Quik-disconnect connectors for avoiding ZAPPED

Thu Aug 31 19:16:09 EDT 1995

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What type of quik-disconnect connectors would you recommend for rotor
cables, beverage control cables, etc?  It would be nice to have a few
connectors with lots of pins, rather than a lot of small connectors to 
deal with (or so I think!)  As always, price and current availability
is of concern for the low-budget CONTEST station builder.

Terry Zivney, N4TZ/9
00TLZIVNEY at BSUVC.BSU.EDU

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Terry (and all)

I use automobile/boat trailer connectors for all control cables (at booth 
ends). They are designed to withstand the weather,and generally can handle 
several "amps" of current if need be. They come in 4 and 6 pin varities and 
can be found at most auto or boat supply places for a few bucks. I put them on 
the shack end for ease of disconnect during storms and at the tower end for 
ease of service and installation of the rotator. Actually have been thinking 
about putting a third set just at the base of the tower for several reasons, 
would make trouble shooting easier (just carry the control box to the base of 
the tower and plug in) and it would be a better lightning deterrent to be able 
to disconnect everything at the base of the tower instead of in the shack. Why 
invite the stuff in the house at all ~8>)

By the way I notice that sevral folks who got hit said their home owners 
insurance coverd them. A friend of mine's (K3ARV in Florida)insurance company 
refused to cover him anymore for lightning damage after the third hit in 5 
years. His 120' ran right next to the house. The third time he took a hit it 
blew (6")holes in the walls and much of the house had to be rewired.

Dave
N0DH/7

dit dit

"Paranoia pays.....but the hours are hell"

>From W0CP <wstinson at listenup.com>  Thu Aug 31 19:28:56 1995
From: W0CP <wstinson at listenup.com> (W0CP)
Date: Thu, 31 Aug 1995 12:28:56 -0600 (MDT)
Subject: tiny coax plugs
Message-ID: <Pine.3.89.9508311257.A29028-0100000 at teal.csn.net>

i am modifying my ts850 so that the antenna tuner is in line on rcv.  hope
it helps when i am running multi-single.  need some of those little
shielded cable plugs that they use to route the signal between the boards.
know where i can buy some?  pre-made cables would be even better. tried the 
parts houses and all i got were funny looks. 

  73,     Walt - W0CP
  <wstinson at listenup.com>

>From Rich L. Boyd" <rlboyd at CapAccess.org  Thu Aug 31 19:51:32 1995
From: Rich L. Boyd" <rlboyd at CapAccess.org (Rich L. Boyd)
Date: Thu, 31 Aug 1995 14:51:32 -0400 (EDT)
Subject: sign of things to come?
Message-ID: <Pine.SUN.3.91-FP.950831144829.1568B-100000 at cap1.capaccess.org>

As far as contests cluttering up the bands for others, I've lately been
thinking of it the other way around, that contesters are a subgroup of
ham radio who choose NOT to operate most of the time, but to voluntarily
limit our operations to certain discrete weekends -- and I contend there
are only a very few on each of two modes that have MAJOR participation
levels, to the point of causing crowding.

If contesters all got on and ragchewed for several hours each night and
more than several hours each weekend day, we would have many frequencies
to use during contest weekends, because we would have ad hoc squatters'
rights by virtue of having used them heavily the rest of the year.
Maybe I mean de facto squatters' rights.  We would have staked our claim
by being active ALL the time.  We are doing non-contesters a favor by
getting active, which we have a right to do, only at certain times.
Since they are "hogging" the bands ALL the time, they owe us our turn
on just a few weekends when we would LIKE to operate.

Rich Boyd KE3Q

>From Rich L. Boyd" <rlboyd at CapAccess.org  Thu Aug 31 19:55:27 1995
From: Rich L. Boyd" <rlboyd at CapAccess.org (Rich L. Boyd)
Date: Thu, 31 Aug 1995 14:55:27 -0400 (EDT)
Subject: sign of things to come?
Message-ID: <Pine.SUN.3.91-FP.950831145233.1568C-100000 at cap1.capaccess.org>

I have spoken to a couple local clubs about contesting recently, to
some extent on behalf of PVRC.  I was quite impressed with some
teens I met at these clubs, who seemed to think, after hearing my
talk, and from their own experiences in Field Day and the like that
contesting sounded like a great thing they'd like to get involved in.

Also, I started talking up ham radio and Morse to a young friend
who just turned 12.  He started talking it up to his buddies and
how half a dozen want me to "teach them ham radio," and it looks like I 
may start a class for them.

It may be unlike any novice class I've ever heard of, in that I will 
teach them what they need for novice and tech plus, but will emphasize 
the "magic" (as I see it) of Morse, and will teach them contesting at the 
same time.  I will teach them Morse, theory, and contesting all at the 
same time, and go on the assumption that they will get into contesting 
from the start.

In any case, I've been impressed at the number of youth there are out 
there that could be brought into contesting if we try, and if we approach 
them the right way.

Rich Boyd KE3Q

>From Rich L. Boyd" <rlboyd at CapAccess.org  Thu Aug 31 20:33:28 1995
From: Rich L. Boyd" <rlboyd at CapAccess.org (Rich L. Boyd)
Date: Thu, 31 Aug 1995 15:33:28 -0400 (EDT)
Subject: Eyeglasses
Message-ID: <Pine.SUN.3.91-FP.950831153237.1568K-100000 at cap1.capaccess.org>

How about using "pince-nez" type eyeglasses -- a little unconventional
in this day and age, but doing the unconventional is what contest
innovation is all about!  No contact lens discomfort, no ear piece
discomfort, just pinched-nose discomfort and falling onto your
keyboard inconvenience!

Might be worth a try tho if you can find 'em.

Rich Boyd KE3Q

>From Jacques SAGET <100623.1042 at compuserve.com>  Thu Aug 31 20:56:20 1995
From: Jacques SAGET <100623.1042 at compuserve.com> (Jacques SAGET)
Date: 31 Aug 95 15:56:20 EDT
Subject: COMTEK / K8UR Address
Message-ID: <950831195620_100623.1042_BHL85-1 at CompuServe.COM>

Hi All
With CQ WW DX only 8 weeks from now, it's high time to take care of low bands
antennas.
We were planning to set up a 4-square a-la ON4UN and I tried to get the phasing
and switching box from
COMTEK - K8UR. The last address and phone number I have is in NC, but the phone
No is apparently no longer assigned.
Who can help me with D.C. Mitchell, K8UR or COMTEK current location: phone, FAX,
e-mail or even snake
mail address ?
PSE answer direct to saget at dassault-elec.fr or 100623.1042 at compuserve.com (both,
preferably!)
73 from Paris area de Jack, F6BEE

Jacques SAGET, F6BEE (AB4CO)
saget at dassault-elec.fr 
100623.1042 at compuserve.com

>From john.devoldere at eunet.be (John Devoldere)  Thu Aug 31 23:14:04 1995
From: john.devoldere at eunet.be (John Devoldere) (John Devoldere)
Date: Thu, 31 Aug 1995 22:14:04 +0000
Subject: MLA2500
Message-ID: <199508312215.AAA17221 at box.eunet.be>

Can anyone help me with a reasonably priced source for 8875's, the final
tubes for the Dentron ML2500. A friend gave me an MLA2500 with "molten"
tubes... 

If this is the wrong audience to ask, please forgive me, but I tjought the
contesters ought to know.

Thanks beforehand

John, ON4UN

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
john.devoldere at box.eunet.be  
Call us in all major 1995 contests: OT5T or ON4UN
John Devoldere (ON4UN-AA4OI)
POBOX 41
B-9000 Ghent (Belgium)

>From engberg at ctis.af.mil (Bob Engberg)  Thu Aug 31 17:42:00 1995
From: engberg at ctis.af.mil (Bob Engberg) (Bob Engberg)
Date: Thu, 31 Aug 95 16:42:00 AKD
Subject: K0SF TOWER CUP: Need Data on Bird Strike
Message-ID: <9509010042.AA19287 at edfue0.ctis.af.mil>

Fred Laun wrote:
"...big flocks of blackbirds form up and head south over my QTH."
and 
"I am not aware of any birds having been killed or injured in collisions 
with my three towers..."

Fred, 
If you'd just place a large net between the three towers, you might
be able to capture 4 and 20 blackbirds and bake a nice pie.

Sorry, I couldn't resist.

73,
Bob, K0MVL