No subject

[RBates854 at aol.com]

eavy contester ( $ impaired) but I too have had extremely poor
performance from Sylvania bulbs, their life is far below the advertised life
but I have also had a similar experience with the GE bulb. A litlle better
but they never last their advertised life.

Currently I am trying the GE "Miser" bulb, too soon to tell but less light.
If anyone finds a "Good" bulb please post to the reflector.

de Bob AA9DX



>From Tony Brock-Fisher <fisher at hp-and2.an.hp.com>  Wed Mar 20 15:53:55 1996
From: Tony Brock-Fisher <fisher at hp-and2.an.hp.com> (Tony Brock-Fisher)
Date: Wed, 20 Mar 1996 10:53:55 -0500
Subject: Re[2]: Towers near airports (W1PH)
Message-ID: <9603201553.AA18491 at hp-and2.an.hp.com>

Fred-

Don't you think the FAA treats commercial interests with a bit
more respect than us crazy hams?

-Tony, K1KP, fisher at hp-and2.an.hp.com

>From Eric Rosenberg <ericr at access.digex.net>  Wed Mar 20 16:10:01 1996
From: Eric Rosenberg <ericr at access.digex.net> (Eric Rosenberg)
Date: Wed, 20 Mar 1996 11:10:01 -0500 (EST)
Subject: DXpeds and fat cats
Message-ID: <Pine.SUN.3.91.960320105224.12744A-100000 at access4.digex.net>

In addition to organized DXpeditions, there are situations where some of
us find ourselves being sent to what some would refer to as exotic
locations as a function of our work. [Sierra Leone and Djibouti are
definately not exotic. Interesting, even fascinating...but not exotic.]

KE3Q, KP4XS and others have given examples of the range of costs and 
troubles one can go through to pull off a DX trip.  I've been lucky in 
that work has generally paid for my trips.  

In those instances, the my costs have been minimal...The only extra gear I
really need is a rig (FT-890), headphones, wire antenna/feedline and rope,
and switching power supply.  I already have a laptop for the job.  In
the places where I've been for work, we usually leave at a 'normal' hour
and generally (but not always) have electricity in our living quarters. As
ON6TT has explained, simple amenities, not to mention licensing and
customs clearance, are often the greatest challenge. 

Finally, *only* those on the DXpedition itself, whether for a CONTEST or
just to get on the air, define and determine its success.  You don't have
to be on a Heard/Pratas mega-expedition to have fun and be successful. 
And, if your timing is right, to give your club a boost in the scores! 

[As an aside, with one exception, taking radios on a family trip has been
a disaster.]

GL!
Eric
--
Eric Rosenberg 			WD3Q, EI4VPS, YJ0AER, J20BY, etc.
Washington, DC 	
ericr at access.digex.net		wd3q at amsat.org


>From tomf at neca.com (Thomas E. Francis)  Wed Mar 20 16:15:45 1996
From: tomf at neca.com (Thomas E. Francis) (Thomas E. Francis)
Date: Wed, 20 Mar 1996 11:15:45 -0500
Subject: WPX Calls es new contests
Message-ID: <199603201615.LAA14166 at orion.neca.com>

Yes sir Slim, I'm  all set to beat one of the notable wpx records of all
>times, which I hold. The most cw wpx qso's and mults without ever scoring
>a point, look it up for yourself.

        Now there's an idea for a contest - THE CLUB OR INDIVUDUAL WITH
        THE LEAST POINTS WINS!! I love it.....

        Just think,

        ARRL MDW 'test - the MOST DUPES WORKED DX contest
        CQ WW NDXSW 'test - NON-DX STATIONS WORKED in a DX contest
        NCJ 75 Meter P&M 'test - work as many non-contest stations who gripe

                                 and complain about contest weekends - the 
                                 multiplier would the number of stations
                                 P--- and M---ing about contesters to actually
                                 a contest Q...
        The Wayne Green 73 Memorial 'test - Work everybody in all modes invented
                                            by Wayne Green. Multiplier is the
                                            number of stations powered by Cold
                                            Fusion reactors.....
        The Roger Smith Monte Carlo 'test - only owners of Monte Carlo 72-88
                                            Monte Carlo SS - multipliers are
                                            1/4 mile times, engine displacement
                                            and rear end ratios....

        Gosh, the possibilities are endless!! 

        C'mon, let's forget CQ WW, ARRL, IARU, WRTC and get creative!!

        Just a thought....

        73

        Tom, NM1Q (tomf at neca.com)

        "I don't care if it rains or freezes,
        'long as I have my plastic Jesus,
         sittin' on the dashboard of my car."

        Another lame attempt at contest related humor....

        NOTE THE WORD CONTEST SO IT"S LEGAL FOR THE REFLECTOR!!!


>From Bruce Lallathin <aa8u at voyager.net>  Wed Mar 20 16:18:08 1996
From: Bruce Lallathin <aa8u at voyager.net> (Bruce Lallathin)
Date: Wed, 20 Mar 1996 11:18:08 -0500 (EST)
Subject: 
Message-ID: <199603201618.LAA01196 at vixa.voyager.net>

At 09:22 AM 3/20/96 -0500, you wrote:
> 96-03-20 00:23:16 EST, you write:
>
>>
>>Yes!! I recently had a rash of Sylvania light bulb failures, too.  Mine were
>>100 watt "Double Life" Soft White bulbs that carry the following guarentee
>>on the package:  "If you are not satisfied with the performance of this
>>bulb, return the proof of purchase seal to the address on the bottom of this
>>package along with your name and address.  It will be replaced with a new
>>bulb free of charge."
>
>Perhaps it's parasitics, rooted in a manufacturer's conspiracy to sell or
>build bad products? 
>
>Just a humorus thought!
>
>73 Tom
>
>
The life expectancy of most light bulbs is only 600-750 hours. Some of the
"brand name" bulbs that you would expect to have long life just aren't going
to live up to most people's expectations. Vibration can shorten the lifespan
maybe more than power fluctuations. My gargage door opener bulbs are now
"rough service" bulbs like you would use in a trouble light. The last
longer, cost more, and so far I haven't lost any in six months.

FYI
es 73,
Bruce
aa8u at voyager.net


>From Bruce Lallathin <aa8u at voyager.net>  Wed Mar 20 16:51:26 1996
From: Bruce Lallathin <aa8u at voyager.net> (Bruce Lallathin)
Date: Wed, 20 Mar 1996 11:51:26 -0500 (EST)
Subject: 25g Disassembly
Message-ID: <199603201651.LAA04277 at vixa.voyager.net>

At 08:59 AM 3/20/96 CST, you wrote:
>There have been lots of good discussions on erecting towers on
>the reflector.  Good info and I've been able to save most of it.
>Most of what I didn't / couldn't save is on FOX's web site.  But
>now, I need advice/ideas on going the other way.
>I have located a 100' Rohn 25g that my friend and I want to
>take down and move to his place.  We will have other helpers and
>have located climbing belts, hard hats and a gin pole.  One of
>the helpers has done this before so we have at least some
>experience to work with.  I would like to hear whatever
>"Hints & Kinks" you might have to offer on tearing down such
>a tower.  The tower has three sets of guys and only a very small
>UHF/VHF business type antenna on the top section which is of the
>tapered type.
>
>Please send your responses to me and I'll summarize if there is
>interest.
>
>Thanks,
>
>73   Wayne   KC5DVT  ehayes at vnet.ibm.com
>
Hello Wayne,

I have done a LOT of tower intalls and tear-downs over the past 30 years. I
used to work for RCA Service Company and have a lot of tower mileage, (kinda
like airtime for pilots..hi) Take this advice for what you feel it is worth
and don't rely on mine alone.

Unless you know who put it up, their qualifications, if it was done
properly, and is known to be structurally sound (among other factors), then
pass! Purchase new tower and install it properly. 

I have found numerous Uhf/Vhf commercial installations that were
"professionally" installed improperly over the years and the risk is not
worth it. I would be especially cautious of any used Ham/CB towers as they
have likely been overloaded as well as all the other possibilities.

If you sight up the tower and it is not string straight, if the legs are
pinched by over-tightening the bolts (very common), if it is rusty, or
dented, or if the cross braces have been damaged....PASS! You must consider
the climate it is in, if it has been accumulating water in the tubes because
the base was improperly installed. Check carefully they guying. Is it still
sound? Was it done right to begin with? If you have ANY doubts, PASS! Save
your bucks a bit longer and do it right the first time. 

There are so many unseen potential hazards. I would skip any used tower that
you are not sure about in all respects. When you think about it, new tower
is really cheap compared to what one disaster could cost you. 

When you make a mistake on a tower, it is often the last you will make.
Please keep this in mind and don't feel I am lecturing you. One of my good
friends fell to his death because he did not have a decent safety belt and
relied on an old leather-strap power company cast off. Something else to
keep in mind. If you have to borrow a safety belt, then that tells me a
lot.....please don't be offended.

There are a lot of things to carefully consider Wayne. Hope you are successful!

73,
Bruce  AA8U