Date: Fri, 2 Sep 94 13:03:17 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 #985 To: Info-Hams Info-Hams Digest Fri, 2 Sep 94 Volume 94 : Issue 985 Today's Topics: 2M vs 70 cm (2 msgs) 4 sale bussiness radios FCC license renewal processing time data point Is my 900mhz cordless phone safe? JVFAX (2 msgs) PLSE INCLUDE SASE FOR DIRECT DX QSL CARDS!!! Radio Shack mast Ragchewing protocols Route Z31ET 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 Sep 1994 00:26:39 GMT From: agate!howland.reston.ans.net!gatech!newsxfer.itd.umich.edu!nntp.cs.ubc.ca!unixg.ubc.ca!prodigy.bc.ca!espresso.prodigy.bc.ca!pantaki@ames.arpa Subject: 2M vs 70 cm To: info-hams@ucsd.edu In article <34315l$5ul@news.cc.oberlin.edu> , pruth@ocvaxa.cc.oberlin.edu writes: > I'm just getting into amateur radio and waiting for my > tech license to arrive. I'm debating whether to start > out with a single-band (2M) HT or break the bank and > go twin-band (2M and 70 cm). I'm wondering if 70 cm I got my license a few weeks ago and I bought a dual band HT. The only reason that I went for the dual band is that it has a much wider receive that the single band (I got a Yaesu FT-530). This makes it more fun to listen commercial/police/emergency/cellular frequencies. But as far as activity on the 70cm amateur I can't really find much in the Vancouver area and I spend most of my time on 2M. ----- Paul Antaki Prodigy Technologies Corporation Phone: (604) 687-4636 1100-1190 Hornby Street Fax: (604) 687-1671 Vancouver, B.C. e-mail: pantaki@prodigy.bc.ca V6Z 2K5 ------------------------------ Date: 1 Sep 1994 14:09:12 GMT From: ihnp4.ucsd.edu!dog.ee.lbl.gov!agate!howland.reston.ans.net!gatech!news-feed-1.peachnet.edu!news.duke.edu!duke.edu!jbs@network.ucsd.edu Subject: 2M vs 70 cm To: info-hams@ucsd.edu In article <34315l$5ul@news.cc.oberlin.edu> pruth@ocvaxa.cc.oberlin.edu writes: >Is 2M becoming so crowded that >70 cm would provide necessary room to roam, or is there >always room at the table on 2M? The coordinating body here in NC says there are no 2m repeater channels available; thus our relatively new club has only a 440 repeater (will be putting up a 6m repeater soon). > My primary interests >for getting into amateur radio are Skywarn, stimulating >ragchews and enjoying the DX, such as it is, that 2M >has with the tropo ducts, E and F layer skip provides. >If someone can convince me 70 cm is worth my time and >money, and that 70 cm has unique qualities compared >with 2M, I will start out with a twin-bander and eat >peanut butter sandwiches for a while. 440 makes it much easier to transmit and receive through buildings, etc. Seems to make it easier to hit repeaters from in a car with an HT and no external antenna, too. Much less frequent interference on repeaters from distant machines during band openings than 2m. Crossband repeat can be a real nifty thing to have sometimes, too. > Otherwise, >I'll be hopping aboard 2M on the cheap while Rat >Shack and others have "realistic" prices on their HTs. It is a good time to buy an HTX-202. I just got a rat Shack flyer yesterday with a sale price of $199 advertised. -joe -- "When personal freedom's being abused, | "In Canada we have something called you have to move to limit it." | multiculturalism - you will find the | whole spectrum of races living in - U.S. President Bill Clinton, 1994 | Toronto's slums." -A Canadian ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 31 Aug 94 11:22:23 GMT From: ihnp4.ucsd.edu!dog.ee.lbl.gov!agate!howland.reston.ans.net!pipex!ibmpcug!ibmpcug!rcp!scott@network.ucsd.edu Subject: 4 sale bussiness radios To: info-hams@ucsd.edu In tedtrost@netcom.com (Ted Trost) writes: >Micah Child (micah@solano.community.net) wrote: >That would be quite a drive from Boston for a couple of radios. This >group is distributed world-wide. Keep that in mind when posting. I'm glad someone pointed this out - the plane flight for me to get there would be much higher than the cost of the radios new! Scott -- ====================================================================== | Scott Earle, | Internet : scott@rcp.co.uk | | Senior Software Engineer, | AMPRnet : g0swg@g0swg.ampr.org | | RCP Ltd, | NTS BBS : G0SWG@GB7AVM | | Dales, | | | High Street, | Tel (work): +44 235 510116 | | Didcot, Oxon. OX11 8EQ | FAX (work): +44 235 511084 | ====================================================================== ------------------------------ Date: 1 Sep 1994 15:56:07 GMT From: ihnp4.ucsd.edu!agate!howland.reston.ans.net!europa.eng.gtefsd.com!news.umbc.edu!haven.umd.edu!umd5.umd.edu!w3eax.umd.edu!lifer@network.ucsd.edu Subject: FCC license renewal processing time data point To: info-hams@ucsd.edu Who's keeping track of FCC's response time? As I said a while back, I passed the Advanced test on 6/18. The license finally arrived! Effective 8/25, arrived 8/31. Total time: 9 weeks, five days through processing; six days through the mail. -- Benjamin Schultz, KE3OM President, U of MD Amateur Radio Association (W3EAX) ------------------------------ Date: 1 Sep 1994 13:49:44 GMT From: yuma!vagus.vth.colostate.edu!weaver@purdue.edu Subject: Is my 900mhz cordless phone safe? To: info-hams@ucsd.edu We recently bought a panasonic 900 mhz cordless phone. I was wondering if anyone knew the watt output of the phone, or what the fcc allows in the 900 mhz cordless phone band. There was nothing written in the phones manual, and I did call panasonic to eventually get bounced to their engineers who still didnt seem to know how many watts it was. Could they be hiding something, or are they really that stupid as to not know the watts of a phone that they build? Maybe the fcc should require them to divulge the stuff. Anyone have any ideas ? -- Brian KD6CFA -- =========================================================== Brian Weaver wk. 303-491-0352 Systems Administrator fax. 303-491-1245 Veterinary Teaching Hospital Colorado State University weaver@vagus.vth.colostate.edu =========================================================== ------------------------------ Date: 1 Sep 1994 14:18:17 GMT From: ihnp4.ucsd.edu!agate!howland.reston.ans.net!swrinde!sdd.hp.com!col.hp.com!fc.hp.com!keith@network.ucsd.edu Subject: JVFAX To: info-hams@ucsd.edu Sean Lange (seanl@harlequin.co.uk) wrote: : Hi peeps : I'm looking for JVFAX (the fax/sstv prog) and understand it's now up : to v7.0. Can anyone point me to an ftp site. TIA : - sean Try ftp.funet.fi in /pub/ham/misc. I just got a copy last night. JK ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 1 Sep 1994 08:31:26 GMT From: ihnp4.ucsd.edu!news.cerf.net!nntp-server.caltech.edu!netline-fddi.jpl.nasa.gov!news.byu.edu!gatech!howland.reston.ans.net!pipex!harlqn.co.uk!harlequin.co.uk!seanl@network.ucsd.edu Subject: JVFAX To: info-hams@ucsd.edu Hi peeps I'm looking for JVFAX (the fax/sstv prog) and understand it's now up to v7.0. Can anyone point me to an ftp site. TIA - sean ------------------------------ Date: 29 Aug 1994 13:35:42 GMT From: ihnp4.ucsd.edu!news.cerf.net!gopher.sdsc.edu!news.tc.cornell.edu!news.cac.psu.edu!howland.reston.ans.net!newsserver.jvnc.net!raffles.technet.sg!solomon.technet.sg!nunas@network.ucsd.edu Subject: PLSE INCLUDE SASE FOR DIRECT DX QSL CARDS!!! To: info-hams@ucsd.edu Sean E. Kutzko (tigger@prairienet.org) wrote: : After seeing Sharon's post on no SASE's for QSL's I wanted to add : my two cents' worth. : I recently went on a trip to 6Y. I worked the CW WW WPX : CW contest as 6Y7M. This was the first time the 6Y7 prefix was : activated. While 6Y is not a rare country, I've still received : hundreds of cards. Many cards included an SASE, and an occasional : envelope included a $1 plus an SASE. For this I'm very : appreciative. : The way I handled my cards is: Those who sent me an SASE, : or some form of return postage, got sent out right away. Those that : didn't sat in the bin until I got around to going to the post : office to mail them. On those that sent no postage, I put a : simple note on the cards: "S.A.S.E. next time, okay? Tnx." Well, if I might be allowed a small addendum to this advice, *please* send *big* self-addressed envelopes to those of us outside of good old America. Nice big 11.5 * 16.5 mm (about 6 3/8 * 4 1/2 inches) is about right. Many of us outside USA use cards much bigger than USA sized post cards. Some are as big as Inernational sized postcards. The cards from the USA usually have US-sized envelopes that are too small for international-sized post cards. Hams *outside* the US almost always send a nice big envelope that fits international post cards. I throw out dozens of too-small envelopes every week and replace them with an envelope here that I have to buy and hand address. This is a waste of trees! I QSL 100 percent, the same day I get the incoming card as long as the envelope fits. The ones with too-small envelopes come next, but get put off if I have something else to do, such as pay attention to my wife (I ain't no fool you see). Finally I do those which come via the bureau, but they may not get picked up or sent within a few months as I usually miss the club meetings due to travel. I *do* appreciate the thought of those who send a self addressed envelope, but sure hate to make waste by throwing them out. I also appreciate the $1 that most of you send (or IRCs). Thanks to all for listening. Please pass the word as not many hams are on the Internet. 73 de Maurice, 9V1ZS, from the land of endless summer. ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 1 Sep 1994 08:05:24 -0400 From: ihnp4.ucsd.edu!dog.ee.lbl.gov!agate!howland.reston.ans.net!newsserver.jvnc.net!rohvm1!roh033.mah48d@network.ucsd.edu Subject: Radio Shack mast To: info-hams@ucsd.edu In article <33vld2$5qj@chnews.intel.com>, Tom WB7ASR wrote: > > I have one, however I use it to support one end of my 40 meter dipole. > I personally don't feel it would support a full size tribander during > high winds or iceing. > > Just my option, Tom WB7ASR... > > In article , writes: > > > Has anyone used a Radio Shack 36' mast to mount a tribander? > > I've got an old high-gain with traps and would like it up cheep and easy. > > Any better ideas? > > We used a Radio Shack 4-section mast to hoist a 3-element beam with a large, heavy rotator this year at Field Day. It was guyed at the top and at one point in the middle. IT BENT!!! More guying would _definitely_ help, but the thing just had too much weight at the top. If you're _very_ careful, you can use the RS masts as _temporary_ (e.g. Field Day) supports for small beams, but I sure wouldn't recommend them for extended service. -- John Taylor (W3ZID) | "The opinions expressed are those of the roh033.mah48d@rohmhaas.com | writer and not of Rohm and Haas Company." ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 1 Sep 1994 08:17:21 -0400 From: ihnp4.ucsd.edu!dog.ee.lbl.gov!agate!howland.reston.ans.net!newsserver.jvnc.net!rohvm1!roh033.mah48d@network.ucsd.edu Subject: Ragchewing protocols To: info-hams@ucsd.edu In article <33tc5j$oue@geraldo.cc.utexas.edu>, oo7@astro.as.utexas.edu (Derek Wills) wrote: > pve@dg13.cec.BE (VEKINIS Peter) says: > > >>And as far as contests are concerned, I sincerely wish they did > >>away with them. Whats is the point of 'working' stations just > >>to exchange a number is beyond me. > > As long as you understand that many contesters and DXers sincerely > wish that ragchewing could be done away with. The point of using > amateur radio to chatter interminably about non-radio things for > which you could equally well use a telephone is beyond them. > > To each his or her own. Contesters, DXers and ragchewers are all > allowed on the HF bands, and most of us think that those with > different interests are wasting precious resources. I guess we > are agreed on that! I'm a non-contester (well, I work Field Day and the PA QSO Party), but I find that I have very little problem coexisting with the contesters. The really big ones tend to have a phone section and a cw section, each on different weekends. I just work the other mode (another point for cw?). Smaller contests don't really take up the entire band, and a rag chewer can usually find a spot well away from the activity. And once in a while, yes, I have to just wait out the weekend because everything is saturated with a contest. But I've got a life :-), and can normally find something else to do that particular weekend. This is a pretty eclectic hobby, which is one of the things that's held my interest for the past forty years. There's bandspace for everybody, and a new mode to try if your usual one is too difficult because of a bunch of other guys having fun. Just remember, it _is_ a _hobby_!! -- John Taylor (W3ZID) | "The opinions expressed are those of the roh033.mah48d@rohmhaas.com | writer and not of Rohm and Haas Company." ------------------------------ Date: 1 Sep 1994 06:15:17 GMT From: ihnp4.ucsd.edu!dog.ee.lbl.gov!agate!howland.reston.ans.net!EU.net!Germany.EU.net!news.dfn.de!news.uni-jena.de!prakinf2.PrakInf.TU-Ilmenau.DE!hekla!tom@network.ucsd.edu Subject: Route Z31ET To: info-hams@ucsd.edu In article , stevenolson@delphi.com writes: |> Am looking for QSL info on Z31ET. |> Macedonia. My Hamcall cd rom does not |> include Macedonia as yet. |> Steve WO9L. http://www.systemtechnik.tu-ilmenau.de/ham.html contain also a page with qsl infos. The database contains: Z31ET via DL5SES (info from March94) and Z31ET: Box 44,92300 Kozani, Mazedonia (info Nov 93) gd dx de dl5atp -- Thomas Planke Planke@Systemtechnik.TU-Ilmenau.DE Technical University of Ilmenau Phone: +49 3677/69-1465 http://www.systemtechnik.tu-ilmenau.de/tp.html ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 1 Sep 1994 14:51:01 GMT From: netcomsv!netcom.com!greg@decwrl.dec.com To: info-hams@ucsd.edu References , <1994Aug31.145924.17054@arrl.org>, l Subject : Re: Thanks, ARRL In article phb@syseng1.melpar.esys.com (Paul H. Bock) writes: > > And for those who still doubt, if you're not a member borrow the >August QST and read the quote from H.P. Maxim about why ARRL had >survived while others had come and gone. Those words were true then >and they're still true, and as long as the basic concept of "no >special interest above the common good" prevails at Newington, the >League will continue to continue, and others will continue to come and >go. I agree. And I think that it's very important that we number among those prohibited 'special interests' the interests of the ARRL officials and staff. That's why I'm somewhat concerned about the way that those individuals are present and absent in this forum. I see the staff expressing opinions, when that is rightly the role of the elected representatives and of the membership. And I see at least some staff members trying to shape the membership's choices about how they will use this forum to communicate amongst themselves. The struggle which most organizations (governments, religions, whatever) have is always 'who serves whom.' In order to keep control of this dilemma, it is usually necessary to make some clear policies and take some overt steps to make sure that the organization continues to serve its members. The ARRL is no different. 73, Greg ------------------------------ Date: 31 Aug 94 02:10:19 GMT From: ihnp4.ucsd.edu!usc!howland.reston.ans.net!agate!library.ucla.edu!news.mic.ucla.edu!unixg.ubc.ca!nntp.cs.ubc.ca!torn!uunet.ca!uunet.ca!geac!herboid!cattnts!ncrcan!coutts!wwg@network. To: info-hams@ucsd.edu References <33bhju$jh2@hobbes.cc.uga.edu>, <33jrgi$81d@pandora.sf.ca.us>, ws Subject : Re: Remote Stalling of Automobile Engines In article rstevew@armory.com (Richard Steven Walz) writes: :In article <33jrgi$81d@pandora.sf.ca.us>, :Frank Hausman wrote: :>Two methods were mentioned: a remote-controllable kill switch on the :>car, and a remote controllable EMP generator in the road. EMP [...] :>Note from a friend: A typical YAGI T.V. antenna generates 14 kilovolts :>into 75 ohms from the the EMP generated by 10 megatons blast at 10 :>kilometers. Source: Nuclear Weapons & Technologies. [...] :The only problem with EMP is that if it is powerful enough to stop gadgets, :then it is definitely powerful enough to roast your eyeballs too! Might as :well make a "death ray"!;) In the case of a 10 Megaton blast, are you aware [...] :-Steve Walz rstevew@armory.com Naw. A lot of hams have noticed that transmitting on 2 meters at say 50 Watts is enough to stall some newer cars. Its not effective on everything, but its reported to work well on some 8-) Other hams have found that it works even better on their own vehicles! [Note: I brought rec.radio.amateur.misc into this foray] -------------------- Warren W. Gay VE3WWG John Coutts Library Services Limited wwg@coutts.UUCP Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada (or wwg%coutts@uunet.ca, wwg%coutts@uunet.uu.net) ------------------------------ Date: 1 Sep 1994 16:40:19 GMT From: ihnp4.ucsd.edu!agate!howland.reston.ans.net!noc.near.net!hopscotch.ksr.com!jfw@network.ucsd.edu To: info-hams@ucsd.edu References <3397dj$rsb@geraldo.cc.utexas.edu>, <1994Aug22.151203.1428@newsgate.sps.mot.com>, <1994Aug30.163611.17168@arrl.org>p Subject : Re: learning CW ehare@arrl.org (Ed Hare (KA1CV)) writes: >If I were >to survey my on-the-air contacts, I would find that they are 99% CW users, >but I don't even know where my microphone is. :-) Well, back when I was a Novice (WN7EEL) I had a QSO with a Canadian operating SSB... ;-) 73, John, WB7EEL ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 1 Sep 1994 16:48:22 GMT From: newsgate.melpar.esys.com!melpar!phb@uunet.uu.net To: info-hams@ucsd.edu References <1994Aug31.145924.17054@arrl.org>, , s.cc. Subject : Re: Thanks, ARRL greg@netcom.com (Greg Bullough) writes: >The struggle which most organizations (governments, religions, whatever) >have is always 'who serves whom.' In order to keep control of this dilemma, >it is usually necessary to make some clear policies and take some overt >steps to make sure that the organization continues to serve its members. >The ARRL is no different. And I think the reason that, over time, organizations tend to become less responsive to members is that a feeling develops among staff that "WE'RE the ones who've been fighting all the battles, WE'RE the ones who know what/who the opposition is and how to counter it/them, WE'RE the ones who REALLY understand the depth and details of the issues and which issues are REALLY important, etc., etc. That can lead to a mindset that tends to treat member input as somehow "less important" than what the staff "knows" to be true. I'm not saying that ARRL collectively suffers from this; I think virtually ALL organizations have at least a tiny bit of that attitude at the "staff" level. But, Greg is correct; it must be guarded against lest the very things that made the organization prosper whither and die, resulting in the demise of the organization itself. Paul, K4MSG ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 1 Sep 1994 14:38:37 GMT From: netcomsv!netcom.com!greg@decwrl.dec.com To: info-hams@ucsd.edu References , , <1994Aug31.145924.17054@arrl.org>u Subject : Re: Thanks, ARRL In article <1994Aug31.145924.17054@arrl.org> ehare@arrl.org (Ed Hare (KA1CV)) writes: >Thanks, Jeff. It sometimes gets discouraging to work a 70-hour week (paid >only for 37.5 of them) and then get here in the morning and see some of the >usenet participants trash us for our imperfections. You begin to go down the wrong path when you mistake criticism for lack of gratitude. > (OF COURSE we have a few, >just like anyone else.) I don't mind constructive criticism, but it is >really more useful and constructive if it is not made into a personal >attack. True. You should not make the criticism you hear or read into a personal attack. That is difficult, when it is an organization in which you work, or perhaps even your area of responsibility which is being criticized. However, I have rarely seen specific names mentioned here. I have, however, seen some organizational comments taken very personally. Perhaps, Mr. Palm, management expert that he is, can dust off his management skills and provide a quick course in accepting business feedback graciously. >Sadly, I often see that we are being criticized for not doing something >we already do, or for doing something that we don't do; Education is part of running a business, too. It's called PR. Like it or not, perceptions are real, and people make decisions based on them. If people don't see what you're doing, then you need to be more effective in showing them. That's all. > I have done my >best to find time in an already busy day to offer the occasional >clarifying information. If you barely have time to produce a response, then take care that the response that you provide is not colored by that. Sometimes no response is better than an impatient one. For example, you have here, rather than receiving a compliment with a gracious 'why thank you,' responded with a laundry list of why this forum makes you so miserable. Not real appropriate. > Even more sadly, I have seen us criticized >*appropriately* on this forum *instead* of having the "constructive >criticism" directed to the appropriate staff or to your Division >Director who *can* change League policy. Now this is VERY inappropriate. It comes across as trying to quash League Members' and other Radio Amateurs' expresssion of their thoughts in a public forum of their own choosing. For years, the staff, directors, and officers have had a forum of their own, QST, and have filtered dissenting opinions rather high-handedly. In fact, they frequently used the journal to belittle dissenting opinions. Ed, I don't know if it's what you intend, but it comes across as if you are saying 'go through channels, where we can decide what spin to put on your expression of opinion...' As a organization run by the Membership, the League doesn't have the luxury of putting on blinders. At this point, I frankly expect my Division Director to be reading this forum (I'm willing to see the League foot the bill for an account, which may also be used for League business-related e-mail, if that's what it takes) in order to stay in touch with what people are saying about things. But I *really really* have a problem with League Staff trying to get the membership to not voice their opinions. To be blunt, Ed, it's not what I pay you for. Express any opinion you want in this forum, but do not, under your ARRL hat and signature, try and get the members you serve to be quiet. Or to re-direct them to a place where other members-at-large can't hear them. Don't. >I encourage all rec.radio.amateur participants to make your views known to >your Division Director, by mail, email, telephone or in person at his or her >many appearances at conventions, hamfests and club meetings! The >info@arrl.org files have a list of HQ and ARRL officers email addresses, >postal mail addresses, telephone numbers, etc. See also page 8 of QST. This >forum has produced many excellent ideas and a wide spectrum of amateur >community opinion. If it worth saying it is worth saying to the ARRL >Division Directors, too. All of the Directors I have met feel that they >would like to hear more from the silent majority, so their policy decisions >can be made based on a wider range of opinion. Good. Are they reading THIS? If not, then their words are empty. >The ARRL does a lot of important things for Amateur Radio and offers a >susbstantial array of membership benefits. (Ask info@arrl.org to send the >services.txt file!) You may agree, or disagree, with some of the policy >decisions made over the years, but the bottom-line question is "Is ARRL >doing *anything* I consider important to Amateur Radio?" If so, support it, >and use that support as a platform to change those things you believe we >should do differently. *I* do support it Ed. And because I do (by sending in my check), I believe that I have a right to make my views known, on the corner of 33rd and Madison if that be my choice. Now, for me alone you might not be expected to stop by and listen. However, if a lot of hams are gathered at 33rd and Madison, and the Directors choose to ignore them because they didn't choose the time and place, woe be unto them. And, by the way, I also believe that the staff (that means *you*) should exercise some restraint in counter-pointing the views of the membership. We are, after all, an organization of members. The views of the members prevail. The staff is there to serve, not to shape, the will of the Amateur Radio community. Even if the staff believe that will is wrong. And yes, most of the staff are members, but as such they must still take care not to use their position to overly influence membership opinion, and to avoid the perception of doing so. That is why I have difficulty with an ARRL Laboratory Supervisor trying to direct the flow of League Members' opinions away from a commonly-available forum of discussion. 73, Greg ------------------------------ End of Info-Hams Digest V94 #985 ******************************