HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: paulf@umunhum.stanford.edu (Paul Flaherty)
Subject: Re: Can't get 10 year old radio fixed, was Re: Boycott Icom
Organization: The Three Packeteers
Date: Tue, 14 Apr 1992 17:09:59 GMT

My IC-502 and 202s are pre-synthesizer VHF rigs.  Simple design, easy to
repair, both 10+ years old.  No VLSI to speak of.  Too bad Icom stopped
making them years ago, and jumped on the gadget bandwagon.

Planned obsolescence is the price you pay for having lots of useless features
on your rig.

--
-=Paul Flaherty, N9FZX/5W1JX  |"Oochie Woochie Koochie Koo?"
->paulf@Stanford.EDU          |                              -- Spock
Newsgroups: rec.radio.amateur.misc
From: dpalace@sunland.gsfc.nasa.gov (Dick Palace)
Subject: Re: BENTON HARBOR LUNCH BOX...REMEMBER?
Organization: Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD
Date: Mon, 13 Apr 1992 13:32:05 GMT


I had one of those, it was the 6'er. The xmitter portion was AM and
worked ok. The receiver was a super regen. and was worthless if the
band was crowded. 

Dick WB3CSI
--
Dick Palace         Goddard Space Flight Center      (301) 286-9464

dpalace@sunland.gsfc.nasa.gov
From: tech@aupair.cs.athabascau.ca (Richard Loken)
Newsgroups: rec.radio.amateur.misc
Subject: Re: On the durability of ham HT's and commercial HT's
Date: 6 Apr 92 16:39:11 GMT

yee@mipgsun.mipg.upenn.edu (Conway Yee) writes:

>Even if the cost of making sturdy electronics is expensive, why don't
>some manufacturer offer a version of their HT which is sturdy?  Is the
>market for HT's that don't break really that small?  I think not.  I
>know some hams who carry around Motorola HT's.  Admittedly, HT's are
>sold on the basis of their many features.  Why can't a line of HT's be
>sold on the basis of their durability?

Because products are sold by hype thats why.  Durability in irrelivant, it is
all up front finish, "features" that none of us need or use, and price.  
We the consumers go for it every time.

Thats why Volvo has trouble selling cars these days and Honda does not.

My next HT will be a Motorola.


--
  Richard Loken VE6BSV                             : "In England, Justice is 
  Athabasca University, Athabasca, Alberta Canada  : open to all, like the
  tech@cs.AthabascaU.CA                            : Ritz Hotel." - Lord 
  {atha|aunro}!cs.athabascau.ca!tech               : Justice Sir James Mathew
From: vbreault@rinhp750.gmr.com (Val Breault)
Newsgroups: rec.radio.amateur.misc
Subject: Re: On the durability of ham HT's and commercial HT's
Date: 10 Apr 92 14:42:21 GMT
Organization: General Motors Research Labs
In-reply-to: erc@pogo.Corp.Sun.COM's message of 10 Apr 92 01:55:03 GMT

I don't know if I speak for a lot of others, but I'm not really looking
for a radio that can double as a hammer or a railroad wheel chock,
nor for a radio that can stop a .357 magnum bullet.  Granted, there
may be some amateurs that are, but I hope there aren't many.

I think the real issue is whether or not it is economically feasable
to make a full featured radio that can withstand "normal" kinds of
hazards that can be expected in portable use.  I believe that it is.  
I think that making a radio that can withstand being knocked off a picnic 
table wouldn't raise the price outrageously.  Granted, making a radio
that can withstand a fall from a 50 foot tower or laying at the bottom
of a lake for an afternoon is a lot more involved, but I claim that's 
not the issue here.  

Based on the number of people that have sent me Email attesting to
the fraility of their radios, I believe there may even be a business
opportunity for some clever person to sell an aftermarket "ruggedizing"
kit for the battery clip on the W2A.

My list of common hazards for hand held portable equipment:
   Drops      From 5' or less
   Water      Incident (not puddling) rain water
   Dust       Levels that don't require eye protection
   Heat       Not so hot that you can't hold tightly
   Vibration  As found in a bicycle pack

I believe that if gear is permanently, operationally damaged by these
hazards then maybe it's qualification as a "hand held portable", 
should be reexamined and maybe requalified as "table top".

I believe that ruggedized versions of many popular radios would sell
well, and that the top-o-the-line radios ought to showcase the best
that that company has to offer.  

What do YOU think?

-val-   (Battery clip weakness aside, I still LOVE my W2A)


--

Val Breault - vbreault@gmr.com - N8OEF

The opinions expressed by the author do not necessarily reflect 
the position of the General Motors Corporation.
From: hayward@gargoyle.uchicago.edu (Peter B. Hayward)
Newsgroups: rec.radio.amateur.misc
Subject: Re: Bad birthday on callbook server
Date: 8 Apr 92 14:27:19 GMT
Article-I.D.: midway.1992Apr8.142719.14630
Reply-To: hayward@gargoyle.uchicago.edu (Peter B. Hayward)
Organization: Somewhere between the Stillwater and Penobscot Rivers

In article <00958C46.1C94C940.27698@uwwvax.uww.edu> 99681084@uwwvax.uww.EDU (Mike Gordon N9LOI 99681084@uwwvax.uww.edu) writes:
:
:Hi everyone,
:
:   I finally got a chance to look myself up on the callbook server (Marvin),
:and have found, to my dismay, that my birthday was listed wrong.  While I
:was born is April 4th 1972, I'm listed as September 4th 1977.  I guess that
:4/4/72 could look like 9/4/77, but my handwriting isn't THAT bad.
:   Anyways, do I have to file a new 610 (or other form?), or should I just
:wait until I renew in 9 years?
:
:Mike Gordon  N9LOI
:99681084@uwwvax.uww.edu
:


This happens more often than one might think, considering the load at
the FCC. The problem will arise if you upgrade or when you renew.  You
will *not* be able to simply write your correct birth date on the 610. You
will need to send them a letter explaining the mistake and a copy of 
a driver's license.  I wouldn't wait; write now or call the FCC for 
instructions.

Peter
WX9T

Peter B. Hayward     University of Maine       WX9T
From: mab3474@zeus.tamu.edu (Myles Barkman-KG5AI Tx A&M Univ.)
Newsgroups: rec.radio.amateur.misc
Subject: HTX-202 problems?
Date: 12 Apr 92 18:35:00 GMT

a colorburst crystal.  Take the frequency of the colorburst crystal and
multiply by 41.  It comes out to 146.761...  Turn off your computer or any 
other thing that might use that crystal and see if the interference goes away.
Organization: Texas A&M University, Academic Computing Services
News-Software: VAX/VMS VNEWS 1.41    

******************************************************************************
* Namenet   : Myles Barkman   aka 'Scanman'             Texas A&M University *
* Hamnet    : KG5AI                                       College Station TX *
* Internet  : mab3474@venus.tamu.edu      RACES                              *
* Bitnet    : mab3474@tamvenus                ARES                           *
* Packetnet : kg5ai@w5ac.tx.usa.na               SKYWARN                     *
* ICBMnet   : 30.606 N 96.316 W           Where are all the tornadoes?       *
******************************************************************************
From: bruno@hpldsla.sid.hp.com (Bruno Bienenfeild)
Date: Fri, 3 Apr 1992 19:13:57 GMT
Subject: Re: Looking for suggestions!
Organization: HP Scientific Instruments Division - Palo Alto, CA
Newsgroups: rec.radio.amateur.misc

/ hpldsla:rec.radio.amateur.misc / fsrla@acad3.alaska.edu /  8:51 pm  Mar 31, 1992 /
Hello, I'm hoping to get
my NO CODE TECH license pretty......
My question is this......
What would you all suggest as a good begining set-up
for someone with no previouse amature experience....
Basicly, what I need to know is good brands....
Like something relativly cheep that works good.....
I Value any opinions!!!!!
Thanks in advance!!!!
ROG!
fsrla@acad3.alaska.edu
----------
From: turner@safety.ICS.UCI.EDU (Clark Savage Turner WA3JPG)
Subject: Ever break the ferrite slug?
Newsgroups: rec.radio.amateur.misc
Date: 8 Apr 92 17:44:25 GMT

More TS 520 fun.  I have a cracked ferrite slug inside the tuning coil
of the mix coil unit.  It won't turn and hasn't really "broken", fallen
inside or come out or anything.  Has anyone faced this one with success ?

I have 2 choices 	1.  Replace the coil.  I am going to call Kenwood
			    to see if the part is available.  Wish me
			    luck.
			2.  Use "super glue" or some drop of something
			    else that can hold the slug together so I
			    can turn it.

Are there any other reasonable alternatives?

73
Clark
WA3JPG
From: GR6588%SIUCVMB.BITNET@uga.cc.uga.EDU (Kelly Jones)
Newsgroups: rec.radio.amateur.misc
Subject: Looking for good logbook program
Date: 13 Apr 92 19:41:39 GMT
Article-I.D.: ucsd.9204131940.AA05694
Organization: UCSD Usenet Gateway
NNTP-Posting-Host: ucsd.edu

Can someone tell me if there is any good logbook program out there?  I am
looking for something that I can log my contacts then have it give me
countries worked, zones worked, number of Qs, if the contact is a dupe,
and the like.  I am not looking for contest type logging programs, just
something for everyday logging.  If there is such a creature out there,
is there a site I can FTP to in order to get it?  Thanks in advance.

Kelly  (KE9KD)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Kelly D. Jones   (KE9KD)

BITNET:    GR6588@SIUCVMB
INTERNET:  GR6588@SIUCVMB.CDALE.SIU.EDU
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: pjml@unixa.nerc-swindon.ac.UK (pjml, Pete Lucas, NCS-TLC, Swindon.)
Newsgroups: rec.radio.amateur.misc
Subject: Icom equipment.
Date: 16 Apr 1992 05:02:31 -0700
Organization: UCSD Usenet Gateway
NNTP-Posting-Host: ucsd.edu

Icom (UK) might like to try tendering to supply some new business radio
systems to the emergency services here in the UK.
The last invitation to tender I saw for such things, (admittedly about 5 
years back) required that the supplier hold 'adequate spare and 
replacement components' for a period of FIFTEEN YEARS from the date of 
signature of contract.....So much for built-in obsolescence. Of course you 
could argue what constitutes 'adequate' spare parts....

----------------------------------------------------------------------
|   P.LUCAS@UK.AC.NSW.UA   PJML@UK.AC.NWL.IA     G6WBJ@GB7SDN.GBR.EU |
|                    2 + 2 = 5  (for large values of 2)              |
----------------------------------------------------------------------
From: plkorhon@vipunen.hut.fi (Pirjo-Liisa Korhonen)
Newsgroups: rec.radio.amateur.misc
Subject: KAM EPROM version 5.0
Date: 12 Apr 92 15:56:22 GMT
Organization: Helsinki University of Technology, Finland


I received recently an announcement about Kantronics new version 5.0
EPROM update. It lists quite many new features (which I am *not*
interested in) but then it says that with the new version, it would
be possible to use VHF packet and any HF mode at the same time.
This would be a very nice feature, indeed!
But isn't it so, that to use that feature, I would need to buy
Kantronics' own terminal program (HostMaster) ?

The question is: Am I able to do a program which duplicates HostMaster
in this respect? I already have a "homemade" program which I use to
run my KAM, but does Kantronics include sufficient documentation to
make it work with the new version? Or does anybody here have this
information?

Tnx & 73 de Mikko Noromaa   email: plkorhon@vipunen.hut.fi
From: dstock@hpqmola.sqf.hp.com (David Stockton)
Newsgroups: rec.radio.amateur.misc
Subject: Re: Ever break the ferrite slug?
Date: 15 Apr 92 09:25:20 GMT
Article-I.D.: hpqmola.16610117
Organization: HP,Queensferry Microwave UK


   It is quite true to say that there are a hell of a lot of different ferrite
materials with wide ranging capabilities. It is most likely however that the 
cores you are having problems with are not ferrite anyway.

   Dust Iron cores are most commonly used in these applications, and there is a
far narrower range of such materials. If you can find slugs described as
"Carbonyl" or "J" you should be close enough.  Dust iron is more likely to
crumble than ferrite.

   TDK are the largest Japanese supplier of cores and coils of all types
( Their S18 VHF range DOES have ferrite slugs)  Coil Craft in the US have
a wide range, but you may find metric threads a problem.

73 de GM4ZNX
Newsgroups: rec.radio.amateur.misc
From: dmturne@ptsfa.PacBell.COM (Dave Turner)
Subject: Re: BENTON HARBOR LUNCH BOX...REMEMBER?
Reply-To: dmturne@PacBell.COM (Dave Turner)
Organization: Pacific * Bell, San Ramon, CA
Date: Mon, 13 Apr 1992 20:15:25 GMT
Keywords: HEATH,BENTON

In article <1992Apr12.185102.1@madre.dasd.honeywell.com> WOODY@DELPHI.DASD.HONEYWELL.COM (Tim Dippold N5TMW) writes:
>When I first became interested in hamming back in the 60's, Heath had a rig on
>the market called the "Benton Harbor Lunch Box".  The only thing I remember 
>about it is it's general size and shape, and that as a teenager I found the rig
>fascinating.  Are there any OT's out there that can refresh my memory on this
>pre-HT dinosaur?  What freqs and power ranges did it have?  Has anyone seen any
>at Hamfests?  What are they selling for?  How well do they work?  

From the 1969 Heathkit catalog:

	Famous Low-Cost "Benton Harbor Lunch
	Boxes" Compact 6 & 2 Meter Transceivers

	* Perfect for the ham-on-the-go * Ideal for CAP,
	MARS, local net, or emergency operations * 5-watt
	input crystal-controlled A.M. transmitter * HW-30
	2-meter model capable of operation on new USCG
	Auxiliary frequency 143.28 MHz * Optional power
	supply available for mobile operation

	GO VHF FOR LESS . . . complete transceivers, lunch-
	box size. Feature crystal controlled transmitter with
	straight-through final amplifier. Crystals (not supplied)
	are in the 8 MHz range. Receiver is super-regenerative
	with RF stage . . . features 1 uv sensitivity! The built-
	in 120 VAC power supply, speaker, press-to-talk switch
	on front panel, and ceramic mike included make these
	units ready to go on the air with your antenna. Power
	cables for mobile and A.C. operation are included.

	Kit HW-29A (6 meter), 9 lbs., no money dn., $5 mo..$44.95
	Kit HW-30 (2 meter), 9 lbs., no money dn., $5 mo...$44.95
	Kit GP-11, Mobile Power Supply, 6 lbs..............$17.95
.

-- 
Dave Turner	(510) 823-2001	{att,bellcore,sun,ames,decwrl}!pacbell!dmturne
From: dlp@zule.EBay.Sun.COM (Dan Pritchett)
Newsgroups: rec.radio.amateur.misc
Subject: Re: Boycott Icom (fwd)
Date: 15 Apr 92 16:14:34 GMT
Organization: Sun Microsystems Federal, Milpitas, CA.
NNTP-Posting-Host: zule.ebay.sun.com

In article <13536@suns5.crosfield.co.uk>, nbb@crosfield.co.uk (nick bristow) writes:
|> I too feel that I have to agree that ten years is about the maximum amount of
|> time that you can really expect to get all parts for a piece of electronic
|> equipment. It may not be Icoms fault that they cannot get the CPU required. 
|> I suspect that the manufacturer just will not make the part in the volumes 
|> required by Icom at a reasonable price. So you may ask why don't they keep 
|> at least N years stock of X part for just this type of problem? It's not a 
|> matter of space more a matter of cost if you make for example 20 models each 
|> with 5 custom components in they they have to stock 100 different items for 
|> up to what 10, 20, 30? Years, what would you call a reasonable amount of 
|> time? And how do you accurately judge the volumes that should be held in 
|> stock?

I think the price of the original unit and replacement unit has to be
considered in how long a company should stock repair parts. I can see
where it may not make sense to keep a $100 CPU for a $250 radio which
is probably the case for most single band HT's. In this case it is
probably more reasonable to replace the entire unit.

But, HF rigs can easily be $1,000 or more. In this case telling me
I have to toss my radio and spend >$1,000 when a $100 part is broken
is not acceptable. I'd be a rather irate owner of an IC785, or whatever
number the big $4,000 HF transeiver with the CRT is, if 10 years from
now I had to toss the entire thing in the trash because an ASIC that
should be around $50-100 dies. Given that this is a hobby, I would
expect a $4,000 radio to be usable and REPAIRABLE for more than a
decade (not that I would ever spend that much on a radio).

Dan Pritchett               | ARPA/Internet: dlp@zule.EBay.Sun.COM
Sun Federal System Engineer | GEnie: D.PRITCHET3
                            | Packet: KM6PR@N0ARY.#NOCAL.CA.USA.NA
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
It ain't what you don't know, it's what you do know that ain't so.
                    --Edwin Howard Armstrong
                      or at least he said it alot:-)
From: hugh_davies.wgc1@rx.xerox.COM
Newsgroups: rec.radio.amateur.misc
Subject: Can no-code Tech use CW on VHF?
Date: 6 Apr 1992 05:19:07 -0700
Organization: UCSD Usenet Gateway
NNTP-Posting-Host: ucsd.edu

In Info-Hams Digest V92 #347, AL N1AL, says,

<...
It's been years since I was active on VHF CW, so take this with a grain
of salt.  But I'm sure there's no problem with slow CW in the CW subbands,
so long as you avoid the calling and DX frequencies.
...>

And don't do what I heard two people here doing, shortly after it became
"legal" for Class 'B' (no-code) hams to use CW on the air. They were operating
in the CW segment on 144MHz, using audio from a practice oscillator transmitted
via the microphone on FM! What's sadder is they didn't understand why this was
"wrong". 'Course, the band plans are optional here.

Regards,

Hugh, G0CNR
------------------------------------------------------
Senior S/W Engineer, European Systems Centre, Welwyn Garden City, UK.
Phone: Internal;  8-668-3848, Internat.; +44 707 383848, UK; 0707 383848
Internet; Huge.wgc1@rx.xerox.com
From: clemon@lemsys.UUCP (Craig Lemon VE3XCL)
Newsgroups: rec.radio.amateur.misc
Subject: Re:  Comment on youngest hams discussion
Distribution: world
Date: 8 Apr 92 07:03:08 EDT
Organization: Private UUCP "Twig" Node

In article <1992Apr6.173243.23646@aio.jsc.nasa.gov> mancus@sweetpea.jsc.nasa.gov (Keith Mancus 283-4283) writes:
>
>       Yeah, I was in a similar situation.  I've been doing
>electronics for a very long time; my father is an electronics
>tech, and he used to run a little TV repair business on the
>side.  As a result I had access to everything from an
>oscilloscope to a tube tester.  Even so, I didn't get my

>difficult to get started without help and encouragement.
>Technical knowledge and assistance is *not* enough.
>
>       -Keith Mancus <mancus@sweetpea.jsc.nasa.gov>
>        N5WVR

        The point is I didn't have that.  No one in my family is interested
in electronics either.  My dad works for the local gas company (he's not
stupid, just not high-tech BTW).  Noone is computer literate either.  We
have a multimeter, that's the extent of our electronic test equipment. 
I've managed to get some more things in here (computers, spare parts
etc...) because I'm planning to be a computer engineer, but I still don't
have big things like a 'scope or anything.  I'm not asking for sympathy or
anything :-).  Just trying to make some people's situation a little clearer
and to give a slightly more fair judgement of these "early acheivers".

--
 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!
Xref: sparky rec.radio.amateur.misc:7569 alt.folklore.urban:12063
From: axd7104@acfcluster.nyu.edu
Newsgroups: rec.radio.amateur.misc,alt.folklore.urban
Subject: Re: FCC 3-Letter Call letters
Date: 11 Apr 92 00:31:08 GMT
Distribution: na
Organization: New York University

In article <92101.125627ASAHC@CUNYVM.BITNET>, Asher Samuels <ASAHC@CUNYVM.BITNET> writes:
> A few years ago, WOR was forced to become WWOR (channel 9 in the NYC area)
> -------
> +---------------------------------------------------------------------------+
> | asahc@cunyvm.cuny.edu                                 Abfrl, nera'g lbh?  |
> | Asher B. Samuels                                                          |
> +---------------------------------------------------------------------------+

About Channel 9, you're right.  I believe what happened was that Channel 9
was sold, but not the radio station (WOR 710 am, which is what I was
referring to in the first place).  Under the FCC rules in effect at that
time, you couldn't have a radio station and a TV station with the same
call letters if they weren't owned by the same company.  So the new 
company tacked on the extra W, so they would be legal under the law and
not lose their name recognition.  WOR-AM is still WOR.

BTW, that FCC rule no longer applies.  WNEW-AM and WNEW-FM are now owned
by separate companies.

-- 
Aaron Dickey                      Bitnet: axd7104@nyuacf
New York University             Internet: axd7104@ACFcluster.nyu.edu

Al Roker Is God.
From: michaelk@grizzy.wr.tek.com (Michael D. Kersenbrock)
Newsgroups: rec.radio.amateur.misc
Subject: Re: BENTON HARBOR LUNCH BOX...REMEMBER?
Keywords: HEATH,BENTON
Date: 16 Apr 92 01:11:11 GMT
Organization: Tektronix, Inc

In article <1992Apr13.185223.12215@news.larc.nasa.gov> kludge@grissom.larc.nasa.gov ( Scott Dorsey) writes:
>In article <1992Apr13.123638.8572@gvl.unisys.com> 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"  :-)
>
>There is an FM (actually PM, not true FM) modification to the two-er which
>involves removing the modulation transformer running the modulation signal
>into a reactance tube which is added directly after the oscillator.  As
>I recall, it produced pretty poor quality audio.  I seem to remember it
>showing up in QST at some point.
>--scott


I had a twoer which I modified myself for FM.  As I recall, I paralleled
a number of cheap rectifier (5 cent variety in onesies) diodes, and with
a blocking cap setup used it to change loading on the crystal oscillator.
I don't remember if I had to change the oscillator much of any.  I 
reverse biased the rectifiers and imposed audio onto it.  You get the
general idea.  This was quite some time ago -- and I was using one of
those $20 multiband AM/FM/SW receivers which I listened with.  Talk about
a cheap setup. :-)  Costed nearly nothing, but it worked (around 15 years
ago I think).

I sold the Two'er, kind of wish I had it back for nostalgia sake (and to
go with the ancient SB line I still use occasionally).


--
Mike Kersenbrock
Tektronix Logic Analyzer Division
michaelk@grizzy.WR.TEK.COM
Aloha, Oregon
From: alanb@hpnmdla.sr.hp.com (Alan Bloom)
Date: Thu, 16 Apr 1992 18:55:00 GMT
Subject: Re: Can't get 10 year old radio fixed, was Re: Boycott Icom
Organization: HP Network Measurements Div, Santa Rosa, CA
Newsgroups: rec.radio.amateur.misc

In rec.radio.amateur.misc, gary@ke4zv.uucp (Gary Coffman) writes:

>The fact remains, however, that the shelf life of electronics technology 
>is now down to less than 5 years in many cases. It's generally not worth 
>the trouble to attempt to repair something older than that because newer
>and better equipment is available that is cheaper than the original. This 
>isn't planned obsolesence, it's technology driven obsolesence. Try to get
>parts for an 8 inch floppy drive, or get 1 kb memory chips. They just
>aren't around anymore except in surplus bins. Ten years ago, they were
>hot stuff.

This is very true for computer equipment.  It is much less true for RF
equipment.  A 20-year-old Drake L4B kilowatt amplifier is still a fine piece
of equipment that most hams would be proud to use in their ham shack.
8 inch floppy disc drives were not even available 20 years ago, and are
now already obsolete.

AL N1AL

Newsgroups: rec.radio.amateur.misc,sci.electronics