--------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 135 AMATEUR RADIO Ref: F1C00008 Date: 01/07/98 From: DAVID LOFTIS Time: 07:29pm \/To: HEDLEY HUNNISETT (Read 2 times) Subj: Re: Upgrade That was a rude comment i hope i never have the misfortune of meeting you on the air. --- WM v3.10/92-0423 * Origin: Blackbeard's Tavern 803-294-9657 Greenville,SC (1:3639/3) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 135 AMATEUR RADIO Ref: F1D00000 Date: 01/06/98 From: JOHN STANLEY Time: 11:20pm \/To: ALL (Read 2 times) Subj: Kenwood TS-50 Mod Greetings All! If it would be possible for someone to forward this message privately to PA0FRI or to give me possibly an Email address for him then it would be much appreciated. :) I read the modification on page 61 in the June 1997 Radio Communication magazine not so long back and came across the speech clipper circuit for the Kenwood TS-50 transceiver. I would like to say thankyou to Frits personally for this little bit of information as it has done my radio proud. I have found that I have gained a very detectable amount of audio quality since fitting this circuit and have found the spatter caused by loud modulation has been reduced by at least 60% compared to prior checks. I now use the Kenwood MC-60a on my TS-50s and get BBC quality even on a 1 to 3db signal. So again I thank Frits for this and f anyone has a TS-50 and hasn't seen this modification then let me know via Email and I'll sort out a copy of the installation for you. If anyone has any other modifications that will improve the performance of the TS-50 transceiver, then drop me a private message with the info. 73. John. All the best for 1998 to ALL! Have a nice day, All! _ _ O-@=@-Q John Stanley - Whitley Bay, Tuesday, 6 January 1998 at 23:20. | ^ | _FidoNet_ : 2:256/527.4 \ = / *UniNet* : 160:360/5.4 """ /InterNet/ : John.Stanley@RockBBS.Demon.Co.UK .!. 4 food groups: fast, frozen, microwaved, and junk. --- Terminate 5.00/Pro was here. * Origin: The PC Clinic. PC Doctors who know how to operate!!! 2:256/527.4) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 135 AMATEUR RADIO Ref: F1D00001 Date: 01/07/98 From: DAVID PRATT Time: 09:26pm \/To: JOHN STANLEY (Read 2 times) Subj: MORSE...DELETED??? -=> Quoting John Stanley to All <=- JS> Special message for All! ;-) JS> I was informed yesterday that they abolished morse on New Years eve in JS> certain area's. Does this mean that the morse side of the RAE will JS> also be removed, and if so, when? Oh, I doubt it, John. Morse is an excellent mode to use when all else fails and perhaps the only way to identify yourself if your modulation fails. Morse requires the simplest of equipment and is often the only mode that will get through under adverse conditions on the h.f. bands. JS> I heard on the HAM grape vine that it was in two years but with this JS> sudden abolishment of other bands using morse, with this waiting period JS> be reduced? JS> The only thing really stopping me going HF is the morse, so any info JS> would be well appreciated. Don't let it stop you, John. Once you learn it you will not regret it. It is like being able to speak another language and it will be with you for life. There's no skill in just talking into a microphone. The Morse test in the UK is only 12 wpm. In the US it is 13 wpm for General Advance Class and 20 wpm for Extra Class. 73 David ... If it's its it's its; if it's it is it's it's. ___ Blue Wave/DOS v2.30 --- FLAME v1.1 * Origin: SpeedMail TBBS, Leeds UK * +44 (0)113 232 0351 * V.34+ (2:250/355) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 135 AMATEUR RADIO Ref: F1D00002 Date: 01/07/98 From: DAVID PRATT Time: 09:35pm \/To: CLIFF BERRY (Read 2 times) Subj: MORSE...DELETED??? -=> Quoting Cliff Berry to John Stanley <=- CB> I could kick myself, though, 'cos I passed the damn morse test years CB> ago and never used it. Now I want it, I can't even remember half the CB> code. Still, it may come back with a bit (lot?) of practice. Cliff - If you still have your pass slip it will be acceptable now. At one time the Morse test was only valid for a qualification for 12 months, but that was changed. So an RAE and Morse test pass at any time will get you a Class A. David ... G4DMP - A sign of Amateur Radio - the world's finest hobby ___ Blue Wave/DOS v2.30 --- FLAME v1.1 * Origin: SpeedMail TBBS, Leeds UK * +44 (0)113 232 0351 * V.34+ (2:250/355) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 135 AMATEUR RADIO Ref: F1D00003 Date: 01/07/98 From: DAVID PRATT Time: 09:38pm \/To: NATHAN BOLLINGER (Read 2 times) Subj: RS RADIO-CONTROLLED CLOCK -=> Quoting Nathan Bollinger to All <=- NB> For Christmas, my wife bought me a Radio Shack "super accurate NB> auto-set digital clock" (cat. # 63-970) that sets itself to the NIST NB> time broadcasts. I was wondering what frequency it actually uses. I NB> know WWV broadcasts on 5, 10, 15, and 20 MHz, and WWVB transmits on 60 NB> KHz. Judging from the fact that it uses a ferrite rod antenna, and that < etc > I expect your clock will use the WWVB 60kHz transmission, Nathan. In the UK e have MSF at Rugby who transmit a frequency and time standard on 60kHz, and there is DCF77 in Germany on 77.5kHz. All the the radio controlled clocks nd watches in the UK use one of those transmissions. 73 David ... G4DMP - A sign of Amateur Radio - the world's finest hobby ___ Blue Wave/DOS v2.30 --- FLAME v1.1 * Origin: SpeedMail TBBS, Leeds UK * +44 (0)113 232 0351 * V.34+ (2:250/355) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 135 AMATEUR RADIO Ref: F1D00004 Date: 01/08/98 From: BILL RISTER Time: 05:31am \/To: JEFF EDMONSON (Read 2 times) Subj: mail On 01-06-98 Jeff Edmonson wrote to Bill Rister... JE> > JM> Think about linking san antone hams and hou hams??? JE> JE> BR> I thought that was what the Texas Ham echo was JE> BR> supposed to do. Didn't S.A. get linked? JE> JE> I've not heard about it. Who's the distributor of it? I'm at a loss for an answer. Perhaps John knows.. in the meantime I'll post to the Texas Ham echo and see if we can get someone to contact you. ___ * OFFLINE 1.56 --- Maximus/2 3.01 * Origin: The Politically Incorrect! [OS/2, V34+] (1:106/1010) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 135 AMATEUR RADIO Ref: F1D00005 Date: 01/08/98 From: BILL RISTER Time: 05:35am \/To: NIKKO KVASNICKA (Read 2 times) Subj: Diodes On 01-07-98 Nikko Kvasnicka wrote to All... NK> I saw an Ad in an electronic mag. about a Dark Emitting Diode. NK> It says it's useful for Ham,CB,Amat.Radio Operators??? Can NK> somebody tell me what how this Diode works? dose it absorb NK> light or emit something dark? Interesting... I always thought those were just "burned out." Looks like something Darth Vador would be interested in! Seriously, I seem to recall seeing or hearing the term but have no idea what a Dark Emitting Diode is. Hopefully someone will enlighten us all. 73, Bill ___ * OFFLINE 1.56 --- Maximus/2 3.01 * Origin: The Politically Incorrect! [OS/2, V34+] (1:106/1010) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 135 AMATEUR RADIO Ref: F1D00006 Date: 01/06/98 From: TREVOR BATES Time: 06:07pm \/To: ALL (Read 2 times) Subj: RSGB & "OTHER" NEWS... Happy New Year. It's Sunday the 4th of January [1998] and here is the GB2RS news broadcast, prepared by the RSGB and intended for all radio amateurs and short-wave listeners. We start GB2RS for 1998 with some good news for short wave listeners. The CQ 160 contest, which takes place during the last full weekend in January - the 23rd to the 25th - will this year have an SWL section. The organisers have agreed that RadCom. columnist Bob Treacher, BRS 32525, should adjudicate the listener sections. In view of this, entries can be sent to Bob rather than being posted to the USA. The SSB section of the contest takes place from 27 February until the 1st of March and, again, there will be an SWL section. Full rules of the SSB section will appear in the February RadCom.. Alternatively, you can send an SASE to Bob Treacher whose address is 93 Elibank Road, Eltham, London SE9 1QJ. ************************************************************ DX News: From the Netherland Antilles, John, W1BIH, will be active as PJ9JT from the 10th of January until the 31st of March, CW on all bands. And from Aruba, Martin, VE3MR, will be active as P40MR until the 30th of April. These DX news items came from the weekly RSGB DX News Sheet, edited by Chris Page, G4BUE. ************************************************************ Contest News: This weekend, the 3rd and 4th of January, the ARRL 'RTTY Round-up' is taking place from 1800 yesterday to midnight tonight. A session of the RSGB LF Cumulative Contest takes place today, Sunday the 4th of January, on 80 metres from 1600 to 1800 UTC, on CW only. And on VHF, the 144MHz CW contest takes place today the 4th of January from 1000 to 1600 UTC. Also today, the 4th, the UK 6 metre Group Winter Contest takes place from 1200 to 1800 UTC on all modes. The full rules of all RSGB contests may be found in the September 1997 RadCom. ************************************************************ Satellite Information: The RS-15 satellite uses a 2-metre uplink and a 10-metre downlink. To hear it, listen for the CW beacon on 29.353MHz; then listen for users between 29.357 and 29.397MHz. To make contacts you need to transmit CW or upper side band between 145.857 and 145.897MHz. The satellite can be heard this evening, the 4th of January, between 1856 and 1912UTC. Beams should point northwest at the start of the pass, traversing anti-clockwise to end up west-south-southwest at the time of loss of signal. This pass gives visibility into all of the US and Canada early on, with coverage of West Africa and Brazil towards the end. Europe should also be workable throughout the pass. Another pass occurs tomorrow morning, the 5th of January, between 0923 and 0952UTC with beam headings commencing at west-southwest and moving clockwise to finish northeast. This is a high elevation pass initially giving access to the northern coast of South America, traversing through eastern parts of the United States and Canada, and finishing up with the Mediterranean and most of Asia. Further information about amateur radio satellites can now be obtained from Fred Southwell, G6ZRU, at: 40 Downsview, Small Dole, West Sussex BN5 9YB. The national AMSAT-UK net meets on 3780kHz plus/minus QRM on Sunday mornings at 1015, and Monday and Wednesday evenings at 1900, both local time. ************************************************************ PROPAGATION NEWS And now part two of the review of solar activity during 1997, compiled by Neil Clarke, G0CAS. Solar activity started to increase by the end of August 1997, and on the 8th of September solar activity had reached 'moderate'. Sunspot numbers increased along with the solar flux, and by the 7th of September solar flux had climbed above 100 units. This is the first time since the 24th of February 1994 that solar flux levels had been above 100. Levels dropped back to the 80s by the 18th of September and lasted all through October. At the start of November solar activity increased to high, with the first X class solar flare this cycle. In fact two X class flares took place, on the 4th and 6th. A proton event accompanied the flare on the 6th. Solar activity gradually declined to 'low' through the rest of November and December. Geomagnetic activity continued to be 'quiet to unsettled'. The most disturbed days were on the 22nd and the 23rd of November, with Ap indices of 45 and 60 respectively. It would appear that the last sunspot group of the old cycle was visible at the beginning of August. And now the solar forecast for 1998: As sunspot groups increase in number, their size and complexity will also increase, which inherently means we will begin observing larger and more frequent solar flares from these regions any time over the next 6 to 12 months. This will last until the year 2003 or so, when activity will begin to decline. We will also begin to see a rare form of solar flare materialise. The frequency of energetic Proton Flares will also increase as levels of solar and sunspot activity increase. Proton flares are particularly strong solar flare events that are capable of accelerating protons to high energies and therefore high velocities, sometimes close to the speed of light. These accelerated protons are then beamed out into space and can bombard the earth with high-energy proton radiation. This can be a hazard to astronauts in space, and pilots in supersonic high-altitude aircraft. These proton bombardments can severely ionise the earth's polar ionosphere and can completely wipe out transpolar and high-latitude ionospheric radio transmissions. They can also pose a hazard to satellites in orbit. They can begin within minutes of a major solar proton flare event and can take radio communicators, astronauts and satellite operators completely by surprise. They can frequently last as long as 72 hours before subsiding. Larger and more widespread auroras will take place as a result of these larger flares. For more on Propagation see http://www.rsgb.org/society/psc.htm. ************************************************************ LOCAL NEWS NEWS FOR THE SOUTH EAST Meetings for Monday the 5th of January: East Kent Radio Society screens two videos entitled 'The Dream is Alive' and 'The W5LFL Space Shuttle Mission'. For further details contact Paul, G3VJF on 01 227 742 288. Southdown Amateur Radio Society has its Annual General Meeting. For further details contact Tony, G1SHH on 01 825 763 022. Surrey Radio Contact Club meets for a talk by Tim, G8JXV entitled 'Digital Video'. For further details contact Berni, G8TB on 0181 660 7517. Meetings for Tuesday the 6th of January: Chelmsford Amateur Radio Society has a video evening. For further details contact Charles, G0GJS on 01 245 256 654. Stevenage and District Amateur Radio Society meets to discuss the 1998 programme. For further details contact Peter, 2E1CRK on 01 462 674 505. Meetings for Wednesday the 7th of January: Aylesbury Vale Radio Society has a discussion evening. For further details contact Gerry, G7VFV on 01 296 432 234. Chesham and District Amateur Radio Society has a New Year quiz. For more details contact Dave, G0WBX on 01 280 816 271. Worthing and District Amateur Radio Club meets to discuss 1998 events. For further information contact G4GPX on 01 903 753 893. Meetings for Thursday the 8th of January: Edgware and District Radio Society has its Annual General Meeting. For more details telephone 0181 953 2164. Hoddesdon Radio Club has an open forum. For more details contact Don, G3JNJ on 0181 292 3678. Oxford and District Amateur Radio Society meets to discuss suggestions for the celebration of the club's 75th anniversary. For more details telephone 01 865 247 311. Reading and District Amateur Radio Club will have a planning and discussion evening hosted by the new 1998 committee. For further details contact G0LHZ whose details are in the RSGB Yearbook. Southgate Amateur Radio Society meets for a talk entitled 'an Introduction to the United Kingdom Radio Society'. For further information contact Mary, G0UMF on 0181 889 1448. Meetings for Friday the 9th of January: Itchen Valley Amateur Radio Club meets for a talk by the Southampton Traffic System. For further details contact Sheila, G0VNI on 01 703 813 827. Wimbledon and District Amateur Radio Society meets for a talk by G8DPS entitled 'Electronic Measurements'. For further information contact G4WYJ on 01 737 356 745. NEWS FOR THE SOUTH WEST Meetings for Tuesday the 6th of January: Horndean and District Amateur Radio Club has a club social evening. For more details contact Stuart, G0FYX on 01 705 472 846. West Somerset Amateur Radio Club has a social evening. For more details contact Alan, M0AOJ on 01 643 707 207. Meeting for Wednesday the 7th of January: Trowbridge and District Amateur Radio Club has its first meeting of 1998. For more details contact Ian, G0GRI on 01 225 868 868 during office hours. Meetings for Thursday the 8th of January: Hambleton Amateur Radio Society screens a video. For more details telephone 01 845 537 547. Poldhu Amateur Radio Club has a meeting with a quiz night. For further information contact David, G3PLE on 01 326 240 738. Yeovil Amateur Radio Club meets for a talk by G3MYM entitled '100 Years of Amateur Radio'. For further details telephone 01 460 54657 during the evenings. Meetings for Friday the 9th of January: Cornish Amateur Radio Club meets for a talk by Bert entitled 'Electronic Intelligence'. For further details contact Robin on 01 209 820 118. North Bristol Amateur Radio Club meets for a 'scratch built, kit and new equipment show'. For further details contact Richard, G0XAY whose details are in the RSGB Yearbook. Taunton and District Amateur Radio Club meets for a talk by Lawrence, G4HTD entitled 'Semi Conductor Technology'. For further details contact G3WNI whose details are in the RSGB Yearbook. NEWS FOR EAST ANGLIA Meeting for Thursday the 8th of January: Colchester Radio Amateurs gathers for a talk by Ron, G4JIE entitled 'How to and How Not to Construct a Power Supply'. For more details contact Brian on 01 206 822 547. Meeting for Friday the 9th of January: Yarmouth Radio Club meets to make contest arrangements. For more details contact A Besford, G3NHU on 01 493 721 173. Meeting for Saturday the 10th of January: Lincoln Short Wave Club has its New Year dinner. For more information contact Cliff, G3EBH on 01 522 750 637. NEWS FOR THE MIDLANDS Meeting for Monday the 5th of January: Stourbridge and District Amateur Radio Society has an on-the-air evening. For more information contact Gordon, G0TZV on 01 384 395 206. Meetings for Tuesday the 6th of January: Loughborough and District Amateur Radio Club has an on-the-air evening. For more information contact Ian, G8SNF on 01 509 218 259. Wolverhampton Amateur Radio Society has a committee meeting. For more details telephone 01 902 751 936. Meetings for Wednesday the 7th of December: Derby and District Amateur Radio Society has a junk sale. For more details contact Martin, G3SZJ on 01 332 556 875. South Notts Amateuer Radio Club has its Annual General Meeting. For more information telephone 01 509 672 846. Meeting for Friday the 9th of January: Coventry Amateur Radio Society has a computer night. Bring your new soft/hardware. For more details telephone 01 203 412 528. NEWS FOR THE NORTH OF ENGLAND Meeting for Monday the 5th of January: Thornton Cleveleys Amateur Radio Society has a silent key auction. For details write to: 8 The Grove, Thornton Cleveleys, Lancashire, FY5 2JD. Meeting for Tuesday the 6th of January: Horndean and District Amateur Radio Club has a social evening. For further details contact Stuart, G0FYX on 01 705 472 846. Meetings for Wednesday the 7th of January: Derwentside Amateur Radio Club has an on-the-air evening. For further details contact Geoff, G7GJU whose details are in the RSGB Yearbook. Hornsea Amateur Radio Club meets for a talk by M1AEK entitled 'Metal Detecting'. For further details contact 01 964 562 258. South Manchester Radio Club meets for Morse practice. For more details telephone 0161 969 1964. Meeting for Thursday the 8th of January: Grimsby Amateur Radio Society meets for a talk and demonstration by Dave, G0IIQ entitled 'Receiving Weather Sats on your Soundcard'. For further details contact G4EBK whose details are in the RSGB Yearbook. Meeting for Friday the 9th of January: North Ferriby United Amateur Radio Society screens two videos presented by G6KIA entitled 'Sight' and 'Flight'. For further details contact G7PER on 01 482 656 324. NEWS FOR SCOTLAND No club news has been submitted for Scotland this week. NEWS FOR WALES Meeting for Monday the 5th of January: Dragon Amateur Radio Club meets for a competition evening. For more details telephone 01 248 713 647. NEWS FOR NORTHERN IRELAND Meeting for Wednesday the 7th of January: Bangor and District Amateur Radio Society has a quiz night. For more information contact Roy, GI0WVN on 01 247 460 716. ********************************************************************* Many Thanks To Dr Ron Heywood SysOp at GB7FYL for Making the RSGB and "OTHER" news available to me to post in the Networks. "RSGB & Other NEWS" is Now Posted in to the Amateur Radio echo The Packet Radio echo, HAM and in to B_Ham_Radio on BBS Net.. If there are OTHER echos that would like to recive this weekly posting Please contact Trevor Bates at Crock's Corner BBS 2:250/607 BBS Tel Number +44(0)1253-305040. ******************************************************************** --- FMail/2 1.22 * Origin: > Crock's Corner BBS Tel+44(0)1253-305040 24hrs< (2:250/607) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 135 AMATEUR RADIO Ref: F1D00007 Date: 01/07/98 From: SCOTT CHRISTENSEN Time: 05:30pm \/To: IVY IVERSON (Read 2 times) Subj: RE: RS Radio-controlled Clock Ivy Iverson writes in a message to Nathan Bollinger II> Actually, WWV USED to transmit an ASCII code which gave the II> second, minute, hour and day of the year, (1-365/366), which II> sounded like a buzzing for part of a minute once an hour. This II> has been discontinued, however Then why does my Heathkit clock still work perfectly? The code is still there! --- COUNTERPoint 2.3 * Origin: MacRefuge * 612-426-6687 * (1:282/24) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 135 AMATEUR RADIO Ref: F1D00008 Date: 01/08/98 From: RAY WADE Time: 02:56pm \/To: RALPH HARTWELL (Read 2 times) Subj: Diodes On (07 Jan 98) Ralph Hartwell wrote to Nikko Kvasnicka... RH> Edison was developing his electric light bulb, he discovered that RH> light bulbs actually do not emit light, instead, they suck in dark. Bell Labs Proves Existence of Dark Suckers ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ For years it has been believed that electric bulbs emitted light. However, recent information from Bell Labs has proven otherwise. Electric bulbs don't emit light, they suck dark. Thus they now call these bulbs dark suckers. The dark sucker theory, according to a Bell Labs spokesperson, proves the existence of dark, that dark has mass heavier than that of light, and that dark is faster than light. The basis of the dark sucker theory is that electric bulbs suck dark. Take for example, the dark suckers in the room where you are. There is less dark right next to them than there is elsewhere. The larger the dark sucker, the greater its capacity to suck dark. Dark suckers in a parking lot have a much greater capacity than the ones in this room. As with all things, dark suckers don't last forever. Once they are full of dark, they can no longer suck. This is proven by the black spot on a full dark sucker. A candle is a primitive dark sucker. A new candle has a white wick. You will notice that after the first use, the wick turns black, representing all the dark which has been sucked into it. If you hold a pencil next to the wick of an operating candle, the tip will turn black because it got in the path of the dark flowing into the candle. Unfortunately, these primitive dark suckers have a very limited range. There are also portable dark suckers. The bulbs in these can't handle all of the dark by themselves, and must be aided by a dark storage unit. When the dark storage unit is full, it must be either emptied or replaced before the portable dark sucker can operate again. Dark has mass. When dark goes into a dark sucker, friction from this mass generates heat. Thus it is not wise to touch an operating dark sucker. Candles present a special problem, as the dark must travel in the solid wick instead of through glass. This generates a great amount of heat. Thus it can be very dangerous to touch an operating candle. Dark is also heavier than light. If you swim deeper and deeper, you notice it gets slowly darker and darker. When you reach a depth of approximately fifty feet, you are in total darkness. This is because the heavier dark sinks to the bottom of the lake and the lighter light floats to the top. The immense power of dark can be utilized to man's advantage. We can collect the dark that has settled to the bottom of lakes and push it through turbines, which generate electricity and help push it to the ocean where it may be safely stored. Prior to turbines, it was much more difficult to get dark from the rivers and lakes to the ocean. The Indians recognized this problem, and tried to solve it. When on a river in a canoe travelling in the same direction as the flow of the dark, they paddled slowly, so as not to stop the flow of dark, but when they traveled against the flow of dark, they paddled quickly so as to help push the dark along its way. Finally, we must prove that dark is faster than light. If you were to stand in an illuminated room in front of a closed, dark closet, then slowly open the closet door, you would see the light slowly enter the closet, but since the dark is so fast, you would not be able to see the dark leave the closet. In conclusion, Bell Labs stated that dark suckers make all our lives much easier. So the next time you look at an electric bulb remember that it is indeed a dark sucker. ... To establish voice contact, please yell into keyboard. --- PPoint 2.00 * Origin: K5JCM, Tulsa OK (1:170/302.4)