Date: Mon, 14 Feb 94 18:40:21 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 V94 #152 To: Info-Hams Info-Hams Digest Mon, 14 Feb 94 Volume 94 : Issue 152 Today's Topics: * SpaceNews 14-Feb-94 * Copying High-Speed CW: Print or Script? Correction to the Anik Satellite Failure Reports CT-USER mailing list is now available! Foot race across desert? (2 msgs) FOR SALE: YAESU 470 DUAL BAND HT!! Noise Problem Opinions wanted on mobile dual-banders WARNING: Potential Satellite Anomaly Warning ZA1A 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: 14 Feb 94 18:31:26 GMT From: news-mail-gateway@ucsd.edu Subject: * SpaceNews 14-Feb-94 * To: info-hams@ucsd.edu SB NEWS @ AMSAT $SPC0214 * SpaceNews 14-Feb-94 * BID: $SPC0214 ========= SpaceNews ========= MONDAY FEBRUARY 14, 1994 SpaceNews originates at KD2BD in Wall Township, New Jersey, USA. It is published every week and is made available for unlimited distribution. * STS-60/SAREX NEWS * ===================== Gustavo, LW2DTZ, has provided a copy of the packet transmissions he received from the SAREX experiment carried on Shuttle missiom STS-60 on 06-Feb-94 at 06:56 UTC during a pass over Buenos Aires, Argentina: W5RRR-1>QST : Greetings from the crew of STS-60! Our current altitude is 190 nautOTRO miles above the beautiful Earth that is the home for all of us. We are very busy with Spacehab experiments and hopefully today we will deploy the Wake Shield Facility. W5RRR-1>QST : Best wishes and poka! Privet to MIR crew Un afectuoso saludo a todos los radioaficionados hispanoamericanos desde el transbordador espacial Discovery. Nuestra mision continua en su tercer dia. hoy logramos avances importantes en la met W5RRR-1>QST : alurgia y la cristalizacion de proteinas para usos medicos. W5RRR-1>SAREX : This is STS-60 SAREX Robot station W5RRR-1 onboard the Space Shuttle Discovery. Those who have heard or worked the STS-60 crew and wish to receive a QSL card need to send your signal report and an SASE or an envelope and IRCs to the following address: STS-60 QSL Education Activities Division ARRL 225 Main St Newington, CT 06111 U.S.A. In other STS-60 news, Yoshiro Yamada at the Yokohama Science Center in Japan reported observing STS-60 at a +1 magnitude on 06-Feb-94 at 05:43 JST from Yokohama. Although several opportunities were available to see the Shuttle during the early morning hours from the east coast of the United States, observations in some areas were not possible due to thick cloud cover (and heavy snow!). * DOVE POSTS FIRST CALLS * ========================== The first of 300 callsigns of amateurs who sent telemetry data to Junior PY2BJO in Brazil when DOVE was brought back on the air in December have been posted on the satellite downlink in between engineering data. The following was received by KA3AFY on Friday Feb. 4th, 1994 at 1606 UTC: DOVE-1>BRAMST [00/00/00 02:38:32]: 4th Feb 1994 DOVE reports have been received from : AA7WD AB6BC AD4FH CT1DNF CT1EAT CT1EEB CT1ENC CT1ENQ CT1ERC CT1ETZ CT1EXL CT1EXT These will change in 4 Days. [vk7zbx] Tune into DOVE to see if your call or the call of someone you know shows up on the telemetry being sent on 145.825 MHz. Telemetry data is no longer needed but signal reports, equipment being used to receive DOVE, and DOVE being received in classrooms would be appreciated by BRAMSAT and Junior PY2BJO owner of DOVE. Please send reports to: Dr. Junior Torres De Castro (PY2BJO) 119 Macaubal Sao Palo Brazil 01254 Thanks to Jim White (WD0E) and the DOVE Team for making the bulletin information available. Consult your favorite tracking program or DOVE Watcher for orbit information. Keep your eyes to the skies! [Info via Larry Lilly, KA3AFY, "DOVE Watcher"] * ITAMSAT BBS OPENS * ===================== After the software crash occurred on the 7 December, the ITAMSAT (IO-26) Command team decided to delay the reloading of the code, to improve the onboard software and further analyze the Whole Orbit Data dumps, to better understand the satellite motion and operation. On 06-Jan-94, the final version of the code was validated by the Command team and the BBS re-opened to all users. The housekeeping code (IHT ver 2.1) now has WOD capabilities and weekly data dumps will be taken without affecting the BBS operations. All users are reminded that the BBS callsign is ITMSAT-11 for Broadcast and ITMSAT-12 for uploads, and that the standard PB and PG ground software is needed for accessing the BBS. The downlink frequency is 435.867 MHz using BPSK at 1200 baud. Enjoy ITAMSAT! [Info via Alberto, I2KBD, of the ITAMSAT Command Team] * NEW PICTURE ON AO-21 * ======================== The AO-21 satellite is transmitting a picture showing the launch of the satellite three years ago. The picture is in WEFAX format at 240 lpm. The current operating schedule is available in 1200 bps AFSK packet radio format every 10 minutes on the 145.987 MHz RUDAK-II downlink frequency: RUDAK2>BEACON : RUDAK-II Schedule: (down 145.987, up 435.016) min/10 Beacon Mode 0..4 FM Repeater 5..7 WEFAX Picture 8..9 AFSK TLM RUDAK2>BEACON : ++ Hi, this is the RUDAK-II experiment on AMSAT OSCAR 21 ++ [Info via Gustavo, LW2DTZ] * OSCAR-13 BANDPASS * ===================== Ever wonder who is active on AMSAT-OSCAR-13? Sergio, IK5AAX, in Italy provides the following bandpass listing for the curious: OSCAR 13 BANDPASS: SATURDAY 05: 2238-145924 ZY0SK 2245-145915 A22BW 2312-145897 LI2OWG 2333-145912 8P6SM SUNDAY 06: 0036-145899 TI5RLI 1904-145884 K4AK 2330-145888 ZY0SK MONDAY 07: 0018-145899 TU2OJ 0759-145905 Z21HJ [Info via Sergio, IK5AAX] * FO-20 OPERATION SCHEDULE * ============================ The FO-20 operation schedule is follows. Analog transponder and digital transponder will be ON for a week respectively as they were since last December. Analog mode: 09-Feb-94 07:15 UTC -to- 16-Feb-94 07:40 UTC 23-Feb-94 08:05 UTC -to- 02-Mar-94 06:40 UTC 09-Mar-94 07:05 UTC -to- 16-Mar-94 07:30 UTC 23-Mar-94 07:52 UTC -to- 30-Mar-94 08:15 UTC Digital mode: Unless otherwise noted above. [Info via Kazu Sakamoto, JJ1WTK] * THANKS! * =========== Thanks to all those who sent QSL cards, letters, and messages of appreciation regarding SpaceNews, especially: HS1JAN KB2OPQ N2GJ DL3MFM AB4U IK5AAX VK5THA WA6LVE N0TCT Dave Bondon * FEEDBACK/INPUT WELCOMED * =========================== Mail to SpaceNews should be directed to the editor (John, KD2BD) via any of the following paths: FAX : 1-908-747-7107 PACKET : KD2BD @ N2KZH.NJ.USA.NA INTERNET : kd2bd@ka2qhd.ocpt.ccur.com -or- kd2bd@amsat.org MAIL : John A. Magliacane, KD2BD Department of Engineering and Technology Advanced Technology Center Brookdale Community College Lincroft, New Jersey 07738 U.S.A. <<=- SpaceNews: The first amateur newsletter read in space! -=>> /EX -- John A. Magliacane, KD2BD * /\/\ * Voice : 1-908-224-2948 Advanced Technology Center |/\/\/\| Packet : KD2BD @ N2KZH.NJ.USA.NA Brookdale Community College |\/\/\/| Internet: kd2bd@ka2qhd.ocpt.ccur.com Lincroft, NJ 07738 * \/\/ * Morse : -.- -.. ..--- -... -.. ------------------------------ Date: 14 Feb 94 15:53:02 GMT From: news-mail-gateway@ucsd.edu Subject: Copying High-Speed CW: Print or Script? To: info-hams@ucsd.edu Text item: Text_1 >A mailing I read is involved in a comparision of the speeds of >printing and cursive writing. I decided to consult some experts. >Michael A. Gauland gaulandm@tekig7.PEN.TEK.COM Michael, I'm not a "high-speed CW op" but I can copy 60wpm in shorthand. That's what I use for copying 15wpm code. Shorthand was designed for keeping up with spoken words and works better than either printing or script for copying CW. Each letter is only one stroke and strokes run together in a smooth manner. There are also short forms of commonly used words and I've invented a few new ones applying to Ham Radio. 73, Cecil, kg7bk (I do not speak for Intel on Internet) ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 10 Feb 1994 12:46:14 MST From: mvb.saic.com!unogate!news.service.uci.edu!usc!yeshua.marcam.com!zip.eecs.umich.edu!destroyer!nntp.cs.ubc.ca!alberta!adec23!ve6mgs!usenet@network.ucsd.edu Subject: Correction to the Anik Satellite Failure Reports To: info-hams@ucsd.edu /\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\ ADMINISTRATIVE BULLETIN 10 February, 1994 Correction to Anik Failure Reports /\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\ CORRECTION TO THE ANIK FAILURE REPORTS It is unfortunate and somewhat ironic that a report which is intended to clarify conditions which contributed to the Anik satellite failures on 20 January 1994 must itself be clarified. We apologize for this. Too much emphasis was placed on the non-recurrence possibilities of high-energy electron fluxes. The report stated that the possibility of observing a recurrence in high-energy fluxes was "highly speculative." This is incorrect. There is overwhelming evidence that recurrence of electron fluxes is correlated with coronal holes. If the coronal hole in question is stable and persists for more than one solar rotation, you can statistically expect to see a recurrence in the same electron activity as well. What we should have stated, instead, was that the DURATION and TIMING of the the recurrent electron activity may not be as predictable, particularly if the structure of the coronal hole changes substantially from one rotation to the next. I was surprised to actually see this in the final report. Unfortunately, it was not properly reviewed it before it was released. I must therefore take responsibility for this inaccuracy and do hereby formally apologize for any misconceptions this may have caused. Electrons do recur with coronal holes. Since February 7th, we have observed a recurrence in the electrons which affected the Anik birds in January. The duration and magnitude of the activity has been (so far) and is expected to be approximately the same as was observed last month. This again raises the possibility that some birds may see additional deep dialectric charging events. Satellites in lower orbits are not free from the effects of this activity. Although the high-energy electrons do tend to concentrate along the outer area of the magnetosphere, some lower orbiting satellites can also be affected by the higher electron concentrations. The rest of the report is accurate enough. Solar flares and magnetic storms can be dismissed as the source. We simply needed to clarify that electron recurrence is correlated with coronal holes and is not in fact "speculative", as well as the possible vulnerability of lower-orbiting satellites. If the previous erroneous report is reproduced in newsletters or publications, feel free to edit it so that the above corrections are included. If necessary, send me a copy and I'll proof read it for correctness. Cary Oler Director, STD, INT COler@Solar.Stanford.Edu ** End of Bulletin ** ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 10 Feb 1994 14:03:27 MST From: mvb.saic.com!unogate!news.service.uci.edu!usc!yeshua.marcam.com!zip.eecs.umich.edu!destroyer!nntp.cs.ubc.ca!alberta!adec23!ve6mgs!usenet@network.ucsd.edu Subject: CT-USER mailing list is now available! To: info-hams@ucsd.edu I have set up a reflector (similar to CQ-CONTEST) for users of K1EA's contest logging software, CT. If you are interested in joining the list, send a message to "MajorDomo@sttng.mlo.dec.com" and put this text in the *BODY* of your mail message: info ct-user It will send you the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) list, which will tell you how to subscribe. 73 - Jim AD1C ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 14 Feb 1994 17:50:02 GMT From: newshub.nosc.mil!ihnp4.ucsd.edu!sdd.hp.com!vixen.cso.uiuc.edu!howland.reston.ans.net!europa.eng.gtefsd.com!library.ucla.edu!csulb.edu!csus.edu!netcom.com!jfh@network.ucsd.edu Subject: Foot race across desert? To: info-hams@ucsd.edu I remember hearing about a foot race somewhere across the desert in Southern California and maybe Nevada. It's run by a police agency as a fundraiser for some charity, I think. They have solicited amateur radio volunteers in the past, but I heard about it only after the event (and I don't remember where). Does anyone have more information about this event? (Sorry about the excessively broad distribution, but my news poster won't let me restrict it to just California.) -- ------------------------------------------------------ Jack Hamilton USMail: POB 281107 SF CA 94128 USA jfh@netcom.com Packet: kd6ttl@w6pw.#nocal.ca.us.na ------------------------------ Date: 14 Feb 1994 19:02:51 GMT From: newshub.nosc.mil!ihnp4.ucsd.edu!sdd.hp.com!math.ohio-state.edu!howland.reston.ans.net!europa.eng.gtefsd.com!library.ucla.edu!csulb.edu!byon@network.ucsd.edu Subject: Foot race across desert? To: info-hams@ucsd.edu In article , Jack Hamilton wrote: >I remember hearing about a foot race somewhere across the desert in >Southern California and maybe Nevada. It's run by a police agency as >a fundraiser for some charity, I think. They have solicited amateur radio >volunteers in the past, but I heard about it only after the event (and I >don't remember where). > >Does anyone have more information about this event? > It is called the Challange Cup Relay Race - also know as the Baker to Vegas race. It's a 120 mile relay race in 20 legs from Baker, in California, through Pahrumph (sp) and on into Vegas. This year it will be held on April 8-9. We (Orange County RACES) set up a communications system for the use of a few county teams. It is an international event, run by police officers. This is all off the top of my head, so I may be off a bit, but I gan get you as much info as you would like. -- Byon Garrabrant KD6BCH byon@csulb.edu ------------------------------ Date: 11 Feb 94 04:19:08 GMT From: openlink.openlink.com!lanslide!hls.com!trop@uunet.uu.net Subject: FOR SALE: YAESU 470 DUAL BAND HT!! To: info-hams@ucsd.edu FOR SALE: Yaesu 470 Dual Band 2m/70cm handheld tranceiver Includes: Standard battery pack (FNB-17) AC Adapter/Charger Standard rubber duck Radio case Wrist strap Optional alkaline battery case I purchased this radio as a backup radio to my primary 470. I have since purchased another backup radio and would like to sell this one. It has essentially been sitting in the box since I purchased it and really hasn't been used for more than a couple of hours (it still has the protective cover over the keypad!). All manuals and associated documentation are included with the original box. I have used the battery that came with it, so you have your choice of battery. Prices are firm and include 2 day FEDEX delivery, although a Bay Area buyer is preferred. HRO price ~$340 + 15 for the alkaline battery case $275 with original battery $290 for battery with new inserts (has some scratches) Email or phone for more info on this radio or its features Troy T. Pummill, N6XMV trop@hls.com H: (408) 475-0249 leave message ------------------------------ Date: 13 Feb 1994 06:39:37 GMT From: sgiblab!wetware!kaiwan.com!kaiwan.kaiwan.com!dab@ames.arpa Subject: Noise Problem To: info-hams@ucsd.edu (Thanks all for the responses on my YX0AI/F6FNU/N7RO question) For the past year or so, I've had a very bad noise problem while operating on the HF bands. Since I've been a lot more active the past few months, this is really starting to frustrate me. The noise is not a real choppy sounding noise, but sounds more like VERY strong band noise. However when I have this very loud noise, other stations within a few miles have no noise. Neither of the two noise blankers turned up full blast on my TS-930S do much good. I'm using a vertical antenna, so I can't turn it to see which direction it's coming from. The noise is very apparent on all HF bands from 1.8-28 MHz, 144mhz, as well as sparkles on my cable TV. The noise doesnt seem to make it up to 450mhz though, nice and quiet up there. I have power lines directly in back of my house, but I don't think they are the problem. I've had Southern California Edison come out a few times over the past couple of years and they reported no problems. The noise is not always there and varries in strength each time it comes on. I think the noise is coming from some sort of appliance or machinery from one of the neighbors' houses, but I have no idea how to find it. It is a little baffling though, sometimes I won't hear the noise for weeks, but is has been present this entire weekend 24 hours a day. Has anybody had experience tracking down and solving this type of noise problem? Any advice or comments would be appreciated. 73 de Doug - NF6H -- /*--------------------------------------------------------------------*/ Doug Brandon [NF6H] Placentia, California dab@kaiwan.com ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 9 Feb 1994 09:47:19 GMT From: hobbes!earth.armory.com!dev@uunet.uu.net Subject: Opinions wanted on mobile dual-banders To: info-hams@ucsd.edu i posted this a little while ago just to the equipmet group, but seeing as i got little response, i'm widening my audience a bit. :-) anyways, i'm looking to get a mobile dual-bander for my car. and of course i'm interested in finding out what other people have and why the like or dis-like it. i'm interested in what sort of features they have, what features they do or don't need on it, what's really good to have (expanded recieve? backlit DTMF mic?). tell me your experiences, etc. i've noticed that most of the units only do tx from 440 to 450 in the 70cm band. that seems a little weird to me. only the Yaseu seems to do 430 to 450. these sorts of oddities is what is confusing me as to what to buy. any help on this would be really appreciated. -- David Vangerov, KD6WXQ dev@deeptht.armory.com ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 10 Feb 1994 12:29:58 MST From: mvb.saic.com!unogate!news.service.uci.edu!usc!yeshua.marcam.com!zip.eecs.umich.edu!destroyer!nntp.cs.ubc.ca!alberta!adec23!ve6mgs!usenet@network.ucsd.edu Subject: WARNING: Potential Satellite Anomaly Warning To: info-hams@ucsd.edu /\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\ POT UPDATED: 18:00 UT, 10 FEBRUARY /\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\ ATTENTION: High energy electrons at greater than 2 MeV remain enhanced. Levels observed since about the 7th are approximately the same as what was observed in January. Geosynchronous satellites (and possibly lower orbiting birds) may experience anomalous charging events as a result of this activity. It is reasonable to suspect that this activity will continue for several more days at least, given the extent of the responsible coronal hole. This may increase the risk for deep charging events given the unusual duration of this activity. ** End of Warning ** ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 9 Feb 1994 08:30:26 GMT From: agate!howland.reston.ans.net!darwin.sura.net!rouge!cfm1471@network.ucsd.edu Subject: ZA1A To: info-hams@ucsd.edu I know this might sound kinda strange, but I just got an envelope from the W5 buro, and guess what, a ZA1A card from July 7, 1992. Hey, it took 2 years to get here, but it made it! Guess it shows that patience really works if you let it. Charlie **************************************************************************** * KI5XP@K5ARH.LFT.LA.USA.NA * U.S.L.A.R.C - U. of S'Western La * * ki5xp@usl.edu * A.A.R.A - Acadiana Am. Radio. A. * * ki5xp@w5ddl.aara.org * * * * * * "Life is too short for QRP!"-- ??? * "Hams do it with a spark!"-- ??? * **************************************************************************** ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 13 Feb 1994 05:26:13 GMT From: news.Hawaii.Edu!uhunix3.uhcc.Hawaii.Edu!jherman@ames.arpa To: info-hams@ucsd.edu References , <1994Feb10.134419.7253@ccd.harris.com>, <1994Feb12.145650.4024@ke4zv.atl.ga.us> Subject : Re: Golf Causes Cancer! In article <1994Feb12.145650.4024@ke4zv.atl.ga.us> gary@ke4zv.atl.ga.us (Gary Coffman) writes: > Farming, of course, >continues to be the most dangerous occupation in the US with more >occupational injuries and deaths than any other large scale occupation. >By comparison, the occupation of police officer is rated rather low >on the scale of occupational risk. Just goes to show how perceptions >and reality often don't match. > I believe that mining and firefighting are rated as the most dangerous occupations. [As a fireman back in Southern California in the 70's I was continually reminded of that fact by my training officer.] ============================================================================= Jeffrey Herman NH6IL jherman@hawaii.edu, who, in his spare time, cannibalizes old TV sets to make QRP transmitters (CW, of course). Previously: WA6QIJ, WH6AEQ, NMO (U.S. Coast Guard Radio Honolulu: 500 kc CW) Vietnamese Proverb: If you study you will become what you wish If you do not study you will never become anything. ============================================================================= ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 13 Feb 1994 05:16:01 GMT From: news.Hawaii.Edu!uhunix3.uhcc.Hawaii.Edu!jherman@ames.arpa To: info-hams@ucsd.edu References <1994Feb3.190229.8136@arrl.org>, , <1994Feb11.164431.7979@arrl.org> Subject : Re: RAMSEY FX TRANSCEIVER (now long) >: >: >Greg Bullough (greg@netcom.com) wrote: >: >: > >: >: >: Steven has hit it on the head. As hams, we have for years said "can't >: >: >: afford a commercial rig? Home-brew or build a simple kit." Then >: >: >: QST and all the other magazines which bang this drum (which quite >: >: >: handily fills up magazine pages with circuits that few ever >: >: >: build) reap big advertising dollars from kit companies. Geez Greg, how do you know that ``...few ever build...'' those circuits? Have you taken a poll? You sound like someone else on here who tries to pass opinion as fact. And are you saying that few are building QST's circuit or that few are building period? If it's the latter, why would the rec.radio.caretakers create a new newsgroup, .homebrew? And those kit manufacturers advertising in QST must be selling kits otherwise they wouldn't be in business year after year. I can't begin to tell you the huge number of folks that are building and modifying kits on the QRP mail net. Can you imagine what your subscription/membership fees would be if QST didn't acccept advertising dollars? It's usually the appliance operators who scream about how much space is taken up in QST with circuits... Even though you're wrong on all counts, 73 to you Greg. =============================================================================== Jeffrey Herman, NH6IL, jherman@hawaii.edu, who, in his spare time, cannibalizes old TV sets to make QRP transmitters (CW of course). Previously: WA6QIJ, WH6AEQ, NMO (U.S. Coast Guard Radio Honolulu: 500kc CW) It is said that CW is the second most popular mode on HF, but scanning the bands I frequently count more CW QSOs than SSB QSOs. ============================================================================== ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 14 Feb 1994 14:27:20 GMT From: agate!library.ucla.edu!csulb.edu!csus.edu!netcom.com!greg@network.ucsd.edu To: info-hams@ucsd.edu References , <1994Feb12.161053.4486@ke4zv.atl.ga.us>, Subject : Re: 40 meter QRP (cw or ssb) In article jherman@uhunix3.uhcc.Hawaii.Edu (Jeff Herman) writes: >In article <1994Feb12.161053.4486@ke4zv.atl.ga.us> gary@ke4zv.atl.ga.us (Gary Coffman) writes: >>In article jherman@uhunix3.uhcc.Hawaii.Edu (Jeff Herman) writes: >>>In article <1994Feb11.001239.2842@ke4zv.atl.ga.us> gary@ke4zv.atl.ga.us (Gary Coffman) writes: >>>>I can wait and recognize "the", but when it turns out to be the >>>>opening character group in "Thessalonian", I'm screwed. Dealing >>>>character by character on paper insures I get either correctly. >>> >>>Geez Gary, what kind of QSOs do you have? In 18 years I've never had >>>someone send that word to me; phooey - your QSOs sound MUCH more >>>interesting than mine. >> >>I've been claiming that all along, Jeff. The high information rate >>of voice transmission allows complex ideas to be expressed quickly >>enough to be interesting. >> > >Now wait a minute! I meant CW QSOs - if folks are sending you words >such as Thessalonian on CW THEN your QSOs are more interesting than >mine. >You never miss an opportunity to kick CW in the okole (Hawaiian word >for what you sit on). Then again, in this bigger, busier, faster, hurry-up world, we often miss the simple pleasure of spending a half hour passing the time on 15 Meter CW, at 7 WPM with a young (or old) novice for whom it's all so big and new. On a couple of watt transmitter and a DC receiver that cost me all of $35. ($35 HW-8s in perfect working order are, like lightning, something that the gods usually only bestow once, by the way.) Okay, so I'm wierd. But I still think theirs something magical about tickling the ether with a simple signal on a cold night. Then again, I'm in great company. :-) CW is to SSB as fine cognac is to good beer. Both have their merits and pleasures, and both are acquired tastes. And it's okay to not care for either or both. Greg ------------------------------ End of Info-Hams Digest V94 #152 ****************************** ******************************