--------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 188 HAM TECH Ref: EFZ00003 Date: 11/29/97 From: ROB DENNIS Time: 11:06pm \/To: IVY IVERSON (Read 2 times) Subj: In Attic Dipole In a msg of <24 Nov 97>, Ivy Iverson writes to Ed Kriston: II> | |~~~| |~~~| |~~~~|| This is a variation of an idea I read II> | ______| | | | | || about some time ago - a Ham hid a ipole II> | | \ |___| |___| || under his wooden deck, and it worked II> | |_____ \ || well for him. Only in this case you II> | | \ ____|| would be using a G5RV instead of a II> | _____| To xcvr | | plain dipole. You will have to II> | | |____| experiment, (or do some math), to II> | |____ 20 X 20 | determine just how big to make the II> | | attic | zig-zags so that it comes out roughly s II> | _____| ___ | I have drawn it here. You might even II> | | | | | mount it on the underside of the roof. II> | |________| | | II> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Ivy this was one of my more bizarre attempts to hide an HF dipole outside. The idea was use a scrap PL-259 female connector with 70 foot `legs' of wire from the live (centre pin) and the ground (mounting hole) of the connector. The 70 feet lengths of wire were tacked in a zig-zag pattern along the support beams under the deck about 2 to 3 feet off the ground. Recieve was great on 160 to 20m but when it came to transmit it was a bit of a bear to get it to tune on 80m where I had orginally intended it to be used. I eventually did get it to resonate on 3.700 where I wanted it,but when the deck was covered in snow the tuning went nuts as water dripped down thru the deck cracks and froze on the wires. Great for the summer and fall but useless unless the deck had a sheet of frozen snow on top of it first to `seal' it from dripping water. Or you had a deck with no gaps in the deck planking. This same idea can be used in an attic but tack the zig-zag `legs' to the truss beams in the roof with the PL connector hanging at the centre of the roof peak. Centre line of roof /---\ /---\ | --\ /---\ /---\ | | | | | / | | | | | | | | | /--- PL--- | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | \--- / | | | | | | | \---/ \---/ \---/ Wires would be tacked along the roof truss supports with the feed point in the centre of the roofline in the middle of the attic. Compacts the dipole into a small space,but the tuning may suffer some from the folding of the `legs' so may have some fun getting it to tune-up. --- GoldED 2.42.G1219 * Origin: VE3SJN....Moderator....HAM_TECH (1:163/506.4) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 188 HAM TECH Ref: EFZ00004 Date: 11/29/97 From: ROB DENNIS Time: 11:35pm \/To: BILL DOBIESZ (Read 2 times) Subj: Trick-or-NOT... Bill either you entered this in the wrong area on your system or your sysop has a problem with his message areas. This is -NOT- the comedy echo,this is HAM_TECH. Please check next time you post a message where you are posting it too. In a msg of <27 Nov 97>, Bill Dobiesz writes to Moderator-Funny: -=>> Quoting Moderator-funny to Charles Dangler <=- Mo>> Why do Polish Woman spend so much time in the beauty parlor? Mo>> It takes four hours just to get an estimate. Mo>> BD> If you can dish it out, obviously you can take it as well... BD> What do you call a Jewish woman's waterbed? BD> The Dead Sea BD> BD> Huggy Bear A.K.A. Super Polak BD> "POLISH AND PROUD!!" BD> ... A joyful heart is good medicine. - Proverbs 17:22a BD> ___ Blue Wave/QWK v2.12 BD> -+- Renegade v5-11 Exp BD> + Origin: The Bearsville BBS * Warren, MI * (810) 582-9429 (1:120/650) --- GoldED 2.42.G1219 * Origin: VE3SJN....Moderator....HAM_TECH (1:163/506.4) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 188 HAM TECH Ref: EG100000 Date: 11/29/97 From: HENRY EDGINTON Time: 03:13am \/To: RALPH MOWERY (Read 2 times) Subj: Ceramic Tubes >Sounds like you are trying to use one of the am6154 ITT amps ? Am6155,Same thing...I see ya can replace the 8930 with 4cx400a & gain an extra 100 watts & run alot cleaner...The mods are on the svetlana site... RM> If so, expect about 50 watts out continious, but for short RM> duty it will do around 400 watts on ssb or cw. I have been RM> using one for several years on ssb around 400 watts or beter RM> out on 2 meters. Had one on 432 but it never did seem just RM> right and I got rid of it because I wanted to work the RM> satalites around 435 and the weak signal stuff at 432.1. RM> Just too much tuning for that. I found all the data sheets on the eimac site so have some clue now.I would expect alot more then 50 watts am from it as a freind of mine gets 300 am out of a pair of 4cx250b's.Also the fact that ive butchered the uneffeciant cavity & replaced it with high effecientcy plate line.Before that all i could get was 40 watts carrier but have a few minor things to do yet before firing it up & seeing what i get out of it.Alot of work though,man.Better than building from scratch though esp seeing as i only paid $180 can. with a spare good tube & already has the switching relays intact.Thanks for the info. Greetings from (ve3umk@niagara.com) --- GEcho 1.11+ * Origin: Fort Erie,Ont.Can. (1:247/500.5) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 188 HAM TECH Ref: EG100001 Date: 11/30/97 From: DAVID BILLSBROUGH Time: 10:14am \/To: IVY IVERSON (Read 2 times) Subj: Sat tracking info? Ivy Iverson wrote: II> I recently acquired STSPLUS, which tracks the "birds," but I need > launch data for the OSCARs and Sputnik Jr. I can track any one ndividual > bird, but I get a number of others which I have no interest in. I elieve > I need a block of data which looks similar to the following: II> 19883,"TDRE ", 0.21696, -42.32385,10010 > 21639,"TDRW ", 0.00762,-170.75246,10010 > 23613,"TDR6 ", -0.07086,-159.36715,10002 Hello Ivy, I have used STSPLUS to check it out. The program lets you configure what 'birds' you want to track. You can setup 32 satellites per config file (*.SCF) and as many files as disk space allows. Press 'F6' from the main menu and then 'F1' to edit the list. Mine looks something like this: TDRS and Real Time Satellite Setup, SCF file: PACSAT.SCF Sat# NORAD# Abbr Mode Color Size Label Vis Color Chart 1 19883 TDRE Static 10  3 ON 1 = 2 21639 TDRW Static 10  3 ON 2 = 3 20440 DO-17 Primary 12  ON OFF 3 = 4 20439 AO-16 Real Time 12  ON OFF 4 = 5 20441 WO-18 Real Time 12  ON OFF 5 = 6 20442 LO-19 Real Time 12  ON OFF 6 = 7 20480 FO-20 Real Time 12  ON OFF 7 = 8 21087 AO-21 Real Time 12  ON OFF 8 = 9 22826 IO-26 Real Time 12  ON OFF 9 = 10 14781 UO-11 Real Time 14  ON OFF 10 = 11 0 (not used) 11 = 12 0 (not used) 12 = 13 20580 HST Real Time 14  ON OFF 13 = 14 0 (not used) 14 = 15 16609 MIR Real Time 12  ON OFF 15 = 16 0 (not used) Enter Satellite # to edit or press ENTER when done: (The maximum Satellite # available is 32) You will need to know the the Norad number which is also listed in the Keps data. AO-16 1 20439U 90005D 97330.16187085 .00000045 00000-0 34262-4 0 01149 2 20439 098.5288 051.5448 0012270 091.1024 269.1573 14.30028916409387 DO-17 1 20440U 90005E 97330.20154784 .00000046 00000-0 34523-4 0 01103 2 20440 098.5330 052.5586 0012194 089.8020 270.4566 14.30172400409426 WO-18 1 20441U 90005F 97330.13320526 .00000045 00000-0 34036-4 0 01259 2 20441 098.5307 052.3702 0012711 090.5361 269.7279 14.30138573409415 The program will auto-update its config files from the TLE format. 73, // David // * SLMR 2.1a #869 * Success is just the old ABCs ... Ability Breaks Courage. --- PCBoard (R) v15.23/M 2 * Origin: LASER! - ORLANDO FL -(407) 647-0031 (1:363/225) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 188 HAM TECH Ref: EG100002 Date: 11/17/97 From: RAY BROWN KB0STN Time: 09:31pm \/To: ROB DENNIS (Read 2 times) Subj: > Thanks Roy. > I saw a program similiar to this a few months back but it > had a bug in it and > crashed as soon as you entered your frequency limits. > And when it did you had to do hard re-boot to get out of > the crash. Beats me. Just tried it with several sets of data (30-50, 50-54, 50-144, 50-450) and they all worked okay on my QBasic here with MS-DOS 5.0. :-) _Ray_ --- Squish v1.11 * Origin: Deep Space 417 - Exploring The Final Frontier... (1:286/1701) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 188 HAM TECH Ref: EG100003 Date: 11/24/97 From: LUC DE BISSCHOP Time: 09:01pm \/To: SHANE DAY (Read 2 times) Subj: Looking to buy Hi Shane, 17-Nov-97 23:32:14, Shane Day wrote to All Subject: Looking to buy SD> Hey there, I'm looking to but a Short-Wave radio but don't know SD> where to start I was wondering if someone could maybe help me. I have two oldfashion shortwave receivers. One BC-348 (!) and a kenwood -300. Both receivers are not from the youngest, butt they are working well and are stable enough to receive and decode RTTY signals. The biggest problem with this radios is that they are not equipped with a digital display. I build such a display for both receivers. In fact, it is one display, butt it can be switched from one radio to the other. This is a good alternative if you don't want to spend a lot of money for a shortwave receiver. Good receivers are very expensive. Prices are from 600$ to 2000$ and more...!! Luke... Yours sincerely Luc De Bisschop Fidonet : 2:291/1102.24 Internet : Luc_De_Bisschop@p24.f1102.n291.z2.fidonet.org -=> Yours sincerely, Luc De Bisschop <=- --- Terminate 5.00/Pro * Origin: Terminate point system, the easiest in the world! (2:291/1102.24) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 188 HAM TECH Ref: EG100004 Date: 11/30/97 From: BRUCE LEGRANDE Time: 11:58am \/To: IVY IVERSON (Read 2 times) Subj: Sat tracking info? Ivy Iverson wrote in a message to All: II> I have a bit of a problem that I hope someone here can solve. II> I recently acquired STSPLUS, which tracks the "birds," but I need II> launch data for the OSCARs and Sputnik Jr. I can track any one Hi Ivy, Just out of curiousity, are you getting the SB-SAT_TRACK echo ? I think I saw the keps for Sput-40 listed there and the full list of all sats flying is posted on pretty regular basis. If you haven't been carrying it there, you might get all the info you need by doing a %RESCAN of the echo from your feed. The other course might be to drop a line to Hugh Gregory (the moderator of the SpaceBase echos). He has been REALLY helpful to me in the past in locating data for the various HAM and TVROsats. I believe you can also get all the ELsets you might need (and then some!) from T.Kelso's web site. Don't have the URL handy at this momment, but a search for that name SHOULD bring it up. Also, Robert Smathers (the author of the South Sky Satellite Scanner Chart) has a LOT of sat-data available on his web site at: http://www.nmia.com/~roberts And I think I remember seeing a link there to the 'T.S.Kelso' page. http://www.grove.net/~tkelso (I looked and found it :) I don't remember whether or not you have inet access, but if'n you don't, let me know and I'll see what I can get for you. RE STSPLUS: I'm not sure about the version you have, but the one I have here for d/l, has a special menu selection for adding up to 32 (i think) birds in addition to the main target vehicle. Once you select the ones you want to track (by the Norad #), this function will pull all the information needed from the latest ELset (TLE) file. Then just be sure that you use the 'update' (&) function and the index file you mentioned in your post will be created for you. At that point I guess you could manually edit that file to add/minus sats, but why ?! the program will do that for you, as long as you know the Norad# and THAT sat is in your TLE file. Hope this has helped, and that I haven't gone over ALL old ground :) BTW: You can get the full ELsat TLE listing from 1:153/719 with the magicname "TLE-SAT", Or from 1:249/112 as "SATDAT.ZIP". Sincerely, Bruce - kb6lwn@juno.com - ck@saber.net --- WtrGate v0.93 Unreg * Origin: GreenTree Ground Station * CM88ps * 707-987-ISDN (1:2003/1) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 188 HAM TECH Ref: EG300000 Date: 12/03/97 From: ROB DENNIS Time: 04:15pm \/To: ALL (Read 1 times) Subj: Hidden HF Dipole Original article from: Rob Dennis Reposted by Moderator HAM_TECH,for use of the FIDO HAM_TECH echo. THIS POST/SERIES NOT TO BE USED IN ANY CDROM COMPILATIONS FOR COMMERCIAL SALE WITHOUT EXPRESS WRITTEN PERMISSION OF ORIGINAL AUTHOR(S) OF THIS POST. ALL AND ANY COPYRIGHTS RETAINED BY AUTHOR(S). HIDDEN HF DIPOLE UNDER THE DECK: While looking for a way to have an antenna for packet/FM that was NOT on my tower,I found a nice place to put it (other than hanging from the ceiling). There was just enough space under my deck out back to hide a RS discone. While under the deck,and looking at all those nice wooden beams,I wondered how hard it would be to hide a folded HF dipole there. This could be done in as little as 12 inches of clearance between the deck and the ground or as much as 2 feet like I had to play with. Parts : 1 50 foot roll of "zip-cord" speaker or lamp wire. A foot or two of scrap insulated wire. Garbage bag twist ties.(the ones everyone hoards in the garage) Some 1 inch finishing nails. A chassis PL-259 connector.(the square ones with screw holes in) Length of co-ax long enough to reach to the rig. Method: Unroll the zip-cord off the reel,then split it down the middle. You now have 2, 50 foot lengths to play with. Strip the scrap wire insulation in half inch bits. Slip the bits of insulation onto the finishing nails. Strip one end of each 50 foot piece of wire,and solder one wire to the enter of the chassis PL-259 and the other 50 foot wire thru a screw hole. Under the deck,put the nails in the beams so that the wires will look like a pair of "S" curves. =========X X========= | | |========= =========| | | =========| |========= The PL-259 should be at the "X". The "S" can also be `head-to-head' as well,just depends on the space you ave to play with under the deck.(like |-X X-| ) The "S" could also have more than one "S" curve per leg. The nails go in each corner of the "S" to support the wire. Use the twist-ties to hold the wire onto the nails on top of the insulation to keep the wire away from the wood. Run some co-ax to it,tune-up,and away you go. May not work on 80 meters,but should do for 40 and up. ... "If they say it CAN'T be done ,prove them WRONG and do it"de VE3SJN ___ Blue Wave/QWK v2.11 -!- Maximus 2.02 ! Origin: Ready & Determined (1:163/506) --- GoldED 2.42.G1219 * Origin: VE3SJN....Moderator....HAM_TECH (1:163/506.4) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 188 HAM TECH Ref: EG300001 Date: 12/02/97 From: SHANE DAY Time: 07:30pm \/To: LUC DE BISSCHOP (Read 1 times) Subj: Re: Looking to buy LDB> This is a good alternative if you don't want to spend a lot of money LDB> for a shortwave receiver. Good receivers are very expensive. Prices are LDB> from 600$ to 2000$ and more...!! Thanks for Replying Luke, do you know what these systems are worth to buy or where I could find them? - Shane Day kevla@hotmail.com shane_day_97@yahoo.com ... There's no such thing as non-prophet religion! --- Blue Wave v2.12 * Origin: BitByters BBS, Rockland ON, Can. (613)446-7773 v34, (1:163/215) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 188 HAM TECH Ref: EG300002 Date: 12/01/97 From: CO-MODERATOR HAM_TECH Time: 02:45am \/To: ALL (Read 1 times) Subj: Bi-Weekly Rules Posting ECHO RULES: 1) Keep it technical, Amateur Radio orientated. 2) Keep it clean. No flames, cussing, racial remarks, etc. 3) Modifications that allow Amateur Radios to transmit out of band are allowed and can be posted on the echo if they meet the following: o No TX Amateur to CB band Modifications. o No TX Amateur to Cellular Phone Band Modifications. o No TX Amateur to Military Air (not MARS/CAP) VHF/UHF Modifications. o ALL Amateur call signs must be included; to and from. o NO 'TO ALL' OOB TX MODS!!!! ****************************************************** * THERE WILL BE NO WARNINGS FOR MILITARY AIR * * VHF/UHF TX MODS. YOU WILL BE GONE! * * NO EXCEPTIONS! * ****************************************************** It is suggested that if you and the receiving party have netmail, send the actual modification netmail. IF not, you may post it on HAM_TECH provided you add this simple statement / warning along with your call signs: "This modification will allow the transceiver to transmit out of the legal Amateur Radio frequency bands. It is your responsibility concerning the operation of the transceiver on frequency bands outside your legal Amateur Radio Bands." I will see MARS/CAP call signs included for MARS/CAP mods. 4) No Citizen's Band (CB) radio discussions except conversions to Amateur Radio. 5) For sale items belong on for sale echos. Remember: 'ON TOPIC' is anything inside the realm of the rules. NO 'TO ALL' OOB TX MODIFICATIONS!!! Moderator: Rob Dennis, 1:163/506.4 Internet: ve3sjn@igs.net Assistant Moderator: Jeff Edmonson, 1:387/510 ka5thb@bigfoot.com --- FMail 1.02 * Origin: Electronic Avenue-San Antonio,TX 210.533.5668 (1:387/510)