Date: Tue, 30 Nov 93 10:30:20 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 #1406 To: Info-Hams Info-Hams Digest Tue, 30 Nov 93 Volume 93 : Issue 1406 Today's Topics: DSP units (2 msgs) EJASA: SETI Information Source expensive? FT530 receiver problems?? ICOM 2SRA headset/vox MCW with an HTX-202??? Need Jan '78 Ham Radio magazine Odd Static Observed UHF Repeater: Hi Pro Mk I Service/Manual? using a radio off frequency in emergencies W5YI's coverage of "temporary callsigns" 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: 30 Nov 93 11:06:04 GMT From: ddsw1!indep1!clifto@uunet.uu.net Subject: DSP units To: info-hams@ucsd.edu In article <1993Nov29.210113.8647@merlin.dev.cdx.mot.com> davidk@merlin.dev.cdx.mot.com (David Kirkpatrick) writes: >With sentence structure like this your asking someone to be clear ?? ^^^^^ ^^^ With punctuation and grammar like this, you're complaining about someone's sentence structure? -- +------------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | Cliff Sharp | clifto@indep1.chi.il.us OR clifto@indep1.uucp | | WA9PDM | Use whichever one works | +------------------------------------------------------------------------------+ ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 29 Nov 1993 21:01:13 GMT From: ftpbox!mothost!merlin.dev.cdx.mot.com!davidk@uunet.uu.net Subject: DSP units To: info-hams@ucsd.edu With sentence structure like this your asking someone to be clear ?? ------------------------------ Date: 29 NOV 93 18:01:30 EST From: pa.dec.com!nntpd.lkg.dec.com!verga.enet.dec.com!klaes@decwrl.dec.com Subject: EJASA: SETI Information Source To: info-hams@ucsd.edu EJASA: SETI Information Source I am Larry Klaes, Editor of the Electronic Journal of the Astronomical Society of the Atlantic (EJASA), a position I have held since the founding of the EJASA in August of 1989. The EJASA is published by the Astronomical Society of the Atlantic, Incorporated. The ASA is a non-profit organization dedicated to the advancement of amateur and professional astronomy and space exploration, as well as the social and educational needs of its members. The EJASA is a place for those on the Internet to publish their works on the field. The EJASA is published monthly and posted on the USENET astronomy and space newsgroups. Numerous articles in the EJASA have been devoted to SETI and its related fields. Included among them is the original six-part paper by Dr. Stuart Kingsley of Columbus, Ohio on his work with Optical SETI in the January 1992 issue. Dr. Kingsley was profiled in the Summer 1993 issue of The Planetary Society's Bioastronomy News publication and spoke at the recent Bioastronomy Conference in Santa Cruz, CA. Robert Dixon, head of Earth's longest-running SETI program located at Ohio State University, contributed an article on the project's history in the June 1992 issue of the EJASA. The December issue will feature a SETI article by Guillermo A. Lemarchand from the University of Buenos Aires, Argentina. The complete list of current SETI articles in the EJASA follows this paragraph. All are available either from me or the ASA anonymous FTP site at chara.gsu.edu (131.96.5.29). "Does Extraterrestrial Life Exist?", by Angie Feazel - November 1989 "Suggestions for an Intragalactic Information Exchange System", by Lars W. Holm - November 1989 "Radio Astronomy: A Historical Perspective", by David J. Babulski - February 1990 "Getting Started in Amateur Radio Astronomy", by Jeffrey M. Lichtman - February 1990 "A Comparison of Optical and Radio Astronomy", by David J. Babulski - June 1990 "The Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI) in the Optical Spectrum, Parts A-F", by Dr. Stuart A. Kingsley - January 1992 "History of the Ohio SETI Program", by Robert S. Dixon - June 1992 "New Ears on the Sky: The NASA SETI Microwave Observing Project", by Bob Arnold, the ARC, and JPL SETI Project - July 1992 "First International Conference on Optical SETI", by Dr. Stuart A. Kingsley - October 1992 "Conference Preview: The Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI) in the Optical Spectrum", by Dr. Stuart A. Kingsley - January 1993 I will make available upon request the complete list of EJASA back issues. I will be glad to send on-line copies of any issues to those who wish to see them. Readers are also welcome to submit papers on astronomy and space exploration for publication in the EJASA. Regards, Larry Klaes klaes@verga.enet.dec.com or - ...!decwrl!verga.enet.dec.com!klaes or - klaes%verga.dec@decwrl.enet.dec.com or - klaes%verga.enet.dec.com@uunet.uu.net EJASA Editor, Astronomical Society of the Atlantic "When we try to pick out anything by itself, we find it hitched to everything else in the Universe." - John Muir ------------------------------ Date: 30 Nov 93 15:36:13 GMT From: ogicse!emory!kd4nc!ke4zv!gary@network.ucsd.edu Subject: expensive? To: info-hams@ucsd.edu In article aj467@Freenet.carleton.ca (Bill Macpherson) writes: > >I should have responded the first time ................. Bill > >>I was SHOCKED to see that the mainstay computer in packet >>was the commodore 64. I have one, collecting dusting my basement for >>years. > >I don't know why you're shocked to see the C=64 as a mainstay in Packet. >There is no need for wizz-bang horsepower, just to print little characters >to the screen. Indeed, an even cheaper approach is to use a dumb terminal or ASR33 to work with the *Terminal* Node Controller since you don't have to tie up a TV set too, if all you need is to print little characters on a screen or paper. Of course if you want to take advantage of the more general features of packet, such as file and Email transfer, and if you want to take advantage of higher speeds, you'll dump the *Terminal* Node Controller and the clunky old display technology and adapt a DMA digital interface card in a more modern bus oriented computer running some competent networking software. >In fact it was innovation by some programmers in Germany >that brought us the Baycom TNC. If this isn't an application of high tech >( relatively speaking ) what is. It may be old, and not the latest technology, >but that in itself doesn't make it useless. If you want all the latest " >Bells and Whistles " Ham Radio can be expensive. If you want what works, and >are willing to expend some effort and/or elbow grease, Ham Radio can be >quite reasonable, while still being innovative. Baycom is a neat hack, though I wouldn't call it high tech, and it doesn't require a C64, IBM compatables work too. But it is a low speed solution oriented to squelched FM radios, and one that excessively ties up your computing resources counting zero crossings. It's satisfactory for the trivial terminal to terminal chat function on an otherwise unused computer, but that's a small part of what packet is capable of doing. Gary -- Gary Coffman KE4ZV | Where my job's going, | gatech!wa4mei!ke4zv!gary Destructive Testing Systems | I don't know. It might | uunet!rsiatl!ke4zv!gary 534 Shannon Way | wind up in Mexico. | emory!kd4nc!ke4zv!gary Lawrenceville, GA 30244 | -NAFTA Blues | ------------------------------ Date: 30 Nov 93 14:50:18 GMT From: ogicse!emory!kd4nc!ke4zv!gary@network.ucsd.edu Subject: FT530 receiver problems?? To: info-hams@ucsd.edu In article <2d95ndINNbvk@abc.ksu.ksu.edu> cbr600@abc.ksu.ksu.edu (Jeremy L. Utley) writes: >In article <2cges6$agf@eis.ctp.org> sadams@temp.ctp.org (Steven Adams) writes: >>I have noticed that my FT530 receives some of our local repeaters when it >>is tuned slightly off of the known freq. For example the 145.23 may come >>in a little better at 145.225 and 145.235. Any ideas?? > >This is because of the wide bandwidth of FM transmissions (I believe). Because >FM transmissions take up so much bandwidth, the transmissions can be heard >slightly off-frequency. Well there's a little more than that going on since he said he received signals *better* when tuned off frequency. One plausible explanation that's linked to the bandwidth of FM transmissions for what you're experiencing could be that the signals you are monitoring are *wider* than the amateur normal 5 kHz deviation. In that case, the narrow bandwidth (relatively) of your receiver won't detect them properly. By tuning off, you can slope detect one sideband of the signal and receive it clearer. This effect is very evident if you try to listen to an FM broadcast channel with a NBFM receiver. Some repeater operators mistakenly overdeviate their transmitters following the "all knobs to the right" philosophy. It doesn't work well with narrow receivers. This overdeviation is a chronic problem on packet where the higher frequency components of the signal carry the information. Gary -- Gary Coffman KE4ZV | Where my job's going, | gatech!wa4mei!ke4zv!gary Destructive Testing Systems | I don't know. It might | uunet!rsiatl!ke4zv!gary 534 Shannon Way | wind up in Mexico. | emory!kd4nc!ke4zv!gary Lawrenceville, GA 30244 | -NAFTA Blues | ------------------------------ Date: 30 Nov 93 16:17:55 GMT From: news-mail-gateway@ucsd.edu Subject: ICOM 2SRA headset/vox To: info-hams@ucsd.edu Netlanders: I have an ICOM 2SRA and would like to integrate a older ICOM VOX/Headset combination into the newer radio. I'm looking for anyone with experience regarding integration of the ICOM HS-10SA/HS-10 combination into this radio OR with information for the HS60, which is the unit that is produced to be used with the 2SRA. Any information would be appreciated. Direct mail is best..... 73s.....Troy ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- | Troy T. Pummill, N6XMV | trop@hls.com | | Manager, Applications Eng. | ...uunet!lanslide.hls.com!trop | | Hughes LAN Systems | | | (415) 966-7915 | 1225 Charleston Rd., Silicon Gulch | | Mountain View, CA 94043 | The preceding drivel is entirely my own!| ------------------------------------ ---------------------------------------- Invisible airwaves crackle with life, bright antennae bristle with the energy Emotional feedback on timeless wavelength, bearing a gift beyond price.... Almost free. "Spirit of Radio" - Rush ------------------------------ Date: 30 Nov 93 14:59:16 GMT From: ogicse!emory!kd4nc!ke4zv!gary@network.ucsd.edu Subject: MCW with an HTX-202??? To: info-hams@ucsd.edu In article <1993Nov29.005717.26748@icaen.uiowa.edu> drenze@icaen.uiowa.edu (Douglas J Renze) writes: >I have a radio shack htx-202. I'm interested in netting with some other >locals trying to up our code-speed via 2-meter MCW (until I get my HF rig >on the air). Question: How could I do MCW with it? I'd prefer to use >something which would key the transmitter semi-QSK-wise when I hit the code >key--know what I mean? Some keyers used to have this feature built in. An old TO style keyer I had used a separate PTT line that was activated prior to the first character. You can duplicate this by diode ORing the paddle contacts and feeding that trigger to a 555 used as a retriggerable one shot. You can adjust the delay from after the last paddle closure to PTT release to suit your sending style. If you're using a straight key, you can use a dual 555 package and make the second part the audio oscillator for your MCW. Since the HTX-202 uses the leaky mike PTT technique, the first 555 section would pull down a 3 kohm resistor hooked to mic in, and the second stage would capacitor couple the tone to the same point. You can slap this together on one of the Radio Shack proto boards in a few minutes. Gary -- Gary Coffman KE4ZV | Where my job's going, | gatech!wa4mei!ke4zv!gary Destructive Testing Systems | I don't know. It might | uunet!rsiatl!ke4zv!gary 534 Shannon Way | wind up in Mexico. | emory!kd4nc!ke4zv!gary Lawrenceville, GA 30244 | -NAFTA Blues | ------------------------------ Date: 30 Nov 93 15:12:21 GMT From: ogicse!news.tek.com!tekig7!gaulandm@network.ucsd.edu Subject: Need Jan '78 Ham Radio magazine To: info-hams@ucsd.edu I'm looking for an article from the January 1978 _Ham Radio_ magazine. If you can help, please e-mail me. Thanks, Mike -- Michael A. Gauland gaulandm@tekig7.PEN.TEK.COM AA7JF (503) 627-5067 ------------------------------ Date: 29 Nov 1993 14:46:23 GMT From: pacbell.com!sgiblab!sgigate.sgi.com!olivea!inews.intel.com!ilx018.intel.com!ilx049!dbraun@network.ucsd.edu Subject: Odd Static Observed To: info-hams@ucsd.edu I have noticed that power-line noise can vary a lot by frequency. For example, I had one of those cheapo 120-220 volt power converters, that generated tons of HF interference. Checking the amount of noise at different frequencies, I noticed that going from 10 to 12 MHz, the noise almost disappeared, and anywhere from 2 to 10 MHz it was loud. It may depend on the resonances of your antenna, power lines, etc. E.g. if a piece of house wiring resonates at a particular frequency, the noise may be a lot louder (or weaker) at that frequency. -- ------------------------------------------------------------------- Doug Braun Intel Israel, Ltd. M/S: IDC1-41 Tel: 011-972-4-655069 dbraun@inside.intel.com ------------------------------ Date: 30 Nov 93 11:15:50 EST From: titan.ksc.nasa.gov!titan.ksc.nasa.gov!nntp@ames.arpa Subject: UHF Repeater: Hi Pro Mk I Service/Manual? To: info-hams@ucsd.edu I'm looking for a manual for a Hi Pro UHF repeater or any similar models. Our local club recently acquired the repeater but no manual was available. Any help would be greatly appreciated. TNX 73 Tom AD4NA Titusvillle Amateur Radio Club (TARC) ------------------------------ Date: 30 Nov 93 11:19:55 EST From: library.ucla.edu!europa.eng.gtefsd.com!news.umbc.edu!eff!news.kei.com!world!ksr!jfw@network.ucsd.edu Subject: using a radio off frequency in emergencies To: info-hams@ucsd.edu prvalko@vela.acs.oakland.edu (prvalko) writes: >Steve, >In a real life and death situation, do YOU really care? >I'd be happy to pay a $10,000 fine, forfeit a rig or even a license if >it meant saving my family. In a sense, this is what it all really comes down to. But it turns out that the Communications Act of 1934 authorizes *anyone*, not just hams, to use any radio at their disposal in an emergency involving possible loss of life if normal means of communication are unavailable. However, you'll have to expect to prove that you had no realistic choice to a skeptical court (as well as to a Sherriff's department that would probably really like to keep the equipment they took even if they know darned well that they aren't entitled to it...). ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 30 Nov 1993 16:19:02 GMT From: library.ucla.edu!europa.eng.gtefsd.com!howland.reston.ans.net!vixen.cso.uiuc.edu!sdd.hp.com!hpscit.sc.hp.com!cupnews0.cup.hp.com!jholly@network.ucsd.edu Subject: W5YI's coverage of "temporary callsigns" To: info-hams@ucsd.edu It boogles my mind that people would oppose the 'instant' license proposal. This mechanisim exists in the marine band, and perhaps others. I can think of only two reasons this proposal is frowned on: 1. I had to sit around six long weeks waiting for my license, and by golly, you are going to wait too. 2. That is what they use to do in CB, and by golly, we are better than CB. I personally can not see one reason for not adopting the proposal. Currently we allow instant access to new privileges on upgrading, why not access to the privileges when first obtaining a license? Jim, WA6SDM jholly@cup.hp.com ------------------------------ Date: 30 Nov 93 12:18:51 GMT From: munnari.oz.au!metro!news.ci.com.au!eram!dave@network.ucsd.edu To: info-hams@ucsd.edu References <1993Nov26.200816.19512@combdyn.com>, <754583670.19snx@mu.apana.org.au>, Subject : Re: Calculating SWR In article , galen@picea.CFNR.ColoState.EDU (Galen Watts) writes: | >I am not trying to be mean, but did you sit a radio theory test for your | >amateur license ? | | Yes, he did. SWR formulae are not on amateur tests in America. Notwithstanding the fact that I distinctly remember seeing that formula on my own exam (in Australia) and no doubt getting it wrong, don't they teach you to look up a reference book over there? This is getting to be like sci.electronics; can anyone tell me what the pinout of a 555 is? -- Dave Horsfall (VK2KFU) VK2KFU @ VK2RWI.NSW.AUS.OC PGP 2.3 dave@esi.COM.AU ...munnari!esi.COM.AU!dave available ------------------------------ Date: 30 Nov 93 14:39:38 GMT From: ogicse!emory!kd4nc!ke4zv!gary@network.ucsd.edu To: info-hams@ucsd.edu References <1993Nov24.000437.11069@cnsvax.uwec.edu>, <1993Nov27, Reply-To : gary@ke4zv.atl.ga.us (Gary Coffman) Subject : Re: Miss Manners in the Novice Sub-bands? G's silliness. In article aj467@Freenet.carleton.ca (Bill Macpherson) writes: > >>>You could verbally *spell* the words to the person and their language centers >>>would be active too, but that doesn't mean that spelling is a language. >>>It's the natural language *words* being spelled that are units of language >>>(when coupled with grammatical structure). Stepping back one level further >>>to an aural encoding of the alphabet used to spell words, Morse is certainly >>>even further divorced from language. > >Since language inherently includes Spelling, and Grammar. Language does not inherently include Spelling, though grammar is an inherent part of language. Many languages include no written form, and some that do, such as Chinese, use pictographic representations of words and/or ideas rather than the alphabetic spellings that are used with most European languages. And you can't make a case that Morse has a grammar separate from the natural language alphabetic spellings that it encodes. >There are perforce a number of Morse dialects in the English Speaking World. >Further, since grammar is a function of the Native Language, Japanese, >Chinese, French, German, Dutch, etc. have a different sense of Grammar. >Therefore Morse is not a Universal Language, but rather a Family of semi >transportable languages. Morse, like ASCII, is merely an alphabetic encoding that can be *used* to convey information in a natural language that has alphabetic spelling in it's written form. It's not a language itself since it has no words or grammatical structure of it's own. Gary -- Gary Coffman KE4ZV | Where my job's going, | gatech!wa4mei!ke4zv!gary Destructive Testing Systems | I don't know. It might | uunet!rsiatl!ke4zv!gary 534 Shannon Way | wind up in Mexico. | emory!kd4nc!ke4zv!gary Lawrenceville, GA 30244 | -NAFTA Blues | ------------------------------ Date: 30 Nov 93 14:26:50 GMT From: ogicse!emory!kd4nc!ke4zv!gary@network.ucsd.edu To: info-hams@ucsd.edu References , <2d6k02$j7t@news.delphi.com>, <1993Nov27.152136.6227@gsm001.mendelson.com> Reply-To : gary@ke4zv.atl.ga.us (Gary Coffman) Subject : Re: 6 Meter Transceiver Advice ? ? ? In article <1993Nov27.152136.6227@gsm001.mendelson.com> gsmlrn@gsm001.mendelson.com (Geoffrey S. Mendelson) writes: > taylorjh@wmvx.dnet.dupont.com (John H. Taylor - K3ZKA) writes: > >>I am interested in getting a pair of used 6 meter transceivers for my > >>father (KD4BWR) and myself; he is a no-code tech and we will use them for > >>scheds. > >>Would like to know what would be a good, economical choice? > >>Six meter rigs are fairly rare, and usually sucked up quick at hamfests. >>One pretty good option is to get some commercial two-way radios, that were >>previously tuned on a frequency in the high end of the low-VHF range >>(40-50 MHz), and recrystal them and retune for the ham band. I've had >>lots of good succes with Motorola Motracs and others. > >Note that these are FM and therefore limited in range (except via repeaters). [SSB rig recomendations deleted] Don't believe this. Unless you are dealing with C/N ratios below 10 db, NBFM will do as well as SSB for distance, and will sound better because of the FM threshold effect. Only when the C/N drops below threshold values will SSB be markedly superior. If you intend to maintain a schedule, rather than exchanging 599s with some DX station you can barely hear, FM will do fine. As with any medium range VHF contact, you'll do better with horizontally polarized directional antennas than you will with low gain vertical omni antennas. FM has received an undeserved reputation as a short range only mode. It's not true. The reputation comes primarily from the different antennas normally used. Note also that the Motracs, Micrors, GE Exec IIs, and the like will usually be in the 100 watt range while many multimode rigs will only be 10 watts. And of course these FM rigs are also available cheaply from commercial surplus. The 10:1 power advantage, coupled with the FM threshold effect, will more than make up for the 6:1 bandwidth advantage of SSB. If you can afford high power SSB equipment, it will of course have the advantage at ultimate weak signal levels, but that's probably unimportant to you for maintaining schedules with your father since you'll likely want to exchange more than signal reports in order to add a postal card to your collection. Your objective will be a S/N ratio of 20 db or better for a communications quality link. You can get that with common FM equipment at a signal level of 0.5 uV. A SSB signal a that level will have a 12 db S/N at best with common multimode radios. (Note that antenna mounted GASFET preamps can improve both numbers.) Gary -- Gary Coffman KE4ZV | Where my job's going, | gatech!wa4mei!ke4zv!gary Destructive Testing Systems | I don't know. It might | uunet!rsiatl!ke4zv!gary 534 Shannon Way | wind up in Mexico. | emory!kd4nc!ke4zv!gary Lawrenceville, GA 30244 | -NAFTA Blues | ------------------------------ End of Info-Hams Digest V93 #1406 ****************************** ******************************