The Contest Computer by Agent 6 and 7/8

Tue Dec 5 09:07:33 EST 1995

>I said "Do not run drivers to fool the bios so that you can use a big drive. 
>Reason: TSR is running all the time."  Jim wrote that this is a driver not
>a TSR. He is 100% correct. What these drivers do is provide an overlay
>for the BIOS, which in turn allows the entire hard drive to be fully
>utilized.
>The down side? It takes up 6K of memory. OK!  What this means is that 
>this method is a viable solution to the big drive on the contest computer.

Yup. Saved me the trouble.

>1. Upgrade the BIOS or upgrade the motherboard.
>2. Purchase a new drive controller card
>3. Use the BIOS overlay scheme

I disagree with your ordering of the options, UNLESS price is no object. Given 
the fact that most HDs over 540 meg COME with the BIOS overlay driver (at least 
the ones from Western Digital), which means almost equivalent (for our 
purposes) performance for NO additional outlay, it would seem that this would 
be the MOST preferable option for 95% of the contesting population who are on 
limited hobby budgets. A new driver card is not an option in my 486DX2/66, 
since all 5 slots are filled (DVP, modem, Soundblaster, Multi-I/O, voicemail 
card) - note that this does NOT include a HD/floppy controller or video card, 
which are on the motherboard.

Another perspective, I guess. Overall, an informative piece. Thanks.

73,

Greg Becker NA2N
na2n at ifam.com
Ideas For American Manufacturers
"Technology Conceptualization and Market Development"

>From Randy Thompson <k5zd at iconics.com>  Tue Dec  5 14:05:03 1995
From: Randy Thompson <k5zd at iconics.com> (Randy Thompson)
Date: Tue, 5 Dec 1995 09:05:03 -0500 (EST)
Subject: K5ZD 160 Score
Message-ID: <Pine.LNX.3.91.951205085412.20224B-100000 at genesis.iconics.com>

It's fun to be loud on 160m!

My semi-serious, part time effort:

931 QSOs x (36 countries + 71 sections) = 240,308K

Heard but not worked: FG5, UU4, V47, ZS, NDak

16.5 Hours of operation

Worked 130 DX QSOs.

Since I missed CQWW CW (had a guest op over), guess I just needed to do 
some CW.  Worked most of the first night from 2230z to 0745z with a 
couple of 1 hour breaks for dinner and to put the kid to bed.  Slept in 
Sat morning.

Operated again Sat evening from 2130z to 0800z with another couple of one 
hour breaks.  Actually came into the room to shut everything down around 
0300z, but had to take a quick listen.  Amazingly, the frequency I had 
been using an hour earlier was still available (1825.5 - wow!).  So 
called a quick CQ and was rewarded with a 90 hour!  That got me hooked 
and I kept going.

Woke up at 1030z to do the sunrise thing.  Heard JA7NI, JH1RES, and 
JA5BJC all copiable for over 25 minutes.  But no luck working them.  
Heard K2WI and K3ZO make JA QSOs.

Condx:

Conditions were much better Sat night than Friday.  Heard ON4UN go to 
S9+10 for about 20 minutes right at his sunrise.

The W6's were much better Sat night.  Was happy to get all the California 
sections.

Had a very good run of Eu Sat night down on 1811.5.  That was kind of a 
surprise.

Band was super quiet up here both nights.  Rarely needed the Beverage 
although it did help on a few of the really weak Eu.  On weak stations, 
it was mostly a matter of patiently waiting for the QSB to bring them 
out of the noise.

DX Window:

I was amazed.  This was the best compliance with the window I have ever 
heard.  Yes, it was tough with WB1GQR on 1830.2 all weekend and usually 
someone else loud on the top of the window.  But at least there was a 
place the DX could make some noise and be found.  Never heard anyone work 
split...

I did remind a few stations they were in the window and all quickly moved.

Yes, the gentleman's (and ladies I guess) band was back.

Randy Thompson, K5ZD
k5zd at iconics.com

>From Dravland, Todd" <ToddD at dci.state.sd.us  Tue Dec  5 16:37:00 1995
From: Dravland, Todd" <ToddD at dci.state.sd.us (Dravland, Todd)
Date: Tue, 05 Dec 95 08:37:00 PST
Subject: WD0T 160 score
Message-ID: <30C4774E at sdmailgw.state.sd.us>

WD0T SD   Single Op Low Power      Wimpy Antennas           approx 6 hrs op 
time

229Q's    56Mult = 25,816

Rig, etc>>.

TS940S
2 ele 40m yagi (friday nite)
Inv. L with 8 elevated/ground mtd. radials (Sat. Nite)
NA9.12

Comments:

Sure wish I had prepared ahead for this one.  Began setting up the 60 foot 
tower/ pipe support for the Inv. L on Thursday evening in the dark, in 
between stringing christmas lights.  Got the tower up with no guying. 
 Friday all day, guyed tower/ mast and put up Inv L.  with a couple of 
radials at first.  Resonated WAY out of the band!  Used the 2 element 40 m 
yagi with the tuner in the TS940S.  That was like using a dummy load buried 
under the ground!!  Made a few Q's.  Saturday strung out more radials for 
the Inv. L and WALLA all of a sudden there is normal band noise and good 
signals!! Made most of my Q's Saturday evening and Sunday morning.  Thanks 
to everyone who struggled to pull me out!! If the wind doesn't blow this 
sucker over, I should have a decent antenna for the NAQP's  for 160!  Sure 
wish I would have had that L up before, this is a FUN contest!   And, way 
more LOUD signals than I remember being on 160m.  Best sigs out here in 
Central SD,  AA5BL, W9RE, W6GO and many others that were very LOUD! ( on 
Sat. nite)   73 and thanks!

todd, WD0T

toddd at dci.state.sd.us

>From cooper at gmpvt.com (Tom Cooper)  Tue Dec  5 14:58:37 1995
From: cooper at gmpvt.com (Tom Cooper) (Tom Cooper)
Date: Tue, 5 Dec 1995 09:58:37 -0500
Subject: St. Pierre in winter
Message-ID: <199512051458.JAA08033 at web.gmpvt.com>

12/5/95

Thanks to everyone who responded with St. Pierre info.

The short of it is that reading the descriptions was 
such a chilling experience that we got cold feet and 
are looking for a warmer reception somewhere else.

For your info:

1.  The Hotel Robert said "no ham stuff" when asked.
They have the name of a pension that MIGHT be willing.

2.  InterProvincial Airline flies daily to St. Pierre
from St. Johns, NFL, at 9:35 AM local time, arrives 
11:20 AM and leaves St. Pierre at 11:25 AM.  ~ $240 R/T.

3.  Given the strikes in France and that it takes 60 
days for a license anyway, I personally didn't want to 
bet the $$$ on being properly equipped with the requisite
gold seals on parchment in time.

73,

Tom WA1GUV

>From mwdink at eskimo.com (Michael Dinkelman)  Tue Dec  5 14:54:07 1995
From: mwdink at eskimo.com (Michael Dinkelman) (Michael Dinkelman)
Date: Tue, 05 Dec 1995 06:54:07 -0800
Subject: High Tension Power Lines
Message-ID: <199512051455.GAA09126 at mail.eskimo.com>

        As I work on expanding my contest station (which also
serves as a home) from a city lot to an "estate" in the country
with some room for real antennas - I have run into a quandry.

        Some of the best radio locations are directly next to
or within a short distance (< 1/4 mile) of cross country high
power transmission lines. I have always told the realtor that 
I did not want anything to do with such properties and will 
not consider them. 

        This attitude comes from being able to point a beam at such 
lines that are withn a similar distance from where I live now and 
have the noise level go up as the beam turns. Also, I have ridden 
on bike trails under such lines and the crackling (under wet conditions)
I hear from such lines leaves me with the distinct idea that they 
generate lots of noise. Alas, my brother-in-law (who works for a 
power company) says they shouldn't be a noise source raising doubts 
in my mind.

        Two questions:

        1) Am I wrong in avoiding such properties for a serious radio
location - my heart says no? (I wish to avoid the current real debate over
the effects of high power electro-magentic fields on living people for
the purposes of this discussion)

        2) How far away is a reasonable distance? (This my realtor wants
to know especially)

        I realize that there are all kinds of different power lines and
each can be administered by different utilities. Maybe, I can get some
real life experiences from contesters who have run into this problem
as well as comments from Hams who work for power comapanies.

        Thanks for any help. Please reply direct - mwdink at eskimo.com

Michael Dinkelman
WA7UVJ
Kent, WA
mwdink at eskimo.com

>From barry at w2up.wells.com (barry)  Tue Dec  5 14:04:40 1995
From: barry at w2up.wells.com (barry) (barry)
Date: Tue, 05 Dec 95 09:04:40 EST
Subject: WAE e-mail address
Message-ID: <Hm4mFD1w165w at w2up.wells.com>

Can someone please pass along the e-mail address to submit WAE logs?
(I misplaced it). And no, it isn't too late. This is for RTTY.
73 Barry

--

Barry N. Kutner, W2UP       Internet: barry at w2up.wells.com
Newtown, PA                 Packet Radio: W2UP @ WB3JOE.#EPA.PA.USA.NA
                            Packet Cluster: W2UP >WB2R (FRC)
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