I purchased the Contest Voice Blaster software from LTA Industries during
Dayton. I'm now just getting to building the mic/PTT interface and I have a
question. I own a TS-930, but I mostly guest-op at other stations... many of
which have Icom rigs (especially IC-765s). So, I need to build a Icom mic
plug. I have the pin-outs, but as I understand it, I should also put a
capacitor on the mic line? Do I need to do this? If so, what is the value?
Ironically, I have been plugging my Heil headset into various Icom rigs for
the last two years - with no capacitor - and things have been just fine.
PLEASE... let's not have another sling-shot thread on this. Just e-mail me
your replies and I will summarize and post to the reflector.
73 Scott KA9FOX (Yes, still babeless. No news is bad news)
ka9fox@aol.com
>From Peter G. Smith" <n4zr@netcom.com Fri Jun 24 17:36:28 1994
From: Peter G. Smith" <n4zr@netcom.com (Peter G. Smith)
Subject: DSP-40
Message-ID: <Pine.3.89.9406240939.A1463-0100000@netcom12>
There's a good review, including test data, in the latest QST.
I polled users on the contest reflector earlier this year, and several
users of the Radio Shack unit confirmed that the noise reduction mode,
which is supposed to cut white and pink noise by 20 db regardless of
bandwidth, does not appear to work at all. This is in contrast to a
number of other units on the market, which all got good marks for that
ability. The QST review says that rather than fixing the problem Radio
Shack intends to stop making the claim.
Still, for under 80 bux, if what you want is peaking and auto-notch,
sounds pretty good.
73, Pete
N4ZR@netcom.com
>From Tony Brock-Fisher <fisher@hp-and.an.hp.com> Fri Jun 24 17:49:47 1994
From: Tony Brock-Fisher <fisher@hp-and.an.hp.com> (Tony Brock-Fisher)
Subject: Pin Diodes
Message-ID: <9406241649.AA10225@hp-and.an.hp.com>
Pin diodes for receiver improvement projects are also available from
time to time from Radiokit. Typically Carl gets a bunch of orders together
to get a volume discount. I expect the recent magazine articles will
promote another several group buys. Carl also gets pin diodes from MaCom.
This is intended to be an informational posting only - I don't have
any financial interest in this, and I don't think Carl charges more
than cost either.
My personal opinion of the subject is that the improvements are of
questionable value when you consider the effort involved. I'm not
that interested in tearing apart my $2K radio and taking a soldering
iron to the 20-30 diodes that need to be replaced. I did before and
after 3rd order IMD measurements on a 940 that was modified and
noticed insignificant improvement. On the other hand, Mr. Rhode
correctly notes the significant 2nd order improvements, and operators
claim "tremendous" improvement in recevier performance during contests.
(Maybe 10th order IMD, Hi).
-Tony, K1KP, fisher@hp-and.an.hp.com
>From Lyndon Nerenberg <lyndon@unbc.edu> Fri Jun 24 19:20:54 1994
From: Lyndon Nerenberg <lyndon@unbc.edu> (Lyndon Nerenberg)
Subject: Canada Day Contest Rules
Message-ID: <Pine.3.87.9406241154.B8564-0100000@unbc.edu>
> mode worked for Canadian provincess and territories (12 maximum)."
> The way it's done in the ARRL-DX contest for the DX side, there are
> 13 VE multipliers. Those 13 are NB, NS, PEI, NF, LAB, PQ, ON,
> MB, SK, AB, BC, NWT, and YU. Which two of these are counted as one
LAB (Labrador) is not a seperate province - it's part of Newfoundland.
Since Labrador is geographically seperate from Newfoundland the ARRL-DX
contest seems to count it seperately.
--lyndon
>From Fred Hopengarten" <k1vr@k1vr.jjm.com Fri Jun 24 03:10:30 1994
From: Fred Hopengarten" <k1vr@k1vr.jjm.com (Fred Hopengarten)
Subject: TIC RingRotor Stack
Message-ID: <2e0a409b.k1vr@k1vr.jjm.com>
Has anyone ever stacked antennas on a single ring rotor
(i.e. could I mount a 6m yagi above or below the Mosley ?)
K1VR: Yes. WA1EKV did it. He had 6/6 on 10 and 6/6 on 15,
using two RingRotors, and a homebrewed attachment so that a
vertical mast could be mounted. He used extra heavy
hardware all around, but the RingRotor worked fine. The
upper one had a 15 above and a 10 below the Ring, as did the
lower Ring. I thought it was immensely clever.
Fred Hopengarten
k1vr@k1vr.jjm.com
--
Fred Hopengarten K1VR
Six Willarch Road * Lincoln, MA 01773-5105
home + office telephone: 617/259-0088 (FAX on demand)
internet: k1vr@k1vr.jjm.com
"Big antennas, high in the sky, are better than small ones, low."
>From Fred Hopengarten" <k1vr@k1vr.jjm.com Fri Jun 24 02:55:41 1994
From: Fred Hopengarten" <k1vr@k1vr.jjm.com (Fred Hopengarten)
Subject: WD8AUB/VE9 in IARU Test
Message-ID: <2e0a3d20.k1vr@k1vr.jjm.com>
On Wed, 22 Jun 1994 22:49:50 -0400 (EDT), WD8AUB@delphi.com wrote:
> My problem is this: Someone suggested that I write the the Canadian
> Govt and get some documentation to get me thru Customs easier. The
> person was not very specific. My understanding was that one does not
> need do anything because of reciprocal licensing with Canada. Anybody
> know for sure? Do I need to get documents to get my borrowed ICOM 730
> through Customs (no bill of sale or invoice since it was purchased 2nd
> hand and the other owner did not have it).
K1VR: It has been a while since I've taken ham gear into Canada, but it
remains one of the world's friendliest borders, with extremely polite
border police. I'd estimate I've travelled to Canada on business or
pleasure over 35 times.
My advice is to drive to the border, or walk up to customs, (U.S.
guys) and ask: Do you have some sort of form for me to fill out showing
that I brought this gear into Canada, so that when I bring it back it won't
be mistaken for having been purchased in Canada? I did this once when I
had a brand new Japanese camera. I filled out a card, U.S. guys stamped it
as I showed them the camera, and off I went. The problem: This request is
so rare that it could take the U.S. guys 25 minutes to forward you to the
right guy and for him (or her) to find the form. If the U.S. guys can't
help you, ask all over again when you get to the Canadian guys.
Note: You've got to make a special effort to stop at U.S. Customs,
because, if driving, you don't normally even get close enough to wave.
If, after diligent effort, you still can't find the right guy or form,
forget it. It is highly unlikely anyone will ever ask you anything anyway.
Anecdote: While I was in law school, I had a roommate who was a summer
customs guy at JFK Airport. He told me that after only three weeks he
could smell the difference between a confused innocent and a smuggler.
--
Fred Hopengarten K1VR
Six Willarch Road * Lincoln, MA 01773-5105
home + office telephone: 617/259-0088 (FAX on demand)
internet: k1vr@k1vr.jjm.com
"Big antennas, high in the sky, are better than small ones, low."
>From Robert Wood <w5robert@blkbox.COM> Sat Jun 25 05:43:50 1994
From: Robert Wood <w5robert@blkbox.COM> (Robert Wood)
Subject: amplifiers
Message-ID: <9406242343.aa15356@blkbox.COM>
Comment on the June QST mail (Correspondence section) by NT0Z :
The last letter in the correspondence section comes from wa4tar/5
& no he's not in Texas. Michael writes: ".... marred only by
the omission of why most hams really need
amplifiers: to protect their right to band-
space from contesters."
Michael was commenting on the April issue article:
Do I Need a Linear Amplifier.
--------------------------------------------------------------
Pull your June QST (no July here yet) and take a look.
I hope that NT0Z will allow space for a reply comment(s) from the
contest folks. 73's Robert WB5CRG
>From oo7@astro.as.utexas.edu (Derek Wills) Sat Jun 25 06:17:28 1994
From: oo7@astro.as.utexas.edu (Derek Wills) (Derek Wills)
Subject: amplifiers
Message-ID: <9406250517.AA29993@astro.as.utexas.edu>
The last letter in the correspondence section comes from wa4tar/5
& no he's not in Texas. Michael writes: ".... marred only by
the omission of why most hams really need amplifiers: to protect
their right to band-space from contesters." Michael was commenting
on the April issue article: Do I Need a Linear Amplifier.
--------------------------------------------------------------
Pull your June QST (no July here yet) and take a look.
I hope that NT0Z will allow space for a reply comment(s) from the
contest folks. 73's Robert WB5CRG
In a way, he's right. Nobody needs more than 100 watts in order to
work any part of the globe. An unfortunate fact of life is that DXing
(and especially contesting) is about beating out the other person calling
the DX station, rather than simply being heard by the DX. So the guy
probably just means "to protect your right to band-space from other
people using amps for non-ragchews", whether they be DXers or (loud)
contesters.
In the minds of many of those who do not like DXing or contesting, DXers
and contesters are lumped together and despised. Of course those who
like DXing and contesting have the same sort of contempt for those who
use our precious frequencies just to ragchew. I think many contesters
underestimate the unpopularity of DXing/contesting in the overall ham
population (partly because we don't understand how anyone could not like
these activities). The recent QST poll of readers showed that the contest
results were considered one of the greatest wastes of space, and the annual
DXCC listings have been taken out and published separately this year (in
the "DXCC Yearbook").
It might be time to considering formalizing the 'band plan' in which
DXing and contesting takes place lower in the band and ragchewing and
other social activities take place higher up. I actually consider
it obnoxious to hear W-to-W ragchewing going on below 14200, but then
nothing forbids it.
So I'm not sure how one answers this guy, except to tell him to go
higher up in the band on contest weekends (or use another mode - not
a practical solution for the cw-impaired). Are there any serious
international contests where the whole band is not usable? Could
we live with using just parts of the bands for contests (even if
it's 75% of the band...) in the interests of diminishing the bad
vibes that contesters cause? Would these guys still insist on the
right to have their morning coffee QSOs on 14160? (yes).
Derek AA5BT, G3NMX
oo7@astro.as.utexas.edu
>From Robert Penneys <penneys@brahms.udel.edu> Sat Jun 25 11:36:12 1994
From: Robert Penneys <penneys@brahms.udel.edu> (Robert Penneys)
Subject: NERDS on Field Day!!
Message-ID: <199406251036.GAA06282@brahms.udel.edu>
Our N.E.R.D.S. will be going out on Field Day, 5 watt battery powered QRP
class, on Iron Mountain, Newark, Delaware.
Top of a large magnetic iron hill, under a metal roof, thunderstorms
expected.
Will try to run HF, satellite, packet.
Please listen for WN3K. Thanks and good luck!!
Bob
Bob Penneys, WN3K Frankford Radio Club N.E.R.D.S.
Internet: penneys@brahms.udel.edu Mail: 12 E. Mill Stn. Dr., Newark, DE 19711
Work: Ham Radio Outlet (DE) 800-644-4476, 9:30-5:30 Eastern Fax: 302-322-8808
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