ARRL Letter excerpts: 5/31/96
frenaye at pcnet.com
frenaye at pcnet.com
Fri May 31 00:47:09 EDT 1996
As usual, the full text can be found --> www.arrl.org
The ARRL Letter
Electronic Update
May 31, 1996
__________________________________
IN THIS UPDATE . . ..
* Write now! Two meters and 70 cm threatened!
* Kenwood's new distribution channels
* Minnesota tower challenge
* QUEST 43 yields old Bird 43s
* Sunspot minimum still ahead
* Young researchers beat NASA to punch
* In Brief: New senator's ham radio connection;
Younger licensees up; KA4MHJ honored;
Drake is on-line; All-plastic battery under
development; Arecibo dish to be upgraded.
__________________________________
AMATEURS MOBILIZE AGAINST THREAT TO 2 METERS, 70 CM
(most of the details were in a message sent to the contest forum yesterday)
KENWOOD ANNOUNCES NEW DISTRIBUTION CHANNELS
Longing for a new Kenwood TS-870S or maybe a TM-733? Soon, you might find
them in your local CB shop or truck stop. Citing concerns about the future
of Amateur Radio and a changing business climate, Kenwood Communications
Corp announced to its dealers on May 21 it's taking "some bold steps" to
turn things around. Kenwood has appointed three new companies (as yet
unnamed) to wholesale Kenwood Amateur Radio products "to CB radio stores,
truck stops, 2-way radio stores, and electronic re-sellers," according to a
letter to its dealer network.
Kenwood says it believes its new distribution strategy will benefit the
hobby by increasing the visibility of its Amateur Radio line through small
dealers to help draw newcomers into the hobby.
The company also says it plans to offer a new pamphlet or "primer" about
Amateur Radio to introduce people to the hobby. The primer will be free. In
addition, Kenwood will start selling Amateur Radio study guides and has
urged its authorized dealer network to help distribute the new materials. In
conjunction with its Kenwood Report--distributed to ham radio clubs--the
company also plans to offer "incentives for local clubs to gain new members
using the Kenwood Amateur Radio primer and licensing materials." In a May 28
letter to authorized dealers, Kenwood described the moves as "our first
stage of activities to promote Amateur Radio."
Kenwood says the extra step in the new distribution chain will guarantee
that existing authorized dealers always have a price advantage over the
smaller resellers. The company also denied rumors that it plans to exit the
Amateur Radio market.
MINNESOTA TOWER CHALLENGE DECIDED IN HAM'S FAVOR
[*** Hey! We know this guy - contester makes good!]
A Minnesota ham, Steven Fraasch, K0SF, of Corcoran, Minnesota, so far has
successfully fended off attempts by a local golf course to keep him from
maintaining a tower at his home. Last Summer, Fraasch got approval and a
building permit from city officials to erect a 130-foot tower. But Rush
Creek Golf Club which owns a golf course that adjoins the Goose Lake
development where Fraasch lives went to court to block the tower project,
citing environmental and aesthetic grounds and claiming the risk of
irreparable damage. Fraasch lives on a 19-acre tract that includes wetlands.
Rush Creek named both Fraasch and the City of Corcoran as defendants.
However, the Fourth Judicial District Court denied a temporary restraining
order, and Fraasch built the tower as planned.
Earlier this year, Judge Robert Lynn ruled that Rush Creek had failed to
establish its case. The court determined, among other things, that the tower
does not pollute or impair the wetlands and would pose no threat to
waterfowl and especially to trumpeter swans, and that the tower, while
visible from surrounding points, "does not appreciably impair any scenic or
aesthetic resources associated with the Goose Lake wetlands." The court also
found that the tower "has far less visual impact on plaintiff's property
than the adjacent farmyard filled with rusty old construction equipment as
well as a nearby mobile home park."
ARRL Volunteer Counsel Jay Bellows, K0QBE, who represents Fraasch, says Rush
Creek's motion for amended findings or a new trial was denied, but he
expects an appeal. Stay tuned!
DOING THE BIRD
Justin Dennis, KA0HKV, of Atkins, Iowa, was the grand prize winner of QUEST
43, Bird Electronic Corporation's year-long competition to locate the oldest
working Model 43 Thruline Wattmeter. Bird says Dennis's Model 43 (serial no
71), made in 1952, still delivers accurate RF-power measurements 44 years
later. Dennis said he bought the unit from a friend for $15. It earned him a
24-carat-gold-plated Model 43, a $1000 gift certificate and a brand new
Model 43. (stuff cut)
SUNSPOT MINIMUM STILL AHEAD
(a note was circulated to the contest reflector on this last week)
__________________________________
In Brief . . .
[Hey again, K0BJ is an occasional contester]
* There's a ham radio connection in the recent announcement that Kansas Gov
Bill Graves has named Lt Gov Sheila Frahm to succeed Bob Dole in the US
Senate. Sheila Frahm is a sister-in-law of ARRL Midwest Vice Director Bob
Frahm, K0BJ. Sheila Frahm, a 51-year-old Republican, will serve in the
Senate at least until November, when Kansas voters will choose a candidate
to fill the last two years of Dole's term.
* According to FCC statistics, as of the end of April, the number of
licensees who are age 21 or younger totaled 30,827. That's almost 500 more
than at the end of March.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
E-mail: frenaye at pcnet.com
Tom Frenaye, K1KI, P O Box 386, West Suffield CT 06093 Phone: 860-668-5444
>From seay at alaska.net (Del & Jan Seay) Fri May 31 00:00:07 1996
From: seay at alaska.net (Del & Jan Seay) (Del & Jan Seay)
Date: Thu, 30 May 1996 16:00:07 -0700
Subject: ARRL Letter excerpts: 5/31/96
References: <Chameleon.4.01.2.960530235258.frenaye at K1KI.pcnet.com>
Message-ID: <31AE2876.7F5E at alaska.net>
frenaye at pcnet.com wrote:
>
>
>
> The ARRL Letter
> Electronic Update
> May 31, 1996
> __________________________________
>
> KENWOOD ANNOUNCES NEW DISTRIBUTION CHANNELS
>
> Longing for a new Kenwood TS-870S or maybe a TM-733? Soon, you might find
> them in your local CB shop or truck stop. Citing concerns about the future
> of Amateur Radio and a changing business climate, Kenwood Communications
> Corp announced to its dealers on May 21 it's taking "some bold steps" to
> turn things around. Kenwood has appointed three new companies (as yet
> unnamed) to wholesale Kenwood Amateur Radio products "to CB radio stores,
> truck stops, 2-way radio stores, and electronic re-sellers," according to a
> letter to its dealer network.
Another good reason to buy Kenwood - so you can have a rig just like
those good buddies!!!!!
de KL7HF
>From n2ba at cnct.com (Brooke Allen) Fri May 31 01:05:21 1996
From: n2ba at cnct.com (Brooke Allen) (Brooke Allen)
Date: Thu, 30 May 1996 20:05:21 -0400
Subject: N2BA SO/LP/AB Unassisted WPX CW 96 2.
Message-ID: <31AE37C1.702E at cnct.com>
Call: N2BA Country: United States
Mode: CW Category: Single Operator, Low Power, Unassisted
BAND QSO QSO PTS PTS/Q PREFIXES
160 0 0 0.0 0
80 35 156 4.5 8
40 305 1396 4.6 163
20 799 1840 2.3 381
15 43 118 2.7 22
10 0 0 0.0 0
--------------------------------------
Totals 1182 3510 3.0 574 = 2,014,740
35.5 Hours
I vote to return to 30 hours. In the 48 hour contests I work 35-40
hours as it is, so making this 36 means no diff. 30 hours was
a different contest in which I could compete in my old age.
In fact, for a long time, I've thought about an unofficial
Half a Contest sub-category. You could only work 1/2 the official
number of hours of the contest. To keep big guns from dropping down
and crunching us if they fall asleep, you must distinguish yourself
as interested in only the 1/2 contest category by not operating in
the first 10 percent of the contest. So for example, in a 48 hour
contest, you could first transmit 4.8 hours into it. By then, its
too late to compete for the whole thing.
Perhaps we could offer 1/2 certificates, say on 8 1/2 by 5 1/2 inch
paper. Work odd years, get the left half, even years get the right half.
In a pair of years, us slow pokes could accumulate a whole certificate.
I know this sounds like a joke, buy I'm actually serious in suggesting
that if we're going to offer lots of categories for people with only
antennas for one band, no amps, packet, no packet, expeditions, only
tri-banders, poor fists, or whatever, then we should certainly offer
a category for people who don't want to kill themselves. Literally!
My shack is 2 1/2 hours from my house. I can kill myself driving home
after a contest.
Anyway, CQ WPX used to be a relief from that, and now it isn't.
Best Regards, Brooke, n2ba at cnct.com
>From jreid at aloha.net (Jim Reid) Fri May 31 01:58:03 1996
From: jreid at aloha.net (Jim Reid) (Jim Reid)
Date: Thu, 30 May 1996 14:58:03 -1000
Subject: Wow: ARRL Letter excerpts: 5/31/96
Message-ID: <1.5.4.32.19960531005803.006afe20 at aloha.net>
Hey Tom, you bring very great news!
Per your excerpt from ARRL Letter
>* Kenwood's new distribution channels
>KENWOOD ANNOUNCES NEW DISTRIBUTION CHANNELS
>
>Longing for a new Kenwood TS-870S or maybe a TM-733? Soon, you might find
>them in your local CB shop or truck stop. Citing concerns about the future
>of Amateur Radio and a changing business climate, Kenwood Communications
>Corp announced to its dealers on May 21 it's taking "some bold steps" to
>turn things around. Kenwood has appointed three new companies (as yet
>unnamed) to wholesale Kenwood Amateur Radio products "to CB radio stores,
>truck stops, 2-way radio stores, and electronic re-sellers," according to a
>letter to its dealer network.
>
>Kenwood says it believes its new distribution strategy will benefit the
>hobby by increasing the visibility of its Amateur Radio line through small
>dealers to help draw newcomers into the hobby.
Yes, for a few months now the Radio Shack shop here on the island
of Kauai has had full Kenwood ham radio gear data sheets in three
ring binders for all to see. Guess this means it won't be long before
anyone can walk in, and walk out with a new 950SDX or 870S! They can
today here on Kauai, should they buy a s mtr HT. Bet the Kenwoods
will go well at trucks stops across the Southwest on the mainland.
I've seen some pretty free-thinking types at those truck stops out
across Arizona and other SW'trn states desert spots! Yes sir, they
were all decked out in silver and turquoise jewelry, and could really
swagger about, and had it to spend, big time, good buddy!
If our government will allow Kenwood to sell this gear for whatever
they can get for it in a CB store or at a truck stop, why can't
I order an Amplifier Systems, Inc. CE-1000E 3-30mHz 10kW amplifier,
as advertised in "The DX Magazine", or a Henry 5K Ultra as I occasionally
see advertised (well, maybe just mentioned, or only offered in
the classified section) in a hammy mag? I'll cause a lot less
trouble on the bands with a clean QRO signal than the potential
stuff these sort of customers might generate on the bands.
Why is it illeagal for those manufacturers to ship one to me in Hawaii,
tho they will to an address in Chile,(or Canada or Mexico?), but anybody
can buy a 100watt xcvr or Kenwood linear at a truck stop, thanks to
Kenwood's interest in spreading the word about ham radio. Boy, all
that neat looking gear you can buy and take home with you right now,
even tho the fine print in the Kenwood literature will tell the buyer
he needs a license to really operate it per the full descriptinve user
directions packed in the box with the neat, new radio/ linear
amplifier. And of course, the CB'er will never clip the green
wires!
Earler postings about a recession in sales by the amateur radio
equipment producers and dealers sure were right on; but, Kenwood
is taking the lead in opening whole new market areas!
Think how many new contesters this will bring in, all signing
"Good Buddy"!
BTW, did you know there are nearly no 18-wheel trucks on Kauai?
Maybe 3 or 4.
73, Jim AH6NB
>From barry at w2up.wells.com (Barry Kutner) Fri May 31 00:50:24 1996
From: barry at w2up.wells.com (Barry Kutner) (Barry Kutner)
Date: Thu, 30 May 96 23:50:24 GMT
Subject: RUFZ/SoundBlaster
Message-ID: <PyJRoD1w165w at w2up.wells.com>
Can someone pse repost the info on downloading the new files.
I got the RFZSOUND file, but for some reason, the English doc file didn't
come also, as requested. And, of course, I already dleted the original
msg. Tnx/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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