home *** CD-ROM | disk | FTP | other *** search
Date: Sat, 19 Mar 94 21:08:16 PST From: Info-Hams Mailing List and Newsgroup <info-hams@ucsd.edu> Errors-To: Info-Hams-Errors@UCSD.Edu Reply-To: Info-Hams@UCSD.Edu Precedence: Bulk Subject: Info-Hams Digest V94 #309 To: Info-Hams Info-Hams Digest Sat, 19 Mar 94 Volume 94 : Issue 309 Today's Topics: 49 mhz. Radio Shack Conversion 6 Meters ARLD015 DX news DARA Hamfest CQ WPX Multi/Single Class station Impromptumeeting HAM Origin? HAMS and hams IC-22S Information about Repeaters IPS Daily Report - 19 March 94 PY0FM and 6Y5IC QRZ CDROM Update Information TX Amp for 20 mtrs QRP rigs. Send Replies or notes for publication to: <Info-Hams@UCSD.Edu> Send subscription requests to: <Info-Hams-REQUEST@UCSD.Edu> Problems you can't solve otherwise to brian@ucsd.edu. 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: 18 Mar 94 21:53:22 GMT From: ncrgw2.ncr.com!ncrhub2!ciss!wtcp!blangos@uunet.uu.net Subject: 49 mhz. Radio Shack Conversion 6 Meters To: info-hams@ucsd.edu I understand that some west coast hams have found a way to convert single channel 49 mhz. Radio Shack walkie talkies to 6 meter repeater use. I am interested in any information about this such as the model of radio and how to convert. Thanks Bruce Langos N8CNZ -- Bruce Langos Workstation Products Division F&A Bruce.Langos@wtcp.DaytonOH.NCR.COM ...!uunet!ncrcom!ciss!wtcp!blangos ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 19 Mar 94 20:35:27 GMT From: ihnp4.ucsd.edu!usc!howland.reston.ans.net!news.ans.net!malgudi.oar.net!infinet!n8emr!bulletin@network.ucsd.edu Subject: ARLD015 DX news To: info-hams@ucsd.edu ============================================================== | Automatic relayed from packet radio via | | N8EMR's Ham BBS, 614-895-2553 | ============================================================== SB DX @ ARL $ARLD015 ARLD015 DX news ZCZC AE13 QST de W1AW DX Bulletin 15 ARLD015 >From ARRL Headquarters Newington CT March 17, 1994 To all radio amateurs SB DX ARL ARLD015 ARLD015 DX news The items in this week's bulletin are courtesy of Jacques, F2YS/W2, Bob, W5KNE, QRZ DX, Chod, VP2ML, The DX Bulletin, the Ohio/Penn DX Bulletin, the Yankee Clipper Contest Club PacketCluster network and Contest Corral in QST. Thanks. SPRATLY ISLANDS. The next operation is slated for April 2 to 5 by operators 9M6BZ, JA9AG, JQ1WSL, JS1QHO and G3NOM from Swallow Reef. Listen for 9M0A, 9M0AG and 9M0BZ on CW, SSB, FM, RTTY, AMTOR, PacTOR and packet. On CW try 1825, 3505, 7005, 10105, 14005, 18070, 21005, 24895 and 28005 kHz. On SSB try 3790, 7080, 14195, 18145, 21295, 24945 and 28495 kHz. FM will be on 29240 kHz. RTTY will be around 7030, 14085, 21085 and 28085 kHz. SVALBARD ISLANDS. From March 18 through 21, Tom, LA1BJA, and Inge, LA5VK, will be signing JW1BJA and JW5VK, respectively. They will operate all bands, including WARC, mostly with SSB. Phone operation on 17 and 12 meters was authorized for Norwegian amateurs on January 1, 1994, so this may be the first JW voice activity on these bands. QSL to JW5VK, Inge Johan Lauknes, Oldersneia 10, N-9100 Kvaloysletta, Norway. TRINDADE ISLAND. Mendonca, PY1UP, will be starting a four month visit in about three or four weeks. He now has a higher class license enabling him to operate on more bands. Listen for PY0TUP. FERNANDO DE NORONHA ISLAND. Peter, PY5CC, will be active until April 1st, as PY0FM. He will be active on 160-2 meters, including WARC bands and on CW/SSB. Try 160 meters around 0415z, 80 meters around 0245z, and 40 meters around 2100z. He has also been heard on 30 meters, a rarity for a Brazilian station. QSL via PY5CC. SOUTHERN SUDAN. John, PA3CXC, is signing /ST0, though his length of stay is unknown. Listen for him on 18072 kHz at 1745z and 24892 kHz at 1830z. COCOS ISLAND. TI2CF and TI2JJP have been very active as TI9CF and TI9JJP. Carlos operates both phone and CW. Jose prefers SSB. Try 1833 kHz at 0500z, 3795 at 0412, 7007 at 0415, 7052 at 0235, 10104 at 0130, 14024 at 0230, 14195 at 1725, 18145 at 0100, 21025 at 1712, 21295 at 1838, 28025 at 1905, and 28495 at 1916. QSL via TI2CF and TI2AOC respectively. LORD HOWE ISLANDS. VK9LA has been on a net on 7084 kHz at around 1145z. NORTHERN MARIANA ISLANDS. Tosy, JA5VZB will sign AH0T from Rota Island sometime this month. Activity will include a stint in the CQ WW WPX SSB contest. Outside the contest hours he will be on 160 through 10 meters, concentrating on 160 meters and RTTY. Check 1824 kHz. All non-JA stations QSL via JA6BSM, JAs via the bureau only. JUAN DE NOVA. Listen for FR5ZQ/J between March 21 and April 25 operating SSB only. QSL his home call. EUROPA. FR5ZU/E will be on from March 28 to April 25 with SSB and RTTY. QSL via VE2NW. THAILAND/NEPAL. Rana, WB4NFO, will be on the air soon signing HS0ZBK. A trip to Nepal is planned and an effort will be made to obtain a license there. JOHNSTON ISLAND. AH6IO will sign /KH3 May 4 to 9 with NH6UY. Operations will be 160 through 6 meters and satellites. QSL direct only to home calls. UNITED ARAB EMIRATES, UAE. Don, WB2DND, will sign A61AD March 23 to 26, concentrating on the lower bands. QSL via WB2DND. THIS WEEKEND ON THE RADIO. BARTG Spring RTTY Contest, sponsored by the British Amateur Radio Teledata Group, is from 0200z March 19 to 0200z March 20. Exchange signal report, serial number and UTC time. Bermuda Contest, sponsored by the Radio Society of Bermuda, runs from 0000z March 19 to 2400z March 20. Work as many VP9 stations as possible exchanging signal report and serial number. For more information on both events, check page 111 of February QST. NNNN /EX ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 19 Mar 1994 14:39:43 GMT From: ihnp4.ucsd.edu!sdd.hp.com!saimiri.primate.wisc.edu!caen!malgudi.oar.net!news.ysu.edu!news.cps.udayton.edu!dmapub!apontej@network.ucsd.edu Subject: DARA Hamfest CQ WPX Multi/Single Class station Impromptumeeting To: info-hams@ucsd.edu Disclaimer Notice: This impromtu meeting is being set up by me KP4UY. DARA and/or Hamfest are not sponsoring it, & it would probably be held somewhere else I can get a room at no cost for it that fits the amount of people that express an interest onthe subject. At present such a station as described here doesnot exist to the best of my knowledge anyone who knows of one please msg me. My name is Jose Prieto Aponte (KP4UY), I will be working in the Forums/Speaker Commitee which has a table to register the speakers last year it was outside one of the conference room & it may be in the HARA Hamfest map (??) this year. Anyone wishing to contact me during the show please leave a message at this table since I will be at the various forums on the floor or message me here. If you wish a temporary ID for internet email while you are attending the Hamfest you can msg me or call this bbs which has full internet email access.. it cannot be telnet into it (firewalled). There are other that are with local telephone & telnet, ftp access to get an ID on either prior to comming to dayton msg me here at apontej@dmapub.dma.org (free one) or at advisor@dayton.fsp.com ( small fee but telnet priviliges full internet). I will have a small portable terminal a ti707 with me during the show. that takes care of the communications... regarding the subject of the meeting is to discuss a multi-single cq wpx contest station operated by 5 or more concurrent operators remotely sharing the transmitter resource, they are all in the same band and get a 3-15 second multiplex slice of the transmitter while they listen from their remote receiver. the discussion should focus on technical issues first then perhaps on contest rules issues as I understand them the rule for cq wpx is that the transmitternneds to be physically connected to the antenna. with this type of set up it is. another issue is control of antennas direction, how far should the remote operator reciever be, close enough to hear the station it is transmitting to but far enough not to overload the receiver when it is transmiting in an adjoining freq. on hte same band.anyone has experiemnted with this? then there are multiple issues of real time digital control, what an effective transport to the remote pc should be modems? tcp/ip.. packet is ou tof the question because of rules & speed. ISDN? D channel not enough of them. I guess that about cover it please msg me with expressionof interest to attend. here at apontej@dmapub.dma.org or advisor@dayton.fsp.com feel free to post or email elsewhere hope to see u at Hamfest 73's de KP4UY (Jose') ------------------------------ Date: 17 Mar 94 15:17:32 GMT From: ihnp4.ucsd.edu!usc!nic-nac.CSU.net!charnel.net.csuchico.edu!charnel!olivea!tardis!tymix.Tymnet.COM!niagara!flanagan@network.ucsd.edu Subject: HAM Origin? To: info-hams@ucsd.edu In article <p68NQy5.edsorensen@delphi.com> Edward Sorensen <edsorensen@delphi.com> writes: > >I have a father-in-law who is a ham Chuck Kramer (KE4BWG) he asked where and >when the word "HAM" came to be... Back in the early days of radio, the US Navy was the primary user. As more and more Amateurs took to the airwaves, their interference to the Navy ops grew. It was during one particularly bad QRM experience that some Navy operator whose name is lost to history referred to the source of his QRM as "those hams!" He was not pleased and the reference was derrogatory, but the Amateurs thaought it was great and took it as their own. I guess that shows that Amateurs had "attitude" even back then! :) Dick -- Dick Flanagan, W6OLD dick@libelle.com Libelle Productions, Minden, NV, USA MCI Mail: 412-2140 Voice: +1 702 782 0806 GEnie: FLANAGAN ------------------------------ Date: 19 Mar 1994 20:45:02 GMT From: ihnp4.ucsd.edu!library.ucla.edu!europa.eng.gtefsd.com!howland.reston.ans.net!math.ohio-state.edu!cs.utexas.edu!geraldo.cc.utexas.edu!astro.as.utexas.edu!oo7@network.ucsd.edu Subject: HAMS and hams To: info-hams@ucsd.edu Someone asked: >I have a father-in-law who is a ham Chuck Kramer (KE4BWG) he asked where and >when the word "HAM" came to be... Regardless of the origin of the word "ham", several of us are on a quest to discover why so many newcomers write ham as HAM. We have asked several posters why they do this, and of the few who bother to reply, most say "I thought that was how you were supposed to write it". The typical context is "I want to get into HAM and don't know how to get started". Why "HAM" and not "ham radio"? I can only think that since everyone has heard of CB and that is always capitalized, they think that "ham" must stand for something and therefore write it HAM. Just as one goes and buys a "CB" (radio), perhaps they think that you can also buy a HAM [radio]? Perhaps someone who used to think it is capitalized and now knows better can tell me why they used to think this. It would clear up a problem and make several people who have nothing better to worry about much happier. Derek "vegetarian HAM" Wills (AA5BT, G3NMX) Department of Astronomy, University of Texas, Austin TX 78712. (512-471-1392) oo7@astro.as.utexas.edu ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 19 Mar 94 17:48:12 -0500 From: yale.edu!noc.near.net!news.delphi.com!usenet@yale.arpa Subject: IC-22S To: info-hams@ucsd.edu DWIGHT CLINTON MORGAN <morgdw@saturn.wwc.edu> writes: >Would like to get mods for +5K and +10K steps for prog freq. > >Want to know if it is possible to modify for transmit from 144Mhz to 148Mhz. > TechnoLogic Concepts has a kit for the ICOM-22S that allows continuous coverage from 144.62 to 147.90 MHz. The 22S PLL won't lock below 144.62 MHz. TLC's address is 1803 Mission St., Suite 308, Santa Cruz, CA 95060 and their email address is TLCDHCONSULT@DELPHI.COM. 73, KG7BK, CecilMoore@delphi.com ------------------------------ Date: 20 Mar 94 02:40:37 GMT From: dog.ee.lbl.gov!ihnp4.ucsd.edu!library.ucla.edu!news.ucdavis.edu!chip.ucdavis.edu!ez006683@ucbvax.berkeley.edu Subject: Information about Repeaters To: info-hams@ucsd.edu Jason Rimmer (jrimmer@netcom.com) wrote: : I've searched a few FTP sites, but've been unable to find any information : about the hardware, setup, etc. of repeaters. I asked an individual here who : runs a local repeater group about such things, and he dodged the subject. I'm : assuming this is because he operates a local "closed" repeater group and : doesn't want any competition. Oh well... Competition? he he he's probably trying to save you the heartache. If you are really interested try asking someone at one of the local radio places or call one of the mail order places. They make money doing this, they'll tell you how. There was also an article in the QRZ CD of Nov. that described modifying a moto. unit into mobile service. In short all you really need is a radio, a duplexer and an antenna. The two hardest things to find are a site (fairly difficult) and most difficult a frequency pair. The former might be a matter of begging and the latter needs to be taken up with your local coordinator. Good luck, Dan -- *---------------------------------------------------------------------* * Daniel D. Todd Packet: KC6UUD@KE6LW.#nocal.ca.usa * * Internet: ddtodd@ucdavis.edu * * Snail Mail: 1750 Hanover #102 * * Davis CA 95616 * *---------------------------------------------------------------------* * All opinions expressed herein are completely ficticious any * * resemblence to actual opinions of persons living or dead is * * completely coincidental. * *---------------------------------------------------------------------* ------------------------------ Date: 19 Mar 94 23:29:43 GMT From: agate!ihnp4.ucsd.edu!munnari.oz.au!newshost.anu.edu.au!sserve!usage!metro!ipso!rwc@ucbvax.berkeley.edu Subject: IPS Daily Report - 19 March 94 To: info-hams@ucsd.edu SUBJ: IPS DAILY SOLAR AND GEOPHYSICAL REPORT ISSUED AT 19/2330Z MARCH 1994 BY IPS RADIO AND SPACE SERVICES FROM THE REGIONAL WARNING CENTRE (RWC), SYDNEY. SUMMARY FOR 19 MARCH AND FORECAST UP TO 22 MARCH IPS Warning 09 was issued on 18 MAR and is still current. ----------------------------------------------------------- 1A. SOLAR SUMMARY Activity: very low Flares: none. Observed 10.7 cm flux/Equivalent Sunspot Number : 089/033 1B. SOLAR FORECAST 20 March 21 March 22 March Activity Very low Very low Very low Fadeouts None expected None expected None expected Forecast 10.7 cm flux/Equivalent Sunspot Number : 090/034 1C. SOLAR COMMENT None. ----------------------------------------------------------- 2A. MAGNETIC SUMMARY Geomagnetic field at Learmonth : quiet to unsettled Estimated Indices : A K Observed A Index 18 March Learmonth 11 2323 3322 Fredericksburg 13 18 Planetary 15 18 2B. MAGNETIC FORECAST DATE Ap CONDITIONS 20 Mar 35 Quiet to unsettled for the first half day, then active to minor storm levels are expected. 21 Mar 25 Active. 22 Mar 15 Quiet to unsettled. 2C. MAGNETIC COMMENT Expected activity is due to a recurring coronal hole. 3A. GLOBAL HF PROPAGATION SUMMARY LATITUDE BAND DATE LOW MIDDLE HIGH 19 Mar normal normal normal PCA Event : None. 3B. GLOBAL HF PROPAGATION FORECAST LATITUDE BAND DATE LOW MIDDLE HIGH 20 Mar normal normal normal 21 Mar normal normal-fair fair 22 Mar normal normal-fair fair 3C. GLOBAL HF PROPAGATION COMMENT NONE. ----------------------------------------------------------- 4A. AUSTRALIAN REGION IONOSPHERIC SUMMARY MUFs at Sydney were near predicted monthly values. Observed T index for 19 March: 43 Predicted Monthly T Index for March is 40. 4B. AUSTRALIAN REGION IONOSPHERIC FORECAST DATE T-index MUFs 20 Mar 40 Near predicted monthly values. 21 Mar -10 15 to 30% below predicted monthly values. 22 Mar 10 15 to 20% below predicted monthly values. 4C. AUSTRALIAN REGION COMMENT None. -- IPS Regional Warning Centre, Sydney |IPS Radio and Space Services email: rwc@ips.oz.au fax: +61 2 4148331 |PO Box 5606 RWC Duty Forecaster tel: +61 2 4148329 |West Chatswood NSW 2057 Recorded Message tel: +61 2 4148330 |AUSTRALIA ------------------------------ Date: 19 Mar 1994 11:50:25 -0800 From: ihnp4.ucsd.edu!dog.ee.lbl.gov!agate!howland.reston.ans.net!usc!nic-nac.CSU.net!charnel.net.csuchico.edu!charnel!olivea!apple.com!apple.com!not-for-mail@network.ucsd.edu Subject: PY0FM and 6Y5IC To: info-hams@ucsd.edu michaela@freenet2.scri.fsu.edu (Michael Christie) writes: >I talked to him briefly on 17-meters earlier this week. The >QSL route was definitely via PY5CC. Some DX bulletin I read on the air mentioned that PY5CC is the home call of PY0FM. "He is not just the hair club president, he is also a member." :-) 73, Kok Chen, AA6TY kchen@apple.com Apple Computer, Inc. ------------------------------ Date: 17 Mar 1994 21:42:30 -0700 From: ihnp4.ucsd.edu!swrinde!gatech!asuvax!pinyon.libre.com!not-for-mail@network.ucsd.edu Subject: QRZ CDROM Update Information To: info-hams@ucsd.edu ----Subject: QRZ CDROM Update ----From: Fred Lloyd, AA7BQ I am currently in the process of gathering data for the third edition of the QRZ! Ham Radio CDROM and am actively looking for data and shareware submissions for it. Some of the new features of the May edition will be: Native OS/2 support, native AIX support, and if I get time, some user callable Windows .DLL's to access the database. The May edition will for the first time include the callsign database for Italy and Great Britian, and the Canadian listings are being updated. A fresh copy of the US Callsign database will also be included which we can expect to contain approximately 650,000 callsigns. I'm especially interested in aquiring more International callsigns and will offer anyone a year's subscription to QRZ! in exchange for any countries that I do not yet have (which is most of them). I reserve the right to limit this offer to the first submitter of a given country, and to require that at least 1000 callsigns, total or aggregate if multiple countries, be submitted. If your country has less than 1000 callsigns, but is important, then send it to me anyway as I'll review them on a case by case basis. In addition, any ham software or shareware authors are invited to submit their programs for inclusion on the CD - at no charge. QRZ is a great publicity vehicle for your product, or your club or ham related organization. And finally, SEND ME YOUR CLUB CALLSIGN LISTINGS! If you're a member of a radio club which has its own callsign, please send me the following information so that I can place it into the database: Callsign, Name, Address, License Class, Issue Date, Expiration Date There is no charge for submitting these listings. We would get them from the FCC but they don't seem to keep them on their computer. P.S. Please don't send me any data taken from the Buckmaster CDROM. If you have questions or need more info contact: flloyd@qrz.com For an automatic e-mail reply about the QRZ! CDROM send a blank message to: info@qrz.com Thanks, -fred -- -------------------------------------------------------------------------- | Fred Lloyd, AA7BQ - Author, QRZ! Ham Radio CDROM - flloyd@qrz.com| -------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ Date: 20 Mar 94 04:08:17 GMT From: dog.ee.lbl.gov!ihnp4.ucsd.edu!news.cerf.net!coyote.rain.org!coyote!leigh@ucbvax.berkeley.edu Subject: TX Amp for 20 mtrs QRP rigs. To: info-hams@ucsd.edu asirene@ntuvax.ntu.ac.sg writes: >Hi, > Need recommendation for a small TX amp kit which takes about 4 watts output from my QRP rig and puts out 20-30 watts with >built in T-R switching (preferably solid-state T-R) and runs off 12-13.8v DC power supply. Must be small so I can fit it into my >existing rig's casing. Should be something similar to the QAMP-20 from Ramsey Hobby kits. BTW, this is for 20 meters. Tks. >73, >Daniel Daniel, if you stumble upon a small CB ampflier, you might try using it with your 20 meter QRP rig. Many of these amps are very broad banded, if sometimes somwhat dirty. I know of a local ham who sometimes steps up his 5 watt Ten Tec rig to about 50 watts on 40 meters, using a CB amp. --Leigh/KM6JE. ------------------------------ Date: 19 Mar 94 23:38:33 GMT From: yale.edu!noc.near.net!news.delphi.com!BIX.com!hamilton@yale.arpa To: info-hams@ucsd.edu References <2m58sq$12hg@watnews1.watson.ibm.com>, <2mfkd6$8p4@apple.com>, <19MAR94.18754189.0121@UNBVM1.CSD.UNB.CA> Subject : Re: FT-990 vs TS-850 NADO000 <NADO@UNB.CA> writes: >I don't think one should pick a radio just on looks. I have an >850S-AT with the optional 1.8 SSB filter and enjoy a lot of low band >work (160 and 75m) I tried a friend's Yeasu 890AT for two weeks, >side by side, using a Daiwa switch in reverse and did a lot of >*listening* (as opposed to *seeing*) switching rapidly from one >radio to the next. The Kenwood 850 is a lot "noisier", i.e., the >human voice is not clearly separated from the background noise, >unless you cut back considerably on the RF gain. With the Yeasu, it >is seldom necessary to play with the RF gain. >A friend has both the Yeasu 757 and a Kenwood 440AT and he confirms >the same findings. The Yeasu is more pleasant to listen to and most >of us do a lot more listening than talking. My next rig is likely to >be a Yeasu. >The above impression is about SSB reception only. I have not tried >anything else really. ... I have an FT-990 that I bought about 2 months ago after a *lot* of time spent soliciting opinions, reading reviews (if you're thinking of buying a radio and haven't yet bought the two volumes of collected QST reviews that the ARRL offers, you should!), and sitting in front of the units I was considering at the local Ham Radio Outlet. I'm _very_ pleased with the 990. I haven't tried transmitting anything yet (I just took and passed my Novice, Tech, General and Advanced tests about 5 weeks ago and am still waiting for my ticket) but have spent a lot of time listening. I'll confirm that the the 990 is a very pleasant radio to listen to. On CW, it's terrific. The built-in audio filters allow you to zero right in on a signal. Regards, Doug Hamilton hamilton@bix.com Ph 508-358-5715 Hamilton Laboratories, 13 Old Farm Road, Wayland, MA 01778-3117 ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 19 Mar 1994 21:21:53 GMT From: ihnp4.ucsd.edu!swrinde!gatech!howland.reston.ans.net!torn!csd.unb.ca!UNBVM1.CSD.UNB.CA@network.ucsd.edu To: info-hams@ucsd.edu References <2m4sff$423@doc.cc.utexas.edu>, <2m58sq$12hg@watnews1.watson.ibm.com>, <2mfkd6$8p4@apple.com> Subject : Re: FT-990 vs TS-850 In article <2mfkd6$8p4@apple.com> kchen@apple.com (Kok Chen) writes: >>didn't give me a single problem, nor to anybody of my >>friends, who seeing my 990 chose to buy similar rig ^^^^^^^^^^ I don't think one should pick a radio just on looks. I have an 850S-AT with the optional 1.8 SSB filter and enjoy a lot of low band work (160 and 75m) I tried a friend's Yeasu 890AT for two weeks, side by side, using a Daiwa switch in reverse and did a lot of *listening* (as opposed to *seeing*) switching rapidly from one radio to the next. The Kenwood 850 is a lot "noisier", i.e., the human voice is not clearly separated from the background noise, unless you cut back considerably on the RF gain. With the Yeasu, it is seldom necessary to play with the RF gain. A friend has both the Yeasu 757 and a Kenwood 440AT and he confirms the same findings. The Yeasu is more pleasant to listen to and most of us do a lot more listening than talking. My next rig is likely to be a Yeasu. The above impression is about SSB reception only. I have not tried anything else really. To be fair, the 850SAT is a little better at avoiding strong QRM, but in practice this was not very important, through the 2 weeks I tried both rigs. The 850SAT is also a quicker rig to utilize and its tuner is faster. My 2 year-old rig has not had a single problem since I bought it new. Luis Nadeau VE9LN >. ------------------------------ End of Info-Hams Digest V94 #309 ****************************** ****************************** 
