Date: Fri, 1 Apr 94 04:30:20 PST From: Ham-Equip Mailing List and Newsgroup Errors-To: Ham-Equip-Errors@UCSD.Edu Reply-To: Ham-Equip@UCSD.Edu Precedence: Bulk Subject: Ham-Equip Digest V94 #89 To: Ham-Equip Ham-Equip Digest Fri, 1 Apr 94 Volume 94 : Issue 89 Today's Topics: decoding morse on PC FT-470 Lighting ....? help with MFJ 941D Hot Water 100 (2 msgs) HTX-202 Sale! Info on new Patriot PC-1610? Is the Atlas 310 for real? MFJ Antenna Tuner Please Help with HF equipment Still want MFJ 986 Which HF rigs have Transverter Jacks? YAESU FT-101E Yaesu FT411 Send Replies or notes for publication to: Send subscription requests to: Problems you can't solve otherwise to brian@ucsd.edu. Archives of past issues of the Ham-Equip Digest are available (by FTP only) from UCSD.Edu in directory "mailarchives/ham-equip". 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: Thu, 31 Mar 1994 12:50:20 GMT From: ihnp4.ucsd.edu!usc!howland.reston.ans.net!pipex!bbc!ant!boyer@network.ucsd.edu Subject: decoding morse on PC To: ham-equip@ucsd.edu djwang@chaos.biophys.upenn.edu wrote: : >>Bob Albert writes: : : >>What you are looking for is a TNC, Terminal Node Controller. You : : >>What I think he's looking for is a software package that runs on a PC : >>with a sound card to decode CW... it's coming. : : >>73, KG7BK, CecilMoore@Delphi.com : A Morse decoder based on the Sound Blaster Board (fftmorse.zip) is available at : this anonymous ftp site: : oak.oakland.edu "/pub/msdos/hamradio/ fftmorse.zip" : An excellent code practicing program the "SuperMorse" is also available in this : site: : "/pub/hamradio/pc/theory-and-morse/ sm410.exe" : 73, D.J. (djwang@sneezy.biophys.upenn.edu) The cheapest way I know of, if you haven't got a sound card is a prog called hamcomm22. I does morse and rtty with a single op-amp interface. Dead cheap eh? I got hamcom from ftp.funet.fi john b john.boyer@rd.eng.bbc.co.uk ------------------------------ Date: 31 Mar 94 10:57:44 GMT From: dog.ee.lbl.gov!agate!library.ucla.edu!news.ucdavis.edu!modem64.ucdavis.edu!ddtodd@ucbvax.berkeley.edu Subject: FT-470 Lighting ....? To: ham-equip@ucsd.edu In article <764609412.AA00980@afarm.uucp> Keith.J..Leite@f40.n382.z1.fidonet.org (Keith J. Leite) writes: >Hi, >I am a new owner of a Yaesu FT-470, I think the radio is great! The only >gripe I have with the unit is the lighting at night. I was wondering if >there was a MOD out there that would set the internal light to stay on >until not needed. I find it quite difficult to be driving along the highway >and trying to change freq's in the dark ....any help would be appreciated, >again I think the radio is great. Well a couple dots of solder and a little wire will fix that right up. If your lazy just run the wires out the plug in the side and twist them together when you want light. If your ambitious, mount a micro switch in the rubber plug. That's the only way as far as I know. cheers, Dan ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 31 Mar 94 02:18:23 GMT From: netcomsv!netcomsv!skyld!jangus@decwrl.dec.com Subject: help with MFJ 941D To: ham-equip@ucsd.edu In article <1994Mar30.155705.15186@xyzoom.info.com> rob@xyzoom.info.com writes: > In article <764997881snx@skyld.grendel.com> jangus@skyld.grendel.com (Jeffrey > D. Angus) writes: > > > > > In article <1994Mar20.222034.7720@xyzoom.info.com>, rob@xyzoom.info.com > (Rob > Lingelbach) writes: > > > >I've lost the information sheets on my MFJ 941D "Versa Tuner II". I > > > >want to connect a longwire antenna, and I see that there is a line > > > > Doesn't anyone *open* their equipment and look inside anymore? > > > > It's not like *this* part is made with multi-layered PC boards and > > surface mounted 100 pin componenets. > > Some of us aren't as *gifted* as you with respect to knowledge of R/C > circuits, antenna theory, and unlimited tinkering time. ;-) Open the lid Rob. It takes four screws. There are a TOTAL of 3 parts inside. 4 if you include the switch. How much more simple does it need to be before you can figure it out? Amateur: WA6FWI@WA6FWI.#SOCA.CA.USA.NOAM | "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: 30 Mar 94 20:01:01 -0600 From: ihnp4.ucsd.edu!sdd.hp.com!saimiri.primate.wisc.edu!news.doit.wisc.edu!uwec.edu!drumm@network.ucsd.edu Subject: Hot Water 100 To: ham-equip@ucsd.edu Hi all. My first post in this group. I wanted to get a working radio going so fast that I didn't shop around. I bought an old heath kit HW100 for $150.00 I guess it doesn't matter much now, but is this average going price or did I get ripped off. Danny, N9VOX ....................................................................... General Exam in two weeks, wish me luck (or at least time to study) ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 31 Mar 1994 13:54:12 GMT From: ihnp4.ucsd.edu!agate!library.ucla.edu!csulb.edu!csus.edu!netcom.com!greg@network.ucsd.edu Subject: Hot Water 100 To: ham-equip@ucsd.edu In article <1994Mar30.200102.13806@cnsvax.uwec.edu> drumm@cnsvax.uwec.edu writes: >I wanted to get a working radio going so fast that I didn't shop around. Well, sometimes shopping around just leads you to regret what you should have bought, and didn't... >I bought an old heath kit HW100 for $150.00 I guess it doesn't matter >much now, but is this average going price or did I get ripped off. Not bad. Not a ridiculous bargain, but not bad either if it's a solid rig (only time will tell, since Heath rigs have been known to have intermittents related to their kit origins). Add an audio filter for CW, and a dummy load to tune up into. >Danny, >N9VOX >....................................................................... >General Exam in two weeks, wish me luck (or at least time to study) > With a call like 'VOX' you really need that General... 73 Greg ------------------------------ Date: 30 Mar 94 21:48:43 EST From: ihnp4.ucsd.edu!swrinde!gatech!newsxfer.itd.umich.edu!gumby!wmichgw!x92verma@network.ucsd.edu Subject: HTX-202 Sale! To: ham-equip@ucsd.edu I just stopped by at my local Radio Shack and saw two marvelous deals on HT's. The 2-meter HTX-202 is on sale for US$ 188 and the 440-MHz HTX-404 is on sale for US$ 228. These prices are quite a bit cheaper than the normal price for such units. I've been watching these prices for about the last six months and haven't seen them on sale. I am studying up for my technician no-code exam, do any of you know if there is a waiting period from the time I take the exam until the time that I can begin transmitting? Also, can someone out there tell me where I can find out the dates and locations of the exams? Any and all help would be greatly appreciated. Anil K. Verma ------------------------------ Date: 31 Mar 94 02:27:40 GMT From: dog.ee.lbl.gov!newshub.nosc.mil!news!news@ucbvax.berkeley.edu Subject: Info on new Patriot PC-1610? To: ham-equip@ucsd.edu I saw the ad and was interested because of the keyboard interface. I'd be interested in seeing more information about it from anyone who has seen it or used one. Roger Keating - KD6EFQ keating@nosc.mil ------------------------------ Date: 31 Mar 1994 15:49:34 GMT From: ihnp4.ucsd.edu!galaxy.ucr.edu!library.ucla.edu!csulb.edu!nic-nac.CSU.net!usc!cs.utexas.edu!geraldo.cc.utexas.edu!tivoli.tivoli.com!wichita!kilgore@network.ucsd.edu Subject: Is the Atlas 310 for real? To: ham-equip@ucsd.edu I don't now about the Atlas 310, but someone (I can't remember his name offhand) pulled a scam using the name Atlas back in 1987-88, and was, I believe, eventually convicted of mail fraud for taking money and not delivering the product. Same person also had an earlier conviction for the same type of offense. Without some more to go on, I'd be very leery of this one, particularly since it appears no one has received anything this time around either. Jeff Kilgore, KC1MK (kilgore@tivoli.com.net) ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 31 Mar 1994 13:56:55 GMT From: ihnp4.ucsd.edu!galaxy.ucr.edu!library.ucla.edu!csulb.edu!csus.edu!netcom.com!greg@network.ucsd.edu Subject: MFJ Antenna Tuner To: ham-equip@ucsd.edu In article <764609412.AA00926@afarm.uucp> Gary.Rotter@f40.n382.z1.fidonet.org (Gary Rotter) writes: >Organization: NCR/Teradata >Reply-To: gr5@ElSegundoCA.NCR.COM > >I have a MFJ 986 and I am really happy with the way that >it works. I find the two knob tuning system to be a lot >easier for me to use than the three knob tuning on the >989C. But can it match the wide range of impedences (e.g. the proverbial 'wet noodle') that the 3-knob tuner can? Greg ------------------------------ Date: 31 Mar 1994 14:03:43 GMT From: athos.cc.bellcore.com!moscow!foxj@uunet.uu.net Subject: Please Help with HF equipment To: ham-equip@ucsd.edu Hi, I got my license 3 1/2 years ago, primarily to use 2 meters mobile. I have done no HF, but would like to give it a try. Problem is I'm not sure what equipment/antenna to buy. A few months ago I was ready to buy a Yaesu FT-990 and dipole antenna, but upon calling AES and HRO I was told that the dipoles I was looking at would not work with the antenna tuner in the FT-990 or other radios in that class. I live in a house on a 100 by 100 foot lot in a residential area. There are a few 50 foot trees on my property. I would like an antenna which would allow operation on multiple bands (I'm not sure which ones I want to use), but also one that won't annoy the neighbors too much. I would like to limit the cost of the equipment/antenna to around $2000. Any suggestions would be appreciated. 73s jim, KD3TR foxj@cc.bellcore.com ------------------------------ Date: 31 Mar 1994 16:16:16 GMT From: ihnp4.ucsd.edu!usc!howland.reston.ans.net!wupost!crcnis1.unl.edu!unlinfo.unl.edu!mcduffie@network.ucsd.edu Subject: Still want MFJ 986 To: ham-equip@ucsd.edu I'm still looking for a used Differential-T tuner. If you know of one, please email me. Thanks - Gary mcduffie@unl.edu ------------------------------ Date: 1 Apr 94 02:11:16 GMT From: dog.ee.lbl.gov!agate!usenet.ins.cwru.edu!cleveland.Freenet.Edu!aa813@ucbvax.berkeley.edu Subject: Which HF rigs have Transverter Jacks? To: ham-equip@ucsd.edu In a previous article, galen@picea.CFNR.ColoState.EDU (Galen Watts) says: >Subject line says most of it. I know the Kenwood TS-820 has 'em and I've >heard the TS-430 has 'em, but I'm not sure. I'm mostly interested in >synthesized rigs, but any info is greatly appreciated!!! >Galen, KF0YJ > Yes Virginia, There is a Transverter Jack on the TS-430. It is an 8-pin DIN connector used to interface a VHF or UHF transverter. (I am quoting the manual. I never used it....) 73, Joe N8IPC ------------------------------ Date: 1 Apr 94 05:21:19 GMT From: dog.ee.lbl.gov!agate!howland.reston.ans.net!noc.near.net!news.delphi.com!usenet@ucbvax.berkeley.edu Subject: YAESU FT-101E To: ham-equip@ucsd.edu Hi Dorr, I've had a FT-101E for about 15 years and it's a great transceiver. I'm not sure whether or not it still exists, but for a while there was a "Fox Tango Club" on 20 meters (I think it was at 14,325 MHz) on Saturday mornings. That was a while ago, so it may no longer exist. Anyway the club leader sent out a newsletter crammed with modifications for the 101, and he sold the kits. For example, mine has a double balanced mixer in the front end (it really improves the reception), a couple of crystal filters for CW, and a lot of other mods I can't remember right now. (I haven't been on the air lately, but am putting up a new antenna now and plan to get started again.) I hope this helps a bit. Larry K2QCC ------------------------------ Date: 31 Mar 94 05:06:59 GMT From: dog.ee.lbl.gov!agate!msuinfo!netnews.upenn.edu!news.amherst.edu!not-for-mail@ucbvax.berkeley.edu Subject: Yaesu FT411 To: ham-equip@ucsd.edu I'm considering buying a two-year-old used Yaesu FT411 HT. The guy who's sell- ing it is including two battery packs and a mic, and asking $150. I'm new to ham radio and I don't know much about this particular rig except that, on paper, it seems to have all the features I want. Can anyone tell me anything about it? How durable? Reliable? Are there any problems with it? Anything that might make it bad as a used rig? And do you think that sounds like a good price? I know it goes for $350 or so new in the stores. My e-mail address is jbhertzberg@amherst.edu or jbhertzb@unix.amherst.edu Thanks and 73. Maybe I'll meet you on the air, sometime. ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 31 Mar 1994 00:43:45 GMT From: ihnp4.ucsd.edu!swrinde!gatech!wa4mei!ke4zv!gary@network.ucsd.edu To: ham-equip@ucsd.edu References <1994Mar26.201156.9246@arrl.org>, <1994Mar29.160241.20722@ke4zv.atl.ga.us>, <1994Mar30.150833.7038@arrl.org> Reply-To : gary@ke4zv.atl.ga.us (Gary Coffman) Subject : Re: RF and AF speech processors. Was: FT-990 vs TS-850 In article <1994Mar30.150833.7038@arrl.org> zlau@arrl.org (Zack Lau (KH6CP)) writes: >Gary Coffman (gary@ke4zv.atl.ga.us) wrote: > >: Apples and oranges. The phasing SSB exciter is using an audio >: *phase shift network*, the filter exciter is using a RF filter. >: Now the AF phasing network may be considered a sort of filter, >: but that's not it's designed purpose, and for sure it's not a >: 3 kHz bandpass response. Instead it has to maintain a constant >: 90 degree phase shift across multiple octaves. That's tougher. > >Actually, what I was writing about was Gary's misconception that >phase distortion is somehow much easier to deal with if you >move the center frequency higher. Its actually tougher--just try >and build a crystal frequency with good phase characteristics >and a good shape factor. (Or, try and buy one...) Of course, it >is true that you need an audio filter for a phasing exciter, as >there are limits to how broad you can make the phase shift network. >Fortunately, there is no requirement to transmit 60 Hz hum with >perfect fidelity. > >I would agree that it isn't necessary for a phasing rig to have low >phase and amplitude distortion--I'm sure that someone could work >*really* hard and come up with one that sounded awful and still >managed to reject the opposite sideband. > The dark side of DSP? :-) >But, in practice, the easiest way to make one to work well is >to just go ahead and design for low distortion. Well if you look at the table Tom posted, you'll see that even a matrix network audio phase shifter (published in the ARRL Handbook) has lousy phase response at the edges too, and a simple first order network is worse. The Dome networks and B&W networks used in older designs were even worse. Now compare that to the phase response of a Collins mechanical filter. Except at the *edges* it's phase response is flatter. And as you noted, we can cut off the edges with a pre-filter in either case. Bill Orr notes in his Radio Handbook that while 60 db opposite sideband rejection is easy with a filter, it's difficult to do as well as 40 db with a phasing network because of balance problems, especially near the edges, which shows up as *distortion product aliases in the passband*. >FWIW, one of the fanatical AM types showed off his phasing >receiver at Deerfield NH a few years ago... Guess he didn't >notice the distortion Gary is worried about. Come to think >of it, I don't recall hearing complaints about the Sony >2010's audio quality, which also uses audio phase shift >networks. (go through the archives of the shortwave newsgroup?) Better still consult the Hi Fi magazines. The Sony 2010, and a few other AM receivers, have been *panned* for their poor implementation of synchronous detection. Differential phase distortion is a hot topic with the high end folks now, probably because they've licked almost all the other problems. In rec.radio.shortwave the 2010 was panned because it's synchronous detector isn't really synchronous. It's actually a form of ISB instead of correlating upper and lower sidebands as a true sync detector does. 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 Ham-Equip Digest V94 #89 ****************************** ******************************