From: ikluft@uts.amdahl.com (Ian Kluft)
Newsgroups: rec.radio.amateur.misc,news.answers
Subject: rec.radio.amateur.misc Frequently Asked Questions (Part 3 of 6)
Date: 22 Aug 92 10:08:13 GMT
Expires: 9 Sep 92 07:00:00 GMT
Reply-To: hamradio-faq@uts.amdahl.com (Ham Radio FAQ Coordinators)
Followup-To: rec.radio.amateur.misc
Organization: Amdahl Corporation, Santa Clara, CA
Supersedes: <ham-radio-faq-3-713182084@uts.amdahl.com>
X-Posting-Frequency: posted on the 7th and 22nd of each month

Posted-By: auto-faq script
Archive-name: ham-radio-faq/part3
Revision: 2.12 07/22/92 02:46:00

Rec.radio.amateur.misc Frequently Asked Questions
Part 3 - "Where can I find ..." computer questions
------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Questions discussed in Part 3: (dates indicate last modification)
**  Where can I get ham radio software for my computer? (4/92)
**  I don't have a news server at my site, how can I subscribe to the
    rec.radio.amateur groups? (4/92)
**  I can read news at my site, but I don't have posting privileges.  How
    can I post? (4/92)
**  I don't have FTP capability at my site.  Can I get files via email? (4/92)
**  Where can I find Anonymous File Transfer Protocol (FTP) sites that
    have ham-related files? (7/92)
**  I'm having trouble using FTP....HELP! (5/92)
**  Are there any Telephone BBS's which have ham related files? (7/92)
**  Are there Dialup News services or BBSs for Amateur Radio? (4/92)
**  Are there any on-line callbooks and geographical name servers?  Access
    to FCC databases? (7/92)
**  Where can I find modifications for my radio to extend its capabilities?
    (4/92)
**  Where can I find VE sessions in my local area? (6/92)
**  Why isn't XXX available electronically? (4/92)

--Rec.radio.amateur.misc Frequently-asked Questions------------------Part 3--

** Where can I get ham radio software for my computer?
	Atari:	John Adams KC5FW, 17106 Happy Hollow, San Antonio, TX 78232
		"or tune into the weekly net Sundays 1600 UTC on 14.325 MHz".
	MacIntosh:  MacNet, John Seney WD1V 144 Pepperidge Dr, Manchester,
		NH 03103 (sent 2 800k FORMATTED diskettes, one of which 
		contains a TEXT file containing your name, address, home PBBS,
		your radio & computer interests and equipment).

	(See also the information about Anonymous FTP and ham-related 
	telephone BBS's below.)

**  I don't have a news server at my site, how can I subscribe to the
**  rec.radio.amateur groups?
	To subscribe to rec.radio.amateur.misc, send email to:

		Info-Hams-Request@ucsd.edu (128.54.16.1)

	In the body of the message, write:

		subscribe Info-Hams

	Similarly, to subscribe to rec.radio.amateur.packet, send email to
	Packet-Radio-Request@ucsd.edu, message is "subscribe Packet-Radio",
	and to subscribe to rec.radio.amateur.policy, send email to
	Ham-Policy-Request@ucsd.edu, message is "subscribe Ham-Policy", and
	to subscribe to rec.radio.shortwave, send email to 
	listserv@cuvma.columbia.edu (128.59.40.129), message is "subscribe 
	swl-l (your name)".

	TO UNSUBSCRIBE, follow directions above, changing the command word 
	"subscribe" to "unsubscribe"; don't post to the newsgroup itself!
	Help is available by using the command word "help".  Note that command
	words MUST be the first word on each line of the message.

	Another mailing list of interest is antique-radios.  To subscribe,
	contact antique-radio-request@swbatl.sbc.com (Tom Adams).  This mailing
	list is for discussions on antique radio, television and vintage 
	electronics.

**  I can read news at my site, but I don't have posting privileges.  How
**  can I post?
	You can post to rec.radio.amateur.{misc,packet,policy}
	by sending your posting email to Info-Hams, Packet-Radio, or
	Ham-Policy, all at ucsd.edu.  To post to other newsgroups, send the 
	posting email to (groupname)@ucbvax.berkeley.edu and for the 
	groupname, replace periods with dashes.  
	For example, to post to sci.space, you would send your posting to 
	sci-space@ucbvax.berkeley.edu.
	All of the Amateur radio newgroups are archived on ucsd.edu under
	subdirectory mailarchives/{Ham-Policy,Info-Hams,Packet-Radio}.

**  I don't have FTP capability at my site.  Can I get files via email?
	ANY BITNET, EARN, or NorthNET site can access the Princeton mail 
	server.  It will be most efficient if you know the complete path
	and filename for anything you wish to transfer, but you can use 
	'cd' and 'ls -l' commands to move about and browse the remote site's
	directories.  The Archie database server may also be useful to search
	for files and their directory locations on FTP sites around the world 
	(see below).  Please be patient when using non-interactive mail 
	servers such as BITFTP as each request may take several hours (or 
	longer) to be fulfilled. 

	For access to the FTP server, send email to bitftp@pucc.bitnet (for 
	BITNET, EARN and NorthNET users ONLY!).  Subject doesn't matter.  
	The text of the email is the FTP commands one after another.  For 
	example, suppose you wanted to access the FTP site lcs.mit.edu:
	    FTP lcs.mit.edu
	    USER anonymous
	    PASS yourname@yoursite	(not required)
	    ASCII
	    CD telecom-archives
	    GET filenames
	    BYE
	A help file is available giving detailed instructions by putting
	the single word HELP into the text of the email.

	For nonBITNET users, there is also a FTPMAIL server at 
	ftpmail@decwrl.dec.com (16.1.0.1).  Commands include:  REPLY 
	<mailaddr>, CONNECT [HOST [user [pass]]], ASCII, BINARY, COMPRESS, 
	COMPACT, UUENCODE, BTOA, LS <directory>, DIR <directory>, GET <file>, 
	QUIT, HELP.  Get the help file for more information by sending mail 
	with the single line "help".  The ftpmail site may complain if you try 
	try to get more than 1 file per email request.  Here is an example of 
	a request: 
	    reply your_name@your_site
	    connect uxc.cso.uiuc.edu
	    binary
	    uuencode
	    get pub/ham-radio/Tech.v3.3.sit.hqx.Z
	    quit

	A note on the use of FTP mailservers:  If you want to use FTP
	mailservers, like FTPMAIL, please be considerate of any systems that
	your mail must pass through.  The quickest way to find yourself cut 
	off from the world is to make the admins of sites that pass your mail
	pass 60Mb of X11 graphics system source.  If you need large amounts
	of information from a mailserver, contact your admin for help -- it 
	may already be available, or he may know a better way to get it.

**  Where can I find Anonymous File Transfer Protocol (FTP) sites that have 
    ham-related files?
	Tom Czarnik coordinates a fairly definitive list of anonymous FTP 
	sites, their IP numbers, time zones, general contents, and access 
	policies which he posts to the comp.misc, comp.sources.wanted, 
	alt.sources.wanted, and news.answers newsgroups.  It is itself 
	available via anonymous FTP (how about that?? :-) from (among other 
	places) pit-manager.mit.edu (18.172.1.27) under directory 
	/pub/usenet/news.answers/ftp-list. 

	For specific information about exact locations of files by name, 
	the Archie database server may be of help.  Archie may be accessed by 
	telnetting to one of the following sites (use the one closest to you):

	Finland/Europe: archie.funet.fi (128.215.6.100)
	Canada: archie.mcgill.ca (132.206.2.3)
	Australia/New Zealand: archie.au (128.184.1.4)
	Israel: cs.huji.ac.il (132.65.6.5)
	UK/Ireland: raquel.doc.ic.ac.uk (146.169.11.3)
	USA (Maryland): archie.sura.net (128.167.254.179)
	USA (Nebraska): archie.unl.edu (129.93.1.14)
	USA (New York): archie.ans.net (147.225.1.2)
	USA (New Jersey): archie.rutgers.edu (128.6.18.15)

	Login is archie.  Type "help" at the prompt for a description of all 
	server commands.

	For those without telnet capability, the database may be accessed non-
	interactively via mail server.  Send E-mail with the word "help" to 
	archie@host where host is one of the Archie sites above. 

	The above two resources (the FTP list and the Archie server) are 
	extremely powerful tools for finding out "what's out there" at various 
	FTP sites around the world.  *PLEASE* exhaust their capabilities 
	before posting requests to the net. 

	The following is a brief summary of major ham-related FTP sites:

	ftp.cs.buffalo.edu (128.205.32.9)
		(submissions to this ftp site should be made to
		bowen@cs.buffalo.edu) - contains many ham radio files, 
		including the FAQs, Elmer list, SWL and scanner info and
		the KA2UGQ worldwide BBS list on ~pub/ham-radio/phone_bbs_list

	wsmr-simtel20.army.mil (192.88.110.20)
		Keith Peterson, W8SDZ, has apparently returned as the 
		maintainer of this huge repository of ham-radio (software and 
		modifications), MS-DOS, and CP/M files.  To find out how 
		to submit files to this archive, please read his informational 
		posts to the comp.binaries.ibm.pc.archives newsgroup. If you 
		cannot directly FTP from wsmr-simtel20, there is a mail server 
		that can help.  Send mail with the text "help" to 
		listserv@vm.ecs.rpi.edu (128.113.5.11). 

	wuarchive.wustl.edu (128.252.135.4)
		A "mirror" of the files available on Simtel20, plus a *LOT* 
		more.  A more user-friendly Unix environment (plus a faster 
		net connection) makes this site preferred over Simtel20.
		If you are on a Unix box locally, see if your system 
		administrator will "NFS-mount" these files for faster/easier 
		access.
	
	ucsd.edu (128.54.16.1)
		The "home" site (with the most recent versions for the largest
		number of different computer platforms) of the KA9Q TCP/IP 
		Network Operating System (NOS), other ham-related software, 
		and the archives for the Info-Hams, Packet-Radio, Ham-Policy, 
		and TCP-Group digests. 

	uxc.cso.uiuc.edu (128.174.5.50)
		cd pub/ham-radio - This site contains the HyperCard Hamstacks 
		written by Diana Syriac as well as ASCII readable ham radio 
		question pools. 
	
	apple.com (130.43.2.2)
		cd pub/ham-radio - Ham software and information, especially
		MacIntosh software

	ftp.uu.net (137.39.1.9)
	wuarchive.wustl.edu (128.252.135.4)
	wolfen.cc.uow.edu.au (130.130.68.4)
	athene.uni-paderborn.de (131.234.2.32)
	nic.funet.fi (128.214.6.100)
		ham radio files and software for the Amiga computer system 

	charon.amdahl.com (129.212.11.1),
		cd pub/radio/amateur - the most up-to-date copy of the FAQ.

	If you experience difficulty connecting to the above FTP sites, read 
	the telnet/FTP troubleshooting hints below or check with your local 
	system administrator.

**  I'm having trouble using FTP....HELP!
	The unfortunate situation here is that Netnews is far more prevalent 
	than direct Internet hookups, accurate name servers, smart mailers and
	routers, and of course, telnet and FTP client services.  What this 
	means is that your trouble may be caused by MANY factors.

	Here's some hints to check what's wrong:
	* It may very well be that your newsfeed and email are via dialup line
	  and UUCP (Unix-to-Unix copy) in the wee hours of the morning.  If
	  this is the case, then you have no direct connection to the Internet
	  and thus cannot use real-time interactive services like FTP and
	  telnet.
	* If you are at a college or university, your host (ie, the computer
	  you are logged onto) may be on the Bitnet network, which has an
	  email gateway to the Internet, but no direct connect capability.
	* If you do have a direct connection to the Internet, does your host
	  have telnet and/or FTP client programs?  (ie, if you type "ftp" or
	  "telnet" at your command prompt, do you get anything?)  Many hosts,
	  particularly IBM mainframes, do not support these services!
	* Can you telnet to other hosts and get a login prompt?
	  It may very well be that some hosts are "not recognized" due to
	  misconfigured connections and inaccurate host tables/name servers
	  (*.mil computers are *NOTORIOUS* for this!)
	* If you get "host not in host table" or "host unknown" or similar
	  error, try telnetting via the IP number, a set of four 1-3-digit
	  numbers separated by periods (eg, 137.48.1.1).  The exact IP number
	  for the site can be obtained via the nslookup utility, if your
	  computer supports it....or check the FAQs.  Your host may not 
	  recognize the "fully-qualified domain name" (like 
	  callsign.cs.buffalo.edu), but it should ALWAYS recognize an IP
	  number. 
	* If you get "network unreachable" check with some more knowledgeable
	  users if your site is actually connected to the Internet.  If it is,
	  a link in the network may be temporarily disconnected for maintenance
	  (or by accident.)
	* In the case of telnetting to a non-default port (as in the case
	  with the callbook servers), if telnet <host> <port#> doesn't work,
	  but you can telnet to the default login port (ie, no qualifiers),
	  then the manner at which the port qualifier is entered may be
	  system dependent.
	* Syntax for telnetting from different operating systems differ.  
	  Some common command syntaxes are:  (angle brackets are for 
	  readability, do not type these in literally)

	  Berkeley Unix or VMS with Wollongong TCP/IP uses syntax:
		telnet <host> <socket#>
	  Other possibilities to try:
		telnet console <host> (for 2000 port)
		telnet <CR> open <host>:<port#>
		telnet <host>/<port#>
		telnet <host>/port=<port#> (for Multinet on VMS)
	* If all else fails, ASK your system administrator or check system
	  documentation.
	* Compression techniques are different for different operating systems.
	  However, these hints should help: foo.sit needs MacIntosh UnStuffit
	  to unstuff; foo.hqx needs MacIntosh BinHex to uncompress; foo.Z 
	  needs Unix 'uncompress' to uncompress or VMX compress_vms.exe (on
	  gatekeeper.dec.com) will work too.  If more than one method was used,
	  like for foo.hqx.Z, start at the outside and work in (so uncompress
	  on Unix with 'uncompress' first, transfer to MacIntosh, then 
	  uncompress with BinHex to get uncompressed file).
	* There is an excellent introduction to FTP and archiving software
	  regularly posted to comp.binaries.ibm.pc.

**  Are there any Telephone BBS's which have ham related files?
	WB3FFV has one, phones are 301-625-0817 or 301-625-9482 or 
	301-625-9663.  Data settings are 8 bits, NO parity, 1 stop bit.
	Login is bbs, no password.  
	This BBS is also available via UUCP, login is uucpanon, no password.
	For a listing of available archived, try:
	uucp wb3ffv!~/FILES /usr/spool/uucppublic

	Another one is N8EMR at phone 614-895-2553, login hbbs.  Data settings
	are 8 bits, NO parity, 1 stop bit.  N8EMR has a comprehensive list of
	other ham-related BBS's on-line.

**  Are there Dialup News services or BBSs for Amateur Radio?
	There are two major news services for ham radio.  Both are run by
	volunteer hams and provide bulletins of specific interest to amateurs,
	hence they are perfectly legal to rebroadcast on ham bands according
	to FCC Regulation 97.111B(6).  To lessen the load on the dialup lines,
	consider getting your local repeater operator to rebroadcast it, or 
	tape record it to play at your favorite HF net.  

	RAIN (Radio Amateur Information Network) is produced by Hap Holly,
	KC9RP, located in Illinois.  The news is typically updated 8am CST
	Fridays.  Phone numbers are 1-708-299-INFO (299-4636) and 
	1-708-827-RAIN (827-7246).

	NEWSLINE is another, produced by Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF.  Donations
	for NEWSLINE are accepted at Newsline Support Fund, c/o Dr. Norm
	Chalfin K6PGX, Pasadena, CA 91102.  Phone numbers are:  
		Chicago		1-708-289-0423
		N.Florida	1-407-259-4479 
		West Palm Beach	1-407-965-1234
		Los Angeles	1-805-296-2407 (Instant Update Line)
		Los Angeles	1-213-462-0008
		NYC		1-718-353-2801
		Ohio		1-513-275-9991
		Seattle		1-206-368-3969

**  Are there any on-line callbooks and geographical name servers?  Access
    to FCC databases?
	If you are at an Internet site you can connect using telnet to one 
	of the two primary servers:

	callsign.cs.buffalo.edu (currently 128.205.32.2) 
	ham.njit.edu		(currently 128.235.1.10) 

	There is also a general geographical name server at:

	martini.eecs.umich.edu (currently 141.212.100.9)

	The callbook servers sit on port number 2000 and the geographical
	name server sits on port 3000.  These are different port numbers
	than what telnet usually defaults to. So if you just telnet to these
	machines, you will get a login prompt instead of the server. How you
	tell your telnet program to connect to port 2000 or 3000 instead of 
	the default port is operating system dependent but it is usually done 
	with a line like

	telnet callsign.cs.Buffalo.EDU 2000

	If this doesn't work, check the telnet/FTP troubleshooting hints
	above or consult your local systems guru for the proper command string.

	The interactive servers are designed to be somewhat self-explanatory
	and they support fairly detailed help facilities. The first command 
	you should execute when connecting to one of these servers is "info". 
	This will list general info about that server and how to use it. You 
	should then type "help" to list the various commands available. 
	Typing "help" followed by a command name will give you a little more 
	detail about that command. Servers allow searches by call, last name, 
	zip code or city and also provide regular expression filters to trim 
	your searches so you get a reasonable amount of output.

	Both these servers are built from a database distributed by Rusty
	Carruth, N7IKQ. This database currently contains US and Canadian 
	callsigns and it does not contain club calls. A new version of the 
	database is sent around approximately once a year.
	
	There is also an email callsign server at callbook@sat.datapoint.com
	(The UUCP address is ...!uunet!dptspd!callbook).  In the body of the 
	text, say "lookup" followed by callsigns you want to look up.  If 
	your mailer appends signature files, you should put a line "quit" at 
	the end of your request (before the signature file).  If you want 
	help, put the word "help" on a line by itself.  Here is what a 
	request might look like:
		help
		lookup kc1sp wn4bbj
		lookup n0fzd
		quit

	There is another email callsign server at callbook@n8emr.cmhnet.org.
	The subject line is the list of callsigns to lookup.  All other lines
	are ignored.  This same callsign server can be accessed with packet
	radio via cbook@n3jyv.#cmh.oh.usa.na.  The body of the message should
	include "REPLY n8jyv!HOME_BBS!CALL" (where HOME_BBS is YOUR home BBS,
	and CALL is YOUR callsign), carriage return, "CALL call1 call2 ..."
	(where call1 call2 .... is space separated list of callsigns you want
	to lookup).

	If you are a packet radio station, callserver data is available from
	REQQTH@WA4ONG.VA.USA.NA, subject line should be up to 5 US callsigns,
	separated by spaces.  For Canadian calls, use the callserver at
	REQQTH@VE3JF.ON.CAN.  Body of message is ignored.  The server is an 
	OS interface to the MBL packet BBS using the Buckmaster CD-ROM 
	callsign database.

	The REQQTH address is for the AX.25 radio-linked amateur packet
	network, *NOT* the Internet.  If you attempt to send Internet mail to
	this address, and use the old .NA suffix instead of the new .NOAM
	suffix, it will get routed to Nimibia (Internet suffix .na) which is
	currently paying a lot of money for misdirected ham mail.  Help
	maintain a positive example for amateur radio and please do not
	attempt this!

	The FCC "call sign hotline" at 717-337-1212 is available for those
	who wish to listen to the call signs allocated in each group for each
	district.  This requires only a touch-tone telephone to use.

**  Where can I find modifications for my radio to extend its capabilities?
	Some mods can be found on wsmr-simtel20.army.mil or 
	the Simtel20 mirror directories on wuarchive.wustl.edu.

	There is a new server at pcserver@novell.business.uwo.ca.  Some 
	examples of main body email requests are as follows:
		HELP
		SENDME RADIO MODS
		SENDME TH215 MODS
		SENDME ALLBAND MODS

	There is a packet radio Mods Server.  To get the directories, send
	a packet as follows:
		SP REQFIL@N2IMC.NJ.USA.NA
		Subject:  MODS\Dir.1
		/EX
	To get the mod, send to same place, with Subject MODS\Filename.ext.

	REMEMBER that any modification is likely to void your warranty and
	that these mods are NOT guaranteed to work.

**  Where can I find VE sessions in my local area?
	VE sessions are often announced in the local newspapers, but more
	often, they are announced by local radio bulletin boards.  The 
	local packet BBS will most likely have a monthly updated schedule
	for VE sessions.  ARRL or W5YI can generally be called and asked for 
	local VE sessions as well.  Don't forget that you will need the 
	following when you go in for an upgrade:  a copy of your current 
	Amateur license; your original Amateur license; any CSCEs (duplicate 
	not required), if applicable and less than a year old; a picture ID, 
	preferably a driver's license, passport or visa; and the VE test
	fee (approximately $5 right now).

	Bart Jahnke, KB9NM, the ARRL VEC Manager (bjahnke@arrl.org) posts a
	definitive listing of VE exams indexed by state (and some overseas
	sites, usually at embassies and military bases) to the net every 6
	weeks or so.  

**  Why isn't XXX available electronically?
        This is a theme for a lot of common questions.  For the "XXX" above,
        substitute any of the following:
           Callbooks
           DX QSL Lists
           Radio station lists
           ARRL publications (i.e. conference proceedings, repeater directory)
           and more...

        Except for the Callbook (via callsign servers), these are not available
        because of any of several reasons.  Either there are copyright restric-
        tions, royalty fees, or the source just may not have done the work.
        Also, not everyone that has information has reliable UseNet access.

        In one example of someone's effort to bridge the information gap, there
	is a new repeater-mapping project which can automatically accept
	entries via e-mail.  If you can get enough details about a repeater
	for a complete listing, you may want to help by submitting an entry.
	For more information, use the following e-mail addresses:

	repeaters@wattres.sj.ca.us
		Just send a message with only the word "help" in the message
		body.  The project's software will reply with instructions.
	steve@wattres.sj.ca.us
		For other questions (Steve Watt KD6GGD)

	As soon as the list is big enough to be useful, the project will make
	it available electronically.  That will mean one less "why isn't it
	available electronically" question for the net.
Newsgroups: rec.radio.amateur.misc