From wang!elf.wang.com!ucsd.edu!info-hams-relay Tue Apr 23 14:46:52 1991 remote from tosspot Received: by tosspot (1.64/waf) via UUCP; Tue, 23 Apr 91 22:03:35 EST for lee Received: from somewhere by elf.wang.com id aa02787; Tue, 23 Apr 91 14:46:51 GMT Received: from ucsd.edu by relay1.UU.NET with SMTP (5.61/UUNET-shadow-mx) id AA03988; Tue, 23 Apr 91 10:12:01 -0400 Received: by ucsd.edu; id AA20816 sendmail 5.64/UCSD-2.1-sun Tue, 23 Apr 91 04:30:59 -0700 for nixbur!schroeder.pad Received: by ucsd.edu; id AA20804 sendmail 5.64/UCSD-2.1-sun Tue, 23 Apr 91 04:30:53 -0700 for /usr/lib/sendmail -oc -odb -oQ/var/spool/lqueue -oi -finfo-hams-relay info-hams-list Message-Id: <9104231130.AA20804@ucsd.edu> Date: Tue, 23 Apr 91 04:30:50 PDT From: Info-Hams Mailing List and Newsgroup Reply-To: Info-Hams@ucsd.edu Subject: Info-Hams Digest V91 #313 To: Info-Hams@ucsd.edu Info-Hams Digest Tue, 23 Apr 91 Volume 91 : Issue 313 Today's Topics: 11C90 Prescaler Chip Needed 50 to 75 ohm transformer??? Advice on PRO-2020/2021 scanners, please... AO-21 Questions answered BC779 front panel - thanks FM SCA Subcarrier Demodulation (2 msgs) help in looking up some chip functions MALLORY CAPACITORS ("Twist locks") POTENTIAL GEOMAGNETIC STORM WARNING UPDATE - 23 APRIL RTTY DX Notes 4/19/91 What's the Law on Cellular Listening? who uses 6m these days? (2 msgs) 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: 22 Apr 91 16:30:37 GMT From: swrinde!cs.utexas.edu!convex!texsun!newstop!west!L1-A.West.Sun.COM!flloyd@ucsd.edu Subject: 11C90 Prescaler Chip Needed To: info-hams@ucsd.edu I just bought a nice 50 Mhz universal counter (HP 5301) and would like to add a prescaler to it to push it up to 500 Mhz. The Handbook suggests using an 11C90 chip. Has anyone tried this? Does anyone have a telephone number of anyone who sells this chip? The handbook lists only an address (as usual). Also, can anyone recommend a better solution? Thanks, -fred AA7BQ -- | Fred Lloyd AA7BQ Fred.Lloyd@West.sun.com | | Sun Microsystems, Inc. ...sun!flloyd | | Phoenix, AZ (reality -- what a concept!) (602) 275-4242 | ------------------------------ Date: 22 Apr 91 21:25:41 GMT From: usc!elroy.jpl.nasa.gov!swrinde!sdd.hp.com!hp-pcd!hplsla!tomb@ucsd.edu Subject: 50 to 75 ohm transformer??? To: info-hams@ucsd.edu >>The other question was: "how do you adjust the antenna's gamma match >>for 75 ohms?" >> >>What I did was to temporarily connect a 150-ohm resistor in parallel >>with the feed point and tune for lowest SWR on a 50-ohm SWR meter. >>(150 ohms in parallel with 75 ohms = 50 ohms.) >> >>73 >> >>AL N1AL >> >Maybe I'm not thinking too clearly, but doesn't the 150 ohm resistor >(placed in parallel with the 75 ohm cable) dissipate some of the >transmitted energy, as in a dummy load? That's why the 'temporarily' in the suggestion. Use a big enuf resistor or low enuf power; nominally 1/3 of the power will go to the resistor. When you tune the gamma match for min SWR indicated on a 50 ohm SWR bridge (at the antenna, or thru a 50 ohm coax -- or if you are careful, with the R across the 75 ohm feed coax...), then the antenna-gamma match must be showing 75 ohms at its feedpoint, 'cause 75 ohms in parallel with 150 ohms is 50 ohms. Then disconnect the 150 ohm resistor, and the antenna is matched for 75 ohm line. -- Pretty neat trick, really--thanks, Al. 73--K7ITM ------------------------------ Date: 22 Apr 91 23:10:30 GMT From: usc!wuarchive!gumby!umich!terminator!usenet@ucsd.edu Subject: Advice on PRO-2020/2021 scanners, please... To: info-hams@ucsd.edu Greetings Net-Landers: I have the opportunity to purchase either a Radio Shack PRO-2020 or 2021 scanner. Before I do, though, I'd like to know if either of these have continuous 800 MHz scanneing capabilty and if not, if there are any mods to do so (amongst other things). I noticed that there are no such mods for these units via FTP at hamster. (Are there other FTP sites available?) Thanks for any info in this matter.... |\/\/\/| /____________________________________________________________/ | | /____________________________/ / | (o)(o) /William D. Burns / InterNet: / ( _) / (906) 482-FIXX / WDBURNS@mtus5.cts.mtu.edu / | ,___| /____________________________/ Bitnet: / | / / Michigan Tech University WDBURNS%MTUS5.BITNET / / \ /____________________________________________________________/ /______\ Q: How many surrealistic painters does it take to screw in a light bulb? A: fish. ------ Posted using NetFeed, THE Macintosh <====> UseNet Interface Program ---- ------------------------------ Date: 22 Apr 91 15:53:58 GMT From: idacrd!mac@princeton.edu Subject: AO-21 Questions answered To: info-hams@ucsd.edu Hi: N2AAM has asked some questions. See this weeks AMSAT news for some details. The bottom line is that our Russian colleagues managed to set a relay in the wrong position. This has introduced a huge amount of attenuation in the command receiver. They COULD go and try to get the `commercial' payload controllers to submit a command that would go around it but this would involved great loss of face. This is the FIRST payload done COMPLETELY outside the military (DOSAAF) and we want it to be a big success. It was also the first done jointly with a group in the west (our friends in AMSAT-DL built RUDAK-II which I am looking forward to very much). The problems will get sorted out. We know that all of the hardware is functioning, we just have to get past this little startup headache, and away we go. What can I say? It is over a year and we haven't gotten DOVE to talk yet! Just remember, you are getting everything you are PAYING your staff to do (in case this subtlety is too much for you, NONE of AMSAT's engineers are paid, it is all volunteer in both AMSAT-NA with the Microsats and in AMSAT-DL RUDAK group). Bob . -- ____________________________________________________________________________ My opinions are my own no matter | Robert W. McGwier, N4HY who I work for! ;-) | CCR, AMSAT, etc. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ Date: 22 Apr 91 15:12:56 GMT From: sdd.hp.com!usc!snorkelwacker.mit.edu!bloom-beacon!eru!hagbard!sunic!mcsun!ukc!tcdcs!swift.cs.tcd.ie!ul.ie!tocherd@ucsd.edu Subject: BC779 front panel - thanks To: info-hams@ucsd.edu Thanks to all who replied to my request for info on repainting a panel on BC779 with stamped lettering. A number of people suggested filling the indentations after spraying with *unusual* substances eg White shoe stuff that nurses use. The most detailed method is included below and I'll give it a try and report back. Thanks again for the help David EI2AMB From: PJML@ibma.nerc-wallingford.ac.UK (Pete Lucas, NCS-TLC, Holbrook House, Swindon) Date: 15 Apr 91 09:25:56 GMT Sender: root@ucsd.Edu Organization: UCSD Usenet Gateway Lines: 56 David Tocher EI2AMB asks about respraying front panels with stamped lettering; here's what i have always done:- 1) Make sure panel is really clean; there may be remnants of paint in the depressions of the stamped lettering. Go round each letter with a needle to make sure there is nothing trapped. Even the slightest particle of dust will make a real mess of the final results. Scour the surface of the panel with any suitable household abrasive powder so as to remove any oxidisation. Make sure you remove any powder residue, thorough washing in clean water is the answer here. 2) De-grease the panel (using pure isopropyl alcohol). 3) Heat the panel. Use anything you have to hand (hair-dryer, heat shrink sleeve hot-air gun) as long as it wont create moisture; get the panel to about 40 centigrade (100 fahrenheit) and keep it at that temperature for several minutes - this is to ensure there is no moisture trapped in the surface indentations. 4) Spray on a VERY THIN layer of primer. If the panel is aluminium or alloy, use an etching primer. The panel should be heated before applying the primer - this helps the solvents 'flash off' and prevents any possibility of sags or runs. 5) Keep the panel warm for a few hours to let primer dry. Do not let the panel cool or moisture/condensation may form on the surface, leading to an unintentional 'wrinkle finish'. 6) Spray on a VERY THIN layer of paint - i usually use acrylic body-shop paint, purists may want to use cellulose. 7) Keep the panel WARM and DUST-FREE for at least a week to let the paint harden. Handling it before this period has elapsed is likely to result in 'fingerprint marks' which will ruin the gloss. 8) To replace 'whiteness' in the stamped lettering, i suggest using typists correction fluid, suitably thinned. This stuff will not attack the acrylic paint, since it uses different solvents. Any excess can be removed using a swab soaked in thinner. 9) When your panel is finished, leave it for a few days to harden, then spray with a thin film of clear lacquer; this will protect the lettering from staining, and add strength to the paint finish. I have restored dozens of radios using similar methods - even using 'kitchen table technology' gives perfectly acceptable results. A word of warning; the solvents used in paints have interesting biochemical properties if inhaled for prolonged periods. Make sure you have good ventilation to remove the fumes, unless you want to try some altered consciousness-states. Another word of warning - the Surgeon General has determined that dropping the front-panel of a RR690-D on your foot causes severe pain and the use of language that may be considered unsuitable for juveniles. Pete Lucas PJML@UK.AC.NWL.IA G6WBJ@GB7SDN.GBR.EU ------------------------------ Date: 21 Apr 91 16:46:12 GMT From: hpcc05!hpsciz!rkarlqu@hplabs.hpl.hp.com Subject: FM SCA Subcarrier Demodulation To: info-hams@ucsd.edu In rec.radio.amateur.misc, bill@thd.tv.tek.com (William K. McFadden) writes: > The SCA carrier is an FM signal (usually 67 kHz) that is added to the > audio of an FM radio station before it is fed to the transmitter. If > the station is stereo, there will also be a 19 kHz pilot tone and a 38 > kHz AM suppressed carrier signal that carries the stereo difference > information. All these signals plus the mono audio are mixed together > and fed to the FM transmitter. I believe that actually the SCA program material amplitude-modulates the 67 kHz. subcarrier rather than FM'ing it. Of course, the resulting AM signal then in turn frequency modulates the main carrier. BTW, does anyone know why they transmit a 19 kHz. pilot tone instead of a 38 kHz. pilot tone? Since 38 kHz. would be the "obvious" way to do it, there must be a reason for using 19 kHz., but I've need seen anything in print explaining why. Rick N6RK rkarlqu@scd.hp.com ------------------------------ Date: 23 Apr 91 05:04:33 GMT From: usc!snorkelwacker.mit.edu!stanford.edu!neon.Stanford.EDU!kaufman@ucsd.edu Subject: FM SCA Subcarrier Demodulation To: info-hams@ucsd.edu In article <21850007@hpsciz.sc.hp.com> rkarlqu@hpsciz.sc.hp.com (Rick Karlquist) writes: >In rec.radio.amateur.misc, bill@thd.tv.tek.com (William K. McFadden) writes: -> The SCA carrier is an FM signal (usually 67 kHz) that is added to the -> audio of an FM radio station before it is fed to the transmitter. If -> the station is stereo, there will also be a 19 kHz pilot tone and a 38 -> kHz AM suppressed carrier signal that carries the stereo difference -> information. All these signals plus the mono audio are mixed together -> and fed to the FM transmitter. >I believe that actually the SCA program material amplitude-modulates >the 67 kHz. subcarrier rather than FM'ing it. Of course, the resulting AM >signal then in turn frequency modulates the main carrier. No, the 67kHz (or other) carrier is Frequency modulated. Otherwise there would be a problem of mixing with the main program material due to non-linear amplitude response. >BTW, does anyone know why they transmit a 19 kHz. pilot tone instead of >a 38 kHz. pilot tone? Since 38 kHz. would be the "obvious" way to do it, >there must be a reason for using 19 kHz., but I've need seen anything in >print explaining why. A stereo FM signal is basically a Double Sideband Supressed Carrier signal, with the carrier at 38 KHz. One way to generate it is to switch between L and R with a sine-wave switching waveform at 38 KHz (which is how the "newer" exciters do it -- I say "newer" meaning anything after 1964, which tells you when I was first playing with L+R and L-R generation via transformer hybrids -- but I digress). The resultant signal has NO 38 KHz component, as this would correspond to a DC component in the difference channel. 19KHz is *outside* both the main channel passband (30Hz - 15KHz) and the difference channel passband (38 KHz +- 15KHz). On a good system, there is a notch filter on the program material to see that there is no program energy at 19KHz that would cause phase noise -- which in turn would show up as L-R movement (the sound would seem to move left and right from its nominal position). On our transmitter, the notch was 120db down. Marc Kaufman (kaufman@Neon.stanford.edu) ------------------------------ Date: 23 Apr 91 00:54:10 GMT From: agate!bionet!uwm.edu!caen!dali.cs.montana.edu!milton!whit@ucbvax.berkeley.edu Subject: help in looking up some chip functions To: info-hams@ucsd.edu In article <1991Apr20.043133.2010@world.std.com> digex@world.std.com (doug e humphrey) writes: >Here is a request for help; I have found a bunch of rails of *old* >chips kicking around. >SP 616 SP 659 >SP 620 SP 680 >SP 670 SP 663 >SP 677 SP 662 >MC 668 MC 672 >MC 665 MC 678 >MC 666 MC 679 I'm not certain about the 'SP'-prefix parts, but the others are a species of TTL called 'HNIL', for High Noise-Immunity Logic. They're intended for control circuitry in very (electrically) noisy environments, having 5V logic range; mainly these were superseded by the early CMOS. This sort of component is likely 20 years old, and they originally sold for circa $2 each. MC668 quad 2-input gate with pullup resistors MC672 quad 2-input gate with active pullup MC665 HNIL/saturated logic triple level translator MC678 Hex inverter (open collector) with strobe MC666 saturated/HNIL triple level translator MC679 dual lamp driver The 'SN2xxxx' part numbers are Texas Instruments numbers, but I don't recognize 'em. They aren't op amps, 'cuz op amps were numbered 'SN72xxx'. John Whitmore ------------------------------ Date: 23 Apr 91 01:05:32 GMT From: usc!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!think.com!paperboy!hsdndev!dartvax!eleazar.dartmouth.edu!darshan@ucsd.edu Subject: MALLORY CAPACITORS ("Twist locks") To: info-hams@ucsd.edu I have a McIntosh Preamp (the Model C22). It needs a new capacitor in the power supply. The capacitor specs are as follows: MALLORY Type FP (1 3/8" 'Twist Lock' with a height of 3") 20 mfd 350 wvdc 20 mfd 350 wvdc 40 mfd 200 wvdc 1000 mfd 25 wvdc For those familiar with the amp, it is capacitor C30. Would anyone know where I could find an exact replacement? If not, a 20/20/40 would be good because I could add a 1000 mfd cap additionally. I'd like to keep the amp as stock as possible. -darshan darshan@mac.dartmouth.edu ------------------------------ Date: 23 Apr 91 01:58:13 GMT From: news-mail-gateway@ucsd.edu Subject: POTENTIAL GEOMAGNETIC STORM WARNING UPDATE - 23 APRIL To: info-hams@ucsd.edu /\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\ SOLAR TERRESTRIAL BULLETIN 23 April, 1991 00:00 UT /\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\ Please note: The Potential Geomagnetic Induced Current (GIC) Warning has been replaced with a 'condition code' status, described as follows. This method will be employed in all future alerts and warnings. It applies to areas in the middle and high latitude regions, particularly within or near the auroral zone. Condition: GREEN - No GICs expected or possible. AMBER - No GICs observed, but a risk exists. Precautionary or preparatory actions warranted. RED - GICs possible or observed. POTENTIAL GEOMAGNETIC STORM WARNING UPDATE Potential GIC Status: AMBER. The following Warning remains IN EFFECT until 24:00 UT on 23 April: - POTENTIAL MINOR GEOMAGNETIC STORM WARNING. The following Warnings have been CANCELLED: - POTENTIAL LOW LATITUDE AURORAL ACTIVITY WARNING (cancelled). - POTENTIAL MAJOR SOLAR FLARE WARNING (cancelled). An interplanetary shock has so far, failed to arrive from the major X-class flare of 20 April. We are still within the window and may yet see some effects from this flare. However, as time passes, the probability for observing geomagnetic storming is decreasing. The Potential Geomagnetic Storm Warning will remain in effect until 24:00 UT on 23 April. There is still a good possibility for increased geomagnetic activity from the 20 April major flare. Geomagnetic activity is not expected to be as strong as was first predicted, because of the amount of time which is taking for the effects to reach the Earth. As a result, we have downscaled the potential geomagnetic activity prediction to generally Minor Storm conditions, if a flare shock arrives. Geomagnetic activity likely will not reach major storm levels, and may in fact only reach low-intensity minor storming. The predicted planetary A-index for 23 April is 30. High latitudes could surpass A-indices of 40 if a shock arrives. Low latitude auroral activity will likely not be observable. Lunar phase will begin hampering attempts to view auroral activity now, as well. However, northerly middle and high latitudes could still witness moderate to high levels of auroral activity if any flare effects arrive. HF propagation conditions could still see some moderate levels of degradation, but conditions are no longer expected to be as poor as was first predicted. A risk still exists for VHF auroral backscatter communications, particularly over the northerly middle and high latitudes, provided geomagnetic activity increases over the next 24 hours. If a shock fails to arrive within the next 18 to 24 hours, geomagnetic and auroral activity will likely remain generally dormant. ** End of Bulletin ** ------------------------------ Date: 22 Apr 91 22:59:10 GMT From: tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!n8emr!gws@ucbvax.berkeley.edu Subject: RTTY DX Notes 4/19/91 To: info-hams@ucsd.edu ============================================================== | Relayed from packet radio via | | N8EMR's Ham BBS, 614-895-2553 | ============================================================== SB RTTYDX @ ALLBBS $KT7H109 RTTY DX Notes 1of3 4/19/91 RTTY DX Notes for week ending 19th April 1991 BID: $KT7H109 Part 1 of 3. This weekend is the AMTOR DX Contest. We expect lots of AMTOR on the various bands and we wish everyone lots of contacts. Don't forget. Call FEC, but pass information on ARQ, otherwise disqualification will result. We hope to see some of you in there. Our thanks this week go to DJ3IW and the DB0SPC cluster, DK3CU, I5FLN, JA1RVN, K4FJ, NT3B, and TG9VT. Thank you all for your information and help. Bandpass: Friday 12: UH2E/UA9TZ 14092 at 0025Z V34KW 14086 at 0158Z UW0FZ 21093 at 0257Z QSL R7BG 14087 at 1535Z QSL BV4VB 21088 at 1547Z J39BS 21085 at 2208Z 5B4ABU 21087 at 2217Z R4CG 14083 at 2257Z QSL/Note 9Y4GU 21085 at 2310Z Saturday 13: 5T5WB 14089 at 0206Z UQ2GC 14088 at 0340Z QSL 5Z4BI 14092 at 0345Z J39BS 21087 at 0403Z BY1QU 21082 at 1248Z VP8AWU 28084 at 1256Z QSL BV7WB 21078 at 1708Z 5W1KM 21091 at 1939Z Sunday 14: RB5IO 14085 at 0005Z TU2BB 14086 at 0012Z ARQ 9X5LJ 14076 at 0048Z ARQ R4CG 14081 at 0055Z 7X2DS 14084 at 0124Z RC2AZ 14088 at 0129Z UH2E/UA9TZ 21088 at 0143Z VP8AWU 28093 at 1355Z A41KC 21073 at 1400Z KE0YG/TF 28093 at 1455Z ZD8VJ 28083 at 1800Z 9Y4VU 21084 at 2000Z TJ1MR 14089 at 2318Z QSL Continued in part 2. /EX SB RTTYDX @ ALLBBS $KT7H110 RTTY DX Notes 2of3 4/19/91 RTTY DX Notes for week ending 19th April 1991 BID: $KT7H110 Part 2 of 3. Monday 15: VP8AWU 14088 at 0032Z RA9YD 21071 at 0105Z ARQ 9K2DZ 14077 at 0339Z ARQ HK3CAA/HR1 14075 at 0410Z ARQ R4CG 14089 at 0558Z FW0BX 14082 at 1200Z TY2OP 21084 at 1730Z QSL/Note RI8BP 14085 at 2045Z UH8EA 14087 at 2334Z QSL Tuesday 16: 7X2DS 14087 at 0001Z VP8CGN 21090 at 0040Z UH2E/UA9TZ 14088 at 0207Z VQ9TB 14091 at 0225Z UQ2GC 14085 at 0258Z 9K2DZ 14076 at 0400Z ARQ KP2N 14087 at 0950Z HB0/HB9AZX 21089 at 1729Z 9H1ED 21087 at 0950Z Wednesday 17: 9K2DZ 14077 at 0115Z ARQ UT7LR 14089 at 0332Z UY5YB 14086 at 0423Z VK9NS 14087 at 0545Z Note 9H1ED 21091 at 2259Z TU2BB 21076 at 2308Z Thursday 18: 9K2DZ 14077 at 0030Z ARQ UT5RP 14074 at 0136Z ARQ WP4IIW 14087 at 0320Z 6Y5YZ 14080 at 0330Z YB0QC 21088 at 1316Z QSL Information: UW0FZ says to send his cards to Box 140, Sakhalinskh City, Sakhal Island 693000, USSR. R4CG QSLs go to Box 1234, Saratov 410048, USSR. R7BG collects his cards from UL8BG. UQ2GC has Box 44, Riga 226029, Latvia, USSR as his QSL address. VP8AWU says his QTH is OK in the 1991 Callbook. TJ1MR says to QSL via F6FNU. TY2OP cards go to TU2OP until 15th May. After that see notes of interest. UH8EA cards go to Box 12, Tbilisi 380008, USSR. Continued in part 3. /EX SB RTTYDX @ ALLBBS $KT7H111 RTTY DX Notes 3of3 4/19/91 RTTY DX Notes for week ending 19th April 1991 BID: $KT7H111 Part 3 of 3. Notes of Interest: R4CG is a special call for an expedition to the landing place of Yuri Gagarin, the first USSR astronaut. Kirsti and Jim Smith (VK9NS) will be in Bhutan from 1st May until either the 15th or 22nd of May, after which Kirsti will go home. Jim will go back to Bangladesh, and as he knows the people there now, he hopes to set up another operation with the 100 KG of gear that he has forwarded to Bhutan. This time he hopes to operate all modes. Keep your fingers crossed. Jim also states that he has in mind another trip to Heard Island. Exact dates are not known at this time, but expenses will be high and may need some rethinking. But more info later. Regarding last weeks information on the FS (St Martin) operation, it appears that another Japanese group will be there at the same time, so the JH4IFF group may go to VP2E or PJ and operate from either place if the QRM is too bad . It remains to be seen how much QRM there is. TY2OP is visiting Benin at this time. His home call is TU2OP, but after 15th May he hopes to take up permanent residence in Benin. So after the 15th of May his QSL address will be Box 06-2253, Cotonou, Benin, which is also the address of TY1PU. Do not put any callsigns on the envelope. DJ6SI (Baldur) is going to Mt Athos, but he regrets that he will not have any RTTY gear. GL DE DX1. This bulletin is the packet edition of the RTTY DX Notes written by VK2SG, and is edited and relayed by Tad, KT7H @ N7DUO.WA.USA.NA. Send RTTY DX news to VK2SG @ VK2AGE.AUS.AU. /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 614-895-2553 Voice: 614-895-2552 (eves/weekends) ------------------------------ Date: 22 Apr 91 20:45:02 GMT From: ssc-vax!carroll@beaver.cs.washington.edu Subject: What's the Law on Cellular Listening? To: info-hams@ucsd.edu In article <1991Apr21.232447.7230@ux1.cso.uiuc.edu> trd10523@uxa.cso.uiuc.edu (Die Hard Cub Fan) writes: >ptc@b15.b15.ingr.com (Paul Carter) writes: > >>I've told my girlfriend who is a lawyer (yes, I know..I've told her >>all the lawyer jokes out of rec.humor) about reading on the bulletin >>board that it is illegal to listen in on cellular phone conversations. >>She, and some of the members of her firm, have argued this. She is >>telling me that nothing broadcast in the airwaves is confidential. I, >>trusting the wisdom of the net, have gone out on a limb and wagered >>her a candlelight dinner (among other things) that there is a law >>somewhere on the books that says it is illegal. Can anyone post the >>exact law which states this? Is it an FCC regulation? >>Paul > >The Electronic Communications Privacy Act (aka ECPA) of 1986 states that it >is illegal to monitor cellular phone conversations, as well as scrambled >transmissions and a few other things. This is a FAQ in this group as well as comp.dcom.telecom, and there is a low-level difference of opinion (as opposed to full-scale flame war) as to just what the ECPA says. As the person who started the last incarnation of this thread by shooting from the hip about ECPA, I'll simply point out that there are well-informed people on both sides of the question, and observe that the majority opinion seems to be that ECPA does *not* prohibit eavesdropping on cellular conversations (or wireless phones, or walkie-talkies, ...) as long as one does not disclose or publish the contents of such conversations to third parties. This time I'll withhold comment on whether this is an unreasonable restriction of civil rights :^) -- Jeff Carroll carroll@ssc-vax.boeing.com "Do you think I care? ... I have an infinite amount of money." -Bill Gates ------------------------------ Date: 22 Apr 91 20:07:10 GMT From: ucselx!bionet!apple!autodesk!abeals@ucsd.edu Subject: who uses 6m these days? To: info-hams@ucsd.edu Who uses the 6m portion of the ham bands anymore? I see that we still have the allocation but I never read about anyone actually using them. Radios are somewhat available - perhaps more than one can buy for the 1.2GHz part of our spectrum. -- Andrew Scott Beals KC6SSS internet: abeals@autodesk.com amateur ax25: kc6sss@w6pw.#nocal.ca.usa.na Marboro: War Ich Rindveh bin. ------------------------------ Date: 23 Apr 91 03:26:07 GMT From: brian@ucsd.edu Subject: who uses 6m these days? To: info-hams@ucsd.edu In SoCal, there is quite a bit of SSB dx'ing on the low end, there are 8 packet channels, about a dozen or so repeaters, and some miscellaneous services around the top end. Of course there are some model control enthusiasts as well. It's nowhere near as crowded as 2m, 220, and 450, but it's certainly not empty. - Brian ------------------------------ End of Info-Hams Digest ******************************