From wang!elf.wang.com!ucsd.edu!info-hams-relay Tue Mar 26 08:50:33 1991 remote from tosspot Received: by tosspot (1.64/waf) via UUCP; Tue, 26 Mar 91 17:16:20 EST for lee Received: from somewhere by elf.wang.com id aa08817; Tue, 26 Mar 91 8:50:31 GMT Received: from ucsd.edu by relay1.UU.NET with SMTP (5.61/UUNET-shadow-mx) id AA19106; Tue, 26 Mar 91 03:43:16 -0500 Received: by ucsd.edu; id AA15743 sendmail 5.64/UCSD-2.1-sun Mon, 25 Mar 91 22:39:27 -0800 for brian Received: by ucsd.edu; id AA15729 sendmail 5.64/UCSD-2.1-sun Mon, 25 Mar 91 22:39:23 -0800 for /usr/lib/sendmail -oc -odb -oQ/var/spool/lqueue -oi -finfo-hams-relay info-hams-list Message-Id: <9103260639.AA15729@ucsd.edu> Date: Mon, 25 Mar 91 22:39:22 PST From: Info-Hams Mailing List and Newsgroup Reply-To: Info-Hams@ucsd.edu Subject: Info-Hams Digest V91 #239 To: Info-Hams@ucsd.edu Info-Hams Digest Mon, 25 Mar 91 Volume 91 : Issue 239 Today's Topics: 20m courtesy a few fundamental questions about RF signals (2 msgs) anybody out there ever fixed a tv Can you really learn code from tapes? ICOM-245 Modification ICOM R7000 serial port and Mac KA2XX MAJOR GEOMAGNETIC STORM UPDATE #1 - 26 MARCH - STORM CONTINUES MAJOR GEOMAGNETIC STORM UPDATE #2 - 25 MARCH - ALERT UPDATES MAJOR SOLAR FLARE ALERT #2 - 25 MARCH - IMPACT EXPECTED Straight keys vs. iambic the Freeband below 10 meters VHF/UHF antenna design [a mathematical approach] 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: 26 Mar 91 01:31:00 GMT From: news-mail-gateway@ucsd.edu Subject: 20m courtesy To: info-hams@ucsd.edu >operators between 28.3 and 28.5. On 20m, I have found many rude operators, >and unless you've got 1500 watts and a beam, you might as well go to >some other band. (I am refering to the phone portion of the band, not >the CW portion.) For that matter, I also find a number of friendly I agree that courtesy can sometimes be a problem, but I've been working 20m phone for about 3 months now with an old TEMPO ONE and a wire Zepp dipole cut for 7.1 MHz, and I've logged about 50 countries and have not heard one terse word except for the net control who chased me out of the 14.222 IDX Net for not following directions one evening. Steve - W3GRG ------------------------------ Date: 25 Mar 91 23:20:39 GMT From: ogicse!plains!kkim%plains.NoDak.edu@ucsd.edu Subject: a few fundamental questions about RF signals To: info-hams@ucsd.edu I don't know much about radio frequency signals and have some fundamental questions. Please enlighten me (hopefully in easy terms)... 1. Recently CATV interferance was discussed. I wonder if the same RF signal can travel either through copper wire or through air. In other words, is there no difference between RF signal (say, for channel 4) that my TV receives from the air and RF signal (say, for channel 4) coming from CATV company through cable? 2. Are light and RF signals totally distinct or one and the same? For example, is visible light just an RF signal whose frequency is in the range of the frequency of visible light ? To put this question another way, can we have an RF signal whose frequency is the same as that of visible light, but that is still distinct from light? I may have more questions after I get answers to the above questions. Thanks in advance. k kim ------------------------------ Date: 26 Mar 91 02:09:00 GMT From: usc!samsung!noose.ecn.purdue.edu!mentor.cc.purdue.edu!mace.cc.purdue.edu!dil@ucsd.edu Subject: a few fundamental questions about RF signals To: info-hams@ucsd.edu In article <9171@plains.NoDak.edu>, kkim@plains.NoDak.edu (kyongsok kim) writes: > I wonder if the > same RF signal can travel either through copper wire or through air. In > other words, is there no difference between RF signal (say, for channel > 4) that my TV receives from the air and RF signal (say, for channel 4) > coming from CATV company through cable? None at all, except that one is an electromagnetic wave traveling through the air and the other is an alternating current traveling through a wire. > 2. Are light and RF signals totally distinct or one and the same? > For example, is visible light just an RF signal whose frequency is in the > range of the frequency of visible light ? > To put this question another way, can we have an RF signal whose > frequency is the same as that of visible light, but that is still > distinct from light? Essentially, there is no difference between light and radio except the frequency. Now that's sort of like saying that theres no difference between me and a catfish except that the catfish is a catfish. Both light and radio are electromagnetic waves, but the vast difference in frequency gives them vastly different properties. Because of this, the technologies for generating and detecting the different waves are so different that the similarity is hard to see. Because of their lower frequency, radio waves can be generated with oscillator circuits. Even the trickiest of technologies run out of gas at a few hundred gigahertz (say 5e11 Hertz). Radio is detected using technologies similar to those that generate it. Because of its much higher frequency (around 5e14 Hertz) light must be generated through incandescence or some type of electron emission phenomenon. It is usually detected with an eye or something which relies on electrons being knocked out of orbits by the light photon. There's another realm between radio and light, the infrared. IR is produced in considerable amounts by virtually everything. It is produced by vibration of molecules, creating electromagnetic waves. Personal opinion here, but it seems doubtful to me that higher radio frequencies will ever be developed, due to thermal emission. Once you get above the current limits, the atmosphere and everything around becomes a noise source, due to thermal emission. Hams can operate at frequencies above 300GHz. Of course, I'm sitting here without a license emitting at 3000 GHz up to 30,000 GHz by thermal emission. So far, the FCC hasn't complained. (What are the Part 15 limits at these frequencies :)) Additional comments or flames welcome. -- Perry G. Ramsey Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences dil@mace.cc.purdue.edu Purdue University, W. Lafayette, IN USA perryr@vm.cc.purdue.edu *** IMAGINE YOUR LOGO HERE ****** Ten thousand low-lifes a day read this space. ------------------------------ Date: 23 Mar 91 23:13:22 GMT From: newstop!texsun!letni!rwsys!kf5iw!k5qwb!lrk@sun.com Subject: anybody out there ever fixed a tv To: info-hams@ucsd.edu jerrys@canada.sbi.com (Jerry Simonowits) writes: > I've got a relatively new b&w portable tv. For some reason, whenever > I turn the set on now, the sound comes on way up there in loudness. There My Panasonic does this when the power fails. If you have push buttons to set the volume, it probably expects to be plugged in all the time. If it is, then you may have a problem with something that should be getting power when the set is off. If it was truly 'portable' and uses the push button volume control, there may be a battery that you need to replace. --------- lrk@k5qwb.UUCP lrk%k5qwb@kf5iw.UUCP 73, utacfd.utarl.edu!letni!rwsys!kf5iw!k5qwb!lrk Lyn Kennedy K5QWB @ N5LDD.#NTX.TX.US P.O. Box 5133, Ovilla, TX, USA 75154 -------- "We have met the enemy and they are us." Pogo ----------------- ------------------------------ Date: 26 Mar 91 04:24:59 GMT From: swrinde!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!rpi!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!utgpu!utzoo!sq!rph@ucsd.edu Subject: Can you really learn code from tapes? To: info-hams@ucsd.edu I learned code simply by listening to Real QSOs by Real Hams (and W1AW) on an ordinary shortwave radio. The US novice bands (3675-3725, 7100-7150 or wherever it is these days) is full of 5WPM QSOs. There are many advantages with this method: 1. You learn how to copy Real Code as sent by Real People. 2. The content is guaranteed to be more interesting than tapes. 3. You learn the ways of hamdom, prosigns, etc. When I started out from zero, I practiced sending text out of random books to get used to the alphabet. I then started listening to QSOs, skipping exactly every other letter when it seemed too fast for me. When I could copy W1AW decently it ceased to be an curious mental exercise and become damned interesting and next thing I knew I was up to 10-15 WPM and got a ticket. When I did get my ticket and made my first QSO, it was a surprisingly bland affair. It felt like I'd done it all before... -- Pontus Hedman rph@sq.com {uunet|utzoo}!sq!rph VE3RPH (416) 963-8337 ------------------------------ Date: 25 Mar 91 18:36:06 GMT From: sdd.hp.com!hp-col!col!kenw@ucsd.edu Subject: ICOM-245 Modification To: info-hams@ucsd.edu Having owned one of these beasts for longer than I cared, my advice is to forget tampering with the PLL circuitry. If the radio works, leave it alone. Invariably, every time I opened the case on the radio, something would fail. The PLL unit on the early radios were especially bad both in the physical design and layout, and in the electrical design as well. The PLL circuit is a narrowband design; thus the best you will manage is to move the tuning up or down in 4 MHz increments (by changing the LO freq). There are no "magic" diodes that will open up the tuning range as more modern radios do today. Enjoy the radio as is, and then dump it when you find something better. Something better = almost any other radio (My opinion!) ------------------------------ Date: 25 Mar 91 20:31:02 GMT From: usc!apple!qm.gateway.app!robert_moore.valley_one@ucsd.edu Subject: ICOM R7000 serial port and Mac To: info-hams@ucsd.edu I am also interested in controlling a R7000, but with a Macintosh. Somebody must have already done this. . .! So far all I have seen is some PC stuff. If no one else seems to have done it, I have the tools to start an application using "serial XCMDS" and "hypercard". The only trouble is dedicating time, and deciding what features to incorporate. I have seen a couple of generic "logging" stacks, and that seems like a good place to start. I am somewhat overwhelmed by most of the listings in the ICOM manual, as most seem to be for transceivers or HF rigs. I am also hooking up an MFJ-1278 (packet/TCP/IP/FAX etc.) and trying to find weatherfax signals in the SFO bay area. Then comes the hook-up to the dish! (SCPC etc.) If someone else has a BASIC listing to do these type(s) of things, please post or call! Thanks, Bob (408) 974-3797 Apple Link: MOORE10 Apple will not usually be responsible for any intelligible content herewithin . . . unishment, huh, Lawrence? About as bad as the gulag or Dachau or abortion rooms? >Please ask your "friendly clergyman" if the pope was truly speaking for >"god" when he punished Galileo for espousing the Copernican "heresy". The Pope was rightly speaking for the Church when GG was punished. Do you realize the heliocentric and geocentric theories of the world were debated well into the 20th century? Even Einstein brought up the relativity of the two theories. So spare us all your one-note- samba on GG and do try more creative agruments. If any... >While you're at it, ask him if it would be reasonable if I imprisoned >you in my home in an effort to save your "soul" and the "true church" >from the various false notions that presently afflict your thinking. Russel, I would love to get you on a weekend to bring you to the saving grace of the Lord. You are the top of my prayer list this Holy Week. >Were individual dinosaurs unique? Were they a "gift" from their >"Creator"? Are you making a reference to the "accuracy" of carbon dating and other such methods of determining ages of fossil records? Surely you don't believe all this so-called "scientific" evidence of evolution, do you? >Is it "christianlike" for you to claim to speak for "god"? It is absolutely Christianlike for me to proclaim what God has revealed through divine word. >ps> ... How can there be >ps> order in the universe without a creator - the primordial mover? > >How can there be sushi without SushiGod? Or basketball without >BasketballGod? Russell is providing solid proof that the law of thermodynamics regarding entropy in his case his ability to reason does exist... >Can they explain why the pope condemned the Copernican heresy as >an attack on "mother church" and "holy" scripture? No. But the Pope and the Church can. >There's nothing absurd about the Galileo situation. The historical >analysis indicates that the superstitious relgious folks who claimed >to speak for "god" were deluded. Period. Of course all of GG's fellow scientists were "deluded" too. So what is it, Lawrence, geocentric or heliocentric? >To the contrary. Isn't it true that the pope and the Society of Jesus >were living in "darkness" when they condemned the copernican "heresy" >on the basis of their superstitious beliefs? Not really. Science and divine revelation has cooexisted and can co-exist. Take cold fusion. We might all be considered by Russ someday to have lived in the dark because we refused to believe prematurely in cold fusion if it in fact is made to work in the future. GG's theories had no validity at the time, Lawrence. Can't you get it through your thick head. If it was proven later through history, so be it. Attacking church alone and not all of society at the time for their scepticism only shows your narrow-focused bigotry. >ps> God has revealed Himself >ps> by voice, vision, and apparition on countless occasions many of which >ps> have been authenticated as part of the historical record. > >Bullshit. Hard for a non-believer to accept but it is true. Your response is typical of those ignorant to the truth. God be with you. ------------------------------ Date: 26 Mar 91 00:44:33 GMT From: news-mail-gateway@ucsd.edu Subject: KA2XX To: info-hams@ucsd.edu Hello world from Japan. Name here is roland and I am located in Japan. This is for the Newer operators (cause I know that all you old guys know) Any time you hear a KA2xx callsign, the station is located outside the U.S. Not on the East coast. My call is KA2RC I am located at Camp Zama Japan. Thanks cu on the bands. 73 Roland KA2RC ------------------------------ Date: 26 Mar 91 06:19:34 GMT From: news-mail-gateway@ucsd.edu Subject: MAJOR GEOMAGNETIC STORM UPDATE #1 - 26 MARCH - STORM CONTINUES To: info-hams@ucsd.edu /\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\ GEOMAGNETIC STORM UPDATE /\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\ 06:00 UT, 26 March ------------- STORM UPDATE INFORMATION: The geomagnetic field is still very stormy. Minor to major magnetic perturbations have been measured over all latitudes. Severe storming has occurred over the high latitudes. The activity tonight isn't quite as intense as it was yesterday, although some large magnetic excursions have occurred. Auroral activity is intense again tonight over North America, although it doesn't appear to be quite as intense as it was 24 hours ago. No low-latitude auroral activity reports have been received yet, although low latitude sightings may still be possible. No significant proton enhancements have been observed from the major class X5.3/3B flare earlier this UT day. This leads us to believe that the terrestrial impacts most likely will not be as intense as the present storm. However, a risk still exists for major geomagnetic storming over middle latitudes if an interplanetary shock hits the Earth. We do believe a shock will arrive, sometime between approximately 09:00 UT and the end of the present UT day. The intensity of the ensuing geomagnetic activity is predicted to remain at minor to major storm levels until approximately 28 March, when conditions should begin to improve (again, barring any further energetic flaring). HF propagation conditions will remain poor to very poor for most (if not all) of 26 March. If an interplanetary shock arrives as expected, conditions could become degraded again with frequent blackout periods from polar latitudes to middle latitudes. Polar and high latitudes are still experiencing intense magnetic and PCA related ionospheric absorption. Conditions are not expected to improve there for at least the next 24 to 48 hours. We aren't out of the woods yet. VHF and UHF auroral backscatter communications will remain possible, particularly over the middle and high latitudes. If storming surpasses predicted levels, low-latitude auroral communications may become possible. Conditions are still favorable for auroral backscatter communications and will likely remain fairly favorable for the next 24 to 48 hours, particularly if the flare shock arrives as expected. The next update will be released around 18:00 UT on 26 March. All alerts and warnings remain in effect. No changes have been made since the last magnetic storm update report. The following alerts remain IN PROGRESS until at least 18:00 UT, 26 March: - MAJOR GEOMAGNETIC STORM ALERT - GEOMAGNETICALLY INDUCED CURRENT (GIC) ALERT - LOW LATITUDE AURORAL ACTIVITY ALERT - SATELLITE PROTON EVENT ALERT - POLAR CAP ABSORPTION EVENT ALERT - POLAR AND HIGH LATITUDE RADIO SIGNAL BLACKOUT ALERT The following warnings are IN PROGRESS: - POTENTIAL GEOMAGNETIC STORM WARNING (valid 26/27 March) - POTENTIAL MAJOR SOLAR FLARE WARNING - POTENTIAL PROTON FLARE WARNING /\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\ ------------------------------ Date: 25 Mar 91 22:53:37 GMT From: news-mail-gateway@ucsd.edu Subject: MAJOR GEOMAGNETIC STORM UPDATE #2 - 25 MARCH - ALERT UPDATES To: info-hams@ucsd.edu /\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\ GEOMAGNETIC STORM UPDATE /\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\ 22:30 UT, 25 March ------------- STORM UPDATE INFORMATION: Minor to major geomagnetic storming is continuing in progress as of 22:30 UT on 25 March. However, activity appears to be declining over most latitudes. A period of reduced activity (unsettled to very active levels) was observed between 15:30 UT and 21:30 UT. A major storm level fluctuation is in progress locally as of 22:12 UT. Storming will likely continue (but at reduced intensities). Magnetic K-indices could still reach 5 and 6. Geomagnetically induced currents will remain possible throughout the coming UT day, particularly after the flare shock from the class X5.3 major flare arrives later on 26 March (if it arrives as predicted). The Geomagnetic Storm Alert will remain in effect for the next 24 to 48 hours. Todays major class X5.3/3B flare could produce another minor (to possibly major) geomagnetic storm near mid-UT-day to late-UT-day on 26 March. The duration of this predicted activity should be about 12 to 24 hours, although the intensity of the activity shouldn't be as intense as this last major storm was. The probability for magnetic impacts from this latest flare is lower than it was for the class X9.4/3B flare which produced the most recent major geomagnetic storm. Any impacts will likely be less intense. Currently, a warning has been issued for a potential magnetic A-index of 50 for 26/27 March. Magnetic K-indices of 5 and 6 are most likely to be observed with a slight risk for severe storming associated with K-indices of 7 over middle latitudes. The consensus at the present time is for middle latitude K-indices of 5 and 6 with an associated A-index of near 50 (it could be lower, or higher - an error of uncertainty exists). Auroral activity will be visible again tonight from middle and high latitudes. Southerly middle and low latitudes probably won't be able to spot as much (if any) auroral activity tonight, although a possibility does exist for yet another night of low-latitude auroral activity. An enhancement in geomagnetic and auroral activity should accompany the flare shock on 26/27 March, if this shock arrives. Renewed low-latitude auroral activity could possibly be observed again from that flare on 26-27 March, although the probabilities are somewhat lower. It may be of interest to note that this latest major geomagnetic storm is the most intense geomagnetic and auroral storm that has been observed since the large storm of March, 1989. That storm was larger and more intense than this most recent storm. However, the interplanetary shock which was observed with this most recent major storm was more intense than the March 1989 shock. In fact, the last shock was the most intense shock observed this solar cycle. This storm will be remembered as one of the most significant storms of this solar cycle. An additional update will be posted at 06:00 UT on 26 March. The potential impacts of this last major flare will also be revised at that time, after more detailed proton data is analyzed. The following alerts remain IN PROGRESS until at least 06:00 UT, 26 March: - MAJOR GEOMAGNETIC STORM ALERT - GEOMAGNETICALLY INDUCED CURRENT (GIC) ALERT - LOW LATITUDE AURORAL ACTIVITY ALERT - SATELLITE PROTON EVENT ALERT - POLAR CAP ABSORPTION EVENT ALERT - POLAR AND HIGH LATITUDE RADIO SIGNAL BLACKOUT ALERT The following warnings are IN PROGRESS: - POTENTIAL GEOMAGNETIC STORM WARNING (valid 26/27 March) - POTENTIAL MAJOR SOLAR FLARE WARNING - POTENTIAL PROTON FLARE WARNING /\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\ ------------------------------ Date: 26 Mar 91 00:01:21 GMT From: news-mail-gateway@ucsd.edu Subject: MAJOR SOLAR FLARE ALERT #2 - 25 MARCH - IMPACT EXPECTED To: info-hams@ucsd.edu -- MAJOR SOLAR FLARE ALERT -- MARCH 25, 1991 Alert #2 Flare Event Summary ** MODERATE TO HIGH IMPACTS POSSIBLE ** -------- MAJOR ENERGETIC EVENT SUMMARY Region 6555 is remaining very energetic. It spawned a powerful class X5.3/3B flare today, the second X-class flare in 24 hours. This event began at 08:02 UT, peaked at 08:12 UT and ended at 08:31 UT. The integrated X-ray flux from this flare was moderately high (0.292). The event was possibly associated with a Type II sweep. This is fairly difficult to determine right now, since a continuum emission has been observed for the last several days and is interfering with attempts to monitor sweep frequency events. The flare was certainly powerful enough to be associated with both Type II and IV sweeps, but no confirmation has been received on the possibility of sweeps from this flare. Protons may just now be beginning to arrive from this flare. Protons should have been observed several hours ago. If this current slight enhancement becomes more pronounced over the next few hours, they will most likely be attributed to the class X5.3/3B flare. PCA absorption also seems to be experiencing a very slight increase. If protons were ejected from this flare, terrestrial impacts will be higher. It is still a bit premature to say whether or not the proton levels are increasing due to this last flare. Region 6555 still retains its complexity and size. Major flaring is expected to continue from this region over the next 24 to 48 hours. There is a high risk for renewed proton and PCA activity if flaring continues. POTENTIAL TERRESTRIAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT There is a high probability that some sort of impact will be observed from this last flare. Currently, it appears as though the flare may generate a minor to major geomagnetic storm. If an impact does materialize, the associated interplanetary shock should arrive around 12:00 UT on 26 March. It may arrive a few hours earlier or a few hours later, but the predicted time is presently near about 12:00 UT on 26 March. If protons become enhanced from this latest event, the probability for terrestrial impacts will be higher. We won't really know whether or not the current proton increase is a legitimate enhancement until about 00:00 UT on 26 March. In any event, any protons that arrive now are well overdue. Geomagnetic activity could reach an A-index of 50 on 26/27 March if the flare impact materializes. Most likely, the impact will be less intense than the one we have just witnessed (from the X9.4 major flare of 22 March). We are predicting middle latitude magnetic K-indices of 5 and 6 for late on 26 March and 27 March, if this disturbance materializes. This translates to a moderate to high intensity minor geomagnetic storm with periods of major storming (probably only brief isolated periods). Auroral activity is expected to be high to very high over high latitudes on 26 and 27 March. Middle latitudes will probably witness moderate to high auroral activity if this disturbance materializes. There is a small possibility for renewed low-latitude auroral activity. However, this probability is lower than it was for the last storm. Most likely, low latitudes will not be able to witness any auroral activity with this expected impact. But keep in mind that predicting this sort of activity is very difficult to do with high accuracy, so there is a remote possibility that storming could produce some low latitude auroral activity. But at the present time, this doesn't appear to be an optimistic expectation. HF propagation conditions won't fully recover from the present magnetic storm activity when the predicted shock arrives on 26 March. However, most likely, propagation won't be as badly disrupted as with the last major storm. Region 6555 is expected to continue to spawn major flares. These flares could be proton flares. Hence, polar latitudes and high latitudes should be aware of the increased risk for PCA activity. Satellite proton levels at geosynchronous altitudes was holding at around 240 pfu at greater than 10 MeV at 20:00 UT on 25 March. This may not last long if an enhancement arrives from the X5.3 flare. Currently, the PCA event is expected to last another 24 to 48 hours, depending on whether protons become enhanced or not. The proton event itself will likely last several more days at least, barring any further increases in proton levels. ** End of Alert ** ------------------------------ Date: 25 Mar 91 21:01:29 GMT From: deccrl!news.crl.dec.com!shlump.nac.dec.com!koning.enet.dec.com@decwrl.dec.com Subject: Straight keys vs. iambic To: info-hams@ucsd.edu |> |>Does anyone have a feel for the percentage of hams sending manually |>vs. using some kind of electronic assistance? Do people still use |>straight keys or are "morse machines" and built-in keyers the way to |>go? I suppose sending with an iambic keyer is a totally different |>skill. |> |>Richv |> |>PS I hope I'm using the term "iambic" correctly. |> I think the word you want is "keyer". "iambic" is a particular style of keyer -- admittedly the most common kind these days. My guess is that most people use keyers. Occasionally I hear a bug (usually VERY poorly used -- "ditditditditidit DAAAAAAAAH DAAAAAAAH" style). And I suppose the 40+ wpm speed crowd uses keyboards...? Anyway, I'm what's probably the exception; I use only a straight key. In fact, I use two -- one for slow (up to 15 wpm or so) and one for fast (20+ wpm) code. The slow one is an antique brass "railroad" style; the fast one is a recent surplus German "Junker" key. Why, you might ask? Partly because it's fun, and partly because I lost the paddle my father built when I moved, and there isn't any commercial paddle I've seen anywhere that has anything resembling acceptable feel. I've tried all the popular brands... Oh well, some day I'll build a replica of the good one. paul, ni1d ------------------------------ Date: 26 Mar 91 00:05:00 GMT From: swrinde!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!sdd.hp.com!apollo!hays@ucsd.edu Subject: the Freeband below 10 meters To: info-hams@ucsd.edu In article glickman@aix01.aix.rpi.edu (Joel H Glickman) writes: >I think that what is happening between 28.000 and 28.100 is truly >disgusting, but what can we do about it?? >Gee, they have 2 full MHZ (26-28), why do they have to creep above 28 Mhz? >The CW there doesn't seem to phase them, but perhaps the reason they stop >at 28.100 is the packet activity found up there.... >Who knows... > Maybe we should get unattended automatic packet authorized for 28.000 to 28.100 Mhz. (up to 9600 baud?) --- that would put up a nice gaurd band to contain the "freebanders" ???? John Hays, KD7UW Salt Lake City, UT ------------------------------ Date: 25 Mar 91 23:56:52 GMT From: usc!apple!autodesk!abeals@ucsd.edu Subject: VHF/UHF antenna design [a mathematical approach] To: info-hams@ucsd.edu I'm looking for a book that describes VHF and UHF antenna designs from a mathematical approach. This is to say that while every other ham book I have read about antenna design may be correct, I want to do the math for myself. It's one thing to know "This antenna has 19dB gain at 444.075 MHz". It is another thing to be able to calculate the gain of an antenna that you haven't built yet. Thanks [in advance] for the pointers, Andy Beals ps. Apologies to Ed Nather@utastro. -- Andrew Scott Beals KC6SSS abeals@autodesk.com Marboro: War Ich Rindveh bin. ------------------------------ End of Info-Hams Digest ******************************