Date: Mon, 9 May 94 00:28:40 PDT 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 #504 To: Info-Hams Info-Hams Digest Mon, 9 May 94 Volume 94 : Issue 504 Today's Topics: 30Mhz - 40Mhz range, who uses it? ANARTS RTTY NEWS BULLETIN 808 08/05/1994 ANS-127 BULLETINS How to make a diplexer? Licencing cost (was: Canadian Reciprocity) Looking for who is selling me a HTX-202 (2 msgs) Non-existent ham software that should VK2WI Weekly News, 8th May, 1994 Was this a bad idea? 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: Mon, 09 May 1994 05:49:02 GMT From: ihnp4.ucsd.edu!library.ucla.edu!csulb.edu!nic-nac.CSU.net!charnel.ecst.csuchico.edu!rat!zeus!shawkins@network.ucsd.edu Subject: 30Mhz - 40Mhz range, who uses it? To: info-hams@ucsd.edu Does anyone know who/what uses the 30Mhz to 40Mhz frequency range? I have a European 35Mhz transmitter for my RC aircraft. I would like to know if it's safe to use it in the States. Does anything conflict? Military possibly? Thanks, Stuart ------------------------------ Date: 9 May 1994 16:54:27 +1000 From: ihnp4.ucsd.edu!agate!doc.ic.ac.uk!uknet!EU.net!sunic!trane.uninett.no!eunet.no!nuug!nac.no!ifi.uio.no!wabbit.cc.uow.edu.au!news.ci.com.au!eram.esi.com.au!not-for-mail@network. Subject: ANARTS RTTY NEWS BULLETIN 808 08/05/1994 To: info-hams@ucsd.edu [ ANARTS - Australian National Amateur Radio Teletype Society ] ANARTS NEWS BULLETIN 808 08/05/1994 Sunday Transmission Schedule 3.545 MHz plus/minus 3 0930 UTC VK2BQS (Jim) 7.045 MHz to minus 3 0030 UTC VK2CTD (Col) 14.070 MHz (amtor/fec) 0030 UTC VK2DPM (Alan) 14.091 MHz 0030 UTC VK2BQS (JIM) 146.675 MHz 0030/0930 UTC VK2JPA (PAT) 144.850 MHz (ax25 bbs) VK2JPA AT VK2RWI 146.675 MHz (rtty mmbbs/repeater) VK2RTY Views expressed in this news bulletin are not necessarily those of the Broadcast Officer, the Relay Officers, or of the Society. GTOR (conclusion) reprinted from RTTY Digital Journal ------------ On-The-Air Testing During the month of January over a million bytes were transferred error-free from Lawrence, Kansas to Laguna Niguel, California. During these tests, TRACE was set ON at each station, enabling the display of acknowledgement bytes and data frames including control bytes. This allowed us to view and count data and acknowledgement frames received with and without the aid of forward error correction and interleaving. The results were somewhat surprising! While Pactor often dropped in transmission speed from 200 to 100 baud, G-TOR nearly always kept on crunching frames at 300 baud! Enough frames are corrected to keep the system running at 300 baud, regardless of man-made interference and mild multi-path condi- tions. Transfer duration for the entire test file varied from 12 to 27 minutes for Pactor but only 5.5 to 7.5 minutes for all but one transfer in G-TOR. G-TOR simply maintained its highest pace better than Pactor, resulting in a substantial increase in average throughput. Operation of G-TOR is much like AMTOR. Establish a link by typing (GTOR callsign) and (return) at the cmd: prompt. Enter standby to copy CQs or to receive a link request by typing (GTOR) and (Return). Tune to a G-TOR CQ call as you would in AMTOR. G-TOR uses the AMTOR FEC mode for calling CQ and as its broadcast mode. Change the direction of information flow using the directives (Control-C T) and (control-C E). Conclusion G-TOR features include Golay forward error correction coding, full-frame interleaving, on-the-fly Huffman data compression with run-length encoding, fuzzy acknowledgments, a long hybrid-ARQ cycle of 2.4 seconds, and a link-quality based transmission rate. Combined, these techniques result in a new, very robust, interference-resistant mode for HF digital communication for the amateur radio service. Throughput exceeds other existing all-mode TNC modes by better than two- to-one. G-TOR will be standard in the KAM Plus and the Enhancement board for the KAM (predecessor of the KAM Plus). G-TOR will not be available for KAMs without the enhancement board since EPROM space is too small. Firmware EPROM updates will be available for the KAM Plus and KAM with Enhancement board. G-TOR is a trademark of Kantronics, Inc. Editor's note : there is a critique of G-TOR on the packet system here at the moment. In the interests of amateurs who do not have access to packet, we will run this item following the completion of this review so as to have another viewpoint on this new system. ----------------------------------------- VOLTA RTTY WW Contest Contest period: from 1200z Saturday to 1200Z Sunday 14-15 May (24 hours, no rest periods required) Bands: 80, 40, 20, 15 and 10M Classes: A1 - Single op, all bands A2/xx - Single op, single band (xx = band) B - Multi-op, single transmitter C - SWL Exchange : Send : RST plus QSO nr. plus CQ zone nr. Multipliers: DXCC Country List plus each call area in VK, VE and USA. DO NOT COUNT VK, VE , or USA as separate country. (USA stations with callsigns from one district but are now living in a different district should give proper identification, such as :K6WZ/0.) The same multiplier counts again on a new band. An additional multiplier is given for each INTERCONTINENTAL COUNTRY worked on at least four bands. Contacts between stations within the same country will not be valid, such as: a W2 station can work W1, W3, W4 etc. but not W2. Contacts made OUTSIDE ones own continent on 80 or 10M are worth double QSO points. A contact with a station that would count as a multiplier will be valid if that station appears in at least 4 other logs, or a contest log is received from that station. More next week ----------------------------------------- IPS weekly report ----------------- 29 April - 5 May 1994 Issue No 18 Date of issue: 6 May 1994 INDICES: Date 29 30 01 02 03 04 05 10cm 078 075 075 076 074 073 073 A 06 02 25 41 45 23 (30 estimated) T 45 40 27 -05 49 09 16 SUMMARY OF ACTIVITY Solar activity was very low during the period. The geomagnetic field at Learmonth (WA) was quiet on 29th-30th April, unsettled to minor storm 1st-2nd May, and unsettled to active 3rd-5th with a brief minor storm period on 3rd. Ionospheric F2 critical frequencies at Sydney were near predicted monthly values 29th-30 April, near normal to 30 per cent enhanced on 1st May, depressed by up to 30 per cent on 2nd, returning to near normal to 20 per cent enhanced on 3rd. On 4th-5th May, frequencies were near normal to 30 per cent depressed. Spread F was observed on 2nd and 4th-5th May, and blanketing sporadic E conditions obtained at times on 2nd May. FORECAST FOR THE NEXT WEEK (6 - 12 May) SOLAR: Very low GEOMAGNETIC: Unsettled to active IONOSPHERIC Near predicted monthly values. Updated IPS Monthly Predicted Smoothed T-Indices YR JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC ------------------------------------------------------------- 94 39 37 36 35 34 31 28 26 24 22 21 19 95 18 18 17 16 15 14 14 13 12 11 11 10 96 10 9 9 8 8 8 8 9 9 10 11 12 97 13 15 17 19 21 23 26 30 33 38 43 48 Courtesy of IPS Radio and Space Services ---------------------------------------- VK2SG RTTY DX NOTES 29 APR 94 VK2SG RTTY DXNOTES FOR WEEKENDING 29 APR. 1994 (BID RTDX0429) THIS HAS BEEN ONE OF THOSE WEEKS WHERE NOTHING HAS HAPPENED, SO I TOOK LIBERTY TO LOOK AROUND THE BANDS. ONE WONDERS AT TIMES ABOUT THE OPERATIONS OF SOME PEOPLE, IT WOULD APPEAR THAT, AT THE MOMENT, THE BIG GAME IS TO JAM OTHER STATIONS. IT HAS BEEN NOTICED THAT THERE ARE LOTS OF SIGNALS THAT JUST IDLE ON TOP OF STATIONS THAT ARE TRYING TO ESTABLISH A CONTACT. SOME OTHER OPERATOR SEEM TO SPEND A LOT OF TIME JUST LISTING BULLETINS IN EVERY MAILBOX THAT CAN FIND, WELL EACH ONE IS ENTITLED TO DO THAT, BUT IT SURE SEEMS TO ANNOY SOME PEOPLE. OUR THANKS THIS WEEK GO TO: ZS5S, W2JGR, WB2CJL, VK2SG, OH2BBF ON6RO, DJ3IW AND THE CENTRAL-EU. DXCLUSTER NODE DB0SPC, I5ICY AND IK5PWJ PACKETCLUSTER AND THE NJ0M NODE OF THE TWIN CITIES. BANDPASS: FRIDAY 22 0641-14084 C91AI 1240-14085 RA1ZD 1337-14087 J28JJ 2005-14084 UY0IO 2201-14083 EI3GZ SATURDAY 23 (INT. MARCONI DAY) 0056-14082 CX7BF 0140-14077 P29RB PACTOR 0338-14069 A35CT AMT 0551-14080 7Z1AB PACTOR 1006-14077 T30NS PACTOR 1256-21085 ZD7DP 1304-21084 Z21HD 1440-14082 XU7VK 1443-14086 3Z0RY FER PREFIX 1445-21085 5R8DS 1447-21088 S92ZM 1512-14078 V51A 1538-21083 VQ9SS 1541-21091 ZP6XR 1639-21085 J28JJ 1705-14083 UN5PR 1836-21090 9H1ET 1930-14088 VP9MZ SUNDAY 24 0302-14085 ZL3GQ 0321-14075 V31AE PACTOR 0937-21086 UZ9CWA 0944-21084 3Z0RY 1448-21083 Z21HD 1511-14085 LZ1KB 1653-21087 CX5CJ 2032-14086 VA3MM 2153-14081 LU1HM MONDAY 25 0345-14084 T28RW QSL ZL1AMO 0605-14086 HV4NAC QSL IK0FVC 1345-21070 J28JJ ARQ 1355-21074 VP8WA PACTOR 1414-14082 UN5PR 1512-14087 RU9FM 1526-21076 ZC4SW PACTOR QSL G0DVF 1638-14087 TA5C 1741-14089 5R8KH 2156-14086 SV1QN TUESDAY 26 0612-14095 V63JM PACTOR 0625-14082 C91AI QSL VIA CT1GTZ 0720-14090 WL7EE 1205-14087 UT7FP 1340-21085 VS6GA 1747-14084 SV1ADG 2310-14089 HK0DPA 2356-14083 V31AR WEDNESDAY 27 0552-14085 C91AI 0605-14088 NH6XM 0620-14086 WL7EF 0745-14086 T28RW 1107-21070 S92ZM ARQ 1404-14090 VS6GA 1555-14085 9H1ET 1714-14089 ZC4ZZ 2212-14088 HK0DPA THURSDAY 28 0524-14080 OD5NA PACTOR 0552-14083 C91AI 1514-21070 J28JJ ARQ NOTES OF INTEREST: MORE ON 9X5LJ. ON HIS RETURN IN BELGIUM, JACQUES WAS ON TV NEWS. HE WAS RECOMMENDED FOR KEEPING A 2 MTR VOICE REPEATER IN KIGALI GOING WHICH ASSISTED GREATLY DURING THE EVACUATION OPERATIONS.JACQUES WAS HOPITALISED FOR MALARIA AND HEPATITIS. BOTH, MONIQUE AND JACQUES ARE TOUCHED BY ALL SEND MESSAGES OF OF SYMPATHY THEY HAVE RECEIVED. THEY ARE VERY GRATEFUL FOR THEM AND SEND THEIR REGARDS TO ALL OF YOU. THE BOX WAS STILL RUNNING ON THE 25TH APR. 21073 ON AMTOR. MARKET REEF. ERIC OJ0/OH2BBF PLANS TO AIR SOME RTTY FROM 15TH TO 16TH MAY FROM MARKET REEF. OJ0/OH1VR, OJ0/AC6T, OJ0/OH6RM AND OH0MB WILL BE ON SSB/CW, OJ0/OH1VR ALSO ON 6 METERS, 14TH TO 17TH MAY. (OH0MB IS THE CURRENT MARKET REEF CALL OF LARS, OH0RJ). OPERATION IS PENDING FROM WEATHER DUE TO HELICOPTER TRANSPORTATION. VOLTA RTTY TEST. HONORING ITALIAN DISCOVERER OF ELECTRICITY, ALESSANDRO VOLTA, I REMIND YOU THIS CONTEST WHICH WILL START FROM 1200Z MAY 14TH AND WILL END 1200Z OF MAY 15TH. EXCHANGE RST, QSO NUMBER AND CQ ZONE NUMBER. GENEVA. AN ITALIAN TEAM WILL BE ACTIVE FROM ITU HEADQUARTERS MAY 20-22TH USING SPECIAL CALL 4U9ITU ON CW, SSB AND RTTY. SEND YOUR BANDPASS AND NOTES FOR NEXT WEEK BULLETIN TO JULES, W2JGR AT W2TKU.#SRQFL.FL.USA.NA. GL DE (DX2) LUCIANO, I5FLN AT ZS5S.ZAF.AF Editors Note Lucianos comments apply here as much as overseas. What has happened to the Amateurs code of respecting others rights? All that is required is to choose a frequency in that segment of the band set aside for the mode you want to use, and to take a moment or two to listen for any traffic to see that the frequency is clear. Not too much to ask, is it? Surely amateurs of today can abide by the gentlemans code and make the hobby pleasant and friendly for all. --------------------------------------- Coming events ------------- 1994 ---- May 14th-15th Volta RTTY WW Contest ------------------------------------ Society information The Society may be contacted at : PO Box 860, Crows Nest 2065 Australia, for such matters as membership and general enquiries. Enquiries can also be made by packet to the President (Col) VK2CTD, or the Secretary (Pat) VK2JPA @ VK2RWI or whatever BBS is providing the alternative communication. News items may be sent to Broadcast Officer PO Box 60 Blacktown 2148 Australia, or by packet to VK2JPA as per the above outline. Email address for the Broadcast Officer is: patl@pitt.conmusic.su.oz.au The Society welcomes news items on any digital subjects from anywhere in the broadcast footprint. We know we reach ZL and South Pacific islands. We are looking forward to news from your areas to let other amateurs know what you are doing in the hobby. Hope to hear from you. 73s de Pat VK2JPA Broadcast Officer That concludes ANARTS NEWS 808 08/05/94. To assist an analysis of our distribution, if you use this means of obtaining a copy of the bulletins, a VERY BRIEF note would be appreciated. Simply your call and via ??????BBS would be sufficient- Send via Packet through VK2DAA, or Amtor through VK2AGE, I monitor them both weekly......Additional comments will be read with interest. Inserted by VK2BQS (Jim) Vice President ANARTS. -- Dave Horsfall (VK2KFU) VK2KFU @ VK2AAB.NSW.AUS.OC PGP 2.3 dave@esi.COM.AU ...munnari!esi.COM.AU!dave available ------------------------------ Date: 9 May 94 03:17:44 GMT From: news-mail-gateway@ucsd.edu Subject: ANS-127 BULLETINS To: info-hams@ucsd.edu SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-127.01 AMSAT-NA BEST EVER DAYTON HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 127.01 FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD MAY 7, 1994 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT BID: $ANS-127.01 Dayton Hamvention '94 Termed "Best Ever" For AMSAT-NA The 1994 Dayton Hamvention is now history, and AMSAT-North America's (AMSAT-NA) participation at this year's gathering was nothing short of a record breaker from a number of standpoints. "While all the numbers aren't in yet, we now believe this will be our best year ever for AMSAT at Day- ton," said Bill Tynan (W3XO) AMSAT-NA President. He went on to express his sincere thanks for the very long hours, lost sleep and hard work put forth by the many Dayton AMSAT booth volunteers, forum speakers and contributors. In addition, Bill expressed his particular pleasure that the success at this year's Hamvention also coincided with AMSAT's 25th anniversary cele- bration. Without question, the highlight of this year's Hamvention activ- ity was a forum honoring the 10th anniversary of SAREX activity aboard the NASA Space Shuttle. Roy Neal (K6DUE) moderated the forum and was joined on the podium by NASA Shuttle Astronauts Tony England (W0ORE) and Steve Nagel (N5RAW) along with several other members of the SAREX working group. Also joining the group by live telephone patch were Astronauts Jay Apt (N5QWL) at the Johnson Space Flight Center in Houston and Astronaut Ron Parise (WA4SIR) at the Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland. In addition, a surprisingly clear telephone patch was successfully completed to Astronaut Ken Cameron (KB5AWP) in Star City, Russia. Ken is now training there for an upcoming joint NASA/Soyuz mission to the Russian Space Station MIR. All the astronauts shared their on-orbit experiences with ham radio and answered several questions from the gathering of Ham- vention attendees. A number of students who have contacted the Shuttle via Amateur Radio in the past were also present at the forum and gave their own first hand impressions of their activities. Local TV coverage from all three Dayton commercial television stations highlighted the NASA astronauts speaking to the standing-room-only crowd of nearly 500 present at the event. Other AMSAT activities at this year's Hamvention included a beginner's forum hosted by Keith Baker (KB1SF) along with a new PACSAT forum hosted by John Hansen (WA0PTV). Ed Krome (KA9LNV) highlighted the simplicity of Mode-S in a forum dedicated exclusively to that activity. Dick Jansson (WD4FAB) AMSAT-NA's VP for Engineering, was also on the program and brought Hamvention attendees up to speed on the latest developments with Phase 3-D. In addition, Ron Broadbent (G3AAJ) the Honorable Secretary of AMSAT-UK, gave his organization's perspective on the Phase 3-D project. Ron also announced to the group that a $100,000 contribution from AMSAT-UK was recently made to the Phase 3-D project specifically for the purchase of flight batteries for the new spacecraft. Unfortunately, two days of steady rain on Friday and Saturday followed by extremely cold weather on Sunday kept most of the crowd indoors. Despite the bad weather, however, well over 200 people stopped by the booth to initially join or renew their memberships in AMSAT-NA. New items at this year's AMSAT booth included two new software programs and a number of other items. Joe Holman (KA7LDN) unveiled AMSAT-NA's first ever Microsoft Windows-based satellite tracking program called WINSAT. In addition, a new Microsoft Windows-based PB/PG packet software package called WISP written by Chris Jackson (ZL2TPO), was premiered at the booth. Needless to say, both of these new AMSAT software packages were in great demand by Hamvention attendees. Other new items included an AMSAT 25th Anniversary patch and decal. Also, several new books were premiered at the booth, including the fourth and latest edition of "How to Use the Amatuer Radio Satellites" by Keith Baker (KB1SF) and a newly revised "AMSAT-NA Digital Satellite Guide" edited by Gould Smith (WA4SXM). [The AMSAT News Service (ANS) would like to thank KB1SF, W3XO, and KA3HDO for this bulletin item.] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-127.02 UoSAT STUDENT/HAM HONORED HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 127.02 FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD MAY 7, 1994 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT BID: $ANS-127.02 G7MBF Recognized For His Research With POSAT-OSCAR-28's GPS Experiment Congratulations are in order for University of Surrey (UoSAT) student Martin Unwin (G7MBF) who won the "Best Student Paper Prize" for his paper titled "Differential GPS Implementation on Microsatellites" presented at the recent Differential Satellite Navigation Systems Conference held in London. The award was sponsored by INMARSAT and the Royal Institute of Navigation and consists of $1,000 to be used for continuing research in GPS at UoSAT; it was presented to Martin by Olaf Lundburg, the Director General of INMARSAT. The PoSAT-OSCAR-28 GPS experiment has been highly successful automatically generating keplerian elements on-board based on GPS location measurements. Efforts are under way to use ground-based radars or other "cross-checks" to see just how accurately the GPS receiver is measuring the satellite's position in orbit. [The AMSAT News Service (ANS) would like to thank Jeff Ward (K8KA/G0SUL) for this bulletin item.] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-127.03 AO-13 OPS NET SCHEDULE HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 127.03 FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD MAY 7, 1994 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT BID: $ANS-127.03 Current AMSAT Operations Net Schedule For AO-13 AMSAT Operations Nets are planned for the following times. Mode-B Nets are conducted on AO-13 on a downlink frequency of 145.950 MHz. If, at the start of the OPS Net, the frequency of 145.950 MHz is being used for a QSO, OPS Net enthusiasts are asked to move to the alternate frequency of 145.955 MHz. Date UTC Mode Phs NCS Alt NCS 14-May-94 1700 B 167 WA5ZIB W5IU 21-May-94 2130 B 185 VE2LVC W9ODI Any stations with information on current events would be most welcomed. Also, those interested in discussing technical issues or who have quest- ions about any particular aspect of OSCAR statellite operations, are encouraged to join the OPS Nets. If neither of the Net Control Stations show up, any participant is invited to act as the NCS. "Slow Scanners" are invited to join the SSTV sessions on AO-13. The freq- uency is 145.955 MHz. The net meets at 45 minutes before Mode S, and on Mode B following Mode S on Saturdays and Sundays. Join those sessions or convey your wishes for other SSTV skeds to wb6llo@amsat.org, and he will coordinate your efforts. /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-127.04 WEEKLY OSCAR STATUS REPORTS HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 127.04 FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD MAY 7, 1994 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT BID: $ANS-127.04 Weekly OSCAR Status Reports: 07-MAY-94 AO-13: Current Transponder Operating Schedule: M QST *** AO-13 TRANSPONDER SCHEDULE *** 1994 Apr 07-Jul 11 Mode-B : MA 0 to MA 170 | Mode-BS : MA 170 to MA 218 | Mode-S : MA 218 to MA 220 |<- S beacon only Mode-S : MA 220 to MA 230 |<- S transponder; B trsp. is OFF Mode-BS : MA 230 to MA 250 | Blon/Blat 230/-5 Mode-B : MA 250 to MA 256 | Omnis : MA 250 to MA 120 | Move to attitude 180/0, Jul 11 [G3RUH/DB2OS/VK5AGR] FO-20: The FO-20 ground command station has confirmed that the bird has been malfunctioning. The operational schedule announced previously is currently suspended and the analog mode will be continued indefinitely. Further operation schedule will be announced on and after 11-May-94. [Kazu Sakamoto (JJ1WTK) qga02014@niftyserve.or.jp] KO-25: KO-25 B has apparently been moved to the alternate receive freq- uency because of trouble with the other receiver. So uplink now is 145.870 MHz. The controllers note that the receiver may be turned off inter- mittently due to receiver testing. [WH6I] AO-16: Working well. [WH6I] LO-19: Operating normally. [WH6I] KO-23: Operating Normally. [WH6I] UO-11: WB1HBU talked with Doug Loughmiller (G0SYX) of the University of Surrey (UoSAT) while they both were at the Dayton Hamvention and G0SYX indicated that UO-11's S band beacon is now on continuously. The frequency is 2401.5 MHz. [WB1HBU & G0SYX] RS-10/11: WA6ARA reports that RS-10 is operating beautifully! The passes at his QTH are coming around again in the late evening. WA6ARA is present- ly using QRP power, about 5W, using CW into a J pole with excellent results. WA6ARA says that "this bird continues to put out an excellent signal." [WA6ARA] RS-12/13: HA5WH friend, Sanyi (XU7VK), is working from Cambodia during the daytime on RS-12. His biggest problem is finding stations to make QSOs with. HA5WH requests all stations in that area who use RS-12 to listen for XU7VK on RS-12. [HA5WH] The AMSAT NEWS Service (ANS) is looking for volunteers to contribute weekly OSCAR status reports. If you have a favorite OSCAR which you work on a regular basis and would like to contribute to this bulletin, please send your observations to WD0HHU at his CompuServe address of 70524,2272, on INTERNET at wd0hhu@amsat.org, or to his local packet BBS in the Denver, CO area, WD0HHU @ W0LJF.#NECO.CO.USA.NOAM. Also, if you find that the current set of orbital elements are not generating the correct AOS/LOS times at your QTH, PLEASE INCLUDE THAT INFORMATION AS WELL. The information you provide will be of value to all OSCAR enthusiasts. /EX ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 9 May 1994 04:32:00 GMT From: ihnp4.ucsd.edu!swrinde!cs.utexas.edu!utnut!torn!uunet.ca!uunet.ca!iceonline!icebox!janc@network.ucsd.edu Subject: How to make a diplexer? To: info-hams@ucsd.edu >That's not a diplexer schematic in the previous post. It's essentially a >VHF / UHF splitter, which is really just hi pass and lo pass filters in >the same box. Diplexers use exotic things like cavities and magic T's. >What? You've never heard of a magic T? > I've always been told that a duplexer utilized cavities and was used in applications such as repeaters. Diplexers it was then understood were the little black boxes you'd attach to your dual band mobile radio to run two bands/2 radios on a dual band antenna OR 2 antennas from a single dual band radio with only one antenna output. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ janc@icebox.iceonline.com : If you eat a live toad first thing in the : morning, nothing worse will happen to you all Fido: 1:153/7116 : day. Amateur Radio: VE7FJC : To you or the toad. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------ Date: 7 May 94 14:43:57 GMT From: agate!howland.reston.ans.net!usenet.ins.cwru.edu!ns.mcs.kent.edu!kira.cc.uakron.edu!malgudi.oar.net!hypnos!voxbox!jgrubs@ucbvax.berkeley.edu Subject: Licencing cost (was: Canadian Reciprocity) To: info-hams@ucsd.edu -----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- rwa@aupair.cs.athabascau.ca (Ross Alexander) writes: > jhanson@yar.cs.wisc.edu (Jason Hanson) writes: > > >Russ Renaud wrote: > > >>Our cousins to the south pay less than $6.00 U.S. for a license that's > >>good for 10 YEARS!!!! > > Our cousins live in a sea of EMI and QRM. They're welcome to it. > Or go live there; you're not a prisoner. > > >Actually, we don't pay a thing for the license. The $5.xx goes for testing > >fees. So, in theory, you can pay that once and have a license for life... > > Our licenses are lifetime, too. It's the *station* license that costs $26 > per annum. I'd be willing to pay $26 a year if it meant we would get decent service from the FCC, including vigorous enforcement against non-amateur use of ham bands. -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- Version: 2.3a iQCVAgUBLcuprcmzkeX3rfUNAQFsMQQAgl+1OhsiPfnnLhx7AiusT2GUzuICUpWv sHWvPQEi7Vr3TkJcOEEshcpGpg+O7zBkwnR0OtnH2fXkKBglTb5n52ukfEfEKoU7 5ewGR8SwBKSDgleEciizQK/AQ0pd+IYd1VXyq+6xRDOlpQXrQXCekIwq9IZ76rhi 9IuKOQ8dn4o= =0oua -----END PGP SIGNATURE----- +------------------------------------------------------------+ | Jim Grubs, W8GRT Voxbox Enterprises Tel.: 419/882-2697 | | I _DO_ speak for Voxbox; in fact, I _AM_ Voxbox | +------------------------------------------------------------+ ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 9 May 1994 05:27:41 GMT From: netcomsv!netcom.com!cslye@decwrl.dec.com Subject: Looking for who is selling me a HTX-202 To: info-hams@ucsd.edu -- cslye@netcom.com ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 9 May 1994 05:31:07 GMT From: ihnp4.ucsd.edu!library.ucla.edu!csulb.edu!csus.edu!netcom.com!cslye@network.ucsd.edu Subject: Looking for who is selling me a HTX-202 To: info-hams@ucsd.edu I am looking for the person who was selling me a Radio Shack HTX-202, you had mailed me your info and the price with shipping. And I did not write it down the first time, and then all my mail was deleted.. Can I get the info again please? I have the money sitting here waiting... -- cslye@netcom.com ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 8 May 1994 14:37:48 GMT From: ihnp4.ucsd.edu!swrinde!gatech!udel!news2.sprintlink.net!news.sprintlink.net!sashimi.wwa.com!gagme.wwa.com!n5ial!jim@network.ucsd.edu Subject: Non-existent ham software that should To: info-hams@ucsd.edu In article lwjames@csn.org (Dr. Lawrence James) writes: >what software could hams use which is either not available [ .... ] >There are some of us out here who might write it inspired by your ideas. Please excuse the ``me too'' post, but this one is at least slightly more than just ``me too''.... I've been looking for a project idea for a new shareware program. I'd also like to know what people would be interested in, but I'm going to add a twist to it---I'm open to writing both dos (not windows---I don't have windows, and I don't have the libs to compile stuff for it) stuff and UNIX stuff. In other words, even if it exists in dos, but not in UNIX, let me know if it's something you'd like to have (it doesn't have to be limited to amateur radio, btw---I'm open to any ideas). Later, --jim -- 73 DE N5IAL (/4) < Running Linux *1.00*! > jim@n5ial.mythical.com ICBM: 30.23N 86.32W || j.graham@ieee.org Packet: N5IAL@W4ZBB (Ft. Walton Beach, FL) E-mail me for information about KAMterm (host mode for Kantronics TNCs). ------------------------------ Date: 9 May 1994 16:49:20 +1000 From: ihnp4.ucsd.edu!usc!howland.reston.ans.net!pipex!sunic!trane.uninett.no!eunet.no!nuug!nac.no!ifi.uio.no!wabbit.cc.uow.edu.au!news.ci.com.au!eram.esi.com.au!not-for-mail@network.UCSD Subject: VK2WI Weekly News, 8th May, 1994 To: info-hams@ucsd.edu [ Don't blame me for the upper case later on... ] W.I.A. NSW DIVISION NEWS ISSUED 8 MAY, 1994 MESSAGE TO MEMBERS FROM MICHAEL CORBIN VK2PFQ My comments to you this week will be, of necessity, brief. Last Friday evening, a meeting was held [at Amateur Radio House in Parramatta] involving members of the old Ad Hoc - now, "Concerned Amateurs" - Committee, some of the candidates who stood at the recent Council election, a few Councillors and myself. The meeting was NOT a Council meeting. It was just an informal meeting at which various aspects of the Ad Hoc (now Concerned Amateurs) group's legal advice on their dispute over the election were discussed and the issues that those in attendance saw arising from them. The Division's legal advice was not available for the meeting and thus could not be discussed. When the Division's final legal advice becomes available, I'll have more news to give you then. In the meantime, Divisional business will proceed as normal. Next Thursday's Council meeting will allocate responsibilities to various Councillors. Those of you who have repeater applications will be pleased to know that the sorting out of this matter began as of last Friday. We have a new Chairman for NTAC (NSW Technical Advisory Committee). It is Barry Sullivan VK2BZ. Councillor Ian Rosser VK2XB will act as NTAC Liaison. Applicants will be contacted. The approval process will be under way. FEDERAL NEWS NEW REGULATIONS TO BE FINALISED BY THE END OF THE YEAR THE LONG-AWAITED NEW REGULATIONS FOR THE AMATEUR RADIO SERVICE IN AUSTRALIA LOOK LIKE BEING COMPLETED BY THE END OF THE YEAR. THIS WAS THE HOPE EXPRESSED BY SPECTRUM MANAGEMENT AGENCY REPRESENTATIVE PETER STACKPOLE WHO WAS THE GUEST SPEAKER AT THE W.I.A. FEDERAL ANNUAL CONVENTION DINNER LAST WEEKEND. MR STACKPOLE EXPLAINED THE DELAY HAD BEEN CAUSED PRIMARILY BY THE RESTRUCTURING OF THE FORMER DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORT AND COMMUNICATIONS, NOW THE S.M.A. THE NEW REGULATIONS WERE FIRST PUBLICLY FORESHADOWED NEARLY 18 MONTHS AGO. THE MAIN AIM OF THE EXERCISE IS TO SIMPLIFY THE PRESENT LICENSING CONDITIONS. THE NEW REGULATIONS ARE STILL EXPECTED TO INCLUDE THE INTRODUCTION OF A NO-CODE NOVICE LICENCE AND REVIEW OF THE FREQUENCY ALLOCATIONS AND PRIVILEGES FOR THE LIMITED, COMBINED AND NOVICE LICENCES. A FURTHER BIT OF GOOD NEWS FOR AMATEURS WAS RELAYED BY MR STACKPOLE: THE S.M.A. HAS PROPOSED AN ELECTROMAGNETIC COMPATIBILITY FRAMEWORK FOR AUSTRALIA. THIS MEANS THAT THERE WILL BE MANDATORY STANDARDS INTRODUCED FOR ALL ELECTRICAL AND ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT THAT EMITS RADIO FREQUENCY ENERGY WHICH IS NOT PART OF ITS PURPOSE. EXAMPLES INCLUDE ELECTRIC MOTOR DRIVEN APPLIANCES SUCH AS DRILLS AND FOOD PROCESSOR, AND OTHER EQUIPMENT SUCH AS PERSONAL COMPUTERS. THE ELECTROMAGNETIC COMPATIBILITY REQUIREMENTS ARE PLANNED TO BE EFFECTED FROM JANUARY 1996, BUT WILL NOT BE RETROSPECTIVE. THE E.M.C. FRAMEWORK IS PROPOSED TO APPLY FOR ALL EQUIPMENT MANUFACTURED IN OR IMPORTED INTO AUSTRALIA. IT WILL ALSO DEVELOP IMMUNITY STANDARDS FOR EQUIPMENT LIKELY TO BE AFFECTED BY ELECTROMAGNETIC INTERFERENCE. THIS WILL APPLY TO EQUIPMENT SUCH AS DOMESTIC TELEVISION RECEIVERS AND VIDEO RECORDERS, FOR EXAMPLE. MR STACKPOLE ALSO REMINDED W.I.A. DELEGATES AND GUESTS AT THE DINNER ABOUT THE S.M.A. DECISION TO TOUGHEN INTERFERENCE REGULATIONS. THE S.M.A. PLANS TO INCLUDE IN THE REGULATIONS NEW PROVISIONS RELATING TO THE OPERATION OF AMATEUR STATIONS IN REGARDS TO INTERFERENCE. MR STACKPOLE SAID THESE PROVISIONS ARE BEING PROPOSED TO ENCOURAGE RADIO AMATEURS TO TAKE MORE RESPONSIBILITY IN THE RESOLUTION OF INTERFERENCE CAUSED BY THEIR TRANSMISSIONS. THE PHILOSOPHY BEHIND THE S.M.A.'S THINKING IS THAT RADIO AMATEURS AND THOSE SUFFERING INTERFERENCE MUST WORK TOGETHER TO RESOLVE INTERFERENCE PROBLEMS. BECAUSE AN AMATEUR TRANSMISSION IS SPECTRALLY CLEAN, WILL NOT IN THE FUTURE BE A DEFENCE IN CASES WHERE INTERFERENCE IS BEING SUFFERED BY A NEIGHBOUR. GUIDELINES FOR RESOLVING INTERFERENCE PROBLEMS WILL BE DEVELOPED. THE N.S.W. DIVISION WILL BE WATCHING THIS MATTER CLOSELY. OUTBACK RADIO GETS A BOOST THE 2.5 MILLION RESIDENTS OF AUSTRALIA'S OUTBACK COUNTRY ARE TO GET IMPROVED COMMUNICATIONS WITH THE RECENT INTRODUCTION OF NEW SERVICES. MANY OF THESE OUTBACK RESIDENTS RELY ON HIGH FREQUENCY RADIOS FOR COMMUNICATIONS AND HAVE EITHER NO ACCESS OR VERY LIMITED ACCESS TO THE TELEPHONE SERVICE. THERE ARE MORE THAN 80,000 HF RADIOS USED FOR THIS PURPOSE ACROSS AUSTRALIA. TELSTRA - THE CORPORATE NAME OF THE COMMUNICATIONS COMPANY OTHERWISE KNOWN TO YOU AND ME AS TELECOM AUSTRALIA - HAS INTRODUCED TWO SERVICES: ONE IS SATELLITE-BASED AND CALLED SATCOM-M; THE OTHER USES HF COMMUNICATIONS AND IS CALLED RADPHONE DIRECT DIAL. WITH THE NEW HF RADPHONE SERVICE ALLOWS USERS TO DIAL DIRECTLY TO JUST ABOUT ANY TELEPHONE NUMBER IN AUSTRALIA. LATER THIS YEAR, THE FACILITY TO SEND FAXES AND DIGITAL DATA WILL BE ADDED. THE PRACTISE OF OUTBACK HF USERS HAVING TO CALL A BASE STATION TO PLACE A PHONE CALL WILL DIE OUT. THE SATELLITE-BASED SATCOM-M SERVICE EMPLOYS TERMINALS THE SIZE OF A BRIEFCASE, INCLUDING THE ANTENNA. THE HF TERMINALS FOR THE RADPHONE DIRECT DIAL SERVICE COST ABOUT THE SAME AS TOP-LINE, MULTIBAND HF AMATEUR RIGS, WHILE THE SATELLITE TERMINALS COST ABOUT FIVE TIMES AS MUCH. ONCE YOU'VE GOT OVER THAT LITTLE HURDLE, THEN THERE'S THE PHONE BILLS..... COMING EVENTS NEXT LICENCE EXAMS AT PARRAMATTA...........NEXT SUNDAY, 15TH MAY TRASH & TREASURE SALE, PARRAMATTA...............SUNDAY, 29TH MAY PORT MACQUARIE FIELD DAY, OXLEY REGION ARC............11-12 JUNE ANARTS DX RTTY CONTEST................................11-12 JUNE WIA VK NOVICE CONTEST.................................18-19 JUNE -- Dave Horsfall (VK2KFU) VK2KFU @ VK2AAB.NSW.AUS.OC PGP 2.3 dave@esi.COM.AU ...munnari!esi.COM.AU!dave available ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 6 May 1994 15:58:48 GMT From: ihnp4.ucsd.edu!swrinde!gatech!ukma!ovation!ramcad.pica.army.mil!mellis@network.ucsd.edu Subject: Was this a bad idea? To: info-hams@ucsd.edu [fascinating story deleted for space] >Since I was unlicensed, was it illegal for me to use my radio >on an amateur frequency for this situation? > >I'm telling myself "No, since it was a valid emergency". However, >I dunno. Would someone help me with this one? I'm still wondering >if I was right/wrong. I *do* plan to let the person who answered >my call that it was me when...IF my ticket gets here tomorrow, >just in time for THursday night network. > ========================================================================= I seem to remember (don't have any reference handy, maybe someone else can provide) in the rules that in an emergency, you can transmit on any frequency (even out of your license class bands) to call assistance. Since you have no license (at the moment), everything is out of your license class! :-). I used the Gordon West study guide for the Technician class, and recall the phrase "...in an emergency, ANYTHING GOES!". I think you're in the clear. I know if I was injured in that accident, I'd appreciate the hell out of what you did. .... Mark E. Ellis n2wzb PA&TD Workplace Automation Group Picatinny Arsenal, NJ ------------------------------ End of Info-Hams Digest V94 #504 ******************************