RE: [DX-CHAT] South Sudan
Yes, Bernie, there are several explanations for catching the same fish twice. In my own world as a wildlife biologist, it's called catch-and-release and mark-and-recapture; the fish (or other wildlife such as rabbits, deer, mice, insects, crustaceans, whatever) is caught, then tagged before release. Subsequent catches of the tagged fish or other animals are measured against catches of the same species which are not tagged. After a certain number (N) are caught and again released, a formula called the Lincoln-Peterson Index is applied to determine population numbers. Now, one might reasonably ask, how does a Lincoln-Peterson Index apply to recapture of a long gone, then reappearing DX entity such as South Sudan, I have no idea, at least not yet. Working on it... I'm still trying to recapture QSLs from QSOs in the early 1990s. For example, I made contact with only a single station from Rhode Island during my 2001 and 2004 mini-dxpeditions to VO2 despite repeated efforts. This one station responded to my CQ RI but never responded to my repeated QSL requests (I sent him SASEs, green stamps, even $5 GS, and letters) but no response thus denying me WAS from VO2. Using the Lincoln-Peterson Index (N=1), I would calculate that Rhode Island no longer exists, has gone extinct, HF-wise. Yet, QRZ.com insists that RI has a ham population of 2263. Such are the vagaries of both wildlife and ham radio populations and contacts. You win some, you lose some, but you keep playing the game. 73 de Fred Stevens K2FRD Previously VO2/K2FRD VO2FS to be QRV in summer 2012 At 7:00 PM -0400 9/7/11, Bernie McClenny, W3UR wrote: Professor Cass taught before the DXCC 2000 rule change, but I suspect there must be something that explains catching the same fish twice. The man was a genius! Guess I'll have to re-read the book, again! Bernie Bernie McClenny, W3UR Editor of The Daily DX, The Weekly DX and How's DX? Get a free two week trial of The Daily DX and The Weekly DX http://www.dailydx.com/trial.htm -Original Message- From: kf...@njdxa.org [mailto:kf...@njdxa.org] On Behalf Of Don Berger Sent: Saturday, July 09, 2011 6:18 PM To: ke...@verizon.net; dx-chat@njdxa.org Subject: Re: [DX-CHAT] South Sudan I still have all the West /Coast DX Bulletins but couldn't find the reference to catching the same fish twice! 73 K1vsk --- To unsubscribe or subscribe to this list. Please send a message to imail...@njdxa.org In the message body put either unsubscribe dx-chat or subscribe dx-chat This is the DX-CHAT reflector sponsored by the NJDXA http://njdxa.org ---
RE: [DX-CHAT] Photo QSL Suppliers?
Without carrying this discussion to extremes (i.e., my QSL card is better than your card), I used Gennady UX5UO for my last (2004) mini-DXpedition to Labrador (as VO2/K2FRD, now VO2FS). While I ordered 1500, he sent over 3000 at a very, very reasonable cost. The cards arrived back at my home QTH before I did. The cards were of my own design based on a composite/collage of representative Labrador photos on the front (gloss photo quality) and QSL info on the back. Whenever Cycle 24 kicks in enough for me to return to Labrador, I will use Gennady to print my QSL cards. Gennady is also available via K4YL k...@arrl.net, his stateside representative at the time whom I understand is no longer available as QSL liaison between the US and Ukraine. Gennady's website: http://www.ux5uoqsl.com/ . For the record, I am not an employee nor representative of UX5UO. Just a very satisfied customer. 73 de Fred K2FRD, VO2FS Prescott, AZ USA At 4:18 PM -0600 3/4/11, Doug Renwick wrote: I know others are very satisfied with UX5UO, his prices are reasonable, and I have seen some really nice cards made by him. BUT, I have never been satisfied with the cards he has printed for me. His printer messed up, he didn't follow my instructions, he always maintained he was right (arrogant to this day) , and wrong cardstock used. I did receive a full refund for the unsatisfactory cards from his U.S. associate . Doug For years I printed my own. I found that UX5UOs great quality at a good price, full color front where about a even trade off on cost (card stock and ink). 73, Gerry VE6LB/VA6XDX DXCC Field Checker-Southern Alberta VE/VA6 QSL Bureau Team (403) 251-0384 ve...@telus.net http://www.qsl.net/ve6lb/ --- To unsubscribe or subscribe to this list. Please send a message to imail...@njdxa.org In the message body put either unsubscribe dx-chat or subscribe dx-chat This is the DX-CHAT reflector sponsored by the NJDXA http://njdxa.org ---
Re: [DX-CHAT] Bouvet and Navassa, Desecheo
Ron, I think I can answer that question without need for an investigative reporter: politics. I worked very closely with USFWS in my years with the US National Park Service as a wildlife biologist. Given the constantly changing political climate and the consequent usually dramatic changes in policies (e.g., should FWS change wolves, polar bear, grizzly bear, salmon, bison, Island Marble Butterfly, etc, etc from Endangered to Threatened or take them altogether off the List? Should mining and drilling be permitted in a National Wildlife Refuge?), the US Fish Wildlife Service personnel, usually at the professional mid-management and field levels, are scared to death of doing or changing anything which might come back to bite them in the rear end one to ten years down the road. The do nothing option is the only choice they feel they have which will permit them to keep their jobs (and I know personnel who have lost their jobs by actually taking action on something). FWS is caught in the middle between hardcore environmentalists and committed open pit and petroleum miners. Most of the personnel can't be fired but if someone makes a decision that it would be OK to permit ham radio ops on Navassa or Desecheo Island, the risk is that someone might suddenly find their job has been eliminated. Thus, don't expect to see permitted operations on either island anytime soon. I hope I am wrong. I believe it will indeed require an act of Congress before we see further DXpeditions to KP1/5. Good thing for me since Caribbean contacts are difficult from my particular Arizona QTH under current propagation conditions :-( . 73 de Fred Stevens K2FRD, VO2FS Certified Wildlife Biologist, Retd At 7:55 AM -0600 2/3/11, Ron Notarius W3WN wrote: I think we need an investigative journalist to find out WHY Fish Wildlife staff for the Caribbean has ben so against ANYONE not with the agency ever officially landing on their islands. One wonders if they are covering something up, or merely... overly enthusiastic, if not zealous, about doing their jobs. There's been innuendo for years about how some of the staff uses the islands for their own purposes Mar 2, 2011 07:18:43 AM, rjai...@gmail.com wrote: There was an attempt to get Congress to open up KP1/5 but the bill died in committee. That is one avenue to pursue if we can't persuade FWS but it needs enough support. __ Ryan, N2RJ Via iPhone --- To unsubscribe or subscribe to this list. Please send a message to imail...@njdxa.org In the message body put either unsubscribe dx-chat or subscribe dx-chat This is the DX-CHAT reflector sponsored by the NJDXA http://njdxa.org ---
Re: [DX-CHAT] What to do?
Please tell me this isn't a serious thread. Maybe it's just something to keep our minds on DX while Cycle 24 warms up (if it ever does)... I should live long enough to see major DX like Cycle 23 in the late 90s and early 2000's using a tin can on a wet string on 10m. 73 de Fred K2FRD, VO2FS At 7:04 PM -0400 30/8/10, leewi...@aol.com wrote: What specific date Have a GREAT day...and keep laughing! It is good for the soul! Some people try to turn back their odometers! Ignorance can be cured.Stupid is for life, which cannot be fixed In a message dated 8/30/2010 1:00:15 P.M. Hawaiian Standard Time, joh...@nc.rr.com writes: Not to worry. A Massive Solar Storm Czar has just been appointed , and with a budget of 400b$ is about to launch a comprehensive study. John K5MO At 08:02 AM 8/30/2010, Bill Hawkins wrote: Should I take my antennas down or put more up? Bill W5EC Massive solar storm to hit Earth in 2012 with 'force of 100m bombs' Astronomers are predicting that a massive solar storm, much bigger in potential than the one that caused spectacular light shows on Earth earlier this month, is to strike our planet in 2012 with a force of 100 million hydrogen bombs. Several US media outlets have reported that NASA was warning the massive flare this month was just a precursor to a massive solar storm building that had the potential to wipe out the entire planet's power grid. --- To unsubscribe or subscribe to this list. Please send a message to imail...@njdxa.org In the message body put either unsubscribe dx-chat or subscribe dx-chat This is the DX-CHAT reflector sponsored by the NJDXA http://njdxa.org ---
Re: [DX-CHAT] vibroplex key
Steve, I obtained my first Vibroplex bug in 1961, quickly imprinted on it (hey, I was only 15) - dah with pointer finger, dit with thumb. And there is no way I could ever reverse this - lack of flexible brain power on my part. Thus, every subsequent means I used to send code was contrasted with the bug. Paddles never quite had the right feel. In my advancing sunset years, arthritis has taken its toll so back in 2001, I switched to a straight key. However, I still have my Vibroplex, albeit needing some repair and maintenance. 73 de Fred K2FRD At 3:52 PM + 19/5/08, Steve Adell - KF2TI wrote: I aquired my first vibroplex original key, circa 1963 at the Dayton Hamfest snip also, has anyone ever used a pair of paddles that were wired backward, learning code that way and then gone to a bug?? Was it hard to relearn to send with thumb giving dits? Thanks Steve A Subscribe/unsubscribe, feedback, FAQ, problems http://njdxa.org/dx-chat To post a message, DX related items only, dx-chat@njdxa.org This is the DX-CHAT reflector sponsored by the NJDXA http://njdxa.org
Re: [DX-CHAT] vibroplex key
Norm, you bring up a possibility I never before considered. It IS possible I was imprinted with a reverse dit-dah on my Vibroplex. I had always presumed pointer finger for dahs, thumb for dits was normal and since these many years I never used any other bug than my own, I've had no experience otherwise. I don't have my bug with me right now to determine if I know what I'm talking about but 47+ years of habit is difficult to overcome. Same/same paddle when I used one: I just wired it up for right paddle dah, left paddle dit. Am I getting a revelation that after all these years, this is contrary to standard practice? Arthritis-wise, I have severe arthritis in both hands (and many other body parts) which is why it's easier for me these days to use a straight key. However, my major problem with CW is writing down the message - my fingers just won't sustain more than a couple minutes of writing down callsigns and my grey cells also don't work so well on memory retention. Alas, growing old requires adaptations so I've grown quite comfortable with a straight key albeit I still have the writing problem although I'm working on computer keyboard stuff to record messages/callsigns/QTHs. In any instance, CW rules the airwaves no matter from which direction the dits and dahs come. 73 de Fred K2FRD At 2:28 PM -0400 19/5/08, Norm Gertz wrote: Fred..it appears that you obtained a bug which was configured for a left hand sender. Even today the electronic keyers almost all are reversable for dots and dashes for the same reason. My very old friend W4GK (sk) recognizing the signs of arthritis in his right hand started practicing with his left hand. He never told anyone about it and made the transition quite easily. 73 Norm K1AA Subscribe/unsubscribe, feedback, FAQ, problems http://njdxa.org/dx-chat To post a message, DX related items only, dx-chat@njdxa.org This is the DX-CHAT reflector sponsored by the NJDXA http://njdxa.org
Re: [DX-CHAT] Best BS7H quote
I never heard them so no contact, but that's alright. It's not the end of my world and just knowing they made the heroic effort to get out there is significant in my mind. However, I did make a small financial contribution via PayPal at the BS7H website http://www.scarboroughreef.com/ and I strongly encourage others to donate if they have not already done so. A DXpedition such as this costs big bucks and if those of us who didn't work them ever want to see BS7 again, a little financial assistance now will go a long way to ensuring that another trip will happen. I sure know it takes me three to four years to financially recover from my own mini-DXpeditions to VO2 Labrador (Zone 2) and I'm just a little operation (about 6000 bucks for my 2004 trip; my anticipated 2009 trip will be at least $9000); I have no idea what BS7H cost, but it had to have been in the hundreds of thousands of dollars; I understand 3Y0X cost over a million. DXing from the operation side is expensive! 73 de Fred Stevens K2FRD, VO2FS http://homepage.mac.com/k2frd/K2FRD.html At 11:56 AM -0400 6/5/07, harris_ruben wrote: The BEST quote, as reported by the XYL, was me waking her up when I yelled (on the last day)... FINALLY! The irony of it all is that today, 12 hours after they shut down, the openings from the East coast to the far East was... superb. Hong Hong, China, Korea ... all booming in. A day late and a dollar short. And my station is modest (to me). An Explorer-14 at 50', a venerable FT-990, and a kilowatt. Oh yeah, a voice-saving digital voice keyer (which also kept the noise in the house down to a minimum). Personally, I don't think this rockpile belongs on the list, and wouldn't be surprised if it's eventually removed. And congratulations to all who were in there trying, whether getting through or not. That's DX. N2ERN Moved from DX-News-- At 10:49 AM -0500 6/5/07, Gkcarr wrote: I for one missed it. Only twice did I hear very weak signals. However, I am glad for those who did log it. And Surely I can speak for many when I say thank you to all the team for your persistance, vision and courage. 73 George WA5KBH (EM30) SW Louisiana -- 73 and Yours In Scouting de Fred Stevens K2FRD, VO2FS Editor-Publisher Otschodela Council Amateur Radio Group EAGLE newsletter The only regularly published ham-Scouting newsletter in the world. No spam, no cost, no advertisements, no commitments, just ham-Scouting. http://ocarg.org Subscribe: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe/unsubscribe, feedback, FAQ, problems http://njdxa.org/dx-chat To post a message, DX related items only, dx-chat@njdxa.org This is the DX-CHAT reflector sponsored by the NJDXA http://njdxa.org
Re: [DX-CHAT] Can anyone help
At 3:05 AM -0800 21/12/06, mike giddings wrote: I have subscribed to the hfradio.org NW7US for several years but recently my email propagation forcasts/alerts stopped arriving. I know from the hfradio.org site that they have had server problems in october but do not know if this is the reason for the non arrival of these forcasts. I emailed NW7US but todate have not received a reply. Can anyone tell me if they are still receiving the space weather reports or give me an updated email address I can write to. Thanks and a very Happy Christmas to all, 73 Mike Giddings G3XLB Mike, if you receive the forecast/alert at your Yahoo address, check your spam folder to see if it's in there. If you receive it at another address, check with the operators of the email server to see if they have installed a spamblocker. As more and more ISPs and email hosts install these pieces of %^*, more and more legitimate email (usually, but not always newsletter type messages with multiple addressees) is being blocked, usually with no provision for the intended recipient to review the blocked messages. 73 de Fred K2FRD -- 73 de Fred Stevens K2FRD, VO2FS http://homepage.mac.com/k2frd/K2FRD.html Subscribe/unsubscribe, feedback, FAQ, problems http://njdxa.org/dx-chat To post a message, DX related items only, dx-chat@njdxa.org This is the DX-CHAT reflector sponsored by the NJDXA http://njdxa.org
Re: [DX-CHAT] DX Summit problems??
Jim, it's working right now (1655Z/30 Nov) http://oh2aq.kolumbus.com/dxs/hfdx25.html? although I did not check all search functions. But, I have seen this phenomenon before where it would work for some and not work for others - usually with it not working for me instead of the other way around. 73 de Fred K2FRD At 7:26 AM -0800 30/11/06, Jim Reisert AD1C wrote: The web-based search has been broken since last weekend. I sent mail to OH2AQ and OH9W Wednesday evening, have not heard back from them, and search is still broken. 73 - Jim AD1C Subscribe/unsubscribe, feedback, FAQ, problems http://njdxa.org/dx-chat To post a message, DX related items only, dx-chat@njdxa.org This is the DX-CHAT reflector sponsored by the NJDXA http://njdxa.org
Re: [DX-CHAT] QSLing tip
Amen, Charlie! It cost me about $6000 each for my two mini-DXpeditions to VO2. ANY financial relief is welcome. I get frosted when ops send QSL requests without some means to return a card (postage or GS or IRC, SASE, or even just a self-addressed envelope). About 25% of stateside ops QSL with nothing other than their cards. These get QSL responses via the bureau. And, I am very, very slow with buro QSLs (3 to 6 months). Virtually all DX stations send requests with IRCs or GSs with SA envelopes. Most stateside ops who send a self-addressed envelope also include a stamp, so I'll process these normally. But I sincerely appreciate those stateside ops who also include a GS (about 10% do so) and will respond with a short personal note. I should tighten my QSLing standards for my next VO2 Zone 2 trip (planned for 2008 or 2009) like I threatened on my VO2 webpages, but I usually cave and QSL 100% eventually, even if it's only via the buro. Soft brain at work. 73 de Fred K2FRD, VO2FS At 3:39 PM + 29/11/06, Charlie, W0YG wrote: Russ: You are right on! A lot of guys, myself included, when we return from a DXpedition, like I just have from VK9CGG where costs are not trivial (no place are the costs trivial), mine the incoming QSLs to try to make that sustain itself. What does this mean? It means in my case I open all the envelopes to see if there is money inside or an IRC inside. If there is, I remove the money or IRC, sell the IRC and buy stamps with both the money and IRC. I mark on the outside of the envelope how much was inside. I then QSL those that have supported the operation first, setting aside SASE envelopes for last. It takes about 2-3 months for the mail load to lighten up so that I can get to those SASEs. In the end, everyone who sent for a card gets his/her card, no problems. It makes sense to do it this way for me. The bottom line is if YOU have a vested interest in a DXpedition, then your input is more than likely appreciated. If you don't, well go figure! Let the flames begin 73, Charlie, W0YG, VK9CGG, VK9CG, VK9XG, VK9XX, VK9YY, ZS6YG, Z21/W0YG, Z2/W0YG, A22/W0YG, A25/W0YG, V5/ZS6YG and a few others.. -- 73 de Fred Stevens K2FRD, VO2FS http://homepage.mac.com/k2frd/K2FRD.html Subscribe/unsubscribe, feedback, FAQ, problems http://njdxa.org/dx-chat To post a message, DX related items only, dx-chat@njdxa.org This is the DX-CHAT reflector sponsored by the NJDXA http://njdxa.org
Re: [DX-CHAT] Slowing down your qsl reply
It never fails to amaze me how poorly some ops send QSL requests although I
will acknowledge and understand that some new HF ops may not yet understand how
to QSL a DX station (hence the ones sent as postcards and homebrew QSLs made
from marker pen or typed). Most DXpeditions have a website which give specific
QSL instructions and while there are some (maybe many) ops who do not have
internet, most DXpeditions also repeatedly give QSL instructions on the air.
VO2 Zone 2 isn't a rare DX location, may not even qualify for uncommon
status, but it still costs a lot of money to get there and operate from there.
Yet there are those who think it is the DX stations' responsibility to send a
QSL card under all conditions and at their expense merely upon sending their
QSL requests. Many or even most of these are serious and experienced DXers with
1x2 or 2x1 Extra callsigns or DXCC, WAZ, or even 5BDDXCC on their cards,
so have been around the block for a few years. What are they thinking?
73 de Fred K2FRD, VO2FS
PS - Thanks for the opportunity to blow off some steam. I have a pile of buro
cards sitting on my desk to which I still need to respond.
At 3:33 PM + 29/11/06, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
Hi Guys,
Good tips for getting qsls faster. Here are some things to avoid {which are
all too common}.
1. Stateside stations sending a card through the bureau to a stateside qsl
manager.
2. Sending the card in an envelope, no SASE, no return postage.
3. Sending the card with return postage, but no return envelope.
4. Sending the card as a postcard.
Be realistic. It may not have been a really rare contact, but the station or
manager will be answering hundreds or maybe thousands of requests. The DX is
not doing it to make money, but if your request either costs the DX or manager
money to initiate a card back, or they have to provide and address an
envelope, or address the card as a postcard, your request will get put in the
back of the box to be answered last, if at all. Make things as easy as you
can! Additional hint- fold back the envelope flap, or put the card between the
envelope and flap. Receiving a request with the envelope sealed shut due to
moisture will also get your equest to the back of the box.
73, Duane, WV2B
The reward of a thing well done is to have done it.-
Ralph Waldo Emerson
--
73 de Fred Stevens K2FRD, VO2FS
http://homepage.mac.com/k2frd/K2FRD.html
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Re: [DX-CHAT] QSLing tip
I'm with you, Charles. Even though I'm a techie geek, LOTW and eQSL are just two more applications to complicate my already complicated life. I like the look and feel of real cardboard QSL cards, old radios if I have storage space for them (just picked up a RT-524 based VRC-12, 1960s vintage Army mobile VHF FM which happens to have 6m capability - the seller needed rent money and offered it to me at a price I couldn't refuse), turning the VFO for DX, and running my own one-man mini-DXpeditions to VO2 land. Still, IRCs are a lot easier to obtain and exchange for postage than foreign postage stamps. And woe to the op who sends QSL requests without IRC, GS, or especially a SA envelope; he's gonna wait a long time for a response via the Buro. I hate hand addressing envelopes. I'd rather have a root canal. Or go shopping or do laundry. 73 de Fred K2FRD, VO2FS At 2:45 AM + 29/11/06, Charles Harpole wrote: I found out from answering VU4AN/VU3CHE card requests that the easiest and fastest reply went to the one USA guy who had Thailand postage on his self-addressed envelop. Also, to the several Japanese who used their version of international reply ENVELOP. Those were just so nice and easy to drop into the post box on the corner here in Bangkok on my way out to work. Of course, all the other direct cards were taken care of, but I was surprised at myself at the joyful temptation to take care of the one with the Thai stamp so easily. I am sure this would not affect the big DXpeditions with lots of QSL helpers, but my wife and I were chugging away ourselves. BTW, maybe if u are really hot to get a card, a local postage affixed is much more effective than (1) sending multiple cards for the same contact or (2) emailing the DX asking for a special search and reply. I love old-fashioned things CW, tube radios, listening for DX, paper QSLs that arrive with beautiful stamps, rag chewing, tiny DXpeditions running 50 watts to a dipole, and the other things that retain the mystery of ham radio. Good DX to all.. 73 Charles Harpole [EMAIL PROTECTED] -- 73 de Fred Stevens K2FRD, VO2FS http://homepage.mac.com/k2frd/K2FRD.html Subscribe/unsubscribe, feedback, FAQ, problems http://njdxa.org/dx-chat To post a message, DX related items only, dx-chat@njdxa.org This is the DX-CHAT reflector sponsored by the NJDXA http://njdxa.org
Re: [DX-CHAT] spam
Urb, did you click off your Yahoo Marketing Preferences, presuming you have a Yahoo ID? At 10:40 AM -0400 22/10/06, Urb LeJeune wrote: Yahoo does indeed filter both outgoing and incoming messages with Yahoo addresses, but very often overdoes it and blocks legitimate email. There is no such thing as an effective spamblocker at the ISP or mail server level, so such blockers capture some, but pass other messages. It's not a perfect system. Spam from yahoo is so bad that I filter everything received from yahoo and only skim the filtered mail in the from and subject fields. I disagree that Yahoo couldn't do more. To make spam work you have to send out a lot of mail. It's easy, at the ISP level, to check and see if a specific user is sending a large quantity of mail in a short period of time. I have about 10 active email addresses and frequently receive 5 or more messages, which pass through the Yahoo mail server, in a one minute interval. Frankly I don't think yahoo give a damm about spam passing through their server. I get almost no spam from the hotmail mail server. Please note I'm talking about mail being received from a specific mail server, not the From address which is almost always forge on spam mail. Subscribe/unsubscribe, feedback, FAQ, problems http://njdxa.org/dx-chat To post a message, DX related items only, dx-chat@njdxa.org This is the DX-CHAT reflector sponsored by the NJDXA http://njdxa.org
Re: [DX-CHAT] [DX-chat} spam
If you belong to any Yahoo Groups or have, or ever have had a Yahoo ID and/or Yahoo email address, it is important to survey your Yahoo Marketing Preferences. When one joins Yahoo, it automatically checks all the clickboxes in an account's marketing preferences such that unless they are unchecked, whole bunches of unrequested email solicitations are sent. To uncheck these clickboxes, go to My Yahoo http://my.yahoo.com/, log in, go to My Account, then scroll down to and click onto Edit Your Marketing Preferences. You'll find a long laundry list of marketing topics which, if the boxes are still checked will create a lot of unwanted email. If you have never belonged to Yahoo, then the source of such spam is someplace else. I own/moderate 13 Yahoo Groups, belong to 52 Groups, and have five Yahoo alias addresses, do not receive spam from any Yahoo addresses, but help a lot of people who do receive such spam, mostly due to the checked boxes in Yahoo's marketing preferences for members. Yahoo does indeed filter both outgoing and incoming messages with Yahoo addresses, but very often overdoes it and blocks legitimate email. There is no such thing as an effective spamblocker at the ISP or mail server level, so such blockers capture some, but pass other messages. It's not a perfect system. I'd be happy to help to trace the sources off-list, but cannot guarantee success. 73 de Fred K2FRD At 5:06 PM -0700 21/10/06, Rod WC7N wrote: I have noticed, not sure you really care, but a great deal of the spam that I get, and it seems that I get a lot and yes I have a great spam filter, comes via yahoo.com. I guess this says they don't filter their spam. Rod WC7N Subscribe/unsubscribe, feedback, FAQ, problems http://njdxa.org/dx-chat To post a message, DX related items only, dx-chat@njdxa.org This is the DX-CHAT reflector sponsored by the NJDXA http://njdxa.org -- 73 de Fred Stevens K2FRD, VO2FS http://homepage.mac.com/k2frd/K2FRD.html Subscribe/unsubscribe, feedback, FAQ, problems http://njdxa.org/dx-chat To post a message, DX related items only, dx-chat@njdxa.org This is the DX-CHAT reflector sponsored by the NJDXA http://njdxa.org
Re: [DX-CHAT] QRZ.com
At 12:56 AM + 19/10/06, Steve-KF2TI wrote: is anyone else having trouble getting into the QRZ website?t couple of days nada Thanks Steve KF2TI Steve, no trouble here in AZ although my satellite ISP is in Maryland (satellite Natl Operations Center). It might be a regional router is down. 73 de Fred K2FRD -- 73 de Fred Stevens K2FRD, VO2FS http://homepage.mac.com/k2frd/K2FRD.html Subscribe/unsubscribe, feedback, FAQ, problems http://njdxa.org/dx-chat To post a message, DX related items only, dx-chat@njdxa.org This is the DX-CHAT reflector sponsored by the NJDXA http://njdxa.org
On ARRL, BPL, Advocacy Re: [DX-CHAT] thanks for the replies
At 1:49 AM + 19/10/06, Jim Abercrombie wrote: People say ARRL does this and does that. What you are missing is the ARRL is the members, not a separate entity. You elect the directors which govern how the league functions, just as the US government does with it's elected representatives. If you don't like the direction the directors are taking, elect some new directors ar at least let them know how you feel about an issue. Have you ever spoken to your director? I bet most of you have never expressed your views to yours. I saw a post on here the other day saying such and such is the reason he no longer belongs to the League. How unfortunate! The League is the only organization standing up for us fighting BPL and other interests who want to own the frequencies we now have. Only a strong voice from a united front will help us keep what we now have. Look at BPL and how moneyed interests has brought the most serious threat we've had to our hobby. Yes it IS money that's doing the talking there. It's big business and lots of money with BPL and the FCC. N4JA Boy, Jim, I'll agree with you 100% and then some! I seriously doubt there isn't a single organization of one type or another which hasn't done something to alienate a few of its members at one time or another. However, that's really no reason to leave the organization. If one doesn't like the way one's group does business, especially if that group is the only one of its kind within one's field of interest, it is all the more important to stay inside the organization and fight for change instead of leaving it and complaining about it with absolutely no way to change it from the outside. Change in any bureaucracy comes from within, not from without. There's a few things about the Boy Scouts of America I don't like (I'm a very active and very dedicated volunteer), but I'm not going to quit BSA for those reasons. I'm gonna sit down and continue to write letters, speak up at meetings, send emails, and otherwise voice my sentiments to change the BSA system, not quit and badmouth it without doing anything to improve it while rationalizing the reasons why I left. BPL is a good example of ham's need to support the ARRL. The League is the ONLY organized opposition to BPL in the US. Almost all other organizations don't have the technical expertise to oppose it (good example: American Red Cross doesn't know AC from DC, yet could be profoundly and negatively affected if BPL becomes widespread). Those non-government organizations with technical expertise have been almost completely suppressed by government agencies with whom they have contracts while all concerned government agencies have been issued gag orders or forced to become BPL advocates (FCC, NTIA, FEMA, military, for example). In no small sense, the ARRL represents all these organizations which for whatever reason are not able to defend their own spectrum against BPL. For an in-depth series of articles on BPL and how the BPL advocates failed to overcome the ARRL and other opposition, see http://www.computingunplugged.com/tocs/issue200608.html . -- 73 de Fred Stevens K2FRD, VO2FS http://homepage.mac.com/k2frd/K2FRD.html Subscribe/unsubscribe, feedback, FAQ, problems http://njdxa.org/dx-chat To post a message, DX related items only, dx-chat@njdxa.org This is the DX-CHAT reflector sponsored by the NJDXA http://njdxa.org
Re: [DX-CHAT] Antenna Wire Thru Trees
You might be able to get away with an antenna wire through trees for a little while if it's insulated and you don't get much rain, but I've found the tree limbs abrade the insulation off and any wire-tree contact grounds the signal, especially if it's rained or snowed. My solution: firewood. 73 de Fred K2FRD At 3:58 PM -0400 15/10/06, Russell Kellam Jr wrote: I'm in the process of putting up and Extened Double Zepp cut for 40 meters(172 ft of wire). I have trees 70 ft high no problem. Getting the ends supported is no problem with my sling shot, fishing line and sinker. My problem is that there are two trees in the middle that the antenna wire must run THROUGH from end A to end B. Anybody has has had this problem and solved it, please contact me direct. The 600 ohm ladder line feed must drop between the two middle trees. Tnx 73 Russ Kellam, W4UBC Subscribe/unsubscribe, feedback, FAQ, problems http://njdxa.org/dx-chat To post a message, DX related items only, dx-chat@njdxa.org This is the DX-CHAT reflector sponsored by the NJDXA http://njdxa.org -- 73 de Fred Stevens K2FRD, VO2FS http://homepage.mac.com/k2frd/K2FRD.html Subscribe/unsubscribe, feedback, FAQ, problems http://njdxa.org/dx-chat To post a message, DX related items only, dx-chat@njdxa.org This is the DX-CHAT reflector sponsored by the NJDXA http://njdxa.org
Re: [DX-CHAT] Waiting on the Other Shoe
Ron, as a former Federal employee (US Army, US Natl Park Service), I think I can state you've put your finger on the FCC game plan. They don't like surprises and are fairly certain we don't like surprises, so they're gonna ease us into the notion that we're gonna have to learn to live without mandatory code tests. It's not unlike going from a very hot bath into a very cold shower: ya gotta do it a little bit at a time. I think the FCC is just giving us a little temperature adjustment time between baths. I'm not certain I completely agree with you on the numbers, however although it's probably more of a discussion of statistics, semantics, and speculation. I don't think we're gonna see any great upswing in ham numbers, at least to the degree to congest HF ham bands on a consistent basis i.e., recruitment of new hams. There never really has been a great influx of hams based on lightening of license requirements; the interest just isn't there except among those who would like a license without doing anything for it (vis a vis the old CB license). I suspect a certain percentage of present no-code Techs will upgrade, but I don't believe it's gonna be in massive numbers. Again, the interest and motivation isn't there. Whether we like it or will admit it to ourselves, DXers aren't exactly representative of a majority of hams (although pretty darned influential and vocal) and there's a lot of Techs out there (and Generals and Extras, albeit in increasingly smaller percentages) who have no interest in HF DX whatsoever. If anything congests HF more than it already is will be a renewed interest among those DXers who have dropped out for the duration of the bottoming out of Cycle 23 as Cycle 24 picks up and makes it easier to work DX. Just my 2 Flying Eagle cents. YMMV. 73 de Fred K2FRD, VO2FS At 1:00 PM -0500 13/10/06, Ron Notarius W3WN wrote: In reviewing comments made about the FCC changes, one thing that kept popping up was that the FCC allocated more (sometimes much more) space for voice operations than was initially asked for. For example, the original ARRL proposal was for an extra 25 kHz of phone on 75. The original FCC NPRM was for the same. Many of the comments that I read (and I did not read all of them) indicated that of those in favor of this change, 25 kHz wasn't thought to be enough; most of those that I saw proposed 50, 75, even 100 kHz more. No one expected a 150 kHz expansion of phone on 80! Why? Or to put it another way, what does the FCC staff know that we don't (yet)? My suspicion... and this is only idle speculation at this point based on an extrapolation of the data at hand... is that at some point in the next 6 to 18 months, the other shoe is going to drop. Namely, the long awaited and anticipated (pro or con) removal of Element 1 as a requirement for HF access. (Whether for some or most or all license classes, I have no idea) So... logic dictates that if you no longer need Element 1 for HF access, you have little reason to not give SOME HF access to the current crop of VHF-only Technicians, who have passed the same theory as the Tech-Plus (aka Tech w/HF, etc., you know what I mean) licenses. And obviously, giving them CW only access when they officially don't know CW would be rather silly. Catch my drift? When they become effective sometime next month, enjoy the extra elbow room on 75, 40, and 15, my friends, especially you Generals. I have a hunch that it won't be too long until those bands get very, very crowded! [Now, is that a good thing, or a bad thing? THAT is a different topic of speculation, my friends!] ...or am I way off base here? -- 73 de Fred Stevens K2FRD, VO2FS http://homepage.mac.com/k2frd/K2FRD.html Subscribe/unsubscribe, feedback, FAQ, problems http://njdxa.org/dx-chat To post a message, DX related items only, dx-chat@njdxa.org This is the DX-CHAT reflector sponsored by the NJDXA http://njdxa.org
[DX-CHAT] Computing Unplugged Magazine BPL Article
I think any ham who is concerned about the future of our hobby should read this article in Computing Unplugged Magazine on Broadband Over Powerline (BPL). http://www.computingunplugged.com/issues/issue200608/1818001.html . Be sure to click onto home http://www.computingunplugged.com/ to view the other BPL articles. While the series' intent is to present a fair and balanced summation of the controversy, it has to date been somewhat one-sided on the side of BPL and needs more input from ham radio's viewpoint. I have already submitted a lengthy message-article to the editor, received a favorable response from him, and will now have to update, clarify, and document my article for possible future publication. I am certain there are others who are far more technically oriented than I who might also think to submit a well-written letter (email message) to Computing Unplugged Magazine, especially if you have had firsthand experience with BPL interference. -- 73 de Fred Stevens K2FRD, VO2FS http://homepage.mac.com/k2frd/K2FRD.html Subscribe/unsubscribe, feedback, FAQ, problems http://njdxa.org/dx-chat To post a message, DX related items only, dx-chat@njdxa.org This is the DX-CHAT reflector sponsored by the NJDXA http://njdxa.org
Re: [DX-CHAT] Computing Unplugged Magazine BPL Article
The Follow The Money section incensed me and was the basic inspiration for my long email to the Editor. His innuendoes and insinuations were way out of line, so I answered them point by point and took him to task for making such accusations which border on libel. As it turns out, the Editor responded in a very positive manner to my message, requested permission to publish it which I granted with the proviso that he may do so if I clarify, update, and document some of my statements (I needed to confirm that the ARRL does not have any fulltime lobbyists nor office in DC and to track down the League's grassroots program which I have done, among several other things including the fact that BPL CAN be made to be interference-free as evidenced by the Motorola BPL installation at League HQ) and that the ARRL's Annual Report is online showing that it does not receive funds from DSL and cable providers. I have until Wednesday to finish the document, so have dropped a few projects to concentrate on the article. It won't be my best work since I usually spend weeks on articles for publication. However, the Editor is also very active in Boy Scouting (with which I compare the ARRL's non-lobbying efforts and general lack of political influence and controversy). I had presumed Computing Unplugged would be swamped by ham responses to his article and am still hoping that others with more expertise and different perspectives than I will send more technical and debate information. I am also going through recent back issues of QST looking for buzzwords, position papers (there's a good one by Frank Fallon N2FF and the League's grassroots lobbying effort) and additional information along with an emphasis on the politicalization of BPL at the FCC and NTIA levels. Oh, the original link may have unwrapped resulting in a 404 error. Here it is again: http://www.computingunplugged.com/issues/issue200608/1818001.html . Back to work. 73 de Fred K2FRD At 10:50 AM -0500 14/8/06, Ron Notarius W3WN wrote: I no longer have any doubt that the editor of this publication is biased. The following paragraph was on the page right after the comment box ... willing to look at, and print, both sides. Fair reporting at its best. And I quote [see Why are we giving BPL all this coverage from http://www.computingunplugged.com/]: Follow the money We're still trying to figure this one out. From all we know of the FCC and their desire to protect the radio spectrum, I have some trouble accepting the claims of the ham operators. It seems to me that it's likely to have been doubtful that the FCC would approve this technology if it was broadcasting as intensely as the hams claim. Whenever there's a dispute this strong, I always look to where the money interests are. We know where the interests of the BPL advocates are. After all, they have chips, equipment, and services to sell. They have a clean, apparent reason for pushing their agenda. I'm not so sure about the ARRL. The ARRL is a membership organization, but it's also a very well-connected political organization as well. How many of the ham radio operators who contacted us experienced problems on their own and how many just read the lobbying documents provided by the ARRL in the organization's magazine? Who's funding the ARRL? Do the cable providers and DSL providers have an interest in this debate? After all, BPL is a direct competitor to cable modems and DSL services. Or is this truly the case of one technology interfering with another? Frankly, if it were just ham radio operators unable to play with their toys, this debate would be a non-issue. Ham radio is really a technology of the 20th Century. It was exciting back then when you couldn't call any country easily except with a ham radio. It was exciting when you couldn't talk to anyone when they were out and about unless they had an operator's license Un freaking believable. Now if I read this correctly, the author is implying... perhaps smearing would be more precise... that the ARRL is against BPL because of hidden funding from DSL and cable providers. And we don't know any better. Keep in mind that the ARRL has said countless times, and I'm paraphrasing here, that the issue wasn't BPL, it was QRM from the early BPL test configurations. And ARRL has been cooperating with one BPL variant (from Motorola if I recall correctly) which has proven to date to NOT cause interference. But I guess it's just easier as to brand the League, and all of us, as the old geezers who won't get out of the way. Don't bother with the little details, you know, like the facts. G. Subscribe/unsubscribe, feedback, FAQ, problems http://njdxa.org/dx-chat To post a message, DX related items only, dx-chat@njdxa.org This is the DX-CHAT reflector sponsored by the NJDXA http://njdxa.org
Re: [DX-CHAT] Computing Unplugged Magazine BPL Article
The the moment, I'm giving the editor the benefit of the doubt and will wait to see how he treats my article, presuming it gets published. I lean toward this attitude since, as I mentioned in my incomplete run-on sentence in my last post that he is active in Boy Scouting as am I, and also an Eagle Scout. Scouting teaches tolerance, so I'm being tolerant, at least for now. (Vietnam taught me the other end of the spectrum which is also still with me.) However, my article was (and still is) quite defensive of ham radio's and the ARRL's non-political, non-partisan (in regards to all but ham radio and especially not to special interest groups), and generally non-controversial essence, while being critical of the editor's presumptive insinuations against ARRL and ham radio operators. I am still incensed, but am trying to get beyond that with a rational coherent message; normally, like you, I wait 24 hours before making a response so that I cool off. My initial message from which I am building a foundation is somewhat lukewarm at the point and I'm still trying to moderate the invective and rhetoric. I also presumed that on this list, of all lists, where members are inclined toward argumentation that many would respond with their own invective, especially on the topic of BPL which WILL adversely affect us all. Of course, many probably are just cooling off themselves. :-D 73 de Fred K2FRD At 3:20 PM -0500 14/8/06, Ron Notarius W3WN wrote: Well, it is early in the day yet. I plan on writing something to the editor; I just don't want to do it right now while my dander is up. Can't very well expect the editor/author to stick to fair and balanced reporting unless I try to do it myself... What's really sad is the implication, on face value, of his libel (and that's what it is, IMHO): The primary, if not sole, reason that the ARRL is opposed to BPL is because they must have been paid off to do so by BPL's commercial competitors. So if we're not for you, we must have been bribed to be against you? Oh, as far as the lobbyist thing goes, I thought the League did have someone in DC to represent our interests. But I don't recall the details, and hesitate to comment further without them. (Hopefully someone more in touch with that than I am can get you more specific and accurate information). By the way, do take note that the author/editor indicates at one point that he was once interested in amateur radio and getting a license. Makes one wonder why he didn't, and whether or not he has some ulterior motive in his little smear there. 73 -- 73 de Fred Stevens K2FRD, VO2FS http://homepage.mac.com/k2frd/K2FRD.html Subscribe/unsubscribe, feedback, FAQ, problems http://njdxa.org/dx-chat To post a message, DX related items only, dx-chat@njdxa.org This is the DX-CHAT reflector sponsored by the NJDXA http://njdxa.org
Re: [DX-CHAT] FCC Database
Hi Urb-- By callsign: http://svartifoss2.fcc.gov/reports/callsign.cfm By name: http://svartifoss2.fcc.gov/reports/licensee.cfm OR (older) http://gullfoss2.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/genmen/licensee.hts By everything: http://svartifoss2.fcc.gov/reports/index.cfm 73 de Fred K2FRD At 3:17 PM -0400 7/1/06, Urb LeJeune wrote: Is the FCC amateur radio database still searchable online? If so, what is the URL. Tks, Urb, W2DEC -- 73 de Fred Stevens K2FRD, VO2FS http://homepage.mac.com/k2frd/K2FRD.html Subscribe/unsubscribe, feedback, FAQ, problems http://njdxa.org/dx-chat To post a message, DX related items only, dx-chat@njdxa.org This is the DX-CHAT reflector sponsored by the NJDXA http://njdxa.org
Re: [DX-CHAT] Fuel Pump Noise
Steve, the RFI reflector at Contesting.org recently had a thread on this topic.
http://www.contesting.com/FAQ/rfi . [Not so recently; I just checked. See next
PP.]
[Saved you some searching. Here's a summation of fuel pump noise topics:
http://lists.contesting.com/archives//cgi-bin/namazu.cgi?query=fuel+pumpsubmit=Search%21idxname=RFImax=20result=normalsort=score
Nothing specific on Subaru, but it'll give you some ideas or maybe you can join
the reflector and ask.]
I'd go back to the Jeep. My Grand Cherokee gets up to 23 mpg, no RFI. Too many
front end problems with Subarus with which I have been associated; offsets the
savings on gas. X;{
73 de Fred K2FRD
At 8:20 PM + 6/16/06, Steve-KF2TI wrote:
Good afternoon, since losing the Jeep (15 mpg) for a Subaru Wagon
(28+ mpg), I hve reinstalled my setup:
Icom 706/turbo tuner/Little Targheel antenna (using Tri-Magnet
mounts..I had to, no place to mount antenna brackets and I don't like
those ball mount thingies, as the car washes keep yanking them off)
What I would like is some advise as I have definte fuel pump noise,
primarily on 20 meters about every 3-4 kc about S4 that goes away
when you turn off the engine
K2BJ's site is down or off completely and he had some great ideas
posted there. I went to K0BG's site and he mentions fuel pumps but
oiffers no fix (unless I missed it)
Anyone have experience in either eliminating or reducing fuel pump
noise..short of getting another car that is
Thanks
Steve KF2TI
--
73 de Fred Stevens K2FRD, VO2FS
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Re: [DX-CHAT] [DX-NEWS] IRC's
Moved to DX-Chat... People, we're talking about the US Postal Service here, not Mensa. I'll wager 85% of postal employees have never heard of an IRC; 95% of the other 15% have no idea how to treat with them, let alone be able to read the manual to figure out if or when they expire. I'm a fulltime RVer, stop at the most convenient Post Office wherever in the US I might be, have had only ONE postal clerk show a glimmer of recognition when I whipped an IRC on her; Oh, an IRC! You must be a ham radio person.. (I think that was in Friday Harbor, WA.) 73 de Fred K2FRD At 8:34 PM + 6/13/06, Barry wrote: So why would anyone want to buy IRCs at the going rate of $1.30, then get 84 cents at the post office? Barry, W2UP Ron Notarius WN3VAW wrote: John, I did a little checking after you email'd me last night, and there was also mention of this in The Daily DX recently (although I'm on a break at work right now, so I don't have my DDX archive handy can't tell you which issue -- I'm sure Bernie will if need be!). Bottom line is that it appears that USPS regulations regarding IRC's were NOT updated when the current large expire-this-year IRC's were issued -- and to date still haven't. So, it appears that to rely on being able to redeem current IRC's after 31 December is not wise. I'd strongly suspect that USPS regulations may be updated by that date. If not, and if a sufficient number of expired IRC's are redeemed (or attempted to be redeemed) after that date, USPS regulations will be quickly updated. In short: Don't get caught holding the bag. Assume that IRC's expire at the end of the year and plan to use and/or redeem them accordingly beforehand! 73, ron wn3vaw From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Date: Tue Jun 13 13:28:54 CDT 2006 To: DX News dx-news@njdxa.org Subject: [DX-NEWS] IRC's I read a recent comment on one of these DX reflectors about the cancellation date on the new larger IRC's. It basically said that this date relates to issuing (selling) them, and does not relate to how long we have to redeem them at the post offices for stamps. It said there is no drop dead date for redemption at a post office. I lost track of this comment article, and and hoping someone will help direct me to the source. Thank You John Owens - N7SEJ -- 73 de Fred Stevens K2FRD, VO2FS http://homepage.mac.com/k2frd/K2FRD.html Subscribe/unsubscribe, feedback, FAQ, problems http://njdxa.org/dx-chat To post a message, DX related items only, dx-chat@njdxa.org This is the DX-CHAT reflector sponsored by the NJDXA http://njdxa.org
Re: [DX-CHAT] [DX-NEWS] Montenegro's independence
[Moving To DX-Chat] Ranko, we wish you, your people, and your new country all the best and peaceful of fortunes. May Lady Independence and all the DX Gods smile down upon you and hoping for you and yours a prosperous and long life. 73 de Fred K2FRD, VO2FS At 11:27 PM +0200 6/3/06, YU6SCG wrote: As soon as we become new DXCC country, large international team will activate DXpedition as inaugural operation from Montenegro. More to come latter Ranko - YT6A -- 73 de Fred Stevens K2FRD, VO2FS http://homepage.mac.com/k2frd/K2FRD.html Subscribe/unsubscribe, feedback, FAQ, problems http://njdxa.org/dx-chat To post a message, DX related items only, dx-chat@njdxa.org This is the DX-CHAT reflector sponsored by the NJDXA http://njdxa.org
Re: [DX-CHAT] Working yourself on DXPeditions
I had several remotely-operated internet-controlled PSK contacts while in Labrador two summers ago. One contact in particular was in Germany using his Austrian callsign, but actually making contact with me through a transceiver in Boston using a W1 prefix before his own callsign (W1/OE8xxx). While we had several pleasant QSOs, if he had QSLed me for VO2 for his OE QTH, I would not have been able to justify sending him a Zone Two card. The below reminds me of a guy serving as his own lawyer. He put himself on the stand, then for each question he would ask of himself, he went down to the floor to ask the question, then return to the stand to answer his own question. It got ridiculous when he asked himself to repeat the question. QSL direct, save yourself a little postage $, a lot of waiting time via the Buro, and send yourself as many green stamps as you have in your wallet. :-D 73 de Fred K2FRD At 1:59 + 04/04/2006, Steve-KF2TI wrote: On a different slant, I read, recently, in QST that you can set up some software that will allow remote operation of your own radio from anywhere in the workd, provided you have access to the internet and another computer So, I set this up and what?? the Tango Italy station go ahead Thank you This is KF2TI u r 59, name is Steve over Tnx Steve this is kp2/kf2ti, I am also 59. BTW how do i sound over Kp2/kf2ti, this is kf2ti I sound great over Rgr me, do i qsl buro or direct up to you 73 have i hope i have a good operation Rgr that I am sure I will -- 73 de Fred Stevens K2FRD, VO2FS http://homepage.mac.com/k2frd/K2FRD.html Subscribe/unsubscribe, feedback, FAQ, problems http://njdxa.org/dx-chat To post a message, DX related items only, dx-chat@njdxa.org This is the DX-CHAT reflector sponsored by the NJDXA http://njdxa.org
Re: [DX-CHAT] modern radio design not friendly
Charles et al, it is my understanding that most (all?) newer modern (e.g., within the past ten years) radios use EEPROMs (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory) in lieu of memory batteries to preserve settings, menu items, etc. A form of EEPROMs are Flash Memory cards used in digital cameras, computers, memory sticks, video games, etc. which are the type probably found in up-to-date rigs. None of my three current Kenwoods (TS-2000, TM-261, TM-G707) have memory batteries which need to be replaced; the EEPROMs keep menu items and settings in place when the power supply is disconnected. Alternatively, I have two older Kenwood TS-50s in which I have had to replace the memory batteries about once every five years or so. While it was not as much of a PITA as you describe for your TS-231, it still required disassembly, desolder of the old batteries, and hard solder of the new batteries into place. Worse, they were special (proprietary?) batteries only available from Kenwood and they weren't cheap. Some details: http://computer.howstuffworks.com/rom5.htm [Note: I am no longer a radio engineer, have been out of the loop for too many years, so the above description and utilization of EEPROMs (which had not been developed when I was active) may not be entirely accurate. Also, I have heard there is, or has been some use of very slow discharge RC circuits to replace memory batteries; I do not know if this is still being done.] HTH. 73 de Fred K2FRD At 11:05 + 31/03/2006, Charles Harpole wrote: I just had a genius take my old out of warrantee TS-231 fm 2 meter radio apart to change the back up battery which had gone bad and was affecting correct functioning of the radio also both dial lights had gone bad. This guy had to take that radio COMPLETELY apart with tiny parts falling out of their seats, with the foam cushion on the push buttons going bad, and after three or 4 panels were disassembled, there was the battery and it was SOLDERED IN. This kind of design is unforgivable in ham radios... Obviously, the radio is designed to fail with the life of the battery and changing the battery in most high cost labor markets would make the cost of what should be a simple act... changing a battery... come out to cost as much as a new radio. We hams have got to take a firm stand against such design and only support those manufacturers who design radios TO LAST and last 73 \ -- 73 de Fred Stevens K2FRD, VO2FS http://homepage.mac.com/k2frd/K2FRD.html Subscribe/unsubscribe, feedback, FAQ, problems http://njdxa.org/dx-chat To post a message, DX related items only, dx-chat@njdxa.org This is the DX-CHAT reflector sponsored by the NJDXA http://njdxa.org
Re: [DX-CHAT] OT: [N3SH] RFI issues with the neighbors
Might want to join the RFI group http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/rfi ; lots of experts there. 73 de Fred K2FRD At 20:45 -0500 19/03/2006, Ron Notarius WN3VAW wrote: If anyone on the list can give Steve some suggestions, please email him directly at [EMAIL PROTECTED] He's a good guy, up to his eyeballs, and if anyone deserves a chance to be QRV on those rare occasions when he has time, it's Steve. [BTW, the Breezeshooters contest referred to is the annual groundwave 10 meter contest sponsored by the local 10 meter group (who preceed 10-10 by, oh, about 15-20 years or so, but I digress). It used to be on Thanksgiving weekend, it's now split into a CW night (last month) and SSB night (last night)] 73, ron wn3vaw -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Sunday, March 19, 2006 7:16 PM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: [N3SH] RFI issues with the neighbors Ok, so I'm now the designated Channel Master in my neighborhood. I dusted off the HF rig and actually operated for several hours last night in the Breezeshooters 10m contest. All was well until.. my backyard neighbor stopped over tonight to ask me if I was on the air last night from say, 7 until midnight. I told her I was, and then she described her daughter's touch lamp going on and off, and my melodious voice coming over her computer speakers. My station grounding is questionable, at best so I know I'll have to address that. Does anyone have any recommendations for filters/chokes to put on my neighbor's appliances to alleviate the interference? My only experience like this was a few years ago with a cheapie cordless phone, and a couple of snap-on chokes from the Rat-Shack did the trick. BTW- I was operating 100w SSB into my trusty Cushcraft R-5 vertical. de Steve, W3SRL -- 73 de Fred Stevens K2FRD, VO2FS http://homepage.mac.com/k2frd/K2FRD.html Subscribe/unsubscribe, feedback, FAQ, problems http://njdxa.org/dx-chat To post a message, DX related items only, dx-chat@njdxa.org This is the DX-CHAT reflector sponsored by the NJDXA http://njdxa.org
Re: [DX-CHAT] Sun's next 11-year cycle could be 50 pct stronger
Chicken Little was right: the sky has fallen. At 16:46 -0500 07/03/2006, harris ruben wrote: Something's happening on the sun: all the sunspots have vanished. Probably some wild left wing plot. We knew it all along. Subscribe/unsubscribe, feedback, FAQ, problems http://njdxa.org/dx-chat To post a message, DX related items only, dx-chat@njdxa.org This is the DX-CHAT reflector sponsored by the NJDXA http://njdxa.org
Re: [DX-CHAT] Any budding poets out there?
Ac! I'm mortified! :'( (Not that it was all that great shakes to begin with.) =D Too bad one of the moderators doesn't have a name that rhymes with ane or ame. Maybe Urbane? (For Urb, maybe... just a thought ... OK, I'll stop thinking...) Zack, I think the gist of the comments we get back are gonna be along the lines, Don't give up your day jobs.. :-D Well, it was fun for a few moments. Now back to some rare DX. Maybe California or New York... Always 73! Fred K2FRD At 14:27 -0600 06/03/2006, Zack Widup wrote: Limericks have certain rules and rhythm associated with them. May I reword it a bit? A list moderator named Shane Never got nuthin' but blame Some members were bad Got deleted, so sad But that was their price for defame (Well, I tried!) :-) 73, Zack W9SZ On Mon, 6 Mar 2006, Fred Stevens K2FRD wrote: Ron, I'm no limericist, but this one's for you, Steve, Urb, and all the rest of us who own/moderate groups (lists, reflectors): A LIST'S MODERATOR IS PART OF THE GAME, HE'S GONNA GET NOTHIN' BUT BLAME. WHEN A MEMBER IS BAD, HE'S DELETED, SO SAD, BUT THAT'S THE PRICE WHEN YOU DEFAME. Pretty bad, huh? (Feel free to use it if nothing else comes in.) 72 de Fred K2FRD -- 73 de Fred Stevens K2FRD, VO2FS http://homepage.mac.com/k2frd/K2FRD.html Subscribe/unsubscribe, feedback, FAQ, problems http://njdxa.org/dx-chat To post a message, DX related items only, dx-chat@njdxa.org This is the DX-CHAT reflector sponsored by the NJDXA http://njdxa.org
Re: [DX-CHAT] PSK-31 on DXPeditions
Bill, I can't argue very much with your well-thought out comments about PSK on DXpeditions. My last mini-DXpedition in 2004 (3 months) to Zone 2 VO2 in Labrador was 95% PSK-31. I evolved to this mode as a power consideration (gas for generators in Labrador is EXPENSIVE - over $3 USD per gal in 2004) and because I got tired of fighting for SSB and CW bandwidth at that low time of Cycle 23. PSK from VO2 worked well for me on both counts while others' mileage may vary. BUT... - While I don't mind a good ragchew from time to time, I tried to keep the QSOs short by sending my QSL info macro, then QRZ? to cut off the distant end and permit others to make the contact. Far too often, the distant end didn't realize I was trying for maximum contacts and just wanted to move on; thus came the barrage of brag macros, many of them quite lengthy (several minutes, time enough for a bathroom break). Some either ignored the QRZ? or didn't know what it meant, so then came the Brag macros. - Brag macros are, as you said, a waste of time unless I ask for specific information on his operating conditions. I don't need to know - I *DO* want to know the ops name and QTH , but this isn't an excuse for the contact to go into depth on the weather, his family situation, and description of his dog's recent surgery and will I give him some assistance adjusting his soundcard. Name and QTH takes only one or two lines. - People that don't know how to type at least a little shouldn't be on digital modes which require keyboard use or, at least, not try to contact busy DX stations for practice. PSK typed at 3 or 4 words per minute (15 to 20 characters per minute) by hunt and peck really, really slows things down, especially if the contact tries to send more than basic contact info. - Over-powered signals (up to 20 watts is usually adequate) and sound card levels set too high will distort signals and will badly QRM adjacent and not-so adjacent signals. On occasion, this is merely a function of propagation, e.g., a huge signal from northern VE7 kept blocking out stations calling me. Turns out he was QRP with into an inverted Vee. PSK-31 (and PSK-63) is new enough that many ops aren't familiar with its protocols and even more ops don't know DXpedition protocols (some did not even know what a DXpedition was nor QRZ? means). It's important a DX station try to include the fact that he's on a DXpedition in his CQ macro, in line with Bill's CQ although I didn't think to include No Brag in mine, just to let answering ops know that the QSO should be kept short. Next time (2008?)... 73 de Fred K2FRD, VO2FS, ex-VO2/K2FRD http://homepage.mac.com/k2frd/Labrador2004.htm At 7:54 -0500 04/03/2006, Bill wrote: PSK-31 takes up too much time. I am sure most people on DXPeditions want to make as many contacts as they can. Isn't that the reason they go? I know this is true for me. I go on 2-3 DXPeditions a year. I just got back from Ascension Island as ZD8WX and I tried few times to do some PSK-31. It seems that the majority of PSK-31 operators think it is necessary to send the DX station their brag micros.. It should be know by now that we are not interested in the type of computer, MB of RAM, your radio set up, name of your printer stand, XYL's time of the month, etc. This takes up lots of time and I am sure that most DXPeditioners are not interested in this information. All I want to see is a report and maybe your name. I recommended everyone that does PSK-31 make up some extra short DXPedition type micros. One that says: DX Station de your call 599 BILL K (ZD8WX DE W4WX 599 BILL K) Not: DX Station de your call YOUR REPORT TODAY IS 599-599-599-599. MY NAME IS JOHN JOHN JOHN JOHN HOW DO YOU COPY BTU BTU BTU K Keep it short! I have had replies, even before the station knew I was coping him at all, come back with a micro with over 20 lines Leave out all the fancy stuff like, , **, (((, end of transmission, time, date, Hell, we know the time and date.. I even sent a CQ like this and still get the brag stuff in a reply: CQ CQ CQ NO BRAG INFO DE ZD8WX RST NAME ONLY K I will try PSK-31 again on the 21st thru 31st from Haiti. Keep it short. If not I will QSY to another mode. I have my ZD8WX cards so send your QSWL request direct to W4WX. Bill W4WX -- 73 de Fred Stevens K2FRD, VO2FS http://homepage.mac.com/k2frd/K2FRD.html Subscribe/unsubscribe, feedback, FAQ, problems http://njdxa.org/dx-chat To post a message, DX related items only, dx-chat@njdxa.org This is the DX-CHAT reflector sponsored by the NJDXA http://njdxa.org
Re: [DX-CHAT] [DX-NEWS] Antenna reflector (FWD to DX-Chat
Bill, to which antenna reflector (list, group) do you refer? There are hundreds of them including my own Live-Wire http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Live-Wire/ and Buddipole Groups http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Buddipole/ (3500+ members total). /shameless plug I also moved this over to the DX-Chat list to keep Steve and Urb's blood pressure down (not to mention saving my own neck by almost responding to DX-News). If you don't happen to belong to DX-Chat, I've also sent this to your own address. 73 de Fred K2FRD At 11:34 -0500 03/03/2006, Bill wrote: Will someone please tell me the URL for the antenna reflector? Bill W4WX -- 73 de Fred Stevens K2FRD, VO2FS http://homepage.mac.com/k2frd/K2FRD.html Subscribe/unsubscribe, feedback, FAQ, problems http://njdxa.org/dx-chat To post a message, DX related items only, dx-chat@njdxa.org This is the DX-CHAT reflector sponsored by the NJDXA http://njdxa.org
Re: [DX-CHAT] Future DXpeditions
Tom et others who have run or plan to run Dxpeditions-- I've also run a couple DXpeditions myself (Zone 2 - VO2). I am absolutely POSITIVE that there were some out there who didn't like the frequency, band, nor mode I was on at that particular moment, didn't like the speed or technique with which I handled the pileups, and probably decided they just didn't like me; some even contacted me by email with their gripes. I got criticized because I didn't do AMTOR, MFSK, PSK-63, SSTV, EME, SatCom, nor RTTY to Asia on 160m in the middle of the day. Why wasn't I on the Sporadic E opening on 6m last night? People didn't like it because I had a pipeline to Zero-land and didn't answer their (S1 inaudible) calls from Six land. People didn't like it if I spent a few moments to learn the operators' name. Would I switch to 12m CW to fill in the last hole in his CW WAZ? (Won't take a moment and the pileup will wait.) Why didn't I operate closer to the coast for better contact with east Europe? No matter what you do nor where you go nor how you operate, there will ALWAYS be SOMEONE to criticize. The only way to avoid it is to not go at all. Someone on this side of the puddle once said, If you were to read the Declaration of Independence on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial on the Fourth of July, there would be someone to protest it.. The same is true of Dxpeditions. Forget 'em. As we said in the Army, FIGMO (translation provided offlist upon request). Just go where you want, do what you want when you want and how you want, and above all, HAVE FUN! If the armchair pilots don't like it, let 'em run their own DXpeditions. 73 de Fred K2FRD, VO2FS At 21:08 + 21/02/2006, Tom Wylie wrote: I am just about to go on an expedition to Benin TY with three friends - 15 - 31 March. I have previously been to VP8, V2, OY, 3D2, T30, T33, W7, VE7, VK6, 9V1, HL and a few others. I go on these trips because I want to.I really dont care what other people think.When out there, I will do my best to make as many QSOs as possible on as many bands as possible using as many modes as I am competent on, and take special delight on giving the little guy a new one. If anybody does not like my operating skills, techniques, preferences or anything connected with my expedition, then TOUGH - thats their problem. It wont be a problem for me. I have no time for arm chair Dxers, who do little more than bitch about everything. Some of them should get off their butt now and again and try it out. I am open to constructive criticism as I try to do better on each expedition, but I hate time wasters, and all the other moaners. Sorry if I am a little blunt - but if you cant stand the heat - get out of the kitchen. Tom GM4FDM -- 73 de Fred Stevens K2FRD, VO2FS http://homepage.mac.com/k2frd/K2FRD.html Subscribe/unsubscribe, feedback, FAQ, problems http://njdxa.org/dx-chat To post a message, DX related items only, dx-chat@njdxa.org This is the DX-CHAT reflector sponsored by the NJDXA http://njdxa.org
Re: [DX-CHAT] Peter I
Title: Re: [DX-CHAT] Peter I I'm right behind you on this, Urb. On the lists which I own/moderate, the free speech, censorship, and constitutional rights issues come up on occasion. I disabuse the complainants' notion that these lists are run as a democracy, especially if they spout profanity, politics, religion, or personal attacks. As Dictator For Life (albeit benevolent) in my groups, I have on rare occasion exercised MY right to delete and/or ban offending members with no rights of appeal. 73 de Fred K2FRD At 21:39 -0500 20/02/2006, Urb LeJeune wrote: The last time I looked The Constitution still allows me, and you, the right to express our opinions. That's true but the constitution does not give you the right to express your opinion on this reflector. We have rules. Urb
Re: [DX-CHAT] FW: [N3SH] Tower litigation
Thanks for the info, Ron. Jim WB4GCS is fighting the good fight for all of us. 73 de Fred K2FRD At 22:41 -0500 20/12/2005, Ron Notarius WN3VAW wrote: Thought I'd share some good news for those of you interested in tower-related zoning litigation... Contact WB4GCS direct for more info. 73, ron wn3vaw -Original Message- From: Jim Sanford [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Tuesday, December 20, 2005 8:47 PM To: Subject: [N3SH] Tower litigation All: Yesterday a hearing was held in Washington County (PA) Common Pleas Court regarding the appeal by my neighbor against the Township for granting the variance in support of my 110 foot tower on 10 acres zoned A-1. Appellant's attorney argued that my tower constitutes a public utility transmission tower and therefore my guy anchors are subject to additional setback. (All previous arguments against granting the variance were unstated.) He stated that his client has measured the distance from the property line and that I do not comply with the additional setback. (Which means he trespassed, ignoring my Posted NO Trespassing signs. Which I've discussed with my attorney.) The Judge questioned Appellant's attorney regarding his client's written, I oppose ANY tower. Attorney said we're beyond that, and said that his client had tried to engage me in conversation regarding alternative locations, and no response. (FACT: In the first conversation, his proposed alternatives were illegal, in an easement for HV power lines to be built, or technically unacceptable, requiring a 300 foot tower to clear the hill and trees. I always told him to make an offer through my attorney, on the advice of my attorney. He never did) My attorney argued that: a variance wasn't really required due to an exception in the code, given that it was requested, the Zoning Board acted properly and the rules regarding public utility facilities didn't apply Sounded to me like they were clutching at straws. Appellant's attorney argued that since I'd applied for a variance, I was obligating myself to the extra rules. To which my attorney responded, Judge, somebody at the Township told him he needed a variance, so he complied rather than arguing. Surprisingly (to many in the court), the Judge had obviously read the submissions, and was familiar with the marked-up survey I submitted to the zoning board. When it was over, I was told to expect a ruling no sooner than the first of the year. Tonight I came home to an email from my attorney. He ran into the Township Solicitor today, who told him he'd seen the order -- appeal denied. The order won't be released until Appellant pays some filing fee,. so I'll be more comfortable when I get my copy. (I don't know why they didn't make him pay up front . . ..) So, good news -- for now. Given his promise to spend $50k - 60K in litigation, I'm waiting for his next move. Thank you all for your advice and support. 73, Jim [EMAIL PROTECTED] -- 73 de Fred K2FRD, VO2FS http://homepage.mac.com/k2frd/K2FRD.html Free Subscription To OCARG EAGLE, a monthly newsletter for ham radio Scouters http://homepage.mac.com/k2frd/ocarg.htm for info. Subscribe/unsubscribe, feedback, FAQ, problems http://njdxa.org/dx-chat To post a message, DX related items only, dx-chat@njdxa.org This is the DX-CHAT reflector sponsored by the NJDXA http://njdxa.org
Re: [DX-CHAT] [DX-NEWS] Fw: [80m] Wierd broadband noise on 80m
Forwarded to DX-CHAT Uh-oh. I think I might know, but I gotta send an email to someone. This may take awhile. I don't have an HF antenna up yet, so can't check it out for myself. I don't believe it's ham based. Will post here if I reach any conclusions. 73 de Fred K2FRD At 17:34 + 11/10/2005, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: I didn't get any response from the 80m reflector so I thought I would try here. I still hear the noise at 9:30am local time. Very weak now. de Paul, W8AEF - Original Message - From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: 80m [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Tuesday, October 11, 2005 4:06 AM Subject: [80m] Wierd broadband noise on 80m First, I am 20 miles North of downtown Phoenix, Arizona Several hams in the Phoenix area hear a broadband noise. I hear the noise from 3325 KHz to 3515 KHz, and at 3450 KHz it can be as much as 30 dB above my noise floor, on both my 80m 4sq and my K9AY loop. It appears to be coming from the Northeast. It consists of 1 second of 1000, 2000, 3000, then 1 second of 500, 1000, 2000, 2500 then 1 second of 250, 500, 750, 1000, 1250, 1500, 1750, 2250, 2750, 3000 then 1 second of 2000 then quiet for 20 seconds and it repeats. Anyone have any idea where this noise is coming from ? de Paul, W8AEF -- 73 de Fred K2FRD, VO2FS http://homepage.mac.com/k2frd/K2FRD.html Free Subscription To OCARG EAGLE, a monthly newsletter for ham radio Scouters http://homepage.mac.com/k2frd/ocarg.htm for info. Subscribe/unsubscribe, feedback, FAQ, problems http://njdxa.org/dx-chat To post a message, DX related items only, dx-chat@njdxa.org This is the DX-CHAT reflector sponsored by the NJDXA http://njdxa.org
RE: [DX-CHAT] Fw: [80m] Wierd broadband noise on 80m
This **MAY** be over-the-horizon HF radar from Canada according to the project engineer of the US OTHR company. He cautions that while his OTH radar never operates at this low a freq, it is within the capabilities and very occasional use of the Canadian site(s). Don't take this information to the bank. It would be useful if someone could pinpoint its source more precisely with HFDF. 73 de Fred K2FRD At 17:34 + 11/10/2005, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: First, I am 20 miles North of downtown Phoenix, Arizona Several hams in the Phoenix area hear a broadband noise. I hear the noise from 3325 KHz to 3515 KHz, and at 3450 KHz it can be as much as 30 dB above my noise floor, on both my 80m 4sq and my K9AY loop. It appears to be coming from the Northeast. It consists of 1 second of 1000, 2000, 3000, then 1 second of 500, 1000, 2000, 2500 then 1 second of 250, 500, 750, 1000, 1250, 1500, 1750, 2250, 2750, 3000 then 1 second of 2000 then quiet for 20 seconds and it repeats. Anyone have any idea where this noise is coming from ? de Paul, W8AEF -- 73 de Fred K2FRD, VO2FS http://homepage.mac.com/k2frd/K2FRD.html Free Subscription To OCARG EAGLE, a monthly newsletter for ham radio Scouters http://homepage.mac.com/k2frd/ocarg.htm for info. Subscribe/unsubscribe, feedback, FAQ, problems http://njdxa.org/dx-chat To post a message, DX related items only, dx-chat@njdxa.org This is the DX-CHAT reflector sponsored by the NJDXA http://njdxa.org
Re: [DX-CHAT] What Has Happened to HF?
I can only speak for myself and the areas in which I have travelled and worked HF (2 7-lands, VO2), but HF activity for me has been high for the past year, the diminished propagation due to the bottoming out of Cycle 23 notwithstanding. In the past couple weeks or so, where I'm at right now in upstate NY (teaching Radio MB at a Scout Camp), I haven't been able to hear much of anything on any bands due to propagation (or the lack thereof); haven't been able to hear any HF broadcast stations either. However, at the moment (2205Z), I can hear a few stations on 20m and can hear WWV on 15 mhz for the first time in a couple weeks. Makes it tough to teach Radio MB and, hopefully, induce a couple kids into ham radio. At 15:11 -0500 23/07/2005, Bill Jackson wrote: Is it just me, or has their been a significant drop in the amount of on the air activity on HF over the past year or so? I realize conditions have not been the best lately, but having been a ham through several sunspot cycles, I must say that I have never heard all of the bands lacking signals, both foreign and domestic, as they appear to be lacking now. This morning, VR2IG was on 20m calling CQ with an S9 signal. I spotted him on the cluster, but no one else called him, even after he was spotted. Now, I realize that VR2 is not all that rare for a seasoned dx'er, but I remember in years past when a JA could generate a pileup! He finally gave up and went QRT without another stateside station giving him a call. -- 73 de Fred K2FRD, VO2FS http://homepage.mac.com/k2frd/K2FRD.html Free Subscription To OCARG EAGLE, a newsletter for ham radio Scouters http://homepage.mac.com/k2frd/ocarg.htm for info. Subscribe/unsubscribe, feedback, FAQ, problems http://njdxa.org/dx-chat To post a message, DX related items only, dx-chat@njdxa.org This is the DX-CHAT reflector sponsored by the NJDXA http://njdxa.org
Re: [DX-CHAT] [DX-NEWS] Black Holes ???
Best way to send anything via US Postal Service is inclusion of Delivery Confirmation (DC): Only 45 cents for envelopes or 55 cents for packages/parcels. DC permits online tracking and enables the Postal Service to locate a missing parcel. 73 de Fred K2FRD, VO2FS At 4:58 -0400 17/07/2005, Larry, K4WLS wrote: ~ 600 cards and large check mailed to ARRL Outgoing QSL Service on 08 JAN 05. Cancelled check not received. Phon Conv with Wayne Mills: Head of QSL Service resigned in JAN 05, no record of cards or check received. Subsequent Phone Conv with new Head of QSL Service: No record of QSL's or Checks recieved prior to June 2005. Records now being kept. Did my 3 large pkgs of cards make it to ARRL via USPS ?? Did my cards make it out of ARRL, on their way, and my check get lost ?? Was informed by ARRL (new QSL Service Head) that there were calls from 6 - 8 other Hams in USA (not a specific area) saying that their cancelled check for cards sent had not been received. This was for ~ JAN - MAR 2005. DX: If you had a QSO with me in the past 3 Yrs and have not received my QSL via bureau, and need my QSL for state, county, or grid, please QSL direct via QRZ.COM. You pay your postage. I will pay my postage to you, and enclose 2 IRC's to refund your postage. Due to very failing health, I am just not able to go back and re-do the ~ 600 cards that I am not sure made it to/out of ARRL QSL Service. If all this wasn't DX News to you, it sure was to me. Please post further comments on DX-Chat. Thanks for use of this list. My incoming direct/bureau cards are important to me, and so are the cards that I send out in response to PSE QSL VIA BURO. MNI TKS DX-News !!Larry, K4WLS -- 73 de Fred K2FRD, VO2FS http://homepage.mac.com/k2frd/K2FRD.html Free Subscription To OCARG EAGLE, a newsletter for ham radio Scouters http://homepage.mac.com/k2frd/ocarg.htm for info. Subscribe/unsubscribe, feedback, FAQ, problems http://njdxa.org/dx-chat To post a message, DX related items only, dx-chat@njdxa.org This is the DX-CHAT reflector sponsored by the NJDXA http://njdxa.org
Re: [DX-CHAT] satellite Internet
Speaking only for myself, I could never go back to a dialup connection after having been on broadband systems (cable and satellite) for four years. When I am forced into using a dialup or other slow system (e.g. when I'm in Labrador; also, I used a cellphone connection when on the road), it's so slow that I get very frustrated. Further, I use the internet to pay all my bills and I do heavy eBay traffic - most secure websites just won't download or download so slowly (15 to 30 minutes for one page in the extreme) as to make snailmail appear to be at warp drive. At 11:32 -0600 28/12/2004, Bill Hawkins wrote: It seems from the answers I received that Direcway is the choice. It is costly! For us that live way out in country, it may be the only way to get fast internet. For us who live way out in the country and have a phone line, we must weigh cost vs speed. Thanks for replies. Bill W5EC -- 73 de Fred K2FRD, VO2FS http://homepage.mac.com/k2frd/K2FRD.html Free Subscription To OCARG EAGLE, a newsletter for ham radio Scouters http://homepage.mac.com/k2frd/ocarg.htm for info. Subscribe/unsubscribe, feedback, FAQ, problems http://njdxa.org/dx-chat To post a message, DX related items only, dx-chat@njdxa.org This is the DX-CHAT reflector sponsored by the NJDXA http://njdxa.org
Re: [DX-CHAT] satellite
At 13:25 -0600 27/12/2004, Bill Hawkins wrote: Since satellites were mentioned this morning it reminded me- I wonder if anyone is using satellite internet and what is satisfaction level? I live way out in country and can't get cable or dsl. Bill W5EC Bill, I use a portable tripod-mounted Direcway satellite internet system and have been very pleased with it for the year that I've had it. I got it from Maxwell Satellite http://www.maxwellsatellite.com which gives great tech support; I've moved and used it perhaps 20 or 30 times from coast to coast, NY to FL to WA and am now in AZ. Downside is that I need a larger dish in northern Canada (especially VO2 Labrador where I run mini-DXpeditions). On occasion, Direcway's satellite or National Operations Center in Maryland goes down for a few minutes and sometimes the system slows down due to weather or general internet problems, but these occurrences don't happen too often. It's not as fast as my old RoadRunner cable, but it's way faster than dialup; measured download speed is 750kbs, upload varies widely depending upon the site to which I am uploading, but measured speed is 250kbs; both may vary one side or another. A fixed home-based system will be about the same since the portable system is identical to the fixed system except for physical mounting fixtures. With my portable system, I can go anywhere and as long as I can see the southern sky in the US, I have access to the internet. Cost for my portable system was $1500 (now $1650) and monthly service from Direcway is $59.95. -- 73 de Fred K2FRD, VO2FS http://homepage.mac.com/k2frd/K2FRD.html Free Subscription To OCARG EAGLE, a newsletter for ham radio Scouters http://homepage.mac.com/k2frd/ocarg.htm for info. Subscribe/unsubscribe, feedback, FAQ, problems http://njdxa.org/dx-chat To post a message, DX related items only, dx-chat@njdxa.org This is the DX-CHAT reflector sponsored by the NJDXA http://njdxa.org
Re: [DX-CHAT] 425 DXNews From Pete's DX Newsdesk
I've been receiving the 425 DXN from Pete's DX Newsdesk http://groups.yahoo.com/group/petes-dx-newsdesk/ ; it hasn't missed an edition, so I've been able to stay current since the direct 425DXN mailings ceased. It's also in English, no download necessary. At 13:14 +0100 20/12/2004, F4EFI - Gwenael wrote: If you want to subscribe (or unsubscribe), please send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with either subscribe (or unsubscribe) in the subject line (leave the body of the message blank) We should be grateful if you could pass the information on to 425DXN subscribers of your knowledge. -- 73 de Fred K2FRD, VO2FS http://homepage.mac.com/k2frd/K2FRD.html Free Subscription To OCARG EAGLE, a newsletter for ham radio Scouters http://homepage.mac.com/k2frd/ocarg.htm for info. Subscribe/unsubscribe, feedback, FAQ, problems http://njdxa.org/dx-chat To post a message, DX related items only, [EMAIL PROTECTED] This is the DX-CHAT reflector sponsored by the NJDXA http://njdxa.org
Re: [DX-CHAT] Web based alternative
I own or moderate some ten Yahoo Groups lists, all for ham radio, including the Amateur Radio Moderators' list http://groups.yahoo.com/group/AmateurRadioModerators/ . While Yahoo has its problems for owners/moderators (e.g. the bouncing members' lists), it has a lot of flexibility and options for members and is easy to use. If this is the direction the NJDXA decides to go, I'll have no problem with it. HOWEVER (big however), I have always found it refreshing to subscribe to a list for which I don't have to log in periodically, don't have to put up with advertising and seemingly endless trailers, and isn't dependent upon Yahoo's vagaries of service (e.g. This site is currently unaccessible or cannot process your request at this time). I would be opposed to an online web-based forum or blog-type forum for reasons previously stated by others and the relative slowness of having to download a separate webpage each time a window is changed. Email is so much faster and convenient. Also, I suspect at least a few on either/both DX-NEWS or DX-CHAT are using Blackberries or text-only PDAs which are or may be incapable of downloading/uploading webpages. At 11:07 -0500 06/12/2004, Peter Dougherty wrote: At 10:10 06-12-04, Urb LeJeune wrote: A web-based alternative may not be ideal but is it worse then no list at all? Perhaps until a different more human-based e-mail reflector host is found, why not just migrate to a ubiquitous Yahoo group? While I'm no real Yahoo fan, they are mostly effective and somewhat ideally suited for groups like ours. Digest format is available as are individual e-mails, full list maintenance, etc. What's more, their service offers a calendar, a file storage area, database, etc. Again, not ideal (it blocks e-mail addresses and has some on-line advertising), but certainly a usable option. I'm on over 40 of these for other hobbies and professionally and I'm generally pretty happy with them. I subscribe to another e-mail list and I'll ask the listmoms if there's space for these two lists, but I wouldn't bet the farm on it. -- 73 de Fred K2FRD, VO2FS http://homepage.mac.com/k2frd/K2FRD.html Free Subscription To OCARG EAGLE, a newsletter for ham radio Scouters http://homepage.mac.com/k2frd/ocarg.htm for info. Subscribe/unsubscribe, feedback, FAQ, problems http://njdxa.org/dx-chat To post a message, DX related items only, [EMAIL PROTECTED] This is the DX-CHAT reflector sponsored by the NJDXA http://njdxa.org
[DX-CHAT] Unable To Post Spots On DX Summit
For some months, I've been unable to post spots onto the OH2AQ DX Summit site: http://oh2aq.kolumbus.com/dxs/hffonedx50.html? (this is just one of the many groupings). I post and nothing shows up no matter which choice of pages I select. I've sent emails off to OH2AQ, but no answers. Anyone else having this problem? Suggestions? TIA and 73 de Fred K2FRD/VO2FS -- 73 de Fred K2FRD, VO2FS http://homepage.mac.com/k2frd/K2FRD.html Free Subscription To OCARG EAGLE, a newsletter for ham radio Scouters http://homepage.mac.com/k2frd/ocarg.htm for info. Subscribe/unsubscribe, feedback, FAQ, problems http://njdxa.org/dx-chat To post a message, DX related items only, [EMAIL PROTECTED] This is the DX-CHAT reflector sponsored by the NJDXA http://njdxa.org
RE: [DX-CHAT] Unable To Post Spots On DX Summit
All-- Thanks all for both onlist and offlist responses. For clarification since several contacted me offlist with suggestions to obtain spots from various other clusters: I am able to access DX Summit just fine and get all the spots I want; my problem is that the spots I upload onto DX Summit are not appearing. My spots upload OK on the Submit URL http://oh2aq.kolumbus.com/dxs/input2.html? (question mark doesn't seem to make any difference) including receipt of the thank you note after submission, but nothing shows up in the spots. In previous years, I had no problem uploading spots; mine were usually double posted with the @ indicating a parallel post to the Telnet and packet clusters. However, my recent posts seem to disappear into cyberspace. Last time I remember successfully posting a spot was in February or March; sometime shortly after this, my spots stopped showing up on DX Summit. I was in VO2 land all summer, so had no internet access. I'm now in western Arizona and like everyone else am listening for VU4 and, while waiting for VU4 to show up 59 have been tuning around the bands for other DX and, finding some, would like to post spots for the benefit of others. I was wondering if someone had a different email address for OH2AQ or OH9W (both @ sral.fi), neither of whom nor which have responded. Or, if that fails, knowledge of who to contact at OH2AQ or OH9W (Helsinki Radio Club). Maybe they just don't like me. I last successfully posted to DX Summit last Spring, almost the last time I was DXing with regular internet access (I live la dolce vita as a fulltime RVer with a portable satellite internet system and often travel to various parts of North America where I can't see my satellite). It was shortly after this when I found my submissions were not being posted. -- 73 de Fred K2FRD, VO2FS http://homepage.mac.com/k2frd/K2FRD.html Free Subscription To OCARG EAGLE, a newsletter for ham radio Scouters http://homepage.mac.com/k2frd/ocarg.htm for info. Subscribe/unsubscribe, feedback, FAQ, problems http://njdxa.org/dx-chat To post a message, DX related items only, [EMAIL PROTECTED] This is the DX-CHAT reflector sponsored by the NJDXA http://njdxa.org
Re: [QRsliss]: Re: [DX-CHAT] New Countries
As an owner/moderator of some 16 Yahoo eGroups, I'm being plagued by these spam filters. They're worse than the spam itself: often, the automated anti-spam message is sent to the entire group. Meantime, because the original message bounces, the sender ends up on the bouncing members list where I have to spend considerable time to clear his account and subscription. I've put the word out: bouncing members who are on the bouncing list due to spam filters are subject to immediate unsubscription. At 10:07 -0500 10/07/2003, Zack Widup wrote: Someone using the e-mail address sliss is using a service called Quikcop to stop any e-mail to him that isn't in its database as permissible e-mail. I say don't bother. If he wants to miss out on the things posted to dx-chat, that's his problem. I don't know why he signed up for the group anyway if he's just going to block it out. -- 73 de Fred Stevens K2FRD http://home.stny.rr.com/k2frd/K2FRD.htm Subscribe/unsubscribe, feedback, FAQ, problems http://njdxa.org/dx-chat To post a message, DX related items only, [EMAIL PROTECTED] This is the DX-CHAT reflector sponsored by the NJDXA http://njdxa.org
[DX-CHAT] Military frequencies
WX5L wrote: Is there a listing of military HF frequencies that are being used in Iraq? From the Live-Wire list: You might catch some air transport traffic on some of the frequencies shown on this site: http://www.ute-monitor.org/aerolist/ In addition, here's a list of mil freqs picked up on a usenet list: Top 100 Military Shortwave Frequencies (Note: Some frequencies are changed occasionally, however the majority of the following are active.) Frequency (MHz) Mode Description 1. 11.175 USB Air Force GHFS primary days 2. 6.739 USB Air Force GHFS primary nights 3. 4.725 USB Air Force GHFS 4. 8.993 USB Air Force GHFS 5. 9.014 USB Air Combat Command (ACC) ops. 6. 11.243 USB STRATCOM primary days 7. 6.761 USB STRATCOM primary nights 8. 6.812 USB MYSTIC STAR primary AF-1/AF-2 SAMs 9. 11.246 USB Air Force GHFS McClellan/MacDill AFB 10. 13.201 USB Air Force GHFS (old SAC S-394) 11. 13.215 USB Air Force GHS Andrews?MacDill AFB 12. 13.244 USB Air Force GHFS 13. 5.680 USB search rescue all military 14. 5.696 USB Primary USCG aviation (nights) 15. 8.984 USB USCG (primary days) secondary nights 16. 6.697 USB U.S. Navy HICOM 17. 11.267 USB U.S. Navy HICOM 18. 9.023 USB NORAD primary nights 19. 13.241 USB STRATCOM (old SAC) 20. 3.113 USB STRATCOM Sierra 302 21. 13.205 USB STRATCOM 22. 13.217 USB STRATCOM X-Ray 906 23. 13.247 USB Mystic Star/Andrews AFB?STRATCOM 24. 15.091 USB ACC (secondary) tactical ops. 25. 3.369 USB STRATCOM Alpha Sierra 26. 4.495 USB STRATCOM Sierra 304 27. 4.721 USB Mystic Star/Andrews AFB 28. 18.002 USB Air Force GHFS (discrete) 29. 18.046 USB Air Force GHFS 30. 5.020 USB STRATCOM Foxtrtot 31. 17.972 USB STRATCOM (discrete) 32. 17.975 USB Air Force GHFS 33. 20.631 USB STRATCOM (old SAC Whiskey) 34. 20.846 USB ACC tactical (old SAC Charlie Alpha) 36. 8.872 USB Navy anti submarine warfare ops. 37. 5.197 USB Air Mobility Command (AMC) ops. 38. 18.027 USB AMC ops. 39. 11.214 USB NORAD 40. 5.297 USB NORAD 41. 9.793 USB NORAD 42. 10.194 USB NORAD 43. 10.452 USB NORAD 44. 5.328 USB STRATCOM 45. 11.441 USB NORAD 46. 14.364 USB NORAD 47. 20.855 USB NORAD 48. 5.826 USB STRATCOM Papa 382 49. 6.826 USB STRATCOM Golf 50. 7.330 USB STRATCOM X-ray-Yankee 51. 7.983 USB STRATCOM Foxtrot Charlie 52. 8.101 USB STRATCOM Alpha Papa 53. 9.057 USB STRATCOM Sierra 309 54. 10.452 USB STRATCOM Oscar 55. 6.735 USB NORAD Charlie Two 56. 9.232 USB NORAD/CAP 57. 14.894 USB NORAD 58. 20.855 USB NORAD 59. 3.383 USB ACC 60. 3.365 USB ACC 61. 3.394 USB ACC 62. 4.474 USB ACC 63. 11.016 USB ACC 64. 11.214 USB ACC 65. 6.715 USB Aerospace Rescue Recovery Service 66. 11.440 USB Aerospace Rescue Recovery Service 67. 4.582 USB Civil Air Patrol (emergency and calling) 68. 4.466 USB Civil Air Patrol (CAP) 69. 4.627 USB CAP 70. 5.700 USB ACC tactical ops. 71. 3.023 USB search rescue 72. 4.416 USB Navy HICOM Pacific Fleet 73. 8.711 USB ACC tactical 74. 10.267 USB ACC 75. 10.665 USB ACC 76. 4.700 USB Navy Anti Submarine Warfare Pacific 77. 4.702 USB Navy Anti Submarine Warfare Atlantic 78. 5.446 USB USMC tactical nets 79. 6.687 USB USMC special convoys 80. 13.181 USB Navy HICOM Pacific 81. 6.673 USB Hurricane Hunters primary nights 82. 13.267 USB Hurricane Hunters primary days 83. 5.562 USB Hurricane Hunters secondary nights 84. 11.510 USB ACC 85. 11.240 USB ACC 86. 4.540 USB Royal Air Force 87. 5.729 USB Royal Air Force 88. 6.690 USB Royal Air Force 89. 6.730 USB Royal Air Force 90. 8.990 USB Royal Air Force 91. 11.249 USB Canadian Air Force 92. 6.746 USB Canadian Air Force 93. 13.257 USB Canadian Air Force 94. 5.800 USB ACC tactical/STRATCOM Whiskey 100 95. 6.753 USB ACC tactical 96. 8.964 USB ACC tactical (discrete) 97. 11.627 USB ACC tactical 98. 17.975 USB Air Force GHFS 99. 15.041 USB STRATCOM (old SAC Mike channel) 100. 23.419 USB STRATCOM/NORAD intercommunications -- 73 de Fred Stevens K2FRD Chenango Co. (NY) Assistant Emergency Coordinator Foothills District, Otschodela Council BSA Committees Otschodela Council (BSA) Amateur Radio Group KZ2BSA: http://home.stny.rr.com/k2frd/ocarg.htm K2FRD Personal Adventure page: http://home.stny.rr.com/k2frd/K2FRD.htm Six-County (NY) ARES: http://home.stny.rr.com/k2frd/SCARES.htm The OCARG EAGLE monthly Scouting/Ham Radio newsletter: http://home.stny.rr.com/k2frd/Feb03EAGLE.htm ; Subscribe to the EAGLE (no cost, no spam, no ads): mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] . Fred's latest toy: http://home.stny.rr.com/k2frd/M1911A1.htm . Subscribe/unsubscribe, feedback, FAQ, problems http://njdxa.org/dx-chat To post a message, DX related items only, [EMAIL PROTECTED] This is the DX-CHAT reflector sponsored by the NJDXA http://njdxa.org
Re: [DX-CHAT] Speaking of DXCC...
I hate to be the bearer of bad tidings, Ron, but the Isle of Moosylvania is squarely in the middle of the Seminole Indian Reservation. The members of WASH will have to discover another new DXCC entity; or, perhaps they might want to work on developing a 51st state so that 52nd state can be brought into the Union. OR, you and WASH can help me on my latest new-DXCC entity project: obtaining DXCC entity status for all the 600 or so Indian Reservations in the U.S. Since by treaty, each reservation is a sovereign nation, isn't it about time the DXCC desk and the IARU people recognize this fact and grant them their own prefix? After all, they have their own governments, police and courts, systems of taxation through casinos, and languages, so it's only logical they have their own prefixes (prefices?). For example, the Oneida Indian Reservation just north of me could be OIR2xxx (would need three letters in the suffixes). Think what this would do for DX hunters! It would open a whole new world of DXing! There would be a new award: WAIR (Worked All Indian Reservations). And instead of a measly 326 DXCC entitites, there would be more than 900! Waddya think? 73 de Fred K2FRD At 12:53 -0400 04/09/2002, Ron Notarius WN3VAW wrote: Now that we've finally got this uploaded... Considering the discussion the last few days about DXCC entities, I thought some of you might appreciate an article in my club's newsletter about a potential new DXCC entity that has yet to be activated. You can find the article in the September 2002 issue of the WASHRag at http://www.washarc.org (just follow the links to the newsletter page) on Page 6. I know... the thought of a new enitity is almost like a fairy tale, although to some a fractured one at that. But read the story first and then decide. -- 73 de Fred Stevens K2FRD Chenango Co. (NY) Assistant Emergency Coordinator Foothills District, Otschodela Council BSA Committees Otschodela Council Amateur Radio Group http://www.ascent.net/thefred/ocarg.htm K2FRD Personal Adventure page: http://www.ascent.net/thefred/K2FRD.htm Fred's newest toy: http://www.ascent.net/thefred/M1911A1.htm . Subscribe to the OCARG EAGLE monthly Scouting/Ham Radio newsletter (no cost, no spam): Send email to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] . For a narrative of my VO2/K2FRD Labrador DXpediton: http://www.wpe.com/~oarc/news/page5.html . Subscribe/unsubscribe, feedback, FAQ, problems http://njdxa.org/dx-chat To post a message, DX related items only, [EMAIL PROTECTED] This is the DX-CHAT reflector sponsored by the NJDXA http://njdxa.org
