QRZ! Ham Radio 5/QRZ Ham Radio Callsign Database - Volume 5.iso/digests/infoham/940541.txt

Internet Message Format | 1994-11-13 | 20.3 KB

Date: Wed, 18 May 94 04:30:07 PDT
From: Info-Hams Mailing List and Newsgroup <[e-mail]>
Errors-To: [e-mail]
Reply-To: [e-mail]
Precedence: Bulk
Subject: Info-Hams Digest V94 #541
To: Info-Hams


Info-Hams Digest            Wed, 18 May 94       Volume 94 : Issue  541

Today's Topics:
                        Atlas 210X Info Wanted
                         Azden AZ61 Feedback
        Daily Summary of Solar Geophysical Activity for 16 May
                   Man named Loomis invented radio?
                     Sonobuoy conversion articles
                subscribe info-ham Laurent PELLISSIER

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: Tue, 17 May 94 19:48:56 GMT
From: news.mtholyoke.edu!nic.umass.edu![e-mail]
Subject: Atlas 210X Info Wanted
To: [e-mail]

In Article <leigh.769140754@coyote>
[e-mail] (Leigh Marrin) writes:

>I've been loaned an old Atlas 210X HF transciever, and have an option to
>buy it for a mere 50 dollars.

>Using a dummy load, it puts about 50 watts of CW out.  But using a Hustler
>40 meter coil & whip, power drops down to about QRP levels, even though
>the SWR is around 1.5:1.  An old-timer with experience with the Atlas
>says this is fairly common; he says the early solid state rigs did not
>like loaded whips, and required a special matching network.  (He also
>says that a conventional antenna tuner won't work.)

The loaded whip, even when resonant, will have an impedance much lower than
50 ohms. One of the accessories originally available from Atlas was an
impedance transformer to raise the impedance of a mobile whip. You could
probably make one using a large toroid core. But there is no reason a tuner
shouldn't work if it properly transforms the whip impedance to 50 ohms.

I used an  Atlas 210X last year when I was operating in Nicaragua
as YN1ASW. I used an MFJ 949E tuner to load a variety of antennas. I
did have one difficulty, and that was parasitic oscillations that developed
on some bands as I increased the power level. I determined that these
oscillations were due to the fact that any particular load, whether coupled
directly or through an antenna tuner, might present a complex reactive
impedance at some frequency, even though it presents a resistive impedance
at the desired operating frequency. Such oscillations did nort occur with
a dummy load.

I was able to partially tame these problems by putting a one or two watt
resistor of several thousand ohms resistance in parallel with the antenna
tuner. At the desired frequency this would absorb a negligible part of the
output, since  it was effectively in parallel with a 50 ohm load, but at
frequencies where the antenna and/or tuner looked like a reactive load
this contributed some damping and helped to stabilize the rig. This wasn't
completely effective for all antennas and power levels, but I had limited
access to parts for trying more elaborate solutions.

You'll probably also find that output is very sensitive to supply voltage,
and will be substantially lower at 11.8 volts than at 13.6 volts.

>Also, on the large selector knob on the front panel, there is a setting
>marked "CAL".  I can find no mention in the manual as to what "CAL" is

This turns on the calibrator -- you should hear a loud signal every 100
khZ if it is working properly.

>Any other input on the Atlas 210X would be appreciated.  ...

Hi Manuals had a rather good packet on the 210/215 at the time I acquired
mine, in mid 1992. They had a number of factory modifications in the package.
The earlier your particular 210X the more useful these will be, since most of
the mods were incorporated into later production units. You'll have to send
in your $2 for a Hi Manuals catalog to see if they  currently have the Atlas
info.

73 and good luck,
Al, N1AW

        Albert S. Woodhull
        Hampshire College, Amherst, MA, USA
        [e-mail]

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

Date: 18 May 94 03:23:18 GMT
From: [e-mail]
Subject: Azden AZ61 Feedback
To: [e-mail]

Hi All,

PHD Hamfest is this weekend in Kansas City, and I need to make a
buying decision on this rig.  Does anyone own one, and if so, what
are your opinions - pro/con?

Are there any problems with this HT?
Is the price reasonable (features etc)?
etc.. etc.. etc..

I have read the spec sheet, but have not seen one.  HRO does not
carry Azden.  Associated Radio (my favorite candy store) sells Azden, but
they do not have this particular unit in stock.

Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.

73 de KB0LRB
Lynn Geitgey
[e-mail]

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

Date: 17 May 94 04:29:01 GMT
From: agate!library.ucla.edu!news.mic.ucla.edu!unixg.ubc.ca!quartz.ucs.ualberta.ca!alberta!ve6mgs![e-mail]
Subject: Daily Summary of Solar Geophysical Activity for 16 May
To: [e-mail]

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

                 DAILY SUMMARY OF SOLAR GEOPHYSICAL ACTIVITY

                                  16 MAY, 1994

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

                  (Based In-Part On SESC Observational Data)


SOLAR AND GEOPHYSICAL ACTIVITY INDICES FOR 16 MAY, 1994
-------------------------------------------------------

!!BEGIN!! (1.0) S.T.D. Solar Geophysical Data Broadcast for DAY 136, 05/16/94
10.7 FLUX=091.4  90-AVG=087        SSN=058      BKI=4533 5433  BAI=026
BGND-XRAY=A7.7     FLU1=1.7E+06  FLU10=2.3E+04  PKI=4454 6433  PAI=030
  BOU-DEV=042,070,031,039,072,046,033,022   DEV-AVG=044 NT     SWF=00:000
 XRAY-MAX= B5.3   @ 1011UT    XRAY-MIN= A5.6   @ 2009UT   XRAY-AVG= B1.1
NEUTN-MAX= +002%  @ 0445UT   NEUTN-MIN= -003%  @ 1710UT  NEUTN-AVG= -0.2%
  PCA-MAX= +0.2DB @ 1905UT     PCA-MIN= -0.5DB @ 0150UT    PCA-AVG= +0.0DB
BOUTF-MAX=55346NT @ 0005UT   BOUTF-MIN=55295NT @ 1643UT  BOUTF-AVG=55318NT
GOES7-MAX=P:+000NT@ 0000UT   GOES7-MIN=N:+000NT@ 0000UT  G7-AVG=+078,+000,+000
GOES6-MAX=P:+140NT@ 1821UT   GOES6-MIN=N:-104NT@ 0601UT  G6-AVG=+104,+031,-044
 FLUXFCST=STD:090,095,095;SESC:090,095,095 BAI/PAI-FCST=020,015,010/020,015,010
    KFCST=3324 4223 2224 4222  27DAY-AP=016,010   27DAY-KP=5344 2233 3333 2212
 WARNINGS=
   ALERTS=
!!END-DATA!!

NOTE: The Effective Sunspot Number for 15 MAY 94 was  22.3.
      The Full Kp Indices for 15 MAY 94 are: 3- 3o 5+ 6o   4o 3o 3+ 4-
      The 3-Hr Ap Indices for 15 MAY 94 are:  14  15  54  80  30  15  20  23
      Greater than 2 MeV Electron Fluence for 16 MAY is: 3.9E+08


SYNOPSIS OF ACTIVITY
--------------------

             Solar activity was very low. Region 7723 (N05W26)
       was the only flare producer with a pair of B-class subflares
       over the past 24 hours.

            Solar activity forecast:  solar activity is expected to be
       very low to low. Region 7722 (N08E12) still has the best,
       although slim, chance of producing C-class flares.

            The geomagnetic field has been at unsettled to minor storm
       levels over the past 24 hours. High latitude stations saw
       active to severe storm conditions. Activity is most likely
       because of a well positioned coronal hole. Energetic electron
       flux (GT 2 mev) ranged from normal to high levels through the
       period.

            Geophysical activity forecast:  the geomagnetic field is
       expected to be unsettled to active levels in middle latitudes
       and active to minor storm levels at high latitudes for the next
       24 hours. Activity is expected to subside to mostly unsettled
       thereafter.

            Event probabilities 17 may-19 may

                             Class M    01/01/01
                             Class X    01/01/01
                             Proton     01/01/01
                             PCAF       Green

            Geomagnetic activity probabilities 17 may-19 may

                        A.  Middle Latitudes
                        Active                20/30/20
                        Minor Storm           25/20/10
                        Major-Severe Storm    10/10/05

                        B.  High Latitudes
                        Active                25/25/25
                        Minor Storm           25/20/10
                        Major-Severe Storm    10/10/05

            HF propagation conditions were near-normal for the low and
       middle latitude paths.  High and polar latitude paths were
       generally below-normal with an excursion to useless propagation
       conditions for transpolar and transauroral paths between
       approximately 12:00 UTC and 15:00 UTC due to a period of major
       to severe geomagnetic storming during that interval.
       Conditions then improved throughout the remainder of the day
       and were beginning to approach near-normal values by the end of
       the UTC day.  Additional periods of minor signal degradation
       may be observed over the high and polar latitude paths over the
       next 24 hours.  Conditions should begin improving more solidly
       over the next 24 to 48 hours as this disturbance subsides
       toward quieter levels.


COPIES OF JOINT USAF/NOAA SESC SOLAR GEOPHYSICAL REPORTS
========================================================

REGIONS WITH SUNSPOTS. LOCATIONS VALID AT 16/2400Z MAY
------------------------------------------------------
NMBR LOCATION  LO  AREA  Z   LL   NN MAG TYPE
7722  N08E12  122  0380 DKO  06  010 BETA
7723  N05W26  160  0010 HRX  02  002 ALPHA
7725  N04W09  143  0000 AXX  00  001 ALPHA
7726  N10E24  110  0010 AXX  05  005 ALPHA
7720  S08W68  202                    PLAGE
7721  S12W11  145                    PLAGE
REGIONS DUE TO RETURN 17 MAY TO 19 MAY
NMBR LAT    LO
7710 S14   041


LISTING OF SOLAR ENERGETIC EVENTS FOR 16 MAY, 1994
--------------------------------------------------
BEGIN  MAX  END  RGN   LOC   XRAY  OP 245MHZ 10CM   SWEEP
NONE


POSSIBLE CORONAL MASS EJECTION EVENTS FOR 16 MAY, 1994
------------------------------------------------------
 BEGIN        MAX      END     LOCATION   TYPE   SIZE  DUR  II IV
     NO EVENTS OBSERVED


INFERRED CORONAL HOLES. LOCATIONS VALID AT 16/2400Z
---------------------------------------------------
               ISOLATED HOLES AND POLAR EXTENSIONS
      EAST   SOUTH  WEST   NORTH  CAR  TYPE  POL  AREA   OBSN
                 NO DATA AVAILABLE FOR ANALYSIS


SUMMARY OF FLARE EVENTS FOR THE PREVIOUS UTC DAY
------------------------------------------------

 Date   Begin  Max   End  Xray  Op Region  Locn    2695 MHz  8800 MHz  15.4 GHz
------  ----  ----  ----  ----  -- ------ ------  --------- --------- ---------
15 May: 1722  1739  1757  B6.0  SF  7726  N09E39


REGION FLARE STATISTICS FOR THE PREVIOUS UTC DAY
------------------------------------------------

                C   M   X     S   1   2   3   4   Total   (%)
               --  --  --    --  --  --  --  --    ---  ------
  Region 7726:  0   0   0     1   0   0   0   0    001  (100.0)
Uncorrellated: 0   0   0     0   0   0   0   0    000  ( 0.0)

 Total Events: 001 optical and x-ray.


EVENTS WITH SWEEPS AND/OR OPTICAL PHENOMENA FOR THE LAST UTC DAY
----------------------------------------------------------------

 Date   Begin  Max   End  Xray  Op Region  Locn    Sweeps/Optical Observations
------  ----  ----  ----  ----  -- ------ ------   ---------------------------
                            NO EVENTS OBSERVED.

NOTES:
     All times are in Universal Time (UT).  Characters preceding begin, max,
     and end times are defined as:  B = Before,  U = Uncertain,  A = After.
     All times associated with x-ray flares (ex. flares which produce
     associated x-ray bursts) refer to the begin, max, and end times of the
     x-rays.  Flares which are not associated with x-ray signatures use the
     optical observations to determine the begin, max, and end times.

     Acronyms used to identify sweeps and optical phenomena include:

          II        = Type II Sweep Frequency Event
          III       = Type III Sweep
          IV        = Type IV Sweep
          V         = Type V Sweep
          Continuum = Continuum Radio Event
          Loop      = Loop Prominence System,
          Spray     = Limb Spray,
          Surge     = Bright Limb Surge,
          EPL       = Eruptive Prominence on the Limb.


**  End of Daily Report  **

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

Date: 18 May 94 05:46:35 GMT
From: agate!howland.reston.ans.net!gatech!news-feed-1.peachnet.edu!emory!cherry.atlanta.com!nanovx!wa4mei!ke4zv![e-mail]
Subject: Man named Loomis invented radio?
To: [e-mail]

In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail] (Jim Buchanan) writes:
>In article <2r8f28$[e-mail]>, [e-mail] (Bradley T Banko) writes:
>[...]
>> I read something recently that a man named Loomis might have
>> "invented" radio in the late 1800's before Marconi & Hertz et al.
>[...]
>> Does anybody else know more about this?
>
>Dr. Loomis was a dentist. If I remember correctly, he used a non-powered
>system where he simply connected his "transmitting" antennae to ground via
>a telegraph key. I assume that at all time a very small potential
>difference existed between the antennae and ground, when the key opened and
>closed, a small current flowed and excited the antennae at its resonant
>frequency. I'm not sure what  he used as a detector, but it did work.

Loomis took advantage of the roughly 300 volts/meter potential in the
atmosphere to activate his transmitter. The current flow is small, except
during thunderstorms, but it was sufficient to generate a detectable signal
at a distance in the days before widespread use of electricity.

Nathan B. Stubblefield's work was much further advanced. He sent *voice*
signals over distances greater than 30 miles before Marconi et al sent
spark signals. His system was powered by batteries and apparently worked
on the principle of sheet conductance. (He was very secretive about the
exact details.) He conducted a demonstration for Congress where he
communicated by voice with a ship in the Potomac from the shore. His was
the first "underground" radio station.

And of course there was Tesla. He had radio controlled boats operating
in the lake of Central Park in one demonstration well before Marconi
generated his first sparks. Tesla was fasinated by resonance phenomina.

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: 18 May 1994 02:35:12 GMT
From: ihnp4.ucsd.edu!library.ucla.edu!psgrain!charnel.ecst.csuchico.edu!olivea!news.bu.edu!dartvax.dartmouth.edu![e-mail]
Subject: Sonobuoy conversion articles
To: [e-mail]

In article <[e-mail]>
[e-mail] (Peter Z. Simpson) writes:

> Here's what I found using "From Beverages to OSCAR"...a ham radio article
> database from Didah Publishing (they advertise in QST and Communications Quarterly,
> I believe):
>
> 5 FQ XTAL DECK FOR THE SONOBABY         Ham Radio      10/72   p.26
> CONVERTING SSQ-23A SONOBUOY TO 2MFM     73 Magazine    3/70    p.96
> SONOBUOY-VHF FM XMTR                    Ham Radio      10/71   p.8
> SONOBUOY-VHF FM XMTR (feedback)         Ham Radio      12/71   p.96

Thanks a lot!  The buoys I've got are all SSQ-23A, so it looks like
this will be a tremendous help!  Now, all I've got to do is remember to
get down to the inter-library loan desk tomorrow...

---
=======================================================================
Kenneth E. Harker  N1PVB        Dartmouth College  Amateur Packet Radio
[e-mail]  Hinman Box 1262    [e-mail]
[phone]                  Hanover, NH 03755  or n1pvb-5 on 144.99
=======================================================================
             (PGP Public Key now available on request)

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

Date: 18 May 94 09:05:25 GMT
From: [e-mail]
Subject: subscribe info-ham Laurent PELLISSIER
To: [e-mail]

subscribe info-ham Laurent PELLISSIER

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

Date: 18 May 94 06:12:20 GMT
From: agate!howland.reston.ans.net!gatech!swrinde!emory!cherry.atlanta.com!nanovx!wa4mei!ke4zv![e-mail]
To: [e-mail]

References <[e-mail]>, <[e-mail]>, <2rb0eq$[e-mail]>
Reply-To : [e-mail] (Gary Coffman)
Subject : Re: Need Advice

In article <2rb0eq$[e-mail]> [e-mail] (Scott Richard Rosenfeld) writes:
>How about a nice, older HW-101 or IC-701 or Kenwood TS-120/130S?
>Why only 2 meters?  People just don't get it.  VHF stuff is expensive,
>and who wants older VHF equipment (for the most part)?  Older HF stuff
>is still very current and functional - and cheap, AND you can work
>around the world with it.  When did that cease to be the driving
>force in amateur radio?  Two meters IS all that's left :-(

VHF/UHF is in general much more useful and much more popular than HF
for genuine communications. Older equipment is very much available,
servicable, and cheap, but newer equipment does tend to attract many
buyers. Because VHF/UHF *is* so much more popular than HF, there is a
much wider variety of new equipment from which to choose.

If budget is a consideration, however, I just bought a VHF 90 watt
transportable rig at Dayton for $8. It works too! It's a GE Master
Exec in a GE transport case with a TPL amp and marine battery. Just
add an antenna and you're in business. Or, if you must buy Japanese,
I saw dozens of IC2s for sale for under $100. That's a perfectly
servicable belt rig, better than many current models.

What's the point of "working around the world" if you don't have anything
interesting to *say* to the other operator? Just exchanging meaningless
signal reports isn't interesting. It has been done to death already by
others. On VHF/UHF you're much more likely to establish long term friendships
with other operators, and to engage them in interesting conversations on
a near daily basis. That's rather rare on HF, except on 75 meters, and
that's such a zoo of noise and interference that the contacts are rarely
pleasant.

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: 18 May 94 08:09:35 GMT
From: dog.ee.lbl.gov!overload.lbl.gov!agate!howland.reston.ans.net!cs.utexas.edu![e-mail]
To: [e-mail]

References <[e-mail]>, <[e-mail]>, <[e-mail]>
Subject : Re: HAM RADIO RUDENESS

[e-mail] (Roger Buffington) writes:

>[e-mail] wrote:

>: Ive decided to quit saving for a HF rig after following this discussion.

>Don't feel that way.  Get the HF rig and ignore the few jerks who are
>rude on the air.  There are not many of them.

My advice would be to move to Europe.  At least when the people are rude,
it is not in english :)

(Might be in italian but I didn't say that)  :)

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

End of Info-Hams Digest V94 #541
******************************