QRZ! Ham Radio 4/QRZ Ham Radio Callsign Database - Volume 4.iso/digests/infoham/941178.txt

Internet Message Format | 1994-11-13 | 25.1 KB

Date: Tue,  1 Nov 94 20:29:51 PST
From: Info-Hams Mailing List and Newsgroup <[e-mail]>
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Subject: Info-Hams Digest V94 #1178
To: Info-Hams


Info-Hams Digest            Tue,  1 Nov 94       Volume 94 : Issue 1178

Today's Topics:
                     "Re: Packet Cluster Author"
                              AEA PK-900
                          Alinco DJ-180 mod.
                   Basic Primer for Electronics???
                             Call Sign ID
                   CHIPSWITCH upgrade for HR2600 ?
                      Computer Controlled Rigs.
                         Farnsworth question
                               HAMCOMM
                    Loss of RG214U cable at 1500M
                           Motorola Syntors
                  No License to Extra Leap? (3 msgs)
                 OH2BH's Book "Where do we go next?"
                   Re: CW Learning: Going slow. : (
                      Soldering iron - how hot?
                    WTB Motorola Mitrek's (2 msgs)

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Archives of past issues of the Info-Hams Digest are available
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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: 2 Nov 94 00:51:38 GMT
From: [e-mail] (Robert Carpenter)
Subject: "Re: Packet Cluster Author"

Enough, ENOUGH !!!!  Thanks to all for leading me to AK1A as the author of
Packet Cluster software.

Bob Carpenter

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

Date: 1 Nov 1994 18:52:00 GMT
From: [e-mail] (Bob Levine)
Subject: AEA PK-900

In article [e-mail], [e-mail] (Ken Fredstrom) writes:
-->Does anyone know if the pk-900 can send SSTV and if so what program do you use
-->to do so.  I have a copy of jvfax version 7 and it receives SSTV and FAX just
-->great but wont send either one of them and I know the pk-900 can send fax.


Ive been looking for the same for send or receive.  The PK900 mentions it
does SSTV but Ive yet to see any software for it for that mode.

Is jvfax a commercial program or can it be obtained by FTP from
somewhere for rx sstv on the PK900?


---
------------------------------------------------------------
Bob Levine  KD1GG 7J1AIS VK2GYN               formerly KA1JFP
[e-mail]   <--Internet email    Phone[phone] x247
[e-mail] <--Packet Mail         FAX[phone]
------------------------------------------------------------

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

Date: 1 Nov 94 15:00:17 CST
From: [e-mail] (Mark Olson  {x68218 CF/ENG})
Subject: Alinco DJ-180 mod.

Hello All,

Would someone steer me toward the modification to the Alinco DJ-180 handheld that
opens up TX on 150 MHz?  I want to use this with partners business band radios.

Thanks in advance,

Ole
e-mail [e-mail]
Keywords:

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

Date: Mon, 31 Oct 1994 21:51:26 GMT
From: [e-mail] (Mark A Lilly)
Subject: Basic Primer for Electronics???

[ Article crossposted from sci.electronics,alt.energy.renewable ]
[ Author was Mark A Lilly ]
[ Posted on Mon, 31 Oct 1994 00:21:48 GMT ]

Hi,

I'm a total novice about electricity and electronics (despite college
physics classes), and i'm wondering if anyone knows a basic primer on
the 'net that might help me advance my knowledge.  I want to know what
voltage is, and what amps are, and how they relate, and what watts
mean, and how i can understand them pragmatically.  I eventually want
to build solar powered energy sytems into my house (when i get one) so
i figure it best to start learning now.

Thanks,

Mark
--
I hope you hear many blessed voices in the wilderness.
--
I hope you hear many blessed voices in the wilderness.

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

Date: 30 Oct 1994 09:42:55 GMT
From: [e-mail] (Teh Aik Wen)
Subject: Call Sign ID

In article <38hqas$[e-mail]>,
John Hughes <[e-mail]> wrote:

>Is it appropriate or not to state a call with a double letter (i.e., xy8ppq)
> as xy8 double pq?  An older Ham indicated this was not proper.  Seems minor, with all the imaginative phonetics heard and people who say zed for the z in thei
>in their calls...which is supposed to be some fancy british pronunciation?
>What does the group think?

I don't think it's very 'proper' as it could be subject to misintepration.

I would take 'xy8 double pq' as either of the following...

xy8dpq
xy8pqpq

It really depends on how the other party understands what you're trying to
say... Why confuse 'em?

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

Date: Tue, 1 Nov 1994 21:49:42 GMT
From: [e-mail] (John Mcleod)
Subject: CHIPSWITCH upgrade for HR2600 ?

  Are there any users of the CHIPSWITCH cpu upgrade for the Uniden HR2600 ?
I was tempted to buy one, but having looked at the (64pin ?) cpu that must
be removed, I was scared off. Any experiences/observations of this ??

John Mcleod N6RCD.

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

Date: 1 Nov 94 13:47:32 CST
From: [e-mail] (Russell P. Starksen)
Subject: Computer Controlled Rigs.

I am looking to upgrade to a computer controlled rig.  Not knowing what's out
there I'm seeking the net's wisdom.  I have a shareware
version of hyperlog that talks about a bunch of different that support
computer interfacing.

Do all rigs let you change the frequency from the computer?
Are there any radios that are easier to hookup to than others?

I'm  also looking for input on cw, memory keyers and rotator control
software/hardware ....etc.... the whole 9 yards!

Thanks!
Russ
[e-mail]

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

Date: 1 Nov 94 22:21:26 GMT
From: [e-mail] (Byon Garrabrant)
Subject: Farnsworth question

Farnsworth question

  Sending "PARIS " involves the sending of 10 dits, 4 dahs, 9 spaces
bewteen marks in a character, 4 spaces between characters, and 1 space
between words.  At 1 unit of time for a dit, 2 for a dah, 1 for
spaces between marks in a charater, 3 for spaces between characters,
and 7 for spaces between words, this amounts for 50 units of time per
"word".  Therefore, for an exactly "5 words per minute" Morse Code
transmission, there should be 250 of these time units per minute, so
each time unit, or the length of each dit, is 240 ms.  And a 13 wpm
message has 650 time units per minute, or 92.3 ms per dit.

  Does a Fransworth speed of 13 wpm when giving a 5 wpm code test
mean that the dits, dahs, and spaces between marks inside a character
are set as if the test was a perfect 13 wpm test, and the other two
spaces are set as if it were a 5 wpm test?  Or, should the timing of
the between letter spaces and the between word spaces be set as if
giving a 2.5 wpm test such that the overall speed is 5 wpm?

---------------------------------------------------------------------
Byon Garrabrant              KD6BCH              [e-mail]

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

Date: 2 Nov 1994 00:07:25 GMT
From: David Spoelstra <[e-mail]>
Subject: HAMCOMM

In article <[e-mail]> Hernan Moya,
[e-mail] writes:

>Somebody know if the program HAMCOMM have a new version I have version
2.0

You can ftp version 3.0 from oak.oakland.edu in
/pub/hamradio/pc/digital/utils/hamcom30.exe

-David  N9PGH

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

Date: 1 Nov 1994 17:52:20 GMT
From: [e-mail] (Simon Kwan)
Subject: Loss of RG214U cable at 1500M



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

Date: 1 Nov 1994 10:30:23 -0800
From: [e-mail] (Matthew Zilmer (&))
Subject: Motorola Syntors

I have seen some interest here in Moto Syntors.  These radios are and
have been hitting the streets in the salvage market.  I've bought
several for UHF - these were Range II, 450-470 MHz - and put them into
amateur service.  As several comments indicated, they are quite
rugged and built to last.

Early on with the Syntor, I gave in to solving the frequency and PL
PROM puzzles.  It took some finagling around, alot of trial and
error, but finally the puzzle is solved.  Seems to work for both
VHF and UHF radios, but just the plain vanilla Syntor.  Haven't
finished reversing the Syntor X / 9000 family of PROMs yet.

I did a prototype freq control head on an Augat board, using an
8051, keyboard, LCD display and various TTL jellybeans.  Right now,
this proto head runs my 2m packet station.  I'm giving serious
thought to making a kit or perhaps finished control head available
but just for the amateur 440 MHz and 144 Mhz bands.  Not sure yet,
but it might be worthwhile to offer out of band receive, though
the Syntor's preselector bandwidth may prevent this from being
very useful.

I started in on the Syntor X PROM format and encoding a month or
so ago and expect to have (at least VHF) results by the end of
the year.  The X has a much wider front end on receive and is a
complete makeover of the Syntor.  For one thing, it uses a cheap
microcontroller to do most everything, including PL encode.

I am just wondering how much, if any, interest there is out
there for this sort of item.  If so, please post here, or if
you want privacy, email [e-mail].

-73-
Matt Zilmer, WA6EGJ

!#$%--- Tagline destroyed by Jan. 1994 earthquake ---%$#!

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

Date: Tue, 1 Nov 1994 11:56:58
From: [e-mail] (Brian C.)
Subject: No License to Extra Leap?

In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail] (T.J. Alessi) writes:
.
>Arthur Chandler ([e-mail]) wrote:
>:  Has there ever been anyone who walked into a licensing examination with
>: no license at all, passed everything, and walked out amateur extra? If
>: not, what's the biggest leap anyone has heard of? I took someone to an
>: exam site, and he went from Tech + to Advanced in one leap -- passed the
>: 13 wpm, general, advanced, and even the extra exam. Couldn't quite handle
>: the 20 wpm, however.

Yes . A friend of mine walked into a VE testing site a few years ago, never
had a ham ticket, passed all the elements for extra in one sitting. His
background was computer science and electrical engineering.

Brian AE9K

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

Date: 1 Nov 1994 19:20:16 GMT
From: [e-mail] (John F. Woods)
Subject: No License to Extra Leap?

[e-mail] (Arthur Chandler) writes:
> Has there ever been anyone who walked into a licensing examination with
>no license at all, passed everything, and walked out amateur extra? If
>not, what's the biggest leap anyone has heard of? I took someone to an
>exam site, and he went from Tech + to Advanced in one leap -- passed the
>13 wpm, general, advanced, and even the extra exam. Couldn't quite handle
>the 20 wpm, however.

Way back when I was getting started, I managed to go from Novice to Advanced
in one step (I *think* this (1976) was before Tech got its own written exam,
though, so that was roughly the same step, I guess).  I aced the 20WPM code
test, but hadn't bothered studying for the Extra written since I hadn't
believed that I'd ever get to 20WPM when I started studying in earnest for
the Advanced.  Oh, yeah, the other bit:  I had had my Novice ticket only
about 4 months when I took the Advanced.

(Of course, it then took 18 years to get around to actually taking the Extra,
which I passed recently.  Oh, I guess that means it's time for the obligatory
FCC Delay Watch comment:  it has been roughly 2,690,100 seconds since I passed
the exam.  :-)

73, John, WB7EEL

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

Date: Mon, 31 Oct 1994 20:01:59 GMT
From: [e-mail] (Gary Coffman)
Subject: No License to Extra Leap?

In article <392v9d$[e-mail]> [e-mail] (Arthur Chandler) writes:
> Has there ever been anyone who walked into a licensing examination with
>no license at all, passed everything, and walked out amateur extra? If
>not, what's the biggest leap anyone has heard of? I took someone to an
>exam site, and he went from Tech + to Advanced in one leap -- passed the
>13 wpm, general, advanced, and even the extra exam. Couldn't quite handle
>the 20 wpm, however.

I don't suppose this counts, but one of the MIR cosmonauts passed everything
but the 20 WPM code at one sitting when he was visiting the Space Symposium.
He had to handle the exam in English too. Since he only qualified for Advanced,
I guess he can't operate a station in space. Gotta have that high speed
Morse in orbit. :-(

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

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

Date: 31 Oct 1994 06:47:49 -0500
From: [e-mail] (Michael Christie)
Subject: OH2BH's Book "Where do we go next?"

I ordered mine through CQ MAGAZINE [1-800-853-9797] several months
ago. It was on sale for around $18.00 + shipping.

It is well worth reading. 73,

Michael Christie, K7RLS/4
Crawfordville, Florida

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

Date: Tue, 1 Nov 1994 18:56:57 GMT
From: [e-mail] (Bruno Bienenfeld)
Subject: Re: CW Learning: Going slow. : (

Ability to copy CW is inverse proportional to the IQ of the operator !!!

I KNOW since I can copy 45wpm grups or plain

from the log of AA6AD

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

Date: Mon, 31 Oct 1994 21:25:54 GMT
From: [e-mail] (Gary Coffman)
Subject: Soldering iron - how hot?

In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail] (Chris Thomas) writes:
>With the availability of temperature controlled and lately, digitally
>selectable tip temperature soldering irons, what temperature should
>I use for common operations like working on printed circuit boards
>or soldering RG-8 coax connectors?

Tip temperature should never exceed 398 C (748 F). Lower tip temperatures
can be used, down to about 500 F, for small PC boards. The key thing
you have to vary is *heat transfer capacity*. Heat and temperature are
two different things (like voltage and current). To get more heat flow
at a given temperature, you use a bigger tip. To work with heavy ground
planes or large connectors and cables, you need a lot of thermal mass
in the iron, IE a fat bit, so that maximum heat transfer can take place
without cooling the tip excessively. If you try to increase heat transfer
by raising the temperature in a small bit, you run the risk of delaminating
PC traces, or melting insulation in cables, because the whole work will
have time to heat up before soldering temperature is reached at the joint,
IE heat transfer *through* the work is faster than through the tip.
What you want is *fast* heat transfer to raise the object to be soldered
to the melting point of solder (roughly 462 F for eutectic mixtures),
without getting the temperature so high that you risk delamination. A
big bit does that best.

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

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

Date: 1 Nov 1994 17:17:09 GMT
From: [e-mail] (Dana Myers)
Subject: WTB Motorola Mitrek's

In article [e-mail],  [e-mail] (Jeffrey Herman) writes:
>In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail] (Dale Piedfort) writes:
>>Looking for Motorola Mitrek Radios in the 420 to 430 MHZ range, units
>>need to be complete with cables and control heads Need at least six of
>>them.  E-mail with condition and cost, will pay shipping as needed.
>>[e-mail]  tnx
>
>Mitreks, 450-470 MHz, 35W: $295, with accessories, reconditioned,
>from Tele-Path Corporation, 800-292-1700.
>
>Jeff NH6IL

Well, be careful.  If Dale really wants UHF Low-split radios, then he really
should try to get UHF Low-split radios.  Reason being the helical resonator
front ends in most commercial gear has a limited tuning range.  Also, there
are L/C components that are frequency sensitive, but these are often pretty
easy to change; most Motorola service literature has charts of radio range
versus component values.  The helical resonators are much more difficult to
change, though.  I'll tune a radio out of range, as long as all the tuned
circuits "peak", but a 450MHz radio is pretty unlikely to tune down to
430MHz.  The more you dink with the radio, the more you relinquish one
of the greatest assets of commercial gear; ruggedness :-).

$300 for a recond UHF Mitrek ain't bad in the commercial realm, but try
calling John Lansdell, [phone].  His prices are extremely competitive
especially to amateurs who are willing to test/repair the equipment.  I bought
a cherry Low-band Mitrek with control group for $50 from him.  He's got a
lot of good stuff, and it turns over quickly; call him every month and find
out what the hot deal is currently.

---
 * Dana H. Myers KK6JQ, DoD#: j | Views expressed here are      *
 * [phone]               | mine and do not necessarily   *
 * [e-mail]      | reflect those of my employer  *
 * "Antenna waves be burnin' up my radio" -- ZZ Top                *

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

Date: Fri, 28 Oct 1994 14:53:16 GMT
From: [e-mail] (Dale Piedfort)
Subject: WTB Motorola Mitrek's

Looking for Motorola Mitrek Radios in the 420 to 430 MHZ range, units
need to be complete with cables and control heads Need at least six of
them.  E-mail with condition and cost, will pay shipping as needed.
[e-mail]  tnx

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

Date: 1 Nov 1994 12:45:12 -0500
From: [e-mail] (Steve Steinberg)

References<389n39$[e-mail]> <[e-mail]>, <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: NoCal OO goes after Packet BULLetins


Gary Coffman has hit it on the head.  Let me add my $.02:


The intent of the packet message is not one way but is to solicit
a reply, just like a CQ, except that it is not real-time.  Any packet
message not intended to solicit a reply, and that does not relate
solely to ham use is a broadcast and is not permitted.

For example a notice about the NY Cookie Eaters Assoc. meeting in
Mrs Fields restaurant on 6th Avenue is a broadcast and is NG since
it is not solely for ham use.

Notice about the Cookie Eaters Net on 40m is for ham use and is OK,
in my humble opinion.  Also notice of the XYZ Amateur Radio Club
meeting in a restaurant on 6th avenue is also OK.  This is similar
to W1AW one-way xmissions.

A message asking if there are any cookie nets on 40m or asking when
the next NY Cookie Eaters Assoc. meetings is is also ok since it
is soliciting a reply.  This is like the start of any net, or a CQ,
or the "Are there any base stations to handle emergency traffic" call:
a one-way xmission soliciting a reply.

BTW: I too like cookies :-)
--
   ////////////////////////////////\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\
  //  Steve Steinberg             Radio Amateur Callsign: kb2rve  \\
  \\  Internet: [e-mail]     Packet: kb2rve@ny2s.#nli.ny.usa.na  //
   \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\////////////////////////////////

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

Date: Mon, 31 Oct 1994 21:10:16 GMT
From: [e-mail] (Gary Coffman)

References<[e-mail]> <[e-mail]>, <[e-mail]>
Reply-To: [e-mail] (Gary Coffman)
Subject: Re: Motorola Mitreks

In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail] (Jeffrey Herman) writes:
>[e-mail] (Gary Coffman) writes:
>
>>What you don't seem to realize, Jeff, is that the 450-470 Motos
>>are *different* from the 420 models. There are several changes
>>that must be done to the transmit and receive decks to move them
>>that far which are *not* trivial. Hence your pointer is not too
>>helpful.
>
>So Mitreks are made-to-order for 420 MHz? I didn't realize Motorola
>made their redios available on the ham frequencies. I assumed he
>was looking for an already converted 450-470 model but if the
>price was right he'd do the converting himself.

Yep, they're different. Moto (and GE) made models that cover
406-420, 420-450, and 450-470. The 450-470 units can be pulled
down into 440-450, but they won't make 420 without serious
modifications to the front end. Same with the GEs. They use
diecast aluminum helical resonators and they won't tune low
enough. You can take either of the lower frequency models
and pull them *up* fairly easily.

The 420-450 radios aren't made specifically for the ham market.
They were made for overseas markets where that spectrum is
commercial or government.

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

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

Date: Mon, 31 Oct 1994 20:15:15 GMT
From: [e-mail] (Gary Coffman)

References<[e-mail]> <[e-mail]>, <[e-mail]>
Reply-To: [e-mail] (Gary Coffman)
Subject: Re: Subject: W1AW steps on others?

In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail] (Zack Lau (KH6CP)) writes:
>Gary Coffman KE4ZV ([e-mail]) wrote:
>: >
>: >Not true.  While it is illegal to intentionally interfere with other
>: >transmissions, there is no legal requirement to listen before transmiting.
>: >If you disagree, then cite the regulation.  (It doesn't exist.)
>
>: I believe this is covered under 97.101(a) and (d) in that good amateur
>: practice (mandated in (a)) involves listening before transmitting to
>: avoid (d).
>
>Does this mean you listen on your satellite uplink before transmitting?
>
>Particularly with satellites like Oscar 13, the bird is by no means
>sensitive enough to pick up low power local stations that would be
>quite loud if you were to listen.  Thus, listening on the satellite
>downlink is no guarantee that you won't interfere with others.

That's absolutely right, and I do listen on the uplink before transmitting.
Several times I've heard simplex FM QSOs going on. I've politely broken
the QSO and asked them to respect the satellite subband. A couple of them
have told me to get stuffed, so I just QSY down the passband a bit and
go about my business. I do *not* have the right to transmit over an
on going QSO, and neither does W1AW.

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

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

Date: Tue, 1 Nov 1994 21:26:06 GMT
From: [e-mail] (Zack Lau (KH6CP))

References<[e-mail]> <391qu3$[e-mail]>, <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Israel Radio Traffic

John Boudreau VE8EV ([e-mail]) wrote:
: In article <391qu3$[e-mail]> [e-mail] (Mark D. Conner) writes:
: >
: >Geosynchronous weather satellites can barely cover 160 degrees at
: >22,300 miles away.  Do any of the Oscar sats even come close to that
: >altitude?  My impression that their apogees are at best on the order
: >of 1000-2000 mi.
: >--
: >Mark D. Conner  - N9XTN

: Amsat-Oscar 13 reaches altitudes in excess of 27,000 miles at apogee.
: Two-way contacts are possible between any two points on earth depending on the
: orbit/schedule of the satellite at the time.  LA to Israel is a pretty
: easy hop.  No CW required - but "true Techs" only please; appliance operators
: need not apply :-)

Looks like it will be possible next January 2nd.

Interestingly, the "typical footprint" on page 74 of the Satellite
Anthology shows that a LAX to Israel hop is possible
with the satellite over the Baltic sea.

BTW, Los Angeles stations please use use LAX instead
of LA in this weekend's CW Sweepstakes--less confusion
with Lousianna section. Rules on p. 125 of the October QST.


--
Zack Lau  KH6CP/1           2 way QRP WAS
                           8 States on 10 GHz
Internet: [e-mail]   10 grids on 2304 MHz

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

End of Info-Hams Digest V94 #1178
******************************