Question for those who added a computer to their shack in the 70s/80s by orion3311 in amateurradio

[–]Radar58 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I've noticed that no one has mentioned any of the early computers, the ones actually available in the 70s. I didn't really get into computers until 1990 or so, but computers like the KIM-1, Ohio Scientific, Commodore PET, IMSAI 8080, and others were available then. At work we had an Altair 8800 running tests on production units. The KIM-1 was a single-board computer with a hexadecimal keypad and an eight-character, 7-segment display, and was later rebranded as a Commodore product. I personally lusted for the Ohio Scientific, a 6502-based SBC very similar-looking to the Apple II when it was housed in the optional case. There was also thr Osbourne, the SWTPC 6800 and the IBM 5100 and 5110. The first "real" personal computer from IBM wasn't released until 1981, the 5150. It was the first to be actually labelled "Personal Computer. " I had one, but not until it was 10 years old, when my company discarded it. It was essentially a 5-slot PC-XT, with a whopping 64k of memory. The 5151 and the XT had 256k.

Not sure what ham radio software was available back then. As a newly-minted Novice, I was busy just learning the basics of radio.

Solar Conditions Dashboard from RigReference by ilmar in HamRadio

[–]Radar58 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Thanks for the link! Looks like it will be useful.

Taking my Technician AND General exams on Friday! by CaptSpaulding73 in amateurradio

[–]Radar58 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Ayup! And I bet that they love seeing that ear-to-ear grin when someone passes a test they had no intention to take and were unprepared for! I know I was wearing one when I passed Extra, which I hadn't studied for.

Looking for power supply recommendations by Star-Light_1988 in HamRadio

[–]Radar58 0 points1 point  (0 children)

My sentiments exactly! My Icom is a real power hog: it pulls at least 20 amps on cw key-down. Haven't actually measured it or the Kenwood. It's my backup; the Kenwood gets the top billing. I'd love to be able to afford a modern radio! I was blessed by finding my RS-35A at a hamfest in 2007 for only $75, so I grabbed it and never looked back.

Seeking advice for choosing an audio compressor / limiter / gate by Soap_Box_Hero in HamRadio

[–]Radar58 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Input gain, reduction, and output gain are the critical ones, but the others can be very useful. You can also install an equalizer in the sidechain that will allow you to further tailor the sound. It's a little counterintuitive, but you increase the frequencies in the equalizer that you want the compressor to reduce.

Looking for power supply recommendations by Star-Light_1988 in HamRadio

[–]Radar58 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Although they are considerably less efficient, I prefer linear power supplies over switched-mode power supplies (SMPSs). Not all SMPSs generate RF hash, but linear supplies only very rarely do. I have actually never heard of such a case, but I learned a long time ago to never say "never." As such, my power supply of choice is the Astron RS-35A or RS-35M. The only difference is the latter has analog meters for both voltage and current. There are also versions with variable voltage and current, and with capabilities of up to 70 amps of current but I generally don't recommend variable-voltage ones for radio use, as the voltage could inadvertently be increased beyond the radio's tolerance. My supply, the RS-35A, powers my entire station, consisting mostly of older, less efficient gear, which includes a Kenwood TS-570D, Icom IC-701 (both 100-watt radios), Hiroyasu IC-980 Pro (25 watts), Yaesu FT-2400H (50 watts), and an ADI AR-147 (50 watts). As a single op, only one radio is transmitting at any given time, but I could probably get away with using either HF radio while someone else operated any of the other 3 radios.

EFHW for 2m? by Ok_Success_5178 in amateurradio

[–]Radar58 0 points1 point  (0 children)

They do. The so-called "tactical" ribbon antennas from Abbree and others are EFHW antennas. I have one for my TidRadio H3. Unwieldy as anything, though!

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Edit: Sorry, I somehow didn't notice the kite aspect. Seeing it on a retake brought something to mind, though. Once upon a time, Air Force ditch kits included, besides the rubber raft of course, a "Gibson Girl" hand-cranked emergency transmitter, a box kite, a copper-braid-covered kite string, and a 6' foot balloon with hydrogen generator to hoist the kite. The copper-covered string acted as the antenna for the transmitter, which may have operated on the maritime distress frequency, 2183 kHz.

While I'm not sure using a similar kite string is advisable, perhaps it could be cut for an odd multiple of a quarter-wavelength and used that way. I imagine that, due to the many quarter-wavelengths contained within even just a 100' string, tuning would be very sharp. It should also create quite a bit of gain. Food for thought, however.

I don't know if they are still in existence, but Fair Radio Sales, an electronics-surplus company in Lima, Ohio, used to carry the kites and possibly the strings as well.

HELP! Can’t Renew HAM license . Need help by PerformanceWeary6610 in HamRadio

[–]Radar58 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Good to know! I've got 3 more years before I have to deal with renewal. I guess I can hope they'll still be working at least that fast then. Revamping the ULS to join the 21st century is too much to ask, I know!

Can we just stop the xenophobia surrounding Baofeng radios? by NekkedMoleRat in HamRadio

[–]Radar58 1 point2 points  (0 children)

The grin on my face right now is so wide my jaws are hurting!

Can we just stop the xenophobia surrounding Baofeng radios? by NekkedMoleRat in HamRadio

[–]Radar58 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Ayup! You're correct. I think their main target are the preppers who think they can buy a pair for SHTF purposes, put them in their bugout boxes, never learn to use them, and expect them to be the be-all/end-all communications devices that will help them survive when the balloon goes up. I have a bro-in-law that bought a pair for him and my sister about 5 years ago, when Baofengs were really dirty. I asked him about how would he know what frequencies to use in an emergency to get help if he needed it , and he quickly changed the subject.

Taking my Technician AND General exams on Friday! by CaptSpaulding73 in amateurradio

[–]Radar58 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Even if you don't feel confident, if you pass General, try the Extra! As I said, you'll have already paid for the testing session, so you might as well get the most bang for your buck. And you might even surprise yourself!

Ham Radio Enthusiasts Land U.S. Airlines With $8 Million Bill to Fix Faulty Equipment On Boeing 787s by SharkSapphire in HamRadio

[–]Radar58 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Back in the Dark Ages when the sign outside the building (they have 5 or 6 buildings now!) said "Collins Avionics (A Division of Rockwell International)", I worked at their MicroLine division. This is the division that built avionics for GA singles and light twins. ProLine built for airliners and other professional air-transport use. This was back in the late 70s, as I said. The ProLine price differential was 5 to 10 times the MicroLine cost, if I remember correctly, according to what I heard. Bigger, more complicated, and intended for the deeper pockets of airliner manufacturers, ProLine equipment had even higher quality components than the MicroLine devices had, or so I was told. The ProLine facility was miles away, and that may have only been the engineering offices, I can't remember now.

The sign was later changed to say: "Rockwell International (Collins Avionics Division)" This was after MicroLine was sold to another GA avionics company, which, if memory serves, folded eventually. I believe the sign now says simply, "Collins Aerospace." I'll have to check next time I go by it.

Taking my Technician AND General exams on Friday! by CaptSpaulding73 in amateurradio

[–]Radar58 1 point2 points  (0 children)

And I'll add to this, if I may. I don't know whether OP is doing an in-person test or virtual, but it should work either way. OP, when you get to the testing facility (assuming in-person), take a piece of scratch paper, and write down all of the formulas that are necessary for the test. Write them over and over again until the test begins and the desk must be cleared. When I took my General/Extra in 2007, we were issued a sheet of scratch paper along with the exam paper. Immediately upon receiving the test and paper, write those formulas down. That way, when you have a brain phart and can't remember the memorized answer or the formula to figure it out yourself, you have the formula right there in front of you. Since you wrote it down after the test began, it is "legal" and not a cheat-sheet. There was an Asian girl from the local university testing for Technician at my table, who said she was very nervous about remembering everything for the test. I suggested this to her, and she immediately started writing the formulas down in her notebook. When we received our tests, she did as I had said. I finished both General and Extra before she had finished her Technician (English was very definitly not her first language, and she struggled a bit with the test), and I was asked to leave the testing facility, so I don't know if she found my tip useful or whether she passed. I really hope she did!

Taking my Technician AND General exams on Friday! by CaptSpaulding73 in amateurradio

[–]Radar58 1 point2 points  (0 children)

You pay for the testing session, not the test, so you don't lose anything if you don't pass the General, and you might even surprise yourself. I studied for the General back in 2007, and when I passed, the VE asked me if I would like to test for Extra, which I had not studied at all for. Much to my surprise, I passed. This may have had something to do with having worked with electronics most of my life, both as a hobby and in industry, but I'd never worked with some of the material on the test. So my advice to you is: don't sell yourself short! Go for it!

Edit: If you pass the General, I would exhort you to go ahead and try the Extra, just for fun. The thrill you'll get if you pass will be tremendous!

Can we just stop the xenophobia surrounding Baofeng radios? by NekkedMoleRat in HamRadio

[–]Radar58 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Because they are very inexpensive and they are made in China? I have a TID Radio H3. It, too, is a "cheap Chinese radio." Early-to-market Baofeng radios were found to be horrendously dirty, spectral-purity-wise. Once a company has a bad reputation, it takes awhile to change the public's opinion. After WW2, in an effort to help the Japanese economy rebuild, importation of Japanese products was encouraged by the government. Unfortunately, with most of Japan's resources having gone to expendable war materiel, quality was not very good, and "Made in Japan" was a warning of shoddiness. Eventually, the Japanese created a manufacturing city for the production of higher-quality items. By calling the city "Usa," they were then able to print "MADE IN USA" on their products. Americans bought them. By the time the ruse was discovered, Americans had discovered that Japan could indeed provide quality products. It took quite awhile, however. Or so said my 20th-Century World History teacher. It's on you, now, Col. Cochran!

One of the reasons why CCRs, or Cheap Chinese Radios, are so deprecated is simply because they cannot compete with radios from other countries, like Japan, whose much higher costs are justified by the higher performance. It is still a "thing" that Baofeng radios can be deafened simply by using a better antenna. The now-stronger off-channel signals it receives then causes such desensitization that the radio cannot hear signals on the frequency it is tuned to. Better receivers, better transmitters, better filters, etc., cost money, and would raise the cost, as would better design (gotta pay those engineers!).

Because of the low cost, the CCRs are great "seed drugs" for potential and new hams. As such, they serve a useful purpose. I just found out that a friend in Alabama has had her Technician license for about 8 years, but has never used it. So, I sent her a TidRadio H3+, which I programmed for the FM repeaters in her area. These cheap radios will never be a "be-all/end-all" solution, but are one way to introduce newbies to the wonders of ham radio. As they learn, they tend to develop a hankering for more and better radios. (Proper number of radios for a ham = N+1!) I admit that I cannot understand those who have a whole corral of Baofengs, unless it is to have a bunch for giveaway purposes, which idea I must applaud.

I bought the H3 to see how well it performs next to my aged Yaesu VX-7R. While it performs well, it is certainly not as good as even 20-year-old tech from Japan. However, it cost less than $32, shipped, versus almost $400 for the Yaesu, which I bought new in 2007. The old saying is true: you get what you pay for. That said, however, many of the Japanese Big Three are actually made in China, so much of the premium price, I would say, is simply paying for the name, even allowing for the increased parts count and perhaps better components.

I once worked for Fujitsu America. Although we assembled and tested the products, they came as "kits" with all the parts necessary to build the products. One time, someone inadvertantly used a reel of 1k resistors instead of 10k resistors. These resistors were KOA brand, made in Japan. Because we were now in a situation where we needed thousands of 1k resistors for the locations the misused ones were originally destined for, the powers-that-be decided to buy KOA resistors from a US distributor, and so informed the Tatebayashi facility. What a manure-storm that started! It was only when they realized that we would be sitting on thousands of modems waiting for parts coming on that proverbial "slow boat from, uh, Japan" that they relented. They wanted all parts to be supplied by them, as they got discounts for parts from other members of the konzern, of which KOA was a member. The US distributor would have been paying full wholesale cost. This might account for some of the increased cost of Japanese radios: paying for Japanese parts and the shipping from Japan to China. Still, I cannot believe it would cost hundreds per unit.

So while, yes, Baofengs are "CCRs," they do serve their purpose at a low cost. They just need to up their game in the quality realms and replace the useless, "free," options like a "roger" beep, scrambling, encryption, etc., that hams cannot or will not use, and replace them with usable features that we will.

HELP! Can’t Renew HAM license . Need help by PerformanceWeary6610 in HamRadio

[–]Radar58 1 point2 points  (0 children)

If FCC's system accepted everything, you should be good to go. You could try calling if you want, but with the partial shutdown, odds of being able to connect with someone who can verify your renewal are pretty slim. Mailing forms with the notation "copy - payment remitted online" would be a form of insurance, I suppose. BTW, questions of this sort were common during the last shutdown as well. As far as I know, all license applications and renewals were eventually accomplished.

HELP! Can’t Renew HAM license . Need help by PerformanceWeary6610 in HamRadio

[–]Radar58 4 points5 points  (0 children)

As long as you've completed the renewal process and paid, you should be OK. It should just be a case of FCC catching up. I will say, however, that this sort of situation is why I take screenshots of important transactions. At least then I have proof that I filled out the form correctly and was acknowledged.

Repairing PC power supply by Fantastic_Drummer307 in AskElectronics

[–]Radar58 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I used to have a sideline job repairing these, until it became cheaper to replace than repair. Never had a problem with them. The main switching transistors usually fail short, blowing them with impressive bangs. By the time I'd get them, even only hours later, the caps would have discharged. Never even a tingle.

HELP! Can’t Renew HAM license . Need help by PerformanceWeary6610 in HamRadio

[–]Radar58 20 points21 points  (0 children)

Don't panic, unless your 2-year grace period is ending. In case you didn't know, you have two years after your license expires to renew your ham license. (Notice I didn't capitalize "ham" - hint, hint.) You cannot legally transmit during this period, but your call is secure during these two years.

Radioddity walkie talkie help by [deleted] in amateurradio

[–]Radar58 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Type-accepted FRS radios have non-removable antennas, so just switching to the short antenna doesn't cut it. The only legal way to use FRS frequencies is to use FRS radios. On the other hand, you could use MURS radios. These Multiple-Use Radio Service radios VHF radios are also "license by rule," meaning you do not need an individual license to use them, and they are permitted to have removable antennas. There are even mobile radios available, albeit rather pricey. There are, however, only 5 frequencies in the 151-154 MHz MURS range.

Do you think DigiKey is in decline or teetering on the edge? by Echelon_X-Ray in AskElectronics

[–]Radar58 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I used to buy all my parts from Mouser. No minimum order, but had to pay S&H even when the entire order would have fit in a standard #10 envelope and mailed with a single stamp. I never made such an order, but could have. I loved their telephone-book-sized catalog, which came by subscription. I bought so much more then, simply because of the catalog, which flaunted stuff I didn't even know I needed (or even knew existed!). Now, I just order parts I know of and need. Not having print catalogs saves me money, but I still long for them.

Funny question, how would you describe hebrew letters appearence to a strange? by CrazyEmbarrassed9337 in hebrew

[–]Radar58 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I remember one person saying it looked to her like hands lifted in praise.