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June 2002, Volume 4, Number 06
Edited and Distributed by Sheldon Harvey
Greenfield Park, Quebec, Canada
Copyright © 2002 Radio H.F. Publications
e-mail: hfnewsletter@yahoo.com
Additional contact information and addresses below.
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Introduction |
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Disclaimer: The content and comments included in the websites featured in this newsletter are those of the individuals, groups or organizations responsible for each website. They do not necessarily represent those of the editor, unless specifically noted.
All subscribers' e-mail addresses are kept private and confidential, and will never be given or sold to any other organization. To have yourself added or removed from the distribution list of this newsletter, or to submit contributions, contact Sheldon by e-mail at hfnewsletter@yahoo.com. Remember that all contributors are entitled to a 2% discount on their next purchase from Radio H.F.
The Radio H.F. Internet Newsletter is brought to you, free of charge, by Radio H.F., Canada's specialist in shortwave, scanning, amateur radio, antennas, accessories & publications, since 1995.
Radio H.F.
P.O. Box 67063-Lemoyne
St. Lambert, Quebec
CANADA J4R 2T8
Hours of Operation:
Monday to Saturday: 10:00 to 17:00 Eastern Time (1400-2100 UTC Apr.-Oct.; 1500-2200 UTC Nov.-Mar.)
Sunday: CLOSED
Telephone and Facsimile: +1 (450) 671-3773
Telephone, toll free, in Canada only: 1 800 463-3773
Facsimile: +1 (450) 671-3773
Radio H.F.:
E-mail: radiohf@total.net
Website: www.total.net/~radiohf/
Radio H.F. Internet Newsletter:
E-mail: hfnewsletter@yahoo.com
Website: www.anarc.org/cidx/radiohf/
Welcome to Vol. 4 Number 06 of the Radio H.F. Internet Newsletter. Previous issues of this newsletter can be found at www.anarc.org/cidx/radiohf/ [right here! — Ed.].
Hello again everyone. A special welcome to another group of new subscribers joining us this month. My apologies, once again, for a late distribution of the newsletter this month. I began my new part-time employment three weeks ago. The learning curve has been steep and the hours very long. Things are beginning to settle in now and I should be able to get things back on schedule again for next month. Thanks for your understanding.
We have a couple of special items in the Monthly Special Zone for June, namely D-Day and Father's Day. Please take a moment to have a look at them. Although D-Day has already past, I thought it important to remember it and feature it here in the newsletter. Happy Father's Day to all the dads out there. Enjoy your special day.
You will notice a change in the presentation of the newsletter this month. I have decided to scatter the Radio H.F. publicity material throughout the newsletter, rather than grouping it all together at the end. No, you can't fool me anymore! I know you guys review all the good, free stuff in the opening Zones each month, but just how many of you stop as soon as the sales pitch raises its ugly head? Come on, you can admit it! So, I'll be scattering some advertising material throughout the newsletter from here on in, hoping to catch you off-guard, getting you to review what Radio H.F. has to offer commercially. We just keep trying to re-invent the wheel.
So, let's get on with it. Have a great month, everyone. Please take a moment to respond to the survey question, and at the same time why not send along a website to share with us all. A big "thank you" to all of this month's contributors. Take care.
Last month's survey question, "Should morse code be maintained as a requirement for H.F. amateur radio licensing?" generated only 30 responses from the over 1000 e-mails to which this newsletter is sent. Not a very impressive turn-out, to say the least!
Regardless, here are the results: 11 votes for retaining Morse Code as a requirement, 19 votes for dropping the code requirement.
Some of you sent along a few interesting comments with your vote. The one comment that set me back, and I shall not divulge the person's identity, stated that Morse Code should be retained as a requirement because "it separates the professionals and the elite from the rest."
I can only respond to that by saying that if there are many people out there who think this way, no wonder amateur radio is struggling to find new blood.
[And I thought that by definition we were amateurs, not professionals! — Ed.]I didn't present my views on this issue last month, and a number of you asked about my feelings. I have, for many years, felt that the code requirement should be eliminated, but substituted with a greater emphasis on the teaching of operating skills and practices, as well as on-air etiquette. When I took my amateur course almost 10 years ago now, I spent 30 hours of class time going over theory, block diagrams, basic electronics, etc. etc., but not one single minute in front of a radio, and not one single minute focusing on practice or dummy QSOs. Twelve people started in the class, only 6 completed it, and to my knowledge, after just a few short years, I was the only remaining graduate on the air. The whole process needs to be seriously examined, in my opinion. But hey, that's just me!
Let's focus on equipment this month. I'm sure all of you have numerous radios, either AM, FM, or shortwave. You may also have scanners, amateur transceivers, CB radios, FRS units, etc. Everyone certainly has their favourite activities and pastimes. What I'd like to know is which piece of equipment, in whichever category, do you consider to be your favourite piece of radio equipment; that unit that you just wouldn't part with, for love or money. Just send along the make and model number and I'll compile the "Top Ten" list of radio equipment. One unit per person only, please. Results next month. Please take a moment to participate.
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Introduction |
May 2002 issue |
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July 2002 issue
Jerry Brookman, KL7CMN, Kenai, Alaska: "I am ashamed that I haven't thanked you for all your great efforts in putting out the Radio H.F. Newsletter. THANK YOU!"
S. Read, United Kingdom: "Many regards and compliments on an excellent feature packed site for SW listeners and hams."
Charles Leggatt, Toronto, Ontario: "Sheldon, you do one hell of a good job ... that few read you and less bother to reply should not stop the excellence of your endeavour."
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Introduction |
May 2002 issue |
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July 2002 issue
(Only 6 of you this month, excluding myself! Let's hear from you, folks!)
Top of this issue |
Introduction |
May 2002 issue |
Newsletter main page |
July 2002 issue
Although the date itself has passed earlier this month, we remember the day and what it stands for in the history of the world. The website is dedicated to the brave men, heroes one and all, who took part in the D-Day landings 06 June 1944.
www.holidays.net/father/index.htm
June 16 is Father's Day. Learn about the history of the day, and other information and websites related to the day dedicated to dads worldwide.
New Transceivers from Yaesu
Yaesu has announced two new amateur radio transceivers, expected to be available soon:
Yaesu FT-897
A new, portable, compact base station (only 7.87" wide by 3.15" high by 10.3" deep), all mode, covering HF and 6 metres with 100 watts; 2 metres with 50 watts; and 70 cm with 20 watts; 200 memories, built in DSP and optional internal A/C offering 20 watts on all bands. An optional NiMH battery is also available.
Yaesu FT-8900
A new mobile rig covering 10 metres, 6 metres, 2 metres and 70 cm, offering 50 watts on 10, 6 and 2, plus 30 watts on 70 cm; 800 memories; packet ready; VU, VV and UU dual band reception.
Please contact Radio H.F. by telephone, fax or e-mail for complete details on pricing and availability. (Complete contact information above.)
Top of this issue |
Introduction |
May 2002 issue |
Newsletter main page |
July 2002 issue
users.hfx.eastlink.ca/~amstereo/index.htm
Via: Mike Brooker, Toronto, Ontario
A.M. stereo broadcasting was to be one of those new technologies to revolutionize radio broadcasting. Yeah, right! This site is dedicated to the technology, its origins, its history and its status today.
www.radioinschools.org
Via: Sheldon Harvey, Greenfield Park, Quebec
The Radio Project in Britain is currently supporting a pilot project and study to introduce, and assess the educational value of, radio in education. The Radio in Schools pilot project took place in the Autumn of 2001. The project is designed:
* to assess the educational benefits of in school radio for school children;
* to assess how well in-school radio can be used as an educational tool within the National Curriculum;
* to assess how children of different ages and abilities respond differently to radio in school.
www-itsweb4.worldbank.org/disted/Technology/broadcast/rad-01.html
Via: Sheldon Harvey, Greenfield Park, Quebec
An article from the Global Distance Education Net of the World Bank, this article describes a variety of uses of radio in education projects in developing countries. Although slightly dated, it gives the reader an idea of the types of projects carried out in the past.
www.rfb.fm
Via: Janice Laws, Dorval, Quebec
RFB is a group of citizens in southern Vermont with the mission of providing independent, non-commercial programming (music, news and opinions) to the local and global communities. The programming covers a broad range of musical styles and personal opinions, as individual participants format their own shows with an understanding of the inherent rights and responsibilities of this electronic medium for expressing freedom of speech.
www.current.org
Via: Sheldon Harvey, Greenfield Park, Quebec
The web service about public broadcasting with selected content from Current, the biweekly newspaper that covers public TV and public radio in the United States. Be sure to check out the link to The Timeline of Public Broadcasting History, located on the left-hand bar on the website.
www.anarc.org/wtfda/tv_web_links.htm
Via: Janice Laws, Dorval, Quebec
The summer FM/TV Dxing season is upon us. This site presents numerous links to sites dealing with this interesting aspect of the Dxing hobby.
www.vintageham.com
Via: Sheldon Harvey, Greenfield Park, Quebec
An excellent historical site about amateur radio, created and maintained by Cliff Ellement, VE3CFE, of Kanata, Ontario. This site is dedicated to the construction and operation of Vintage Ham radio stations of the 1920's and 1930's era. Both authentic stations and those of the homebrew kind are featured here including vintage tube transmitters, receivers, and tube power sources. Be sure to check out the photos, sounds, projects and other links.
radioleo.tripod.com/leo/
Via: Sheldon Harvey, Greenfield Park, Quebec
A nice personal collection of vintage amateur radio equipment, antennas and accessories. Created by Leo Fahmie, KJ6HI, of Los Angeles, Leo's collection includes Collins, Hallicrafters, Hammarlund, National, Drake, Johnson, Swan, and Heath-Kit.
www.etedeschi.ndirect.co.uk/index.htm
Via: Sheldon Harvey, Greenfield Park, Quebec
We will look at the hobby of radio collecting more from the social side of the history of Electronics in general and of the radio in particular, but we'd like to discuss and appreciate the commercial side and the design of electronics products through the ages as well. Radio has changed this century. The web is going to change the next. So we need to look at old radio history, design and industry with DIGITAL eyes. The world of 2000 is going to be a digital world and the fact that we like old technology does not mean that we cannot use today's tools to enjoy it.
www.copnet.org
Via: Sheldon Harvey, Greenfield Park, Quebec
Combining 50 years of law enforcement experience, COPNET opens the window into the seldom seen world of raw police work. COPNET is where you walk the thin blue line with the men and women of law enforcement. The group has a syndicated radio program and the site gives the list of radio stations in the U.S. carrying the show, including WABC 770 AM in New York City.
www.mbay.net/~wb6nvh/chpradio.htm
Via: Sheldon Harvey, Greenfield Park, Quebec
This website covers California Highway Patrol radio equipment used in the patrol cars from 1963-present. The web creator, Geoffrey Fors, WB6NVH, is planning a separate website for motorcycle equipment, and also one detailing police radio equipment in general from the 1930s through the 1950s.
A new portable transceiver from Icom
Icom IC-V8
Icom has released a new portable 2 metre band handie-talkie, offering 5.5 watts of power. The unit has 100 memory channels and offers a 40 channel per second scanning feature.
Please contact Radio H.F. by telephone, fax or e-mail for further specifications, plus pricing and availability. (Complete contact information above.)
Top of this issue |
Introduction |
May 2002 issue |
Newsletter main page |
July 2002 issue
dailynews.yahoo.com/fc/World/Media_Watch/
Via: Bill Westenhaver, Montreal, Quebec
Stay on top of stories in the news worldwide with a media angle to them. There are lots of links to other media related sites here as well.
wireless.editthispage.com
Via: Sheldon Harvey, Greenfield Park, Quebec
This web log presents common sense views on (mostly) technology issues, with a bias towards wireless and wired communications. This website began originally as the hobbyist-oriented Ham Radio Online.com, one of the oldest continuously published e-zines on the Internet. Today, this website is viewed by readers in over 147 countries, since 1995. Published by Edward Mitchell, BSCS/MBA, KF7VY.
www.ladder54.com
Via: Sheldon Harvey, Greenfield Park, Quebec
Ladder 54 provides photos of firefighters, fire fighting, fires, fire departments. Over 100 links to fire related sites. There is also a page included of links to live fire, police and airport audio from various locations.
www.searchmil.com
Via: Elmer Standish, Courtenay, British Columbia
Search through over 1 million military pages indexed and ranked in order of popularity.
www.powerlabs.org/capexperiments.htm
Via: Jerry Proc, Toronto, Ontario
A web page featuring what you can do with a lot of stored energy. After reading this web page, you will wonder if it's easier to experiment with 3 kilojoules of electricity or 3 kilos of gunpowder.
Looking for a portable scanner?
The Yupiteru company is one of today's leaders in hand-held, full coverage scanners. This Japanese firm offers three popular models. Their equipment is rugged, compact and very selective and sensitive, and best of all, excellent value for the money. Radio H.F. offers European versions of Yupiteru scanners, so no blockage on the 800 MHz band.
Yupiteru MVT-3300 – $349 Canadian
200 memory channels, AM & NFM modes; rechargeable batteries; covers 66 to 80 MHz, 108-180 MHz, 320 to 470 MHz, 808 to 1000 MHz (no gaps).
Yupiteru MVT-7300 – $599 Canadian
1000 memory channels, all mode; rechargeable batteries; 30 channel per second scanning speed; covers 531 kHz to 1320 MHz continuous.
Yupiteru MVT-9000 MKII – $899 Canadian
1000 memory channels, all mode; rechargeable batteries; 30 channel per second scanning speed; covers 531 kHz to 2039 MHz continuous
Radio H.F. offers a full one year parts and labour warranty, as well as after warranty service on all Yupiteru products. Contact Radio H.F. for further details. (Complete contact information above.)
Top of this issue |
Introduction |
May 2002 issue |
Newsletter main page |
July 2002 issue
www.onelook.com
Via: Elmer Standish, Courtenay, British Columbia
Over 4.15 million words in 740 on-line dictionaries now indexed for quick searching.
www.lasoo.com
Via: Elmer Standish, Courtenay, British Columbia
Lasoo is a geosearch engine that lets you locate over 25 million businesses and websites worldwide.
everyrule.com/indextop.htm
Via: Bob Margolis, Chicago, Illinois
Are you a game player? This site posts rules to for all types of games and sports, including rules in categories such as computer games, casino games, kids games, sports, board games, cards, TV game shows and lots more.
www.whatsbetter.com
Via: Yahoo Weekly Picks, May 26, 2002
Quick — what's better, twin midgets or Thanksgiving Day parades? A postage stamp or underpants? Boutros Boutros-Ghali or Cheez Whiz? If you're thinking, "What does one thing have to do with the other?," that's exactly the point. In the spirit of Am I Hot or Not but, um, better, this addictive site asks you to rate incongruous things. The items are then given a ranking — Einstein currently ranks first, but Milla Jovovich is hot on his heels. Some are no-brainers — Kung Fu movies will always be better than O.J. Simpson, but the game becomes more challenging when you're asked to choose between chocolate milk and a cat on a turntable. Just click on the website, and each time you do you will be given to options to choose from.
www.people.cornell.edu/pages/slp29/insane.html
Via: Bob Margolis, Chicago, Illinois
For all you Grand Prix or auto racing fans, have fun with this little gem from the people at Cornell University!
Having intermodulation and interference problems?