Date: Thu, 31 Mar 94 01:13:10 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 #350
To: Info-Hams
Info-Hams Digest Thu, 31 Mar 94 Volume 94 : Issue 350
Today's Topics:
A novice needs some help!
Daily Summary of Solar Geophysical Activity for 26 March
HELP: Anyone know what a XR2206 chip is?
METEOR SCATTERING - Companies involved...?
RB319 Calling In Outsiders
Resend of Daily Summary of Solar Activity for 27 March 1994
Youth Net at the Hamvention
Send Replies or notes for publication to: <Info-Hams@UCSD.Edu>
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Archives of past issues of the Info-Hams Digest are available
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We trust that readers are intelligent enough to realize that all text
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policies or positions of any party. Your mileage may vary. So there.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Wed, 30 Mar 1994 09:17:02 GMT
From: ihnp4.ucsd.edu!usc!howland.reston.ans.net!usenet.ins.cwru.edu!gatech!wa4mei!ke4zv!gary@network.ucsd.edu
Subject: A novice needs some help!
To: info-hams@ucsd.edu
In article <940329141512_4@ccm.hf.intel.com> Cecil_A_Moore@ccm.hf.INTel.COM (Cecil A Moore) writes:
>>...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?
>>Giridhar Tatavarti
>
>Hi Giridhar, Contrary to what you may hear, international schedules
>are difficult to keep unless Mother Nature is cooperating and you
>are running maximum legal power and a multi-element beam antenna.
>We are near the low of a sunspot cycle which has a negative effect
>upon round-the-world communications and you will be competing with
>other amateurs who run the legal maximum power and beam antennas.
>
>You can almost always find *A* foreign amateur radio operator to
>talk to... unfortunately, it may not be *THE* amateur radio operator
>to whom you wish to talk. I do not mean to discourage you, but we
>must be realistic about what is possible at any given moment. Last
>night I could hear no amateurs on SSB above 40 meters.
That's because you didn't tune *high* enough Cecil. :-)
The amateur satellites are extremely predictable, can offer near
global communications, don't require maximum legal power, and aren't
as much at the whim of the solar cycle. The phone companies quit using
high power HF SSB for international circuits years ago. It's time more
amateurs learned they don't need that sort of setup either to work
stations in other countries.
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: Mon, 28 Mar 1994 19:07:16 MST
From: dog.ee.lbl.gov!agate!howland.reston.ans.net!cs.utexas.edu!utnut!utcsri!newsflash.concordia.ca!canopus.cc.umanitoba.ca!tribune.usask.ca!kakwa.ucs.ualberta.ca!quartz.ucs.@@ihnp4.ucsd.edu
Subject: Daily Summary of Solar Geophysical Activity for 26 March
To: info-hams@ucsd.edu
/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\
DAILY SUMMARY OF SOLAR GEOPHYSICAL ACTIVITY
26 MARCH, 1994
/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\
(Based In-Part On SESC Observational Data)
SOLAR AND GEOPHYSICAL ACTIVITY INDICES FOR 26 MARCH, 1994
---------------------------------------------------------
!!BEGIN!! (1.0) S.T.D. Solar Geophysical Data Broadcast for DAY 085, 03/26/94
10.7 FLUX=088.5 90-AVG=105 SSN=039 BKI=2323 1211 BAI=007
BGND-XRAY=A7.5 FLU1=2.8E+06 FLU10=1.7E+04 PKI=2233 2322 PAI=009
BOU-DEV=017,022,014,031,009,21583,005,006 DEV-AVG=2710 NT SWF=00:000
XRAY-MAX= B3.8 @ 1503UT XRAY-MIN= A5.3 @ 0703UT XRAY-AVG= B1.2
NEUTN-MAX= +002% @ 1150UT NEUTN-MIN= -002% @ 2155UT NEUTN-AVG= -0.0%
PCA-MAX= +0.1DB @ 2255UT PCA-MIN= -0.5DB @ 1615UT PCA-AVG= -0.0DB
BOUTF-MAX=55343NT @ 0550UT BOUTF-MIN=55320NT @ 1806UT BOUTF-AVG=55334NT
GOES7-MAX=P:+000NT@ 0000UT GOES7-MIN=N:+000NT@ 0000UT G7-AVG=+078,+000,+000
GOES6-MAX=P:+122NT@ 1753UT GOES6-MIN=N:-083NT@ 0519UT G6-AVG=+096,+023,-041
FLUXFCST=STD:090,090,090;SESC:090,090,090 BAI/PAI-FCST=010,010,020/010,015,020
KFCST=2104 5011 2104 5011 27DAY-AP=007,008 27DAY-KP=1233 2120 1133 2123
WARNINGS=
ALERTS=
!!END-DATA!!
NOTE: The Effective Sunspot Number for 25 MAR 94 was 45.0.
The Full Kp Indices for 25 MAR 94 are: 3+ 2- 3- 3- 3+ 3+ 3o 3-
The 3-Hr Ap Indices for 25 MAR 94 are: 20 6 11 13 20 18 16 12
Greater than 2 MeV Electron Fluence for 26 MAR is: 1.6E+08
SYNOPSIS OF ACTIVITY
--------------------
Solar activity was very low. The only x-ray flare of the
past day was a B3 (no optical) at 26/1503Z. All sunspot regions
currently on the disk are small and relatively inactive.
Solar activity forecast: solar activity is expected to be
very low.
The geomagnetic field was quiet to unsettled.
Geophysical activity forecast: the geomagnetic field is
expected to be quiet to unsettled, becoming active by 29 March
due to a recurrent disturbance.
Event probabilities 27 mar-29 mar
Class M 01/01/01
Class X 01/01/01
Proton 01/01/01
PCAF Green
Geomagnetic activity probabilities 27 mar-29 mar
A. Middle Latitudes
Active 15/15/25
Minor Storm 10/10/25
Major-Severe Storm 05/05/10
B. High Latitudes
Active 15/15/25
Minor Storm 10/10/25
Major-Severe Storm 05/05/10
HF propagation conditions were normal over all regions.
No changes are expected until 29 March when minor signal
degradation may begin to be observed over some higher latitude
night-sector paths.
COPIES OF JOINT USAF/NOAA SESC SOLAR GEOPHYSICAL REPORTS
========================================================
REGIONS WITH SUNSPOTS. LOCATIONS VALID AT 26/2400Z MARCH
--------------------------------------------------------
NMBR LOCATION LO AREA Z LL NN MAG TYPE
7692 N18W73 160 0020 HRX 01 001 ALPHA
7694 N10E16 071 0010 BXO 05 004 BETA
7695 S16E29 058 0020 BXO 03 004 BETA
7696 S17W08 095 PLAGE
REGIONS DUE TO RETURN 27 MARCH TO 29 MARCH
NMBR LAT LO
7687 N18 338
7685 S08 342
7689 S10 324
7690 S14 326
LISTING OF SOLAR ENERGETIC EVENTS FOR 26 MARCH, 1994
----------------------------------------------------
BEGIN MAX END RGN LOC XRAY OP 245MHZ 10CM SWEEP
NONE
POSSIBLE CORONAL MASS EJECTION EVENTS FOR 26 MARCH, 1994
--------------------------------------------------------
BEGIN MAX END LOCATION TYPE SIZE DUR II IV
NO EVENTS OBSERVED
INFERRED CORONAL HOLES. LOCATIONS VALID AT 26/2400Z
---------------------------------------------------
ISOLATED HOLES AND POLAR EXTENSIONS
EAST SOUTH WEST NORTH CAR TYPE POL AREA OBSN
NO DATA AVAILABLE FOR ANALYSIS
SUMMARY OF FLARE EVENTS FOR THE PREVIOUS UTC DAY
------------------------------------------------
Date Begin Max End Xray Op Region Locn 2695 MHz 8800 MHz 15.4 GHz
------ ---- ---- ---- ---- -- ------ ------ --------- --------- ---------
25 Mar: 0809 0821 0903 B1.4
REGION FLARE STATISTICS FOR THE PREVIOUS UTC DAY
------------------------------------------------
C M X S 1 2 3 4 Total (%)
-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --- ------
Uncorrellated: 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 001 (100.0)
Total Events: 001 optical and x-ray.
EVENTS WITH SWEEPS AND/OR OPTICAL PHENOMENA FOR THE LAST UTC DAY
----------------------------------------------------------------
Date Begin Max End Xray Op Region Locn Sweeps/Optical Observations
------ ---- ---- ---- ---- -- ------ ------ ---------------------------
NO EVENTS OBSERVED.
NOTES:
All times are in Universal Time (UT). Characters preceding begin, max,
and end times are defined as: B = Before, U = Uncertain, A = After.
All times associated with x-ray flares (ex. flares which produce
associated x-ray bursts) refer to the begin, max, and end times of the
x-rays. Flares which are not associated with x-ray signatures use the
optical observations to determine the begin, max, and end times.
Acronyms used to identify sweeps and optical phenomena include:
II = Type II Sweep Frequency Event
III = Type III Sweep
IV = Type IV Sweep
V = Type V Sweep
Continuum = Continuum Radio Event
Loop = Loop Prominence System,
Spray = Limb Spray,
Surge = Bright Limb Surge,
EPL = Eruptive Prominence on the Limb.
** End of Daily Report **
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 30 Mar 1994 08:53:57 GMT
From: ihnp4.ucsd.edu!dog.ee.lbl.gov!agate!howland.reston.ans.net!newsserver.jvnc.net!raffles.technet.sg!ntuix!ntuvax.ntu.ac.sg!asirene@network.ucsd.edu
Subject: HELP: Anyone know what a XR2206 chip is?
To: info-hams@ucsd.edu
In article <CnEFCs.Hso@demon.co.uk>, zawada@softage.demon.co.uk (A Gnome On A Mission) writes:
> 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?
Hi,
Chip by EXAR Corporation is function generator/FSK generator, whatever.
Used to generate the varying frequency required in SSTV and FAX signals.
Write to EXAR, can't remember where I put the address though :) Sorry
Daniel
>
> 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: 31 Mar 94 04:21:44 GMT
From: news-mail-gateway@ucsd.edu
Subject: METEOR SCATTERING - Companies involved...?
To: info-hams@ucsd.edu
>Can anyone tell me of companies or organizations involved in communications
>using meteor scattering techniques?
>
>Warren Doud
>doud@galileo.tracor.com
>
ALASCOM (Alaska Communications) the "ma bell" of the last frontier
provides meteor burst/scattering facilities for the Air Force. they
had an 800#, ask for Jim Larsen in marketing.
jd
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 28 Mar 1994 08:41:43 -0700
From: agate!howland.reston.ans.net!cs.utexas.edu!utnut!utcsri!newsflash.concordia.ca!canopus.cc.umanitoba.ca!tribune.usask.ca!kakwa.ucs.ualberta.ca!quartz.ucs.ualberta.ca!alberta!@@ihnp4.ucsd.edu
Subject: RB319 Calling In Outsiders
To: info-hams@ucsd.edu
Bid: $RACESBUL.319
TO: ALL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCIES VIA AMATEUR RADIO
INFO: ALL COMMUNICATIONS VOLUNTEERS IN GOVERNMENT SERVICE
INFO: ALL AMATEURS U.S (@USA: INFORMATION), CAP, MARS
FROM: CA GOVERNORS 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.319 RELEASE DATE: March 28, 1994
SUBJECT: MGT - Calling in outsiders
During an incident there are times that it is necessary for a
jurisdiction to request additional help from "outside". In
California this involves mutual aid whereby local authorities
turn to an "outside resource" (outside of their jurisdiction) to
augment their own forces (or where none exists) to accomplish
their mission. Either way (i.e., augment or provide) the
so-called "outside" mutual aid people are ALWAYS under control of
the REQUESTING government. The structure by which that functions
is part of the Incident Command System.
In communications involving responding FCC Amateur licensees this
aspect has at times been misunderstood by those not familiar with
how mutual aid works in fire and law. Those "outside" resources
NEVER come in to "take over". Mutual aid does NOT belittle the
locals, but augments them with professionals trained in mutual
aid response from other jurisdictions.
It is inconceivable that any jurisdiction would ever call in
distant professionals to spite the locals, as we once heard it
expressed by an exasperated amateur. It just ISN'T done for a
number of very good reasons.
Just because there are local FCC licensed Amateurs doesn't
necessarily mean a government will call upon them in an emergency
if they haven't been active, trained in and familiar with a RACES
or similar communications reserve program.
It is professionalism, whether paid or unpaid. No professional
ever responds in mutual aid to do anything other than to support
the local needs. That is the true mark of a professional (paid or
unpaid), whether law, fire or communications.
Any communications responder who is such an amateur that he/she
can't discern the difference between amateurish activity and
professional activity shouldn't be responding no matter how well
intended. Instead, that person needs to take training and
familiarization programs to help understand the mutual aid
process.
An ACS/RACES response from a city, county, or State OES in
support of another government is due to a request from that
government. To respond without a verified official request is the
height of amateurish activity, and can have severe consequencies
except in the most unusual of instances.
EOM.
-----------------
RACES Bulletins are archived on the Internet at ucsd.edu in hamradio/races
or in hamradio/packet/tcpip/incoming and can be retrieved using FTP.
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 29 Mar 1994 12:25:18 MST
From: ihnp4.ucsd.edu!swrinde!cs.utexas.edu!utnut!utcsri!newsflash.concordia.ca!canopus.cc.umanitoba.ca!tribune.usask.ca!kakwa.ucs.ualberta.ca!quartz.ucs.ualberta.ca!alberta!ve6mgs!usenet@network.
Subject: Resend of Daily Summary of Solar Activity for 27 March 1994
To: info-hams@ucsd.edu
/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\
DAILY SUMMARY OF SOLAR GEOPHYSICAL ACTIVITY
27 MARCH, 1994
/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\
(Based In-Part On SESC Observational Data)
SOLAR AND GEOPHYSICAL ACTIVITY INDICES FOR 27 MARCH, 1994
---------------------------------------------------------
NOTE: Very intense stratospheric warming exists over northeastern Europe and
Siberia and is spreading into the polar region. The coldest air has
been displaced to southern Greenland/Baffin Island today. The
temperature gradient is reversed between 60N and the polar at 10 HPA
and above. Final warming is in progress.
!!BEGIN!! (1.0) S.T.D. Solar Geophysical Data Broadcast for DAY 086, 03/27/94
10.7 FLUX=088.4 90-AVG=104 SSN=041 BKI=1121 2223 BAI=006
BGND-XRAY=A6.7 FLU1=3.6E+06 FLU10=1.7E+04 PKI=2131 2233 PAI=008
BOU-DEV=008,20004,019,008,015,015,019,027 DEV-AVG=2514 NT SWF=00:000
XRAY-MAX= B1.9 @ 2210UT XRAY-MIN= A5.8 @ 0703UT XRAY-AVG= A8.2
NEUTN-MAX= +002% @ 1425UT NEUTN-MIN= -004% @ 1905UT NEUTN-AVG= -0.5%
PCA-MAX= +0.1DB @ 2140UT PCA-MIN= -0.5DB @ 2320UT PCA-AVG= -0.0DB
BOUTF-MAX=55342NT @ 1448UT BOUTF-MIN=55312NT @ 1800UT BOUTF-AVG=55333NT
GOES7-MAX=P:+000NT@ 0000UT GOES7-MIN=N:+000NT@ 0000UT G7-AVG=+085,+000,+000
GOES6-MAX=P:+149NT@ 1807UT GOES6-MIN=N:-076NT@ 0504UT G6-AVG=+102,+022,-037
FLUXFCST=STD:088,088,088;SESC:088,088,088 BAI/PAI-FCST=010,020,020/015,020,025
KFCST=2104 5011 2224 5444 27DAY-AP=008,010 27DAY-KP=1133 2123 3143 2223
WARNINGS=
ALERTS=
!!END-DATA!!
NOTE: The Effective Sunspot Number for 26 MAR 94 was 41.0.
The Full Kp Indices for 26 MAR 94 are: 2o 2o 3o 3o 2- 3o 2- 2-
The 3-Hr Ap Indices for 26 MAR 94 are: 7 8 15 15 7 15 7 7
Greater than 2 MeV Electron Fluence for 27 MAR is: 2.8E+08
SYNOPSIS OF ACTIVITY
--------------------
Solar activity was very low. No flares were observed
since yesterday. All regions remain small and fairly inactive.
Solar activity forecast: solar activity is expected to be
very low.
The geomagnetic field was quiet at middle latitudes and quiet
to unsettled at high latitudes.
Geophysical activity forecast: the geomagnetic field is
expected to be quiet to unsettled for the next day. Recurrent
active conditions are possible on the second and third days.
Event probabilities 28 mar-30 mar
Class M 01/01/01
Class X 01/01/01
Proton 01/01/01
PCAF Green
Geomagnetic activity probabilities 28 mar-30 mar
A. Middle Latitudes
Active 15/25/25
Minor Storm 10/25/30
Major-Severe Storm 05/10/10
B. High Latitudes
Active 15/25/25
Minor Storm 10/25/30
Major-Severe Storm 05/10/10
HF propagation conditions were normal over all regions.
Minor signal degradation may begin to be observed over the
higher latitude paths on 29 or 30 March. These slightly
disturbed conditions are expected to persist beyond 31 March.
COPIES OF JOINT USAF/NOAA SESC SOLAR GEOPHYSICAL REPORTS
========================================================
REGIONS WITH SUNSPOTS. LOCATIONS VALID AT 27/2400Z MARCH
--------------------------------------------------------
NMBR LOCATION LO AREA Z LL NN MAG TYPE
7692 N18W86 160 0000 AXX 00 001 ALPHA
7694 N11E02 072 0000 AXX 00 001 ALPHA
7695 S17E19 055 0030 CRO 06 009 BETA
7696 S17W21 095 PLAGE
REGIONS DUE TO RETURN 28 MARCH TO 30 MARCH
NMBR LAT LO
7687 N18 338
7685 S08 342
7689 S10 324
7690 S14 326
LISTING OF SOLAR ENERGETIC EVENTS FOR 27 MARCH, 1994
----------------------------------------------------
BEGIN MAX END RGN LOC XRAY OP 245MHZ 10CM SWEEP
NONE
POSSIBLE CORONAL MASS EJECTION EVENTS FOR 27 MARCH, 1994
--------------------------------------------------------
BEGIN MAX END LOCATION TYPE SIZE DUR II IV
NO EVENTS OBSERVED
INFERRED CORONAL HOLES. LOCATIONS VALID AT 27/2400Z
---------------------------------------------------
ISOLATED HOLES AND POLAR EXTENSIONS
EAST SOUTH WEST NORTH CAR TYPE POL AREA OBSN
71 S24W22 S26W22 S13W35 S12W32 098 ISO POS 002 10830A
72 N24E05 N08W15 N10W19 N24E05 076 ISO POS 004 10830A
73 S45E86 S45E86 S34E33 S20E44 013 ISO NEG 020 10830A
SUMMARY OF FLARE EVENTS FOR THE PREVIOUS UTC DAY
------------------------------------------------
Date Begin Max End Xray Op Region Locn 2695 MHz 8800 MHz 15.4 GHz
------ ---- ---- ---- ---- -- ------ ------ --------- --------- ---------
26 Mar: 1448 1503 1526 B3.8
1701 1720 1737 B1.4
REGION FLARE STATISTICS FOR THE PREVIOUS UTC DAY
------------------------------------------------
C M X S 1 2 3 4 Total (%)
-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --- ------
Uncorrellated: 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 002 (100.0)
Total Events: 002 optical and x-ray.
EVENTS WITH SWEEPS AND/OR OPTICAL PHENOMENA FOR THE LAST UTC DAY
----------------------------------------------------------------
Date Begin Max End Xray Op Region Locn Sweeps/Optical Observations
------ ---- ---- ---- ---- -- ------ ------ ---------------------------
NO EVENTS OBSERVED.
NOTES:
All times are in Universal Time (UT). Characters preceding begin, max,
and end times are defined as: B = Before, U = Uncertain, A = After.
All times associated with x-ray flares (ex. flares which produce
associated x-ray bursts) refer to the begin, max, and end times of the
x-rays. Flares which are not associated with x-ray signatures use the
optical observations to determine the begin, max, and end times.
Acronyms used to identify sweeps and optical phenomena include:
II = Type II Sweep Frequency Event
III = Type III Sweep
IV = Type IV Sweep
V = Type V Sweep
Continuum = Continuum Radio Event
Loop = Loop Prominence System,
Spray = Limb Spray,
Surge = Bright Limb Surge,
EPL = Eruptive Prominence on the Limb.
** End of Daily Report **
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 29 Mar 1994 11:07:02 -0700
From: ihnp4.ucsd.edu!usc!cs.utexas.edu!utnut!utcsri!newsflash.concordia.ca!canopus.cc.umanitoba.ca!tribune.usask.ca!kakwa.ucs.ualberta.ca!quartz.ucs.ualberta.ca!alberta!ve6mgs!usenet@network.ucsd.
Subject: Youth Net at the Hamvention
To: info-hams@ucsd.edu
From: Alexis Leynes N9KYJ
BBS: N9KYJ@W9ZMR.IL.USA.NOAM
e-mail: Alex.N9KYJ@aol.com (Internet)
Attention all young hams, teaching hams, and other interested hams.
There will be a youth net at the Dayton Hamvention on the first Friday night
(April 29, 1994) of the event at 8:00 p.m. (Dayton time) of the Hamvention,
this net will be held for approximately for an hour. The youth net will be held
on the Miami Valley FM Association N8ACV repeater on 146.64 Mhz (negative 600
input). This is the first time a youth net will be held on a local Dayton
repeater during the
Hamvention, so I hope to hear you on the air. If you have any question, please
send me a message to my packet address or to my e-mail address. I'll be more
than happy to answer any of your questions. 73 DE Alex =>
------------------------------
Date: 30 Mar 94 07:47:27 GMT
From: ihnp4.ucsd.edu!agate!darkstar.UCSC.EDU!nic.scruz.net!cruzio!comix!jeffl@network.ucsd.edu
To: info-hams@ucsd.edu
References <1994Mar28.233945.24985@cobra.uni.edu>, <810@comix.UUCP>, <brett_miller.84.0013359E@ccm.hf.intel.com>
Subject : Re: Question on Kenwood 732 A
In article <brett_miller.84.0013359E@ccm.hf.intel.com> brett_miller@ccm.hf.intel.com (Brett Miller - N7OLQ) writes:
>In article <810@comix.UUCP> jeffl@comix.UUCP (Jeff Liebermann) writes:
>>In article <1994Mar28.233945.24985@cobra.uni.edu> conklic9391@cobra.uni.edu writes:
>I don't think programming the radio in the dark was what the designers had in
I make no attempt to program the radio while moving. This has
nothing to do with the illumination. Simple things like switching
OFF the PL encode, changing the PL tone, and switching to simplex
on the repeater output should be easily accomplished. My eyes aren't
as good as they were when I was younger. Non-illuminated red letters
on a black background are simply a rotten choice of colors. White
letters or translucent letters on a black background would have been
just fine.
>memorized by now. If you hit the wrong button, no harm done.
I ended up in a ditch trying to FIND the button. No harm done.
>I've had mine for two years, and they are all still there. Of course I don't
>use autopatch too much. You forgot to mention that you can't hear the outgoing
>DTMF tones.
Sorry. You can't hear the tones. In my diesel, you can't hear
anything exept the engine, so it's academic. The legends rubbed
off from abrasion on the car seat and my trousers in about a month.
I guess hot stamping the numbers is too much to ask for.
>I screwed the mounting
>bracket into the head and then put the velcro on the other end of the bracket.
>Solid as a rock.
You cheated. You bought the $45 mounting kit. I stuck the velcro
right on the back of the control head. The real problem was that
I don't have a flat spot anywhere on my dashboard.
>>10. The 4 function keys on the microphone use a crud D/A (digital
>>to analog) converter. Moisture condensation has made using these
>>buttons in the morning a real challenge.
>Do you drive around in the rain with the top down? No problems with mine.
Condensation near the ocean (I live near the ocean) is a real problem.
>Yes I made my own reference chart too. You just can't put that many functions
>into a radio and expect to access them with about 9 buttons. We need voice
>commands!
You give up too easy. What's necessary are TWO shaft encoders.
The left one sets the menu item, the right one selects the choice.
A "save" button saves the setting as the default. Most of the
newer and smaller radios are going to something like this.
I've also had some experience with voice control. Good idea
with lots of problems. Not this week.
>>13. The squelch has little or no hysteresis. This is because
>I like that. I want the squelch to be where I set it. If a bad signal breaks
>through, I up the setting. I'm not working moon bounce from my truck though.
Hysteresis does nothing to cause the squelch to move. What it does
is prevent a weak or varying signal from sounding like a machine gun.
I've designed several radios that required quite a bit of human
factors research in squelch action. The Motorola Micor has a
very unique adjustable release time squelch circuit. Kenwood
decided that it's more important to have a smooth squelch adjustment
than a usable signal and threw hysteresis out the window. Obviously,
I don't agree with this. Incidentally, I don't listen to moonbounce
while driving. However, I live in a mountainous area and signals
tend to be weak, choppy, or suffering from multipath.
>My settings were fine. Never had any complaints about the mic gain.
Did you MEASURE them? I did.
>Sure the radio isn't perfect, but as you said, they all seem to have their
>problems. If you want Motorola, you have to PAY for Motorola.
I see. If I want quality, I should buy Motorola. However,
because I'm a ham on a limited budget, I should tolerate design
flaws, mechanical abomonations, human factors atroscities, and
durability problems. It's funny, but when designing commercial
radios, I had the same dumb line thrown at me by the
military-aerospace crowd. I guess hams are suppose to take
any and all abuse because we're so tolerant.
A major stupidity is how the TM732A handles the cross band
repeat and remote control. In cross band, if the transmitter
is on the air, you can't control the radio. Make the mistake
of setting the frequencies backwards on a busy channel, the
only way to disarm the monster is to unplug the antenna and
punch the magic buttons. Same with remote control, but worse.
You can ONLY get out of remote control with another radio using
touch-tones. The only thing you can do at the radio is a total
reset. I'm sure there's a rational reason why one must effectively
lose control of the radio to use these modes.
One nice feature about the radio I forgot to mention. On the
air cloning. Push the magic buttons and the radio disgourges
it's memories and configuration in the form of touch tones on
the air. I make a tape recording of the tones. To reload
the radio, I push the buttons and play back the tape over another
transmitter to the TM732A. I travel a bit and have a seperate
tape for each major city I visit. Not documented anywhere.
It's interesting that Kenwood would not even mention what I
consider a major feature and convenience in the TM732A and TH78A.
Inspite of all these criticisms, I still like Kenwood. My
experiences with other brands are far worse. I own a variety
of other Kenwood radio products and have never had a catastrophic
failure or major problem that I couldn't easily fix.
--
# Jeff Liebermann Box 272 1540 Jackson Ave Ben Lomond CA 95005
# 408.336.2558 voice wb6ssy@ki6eh.#nocal.ca.usa wb6ssy.ampr.org [44.4.18.10]
# 408.699.0483 digital_pager 73557,2074 cis [don't]
# jeffl@comix.santa-cruz.ca.us scruz.ucsc.edu!comix!jeffl
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 30 Mar 1994 09:00:54 GMT
From: ihnp4.ucsd.edu!dog.ee.lbl.gov!agate!howland.reston.ans.net!europa.eng.gtefsd.com!emory!wa4mei!ke4zv!gary@network.ucsd.edu
To: info-hams@ucsd.edu
References <Cn8ttu.AHI@news.Hawaii.Edu>, <1994Mar26.180734.6273@ke4zv.atl.ga.us>, <bote.764956814@access1>
Reply-To : gary@ke4zv.UUCP (Gary Coffman)
Subject : Re: Plain old repeaters
In article <bote.764956814@access1> bote@access1.digex.net (John Boteler) writes:
>gary@ke4zv.atl.ga.us (Gary Coffman) writes:
>>Mr. Herman wrote:
>>>Gary: I'll be disappointed if your repeater beeps.
>
>>Sorry, you're disappointed. It does "roger beep" to signal user
>>carrier drop and timer reset. We run near zero tail so remote base
>>operators aren't locked out. We tried it without the beep, but users
>>complained they couldn't get in the machine. They couldn't hear their
>>kerchunk because their receivers weren't recovering fast enough. The
>>beep gives them 300 ms to recover. Users with noiseless squelch radios
>>never knew when the repeater dropped without the beep.
>
>I cannot believe what I am reading.
>
>Instead of giving them training-wheel beeps to tell when
>the repeater has dropped, maybe they should actually
>wait a second to see that the other guy has
>finished transmitting.
Sadly, reality raises it's ugly head. Without the beep, people were
jumping in when an operator merely drew a breath. If the beep didn't
genuinely serve to smooth the flow of conversation, I wouldn't have
it on there.
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 | |
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End of Info-Hams Digest V94 #350
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