From wang!elf.wang.com!ucsd.edu!info-hams-relay Tue Apr 2 03:40:23 1991 remote from tosspot Received: by tosspot (1.64/waf) via UUCP; Tue, 02 Apr 91 05:19:42 EST for lee Received: from somewhere by elf.wang.com id aa06830; Tue, 2 Apr 91 3:40:22 GMT Received: from ucsd.edu by relay1.UU.NET with SMTP (5.61/UUNET-shadow-mx) id AA05325; Mon, 1 Apr 91 21:46:12 -0500 Received: by ucsd.edu; id AA01372 sendmail 5.64/UCSD-2.1-sun Mon, 1 Apr 91 16:19:41 -0800 for brian Received: by ucsd.edu; id AA01354 sendmail 5.64/UCSD-2.1-sun Mon, 1 Apr 91 16:19:32 -0800 for /usr/lib/sendmail -oc -odb -oQ/var/spool/lqueue -oi -finfo-hams-relay info-hams-list Message-Id: <9104020019.AA01354@ucsd.edu> Date: Mon, 1 Apr 91 16:19:28 PST From: Info-Hams Mailing List and Newsgroup Reply-To: Info-Hams@ucsd.edu Subject: Info-Hams Digest V91 #258 To: Info-Hams@ucsd.edu Info-Hams Digest Mon, 1 Apr 91 Volume 91 : Issue 258 Today's Topics: AMSAT ORBITAL ELEMENTS Cheap Iambic Cook Islands CQ WPX SSB score rumors DAK SW receiver DR-590 Mailing FAQ - Part 1 Feed lines Kuwait Ham large 110->220 transformers Licensing Philosophy? new callsign server features NoCode Tech and Liscense in Peru Send Replies or notes for publication to: Send subscription requests to: Problems you can't solve otherwise to brian@ucsd.edu. Archives of past issues of the Info-Hams Digest are available (by FTP only) from UCSD.Edu in directory "mailarchives/info-hams". We trust that readers are intelligent enough to realize that all text herein consists of personal comments and does not represent the official policies or positions of any party. Your mileage may vary. So there. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: 1 Apr 91 23:36:36 GMT From: sdd.hp.com!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!n8emr!gws@ucsd.edu Subject: AMSAT ORBITAL ELEMENTS To: info-hams@ucsd.edu ============================================================== | Relayed from AMSAT BBS NETWORK | | N8EMR's Ham BBS, 614-895-2553 1200/2400/9600/V.32/PEP/MNP5 | ============================================================== SB KEPS @ AMSAT $ORBS-089.O Orbital Elements 089.OSCAR HR AMSAT ORBITAL ELEMENTS FOR OSCAR SATELLITES FROM N3FKV HEWITT, TX March 30, 1991 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT Satellite: AO-10 Catalog number: 14129 Epoch time: 91087.13157047 Element set: 643 Inclination: 25.8083 deg RA of node: 153.6070 deg Eccentricity: 0.6004385 Arg of perigee: 228.6767 deg Mean anomaly: 61.5135 deg Mean motion: 2.05883150 rev/day Decay rate: -9.0e-07 rev/day^2 Epoch rev: 3058 Satellite: UO-11 Catalog number: 14781 Epoch time: 91087.59505918 Element set: 947 Inclination: 97.9121 deg RA of node: 135.3744 deg Eccentricity: 0.0013772 Arg of perigee: 62.2623 deg Mean anomaly: 298.0072 deg Mean motion: 14.66570353 rev/day Decay rate: 5.188e-05 rev/day^2 Epoch rev: 37763 Satellite: RS-10/11 Catalog number: 18129 Epoch time: 91087.84980366 Element set: 567 Inclination: 82.9242 deg RA of node: 118.2301 deg Eccentricity: 0.0013169 Arg of perigee: 54.1551 deg Mean anomaly: 306.0829 deg Mean motion: 13.72165370 rev/day Decay rate: 9.7e-07 rev/day^2 Epoch rev: 18857 Satellite: AO-13 Catalog number: 19216 Epoch time: 91065.03461838 Element set: 240 Inclination: 56.8208 deg RA of node: 107.0310 deg Eccentricity: 0.7134717 Arg of perigee: 248.7854 deg Mean anomaly: 25.7533 deg Mean motion: 2.09700788 rev/day Decay rate: -2.0e-07 rev/day^2 Epoch rev: 2086 Satellite: FO-20 Catalog number: 20480 Epoch time: 91069.51316501 Element set: 189 Inclination: 99.0193 deg RA of node: 70.4245 deg Eccentricity: 0.0540988 Arg of perigee: 165.0177 deg Mean anomaly: 196.7681 deg Mean motion: 12.83171893 rev/day Decay rate: 3.1e-07 rev/day^2 Epoch rev: 5090 Satellite: AO-21 Catalog number: 21087 Epoch time: 91087.14616669 Element set: 26 Inclination: 82.9427 deg RA of node: 293.6967 deg Eccentricity: 0.0036275 Arg of perigee: 122.5402 deg Mean anomaly: 237.9267 deg Mean motion: 13.74359194 rev/day Decay rate: 2.89e-06 rev/day^2 Epoch rev: 789 Satellite: RS-12/13 Catalog number: 21089 Epoch time: 91083.72491363 Element set: 28 Inclination: 82.9293 deg RA of node: 166.7116 deg Eccentricity: 0.0029654 Arg of perigee: 151.3646 deg Mean anomaly: 208.9150 deg Mean motion: 13.73876059 rev/day Decay rate: 2.92e-06 rev/day^2 Epoch rev: 654 /EX SB KEPS @ AMSAT $ORBS-089.D Orbital Elements 089.MICROS HR AMSAT ORBITAL ELEMENTS FOR THE MICROSATS FROM N3FKV HEWITT, TX March 30, 1991 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT Satellite: UO-14 Catalog number: 20437 Epoch time: 91087.70628769 Element set: 320 Inclination: 98.6784 deg RA of node: 167.6671 deg Eccentricity: 0.0012203 Arg of perigee: 42.3198 deg Mean anomaly: 317.9034 deg Mean motion: 14.29009848 rev/day Decay rate: 1.612e-05 rev/day^2 Epoch rev: 6149 Satellite: AO-16 Catalog number: 20439 Epoch time: 91087.18620936 Element set: 211 Inclination: 98.6768 deg RA of node: 167.4050 deg Eccentricity: 0.0012088 Arg of perigee: 48.9803 deg Mean anomaly: 311.2447 deg Mean motion: 14.29098619 rev/day Decay rate: 1.527e-05 rev/day^2 Epoch rev: 6142 Satellite: DO-17 Catalog number: 20440 Epoch time: 91086.26097029 Element set: 211 Inclination: 98.6766 deg RA of node: 166.5200 deg Eccentricity: 0.0012095 Arg of perigee: 52.3672 deg Mean anomaly: 307.8631 deg Mean motion: 14.29168280 rev/day Decay rate: 1.580e-05 rev/day^2 Epoch rev: 6129 Satellite: WO-18 Catalog number: 20441 Epoch time: 91086.44382880 Element set: 210 Inclination: 98.6739 deg RA of node: 166.7423 deg Eccentricity: 0.0012699 Arg of perigee: 51.3876 deg Mean anomaly: 308.8507 deg Mean motion: 14.29229004 rev/day Decay rate: 1.569e-05 rev/day^2 Epoch rev: 6132 Satellite: LO-19 Catalog number: 20442 Epoch time: 91087.19266508 Element set: 212 Inclination: 98.6767 deg RA of node: 167.5436 deg Eccentricity: 0.0013001 Arg of perigee: 48.2439 deg Mean anomaly: 311.9890 deg Mean motion: 14.29306365 rev/day Decay rate: 1.497e-05 rev/day^2 Epoch rev: 6143 /EX SB KEPS @ AMSAT $ORBS-089.W Orbital Elements 089.WEATHER HR AMSAT ORBITAL ELEMENTS FOR WEATHER SATELLITES FROM N3FKV HEWITT, TX March 30, 1991 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT Satellite: NOAA-9 Catalog number: 15427 Epoch time: 91087.20021879 Element set: 718 Inclination: 99.1731 deg RA of node: 98.7687 deg Eccentricity: 0.0014218 Arg of perigee: 293.9234 deg Mean anomaly: 66.0445 deg Mean motion: 14.12919510 rev/day Decay rate: 1.658e-05 rev/day^2 Epoch rev: 32408 Satellite: NOAA-10 Catalog number: 16969 Epoch time: 91086.97583158 Element set: 562 Inclination: 98.5727 deg RA of node: 113.2251 deg Eccentricity: 0.0013806 Arg of perigee: 160.0598 deg Mean anomaly: 200.1146 deg Mean motion: 14.24017780 rev/day Decay rate: 2.033e-05 rev/day^2 Epoch rev: 23499 Satellite: MET-2/17 Catalog number: 18820 Epoch time: 91083.62243123 Element set: 464 Inclination: 82.5438 deg RA of node: 127.5364 deg Eccentricity: 0.0015019 Arg of perigee: 256.8532 deg Mean anomaly: 103.0952 deg Mean motion: 13.84460246 rev/day Decay rate: 4.20e-06 rev/day^2 Epoch rev: 15898 Satellite: MET-3/2 Catalog number: 19336 Epoch time: 91079.51407238 Element set: 714 Inclination: 82.5407 deg RA of node: 81.9375 deg Eccentricity: 0.0017539 Arg of perigee: 348.1699 deg Mean anomaly: 11.9013 deg Mean motion: 13.16915477 rev/day Decay rate: 4.9e-07 rev/day^2 Epoch rev: 12732 Satellite: NOAA-11 Catalog number: 19531 Epoch time: 91088.21240260 Element set: 473 Inclination: 99.0216 deg RA of node: 42.4460 deg Eccentricity: 0.0011494 Arg of perigee: 196.6004 deg Mean anomaly: 163.4793 deg Mean motion: 14.12038892 rev/day Decay rate: 2.006e-05 rev/day^2 Epoch rev: 12918 Satellite: MET-2/18 Catalog number: 19851 Epoch time: 91086.27035091 Element set: 418 Inclination: 82.5215 deg RA of node: 2.8990 deg Eccentricity: 0.0013536 Arg of perigee: 297.1198 deg Mean anomaly: 62.8595 deg Mean motion: 13.84098645 rev/day Decay rate: 7.01e-06 rev/day^2 Epoch rev: 10472 Satellite: MET-3/3 Catalog number: 20305 Epoch time: 91083.78492777 Element set: 327 Inclination: 82.5503 deg RA of node: 20.0872 deg Eccentricity: 0.0016660 Arg of perigee: 355.5322 deg Mean anomaly: 4.5673 deg Mean motion: 13.15942710 rev/day Decay rate: 4.3e-07 rev/day^2 Epoch rev: 6785 Satellite: MET-2/19 Catalog number: 20670 Epoch time: 91087.00799621 Element set: 163 Inclination: 82.5413 deg RA of node: 63.3643 deg Eccentricity: 0.0014875 Arg of perigee: 207.0448 deg Mean anomaly: 153.0109 deg Mean motion: 13.83930967 rev/day Decay rate: 4.06e-06 rev/day^2 Epoch rev: 3777 Satellite: FY-1/2 Catalog number: 20788 Epoch time: 91087.59876210 Element set: 121 Inclination: 98.9489 deg RA of node: 122.7652 deg Eccentricity: 0.0015466 Arg of perigee: 46.6461 deg Mean anomaly: 313.6037 deg Mean motion: 14.01090103 rev/day Decay rate: -4.01e-06 rev/day^2 Epoch rev: 2892 Satellite: MET-2/20 Catalog number: 20826 Epoch time: 91087.78580277 Element set: 118 Inclination: 82.5194 deg RA of node: 1.8190 deg Eccentricity: 0.0014176 Arg of perigee: 103.2175 deg Mean anomaly: 257.0610 deg Mean motion: 13.83311453 rev/day Decay rate: 6.50e-06 rev/day^2 Epoch rev: 2509 /EX SB KEPS @ AMSAT $ORBS-089.M Orbital Elements 089.MISC HR AMSAT ORBITAL ELEMENTS FOR MANNED AND MISCELLANEOUS SATELLITES FROM N3FKV HEWITT, TX March 30, 1991 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT Satellite: MIR Catalog number: 16609 Epoch time: 91088.12594994 Element set: 344 Inclination: 51.6071 deg RA of node: 333.5097 deg Eccentricity: 0.0015537 Arg of perigee: 116.0173 deg Mean anomaly: 244.2519 deg Mean motion: 15.64886640 rev/day Decay rate: 6.7853e-04 rev/day^2 Epoch rev: 29262 Satellite: HUBBLE Catalog number: 20580 Epoch time: 91086.77285543 Element set: 403 Inclination: 28.4683 deg RA of node: 242.6984 deg Eccentricity: 0.0005687 Arg of perigee: 185.3941 deg Mean anomaly: 174.6582 deg Mean motion: 14.86980261 rev/day Decay rate: 1.2573e-04 rev/day^2 Epoch rev: 5018 /EX SB KEPS @ AMSAT $ORBS-089.N 2-Line Orbital Elements 089.AMSAT HR AMSAT ORBITAL ELEMENTS FOR AMATEUR SATELLITES IN NASA FORMAT FROM N3FKV HEWITT, TX March 30, 1991 DECODE 2-LINE ELSETS WITH THE FOLLOWING KEY: 1 AAAAAU 00 0 0 BBBBB.BBBBBBBB .CCCCCCCC 00000-0 00000-0 0 DDDZ 2 AAAAA EEE.EEEE FFF.FFFF GGGGGGG HHH.HHHH III.IIII JJ.JJJJJJJJKKKKKZ KEY: A-CATALOGNUM B-EPOCHTIME C-DECAY D-ELSETNUM E-INCLINATION F-RAAN G-ECCENTRICITY H-ARGPERIGEE I-MNANOM J-MNMOTION K-ORBITNUM Z-CHECKSUM TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT AO-10 1 14129U 83 58 B 91087.13157047 -.00000090 00000-0 99999-4 0 6439 2 14129 25.8083 153.6070 6004385 228.6767 61.5135 2.05883150 30580 UO-11 1 14781U 84 21 B 91087.59505918 .00005188 00000-0 94170-3 0 9472 2 14781 97.9121 135.3744 0013772 62.2623 298.0072 14.66570353377634 NOAA-9 1 15427U 84123 A 91087.20021879 .00001658 00000-0 91076-3 0 7186 2 15427 99.1731 98.7687 0014218 293.9234 66.0445 14.12919510324089 MIR 1 16609U 86 17 A 91088.12594994 .00067853 00000-0 67618-3 0 3447 2 16609 51.6071 333.5097 0015537 116.0173 244.2519 15.64886640292620 NOAA-10 1 16969U 86 73 A 91086.97583158 .00002033 00000-0 90085-3 0 5624 2 16969 98.5727 113.2251 0013806 160.0598 200.1146 14.24017780234998 RS-10/11 1 18129U 87 54 A 91087.84980366 .00000097 00000-0 99999-4 0 5670 2 18129 82.9242 118.2301 0013169 54.1551 306.0829 13.72165370188579 MET-2/17 1 18820U 88 5 A 91083.62243123 .00000420 00000-0 36624-3 0 4641 2 18820 82.5438 127.5364 0015019 256.8532 103.0952 13.84460246158985 AO-13 1 19216U 88 51 B 91065.03461838 -.00000020 00000-0 99999-4 0 2406 2 19216 56.8208 107.0310 7134717 248.7854 25.7533 2.09700788 20862 MET-3/2 1 19336U 88 64 A 91079.51407238 .00000049 00000-0 10968-3 0 7149 2 19336 82.5407 81.9375 0017539 348.1699 11.9013 13.16915477127322 NOAA-11 1 19531U 88 89 A 91088.21240260 .00002006 00000-0 11146-2 0 4735 2 19531 99.0216 42.4460 0011494 196.6004 163.4793 14.12038892129185 MET-2/18 1 19851U 89 18 A 91086.27035091 .00000701 00000-0 62028-3 0 4186 2 19851 82.5215 2.8990 0013536 297.1198 62.8595 13.84098645104729 MET-3/3 1 20305U 89 86 A 91083.78492777 .00000043 00000-0 99999-4 0 3274 2 20305 82.5503 20.0872 0016660 355.5322 4.5673 13.15942710 67852 UO-14 1 20437U 90 5 B 91087.70628769 .00001612 00000-0 65281-3 0 3203 2 20437 98.6784 167.6671 0012203 42.3198 317.9034 14.29009848 61491 AO-16 1 20439U 90 5 D 91087.18620936 .00001527 00000-0 61808-3 0 2110 2 20439 98.6768 167.4050 0012088 48.9803 311.2447 14.29098619 61422 DO-17 1 20440U 90 5 E 91086.26097029 .00001580 00000-0 63769-3 0 2118 2 20440 98.6766 166.5200 0012095 52.3672 307.8631 14.29168280 61293 WO-18 1 20441U 90 5 F 91086.44382880 .00001569 00000-0 63259-3 0 2101 2 20441 98.6739 166.7423 0012699 51.3876 308.8507 14.29229004 61327 LO-19 1 20442U 90 5 G 91087.19266508 .00001497 00000-0 60371-3 0 2127 2 20442 98.6767 167.5436 0013001 48.2439 311.9890 14.29306365 61438 FO-20 1 20480U 90 13 B 91069.51316501 .00000031 00000-0 97835-4 0 1895 2 20480 99.0193 70.4245 0540988 165.0177 196.7681 12.83171893 50905 HUBBLE 1 20580U 91086.77285543 .00012573 00000-0 13568-2 0 4033 2 20580 28.4683 242.6984 0005687 185.3941 174.6582 14.86980261 50182 MET-2/19 1 20670U 90 57 A 91087.00799621 .00000406 00000-0 35581-3 0 1633 2 20670 82.5413 63.3643 0014875 207.0448 153.0109 13.83930967 37777 FY-1/2 1 20788U 90 81 A 91087.59876210 -.00000401 00000-0 -25542-3 0 1211 2 20788 98.9489 122.7652 0015466 46.6461 313.6037 14.01090103 28921 MET-2/20 1 20826U 90 86 A 91087.78580277 .00000650 00000-0 58228-3 0 1182 2 20826 82.5194 1.8190 0014176 103.2175 257.0610 13.83311453 25095 AO-21 1 21087U 91087.14616669 .00000289 00000-0 29279-3 0 264 2 21087 82.9427 293.6967 0036275 122.5402 237.9267 13.74359194 7899 RS-12/13 1 21089U 91 7 A 91083.72491363 .00000292 00000-0 30027-3 0 284 2 21089 82.9293 166.7116 0029654 151.3646 208.9150 13.73876059 6544 /EX -- Gary W. Sanders (gws@n8emr or ...!osu-cis!n8emr!gws), 72277,1325 N8EMR @ W8CQK (ip addr) 44.70.0.1 [Ohio AMPR address coordinator] HAM BBS (1200/2400/9600/V.32/PEP/MNP=L5) 614-895-2553 Voice: 614-895-2552 (eves/weekends) ------------------------------ Date: 1 Apr 91 13:22:00 GMT From: news-mail-gateway@ucsd.edu Subject: Cheap Iambic To: info-hams@ucsd.edu > in fact. I heard that there was an iambic keyer IC that just needed some > support components and a key to run. Does anyone know where I can get one? There is a small ad in the back 1/3 of QST most every month for the Curtis keyer chip. Of course, the resulting keyer isn't going to have all the bells and whistles unless you design them in with more chips, but you will certainly have a good iambic keyer. Have at it! steve - W3GRG ------------------------------ Date: 1 Apr 91 20:00:20 GMT From: sdd.hp.com!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!mips!twg.com!sawyer@ucsd.edu Subject: Cook Islands To: info-hams@ucsd.edu In article <46276@ut-emx.uucp> oo7--a.k.a. AA5BT--writes: > >South Cook is a vacation spot with hotels and probably McDonalds every 100 >yards. North Cook is a bunch of rocks that are hard to reach and operate >from. In the last 2-3 years I have worked at least a dozen S. Cook stations >and only one N. Cook expedition (ZK1CQ and ZK1RS in Oct 89). I think one of >the Scandinavian groups on a Pacific tour might have activated N. Cook >sometime in 1990 too. > I sure hope the perfesser isn't completely right on this one. There was an operation on from North Cook last summer--either July or August--by the Japanese pearl diver YL, Kiyoko (sp?). I think the call was ZK1XK, but my records are at home so I can't be sure. I'm still waiting on my card from that one, and I checked with other DXer's in the Bay Area and none of them have received theirs either. The story I got is that Kiyoko just got back to Japan a month or so ago and has almost a year's backlog of cards to get out from all of her travels, so it may be a while. But for the purpose of his post, Derek is right. If it were North (as opposed to South) Cook, you would know it. ------------------------------ Date: 1 Apr 91 20:23:43 GMT From: sdd.hp.com!think.com!paperboy!hsdndev!bunny!dhp1@ucsd.edu Subject: CQ WPX SSB score rumors To: info-hams@ucsd.edu CQ WPX SSB 1991 Score Rumors (Gathered from 3830kHz after the contest) Single-op, All-Band: KM1H (KQ2M, op) 2896/914=6.856M WM1K (KM3T, op) 2911/854=6.2M NW3B 2507/835=5.39M KA5W (KS1G, op) 2338/838=4.39M K0RF 2125/819=4.36M K3ZO 1709/709=3.3M W2HPF 336/259=239k Single-op, Single-Band: VA3EJ 3.8MHz 1150/450=1.9M KQ3V 3.8MHz 548/306=376k NB1H 14MHz 1417/651=2.05M WB5VZL 21MHz 1923/787=3.055M WN4KKN 21MHz 2378/729=4.27M N1IJM 21MHz 685k NX1P 21MHz 960k NX1H 28MHz 2004/715=3.1M Single-op, All-Band Breakdowns: KM1H (KQ2M, op) WM1K (KM3T, op) QSOs/Prefixes QSOs/Prefixes 3.8MHz 178/74 42/22 7MHz 80/9 0/0 14MHz 1004/375 685/348 21MHz 784/309 645/235 28MHz 850/144 1539/243 Totals: 2896/914 2911/848 -- Dave Pascoe | Internet: dhp1@gte.com GTE/SCSD | UUCP: ...!gte.com!dhp1 KM3T/1 | Packet Radio: km3t @ ka2qhd.nj ------------------------------ Date: 1 Apr 91 16:14:00 GMT From: news-mail-gateway@ucsd.edu Subject: DAK SW receiver To: info-hams@ucsd.edu Thanks to everyone who replied to my request for info about the DAK SW receiver. After reading the responses and seeing the problems that have been encountered, I decided against buying one as a gift for my (non-technical) father. Warren KA1JL warren_tuiskula@vos.stratus.com ------------------------------ Date: 1 Apr 91 16:10:23 GMT From: news-mail-gateway@ucsd.edu Subject: DR-590 Mailing To: info-hams@ucsd.edu If you forwarded a SASE to me for the ALPHA COPY of the 590 manual, it was mailed Saturday. Should you desire a copy of the final manual, please send an SASA with 3 dollars in postage. The manual will include schematics and board layouts. Quite a few improvements have been made since the last mailing. If you want to change the memory channels via the microphone: 1. Press VFO key 2. Enter C02 on the mic. Now your in memory mode. 3. To increase memory channel enter C08 to increase and C09 to decrease. I am debating on sending the manual to Info-Hams, but right now on the apprehension side. What do the rest of you think, its 50 pages! Jay (KA1SNA) ------------------------------ Date: 1 Apr 91 14:53:34 GMT From: genrad!dls@husc6.harvard.edu Subject: FAQ - Part 1 To: info-hams@ucsd.edu 1-Apr-91 08:11 dls update, see changebars (|) The following is a monthly posting of frequently asked questions for hams. Due to the increasing size of this list, I've broken it into 3 Parts (and will break it further if necessary) to keep each Part under 10K bytes. Part 1 - Beginning Amateur Radio questions Part 2 - "Where can I find ..." questions Part 3 - Common Advanced and Technical questions If you have any questions you think should be added, please email to me at dls@genrad.com. FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS Part 1 - Beginning Amateur Radio questions ** What is Amateur Radio? Amateur Radio is a non-commercial radio communication service whose primary aim is public service and communication between private persons. Amateur Radio operators are commonly called hams. It's great fun to talk to someone in Japan on the radio! ** Who can become a ham in the United States? Anyone who is not a representative of a foreign government can be an Amateur Radio operator in the USA. There are tests that you must pass to get a license, however the tests are not insurmountable. There are 7-year-old hams and 80-year-old hams. There are many handicapped hams who get great enjoyment out of Amateur Radio. ** OK, so how do I become a ham in the United States? There are now two entry-level class licenses in Amateur Radio. A Novice license requires passing a 30-question written test and a Morse code test given at 5 words per minute. A Technician license requires passing the 30-question written Novice test and a 25-question written Technician test, but no Morse code test. See local radio clubs or radio stores in your area for more information. ** Where can I locate information and books on Amateur Radio? Your local Radio Shack sells some ham radios and Amateur Radio license books. Books can also be obtained through the mail from ham radio organizations, such as ARRL in Newington, CT (203-666-1541) and W5YI in Dallas, TX (1-800-669-9594). There may be one or two ham radio stores in the local area (ie, within 50 miles). Try looking in the Yellow Pages under Radio Communications. Be assured that once you get a callsign, the mail order ham radio companies will find you :-). For the Novice license, get a Novice License manual, plus 5-word- per-minute Morse code tapes, costing around $25. For the Technician license, get a Novice License manual, a Technician License manual, and an FCC Rules manual, costing around $32. | The FCC Rules manual is a good idea for Novice also, but not | necessary, since the Novice License manual contains all the FCC | Rules that are required for the Novice License. ** How much does it cost? To take the Novice tests, it's free. To take the Technician or higher class tests, there is a small charge (around $5 currently) to cover copying costs and running the testing sessions. The cost of a radio is really dependent on what you want to do. You can make your own radio and antenna for under $150. You can buy a used single-band radio for $150-$300. Or you can buy a new multi-band multi-mode radio with all the doodads for $300-$3000. I'd suggest you learn more about ham radio, talk to local hams, find out what you want to do with ham radio first. ** Where can I take the tests? The Novice tests can be given by any two qualified hams of General class license or above. The Technician tests and all higher class license tests are given by three qualified Volunteer Examiners (VEs) who volunteer their time. |** What are the tests like? | Each of the written tests (Novice, Technician, General, Advanced, | and Extra) generally a multiple choice test of approximately one- | tenth of the question pool. For example, if the question pool is | approximately 300 questions, then the test will be a 30-question | test. You need to get 75% correct to pass. Note that they truncate | to determine the correct number of questions. That means for a 30 | question test, you need to get 22 right, which is actually only 73.3%. | Once you've paid the small fee for Technician-Extra tests, it costs | no extra to take another test, so I'd suggest you keep taking the | next more advanced test until you fail. If you pass the written | but not the Morse code (or vice versa) for a specific class license, | you have up to one year to take the other test before you would have | to retake the written test again. Note that some VEs will not allow | you to take the written test unless you've first taken the Morse code | test. | The Morse code test is a receiving test only. The test run 5 to 7 | minutes. After the test, you are given a 10-question multiple-choice | or fill-in-the-blank test. Passing grade is 7 or more. If you fail | the 10-question test, the examiner team will examine your copy sheet | to see if you have 1 minute of solid copy with no errors. For 5 wpm, | that's 25 characters, for 13 wpm, that's 65 characters, for 20 wpm, | that's 100 characters. If they can find 1 minute solid copy, you've | still passed. | Hints on Morse code tests: Generally, it will be a standard QSO | (conversation), and it MUST contain at least one of each of the | following: | 26 letters A-Z, 10 numbers 0-9, comma (,), period (.), slant or | slash (/), question mark (?), double dash prosign (BT), end of | message prosign (AR), end of contact prosign (SK). | The letters count as one character, all others count as two | characters. There are a couple other prosigns which are worth | knowing, but will not be on the test, like "I'm done talking, next" | is K, "I'm done talking, back to you" is KN, "Please wait" is AS. ** Where can I find VE sessions in my local area? VE sessions are often announced in the local newspapers, but more often, they are announced by local radio bulletin boards. The local packet BBS will most likely have a monthly updated schedule for VE sessions. ARRL or W5YI can generally be called and asked for local VE sessions as well. Don't forget that you will need the following when you go in for an upgrade: a copy of your current Amateur license; your original Amateur license; any CSCEs (duplicate not required), if applicable and less than a year old; a picture ID, preferably a driver's license, passport or visa; and the VE test fee (approximately $5 right now). ** What can I do with a ham radio license? There are so many things, it's a difficult question to answer, but here's some ideas: * Talk to people in foreign countries. * Talk to people (both local and far away) on your drive to work. * Help in emergencies by providing communications. * Provide communications in parades or walkathons. * Help other people become hams. * Hook your computer to your radio and communicate by computers. * Collect QSL cards (cards from other hams) from all over the United States and foreign countries and receive awards. * Participate in contests or Field Day events. * Provide radio services to your local Civil Defense organization thru ARES (Amateur Radio Emergency Service) or RACES (Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service). * Have someone to talk to on those sleepless nights at home. * Receive weather pictures via satellites. * Build radios, antennas, learn some elctronics and radio theory. * Talk to astronauts in space, or use the moon to bounce signals back to people on the Earth. * Experiment with Amateur TV (SSTV) or send still-frame pictures by facsimile. * Experiment with amateur satellite communications. ** What can't I do with an Amateur Radio license? The most important thing you can't do is transact business of any kind over ham radio. Interference to other hams or services, as well as obscene, profane or indecent language is not tolerated and is illegal. Music and broadcasting is not allowed on ham radio. ** I'm interested, who will help me? There are hams who are willing to become "Elmers" (mentors, helpers) in your local area. Look around and ask local hams. Search out local radio clubs. As well, some people have volunteered to be an Elmer over the Usenet. Paul has volunteered to maintain that list. If anyone wants to be an Elmer, or needs an Elmer, email him: Paul W. Schleck, KD3FU, acmnews@zeus.unomaha.edu |** Should I build my own equipment? | "Homebrewing" is a fun and educational part of ham radio. It is a | thrill to build your own transmitter and put it on the air. However, | building your own receiver can be quite complicated; if you don't have | electronics experience, you may want to buy a receiver instead. Most | homebrew transmitters are QRP (transmit very low power). That's fine | for an experienced ham with a very good antenna, but a Novice ham will | just get frustrated. Your first rig, therefore should NOT be a home- | brew. |** Should I build my own antenna? | Most hams build their own antennas for base station use and buy | antennas for mobile (car) use. Most beginner ham books describe how | to build different types of antennas. Order of difficulty, from | easiest to more difficult, for some common antennas are: wire dipole, | Zepp, Yagi, Quad. |** Do I need a huge antenna and tower like my neighbor? | No! Large beam antennas and 40-foot towers are very expensive. As | a beginner, a simple dipole antenna is perfectly adequate. As you | gain experience (and money :-), you may want to invest in something | bigger. |** Where do I buy equipment? | If you can afford new rigs, there are many mail order stores that | advertise in ham radio magazines. If you want to buy a used rig, | the best place is at a "hamfest" (ham flea market). You should take | along an experienced ham, since some of the used equipment may be | inoperative, overpriced or poor quality. You can also answer ads | in ham magazines or posted at ham radio stores, although often, by | the time you call, the equipment has already been sold. ->Diana L. Syriac dls@genrad.com Ham: KC1SP (Sweet Pea) <- ->I'D RATHER BE FLYING! P-ASEL, INST CAP: 1LT, Freedom 690 Mobile<- ->GenRad AD ASTRA, PER ASPERA <- ->MS/6, 300 Baker Ave, Concord, Mass. 01742 (508) 369-4400 x2459 <- ------------------------------ Date: 1 Apr 91 21:02:59 GMT From: sdd.hp.com!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!sol.ctr.columbia.edu!cunixf.cc.columbia.edu!cunixb.cc.columbia.edu!mig@ucsd.edu Subject: Feed lines To: info-hams@ucsd.edu In article <1991Mar29.230503.14290@informix.com> randall@informix.com (Randall Rhea) writes: >In article <1991Mar29.044134.613@bradley.bradley.edu> moodyblu@buhub.bradley.edu (Matthew Weisberg) writes: >>However, I am trying to figure out how I am going to get the feedline into >>the house. My landlord will not let me make another hole in the wall, so I >>was thinking about bringing it in through the same hole the CATV line comes >>in. Will this create any problems with the cables so close?? Does anyone >>have any better ideas on how to get a feedline inside without making new >>holes in the wall?? Thanks.. >Have you considered using ladder line? Since it's very thin, I just squish >it under the window, and close the window right on top of it. Make sure that there is no metal on the window sash or window, though. Ladder line won't work well near metal. Coaxial cable isn't bothered by nearby metal , so what I do is run my coaxial cables and ground wires between my window and window sash. Then, find some way of fastening the window so that you can use it in an emergency, etc, but make sure that (if you live near groun level) noone can get IN. Finally, use foam strips to insulate the opening and prevent hot/cool air from escaping. >=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= >Randall Rhea Informix Software, Inc. >Senior Programmer/Analyst, MIS uunet!pyramid!infmx!randall * * * * * * * ======================= Meir Green * * * * * * * * ======================= mig@cunixb.cc.columbia.edu * * * * * * * ======================= N2JPG ------------------------------ Date: 1 Apr 91 17:58:33 GMT From: news-mail-gateway@ucsd.edu Subject: Kuwait Ham To: info-hams@ucsd.edu There has been some good news concerning 9K2KW, Farid safety. I worked Sam A41 in Oman last week. He stated that Farid has returned to Kuwait and has been heard on 75 Meters. Farid is well and will be on 20 Meters soon. If anyone contacts Farid, 9K2KW, tell him that I will be listening on 14243 mhz at 2300Z on Mondays. I am net control for the IARS DX Net on Mondays. TNX,KZ2X Bob ------------------------------ Date: 1 Apr 91 15:46:03 GMT From: swrinde!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!rpi!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!utgpu!cunews!bnrgate!bmers95!bmerh27!chatel@ucsd.edu Subject: large 110->220 transformers To: info-hams@ucsd.edu Hi, I have found the address of the place I got my 220V/110V transformer from: KNAPCO 1201 Hamlet Ave. Clearwater, Florida 34616 Order Hot line: 800-827-4718 Other phone: 813-449-0019 I got their name from an advertisement in BYTE magazine. Regards, Marc. ------------------------------ Date: 1 Apr 91 19:02:46 GMT From: chiles.slisp.cs.cmu.edu!chiles@pt.cs.cmu.edu Subject: Licensing Philosophy? To: info-hams@ucsd.edu A friend was asking me the other day why one must learn some basic electronics to obtain a amateur radio license. I immediately thought about a body of skilled operators and technicians to push the state of the art and help out in communication emergencies, yada yada yada, and I thought about inducing self-respect and arrogance to support professional behavior on the air. Then he made two more points: with the state of modern gear, one or two can fix their own rigs without a factory, and the rigs do everything. The other point was that the government doesn't restrict the public's access to operating motor vehicles to those who demonstrate basic mechanic's skills. That is, the government doesn't believe you need to know how carburators, exhausts, fuel injection, air conditioning, etc., work to be a responsible vehicle operator without interfering with others on the roadways. Why then must a radio operator know about the internals of his gear to obtain access to the airwaves? Let's assume there is some restriction that is valid in licensing radio operation, and then I want to know if knowledge of basic electronics is such a valid restriction. I have a feeling you need to know some basics to put up an antenna and to keep from blowing your finals. You need to know enough to prevent overmodulation or too much compression on voice. Maybe you need to know enough to tell others they have chirp, but if they aren't going to modify or fix their own gear, why do they need to know what causes chirp? Sure, most of us are into this hobby because we care about these details, but some may just want to meet people from around the world and our own country to chat with them. They don't care about technology. I don't know anything about a no-code license I've heard rumored, but what if the FCC offered a no-theory license for some ham allocations with a restriction that you operate gear with certain features, those which allow you to turn on the rig and go except for a quick check of the SWR meter. Maybe these rigs have built in detectors that disallow operation if the SWR is too high, so the electronically naive won't blow their finals. On the other hand, no one needs to know this. You can always pay someone to put up your antenna, to fix your TVI problems when neighbors complain, etc. If you can't afford such luxuries, or if you like doing things yourself (as I supposed most hams do), you can learn how. So, what is the philosophy behind the government's rulings on access to certain frequencies? Is the technical restriction archaic? If the government wants a ready body of technical radio operators for wars, then it could provide scholarships for students to pursue this knowledge. I also realize the sentiment that CBers behaved like hyper adolescents (please excuse taint of ageism), and they aren't required to know anything or do not have peer pressure to behave professionally. I believe this is incidental, and I ask why a modern ham needs a knowledge of electronics to be a responsible operator. Just thinking too much I suppose .... Bill ------------------------------ Date: 1 Apr 91 21:49:54 GMT From: sdd.hp.com!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu!csn!ub!bowen@ucsd.edu Subject: new callsign server features To: info-hams@ucsd.edu In article <9104011356.AA24382@enuxha.eas.asu.edu>, crawford@enuxha.eas.asu.edu (Brian Crawford) writes: |> And the address See the Frequently Asked Questions list part 2 just posted for full information about accessing the server. Devon ------------------------------ Date: 1 Apr 91 18:49:00 GMT From: news-mail-gateway@ucsd.edu Subject: NoCode Tech and Liscense in Peru To: info-hams@ucsd.edu A quick question for the group. I have a friend who lives in Peru, and is in the states for about 9 months. He is interested in getting a US ham liscense while here and then getting a Peruvian liscense when he gets back there. Will the nocode tech allow him to get a Peruvian liscense with SSB hf privledges? If no one is sure, where would be the best place to find out? ARRL? thanks Bruce Harrison WB4MJG Univ. of Tennessee at Martin BRUCEH@UTKVX (bitnet) ------------------------------ Date: 1 Apr 91 21:26:25 GMT From: sdd.hp.com!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!sol.ctr.columbia.edu!cunixf.cc.columbia.edu!cunixb.cc.columbia.edu!mig@ucsd.edu To: info-hams@ucsd.edu References <9C44BAE82EFF600437@uncg.bitnet>, <1991Mar27.203003.11457@cunixf.cc.columbia.edu>, <2643@ke4zv.UUCP>lumb Reply-To : mig@cunixb.cc.columbia.edu (Meir) Subject : Re: a few fundamental questions about RF signals In article <2643@ke4zv.UUCP> gary@ke4zv.UUCP (Gary Coffman) writes: >In article <1991Mar27.203003.11457@cunixf.cc.columbia.edu> mig@cunixb.cc.columbia.edu (Meir) writes: >>What about putting a transformer and an audio transducer on an HF or MF or LF >>rig? Could we have QSOs using ultrasonics? >Yes. The Navy routinely uses such systems. Ultrasound is very short range >in air, much better in water, and fantastic along a stretch of *welded* >railroad rail. >With a 10 watt LF transmitter matched to a piezo tweeter on one end, and a >LF receiver fed by a ceramic phono cartridge on the other, very good SSB Do you think there is a way to get my TS-430S to load a transducer at, say, 160m? Is there any regulation of ultrasonics in various mediums? Is this dangerous to animal life in the medium? Could we have a SSB QSO through the ocean, using ultrasonics? >Gary KE4ZV * * * * * * * ======================= Meir Green * * * * * * * * ======================= mig@cunixb.cc.columbia.edu * * * * * * * ======================= N2JPG ------------------------------ Date: 1 Apr 91 22:36:05 GMT From: sdd.hp.com!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!think.com!linus!linus!mwunix.mitre.org!m21198@ucsd.edu To: info-hams@ucsd.edu References <1991Mar29.044134.613@bradley.bradley.edu>, <1991Mar29.230503.14290@informix.com>, <1991Apr1.210259.17754@cunixf.cc.columbia.edu>2 Subject : Re: Feed lines One simple way to block entry via a partially opened window is to drill a very small hole in the area where the upper and lower sashes overlap. Drop in a large nail and it is locked in place. This is an old, old trick, and seems to work very well. ------------------------------ End of Info-Hams Digest ******************************