HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: gcreager@gothamcity.uucp ([Gerry Creager [I-NET])
Subject: Re: 430 mhz band under th (now private/closed repeaters)
Organization: Software Technology Branch - NASA/Johnson Space Center
Date: Mon, 4 Jan 1993 04:52:45 GMT

In article <1993Jan1.151157.23852@ke4zv.uucp> gary@ke4zv.UUCP (Gary Coffman) writes:
>In article <1i0dkmINNk2s@network.ucsd.edu> brian@ucsd.edu (Brian Kantor) writes:
>>One of the repeater/remote systems I've recently built consists of
>>80-6m SSB, 6, 2, 220, 440, and 1200 MHz duplex fm transceivers, a
>>control system with 5 microprocessors, a telephone interface, remote
>>antenna switching, power control, battery power, and building security
>>system.
>>
>>This kind of a system must inherently remain closed simply because of
>>the training required to operate it properly.  Yes, it's possible to
>>damage it if you tell it to do the wrong things.
>
>Sounds like you haven't done the control system properly if it can
>be damaged by a user command.

Bzzzzzzzzzzzt.  Wrong answer.  The technologist is NOT responsible for user
stupidity, and NOWHERE in the rules, nor in my dog-eared Operating Practices
ca. 1967 is anything about making software so "user friendly" that it's
intuituvely obvious to the most casual twit!

Gerry Creager  n5jxs
gcreager@gothamcity.jsc.nasa.gov
Newsgroups: rec.radio.amateur.misc
From: wtm@uhura.neoucom.edu (Bill Mayhew)
Subject: Re: RFI susceptability of new cars?
Organization: Northeastern Ohio Universities College of Medicine
Date: Sun, 03 Jan 1993 23:26:23 GMT

Automobile manufactures subject their cars and trucks to rather
extensive EMI/EMC testing.  Over the last several years GM
engineers have had a display at the Dayton Hamvention on proper
installation of mobile radio transmitters.  Due to the dangers of
litigation in the face of eqipment failure to RFI, auto
manufactures have to conduct extensive testing for suspectibility
from on-board and external RFI.  An RF anechoic chamber large
enough to hold a Semi truck tractor is pretty impressive.

I've had several cars with microprocessor engine contols, and have
not yet experienced troubles with up to 50 watts on 2m, 70cm or 3
watts from my cellular phone.  The AM/FM receivers have had some
intermod problems, however.  Occasionally, the FM radio in my Mazda
MX6 gets hammered by police radar units when I pass near a cruiser.
I get a loud buzz in the speaker as I go by.


-- 
Bill Mayhew      NEOUCOM Computer Services Department
Rootstown, OH  44272-9995  USA    phone: 216-325-2511
wtm@uhura.neoucom.edu (140.220.1.1)    146.580: N8WED
Xref: sparky rec.radio.amateur.misc:21061 sci.electronics:21345 sci.med.physics:517
From: ant-vent@precipice.chi.il.us (Paul Graham)
Newsgroups: rec.radio.amateur.misc,sci.electronics,sci.med.physics
Subject: Re: Hazards of a Co60/Ni63 OA2 Voltage Regulator Tube?
Date: 17 Dec 92 09:37:08 GMT
Organization: Welch Research, McHenry IL, USA

tjf@beta.lanl.gov (Tom J Farish) writes:

> Hi...Thorium-232 is an alpha-emitter with a half-life of roughly 1.4e10 years
> 
> The only danger from a broken tube are in relative order (most dangerous 1st)
> 1. flying glass from the implosion of the tube
> 2. shards of glass on the ground / in your amp
> 3. finger sticks from filament ends
> 4. radiation hazard from the thorium IF YOU ATE IT OR RUBBED IT IN YOUR EYES.
> 
> The alpha particles from decay of the thorium cannot penetrate the epidermis
> of your skin (or even a thin sheet of paper).  The hazard is more likely
> to be chemical toxicity rather than radiotoxicity.
> 
> You will get more rad dose from a Coleman lantern (vapor generators contain
> a radionuclide...I forget which one)
> 
> 


Re: Coleman Lantern radio-activity:

                The hazard is not in the generators byt in the
                mantles.  Just don't breath the smoke when burning
                in a new one, and wash hands after changing one.

                        73, Paul - K9ERG
Newsgroups: rec.radio.amateur.misc
From: kline@ux1.cso.uiuc.edu (Charley Kline)
Subject: Re: Why "Y" on repeater ID's?
Organization: University of Illinois at Urbana
Date: Mon, 28 Dec 1992 19:54:36 GMT

furuta@cs.umd.edu (Richard Furuta) writes:
>Well, my CW skills aren't quite up to speed yet, but I *think* that
>when some of of the local repeaters id they prepend a "Y" onto the
>front of the call, for example "YKC3K/R" for the KC3K repeater.  I
>also think I'm hearing this for the local shuttle rebroadcasts
>"YWA3NAN" for "WA3NAN".  Am I really hearing this?  What's the
>significance?

Are you sure it's a Y ( _ . _ _ ) and not "DE" ( _ . .   . )? A lot of
repeaters really id "DE KC3K/R".

A nice custom I hear here and there is to put the WMO identifier of the city
in the ID too, so when I hear a strange repeater I don't have to go looking
it up in the directory to find out how good 2m propagation is. So often a
repeater will id, say, "DE W9YH/R CMI" if it is in Champaign, Illinois.


-- 
Charley Kline, KF9FF, PP-ASEL                          cvk@uiuc.edu
UIUC Network Architect                               (217) 333-3339

"YOW! Are we in OTTAWA yet??"
From: jbromley@joshua.intel.com (James Bromley~)
Newsgroups: rec.radio.amateur.misc
Subject: Re: Online Repeater Directory?
Date: 22 Dec 1992 21:52:46 GMT
Organization: Intel Corporation
Distribution: na
NNTP-Posting-Host: joshua.intel.com
Summary: Machine-readable

A lot of people post and respond:
>>>> 
>>>> 	You don't need to ftp a list of repeaters. For $6.00 or so the
>>>> ARRL will sell you a repeater guide. This guide is about the size of a
>>>> hymnal and fits in your top pocket, right alongside the coloured ball
>>>> points and mini steel ruler. 
>>>> 

There are advantages to having the listing machine-readable.  For one,
you could update the listing as you become aware of local changes.  Two,
you could make a customized, regional guide for your travels.  Three,
you could make the type BIGGER.

What is really needed is an on-line, centralized database accessible
through the various nets or over packet.  Just my $0.02.

Jim, W5GYJ
From: rkolsen@uswnvg.com (Rick Olsen)
Newsgroups: rec.radio.amateur.misc
Subject: Re: Clever Phonetics Needed--WK3C
Date: 23 Dec 92 23:48:39 GMT
Distribution: na
Organization: U S WEST NewVector Group, Inc.
X-Newsreader: Tin 1.1 PL5


Does anybody remember Willie Billy 5 Willie Billy Willy?  Hey y'all

phonetics are fun stuff at 3 AM on Field Day.  I have to admit that WK3C
is a tough one.

Wanna have some fun?  Try some new ones out on my call, N6NR.  I already
have a list of 'em as long as my arm.

Let's see if you all can make my arm longer.

73 de N6 Novice Roundup
From: gregt@col.hp.com (Greg Tarcza)
Newsgroups: rec.radio.amateur.misc
Subject: Re: 829 Tube caps
Date: 23 Dec 1992 15:38:52 GMT
Organization: HP Colorado Springs Division
NNTP-Posting-Host: hpcsrc9.col.hp.com

> However another possibility is to get a little piece of aluminum rod,
> drill a hole through it axially big enough to let the plate cap into
> it, drill a hole into that radially and tap for a setscrew, and tap
> one end of the axial hole for a screw to hold the end of the braided
> lead.  Now if you use copper or brass instead of aluminum you could
> solder the braided or ribbon lead on.  I've seen things like this of
> aluminum where the rod is about half an inch in diameter and has grooves
> turned into it to make cooling fins.
> -- 

     I'll second this method.  I don't remember a "standard" plate cap, 
but I had a friend turn a couple for me from  half inch rod (complete with 
cooling fins).  They looked kinda massive, but it didn't seem to affect 
performance.

>   ... I would rather not risk the chance of someone putting
>   their hand on top and touching the 2KV B+.

     2KV seems excessive.  I think I used about 850V (but this was about
25 years ago and I'm not real sure).  I also used an Eico plate modulator
on it, so I don't think it will arc internally at 1700V,  but good luck!
I remember running about 120W DC input with a big floor fan aimed at the
829B and getting about 70W to 75W out, but again, your mileage may vary.

     Put a cover over the thing if you are worried about somebody trying 
to detune the tank with their fingers (I never did and got away with it,
but I was also about 14 years old at the time and didn't know any better!)

						Greg T.

===============================================================================
Greg Tarcza      WA2OOD                                               /
Hewlett-Packard Company                                              /
P.O. Box 2197                                                       /-,  /-,
Colorado Springs, CO  80901                                        /  / /  /
719-590-2471                                                      /  / /--/
								      /
gregt@col.hp.com                                                     /
===============================================================================
From: bill.nadzam@pcs.sj.ca.us (Bill Nadzam) 
Newsgroups: rec.radio.amateur.misc
Subject: HF mobile antennas - Want
Date: 24 Dec 92 10:40:00 GMT
Distribution: world
Organization: PCS-BBS - San Jose, CA - 408-270-4085
Reply-To: bill.nadzam@pcs.sj.ca.us (Bill Nadzam) 

MBFrom: mab3474@zeus.tamu.edu (Myles Barkman-KG5AI Tx A&M Univ.)
MBNewsgroups: rec.radio.amateur.misc
MBSubject: HF mobile antennas - Want advice.
MBDate: 23 Dec 1992 17:18 CST
MBMessage-ID: <23DEC199217185793@zeus.tamu.edu>
MB
MBWould like comments regarding different types of antennas and opinions on
MBwhich one is best.  Would like to run 75, 40, 20, 15, and 10m.  I would
MBput it on my bumber and guy in from the luggage rack.

  I am a very active on HF mobile and have tried many different antennas.
If you wish to buy one that will cover all the bands then go with a bug
catcher. Texas, California or Carolina. It is you choice. The are really
ugly but you'll find they work very well. Another way to go, it the single
band sticks. HamSticks or Valor A.K.A. ProAm single band wipes. I like the
Valors best. They run about $20 per band and all are about 8 feet long
when assembled. They both are a 4 foot Helical whip wound on fiberglass
plus a 4 foot steel tuning rod. Ten-Tec also has a line of these whips.
  I have a Valor for every band except 30 meters now, but use a Carolina
Bug Catcher the most. But I have the antenna mounted on the trunk lid.
You sound like a bumper mount is your direction, I would go for the
Texas Bug Catcher. Remember HF mobile is a bunch of trade offs. Don't
be afraid to experiment. No one way of doing things will work for everyone.
---
 . EZ 1.37 . 73 de Bill K8WN ..._._
From: jeffj@cbnewsm.cb.att.com (jeffrey.n.jones)
Newsgroups: rec.radio.amateur.misc
Subject: Using packet radio for logging on field day
Date: 23 Dec 92 19:45:39 GMT
Distribution: usa
Organization: AT&T

Well this is a little early but how could one use packet radio
for linking up various computers in order to use a central logging 
program on field day? Has anyone done this? We have transmitters 
scattered over a football field sized area and this would make things
much easier. Thanks and 73!

Jeff

-- 
 Jeff Jones  AB6MB         |      
 jeffj@seeker.mystic.com   |     
 Infolinc BBS 415-778-5929 |    
Newsgroups: rec.radio.amateur.misc
From: rcanders@nyx.cs.du.edu (Rod Anderson)
Subject: Who do repeater coordinators represent?
X-Disclaimer: Nyx is a public access Unix system run by the University
	of Denver for the Denver community.  The University has neither
	control over nor responsibility for the opinions of users.
Organization: Nyx, Public Access Unix at U. of Denver Math/CS dept.
Date: Sat, 2 Jan 93 18:41:09 GMT



How valid is the claim of repeater owners right to exclusive use their
frequency.  After all they claim that the repeater frequency
coordinators assigned the frequency to them.  But do the repeater
frequency coordinators represent the interests of the entire ham radio
community or just the interests of the repeater owners.
 
It is important to recall that in many areas the repeater frequency
coordinators have been appointed by the REPEATER owners.  And the
represent the REPEATER owners views and interests not those of the
average ham or repeater user.  The important thing to recall about
frequency coordinators is they are more interested in making the
repeater owners happy than the welfare of ham radio in general.  To
this end they have assigned as many frequencies to repeaters as they
had available.  In some cases they even assigned what are by the
national band plan simplex frequencies as repeater input frequencies.
 
The local repeater coordinators have failed to save any frequencies
for future use.  It is suggested that the most effective form of
packet radio is to have packet repeater.  However in most areas there
are no 2 m.  frequencies available limiting this option
 
If repeater coordinators were chosen from ham radio in general rather
than being creatures of the repeater owners there would be no problem
with closed repeaters, there would be no members only closed repeaters
on 2 m.  The only real reason for a closed repeaters is to keep the
jerks who insists that they have the right to use improper language,
or harass other hams off the repeater.
 
 
Rod Anderson        N0NZO             rcanders@nyx.cs.du.edu
 

From: alanb@hpnmdla.sr.hp.com (Alan Bloom)
Date: Wed, 23 Dec 1992 23:24:58 GMT
Subject: Re: Switching diodes in RF paths in receivers.
Organization: Hewlett-Packard, Santa Rosa, CA
Newsgroups: rec.radio.amateur.misc

In rec.radio.amateur.misc, wws@craywr.cray.com (Walter Spector) writes:

>In the 'Recent Advances in Shortwave Receiver Design' article
>(Nov 92 QST), Dr. Rohde mentions the diode switching used in
>the RF paths of most modern receivers.  On page 46, he states
>the following:

>	'... the widespread use of ... diode switching of input
>	filters and IF filters has caused more headaches than it
>	has solved.  While the concept ... is laudable and the filters
>	are necessary, the use of such filters has led to problems
>	because the switching diodes usually used introduce
>	intermodulation distortion that the filters they select
>	can not cure!'

>He goes on to state that replacing the various switching diodes with
>more expensive HP PIN diodes can do nice things for IM and the
>receivers input-intercept point.

>OK hardware gurus: what does all this mean?

In a normal switching diode, the current is an exponential function of the
forward voltage bias.  If the signal is more than a few millivolts, the
diode will generate harmonics and intermodulation distortion.

A PIN diode is intentionally made to have a very slow switching time.
Within the course of one RF cycle (a fraction of a microsecond) the
PIN diode does not have time to change its conduction characteristics.
The upshot is that a PIN diode (at RF frequencies) behaves not as a
diode, but as a resistor.  Since resistors don't cause harmonics and
intermod, the PIN diode (theoretically anyway) won't mess up your
receiver's dynamic range.

>Would there be any difference in biasing?  etc?

You can check the PIN diode's data sheet to see what the RF resistance
versus DC current curve is.  Probably it will work pretty well with
the same current as for the switching diode.  The other inportant
parameter is the charge storage time.  You want it to be much slower
than an RF cycle.  Microwave PIN diodes may not be optimum for HF
work because they switch too fast (act too much like an ordinary diode.)

The on-resistance is also important.  If the diode is in the transmitt 
path, it might burn up from RF current if the resistance is too high.
(P = I^2 R).  It's less critical in the receive path so long as it's
much less than 50 ohms.

AL N1AL
Newsgroups: rec.radio.amateur.misc
Subject: Re: 11 Meters
From: hudson@ualr.edu
Date: 30 Dec 92 14:20:27 CST
Organization: University of Arkansas at Little Rock

In article <1992Dec29.064105.29463@pacifier.rain.com>, mikef@pacifier.rain.com (Mike Freeman) writes:
> 
> Hello, Netland!
> 
> I was sitting here pondering the history of the various amateur
> bands when the question popped into my head:  are there any
> countries left wherein the frequencies which once belonged to
> the 11-meter ham band in the U.S. (and now, of course, are
>
> Mike Freeman <K7UIJ>    |       Internet: mikef@pacifier.rain.com

Mike, I am not 100% sure right now, but as of a few years ago, Australia
had 11 meters set up as a amateur radio band.  I can't remember exactly,
but I thought it was set up as the band where Australian "Novice" licensees
could use voice(???).  I think the coverage was essentially that of the US
CB band, which was of course a ham band many years ago.

I don't remember any other countries specifically having 11 meter set up
this way, but I remember someone in the service in Southeast Asia 
indicating that they had "been a ham operator" in that particular country 
and had used 11 meters (he indicated he did so legitimately???).  He could 
have been bootleg, who knows.... .

Keith
___________________________________________________________

Keith Hudson		hudson%eivax@ualr.edu	(best)
   N5EEZ		mkhudson@ualr.edu	(secondary)
-----------------------------------------------------------
          University of Arkansas at Little Rock
      Department of Electronics and Instrumentation
___________________________________________________________

Newsgroups: rec.radio.amateur.misc
From: gws
Subject: Propagation Forecast Bulletin 51  ARLP051
Organization: HAM BBS, 614-895-2553 
Distribution: na
Date: Thu, 24 Dec 92 22:53:23 GMT


============================================================== 
| 	Automatic relayed from packet radio via              | 
| N8EMR's Ham BBS, 614-895-2553                              |
==============================================================

ZCZC AP59
QST de W1AW
Propagation Forecast Bulletin 51  ARLP051
>From Tad Cook, KT7H
Seattle, WA  December 19, 1992
To all radio amateurs

SB PROP ARL ARLP051
ARLP051 Propagation de KT7H

Solar activity was low to moderate over the past week.  The ten
meter contest last weekend had some nice conditions, with a rising
solar flux that reached 173 and calm geomagnetic conditions.  This
produced about the best conditions that could be expected for this
part of the sunspot cycle.

There were no real disturbances last week, and this kept the A index
mostly in the single digits.  The K index only went as high as four,
and then only on two occasions.  Otherwise it was at one or lower
about a third of the time.  This meant that absorption was low, with
improved conditions over polar paths.

Solar flux should fall gradually to a low around 110 at the end of
the month.  A recurring coronal hole could cause a disturbance on
December 19, and there is a possibility of another slightly
disturbed period around January 3 or 4.  As we head toward the
shortest day of the year in the northern hemisphere, there is less
possibility of atmospheric noise, but because of fewer hours of
daylight, the effects of the sun on charging the ionosphere are less
also.  This means that propagation is not as good as it is in the
Spring and Fall months.

The propagation projection for this week is from the Southeast
United States to Europe.  On 80 and 40 meters conditions should be
best from sundown until around 0900z, and 30 meters during daylight
hours until 2100z.  30 meters may open again during the night from
0630 to 0830z.  20 meters will be best from sunrise to 1900z, and 17
meters from 1400 to 1800z.  Look for best 15 meter openings from
1400 to 1700z, and 12 meters from 1500 to 1630z.  10 meters should
be marginal at best, from 1530 to 1630z.  This path is from Atlanta,
Georgia to Germany, and assumes a solar flux of 140 for this
Tuesday.

Sunspot Numbers from December 10 to 16 were  142, 190, 179, 184,
161, 179 and 151 with a mean of 169.4  10.7 cm flux for the same
period was 142.2, 164.4, 165.6, 173, 167, 155.5 and 150.7, with a
mean of 159.8.
NNNN
From: 082589@hyperion.lanl.gov (Jerry Halladay IS-9 7-5123 P350)
Newsgroups: rec.radio.amateur.misc
Subject: Re: License delays
Date: 21 Dec 92 19:31:53 GMT
Reply-To: 082589@hyperion.lanl.gov
Organization: Los Alamos National Laboratory

I'm right at 8 weeks and no license yet.  The VEC  mailed it Oct. 21, 1992
Newsgroups: rec.radio.amateur.misc
From: wws@craywr.cray.com (Walter Spector)
Subject: Switching diodes in RF paths in receivers.
Organization: Cray Research, Inc.
Date: 22 Dec 92 14:41:25 CST

In the 'Recent Advances in Shortwave Receiver Design' article
(Nov 92 QST), Dr. Rohde mentions the diode switching used in
the RF paths of most modern receivers.  On page 46, he states
the following:

	'... the widespread use of ... diode switching of input
	filters and IF filters has caused more headaches than it
	has solved.  While the concept ... is laudable and the filters
	are necessary, the use of such filters has led to problems
	because the switching diodes usually used introduce
	intermodulation distortion that the filters they select
	can not cure!'

He goes on to state that replacing the various switching diodes with
more expensive HP PIN diodes can do nice things for IM and the
receivers input-intercept point.

OK hardware gurus: what does all this mean?

This sounds like an easy weekend project if it is a reasonable thing
to do.  But one would not want to go to the effort if the diodes in
the rig are already of reasonable quality.

Are there rigs with well-known problems in this area?

If I am looking at a schematic of a rig, which types of diodes
are especially bad or good for RF switching in a receiver in this
context?

If I am looking through data sheets at diodes for a homebrew project,
what specs should I be looking for?

Would there be any difference in biasing?  etc?

Walt
----
Walt Spector
(wws@renaissance.cray.com)
Sunnyvale, California
_._ _._ _.... _. ._.
From: shibumi@joes.garage.com (Kenton A. Hoover)
Newsgroups: rec.radio.amateur.misc
Subject: Re: ICOM 901 vs Kenwood TM-741
Date: 28 Dec 92 06:09:18 GMT
Reply-To: shibumi@joes.garage.com
Organization: Joe's Garage, San Francisco, KA

gary@ke4zv.uucp (Gary Coffman) writes:
>The IC901 is getting a little long in the tooth by Japanese mobile rig
>standards, but it will stack more than 3 bands, and the control head,
>and it's *cable*, are really small. The microphone also does *not* attach
>to the control head and that's a major win. 

The microphone doesn't attach to the control head on the 741 either.  It
plugs into a seperate connector that can be placed anywhere that the user
wishes.


| Kenton A. Hoover                                                            |
| P.O. Box 882643                                             +1 415 957 3614 |
| San Francisco, Kalifornia 94188-2643                shibumi@joes.garage.com |
|==============442.075+100=146.850+=444.625+131.8=440.900+114.8===============|
Newsgroups: rec.radio.amateur.misc
From: bwilkins@iat.holonet.net (Bob Wilkins n6fri)
Subject: Re: Online Repeater Directory?
Organization: the cAVe group
Date: Wed, 23 Dec 1992 01:51:07 GMT

: 
: >I included the text just to re-interate it....Julian had something
: >NICE to say something ARRL did...  maybe pink elephants do fly?
: 
: Well, before we get out of hand ... realize that the ARRL repeater directory
: is less than perfect.  The NY/NJ/CT portion, for example, has not been
: updated lately.
: 
: 
: Carl Oppedahl AA2KW  (intellectual property lawyer)
: 30 Rockefeller Plaza
: New York, NY  10112-0228
: voice 212-408-2578     fax 212-765-2519


Carl you may be unaware that the ARRL will only publish what the local
frequency coordinators send them. Your issue is with your local
coordinating group. The ARRL does a fine job showing all the northern
california repeaters. I dont hear any one mumbling out here. :>

bob n6fri

-- 
Bob Wilkins    n6fri          voice 440.250+ 100pl san francisco bay area
bwilkins@holonet.net          packet n6fri @ w6pw.#nocal.ca.us
 
Newsgroups: rec.radio.amateur.misc
From: shea4460@vms.macc.wisc.edu (Shea)
Subject: Building Quadrifilar Antenna
Organization:  University of Wisconsin Academic Computing Center
Date: 30 DEC 92 22:06:34    

Newsgroups: rec.radio.amateur.misc