From mdechristopher at boston-redsox.net  Mon Oct  2 21:16:08 2006
From: mdechristopher at boston-redsox.net (Mike DeChristopher)
Date: Mon Oct  2 21:20:48 2006
Subject: [HCRA] JT800OK
Message-ID: <20061003012045.94808859C28@mailman.qth.net>

Hi everyone,<BR>&nbsp; I tuned around a little bit today on 20m, heard JT800OK (yes, that is "eight-hundred") from Mongolia.&nbsp; I'm not sure how long he will be on for, I do see more spots trickling in here, though.&nbsp; He has a big signal, and has been pointing toward EU all day.&nbsp; He's got good ears over here, heard me first shot, even with my sloppy code.&nbsp; Last seen around 14.08, but he has been moving...they are trying CW, SSB, RTTY, PSK, and SSTV at some point, too.&nbsp; Listed to be out there until the 9th.&nbsp; Happy hunting - good to hear Asia again.<br><br>-------------------------------------------------<BR><B><I>Mike DeChristopher, K1KAA<BR><A href="http://mdechristopher.googlepages.com"><FONT size=1>http://mdechristopher.googlepages.com</FONT></A></I></B><br><br>
From jmullen at rockys.com  Mon Oct  2 21:26:24 2006
From: jmullen at rockys.com (Jim Mullen)
Date: Mon Oct  2 21:30:37 2006
Subject: [HCRA] This is what Mike sent...
Message-ID: <000501c6e68a$f1266b20$0302a8c0@kk1woffice>

Hi everyone,<BR>&nbsp; I tuned around a little bit today on 20m, heard
JT800OK (yes, that is "eight-hundred") from Mongolia.&nbsp; I'm not sure how
long he will be on for, I do see more spots trickling in here, though.&nbsp;
He has a big signal, and has been pointing toward EU all day.&nbsp; He's got
good ears over here, heard me first shot, even with my sloppy code.&nbsp;
Last seen around 14.08, but he has been moving...they are trying CW, SSB,
RTTY, PSK, and SSTV at some point, too.&nbsp; Listed to be out there until
the 9th.&nbsp; Happy hunting - good to hear Asia
again.<br><br>-------------------------------------------------<BR><B><I>Mik
e DeChristopher, K1KAA<BR><A 
From jmullen at rockys.com  Wed Oct  4 22:52:17 2006
From: jmullen at rockys.com (Jim Mullen)
Date: Wed Oct  4 22:56:46 2006
Subject: [HCRA] Next meeting this Friday!
Message-ID: <001a01c6e829$44eb43d0$0302a8c0@kk1woffice>

Hey gang,

Two days from now will be the October HCRA club meeting. What have we got in
store for you this month? I'm glad you asked...

A great speaker. Chuck Wyrick, N1UC will be traveling all the way from
Salem, NH to talk to us this month. Chuck is the manager of HRO in Salem
(aka the 'Candy Store') as well as an active and experienced ham. N1UC will
certainly have info on the latest and greatest equipment as well as insights
into the many facets of ham radio. Chuck is an avid DX'er as well as being
one of the uplink ground control stations for AMSAT. It should be an
interesting presentation.

The signup raffle. Renew (or join) the HCRA before the end of the meeting
and get automatically entered into this raffle. The prize this year is a
Yaesu 1802 mobile VHF rig worth almost $150! This is HCRA's way of saying
thank you for renewing early so we can plan our yearly events. Please make
every effort to renew, you may be the lucky winner!

And as always the regular raffle, coffee & donuts and the best ham company
in the valley.

See you there,

Jim, KK1W
From djs13 at hotmail.com  Fri Oct  6 12:54:57 2006
From: djs13 at hotmail.com (Daniel Sullivan)
Date: Fri Oct  6 12:59:32 2006
Subject: [HCRA] Awesome picture
Message-ID: <BAY123-F20B6B82EA85635A51F6DF0B0130@phx.gbl>

In my browsing I came across what is one of the most awesome pictures I have 
seen. Its the ISS, the shuttle and the sun. Look closely:

<http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=407636&in_page_id=1770>

(Remove the carrots before using the url if you cut and paste.)

Dan S.
KO1D


From jldhjr at verizon.net  Sat Oct  7 16:25:53 2006
From: jldhjr at verizon.net (Jim Harrington)
Date: Sat Oct  7 16:30:52 2006
Subject: [HCRA] October Meeting.
Message-ID: <45280D51.8070304@verizon.net>

Hi all,
    IF you missed the October meeting you missed a gem. The man from HRO 
stole the show. He was great. His wit and base of information made for a 
great evening for the 70 people that attended (my count). We learned 
much of the current Ham equipment and the up coming new innovations! 
Watch for the Internet and digital to play a role in your use of the air 
in the future. Thanks for those that attended, and congratulations for 
the winners of the door and sign up prize, again Charlie!
Yours
Jim KB1JVF
From jmullen at rockys.com  Thu Oct 12 00:24:21 2006
From: jmullen at rockys.com (Jim Mullen)
Date: Thu Oct 12 00:29:30 2006
Subject: [HCRA] FCC has released the "Omnibus" Amateur Radio Report and Order
Message-ID: <007401c6edb6$4b2032f0$0302a8c0@kk1woffice>

For those of you not on the ARRL email list what follows is a copy of the
latest FCC release. No, this is not the 'NoCode' revision so don't get your
hopes up!

A lot of interesting changes, especially for 40 meter operators and HF
phone.

Jim, KK1W

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------

>From the ARRL Mailing List:

SB QST @ ARL $ARLB019
ARLB019 FCC releases long-awaited ''Omnibus'' Amateur Radio Report and Order

ZCZC AG19
QST de W1AW
ARRL Bulletin 19  ARLB019
>From ARRL Headquarters
Newington CT  October 12, 2006
To all radio amateurs 

SB QST ARL ARLB019
ARLB019 FCC releases long-awaited ''Omnibus'' Amateur Radio Report and Order

Ending a protracted waiting period, the FCC's Report and Order in the
so-called ''Omnibus'' Amateur Radio proceeding, WT Docket 04-140, was
adopted October 4 and released October 10, 2006. In it, the FCC adopted
nearly all of the proposed changes in the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking
released back in 2004. The FCC has:

+ expanded the phone subbands in the 75 and 40 meter bands;

+ permitted auxiliary stations to transmit on portions of the 2
meter band;

+ permitted the use of spread spectrum on 222-225 MHz;

+ permitted amateurs to retransmit communications from the
International Space Station;

+ permitted amateur licensees to designate a specific Amateur Radio
club to receive their call sign in memoriam;

+ prohibited an applicant from filing more than one application for
a specific vanity call sign;

+ eliminated certain restrictions on equipment manufacturers;

+ permitted Amateur Radio stations in Alaska and surrounding waters
more flexibility in providing emergency communications;

+ clarified that ''amateur stations may, at all times and on all
frequencies authorized to the control operator, make transmissions necessary
to meet essential communication needs and to facilitate relief actions'';

+ deleted the frequency bands and segments specified for RACES
stations;

and

+ deleted the requirement for public announcement of test locations
and times.

In addition, the FCC took several other miscellaneous actions.

In ''refarming'' the frequencies currently authorized to Novice and
Technician Plus licensees, the Commission increased the voice segments for
General, Advanced and Amateur Extra licensees.

On 75 meters, Generals will be able to use voice from 3800-4000 kHz, an
increase of 50 kHz. Advanced class licensees will be able to use voice from
3700-4000, an increase of 75 kHz, and Amateur Extras will be able to use
voice from 3600 to 4000 kHz, a generous increase of 150 kHz.

On 40 meters, Advanced and Extra Class licensees will be able to use voice
from 7125-7300 kHz, an increase of 25 kHz. General class licensees will be
able to use voice on 7175-7300 kHz, an increase of 50 kHz.

On 15 meters, General class operators will have phone privileges on
21275-21450 kHz, an increase of 25 kHz.

ARRL President Joel Harrison, W5ZN, expressed the ARRL's gratitude to the
FCC Commissioners in a letter dated October 11: ''On behalf of the ARRL and
the Commission's licensees in the Amateur Radio Service I want to express
appreciation for your release yesterday of the Report and Order in WT Docket
04-140 (FCC 06-149) amending Part 97 of the Commission's Rules. The
Commission's action in clearing this pending proceeding will assist the
Amateur Radio Service in meeting its objectives, particularly with regard to
providing emergency and public service communications.''

The changes will go into effect 30 days after the R&O is published in the
Federal Register.
NNNN
/EX
From djs13 at hotmail.com  Sun Oct 15 16:51:51 2006
From: djs13 at hotmail.com (Daniel Sullivan)
Date: Sun Oct 15 16:57:22 2006
Subject: [HCRA] FW: [VWS] Pondering a D-STAR purchase.
Message-ID: <BAY123-DAV158CA861DAB27D09CAF60EB0080@phx.gbl>




David Matthews wrote:
> Not sure why the first attempt didn't get through the mail reflector 
> OK - but here it is again
>
> -----------------------
>
> Hello all -
>
> Experimenting with newer technologies can be lots of fun, but in the end
> the questions I always seem to converge on are:
>
>    a) What is it /really/ useful for?
>
>    b) Are the practical benefits clearly worth the investment in time
>    and money (and possible loss of interoperability with hams still
>    using older equipment)?
>
> I've recently been wondering these things about D-STAR digital
> technology.  This email will just discuss the issue of *2-meter* D-STAR
> digital voice communications versus conventional 2-meter FM voice.
>
> I recently ran across an MP3 audio file on the internet which gives a
> very practical real-world example of how 2-meter D-STAR digital audio
> performs.  The original 10 minute recording is KC5ZRQ mobile as heard by
> a 2-meter D-STAR base station.  The mobile starts out at the receiver
> site and then drives into some RF-challenged areas known to cause
> problems for 2-meter FM.  To put the results in better focus, I've taken
> the liberty of editing out most of it and producing three short
> segments, each of which illustrates a specific point:
>
>    a) The first segment is 35 seconds long and using an excellent
>    signal with a clear line-of sight path.   Because the signal
>    strength is very high, the /average/ audio quality is very good, but
>    it's interesting that there is nevertheless a distinct audio glitch
>    just at around 20 seconds into the recording.
>
>        http://www.djmatthews.com/1_-_DStar_strong_mobile_signal.mp3
>
>    b) The second clip is 65 seconds long and gives a sense of how the
>    signal degrades as the mobile goes through some roadway underpasses.
>
>        http://www.djmatthews.com/2_-_DStar_weak_mobile_signal.mp3
>
>    c) The third clip is 45 seconds long and is done at the very limit
>    of 2-meter FM coverage.  The stations switch between digital and FM
>    under edge-of-coverage signal conditions.
>
>        http://www.djmatthews.com/3_-_DStar_vs_FM_weak_signal.mp3
>
>
> Based on these clips, it seems that there can be some clear advantages
> to using Digital voice instead of FM on 2 meters, particularly
> considering that this superior performance also requires less RF
> bandwidth (12.5 kHz) to accomplish.  I've heard some people say that
> using digital audio on 2 meters instead of using FM gives you the
> practical equivalent of a 10 db power gain.    However, there are also
> some disadvantages to be considered.  As the first recording showed, the
> digital vocoders can glitch and produce audio corruption even under some
> strong signal conditions where you would never have noticed a problem on
> FM.   Environments that have multipath flutter which is tolerable on FM
> may produce a much less acceptable result with digital audio.
>
> Although it's not demonstrated in this set of audio clips, the vocoders
> also tend to degrade audio much more noticeably when the source audio
> isn't clean voice... specifically, when there is high background noise
> or other background voices at the source.  Because the vocoder
> algorithms are optimized for voice, they produce warbling quantized
> audio which some people will find subjectively more distracting than the
> original noise would have been through an FM system.  From a
> psychoacoustic standpoint, the human brain is equipped to deal with
> impulses, dropouts, hiss, fades, and naturally occurring background
> noise on the source audio.  However when the vocoder tries to handle
> these imperfections and then turns them into completely uncorrelated
> audio, the listener's brain has to struggle a bit more with sorting out
> the garbage from the useful audio.
>
> I'll have to admit there's just something that bugs me about the audio
> quality under average conditions.  On the other hand,  I know that this
> is exactly what a lot of hams said about SSB when it started to displace
> AM.  Maybe I just need to get used to it.  And maybe the coding
> algorithms will improve with time.
>
> It is claimed that D-STAR is an open protocol and therefore anyone is
> free to build systems using this protocol, but this claim may be
> partially incorrect.  From what I have recently read, it appears that
> the vocoder firmware used to make D-STAR carry digital voice is a
> proprietary product owned by DVSI (see www.dvsinc.com) for which the
> manufacturer of the equipment must pay a licensing fee.  There are
> open-source (free of charge) codecs available such as SPEEX (see
> www.speex.org) which would do a good job and, if adopted by the ham
> community, might considerably lower the cost issues associated with
> going to digital voice.
>
> I suppose we can accept the fact that a commercial radio manufacturer
> already has experience with the digital protocols used for commercial
> radios, and is therefore likely to use those same protocols for the ham
> equipment it manufactures.   Now it gets interesting....  on the DVSI
> website  they're already promoting their new AMBE+ vocoder (see
> http://www.dvsinc.com/papers/toll.htm) which outperforms both IMBE (used
> by most commercial digital voice radios as part of the APCO-25 standard)
> and AMBE (used by the current Icom D-STAR implementation).   In other
> words, Icom's current line of D-STAR digital equipment - which is not
> even approaching wide usage yet - is based on a vocoder standard which
> is already facing obsolescence.
>
> Since I'm currently in the market for a new 2-meter transceiver for home
> use, the D-STAR recordings above have convinced me that there's enough
> practical benefit to digital audio to buy a radio that can later be
> upgraded to use digital audio.  However, due to the current cost of the
> digital voice modules (much of which may be embedded vocoder licensing
> fees) and the fact that it appears that standards may change again in
> the next year or two, means that I'll probably hold off for another year
> or two on buying the digital module.
>
> I'm not a design engineer.  But it seems to me that if Icom and others
> are making radios with a socket to accommodate a digital voice
> module.... and open-standard vocoder software would enable hams to build
> much lower-cost and field-upgradeable modules to fit in these sockets
> (instead of purchasing the AMBE modules from Icom), then hams have a
> great hack opportunity here.   On the other hand, Icom might code their
> firmware to detect a non-Icom digital module and refuse to work with
> it.  Some of you may recall that HP did this with some of their inkjet
> printers - - the firmware was designed to detect refilled ink cartridges
> and refuse to work with them.  If I recall correctly, the U.S.
> Department of Justice saw to it that this anti-competitive behavior
> didn't last very long.
>
> If anyone knows of any writeups of /real-world/ data applications
> currently using the 2-Meter D-Star data standard please let me know.
>
>
> 73 de Dave K3MV
>
>
> P.S. - The original 10 minute MP3 file be found at
> http://members.cox.net/ic-2200h/  but it doesn't contain anything
> significant that's not in the short excerpts above.
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> --------------------
> For information on subscribing or unsubscribing to this or our other 
> mailing lists, please see the Vienna Wireless Society web site: 
> http://www.viennawireless.org/lists.php


From gjcollins at cox.net  Sun Oct 22 22:30:03 2006
From: gjcollins at cox.net (George Collins)
Date: Sun Oct 22 22:36:24 2006
Subject: [HCRA] Low-Cost Resistors
Message-ID: <002401c6f64b$29bd74e0$0200a8c0@DELL2200>

Hi all,

Ran across this on one of the Yahoo groups the other day.  I have not 
purchased anything for this guy (yet :), but the prices are good and he has 
a good selection, especially of the 1/4-w parts.  The best price I've found 
for 1/4-w carbon film as been 0.02 each in lots of 200 per value, so 0.01 
for 1/4-w, carbon film in small quantities looks really good.  He has 1/4-w, 
1/2-w, 1-w and 2-w in carbon film, carbon comp and metal film.  Check it 
out.

http://www.angelfire.com/planet/andysresistors/

73,

George, KC1V

From djs13 at hotmail.com  Wed Oct 25 12:59:50 2006
From: djs13 at hotmail.com (Daniel Sullivan)
Date: Wed Oct 25 13:06:22 2006
Subject: [HCRA] FW: 100th anniversary of the SOS signal
Message-ID: <BAY123-F24CE84FE4FE31534DEA02EB0060@phx.gbl>



----Original Message Follows----
From: Richard Rucker <rrucker@verizon.net>
To: Ch91 outreach
Subject: 100th anniversary of the SOS signal
Date: Wed, 25 Oct 2006 09:37:43 -0400

Begin forwarded message:

From: "J D Delancy" <W1JD@drix.net>
Found in and from the November 2006 SMITHSONIAN magazine, page 34:


"100 YEARS AGO SENDING OUT SIGNALS

The International Radiotelegraphic Convention adopts three dots,  three 
dashes and three dots -- SOS in Morse Code -- as the standard  wireless 
distress signal, on November 3, 1906. Chosen because it is  easy to send and 
hard to misinterpret, the signal, which doesn't  actually stand for anything 
-- not even Save Our Ship -- can't save  the Titanic, which sends out  SOSs 
in 1912.  In 1999 a global  satellite system replaces SOS on all large 
ships"

_________________________________________________________________
Try Search Survival Kits: Fix up your home and better handle your cash with 
Live Search! 
http://imagine-windowslive.com/search/kits/default.aspx?kit=improve&locale=en-US&source=hmtagline

From kb1mu at charter.net  Thu Oct 26 08:44:37 2006
From: kb1mu at charter.net (kb1mu)
Date: Thu Oct 26 08:51:30 2006
Subject: [HCRA] 2006 SET  Packet Operation
Message-ID: <4540ADB5.8050800@charter.net>

On Nov 4 between 10:00 DST and 12:30 the annual Simulated Emergency Test 
(SET) will be conducted. This years SET will be a joint venture 
involving both the WMA section and the EMA section. This year we will be 
adding VHF packet to the exercise. If you are interested in the packet 
operation let me know <kb1mu@charter.net>. If you would like to be 
involved in other aspect of the SET contact Tom N1MUV <n1muv@charter.net>
Thank You Dave KB1MU

-- 
Dave Isham KB1MU
413-596-6605
kb1mu@charter.net
Web pages http://webpages.charter.net/kb1mu/
From jmullen at rockys.com  Sat Oct 28 09:27:48 2006
From: jmullen at rockys.com (Jim Mullen)
Date: Sat Oct 28 09:35:03 2006
Subject: [HCRA] Next Week's Auction & November's Zero Beat
Message-ID: <003001c6fa94$e3ec3610$0402a8c0@kk1woffice>

Hi gang,

Less then a week to go until the annual auction. Are you ready for a
bargain? Here's a brief recap of the fun:

HCRA Annual Auction - Feeding Hills, MA - November 3rd

One of the Northeast's largest ham radio auctions is just around the corner.
Mark November 3rd on your calendar now for the HCRA Annual Auction.
Admission is FREE for both sellers & buyers!

The Hampden County Radio Assn. has been holding this auction for many years
and it is consistently well attended. It's the perfect place for either
buying or selling. Attendance is usually around the 100 mark, very closely a
50/50 split between buyers and sellers.

For sellers it offers a great way to unload some of that less desirable
(i.e. non-eBay) gear quickly and easily. For buyers a fantastic opportunity
to get some great bargains on both old and new gear, outfit the workshop or
get some much needed parts at super prices.

Also, why not purchase a raffle ticket for an Icom IC-718DSP HF radio. For
as little as a $1 donation (book of 6 for $5) you could be the lucky winner!

The details:

Date:  November 3, 2006
Time:  Set-up at 6:30 PM, auction starts at 7:30
Place:  Feeding Hills Congregational Church
            21 N. Westfield Street
            Feeding Hills, MA 01030

The fine print:

If you are selling, please mark all items with your name, call (if any) and
a minimum bid (if you so desire). The HCRA takes 10% of the sale, up to a
maximum of $10, as a club donation. Please limit items to amateur radio or
electronic equipment. If you have a lot of 'little' stuff it usually sells
better as a 'combination' box. The auctioneers reserve the right to combine
auction items to speed up the auction. If it doesn't sell you take it home!

Please, no computer monitors. Our experience is they don't sell and you end
up taking them back with you.

More information can be found at: http://www.hcra.org/auction_2005.htm

Refreshments will be available, including coffee, soda and donuts - a ham
radio treat!

Any questions, please give me a call.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------

NOVEMBER ZERO BEAT on the web.

November Zero Beat is now on the web! If you haven't read the new Zero Beat
you are missing a good issue this month. Look for articles about the
upcoming 10M contest and read the latest from Dr. DX! This and more can be
found by clicking on: http://www.hcra.org/zerobeat/nov06.pdf for your very
own copy!.

The club is still looking for someone to help organize this year's holiday
party. Much of the work is already done, we have the rooms at the church and
Kx1x will be MC'ing 'Ham Jeopardy' again this year. In past years we have
purchased food or have had it 'somewhat' catered. Not a lot of work but we
need a volunteer. Are you ready to pitch in and help out your club? If so
please drop a not to any board member and find out how easy and rewarding it
can be to pitch in.

See you at the auction,

Jim, KK1W
413-245-3228
mailto:kk1w@arrl.net
From kx1x at comcast.net  Sat Oct 28 11:27:05 2006
From: kx1x at comcast.net (kx1x@arrl.net)
Date: Sat Oct 28 11:34:44 2006
Subject: [HCRA] CQWW Contest ...  15m WIDE OPEN
Message-ID: <102820061527.13640.454376C9000560AE00003548220588911698CE9805@comcast.net>

The CQWW Contest is running this weekend until 2359z Sunday.
The exchange is simple,  59 5   (WMA is in CQ zone 5)

Here's a chance to work some DX, there are plenty of EU and Africa calling.
Work some DX even if you don't play the contest seriously!
15m is open as of 11:30AM (edt) Saturday.

'73
Kx1x
From jmullen at rockys.com  Sun Oct 29 20:46:32 2006
From: jmullen at rockys.com (Jim Mullen)
Date: Sun Oct 29 20:53:37 2006
Subject: [HCRA] More Auction Information
Message-ID: <005f01c6fbc5$3acb2a00$0402a8c0@kk1woffice>

Hey gang,

Less than a week to go, are you ready for a bargain? Be sure to stop at the
ATM before hitting the auction so you have plenty of cash on hand for that
special purchase.

*** *** *** NEWS FLASH *** *** ***

Rick, N1RL has generously donated a bunch of great items for the auction.
Among the boxes are some mics (a D104 too), CB's, NCX3 HF transceiver, SWR
meters, test equipment and an NC300 receiver. These will become some
keystone items for the auction this Friday. Rick joins our other donors;
Jim, K1JAW (more gel cells - a great bargain); Gary, AA1UE (lots of radio
and computer related gear) and Rocky's (misc mid to old AM radios) that will
really help out HCRA 's treasury.

If you or someone you know would like to donate some gear for sale please
give me a call. There is still time for us to pick it up and save the effort
of having to price and bring it to the auction. There are at least three
excellent reasons to donate:

1. It makes you feel good.
2. It helps out HCRA
3. If it doesn't sell we dispose of it! (this might be the best one!)

Remember the raffle prize too. An Icom IC718DSP HF rig, a perfect addition
to anyone's shack. You could be the lucky winner for as little as a $1
raffle ticket (book of 6 for $5). Coffee, donuts and soda will round out
your evening.

Setup starts at 6:00 with the auction getting underway by 7:30. See you
there,

Jim, KK1W