Date: Thu, 11 Nov 93 10:00:51 PST From: Info-Hams Mailing List and Newsgroup Errors-To: Info-Hams-Errors@UCSD.Edu Reply-To: Info-Hams@UCSD.Edu Precedence: Bulk Subject: Info-Hams Digest V93 #1336 To: Info-Hams Info-Hams Digest Thu, 11 Nov 93 Volume 93 : Issue 1336 Today's Topics: Antenna Restrictions -- again! (2 msgs) Domestic QSL Strategies Fun with Radio Shack H. J. Res 199 - Does anyone know what it is? Looking for GD0SLY card Modify a TV antenna? Multiple YAGIS on mast NAFTA DEBATE Need Scout Jamboree information question about Rohn 25 tower sections Tuning CW ?? 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 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: Wed, 10 Nov 1993 19:22:13 GMT From: news.cerf.net!pagesat!olivea!spool.mu.edu!howland.reston.ans.net!europa.eng.gtefsd.com!library.ucla.edu!csulb.edu!csus.edu!netcom.com!greg@network.ucsd.edu Subject: Antenna Restrictions -- again! To: info-hams@ucsd.edu In article <1993Nov10.170617.17372@sequent.com> dale@sequent.com (Dale Mosby) writes: >btoback@netcom.com (Bruce Toback) writes: > >>I'm considering buying a home in a PUD (planned-unit development) that has >>a deed restriction on antennas. (The restriction is part of the CC&Rs.) >>The antenna restriction forbids _any_ antenna that is higher than the >>roofline of the house. >.... etc > >I suggest you get permission to put up whatever antenna >you want BEFORE you purchase the house. You could even put >in the purchase agreement something along the lines of >"purchase offer contingent on receiving permission from xyz >homeowners board to put up a Cushcraft A3S amateur radio >antenna on 35 feet of Rhon 25 tower". (See a lawyer about >the exact wording you want.) > >You need to go after the board members that make this >decision, not the homeowners in general. Getting this >in the purchase agreement gives the present owner some >incentive to assist in getting permission. > It's a good idea, but having both sold a home and sat on a board of directors, I (and presumably my attorney) would probably reserve the right to keep showing the home and entertaining other offers in the mean time. Knowing that boards move slowly, I wouldn't be willing to put yet another obstacle in the way of the sale. Greg ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 9 Nov 1993 23:50:49 GMT From: pacbell.com!amdahl!netcomsv!netcom.com!btoback@decwrl.dec.com Subject: Antenna Restrictions -- again! To: info-hams@ucsd.edu I'm considering buying a home in a PUD (planned-unit development) that has a deed restriction on antennas. (The restriction is part of the CC&Rs.) The antenna restriction forbids _any_ antenna that is higher than the roofline of the house. I'd normally assume that I'd be out of luck, but for one thing: about half the houses in the development do have TV antennas that are above the roofline -- on masts, etc. The homeowners association appears to be alive and well, since the common facilities are properly maintained. Since the CC&Rs don't differentiate among types of antennas, and since a bunch of houses have antennas that are clearly in violation of the CC&Rs, how does that affect my ability to put up a ham antenna? Obviously, I could put up a TV-style antenna and nobody would know the difference. But I'd like to put up an HF beam, and ideally, I'd like it to be tall enough to be useful. So, two questions: first, has anyone run into this situation -- of unenforced antenna restrictions, at least before the appearance of a ham antenna? Second, has anyone tried the much more risky scenario of trying to get permission rather than forgiveness? I could send a letter to all members of the homeowners association before I actually bought the house telling them of my intentions and seeing if anyone complains. I could even send them all certified mail, return receipt requested, but that would almost certainly scare a bunch of people into saying "I object!" on general principles. If you've tried the permission scenario, how did you go about it? Thanks, -- Bruce Toback KN6MN (P.S.: CC&R = Covenants, conditions, and restrictions.) ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 10 Nov 1993 00:22:03 GMT From: news.kpc.com!amd!netcomsv!netcom.com!btoback@decwrl.dec.com Subject: Domestic QSL Strategies To: info-hams@ucsd.edu In article Charles.R.Hohenstein.1@nd.edu (Charles R. Hohenstein) writes: > Wayne Green claims that many people in the call book are >actually dead, not merely relocated. Making some very gross generalizations, the 10-year license term means that approximately 6% of the hams listed in the Callbook are dead. How many surviving next-of-kin actually think to tell the FCC that the owner of a given call no longer needs it? Of course, once the Health Security Plan is enacted, the FCC will simply monitor the new National Health Records System (Title V), so the problem will go away. :-( -- Bruce Toback ------------------------------ Date: 10 Nov 93 12:38:57 GMT From: library.ucla.edu!agate!spool.mu.edu!olivea!sgigate.sgi.com!sgiblab!bridge2!rental!peter@network.ucsd.edu Subject: Fun with Radio Shack To: info-hams@ucsd.edu I went in to my local "shack" yesterday, to buy a pair of F barrel connectors. The guy rang up my order, asked me for the customary four digits (I always use my work phone number and address), called me by name once he found I was in his data base, and.... ...asked me if I had one of their new catalogs! I answered, "Noooo..." (wondering if it would cost me). He typed in some part number or other and I was watching very carefully to see if the total increased by $3. It didn't! He did tear out the $3 coupon. Now, maybe it's just this guy, or maybe the Shack is beginning to think that the $3 catalog wasn't such a good idea. I don't buy the argument that a lot of the catalogs used to go in the trash. It used to be that the stores got one shipment, and they handed those out only on request. They don't mail them out...at least, they never mailed me one. I suspect the guys behind the counter wouldn't give them out like candy, since they know they only have a limited number for the whole year. Cheers, Peter (who thinks the Shack isn't such a bad place) --- ================================================================= Peter Simpson, KA1AXY Peter_Simpson@3com.com 3Com Corporation (508) 836 1719 71 Lyman Street Northboro, MA 01532 #include Linux = *free!* Unix for 386 ================================================================= ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 9 Nov 1993 02:54:41 GMT From: pacbell.com!amdahl!netcomsv!netcom.com!tweek@network.ucsd.edu Subject: H. J. Res 199 - Does anyone know what it is? To: info-hams@ucsd.edu I just received a letter in the mail today from my US Representative. I assume that he got my name from other than the Ham Callsign database since it was addressed to me WITH my middle name included... my ticket only carries the initial "D". The Representative who sent it is Bill Baker, 10th District, CA and he serves on the following committees: - Committee on Public Works and Transportation subs: - Economic Development - Investigations and Oversight - Surface Transportation - Committee on Science, Space and Technology - Energy - Republican Research Committee Health Care Task Force - Vice Chairman - Illegal Immigration Task Force The letter went: -------------------------------------------------------------- November 2, 1993 I understand the important role that amateur radio operators play in our society and would like to let you know that I have cosponsored legislation protectiong and enhancing amateur radio. Recently, we have seen amateur radio operators play vital roles during life-threatening natural disasters such as Hurricanes Hugo and Andrew, the Loma Prieta earthquake, the eruption of Mt. St. Hellens, and the California wildfires. We must ensure that the government's thirst for regulation and control does not interfere with the unique role amateur radio operators play in our society. I have cosponsored H.J.Res 199 which seeks to ensure that the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) does not interfere with amateur radio. Specifically, the bill finds that the FCC should make reasonable accommodation for the effective operation of amateur radio from residences, private vehicles, and public areas. It also calls upon the FCC to enhance the development of amateur radio by developing rules and regulations that encourage the use of new technologies within the amateur radio service. I hope this legislation will help ensure that the federal government does not unduly interfere with amateur radio operators. Please let me know if I can be of any assistance in the future. Sincerely s/Bill Bill Baker Member of Congress ---------------------------------------------------------------- So, what is known of this Resolution? Forgive me if it was mentioned already in either of these two newsgroups... I scanned the subjects of all 1500+ articles in the spool, and nothing seemed to mention it... I did NOT scan the articles... as a grep for 199 would present EVERY article with a date of 1993 in it... sigh.... What two committies are involved? I assume H.J. refers to House Joint... I would suspect the Science, Space, and Technology committee for one... is the other one a Senate committee... or another house committee? tweek@netcom.com tweek@tweekco.uucp WWIVNet 1@511 DoD #MCMLX N6QYA I'd rather get my cable service from the phone company, than my phone service from the cable company. ------------------------------ Date: 11 Nov 93 15:10:07 GMT From: ogicse!emory!europa.eng.gtefsd.com!news.umbc.edu!haven.umd.edu!cville-srv.wam.umd.edu!ham@network.ucsd.edu Subject: Looking for GD0SLY card To: info-hams@ucsd.edu I worked GD0SLY some time last year, and have yet to find the way to get a card. Anyone gotten a card who can tell me what to do? Thanks! -- 73, _________ _________ The \ / Long Original Scott Rosenfeld Amateur Radio NF3I Burtonsville, MD | Live $5.00 WAC-CW/SSB WAS DXCC - 109 QSLed on dipoles __________| Dipoles! Antenna! ------------------------------ Date: 10 Nov 93 04:08:42 GMT From: sdd.hp.com!portal!156!jbruni@hplabs.hp.com Subject: Modify a TV antenna? To: info-hams@ucsd.edu Is it possible to modify a standard TV antenna (coax) to handle 2 meter xmit/rcv? I assume this would require a balun at the least... (__) jbruni@sfe.com (@@) a.k.a.: "Cowboy Buddha" /---------\/ "Rocky" / | || San Francisco Engineering, Inc. * ||-----|| Non-disclaimer: As a matter of fact I _do_ speak for the (3.14) ~~ ~~ company! ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 11 Nov 1993 16:21:53 GMT From: sdd.hp.com!cs.utexas.edu!howland.reston.ans.net!vixen.cso.uiuc.edu!uchinews!cdsmail!bml4380.cpg.cdc.com!molson@network.ucsd.edu Subject: Multiple YAGIS on mast To: info-hams@ucsd.edu I've got a 2m and a 70cm Yagi on the same mast, both vertically polarized. I originally had them spaced ~15cm apart, and found that while the 2m had acceptable SWR, the 70cm had > 2:1 SWR at the frequencies I wanted to use. After fiddling around with the gamma match I found that no amount of tuning would reduce the SWR. So, I moved the antennas further apart, about 30cm, and now the SWR ranges between 1.5:1 and 1.9:1. I still have a feeling that the antennas are too close together. As I see it, I have two options: mount the antennas crosswise on the mast, which is undesirable, because I want them both pointing in the same direction, or to increase the spacing. This will cause me to use a longer mast or to have one antenna fairly close to the rotor, which might cause more problems. My question: is there a general rule of thumb for yagi separation distance, or is what I am doing a no-no? Thanks in advance for the advice, Mark Olson AA0MH ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 9 Nov 1993 20:05:00 GMT From: mentor.cc.purdue.edu!mace.cc.purdue.edu!bap@purdue.edu Subject: NAFTA DEBATE To: info-hams@ucsd.edu do any readers of this group know where on the radio the NAFTA will be tonight? ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 10 Nov 1993 20:40:10 GMT From: news.cerf.net!pagesat!olivea!spool.mu.edu!sdd.hp.com!news.cs.indiana.edu!noose.ecn.purdue.edu!dynamo.ecn.purdue.edu!miller@network.ucsd.edu Subject: Need Scout Jamboree information To: info-hams@ucsd.edu HELP! I need some statistics on the Amateur Radio Special Event Station run by K2BSA at the National Jamboree earlier this year. The big questions are: How many radios, how many bands, and how many contacts. The motivation is that I am writing a letter to the National Office of the Order of the Arrow to get permission to set up a Special Event Station here at Purdue during the National Order of the Arrow Conference next summer. I would like to be able to quote the statistics from the Jamboree to help support the idea. Thanks in advance, Tim ============================================================================== Tim Miller Manager Solid State Materials and Devices Laboratories Purdue University School of Electrical Engineering ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Internet: miller@ecn.purdue.edu AMPRnet: n9dki@w9yb.in.usa.na ============================================================================== ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 09 Nov 1993 19:41:56 GMT From: yuma!galen@purdue.edu Subject: question about Rohn 25 tower sections To: info-hams@ucsd.edu In article <9311091428.AA24964@wa2cjt.wellfleet> ginsburg@wellfleet.COM (Scott Ginsburg) writes: > >I have the opportunity to pick up 4 10 ft sections of Rohn 25 tower for $100. >They're 25 years old, and have been sitting in a garage for the last >18 years. They spent the first 7 years in a free-standing configuration, >no house brackets, no guys. The seller told me the tower has had 2 men >on top with no problem, and it lived through 2 hurricanes during the 7 >years. >My questions are: > 1. What are the chances that the bottom section, or any other > sections were weakened enough over 7 years to yield the tower > unsafe given the lack of secure installation? Sight along the side of each section to see how straight it is, considering the hurricanes. > > 2. What signs can I look for that will indicate damage? Tap along the whole length of each leg and listen to the sound. A clear ring indicates the metal is probably OK. Any dead spots indicate rust/corrosion and a structurally weak section. >Some hints received via my local 2-mtr repeater: > 1. Rohn suggests 30 ft max for free-standing so 40 ft might > be OK, call Rohn (which I plan on doing). > 2. Look for egg shaped bolt holes. > 3. Look for twisting. > Scott, WA2CJT Good ideas. Use guys generously and do the sighting mentioned below 1. I put up a used 25G, 30 Ft high, was about 7 years old when I got it, but I live in Colo, where we don't have as much moisture. I plan to go to 60 Ft, usin guys at 30 and 55 ft. It's attached with a house bracket to my separate garage. Holds up a TH-3, 2m 3ele. Quad, 3ele 6m yagi and a 440 corner reflector. Be careful, Galen, KF0YJ ------------------------------ Date: 11 Nov 93 08:22:03 GMT From: ogicse!emory!kd4nc!ke4zv!gary@network.ucsd.edu Subject: Tuning CW ?? To: info-hams@ucsd.edu In article <2bs090$3k0@explorer.clark.net> jaevans@clark.net (John A. Evans) writes: > Any suggestions out there on how I can further discriminate the station >frequency?? Just a question to stir the pot and generate discussion >(before I get my antenna tuned up for my first ever contact (CW on 80M). Well the narrow filter will normally be setup at 700-800 Hz above the indicated frequency. So you'll be tuned properly when the signal is of this pitch. If you build a 750 Hz oscillator, you can match pitches, either by ear or with a scope setup XY. This will allow you to tune very accurately. Gary -- Gary Coffman KE4ZV |"If 10% is good enough | gatech!wa4mei!ke4zv!gary Destructive Testing Systems | for Jesus, it's good | uunet!rsiatl!ke4zv!gary 534 Shannon Way | enough for Uncle Sam."| emory!kd4nc!ke4zv!gary Lawrenceville, GA 30244 | -Ray Stevens | ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 10 Nov 93 09:37:02 GMT From: library.ucla.edu!europa.eng.gtefsd.com!howland.reston.ans.net!pipex!uknet!uos-ee!ee.surrey.ac.uk!M.Willis@network.ucsd.edu To: info-hams@ucsd.edu References <9311062324.AA18697@dorsai.dorsai.org>, <1993Nov9.091256.26001@ee.surrey.ac.uk>, <2bp3u4INNsu3@nbc.ksu.ksu.edu>c Subject : Re: Amateur Radio Newsline #847 In article <2bp3u4INNsu3@nbc.ksu.ksu.edu>, cbr600@nbc.ksu.ksu.edu (Jeremy L. Utley) writes: |> In article <1993Nov9.091256.26001@ee.surrey.ac.uk> M.Willis@ee.surrey.ac.uk (Mike Willis) writes: |> >In article <9311062324.AA18697@dorsai.dorsai.org>, Steve Coletti writes: |> >|> The electronic edition of Amateur Radio Newsline is transcribed from source |> >|> material by Dale Cary. Newsline is reprinted here courtesy of Bill |> >|> Pasternak, WA6ITF, Editor of Newsline. Editorial comment should be |> >|> E-mailed to newsline@mcimail.com or B.PASTERNAK@genie.geis.com. Voice or |> >|> FAX to +1 805-296-7180. |> >|> |> >|> NEWSLINE RADIO - CBBS EDITION #97 - POSTED 11/05/93 |> >|> |> >What 11th May ! This is old stuff, why post it now in November? |> > |> >Mike |> |> Mike - |> |> Here in the United States, we put the Month before the date, so this |> date indicates November 5, 1993. |> no surely not, it is not logical, ascending order or decending order i.e. DDMMYY or YYMMDD but MMDDYY, no. Now I would accept MMDD or DDMM with no year but not MMDDYY. Perhaps 5 November or even November 5 would be sensible. Mike ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 9 Nov 1993 23:59:46 GMT From: news.kpc.com!amd!netcomsv!netcom.com!phr@decwrl.dec.com To: info-hams@ucsd.edu References <8NOV199313080974@zeus.tamu.edu>, <931108.79382.GREGL@delphi.com>, <1993Nov9.141925.17444@ke4zv.atl.ga.us>v Subject : Bay area 440 repeater? After a few months absence I'm back on the air a little bit with a 440 MHz HT, currently in San Jose. I mostly use the thing for simplex communication but sometimes use a few of the local repeaters for longer range. I'm interested in joining a repeater club in order to help support a machine and also to be able to make the occasional autopatch phone call while mobile (not often enough to make a cell phone worthwhile). Anyone got any suggestions? The repeater should have good coverage of the south and east Bay areas including Berkeley (several of the Los Gatos machines qualify), have autopatch, and have dues that are not too high. Also, it should be an open machine. I would be willing to put a little (not much) time into equipment maintenance, programming, etc. if that helped, and would generally be a very light-duty user. Surprisingly, this info of thing doesn't come up very often on the air. Thanks/73, Paul Rubin WA2QYN/6 ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 11 Nov 1993 15:22:13 GMT From: pacbell.com!amdahl!netcomsv!netcom.com!greg@ames.arpa To: info-hams@ucsd.edu References <1993Nov10.053243.23523@osuunx.ucc.okstate.edu>, , <1993Nov10.221156.1300@VFL.Paramax.COM>sv Subject : Re: RF in the shack (was Re: 80m on 20m dipole) In article <1993Nov10.221156.1300@VFL.Paramax.COM> rossi@VFL.Paramax.COM (Pete Rossi) writes: > >This is all with a tube transmitter so it is not any kind of high SWR power >fold back kicking in. Runing same power in both parts of the band. I can't >explain it. You would think that any feedline radiation, etc, would be >worse if the SWR was higher. > >I was thinking of adding a balun but I am not convinced that it will do >much good. Any Ideas? A simple expedient is to get a length of coax (say 30 feet) and make a coil about 9" in diameter of it. Put it in the feed-line just after it enters the shack. Often works wonders. Greg ------------------------------ Date: 11 Nov 93 08:18:02 GMT From: ogicse!emory!kd4nc!ke4zv!gary@network.ucsd.edu To: info-hams@ucsd.edu References <2bmn9j$d0q@oak.oakland.edu>, <1993Nov9.145034.17948@ke4zv.atl.ga.us>, <2bs1fa$t7q@oak.oakland.edu> Reply-To : gary@ke4zv.UUCP (Gary Coffman) Subject : Re: How Sensitive Are Front-Ends? In article <2bs1fa$t7q@oak.oakland.edu> sdkuo@argo.acs.oakland.edu writes: >In article <1993Nov9.145034.17948@ke4zv.atl.ga.us>, gary@ke4zv.atl.ga.us (Gary Coffman) writes: >>I run 2 meters, 70 cm, and cellphone in my truck. I use a Comet >>triplexer and a Comet dualband antenna. It's worked fine, but >>... >>Note that I'm using a dualband antenna for three bands. That's >>not ideal, but it seems to perform well with the cellphone. >>Comet does make a triband antenna, but it's a good bit taller. > >Your TXing with your cellular on a dualband antenna? I should try >using my 144/440/900MHz triband antenna with cellular (very high >gain on 900). Cellular TXs around 823-850, will using a 902-928 >antenna damage my cellphone? It's been my experience that you can use your cellphone even with an open or shorted coax without damage, though not with very good performance of course. These things seem to expect poor antennas, after all, most people use those abominable thru the glass antennas. Gary -- Gary Coffman KE4ZV |"If 10% is good enough | gatech!wa4mei!ke4zv!gary Destructive Testing Systems | for Jesus, it's good | uunet!rsiatl!ke4zv!gary 534 Shannon Way | enough for Uncle Sam."| emory!kd4nc!ke4zv!gary Lawrenceville, GA 30244 | -Ray Stevens | ------------------------------ End of Info-Hams Digest V93 #1336 ****************************** ******************************