QRZ! Ham Radio 3/QRZ Ham Radio Callsign Database - Volume 3.iso/digests/infoham/931307.txt

Internet Message Format | 1994-06-04 | 25KB

Date: Wed,  3 Nov 93 21:28:50 PST
From: Info-Hams Mailing List and Newsgroup <[e-mail]>
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Subject: Info-Hams Digest V93 #1307
To: Info-Hams


Info-Hams Digest            Wed,  3 Nov 93       Volume 93 : Issue 1307

Today's Topics:
                           A strange dream
                             Cat's Cradle
                 CW Crystals-W0LPS still in business
                       Need info on RS HTX-202
                           PK232 vs Kenwood
                     Problems routing to ARRL.ORG
                  setting up a work bench. (2 msgs)
                      Studying in San Francisco
           TH-78A (was Questions regarding CTCSS, DTMF ???)
                           The dancing keys
                  WANTED: NEWSLINE Archives; Where?

Send Replies or notes for publication to: <[e-mail]>
Send subscription requests to: <[e-mail]>
Problems you can't solve otherwise to [e-mail].

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: Tue,  2 Nov 93 09:12:00 -0600
From: swrinde!menudo.uh.edu!nuchat!cld9![e-mail]
Subject: A strange dream
To: [e-mail]

Quoting the inspirational words of [e-mail] on the
subject of A strange dream:

+- [e-mail] to ALL ------------------------------------+
|                                                             |
|The talkative oldster to my right informs me that this is the|
|monthly meeting of the local ham club.                       |
+-------------------------------------------------------------+

Your Ham Club meetings sound like fun! Pse post date, time, place of your
weekly (monthly) meeting for those who are interested in attending!

Message written at 8:40am, on Tuesday, November 2, 1993.
---
 * Apex v4 * Imagery is in the I of the beholder.
 *  [e-mail] - N6ALS@K6LY.#NOCAL.CA.USA.NA
 * [R2.00o] * Usenet * Nitelog BBS * Monterey CA * 408-655-1096

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

Date: Wed, 3 Nov 1993 07:13:57 GMT
From: europa.eng.gtefsd.com!library.ucla.edu!csulb.edu!csus.edu!netcom.com![e-mail]
Subject: Cat's Cradle
To: [e-mail]

Can anyone recommend a source of Great Circle World Maps, please?
--

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Michael S. Sattler         [e-mail]        [phone]
Digital Jungle Software    Encrypt now; ask me how.   (finger for PGP key)

               All that is required for evil to triumph is
                for {wo}men of good will to do nothing.

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

Date: Tue, 2 Nov 93 20:20:05 GMT
From: news.service.uci.edu!paris.ics.uci.edu!csulb.edu!library.ucla.edu!europa.eng.gtefsd.com!darwin.sura.net!newsserver.jvnc.net!a3bee2.radnet.com!cyphyn![e-mail]
Subject: CW Crystals-W0LPS still in business
To: [e-mail]

 It was a 4 month wait, but the crystals finally arrived.

Anyone who had placed orders with CW Crystals and still waiting, just
hang in there....he's simply swamped with back-orders.

(ps...the fellow in Denmark who has waited a year? try re-writing to ask
if the order is complete)


--
Randy KA1UNW              If you get a shock while
                         servicing  your  equipment,         "Works for me!"
randy@192.153.4.200             DON'T  JUMP!                     -Peter Keyes
                     You might break an expensive tube!

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

Date: Wed, 3 Nov 1993 12:44:40 GMT
From: swrinde!gatech!mailer.cc.fsu.edu!freenet2.scri.fsu.edu![e-mail]
Subject: Need info on RS HTX-202
To: [e-mail]

well i've had mine since march of this year
and its been great.
i just bought my wife an icom 228h and
the reciever in the 202 is so much better
you cant compare them. please note the
202 is not wide band rx. ham band only.

73 dave kd4kw

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

Date: Tue, 2 Nov 1993 16:15:20 GMT
From: elroy.jpl.nasa.gov!usc!math.ohio-state.edu!uwm.edu!linac!att!cbnewsm![e-mail]
Subject: PK232 vs Kenwood
To: [e-mail]

In article <2b3mk2$[e-mail]>, [e-mail] (Jeff Gold) writes:
>
> In a previous article, [e-mail] (Clay Jackson) says:
>
> I had the same problem with my kenwood 820, my Yaesu 757 and
> my kenwood 850. I believe that it has to do with one of the lvels
> in the radio. I don't want to mess with my 850 so I just put
> a toggle swithc in line and cut out the one wire that was
> causing the problem. I think if you unplug your mike it should do the
> same thing. When I switch form Digital to SSB, I thorugh one switch.
>
>
> >I'm having a heck of a time with my PK-232 and Kenwood TS-680 (the 6M
>
> >version of a TS-140).  If I plug the PK-232 into the ACC-2 jack on the
> >Kenwood (using an AEA made cable), the TX-audio on the Kenwood goes to
> >pot (basically, it acts as if I've got some sort of feedback loop).
> >
> >I've tried all the "usual" fixes (made sure both the 680 and the 232
> >were grounded, strapped the two together, moved 'em apart, etc) and
> >nothing seems to help.
> >
> >I've seen some stuff about other Kenwood rigs - anyone have any
> >suggestions?
> >
> >73 de N7QNM
> >
> >Clay
> >
> >--

 When I connected my KAM to the acc jack of my TS440, I had to install
a diode between two pins in the connector (that's a hellashous connector!)
Kantronics supplied that info and I since saw it in QST (H&K ?) for the PK232.
The diode was, I believe, a 1N914.  Send me mail for more info at:
Shel  WA2UBK  [e-mail]

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

Date: 3 Nov 93 06:28:41 GMT
From: ogicse!uwm.edu!vixen.cso.uiuc.edu!howland.reston.ans.net!math.ohio-state.edu!cs.utexas.edu![e-mail]
Subject: Problems routing to ARRL.ORG
To: [e-mail]

Hi,
For some reason, every time I try to mail to anyone at arrl.org, my mail gets
bounced by our forwarder (uu.psi.com). I don't have problems with anyone
else on internet that I've sent mail. Is there something weird about the way
arrl.org is set up? I think I've noticed some posts about this a while back.

Anyway, Luck if you read this, could you please subscribe me to FIELDORG?

Thanks,
Joe - N3PQY/AE
([e-mail])

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

Date: 3 Nov 93 15:02:59 GMT
From: ogicse!emory!kd4nc!ke4zv![e-mail]
Subject: setting up a work bench.
To: [e-mail]

In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail] writes:
>
>I think I need to build a workbench down stairs as one of my first projects.
>Any suggestions as far as what to think ahead about design wise?  I intend
>to buy some cheap lumber at Knox or Menards etc.  They have a workbench
>kit based on 2x4's.  Also shelve frames etc.

Home Depot sells a workbench based on 2x6 construction for $40. I've
built two, the latest last Monday. They're sturdy, come pre-cut and
pre-drilled, and with all the necessary assembly screws. It'll comfortably
support a small block Chevy engine, so it does a fine job with amateur
boat anchors. All you need to make it a great electronics bench is to
glue down a fiberboard top to get a smooth work surface.

Or you can go with a couple of short filing cabinets and a solid core
door. I've done that too. The key is to get the working surface to a
height of 38-40 inches so you can comfortably work standing or sitting
on a stool.

If you work on boat anchors a lot, look at getting one of the roll
around mechanic's tool box *bottoms*. With a rubber mat on top, it
makes a fine place to set that heavy radio, and allows you easy
access to all sides of it.

>(I probably ought to have something to clip an anti static wrist strap
>to for one.)

You should get some computer room anti-static carpet for the benchtop.
This stuff is often free in small quantities from the carpet house.
This can serve two purposes, it'll prevent marring the faces of equipment
that you're working on, and it forms a convienent static mat, just clip
your wrist strap to it. Don't glue it down, there are times when you'll
prefer to work on the bare benchtop. You're not looking for a connection
to Earth, all your anti-static station is supposed to do is to establish
a zone of common potential. That can imply a connection to the third
wire of the power system so your test equipment will be at the same
potential, but a low impedance Earth ground is not wanted.

>I think I want to place some rugged shelves above the workbench to
>place (possibly heavy) test equipment, parts, reference books, etc.
>(The scope I just got is heavy, and I don't want to move it around much.
>I would like to be able to set it on the shelf and just use it there
>most of the time.  I suppose there will be plenty of times when the piece
>of work is bigger and heavier than the scope.  Hmm, maybe I sould put
>wheels on the workbench?  This would let me move it around downstairs,
>but I would still need to remove it if I want to take it out to the
>garage etc.)

I prefer to mount my scopes, spectrum analysers, and communications
monitors on roll around scope carts. I can then drag out just what
I need for a particular task. Cluttering the back of your bench with
a bunch of fixed test equipment results in the bench being covered by
a slew of dangling test leads with the one you need at the moment
about an inch too short. Do mount a heavy 12 volt supply on the bench,
and a variable lab supply. You'll need those all the time. Both should
have settable current limiting.

>The basement has tile floor on cement.  I don't think that would be
>too conducive to static.  Is there anything else I ought to think of
>this way?

The basement tile is likely better than non-conductive carpet, but
you can still have static problems from your clothing. Wear cotton
rather than synthetics, and use that wrist strap to the conductive
pad the equipment is resting on. The dangers of static are somewhat
overblown in most cases. If you're working with unterminated MOSFETS,
then static precautions are wise, but most equipment won't be bothered
by static as long as the sensitive devices are terminated in the
circuit.

>I wonder if I should try to have some strong ground material there.
>I can't really drive a copper pole into the ground there, but I could
>have some iron pipes to hang things on and I could attach test equipment
>to these with bradded metal strips, and attach these to the main water pipe
>or sewer pipe?   I don't know if this is useful.  If I get HF equipment installed
>there and an antenna connection anywhere near it might prevent some lightening
>damage if the lightening strike is not to close.

If we assume this is a workbench and not an operating position, then
ground concerns should be limited to *safety* grounds. The third wire
ground of the equipment should be sufficient for this. Your bench power
strips should be fed by GFI breakers, and you may want a 1:1 isolation
transformer for devices under test. You definitely want a "panic" switch
within reach that will allow you to disconnect power quickly in case of
a problem. You'll be working on equipment with exposed dangerous voltages.
Great care must be taken to assure you don't get zapped. I like to have
a separate power strip for my test equipment and for equipment under
test. The latter has a permanently wired red lightbulb. I can tell at
a glance whether there is power to the equipment. A single switch can
turn this strip on and off. I use that rather than pulling the plug
again and again while working. Note, you can get exciting results by
touching a grounded tip soldering iron to a circuit that is powered. :-(

Gary
--
Gary Coffman KE4ZV          |"If 10% is good enough | gatech!wa4mei!ke4zv!gary
Destructive Testing Systems | for Jesus, it's good  | uunet!rsiatl!ke4zv!gary
534 Shannon Way             | enough for Uncle Sam."| emory!kd4nc!ke4zv!gary
Lawrenceville, GA 30244     | -Ray Stevens          |

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

Date: Wed, 3 Nov 1993 03:56:16 GMT
From: munnari.oz.au!bruce.cs.monash.edu.au!trlluna!titan!pcies4.trl.OZ.AU![e-mail]
Subject: setting up a work bench.
To: [e-mail]

In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail] (David Adams) writes:
>From: [e-mail] (David Adams)
>Subject: setting up a work bench.
>Date: 1 Nov 93 16:07:35 CST
>
>I think I need to build a workbench down stairs as one of my first projects.
>Any suggestions as far as what to think ahead about design wise?  I intend
>to buy some cheap lumber at Knox or Menards etc.  They have a workbench
>kit based on 2x4's.  Also shelve frames etc.
>
If I get HF equipment
installed >there and an antenna connection anywhere near it might prevent
some lightening >damage if the lightening strike is not to close.
>
>Any other suggestions about where to place things?
>                                                ______
>Sourdough and Ham  KG0IO/AE         |   |  |
>                                               |   |  |  obten comida,
>--David C. Adams    [e-mail]            |   |  |  y sal de aqui!
>  Statistician                                  \____/
>  Cray Research Inc.                            (____)
>                                                .:. .



                                                 . .  :.

Hello David. Good luck with your new work bench. I spent over 10 years of
my working life at the electronics work-bench- so I reckon I'm qualified
to comment on this one.

Pay close attention to the height- remember that you will be spending many
happy hours (hopefully) there- nobody wants back problems in middle-life. If
you are going to use a lab type stool, make it so that you can get your legs
under the bench.

Keep in mind that fluorescent tube lighting can cause radio noise, and
interfere with microvolt measurements, so it's a good idea to have an
ordinary incandescent (filament) lamp on a goose-neck so that you can get
plenty of noise-free light right onto the job.

Have all your most often needed tools in plain view on a shadow or
peg-board (few things are more time-wasting or frustrating than scratching
around in a drawer full of bits 'n pieces looking for a blade screw-
driver!), and make it a rule that other persons in your house must always
put tools back where they borrowed 'em from (fat chance!).

Arrange plenty of ac power points along the back and front of the work
bench. If you can afford it, have them isolated via a 1:1 transformer of
suitable kVA rating- or use a core-balance relay- good insurance.


Satic electricity should not be a problem in a basement set-up. Have a
rubber-backed mat to stand on when working with high voltages.

73, Drew,
VK3XU.

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

Date: 3 Nov 93 14:03:33 GMT
From: ogicse!emory!kd4nc!ke4zv![e-mail]
Subject: Studying in San Francisco
To: [e-mail]

In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail] (Michael Sattler) writes:
>Gary Coffman ([e-mail]) wrote:
>: [e-mail] (Michael Sattler) writes:
>: >
>: >Thanks for the reply.  If what you say is true, then why do so many
>: >people (including the military) mount huge whip antennae with shiny
>: >loading coils on their bumpers?
>
>: Because if they mounted those huge whips on the top they'd hit every
>: highway overpass in the country. As I said, *when mechanically feasible*,
>: the best place to mount an antenna is in the center of the roof.
>
>I guess I'm not understanding the most basic part of this issue.
>How much of an advantage does a huge whip offer over, say, a Diamond
>roof-top (3 db gain on 2 meters, 5 db gain on 70 cm) antenna?

Ah, those huge whips are for a different band, somewhere in the HF
spectrum, not for VHF/UHF. The only bumper mount VHF antenna I've
seen in years is one by Hustler that puts a coaxial sleeve dipole
on one of their HF antenna masts. I used that one years ago on a
67 Chevy, alternating the VHF top section with a HF top section.
A Comet, Larsen, Diamond, etc roof mount dedicated VHF or UHF
antenna will work better *on VHF/UHF* than a bumper mount at those
frequencies. Bumper mounts are *mechanically* the best solution for
very long HF antennas. VHF/UHF antennas generally aren't very long.

Gary

--
Gary Coffman KE4ZV          |"If 10% is good enough | gatech!wa4mei!ke4zv!gary
Destructive Testing Systems | for Jesus, it's good  | uunet!rsiatl!ke4zv!gary
534 Shannon Way             | enough for Uncle Sam."| emory!kd4nc!ke4zv!gary
Lawrenceville, GA 30244     | -Ray Stevens          |

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

Date: Wed, 3 Nov 1993 07:19:52 GMT
From: europa.eng.gtefsd.com!library.ucla.edu!csulb.edu!csus.edu!netcom.com![e-mail]
Subject: TH-78A (was Questions regarding CTCSS, DTMF ???)
To: [e-mail]

WONG YA YA ([e-mail]) wrote:

: What's the price for the mem exp on you side? And the HT itself?
: the TH-78A HTs are sold approx. US$400 in HK.  I really love it.

The memory expansion module is about USD 34 from the Ham Radio
Outlet in Sunnyvale, California.  The Kenwood TH-78A sells for
USD 450 less a USD 20 discount from the manufacturer.
--

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Michael S. Sattler         [e-mail]        [phone]
Digital Jungle Software    Encrypt now; ask me how.   (finger for PGP key)

               All that is required for evil to triumph is
                for {wo}men of good will to do nothing.

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

Date: Wed, 3 Nov 1993 20:01:37 GMT
From: pacbell.com!amdahl!netcomsv!netcom.com![e-mail]
Subject: The dancing keys
To: [e-mail]

In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail] (Derek Wills) writes:
>[e-mail] says (well, he says the last three lines
>below after quotes from others I'm too confused to acknowledge):
>
>>> LONDON (UPI) -- Hundreds of Morris dancers staged a rally in central
>>>London Saturday protesting against the government's planned abolition of
>>>a public holiday they consider to be a unique part of England's history.
>>> The May Bank holiday dates back to the mediaeval ages when May Day
>>>was used for great festivities. People would dance around a maypole set
>>>up in towns and villages around the country. The dances became
>>>associated with Morris dances, which were usually danced by five men and
>>>a boy dressed as a girl, called Maid Marian from Robin Hood folklore.
>>
>>Interesting bit of news but what has this got to do with Amateur Radio?
>>
>
>>Absolutely none. Morris Dancing is a form of good old traditional folk
>>dancing. Nothing to do with morse code at all. Serves people right for
>>mis-spelling morse.
>
>  Of course they are related.  Listen to them dancing around -
>  clickety-clack, clickety-clack, ting ting ting from the bells
>  and stuff.   It sounds just like that big contest station a
>  bit further up the band.  The rhythm is the same.  And why else
>  do people talk about radios with all the bells and whistles?
>  And Alfred Vail (who worked with Samuel "Fine Business" Morse)
>  died in Morris County.
>
>  Coincidences? - of course not!
>
>  (By the way, don't tell NH6IL what the maypole represents, it's
>  bad enough having boys dressed up as girls - say no more, squire!)

Don't believe a word of it. Morris dancing is entirely a myth, as a
traditional art. It was actually invented by a bunch of students
from Oxford who were on their way to Wales for a folk-festival
in 1964.

They were motoring up the road in a clapped out Morris 1000 when the
SU fuel pump packed up.

They all piled out of the miserable old motor, and stood about looking
glum. Going off to the bushes to have a piss, one of them returned with
a bit of wood that he thought would make a smashing swagger stick.

When he returned to the car, one of his comrades, who wasn't very popular,
had pulled out his wheezy old melodeon and began to play what he thought
passed for a jig, only he never could get the timing quite right, and
had to slow down in order to get all the notes in some of the passages;
neither he nor his melodeon were much good at making music.

Motivated by the contents of a couple of bottles found in the boot,
and by memory of a course in modern dance which they had taken when
they had mistakenly thought they were signing up for crew, and
hampered by the contents of a couple of bottles found in the boot,
the other lads began to improvise a modern dance to the strange
wheezings of the melodeon. The driver, meanwhile, decided to have
'one more go' at starting Minor--- ---anything to get away from the
racket.

In any case, just as the lad with the stick came 'round the back fender
of the car in the midst of his Isadora Duncan impersonation, he  managed
to whack the car with his stick. "Oi, oi, oi, mind finish!" says the
poor old rust-pile's owner.

Just then, the Morris came to life, the jolt of the dancer's stick
having temporarily unstuck the contacts which motivate the fuel
pump's oscillations.

Some sixty miles later, the scene was repeated, but the lads knew
just what to do. As the engine starved and died, they would pull
to the side of the road, get out the melodeon and the stick, and
perform what came to be called the "Morris Dance," which got them
all the way to the folk-festival and back.

The original Morris from which this dance originated can be seen,
now preserved as a living memorial, just round the corner from Cecil
Sharpe House. Unless someone's nicked it again.

Greg

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

Date: Tue, 02 Nov 93 22:43:48 PST
From: news.sprintlink.net!crash!slic![e-mail]
Subject: WANTED: NEWSLINE Archives; Where?
To: [e-mail]

Is there an FTP site that specializes in NEWSLINE archives?
Looking for some of the older bulletins.  It appears that
NEWSLINE is using MCIMail for mostly inhouse distribution.

--
    Mike Shirley        San Diego, CA USA        HAM:WB6WUI
    [e-mail]      guaranteed: [e-mail]
    [e-mail] will send you my PGP Public Key
    [e-mail] will send you info on PGP

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

Date: Tue, 2 Nov 1993 16:15:51 GMT
From: elroy.jpl.nasa.gov!swrinde!gatech!willis1.cis.uab.edu!right.dom.uab.edu![e-mail]
To: [e-mail]

References <[e-mail]>, <2b440p$[e-mail]>, <[e-mail]>
Subject : Re: setting up a work bench.

Be sure to put a 1 by 4 or 1 by 6 along the back edge of the bench.
This will prevent screws, resistors, and other parts from falling off
the back.  This event always happens at the most inoportune time.
My bench is plywood over 2x4's built as an interlocking frame.  I
work on electronics, household projects, and do woodworking, so
it had to be sturdy.  For a decent surface I laminated a piece of
fiberboard to the surface.

One thing that is not immediately obvious is to put the bench where you
will have an overhead light over the bench.  I need to move a ceiling
fixture in a suspended ceiling, which is easy.  If you work area does
not have lighting above the bench you will constantly be working
in a shadow.

Steve Holland, KD4TTC

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

Date: 3 Nov 1993 02:48:17 -0500
From: digex.net!access![e-mail]
To: [e-mail]

References <2b3b7g$[e-mail]>, <2b3vh2$[e-mail]>, <[e-mail]>
Subject : Re: Repeater Trivia Question.

[e-mail] (Jeff Herman) writes:
>Ah yes, that was Art Gentry's repeater. I can still hear Millie's (W6MEP)
>Mount Lee, Hollywood'', once every 10 minutes or so. Art would get so mad at
>the kids abusing the repeater that about once per day he would come over
>the UHF link and threaten to turn the machine off.


Which delighted the repeater hackers to no end, I'm sure.

It's nice to know that some things (Human nature)
in the universe never change.

--

finger [e-mail] for this week's updated list
of Top Ten Off-Topic Subjects in TELECOM Digest.
Exiting Kill Mailboxes

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

End of Info-Hams Digest V93 #1307
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