20031209.qrp v03_n129.qrl.20031209 Date: Tue, 9 Dec 2003 19:03:08 EST From: qrp-l@Lehigh.EDU To: "Low Power Amateur Radio Discussion" Subject: QRP-L digest 3129 QRP-L Digest 3129 Topics covered in this issue include: 1) [162578] Re: SQRPion Paddles #84 on the air tonight... by "Joe Martin" 2) [162579] Elmer 160: Lesson 3 - old IDE version by James R Giammanco 3) [162580] Re: Changing the 40m QRP frequency? by Bruce Muscolino 4) [162581] F/S by "john gabbard" 5) [162582] Re: SQRPion Paddles #84 on the air tonight... by "richqrp" 6) [162583] Slug tuned coil winding question. by "Rod N0RC" 7) [162584] Revised score list for QRP AField 2003 by Chuck Ludinsky 8) [162585] Re: Alpha Delta Outpost(tm) work-alike ground for Buddistick by Michael Babineau 9) [162586] Re: Elmer 160: Lesson 3 - old IDE version by "Lew Paceley" 10) [162587] Re: More Shack Cleanup - Ham and Computer Items by "Jerry McCollom" 11) [162588] Re: [162540] Elmer 160: IMPORTANT - Lesson 3 update by "John Farnsworth" 12) [162589] RE: Slug tuned coil winding question. by "AI2Q" 13) [162590] Re: Solving the wall wart dilemma by "Pederson, Glenn" 14) [162591] Re: SQRPion Paddles #84 on the air tonight... by "Joe Martin" 15) [162592] Truffle announcement by "Juan Ferrari" 16) [162593] In The Spirit of Christmas (a bit long) by NB6M@aol.com 17) [162594] GL tomorrow evening, everyone by "Doc K0EVZ" 18) [162595] Michigan QRP Net by kwike@gdls.com 19) [162596] Battery Adapaters by Thom LaCosta 20) [162597] Re: In The Spirit of Christmas (a bit long) by "Armin Hachmer" 21) [162598] Re: In The Spirit of Christmas (a bit long) by Thom LaCosta 22) [162599] Re: VBL paddle by w9ya 23) [162600] Getting it right by Karl Larsen 24) [162601] all gone . . . MPLab IDE-6.30 CDs FREE to gQQd homes by John R Kirby 25) [162602] re: Battery Adapaters by jacksonharbor@att.net 26) [162603] Re: Alpha Delta Outpost(tm) work-alike ground for Buddistick by Bruce Muscolino 27) [162604] gel cell question.. by "Sergio T. Ruiz" 28) [162605] Re: Getting it right by Jerry Haigwood 29) [162606] Re: gel cell question.. by John Oppenheimer 30) [162607] Re: Slug tuned coil winding question. by Bruce Muscolino 31) [162608] Re: gel cell question.. by "John Shannon" 32) [162609] Re: gel cell question.. by "John J. McDonough" 33) [162610] Re: gel cell question.. by John Kalotai 34) [162611] Re: Getting it right by Jim Giammanco 35) [162612] FEMA weighs into BPL by Jim Giammanco 36) [162613] Re: Slug tuned coil winding question. by "Noyce, Bill" 37) [162614] gift idea for kids by Lloyd Lachow 38) [162615] RE: FEMA weighs into BPL by "Dennis Ponsness" 39) [162616] Re: gift idea for kids by "Cal Cotner" 40) [162617] LAB, Sulfated plates. by "KXBill" 41) [162618] My new HDTV radiates...any rfi suggestions. by "Terry" 42) [162619] Re: FEMA weighs into BPL by dave 43) [162620] RE: LAB, Sulfated plates. by "Nick Foster" 44) [162621] FREE 5" Round Tin for Construction projects by "Tom WB5KHC" 45) [162622] Rigs Gone to Deserving Hams by NB6M@aol.com 46) [162623] Re: Rigs Gone to Deserving Hams by "Joe Martin" 47) [162624] N2DAN Mercury Paddle on eBay by "Bruce Prior" 48) [162625] [AZpaddle] Finishing Hints and Kinks by Chuck Adams 49) [162626] re:[microvert] very short antenna by Michael Babineau 50) [162627] RE: ScQRPion Paddle by Mark Danner 51) [162628] RE: LAB, Sulfated plates. by "JBCrafts" 52) [162629] RE: Rigs Gone to Deserving Hams by Adam Farson 53) [162630] RE: LAB, Sulfated plates. - more by "JBCrafts" 54) [162631] Speaking of bargains by "Thomas Lewis" 55) [162632] Re: [microvert] very short antenna (but > 50 dB gain) by Ingo Meyer DK3RED 56) [162633] RE: [microvert] very short antenna by "Jim Sheldon" 57) [162634] FOX: K5TR fox Announcement was FOX: W8RU Fox Announcement by George Fremin III 58) [162635] Re: [microvert] very short antenna (but > 50 dB gain) by "Trevor Jacobs" 59) [162636] QRP ToTheField 2003 ? by Nelson Winter 60) [162637] Hint by "Marty Hartwell" 61) [162638] Re: [microvert] very short antenna by Michael Babineau 62) [162639] Power supply -- too many conductors! by Kenneth Cooperstein 63) [162640] ft-817 by "Anthony Felino" 64) [162641] ScQRPion Paddle by "richqrp" 65) [162642] Re: LAB, Sulfated plates. by "Mike Yetsko" 66) [162643] Re: [microvert] very short antenna (but > 50 dB gain) by "DTX" 67) [162644] Re: [microvert] very short antenna (but > 50 dB gain) by Chris Cartwright 68) [162645] Re: Power supply -- too many conductors! by "Mike Yetsko" 69) [162646] Re: [microvert] very short antenna (but > 50 dB gain) by "Trevor Jacobs" ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Mon, 8 Dec 2003 17:46:24 -0600 From: "Joe Martin" To: "Low Power Amateur Radio Discussion" Subject: [162578] Re: SQRPion Paddles #84 on the air tonight... Message-ID: <006701c3bde5$7df34040$268177d8@JoesHome1> MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit FB my #62 was in the mail today so guess I'll be polishing some tonight. I decided to add the keyer from AMqrp to go with it, wow what a deal, if you haven't been paying attention let me tell you this is a fully functional top of the line keyer with just about every whistle and bell you can think of included. Anywhere else and you wouldn't be able to touch it for under 50 bucks. Warning on the polishing of bottom of base, I almost polished off my #062 trying to get a smooth finish with no pits, it's not worth it, no one will see the little side pitting when your finished. Watch out for that spring. 73 de KM5CW, Joe ARCI #11368 FP#-697 FISTS#4217 GRID EM13kf FtWorth,Tx 32:49:31N 97:06:13W (http://www.km5cw.org) ---------| Virus Scanned by Symantec |--------- ----- Original Message ----- From: "Brad Hedges" To: "Low Power Amateur Radio Discussion" Sent: Monday, December 08, 2003 3:36 PM Subject: SQRPion Paddles #84 on the air tonight... > Want to say a BIG THANKS to the Az Scorpions for a great deal on a really > neat set of small paddles. Got mine in the mail today (while I was putting > up another section on my tower and moving my vertical up there) along with > the BNC coax cables I bought which were also offered here. It's like > Christmas, early! > > Thanks, folks, and 73, > > K0BHC > Brad > > ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 08 Dec 2003 15:50:45 PST From: James R Giammanco To: wb8rcr@arrl.net, qrp-l@Lehigh.edu Subject: [162579] Elmer 160: Lesson 3 - old IDE version Message-ID: <20031208.184113.8639.3.n5ib@juno.com> I'm stuck with an antique computer and OS. So I'm using MPLab v5.20 under Win95. Under this IDE the project setup is not quite so automatic as in the newer versions, but I did succeed in building the test project. In particular you may need to explicitly specify a path for the "include" files. So if anyone else is laboring under these constraints we might be able to form a "support group" :^)) 72, ooops, I meant H'48' Jim N5IB ________________________________________________________________ The best thing to hit the internet in years - Juno SpeedBand! Surf the web up to FIVE TIMES FASTER! Only $14.95/ month - visit www.juno.com to sign up today! ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 08 Dec 2003 18:49:24 -0500 From: Bruce Muscolino To: KXB-1@cox.net Cc: Low Power Amateur Radio Discussion Subject: [162580] Re: Changing the 40m QRP frequency? Message-ID: <3FD50E04.3D46617D@erols.com> MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit That's a matter of tradition! Tradition is something that keeps you from intelligent decisions! Bruce > > Right on....Sorry we don't have the fox hunt down there during the > winter months.> ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 8 Dec 2003 16:45:19 -0800 From: "john gabbard" To: "Low Power Amateur Radio Discussion" Subject: [162581] F/S Message-ID: <003501c3bded$b8b4eeb0$81811c0c@john> MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit I have a nice QF1A audio filter that is not being used. I would like to trade it for a nice SWR meter like a WM1 or 2 or anything else interesting? Whatta got?? Tks. 73's John KF7OM ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 8 Dec 2003 16:49:56 -0800 From: "richqrp" To: "Low Power Amateur Radio Discussion" Subject: [162582] Re: SQRPion Paddles #84 on the air tonight... Message-ID: <001c01c3bdee$5d710560$c1770744@wd6fddstssz5sg> MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit When I get started on #33, (I have a million things going on right now) after reading all this trouble of the spring, I think I am going to tie a piece of thread to it , once in, I will cut the thread... 73's, Rich ----- Original Message ----- From: "Joe Martin" To: "Low Power Amateur Radio Discussion" Sent: Monday, December 08, 2003 3:46 PM Subject: Re: SQRPion Paddles #84 on the air tonight... > FB my #62 was in the mail today so guess I'll be polishing some tonight. > I decided to add the keyer from AMqrp to go with it, wow what a deal, if you > haven't been paying attention let me tell you this is a fully functional top > of the line keyer with just about every whistle and bell you can think of > included. Anywhere else and you wouldn't be able to touch it for under 50 > bucks. > Warning on the polishing of bottom of base, I almost polished off my #062 > trying to get a smooth finish with no pits, it's not worth it, no one will > see the little side pitting when your finished. > Watch out for that spring. > 73 de KM5CW, Joe > ARCI #11368 FP#-697 FISTS#4217 > GRID EM13kf FtWorth,Tx > 32:49:31N 97:06:13W > (http://www.km5cw.org) > ---------| Virus Scanned by Symantec |--------- > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Brad Hedges" > To: "Low Power Amateur Radio Discussion" > Sent: Monday, December 08, 2003 3:36 PM > Subject: SQRPion Paddles #84 on the air tonight... > > > > Want to say a BIG THANKS to the Az Scorpions for a great deal on a really > > neat set of small paddles. Got mine in the mail today (while I was putting > > up another section on my tower and moving my vertical up there) along with > > the BNC coax cables I bought which were also offered here. It's like > > Christmas, early! > > > > Thanks, folks, and 73, > > > > K0BHC > > Brad > > > > > > ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 8 Dec 2003 18:40:47 -0700 From: "Rod N0RC" To: "qrp-l" Subject: [162583] Slug tuned coil winding question. Message-ID: <002f01c3bdf5$787e82e0$6401a8c0@bigdog> MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Folks, I'm helping another QRP-Ler trouble-shoot and fix a small HB RCVR. We need a slug tuned inductor for the VFO of 4.5uH, nominal. We've found forms upon which to wind the inductor. What we lack is a formula to calculate the number of turns required. Can someone provide a pointer to literature that will help us build this inductor? TIA & 73, Rod N0RC **Happy Holidays** ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 08 Dec 2003 20:43:26 -0500 From: Chuck Ludinsky To: neqrp@jonal.net, qrp-l@lehigh.edu Subject: [162584] Revised score list for QRP AField 2003 Message-ID: <3FD528BE.4000603@comcast.net> MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii; format=flowed Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Oops, missed W2AGN -- here's the revised list for QRP Afield 2003. Thanks for letting me know, John. 72, Chuck/K1CL ------------------------------------------- Call QSOs SPCs Class Total K7RE 101 31 10 31310 K0ZK 62 34 10 21080 W5YA 78 26 10 20280 WD7Y 65 31 10 20150 KD4ORO 51 24 10 12240 W5BI 43 25 10 10750 W0UFO 42 22 10 9240 K5JHP 31 22 10 6820 W2AGN 32 20 10 6400 WQ4RP 44 25 5 5500 VE3KQN 33 16 10 5280 K1CL 7/37 4/22 10/5 4350 K1LGQ 25 15 10 3750 W5KDJ 29 18 5 2610 K4JSI/1 22 10 10 2200 K8KFJ 19 15 5 1425 AA7EQ 16 11 5 880 KW3U 10 7 10 700 KC6ZTT 12 9 5 540 K4UK 9 6 10 540 W1PID 1/6 1/4 10/5 130 ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 8 Dec 2003 20:45:53 -0500 From: Michael Babineau To: qrp-l@Lehigh.EDU Cc: w6toy@erols.com Subject: [162585] Re: Alpha Delta Outpost(tm) work-alike ground for Buddistick Message-ID: <6C80F73D-29E9-11D8-8F7A-00039309268A@sympatico.ca> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; format=flowed Mime-Version: 1.0 (Apple Message framework v552) Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Bruce : Yes the foil strips are electrically connected to the shield of coax. This is an important point. I apologize for not being able to post the pictures to the web ... this is a case where a picture certainly is worth a thousand words and I'm sure would make this whole thing a lot clearer. Note that there was an article in QST a little while back where the author did a similar thing to what I have done, with the exception that he built his own aluminum tripod and simply sat it on the foil strips. I felt that you really needed to make sure that the connections were solid so I chose to make mine out of three continuous strips of foil tape connected at the base of the antenna to the coax shield. Also my version is a bit easier to build. The author of the QST article folded the foil back and stuck it onto itself for the whole length. You can't imagine how difficult this is until you try it! Sticking 9ft lengths of aluminum foil tape onto plastic sheeting in a more or less straight line is challenging enough. I am using one of W3FFs Buddistick(tm) Tripods, which is basically a small composite camera tripod with an extra long camera mounting screw extending out the top. Budd sells a neat little mounting plate that slides over this screw and attaches using a rubberized knob. The mounting plate itself is a 2 inch aluminum square with the standard 3/8 - 24 mount on the top and the SO-239 on the bottom. An important point here is because I am stacking three of these foil/plastic strips they need to be conductive on both sides, at least at the end where they are being connected together. I achieved this by leaving a extra three inches or so of foil tape to extend past the end of the plastic strip. Then I just folded the foil tape around to the underside of the strip and stuck it there. So when I punched the hole with a paper punch it went through foil tape, plastic and then foil tape. Michael VE3WMB P.S. I got a few requests to see the photos. Anyone else who is interested drop me a note ... I'll email them out shortly ... only about 300k bytes. ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 8 Dec 2003 19:54:48 -0600 From: "Lew Paceley" To: "Low Power Amateur Radio Discussion" Cc: Subject: [162586] Re: Elmer 160: Lesson 3 - old IDE version Message-ID: <001301c3bdf7$7002a860$6501a8c0@swbell.net> MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="Windows-1252" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Hey Jim, I've had MPLAB 6.12 running for a months on my Win95 system. It hasn't ever crashed or behaved oddly. Just because it wasn't tested on Win95 doesn't mean it doesn't work :). Seriously though, while there are significant differences in peripheral support between Win 98 and Win 95 (USB for example), the core OSs really aren't _that_ different. Just don't expect much help from Microchip on bugs and what not. You might try downloading version 6.10 from the Microchip IDE archives, or if you're feeling especially adventurous, version 6.40, and give it a go. Version 6.10 should be very compatible with the lesson plan since the big user interface jump was between MPLAB 5.7 and 6.0. I have 128 MB of RAM and a Celeron 400, BTW. Good luck! 72/73, *Lew* N5ZE ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 8 Dec 2003 18:55:51 -0700 From: "Jerry McCollom" To: "Low Power Amateur Radio Discussion" Subject: [162587] Re: More Shack Cleanup - Ham and Computer Items Message-ID: <006d01c3bdf7$9627d330$8c01a8c0@hampc> MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit The RedHot40, one MFJ-1702C, and a WAP11 have been sold. The rest is still available. > 1. Delta-4 4-position Coax Switch > New and unused -- paid $79, yours for $70 shipped. > > 2. MFJ-1702C 2-position coax switch. > I have two of these available. $17 ea. or $30 for both. Only 1 left > 3. Norcal 20 Club Kit - Unbuilt > Including the 10-turn pot and parts to make it equivalent to the RedHot 20. > $95 shipped. > Computer Stuff > -------------- > > 1. PNY GeForce 4 TI4600 3D Video Card > 128MB AGP 4X > $110 > > 2. PNY GeForce 4 TI4200 3D Video Card > 64MB AGP 4X > $70 > > 3. ABIT Siluro GFS GeForce 3 Ti500 3D Video Card > 64MB AGP 4X > $55 > > 4. Linksys WAP11 > 802.11B Access Point > Full details at: > http://www.linksys.com/products/product.asp?prid=563&scid=35 > > I have two of these I used for a wireless bridge I no longer need. $50 each > or $95 for both (these can bridge with each other for the link). Only one left at $50. 73, Jerry W0MC ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 8 Dec 2003 21:08:39 -0500 From: "John Farnsworth" To: Subject: [162588] Re: [162540] Elmer 160: IMPORTANT - Lesson 3 update Message-ID: MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit original message: Anyway, on Page 5, before you save the project ... Select 'Configure->Select Device...' In the device drop down, select PIC16F84A Click OK. I'll go ahead and add that to the PDF. 72/73 de WB8RCR http://www.qsl.net/wb8rcr didileydadidah QRP-L #1446 Code Warriors #35 Great! That fixed most of my compile problems, (XP machine) but I had one more that I wondered if anybody else found. I got an error when it tried to read the include file. Turns out that all my include files don't begin with the ">", they are just the processor version. Once I took that out, it compiled. Anybody else see this? ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 8 Dec 2003 21:52:02 -0500 From: "AI2Q" To: Cc: "QRP-L (E-mail)" Subject: [162589] RE: Slug tuned coil winding question. Message-ID: <000401c3bdff$6d82baa0$6401a8c0@hq.cmp.com> MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Ron, if you didn't include the need for a core, the ARRL lightning Calculator would quickly give you the results you're looking for (and, no batteries needed). If you give me the size of your coil form, I can run the calculation (it's also in automated form on the Web somewhere). Then you can insert the core. If the core is iron or ferrite, the value of L will increase as the core is inserted; if the core is brass, the value of L will decrease. By the way, this is why I own an old Heathkit Q-meter! (you can see it on my Web site) But, you can use a GDO and a "standard capacitor" (refer to the Handbook) to back into the value, too, as you test your construction of the coil. Vy 73, AI2Q, Alex in Kennebunk, Maine QRP-L #687 http://users.adelphia.net/~alexmm/ai2q.htm .-.-. -----Original Message----- From: owner-qrp-l@Lehigh.EDU [mailto:owner-qrp-l@Lehigh.EDU]On Behalf Of Rod N0RC Sent: Monday, December 08, 2003 8:41 PM To: Low Power Amateur Radio Discussion Subject: Slug tuned coil winding question. Folks, I'm helping another QRP-Ler trouble-shoot and fix a small HB RCVR. We need a slug tuned inductor for the VFO of 4.5uH, nominal. We've found forms ..................... ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 08 Dec 2003 21:02:21 -0600 From: "Pederson, Glenn" To: "Low Power Amateur Radio Discussion" Cc: Kenneth Cooperstein Subject: [162590] Re: Solving the wall wart dilemma Message-ID: <3FD4E6DD.27176.302EE13@localhost> MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII Content-transfer-encoding: 7BIT Content-description: Mail message body Ken, Type "Liberator" in the search box at http://www.cyberguys.com Glenn Pederson, WB9QIQ gpeder@elnet.com ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 8 Dec 2003 22:29:09 -0600 From: "Joe Martin" To: "QRP-l" Subject: [162591] Re: SQRPion Paddles #84 on the air tonight... Message-ID: <00ca01c3be0c$fe6d8060$268177d8@JoesHome1> MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit http://www.swlink.net/~w5jh/brasspaddle.htm There are links on this page for building and finishing the key. I just finished the base, it takes a lot longer than the small one mainly because the brass wasn't milled 100% flat, depending on top or bottom there is a slight warp which could have happened while cutting each plate. Brass has a tendency to warp when it gets hot, also if you are using the cream polish to get that fine finish it's good to have a bit of cheep ammonia and tooth brush to clean the cream residue off, it'll clear your sinus out as a side effect. Watch out for the # the middle # in mine faded away quite a bit, I'll keep the shipping pkg to prove it's really #62 . Great job of milling the pieces, the crew really worked their buns off on this one, 72, 73 de KM5CW, Joe ARCI #11368 FP#-697 FISTS#4217 GRID EM13kf FtWorth,Tx 32:49:31N 97:06:13W (http://www.km5cw.org) ---------| Virus Scanned by Symantec |--------- ----- Original Message ----- From: To: Sent: Monday, December 08, 2003 9:54 PM Subject: RE: SQRPion Paddles #84 on the air tonight... > Howdy... > I haven't had much time for radio,let alone the qrp-l... > I saw your talk about a scorpion key? > Any more info on it? I couldn't find it on their website,or on norcals... > Hope they are still available > Thanks Much! > John > N9ukx > > -----Original Message----- > From: owner-qrp-l@Lehigh.EDU [mailto:owner-qrp-l@Lehigh.EDU] On Behalf Of > Joe Martin > Sent: Monday, December 08, 2003 5:46 PM > To: Low Power Amateur Radio Discussion > Subject: Re: SQRPion Paddles #84 on the air tonight... > > FB my #62 was in the mail today so guess I'll be polishing some tonight. > I decided to add the keyer from AMqrp to go with it, wow what a deal, if you > haven't been paying attention let me tell you this is a fully functional top > of the line keyer with just about every whistle and bell you can think of > included. Anywhere else and you wouldn't be able to touch it for under 50 > bucks. > Warning on the polishing of bottom of base, I almost polished off my #062 > trying to get a smooth finish with no pits, it's not worth it, no one will > see the little side pitting when your finished. > Watch out for that spring. > 73 de KM5CW, Joe > ARCI #11368 FP#-697 FISTS#4217 > GRID EM13kf FtWorth,Tx > 32:49:31N 97:06:13W > (http://www.km5cw.org) > > ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 9 Dec 2003 04:27:58 -0000 From: "Juan Ferrari" To: "Piggies-L" , "Low Power Amateur Radio Discussion" Subject: [162592] Truffle announcement Message-ID: <000d01c3be0c$d5334d60$35524b43@puntana.com> MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Hi Gang. I will be the truffle tomorrow. I will be calling CQ FP on 7043 +- QRM. The first call will be Wednesday 10 at 1:30Z (Tuesday 9 at 8:30 PM EST). Be prepared for a very weak signal. I will be using my SW-40+ to the PAC-12. I will begin listening in my frequency and if there is more than one calling me I will probably suffer a hart attack. CU there. Hoppe to meet all of you. 72 Juan - KG4FSN ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 9 Dec 2003 01:46:01 EST From: NB6M@aol.com To: qrp-l@Lehigh.EDU Subject: [162593] In The Spirit of Christmas (a bit long) Message-ID: <5f.42c0c7fd.2d06c9a9@aol.com> MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Hi All, Since I haven't posted anything on the list in quite a while, I thought I would share a couple of things with you. First of all, this last year has been a very busy one for me, requiring me to divide my time between house remodelling projects and sailing (poor me, right? Grin) But, what that meant, in terms of Ham Radio, is that I didn't get very many projects built. However, the ones I did get done have turned out pretty nicely, and I would be more than happy to share info with anyone who is interested. The first project was a 40 Meter CW XCVR, based on the S7C receiver shown in Wes Hayward's newest book. Turned out really well, tuning all of the CW portions of 40 Meters, and gives me many ideas for expansion and further projects, hi hi. Those of you who attended Pacificon already know about that one. The second is a small, simple, Direct Conversion receiver, that tunes all of the 40 Meter Band, and more, that uses only transistors, no ICs, and parts that anyone can find almost anywhere. Nice sound, plenty of sensitivity, and lets you listen to anything you want, in and around the band. Could easily be built for any band from 160 up through 30, and for 20 and on up if one added a low noise RF amp. NorCal is going to kit this one, I'm told, as a beginner's receiver. But, this one is better than that. You'll just have to listen to it, to know, hi hi. But, back to the spirit of Christmas. I had a really nice thing happen to me today. Don, K5KW, knowing that I lived in Fort Gibson, Oklahoma, as a kid, and that I started out in Ham Radio there, sent me a clipping from the local newspaper that brought back a flood of memories, and also reminded me of what Ham Radio is really all about. It is about friendship, shared interests, and about reminding us all that we are all in this world together. What each one of us does, in the long run, affects the rest. Don did a really nice, thoughtful thing for me, even though we have had only one QSO before, on 80 Meters, me with my converted SMK-1 with 3/4 of a Watt output. He reminded me of what Ham Radio is all about. So, when I looked around my shack, I saw that I was more than blessed with QRP gear. I have at least a couple of 20 Meter Transceivers that I don't use, and maybe some more items if I really look closely. For now, definitely, if any of you know of a beginning ham that has taken the step of getting licensed, that is in need of a small rig, please let me know. I have the following to donate to a worthy new ham: One NorCal 20 - perfect working order, with ten turn pot. It is a nice, 5 Watt output 20 Meter QRP rig. One MFJ 9020 20 Meter QRP Transceiver. Again, a nice, 5 Watt output 20 Meter QRP rig. Now, I know that there are probably more than two needy new hams out there, but here is a start. The NorCal 20 would be especially appropriate for a new ham in Europe. So, guys, let me know if there is someone in your area that is deserving of, and could really use either of these rigs. If it is someone who is really short on funds, but is licensed and ready to go, I will even pay for shipping. Very best 72/73, and Happy Holidays to all, Wayne NB6M ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 9 Dec 2003 1:30:20 -0600 From: "Doc K0EVZ" To: "qrp-l reflector" Cc: "doc k0evz earthlink" Subject: [162594] GL tomorrow evening, everyone Message-ID: <412003122973020417@earthlink.net> MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII Gang: Just wanted to wish everyone good luck and great propagation for tomorrow evening's Truffle and FOX hunts. Recently I lost two antenna masts in some high wind gusts (60 miles per hour!). Have since then put up three portable antennas, one a shorty G5RV inverted vee, the other my usual "Inverted WYE" with 4 above ground radials. They are all supported by KANGA 33' fibreglass collapsible masts. Hopefully they will get the job done tomorrow evening. My new QTH is in the mountains east of Albuquerque, at about 6800' above sea level. Anyway, best wishes to everyone for success success tomorrow evening. Thanks in advance to those serving as Truffle and FOXes. 73, --Doc/K0EVZ ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 9 Dec 2003 07:09:57 -0500 From: kwike@gdls.com To: qrp-l@Lehigh.EDU Subject: [162595] Michigan QRP Net Message-ID: MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-transfer-encoding: quoted-printable Content-type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1 We had ten check-ins last week from six states.=A0 Conditions were very= good early but they seemed to fade as the net went on.=A0 A special first-ti= me welcome to Loren. =A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0 S=A0=A0 R WA8BXN 599 599 CLEVELAND=A0 OH MIKE K8CV=A0=A0 599 599 ROYAL OAK=A0 MI WALT AA1MY=A0 599 599 BETHEL=A0=A0=A0=A0 ME SEAB W2SH=A0=A0 599 579 MILLINGTON NJ CHARLES WA8REI 599 599 FREELAND=A0=A0 MI KEN KE9V=A0=A0 559 599 MUNCIE=A0=A0=A0=A0 IN JEFF KA8ONW 569 599 MASON=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0 MI MARK K8JRO=A0 599 599 FLINT=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0 MI JERRY WD5HIO 539=A0=A0=A0=A0 LOUDEVILLE OH LOREN WA9PWP 579 589 STOUGHTON=A0 WI PAUL The Michigan QRP Net meets each Tuesday night on 3.535 MHz +/- QRM at 9= :00 PM Eastern time.=A0 All hams are welcome.= ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 9 Dec 2003 07:28:59 -0500 (EST) From: Thom LaCosta To: "qrp-L@Lehigh.EDU" Subject: [162596] Battery Adapaters Message-ID: <20031209072616.S57277-100000@unix1.vhost.min.net> MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII Wish I knew the right term, but I'm hoping someone else has purchased/knews where to obtain the "dummie" battery shells that let you use a AA cell in place of a D cell. I know, there capacity is different, etc, but so many rechargeable D cells are AA cells in bigger housings. I really don't want to pay RShack and arm and a leg for rechargeable D Cells. thanks Thom baltimoremd@baltimoremd.com Thom LaCosta K3HRN Webmaster http://www.baltimoremd.com/ Baltimore's Home Page http://www.baltimorehon.com/ Home of the Baltimore Lexicon http://www.zerobeat.net Home of The QRP Web Ring and DrakeList http://www.tlchost.net Web Hosting as low as $3.49/month ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 9 Dec 2003 07:44:18 -0500 From: "Armin Hachmer" To: , "Low Power Amateur Radio Discussion" Subject: [162597] Re: In The Spirit of Christmas (a bit long) Message-ID: <003f01c3be52$29fabdc0$436c7bd8@muskoka.com> MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Nice one Wayne. Its all about doing it. Hope you find a couple of folks and create lifelong memories for them as well. Armin VE3TEQ ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 9 Dec 2003 07:43:09 -0500 (EST) From: Thom LaCosta To: NB6M@aol.com Cc: Low Power Amateur Radio Discussion Subject: [162598] Re: In The Spirit of Christmas (a bit long) Message-ID: <20031209074156.N57277-100000@unix1.vhost.min.net> MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII On Tue, 9 Dec 2003 NB6M@aol.com wrote: > > So, guys, let me know if there is someone in your area that is deserving of, > and could really use either of these rigs. If it is someone who is really > short on funds, but is licensed and ready to go, I will even pay for shipping. Great idea Wayne....a tremendous example of the people side of Ham Radio. 73 Thom baltimoremd@baltimoremd.com Thom LaCosta K3HRN Webmaster http://www.baltimoremd.com/ Baltimore's Home Page http://www.baltimorehon.com/ Home of the Baltimore Lexicon http://www.zerobeat.net Home of The QRP Web Ring and DrakeList http://www.tlchost.net Web Hosting as low as $3.49/month ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 9 Dec 2003 08:21:41 -0500 From: w9ya To: "Low Power Amateur Radio Discussion" Subject: [162599] Re: VBL paddle Message-ID: <200312090821.41465.w9ya@arrl.net> MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Content-Disposition: inline On Monday 08 December 2003 02:19 pm, Michael Goins wrote: > 3063112521 As of the time I am sending this -> The price is a STEAL !!! ($ 120) Bob w9ya ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 9 Dec 2003 06:24:30 -0700 (MST) From: Karl Larsen To: qrp-l@lehigh.edu Subject: [162600] Getting it right Message-ID: MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII Boy there is more to the ScQRPian paddle than I thought. After getting the spring found I had the paddle ready to set up, but something seemed wrong. I took it to our coffee clutch and it got passed around. Rodney looked and said one paddle arm was not straight. I looked and sure enough it was riding up on the solder I used to connect the arm to ground. So off with the arm and find the jewlers file kit and file away the solder, and the wire. Re-solder the wire and file less energeticly and then put it back together. Now the arms are straight and look the same. This morning I plugged into my keyer and with screwdriver and longnose pliers I got the dot and space gaps as small as possible. Sent a little code and was happy but wanted the fingers a little closer. I am used to a Bencher which are closer. But I don't think I can mount the guitar picks inside because the screw heads will be too close, I think. And I'm going to buy a really cheap pair of earphones for the plug and wire. The wire I am using is too fat. -- - Karl Larsen k5di Las Cruces,NM Az ScQRPions - ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 9 Dec 2003 08:20:39 +0000 From: John R Kirby To: qrp-l@Lehigh.EDU Subject: [162601] all gone . . . MPLab IDE-6.30 CDs FREE to gQQd homes Message-ID: <20031209.082257.-196647.5.n3aaz-qrp@juno.com> MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit WOW ! What a response. Sorry I can not fill them all. In a week or so . . . the same CDs *WILL* be up for grabs again here on qrp-l and maybe even an additional copy or three :>) John N3AAZ OOTC FM 19 xa ________________________________________________________________ The best thing to hit the internet in years - Juno SpeedBand! Surf the web up to FIVE TIMES FASTER! Only $14.95/ month - visit www.juno.com to sign up today! ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 09 Dec 2003 13:23:59 +0000 From: jacksonharbor@att.net To: qrp-l@lehigh.edu Subject: [162602] re: Battery Adapaters Message-ID: <120920031323.15002.408c@att.net> >Wish I knew the right term, but I'm hoping someone else has >purchased/knews where to obtain the "dummie" battery shells >that let you use a AA cell in place of a D cell. Thom - The Cyberguys have something called the upsizer: I've never tried them - they look a little expensive to me at $3.99 Best Regards, Chuck Olson, WB9KZY Jackson Harbor Press ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 09 Dec 2003 08:50:15 -0500 From: Bruce Muscolino To: michael.babineau@sympatico.ca Cc: Low Power Amateur Radio Discussion Subject: [162603] Re: Alpha Delta Outpost(tm) work-alike ground for Buddistick Message-ID: <3FD5D317.4FCAD4E@erols.com> MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Michael, What you have made is a good homebrew alternative to a commercial product. That really is the basis of all homebrewing. Someone sees a commercial product and says, for whatever reason, I can do that without spending all that money. I understand better what you have done. As you may know, I am quite a proponent of having a good RF ground. I hope you will not stop at the aluminium strips, but experiment with both various ground configurations and various materials too. Hamstick and others used to market various mounts for their antennas. I have several mounts including a tripod mount. No fancy rubberized knob, but it holds the antenna just the same! You might look and see what is available there. Please send me the pictures, I'd like to see your work. 73 ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 09 Dec 2003 09:01:16 -0500 From: "Sergio T. Ruiz" To: "qrp-l-Lehigh.EDU" Subject: [162604] gel cell question.. Message-ID: <5.1.0.14.0.20031209085812.00b31af0@mail.neobright.net> Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; format=flowed although my k1 building will be on hold for about a week (i have the filter board and front panel done!) as we finally get to move (woo hoo!) i thought i would ask this before i get there.. is there any trick to charging those 10ah gel cells i see floating around? i would love to use one to power my k1 in the field, and maybe even while i am at home.. so i can keep from turning on a power supply and having yet more cables in the area.. this would also give me a good feel for battery life without having to sweat it.. thanks in advance.. oh! and for the record.. i went with 150khz tuning, and 17m... thanks again! ____ Sergio T. Ruiz technology and MIS Philway Products, Inc. (419) 281-7777 x232 ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 09 Dec 2003 07:12:13 -0700 From: Jerry Haigwood To: k5di@zianet.com Cc: Low Power Amateur Radio Discussion Subject: [162605] Re: Getting it right Message-ID: <3FD5D83D.68EDD584@swlink.net> MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Karl Larsen wrote: > Boy there is more to the ScQRPian paddle than I thought. After > getting the spring found I had the paddle ready to set up, but something > seemed wrong. I took it to our coffee clutch and it got passed around. > Rodney looked and said one paddle arm was not straight. I looked and > sure enough it was riding up on the solder I used to connect the arm to > ground. > > So off with the arm and find the jewlers file kit and file away > the solder, and the wire. Re-solder the wire and file less energeticly > and then put it back together. Now the arms are straight and look the > same. > > This morning I plugged into my keyer and with screwdriver and > longnose pliers I got the dot and space gaps as small as possible. Sent > a little code and was happy but wanted the fingers a little closer. I am > used to a Bencher which are closer. But I don't think I can mount the > guitar picks inside because the screw heads will be too close, I think. > > And I'm going to buy a really cheap pair of earphones for the > plug and wire. The wire I am using is too fat. > > -- > > - Karl Larsen k5di Las Cruces,NM Az ScQRPions - Karl, To mount the paddle fingers on the inside of the arms, carefully counter sink the holes in the guitar picks to accept a 4-40 x 1/4 inch long flat head screw. With the guiatr pick properly countersunk, the flat head screw will fit flush with the pick and allow plenty of clearance. Your outside to outside spacing of the picks will be approximately 1/4 inch - probably closer to the Bencher's spacing. I personally prefer the wider spacing but each to his/her own. :-) If you mess up the guitar picks, we sell spares at $2 a set + an SASE. The headphone wire you mentioned is by far the best to use on these paddles. I highly recommend it. Look for it at dollar stores. Many times you can find a cheap pair of head phones with the stereo plug molded on the usually short wire. Sacrafice the headphones and use the wire/plug. BTW, AZ ScQRPion leader John Stevens, K5JS, is the "king" of dollar stores. He finds more bargins than the rest of us put together! Jerry W5JH ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 09 Dec 2003 08:14:34 -0600 From: John Oppenheimer To: unlisted-recipients:; (no To-header on input) Cc: Low Power Amateur Radio Discussion Subject: [162606] Re: gel cell question.. Message-ID: <3FD5D8CA.6010705@gte.net> MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii; format=flowed Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit The best way to charge led acid batteries is to charge at a fixed current until the voltage gets to a maximum voltage (14-15V look at battery specifications), than drop to a constant 13.8 volts. I opted to purchase a SLA charger that does that. Look at my QRP page at http://kn5l.net/qrp/ where you will find a link to the charger and a link to the SLA that I am using. John ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 09 Dec 2003 09:12:06 -0500 From: Bruce Muscolino To: rc7039-hr@yahoo.com Cc: Low Power Amateur Radio Discussion Subject: [162607] Re: Slug tuned coil winding question. Message-ID: <3FD5D836.F26A2CEB@erols.com> MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Rod, As I said in an earlier post, winding a slug tuned inductor is no different than winding a toroid. But to wind a slug tuned coil you must know the properties of the slug material, ust as you have to know what type of toroid you are using. The best place to find this information is the literature that comes with the form. If you are buying boxed forms, try asking the vendor, or you will be shooting in the dark. There is one approach that might save your project. That is to wind a small coil on the form and grid dip it when connected across a known capacitor. If you put the slug in about its center position and use the dip meter, you will have a turns value from which you can wind an actual coil. I would use the handbook formula for solenoid type windings to do the final coil. 4.5 mHy is a pretty big coil. It will probably take several layers. Another idea you might try is to use small IF type coils. Mouser used to sell small F type coils in various values. A few minutes browsing through their catalog might turn up a suitable substitute. I know, it won't fit the plans like the original, but you are homebrewing a receiver. You can work out a satisfactory mount. I seem to remember a T and handbook receiver that used a 4.5 mHy slug tuned coil for its VFO. A friend built one and it was pretty good! Of course, that was when you could go down and buy all the parts! 72 ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 9 Dec 2003 09:18:47 -0500 From: "John Shannon" To: "QRP Mail List" Subject: [162608] Re: gel cell question.. Message-ID: <000b01c3be5f$630a5d20$411927a2@alltel.net> MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Hi Sergio, My web site has a good article written by my friend Dave, VA3RJ about gel cell (and other type) batteries for QRP operation. You may find the info you need there. Go to my CW Section - FISTS Columns page, and read column # 030. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 73 - John, K3WWP - 100% CW & QRP using simple wire antennas. http://home.alltel.net/johnshan/ My website is now in its eighth year of operation and includes the following: DX QSL Routes ** Operating Tips QRP Rigs Info ** CW Contest Calendar Daily Propagation Info ** Your CW Stories Teens and CW ** Monthly polls Categorized Quality Links ** MUCH MORE If you love Morse Code, please join the FISTS club - http://www.fists.org I'm proud to be FISTS # 2002 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ----- Original Message ----- From: "Sergio T. Ruiz" To: "Low Power Amateur Radio Discussion" Sent: Tuesday, December 09, 2003 9:01 AM Subject: gel cell question.. > > although my k1 building will be on hold for about a week (i have the filter > board and front panel done!) as we finally get to move (woo hoo!) i thought > i would ask this before i get there.. > > is there any trick to charging those 10ah gel cells i see floating around? > > i would love to use one to power my k1 in the field, and maybe even while i > am at home.. so i can keep from turning on a power supply and having yet > more cables in the area.. > > this would also give me a good feel for battery life without having to > sweat it.. > > thanks in advance.. > > oh! and for the record.. > > i went with 150khz tuning, and 17m... > > thanks again! > > ____ > Sergio T. Ruiz > technology and MIS > Philway Products, Inc. > (419) 281-7777 x232 > ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 9 Dec 2003 09:20:52 -0500 From: "John J. McDonough" To: "Low Power Amateur Radio Discussion" Cc: Subject: [162609] Re: gel cell question.. Message-ID: <007b01c3be5f$a7375de0$090044c0@BrianBoru> MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit 10 Ah is a little big to lug into the field, and overkill for a K1. I have a 7Ah combined battery/light/charger that is handy because it's all in one, and can be charged from 110 or from the car, but it's too heavy and too much battery for the K1 as well. Even a week long trip hardly touches it. The internal battery option works pretty well, but for a little longer excursion you might look into something more like 2Ah. With the internal battery option, I wonder whether the recharging thing is worthwhile. Alkalines, or better yet, lithiums, last a bunch longer than NiCds or NiMH. A couple sets of alkalines will easily get you through a weekend on the K1. For me, the hassle of recharging is hardly worth it. I get more time on my K1 an less to carry. It is more expensive, and if you're out portable every weekend your calculation might be different. But for me, it's worth it for the reduced hassle. 72/73 de WB8RCR http://www.qsl.net/wb8rcr didileydadidah QRP-L #1446 Code Warriors #35 ----- Original Message ----- From: "Sergio T. Ruiz" To: "Low Power Amateur Radio Discussion" Sent: Tuesday, December 09, 2003 9:01 AM Subject: gel cell question.. > > although my k1 building will be on hold for about a week (i have the filter > board and front panel done!) as we finally get to move (woo hoo!) i thought > i would ask this before i get there.. > > is there any trick to charging those 10ah gel cells i see floating around? > > i would love to use one to power my k1 in the field, and maybe even while i > am at home.. so i can keep from turning on a power supply and having yet > more cables in the area.. > > this would also give me a good feel for battery life without having to > sweat it.. > > thanks in advance.. > > oh! and for the record.. > > i went with 150khz tuning, and 17m... > > thanks again! > > ____ > Sergio T. Ruiz > technology and MIS > Philway Products, Inc. > (419) 281-7777 x232 > > ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 9 Dec 2003 06:28:49 -0800 (PST) From: John Kalotai To: sergio@philway.com, Low Power Amateur Radio Discussion Subject: [162610] Re: gel cell question.. Message-ID: <20031209142849.97384.qmail@web80003.mail.yahoo.com> MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Hi Sergio and All, Well, the first thing is to check whether its a cell with gelled electrolyte or a sealed lead acid battery. There is a difference. The majority of the inexpensive rechargable batteries that are floating around are sealed lead acids that were pulled from alarm systems or UPS's. These can be charged with most any chaarger so long as you adhere to manufacturer's recommendation for charge rate. The batteries I have were manufacturered by Yuasa and Panasonic and have the charge rates printed on the battery. I use a 500ma 15v wall wart to charge the smaller 2.3ah batteries and an auto battery charger for my larger 17ah & 34ah batteries. I use a Whatt Meter from West Mountain to monitor the voltage and charge status. I've been using these batteries for better 4 years! The real secret with any lead acid battery is to make sure you recharge it ASAP when you are done with it. BTW- while traveling, I've charged two of the 2.3 ah batteries that I use with my 817 by plugging them into the cigarette lighter outlet. 73 John N1OLO --- "Sergio T. Ruiz" wrote: > > although my k1 building will be on hold for about a week (i have > the filter > board and front panel done!) as we finally get to move (woo hoo!) i > thought > i would ask this before i get there.. > > is there any trick to charging those 10ah gel cells i see floating > around? > > i would love to use one to power my k1 in the field, and maybe even > while i > am at home.. so i can keep from turning on a power supply and > having yet > more cables in the area.. > > this would also give me a good feel for battery life without having > to > sweat it.. > > thanks in advance.. > > oh! and for the record.. > > i went with 150khz tuning, and 17m... > > thanks again! > > ____ > Sergio T. Ruiz > technology and MIS > Philway Products, Inc. > (419) 281-7777 x232 > ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 09 Dec 2003 09:03:32 -0600 From: Jim Giammanco To: qrp-l@Lehigh.EDU Subject: [162611] Re: Getting it right Message-ID: <3FD5E444.2B7B3DE2@rouge.phys.lsu.edu> MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit >K5DI wrote: >This morning I plugged into my keyer and with screwdriver and >longnose pliers I got the dot and space gaps as small as possible. Sent >a little code and was happy but wanted the fingers a little closer. I am >used to a Bencher which are closer. But I don't think I can mount the >guitar picks inside because the screw heads will be too close, I think. ------------------------- I milled a recess on the end of the paddle arms so that the fingerpieces can be mounted on the inside of the arms. It works well and the two scorpions are not obscured :^)) I'm not finished polishing yet (one more grit, MAAS, and laquer yet to go), but I'll make a loose assembly tonight and take a photo I can post on my web page tomorrow to show the closer paddle spacing. 72 Jim N5IB ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 09 Dec 2003 09:11:54 -0600 From: Jim Giammanco To: qrp-l@Lehigh.EDU Subject: [162612] FEMA weighs into BPL Message-ID: <3FD5E63A.4B7E59F0@rouge.phys.lsu.edu> MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Looks like the proverbial fertilizer has found the air handler.... Jim N5IB ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 9 Dec 2003 10:17:38 -0500 From: "Noyce, Bill" To: Subject: [162613] Re: Slug tuned coil winding question. Message-ID: <6D6463F31027B14FB3B1FB094F2C7447047DA002@tayexc17.americas.cpqcorp.net> Content-class: urn:content-classes:message MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable There are some formulas for iron-powder slug-tuned coil forms at http://www.bytemark.com/products/l33cf.htm and the following pages (click on the right arrow at the top). Perhaps one of these forms matches what you've got. I believe they're color coded (-2 is red, -6 is yellow, etc). -- Bill, AB1AV ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 9 Dec 2003 07:25:39 -0800 (PST) From: Lloyd Lachow To: "Li'l Piggies" , sidebar a , a low-energy group Subject: [162614] gift idea for kids Message-ID: <20031209152539.71525.qmail@web41009.mail.yahoo.com> MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii The book, "Radio Rescue," by Lynne Barasch, is a wonderful book for kids. Lynne is the daughter of a ham who was licensed at age 12 or so, long, long ago. This well-written and well-illustrated book tells the true story of his interest in ham radio, including a lot about learning and using the Morse code. He also participated in a hurricane rescue! There's a photo at the end of this young ham, dwarfed by his homebrew gear. My kids started making up messages for me in code after reading it, and have re-read it many times. You can even find some good-condition used ones, on sites like Amazon.com. LL __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? New Yahoo! Photos - easier uploading and sharing. http://photos.yahoo.com/ ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 09 Dec 2003 10:50:44 -0500 From: "Dennis Ponsness" To: giamman@rouge.phys.lsu.edu, qrp-l@Lehigh.EDU Subject: [162615] RE: FEMA weighs into BPL Message-ID: Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed > >Looks like the proverbial fertilizer has found the air handler.... > LOL! However, perhaps a better simile - given one of FEMA's mandates - is that FEMA "exercised the nuclear option"! 72 es oo Dennis - WB0WAO EN84ij Iosco County, Michigan MultiPig+ #3 - K2 #3555 DSW-II-20 - SW-40+ - SW-30+ RM-20 - RM-40 FPQRP #-347 Charter Member - Michigan DX Association www.wb0wao.com :=) _________________________________________________________________ Wonder if the latest virus has gotten to your computer? Find out. Run the FREE McAfee online computer scan! http://clinic.mcafee.com/clinic/ibuy/campaign.asp?cid=3963 ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 9 Dec 2003 11:08:12 -0500 From: "Cal Cotner" To: "QRP-L" Subject: [162616] Re: gift idea for kids Message-ID: <000301c3be6e$a6043740$fc53fea9@Sharon> MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Hi all, I heartily agree with Lloyd's comments on "Radio Rescue"! My sister, who is in Special Education, sent me a copy with the comment that it was the first children's book on amateur radio she'd ever come across. It's a good read, even for those among us who are in our second childhood. 72/73 Cal K4JSI ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 9 Dec 2003 09:15:23 -0700 From: "KXBill" To: "Low Power Amateur Radio Discussion" Subject: [162617] LAB, Sulfated plates. Message-ID: <005901c3be6f$a63d7a40$76d70344@ph.cox.net> MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Any ideas out there on how to eliminate sulfated plates in a lead acid battery? Have a couple around that I would like to restore. Cheers and Merry Holiday's (???) KXBill (W7KXB) ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 9 Dec 2003 10:12:30 -0600 From: "Terry" To: "Low Power Amateur Radio Discussion" Subject: [162618] My new HDTV radiates...any rfi suggestions. Message-ID: <005101c3be6f$605b4f70$0100a8c0@atlas> MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Hello, My shiny new HDTV radiates right into my radios. I have put ferrite cores on various cables going into and going out of the HDTV. (just moving the same core around from cable to cable) This has had no effect. So, I ask the group, should I just buy a "bunch" of toroids and do all cables into and out of the HDTV or...or well I'm open to suggestions. 73, Terry KA9TXE ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 09 Dec 2003 10:40:13 -0600 From: dave To: giamman@rouge.phys.lsu.edu Cc: Low Power Amateur Radio Discussion Subject: [162619] Re: FEMA weighs into BPL Message-ID: <3FD5FAED.8070306@gulftel.com> MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii; format=flowed Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Jim, Thanks for the heads-up. They make some good points in their comments. Don't know if it played any role, but, back on July 31 I sent a letter to Mr. Ridge's office pointing out the potential harm to HF communications that occurs from BPL and asked what impact that would have on them. I suspect several others did likewise. Don't know if it played any role at all, but at least it makes one feel like they *may* have helped in at least a small way. 73 de dave ab9ca Jim Giammanco wrote: > > > Looks like the proverbial fertilizer has found the air handler.... > > Jim N5IB > > > > ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 9 Dec 2003 11:46:32 -0500 From: "Nick Foster" To: "'Low Power Amateur Radio Discussion'" Subject: [162620] RE: LAB, Sulfated plates. Message-ID: <000001c3be74$006245b0$ed00a8c0@PECKERHEAD> MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit If they're lightly sulfated, "shock" charging them can do it. Usually they pulse high current into the battery with a low duty cycle to break it up. Expensive ($50) SLA chargers will have this feature. Heavily sulfated plates = new battery. --nick -----Original Message----- From: owner-qrp-l@Lehigh.EDU [mailto:owner-qrp-l@Lehigh.EDU] On Behalf Of KXBill Sent: Tuesday, December 09, 2003 11:15 AM To: Low Power Amateur Radio Discussion Subject: LAB, Sulfated plates. Any ideas out there on how to eliminate sulfated plates in a lead acid battery? Have a couple around that I would like to restore. Cheers and Merry Holiday's (???) KXBill (W7KXB) ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 9 Dec 2003 11:09:03 -0600 From: "Tom WB5KHC" To: "QRP L Mailing List" Subject: [162621] FREE 5" Round Tin for Construction projects Message-ID: MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Best Buy has a "freebie" to Reward Card holders. It is a nice round tin 5" in diameter and 3/4" thick. It is red and white and contains a music CD and a circular non-conductive foam pad. The music CD goes in the waste bin and the tin goes on the shelf for a future project. "Heads Up" to those who build. Tom Owens, WB5KHC QRP ARCI 10645 Fists 7865/CC 1026 QRP ARCI Contest Mgr & Certificate Mgr ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 9 Dec 2003 12:19:40 EST From: NB6M@aol.com To: qrp-l@Lehigh.EDU Subject: [162622] Rigs Gone to Deserving Hams Message-ID: <24.4b27d9ae.2d075e2c@aol.com> MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Hi All, As you might guess, there were a few emails waiting for me this morning, and I have responded to the first two, arranging to send the two rigs mentioned to deserving new hams. I would like to be able to supply a rig to all, but since I can't do that, at least I can help a couple. Thanks for the responses, and all the best to you and yours for Christmas and the New Year. 72 Wayne NB6M ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 9 Dec 2003 11:39:56 -0600 From: "Joe Martin" To: "QRP-l" Subject: [162623] Re: Rigs Gone to Deserving Hams Message-ID: <013101c3be7b$76b2f3c0$268177d8@JoesHome1> MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit ----- Original Message ----- From: To: "Low Power Amateur Radio Discussion" Sent: Tuesday, December 09, 2003 11:19 AM Subject: Rigs Gone to Deserving Hams > Hi All, > > As you might guess, there were a few emails waiting for me this morning, and > I have responded to the first two, arranging to send the two rigs mentioned to > deserving new hams. at > least I can help a couple. > > Thanks for the responses, and all the best to you and yours for Christmas and > the New Year.72 > Wayne NB6M Thank you Wayne for being a great example to us all for the spirit of Ham radio and QRP 72 de KM5CW Joe ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 09 Dec 2003 17:50:08 +0000 From: "Bruce Prior" To: qrp-l@Lehigh.EDU Subject: [162624] N2DAN Mercury Paddle on eBay Message-ID: Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed I notice that one of the rare N2DAN Mercury Paddles is available on eBay. N2DAN passed away several years ago, so there will be no more originals. The serial number is a bit higher than my #241. Is mine for sale? No way, no how! Am I building a Scorpion paddle? Yep, as soon as the kit arrives! 72, J. Bruce Prior N7RR Kairos Research 853 Alder Street Blaine, WA 98230-8030 360-332-6046 Patronize tobacco-free enterprises and institutions. _________________________________________________________________ Wonder if the latest virus has gotten to your computer? Find out. Run the FREE McAfee online computer scan! http://clinic.mcafee.com/clinic/ibuy/campaign.asp?cid=3963 ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 09 Dec 2003 18:32:04 +0000 From: Chuck Adams To: qrp-l@lehigh.edu Subject: [162625] [AZpaddle] Finishing Hints and Kinks Message-ID: <5.2.1.1.0.20031209181121.01d63f18@mail.commspeed.net> Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; format=flowed Since I have gotten several people to ask me the same question, let me answer to the group at large also. 1. Should I use the toaster oven for curing like I do Al cases? No. Since you will have all sides of the brass lacquered up I recommend you dry at room temps for at least 24 hrs. Find yourself long 4-40 screws to hold the parts off of the surface underneath. I use an Al plate with holes to hold the screws with nut to the plate. You'll need one screw per part and spaced out to avoid contact with the other parts. 2. To avoid dust ( since you'll most likely dry this outside the living area of the house) I use a large piece of cardboard above the parts, with the parts some where near the middle. Think of this like a shed. Find books, etc. to hold the "shed" above the parts without touching them, but not too much room above the parts for dust to sneak under and land on the sticky stuff. And don't drop the cardboard on the drying pieces!!! 3. When you get close to the final sanding, you might consider wearing surgical gloves (they are cheap by the box at Walgreen's, etc.) to keep your paws clean and the paddle clean also. 4. If you want the close spacing, but don't have $300 or more invested in a milling machine, then if you have a very small file, you can take off 1/3 of the thickness of the arm for a rectangular area just inside around the mounting hole for mounting the finger pieces on the inside. But you do have to do this very carefully, of course. Think and plan ahead if you are going to do this. The finger pieces are only 2mm thick, so you don't have much room there to play with. Isn't it funny? We spend $25 for a paddle. The expense for gas and the sandpaper, extra springs, cleaner, paint, .... adds up. :-) But that is the fun of doing this. Chuck Adams K7QO k7qo@commspeed.net http://www.qsl.net/k7qo CP-60 Moving to Arizona? Please bring your own water. ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 9 Dec 2003 13:48:04 -0500 From: Michael Babineau To: qrp-l@Lehigh.EDU Subject: [162626] re:[microvert] very short antenna Message-ID: <388DB102-2A78-11D8-8F7A-00039309268A@sympatico.ca> Mime-Version: 1.0 (Apple Message framework v552) Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; format=flowed Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit A key element of the Microvert is how the feedline is connected. The shield is left floating at the antenna, and at a distance of a quarter wavelength from the antena there is a choke balun on the feed. So ... according to an analysis article published in AntenneX some time ago it is this 1/4 wave section that actually does most of the radiating. I think that the so-called vertical part simply allows the whole thing to resonate on whatever band it is designed for. So needless to say, you want to get that coax piece up in the air as high as you can and not lie it on the ground as I believe the author suggests. Michael VE3WMB ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 9 Dec 2003 11:00:38 -0800 From: Mark Danner To: "'qrp-l@Lehigh.EDU'" Subject: [162627] RE: ScQRPion Paddle Message-ID: <49B4D83BB849004A99F31EDE1237446B2554E9@mail.mfwi.org> MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain Grabbed a hand full of springs and threw them on the floor. Practice makes perfect! :-) (Still waiting for the list - gonna be batch #2 I'm afraid!) 73 Mark AB7MP ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 9 Dec 2003 14:08:17 -0500 From: "JBCrafts" To: , "Low Power Amateur Radio Discussion" Subject: [162628] RE: LAB, Sulfated plates. Message-ID: MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit While attending a seminar on RV electrical systems, the presenter said that the way to "restore" heavy sulfated batteries was to drain the battery and dispose of the acid. Wash with distilled water. Let it dry. The CAREFULLY drop the dry battery onto a hard surface. There is a line between cracking the case and busting up the sulfides, so do not want to crack the case. duh... After you have drop kicked the battery, look inside and see if the plates are clean... drop as needed :) After you have broken up the sufides, did not crack the case, and before you need to mend your garage floor, wash the battery out again with distilled water. Refill with battery charging acid - you know the stuff they sell when you buy a new battery. and charge the battery. You may not completely recover the battery, but then again you may have completely recovered the battery... and you need to decide if you want to buy a new battery or take a chance on a couple gallons of distilled water, acid, and a couple hours time. I did this... and it worked! I had three batteries in the motorhome that were heavily sulfated. I recovered two and use them for my battery backup system in the basement. OO Bob K8YS If they're lightly sulfated, "shock" charging them can do it. Usually they pulse high current into the battery with a low duty cycle to break it up. Expensive ($50) SLA chargers will have this feature. Heavily sulfated plates = new battery. --nick -----Original Message----- From: owner-qrp-l@Lehigh.EDU [mailto:owner-qrp-l@Lehigh.EDU] On Behalf Of KXBill Sent: Tuesday, December 09, 2003 11:15 AM To: Low Power Amateur Radio Discussion Subject: LAB, Sulfated plates. Any ideas out there on how to eliminate sulfated plates in a lead acid battery? Have a couple around that I would like to restore. Cheers and Merry Holiday's (???) KXBill (W7KXB) ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 09 Dec 2003 11:16:19 -0800 From: Adam Farson To: NB6M@aol.com Cc: Low Power Amateur Radio Discussion Subject: [162629] RE: Rigs Gone to Deserving Hams Message-ID: MIME-version: 1.0 Content-type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII Content-transfer-encoding: 7BIT Hi Wayne, Your generosity during this holiday season is what we, in our tradition, call a "mitzvah" - an act of kindness for which you will be truly blessed. Cheers for now, 73, Adam VA7OJ/AB4OJ -----Original Message----- From: owner-qrp-l@Lehigh.EDU [mailto:owner-qrp-l@Lehigh.EDU]On Behalf Of NB6M@aol.com Sent: Tuesday, December 09, 2003 09:20 To: Low Power Amateur Radio Discussion Subject: Rigs Gone to Deserving Hams Hi All, As you might guess, there were a few emails waiting for me this morning, and I have responded to the first two, arranging to send the two rigs mentioned to deserving new hams. I would like to be able to supply a rig to all, but since I can't do that, at least I can help a couple. Thanks for the responses, and all the best to you and yours for Christmas and the New Year. 72 Wayne NB6M ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 9 Dec 2003 14:23:20 -0500 From: "JBCrafts" To: , "Low Power Amateur Radio Discussion" Subject: [162630] RE: LAB, Sulfated plates. - more Message-ID: MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Oh yea, one other thing... the presenter suggested a device called a Battery Minder. He said that it pulses a 3 MHz signal into the battery bank and it breaks up crystals. I wanted to see what freq it worked at, so using my FT817, I heard a pulse on 3.330MHz. The theory behind it is that a lead crystal will shatter at 3.33MHz. They CLAIM that they work, and truckers buy the majority of devices sold. OO Bob K8YS FP #78 If they're lightly sulfated, "shock" charging them can do it. Usually they pulse high current into the battery with a low duty cycle to break it up. Expensive ($50) SLA chargers will have this feature. Heavily sulfated plates = new battery. Any ideas out there on how to eliminate sulfated plates in a lead acid battery? Have a couple around that I would like to restore. Cheers and Merry Holiday's (???) KXBill (W7KXB) ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 09 Dec 2003 14:59:00 -0500 From: "Thomas Lewis" To: w5jh@swlink.net, qrp-l@Lehigh.EDU Subject: [162631] Speaking of bargains Message-ID: Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed I was looking for some wire to tie to the end of my new MFJ 33 ft. pole. At the Home Depot I found bell wire, 3 #20, marked down from 17 cents to one penny per foot. So I took a buck's worth. 300 ft. of wire for a buck. Thats a bargain. I got the MFJ 33 ft. pole at the Tampa Bay Hamfest from CT Morgan Accociates for $66 vs. $80 from MFJ (who was also at the show). While setting it up today, with one strand of my new bell wire tied to the end, the tip broke off. There is another bargain. We'll see how the "No Matter What" guarantee works. Tom K4THL >AZ ScQRPion leader John Stevens, K5JS, is the "king" of dollar stores. He >finds more bargins than the rest of us put together! > >Jerry W5JH > > _________________________________________________________________ Cell phone switch rules are taking effect find out more here. http://special.msn.com/msnbc/consumeradvocate.armx ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 09 Dec 2003 21:11:36 +0100 From: Ingo Meyer DK3RED To: qrp-l@lehigh.edu Subject: [162632] Re: [microvert] very short antenna (but > 50 dB gain) Message-ID: <5.2.1.1.1.20031209211126.009ed640@pop.btx.dtag.de> Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; format=flowed Hello Karl, K5DI, > I was interested in the German's DL7PE wonderful antenna until I >found the .pdf and read that and found the author was very proud of his >antenna which was only 10 DB below a full length dipole. > > Here in New Mexico, if you divided the land into the population >each person has 986 acres. We can put up full size antennas. Like Jim wrote: It's easy to built an full size antenna if you can see from your home door to the horizon. But an antenna like this one had a gain of more than 50 dB for people in the cities. Yes, try it! It has more than 50 dB gain over my full size dipole which I can't build up in the sky here in the town. ;o)) 72/73 de Ingo, DK3RED Don't forget: the fun is the power! dk3red@t-online.de http://www.t-online.de/~dk3red DL-QRP-AG #824 http://www.dl-qrp-ag.de QRP ARCI #11295 http://www.qrparci.org ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 9 Dec 2003 14:45:21 -0600 From: "Jim Sheldon" To: , "QRP-L Mailing List" Subject: [162633] RE: [microvert] very short antenna Message-ID: MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Michael, Antennex is wrong on this one. The counterpoise does not radiate much at all. The RF Sniffer shows very very little radiation from the counterpoise. The capacitive portion of the antenna (vertical rod) is the part that radiates. This antenna operates as a shortened vertical. The major difference between this one and the PAC-12 is this antenna is "base loaded" and the PAC-12 is "Center Loaded" The vertical portion of both is the radiator. BTW, Bob, I'm still working on one for 160 meters. Wish I had it completed in time for the contest this past weekend, but not enough time to do it. Jim, W0EB -----Original Message----- From: owner-qrp-l@Lehigh.EDU [mailto:owner-qrp-l@Lehigh.EDU]On Behalf Of Michael Babineau Sent: Tuesday, December 09, 2003 12:48 PM To: Low Power Amateur Radio Discussion Subject: re:[microvert] very short antenna A key element of the Microvert is how the feedline is connected. The shield is left floating at the antenna, and at a distance of a quarter wavelength from the antena there is a choke balun on the feed. So ... according to an analysis article published in AntenneX some time ago it is this 1/4 wave section that actually does most of the radiating. I think that the so-called vertical part simply allows the whole thing to resonate on whatever band it is designed for. So needless to say, you want to get that coax piece up in the air as high as you can and not lie it on the ground as I believe the author suggests. Michael VE3WMB ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 9 Dec 2003 15:30:32 -0600 From: George Fremin III To: qrp-l@lehigh.edu Subject: [162634] FOX: K5TR fox Announcement was FOX: W8RU Fox Announcement Message-ID: <20031209213031.GA21535@kkn.net> Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Disposition: inline On Mon, Dec 08, 2003 at 01:47:09PM -0800, Ron Majewski wrote: > Hello Everyone, > > My name is Ron and I will one of da Foxes (along with > George, K5TR) from 0200-0400 utc on Wednesday, 10 > December. This is the evening of Tuesday, 9 December > in the US. As Ron said above, I will be the other FOX tonight. > I plan to operate above 7040 and will definitely be > working split, particularly at the start of the hunt. > I try to listen both above and below my transmitting > frequency but often other nearby QSOs force me to work > only one side. I will not be above 7040. I too will be operating split unless no one is calling. > I live in Michigan in the metropolitan Detroit area. > I'll be using an FT-1000 running 5 watts and my > antenna will be a 2 element yagi at 65ft. I will > definitely be rotating the antenna around to give all > headings a listen. I live out in the country. I will be running one (or maybe two) Kenwood TS-850S radios at 5 watts output. I have a 2 ele yagi at 100' and a dipole at 60'. I also have some beverage receiving antennas. I look forward to working all of you tonight. 73 -- George Fremin III - K5TR geoiii@kkn.net http://www.kkn.net/~k5tr ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 9 Dec 2003 13:36:11 -0800 From: "Trevor Jacobs" To: dk3red@t-online.de, "Low Power Amateur Radio Discussion" Subject: [162635] Re: [microvert] very short antenna (but > 50 dB gain) Message-ID: <005401c3be9c$791af010$080b280a@etclink.net> MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Ok, am I missing something here? A short antenna with 50dB of gain over a full sized dipole? I find this hard to believe, but would love to see the data to back it up. Anyone have a link to the information? I already checked, and it's not April 1st ;-) 73's Trev KG6CYN http://www.qsl.net/kg6cyn ----- Original Message ----- From: "Ingo Meyer DK3RED" To: "Low Power Amateur Radio Discussion" Sent: Tuesday, December 09, 2003 12:11 PM Subject: Re: [microvert] very short antenna (but > 50 dB gain) > Hello Karl, K5DI, > > > I was interested in the German's DL7PE wonderful antenna until I > >found the .pdf and read that and found the author was very proud of his > >antenna which was only 10 DB below a full length dipole. > > > > Here in New Mexico, if you divided the land into the population > >each person has 986 acres. We can put up full size antennas. > > Like Jim wrote: It's easy to built an full size antenna if you can see from > your home door to the horizon. But an antenna like this one had a gain of > more than 50 dB for people in the cities. Yes, try it! It has more than 50 > dB gain over my full size dipole which I can't build up in the sky here in > the town. ;o)) > > 72/73 de Ingo, DK3RED Don't forget: the fun is the power! > > dk3red@t-online.de http://www.t-online.de/~dk3red > DL-QRP-AG #824 http://www.dl-qrp-ag.de > QRP ARCI #11295 http://www.qrparci.org > > ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 9 Dec 2003 14:04:51 -0800 (PST) From: Nelson Winter To: Low Power Amateur Radio Discussion Subject: [162636] QRP ToTheField 2003 ? Message-ID: <3613302.1071007491431.JavaMail.thenels@gomailjtp01> Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1 Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Has anyone seen the results from the QRP TTF contest from 2003 printed or posted anywhere? Nelson Winter WB6DWD Less = More http://www.qsl.net/wb6dwd/ RM-40/30/20 QRP-L #2482 ___________________________________________________ Check-out GO.com GO get your free GO E-Mail account with expanded storage of 6 MB! http://mail.go.com ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 9 Dec 2003 17:13:22 -0500 From: "Marty Hartwell" To: "QRP-L" Subject: [162637] Hint Message-ID: Hi Something to consider if you loose the spring to you paddle. Even if it is just temporary. Try a spring from a simple click pocket pen. I don't know about you but I have a lot of those in my junk drawer. It may not be perfect but you can spread it out and cut it off and keep trying to get it right. Marty kd8bj --- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.547 / Virus Database: 340 - Release Date: 12/2/03 ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 9 Dec 2003 17:15:13 -0500 From: Michael Babineau To: Cc: "QRP-L Mailing List" Subject: [162638] Re: [microvert] very short antenna Message-ID: <28E0E41E-2A95-11D8-8F7A-00039309268A@sympatico.ca> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; format=flowed Mime-Version: 1.0 (Apple Message framework v552) Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Jim : I'll have to go back and give the AntenneX article another read. I can't remember if it was a theoretical analysis or whether they tried to actual measure radiation from the antenna and feedline. If you say that your RF sniffer shows little radiation from the counterpoise I can't dispute that ... so I stand corrected. Obviously this merits another look. Thanks for the info ... Michael VE3WMB On Tuesday, December 9, 2003, at 03:45 PM, Jim Sheldon wrote: > Michael, Antennex is wrong on this one. The counterpoise does not > radiate > much at all. The RF Sniffer shows very very little radiation from the > counterpoise. The capacitive portion of the antenna (vertical rod) is > the > part that radiates. > ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 09 Dec 2003 17:19:38 -0500 From: Kenneth Cooperstein To: qrp-l@Lehigh.EDU Subject: [162639] Power supply -- too many conductors! Message-ID: <3FD64A7A.1030606@att.net> MIME-version: 1.0 Content-type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii; format=flowed Content-transfer-encoding: 7BIT I bought a small surplus regulated 12V supply with a ferrite on the 12V side. The 12V cable is quite thick and was fitted with an integral 5mm/2.5mm coax power terminator. I cut the 12V cable to fit a PowerPole. To my surprise, instead of finding two 16 ga. conductors, I found, in addition, two 24 ga. conductors, a bare wire and foil sheathing. When I powered it up, I initially measured 12V across the two 16ga conductors. That quickly went to zero and never moved off zero thereafter. There was no heat, no smoke and no noise. Apparently, those little conductors are telling the PS something (that there is a short or open circuit?). Maybe there are some smarts in the plug? Does anyone know how I can get a powerpole on this cable? I figure I can always splice the cable back to where it was and look for a 5mm/2.5mm jack, but I would like to solve this a little more elegantly. Ken KC2JDY ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 9 Dec 2003 14:28:14 -0800 From: "Anthony Felino" To: Subject: [162640] ft-817 Message-ID: <200312091428.AA803012756@pacinfotech.com> Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii I'm back on the list after having email stress for several months. I just bought an FT-817 from Texas Towers for $459 after rebate, including a nicad pack and charger. This is a lot of radio for the money, and I really enjoyed playing with it this weekend. It ran all weekend on a discarded ELT battery that I got from my airplane mechanic. The batts get thrown away after 2 years with no use on them, so every year at annual inspection time I load up on them. It was a very strange feeling to be in a 40m SSB roundtable getting s7 to s9 reports while talking on this tiny thing. Just doesn't seem right. In general, the radio is easy to use and does what it does moderately well. I use it mostly for CW, and even without the 500Hz filter it is nice to use. Yaesu set up the IF shift for single-signal reception with the wide filter, and it also has an RF gain control and IF shift control so there aren't many situations where I would absolutely need the 500Hz filter. But then I prefer to use "ear selectivity" rather than sharp filters. Heck, probably 90% of my operating can be done with one of the many simple regens that I have made over the years. So you can see that this is coming from someone who is not a contester. I have had receivers with good filters, including an R-4C with a 250Hz filter, and I have done the experiment many times of finding a really weak signal and trying to copy it. It seems as though, in the absence of really strong QRM, filtering doesn't help all that much. I did notice a small improvement when using the Drake 250Hz filter, but the effect was small. If power line noise is very strong the filtering helps, but even then operating isn't that much fun. At times I think it will be less fatiguing to not have to listen to 3 or 4 signals at once so I switch to a narrow filter, but then it feels fatiguing to listen to the bandwidth-limited CW signal and I switch back. If you think that's wierd, then I should tell you that I also like using old 2K ohm phones. I think CW sounds better coming through a pair of WE 509W's. I have also noticed that some signals are easier to copy on some receivers than on others. Several times I found really weak signals that were easier to copy on the BC-348 than on the R-4C. They sounded like the Drake was pulling them out better, but if I really tried to copy the CW, the 348 was better. Maybe having the extra sideband energy helps the (my) brain determine when the other guys key is down. Anyway, it's one of those mysteries that make this radio thang such an absorbing activity. In W7ZOI's newest book Experimental Methods in RF Design he talks about making "good sounding" filters, and I think my rantings above may have some relation. That said, does anybody have a spare 500Hz filter for the FT-817? There appear to be several filters available from people other than Yaesu, and I'd be interested in any of them if the price is right. -- *********************************** Anthony Felino, WN6Q PO Box 2702 Santa Barbara, Ca 93120 (805) 216 5287 *********************************** -- ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 9 Dec 2003 14:28:21 -0800 From: "richqrp" To: "Low Power Amateur Radio Discussion" Subject: [162641] ScQRPion Paddle Message-ID: <002701c3bea3$c0755ed0$c1770744@wd6fddstssz5sg> MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit well after all that worrying, I did not lose the spring, and it all went together very nicely.. all I need right now is the plug, and #33 will be on the air.......... 73's Rich ----- Original Message ----- From: "Mark Danner" To: "Low Power Amateur Radio Discussion" Sent: Tuesday, December 09, 2003 11:00 AM Subject: RE: ScQRPion Paddle > Grabbed a hand full of springs and threw them on the floor. > > Practice makes perfect! > > :-) > > (Still waiting for the list - gonna be batch #2 I'm afraid!) > > 73 > > Mark > AB7MP ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 9 Dec 2003 17:44:26 -0500 From: "Mike Yetsko" To: , "Low Power Amateur Radio Discussion" Subject: [162642] Re: LAB, Sulfated plates. Message-ID: <00e701c3bea6$266e0960$0200a8c0@charter.net> MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit > Any ideas out there on how to eliminate sulfated plates in a lead acid > battery? Have a couple around that I would like to restore. > Cheers and Merry Holiday's (???) > KXBill (W7KXB) There are chemicals around that will 'desulfate' a battery, or at least there are products that claim to have that ability. However, they won't repair shorts or other plate damage. Still, they're probably a lot cheaper than chucking the battery and buying another. The one product I remember was VX-7 ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 9 Dec 2003 14:56:57 -0800 From: "DTX" To: Subject: [162643] Re: [microvert] very short antenna (but > 50 dB gain) Message-ID: <021501c3bea7$bfa0ace0$0c00a8c0@home> MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Oops, you read over the "can't put up here" part, Trevor He, and others like myself, can't even get a 40M dipole up at a very useful height. So if this microvert was only 10db below a full dipole at 1/2 wave elevation, and my 44ft dipole at 17ft is 60 db below said reference dipole, then potentionally this microvert could be 50db better that what I have now, not 50db better than the reference dipole ;-) Gary WA6DTX ----- Original Message ----- From: "Trevor Jacobs" To: "Low Power Amateur Radio Discussion" Sent: Tuesday, December 09, 2003 1:36 PM Subject: Re: [microvert] very short antenna (but > 50 dB gain) > Ok, am I missing something here? A short antenna with 50dB of gain over a > full sized dipole? I find this hard to believe, but would love to see the > data to back it up. Anyone have a link to the information? I already > checked, and it's not April 1st ;-) > > 73's Trev KG6CYN > http://www.qsl.net/kg6cyn > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Ingo Meyer DK3RED" > To: "Low Power Amateur Radio Discussion" > Sent: Tuesday, December 09, 2003 12:11 PM > Subject: Re: [microvert] very short antenna (but > 50 dB gain) > > > > Hello Karl, K5DI, > > > > > I was interested in the German's DL7PE wonderful antenna until I > > >found the .pdf and read that and found the author was very proud of his > > >antenna which was only 10 DB below a full length dipole. > > > > > > Here in New Mexico, if you divided the land into the population > > >each person has 986 acres. We can put up full size antennas. > > > > Like Jim wrote: It's easy to built an full size antenna if you can see > from > > your home door to the horizon. But an antenna like this one had a gain of > > more than 50 dB for people in the cities. Yes, try it! It has more than 50 > > dB gain over my full size dipole which I can't build up in the sky here in > > the town. ;o)) > > > > 72/73 de Ingo, DK3RED Don't forget: the fun is the power! > > > > dk3red@t-online.de http://www.t-online.de/~dk3red > > DL-QRP-AG #824 http://www.dl-qrp-ag.de > > QRP ARCI #11295 http://www.qrparci.org > > > > > ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 9 Dec 2003 17:59:47 -0500 (EST) From: Chris Cartwright To: Low Power Amateur Radio Discussion Subject: [162644] Re: [microvert] very short antenna (but > 50 dB gain) Message-ID: MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII On Tue, 9 Dec 2003, Trevor Jacobs wrote: > Ok, am I missing something here? A short antenna with 50dB of gain over a > full sized dipole? Must be a typo in that gain number. That's 100,000X gain. My 12 foot dish doesn't have that much gain at 10GHz. And the half power beam width on that dish is 0.6 degrees. Leave the "0" off the 50 and I'd still be leary. -- Chris Cartwright, Unix Administrator | ccart@phideaux.com -- -- N3XRV ARRL-VE Norcal Zombie #163 | Oxford, PA 19363 FM29as -- -- MDmW #5 NJ-QRP #105 QRP-L #655 NORCAL #1891 FISTS #5028 QRP-ARCI #9271 -- ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 9 Dec 2003 17:51:01 -0500 From: "Mike Yetsko" To: , "Low Power Amateur Radio Discussion" Subject: [162645] Re: Power supply -- too many conductors! Message-ID: <012101c3bea6$f69c68c0$0200a8c0@charter.net> MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit > I bought a small surplus regulated 12V supply with a ferrite on the 12V > side. The 12V cable is quite thick and was fitted with an integral > 5mm/2.5mm coax power terminator. > > I cut the 12V cable to fit a PowerPole. To my surprise, instead of > finding two 16 ga. conductors, I found, in addition, two 24 ga. > conductors, a bare wire and foil sheathing. > > When I powered it up, I initially measured 12V across the two 16ga > conductors. That quickly went to zero and never moved off zero thereafter. > > There was no heat, no smoke and no noise. Apparently, those little > conductors are telling the PS something (that there is a short or open > circuit?). Maybe there are some smarts in the plug? Does anyone know > how I can get a powerpole on this cable? > > I figure I can always splice the cable back to where it was and look > for a 5mm/2.5mm jack, but I would like to solve this a little more > elegantly. > > Ken KC2JDY Assuming your coaxial plug didn't have multiple 'rings' inside it for more than just two connections... I think if you still have the plug you cut off and check, you'll find that the extra wires also went to where the 16ga 'power' wires went. More than likely the extra wires were a 'sense' so that the power supply regulated the voltage at the actual connection point (the connector) and not at the supply itself. That way the power supply can compensate for I2R losses in the connection cable. Mike ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 9 Dec 2003 15:15:11 -0800 From: "Trevor Jacobs" To: dtx@wood.tzo.com, "Low Power Amateur Radio Discussion" Subject: [162646] Re: [microvert] very short antenna (but > 50 dB gain) Message-ID: <00a001c3beaa$4c94be00$080b280a@etclink.net> MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Ah, I missed the intended pun through these dayquil eyes. They say this cold medicine isn't supposed to effect you too much, but sure makes me a bit light headed. ;-) Sounded a bit like one of QST's April Fool's gags ;-) 73's Trev KG6CYN http://www.qsl.net/kg6cyn ----- Original Message ----- From: "DTX" To: "Low Power Amateur Radio Discussion" Sent: Tuesday, December 09, 2003 2:56 PM Subject: Re: [microvert] very short antenna (but > 50 dB gain) > Oops, you read over the "can't put up here" part, Trevor He, and others > like myself, can't even get a 40M dipole up at a very useful height. So if > this microvert was only 10db below a full dipole at 1/2 wave elevation, and > my 44ft dipole at 17ft is 60 db below said reference dipole, then > potentionally this microvert could be 50db better that what I have now, not > 50db better than the reference dipole ;-) > > Gary WA6DTX > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Trevor Jacobs" > To: "Low Power Amateur Radio Discussion" > Sent: Tuesday, December 09, 2003 1:36 PM > Subject: Re: [microvert] very short antenna (but > 50 dB gain) > > > > Ok, am I missing something here? A short antenna with 50dB of gain over a > > full sized dipole? I find this hard to believe, but would love to see the > > data to back it up. Anyone have a link to the information? I already > > checked, and it's not April 1st ;-) > > > > 73's Trev KG6CYN > > http://www.qsl.net/kg6cyn > > ----- Original Message ----- > > From: "Ingo Meyer DK3RED" > > To: "Low Power Amateur Radio Discussion" > > Sent: Tuesday, December 09, 2003 12:11 PM > > Subject: Re: [microvert] very short antenna (but > 50 dB gain) > > > > > > > Hello Karl, K5DI, > > > > > > > I was interested in the German's DL7PE wonderful antenna until > I > > > >found the .pdf and read that and found the author was very proud of his > > > >antenna which was only 10 DB below a full length dipole. > > > > > > > > Here in New Mexico, if you divided the land into the > population > > > >each person has 986 acres. We can put up full size antennas. > > > > > > Like Jim wrote: It's easy to built an full size antenna if you can see > > from > > > your home door to the horizon. But an antenna like this one had a gain > of > > > more than 50 dB for people in the cities. Yes, try it! It has more than > 50 > > > dB gain over my full size dipole which I can't build up in the sky here > in > > > the town. ;o)) > > > > > > 72/73 de Ingo, DK3RED Don't forget: the fun is the power! > > > > > > dk3red@t-online.de http://www.t-online.de/~dk3red > > > DL-QRP-AG #824 http://www.dl-qrp-ag.de > > > QRP ARCI #11295 http://www.qrparci.org > > > > > > > > > > ------------------------------ End of QRP-L Digest 3129 ************************ --------------------------------