RFI and Telephone

Wed Jul 31 13:54:47 EDT 1996

I am having some remodeling done in our house and will have the
opportunity to replace (easily) most of the telephone wiring.  It
has been there for about 20 or so years and has been patched
extensively by the previous owner.  I was thinking of using two
pair of shielded twisted pair but have been unable (except for cheap
stuff) to find anything locally.  Where do you find good quality
shielded twisted pair?  Hopefully, when this project is finished,
I'll be able to remove all of those torroid cores I have strategically
placed up and down the line.

Thanks,

73  Wayne  KC5DVT   ehayes at vnet.ibm.com

>From k3lr at telerama.lm.com (k3lr)  Wed Jul 31 19:15:54 1996
From: k3lr at telerama.lm.com (k3lr) (k3lr)
Date: Wed, 31 Jul 1996 14:15:54 -0400
Subject: ARRL CAC input sought
Message-ID: <199607311815.OAA26335 at asia.lm.com>

The ARRL Contest Advisory Committee (CAC) is currently
studying two issues concerning ARRL sponsored contests:

PROPOSAL TO MODIFY THE MULTI-SINGLE BAND CHANGE RULE

The current rule for changing bands when in multi-single
operation is that once the station changes bands, it
may not change bands again until 10 minutes has past.

This rule was created to keep multi-single entrants from 
becoming multi-multi by disallowing the use of octopus
switches (allowed only one transmitter on the air
at any given time). This rule worked well when there 
were tube tune-up finals and minimal voice
spotting networks.

In today's world of instant tune radios, amplifiers and 
antenna tuners, band changing with one radio is much
faster. With packet DX spotting networks in most areas, 
there is lots of multiplier sharing. So why not allow
fast band changing? The 10 minute rule can really slow
down the fun factor of multi-single. I understand that
working within the current 10 minute rule is part of the
strategy of the category. Be mindful that the log shows
time, so dishonest operators could rubber clock their 10
minute band changes.

The proposed change would replace the 10 minute rule with
a new rule allowing 6 band changes per hour. This would
allow fast band changes to work a multiplier (or QSOs)
from a packet spot or other spotting. It also would allow
quick band changes for moving a multiplier (or QSO) to a
new band. Every hour, at the top of the hour, a multi-single
station would get 6 band changes for that hour. The hour
starts at 00:00 and ends at 59:59, every hour. You do not
have to use all 6 band changes for a given hour and you
cannot accumulate any unused band changes for use in future
hours. 
Example: If you are on 40 meters running stations and you
leave to work a station on 160 meters, and then come back
to 40 meters, it is 2 band changes. The rule allowing only one
transmitter on the air at anytime would stay as it is.

PROPOSAL TO CHANGE THE 160 METER CONTEST EXCHANGE FOR DX STATIONS

Currently W and VE stations are required to send RST + ARRL
section for a contest exchange. DX stations send signal report and 
their country. However most DX stations do not send a country
abbreviation or prefix as part of their exchange. They
simply send the RST. This has not been a problem because
most of the countries can be determined from the callsign.
Therefore the country part of the exchange is implied.

With packet spotting it is easy to tune to the frequency of
the spot and determine that there is indeed a pileup of W/VE 
stations calling and or working the DX station. With
packet spotting you have (or think you have) the correct
callsign of the DX station. Some W/VE stations cannot hear the
DX station very well, but call the DX and determine that
they heard the DX station send some portion of their call
and now log it as a good QSO because they know the exchange
the DX station will send (599).

In the 10 meter contest DX stations exchange a serial number,
in the ARRL DX contest, the DX sends RS(T) + Power.  With more
information (variable) in the exchange, it is important to
copy it. If you are not able to copy the exchange, you do not have 
a QSO. Exchanges are typically not posted as part of a DX 
spot. The idea is to make a REAL QSO and copy something
that is unique to that DX station. 599 is not unique.

The CAC is discussing the possibility of changing the DX
exchange for the 160 meter contest. The change would
make the DX exchange RST + power. Just the same as the 
ARRL DX Contest.

There are concerns that changing the exchange would cause
confusion. Although there would be a learning curve, it
would be accepted quickly. There is relatively little
DX activity (most DX stations that get on, do
not send in logs) so getting the word out would not be hard.
It is easy to ask for TX PWR? After the DX is asked once,
the DX station will know that is what the exchange is.
Most DX signals are close to noise level and having to
copy the exchange would add a challenge to making the QSO
and demonstrate contest operating skill.   

Please make your comments on these two issues to your 
ARRL division CAC representative. Most of the
CAC members are on the Internet. If you are not sure who
your CAC representative is, send me an EMAIL
telling me what ARRL section you are in and I will
send you a return EMAIL with your representatives
callsign and EMAIL address if it is available.

The CAC intends to vote on these issues in 4 weeks.
The result of the vote will be given to the
Membership Services Committee (MSC) which will discuss
any recommendations with the Awards Committee.
The CAC does not make or enforce rules for ARRL
contests. It is an advisory committee that lends
advice to the MSC.

73!

Tim K3LR         K3LR at contesting.com

Atlantic Division CAC      Vice-Chairman CAC

>From ke7gh at primenet.com (Brian K. Short)  Wed Jul 31 19:22:28 1996
From: ke7gh at primenet.com (Brian K. Short) (Brian K. Short)
Date: Wed, 31 Jul 1996 18:22:28 +-100
Subject: New Web Page Now Activated
Message-ID: <01BB7F0D.40F7BAA0 at ip211.phx.primenet.com>

My new web page is now active.  It will be enhanced significantly
within a very short period of time, so keep checking.

If there is something that you would like to see on my web page, 
just let me know and I will include it for you.

There are some neat ham radio photos that you can view and a short
description of my contest station.

http://www.primenet.com/~ke7gh/

73 de Brian ke7gh at primenet.com

>From k0wa at southwind.net (Lee Buller)  Wed Jul 31 19:18:28 1996
From: k0wa at southwind.net (Lee Buller) (Lee Buller)
Date: Wed, 31 Jul 1996 13:18:28 -0500
Subject: Comments on AL800
Message-ID: <1.5.4.32.19960731181828.006b8610 at southwind.net>

Ladies and Gentlemen....

Does anyone have any comments on the Ameritron AL800?  The single tube
linear amp?

Thanks

Lee
k0wa at southwind.net
Lee Buller
k0wa at southwind.net

>From biss at epg.nist.gov (Robert Biss)  Wed Jul 31 14:26:28 1996
From: biss at epg.nist.gov (Robert Biss) (Robert Biss)
Date: Wed, 31 Jul 1996 13:26:28 +0000
Subject: Shorty Forty's
Message-ID: <Q1FF9745 at washer>

I am looking for information regarding the HyGain Discoverer 7-2. 2 element 
40 meter beam....

I've read  (and copied) the recent thread on the OLD 402 BA (had one, did 
that a long time ago) and was wondering if anyone has done any tinkering 
with the newer version?

HyGain has done some of the right things (mechanically) like beefing up the 
elements and also a wider spacing.  However, they still have it on a 25' 
radius turn, increased the linear loading and looks like they shortened the 
elements to keep it in the 25' circle.

So, if you've played with it and had favorable (hopefully) results, I'd like 
to hear about it.

Direct would be fine and I'll sumarize afterwards.

TIA es 73  bob  K3ZNV