sprINT

Mon Jul 25 16:54:28 EDT 1994

My first sprINT. Not a great score, but a good time. I never heard my
starting name come back. Nor did I hear the first name I received ever
again. Looking forward to the writeup....

Conditions changed radically on 20m after the first hour. The east
coast started to get strong and the west coast weak. Go figure.

73 de Dave AA9D
carlson at tellabs.com

>From Tom Frenaye <0002349723 at mcimail.com>  Tue Jul 26 06:32:00 1994
From: Tom Frenaye <0002349723 at mcimail.com> (Tom Frenaye)
Date: Tue, 26 Jul 94 00:32 EST
Subject: 205BA, coax labels, Inv V beams
Message-ID: <75940726053257/0002349723PK2EM at mcimail.com>

About two weeks ago I asked for information on updated dimensions for my HyGain
205BA 5L 20M beam, experience with inverted V wire beams on 40/80/160M and
ideas for marking cables - thanks for  a bunch of good input goes to K5ZD W6QHS
N4ZR KS9K KO9Y KM9P K6XO WB8RUQ WA6OTU N6TR N7IXG WB5VZL  AA4GA K5FUV N4TQO
WM2C KK7A and AA4NU !! 

Here's a summary of responses and information

205BA 

HyGain (402-467-5321) has a conversion kit to upgrade a 205BA to 205CA.  It is
not a complete stainless steel hardware kit but does include some aluminum
tubing, clamps and new dimensions.  Order part #31557 for $32 plus shipping.   
Stainless steel hardware kits for the 205BA are $82.74 (and for the 204BA are
$68.09) - you can get most of the parts at a good hardware store but HyGain
puts it into one convenient package.  Barbara Warren (call?) in HyGain
technical support (402-467-3279) was especially helpful - she FAXed dimensions
for several different 204CA designs. 

WA6OTU at puck.caltech.edu has a working design for a 4L 20 on 44' boom using  
     205BA raw material, also  5L on 48'.

W6QHS (leeson at mcimail.com) has a number of designs worked out using 
    K6STI's YO.

The new ARRL Antenna Book (cover photo of W0UN's antenna farm) includes a
version of K6STI's software called YA that has dimensions for many yagi designs
from 2M to 40M including 204CA and 205CA beams.  It also includes a version of
W1FM's IonSound, and programs for transmission line calculations, calulating
element taper and scaling yagi design.  

Marking coax

Use Dymo labels in various colors.
Radio Shack has some cable tie-wraps with plastic tabs, they're yellow, mark them 
    with a permanent ink pen
Write on the connector with a permanent ink pen.
Use stick-on labels covered with clear tape (at least inside the house).
Try a Brother P-touch labeler
Strapping tape (with fiber threads) and a permanent marker pen

Inv V wire beams on 40/80/160

Not much feedback, except others are interested also

Thanks again for all of the useful ideas and comments!  Tom    K1KI  
2349723 at mcimail.com

>From Randy A Thompson <K5ZD at world.std.com>  Tue Jul 26 12:48:57 1994
From: Randy A Thompson <K5ZD at world.std.com> (Randy A Thompson)
Date: Tue, 26 Jul 1994 07:48:57 -0400 (EDT)
Subject: "Winning"
Message-ID: <Pine.3.89.9407260756.A18334-0100000 at world.std.com>

On 25 Jul 1994 Steven.M.London at att.com wrote:

> > Maybe the trophies and awards should be eliminated altogether.  The guys from
> > Seattle had the idea right -  I didn't "win" the WRTC, but me and everyone
> > else that got a green and pink tee shirt has WINNER proudly displayed.
> 
> 
> On the other hand, as the guy who came in #1 in the WRTC (the "real" winner),
> I felt cheated when everyone got a tee shirt that said "winner".  For a change,
> here was a contest where I WAS G-A, and everyone was a so-called "winner".
> 
> How would you really feel if N2RM, W3LPL, K1AR and K4VX/0 all got the exact
> same award, regardless of how they placed relative to each other ?  Gee,
> maybe I ought to enter M/M using 100 watts to a wet noodle, make 50 or 100
> QSO's, so I can receive the same recognition as N2RM !
> 
Come on Steve!  The recognition still went to those at the top of the 
listings.  But the shirt provides a nice reward to those who participated 
and achieved a certain level.  I have a shirt too.  And it always reminds 
me of a really, really, fun contest every time I wear/see it.

In my business, the shirts would be called an excellent marketing 
promotion! But I don't think it detracted from the winners at all.

Randy
k5zd at world.std.com

>From Randy A Thompson <K5ZD at world.std.com>  Tue Jul 26 12:55:31 1994
From: Randy A Thompson <K5ZD at world.std.com> (Randy A Thompson)
Date: Tue, 26 Jul 1994 07:55:31 -0400 (EDT)
Subject: HF Grid squares..
Message-ID: <Pine.3.89.9407260713.A18334-0100000 at world.std.com>

I agree with this!  They would sure be more interesting than ITU Zones 
(notice that I didn't suggest replacing CQ zones!).  It is fun in VHF 
contests trying to black out the map.  I'm sure HF would be just as fun 
and interesting.

Randy
k5zd at world.std.com

On Mon, 25 Jul 1994 BlckHole at aol.com wrote:

> I think having grid squares as part of a HF contest would be COOL...
> 
> Just think !!  Everybody would be rare !!  Big mult total !!  Big scores !!
> 
> The ultimate in EQUALIZATION (yuk..I said the E word).
> 
> Keith WB9TIY
> BlckHole at aol.com
> 
> 
> 

>From Randy A Thompson <K5ZD at world.std.com>  Tue Jul 26 13:05:12 1994
From: Randy A Thompson <K5ZD at world.std.com> (Randy A Thompson)
Date: Tue, 26 Jul 1994 08:05:12 -0400 (EDT)
Subject: Help
Message-ID: <Pine.3.89.9407260851.A18334-0100000 at world.std.com>

You can check in but you can never leave. - Eagles, Hotel California

On Mon, 25 Jul 1994 Ditzian at aol.com wrote:

> Please help me to get my name off the contest  reflector.  I sent an
> unsubscribe to cq-contest-request, but I am still on.  How do I get off this
> list?  Any help from anyone would be appreciated.
> 
> 

>From Randy A Thompson <K5ZD at world.std.com>  Tue Jul 26 13:10:40 1994
From: Randy A Thompson <K5ZD at world.std.com> (Randy A Thompson)
Date: Tue, 26 Jul 1994 08:10:40 -0400 (EDT)
Subject: Rules
Message-ID: <Pine.3.89.9407260838.A18334-0100000 at world.std.com>

On Mon, 25 Jul 1994, Derek Wills wrote:

> 	>Folks, these contests are supposed to be fun. If you can't enjoy 
> 	>yourself, this hobby isn't much of a diversion for you.  Bill, W5VX
> 
> But the people who win these things don't really regard them as fun,
> do they?   It can't be...
> 
I am beginning to see it as more of an addiction problem.  I can't stop 
thinking about contests.  I can't wait to operate them.  I worry about 
antennas and strategy all the time.  I waste time reading this 
reflector.  I must be having fun!?  

Where do I check in for Contesters Annonymous?  I am willing to take the 
first step and admit that (just maybe) I have a problem!

Of course they must be fun.  Why else would I spend thousands of dollars, 
hundreds of hours, and absolutely ruin my life for weeks at a time, if it 
wasn't fun?!!

Randy
 k5zd at world.std.com

>From John W. Brosnahan" <broz at csn.org  Tue Jul 26 14:08:40 1994
From: John W. Brosnahan" <broz at csn.org (John W. Brosnahan)
Date: Tue, 26 Jul 1994 07:08:40 -0600
Subject: Dymo labels for cables
Message-ID: <199407261308.AA15767 at teal.csn.org>

A note on marking cables for K1KI

Dymo labels don't stick very well to coax and tend to pop off with time.
I had the "great" idea of putting clear heat shrink over the labels.
Unfortunately the plastic in the dymo labels is a thermoplastic and the
heat, when applying the heat shrink, erases all of the lettering!  But there
is hope.  Dymo also makes labeling material (at least it did 10 years ago
when this adventure happened) of aluminum and the lettering process
deforms the aluminum and it won't return to the blank state when heated.
I suggest the narrow (1/4") stuff for better conformity along cables.

Hope this helps!

73  John  W0UN    broz at csn.org

>From Peter G. Smith" <n4zr at netcom.com  Tue Jul 26 14:48:41 1994
From: Peter G. Smith" <n4zr at netcom.com (Peter G. Smith)
Date: Tue, 26 Jul 1994 06:48:41 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Dymo labels for cables
Message-ID: <Pine.3.89.9407260651.A22827-0100000 at netcom>

Dymo also works pretty well either stuck to the barrell of the connector 
or looped around the cable and stuck to itself, but it doesn't stick to 
vinyl worth a darn!

73, Pete                                       
N4ZR at netcom.com

>From John D. Allen" <jallen at nectech.com  Tue Jul 26 14:53:15 1994
From: John D. Allen" <jallen at nectech.com (John D. Allen)
Date: Tue, 26 Jul 94 9:53:15 EDT
Subject: coax labels
Message-ID: <s029++PFBia at cs004.nectech.com>

Thanks, Tom - here is another coax labeling technique -

Use an engraving tool to engrave on the connector.  

(I can not take full credit for this one - mother nature did it for me 
-- I took a direct hit on the tower and one of the coax's was only 2-3 
inches from a rack cabinet and arc'd over to the cabinet, leaving an 
0.4 inch diameter melted spot on the N connector - easier to see than 
the label on the coax!  (Downside to this method - $3000 of damage to 
rigs!)

John, K1FWF jallen at nectech.com

>From alan at dsd.es.com (Alan Brubaker)  Tue Jul 26 15:32:17 1994
From: alan at dsd.es.com (Alan Brubaker) (Alan Brubaker)
Date: Tue, 26 Jul 94 08:32:17 MDT
Subject: SprINT...
Message-ID: <9407261432.AA01227 at dsd.ES.COM>

K6XO, Single band 20, 100 QSOs.

Listened on 40 several times, but never heard anyone there. 20
meter propagation, as usual, was a bit strange. Very spotty to
the east, and most of the west coast signals were very weak
most of the time. W1PH was the most consistent signal out of
the east, and N4OGW was the strongest signal that I heard so
we had our usual pipeline into the Great Lakes region. What
strange names; Gung, Grog, Beeb, Gunk, Duck, Oodle, Plurb,
Woff, MFJ!? Who ARE these guys? Once again, K2MM's analysis
will make interesting reading. I was one of the people doing
it the old fashioned way - pen and paper. 

Alan, K6XO

alan at dsd.es.com

Just some more roadkill on the Information SuperHighway...

>From mraz at maverick.aud.alcatel.com (Kris I. Mraz)  Tue Jul 26 15:33:45 1994
From: mraz at maverick.aud.alcatel.com (Kris I. Mraz) (Kris I. Mraz)
Date: Tue, 26 Jul 94 09:33:45 CDT
Subject: What Would You Do?
Message-ID: <9407261433.AA03959 at maverick.aud.alcatel.com>

There was a review of a book called "What Would You Do" in the local Sunday
paper. It documents a survey of 16,000 people that asked questions such as
"Would you give money back if a cashier gave you too much?", "Would you cheat
on your income taxes if you knew you would get away with it", "Would you
report a shoplifter?", etc

I couldn't help but think of the current thread on this reflector about
use of excessive power and other forms of cheating. For instance: "Would
you use more than 1.5KW if you knew you would get away with it?", "Would you
put up a 40 ft. tower when your deed restrictions limit you to 30 ft.?",
"Would you use packet on an unassisted entry?", "Would you answer a 'QRP
only" call from a DX station if you were running 100W?"

81 percent would give back money to the cashier, 46 percent said they would
cheat on incomes taxes, and 79 percent would report a shoplifter. 

73
Kris AA5UO
mraz at aud.alcatel.com

>From tree at cmicro.com (Larry Tyree)  Tue Jul 26 14:41:07 1994
From: tree at cmicro.com (Larry Tyree) (Larry Tyree)
Date: Tue, 26 Jul 94 06:41:07 PDT
Subject: SprINT logs
Message-ID: <9407261341.AA15597 at cmicro.com>

Just a reminder to get your Internet SprINT logs in ASAP.  I am missing logs
from lots of people who were on.  PLEASE help make the name tracings be complete
as possible and E-MAil me your log, no matter how low your QSO total was.

Thanks!!

Tree N6TR
tree at cmicro.com

>From Steve Harrison <sharriso at sysplan.com>  Tue Jul 26 15:44:05 1994
From: Steve Harrison <sharriso at sysplan.com> (Steve Harrison)
Date: Tue, 26 Jul 1994 10:44:05 -0400 (EDT)
Subject: Rules
Message-ID: <Pine.3.87.9407261005.E11283-0100000 at eagle>

> 
> But the people who win these things don't really regard them as fun,
> do they?   It can't be... Derek AA5BT, G3NMX
>
Oh yes, they do! When they become UNFUN is when you think you're #1 or 2, 
and instead, a year later, find yourself #5 or 6...Steve KO0U/4 

>From Steve Harrison <sharriso at sysplan.com>  Tue Jul 26 15:36:13 1994
From: Steve Harrison <sharriso at sysplan.com> (Steve Harrison)
Date: Tue, 26 Jul 1994 10:36:13 -0400 (EDT)
Subject: Rules
Message-ID: <Pine.3.87.9407261013.C11283-0100000 at eagle>

On Mon, 25 Jul 1994, Bill H Parry wrote:

> Possibly, the ARRL and CQ can list two 
> types of rules, those that cannot be broken and those that are optional! 
> Folks, these contests are supposed to be fun. If you can't enjoy 
> yourself, this hobby isn't much of a diversion for you. Bill, W5VX
>
Actually, the solution to this issue is very simple: if you want to 
compete against the other participants and submit your log, then you have 
to follow the rules. But on the other hand, if you simply want to use the 
contest as a means to get more countries or to have some fun (like 
running 1500 watts on Field Day from your home QTH on commercial power), 
then you are free to do whatever you want so long as you stay within FCC 
rules/regulations and don't wind up destroying the contest for the 
serious guys. If others don't like the way you are operating, they are 
free to not work you. 73, Steve KO0U/4

>From Danny Eskenazi <0005720561 at mcimail.com>  Tue Jul 26 15:53:00 1994
From: Danny Eskenazi <0005720561 at mcimail.com> (Danny Eskenazi)
Date: Tue, 26 Jul 94 09:53 EST
Subject: Shirts for "WINNERS"
Message-ID: <80940726145308/0005720561PK1EM at mcimail.com>

Steve N2IC is right; he was the big winner in WRTC90 and rightly deserves
more recognition than just a "winner" shirt. If he will return it, we on the
WRTC committee will felt-pen the word "REAL WINNER" on his shirt, and sign it
for him. I can remember the discussion where it was decided to use the phrase
"winner" on the shirt, and indeed it was only sent to the top 500 entries.
We didn't know whether we would be sending a shirt to everyone or run out.
Had over 1400 logs come in. BTW have a few shirts left if you deserved one
and didnt get it (yet). Honor system here, no logs required. 73 K7SS at mcimail.com

>From Peter Reed <P.L.Reed at sussex.ac.uk>  Tue Jul 26 16:11:04 1994
From: Peter Reed <P.L.Reed at sussex.ac.uk> (Peter Reed)
Date: Tue, 26 Jul 1994 16:11:04 +0100
Subject: Anyone using demon?
Message-ID: <24962.199407261511 at solx1.central.susx.ac.uk>

Hi all - please excuse the bandwidth for what is not a strictly contest-
related request but it is for info to help a fellow dx-er to gain
access to the contest reflector.
Is there anyone in the UK who is accessing Internet via the demon server?
If so, would you be willing to have a chat to a technically and computer
orientated friend of mine, Steve G4OWT, who has recently gained access
to Internet is this way but is having some difficulties. I am sure they
could be ironed out fairly swiftly by having a chat to someone using
the same system. He would be willing to call you by land-line at
your convenience.

Any offers...please.....?? 

Tnx in advance, Peter, G4BVH.

e-mail: mpfb8 at central.sussex.ac.uk

>From Trey Garlough <GARLOUGH at TGV.COM>  Tue Jul 26 17:12:27 1994
From: Trey Garlough <GARLOUGH at TGV.COM> (Trey Garlough)
Date: Tue, 26 Jul 1994 09:12:27 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Help
Message-ID: <775239147.501097.GARLOUGH at TGV.COM>

> Please help me to get my name off the contest  reflector.  I sent an
> unsubscribe to cq-contest-request, but I am still on.  How do I get off this
> list?  Any help from anyone would be appreciated.

As a reminder to everyone, here is the procedure:

Send email to cq-contest-request at tgv.com, leave the subject blank (it is
ignored anyhow).  Put in the text of the message the single word UNSUBSCRIBE.

--Trey, WN4KKN/6