QRZ! Ham Radio 3/QRZ Ham Radio Callsign Database - Volume 3.iso/digests/infoham/940192.txt

Internet Message Format | 1994-06-04 | 32.5 KB

Date: Tue, 22 Feb 94 23:42:59 PST
From: Info-Hams Mailing List and Newsgroup <[e-mail]>
Errors-To: [e-mail]
Reply-To: [e-mail]
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Subject: Info-Hams Digest V94 #192
To: Info-Hams


Info-Hams Digest            Tue, 22 Feb 94       Volume 94 : Issue  192

Today's Topics:
                     Exam element credit - 1 yr.!
                    htx-202 audio mod (?) (2 msgs)
                              Jeff Gold
                             John Ramsey
                  Looking for HT storage suggestions
              Medium range point-to-point digital links
                          Ramsey HF QRP Rigs
                         Tone Burst Whistle?
        WARNING: Potential Satellite Anomaly Warning - 21 Feb

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: 22 Feb 1994 17:33:59 GMT
From: agate!howland.reston.ans.net!europa.eng.gtefsd.com!news.umbc.edu!haven.umd.edu!cville-srv.wam.umd.edu![e-mail]
Subject: Exam element credit - 1 yr.!
To: [e-mail]

You have ONE YEAR EXACTLY from the date of passing an exam element to use it
for getting a higher class license.

Someone noted that they passed the General written, but haven't passed 13 wpm.
You have exactly 1 year from the date of passing your general exam to pass
the 13 wpm exam (i.e. utilize the General written credit), after which the
written exam credit will expire.

Scott NF3I

I don't remember if it's, for example, Nov. 7, 1993 - Nov. 6, 1994, or
Nov. 7, 1993 - Nov. 7, 1994 (last day inclusive?)

--
73,             _________   _________  The
       \ /  Long   Original
Scott Rosenfeld  Amateur Radio NF3I  Burtonsville, MD  |   Live    $5.00
  WAC-CW/SSB  WAS  DXCC - 123 QSLed on dipoles __________| Dipoles! Antenna!

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

Date: 21 Feb 94 13:09:50 GMT
From: nprdc!ihnp4.ucsd.edu!swrinde!cs.utexas.edu!utah-morgan!hellgate.utah.edu!cc.usu.edu!sy_j.pgh.wec.com![e-mail]
Subject: htx-202 audio mod (?)
To: [e-mail]

I recently got an htx202 and since I've been using it, I have gotten
signal reports that my audio is low. someone mentioned that radio
shack will do an audio circuit mod for free if it is under warranty.
anybody here knows what the mod is ? and if it can be done without
taking it to the RS service center which is open only at a very
inconvenient time.

jerry
N3RKD

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

Date: Tue, 22 Feb 1994 16:07:15 GMT
From: spsgate!mogate!newsgate![e-mail]
Subject: htx-202 audio mod (?)
To: [e-mail]

In article <ah301-210294080950@sy_j.pgh.wec.com>  writes:
> I recently got an htx202 and since I've been using it, I have gotten
> signal reports that my audio is low. someone mentioned that radio
> shack will do an audio circuit mod for free if it is under warranty.
> anybody here knows what the mod is ? and if it can be done without
> taking it to the RS service center which is open only at a very
> inconvenient time.
>
> jerry
> N3RKD

Often when I talked to people they were able to guess I was using
an HTX202 based on the audio levels.  I took mine to the local
repair center, and the tech said mine was about as low as he had
seen it.  I think it is more like a quick adjustment rather than
a mod.

I believe it works better now, because I have asked folks and they
say that the audio is sufficient.

By the way,  record all of your memory settings.  When you get your
radio back, its memory will be clear.

--
R i c k   C o t t l e
Email:[e-mail]

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

Date: 22 Feb 1994 17:27:58 GMT
From: agate!howland.reston.ans.net!wupost!bigfoot.wustl.edu!cec3![e-mail]
Subject: Jeff Gold
To: [e-mail]

David Stockton ([e-mail]) wrote:

:   A somewhat appropriate quote from the bloke who invented the
: geosynchronous satellite:


:    *************************************************************************

:         "Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from
:          magic"

:                          - Arthur C Clarke

:     ***********************************************************************


:    The word "sufficiently" is for lawyers to argue over.

:    David

There was an episode about this point on a Star Trek TNG sometime back. . .
Not like I'd know, or anything   :)

--jessE
 (no I don't intentionally capitalize the E, the newsreader does it for me.)

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

Date: 22 Feb 94 10:16:12 EST
From: elroy.jpl.nasa.gov!usc!math.ohio-state.edu!cis.ohio-state.edu!pacific.mps.ohio-state.edu!ohstpy.mps.ohio-state.edu!miavx1!miavx3.mid.muohio.edu![e-mail]
Subject: John Ramsey
To: [e-mail]

In article <rohvm1.mah48d-180294104722@136.141.220.39>, [e-mail] (John E. Taylor III) writes:
> In article <[e-mail]>, [e-mail] (Cecil Moore)
> wrote:
>
>>
>> Your experience has been different from mine. I had 100 times the trouble
>> out of Heathkits that I had with Ramsey kits. You probably weren't around
>> for the '50s when it was a miracle if a Heathkit ever worked.
>>
>
> Really?!  I've built Heathkits from the original oscilloscope and AT-1
> transmitter right up through their kit 2-m HT, and had _very_ few problems
> that weren't my own stupidity (back in the '50's I was known to make a cold
> solder joint occasionally).  Think I had one bad relay in my HW-100 that
> they promptly replaced, can't recall any other problems in well over twenty
> kits.
>
> Only built one Ramsey kit, their 40-m qrp transmitter.  Very simple
> circuit, but it doesn't work.  (Oscillator stage is okay, but the final
> doesn't amplify.)  Haven't had a chance to troubleshoot it yet, so can't
> rule out my own stupidity, but Ramsey doesn't have a good track record with
> me.
>
> --
> 73  de    John Taylor    W3ZID
> [e-mail]


I, too, have to disagree with the observation regarding Heathkits.  From
back in the 50's (that's 1950s folks) when I built my first one, I'd
never had a problem that wasn't of my own making.

My experience leads me to belive Heathkit (may they RIP) has been unfairly
slammed ... by far, I believe, the Heathkit builders were successful and
had an excellent learning experience.

The kits were developed, and manuals written, not for graduate engineers but
for the folks in the front lines.  The number of Heath products in use through
the years, as well as today, certainly attest to the quality of their product.

I've never done a RAMSEY kit, so no comment here.

 73 >< Carl
   K8NHE

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

Date: Tue, 22 Feb 1994 17:37:31 GMT
From: agate!headwall.Stanford.EDU!unixhub!unixhub.SLAC.Stanford.EDU![e-mail]
Subject: Looking for HT storage suggestions
To: [e-mail]

Hi.  Primarily I'm a disaster service worker who uses ham radio more for
need than recreation, so keeping my HT always on my person isn't always
the most practical option.  Extra bulk, the risk of accidental damage, and
infrequent use make it impractical.  However, I DO need to keep it within
ready reach at all times.  One option is my car.  My concern about
storing it in the trunk of my car (along with my disaster supplies) is
the summer heat and sun.  I do not know what temperature specifications
exist for most HTs (does anyone have any?), but I do know the NiCad batteries
are rated up to 45 Celcius for storage.  In the summer sun of California,
I would think that the trunk of my car could get well over 55 Celcius.

Is this a concern that should keep me from storing an HT in my trunk during
the summer months?  Anyone have any similar experiences or wisdom to share?

thanks in advance --
73 de KD6QPY
greg
--
[e-mail]  --  Provided by the management for your protection

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

Date: Tue, 22 Feb 1994 17:58:54 GMT
From: elroy.jpl.nasa.gov!swrinde!sdd.hp.com!col.hp.com!srgenprp![e-mail]
Subject: Medium range point-to-point digital links
To: [e-mail]

Severe basenote drift acknowledged. (:>)

Gary Coffman ([e-mail]) wrote:
> Arrgh, I knew that. Signal drops with the *square* of distance, so it's
> 6 db per doubling. The 119 db figure is correct though. The biggest loss
> happens in that first mile.

  The term "pathloss" can be misleading since in freespace signal isn't
lost.  Radio waves are divergant.  The illuminated area increases as the
square of the distance.  Focus the power better and you get more in the
receiving "bucket".  With constant antenna aperture (physical size once
you get beyond dipoles) this is more effectively done at shorter
wavelengths/higher frequencies.

  Signals appear to drop because the aperture of the antenna "catching"
it is getting smaller compared to the total illuminated area at 1/D^2.
This is exactly why shorter paths and shorter wavelengths are better.

> I think that my point here is that LOS paths aren't practical for most
> amateur data links. The ability to get LOS paths is very terrain specific,
> and very $$$ specific. They either require fortuitous high sites, or
> very expensive microwave towers.

This is true, but if we are considering "competetive" information
systems and networks, something that can hold a candle to 10's or 100's
of Kbs *to the user* we have to consider how to efficiently pipe
information around. If we can't find a way to make shorter and better
quality paths practical, in the end we aren't going to be able to
compete with the alternatives.

> I agree it isn't practical to get multi-megabit systems below the
> microwave frequencies. What I think you're overlooking is the physical
> and financial impossibility of building the number of short hops that
> LOS requires in most of the country in order to do the higher rate
> channels. Amateurs can't do like the phone company and put up million
> dollar relay sites every 15-30 miles. The expense isn't in the equipment,
> it's in the *sites*. Amateurs don't have eminent domain, or the financial
> resources of a major public utility. Amateurs are going to have to accept
> lower data rates in order to stretch out the distance between available
> sites enough to make the system practical.

I guess our difference is in what we consider acceptable.  I agree that
building a network is difficult and costly but I'm of the opinion that
if amateur radio is to stay viable and interesting in the sorts of ways
it has in the past; public service, emergency and a playground for the
"lay" technically inclined, that it has to have something to offer which
is at least similar to that which is available elsewhere.  I'm not
implying that we have to outdo the phone company but that in the
information age we had better be able to transfer information reasonably
well in contrast to the alternate commercial methods.

  I don't see "new blood" being too enamored with a 100 bps to-the-user
performance(I'm being charitable, most longhaul amateur datacomm is a
good deal slower than this)over AR if 1000 times that is availble
elsewhere.

  While this isn't quite the case yet, it isn't far off.  The "backbone"
for the commercial system is constantly improving and a wireless
connection to the "last mile" is about to rain on us from a multitude of
vendors.  I might point out that this backbone is effective because it
uses short wavelengths and focussed energy; microwave/millimeterwave
terrestrial and satellite networks and the really
shortwave/focussed/guided medium:  fiber.

> Power is cheap. Sites are few and expensive. We have to be able to use
> the sites *we can get* to build the network. Unlike a public utility,
> we can't just go out and condemn ideal sites where we need them for
> our microwave links. All of our path engineering has to revolve around
> what we can do with the sites we can get.

I agree that sites are of great value.  I suppose a geostationary sites
would be extremely valuable to amateurs but I don't agree that power is
cheap nor really all that effective at making high information volume
systems.  Once one leaves quality paths, the cost of maintaining quality
data flow is tremendous.  Not only can't we generate enough power to
overcome the additional losses and path variabilities cheaply but the
excess power (that which doesn't get wasted in heating up the
countryside) goes into removing the channel from reuse by other links
(QRM). We need to be finding ways to use *less* power, not more, and
not just because of the FCC mandate either.

  Access to suitable sites may be one area where amateurs have an advantage
over the big service providers. We are at least grass roots and already
involved with repeaters and remote bases. Amateurs have a lot of "ins".
  Even the big telecom companies haven't been able to write off their
huge investments and go out and replace all their old equipment in one
fell swoop.  If amateurs plan appropriately, we *might* be able to
target something which will have value in the years to come.  If we
don't, I'm afraid that as a hobby, we haven't much hope of staying
interesting.

> The link budget calc I did showed that a 90 mile forward scatter path
> has a path loss of 198 db at 219 MHz for a 56 kb bandwidth. That's doable
> with ordinary amateur beams and brick amplifiers, given the sensitivity
> of existing RF modems.
>

> >  Your second 21 mile link obviously *isn't* LOS!
>
> Yes it is. We can *see* the antennas at each end.

I probably should have said "quality" instead of LOS.  That your shorter
path has more loss than the longer one shows that it has a problem.

> >Local clutter is probably degrading things severely.
> >Antennas help a lot (2 dB of system improvement per dB of antenna gain)
> >but a poor path degrades things much faster than antennas can fix it.
> >  That "nestled end" that you call line-of-sight is clearly far from it.
> >See my comment above about most practical links losing 15-40 dB as
>
> The problem we have is severe multipath because the beamwidth of our
> antennas illuminates buildings on either side of the path. That same

That's what I meant by "local clutter". And notice that throwing power at it
in the situation probably doesn't fix it if the problem is multipath.

> path *does* work at 7 GHz because we have a commercial link there using
> 6 foot dishes at each end that does not suffer multipath. The narrower
> beam doesn't illuminate the multipath generating reflectors.

And that points out part of the value of microwave, small antennas give
you a more focussed beam. The 7 GHz system probably can run a good deal
less transmitter power and at the same time provide more opportunitiy for
reuse of the channel because it doesn't spray power so widely.

> Well I agree we can't compete with the phone company. Their resources
> are vastly greater than anything we could muster. But we can do a *lot*
> better than 1200 baud for our users. And *that* horribly slow speed has

I doubt that we can provide simultaneous 1200 bps to-the-user for even a
small fraction of US amateurs with a network of 56 kbps links at VHF.
And to date, very few users have seen anything near 1200 bps *throughput*
with the most common system.

> been enough to interest 20% of our ham population sufficiently to make
> packet their primary operating mode, and has been enough to get hundreds
> of high site nodes and digis installed around the country. With those sites
> in hand, we can do a pretty good job of upgrading the network to 56 kb.
> That's a 47 times improvement over what we've got. We can do that for
> about $8 each per year from active packeteers, and a lot of volunteer
> labor.

I hope you are right that such a network could maintain interest in AR,
but I guess I don't believe it.  Not if someone potentially interested
can get inexpensive worldwide connectivity with high throughput and a
host of services and if wireless connection to all this is also economical.
Once there is fiber to the home, things just get worse for a lowspeed,
RF-bound system.

> The highest traffic flows are on the user MANs. In some cases where
> local topographic conditions permit, those MANs could be shifted to
> higher speed. But for the intercity trunks, I don't think we can do

  Higher speed cluster access was the point of our Hubmaster protocol
(ARRL CNC #9).  And it may be that social and other common interest
issues keep the highest information volume local.  However, even if the
backbones don't have to be orders of magnitude faster than the local
channels, the local channels have to be fast enough to be "interesting".
This isn't going to happen with a small amount of VHF spectrum in most
urban areas (if interested, see my other paper in CNC #9).  With
realizable antennas, the beamwidths are going to be wide and the
available channel speed will be divided among the users.  Very rapidly,
a busy 56kbps channel becomes slower than a quiet 1200 bps channel.
A highspeed link does not a highspeed network make.


> megabit microwave trunks nationwide. There are just too many miles
> where there are no hams, and no suitable sites for the asking. Current
> inter-MAN traffic demand doesn't justify it even if we could do it,
> but I suspect that "build it and they will come" would be in effect
> if we could possibly do it. I just don't see any way we could get
> the sites. Even if the telcos *gave* us their old microwave sites,
> I don't think we could find the manpower to maintain them.

  I don't have an answer either except that perhaps a few geostationary
transponders could do a lot for long haul and perhaps mitigate the
problem. In any case, we *must* make effective use of resources if
we are to pull it off. This means efficient energy/information transfer
which is going to require focussed beams and/or guided waves. This
simply isn't going to be possible at VHF.

  It may be that AR will have to use existing carriers, like the
IP encapsulation presently done using the Internet, for long haul.  I'm
not sure that in the longterm I can identify the value added by amateur
radio if this trend is taken to the limit.  In any case, I think there
is no question that we are going to have to coordinate and cooperate.
This is why I would hate to see a plan which falls short of the necessary
minimum required to suceed.

  I guess I'm changing my mind about what "build it and they will come"
 means in AR. I'm afraid it means:

 build it all, everything in place to provide highspeed user access worldwide,
           user access h/w, s/w and a host of free services and applications.

 offer it for "less than you can imagine" (certainly less than the XYL
 pain-threshold of $500 or so), available by charge card from all the
 mail order suppliers

 make it totatally turnkey, there must be no way for the user to mess it up

 and they will come. They will complain that it was done wrong, doesn't
 work well enough, is a ripoff and they could have done it better. *but*
 they will come and use it.


My apologies to the original poster for this severe drift. I'll QRT now.

73
Glenn n6gn

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

Date: 22 Feb 1994 15:33:26 GMT
From: elroy.jpl.nasa.gov!usc!math.ohio-state.edu!news.acns.nwu.edu!casbah.acns.nwu.edu![e-mail]
Subject: Ramsey HF QRP Rigs
To: [e-mail]

In article <[e-mail]>,
Cecil Moore <[e-mail]> wrote:
>>Now, have you, Cecil, or anyone else, built any of Ramsey's HF QRP xmtrs?
>>For $30 I might get one of those pup's for 20M (but from what I hear I
>>think a low pass filter might be in order).
>>
>>73, Jeff NH6IL
>
>No, Jeff, I haven't built one and don't know anyone who has but, like you,
>would be interested in hearing from anyone who has.

I did not build one, but I debugged and fixed one for a friend who
could not get it to work.  And for good reasons.

The receiver is a knock-off of the Neophyte Receiver from QST.  The
air variable in the VFO is replaced by a reverse biased 1N4002.  It
is unstable and drifts like crazy.

The transmitter is a knock-off of W7ZOI's universal qrp tx with `Ramsey
special' mods.  The L-C tuned interstage coupling, which required toroids,
has been replaced by broadband r-c coupling.  The problem: parasitics
galore.  It took a lot of work to get it tamed and put out a reasonable
amount of power.

My one thought as I debugged and fixed these kits was: The mods were
to reduce component cost, never mind the effect on performance.

Sort of sums up my opinion of Ramsey kits.


Rajiv                                      dit  l  dit
aa9ch                                           l
[e-mail]       ********************      =
                     *  rajiv   aa9ch/m    *    =
                    * r-dewan   @nwu.edu    *   l
                   *  iambic    cmos super2  *  l
          *********  kwd ts50   tx bugcatcher * l
        *                                      *l
       *     ***                       ***     *H
       *    *   *                     *   *    *H
        base*   *kenwd850*vert*80mloop*   *kent**
             ***                       ***

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

Date: 22 Feb 94 10:06:03 EST
From: agate!howland.reston.ans.net!math.ohio-state.edu!cis.ohio-state.edu!pacific.mps.ohio-state.edu!ohstpy.mps.ohio-state.edu!miavx1!miavx3.mid.muohio.edu![e-mail]
Subject: Tone Burst Whistle?
To: [e-mail]

In article <[e-mail]>, [e-mail] (David Dodell) writes:
> I have an ICOM 24AT which I would like to use with tone burst.  Is there
> a way to do this easily?
>
> I understand that someone sells a tone-burst whistle which immitates the
> tone to prevent internal modification of a radio.
>
> Anyone heard or know where I can get one of these?
>
> david
>
> ---
> Editor, HICNet Medical Newsletter
> Internet: [e-mail]                 FAX: [phone]
> Bitnet  : ATW1H@ASUACAD

Back in the "good-ole-days", we made whistles from short (approx 4")
lengths of brass tubing.  Sometimes the tubing could be salvaged from
a VHF or UHF antenna; sometimes acquired from a hobby shop.  ID, as I
recall, was 0.25".

A notch cut in the side, approx 1.5" from one end, and final "trimming"
of the tube, acquired the desired tone. (In the order of 1800Hz, I think)

Worked pretty well ... considering the investment ... but did take some
practice to become competent.

Have fun!

 73 >< Carl
   K8NHE

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

Date: Sun, 20 Feb 1994 23:56:44 MST
From: agate!howland.reston.ans.net!europa.eng.gtefsd.com!library.ucla.edu!news.mic.ucla.edu!unixg.ubc.ca!nntp.cs.ubc.ca!alberta!adec23!ve6mgs![e-mail]
Subject: WARNING: Potential Satellite Anomaly Warning - 21 Feb
To: [e-mail]

                    /\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\

                      POT

                        ISSUED: 06:00 UT, 21 FEBRUARY

                    /\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\


ATTENTION:

     Protons at greater than 10 MeV are becoming fairly significantly
enhanced at the present time.  Flux levels are presently continuing to
increase.  New maximums are continually being set.  Protons at greater than
10 MeV are presently at 570 pfu at 06:05 UTC.  Some contamination of the
x-ray sensors is presently being observed on-board the GOES-6 and GOES-7
spacecraft.  Other anomalies may be also observed during this satellite
proton event.  This proton event is not particularly hard, spectrally.  Most
of the particles have energies below 50 MeV.

     An interplanetary shock, related to the flare which was responsible for
this proton activity, is expected to arrive late in the UTC day of 21
February or (preferably) early in the UTC day of 22 February.  There is a
fair possibility geosynchronous satellites may observe periods of
magnetopause crossings for several hours after the arrival of this shock.

     Also by way of update, the high energy electron fluxes (and fluences)
at greater than 2 MeV which have been observed over the last two weeks have
dropped and are continuing to gradually fall.


**  End of Warning  **

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

Date: Tue, 22 Feb 1994 15:56:15 GMT
From: agate!library.ucla.edu!news.ucdavis.edu!chip.ucdavis.edu![e-mail]
To: [e-mail]

References <[e-mail]>, <[e-mail]>, <[e-mail]>
Subject : Re: RAMSEY FX TRANSCEIVER

Steve Popovich ([e-mail]) wrote:

: Jeff, I'm afraid you've gone 'round the bend here.  This kind of
: argument went out with McCarthy, didn't it?  I think you're a bit
: overzealous in desiring to {pro,per}secute "suspected illegals", too.
: Now I guess I'm one of your suspects too, even though I am not now,
: nor have I ever been, involved with pirate radio. :-)

Now if you would please just provide the names of all those you know who
are or have, in the past, been involved with pirate radio, we can probably
clear your name and allow you to reclaim your good name.  What? We lnow
better than that, if you didn't know any pirates would you really be
commenting on this thread?  Please just tell us what you know and
everything will be alright.  All we need are a couple of names, don't
woory they'll be given the same opportunity as you to clear their names.


dan
--
*---------------------------------------------------------------------*
* Daniel D. Todd      Packet: KC6UUD@KE6LW.#nocal.ca.usa              *
*                   Internet: [e-mail]                      *
*                 Snail Mail: 1750 Hanover #102                       *
*                             Davis CA 95616                          *
*---------------------------------------------------------------------*
*     The only thing I can officially say for the University is:      *
*     What I say is in no way related to oficial University policy    *
*---------------------------------------------------------------------*


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

Date: Tue, 22 Feb 1994 16:05:15 GMT
From: olivea!isc-br!loki![e-mail]
To: [e-mail]

References <[e-mail]>, <[e-mail]>, <[e-mail]>
Subject : Passed General written, how long do I have to pass code?


I passed my General written exam a while back, but was only able to
copy 5 wpm.

Does anyone know how long I have to pass the 13 wpm before I have to
take the written exam over again?


Thanks....


[e-mail]
N7RWO
--

Bruce Oscarson          | [e-mail]
Olivetti North America  |
N7RWO                   | ma-bell  [phone]

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

Date: 22 Feb 1994 17:25:17 GMT
From: agate!howland.reston.ans.net!wupost!bigfoot.wustl.edu!cec3![e-mail]
To: [e-mail]

References <2k0eup$[e-mail]>, <[e-mail]>, <2kcdqj$[e-mail]>
Subject : Re: Keyboards at testing sessions

Gary McDuffie Sr ([e-mail]) wrote:
: [e-mail] (Mike Waters) writes:

:  >The need is not to show that someone *is* or *could* cheat, but for them to
:  >prove that they *could not* cheat..  If you want to use some piece of
:  >equipment in a testing session *you* must show that (a) you are not using
:  >it to cheat and (b) it won't disturb the other test takers.

: Oh, we are back to guilty_until_proven_innocent now? Be real!

How about, "prevention is the best medicine"???  If you be sure that a person
can't cheat, he most likely won't.  I'm quite aware of this as a student full
time; I've been told at the MCAT, for example, although there are physics
and chemistry problems, calculators are not allowed, watches are not allowed
that make any noise whatsoever, including beeping at the hour.  You are not
considered guilty, but they want to preclude the possibilities of any
cheating.  This is the whole purpose of proctors, or VE's.  I've gone to
things like math contests, where I had to demonstrate that my programmable
calculator was empty, i.e., reset it, and let the proctors see the prompt,
"reset ok."

:  >Showing an empty hard drive or none at all is one very easy way to do this.
:  > Certainly there are other waysto do this.  Remember the onus in not on the
:  >VEs to try to anticipate every possible way for someone to cheat, but to
:  >ensure fair tests

: You failed to answer the question. What has a hard drive got to do
: with cheating? How is a hard drive going to help you cheat?

Somebody may say that you can have a program hooked to a mic that copies code.
There are definitely those that can do so, given the proper audio input.  Now
the chances oF someone doing that *is* slim, but still the possibility
exists.

All in MHO, and the institution can (disclaimer) think anything; whether or
not it is what I do is purely coincidental.

--jessE

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

Date: Tue, 22 Feb 1994 14:53:20 GMT
From: elroy.jpl.nasa.gov!swrinde!gatech!wa4mei.ping.com!ke4zv![e-mail]
To: [e-mail]

References <[e-mail]>, <[e-mail]>, <[e-mail]>
Reply-To : [e-mail] (Gary Coffman)
Subject : Re: Keyboards at testing sessions

In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail] (David Tiller) writes:
>Gary Coffman ([e-mail]) wrote:
>: Or bring in your Royal or Smith Corona portable typewriter. Even the FCC
>: allowed you to copy by mill back in the 1960s.
>
>I agree in principle, but wouldn't that be a little loud and distracting
>for the others?  A pc keyboard is loud enough!  How about cheating? What
>would stop a dishonest person from peering at the keyboard as the characters
>were typed??  Inquiring minds, and all that....

Well in my experience, the FCC had their Instructograph's volume turned
up so loud a hundred manual typewriters couldn't have drowned it out.
It un-nerved me to hear it echoing down the hall. They'd also let you
use cans if you brought your own, and your own key for the sending test
too. (Wish I'd known that in advance, their key sucked.)

As for cheating by watching someone's fingering of their keyboard,
I'd never thought of that. Seems to me that would take as much
practice as just conditioning yourself to copy the Code.

Gary
--
Gary Coffman KE4ZV          |    You make it,     | gatech!wa4mei!ke4zv!gary
Destructive Testing Systems |    we break it.     | uunet!rsiatl!ke4zv!gary
534 Shannon Way             |    Guaranteed!      | emory!kd4nc!ke4zv!gary
Lawrenceville, GA 30244     |                     |

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

Date: Tue, 22 Feb 1994 05:04:15 GMT
From: news.Hawaii.Edu!uhunix3.uhcc.Hawaii.Edu![e-mail]
To: [e-mail]

References <[e-mail]>, <[e-mail]>, <[e-mail]>
Subject : Re: Jef Harmon (was Re: RAMSEY FX TRANSCEIVER

In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail] (Mike Waters) writes:
>
>I have to wonder if there is a living person who's past Jef *doesn't*
>suspect?
>
>How is your potty patrol going Jeff?  Still finding nastly people
>misbehaving in the bathrooms at U of H?

Who's Jef?

Yeah, those `guys' are still passing their diseases to each other in
the restrooms on campus. The campus police are finally starting to arrest
them for lewd conduct and solicitation.

I guess I should have put a smiley or two in the rec.radio.pirate
post. I really don't believe that Dana has ever done anything illegal.
Him and I will never see eye-to-eye on some things.

QRT.    dit   dit


73 Mike,
Jeff NH6IL

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

End of Info-Hams Digest V94 #192
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