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Dunestar summary

Subject: Dunestar summary
From: Steven.M.London@att.com (Steven.M.London@att.com)
Date: Tue Aug 2 11:07:00 1994
Thanks to AA6MC, KU4J, K0PP, KR0Y, WX0B, KR9U, AB6FO and W2VJN for their
comments on Dunestar bandpass filters.

Steve London, N2IC/0
n2ic@longs.att.com

------------------------------------------------------
Dunestar has designed the powdered iron cores out of the filters.
The overheating of both the ICE and Dunestar filters was mainly in
the cores.  The durmica caps were also heating, but not to the point
of destruction.  Dunestar is now using NPO ceramics and says they are
less lossy.  

I ran extensive tests on both manufacturer filters a while ago before
they were changed because of the failures experienced by people.

I have no info on degradation from band switching.
------------------------------------------------------
I can say that I have the older filter and run a TS950 with 150 watts with no
problems. I have never measured attenuation.
------------------------------------------------------
Hi Steve, Our radio club bought two of the Dunestar 150 watt filters
for Field Day this year.
Out of the box one did not work at all, and the other didnt work correctly
on 40 meters.
The first one had ferrite beads on the leads shorting to a trace in the
switching lines and had burnt the trace into and carbonized the PC board.
That got to the second problem.
The design of the filter is such that the top of the tank (double tuned
circuits) drops back to the PC board which crosses to the other side of the
filter under a shield. The PC board could not handle the 50 Watts that
I was putting into it and arced to the ground plane.
After cutting pads down in size to get further away from ground we were
able to use one for Field Day, the other, I could not get 40 meters working
at all.
I havent called Dunestar yet as I figured I would just redo the filter
to get it working before next Field Day. Unless Dunestar has changed
the design, it wouldnt be worth my while even messing with the mailing
and, hopefully not but, probably redoing them again anyway.

I have heard on no other experience with Dunestar other than these two filters
that we have.
------------------------------------------------------
I have two sets now of the model 6xx ( 150 watt ) 6 band filters
and They work very well.  we are able to run 3 bands at the same
time on one ( 1 ) tower.

I was one of the first to get the 150 watters ( I think, I inspired
Ron to build them ) and my first one blew 10 meters causual
dxing at 150 watts from my ic781...Ron sent me a 10 meter
module to replace the broken one free.

It was easy to replace. 4 solder points.  10 minuets.  Done.

The units are isolated with barier walls between all the filters. and a
isolateion wall in between elements of each filter...
I think they are great.

attenuation is not noticable..all coils are air windings.

Used with an amp at 65 watts for ( 1500 w ) you will not blow them up, We
used them all contest season with no other failures

I also have a 20m single unit and its also excellent.
------------------------------------------------------
I have a 100w Dunestar and it works pretty well.
Loss much higher on 10/15 than any other band.
Might ask Ron if new ones are the same.
------------------------------------------------------
I saw (and fondled) the Dunestar unit at the Seaside (Oregon)
hamfest this spring.  Wasn't open, but "looked" nice.  I'm not
a potential user however, due to the power limit ... I have an
FT-1000 ... 200W+

I've used (borrowed) ICE filters and will be buying a set of them
before the next contest season.  They're very satisfactory.  Will
buy with BNC's as use them atop each radio and the change-over
time not signifigant.
------------------------------------------------------
My neighbor has two of the new 160 - 10m Dunestar filters that
he uses with an FT-1000 and they can definitely handle 150W w/o
smoking. I didn't have a method to measure the insertion loss but 
would guess that it's very small (few .10th of db) (no audible 
difference when switched in/out).  He is using a DX Solutions Smart
Antenna Switch to drive the Dunestart filter that way everything
is automatic when he changes bands on the radio.  The new Dunestar
has a DB-9 connector on the end to control band switching and can
be set for positive relay logic (default) or negative logic (12v).
------------------------------------------------------
I have the Dunestar 600 as well as the ICE single-band bandpass filters.  I
don't have the equipment to answer your questions objectively, but subjectively
the Dunestar is much more convenient than the ICE filters, but the Dunestar
doesn't seem to provide the same isolation as the ICE filters.  A fairer
comparison might be to have ICE filters with a pair of switching boxes (like
Top Ten Devices or Ameritron RCS-8Vs).  I rejected that solution because of the
amount of clutter in the shack; two switching boxes plus six ICE filters and
twelve coax jumpers was a bit much for one rig, and I would have to double it
for two rigs.

I believe the specification of the Dunestar indicates less isolation than the
ICE filters.  I don't recall what those specs are, though.  I have it at home
and I'll try to remember to write it down for you over the weekend.

My exciter has 100 watts of output, and I haven't blown up the Dunestar yet.  I
heard some war stories about their earlier model, but I understand the 600 to
be more robust.

I plan to add another Dunestar 600 soon.

>From Morao Esteban <z801183a@bcfreenet.seflin.lib.fl.us>  Tue Aug  2 17:52:23 
>1994
From: Morao Esteban <z801183a@bcfreenet.seflin.lib.fl.us> (Morao Esteban)
Subject: ARRL FTP?
Message-ID: <Pine.3.89.9408021203.A18701-0100000@bcfreenet.seflin.lib.fl.us>

Hi
Does anyone know if is possible retrive a file from ARRL via ftp or e-mail?

Steve
W4/YV5DTA
z801183a@bcfreenet.seflin.lib.fl.us



>From k3lr <k3lr@telerama.lm.com>  Tue Aug  2 20:26:38 1994
From: k3lr <k3lr@telerama.lm.com> (k3lr)
Subject: New Books
Message-ID: <199408021926.PAA03019@asia.lm.com>

 
 
New books for contesters make great summer reading:
 
        The CQ Worldwide Handbook
        Written and published by K3EST.  Bob organized 
        tons of helpful hints, answers to the most often asked 
        questions, records and a history of the contest all  
        into one book.  If you like CQ Worldwide, you'll
        love this book.  Contact K3EST for details.
 
        The NEW ARRL Antenna Handbook
        Only on the street for a few weeks, but this larger than ever
        handbook is the result of a tremendous rewrite effort by 
        contest super op, N6BV.  The chapter on Yagi design is 
        outstanding. Lots ofdesigns for all the bands, taper, torque 
        compensators, wind ratings and more.  
        The chapter on propagation is great. N6BV has included many 
        helpful charts to help plan what antenna height is best for 
        your situation.  Also included is a software package that has 
        a basic antenna modeling program written by K6STI.  If you are
        building your station for maximum performance, this book is 
        very valuable.
 
        ON4UN Antennas and Techniques for Low Band DXing.
        Great low band antenna optimizer text.  Expands on past
        ON4UN books.  Lots of new wire antennas and indepth 
        discussions about 4 squares, beverages, vertical arrays, etc.
 
       73,
       Tim K3LR
 
       K3LR@telerama.lm.com
 

>From Trey Garlough <GARLOUGH@TGV.COM>  Tue Aug  2 22:10:50 1994
From: Trey Garlough <GARLOUGH@TGV.COM> (Trey Garlough)
Subject: Internet FAQ
Message-ID: <775861850.736097.GARLOUGH@TGV.COM>

A FAQ about the Internet follows.  I know it's not about contesting, but
it's about the Internet, without which this mailing list wouldn't exist.

--Trey, WN4KKN/6

                                            2 Apr 1994
           FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
              WHAT IS THE INTERNET?


The Internet is a global network of networks enabling 
computers of all kinds to directly and transparently 
communicate and share services throughout much of the 
world.  Because the Internet is an enormously valuable, 
enabling capability for so many people and organiza-
tions, it also constitutes a shared global resource of 
information, knowledge, and means of collaboration, 
and cooperation among countless diverse communities.

HOW DOES THE INTERNET WORK?  WHO OWNS IT?

Starting at the top, each country typically has one or 
more backbone public internets which are connected to 
each other through a variety of global arrangements.  At 
the regional and local levels, there are tens of thousands 
of organizations of every conceivable kind that have 
built their own enterprise internets and connected them 
to national backbones.  Most of the networks are oper-
ated by organizations that either provide Internet access 
to internal staff or specialize in providing widespread 
public access to end-users.

There are basically two kinds of access provided : 

o host access where end-users connect their computers 
  to become part of the Internet, or

o terminal access where end users connect to a host 
  computer which is directly connected to the Internet. 
 
The computer terminal itself is not directly connected.
The latter is the kind of service provided by nearly every 
public Email service provider to millions of people.  
Increasingly, new access providers are starting to offer 
Internet host access and an array of other services for 
computers that range from PCs to a mainframes.
There are now more than 30,000 networks intercon-
nected by the global Internet - which is literally collec-
tively owned by thousands of private commercial and 
public organizations.  The global international organi-
zation for Internet coordination and cooperation is the 
Internet Society.

HOW BIG IS THE INTERNET?

At April 1994, the Internet consisted of more 
than 30,000 networks in 71 countries.  Gateways that 
allow at least Email connectivity extend this reach to 146 
countries.  At the end of 1993, 2.217 million computers 
were measured as actually reachable - with an estimated 
total of 20 million users. Network growth continues at 
around 10 percent per month.

WHAT INTERNET SERVICES EXIST? WHAT CAN I DO?

Internet access is provided over almost any medium 
from simple telephone dialup to satellites or extremely 
high speed optical fiber connections.
Internet services number in the hundreds, and depend 
upon a combination of the access computer software and 
the available bandwidth.  The most common services are 
file transfer, Email and fax messaging, and remote 
computer access.  Other popular services include: 
information browsing using Gopher and World Wide 
Web; automatic information delivery via Distribution 
Lists and Netnews; information searching with WAIS, 
Archie, Veronica or even automatic agents such as 
Knowbotr programs; real-time written interactions 
using Talk or Internet Relay Chat and packet audio and 
video conferencing using, for example, CUSeeMe; 
directory lookup services to discover the network 
addresses of people and computers; or even multicast-
ing of audio and video programs such as Internet Talk 
Radio and replay service. 

Perhaps the ultimate value of the Internet, however, is 
enabling communication among millions of people and 
organizations who can be reached through the network, 
or who provide abundant and diverse information and 
software on Internet computer servers.  For many pro-
fessional, business, educational, and governmental 
activities today, the Internet is a indispensable tool. 

HOW DID THE INTERNET HAPPEN?

The Internet technology and networks were originally 
developed by the research arm of the USA Department 
of Defense to provide robust interconnection of its 
information resources and researchers.  During the 
1980s, the technology and networks were adopted by 
other government agencies and countries, as well as the 
private business sector.  Today, internet technology and 
the Internet have found massive acceptance and use by 
tens of thousands of organizations around the world.

WHAT ARE THE ECONOMICS OF THE INTERNET?

The Internet makes use of extremely cost effective 
arrangements where Internet capacity is usually pur-
chased at dedicated unmetered flat rates based on 
bandwidth, or at metered dialup rates.  The network 
transport technology is also highly cost effective because 
it uses "connectionless" techniques to share capacity.

WHERE IS THE INTERNET GOING?

The Internet today is growing exponentially worldwide. 
Simple easy-to-use software and inexpensive access to 
the general public over nearly every telecommunications 
medium are becoming widely available. Almost every 
conceivable non-profit and for-profit use is underway or 
being envisioned.  The Internet's future rests with the 
global Internet community and the Internet Society - 
established in 1992 as the international organization for 
coordination and cooperation of the Internet and its 
technologies and applications.


Internet Society

Email: <isoc@isoc.org> 

Fax: +1 703 648 9887

Tel: +1 703 648 9888
Tel:    800 468 9507 (USA only)

Post: 
Internet Society
12020 Sunrise Valley Dr. Suite 270
Reston VA 22091         
USA

                                       FAQ 94-005 v.2.3

       Copyright (c) 1994 Internet Society


>From Steven Affens <k3sa@access.digex.net>  Tue Aug  2 23:38:58 1994
From: Steven Affens <k3sa@access.digex.net> (Steven Affens)
Subject: ARRL FTP
Message-ID: <Pine.3.89.9408021817.A26962-0100000@access3.digex.net>

From: info-serv@arrl.org
To: k3sa@access.digex.net
Subject: INFO response: HELP.TXT
HELP on using the ARRL's Automated Information Server (info@arrl.org)
   INFO is a service of ARRL HQ.  To use it, mail messages to:
   info@arrl.org
Each line of the message should contain a single command as shown 
below.  You may place as many commands in a message as you want.  
Each file you request will be sent to you in a separate message. 
Only ASCII text files are supported at present.
Note to users with FTP capability:  All of these files are also 
available by anonymous ftp to oak.oakland.edu in the ? Help       
Forward 30Note to users with FTP capability:  All of these files are also 
available by anonymous ftp to oak.oakland.edu in the 
pub/hamradio/arrl/infoserver area.  Retrieve the file
index.txt in the /league subdirectory for a complete listing of 
available files by directory (with descriptions).
QST Files note:  Binary files mentioned in QST that accompany
articles are *NOT* available via the server.  This is an email
service only and cannot send binary files.  HOWEVER, these files
are available from the FTP site mentioned above.  Look for them
in the pub/hamradio/arrl/qst-binaries directory.
Valid INFO email commands:
help             Sends this help file
index            Sends an index of the files available from INFO
reply <address>  Sends the response to the specified address. Put this
 44reply <address>  Sends the response to the specified address. Put this
                 at the BEGINNING of your message if your From: address
                 is not a valid Internet address.
send <FILENAME>  Sends "FILENAME" example: send PROSPECT.TXT
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Note: your message will *not* be read by a human!  Do not include any
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the "USERS.TXT" file for a list of email addresses of ARRL HQ staff.
DO *NOT* USE YOUR MAILER'S "REPLY" FUNCTION TO SEND YOUR NEXT REQUEST!
This message is from info-serv@arrl.org.  Generate a new message 
addressed to info@arrl.org instead.  We set it up this way to 
prevent failed mail from looping endlessly, annoying system
administrators.  Mail sent back to info-serv@arrl.org ends up in 
 58prevent failed mail from looping endlessly, annoying system
administrators.  Mail sent back to info-serv@arrl.org ends up in 
the bit bucket.
Your From: field or Reply-to: field in your header should contain a valid
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does not contain a valid Internet address, the answer will not reach 
you.  However, we have recently added a reply function as a server 
command.  If needed, the REPLY command should be the first command in
your message.
syntax:
reply mailaddr
Where mailaddr is a valid Internet mail address (either user@domain
or bang address accepted.)  An invalid address generates an error.  
A wrong address results in non-delivery of your response.
 72A wrong address results in non-delivery of your response.
The address given in the reply command is the address to which all
subsequent requests in the message will be sent. 
If an error message is generated, it will be sent to the last reply
address given.
If anyone needs some help with the server, or has ascii information 
files that they would like to archive on our server, additional 
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telephone (203) 666-1541.
73 de ARRL HQ, Michael Tracy, KC1SX, mtracy@arrl.org
Sample of files available from INFO: (There are lots more!)
FILENAME         SIZE DESCRIPTION
 86FILENAME         SIZE DESCRIPTION
---------------- ---- --------------------
#Note - If you are not yet an Amateur Radio operator retrieve the
#file prospect (send prospect) for information on how to easily get
#started in this fun hobby. 
PROSPECT.TXT       2k How to get your Amateur Radio license
EXAMS.TXT         52k Current exam schedule info - updated bi-weekly
EXAMINFO.TXT       9k Examinations - what to bring - requirements
USERS.TXT          6k List of HQ Email addresses
ARRLCAT.TXT       39k Catalog of ARRL Publications - commercial content
JOIN.TXT           2k How become an ARRL member
SERVICES.TXT       5k A condensed list of ARRL membership services
TOUR.TXT          28k An electronic tour of ARRL Headquarters
DIR.HQ             5k Visiting ARRL HQ - diretions and tour information
HFBANDS            7k Breakdown of users of HF spectrum
Q-SIGS             1k ARRL list of Amateur Radio Q-signals
W1AW.SKD           2k W1AW schedule of transmissions and operation
100Q-SIGS             1k ARRL list of Amateur Radio Q-signals
W1AW.SKD           2k W1AW schedule of transmissions and operation
PRODREV1.TXT      12k Which rig is best? Part 1 - QST Lab Notes
PRODREV2.TXT      22k Which rig is best? Part 2 - QST Lab Notes
!LIST.TXT          6k QST Bibliographies List
RFIGEN.TXT        37k How to solve an EMI/RFI problem - QST Lab Notes
RFISOURC.TXT      13k Where to buy filters - EMI-proof telephones etc.
ADDRESS.TXT       16k Lots and lots of ham/electonic company addresses
KITS.TXT           6k List of companies that sell kits
BBS.TXT           12k List of ham-radio land-line bulletin boards
FAQ1.TXT          25k Introduction to the FAQ and Amateur Radio
FAQ2.TXT          45k Amateur Radio Orgs, Services and Info Sources
FAQ3.TXT          32k Amateur Radio Advanced and Technical Questions
Enjoy this ARRL service.  Please direct comments or suggestions (or flames)
#to mtracy@arrl.org.  73 from ARRL HQ, Michael Tracy, KC

From: info-serv@arrl.org
To: k3sa@access.digex.net
Subject: INFO response: HIRAM.TXT
How to access HIRAM - the ARRL land-line bulletin board:
Those of you with telephone line direct-dial modems may wish
to avail yourselves of the many services that ARRL HQ makes
available by way of HIRAM, the ARRL BBS.
Hiram can be reached by dialing 203 666 0578, utilizing 
8-n-1 parameters, from 300 (ugh!) baud up to 14,400 (gee!)
baud.
Once connected, first-time users are asked to choose an 
appropriate password, at which time they are then grantd
full and complete access to Hiram
Forward* 100full and complete access to Hiram.
Internet/Usenet users may contact HIRAM's SYSOP by
sending email to LHURDER@ARRL.ORG . Others should contact
Luck Hurder at ARRL HQ.
American Radio Relay League, Inc.
225 Main St
Newington, CT 06111
203-666-1541
203-665-7531 FAX
203-666-0578 BBS 8N1
215-5052 MCI


Steven C. Affens
K3SA@ACCESS.DIGEX.NET


On Tue, 2 Aug 1994, Morao Esteban wrote:

> Hi
> Does anyone know if is possible retrive a file from ARRL via ftp or e-mail?
> 
> Steve
> W4/YV5DTA
> z801183a@bcfreenet.seflin.lib.fl.us
> 
> 
> 

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