Howdy.
Recently, I've been getting an S-8 hash on 20M. In an attempt to find the
source of this interference I found a very loud Radio Quebec on 13.670. The
hash seems to follow the modulation of the BC station. This station is so
loud that it pins the meter on both an FT-1000 and IC-765; a first for the
FT. The hash appears on both rigs when this station is on the air. I guess
this phenomena is due to poor(?) dynamic range? Turning off the preamp
and/or adding some attenuation helps the matter. But, how am I going to
copy those 2nd tier Eu stations during a contest with the attennuator on?
Has anyone else experienced this and what have you done to rectify the
situation. Would an ICE filter help on these "close-in" stations? Regards,
de Walt - K2WK
>From short@indirect.com (Brian Short) Sat Aug 12 16:26:45 1995
From: short@indirect.com (Brian Short) (Brian Short)
Subject: Headphone Suggestions
Message-ID: <199508122231.PAA14412@bob.indirect.com>
Here are the few replies to my question about a good set of headphones.
73 de Brian
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
HEIL with HC4 element, works excellent, can attach foor switch,
good modulation, light weight and you can get connection cable for
any type of rig.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cant beat a Heil Pro-Set, although read they just came out with a smaller.
lighter version.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
> What is a good set of headphones for contest operation?
K1VR: If you prefer an occlusive earpiece, the AKG K240 is
popular among some YCCC types. If you prefer open cell
foam, non-occlusive earpieces, the Heil standard headset
(BM-10) is fine -- just be prepared to replace the sounder
(the round part with the transducer which actually produces
sound) every four or five years, when it begins to sound
"tin"ny.
--
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Interested in your responses. I've experimented with various but don't
know which are best. Ones with super-excellent frequency response I'd
think would be best.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Brian,
If fan or blower noise is not a problem, I use the Radio Shack Pro fones.
The plug on them says Koss, so you know they're pretty good. Very light
weight, ears don't hurt after >24 hrs of use. On sale abt $20, normally $40.
Wait for the sale.
If shack noise is a problem, (and my garage mounted 100 CFM @ 2" H2O
blower is still very noisy) I use the Heil Pro Set. Cancels that noise very
well, but not as comfortable as the R/S-Koss fones.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
I bought two pairs of Radio Shack Nova 28 headsets on sale. They
are very inexpensive, have separate audio levels for each ear,
and sound pretty good. Have used them at W3LPL with a splitter to
allow two ops to listen on same rx. Same for FD. If the pot
control gets loose, there is a little cylindrical insert in the
middle of the knob which covers a screw. Just pry the little
plastic cylinder out with a pointed tool, it is not glued in.
Once the cylinder is out, you can tighten the screw, then put
the cylinder back. This is all done from the outside. I don
t recommend opening up the headset and working inside unless
it is absolutely necessary as the components are very delicate.
(Speaking from experience....I broke a wire trying to figure out
how to tighten the knob until I figgered out you don't have to
take the headset apart!) Good luck -
>From Tim Totten, KJ4VH" <kj4vh@iglou.com Sun Aug 13 04:26:13 1995
From: Tim Totten, KJ4VH" <kj4vh@iglou.com (Tim Totten, KJ4VH)
Subject: KJ4VH/7 NAQP from Wyoming
Message-ID: <Pine.SOL.3.91.950812225334.19312A@iglou.iglou.com>
NAQP is one of my favorite contests, but as luck would have it, I've been
out of town for most of the last several runnings. Once agn, I found
myself away from home on NAQP wknd--this time in Jackson Hole, speaking
at the WIMU (Wyoming Idaho Montana Utah) Hamfest. Fortunately, N7NG was
gracious enough to allow me to borrow his stn off and on for a couple
hours during the terrific BBQ hosted at his place Saturday eve, so I
could hand out WY mults between plates of food and conversation with some
of the other contesters and DXers from the region.
Due to a nasty storm the wknd before NAQP, Wayne's 40-2CD was sitting on
the ground, so no Qs on 40. And the QRN on 80 really sucked. It was a
real struggle to copy anyone on that band. I tried a few jaunts to 160,
but couldn't hear ANYONE! Nice Es openings on 10 and 15 to the Atlantic
states and Gulf coast.
I didn't have a CW keying interface for my laptop with me, so I actually
had to send some with the paddles (heaven forbid). Boy has my sending
gotten rusty over the past couple years! I think every time N6ZZ called
me, I sent his call as N67Z, N6Z7 or some similar variant. Sorry Phil!
Someone needs to make a version of PED or RUFZ that requires you to send
the call back manually with paddles. I need the practice!
Well, here are my totals. Sorry I couldn't operate longer. Tnx for
letting me borrow your fine stn, Wayne!
band QSOs mults
160 0 0
80 63 23
40 0 0
20 109 37
15 21 12
10 16 10
____________________________
total: 209 82 claimed score: 17,138
73,
Tim Totten, KJ4VH kj4vh@iglou.com | ". . . moderation in the pursuit
http://www.iglou.com/members/kj4vh.html | of justice is no virtue."
DX IS! | --Barry Goldwater, K7UGA
>From ac1o@sunken.gate.net (Walt Deemer) Sun Aug 13 05:42:04 1995
From: ac1o@sunken.gate.net (Walt Deemer) (Walt Deemer)
Subject: Intl Radio & Computers Phone Disconnected
Message-ID: <9508130442.1tj0@sunken.gate.net>
International Radio and Computers' phone number has been disconnected
and their old store is all closed up.
According to their next-door neighbor, Treasure Coast Honda, "they have
moved in with us, but are on vacation until the 22nd". (I did not ask
"the 22nd of which month/year".) TC Honda did not have a new phone
number for IRC.
I will try to contact IRC on the 22nd, and will post any information
I get to the reflector. Treasure Coast Honda's number, meanwhile, is
(407) 464-6385.
The IRC legend continues...
73 and GL, Walt, AC1O "AC1O@sunken.gate.net"
>From n4zr@ix.netcom.com (Pete Smith N4ZR) Sun Aug 13 11:34:16 1995
From: n4zr@ix.netcom.com (Pete Smith N4ZR) (Pete Smith N4ZR)
Subject: Aftermarket filters/IRC
Message-ID: <199508131034.DAA03771@ix2.ix.netcom.com>
Periodically, there is a flurry of complaints about IRC service and/or rumor
that they are/will be closing down. since the demise of Fox Tango, IRC has
been the only US supplier of after-market crystal filters (and pretty good
ones, in my *dx* and *contest* experience with my TS-930, at least).
After the last round of complaints, I made a bit of an effort to check on
the potential availability of after-market filters for the usual Japanese HF
rigs, thinking that there might be a need to replace IRC. Clearly, IRC's
filters come from there. Nonetheless, my Japanese connection (who's pretty
savvy) says that there is no aftermarket for such filters in Japan.
Does anyone know:
1. What the supplier situation is in Japan?
2. What IRC's source is?
3. Name/address of JA manufacturers of good crystal filters for the big
three HF radios?
Pete Smith N4ZR
n4zr@ix.netcom.com *** please note new address ***
Radio Free West Virginia (under construction)
>From km9p@is.net (Bill Fisher) Sun Aug 13 13:35:51 1995
From: km9p@is.net (Bill Fisher) (Bill Fisher)
Subject: Intl Radio & Computers Phone Disconnected
Message-ID: <199508131235.IAA06830@mail1.is.net>
>International Radio and Computers' phone number has been disconnected
>and their old store is all closed up.
>
>According to their next-door neighbor, Treasure Coast Honda, "they have
>moved in with us, but are on vacation until the 22nd". (I did not ask
>"the 22nd of which month/year".) TC Honda did not have a new phone
>number for IRC.
FYI (You didnt hear it from me please) Treasure Coast Honda is owned by the
same person that owns IR&C.
73
Bill
>From wfeidt@cpcug.org (Bill Feidt) Sun Aug 13 14:18:27 1995
From: wfeidt@cpcug.org (Bill Feidt) (Bill Feidt)
Subject: WAE CW Results for NG3K
Message-ID: <199508131319.JAA08693@cpcug.org>
QSOs QTCs Countries
20 25 20 11
40 36 39 14
Score: 7,680
20 watts; 1/2 length G5RV
Just a token effort Saturday evening. WAE is a great
contest though. The QTC component really sets it
apart.
Bill/NG3K
wfeidt@cpcug.org
>From short@indirect.com (Brian Short) Sun Aug 13 18:00:16 1995
From: short@indirect.com (Brian Short) (Brian Short)
Subject: CW Radio-2 Lockout?
Message-ID: <199508131705.KAA28932@bob.indirect.com>
Hi,
I recently came up with a simple mechanism for ensuring one transmit signal
(only) at a time. This scheme seems to work well with RTTY and SSB, but I
am wondering if there is a better way for CW? Below is a description of the
scheme I devised.
Please excuse the bandwidth if you saw it on the RTTY reflector!
The simple scheme uses the FT-990 REMOTE 8-pin DIN jack on the rear of
the radio. A switch inside the radio (S6801) enables a mechanical relay
with common, normally open (N/O), and normally closed (N/C) contacts as
shown below. My proposal is to run the PTT for radio #2 through the N/C
contact of the relay. When the FT-990 is keyed, it becomes open and
radio #2 is off the air.
FT-990/FT-1000 REMOTE JACK
---------------------------
1 EXT ALC
2 Norm CLOSED*
3 GND*
4 Norm OPEN
5 Relay Common*
6 PTT
7 +13.8v 200ma
8 GND
PTT IN (PHONO PLUG) ------------------------>| (5)
RADIO 2 (PHONO JACK) <------------------------| (2) FT-990 REMOTE
GND -------------------------| (3)
NOTE: The internal switch must be activated to enable the relay. Before
selecting the relay a switching transistor is connected to pin 4.
The PTT line of the RTTY TU or SSB Mic is fitted with a phono plug and jack.
To bypass the lockout, just plug them together. Otherwise, plug in the cable
to the REMOTE jack.
Running the CW key line through the PTT of the other radio keyline seems it
would result in a chopped up mess on radio #2.
How can I positively lockout radio #2 for CW use (simply)? Any comments?
73 de Brian
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