Date: Tue, 22 Mar 94 09:09:37 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 #318 To: Info-Hams Info-Hams Digest Tue, 22 Mar 94 Volume 94 : Issue 318 Today's Topics: Canadian Reciprocal Info Please Can you help me with this QRM question? FT-990 vs TS-850 FT5200 Questions Info on converting commercial gear IPS Daily Report - 21 March 94 Jeff Herman wins the Net Nazi award. Looking for Long. and Lat. informationSKIP req for Motorola's address Sonobuoys 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: 22 Mar 1994 00:06:19 GMT From: news.cerf.net!pravda.sdsc.edu!nic-nac.CSU.net!charnel.net.csuchico.edu!charnel!olivea!sgigate.sgi.com!sgiblab!swrinde!cs.utexas.edu!howland.reston.ans.net!noc.near.net!news@ihnp4.ucsd.edu Subject: Canadian Reciprocal Info Please To: info-hams@ucsd.edu > >I will be in Edmonton in late June/early July and want to be able to use a In Canada the reciprocity is automatic. Just bring your radio, eveidence of its US origin, US Citizenship, and enjoy operating. Gil Baron, El Baron Rojo, W0MN Rochester,MN "Bailar es Vivir" PGP2.3 key at key servers or upon request ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 21 Mar 1994 14:01:45 -0500 From: ihnp4.ucsd.edu!library.ucla.edu!csulb.edu!nic-nac.CSU.net!usc!math.ohio-state.edu!news.acns.nwu.edu!ftpbox!mothost!lmpsbbs!NewsWatcher!user@network.ucsd.edu Subject: Can you help me with this QRM question? To: info-hams@ucsd.edu In article <1994Mar19.010411.1@acad2.alaska.edu>, auchd@acad2.alaska.edu wrote: ...much deleted... > So, I went hunting in the backyard with a pocket radio. I traced the hash to > the underground power transformer. I called the power company, they came out > and looked at it, but I still had the problem. I then took the transformer out > into the streets and traced it to the helium gas streetlights. Actually, they are probably either "mercury" (multi-vapor, bluish-green light) or "sodium" (metal halide, pinkish-yellow light) but the type doesn't matter. Both utilize a heater and high voltage igniter to start the arc in the vapor column. When the arc strikes, the voltage across the tube drops and the igniter circuit is supposed to shut off. > It seemed to be most pronounced from two lights where the bulb pops off and > then comes back on, But interestingly, this hash seems to be radiating into > the powerlines in the neighborhood. > > Has anyone had similar experience with this type of interference in their > neighborhood? Yup, it happens all the time. Power lines are GREAT antennas for all kinds of interference, including some deliberately injected by the power companies in the VLF range. When the lamp keeps restriking, either the bulb ($30-$85) or ballast ($20-$40) need replacement; sometimes the problem is in the photocell ($5-$15). In any case, neglecting the symptom usually results in both lamp and ballast replacement, an expensive situation compared to a simple service visit. > Any suggestions for how to deal with this "agonizing" > interference would be greatly appreciated. It sure is difficult to deal with > when your trying to get a positive ID!! > > 73's WL7NO Bug the utility company to come out and repair the defective fixtures. If they are owned by the utility, your municipality is paying a fixed rate for those lights to work properly. If the city owns and maintains the lights, get on their case and remind them that the interference may also be affecting their own radios and hence the safety of their personnel. Most utilities and municipalities are very cooperative once you show them how bad the interference is; they just don't like to have to pay overtime for a crew to come out at dusk to verify your complaint! -- Karl Beckman, P.E. < STUPIDITY is an elemental force for which > Motorola Comm - Fixed Data < no earthquake is a match. -- Karl Kraus > The statements and opinions expressed here are not those of Motorola Inc. Motorola paid a marketing firm a huge sum of money to get their opinions; they have made it clear that they do not wish to share those of employees. Amateur radio WA8NVW @ K8MR.NEOH.USA.NA NavyMARS VBH @ NOGBN.NOASI ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 21 Mar 1994 09:14:50 GMT From: ihnp4.ucsd.edu!pacbell.com!sgiblab!sdd.hp.com!col.hp.com!news.dtc.hp.com!hplextra!hplb!hpwin052!hpqmoea!dstock@network.ucsd.edu Subject: FT-990 vs TS-850 To: info-hams@ucsd.edu Uri Blumenthal (uri@watson.ibm.com) wrote: : In article <19MAR94.18754189.0121@UNBVM1.CSD.UNB.CA>, NADO000 writes: : > >>didn't give me a single problem, nor to anybody of my : > >>friends, who seeing my 990 chose to buy similar rig : > ^^^^^^^ : > I don't think one should pick a radio just on looks. : Come on, don't you really understand, that "seeing" in the : context meant they tested it in all the modes they wanted? : If it was a joke - I apologize. : (:-). Hmm this takes me back a couple of years, the first TS850 I saw was on a stand at a rally. There was a large crowd around it, fighting to spin its knobs and poke its buttons. It seemed rather futile, really, as none of the stands had any electrical power, and the set was consequently unpowered. They must have really liked the feel of those knobs because some people were offering to buy it there and then, untried. One individual in my hearing offered the stall holder a premium over the list price just to get that one, said to be the first in the area. To fully understand the meaning of this, readers in the US must note that in the UK, list price is strictly selling price, although you might get them to throw in an accessory worth a few percent of the deal. UK list price is about double the US prices seen in QST. I was somewhat stunned by this, and have watched for the effect recurring, which it did at another rally when the TS50 showed up. I have witnessed people buying radios by appearance ! I just can't decide whether it is a joke or not, although P T Barnum would have found it funny.... Cheers David GM4ZNX ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 22 Mar 1994 05:42:52 GMT From: ihnp4.ucsd.edu!agate!usenet.ins.cwru.edu!magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu!math.ohio-state.edu!usc!yeshua.marcam.com!news.kei.com!world!dts@network.ucsd.edu Subject: FT5200 Questions To: info-hams@ucsd.edu In article <8564@gold.gvg.tek.com> randyh@gvgadg.gvg.tek.com (Randy Hall) writes: >I am considering buying a Yaesu FT-5200 and have a couple of questions. > >1. Without the separation kit for the front panel, does the panel just pop >off for security concerns, or do you need a screwdriver to remove it from >the front of the radio? It pops off the radio without a screwdriver. > >2. With the separation kit, panel remoted, does the front panel just pop >off from bracket? I think it separates from the radio better than it does from the bracket, but it does separate from both. > >3. What does the bracket that holds the front panel consist of? How >much freedom of mounting and angle adjustments are there? A plastic frame that the front panel clips into, and to which the cable attaches. The cable duplicates the contacts on the radio such that the face plate pop-off action is more or less the same. you can mount the frame directly to a surface or with a supplied bracket, which can tilt back and forth. I think they left a hole to allow a gooseneck mounting, but I'd have to check again to be sure. > >4. Where does the external speaker plug into to, the radio or remoted panel? Speaker plugs into the radio, not the front panel. Remote kit includes a cord for extending the speaker cord. > >Has anyone heard of any new dual band radio rumors with Dayton nearing? > >Thanks, > >Randy >WA2AGE > >randyh@gvgadg.gvg.tek.com > My wife and I each own an FT-5200, and have used them for over 2 years with good results. 73, Dan N1JEB -- --------------------------------------------------------------- Daniel Senie Internet: dts@world.std.com Daniel Senie Consulting n1jeb@world.std.com 508-365-5352 Compuserve: 74176,1347 ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 21 Mar 1994 17:18:49 GMT From: olivea!sgigate.sgi.com!sgiblab!darwin.sura.net!rsg1.er.usgs.gov!dgg.cr.usgs.gov!bodoh@ames.arpa Subject: Info on converting commercial gear To: info-hams@ucsd.edu I just invested $8 at a swap meet for two mobile VHF tranceivers. They are set for the 150-151 Mhz range, and I would like to see if I can get them set up for repeater/packet use. The manufacturer is 'General Aviation Electronics' and the model is 'Genave Mobiline I'. The seller (of course) claims they work and put out about 20W. I can probably get crystals from Jan, but I would appreciate any info I can get on converting these. Thanks... -- +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ + Tom Bodoh - Sr. systems software engineer, Hughes STX, N0YGT + + USGS/EROS Data Center, Sioux Falls, SD, USA 57198 (605) 594-6830 + + Internet; bodoh@dgg.cr.usgs.gov (152.61.192.66) + + "Welcome back my friends to the show that never ends!" EL&P + +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 21 Mar 1994 23:45:21 GMT From: munnari.oz.au!newshost.anu.edu.au!sserve!usage!metro!ipso!rwc@tcgould.tn.cornell.edu Subject: IPS Daily Report - 21 March 94 To: info-hams@ucsd.edu SUBJ: IPS DAILY SOLAR AND GEOPHYSICAL REPORT ISSUED AT 21/2330Z MARCH 1994 BY IPS RADIO AND SPACE SERVICES FROM THE REGIONAL WARNING CENTRE (RWC), SYDNEY. SUMMARY FOR 21 MARCH AND FORECAST UP TO 24 MARCH IPS Warning 09 was issued on 18 MAR and is still current. ----------------------------------------------------------- 1A. SOLAR SUMMARY Activity: very low Flares: none. Observed 10.7 cm flux/Equivalent Sunspot Number : 091/036 1B. SOLAR FORECAST 22 March 23 March 24 March Activity Very low Very low Very low Fadeouts None expected None expected None expected Forecast 10.7 cm flux/Equivalent Sunspot Number : 095/041 1C. SOLAR COMMENT None. ----------------------------------------------------------- 2A. MAGNETIC SUMMARY Geomagnetic field at Learmonth: active Estimated Indices : A K Observed A Index 20 March Learmonth 24 4344 4443 Fredericksburg 20 10 Planetary 28 11 Observed Planetary K indices (Kp) for 20 March: 3333 2233 2B. MAGNETIC FORECAST DATE Ap CONDITIONS 22 Mar 35 Active. 23 Mar 25 Unsettled to active. 24 Mar 20 Quiet to unsettled. 2C. MAGNETIC COMMENT None. 3A. GLOBAL HF PROPAGATION SUMMARY LATITUDE BAND DATE LOW MIDDLE HIGH 21 Mar normal normal normal-fair PCA Event : None. 3B. GLOBAL HF PROPAGATION FORECAST LATITUDE BAND DATE LOW MIDDLE HIGH 22 Mar normal normal-fair fair 23 Mar normal fair-normal fair 24 Mar normal normal normal 3C. GLOBAL HF PROPAGATION COMMENT NONE. ----------------------------------------------------------- 4A. AUSTRALIAN REGION IONOSPHERIC SUMMARY MUFs at Sydney were near normal until 22UT, 15-20% depressed thereafter. Observed T index for 21 March: 25 Predicted Monthly T Index for March is 40. 4B. AUSTRALIAN REGION IONOSPHERIC FORECAST DATE T-index MUFs 22 Mar 10 15 to 20% below predicted monthly values. 23 Mar 10 15 to 20% below predicted monthly values. 24 Mar 20 About 15% below predicted monthly values. 4C. AUSTRALIAN REGION COMMENT None. -- IPS Regional Warning Centre, Sydney |IPS Radio and Space Services email: rwc@ips.oz.au fax: +61 2 4148331 |PO Box 5606 RWC Duty Forecaster tel: +61 2 4148329 |West Chatswood NSW 2057 Recorded Message tel: +61 2 4148330 |AUSTRALIA ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 21 Mar 94 07:16:23 GMT From: ihnp4.ucsd.edu!ucsnews!sol.ctr.columbia.edu!howland.reston.ans.net!europa.eng.gtefsd.com!library.ucla.edu!csulb.edu!csus.edu!netcom.com!netcomsv!skyld!jangus@network.ucsd.edu Subject: Jeff Herman wins the Net Nazi award. To: info-hams@ucsd.edu Jeff Herman attempting to intimidate me writes: > Ha ha ha - what a sore loser! Keep it up buddy - I'm collecting quite > a file on your posts about me. Someone on the net has taught me that > owners of .com accounts don't like to see their users make pests of > themselves - sort of gives the owner a bad name. > > I should send you this file - you'd see who the buffoon is! > > 73 pal, > Jeff#1 And follows up with this (in case I missed his first remark): > Oh boy! Another of your articles to put in the file titled: > ``postmaster@skyld.grendel.com'' > > Hee hee, > Jeff#1 Attempting to get my network access pulled because I've disagreed with you and have ridiculed your more rabid postings? Congratulations fool, you have just gotten yourself the usenet net.nazi award. You've gone beyond your basketweave wannabe cop fantasies. Now you're running around with your armband showing. What's next? Shall we round up the alledged no-coders, give them a pink triangle for identification and then have them shot? It is time for a CFV for rec.radio.pendantic. This will give all the anal retentive control freaks a place to rant and feel sorry for themselves. Once the news group is created, they can set Distribution: to dev/null so on each site it is carried, only the posters own postings are shown. That way it not only keeps them from having to see any others comments but it will save a considerable amount of bandwidth. You're really pathetic. Why don't you go back to your classroom and stay off the network if it offends you so deeply. After you've finished adding this to your collection, and can get one of your hands free from your lap/nose/whatever, send the following command: "whois grendel.com" (To save you the bother I've included the results, but try it yourself in the event you think I've forged this.) | Grendel's Lair (GRENDEL-DOM) | PO Box 4425 | Carson, CA 90749-4425 | | Domain Name: GRENDEL.COM | | Administrative Contact, Technical Contact, Zone Contact: | Angus, Jeffrey (JA56) jangus@SKYLD.GRENDEL.COM | (310) 324-6080 | | Record last updated on 09-Feb-94. | | Domain servers in listed order: | | NETCOMSV.NETCOM.COM192.100.81.101 | NS.NETCOM.COM192.100.81.105 | | | The InterNIC Registration Services Host ONLY contains Internet Information | (Networks, ASN's, Domains, and POC's). | Please use the whois server at nic.ddn.mil for MILNET Information. Note: Who wishes to be the first to point out that quoting private e-mail is "in bad form"? If you don't wish to be quoted, don't post or send mail. 73 es a Top-O-The-Morning to one and all (with the exception Jeff Herman.) Amateur: WA6FWI@WA6FWI.#SOCA.CA.USA.NA | "You have a flair for adding Internet: jangus@skyld.grendel.com | a fanciful dimension to any US Mail: PO Box 4425 Carson, CA 90749 | story." Phone: 1 (310) 324-6080 | Peking Noodle Co. ------------------------------ Date: 21 Mar 94 22:15:04 -0600 From: ihnp4.ucsd.edu!dog.ee.lbl.gov!overload.lbl.gov!agate!howland.reston.ans.net!wupost!darwin.sura.net!altair.selu.edu!fcs$1224@network.ucsd.edu Subject: Looking for Long. and Lat. informationSKIP To: info-hams@ucsd.edu Erwin: I tried to use reply to send you a note thanking you for the information requested -- it is exactly what I needed. However, it bounced twice Thanks, Tom > -------------------------------------------------- > Erwin Nikl, > Motorola, Taunusstein near Wiesbaden, West-Germany > internet address: erwinn@taueng.comm.mot.com > or: erwinn@zwg01dns0.comm.mot.com -- T. F. Higginbotham, Ph. D. Professor of Computer Science Southeastern Louisiana University P. O. Box 763 Hammond, Louisiana +1 (504) 549 - 5315 ------------------------------ Date: 22 Mar 1994 01:35:42 GMT From: netcomsv!netcomsv!mac_serv.3do.COM!NewsWatcher!user@decwrl.dec.com Subject: req for Motorola's address To: info-hams@ucsd.edu I was hoping someone would email me the address for Motorola's semiconductor division (in Phoenix I believe). I am am trying to request information on some of their silicon RF devices and have no way to snail mail them. Thanks, ------------------------------------------------------------------- Eric Hegstrom KA7CTO theeric@netcom.com A very bright progrrammer (I'm wearing flourescent underwear) ------------------------------ Date: 21 Mar 1994 23:14:50 GMT From: ncar!hsdndev!dartvax.dartmouth.edu!usenet@ames.arpa Subject: Sonobuoys To: info-hams@ucsd.edu (Warning: This is somewhat random...) Last night, three of my fraternity brothers and I were playing poker on the first floor of the house when another brother came back from a weekend at home, and promptly unloaded, among other things, three old sonobuoys. It seems that his brother is an oceanographer, and they were just laying around the basement. Apparently they were used for mapping ocean currents (rather than ASW for example.) His dad wanted to throw them out as they wer etaking up space, but said brother decided maybe someone at school would be interested in them, so he threw them in the trunk and hauled them up here. So, today we got them out and examined them. Two of them have been opened before. One is small with a propellor-like assembly that evidently flips out and acts to slow down the buoy on its descent into the water. The other one (and the third one, which looks just like it) has a plastic parachute in it. We didn't take either one of them apart completely, but I think I have a basic idea of where the radio units must be in them. I imagine that the two buoys that have been opened are probably "dead" as there is probably no way to turn them off once the two "buttons" on the bottom of the thing have been triggered. I am curious though - if we were to somehow activate the third, sealed buoy, and it's battery still functioned, what sort of signal does it put out, and is there any way we could monitor it? Alternatively, does anyone know what sort of radios these things have in them? Are they useful for anything other than sonobuoys? What would they be worth? Also, are there things I haven't considered about these (like safety issues, illegal transmission issues, etc...) that we should be considering while we play around with these? We're over 225km from the ocean here, but we have a large pond nearby, and there's always the Connecticut River :-). If anybody knows anything about these, I can probably find all sorts of numbers and marking to help identify the things. Thanks in advance and 73's, --- ======================================================================= Kenneth E. Harker N1PVB Dartmouth College Amateur Packet Radio kenneth.e.harker@dartmouth.edu Hinman Box 1262 n1pvb@w1et.nh.usa.na (603) 643-6549 Hanover, NH 03755 or n1pvb-5 on 144.99 ======================================================================= (PGP Public Key now available on request) ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 21 Mar 1994 23:23:09 +0000 From: news.cerf.net!pravda.sdsc.edu!nic-nac.CSU.net!charnel.net.csuchico.edu!charnel!yeshua.marcam.com!news.kei.com!eff!news.umbc.edu!europa.eng.gtefsd.com!howland.reston.ans.@@ihnp4.ucsd.edu To: info-hams@ucsd.edu References <2m78pf$5kh@news.iastate.edu>, <2m8ktm$21a@apple.com>, charnel Reply-To : ip@g8sjp.demon.co.uk Subject : Re: 1x1 Callsigns? In article jherman@uhunix3.uhcc.Hawaii.Edu "Jeffrey Herman" writes: > Kok & Will: A number is appended following the prefix if and only if > the country in question has divided itself into districts. Thus, because > the Marshall Islands are so small in land area (lots of islands, though) > the Marshallese government has chosen not to partition the islands > into different radio districts. BZZZZZZZZZTTTTT !!!! Potentially wrong answer :-) Lotsa countries use the number(s) for other things. F'rinstance, in the UK it denotes a licence *class*. The 'regional' identifier is a letter. Of course, it can be said that the UK is a collection of countries, and therefore the additional letter not a regional identifier at all. Regardless of all that, your statement doesn't square in countries which have numbers in their calls which are not regionally related. If *either* of the things I've said above are true, you'll need to rethink your views on the matter :-) -- Iain Philipps ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 21 Mar 1994 14:52:51 -0500 From: ihnp4.ucsd.edu!library.ucla.edu!europa.eng.gtefsd.com!howland.reston.ans.net!math.ohio-state.edu!news.acns.nwu.edu!ftpbox!mothost!lmpsbbs!NewsWatcher!user@network.ucsd.edu To: info-hams@ucsd.edu References , , h.ohi Subject : Re: Internet<->Packet and Part 97 In article , jrimmer@netcom.com (Jason Rimmer) wrote: > In article edleslie@apogee.ccs.yorku.ca (Ed Leslie) writes: > >From: edleslie@apogee.ccs.yorku.ca (Ed Leslie) > >Subject: Re: Internet<->Packet and Part 97 > >Date: Mon, 21 Mar 1994 01:35:37 GMT > > >Jason Rimmer (jrimmer@netcom.com) wrote: > >: My intention here is to set up a internet<->packet gateway. The catch is I > >: want it to be automatic. Once I made that decision I have to deal with > >: Part 97's rules about third-party traffic. That's where the issue greys... > >: What are my troubles? I know vulgarities are a problem, but anything else? > >: If it's just vulgarities, I can just write something to screen those out. > >: What other issues need to be dealt with. Or has that already been done? > > >I think (and I may be speaking way out of turn here) that the general way > >people around here have approached this issue is to ensure that email text > >hits the air (i.e. over packet) *ONLY* at the behest of an amateur, so that > >then the amateur is the one controlling the transmission (and I guess that > >means the one liable for any infraction, whether they could know that it > >would happen or not in advance). So, any email transversing the gateway can > >only be delivered to a land-based bbs, and must be read from there at the > >request of an amateur operator. With fine tuning, I believe they can tell > >that if I originated the message over the airwaves, then it can be delivered > >over the airwaves to it's destination. > > >73 de Ed / VE3ZVZ > > >: --- > >: Jason Rimmer > >: Eclectic Technologies > >: jrimmer@netcom.com > > >: Object technology for the masses... > > That's true, but if I "know" what's not allowed to be transmitted over the > air, then I can figure out a way to filter that out. i.e. A message comes > from Internet and the destination is over packet. Once the message is > received, a program jumps in, scans the message for obscenities (and whatever > else needs to be caught), and either replaces the offending text, or deletes > the message entirely. If the message is not deleted, then it forwards it > over packet, otherwise it sends the message over packet to the addressee of > the message stating that it was not able to be sent, due to obscenities, etc. > Does that sound plausible? > I'm curious how you intend to detect conversation that is business-related and still prohibited under Part 97, codes and ciphers, criminal-related activity, etc. The "seven words" aren't the issue as much as the content , context, and intent. Detecting and eliminating that without obliterating the message text is going to take one heck of a "smart" computer. Of course you must also be able to identify the originator's exact location so you don't violate any "third-party" message regulations enacted by either the FCC or the various government agencies at the originator's end. And you'll need an exception table to THAT routine to allow pass-through of messages originated by foreign amateurs whose callsigns you know or can verify as legitimate users. If you are here in the USA, dig out and dust off your personal copy of Part 97 (every licensed ham is supposed to have access to one) or download them from an FTP site. Be sure you have the latest hard copy (issued 10/93) or later electronic version. Most of what you need to know is in there, the rest you can get from ARRL or your local amateur clubs. Unfortunately your address doesn't hint at your location, but take Ed's comments to heart. They've been trying to do a gateway for quite some time, but each country has different radio regulations that get in the way of delivering "Object technology for the masses..." or keep things on a higher technical plane, depending on your viewpoint. I happen to favor the latter. > > --- > Jason Rimmer > Eclectic Technologies > jrimmer@netcom.com > > Object technology for the masses... -- Karl Beckman, P.E. < STUPIDITY is an elemental force for which > Motorola Comm - Fixed Data < no earthquake is a match. -- Karl Kraus > The statements and opinions expressed here are not those of Motorola Inc. Motorola paid a marketing firm a huge sum of money to get their opinions; they have made it clear that they do not wish to share those of employees. Amateur radio WA8NVW @ K8MR.NEOH.USA.NA NavyMARS VBH @ NOGBN.NOASI ------------------------------ Date: 21 Mar 1994 09:17:08 -0800 From: olivea!apple.com!apple.com!not-for-mail@ames.arpa To: info-hams@ucsd.edu References <2m58sq$12hg@watnews1.watson.ibm.com>, <2mfkd6$8p4@apple.com>, <19MAR94.18754189.0121@UNBVM1.CSD.UNB.CA> Subject : Re: FT-990 vs TS-850 NADO000 writes: >In article <2mfkd6$8p4@apple.com> kchen@apple.com (Kok Chen) writes: >>>didn't give me a single problem, nor to anybody of my >>>friends, who seeing my 990 chose to buy similar rig > ^^^^^^^^^^ >I don't think one should pick a radio just on looks. QRZ, QRZ. That ain't me who said that! I also own a Ten-Tec rig. Have you ever seen a Ten-Tec rig that looks good? :-) :-). Moreover, I drive a Saab and I get taunted all the time for uglifying the parking lot. Vote for best looking rig: the National HRO-500. 73, Kok Chen, AA6TY kchen@apple.com Apple Computer, Inc. ------------------------------ End of Info-Hams Digest V94 #318 ******************************