QRZ! Ham Radio 3/QRZ Ham Radio Callsign Database - Volume 3.iso/digests/infoham/940004.txt

Internet Message Format | 1994-06-04 | 27KB

Date: Wed,  5 Jan 94 15:41:44 PST
From: Info-Hams Mailing List and Newsgroup <[e-mail]>
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Reply-To: [e-mail]
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Subject: Info-Hams Digest V94 #4
To: Info-Hams


Info-Hams Digest            Wed,  5 Jan 94       Volume 94 : Issue    4

Today's Topics:
             6-meters band, region 1 regulations. (IARU)
                  FT-530 Firmware Problems (2 msgs)
           Has anyone ever suggested an advocacy newsgroup
                        Houston Area VE Exams
                  R&R associates keyer kit (3 msgs)
                        RAMSEY KITS NOT TOO G
                             TM-732 help
                   TOYOTAS AND MOBILE RIGS (2 msgs)
                     What goes on, on 6 meters ?
                           Where's my QST?
                        WHERE ARE ALL THE YOU

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: 5 Jan 1994 16:32:09 GMT
From: swrinde!sdd.hp.com!col.hp.com!srgenprp!news.dtc.hp.com!hplextra!hpscit.sc.hp.com!hpubmaa.esr.hp.com![e-mail]
Subject: 6-meters band, region 1 regulations. (IARU)
To: [e-mail]

Can someone tell me what kind of 6M activity there is in the Boston
area? I recently installed an MFJ-1796 vertical that covers 6M. In
30 years as a ham I have never owned a 6M rig but now that I have an
antenna I have been thinking about getting a piece of equipment.
Is it worth it?

--
Garry Howard                          Hewlett-Packard Company
Technical Consultant                  29 Burlington Mall Road
Professional Services Organization    Burlington, MA 01803 USA
[e-mail]

[I do not speak for HP officially or otherwise.]

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

Date: Wed, 5 Jan 1994 15:53:00 GMT
From: newsflash.concordia.ca!vax2.concordia.ca![e-mail]
Subject: FT-530 Firmware Problems
To: [e-mail]

In article <940105094537.328@GMS>, [e-mail] (Robert G. Schaffrath) writes...
> I have had an interesting set of problems with my new FT-530 which I decided
> to post here in case anyone else cares to check it out.  I purchased the
> radio in early October and it was manufactured in lot 3F16.  The first
> problem I discovered was something that had been posted on internet
> regarding the inability to turn the Page Acknowledgement function on.  After
> talking to Yaesu, I returned the radio for warranty repair and I just
> received it back.  Page Acknowledgement now works!  However, now I have
> discovered that the DTMF Code Squelch is no longer functioning properly
> (although I never fully checked this out prior to the repair).  If I set my
> code to say 426, I only need to send the 42 followed by any other number in
> order for the unit to break squelch.  420, 421, 422, etc. will all work!
> This leaves me with 99 possible codes versus the advertised 999!  I am
> curious if anyone else has experienced these problems.  The Page
>
>+-------------------------------+--------------------------------------------+
Robert, do you know exactly what they did to the Radio ? I have the same problem with mine, but I'm not willing to part with it for any length of time. I'm wondering if this could be done locally ...
Thanks & 73 de Denis.

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

Date: 5 Jan 94 22:14:29 GMT
From: ogicse!cs.uoregon.edu!sgiblab!sdd.hp.com!col.hp.com!fc.hp.com![e-mail]
Subject: FT-530 Firmware Problems
To: [e-mail]

On my FT530, purchased about 1 year ago:

   I've never had the "page acknowledgement" problem, i.e., it works.
   But, "continuous ring" doesn't happen when the page is automatically
   acknowledged.  What I'd like is for the *radio* to automatically
   acknowledge the page so the calling party knows the *radio* received
   it, and then inform me by continuous ring when, say, I get back to my
   car.  The way it works now, if you're absent and you have it in
   regular (as opposed to "trigger") paging mode, you have NO indication
   you received a page after it's been automatically acknowledged.  In
   trigger paging mode, the display at least continues to flash, but as
   before, continuous ring doesn't work.  Admittedly sort of a nitpick,
   some people may prefer this operation.

   My DTMF squelch has the same bug as yours: Only a match for the first
   two digits is needed, the third doesn't matter.

   Yet another bug, the "xfer" (exchange frequencies from side-to-side
   in the display) function will drop the 5 KHz digit in the UHF to VHF
   move.  This I happened to talk to Yaesu about; they were aware of the
   problem but weren't planning a fix.  Obviously a turn of the "operating
   system" of the radio is needed.

-Paul Christofanelli, KG0CZ,  Fort Collins, Colorado

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

Date: Wed, 5 Jan 1994 18:45:20 GMT
From: haven.umd.edu!news.umbc.edu!europa.eng.gtefsd.com!howland.reston.ans.net!sol.ctr.columbia.edu!usenet.ucs.indiana.edu!nickel.ucs.indiana.edu![e-mail]
Subject: Has anyone ever suggested an advocacy newsgroup
To: [e-mail]

I have noticed on rec.radio.amateur.misc that there is some people
that love argue the about code vs no-code debate over and over. I have
also notice that some people are sick of that debate (and other
endless debates, like which antenna is best, etc).

On alot of the other newsgroups sets, they have have an advocacy
newsgroup that most the endless agruement goto, leaving the original
newsgroup for general info and talk.

Maybe people should think about rec.radio.amateur.advocacy, and if it
is a popular idea, maybe we can put it upto a RFD on news.groups

just an idea,
mike
--
D. Michael Basinger:  Not speaking for Indiana University
   [e-mail]
   [e-mail] (NeXT Mail)

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

Date: 5 Jan 1994 16:05:30 GMT
From: swrinde!cs.utexas.edu!math.ohio-state.edu!news.acns.nwu.edu!casbah.acns.nwu.edu![e-mail]
Subject: Houston Area VE Exams
To: [e-mail]

In article <[e-mail]>,
Bob Biekert KA5GLX ([phone]) <[e-mail]> wrote:
>The Clear Lake ARC in SE Houston Tx will hold its monthly ARRL VE exams
>this saturday Jan 8th.
>
>WHEN: SAT Jan 8th, check in at 9am, tests start at 9:30am
>
>WHERE: Clear Lake Presbyterian Church education builiding, 1511 El Dorado
>       (Take I 45 South from Houston to the El Dorado Exit, go East about 5mi
>        or take I 45 North from the Galveston area to El Dorado)
>
>WHAT: Bring BOTH Original AND Copy of your most current license
>      Bring BOTH Original AND Copy of any current CSCEs
>      Bring 2 forms of ID, one photo
>      Bring current test fee (new in Jan) $5.75
>
>We have 610 forms, lots of smiling faces to help you fill out paperwork.

:)  :-)  8-)  :]  :-]  8-]  :}  :-}  8-}  :)  :-)  8-)  :]  :-]  8-]  :}  :-}

>
>Call Jim KB5AWM  713/486-2032 for more information
>
>73 De Bob KA5GLX

Every once in a while, I just can't resist.   ;-)

Greg KD9AZ

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

Date: 5 Jan 94 20:55:52 GMT
From: [e-mail]
Subject: R&R associates keyer kit
To: [e-mail]

In Info-Hams Digest V94 No. 1 (item 5) pa.dec.com!SALCIUS2.csg.mot.com![e-mail] writes:
>>Note 52002 in newsgroup rec.radio.amateur.misc
>>From: [e-mail] (Jeff Gold)
>>Subject: R&R associates keyer kit
>>
>
>In this day in age reputations is everything in bussiness. Remember a
>satisfied customer tells two or three people a dissatisfied customer tells
>20 to 30 people. With usenet multipy all those number by a large number.
>After hearing the dbate over ramsey kits the past few days I for one will
>NEVER purchase one. A comany that cannot stand behind its product is not a
>company I wish to deal with.
>
>--
>****************************************************************
>*    _/_/_/_/  _/_/_/_/  _/_/_/_/  _/_/_/_/_/  _/_/_/_/_/      *
>*   _/        _/        _/    _/      _/          _/           *
>*  _/_/_/_/  _/        _/    _/      _/          _/            *
>*       _/  _/        _/    _/      _/          _/             *
>*_/_/_/_/  _/_/_/_/  _/_/_/_/      _/          _/              *
>****************************************************************
>*Scott F. Migaldi, KF5JQ
>*email: [e-mail]
>

Scott,

Ramsey is not all THAT bad from my perspective.  I was lent a Ramsey
2M 35Watt amp by KA1KAQ, Todd Bigelow.  It was non functional when I
got it and the preamp had been removed.  Debugging determined the problem
to be two of the PIN diodes.  I called Ramsey and they sent me four
new PINs and two new preamp transistors FREE.  Mind you I told them that
I was not the original owner and that the transistor was not in the
unit when I got it.  I was still sent the parts gratis.  Granted the
parts don't cost very much, but I was quite impressed by this service.
The technician I spoke to was helpful as well regarding tuning the thing.

For what it's worth....

Ron Rossi

/====================================================================/
/ IBM Microelectronics             Internet:   [e-mail]   /
/ H/P ASIC SRAM Design                 VNET:   RROSSI at BTVLABVM    /
/ Dept N93  Bldg 861-2                Voice:   802/769-7477          /
/ 1000 River Road                        RF:   N1PBT                 /
/ Essex Junction, VT  05452-4299                                     /
/                                                                    /
/ "I work for IBM, I don't represent its views!"                     /
/                                                                    /
/====================================================================/

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

Date: Wed, 05 Jan 94 15:00:42 GMT
From: netcomsv!netcomsv!bongo!skyld![e-mail]
Subject: R&R associates keyer kit
To: [e-mail]

In article <9401041650.ZM13681@SALCIUS2> [e-mail] writes:

  > In this day in age reputations is everything in bussiness. Remember a
  > satisfied customer tells two or three people a dissatisfied customer tells
  > 20 to 30 people. With usenet multipy all those number by a large number.
  > After hearing the dbate over ramsey kits the past few days I for one will
  > NEVER purchase one. A comany that cannot stand behind its product is not a
  > company I wish to deal with.

  That's odd, this thread was about R&R Associates. Let Ramsey fail on their
  own "merits"...


 Amateur: WA6FWI@WA6FWI.#SOCA.CA.USA.NA  |  "It is difficult to imagine our
Internet: [e-mail]          |  universe run by a single omni-
 US Mail: PO Box 4425 Carson, CA 90749   |  potent god. I see it more as a
   Phone: [phone]               |  badly run corporation."

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

Date: Wed, 5 Jan 1994 15:27:28 GMT
From: elroy.jpl.nasa.gov!usc!howland.reston.ans.net!vixen.cso.uiuc.edu!uwm.edu!fnnews.fnal.gov!att-in!cbnews![e-mail]
Subject: R&R associates keyer kit
To: [e-mail]

In article <9401041650.ZM13681@SALCIUS2> [e-mail] (Scott F. Migaldi) writes:

>>I got Dick Rathburns number and gave him a call. I re-explained
>>everything I had said in the letter. The guy has a mouth like a sewer
>>and sure doesn't want anything to do with any problems.. just told me it
>>wasn't his problem and I should send the chip to the author of the
>>original article. I explained I didn't buy the kit from the author, and
>>didn't even know him and felt the problem should be handled by the
>>company selling the kits. He didn't have anything nice to say and
>>continued to use short words.
>
>In this day in age reputations is everything in bussiness. Remember a
>satisfied customer tells two or three people a dissatisfied customer tells
>20 to 30 people. With usenet multipy all those number by a large number.
>After hearing the dbate over ramsey kits the past few days I for one will
>NEVER purchase one. A comany that cannot stand behind its product is not a
>company I wish to deal with.
>

A little insight from the other side of the fence (sort of).  I sell kits
to accompany articles, such as the Computer/Transceiver interface in 2/93
QST, and have had pretty good luck.  I'm not going to "quit my day job",
but it does help support my hobbies ;).

By and large, the people I've dealt with have all been pretty understanding
and easy to work with.  Out of about 180 orders, I've had 6-7 that required
some "attention after the sale."  Only two of these resulted in returns.
After trying to help them over the phone for awhile it just gets simpler to
offer them their money back.  BUT, I would also work with them more if
thet's what they wanted.  While the basics of the interface are pretty
straightforward, serial communications can be tricky.  For what I make on
the kits, it's really not worth the time to troubleshoot problems with
their computer, etc.

BTW, out of the two returns, for one I never did figure out what was wrong.
For the second, the guy had tossed the 18" shielded cable I provided for
the TTL side of the interface and replaced it with about a 15', flat,
unshielded stuff.  Trying to push TTL signals over 15' of lousy cable isn't
a good idea.  Unfortunately, none of the questions I was asking him on the
phone would have brought this out.

Well, sorry for the rambling.  The bottom lime is that I agree with the
previous posts.  If I depended on a Ham kit business for my living, you can
bet I would do all necessary to please my customers.  I sure hope Mr.
Rathburn's kids aren't counting on his business for meals and shelter.
--
   Wally Blackburn     Clinton-Gore - Socialist Leadership
   [e-mail]             for the 90s!
   Amateur Radio Station AA8DX    I'm the NRA.
      *More people have died in Ted Kennedy's car than from my gun!*

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

Date: Wed, 05 Jan 94 09:56:15
From: netcomsv!netcomsv!lavc![e-mail]
Subject: RAMSEY KITS NOT TOO G
To: [e-mail]

[e-mail] (Gary Coffman) writes:

> I've built Heathkits and Ramsey kits. Ramsey is more fun. Lot's of
> homebrew projects die on the vine because of the hassles of acquiring
> the special parts, especially the mechanical bits, to finish the
> project. The advantage of a kit is that the bits are provided. But
> Heath took it too far with their "We won't let you fail" approach.
> You don't learn much when things work first time, or you don't have
> to scrounge for at least *some* of the parts.

As the unproud owner of an non-working Ramsay 40m receiver, I would
rather the damn thing worked! It didn't even have so many parts that
troubleshooting was a big problem, but I thoroughly checked the wiring
and swapped out parts, including the NE602 chip ... nothing.

You can learn a lot building and aligning a Heathkit and have a good
piece of equipment. I pity those who blew $150 or more on those VHF/UHF
transceivers when converting a Motorola Micor or simply buying another
used radio would have saved them $$$, frustration and freedom from a ton
of intermod.

Ramsay kits may be cheaper, but since they seldom work, and if they do,
seldom work well -- it's just not worth the trouble.

Steven Rosenberg, KC6FYL

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

Date: Wed, 5 Jan 1994 15:05:55 GMT
From: agate!howland.reston.ans.net!pipex!Q.icl.co.uk!dsbc!iclbra![e-mail]
Subject: TM-732 help
To: [e-mail]

Hello..

I've got a TM732 (2m/70cm high power mobile set)

Does anyone know the arrangement and meaning of the pins in the microphone
socket ?

Tnx

73
Peter

G0 PUB
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
--... ...--      -.. .      --. ----- .--. ..- -...      -.-  (Pub Inspector)
Peter Swynford is available... TEL: [phone]  FAX: [phone]
or at [e-mail]      ICL: 7263-2625      AX25: [e-mail]
Disclaimer: See Paragraph 2.4.a of section 1.a (article 7) (iii) of the
            Town and Country Planning Act, 1967.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

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

Date: 5 Jan 94 18:26:37 GMT
From: ogicse!emory!europa.eng.gtefsd.com!howland.reston.ans.net!cs.utexas.edu!news.tamu.edu![e-mail]
Subject: TOYOTAS AND MOBILE RIGS
To: [e-mail]

In article <[e-mail]>,
Bruce Burke Sp App <[e-mail]> wrote:
[...]
|For what it's worth, They tend to ignore the fact it is possible for a 100 watt
|mobile to pull up along side of you and dump that energy into your vehicle - with
|a potential for damage.
[...]
|S The antenna cabling must be routed no
|closer than 20 cm (about 8) to any ECM
|or other onboard computer/sensors.
[...]
|Please note the electronic control unit (ECU)
|the most sensitive to RF is located in the
|passenger compartment under the dashboard
|on the passengers side.  This is the primary
|module to keep RF away from. Installing the
|antenna outside at the rear left would
|optimum since it would place it as far from this
|ECU as possible.  The chips inside the ECU are
|MOSFETS, very easily damaged by static
|electricity, stray RF, etc.

I guess I can't quite picture the scenario where an adjacent vehicle
could come within eight inches of (in particular) the ECU without
there being some other, more pressing, collision-related factors.

     --Rick
       KE3IV

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

Date: Wed, 5 Jan 1994 13:13:09 GMT
From: mdisea!mothost!lmpsbbs![e-mail]
Subject: TOYOTAS AND MOBILE RIGS
To: [e-mail]

Here is what I have on the situation. I reported this in our club newsletter last February. The "S"'s were bullets in the newsletter.

For what it's worth, They tend to ignore the fact it is possible for a 100 watt
mobile to pull up along side of you and dump that energy into your vehicle - with
a potential for damage. Which brings me to the rather arrogant statement the
manufacturers make about the damage not being under warranty because it wasn't due
to defective parts or workmanship - and they are right! IT IS DUE TO DAMNED POOR
DESIGN!!

BTW - you will notice that some of the comments are bogus and B.S.,
but at least some action was taken.

Bruce, WB4YUC

Toyota Motor Sales USA is headquartered in
Torrance, CA.  They have a vigorous ham club
and in late 1992 they took action on behalf of
the ham community viz the ECU-RFI
problem. This message is to report
findings/actions/recommendations to date.

Several actions were already well underway
when the ham club became involved.

First, inquiries were sent and responses
received from every major automobile
manufacturer worldwide. Copies of this
correspondence are on hand with the Toyota
ham club and TMC's Technical Service
department.

Second, Japan was contacted, appraised of the
problem, investigations were conducted and
recommendations made as quoted below:

In a worst case scenario, vehicle electronic
electronic parts could be compromised and/or
proper and safe operation of the vehicle might
be compromised if, for example, any of the
following situations existed:

S The transceiver is not type accepted
(approved by the FCC)

S The DC power and/or antenna feed
lines radiate RF current.

S Routing of power and/or antenna feed
lines results in inductive or capacitive
coupling to vehicle wiring and/or
electronic components.

S Transmitter, feedline and/or antenna
inefficiencies result in an unacceptable
level of RF radiation exposure to the
electronic control modules.

S The standing wave ratio is
unacceptably high

S The antenna ground plane is
inadequate.

Continuing with quote from Toyota Motor
Sales recommendations in a letter to the
ARRL:

Installation of a 2-way radio in Toyota
vehicles should not present problems under
the following conditions:

S The transceiver must be type accepted
by the FCC and not modified in any way

S Maximum output power is not over 100
watts. (One-hundred watts).

S All installation and operating
instructions provided by Toyota and
equipment manufacturer must be
followed closely.

S The antenna must be installed as far
away as possible from all vehicle
electronic control modules (ECM) or
other onboard computer/sensors.

S The antenna cabling must be routed no
closer than 20 cm (about 8) to any ECM
or other onboard computer/sensors.

S Antenna and power cabling must not be
routed along side or in conjunction with
the vehicles wire harness. It is always
preferable to cross vehicle harness at
right angles when possible. Antenna
and antenna cabling should be properly
adjusted to obtain the lowest possible
standing wave ratio.

It was also pointed out that TMC (Toyota
Motor Sales) will revise repair manuals for the
1994 model year as follows:

S Eliminate the 10 watt explanation

S Include a separate section for two-way
radio installation.

Technical Service Bulletins (TSB) will also be
issued per the above.

Please note the electronic control unit (ECU)
the most sensitive to RF is located in the
passenger compartment under the dashboard
on the passengers side.  This is the primary
module to keep RF away from. Installing the
antenna outside at the rear left would
optimum since it would place it as far from this
ECU as possible.  The chips inside the ECU are
MOSFETS, very easily damaged by static
electricity, stray RF, etc.

All of the above material was forwarded to Ed
Hare, the ARRL's Technical Laboratory
Supervisor, in a letter dated October 12, 1992.

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

Date: 5 Jan 94 11:10:05 EST
From: swrinde!cs.utexas.edu!howland.reston.ans.net!sol.ctr.columbia.edu!news.kei.com!world!ksr![e-mail]
Subject: What goes on, on 6 meters ?
To: [e-mail]

[e-mail] (sohl,william h) writes:
>In article <2gc7fl$[e-mail]>,
>Ronald Viegelahn <[e-mail]> wrote:
>> Is AM phone used on 6 meters ? or is it mostly ssb and fm .
>AM is used on 6 meters, but as you suggest, most activity is
>a compination of SSB, FM AND CW.

Boy, that must sound terrible :-).

John, WB7EEL

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

Date: 5 Jan 94 18:33:13 GMT
From: ogicse!emory!europa.eng.gtefsd.com!howland.reston.ans.net!cs.utexas.edu!news.tamu.edu![e-mail]
Subject: Where's my QST?
To: [e-mail]

In article <2gepc1$[e-mail]>,
Scott Richard Rosenfeld <[e-mail]> wrote:
>Can anybody tell me what the January QST looks like (front cover)?

What I noticed about the *December* QST front cover was the startling
*lack* of a cheesy "Santa with an HT" or "Sleigh ride with fully
radio-equipped sleigh" picture!  Fortunately CQ and 73 filled my need
for such kitsch.

     --Rick

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

Date: Wed, 5 Jan 1994 00:49:15 GMT
From: uunet.ca!uunet.ca!lhaven.UUmh.Ab.Ca!combdyn![e-mail]
Subject: WHERE ARE ALL THE YOU
To: [e-mail]

In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail] writes:
>
>
>[e-mail] (Aaron Smith) writes:
>
>> I got my first radio for christmas (yesterday) (a mobile), and a power supply
>for it.
>> The radio wasn't already wired up to the power supply, so I had to do it.
>> I also got a KPC-3 TNC along with it, but no power supply.. So all day
>> christmas I didn't know if I could wire in the TNC and the radio to the
>> same power supply (I didn't pay much attention during the classes because
>> of my cockyness and erogance).. I was going to wire it up after I did
>> some calculations, but I thought I would hold off untill the day after,
>> and it was a good thing I did.
>
>Am I missing something here? is there a reason why a TNC and a VHF/UHF
>radio can't share the same 12v power supply?
>
There isn't any reason, unless you have a real wimpy power supply.  The KPC3
comes with the power connector....you supply the wire to hook it to your
power supply.

When I started I didn't have a 12V power supply though, so I used a Radio
Shack 9V battery eliminator....it does the job.  Now that I do have a power
supply, I just haven't bothered to move the TNC over to the powersupply.  I'm
sure the 60 Amp supply can handle both the TNC and my HT with no problems 8-)



--
 --EMAIL-----------------------------PHONE-----------FAX------------
 | WORK: [e-mail]      | [phone] | [phone] | CallSign
 | HOME: [e-mail] | [phone] | [phone] |  VE6LKC
 -------------------------------------------------------------------
  disclamer = (working_for && !representing) + (Combustion Dynamics Ltd.);

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

Date: Wed, 5 Jan 1994 13:16:26 GMT
From: rit!sunsrvr6![e-mail]
To: [e-mail]

References <[e-mail]>, <[e-mail]>, <[e-mail]>vr6
Subject : Re: TOYOTAS AND MOBILE RIGS

In article <[e-mail]>,
kevin.jessup  <[e-mail]> wrote:
>
>One final anecdote..
>
>A fellow radio amateur has a late-model Ford pick-up.  He has a Yaesu
>FT5200 (with the remote head) mounted in the rear of the truck (he
>has a cap on the back).  The antenna is on the roof above the cab.
>He says that at high-way speeds, he notices that the truck looses
>speed and runs very rough when he transmits at 50 Watts!

Follow up data point, I have a Kenwood 721 installed in a 1993 F-150, and have
not encountered the problem described here. The 721 puts out 45 watts in high
power mode on 2M. I ran 12 gauge wire directly to the battery through the
firewall near the steering column (circuit breaker installed under the hood). I
also use a roof mount antenna.

Believe me, I'd be the first to notice the speed dropping!   ;-)

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

End of Info-Hams Digest V94 #4
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