Several of you have asked me for the address and URL of the FCC
handbooks that I refered to in my recent contest posting so I thought
I'd send it out to the reflector and to the Eastcoast Megacluster.
One caution: While the documents I reference here are available via the
FCC WWW Page, requesting the documents directly from the FCC (they're
free) will give you much higher quality, professional looking documents
which you can give to your neighbors. Downloaded documents (even if
printed on a color printer) are not as impressive-looking, and that is
what you need if you are going to convince your neighbors that TVI/RFI
problems are the problem of the consumer.
So, with that in mind, here is the information:
The FCC Interference Handbook, which concerns interference to home
electronic equipment, is called: CIB Bulletin CIB-2, May 1995.
(CIB stands for: Compliance & Information Branch)
The Bulletin CIB-10, August 1995, concerns radio interference to
telephones.
To request copies of these documents directly from the FCC, send your
request directly to the FCC at:
Federal Communications Commission
FORMS DISTRIBUTION CENTER
2802 52nd Avenue
Hyattsville, Maryland 20781
Indicate the Bulletin number, date and quantity desired
These Bulletins are available for download at the following URLs:
http://www.fcc.gov/cib/Publications/tvibook.html
and
http://www.fcc.gov/cib/Publications/phone.html
Good luck !!
73!
Bill, N3RR
>From jtw2@NIOSR1.EM.CDC.GOV (Wassell, James T., Ph.D.) Wed Oct 30 22:54:00
>1996
From: jtw2@NIOSR1.EM.CDC.GOV (Wassell, James T., Ph.D.) (Wassell, James T.,
Ph.D.)
Subject: radio shack voice chips
Message-ID: <327750CD@SmtpOut.em.cdc.gov>
I sent out a call for information on using radio shack voice chips for
building a voice keyer and received several useful responses, I thought this
information would be useful for contesters so here is a summary of what I
received. The bottom line is that these are useful for building an
inexpensive voice keyer (except for some concern about quality control of
components sold to r.s- but if it doesn't work, of course take it back
and hope the next one works OK). Here's my original post and edited
responses. Thanks to all who answered my inquiry. I plan to build one for
SS SSB. This reflector is great - and truely international with responses
from XE and C31 !!!
disclaimer: I'm not affiliated with any supplier or manufacturer, just
contesters.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------
Has anyone tried using those radio shack recordable voice chips for SSB
contests?
Seems they might be useful for CQing and sending the exchange.
Do they work? Are they an inexpensive voice box or are they a waste of
money for contesting?
If I get lots of replies, I'll summarize responses for the reflector.
Thanks & cu in the pileups. 73. Terry, K3JT......
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-----------------------
Same ISD chip I used several years ago to make one, and same chip used
in the W9XT card. Both work off of the LPT ports, CT and others will
support the LPT DVK, but CT will not activate the abort via the escape
key. (doesn't toggle any LPT pin for the abort).
73, Jim, WA6SDM
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-----------------------
Are you referring to the 20-second DIP chips made by ISD? The ones that
look kinda like a ROM? If so, that's what's in the W9XT Contest Card & it
works great. I also use a bunch of them at work. FWIW chips up to 90
seconds long are now available from ISD (and probably by special order from
RS) and can be partitioned for a lot more recording time.
OTOH, if you're referring to the assembled modules with the surface-mount
chip, I have no experience with them so ignore me<grin>...
73 Doug
W9WI
Douglas E. Smith W9WI/4 desmith@Telalink.Net
1385 Old Clarksville Pike 72777.3143@compuserve.com
Pleasant View, TN 37146-8098
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-----------------------
The answer is a resounding "YES". We in Northern New Jersey have
built at least a dozen of these. The only difference from the schematic
given
by Radio Shack being a reed relay for PTT. They work FB. They remember their
message from 1 year to the next without power. Just apply voltage and push
the talk button and it comes to like with: "CQ contest de NO2T bk"!!!!
There are two versions. The better of these is the single chip. It
is
easier to configure and control. Somewhere in my junk pile is the modified
schematic we used. If there is enough interest I will dig it out or else
recreate it. NO2T Jerry no2tj@bc.cybernex.net
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------
Terry I built one up a couple years ago, it works FB and at $18 was a
real bargain! Took a little effort to get levels worked out but it works
good for both TX and RX!
73, Bob NW6N
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------------------------
Hi Terry, yes I have built up a CQ machine using the Radio Shach voice
chip. I think the project cost me about 25.00. All parts were purchased
from Radio Shack. Mine works fine, in fact I'll be using it this weekend.
I have no RFI problems with it and it is in line with the mike. I also put
a PTT relay in the ckt. Only draw back is you have to push the button its
not automatic. I guess next thing to build into the unit would be an auto
timer. It was a fun project. 73 Pete N4KW
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------
I used a different version of the chip for my "Contest Card" voice keyer
(see Sept 93 QST, or 95/96 ARRL Handbooks). The problem with the Radio
Shack versions is that they have a lower sampling rate than the other
versions. The RS part has a number ISD-1000 or something similar. ISD
makes three versions of the chip, the ISD-1020 (essentially the RS part),
ISD-1016 (the one I use), and the ISD-1012. The last two digits are the
number of seconds of audio.
The total storage is the same for all chips. They just sample at different
rates. What that means, is that the longer the time, the lower the
frequency response. I didn't think the 20 second chip sounded that good.
While the 1012 would sound even better, I think it is over kill for radio
work and 12 seconds is a bit short.
Finally, I talked to a sale rep at ISD a few years ago. After some pointed
questions she finally admitted the RS parts were "not tested to the full
extent of the commercial parts". Read into that what you will.
Bottom line: The family is good, but use the commercial parts with a higher
sampling rate. BTW, ISD has a 60 second version out, the ISD2560. I have
used it in some commercial products I designed for a customer. Its pretty
good. 73 - Gary Gary Sutcliffe, W9XT Unified Microsystems
ppvvpp@mixcom.com PO Box 133 Slinger, WI 53086
http://www.qth.com/w9xt 414-644-9036
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-----------------------
K1KP Single-message Digital Voice Keyer
($20 +/- for parts)
1) Radio Shack 276-1324 voice-recording module (with a 2x10 pin
header).
(Remove the two surface-mount resistors that are closest to pin 10.)
1) 22 Ohm resistor
1) 5 K Ohm (audio-taper) potentiometer
1) 10 K Ohm resistor
1) .1 uf capacitor
2) momentary-type push-button switches
1) Four cell AA battery holder and 4 AA batteries (6 volts dc)
1) 8:1000 ohms Radio Shack audio transformer
Wire in parallel with your mike line and mike ground.
Press and hold the "record" button to record a message.
Press the "play" button momentarily to play back the message
(via the mike input of your radio).
Adjust 5K pot for equal drive when comparing live mike input
to playback audio from the voice keyer.
Swanson, Glenn, KB1GW
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-----------------------
battery life is that good -
I always start with fresh before a contest, and they always seems
to last until the next one.
As for the 5K pot, I must admit to 'junk-box' engineering here -
meaning that the value was chosen based on what was available.
I'm guessing that there's tons more signal level than needed.
If so, reducing the 5K pot value to maybe 1K, and adding a resistor
in series with the ungrounded side of the pot, (like 5-10K) may
help make the adjustment range more appropriate.
Be sure to do real-life power level testing, as anything having
to do with the mic input can be susceptible to RF-induced
"rotten audio"....
-Tony, K1KP, fisher@hp-and2.an.hp.com
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------
The ISD (Integrated Storage Devices, I believe) Digital Voice Recorder
chips are great! Radio Schloque carries the ISD1000A model which allows
upto 20 seconds of 2.6K sampled audio. It requires a few additional
components (power, caps, resistors, speaker, etc), but it works. The IC
is about $18. The chip allows you to start/record a message from any
.125 second point in memory. It plays until it hits an End-Of-Message
mark. You can start/record a new message after an EOM mark upto the 20
second limit. Recording overwrites EOM marks, so if you record a new
message over an old message, the old EOM mark will also be erased if you
record over it. It might take a bit of time, however, to get a fully
working keyer.
The October 1991 issue of 73 Magazine has plans for a 2-message voice
keyer based on the ISD1016 chip. This is the 16 second version of the
ISD10xx chips. The pinouts are basically the same as the one RS
currently carries except for the extra address line for the extra 4
seconds. At the local TRW swapmeet, I had purchased a PC board from a
guy who makes boards from magazine articles, but he had run out of the
plans. While looking for a copy of the Oct '91 73 Mag, I ran across a
guy selling an un-built Ramsey ChatterBox-1 for $25. It's based on the
ISD1020A and also has a MC68HC705 microcontroller to handle the
housekeeping chores (2 digit display showing mode number and address of
message). New, they sell for $60 plus $10-$15 for the matching plastic
box. It goes together quite well, but there are a few errors in the
manual (nothing new for Ramsey). It has Mic-In, Speaker-Out, and a
5-Pin DIN connection wired just like a TNC-2. Just used it with my
TS-450S in the Cal QSO Party this past weekend and it worked like a
charm. Just be careful to ground properly (EVERYTHING) to avoid RF
problems.
Aaron Hsu, KD6DAE athsu@mca.com dae@pacbell.net
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------------------------
I assume the Radio Shack chip is still one of the ISD chips 1016, 1020, etc.
That chip (which was expensive way back in 1992) was designed into the
Ventriloquist voice keyer that I designed for j-Com. It works great. With
the right audio interfacing it can be installed in the mic line and new
messages can be recorded on-the-fly.
I had a chance to hear it a bit too much when operating as mult station at
C31LD this weekend, and it was indistinguishable from the direct mike audio.
BTW, the shorter chips have slightly better record quality, but that will
probably make little difference to a processed SSB signal.
Ramsey may still have some Ventriloquist's in stock, I don't hear much from
them these days. Try 716 924-0422. There is also an 800 number but I don't
know it offhand. Peter C31LJ http://www.turnpike.net/~jc
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------
I built mine using one chip,( just for CQing+callsign & Working frequency)
and it works great !
I bought the Piezo electric speaker, as recommended by the
Instruction sheet but you wont need it, volume level is too low.
Instead I connected it to my rig's Mic Input.
You will need a 10 Megohms pot to reduce the output level of the
voice chip prior to conect it to your rig.
I've been using it since the '96 ARRL SSB DX , 2 major domestic SSB contests
and -of course - the 96 CQ SSB and still no need to replace the battery !!
Best bang for the buck!
73 de Luis Delgadillo XE2AC Aguascalientes, Ags. Grid DL81uv
Phone: 011- 52(49) 10-7250
Fax: 011- 52(49) 10-7254
E-mail: luis_delgadillo@mx.xmex.xerox.com
>From radio@UDel.Edu (Robert Penneys) Thu Oct 31 02:05:46 1996
From: radio@UDel.Edu (Robert Penneys) (Robert Penneys)
Subject: Test, pse ignore
Message-ID: <199610310205.VAA28761@copland.udel.edu>
Test, pse ignore
>From rocker@datasync.com (Ray Rocker) Thu Oct 31 02:22:10 1996
From: rocker@datasync.com (Ray Rocker) (Ray Rocker)
Subject: First ARRL and CQWW Contests?
Message-ID: <199610310222.UAA01999@osh1.datasync.com>
> >Most of you might be older than me (I am 28 years-old) and
> >I am curious to know when the first CQWW and the first ARRL International
> >Contests happened?
> >
> >At that time they already had SSB and CW? Or AM and CW?
>
> aren't they cute when they're that young?
Yeah, didn't you all still use spark gap back then?
:-)
-- Ray, WQ5L, age 28, CK 81
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