Date: Mon, 28 Mar 94 22:00:45 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 #338
To: Info-Hams
Info-Hams Digest Mon, 28 Mar 94 Volume 94 : Issue 338
Today's Topics:
10M indoor problem.
6m Equipment?
A novice needs some help! (2 msgs)
Audio problem with Kenwood TS430S
dual band HT advice
HELP: Anyone know what a XR2206 chip is?
Is 10M Dead?!
Kenwood (TS-850) Computer Interface Info Wanted
obscenity and obesity
Question on Kenwood 732 A
RF and AF speech processors. Was: FT-990 vs TS-850
The word HAM
WWV Voice announcments??
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: Mon, 28 Mar 1994 12:53:43 GMT
From: olivea!sgigate.sgi.com!sgiblab!swrinde!emory!news-feed-2.peachnet.edu!concert!gatech!howland.reston.ans.net!EU.net!sunic!psinntp!psinntp!moose!news@ames.arpa
Subject: 10M indoor problem.
To: info-hams@ucsd.edu
In article <1994Mar27.181416.165@news.unr.edu> destree@unr.edu (Louis Destree) writes:
> I recently bought a HTX-100 (no equipment flames please...buying
>the FT-990 would keep me from continuing school), and have set it up with
>a "V" type 1/2 wave indoor antenna. I have not been able to talk to
>anyone from my apartment yet. However, I have had good results (when the
>band is in) from a measly 1/4 wave mag mount on my car.
>
> The building I live in is made of stucco, with (I'm reasonably
>sure) chicken wire in the walls. Most stucco buildings I've seen have
>this wire in the walls. I am curious if the wire is acting as an
>attenuator. If anyone has had a similar experience, let me know.
>
> Yes, it is possible for me to put the antenna outside. However,
>rather than having people lining up at my door complaining of TVI, I
>wanted to keep everything indoors.
> Thanks!
> Louis
>
>--
>Louis A. Destree University of Nevada, Reno
>destree@equinox.unr.edu <> destree@equinox.bitnet Electrical Engineering
>Amateur Radio: N7XNX (General Class) Bike: 1980 Honda CB750C
> "When things go from bad to worse, the cycle will repeat itself!"
The trick to TVI complaints from neighbors is to put up the external
antenna and not operate for 30 days or so. This will weed out the true
TVI problems and problem neighbors......
Rod - KB3MK
------------------------------
Date: 28 Mar 1994 19:02:38 GMT
From: yale.edu!noc.near.net!xap!usenet@yale.arpa
Subject: 6m Equipment?
To: info-hams@ucsd.edu
Bryan Koen <bkoen5@aol.com> wrote:
>I am looking for good, INEXPENSIVE, 6m equipment. How do the Azden radios
>(mobile, HT) compare with some of the more expensive options that are available
>(Kenwood)? Also, what about used equipment? What is available?
I can't comment on the Azden radios having never seen or used one. As for
used equipment, I had a Yaesu FT620B for a while that worked just fine.
It's a SSB/CW/AM (no FM) rig that runs about 10 watts. I paid about $200
for the rig at a flea market. If you want more power and want a fun project
to build, check the QST back issue index for the construction project on
building an 80 watt amp. Another good used rig is an Icom 551D but I suspect
they're a bit more than the Yaesu...
73,
Scott WO1G
---
Scott Sminkey email: sasminkey@eng.xyplex.com
Software Sustaining Engineering voice: 508 952-4792
Xyplex, Inc. fax: 508 952-4887
295 Foster St. (Opinions, comments, etc. are mine,
Littleton, MA 01460 not Xyplex's...)
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 28 Mar 1994 18:12:04 GMT
From: ihnp4.ucsd.edu!dog.ee.lbl.gov!agate!howland.reston.ans.net!usenet.ins.cwru.edu!news.csuohio.edu!garfield.csuohio.edu!mike@network.ucsd.edu
Subject: A novice needs some help!
To: info-hams@ucsd.edu
giridhar@ee.umr.edu (Giridhar Tatavarti) writes:
:
: I am a novice in the matters related to ham-radio.
Welcome!
: What I know about ham-radio is that it can be used for
: communications around world..as long as both the parties
: have a ham-radio each.
Correct, as well as a current Amateur Radio license, from
the FCC (in the US).
: I heard that ham-radio can help you make friends around the
: world. Can anyone please tell me if I can buy a pair
: of ham-radios for me and my friend in some other country..
: and talk whenever we want? That would save me my long
: distance bills..But is that allowed? Or does ham-radio
: have a condition attached that it should be used only
: for emergency purposes?
Ham radio has a tradition of being an emergency radio
service, and still functions in that capacity world wide
as well as locally. You can talk to anyone, at any time,
about anything (except anything related to business or
making money for yourself), in just about any part of the
world (a few countries are off limits, usually cuz of politics).
Lots of hams talk to friends worldwide, as long as it's not
business oriented.
Make sure your friend in their country has a ham license from
their government.
: What would be the price of a ham-radio set which I could
: use for international communication ?
Theoretically you can build a ham transmitter/reciever with
an handful of parts for under $50. But, usually, figure on a couple
or few hundred bucks for the equipment, antenna, etc. That's considered
a bare minimum, used stuff. Many hams have 10's of thousands invested in
equipemnt over the years. Go to a local hamfest and see all sorts
of good used equipment for not much $$. I think you can get set up
fairly well for around $500 or so, per station.
: What is the frequency at which the ham-radios operate?
Many, depending on where your interests are and what radio you buy.
All the way from 160 meters (2Mhz) on HF, 80/40/10M 'shortwave', thru
VHF, UHF, and up into the microwave freqs (GHz). What you can transmit
on depends on your class of license. In the US it starts as Novice,
then Technician, then General, then Advanced, then Amateur Extra (the
top). You also have more priveleges for phone (voice) communications
as you earn higher classes of licenses. The Novice HF license is almost
all CW (Morse code) with some SSB voice to whet your appetite for a
higher class license :-).
:
: I would greatly appreciate if anyone can take the time
: to answer these queries on the newsgroup, or in a mail
: to me at giridhar@ee.umr.edu...
A good source of info if you are just getting into ham is to
go buy "Now You're Talking" at Radio Shack. In fact, if you
study the entire book, you should have no trouble passing your
Technician class license (no-code). If you want to talk world wide
thought, you will have to pass the 5 words-per-minute code test.
If you go that route, without the Technician's test, you can
become a Novice class operator (there is also a written test).
The book tells a lot about it.
I hope this helps.
Mike
--
^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v Catch the WAVE ^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v
Michael Mayer, Senior Technical Support Engineer Amateur Radio KB8RJO
Visual Numerics, Inc. 32915 Aurora Rd. Suite 160, Solon OH 44139 USA
Email: mayer@boulder.vni.com Human: 216-248-4900 Fax: 216-248-2733
v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v Good * Cheap * Quick (pick any two) ^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^
------------------------------
Date: 22 Mar 94 20:34:15 GMT
From: uchinews!ncar!gatech!howland.reston.ans.net!math.ohio-state.edu!hobbes.physics.uiowa.edu!moe.ksu.ksu.edu!usenet-feed.umr.edu!giridhar@rsch.wisc.edu
Subject: A novice needs some help!
To: info-hams@ucsd.edu
I am a novice in the matters related to ham-radio.
What I know about ham-radio is that it can be used for
communications around world..as long as both the parties
have a ham-radio each.
I heard that ham-radio can help you make friends around the
world. Can anyone please tell me if I can buy a pair
of ham-radios for me and my friend in some other country..
and talk whenever we want? That would save me my long
distance bills..But is that allowed? Or does ham-radio
have a condition attached that it should be used only
for emergency purposes?
What would be the price of a ham-radio set which I could
use for international communication ?
What is the frequency at which the ham-radios operate?
I would greatly appreciate if anyone can take the time
to answer these queries on the newsgroup, or in a mail
to me at giridhar@ee.umr.edu...
Thanks,
Giri..& bestwishes.
--
Giridhar Tatavarti Department of Elctrical Engineering
103W, 14th, #104 University of Missouri-Rolla
Rolla, MO 65401
Phone: (314) 368 - 3089
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 27 Mar 1994 13:43:53 GMT
From: ihnp4.ucsd.edu!mvb.saic.com!news.cerf.net!usc!howland.reston.ans.net!gatech!wa4mei!ke4zv!gary@network.ucsd.edu
Subject: Audio problem with Kenwood TS430S
To: info-hams@ucsd.edu
In article <2n1t4g$5at@safety.ics.uci.edu> turner@safety.ics.uci.edu (Clark Savage Turner) writes:
>Sounds like an RF feedback problem, really does. Makes sense it might
>occur up there above 15 meters, I have had similar problems.
>
>My diagnostic suggestions:
>
>1. Try a different antenna, or use a dummy load to see if the same ALC
>readings occur. If not, sounds like RF.
>
>2. If above no help, carefully check the mike cord for loose ground, etc.
>Might even just add a new mike cord and connector. Don't forget to check
>the connections inside the 430, that can do it too.
The Kenwood radios are somewhat notorious for using board mounting
screws for RF ground connections in the radio. Loose screws on any
of the boards can cause RF ground loops *inside* the radio. Even
when using an external dummy load, you may still have symptoms.
Make sure all the screws are present, and tight.
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: 28 Mar 94 14:54:25 GMT
From: agate!howland.reston.ans.net!sol.ctr.columbia.edu!hamblin.math.byu.edu!bert.cs.byu.edu!phydoux@ames.arpa
Subject: dual band HT advice
To: info-hams@ucsd.edu
Greetings!
I'm looking into buying a dual band HT, but I don't have access
to any mail-order catalogs or other information regarding the newer HTs
available. I was hoping that somebody who reads the newsgroups here
could give me their opinion about any of the models currently avaliable.
I've got a tax return check coming that might finance a new HT... Which
brands are good? Is there a certain brand/model I should stay away
from? Any advice/insights would be appreciated. You can respond via
mail or in this group, I am a regular reader.
73,
Michael Monsen
KB7YOP
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 28 Mar 1994 23:46:04 GMT
From: ihnp4.ucsd.edu!news.cerf.net!mvb.saic.com!MathWorks.Com!europa.eng.gtefsd.com!howland.reston.ans.net!pipex!demon!softage.demon.co.uk!zawada@network.ucsd.edu
Subject: HELP: Anyone know what a XR2206 chip is?
To: info-hams@ucsd.edu
Help, has anyone out there heard of a chip XR2206?
It's used in a converter to send SSTVFAX in a shareware program called
SSTVFAX2. From what I can make out, it seems to be some kind of modem
chip, but I can't find it in any of the catalogues I have. Can anyone
help me with any of the following information?
1. Has it got an equivalent chip I can use instead?
2. About how much is it?
3. Give me an address anywhere (any country), I can order it from.
Thanks in advance.
Mark
--
---------
Mark Simpson
------------------------------
Date: 29 Mar 94 00:06:37 GMT
From: dog.ee.lbl.gov!agate!howland.reston.ans.net!noc.near.net!news.delphi.com!gilbaronw0mn@ucbvax.berkeley.edu
Subject: Is 10M Dead?!
To: info-hams@ucsd.edu
>In article <Jk1MhuV.jokent@delphi.com> John Kent <jokent@delphi.com>
writes:
>>Steven Q. Stultz <sqstultz@delphi.com> writes:
>>
>>>For some reason, there doesn't seem to be much activity at all across the
band.
>>>Are we in the low part of the cycle? Or are gremlins inside my radio?
>>
>
> You should have been on Saturday 1800 UTC. The band was wide open.
>I had six 59's from Mass., Maryland, Miss., El Salvador, Brazil , and
>Argentina. This was using Radio Shack HTX 100 from the car. Just
>straight 25 watts.
>
>--
>
----------------------------------------------+--------------------------.
>| INTERNET: pineapp@netcom.com (DC436) | Daniel Curry WB6STW |
>| AMPRNET : dan@wb6stw.ampr.org [44.4.20.144] | E-:-) Ham Radio Operator |
>| AX.25 : wb6stw@n0ary.#NOCAL.CA.USA.NA | Redwood City, CA USA |
>'----------------------------------------------+--------------------------'
>
We are in a low part of the cycle and getting lower. Openings will occour
from time to time. Try a CQ now and then. you may be surprised.
Gil Baron, El Baron Rojo, W0MN Rochester,MN
"Bailar es Vivir"
PGP2.3 key at key servers or upon request
------------------------------
Date: 24 Mar 94 18:32:28 GMT
From: dog.ee.lbl.gov!ihnp4.ucsd.edu!pacbell.com!att-out!nntpa!not-for-mail@ucbvax.berkeley.edu
Subject: Kenwood (TS-850) Computer Interface Info Wanted
To: info-hams@ucsd.edu
In article <940324100422_6@ccm.hf.intel.com>,
Cecil A Moore <Cecil_A_Moore@ccm.hf.INTel.COM> wrote:
>
>Text item: Text_1
>
>>A friend is interested in getting details about the computer interface
>>"box" used with the Kenwood TS-850. Has anybody built one...?
>> -Thanx -Adam (N2DHH)
>
>Hi Adam and anybody else...
>
>I have an ICOM-725 which has a single-line bi-directional TTL-level
>wired-OR serial asynchronous interface for external control. Is the
>Kenwood TS-850 the same hardware interface characteristic as the
>ICOM-725?
>
>thanks and 73, Cecil, KG7BK (I do not speak for Intel on Internet)
No. Take a peek at my reply to the last post for a pointer to my article
in 2/93 QST. As you hint, the Icom CI-V system is a single wire bus run
against ground. A number of computers and radios can sit on this CSMA/CD
bus. I won't bore everyone with the details. The article goes into it.
The interface I described for Icom (as well as Ten-Tec's Omni-VI and Argosy
II) is pretty simple. It is not optoisolated, but does use a 7407/7417
buffer for some protection.
--
Wally Blackburn Clinton-Gore - Socialist Leadership
wrb@ccsitn.cb.att.com for the 90s!
Amateur Radio Station AA8DX I'm the NRA.
*More people have died in Ted Kennedy's car than from my gun!*
------------------------------
Date: 28 Mar 1994 22:00:33 GMT
From: ihnp4.ucsd.edu!dog.ee.lbl.gov!agate!howland.reston.ans.net!cs.utexas.edu!geraldo.cc.utexas.edu!astro.as.utexas.edu!oo7@network.ucsd.edu
Subject: obscenity and obesity
To: info-hams@ucsd.edu
dhughes@prairienet.org (Dan Hughes) asks:
>>I just passed my no-code test last week, and have been listening to some
>>ham chatter on my SW receiver. Saturday night on 3910 kHz I heard some
>>of the most disgusting language I've encountered anywhere. One guy was
>>spouting one obscentity after another, and three other guys were laughing
>>at his inept signal and giving it right back to him. All but the
>>instigator were regularly giving their calls. Is this pretty much what I
>>have to look forward to?
Frankly, yes. That is, if you listen to 75m in the evenings, you will
hear people who are generally obscene, obnoxious and probably obese, not to
mention obsolete. It is the gathering ground for all that is objectionable
in amateur radio.
The good news is that you don't have to listen to it. There are some
real human beings on 75m as well, I'm sure, and there are people on the
higher bands who are less objectionable.
If you have the no-code license, you won't be tempted to talk to this
Low Life, and if you pass the code test you can work people on CW who
don't act like this (it takes so long to swear on CW).
Fortunately, most of the scum on the ham bands collects in a few
distinct places and while you find it, listen to it and weep, there
is nothing that says you have to. Just tune past it and you will
soon find something more to your liking.
I am as sad as you are that this stuff continues, but we are not
going to change it overnight, and I have a load of fun, mainly on
HF and mainly on CW, without running into any of this muck. Don't
give up!
Derek "The Pure" Wills (AA5BT, G3NMX)
Department of Astronomy, University of Texas,
Austin TX 78712. (512-471-1392)
oo7@astro.as.utexas.edu
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 28 Mar 1994 15:06:20
From: ihnp4.ucsd.edu!dog.ee.lbl.gov!agate!howland.reston.ans.net!math.ohio-state.edu!usc!yeshua.marcam.com!news.kei.com!ssd.intel.com!chnews!ornews.intel.com!ccm.hf.intel.com!brett_miller@@.
Subject: Question on Kenwood 732 A
To: info-hams@ucsd.edu
In article <2n672m$eer@news.iastate.edu> bwehr@iastate.edu (BDW) writes:
>Was wondering if anyone out there in radio land has had any experience with
>the Kenwood TM-732A its a mobil dual band and looks like a real nice piece. So
>If you own one or know someone that does let me know what you think of it.
>Thanks.
Its a great radio. I got mine when they first came out. I mount the remote
head with velcro and put an RJ-11 jack on the cable for quick disconnect. It
is very sensitive and get a lot of intermod in downtown areas. Lots of
features - more than anyone needs. The Mic keypad buttons are a bit hard to
press and (please correct me if this can be changed) do not make an audible
beep or tone when you are sending DTMF tones, so its hard to tell if you
pressed hard enough - use the autodial memories.
Brett Miller N7OLQ brett_miller@ccm.hf.intel.com
Intel Corp.
American Fork, UT
------------------------------
Date: 24 Mar 94 20:28:44 GMT
From: dog.ee.lbl.gov!ihnp4.ucsd.edu!sdd.hp.com!col.hp.com!srgenprp!alanb@ucbvax.berkeley.edu
Subject: RF and AF speech processors. Was: FT-990 vs TS-850
To: info-hams@ucsd.edu
Ignacy Misztal (ignacy@ux2.cso.uiuc.edu) wrote:
Zack Lau wrote:
: >I don't understand why audio processing has to result in more audio
: >harmonics. Aren't there digital signal processing algorithms that
: >could prevent this effect? Even before DSP, didn't people use split
: >band audio processing to reduce the content of harmonics?
:
: ...Why AF clippers are worse than RF (IF) clippers? Consider a 500Hz
: tone test. With AF processor you will get extra 1000,1500,2000,2500
: Hz tones. With RF (SSB and DSB) processor 500Hz will be the only
: output.
As you probably know, that's only true if you have only a single audio
tone. With a more complex waveform, like a human voice, the 3rd-order
(and all odd-order) mixing products can fall within the filter passband.
Compared to audio clipping, RF clipping reduces audio distortion, but
it doesn't eliminate it entirely.
It seems like you could use a DSP to do a very good job of automatic
gain control on the audio signal. The problem with analog AGC circuits
is the "popping" that occurs due to the time delay of the AGC driver
upon encountering a sudden large signal. A DSP could store a few
milliseconds of audio at a time so it could reduce the gain just
before the sudden large signal, eliminating the pop.
AL N1AL
------------------------------
Date: 28 Mar 1994 20:44:29 GMT
From: news.cerf.net!pravda.sdsc.edu!acsc.com!wp-sp.nba.trw.com!elroy.jpl.nasa.gov!sdd.hp.com!math.ohio-state.edu!howland.reston.ans.net!vixen.cso.uiuc.edu!usenet.ucs.indiana@ihnp4.ucsd.edu
Subject: The word HAM
To: info-hams@ucsd.edu
Another 2 cents worth:
> The origin of the word 'HAM' come from the first letters of the
> first three guys to experiment radio. They were from the Harvard Radio
> Club... Their names are Hyman, Almy and Murray.
>
> Originally, they named their telegraph station
> "HYMAN-ALMY-MURRAY" but it was too long, so they reduce it to
"HY-AL-MU",
> but there was a problem : a mexican boat was named "HYALMO", so there
> was
> a little confusion... So, they finally named their station "HAM"...
>
> Oh yeah... That was in 1908....
>
> 73's de Alex, ve2cnd@CAM.O
>
Howdy,
I think I read somewhere that this story has been debunked by someone who
did some snooping and found that there were no such students at Harvard
when this was supposed to have taken place.
????
73 de K9CUN, Jack
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 28 Mar 1994 19:33:18 GMT
From: ihnp4.ucsd.edu!dog.ee.lbl.gov!agate!howland.reston.ans.net!europa.eng.gtefsd.com!library.ucla.edu!csulb.edu!csus.edu!netcom.com!debmoore@network.ucsd.edu
Subject: WWV Voice announcments??
To: info-hams@ucsd.edu
Jose Miguel Fonte (etjfonte@ci.ua.pt) wrote:
: Stan Olson (solso@prairienet.org) wrote:
: : Does any one have a schedule of when WWV announces the solar flux
: : and stuff?? If you could mail me the times/freqs, that would be
: : great!! Thanks
: WWV broadcast every hour at minute 18 (e.g. 20:18 , 21:18...)
: and the freq. are 5Mhz,10Mhz,15Mhz,20Mhz (I think the last one its better)
: good luck with Dxing ...
: best 73's de CT1ENQ
I believe there is also a braoadcast at :45 mins. I think this one is
from WWVH. I don't have any info here at work, but maybe someone else
could verify this.
--
=============================================================================
Bob Shilling Berkeley, CA debmoore@netcom.com
KK6QQ rcshilling@lbl.gov
DoD# 1195
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 27 Mar 1994 09:24:03 +0000
From: ihnp4.ucsd.edu!pacbell.com!sgiblab!sdd.hp.com!usc!howland.reston.ans.net!pipex!demon!llondel.demon.co.uk!dave@network.ucsd.edu
To: info-hams@ucsd.edu
References <2n079g$pl1@usenet.rpi.edu>, <Ba2OBqp.edellers@delphi.com>, <wa2iseCnAqoH.6tL@netcom.com>et
Subject : Re: Hole in car roof: Affect vehicle value?
There is a simple principle here..... if you are selling the car to a dealer
then the hole in the roof will drop the price by X. When the dealer sells the
car on, it is 'cellular ready' and the price goes up by X.
You could have some fun in this case if one person sells a car to a dealer
(with the price dropped because of the hole) and another goes along expressing
interest in buying it and commenting on the hole..... see if the dealer drops
the price or tries to justify the hole as an asset!
Dave
--
*****************************************************************************
* G4WRW @ GB7WRW.#41.GBR.EU AX25 * Start at the beginning. Go on *
* dave@llondel.demon.co.uk Internet * until the end. Then stop. *
* g4wrw@g4wrw.ampr.org Amprnet * (the king to the white rabbit) *
*****************************************************************************
------------------------------
End of Info-Hams Digest V94 #338
******************************
******************************