QRZ! Ham Radio 3/QRZ Ham Radio Callsign Database - Volume 3.iso/digests/infoham/940009.txt

Internet Message Format | 1994-06-04 | 48KB

Date: Fri,  7 Jan 94 03:58:41 PST
From: Info-Hams Mailing List and Newsgroup <[e-mail]>
Errors-To: [e-mail]
Reply-To: [e-mail]
Precedence: Bulk
Subject: Info-Hams Digest V94 #9
To: Info-Hams


Info-Hams Digest            Fri,  7 Jan 94       Volume 94 : Issue    9

Today's Topics:
           Building repeaters (was Re: Clubs and Repeaters)
                            callbook help?
                   Closure of VK2WI/VK2RWI station
                         Clubs and Repeaters
                       Need U.K. Admin Address
   rec.radio.amateur.misc Frequently Asked Questions (Part 1 of 3)
                     Repeater database? (2 msgs)
                           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: 6 Jan 94 23:03:14 GMT
From: olivea!koriel!newscast.West.Sun.COM!abyss.West.Sun.COM!sunspot![e-mail]
Subject: Building repeaters (was Re: Clubs and Repeaters)
To: [e-mail]

In article [e-mail], [e-mail] (Brian Kantor) writes:
>Repeaters are easy to build.  In fact, I've built two already this year;
>one is 9600 bps digital and the other conventional voice.  I think that
>brings my record up to more than 20 repeaters - slightly more than one
>for each year I've been licensed.

I've only built one in 17 years.  I'm gonna have to get busy.

>Really, you buy a surplus Motorola Mitrek for whatever band for like
>$150 from C.W.Wolfe, snip out D1, D2, & D403, chop off the receiver coax
>and add a new connector for it, and the radio part is done.  Add a
>antenna and duplexer, a $100 controller, bolt the whole thing in a
>cabinet, add a deep-cycle battery floating on a charger, and you have it!

Well, this is one way.  Another way is to buy a Micor Repeater, order the
rocks, tweak the radio up, add the antennas/duplexer+antenna and away you
go. Other than an auxiliary control link, the Motorola control deck and
and a Motorola IDer are all you need.

>Takes about a day.  The hardest part is waiting for the crystals to
>arrive.

Doesn't take any time to build the Micor Compa-Station repeater, since it is a
repeater already, unless it was a Compa-Station base and you need to change the
control cards to make it into a Compa-Station repeater. It does take an afternoon
to install the rocks in the channel elements and tweak it up.

The thing weighs a ton.

You can put together a GR-300 Motorola Radius repeater in an hour. No waiting
for rocks; you use your garden variety Motorola Radius RIB, RSS and PC to
program the channels in the radios (two GM-300 mobiles).  You really have
to put a cavity on the receiver.  The only downside is that the GM-300s
won't program below 146Mhz.  Actually, you can avoid buying the GR-300 kit
if you buy two GM-300s and know how to wire the auxiliary connectors together.

The GM-300s, by the way, are quite nice radios.  If only Motorola would
stick an LCD front panel on the radio with a keypad...

---
 * Dana H. Myers KK6JQ, DoD 466 | Views expressed here are *
 * [phone]   | mine and do not necessarily *
 * [e-mail] | reflect those of my employer *
 * This Extra supports the abolition of the 13 and 20 WPM tests *

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

Date: 6 Jan 1994 16:44:52 -0400
From: newsflash.concordia.ca!nstn.ns.ca!halifax-ts2-11.nstn.ns.ca![e-mail]
Subject: callbook help?
To: [e-mail]

 Sorry to be a mooch, but callbooks haven't found their way into
my budget recently, and the latest set I have is 1989.  I also have a few
cards piling up that I would like to get off.  Could somebody with a 93 or
94 callbook, a few minutes to spare, and a generous nature please provide me
with addresses for the following calls??  Reply by E-Mail please.

PZ1DYX
YU1AVQ
YU2DW
KM6ON

Thanks a lot in advance.

Steve  VE1YB   [e-mail]

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

Date: 6 Jan 94 10:56:08 GMT
From: agate!howland.reston.ans.net!vixen.cso.uiuc.edu!sdd.hp.com!sgiblab!munnari.oz.au!newshost.anu.edu.au!sserve!usage!metro!news.ci.com.au!eram![e-mail]
Subject: Closure of VK2WI/VK2RWI station
To: [e-mail]

The following notice was distributed via packet radio, and affixed to
the door of the Dural station; it is copied here for your information.

----------

                        IMPORTANT NOTICE
                        2ND JANUARY 1994

                       CLOSURE OF STATION
                      UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE.

Following previous unauthorised use of the station on 12 December
and 19th December 1993, and further unauthorised use on the morning
of 2 January 1994, during which material was broadcast in breach of
the station license conditions under the Radiocommunications Act 1983,
s25(d), and in view of the fact that the W.I.A. VK2 Division has
received legal notice that the station has been used recently in
breach of s25(d) and that the same notice complains the station was
used to broadcast defamatory material, the Institute is obliged to
prevent further breaches of such kind or face court action for
exacerbated damages and action from the Spectrum Management Agency
over breach of the Institute's station licenses.

Accordingly, by agreement of a majority of the Councillors who are
directors of the company, and mindful of our duties under the
Corporations Law and the general law regarding defamation, we have
taken steps to prevent further unauthorised use of the station by
disabling the transmitting equipment and by changing the locks to
the building.

President, Terry Ryeland VK2UX.
Vice-President, John Robinson VK2XY.
Secretary, Roger Harrison VK2ZTB.
Councillor, Julius Kentwell VK2XBR.
Councillor, John Simon VK2XGJ.

Further detailed information will be provided in a subsequent
bulletin and any inconvenience to members and others is regretted.

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

Date: Thu, 6 Jan 1994 13:10:15 -0500
From: swrinde!cs.utexas.edu!howland.reston.ans.net!sol.ctr.columbia.edu!hamblin.math.byu.edu!yvax.byu.edu!cunyvm!rohvm1![e-mail]
Subject: Clubs and Repeaters
To: [e-mail]

In article <[e-mail]>, [e-mail] (Don
Woelz, K9GR) wrote, in part:

> Our local club, of which I am an officer, wants to install, own, and
> operate a repeater.  The equipment, site, etc. seem to be the easy
> part (even the coordination :-).  My question is this:  What
> organizational structure do other clubs use to operate repeaters?

Penn Wireless Association operates W3SK/R as a membership service--all
members have equal privileges on it.  Part of the reason is that the
original funds to purchase the machine were donated to the organization,
rather than to a separate repeater group.  _But_ the dues went up by
approximately $8.00 a year for _everybody_, largely as a result of repeater
operating expenses, so maybe some people would see that as unfair.  We've
not had any complaints, though.

We have approximately 100 members, give or take a score, most years.  I
would estimate that 80 percent or more have 2-meter equipment, and we get
almost as many check-ins to the weekly net as we get attending the monthly
club meeting.  We have seen a marked increase in club morale and unity
since the repeater was installed; it provides a frequency where members can
"hang out," and meet one another.  It also serves  as a training ground for
new licensees (many of whom are graduates of our Novice/Tech classes).  We
try to teach by example, and to give the occasional, friendly suggestion
where appropriate.  It seems to work (at least _most_ of the time).  We
feel the repeater is an important focus of the club, and well worth the
effort and expense.

We have a Repeater Committee, appointed by the President and charged with
the responsibility of operating and maintaining the machine.  They don't
give quite as prompt service when something goes wrong as, say, a
commercial outfit would, but then they do this as a hobby.  In general,
when a problem occurs, somebody on the Repeater Committee gets it fixed.
As a result, we don't have a problem with wondering who's responsible.  The
Committee comprises five members, who allocate the technical and clerical
jobs among themselves.  Unfortunately one of them has moved out of the
local area, and finding a technically competent replacement is difficult.

Ours is not particularly the best approach, but it works reasonably well
for us.  Hope this helps with your problem.

73  de   John Taylor  W3ZID
         Recording Secretary, Penn Wireless Association
         [e-mail]

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

Date: 6 Jan 94 23:33:41 GMT
From: morrow.stanford.edu!morrow.stanford.edu![e-mail]
Subject: Need U.K. Admin Address
To: [e-mail]

Could someone in the U.K. please email me the current address for
the U.K. Amateur Radio licensing department?

I want to get a reciprocal licence for a motorcycle trip this
summer, but I need to resuscitate my U.K. call.

Thanks,

Stephen
G4HLG in a former life.

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

Date: 7 Jan 94 02:43:02 GMT
From: ogicse!cs.uoregon.edu!sgiblab!pacbell.com!amdahl!thunder![e-mail]
Subject: rec.radio.amateur.misc Frequently Asked Questions (Part 1 of 3)
To: [e-mail]

Posted-By: auto-faq 3.1.1.4
Archive-name: radio/ham-radio/faq/part1
Revision: 3.0 1993/11/07 18:38:38

Rec.radio.amateur.misc Frequently Asked Questions
Part 1 - Introduction to the FAQ and Amateur Radio
------------------------------------------------------------------------------

This is a regular posting of frequently-asked questions (FAQ) about Amateur
Radio, also known as Ham Radio.  It is intended to summarize some common
questions on the rec.radio.amateur.misc newsgroup and Info-Hams mail list
as well as to help beginners get started.

Please provide a copy of the FAQ to any new or soon-to-be Hams you know.

Regular FAQ postings can help save network bandwidth and maintain a good
signal-to-noise ratio in the newsgroup.  However, they can't do it alone - you,
the reader, have to use them.  If you are a new user, please print and review
the FAQ articles and look at the instructions in the news.announce.newusers
newsgroup before posting any articles.  If you are an experienced user, please
help by refraining from answering frequently-asked questions on the newsgroup
if they are already answered by the FAQ articles.  Instead, send e-mail to the
user who asked the question.  (It will be helpful if you include the part of
the FAQ that answers their question, but not the whole thing.)

The FAQ cannot always prevent people from posting repetitive questions.  But
even if hundreds of questions get posted, it saves you from having to answer
them hundreds of times.  Also, a friendly pointer to the FAQ in your first
answer can help that person refer to the FAQ in the future.  That is when we
can begin to get a real savings of network bandwidth.

To reduce the size of each article, the FAQ information is posted in 3 parts:
Part 1 - Introduction to the FAQ and Amateur Radio
Part 2 - Amateur Radio Organizations, Services, and Information Sources
Part 3 - Amateur Radio Advanced and Technical Questions


Table of Contents
-----------------
Dates indicate last modification.

Part 1 - Introduction to the FAQ and Amateur Radio
**  Table of Contents (6/93)
**  Introduction to the FAQ (11/92)
    * How to Contribute to the FAQ Articles (6/93)
    * Acknowledgements (6/93)
    * Notes on "Netiquette" (1/93)
**  What is Amateur Radio? (11/92)
**  Who can become a ham? (6/93)
**  Where can I locate information and books on Amateur Radio? (9/93)
**  How much does it cost? (9/92)
**  Where can I take the tests? (9/93)
**  What are the tests like? (6/93)
**  What can I do with a ham radio license? (5/92)
**  What can't I do with an Amateur Radio license? (pre-4/92)
**  I'm interested, who will help me? (11/92)
**  Should I build my own equipment or antenna? (11/92)

Part 2 - Amateur Radio Organizations, Services, and Information Sources
**  Where can I find Ham Radio information with a computer? (11/92)
    * The rec.radio.* newsgroups (6/93)
    * The ARRL e-mail server (1/93)
    * The KA6ETB e-mail "HAM-server" (new 9/93)
    * The Internet File Transfer Protocol (FTP) (9/93)
    * Access to FTP archives via electronic mail (1/93)
    * The Ham-Radio mail list: rec.radio.amateur.misc by mail (9/93)
    * Telephone BBS's with Ham-related information (9/93)
    * Callsign servers and geographical name servers (11/92)
    * FTP access to FCC Part 97 and FCC Amateur Radio question pools (9/93)
    * Lists of radio modifications and extensions (11/92)
**  Can I send ARRL or W5YI electronic mail? (11/92)
**  "Why doesn't the ARRL do...?" (11/92)
**  What magazines are available for Ham Radio? (pre-4/92)
**  How do I use the incoming and outgoing QSL bureau? (11/92)
**  Are there any news groups for CAP? (11/92)
**  What's the name of the QRP club that issues QRP numbers? (9/93)
**  How do I become a 10-10 member? (9/93)
**  How do I join MARS? (9/93)
**  How do I join RACES? (pre-4/92)
**  What organizations are available to help handicapped hams? (pre-4/92)
**  I am looking for a specific ham, can anyone help me find him? (6/93)
**  Can I post my neat new ham related program on rec.radio.amateur.misc?
    (pre-4/92)
**  Where can I get ham radio software for my computer? (9/93)
**  Are there Dialup News services or BBSs for Amateur Radio? (4/92)
**  Where can I find VE sessions in my local area? (9/93)
**  Why isn't XXX available electronically? (4/92)

Part 3 - Amateur Radio Advanced and Technical Questions
**  What are the different US amateur classes and what can each of them do?
    (pre-4/92)
**  What is the best way to learn Morse Code? (10/92)
**  What is the standard for measuring Morse code speed? (pre-4/92)
**  What is the standard phonetic alphabet? (new 9/93)
**  I'm confused. What do all those abbreviations mean??? (6/93)
**  What do all those "tones" mean? (pre-4/92)
**  Where can I learn more about Amateur Radio if I live outside the US?
    (9/93)
**  How can I get a "reciprocal license" if I am a licensed ham from another
    country or if I am a FCC licensed ham who wants to operate in another
    country (on vacation)? (9/93)
**  My apartment or housing complex does not allow outdoor antennas, now what
    do I do? (9/93)
**  I got TVI...HELP!!! (9/93)
**  Did you know that you can get college credit for being a ham? (pre-4/92)
**  On what frequencies do JPL and GSFC retransmit the shuttle audio?
    (10/92)
**  Can I take my HT on an airplane and operate it if I get the permission
    of the captain? (4/92)
**  How do I modify my current Amateur license? (9/93)
**  I'm confused about XXX, should I ask the FCC? (9/93)
**  Is there any information on antique radios? (pre-4/92)
**  Where can I buy vacuum tubes? (9/93)
**  What do I need to get started in packet radio? (9/93)
**  What do I need to get started in satellite communications? (9/93)
**  What is available to get started in ATV, SSTV and WEFAX? (9/93)
**  What are these contests I sometimes hear, and how do I participate? (9/93)


--Rec.radio.amateur.misc Frequently-asked Questions------------------Part 1--

**  Introduction to the FAQ

    * How to Contribute to the FAQ Articles

 We accept suggestions from the Amateur Radio community.  Please
 consider that all new contributions need to be SHORT and concise
 in order to be included.  If a contribution is too long, the FAQ
 editors can help you find a more appropriate FTP archive or mail
 server for your article.

 We always accept corrections.  Please allow some time (often not
 the next issue of the FAQ) because the FAQ maintainers do this as
 volunteers so each must give higher priority to their employers.

 Send correspondence to  [e-mail]  so that it will
 reach all the FAQ coordinators: (listed in alphabetical order)

 Ed Hare         KA1CV  [e-mail]          (Newington, CT, USA)
 Jack GF Hill    W4PPT  [e-mail](Brentwood, TN, USA)
 Ian Kluft       KD6EUI [e-mail]   (Santa Clara, CA, USA)
 Michael Larish  KD6CTZ [e-mail] (Chico, CA, USA)
 Paul Schleck    KD3FU  [e-mail]    (Omaha, NE, USA)
 Chris Swartout  N6WCP  [e-mail]    (San Jose, CA, USA)
 Steve Watt      KD6GGD [e-mail]  (San Jose, CA, USA)
 Rosalie White   WA1STO [e-mail]         (Newington, CT, USA)
 Derek Wills     AA5BT  [e-mail] (Austin, TX, USA)

    * Acknowledgements

 All questions listed as modified "pre-4/92" are entirely Diana
 Carlson KC1SP's work or her editing of a contributor's work.  Diana
 established this FAQ and credit is due to her for founding this
 project.

 Thanks to Devon Bowen KA2NRC for accepting this FAQ in e-mail every
 month to keep the FTP archive at ftp.cs.buffalo.edu up-to-date.

    * Notes on "Netiquette"

 The rec.radio.amateur.misc newsgroup and Info-Hams mail list have a
 large daily volume of traffic.  They can operate more efficiently if
 the following netiquette guidelines are followed.  Please take them
 seriously.
 * If you are new to UseNet, the introductory articles in
   news.announce.newusers are required reading.  Go to that newsgroup
   now.  Definitely, read the instructions there before posting
   anything.  Other rec.radio.amateur.* readers will appreciate it!
 * Pick the right newsgroup.  Use only the most specific newsgroup
   for your subject.  For example, a question about a homebrew antenna
   only needs to be posted to rec.radio.amateur.antenna.  Also, don't
   post to rec.radio.amateur.misc when the subject can go in another
   rec.radio.amateur.* newsgroup.  So, when there is a more specific
   newsgroup, that's the one you want.
 * When posting a followup article, ALWAYS try to minimize the number
   of lines of quoted material from the original article.
 * As a general rule when you try to determine whether to reply to
   someone by e-mail or with a followup article, remember to "praise in
   public, criticize in private."  It's OK to disagree technically but
   be careful not to attack the person with whom you disagree.  Also,
   be careful with your use of the word "you" when posting a follow-up
   article.  Many unnecessary flame wars have started that way.
 * Use a descriptive subject.  For example, a message subject of "Ham
   Radio" tells the reader NOTHING about the contents of your article
   since the whole newsgroup is about Ham Radio.  Other examples of
   subjects which are so broad that they become useless could include,
   "Help," "A Question," "Antennas," or "Frequencies."  Maybe "Books on
   Antennas?" or "Where can I find Repeater Frequencies?" would be
   better, for example.  Remember, in a busy newsgroup a lot of users
   decide which articles to read from the subject line alone.  If you
   post, don't deprive yourself of an audience!
 * Before answering a question, check if the FAQ adequately answers it
   or if someone else already answered it.  If you have more to add,
   make sure to reference either the FAQ or the related articles.
 * If a user posts a question which is directly answered by the FAQ,
   there is no need to post an answer - the information is already
   available on the newsgroup.  Instead, just send an e-mail message
   which politely explains where to find the FAQ.  They will probably
   appreciate it if you include the answer to their question.  (Don't
   send a "nastygram" - that would just discourage future participa-
   tion.)
 * Pay attention to the size of your audience - use the "Distribution:"
   header.  If you leave it blank, your message will go to every civ-
   ilized country in the world and occupy disk space in all news sys-
   tems in all those places.  If that's what you intend, that's fine
   but make sure your article is relevant outside your country.  (In
   particular, Hams should already know there is more to the world than
   just their own country.)
 * If you have an item for sale, please limit the distribution area so
   that, for example, an article about a radio for sale in New Jersey
   won't get to California or Europe.  If you wish, you may cross-post
   your for-sale article to rec.radio.swap.
 * Software sources should be posted to either alt.sources,
   comp.sources.misc, or comp.sources.* for a specific machine type.
   Software binaries should be posted to the appropriate subgroup of
   comp.binaries.

**  What is Amateur Radio?
 Amateur Radio is a non-commercial radio communication service whose
 primary aims are public service, technical training and experimenta-
 tion, and communication between private persons.  Amateur Radio opera-
 tors are commonly called hams.  Hams often communicate with each other
 recreationally but also provide communications for others at public
 events or in times of emergency or disaster.

**  Who can become a ham?
 The answer to this question differs in every country.

 The answer for the USA is listed below.  If your country has
 a newsgroup specifically for it (i.e. UK, Australia, Germany)
 the most accurate answers can be found there.  See Part 2 for
 the list of region-specific newsgroups.

 If that doesn't help, the American Radio Relay League (ARRL)
 may be able to help because they communicate with similar
 organizations in other countries, probably including yours.
 They can be reached by electronic mail or surface mail (see
 Part 2.)

 In the USA, anyone who is not a representative of a foreign
 government can be an Amateur Radio operator.  There are tests
 that you must pass to get a license, however the tests are not
 insurmountable.  On that general level, the requirements are
 probably similar in almost every country.

 For more information on becoming a Ham in the USA, the ARRL
 has a toll-free number where you can request information:
 1-800-32-NEW-HAM (don't worry about the number being one digit
 too long - the phone system ignores it.)  Other information
 can also be obtained from the ARRL e-mail information server in
 the file called PROSPECT.  Details on the server are in Part 2.

**  Where can I locate information and books on Amateur Radio?
 Your local Radio Shack sells some ham radios and Amateur Radio
 license books.  Books can also be obtained through the mail
 from ham radio organizations, such as ARRL in Newington, CT
 (203-666-1541) and W5YI in Dallas, TX (1-800-669-9594).  There
 may be one or two ham radio stores in the local area (ie,
 within 50 miles).  Try looking in the Yellow Pages under Radio
 Communications.

 For the Novice license, get a Novice License manual, plus 5-word-per-
 minute Morse code tapes, costing around $25.  For the Technician lic-
 ense, get a combined Novice and Technician License manual, and an FCC
 Rules manual, costing around $32.  The FCC Rules manual is a good idea
 for Novice also, but not necessary, since the Novice License manual
 contains all the FCC Rules that are required for the Novice License.

 The ARRL Education Activities Department has several programs to
 help amateurs (or prospective amateurs) to get started.  Ask for a
 "New prospect package" available free of charge, from ARRL HQ,
 Educational Activities Department, 225 Main St, Newington, CT 06111.

 Information on Ham Radio can also be obtained with your computer.
 Part 2 of this FAQ contains a significant amount of material on
 that subject.

**  How much does it cost?
 To take the tests for any class of amateur radio license, there is
 a small charge (around $5-$6 currently) to cover copying costs and
 running the testing sessions.  (Due to changes in 1993, Novice tests
 are under same procedures as the others.)  The cost of a radio is
 really dependent on what you want to do.  You can make your own radio
 and antenna for under $150.  You can buy a used single-band radio for
 $150-$300.  Or you can buy a new multi-band multi-mode radio with all
 the doodads for $300-$3000.  I'd suggest you learn more about ham
 radio, talk to local hams, find out what you want to do with ham
 radio first.

**  Where can I take the tests?
 The Novice tests Used to be given by any two qualified hams of General
 class license or above.  Now all the license tests are given by
 three qualified Volunteer Examiners (VEs) who volunteer their time.

 To locate an ARRL testing session in your area, you can contact
 ARRL at 203-666-1541 x282.

 See also the section "Where can I find VE sessions in my local area?"
 in Part 2 because more information is available via UseNet.

**  What are the tests like?
 First off, come prepared to VE sessions.  Bring:  TWO forms of ID,
 one of which has a picture on it; a calculator (if necessary); a pen
 and two pencils; the applicable examination fee (around $5-$6 for
 1993); the original AND a copy of your current Amateur Radio license
 (if you have one); the original AND a copy of any CSCEs for tests
 you've already passed (if you have any).

 Each of the written tests (Novice, Technician, General, Advanced,
 and Extra) are generally a multiple choice test of approximately one-
 tenth of the question pool.  For example, if the question pool is
 approximately 300 questions, then the test will be a 30-question
 test.  You need to get 75% correct to pass.  Note that they truncate
 to determine the correct number of questions.  That means for a 30
 question test, you need to get 22 right, which is actually only 73.3%.

 Once you've paid the small fee for Technician-Extra tests, it costs
 no extra to take another test, so I'd suggest you keep taking the
 next more advanced test until you fail.  If you pass the written
 but not the Morse code (or vice versa) for a specific class license,
 you have up to one year to take the other test before you would have
 to retake the written test again.  Note that some VEs will not allow
 you to take the written test unless you've first taken the Morse code
 test.

 The Morse code test is a receiving test only.  The test run 5 to 7
 minutes.  After the test, you are given a 10-question multiple-choice
 or fill-in-the-blank test.  Passing grade is 7 or more.  If you fail
 the 10-question test, the examiner team will examine your copy sheet
 to see if you have 1 minute of solid copy with no errors.  For 5 wpm,
 that's 25 characters, for 13 wpm, that's 65 characters, for 20 wpm,
 that's 100 characters.  If they can find 1 minute solid copy, you've
 still passed.

 Hints on Morse code tests:  Generally, it will be a standard QSO
 (conversation), and it MUST contain at least one of each of the
 following:
 26 letters A-Z, 10 numbers 0-9, comma (,), period (.), slant or
 slash (/), question mark (?), double dash prosign (BT), end of
 message prosign (AR), end of contact prosign (SK).
 The letters count as one character, all others count as two
 characters.  There are a couple other prosigns which are worth
 knowing, but will not be on the test, like "I'm done talking, next"
 is K, "I'm done talking, back to you" is KN, "Please wait" is AS.

**  What can I do with a ham radio license?
 There are so many things, it's a difficult question to answer, but
 here's some ideas:
 * Talk to people in foreign countries.
 * Talk to people (both local and far away) on your drive to work.
 * Help in emergencies by providing communications.
 * Provide communications in parades or walkathons.
 * Help other people become hams.
 * Hook your computer to your radio and communicate by computers.
 * Collect QSL cards (cards from other hams) from all over the
   United States and foreign countries and receive awards.
 * Participate in contests or Field Day events.
 * Provide radio services to your local Civil Defense organization
   thru ARES (Amateur Radio Emergency Service) or RACES (Radio Amateur
   Civil Emergency Service).
 * Aid members of the US military by joining MARS (Military Affiliate
   Radio System).
 * Participate in transmitter hunt games and maybe build your own
   direction-finding equipment.
 * Have someone to talk to on those sleepless nights at home.
 * Receive weather pictures via satellites.
 * Build radios, antennas, learn some electronics and radio theory.
 * Talk to astronauts in space, or use the moon to bounce signals
   back to people on the Earth.
 * Experiment with Amateur TV (ATV), Slow-Scan TV (SSTV), or send
   still-frame pictures by facsimile.
 * Experiment with amateur satellite communications.

**  What can't I do with an Amateur Radio license?
 The most important thing you can't do is transact business of any
 kind over ham radio.  Interference to other hams or services, as
 well as obscene, profane or indecent language is not tolerated and
 is illegal.  Music and broadcasting are not allowed on ham radio.
 Some personal conversations may not be appropriate to Amateur Radio.
 Do you really want the whole world to hear about Aunt Mabel's
 hemorrhoids?

**  I'm interested, who will help me?
 There are hams who are willing to become "Elmers" (mentors, helpers)
 in your local area.  Look around and ask local hams.  Search out local
 radio clubs.  As well, some people have volunteered to be an Elmer
 over the Usenet.  A list of UseNet Elmers and their e-mail addresses
 is posted to the newsgroup monthly.  If anyone wants to be an Elmer,
 send e-mail to
  [e-mail]

 There is also a lot to be said for exploring on your own.  Take a
 look around the FTP archives and e-mail servers listed in Part 2.
 There's so much out there on UseNet, you'll find plenty of things
 you're interested in.

**  Should I build my own equipment or antenna?
 [see also rec.radio.amateur.homebrew and rec.radio.amateur.antenna]
 "Homebrewing" is a fun and educational part of ham radio.  It is a
 thrill to build your own transmitter and put it on the air.  However,
 building your own receiver can be quite complicated; if you don't have
 electronics experience, you may want to buy a receiver instead.  Most
 homebrew transmitters are QRP (transmit very low power).  That's fine
 for an experienced ham with a very good antenna, but a Novice ham will
 just get frustrated.  Your first rig, therefore should NOT be a home-
 brew.

 Antennas can be much simpler projects than the transceiver, though
 some types are also quite involved.  Most hams build their own anten-
 nas for base station use and buy antennas for mobile (car) use.  Most
 beginner ham books describe how to build different types of antennas.
 Order of difficulty, from easiest to more difficult, for some common
 antennas are:  wire dipole, Zepp, Yagi, Quad, and Log-Periodic.  Books
 from many sources, including ARRL and several Hams, discuss antennas
 in depth.

 When building or even understanding antennas, it is good to know the
 relationship between the antenna element length and the frequency or
 wavelength it is designed for.  An antenna performs best at multiples
 of 1/4 of that wavelength, though 5/8 wave also has beneficial qualit-
 ies.  The wavelength is related to the frequency with the following
 formula:

 wavelength (in meters) = 300 / frequency (in megahertz)

 You do not need a huge antenna or tower like ones you may see around
 your neighborhood.  Large beam antennas and 40-foot towers are very
 expensive.  As a beginner, a simple dipole antenna is perfectly
 adequate.  As you gain experience (and money :-), you may want to
 invest in something bigger.

 If you can afford new rigs and antennas, there are many mail order
 stores that advertise in ham radio magazines.  If you want to buy a
 used rig, the best place is at a "hamfest" (ham flea market).  You
 should take along an experienced ham, since some of the used equipment
 may be inoperative, overpriced or poor quality.  You can also answer
 ads in ham magazines or posted at ham radio stores, although often, by
 the time you call, the equipment has already been sold.

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

Date: Wed, 5 Jan 1994 19:56:38 GMT
From: swrinde!sdd.hp.com!col.hp.com!news.dtc.hp.com!hplextra!hpfcso!hplvec![e-mail]
Subject: Repeater database?
To: [e-mail]

In rec.radio.amateur.misc, [e-mail] (Jim Reese) writes:


>I don't think the intent is to "hide" the link data from the casual user, but
>that it is not relevent to the intended market of the ARRL Repeater Directory.

Given that the repeater directory lists both repeater frequencies, and
the recommended ARRL band plans for VHF & UHF, I guess I'd have to
question that statement.  Even the ARRL in other publications point the
reader to the repeater directory for detailed bandplans at the higher
frequencies.

But the real point is that the casual FM simplex user really has no
place to go to better understand where s/he might operate.  As an
amateur radio operator, I find little justification for not having
published information on coordinated activities in the allotted amateur
bands.  You simply can't have it both ways, on the one hand telling me
it's bad operating practice to interfere, and then not providing me with
adequate information to assist me in finding open frequencies in my area
on a crowded band.  With only *1* listed available FM simplex frequency
on the published 450 band plan, I need more information!

>Not to mention the fact that the ARRL "band plan" printed in the directory
>is NOT USED in much of the country.  Please join your local coordination
>group and help them to make a reasonable band plan.  That's what is really
>needed.

Fine.  I might just do that, but what you've just stated here only
reinforces the need to publish more comprehensive band usage
information.  The average amateur doesn't know squat about the local
coordinating body.

Given how confusing and chaotic the VHF/UHF situation is in many areas,
readily available information is critical.  I shouldn't have to do
handstands, and join the coordinating body just to find available
simplex frequencies in an area.  It also shouldn't be a big secret from
me how my allocated amateur frequencies are being used.

If you're going to ask me not to operate on a certain frequency in a
very limited spectrum, you'd darned well better be willing to tell me
why, and who it is that gets to and make that information easily and
publicly available.  It's bad enough our government pulls this "need to
know" garbage, worse yet when we do it to fellow amateurs.  You
shouldn't be able to ask for and expect exclusivity on an amateur
frequency without being willing to go public.

And please, before anyone jumps on me, my solution is certainly *not* to
blindly jump on a frequency and damn the consequences.  I want to know
so I *don't* interfere, or so that if I see what I consider to be band
inequities, I can complain and work to change the situation.  In other
words, I want what we should all want.  Good access to information
relevant to my and others usage of the amateur bands.


Scott Turner  N0VRF  [e-mail]

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

Date: 6 Jan 1994 09:25:38 CST
From: ftpbox!mothost!schbbs!maccvm.corp.mot.com![e-mail]
Subject: Repeater database?
To: [e-mail]

Well, since no one else has suggested it in several days:
  Why don't those interested contact ARRL HQ to get the data format that
THEY use so you don't all have to type until your fingertips fall off?
You could also provide great inputs to ARRL regarding additional info
categories you'd like to see/hide and they might in return come up with
a DoD (that's Directory on Diskette) product that is more useful to the
ham community. Maybe ARRL could even find someone on InterNet to press
a few thousand CD-Roms and distribute the data via BBS to local rptr
coordinators. If a few great minds have gotten us this far, let's throw
more mindpower at it and create a really great useable product!  WA8NVW
------------------------- Original Article -------------------------
Newsgroups: rec.radio.amateur.misc
Subject: Re: Repeater database?
From: [e-mail]
Date: 5 Jan 94 09:34:46 -0700
Organization: Brigham Young University
Lines: 68

In article <2g1l4a$[e-mail]>, [e-mail] (Matthew Rapaport) writes:

> Well I think it doesn't have to be full-blown to begin with. For example
> a good start could be made by scanning the ARRL book, and then enhancing
> the information with additional material reported from users (as opposed
> to secret material best kept to the coordinators and owners). I have
> some experience designing database records for related purposes if I can be
> of assistance. All of the characteristics you mention could be reflected
> in the records gradually, as users step up to help fill them in.
> Estimates of Repeater usage, coverage descriptions, etc. Note that it is
> not necessary that a repeater be used heavily to be a good emergency
> connection. It is only necessary that someone be listening most of the
> time.
>
> For these reasons, I'd like to see something running in a telnet-able
> system where a user can link in and perform searches in various ways.
> For example list all repeaters covering a square bounded by a set of
> coordinates (Mil grid or lat./long.). Ftp access to the DB by sections
> or sorted in verious ways would also be valuable. Some of the
> information one would want to keep (usage patterns for example) might
> require frequent updates. An online system would be more condusive to
> this.
>
> --
> matthew rapaport       Philosopher/Programmer at large       KD6KVH
>      CIS: 70271,255                      Internet: [e-mail]

I got a little tired of trying to find things in the ARRL book so I did
create my own database of repeaters in the areas I cover.  This includes
all the information in the ARRL book plus notes on location (USGS quad
map name and lat./long./alt. as near as I could get it).  I can now
produce list sorted according to desired parameters (for instance I have
one list I carry in my radio kit that is sorted by lat. and long. so I
can estimate where I am and know where I fall in the list).  Also I have
a program that will give me a list of the repeaters according to distance
from a certain location (again specified in lat./long.) along with the
compass heading to that repeater.  It has been very useful for my travels -
especially for when I go backpacking since I can generate some lists for
strategic locations along the route and always know approximately where
the repeaters are located.  I haven't tried to tackle the question of
actual coverage yet but that may come up yet.

I think a similar database that is generally available would be very
useful.  Possibly arranged as a set of ascii files in a standard format,
separated by state or region, that could be downloaded and imported into
my favorite database program if nothing more exotic is done.  I don't
see how this could violate anyone's privacy if the information is just
what is in the ARRL book that everybody has access to.  And it would
really help if each state coordination group would include in this list
their suggested local simplex frequencies.  This would remove the need
to publish the various "hidden" frequencies since you would then have
locally acceptable simplex frequencies to choose from rather than just
taking a stab in the dark at one.

I consider this an idea whose time has come.  It is not unworkable.
And it can be done in such a way as to provide the needed information
without compromising any link or control frequencies that are not
already public.  If no official body wanted to do it there is nothing
that would stop individuals from submitting already public information
to someone who wanted to archive it - it is public information so there
can be no complaints about making it available in another form.  In
fact I would have no qualms about putting my current database for Utah,
East Idaho, West Wyoming, and West Montana on an anonymous ftp server
since it is all public information.

Bryan G. Peterson, ki7td
[e-mail]

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

Date: Thu, 06 Jan 94 14:55:54 GMT
From: netcomsv!netcomsv!bongo!skyld![e-mail]
Subject: Where's my QST?
To: [e-mail]

In article <2gf159$[e-mail]> [e-mail] writes:

  >
  > 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
  >


  Yeah, but the December issue had a picture of some guy masturbating over
  the ads in QST on page 6. What more could you want for a Christmas fantasy?

  By the way, the January issue is covered with amateur radio postage stamps.



 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: Thu, 06 Jan 94 16:55:25 EST
From: swrinde!cs.utexas.edu!howland.reston.ans.net!usenet.ins.cwru.edu!nigel.msen.com!ilium!sycom!p-cove![e-mail]
Subject: WHERE ARE ALL THE YOU
To: [e-mail]

[e-mail] (Lawrence *The Dreamer* Chen) writes:
> 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-)

 See, I was told that if I connect up both the mobile radio and the TNC
to the power supply, and I was to transmit at 50 watts, after finishing
the transmision there would be a surge of power comming back, and that
could damage the TNC... I don't want to use a 9v battery because I don't
really feel like changing it every week..

73
Aaron


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


                      [e-mail] (Aaron Smith)
                        Amateur radio station KB8PFZ

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

Date: (null)
From: (null)
--
Dave Horsfall (VK2KFU)    VK2KFU @ VK2RWI.NSW.AUS.OC     PGP 2.3
[e-mail]           ...munnari!esi.COM.AU!dave    available

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

Date: 6 Jan 94 15:59:20 GMT
From: agate!howland.reston.ans.net!europa.eng.gtefsd.com!uhog.mit.edu!news.mtholyoke.edu!news.byu.edu!yvax.byu.edu!physc1.byu.edu![e-mail]
To: [e-mail]

References <[e-mail]>, <[e-mail]>, <[e-mail]>yu.ed
Subject : Re: Repeater database?

In article <[e-mail]>, [e-mail] (Jay Maynard) writes:

> It's real simple: lat/lon/haat information is enough to walk up to the tower
> or building the repeater is on, and therefore enough to get the repeater
> stolen, or for someone to talk to the site owner and get the repeater kicked
> off of the site. Sites are very, very hard to get unless you're willing to pay
> commercial rates - and very few hams are that rich.
>
>...
>
> At lease in the cas of the Texas VHF-FM Society, lat/lon/HAAT data is
> considered confidential data, and is not accessible to those not directly
> involved in the coordination process. I'm a director, and _I_ can't even get
> access to it. The reason for this is simple: if we didn't keep it
> confidential, we wouldn't get the data either.
> --
> Jay Maynard, EMT-P, K5ZC, PP-ASEL | Never ascribe to malice that which can
> [e-mail]      | adequately be explained by stupidity.
>         "A good flame is fuel to warm the soul." -- Karl Denninger

I have found that, at least in the areas I have been, that this information
is not really too hard to get.  If you listen to a repeater for a while you
will generally hear the general location and then a little thought and looking
at a map will get the location.  For instance, one of the local repeaters is
well known to be on Lake Mountain (actually there are at least three of them
there).  Now all I have to do is get out a recent USGS map and look at the map.
All over the top of that mountain are the symbols for radio towers.  Now, I
don't know exactly which tower it is on but I can get the location of that
repeater to within about 50 yards and that is adequate for what we are
considering.  If the repeater is located somewhere within a city this doesn't
work so I just use the coordinates for somewhere in the city and note that on
my list.  Most of the repeaters in this area are noted as being on some
mountain or another on most lists (Ensign Peak, Farnsworth Peak, etc.) and
there are very nice books that list the lat/long/alt of these peaks by name
so it doesn't take long to approximately locate the repeaters.  This is more
than adequate to determine the approximate coverage in an intuitive sense.

Bryan Peterson
[e-mail]

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

Date: Thu, 6 Jan 1994 20:01:18 +0000
From: newshub.nosc.mil!crash!news.sprintlink.net!demon!llondel.demon.co.uk![e-mail]
To: [e-mail]

References <[e-mail]>, <[e-mail]>, <2gdjdr$[e-mail]>
Subject : Re: DEP May Impose Fees On YOU!

Most TV receivers radiate quite well..... have a listen to all those line
timebases every 15kHz through the LF bands.

Dave
--

*****************************************************************************
* G4WRW @ GB7WRW.#41.GBR.EU AX25     *    Start at the beginning. Go on     *
* [e-mail]  Internet *     until the end. Then stop.        *
* [e-mail]      Amprnet  *      (the king to the white rabbit)  *
*****************************************************************************

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

End of Info-Hams Digest V94 #9
******************************
******************************