From wang!elf.wang.com!ucsd.edu!info-hams-relay Mon Mar 25 04:25:07 1991 remote from tosspot Received: by tosspot (1.64/waf) via UUCP; Mon, 25 Mar 91 05:24:40 EST for lee Received: from somewhere by elf.wang.com id aa23231; Mon, 25 Mar 91 4:25:06 GMT Received: from ucsd.edu by relay1.UU.NET with SMTP (5.61/UUNET-shadow-mx) id AA08862; Sun, 24 Mar 91 23:14:54 -0500 Received: by ucsd.edu; id AA21816 sendmail 5.64/UCSD-2.1-sun Sun, 24 Mar 91 18:39:58 -0800 for brian Received: by ucsd.edu; id AA21798 sendmail 5.64/UCSD-2.1-sun Sun, 24 Mar 91 18:39:53 -0800 for /usr/lib/sendmail -oc -odb -oQ/var/spool/lqueue -oi -finfo-hams-relay info-hams-list Message-Id: <9103250239.AA21798@ucsd.edu> Date: Sun, 24 Mar 91 18:39:52 PST From: Info-Hams Mailing List and Newsgroup Reply-To: Info-Hams@ucsd.edu Subject: Info-Hams Digest V91 #236 To: Info-Hams@ucsd.edu Info-Hams Digest Sun, 24 Mar 91 Volume 91 : Issue 236 Today's Topics: !! MAG STORM CORRECTION - ALERT REISSUED AT 21:00 UT 24 MARCH !! AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 082.01 Any hamradio stores in SEATTLE ? DX QSL Help, Please GEOMAGNETIC STORM INFORMATION UPDATE #1 - 24 MARCH GEOMAGNETIC STORM INFORMATION UPDATE #2 - 24 MARCH Is radio an alternative to telephone for laypersons? Looking for _Ham Radio_ articles Multiple antennas/radios on same feed line RTTY DX Notes 3/22/91 WANTED INFO ON HAM-RADIO What is a "Sideswiper" CW Key? 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: 24 Mar 91 21:18:10 GMT From: news-mail-gateway@ucsd.edu Subject: !! MAG STORM CORRECTION - ALERT REISSUED AT 21:00 UT 24 MARCH !! To: info-hams@ucsd.edu CORRECTIONS: PLEASE READ /\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\ INFORMATIONAL MAGNETIC STORM UPDATE Storm Alert CONTINUATION /\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\ 21:00 UT, 24 March ------------- CORRECTION: The decision has been made to continue Major Geomagnetic Storm Alert until at least 06:00 UT on 24 March. Major geomagnetic storming has resumed as of 20:00 UT on 24 March. An intense perturbation accompanied with a local HF radio blackout has occurred. It appears the previous storm alert cancellation was premature. PLEASE DISREGARD THE PREVIOUS INFORMATIONAL STORM UPDATE MESSAGE. The following revised forecast has been issued. LOW LATITUDE AURORAL ACTIVITY WILL BE POSSIBLE for North American observers again this evening. Sporatic bursts of minor to major storm-level geomagnetic fluctuations accompanied by enhanced auroral activity will be possible. The past six to seven hour period of unsettled to active geomagnetic activity prompted a premature end to the storm warning. Ths warning will be updated near 06:00 UT. Electrical geomagnetic induction will remain possible (although somewhat less likely than 12 to 24 hours ago) throughout the period. The following alerts are IN PROGRESS (disregard previous update): - MAJOR GEOMAGNETIC STORM ALERT (reissued as of 21:00 UT, 24 March) - LOW LATITUDE AURORAL ACTIVITY ALERT (reissued as of 21:00 UT, 24 March) - ELECTRICAL GEOMAGNETIC INDUCTION ALERT (reissued as of 21:00 UT, 24 March) - SATELLITE PROTON EVENT ALERT - POLAR CAP ABSORPTION EVENT ALERT - POLAR TO MIDDLE LATITUDE RADIO SIGNAL BLACKOUT ALERT The following warnings remain in progress: - POTENTIAL MAJOR SOLAR FLARE ALERT - POTENTIAL PROTON FLARE ALERT /\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\ ------------------------------ Date: 24 Mar 91 19:03:07 GMT From: swrinde!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!n8emr!gws@ucsd.edu Subject: AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 082.01 To: info-hams@ucsd.edu ============================================================== | Relayed from AMSAT BBS NETWORK | | N8EMR's Ham BBS, 614-895-2553 1200/2400/9600/V.32/PEP/MNP5 | ============================================================== SB ALL @ AMSAT $ANS-082.01 AO-16 S/W TIMER RESETS OBC HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 082.01 FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD MARCH 23, 1991 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT Heavy Usage Of BBS Leads To Reset Of AO-16 On-Board Computer (OBC) Just when AMSAT Software Engineers thought they had a stable and robust ver- sion of the file server software (FTL0) running smoothly aboard AO-16, they got a suprise this week when the OBC crashed on Monday, March 18, 1991 at 21:11:47 UTC. It appears that while AO-16 was over Western Europe and experiencing heavy usage, a critical software timer ran out. At this point many PACSAT users are probably wondering why these timers even exist. The purpose of timers in the PACSATs is to prevent any part of the software from getting stuck in an "infinite" loop and thereby preventing the ground command stations from sending commands. NK6K believes that what happened over Europe was that AO-16 was seeing so much usage that the multi-tasking OBC could not "service" the PACSAT Housekeeping Task (PHT) module within the allotted three minutes. This then lead the PHT module to "think" that something had "bogged downed" the OBC and therefore it did exactly what it was programmed to do, reset the OBC. Once this happened, the ground command team immediately went into action to start reloading the BBS software. This was accomplished by Saturday, March 23, 1991 and AO-16's is now back in operation with the BBS running. Unfortunately, ground command stations had to perform a "cold start" of the file system and all files stored aboard AO-16 before the crash were lost. In order to prevent the occurence of this sort of problem again, NK6K has now set this "watchdog" timer to nine minutes. He has also "patched" the software aboard LO-19 to prevent the occurence of this problem there. In summary, as more users start showing up on the PACSATs, the BBS software will need some "tweaking and fine tunning" from time-to-time. These types of problems are bound to occur, but as the AMSAT Software Engineering team sees it, these types of problems will occur with less frequency in the future. /EX SB ALL @ AMSAT $ANS-082.02 WO-18 SHOOTS THE MOON HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 082.02 FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD MARCH 23, 1991 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT WO-18 Status Report March 23, 1991 This week, WEBERSAT contorllers began shooting pictures in the dark with wide iris settings to establish controls for the upcoming full moon imaging experiments. In so doing, they managed to achieve a new milestone. The currently transmitting picture 7 has what is almost certainly the moon in its upper right hand corner. There are several interesting things about this. First, the phase is crescent, i.e., little of the moon is lit. Despite this, the brightness of the bytes of the object are well above 170, which suggests a full moon might indeed adequately illuminate the Earth for imaging. The specifications for the camera indicated that this was not probable. The device was not selected to be able to image astronomical (relatively dim) objects, but it apparently can. This picture will be transmitted most of the time during the next few days, but the satellite does have to start shooting again as the moon becomes brighter and brighter. All shots will be arranged to take place around this moon picture in memory. It will be available for later transmission after the full moon fades. Unfortunately, SEU's in the horizontal sync region have already corrupted the bottom of the picture and as time passes this can get worse. [ANS thanks WA3PSD for this bulletin.] /EX SB ALL @ AMSAT $ANS-082.03 EXPERIMENTERS DAY SCHEDULE HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 082.03 FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD MARCH 23, 1991 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT PACSAT Experimenter's Day Operations Schedule The schedule for future PACSAT Experimenter's Day operations is: DATE START TIME END TIME 27 March 0320 UTC - 27 March 0255 UTC - 28 March 03 April 0505 UTC - 03 April 0615 UTC - 04 April While operation of the S-Band and raised cosine PSK transmitters is scheduled to be conducted weekly, users are cautioned that these operations may be shortened or canceled to allow uploading of improved spacecraft software. Watch for bulletins in the BBS and the telemetry text frame of AO-16 for changes to the schedule. [ANS thanks Bruce Rahn, WB9ANQ for the information for this bulletin] /EX SB ALL @ AMSAT $ANS-082.04 OPERATIONS NET SCHEDULE HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 082.04 FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD MARCH 23, 1991 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT AMSAT-NA Operations Net Schedule AMSAT Operations Nets are planned for the following times. Mode B nets are conducted on an AO-13 downlink frequency of 145.950. Mode J/L nets are conducted on an AO-13 downlink frequency of 435.970. Date UTC Mode Phs NCS Alternates U.S. day 30 Mar 91 2345 J/L 103 WJ9F WB9ANQ KA5SMA Saturday 07 Apr 91 0315 J/L 99 WD0E WA5ZIB KA5SMA Saturday 17 Apr 91 0330 J/L 97 WB6LLO N5BF WJ9F Tuesday The Operations Net features guest speakers approximately every other week to provide up-to-the-minute information on topics of interest to various sorts of satellite users. Watch ANS for information on guest speakers and topics. /EX SB ALL @ AMSAT $ANS-082.05 NEW AO-13 TRANSPONDER SCHEDULE HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 082.05 FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD MARCH 23, 1991 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT AO-13 Spring Schedule Announced, AO-10 Not Presently Available Around 27 March 91, AO-13 is scheduled for a reorientation to target BLON = 180 and BLAT = 0. The transponder schedule for 27 March 91 through 19 June 91 is expected to be: Mode-B : MA 000 to MA 095 | Mode-JL: MA 095 to MA 125 | Mode-LS: MA 125 to MA 130 | Mode-S : MA 130 to MA 140 | Mode-BS: < discontinued > | <-- Note 1 Mode-B : MA 140 to MA 256 | <-- Note 2 Omnis : MA 240 to MA 030 | Note 1 - The transponder schedule for 27 March 91 to 19 June 91 will see the end of Mode-BS because Mode-S operation while the Mode-B transponder was active was impractical due to interference from Mode-B users. Note 2 - Originally the attitude change back to 210/0 was planned for early May because solar eclipses affecting AO-13 begin on 22 May 91 and in the past it has been the AO-13 command team policy NOT to magnetorque during eclipses. However, in August this year we have NO choice but to magnetorque during the eclipses so it was thought that we could gain some experience in magnetorquing during eclipses in June with a bonus of an extra month of operation with the more favorable attitude of 180/0 in the process. The downside of this proposal is that ALL transponders will have to be switched OFF from MA 200 through perigee to MA 035 from 22 May 91 to 24 Jun 91 even though magnetorquing will not start until 17 Jun 91. Having the transponders OFF from MA 200 to MA 035 from 22 May 91 until 17 Jun 91 will give us an opportunity to gauge the state of the battery prior to the start of the eclipse. Currently, OSCAR-10 is obviously not receiving sufficient solar panel illumination to support even the beacon much less the transponder. PLEASE DO NOT attempt to use OSCAR-10 until further notice. This period of dormancy is expected to last for several months. As soon as OSCAR-10 can support Mode-B transponder operations it will once again be released for general use. Early reports of OSCAR-10's beacon returning to full strength can be sent to VK5AGR @ PACSAT-1, @ UOSAT-3, @ 8J1JBS, or @ VK5WI. 73, Graham VK5AGR /EX -- Gary W. Sanders (gws@n8emr or ...!osu-cis!n8emr!gws), 72277,1325 N8EMR @ W8CQK (ip addr) 44.70.0.1 [Ohio AMPR address coordinator] HAM BBS (1200/2400/9600/V.32/PEP/MNP=L5) 614-895-2553 Voice: 614-895-2552 (eves/weekends) ------------------------------ Date: 25 Mar 91 00:13:00 GMT From: milton!yoda.eecs.wsu.edu!ckinsman@beaver.cs.washington.edu Subject: Any hamradio stores in SEATTLE ? To: info-hams@ucsd.edu In article <1991Mar20.172546.21694@funet.fi> ms86817@cs.tut.fi (Suokko Matti (OH5MRM)) writes: > > >I'm going to visit in Seattle, USA, during the next summer and I'm >wondering if there is any *GOOD* hamradio store in the city ? >If You know any, please inform me ! >I'm interested in all ham equipments and rigs (new/second hand). >(Prices are about double higher in Finland than in USA, hi !) > >If You know anything about this kind of stores, please EMAIL ME ! > > >--73 de Matti OH5MRM > Check out SEACOM. Chris -- ============================================================================= Chris Kinsman KINSMAN@WSUVM1 Washington State University 22487863@WSUVM1 Computing Service Center ckinsman@yoda.eecs.wsu.edu ------------------------------ Date: 24 Mar 91 18:16:07 GMT From: usc!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!pacific.mps.ohio-state.edu!linac!att!cbnewsj!k2ph@ucsd.edu Subject: DX QSL Help, Please To: info-hams@ucsd.edu In article <931@nddsun1.sps.mot.com>, markm@nddsun1.sps.mot.com (Mark Monninger) writes: > Greetings all you Net-Land DX hounds... > I worked UH1E on 15M last night. He said to QSL to his home QTH listed > under RA3QK in the callbook. I can't find RA in any of my information. > Anyone know where it is? I'm kind of new at this (DXing) and don't have > an international callbook. > > Thanks and 73's... > > Mark KG7JL UH is Turkmenistan. RA is the same as UA, which is to say European RSFSR. In any case, here's what my 1990 Callbook says for RA3QK: Alex Y. Zelenin Box 23 394000 Voronezh Good luck with the DXing! The Great Days of DX are here! DX Is! Be a Believer! -- ======================================================== Bob Schreibmaier K2PH | UUCP: ...!att!oblivion!k2ph AT&T Bell Laboratories | Internet: k2ph@oblivion.att.com Lincroft, N.J. 07738 | ICBM: 40o21'N, 74o8'W ------------------------------ Date: 24 Mar 91 08:50:58 GMT From: news-mail-gateway@ucsd.edu Subject: GEOMAGNETIC STORM INFORMATION UPDATE #1 - 24 MARCH To: info-hams@ucsd.edu /\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\ INFORMATIONAL MAGNETIC STORM UPDATE /\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\ 08:30 UT, 24 March ------------- ATTENTION: Severe geomagnetic storming has been observed over most North American middle and high latitude stations. Boulder reported a K-index of 8 for the 03-06 UT period. Severe storming continues in progress. Intense magnetic fluctuations are occurring which are capable of producing induction effects. The interplanetary shock speed has been corrected to a value of 800 km/s. Satellite protons (at geosynchronous altitudes) shot up by 11,000 particle flux units (p.f.u.) to 43,000 p.f.u. at greater than 10 MeV on 24 March at 03:50 UT. The shock arrived at 03:42 UT with a vengeance. Boulder recorded a magnetic SSC with an amplitude of 183 gammas. Local measurements have been more closely examined and show a rapid rise-time SSC measured at 180 gammas. Severe storming began shortly thereafter. The Polar Cap Absorption event has reached an absorption intensity of 46.5 dB's. The protons at greater than 100 MeV are now measured at 16 p.f.u.. Southerly middle latitude locations have observed auroral activity. Low latitude auroral activity is believed to be visible, although no confirming reports have been received yet. Most of the activity to 08:30 UT confirms the presence of bright red auroral patterns mixed with greyish arcs. Auroral oval expansion has occurred. Further southward migration is possible. It is difficult to say whether or not North American observers will be able to spot auroral activity tommorrow after dark. The storm could begin detensifying at that time. For interested observers, make the effort to check. The activity could still be present. It all depends on the duration of the storm, and that is very difficult to predict. Significant HF disruptions have occurred. Middle latitudes are experiencing significant levels of absorption, fading, flutter, distortion and noise. Near blackout conditions exist over many middle latitude locations (particularly the more northerly middle latitudes). Very poor to near blackout conditions are expected to continue throughout the next 12 to 24 hours. Some improvements can probably be expected thereafter (25/26 March). PLEASE REPORT AURORAL OBSERVATIONS, SIGNIFICANT HF SIGNAL ANOMALIES OR DEGRADATION, VHF BACKSCATTER COMMUNICATIONS, OR OTHER UNUSUAL PHENOMENA TO: OLER@HG.ULETH.CA. PLEASE INCLUDE THE DATE AND TIME OF THE OBSERVATION (LOCAL AND UT TIME), LOCATION (LATITUDE/LONGITUDE), AND A BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHENOMENA OBSERVED. /\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\ ------------------------------ Date: 24 Mar 91 19:20:42 GMT From: news-mail-gateway@ucsd.edu Subject: GEOMAGNETIC STORM INFORMATION UPDATE #2 - 24 MARCH To: info-hams@ucsd.edu /\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\ INFORMATIONAL MAGNETIC STORM UPDATE Storm Alert Cancellation /\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\ 19:00 UT, 24 March ------------- ATTENTION: The geomagnetic storm is winding down now. Geomagnetic activity began settling down around 13:00 UT on 24 March. A few low intensity minor storm level perturbations have been observed, but nothing significant has occurred now for over five hours. Geomagnetic storming peaked at severe storm levels between 03:42 UT and 06:00 UT on 24 March. Activity then became sustained at major storm levels until approximately 10:00 UT. Thereafter, activity decreased to minor storm levels and faded gradually to generally active conditions by 18:30 UT. Reports of auroral activity have been received as far south as 36 degrees north latitude over North America. Activity was reported from as far south as southern Nevada to northern Texas to North Carolina. Locations as far north as Alaska and northern Canada also witnessed significant levels of auroral activity. The Boulder A-index for 18:00 UT on 24 March is 62, which is very near the predicted levels and represents a moderate-intensity major geomagnetic storm. This storm has been classified as "Major." High latitude A-indices have been quite a bit higher (near and above 100). The storming at these latitudes has been classified as "Major to Severe." High latitude K-indices peaked at 9, while middle latitudes peaked at 8. Satellite proton and PCA activity is gradually decaying, although there will probably be several more days of satellite proton and PCA activity (barring any further major flares). HF propagation conditions have improved significantly over the past six hours. Propagation is now rated fair to good over the middle latitudes, while high and polar latitudes are still experiencing strong PCA-related absorption with periodic blackout periods and very poor propagation conditions. No reports of VHF auroral backscatter communications have been received yet, although not all of the reports are in yet. Conditions were favorable for auroral communications on VHF frequencies over high, middle and northerly low latitudes. Geomagnetic activity is not expected to intensify, although isolated periods of minor (and possibly major) storm level fluctuations are still possible during this post-storm period. Activity can be expected to increase slightly near local midnight, although widespread storming is not likely to be observed. Auroral activity has decreased in intensity and latitudinal extent. No significant low-latitude auroral activity is expected for tonight. There is a small chance for some isolated northerly low latitude auroral activity sightings, although this probability is quite low. Locations north of a line from central Oregon, central Idaho, northern Wyoming, south Dakota, southern Minnesota, southern Wisconsin, southern Michigan, southern New York and Conneticut will be more likely to witness further lower levels of auroral activity tonight (late 24 March, local time). There is still a high risk for high intensity major solar flaring from Region 6555. A major class M5.6/2B flare was observed at 22:20 UT on 23 March (at S23E06), although this flare was not large enough to produce any significant terrestrial impacts. It was impulsive and fairly radio-quiet. There is a strong possibility for another major proton flare from this region. This region will remain capable of producing high terrestrial impacts for the next four days. Renewed proton and PCA activity is possible if another proton flare occurs. Additional magnetic storming and low latitude auroral activity is possible if another major proton flare occurs. Watch for possible major flare alerts. The following alerts have been cancelled: - MAJOR GEOMAGNETIC STORM ALERT - LOW LATITUDE AURORAL ACTIVITY ALERT - ELECTRICAL GEOMAGNETIC INDUCTION ALERT The following alerts remain in progress: - SATELLITE PROTON EVENT ALERT - POLAR CAP ABSORPTION EVENT ALERT - POLAR RADIO SIGNAL BLACKOUT ALERT The following warnings remain in progress: - POTENTIAL MAJOR SOLAR FLARE ALERT - POTENTIAL PROTON FLARE ALERT /\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\ ------------------------------ Date: 24 Mar 91 19:53:06 GMT From: uupsi!rodan.acs.syr.edu!japullin@NYU.EDU Subject: Is radio an alternative to telephone for laypersons? To: info-hams@ucsd.edu Hello Due to job problems, my wife and I will have to be separated for a year or two. I will move to Utah while she will stay in NY state. I was wondering if there was any form of radio communication that we could use to cut phone bills. Although I am a life-long shortwave listener I have no experience in transmission. I think using shortwave is out of the question (hassles of licences, poor reliability of communication in novice-bands, etc). Is there anything else (VHF,UHF,SSB, whatever) that two people without previous experience can use to talk over such a distance, and which won't cost a fortune (say, less than $1500)? Sorry if the answer is obvious to you folks. Please email answers since I don't read these groups frequently. Thanks in advance. Regards. Jorge _______________________________________________________________________ Jorge Pullin, Physics Dept. Syracuse University, Syracuse NY 13244-1130 japullin@rodan.acs.syr.edu Phone/Fax:(315)443-1821/9103 _______________________________________________________________________ ------------------------------ Date: 24 Mar 91 17:13:39 GMT From: swrinde!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!pacific.mps.ohio-state.edu!linac!att!cbnewse!waco@ucsd.edu Subject: Looking for _Ham Radio_ articles To: info-hams@ucsd.edu I am trying to find three _Ham Radio_ articles for my friend UA0SAU. He has the fourth article in the series, but is looking for the first three. The series is entitled "Vertical Phased Arrays." The articles I am looking for are in the following issues of _Ham Radio_: Part 1: May, 1983, page 18 Part 2: June, 1983, page 24 Part 3: July, 1983, page 26 If you are able to supply copies of any or all of these articles, please contact me by e-mail. 73, WB9VGJ John L. Broughton AT&T Bell Laboratories 1200 E. Warrenville Rd. Naperville, IL 60566-7045 (708) 713-4319 john.l.broughton@att.com att!john.l.broughton ------------------------------ Date: 24 Mar 91 15:29:36 GMT From: vtserf!groupw.cns.vt.edu@uunet.uu.net Subject: Multiple antennas/radios on same feed line To: info-hams@ucsd.edu I have a few questions about using multiple radios or antennas on the same feed line. I have some background in CATV, so I may speak with sort of an accent. :-) Case 1: I have a braodband antenna (discone) that I use for my scanner. I would also like to use it for my 2m/70cm tranceiver. What I need is a hybrid splitter. (A 3 terminal device with about 3.5dB loss from the input to either output, and high isolation between the two outputs.) I have not seen any adds for something like this. I have seen adds for duplexers, which appear split the rf spectrum to the two ports with little insertion loss. Does such a thing exist? Case 2: Let's say that I have both 2m and 70cm antennas that I want to use on my dual-band. It looks like i need a duplexer to combine both of those on the same feed line. Am I correct about that? Phil (still waiting for my Tech license in the mail) Benchoff P.S. I have collected more information for the 2m/70cm HT chart and will publish the final version real soon now. ------------------------------ Date: 24 Mar 91 00:04:12 GMT From: ucselx!sol.ctr.columbia.edu!emory!swrinde!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!n8emr!gws@ucsd.edu Subject: RTTY DX Notes 3/22/91 To: info-hams@ucsd.edu ============================================================== | Relayed from packet radio via | | N8EMR's Ham BBS, 614-895-2553 1200/2400/9600/V.32/PEP/MNP5 | ============================================================== SB RTTYDX @ ALLBBS $KT7H81A RTTY DX Notes 1of3 3/22/91 RTTY DX Notes for week ending 22nd March 1991 BID: $KT7H81A Part 1 of 3. So last weekend was the BARTG RTTY Contest, and from reports received there were a lot of contacts made. Now we look forward to the first AMTOR DX contest, which will be conducted by the SARTG during April 20/21ST 1991. That should be very interesting, and will really try out the AMTOR chaps. (We pause here for a commercial) Then June 8th 0000Z until June 9th 2359Z ANARTS has their RTTY contest, which we (of course) will all be in. This year there is a slight change in the rules. Mainly that the overseas winners in the single operator, multi operator and the SWL sections will each receive a winners plaque, irrespective of their placing in the overall results. We hope that the presentation of these plaques to the winners will cause an influx of entries. Rules are available in the RTTY Journal, SARTG Journal and the BARTG Radcom. They may also be obtained from W. Storer, 55 Prince Charles Road, Frenches Forest, Sydney 2086 N.S.W. Australia. Our thanks this week go to DJ3IW and the Saar-Pfalz DX Club Packet Cluster, I5FLN, JA1BLV, K4FJ, LZ2BE, NT3B, TG9VT, VK2EG, W2JGR and the Tri-State DX Packet Cluster Network, and 9X5LJ. Thank you all for your loads of information. Sorry to say that I could not use it all, but it was all very useful, and I have used the best of it. I thank you again. Bandpass: Friday 15: LY1BYL 14090 at 0543Z 5N8ALE 21078 at 1444Z ARQ UC2OF 14086 at 1520Z RH8AX 14090 at 1522Z 9M2FO 21074 at 1720Z PJ1MR 14082 at 2145Z QSL UF6FJ 14090 at 2243Z Continued in part 2. /EX SB RTTYDX @ ALLBBS $KT7H81B RTTY DX Notes 2of3 3/22/91 RTTY DX Notes for week ending 22nd March 1991 BID: $KT7H81B Part 2 of 3. Saturday 16 TY1PS 14083 at 0003Z FG4FI 14084 at 0046Z RA9YO 21082 at 0525Z UF6FJ 21085 at 0745Z 3B9FR 21097 at 1256Z FH/JJ3IMY 21078 at 1600Z Note VU2SJV 28086 at 1629Z FM5WE 14089 at 2049Z Sunday 17: 9X5LJ 14071 at 0300Z ARQ FR5ZB 21088 at 0350Z P29BT 21087 at 0613Z 3B9FR 28086 at 0821Z 3DA0BW 28085 at 0906Z A22BW 28087 at 0952Z QSL OX7SAC 21091 at 1100Z 7X2DS 14083 at 1610Z 5N8ALE 21077 at 1750Z Z21GZ 21087 at 1836Z TF3EJ 21088 at 1846Z Monday 18: OX3EW 14088 at 0108Z 9Y4BU 14091 at 0133Z P29BTF 14091 at 1215Z VQ9RB 21071 at 1545Z QSL FR4FR 21074 at 1630Z QSL TF3EJ 21082 at 1635Z D68TS 21083 at 1640Z QSL/Note UM8NC 14090 at 1645Z V51P 21088 at 1751Z 7Q7LA 14087 at 2027Z FG4FI 14082 at 2139Z QSL Tuesday 19: OX3EW 14082 at 0436Z FK8FZ 21093 at 1100Z QSL P29BT 21091 at 1140Z 7Q7LA 14090 at 1540Z RO4OA 28088 at 1727Z QSL TJ1MR 14083 at 1743Z D68TS 14092 at 1750Z Wednesday 20: PJ7JC 14088 at 0346Z QSL 4K2OIL 14089 at 0355Z UO5OK 14086 at 0401Z QSL D68TS 14091 at 0455Z RC2AZ 14086 at 0655Z QSL XU1DK 21088 at 1337Z QSL EA8BRD 21086 at 2247Z Thursday 21: 9X5LJ 14071 at 0013Z ARQ HL5OC 21091 at 0046Z D68TS 14090 at 0246Z UZ4FWD 14086 at 0310Z Continued in part 3. /EX SB RTTYDX @ ALLBBS $KT7H81C RTTY DX Notes 3of3 3/22/91 RTTY DX Notes for week ending 22nd March 1991 BID: $KT7H81C Part 3 of 3. QSL Information: TJ1MR cards go via F6FNU. A22BW collects via DK3KD. P29BT has N5FIR as his manager. D68TS and group from FH will QSL via JA3UIX. VQ9RB says to QSL via WA4DPU. FR4FR is at Cure F.K. 14, 97430 Le Tampon, Reunion Is. FG4FI lives in Box 205, 97139 Abymes, Guadeloupe, F.W.I. RO4OA is at Box 249, Kishinev 277043, USSR. FK8BZ collects from Box 1954, Noumea. PJ7JC cards go to K2PEQ. UO5OK is at Box 71, Shadya-lunga, 278700, Moldavia, USSR. RC2AZ is at Box 80, Minsk-83, 220083, USSR. XU1DK will collect his cards from his previous address, Box 80, Kotimachi, Tokyo, 102-91. Japan. Notes of Interest: XU1DK has returned to air after some transmitter problems. He says that he will be very active on all bands. Tara (D68) says that the group went to Mayotte (FH), but conditions were very poor and not many contacts were made, for which they apologize. They have now completed their operation and should be back in Japan by the 25th. There has been no further movement to activate either Afghanistan or Bangladesh. But Jim Smith (VK9NS) is adamant that he will go to Bangladesh as soon as the political situation is stabilized. There has been no information from Afghanistan. We hope for some soon. Bhutan (A51) Jim and Kirsti Smith (VK9NS et al) will still be going to Bhutan in early May for a two week operation. More later. St Peter and Pauls Rocks still seem to be on schedule for early May, but nothing definite as yet. More later. GL DE DX1. This bulletin is the packet edition of the RTTY DX Notes written by VK2SG, and is edited and relayed by Tad, KT7H @ N7ENT.WA.USA.NA. /EX -- Gary W. Sanders (gws@n8emr or ...!osu-cis!n8emr!gws), 72277,1325 N8EMR @ W8CQK (ip addr) 44.70.0.1 [Ohio AMPR address coordinator] HAM BBS (1200/2400/9600/V.32/PEP/MNP=L5) 614-895-2553 Voice: 614-895-2552 (eves/weekends) ------------------------------ Date: 24 Mar 91 22:36:03 GMT From: usc!skat.usc.edu!vnagabhu@ucsd.edu Subject: WANTED INFO ON HAM-RADIO To: info-hams@ucsd.edu Hi, I am interested in ham-radio activity. I would be glad if someone could post me reply to the following queries. 1) I am primarily interested in reaching out to some parts of India. What type of transceiver should I buy?. 2) How to get a ham operator license? If anyone has a suitable tranceiver along the required paraphrenia, Pl send me your best offer, with tech. details. Vasuki ------------------------------ Date: 24 Mar 91 16:02:39 GMT From: usc!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!sol.ctr.columbia.edu!bronze!commgrp%silver.ucs.indiana.edu@ucsd.edu Subject: What is a "Sideswiper" CW Key? To: info-hams@ucsd.edu jim.grubs@w8grt.fidonet.org (Jim Grubs) writes: >hpb@hpb.cis.pitt.edu (Harry Bloomberg) writes: >>... >> "What exactly is a sideswiper?" >It is rather similar to a 'bug' except there is no vibrating reed on >the dot side. Call it a horizontal, SPDT straight key. On the paddles for an electronic keyer, connect the fixed contacts in parallel. Adjust the contacts for very small spacing. Then connect the paddles directly to the transmitter instead of to the electronic keyer. The hand moves in the opposite direction to make each dot or dash (sort of analogous to non-return-to-zero data encoding). The sideswiper might be called a "poor man's bug." In theory it's faster than a straight key because it saves the time of the return-motion of key and hand. I tried it a long time ago by bolting two straight keys together, base-to-base, and turning them sideways (hence the name). I also made one from a hacksaw blade (wasn't worthwhile). It can also be done by tying-down the vibrating part of a bug so that it doesn't make automatic dots (which is silly, but an easy experiment). The sideswiper gives a subtle (I think not especially desirable) quality to the CW signal that a very experienced operator might recognize. -- Frank W9MKV reid@ucs.indiana.edu ------------------------------ Date: 23 Mar 91 13:54:59 GMT From: tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!wuarchive!emory!wa4mei!ke4zv!gary@ucbvax.berkeley.edu To: info-hams@ucsd.edu References <45730@ut-emx.uucp>, <1546@aupair.cs.athabascau.ca>, <16729@chopin.udel.edu>io-s Reply-To : gary@ke4zv.UUCP (Gary Coffman) Subject : Re: phone stuff in cw bands In article <16729@chopin.udel.edu> skymaste@chopin.udel.edu (Paul S Masters) writes: >> >>And BTW, did I ever tell you about the Ws and Ks stomping on our >>nightly traffic net @ 3740 (Alberta Public Safety Net)? CW signals > ^^^^ > I don't hear them verry loudly, her in Delaware, but I am kind of > curious about how they can be here just about every night of the week? > Is this another case of FCC sitting on their lazy buts, or do these > people have special privelages. I could burn right through them with > CW; but that wouln't be nice, and there is plenty of room to QSY. Canadians don't answer to the US FCC, they answer to the Canadian equivalent. Canadians don't have the subband restrictions on operating modes that we in the States are saddled with. They can use any mode they like, anywhere they like. They do have voluntary bandplans that most of them follow, but they aren't the same as ours. Gary KE4ZV ------------------------------ Date: 24 Mar 91 13:48:35 GMT From: usc!cs.utexas.edu!bcm!lib!thesis1.hsch.utexas.edu@ucsd.edu To: info-hams@ucsd.edu References <9103192122.AA01566@ucsd.edu>, , <1991Mar23.015848.27076@bellcore.bellcore.com> Subject : Re: First No-code Tech? In article <1991Mar23.015848.27076@bellcore.bellcore.com> karn@thumper.bellcore.com writes: >Every day on my way to and from work I monitor one local repeater on >which the same two or three jaded (male) hams are having the same old >tired, content-free QSO over and over again. Very little of what they >say expresses a "love of radio" - in fact, the sarcasm and cynicism is >so strong that it's downright depressing to listen to. What do they do - read rec.radio.amateur.misc on the air? -- Jay Maynard, EMT-P, K5ZC, PP-ASEL | Never ascribe to malice that which can jmaynard@thesis1.hsch.utexas.edu | adequately be explained by stupidity. "You can even run GNUemacs under X-windows without paging if you allow about 32MB per user." -- Bill Davidsen "Oink!" -- me ------------------------------ End of Info-Hams Digest ****************************** From wang!elf.wang.com!ucsd.edu!info-hams-relay Mon Mar 25 04:25:07 1991 remote from tosspot Received: by tosspot (1.64/waf) via UUCP; Mon, 25 Mar 91 05:24:40 EST for lee Received: from somewhere by elf.wang.com id aa23231; Mon, 25 Mar 91 4:25:06 GMT Received: from ucsd.edu by relay1.UU.NET with SMTP (5.61/UUNET-shadow-mx) id AA08862; Sun, 24 Mar 91 23:14:54 -0500 Received: by ucsd.edu; id AA21816 sendmail 5.64/UCSD-2.1-sun Sun, 24 Mar 91 18:39:58 -0800 for brian Received: by ucsd.edu; id AA21798 sendmail 5.64/UCSD-2.1-sun Sun, 24 Mar 91 18:39:53 -0800 for /usr/lib/sendmail -oc -odb -oQ/var/spool/lqueue -oi -finfo-hams-relay info-hams-list Message-Id: <9103250239.AA21798@ucsd.edu> Date: Sun, 24 Mar 91 18:39:52 PST From: Info-Hams Mailing List and Newsgroup Reply-To: Info-Hams@ucsd.edu Subject: Info-Hams Digest V91 #236 To: Info-Hams@ucsd.edu Info-Hams Digest Sun, 24 Mar 91 Volume 91 : Issue 236 Today's Topics: !! MAG STORM CORRECTION - ALERT REISSUED AT 21:00 UT 24 MARCH !! AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 082.01 Any hamradio stores in SEATTLE ? DX QSL Help, Please GEOMAGNETIC STORM INFORMATION UPDATE #1 - 24 MARCH GEOMAGNETIC STORM INFORMATION UPDATE #2 - 24 MARCH Is radio an alternative to telephone for laypersons? Looking for _Ham Radio_ articles Multiple antennas/radios on same feed line RTTY DX Notes 3/22/91 WANTED INFO ON HAM-RADIO What is a "Sideswiper" CW Key? 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: 24 Mar 91 21:18:10 GMT From: news-mail-gateway@ucsd.edu Subject: !! MAG STORM CORRECTION - ALERT REISSUED AT 21:00 UT 24 MARCH !! To: info-hams@ucsd.edu CORRECTIONS: PLEASE READ /\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\ INFORMATIONAL MAGNETIC STORM UPDATE Storm Alert CONTINUATION /\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\ 21:00 UT, 24 March ------------- CORRECTION: The decision has been made to continue Major Geomagnetic Storm Alert until at least 06:00 UT on 24 March. Major geomagnetic storming has resumed as of 20:00 UT on 24 March. An intense perturbation accompanied with a local HF radio blackout has occurred. It appears the previous storm alert cancellation was premature. PLEASE DISREGARD THE PREVIOUS INFORMATIONAL STORM UPDATE MESSAGE. The following revised forecast has been issued. LOW LATITUDE AURORAL ACTIVITY WILL BE POSSIBLE for North American observers again this evening. Sporatic bursts of minor to major storm-level geomagnetic fluctuations accompanied by enhanced auroral activity will be possible. The past six to seven hour period of unsettled to active geomagnetic activity prompted a premature end to the storm warning. Ths warning will be updated near 06:00 UT. Electrical geomagnetic induction will remain possible (although somewhat less likely than 12 to 24 hours ago) throughout the period. The following alerts are IN PROGRESS (disregard previous update): - MAJOR GEOMAGNETIC STORM ALERT (reissued as of 21:00 UT, 24 March) - LOW LATITUDE AURORAL ACTIVITY ALERT (reissued as of 21:00 UT, 24 March) - ELECTRICAL GEOMAGNETIC INDUCTION ALERT (reissued as of 21:00 UT, 24 March) - SATELLITE PROTON EVENT ALERT - POLAR CAP ABSORPTION EVENT ALERT - POLAR TO MIDDLE LATITUDE RADIO SIGNAL BLACKOUT ALERT The following warnings remain in progress: - POTENTIAL MAJOR SOLAR FLARE ALERT - POTENTIAL PROTON FLARE ALERT /\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\ ------------------------------ Date: 24 Mar 91 19:03:07 GMT From: swrinde!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!n8emr!gws@ucsd.edu Subject: AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 082.01 To: info-hams@ucsd.edu ============================================================== | Relayed from AMSAT BBS NETWORK | | N8EMR's Ham BBS, 614-895-2553 1200/2400/9600/V.32/PEP/MNP5 | ============================================================== SB ALL @ AMSAT $ANS-082.01 AO-16 S/W TIMER RESETS OBC HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 082.01 FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD MARCH 23, 1991 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT Heavy Usage Of BBS Leads To Reset Of AO-16 On-Board Computer (OBC) Just when AMSAT Software Engineers thought they had a stable and robust ver- sion of the file server software (FTL0) running smoothly aboard AO-16, they got a suprise this week when the OBC crashed on Monday, March 18, 1991 at 21:11:47 UTC. It appears that while AO-16 was over Western Europe and experiencing heavy usage, a critical software timer ran out. At this point many PACSAT users are probably wondering why these timers even exist. The purpose of timers in the PACSATs is to prevent any part of the software from getting stuck in an "infinite" loop and thereby preventing the ground command stations from sending commands. NK6K believes that what happened over Europe was that AO-16 was seeing so much usage that the multi-tasking OBC could not "service" the PACSAT Housekeeping Task (PHT) module within the allotted three minutes. This then lead the PHT module to "think" that something had "bogged downed" the OBC and therefore it did exactly what it was programmed to do, reset the OBC. Once this happened, the ground command team immediately went into action to start reloading the BBS software. This was accomplished by Saturday, March 23, 1991 and AO-16's is now back in operation with the BBS running. Unfortunately, ground command stations had to perform a "cold start" of the file system and all files stored aboard AO-16 before the crash were lost. In order to prevent the occurence of this sort of problem again, NK6K has now set this "watchdog" timer to nine minutes. He has also "patched" the software aboard LO-19 to prevent the occurence of this problem there. In summary, as more users start showing up on the PACSATs, the BBS software will need some "tweaking and fine tunning" from time-to-time. These types of problems are bound to occur, but as the AMSAT Software Engineering team sees it, these types of problems will occur with less frequency in the future. /EX SB ALL @ AMSAT $ANS-082.02 WO-18 SHOOTS THE MOON HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 082.02 FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD MARCH 23, 1991 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT WO-18 Status Report March 23, 1991 This week, WEBERSAT contorllers began shooting pictures in the dark with wide iris settings to establish controls for the upcoming full moon imaging experiments. In so doing, they managed to achieve a new milestone. The currently transmitting picture 7 has what is almost certainly the moon in its upper right hand corner. There are several interesting things about this. First, the phase is crescent, i.e., little of the moon is lit. Despite this, the brightness of the bytes of the object are well above 170, which suggests a full moon might indeed adequately illuminate the Earth for imaging. The specifications for the camera indicated that this was not probable. The device was not selected to be able to image astronomical (relatively dim) objects, but it apparently can. This picture will be transmitted most of the time during the next few days, but the satellite does have to start shooting again as the moon becomes brighter and brighter. All shots will be arranged to take place around this moon picture in memory. It will be available for later transmission after the full moon fades. Unfortunately, SEU's in the horizontal sync region have already corrupted the bottom of the picture and as time passes this can get worse. [ANS thanks WA3PSD for this bulletin.] /EX SB ALL @ AMSAT $ANS-082.03 EXPERIMENTERS DAY SCHEDULE HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 082.03 FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD MARCH 23, 1991 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT PACSAT Experimenter's Day Operations Schedule The schedule for future PACSAT Experimenter's Day operations is: DATE START TIME END TIME 27 March 0320 UTC - 27 March 0255 UTC - 28 March 03 April 0505 UTC - 03 April 0615 UTC - 04 April While operation of the S-Band and raised cosine PSK transmitters is scheduled to be conducted weekly, users are cautioned that these operations may be shortened or canceled to allow uploading of improved spacecraft software. Watch for bulletins in the BBS and the telemetry text frame of AO-16 for changes to the schedule. [ANS thanks Bruce Rahn, WB9ANQ for the information for this bulletin] /EX SB ALL @ AMSAT $ANS-082.04 OPERATIONS NET SCHEDULE HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 082.04 FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD MARCH 23, 1991 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT AMSAT-NA Operations Net Schedule AMSAT Operations Nets are planned for the following times. Mode B nets are conducted on an AO-13 downlink frequency of 145.950. Mode J/L nets are conducted on an AO-13 downlink frequency of 435.970. Date UTC Mode Phs NCS Alternates U.S. day 30 Mar 91 2345 J/L 103 WJ9F WB9ANQ KA5SMA Saturday 07 Apr 91 0315 J/L 99 WD0E WA5ZIB KA5SMA Saturday 17 Apr 91 0330 J/L 97 WB6LLO N5BF WJ9F Tuesday The Operations Net features guest speakers approximately every other week to provide up-to-the-minute information on topics of interest to various sorts of satellite users. Watch ANS for information on guest speakers and topics. /EX SB ALL @ AMSAT $ANS-082.05 NEW AO-13 TRANSPONDER SCHEDULE HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 082.05 FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD MARCH 23, 1991 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT AO-13 Spring Schedule Announced, AO-10 Not Presently Available Around 27 March 91, AO-13 is scheduled for a reorientation to target BLON = 180 and BLAT = 0. The transponder schedule for 27 March 91 through 19 June 91 is expected to be: Mode-B : MA 000 to MA 095 | Mode-JL: MA 095 to MA 125 | Mode-LS: MA 125 to MA 130 | Mode-S : MA 130 to MA 140 | Mode-BS: < discontinued > | <-- Note 1 Mode-B : MA 140 to MA 256 | <-- Note 2 Omnis : MA 240 to MA 030 | Note 1 - The transponder schedule for 27 March 91 to 19 June 91 will see the end of Mode-BS because Mode-S operation while the Mode-B transponder was active was impractical due to interference from Mode-B users. Note 2 - Originally the attitude change back to 210/0 was planned for early May because solar eclipses affecting AO-13 begin on 22 May 91 and in the past it has been the AO-13 command team policy NOT to magnetorque during eclipses. However, in August this year we have NO choice but to magnetorque during the eclipses so it was thought that we could gain some experience in magnetorquing during eclipses in June with a bonus of an extra month of operation with the more favorable attitude of 180/0 in the process. The downside of this proposal is that ALL transponders will have to be switched OFF from MA 200 through perigee to MA 035 from 22 May 91 to 24 Jun 91 even though magnetorquing will not start until 17 Jun 91. Having the transponders OFF from MA 200 to MA 035 from 22 May 91 until 17 Jun 91 will give us an opportunity to gauge the state of the battery prior to the start of the eclipse. Currently, OSCAR-10 is obviously not receiving sufficient solar panel illumination to support even the beacon much less the transponder. PLEASE DO NOT attempt to use OSCAR-10 until further notice. This period of dormancy is expected to last for several months. As soon as OSCAR-10 can support Mode-B transponder operations it will once again be released for general use. Early reports of OSCAR-10's beacon returning to full strength can be sent to VK5AGR @ PACSAT-1, @ UOSAT-3, @ 8J1JBS, or @ VK5WI. 73, Graham VK5AGR /EX -- Gary W. Sanders (gws@n8emr or ...!osu-cis!n8emr!gws), 72277,1325 N8EMR @ W8CQK (ip addr) 44.70.0.1 [Ohio AMPR address coordinator] HAM BBS (1200/2400/9600/V.32/PEP/MNP=L5) 614-895-2553 Voice: 614-895-2552 (eves/weekends) ------------------------------ Date: 25 Mar 91 00:13:00 GMT From: milton!yoda.eecs.wsu.edu!ckinsman@beaver.cs.washington.edu Subject: Any hamradio stores in SEATTLE ? To: info-hams@ucsd.edu In article <1991Mar20.172546.21694@funet.fi> ms86817@cs.tut.fi (Suokko Matti (OH5MRM)) writes: > > >I'm going to visit in Seattle, USA, during the next summer and I'm >wondering if there is any *GOOD* hamradio store in the city ? >If You know any, please inform me ! >I'm interested in all ham equipments and rigs (new/second hand). >(Prices are about double higher in Finland than in USA, hi !) > >If You know anything about this kind of stores, please EMAIL ME ! > > >--73 de Matti OH5MRM > Check out SEACOM. Chris -- ============================================================================= Chris Kinsman KINSMAN@WSUVM1 Washington State University 22487863@WSUVM1 Computing Service Center ckinsman@yoda.eecs.wsu.edu ------------------------------ Date: 24 Mar 91 18:16:07 GMT From: usc!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!pacific.mps.ohio-state.edu!linac!att!cbnewsj!k2ph@ucsd.edu Subject: DX QSL Help, Please To: info-hams@ucsd.edu In article <931@nddsun1.sps.mot.com>, markm@nddsun1.sps.mot.com (Mark Monninger) writes: > Greetings all you Net-Land DX hounds... > I worked UH1E on 15M last night. He said to QSL to his home QTH listed > under RA3QK in the callbook. I can't find RA in any of my information. > Anyone know where it is? I'm kind of new at this (DXing) and don't have > an international callbook. > > Thanks and 73's... > > Mark KG7JL UH is Turkmenistan. RA is the same as UA, which is to say European RSFSR. In any case, here's what my 1990 Callbook says for RA3QK: Alex Y. Zelenin Box 23 394000 Voronezh Good luck with the DXing! The Great Days of DX are here! DX Is! Be a Believer! -- ======================================================== Bob Schreibmaier K2PH | UUCP: ...!att!oblivion!k2ph AT&T Bell Laboratories | Internet: k2ph@oblivion.att.com Lincroft, N.J. 07738 | ICBM: 40o21'N, 74o8'W ------------------------------ Date: 24 Mar 91 08:50:58 GMT From: news-mail-gateway@ucsd.edu Subject: GEOMAGNETIC STORM INFORMATION UPDATE #1 - 24 MARCH To: info-hams@ucsd.edu /\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\ INFORMATIONAL MAGNETIC STORM UPDATE /\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\ 08:30 UT, 24 March ------------- ATTENTION: Severe geomagnetic storming has been observed over most North American middle and high latitude stations. Boulder reported a K-index of 8 for the 03-06 UT period. Severe storming continues in progress. Intense magnetic fluctuations are occurring which are capable of producing induction effects. The interplanetary shock speed has been corrected to a value of 800 km/s. Satellite protons (at geosynchronous altitudes) shot up by 11,000 particle flux units (p.f.u.) to 43,000 p.f.u. at greater than 10 MeV on 24 March at 03:50 UT. The shock arrived at 03:42 UT with a vengeance. Boulder recorded a magnetic SSC with an amplitude of 183 gammas. Local measurements have been more closely examined and show a rapid rise-time SSC measured at 180 gammas. Severe storming began shortly thereafter. The Polar Cap Absorption event has reached an absorption intensity of 46.5 dB's. The protons at greater than 100 MeV are now measured at 16 p.f.u.. Southerly middle latitude locations have observed auroral activity. Low latitude auroral activity is believed to be visible, although no confirming reports have been received yet. Most of the activity to 08:30 UT confirms the presence of bright red auroral patterns mixed with greyish arcs. Auroral oval expansion has occurred. Further southward migration is possible. It is difficult to say whether or not North American observers will be able to spot auroral activity tommorrow after dark. The storm could begin detensifying at that time. For interested observers, make the effort to check. The activity could still be present. It all depends on the duration of the storm, and that is very difficult to predict. Significant HF disruptions have occurred. Middle latitudes are experiencing significant levels of absorption, fading, flutter, distortion and noise. Near blackout conditions exist over many middle latitude locations (particularly the more northerly middle latitudes). Very poor to near blackout conditions are expected to continue throughout the next 12 to 24 hours. Some improvements can probably be expected thereafter (25/26 March). PLEASE REPORT AURORAL OBSERVATIONS, SIGNIFICANT HF SIGNAL ANOMALIES OR DEGRADATION, VHF BACKSCATTER COMMUNICATIONS, OR OTHER UNUSUAL PHENOMENA TO: OLER@HG.ULETH.CA. PLEASE INCLUDE THE DATE AND TIME OF THE OBSERVATION (LOCAL AND UT TIME), LOCATION (LATITUDE/LONGITUDE), AND A BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHENOMENA OBSERVED. /\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\ ------------------------------ Date: 24 Mar 91 19:20:42 GMT From: news-mail-gateway@ucsd.edu Subject: GEOMAGNETIC STORM INFORMATION UPDATE #2 - 24 MARCH To: info-hams@ucsd.edu /\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\ INFORMATIONAL MAGNETIC STORM UPDATE Storm Alert Cancellation /\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\ 19:00 UT, 24 March ------------- ATTENTION: The geomagnetic storm is winding down now. Geomagnetic activity began settling down around 13:00 UT on 24 March. A few low intensity minor storm level perturbations have been observed, but nothing significant has occurred now for over five hours. Geomagnetic storming peaked at severe storm levels between 03:42 UT and 06:00 UT on 24 March. Activity then became sustained at major storm levels until approximately 10:00 UT. Thereafter, activity decreased to minor storm levels and faded gradually to generally active conditions by 18:30 UT. Reports of auroral activity have been received as far south as 36 degrees north latitude over North America. Activity was reported from as far south as southern Nevada to northern Texas to North Carolina. Locations as far north as Alaska and northern Canada also witnessed significant levels of auroral activity. The Boulder A-index for 18:00 UT on 24 March is 62, which is very near the predicted levels and represents a moderate-intensity major geomagnetic storm. This storm has been classified as "Major." High latitude A-indices have been quite a bit higher (near and above 100). The storming at these latitudes has been classified as "Major to Severe." High latitude K-indices peaked at 9, while middle latitudes peaked at 8. Satellite proton and PCA activity is gradually decaying, although there will probably be several more days of satellite proton and PCA activity (barring any further major flares). HF propagation conditions have improved significantly over the past six hours. Propagation is now rated fair to good over the middle latitudes, while high and polar latitudes are still experiencing strong PCA-related absorption with periodic blackout periods and very poor propagation conditions. No reports of VHF auroral backscatter communications have been received yet, although not all of the reports are in yet. Conditions were favorable for auroral communications on VHF frequencies over high, middle and northerly low latitudes. Geomagnetic activity is not expected to intensify, although isolated periods of minor (and possibly major) storm level fluctuations are still possible during this post-storm period. Activity can be expected to increase slightly near local midnight, although widespread storming is not likely to be observed. Auroral activity has decreased in intensity and latitudinal extent. No significant low-latitude auroral activity is expected for tonight. There is a small chance for some isolated northerly low latitude auroral activity sightings, although this probability is quite low. Locations north of a line from central Oregon, central Idaho, northern Wyoming, south Dakota, southern Minnesota, southern Wisconsin, southern Michigan, southern New York and Conneticut will be more likely to witness further lower levels of auroral activity tonight (late 24 March, local time). There is still a high risk for high intensity major solar flaring from Region 6555. A major class M5.6/2B flare was observed at 22:20 UT on 23 March (at S23E06), although this flare was not large enough to produce any significant terrestrial impacts. It was impulsive and fairly radio-quiet. There is a strong possibility for another major proton flare from this region. This region will remain capable of producing high terrestrial impacts for the next four days. Renewed proton and PCA activity is possible if another proton flare occurs. Additional magnetic storming and low latitude auroral activity is possible if another major proton flare occurs. Watch for possible major flare alerts. The following alerts have been cancelled: - MAJOR GEOMAGNETIC STORM ALERT - LOW LATITUDE AURORAL ACTIVITY ALERT - ELECTRICAL GEOMAGNETIC INDUCTION ALERT The following alerts remain in progress: - SATELLITE PROTON EVENT ALERT - POLAR CAP ABSORPTION EVENT ALERT - POLAR RADIO SIGNAL BLACKOUT ALERT The following warnings remain in progress: - POTENTIAL MAJOR SOLAR FLARE ALERT - POTENTIAL PROTON FLARE ALERT /\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\ ------------------------------ Date: 24 Mar 91 19:53:06 GMT From: uupsi!rodan.acs.syr.edu!japullin@NYU.EDU Subject: Is radio an alternative to telephone for laypersons? To: info-hams@ucsd.edu Hello Due to job problems, my wife and I will have to be separated for a year or two. I will move to Utah while she will stay in NY state. I was wondering if there was any form of radio communication that we could use to cut phone bills. Although I am a life-long shortwave listener I have no experience in transmission. I think using shortwave is out of the question (hassles of licences, poor reliability of communication in novice-bands, etc). Is there anything else (VHF,UHF,SSB, whatever) that two people without previous experience can use to talk over such a distance, and which won't cost a fortune (say, less than $1500)? Sorry if the answer is obvious to you folks. Please email answers since I don't read these groups frequently. Thanks in advance. Regards. Jorge _______________________________________________________________________ Jorge Pullin, Physics Dept. Syracuse University, Syracuse NY 13244-1130 japullin@rodan.acs.syr.edu Phone/Fax:(315)443-1821/9103 _______________________________________________________________________ ------------------------------ Date: 24 Mar 91 17:13:39 GMT From: swrinde!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!pacific.mps.ohio-state.edu!linac!att!cbnewse!waco@ucsd.edu Subject: Looking for _Ham Radio_ articles To: info-hams@ucsd.edu I am trying to find three _Ham Radio_ articles for my friend UA0SAU. He has the fourth article in the series, but is looking for the first three. The series is entitled "Vertical Phased Arrays." The articles I am looking for are in the following issues of _Ham Radio_: Part 1: May, 1983, page 18 Part 2: June, 1983, page 24 Part 3: July, 1983, page 26 If you are able to supply copies of any or all of these articles, please contact me by e-mail. 73, WB9VGJ John L. Broughton AT&T Bell Laboratories 1200 E. Warrenville Rd. Naperville, IL 60566-7045 (708) 713-4319 john.l.broughton@att.com att!john.l.broughton ------------------------------ Date: 24 Mar 91 15:29:36 GMT From: vtserf!groupw.cns.vt.edu@uunet.uu.net Subject: Multiple antennas/radios on same feed line To: info-hams@ucsd.edu I have a few questions about using multiple radios or antennas on the same feed line. I have some background in CATV, so I may speak with sort of an accent. :-) Case 1: I have a braodband antenna (discone) that I use for my scanner. I would also like to use it for my 2m/70cm tranceiver. What I need is a hybrid splitter. (A 3 terminal device with about 3.5dB loss from the input to either output, and high isolation between the two outputs.) I have not seen any adds for something like this. I have seen adds for duplexers, which appear split the rf spectrum to the two ports with little insertion loss. Does such a thing exist? Case 2: Let's say that I have both 2m and 70cm antennas that I want to use on my dual-band. It looks like i need a duplexer to combine both of those on the same feed line. Am I correct about that? Phil (still waiting for my Tech license in the mail) Benchoff P.S. I have collected more information for the 2m/70cm HT chart and will publish the final version real soon now. ------------------------------ Date: 24 Mar 91 00:04:12 GMT From: ucselx!sol.ctr.columbia.edu!emory!swrinde!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!n8emr!gws@ucsd.edu Subject: RTTY DX Notes 3/22/91 To: info-hams@ucsd.edu ============================================================== | Relayed from packet radio via | | N8EMR's Ham BBS, 614-895-2553 1200/2400/9600/V.32/PEP/MNP5 | ============================================================== SB RTTYDX @ ALLBBS $KT7H81A RTTY DX Notes 1of3 3/22/91 RTTY DX Notes for week ending 22nd March 1991 BID: $KT7H81A Part 1 of 3. So last weekend was the BARTG RTTY Contest, and from reports received there were a lot of contacts made. Now we look forward to the first AMTOR DX contest, which will be conducted by the SARTG during April 20/21ST 1991. That should be very interesting, and will really try out the AMTOR chaps. (We pause here for a commercial) Then June 8th 0000Z until June 9th 2359Z ANARTS has their RTTY contest, which we (of course) will all be in. This year there is a slight change in the rules. Mainly that the overseas winners in the single operator, multi operator and the SWL sections will each receive a winners plaque, irrespective of their placing in the overall results. We hope that the presentation of these plaques to the winners will cause an influx of entries. Rules are available in the RTTY Journal, SARTG Journal and the BARTG Radcom. They may also be obtained from W. Storer, 55 Prince Charles Road, Frenches Forest, Sydney 2086 N.S.W. Australia. Our thanks this week go to DJ3IW and the Saar-Pfalz DX Club Packet Cluster, I5FLN, JA1BLV, K4FJ, LZ2BE, NT3B, TG9VT, VK2EG, W2JGR and the Tri-State DX Packet Cluster Network, and 9X5LJ. Thank you all for your loads of information. Sorry to say that I could not use it all, but it was all very useful, and I have used the best of it. I thank you again. Bandpass: Friday 15: LY1BYL 14090 at 0543Z 5N8ALE 21078 at 1444Z ARQ UC2OF 14086 at 1520Z RH8AX 14090 at 1522Z 9M2FO 21074 at 1720Z PJ1MR 14082 at 2145Z QSL UF6FJ 14090 at 2243Z Continued in part 2. /EX SB RTTYDX @ ALLBBS $KT7H81B RTTY DX Notes 2of3 3/22/91 RTTY DX Notes for week ending 22nd March 1991 BID: $KT7H81B Part 2 of 3. Saturday 16 TY1PS 14083 at 0003Z FG4FI 14084 at 0046Z RA9YO 21082 at 0525Z UF6FJ 21085 at 0745Z 3B9FR 21097 at 1256Z FH/JJ3IMY 21078 at 1600Z Note VU2SJV 28086 at 1629Z FM5WE 14089 at 2049Z Sunday 17: 9X5LJ 14071 at 0300Z ARQ FR5ZB 21088 at 0350Z P29BT 21087 at 0613Z 3B9FR 28086 at 0821Z 3DA0BW 28085 at 0906Z A22BW 28087 at 0952Z QSL OX7SAC 21091 at 1100Z 7X2DS 14083 at 1610Z 5N8ALE 21077 at 1750Z Z21GZ 21087 at 1836Z TF3EJ 21088 at 1846Z Monday 18: OX3EW 14088 at 0108Z 9Y4BU 14091 at 0133Z P29BTF 14091 at 1215Z VQ9RB 21071 at 1545Z QSL FR4FR 21074 at 1630Z QSL TF3EJ 21082 at 1635Z D68TS 21083 at 1640Z QSL/Note UM8NC 14090 at 1645Z V51P 21088 at 1751Z 7Q7LA 14087 at 2027Z FG4FI 14082 at 2139Z QSL Tuesday 19: OX3EW 14082 at 0436Z FK8FZ 21093 at 1100Z QSL P29BT 21091 at 1140Z 7Q7LA 14090 at 1540Z RO4OA 28088 at 1727Z QSL TJ1MR 14083 at 1743Z D68TS 14092 at 1750Z Wednesday 20: PJ7JC 14088 at 0346Z QSL 4K2OIL 14089 at 0355Z UO5OK 14086 at 0401Z QSL D68TS 14091 at 0455Z RC2AZ 14086 at 0655Z QSL XU1DK 21088 at 1337Z QSL EA8BRD 21086 at 2247Z Thursday 21: 9X5LJ 14071 at 0013Z ARQ HL5OC 21091 at 0046Z D68TS 14090 at 0246Z UZ4FWD 14086 at 0310Z Continued in part 3. /EX SB RTTYDX @ ALLBBS $KT7H81C RTTY DX Notes 3of3 3/22/91 RTTY DX Notes for week ending 22nd March 1991 BID: $KT7H81C Part 3 of 3. QSL Information: TJ1MR cards go via F6FNU. A22BW collects via DK3KD. P29BT has N5FIR as his manager. D68TS and group from FH will QSL via JA3UIX. VQ9RB says to QSL via WA4DPU. FR4FR is at Cure F.K. 14, 97430 Le Tampon, Reunion Is. FG4FI lives in Box 205, 97139 Abymes, Guadeloupe, F.W.I. RO4OA is at Box 249, Kishinev 277043, USSR. FK8BZ collects from Box 1954, Noumea. PJ7JC cards go to K2PEQ. UO5OK is at Box 71, Shadya-lunga, 278700, Moldavia, USSR. RC2AZ is at Box 80, Minsk-83, 220083, USSR. XU1DK will collect his cards from his previous address, Box 80, Kotimachi, Tokyo, 102-91. Japan. Notes of Interest: XU1DK has returned to air after some transmitter problems. He says that he will be very active on all bands. Tara (D68) says that the group went to Mayotte (FH), but conditions were very poor and not many contacts were made, for which they apologize. They have now completed their operation and should be back in Japan by the 25th. There has been no further movement to activate either Afghanistan or Bangladesh. But Jim Smith (VK9NS) is adamant that he will go to Bangladesh as soon as the political situation is stabilized. There has been no information from Afghanistan. We hope for some soon. Bhutan (A51) Jim and Kirsti Smith (VK9NS et al) will still be going to Bhutan in early May for a two week operation. More later. St Peter and Pauls Rocks still seem to be on schedule for early May, but nothing definite as yet. More later. GL DE DX1. This bulletin is the packet edition of the RTTY DX Notes written by VK2SG, and is edited and relayed by Tad, KT7H @ N7ENT.WA.USA.NA. /EX -- Gary W. Sanders (gws@n8emr or ...!osu-cis!n8emr!gws), 72277,1325 N8EMR @ W8CQK (ip addr) 44.70.0.1 [Ohio AMPR address coordinator] HAM BBS (1200/2400/9600/V.32/PEP/MNP=L5) 614-895-2553 Voice: 614-895-2552 (eves/weekends) ------------------------------ Date: 24 Mar 91 22:36:03 GMT From: usc!skat.usc.edu!vnagabhu@ucsd.edu Subject: WANTED INFO ON HAM-RADIO To: info-hams@ucsd.edu Hi, I am interested in ham-radio activity. I would be glad if someone could post me reply to the following queries. 1) I am primarily interested in reaching out to some parts of India. What type of transceiver should I buy?. 2) How to get a ham operator license? If anyone has a suitable tranceiver along the required paraphrenia, Pl send me your best offer, with tech. details. Vasuki ------------------------------ Date: 24 Mar 91 16:02:39 GMT From: usc!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!sol.ctr.columbia.edu!bronze!commgrp%silver.ucs.indiana.edu@ucsd.edu Subject: What is a "Sideswiper" CW Key? To: info-hams@ucsd.edu jim.grubs@w8grt.fidonet.org (Jim Grubs) writes: >hpb@hpb.cis.pitt.edu (Harry Bloomberg) writes: >>... >> "What exactly is a sideswiper?" >It is rather similar to a 'bug' except there is no vibrating reed on >the dot side. Call it a horizontal, SPDT straight key. On the paddles for an electronic keyer, connect the fixed contacts in parallel. Adjust the contacts for very small spacing. Then connect the paddles directly to the transmitter instead of to the electronic keyer. The hand moves in the opposite direction to make each dot or dash (sort of analogous to non-return-to-zero data encoding). The sideswiper might be called a "poor man's bug." In theory it's faster than a straight key because it saves the time of the return-motion of key and hand. I tried it a long time ago by bolting two straight keys together, base-to-base, and turning them sideways (hence the name). I also made one from a hacksaw blade (wasn't worthwhile). It can also be done by tying-down the vibrating part of a bug so that it doesn't make automatic dots (which is silly, but an easy experiment). The sideswiper gives a subtle (I think not especially desirable) quality to the CW signal that a very experienced operator might recognize. -- Frank W9MKV reid@ucs.indiana.edu ------------------------------ Date: 23 Mar 91 13:54:59 GMT From: tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!wuarchive!emory!wa4mei!ke4zv!gary@ucbvax.berkeley.edu To: info-hams@ucsd.edu References <45730@ut-emx.uucp>, <1546@aupair.cs.athabascau.ca>, <16729@chopin.udel.edu>io-s Reply-To : gary@ke4zv.UUCP (Gary Coffman) Subject : Re: phone stuff in cw bands In article <16729@chopin.udel.edu> skymaste@chopin.udel.edu (Paul S Masters) writes: >> >>And BTW, did I ever tell you about the Ws and Ks stomping on our >>nightly traffic net @ 3740 (Alberta Public Safety Net)? CW signals > ^^^^ > I don't hear them verry loudly, her in Delaware, but I am kind of > curious about how they can be here just about every night of the week? > Is this another case of FCC sitting on their lazy buts, or do these > people have special privelages. I could burn right through them with > CW; but that wouln't be nice, and there is plenty of room to QSY. Canadians don't answer to the US FCC, they answer to the Canadian equivalent. Canadians don't have the subband restrictions on operating modes that we in the States are saddled with. They can use any mode they like, anywhere they like. They do have voluntary bandplans that most of them follow, but they aren't the same as ours. Gary KE4ZV ------------------------------ Date: 24 Mar 91 13:48:35 GMT From: usc!cs.utexas.edu!bcm!lib!thesis1.hsch.utexas.edu@ucsd.edu To: info-hams@ucsd.edu References <9103192122.AA01566@ucsd.edu>, , <1991Mar23.015848.27076@bellcore.bellcore.com> Subject : Re: First No-code Tech? In article <1991Mar23.015848.27076@bellcore.bellcore.com> karn@thumper.bellcore.com writes: >Every day on my way to and from work I monitor one local repeater on >which the same two or three jaded (male) hams are having the same old >tired, content-free QSO over and over again. Very little of what they >say expresses a "love of radio" - in fact, the sarcasm and cynicism is >so strong that it's downright depressing to listen to. What do they do - read rec.radio.amateur.misc on the air? -- Jay Maynard, EMT-P, K5ZC, PP-ASEL | Never ascribe to malice that which can jmaynard@thesis1.hsch.utexas.edu | adequately be explained by stupidity. "You can even run GNUemacs under X-windows without paging if you allow about 32MB per user." -- Bill Davidsen "Oink!" -- me ------------------------------ End of Info-Hams Digest ******************************