--------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 140 SHORT WAVE Ref: FAS00005 Date: 06/03/98 From: BRIAN JOHNSON Time: 12:27am \/To: TOM WALKER (Read 0 times) Subj: Re: ISP I am looking at a bunch of stuff from Tom Liebens on some http://www sites that are available to scan through this new Juno AccMail service via Juno E-mail. I thought that name sounded familiar. I,m still trying to access files and open them through sending my messages to the webservers. THis whole business of retrieving open files is pretty hairy if you don't know what's happening. Those commands have to be just right. I have found a lot of scanner and shortwave related stuff, though. Later Brian brianirish@juno.com --- MysticToss 1.20/Pro * Origin: Guilde of High Sorcery (619)575-2849 San Diego, Ca (1:202/1100) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 140 SHORT WAVE Ref: FAS00006 Date: 06/03/98 From: GEORGE WOOD Time: 02:42pm \/To: ALL (Read 0 times) Subj: MediaScan/Sweden Calling DXers 2295 Apparently-to: scdx@get.pp.se From: "George Wood" ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: :: MediaScan :: SWEDEN CALLING DXERS :: from Radio Sweden :: Number 2295--June 2, 1998 ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Satellite, shortwave and other electronic media news from Radio Sweden. This week's bulletin was written by George Wood. Packet Radio BID SCDX2295 Updated Web edition at: http://www.sr.se/rs/media/ All times UTC unless otherwise noted. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- - CABLE AND SATELLITE SHOW Between May 18 and 20, London's Earl's Court was the site of the 1998 Cable and Satellite Show. Without a doubt, this was the year of digital satellite and cable! When I last attended the show, in 1996, the first digital satellite receivers (from Nokia) were on display. But there were virtually no services you could tune in to. And at the time there was great uncertainty about standards. Those of us who had followed analog satellite TV perhaps naively thought that digital TV meant the end of all the conflicting standards of the analog world. After all, it's very easy to encrypt digital signals, so you could easily have one worldwide system, set up to allow subscriptions to individual channels or packages. Instead, we've had a plethora of conflicting encryption systems, and worse yet, initially dedicated receivers that can only be used to watch digital output from just one provider. Many of those first generation digital receivers weren't equipped for any encryption at all. While many channels have tested without coding, and a handful remain uncoded, in the long run what is necessary is a digital receiver that can receive any channel available for subscription. We're almost there. Nokia, an early pioneer in digital receivers, has become a leading player, and at Cable and Satellite 98 demonstrated its second generation decoder boxes, not just for digital satellite, but for cable and terrestrial digital as well. Unfortunately, each of the three still requires its own box. When I interviewed the head of Nokia Multimedia, Heikko Koskinen, I asked him when we will have one decoder box for everything. His reply was that two-service boxes are on the way. Set-top boxes for all three are farther in the future. Nokia's press briefing, led by Heikko Koskinen, was unusual in that it wasn't the usual simple announcement that could be expressed in a line or two at the top of a press release. Instead it was more an introduction into the company's visions of the future of the integration of digital TV, the Internet, digital mobile telephones, and other multimedia services. Nokia had an extremely high profile at the show, including sponsorship of the press room. (On the other hand, one should remember that in 1996 the press room was sponsored by the Weather Channel, which went out of business in Europe last year.) The center of the exhibition was dominated by four stands. Kitty-corner to each other were Nokia and its major satellite receiver rival Pace. Occupying the other corners of the foursome were Europe's two satellite rivals, Astra and Eutelsat. Right next to them, with similar huge stand, was British Sky Broadcasting, promoting its coming digital service. Two years ago Sky didn't even bother to exhibit at the Cable and Satellite Show, since it had a more or less monopoly on satellite broadcasting to Britain. But, as one of the last operators in Europe, Sky is finally launching a digital service, later this year, and used the show to massively promote it. This was necessary because Sky's would-be digital viewers have to buy new equipment. Not only do they need new digital receivers, but either new dishes aimed at the new Astra location 28 degrees East, or they will have to move their current dishes. And while every other digital operator in Europe is using common receiver technology, even if they have varying encryption systems, Sky has gone its own way. Only special BSkyB receivers (made by Pace and some other companies) will work, and these apparently won't work with other digital operators. Ironically, Sky has denounced the new British digital terrestrial broadcaster BDB for using an incompatible system, since BDB is using the system used in the rest of Europe. Ironically, while 3 years ago there were many channels exhibiting, aside from Sky the only really major channel presence this time was from BDB and the BBC, also preparing to launch new digital TV services. The Cable and Satellite Show also featured three series of free seminars about different aspects of satellite and cable TV. One was sponsored by Astra, and the most courageous talk was held by Astra's Market Development Manager, Torben Rasmussen, about "The Astra Satellite System, services and features for the Nordic Market". Rasmussen is a Dane, so he certainly is familiar with the territory. But all of the Nordic services have moved off Astra to the Swedish and Norwegian satellite positions at 5 degrees East and 1 degree West. The last to go was Turner's Cartoon Network, which recently dropped the Swedish soundtrack from its Astra transponder. Torben Rasmussen mostly talked about Astra's future plans, at both 19 and 28 degrees East. There are currently 64 analog transponders, along with 202 digital video services, and 104 digital audio. Of the digital video channels, 40 are non-encrypted. These (largely German) channels were the main reason Torben Rasmussen gave for why Nordic viewers would want to buy digital receivers and tune in to Astra. He said Nordic broadcasters would want to return to Astra because they could extend their coverage to greater parts of Europe. (This doesn't really seem all that plausible.) Tore Karlsson of Sweden's Teracom gave a talk on Digital Terrestrial Television in Northern Europe, on behalf of the DigiTAG group of European broadcasters preparing digital services. He presented the timetable for the introduction of DTT in Sweden, with the first transmissions to 5 regions to start by January 1, 1999 at the latest. In fact, by September there should be transmission facilities in place to reach 50% of the population. He also discussed the decision by a Parliamentary Commission to award licenses for the first phase to more channels than there is room for, along with a proposal that more spectrum be allocated for two further multiplexes. He also mentioned new types of interactive and multimedia services to be offered via DTT, such as shopping, banking, travel, games, distance learning, and "Internet-like services". Everywhere you looked at Cable and Satellite 98, the convergence of digital TV with other services was in evidence. Many companies were offering faster ways to access the Internet, by satellite or cable. Israel's New Media Communications has sold a system to Sweden's Viasat and Tele2 (both part of the Kinnevik media empire, which has otherwise opted not to start digital TV services) to make Internet access possible by satellite. Users, who already have satellite dishes and analog receivers, aim their dishes at Sweden's Sirius 2 satellite. The signal is carried to a PCI receiver card in a computer. The return path is by telephone. Such a solution continues to block the telephone line (which in Europe, unlike the US, costs per minute even for a local call). Stefan Meier of New Media really couldn't give me a good answer when I pointed this out (the faster download can mean you are online for a shorter period, so you'd use the phone line less was all he could say). When I asked the same question of Nokia's Heikko Koskinen, he had a much better reply. On the satellite front, he pointed out that Astra will soon be launching its 1H satellite, which will have a return path for home users, using the Ka-band. He also mentioned that cable modems are coming, and that telephone companies may soon be offering digital ADSL services, both of which allow permanent connections to the Internet, without blocking a telephone line. And while GSM telephones (a major market for Nokia) can currently only access data at 9600 bps, agreement has been reached on a new cellular phone standard that will permit far faster data rates. In today's broadcast edition of MediaScan you can hear Heikko Koskinen describe why the company kept such a high profile at the Cable and Satellite Show, and he talks about these future visions. You can also hear Kent Andersson of the Swedish consumer electronics magazine "Ljud och Bild" (formerly "Elektronikvaerlden") discuss what makes the Cable and Satellite Show so important. We'll have more voices from the show in future editions of the program. NORDIC MEDIA NEWS CORRECTION--Regarding the recent report referring to Digital AM, Jihoud Daoud has pointed out that AM is an analog modulation system, and the term is contradictory. While both Teracom and the ITU have used the expression, it might have made more sense to say "Digital HF". SWEDEN--While both Denmark and France have already taken advantage of the new EU rule that allows them to list important sports events that must be carried on free TV, Sweden has not done so. Minister of Culture Marita Ulvskog, in Brussels for the meeting that adopted the new rule on May 28, said her ministry is waiting while they compile a complete list of all sports events that are to be protected. (TT) SIRIUS--Sweden's TV3 has moved from Sirius 1 to Sirius 2, remaining on 12.092 GHz, in Eurocrypt-M encoded D2-MAC. ("SATCO DX") STAR--Denmark's Star TV has started at 1 degree West on Thor 2 in clear D2-MAC on 11.389 GHz, and on Intelsat 707 in clear MPEG-2 on 11.592 GHz. ("SATCO DX") TCC--The Children Channel Nordic disappeared from Sweden's Telia Cable systems on schedule on May 25. But, contrary to all reports, the channel continues to share a transponder with Discovery on Thor 1 on 11.938 GHz in D2-MAC. THOR--Norway's Thor 3, scheduled to launch with Delta on June 9/10, is expected to open new markets for Telenor in Central and Eastern Europe. The satellite's footprint reaches 18 European countries (somewhat countering the argument from Astra at the Cable and Satellite Show). Among the first broadcasters moving onto Thor 3 will be British Sky Broadcasting, and Sweden's Viasat (Kinnevik) both of which will broadcast in analog form. Telenor already has contracts and potential customers, and expects to fill 50 percent of Thor 3's capacity by the end of this year. Broadcasters on TV-Sat, also at 1 degree West, will also be moving to Thor 3. There will also be new digital services to the Nordic market, such as home shopping, video-on-demand, and fast Internet access. (Telenor) Thor 3 will carry the following transponders: 11.727, 11.747, 11.823, 12.054, 12.149, 12.169, 12.226, 12.245, 12.303, 12.322, 12.380, 12.399, 12.456, and 12.475 GHz. ("Transponder News") EUROPE NBC-Here are more details about what will be happening to NBC Europe, after the merger with the National Geographic Channel on July 1. NBC will continue to broadcast 06:00-12:00 hrs, and National Geographic 12:00-06:00 hrs CET. Transmissions will continue on Eutelsat II-F1 on 10.987 GHz (Radio Sweden is on this transponder) but the analog programming is to be replaced with digital in September, when the channel will move to 28 degrees East to join the Sky digital package. NBC shows like "Profiler", "Dateline", "Late Night with Conan O'Brien", "Union Square", and "Mr Rhodes" will go off the air, while "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno" will be moving to CNBC. Highlights of "The Tonight Show" and some sports coverage (baseball?????) will be shown on weekends. CNBC will continue in analog PAL on Astra, but will become encoded during the evening and night, because it will also be joining Sky's digital package at 28 degrees East. Scandinavian viewers will then have to access CNBC on Thor 2, where it is part of the Canal Digital package (which has yet to be marketed). One reason for the demise of NBC Europe is that National Geographic had complained that it had a hard time getting onto British cable networks with its pay channel on Astra transponder 7, when its programming was also on the free channel NBC Europe. (The simple solution here might have been removing its programming from NBC, rather than killing NBC.) BSkyB, which owns half the existing National Geographic Channel, will continue to own half of the new channel, with the rest split between National Geographic and NBC. ("What Satellite TV" and Richard Karlsson, "Aftonbladet") Radio Sweden will be moving to a new home at 13 degrees East in September, when NBC/National Geographic closes the 10.987 GHz transponder. SKY--British Sky Broadcasting is preparing to cut the cost of its Multichannels package, following the closure of five channels, most recently Sky Scottish on May 31 (the others are Weather Channel, TCC, EBN, and CMT). The broadcaster told "What Satellite TV" that the ITC's current probe into the bundling of channels in packages is likely to force it to introduce a smaller, cheaper package of channels from June or July. ("What Satellite TV") Sky Sports News, a 24-hour sports news channel will start in June, as part of Sky's digital package. ("What Satellite TV") ASTRA--There have been a lot of changes among the Sky transponders on Astra 1D (28 degrees East). For details see: http://www.satcodx.com/astra1d.shtml ("SATCO DX") SES has launched ASTRA-Vision, promoting its digital TV, radio, and multimedia services. The service is broadcast in Dutch, English, French, German, Italian, Polish, and Spanish. ASTRA-Info 1 outlines the free-to-air digital services. ASTRA-Info 2 features information on the digital pay packages from France, Spain, Germany, and the Netherlands. ASTRA-Vision is broadcast in MPEG-2 on transponder 108 (12.556 GHz) from 19 degrees East. (SES) The uncoded PAL version of ASTRA-Vision is carried on transponder 51, replacing CMT. The Dutch Canal Plus digital service on Astra is switching encryption system from the old Nethold Irdeto to Seca's Mediaguard. Irdeto will continue during a transition period. (Richard Karlsson, "Aftonbladet") Playboy TV's pay-per-night service on Astra transponder 58 has been replaced by an identical service from The Adult Channel. The surprise change, which may be linked to the recent merger of Spice Entertainment and Playboy (presumably in the UK, not Playboy in the US). ("What Satellite TV") E!--E! Entertainment has confirmed that its UK channel will start between June and October. ("What Satellite TV") Curiously, this corresponds to exactly the time frame during which Sky's digital service is launching. EUTELSAT--Fashion TV, having left PAL transmissions on Eutelsat II-F1, and returned a day or two later, has now once again left the --- NetMgr 1.00.g4+ * Origin: GET, Lidingo, Sweden, +46-8-7655670 (2:201/505) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 140 SHORT WAVE Ref: FAS00007 Date: 06/03/98 From: GEORGE WOOD Time: 02:42pm \/To: ALL (Read 0 times) Subj: 02:MediaScan/Sweden Calling DXers 2295 Apparently-to: scdx@get.pp.se From: "George Wood" transponder. ("SATCO DX") The Shalom Channel has started officially on Hot Bird 3, 12.380 GHz, in clear MPEG-2, at 22:30-24:00 hrs CET. ("SATCO DX") Eros TV has left Eutelsat II-F3, and is now only on Eutelsat II-F1, in coded D2-MAC, on 11.658 GHz. ("SATCO DX" and Richard Karlsson, "Aftonbladet") Serbia's RTS Sat has left 11.658 GHz on Eutelsat II-F2, and is now found on 11.596 GHz on the same satellite. The Croatian HRT Sat has ceased analog PAL transmissions on Eutelsat II-F3, 10.987 GHz. Digital transmissions from HRT 1-3 and HRT Net can now be found on Hot Bird 3, 12.303 GHz. They are to be encoded in Viaccess. (Richard Karlsson in "Aftonbladet") Hungary's Duna TV has left Eutelsat II-F3 (11.596 GHz), and is now only on Hot Bird 4 on 10.815 GHz. Antenna Hungary is testing in MPEG-2 on Hot Bird 3 on 11.149 GHz. (Richard Karlsson, "Afonbladet") MURDOCH SI, KIRCH NO--The European Commission announced on May 20 that it is likely to approve the launch of British Interactive Broadcasting, the joint venture by BSkyB, BT, Midland Bank, and Panasonic, which promises a whole range of interactive digital services alongside the BSkyB digital package. BT's efforts to address EU concerns have seen it promise that third parties would have access to BiB-subsidised set-top boxes and software. BT has also announced it plans to sell its broadband cable TV interests in Westminster and Milton Keynes. The Commission had expressed concern that the subsidation of the set-top box would benefit Sky's digital package, thus giving BSkyB an unfair advantage. (Reuters) On May 27 the European Commission unanimously stopped the German pay-TV alliance between Bertelsmann, Kirch, and Deutsche Telekom, as an obstacle to competition. Commissioner Karel Van Miert said a last attempt to find a compromise, which focused on the price that rival cable firms would be able to charge customers, as well as the possibility for them to choose only certain channels. But this was rejected by Bertelsmann. The alliance involved merging the only successful German pay-TV company, Premiere (jointly owned by Bertelsmann and Kirch) with Kirch's digital satellite package DF-1. DT is Germany's largest cable operator. The president of the council of German media regulators says the Commission veto will slow the development of pay-TV. "I simply cannot see where the competition is supposed to come from", said Reiner Hochstein, who holds the rotating presidency of the Conference of Directors of State Media Regulators, adding that the move would prove to be counter-productive, by reinforcing existing monopolies. Kirch immediately announced plans to shut down DF-1. Deutsche Telekom has says it will spin off its loss-making cable television activities, and seek partners to break it up into at least six regional companies. (Reuters) BRITAIN--A parliamentary committee says Britain should pull the plug on analog terrestrial TV by the year 2010, to speed the transition to the digital age. The Culture, Media, and Sport Select Committee, urged sweeping reforms in media and telecoms regulations, in a report called "The Multi-Media Revolution". (Reuters) AFRICA/MIDDLE EAST NILESAT--On May 31, Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak activated Egypt's new Nilesat 101 satellite, the first satellite owned by an African country. Nilesat is capable of broadcasting 72 TV channels. Twenty-one are reserved for Egypt, while many of the others have been leased by Libya, Bahrain, Iraq, and an encrypted movie service. (AP) Here is the initial line-up (all transponders in clear or Irdeto- encoded MPEG-2, SR 27500, FEC 3/4): 11.747 GHz Tests 11.766 ERTU 1/2, ESC 2, Nile TV International 11.823 Imhotep Channel, Horus Vision, Oman TV, Bahrain TV 11.843 1st Net package 11.900 1st Net package 11.919 ERTU 8, Nile Drama Channel 11.996 Showtime package 12.034 Showtime package ("SATCO DX") ARABSAT--The two Saudi TV channels have started in SECAM on the Ku-band on Arabsat 2A (26 degrees East): Saudi Channel 2 on 12.536 GHz and Saudi Channel 1 on 12.661 GHz. ("SATCO DX") TV5--The French language channel TV5 Orient officially launched on May 28, via Arabsat 2A, to the Arab world, the Gulf, and the Maghreb, after tests since the end of January. This followed the cancellation last July of the contract between Arabsat and Canal France International, after France Telecom broadcast a pornographic film instead of a children's program across the Arab region. TV5 Orient has a schedule independent of the current TV5 Europe, taking into account time zones, local consumer habits, and lifestyles. (AFP) IRAN--A hardline Iranian magazine reports that media mogul Rupert Murdoch paid a "secret" visit to Iran last month. The "Sobh" (Morning) monthly, which regularly exposes events and issues it deems to be anti- Islamic, said Murdoch arrived on May 9, and stayed for three days. According to the paper, Murdoch, identified as an "American Zionist mogul who uses his satellite channels to destroy ethnic and religious cultures and foster corruption and prostitution throughout the world", held talks with officials at the Ministry of Culture, the state-run radio-television organization, and the head of Iran's soccer federation. (AFP) ASIA/PACIFIC INDIA--A senior minister in the new fundamentalist government says India will soon begin producing programs to be aired on its international television channel, to counter what it sees as a negative image projected by Western networks. Minister for Communications and Information and Broadcasting Sushman Swaraj says the programs will be produced in association with India's Foreign Ministry, and would be aimed at hundreds of thousands of Indian expatriates abroad. (Reuters) ASIASAT--On May 15, a new Star TV package started on Asiasat-1 (105.5 degrees East) on 3.880 GHz, in NDS encrypted MPEG-2 (SR 26850, FEC 7/8): Northern beam: Star Movies Chinese Star World Channel V Int. Star Movies South East Asia Fox News Channel Sky News Star News JAPAN--After a year of debate, Japan has decided to delay the official launch of terrestrial digital TV services by three years to 2003, giving in to calls from broadcasters over the expected high costs. The Posts and Telecommunications Ministry said May 29 that it expects Japanese TV stations to start digital TV broadcasts in the Tokyo, Osaka, and Nagoya urban areas by 2003, and in other areas by 2006. But it called on TV stations to start experimental services in the Tokyo area from 2000. The ministry also says Japan will switch off its existing analog TV services by 2010. All five major networks plan to offer digital TV services on satellite platforms from 2000, when Japan will switch its analog satellite service to digital. (Reuters) AUSTRALIA--The Galaxy package on Optus B3 (156 degrees East) on 12.376 and 12.438 GHz has ceased, due to the liquidation of Galaxy. Most of the channels have been integrated into the Optus Vision and Austar package. There are new line-ups on 12.407, 12.564, 12.626, and 12.689 GHz. ("SATCO DX") NORTH AMERICA GALAXY--On May 19 Galaxy 4 started to spin, and was lost, cutting off services to millions of paging customers around the United States. Up to 90 percent of the 45 million pager users in the United States were affected. The satellite's owner, PanAmSat, obtained permission from the FCC to move the Galaxy 6 satellite to replace Galaxy 4. In the meantime, pager services were rerouted over Galaxy 3R, and service resumed on May 21. Having moved from 74 degrees West, Galaxy 6 arrived at Galaxy 4's position at 99 degrees West on May 27. Most Galaxy 6 services have moved temporarily to other satellite. (Reuters, "Satellite Times", "SATCO DX") Galaxy 4 also carried programming from National Public Radio to its 600 member stations. In an historic first, less than an hour after the failure, NPR was using its web site on the Internet to offer stations a back-up feed of programming. Even with ISDN phone lines and alternate satellite space from ABC, PBS, and CBC available to NPR affiliates, some 30 stations used the RealAudio streaming feed. (Curt Swinehart) TELSTAR--There is a package of Egyptian channels on Telstar 5 (97 degrees West) on 11.874 GHz in MPEG-2 (SR 23000, FEC 2/3): ESC 1, ESC 2, and NIle TV Int. ("SATCO DX") JAPAN--NHK World TV has started on PAS-5 (58 degrees West) on 3.880 GHz in clear MPEG-2. ("SATCO DX") LAUNCHES AND SUCH CHINASAT--Chinastar 1 was launched successfully with Long March on May 30. It will be located at 87.5 degrees East. ("SATCO DX", AP and AFP) Jean-Marie Luton, chairman of France's Arianespace, said in Singapore on June 2 he would be interested in developing a joint satellite launch system with China. Arianespace has already begun work with Russia to develop a joint venture system for constellation satellite launches, even though the firm competes directly with Russia on geostationary launches. Constellation launches put many satellites into low Earth orbit at once. (Reuters) HUGHES--On May 20, Hughes Space and Communications announced it was sending the wayward Asiasat-3 (now HGS-1) satellite around the Moon for a second time, to further improve its orbit. The satellite was left in a useless orbit after the failure of the rocket that carried it into space on Christmas Day. Hughes used the onboard rocket to nudge the satellite into higher orbits, and then fired it towards the Moon. HGS-1 passed the Moon on May 13, and looped back towards Earth. It was sent back around the Moon on June 1. (AP) CYBERSPACE MOTOROLA--On May 21 Motorola gave up plans to develop an Internet-by- satellite system of its own, and struck a deal to fold its Celestri project into the rival Teledesic system, backed by Bill Gates. (Reuters) Thanks to this week's contributors --- NetMgr 1.00.g4+ * Origin: GET, Lidingo, Sweden, +46-8-7655670 (2:201/505) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 140 SHORT WAVE Ref: FAS00008 Date: 05/29/98 From: MIKE KERNA Time: 11:41pm \/To: ALL (Read 0 times) Subj: DIY shortwave gadgets Has anyone made the broomstick antenna (helical wound) from Radio Havava Cuba's website? I don't know RF electronics so I wound the whole stick (3 ft.) with wire only to find it didn't improve reception. Arnie Coro (from RHC) said I didn't follow his instructions, because it says not to use more than 70ft. of wire. I checked the website again, but it doesn't say anything about the length of wire. Anyway: 1) He gave me a formula to use to compute length of wire needed for the frequency I want to tune: L = 468/F, where F is freq. in MHz. I got out my physics books, did the math, and got L = 492/F. Which one's right? And does it matter that much? 2) Arnie was going to send me plans for making an inexpensive antenna tuner, but forgot or is too busy. Can anyone give advice on this? --- Opus-CBCS 1.73a * Origin: BlinkLink - Perceiving is believing! 412-766-0732 (1:129/89.0) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 140 SHORT WAVE Ref: FAS00009 Date: 05/31/98 From: BRUCE LEGRANDE Time: 09:51pm \/To: MIKE KERNA (Read 0 times) Subj: DIY shortwave gadgets Mike Kerna wrote in a message to All: MK> Anyway: MK> 1) He gave me a formula to use to compute length of wire needed for MK> the frequency I want to tune: L = 468/F, where F is freq. in MHz. I MK> got out my physics books, did the math, and got L = 492/F. Which MK> one's right? And does it matter that much? True, the 492/f is correct in theory, but does not take into consideration the velocity, resistance, surface area, of what- ever medium you are using as an element. The 468/f is correct for the general use of wire as an element, and would change a bit if you were using (say) a 3/4" tube for the element. There is also a need to take into consideration the actions of 'end effect' which I believe includes a certain value of capacitance (etc). I found the BIGGEST help to me when I was learning this stuff was to go to the local public library and pour through an edition of 'The ARRL Radio Amateurs Handbook'. There is a LOT of info there - even in the older editions. I think I remember reading one as old as 1958 and it STILL had mucho info in it. You can get a *NEW* issue of the Handbook for about $32 USD at MOST Amateur Radio retail outlets and through mailorder. You might also keep your eyes open for SwapMeets in your area, as some HAMs may be getting rid of their older copies for MUCH less than the cost of a new one. Sincerely, Bruce - sysop@gtgs.omnibbs.com - http://www.qsl.net/kb6lwn --- WtrGate v0.93.p5 Unreg * Origin: GreenTree Ground Station * CM88 * 707-987-ISDN (1:2003/0) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 140 SHORT WAVE Ref: FAS00010 Date: 05/30/98 From: LUIS LOEFF Time: 04:20pm \/To: BRIAN JOHNSON (Read 0 times) Subj: BBS LIST FOR ARIZONA -=> Quoting Brian Johnson to All <=- BJ> Hello Everyone: BJ> I am looking for a BBS list to work from when I move to Arizona this BJ> summer. The BBSs must carry the Fido Shortwave Echo, the Fido Scanner BJ> Echo, the rec.radio newsgroups, and the Space Base echoes. I will be BJ> moving to the area around Holbrook and Winslow. Listings for that area BJ> would be fine as well as listings for the Phoneix and Flagstaff areas. BJ> Please send your information to me via my E-mail at the following: These times you don't need to be very close to the BBS. I live in Sao Paulo, Brazil but get my Fido Shortwave Echo from Toledo, Ohio through Telnet from my local ISP . Sometimes downloading QWK packets (file x-fers) through Telnet can be a loosing proposition but if I keep packets short it's acceptable. Regards Luis Loeff ... _________________SHORTWAVE ON YOUR VEHICLE ?__________________________ Try LFB digitally synthesized 4 band converter. (19, 25, 31 and 49 meter) Feeds directly into the antenna input of your car stereo More info: LFB@ecodigit.com.br or answer me directly. ___ Blue Wave/DOS v2.30 --- FLAME v1.1 * Origin: Telnet toltbbs.com or call 313-854-6001, Boardwatch #55 (1:234/2) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 140 SHORT WAVE Ref: FAS00011 Date: 05/31/98 From: JAN NIEUWENHUIS Time: 06:34pm \/To: ALL (Read 0 times) Subj: EURO-TX 3.0 software >>> Monthly message update - 1st June 1998 <<< EURO-TX 3.0 Software - EURO-TX is THE ShortWave Broadcast Transmissions to EUROPE database for Radio Listening Amateurs. The EURO-TX programme contains information on shortwave broadcasts to EUROPE in various languages (Danish, Dutch, English, Esperanto, Finnish, French, German, Greek,Icelandic, Italian, Norwegian, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish and Swedish). With the programme you can make complete sorted listings in country, language, station and/or transmission-time order; just choose the appropriate settings and the programme will display the list in any way you want. An 'On The Air' button will display all stations which are on the air at the moment you press the button. A comprehensive search option is available to search for whatever you like; a station, country, frequency, transmission time, or any combination of these. Furthermore it is also possible to display an ITU country list (237 records), a stations address list, a stations Internet address list, HF-bands list, UTC time table (237 records) and a DX-programme list. At the moment the database contains transmission details of 128 stations in 74 countries. The address lists contain 115 Internet (WWW) addresses and 234 'normal' addresses. Finally, DX-transmission details of 31 different stations are available. The Main Database Table has 1110 records (variable, due to daily updates) in which Country, Station, Transmission Time, Language, Frequencies and Remarks are listed. All data can be displayed on screen as well as on a printer. It is NOT possible to change any of the data in the database but you will receive the LATEST available database-file (update on a DAILY bases) with the registered version of the software. The programme and the latest database are put on floppy when you order the programme, so you will always receive the latest data available. HARDWARE REQUIREMENTS: Computer: IBM-compatible AT(tm) 386, 486 or Pentium Diskdrive: Programme is distributed on a 1.44 MB floppy. Harddisk space for installation is about 2.5 MB. Memory (extended): 4 MB or more ... Operating system: Windows 3.1/3.11 or Windows '95 (+ mouse). Monitor: (S)VGA (640*480 or better ...). Recommended hardware: 486 or Pentium, 4 MB (or more) Extended Memory. NOTES: The programme was tested on a 386 40MHz, a 486DX2 66MHz and a Pentium 75MHz computer and a colour (S)VGA monitor in various resolutions. It might also work using other screens (as yet, has not been tested). The programme is NOT SOLD/DISTRIBUTED in the months of MARCH and OCTOBER, due to the many changes which will be implemented by many radio stations at the end of these months. These months are used to completely update all data in the database. Other changes will be implemented on a DAILY bases. REGISTRATION OF THE SOFTWARE - (includes cost of postage): 25 DUTCH GUILDERS (1st Registration) 10 DUTCH GUILDERS (updates for Registered users) . Payment is also allowed in one of the following currencies (listed are the approximate Exchange Rates dated 31st May 1998): . 25 DUTCH GUILDERS (1st Registration) are about: 13 American Dollar,471 Belgium Franc, 89 Danish Crown, 23 German Mark, 8 English Pound,70 Finish Mark, 78 French Franc, 9 Irish Pound, 471 Luxemburg Franc,100 Norwegian Crown, 160 Austrian Schilling, 103 Swedish Crown, 19 Swiss Franc. . 10 DUTCH GUILDERS (updates for Registered users) are about: 5 American Dollar, 188 Belgium Franc, 36 Danish Crown, 9 German Mark, 3 English Pound, 28 Finish Mark, 31 French Franc, 4 Irish Pound, 188 Luxemburg Franc, 40 Norwegian Crown, 64 Austrian Schilling, 41 Swedish Crown, 8 Swiss Franc. DEMO VERSION (version 3.0; available via Internet): Look via an Internet 'search engine' for: eur-tx30.zip Or via 'Scoop BBS' in Holland at: 033-2996366 ... in file-area #5. ... EURTX20A.ZIP & EURTX20B.ZIP (Total size is about 1.3 MB) REFERENCES: "IMPRESSED! A VERY NICE PACKAGE" ... - Andy Sennitt (World Radio TV Handbook) in a review with Jonathan Marks in 'Media Network' (R.Netherlands). "AN EASY TO USE AND NICE PROGRAMME" ... - Michiel Schaay (Netherlands) in 'Radio Amateur Magazine'. "AN EXCELLENT PROGRAMME" ... - Chris Carrington (U.K.) in 'Monitor' (Int. Short Wave League). "A BRILLIANT DATABASE PROGRAMME" ... - George Wood (Sweden) in 'MediaScan - SCDX' (R.Sweden). "A FLEXIBLE INFORMATIVE PROGRAM" ... - Mike Richardss (United Kingdom) in 'Shortwave Magazine'. "IMPRESSIVE; ... WITH A LOT OF INFORMATION" ... - Olav M. Grimdalen (Norway - Frequency Manager R.Norway Int.) ******************************************************************** Jan Nieuwenhuis, Vloedlyn 12, NL-1791 HH Den Burg, The Netherlands -------------------------------------------------------------------- E-mail: Jan-en-Annette@hetnet.nl (home) or nieuw@nioz.nl (work) Netmail (FIDO): 2:500/202 ******************************************************************** --- Maximus 2.01 * Origin: Scoop BBS (The Netherlands) +31-33-2996366 (2:500/202) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 140 SHORT WAVE Ref: FAS00012 Date: 05/31/98 From: CHRIS VANDENBERG Time: 07:25pm \/To: ALL (Read 0 times) Subj: MIRNEWS.423 MIRNEWS.423 31 MAY 1998 MIR-routine: After the docking of Pr-M39 at MIR the cosmonauts started the unloading of that freighter. while Andy Tho mas already started the packing of approx. 30 bags with things which will go to Earth with the Discovery. Andy also tri ed to accomplish some of his experiments. Passes for our position took place during the night hours. The crew also us ed the Altair-2 geostationary satellite for phone- and TV-communications in which interviews and private conversations, for instance Andy with his relatives and Musabayev with the Kazakh ambassador in Moscow. On 19.05.1998 Altair-2 was u sed for a so called tele-bridge between MIR and the communications centre Burum (in the Dutch province Fryslan) with pupils from a grammarschool in the city of Groningen. Communications started long after the scheduled time, but the co smonauts and the children very much enjoyed the happening. The crew continued medical, and other experiments. Andy had to undergo an extensive test of his cardio-vascular syste m in relation to his oncoming return into earth-gravity conditions. Musabayev took care for the proper connections of sensors and the right commands in coordination with a lady-specialist on earth. Now and then minor technical problems with the lifesupport systems, watermanagement and power supply (a malfunctioning accumulator in Module-D) emerged during radio-conversations. The crew solved all problems and nothing seemed to ham per the STS-91 mission so far. Regularly there were problems with the exchange of radiograms by Packet Radio and often the crew had to fall back on th e old RTTY (radio-teletype system), even via Altair-2. Obviously not all Russian tracking stations can handle Packet R adio. Often the crew relies on the tracking facility Petropavlovsk Kamchatka for Packet Radio links. Now and then the crew speaks about the BDD (Betriebstechnik Deutschland Direkt). This system enables European scientist s to execute experiments directly via Altair-2 without interference of the Russians. This is possible via the DLR trac kingstation Oberpfaffenhofen near Munich (Germany). Possibly the experiments with this system have been suspended or c oncluded. Sigmund Jaehn, the former DDR cosmonaut and now a DLR employee so far acted as coordinator of that system. During one of the sessions via Altair-2 Musabayev asked TsUP to forward a request to Houston. The guitar, which w as delivered to MIR by Progress-M39 was a present for him from his fellow-countrymen. He would like to take the guitar back to earth, but that is impossible with the Soyuz-TM27. So he hopes to get late permission to send the guitar to ea rth with the Discovery. Whether he got this permission or not is not known yet. The room for cargo in Discovery t his time is also very limited (single instead of a double Spacehab module). Failure of attitude control computer: After a very long time this problem again disturbed the Russians. On Saturday, 3 0.05.98, this computer failed, causing the well-known chain reaction, i.e. deterioration of the proper angles of sunl ight on the solarpanels, the reduction of power-supply, and so on. The crew had to use the attitude control possibilities of the Soyuz-TM27 to correct the station's attitude as effici ent as possible to regain a part of the needed power-supply. This happened during my absence and when I came home late Saturday night I heard that something was wrong during a nigh tly pass. Regretfully I missed the previous passes for using my time-switch had been impossible: the meteo-office had p redicted heavy thunderstorms. After all my precautions had been superfluous for the bad weather did not reach my posit ion. On 31.05.1998 the crew replaced the attitude control computer and started tests. At deadline for this report I had no further information. Expected launchtime Discovery for Mission STS-91: Still scheduled for 2.06.1998 at about 2210UTC. At deadline for th is report there was still 'go' for this launch. If so it is worthwhile for listeners in Western-Europe to listen betwe en 2225 and 2235UTC on the airtraffic control frequency 259.700 mc (AM-wide). At this moment the shuttle does not have the possibility to use the TDRS and traffic with Houston is possible via a tracking station in Spain. Here some old news for the statistics: Progress-M38: This old freighter separated from MIR on 15.05.1998 at 1841UTC. (So 3 minutes earlier than reported in MI RNEWS.422). The original plan to maintain Pr-M38 in orbit until the safe docking of Pr-M39 had been abandoned. Progre ss-M38 entered the dense layers of the atmosphere on 16.05.98 at 2220UTC and decayed over a designated area in the Pa cific East of New Zealand. C.M. van den Berg, NL-9165/A-UK3202. --- Maximus 2.01 * Origin: Scoop BBS (The Netherlands) +31-33-2996366 (2:500/202)