December QST arrives

[HENRYPOL at aol.com]

Stopped by the PO box while out running pre-Thanksgiving errands with the
family this morning and found the latest issue of QST and the Radio Shack
holiday sales catalog (more later - below).

Nice front cover photo of an Eimac 3-400 mixed in with some Christmas tree
ornaments.

Contest related items:  Results - 96 ARRL June VHF QSO Party and 96 ARRL
August UHF Contest; and Product Review - Timewave DSP-599zx.

Other interesting items:  Up Front in QST has an interesting idea from WA4SDV
 on how to increase your code speed; A New "Band" for your Radio (Internet
Phone); Hams Span the Atlantic on Shortwave! (75 years ago); and Product
Review - 4 multiband FM rigs (Alinco DR605T, Icom IC2710H, Standard C5900DA,
& Yaesu FT8000R); and lots more.... 

Ads:  Icom's ad has the new IC-756 mixed in with their other rigs; Zeit
Radio-Controlled Clock that sets itself to WWV; ARRL Handbook now on CD; 2
New books from ARRL - Antenna Compendium Vol. 5 and Vertical Antenna
Classics; New half-page ad from Force 12 with short blurb about ZR-3
(tri-band vertical only 5 ft. 4 in.!); Back issues of QST now on CD, only
1985-89 or 1990-94 for now with others to follow in 97 (does this mean that
maybe we will finally get a CD with ALL back issues of NCJ and QEX ?).

And now for a holiday gift idea (compliments of Radio Shack).  Ever wonder
what happens on your run frequency when you have to make those inevitable pit
stops for relief (of too much Dr. Pepper, etc.) and refreshment.  Well RS has
just what you need, wireless headphones (#33-1145) that operate on 900 mHz
with 150 ft range (you can possibly even climb the tower for repair work and
still listen-in).  Hey, these might even work great as your main headphones,
thus freeing your operating position from extra wires that sometimes get in
the way.  Now if someone (how about it, Heil?) can come up with a wireless
boom mic that would attach to these - you would not have to miss those extra
QSOs when away from the rig temporarily, plus it would free you from the
operating chair, even let you walk around in the shack.  (Yeh, I know you
still have to log them!....You mean there is NO voice recognition logging
software yet!  Oh well, maybe I've been watching too much Star Trek)  Noted
also, that RS has another stereo headset/boom mic combo (#33-1098) that is on
sale for $29.99.  These look less rugged than the PRO-50MXs that sell for
$59.99.  I have not been to my local RS outlet to check these out, so don't
know if Heil's HC4 will fit.

73 and good reading,

Henry Pollock - WB4HFL
henrypol at aol.com

P.S.  I have no connections with Radio Shack or the Tandy Corp.


>From doug.robbins at worldnet.att.net (Doug Robbins)  Thu Nov 28 04:22:17 1996
From: doug.robbins at worldnet.att.net (Doug Robbins) (Doug Robbins)
Date: Wed, 27 Nov 1996 23:22:17 -0500
Subject: 160 M DX window
Message-ID: <19961128042145.AAA18500 at 903137728worldnet.att.net>

Dan,

     I'm not much of a 160m user either,  but I do chase a lot of DX on the other bands,
and I've been squashed in the pile-ups by KC1XX (or KY1H), W3LPL, N2RM,
et.al. as much as  (sometimes seems like more than)  the next guy.
 
    But I've got to tell you - YOU'RE WRONG on the 160 window issue. If you
ever do operate this band may you be blessed with large antennas, lots of watts,
many years of finely-honed low-band skills, and a hill-top location in the Northeast.

    If, not you can always update your WAS.  

73 and Happy T'Day

Doug - W2DR     
----------
> From: AA8U <aa8u at voyager.net>
> To: KS6Z at SPRYNET.COM
> Cc: cq-contest at tgv.com
> Subject: Re: 160 M DX window
> Date: Wednesday, November 27, 1996 9:13 PM
> 
> At 10:12 PM 11/24/96 -0800, you wrote:
> >Dear OM,
> >
> >While lI don't use 160 at all and you can be assured that I won't
> >interfere with your contest activities on that band I have to say that
> >the "DX window for contestes" is a figment of your imagination in all
> >ways other than custom and practice.  
> >
> >Whoever KC1XX is I strongly encourage him to chase DX wherever he is
> >licensed to operate, with or without your approval.
> >
> >You have a hell of a nerve Mr.!
> >
> >Dan Keefe  KS6Z
> ==============================================================================
> Hello Dan,
> 
> You obviously have taken my words to mean something I did not intend. 
> 
> I understand this as you are not a 160M regular contester and are
> "ignorant" of the issues I wrote about. Don't read "ignorant" to be a
> negative criticism of you. 
> 
> The station I used as an example participates and competes with all the
> other entrants, but does so by to some extent "trading" on some of the
> others in what some feel is an unfair manner. It is no crime and nothing to
> get really upset about. You should not get upset either.....this is a HOBBY
> Dan! Gee whiz, lighten up. KC1XX just might be the one that is correct, I
> may be way off in left field, but if so I'll have lots of company. 
> 
> Yes I have some nerve, enough to speak up when I see room for improvement.
> Not with anyone person, but the rule definition that makes this whole thing
> an issue in the first place. 
> 
> If you knew more about the subject you would have saved yourself a couple
> points of blood pressure. Now, if a non contester chose to operate anywhere
> on the band during the contest, good for them. It is done all the time and
> contesters try to make room for them too and vise versa. I've been on both
> sides of that fence. 
> 
> My original post was to the ARRL, cc the reflector. The cc was so I could
> field the opinions and advice of others...you included! I didn't expect all
> the replies to be warm fuzzies. HI 
> 
> I said before, I think the DX window, (a contest related term and concept),
> should be better defined by the ARRL to remove the current ambiguousness.
> The term DX window has nothing to do with non-contest operations that may
> be coincident with an in-progress contest event. Does this help? Re-read
> what I wrote, calmly again....it might make more sense this time.
>   
> I guess to truly understand what I'm saying, you will have to get on 160,
> enter a couple dozen contest over as many years and then you will have a
> true appreciation for the DX window topic among others.
> 
> You can get upset if you choose Dan, but is pointless. I respect your
> opinion even if it may have sprung from a mis-understanding on your part.
> You also have every right to express yourself however you choose. Hey Dan,
> I still love you!
> 
> 
> Have a nice Turkey Day!
> 
> 73,
> Bruce
> 
> 

>From 0006485696 at mcimail.com (KEN KOPP-K0PP)  Thu Nov 28 05:05:00 1996
From: 0006485696 at mcimail.com (KEN KOPP-K0PP) (KEN KOPP-K0PP)
Date: Thu, 28 Nov 96 00:05 EST
Subject: 160's DX Window
Message-ID: <62961128050526/0006485696PK2EM at MCIMAIL.COM>

Bruce, AA8U writes; "DX window (a contest related term and concept)," ...

I disagree ... the window concept does/must apply ALL THE TIME ... not
just during contests.  Or maybe I'm taking Bruce out of context ...
ya didn't REALLY mean what you said, did ya Bruce? :<))

Ken Kopp - K0PP 
k0pp at mcimail.com


>From aa8u at voyager.net (AA8U)  Thu Nov 28 06:03:43 1996
From: aa8u at voyager.net (AA8U) (AA8U)
Date: Thu, 28 Nov 1996 01:03:43 -0500 (EST)
Subject: 160's DX Window
Message-ID: <3.0.16.19961128010518.2db764be at voyager.net>

At 12:05 AM 11/28/96 EST, you wrote:
>Bruce, AA8U writes; "DX window (a contest related term and concept)," ...
>
>I disagree ... the window concept does/must apply ALL THE TIME ... not
>just during contests.  Or maybe I'm taking Bruce out of context ...
>ya didn't REALLY mean what you said, did ya Bruce? :<))
>
>Ken Kopp - K0PP 
>k0pp at mcimail.com

===
Hi Ken,

I realize the DX window should be recognized and respected by all to be a
valuable and viable resource both during and outside of contest weekends.
Maybe I said it in a way that was too imprecise....I do that a lot. 

I was trying to explain to an obvious non-contester that had no concept of
the conditions on topband that the DX window wasn't just someplace to
relegate non-contest DX'ers as if that would be the only place they should
be permitted. There I go again, well I think you understand....

My whole purpose was to make an attempt to improve the dx window by better
defining its use by all operators on topband, especially in ARRL sponsored
contests. They must set the example for the other contest sponsors and
dx'ers to follow. Sometimes I think the ARRL is about as hard to get to act
as Congress, but I just had to try. If they do change the definition and
make it clear that the window should be respected by all both in and out of
contests, I think we will all be better off for it.

Failing that, only peer pressure, as ineffective as that is, will be our
only hope. Many have already recognized how immune some are to peer
pressure. Maybe those that are applying the pressure aren't considered
"peers". Maybe this is the root of the problem.

So there, I hope I have made myself somewhat clearer?

73,
Bruce



>From ey8mm at sovam.com (Nodir M. Tursoon-Zadeh)  Thu Nov 28 10:50:26 1996
From: ey8mm at sovam.com (Nodir M. Tursoon-Zadeh) (Nodir M. Tursoon-Zadeh)
Date: Thu, 28 Nov 1996 10:50:26 MMT
Subject: CQ WWCW: QSL INFO PLEASE
Message-ID: <199611280750.AA10772 at scylla.sovam.com>

Hi,

We had a very good qsl info about CQ WW SSB. Is there anyone
did the same about CW part? Contest was reach of DX so need to
do some qsling.

73, Nodir