HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: rlt@cbnewsl.cb.att.com (R.L.Taylor KB2OOA)
Newsgroups: rec.radio.amateur.misc
Subject: Re: License exam anecdote
Date: 14 Apr 92 11:43:56 GMT
Distribution: usa
Organization: AT&T

In article <1992Apr13.101957.39298@kuhub.cc.ukans.edu> heacock@kuhub.cc.ukans.edu (Doug Heacock) writes:

$ The single most useful AL7IF hint for code tests is that the most
$ important word in the test is "is".  You listen for "is" and learn to
$ recognize it at high speed, then concentrate on what follows the "is".

I'll have to remember that.  Any other hints anyone would care to share?
Besides:  practice, practice, and practice some more...

$ We tried it, mostly thinking that the 20 wpm test would be a good
$ warmup for the 13 wpm test.  Although the speed of the "VVV VVV" at
$ the beginning was a little frightening, I was relaxed, because for me,
$ this was practice, not the real thing.  I didn't copy solid code
$ anywhere through the test (I can't write that fast!), but I managed to
$ get enough of the important stuff to pass the test!  So did Chuck, my

Gee, I keep trying that...but I've only gotten past the 13...so far!  I'm
going to pass the 20wpm out of sheer stubbornness. :-)

$ So, the point of all of this, I suppose, is to crow about the fact
$ that I'll never have to take another code test, to publicly thank

Congratulations!  But *I* will never have to take another written test. :-)
I did pretty much the same thing as you, except I got further than expected
with written exams, rather than code.  But either way, it sure feels good,
doesn't it?

>73 de N0NZQ/AG

Likewise,
KB200A/AA (and a half)
From: eric@hpsmo100.rose.hp.com (Eric Struble)
Date: Thu, 9 Apr 1992 15:36:56 GMT
Subject: Re: How do I feed 2 antennas (2m + 70cm)?
Organization: HP-SMO
Newsgroups: rec.radio.amateur.misc

The correct answer is "C".
My sugestion would be to construct a duplexer. There was an article in QST
last year on just that written by WB6RBE. I built and tested one for Dave while
he was writing the article and it works great. He did a compairson to a 
comercial unit and by the construction methods he used it out performed the 
Larson unit. There is a store in Sacramento that sells the parts in kit form.
If you are interested I would recomend calling ARRL to find out the month the 
article came out and they might even send out a copy of it to you..

Eric, N6PYF


*------------------------------------------------------------------------------*
     Eric Struble / Support Materials Organization / Hewlett-Packard  U.S.A
           Phone: 916.785.8288 / UNIX Mail: eric@hpsmo100.rose.hp.com
            X.400 Mail: CC=US, AD=ATTMAIL, PD=HP, ON=HP, OU1=HP5200
                      AX.25: N6PYF@WA6NWE.#NOCAL.CA.USA.NA
*------------------------------------------------------------------------------*
These opinions are mine and mine alone. I am not representing Hewlett-Packard or
anyone else!!
Newsgroups: rec.radio.amateur.misc
From: garym@telesoft.com (Gary Morris @lone)
Subject: Re: Call sign phonetics
Reply-To: g@telesoft.com
Organization: TeleSoft, San Diego, CA, USA
Distribution: na
Date: Thu, 9 Apr 1992 20:02:39 GMT

How about:  King Kong's Six Yellow Bananas?
--GaryM
KK6YB
From: michael@navaho.ugrad.ee.ufl.edu (Michael Borbath)
Newsgroups: rec.radio.amateur.misc
Subject: Realistic HTX-202 MODS NEEDED?
Date: 2 Apr 92 05:27:50 GMT
Reply-To: scot@sioux.ee.ufl.edu
Organization: UF EE Department

I am looking for the modifications that can be made to the Realistic
HTX-202 Handie Talkie.  If anyone knows how to take this radio out of
band ... please let me know!!!


73's

Mike, N4UVW           michael@sioux.ee.ufl.edu
From: sl8wm@cc.usu.edu
Newsgroups: rec.radio.amateur.misc
Subject: FT-2400H Mod
Date: 15 Apr 92 00:35:48 MDT
Organization: Utah State University

I was just hoping that somebody out there would be able to help me.
I understand that there may be a mod out there for a Yaesu FT-2400
that will extend its receive range. If this is true could someone please 
tell me where such a mod could be found.

Thanks

J. Jones
From: alanb@hpnmdla.sr.hp.com (Alan Bloom)
Date: Wed, 15 Apr 1992 19:18:40 GMT
Subject: Re: License exam anecdote
Organization: HP Network Measurements Div, Santa Rosa, CA
Newsgroups: rec.radio.amateur.misc

In rec.radio.amateur.misc, rlt@cbnewsl.cb.att.com (R.L.Taylor KB2OOA) writes:

>In article <1992Apr13.101957.39298@kuhub.cc.ukans.edu> heacock@kuhub.cc.ukans.edu (Doug Heacock) writes:

>$ The single most useful AL7IF hint for code tests is that the most
>$ important word in the test is "is".  You listen for "is" and learn to
>$ recognize it at high speed, then concentrate on what follows the "is".

>I'll have to remember that.  Any other hints anyone would care to share?
>Besides:  practice, practice, and practice some more...

- Realize that every number, letter, punctuation mark, and prosign is used
at least once.  If you got the callsign as "N?AL", check the rest of the
text to see if any of the numbers 0-9 are missing.

- Both callsigns are sent twice, once at the beginning and once at the end.  
You get two chances to get these right.

- When done copying, go back and fill in anything you missed -- guess if
necessary.  If you fail to get 75% of the questions, the examiners will
check your copy to see if you got 1 minute without errors.

- Concentrate on the numbers:  Many of the questions are about RST,
transmitter power, etc.  Also, numbers count as 2 characters when 
computing the "1 minute solid copy".

- Don't leave any questions blank on the test sheet.  Wrong guesses don't
count against you.

AL N1AL
From: rja@batcomfs.Eng.Sun.COM (Ninja Squirrel Master)
Newsgroups: rec.radio.amateur.misc
Subject: Complaint to ICOM: want your email included?
Date: 14 Apr 92 20:50:34 GMT
Organization: Sun Microsystems Inc., Mountain View, CA
NNTP-Posting-Host: batcomfs


    I've collected all the letters posted recently about ICOM equipment.
    I'm going to write a letter to ICOM about their service policies,
    as I too was thinking of buying an ICOM product, and already have
    one.  I'd like to include the letters posted with my letter.  So
    far I have letters from the following people:

	beyo@beyonet.UUCP (Steve Urich)
	ham!emd@oneb.wimsey.bc.ca
	pnz46378@uxa.cso.uiuc.edu (Paul N. Zaremba (AA9BK))
	kludge@grissom.larc.nasa.gov ( Scott Dorsey)
	rovero@oc.nps.navy.mil (Josh Rovero)
	rossi@gvlf8-m.gvl.unisys.com (Pete Rossi)
	Mike_Whalen@agwbbs.new-orleans.LA.US (Mike Whalen)
	sekell@bb1t.monsanto.com
	rmohr@infoac.rmi.de (Rupert Mohr )
	dlp@zule.EBay.Sun.COM (Dan Pritchett)
	mebly@eng.umd.edu (Mark E. Bailey)

    I'd like to include the names/company affiliations of the above
    posters, along with selected quotes from their postings. I won't
    include your names however if you don't give me permission.  If
    I get any response from ICOM I'll post back.

    Send email to rja@sun.com
--
    Robert Allen, rja@sun.com		DISCLAIMER: I said it, not my company.

    "Traditionalists often study what is taught, not what there is to create."
			     - Ed Parker, Grandmaster, American Kenpo.
From: jim@wicat.UUCP (Jim Raehl)
Newsgroups: rec.radio.amateur.misc,alt.folklore.urban
Subject: FCC 3-Letter Call letters
Summary: KSL AM and TV, Salt Lake City.  50,000 watts--clear channel.
Date: 8 Apr 92 16:52:36 GMT
Reply-To: jim@wicat.UUCP (Jim Raehl)
Distribution: na
Organization: WICAT Systems, Orem, Utah

In article <92093.161115ICLNM@ASUACAD.BITNET> ICLNM@ASUACAD.BITNET writes:
>>
>>KDKA is not the only exception to the rule.  KYW in Philadelphia is the
>>other one.  KDKA was the first commercial radio station in the country

I'm surprised KSL wasn't in the list.  Heard all over the western USA.
One of the few clear channel stations.



-- 
Jim Raehl  (801) 224-6400     *  "See 5th amendment, US constitution ..."
WICAT Systems, Incorporated   *  
1875 South State Street       *  Packet radio: N7KXI@N7KXI.UT.USA.NA
Orem, Utah  84058  (USA)      *  (Morse code NOT required for license)
From: William=E.=Newkirk%Pubs%GenAv.Mlb@BANYAN9.CAcd.CR.rockwell.COM
Newsgroups: rec.radio.amateur.misc
Subject: FCC Call letters
Date: 6 Apr 1992 06:45:52 -0700
Organization: UCSD Usenet Gateway
NNTP-Posting-Host: ucsd.edu

WMT Cedar Rapids, Iowa.  (believe just AM and FM now -- the TV station is 
now KGAN [ch 2]).
From: hayward@gargoyle.uchicago.edu (Peter B. Hayward)
Newsgroups: rec.radio.amateur.misc
Subject: Re: Waiting time to get licence
Date: 7 Apr 92 14:07:33 GMT
Reply-To: hayward@gargoyle.uchicago.edu (Peter B. Hayward)
Organization: Somewhere between the Stillwater and Penobscot Rivers

Opps...somehow I forgot the FCC's telephone number in the earlier post.


In article <29E14F61.26746@ics.uci.edu> lng@ics.uci.edu (Lester Ng) writes:
:In article <1992Apr5.113957.24134@runx.oz.au> richardm@runx.oz.au (Richard Murnane) writes:

:>Happily, here in VK, you wait only 2-3 weeks...
:
:Well, in the U.S. the waiting period for a Ham liecense is around 5 to 6
:weeks.  I got kinda impatient waiting, so I called the FCC office in PA and
:they were happy to tell me what my call sign was as well as when it was put
:into the mail.


It is probably best to remind people of how the FCC processes applications lest
many start calling the local or Gettysburg ofices expecting the same service
as Lester received. 

At last report, there were only two clerks handling the input of data for
ham licenses. Until the paperwork is entered by them into the computer,
it i, to the FCC, as if the paperwork didn't exist. It only knows about
an application when it is entered into the system.

And this is done on a weekly cycle:

Wednesday to Tuesday, the forms are input.
Tuesday night the licenses are processed.

Thursday the licenses are mailed out. Here in New England we see the
licenses on Saturday. In the midwest it was following Tuesday. 

So, one can call the FCC on the Thursday that licenses are mailed to
learn of the call assigned on the Tuesday run. However, that is the
earliest that you can call in a given week.

The Gettsyburg number is

       717-337-1212 follow the instructions
       717-337-1511   "     "     "

Yes, it stinks. Let's hope the ARRL gets the nod to stream line 
this.

Peter
WX9T



Peter B. Hayward     University of Maine       WX9T
From: alan@adept.UUCP (Alan Ruffer)
Newsgroups: rec.radio.amateur.misc
Subject: Re: Can't get 10 year old radio fixed, was Re: Boycott Icom
Date: 15 Apr 92 13:23:32 GMT
Reply-To: alan@adept.UUCP (Alan Ruffer)
Organization: Perfect Partners Inc., Sulphur, LA

In article <1992Apr14.162949.4425@gvl.unisys.com> rossi@gvlf8-m.gvl.unisys.com (Pete Rossi) writes:
>
>With the "throw away" attitude that most manufacturers have these days, I 
>wonder how many of today's fancy super digital radios will still be
>running 15-20 years from now.  How many will be junked all because some
>simple but unique component (eg. custom chip) fails.  
>

Not many.  The cost of repairs these days make most appliances ( TVs, 
VCRs, microwaves, stereos and even radios throw-away items.)

>I remember hearing somewhere that somebody made a digital radio a few years
>ago that had the custom microprocessor code stored in battery backed up RAM !!
>If this is true, then what is someone supposed to do when the battery fails
>10 years from now and the program is lost..  You end up with a 25 pound
>pile of useless iron and silicon.

This somebody you refer to is also Icom!  I own one.  I no longer purchase 
Icom equipment.  That is one reason. Another is higher pricing for 
equipment which has not proven to be particularly trouble free in use at 
my station.  I don't know about most people on the net, but I cannot afford 
to spend over $1000 on something that is PLANNED to be obsolete some time 
later!  

>
>Stuff today is not made to be fixed...  Period.
>

Manufactured landfill material.  Just what we need.    8-(

73's
Alan

+--------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| Alan R. Ruffer      UUCP: {csccat,chinacat!holston}!adept!alan           |
| Route 1, Box 1745                                                        |
| Sulphur, LA 70663   Amateur Radio Station WB5FKH                         |
|                                                                          |
| Computers will not be perfected until they can compute how much more     |
| than the estimate the job will cost.                                     |
+--------------------------------------------------------------------------+
From: clemon@lemsys.UUCP (Craig Lemon VE3XCL)
Newsgroups: rec.radio.amateur.misc
Subject: Comment on youngest hams discussion
Distribution: world
Date: 4 Apr 92 10:48:12 EST
Organization: Private UUCP "Twig" Node

        One thing that you people haven't considered is who is the youngest
ham who has NO FAMILY RELATIVES who are hams themselves to council them.  I
was ready to write my exam for years before I did but I had a hard time
working it in with school because I really don't get any support from my
parents, they think it's neat and all but consider it useless compared to
education and kind of stupid (I think that they're thinking of GRS :-)  If
my father was an advanced, 20wpm ham I'm sure I would have had my license
about 10 years ago at least.  My license was also obtained without
reference to little written material and I did not take any courses or
classes on ham radio.

--
 Craig Lemon VE3XCL - Kitchener, Ontario. Amiga B2000  OS 2.04  UUCPv1.15D.
 +1 519 741 0297    +1 519 578 7817              | Silly people!  We all
 clemon@lemsys.UUCP clemon%lemsys@xenitec.on.ca  | know that the Universe
 IP/Packet: ve3xcl@ve3xcl.ampr.org [44.135.84.51]| revolves around UUNET!
From: William=E.=Newkirk%Pubs%GenAv.Mlb@ns14.cca.CR.rockwell.COM
Newsgroups: rec.radio.amateur.misc
Subject: Boycott ICOM
Date: 15 Apr 1992 06:21:07 -0700
Organization: UCSD Usenet Gateway
NNTP-Posting-Host: ucsd.edu

>Shouldn't someone check on who employs the guy who started this?  Could it be
>Yaesu..... or Kenwood.... or..... ?

Especially since it started on Packet - a most unreliable source for facts.  
See page 5 of #623 of the Westlink Report for an article titled "MFJ Suffers 
from Digital Dirt".  I can understand why Icom may not have some extra 
custom parts around, but as far as it can be determined only a couple of these
folks posting have actually dealt with Icom in regards to service.

One of the biggest things on the Engineering R&D plate these days is working 
around obsolete parts to support ongoing production and previous customers.  
There are a couple of guys locally attempting to recreate the spread spectrum 
handbook radio and there's a special divider that can't be found (so far 
anyway).  sure you can develop the same function out of available parts but 
there's an example of a part that was available and later cut from production. 
Equipment manufacturers try to hold the ethical high ground of long term 
product support but it's undercut by piece part manufacturers that seem to 
drop and add products more often than they change their shorts.

Anybody going to beat up on Texas Instruments for discontinuing the 9900 
microprocessor?  Does Intel still make a 4004?  Collins doesn't make S-Line 
or KWM-2's anymore.  And you can get replacement for most discrete parts, but 
they aren't exactly the same -- tubes are a great example of the one size fits
all approach to substitution.

Sony has done an excellent job of supporting their consumer Beta VTR customers
in that only in the last year have commercially pre-recorded tapes bit the 
dust.  The local Wal-Mart has several rows of L-750s at reasonable prices and 
they sell regularly.  (If they had only been as wise during the initial years 
of home recording...).  Of course, w/o the industrial/TV station business as 
well as the company taking the format wars personally, the Beta VTRs could 
have been out there with the Cartrivisions a decade ago.

I'm amazed that the big three can agree on antenna connectors.  But i won't be
surprised if next year or maybe this year we could start seeing the same sort 
of nonsense that's ruled microphone and power connectors applied to the RF 
connector.  And we're lucky that the connector manufacturers haven't decided 
to obsolete less-than-perfect connectors like the UHF series.  

bill wb9ivr
From: KENDALLG@vtvm1.cc.vt.edu (Gary Kendall)
Newsgroups: rec.radio.amateur.misc
Subject: Public Service Freq.s wanted for Charlotte, NC
Date: 9 Apr 1992 05:34:27 -0700
Organization: UCSD Usenet Gateway
NNTP-Posting-Host: ucsd.edu

I'm going on a business trip to Charlotte at the end of this month, and I
plan to take my scanner with me (not to mention my HT, hi!)  Can anyone
recommend some interesting frequencies to listen to?

Also, any good repeater pairs?  I've got about a 3-hour drive to Charlotte
from Blacksburg, VA (Va Tech)... it would be nice not to have to try to hunt
active channels while I'm driving (unfortunately I don't have any sort of
repeater directory right now, though I'm planning to get one soon).

Thanks in advance for any and all info.

'73...
-gary  KB4GCF / NREMT-P
From: brewer@anarky.enet.dec.com (John Brewer)
Newsgroups: rec.radio.amateur.misc
Subject: Re: CW retesting and CHEATS
Date: 7 Apr 92 01:39:40 GMT
Article-I.D.: shodha.6457


In article <199204062238.AA09567@tilde.csc.ti.com>, dube@cpdvax.CSc.ti.COM writes...
>Fred Spinner replies:
>......lots deleted...
> 
>>>In article <1992Apr01.010613.22320@news.mentorg.com>, rstory@milkyway.mentorg.
>>>com (Ron Story) writes:

>Agreed.  Let's not omit ATV either.  Let's test *every* aspect a prospective
>Ham is going to be licensed to use; and let's test for real knowledge, not
>merely memory retention.  Let's at least expose our engineering students to
>as many of the things they might possibly have to use in the real world as
>we can.   
> 
	Amen. With the stuggle prospective licencees will go through to
obtain a license, and actually _learn_ the subject matter, perhaps the
feeling of accomplishment will show itself in better operating practices.
It certainly couldn't hurt them, and too _much_ knowledge is rarely a
liability in any endeavor.

	The comparative ease with which ham tickets are becoming available
is akin to the 'new math' approach of the 70's, where traditional skills
were abandoned or minimized, in favor of a "kinder, gentler" approach.
IMHO, we are still recovering from that thinking in our struggles
to become technical peers with the Japanese. 

	The 'growth at any expense' approach embraced by the ARRL and
others, is no friend of the hobby.
> 
> 
>Dube Todd       AB5AP          <dube@cpdvax.csc.ti.com>

	/john
      -------------------------------------------------------
      | John Brewer | Internet: brewer@anarky.enet.dec.com  |
      |   wb5oau    | Packet  | wb5oau@wb2ars               |
      -------------------------------------------------------
Newsgroups: rec.radio.amateur.misc
From: wtr@mitre.org (Bill Ralston)
Subject: Re: How many green stamps with some QSLs?
Organization: The MITRE Corporation
Distribution: usa
Date: Thu, 9 Apr 1992 16:15:11 GMT

jeffj@cbnewsm.cb.att.com (jeffrey.n.jones) writes:

>that it took more then 1 green stamp for return postage from Germany. I know
>that it takes more then one from Brazil now but that's the first I've heard
>of that. What other countries does it take more then a dollar for return
>postage. I guess I could use the the new IRC's  but green stamps are much 
>easier for me to use. Thanks for any info here! 

I've heard that $1 or $2 is sufficient.  I've generally sent IRC's because 
I felt I was being arrogant to assume that the DX station had any use for 
US currency (I don't know what I would do if I received a British pound 
note with a QSL card!).  Unfortunately, IRCs are not accepted by all 
countries, and are a pretty bad deal - we pay 95 cents, and it only nets 
the foreign station a surface mail stamp - probably worth a lot less than 
95 cents US.  I am still hesitant, however, since I recall reading several 
years ago that it was illegal in many countries for an individual to be in 
posseision of foreign currency.  I sure don't want to thank a DX station 
for working me by putting him/her at risk of being jailed!  Any thoughts 
on this folks?

Bill   AI6E
wtr@mitre.org
** Opinions are mine only, and not my employer's **
From: bruno@hpldsla.sid.hp.com (Bruno Bienenfeild)
Date: Fri, 3 Apr 1992 19:34:09 GMT
Subject: Re: Looking for suggestions!
Organization: HP Scientific Instruments Division - Palo Alto, CA
Newsgroups: rec.radio.amateur.misc

 Sorry I pressed wrong key on my first response,
 Anyway, since you are in place that is farther north you will be better
 of to ask localy what is available.
 Good start may be Kenwood TS-520, TS-820, TS830 or ICOM 720, 725, 730
 There are lot of other much cheeper tube set-ups, but thay need tender
 love care.

 from the log of AA6AD
From: steve@wattres.San-Jose.CA.US (Steve Watt -- KD6GGD)
Newsgroups: rec.radio.amateur.misc
Subject: Re: Repeater Mapping Project (was: Repeater guide...)
Date: 8 Apr 92 20:24:09 GMT
Distribution: na
Organization: Steven Watt, Consultant   San Jose, CA, USA

In article <Apr.7.15.39.58.1992.27879@pilot.njin.net> ron@pilot.njin.net (Ron) writes:
>> The #LINK field is for the callsign(s) of the repeaters linked to by this
>> entry. 
>
>Hopefully the frequency as well.  Unlike packet radio, there's no
>unique correspondance between call letters and repeaters.  I've
>got 4 repeaters under the call sign K4HTA.  2 on 440, one on 2m,
>and 1 on 220.
>
>-Ron

An excellent idea.  I've updated my info request for it.

But I probably shouldn't post it again for a few days, since I've been posting
them so often....  Or maybe not...


Just a quick question:  I'm curious about how many people there are out there
who are trying to collect the data, but haven't got it all yet.  If you
are working on an entry, let me know via e-mail (to steve@wattres.sj.ca.us).
Let me know what (if any) sorts of problems you're having collecting data.
Or if it's just laziness, ;) (I'd never put off doing something for that
reason, I know!!! (: (: (: ) I'm still interested in knowing how many people
are working on entries.

73 de KD6GGD
-- 
Steve Watt  KD6GGD     steve@wattres.SJ.CA.US
 ...!apple!wattres!steve  ...!mips!wattres!steve  ...!decwrl!gigo!wattres!steve
Left to his own devices, he'd be /dev/null.
From: Hugh_E._Wells.El_Segundo@xerox.COM
Newsgroups: rec.radio.amateur.misc
Subject: How old is oldest diode???
Date: 8 Apr 1992 07:55:08 -0700
Organization: UCSD Usenet Gateway
NNTP-Posting-Host: ucsd.edu

I'm not sure about the first marketed packaged diode, but the silicon diode,
such as the 1N21-23 series was developed at MIT in about 1938.  One of the
developers of the silicon diode detector was Russell Ohl, a research scientist
at MIT.  As I recall, the first application for the 1N21 package style was for
10ghz radar used in WWII.

Philmore packaged and marketed a galena crystal detector for use in crystal
sets for many years prior to 1938, if you wish to consider that style. The
typical package was a catwhisker supported on a ball mounted arm suspended over
the galena.  Later forms of this detector had the catwhisker sealed (glued in
place) to reduce oxidation of the crystal surface.  A variant to this type of
detector was the same crystal mounted on a small wooden base ( about 1 inch in
diameter) with a domed glass cover ( bell jar style).

Of course, at the turn of the century, many types of detectors (rectifiers)
were produced.  These varied in design from chemical to mechanical, and each
was packaged for mechanical stability and used for RF detection.

73

Hugh Wells,  W6WTU