From wang!elf.wang.com!ucsd.edu!info-hams-relay Sat Mar 23 04:20:57 1991 remote from tosspot Received: by tosspot (1.63/waf) via UUCP; Sat, 23 Mar 91 09:47:25 EST for lee Received: from somewhere by elf.wang.com id aa07021; Sat, 23 Mar 91 4:20:56 GMT Received: from ucsd.edu by relay1.UU.NET with SMTP (5.61/UUNET-shadow-mx) id AA05990; Fri, 22 Mar 91 22:06:20 -0500 Received: by ucsd.edu; id AA05983 sendmail 5.64/UCSD-2.1-sun Fri, 22 Mar 91 13:16:17 -0800 for brian Received: by ucsd.edu; id AA05936 sendmail 5.64/UCSD-2.1-sun Fri, 22 Mar 91 13:16:00 -0800 for /usr/lib/sendmail -oc -odb -oQ/var/spool/lqueue -oi -finfo-hams-relay info-hams-list Message-Id: <9103222116.AA05936@ucsd.edu> Date: Fri, 22 Mar 91 13:15:58 PST From: Info-Hams Mailing List and Newsgroup Reply-To: Info-Hams@ucsd.edu Subject: Info-Hams Digest V91 #227 To: Info-Hams@ucsd.edu Info-Hams Digest Fri, 22 Mar 91 Volume 91 : Issue 227 Today's Topics: * SpaceNews 18-Mar-91 * Can you really learn code from tapes? Ham interference on Cable TV? LIST 02.03.91 MAJOR SOLAR FLARE ALERT - 22 MARCH - STRANGE TYPE IV WITH 21 MARCH SOLAR TERRESTRIAL BULLETIN - WARNING UPDATE - 21 MARCH The Amateur Radio BBS - How to access Whither J. Meshna? (story for junkers) Send Replies or notes for publication to: Send subscription requests to: 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: 16 Mar 91 00:30:11 GMT From: ka2qhd!kd2bd@RUTGERS.EDU Subject: * SpaceNews 18-Mar-91 * To: info-hams@ucsd.edu SB SPACE @ AMSAT < KD2BD $SPC0318 * SpaceNews 18-Mar-91 * Bulletin ID: $SPC0318 ========= SpaceNews ========= MONDAY MARCH 18, 1991 SpaceNews originates at KD2BD in Wall Township, New Jersey, USA. It is published every week and is made available for unlimited distribution. * U2MIR NEWS * ============== Soviet Cosmonaut Musa Manarov, U2MIR, continues his amateur radio activity making voice and packet radio contacts with ham radio stations around the world from the orbiting Soviet space station "Mir". A recent listing of active messages on Musa's packet radio BBS made by VE1AIC on 09-Mar-91 produced the following listing: Msg # Stat Date Time To From @ BBS Subject 42 P 91/03/09 04:37 U2MIR KA1SU Hello Musa 41 PR 91/03/09 03:21 ALL U2MIR qsl 40 PR 91/03/09 03:02 U2MIR VO1SA Greetings 39 PR 91/03/09 03:00 U2MIR VO1XC GREETINGS 38 PR 91/03/09 02:54 U2MIR KI4TD GREETINGS 37 PR 91/03/09 02:51 U2MIR KC4UZA hello agai 36 PR 91/03/09 01:31 U2MIR F3NW TOMORROW 35 PR 91/03/08 20:37 U2MIR TR8CA * SpaceNews 04-Mar-91 * 34 PR 91/03/08 20:36 U2MIR TR8CA PHOTOS 33 P 91/03/08 16:30 KJ9U U2MIR LIST 02.03.91 2538 Bytes free Next message Number 43 It was quite a surprise to see "SpaceNews" available on Musa's message system! My sincere thanks to TR8CA in Gabon, Africa for uploading my report to the U2MIR-1 BBS and making it available for Musa to read. The message to KJ9U contained a listing of confirmed voice contacts with U2MIR over Hawaii on 02-Mar-91. The mail message received by KJ9U from U2MIR follows: Stat : PR Posted : 91/03/08 16:30 To : KJ9U ------------------------------ Date: 20 Mar 91 11:15:56 GMT From: otter.hpl.hp.com!hpltoad!hpinddr!richv@hplabs.hpl.hp.com Subject: Can you really learn code from tapes? To: info-hams@ucsd.edu I bought ARRL's "Tune in the world with Ham Radio" and the novice code tapes that go with it. I'm not particularly impressed. I am finding that I have memorized the words on the tape well before I know all the morse characters. Also they make it really hard to "pay attention", that is I would think that to learn this stuff you would want to present the sound and then immediately test yourself. The ARRL tapes present the material like so... EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA ARE ARE ARE RARE RARE RARE The problem is that after about the third E, R or A in a row your mind tunes out, it really doesn't need to pay attention. Instead your mind (ok, at least my mind) switches to a mode where it says "oh, a sound, write E. oh, a sound, write E", but it doesn't really "listen" to the sound because your mind knows that it should write E. The first couple of times you hit ARE...RARE you are totally lost because you really didn't learn A, R or E from earlier in the tape, so you keep rewinding the tape and listening again. Eventually you get through it because you learn that the word that starts with A is ARE, the word that starts with R is RARE, with the result that you don't get much practice with letters that are only at the end of the presented words. I think the tapes would be much better if they went something like this... EEEEEEEEEE RRRRRRRRRR ARRARAAARARRARA, etc. That is, if the tapes made you immediately pay attention to what was being sent by sending a random sequence. Other problems, if you discover you don't know K, Q and D very well (for instance) its real hard to search around on the tape recorder to review them. All the above leads me to believe that 1) Before computers, people using tapes heavily supplemented their learning either by pairing off in classes and sending to each other with practice oscillators or by listening on the air. 2) Now everyone uses morse code teaching programs. Has anyone found teaching tapes that useful? Richv BTW, what are the Gordon West tapes like? Can you use the GW tapes with buying the GW book's too (do you need the transcipt from the book like TINWWHR). Actually I'm thinking of dropping tapes altogether and using the computer. ------------------------------ Date: 16 Mar 91 08:43:00 GMT From: sdd.hp.com!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu!csn!boulder!bohemia!p1.f510.n5000.z200.METRONET.ORG!Jim.Starke@ucsd.edu Subject: Ham interference on Cable TV? To: info-hams@ucsd.edu In a message to All <14 Mar 91 12:12> Matt Byer wrote: MB> From: mrbg8552@uxa.cso.uiuc.edu (Matt Byer) MB> Date: 14 Mar 91 05:16:06 GMT MB> Organization: University of Illinois at Urbana MB> Message-ID: <1991Mar14.051606.25976@ux1.cso.uiuc.edu> MB> Newsgroups: rec.radio.amateur.misc MB> A question for those wiser than I.... MB> My friend's cable tv gets interrupted several times a week by MB> what I think are ham operators. I can get parts of a callsign MB> at times, but have yet to understand anything clearly enough MB> to be sure of the call. Repeated calls to the local CATV company MB> have not solved their problems. If we are able to hear a clear MB> call, what should we do? I know I can look up the operator's MB> name and address, but what then? Send the ham police? Call up MB> and leave nasty messages? Leave nice messages? MB> I am not a ham user, but I have a friend (out of town) who has MB> explained some of what I described above. Any suggestions? The problem lies in the fact that the Cable TV company has some lines that do not have proper shielding. It is their problem, not the hams fault. Cable TV operates on some of the same frequencies as 2 meters and a few other Ham Bands. By knowing where the Ham lives, it will help the Cable TV company find the general area that the cable shielding has broken down. If his signal is getting into the cable, then that means that the cable tv cable is also "leaking" RF signals out. This is a direct violation of their FCC License since they can't be transmitting anywhere except the cable itself. Once they replace the faulty shielded cable, your friends problem with hearing unwanted conversations. The other thing you could do is call the FCC and report it to them so that they are aware of the problem. They also have better equipment at finding it than you or I. Some information that they will need is the channel number so they will know what frequency to start looking at. There is one channel that coincides real close to a TV Channel and that is channel 2, then the Ham may be real close to your friend and this could be the problem which may put them both at fault. But by giving the FCC the channel number, they can decipher where the problem may lie. Hope that helps! Jim N0JVD --- XRS! 4.00+DV * Origin: From the keyboard of the Computer La (RAX 200:5000/510.1) -- ============================================================================= Jim Starke - via MetroNet node 200:5000/301 The Bohemia BBS System, Boulder Colorado (303)449-8946 UUCP: Jim.Starke@p1.f510.n5000.z200.METRONET.ORG or : ...!boulder!bohemia.METRONET.ORG!510.1!Jim.Starke ============================================================================= ------------------------------ Date: (null) From: (null) Subject: LIST 02.03.91 WA6EMV,NH6XW,NH6VT,AH6HU,KH6QR AH6GR,K6WR,WH6CJO,KA6NEI,KJ9U KH6GDR,WY0H,NH6UY 73 MUSA Musa has also been noted logging into the KH6GPI packet radio BBS in Oahu, Hawaii. He recently posted an updated listing of Keplerian orbital data so ground stations can make accurate orbital predictions of Mir. * STS-37 NEWS * =============== Atlantis (OV 104) was rolled out to Kennedy Space Center launch pad 39-B on Friday morning in preparation for an early April mission carrying an "ham" crew. A Helium Signature test is scheduled for today and a Terminal Countdown Demonstration test is planned this week with a T-0 expected to occur on Wednesday. * TNX QSL! * ============ A special thanks to all those who sent QSLs to SpaceNews: KB5LET : Jay Godwin, Austin, Texas, USA N7BRJ/4 : Gary Memory, Bealeton, Virginia, USA ...and e-mail messages: KC4UZA, WB8SCE, KJ9U * FEEDBACK WELCOMED * ===================== Feedback regarding SpaceNews reports may be directed to the editor using any one of the following paths: INTERNET : kd2bd@ka2qhd.de.com PACKET : KD2BD @ NN2Z.NJ.USA.NA VOICE : 908/842-1900 ext 607 UUCP : ...rutgers!ka2qhd!kd2bd MAIL : John A. Magliacane, KD2BD Electronics Technology Department Advanced Technology Center Brookdale Community College 765 Newman Springs Road Lincroft, New Jersey, 07738 U.S.A. << * If you like what you see, send us your QSL card! * >> /EX -- John A. Magliacane FAX : (908) 747-7107 Electronics Technology Department AMPR : KD2BD @ NN2Z.NJ.USA.NA Brookdale Community College UUCP : ...!rutgers!ka2qhd!kd2bd Lincroft, NJ 07738 USA VOICE: (908) 842-1900 ext 607 ------------------------------ Date: 22 Mar 91 19:57:23 GMT From: news-mail-gateway@ucsd.edu Subject: MAJOR SOLAR FLARE ALERT - 22 MARCH - STRANGE TYPE IV WITH 21 MARCH To: info-hams@ucsd.edu -- MAJOR SOLAR FLARE ALERT -- MARCH 22, 1991 Flare Event Summary Potential Impact Assessment -------- MAJOR ENERGETIC EVENT SUMMARY Another major flare erupted from Region 6555 at a location of S25E35. This event began at 08:33 UT, peaked at 08:40 UT and ended at 09:19 UT on 22 March. There was a tenflare with this event, rated at 870 s.f.u.. Also, a 245 MHz burst was observed at an intensity of 12,000 s.f.u. No sweeps were observed. The flare was fairly impulsive and had a low integrated x-ray flux. The event attained a class M6.3/1B rating. POTENTIAL TERRESTRIAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT No terrestrial impacts are expected with this latest major flare. It had some moderately strong radio emissions but was not associated with any sweeps and was an impulsive event. The most strange event which is really turning heads is the major class 5.4/2B flare of 21 March (at 23:44 UT). This event was not particularly unusual as far as the flare itself goes, but the radio emissions observed were very odd indeed. The flare was associated with a strong Type IV emission which drifted from low to high frequencies (it should have been the other way around). The emission increased in intensity with time and reached very brilliant levels. The event is STILL IN PROGRESS at the time of this writing. It has been categorized a continuum Type IV emission. It is perhaps one of the strangest emissions observed in seven years. Something is vigorously exciting the electrons over that region, but no one knows what it might be. The flare itself was not extraordinary. In fact, it was rather "average". There is a possibility that a Type II could have occurred with the 23:44 UT flare of 21 March. There is uncertainty regarding this due to the fact that the Type IV drifted from low to high frequencies and may have "swallowed" the Type II emission. So it is certainly possible that a Type II could have occurred with this event (it would normally be observed with a Type IV continuum emission as intense as this one has been). This event is very difficult to assess as far as potential terrestrial impacts are concerned. The flare itself was impulsive and of rather low intensity. But the wierd long duration Type IV continuum emission together with the possible occurrence of a Type II is raising questions. We currently believe that a low to moderate risk exists for increased terrestrial activity late on 23 March or on 24 March. There is a slightly higher probability that no terrestrial impacts will occur, but these predictions are not associated with high confidence levels. A Potential Geomagnetic Storm Warning may be issued on 23 March just to cover the "bases." Analysis of this odd event will continue. Major flaring is expected to continue from Region 6555. Terrestrial impacts from very energetic flaring could be high. Watch for future alerts and possible warnings. ** End of Alert ** ------------------------------ Date: 21 Mar 91 08:00:50 GMT From: news-mail-gateway@ucsd.edu Subject: SOLAR TERRESTRIAL BULLETIN - WARNING UPDATE - 21 MARCH To: info-hams@ucsd.edu /\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\ SOLAR TERRESTRIAL BULLETIN 21 March, 1991 Solar Terrestrial Warning Updates Solar Information Update /\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\ UPDATED WARNING INFORMATION The potential for major flaring has declined with the continuing decay of Region 6545. Major flaring is still possible, but will probably originate from Region 6555. The warnings have been updated as follows: Cancelled Warnings: - POTENTIAL PROTON FLARE WARNING - POTENTIAL PCA ACTIVITY WARNING Warnings still in effect: - POTENTIAL SOLAR MAJOR FLARE WARNING - POTENTIAL SATELLITE PROTON EVENT WARNING These warnings will continue to be updated as necessary. SOLAR INFORMATION UPDATE Region 6545 (S08W57) does not appear to be capable of producing any further major flaring. It has decayed to the point where major flares are unlikely from this region. It currently consists of 27 spots encompassed in an FAI type optical configuration. The region has decayed to a beta magnetic configuration. Although major flaring is not likely from this region, continued low-level M-class flaring is possible. The most threatening region currently visible is Region 6555 (S24E41), which has now been analyzed in greater detail. This region is very large (6,810 million square kilometers in area) and encompasses 64 visible spots in an FKI optical configuration. It has a magnetic beta configuration at the present time. Development into a more threatening magnetic structure is certainly possible. The region has an east-west inversion line. Some shear is present in this group. This, combined with the complexity of the system as a whole, could be enough to spawn an isolated major flare. This region could easily evolve into a major flaring source. At the present time, numerous M-class flares have been observed from this region. It is currently a fairly active region, but is not yet a major threat. An impressive surge was seen on the west limb today. The region most likely responsible is Region 6538, which is beyond the west limb now. The surge was bright and was observed between 03:40 UT and 05:12 UT on 20 March. The event was associated with an M1.9 x-ray burst at 03:33 UT and was also responsible for a moderate intensity Type II sweep which drifted from 110 MHz to 22 MHz. The surge was ejected out to a distance of about 0.3 solar radii. ** End of Bulletin ** ------------------------------ Date: 19 Mar 91 02:57:23 GMT From: uvaarpa!haven!boingo.med.jhu.edu!aplcen!wb3ffv!howardl@mcnc.org Subject: The Amateur Radio BBS - How to access To: info-hams@ucsd.edu +------------------------------------------------------------------------------+ HOW TO ACCESS THE WB3FFV AMATEUR RADIO TELEPHONE BBS !!! I have placed a BBS system on-line that is mainly oriented towards the Amateur Community (but there is other stuff on-line). As of now I have not attempted to promote this system any place except in the amateur channels (PACKET, USENET, & word of mouth), and will continue under this policy, as I hope to keep it oriented toward amateur radio. The various software for UP/DOWNload is available via telephone dialup and Packet TCP/IP, and through user support I hope to keep the latest and greatest ham software on-line. Below is the information that is needed in order to access the BBS via Telephone -or- TCP/IP, please pass it around to as many ham's as possible. System Name: WB3FFV User Login: bbs Number: (301)-625-0817 -- 1200 & 2400 (Non-MNP) Number: (301)-625-9482 -- 1200,2400,4800,9600,19200,38400 V.32 (V.42bis/MNP5) Number: (301)-625-9663 -- 1200 & 2400 (MNP5), 9600 & 19200 (PEP) Data Settings: 8 Bits, NO Parity, 1 Stop Bit Times: 24hrs/365days (except for routine maintenance) Software: XBBS (UNIX/Xenix Multiuser BBS) IP Address: 44.60.128.1 {wb3ffv.ampr.org} [for FTP access on 145.650 mhz ONLY] Misc. Info: Machine is an 80486 computer running UNIX V.3.2 and features 800 Meg of on-line storage. Most transfer protocols are available!! I attempt to keep the latest and greatest HAM software on-line, and encourage all to upload anything new that they come up with, as it is of benefit to all. Here is a sample of a couple pieces of software that is available for DOWNLOAD: KA9Q TCP/IP Software for the PC (Latest OFFICIAL release + TEST Versions) KA9Q TCP/IP for the Atari-ST, MAC, & Amiga KA9Q TCP/IP for UNIX based systems KA9Q TCP/IP (The NOS release) [UNIX, MS/DOS, Amiga] KA9Q TCP/IP (Version by G1EMM, PE1CHL, PA0GRI, Etc.) N2GTE Packet Mail Switch [GTEPMS] (Version 1.2) WA7MBL BBS for the PC (Versions 3.31, 4.31 & 5.1[2,3,4]) W0RLI BBS for the PC (Versions 6.xx, 7.xx, 8.xx, 9.xx, 10.xx, 11.xx) MSYS BBS for the PC running KISS TNC's (Version 1.07-1.10) AA4RE BBS for the PC (Version 2.10) Various BBS utilities and enhancements Several MORSE CODE Tutors TheNet software by NORD>, <1991Mar20.084024.8317@ux1.cso.uiuc.edu>, <371@platypus.uofs.edu>, Reply-To : gary@ke4zv.UUCP (Gary Coffman) Subject : Re: Ham interference on Cable TV? In article <371@platypus.uofs.edu> bill@platypus.uofs.edu (Bill Gunshannon) writes: > >Because the channel experiencing interference is Cable Channel 18, which >just happens to overlap the 2 meter band, I don't think anything the cable >company is going to will relieve the problem. The system in my house is >a lot more sophisticated that the average Cable TV installation (ie. I >terminate unused ports on the in house cable system) and I cannot eliminate >interference on that channel. Luckily for me, the programming on that >channel is not one of the most popular in the area (it's not HBO :-) ). >Your best bet is to have some local hams get together with the Cable >Engineering staff when the complaints start rolling in and explain the >whole thing to them. then try and convince them that the best solution is >to abandon the use of that channel. I have never seen a place where hams >and Cable Channel 18 have been able to peacefully co-exist. Here cable channel 18 *is* HBO. It can work, but the cable company must do their job right. Ingress on cable trunks should not be a problem since they use solid jacket cable. All that is necessary is properly shielded trunk amplifiers and properly installed connectors. Improper maintenence of the trunks causes more than ham problems, it also causes lousey pictures via reflections and improper frequency response. So it's to the cable company's and the viewer's benefit that systems be maintained properly. The major source of ingress is at the customer cable drop. Here the primary problems are the failure to use fully shielded cable and the improper installation of connectors. Use of fully shielded RG6 and proper installation of connectors is vital. Many leakage problems can be traced to improper installation of F connectors. Installing F connectors looks deceptively simple, but it's not. The proper tooling and technique is essential to prevent leakage. Secondarily, allowing currents to flow on the outside of the cable shield can cause problems at the converter box or the set. These can be suppressed by proper installation and system grounding. Every ham should have a TV in the hamshack. If there is even the slightest flicker of interference, it should be investigated. It's a great peacemaker to invite a neighbor who complains of TVI into the hamshack and show him a perfect picture while you are transmitting. Gary KE4ZV ------------------------------ Date: 20 Mar 91 08:40:24 GMT From: usc!rpi!uwm.edu!ux1.cso.uiuc.edu!phil@ucsd.edu To: info-hams@ucsd.edu References <1991Mar14.135503.21929@cbnewse.att.com>, <1991Mar15.031738.17625@ee.eng.ohio-state.edu>, <1991Mar20.013302.12002@ux1.cso.uiuc.edu> Subject : Re: Ham interference on Cable TV? mrbg8552@uxa.cso.uiuc.edu (Matt Byer) writes: >Thanks to all who mailed me responses and those who posted >suggestions and answers here. For those who are curious, the >interference was over cable channel 18 and a local ham informed >me that the local 2m repeater stradles the frequency that CATV uses >for that channel. Others informed me that a bad connection ANYWHERE >on the block can allow these signals to interfere with the CATV >signal and that the cable company is the responsible party. I live further from the most popular 2 meter repeater than you do and it gets into my cable connected TV set as well. >A suggestion...in addition to the many helpful responses and >suggestions, I also received an equal number of indignant and >rude responses stating that it couldn't possibly be a ham's >fault because they don't have the power to break into CATV >wires, that there must be a problem with the TV because it >is not ever the ham's fault if he/she is on a lawfully allocated >frequency, that the televtision must be illegally connected to >cable because that is the ONLY way a ham signal could get in, >etc....etc....etc..... The fact is that it takes very very little power to break into a cable that is not properly maintained. Cablevision in fact does a very poor job of maintaining service unless there is pressure to fix it up. They react to complaints. Complain and they can fix it. > My point: Please don't get so defensive and rude when > a non-expert in ham radio operations (as I clearly > identified myself) asks a question and suggests > that it might possibly be a ham's fault. While > most if not all of the readers/operators here > operate within the law, I read enough posts to > know that there are some who do not. A lot of people do get defensive at the term "fault" because they interpret this to mean guilty. From reading your observations it is clear to me that you are indeed picking up a signal that is that of an amateur station. That does not get determine fault. I don't think you intended this, and I know you are a law student, so I know you can deal with the technicalities of meanings. Many hams, unfortunately, are paranoid of those very same technicalities since they are often used againast hams. -- /***************************************************************************\ < Phil Howard -- KA9WGN -- phil@ux1.cso.uiuc.edu > \***************************************************************************/ ------------------------------ Date: 20 Mar 91 15:16:03 GMT From: cs.utexas.edu!csc.ti.com!ti-csl!tilde.csc.ti.com!axis!sqa.dsg.ti.com!edh@YALE.EDU To: info-hams@ucsd.edu References <1991Mar14.224017.6341@mentorg.com>, <1991Mar19.020410.2745@informix.com>, <1072@wells.UUCP>is Subject : Re: Hints & Kinks for taking the General code test In article <1072@wells.UUCP> k3tx@wells.UUCP (Dave Heller) writes: > >1. The "example" of the questions for the code test - - ultra- simple >multiple choice - are proof ample that the V.E. program is truly a >nice way of giving away amateur licenses. Dave, I believe that this was intended to be an overview of what to expect; the "example" was just that, it was certainly not as complete as real tests I've seen. Also, others on the net have pointed out that multiple choice is just one example. If the V.E. program were "giving away amateur licenses" then why aren't our ranks much larger and why did the FCC see the need to make a codeless license, etc.? In any case, let's not trash the work of a lot of good people on the basis of a net article! > >2. Bad enough that a full minute solid copy is no longer required, Perhaps you overlooked the comments from others that one minute of solid copy is still one way to pass the code exam. The funny thing is that I personally know two people (NOT hearsay) who failed those "give-away" multiple-choice/fill-in blank exams, but who passed passed on one minute of solid copy (yes, that session, based on the same copy that couldn't give them enough right answers to the multiple choice questions). Now I wonder which is REALLY the better test? > >3. Nor is the sending test - - If you are blaming the V.E. prgram for this, think again. It was the FCC who decided that if you could copy at the required speed you could most likely send as well. I can't speak for others, but I can send faster than I can copy (I "think ahead" while sending, but have to wait for in-coming characters to complete). > >4. But to permit 7 out of l0 ultra-simple choices to be a pass - - Lets see, was that k3tx or k2x? -- sri om pse giv ur call > >5. Even with the minimal knowledge and some careful guessing a 50% >score can be automatic - - >6. 25% is automatic with pure guesssing. Lets see, that still leaves 25% or so -- but then again, you'd be amazed at how hard some of those gimme tests can be! > >7. So, I ask, what VE group is making up tests as ridiculous >as the example given? Well, they all are. If you insist on believing they are ridiculous. > >K3TX Dave, if you want to flame up the code wars again, ok. But the VE program is what we have and good people are working hard within the constraints of regulation to the nth degree on one hand and completely open in key places where the VEC would really LIKE to see more specific regulation. It is not a gimme program; dispite some abuses of the novice test program (which is NOT VEC), the FCC has found that the amateur testing program is working well and accomplishing the objectives the FCC had (they said so in the R&O concerning the codeless tech program). I've seen lot's of crestfallen faces leaving an exam session without a CSCE, and at all levels. Well, enough already from me. 73 - hope to "cul down log" -- Ed Humphries Texas Instruments, Inc. 512-250-6894 N5RCK Internet ed.humphries@hub.dsg.ti.com -. ..... .-. -.-. -.- Packet N5RCK@NA4M ------------------------------ End of Info-Hams Digest ******************************