QRZ! Ham Radio 5/QRZ Ham Radio Callsign Database - Volume 5.iso/digests/infoham/940161.txt

Internet Message Format | 1994-11-13 | 27KB

Date: Wed, 16 Feb 94 12:12:15 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 #161
To: Info-Hams


Info-Hams Digest            Wed, 16 Feb 94       Volume 94 : Issue  161

Today's Topics:
              "Flexible" 9913 (Was - Re: Coaxial cable)
                     ARLP006 Propagation de KT7H
                        CELLULAR SURVEILLANCE
                 Copying High-Speed CW:  Print or Scr
                             Hosstraders
                       I8YGZ callbook address?
                    Keyboards at testing sessions
                         Nude QSL or HAMFEST?
                   Peter Jones Engineering address?

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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: Thu, 10 Feb 1994 13:33:05 GMT
From: ucsnews!newshub.sdsu.edu!usc!howland.reston.ans.net!math.ohio-state.edu!darwin.sura.net!perot.mtsu.edu!raider!theporch!jackatak![e-mail]
Subject: "Flexible" 9913 (Was - Re: Coaxial cable)
To: [e-mail]

[e-mail] (Cecil Moore) writes:
> Steve Bunis SE Southwest Chicago ([e-mail]) wrote:
> : > Some other things to keep in mind about 9913. Remember that you'll need
> : > special UHF N connectors if you plan on using the cable for UHF
> : > applications.
Some hams think they are special because of the price... actually,
their best purpose is that they are EASIER to install than to properly
install PL-259, *AND* they are weatherproof.

> : Also, regarding the N connectors, at what point do they start making
> : a discernible difference?  I thought that NMO was supposed to do well
> : at least past the 70cm. band. -- Steve Bunis
The NMO is a mounting mechanism for antennas (mobile) and is NOT a
connector type. NMO is preferred for most all VHF/UHF mobile
applications, including Cell Phone at 875MHz.

> My dual-band 2x4MAX Comet has an so239 connector on it. Just how bad
> is a pl259 connection on UHF?
I should probably let Al, N1AL repost his excellent post from a year
ago, but he used good equipment (beyond what the avergae ham has
access to) and discovered that the PL-259 was worthy of the name "UHF
connector" well into the Gigahertz region... The superiority of the
"N" connector is mostly because to solder a PL-259 *PROPERLY* is
really a sunuvabitch, whereas making good "N" connector junctions is
only dependent on measureing carefully and understanding the process.
(VERY good article in 73 mag... May '93, I think...)

> Should I use an N to so239 adapter? I
> use 9913 on HF with pl259s and some copper tape.
Perhaps the PL-259 connectors are leaking into the 9913 cable. Not a
good situation... the adapter isn't gonna help that... the "N"
connector will, however... I use'em in my mobile HF... not for loss,
but for ease and weather-proofing... no environment is worse than
mobiling, especially this time of year!
73,
Jack, W4PPT/Mobile (75M SSB 2-letter WAS #1657 -- all from the mobile! ;^)

+--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--+
| Jack GF Hill        |Voice: [phone] -             Ham Call: W4PPT |
| P. O. Box 1685      |Modem: [phone] -  Bicycling and SCUBA Diving |
| Brentwood, TN  37024|Fax:   [phone] -          Life Member - ARRL |
| [e-mail]  -   "Plus ca change, plus c'est la meme chose" |
+--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--+

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

Date: Mon, 14 Feb 1994 06:34:59 -0700
From: agate!howland.reston.ans.net!wupost!gumby!destroyer!nntp.cs.ubc.ca!alberta!ve6mgs![e-mail]
Subject: ARLP006 Propagation de KT7H
To: [e-mail]

SB PROP @ ARL $ARLP006
ARLP006 Propagation de KT7H

ZCZC AP20
QST de W1AW
Propagation Forecast Bulletin 6  ARLP006

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

Date: 15 Feb 1994 17:31:34 GMT
From: gulfaero.com!vixen.cso.uiuc.edu!howland.reston.ans.net!cs.utexas.edu!swrinde!sgiblab!sgigate.sgi.com!olivea!ncd.com!newshost.ncd.com!hansen.ncd.com![e-mail]
Subject: CELLULAR SURVEILLANCE
To: [e-mail]

So what does it do?

In article <[e-mail]>, [e-mail] writes:
|>
|> 94-02-14
|>
|> Finally, as the result of the efforts of a number of Internet gurus,
|> we're able to tell you how to download a demo copy of the software
|> that controls our Cellular Surveillance Interface, via e-mail.  The
|> program is entitled CELLDEMO.ZIP

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

Date: 16 Feb 1994 12:45:37 GMT
From: agate!news.Brown.EDU!noc.near.net!news.delphi.com![e-mail]
Subject: Copying High-Speed CW:  Print or Scr
To: [e-mail]

>Gilbert Baron ([e-mail]) wrote:
>: ,LT
>: >A mailing I read is involved in a comparision of the speeds of
>: >printing and cursive writing.  I decided to consult some experts.
>: >So, all you high-speed CW ops, which do _you_ use?
>: >
>: >
>: >73,
>: >mag
>: >
>: >--
>: >Michael A. Gauland    [e-mail]
>: >AA7JF            [phone]
>: >
>: Printing is not feasabile above 25 WPM. You must learn to use cursive.
>
>:                    Gil Baron, El Baron Rojo, W0MN Rochester,MN
>:                    "Bailar es Vivir"
>:                    PGP2.3 key at key servers or upon request
>
>
>
>
>If you want to learn to receive cw for conversation, forget writing any of
it
>down. You then need to think of words, not letters.
>--
>
>Doug Snowden
>[e-mail]
>N4IJ
>
>
>
I agree with that, however if you wish to prove your speed in any test or
competition then you must transcribe in some way. It may be typwriter or
cursive or what have you but it must be done. I would not say it is
impossible, one guy at least has done it at soething like 78 wpm.


                   Gil Baron, El Baron Rojo, W0MN Rochester,MN
                   "Bailar es Vivir"
                   PGP2.3 key at key servers or upon request

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

Date: 16 Feb 94 18:24:52 GMT
From: [e-mail]
Subject: Hosstraders
To: [e-mail]

Could someone please post the dates for this year's Hosstraders Hamfest in
Rochester, NH?

Ron Rossi

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

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

Date: Wed, 16 Feb 1994 05:35:23 GMT
From: library.ucla.edu!csulb.edu!csus.edu!netcom.com![e-mail]
Subject: I8YGZ callbook address?
To: [e-mail]

I wonder if some kind individual would take a look/see at the
international callbook and let me know the address for
I8YGZ.  I understand he is QSL manager for ER7Z whom I *think*
is/was a Moldovan (RO/UO) station.

Please reply to my e-mail address:   [e-mail]

I will remove this posting upon receiving a reply.  Thanks.
73 de Sandy  WA6BXH/7J1ABV   WA6BXH@N0ARY    [e-mail]

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

Date: 16 Feb 1994 18:32:31 GMT
From: library.ucla.edu!agate!howland.reston.ans.net!europa.eng.gtefsd.com!news.umbc.edu!haven.umd.edu!cville-srv.wam.umd.edu![e-mail]
Subject: Keyboards at testing sessions
To: [e-mail]

Patrick Tatro <[e-mail]> wrote:
>
>Would the VEC's kick me out if I brought a laptop to a code test session or
>should I wait until my paper speed catches up to my keyboard speed?
>
>Opinions requested.

While I wouldn't kick you out, I don't know how others would feel.  In my
opinion, how you transcribe your code is your business, not anyone else's.
If you have to have a laptop there to copy, so be it.  But you'd better be
able to show me the difference between an AR, SK, BT, and DN prosign.
Obviously, BT would be like "--" and DN would be "/".  But how about SK
and AR?

What if your battery were to run out on you?

Scott NF3I  I've seen KK3F do 40 wpm on a BRAILLE keyboard with perfect
copy for minutes at a time.


--
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: 16 Feb 1994 17:53:32 GMT
From: agate!spool.mu.edu!howland.reston.ans.net!math.ohio-state.edu!magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu![e-mail]
Subject: Nude QSL or HAMFEST?
To: [e-mail]

In article <gdavis.761414723@griffin>,
Gary Davis <[e-mail]> wrote:

>I guess in american society, which will not allow nudism on TV or even
>the press, why should I be surprised if most licensed hams equate nude
>bodies with sex .....

Has the ARRL done a survey on this?  I think we need some data.

.................and if you don't have the body of a greek God, for
>God's sake keep your clothes on.

Words to live by, Lloyd.  Words To Live By.

---Bill VanHorne

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

Date: Tue, 15 Feb 94 08:40:01 GMT
From: mnemosyne.cs.du.edu!nyx10![e-mail]
Subject: Peter Jones Engineering address?
To: [e-mail]

I'm looking for the mailing address for Peter Jones Engineering, a
British company that manufactures straight keys and keyer paddles.

Thanks and cheerio,
Eric - N0MWG
--
[e-mail]    73 de Eric
Amateur Radio: [e-mail]

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

Date: 15 Feb 1994 16:46:12 GMT
From: gulfaero.com!vixen.cso.uiuc.edu!howland.reston.ans.net!math.ohio-state.edu!news.acns.nwu.edu!casbah.acns.nwu.edu![e-mail]
To: [e-mail]

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

In article <[e-mail]>,  <[e-mail]> wrote:
>Jon Bloom (KE3Z) <[e-mail]> writes:
>
>>harmonic spectral purity requirements.) They promised to send us one of
>>the new units as soon as it became available.  (Normally, we only
>>*purchase* Product Review items, but we decided that it would be hard
>>for them to fine-tune a kit :-)
>>   We waited a couple of months, then called Ramsey.  To make a long
>>story short, we called *every* couple of months, but we never received
>>the promised radio.  Finally, we just bought one (through a third
>>party).  This is the unit we reviewed.  In March of 1993, we contacted
>
>And one wonders why we don't advertise in QST, it's the attitude of
>history re-writers such as J.B. I was there, and the facts just ain't so.
>I'd rather talk on the phone! But I had to respond to such talk. You see, the
>ARRL couldn't get their kit to work! So we sent them an assembled unit.

I do not know how you read this, but to me it looks like bad news for
buildability of Ramsey Kits.  And now imagine an average John Q. Ham
with a 200 watt soldering gun and acid core solder. :)

-------------------------------READ-------------------------------------
Disclaimer:  The following remarks apply to a version of the 2m
transceiver kit purchased more than two years ago.  Since we are talking
history here, I think I had tell you a short version of my story.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

I do not know about ARRL, but let me tell ya.  My club purchased a kit in
Oct or Nov 1991.  I was elected to put it together and I did.  But I had
lots of difficulty in getting it to work.  For a variety of reasons some
of which are detailed below.  I was not the only one having difficulty.
For a while there were a number of people, including me, exchanging regular
postings on internet.  I helped a couple of local hams too.

And why did I have difficulty?

i) For starters, I had difficulty getting all the parts.  The kit had a
packet of critical capacitors for the tuned sections missing.  Called and got
a packet but not the one I had requested.  I took a whole month before
I had the parts.

ii) Partly because the crystals were of wrong load pf.  I spent oodles of
time debugging the circuit and after narrowing it down to the crystal, I
called a tech at Ramsey.  He told me about padding the crystal.  What upsets
me is that they
  1 knew about the problem,
  2 did not replace the crystal
  3 and did not even meet the minimum requirement of documenting the bug/fix
    so that I wouldn't spend all my time re-inventing the wheel

iii) Partly because the instructions are excruciatingly detailed in parts
  that matter little, such as bending and clipping resistor leads and are
  completely deficient in tune-up and alignment.  I will not forget the
  receiver alignment section: (after some step)
  (Approximately, I quote from memory...)

  >>> If you are satisfied then you are done.

  Heh! What if I am *not* satisfied?  Sorry, the instructions have ended.

I ended up using a signal generator and a high impedance impedance probe
to align the first stage of the receiver.  But before I could do that,
I had to replace the first mixer as it was kaput.  I should have come
with a protective ring but instead it was loose in a bag with a whole
bunch of parts.

iv) Tuning the transmitter to put out 4 to 6 watts and not run away with
spurs and parasitics took a long time and the setting was knife edge.

And so on.  I posted a lot and helped people a couple of years ago
using Internet. I do not have a copy of all the postings, but I am sure
they are archived somewhere.

The version I built was purchased more than two years ago by my club.  They
intended to use it for packet.  And so my remarks apply to that version.
We have since procured a Alinco Data RAdio and use that.

>Yes it did not meet the FCC specs for spurious - missing by about a db or
>two ( I'm at home and don't have notes handy). The ARRL missed the whole
>point of the kit which was to promote kit building, etc,etc. Now. I'm
>sure you are thinking, "but it didn't meet FCC!" True, but for a fascinating
>contrast, look at the GLOWING review of the MFJ regen receiver! Guess it
>doesn't spray RF.I do believe that MFJ has been quite a big QST advertiser, too.
>No, you'll not see a Ramsey ad in QST. It was years ago that I was approached
>by a QST ad director to advertise. He expounded how QST was looking out for the
>amateur, requiring test units before accepting ads. I responded that they had
>plenty of ad pages from DSI, a since defunct freq ctr mfg who sold trash and
>was openly taking $$ for products they had no intention of shipping! Of this is
>the virtue you speak? Well, DSI closed shop, took QST readers for hundreds of
>thousands of dollars and even stuck that nice old ad director too!
>Yes, I'm hot and seeing this kangoroo (sp?) court makes me long for my work-
>bench rather than this CRT. I don't have the luxury of getting paid to
>read and respond to everything here - but I do welcome phone calls to myself
>at the office [phone]. Just ask for me.

And mine is [phone] (off).
            [phone] (hm).

I do not know about others, but talking of follies and foibles of DSI and MFJ
does not make Ramsey kits seem any better in my mind.

Rajiv
aa9ch
[e-mail]

PS. I am moving to Rochester NY this summer.  Closer to home of Ramsey.

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

Date: 15 Feb 1994 16:36:13 GMT
From: koriel!newsworthy.West.Sun.COM!abyss.West.Sun.COM!pongo![e-mail]
To: [e-mail]

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

In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail] writes:
>Yes, I'm hot and seeing this kangoroo (sp?) court makes me long for my work-
>bench rather than this CRT. I don't have the luxury of getting paid to
>read and respond to everything here - but I do welcome phone calls to myself
>at the office [phone]. Just ask for me.

Well, I spent an hour of my phone bill calling John Ramsey, long distance.
John says he doesn't have the luxury of getting paid to read and
respond to everything here.  Aren't you self-employed, John?  I don't
have the luxury of spending time on the phone at long distance rates
to try and talk to vendors.  I buy the product, follow the directions
in the manual, and call it the way I see it.  This is called being a
consumer.  I quite nearly suggested at the time to John that he would
be well off spending $1k or so on good customer relations training,
if he'd listen.

By the way, be sure to read alt.radio.pirate; the FM-10 and AM-1 and the
broadband power amplifier (PA-1?) are very popular there.  No one
on that newsgroup ever picks on Ramsey kits. :-)

--
 * 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: (null)
From: (null)
SB PROP ARL ARLP006
ARLP006 Propagation de KT7H

Conditions have been severely disturbed since February 6 due to a
flare a few days prior.  Recurring coronal holes are keeping the
geomagnetic field jumping and this may continue for a few more days.
HF propagation has been disrupted and may not quiet down until after
mid-month.

Solar flux is rising, and should peak near 120 around February 22.
Flux will probably remain above 100 until March 6.

Sunspot Numbers from February 3 through 9 were 62, 75, 76, 71, 72,
85 and 64, with a mean of 72.1.  10.7 cm flux was 97.9, 95.3, 93,
95, 95.9, 95 and 101, with a mean of 96.2.

The path projection for this week is from Dallas, Texas to Tonga.
This is for February 15, assuming a flux of 105.

80 meters looks good from 0600 to 1330z, and 40 meters from 0530 to
1400.  30 meters should open from 0530 to 1500 and 20 meters from
0400 to 1030, with a possible additional opening around 1430.  17
meters should be good from 1730 to 0200, and 15 meters from 1800 to
0030.  12 meters should be open from 1900 to 0000, and 10 meters from
2000 to 2300.
NNNN
/EX

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

Date: 15 Feb 1994 03:47:20 -0500
From: ucsnews!newshub.sdsu.edu!usc!howland.reston.ans.net!news.intercon.com!digex.net!access3![e-mail]
To: [e-mail]

References <[e-mail]>, <bote.760946660@access1>, <[e-mail]>
Subject : Re: Medium range point-to-point digital links

[e-mail] (Gary Coffman) writes:
>[e-mail] (John Boteler) writes:
>>I have gotten a bug up my rear to configure our point-to-point
>>repeater linking system with digital paths ranging 20
>>to 40 miles apart.
>Well lets look at some numbers and see. Lets assume
>you want "broadcast" grade audio. That's a SNR of
>50 db.

I would likely find 35-40 db S/N to be acceptable,
considering that it would be consistent and additive
as it is now with analog links.

[ enlightening quantitative analysis trimmed ]

>Or we can abandon voice grade radios for the links and use purpose
>built digital radios with higher baud rates. If we take a 56 kb
>WA4DSY RF modem (GRAPES),

I am fortunate to live in the Washington, D.C. area,
the home of the AMRAD group. I understand they are renewing
interest and activity in digital point to point links
with the potential for a made-to-order band proposal
that I hear is in the works. The WA4DSY modem might
be a practical way to proceed.

>If we can settle for less than perfection, however, Motorola has
>a codec scheme that they claim can fit a digital voice signal in
>the same bandwidth as a NBFM voice signal, IE 20 KHz. It won't

This sounds worth investigating. I also heard through
the grapevine that one of the contenders in the
digital cellular telephony war has a one-chip voice
CODEC which might be useful.

>the SNR is going to be around 27 db. It should be noted that hams
>consider the 20 db quieting level "full quieting" and thus perfectly
>acceptable audio quality.

I agree with Brian, 20dB is hardly full quieting. Further,
the qualitative "type" of noise in the digital domain
would be distinctly different than the amplifier
noise heard in an FM receiver on weak signals.
That may or may not be a problem, but would
take some getting used to for the typical
ham repeater user.

>22.4 kHz channel. But they won't deliver the "broadcast"
>grade audio you apparently want.

I like audio fidelity, but I could be trained to
accept band-limited audio frequency response in
return for consistent S/N. Knowing that the noise
on the system would be roughly the same regardless
of the number of intermediate hops would be
a worthwhile trade.

At one time, we had grandiose plans to connect this
across some 5 states! Initial tests proved workable,
as long as each system operator carefully crafted each site.

All these posts on the topic have straightened out
my head on this, so maybe I'll resume my efforts
at Plan A: installing analog companders at each
hub site to minimize the effects of additive noise.
I'm sure glad I have a tube of NE570s in the shop! :)

--

rec.nude: your exit to good living along the Information Toll Road.
finger [e-mail] for PGP key and an operator will help you.
Only 47 days until Opening Day! Spring Training starts in 3 days!!!!

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

Date: Wed, 16 Feb 1994 16:50:46 GMT
From: news.cerf.net!megatek![e-mail]
To: [e-mail]

References <[e-mail]>, <[e-mail]>, <2jrovm$[e-mail]>
Reply-To : [e-mail]
Subject : Re: Nude QSL cards

In article <2jrovm$[e-mail]> [e-mail] (Scott Dorsey) writes:
>In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail] (Jim Hollenback) writes:
>>
>>No, I don't think your out of place. Would one send a nude QSL to a foreign
>>country? I certainly hope not. In some counties they would be banned and
>>could get the recieving ham in trouble. Besides, what sort of image are
>>you presenting for the U.S.? If you would not send one to a foriegn country,
>>why send one to a U.S. ham. Some would definitely be offended, othere would
>>think you a jerk at best.  Go get a W4MPY or WA6AHF QSL, or one with you
>>full dressed in your shack with your dog/cat/bird/snake.
>
>Come on, nobody is forcing QSL cards on the world.  If you, as a nude ham,
>have a nude QSL card, you should by reasonable standards of politeness,
>inform the person on the other end during your QSO.  If he objects, send
>him a non-nude QSL.  If you're doing serious DX and you don't have time
>to inform anyone of this, you ought to either slow down and do some
>ragchewing or send a non-nude one out by default.  Sheesh.  This is a
>non-issue that isn't worth debating here.
>--scott
>    (who isn't nude, although his transmitter is.  Need to put the cover
>     back on before doing any serious ragchewing...)
>--
>"C'est un Nagra.  C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."


    Thanks, Scott.

    I think something that is getting missed here is the fact that the
particular QSL card in question is commemorating something call Nude Recreation
Week. The stations that would be mailing the QSL card will definitely,
absolutely, plainly. (etc) inform the other station that the QSL card has a
picture of nude people on it. The setting will most likely be families at the
beach, a lake, river, or similiar setting. It will *not* have anything
"suggestive" or "lewd" or anything like that at all.

    I don't want to ignite any debates about minors seeing the photo
against their parent's wishes, but I think if the parents were to see the
picture first, they would see that there isn't really anything to worry about
on this one (I could be biased, of course). If they're old enough to ask about
why these families aren't wearing any clothes, they're old enough to be told
that some people choose not to wear clothes. Nudists/naturists know this is
*not* an issue dealing with sexuality. Just as the one guy was implying, that
is a matter to be handled within the family. (most nudists/naturists have no
interest in interfering with family moral teachings -- just don't take away
our nude beaches! :^)

    Foreign hams will be informed what's up with the QSL card as well. It's
true that some of the countries are more strict about what arrives in the mail,
but the ham that is to receive the QSL card can determine for themselves if
it's ok to receive it or not. They don't need anybody over here making that
decision for them, thank you.

    There isn't going to be any "suprises" in the mail. If you want to
work one of the stations involved but don't want the nude QSL card, you'll be
given the opportunity to say so. What's the big deal?

73,
-jim

--
Jim Campbell    "The Tye-Dye Guy"    |    "Remember to tweet!"
[e-mail]             | When in doubt, you're probably
WB6ZPB NSS ASA TNS            |      unsure about something

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

End of Info-Hams Digest V94 #161
******************************