In response to Sean Katzo's message, much of the successful CQ'ing and
running of european stations by U.S. Stations on 75 meters is to operate
split frequency, transmitting above 3800 and listening below 3750 - thereby
avoiding qrm on the dx window, at least during the european opening. The
best suggestion, however, is to listen what others are doing successfully,
and try to replicate it. I didn't see an E-mail address in his message so I
couldn't respond directly. Good luck at W9SZ and hope your antenna works
well.
73, Bob, N2RM
>From John Dorr K1AR" <p00259@psilink.com Thu Mar 2 16:58:13 1995
From: John Dorr K1AR" <p00259@psilink.com (John Dorr K1AR)
Subject: TGV Goes Public
Message-ID: <3003249435.1.p00259@psilink.com>
Cut above...is this a back-handed attempt to bring up use of CW cut
numbers again?? :)
73 John, K1AR
>DATE: Wed, 01 Mar 1995 20:57:52 -0500 (EST)
>FROM: AC1O@delphi.com
>
>In case you missed it: Our Fearless Leader's company, TGV Software, went
>public today. Two million shares were priced at 16; they opened at 21,
>and closed at 18 7/8. (If you'd like to keep an eye on the stock, its
>NASDAQ symbol is TGVI.)
>
>(Yes, I know, this isn't *really* contesting stuff. But -- someone from
>California (W6QHS?) once stated on this reflector that through the years
>he had discovered that contesters were -- almost universally -- well-above
>average employees. And the postings I've seen on this reflector -- and
>the operating skills I've heard on the air -- clearly demonstrate, to me
>at least, that most contesters are, indeed, a "cut above" -- and our Fearless
>Leader is certainly no exception. In investment circles, this is the type
>of thing that makes "management" a big plus -- and it makes TGVI a stock
>that I, for one, will be following with keen interest.)
>
>73 de Walt, AC1O "ac1o@delphi.com"
>From elmore@rap.ucar.EDU (Kim Elmore) Thu Mar 2 20:17:36 1995
From: elmore@rap.ucar.EDU (Kim Elmore) (Kim Elmore)
Subject: Di-dit dit
Message-ID: <199503022017.NAA11687@brightband.rap.ucar.EDU>
I learned the "didit dit" from an old ARRL Operating Manual which I
may still have.. And, the explanation that David gave for it is similar to
what I learned. "Didit dit" *is* the old Continetal code for C. The
preferred "frequency in use" response was a single "dit" because it was the
least intrusive. I also remember that "didit" was recommended for a "I'm
listening but not using the frequency", though why anyone would bother with
that today is a bit mysterious to me. I'd have to check, but I think that
the more popular (and far more intrusive) "QRL?" is supposed to mean "Are
*you* busy?" rather than "Is this frequency in use?", though it now seems
to be universally used for the latter.
The "C" and "N" responses were recommended for CW traffic work,
where C represented "yes" (derived, I guessed, from the spanish "si") and N
represented "no". I learned all this as a kid about 20-25 years ago, so
it's safe to say it's a bit arcane :)
I tend to use the "didit dit" query, but if I hear nothing I
follow it up with "QRL?". I have had times when my "didit dit" was
answered with a single dit and when I've responded to a similar query with
a single "dit". I've always felt good about that... I've also had times
when my "didit dit" went unanswered but a "QRL?" netted a long-winded
response that must've done far more damage to the QSO than my query! Most
often, when my "QRL?" is answered it's with a "C".
I'd like to see "didit dit" come back into vogue, along with
courtesy and consideration and mutual respect and... :)
Kim Elmore, [N5OP, PP ASEL/Glider 2232456]
* _._. __._ _.. _.._ _.. . _. ..... ___ .__. _. ..... ___ .__. _.. _.._ _._ *
* Said by NQ0I while working on his shack: *
* "All these *wires*! Why do they call it `wireless'!?" *
* _._. __._ _.. _.._ _.. . _. ..... ___ .__. _. ..... ___ .__. _.. _.._ _._ *
>From GARY JONES/CENTRAL <GARY_JONES/CENTRAL@BULL.CC.USM.EDU> Thu Mar 2
>20:19:00 1995
From: GARY JONES/CENTRAL <GARY_JONES/CENTRAL@BULL.CC.USM.EDU> (GARY JONES)
Subject: Antenna construction material
Message-ID: <950302.14271904.015335@USM.CP6>
Gents:
I am getting ready to construct some long boom custom design antennas
for 30M and 40M. I have read all the books, and have all the software
that is needed for good construction techniques. What I am missing is a
source for 6061-T6 aluminum tubing (I only know of Texas Towers who have
a good supply, and who have prices that appear to be excellent). Where
else has what I need??
More interesting is that I checked with Texas Towers and it appears
that they have aluminum tubing and extruded aluminum pipe, but they have
nothing else that is typically needed in custom yagi design, for example
they apparently don't stock any 1/4, 3/8, or 1/2" aluminum plate stock
for element to boom, and boom to mast brackets and plates (mounting)
nor do they have stainless muffler clamps. I have found one Corvette
supply house which handles stainless muffler clamps, but they are
extremely expensive. I am looking for suggestions on where stainless
or very well galvanized muffler clamps can be had.... Any suggestions??
Finally, of course, I am interesting finding the most economical
sources for this material that you have encountered as most of the local
or semi-local dealers that I have found for aluminum plate and things
of this source are straight retail places, and although some things may
be availabe, they are very expensive and building your own appears to be
just about as expensive as buying a commercial yagi or comparable
design.
I would be happy to get your ideas... I would also be willing to
tabulate the suggestions and sources for antenna builders and make that
information available to other members of this list.
73 Gary W5VSZ
GARY_JONES@BULL.CC.USM.EDU
>From David & Barbara Leeson <0005543629@mcimail.com> Thu Mar 2 20:41:00 1995
From: David & Barbara Leeson <0005543629@mcimail.com> (David & Barbara Leeson)
Subject: Autek RF-1
Message-ID: <71950302204117/0005543629NA4EM@MCIMAIL.COM>
Mike, OE6MBG and Claus, OE6CLD ordered an Autek RF-1 SWR/Z meter sent here
so Mike could bring it back to OE. When it came, the display didn't work,
so the thing was "dead on arrival".
Mike called Autek and got the impression that this was a common problem. The
warrantee requires the buyer to pay the return shipping and to pay a fee of
$6 ($18 out of USA) for them to repair or replace it. This seemed a bit much
for a DOA product, so Mike called the owner "Bill" who was described by his
staff as "in and out a lot".
Bill didn't seem interested in the fact that the device arrived not working,
and wasn't willing to make any allowance for the fact that now the box has to
be sent to OE since Mike was returning. He said two things that bothered us:
he kept insisting "read the warrantee", although you don't get to see it until
the product arrives, and more troubling, he said "there's no record of this
conversation".
Because I was disturbed at the response that Mike had received, I called back
to explore the option that the sale be cancelled and credited to the buyer's
credit card (it seems to me that this is common among responsible mail-
order businesses). Bill insisted that the problem was "intermittant" (that
is, it worked there but not here, I suppose) but there wasn't any indication
of a factory test sent with the box. He repeated to me the bit about "read
the warrantee" and eventually hung up on me.
The devioce seems like a clever box, although I don't like the alternating
displays and the bandspread seems not as smooth as the MFJ boxes. Has anyone
else had this problem with Autek? If I were in the mail-order business, I
guess I would be more forthcoming with customers who received broken stuff,
as Lands End and L. L. Bean seem to do.
73 de Dave, W6QHS 5543629@mcimail.com
>From Jon E. Casamajor" <0006874944@mcimail.com Thu Mar 2 21:12:00 1995
From: Jon E. Casamajor" <0006874944@mcimail.com (Jon E. Casamajor)
Subject: J75A ARRL CW score
Message-ID: <73950302211237/0006874944DC3EM@MCIMAIL.COM>
Results for J75A transmitted to KN6EL for posting.
Operators: N6ZS and WA6SBS
Band Q S
---- ---- ---
160 207 39
80 764 57
40 760 54
20 1043 58
15 834 56
10 771 49
Total.......4379.......313 = 4,111,881 points
N6ZS says they had a ball!
73 de Jon
KN6EL
|