HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: chuck@eng.umd.edu (Chuck Harris - WA3UQV)
Subject: Re: Heathkit article in New York Times
Date: Mon, 13 Apr 92 15:52:18 GMT
Organization: University of Maryland, Department of Electrical Engineering
Distribution: usa
Keywords: HW101

In response to my tirade about Heath solid state Ham kits from 1970-1980:

In article <1992Apr7.175345.14171@newstand.syr.edu> rvenkate@rodan.acs.syr.edu (Ravi Venkatesh) writes:

>What about the HW101? The first time I helped assemble one, we did it
>without looking at the circuit diagram. Started at 10pm, and had the
>first contact about 7am. The set is still working, after 13(?) years.

HW101 was a fine intro rig.  Its xtal filters were a little anemic, and it
drifted incessently but otherwise no problem.  In general all of Heath's tube
gear was competent.  I never said I had any problems with it.

>The only parts which needed replacement were the final tubes, after
>many years of service, and at higher than recommended voltages! The
>later models of the HW101 were solid-state by the way, except for the

I vaguely remember this radio.  I don't think it was an HW-101 though?  At
this time, Heath had badly flubbed the SB-104, and had introduced the HW-104?
which was a much cheaper SB-104 without a frequency counter, and maybe had tube
finals?

This semi-solid-state radio would be consistant with fixing a major problem
with the SB-104 which was its solid state finals and drivers.  Ditching the
frequency counter would correct the majority of its internally generated
spurious signals.  The spurs were mostly beeps that had a 2 per second rate.
They were generated by the counter's timebase.  The other spurs were the same
as in the HW-100/101, and the SB-100/101/102, they were caused by a the
unfortunate choice of 3.395Mhz as the second IF frequency.  Anyone know why
Heath picked this awkward freq?

During the time after the SB-104, Heath started thrashing the Ham gear around
trying to find a combination that would work, could be built, and would sell.
They never found it except in the QRP radios (D.C. receivers yuuch!).  One
of the last Heath designed radios that they sold was the SS-9000.  This radio
was synthesized, 100W, 2 vfo's, RIT, Passband offset, RS-232 controlled, WARC,
Voice Processed, 1KHz and 200Hz CW filters, etc.  It was factory built, works
pretty well, but was blessed with extreme phase noise, and a $3000 price tag!
I bought one of these used a few years ago... my 1967 Collins KWM-2A is better
for weak signal work...sigh!

Chuck Harris - WA3UQV
From: ami9667@venus.tamu.edu (IACOVIDES, ANDREAS MICHAEL)
Newsgroups: rec.radio.amateur.misc
Subject: SDI-50 CES autopatch QUESTION
Date: 10 Apr 92 17:41:00 GMT
Organization: Texas A&M University, Academic Computing Services
News-Software: VAX/VMS VNEWS 1.41

Does anyone using the SDI-50 autopatch? I want to know how it works
in the full-duplex mode. I have only tried it on simplex.

Andreas Iacovides - 5B4SJ/W5
Does anyone use the SDI-50 autopatch? I want to know how it works in
From: dube@cpdvax.CSc.ti.COM
Newsgroups: rec.radio.amateur.misc
Subject: Boycott ICOM (fwd)
Date: 15 Apr 1992 09:31:41 -0700
Organization: UCSD Usenet Gateway
NNTP-Posting-Host: ucsd.edu

From:	CPDVAX::DUBE         15-APR-1992 10:55:01.19
To:	INFOHAMS
CC:	DUBE
Subj:	Boycott ICOM (fwd)

If everyone followed suit and boycotted every manufacturer who can't support
their product with parts after 10 years, there'd be precious few manufacturers
left.  The ones who stayed around would be using "standardized parts" to build
"standardized" items which, like the VW beetle, would all look and act the same
year after year.  

If you want new, state-of-the-art technology, then you have to pay the price 
that goes with the fact that as technology advances, the "old" gets left
behind bacause there's not enough time, space or money to take care of both

You can find some parts for your 1950s radios, perhaps, but if it uses a 
type 14Q7 tube, or a knob, or an IF transformer (these things shrunk in
size from over an inch square by 3 inches long to a half inch square by about
2 inches long with advances in technology), then good luck!  Or, try finding
a .05 uf at 450 volt capacitor at your nearest parts store.

Amazingly, it sees to me that one of the things that technology advancement
has brought is reliability.  Considering all the things that are in today's
equipment that could fail, it's amazing that something would go 10 years
without failing.  Put another way, technology has helped to foster the
"throw-away" concept by increasing the life-expectancy of things beyond 
that of stuff 30 or 40 years ago, to the point where it gets questionable
if an item is worth the cost of repair/parts.  It's no wonder to me that
many manufacturers won't fool with stocking specialized parts beyond 5 or
10 years.

GEt a plain-jane radio.  Then if it quits after 10 or 15 years, you can get
plain-jane parts to fix it.

73,
Dube     AB5AP             <dube@cpdvax.csc.ti.com>
Xref: sparky rec.radio.amateur.misc:7832 rec.radio.swap:1270
From: rja@batcomfs.Eng.Sun.COM (Ninja Squirrel Master)
Newsgroups: rec.radio.amateur.misc,rec.radio.swap
Subject: What can replace ICOM R7000/R7100?
Date: 17 Apr 92 02:21:54 GMT
Followup-To: rec.radio.amateur.misc
Organization: Sun Microsystems Inc., Mountain View, CA
NNTP-Posting-Host: batcomfs


    Given all the recent ICOM bashing, I figured I'd ask this august
    body: What other manufacturers make wideband UHF/VHF receivers
    comparable to the ICOM R7000/R7100?  I've checked my local shops,
    plus read the magazines, and the only thing I've found is, gack,
    AOR 3000's.

    BTW, has anyone purchased an R7100 yet?
--
    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: alanb@hpnmdla.sr.hp.com (Alan Bloom)
Date: Mon, 13 Apr 1992 19:07:36 GMT
Subject: Re: BENTON HARBOR LUNCH BOX...REMEMBER?
Organization: HP Network Measurements Div, Santa Rosa, CA
Newsgroups: rec.radio.amateur.misc

In rec.radio.amateur.misc, rossi@gvlf8-m.gvl.unisys.com (Pete Rossi) writes:

>Unless you are out in the "middle of nowhere" I doubt that a "Two-er"
>would be of much use today ... except to talk to another "Two-er"  :-)

Back when FM repeaters were just starting out, there was a modification
published to convert the "Two-er" to FM.  (Added a mic amp and varactor
diode to the drystal oscillator.)  For receiving, you just slope-
detected using the super regen receiver.  If you tgurned the volumn up
all the way, you could just about make out the other guy's audio!

AL N1AL
From: gary@ke4zv.uucp (Gary Coffman)
Newsgroups: rec.radio.amateur.misc
Subject: Re:  ICOM: Another View
Date: 17 Apr 92 13:46:01 GMT
Reply-To: gary@ke4zv.UUCP (Gary Coffman)
Organization: Gannett Technologies Group

In article <6DE1F1975E9F20FF7F@uncg.bitnet> MOSIER%UNCG.BITNET@ncsuvm.cc.ncsu.EDU (Steve Mosier) writes:
>N5RJF writes:
>
>> hear about how the other ham rig manufacturers do indeed stock the custom
>> components for those solid-state, fancy-schmancy, whistles-and-bells, gizmo
>> radios like the ones discussed from Icom.
>
>I can't quote parts stocking policy, but the standard wisdom out there is that
>Ten-Tec fixes anything, anytime.  That sure gives me some comfort when I wonder
>how long the CPU will last on a $2,500 radio.

Ten-Tec is a model example of what's happening in the electronics
industry. They are a small company owned and run by hams for hams.
Historically their radios have been excellent RF performers while
lacking some of the polish and sophisticated user interfaces of
their Japanese competition. They have avoided using microprocessors
and synthesizers and concentrated on good analog engineering. 

Unfortunately, the market has decided that sizzle is more important
than steak. Ten-Tec's dealer network was bailing out on them, so
they have gone to direct sales. *And* their new rigs use microprocessors
and synthesizers with custom components. Same with the new Drake R8.
This is good equipment, but there's no way that they are going to be
able to offer the long term support for these units that they could
with the discrete component rigs. The parts manufacturers determine
how long a custom chip is available, and Ten-Tec, or even Icom, doesn't
have the market clout to dictate to the IC houses.

Sony has the clout, but try getting parts for a five year old Sony
tape deck. GE has the clout, but try to pry parts out of GE for a
one year old toaster oven. The big companies *can* afford to ignore
the complaints of the rare individuals who hang onto consumer 
equipment for excessive lengths of time, and the little companies
that cater to the ham market *can't* afford to support those people.

You'd better plan on buying new equipment on a five year cycle, or
plan on becoming an electronic junkman to acquire the parts to keep
them running. That *is* the genesis of the hamfest fleamarket.

Gary KE4ZV
Newsgroups: rec.radio.amateur.misc
From: chuck@eng.umd.edu (Chuck Harris - WA3UQV)
Subject: Re: On the durability of ham HT's and commercial HT's
Date: Mon, 13 Apr 92 16:12:17 GMT
Organization: University of Maryland, Department of Electrical Engineering

In article <1992Apr12.160234.8074@ke4zv.uucp> gary@ke4zv.UUCP (Gary Coffman) writes:
>
>My old IC2AT survived falls from towers, being submerged in water for
>two days, many many falls from belt height onto concrete, had an 800
>channel memory built in, made an honest 5 watts, and had controls big
         ^^^^^^snicker!                  ^^^^^^^ 2.5 watts is more typical

>enough for a full grown person to operate. It also cost a lot less than 
>a W2A. But Icom's stopped making it because demand has disappeared since...

The Icom 2AT was virtually as rugged as anything that Motorola built for
the belt.  Its demise is proof to me that a "ruggedized" handheld would not
sell to today's Ham.

>...the tiny wonder radios appeared. The wonder of these radios is mainly,
>"I wonder where I put it" and "I wonder what all those tiny little 
>buttons and symbols are for." If they were big enough to see and touch,
>I might even try to use them.

I have a whole bunch of observations about Hams and their obsession with
"bells and whistles", power and size on their radios, but every way I
can think of to relate them comes out too snotty even for me, so I will 
keep my observations to myself...

>
>Gary KE4ZV

Chuck Harris - WA3UQV
chuck@eng.umd.edu

From: michaeln@hpcvnb.CV.HP.COM (Mike_Nason)
Date: Sat, 11 Apr 92 04:49:29 PDT
Subject: radio shack mtx100 mod?
Organization: Hewlett-Packard Co., Corvallis, Oregon
Newsgroups: rec.radio.amateur.misc

   i was wondering if there was anyone on the net that knows anything 
about the frequency programing in the radio shack mtx100/mtx101 marine 
radio. since the frequency pairs are so (seemingly) random i'm sure
they are programed into memory at the factory. i'm interested in seeing
if i can find out how its done so i can try to reprogram one into the 
2 meter band. the radio is channelized but for my purpose that is just
fine. since the marine band runs from 156 - 158 mhz i was hoping to be
able to broad band it enough to cover the 2 meter band and some 
of the search and rescue freqs. it would be imposible to change it in
a vehicle without something like a laptop, but for anything local (100
or so miles) it should work just fine. 
   anyone with info please post or e-mail me. thanks. mike nason ka7hbb
From: erc@pogo.Corp.Sun.COM (Ed Carp)
Newsgroups: rec.radio.amateur.misc
Subject: Re: On the durability of ham HT's and commercial HT's
Date: 10 Apr 92 01:55:03 GMT
Organization: Sun Microsystems, Mt. View, Ca.
NNTP-Posting-Host: pogo.corp.sun.com

>>At an electronics show in the early 70's, the Moto salesman was using
>>his HT-200 to drive nails into a block of wood.

Reminds me of the time I was working for Kennedy Associates in San Antonio.
This guy comes in, and asks one of our part-time sales people (Duane) about
2 meter talkies.  Duane shows the guy the Icom 2AT and a couple of others.
The guy fiddles with the 2AT for a couple of minutes, then asks Duane, "Just
how tough are these little radios?"  Duane takes his personal 2AT off his belt,
throws the damned thing against the wall, calmly picks it up off the floor,
and kerchunks the local .78/.18 repeater.  The guy says not a word, but pulls
his checkbook out and asks, "How much?"
--
Ed Carp                                      415/336-0797 (work)

++ UNIX  SysAdmin, Systems  Programming  Services,  Utilities ++
++ and Programmer Productivity Tools                          ++
Newsgroups: rec.radio.amateur.misc
From: pschleck@odin.unomaha.edu (Paul W Schleck KD3FU)
Subject: Story on National Weather Service Problems on NBC
Organization: University of Nebraska at Omaha
Date: Wed, 8 Apr 1992 05:00:59 GMT

Tonight, on Jane Pauley's pseudo-news magazine show (the exact title
escapes me title), there was a story on the National Weather Service, and how
budget cuts, cost overruns from Unisys on a doppler radar contract, and
general mismanagement has caused the NWS to put lives needlessly in
danger through inaccurate weather reporting.

I bring it up in this forum as many of us are involved in assisting the
NWS through the Skywarn program as volunteer storm/tornado spotters
(this is a *BIG THING* in Omaha, which is right in Tornado Alley).

Some of the story was crassly sensationalistic (an interview with a
widow who claimed that the NWS was responsible for her husband's death).
Other parts of it were embarrasingly true, such as NWS radar equipment
dating back the the 50's (they showed racks of TUBES inside some of the
consoles and mentioned that the last reliable supplier of TUBES, the
Soviet Union ... :-), has gotten out of the business recently).

My perspective on the story is as follows:

1.  Tornados and severe storms are chaotic phenomena that still cannot
be accurately predicted or even completely understood.

2.  Rather than hem and haw and expect government to do everything,
attempt to augment the NWS with greater weather-safety awareness and
trained volunteer weather spotters (there was *NO* mention of Skywarn or
amateur radio in the entire segment).

3.  The new radar systems will reach most areas of the country
(including Omaha) by 1994, which is fairly soon, although admittedly it
will do nothing about present-day storms.

4.  Although "problems" with the new system were briefly mentioned,
they were not gone into in any specific detail.

I was generally not impressed with the quality of this news show,
and some of the exaggerations and misinformation expressed in the
news story may unnecessarily frighten the general public. Also, like
most news stories, virtually no mention of constructive solutions to help
offset potential shortfalls in NWS was to be found.

Rather than rave about "Why doesn't the ARRL do something about....",
I'll send a copy of this message to 215052@mcimail.com so the League
can be made aware of this news program and its possible significance
to amateur radio.

73, Paul W. Schleck, KD3FU

pschleck@odin.unomaha.edu
From: enge@almaden.ibm.com (Roy Engehausen)
Newsgroups: rec.radio.amateur.misc
Subject: RACES Bulletin #217
Date: 14 Apr 92 14:24:09 GMT
Organization: UCSD Usenet Gateway
NNTP-Posting-Host: ucsd.edu

Msgid : $RACESBUL.217


TO:    ALL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCIES/OFFICES VIA THE ARS
INFO:  ALL RACES OPERATORS IN CA (ALLCA: OFFICIAL)
       ALL AMATEURS U.S.         (@ USA: INFORMATION)
FROM:  CA STATE OFFICE OF EMERGENCY SERVICES (W6HIR @ WA6NWE.CA)
       2800 Meadowview Rd., Sacramento, CA  95832  (916)427-4281
RACESBUL.217                                 DATE: Apr. 13, 1992
SUBJECT: OPS  What are some of the problems with RACES nets?

     From the perspective of forty years of directed nets for
communications volunteers in government service this is what I
have learned.
     The following nets usually die off for lack of interest:
1. Nets that consist only of a roll call and nothing else.
2. Nets that threaten expulsion if a station misses a certain
number of check-ins, especially if that particular station's
participation is not critical to the organization's mission.
     In contrast, nets that allow check-in to ebb and flow with
the life of each member and provide a constant flow of
information, news, and items of interest, keep their members and
remain active for decades.  Members WANT to participate in order
not to miss out on what's happening.
     The major problem is HOW to get the news, information and
such.  To that end, here is a suggestion:
     Get the organization's director, commander or staff (such
as the RACES Coordinator, secretary, etc.) to prepare something
to be read on the net -- but not dictated as in a formal
message.  In any agency there is always information of on-going
interest to volunteer participants.  It just takes an effort to
obtain it and begin the flow.  Once that process is started it
continues.  Trip reports from your staff, articles in
publications received only by the staff, news of or about the
staff, activities that affect agency budget, mission, and such
are useful, as well as reports on or about incidents.  These
reports may range from the mundane, such as a creek flooding, to
a major incident like a forest fire or earthquake.
---S. Harter, KH6GBX
EOM



-----------------
RACES Bulletins are archived on the Internet at ucsd.edu in hamradio/races
and can be retrieved using FTP.
Xref: sparky rec.radio.amateur.misc:7327 comp.sys.amiga.misc:8119
From: bad1679@cs.rit.edu (Bernard A Doehner)
Newsgroups: rec.radio.amateur.misc,comp.sys.amiga.misc
Subject: Looking for Curt G. Reimer (I need your email address again)
Date: 5 Apr 92 16:10:55 GMT
Followup-To: bad1679@cs.rit.edu
Distribution: na
Organization: Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, NY


Sorry for "wasting" bandwith, but I have no other way of getting in contact
then through news, because my account along with my mail file got deleted
a few weeks ago.

Curt,  

   If you read this, PLEASE send me some email so that I can have your 
email address again and keep you up to date on my efforts in porting your
Morse Code Program to C.


   Thanks you very much.


73's   Bernie NU1S   (bad1679@cs.rit.edu   or bad1679@ultb.isc.rit.edu)
From: SMACSUIBHNE@dit.IE (Sea/n Mac Suibhne)
Newsgroups: rec.radio.amateur.misc
Subject: TRIO TR 2200 GX circuit diagram or manual HELP
Date: 15 Apr 92 12:59:24 GMT
Organization: UCSD Usenet Gateway
NNTP-Posting-Host: ucsd.edu

I have a TRIO TR 2200GX transceiver which is faulty and I have no manual for it.
Can anybody tell me where I might get a circuit diagram or manual for it?
Could any person who has a circuit diagram for it please send me a photo copy?

Sean Mac Suibhne EI941
Telecoms Dept.
Kevin Street College Of Tech
Kevin St 
Dublin 8
Ireland
Newsgroups: rec.radio.amateur.misc
From: wjc@ll.mit.edu (Bill Chiarchiaro)
Subject: Re: Benton Harbor Lunch Box...Gonset
Originator: wjc@ll.mit.edu (Bill Chiarchiaro)
Organization: MIT Lincoln Laboratory, Lexington MA
Date: Wed, 15 Apr 92 17:38:04 GMT


In article <1992Apr15.090513.1@matrix.cs.wright.edu>, isoper@matrix.cs.wright.edu writes:
|> Along the same lines as the Benton Harbor Lunchbox series, does anyone
|> remember the Gonset Communicator series and their SSB version the Sidewinder.
|> 
|> I think they were actually BHLB's they had grown up slightly, they had the
|> same general shape but, weighed about 50 to 60 pounds. There was a 10, 6 and
|> 2 meter versions of the Communicators. The only Sidewinder I saw was at 
|> a field day in 1969 that the Dayton Amatuer Radio Assoc. sponsored, it was
|> a SSB rig running about 25 to 50 watts. I am not sure that this version was
|> for any other band than 2 meters.
|> 
|> 
|> 73, Wes Soper WB8CEH


   I have a Gonset Sidewinder 6.  I don't remember if that is the
official model name, but that's what it's commonly called.  It is a
6-meter AM/CW/SSB transceiver.  It is mostly solid-state (germanium
PNP transistors) with three tubes in the transmitter (mixer, driver,
and PA).  It is VFO controlled with RIT and also has built-in sockets
and switching for 4 crystals if you want the transmitter rock-bound.
If I remember, the PA input is about 20 watts (the PA tube is a 6360
(?)).  The manual is dated some time in the 1960s.

   If anyone is really interested in the hard facts, I could bring the
manual in to work and make another posting.  It's certainly not the
greatest rig, but I like 6 meters and the price was right: free!


73

Bill Chiarchiaro  N1CPK
wjc@ll.mit.edu
Newsgroups: rec.radio.amateur.misc

The 1750 meter band is not a ham band. 

The power output is limited to 1/2 of a watt or so. And antennas are
limited to something like 50 feet. So the band is not good for much. 

As an ironic twist most of the activity on 1750 meters is in CW as it       
gives the greatest range per watt! 

73 de Sparky N7KRG
From: keithm@wicat.UUCP (Keith McQueen)
Newsgroups: rec.radio.amateur.misc
Subject: More Zitting family
Date: 9 Apr 92 23:36:09 GMT
Distribution: usa
Organization: WICAT Systems, Orem, Utah

Having seen all of the posts about the Zitting family here
recently, I was pleasantly surprised to run into Laura
Zitting at her place of employment in Salt Lake last night.

She is the hostess at a local restaurant, and as I was leaving
she noticed my handheld on my hip, and commented on it.  I had
a short chat with her, and told her of the comments made on the
net about her family, and told her that she is famous.  She
blushed red, and replied that she had heard.

She is a very charming young lady, and if I didn't have
a wife and kids, I would have fallen in love right there!

She says that she works mostly 40m CW, but that it is
a real struggle to find an opening at the family shack.

I told her that there had been some speculation about there
being two families at their home.  She says that it is one
family with kids from two marriages.

Anyway, I just thought I would pass this along.

73 - Keith

-- 
 Keith McQueen, Wicat Systems Inc. , (801)224-6400      | My opinions are |
 Packet:      n7hmf @ nv7v.UT.USA.NA                    | all mine...     |
   UUCP:      ...apple!spies!wicat!meph!keith           | ...so there!    |
From: erc@pogo.Corp.Sun.COM (Ed Carp)
Newsgroups: rec.radio.amateur.misc
Subject: Looking for mods for IC-P2AT
Date: 9 Apr 92 00:46:02 GMT
Organization: Sun Microsystems, Mt. View, Ca.
NNTP-Posting-Host: pogo.corp.sun.com

I'm looking for mods for the new IC-P2AT.  I've seen them receive
out-of-band stuff, but don't know what the mod is.  Anyone know?

If your mail bounces, try erc@apple.com.  Thanks in advance!
--
Ed Carp                                      415/336-0797 (work)

++ UNIX  SysAdmin, Systems  Programming  Services,  Utilities ++
++ and Programmer Productivity Tools                          ++
From: benchoff@groupw.cns.vt.edu (Phil Benchoff)
Newsgroups: rec.radio.amateur.misc
Subject: Crystals and old radios
Date: 7 Apr 92 12:45:49 GMT
Organization: Va Tech Communications Resources

A friend of mine is sending me some old radios.  I need to get some 
crystals for them and need some info.  The radios are a Regency HR-2B
and a Midland 13-505.  The questions are:
   - Who are good vendors for crystals?
   - I assume they have case styles just like transistors.  Which one
     will I need?
   - What offset do I need to account for?

I am also getting an old Wilson HT,  but I do not know which model.

I also have a Regency MCU or XLU 152B.  This is a 450MHz base radio.
I have been told that it will probably not tune doun into the ham
bands.  It does have a fairly hefty power supply though.  Anybody
have any advice on the best use of this thing?  

Thanks,
Phil Benchoff, KC4ZEN [ /AE :-) ]
P.S. They are not for sale at the moment.