HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: pas@jupiter.ic.cmc.ca (Peter Stokes)
Subject: Adding PL tone decoding to a scanner
Organization: Canadian Microelectronics Corporation
Date: Wed, 8 Apr 1992 14:56:29 GMT

Hi.  I'm considering adding PL tone (CTCSS) decoding to 
my Radio Shack scanner (one of Pro-2003 or Pro-2006)
and would like to know if anyone has any experience with
the tone decoder boards from Communications Specialists
Inc. (Orange California)?   Do they work?     Can they
be made to be channel-specific?   Are they easy to install?   
What are my options?

Please email me or post to the net,
Thanks, 
Peter
From: ss@panix.com (Steve Steinberg)
Newsgroups: rec.radio.shortwave
Subject: Re: WWCR-1 Off Air (Sometimes)
Date: 8 Apr 92 06:03:36 GMT
Organization: PANIX Public Access Unix, NYC

In <1992Apr7.172056.24987@news.cs.brandeis.edu> st901316@pip.cc.brandeis.edu (Scott Fybush) writes:

>Here's the latest information I've received about the mysterious
>goings-on at WWCR:
[stuff deleted]

>As for the move to 5920, WWCR claims it has happened, but that they're
>only on 5920 late at night, and still using 7435 earlier.  I don't
>know when the exact change is.  Either that...or the 5920 is on the
>OTHER transmitter.  Boy am I confused now!  I wish I owned a satellite
>dish.  It would make things much easier.

>Anyone else heard anything more definite from WWCR?

Heard Mr. Scott rambling about horses on 5920 2 nites ago.  5935 was
silent.

>Scott Fybush -- ST901316@pip.cc.brandeis.edu
-- 
=====================================================================
=== Steve Steinberg   ==  ss@panix.com  == {cmcl2,apple}!panix!ss ===

              (The space below intentionally left blank)
Newsgroups: rec.radio.shortwave

Richard Crisp wrote:

>Since this may be of general interest, I will make  a couple of comments:
>I own a Sony logging recorder that is voice activated. However mine is the
>TCM-38V. I bought it from Universal SW and I seem to remember paying about
>$115 or so for it late last year. Other than the clock running a bit slow
>(it loses about 1 minute per 4 days) it works well and I generally like it.
>I had some difficulty getting usable recordings from the REC output of my
>my R7000 and NRD525 and 535's (The only radios I have used it with) until
>I built an attenuating cable. I used a resistor divider of 56K in series with
>2.2K with the voltage across the 2.2K feeding the MIC input. That allowed
>recordings to be made with the level control of the recorder set in the 
>middle of its range.

I hooked up my Sony TCM-38V to my PRO-2006 tape output jack and it seemed
to be much too high of an output level. With a little experimentation, I
removed a very small 100-ohm resistor from an old scrap radio and installed
it in parallel right inside an RCA phono plug, which plugs directly into
the scanner. Is there any advantage in using a voltage divider as Richard
describes above, or is a parallel shunt just as good?

I set the record level to about 3/4 (a little lower than recommended), since
the Pro 2006 causes "blips" of sound when it scans AM and NFM at the same
time. 

The Sony TCM-38V is a neat little unit; it logs time, day, month, and year,
and runs for 5 or 6 hours on 2 AA batteries. (Does anyone know if the 
Pro 2006 has a three-volt source inside it readily available?) My only
gripes about the recorder is that it does not have an adjustable attenuation,
and you cannot adjust (as far as I know) the time delay circuit: basically,
if it "hears" a signal, it runs for at least 6 or 8 seconds, and once it
does that, the abscence of signal causes it to stop rather quickly and
nicely. One other minor gripe: the recorder seems to have a very long
RC constant on the AGC, and it is not adjustable. 

What was not very clear at first is that this unit DOES NOT auto reverse,
but you can record/play two sides of a 90 minute tape. That means, unless
I'm mistaken, only 45 minutes of unnattended recording. (They explicitly 
say NOT to use 2 hour tapes, but my guess is they would work.) But don't
be fooled - on one frequency (or a small selected set, such as one or
two local police channels), it's amazing how many "hours" are compressed
into that 45-minutes. 

Please post any other comments on tape recorders. - jqtaylor -
Newsgroups: rec.radio.shortwave
From: wdp@gagme.chi.il.us (Bill Pfeiffer)
Subject: Jamming (?) on radio for peace int'l?
Organization: Gagme Public Access UNIX, Chicago, Illinois.
Date: Sun, 12 Apr 1992 11:18:38 GMT


Recently, I have heard what appears to be jamming on Radio (for) Peace 
International's transmitter in Costa-Rica (about 7000 khz, I dont have a 
digital tuner).  The RPI program was being interfeared with by a carrier
modulated with a steady tone (about 500 hz ?).  The tone carrier would 
almost cover the modulation from RPI.  If I tuned off-center carrier of RPI, 
the tone seemed slightly less dominant, but still there.  

Thr RPI carrier, and the tone carrier faded at different intervals, so
I assume they were coming from totally different regions.

Does anyone know about this interference?  Who, or what is causing it?

Also, does anyone know about RPI's facilities?  Who runs the station?
How much power they run?  Where do they aim it?

I found the station interesting, but very annoying to listewn to because
of the interference.

Please e-mail me if you have any info.  News is slow at this site.

Thanks.

William Pfeiffer


Newsgroups: rec.radio.shortwave
From: pas@jupitercmc.ca (Peter Stokes)
Subject: Re:  Info on used Sony 2010 wanted
Reply-To: pas@jupiter.ic.cmc.ca
Organization: Canadian Microelectronics Corporation
Distribution: can
Date: Tue, 14 Apr 1992 14:18:35 GMT

In article <9204102129.AA00535@ucbvax.Berkeley.EDU>, wmartin@STL-06SIMA.ARMY.MIL (Will Martin) writes:
|> 
|> Unfortunately, there is a complication -- the 2010 I have is one that I
|> bought used from the FM Atlas people (Bruce Elving in Adolph MN) which
|> has an SCA adapter installed. This affects the audio path, so the
|> problem may be in the 2010 itself, in the wiring or connections for the
|> SCA Adapter, or in the Adapter or its control switch. So this rules out
|> shipping the radio to a Sony repair facility as they won't work on a
|> modified model. To have it worked on, I'll have to find some shop that

Scary.  If I modify my Radio Shack scanner, will Radio 
Shack fix it if it should fail?

Peter
Newsgroups: rec.radio.shortwave
From: mai@neit.cgd.ucar.edu (Andrew Mai)
Subject: Re: Info on used Sony 2010 wanted
Organization: Climate and Global Dynamics Division/NCAR, Boulder, CO
Date: Thu, 9 Apr 1992 22:44:10 GMT

In article <1992Apr4.171730.9192@athena.cs.uga.edu>
mcovingt@athena.cs.uga.edu (Michael A. Covington) writes:
> In article <10190011@hpuerca.atl.hp.com> jp@hpuerca.atl.hp.com
> (John Pierce) writes:
>> If the input MOSFET has been fried, I'd say it's 99% sure to be a
>> complete failure (the AM is dead).  If it works at all, it's
>> probably OK.
>
> No.  It will have a 10 to 20 dB loss of sensitivity but will still
> seem to be working fine if you have a good antenna.  You won't know
> what you're missing.

This is true!  I listened to a 2010 with a blown front end FET for
over two years and never realized anything was wrong.  I just noticed
that the reception on the built-in whip antenna was not very good.
I never for a moment suspected that anything was wrong.  I must have
fried my front end just after I bought the radio new, since I never
did notice any decrease in the sensitivity.

I would like to find a used 2010 _with a blown front end_ so I could
fix it and have a $350 radio for peanuts.  It costs $.79 and about
an hour of your time to replace this part.

Andy Mai
mai@ncar.ucar.edu
Comments: Gated by NETNEWS@AUVM.AMERICAN.EDU
X-Envelope-to: swl-l@ohstvma.bitnet
X-VMS-To: IN%"swl-l@ohstvma.bitnet"
Newsgroups: rec.radio.shortwave
Date:         Wed, 8 Apr 1992 21:50:00 EDT
Reply-To:     STUWILKR@EKU.BITNET
From:         STUWILKR@EKU.BITNET
Subject:      Hello! :)

Hello Fellow Swl'ers!
        My name is Mark Wilkerson and i just subscribed to this list. I
am quite an avid shortwave listener. I've been listening for 4 years now.
My radio is a sony ICF-2003 radio used with a sony AN-102 active antenna.
        The stations that i like to listen to most are THE VOICE OF TURKEY,
RADIO NETHERLANDS, KOL ISRAEL and lots of others. It has only been recently
that I've been collecting QsL cards. I recently had the good fortune of
receiving one from RADIO POLONIA in Poland.
        I would be interested in knowing if anyone has heard broadcasts
from RADIO BAGHDAD or RADIO KUWAIT since the Gulf war. Well, I hope to
receive more mail from you soon.
                                          Sincerely,
                                          Mark Wilkerson
Newsgroups: rec.radio.shortwave
From: wdp@gagme.chi.il.us (Bill Pfeiffer)
Subject: Re: Convert the Fisher-Price baby monitor into a repeater
Keywords: scanner radio, shortwave radio, modification
Organization: Gagme Public Access UNIX, Chicago, Illinois.
Date: Sun, 12 Apr 1992 10:46:56 GMT

In article <1992Apr10.132951.17645@cbnewse.cb.att.com> parnass@cbnewse.cb.att.com (Bob Parnass, AJ9S) writes:
>In article <811@anacapa.NCEL.Navy.Mil>,
>greg@anacapa.NCEL.Navy.Mil (Gregory K. Ramsey) writes
>about modifying the Fisher-Price baby monitor modification:
>
>> .. My thought is would it be possible to install one of those
>> jacks with a built in switch so that plugging in the patch
>> cable disconnects the mike, but otherwise leaves the original
>> purpose intact?
>
>
>Yes,  (but) remember you need a DC blocking capacitor between the jack and 
>switch otherwise the baby monitor will be applying DC to your scanner!
>
>The internal microphone needs the DC bias to operate.


The Fisher Price unit is really a very good transmitter.  The weak link is
the rubber-duckie antenna.  If you eliminate it and replace it with a
vertical whip (I used a 102" whip from a mobile cb, shortened somewhat to 
about 80") the range is increased greatly.  With the whip on my 1 story roof, 
and about 25' of rg-59 coax (cable tv coax), I got 4 SOLID blocks of coverage
to the standard receiver (not a scanner) during the day when fewer people had
THEIR baby transmitters on.  Marginal reception was heard up to a mile away!

Range was mostly limited by interference from other transmitters, rather than
lack of signal.  I imagine if the crystals were changed to a frequency JUST 
outside the 10 authorized channels ....

Of course I dont recomend that :-).

Also, the audio AGC is a bit heavy handed and 'breathy'.
This can be reduced by cutting the input level enough so the AGC 
is not pushed so heavily, or by modifying the r-c network which 
sets the 'depth' and 'response time' of the circuit.  Increasing
the 'r' value slows down attack time and depth, increasing the 'c' value
slows the decay or 'release' time between high and low input levels.

In general, the Fisher Price unit has a WIDE variety of 
uses beyond that for which it was sold.  Use your imagination.

William Pfeiffer

wdp@airwaves.chi.il.us










>-- 
>==============================================================================
>Bob Parnass, AJ9S - AT&T Bell Laboratories - att!ihlpm!parnass - (708)979-5414


Newsgroups: rec.radio.shortwave
From: parnass@cbnewse.cb.att.com (Bob Parnass, AJ9S)
Subject: Re: Convert the Fisher-Price baby monitor into a repeater
Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories, Naperville, IL
Date: Fri, 10 Apr 1992 15:42:31 GMT
Summary: direct audio connection for better audio quality
Keywords: scanner radio, shortwave radio, modification

In article <1992Apr10.140718.29425@uwm.edu>,
rick@ee.ee.uwm.edu (Rick Miller) writes:

> Or you could just put the baby-monitor in front of your scanner's speaker.
> Sheesh!


Acoustic coupling is simple, but yields poor results because:

1) The audio quality is much better if you employ a direct
	electrical connection rather than an acoustic coupling.
	Acoustic coupling mixes ambient sounds (noise) with
	the sounds you really want to hear, and the situation
	is aggravated by pumping the AGC (automatic gain control).

2) Acoustic coupling is more of a compromise to privacy.
	The Fisher-Price transmitter audio circuit is sensitive
	by design and will retransmit sounds from your home
	throughout your neighborhood.

You choose.

-- 
===============================================================================
Bob Parnass, AJ9S                                             att!ihlpm!parnass
Distinguished Member of the Technical Staff                       (708)979-5414
AT&T Bell Laboratories                         Knife collector, treasure hunter
From: edwardp@cs.umb.edu (Edward P. Piecewicz)
Newsgroups: rec.radio.shortwave
Subject: Re: Swiss Radio International logging on mediumwave.
Date: 5 Apr 92 14:54:36 GMT
Organization: University of Massachusetts at Boston, Dept of Math and CS

In article <56914@cup.portal.com> UKTONY@cup.portal.com (Tony C Harding) writes:
>There is a 300Kw transmitter on 1566Khz, part of the Swiss
>German Network. This is the same site as one 250Kw SW
>transmiter of SRI, Samen.
>
>But they never mention a MW frequency.
>

1566 KHz would be considered in the mediumwave band, at least in the U.S.


Thanks for replying.



-- 
Edward P. Piecewicz                       Internet:  edwardp@cs.umb.edu

Opinions expressed are my own and not those of UMass/Boston. 
Newsgroups: rec.radio.shortwave
From: nash@ucselx.sdsu.edu (Ron Nash)
Subject: Re: Battery-powered radio
Keywords: Peace Corps, Africa
Organization: San Diego State University
Date: Thu, 16 Apr 1992 16:34:50 GMT

In article <1992Apr16.102835.8837@omen.UUCP> caf@omen.UUCP (Chuck Forsberg WA7KGX) writes:
>Back to the original question of battery life for shortwave portables...

>I have heard of shortwave crystal set designs.  Obviously high-Q is
>a must if one doesn't wish to reveive all satations at once.

>Rechargeable batteries and a solar collector might be useful.

>A regenerative circuit driving a sensitive headphone could have very
>low current draw.

>Next to that would be the simpler analog radios assuming they are
>carefully designed for low current draw.  Radios that run on
>a pair of AAA batteries will run forever on D cells, or possibly
>car batteries if the voltage is right.

When I was about 12 or so, I modified a pocket AM radio by removing
the audio section and reducing the bias on the oscillator.  I then
had a 2 transistor superhet radio (only 1 IF stage) that drew about
1/2 ma on 9 volts.  I used a crystal earphone directly on the volume
control (fed from the diode detector).  It worked great and a 9V
battery lasted about a year.  


-- 
Ron Nash 	San Diego State University
Internet:  	nash@ucselx.sdsu.edu
Gin-N-Tonic	6 year old Arab/Saddlebred endurance horse
Luv on Fire	9 year old Arab, trusty trail horse
From: wmartin@STL-06SIMA.ARMY.MIL (Will Martin)
Newsgroups: rec.radio.shortwave
Subject: Re:  USA Radio/TV Directory?
Date: 7 Apr 92 13:23:02 GMT

For FM, I suggest the FM Atlas, an annual which contains maps and listings
for all US FM stations (I forget just how much it goes into Canada & Mexico).

The new (just issued) 14th edition of the FM Atlas is $10.95 + $1.05 shipping
for 1 copy, $9.50 per copy plus $1.50 per order shipping for 2 or more copies. 

FM Atlas
Box 336
Esko MN 55733-0336

For AM, there are good directories put out by the National Radio Club
and another medium-wave DX club (IDXC, is it?) I'll let people who are
current members of those clubs post the addresses and data on their
directories.

Also this is listed in the monthly FAQ posting:

"For North American stations, one concise and inexpensive directory is
the M Street Radio Directory, published annually.  The M Street
listing includes frequency, power, directionality, format, address,
phone number, and other listings less important to DXing.  M Street
also is indexed by call letter order and by frequency.  The M Street
directory costs $29.95 + p/h.  It can be purchased directly from M
Street at 800-248-4242 or +1 703 684 3622." 

Regards, Will
From: rovero@oc.nps.navy.mil (Josh Rovero)
Newsgroups: rec.radio.shortwave
Subject: Re: Kenwood R-1000 Question
Date: 8 Apr 92 15:44:22 GMT
Organization: Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey CA

The 2000 is a good, but not great, receiver.  Selectivity is fair, it
can be easily overloaded (hence the attenuator, to be used in the presence
of very strong signals).

The radio *does* have 10 memories.

The R2000 is better than most of the portables in that it has 100 Hz
tuning steps and does a decent job on SSB.  It also has decent audio.
As long as you are using it for SW broadcast listening and casual SSB, 
it will suffice.  
-- 
Josh Rovero   (rovero@oc.nps.navy.mil) | or Internet 5346p@cc.nps.navy.mil 
Department of Oceanography, Code OC/Rv |      Bitnet 5346p@NAVPGS 
Naval Postgraduate School              |              
Monterey, CA  93943   (408) 646-2084   |
From: schuster@panix.com (Michael Schuster)
Newsgroups: rec.radio.shortwave
Subject: Re: Sony ICF-SW55 versus ICF-SW77
Date: 17 Apr 92 17:21:02 GMT
Organization: PANIX - Public Access Unix Systems of NY

In article <6580015@hpqmolb.sqf.hp.com> johns@hpqmolb.sqf.hp.com ( John Struthers) writes:
>
>Can anyone comment on Sony's new ICF-SW55 radio receiver in comparison
>to the ICF-SW77 ?  What are the performance and design differences ? 

This is a difficult question, since the SW-77 is a moving target. Reviews
of pre-production samples, and of the first production run, have pointed
out various performance problems which cause a virtual recall of this model
worldwide. Initially, for instance, the 1992 WRTH receiver reviews (by
Jonathan Marks) said that bells and whistles notwithstanding the cheaper
SW-55 out performed the SW-77.

If you stick to recent samples of the sets, the SW-77 basically has
synchronous detection (which can reduce the effects of mild fading
distortion), more memories, more precise readout and perhaps a more
stable BFO. It is also much larger and uses more battery current.

The SW-55 has been noted by netters to have a couple of problems which
SONY, to date, has not admitted to. First, there seems to be a mechanical
problem with circuit board fabrication/assembly which can lead to
intermittent BFO operation in some samples. Second, the BFO tends to
"pull", or change pitch slightly with variations of signal strength.
This is similar to, but not nearly as bad as, the first production runs
of ICF-2002. You would think that in the FOURTH GENERATION product of
this class Sony would finally get it right, but ....



-- 
_______________________________Mike Schuster________________________________
NY Public Access UNIX: schuster@panix.com        | 70346.1745@CompuServe.COM
The Portal (R) System: schuster@cup.portal.com   | MCI Mail,GEnie: MSCHUSTER
From: dmturne@ptsfa.PacBell.COM (Dave Turner)
Newsgroups: rec.radio.shortwave
Subject: Re: How old is the oldest Diode?
Date: 16 Apr 92 16:31:56 GMT
Reply-To: dmturne@PacBell.COM (Dave Turner)
Organization: Pacific * Bell, San Ramon, CA

The oldest vacuum tube diode was invented in 1883 by a lab assistant of
Edison who added a second electrode inside an ordinary light bulb.

The light bulb was powered by 110 volts DC. It was noted that when the
*plate* was connected to the positive DC terminal (through a galvonometer)
that current would flow, but not when the plate was connected to the 
negative terminal.

Edison noted this but thought it was a curiosity.

It is too bad that Edison hated AC so much. He might have made early
contributions to radio too. (The coherer wouldn't have been needed.)

If a diode is defined as a two element electronic device this may make
Edison's diode the oldest.

-- 
Dave Turner	(510) 823-2001	{att,bellcore,sun,ames,decwrl}!pacbell!dmturne
From: v151luy2@ubvmsd.cc.buffalo.edu (V151LUY2.SIGNATURE)
Newsgroups: rec.radio.shortwave
Subject: Heathkit. Would like to write for a catalog.
Date: 10 Apr 92 15:38:00 GMT
Organization: University at Buffalo
News-Software: VAX/VMS VNEWS 1.41


	Would some kind soul out there please post the address of
Heathkit Co. I am interested in building my own electronics and
would like to write them for a catalog. Also please include any
price for the catalog if appropriate.
	On behalf of those of us interested in this sort of thing,
Thank you in advance.

								-=S=-
From: mikef@hpspdla.spd.HP.COM (Mike Fischer)
Date: Wed, 15 Apr 1992 23:18:42 GMT
Subject: Rockwell Collins 651S-1
Organization: HP Stanford Park - Palo Alto, CA
Newsgroups: rec.radio.shortwave

I had an opportunity to bid in a sealed bid auction on a Rockwell
Collins 651S-1 general coverage receiver.  I won't know whether I won
the bid for a few weeks yet, but if you are familiar with this unit, I'd
appreciate hearing how well it works and what you think one in as-is
condition known to be defective might be worth.

Thanks for any and all info,
--
Mike Fischer   mikef@hpspd.spd.hp.com   (415) 857-6444   HP Stanford Park

Comments: Gated by NETNEWS@AUVM.AMERICAN.EDU
Via:      UK.AC.KCL.CC.MAPLE; 14 APR 92 12:39:06 BST
Newsgroups: rec.radio.shortwave
Date:         Tue, 14 Apr 1992 12:39:24 BST
Reply-To:     RCAA000@MAPLE.CC.KCL.AC.UK
From:         RCAA000@MAPLE.CC.KCL.AC.UK
Subject:      kiev + vilnius english schedules

Yesterday & today I received schedules through the post from Radio Vilnius
and Radio Ukraine for their English language programmes.
They are as follows-

Radio Vilnius
2130 UTC    on 666,9675,9710
2330 UTC    on 9530,9710,17605,17690

Radio Ukraine
2200 UTC (to Europe) on 6020,9820
0100 UTC (to N. America) on 7400,11950,15180,17605,17690

For Kiev these seem to be a lot fewer broadcasts than recently
(or did I just SEEM to hear Kiev a lot a couple of months ago?).
Do the main broadcasters in the CIS still use each other's transmitters?
Perhaps one of our Finnish friends can help with this.

Derek Cooper
RCAA000@UK.AC.KCL.CC.MAPLE
Newsgroups: rec.radio.shortwave
From: adb@teal.csn.org (Alan D. Bryant)
Subject: Re: Pirate Radio request
Organization: Colorado SuperNet, Inc.
Distribution: usa
Date: Thu, 16 Apr 1992 05:11:56 GMT

In article <15APR199214022545@utkvx2.utk.edu> egw@utkvx2.utk.edu (Wolpert, Edward Greenwal) writes:
>Hello.  I'm trying to compile a list of pirate radio stations that can be 
>heard in eastern usa.  I have a few, and I was wondering if people could 
>post names and wavelengths here, or e-mail me.  When I get the list near
>completion, I'll post it here.
>
>

I think logging them is a good idea, but I have two comments:

1)  Most pirates don't broadcast regularly, so a list isn't really very
valuable since you don't really know when or if they'll be on the air again.
The Association of Clandestine Radio Enthusiasts (called simply The ACE)
is totally dedicated to pirates and clandestines, and they're already doing
your job for you in any case.

Their main reason for living is to produce the monthly newsletter.  Write
them with S.A.S.E. for information:  The ACE, P. O. Box 11201, Shawnee
Mission, KS  66207-0201.  It as a comprehensive list of loggings, gossip,
information and general chit-chat about pirates and clandestines.

2)  There is a newsgroup specifically for pirates you may want to check into
if you haven't already.  I think it's alt.radio.pirate.

-- 
---------------------------------------
Alan D. Bryant, adb@csn.org
P. O. Box 101612, Denver, CO 80250, USA
---------------------------------------