Info-Hams Digest Mon, 8 Apr 91 Volume 91 : Issue 281 Today's Topics: "Stray Voltage" on 60 Minutes (2 msgs) Amateur Radio in Space AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 096.01 ATV: what about PM? Erie Hams? Heath HWS-24-HT Dual Band Xcvr HF rig names? Iambic? iambic keyers IC-W2A Announcement kdp NASA Prediction Bulletins: Space Shuttle Specs for Boschert PWR Supply The first No-Code Ham is........(DRUMROLL)..... the Freeband below 10 meters Tweaking Cheap Digital Watches? Whatizit? (2 msgs) 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: 8 Apr 91 21:52:28 GMT From: sdd.hp.com!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!rpi!crdgw1!ethiopia@ucsd.edu Subject: "Stray Voltage" on 60 Minutes To: info-hams@ucsd.edu In article <9104081906.AA22031@ucsd.edu>, wmartin@stl-06sima (Will Martin) writes: >There was a 60 Minutes segment the night of Sunday, 7 April, that dealt >with the problems caused to several dairy farmers by a power-company- >caused condition called "stray voltage". Unfortunately, this being mass- >market TV, there was absolutely no coherent technical explanation of >what they were talking about. They used the "stray voltage" term roughly >equivalently to saying "evil vapors" or some other archaic phrase to >describe the cause of sickness. Does anyone on the net know the details >of what this is all about, and can you post an explanation? > >(To those who ask "why is this on the hams list?", I say: a) because >I know of no other mailing list devoted to electrical/electronic >topics, and b) because whatever these ill effects might be, the >mechanism described sounded a lot like what happens in a poorly-grounded >ham shack, with RF appearing in unwanted places causing undesired >effects; admittedly, they only were speaking of 60Hz and not RF in the >program, but the situation appears to be parallel.) > >Regards, Will >wmartin@stl-06sima.army.mil You might try posting to sci.electronics to get some other opinions, but I too saw the program and was curious about just what this "stray voltage" was. Power lines don't "wear out", but their insulation will fail over time. My suspicion is that the problem relates to faulty neutral wiring on somebody's end (either the farmers or the utility). If the neutral on your 220 V feedline opens or develops some high resistance, the imbalance currents will flow through whatever ground they can, like the real ground and any piping that happens to be around. I wonder what that stray voltage sniffing instrument was measuring? I suppose that you could call your utility and see what they have to say. Their phones were probably ringing off the hook today. John Mallick WA1HNL "Naturally, the above opinions are mine, and not my employer's..." ------------------------------ Date: 9 Apr 91 00:06:46 GMT From: usc!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!pacific.mps.ohio-state.edu!linac!unixhub!stanford.edu!paulf%shasta.Stanford.EDU@ucsd.edu Subject: "Stray Voltage" on 60 Minutes To: info-hams@ucsd.edu In article <9104081906.AA22031@ucsd.edu> wmartin@stl-06sima.army.mil (Will Martin) writes: >There was a 60 Minutes segment the night of Sunday, 7 April, that dealt >with the problems caused to several dairy farmers by a power-company- >caused condition called "stray voltage". Unfortunately, this being mass- >market TV, there was absolutely no coherent technical explanation of >what they were talking about. They used the "stray voltage" term roughly >equivalently to saying "evil vapors" or some other archaic phrase to >describe the cause of sickness. Does anyone on the net know the details >of what this is all about, and can you post an explanation? Well, I'll let someone else trundle out the press bashing cannons... Stray voltage is indeed a real problem for dairy farmers. The root of the problem is with inadequate grounding systems in milking parlors, where the AC neutral floats several volts above true ground. For those of you who've never been in a milking parlor, the floor is usually a decent ground, having been soaked with various cow effluence, and as a result the floor is a good conductor. If the neutral floats above ground, a current is set up, flowing from the milking machine, through the teats and milk system, through muscle, and finally through the hooves of the cow. This eventually leads to tissue damaage and mastitis, leaving the cow useless for milk production. There are a number of causes for neutral floating above ground, all the topic of litigation in the dairy states. This was actually on a final exam I took at Marquette a few years ago...;-) -=Paul Flaherty, N9FZX | "Think of it as evolution in action." ->paulf@shasta.Stanford.EDU | -- Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle ------------------------------ Date: 8 Apr 91 19:03:04 GMT From: gatech!prism!romeo!cchapman@ucsd.edu Subject: Amateur Radio in Space To: info-hams@ucsd.edu In <9104081537.AA00368@ucsd.edu> wmartin@stl-06sima.army.mil (Will Martin) writes: >I had heard that the ham satellite signals would come in readably on an >ordinar scanner with the indoor whip antenna, so left a couple scanners >manually tuned to 145.55 MHz all day Saturday, with the squelch set just >above where it would break open. A few somes some noise would come thru, >but I never heard any shuttle signals or any voice traffic at all. This >was in St. Louis, MO, inside an ordinary brick house (not steel frame). >Anyone know which of the following is most likely true? >1) The shuttle never was transmitting on 145.55 when it was above my site's >horizon. >2) The indoor whips just aren't good enough antennas for this. >3) The scanners (two older Regency models) aren't sensitive enough. >4) Some other reason? Probably a combination of 1 and 2. On Saturday they were using 145.59 for the downlink frequency when doing the school stuff. This wasn't published, I just happen to stumble on to it by accident while scanning around. I was using a simple 2 meter dipole - total length about 38 inches - to receive the shuttle transmissions. The indoor whip might be good enough but you should orient it somewhat horizontally for best results. Chuck, WB4UIH -- Charles H. Chapman (GTRI/MATD) (404) 528-7588 Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta Georgia, 30332 ************************************************************** * Home of the 1990 National Champion Ga. Tech Yellow Jackets * ************************************************************** uucp: ...!{allegra,amd,hplabs,ut-ngp}!gatech!msd!cchapman Internet: cchapman@msd.gatech.edu ------------------------------ Date: 8 Apr 91 08:34:28 GMT From: tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!n8emr!gws@ucbvax.berkeley.edu Subject: AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 096.01 To: info-hams@ucsd.edu SB ALL @ AMSAT $ANS-096.01 LATEST STS-37 KEPLERIANS HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 096.01 FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD APRIL 06, 1991 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT Latest STS-37 Keplerian Element Set From W5RRR Johnson Space Flight Center STS-37 1 00037U 91 95.84517361 .00023000 17236-3 0 86 2 00037 28.4658 237.0841 0008639 267.3762 92.6116 15.37949031 51 Satellite: STS-37 Epoch time: 91095.84517361 (5-APR-91 20:17:02.999 UTC) Element set: JSC-008 Inclination: 28.4658 deg Space Shuttle Flight STS-37 RA of node: 237.0841 deg Keplerian Elements Eccentricity: .0008639 Arg of perigee: 267.3762 deg Mean anomaly: 92.6116 deg Mean motion: 15.37949031 rev/day W5RRR Decay rate: 2.30E-04 rev/day^2 NASA Johnson Space Center Epoch rev: 5 /EX SB ALL @ AMSAT $ANS-096.02 RS-12 MODE-K DX OPENINGS HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 096.02 FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD APRIL 06, 1991 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT G3IOR Reports A Spectacular DX QSO On RS-12, Mode KT This past week long-time OSCAR satellite enthusiast Pat Gowen (G3IOR) reported he made a rather remarkable QSO with a ZL station from his QTH in Norwich, England. The QSO, made over a long-haul DX path, was accomplished using the Modes K and T transponders flying aboard RS-12. Pat mentioned that he had always hoped someday to make a satellite contact with a ZL station using AO-10 or AO-13 but they were never quite visible to both regions simultaneously. With the advent of continuous Modes K and T operations on RS-12, this may start to become a very popular bird to work DX! Also, with the simplest of equipment requirements, it could become very popular with novice satellite users. The following table is a summary of the RS-12 Mode KT frequencies. Good DX! RS-12 Mode KT ------------- Uplink 21.210- 21.250 MHz Downlink 29.410- 29.450 MHz Downlink 145.910-145.950 MHz Beacon 29.4081 MHz (or 29.4543 MHz) 145.9125 MHz (or 145.9587 MHz) /EX SB ALL @ AMSAT $ANS-096.03 AO-16 PROVIDES LINK TO ALASKA HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 096.03 FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD APRIL 06, 1991 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT AO-16 Used To Pass Message Traffic From Lower "48" A satellite gateway has been established between Alaska and the contiguous U.S. The gateway, which utilizes the AMSAT AO-16 PACSAT satellite and the Argentinian LO-19 LUSAT satellite, has been in operation since early February between NL7NC, John Lawson, in Anchorage and KI6QE, Dave Medley, Los Osos, California. The gateway provides reliable same day delivery of packet traffic to most locations in Alaska regardless of HF propagation conditions. To send Private or NTS traffic to Alaska via the satellite, one of the following routing methods may be used: 1. All traffic with hierarchical address AK.USA.NA received by AA6QD.#CENCA.CA.USA.NA is automatically routed to KI6QE via a 24 hour mailbox. No special addressing is required. 2. Trafic may be routed to KI6QE @ W7AZF.#CENCA.CA.USA.NA or to KI6QE @ AA6QD.#CENCA.CA.USA.NA but in this case the hierarchical address line and the subject line must be the first two lines of the text. All traffic not following the above will be routed by presently operating HF gateways. A more detailed description of this activity will appear in an upcoming AMSAT Journal. [ANS would like to thank KI6QE for the information in this bulletin.] /EX SB ALL @ AMSAT $ANS-096.04 STUDENTS TRACKING DOVE HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 096.04 FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD APRIL 06, 1991 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT DOVE Classroom Applications Abound One of the most active schools utilizing amateur radio satellite telemetry in the classroom is Chaminade College Prep in West Hills, CA. Physics instructor Dave Reeves, KF6PJ, has developed a set of experiments that put to use his advanced placement students knowledge of fundamental physics concepts. One of his students, Laura Waggoner, has been watching DOVE telemetry and has concluded that the DOVE spin rate has slowed considerably. MICROSAT command station operator Jim White, W0DE, well known for his MICROSAT motion studies, reports the following: "I have not been watching DOVE closely and so cannot confirm Laura's observations. The question is not idle, because WEBER has slowed considerably, and while several theories are floating around, none can fully explain why. If DOVE has also slowed it would be very valuable input to the mathematical models of spin rate several people are trying to build." Jim would appreciate reports of very recent DOVE spin rates from anyone who has been watching the spin or who has recorded the telemetry and can go back to just before the last software crash and check it (3-25-91). Please send spin rate and data via Compuserve: 71477,546 or on disk to his home address, Jim White, W0DE, 6642 Dover Way, Littleton, Colorado 80123. Would you like to share this and other exciting OSCAR activities in your school? Contact Rich Ensign, N8IWJ, AMSAT Science Education Advisor for further information about classroom satellite activities ready to share. Write Rich at 421 N. Military, Dearborn, MI 48124, USA. /EX SB ALL @ AMSAT $ANS-096.05 UO-14 DOWNLINK CHANGES HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 096.05 FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD APRIL 6, 1991 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT UO-14 being used in Proof of Concept Experiment UoSAT-OSCAR-14 started switching its single downlink transmitter between its Amateur Satellite Service frequency (435.070 MHz), and an experimental UHF downlink frequency licensed outside of the Amateur Satellite Service (429.985 MHz). Amateur users will sometimes see the downlink "disappear" for as little as 250 msec or as long as 5 seconds. So long as the downlink eventually returns to 435.070 MHz, there is nothing wrong with the satellite. (U. S. amateurs will note that 429.985 MHz is in the U. S. Amateur 70 cm band, but not the 70 cm Amateur Satellite band. Amateur radio operation is secondary in this band and shares the frequencies with satellite experiments such as this and other services. The UO-14 licenses are is not issued by the FCC in the U. S.) UO-14's can operate outside the amateur service to support experimental communications trials to and from stations in developing countries. Most of these trials will be conducted by The Volunteers In Technical Assistance (VITA). VITA is an international development organization [non-profit] with long-standing ties to AMSAT and UoSAT. VITA funded the construction of the UO-11 Digital Communications Experiment (DCE) by AMSAT volunteers in the USA and Canada, and contributed to the development costs of the UO-14 PACSAT Communications Experiment (PCE) hardware and software. It was, in part, UoSAT's arrangement with VITA which allowed G0/K8KA time to write FTL0 and the file system software now running on UO-14, PACSAT and LUSAT. VITA will be using UO-14 to transfer technical information amongst a number of stations in developing countries. These stations will be in areas which are poorly served by existing data communications systems. VITA's UO-14 operations are an experimental pilot system which will allow VITA to pass traffic which would not be appropriate for amateur channels. The UO-14 pilot studies will help VITA determine whether or not to purchase its own dedicated satellite. These operations are licensed by the FCC in the USA and by individual national authorities in other countries for this experimental demonstration only. It has been common for the RS series amateur satellite transponders to ride on the satellite bus of a non-amateur transponder or instrument; VITA's "hitchhiking" on UO-14 is similar. On a microsatellite like UO-14, however, the distinction between amateur and non-amateur payloads is blurred, and unique resources such as the downlink transmitter, the RAM message store and the CPU are actually shared. This symbiosis benefits both the amateur satellite community and the non- amateur organization. Through collaboration with non-amateur organizations, the amateur satellite service conclusively shows its value as a force for technology development and testing. This, in turn, should help to secure our frequencies against competitors. On a more basic level, transfer of technology to paying customers helps fund present and future amateur satellite missions. These commercial (if not profit-making) ventures keep organizations like UoSAT, AMSAT-NA and TAPR financially sound so that they can continue to pursue technical goals with benefits to the amateur community. This change in UO-14 operations was made possible after NK6K travelled to the United Kingdom as a volunteer courier - carrying solar panels for UoSAT-F. NK6K and G0/K8KA took advantage of this brief visit to add a new WB6YMH I/O driver and to change QAX.25 (the software TNC), the broadcast protocol, and FTL0. In orbit testing started on 2 April. As the testing dual-frequency operation on UO-14 continues, we will issue further technical and "administrative" updates. [ANS thanks Jeff Ward, G0/K8KA, for the information for this bulletin] /EX SB ALL @ AMSAT $ANS-096.06 OPERATIONS NET SCHEDULE HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 096.06 FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD APRIL 6, 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 17 Apr 91 0330 J/L 97 WB6LLO N5BF WJ9F Tuesday 28 Apr 91 0300 J/L 102 N5BF WD0E WB6LLO Saturday 04 May 91 2100 B 141 WB9ANQ KA5SMA WJ9F Saturday 12 May 91 0100 B 149 WA5ZIB KA5SMA WB6LLO Saturday 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-096.07 NEW AO-13 TRANSPONDER SCHEDULE HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 096.07 FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD APRIL 6, 1991 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT AO-13 Spring Schedule Announced, AO-10 Not Presently Available NOTE: The AO-13 magnetorquing schedule was disrupted by geomagnetic activity last week. The current attitude is thought to be: BLON = 195 BLAT = 0 The current schedule is: Off : MA 220 to MA 035 | Mode-B : MA 035 to MA 220 | Omins : MA 240 to MA 060 | Once the magnetorquing is completed, the "27 March 91" schedule will be instituted. The AO-13 transponder schedule through 19 June 91 will 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 > ! Mode-B : MA 140 to MA 256 ! Omnis : MA 240 to MA 030 ! The target Spacecraft attitude (once magnetorquing is complete) is: BLON = 180 BLAT = 0 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: 9 Apr 91 02:18:59 GMT From: o.gp.cs.cmu.edu!andrew.cmu.edu!ps2x+@pt.cs.cmu.edu Subject: ATV: what about PM? To: info-hams@ucsd.edu The net S/N ratio in FM is mutch better than in PM, in addition, the noise immunity in FM is also better at low frequencies(sync, etc.) but PM tends to have a flat amount of noise immunity across the frequency range of the video signal. In general, FM beats out PM because they have the same bandwidths and power requirements, but FM has better noise performance. (this is not the case in digital transmissions, however) Pete kb7gud Skelly ps2x@andrew.cmu.edu KB7GUD@W2XO ------------------------------ Date: 8 Apr 91 18:36:32 GMT From: chiles.slisp.cs.cmu.edu!chiles@pt.cs.cmu.edu Subject: Erie Hams? To: info-hams@ucsd.edu Now that I'm done posting controversial material and misunderstanding CB restrictions, I'd like to make a simple request. I'd like to contact hams in Erie, PA, especially someone connected to local ham clubs. I have a 40' self-supporting tower that I installed to tilt. I haven't used it since the mid 80's, and my mother wants it to disappear. It is free to whoever wants to take it down and haul it away. You can leave the concrete block in the ground, HI HI. Before anyone asks, basically there's no way I'm putting up a tower in my current urban Pittsburgh neighborhood. I'm the second owner, and I've owned the thing since about 1978. Bill ------------------------------ Date: 9 Apr 91 00:40:19 GMT From: usc!samsung!news.cs.indiana.edu!bronze!silver!stigall@ucsd.edu Subject: Heath HWS-24-HT Dual Band Xcvr To: info-hams@ucsd.edu I've ordered a couple of the Heath (Standard) HWS-24-HT radios, having just passed the No-Code, and I'm wondering what comments netlanders might have on this model. Various Heath catalogs mention various things about this radio, for instance CTCSS is NOT mentioned in the sale catalog, but was in a previous ones. Also, apparently this is not a cross-band repeater. And do I have to buy a battery charger or not? They list a "plug-in power supply and rechargable battery as part of the deal, but list a wall charger and quick charger separately. Thanks in advance, -- John Stigall - Indiana University Computing Services Network 750 N. State Rd. 46 Bypass, Bloomington, Indiana 47405 (812)855-9255 stigall@ucs.indiana.edu ------------------------------ Date: 7 Apr 91 19:06:18 GMT From: usc!apple!veritas!amdcad!dvorak.amd.com!mozart!reed@ucsd.edu Subject: HF rig names? To: info-hams@ucsd.edu In article <2696@ke4zv.UUCP> gary@ke4zv.UUCP (Gary Coffman) writes: >In article <41087@genrad.UUCP> dls@genrad.com (Diana L. Syriac) writes: >> >>Transmitters: >>NONE LISTED....do hams only buy transceivers, not transmitters? > >There is little choice these days. Up until the 1960s all ham rigs with the > >>Other than short wave listening, what function do receivers serve >>if there are no transmitters to go along with them? Do hams use a >>transceiver AND a separate receiver? > >Some of us still do. There are advantages to having a separate receiver >as well as the receiver built in to the transceiver. This allows monitoring >two frequencies at once. This can be very handy for DXing and when working >split mode. A few top of the line transceivers offer dual receive so even >this excuse to have separates is coming to an end. > well, let's see, the Icom 781 allows simultaneous receive on 2 frequeencies, but is limited to same band; several later transcievers do the same, and do not (if optioned properly) have that limitation... However, the transciever - separate receiver is an interesting question... I think the JRC (Japan Radio Company) transciever, JST135 is made to do exactly that, with the NRD-525 receiver... (wonder if it will work with their new rx, the 535???). So, has anyone out there bought or tired one of these out? I know I like the dual RX on my 781 for working split and making sure I am not "on top" of someone (both for reasons of non-interference, and wanting the station I work to hear me...) But the dual band rx seems handy - like setting up sched to have alternat band; if both sides of the qso had this type of set-up, on could call on one band, the other on the other, and both listen at once, then quickly get to band of best propogation for their path... or, for diversity reception, etc. etc. anyone else out there playing with that? -- ____________________________________________________________________ "...just my opinion, not speaking for AMD." KK5D, 7J1AGO, XE1ZDR David F. Reed 4512 Clarno Austin TX 78749 packet: KK5D@KB5PM driving by? try 442.150 repeater ------------------------------ Date: 8 Apr 91 18:47:55 GMT From: medin@cod.nosc.mil Subject: Iambic? To: info-hams@ucsd.edu In article <1991Apr5.220105.20404@aio.jsc.nasa.gov> kell@lark.jsc.nasa.gov writes: >This being the one that started this thread, I feel strange answering this >The IAMBIC part comes from "iambic pentameter" accenting in poetry where >you have a series of unaccented syllables followed by accented ones as in >da DUM da DUM da DUM ... Ah the poetry of life. > Well i held my peace but running an iambic correctly (squezing) is not something i learned overnite. Been at it for over six months and there are still frustrating times when i cant seem to get a "c" (for example) out. I have talked to others via cw who where in the same boat i was, and we suffered thru each others fists :-(. Now that i know what iambic is from, perhaps if one is a poet or muscian it is easier. Tell then when you hear my fist just be patient, it will probably take a year till the fist smooths out. 73, ted n6trf ------------------------------ Date: 8 Apr 91 19:59:14 GMT From: hpl-opus!hpnmdla!alanb@hplabs.hpl.hp.com Subject: iambic keyers To: info-hams@ucsd.edu In rec.radio.amateur.misc, vbreault@rinhp825.gmr.com (Val Breault) writes: >... Among the goodies was a swell >Vibroplex iambic key and a nifty keyer. I went home to set things up >but noticed that the documentation didn't offer any suggestions about >how to wire it up (left paddle dit or right paddle dit) or which hand >is normally preferred (key with left or right hand)... The thumb makes the dits, and the forefinger makes the dashes. So for a right-handed person, push the lever to the right for dits, to the left for dashes. AL N1AL ------------------------------ Date: 8 Apr 91 22:35:32 GMT From: pa.dec.com!shlump.nac.dec.com!sousa.enet.dec.com!nikkor.enet.dec.com!hicks@decwrl.dec.com Subject: IC-W2A Announcement To: info-hams@ucsd.edu Has anyone tried these new HT's yet? I was about to get a TH77a but now will look seriously at this one. Questions: 1. What out of band RX/TX is this radio capable of? 2. Do the out of band features require mods to the circuit board as the TH77a does? I heard that the RX functions are strictly a keyborad optio nbut haven't confirmed it yet. 3. Can anyone speak to the overall quality of this new rig in comparison to Kenwood or ?? 4. Where does one go to inquire about the mods? ICOM? Thanks... --chas hicks, WB0LJP (who is about to order an HT) ------------------------------ Date: 7 Apr 91 06:00:01 GMT From: tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!n8emr!gws@ucbvax.berkeley.edu Subject: kdp To: info-hams@ucsd.edu ============================================================== | Relayed from packet radio via | | N8EMR's Ham BBS, 614-895-2553 1200/2400/9600/V.32/PEP/MNP5 | ============================================================== SPECIAL BULLETIN 8 ARLX008 FROM ARRL HEADQUARTERS NEWINGTON CT APRIL 6, 1991 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS THANKS TO NASA, W5RRR, AND THE JOHNSON SPACE CENTER FOR THE FOLLOWING POST LAUNCH KEPLERIAN ELEMENTS FOR STS-37. EPOCH TIME 91095.84617361 ELEMENT SET 8 INCLINATION 28.4658 DEG RA OF NODE 237.0841 DEG ECCENTRICITY 0.0808639 ARG OF PERIGEE 267.3762 DEG MEAN ANOMOLY 92.6116 DEG MEAN MOTION 15.37949031 REV/DAY DECAY RATE 2.30E-04 REV/DAY SQ EPOCH REV 5. -73- -- 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: 9 Apr 91 00:01:03 GMT From: news-mail-gateway@ucsd.edu Subject: NASA Prediction Bulletins: Space Shuttle To: info-hams@ucsd.edu The most current orbital elements from the NASA Prediction Bulletins are carried on the Celestial BBS, (513) 427-0674, and are updated several times weekly. Documentation and tracking software are also available on this system. As a service to the satellite user community, the most current elements for the current shuttle mission are provided below. The Celestial BBS may be accessed 24 hours/day at 300, 1200, or 2400 baud using 8 data bits, 1 stop bit, no parity. STS 37 1 21224U 91 27 A 91 98.44077275 .00010011 00000-0 25599-3 0 80 2 21224 28.4708 219.1816 0014663 307.1712 52.7219 15.37498536 446 -- Dr TS Kelso Assistant Professor of Space Operations tkelso@blackbird.afit.af.mil Air Force Institute of Technology ------------------------------ Date: 8 Apr 91 15:22:48 GMT From: usc!sdd.hp.com!hp-col!col!kenw@ucsd.edu Subject: Specs for Boschert PWR Supply To: info-hams@ucsd.edu I believe Boschert was "purchased" by Computer Products Inc. Try looking them up. ------------------------------ Date: 8 Apr 91 17:08:09 GMT From: elroy.jpl.nasa.gov!usc!cs.utexas.edu!csc.ti.com!ti-csl!tilde.csc.ti.com!axis!sqa.dsg.ti.com!edh@ames.arpa Subject: The first No-Code Ham is........(DRUMROLL)..... To: info-hams@ucsd.edu Let's here some applause for Willie!! My family (2 hams besides myself, plus 2 eager younger ones learning) spends a lot of time on a lot of weekends on public service events. And that not because we're altruistic! We enjoy helping other people, we enjoy showing others about amateur radio. And a lot of it revolves around the fact that we are serious about being prepared for emergency operations (while hope springs eternal that we won't have that kind of human suffering in our area). And I just finished building a new electronic keyer, so don't try to label me by the above! Instead of calling each other names, let's all try harder to do what Willie suggests: make a positive "noise" for amateur radio! -- Ed Humphries Texas Instruments, Inc. 512-250-6894 N5RCK Internet ed.humphries@hub.dsg.ti.com -. ..... .-. -.-. -.- Packet N5RCK@NA4M ------------------------------ Date: 8 Apr 91 16:11:23 GMT From: chiton!rec@ucsd.edu Subject: the Freeband below 10 meters To: info-hams@ucsd.edu In article <1991Mar29.011713.10365@bellcore.bellcore.com> karn@thumper.bellcore.com writes: > >Seen in this "light" I can easily see why the FCC considers tower >lighting and painting to be more important than catching a bunch of >freebanders who are probably not bothering anything important anyway. >(If there was anything important in the range 27.5-28.0 MHz, I'm sure >they've long since moved away. 1/2 :-)) > >Phil Your right Phil. My unimportant attempts to operate CW from 28.0 to 28.100 have have gone away. So has most of my Amateur Radio activity. I pulled the plugs on my station several weeks ago during a storm. They are still pulled. You can have the freqs pal. I've got better things to do with my time. AA6PN -- richard currier marine physical lab u.c. san diego rec@mpl.ucsd.edu 619-534-1730 ------------------------------ Date: 8 Apr 91 19:12:27 GMT From: news-mail-gateway@ucsd.edu Subject: Tweaking Cheap Digital Watches? To: info-hams@ucsd.edu There are a lot of cheap LCD digital watches available now for a pittance, like a dollar or two. I'm making an assumption here that the reason they are so cheap is not the circuitry inside, but that those are the same circuits used in more expensive watches, the difference being that the maker takes more time to tweak the adjustments on the costlier models to get them to keep better time. So, if this is the case, I'd like to tweak my own cheap watches to get them to run more accurately. When I pull the back off to change a battery, I see some miniscule screw heads; I'm guessing that at least some of those are trimmer caps. Does anyone out there tweak their own watches to improve the performance? If so, how about posting some generic instructions on how to do it? Regards, Will wmartin@stl-06sima.army.mil ------------------------------ Date: 7 Apr 91 16:53:38 GMT From: usc!cs.utexas.edu!convex!mic!letni!rwsys!kf5iw!k5qwb!lrk@ucsd.edu Subject: Whatizit? To: info-hams@ucsd.edu sehrlich@helios.northeastern.edu writes: > I copied the following CW from around 6.8 Mhz on an analog tuning SW > receiver. Does anyone know what it is or means? > > VVV DE WCCQSX 68121622MHZ OBSAMVQRU? K > > The question mark in the above copy was also transmitted. It is completely > copied verbatim from the transmission heard. > > Thanks for any info. > > Scott, KA1WNU/AG [internet: sehrlich@lynx.northeastern.edu] VVV = common test signal DE = 'from' in morse code world WCC = maritime shore station QSX = 'I am listening on" 6 8 12 16 22 MHZ = maritime bands OBS = 'send me your weather obseervations AMV = I think this is a positon report in case the ship disapears(?) QRU? = 'do you have traffic for me? K = 'now i'm going to listen for your reply' You did good. Lots of this stuff in the maritime bands. Happy hunting. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- lrk@k5qwb.UUCP lrk%k5qwb@kf5iw.UUCP 73, utacfd.utarl.edu!letni!rwsys!kf5iw!k5qwb!lrk Lyn Kennedy K5QWB @ N5LDD.#NTX.TX.US.NA P.O. Box 5133, Ovilla, TX, USA 75154 -------- "We have met the enemy and they are us." Pogo ----------------- ------------------------------ Date: 8 Apr 91 20:09:30 GMT From: hpl-opus!hpnmdla!alanb@hplabs.hpl.hp.com Subject: Whatizit? To: info-hams@ucsd.edu In rec.radio.amateur.misc, sehrlich@helios.northeastern.edu writes: >I copied the following CW from around 6.8 Mhz on an analog tuning SW >receiver. Does anyone know what it is or means? >VVV DE WCCQSX 68121622MHZ OBSAMVQRU? K QSX means "I am listening on ". QRU? means "Do you have any messages to send to me?" It sounds like shore station WCC calling any ship who might have messages to send. AL N1AL ------------------------------ Date: 8 Apr 91 22:22:21 GMT From: sdd.hp.com!samsung!noose.ecn.purdue.edu!dynamo.ecn.purdue.edu!wb9omc@ucsd.edu To: info-hams@ucsd.edu References <96E2B0A5231F603D30@uncg.bitnet>, <9114@rsiatl.Dixie.Com>, <1991Apr5.200849.12364@jpl-devvax.jpl.nasa.gov> Subject : Re: Scanner ban - here are the FACTS jenkins@jpl-devvax.jpl.nasa.gov (Steve Jenkins) writes: >In article <9114@rsiatl.Dixie.Com> jgd@Dixie.Com (John G. DeArmond) writes: >>But Steve, you've mistaken me for someone who gives a sh*t about whether >>hams take me seriously. >Then why bother posting? :-) :-) Well said, Steve...... Duane wb9omc ------------------------------