Ham Radio/Ham Radio CD-ROM (Emerald Software) (1995).ISO/news/inham01/756

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INFO-HAMS Digest            Wed, 11 Oct 89       Volume 89 : Issue 756

Today's Topics:
                      Aircraft headsets (2 msgs)
                          ARRL and User Fees
                     ATV Balloon Landing (2 msgs)
                              Field Day
                    Field Day... OK... A proposal:
                          Help with TA-32jr
               Length of dots and dashes in Morse Code
                            long wave BBS
                               Part 15
                            Tower Question
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Date: 11 Oct 89 15:46:00 GMT
From: silver![e-mail]
Subject: Aircraft headsets

In  article <[e-mail]> IZZYH79@OAC.
UCLA.EDU writes:
>I have recently bought the David Clark H10-20 aviation
>headset.  Has anyone had any experience in using this
>type of headset for ham use, ie. building an adapter for
>use with handy talkies or HF gear?           ^^^^^^^^^^^
>^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
>  Thank you.      Arun WC6V

The standard aircraft radio microphone circuit requires a carbon
microphone, i.e., a variable resistance.  True carbon mics have
several disadvantages including poor audio quality; no self-respecting
ham would use one.  Modern aircraft mics are "simulated carbon", i.e.,
they are electret or dynamic mics with a preamplifier circuit which
simulates the electrical characteristics of a carbon mic and is
powered by the microphone bias current from the radio.  High-quality
simulated-carbon mics which don't work with ham rigs are available
cheap at hamfests.  See _Ham Radio_ magazine, October 1981 p. 18. for
a circuit for adapting them to typical ham transceivers.  (Copy for
SASE.)

Unmodified Plantronics StarSet headsets will work with the Icom IC-2AT
family of transceivers; just add appropriate connectors and series PTT
switch.  This has been published in most ham magazines.

--

Frank Reid   W9MKV    [e-mail]
P.O. Box 5283
Bloomington IN 47407

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Date: 11 Oct 89 16:43:32 GMT
From: agate!bionet!uwm.edu!ux1.cso.uiuc.edu!ux1.cso.uiuc.edu![e-mail]
Subject: Aircraft headsets

Can someone who is into aviation (and ham radio, too) give a summary of the
available aviation headsets?  I'm personally interested in having one that
is very comfortable to wear for long periods of time (I suspect pilots have
to some times) AND very good noise blocking on the earphones (yes, TWO) and
noise cancelling on the boom mike.  Included should be what the prospects are
of modifying them for use with ham gear (HT's, mobile rigs, base rigs, etc).

--Phil howard--  <[e-mail]>
-.-- . ...   - .... .. ...   .. ...   -- -.--
.-.-.- ... .. --. -. .- - ..- .-. .   ..-. .. .-.. .

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Date: 11 Oct 89 16:43:35 GMT
From: cs.utexas.edu!uwm.edu!ux1.cso.uiuc.edu!ux1.cso.uiuc.edu![e-mail]
Subject: ARRL and User Fees

> Let's not be too hasty here.  None of the proposals I've seen involve a
> HUGE fee.  I personally support the concept of a license fee.  A license
> fee could do two things for us.  First, it could eliminate the excuse
> of no money for enforcement that the FCC uses for not helping us
> enforce our rules.  Second, we can quite legitimately state that we
> are paying a fair price for our access and therefore we cannot be
> denied access to our bands without due process.  In other words,
> we'd have a much better argument the next time someone makes a grab
> for a band.
>
> As it is, the ARRL's kneejerk reaction against user fees just
> perpetuates the stereotype of hams as beggars.  I used to run into
> that stereotype when I was promoting the service to TEMA and FEMA officials.
> One comment heard over and over  was "Every time I've tried to work
> with hams, they've come running with their hands out".  Maybe we
> ought to try and mitigate this stereotype and help pay our way.
>
> John De Armond, WD4OQC

John, I agree with you 100%

I'd like to add that the idea of all the fee money going directly to the
Federal treasury may not be that bad of an idea.  If the FCC keeps the money,
then we don't have as much control over it as we would if Congress allocates
it.  Congress SHOULD ordinarily allocate back to the FCC all of the funds the
FCC collects in all its processing.  We should expect the fees (for all
services) to let the FCC pay their own way.  Then if the FCC is FAILING to
meet its obligations, Congress can put more pressure on them to do so.

The processing fees can also allow a resumption of certain kinds of more
costly processing such as vanity callsigns and club stations.

I would like to stress that one particular type of processing needs to
continue to be ZERO COST, and that is filing a change of station location
and/or mailing address.  It would not only be unfair to people who have to
move more often, but it would be important for the FCC and hams to make sure
the FCC records and database is kept up to date.  If there was a cost to
file a change of address, some people would find excuses and reasons to avoid
filing the change just to avoid the costs.  Too many people don't file them
now as it is; why make it worse.

And a license fee would probably be a better filter to keep out the riff-raff
than that other method :-)

--Phil howard--  <[e-mail]>
-.-- . ...   - .... .. ...   .. ...   -- -.--
.-.-.- ... .. --. -. .- - ..- .-. .   ..-. .. .-.. .

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Date: 11 Oct 89 16:43:38 GMT
From: agate!bionet!uwm.edu!ux1.cso.uiuc.edu!ux1.cso.uiuc.edu!uicsrd.csrd.uiuc.edu![e-mail]
Subject: ATV Balloon Landing

~r atv.txt

------------------------------

Date: 11 Oct 89 16:43:41 GMT
From: cs.utexas.edu!uwm.edu!ux1.cso.uiuc.edu!ux1.cso.uiuc.edu!uicsrd.csrd.uiuc.edu![e-mail]
Subject: ATV Balloon Landing

The ATV balloon package was found intact and still operating in a soybean
field five miles east of Lebanon, Indiana. The package was found by the
Indianapolis fox-hunters who had been near that area. Assisting were
John Huisinga KA9YPK and Tim O'Connor KA9SZY in a chase plane. The package
was picked up forty minutes after landing. The only damage was the dislocation
of the mirror used to provide downward views to the camera.

Anyone who taped the flight is asked to contact :

        [e-mail]
            or
        Mark Garrett KA9SZX
        513 Jackson
        Champaign, IL 61821
            or
        K9CW PBBS (QSL)

Video was recieved as far away as West Virginia and southern Canada and
fifteen miles east of DesMoines, Iowa. The 42 milliwatt signal of the 2 meter
beacon was copied in Kansas City. The package achieved an altitude of at least
114,700 feet and traveled down range at speeds up to 125 mph.

More information and photos will be available in an upcoming Amatuer Television
Quarterly magazine.

-Steve Look
 KA9SZW


------------------------------

Date: 11 Oct 89 16:34:13 GMT
From: gem.mps.ohio-state.edu!ginosko!cs.utexas.edu!ut-emx![e-mail]  (Your Tax Dollars At Work)
Subject: Field Day

[e-mail] says:

>>>The problem with the Christmas to New Years week for me is that I am usually
>>>out of town visiting relatives and other holiday related stuff like that.
>>>Although it is not the case for me usually, lots of people are out of town
>>>visiting on the Thanksgiving day weekend as well.

   ... which is (usually) also the weekend of one of the biggest contests of
the year (CQWW) - and that doesn't stop the enthusiasts from taking part.

   Besides, Christmas is just when the supposed enemy will attack, with the
whole of the western world lying comatose in their chairs, their only sign of
life being an occasional gentle burp - we ought to be prepared.


Derek Wills (AA5BT, G3NMX)
Department of Astronomy, University of Texas,
Austin TX 78712.  (512-471-1392)
[e-mail]
---------------------------------------------
"Hold this feedline", said Tom, coaxingly.

------------------------------

Date: 11 Oct 89 16:43:28 GMT
From: gem.mps.ohio-state.edu!uakari.primate.wisc.edu!uwm.edu!ux1.cso.uiuc.edu!ux1.cso.uiuc.edu![e-mail]
Subject: Field Day... OK... A proposal:

> > Who should be the designated person?
>     W1AW, who else??  I think anticipating an event like this would also
>     serve to shore-up organization within clubs and individuals.  I would
>     personally like to know that a friend would call me immediately if
>     he heard the announcment first.  This just might tighten us all up
>     just a bit.....

Now that I asked, and now that at least one answer has arrived, I'll toss
out what I was thinking of and see who likes it or hates it.

One of the things that would be needed is VERY FAST dissemination of the
announcement of the simulated emergency preparedness exercise.  In a real
emergency how would we hear about it?  For one thing, the news media would
be heavily involved.  We need to get the news media going on it.  The idea
I was thinking of was to ask that none other than the President of the United
States (who is afterall Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces) be the one to
decide when and make the announcement.  It could be suggested that he might
tag the announcement at the end of any major media speech just as means of
getting the word out in a way that would approximately match a real life
emergency.  It might take some major begging to get him to do it, or maybe
it would be easy,  BUT JUST IMAGINE THE MEDIA AWARENESS as a result !!!

--Phil howard--  <[e-mail]>
-.-- . ...   - .... .. ...   .. ...   -- -.--
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Date: 11 Oct 89 00:29:24 GMT
From: hpda!hpcupt1![e-mail]  (Jim Hollenback)
Subject: Help with TA-32jr

I am thinking of putting up a Mosley TA-32 jr. antenna.  I was wondering
if anyone on the net has experience with this antenna.  I would apprieciate
comments on the antenna and installation.  It seems that this antenna is
small enough to be used with a TV antenna mast and rotor.

73's
Jim, WA6SDM
WA6SDM @ WB6ASR
[e-mail]



------------------------------

Date: 6 Oct 89 19:29:15 GMT
From: amdahl!pacbell!sactoh0!unify!csusac!mmsac![e-mail]  (David L. Kensiski)
Subject: Length of dots and dashes in Morse Code

In message <[e-mail]>, [e-mail] (Robert
Turner) writes:

> dot  = 1 time unit
> dash = 3 time units                    My guess for the following
> intra-letter = 3 time units
> intra-word   = 6 time units

Based on some ARRL manual I read long ago, your dot, dash and
intra-letter timing right.  The intra word is supposed to be 7 units.
Also, the intra-unit time (between dits and dahs) is supposed to be 1
unit.

--
David L. Kensiski, KB6HCN     Martin Marietta Data Systems
Software Engineer             1540 River Park Drive, Suite 213
Phone: [phone]         Sacramento, CA  95815
UUCP: sun!sacto!mmsac!david   INTERNET: mmsac![e-mail]

------------------------------

Date: 11 Oct 89 18:17:48 GMT
From: suns.UMD.EDU![e-mail]  (J. Patrick Harrington)
Subject: long wave BBS

    For those interested in longwave radio (below 550 KHz), there
is now a computer bulletin board devoted to this topic. It is ...
-------------------------------------------------
---- The LongWave DataBase System (LWDBS) ----
     PO Box 10116, Arlington, VA  22210
     Phone: [phone]
     Speed: 300/1200/2400 baud
     Protocol: 8 data bits, 1 stop bit, No parity.
     Schedule: 24 hrs/day, 7 days/week.
     Sysop: Lynn C. Ashley, Jr.
-------------------------------------------------
It is just getting started, so many of the projected data files
are not yet operational.  However, the message system is running,
as well as some lists of publications, vendors, etc.
    Anyone with an interest in longwave radio is invited to call.
This  includes non-directional beacons,  LowFERS,  LORAN & Omega,
etc.,  but remember that this board is for *long* wave  interests
only.
                     Pat Harrington
                     [e-mail]

------------------------------

Date: 11 Oct 89 18:19:49 GMT
From: suns.UMD.EDU![e-mail]  (J. Patrick Harrington)
Subject: Part 15

   While on the topic of longwaves, let me advertise a bit. There
are  doubtless  other lurkers out there  who,  like  myself,  are
interested in many aspects of radio.  We would like to  transmitt
but  have  not become hams because,  while the written exam is  a
piece of cake, we just can't find the time to memorize the %$#!!&
Morse Code.  While waiting for reform,  don't be idle.  You *can*
transmitt  without  *any*  license  under  part  15  of  the  FCC
regulations. And one of the best parts of the spectrum to do this
is 160 to 190 KHz, sometimes called the 1750 meter band. Here you
can  use up to 1 watt power and an antenna up to 15 meters  long.
(You really have to use every centimeter of that 15 meters, since
this is still less than 1/100 of a wavelength!) This last year  I
have been running a beacon which has been heard out to 100 miles.
(As a fringe benefit,  I now know enough code to recognize my own
beacon - at 7 wpm!) This is with a less than ideal antenna on  my
roof in a metropolitan area - with a better situation,  ranges of
hundreds of miles are possible.  There are no commercial rigs, so
you  make everything yourself.  (Or adapt something - I use a  CB
radio   with  SSB  capability  into  a  homebrew  transverter  to
transmitt  voice.)  Such  stations  are  known  as  LowFERS  (Low
Frequency Experimental Radio Stations).
    Another  Part 15 opening for those who want to mess about  is
the bit of spectrum from 1620 to 1705 KHz.  Over the entire range
from  510 KHz to 1705 KHz you can transmitt without license using
up to 1/10 watt and an antenna no longer than 3 meters. Since the
AM broadcasters have not yet moved into the new 1600-1705 region,
it is dead quiet up there. Since a 3 meter antenna at 1680 KHz is
more  efficient  that  a 15 meter one at  185  KHz,  this  partly
compensates  for  the reduced power.  Once  again,  distances  of
hundreds of miles have been achieved.
    There are no restrictions on *what* you transmitt. CW, voice,
RTTY, packet, encrypted RTTY, pizza orders, music ....
    Of course you will not DX the world.  But what does that mean
with the communications links today?  A radio magazine was highly
amused recently when some innocent wrote in asking if there was a
prize for 'working all states' on his cellular phone. What I like
about  that story is that it is not at all clear who  is  pulling
who's  leg.  DX with 1/10 of a watt,  your final amp a transistor
without  so  much  as  a heat sink,  no  pileups  - it  has  it's
attractions.
                                               Pat Harrington
                                               [e-mail]


------------------------------

Date: 11 Oct 89 14:21:24 GMT
From: gem.mps.ohio-state.edu!uakari.primate.wisc.edu!larry![e-mail]  (Scott Ellington)
Subject: Tower Question

Does anyone out there know of a commercial tower which is free standing,
non crank-up, reasonably priced, 60-70 feet high, and can handle a
10 square foot wind load at 40 psf?

Scott  K9MA
[e-mail]

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End of INFO-HAMS Digest V89 Issue #756
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