Date: Wed, 29 Dec 93 11:28:50 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 #1520 To: Info-Hams Info-Hams Digest Wed, 29 Dec 93 Volume 93 : Issue 1520 Today's Topics: Alarm System RFI Amateur Radio Clubs in Clear Lake Area Balloon with amateur radio to launch cw waivers Ham Radio FTP area on World Info-Hams Digest V93 #1518 Repeater database? (3 msgs) RFI into telephones tcp-group-digest who sells good HT battery replacements? 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, 29 Dec 1993 17:52:46 GMT From: swrinde!sgiblab!spool.mu.edu!agate!usenet.ins.cwru.edu!news.csuohio.edu!garfield.csuohio.edu!mike@network.ucsd.edu Subject: Alarm System RFI To: info-hams@ucsd.edu I have found that our house burglar/fire alarm system to be a real annoying source of RFI when listening to SW usually between 2 and 10 Mhz. To cure it, I went to the system box in our basement and found the digital signal lines that go to the first floor and master bedroom keypads (where you activate/deactivate your system). I found two lines (for me it was yellow and green) that seemed to be the offending radiators. I could have done the ferrite core trick to trap the RFI, but since all wiring was fastened in place, I simply used a DPST switch fastened to the control cabinet. When switched OFF, the two conductors running to the keypads are electically disconnected from the terminal block inside the control box. Now, I get nice quiet listening instead of a noise level that sounds like a distorted electric guitar. Hope this info helps other hams/SWL'rs. Mike -- ___---^^^---___---^^^---___---^^^---___---^^^--- Catch The WAVE ---___ Michael Mayer, Senior Technical Support Engineer Visual Numerics, Inc. 32915 Aurora Rd. Suite # 160, Solon, OH, 44139 USA Email: mayer@pvi.com Human: 216/248-4900 Fax: 216-248-2733 ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 29 Dec 1993 18:59:24 GMT From: aio!usenet@ames.arpa Subject: Amateur Radio Clubs in Clear Lake Area To: info-hams@ucsd.edu Please excuse my ignorance, but I'm relatively new to the Houston area and am looking for an amateur radio club in Clear Lake. Any information regarding clubs, emergency operators, test facilitators, etc, would be much appreciated. Please e-mail me directly at kbolton@medics.jsc.nasa.gov. Thanks! ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 29 Dec 1993 03:31:24 -0700 From: library.ucla.edu!news.mic.ucla.edu!unixg.ubc.ca!kakwa.ucs.ualberta.ca!alberta!nebulus!ve6mgs!usenet@network.ucsd.edu Subject: Balloon with amateur radio to launch To: info-hams@ucsd.edu Superpressure Balloon Launch A cooperative group from Utah State University, Logan, Utah, members of the amateur radio community, and Winzen International plan on launching SuperBall 1-94 at approximately 10:00 A.M. MST (17:00 UTC) on January 5, 1994 from the Logan Municipal Airport. The nylon superpressure balloon for this flight is 76 feet in diameter. It was manufactured and donated by Winzen International of San Antonio, Texas. The expected daytime float altitude of this helium filled balloon will be 120,000 ft (36,660 meters), some loss of altitude is expected at night. Theoretically the technology is capable of maintaining a payload at altitude for long periods of time, potentially years. The initial track of SuperBall will depend on upper air conditions at the time of launch, but is expected to be in the semicircle east from Utah. Possible scenarios might then take it over the Atlantic Ocean or into the polar regions within a few days. The payload will be limited to a gross weight of 4 kilograms, or 8.8 pounds. It will consist of the following subsystems: 1. An instrument package containing a five channel Magellan GPS receiver, an external air temperature sensor, an internal payload temperature sensor, a battery voltage sensor, and a differential pressure gauge. 2. A 1/2-watt VHF MCW beacon operating on 145.871 MHz with the callsign N7YTK. Every minute it will transmit data from instruments listed above. (This transmitter will also operate through the Russian RS-10 amateur satellite, which has a downlink frequency 29.371 MHz, plus or minus Doppler.) 3. A one-watt CW 15-meter beacon operating on 21.229 MHz with a call sign of WB8ELK. Every five minutes it will transmit data identical to that sent on the 145.871 MHz beacon. (This signal will also be relayed through the Russian RS-12 amateur satellite, which has a downlink frequency of 29.429 MHz, plus or minus Doppler.) 4. An ATV system consisting of a black-and-white CCD camera and associated one-watt transmitter operating on 434.00 MHz in continuous bursts on command. 5. A cutdown package containing a VHF command receiver, DTMF decoder and barometric switch, and 6. Several Lithium battery packs. Depending on weight availability, two additional beacons are possible: 7. A one-watt VHF AFSK beacon transmitting ASCII data at 1200 baud on 145.968 MHz every two minutes in alteration with the beacon in (2) above, with the call sign of WB8ELK (also operating through the Japanese FO-20 satellite, which has a downlink frequency of 435.832 MHz), and 8. A 60-milliwatt 10-meter CW beacon operating on 28.322 MHz every minute, with a call sign of WB8ELK, transmitting pressure altitude, internal temperature, external temperature and battery voltage. Item (8) will contain either a 9-volt lithium pack that should last a month, or a 9-volt, 150 ma solar panel, lasting indefinitely. The purpose of the SuperBall 1-94 mission is to certify this superpressure balloon technology for long-duration flight and to test our ability to control and receive data from a high-altitude research balloon for an extended period of time. Our first plateau of success will be achieved if we operate through a complete sunset/sunrise cycle at a constant pressure altitude. Our second plateau will be a flight lasting a week. Our third plateau will be a complete circumnavigation of the globe. Anything after that is gravy. The float path of the balloon is very difficult to predict since the polar breakout usually occurs is this time of year frequently resulting in strong north-south currents. Observers from the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Martin Marietta and Utah State University's Space Dynamics Laboratory will be present at the launch. These people are potential users of the superpressure balloon for a Martian mission. An HF net will be conducted by John Luker, WB7QBC, (Internet WB7QBC@uugate.aim.utah.edu) on the day of the launch and subsequent days on 7230 KHz +-QRM. This net will alert interested hams downrange of the balloon's path, and coordinate the collection of telemetry. The Utah Balloon Team would appreciate the forwarding of any telemetry copied to John's address along with pertinent information, including the receiving station's location, UTC date and time, signal report, and receiving equipment. Video tapes of any received ATV transmissions from the balloon would also be appreciated. At this point we only anticipate turning the camera on during the first two days. Questions can be directed to Bruce Bergen, KI7OM, through Internet at KI7OM@uugate.aim.utah.edu ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 29 Dec 1993 17:11:34 GMT From: swrinde!emory!rsiatl!ke4zv!gary@network.ucsd.edu Subject: cw waivers To: info-hams@ucsd.edu In article k2ph@cbnewsj.cb.att.com (The QRPer) writes: >From article <1993Dec27.150035.10400@ke4zv.atl.ga.us>, by gary@ke4zv.atl.ga.us (Gary Coffman): >> CW is still alive among contesters because it's a *separate award category*. >> The purpose of contesting is to accumulate as many awards as possible, >> ... other stuff deleted ... > >You can't possibly be serious! > >CW is still alive among contesters BECAUSE IT'S FUN! Oh, I'll concede that some people have outre senses of whats fun. Why there are people who consider it fun to lie on a bed of nails, or flagellate themselves with birch wands, or stick hot needles in their flesh, or operate manual Morse. I don't fall into that group of masochists who find Chinese water torture a pleasant passtime. Someone using manual Morse is like someone who prefers 300 baud modems when 9600 baud units are cheap and available. I frankly don't understand the affinity for slow torture. Why not use drums and smoke signals if you're trying to recreate the past? 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: Wed, 29 Dec 1993 00:39:08 -0700 From: library.ucla.edu!news.mic.ucla.edu!unixg.ubc.ca!kakwa.ucs.ualberta.ca!alberta!nebulus!ve6mgs!wy1z@network.ucsd.edu Subject: Ham Radio FTP area on World To: info-hams@ucsd.edu This is a period reminder that the Boston Amateur Radio Club maintains an FTP area on world.std.com in pub/hamradio. This area is accessible via: anonymous ftp, gopher, and World Wide Web (and possibly other methods I'm not yet aware of). World is not *fsp*-able yet (I asked them). Via Gopher, the easiest path to the area is by selecting the following from World's main menu: 18. Membership and Professional Associations 3. Boston Amateur Radio Club And go from there... Please feel free to browse through the area. If anyone has any questions about it, please do not hesitate to e-mail me. Also, an up-to-date copy of the files available on the ARRL's information server (info@arrl.org) is available in the directory pub/hamradio/ARRL/Server-files. All text files are uncompressed, so they are both retrievable and viewable via Gopher and World Wide Web. (If you have any troubles with any text file, please e-mail me). Source code for programs is always welcome. It can permit people to use those programs on other computers with other operating systems. Scott -- =============================================================================== | Scott Ehrlich Internet: wy1z@neu.edu BITNET: wy1z@NUHUB | | Amateur Radio: wy1z AX.25: wy1z@k1ugm.ma.usa.na | |-----------------------------------------------------------------------------| | Maintainer of the Boston Amateur Radio Club hamradio FTP area on | | the World - world.std.com pub/hamradio | =============================================================================== ------------------------------ Date: 29 Dec 93 13:17:36 GMT From: news-mail-gateway@ucsd.edu Subject: Info-Hams Digest V93 #1518 To: info-hams@ucsd.edu Hi. This is HS1ZEB from Bangkok Thailand. I'd like to ask some question on connecting PK-232MBX to a YAESU FT-767GX since I had been trying to wire the connector according to the manuals of both device for many times. But what I got is the overload of the, I don't know how to call this, speaker to burn out. Anyone using the above equipment please post your informations on how to wire these thing together as well. Also, I've seen some files name WNOS or something, but I can't find a copy of KA9Q programs, so, I'd like to ask which one do you guys prefer? And if possible, brief explanation of both too. +---------------+-----------------------------+-----------------------+ | HS1ZEB N3JTV | EMail:jade@nwg.nectec.or.th | > Jade V. Thaveekij < | | CQ Magazine | u3611506@abac.au.ac.th| Satellite Thailand | +---------------+-----------------------------+-----------------------+ ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 29 Dec 1993 12:47:07 GMT From: swrinde!menudo.uh.edu!uuneo!sugar!jreese@network.ucsd.edu Subject: Repeater database? To: info-hams@ucsd.edu In article <2fqeid$bf6@panix.com> kb7uv@panix.com (Andrew Funk) writes: > >Publication of repeater data is a sensitive issue for many repeater >trustees. Many wish their repeaters to be "secret" -- non-published. >Others feel it's OK to be listed in the ARRL Repeater Directory, but not >elsewhere. > >I can't speak for other councils, but for TSARC there will have to be a >formal policy adopted -- perhaps even a constitutional amendment (I have >to double check). I'd be real interested in how you guys handle this issue. The Texas VHF-FM Society has debated it in several meetings lately. Their main objection to releasing the data is that it might be used to create a publication which would be sold. This not so much the problem as the source of the data wouldn't get anything for it, even the credit for the data. I'm not sure I agree with this policy, but that seems to be thier position at present. -- Jim Reese, WD5IYT | "Reality is for those with no imagination." jreese@sugar.neosoft.com | --Jim McClellan ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 29 Dec 1993 15:22:40 GMT From: usc!howland.reston.ans.net!noc.near.net!das-news.harvard.edu!cantaloupe.srv.cs.cmu.edu!news@network.ucsd.edu Subject: Repeater database? To: info-hams@ucsd.edu There seems to be a lot of resistance to having a US repeater database, and I'm having trouble understanding why. The two arguments seem to be that the information should only be made available to the "right" people, and that people shouldn't be allowed to make money from the data. Anybody with $7 can buy a copy of the ARRL repeater directory. Presumably groups that don't want their repeater publically known don't list it in the directory. ARRL makes a couple of bucks on each sale (okay, they aren't an individual, so lets say the money goes back to the good of hamdom). Suppose I write a geographical database with a really whizzy graphical front end, searching and planning capabilities, made to run on a laptop or PDA. It includes the ARRL repeater directory database. Just what I want while travelling, and maybe others as well... For every copy of this program I sell, I license one copy of the repeater database by sending ARRL four bucks or whatever they think is fair. I could sell yearly updates in sync with the ARRL directory (always licensing each copy with the ARRL). Of course, someone could pirate a copy of the program, or steal the database for their own program without licensing it from the ARRL. But those would be criminal acts. Maybe my program could encrypt the data to prevent casual lifting of the database. The only money I'd be making would be from the program itself - the ARRL would make the same amount as if it had sold a paper copy of the directory. Would any groups object to this? Would it require constitutional amendments and not happen in my lifetime? It sounds good to me, but I don't understand the arguments in the first place. Feedback is appreciated, before I waste too much time... Mike Blackwell -- ke3ig -- mkb@cs.cmu.edu ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 29 Dec 1993 17:37:51 GMT From: world!dts@uunet.uu.net Subject: Repeater database? To: info-hams@ucsd.edu In article mkb@cs.cmu.edu writes: > >There seems to be a lot of resistance to having a US repeater >database, and I'm having trouble understanding why. The two arguments >seem to be that the information should only be made available to the >"right" people, and that people shouldn't be allowed to make money >from the data. > >Anybody with $7 can buy a copy of the ARRL repeater directory. >Presumably groups that don't want their repeater publically known >don't list it in the directory. ARRL makes a couple of bucks on each >sale (okay, they aren't an individual, so lets say the money goes back >to the good of hamdom). > >Suppose I write a geographical database with a really whizzy graphical >front end, searching and planning capabilities, made to run on a >laptop or PDA. It includes the ARRL repeater directory database. Just >what I want while travelling, and maybe others as well... For every >copy of this program I sell, I license one copy of the repeater >database by sending ARRL four bucks or whatever they think is fair. I >could sell yearly updates in sync with the ARRL directory (always >licensing each copy with the ARRL). > >Of course, someone could pirate a copy of the program, or steal the >database for their own program without licensing it from the ARRL. But >those would be criminal acts. Maybe my program could encrypt the data >to prevent casual lifting of the database. > >The only money I'd be making would be from the program itself - the >ARRL would make the same amount as if it had sold a paper copy of the >directory. > >Would any groups object to this? Would it require constitutional >amendments and not happen in my lifetime? It sounds good to me, but I >don't understand the arguments in the first place. > >Feedback is appreciated, before I waste too much time... > > Mike Blackwell -- ke3ig -- mkb@cs.cmu.edu > > I do not think there is a really big problem with repeater frequency data being given out by most of the coordination councils. Repeater frequencies are pretty easy to come by. My biggest concern is the other frequencies which are coordinated, including links, packet backbones, and so forth. It is not necessarily desirable to give all of these out. The repeater directory does NOT list evrey frequency in use. Many frequencies are used for other purposes than repeaters, yet are sensitive to interference. When you pick a simplex frequency, please keep this in mind! -- --------------------------------------------------------------- Daniel Senie Internet: dts@world.std.com Daniel Senie Consulting n1jeb@world.std.com 508-365-5352 Compuserve: 74176,1347 ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 29 Dec 1993 16:13:39 GMT From: sdd.hp.com!hpscit.sc.hp.com!cupnews0.cup.hp.com!jholly@network.ucsd.edu Subject: RFI into telephones To: info-hams@ucsd.edu David Dodell (david@stat.com) wrote: : I have a G5RV type antenna in my attic which is only a few feet in : places from my telephone wiring. This causes RFI into my telephone : system. : Any suggestions on minimizing this? Ferrite...where you put depends on if the guts are in the handset or a base unit. Generally, wrap the cord going into the unit around a type 43 core. Also you can get info from ARRL via info@arrl.org, with the one line message info. Jim, WA6SDM ------------------------------ Date: 29 Dec 93 13:56:00 GMT From: zib-berlin.de!netmbx.de!Germany.EU.net!EU.net!goya!aba!carlos.termes@uunet.uu.net Subject: tcp-group-digest To: info-hams@ucsd.edu -=> Quoting Ken Hopkins to All <=- KH> Can someone give me the correct address to subscribe to this mail KH> list? I've tried three times at ucsd.edu and got an error message each KH> time. Thanks for your help! KH> -- I need help in same way.I get the post newsgroup in the BBS bat only the internet and the Tcp-group Digest it is not en the list because is Usenet ??? maybe not come in EU. I don t now. Please if someone can help me !! Thanks.... 73.s de Carlos (sistema Wnos TCP/IP) AMPRnet - - 44.133.08.28 BBSax25 - - internet - - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ___ Blue Wave/QWK v2.12 ---- !--------------------------------------------------------------------! ! * This message was sent from ABAFORUM, Barcelona, SPAIN (Europe) * ! ! Voice (34-3) 589.1101 * Fax (34-3) 589.4483 * Host (34-3) 589.3888 ! !--------------------------------------------------------------------! ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 29 Dec 1993 15:57:48 GMT From: library.ucla.edu!agate!usenet.ins.cwru.edu!news.ecn.bgu.edu!willis1.cis.uab.edu!right.dom.uab.edu!user@network.ucsd.edu Subject: who sells good HT battery replacements? To: info-hams@ucsd.edu In article , pckwong@hkuxb.hku.hk (WONG YA YA) wrote: > > Steve Holland (holland@gasmac.dom.uab.edu) wrote: > : MY HT power pack no longer will hold a charge over a reasonable time > : and I am planning on replacing it. What mail order venders makes > : reliable battery packs that offer good value? I am looking for > : something that will fit an ALINCO DJ500T HT. > : > : Steve Holland > > > Why not do it yourself with NiCd batteries with > solder tags? Lead time for checking out sources, taking risk one cell ordered no good and having to reorder, not particularly great prices through sources like digi-key. I have heard by e-mail that ww assoc. will sell battery inserts for a modest sum. Now, if you have a good source for batteries with solder tags available in small quantities, please post. Steve Holland ------------------------------ Date: 29 Dec 93 17:16:13 GMT From: munnari.oz.au!sgiblab!cs.uoregon.edu!ogicse!ese.ogi.edu!dreeves@network.ucsd.edu To: info-hams@ucsd.edu References <1993Dec21.214936.7904@genroco.com>, <1993Dec22.060722.7669@kd4nc.uucp>, <2fpklm$npg@news.acns.nwu.edu> Subject : Re: Where are all the young enthusiasts? Recentally, John Reed spoke about being a young ham in a club of mostly older hams... >>The problem I am having with my club is my age... I am the first young ham >>they've had in a while that is highly active....always on the radio...operating >>at field day, raising hell at club meetings, etc.... [Deleted] >>MMy club as yet to give me the respect that I deserve as a member and as a >>person..everytime I open my mouth at a meeting, I'm met with a "That's nice >>son" attitude and a motion to shut up... I'm cut off in mid sentence, etc... This is almost universally the experience I've had in California. I got my ticket there while a student, so the culture clash could have been a bit much, but I was a fairly conservative (meaning tame) SoCal student then. Still, only a few of the people in the club would even touch me with a 40m dipole. The attutude was something like "You don't look familiar, you don't dress like I do, you don't act like I do; Therefore, you can not be a good ham". So what did I do? I joined a club which was serious about radio! Being part-time at Caltech, I could join W6UE, the Caltech ARC (I strongly recommend this for any students in the Pasadena/ San Gabriel Valley). There I met UHF ers and learned about the world above 440, got into HF contesting and ATV. We even set up an internet-packet gateway (which isn't working right now...). Alas, but graduation moved me away from W6UE and to Portland, OR, where the scene almost repeated itself, but since the folks are a bit younger (and more open minded, IMHO) here, I feel more accepted. >>I don't if other clubs are like that with their new young hams, but mine is >>bad... THE SOLUTION (IMHO): Older hams need to be more open minded and "eared" to the younger crowd. No new hams = death of ham radio. Simple. Don't dismiss someone because they are (1) younger or (2) less experienced than you. Young hams need to be aware that they are going to meet resistance and be prepared and patient. Let your skill and competence speak for you. You *will* be recognized! >>73 de John "pissed off at Lanierland Amatuer Radio Club" Reed, N4tii Good luck John! 73 de N6XHW D. Reeves -- |B. Douglas Reeves Dept. Env. Sci.& Eng. Oregon Graduate Institute| |N6XHW on 146.900 in PDX dreeves@ese.ogi.edu everywhere else| |"... life itself represents a nonequilibrium condition." - J. F. Pankow | ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 29 Dec 1993 17:19:20 GMT From: usc!cs.utexas.edu!swrinde!emory!rsiatl!ke4zv!gary@network.ucsd.edu To: info-hams@ucsd.edu References <00977B186CA20CA0.24E0CB04@drager.com>, <2fqeid$bf6@panix.com>, Reply-To : gary@ke4zv.atl.ga.us (Gary Coffman) Subject : Re: Repeater database? In article jreese@NeoSoft.com (Jim Reese) writes: > >I'd be real interested in how you guys handle this issue. The Texas VHF-FM >Society has debated it in several meetings lately. Their main objection to >releasing the data is that it might be used to create a publication which >would be sold. This not so much the problem as the source of the data wouldn't >get anything for it, even the credit for the data. I'm not sure I agree with >this policy, but that seems to be thier position at present. Hmph, the ARRL sells it *now*, and we don't see a dime. Maybe we should start charging them a fee. 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: 29 Dec 1993 18:40:24 GMT From: nothing.ucsd.edu!brian@network.ucsd.edu To: info-hams@ucsd.edu References , , Subject : Re: who sells good HT battery replacements? I have found that my local Panasonic NiCd distributor (Tauber Electronics in San Diego) will take small cash orders at their will-call window. In the past I have wandered in with a dead Motorola HT battery that I'd already cracked open, and they've made up a replacement insert on the spot from fresh cells in stock, including welding the connecting tabs and all that, at no extra charge. It seems to me that contacting the local battery distributors might well find one that is similarly obliging! However, if you're located in a part of the world where there aren't such local distributors, there are several people who advertise re-celled and third-party batteries in the various ham magazines. I've bought from their booths at the ham conventions, and been pleased with the product. - Brian ------------------------------ End of Info-Hams Digest V93 #1520 ****************************** ******************************