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You cant lose. Clip out this message as a reminder. This is an emergency money-raising special The one-half the bookstore selling price is for a limited time only, and may never be repeated. Write or call now. Our toll free lines are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Allow 3-8 weeks delivery.

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20- Volume, 1 1,905 -Page. 9.5tiOt(X)0-Wiird. HMtaO \rticte. S350 list price New Age Lnoclupcdia ji the unprecedented tow price of only SI "5 each! (plus S JO per vet fur crating and freight ). I understand that if I'm m-i satisfied I may return within 14 diis s for a prom pi and courteous refund, On that bash here is my order.

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22 Go Tone for Ten — simple subaudible encoder

WB6G0N

28 World's Simplest Five Band Receiver? - using an AM transistor radio K3QK0

36 How Do You Use ICs? - part fV WA2SUT/NNN0ZVB

Hamming 101 —

another Cabrillo College pioneering program Inrnan

46 A Super Cheapo CW IDer - for FM repeaters and RTTY K4EEU

51 The ZF Special Antenna - douhle-D "beam"

ZF1MA

52 CT7001 Clockbuster - the ultimate dock /calendar (for now)

WB5DEP

62 Saving a CBer — a new resource for hams WA2KBZ/JY9KS

2 78 A Ham's Computer - CW/RTTY the easy way K7YZZ

A 84 What's All This LSI Bunk? - an

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A 92 The Soft Art of Programming- part

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112 Put Snap in Your SSTV Pictures using a $20 freq standard W2FJT

A 116 What's All This Wire-Wrap Stuff? talk about cold solder joints f K2STV

120 Exploding the Power Myth - to set the record straight W9IK/XE1ZX

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125 Bring a Dead Band to Life — beacon CQer

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126 The IC-22 Walkie - portabiiization with nicads WA1UQC

140 The Latest in Counters — an inexpen- sive modularized 50 MHz system WA1UFE/8

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152 The 5 Minute COR — simplest yet? WA3SWS

4	Never Say Die
6	Be My Guest
12	Looking West
14	Contests
15	Oscar Orbits
16	Letters
20	New Products
34	Ham Help
70	I/O Editorial
74	I/O Report
173	Social Events
179	Hamburglar
180	FCC
208	Propagation

154

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162 Watch DX with a Spectrum Analyzer-

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166 DXing with a Weather Map -a new 6m

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COVER: The Motorola 6800.

73 Magazine is published monthly by 73, Inc., Peterborough NH 03458. Subscription rates in the U.S. and Canada are SW for one year and $20 for three years. Outside the U.S. and Canada, add $2. Second class postage paid at Peterborough NH 03458 and at additional mailing offices, Phone: 603-924-3873. Microfilm edition — University Microfilms, Ann Arbor Ml 48106, Tapes - Science for the Blind, 332 Rock Hilt ftd, Bala Cynwyd PA 19904. Entire contents copyright t97& by 73, Inc. INCLUDE OLD ADDRESS AND ZIP CODE WITH ADDRESS CHANGE NOTIFICA- TION.

STAFF

EDlTOfi/HJBLISHER Wayne Gr&sn W2NS0/1

GENERAL MANAGER

Biff Itfahoney

MAWAGING EDITOR JoPm C. Burnett

ASSISTANT EDITOR

Susan G, Philtjrick.

I/O EDITOR

John Cr^g

ASSOCIATE EDITORS

Rl>th BruwnWILUT Warren Ell vWAtGUD/1 flieh Faro: WB2QYV71

PRODUCTION MANAGER Lynn PgrnzierarFraser

ART DEPARTMENT

Rabin Macrae Virginia Mammone

Micbadl Murphy

Bob Sawyer Hoftl R. Self

PRINTING

Brent Lawier Michael- Potter

PHOTOGRAPHY

Gill Hey(i4jJnh

TYPESETTING

Barbara J. Latti Sandy White

COMPTROLLER

Knud E, M. Kciler KV4GG-/1

CIRCULATION

Dnnjthv Gibson Barbara Block Nancy Cbandler Susan Chandler Fran Dillon Florence Goldman

LDiS i - !•:! -I Marge Nielsen Peggy Sysyrv Thuresa Tausseint Jtidv Waterman

MARKETING

Sherry Smythe Cher Dean Lisa He ate y Karen McDonough Mary M^Dnnough

INVENTORY CONTROL

M9nj*ie|l Raymond Gary SI am in fli chard Viiono

PLANT MAINTENANCE Bill Barry Lnrrame Pickering

ASSOCIATES Hater l Bakur WB2GFE i H. Sarrajtt WBQILX Schley Co*. WB9LHO Tom DiBiase WB8KZP Tarry Fox WB4JF1 W Sanytrr Green Dave Ingram K4TWJ

Joe Ka^er G3ZCZ Bill Pasternak WA6ITF John ScHi/ltJ W2EEY/K3EZ Waller Scott K3DIZ Peter Stark K20AW

Bill Turner WAGABi

COMPUTER ENGINEERING

James Muartlari Daud E Wilensky

DRAFTING

Bill Morello

Lynn Malq

T W. Graham. Jr. WBFKW

ADVERTISING

BIN Edward WBBBECvl Nanicy Clu rf WAiyVSu

EDITORIAL BY WAYNE GREEN

73 SUFFERING?

Is 73 really dropping circulation, as ARRL recently reported in HR Reports? The fact is that 73's growth this year has been without precedent . . . and both HB and QST know ft They are hearing this From readers, authors, dealers {who tell them that 73 is outselling their magazines in the radio stores}, from newsstand whole- salers (who say the same thing) andf worst of all, from the advertisers.

The growth has been a pain . . . but a most bearable one. We've just had to double the capacity of our computer system , t., and it was supposed to hold us for a couple more years. We've had to do second printings of the April, September and possibly October issues because incoming sub- scriptions have been so far beyond our projections ... and that is horribly expensive. The staff has gone from 30 last year to 45 this year to handle subscriptions, mailing lists, promo- tions, artwork, writing, editing, printing . , , etc.

Despite the rash of I/O articles in 73 this year, the subscriptions have been growing faster than ever before in our history (hey, did you see the microcomputer article in QST for August!}, The 73 formula of lots of articles, few contest results, few activity reports, few PhD type of technical articles and tell it like it

really is approach, which is more in vogue after Watergate, seems to work, Few but older hams seem to be buying the blind loyalty bit these days . . . most want to see signs of respon- siveness and relevancy.

Let's add up the pages of ads in the ham magazines for the last half of 1975 and the first half of 1976 for a direct comparison. Keep in mind that ads in QST cost about 10% more than those in 73.

971 pages

QST 735 pages HR 624 pages

CQ 306 pages

Perhaps the chart above will put things into perspective. It shows 73 with 32% more ads than QST" (and a lot fatter magazine , , , without all the contest results, SCM reports, and that stuff). After over 50 years as number one, this is a very bitter pill to swallow, and it fs no wonder that there is some nervousness in Newing- ton. Figures lie and liars figure, to coin a phrase.

TECHS'LL PROBABLY

HATE ME

Not a few people have petitioned

the FCC to open part or all of ten

meters for Techs. It is a matter of

religious significance to some Techs.

t — ~— —

•••••• •

^j | • ■ ■■■ ■;

Since hamfests, conventions and computerfests are commercial affairs, 2m NTs should not be used for coordination. Here's one of the officials of PC -76 in the middle of a no -no. This sort of thing would be okay using CBf hut not ham radio.

At the present time I am neither for nor against the idea. However, I would like to see someone come up with a good reasonable argument which would convince me that it was a valid idea.

Yes, I think I know all of the arguments , ♦ . but I may have missed some. Ten needs activity . . . no ques- tion about it. But blessed if anyone has come up with any data which indicates even remotely that Techs will use ten meters if we open it tor them. All that data I've seen so far points the other way.

Six was the biggy a few years back . . . right? You could find about 90% of the active Techs chewing away on six ... maybe 95%, Then some chap (prizes if you know who} started really pushing two meter FM and repeaters and got things perking up there. Instant flushing of six ... which turned into a ghost band. Mow 95% of the active Techs were on two meters, with a thin scattering on six, 450 . . . and even a half dozen or so on 220 IvlHz.

From that, one might be tempted to suspect that Techs (like all other classes of hams} tend to go where the action Is. OK ... so what about ten meters? Well, with over 200,000 licensed amateurs with tickets which do permit them to operate on ten . . . and with a mere handful doing same, why on earth should we expect Techs to suddenly reverse their practice of ignoring inactive bands? When you have a good explanation for that, let me know and you'll find a heavy hand pushing for Techs on ten,

tf Techs are so great at helping keep bands busy, where are they on 220 MHz? Where are they on six meters? You know where they are . . . they are on two meters. And f don't want to hear from the tiny band of pioneering Techs who are out there trying to shovel coal up the chute (to coin a phrase}, fighting a tough battle to keep soma thing going on bands other than two. Fair is fair, fellows,

WARC - WHAT YOU CAM DO Okay, so most of us are worried about what might happen at the next ITU conference in 1979. Again there is every reason to worry, particularly if you have any real knowledge of where amateur radio stands with other countries.

As I mentioned in my October editorial, the only chance that I see

Continued on page 178

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SYNTHESIZED, 800 CHANNELS The phase-locked loop {PLL) frequency syn- thesizer in the TR-74G0A divides the 4 MHz bandwidth into 400 channels at intervals of 10 KHz The frequency may be offset 5 KHz higher with the push of a button, thus pro- viding 800 discrete channels

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Spurious Interference Better lhan

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RF Output Power 25 Wans (High)

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Antenna Impedance 50 ohms

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Spurious Response Belter than -60 dB

Tone Pad Input impedance 600 ohms

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Little...

Every day records are falling. Divers are setting new underwater poker playing records. Jets are crossing the Atlantic at supersonic speed, A group of Nashua, New Hampshire folks re- cently set the world's record for rocking chair rocking. And out in a small midwestem town this summer, a five year old boy has earned a Novice class amateur radio license. It boggles the mind

Nell "Rusty" Rapp WN9VPG of Vincennes. Indiana will only start first grade this fall, At age four the boy's reading ability was estimated to be at the fifth grade level. His Novice code test features inch high tetters, and a better score (103) than his father. Rusty learned the code in only seven weeks and passed his theory exam in about half an hour. Already he's bored with the Novice bands, and is studying hard for his General.

As near as we can tell, the old world's record for youngest ham was Gary Lewis WN7BBJ. Lewis was seven when he got his license, but the CaUbook says he's no longer licensed, or has another call, A fellow In Wash- ington now holds N7BSJ.

Rusty began on the CB bands, after his dad, now a Novice, bought a CB radio. Rusty caught on fast, memor- izing handles and callsigns and becoming a local legend on channel 13. He used the handle "Little Shadow."

At Christmas time, the elder Rapp dusted off a code key and oscillator and decided to get into ham radio. Father and son had been practicing for several weeks when they spotted an ad in the local paper: The Old Post Office Amateur Radio Society was offering Novice classes, the minimum age requirement being 10.

The first night, Dei Rapp left his son home, afraid of the ag& limit. But there was a ten year old girl enrolled, so the next week it was Ru sty's chance. Three weeks later, father passed the code test, but Rusty failed. He'd been told not to turn over his paper ... but since the boy wrote in such big tetters, he'd run cut of paper and couldn't copy enough characters.

Rusty, according to his mother,

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cried until midnight , , , and there were doubts whether he ought to continue. Two weeks later, the code hurdle was eliminated, thanks to the watchful eyes and ears of Bill Sage K9(HU, the club code instructor.

Then it was onto theory and it was tough going. Rusty's mom decided to come up with a game, so the boy could memorize the questions and answers "backwards and forwards." They put the questions on one set of cards and the answers on another, Father and son then questioned each other with gusto, using pennies and then peanuts to reward correct answers.

The Rapps must have gone through a lot of peanuts, because it turned out the FCC lost Rusty's application. More than three months after the code test, it was finally time for theory- It must have been quite a sight, a five year old boy poring over the exam questions : . . filling out the computer answer Form+ How many of us have been there, with years of schooling and hours of study, only to fail and have to try another day4 Theory instructor Howard Haze I man K9SLV probably still doesn't believe it When Rusty passed his code test, the entire class signed his exam paper . . . because the instructor feared no one would believe a five year old boy could pass,

You can imagine the look on K3DIPs face when he gave WN9VPG his first GSQ on 15 meters. It turned out K3DIF worked for Associated Press in Washington, DC. and the

story of the world's youngest ham was on its way into print. A half dozen radio and newspaper stories followed. Rusty even heard from First Mama Betty Ford, who replied with a big 10-4 and a form fetter sigied, "Nice modulating with you J" (The White House is apparently short of ham

Photo by Paul Willis

radio form tetters.)

One thing's sure: Rusty Rapp's achievement should be an inspiration to all of us, whether we be Novices seeking General class licenses, CBers trying to get into hamming, or Ad- vanced licensees struggling to get the code speed up to 20 for the Extra-

There is something to that ancient saying, "And a little child shall lead them . . /' Meanwhile, I'm firing up on 21,120 MHz this Sunday for the Old Post Novice Wet, at midnight GMT, hoping to reach that five year old Mo vice and taste a bit of the world's youngest fiSL

A recent report to the Office of Telecommunications Policy, Execu- tive Office of the President, warns of the potential for breakdown of the federal regulatory system in the face of rapidly developing telecommunica- tions technology. Prepared by Arthur D, Little, Inc., the report foresees the headlong growth of Citizens Band radio resulting in new criminal tech- niques and the Postal Service threat- ened with obsolescence. Even AT&T's gaining a monopoly of all broadband distribution to the home is among other possible impacts of technologi- cal change,

Martin Ernst, director of the study, says the report is not a prediction, but a warning of the kinds of chaos that could result if the status quo is main- tained. "It's not a matter of more regulations," he stated, "but of how telecommunications should be regu lated Much of the technological change we assessed is already well on its way* It can't easily be turned back. The regulatory framework has to be rethought to deal with the possible social impacts/' he explained. "Over regulation certainly is not the answer. In fact, sections of our study focus on the dangers of too much regulation, especially if it cannot in practice be enforced."

Commissioned by the Office of Telecommunications Policy as the

first step in the process of planning for the impacts of telecommunica- tions change, the report consists of five scenarios. They develop possible, though not necessarily likely, chains of events in such fields as mail deliv- ery, CB usage, broadcast distribution, broadband communications, and edu- cation. The scenarios were developed to dramatize a broad range of possible impacts on individuals, society as a whole, and the economy.

Pervasiveness of Telecommunications

The visible forms of telecommuni- cations (telephones, television, radio) give few clues to its pervasiveness, The invisible nature of its more critical aspects (electronic networks, com- munications satellites, cable systems, and other operations which make these things possible) has led to its casual acceptance, according to the report "Most users are unaware, for example, of the technical, economic, and political considerations that deter- mined specifications for equipment such as television sets before they could be marketed or what alternative performance possibilities were and are available. Not only the costs and quality of equipment, but even per- sonal safety and national security can be determined by remote decisions that are difficult for all but the most experienced and well informed to

. . . News

comprehend fully/' the report states. Similarly, few of the recipients of electronically transmitted Social Security payments, Dtizeni Band radio enthusiasts, or cable TV customers are aware of thrj mechanisms involved and the poten- tial for sweeping change represented therein.

With the possible exception of transportation, the report points out that telecom muni cat ions has no rival m the degree to whtch it is a part of

American life, Repercussions of seem- ingly isolated and relatively unim- portant decisions regarding a single aspect of it can affect a broad range of human activities, For example, a CB radio frequency band decision to open more channels would affect imports and thus, among other effects, change the balance of payments. It also could affect treaties with other nations, notably Canada.

The meteoric growth of Citizens Band radio already has overcrowded

the channels available to iL This could affect international relations because the use of present frequencies during periods of high surtspot activity( such as that anticipated in 1979, could interfere with radio operations In other countries where amateur radio is more rigidly controlled. In that con- text, the study notes, no other nation has permitted access to a Citizens Band because of the many and diffi- cult problems such access creates.

Outcome of CB Radio Boom

The study team developed a scenario of possible events arising

from the proliferating use of CB radios, The team believes that hoards of new users and additional uses could in the not too distant future turn the present situation into sheer chaos unless a workable policy is developed. Present policy is the responsibility of the FCC. whtch has neither the re- sources nor mandate for enforcement. One typical Issue is freedom of speech as affected by FCC controls, CB is already used in organized demonstra- tions; this raises the question of the legality of police use of jamming to maintain taw and order in riot situa- tions. Privacy and the use of scram-

blers versus monitoring for illicit use is another example. At least eight federal government agencies (FCC, OTP, Commerce, State, Justice, Coast Guard, Defense, Interior) and local governments will have to contend with the potential impact of CB.

USPS Headed for Obsolescence?

Already beleaguered, the United States Postal Service (USPS) is per- ceived by the report as one of the more vulnerable organizations tn the path of the telecommunications on- slaught. Despite the vital function it has performed for society for two

The Persuader

A Boston psych ratrist says CB radio's effect on personality may be too new a phenomenon to draw any accurate conclusions. Dr. Mark Walter of the McLean Hospital in Belmont says it's a matter of people feeling the power and anonymity of the micro- phone.

Walter told the Boston Gtotoef "It's really a new variation of an old thing , , , we do know that ham radio operators are often the sort Of people who enjoy being in a room alone with the power of talking out to the world They want to reach out and be in touch with people but keep an emotional distance Irom the same

people."

FCC regional director Gerard Sat no goes a step further, Sarno charac- terizes the average CBer as a "nrtwit" who becomes "obsessed with the feeling that they have no other pur- pose in life other than to transmit on a CB radio. It gives them a source of identity they never had before. And suddenly, if they're criticized by someone else, watch out for them/'

Both men were commenting on a recent shooting incident in Boston. Newspaper accounts reported that two friends were chatting over CB when a third person broke in with some flack. "You come over here and

say that face to face/' one of the friends shot back, adding that he lived at an address in the Back Bay section.

A short if me later, in the wee hours, a car showed up outside the Sack Bay address. A man jumped out, yelling; "H&rs I am. Now what are you going to do about it?"

A 44 year old businessman ran out mto the street to answer the chal- lenger, Brandishing a .38 caliber re volver, he smashed one of the car windows . . . and pumped a slug into the CB set under the dash, demolish- ing it "There, that'H teach you," he shouted back, as he ran into his house,

Carnival Time

The combined effort of amateur radio operators in two states, the Red Cross, and others, has resulted in the return of a missing boy to his worried mother.

Mrs. Judy Lever, Ml. Holly, Vt„ had high praise for the amateur radio operators, who located her son, Mark, 13, when others had not been able to find him,

Amateur radio operators in Ver mont. including Fern Adams W1YYU, North Clarendon, William Dimick WAIOHB, Rutland, and Mildred Doe K1BOB, Bellows Falls, notified New Hampshire operators that the boy was missing and possibly traveling with an amusement company m New Hamp shire or Maine.

"I have a Friend who is a ham

operator," Mrs. Lever said, "Her set was not working, but she contacted friends, who immediately contacted others, among them Mr. Prescott (J. Longdon P resect t, amateur radio operator and disaster chairman for the Kearsarge Chapter, American Red Cross, in Franklin), We told them we were looking for a carnival, and within two hours they had located the com pany and my son, i am very grateful to them for the fine job they did."

Amateur activities were coor dinated by Edwin Antz of Banbury, net manager of the Grange State Amateur Radio Network, and the WR1ABU repeater, located in Con- cord.

The particular company Mark was traveling with was difficult to trace, as

they moved often. The help of Mrs. Linda Heben. Carver Street, West Franklin, and amusement publica- tions, determined that the boy was with an amusement company in Calais. Maine.

The Red Cross and company officials made arrangements to trans- port Mark back to Mt> Holly, but a misunderstanding about time resulted in Mark taking a bus home on Mon- day- Mrs. Lever was happy to have her boy back home, and Mrs. Hebert has been commended by the Red Cross for her efforts In locating the missing boy.

Reprint &d from the Manchester {N.HJ Union Leader, July 21 1 t976.

centuries, the USPS has limited free- dom with which to combat the en- croachments which have begun. Elec tronic funds transfer techniques already in use can significantly sub- stitute for the 35 percent of all mail (two thirds of first class} accounted for by financial transactions {orders, invoices, bills and payments), Because Postal Service operating costs reflect the number of deliveries which need to be made, not the volume carried, the loss will disproportionately affect USPS revenues.

A second threat lies in the growth of digital data and facsimile networks which might ultimately be used for a large portion oi intra and inter- business messages. With advancements like these making mail service obsolete for many business purposes, massive subsidization might be required to maintain national mail service for in- dividuals, This could result in very much steeper postal rates {approaching 35d an ounce for first class mail in the mid 1980s!, the need to pick up mail from central drops, or else pay for deliveries.

The USPS can respond with its own electronic transmission to move mail from one location to another. How- ever, the most profitable portion is what is handled by telecommunica- tions companies which can avoid the expensive physical delivery process. Uniess the USPS is prepared and permitted to compete directly with private industry, it must build its business out of the least economically desirable markets.

Television Struggle

A third scenario deals with the possible outcome of an attenuated struggle between "free" broadcast television end cable and pay tele- vision. The potential for competitive advantage afforded by the use of satellites might ultimately lead to the elimination of local TV broadcast stations. Alternatively, current re- search into the use of optic fibers could lead to telephone companies becoming the most logical providers of home television access in the long term. Regulatory policy wilt continue to be a key factor in alternative developments and any subsequent change in the television industry's infrastructure, The FCC and other regulatory agencies now face in creasing conflict as technology offers new opportunities that favor first one telecommunications industry sector and then another.

Another scenario explores the possibility of two-way broadband communications being extended to cover individual households, permit- ting access from homes to libraries, data bases, education, entertainment, computers, and other facilities. A fifth scenario investigates the interface between public services and private enterprise in the provision of telecom- munications services for health, educa- tion, and government communication needs.

Arthur D. Little. Inc. Cambridge MA

The Federation of Eastern Massa- chusetts Amateur Radio Associations has been putting on conventions for years now. There have been those bigger than this year's version, held at the downtown Boston Statler Hilton. Most of the biggies had come to the now departed Mew Ocean House in Swamp sco tt, but that was before the CB explosion.

Not that the CB influence hurt attendance much. A lot of CBers turned out, just to see why all those folks were breaking channel f 9 to find the hotel. Convention officials said they had a record day Sunday . . , but the exhibitors were another story. Less than fifty showed up, and five of those were computer oriented. Several manufacturers said they were using the same displays at CB conventions, by simply inserting new signs (to change that loaded whip exhibit from 27 to 144 MHz), The economics of the CB boom then became one of the unspoken exhibitors.

A highlight of the weekend was WRIACO's long distance link with WR6ABM in the San Francisco Bay Area, The Maiden association has done it before, with a July 4th spec- tacular that linked Boston with Hawaii and Philadelphia. But this time, instead of the club paying the bill, the cost {about $150) will be borne by a small group of Boston FMers, A high point (or low point, depending on how you took at it) was one poor fallow's query, aired on both coasts, whether it was just conditions or what? He even signed his call! Plans to broadcast remarks by ARRL Presi- dent Harry Da nna Is W2TUK during the convention banquet had to be scrapped, because of problems on the

Report from Boston

West Coast side. But once the system was debugged, all went well, WR6ABM, incidentally, is micro- processor controlled.

Sack at the convention . . , Heath was introducing its new synthesized 2m FM rig, the HW^2036. An earlier attempt, youMf remember, was recalled because of spur problems, although company engineers say the earlier model would have worked, if most hams had access to spectrum analyzers. Heath says the new version puts spurs (within 20 MHz of carrier frequency) down 70 dB. It's due before Christmas.

A close competitor wifl be the Icom IC 22S, a 22 channel synthesized 2m FM rig which features a diode matrix system for user setup of desired channels. The Icom was the talk of the convention, with dealers taking scores of orders and much speculation about the new model's impact on the 2m market. It looks like the 22S will become a modifier's delight, with several schemes already afoot to exter- nally program the synthesizer through outside switching. Company officials say demand is so great that it could be

months before the orders are filled, But they continue to deny that the IC 230 is about to follow the IC 22 A into oblivion. Rumors nevertheless persist that Tempo's VHP 1 digital readout rig will soon have an Icom competitor.

On the HF side . . . Kenwood Trio kept a constant crowd with their new TS-820r despite the fact not one dealer at the convention had any to sell. Kenwood officials noted increasing pressure for them to sell direct, a violation of longstanding company policy, and could only urge people to keep pfugging at their focal dealers, Gush Craft introduced a new four element tri-band beam, model ATB-34. With an 18' boom and 30'8" maximum element length, it's bound to stir up the tri-band market. One real plus is CushCraft's plan to include a 1-1 balun as part of the deal The first ones ought to be coming off the assembly line soon.

Hy-Gain has apparently applied some of its CB R&D money to the ham bands, with a new line of VHF UHF mobile antennas. They use an etched copper loading coif on a PC

board and even offer one that covers 6 and 2m. The idea first appeared with Hy-Gain CB antennas.

One of the biggest disappointments had to be the convention flea market. For two days some die-hards hung in there, but the downtown location took its toll, since the pickings were so poor. To say the least, Boston was no bargain for flea marketeers.

Ail that aside, it was a pretty good convention. All the elements (except the fleas} were there . . . and the Boston crew came through with their usual outstanding prize program {everything from a weather station kit to a TR-4C}, One big change was the mounting influence of microprocessor hamming. The seminar schedule was loaded with it, and, with 3 retailers and an equal number of manufac- turers in evidence, it's apparent that ham radio is in for another revolution. Typically it's in for another round of controversy as well, as the debate Over microprocessors gets underway in earnest.

Warren ENy WA1GUO /I Bennington NH

Using the airwaves and lots of goodwill, a band of local ham radio operators cut through international red tape to airlift a seriously ill Ameri- can from Mexican to a hospital here,

Robert Lake Garden Jr., 27, of New York state, was in Veterans Hospital today after the San Diego County Amateur Radio Council put up $1,700 bail for alleged crimes in Mexico and flew him here in a rented pfane piloted by a local ham,

Members of the club pot the original bail reduced from S9.000 to $1,700; a member put up alt the money at once pending pledges that were made over the radio.

Another member rented a four- seater plane and flew down to Mexi- cali yesterday, the bail was paid and the Mexican Red Cross rushed Garden to the border at Calexico.

The Fire Department there supplied another ambulance which sped to the airport, where Garden was placed in the plane and flown to Montgomery Field. He satd very little on the flight.

An ambulance service waived its customary fee and took the heavily sedated man to the hospital

Doctors there were conducting a series of tests to determine the exact nature of Garden's illness. He had told some of the hams that he was dying of

Hams to the Rescue

throat cancer and could not get proper treatment in Mexican.

Garden's flight to freedom began a few weeks ago as he lay in the general hospital at Mextcali.. He told Umberto Wang, a medical student, that he was dying of throat cancer and wanted American ham operators to contact his mother in New York.

Wang happens to be a ham, end passed the message along to a feflow Mexicali ham who he knew was in contact with hams on this side of the border.

Jim Smith of OcotiMo, who belongs to the San Diego ham outfit, picked up the call and relayed it to many of the 4/000 members of the group. One of them called Garden's parents, who said they had no money to help.

Interest in the issue spread quickly.

and a "Rescue Robert" fund was established with the goal of bringing the man out of Mexico. San Diego hams appealed for help to the U.S. consulate in Tijuana, but were unable to obtain assistance.

Paul Bower, a local ham who piloted the plane yesterday, explained how Garden came to be in custody according to what the man told Smith. The Ocotillo man visited Garden often during his many trips to discuss the matter with Mexican offi cials.

Carden told Smith he lives in Lock- port, N.Y., and served three years in the Marine Corps, He was on the West Coast in April visiting friends.

In Barstow, he met a man and two girls who invited him to go to Mexico with them, he said, and the group

visited border cities.

One of the girte paid for the food and lodging of the group with credit cards she said belonged to her mother. Garden said. However, a Mexicali hotel man got suspicious and called police,

The other couple had fled, but Garden and one gfrl were arrested* The girl was freed because she was 16; Garden was jailed.

But he was hospitalized when he became ill with what he said was cancer of the throat. He said that he had been fed intravenously for 60 days and would die if not treated in this country.

Johnny Johnston, a ham who got involved in the case, went to Mexicali

Continued on page 89

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We have probably heard the nation of Israel referred to as the "Garden" of the Middle East, in that from this "desert" the Israel people have carved a flourishing land of plenty — a place that they call a "land of milk and honey/' It seems as though it's not only ihe products of "old Mother Nature'* that have come to flourish there# but VHF and VHF repeaters as well How do I come to make this statement? Thanks to Yuval 4X4 FN, recently portable 6, Looking West has the opportunity of bringing you a fait of Information as to what Israeli amateurs are doing with two meters,

Yuval was on a trip to the south- land when I encountered him on the WR6ASB repeater system here in Los Angeles. To be a bit more specific, he was en route from Los Angeles to San Diego and had a lot of time to pass as he headed south on 1-405, After imro ductions and the "warm PARC welcome/* I began to question Yuval about what is happening VHF wise in his homeland, with the following being a summary of the information that came forth as a result.

At present there are at least three operative two meter systems, all ope r ating on the same channel pair of 145.175 in and 145.775 out. One of the three operational systems is located in the area of the city of Haifa, another near Beersheba, and the last at Kibbutz Sasa Isen/ing the Upper Galilee). A fourth system, also on the same channel pair, was being prepared for the Tel Aviv area when Yuval departed for the USA, Whether it is operational or not at this wrrttng is unknown.

Now, unlike repeaters here in the USA, Israeli repeaters do not have distinctive call signs such as the WRs

we have come to know, and most simply operate under the call of the amateur or amateurs responsible for the installation of the system. Most do not have auto ID, so you sort of have to kerchunk a system to see if it's on the air. According to Yuval, "visitors" using these systems are quite welcome, and American amateurs planning to visit Israel can obtain a permit to operate by contacting the appropriate ministry prior to de- parture to secure a permit, 1 believe that it was the Ministry of Communi- cation, but I am not too sure since by this point signals were beginning to drop out, Possibly it was the Ministry of Transportation; I will try to clarify this point in the near future.

So much for repeater operation, but for this Story. Simplex (direct) is also alive and well and growing rapidly. The prime simplex channei is the repeater output frequency of 145.775, but when that channel is busy you will find the overflow sitting on both 145,25 and 145.50, in that order. In the Tel Aviv area, I am told that simplex is busy most of the day and we LI into the evening. Language barrier? Not according to Yuval, since he says that most Israeli amateurs speak fluent English. And with this you have a quick glance at what VHF -minded amateurs elsewhere in the world are up to — a chance to glimpse at the achievements of others in the worldwide community we know as amateur radio. Now on to what we promised last month, or at least close to it: a glimpse at a real great guy on a trip here to the southland, John B. Johnston K38NS, Chief of the FCCs Amateur and Citizens Division.

In case you have not guessed it by the foregoing, I happen to like John. In my personal opinion he is the best thing to happen to amateur radio in the many years that 1 have been a part

San Fernando Valley A RC President Fred Killiti WB6EJC formally welcomes John.

of it. What he has accomplished on our behalf in just one short year is something that he and we can all be proud of. Thanks to his trust and belief m us, and his willingness to press for more freedom from regula- tion so that amateur radio can again grow and prosper, he will long be remembered within our ranks.

I had hoped to arrange a private interview with John while he was here in LA,, and had even approached CapL Dick McKay K6VGP, John's host, on the matter. Unfortunately, due to schedule conflicts on my part, no feasible time could be found- The simple fact was that I had to put in a lot of overtime at work, and that limited my Free time a bit. However, I found myself in a position to attend and participate in two evening open meetings that John had with area amateurs. Before continuing, though, and in deference to John, 1 must say that the format I will follow is that of transcribing from tape both the ques- tions and John's answers, close to verbatim. These questions were posed by members and visitors to

meetings sponsored by the Palisades Amateur Radio Club in Cutver City and the San Fernando Valley Radio Club in Panorama City /Van Nuys, during the week of August 16,

First, let us set the scene. The place is the Veterans Memorial Hall \n Culver City, California, the evening of August 18th. Dan Dec ken WA6FQC, President of the Palisades Amateur Radio Club, addresses the assembled multitude. Dan proudly welcomes John to this meeting on behalf of PARC, and introduces him to the audience. This introduction is fol- lowed by a 3 minute standing ovation — a totally spontaneous showing of affection toward their friend from back East.

John began the formal part of his presentation, after greeting the crowd, by showing a series of color slides that told about himself: his specific inter- ests in amateur radio, his station, the radio clubs he has and does belong to, and some of his friends within the amateur community. It was a ''here I am, come get to know me as a fellow ham" presentation that gave us all a bit more insight into this "man from the FCC.f* Then came the part that most of us had awaited - the open format question and answer session. All questions were made from the floor by fellow amateurs just like you and me. The following are what I feel are the pertinent subjects covered in both the meetings I attended and taped.

Question: What about 1979? (Ques- tioner was referring to where amateur radio will stand at this upcoming conference.)

John: We probably have about the best organized working group of ill the groups and I say that because Merle Glunt, who is the ARRL man working on that, who used to work for the FCC and is possibly one of our top international negotiators, says that he attends all ihe meetings: broadcast, common carrier, and so

forth. He says we probably have the best organized group, and I also know that when we did our report — we have to file with the Library of Congress — as for the amateur, we have the best looking report, too.

However, that's to establish the FCC position, and I think, shortly, before too many months, there will be a first of a series of Notices of inquiry coming out with what the FCC posi lion is. I don't think we're going to get everything in that notice that the amateurs asked for, because we asked for an awful lot. We asked for all of our present bands: for our present bands to be expanded; for some new bands; and, you know, really sort of gorged ourselves writing to Santa CI a us. But the fellows working on the group have done a fantastic job. Apparently they're working on a new document — that's the amateur group — to further support and justify our need for those frequencies.

Some of them (frequencies) are in trouble, I guess you've heard about the one that's probably nearest and dearest to your hearts, 146 to 148 MHz, which is not an amateur band in some parts of the world. I believe that the maritime or aviation is after that, looking for more VHF frequencies. 76 meters, 3.9 to 4,0 - the broadcasters have their eyes on that. The broad- casters also have their eyes on 160 meters, so, who knows? It's going to be an uphill fight all the way. Question: This docket 20777, the bandwidth /mode docket. What is the purpose behind it?

John: We are trying to deregulate the service as much as possible. All regula- tory agencies at& under great pressure to deregulate and. looking around the FCC, the only service that was really asking for deregulation was the ama- teur service.

One of the big problems amateur radio has always had with the Com- mission has been when a new mode came along — a new teletype mode or whatever it is- Slow scan came along; that was a problem for a while. The Commission felt that in order to authorize someone to use that mode, they (the Commission) would have to have the equipment to monitor and intercept those messages to make sure they were const stent with the rules,

I tried to make a giant leap for- ward; I said that, well, maybe that thinking was good for the 20s or 30s or something like that, but it's harder and harder to get the appropriations to buy that equipment, particularly when you say you want to use it to monitor amateur transmissions - it's really tough to get the budget for that. So, let's try and go with some thing simpler. Maybe not talk about emissions — talk about bandwidth, Though it's recognized that amateurs don't have a great capability in measuring bandwidth, But maybe if I hey had the requirement, things would develop, Maybe not. But then it would open up a whole new future, especially for the experimenters who wanted to experiment with new types (of emissions}, and maybe amateur

radio could bring new modes of com- munication to the other services, develop new modes of com muni ca- rton.

The comments we've gotten seem to be kind of divided between the people who are forward looking and can appreciate thai, and those who would say. "What about AfvT? . , , I tike talking to my buddies on AM on 75 and I bought my rig 25 years ago and ! hope I never have to buy another one."

Of course, the League, you know, did reject the whole idea, so I don't know. We really haven't scoured through those comments yet. But we were a little disappointed; we hoped we would get more from the amateur community on ways to solve this bandwidth measurement problem. It looked like by and large they've sort of thrown up their hands and said, "It's beyond us/' which wasn't probably too good of a result — and frankly I think that we're probably back to "'square one" looking for new ideas.

Question: What kind of reaction has the FCC received on the new RACES docket, and do you anticipate any alterations?

John: (Begins commentary with funny anecdote deleted here due to space limitations J Basically, the ama- teurs came to us with tales of these very serious abuses that the local governments* the police and fire departments, who are eligible for their own services, were making of RACES. The Commission was just about ready to do away with it completely; that is the Department of Defense thing. We kind of presented the argument of "Let's give it one more chance. Let's take it out of the hands of the local governments. If they've got problems with frequencies and emissions avail- able to them in their services, work those out within the services. Don't try to twist something in amateur radio around the wrong way, and let's try and get it back into the hands of the hams*"

I don't have very many checks on that other than that the number of applications coming in has been very small, I understand, and we really don't know whether it is going to be a viable program or whether we should just go ahead and do away with the whole thing. I can't really tell at this point; I think it's too early. Question: Two questions on the band- width docket that a lot of amateurs might be interested in. First of all, what about the future of ASCII, the computer code, and secondly, what about the future of amateur TV on 450? The bandwidth docket would essentially eliminate fast scan amateur TV from 420 to 450 MHz. What is the Commission going to do on both of these?

John: Well, you see, ASCI I was one of the driving forces behind this, because in order to authorize it we have to go convince Congress to give us the money to go and buy ASCII machines to put in all of our monitoring sta- tions around the country. You could

It was SRO at the San Fernando Vattey ARC for John's program'

put this away once and for all; then you come up with a better code and we are still talking bandwidth.

The television on 450! As you know, there has been quite a battle on the East coast with the television repeaters, and it did seem to be a rather localized thing. In order to bring out some discussion on this, and see what in the world do amateurs want to do with this, let's propose that they move on "up the band/' where you can point and say they reaJly are doing some development work. For TV on 450, it's awfully hard to make a case that "that's development work" and so forth. On 12t5, 1296, it's a different story. I think that amateurs could make some very, very worthwhile contributions there, but there has been a reluctance to go because it's easier to get 450 gear, as you know. And we did note that out here, in this part of the country, that you were using 450 for voice communications very heavily. So we did want to get that question out in the open and give ail sides a chance to comment and to raise the issue.

Question: Johnny, I don't know whether you are aware of what has been going on in the field of amateur radio public relations, especially out here, but what do you think of amateurs going to Jhe pub tic and introducing amateur radio to them like on radio, TV, etc? John: Fantastic? Absolutely fantastic You know, it used to bother me when I was in the rules branch; I used to keep track, and by golly, every time I checked we were losing an average of 350 licensees a month. 350 a month! It just kept going down and down and down, while all the other services were going up. Now there have been a number of things which have

happened

Of course, a lot of people have now become introduced to the glories of two-way radio by virtue of "that other mrvice" But amateur radio has begun to spring up, and a lot of it has to do with the public relations work you are doing and the work your clubs are doing in the training pro- grams. That really is great.

I have heard Commissioners in the past say that "hams were an elite group" — a closed group — and they really weren't living up to all those purposes in 97.1 and all that. It really warms the cockles of my heart to see trws (referring to the new attitude of today's more outgoing amateurs in "going public" J.

There's more . , . a lot more . . . two cassettes full, but for this month we arc plum out of space. We will

continue with John's comments next month, along with a few other goodies. In the meantime, I wish to express my sincere gratitude to Jim Davis WB0SQP/6, who "blew into town" at the right time and with the proper recording equipment to make a lot of what you read this month possible; to Bill Orenstein KH6IAF/6, whose exceptional expertise in the field of audio and public address systems made recording the San Fernando Club a snap; and most of all to Mr, John B. Johnston K3BNS, for visiting with us in our town and at our radio clubs and for being the warm and gracious individual he is. If ever you have a chance to attend one of John's presentations or should you get a chance to have him as a guest speaker at your club, iump at the opportunity, You will be glad you did.

John is greeted by Lenore Jensen W6NAZ, ARRL public relations assistant for Southern California and "amateur radio's most charming fady. "

Editor:

Roben Baker WB2GFE t5 Windsor Dr. Atco NJ 08004

m^—^^

Please send ait contest information directly to me at the address fisted above, preferably at feast three months before the date of the scheduled event In other words, the announcement for art event on May f, f9??4 should hopefully be submitted by February 7, 7977.

TAG CONTEST Starts: 1800 GMT

December 4 Ends: 1300 GMT December 5 Entries may be single or multi- operator class. All contacts on 3,5 to 3.6 MHz, CW only. General call is "CQGMR"

EXCHANGE:

R ST/001 and progressive numbers from 001 ,

QSO

SCORING

Contacts with own country, 1 point; each call area in W/K, UA etc, VE/VO, and VK counts as separate country. Contacts with stations in same continent, 2 points; other con tinents. 5 points. Contacts with HQ station GW8WJ or GW6AQ count 25 points. Total score is sum of contact points times total number of prefixes worked (same as for WPX),

ENTRIES:

Logs must be sent not later than January 31, 1977 to: Peter Lumb G3tRMP 14 Linton Gardens, Bury Saint Edmunds, Suffolk IP33 2DZ, ENGLAND.

ARRL 160 METER CONTEST Starts; 2200 GMT Friday

December 4 Ends: 1600 GMT Sunday December S The 7th annual ARBL 160 Meier Contest is open to alt amateurs on CW only. Multi-operator work is per- mitted and scores will be listed separ- ately In the results, but they will not be eligible for certificates.

EXCHANGE:

RST and ARRL section or country.

SCORING:

QSOs with amateurs in an ARRL section count 2 points; QSOs with amateurs not in an ARRL section are worth 5 points. DX to DX QSOs do not count. Multiplier is the total number of ARRL sections 174). VE8, and foreign countries worked.

AWARDS:

Certificates will be awarded for section and non W/VE country high scores. Division high scores wiN have their section award endorsed with an appropriate seat

FORMS:

It is suggested that contest forms be obtained from ARRL, 225 Main St., Newington CT 06111. Check sheets are not required but a penalty of 3 additional contacts will be made for each duplicate contact.

These rufes were taken from last year's contest. For complete rules, see the November issue of QST.

	-


^^^~-~	—
	1 , — __

Dec4 5 Dec4-5 Oecll - 12 Dec 11 12 Jan 1

Jan 15- 16 Feb 19 ■ 20 Mar5-6 Mar 26 27 Apr 12-13 Apr 26 27

ARRL 160 Meter Contest

TAC Contest

ARRL 10 Meter Contest

Hungarian DX Contest

Straight Key Night (ARRL)

QRP Winter Contest

YLRL YL OM Contest - Phone

YLRL YL-OM Contest - CW

CQ Worldwide WPX SSB Contest

YLRL DX^YL to Stateside YL Contest

YLRL DX-YL to Stateside YL Contest

CW Phone

Note: The official dates for the 1977 ARRL contests had not bean announced at the time of this writing, Tentative dates should be:

Jan 1 - 2 Feb 5 6 Feb 5- 13 Feb 19 - 20 Mar 5 - 6 Mar 19 ■ 20

VHF Sweepstakes DX Contest - Phone Novice Roundup DX Contest - CW DX Contest - Phone DX Contest - CW

ARRL 10 METER CONTEST Starts; 1200 GMT Saturday,

December 11 Ends: 2359 GMT Sunday,

December 12 The contest is open to all amateurs worldwide. All QSOs must take place on 10 meters and OSCAR QSOs are valid- Each station can be worked on phone- to- phone and CW-to-CW, and anyone can work anyone. Ail CW contacts must be made between 2B.0 and 28.5 MH;, unless working Through OSCAR, When operating on 10 meters, please avoid the OSCAR downlink frequencies.

CLASSES:

Entries will be classified as either single or multiple operator stations, Multiple transmitter stations are not allowed,

EXCHANGE:

All W/VE stations wilt send RS(T) and state or province. Others will send RS(T) and consecutive serial number starting with GOT Stations that are not land based will send RStTJ and ITU Region (1, 2 or 3J. The District of Columbia is counted as part of Maryland.

SCORfNG:

Each completed QSO counts 2 points, or 4 points if with a W or K Novice. The multiplier is the sum of the total number of states, Canadian call areas (max. 9), ARRL countries (not US or Canada), and ITU regions from non- land based stations. Final score is the sum of the QSO points times the total multiplier.

AWARDS:

A certificate wilt be awarded to the highest scoring single operator station in each section, Canadian call area, and foreign country. Region awards for non-land based stations, and awards for mutt i -operator and Novice stations will be issued if warranted.

FORMS:

It is suggested that contest forms be obtained before the contest from ARRL, 225 Mam St., Newington CT 061 1 1 ; include an SA3E. Check sheets are not required but a penalty of 3 additional contacts will be made for each duplicate contact.

These rules were taken from /est years vomest. For complete rufes, see the November issue of GST.

HUNGARIAN DX CONTEST

Starts* 1600 GMT Saturday,

December 11

Ends; 1600 GMT Sunday,

December 12

The contest is sponsored by the

Hungarian Radioamateur Society and

is open to any licensed radio amateur.

AH amateur bands from 80 to 10 meters may be used on CW only. General call is "TEST HA" while Hungarian will give 'TEST WW/' Entries may be in any of the following classes: single op, single band; single op, mufti-band; or muUi-op, multi- band.

EXCHANGE:

RST and continuous serial number from 001 , After their signal report, Hungarian stations will give a two letter code for their location (county J as follows: BA, BPf BE, BN, SO, CS, FE, GY, HA, HEr KO, NO, PE, SA, SO, SZ, TO, VA, VE, ZA.

SCORING:

Each HA QSO counts 1 point. The same station may be worked only once per band. Each different HA county worked counts 1 multiplier point per band. Final score is total QSO points times sum of multiplier points from each band

ENTRIES:

Logs must be made in usual form with summary sheet and signed dec tar ation. They should be mailed within 6 weeks after the contest to: Radio Amateur League of Budapest, H-1553 Budapest, P.O. Box 2, HUNGARY.

AWARDS:

Certificates to first place station from each country in each class or section. Additional places (f war- rented.

ARRL STRAIGHT KEY MIGHT 0100-0700 GMT SATURDAY JANUARY 1 Check QST for any changes in the rules!

Basically, rules require the use of a straight key only. Send "SKN" in- stead of "RST'' during QSOsP to help identffy contest stations. On 80-40-20 meters, try 060 to 080 kHz up from the bottom edge of the band. On Novice bands, try 10 kHz up from the bottom of the Novice band, After the contest period, send a list of calls of the stations contacted during she con- test period, plus your note for the best fist heard. Please mail entries as soon as possible to ARRL, 225 Main Street, Newington CT 0611 1 .

SOWP CHRISTMAS QSO PARTY

The Society of Wireless Pioneers will conduct a membership on- 1 he-air QSO Party on the weekend of Decem- ber IB and 19, 1976, The party will cover the full 48-hour GMT period and will be the first "Voice" party scheduled by the Society. The pur- pose of the affair will be to give members an opportunity to meet one another and to pass along their season's greetings, etc. There will be

no formal exchange requirements and no need to submit logs.

All members with a phone capa- bility are encouraged to participate. The call will be CQ SQWP While there will be no certificates awarded, every- one who takes part will be a winner by having an opportunity to renew old friendships , establish new ones and to continue a comaradene developed over the years.

Suggested frequencies for the affair are 25 kHz (±) 5 kHz up from the low end of the General class phone por- tion of each amateur band.

BUDAPEST AWARD This award was originally founded in 1963, but the rules were changed effective January 1st, 1976 as follows:

The certificate is Issued in one class and may be received only once. There are no endorsements. Contacts are valid after January 1, 1959, but each station may be used only once m your application. Any amateur band end mode may be used including active land or air VHF/LIMF repeaters. European stations must contact 75 HAS or HG5 stations, while DX sta- tions (including US) need only con- tact 25. On VHP, only 50 different HA/HG5 stations or 5000 kms sum- marized distance; any contacts made via satellites or via the moon count with 500 kms/OSO value. Send a list of your contacts and 10 IRCs to the Award Manager of BRALr Dezso Tarcsay HASH A, H-1553 Budapest, P-O, Bo* 2, HUNGARY. The award is

also available for SWLs on a "heard" basis with the same rules and fee.

BICENTENNIAL WORKED ALL STATES NET AWARD

The Bicentennial Worked All States Net that meets on 3905 kHz nightly at 0500 GMT is now offering its award for working all states during the Bicentennial year. All contacts must be made on the net frequency during net operation or at least within one hour of the beginning or closing of the net, They must be made from the same QTH (or from locations not more than 25 miles apart) $nd con- firmed in writing. Cost of the award is S2+00 and OSLs need not be sent, only an application form verified by another amateur is requested. For an application and complete information contact Gene Dens more AA4WCG, 2125 Cambridge Drive, Tallahassee FL 32304. By the way. the awards will not be numbered or dated other than 1976, so there is no rush or time limit other than making the required con- tacts during 1976!

WORKED ALL

NEW HAMPSHIRE

The Concord Brasspounders, Inc., of Concord, HMff are again making available to all qualified amateurs their Certificate of Achievement for working and confirming all ten New Hampshire counties. The ten GSL cards or a request for information should be sent to Basil Cutting W1JB, Suncook, N.H. 03275.

rtrrfjrf

RESULTS OF 1976 BERMUDA CONTEST Top A/A Swoons:

CW		Phone
K2BT	11,2S3pts	W1HFB	37,170pts
VE1CD	10,668	W4UPJ	21.942
WA2DIG	6,402	K2BT	19,032
W0OUE	6,384	VE1AGH	17,346
W90HH	5,451	W1D0	1 4,076

Top U.K. Stations:

CW
G3FXB	32,637
G4BUE	22,176
G4CNY	14,739
Isiand Winners	■
CW-G4BKI/VP9

Phone
G4GI	46,494
G3VPW	24,420
GW4BLE	23,904
Phone —	VP9IB

Oscar Orbits

Oscai 6

Orbital Information

Oscar 7 Orbital Information

Orlt it	Date	Time	Longitude		Orbit	Date	Time	Unyitude
	(Oed	{GMT}	of Eq. Crossing W	lb*		(Oec)	{GMT)	of Eq. Crossing
18876	t	0146:12	84,7	BX	9350	1	0035:16	58.6
18888	2	0046 08	69.7	A	9363	2	0129:33	722
18901	3	0141:04	83,4	B	9375	3	0028:54	57.0
18913	4	0041:00	68.4	A	9388	4	0123:11	70.6
1 8926	5	0135:56	82.2	B	9400	5	0022:31	55.4
18938	6	0035:52	67,2	A	9413	6	0H6:46	690
18951	7	0130:47	80.9	B	9425	7	0016:08	53.8
18963	8	0030:43	65.9	AX	9438	8	0110:25	67.4
18976	9	0125 39	79.7	8	9450	9	0009:45	52.2
18983	10	0025:35	64.7	A	9463	10	0104:02	65.8
19001	11	0120 31	78,4	B	9475	11	0003:23	50.6
19013	12	0020:27	63,4	A	S488	12	0057:40	64.2
19026	13	0115:22	77.1	8	9501	13	0151:57	77.8
19038	14	0015:18	62.1	A	9513	14	0051:17	6Z6
19051	15	0110:14	75.9	BX	9526	15	01 45: 34	76,2
19063	16	0010:10	60,9	A	9538	16	0044.54	61.0
19076	17	0105:06	74.6	B	9551	17	0139:11	74.6
19088	18	000502	59-6	A	9563	18	0038:31	59.4
19101	19	0059:57	73.4	B	9576	19	0132:48	73.0
191T4	20	0154:53	87.1	A	9588	20	0032:09	57.8
19126	21	0054:49	72. 1	8	9601	21	0126:26	71.4
19139	22	014945	85.9	AX	9613	22	0025:46	56,2
19151	23	0049 41	70.9	8	9626	23	0120:03	69.8
19164	24	0144 36	846	A	9o3S	24	0019:23	54,6
19176	25	Ur^^fC _ J 4-	696	B	9651	25	0113:40	68.2
19189	26	013928	83.4	A	9663	26	0013:00	53,0
19201	27	0039 24	68,4	B	9676	27	0107;17	66.6
19214	23	0134:20	82.1	A	9688	2S	0006:38	51.4
19226	29	0034:16	67.1	BX	9701	29	0100:55	65.0
19239	30	0129:11	80.8	A	9713	30	0000:15	49.9
19251	31	0029:07	65.8	A	9726	31	0054:32	63.4

Effective 1 October, 1976, all AO-7 mode 8 orbits which fail on GMT Mondays will be designated as QBP orbits, as was done during mid-June, 1976. The success of the three day QRP test has prompted these extra QRP orbits, and it is hoped that users of the AMSAT-GSCAR 7 mode B transponder will reduce their signals to the recommended ten watts effect iw radiated power during these orbits. The use of tower power is also highly recommended during other AMSAT OSCAR satellite passes because of the beneficial effect it has on the battery. As AO 7 grows older, its battery is deteriorating, and this deterioration is accelerated by users running higher power than is being recommended by AMSAT {1 00 Watts effective radiated power). This 100 Watts erp maximum is enough power to produce very readable signals from horizon to horizon with a small antenna and the average 144 MHz receiving setup. If mode B users cannot hear their 100 Watt erp signal at all times during a pass of AQ7, they should look at their receiving system and should NOT raise their power in order to hear themselves. With cooperation from all users, the AMSAT-OSCAR 7 communications satellite will provide service for the worldwide radio amateur community for years to come.

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FORM A POSSE

WA1LET is on the prowl after the rip-off ers- After my friend WA1SGX had his 2 meter rig ripped off his car, I put my thinking cap on and started the wheels turning, and this is what I came up with,

I am a member of the "Fidelity Amateur Radio Club/' so l am going to propose a rip-off committee, with each member equipped with an Avatanche transistor oscillator In his rig (commercial manufacturers take note] tuned to an outboard receiver {such as a tunnel diode job) so that in the event of his set being ripped of Fr he can locate the direction his set is going. After the set has gone beyond the legal limit of the license free transmissions set by the FCC, that is where the club gets in the act, by having a club sponsored sensitive re ceiver able to tune to all the club members' frequencies, giving a master control to direct the posse of mem bars going after the rip-off artist and, with such aid, should be able surround the culprit, giving the guy 3 choices: turn him over to the police, hang him, give back the radio with loot to cover the damage done to the owner.

Remember the old days. It will be like a rustler hunt. Maybe I have been reading too many westerns. I believe that only by action on the part of the hams will we be safe from the easy- picking boys. Every club should form a protective committee. The Avalanche oscillator is the only oscil- lator (I believe \ that can give a tre- mendous pulse with small power. All the bright boys should get busy and send in to 73 their brain child, or send to me, WA1LET, so that we can all get together and scotch the pilferers* I have not had any trouble myself, but have stuck my neck out in the cause of the hams, e.g., in the dockets that have been an enemy to the hamst even when it did not affect me. I hope that my little gabfest will do a little good.

Cy Lievesley WA1LET

142 8 right man St.

Fall River MA 02720

The wheels turned alright — and made mush.

FAIR WEATHER FRIEND

Congratulations on two major counts: 1) for bringing 73 to what it is and continuing to improve it, and 2)

for that editorial in the October '76 issue that I Just read. I've read some of your '"editorial ism" in the past that has {on two occasions) caused me to drop my subscription to 73,

This one shows class. This one tells ft like \l is - all the way through — about the uPs and even about the contents of 73 Magazine. I'm referring (If you hadn't guessed! to the I/O Editorial*

I like 7 J because now, more than any other time in its history, it [s a broader- based electronic experi- menter's journal, Keep going, and please keep us informed regarding your upcoming Per s- Com p mag.

I've been hamming for about 10 years, from 80m through 450 MHz, and am just recently gaining a keen interest in computer electronics — especially uPs.

Bob Gromer WA7NMJ Glendale AZ

Thanks, ah fair weather friend, — Wayne.

FUTURE SHOCK

]

As I was reading the August issue of 73 {around the fourth of July), the article about the computerized ham station seemed very familiar.

Digging through my vast collection of 73 mags, I found a story in the January, 1967. issue. The story was called, "The ORZ Machine/' and at the time was science fiction.

The "machine" was described as being about the size of a portable typewriter, and was able to copy CW.

The 1976 Altai r microprocessor is a bit larger and in the example copied HTTY, but that ain't bad in just 9 years.

Where would we be today without science fret ion to encourage scientific experimentation and advancement?

Tom Grabowski K3SPY Baltimore MD

Better off.

ABOVE AND BEYOND

]

Just a few informal remarks and comments on two of the Firms that advertise in 73 Magazine,

I placed an order with B & F Enterprises in Peabody, Mass., for two speaker enclosures as advertised in 73. Although they did not advertise cross over networks, I asked them, if

possible, to send me two threeway crossovers. The order arrived minus one crossover, A communication fol- lowed shortly after saying they were backordenng one crossover, as they only had one for the original ship- ment. I a&ked them to charge the amount of the purchase to my Bank Americard. Now they could have charged me for the whole order, but they only charged me for what they had shipped, involving additional paperwork when they shipped the second crossover, which arrived a few days later. Now this showed consider- ation and fairness with their buying customers. Also, the shipment arrived so promptly that I don't see how they could have checked out my Bank- Americard account before shipment. It is a pleasure to do business with companies that show consideration in their dealings with the buying public,

I also placed an order with Aldelco of Lynbrook, INLY., for some diodes and other materials, I sent them • postal money onfer to cover the amount of the purchase, and when the order arrived, there had been an error filling the order as they did not send me some of the diodes that I had ordered, and they sent some that I had not ordered. I sent them a com- munication stating what I had re- ceived and not received and asked them to check my original order. I offered to send the diodes that I had not ordered back to them on arrival of the diodes that I had ordered, to fill my original order. A few days later, the diodes that were missing in the original order arrived with a note of apology and stating that I did not need to return the unordered diodes, but to keep them with their compli- ments- Now you can't ask for any thing more fair than that.

And so. Wayne, thanks for your care in selecting advertising firms that are reliable and considerate to adver- tise in 73. It is a pleasure to us readers of 73 to do business with that type of firm.

Continued success to you and your staff.

J. Wm. Anderson W6QV Sun I and CA

THE REVOLUTION

Your computer articles have brought me up-to-date after being out of the data processing business lor over four years. During this time, I am amazed at the microcomputer revolu- tion, in terms of the available proces- sing power for such a small cost. As a former programmer and computer salesman, perhaps you would benefit from some of my reflections on the current state of the art - son of like the comments emanating from your "Ancient Aviator/'

My first reaction to the microcom- puter revolution is simply that very few people even begin to appreciate the problem- solving horsepower possible with a microcomputer. Back

in the 1980s I sold small scale business computer systems {for a $100,000 plus purchase price) that were roughly comparable in processing power with the new 6800s and 8080s which art available for less than $10,000 for a disk system, In view of this, it appears that the public must be "educated" in terms of how a microcomputer can be used as a tremendous extension of the mind to handle both home and business applications. To put it another way, less emphasis should be placed on silly games and more thought should be directed towards the way to put a microcomputer to work in the household, hobby and business world.

My second reaction: With the avail- ability of low cost computing, there is a need for good self -teaching pro- grammed instruction manuals and teaching aids. It seems that, at this point, we have low cost effective hardware with a scarcity of materials capable of quickly acquainting the uninitiated in their use. If this market is to grow, this problem must be solved with self teaching applications and programming manuals, as well as manuals that will show how this equipment can be used in solving the day-to-day problems for which it is so well suited.

My final reaction applies to the question of how to best communicate current know J edge available to other amateur radio operators like myself. In this respect, it seems that we need to organize a hobby computer net that will meet regularly to disseminate useful information, If you know of such a net, please let me know. A I so f I would appreciate having the names and addresses of any hobby computer user groups which would be willing to share their knowledge with us mid- westerners who are just beginning to learn about this west coast developed technology.

Robert E. Bunn WA0LKE

Bunn Oil and Supply Co.

508 Porter Wagoner Blvd.

West Plains MO 65775

If you get netted let us know. Re self-teaching, that's what reading 73 I/O articles and Kilobyte is aft about

THE ELECTRONIC MENSA?

I've just read the article by Robert Fields in the September 73, and fault it only insofar as it fell short in its cast i gat ion of the God Syndrome ram- pant in amateur ranks,

First, I'm not a CBer (not recently — when CB was young, and legality was in vogue, I had a license, but it has long since gone west). Nor am I a ham. My familiarity with both code and theory is adequate to allow my getting a General ticket tomorrow if so desired, but as of this writing I have seen no facet of ham radio sufficiently challenging thai I should waste time so doing.

Further, inasmuch as the majority

of hams of my acquaintance are pompous, stuffed shin elitists with delusions of grandeur, I find no incen- tive in joining up just for the com- pany. And, It is this insufferable arro- gance that is turning off would-be hams in droves.

Also, let's forget that but I about horn radio being any thing more than a medium for rag chewing. The experi- mental phase went out with the 6L6, and modern R/0 labs backed by corporate financing are the innovators now, not the basement black -box builder. The day of the lone inventor is just about kaput. Granted, hams are using state-of-the-art technology — computers, TV, etc - but none of it came from ham circles.

If you ham types want to multiply your folds, get off your goddamn pedestals, dismount from your shining white steeds, and mingle with the masses. Anyone with half a wit who's had a taste of modem-day CB would welcome ham radio if, in it, he could find the camaraderie that CB\ with all ?H fallings, offers on and off the air. It is sad that in most cases he encounters the snobbery of ham radio's electronic Mensa, and. as Mr Fields says, trots off to unload his wallet on a Pent ax instead of an ICOM or a Heathkit.

K. T. Derek Pittsfield MA

Weil, OM. there is some Truth to what you say . . . that part about CBers being friendfy. Other than that it appears to me that you are a sad victim of what is catted projection in psychological circles. If you do decide to give hamming a try, / think you may find, as the rest of us have, that hams are about as friendly a gang as you could ask for , , . they help each other , . . love to talk . . . and are going way out of their way at! over the country to help CBers get their ham tickets. Sure there are a few curmudgeons . . . they are there in CB too, but thai doesn't change the average ham from being a great guy. if you'd read much of 73 you would know that hams are in the forefront of many new technical developments such as RTTY, SSTV, and even computer applications. As one of the founders of American Mensa (1960} and a member ever since r I have attended meetings in many ctties and seldom have I run up agatnst the snobbery you seem to have found, if that were the caser Mensa would have disappeared long ago. f wonder what other readers think about hams being snobs? - Wayne.

SATISFIED

I am prompted to write this both in praise and disgust.

The praise goes to the Dataware Emergency Net for their damn good work during the Belie hurricane: Elmer W3YAH, Vince W3SEG and all the others who pitched in and did their very besi

Elmer lives on Lewes Island, and when the island was being evacuated, he said "As long as I have power, Til be on the air, and when I lose it, Til go too." That is ham radio above and beyond.

The disgust is with the selfish slobs who sat down right on freq and, after repeated reminding, called CQ and finished a QSO„ and also with the ones who opened up with an unmodulated carrier for extended periods.

Well, I said it, and I'm satisfied. Thanks for listening.

Bill Simnts WA2JNV Toms River NJ

Jamming is a growing facet of amateur radio.

FEEDBACK

Please note a correction to my article, "ASCH/Baudot Converter for Your TVT," which began on page 150 of the November. 1976, issue. In Table 2(b) f 5/Aj should be a one instead of a zero.

Jeff Roloff Champaign I L

Lets watch that stuff, Rofoft

COMMON INTERESTS

Keep up the good work on 73; it is appreciated. I am not a microcom- puter nut (yet), but the articles are interesting as I use an IBM system 360/370 in my work. The ads for Mother Bell are an eye-opener, espe- cially for those of us who work for AT&T, It's nice to see the two com- munications interests {Bell and ham) cooperating for a change. Now if the FCC will just let us legalize tariffs for phone/a utoparch systems!

Arv Evans K7HKL Salt Lake City UT

GOTTEN

A short comment on your I/O Report in the August issue of 73 Mag; I think you are really missing the boat by excluding the DEC LSI 1 1 and PDP-11 /PDP-8 programs from your section. Various computer clubs around the nation have acquired OEM status with DEC to buy LSMIs in quantities and pass the low prices on to members. One club in California has helped over 500 hackers to get LSI-1 Is. When I was working at DEC, the orders were flooding in. And why not, for the price of an Altai r or I MSA I look what you can get from DEC . . , the LSI 11 Is about $650, an interface is another S10C or S1 50, and all you need is a power supply and terminal. No need for a monitor pro- gram with the built-in ODT debug-

ging. And it comes with 4K x 16 RAM standard, with power fail and line clock 1 They also produce a PDP-S/A, a single board PDP-8 that would also be in the price range of the hobbyist. On top of all this, DEC has been making MPS boards for several years that atso may be of interest to hackers.

Bob Baker WB2GFE AtcoNJ

/ think you got me on that one, Bob. I wasn't thinking of the LSf-71 when t singled out the DEC PDP-J1. There is certainty going to be hobbyist (and other} software generated for the LShl t which might be of interest to I/O readers, ff any comes my way Hi give it every consideration. And with regard to the PDP-8 .. . I hope we see software for it coming into the hobby community both from simulators being written (for an 8080 7 and /or from the popularity of the Intersil 6 tOO getting a boost, — John,

from California to Chattanooga - and we soon had the problems resolved. The Software Board worked the first time I plugged it in the Imsai com- puter,

To operate this board, one just "examines" location FOOD in hex or 360.000 in octal and then hits Run. Thereafter one enters programs using the InteJ 8080 mnemonics.

73 Magazine seems to have a policy of accepting ads from only reputable dealers who won't rip off the ham. For those hams considering entering "computronics," you would do well to stay with such firms as Godbout, Hal Communications and those who advertise in 73. You haven't seen any Trigger Electronics ads lately, have you?

Nenad S. Downing WB4SLO Chattanooga TN

Trigger . P . hmmm, wasn't he a QST advertiser?

GONE FISHING

AN I/O RECORD

In response to one of your ads. I recently purchased the God bout Soft- ware Board. First, I would like to commend Godbout for their excellent service and their fine product. I re- ceived my order within five days after the order was placed — a record for computer- related items.

I experienced a few problems in interpreting the literature. I left my number with Godbout and later that day Bill Godbout returned my call —

I have used my back issue ham literature to "bait" CB operators. To date can count one total convert and several "nibbles." Photo taken at my portable QTH.

Hat Empie WA7ZYD Duncan A 2

INACTIVE BROTHERS

This ts a CQ to all hams who are

heart pacemaker wearers! Numerous le iters to the ham journals indicate a growing need for information about EM! (electromagnetic interference J, especially as it relates to ham oper ating! Pacemaker wearers generally do not have access to reports of EMI susceptibility teats made by military and/or federally sponsored {FDA/BRH) testing programs. As a result, the lack of relevant informa tion leads to confusing, and often erroneous, "'advice' from well- meaning but ill-advised individuals

As a pacemaker wearer since April T975, and a ham since 1924, I have been compiling interference data in an effort to flj know my own operating limitations, if any, and (2) to help any other hams with pacemakers who are staying off the air because of fear of pacemaker failure caused by radiation from their rigs.

Will any reader who wears a pace- maker write me and describe any experience which seemed to have been EMI related? For convenience, and to elicit the maximum information, I have prepared a questionnaire which is available for an SASE. This « a worthwhile project, but many answers are needed. For a little bit of your time and a postage stamp, you could get an otherwise inactive brother ham back on the air I QRU?

W« R+ (Bill) Sehoppe

431 B9 Ave. N.

St. Petersburg FL 33702

POINT

]

In answer to Dave Powell WA4BRI's question in the Letters column of October "Why build in an error?" with reference to my "Instant Counter Calibration" article in the August issue of 73: There is no error from a practical standpoint!

I won't argue the position that 15,734.265 Hz is the theoretical color horizontal sync rate. In practice, how- ever, 15,734.26374 Hz won't be found any more often than 15,734.265 Hz tor the simple reason that the idea behind using a rubidium standard in broadcasting is not so much absolute accuracy, as it is long term stability. The broadcaster isn't as interested in the absolute frequency (as long as it is well within FCC tolerances} as he is in phasing his local and/or remote equipment to one stable standard. This circumstance, however, doesn't make ustng the hori zontal sync signal any less valuable for the radio amateur because it is the most accurate signal available to the average ham, plus it is traceable to NBS through the published offsets,

Additional I y, as was mentioned in my article, unless your counter is phase locked to the incoming signal, there will be a 1 1 digit ambiguity. My Heath 18-1103 would interpolate Mr. Powell's figure of 15,734.26374 Hi as 15,734.264 Hi, and the least signifi cant digit ambiguity could make this either 15,734 263 Hz or 15,734.265

Hz. To compound the dilemma, the guaranteed one second stability of the Heath counter is .5 ppm which in my case does indeed make the .08 ppm error WA4BRI refers to seem insignifi- cant.

My caution with regard to making sure that you are tuned to a network colorcast is aimed mostly at some localEy originated CATV (cable} system programs and newly formed lowbydget broadcast stations who may not be referenced to a rubidium source. I would stilt stand behind that statement. The caution regarding "mini-cam" units also stands, if they are in the field and feeding back live video via microwave as the statement in my article implies. In thts case, they are almost certainly not rubidium locked!

Incidentally, and in closing, I couldn't help but notice the piece in QST$ "Hints and Kinks" column for August, 1976 (which arrives much later than 73'% August issue) recom- mending the same procedure that I cautioned AGAINST using, i.e., con- necting directly to the TV receiver circuitry with the counter. I sincerely hope that no one falls victim to serious damage by using the QST approach (quite a J*kinklp).

David F, Miller K9POX NilesIL

Picky, picky,

COUNTER POINT

The letter by Dave Powell WA4BRI in the October letters regarding the article "Instant Counter Calibration" by David F Miller K9P0X has intro- duced more errors than it has cor- rected!

The television networks employ far more precision in frequency genera- tion than required by the FCC rules. The signal source as noted by Miller is a rubidium atomic oscillator for NBC and C8S and a cesium atomic oscilla- tor for ABC These sources synthesize 5 MHz. The color subcarrier is developed by multiplying 5 MHz by 63/88, producing the figure quoted by MiJIer, 3.5795454.

Next, take this number, multiply it by 2 and divide by 455. Presto, you have Miller's 15.734266,

In the future, it might be helpful to submit critical letters to the original author for comment before publics

'•'- =

SCHEMMr/C

nan.

The references listed below contain more information on using color TV Signals for caf ibration.

1. Davi*. D. D.. "How To Use The Tele^ vision CqIqt Signal For Calibrating A Crystal Che Nla tor/' National Bureau of Standard*. November 1974,

2, , . ,, "Daily Television Frequency Trans- fer Measurement*/1 Services BuHelnv National Bureau of Standards. Monthly ffnw).

& Dj*i*. Dick D,. "CaNbrninfl Crystal Oscil- lator i With TV Go lot' Reference Signal*/' ffecRWcs, Vol, 48. No. 6. (iferdi 20. I975K 107-112.

4. Robbins. Michael S. Calibrating ft* quency With Youi TV/* Hwdk>-EteQtrQfitc$, VoL 47. No. 9. (September 1976J, 74-7&

Michael S. Robbins K6QAH Los Angeles C A

You're qu/te a bookworm, Mike,

INFLATION, ETC.

I would appreciate it if you would publish the following in 73 as soon as possible:

"REPEATERMEISTER" UPDATE

All negatives requested after 15 August, 1976V w"l incorporate the changes described below.

CW fD

ID initiate input IC. 7432, now has four initiate inputs - pins 1. 2. 4 and 5, Use 330 Ohm resistors to ground, This makes operation mote con- venient and less wasteful of gates.

Clock oscillator lCr 7400. Use a 5k trimpot with a Ik V* W resistor in parallel. This improves the operation ci l i he oscillator and til so inn us the sending speed from 5 wpm to about 25 wpm+

TX hold transistor, Q1P 2N708, Any general purpose NPN switching transistor may be substituted. Be cer tain that IC will not be exceeded by the keying circuitry if* the transmitter. Also, foil partem has been modified for the following change; At the collector of Q1, install two ger- manium diodes with the band towards the collector of Q1 (1N34 or 1N60), Jumper one djode to pins 4 and 6 of IC2a. This gives a 5 second tail after each ID. Jumper the other diode to the collector of Q4 on the MLB, which is the PTT output,

MLB

Pads have been added to the 7413 Schmitt Trigger for the input-output

LOCATION

2 7H

-Jh

JM34 0P ± IN SO

Oi ~

iC2a

IC? 556

JUMPER

470 K , IM

TOCW1D BOARD

500*

1 1*34 OR

lOO^F

f#t

■vw

2 --

connections.

Replace the jumper at IC2 from pin 4 to the collector of Q2 with a germanium diode, band towards Q2 A pad has been added at pin 6 for the jumper from the CW ID described above.

Receiver off timer, IC3P 555. On some negatives pins 6 and 7 are not connected. Solder bridge these pins for correct operation.

Same goes for the transistors on the MLB. Any NPN general purpose switching transistor may be used. Be certain that 04 can sink the required current from the keying circuitry that follows.

The 100 Ohm resistor on the collec- tor of Q3 may be increased to 150 Ohms.

The resistor value in the schematic, 2.2 megohms, at pins 6 and 7 of IC3. 555, is the correct value, although 1.5 meg is shown in the parts layout.

Pads have been added for the 1.8k resistor at the base of 05. the auto- patch control transistor.

Due to increased costs of materials (mainly film), after November 1st negatives will be $J5 each. Pre- programmed B223 IC available. Your chip and S4.00 plus message desired; or $7.00 and message desired, I supply IC. Etched and drilled boards on G-10 glass epoxy also available $7.00 each or both for SI 2,00 (limited supply}. Approximately two weeks delivery.

Geoff ry W. Kufchak WA1UFE

15 Fourth Ave.

Westover A FB MA 01022

OBSESSED

I read those gripes in your mail about small computers In your mag. I hope you don't give in, A couple of years ago when I saw articles about them in the popular mags, I brushed over them thinking they were just toys - Uke imitations of the n?a/ thing {which of course no one but a genius could understand].

Thts is my tenth month of intensive concentration on them. I became in voJved because I wanted to translate commodity market prices coming in on a telegraph line into price display and possibly charts so I could trade them without losing so much money.

I'm building a home brew affair with Altair compatibility.

Knowing I would need a display, the "Sol" terminal seemed like just

CW ID

ittM&t

TO 04 COLLECTOR MLB — TO 4CZ4-PINS4.fi'

■h34 OR 1N6C

-***** ^

P MS V-

TK HOLD

7400

*****

-.-,v-

* IN34 OR IN&Q

*TUMD£ft ftQAAQt

BOA ft& LOCAtKM

J 5K

the thing (Processor Technology). Maybe I could use it to translate the special hex code into ASCI I as well, so I ordered a circuit board end spent a week locating and sending for all the other stuff only to find out they are redesigning it and I won't get the board 'til September. It's a good thing I haven't started on the CPU board, because now I'm going to have to get a Zilogue board instead.

In other words, the information explosion has gotten me. Not only do I have a busted bladder, but bleary eyes from reading all that fine print in spec manuals trying to learn enough so the thing will be sure to work when I get it finished. {Could it ever be?)

You guessed it. I'm obsessed with computers, day and night, Even though my puttering goes back to the oatmeal box tuning coil and the 01 A tube, nothing has bitten me quite as badly as the computer bug, So keep up the good work — no construction articles with lines running off the page to something or other. If we don't actually see it hooked to something, how can we be sure where it goes?

Out here, we appreciate what you're doing, so keep up the good work.

"Brad" Bradford East Brainiree MA

/ get into enough trouble without your encouragement. - Wayne.

OFF BASE

]

We've been licensed for over 56 years. Were on a little before that, before licensing was required by Herb Hoover, who first took charge, Came on first on 300 meters with spark, then 200 meters, then 1750-2000, then 1800 to 2000 and the rest of the bands.

When 73 first came into business, we were one of your first subscribers, and also wrote you a few articles. Boy, how the years do fly J

Quit QST years ago - no bnger a real ham organ as it was when "Hiram" ran it (and later his imme- diate successors}, Present boys are more for business interests than hams. Hams play 2nd fiddle! Buy Q$T now and then to see if it's any better, but nof HI!

Wrote an article a couple of years ago pointing up how a few manufac- turers such as Millen will sell direct to hams to promote building (I'm a builder — always was). In It I criti- cized those manufacturers who make components and also equipment for making components hard for hams to get — so as to force purchase of equipment. I compliment MilEen and others who either sell direct to hams or promote components to distribu- tors (instead of blocking distributors}, etc., etc.

QST refused to print it. It would have helped hams who build, but QST was more concerned about their "big

boy" advertisers!

Just thought you might like the above facts for what they are worth,

Jim Grind JeW9QS Chesterton IN

Jim, I wouldn't have published your letter either, and not for fear of any advertisers , . . but because f think you are off base. Distributors got out of the parts business because it was not profitable . . . pure and simpfe. One result of the incentive licensing (proposed by A8RLAXST in 7963) was that not only did ham growth stop and over 75% of the sale of eQuipment stop for several years, but hams stopped building, too. It got so Lafayette was the only place you could buy parts as several hundred distributors gave up the ghost. Parts houses are back w force now, bur are more specialized . > . Godbout, James, SD Sales, Optoelectronics, Bullet, Verada, Poly Paks, Meshna, Tri-Tek, Whitehouse . . . etc — Wayne.

THE NOVICE CLASS

I subscribe to both 73 and OS Tw hut find your magazine to be the best. Certainly I tend to agree with your political outlook as regards amateur radio more often than 1 do that of the ARRL

I am a new amateur, but with a long time interest in the hobby. I tried once before about twelve or fourteen years ago to get a license but was unsuccessful. Now I am the proud holder of a new Novice ticket. This leads me to write the following comment about the Novice class.

One of the reasons that I didn't get the license earlier was that I wished to skip the restrictions placed upon the Novice (and CW) and go directly to the General class, but I was a fairly young and inexperienced child at the time and found everything involved just too frustrating and just let the whole thing drop. If I had gone for the Novice ticket, I could have been on the air and gathering experience, instead of being just more and more turned off by the whole thing.

In the Novice class that I attended I found the same thing to be still true. There was one small boy {how come there aren't more small girJs? — but that's another problem) who was having a lot of difficulty. He could have been coached and hand held through a Novice exam, but I am not so sure that he could have been coached enough to pass a more advanced test, i know that there are very young children who manage to pass Extra exams, but I am concerned with the average child. For these children the Novice license is ideal, and I think that it should be retained. I am gfad to see that - the FCC is making steps in the direction of a renewable license in this class.

I took the Novice test because I wanted to be abte to operate while I was studying for the General

(Advanced realty, but t am trying not to give into hubris). I would have taken the Technician, but six months ago there were no high frequency privileges for this class. For older, more advanced individuals, this seems to me to be a better entry class.

There are many problems with getting started in amateur radio, and if we want the hobby to grow we should systematically consider them along with possible solutions. I just wanted to air my thoughts on this one aspect of the problem, I am a professional educator and the learning aspects of amateur radio are thus close to my heart.

John Thomas Berry WN6NZW

Pasadena CA

OFF TRACK

Shortly after assembling my SB -401 two years ago, the transmit- receive relay began to stick, especially after lengthy transmissions or extended tune-up periods. Measuring voltage across RL2 revealed that voltage was indeed dropping, yet the relay just wouldn't quit. Popping the function switch to spot would restore normal operation, and running the companion SB- 200 seemed to reduce the problem almost completely,

It wasn't until recently that the sticky relay problem finally prompted some real action. A local Novice bought the SB -401 and, after oper- ating CW for a while, aggravated the situation so that the relay wouldn't respond to the old spot trick. Replace the relay was one answer, since it seemed tike the problem could be residual magnetism,

A call to Heath showed how far off the track we were, Dave Poplewski knew immediately what we were up against . . , and answered that there were two ways to solve the problem (an expensive one and a cheap one). Needtess to say, we were most inter- ested in the cheap way out. Dave explained that the problem was soft finals - finals that were not soft enough to affect output, but soft enough to allow screen grid leakage through RL1 back to RL2. The best cure. Dave advised, was to ground Jug 7 of RLT. That way screen grid leakage can't reach the transm it- receive relay, RL2. The expensive cure? Replace the finals,

Warren Elly WA1GUO/1 Bennington NH

One other cure - learn how to tune your rig.

I/O RIP OFF

Please publish the following letter in an attempt to recover a stolen computer system from my home on or about the fourth of September of this year.

The equipment taken is listed as follows: (1} 1 Altair 8B0O consisting of (a) t CPU card, {b) 6 88-4MCD dynamic memory cards, (c) 1 16K static memory card (Mikra-D), {d) t 88-OCDD disc controller card set {2 cards), (e) 2 88 disc floppy disc drives, (f) 1 88-PMC PROM memory card with PROM, ig) 1 88-ACR cassette interface, <hj \ 88-2SIO serial inter face with both ports: (21 1 HP 65 programmable calculator; (3) camera equipment consisting of fa) 1 Honey well Pentax Spot matte II with 1.4 lens, (b) T Vivatar 85 205 mm auto- zoom lens, (c) 1 Honeywell 450auto- strobonar flash.

If anyone reading this letter has a reason to believe he has been offered any of this equipment or thinks he has seen this equipment, please contact your local police authorities or contact me at the following address.

John W. Swain

3687 N. East County Line Road

Indianapolis IN 46236

[317)-894~7271

You waited too long to write your house security program.

CATCHING ON

]

Your magazine and the articles in it have shown me the close relationship hams have wfth each other and this is what encouraged me more than any- thing else to work for my amateur ticket. Some of your articles are stilt a little deep for my shallow mindr but I'm catching on. Keep up the good work — you have a fine magazine.

Bill Raney WrvSTGS Laredo TX

THE GENERAL GOOD

This hint has saved me a lot of bother, and you might find it worth passing on for the general good :

You have finally decided that the antenna halliards must be replaced before they fall apart, and you have a length of fine new rope for the job. But how to get it through that pulley at trie top of the tower? The sheave won't pass a knot, or even a splice. So you climb the tower, or tower it to the ground. Neither one!

Take a four Inch length of coax, RG 58/U for small rope, or RG 8/U for thicker stuff. Cut off and discard all but the braid. Insert one end of the old rope into one end of the braid, and an end of the new one into the other. Pufl taut, and the harder you pul)r the firmer the grip of the braid on the rope ends. It may be necessary to wrap a few turns of thread around the leading end of the braid to control fraying, Pull down the free end of the old rope and let the new one follow it through the sheave and back to

Continued on page 25

New Products

EICO DLP-6

If you've been working with digital logic circuits, you've probably already discovered thai there's no really simple way lo debug them. A t first glance, this may seem surprising One of the nice features of logic is chat you don't generally know or care what the exact voltage level at a test point is . . . only if it's high or low, a togtc 1 or 0, As a matter of fact, a cheap VOM is quite adequate for static logic, and a dc scope is even better. Since the voltages aren't important, a circuit using an LED which lights for a 1, and is unlit for a zero, is great, and for $20 to $200, depending on your tastes and budget, you can buy one of several clip-on probes that will display the logic level on each pin of a 14- or 16-pin DIP, The better ones don't even need power - they locate and draw from the supply pins of the IC itself.

The problem is that most of the interesting logic circuits aren't static — there are all kinds of pulses flying around, and it's usually these pulses that are the important factors. Worse yet, they don't always come at regular time intervals, so you can't sync them in on an inexpensive, repetitive- trace scope. Even if you could, you may not be able to see them. TTL logic can respond to pulses that can't be seen on any but the fastest scopes. One trick I've seen is to use a triggered sweep scope, with the threshold set so it normally doesn't sweep* When you get a sweep, you still can't see the pulse, but you know something pulted the trigger (of course, it could have been your wife's hair dryer). Aside from the obvious overkill of using a $3000 scope to check out a handful of 20tf gates, this method is not too satisfactory. The setting of the threshold is tricky, especially if there are other pulses around, and you still never see that pulse.

Straight LED indicators are no better. White the response time of an LED is very fast, that of your eyeball isn't. As it turns out, the human eye can see surprisingly short pulses of light, under the right conditions, but it has a long retention time. This means (hat in a darkroom, you may see that LED flash on; you'll never see a lit LED f lash off.

It looks like what this country needs is a good S20 logic probe that can see pulses of either polarity, as well as static levels, and display the situation to you in a way that can't be misunderstood. The Elc© 0LP 6 is an LED probe that fills the bill. The key feature is a pulse-stretcher that detects positive- or negative going pulses as short as 50 ns, and gives you about a half-second flash on a pulse LED. In this respect it's similar to Ted Lincoln's circuit 173, Aug. 76, pg. 106). It also has LEDs lor both high and low static levels, which permit a

feature I haven't seen before — it can tell the difference between an active high or low, and an open circuit. This can he really useful. As a final touch, the three LEDs are different colors {red, green and ye How) P so unless you're color blind, it's pretty hard not to get the message.

The DLP-6 comes in a bubble pack, complete with a small plastic carrying case. All parts mount on a narrow PC board, which slips inside the body of the probe. Assembly is quite straight- forward and takes about an hour. The instructions are no Heathkit manual, and there's one error in one of the figures, but in genera! everything went together as intended. Etco says to use the green LED for the "high" indi- cator, and red for "low." This seemed backwards to me, so I reversed them. The LEDs seem to be interchangeable, so use your own color scheme. If you make up your mind before soldering them in, you may not burn them up removing them as I dNJ! (LEDs are more sensitive to heat than ICs, and these have to mount absolutely flush with the PC board or you won't be able to get it into the probe body. A power cord comes out the back of the probe, and is terminated with alligator dips. Yes, Virginia, the probe needs external power. You didn't think you were going to draw power from the chip with just the probe tip, did you? J

In operation, just connect the two alligator dtps to any source of five volt power and ground, and you're ready to start probing, The three color system is very easy to read, and after a Nttle practice you can get quite a bit of information from those three lights.

Recently, J had occasion to use the DLP-6 to find a bug in my TVT III had been trying for two days to find a missing pulse, before it slowly dawned on me that the pulse was so short I wouldn't be able to see it on my scope even when I "found" It. Using the DLP-6, it took about fifteen minutes to find a NAND gate with positive pulses in on all inputs, but no negative pulse out Aha'

As a matter of background, the circuit used in the DLP-6 originally appeared in Popular Electronics {Richard P, Ma v. March '74, pp. 33 35 J, along with a PC layout, so apparently both are in the public domain. Buy it or build itr but try it; you'll like it'

Dr. Jack W. Crenshaw

1409 Slevins Gap Rd.

HuntsviHe AL

THE KLM MULT I -2700 ALL MODE TRANSCEIVER

With interest in OSCAR mounting, and SSB activity up on 2 meter FM, it was inevitable that someone was going to come up with a do anything/every- thing transceiver. Now. KLM has. It's the new Multi-2700 . . , with OSCAR Mode A, upper and lower sideband, WBFM, NBFM, AM and CW all stuffed into one 28 lb. package.

When KLM introduced the Multi- 2000 some years ago, it was in a class by itself. Then came Kenwood's TS-700A and the Yaesu FT-221, and the VHF sideband boom was on (commercially speaking). Bui no one offered the best of both worlds ... it was either a synthesizer or VFO ... no combinations. OSCAR work still required a separate receiver and trans- mitter, but SSB activity on the satellite sure came up.

The next step was to put it all in one package. With Mode A in mind, KLfVTs idea was to synchronize 29 MHz receive with 145 MHz transmit.

while maintaining a constant 116.45 MHz difference between them. Using the synthesizer and VFO you can work through the satellite or monitor beacon signals at the flick of a switch. Because the Multi is a transceiver, however, the big difference between normal OSCAR operation and using the 2700 is that you can't monitor your relayed signals from the satellite. One then has to rely on the beacon signal (received separately on the synthesizer). As long as you can hear the beacon, you can work the sate! lite, KLM has left room for Mode B work, with a 450 MHz Converter coming to fit into internal terminals, (50 MHz converters are also planned.)

The Multi-2700. in a word, is loaded There's an 8 pole SSB filter, two FM filters, VXO and RIT. LED readout on the synthesizer, audio speech compression, ac/dc power supply, separate output and deviation meters and VOX. The VFO setup features a 5 to 1 tuning ratio, with the inside knob going 20 kHz per revo- lution and the oirter knob going 100 kHz.

All that costs money, of course, and the Mufti's price tag reflects it. But at $799.95 KLM's newest is not out of the price class for all-mode VHF gear. At that rate the OSCAFl capability, hear your own signals through the sale Mile or not, is a bonus.

Operating the 2700 is pretty simple, and with only a vertical both SSB stations and repeaters could be worked quite adequately. Working OSCAR, however, takes a bit more practice with the VFO and synthe- sizer. Availability may be an initial problem; as we go to press only 25 units have reached the slates, bui a KLM spokesman says production should be up substantially by the time you read this.

A clean layout - with VOX, AGC and gatn controh accessible through top port*

The "guts' " view — note 29 MHz receiver, upper left, and space for p fug-in 450 MHz unit below.

NEW 1977 RADIO SHACK CATALOG No. 276 NOW AVAILABLE

Radio Shack's new 1977 Elec- tronics Catalog, featuring its exclusive line of products for home entertainment, hobbyists, CBers and experimenters, js now available from Radio Shack stores and dealers, nationwide.

The all-new 164-page catalog includes 100 full-color pages describing the company's complete fine of products. Prices in the new catalog, which marks Radio Shack's 56th year in business, are reported to be, on the average, within 1% of the company's average 1975 prices.

Among the new items introduced in the catalog are: eight new stereo FM/AM receivers, led off by the Realistic STA-2000 75 Wan per channel receiver, the Optimus T-100 Tower speaker system, the new LAB-300 turntable and several new stereo tape cassette recorders.

Radio Shack is also introducing an all-new line of pocket calculators ranging in price from $10.95 for a 5-function model, to $39.95 for a scientific slide-rule calculator.

Other items featured in the catalog include: Realistic- brand CB two-way radios, automotive tape players, portable radios and scanning monitors, Archer antennas, Micronta test instruments and ArcnerKit and Science Fair electronic and hobby kits.

In addition, the new catalog lists hundreds of specialized electronics items, parts and accessories, tools, tubes, semiconductors, wire and cable, home security products, intercoms, microphones, timers, batteries and a complete library of Radio Shack's own books on electronics and related subjects.

The catalog also includes bonus coupons good for a 50% savings on the company's own Supertape and Realistic brands of tape, and a coupon worth $1,00 on the purchase of their $1.25 book, All About CB Two-Way Radio,

In announcing the new catalog, Radio Shack president Lewis Kornfetd stated: "That great old American institution, the Radio Shack catalog, has just been published again, entirely revised, available in all our stores, and still free! Free to you. To us it represents an investment over $3 million,

"The total printing comes to 2, 1 32,000,000 pages," Komfeid continued, "Stretched end to end: 1,777,777,777 linear feet or 336,700 miles, or 13.525347 times around the world at the equator. The new 1977 edition consumed 3787,5 tons of paper and 1,222,000 pounds of ink. These statistics are revealed to dis- courage our competition. And to give cheer to America's postmen who don't have to deliver the catalog since none are mailed — you'll have to get your copy at one of our stores."

NEW VIZ FREQUENCY

COUNTER USES PRECISE

CRYSTAL-CONTROLLED

TIMEBASE FOR

EXCEPTIONAL ACCURACY

VIZ Manufacturing Company has introduced a frequency counter to its growing fine of test instruments, The WD -752 A counter is designed for making frequency measurements between 10 Hz and 60 MHz in audio, video, CB, ham radio and other com- munications equipment.

A unique feature of the counter is its 1 kHz audible sldetone with separate on-off volume control. The 1 kHz tone is valuable in modulating single sideband transceivers for carrier frequency measurement. The counter has a selectable input sensitivity of either 10 or 100 mV; the lower sensitivity is valuable when consider- able noise is present with the signal*

The counter uses a carefully selected 10,000 MHz crystal to create an extremely accurate timebase, ensuring the accuracy of the 10, 100 and 1000 millisecond gate signals and logic control. The measuring circuit is composed of a si x- state IC counter

which feeds into a very bright readout made up of six 0.3" seven-segment LEDs, The frequency, decimal point, and range (either MHz or kHz) are all displayed automatically. A signal lamp indicates when the signal is suffi- ciently strong to be counted and indicates when the higher sensitivity input is required. An overflow lamp indicates a signal that exceeds 1 MHz when using the 1 second fixed gate.

The BNC input is compatible with most standard broadband oscilloscope probes, When making measurements of transmitter or transceiver AM fre- quencies, the counter is positioned near the transmitter and a one meter cable attached to the input serves as a pickup antenna. The counter can also be attached directly to a transmitter or transceiver with a directional coupler and dummy load.

The counter operates on 115 V ± 10 Vr 50/60 Hz. The unit is extremely compact, measuring only 2-5/8" x 5-3/4" x 9-1/4", and weighs only 4 lbs. The dealer optional price is $255.00.

Further information on the WD-752A frequency counter is avail- able from Bob Llska, Vl2 Test Instru- ments Group. VIZ Mfg. Co., 335 E Price St, Philadelphia PA 19144, (215)-844-2626,

NATIONAL'S NEW VOLTAGE REGULATOR HANDBOOK

It would be difficult to find a handler guide to voltage regulators than National Semiconductor's latest release. The handbook is chock-full of great circuits, theory and seemingly endless specs on not only Mational's line, but comparison data on the competition as well.

It truly is a handbook, since the opening pages cover power supply design basics, transformer specifica- tions, rectifier circuits, filtering and load effects. But that's not all Heat flow and thermal resistance theory get their due along with heat sink design and applications.

At $3 a shot (California residents add 6% sales tax) the National Voftage Regulator Handbook is a heck of a value. Send your check to National Semiconductor Corp., Marketing Ser- vices Department, 2900 Semiconduc- tor Drive, Santa Clara CA 95051.

Warren Elly WA1GUD/1 Bennington NH

THE SENCORE F-14 FIELD EFFECT METER

Like most hams interested in con- struction and troubleshooting, I have become accustomed to having two types of meters to fill my needs. A 20k Ohm VOM was used for porta- bility, general testing and, most essen- tially, for current measurements. A VTVM was also a must for high impedance voltages, and with an accessory probe for rf measurements. Redundancy was unavoidable since both types of meters offer duplicate capabilities in some respects, while each possesses its own uniquely desir-

able features.

A recent drive to improve the station test facilities, and a searching review of the latest products, led to the acquisition of the Sencore F-14 Field Effect Meter, which succeeds in obsoJeting both of my original meters-

Of particular interest to hams is the fact that the F-14 packs all the desir- able features of a VOM and VTVM into a single unit, Field effect tran^ sistors replace the functions of the traditional vacuum tubes, providing better characteristics than the VTVM, without the need for ac line power. And, in addition to 7 ranges of ac/dc volts and 5 resistance ranges, the F-14 also measures dc current in 5 ranges from 100 uA to 1 A full scale.

Special features include: very high input impedance; 15 megohms shunted by 14 pF on dc volts; 10 megohms shunted by 29 pF on ac volts. Ac volts provides a broad band- width from 10 Hz to 10 MHz at 3dB points without an accessory probe. The meter face includes scales for ac peak to peak voltages, a zero centered, plus and minus volts for servicing contemporary solid state circuitry, and a mirrored strip for optimum readout accuracy. Positive meter over- load and FET circuit protection is incorporated to guard against incor- rect voltage application.

The F-14 instruction manual in- cludes construction details for some simple adapters to further increase the flexibility of the unit, such as a plug- in shunt to extend dc current measurements to 10 A, a switch able shunt for ac current ranges of 1, 3 and 10 A, and the accurate measurement of very small dc currents encountered in transistor, diode and capacitor leakage, in the order of nanoamps {0,001 uA),

This little gem weighs in at less than 3!4 lbs. with batteries, and occupies about half the cubic space of the average VTVM, with a large 4%'* x 3" meter face. The rugged all steel case is vinyl covered for an added appearance touch, and practical protection. Bat- teries required are standard types available at any drugstore or super- market,

On the bench, in mobile or portable applications, anywhere you need to use it, the F-14 is instantly ready at a flick of the switch, with no warm-up period for stabilization. Oh, yes! I found some industrial type solid state meters in The catalogs offering similar capabilities — at about twice the price of the F-14,

General Description

Meter: 4Va", 100 uA, ±2%, diode protected and isolated from input. Multiplier Resistors: 1% precision type.

Ohms Battery: 1.5 V "C" cell, Eveready type 1035 or equiv. Power Supply Battery: 9 volt, Eveready type 222 or equiv. Weight (less batteries): 3% lbs. Dimensions: 5" W x 7 3/16" H x 3-1/16" D.

Peter A. Lovelock W6AJZ Santa Monica CA

The increased population of amateur repeaters and the resulting interference has forced many repeaters to use tone access systems. The tone burst system is irritating to users, and if a station drops out after accessing the system, there is no way for the system to be re accessed until the next transmission. These factors led to the unit described in this article. The cost of reeds for a reed encoder is prohibitive for most amateurs ($1 5 for a new reed plus another $15 for the encoder), while this complete circuit can be constructed for approximately $10,

Circuit Description

The unit (see Fig. 1 ) is a simple crystal controlled oscillator1 driving a CMOS

PC board.

Go Tone for Ten

-- simple subaudible encoder

Carson Haines Jr, WB6GON SI 12 Sylvan Ave. Oakland CA 94602

220

™J5sP -T*

N&50

C4W

1 T«fc"»w ,t Sv

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CD402Q

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47K tOWZ

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8192

fifr 7, Subaudible tone encoder.

divider with an RC filter on i he output. The CMOS divider was selected so the number of components could be reduced from four 7490s afid a precision vottage regu- lator to one CMOS divider with a simple zener voltage regulator.

In the units constructed, FT243 crystals were used. To calculate the frequency of the crystals, see the simple below:

Required Frequency x Divide Ratio = Crystal Frequency Example: 136.5 Hz x 8192 = 1.182 MHz

There are two divide ratios on the board, 8192 and 16384.

Component layout.

If other frequency range crystals are available, simply bring out the required divide ratio from the IC and feed it into the filter. The crystals used in the original units were the least expensive crystals Jan Crystals had listed in their catalog. Pick a crystal frequency as close to the cal- culated value as passible. In our units for 1 36,5 Hz the closest crystal was 1120 kHz. This yielded an error of .2 Hz when the dividing was completed, and normal reed decoders are approximately ±1 Hz wide minimum. When selecting a crystal, try to keep the end error to approxi- mately .5 Hz and you should

Fig, 2 Layout (bottom view) for subaudible tone encoder.

2N2222

not experience any problems. The oscillator is very broad band and crystals from around 100 kHz to 3 MHz should perform fine.

The dividing is done by a CMOS divider and it is avail- able from Godbout Elec- tronics. The CD 4020 has divide ratios of 2 through 2"! 4 (16384) available and if other ranges of crystal oscillator frequency are used, it is possible to pick the divide ratio you require.

The output circuit is a simple RC filter2 which takes the square waves on the output and makes them into a triangular waveform. The potentiometer in the output is used to set the output level, and the resistor value for the

series resistor should be selected for the impedance into which you are inserting tone.

Construction

The unit can be con- structed using any means available, The original units were constructed on PC boards and a full size layout is included (Fig. 2). Parts value is not critical, so select parts you have on hand that are near to the values listed on the schematic. The zener can be between 6 and 9 volts since the CD 4020 will run on any voltage between 5 and 15 volts.

Operation

Connect the unit to a source of 12 volts that is turned on when the trans- mitter comes on or let the unit run all the time (only 10 mA is required). Connect the audio and you are ready to go.

I will be happy to answer any questions you may have regarding this unit, but please SASE or no answer. ■

References

1 Ham Radio, June, 1972, page 11, "Five Band Communications Receiver/ M. A. Chapman K6SDX.

2 73 Magazine, April, 1974, "Rock Solid Subaudible Tone Generator/' Paul H. Wiese WA8VDC

Parts Available From

Jan Crystals 2400 Crystal Drive Ft. Myers FL 33901

Godbout Electronics Box 2355

Oakland Airport CA 94614

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Operation is easy to understand, sim- ple to work- If you can operate a mera and adjust a TV set, you can operate the new Robot Model 400 SSTV Scan Converter

Our new price is really a break- through! Now you can get into the fast growing SSTV activity for ji S695! (Plus CCTV camera and monitor.)

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from page 19

ground The braid runs freely through the sheave and the job is done.

L Colin Curtis VE7BMK Kamloops, B.C.

You kind of coax the rope through thepulfey, eh?

ADAPTOR PERISH

In your I/O editorial in the Oct, 76 issue of 73, you wanted reader response to the content of 73. Here's my 2 cents I

I have at one time or another subscribed to just about every ham magazhe (yes, even QST), I presently subscribe to 73 and Ham Radio,

I have heard some OTs say that hams don't build anymore. They're wrong! There is more building going on now than ever before in ham history. True, we don't build receivers and transmitters like our grandfathers did, but then why should we? We can buy an excellent transceiver for a price for which tt couldn't be built. It's downright stupid to build a re ceiver for $200 when you can buy it for $100. But I'm getting off the track. Suffice \t to say that 73 is geared toward the builder, QST is not < f believe that QST is trying to please every ham all the time. If you want to read 16 pages of contest results, then by all means subscribe to QST. Ham Radio t on the other hand is an excel- lent magazine for the builder. But, and a big but, HR is not geared toward the average ham, The steel- worker or autoworker who pots in a hard 8 every day doesn't have time or patience to get into anything too deeply, tf I have some knowledge on a topic, I can usually follow an HR article. But when I'm completely ignorant about something, I look it up in 73, That about says it,

A few words about the I/O section of 73:

I think along with myself, most experimenters are baffled by all the I/O articles and ads. There's a lot of stuff for sale, but we don't know what to do with it.

At first, my opinion was that I/O material dfdn't belong in a ham radio magazine. Maybe it does or doesn't, but let's go back about 6 years ago. Back in 1970, something called TTL ICs were being advertised here and there in all the mags. We wondered what they were good for and why computer surplus should be in a ham

Lhat < si

magazine in the first place. Well, here we are just six years later and we can't live without the damn things. ICs do things cheaper, quicker and easier than any other means. Tney do things that couldn't practically be done any other way. Sure, I struggled for a few years buying ICs I didn't need, making mistakes fl still make them, hut not as often), and building projects that never worked. We all \^ave»

The point is this: Right now, I can't see a microprocessor in my future, but six years ago I didn't see why anyone needed a frequency counter, Boyf how wrong we can be. Wayne, I want you to know that even though I have been in electronics for 15 years, I am struggling through the I/O articles. I have to read them 2 or 3 times and they still don't make sense to me sometimes, I'm learning, not much, and not fast, but I'm learning. Keep Cramming that Stuff down our throats whether we say we like it or not. If you don't, who will? Certainly not QST, HR is already over most of us. Don't give us a magazine full of CB construction projects, because six years from now we'll wake up and find that the world has passed us by. I don't understand most of the I/O articles, but someday I will. At orm time I didn't know the code. Now I do. That's life. To surwe you have to adapt or you perish. I'll bet my grandfather had just as much trouble understanding a crystal detector as I have understanding a PROM. It didn't stop him and it won't stop me. Keep printing the I/O stuff and I'll keep Struggling with it Stop printing it and well all be crushed in modern tech- no logy.

Paul A Dujmich WA3TLD McKeesport PA

Ok, ok - HI print it, M print it. - Wayne.

NOT PROPER

Several recent events have prompted me 10 write this letter. It concerns operation on two repeaters in Dallas on T47.36 and 147,39. Some Of the operation I have witnessed on these two frequencies I do not believe to be in the spirit of amateur radio, and responsible operators in the Dallas area need to take note.

The repeater on 147,36 is listed in repeater directories as OPEN. Several of the group's members have person- ally told me that rt was OPEN. Re cent I y. as I was calling a friend of

mine on .36 fmy friend is a member of the group). I was asked to leave the frequency at once by a ham who heard my call. He said that he person - ally did not like me (I do not even know the man), and that anyone with intelligence knew that the repeater was CLOSED.

The repeater on 147.39 is a closed, private repeater. This group seems to be unable to tactfully get that point across. When I first got my synthe- sized rig, I did not realize that closed repeaters existed. I keyed up on .39, gave my cat I, and asked if anyone were around. My call was answered by a ham who said that it was a closed repeater and that outsiders were not allowed on frequency.

I believe that such operation is not proper in amateur radio, and that it can be greatly detrimental to our hobby. Hams who are concerned about keeping amateur radio as it was meant to be, should take a close took at these problems and others like them.

Blaine Hamriqk WB5LSJ/WR5AKL

DFW Airport TX

NASTY WARNING

Regarding the interesting article "Have You Used a Triac Yet?** pub- lished in 73 Magazine for October 1976 at page 76: I think a warning might be in order.

If a high voltage transformer were used as shown on page 77 with the resistor/capacitor across the triac, a person believing the triac "relay"' to be open, anti working on the power supply, might get a nasty shock, especially if the capacitor were larger than that shown,

I continue to enjoy 73 very much — keep up the good work.

Bill Allen WiLU Providence Rl

A little shock might be good for some of these five volt TTL kids,

COMM-ED

I noted the comments about Trigger Electronics. Let us not forget another company known as Dycomrn, or Dynamic Communications, Inc. of Florida.

Wore than two years ago, after a phone conversation wrth Jim Penny, I ordered a front end crystal filter for my 81-21 repeater in Whitmore Lake. Upon arrival, I was astounded at its physical construction, being in a non- rf-tight minibox. Checks using profes- sional Hewlett-Packard and Singer test equipment showed that It did not provide the B dB gain and sharp selectivity claimed, but in fact pro- vided considerable loss with multiple response (passed more than one fre- quency}. So much for S75. I sent the unit back and asked for one that worked or a refund, Months went by

and no answer; finally, another phone call, and I explained the problem. Still no refund or unit. Now, more than two years has passed, and I have never received the unit or a refund. Inso- much as the repeater was moved to a nearby town and the equipment has changed, I have no need for a new unit. But my creditors sure could use the $75!

I also had a lot of problems with the various amplifiers they sold, too!

Henry Ruh WB8HE E Whit more Lake Ml

MORE 20777

After reading "Belt Tightening" by Donald Chester K4KYV/1 in the July issue of 73, I agree very much with him regarding AM and NBFM usage. These are about the cheapest means a ham has at his disposition to get on the air on voice on HF Let us keep in mind that not all of us can afford to throw S6G0 on an SSB set. Besides, Quite a number of foreign hams still use AM phone.

On one pomt I heartily agree with Docket 20777. I'd love to have back A-2H T-5, MCW on the HF bands.

Benjamin Lam boy KP4CA San Juan, P.R.

ANGER TRIGGERED

Just a word of sympathy for Horace WA4CUD and Larry WA4MJAr along with the many others JJshot down" by "the Trigger man/'

It seems to me we can do nothing with this company as individuals. Perhaps you, or some of our "ham" friends, could come up with some thing we coutd do coUectively. Thts company is "in to me" to the tune of $80, and I do not like the music they play,

Have tried the BBB Ino luck), and am going to the Attorney General of New Mexico. Also have a file wrth the U,S, Postal Service.

Any other ideas would be appre- ciated. This company must be stopped.

Raymond E. Boshart WB5ROP

Box 1041 (7T2^ivy)

Truth or Consequences NM 87901

Trigger may soon be sent out to

oasmre - or eise stuffed and mounted.

LEARNING A LOT

Just a short note to encourage you to keep printing everything about computers you can get your mitts on in 73, At first it was all a mystery to me and I wondered what \ was getting in my magazine, but once again {last time was 2 FM) I trusted you and, as a

direct result of 73. I now eat, sleep and breathe computers, I am slowly stashing pennies, but it will be at least a year before I can assemble a system so I will have to read, team and dream in the meantime. Please send me a year's subscnpnon to Kilobyte and bill me before \ change my mind, t am sure most of it wilt be above mef but like 73, when my interests change or I become more knowledgeable, I would like to have the back issues to look through. I am in the electronic security business and will have a few articles forthcoming soon, I wish I couJd trade alarm stuff for computer stuff. Guess I'll have to use the money substitute being eroded by the govern- ment in the meantime — convert my alarm talent into a fascimile of a federal reserve note and later swap the note to someone for computer stuff. The government is trying to protect too many people. I'm tired of them trying to protect me. I have been buying kerosene In plastic storage bottles (government issue} for many years, Now it is illegal for me to purchase or store it in anything except metal. The government is protecting me.

Another subject . . . The secrecy of communications act. Several of my customers have silent holdup alarms in stores, banks, etc. These alarms call the police silently when they have a problem. Last week two of these alarms were tripped. I heard the call on the police monitor. Within 5 minutes my customer was on the phone wanting to know why the local newspaper had called wanting to know if they had been held up. This seems to me to be in violation of the act. My customer's life would have been in jeopardy if there was in fact a holdup taking place when the news- paper called, If the holdup man had answered the phone, I probably would have lost a customer and friend. The paper's employees sink hundreds of dollars into police monitoring equip ment in their offices and cars to assure that they will be instantly aware of crimes and traffic accidents that are happening and be able to rush a photographer and reporter out. Nuff said. Thanks, Wayne; l*m really learning a lot from 73. Its almost like an inexpensive and highly entertaining college course. Especially liked the articles about BASIC in the October (1} issue. All the I/O editors are great If I can help in any way please feel free as always . . .

Steve Uhng WA3SWS

Ellicott City MD

THE QRP CHAMP

KSJRN's QRP transmitter ("QRP Fun on 40 and 80." October f76) works like a champ. It was up and running into a random long wire iwo days after the magazine was received. My first home-built transmitter, 12 contacts so far in four days on mostly 80 meters ,,,VA( DE, CT, and a 599

from MA. On 40, one contact in TN and IN albeit poor due to the fre- quency of 7143.5 fighting it out with Radio Moscow on 7150, I'm waiting for my General and I took forward to moving outside of the GRM-loaded Novice bands.

Thomas R, Sundstrom WB2AYA

Willtngboro NJ

GOOD BUY!

Compliments. I have read many professional and hobby magazines. and I must admit 73 would be a great buy at twice the price. Each issue has lots of meat in it for many interestS- Keep up the 1/0 section. I'm not into computers but I know I will be sometime in the future.

Kent H. Gibb VE6BAF Edmonton, Alberta

7"w/ee the price . . . hmmmm?

BEST IN THE WORLD?

My subject is Atlas Radio Com- pany, beaded up by Herb Johnson and his boys. I bought an Atlas 21 OX and had trouble with it; I sent it back and then it developed more troubles. One day 1 wrote a letter to Herb Johnson and explained the troubles. About two weeks later the UPS had a package for me from Atlas Radio. Yep, you guessed it; it was a brand new Atlas 21 OX, and as soon as I got the chance, I tried it out. It was hotter than a firecracker and some of the QSOs I had were as strong as a base station. You see, I am trying to get Bicentennial WAS from a car, and that is quite difficult with a wet noodle for an antenna and just 100 Watts output. I believe that there is not any other ham radio manufacturer who would do what Herb Johnson did, and 1 believe that Atlas Radio is the best ham radio company in the world.

Russell "Bud" Holderbaum, Jr,

W3AEZ/W4JIQ Gaithersburg MD 20760

[

TRUTH OR CONSEQUENCES

Thanks for the latest 73 addition, the hard copy reader service card.

Keep up the IC projects. I built the H R-212 on page 66 of the May *76 73 mag. The article says to scan 6 chan nets, but without any mods using 0 for 8, up to eight channels can be scanned. Also, by adding an AND gate, ten channels can be scanned. Works FB. Qh! By the way; would like to see a small article on how to make the HR-212 hang in there (delayed scan) on active channels. Also a source for printed circuits to be used with the articles!

I see for the last 2 3 months ads missing from Altaj Electronics, Dallas. I ordered their King clock and only after 4-5 weeks delay and two tele- phone calls, was able to get delivery. But since then, I have done business with them and have gotten prompt, courteous service. James Electronics is another story- They have same day service. So far I've placed 2 or 3 orders with them and have gotten them back (including postal time] within six days, FB!

How about mentioning the Fox Tango Newsletter put out by The International Fox Tango Dub, Milton Lower* WA2AOQ/4, 248 Lake Dora Drive, W. Palm Beach, Fla, 33411 at $5 per year (10 issues}. Its sole pur- pose is the exchange of info, mods, etc., for Yaesu owners — a terrific letter. Well, that's it for now,

Tom Gundlach WB5JDU Truth or Consequences NM

About your article "QRP Fun on 40 and 80" (Oct. 70) by Si Dunn K5JRN< GREAT! I thought that I had to buy alt of the old radio mags 10 find this kind of make-use-of-your- junk-boK gear. Hope to see more in the future. This type of article makes ham radio a challenge.

Terry D. Wright

WB8UPO/ADM8UPO

Piqua OH

MORE OF THE SAME

The article by Gabriel F. Gargiulo {October, pg. 128) was the best on programming in this issue, I thought, \t was very clear and instructive. Also, your I/O editorial points out the computers potential. Let's have more of the same.

Ken McGinnis San Mateo CA 94401

PLAIN ENGLISH

I wish 73 Magazine would (for once) show a construction article which was written in plain English! Terms like TTLr PLL, coil phasing {in one article it said 'The coils must be properly phased so the circuit will oscillate," but never mentioned what phasing means or how to do it}. %A, etc., etc., make the average Novice's (or at least my) head spirt

You should put one article in each month's issue designed especially for Novices {simple and educational)* I, for one, would like to design my own circuits for different projects, but can't because of lack of knowledge. These articles would help people learn theory and at the same time show them some sort of practical use'

L and C circuits always give me

trouble. Figuring the proper value of L and C for different frequencies is murder when you're only an 8th grader {soon to be 9th grader).

I hope other Novices who see this (if you print it) will support this idea or improve on it.

John Halliwell Hampton TN

P,S. 1 have 5-9 weeks to go before I get my Novice license. I love your magazine. Keep it up, P.P,S. I want to mention that Opto- electronics h a great dealer. Their service was fast and their electronic clocks work great!

TEST PILOTS ONLY

Nearly every issue contains sub- scription offers for expanding 73. I would like to propose another way in which new blood can be brought into the fold. Why not have a WN section similar to the I/O section that will teach us neophytes the basics of build- ing the kinds of ideas that the more advanced hams submit?

After people see that top-notch authors are penning stuff they can read, they'll run out and hopefully get a life's subscription,

I would also like to see an article to review 2 meter operations and a few on uP fundamentals,

James I/Vessels, Jr, Louisville KY

Sure, James, i'd love to have more articles on fundamentals for Novices, but fife subscriptions are going to be permitted only to amateurs over 73 years oid who are full time test pi fats. Some readers think we've already run enough 2m operations articles, hut there sure is a thirst for uP material — Wayne.

ANOTHER CHARTER

I was unable to give you my sub- scription to Kilobyte at the computer convention this past weekend.

After seeing how well you started Byte Magazine out, t am sure your latest venture will be as good or better.

Please accept my subscription to Kilobyte for a three year charter membership. Enclosed is my check for S25.O0.

Carl G. von Loewenfeldt Alexandria VA

KING AND QUEEN

Just a few lines to let you know that Uoyd Corvin W6KG and Iris Gotvin W6DOD have returned to Cali- fornia, via Australia. Western Samoa. American Samoa and Hawaii, after a

Continued on page 39

Compatible with all sub-audible tone systems such as: Private Line, Channel Guard, Quiet Channel, etc.

• Powered by 6-16vdc, unregulated

• Microminiature in size to fit inside all mobile units and most portable units

• Field replaceable, plug-in, frequency determining elements

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• Output level adjustment potentiometer

• Low distortion sinewave output

• Available in all EIA tone frequencies, 67.0 Hz-203.5 Hz Complete immunity to RF

everse polarity protection built-in

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A/ired and tested, complete with <-1 element

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Complete five band dual conversion amateur communications receiver.

I am sure many radio ama- teurs who have home brew rigs would love to have a matching receiver. Deciding to do something positive about this emptiness in the shack, 1 came up with a plan that made the home brew

receiver not only a possi- bility, but a reality.

The plan centered on re- ducing the complexity and time of construction dramati- cally by using a drugstore transistor AM broadcast radio set as the main building

block. Even if you never start to build this receiver, I am sure that you will find it comforting to know that if it ever became necessary, you could do it.

This receiver, being a dual conversion type, has two

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local oscillators (LO) and two I nter mediate frequency amplifiers (IF). In this circuit we have to make our own HF LO, while both IF amplifiers and the MF LO are parts of the AM broadcast set.

We also have to make six other circuits to support our BC set to make certain that our project winds up a real communication receiver. These are the HF radio fre- quency amplifier, 1 MHz amplifier, beat frequency oscillator (BFO), S-meter, crystal filter, and automatic noise limiter (ANL),

When all the circuits are working together, their opera- tion is spectacular for such a simple design. When the rf gain control is two thirds up, a 0.2 microvolt 7.1 MHz signal at the antenna con- nector will read S9. The re- ceiver noise is too low under these conditions for me to make a measurement with the simple equipment available to me.

All I can say about it is that I could hear only signal in the phones, and I just finished working F6ARC on 40 meters with no trouble at all. Any dual conversion birdies are less than S2 and located so they are no bother.

Drift and broadcast station feedthrough is nil. Each of the five bands can be selected by a Front panel control and is 0.9 MHz wide. The 6 dB down bandwidth signal selec- tivity is 300 Hz with the phase control in the CW posi- tion, and 1.2 kHz in the SSB position. It is powered by a 9 V battery and the current drain is 30 mA*

Circuit Description

The transistor AM broad- cast set just keeps on doing what it did before we bolted it to the front panel — changing .55 MHz to 1,6 MHz rf to sound at the speaker or phones — so there is no need to describe it any further. Fig. 1 shows how it works in our receiver and is supported by the outboard circuits. These will be described in

detail because each is unique in this receiver,

Starting from the antenna connector, Fig. 2, the band- switch, S1, selects one of the rf transformers, T1-T5. They are broadband-tuned to the center of the desired fre- quency range. Therefore, all the signals in the frequency range selected appear at the gate of rf amplifier Q1. Here they are amplified as much as possible without adding noise to the output. By using a low noise MOSFET for this ampli- fier t the receiver signal-to- noise ratio is greatly im- proved.

To prove this point with- out a lot of rotten math, it is logical that if the rf signal is made greater, the following gain controls will have to be turned down to yield the same output that was present before amplification. If noise was not added in the amplify- ing process, all the frying sounds generated by these turned down stages will be much less.

The output of the rf amplifier is inductive coupled to the gate coif of the con- verter transformer, T6-T10, and selected by the band- switch, which, also through other poles, applies this signal to gate 1 of the HF converter Q2 (along with the HF LO output to gate 2).

A IN re N N A

AMPLIFIER

EFO

1/2 MHi

CRYSTAL FILTER-

ANL 06.07

CONVERTER 0£

J MHz

l-F AMPLIFIER

		T SAND V) SWITCH


LO FREQUENCY MULTIPLIER 04	m —	HF LO 03

PICK-UP COfL

S METER 09,010

TRANSISTOR BROADCAST RECEJVER

PHONES

GAIN RI6

Fig. 7. Block diagram.

The HF LO is crystal con- trolled for stability and uses FT-243 type crystals. The 20 meter, WWV, and 1 5 meter bands are at a frequency higher than that at which these crystals will oscillate, so a multiplier is used to double or triple their fundamental output when the bandswiteh is in these positions. This multiplier is a class C ampli- fier whose output is tuned to the selected frequency with rf chokes and fixed capacitors,

Now things really start to happen. While the converter Q2 is doing what is natural, its output is a real mess of signals, and we are only inter- ested in the ones that are the difference between the LO and rf frequencies.

The unwanted signal that will cause the most harm is the very strong one at the

LO frequency. If it gets into the BC set loop stick, over- loading will take place and there will be birdies all over the bands. To stop this LO feedth rough, the converter output is filtered by using a well shielded oscillator coil, T1 1 (Fig. 3), removed from another BC set, and tuning it with a fixed capacitor to about 1 MHz.

Because of a long coaxial cable run to this improvised transformer, Zl was fabri- cated to swamp any VHF parasitics that might develop. The base of the 1 MHz ampli- fier Q5 is connected to the pick-up coil in T11, resulting in a clean converted signal being amplified. It produces a strong field around rf choke L8, which is tuned to about 0,8 MHz with fixed capaci- tors.

BAND SWITCH

C44 I

8 0- MTR -ff* — o —

C43 33QC-F

T2-A T3-A T4-A T5-A

40 S|A

15 MTR

ANTENNA

XcR2 "~1gRi

IINI23 Slhil28

T 7

T7-B TO TS-B

7 10 79 -e

Tio-a

RR AMPL/R/ER

RESISTOR- I/4W CAPACITOR- >0VDC SEE FIGURE 5 FOfi ■LltL2.L3iL4l. CA a CB VALUES

CONVERTER B LOCAL OSC/UATOR

3N14-0 ^0

FIGURE 3 © © ©

V3«Hft

'HI

This choke is mounted close to the BC receiver loop stick so its field will be picked up with little attenua- tion. Strong spurious signals (birdies) are unacceptable* Therefore, the importance of keeping the HF LO signal out of the BC set, and the BC LO signal out of the HF rf ampli- fier cannot be overempha- sized. Most of the receiver shielding and parts placement was made to achieve this isolation.

The broadcast receiver is now able to tune and detect the different HF signals that have been converted to fre- quencies that are within its range, it is still not ready to be used for a reliable contact, because it needs at least a beat frequency oscillator and more selectivity.

The BFO is a series-tuned Colpitts type. It uses a tran- sistor BC set IF transformer for the frequency controlling element and a front panel controlled capacitor to vary the pitch. Its output is taken from the small untuned winding in the IF trans- former.

The receiver's fine selec- tivity is achieved by con- necting a crystal filter between the collector of the BC set's first IF amplifier transistor and its output transformer. To implement this, the collector lead is dis- connected from its original place, and reconnected through a coaxial cable to another identical IF trans- former located on the V2 MHz crystal filter and ANL circuit board (Fig, 4),

This transformer, T1 2, provides the input for the FT- 241 low frequency crystal Y6 and the 180 degree out- of-phase signal for the phase control C20, When C20 is critically adjusted from the front panel, stray signaSs shunted around Y6 are can- celed and the filter output

Fig. 2

Fig. 3.

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RESISTOR - IMW CAPACITOR- 10 VBC

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RESISTOR- I/4W CAPACITOR- IOVOC *Y6 FREQUENCY SAME AS BROADCAST

RECEIVER l-F OR RETUNE FOR

4G4.B KtHr CRYSTAL

Fig. 4.

COIL - CRYSTAL TABLE
BAND {METERS)	RECEIVER FREQUENCY RANGE (MHi)	HF AMPLIFIER	CONVERTER	CRYSTAL HF LO
TRANSF. SYM.	TURNS	WIRE IAWS1	CA	TRANSF. SYM,	TURNS	WIRE ( A WG )	ce (pF)
SYM,	FREQ.
LI	12	L3	L4
80	3,13-4, \|fl	T\	€5	4	28	33	T6	65	7	28	47	Yl	4735
40	6.30- 7.39	ra	d£	2	28	47	r?	42	4	28	58	Y2	7500
20	13.35-14. 40	T3	24	2	24	5	TB	24	3	£4	47	Y3	7475
13	20.30- 2J. 50	-4	14	1	24	'-.--_	ra	14	2 24	33	Y4	7350
WWV	14.40-15,40	T5	24	2	24	IE	TIO	24	a	24	39	Y3	7975
COIL DIAMETER - 1/4 In. {.635cm,). CRYSTALS- FT-243 PRESSURE MOUNT TYPE, L2*!mfn. FROM U RF GROUND SIDE. LA 3 L3 SAME SPACING! CA >CB.!_UL2>L3>a L4 SHOWN GNFlG. 2

has an extremely narrow bandwidth.

When it is closed, it sends a strong signal around Y6 and the bandwidth is useful for SSB communication. The

Fig. 5.

output of Y6 is kept at a very high impedance and con* nected to gate 1 of 06. Gate 2 has the BFO output and the ANL bias feed to it. The BFO is mixed with the IF in this

manner to prevent strong signals from pulling its fre- quency.

The gain of Q6 is regulated by the amount of ANL bias at gate 2. Its drain is con-

nected through another coaxial cable back to the BC set IF transformer at the original collector connection of the first IF amplifier tran- sistor. This completes the IF, amplifier circuit again, but with the crystal filter, ANL, and BFO added to it

To develop the automatic noise limited bias, the IF signal at the input of the crystal filter is transformed to a low impedance by Q7 and diode CR4 changes it to nega- tive dc, filtered by C24, This diode is biased to different values above cut-off by the front panel control R26,

When the signal exceeds this bias, a negative voltage is developed which is subse- quently fed to gate 2 of Q6.

The gain of Q6 will vary with a noise pulse ail the way to cut-off, depending upon the setting of the ANL pot R26. The diode limiters are also part of the AN L but they are not adjustable. The main function of CR1-CR2 is to prevent serious overloads from damaging any com- ponents when the transmitter is keyed, and that of CR5-CR6 is to prevent audio distortion*

The 5-meter circuit has an unusual input network that nulls out the BFO component of the IF signal so it will not deflect the meter. This is accomplished by adding the exact amount of 180 degree out-of-phase BFO power to the input of Q9 (Fig. 3).

It might look like a mar- ginal balance, but I have not had to change the original adjustment of R32, and a year has passed without the meter being slightly deflected by the BFO. The rest of the circuit is conventional with a voltage amplifier Q9 followed by a collector detector Q10 that deflects the meter.

The final two modifica- tions require soldering inside the BC set. One is to add manual IF gain control to prevent overloading, and the other to stabilize the collec- tor voltage that feeds the MF LO to prevent modulation and drift To locate the

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eoMTB Haass

S.6Q

- s.ess

- S.TD 3.T5S

S.flO - 7,16 H S.9-S5

S 4 S

DIAL SETTING

Fig. 6. Typical calibration chart

proper place to do both jobs will take some looking around.

A zener diode, CR3 (Fig. 4), is connected across the large capacitor on the load side of the decoupling resistor feeding the collector power to the rf circuits. The resistor is about 100 Ohms and the large can type capacitor makes it fairly easy to locate.

Next you will have to find the forward biasing resistor of the IF amplifier base bias divider. My receiver has only one IF stage and it was no trouble to find. It will be about 150k and it feeds the power we just stabilized through the AM detector diode, which also doubles as the AGC generator, on to the cold side of the IF trans- former base winding. This resistor is disconnected from the stabilized voltage and reconnected to the wiper of the front panel controlled rf gain pot, R1 6 (Fig. 3).

Construction

I assembled my receiver on a 1 5 cm x 1 0 cm x 5 cm (6 x 4x2 inch) chassis having a 18.4 cm x 12.7 cm (714 x 5 inch) front panel. The tran- sistor AM broadcast receiver was selected because of its tuning dial and volume con- trol layout. The negative side of its battery was connected to the ground plane, and the speaker opening was covered with a gold metal screen that would make a pretty good shield,

I found later that it had only one IF stage, but this certainly did not affect its

sensitivity or degrade the project. The BC set must have extension shafts epoxied to its tuning and volume control dials so they can be operated outside the front panel. The new tuning dial is a vernier type and had to be mounted on a 1.1 cm (7/16 inch) homemade spacer so it would fit on the capacitor shaft.

The front panel controls, 5-meter, speaker and phone jack are located so that they are easily accessible. After the BC set has had its IF retuned to match the filter crystal, it is fastened to the front panel with two #2-56 bolts. One of the bolts has a soider lug under its nut so the BC set ground plane can be con- nected to the metal front

panel through it

The outboard circuits that convert the BC set into our communication receiver are made on pieces of "vector" breadboard material, and the components are soldered to press-in terminals. They were all made as srnail as possible and tested before they were mounted, using spacers, in the main chassis.

The bandswitch has two levels with three poles on each. All rf amplifier con- nections are kept on one level, with converter and HF LO connections on the other. A lot of effort was spent trying to keep the leads short and separated from each other, but it still turned out a mess. However, it works better than anyone could have imagined. I used #22

AWG solid insulated wire for the interconnections, and

bare wire for the jumpers.

All rf transformers are mounted on the top of the chassis and are well shielded. The converter transformers are preassembled on a plate that fastens to a flange around a cut-out in one end of the chassis. These coils project into the underside of the chassis, isolating them

from the rf amplifier input. The tuning is broadened by the heavy loading of both sets of coil with more primary (untuned) turns than would be used for high Q operation.

I used as much shielding as I could make without getting sick. It is very important to keep the outputs of the two local oscillators out of each other's converters, and the BFO harmonics out of the HF rf amplifier.

The cabinet is fabricated out of aluminum sheet and provides the shielding needed to keep out broadcast station signals. The front and rear panels are marked, after painting, with Datak dry letter transfers, and then sprayed with clear plastic to prevent them from being worn off. When the wrap- around top, bottom, and side piece is buffed carefully, the receiver has a professional appearance.

My semiconductors were selected because they were readily available to me. The SE 4010 transistors came from an old printed wiring board bought from a mail order house. When I ran out of these, I used 2N2222 tran- sistors from another board.

inn

al»Mli;r::iHij^ <SHMW* '■ ' '

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- |iw.i,i,,,.|p.»*l*iniii l^!B»»!"rtfrt,(WW,i'i ',ii|i,ii.i,-Jmim»imtHW^.

Fig. 7. Looking toward front pane! with top half of cabinet removed. Top> left to right: S-meter, I MHz coupler next to loop stick antenna, AM broadcast set. Bottom: HF LO crystal shield, S-meter amplifier over the rf transformer shield } crystal filter and ANL circuit board \

Both are replaceable with Motorola HEPS 5, a NPN rf transistor.

The MOSFETs, Q1, Q2 and Q6, are the contents of a Radio Shack Archer Pack #276-628 called "Three MOSFET N Channel Tran^ sistors." You must watch how you solder these units in place. Keep all the leads shorted together during the process or the gates will surely be ruined. After they are in place nothing seems to be able to keep them from working.

Alignment

I aligned the tuned circuits of my receiver using equip- ment commonly found in the ham shack. Operation one is to tune the rf and converter transformers to the center frequency of their bands using a grid dip meter for an indicator.

Next, you must have the shields fastened into place, power switch placed on, rf gain turned fully on, audio gain one quarter up, ANL off, BFO off, phase capacitor fully closed, and the antenna input supplied with a signal from a VFO. The coupling must be very loose to the VFO.

The coupling recom- mended is two 50 Ohm resis- tors side by side, one fed by the VFO and the other across the coax connected to the receiver antenna terminal. There is no hard electrical connection between the two resistors {only the rf field), and the spacing between the two should be variable.

Back on the receiver, an oscilloscope is connected to the input of the filter crystal, Y6, using a high Z probe. The slugs in T1 1 and T12 are centered, and the bands witch set to the VFO frequency range. The VFO or the re- ceiver dial is varied until the rf is picked up and a xh MHz IF signal is seen on the scope. Til, T12, and the rf con- verter transformer combina- tion, when switched in> are adjusted until the IF signal is maximum amplitude.

Fig. 5. Looking toward front panel with ail shields removed, along with cabinet. Left to right: converter transformers on loose panels HF LO crystals on home brew holder } 1 MHz coupler, rf transformers, rf amplifier, BCset, S-meter amplifier, crystal fitter, ANL hoard.

The rf gain should be re- duced along with the coupling to the VFO during these adjustments, to keep the scope presentation at an amplitude easy to see but not overloading the circuits (about a volt peak).

Connect the scope probe to the drain of Q6 and retune the receiver dial for a maxi-

mum display. Set the phase capacitor to its minimum bandwidth position, which is found by moving the VFO dial around the detected fre- quency. Move the scope probe back to the input of Y6 and tweak up T12 and the first BC set IF transformer so that their bandpass is centered on Y6's frequency.

Connect the scope to the output of the last BC set IF transformer and tweak up the remaining BC set IF trans- formers so they are also center tuned to Y6's fre- quency. The BFO is switched on, the pitch capacitor centered, and the slug in T13 adjusted for a zero beat, noted at the scope and the

Fig. 9. Underside of chassis; Left to right; converter transformers on loosened panel, HF LO converter circuit board in back of bands witch, LO multiplier, BFO in back of shield, / MHz amplifier.

tone at the speaker.

The last and simplest adjustments are made to the S-meter calibration pots, R32 and R33. Without an rf signal being applied to the receiver input, rotate R34 fully clock- wise, place the BFO switch on, and adjust R33 to a posi- tion where Ml indicates zero. When an rf signal is present, Ml will deflect to a value proportional to its power- There is no clear-cut amount of rf power per S unit, so set R33 to a place where what

you believe is a S9 signal in the phones reads S9 on the meter.

If you use a dial marked 1 through 100 like ] did, a calibration chart will have to be made. One curve, and oniy erne, is needed for all bands, because the BC set does the tuning each time. Fig, 6 shows how an easy-to-read chart may be laid out. The points for the curve are located by picking up the output of a 100 kHz crystal calibrator, and knowing the

frequency of the converter crystals. Subtracting the HF rf frequency from it will locate the band scales on the chart

Conclusion

This whole project was a very satisfying success. How- ever, you could always do better if you had a second chance, The next time, 1 would replace the FT-243 style crystals with smaller de- vices, even though it would run up the cost.

Also, their frequencies would be such that the LO multiplier could be elim- inated, reducing the battery drain by 5 mA. I believe that 1 would make the front panel larger to accommodate a different type of dial. I can- not find any fault with the semiconductor devices or the BC set, so I would stick with them.

In fact, the whole receiver fits and works so well beside my keyer that I am in no hurry to change anything. ■

Ham Help

Many people express an interest in ham radio, but find it difficult to locate a ham to answer their ques- tions, peak their curiosity, and enroll them in a local area class. As public pressure for our frequencies increase, we must increase both our public awareness and our numbers in order to survive and grow. Through a new program called Ham Help, we hope to be the link between the prospective ham and you, the local radio clubr the neighbor hood ham, and the nearby radio class. Here's how it works,

A prospective ham will call the Ham Help number, ILL-1676. The 24 hour line will be answered by John Russell WB9UEC, Ham Help Chair man, or an answering machine, After getting the name, address, and phone number of the prospective ham, John will call a volunteer ham in the prospect's neighborhood. The volun- teer will, in turn, call the prospect, and, hopefully, take a personal interest En the newcomer,

A program like this will obviously only succeed if all area clubs will volunteer information on area classes and keep the Ham Help file current. Here is what your radio club can do to help make it work:

INFORM', Call the Ham Help line to let John know about classes — include specifics such as datesr times, location, and who to contact. Please don't assume we have all the informa- tion we need; we can only get it from you. Continual updating of class infor- mation is essentia! for the program to work.

REFER. Refer others to Ham Help. We will be glad to be the clearing house for all classes in the area. Have them call ILL 1676 and we'll take it from there.

VOLUNTEER: We need volunteer hams to call back prospective hams that may call from your area. Invite them to your shack. Tell them about a class in your area (John will give you the info}. Bringing a new ham into the fold is a rewarding experience that is good for you, your radio club, and the hobby. Call in to Ham Help and

volunteer your services as an "Elmer" in your area. If your club would like to handle afl requests from a certain area, let John know, and we will be glad to refer prospects to you. A good way to increase membership in your club!

Let me stress that, though CFMC is funding this program, we wish it to be a truly inter- club project. The Chica- goland area is ripe for a program of this type. Our hobby is the finest in the world — it's time we began to show it off !

Only through your club's {and Its members') participation can Ham Help work. We ask that you print this in your bulletin or newsletter, and announce it at your next meeting.

We are banking on your continual support of Ham Help to make this program a huge success, and to bring new blood into our hobby and our clubs.

Rich Casey WA9LR I

President

Chicago FM Club

Arlington Heights IL

By way of background informa- tion: I am 67, still hold a lifetime FCC permit to operate on the former marine 2 to 4 meg band, hold the first renewal of my CB license (but have become disenchanted with that crowd and do not operate my Johnson 323 Messenger), have built a half dozen Heathkits (from stereos through VTVM to tachometers), and have just been nudged by a summertime neigh' bar, whose permanent address is Cleveland, to seriously approach ham radio, I have one of his back issues of GSF and the July '76 issue of 73.

Up here in the puckerbrush at Bridgton, Maine, amateur radio is practically unknown. I can't find a soul who can give me counsel.

I have written ARRL for a half dozen books (not yet received), and have ordered from Heath a starter set of code practice records and practice key toward going for Mo vice, or if I have enough practice time, to try for General in one jump.

From my copy of FCC Rules and Regs, VoL VI, I have found Bangor, Maine, is the semi-annual location of examinations. How do I find out when and how much? How do I find out if there's a General in the area who could examine me for Novice?

How do I find out - in a HURRY — what licensed hams have known for a long time? Huh? Time is of the essence, because on this side of 60 there's a hell of a lot less of it remaining than there was on the front side !

From what little 1 know now, 80 through 10m is the spectrum that interests me, and I am looking for a used receiver, 5 band, SSB, all solid state, in perfect working order, to do a little listening, and to gather some education on the way. To get some good out of it, an antenna is a prerequisite, and some ideas on a simple dtpote which I can hang between a couple of trees would be most welcome, Lightning arresters, which are effective, are a must in this mountain country, where it gets pretty "snappy" now and again.

As you can plainly see, I'm not asking for much help, just the whole ball of wax I

Whatever assistance you may he able to provide would be most welcome. Thank you very much.

Charles A, J u rack

P.O. Box 145

Bridgton ME 04009

For those in our area needing help for Novice through Extra, please con- tact; Carthage Amateur Radio Society, c/o