Date: Sun, 6 Mar 94 03:41:37 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 #250 To: Info-Hams Info-Hams Digest Sun, 6 Mar 94 Volume 94 : Issue 250 Today's Topics: Body Parts by J. Herman Chest Harness for HT? Dayton Hamfest Accommodations (2 msgs) Getting Coax Seal OFF? Jerk on 20 mtrs Keyboards at testing sessions Looking for QSL routes Medium range point-to-point digital links Northern IL Hamfest March 27 Ramsey SA-7 broadband preamp SM406 Status of Online Repeater Directory Project.... (2 msgs) Transformer Failure Modes? Yaesu FT530 Mods 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: 5 Mar 94 06:41:04 GMT From: news.Hawaii.Edu!uhunix3.uhcc.Hawaii.Edu!jherman@ames.arpa Subject: Body Parts by J. Herman To: info-hams@ucsd.edu In article <rcrw90-020394085746@waters.corp.mot.com.corp.mot.com> rcrw90@email.mot.com (Mike Waters) writes: >In article <762544765snx@skyld.grendel.com>, jangus@skyld.grendel.com >(Jeffrey D. Angus) wrote: > >> >> Waiting now for the headlines in the LA Times, Dateline Hawaii: >> >> "Deranged Professor detonates 5 pounds of plastic explosive in mens >> room on campus. Police sifting through wreckage are puzzled by the >> large quantity of black basket weave material. Several used condoms >> and a radio were also found at the blast site." > >Best laugh I have had in weeks! > >To bad it is essentialy an "inside" joke for readers of >rec.amateur.radio.xxx ^^^^^^ Oh yuck! Not you too, Mike! 73, Jeff NH6IL ------------------------------ Date: 4 Mar 94 18:11:24 GMT From: nprdc!ihnp4.ucsd.edu!usc!math.ohio-state.edu!news.acns.nwu.edu!ftpbox!mothost!lmpsbbs!NewsWatcher!user@network.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) wrote: > 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? > MOTOROLA does offer that item for several older portable radios. There are different part numbers for different radio sizes. Here are a few of them: NLN9652 fits HT90/ HT440 All radio model numbers NLN8498 Handie-Com listed are trademarks of 42-84117H01 HT210 and HT220, MT500 Motorola, Inc. SP7803701 MX300 and MX300S Series (There was also a blaze orange version specifically for the Ski Patrol, but it was dropped by the supplier several years ago.) These do not exist for the more recent radios. Many garment manufacturers are now providing radio pockets on outdoor uniforms. Specialty radio case suppliers can also provide this type of case for virtually any radio model at a market price. Consult the manufacturer of your specific unit for their recommendations. > -- Dan N2EDC -- 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: 4 Mar 94 21:25:01 GMT From: nprdc!ihnp4.ucsd.edu!usc!elroy.jpl.nasa.gov!news.msfc.nasa.gov!europa.eng.gtefsd.com!news.umbc.edu!haven.umd.edu!cville-srv.wam.umd.edu!ham@network.ucsd.edu Subject: Dayton Hamfest Accommodations To: info-hams@ucsd.edu Hi. This may seem like a weird post, but: I've been checking into places to stay in Dayton for the Hamfest (April 29, 30, May 1) and EVERY hotel I've been able to locate in or near Dayton has been booked to the gills! What to do? Is there any ham out there in netland who would be willing, for a few bucks, to open their home and rent a 25 year-old ham (me, NF3I) and his wife (Chris, N3MXZ) a room for a couple of days? I know that this is a scary concept, but I promise that we won't bite, and I hope you can say the same... Or if anyone has knowledge of any lesser-known hotels... Thanks much, Scott NF3I -- 73, _________ _________ The \ / Long Original Scott Rosenfeld Amateur Radio NF3I Burtonsville, MD | Live $5.00 WAC-CW/SSB WAS DXCC - 125 QSLed on dipoles __________| Dipoles! Antenna! ------------------------------ Date: 4 Mar 1994 23:15:39 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!wupost!crcnis1.unl.edu!unlinfo.unl.edu!@ihnp4.ucsd.edu Subject: Dayton Hamfest Accommodations To: info-hams@ucsd.edu Sounds like you are new to the Hamvention. Regular goers know to make reservations a year ahead. Mine are going in very soon now for 95. Gary ------------------------------ Date: 5 Mar 94 03:59:55 GMT From: nprdc!ihnp4.ucsd.edu!usc!math.ohio-state.edu!sol.ctr.columbia.edu!news.kei.com!hookup!news.sprintlink.net!connected.com!beauty!rwing!eskimo!bobw@network.ucsd.edu Subject: Getting Coax Seal OFF? To: info-hams@ucsd.edu Before I "coax-seal" a joint, I wrap the connector with one layer of black electrical tape then cover that with Coax-seal taking care to extend the coax-seal past the electrical tape. This way, if you use quality electrical tape, the only coax-seal to remove is the bit on the coax and the base of the connector as the rest is discarded with the tape. (Cheap tape leaves a gooey residue). -- Bob W. N7UMU ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 4 Mar 1994 16:33:18 GMT From: catfish!cscsun!dtiller@uunet.uu.net Subject: Jerk on 20 mtrs To: info-hams@ucsd.edu Kenneth D Anderson (kenman@iastate.edu) wrote: : Hi All, : I upgraded from tech to advanced this last weekend and decided to listen in : on 20 meters to get a feel for what goes on there. (I worked 15 mtrs since : it was wide open to Europe!>. : There was some JERK that was running up and down the band causing all kinds : of intentional interference: from belching and whistling to calling people : sh*theads to keying on a frequency to disrupt a QSO. : He gave his call (obviously bogus) as W?OOQ. (don't remember what area he : gave.) : Is this guy a fixture on 20 meters, or did I just get lucky? According to callsign.cs.buffalo.edu:2000, there are w*ooq's in callsign regions 1,2, and 6. They are in NH, FL, and CA with Adv, Gen, Adv licenses, respectively. You choose which one, and whether or not they were the real culprit or if you were hearing a "Cheap Bavarian Knockoff." -- David Tiller | Network Administrator | Voice: (804) 752-3710 | dtiller@rmc.edu | Randolph-Macon College| Fax: (804) 752-7231 | "Drunk, [Beowulf] slew | P.O. Box 5005 | ICBM: 37d 42' 43.75" N | no hearth companions." | Ashland, Va 23005 | 77d 31' 32.19" W | ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 4 Mar 1994 20:59:56 GMT From: ihnp4.ucsd.edu!pacbell.com!sgiblab!sgigate.sgi.com!olivea!news.bu.edu!att-in!cbnewsm!hellman@network.ucsd.edu Subject: Keyboards at testing sessions To: info-hams@ucsd.edu In article <2MAR199408091550@nssdca.gsfc.nasa.gov>, stocker@nssdca.gsfc.nasa.gov (ERICH FRANZ STOCKER) writes: > >the questions (it's been a long time since we had somebody give us a minute > >of solid copy), he meets the FCC requirement. > > > >-- > >73 de John Taylor W3ZID > >rohvm1.mah48d@rohmhaas.com > At our VE sessions we always check the copy whenever the applicant fails to answer 7 questions correctly. We once has a case where someone got only 6 correct but had sufficient copy to pass and had correctly copied the answer to one of the questions not answered! There is nothing about this test which implies _______ (fill in the blank). Now don't get me started about the multiple guess test. Shel Darack WA2UBK dara@physics.att.com ------------------------------ Date: 3 Mar 94 10:55:25 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!pipex!sunic!news.tele.fi!news.@ Subject: Looking for QSL routes To: info-hams@ucsd.edu >: OH3PM Perhaps this should be oh2pm ? At least if qso is made during some major contests. I have never heard abt oh3pm , perhaps there is none. Can't check right now. Pete -- **************************** oh3mep@cc.tut.fi **************************** * Petri Keskinen * Kitiniitynkatu 7a3 * 33850 Tampere * Finland * Europe * ***************************** oh3mep@oh3rce ***************************** ------------------------------ Date: 4 Mar 94 19:48:12 GMT From: news.mentorg.com!hpbab33.mentorg.com!wv.mentorg.com!hanko@uunet.uu.net Subject: Medium range point-to-point digital links To: info-hams@ucsd.edu In article <CM4141.BKG@srgenprp.sr.hp.com>, glenne@sad.hp.com (Glenn Elmore) writes: |> Zack Lau (KH6CP) (zlau@arrl.org) wrote: |> |> : BTW--how else does one improve a point to point link, |> : besides using bigger antennas and more power? The only |> : solutions I can think of are changing frequencies or |> : adding sites. Obviously, if there is an interference |> |> With radio, once you've acquired quality paths, improvements on a |> single link are through increased antenna gain (whether by increasing |> the frequency or increasing the physical antenna size), except for a few |> rare propagation mechanisms, improving the receiver (until it's KT(ant)B |> limited) and increasing transmit power. |> |> For a point-point circuit another improvement comes from decreasing |> rms path length. This means adding hops. This works since dividing a |> path in two (say) and adding one additional hop costs 3 dB (maybe less) |> in hardware but improves C/N by at least 6 dB (which is why I made a |> point of correcting one of Gary's previous errors). |> |> The only other mechanism for improvement I can think of is to find a |> way to get guided waves instead divergant ones. In a wide area wireless |> context, I can't think of any that offer a lot of amateur networking |> potential. Inversions and ducts fit into this camp, as perhaps does |> some skywave and even groundwave propagation. Total internal reflection |> (fiber optics) is the miracle worker in this area but I don't know where |> or how we might apply it to amateur radio. |> |> Glenn n6gn |> |> Reflection / refraction can sometimes work when all else fails: Knife edge can work at lower frequency / baud rates. We have a path across the Cascades that involves knife edge over the north side of Mt. Hood. Lucky we happened to have two sites in the right locations. Reflections from mountains can also work in much the same manner. There is one path we used to have that required large aluminium reflectors near path mid-point. As luck would have it the commercial airlines provide them nearly 100% of the time on this particular path. Tried a multi-hop reflection path up the Columbia river gorge. Enough signal, but too much bit jitter for 1200 baud / 145 Mhz. ... Hank -- Hank Oredson @ Mentor Graphics Internet : hank_oredson@mentorg.com Amateur Radio: W0RLI@W0RLI.OR.USA.NOAM ------------------------------ Date: 5 Mar 94 15:36:45 GMT From: nprdc!ihnp4.ucsd.edu!usc!math.ohio-state.edu!news.acns.nwu.edu!aragorn30.acns.nwu.edu!user@network.ucsd.edu Subject: Northern IL Hamfest March 27 To: info-hams@ucsd.edu LAMARSFEST 1994 INFORMATION State of Event: Illinois City or Town: Lake County, IL Fairgrounds, Grayslake, IL Date of Event: March 27, 1994 Name of Event: LAMARSFEST 1994 Sponsor: Libertyville & Mundelein Amateur Radio Society & North Shore Radio Club Directions to Event: North & Southbound I-94 exit IL-120, West to US-45, continue West 1/3 mile to Fairgrounds entrance on right. Alternative entrance off US-45 2 blocks N of 120 on left. Admission Fee: $4.00 by mail with SASE by March 18; $5.00 at door. Swapfest tables $10.00. Wall tables $15.00 Commercial tables $25.00 by advance reservation only. No additional charge for power. Time of Event: Doors open at 8:00 AM, close at 2:00 PM. Setup at 6:00 AM. Advance commercial setup by reservation. Talk-in: 147.945/.345 (North Shore Radio Club Repeater); 146.52 Simplex Special Features: Large indoor radio, computer & electronic swapfest; Commercial exhibitors; Rest area; park free; public cafeteria. VE testing 9:00 - Noon Info & Reservations: Frank Avellone, W9GLO LAMARSFEST 93 P.O. Box 437 Lake Bluff, IL 60044 Tel: 708-234-4124 until 10:00 PM ************************ HAMFEST LISTING AS FOLLOWS GRAYSLAKE, (LAKE COUNTY) ILLINOIS March 27, 1994 LAMARSFEST The Libertyville & Mundelein Amateur Radio Society (LAMARS), assisted by the North Shore Radio Club, will hold its annual LAMARSFEST 94 at the Lake County Fairgrounds, Routes IL-120 & US-45. Large all indoor electronic, radio & computer swapfest, commercial exhibitors. Rest area, free parking, public cafeteria. VE testing 9:00 - Noon. General admission is $4 in advance with SASE, $5 at door. Swapfest tables $10; Wall tables $15; Commercial tables $25 by reservation only. Talk-in on 147.345+ NORTH SHORE RADIO CLUB repeater; 146.52 simplex. Doors open at 8:00 AM, setup from 6:00 AM. For information write LAMARSFEST 93, PO Box 437, Lake Bluff, IL 60044, or call Frank Avellone, W9GLO at 708-234-4124 before 10:00 PM. -- ___________________________________ | Dave Alpert, KB9CNU | Packet Radio: | 440 No. Western Ave. | KB9CNU@W8LVN.IL.US.NOAM | Lake Forest, IL | Direct packet through ILWIN(145.57) | 708-295-1927 (voice) | CI$: 70416,124 | 708-295-6926 (MACropoedia BBS) | America Online: Dalpert | 708-295-1927 (FAX) | GEnie: DAlpert | MS-DOS, Just Say NO! | |___________________________________| Friends don't let friends do DOS! ------------------------------ Date: 5 Mar 94 11:08:38 GMT From: nprdc!ihnp4.ucsd.edu!agate!usenet.ins.cwru.edu!cleveland.Freenet.Edu!eb795@network.ucsd.edu Subject: Ramsey SA-7 broadband preamp To: info-hams@ucsd.edu Hello. I would like to know if any of you have had any experiance using the Ramsey SA-7 preamp. I am planning to buy a few to use for TV/FM DX. I plan on buying one for each band-UHF/VHF-TV and FM. I would like to know how easy it would be to limit the amp to th e desired band, rejecting out of band signals. The SA-7 is broadband from 100kHz to 1000mHz with a noise figure of less than 4dB, and gain 20dB or greater. And at $14.95, seems like a good price if the amp lives up to its specs. I live in a very high RF area in Cleveland-I can see the massiv e TV/Radio towers from my house. That is why I would like to ke ep the amps on as narrow a freq range as possible. Thank you. -- Eric Matthews eb795@cleveland.freenet.edu ------------------------------ Date: 28 Feb 94 05:07:54 GMT From: agate!howland.reston.ans.net!cs.utexas.edu!news.tamu.edu!idmb-secretary.tamu.edu!user@ucbvax.berkeley.edu Subject: SM406 To: info-hams@ucsd.edu I recently got a copy of SM406 and have a problem. It won't access the data files in the subdirectory, only if they are in the drive root directory. I.e., if I call up a file to be transmitted to be in practice, I have to enter the entire directory name along with the file name. I've solved this temporarily by placing it all on a floppy, but would prefer to keep it on the HD. Has anyone else had this problem? Any suggestions? My older copy worked just fine. Troyce KC5CBI ------------------------------ Date: 5 Mar 94 11:19:30 GMT From: nprdc!ihnp4.ucsd.edu!agate!usenet.ins.cwru.edu!cleveland.Freenet.Edu!cw645@network.ucsd.edu Subject: Status of Online Repeater Directory Project.... To: info-hams@ucsd.edu >What if.... everyone who is contributing to the discussion(??) of >the ARRL and the online repeater database spent the time instead >putting together an independent set of repeater info for their >area? >K7ITM Exactly my sentiment, Tom! As a volunteer for the database, I've entered data for a couple of states, and it doesn't take long at all. At least when you just have to create a simple text file with your favorite ASCII editor or word processor. Then use my DOS based program to *convert* the file to the colon delimited format. Also entry of repetitive information is eliminated. Write a state name once, and that's it. The program will do the rest. Admittedly, this project is in a state of flux at the moment, and changes in the format might arise, but the idea of the program assisted entry is still valid, and format changes can be accomodated. Why don't some of you guys think about "JUST DOING IT". Email me if you're interested in doing some of the states that need to be done still, and I'll tell you more about the program. It is a total package with sample files and full docs (4 pages). I think you'll find it real easy to use. Hank Riley, N1LTV au156@yfn.ysu.edu or cw645@cleveland.freenet.edu ------------------------------ Date: 5 Mar 94 14:20:27 GMT From: nprdc!ihnp4.ucsd.edu!swrinde!emory!wa4mei!ke4zv!gary@network.ucsd.edu Subject: Status of Online Repeater Directory Project.... To: info-hams@ucsd.edu In article <CM5GJr.C4q@hpcvsnz.cv.hp.com> tomb@lsid.hp.com (Tom Bruhns) writes: >What if.... everyone who is contributing to the discussion(??) of >the ARRL and the online repeater database spent the time instead >putting together an independent set of repeater info for their >area? I'd bet that the effort that's been expended on the >discussion would have gone a long way toward putting together >the independent database. I sent my repeater information to Conway way back when he announced the project. Have you? 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: 5 Mar 94 10:39:29 GMT From: nprdc!ihnp4.ucsd.edu!agate!howland.reston.ans.net!pipex!uknet!uos-ee!ee.surrey.ac.uk!M.Willis@network.ucsd.edu Subject: Transformer Failure Modes? To: info-hams@ucsd.edu In article <CM2Htx.K42@srgenprp.sr.hp.com>, alanb@sr.hp.com (Alan Bloom) writes: |> Karl Beckman (CSLE87) wrote: |> : In article <CLyA9E.Bzx@srgenprp.sr.hp.com>, alanb@sr.hp.com (Alan Bloom) |> : wrote: |> |> : > Mark E. Bailey (mebly@eng.umd.edu) wrote: |> : > : The proverbial friend of mine has two transformers. They are 110/220 VAC |> : > : input, 50 VAC output and rated at 15 amps. |> : > |> : > : He needs 25 volts, not 50. The obvious solution is to feed 110 into the |> : > : 220 input windings. |> : > |> : > : Question: Do we have to de-rate the output current to 7.5 amps? |> : > |> : > For a given secondary current, when you halve the primary voltage |> : > (to 110V), the input current doubles. |> |> To answer the original question, it would work fine to run the transformer |> at 1/2 the rated voltage. You would be able to get at least as much |> output current (at 1/2 the voltage). The transformer would run nice and |> cool, since it is only handling 1/2 the power. |> |> AL N1AL |> The total output current you may get will depend on the way the primary is wired, it is a centre tap vs 2 110V windings operated either in series or parallel. The centre tap type is unlikely, but would imply you can double the primary current. Secondary windings also have current limitations that should be checked. Realistically, assuming all sorts of things, you can probably get 50% more output current at 25V, especially in intermittant use, maybe 20A is a reasonable rating. ------------------------------ Date: 4 Mar 94 23:31:43 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!torn!csd.unb.ca!coranto.ucs.mun. Subject: Yaesu FT530 Mods To: info-hams@ucsd.edu Looking for avaible Mods for Yaesu FT530. ------------------------------ Date: 5 Mar 94 14:50:01 GMT From: nprdc!ihnp4.ucsd.edu!swrinde!emory!wa4mei!ke4zv!gary@network.ucsd.edu To: info-hams@ucsd.edu References <kmeyer.3b0x@bbs.xnet.com>, <1994Mar2.175938.12119@alw.nih.gov>, <CM5Mnx.3ro@ryn.mro.dec.com> Reply-To : gary@ke4zv.atl.ga.us (Gary Coffman) Subject : Re: Further criminalization of scanning In article <CM5Mnx.3ro@ryn.mro.dec.com> randolph@est.enet.dec.com (Tom Randolph) writes: >In article <1994Mar2.175938.12119@alw.nih.gov>, weisen@alw.nih.gov (Neil Weisenfeld) writes... >>What I think we should do is write to our congresspeople and tell them why >>we feel the cellular and cordless privacy laws are so misguided. Even if >Been there, done that. My Congressman ignored my letter. The law didn't pass on >his watch, so, in the finest tradition of politicians, I guess he feels no >obligation to deal with it. Write another letter to your Congressman. Mark it "personal and confidential" on the envelope. Inside, tell him that some member of his staff is discarding constituent letters without reply. That's the only real firing offense for a Congressional staffer. Constituent services are the life blood of any Congress critter with hopes of re-election. He will pay attention, and you'll at least get a form letter thanking you for your input in the future. Never *ever* let a politician get away with not answering his mail. 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: 5 Mar 1994 03:34:46 GMT From: ihnp4.ucsd.edu!agate!howland.reston.ans.net!gatech!swrinde!sgiblab!munnari.oz.au!newsroom.utas.edu.au!twilight1h160.its.utas.edu.au!user@network.ucsd.edu To: info-hams@ucsd.edu References <Z7mbtAdCBh107h@active.asstdc.com.au>, <gradyCLxxqM.IID@netcom.com>, <5220@eram.esi.com.au>0.i Subject : Re: personal communication Australia <-> USA In article <5220@eram.esi.com.au>, dave@eram.esi.com.au (Dave Horsfall) wrote: > In article <gradyCLxxqM.IID@netcom.com>, > grady@netcom.com (Grady Ward) writes: > > | But PGP key exchange by radio is perfectly OK. > > I guess that this would be a poor time to comment that if it were not for > the headers that scream out "Look at me! I'm a PGP message!" it would be > indistinguishable from 7PLUS, or R95, or UUENCODE, etc... But you dont *have* to leave the header there, it can be deleted and then added back again later. Alan. alh@postoffice.utas.edu.au ------------------------------ End of Info-Hams Digest V94 #250 ****************************** ******************************