org (Peter Bauer) writes: >My frg-8800 showed this problem a few months after I buyed it when >I was using a MIF-90 to tune quite fast through the frequencies: >At some time (30secs to few minutes) it stopped audio output. I then >stopped this computerized tuning and used it as normal receiver. Now >(lots of years later) the frq shows this behavior during normal operation: >turn it on, tune throuhg a few frequencies, and autio output stops. >The failure seems to be progressive: now I need to turn it of for a >while, and then I'm able to use it for a short period of time (<2 min) >and then the problem reoccurs... >Any ideas? No idea what the problem is, BUT I experienced similar problems with my frg9600 receiver. It seems to be related to the control cpu in the unit - audio output stops and the lcd display flashes. Sometime, fiddling with the controls brings it back, at other times, simply disconnecting the antenna tuner and connecting the antenna wire directly will fix it. john ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- John A. Evans, Capt, USAF "My number one goal as a VHDL/EDA Engineer runner is to live long enough N3QOO Tech Plus !!! to place in my age group!!!" jaevans@clark.net Linux - the OS of choice !! ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Once data encryption is outlawed, only outlaws will have data encryption !!! ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 4 Mar 1994 15:12:07 GMT From: mvb.saic.com!unogate!news.service.uci.edu!usc!elroy.jpl.nasa.gov!news.msfc.nasa.gov!europa.eng.gtefsd.com!howland.reston.ans.net!gatech!swrinde!sgiblab!wetware!spunky.@@ihnp4.ucsd.edu Subject: Help: Neighbor's CW interference To: info-hams@ucsd.edu Sam Watson (watson@lobby.ti.com) wrote: : I'm not a radio operator, just trying to get along with one. Need advice on : how to eliminate neighbor's 100 watt 10 meter CW transmissions from my house : intercom speakers. Well, my technical suggestion is to install common-mode chokes on all of the runs of the wiring connected to the intercom amplifier. A common-mode choke can be made by wrapping about 10 turns of the intercom wiring onto an FT-140-43 ferrite core. The FT-140 is 1.4" o.d.; if the intecom wiring is thick, you may need to go to an FT-240 size cores. A list of suppliers of all sorts of filters is found on the ARRL Automated Electronic Mail Server <info@arrl.org>. Send email to info with the following as the text of the message: help index send rfisource.txt send rfigen.txt send rfiaudio.txt quit There are several other RFI files there. You, or your neighbor want to take a few other steps. Our book, Radio Frequency Interference -- How to Find It and Fix It has a chapter on fixing audio RFI. You can also call me here at ARRL HQ and I will see if I can help. I do recommend that you obtain and read some of our information files first, though, to prevent my having to spend hours on the phone talking about the basics. You will get a lot more bang for your long-distance dollar that way. :-) Good luck, and "73" from ARRL HQ, Ed : AM lead, soldered .01mf caps across the speaker terminals, and grounded his ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ This can be result in problems. Some audio amplifiers will break into a full-power, sometimes ultrasonic oscillation when they see a capacitive load. This is NOT recommended for a high-power stereo system. 73 from ARRL HQ, Ed -- ----- Ed Hare, KA1CV ehare@arrl.org American Radio Relay League ------------------------------ Date: 5 Mar 94 01:49:05 GMT From: walter!att-out!pacbell.com!amdahl!netcomsv!netcomsv!skyld!jangus@rutgers.rutgers.edu Subject: Keyboards at testing sessions To: info-hams@ucsd.edu In article <2kqtae$cg5@news.delphi.com> mahjmac@news.delphi.com writes: > 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 How about we change the test to laying on ones side in a crashed police car and be able to send with the wires hanging out of the broken mic? Would that satisfy the "emergency" nature of the requirement? 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: 5 Mar 94 02:28:40 GMT From: nprdc!ihnp4.ucsd.edu!agate!howland.reston.ans.net!wupost!csus.edu!netcom.com!bntyhntr@network.ucsd.edu Subject: Mail Order To: info-hams@ucsd.edu Could anyone please refer me to any good ham radio establishments that do mail order. I would appreciate any info on where and whether you have had any good or bad experiences with such places. In particular I am interested in purchasing a Kenwood 641 in the upcoming months and would like to find out some info on mail ordering. -- ______________________________________________________________________ Vincent Yan | 'Its 106 miles to Chicago, we got a full tank KD6TGN | a gas, half a pack a cigarettes, its dark and bntyhntr@netcom.com | were wearing sunglasses.' -- Elwood Blues Tustin, CA | 'Hit it!' -- Joliet Jake Blues ------------------------------ Date: 4 Mar 94 18:19:19 GMT From: nprdc!ihnp4.ucsd.edu!pacbell.com!sgiblab!rpal.rockwell.com!headwall.Stanford.EDU!agate!howland.reston.ans.net!sol.ctr.columbia.edu!news.cs.columbia.edu!news.cs.columbia.edu!news-not-for-mail@ Subject: mods for TR-751A To: info-hams@ucsd.edu ...and now I have them. If anyone else wants the info, drop me a line. andrew kb2ozr ------------------------------ Date: 4 Mar 94 05:24:07 GMT From: netcomsv!netcomsv!skyld!jangus@decwrl.dec.com Subject: Status of Online Repeater Directory Project.... To: info-hams@ucsd.edu Well Conway, it would appear that you have shot yourself in the dick on this project. Perhaps next time when you run into an obstacle, you give some thought as to what the obstacle is before you run to the net and cry rape. After rereading your original messages and then reading the copies of the letter from the League counsel, it is my opinion that you mad a lot of fuss over nothing. It is indeed unfortunate that that seems to be the standard method of operation on the rec.radio.amateur.* newsgroups. Congratulations on one thing though, you did manage to distract from the CW is Trivial war over on r.r.a.p. 73 es GE from Jeff 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: 4 Mar 94 19:41:07 GMT From: nprdc!ihnp4.ucsd.edu!newshub.sdsu.edu!ucsnews!sol.ctr.columbia.edu!howland.reston.ans.net!vixen.cso.uiuc.edu!sdd.hp.com!col.hp.com!srgenprp!alanb@network.ucsd.edu Subject: tax exempt 501 (c) status To: info-hams@ucsd.edu Seth Taylor (taylor@tix.timeplex.COM) wrote: : I remember that when our club attorney reviewed this question for the : local club here, that a radio or hobby type club, even though not for : profit is not tax exempt per the IRS definition. ... Most ham clubs who have qualified have done it in the "Educational" category. If the club has regular classes, publishes a newsletter with ham news and info, has informative programs at club meetings, etc. it should be possible to qualify. It's not easy, but it can be done. Definitely have an attorney look over your articles of incorporation and bylaws before sending them in. : Also when it comes to getting a cheaper rate at : the PO for newsletters etc., only IRS defined 501 C3 (charitable : organizations e.g. churches, temples, religious organizations, red cross : disaster relief etc.) are eligible. Not true. While the Postal Service requirements for the non-profit bulk mail rate are nearly identical to IRS 501(c) requirements, one does not automatically qualify you for the other. AL N1AL ------------------------------ Date: 4 Mar 94 14:16:31 GMT From: nprdc!ihnp4.ucsd.edu!mvb.saic.com!unogate!news.service.uci.edu!usc!elroy.jpl.nasa.gov!news.msfc.nasa.gov!europa.eng.gtefsd.com!howland.reston.ans.net!gatech!kd4nc!ke4zv!gary@network. To: info-hams@ucsd.edu References <ZG2IvWv.brunelli_pc@delphi.com>, <CM3K8D.2I7x@austin.ibm.com>, <1994Mar3.234318.4663@ringer.cs.utsa.edu>m Reply-To : gary@ke4zv.atl.ga.us (Gary Coffman) Subject : Re: Edco TX-146 2m Intermod Filter for HTs In article <1994Mar3.234318.4663@ringer.cs.utsa.edu> blake@lonestar.utsa.edu (M Blake Schreckenbach) writes: >Does anyone know how well this device works? I saw it in my most recent catalog >from Tucker Electronics and Computers. The description says it requires +12VDC, >so I guess you would have to haul around an extra battery if you wanted to go >pedestrian mobile! Has anyone tried it with the TH78a? This unit is a passive helical cavity filter with an RF sensed DC operated TR relay. The external power is just for the sensing transistor and relay coil. The filter has enough insertion loss that you want to bypass it during transmit, thus the TR relay. Gary -- Gary Coffman KE4ZV | You make it, | gatech!wa4mei!ke4zv!gary Destructive Testing Systems | we break it. | uunet!rsiatl!ke4zv!gary 534 Shannon Way | Guaranteed! | emory!kd4nc!ke4zv!gary Lawrenceville, GA 30244 | | ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 4 Mar 1994 14:05:46 GMT From: ihnp4.ucsd.edu!mvb.saic.com!unogate!news.service.uci.edu!usc!elroy.jpl.nasa.gov!news.msfc.nasa.gov!europa.eng.gtefsd.com!howland.reston.ans.net!gatech!kd4nc!ke4zv!gary@network.ucsd.edu To: info-hams@ucsd.edu References <CLG4pu.5vw@hpcvsnz.cv.hp.com>, <64660001@hpcss01.cup.hp.com>, <2l59fh$p83@hpscit.sc.hp.com>sa.g Reply-To : gary@ke4zv.atl.ga.us (Gary Coffman) Subject : Re: A transmission line loss question In article <2l59fh$p83@hpscit.sc.hp.com> rkarlqu@scd.hp.com (Richard Karlquist) writes: >In article <64660001@hpcss01.cup.hp.com>, >Mark Butterworth <markb@hpcss01.cup.hp.com> wrote: >>Cut the cable to the shortest length. That will reduce the loss the most. >>There is no reason to have the transmission line any particular length. >>THis is an old wives tale. > >Well, in general, it's an old wives tale, but in the specific case >of using 75 ohm line to connect a 50 ohm load to a 50 ohm source, >you get minimum mismatch loss with multiples of a half wavelength, >so it is true for that unusual situation. Well as usual, the answer is yes, no, and it depends. If the 75 ohm cable is lossy enough, say RG-59 that's been out behind the barn for a few years, then the extra loss of making it a halfwave long at some low HF frequency could very well exceed the mismatch loss you'd have if you made the cable as short as possible. For the more typical case of 75 ohm CATV hardline being used at UHF, making it a multiple of a halfwave is generally a win, but making it as short as possible and using low loss matching networks at each end, like the ZF Engineering 1/4-wave transformers, would be an even better solution. Gary -- Gary Coffman KE4ZV | You make it, | gatech!wa4mei!ke4zv!gary Destructive Testing Systems | we break it. | uunet!rsiatl!ke4zv!gary 534 Shannon Way | Guaranteed! | emory!kd4nc!ke4zv!gary Lawrenceville, GA 30244 | | ------------------------------ Date: 4 Mar 94 14:13:41 GMT From: nprdc!ihnp4.ucsd.edu!mvb.saic.com!unogate!news.service.uci.edu!usc!elroy.jpl.nasa.gov!news.msfc.nasa.gov!europa.eng.gtefsd.com!howland.reston.ans.net!gatech!kd4nc!ke4zv!gary@network. To: info-hams@ucsd.edu References <1994Mar2.064648.25809@ke4zv.atl.ga.us>, <CM1nqJ.MBx@srgenprp.sr.hp.com>, <2l63bh$5k2@network.ucsd.edu>v Reply-To : gary@ke4zv.atl.ga.us (Gary Coffman) Subject : Re: Medium range point-to-point digital links In article <2l63bh$5k2@network.ucsd.edu> brian@nothing.ucsd.edu (Brian Kantor) writes: >All I want to do is build a ham radio digital link between San Diego and >Los Angeles that will get data there faster and cheaper than me driving. > >I don't think I'll live long enough to see it happen. It's hard to beat a stationwagon full of mag tapes for throughput. :-) Gary -- Gary Coffman KE4ZV | You make it, | gatech!wa4mei!ke4zv!gary Destructive Testing Systems | we break it. | uunet!rsiatl!ke4zv!gary 534 Shannon Way | Guaranteed! | emory!kd4nc!ke4zv!gary Lawrenceville, GA 30244 | | ------------------------------ Date: 3 Mar 94 16:38:21 GMT From: nprdc!ihnp4.ucsd.edu!agate!howland.reston.ans.net!math.ohio-state.edu!news.acns.nwu.edu!ftpbox!mothost!lmpsbbs!NewsWatcher!user@network.ucsd.edu To: info-hams@ucsd.edu References <1994Feb27.205435.7993@arrl.org>, <1994Feb28.154040.17074@ke4zv.atl.ga.us>, <1994Mar2.184954.28300@ve6mgs.ampr.org> Subject : Re: Medium range point-to-point digital links In article <1994Mar2.184954.28300@ve6mgs.ampr.org>, mark@ve6mgs.ampr.org (Mark G. Salyzyn) wrote: > gary@ke4zv.atl.ga.us (Gary Coffman) writes: > > >I was thinking of more than some crude relative indications, though > >that's often useful. But how many amateurs have frequency counters > >or spectrum analyzers that cover 10 GHz, or even bolometer power meters? > > How many amateurs have these peices of equipment even on 1MHz ... > > Ciao 73 de VE6MGS/Mark -sk- Actually, judging by the number of persons tuning up live, very few even have dummy loads _without_ the bolometer. Others commenting on a different (and hopefully expired) thread would tell you that a spectrum analyzer on 2M is useful as a Ramsey-finder. Unfortunately there are more deficient radios out there than the few Ramsey kits that were not properly aligned by the builder. A few more deficient operators, too! -- "To continue discussion, insert new thread here." -- Karl Beckman, P.E. < STUPIDITY is an elemental force for which > Motorola Comm - Fixed Data < no earthquake is a match. -- Karl Kraus > Some of the opinions expressed above aren't even claimed by the author! Amateur radio WA8NVW @ K8MR.NEOH.USA.NA NavyMARS VBH @ NOGBN.NOASI ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 4 Mar 1994 13:26:50 GMT From: ihnp4.ucsd.edu!mvb.saic.com!unogate!news.service.uci.edu!usc!elroy.jpl.nasa.gov!news.msfc.nasa.gov!europa.eng.gtefsd.com!gatech!kd4nc!ke4zv!gary@network.ucsd.edu To: info-hams@ucsd.edu References <1994Feb28.212904.10734@arrl.org>, <1994Mar2.054202.25433@ke4zv.atl.ga.us>, <1994Mar3.153014.6322@arrl.org> Reply-To : gary@ke4zv.atl.ga.us (Gary Coffman) Subject : Re: Medium range point-to-point digital links In article <1994Mar3.153014.6322@arrl.org> zlau@arrl.org (Zack Lau (KH6CP)) writes: >BTW--how else does one improve a point to point link, >besides using bigger antennas and more power? Ah, the DXer mentality at work. That's what those guys thought too. The only problem was, that wasn't why the link was flakey. The real problem was that they had established the world's worst exposed terminal in their single frequency network, and the link was being killed by all the DXer's with 160 watt amps and beams trying to make it to their hubs and capturing the link node's receiver. It would be held off for minutes at a time by the continous collisions. Gary -- Gary Coffman KE4ZV | You make it, | gatech!wa4mei!ke4zv!gary Destructive Testing Systems | we break it. | uunet!rsiatl!ke4zv!gary 534 Shannon Way | Guaranteed! | emory!kd4nc!ke4zv!gary Lawrenceville, GA 30244 | | ------------------------------ End of Info-Hams Digest V94 #247 ****************************** ******************************