Date: Thu, 2 Dec 93 23:03:45 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 #1417 To: Info-Hams Info-Hams Digest Thu, 2 Dec 93 Volume 93 : Issue 1417 Today's Topics: FT530 receiver problems?? HAM-server index file LX1NW QSL info? Modem Software to Alert Pagers-SUMMARY (Long) money money money Soundblaster Software TS440 Xmit Hangup using a radio off frequency in emergencies (2 msgs) W5YI's coverage of "temporary callsigns" (2 msgs) 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: 1 Dec 1993 21:57:34 GMT From: ucsnews!newshub.sdsu.edu!usc!elroy.jpl.nasa.gov!swrinde!emory!news-feed-1.peachnet.edu!concert!dante.exide.com!marlins.exide.com!hammill@network.ucsd.edu Subject: FT530 receiver problems?? To: info-hams@ucsd.edu 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?? |> |> -- |> ____________________________________________________________________________ |> Steven Adams |> internet - sadams@ctp.org |> HAM - KD6KGJ |> Packet - KD6KGJ@n6qmy.#nocal.ca.usa.na |> I have had this problem. I believe that you have the AM detector turned on and you are slope detecting the FM signal from 5KHz off center. Try pressing the key sequence to get out of AM. Hope this helps! Good Luck, Brian - KD4BFJ -- ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Brian Hammill | Exide Electronics Small Systems Group brianh@exide.com | "Powering your network with intelligent solutions." ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------ Date: 3 Dec 1993 01:35:52 GMT From: darwin.sura.net!haven.umd.edu!news.umbc.edu!europa.eng.gtefsd.com!howland.reston.ans.net!noc.near.net!news.delphi.com!gilbaronw0mn@seismo.css.gov Subject: HAM-server index file To: info-hams@ucsd.edu >>Phooey on you Gil! I for one am glad to see the list of files. This >>ham-server is a gold mine of info - I've gotten so many goodies off That is what the index is for. Go and read the index yourself and then get what you need. Don't subject the rest of the network to this. It is not needed and waste time and space and LOTS of money. Gil Baron, El Baron Rojo, W0MN Rochester,MN "Bailar es Vivir" PGP2.X key at key servers or upon request ------------------------------ Date: 1 Dec 1993 22:02:36 GMT From: ucsnews!newshub.sdsu.edu!usc!howland.reston.ans.net!darwin.sura.net!haven.umd.edu!cville-srv.wam.umd.edu!ham@network.ucsd.edu Subject: LX1NW QSL info? To: info-hams@ucsd.edu I worked LX1NW in the CQ WW DX SSB contest about a month ago. Granted, he's got an address in the callbook, but does anybody know of a pos- sible QSL manager before I go and spend a buck and a half to get this card? Thanks all, -- 73, _________ _________ The \ / Long Original Scott Rosenfeld Amateur Radio NF3I Burtonsville, MD | Live $5.00 WAC-CW/SSB WAS DXCC - 115 QSLed on dipoles __________| Dipoles! Antenna! ------------------------------ Date: 1 Dec 1993 18:47:11 GMT From: ucsnews!sol.ctr.columbia.edu!howland.reston.ans.net!cs.utexas.edu!geraldo.cc.utexas.edu!mac32.util.utexas.edu!user@network.ucsd.edu Subject: Modem Software to Alert Pagers-SUMMARY (Long) To: info-hams@ucsd.edu ORIGINAL POSTING: >Our local Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) group needs some software that could notify all our pager-carrying members when an emergency happens. >Many of our members carry pagers for their jobs, and most of these are digital pagers. We need an application that would go down a list of pager phone numbers, dialing each, waiting until the phone is answered, then sending the TouchTones (r) for "14694". This number would be recognized by our members as meaning 146.94 MHz, the local ARES repeater frequency. >Has anyone seen an app (for PC or Mac) that can do this? Thank you. Here are some of the responses, with a surprise at the end. ***** MULTI-PLATFORM SOFTWARE: Hi there. KL7RH here.. I am the state ombudsman for Alaska and I use digital pagers at work to keep tabs on staff and such. We are using the Motorola Advisors. Love them! I have also been using some software called NOTIFY! It is made by Ex Machina 45 E 89th Street #39A Ny Ny 10128. It is great stuff. It will allow group messaging as well as very long alpha numeric messages to be sent Basically you set up a "phone book" that lets you define individuals even on multiple systems. You can then make groups of those individuals. They do have a forum on CompuServe and an 800 # but unfortunately I don't have either at the moment. If you contact them tell them I sent you. They have been good to me as far as support. ***** Regarding your quest for software to alert digital pagers for your local ARES group: for the Macintosh, there is a rather nice program called 'Notify!' published by: Ex Machina, Inc. 45 East 89th Street, Suite 39-A New York, NY 10128-0309 Phone: 718-965-0309 Fax: 718-832-5465 They can also be reached on America Online, if I remember correctly. The program can be set up with various groups to be alerted with various messages, and can handle several different pager formats, including alpha- numeric. Hope this helps... ***** I think "Notify" for the Mac could do this. Notify may have changed hands, but here is the info I have: Notify ExMachina, Inc. New York, NY. 212-831-3142 ***** There are several packages that do this. Notify! from Ex Machina knows pager protocols and can work through the pager companies paging computer or call each of them directly as a normal call. It can handle both numeric pagers and alphanumeric ones. They have a version for both the Mac and for Windows. Ex Machina is at 45 East 89th St #39A, New York, NY 10128 There is also a company called Information Radio Technology in Cleveland at 800-228-8998. Bob Grohol also markets several paging solutions there including one called AlphaPage. ***** PC SOFTWARE: You can get a program called pager10.zip that might do the trick. It is located on the OUBBS at 405-3256128. ***** You can use Procomm a pc program that has dialing directories. It will sequentially dial numbers from the list, going to the next if there is no modem carrier received. A pager number of 555+1234,,,,14694 is entered. the modem dials 555+1234 waits two seconds per comma then dials 14694 since no modem tone is present the modem hangs up and dials the next number in the dialing directory. I use procom for windows and have setup macros to do similar call-outs. ***** ANY PLATFORM: Miles: I _think_ I've got an idea that should work. I'm using Microphone II Pro on my Macintosh computer, but I think the technique should work with any communications software that supports scripting. The key to making it work is the Hayes Command set dial modifier ";". The semicolon "is placed at the end of the Dial command, causing the modem to dial the numbers entered, then immediately return to the command mode without disconnecting." Basically, what this means is with a semicolon at the end of the line, the modem does not wait for another modem to pick up before allowing another command to be entered. I played with this using my voice mail, which uses touchtones to login and enter the pass word. I was able to enter my extension, password, and logout right from my keyboard. The command sequence also requires the use of the # and * keys, so I also verified that these characters were sent, at least using my setup. Here's what I think your sequence of events might look like: atdt 5551234; dial the pager number and stay in the command mode OK command accepted by the modem Might need some type of test to insure the other end of the phone line is a) not busy and b) picked up atdt 14694; Touchtone characters to be sent to the pager OK command accepted by the modem ath Hang up the phone OK Command accepted by the modem atdt 5552345; dial the next pager number and stay in the command mode... Anyway, I think you get the general idea. I don't have a pager to try this out on, but I think you should be able to get something working. One nice thing about Microphone II is it's "watch me" scripting capability. You turn "watch me" on and manually run through what you want the script to do. After you are done, turn off "watch me" and your script is complete. You can then script edit function to do any fine tuning, like adding additional commands for additional pagers etc. ***** I think you could probably do something like this send atdt ; semicolon is important modem response > OK now the hard part is how do you whether the paging service has answered? look for busy or assume pager service picks up and is ready to receive input after 10 seconds send atdt send ath We will be adding some sort of pager support and the idea of allowing someone to send out a given code to a list of pagers hadn't been considered, but it sounds like a good idea. I'll look into it. ***** ***** THE BOTTOM LINE: At our ARES meeting last night, I learned how to do this at no cost and little hassle. One of our ARES members had called the largest pager company in town. They said that they would set up a call group in their computer, so that all our members' pagers on their system would be notified simultaneously. _No charge_. The member will be checking with the other (very few) pager companies in town, to see if they will also do the same thing. Thanks to everybody who responded! = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = _ Miles Abernathy, N5KOB = | |__ miles@mbs.telesys.utexas.edu = _| | POB 7580, Austin TX 78713 = \ * / University of Texas @ Austin = \/ tel. (512) 471-6521 U.S.A. = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 1 Dec 1993 17:13:15 GMT From: netcomsv!netcom.com!netcomsv!cds8604!NewsWatcher!user@decwrl.dec.com Subject: money money money To: info-hams@ucsd.edu In article , pardee@sparc3.cs.uiuc.edu () wrote: > > > This awesome messages explains how to make $50,000 in cash. All you > need is $5! The best part is that it is totally legal. Please read it. > It really works! > > > Why is it that every generation feels it is the one that invented sex and pyramid schemes? Joe Mastroianni A.R.S. AA6YD | "Up the airy mountain, jdm@cadence.com | Down the rushy glen, 74107,310:cserve | We daren't go a-hunting, JOE-M:Genie | For fear of little men." | - Allingham -------------------------------------------------------------------------- The opinions expressed in this article do not reflect those of my employer ------------------------------ Date: 1 Dec 93 21:42:08 GMT From: slinky.cs.nyu.edu!longlast.cs.nyu.edu!jackson@nyu.arpa Subject: Soundblaster Software To: info-hams@ucsd.edu So, a SoundBlaster 16 ASP will do the trick? It has a DSP chip which can take downloadable routines. I guess your using the term SoundBlaster was a generalization to all SoundBlasters and compatible *without DSP*. Just checking. -- Steven Jackson New York University Assistant to the Chair of Comp Sci Courant Inst. of Mathematical Sciences jackson@cs.nyu.edu, jcksnste@acfcluster 251 Mercer St, Room 411,NY 10012 ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 1 Dec 1993 22:05:26 GMT From: netcomsv!netcom.com!fariss@decwrl.dec.com Subject: TS440 Xmit Hangup To: info-hams@ucsd.edu bsplaine@sr.hp.com (Bill Splaine) writes: >I have a friend whose newly aquired TS440 is hanging up on xmit.... or so >the transmit LED indicates... >The xcvr does not return to rcv. but he can not hear a side tone w/LED on. >It all resets back to normal when he powers down and back on again. But the >same problem reoccurs. I had the same problem with my 440 on 10m & 15m. RF was getting into the box via an external speaker wire and/or headphone wire. Ferite chokes on both wires cured the problem. ============================================================================ 73, Gary B. Fariss fariss@netcom.com W6KYF @N0ARY ------------------------------ Date: 1 Dec 1993 21:44:56 GMT From: orca.es.com!olin!alan@uunet.uu.net Subject: using a radio off frequency in emergencies To: info-hams@ucsd.edu In article holland@gasmac.dom.uab.edu (Steve Holland) writes: >I was looking at the Amateur radio news postings and came across an >article about an amateur that was in a remote area who had an injured >friend. The story went that after trying several repeaters without >success and trying to use a cellular phone without success, he called >for help on a police frequency. He was forced to forfeit his radio >when the sherriffs department complained. The story goes on from there, >and the FCC, the ham, and the Sherriffs office will be meeting in court. > >I was wondering what is the correct thing to do if one has a radio that >can transmit outside of amateur bands and a real, life threatening >emergency arises. I thought there was a rule about amateurs being >authorized to use any radio at their disposal if normal communications >were not available when there was a life threatening emergency. Has >anyone any advice on what one should do if a similar event happened to >me? No legal advice expected, just interested on what the folks on >the net may have to say. > Well, Steve, it looks to me as if something went amiss here. Usually, if an average citizen takes initiative and saves the life of another, he is usually hailed as a hero and appears on the local news and is a celebrity for a brief period of time. Sounds as if it did not happen this time. Seems like the Mayor of San Diego needs to find out about this incident. If I had been in the same situation, I would have not hesitated for a moment - sometimes in critical situations, moments count. Most of us (unless we are Doctors) are not qualified to judge the severity of injuries - sometimes an injury can be life threatening. It is much better to err on the side of caution and summon help. It sounds as if someone in the sheriff's office has his head screwed on backwards. Here in this part of Utah, we have a volunteer group that is constantly patrolling the mountains. Many people get injured and some even die in the mountains of Utah. These volunteers (some are hams) are equipped to communicate with whoever they need to to get help for an injured person. Someone should start a similar program in San Diego county. If a case like this ever got into a court, I would expect that the judge would throw the case out and require the sheriff to return the radio equipment to the rightful owner. That would be justice. -- Alan Brubaker, K6XO |~~|_ "Pumps have handles, Hams have names; | * |mine's Lee, what's yours?" - Lee Wical, Internet: alan@dsd.es.com|____|KH6BZF, the Bloomin' Zipper Flipper. ------------------------------ Date: 2 Dec 93 12:00:57 GMT From: ogicse!uwm.edu!math.ohio-state.edu!news.cyberstore.ca!nntp.cs.ubc.ca!mala.bc.ca!babiyd@network.ucsd.edu Subject: using a radio off frequency in emergencies To: info-hams@ucsd.edu In article , holland@gasmac.dom.uab.edu (Steve Holland) writes: > I was wondering what is the correct thing to do if one has a radio that > can transmit outside of amateur bands and a real, life threatening > emergency arises. In my case, I believe that a human life comes above all else. If it ment forking over my HT to save one, so be it. I believe it would be the _right_ thing. Now as to weather its the _legal_ thing, I'm not up enough on the laws to comment. > me? No legal advice expected, just interested on what the folks on > the net may have to say. Do what you need to in order to save the life, otherwise you won't be able to look at yourself in the mirror in the morning. just my 2 cents + gst + pst where applicable. '73, Dale ------------------------------ Date: 1 Dec 1993 21:49:09 GMT From: ucsnews!newshub.sdsu.edu!usc!elroy.jpl.nasa.gov!swrinde!cs.utexas.edu!howland.reston.ans.net!agate!news.Brown.EDU!NewsWatcher!user@network.ucsd.edu Subject: W5YI's coverage of "temporary callsigns" To: info-hams@ucsd.edu In article , jholly@cup.hp.com (Jim Hollenback) wrote: > 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 You miss the point, it opens up an enormous posibility of fraud and abuse. As a VE I strongly oppose the idea of instant licensing. Your argument that you are granted temporary operating priveleges when you upgrade doesn't hold water. Many amateurs who upgrade already have a good idea of proper operating practices. If you allow instant tickets, that will change in a very short time and it won't get any better. Tony -- == Tony Pelliccio, KD1NR == Anthony_Pelliccio@Brown.edu == Brown University Alumni & Development Computing Services == Box 1908 == Providence, RI 02912 == (401) 863-1880 ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 30 Nov 93 17:53:24 EST From: munnari.oz.au!spool.mu.edu!uwm.edu!math.ohio-state.edu!magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu!usenet.ins.cwru.edu!wariat.org!mystis!dan@network.ucsd.edu Subject: W5YI's coverage of "temporary callsigns" To: info-hams@ucsd.edu md@maxcy2.maxcy.brown.edu (Michael P. Deignan) writes: > dan@mystis.wariat.org (Dan Pickersgill N8PKV) writes: > > > As I have stated, I feel that one of the major > > reasons for ham radio being as "clean" as it is, is accountability. > > Remove the accountability and the system WILL breakdown (as some falsely > > clain it has). > > The system has broken down somewhat. When the FCC stopped monitoring > amateur bands except in cases of gross misconduct, alot of what goes > on today went on in much lesser amounts years ago. Today, someone > can cuss on the air with little, if any, concern over what they've > done. 15 years ago this was not the case. > > > > And it makes self policing almost impossible. > > But Dan, only a ham-cop would be interested in self-policing. Self-policing > means each ham polices themselves. (as some others have appeared to > indicate.) (WRONG) The FCC, in an agreement with the ARRL, established a "ham-cop" as you call it. THAT was the FCC's intent. And NO, according to the above mentioned document (and the way the ARRL interprets it), self-policing means Hams policing Hams, NOT Hams policing him/herself. The Amateur Auxiliary, Official Observers, Local Interference Committiees, et. al. The Amateur Auxiliary is responsible for maintance monitoring and amateur to amateur interfearance. The idea that each ham should police himself, and therefore can do what ever he wants, may well be the reason for the increased problems (see discussion on 14.313). The idea was to have amateurs assist the FCC in manpower and time. Making the most of the FCC enforcement dollar. The congress, in the finalized bill said; " The Amateur Radio Service has been praised for being self-regulated. The Commission has reported that less time has been devoted to monitoring and regulating the Amateur Radio Service than to any other service because of its self-policing and dicipline. " One primary purpose of the Conferance Substitute is to provice the Federal Communications Commission with the authority to implement various programs which will result in improvements in administration of the Amateur Radio Service and to cut the cost thereof. It will further allow the Amateur Radio Service to continue its tradition as the most self-regulated radio service in the United States, and to become to some extent self-administered, requiring less expenditure to government time and effort than in the past." That was 1982, where have you been? Policing yourself and ignoring the actions of others? If you are serious about wanting the situation to improve, get involved in the solution. -------------------------------------------------------------------- | Dan Pickersgill N8PKV | 'Pots have handles, Magazines have | | dan@mystis.wariat.org | Personals, Hams have Names' | -------------------------------------------------------------------- | '$100 placed at 7 percent interest compounded quarterly for | | 200 years will increase to more than $100,000,000 - by which | | time it will be worth nothing. -Lazarus Long | -------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 1 Dec 1993 21:42:10 GMT From: netcomsv!netcom.com!greg@decwrl.dec.com To: info-hams@ucsd.edu References <2dfjf0$7is@oak.oakland.edu>, <36071@ksr.com>, Subject : Re: using a radio off frequency in emergencies The San Diego situation sounds like one which is suited to local, organized action, such as: 1) The County Sheriff is an elected official, and is thus rather susceptable to being told by the officers of local radio clubs just how many voters they represent. Similarly the local ARRL SCM and EC might remind the sheriff of how many voting ARRL members will be reading their reports on the situation. 2) If not persuaded by (1), County officials might be persuaded by the suspension of all amateur-radio public-service activities within the county. 3) If (1) and (2) don't work, a reminder of amateurs' contribution to recent disaster relief effort in Southern California, and a threatened suspension of ARES and RAcES activities in the County will probably call the appropriate attention to the department's sculduggery. 4) All actions should be accompanied by all of the publicity that can be mustered, and if possible brought up by a County Supervisor and various City Council types. Likewise, *every* official who is known to value ham radio's contribution should receive a "I'm calling to make you aware of actions which the amateur radio community may have to take if the County Sheriff continues down the path he is pursuing..." call from their favorite liason. This is, of course, assuming that the RACES, ARES, ARRL, and club officials are convinced that the guy acted in good faith. The idea here is not to weaken the actual emergency preparedness, but rather to do what volunteers must occasionally do, in order to be treated properly; make it clear that there are other things we can be doing with our time, if we're going to get kicked in the teeth. Greg ------------------------------ Date: 2 Dec 93 22:47:24 GMT From: ogicse!uwm.edu!spool.mu.edu!howland.reston.ans.net!darwin.sura.net!mojo.eng.umd.edu!mebly@network.ucsd.edu To: info-hams@ucsd.edu References <1993Dec2.012102.8762@ke4zv.atl.ga.us>, <1993Dec2.163624.5800@cs.brown.edu>, <2dlnpt$13jb@msuinfo.cl.msu.edu> Subject : Re: W5YI's coverage of "temporary callsigns" In article <2dlnpt$13jb@msuinfo.cl.msu.edu> cravitma@arctic2.uucp (Matthew B Cravit) writes: >In article <1993Dec2.163624.5800@cs.brown.edu> md@maxcy2.maxcy.brown.edu (Michael P. Deignan) writes: >>[...] > >How about doing this : KD1HZ/T(year)(number). So the first ham you >license next year would be KD1HZ/T931. The 500'th would be KD1HZ/T93500. > [...] You can't do it this way. (HINT: Ever wonder why /AT isn't used for technician upgrades?) Use AA instead. This sounds like an excellent way to maintain some accountability. 73. -- Mark Bailey KD4D Motto: Life's too short to drink cheap beer. mebly@eng.umd.edu Disclaimer: I didn't really say this. ------------------------------ End of Info-Hams Digest V93 #1417 ****************************** ******************************