Volume 1, Number 3 May 21, 1989 ================================================================= | Fidonet HAM/PACKET Digest - For up to date HAM/PACKET info | |===============================================================| | | | Published by : Brian Murrey KB9BVN at Indpls, IN | | | |===============================================================| | Send all article submissions to Brian Murrey at 1:231/30 | | Or via GEnie address MURREY | |===============================================================| | SouthSide BBS | | Mail articles to: PO Box 47453 | | Indpls., IN 46247 | ================================================================= Fidonet is a registered trademark of Tom Jennings, Box 77731 San Francisco, California 94107 ==================================================================== T A B L E O F C O N T E N T S 1. EDITORIALS Brian's Corner - KB9BVN ................................. 1 2. BULLETINS ARRL Bulletin ........................................... 2 R.A.I.N. Bulletin ...................................... 4 3. ARTICLES Noth Pole Expedition F6CIU/VE8 .......................... 5 K2BSA Boy Scout Jamboree news release ................... 7 CASEY STATION ANTARCTICA ................................ 8 Tips for the Hamfester! ................................. 11 ATHENS HAMFEST -- SATURDAY, JUNE 3, 1989 ................ 14 PROJECT DOVE NEWSLETTER ................................. 15 QT 4.0 TO BE RELEASED AT DAYTON ........................ 16 SHORT BURSTS ............................................ 18 U4MIR/U5MIR GOES QRT .................................... 19 BIS Survey Results for May 3, 1989 ...................... 20 News Nuggets from Newington - 5/4/89 .................... 21 Fidonet HAM/PACKET Digest Page i Volume 1, Number 3 May 21, 1989 ==================================================================== E D I T O R I A L S ==================================================================== This is the third issue of my bi-weekly Ham and Packet related newsletter. Once again I would like to thank all of you that contributed to this newsletter. One article this month has a special meaning to me personally, that is the article about the Boy Scout station. If we are to keep our hobby alive, it has been said that we need to find a good source of young blood. What better source is there than the Boy Scouts? Being a Scout leader (Cubmaster Pack 169) I know that there are many times when some of our leaders would welcome an amateur to stop by on a meeting night and talk about the benefits of being a "ham" and all the fun that goes along with it. Have you got an old rig collecting dust in the attic or garage? Why not contact your local BSA HQ and see which troop in the area would be interested in borrowing it. Then show them how to use it. Brian Murrey - Editor KB9BVN Fidonet HAM/PACKET Digest Page 1 Volume 1, Number 3 May 21, 1989 ==================================================================== B U L L E T I N S ==================================================================== QST DE W1AW HR ARRL BULLETIN NR 21 ARLB021 FROM ARRL HEADQUARTERS NEWINGTON, CT MAY 12, 1989 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT ARRL REPRESENTATIVES TESTIFIED YESTERDAY IN A THREE HOUR HEARING OF THE GOVERNMENT INFORMATION, JUSTICE AND AGRICULTURE SUBCOMMITTEE OF THE HOUSE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENTAL OPERATIONS. APPEARING IN A ROOM PACKED WITH AMATEURS AND PRESS, THE ARRL PANEL AND A WITNESS ON BEHALF OF THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE OBJECTED TO THE PROCEDURES FOLLOWED BY THE FCC IN DECIDING TO TERMINATE ACCESS BY RADIO AMATEURS TO THE FREQUENCIES BETWEEN 220 AND 222 MHZ. NOTING THAT AMATEUR RADIO WAS ONE OF THE THOUSAND POINTS OF LIGHT WHOSE VOLUNTEER EFFORTS SHOULD BE SUPPORTED, AND NOT DISCOURAGED BY THE GOVERNMENT, SUBCOMMITTEE CHAIRMAN REP BOB WISE OF WEST VIRGINIA PRAISED AMATEURS AND THEIR ROLE IN EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS. WEST VIRGINIA SECTION MANAGER KARL THOMPSON, K8KT, LED THE ARRL TESTIMONY BY ADDRESSING THE VOLUNTEER NATURE OF AMATEUR RADIO EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS AND PARTICULARLY ITS SIGNIFICANCE TO HIS STATE. HE UNDERLINED THE IMPORTANCE OF THE THREATENED BAND SEGMENT TO REPEATER LINKING AND PACKET RADIO DEVELOPMENT. ARRL EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT SUMNER, K1ZZ, TESTIFIED THAT THE PROCESS USED BY THE FCC IN DECIDING TO REALLOCATE THE BOTTOM TWO MHZ OF THE 220 MHZ AMATEUR RADIO BAND TO LAND MOBILE USE HAD FAILED TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THE COMMENTS OF INDIVIDUAL AMATEURS WHICH DOCUMENTED BOTH ITS IMPORTANCE TO PUBLIC SERVICE AND EXPERIMENTAL COMMUNICATION, AND THE GREAT COST TO AMATEURS AND TO THE PUBLIC IF THESE OPERATIONS HAD TO BE MOVED ELSEWHERE OR ABANDONED FOR LACK OF SPACE. HE CITED ALTERNATIVES TO THE REALLOCATION AND WHICH HAD NOT BEEN ADEQUATELY CONSIDERED IN THE PROCEEDING. RICHARD RUDMAN, W6TIA, CHAIRMAN OF THE LOS ANGELES COUNTY EMERGENCY PUBLIC INFORMATION ADVISORY GROUP, DESCRIBED THE CROWDED CONDITIONS IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA IN THE ENTIRE 220 MHZ BAND AND THE TREMENDOUS IMPACT OF THE FCC DECISION ON PACKET RADIO DEVELOPMENT. HE STRESSED THE IMPORTANCE OF AMATEUR RADIO IN EMERGENCY PLANNING. Fidonet HAM/PACKET Digest Page 2 Volume 1, Number 3 May 21, 1989 FCC CHIEF ENGINEER DR THOMAS P. STANELY, UNITED PARCEL SERVICE STRATEGIC PLANNING MANAGER GENE HUGHES AND DR DENNIS BODSON OF THE NATIONAL COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM ALSO GAVE TESTIMONY. IN RESPONSE TO QUESTIONS FROM THE SUBCOMMITTEE, DR STANLEY CONCEDED, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THAT THE REDUCTION IN THE SIZE OF THE BAND WAS A SIGNIFICANT LOSS OF AMATEUR CAPABILITY THAT WAS NOT OFFSET BY THE GRANTING OF PRIMARY STATUS IN THE REMAINDER OF THE BAND. THE SUBCOMMITTEE WILL REVIEW THE RECORD OF THE HEARING TO DETERMINE THE APPROPRIATE COURSE OF ACTION AR Copied from W1AW by Tad, KT7H @ WS7M. Copied from Packet by Mike, VE7BOI @ VE7KIT Copied from Fidonet by Brian, KB9BVN Fidonet HAM/PACKET Digest Page 3 Volume 1, Number 3 May 21, 1989 The R.A.I.N. Dialup Service (R.D.S) provides programming for both hams and communications devotees. Produced by R.A.I.N., the Radio Amateur Information Network Foundation, the R.D.S. updates Fridays at (312) 299-INFO from Des Plaines, IL. $P The current edition will be on line from May 5-11, 1989, and contains the following: the I.A.R.N. (International Amateur Radio Network) ,soviet delegation was scheduled to attend the Dayton Hamvention, Apr. 28th; the trip was cancelled on the 21st. You'll find out why. And "220 Notes Newsletter" editor, Art Reis, K9XI, reviews the 220 scene at Dayton.--14 minutes of quality ham radio programming that can be broadcast via Amateur Radio as authorized by FCC regulation 97.113-D(2) GIVE THE R.D.S. A TRY! Additional R.A.I.N. programming can be heard on the HF ham bands: The i.A.R.N., International Amateur Radio Network, airs a 45-minute program 5 times each day simultaneously on 3975 KHz (LSB); 14275, and 28475 KHz (USB) at these UTC times: 1100, 1300, 1700, 2100, and 0000. When the I.A.R.N. is activated on 14.275 (3975 and 28475 are unaffected.) Often there is a live "net" on 14.275 following the broadcasts. There are two additional Sunday transmissions: on 3890 KHz (AM) at 2200, and 7290 KHz (AM) at 2300. The IARN program is transmitted by Glenn Baxter, K1MAN, from Belgrade Lakes, ME. (207) 495-2215 The GATEWAY RADIO NEWS LETTER is transmitted by Vern Jackson, WA0RCR, from Wentzville, MO. It typically lasts an hour and can be heard on 1860 KHz (AM) on the 160-meter band at these UTC times: Sat.-Thurs. at 2200; Sundays at 1200, and 1900; Tue. at 0930; and Thurs. (combined with a live "net") at 0100. If you know of other HF ham radio programs, let me know, that I may update this list. FREE HAM RADIO PROGRAMMING. if you are looking for ham radio programming on cassette for use on a local net, or for your own information, The RP REPORT is now available FREE of charge. Simply send a blank C90 cassette along with an SASE and enough postage for 2 ounces for each month you wish to receive this program service. There are 4 RP REPORTS per cassette, one cassette per month. Produced by Hap Holly, KC9RP, the RP REPORT is Available from the R.a.i.n. Foundation, P.O. Box 2565, Des Plaines, IL. 60017. Fidonet HAM/PACKET Digest Page 4 Volume 1, Number 3 May 21, 1989 ==================================================================== A R T I C L E S ==================================================================== Noth Pole Expedition F6CIU/VE8 FRENCH-KOREAN EXPEDITION TO THE NORTH MAGNETIC POLE --------------------------------------------------- This expedition is going to run during a month a group of five youngs of 20 years old in average, to the NORTH MAGNETIC POLE. Before all, the aim of this expedition is to discover this region and to make a big report about a unknown wild region. The vehicules to move will be the snow mobils and the seldges. The progression on the ice field will be done from a village called RESOLUTE BAY and situated on CORNNALLIS ISLAND. PROGRAM : 15th May: Departure from PARIS and SEOUL of two groupes for MONTREAL. 19th May: Departure from MONTREAL of the expedition for RESOLUTE BAY. 25th May: Departure from RESOLUTE BAY for the POLE. 13th June: Departure from RESOLUTE BAY for of the Whole groupe for MONTREAL. 16th June: Departure for PARIS and SEOUL One activ station will be staying at RESOLUTE BAY during the end of expedition It will be activ on the bands under indicative F6CIU/VE8. It will be operated by an OM (Principally F6IGQ) which will look after the group for the news , security and emergency. Time after time, on the ice field F6CIU will operate, which will depend on the conditions of the batteries, but will stop for the DX hunters. In fact a lot of Islands will be on the route. LITTLE CORNWALLIS ISLAND. BATHURST ISLAND. KING CHISTIAN ISLAND. Indicative will be F6CIU/m/VE8 followed from the name of Island. Besides the participing 5 youngs, three Koreans and two Frenchs the expedition will be composed by : Fidonet HAM/PACKET Digest Page 5 Volume 1, Number 3 May 21, 1989 - MAURICE UGUEN, F6CIU, Producer for the French and Korean TV chanels and also the responsible of the expedition. - PHILIPPE CHABAUD LATOUR, Sound Engineer - MARK BATARD, Mountain Guide, responsable of technical appearance. - A Cameraman of TF1 and a techicien at RESOLUTE BAY principally F6IGQ A contest will be organised for the OM the more faithfuls during the expedition. Actually we are studing the rules, but will be very simple. Maximum contacts every day, with a maximum of one at a time on each band. VE2KD will be the correspond privileged, he is present every day on 14.116 around 12h00 gmt. A special QSL will be published and a certificate will be delivered for the participent of the contest. For more info: MAURICE UGUEN F 72210 ROEZE/SARTHE Ph: 33 43 77 21 81 or at @F6CIU-1....Link via FC1GHV-1. Fidonet HAM/PACKET Digest Page 6 Volume 1, Number 3 May 21, 1989 K2BSA Boy Scout Jamboree news release May 15, 1989 For more info contact: Rosalie White, WA1STO Tel: 203-666-1541 Radio Scouting at the 1989 National Scout Jamboree Amateur Radio operators will showcase their hobby at the 1989 National Boy Scout Jamboree between August 2nd and 8th. Hams will use the Boy Scouts of America's Amateur Radio call sign, K2BSA, to demonstrate Amateur Radio at Fort A. P. Hill, Virginia, to 34,000 Scouts and leaders. Stationed near the Merit Badge Midway, hams will teach radio skills to Scouts and provide for them a shortwave listening post. In addition, message-traffic-handling services will be provided to Jamboree participants. Most of the traffic will be routed in and out of the Jamboree site via packet radio, an accurate, high-speed digital-communications mode. Handling several thousand messages--to and from all states--will provide a real challenge for Jamboree staff and local traffic handlers. Two on-site repeaters (144.57/145.17 and 223.00/224.60 MHz) will be set up and monitored during the Jamboree by the K2BSA staff. Major equipment manufacturers have loaned almost all the equipment necessary to put K2BSA on the air at the Jamboree, to show their support for Scouting's role in the growth of Amateur Radio, and in providing America's youth with important knowledge and skills. K2BSA will be active for the entire Jamboree period, on all bands and modes. You can earn a special QSL card for contacting K2BSA on the air, or stop in and sign the log. You should realize K2BSA's first priority is to handle message- traffic and that the staff has a limited number of operators, so monitor the frequencies for congestion prior to calling. Agreed World Scout Frequencies (MHz) include CW: 3.590, 7.030, 14.070, 21.140, 28.190, and SSB: 3.740, 3.940, 7.090 (outside US), 7.290 (in US), 14.290, 28.350 and 28.990. A staff of 40 licensed hams include coordinator Lary Eichel, K2NA, traffic-handling station supervisor Bob Johnson, K3RC, Radio Merit Badge instruction and kit-building post leader Bill Free, W3FTG, logistics and support team chief Mike Brown, WB2JWD, BSA HQ Liaison Ray Moyer, WD8JKV and ARRL Liaison Rus Healy, NJ2L. Radio scouting brings Amateur Radio to America's youth--and Scouting provides tomorrow's leaders in business, industry and government. As the Jamboree slogan so aptly states: The Adventure begins . . . with America's Youth! Fidonet HAM/PACKET Digest Page 7 Volume 1, Number 3 May 21, 1989 CASEY STATION ANTARCTICA THE CONTINENT OF ANTARCTICA LIES ALMOST ENTIRELY WITHIN THE ANTARCTIC CIRCLE (66.33S). IT IS COVERED BY 90 PERCENT OF THE WORLD'S ICE WHICH HAS AN AVERAGE THICKNESS OF ABOUT 2000 METRES. SCARCELY 5 PERCENT OF THIS LAND MASS IS WITHOUT PERMANENT ICE OR SNOW, AND ONLY THE COASTAL ROCK OUTCROPS AND HIGHEST MOUNTAIN PEAKS PROJECT THROUGH THE ICE SHEET. THE CLIMATE FOR MOST OF ANTARCTICA IS THAT OF A COLD DESERT. IN THE REGION OF THE SOUTH POLE ABOUT 7 CENTIMETRES OF SNOW ACCUMULATES ANNUALLY AND IT HAS AN ANNUAL MEAN TEMPERATURE OF -49 DEGREES C. AS THE ICE SHEET REFLECTS MOST OF THE SUN'S HEAT BACK INTO THE ATMOSPHERE, IT COLLECTS ALMOST NO HEAT AND SIGNIFICANTLY INFLUENCES WORLD WEATHER PATTERNS. IN MAY 1983 THE WORLD'S LOWEST TEMPERATURE (-89.6C) WAS RECORDED AT VOSTOK IN THE AUSTRALIAN ANTARCTIC TERRITORY. CASEY STATION (66.17S 110.32E) LIES ON THE COAST OF WILKES LAND SOME 3800 KM DUE SOUTH OF PERTH. IT IS SITUATED IN AN AREA OF LOW ROCKY ISLANDS AND PENINSULAS, THE LATTER RUNNING A SHORT DISTANCE INLAND TO THE EDGE OF THE ANTARCTIC PLATEAU. ABOUT 25 PERSONNEL USUALLY WINTER AT CASEY BUT THERE ARE MANY MORE IN SUMMER TO ASSIST WITH THE CONSTRUCTION PROGRAM. CASEY, DAVIS AND MAWSON STATIONS ARE CURRENTLY BEING REBUILT. THE REBUILDING PROGRAM, WHICH COMMENCED IN 1978, IS EXPECTED TO TAKE UNTIL 1991 TO COMPLETE, AND INCLUDES THE PROGRESSIVE REPLACEMENT OF ALL EXISTING FACILITIES AT THE STATIONS. PLANS FOR THE REDEVELOPMENT OF THE THREE CONTINENTAL STATIONS ARE SIMILAR AND FEATURE GREATLY IMPROVED2W\ANDARDS OF LIVING FOR EXPEDITIONERS. INTERRELATED ACTIVITIES HAVE BEEN GROUPED INTO LARGER BUILDINGS AND PLANS WERE DEVELOPED TO AVOID THE PROBLEMS THAT EXIST AT THE PRESENT STATIONS. BUILDINGS ARE ORIENTATED IN A COMMON DIRECTION INTO THE PREVAILING WIND THUS ALLOWING SNOW DRIFTS TO FORM PLANNED PATTERNS AND NOT TO BURY BUILDINGS ERECTED DOWN WIND. REDEVELOPMENT PLANS ARE MADE UP OF THE BASIC SUPPORT BUILDINGS: LIVING QUARTERS, SLEEPING AND MEDICAL, TWO POWERHOUSES, WORKSHOPS, STORES, OFFICE BUILDIz=KEATION BUILDING, AND SERVICES BUILDING. ADDITIONALLY THERE ARE SPECIAL PURPOSE SCIENTIFIC LABORATORIES AND REMOTE BUILDINGS FOR RADIO TRANSMITTERS, EMERGENCY STORES AND INFLAMMABLE STORES AS REQUIRED. THE LIVING QUARTERS BUILDING HOUSE THE KITCHEN AND MESS, GENERAL Fidonet HAM/PACKET Digest Page 8 Volume 1, Number 3 May 21, 1989 LIVING AREAS, LIBRARY, CINEMA, MUSIC ROOMS, MEDICAL SECTION AND PHOTOGRAPHIC DARKROOM. CASEY WAS CONSTRUCTED BETWEEN JANUARY 1965 AND FEBRUARY 1969, THE FIRST FULL WINTERING PARTY BEING THAT OF 1969. THE NEW CASEY STATION LIVING QUARTERS WERE COMPLETED LAST YEAR AND I AM FORTUNATE TO BE 1 OF THE FIRST 23 WINTERING PERSONNEL IN THE NEW STATION. RADIO VNJ (CASEY) IS NOW CONTAINED WITHIN A MAJOR BUILDING SHARED BY THE BUREAU OF METEOROLOGY AND THE RADIO TECHNICAL OFFICERS. VNJ IS EQUIPPED WITH 3 PRIMARY TRANSMITTERS 2 OF WHICH ARE RATED AT 1KW WITH THE 3RD AT 10KW. THERE ARE A FURTHER 2 10KW STANDBY TRANSMITTERS AND 2 100W HF TRANSCEIVERS USED MAINLY FOR FIELD PARTIES AND INTER STATION COMMUNICATIONS. THREE RECEIVERS WITH DEDICATED RECEIVE ANTENNEA ARE USED FOR THE STATIONS SKEDS WITH OTHER MAJOR ANTARCTIC STATIONS TWO OF WHICH ARE DUMONT D'URVILLE (FRENCH) AND MCMURDO (U.S.A.). BOTH THE TRANSMIT AND RECEIVE ANTENNEA ARE LOCATED ABOUT 1 KM FROM THE STATION IN OPPOSITE DIRECTIONS WITH THE SITES BEING CONNECTED TO VNJ VIA HIGH SPEED DATA CIRCUITS. THE ANTENNEA, RHOMBICS AND VERTICAL LOG PERIODICS ARE ALL CONSTRUCTED FROM WIRE AS THE MAXIMUM WIND GUSTS ENSURE BEAMS OF OTHER MATERIALS ARE SHORTLIVED. CASEY STATION HAS 4 RADIO AMATEURS THIS YEAR WITH 2 SHACKS. I HAVE SET UP MY EQUIPMENT WITHIN A 20 FOOT SHIPPING CONTAINER AND WITH HELP FROM BRENTON (VK0KBJ) ERECTED A 430 MTR LONGWIRE DIRECTED TRUE NORTH FROM CASEY. BRENTON IS ONE OF THE TWO RADIO TECHNICAL OFFICERS AND REMAINS MODERATLY ACTIVE ON 15 MTRS. THE MAINTENANCE PLUMBER, JOHN VK0JV HAS SET UP HIS EQUIPMENT WITHIN HIS WORKSHOP AND ENJOYS WORKING PHONE ON 15 MTRS. THE FOURTH IS OWEN VK0LH WHO HAS REMAINED VERY BUSY ON STATION AS THE UPPER ATMOSPHERIC PHYSICIST ENGINEER. I AM FAIRLY ACTIVE ON 20 MTRS MAINLY DURING THE PERIOD 1200 - 1500 UTC ON 14005 CW OR 14155 USB. UNFORTUNATLY I WORK SHIFTS AND CANNOT MAKE DEFINATE SKED TIMES ON THE HAM BANDS. MY EQUIPMENT CONSISTS OF A TS-440S WITH A PK-232 USED IN CONJUNCTION WITH AN AMIGA 500. THE ANTENNA IS FED THROUGH AN EAT-300 TUNNER AND PERFORMS WELL ON ALL BANDS. I REGULARLY PASS QSL INFORMATION BACK TO MY MANAGER, GIL VK6AGC BY AMTOR VIA HERVE' VK6YM IN PERTH. GIL RUNS THE PACKET BBS WHICH HAS A PACKET LINK TO HERVE'S APLINK BBS AND QSL DATA IS PASSED VERY EFFICIENTLY. IN ADDITION TO THIS GIL AND I HAVE VOICE SKEDS EACH SATURDAY EVENING FOR A GENERAL CHAT. REGARDS, ROMAN VK0MP Fidonet HAM/PACKET Digest Page 9 Volume 1, Number 3 May 21, 1989 COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER CASEY STATION ANTARCTICA NOTE. SECTIONS OF THE BULLETIN ARE TAKEN DIRECTLY FROM THE ANARE (AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL ANTARCTIC RESEARCH EXPEDITIONS) HANDBOOK. Fidonet HAM/PACKET Digest Page 10 Volume 1, Number 3 May 21, 1989 Tips for the Hamfester! Thought this article was worth sharing. Excerpted from the Chenango Valley ARA newsletter the "Bullthistle Bugle" May 1989 issue. de WB2ACV @ WB2ACV TEC TOPICS: by Don Russ, N2CZL There are many reasons to go to a hamfest. The origin of the hamfest was to get hams together to swap rigs, parts and money. Lately thou there are many more reasons to go. There are lectures, presentations, manufacturers representatives, retail sales, auctions, contests, licence tests, ARRL booths, club booths, ECT. I have even witnessed people leaving without buying anything but the admission and a burger! But I'm a purist. None of that before 10 O'clock. I'm there for serious reasons. I have made it best known talent. To get that bargain! And there are a lot to be found. The best way to get the bargains is to have a plan of attack. The most vulnerable time for a person selling junk, I mean equipment, is when he is unloading it from the car. Then he is busy, distracted, and anxious to make the first sale. In many cases he hasn't thought of what he wants to ask for the thing in your hand and will take an off the cuff offer. This means you should be there first in line. This also guarantees that you get the "I have no idea what this thing-a-ma-jig is so it's fifty cents" type of bargains before someone else does. I have bought fifty dollar tools and parts that way. The best plan of attack is to skim the tables for this type of deal first. Most of my real buys occur an hour before the official start time. Ignore the tables with established parts inventories and 100 pieces of each part, they will be there later. Concentrate on the newcomers and the small tables first and then clean up the rest later. After the tables have been scanned go back for the "truffles" run. This is where you rout through every box and bag of junk on the site. Look through the 10 cents each box (Molex extractor $25.00, alignment tool $5.00) and the old junk boxes. (6CW4 new in box, variable caps for antenna tuner.) Look for small things under or in larger things. (4 voltage switching supply in old computer cabinet for $1.00, SSI204 touch tone decoder with crystals and a Z-8 controller in a dirty, scuffed cabinet, $50.00 dollar value for $5.00) Look at everything and never ask the question "What do I need this for?", ask "What can I use this in?" These seem to be the same questions but they are totally different. Also go back to the area where the latecomers are to catch the stuff coming out of the trunk. Fidonet HAM/PACKET Digest Page 11 Volume 1, Number 3 May 21, 1989 Around 10 O'clock you can take it easy and catch some of the other events and displays. Look at the parts tables and professional tables around the fest. Also grab some of the free literature and advice that you can get form the league and other organizations. Grab a burger and seltzer and then do the clean-up round. The clean-up round involves going to the tables that are packing up and giving the last minute offers. I got a great letter quality printer for my computer buy holding a conversation with the guy while he was in the process of putting it into his trunk. About the time he was about to herniate or burst a vessel he dropped the price to $25.00 and dropped it in my arms as he collapsed. The last minuet deal is the best time for the higher priced items. Some guys are counting on selling a rig to buy a new one at the retailers booth. They might make up the difference out of pocket. Never under-estimate the urge to fiddle with a new piece of equipment. This is also a good time to get free junk. Some people drop the prices to zero just so they don't have to look at it again. Bring a set of tools and scrap it there! Look in the garbage cas. You'll find that some junk was just plain thrown out. Cut out the resistors and caps, remove the switches and knobs and leave the carcasses behind. When you are in the process of making a deal ask questions, "Are there any minor problems?", "Has it ever been repaired?", "Why are you selling it?", "Where are the manuals?", "What is your call?" If you catch him in even a minor slip of the lip don't trust him. I have been given some real strange stories. If you have his call or address you can get in touch with him later. Get his address from the call book and then ask directory assistance for his number. If you can try it out, do it! Go inside and get 110 AC. If it's a rig you should hear signals if you touch the antenna connector. Try transmitting into nothing for a second. If the rig is any good it'll try to put out power. If it's a 12 volt rig pop your hood and tie it in! Computer gear should give a raster on the screen at least. I tried a LASER that was supposed to work and it didn't. The guy knocked the price to $15.00 and I found a new tube for $20.00. The original price was $50.00. Homemade equipment has a wealth of parts. This area has a lot of industry that dabbles in computers and such so you sometimes see the prototypes at the fest. These are great for parts and such. Grab a box and sit in front of your TV while un-wrapping some wire wrap. One $1.00 box can give you : 35 wire-wrap sockets at $0.50 each, a proto board for $17.00, a power supply, BNC connectors, caps and resistors, standoffs, cabinet, switches, lamps, IC's and such. If you were to buy these separately it would cost hundreds! Home-made parts are usually the kind of parts you want anyway, so these are the best sort of Fidonet HAM/PACKET Digest Page 12 Volume 1, Number 3 May 21, 1989 things to buy for parts. But the most important thing to remember is to have fun! See you at the Fest! 1928z, 603 msgs, #28620 last @KD6TH-4 MailBox> Fidonet HAM/PACKET Digest Page 13 Volume 1, Number 3 May 21, 1989 ATHENS HAMFEST -- SATURDAY, JUNE 3, 1989 The Athens Radio Club invites ham radio and electronics enthusiasts to its annual HAMFEST and FLEA MARKET. -- Saturday, June 3, 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. -- Location: Athens Tech (Hwy. 129 N, Athens, Georgia). Monitor 146.745(-) for directions. -- Free admission -- Free flea market space -- Food available (hot dogs, at least) -- Ham license exams 10 a.m. -- 12 noon (no appointment needed) -- Information: Don Bullard (WA4IML), 404-742-7261 For those not familiar with hamfests, let me add a personal word. The flea market is fascinating and is a good source of electronic bargains ($30 oscilloscopes, 25-cent tuning capacitors, and antique radios side-by-side with the newest computer peripherals). What's more, you'll meet the members of the Athens Radio Club and find out more about the exciting world of amateur radio. -- Posted by Michael Covington (N4TMI) Fidonet HAM/PACKET Digest Page 14 Volume 1, Number 3 May 21, 1989 HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 108.01 FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD APRIL 16, 1989 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT N8IWJ To Publish Monthly PROJECT DOVE PRE-LAUNCH NEWSLETTER Rich Ensign, AMSAT-NA Science Education Advisor, wants to remind amateurs that the BRAMSAT MICROSAT known as DOVE (Digital Orbiting Voice Encoder), is a unique tool to be used by educators in classrooms all over the world. It's globe-circling nature will enable it, once launched, to be used in many areas of the curriculum. DOVE's first activity, dubbed Language Arts Project 1, has students creating messages of peace in many languages to share with each other around the world. DOVE's speech transmissions with a power of up to 4 watts on a frequency of 145.970 MHz should be easily picked up on the ground by basic receivers and scanners. If you are an educator or a radio amateur who is interested in getting a school in your area involved with PROJECT DOVE, there is now available a monthly "PROJECT DOVE PRE-LAUNCH NEWSLETTER" free for the asking. Rich reports that close to 200 educators are currently receiving this publication. The newsletter is written with the "layman" in mind. It will allow educators who are not radio amateurs or even space science buffs to stay up-to-date with PROJECT DOVE as the satellite progresses toward launch. Rich is also working on a comprehensive teacher's guide to DOVE for release at launch time. Why not help a school in your area become involved with this exciting experiment in orbit. To get your target school and teacher on the newsletter mailing list write: PROJECT DOVE Rich Ensign, N8IWJ 421 N. Military Dearborn, MI 48124 USA Fidonet HAM/PACKET Digest Page 15 Volume 1, Number 3 May 21, 1989 QT 4.0 TO BE RELEASED AT DAYTON TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT QUIKTRAK 4.0 Will Be Ready For Release For The Dayton Hamvention AMSAT-NA is pleased to announce that QUIKTRAK version 4.0 (QT 4.0) will be ready for release on April 28, 1989. Those who will be attending the Dayton Hamvention will be able to obtain the first available copies of QT 4.0 at the AMSAT booth during the three days of the Dayton Hamvention. After Dayton it will be available from AMSAT-NA Headquarters. This "new" version of Bob McGwier's (N4HY) "premier" satellite tracking program not only retains many of the fine features of QT 3.2 but also allows the user more "flexibility" with the addition of several new features. For example, the number of satellites in which Keplerian data can be maintained has be increased to 100, up from the fourteen which QT 3.2 allowed; also, QTH data can now be kept for over 100 different cities. For those who have auto-tracking capability incorporated into their OSCAR station, with the up-graded "auto-track- ing" capability added to QT 4.0, you can now designate up to fourteen different satellites to be "tracked" by your "auto-tracker" in the order of their appearance at your QTH. For OSCAR users who "hate to enter data," a new "full-screen editor" has been added to ease the "data entry" process. If you enjoy watching the position of the satellites being displayed on maps, QT 4.0 now supports EGA graphics; it continues to support CGA graphics with the user choosing between the two graphics modes by a simple entry in your QTH data file. And for those who enjoy making "visual" contacts with space objects, N4HY has not forgotten you! Bob has added a new feature which will inform you whether it will be possible to visually observe a satellite from your QTH for a given time-of-day and sunlight condition. And finally, the feature in which Bob McGwier is particulary pleased with is the "mutual visibility window" option. Have you ever wanted to set up schedule with another station on an OSCAR satellite but didn't want to have to run your tracking program for both QTHs? With this added "mutual visibility" option you will get a tabular listing of AOS, LOS, MA count, and duration for all "windows of mutual visibility" between your QTH and any of the cities you have entered in your QTH database. Also, for AO-13 users, QT 4.0 will give you the time of "minimum-squint- angle" between you and a selected city. For other satellites, for example, RS 10/11, this feature will give you the "time-of-minimum range" between your QTH and the city you select. So if you are looking for that "rare DX station," this new option in QT 4.0 will definitely take the guess work out of the problem. AMSAT-NA has adopted a new policy on up-grades to QT 4.0 for those individuals who hold valid copies of older versions of the QUIKTRAK program. If you would like more information about this new "update" policy, please call Martha at AMSAT-NA HQ's at (301) 589-6062. [For owners of QUIKTRAK of Fidonet HAM/PACKET Digest Page 16 Volume 1, Number 3 May 21, 1989 3.2 and earlier versions who will be attending the Dayton Hamvention, you will be able to "upgrade" instantaneously to QT 4.0 at the AMSAT booth. Just bring your original disk to the AMSAT-NA booth and it can be done on the spot.] Fidonet HAM/PACKET Digest Page 17 Volume 1, Number 3 May 21, 1989 SHORT BURSTS HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 112.03 FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD APRIL 22, 1989 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT Short Bursts AMSAT-NA's VP of Field Operations, Jack Crabtree, (AA0P) would like to announce the following appointments of new AMSAT Area Coordinators: Vinnie Banville, WB2YGA, Waymart, PA Dick Campbell, N3FKV, Annapolis, MD Roy Robinson, K4EDU, Augusta, GA Dick Schiller, K4BQH, Crestwood, KY Each of these appointees has been highly recommended by their respective AMSAT-NA Regional Coordinator. AMSAT-NA extends a hearty welcome to each of these new Area Coodinators to the Field Operations Team. For those OSCAR satellite enthusiasts who subscribe to QST, in the May issue please take special note of the front cover. There you will find an artist conception of what the AMSAT-NA Phase IV geostationary satellite will look like as part of the ARRL's 75 Diamond Jubilee QSL card. Also, on page 37 of this May issue of QST, you will find the first of a two-part series on the MICROSATs. This article by Doug Lougmiller (KO5I) and Bob McGwier (N4HY) is only part of the MICROSAT "media blitz" which will be going on for several months to come. Fidonet HAM/PACKET Digest Page 18 Volume 1, Number 3 May 21, 1989 U4MIR/U5MIR GOES QRT HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 116.01 FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD APRIL 25, 1989 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT Mir Cosmonauts Are Scheduled To Return To Earth On April 27, 1989 According to Ron Broadbent, G3AAJ, European Mir "watchers" have been monitoring the increasing voice "traffic" between the Cosmonauts aboard Mir Space Station and ground-stations in the Soviet Union on a frequen- cy of 121.750 MHz. From all indications, the Cosmonauts aboard Mir are planning to return to earth on April 27th at approximently 02:30 UTC. One of the last tasks to be performed by the crew of Mir is to boost the Space Station into a "parking" orbit which will put Mir at an altitude of 500 km. Because of the change in the orbit, predictions based on NASA Element Set #795 [Epoch 89 108.17258843] will be "late" by about 3 minutes/day starting from April 20th. Thus by April 25th, Mir will be showing up 15 minutes later that your tracking program predicts. It has also been reported by "Aviation Week & Space Technology" [the April 17th issue] that because of a problem in the Electrical Power Subsystem, there will be no follow-up crew aboard Mir for several months; Mir will be empty until a repair team can return to fix the problem. So on Thursday April 27th, Cosmonauts Alexander Volkov, Serge Krikalev, and Valeriy Polyakov will cease their amateur radio operations from Mir. U4MIR and U5MIR will go QRT. Fidonet HAM/PACKET Digest Page 19 Volume 1, Number 3 May 21, 1989 BIS Survey Results for May 3, 1989 The results of the Chicago-based BEAR Information Service (BIS) survey appears on this BBS weekly. The survey is conducted during check-in periods Wed. evenings starting at 7:30 on the BEAR (Broadcast Employees Amateur Repeater), 145.15 MHz from Schaumburg, IL. These surveys are conducted to both provide information, and to stimulate dialogue among hams, as well as between users of telephone BBS's. The May 3, 1989, survey results are as follows: Most of us have heard about or experienced buying new ham gear that was defective in design. Do equipment manufacturers adequately field test their new transceivers before introducing them to the amateur market? 24-Yes 42-No Check-in total, 95. If you have an idea for a survey question, forward it to the N3AIA packet BBS on 145.05, or 145.07 MHz in Schaumburg, IL.; my packet maildrop in Des Plaines, IL on 144.95 MHz; on the SAMSON telephone BBS in Arlington Hghts, IL, (312) (394-0071; or on the BEAR hotline, (312) 827-BEAR. Since these surveys have been taken since mid 1986, your question may have been used already; however, if it hasn't, you will receive credit here. Credit this week goes to Larry, KD9OF. If YOU have a strong opinion about this week's survey, write down your thoughts; then phone them in to and record them on the BEAR hotline, (312) 827-BEAR, for possible airing ON the biweekly "90-second soundoff," as a guest editorial on the B.I.S and even on the RAIN Dialup Service nationally, (312) 299-INFO. 73, from Hap, KC9RP, B.I.S. producer. Fidonet HAM/PACKET Digest Page 20 Volume 1, Number 3 May 21, 1989 News Nuggets from Newington - 5/4/89 June 24-25 is Field Day! Get your Field Day publicity package while there's still time. Send your 9 X 12-inch SASE containing 4 units of first class postage to ARRL HQ, Special Requests, 225 Main St., Newington, CT 06111. Complete rules appear in May QST. The Technical Department at HQ is looking for a Laboratory Technician or Laboratory Engineer. We are looking for a licensed amateur who is ambitious, dedicated and creative. A BSEE or ASEE (or equivalent) with experience in digital and/or RF is required. Starting salary is $22,000 to $26,000. For further information, contact Jon Bloom, KE3Z, or Chuck Hutchinson, K8CH, at HQ. The ARRL Outgoing QSL Bureau at HQ sorted and mailed nearly a million cards to foreign QSL bureaus during the first quarter of 1989. There is still time to contact your ARRL Director concerning the the report of the committee to examine a possible codefree license. The report appears on page 56 of May QST. The ARRL Board of Directors will be considering at its meeting in July whether the report, with or without modification, will become League policy. Contact your Director and let your voice be heard. ARRL HQ will be open Sunday, June 11 from 10 AM to 4 PM for an open house. If your club would like to schedule a visit, please contact Membership Communications Services at HQ. BBC is off 17 meters! The good news for 17-meter fans is that BBC has vacated its 18.080 MHz broadcasting frequency when it shifted to the spring schedule. David Evans, G3OUF, Secretary of the Radio Society of Great Britain (RSGB), contacted BBC at the ARRL's request and reports that the move is intended to be permanent. The Digital Orbiting Voice Encoder (DOVE) Microsat will be launched from French Guyana in the Fall of 1989 by the European Space Agency (ESA) aboard an Ariane 4 launch vehicle. DOVE is sponsored by AMSAT's Brazilian counterpart, BRAMSAT, and its sunsynchronous orbit will allow ground stations to hear two morning passes transmitting on 145.970 MHz. For further information, contact Rich Ensign, N8IWJ, 421 N. Military, Dearborn, MI 48124. Fidonet HAM/PACKET Digest Page 21 Volume 1, Number 3 May 21, 1989 The 1989-1990 Repeater Directory is hot off the presses with over 13,000 listings including over 1,400 digipeater listings and new beacon listings! Get `em while they're hot! Three new ARRL publications have been announced! The ARRL Data Book is back by popular demand! Doug DeMaw, W1FB has expanded and completely revised the material in this handy reference for the RF design engineer, technician, radio amateur and experimenter. The new edition of Hints and Kinks for the Radio Amateur is out! This is the 12th of a series of the most popular QST "Hints and Kinks." Murder By QRM is the sixth and final ham radio adventure by Walker Tompkins, K6ATX, now a Silent Key. More than 30,000 amateurs attended the 38th annual Dayton HamVention April 28-30 representing more than 20 countries at the largest ham radio convention in the world. Three awards were presented at the convention banquet. The Amateur of the Year award went to Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF. Phil Karn, KA9Q received the Special Achievement Award. The Technical Excellence Award was given to former ARRL HQ staffer Byron Goodman, W1DX. Nuggets from Newington - May 17 Rumors have been circulating in Europe for some time to the effect that the International Frequency Registration Board (IFRB), one of the permanent organs of the ITU, had been unable to reacommodate Fixed Services stations previously registered in the 18.068 - 18.168 and 24.890 - 24.990 MHz bands, and that the IFRB therefore would be proposing an extension of the July 1, 1989, date for the transfer of the band to exclusive Amateur use. On May 10, the IFRB laid those fears to rest. In a telex to IARU President Baldwin, the Chairman of the IFRB stated: "1. The Board successfully completed the process of selection of replacement frequencies for all Fixed Service assignments in the bands 18,068 - 18,168kHz and 24,890 - 24,990 kHz and proposed the same to the concerned administrations by its circular letter no. 652 dated 11 April 1986. "2. Furthermore, all the administrations concerned were requested by the Board's letter ... dated 23 March 1989 to effect the changeover of old frequency assignments in these bands to the new frequencies by not later than 30 June 1989 so as to enable the Amateur Service to start utilizing them from 1 July 1989 in accordance with Resolution No. 8. The attention of the administrations was specifically drawn to the fact that Fidonet HAM/PACKET Digest Page 22 Volume 1, Number 3 May 21, 1989 said bands would stand automatically allocated to the Amateur Service from that date. "3. In the light of the above the Board has completed all its obligations within the specified time limits, and provided that administrations vacate the bands and authorize amateur stations to operate therein, the Board is of the opinion that there should be no difficulty for amateurs to start using the respective bands from 1 July 1989." Fidonet HAM/PACKET Digest Page 23 Downloaded From P-80 International Information Systems 304-744-2253