Short Wave Listening000

NE WNE S
Short Wave Pre-Publication Offer To

Listening PW Readers - Save £1 (p&p free)
HAN BOOK
www.americanradiohistory.com
perfOIinance you can
have areal field day with.
With Yaesu's FT-757GXlII, you can Automatic step-change ac~ording and duct-flow cooling system for
enjoy full-featured HF to mode. IF notch-filter. 10 continuous RTTY operation for up
performance just about anywhere. memories. And VFO to VFO scan. to 30 minutes.
On vacation. During field day. On Plus you get an iambic electronic Computer Aided Transceiver
the road. Or in your shack. keyer. Woodpecker noise blanker. (CAT) System for computer
Because the FT-757GXlII packs 600-Hz CW filter. AM and FM control via optional interface.
all its HF performance into one modes. AF speech processor. And Of course, the FT-757GXlII
highly compact, action-ready case. 25-kHz marker generator. All at no offers the kind of options you'd
A case so small, it even fits under extra cost. expect from Yaesu, too. Including
airplane seats. Three microprocessors. Dual standard and heavy-duty power
. Of course, you've probably VFOs. Single-button VFO/memory supplies, automatic antenna tuner,
noticed a similarity to its swap. Receive coverage from 500 hand and desk microphones.
predecessor, the FT-757GX. That's kHz to 30 MHz. Transmit coverage So no matter where you work
purely intentional. And now its from 10 to 160 metres, including the DX, take along Yaesu's
performance is even better. WARC bands. All-mode coverage FT-757GXlII. The full-featured HF
With new features like memory (LSB, USB , CW, AM and FM). rig you'll have a real field day with.
storage of operating mode. lOO-watt RF output.
Slow/fast tuning selection. QSK operation. Massive heatsink
UK Sole Distributor South Midlands Communications Lld S.M. House, School Close,
Chandlers Ford Industrial Estate, Eastleigh, Hants S05 3BY Tel (0703)255111
Prices and specifications subject to change without notice.
APRIL 1989 (ON SALE 9 MARCH 1989) VOL. 65 NO. 4 ISSUE 985
15 * Pre·publlcatlon Book Offer
Newnes Shortwave Listening Handbook
*
20 Modifying the Realistic DX I 00
Alan Mills G 1CAQ
22 A Two·tone OscUlator-1
Roger Alban GW3SPA
24 Antenna Clinic-Session 4
F. C. Judd G2BCX
26 Packet Radio Update-2

Roger J . Cooke G3LDI
28 SlmplUled Filter Design Routine

Ben Sullivan
30 Understanding Circuit Dlagrams-13

R. F. FauUey G3ASG
33 PWRevlew
Amp Supply Co LKSOO·ZC HF Linear
Ken Michaelson G3RDG
36 All About Lamps-2

J. D. Harris
*
Free pull·out with this Issue
World Callslgn Prenx Map and List
*
(between pages 36 and 37)
38 Kitchen Konstruktlon No. 11

Richard Q. Marris G2BZQ
46 Wireless In 1928-2
John D. Heys G3BDQ
48 Practically Yours
Glen Ross G8MWR
Regular Features
71 Advert Index 49 On the Air 40 Snippets
41 Binders 40 PCB Service 41 Subscriptios
42 Book Service 14 PW Services 32 Swap Spot
12 Comment 35 Short Wave 12 Write On
16 News Desk Magazine
Editor Technical Artiat Editorial and Advertiaement Manager

Geoff Arnold I.Eng FSERT G3GSR Rob Mackie Advertiaement Offlcea: Roger Hall G4 TNT
Aaaiatant Editor Adminiatration Manager Practical Wireless PO Box 948
Dick Ganderton C.Eng MIERE G8VFH Kathy Moore Enelco House London SW6 2DS
Art Editor Accounta The Quay
.. 01-7316222
Steve Hunt Alan Burgess Poole, Dorset BH 1 5 1PP
Cellphone 0860 511382
Technical Featurea Editor Clerical Aaaiatant .. Poole (0202) 678558 FAX01-3841031
Elaine Richards G4LFM Rachel Parkes (Out-ol-hours service by
Technical Projecta Sub-Editor answering machine)
Richard Ayley G6AKG FAX Poole (0202) 666244 Advert Copy and Make-up
Editorial Aaalatant .. Poole (0202) 678558
Preatel202671191
Sharon George
COPYRIGHT (c) PW Publishing Limited 1989. Copyright in all drawings, photographs, and articles published in Practical Wireless is lully protected and
raproduction or imitation in whole or in part is expressly forbidden. All reasonable precautions are taken by Practical Wireless to ensure that the advice and data
given to our readers are reliable. We cannot however guarantee it and we cannot accept legal responsibility for it. Prices are those current as we go to press.
Practical Wireless, April 1989
•
lCrOWaVe I
MML 144 100-5 £149 (c)
odule
100 Walls output power.
SuiIa/lIeotor 10 or 25 Watt transceivers.
LNI!r aIknode operation.
81t'a1aht.~ ClP!tI8t1on when turned off.
eq.:
UIIfti:IoW rioIs8 receive preamplifier - front panel selectable.
Led
with RF VOX and manual override.
lights for power. transmit and preamp on.
~ :vlML 144 30-L5 £105 (8)

output power.
1 or 3 Watt transceivers.
operation.
operation when tumed off.
" 'lllll'abN noise receive preamplifier - front panel seIectabIe.
Eqliipp!ld wIIh RF VOX and manual override.
lights for power. transmit and preamp on.
rM~1T 50 28-S £295 (8)

1r 20 Walls output power.
** OUtput
I!IPut frequency range 28-3OMHz.
frequericy range 5O-54MHz.
** Input ~el range 0.1-750 milliwatts.
Modes.- SSB. FM. CW. FSK or AM.
** Exceptional
18.5 DB conversion gain.
large ~na1 receiver performance.
* RF vox operator adjustable from 20 miUiseconds to 1.5 seoonds.
MMT 70,144 £149 (8)
** Output
10 watts TX output.
frequency range 70-72MHz.
*** Low
Input frequency range 144-146MHz.
Input power range fO-SOO milUwatts.
noise receive converter.
** Input
RF vox prtMdes automatic chanaeover.
modes:- SSB, FM, AM or CW.
Mrvn 50 144 £295 (8)
** 20 Watts output power.
~ frequency range 144-148MHz.
** OUtput frequency range 5O-54MHz.
InpUt ~ range 150 milliwatts-15 watts.
* Modes.-
** ~
SSB. FM. CW. FSK or AM.
10 dB oonversion Qain.
large S!9na1 receiver performance.
* RF VOX operator adjustable from 20 milliseconds to 1.5 seconds.
MICROWAVE MODULES RF Amp li fier

BrookfieJd Drive, Aintree, Liverpool L97 7AN. England. and Transvc ncr
Cata logue
TeI: 051-523 4011. Telex: ~ MICRO G. Fax: 051-523 8899.
ALL PRODUCTS
... wdcome but it is advisable 10 lelephone in advance 10 ascertain Slock levels.
houn of business 1ft:.
ARE FULLY
Monday-Friday. 9-12.30. 1-5.00 p.m. GUARANTEED
(I'IooI" ....... B - &5.C=f6I. 12 MONTHS
2 Practical Wireless, April 1989
~,~\C~~~9.~~ ~:r;I~
A.v ~\'\
CO~
1110.. back those two unloved
l\"· ~\, characters "Bern & Bren". Bernie G4AOG Brenda G4VXL
Of' Bernie has been in hiding due to the " BRENDA - WH EN I WAS 10 I "THAT MUST HA VE BEEN 20
S~ G many contracts out on him & Brenda has
MADE MY FIRST CRYSTA L SET' YEARS BEFORE MARCONI"
'1~Y been to Brazil rounding up the coffee beans I
The fabulous TS680S. General Cover-
TS680S age, Multimode, now that SIX Metres is

open, there is no better time to buy.
Discounted price £929 .00 including WE ASKED-
FREE microphone MC43S.
Also available the TSI40S without six,
£799.00. IS IT POSSIBLE TO
PACK ANY MORE INTO
A HAND-HELD?
and YAESU SAID YES!
SO HERE SURELY MUST BE THE
PHONE 01-997 4476 ULTIMATE IN HANO-HELOS.
Similar to the TSI40/680S, but with ad-
The YAESU FT 728
ditional "base station enhancements" ,
the ever popular TS440S continues to
be a best seller. At our discounted prices
of only £1199 wrth ATU and £1039
without, can you really resist the
temptation?
PHONE 01-997 4476

• Dual display
For the ICOM enthusiast, the IC735 is • Full 5 watts output
IC735n25 probably the most popular HF trans-

ceiver available under £1 K. Still avail-
able at a very competitive price . Phone
capability
• Programmable power
save
for details.
"-'--- n~=. -~'C''. -::.-

• Auto shut-off
0' ~ ~
'l"-~
• FT23R173R accessory
compatible.
o- E:. .., ~:.::.=
..." Ust price slashed 111
£ phone!
lcom have now introduced the new '

IC725 as an economy version. Available
from stock at only £749.00 Phone for updated info
PHONE 01-997 4476 01-997 4476
Opening Hours \Ionday-Friday 9.3n to S.3n .\RE ('Ollllllllllil'ations Lilllitl'd. () J{o~al !'aradl'.
:\OW OPE:\ SATl'RDA Y \IORNINGS 1O.()n-lpm Hangar I.anl'. Ealing. I.ondon \\S .\ I ET. England
Fa'\: 111-991 2S(,S Tdl'\ 1)~1I1()ISS \J{IT ( ;
~~ Td: nl-997 ~~76
Practical Wireless, April 1989 3

IC-228E
2 ele-:F
Transceiver
Actual
size
Features: • Scanning.
• Multicolour liquid Crystal Display. • Call and priority function.
• 25 Watt output. • Compact size.
• 20 Memory channels. • HM 15 microphone supplied.
Take a close look at this easy to use and ,miss those you choose. The program
compact VH F Mobile Transceiver. It's unique scan will scan all frequencies between two
orange, red and green LCD highlights the programmable limits. The call channel ensures
numbers and letters for easy viewing . With a that your favourite frequency is within easy
25 watt output from a custom designed power reach, and with the priority watch the call
module and a extra large heatsink, this trans- channel or memory channels can be monitored
ceiver does not get too hot under your every five seconds .
dashboard . This transceiver provides you with so
Each of the 20 memory channels can store many features, its small compact size and simple I
frequency, offset and direction, in fact all the front panel design make it a superb mobile
information to work simplex or a repeater. The transceiver . See the IC-228E or the IC-228H 45
memory scan function will scan the memory watt high power version at your local ICOM
channels and with the skip function dealer.
1(-32101 Dual Band FM Mobile
If you are newly licensed or just undecided about which Features:

band to operate first, then the new ICOM IC-321 0 is just the • Full crossband duplex.
answer. This dual band FM transceiver is ideally suited for the • 20 double-spaced memory
mobile operator. Transmit on one frequency and receive on the channels.
other and you're operating full duplex . It's just like talking on • Built-in duplexer.
the telephone . • 2 call channels.
• 4 priority watch functions.
• Programmed, memory and
The simple and well laid-out front panel ensures quick selected band memory scan.
and easy operation of all its many functions. A great conven ience • Variable LeO backlight intensity.
when driving. Optional accessories available are the UT 40 tone • Tone squelch and pocket beep
squelch boa rd . HS15 + S8 mobile microphone and switch box functions (optional).
SP8 external speaker and PS45 AC power supply. • 25 watts output.

SM[ South Midlands Ca
SCHOOL CLOSE, CHANDLERS FORD IND. EST., EASTLEIGH, HO
*FREE FINANCE - BUY NOW SAVE M

ARE YOU READY FOR FIREWORKS ON SIX
Since the autumn of '88 with the increase in solar activity there have been openings to ZS, ZD, VE, W, HC, 5NO, LU, FY7, VP2,
KP4, T1 and the prefix list is likely to increase daily. Now's the time to equip yourself for the sunspot peak. SMC can supply the
transceivers, modules, antennas and amplifiers etc., that will enable you to maximise your ERP (within licence conditions) no
matter what your antenna restriction or feed line loss happens to be. We have equipment available from Yaesu, Create, Tokyo
Hypower, Jaybeam, Icom, BNOS, and Microwave Modules.
TRANSCEIVERS
FT736R (module optional).... .. .............. ........ ........ .. ..... . ..... . £1359.00
FT767GX (module optional) ................. .. .. ...... ......... £1559.00
FT690R22 1/2W . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ... . .. . . .. . . . . .. . . . . . .. £399.00
FL6020 lOW PA for FT690R2 ......... ... .. .................. ...... ....... ... £109.00
FEX736/S0 6M unit FT7361 OW .......................... .. .. .. ............ £239.00
FEX 1441767 6M unit FT767 lOW ..... ... .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .......... ... ... .... . £169.00
HT106 6M lOW SSBlCW .. ...... .... ... ....... ..... .. ... .. .... .. ... ... . ...... £325.00
ICSOS 6M 3/1OW ......... ............. ... ........................... ... .... ... £529.00
ICS7S10Ml6M Base lOW ........ .. .. ..... .. .... .. .... .. .... ......... £1042.00
ICS7SH 10Ml6M Base looW ..... ......... ......... .. ..... .. ...... .. £1199.00 HT 106
Linear Amps
HL66V lOW to SO/60W preamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . .. . .. . . ... . ... . .. . . . . . . . . .. £129.00
HL 166V 3/1OW to 80/160W preamp ................. ....... .. .. .............. £249.00
HLlKl61 OW Drive 2 X 4CX20Sb ... ......... .. .. .. .... ..... ... .. ...... £945.00
LPSO-30-S 3W to SOW preamp ...... ........ .. .. .. ... ...... .. .. .. ..... ... .. ... £138.00
LPSO-l0-l0 10WtoSOWpreamp ......... .. . ...... ...... ....... .... .. £138.00
TOKYO HY-POWER LPMSO-l 0-1 00 lOW to 1OOW preamp ............ . ... .. ... .. .... .. .... ...... £235.00
ANTENNAS
CL6DX create 6 ele Vagi . . . . . . . .. . . . .. .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. .. . .. . . . . . . . . .. . . .. . . .. £115.00
CL6DXXcreate7eleYagi ................ .... .... .... .. .. .. .. ... ....... .. .. £168.99
CL6DX2create8eleYagi ......... .. .. .. .. .. .. .... .... .. .. .. ...... ........... £225.00
4 Y16M Jaybeam 4 ele Vagi ................................... ............. £54.05
DB4 Jaybeam 4 ele 4/6M Vagi ................................................ £129.26
2HB6 6M ZL 2 ele Vagi .............. .... .... ... .. .. .. .. .. .... .. .. ........ .. . ..... £35.00
SO/2 Met 2 ele Vagi . . .. ...... ... .. .... .. .. .... ......... .. .... ... .. .... .. ..... .. . .. £34.39
SO/3 Met 3 ele Vagi . . . . . . . . .. . . . .. .. . . . .. . . . .. . . .. .. . . . . .. . . .. .. .. .. . . . ... .. . ... £42.95
SO/S Met S ele Vagi . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . ... . .. .. ........... ............. ....... . .. £64.40
Model4Y/6M
,~(, .... 11 ~ ~.. ' lM1.X>'

- TRANSVERTERS
MMTSO/l44 6M 20W 2M IF ....... . .................................. .. ... ...
MMTSO/286M20Wl0MIF ...... . ................ .. .. .. ....... . .....
TL SO-28-2S 6M 2SW 10M IF ..... .. .. .. .. ... .. ... .... ...... . ......... .. ......
£289.80
£289.80
£316.25
. ~______.._.~_'_'''_.ty__-------. ~
~~4t= TL SO-144-2S 6M 2SW 2M IF ......... ......... . ...... ..... ...... £299.00
MMT 50/144 ATTENTION FT726 OWNERS

If you are missing out on the 6M information net on 28.885MHz then we have the answer. Yaesu manufactured an HF option
for the FT726R that enabled operation on 10M, 17M and 15M. SMC have managed to obtain the last few of the units from
Yaesu and at a very attractive price. Just what you need to keep in touch with the latest news and for crossband full duplex'
operation 6M-10M. Don 't you be the one to miss those exotic crossband OSO 's. Supplies of the HF module are limited, order
now to avoid disappointment.
Only £169.00 inc.

'with SAT unit fitted.
.uos CHESTIRAELD BUCKlfY JERSEY N. IRElAND BIRMINGHAM AXMINSTER

SMC (Nonhem) SMC(MitMMds) SMC (lMP) SMC (Jersey) SMC N. Ireland SMC (Birming/lam) Keg Ward & Co lid
NowelllMe IOZ High Street Unit 27, Pinmld Lane 1 Belm..,t Gardens 10 Ward Avenue 504 Alum Rock Road 1 Western Parade
Industrial ~ N_ WhillingtDn, Buckley, Clwyd Sl Helier. Jersey Bangor Alum Rock West StreeI,
t.s LS9 6JE Chesterfield Buckley (OZ44) 549563 Jersey (0534) Tl!'KJ7 County Down Birmingham Ba JIIX Axminster
t.s (0532)lSOIiOIi Chest (OZ46) 453340 111-5 Tu.., Weds, Fri t-5 pm Mon-Sat OZ47 271875 (021 -327)1497/6313 Devon EX13 SHY
t-531 Mon-Sat 9.311-531 Tues-Sat 10-4 Sat Closed Wed 9.110-5.00 Tu..-Fri Axrninster (1IZ97) 34!118
Closed Sat afternoon 9.00-4.00 Sat t-5.JO Tuos-Sat
Southampton Showroom open 9.00-5.00 Monday to Friday. 9.00-1 .00 Saturday. Service Dept open Moo-Fn 9.00-5.00.
SOUTH WAllS A6B1T: JOIII OOYLE, T1WISWORUI CUMMS, IlEATH (06391 52374 DAY (06391 2942 EVE
[\
mmunicatio.,s Ltd..... YAESU

TS. 505 3BY TEL: 0703 255111 FAX: 0703 263507 TLX: 477351
ONEY -
A SELECTION OF YAESU PRODUCTS
OO/oINTEREST SUBJECT
TO
STATUS
& ACCESSORIES
OPTIONS FOR FT767GX
SP767 Speaker with audio filters ............. .. .................... £69.95
1441767 2M module . . . . . . . .. .. . ... ................. £169.00
5017676M module ..... .... .. ... ...... ............ ....... . . ... " £169.00
4301767 70CM module £215.00
F17000 500W linear .... . .... ............... .. .. . £1600.00
OPTIONS FOR FT757GX

FC700 ATU manual . . . .. . . .. . . .. . . . . . . . . . . .. £149.00
FP757HO 20A PSU HID ....... .... ........ .... ........ .... ...... £258.75
FC757AT Automatic ATU ..................... ... ..... ..... ....... £349.00
MMB20 Mobile mount ......... ... ... .... ..... ... .. ...... .. . ... ......... £25.00
OPTIONS FOR FT747GX

FC700 ATU manual .. .... . . . .. . . .......... ...... .. £149.00
FP700 Mains PSU ............... . . ... .. £219.00
03000568 FM unit ....... ... .......... .. .. ..... .. .......... .. ......... £39.90
03000569 TXCO unit ..... £46.00
MMB38 Mobile mount ............................... .. ...... .... .... £22.00
OPTIONS FOR FT290R2I690R2I790R2

FBA8 Battery case ...................................................... £27.00
Fl20252M25WPA ........ . .... .. .. .. .. ..... .. ......... .... £115.00
FL60206M 1OW PA £109.00
FL7025 70CM 25W PA .. . .. .. . . £139.00
CSC19 Carrying case ........................ ... £8.50
NC26C Charger . .. £11.50
MM831 Mobile mount ..... ...... ........ .. ... £17.50
OPTIONS FOR FT4700RH

YSK4700 Remote kit .. .......................... ... .... £24.95
FTS8 CTCSS unit . ... £60.83
A02 Ouplexer 2M170CM ... ....... .. ..... .. . .......... ......... £26.45
MH 14B8 Speaker mic .... . .. .. ............ ............. . .... ........ £25.00
MH15C8 OTMF mic . .. .. ............. ........ .. .. .... .. £37.50
OPTIONS FOR FT736R

FEX501736 6M module . .. . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . .. . £239.00
FEX1.2!736 23CM module . ...... ............... £425.00
FMP1 Message processor .......... .. ................... ......... £159.00
03000535 Keyer unit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ........ £15.95
XF455MC CW filter .......................... . ....... . £60.00
FIF232CVAN CATITNC interface . . . ........ ... .. .. .. ..... . . £125.00
SP767 Speaker with audio filters ................... . . .... . £69.95
GENERAL ACCESSORIES
MH 1B8 Hand mic . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. .............. .. ....... . ... £21.00 SP55 Mobile speaker .................... ................ . . ......... £18.95
M01 BB Desk mic ............... .... ...... .. .. .. ..... £79.00 SP3 Mobile speaker, magnetic base .... .... .. ... .. ...... .... . ..... £14.55
YH55 Headphone .... £19.99 SP4 Mobile speaker clw noise fitter .................. . ...... ... £20.13
YH77 Headphone, lightweight ................... .. ........... £19.99 YH1 Mobile headset ......................... . .... .. .... £28.75
MF1 A2B Boom mic .. . ..................... . .................. £25.00 S810 PTTswitch unit8pin ............................. .. ..... .. .... .. £22.00
SMC NORTHERN (LEEDS) CLOSED SATURDAY AFTERNOONS

-FREE FINANCE ON SELECTED ITEMS Free interlink delivery on major equipment YAESU DISTRIBUTOR WARRANTY
On many regular priced items SMC offers Free Finance (on Small items, Plugs, Sockets, ete by post £t .75. Anten· Importer warranty on Yaesu Musen products. Ably
invoice balances over £120) 20% down and the balance over nas, cables, Wires & larger items. Lynx up to £5. Interlink staffec and equippec Service Department. Daily
6 months or 50% down and the balance over a year delivery available, upon request for items other than contact With the Yaesu, Musen·factory. Tens of
You pay no more than the cash pricel radios from £7.30 depending on weight. Same day thousands of spares and test equipment.
Details of eligible items available on request despatch whenever possible.
'Subject to status PRICES & AVAILABILITY SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT PRIOR NOTICE
~ f
Y ERLIN
MERLIN WAY, BOWERHILL,
MELKSHAM, WILTSHIRE SN12 6TJ.
Tel: 0225 706886.
SYSTEMS
BLACK JAGUAR MkIII
The new Mmk IIllS probably OUI most WIZARDS PACKS
RADIAL ELECTROLYTCIS POWER ELECTROLYTICS
populm handhold scanner with 16
., 2oH220ul .25lJr3801J £1 .30
".." £1~
lOot! lul 350v 45p
channels of memory and a sensitive 10 oH 2 2uf 35v 35p
5 oH SOul l SOul 200v ro,
10 off 22u125Ov " 40p 2 oH 3400u11 3400u1 4()Y
receIver. Selectable AM or FM reception 10 oH 3 Jul 100v
.,.,"" 40p 2 oH 22OOu1 63v
2 oH 15OOu1100v
""" £1 .60
and the facility to power the set from the
mams or cm using one of the many
10 off 10u1~
10 oft lOu1S011
10 off 22ul !Qv .,.,
40p
35p
35p
2011 IJOOOut 25v
5 oH 33OOu1 2~v
" ...
£1 .00
accessories now available

10 of! 22ul 35...
10 oH 47ut 35v .,., 35p
40p MISCELLANEOUS
.,., 1 oH RS 591 ·118 PSU 5\1 la (24OYac In) £1 .00
""
5 oH 47ut 250v SOp
[2.40
Frequencies 28-30 MHz. 50-88 MHz. 10 off 47ut 25v 35p 1 off 120 12v 6\1a Translormer (ehas) .
115-178 MHz. 200-280 MHz. 360-520 MHz.

10 oH lOOuI6()v
10 off lDOul 1Qv
10 oH 220uf 25v
.,
.,.,
4",
40p
45p
tot!
1 oH
5 oH
2(N 4~a )( 2 Transformer (PCfI)
18 0 1!W 6va Transformer (PCB) ..
B9A lJaJile Bases
aI
aI
aI
£1 .80
[1 .70
60p
.,.,
£199 NEW LOW PRICE £1~
1 off Seledr{)n 01 GlOml!S
10 at! 22Ou1 16v
10 et! 22Ou1 IQv
35p
35p 2 oH SOohm BNC sockets (Ampr,enol) . ""
10 off 22Ou1 4011
to ott ZlOuf 50v
5 oH 470u1 50v
.,
aI
45p
SOp
45p
2 off
2 ott
5 ott
750nm BNC sockets
SOohm BNC sockets IliHea<l
5.H BNC sockets """
£1 .30
£1 .60
£2.00
Black Jaguar Accessories 10 off 1000U1 25v
5 ott 22OOu1 25\1
.. .,.,
aJ SOp
7",
3 off
3 off
MaillS onIott swrtdles lsa w;th neon
Rocker switches SPOT 2a 25()yae .. "" £1 .10
£1 .50
(swtable for all models BJ200. Challenger etc) 5 oH 33OOu1 35v
2 off 470u! 200v
....
., 80p
£1.30
5 off
5 off
2 olf
Shde swrtdles DPOT ..
3w 2p SWllches With knob
300voci ac I 25a cutouts ..
"" £1'1'1:
85p
M obile M ount £6.95 2 oil
2 off
20ft
22Ou1 315v
220IJI 400v
lOO1.Jf400v
"" £2.00
£:2.50
£:2.30
2 off
3 off
65vdc 15,acutouls
ChaSSIS 1 2$rn Fusehoiders .
aI
aI
" 85p
35p
Base Mount £5.95 " 5 off 20mm Panel Fuseholders £1 .30
BJl Cm Supply (Mk III version only) £14.95 1 olf Relay 12voc col14PDT lOa w/sockei :·· "
aI [1 .70
BCA6 Mams Slow/ Fast Chmger £14.95

SEMICONDUCTORS
4 oH
S oH
2N305S NPN 1()()Y !Sa !17w T03
250670 NPN l20v Sa SOw T03
.,., £1 .20
£2.20
2 olf
10 ott
lot!
0.3 ohm l00w wire wound
Phooo plugs
IEC Sa MainS t~tef sockel
""
aI
60p
£1~
Alrband Rubber Duck Antenna .
SA7 UHF Stub Antenna
£6 .00
£4.95
3 oH
10 oH
2N5302 NPN 6CN 30a 200w T03
BSX47 NPN I20v la SOMhz T05 .,.," £2.00
80p
I off
lOt!
IECla MainS filtersockel
IEC la MainS tiltersockcl ......
aI
"
£1 .50
£1 .20
5 011
5 oH
25C2688 NPN 300v 200ma IOw T022
2SC1 51 4 NPN 3(X)v la T022 .,., 71lp
£1.10 THIS MONTH'S WIZARDRY
We are the UK Distributors for Bearcat Scanners 5011 258857 PNP 7011 4a 40w T022
3 oH 7812 12:11 RegulalorS T022
10 off 2N3904 NPN 60v 200ma
.,
.,
£1 .20
£1.30
80p
Cased bench power supplies
5V2A(also +I- 12V(fI 400mA) . .. .......... £15.30
Handheld Scanners 10 oH 2N3906 PNP 40v 200ma
10 off 2SC541 NPN 40\1 200ma ".r.r 80p
SOp + £2.60 p + p
10 ott 25C458 NPN 30v l00ma + 5V (11 4A. I 12V (1 1 lA. 5V (<I SOOmA. - 12V (u
Bemcat 55 XLT £99.00 .r
71lp
£:1 .30
Bemcat 70 XLT £149.99 5~~ IN5418
10
;:~~~~~I::~~S
oft 3a DIOdes
4()()y .,.,
.r SOp
£:1.20
SOOmA . . .. ... ... ......... ..... £:17.50 -t C2.60p + p
Pnnted circuil permanent magnet motor/generator
Bemcat 100 XL £189,99 10
10
ott Green lads
off Rod loos .r
£1.00
£: 1.00
WIth toothed bell reductIOn drive. Inputloutput 2V to
JOVupto 10Amps ... .. ......... £:14.00 I C3.SO p + p.
Bemcat 100 XL T £199,99 4 011 led OtSplays Corn Calh £2.00
Bemcat 200 XLT (mcludmg 900 MHz) £249.00

"'
mE WIZARDS COMPUTER DESII.---5J\le oYtr £t~ OOoolhlS NEWoesk l LI02cm (W74cm ... H74cm Wllh keyboardrecesS.ln(l cabtelllO
IJonklnq To goOO 10 miSs .11 (SO 00 , C1600 P&P
Base jMobile Scanners COMPflESSORS--Gasl rolary ai' vacuum pump 20P s~ 29rnvae. 1 12th HP NOvae motor r.oor:I tor DesotdermglAlrbrush WOr\( Just C17 00
Bemcat 175 XLT . + CJ 00 PSP
£169.99 IN THE WllARDS DEN !-We have horn time 10 lime me t01l0wmo new and S'H stock Pfllllers. Monrtors mono/colour Valve amps and
Bemcat 210 XLW £179.99 PSUs Lots o! odds and endS
Bemcat 580 XLT VISIT MERLIN-AI me toHowm(j ralllCs exhibitions. March 41h 81ue Slar Rally NewcaslIe Upon lyne , 12th GMX Tratord Rally Maf'IChesler
£199.00 MORE DATA-R109 me ·""13Id ()Il 0225 706886 IOay tlmel 0225 763027 (Homel For more IfllormaliOn 01 101 a VISIt to me wor'Ks
Bemcat 800 XLT (mcludmg 900 MHz) £229 .00 PAYMENT--Access Cheque. PO and Cash PoSI ano Packing on components Cl 50 over ('2{) 00 £1 00 Please add VAT 10 lotal
Thank you John all(] Adflan the Sorwels ApprentICe'
Bemcat 950 XLT (mcludmg 900 MHz) £269.00
NEW MODELS
COBRA SR925 Base Receiver - Ideal for oucraft enthu~just~
Covers 29-54 MHz. 118·174 MHz. 406-512 MHz £149.00
RS1
AOR 800 Handheld Wlth 900 MHz £199.00 RST MAIL ORDER CO.
LANGREX SUPPUES LTD.
AOR 900 Handheld with 900 MHz £235.00 1 MAYO ROAD,
AOR 2002 Base Wlth full coverage £487.00 CROYDON.
AOR 3000 New Broadband Base Model P. O. A . SURREY CRO 2OP.
SAB9 MW and Alrband Handheld £19.95 SPECIAL EXPRESS
Sony Air 7 Handheld - AlIband £249.95 MAIL ORDER SERVICE
. Sony Pro 80 Handheld· WIde band £349.95 £p
AZ31 2. 15 EM81 2.SO PL519 6.00 SAK5 5.99 6KD6 12.00
CL33 4.00 EM81 2.SO PL802 6.00 SAL5 1.50 6L6G 7.SO
NEW LOW LOSS JAPANESE COAX OY8&7
OY802
1.50 EN9!
EY51
6.SO
2.75
PY33 2.SO SAM6
SANS
6.02
4.15
6L6GC
6L7
7.50
2.50
1.50 PY81 1.50
Essenllal for best performance with Wldeband UHF scanners. E88CC 10.33 EY86 1.75 PYS2 1.50 SANSA 3.SO 6LOG 7.50
E!SOF 12.05 EY88 1.75 PY83 SA05 3.25 607 3.75
We have dlIectly unported thls cable which has excepllonal ES10f 35 .48 EY50DA 3.00 PY88
1.25
2.00
SAA5 25.00 6AHH8I6KNS
low loss EABCSO 1.25 EZ80 1.50 SAS6 8.66 10.00
EZ81 PY500A ' .00 6AS7G 8.15 6SA7 3.00
EB9! 1.50 1.50
PYSOO
Frequency 5D 8D lOD EBF80 1.50 GY5Ql 300
PY801
1.50
I .SO
SAT6 1.25 6SC7
6SG7M
2.15
EBF89 I .SO GZ32 4.00 SAUSGT 5.00 2.50
Loss/ mtr ,,' 100 MHz (dB) 0 .055 0039 0031 EC91 8.00 GZ33 4.75 OOV02-6 38.00 SAU6 2.SO 6SJ7 3.25
ECC33 4.50 GZ34 5.00 QQva3· 1a 26.25 SAWSA 3.15 6SK7 3.50
Loss/ mtr '" 400 MHz (dB) 0 1::" 0085 0068 ECC35 4.50 GZ37 4.75 OOV03·20A 687 3.25 6SL7GT 3.00
Loss/ mt! cl 1 GHz (dB) 0 18 ' 0 130 0 . 105 ECC81 1.15 KT61
KT66
5.00
15.00 QQV06-40A
48.38 6B8 3.25
1.50
6SN 7GT
6S57
3.00
2.15
ECC82 1.75 68A6
ECC83 1.15 KT77 Gold Lion " .00 6BA7 5.00 6USA 2.25
Price per m eter £0.56 £1.40 £1.99 ECCH5 1.15 12.00 QVD3· 12 6.80 6BE6 1.50 6V6GT 4.25
ECC88 3.50 KT88 15.00 A18 3.00 6BH6 2.50 6X4 3.00
ECC91 8.93 N78 15.00 A19 9.24 6BJ6 2.25 6XSGT 1.15
DISCONE ANTENNAS - Ne w BntLsh Made Antennas ECF80 I .SO OA2
OB2
3.25
4.35
SP41
SP61
6.00
4.00
6BN6
6B07A
2.00
3.50
12AX7
12BA6
1.15
2.50
ECH35 3.00
Nevada WB1300 (25-1300 MHz) ECH42 3.50 OC3
003
2.SO
2.50
U I9
U25
13.15
2.50
6BA7 6.00 12BE6
12BY1A
2.50
3.00
ECH8 1 3.00 6BASA 3.50
Wideband Top of the range ECL80 I .SO pe86
PC88
2.50
2.50
U26
U37
2.SO
12.00
6B57 6.00 12El
12HG7
20.00
4.50
ECl82 I .SO 6BW 6 6.00
stmnless steel £59.95 ECLS3 3.00 PC92 1.75 UABC80 1.25 6BWI I .SO JaFL 1/2
3OP4
1.38
ECL86 1.75 PC97 1.15 UBF89 1.50 6BZ6 2.15 2.SO
EFJ7A 5.00 PC900 1.75 UCH42 2.SO 6C4 1.25 3OP19 2.SO
EFJ9 2.15 PCFSO 2.00 UCHSl 2.50 6C6 3.50 JOPllJ 1.80
Nevada Discone H41 3.50 PCF82 I .SO UCL82 1.75 BCB6A 2.50 JOPl14 1.80
(50-700 MHz) EF42 4.SO PCfS6
PCFSOl
2.SO
2.SO
UCL83
UF89
2.15
2.00
BCD6GA 5.00 5128
805
65.00
46.00
EFSO 2.50 BCl6 3.15
HIgh QUalIty EF54 5.00 PCF802 2.SO UL41 8.00 BCH6 13.00 007 3.15
Ef55 3. SO PCF805 1.70 UL84 1.15 ry:y.;. 8.00 81 1A 18.33
8 Eleme nt EF80 1.75 PCF808 1.10 UY41 4.00 606 3.SO 812A 52.SO
PCH20a 3.00 813 66.00
£24.00 EF86
EF9 1
5.00
2.95 PCl82 2.00
UY85
VRlaS/3Q
2.25
2.50
6005
6OO6B
7.SO
4.15 866A 35.00
Nevada PA15 EF92 6.31 PCl83 3.00 VR150130 2.50 6EA8 3.00 872A 20.00
EF183 2.00 PCL84 2.00 Z759 25.00 SEH5 1.85 931A 18.50
Base Antenna 100-960 MHz. EFI84 2. 00 PCL85 2. SO Z803U 25.00 Sf6 3.00 2050 7.50
PCL86 5763 6.80
A new Colmem Ant Wlth over EH90
El32
1.75
2.SO PCL805
2.SO
2.50
2021
3B28
3.25
SO.OO
6GK6 3.50
5814A 4.00
SH6 3.00
9dB gain at 900 MHz £49.95 EL33 5.00 POSOO 6.00 4CJ(3OO saoo SHS6 3.71 5842 12.00
EL34 6.00 PFL200 2.50 5R4GY 5.50 6J5 4.50 6080 14.00
( +£460 P&P) EL36 2.SO PL36 2.50 5U4G 3.00 6J6 8.!13 6 146A 12.00
ELL80 25.00 PLSI 1.75 5V4G 2.50 6J7 4.15 6146B 12.00
ELS 1 5.25 PL82 I .SO 5Y3GT 2.50 6JB6A 7.50 6550 12.50
El84 2.25 PL83 2.SO 5Z3 4.00 6JEBC 7.50 6883B 12.SO
EL86 2.75 • PL84 2.00 5Z4GT 2.50 6JS6C 9.00 6973 7.50
EL91 7.39 PL504 2. 50 5'30[2 1.15 6I<6GT 2.15 7025 4.50
EL95 2.00 PL508 5.50 SAB7 3.00 61<7 3.00 1021A 9.00
EL360 18.50 PL509 6.00 6AH6 5.00 61<8 3.00 7586 15.00
7587 23.00
Tet 01-684 '166 Fax : 01-684 3056
Open dailv to callers : Mon·Fri 9 a.m.-4p.m .
Valves. Tubes and Transistors - Closed Saturday Prices correct
Terms C.W .O. only. allow 7 days for delivery when going
Prices excluding Quotations for any types not Irsted S.A.E. Telex 10 press
VAT add 15% Post and packing £' .00 per order 946708
ALINCO 2M FM ALR22E QRP HF TRANSCEIVERS SSB/CW
The budget 2m FM rig that is Single banders for SO; 40 ; or 20m with
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tional) . Hundreds in use . For
•
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watts of FM on 144-146MHz
plus full receive coverage from BOOKS & FREQUENCY LISTS
lOS-lS0MHz AM/FM . 20 THE BOOKS THAT ARE USED BY THE PROFESSIONALS, NEWS
memories any duplex split in AGENCIES, RADIO STATIONS, ETC.
any memory , auto tone-burst , UK Listeners Confident ial Frequenc\' List 1.6 to:lUMHz New t989 Edition .. .... .. ........ .. .. Phone
Complete Guide to VHFUHF Frequencies 25 to 2GHz .. . ... ... ................ .. ..... £5 .95
listen on input etc. etc. The VHFIUHF Airband Guide to Com mercial & Military. Pub Aug 19&~ ... ........ ... £5.95
airband section has been pur- HF Oceanic Airband Communications 1988.. ....... .... .... ... ......... . . .... .. .... ... 0.50
The Secret of Learning Morse Co(k .. . .... .... .. ........ .. .. £4.95
pose designed for the job. Send Pocket Guide to RID & FAX Station, ... ... ...... .. ................... .... ..... .. ....... .. .. .. ... £2.95
today for colour brochure. Marine Radio Frequency Guide HF & VHF (available end of February) ...... .. .. ... .. £495
OJ-l00E 2M FM Airhand Radto Handhook Second Edition .... ......... ... ...... .. .... .. .. ... . . .. .. .. ....... . £5 .95
ALINCO DJ-H)()E 2M FM Air TrafficControllw D Adai r ............... .. ......... .. .. .... ............. ........... .. .. .. .. .. .. ... £6.99
Latest rig from the ALINCO stable, this DIAMOND POWER METERS
handheld has been developed from the
successful ALX-2E. Now incorporating A superb ran ge of YSWR &
LCD display and 10 memory channels it Power meters from a verv fam-
will fit into even small pockets' The ex- ous stable' All with new ~tyling
tended receive range cover 140-170MHz and RMS/PEP readings.
a nd there are no extras to buy. Chris Lorek ... £95.U)
...... . £65.1X)
says in Ham Radio Today , "a lovely little .......... £7Y.I X)
transceiver with a very impressive technical ... .... £J IY.IXJ
performance. .. Phone
ALINCO ALD-24E Dual Bander

If you thought that dual band rigs
were expensive, then look again at
this one. It gives true duplex oper-
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Basically 2 rigs in one box , it has a
superb specification covering 2m &
70cms FM. Extended receive cov-
•
erage is possible upon request.
Probably the most cost effective rig
on the market. Send for full details
today .
NEW! BULK PURCHASE OFFER!

MARINE FREQUENCY GUIDE 2M Handhelds for £179
This is the latest addi tion to our frequency guides. It covers LF, HF,
and VHF, and lists all the UK coastal and port stations, with This is your chance to make Cl big saving. We've
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channel designations etc. Full editorial is included about the marine ALX2E micro handheld and ALM203E models. Both
service including emergency channels , SSB/RlTY/CW. Also listed fully guaranteed for 12 months. We 've got leaflets but
are the world phone channels normally receivable in the UK . Most limited stocks. So act now as we doubt that stocks will
HF coastal stations listen on quite separate frequencies to those that
they use for transmit. Its all in the guide. Super value as evert last beyond 4 weeks!
Marine Radio Frequency Guide £4.95 + £1 ALX2E £179 ALM203E £199
ICFPROSO.... 150kHz-225MHz SSB/FM ....... . , . ... £297,00
SONY COMMUNICATIONS ICFAIR7 IOS-174MHz + FM Broadcast . . . ... £227,00
ICF200lD . . ... 150kHz - 30MHz + Air . ..... .. .... .. £297,00
ICF7600DA ... 150kHz - 30MHz AM + FM . .. £127.00 AN I . . ....... Active short-wave an tenna ...... . , . . . £49,00
ICF7600DS .... 150kHz - 30MHz SSB/AM + FM ...... £157.00 ACD4M ...... Mains power supply charger ... £19,95
ICFSWl . . ... . 150kHz - 30MHz AM Compact ........ £147.00 BP23 ......... Ni-cad pack for AIR7IPR080 . . . £16,95
ICFSW1S ..... As above with full kit etc . . . . .. £247.00 DCCI27A .... 12v PSU/charger ............ . ..... .. . £24,95
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5tevenage
Herts 5G1 4QG THE FIL TER SPECIALISTS TEl. 0438 351710
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***
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INTEGRAL BATIER Y COMPARTMEN T *
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---"
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For the FRG 9600/965 our
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~ --- ",- ...--~

to the aerial socket and
m';:\ZiL t!l , Our Waveabsorption meter

powered direct from the 8
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fo r 2 Mtre transmitters meets licensing requirements range Tune from lOO, IMhz to 160Mhz, gives tuning range of 100Khz to Our Wave absorption meter lor the 50 & 70 MHz Bands.
120Mhz to 450Mhz, very sensitive, can also be used as field 6OMhz, uses double balanced mixer, with low pass fitter on input
strength meter within its range. Requires PP3 type battery (not * Can be supplied with BNC termination for other scanners * Meets licensing requirements. Can also be used as field
strength meter within its range. Requires PP3 battery
supplied I.
Inot suppliedL
All PRODUCTS ARE AVAILABLE FROM US DIRECT ALL AKD PRODUCTS CARRY THE USUAL AKD 2 YEAR TRADE ENQUIRIES WELCOME
MAIL ORDER OR WHY NOT MAKE USE OF OUR ACCESS
& VISA FACIUTIES TO ENSURE MINIMUM DELAY GUARAJ:,~~I~~I~~ ~~~JEfN~~~g~U~J'~~~.T TIME TRADE ORDERS CAN NOW BE PLACED BY
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Props : RT & VEL Wagstaffe. Technical Adviser : John Armstrong
A T o N G
Clayton Wood Close
ElFor products you can rely upon o

ELECTRONICS LIMITED
West Park
Leeds LSf6 60E
Tel: 0532744822
to give amazing results

For information on Active Antennas, RF Amplifiers, Converters,
Audio Rfters, the Morse Tutor and Speech Processors
send or telephone for a free catalogue and selective data sheets
as req uired.
All our products are designed and made in Britain.
Orders can be despatched within 48 hours subject to availability.
I VISA ~ - VISA AND ACCESS WELCOME - !:!
I)))) )) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )
The new AMR1000lS
It checks out from every angle
IAI hichever way you look needs. In the words of Chris

V V at it , the Navico Lorek of HRT about the Navico
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installation in any vehicle, Check it out for yourself,
whether under or on top of the prices start at just £247.25
dash, either side of a central (incl. VAT). For more details
console or even from the roof. and to arrange a personal
This means the display will always face you giving demonstration clip the coupon today.
total access to the controls which are spaced to allow
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Combine this with the most sensitive and selective
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I~ The_p_r_ofe_S_S_io_na_'_s
_ T"
~
i_n_a_ma_t_e_ur_ra_d_io__
WRITE ON... the page where you have your say
achieving that goal by was rekindled, and 12 Lost to the Hobby
STAR surmounting the difficulties months after that I resolved Ever since repeaters were
of the Morse test . to obta in my licence . This invent ed they have been
As amateur rad io took 18 months of slogging subject to a certain amount
operators we should know , away night after night, firstof abuse . This ranges from
and be accomplished in, the to try to understand the the inconsiderate fixed
modes which are avaialble to complexities of electronic stations , who use them for
us on our bands. All t his circu itry, then with an hour upon hour to the
business of saying Morse is electronic tutor and later a exclusion of mobile stations,
o ld hat, and looking for an computer program to master through the music
easy way in, is rubbish. Let Morse code . I fai led my first
merchants , to the foul-
Application us be honest, the QSO that Morse test, nerves I mouthed who pollute certain
A funny lot are radio really gives satisfaction is suppose, but passed with urban repeaters .
amateurs , and none more the low-power OX one, and ease on the second attempt . A friend of mine, who has
funny than the frustrated there is no better way of My 12 months on the h.f. been a s.w .1. for some
individuals who prattle on achieving this than by using bands subsequently have years , recently asked me to
about the Morse test . A the old up-and-down Morse been well worth the effort . lend him some gear for 2m
more resentful lot of faint key, without electronic So come on you faint to supplement his h.f.
hearts I have not come assistance. hearts; stop seeking the receiver . As well as himself,
across, for invariably they all Though I had an easy way and get stuck in Peter's five children are quite
seem to have an urgent intermittent interest in radio and stop moaning. If an OM keen on listening on h.f.
desire to get on the h.f . since 1975, it was only after like me can do it, so can youl
During the summer, they
bands, yet seem incapable having been retired for four G. Brad/ey GO/QQinvited to stay with them a
of applying themselves to years that my s.w.1. interest C/eckheaton,Finnish girl whose father
happens to be licensed. The
idea of being able to keep in
t ouch via amateur radio was
I Like It! thus quite appealing to
I have read w ith interest radio o perato rs w ho enjoy code,passedthetest and them-ideal candidates for
most of the correspondence using Morse ! then (pause for fanfare) novice licences, one might
which has taken place over Speaking personally , I decided that I like c .w . A think.
several years in your spent several years as a whole new spectrum of So I rigged up a dipole and
excellent magazine and Class B licensee, during communication , previously a v .h.f . converter for him .
others , including Radio which time I employed (for obscured , was suddenly After a few weeks he
Communication. myself and others) all the mine . experienced his first "lift".
I have yet to read a letter rationale on Morse, i.e. Add to all this the The initial delight in being
on this much debated topic outmoded , not interested, inescapable fact that able to hear some new,
which grasps the main point too lazy, beneath my dignity, equipment for c .w . will distant repeaters soon
of the whole argument , too difficult, too easy, the always be easier to design turned to dismay at the
either for c.w . or against. product of authoritarianism and build than for any other things he heard. Obscene
This is that : (a) Amat eur (?), etc. mode, and t he argument for language, sexist and racist
radio is a hobby wh ich Then about twelve years Morse requires no further remarks, jamming and top of
caters for a wid er va riety of ago , in a f it of pique I reinforcement . Come on in, the pops . I have tried to
subjugate intere sts t han thought " I will show 'em ". the DX is lovely! convince Peter that the
does any other hobby . (b) And " show 'em " I did . I set /vor Wi/kinson GW4RJA offensive things he heard are
There are many amateur to and learned the dreaded Cwmbran, Gwent. very unrepresentative of
PWCOMMENT
Telecom International station which provides the UK's long-
International Concern range radio service for shipping, has seen major changes over
IN THE JANUARY 1989 ISSUE OF QST, journal of the the past twenty years or so. Up to the beginning of the
American Radio Relay League, the Editorial and two pages of 1970s, all communications there were by Morse code, apart
members' letters are devoted to the thorny question of the from those with a handful of high-traffic ships with automatic
continued requirement for Morse operating skills as part of telegraphy equipment. Now, telephone and telex are the
amateur radio. norm, and manual Morse t raffic is fall ing in volume, used only
The letters are in response to one in an earlier issue which by ships whose trad ing pattern necessitates very little
had written Morse code off as obsolete. Interestingly , the communication with their owners and agents, and by ships of
average age of t he 13 letter-writers was 38- about ten years the developing countries which simply cannot afford the
younger than the average American amateur, yet everyone of capital investment for automatic systems . Portishead Radio
them was in favour of keeping Morse. expects to go on communicating by Morse with those who
The Editorial, written by W4RA and K1ZZ, ARRL's require it for as long as the amount of business warrants
President and Executive Vice-President respectively, running t he service .
comments on the decision last November by the International So, though Morse may have lost its pre-eminent position in
Maritime Organisation t o bring its long-awaited Global commercial systems where there are large volumes of
Maritime Distress and Safety System on line during the next information to exchange, internationally it is by no means
decade. By 1999, ships worldwide will be equipped to permit dead . The correspondents in aST point out that training in the
any member of the crew t o send a distress signal at the press use of Morse continues in the US Navy, Air Force and Marine
of a button . Ship owners are expected to use this Corps , and that the Soviet Navy still makes heavy use of c .w .
development to phase out their shipboard Morse radio Learning and using Morse is a challenge; it exercises the
operators, and to rely on satellites and maritime telex to keep mind and promotes bodily co-ordination, but most of all , IT'S
in touch with their vessels. FUNI
On this side of the Atlantic, Portishead Radio, the British GeoHArnold
',~ your letttr 10 the EdItorial 0fflca.1II PooIe,
the Iddr.n i. 011 our ConI.... , .... Writer of
the SlIr Letter NCIt moedl wUI fIAive • voucb.,
amateur radio but to no miserably. Contrast this with worth £10, to .,end 011 illml fl'Hl out PCB or 800k
avail. What is worse is that the situation in the USA ServIces, 0101 I'W IIIck 1IIIIMrs, ....., ,."ws Of
compmr prog'ram cuHttes. And ........ I £6
Peter is considering selling where the amateur VOucMr for every other letter p.........
his h.t, receiver and taking population have tracked Letters mUll lie originll. end not duplicalelllo oilier
up some other hobby, He down many culprits and magazines, We re_ the right to edit or sItorIItIuy
letttr. Brief I.tters may be fil.d viii our P"st.1
has already banned his kids handed the details to the Meilbox number 202671191, The views .xpreued in
from listening because he FCC (USA equivalent of the letters ." not ft_rlly Ibose of I'f11#k61 Wim-.
fears for what they might OTI) for enforcement and
hear, An over-reaction , prosecution , In the USA
perhaps, but quite licences are quickly revoked
understandable in the and large fines imposed What's Your Chicken Wire
circumstances, when abuses occur. Line? Reading about the " Chicken-
So what, you may say, but I would like to know why wire Oiscone" (PWFeb ,
this selfish behaviour by the this does not happen in this I hope discussions about
1989) brought back happy
few has meant the loss of Morse will go on, as in PW
country. Why do the memories of yesteryear. I
six potential amateurs, The authorities and repeater Feb , 1989, along with its
had completed building the
RSGB want to encourage groups adopt an ostrich-like use by those radio amateurs
who like value for money ,
£9 PWTV receiver made
more youngsters into the posture to this abuse? from surplus radar
hobby and seem to be taking The simplest effective
Numerous complaints have equipment when an article
some positive steps to do been made to the RSGB apparatus and a few watts
appeared on building a TV
this , The hobby can ill afford Amateur Radio Observation can lead to a clear contact
antenna using chicken-wire
to miss opportunities to Service, the OTI. the RIS and with the other side of the
netting , This was hung from
recruit new devotees . world , a process more
the RSGB Repeater the rafters by string, After
This incident set me Management Group over a complicated and expensive
setting up the TV, I was
thinking about the degree of when the carrier is speech-
long period of time with little rewarded for quite some
spectrum abuse, particularly modulated ,
or no effective action being time with a good picture
on 2m . For many years the taken as a result, Was there not a time
from Sutton Coldfield, some
GB3SL repeater in South If you are unhappy about when acquiring an amateur
70 miles away.
London has been a veritable transmitting licence
this state of affairs, why not After a few months I was
cesspool of the worst kind write to the Secretary of the depended upon persuading
dismayed to receive a weak
of abuse. More recently the RSGB or to the OTI, a government department
picture gently rolling from
GB3BM repeater has been expressing a wish for that the applicant intended
top to bottom of the screen.
the subject of long-term effective action to be taken to pursue a useful line of
I checked the TV receiver
abuse by people playing now rather than next week research in wireless? Might
and could find no fault, but
records and suchlike. this not have to come in
or next year, Even better, on clambering into the loft I
Another repeater subject to write to your MP who is in a again for true amateurs,
found that the string holding
systematic abuse is GB3NA. position to put pressure on Gordon Lines G 1TMA
up my antenna had broken,
In this case many of those the OTI officials to carry out Reigate.
and the netting was rolled
who use foul language are their responsibilities, The into its original shape on the
quite blatant about the fact problem can be dealt with floor of the loft,
that they are licensed and provided the powers-that-be Babblers? I am sure that many
even give their callsigns , are put under sufficient In response to John building the discone will
Over the years the pressure. Do it today : don't Hillerby's letter in PW Feb. have a lot of fun and also
standard line seems to be: wait for someone else to do 1989, I doubt if most of the pretty good results, but
" Ignore them and they will it! non-c,w , or Class B make sure that the discone
go away ", Well, this policy P. L. Cros/and G6JNS, amateurs are " up-market CB is held securely in place .
has been seen to fail Worcester. babblers" . Vic Westmore/and G3HKQ
I use PR27, CB27/81 and Retford, Notts.
CB934/81, mostly 934 , for
a chat with users with like
interests, none of whom, in USB?
my opinion , are up-market or Perhaps it is time to use
down-market CB babblers , upper sideband on all
I have never found amateur bands , The use of
teaching c, w . "heart- I.s .b , on 1 ,8MHz (160m) and
breaking" but rather 3.5MHz (80m) continues
rewarding, especially when from the early days of s.s ,b .
you are presented with a radio , when a technical
sheet of "joined-up simplification made this
writing" , However, it takes popular. Modern
all sorts, and I am sure there transceivers are now more
is room for all modes . I am complicated and expensive
equally sure that the Tom by having to offer I.s,b . as
referred to is due for a thrill well as u,s ,b. However, the
when he reads John at 20 main advantage of using
w ,p,m " and jolly good luck u.s .b , on 80m and 160m
to both of them , would come from being able
A note of caution? - it is to operate closer in
dangerous to generalise, frequency to other u.s,b .
c.w. is not music to all ears services without
as a shout from the kitchen interference, and more room
or lounge often reminds me, on 80m can't be badl
£. Swan M. Mann G4FFO
Eastbourne. Cambridge.
WRITE ON ... the page where you have your say
Modern Times
I have to admit that I available to the radio the target of your physical difficulties-in order
sometimes wonder at the enthusiast , one sees suggestion will fly into a to pass the dreaded Morse
nature of the society in repeated complaint about rage and storm about the test . If, on the other hand
which we live today. Much the fact that one class of current government, the they are unable to do so,
comment heard whilst going licence cannot be achieved DTI, the RSGB, and his last then why can they simply
about one's daily routine is without a Morse pass . quarter's gas bill. All not accept the rules of the
based on complaint. Either " Morse is antiquated " , because the word "Morse" game? After all, they did
that or upon the fact that the "Morse is unnecessary" , has been uttered. know the rules when they
other guy seems to be etc . Morse is, in fact, simply I would , perhaps, agree started to play; now they
having an easier time of another means of that the commercial use of seem to want to move the
things than is fair. communication; a language c .w. may no longer make goalposts before half-time .
Fair to whom? To those, that one has to learn in order too much sense, given the Do stop whingeing about
perhaps, who are not to communicate with other developments that have these matters in the letters
prepared to put so much users of that language. been made over the last columns. Get on with
effort into making a success There are those who claim thirty years or so. However, gaining pleasure from
of what they choose to do . not to be able to learn my impression was that the whatever class of licence
To those who expect too Morse, but who travel to purpose of the hobby of may be available under the
much from the state, the sunny lands each year for amateur radio was not to rules.
boss, the wife, the kids, the holidays and manage to ape the activities of the Just to clear up one small
hobby? To those, in fact, learn enough Spanish, commercial radio operator, matter; I passed neither the
who seem to believe that all French, Greek, or whatever, but rather to provide an Morse tests nor the RAE
things are theirs by right, to get by. Six months of opportunity for self-training first time . I had to go back
simply because they want effort may have been and the development of again, but it made it all the
them . What a pity that this devoted to learning one ' s ability in a more satisfying when
attitude has wormed its way sufficient Italian to enable companionable hobby. success was finally
into what is possibly the the individual to ask a waiter Those who have sufficient achieved .
finest hobby in the for fish and chips, but ability and commitment to
world-amateur radio! suggest that he learn Morse succeed in the RAE could
In all the letters columns to communicate with almost surely find the Name and address
of all the publications any country in the world and same-barring certain supplied.
OUR SERVICES
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To PWreaders - a special pre-publication offer
on a new book by Joe PIitchard G 1 UQW.
Save £1.00 off the published price of

£12.95
The Newnes Shortwave Ustening Handbook first covers the "science" side of the subject. going from a few stmple f"1f"c-tric-a
prtnclples". through a brtef treatment of radio transmission methods to simple receivers. The emphasis Is on practical receiver designs
and how to build and modify them. with several circuits In the book. from the crystal set to converters. regenerative receivers. dtrect
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c.w . and RITY tenninal units are also covered.
The second half of the book covers the "listening" side: the use of sets. what can be heard. the vaIious bands. propagation.
Identification of stations. sources of infonnatlon. QSLlng of stations and listening to amateurs. Some computer techniques. such as
computer Morse decoding and radio teletype decoding are also covered. along with computerised record kecplng and other
applications of the computcr In the shack. Interference sources and cures are investigated.
Newnes Shortwave Ustening Handbook is for all existing and potential short wave listeners who want a technical gUide covering
construction and for the listener who wants to explore the bands between 0 and 30MHz.
Joe Pritchard G 1UQW. Is the a uthor of six computing books. numerous articles in the comp uting and electronics press and has
been a radio amateur for more than ten years.
The Newnes Shortwave Ustenlng Handbook (ISBN 0 434 91550 5) Is in paperback. comprising 288 pages 216 x 138mm with 80
Illustrations. and will be published by Helnemann Newnes . The special pre-publicatlon offer price to PW readers Is £1 1.95 Including
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Car d No . LI-'---L-J,---,---,--,---,-I-l1'---'---'--1I--,-I_--'---'----'---.J fYW Publishing Lld .. Po o le. Dorset (Reg. No. 1980539. England)
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Practical Wireless. April 1989
NEWS DESK ... compiled by G4LFM and G8VFH
Radio Pirates Weather Station
There will be no let-up in the ICS have announced a new
Government's crackdown low cost microprocessor
on pirate radio stations controlled w eather system
following a record year of from Magnaphase Industries
raids against illegal Inc ., Seattle, USA .
broadcasters, Industry ICS say that this battery
Minister Robert Atkins has powered unit is cheaper than
said . any other similar system and
The Department's Radio brings local weather
Investigation Service (RIS) monitoring of wind speed
made nearly 450 raids last and direction , temperature
year. More than 100 people and precipitation within the
were prosecuted-a rise of range of many boat owners
over 50 per cent on 1987, and amateur radio
the minister announced that enthusiasts . It can be
the Government is to seek installed on a boat. in the
more powers to prosecute home, the office-in fact
people who advertise on or almost anywhere .
support the pirate stations . Also available from ICS is
The interference from the matching PCW system
uncontrolled radio for the IBM PC . This enables
broadcasts can threaten vital long term monitoring and
communications for analysis of wind speed and
emergency services like fire direction, temperature,
and police ; important radio precipitation and air
links for businesses and pressure . Support software
legitimate radio and TV operates in background
services . mode and the price for this
"The RIS are not killjoys," is £299 .95 .
said Mr Atkins . "I must warn The other prices are :
pirates that there will be no £ 129.95 for the micro
let-up . The RIS will continue weather station with
to keep up the pressure to anemometer, £39 .96 for the
make certain that rain collector, £7 .75 for the
interference is removed ." HMS Warrior largest and best armed desk stand , £2 .95 for the
He outlined powers which The Fareham & District ARC warship in the world at that mounting template, £9.95
the Government will be will be operating a Special time . for the 40 foot extension
seeking, which would make Event Station with the After an 8 -year restoration cable and £3.95 for the 12
it an offence : to supply callsign GB4HMS on board scheme , costing over £7 volt d .c. lighter power cable.
goods and services for the HMS Warrior during the million , HMS Warrior is on These prices don 't include
operation of an unlicensed spring and summer this display in Portsmouth P&P, contact ICS for details .
station; to advertise on an year . Dockyard . ICS Electronics Ltd.,
unlicensed station, or to The station will be active The group running the PO Box 2,
solicit others to do so and to most weekends on v .h.f . special event station would Arundel,
engage in the operation of and h.f. with the emphasis like to thank both West Sussex BN 18 ONX.
an unlicensed station . on 'phone operation . Portsmouth City Counc il and Tel: 024365655.
The proposals would need HMS Warrior 1860 is a SMC Ltd ., for their help in
legislation to put them into 3-masted, square rigged getting the station on the air.
effect . sailing ship also fitted with a You can get more
"The Government is using twin cylinder steam engine . information about the
SpeCial Event
the carrot as well as the Launched in December station from : Stations
stick . There are positive 1860, at a time when war Rodney Smith GOERS,
incentives for those with France seemed 59 High Street . Following the success of the
interested in community- inevitable, HMS Warrior was South wick, world wide event last year,
based local radio to stay Britain's first iron-clad Fareham, International Marconi Day
within the law, with 20 warship and the fastest , Hants PO 17 6EF. will be held from 0001 to
licences for community 2359 on April 22 . Keep a
stations available to the look out for the following
most suitable applicants this Frequency primary and secondary uses . stations :
year . The main uses shown are K1W/IMO*: From the Cape
" But the rub for the Allocation Chart broadcasting , fixed services, Cod area where the first
pirates is that anyone with a The radio frequency bands mobile, amateur, Eu rope to USA contact was
conviction for a piracy allocated to commercial and meteorological, radio made .
committed from 1 January industrial uses in the UK can location , navigation , VE1IMO*: From Nova
1989 onwards w ill be be seen at a glance on a astronomy , space and the Scotia at the Marconi site
barred for five years from colour coded bar chart various maritime , where later this year the new
applying for a community prepared by the DTI's aeronautical and satellite Marconi Museum will be
radio licence. So there is Radiocommunications bands . opened .
even less reason to risk fines Division . The chart is available from V01IMO* : From St . Johns,
of up to £2000 and 3 Frequencies from 1kHz up your local HMSO, priced Newfoundland , where the
months in jail by staying on to 60GHz are covered by the £2 .50 , the ISBN number is first transatlantic contact
the wrong side of the law." chart which is divided into 0115146377 . was made .
- Catalogues issues will cost you £4 in the Electromail, PO Box 33.
Kanga Products' latest UK (overseas including Eire Birchington Road,
New 430MHz
catalogue contains a few £5). The newsheet Corby. Repeater
changes since the last contained all kinds of things Northants NN17 9EL. A new 430MHz repeater,
edition . You can now buy as well as the list of their Tel: 0536204555. GB3EH. commenced
either the p.c.b., instructions standard stock items such Harris Electronics operation on Wednesday
and components OR the as subscribers' adverts, (London) Ltd have a wide January 18 from a site at
p.c.b. and instructions only news snippets, forthcoming range of panel meters both Edge Hill, about 10km north-
(at a reduced cost) . They events and special offers. analogue and digital in their west of Banbury. The
have some new kits too, a For more details, contact: catalogue. To help you channel used is RB8 and
transmitter to match the dual The Vintage Wireless select a suitable model they coverage is provided for the
band receiver, a Morse code Company Ltd., have provided full-size front Banbury and Stratford-upon-
practice oscillator and a Tudor House, views, together with Avon area.
simple transmit/receive Cossham Street, mounting details of each h is expected that a good
control board. Mangotsfield, analogue meter in their stretch of the forthcoming
If you would like to receive Bristol BS76 3EN. range . For digital panel M40 Oxford to Birmingham
a copy of the catalogue, Tel: 0272565472. meters the information is motorway will also be
send an s.a.e. to : Electromail's November given in tabular form . covered by this unit .
Kanga Products. '88 to February '89 Harris Electronics (London) The repeater uses a Pye
3 Limes Road, catalogue has recently Ltd., 412 base station. two Pye
Folkestone. arrived. If you are into home Unit 3, AE450 cavities in notch
KentCT794AU, construction this is the GEC Estate, mode and a pair of end-fed
ITW Switches has just catalogue to have. Make East Lane. dipoles custom built by
produced a new short-form sure, however, that your Wembley, Radio Structures of
catalogue which provides a bookshelves are reinforced Middx HA9 7PJ. Northampton . The logic was
brief overview of some of as this book is heavy-the Tel: 07-9083355. built by G8PYT and provides
the most popular switch numbered pages stop at Technicad, who represent a signalling frequency of
products in the company's 1137, while the index Emmerich of West 875Hz (one octave below
range. Full colour sections and the pages Germany, have just toneburst) with callsign
photographs illustrate the provided for notes are published a short form interval and timeout set as
various switch types and thicker than many other catalogue which outlines the 256 seconds . A reply pip is
they're accompanied by a cataloguesl It gives design and performance . sent after an input
brief description of their extremely detailed technical features of the standard transmission of 4 seconds
salient features in English, data on of each item and as 1.2V NiCad cell and the or more .
French, German, Italian and such provides you with a unique double and triple cells Reports and contributions
Spanish. very useful reference work. of 2 .4 and 3.6V. Included would be welcomed by
For a free copy of ITW's This catalogue gives you are details of their extensive G40HBorG8COH.OTHR.
short-form catalogue, send access, on a strictly cash or range of high-capacity
to: credit card number with . button cells, memory buffer Alrcastle
ITW Switches. order basis, to the enormous batteries and batteries with
Norway Road, range of components standard solder tags, single
Products
Portsmouth, stocked by RS Components as well as double p.c.b . pins. We have been asked to
Hants P03 5HT, at competitive prices, with For further details contact: point out to readers who
The Vintage Wireless no minimum order charge Technicad Ltd., Unit 4C, have had trouble contacting
Company Ltd has sent us and even discounts for Sunrise Business Park. Aircastle Products during
their Antique Wireless larger volumes. Your own Blandford, their recent change of
Newsheet No . 130. This is copy will set you back £4.95 Dorset DT17 8ST, premises that their new
issued every month and 12 plus £2.00 P&P direct from: Tel: 025859581. telephone number is 0202
632040.
EI2IMD*: From near the will be on the Distillers On July 29/30 four stations GB2WWlr
location where the first Irish Whisky Route on April will be on the air from GB4BOB
experiments took place . 29/30 from the Blair Athol different National Trust During 1989, the Bedford &
IY4FGM*: From the official Distillery, Pitlochry, properties, one each in District Amateur Radio Club
Marconi Club Station in Italy . Perthshire. Scotland. Ulster. England plan to commemorate the
GBOIMD* : From the area on GB2RB**: Celebrating and Wales . Hopefully Ireland outbreak of the Second
the Isle of Wight where Robert Burns, this station will make up a fifth country World War by operating
many experimental will be on the air during May (El) . If you live overseas and several Special Event
transmissions were made by 27/28 from Burns House can contact two of these Stations using the callsigns
Marconi and his colleagues . Museum, Mauchline, stations. or if you live in the GB2WW and GB4BOB.
GB4IMD*: The Cornwall Ayrshire . UK/lreland and contact three The locations will include
Radio Amateurs Club station GB2RBC**: Located at stations there is a a number of former RAF and
operating from the original Royal Balmoral Castle , Commemoration Certificate USAAF stations in and
Marconi Site at Poldhu Cove Crathie, Aberdeenshire on available. Overseas the cost around the Bedford area
on the Lizard Peninsula in June 24/25 . is $1 or equivalent return which were in use during the
Cornwall. There is an award There are two awards postage by Air Mail. hostilities .
available linked with the available for working those UK/lreland it requires a 19p Further details can be
stations marked· . stations denoted by·· and s.a .e. You need to send OSL obtained from the Special
GB2STB**: This station will other Scottish Special Event cards or log extracts to: Events Manager:
be operational from March Stations for which the dates Scottish Tourist Board Ray GOEYM,
25 to 27 at the New Lanark will be announced when we (Radio Amateur) Expedition 30 Cotswold Close,
World Heritage Site, a know them . Group, PO Box 59, Putnoe,
Cotton Mill and village . GB2NTS, GB2NTU, Hamilton, Scotland ML3 Bedford MK41 9LR.
GB2DWR**: This station GB2NTW and GB2NTE: 6QB. Tel: 0234244506.
NEWS DESK ... compiled by G4LFM and G8VFH
Can You Help?
Awards Philip T aylor is looking for a
The Scottish Tourist Board good working example of a
(Amateur Radio) Expedition Brimar or STC " tunograph "
Group are fielding two tuning indicator. This is to
awards this year. The first is complete a working display
the Thistle Award which can of all the different types of
be obtained for working four electron ray tuning
of their special event indicators. or magic eyes. as
stations this year. The they were called . The
second is the Supreme "tunograph " was marketed
Tartan Banner Award which in the very late 1930s and
means you need to work all from an STC manual.
six of their stations. Short appears to be a very simple
wave listeners can also form of c.r.t . with one set of
apply for the certificates on deflector plates and a small
a heard basis. metal screen built into a
Details of the stations other hot spots. This leads valve size bulb. The filament
known about at the moment Soldering Iron to far greater accuracy of has a rating of 0.9V at 0.5A .
can be seen under the Greenwood Electronics have temperature control-now If you can help. contact :
heading "Special Event introduced a new version of within just 2 per cent . Philip Taylor, 14 Willow
Stations" elsewhere on their electronically-controlled A solid state electronic Walk, Canewdon,
these pages. Oryx Platinum 45 mains iron . control system has been Rochford, Essex SS4 3QH.
The Thistle Award costs Whilst still offering such designed for severe David Brown is searching
£ 1 including postage and features as spike-free production conditions where for data on the 7360
claims should be sent to : switching and proportional stability. reliability and balanced modulator tube. If
Robbie GM4UOG, control electronics. a mechanical strength are you know anything that will
PO Box 59, redesign now relocates the prime requirements . help. write to : David Brown,
Hamilton, warmer parts of the control The 45W iron is available 1 Ady Street, Hunters Hill,
ScotlBnd ML3 60B. circuit to the base of the in 24. 115 and 220-240V London.
The Marconi Award safety handle . Not only does versions and is now supplied Mr Kilpatrick would like to
requires you to work six of this eliminate heat from the with a safety stand at no beg or borrow a copy of
the seven special stations on handle. it also reduces the extra cost. Introducing RTTY and is
during International Marconi weight of the iron and Greenwood Electronics, willing to do so on a deposit.
Day (again details of the enables the platinum sensor Portman Road, If you can help. contact:
stations are elsewhere in to concentrate on measuring Reading, Mr. G. W. Kilpatrick,
these pages). Q,SL cards can the heating element without Berkshire RG3 1NE. 63 Love Lane, Whitby,
be exchanged with any of having to compensate for Tel: 0734 595843. N. Yorks Y021 3LO.
the stations. either via the
bureau. or if preferred
directly (with stamps or cash Traps for 3.5 and antenna for 3.5 and 7MHz constructed that measures
approximately 24.5m long
to cover postage please) . into the available space. One
All official award claims 7MHz answer is to use a loaded and covers 3.5 and 7MHz. If
must be made via CRAC, PO dipole and. if choke traps are the ends of the antenna are
Box 100, Truro, Cornwall With the growing used. it is possible to dropped down vertically. it
TRIIRX. They must be improvement in h.f . band construct a loaded two-band is possible to reduce the
accompanied by either $5 conditions. many operators dipole . horizontal run to something
(US). £2 (UK) or 10 IRCs. are trying their hand on the Waters & Stanton are now of the order of 18m.
The official award is for full short wave bands for the marketing a pair of traps that For those who are using a
two-way working only. but very first time . One of the will do that . Using the half-size G5RV antenna. the
in addition this year. they are problems w ith today's small instructions provided a two- same traps can also be used
offering an extra award for garden is that of fitting an band dipole can be to add 3 . 5MHz to this
short wave listeners . Again antenna. whilst only
applications need to be via increasing the length by a
CRAC, Claimants will have metre or so .
to record at least six of the The traps are sold as pairs
Marconi Day stations plus complete with instructions
the stations being worked and are rated to at least
together with the times 500W . Those wishing to
heard (UTC) . The s.w.1. use them to add 3 .5MHz to
award will cost $3. £1 .50 or half size G5RV antenna
6IRCs. should request the
Operation this year w ill be appropriate additional
voice only and preferred instructions when ordering .
frequency segments will be: The traps cost £ 16 .95 plus
3.77-3.78.7 .07-7 .08. £ 1.50 P&P from :
14.26- 14.28.21 ,36-21.38. DON' T v £;Nl Water & Stanton
28.36-28 .38. 28 .76-28 .78 . -~ --~ Electronics,
i\ ' O&- 2 5-
29.36 (f.m .) and 50.26- Warren House,
50.28MHz. 18/20 Main Road,
Hockley,
Essex SS540S.
Tel: 0702 206835.
18 Practical Wireless. April 1989
comprehensive second-user Hand·held
Special Offer equipment and computer
The portable HP4951 A peripherals service based on Multlmeter
protocol analyser is on a computerised The 6022A is a hand-held
special offer from the used source/buyer database to digital multimeter available
equipment specialist firm of respond rapidly to its from Global Specialties .
Carston Electronics Ltd . customers ' requirements . The instrument features a
They can supply the Carston Electronics Ltd., 3 ~ -digit liquid crystal display
instrument ful ly tested , 2-6 Queens Road, and has six functions-d .c.
calibrated and guaranteed . Teddington, volts, a.c . volts , direct
Among the facilities are bit Middlesex TW11 OLR. current, alternating current,
error rate testing, non- Tel: 01-9434477, ohms, hIe and diode test .
volatile memory to hold data Ranges for the multi meter
and menu set-up and remote are 200mV to 1000V d .c.,
data transfer capability. Data Stolen! 200mV to 750V a.c. ,
codes includes ASCII , On the evening of January 7, 200IJA to 20A d.c. and a.c .,
EBCDIC , Baudot, six bit a Yaesu FT-290R (serial no. 200 to 20MO and finally
transcode, IPARS and EBCD . 3E270750) with leather pnp/npn transistor testing ,
The analyser has a case and mic was stolen measuring hIe from 0 to 100 leads and a carrying case is
32KByte RAM for data and from a car in the Scunthorpe at an Ib of 101JA. available as an option . The
menu storage and a area . Any information would The 6022A is powered by 6022A costs £39 .95 from :
256KByte tape drive for off- be appreciated . Telephone a 9V alkaline battery Global Specia!ties,
line storage . either the Scunthorpe Police providing in excess of 150 2-10 St. John 's Street
Carston Electronics say on 0724 282888 or your hours continuous use . The Bedford MK42 OOH.
they now operate a fast, local police. meter is supplied with test Te!: 0234 217856.
Rally Calendar This year they ' ll be using the Service Sportsground, parking . Oerek Batchelor
·March 12: The Trafford Founders Suite at the Straight Road, Bucklesham, G4RBO. Tel: Worcester
Rally, now also being called Coventry Crest Hotel. This is Ipswich. That's between 641733,
The Great Northern Rally, located on the A46, about Bucklesham Road and "July 15: The Cornish Radio
organised by The Trafford 450m south of junction 2 of Felixstowe Road (now the Amateur Club rally will be
Amateur Radio Club, is the M6 . There w ill be the A 1156) and adjacent to the held at Richard Lander
moving to a new venue- usual wide range of trade Suffolk Showground. There School, Truro . There will be
G-MEX, the new Greater stands and demonstrations will be the usual traders, an the usual trade stands, a
Manchester Exhibition & covering all aspects of both RSGB book stand, and Bring & Buy, computer
Event Centre. All the usual amateur and satellite TV antenna testing range, Bring displays/demos and
attractions will be there equipment. The hotel & Buy, car boot sale, refreshments . There is
including a free draw, Bring training centre has been transceiver clinic, etc., plus plenty of free parking as well
& Buy, licensed bar, hot & made available for technical non-radio stands, a as attractions for all the
cold meals, lots of room on lectures which are to be children's play area and a family. More details from :
one floor and plenty of given in the afternoon . There model f lying display. Doors Rolf Little, Te!: 0872
parking . Talk-in on S22. All is ample parking and the rally open at 10am. Further 72552.
enquiries on . Tel: 061-748 opens at 10am. Admission information from : Colin "August 13: Hamfest '89
9804 or 061-8813739. is free to BA TC members Ranson G8LBS, 100 Stone will be held at the Flight
March 19: Wythall Radio who bring their ticket from Lodge Lane West, Ipswich Refuelling Sports Ground,
Club will be holding their 4th CQTV and 50p to non- IP29HR, Tel: 0473 W imborne, Dorset . Gates
Annual Radio Rally at members. 464047. open at 10am and there's
Wythall Park, Silver Street, May 7: The Southend & ·June 11 : The Royal Naval free car parking as well as
Wythall , Worcs. This is on District Mobile Rally will be Amateur Radio Society' s overnight camping facilities.
the A345 south of held at Roach Way Youth Annual rally is scheduled to The day w ill feature radio
Birmingham. Doors open at Centre, Rochford, Essex . be held at HMS Mercury and electronics trade
11 .30am. There will be Doors open at 10am. More again this year . More details stands, field displays and a
three large halls, the usual details from : Ted G4TUO. nearer the date. craft and gift fair. More
trade stands, a flea market, Tel: 0702202129. ·June 25: The 32nd details from : Rob G60UN.
a large Bring & Buy, snacks May 21: The "Hobbies Longleat Amateur Radio Tel: 0202479038.
available and a bar. Talk in Fair" is the first event in the Rally w ill be held as usual in ·Practical W ireless &
on S22 with more free Science Museum's the grounds of Longleat Short Wave Magazine in
parking this year. Admission Wroughton 1989 season . House, Warminster, attendance.
is 50p with more details As well as radio this event Wiltshire . This rally is If you are organising a rally
from : Chris GOEYO on 021- covers a wide range of always popular as it offers and would like it mentioned
4307267. interesting hobbies and also something for the whole in Practical Wireless, then
March 26: The Cunningham offers the rare opportunity family . More details from : drop us a line, preferably as
& District ARC are starting a to see some of the Science Shaun O'Sul/ivan G8VPG, soon as you have fixed the
new rally at the Magnum Museum's stock of aircraft 15 Witney Close, Saltford, date but no later than 6
Leisure Centre in Irvine to and other transport items Bristol BS 18 30X. weeks in advance (marking
combat the shortage of which are stored in the July 9: The 1989 Droitwich your envelope Rally
rallies for Scottish amateurs. hangars . Wroughton Airfield Strawberry Rally will take Calendar) and we 'll do the
Doors open at 10.30am. is south of Swindon, place at the High School, rest . Please make sure that
More details from : Bob Low Wiltshire and easily reached Droitwich . There will be you include all the details
on 056335738. by road . trade stands , a Bring & Buy, including such essential
April 30: The British May 28: The 13th Annual family entertainment and information as the venue,
Amateur Television Club will East Suffolk Wireless strawberry fields (weather starting time, special
be holding their 1989 rally in Revival will take place at the permitting) . There is both features and a contact for
new and larger premises. usual venue of the Civil free entrance and car further information .
Constructional
was switched off (Fig. 2). I decided I
Modifying the would add the two missing links, so

ensuring b.f.o. operation on all five
bands.
Realistic DX I 00 Theory into Practice

Having decided what I wanted to do,
Communications I began to dismantle the receiver. I

removed all the retaining screws from
the back plate and eased it out. I
disconnected the external s.w. antenna
Receiver and then tried to puzzle out how to

remove the printed circuit board. After
about an hour's probing I found I had
A few years ago, the DX100 was the lowest priced com- to remove all the remaining screws
munications receiver in the Tandy range. Nowadays, dotted about the receiver-three black
ones on the top and five silver ones on
they change hands at rallies at around £30. In this ar- the bottom. After that the whole of the
ticle, Alan Mills G 1CAQ describes the modifications front of the receiver slid forward,
bringing the circuit board with it.
he made to improve the performance of one he The next step was to locate the i.f.
obtained in just this way. filter, which is a red component,
mounted in the middle of the board on
the same side as the S-meter (Fig. 3). It
At first, it seemed a good buy, but as Just as I suspected, between the first can be simply removed and replaced
anyone who has ever owned a DX I 00 and second i.f. amplifiers sat an i.f. by the new filter.
will tell you, it has a few shortcomings. filter providing the selectivity (Fig. I). Getting the b.f.o. to work on the Lw.
One is that the selectivity on crowd- I had reason to believe that this filter and m.w. bands can be achieved by
ed bands is abysmal to say the least! could be the main cause of the poor adding just one wire link across two of
Another is that for some reason best selectivity, so I set about looking for a the switch terminals on the circuit
known to the manufacturers, the b.f.o. replacement. Looking in the Cirkit board (Fig. 4).
cannot be switched on when either the catalogue, I was pleased to discover All that remains is to reassemble the
long wave or medium wave band is that they stock Toko mechanical i.f. set and switch on. My first test was on
selected. So, with these factors in filters in bandwidths of 4, 6, 8 and the 7MHz band, where the high-
mind, I decided to try to improve 10kHz. I decided that I needed very powered broadcast stations tend to
things. good selectivity and duly ordered the swamp the amateur stations. I was
The first problem was to obtain the filter with the 4kHz bandwidth (Toko delighted to hear an amateur transmit-
circuit diagram. I approached my local No. CFM2455A, Cirkit Stock No . 19- ting within a few kilohertz of a rather
Tandy store, where I was told that data 45530), which arrived a couple of days powerful commercial station with no
was kept on file for only five years after later. problems in separating them. A final
a line was discontinued. After two false In the meantime, I had been looking check on Lw. and m.w. bands showed
starts, I eventually was sold a photo- at the possibility of getting the b.f.o . to the b.f.o. to be doing all I wanted it to.
copy of the circuit diagram for £2.00 work on Lw. and m.w. Scrutinising the So with a good antenna tuning unit
plus VAT. I arrived home and began to circuit diagram again, I found that on connected, I found I had quite a rea-
study the circuit eagerly. these bands, the power for the b.f.o . sonable communications receiver. PW
Filter to be replaced
+
S-meter 0.5
220 0
-, 8k2 ~ ~
I
S1
I
J
IWDM3C2i Ferrite
Fig. 3 rod
Fig. 1 IWDM304 1
150 LW Power
To b.t.o.
MWo from
selector
SW1
switch
SW2 S1a
SW3
Earth
IWDM303 1 X Fig. 2 Fig. 4
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Practical Wireless, A pril 1989 21
Theory
A Two-tone Oscillator
Test Equipment-Backbone of Amateur Radio
How often have you listened to the amateur bands to hear a station causing unintelligible splatter
interference over many kilohertz either side of the transmitted signal. The cause is often a linear
amplifier which is improperly adjusted or beinf( over-driven. It is probable that the station is com-
pletely unaware of the interference being cau'Ied. Operating on the crowded amateur bands re-
quires the use ofa transmitter which produces as little distortion as the state of the art reasonably
permits. The reduction of adjacent channel interference is ultimately of benefit to us all. In this
short series ofarticles, Roger Alban G W3SPA I()oks at the causes of the interference and what can
be done to resolve this problem.
The power amplifier required for a Fl F2
r 2
l
single-sideband (s .s.b.) transmitter
must be linear. In other words, the
signal at the output must be an exact
t
"£'"
r Vl
V2~
replica of the signal at the input. This a.
E
..:
implies that the power gain of the
amplifier must be constant regardless
of the signal level. Any deviation from Frequency-
this ideal is a result of non-linearity Fig. 1.2: Voltage waveform at the
within the amplifier creating a distor- Fig. 1.1: Output frequency spectrum output of an amplifier resulting from
tion of the output signal, resulting in a two-tone test signal
unwanted signal products appearing at
the output of the amplifier. test , but the one that provides the least 3x ont' frequency and 2x the other,
The excellence of an s.s.b. signal is amount of information. A spectrum with 3+2 = 5. and the next pair are
judged by the lack of sideband splatter analyser is capable of giving the most seventh-order, being due to 4x one
on either side of the wanted signal. An information. but it is the most costly frequency and 3x the other, and so on .
s.s.b. signal should be just as wide as method and is outside the financial It will be observed that the third-
the voice passband of the transmitter grasp of many amateurs . The third and order products are the largest. and it is
-approximately 3kHz. If the output most practical method is to examine the amplitude of these, relative to that
signal from the power amplifier is a the output waveform of the amplifier of the wanted signals, that determines
replica of the input signal, there will be with the aid of an oscilloscope, whilst the excellence of the amplified signal.
no distortion products. However, applying a two-tone signal to the input.
valves and in particular transistors are The shape of the waveform will reveal
not perfect, and the best of power how linear the amplifier really is for Using the
amplifiers will exhibit some small non- different input levels. Oscilloscope
linearity. The shape of the output waveform
from the amplifier under test can be
Two-tone Tests examined by taking a small sample of
Testing If two radio frequencies of equal the output waveform and displaying
There are three commonly used amplitude are applied to the power the envelope shape on an oscilloscope
methods for testing a power amplifier, amplifier, the output signal may be cathode ray tube (c.r.t.). The genera-
either internal or external, associated examined for spurious products. These tion of the two-tone waveform can be
with an s.s.b. transmitter. These in- intermodulation products of the r.f. shown using vectors representing the
clude the wattmeter, oscilloscope and amplifier, which are the cause of side- magnitude and phase of the two r.f.
spectrum analyser techniques. In each band splatter, are shown in Fig. I. I on frequencies as shown in Fig. 1.2. When
case an audio frequency two-tone test an expanded frequency scale. In the the two vectors are opposite in phase,
signal is fed into the microphone input example, the two frequencies of the the resulting voltage of the waveform
to simulate a speech signal. The s.s.b. two-tone test are identified as F and will be zero. When the two vectors are
transmitter will convert this into a "
F 2• If the power amplifier is perfect in phase , the voltage of the waveform
radio frequency two-tone signal these will be the only two frequencies will be at a maximum . The resulting
through its modulation process. which will appear in the output. voltage waveform which appears at the
The results of the measurements will In practice, the power amplifier is output of the amplifier under test will
provide the peak envelope power not perfect , and there will be addi- be roughly sinewave in shape and will
(p.e.p) and intermodulation distortion tional combinations of sum and differ- have a repetition frequency equal to
product (i.m.d. , also sometimes re- ence frequencies generated by the non- the difference between the two tones. If
ferred to as intermodulation products linear characteri~tics of the amplifier. there are no appreciable non-lineari-
or i.p.s) of the amplifier. Depending These odd-order products fall within ties in the amplifier under test , the
upon the technique used, other fea- the passband of the amplifier and will resulting envelope waveform will ap-
tures of the amplifier operation can he appear at the output along with the proach a perfect sinewave pattern. As a
observed, such as hum problems and wanted signal. Th e inside pair of inter- comparison, a spectrum analyser dis-
transmitter carrier balance. modulation products are called third- play for the same power amplifier is
Each measuring technique has both order, a mathem atical term stemming shown in Fig. 1.3. In this example,
advantages and disadvantages. The from the fact that they are produced by spurious products can be seen which
suitability of a particular method will a mixing of 2x one frequency and Ix are approximately 30dB below the
depend upon the desired application. the other frequen C'y, and 2+ I = 3. The amplitude of each of the test tones. A
The wattmeter method is the simplest next pilir are fifth-order, being due to rejection of 35dB is quite acceptable
for interference-free operation within their difference being 1200Hz which
the crowded amateur bands. can be quite easily observed on an
If the amplifier under test is made to oscilloscope. It is essential for the two
become non-linear, the spurious prod- tones to be free of any distortion, and
ucts produced by the amplifier will therefore a filter will be required fol-
increase and the resulting output wave- lowing each audio oscillator. The am-
form will depart from a true sinewave. plitude of the two tones should be
The sort of distortion you are likely to equal, so there is a need to introduce
see when the amplifier bias is set so Fig. 1.3: Voltage waveform and cor-
some form of gain control before mix-
that the power amplifier is running responding spectrum analysis from ing the two tones together. To carry out
with zero quiescent current is dis- an amplifier with an acceptable the flat-topping test, there is a require-
played in Fig. 1.4. The spectrum ana- output ment to vary together equally the level
lyser shows the intermodulation dis- of the two tones. The author decided to
tortion product has become worse, incorporate both a step attenuator and
with the spurious products less than a variable gain control. The scrap CB
20dB below the amplitude of each of rig contained a flat panel meter, and it
the two tones. This type of amplifier was decided to retain this to indicate
distortion is called "crossover" distor- the audio output level.
tion, because it occurs around the zero The block diagram of the instrument
"Y" axis. The two-tone envelope clear- is shown in Fig. 1.6. Each of the two
ly shows this form of amplifier prob- tones is generated by a separate Wien-
lem. Increasing the quiescent current bridge oscillator which can be switched
of the power amplifier will reduce the Fig. 1.4: Voltage waveform and cor- independently on and off. This will
responding spectrum analysis from
effect of crossover distortion. the output of an amplifier with bias
produce two independent tones or a
A common cause of an increased problems combined tone for the two-tone test.
intermodulation distortion product is The oscillators are fed into two eR
amplifier overload. In Fig. 1.5, the active low-pass filters. A balance con-
two-tone envelope is distorted by flat- trol has been added following the
tening out of peaks of the sinewave. 700Hz active low-pass filter to ensure
The display on the spectrum analyser that the two tones are at the same level
shows the unwanted spurious products entering the audio mixer.
have now spread out in frequency, The audio mixer has a gain control
causing splatter interference for any which can be adjusted from the front
station operating on either side of this panel. The output from the audio
signal. This is the most common and mixer is fed to a meter amplifier and to
Fig. 1.5: Voltage waveform showing
serious form of distortion, but it can be classic "flat topping" and corre-
a step attenuator. The front panel
quite easily overcome by either reduc- sponding spectrum analysis of an meter will indicate the level of signal
ing the carrier level, or on sideband the amplifier which is being overloaded leaving the audio mixer. The attenua-
audio level. The relationship between tor can be adjusted in steps of IOdB, so
the level at which the distortion begins two non-harmonically related audio it will be quite easy to determine the
for the two-tone test signal and for an signals of equal amplitude. Secondly, actual output level from the meter
actual voice signal can again be deter- the unit needs to be portable and indication. A buffer amplifier which
mined by measuring the maximum contain its own power supply. Thirdly, has unity gain and 600n output im-
amplitude of the two-tone envelope. it was intended to use the unit also to pedance is sandwiched between the
When the microphone is reconnected generate separately two fixed-frequen- step attenuator and the output
the voice peaks must be kept below the cy, low-level audio tones for general terminals.
measured maximum amplitude of the testing. It was also important to keep An important factor in keeping the
two-tone envelope. This type of distor- the construction costs low. cost down is to minimise the number
tion is called "flat topping" , for ob- The author had available a scrap CB of components required by using well-
vious reasons. The intermodulation transceiver that had been purchased at known operational amplifiers through-
distortion product level will rise rapid- a local rally for the spare parts, and it out the design. One of the most readily
ly when flat topping occurs. The third- was his intention to use the case to available and cheap operational ampli-
order product levels will increase by house the two-tone oscillator. The de- fiers around today is the 741 , conse-
30dB for every IOdB increase in power sign ofthe circuitry was also influenced quently most component traders at
output, and the fifth-order product will by the values of the components re- radio rallies will have them . The au-
increase by 50dB for the same increase moved from the rig. thor managed to obtain several of the
in output power. From earlier discussion, the repeti- 747 which is the dual version of the
The two-tone test using an ordinary tion frequency of the amplifier output 741 in a 14-pin dual-in-line package.
oscilloscope to display the resulting envelope will equal the difference The second part of this article will
envelope shows quite clearly if the between the frequencies of the two feature the circuit and full con-
amplifier is linear, and also shows audio tones. The author decided to structional details of the two-
quite clearly the type of distortion, if generate tones at 700Hz and 1900Hz, tone oscillator, together with an
analysis of the design procedures
any, present. The greatest value of the both well inside the normal audio for the Wien-bridge oscillators
two-tone test is to indicate, by the passband of any s.s.b. transmitter, and the active low-pass filters.
resulting shape of the envelope, the
type of distortion present. Knowing Oscillator Active Meter ;t M1
the cause of a problem makes it much 700Hz LPF. amplifier
easier to resolve it.
Ideal Requirements
1 Audio
mixer
10dB step
attenuator
Buffer
amplifier 6000hm
When setting about the design of a ~_ _.... output
piece of test equipment, all the impor-

tant features required in the unit need Oscillator Active
1900Hz LPF
to be taken into account. In the case of
a two-tone audio frequency generator,
these are as follows.
First, the oscillator must generate
1 Gain control
Fig. 1.6: Block schematic diagram of the two-tone oscillator

TheG28CX . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..
Antenna Clinic
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Sess;on 4
In the course of a year,
antenna specialist F. C.
Judd G2BCX receives
many queries from radio
enthusiasts, both about his
"My main interest is receiving aircraft s.s.b.
Q signals between 8 and 13MHz:. Please advise if I
shauld use a long wire or a dipole to cover this
own designs and about
antennas in general.
These come not only from
bandwidth. I have enough space for an antenna lOOm
long." various parts of the British
Isles, but also from as far
afield as Australia, New
Zealand, Indonesia, Sri
Lanka and several
European countries.
Anchored to Often, several people
Mast height
will ask a very similar
9m plus question, highlighting a
point that may be widely
misunderstood. This series
aims to explain some of
Buried wire radials Coaxial cable 50 or 75 ohms
these.
6 to 9m tong ab?ve ground or buried
use 4 ea, h 900 apart
To receiver
Halyard
Grourl'd / required bandwidth could be a better proposition .

/ / / //, ,
This can be accomplished by using four vertical quarter-
Whilst it would not be too difficult to tune a long wire wave wires arranged as shown in the drawing, each wire
A over a frequency span of 5MHz or so, or set up a multi-
element dipole to cover a similar bandwidth, these
being resonant at a frequency higher than the lowest required
(steps of 2MHz). With four wires, a bandwidth in the region of
antennas are "directive". However, in view of this reader's 6MHz can be obtained, i.e., the operational band coverage
interest it would seem that "omni-directional" reception is will be about 8 to 14MHz. This arrangement can be extended
required, in which case a vertical antenna to operate over the to cover a greater frequency range .
(A)
70MHz Band
(4m)
"I would like to make a 'Slim Jlm' for the (X)MHz:
'.---- ,-
Q band. Can you give me the appropriate dimen-
sions. Do all dimensions, and not just the element
.--
I, All dimensions in mm unless otherwise stated I
lengths, have to be scaled up (or down) for another - 75 t-

frequency band?" (C)
Aircraft Radio
This antenna was originally designed for 144MHz Band
A operation , but suitably re-dimensioned will operate

quite well on the 70MHz (4m) amateur band, the
- - r-- r-Tube approx
250 .d.
(8)
112-135MHz
156MHz marine radio band, and others not too greatly Marine Radio
different in frequency. Constructing antennas for frequencies I Band
60
other than the original design frequency was dealt with in 156-162MHz
Practical Wireless July and August 1987. Construction details E l E
and dimensions for a 430MHz (70cm) "Slim Jim" were ~ ~ Tube approx
published in PW March 1983 and also in the PW publication ~ '" 250.d.
40
Wires & Waves .
The element lengths must of course comply with the new
frequency and if this is lower than 145MHz the diameter of Tube approx
the aluminium tube used for them should be increased to 120.d .
provide greater strength to the final assembly. This will also E E

":
'"o
L
M
help to maintain low v.s.w.r. over the width of the new E ":
frequency band . '"

N
M
Recommended dimensions for a "Slim Jim" for the 70MHz Insulating

amateur band are given in drawing "A", those for the marine L I - -tt---t- blocks ,
radio band (nominal 156 to 162MHz) in drawing " B", and for
the aircraft radio band (nominal 11 2 to 135MHz) in drawing
"C" . All dimensions are based on the band centre frequency .
~ I
The coaxial cable feed points for the 70MHz version are
adjusted for minimum v.s.w .r. at band centre. For the marine
and aircraft radio bands, adjust for maximum strength of a ~
received signal at approximately band centre. The cable feed
points and the exposed end of the cable must be enclosed in
a watertight pvc box . If water gets into coaxial cable it will be
ruined for all time.
NOTE
PW
Whilst f. C. Judd is always willing to answer letters from readers
about problems with antennas generally . he cannot deal wi th queries
relating to the performance of commercially mode products. which should
be addressed to the manufacturer or dealer concerned .
AdjUS1
(see
I
'-------
[N -
50 ohms
t tex1)
Adjust
(see
text)
Ad just
(see
tex1)
TX /RX RX RX
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Packet Radio Update
In Part 1, Roger J. Cooke G3LDlfinished with a mention ofTheNet, so in Part 2 he
continues with more about that software node package developed by the Nordlink
packet group.
Several nodes have already changed to
TheNet software, including GB3NP.
In view of all the comments regarding
piracy of Net Rom I have used a totally
unbiased report and comparison from
Ronald McCallister N7FY A in this
article. After reading this, I feel sure
the final decision as to which to use is
fairly obvious.
NetRom Versus
TheNet
" When TheNet first appeared, I was
concerned that my investment in Net-
Rom from Software 2000 was in dan-
ger. I was also curious about TheNet
because research into new products is
my livelihood. I read all the comments
from those at Software 2000 about
piracy. I do NOT believe in stealing
any program. I think that software
programmers should be able to make a
living because I am one. I realise that
---
Fig. 2.1: Leo Labutin UA3CR seated at the computer, whilst G3LDI and his son
look on
this report will make a lot of individ-
uals mad at me but I am in the
consulting business and my opinions grams in Z80 code are likely to code in provide a good income for my family.
are as objective and accurate as I am a similar if not exact fashion. The As an end user however, I cannot but
able to make them. Please feel free to names in the procedures will be differ- wonder why I need to pay a company
make comments back to me at N7HFZ ent in the source code but will look the $100 for a pair of EPROMs with a
BBS here in Washington or mail to AI same in the object code. In "c" there program. The EPROMs in single quan-
Research Inc., PO Box 97044, Taco- are many ways to code anything BUT tity cost $7 each. Then you add pro-
ma, WA 98497, USA. to be efficient in the Z80 environment, gramming time. And finally you add
This report is broken into two major you must optimise to the hilt. That the cost of the software and manual.
sections: I-<:omparison of code and means if you are trying to do a connect Now it sounds fair. Let's go buy the
my opinion of the comparison; 2- sequence in a T APR type TNC2 and original NetRoms for a hilltop. The
personal observations concerning Net- want to stay compatible with the rest of two nodes just cost us $100 with only
Rom and TheN et. I: I called Ron the amateur community, you must one manual. Version 1.0. Ahhhh. Ver-
WA8DED at Software 2000 to get follow a specific set of rules. These sion 1.2 just becomes available and it
permission to disassemble NetRom rules will make 80 per cent of connect fixes a few of the bugs in Version 1.0.
(N7FY A-8) for the purpose of compar- sequence code identical. As Ron What? You mean I have to send my
ing the disassembled code to the disas- Raikes said, 'the code in the two ROMs two original EPROMs back to be re-
sembled code of TheNet. I was given are very much alike. As to being identi- programmed and it costs me $35 for
verbal permission to do so provided I cal ... NO WAY!' each. That's $70. It is now 5 months
destroyed all papers upon completion. TheNet has some distinct differ- later and a new version is out. Version
I have done so. I disassembled the ences that make it the better of the two 1.3. Here we are again sending $35 per
Net Rom and TheNet using SLR node controllers. I: It can operate in a EPROM to have the bugs removed.
Z80DIS. I found that the two products full duplex mode whereas NetRom Now we have decided to change the
are about 85 per cent identical. Since cannot. 2: TheNet is considerably fast- SSID on the node for compatibility.
both products were compiled by two er in its response to changing network That is another $35 per EPROM. I
versions of one compiler and used the conditions. This alone tells me that the have now spent $ 31 0 for just the
same libraries, I expected 60 to 65 per code is better optimised. 3: There are EPROMs and STILL there are bugs in
cent of the code would be the same. numerous features in TheNet that ,the the programming. I also only have one
This is normal in programming. When NetRom is incapable of doing because manual. I charge $35 an hour in my
I talked to Ron at Software 2000, he of the Cell Encryption code. 4: It also job. How much is Software 2000 pay-
said that there were assembly code will not crash. I have tried to crash it ing their people to reprogram one
sections that had been hand massaged and Net Rom for 15 days. TheNet has EPROM? If you look at the big com-
to improve performance but he failed better error handlers than the Net- panies like Microsoft, Micropro and
to tell me which section. In assembly Rom. I cannot give any more specifics Borland and you find that they send
code on the Z80 there are only a few than this because I would be giving you updates of their software with
ways to do certain items efficiently. away the code from NetRom. brand new rewritten LARGE and mul-
This means that any two GOOD pro- 2: As a software programmer, I can tiple manuals for $25-35 . What does
grammers working on different pro- see the need to make money and to Software 2000 offer that makes that
26 Practical Wireless, April J989
big difference? Also, these other big
PACKET REFERENCE CARD NB: use 'V ' instead of ' R ' to
companies offer a free upgrade if they display a ll routing inf o .
fix bugs within a short period of time, GENERAL COMMANDS
usually three months. Does Software SEND mall:
CONNECTING: S GB7LDI Send an OPEN
2000? C GB7LDI messag e
This is not the end of my opinions or C GB3NP (wait for co nne c t ms g) SP GB7LDI Send PRIVATE
then C GB7LDI messa ge
but I will stop. My personal opinions S G3LDI @ GB7LDl
are separate from my findings of the Enter your NAME: SP G3LDI @ GB7LDI
investigation into the code of Net Rom N Roger Send OPEN or
PRIVATE mai l to
and TheN et. I would like to see the HELP: G3 LDI at hi s
original code of Net Rom and compare display s d e tail e d l oca l PBBS GB7LDI
help f o r c ommands SB ALL $ Send g e neral
it to TheNet source code I recently di sp l ays h e lp for bulletin to ALL
received. Without the NetRom origi- BINARY transfers S B ALL @ GB7LDI $
nal code to compare, I must say that I displ ays help for Send g e neral
LIST command b u lletin to ALL
prefer TheNet in performance. Last or any ot her c omman d l e tter! at ano ther BBS
but most important! I say thanks to o r BBS-group
Software 2000 for their contributions LIST mail:
L<CR > L i st all new ma.il NB: see BB S GROUPS o n other
to amateur radio packet but I would LM Li st your mail s ide.
caution them from alienating those LN Li s t on l y NEW ma. il
I<I LL mai 1:
f or you r ca ll
that give them their sales." LL 1111 Li st l ast 1111 only t{ 123 = Ki 11 YOLlr own
L< G9ZZZ List o nly ma.il msg. no. 123
from G9ZZZ re: 123 456 789
UA3CR-New BBS L > G9ZZ Z Li st only mai I to
G9ZZZ
t<i 11 your O ~'IIn
ms g . ' 5 n o .
Active L@ GB7LDI Li st mai l sent
'care o f PBBS '
123 456 789
(up to 6 no. 's )
Kill all messa ge s
On August 3 this year, I was very L 9111111 List mail f rom
addres sed to you
highes t no . to 9 ~~
pleased to play host to Leo UA3CR for L 1111 2 111 Li st open mai:
a day, he had expressed an interest in fr o m msg. 2 ~ to 10 FILE COMMANDS
LB 1111 2 111 List bulletin s
packet some months previous and I from 2 0 to 10 WHAT files:
had already had a QSO with him and W Li s t a ll files you
can download using
his son, Evgeni RA4APR . Leo was now READ mail:
the ' 0 ' command
R 123 Read ms g. no. 123
keen on getting a BBS operational. He R 123 456 789 WN List new files
was very interested in lots of the F~ea d msg. 's n o . W DIRNAME and
123 4 56 789 WN DIRNAME = List files or new
bulletins and text-files I had on the (up t o 6 no . 's ) file s in DIRNAME
BBS at G3LDI and my printer worked RM Read a ll messages d irectory
overtime for a few hours! Leo is now addre ssed to you
RN Read all NE W ma il
active with a BBS on 14.099MHz and fo r your ca ll
he is intending to come up to
l4.105MHz later. He also calls in to
my BBS on 21.107MHz so hopefully
we may be setting up a forward file
between us. DOWNLoAD files:
D file.nam Download file OTHER COMMANDS
Leo was heavily involved in the ski- ' file. nam'
A Press A< cr > to
trek expedition as was his son. The (e .g.: D USE R.DoC)
abort a long
USER. DOC )
photograph in Fig. 2.1 shows Leo D file.nam 10 listing
(sitting) with me and my son Robert = Download first 1~ B BYE, to logout
li nes o f fil e .n am of the PBBS (QRTI
beside him. H Display HELP text
D file.nam - 20
Leo mentioned that he is also trying 5kip first 2~ I Sh o w sys tem info.
to get a v.h.f. network set up in the lines of file.nam JK Show connected
and read remaind e r stati ons
Moscow area, so the interest is growing .JA Show activity on
o file.nam 5 15
rapidly over there and no doubt other Download lines 5 channel
T Talk to SYSoF
countries in the USSR will soon be to 15 of file.nam
(only if
D direct o ry \ file.nam
active. As I said, you will find him on Download file.n a m available)
l4.099MHz, or if you would like to loca ted in a Toggle s hort and
send him any mail , it can come to my ' dire ctory' long menu
UPLOAD files:
BBS for passing on. U MyTEXT.TXT V Sh o w VERSION,
In the past year, there has been a Upload MYTEXT.TXT lowest and highes
int o fil e area o f
large increase in the numbers of ama- PBBS (file MUST
mes sage no.
teurs coming onto packet. So, to assist end in CTRLI Z>
newcomers here's a resume of how to YAFP (binary) fi 1 es : PBBS GROUPS
You MUST use YAPP co n ve nt ion s~
use the "local" BBS for maximum YH Displa y h e lp file BULLETINS ONLY:
efficiency. The NTS (National Trunk- YW List a ll binary @WWW Whole Wide World
ing System) has been set up to enable file s on FBBS @GB = Great Britain
YN List a ll NEW @SYSOPS = Sysops info
packet operators to pass bulletins, pri- binary files NB:
vatemail and files (with a maximum of YU file.nam @ and specific BBS will forwar
Binary upload to that BBS on l y .
l2K preferred) all over the UK and YD file.nam
beyond. The area in which you live will Binary download
probably have a packet repeater and
one or more local BBS to which you Fig. 2.2: Commands common to the WA7MBL and WORLI BBS software
can connect either direct or via the
repeater.
Most repeaters are now TheNet or away. This will clog the system and only need just enough rJ. to get to your
Net Rom nodes, making it very easy. make life difficult for both the other local node or BBS and no more. Indeed
BBS systems should be replicas of each end-users and the BBSs forwarding to it would probably be better to use
other, depending on the editing of each other. lower power and a fixed beam onto the
the system operator (sysop) so there The old adage of getting the antenna node or BBS so that nothing else is
should be no need to use the nodes to as high as possible also has to be re- heard and you are heard by nobody
connect to another BBS kilometres thought when on v.h.f. packet. You else. This will help to improve the
overall efficiency of the whole system. to mail. This makes it incumbent on This means that DXINFO is a direc-
A list of commands that are common the sysop to quit the program and try tory and in order to see what files are
to both the WA7MBL and WORLI BBS to find the home BBS of the addressee. available in that directory just type W
software are shown in Fig. 2.2. These It would also help if ALL mail to DXINFO and a CR. This will display
two systems seem to be the most individuals was marked SP instead of all the file names. Then, to down load
popular in use at the present time, just S. Private mail is always killed a file , it is necessary to type D
although Graham GSUFQ has pro- after forwarding and it is not listed DXINFO/CONTEST.lNF assuming
duced a very good system which is also when another users lists the mail. that's the name of the file you want. In
compatible and looks like catching on. Please remember to kill your mail after other words, the path to the files must
It is being tested in the Norwich area at reading it. be shown. I personally like to keep the
the moment with Dirk G I TLH. There Directories on the disk sometimes active messages very low on the BBS
has already been an update in the present a problem for the newco- and I put the interesting information
software so the bugs are being sorted! mers-I well remember having the into directories on the disk, this keeps
Whilst on the subject of commands same problem myself1 When a W com- the listening to a low level and also
for the BBS it would be nice to see the mand is issued you could see some- speeds up the BBS operation.
less common commands being used to thing like this:
help both the end-user and the sysop. DXINFO (DIR) PROPAGATION In Part 3 we'll look at The Eastnet
One of the most annoying errors is the (DIR) BBSLISTS (DIR) OSCAR project as well as some ofthe other new
omission of the @ field when replying (DIR) projects there are about.
Theory
gram here presented and constructed
Simplified Filter in a die-cast box. The attenuation was

in excess of 90dB from 10Hz to
144MHz, falling to 70dB at SI2MHz,
although at that frequency the input
Design Routine and output v.s.w.r.s had risen to

3.142: I and 2. 71S: I respectively. The
mechanical design was revised using
stripline launcher sockets and chip
Producing efficient allstop filters having wide bandwidth, low resistors, with improved interstage
v.s. w.r. and the ability to work between unequal impedances is screening. The attenuation was then
among the most complex tasks facing a radio designer. This found to be in excess of 90dB up to
9S0MHz (when measured using coax-
simple computer program devised by Ben Sullivan attempts to ial test leads of solid outer construc-
solve the problem. tion), whilst the input and output
V.S.W.r.s were improved to 1.414: I and
1.524: I respectively.
Passive filters using lumped reactive design is clearly indicated. The pro- In summary, the main advantages of
elements are widely used for applica- gram presented here simplifies the all stop filters are:
tions involving frequencies beyond the design of allstop filters. It handles the (a) Very wideband performance.
a.f. range, up to about I GHz general case where ZA, the characteris- (b) Ratio ZNZB is unconstrained, un-
(IOOOMHz) or so. Lowpass, all-pole tic impedance from which the filter is like published designs for imped-
designs are well documented and the driven, differs from ZB, the filter ance transforming lowpass filters:
corresponding highpass filter can be design load impedance. The program e.g. a O.ISdB passband ripple Che-
derived from a lowpass prototype by generates the required values of shunt byshev design filter has a fixed
changing the signs of the reactances- resistors at input and output ports and ZNZB ratio of I :0.667 (Ref. I).
inductors become capacitors and vice also identifies the attenuation of the (c) No close tolerance components re-
versa. The derivation of the narrow corresponding zero-order all pass de- quired (except RA and RB which
band pass design from a lowpass proto- sign. The latter can be quite low, should be S% or preferably 2%).
type is also well known. A further especially for ZNZB ratios near unity, (d) No setting-up required.
standard transformation converts clearly indicating the superiority of the (e) No reactive components required.
from band pass to the bandstop form. allstop design where high attenuation PW
Filtering a complex signal, e.g. pre- over a wide bandwidth is required.
modulation filtering a pulse train to An allstop filter with ZA=SOO, Ref. I: Simplified Modern Filler Design. P. R.
limit the occupied bandwidth, can ZB= 7SO was designed using the pro- GefTe. llifTe. 1964.
result in unacceptable waveform dis-
tortion, due to group delay variations. 10 REM: BA SI C ALLSTOP FI LTER DESI GN
In this case a phase equaliser or allpass 20 PRINT: PRINT "ALLSTOP FILTER DESI GN" : PRINT
filter is often required and although the 30 PRINT: INPUT"ENTER INPUT IMPE DANCE ZA" ;ZA: PRINT
design procedure is more complex, 40 GOTO 7000
being a non-minimum phase network, 50 RA= (ZA f ZA) t O. 5
it is standard and well documented. 50 PRINT: I NPUT"ENTER OUTPUT IMPEDANCE ZB";ZB: PRINT
A useful and versatile filter, the 70 GOTO 7030
80 RB= (ZBtZB ) tO. 5: K=RA/RB
allstop design, is currently little used, 90 L=I OLOG( 4/( K+2+I / K»
possibly because there is no simple lOO PRINT"EQUIV. ALLPASS FILTER LOSS=",L, "dB": PRINT
design route via a transformation from 110 PRINT"ALLSTOP FILTER INPUT RESISTOR= ", RA,"OHMS": PRINT
the all pass case. However this should 120 PRINT"ALLSTOP FILTER OUTPUT RESISTOR=", RB , "OHMS" : PRINT
not be allowed to deter one from using 130 END
it, since in all cases where a high 7000 A$= CHR! (8 4 ) +CHR! (72) +CHR$ (55)+CHR!(78)+CHR!(75)+CHR!(83)
attenuation, maintained over a wide 70 10 IF ZA =0 THEN PRINT"NOGO": BEEP : PRINT: GOTO 30
bandwidth, is required, the allstop 7020 PRINT A!: GOTO 50
7030 IF ZB =0 THEN PRINT"NOGO": BEEP : PRINT: GOTO 50
7040 PRINT "A!: GOTO 80
The BASIC fllter de.ign program ~

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• Commands may be embedded in messages to: Insert serial
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DEWSBURV ELECTRONICS
Comin g sho rtly. a ORP 50 ohm load an d Watt met er w nh five sw itched ranges. 0- 10 W ,
0-1 W . 0-100MW, 0-10MW and 0. 1 to ' MW. Th e unn can also be us ed ass field st rength
176 Lower High Street,
indi c ator .
Stourbridge,
HAMGEAR ELECTRONICS
125 Wroxham Road. Norwich NR7 SAD .
. . West Midlands DV81TG ~
Tel : Norwich (0603) 405611 . ~ l el: 0384-390063/371228 ~
Theory
Reading & Understanding

Circuit Diagrams
(with a bit of theory thrown in)
This month, in Part 13 of his series R. F. Fautley G3ASG describes an amplitude
modulator and talks about single sideband
The c.w. transmitter can be used for demodulated on an a.m. receiver, the ary winding is shorted out by switch SI
speech communication with very little sound in the headphones or speaker to prevent the inductance of the trans-
in the way of modification by adding a would be a tone of 1000Hz. Its purity former winding affecting the shape of
modulator. This mode of telephony would depend on how the original "up the radiated Morse elements. It could
operation is called a.m. , or amplitude and down" of transmitter h.t. supply have an effect because the anode cur-
modulation. Although not often en- was made. Ifit was varied sinusoidally rent produced when the Morse key is
countered these days, having been with time, the received tone would be a depressed would have to flow through
superseded in the main by the single pure 1000Hz note. So this is modula- the transformer winding, which has
side band mode, it was very popular tion! Add a means of varying the h.t. in quite a high value of inductance.
until some twenty-five years ago. sympathy with microphone signals and Why should this have any effect?
If we look back at the r.f. power we can transmit speech! When a voltage is applied across an
amplifier in Fig. 11 . 1, what do you How can we do this? Well, power is inductor, current starts to flow through
think would happen if the h. t. voltage needed, audio frequency power, in it (Morse key "down"). As the current
(50QY in our example) were to be other words an a.f. power amplifier. increases a magnetic field is produced
reduced to some lower value, say This audio amplifier is called the which itself results in a further voltage
100Y? The most logical answer is that " modulator". Look at Fig. 13.1. The which has the opposite potential to the
the r.f. power output would drop be- most important component is T2, the original applied voltage. This opposing
cause both the anode and screen volt- "modulation transformer" . Its func- voltage, often referred to as the " back
ages would fall. In particular, the tion is to superimpose a.f. signals e.m.f." , causes the current to rise much
screen voltage drop would have a large (which are amplified microphone sig- more slowly, so taking some time
effect in reducing the anode current. In nals) on to the r.f. power amplifier's before it reaches maximum. Similarly,
that case would the r.f. output power h.t. supply. As you can see, the h.t. a falling current (key " up") would take
be increased if the h.t. voltage were to supply to the anode and screen grid of time before reaching zero. This pheno-
be raised? The answer is " yes," provi- Y I is via the secondary winding of T2. menon , it might be thought, is just
ded that sufficient r.f. grid voltage was what was wanted to shape the Morse
available to swing the anode current to Speaking into the microphone pro- elements to prevent key clicks. How-
its maximum. So varying the h.t. vol- duces amplified speech signals at T2 ever, there are two drawbacks, one is
tage supply to the stage would be one secondary which add to or subtract that it would be the value of the
way of varying the output. Suppose the from the h.t. voltage, thus " modula- inductance (which is not so easy to
variation were to be made quite ting" the r.f. amplifer supply. It's as control as a resistor-capacitor combi-
rapidly, say a thousand times a second, simple as that! nation like that in Fig. 10.3) which
what would happen then? Well , if If C.w. mode is required, T2 second- would set the time constant; and the
second, which is much more impor-
tant, is that collapsing current through
h.t.t for modulator the secondary winding (at the instant
~ __________________~_M~1 / mA
when the Morse key is released-key
- +h.t.t for " up" ) would result in quite high vol-
T1 V3 T2 r.f. amplifier
a.t input tage spikes at the transformer windings
from which could damage the component
a.f. driver
stage 11 11 and also possibly cause local radiated
(mic. amp) interference.
The modulator stage itself consists
of two triode valves, Y2 and Y3 ,
R1 connected in push-pull. The a.f. trans-
former, T I, provides push-pull drive to
the two modulator valves from a driver
r.f. input stage, which would include a micro-
C7 C6 Ct. phone amplifier. The latter will be
looked at later when dealing with s.s.b.
+----_t---<lGrid bias for transmitters. Capacitors C I and C4-8
Class C
+ operation are (as you know by now) just for r.f. or
h.t- a.f. decoupling.
Grid bias for Now for just a little bit more theory.
C8 L...---....,.oClass B Correct turns ratio for the modulation
operat ion transformer T2 is most important to
L--I----------------------------------------=-:.oof modulator
ensure that as near to 100 per cent
modulation as possible is obtained on
Fig. 13.1 speech peaks without distortion. So,
here we go with something about a.f. Single Sideband
transformers. They consist of two or
more windings wound around a core of
interleaved metal laminations. In an To be more explicit-single side-
Fig. 13.2 band suppressed carrier (s.s.b.s.c.)
ideal transformer onl y the ratios
between the number of turns on each N 2 = R ref communication (suppressed carrier
winding is important . For our pur- because ideally the carrier power is
RL
poses we will consider a simple trans- zero) has a considerable advantage, in
former having two windings. These In our valve amplifier example Rref fact 9dB, over a.m. How can this be
two windings are usually referred to as would be the manufacturer's optimum justified-and what's a dB anyway?
"primary" and "secondary", as shown load for the valve, say 8000Q, and the A dB , or more fully a decibel, is a bit
in Fig. 13.2. Conventionally, the larger loudspeaker RL = 8Q. of a paradox really, for it's a ratio
of the windings on an a .f. output So the transformer turns ratio re- which has a unit! Let's see how this
transformer is called the primary, al- quired would be: happens by using an example.
though in mains transformers used in If an amplifier has an output power
power supplies, the primary is the one
to which the mains suppl y is
N = vi 8000 = v lOOO = 31.62 of IOW for an input power of O.IW,
then it has a power gain of:
8
connected .
Let's get back to the amplitude mod- Gp = Pout =-.!.Q = 100 (note , no unit)
Back to our a.f. transformer. I f a load
such as a loudspeaker is required to be ulated Class C amplifier. For the mo- Pin 0.1
operated by a val ve amplifier, it can be dulation transformer T2 in Fig. 13. 1, where Gp is power gain
considered for our purpose to be equi- we want to know the values of RL and
the required Rref. If the manufacturer's Pout is output power in watts and
valent to a resistor of say about 8Q
literature gives the optimum anode-to- Pin is input power in watts .
connected to the smaller or seco ndary
winding. This is because the load resis- anode load for the two modulator The word "power" has been empha-
tance required by the val ve to de velop valves in Class B push-pull as II kQ, sised because. regardless of what some
its output power is in the order of then this is our value for RrefaCrOSS the people say, the decibel is only con-
several thousands of ohms and our whole of the primary winding (ignore cerned with ratios of power.
problem is to make the 8Q loudspeaker the centre-tap for these calculations). It is reall y based on degrees of
look, to the valve. as though it was a What about the value for RL? This is loudness as assessed by the human ear.
very much higher value. T his is where not as easy as the loudspeaker example Most people find that the loudness of a
the turns ratio comes in. for one effect where the value for the component is signal sounds about twice as loud when
of the transformer is to "transform" known . In the modulated amplifier of the level of the signal is actually raised
the value of a load connected across Fig. \3.1 , T2 secondary winding is by about ten times. Mathematically
one winding to quite a differen t value connected to the anode circuit of the this means that the ear has a logarith-
at the other. The mechanism by which d . amplifier valve V I . So how do we mic function , which is the reason for
this happens is theoretically complicat- find the value of RL? What we need to using the decibel which is also
ed and just not necessary here, so we'll know are just two things. logarithmic
concentrate on what happens rather I : The value of the h.t. voltage supply NdB = 10 X loglo (P2/ P I)
than how it happens. to VI
In Fig. 13.2, the resistor RL repre- where N is the number of dB
2: The value of VI anode current
sents the loudspeaker load of 8n and indicated by meter M I when the r.f. P2 is the higher power level and
R ref (shown dotted because it is not a amplifier is correctly tuned and P I is the lower power level.
physical component) represents the matched .
transformed (or reflected) value of RL In our example where the power gain
The mysterious RL value is simply
as it appears to the valve at the trans- the resistance value equal to the h.t. Gp = 100, it is the same as:
former primary . If we were able to load of the r.f. amplifier applied to the
measure the value of the resistance N = 10 X loglo (lOO) = 10 x 2 = 20dB
transmitter power supply.
appearing across the primary it would Assume the h. t. voltage is I OOOV and To familiarise yourself, try calculating
have the value Rref, and if RL were to the anode-plus-screen current dB gains for various power gains such
be disconnected the value of Rref measured on M I, when the amplifier is as 2, 4, 10 and 40 , etc.
would rise (theoretically because we correctly tuned and matched , is The opposite to an amplifier is, of
are still dealing with an ideal trans- 150mA. Then the equivalent resis- course, an attenuator and the loss it
former) to infinity. tance load will be (by Ohm's Law): would introduce could be considered
How are these values, RL and Rref as a negative gain .
related? It's quite simple. in fact , for R eq = Vh.l. 1000 Suppose we have a resistive attenua-
- - -
the turns ratio is the key to the answer. lA + SG ISO x 10- 3 tor where the input power is SW and
Rref = N2 X RL where Rref is the 3 6 the output power is I W. Then:
= 1000 X 10 = 10 = 6666 7Q
resistance appearing across the pri- ISO ISO . N = 10 X 10glO (P out/ Pin) = 10 X loglo (115)
mary, RL is the resistance connected
across the secondary and N = turns So RL = R eq = 6666.7Q = 10 X logl o (0.2)
ratio (number of primary turnsl Now for the turns ratiu : = 10 x (-0.699) = -6.99 =- 7dB
number of secondary turns).
11000 The attenuator has introduced a power
As the value ofRL is known (8Q) and gain of -7dB which is the same as
the value of the optimum anode resis- 6666.7 saying that it has a loss of 7dB.
tance required b y the valve ca n be Voltage or current ratio may also be
found in the valve manufacturer' s in- = y'T03" = 1.285 expressed in dB, but even then what is
formation , our unknown to determine actually being done is still to compare
is the turns ratio N which will trans- So T2 must have a turns ratio of 1.285 power ratios. To express a voltage ratio
form the 8Q load to a reflected load with the primary having a centre tap. in dB it is essential that the resistance
equal to the valve's optimum load That's enough about a.m ., now for values across which the two voltages
resistance. By re-arranging the formula something a bit more complicated are measured are exactly the same.
we get: - single sideband transmIssion . For example, if a mIcrophone ampli-
fier has an input resistance of 50kO is I unit of power then a.m . noise will over a.m. Adding the two gains to-
and an output load also of 50kO, then be 2 units gether gives us 9dB.
for an input voltage of lOOm V and an = 10 x log, o (0.5) This means that given equal peak
output voltage of I V, the gain may be envelope power (the power developed
expressed as: = 10 (-0.3) = -3dB at the peak of modulation) for two
So s.s.b. provides 3dB less noise when transmitters, one a.m. and one s.s.b.,
N = 20 X 10glO (Voul Vin ) note that the
constant is receiving the same information (e.g. the received signal using currently de-
speech), this is equivalent to a gain of signed a.m. and s.s.b. receivers will
now 20 and
3dB over a.m. have a signal-to-noise ratio improve-
not 10
= 20 X log, o (1/10- 3) Transmission: The transmitted a.m . ment of 9dB in favour of the s.s.b.
signal consists of 50 per cent carrier system.
(because ImV = 10-3V) power, 25 per cent speech power Peak envelope power (or p.e.p) is
= 20 x log, o (10 3 ) (modulation) in the lower sideband another phrase to master. An a.m.
and 25 per cent speech power in the transmitter 100 per cent modulated by
20 x 3 = 60dB upper sideband. a single sinewave develops its p.e.p. at
Getting back to s.s.b., the theoretical An s.s.b. signal has only one side- the peak of the modulating sinewave.
gain over an a.m. system of 9dB com- band, which has 100 per cent or all of Numerically the p.e.p. at 100 per cent
prises two parts, one in reception and the transmitted power, since only one modulation is equal to four times the
one in transmission. sideband is actually necessary to com- power of the unmodulated carrier.
Reception: The bandwidth required for municate the intelligence, the gain of Unmodulated carrier power is the
receiving s.s.b. speech is only 3kHz transmitted s.s.b. over a.m. can be same as the "key down" c.w. output.
compared with 6kHz for a.m. (needing considered as the ratio of the powers in The peak envelope power developed
different filters, of course). Now the one sideband containing the intelli- by an s.s.b. transmitter, for the same
amount of received random noise in a gence. This is: single sinewave modulating signal is
system is determined by the bandwidth N = 10 X log,o s.s.b. speech power equal to all the power transmitted.
of the system, therefore if s.s.b. needs a.m. speech power
only half the bandwidth then it also
halves the noise level. = 10 x log, o 100%
N = 10 X log, o s.s.b. RX noise power 25% Next month we'll start to look at
a.m. RX noise power = 10 x log,o (100125) the methods of generating s.s.b.
= 10 x log,o Pnoise in 3kHz band = 10 x log,o (4) signals and at an s .s .b .
transmitter.
Pnoise in 6kHz band = 10 x 0.6021 = 6dB
= 10 x log, o (1 /2) that's ifs.s.b. noise giving s.s.b. transmission a gain of 6dB
Got a camera, want a receiver? Got a v.h.t. rig. want some h.f. gear to go wrth your new G-zero? In fact. have you
SWAPSPOT got anything to trade radio-wise?

It so, why not advertise it FREE here. Send details. including what equipment you're looking tor, to "SWAP
SPOT". Pr. crical Wireless, Enefco House. The Ouay, Poole, Oorset BH15 lPP. for inclusion in the first available
issues of the magazine.
A fEW SIMPLE RULES: Your ad. should follow the format of those appearing below, it must be typed or wrrtten in
Have modem SLR camera and ancillary equipment all in excellent block lett ers; it must be not more than 40 words long including name and address/ telephone number. Swaps
condition. Would exchange for modem amateur radio equipment in only-no items for sal~and one of the items MUST be radio related. Adverts for IllEGAL CB equipment will not
be accepted.
similar condition or w.h. y? Value between £350 to £400. Prefer The appropr iate licence must be held by anyone installing or operating a radio transmitter.
arranged meeting. Kevin. Tel: Stoke-on-Trent 0782 314383
evenings. F211
Have Rohde and Schwarz Type SDR u.h.f. signal generator covers Have Trio TS-51 0 h,f. transceiver and PS-51 0 power supply/speaker.
300 to 1000MHz in 8 ranges, output I~V to 4V. Would exchange for Would exchange for TS-700 or TS-700G. Would consider non-
200MHz counter or w.h.y? Jim. Tel: Woking 0486 2626 7 1. F232 working unit as item is destined to be converted to 70MHz. Ken
Greenough . G8BEQ, 2 Bexley Close, The Heath, Glossop, Derby-
Have Sony lCF-200 I D short wave and airband receiver. Would shire SKI3 9BG. Tel: 04574 5468 . F2 73
exchange for realistic (Tandy) scanning receiver PRO-2004. Wally.
Tel: Brighton 0273603108 evenings and weekends. F235 Have Trio TS-700G 144MHz multi mode and Drake TR-4CW h.f.
rig, Would exchange for best offered solid state h.f. transceiver.
Have Edison Gem cylinder phonograph complete with twelve 2 inch Drake needs overhaul otherwise OK, in daily use on 3.5MHz. J.c.
cylinders and aluminium horn. Would exchange for amateur radio Peerless. Tel : 01-958 6887 . n14
gear or w.h.y? G3IJL. Tel: 01-749 1454. F255
Have 35 foot, 3 section lattice tower with braked winch, Would
Have FT-75B c.w./s.s.b. crystal controlled h.f. transceiver plus exchange for 50MHz rig or transverter. Dave. G 1NYN . Tel: 0924-
matching p.S.U. and speaker unit, also have RI07 valved receiver and 405274 after 4pm . F324
new valves. Would exchange for heavy duty rotator, 144MHz s.s.b.
rig or transverter to suit lcom 720A. Tel: 0978 755822 . F22 7
Have Yaesu FT-208R hand held plus NC-8 p.s.u.lcharger, PA-3 car
Have FRG-7 receiver with 3 digit frequency counter. Would adaptor, YM-24A speaker/mic and Heatherlite mobile boom mic. All
exchange for scanner or RTTY/c.w. decoder. T. Jenkins. Tel: 01-983 in excellent condition and worth approximatel y £250. Would
1730. F254 exchange for FT-290R in same condition, lan. GOKRL. Tel: Suffolk
0359 705 27 after 6pm, n 25
Have leom R-7000 with remote control. Would exchange for
Kenwood R-5000 with v.h.f. converter. Ron. Tel: 0975 532608 Have Microwave Modules 200 I RTTY to TV converter, also Nevada
evenings. F261 home base collinear plus mobile magmounted antennas. Also RX4
software with cassette port for Spectrum +2 computer. Would
Have Racal RAI7L receiver in good clean condition and fully exchange for spare receiver with l.s.b.lu.s.b. and b.f.o. for same or
operational. Complete with manual and 5 spare valves. Would w.h.y.? Bill Batley, West Yorkshire. Tel : 0924 471226, n51
exchange for 144MHz rig or electronic organ. Jim. Tel: 0 763
87378 . F2 72 Have 12 ft dia. aluminium dish with 0.25 f/d, believed 18GHz
accuracy. Worth £100 scrap, swopper collects. Would exchange for
Have Seikosha GP50A computer printer. Would exchange for 10 large gun mount, Hymac digger platform or motorised searchlight
element crossed Vagi for 144MHz or w.h.y? Peter. Tel: Sunbury-on- turntable or w.h. y? System needed to mount and drive 4m dish.
Thames 0932-787628. F283 Grayham . G3VMO. QTHR. F355
....
_..---
~ -
-.. ..- .-ijiii" --_ ....
---- ----- - ~
- -- _.. -== -E
..
... ===-- .. -~.
_ E
The Amp Supply Co

LKSOO-ZC Hr Linear
Once in a while it's nice to hear something about how

the "other guy" lives. This month, Ken Michaelson
G3RDG gives us his impressions of a linear amplifier
from the USA which can run up to 1.5kW rf output.
This linear amplifier is a new Ameri- means of a screw in the side of each with a two-speed fan, controlled by a
can import from a company well plate. The cover was replaced before front panel toggle switch. Ventilating
known for its range of high quality there was any thought of switching on, grilles in the top and right-hand side of
units; the example reviewed is no as the voltages used are lethal-{)ver the case allow for the movement of air.
exception. The initial impression is 3kV for the anodes of the valves. Completing the front panel controls
one of solid workmanship, and further There were numerous warnings in the are the PLATE (anode) and LOAD
investigation bears this out. owner's manual pointing this out; a capacitors, both fitted with slow mo-
One glance through the specification very good thing. tion drives and dial skirts graduated 0-
table will be enough to tell you that this The front panel carries two large 100 over a 180 swing.
0
is some amplifier! As far as connecting clear meters, one indicating plate (an- Although the outside appearance of
up was concerned, I had to run a heavy ode) current and the other either plate the LK500-ZC is nothing to write
duty extension mains cable from voltage or grid current, as selected by a home about , looking, in my opinion,
another socket to feed it as the various rotary switch. I thought it a pity that like a very well-made home-brew unit,
outlets round my bench would cert- the scales of these meters were not the interior makes up for that. At first
ainly not have supplied the 12.5 amps back-lit. The 6-position bandswitch is sight I stood back and admired-the
required. The unit was supplied set up marked 1.8, 3.5, 7.0, 14, 21 and AUX. very best quality components must
for 234V a.c. , so there was no need to The use of AUX rather than 28 is have been used in its manufacture.
alter any tappings on the mains because US manufacturers are not From the size of the r.f. choke to the
transformer. allowed to include this range on linear silver plated tank coils, from the com-
The two Eimac 3-500Z valves were amplifiers except for sale to genuine puter grade electrolytics to the wide-
not installed but came in separate licensed amateurs. The ceramic band- spaced load and plate capacitors and
boxes. Removing the top cover of the switch was made by Centralab and has Jennings vacuum changeover relay,
unit revealed the top cap connectors a solid "beefy" feel about it when everything is of solid dependable qua-
hanging loose with their anti-parasitic operated. The contacts are silver pla- lity. The unit uses an h.t. transformer
chokes, the ends being attached to flat ted to achieve the highest efficiency. of 1.2A ICAS (intermittent commer-
aluminium plates having holes in the The lower half of the front panel cial and amateur service) rating and a
centre to fit over the valve top caps. carries the red l.e.d. ALa (automatic separate filament transformer.
Handling them very carefully, I inser- lock-out, of which more later) indica- The rear panel carries S0239 sockets
ted the valves into the holders and, tor, together with green READY and for RF IN and RF OUT, and three
adjusting the aluminium plates just red XMIT lights. Two rocker switches phono sockets marked RL Y, KEY IN
mentioned, dropped them onto the control mains on/offand STBY/ XMIT and KEY OUT, a toggle switch which
anode connection on the top of each switching, the mains switch being an can be set to QSK or VOX , and two
valve, locking them into position by illuminated type. The unit is equipped 15A a.c. line fuses.
Connecting Up
Having plugged in the mains supply
and made sure the XMIT /STBY
--
Hr IN .;.,
switch was at standby, I switched on.

The plate voltage meter immediately
.,{ti •• ~
R" -S
indicated just over 3.1 kV and the valve
filaments lit up. The next step was to
connect my own rig, an leom IC-7Sl.
This has a phono socket on the rear
panel marked T /R CONTROL TER-
MINAL, and a connection from this to
the KEY IN phono socket on the
LKSOO-ZC was the means of switching
the linear on and off in parallel with
the operation of the p.t.t. switch on my
rig or any other method of changing
from receive to transmit. There is no
means of extracting an a.l.c. (automat-
ic level control) voltage from the linear
to input into an exciter. The final
connections were coaxial cables from
the output of my rig to the RF IN
socket on the linear and from its RF
OUT to the input socket of my KW I 09
Supermatch antenna tuning unit.
,
. ,~
Since the IC-7S1 has broadband
output tuning and the LKSOO-ZC pre-
sents an assured son load at its input
there was no need to tune the rig. So I
tuned the KWI09 with the minimum
output from the exciter first on 80m to
get a 1:1 v.s.w.r. on my very peculiar
80m dipole. Each LKSOO-ZC comes
with individual calibration details giv-
ing the LOAD and PLATE capacitor ...•
settings on each of the six bands. The
review unit was tested by one Bill
Edwards K4BWC as recently as 8
September 1988 according to the date
on the sheet.
I set the dials to the readings given
on the sheet, switched the linear to
XMIT and the KW I 09 to read power,
then set the exciter to RTTY and
moved the transmit/receive switch on
the exciter to transmit. For an input of
about IOW from the exciter, I got just to try this on the air legally in the UK. v.s.w.r. on 80m, it was only necessary
over 100W out from the linear, then I My dummy load would take I kW for a to tune the LOAD and PLATE capaci-
increased the dri ve until the legal limit maximum of S seconds, which was tor of the linear to maximum output
was reached. The LKSOO-ZC will give hardly a test, but the unit gave this for a given drive, as instructed in the
an r.f. output of I kW for RTTY and output without any trouble. owner's manual in its very smart ring-
SSTV but , obviously, it was impossible As I had tuned the KW I 09 to a I: I binder. The manual was spoilt to some
I•
.
••
OUT
lEHf:"
DIODE
~
TX
OLT
IHO .
Itn {~'-+--r--+...J
I•
• ET
OUT
N.C .
'HOWN IN
NOTE : tWITCH IN YOX MODE ,.0101 P O S .
x x
extent by the fact that it covered all the
LK-400/500 series of linears, and had
to be read very carefully.
Naturally, at the power limit in this
* MAKER'S SPECIFICATIONS
Frequency range: 1.8-2 .2MHz (160m)
country, the unit was running cool and 3 .5-4 .5MHz (80m)
7 .0-7 .5MHz (40m)
could take the necessary input from the 14.0-14 .9MHz (20m)
exciter for ever. The first mode tried 21 .0 - 21 .5MHz (15m)
28 .0 -2 9 .7MHz (10m)
on the air on 80m was AMTOR, using Type of emission: s.s.b ., C. W . , a.m ., RTTY , SSTV
f.s.k. so audio was not applied to the Drive power: 100W nominal for 1.5kW s.s.b.
signal. The relays in the linear operated p .e.p. output
125W nominal for 1.5kW c.w .
fast enough to give several pleasant output
contacts with no comment from the far RF output: s.s.b . 1.5kW p .e.p . continuous
c.w . 1.2kW average continuous
end about any difficulty in reception. RTTY , SSTV 1kW av .. 1.5kW
Further up the band, I had a number of p .e.p .
Anode voltage: 3 .2kV d .c . no-load
s.s.b. contacts, with a good percentage Harmonic suppression: 50dB minimum
of them commenting on the crispness Interrnodulation distortion: -33dB minimum
Valve complement: Two Eimac 3-500Z triodes
of the signal when I told them I was Circuit type: Class AB, grounded grid
trying out a new linear. A drive from Dutv cycle: Amateur continuous duty in all
the exciter of 15 to 20 watts gave an modes at specified output
Output circuit: Pi-network with silver-plated tub-
output of about 400W p.e.p. or 150W ing h.f . coil
for RTTY. Power requirements: 230V a.c. at 12.5A , 115V a.c. at
25A
I could not use the unit on Top Band Dimensions: 203Hx356Wx406D mm including
for obvious reasons, though inflicting knobs
Weight: 26 .76kg (59Ib)
I kW on my dummy load for the
allowable 5 seconds showed everything
worked as it should do. The other
bands were used, operating on s.s.b. , I should mention that on occasions The ALO (automatic lock out) circuit
RTTY and c.w. in the designated when using s.s.b. with the amplifier on stops amplifier operation if it senses
band-segments, and there was no 14 and 21 MHz, I was told by my XYL improper tuning or over-current in the
doubt about the increase in signal that my voice could be heard through valves.
power. As an example, calling CQ on the hi-fi loudspeakers in the sitting I understand that there is available
'phone on 14MHz resulted in an al- room, even though the hi-fi was not what the manufacturers call a "plug
most immediate reply from VE3DFD, switched on! Obviously care would and play" harness, suitable for con-
with whom I had a good half-hour have to be taken in the case of a necting the linear to most well-known
QSO. A number of contacts were made permanent installation. exciters, so there would be no need to
on RTTY around 14.090MHz, and on Any grouses? None really , apart make up your own leads.
'phone and c.w. on 21 and 28MHz. On from the lack of meter-scale illumina- My conclusions were that anyone
c.w., full break-in may be used by tion already mentioned, and, as a wanting to get his or her signal through
moving the rear-panel switch on the purely personal opinion, the strange the QRM could do no better than
linear to QSK. mixture of switch types used on the consider the LKSOO-ZC as an addition
Changing from band to band was front panel; two rockers of different to their set-up, giving them a voice
never any trouble, although the figures sizes and a toggle switch. This makes which could be heard anywhere. The
given on the test sheet did not always the panel seem unbalanced, and I cost of the LK500-ZC is £1499.00
agree with my tuning positions. Pro- would have thought the designers including VAT. Thanks are due to
vided the exciter was tuned first for a could have obtained three switches of Amcomm of London, 373 Uxbridge
1: I v.s.w.r. reading on the antenna for the same type and size. Apart from Road, London W3 9RH, telephone 01-
the band in use, everything worked this, I have nothing but praise for this 992 5765 for the loan of the review
smoothly. beautifully engineered instrument. amplifier. PW
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UNIDEN - BEARCAT 800XL T

Base station scanner reviewed
ANTENNAS part 3
F.e. Judd G2BCX continues his
series on the theory of antennas

Feature
exposed and increasing the striking
All About Lamps voltage of the lamp. When a lamp is

operated from a.c. each electrode is
alternately positive and negative .
Part 2 However when operated from d.c. one
electrode is always the cathode hence
In Part 1 of this article, J. D. Harris looked at the tech- shortening the effective life of the
lamp. Apart from causing an increase
nology and characteristics of tungsten filament .lamps, in the striking voltage, the emissive
including tungsten halogen types. This month, he material removed from the cathode
moves on to talk about neon lamps, and describes will be deposited on the glass resulting
in a decrease of light output over the
some unusual uses for them, rounding off with a few life of the lamp. For maximum life ofa
words about electroluminescent panels. neon indicator, the end of the lamp
should be used to provide the light
source rather than the side, as maxi-
The neon lamp has been available atoms of the gas have an electron mum sputtering and hence darkening
for many years and the phenomenon of removed, causing the atom to become of the tube is found to occur on the side
gas discharge in an electric field was positively charged. This is attracted to of the lamp.
well documented before 1900. Modern the cathode in the form of positive ion .
manufacturing techniques have ena- The collision with the cathode causes
bled high volume production to be material to be removed, a pheno- Lamp Life
achieved with output rates of up to menon known as "sputtering". The
special emissive coating on the elec- The useable life of a neon lamp is
3000 lamps per hour being possible. typically from SOOO-20 000 hours or
A glass bulb containing the two trodes is thus removed over a period of
more, depending on the type of lamp
electrodes is evacuated and the inert time, causing the base material to be
used and the operating current speci-
neon gas is introduced prior to final
~---- Pip ---~~I fied . The relationship between operat-
sealing (Fig. 2.1). They may be fitted ing current and life is a 3.3 power law
with a base, typically m.b .c. or m.e.s.,
i.e.:
or may be used in capless form. Many -- Gas --~~
different types of construction exist L2 = LI (IlII2)3.3
but the operating mode of all neon __-M--- Electrodes - -4!f--." or L2 = LI (R2/ RI)3.3
lamps of this type is the same. The WhereL I = specified life expectancy
voltage/current curve in Fig. 2.2 shows II specified operating
that little or no current flows until the current
Pinch - - ----"I"A RI = specified series R
striking voltage- is reached (point A).
The current then increases to a value I--- - - Leads - -- -----I
L2 = New life with current 12 or
A I which is largely controlled by the series resistor R2
[WDHlD9[
external impedance of the circuit. The
For example a typical neon lamp re-
striking voltage is typically 4S-6SV Fig. 2.1: Construction of a typical
quires a series resistor of 180kO at
a.c. for standard brightness types, and small neon lamp
240V a.c. for a SOOO hour life. In
70-100V a.c. for high brightness types.
general an increase of the value of the
The operation of a neon glow lamp is
series resistor. whilst increasing life,
relatively simple but does take us into
will cause erratic striking.
the area of electron physics. When the A
To provide a higher light output but
applied voltage is greater than the
with shorter life, reduction of the series
striking voltage all the electrons emit-
A1 resistor should be treated with caution
ted from the cathode (negative elec-
as Fig. 2.3 shows:
trode) are accelerated by the electric
Reducing value of series resistor from
field towards the anode. These elec-
180kO to 100kO with nominal lamp
trons collide with the atoms of the
life of SOOO hours:
neon gas and two possibilities occur.
The electrons moving from cathode SOOO( I 00000/ 180 000)3 .3"",900hrs.
to anode can collide with an atom of Current - I As the increase in light ouptut is not
gas and elevate one of the valence
Fig. 2.2: Voltage/current curve of a very significant it is generally worth-
electrons to a higher energy state. The
typical neon lamp while to adhere to the specified values
electron will then return to a lower
where possible.
energy level and a photon of light will
~~
l' "Green" neon lamps are available,
be emitted. The wavelength (hence O· WDM 312
O· although this is of course a misnomer.
colour) of the light will be dependent o'7
O· 6 - "-'\ The inside of the lamp is coated with a
on the type of gas used.
0- 5 - fluorescent material that will glow
Remember that we are considering
millions of such collisions. If we were
considering a high vacuum (non-gas- -3
'"1"'- green when the lamp is ionised.
filled tube), typical figures are that only

one electron in 60000 experiences a """,i', Cold-cathode Tubes
·2
collision, therefore their motion is vir- Another widely used form of two-
tually unaffected by any gas molecules
present. However, when neon or some "'""'-r---.. electrode neon tube is known as a cold-
cathode tube . These are manufactured
other suitable gas is introduced, one o·1 t'-.. to much tighter tolerances than neons
electron in six will experience a colli- 1'0 1·2 16 2·0 intended purel y for use as indicators,
sion, resulting in the characteristic Operating current I Design current and the light output from cold-cathode
glow of the neon lamp. Fig. 2.3: Life/current curve of small tubes is usually of secondary impor-
Another effect that occurs is that neon lamps tance . Many of this type of tube have a
radio-active tracer introduced to en- Live placing a resistor in parallel with the
sure that the tube will strike when used neon lamp as close to the lamp as
in situations of total darkness within Fl F2 F3 possible.
equipment. Nevertheless home con- Due to their manner of operation,
structors will find acceptable perfor- neon lamps are effective noise genera-
mance can be obtained from standard tors and care should be taken if they
neon lamps and a number of useful are used in circuits such as high-gain
circuits are shown in Figs. 2.4-2.6. Load Load Load audio amplifiers. The noise may well
Some cold-cathode tubes have a third Neutral peak at a particular frequency deter-
electrode known as the trigger elec- mined by the inherent inductance and
Fig. 2.4: A blown-fuse indicator;
trode which enables even more accu- when a fuse blows, its associated
capacitance of the leads. This problem
rate striking parameters to be realised. neon indicator will light. This circuit can be overcome by suitable decou-
A neon lamp can also be used as a can be used with any number of pling or by rearranging the leads.
crude but effective indicator of the fuses and neons
presence of r.f. , provided it is placed
near the area of maximum r.f. voltage, Electroluminescence
e.g. the ends of dipoles, mobile whips, Another interesting method of pro-
p.a. coils, etc. In many cases this is Privately maintained ducing light for use as indicators or
BT lines lines or equipment
certainly a better indication of r.f. than panel and instrument illumination is
a light emitting diode or similar de- the electroluminescent (EL) panel. Al-
vice, which will only show that voltage though relatively inefficient, produc-
has been applied to the p.a. or similar ing typically 0.5-1 lumen per watt, EL
stage. light sources find many applications.
In the past cold-cathode tubes have The original research was carried out
IWDMlU l
been widely used as surge arrestors and in 1939 but the intervening war and
in similar applications. Older readers Fig. 2.5: Neon lamps used as surge lack of suitable materials delayed any
may recall the American BC series of arrestors to protect telephone lines commercial exploitation until the late
receivers where neons were used to 1950s.
protect the input of the receiver and The construction of the EL panel is a
also to provide a form of crude audio lOOk sandwich consisting of a thin transpar-
limiting on the output. Another wide ent conducting film , a suitable phos-
use has been as a surge arrestor to 240V phor layer and a conducting electrode.
protect BT -maintained telephone a.c. Various forms of construction exist, a
equipment or wires. In modern equip- typical one being shown in Fig. 2.7.
ment using semiconductors the ionisa- The phosphor is subjected to an elec-
tion time is usually too long to offer Fig. 2.6: A neon lamp flasher. The tric field and the change in energy
protection and many solid-state surge required flash rate is achieved by levels produces light output. The col-
adjusting R between 100kQ and
suppression devices are now on the our of the emitted light depends upon
1 MQ, and C between O.5IJF and 2IJF
market. the phosphor used, the most common
It is wise to remember to operate colours being green and blue. By using
neon indicators via the correct value of Transparent film "Day-Glo" and similar types of or-
series resistor. Failure to do this can (conducting) ganic fluorescent paints, other colours
result in catastrophic failure. The cir- including red and yellow are produced.
Supply
cuit current is then limited only by the Phosphor
leads As this form of electroluminescent
external impedance. The neon current layer (a.c.) panel is produced as a flat package, it is
rapidly increases, causing a rapid in- Ground
useful as an area light source for use in
crease in temperature. An arc will coat instruments and meters. Because the
form, the pressure in the lamp will also Substrate flat panels can be drilled and shaped as
increase and the lamp can explode. Fig. 2.7: Typical construction of an
required they find many uses in avion-
As neon lamps can be operated electroluminescent panel. The panel ics and military applications.
directly from the mains supply (via the thickness is approximately 5mm Commercial applications of EL in-
correct value of series resistor), they clude children's night-lights, luminous
can be used without transformers, etc. , switch surrounds, radio dials, etc.
for decorative displays for use in low a.c. supplies, long leads associated with Some liquid crystal displays offer EL
ambient lighting conditions. any indicators may have sufficient as an optional extra for viewing the
When using neon lamps as indica- induced voltage to cause the neon to display in the dark or in low ambient
tors in equipment operated on 240V strike. This can usually be cured by lighting conditions. PW
Then place a Dear Newsagent,

please reserve/deliver
regular order with : my monthly copy of
PRACTICAL WIRELESS
N~ ______________________
your newsagent Address ___________
NOW! --=--=---=--_
-::..1
Constructional
Kitchen Konstruktion
In this, the last in this occasional series, Richard Q Marris G2BZQ covers one of
the most important aspects of starting home construction, the development of a
junk box.
Things have changed considerably in 1 SEE YOU'R E IN TE RESTE. D IN RAD IO EL ECTRO N ICS. to the valve base. Next, using a multi-
YOU DEAL WITH A c:.oMPU.TE SUPPLY HOUSE . IF HE 'S
the 33 years since the displayed Waiter GOT IT IN 1-41 S CATALOG HE 'S GOT IT IN S'TOek.' meter check each valve for heater
Ashe advertisement appeared in an continuity. The pin configuration of
ARRL publication. It's typical of that each type will be different, so you will
era when radio and electronic compon- need to look this information up in a
ents were available from a profusion of suitable reference book(l). As men-
mail order and retail outlets. Some of tioned earlier the valve envelope often
the UK companies trading during this comes loose from the valve base. This
period became quite famous, or infa- can be cured by applying a thin fillet of
mous as the case may be. Every other Araldite between the base and enve-
shop in Lisle Street, London WC2 was lope, using a matchstick or similar.
a treasure house loaded with radio Only use the normal setting Araldite,
With 8Cknowledgements to ARRL
goodies. This was also the era when as the "Quick-Set" type puts too much
suppliers would fall over backwards to stress on the glass envelope and may
send you their latest catalogue/list, jumble sales and car boot sales. Many crack it. When the adhesive has been
post haste and all at one postal rate! of the above sources often sell second- applied stand the valve upright in a
hand technical books as well as maga- cool place for 24 hours before putting
zines and this is what originally drew the valve into store.
Salvage the author to such places. A little while The next major item to be removed
The home radio constructor, experi- ago, a dirty, scruffy-looking old broad- is the loudspeaker along with any nuts,
menter or radio amateur needs to have cast radio was bought from such a bolts, washers and wood-screws from
access to components. If his activities place for just £ 1. When later examined, the wooden case. Once this has been
include radio equipment restoration it was found to be an 8-valve 1950'sjob achieved we can turn our full attention
then the components will need to be of and quite a nice set for its time. The to all the chassis-mounted compon-
an old pattern. Old-fashioned radio innards of the set were in remarkably ents. Large items such as i.f. , a.f.
components are becoming increasingly good condition. This was obviously a output and mains transformers should
difficult to come by and when they are set worth renovating, and after some be carefully unsoldered, unbolted and
available they're generally overpriced, good oldfashioned elbow grease and cleaned. Before storing these compon-
particularly when you see that some bit of repair, including a replacement ents check and note any impedance,
parts on offer are ex-equipment. High for the missing mains-lead, the beast voltage or current markings as well any
prices combined with heavy postal sprang into life. The set is now an other useful information. This infor-
charges and the dreaded VAT make a imposing piece of equipment and quite mation can then be written on a small
nonsense of ordering such devices, an efficient receiver. luggage tag and attached to the item,
especially when the equipment to be The sense of achievement gained making for easy future reference.
restored might have only cost a few from such an exercise is quite remarka-
pence at the local car boot sale. ble and just goes to show that not every
The answer to this thorny problem is piece of gear picked up cheap should
Capacitors
salvage. Some items of electronic and be stripped down . The older ganged capacitors found
electrical equipment are only any good in valved broadcast receivers are
for stripping down. Take for instance usually of sturdy quality construction.
your average valved radio, thousands
Strip Down However, over the years they seem to
were produced after the last war. Few Now assuming a piece of old gear has take on a rather tatty look as they act
of these sets have any historical or been " picked up" at low cost for like a magnet to household dust, some
technical value, but when stripped salvage, the first step is to carefully of which resists nearly all attempts to
down they can produce some very remove the chassis from the wooden be removed. Having said that, methy-
useful items for the junk box. Just one case and extract all the valves from the lated spirit does seem to work. Use a
item, such as a two or three-ganged chassis. This is done by grasping the small paint brush to apply the meths to
variable capacitor will literally pay for valve base, if it has one, never by the the main structure of the capacitor.
your initial outlay to buy the set. Other envelope, as this may be loose and the Once this is free of dust and dirt, take a
items such as loudspeakers, dial drive valve will be destroyed; more of this suitable thickness piece of plain card
assemblies, mains and output trans- later. After the valves have been re- and run it, in turn, between the stator
formers, valves and their holders, ca- moved, a vacuum cleaner fitted with and rotor vanes of the capacitor. This
pacitors and resistors are all an added an upholstery nozzle should be used, action should leave the capacitor free
bonus. along with a small soft paintbrush to from dirt, unfortunately it will have
clean away the years of accumulated also removed all the bearing lubrica-
dust from the chassis. tion. However, several spots oflight oil
Places to Look If the valves are of interest then they into each ball race should overcome
The days of the junk shop are past in should be gently wiped clean. Once the this problem. Finally put the capacitor
many towns, with high rates forcing valve type number has been estab- in a polythene bag before storage, this
them out of business. Taking their lished make a note of it on a small will keep it from attracting any more
place are charity shops, flea markets, sticky label, which should be attached dust. ~ 44
dressier COMMUNICATIONS L TO.
SONY 191 FRANCIS ROAD ICOM
..
LEYTON . E10 6NQ . LONDON
TELEX 8953609 LEXTON G
SONY ICF 20010 • PHONE 01-558 0854 01-556 1415 ICOM R71
76-108 MHz •
116-136 AIRBANO FAX 01-558 1298 General Coverage Receiver £855
153kHz-29.995MHz
FM - AM - SSB 32 MEMORIES
INC PSU, CARRY STRAP
& EARPHONE
DRESSLER ACTIVE ANTENNAS
SOMHz 10 1300MHz
,~)
•
... -
"!.. - - : .~~.
-
.;. -
.-
- - .. ........ -.
: -: : :
ARA 900
ACTIVE ANTENNA
Gain 17dB Typical ;;. -- :t }: _
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
Noise Figure ldB al SO-l80MHz
:; C) - '-"" - V - C'
Sony ICF76000S FM/AMiSSB .............. .. ......... £157 1.5<16 below JOOMHz
2.0<16 below 350MHz
Sony SWl l50-30MCiS + FMSlereo-249 ...... . ..... AMlFM 2.7d8 below 400MKz FIRST CLASS SHORT WAVE RECEIVER.
Sony Pro 8O-1SOKC·l08MHz. 115MHz-224MHz. 3.0<16 below SOOMHz BUY THIS FOR £855 AND RECEIVE AN
AM-FM-SSB.. . ...... £295 3.8<16 below 650MHz
SOnyAir 7......................... .. ............. £229 4-6d6 below 1300MHz AAA 30 FREE. WORTH £129.
Sony Anti AC1ive Anlenna ... ... . ..... £49 £139.00 (PL2S9 Connecto(5) Also R7000 complete with AAA900 £999.
Sony Accessories Available £149.00 (N-Type Connecto(5) (ASK ABOUT THE NEW TV CONVERTER)
~~;~~~~o~~t i;gu~~~~rttci8~~mra at Inpu PHONE FOR BEST PRICE
SONY ICF 7600DS
76-108MHz ICOM IC32G ICOM 1C3210
71H08MHz ARA 30 ACTIVE ANTENNA ICOM IC2GE ICOM IC761
153kHz-29.995MHz 50 kHz . . _ 40 MHz WITH LIMITED ICOM IC228 ICOM IC781
Complele with case , PERFORMANCE UP TO 100MHz
I
ALL IN STOCK ICOM IC735
mains power supply, ProfeSSIOnal electronic circuitry with very wide •
earphone and dynamic range . Meets professional demands + All ICOM models available. + YAESU
frequency list. both in electroniCS and mechanical ruggedness. Accessories.
~:'~pl~o"oq t~s~~b~~I~~iu~~~~~~i~u~i.lIl~~~
~,'29co;;U;~;~wai~d A~~;;"fg~5n?ss~~s~efss £129
KENWOOD & SCANNERS Both antennas come complete with 7 metres of cable . Interface, power
supply and brackets. Dressier preamps available . SPECIAL OFFER - This month only
Kenwood RZ11 50kHz, 950MHz . . ........ £425
Kenwood TS680 .................................... . .... ..... . £799 OPEN MON - SAT 9AM - 5.30PM lcom 781 £4500 induding a FREE CARPHONE!
Kenwood R5000 ...... ..£799 Yes - tor this rronth only we are offering totally tree a
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New Bearcat UBC205XLT . .. .............. £249 hands-free earphone PLUS free fitting (at our Lon-
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Handheld 29-54MHz, 11 8-174MHz, 406-470MHz,
806-956MHz inc NiGad charger and Case .
Bearcats in Stock, Black Jaguar, etc. ~ CIC « .. chargeli Call now tor further details at this very
special offer.
Pnces correct al time of gomg 10 press. Please pllone tor lalest quote
' High Quality Prices correct as when gOing 10 press
VALVES
~H
" Very High Quality but may lIuctuale 15% VAT Incl.
,,,,
AI""
Al293
1.411 EBF89
EC52 11."
E'89
0.011
Ef91
I... EY81
I... EY86!81
1.10 PfUOO·
0." PlJO
2.JO UCC84
1." UCC85
II.IS
11.10 ELECTRONICS G8AQN
AmJ IV ' EC9 1 4.10
EH2 EY88 PtBl I..M UCH42 2.50
>15 11." MARaII TF2IOI GEllBlATOIIS
SIGUI. AM/FM 10KHz to 510MHz in 11 bands, fully solid stale
ARO
ARPl
1.15 EC92
1.15 ECC81
1.15 ECC82 ...
US
125 E'"
Ef96 '''' El..
EZ81
11.01
0.10
Pl82
PlBJ
PlB4
11.10 UCH81
"'1
...
UC182
1 Uf.41
.
11."
1.01
,1.1,
design with built in sweep generalor, ideal tor PMR servicing etc. trom £350.00.
...
0."
ARP3S a.90
ATP4 0... ECOO
EC,",
1.10 EF183
0. . Efl84 ."D." GGM'N.
0."
6.311 Pl"'" 125 UFSO
u, MARaII TF2II02B AMfM SIGUI. GOBIATOIIS, 10KHz 10 88MHz, all solid stale design , ideal tor
.
812H PlSOII 2.00 Uf85
CV31 t .. ECC85 11." H81l GY501 1.50 Pl509 5.65 Ul84 1.50 H.F. receiver alignment ex. cond . £150.00
,.85 UMOl
omD
0Af96
1." ECC88
us ECCl89
l2.IO EC"",,
1.10
11ll E'l2OO
EH90 , GZ33
1.8S GZ32 tlO PL5 19
' 1ll PL802SE
' .70 PYOl
3.45 UMSO'
0.10 UM84
1.10
Ul
CTG DUAl. BEAM OSCIUOSCOPES useable up to 5MHz. ideal as a general purpose scope, 23
valves, size only 10"x 9" x 14" deep . Supplied in Ex. condition . Bargain at ....Y£75.00
OfT22 D'" E1.32
..."D.as" GZ34
o.9S
0'" 0... ECF80 125 E134 GZ34· .70 PVS11BOO 0.85 UVS2 0.10
0,," 1.15 ECF82 1.1 5 E134' GZ37 3.95 PY82 0." UY85 0.85 TUTIIOIIX 0755 DUAl. BEAM OSCIUOSCOPES solid state . bandwidth 50MHz. v. good cond.
OH" l.1S ECFIIl2 1.111 EtB2 D.1O rn7" PV88 0.60 VR1OSJ:Kl >4, £300.00
0192 ECH42 185 El84 us 14.00
PY~A t10 VRI50i30 t"
1.10 [CH81 125 ELB6 1... KTSS" 25.00 OOV03l10 S.95 X61 M 1.70 EOOYST1IIIE 17111 ¥IF RECEMIIS, 25 10 165MHz AM/FM. lested £125.00
OV8&81 0." ECH84 D.90 El.'<I M14 3.'" OQV03l10' 1.50
oy"" D.1O EelOl 1." Ml.
E92tC
El80CC
2.JO EC1B2
11.511 ECl.85
0."
."
D." E""
EL9i • .50
1..10 MX l2Q.'Ol
31ll
"'.5O
OQv03/2OA
QOV!)).I4OA
'"
27.50 1749
" .5O lIS'
' .95
0."
19.90
RACAI. RA17 H.F. RECEMIIS 500KHz 10 30MHz In 30 1MHz bands. A superb receiver :Oi Ihe
serious short wave lislener of radio amateur, all receivers fully serviced in our workshop &
EI148 D." EHECLB6 1.10 EL..504 2.70 N18 ' .90QQVC£l4DA,' 504.10 Z8IJJU 3."
3." guaranteed tor 3 months . Wilh circuit, & instruclions . £2&0.00 ~ ID collect by arrangetIIItII
.
5.75 Z80 IU
EA" 1."
1.1 5 Ef22
150 El519 1.7'0 OB2 1.10 OWl/ 12
EB34
EB91
EBC33
EfJ1A
...1 Efl' '"
1.10
[1821
t15 E1822
&.05 PC181
us PCL84
• .50 PClfI6
0.95 SPOI
0.85 fT2I
080 IT21
.....
t 50 Z803U
" 'X)1
" .00 IAJ
21 .15
,
' .30 CO-AX FllUYS 28v bul works OK (a 12v. Input via 500hm 'N' sockel oulputs via co·ax leads.
Power rating approx 400 watts (a 430MHz. Urused OIIIy £8.50. pip + lOp.
0." ElL80SE
UI)
EBC!Kl D.90 E '., EM., US PCl~~ 0.95 UABC80 0.75 ll4 D."
EBC9 1 0.01 E '83
Ef" '"
11'" [ M81 ],00 P05(Xl!!,lD 4..M UBF80 0.10 1H5 1... 10.7MItz SS8 CIImAl. RlTBIS 2.4KHz BW (a 45db . ....Y£10.00 (no carrier X1als) . pip + 70p.
EBf.80 0.95 Efl. us [YSl UJ PfL200 110 UBF89 0.10 1$4 1.00
RACAI. 409 MODIUTlIII METBIS AM/FM 10 1200MHz requires servicing with copy of manual
VALVES AND TRANSI STORS Telephone enqulues lor valves. Iran$ISloIS, elC Relall 149 3934. trade and cXPOr1 143 0899
POSTAGE: £1 -0 65p, O·£1j If.lp , £!t.£10 [1 [UHI5 £120. f15-£1IJ [115. Over 00 OJ(]. Over 2kg at COSI Oebver)' bV relurn only £60.00
Carriage on larger items via Inleriink [1 2.00.
COLOMOR (ELECTRONICS) LTD 170 Goldhawlc Rd, Imldon W12 8HJ 151a BiIIDn 1IDId, Rugby, w.wicksllire, CY22 7AS. Tet 0788 76473
Tel : 01 -743 0899 Fax 01 -749 3934. Open Monday to Friday 9 a.m.·S.ll p.m.
rm CRYSTALS FOR2 MfTRES

STOCK CRYSTALS
HC25 £2.70 fOR ONECRYSTAl (2.541 EACH FOR 2 OR MORE
IX CRYSTALS RXCRYSTALS
MADE TO ORDER CRYSTALS
FUNDAMENTALS
FREQUENCY RANGE
I 10 I 5MHl
I 510 20MHl
PRICE FREOUENCY RANGE
f12.40 31d OV! 2100 10 65 OOMHz
OVERTONES
£5 .90 51h OV! 60 00 TO 110 OMHl

PRICE
£5.25
QUARTZ 12MHl 30 8. 40pF 44 MHz Series Res £5.90

14'15MHz 30pF RO·R7 S8·S23. 20 10 60MHl £5.5(1 51h OV! 110 00 10 1250MHz £8 .60
Scanner Crystals & 532 6 TO 21 MHl [5.25 71h OV! 12500 10 175 OMHl [ 11 .60
5R9 crystals 0 .45 21 TO 25MHl [ 7.5(1
HC6 (2.80 FOR ONECRYSTAL (2.60 EACH fOR 2 OR MORE
CRYSTALS
DELIVERY
IX CRYSTALS RXCRYSTALS 2.0 10 175.0MHz 2 weeks approx. 1 TO 1.499MHz 3 10 4 weeks
4MHz30pF 44MHz 5eftes res RO-Rl.5 11 520·23
4 METRECRYSTALSFOR 70.26 IN HC6IU .1(2.BO each Unless olherwlse requested fundamentals Will be SUpplied for 30 pi lOad
IX 6 76250 RX 29 7800 capaCl1les and ovenones for senes resona te operation
70CM CRYSTALS £:6 .5OIpr or £:3 .25 each HOLDERS - PLEASE SPECI FY WHEN ORDERING - else HC25/U
t;luarfSLab MARKETING LTD ~TI8 ~~:i\ ru~0&A~~l~Bs,eRts2 ~B3~:4 ~oB~~~~~~;~~m~lBT!11U~~13 RB!4
RBI5
supplied for XTLS above 3MHz
HC6IU & HC33IU 175MHz
Also lor MUllI Ull ONLY SUI6 SU 18 HCI 81U & HC251U 2·175MHz
CONVERTERCRYSTALSIN HCI8iUAT£3 .30 each. HC17 Add £0.50 HC45 Add £3.75
p.a. Box 19 Erith Kent DA8 1 LH 22 000. 38666. 42000. 96000. 101000. 101 500 105666. 116000
FREOUENCYSTANOAROS £3 .le each. DISCOU NTS Price on apptrcatlon lor 10 1 Units 10 same IreQuency spec or bulk
Telephone: 0322 330830 (24hr Ansafone) HC8 U 1000kHz 10 OOOMHz purchases of mixed 'reQuencles
COMM ERCIAL CRVS1AlS a. . allable on fast deh. . ery and at compehll . . e prices
HC!S U 1000kHz 7 OOMHl 10 OOMHz 10 l OMHz 48 OOMHz 100 OOMHz
Fax 0322 334904 TONEBURST. I.F. & MPU CRYSTALS INHCI8 (2.60 each. EMERGENCY SERV ICE FOR XTALS 1 10 17SMHz Add lhe surCharge lor each
7 I68MHl (For 1750 Hl Tone). 10245 {lor 107 I F I XTAl Days refer 10 working days 4 days I 1:12. 6 days , G, 8 days + £5 , 13
Telex: 8813271 GECOM5-G 32768 4000 5 0688 10 245MHz 14 JtBO 1500000 days ~ £3
YAESU CRYSTALS FOR FT10l 's FT901 & elc £:4.60 each. CRYSTALS SOCKETS HC25t0 25 ea HC6 to 30 ea MINIMUM ORDE RCHARGE
(Attention QUARTSLAB) Many a. . arlable ex slock (A IIsl IS a. . allaole on reQueSI please send S A E ) £150 unless ordere<! wllh crystals
An SAE with al/ enquiries please Full lisl avaIlable on requesl. please send SAE TERMS Cash \Io llh order POS111lC 10 UK & Ireland Cheques & PO's 10 aSL LlD
PRICES NOW INCLUDE VAT PRICES NOW INCLUDE VAT PRICES NOW INCLUDE VAT
Prnrtirnl Wireless. ANil 1989 39

REVISED SERVICE!
LOWER PRICES!
Printed circuit boards for Practical Wireless constructional projects are
available from the PW PCB SERVICE. The boards are made in 1.5mm glass- Board Issue Price
Title of Article
fibre, and are fully tinned and drilled. All prices include postage , packing and Number Dated (C)
VAT for UK orders . Please add £2 .00 per order for despatch to overseas
addresses .
WR197 "Colne" (Oscill/ Converter) Jun B5 3.90
Orders and remittances should be sent to: PW Publl.hlng Limit.d, WAD302 Battery Charger Controller Jun B5 3.00
FREEPOST, En.fco Hou •• , Th. Qu.y, Pool., Do,..t BH15 1PP, WR200 Low-cost Crystal Tester Jul B5 2.50
marking your envelope PCB SERVICE. Cheques should be crossed and WR201 Add-on BFO Aug B5 2.50
made payable to PW Publishing Ltd. WR202 Economy UHF Pre-scaler Sep B5 3.70
When ordering. please state the Article Title and Issue Date as well as the WR199 "Meon" 50MHz Transverter Del B5 6.70
Board Number. Please print your name and address clearly in block letters. WR203 Simple Capacitance Meter Del B5 2.BO
and do not send any other correspondence with your order. You may WR204 WO Medium Wave Loop Nov B5 3.00
telephone your order using Access or Visa . A telephone answering
machine will accept your order outside office hours. WR205 RID /Morse Modem Jan B6 5.40
Pi ••••• lIow 28 d.y. for d.liv.ry. Alw.y. ch.ck the I.t ••t WR206 RID /Morse Modem (plug-in) Jan B6 2.BO
i•• u. of PWforth. current d.t.lle of prlc •• nd .v.iI.blllty. Pi •••• WR207 Crystal Calibrator Jan B6 2.10
.nquir. for p.c.b.• not Ii.t.d h.,.. WR20B RF Speech Processor Mar B6 4.10
WR209 Simple Audio Oscillator Mar B6 4.30
WR211 "Meon" Filter Apr B6 3.10
WR210 " Arun" Parame1ric Filter May B6 B.l0
BOlrd Issue Price WR213 Mod FRG-7 (Carrier Dsc) Jun B6 2.70
Number Title of Artid. Olted (C)
WR215 Simple 50MHz Converter Sep B6 3.60
WR06B AF Speech Processor Jan BD 5.20 WR217 Automatic NiCad Charger Oel B6 2.40
WR095 Transceiver Power Supply Sep BD 3.B5 WR220 Get Started Low-cost Converter Del B6 2.40
WR126 " Exe" 10GHz Transceiver Aug Bl 7.70 WR216 LF Bands Aelive Antenna Nov B6 2.40
WR222 "Taw" VLF Converter Nov B6 2.BO
WRI44 Iambic Keyer Mar B2 6.50 WR223 High-imp MOSFET Voltmeter Dec 86 2.90
WR143 ATV Converter Apr 82 7.10 WR214 Mod SRX-30D (Audio) Dec 86 3.00
WR156 Repee1er Time-out Alarm Nov 82 5.20
WR224 "Westbury" Basic Wobbulator Jan 87 3.50
WR160 LMS Regeneralive Receiver Feb 83 5.20
WR167 Am Terminal Unit for ZX81 June 83 7.80 WR218 Masthead Pre-amp for 144MHz Feb 87 4.20
WR165 "Savem" (VFO) June B3 5.20 WR219 Masthead Pre-amp PSU Feb 87 2.50
WR166 "Severn" (Receiver/Audio) Jun 83 6.50 WR225 "Wood stock" SW Converter Mar B7 4.10
WR168 " Savern" (Ch.over /Side1one) Jul83 6.50 WR298 "Itchen" LCR Bridge Apr 87 3.40
WR169 "Severn" (Transmitler) Jul83 6.50 WR226-8 set "Blandford" Reve Converter Apr 87 9.70
WR165 etc set "Severn" 7MHz QRP TX/RX 14.90 WR230-2 set " Axe" Signal Tracer May 87 9.20
WR161 " Marchwood"12V 30A PSU Jul83 2.40 WR233 "Downton" F-V Converter Jun 87 3.90
WR234 Side-tone Oscillator Jun 87 2.70
WRt19 Transceiver VOX Unit Mar 84 6.50 WR235 Mains on/off for Batt Radios Sep B7 3.00
WR183 Top-band OF Receiver Apr B4 6.50 WR236 "Blenheim" VHF Converter Sep 87 4.50
WR184 Simple Top-band Receiver Jun B4 6.50 KANGA High Stability VFO (see issue) Del 87
WR185 Auto-notch Filter Jun 84 6.50 WR237 RID Tuning Indica10r Nov 87 5.20
WR187 Morse Sending Trainer Jul84 4.50
WR190 Mod FRG-7 (Switching) Del B4 4.50 WR23B " Otter" 50MHz Receiver Jan BB 7.10
WR189/192 pr Bug Key with 52B-bit memory Del 84 8.50 WR239-241 set " Orwell" Medium Wave Recvr Mar 88 9.10
WRI94 Mod FRG-7 (FM/squelch) Nov 84 4.50 WR242 " Orwell" Varicap Tune Option Mar BB 2.90
WR195 Stable Toneburst Nov 84 2.60 WR243 VHF Monitor Receiver (Audio) Apr 88 2.30
WR196 "Teme" 7/14MHz ORP(TX) Nov 84 3.70 WR245 Stopband filter for PW Blenheim Jun 88 2.90
WAD246 "Dart" Follow-up Dec 84 4.00 WR244 Praelice Morse Key Jul8B 2.96
WAOOl "Teme" (VFO/Doubler) oec 84 2.80 WR246 "Portland" RF Voltmeter Jul88 3.59
WA002 "Teme" (Receiver) Jan 85 4.30 WR247 Zener Diode Tester Aug 88 3.56
WAD280" Triambic Keyer Feb 85 7.10 WR248 "Badger" 144MHz Receiver Oel 8B 9.10
WAD249 Mod FRG-7 (BFO) Feb 85 3.00 WR249 " Marlborough" MF Converter Dec 88 4.60
A004 "Colne" 3.5/14MHz RX (RF A~) Apr 85 3.10
AOOS " Colne" (VFO) Apr 85 3.10 WR250 DC/ AC Power Converter Jan B9 3.22
WR19B " Colne" (ProdUel Det/ Audio) May 85 3.90 WR251 RF Operated Relay Feb 89 3.BO
SNIPPETS
As the name suggests a " Snippet " is any small piece of information snipped from the rich fabric which makes up our hobby. If you 've a useful idea, hint, tip
or wrinkle. that you feel is worth sharing with your fellow amateurs. then send it to our Editorial address . Each lucky person to get his " Snippet " in print will
receive a £5 PWvoucher. The " Snippet " must be original information. and not duplicated to other magazines . We reserve the right to edit or shorten any
" Snippet". " Snippets " may also be placed in our Prestel Mailbox 202671191 . The ideas that appear in " Snippets " have not been tried by , nor are they
necessarily endorsed by Practical Wireless.
Trimming tools are surprisingly expensive and fragile, the plastics ones get chewed-up very easily . One idea to cut the cost of these expen-
dable items is to make your own. Just take one old credit card and a discarded ball-point pen , cut a strip of card to the width of the slot in
the core and then Superglue a short length of card into the end of the ball pen refill. If a slightly wider trim tool is needed then the piece of
credit card could be glued into either the ball pen outer case or a length of dowel. G.L. E9928
Did you know that when a relay coil is de-energised the generated back-e.m.f. transient. can be at least ten times larger than the original
supply voltage? Always bear this in mind when choosing a suitable diode for back-e .m .f . suppression . VRRM < 10 x V ee.
R.A. IH002
PWBINDERS
Only £3.50 each (plus
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for two or more, UK or overseas)
Are you tired of sifting through cardboard
boxes and carrier bags to find that useful
item in PW?
Our smart new style binders, covered in
blue plastics, are a must for your library,
keeping your radio magazines in good
cO'ndition and easily accessible .
Plusl
Tidy up those other mags too. Plain binders to t.ake
any A4 size magazines-no names, no pack dnll!
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----------------------------
Ta commence wilh Issue doted ........................ .. ...............................................
Practical Wireless, April 1989

Signature ........... .. ... ................... ......... .................... ..... .... .............
41
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~_ 0202 678558 0202 678558 !:!
The books listed have been selected as being of special interest to our readers. They are
supplied from our editorial address direct to your door. Some titles are overseas in origin.
HOW TO ORDER
Add 75p per order postage (overseas readers add £ 1.50 for surface mail postage)
and send a postal order, cheque or international money order with your order (quoting
book titles and quantities) to PW Publishing Limited, FREEPOST, Enefco House,
The Quay, Poole, Dorset BH15 1PP. Payment by Access, Mastercard, Eurocard or
Visa also accepted on telephone orders to Poole (0202) 678558. Books normally
despatched by return of post but please allow 28 days for delivery.
* A recent addition to our Book Service. alP = Out of print, OIS = Out of stock.
RADIO BEGINNER'S GUIDE TO
ELECTRONICS
This has been written as a workshop manual for the
electronics enthusiast. There is a strong practical bias
AIR & METEO CODE MANUAL Owen Bishop and higher mathematics have been avoided where
Joerg Klingenfu •• 10th edition For youngsters thinking of a career in electronics ; theory possible. 249 pages £3.96
Contains detailed description of the World Meteorologi- and applications in computers, radio , TV , recording .
cal Organisation Global Telecommunication System op- medical and industrial electronics. 240 pages £5 .95 SOLID STATE DESIGN FOR THE RADIO
erating FAX and RTT Y metee stations. and of its AMATEUR
message format with decoding examples . Also contains ELECTRONICS SIMPLlFIED-CRYSTAL SET We. Hayward W7Z01 and Doug DeMaw W1 FB
detailed description of the Aeronautical Fixed T elecom - CONSTRUCTION (BP92) Back in print by popular demandl A revised and corrected
munication Network amongst others. 293 pages £14 .00 F. A. Wilaon edition of this useful reference book covering all aspects
This is a book especially written for those who wish to of solid -state design . 256 pages £10.95
BETTER RADIO/ TV RECEPTION take pan in basic radio building . All the crystal sets in the
A . Nallawalla, A . T. Cuahen and book are from old designs but updated to take account of
B. D. Cl ark modern components . 72 pages £1 .75
An Australian publication giving guidance and advice LISTENING GUIDES
both to listeners seeking reliable reception of some QUESTIONS & ANSWERS AIR BAND RADIO HANDBOOK
distant radio station, and to OX listening hobbyists . 134 RADIO David J. Smith
pages £9.95 Eugene Trundle With air band radio you can eavesdrop on the co nversa-
Basics of electrical theory . radio and semiconductors, tions between aircraft and those on the ground who
BETTER SHORTWAVE RECEPTION (USA) receivers, amateur and CB radio . and test equipment. control them . The author. an air traffic con troller. ex-
W . S . Orr W6SAI & S . D. Cowan W2LX 110 pages £3 .96 plains more about this listening hobby . 174 pages
Receivers . antennas, propagation, OX listening techni - £5.99.
ques for the short waves and v .h.f. 158 pages £5.50 THE SIMPLE ELECTRONIC CIRCUIT AND
COMPONENTS Book 1 (BP62)
* PASSPORT TO WORLD BAND RADIO 1989
This book gives you the information you need to explore
The aim of this book is to provide an in expensive but
comp rehensive introduction to modern electroniCS. 209
DIAL SEARCH (5th Edition 1988/ 89)
Georga Wilco"
The listener's check list and guide to European broad-
and enjoy the world of broadcast band listening. It pages £3 .50 casting . Covers medium wave , long wave . v .h.f. and
includes features on different international radio stations , shon wave . including two special maps. making the
receiver reviews and advice as well as the hours and most of your portable and many more . 46 pages £3.25
~~~~9~e of broadcast stations by frequency . 416 pages
TELEVISION
AN INTRODUCTION TO SATELLITE AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL
TELEVISION (BP195) David Adair
SCANNERS (updated) F. A . Wilaon A guide to air traffic control with maps. drawings and
Peter Rouae GU1DKD Answers all kinds of questions about satellite television . photographs explaining how aircraft are guided through
A guide for users of scanning receivers , cove ring hard- For the beginner thinking about hiring or purchasing a crowded airspace . 176 pages £6 .99
ware, antennas , accessories , frequency allocations and satellite TV system there are details to help you along .
operating procedure. 177 pages £7 .96 For the engineer there are technical details including GUIDE TO BROADCASTING STATIONS
calculations, formulae and tables. Plenty of advice for the 19th Edition (1987/88)
SCANNERS 2 d.i.y . enthusiast. 104 pages £5.95 Philip Darrington
Peter Rouae GU1 DKD Frequency and station data, receivers . antennas, Latin
The companion to Scanners , this provides even more A TV-DXERS HANDBOOK (BP176) American DXing. reponing , computers in radio, etc . 240
information on the use of v .h.f . and u.h.f . co mmunica- R.Bunney pages £6.95
tions band and gives const ruct ional details for accesso - Information on transmission standards , propagation .
ries to improve the performance of scanning equipment . receivers including multi-standard , colour, satellites , an - GUIDE TO FACSIMILE STATIONS
216 pages £9.95 tennas, photography. station identification , interference, 8th Edition
etc . Aevised and updated 1986 . 87 pages £5 .95
* 1934 OFFICIAL SHORT WAVE RADIO
MANUAL SATELLITE TELEVISION
Joerg Klinganfuaa
This manual is the basic reference book for everyone
intere ste d in FA X . Frequency. callsig n, name of the
Edited by Hugo Gemaback Peter S . Pearaon st ation , ITU country /geographical symbol, technical par-
Sub-titled the "Complete Experi menter's Set-Building How satellite TV works, setting up your own TVRO ameters of the emission are all listed . All frequenc ies
and Servicing Guide" this reprint is a fascinating look at a terminal. the costs, the programmes available . 72 pages have be en m easured to the nearest 100Hz. 262 pages
bygone age . Features a complete directory of all 1934 £4.96 £12.00
s.w . receivers as well as servicing information, construc-
tional projects and circuits . Also contains ideas on how GUIDE TO WORLD-WIDE GUIDE TO FORMER UTILITY
to build vintage sets with modern components. 260 TELEVISION TEST CARDS TRANSMISSIONS
pages. £9.00 Edition 2 3rd Edition
Kelth Hamer and Garry Smith Joarg Klinganfu ••
SHORT WAVE RADIO LISTENERS' The main purpose of this book is to assist long distance This manual is built on con tinuous monitoring of the radio
HANDBOOK television enthusiasts (TV DXers) around the world with spectrum from the sixties until the recent past. It is a
Arthur Miller signal identification . There are 240 test cards, identifica- useful summary of former activities of utility stations and
In easy-ta-read and non-technical language, the author tion slides and clock captions pictured . It is in " semi- provides information to the active radio monitor in the
guides the reader through the mysteries of amateur, alphabetical " order. that is the sta tions are in alphabetical classification and identification of radio signals . 126
broadcast and CB transmissions. 207 pages £6.99 order in their geographical sections . 52 pages O/P pages £8 .00
GUIDE TO UTILITY STATIONS

RADIOTELETYPE CODE MANUAL
10th Edition
THEORY 7th Edition
Joerg Klingenfuaa COMMUNICATION (BP89) Joerg Klingenfua.
This book provides detailed .de.scriptions of the char~c (Elementa of Electronic_Book 5) This book covers th e co mplete short wave range from 3
teristics of telegraph transmIsSIon on short waves, wIth F. A. Wilaon to 30MHz plus the adjacent frequen cy bands from 0 to
all com mercial modulation types including voice frequen- Fundamentals of line , microwave . submarine, satellite. 150kHz and from 1.6 to 3MHz . It includes details on all
types of utility stations including FAX and ATTY . There
~~g~~~~d~~J~h~~t t~:ctr:,~r:~~mt;lli~~~:~~he~;:~err:at~~~
cy telegraphy . It provides comprehensive information on
all ATTY systems and c .w . alphabets . 96 pages £8.00 are 15802 entries in the frequency list and 3123 in the
matics . 256 pages £2 .95 alphabetical callsign list plus press services and meteoro-
logical stations . 494 pages £19.00
THE SATELLITE EXPERIMENTER'S FOUNDATIONS OF WIRELESS
HANDBOOK (USA) AND ELECTRONICS (10th Edition) HF OCEANIC AIRBAND
A guide to understanding and using amateur radio , M. G. Scroggia and S. W. Amoa COMMUNICATIONS (3rd Edn.)
weather and TV broadcast satellites . 207 pages £9 .25 Covering d .c . and a .c. ci rcuits, L, C, tuned ci rcuits and Bill Lave,
selectivity, va lves , semiconductors. transmission lines , Aircraft channels by frequency and band , main ground
antennas, radiation, oscillation, modulation , detection , radio stations . European R/ T networks, North Atlantic
amplification, superhet receivers , C .LLS. waveform gen- cont rol frequencies . 29 pages £3 .50
BEGINNERS erators and switches, compute rs and power supplies .
551 pages O/P INTERNATIONAL RADIO STATIONS
AN INTRODUCTION TO RADIO DXING (BP91) GUIDE (BP255)
R. A . Penfold LEVEL 11 RADIO & ELECTRONICS THEORY Updated and completely re-written in June 1988. It
How to find a panicular station , country or type of lan Rldpath ZL 1 BCG provides the casual listener and DXer with an essential
. broadcast and to receive it as clea rly as possible . 112 A sequel to Amateur Radio & Elect ron ics Study Course. reference work designed to guide them around the ever
pages £1.95 this book covers advanced theory up to a level needed on more comple x radio bands . 312 pages £4.95
most technician courses . The handwritten format is
BEGINNER'S GUIDE TO designed to make the student feel as though the pages THE COMPLETE VHF/UHF FREQUENCY GUIDE
RADIO (9th Edition) are his own notes . 169 pages £6.70 Updated 1988
Gordon J. King This book gives detail s of frequencies from
Radio signals, transmitters , receivers. antennas, com- PRACTICAL ELECTRONICS CALCULATIONS 26-2250MHz with no gaps and who uses what. Aecent -
ponents , valves and semiconductors, CB and amateur AND FORMULAE (BP63) Iy updated, there are chapters on equipment require-
radio are all dealt with here . 266 pages £6 .95 F. A. WII.on ments as well as antennas, etc . 88 pages. £5.95
42 Practical Wireless. Aoril1989

THE INTERNATIONAL VHF FM GUIDE NEWNES TELEVISION AND VIDEO
7th Edition ENGINEER'S POCKET BOOK
Jullan Baldwln G3UHK 8. KrI. Partrldga G8AUU Eugana Trundla
The latest edition of this useful book gives concise This is a va luable reference source for practitioners in
details of repesters and beacons worldwide plus cover-
age maps and funher information on UK repeaters . 70
pages £2.86
* THE 1989 ARRL HANDBOOK FOR THE RADIO
AMATEUR
" entertainment " electronic equipment . It covers TV
reception from v.h.f. to s.h.f .. display tubes. colour
camera technology. video recorder and video disc equip-
This is the 66th edition of this very useful hardback ment . video text and hi-fi sound . 323 pages Hardback
THE POCKET GUIDE TO RTTY AND FAX reference book . Updated throughout it has several new £9.95
8TATIONS sections covering topics such as oscilloscopes. spec-
Bill Lavar trum analysers. digital frequency synthesis and phase- POWER SELECTOR GUIDE (BP235)
A handy reference book listing RTTY and FAX stations. noise measure ment , as well as several new construction- J . C. J . V.n da Van
together w ith modes and other essential information . al projects . 1200 pages £15.95 This guide has the informat ion on all kinds of power
The listing is in asce nding frequency order, from 1.6 to
27 . 1MHz. 46 pages £2 .96 * THE ARRL OPERATING MANUAL
Another very useful book from the ARRL. Although
devices in useful categories (other than the usual alpha
numeric sort) such as voltage and power properties
making selection of repla ce ments easier. 160 pages
UK LISTENERS CONFIDENTIAL written for the American radio amateur. this book will £4.95
FREQUENCY LIST (8th Edition) also be o f use and interest to the UK amateur . 684 pages
Bill Lavar £12 .95 RSGB RADIO DATA
Covering the services and transmission modes that can
be heard on the bands bet ween 1.635 end 29 .7MHz.
147 pages £8.95
* THE COMPLETE DX' ER
Bob Lochar W9KNI
REFERENCE BOOK
G. R. Ja•• op G8JP
The 5th Edition of an essential book for the radio
Now back in print, this book covers equipment and amateur's or experimenter's workbench . 244 pages
VHF/UHF AIRBAND FREQUENCY GUIDE operating techniques for the OX chaser. from beginner to Hardback £8.58
(Sacond adltlon) advanced . 187 pages £7 .95
A complete guide to the airband frequencies including SEMICONDUCTOR DATA BOOK
how to receive the signals. the frequencies and services.
VOLMET and much more about the interesting subject of
* THE RAE MANUAL (RSGB)
G. L. Banbow G3HB
A. M . B.II
Characteristics of about 10000 transistors. f .e.1.s.
airband radio . 74 pages. £6.96 The latest edition of the standard aid to studying for the £:~\.s5 diodes. rectifiers. triacs and s .c .r .s. 175 pages
Radio Ama teurs ' Examination . Updated to cover the
WORLD RADIO TV latest revisions to the syllabus. 132 pages £5 .00
HANDBOOK 1989 TRANSISTOR SELECTOR GUIDE (BP234)
;~~~tb-r~~-~~~s~~is li~~~gST~f I~t~~ro~s~di~~~~~r s~~~ THE RADIO AMATEUR'S DX GUIDE (USA)
15th Edition
J . C. J . V.n de Ven
This guide has the information on all kinds of transistors
repons. English language broadcasts. The s.w .l.·s The guide contains information not easily obtained in useful categories (other than the usual alpha numeric
" bible". 576 pages £17 .95 elsewhere and is intended as an aid and quick reference sort) such as voltage and power properties making
for all radio amateurs interested in OX . 38 pages. £2 .95 selection of repla cements easier. 192 pages £4.95
THE RADIO AMATEUR'S QUESTIONS &
INT.R~.R.NC. ANSWER REFERENCE MANUAL 3rd Edition
~AULT-PINDING
R.E.G. Patri G8CCJ
INTERFERENCE HANDBOOK (USA) This book has been compiled especially for students of
Wllllam R. Nal.on WA8FQG ARE THE VOLTAGES CORRECT?
the City and Guilds of London Institute RAE . It is Reprintad from PW 1982-1983
How to locate and cure r .f .i. for radio amateurs , CBers structured. with carefully selected multiple choice ques-
'and TV and stereo owners. 253 pages £8.75 How to use a multimeter to fault -find on electronic and
tions . to progress with any recognised course of instruc- radio equipment . from simple resistive dividers through
tion . although it is not intended as a text book . 258 pages circuits using diodes. transistors. i.c .s and va lves . 44
RADIO FREQUENCY INTERFERENCE (USA) £8.95
What causes r.f.i7 Are all r.f .i. problems difficult. expen- pages £1.50
sive and time-consuming to cure? These quest ions and VHF HANDBOOK
many more are answered in this book . 84 pages £4 .30 GETTING THE MOST FROM YOUR
FOR RADIO AMATEURS (USA) MUL TIMETER (BP239)
H . S. Brier W9EGQ & W . I. Orr W8SAI R. A . Panfold
TELEVISION INTERFERENCE MANUAL (RSGB) VHF / UHF propagation. including moon bounce and satel-
B. Prla.t1ay This book is primarily aimed at beginners . It cove rs both
lites . equipment and antennas. 335 pages £7 .95 analogue and digital multimeters and their respective
TV channels and systems. spurious-radiation TVI.
strong-signal TV!, audio breakthrough, transmitter de- limitations . All kinds of testing is explained too . No
VHF / UHF MANUAL (RSGB) ~1.~5us knowledge is required or assumed . 102 pages
sign. 78 pages £2.94 G. R. Ja . .op G8JP
Theory and practice of amateur radio reception and
transmissi on. between 30MHz and 24GHz. 520 pages OSCILLOSCOPES, HOW TO USE THEM, HOW
O/ P THEY WORK (Ravi.ad 2nd Edition)
AMAT.UR RADIO I.n Hlckman
AMATEUR RADIO CALL BOOK (RSGB) This book describes oscilloscopes ranging from basic to
Wlntar 87/88 Edition advanced models and the accessories to go with them .
This useful work now incorporates a 48 -page reference 133 pages £8 .95
section of useful information for amateur radio enthusi-
PRACTICAL HANDBOOK OF
asts. 310pages O/P DATA & REFERENCE VALVE RADIO REPAIR
AMATEUR RADIO LOGBOOK DIGITAL IC EQUIVALENTS Cha. E Miller
Standard logbook for the transmitting amateur in hori- AND PIN CONNECTIONS (BP140) The definitive work on repairing and restoring valved
zontal A4 format . 2 5 lines per page . 96 pages £2.30 A. Mlchaal. broadcast receivers dating from the 1930s to the 60s .
Equivalents and pin connection s of a popular selection of Appendices giving intermediate frequencies. valve char-
AMATEUR RADIO European . American and Japanese digital i.c .s. 256 acteristic data and bas e connections . 230 pages Hsrd-
OPERATING MANUAL (RSGB) pages £5 .95 back £17 .50
A mine of information on just about every aspect of
amateur operating , including internat ional callsign series INTERNATIONAL DIODE QUESTIONS 8. ANSWERS
holders. prefix lists. OXCC countries list. etc . 204 pages EQUIVALENTS GUIDE (BP108) RADIO REPAIR
£8. 18 A . Mlchaal. La. Lawry-John.
Possible substitutes for a large selection of many How to fault-find and repair va lved and trans istorised
AMATEUR RADIO SATELLITES tha first 25 yaar. different types of semiconductor diodes. 144 pages receivers . car radios and unit audio equipment . Suggest-
Arthur C. Gaa G2UK £2.25 ed lists of tools and spare pans . 106 pages O/P
The material in thi s souvenir publi cation is drawn from
the author's archives . It is mainly a pictorial account on INTERNATIONAL TRANSISTOR SERVICING RADIO,
the pattern of developments whi ch have occurred over EQUIVALENTS GUIDE (BP85) HI-FI AND TV EQUIPMENT
the last 25 years . 34 pages £2 .25 A . Mlchaal. Gordon J King
Possible substitutes for a popular selection of European . A very practical book looking at semiconductor charac-
CARE AND FEEDING OF POWER GRID TUBES American and Japanese transistors . 320 pages £3 .50 te ristics, d.c . and signal tests, fault-fi nding tech niques
(USA) for audio. video, r.f. and oscillator stages and t heir
This handbook analyses the operation of EIMAC power NEWNES AUDIO 8. HIFI ENGINEER' S POCKET application to transistor radios and hi-fi . 205 pages
grid valves and provides design and application informa - BOOK £10.95
tion to assist the user of these valves . 156 pages £8.75 Vlvian Capal
The is a concise collec tion of practical and re levant data TRANSISTOR RADIO FAULT FINDING CHART
PRACTICAL IDEAS FOR RADIO AMATEURS for anyone working on sound systems . The topics (BP70)
lan Poola G3YWX covered include microphones . gramophones. COs to C. E. Millar
Offers a wealth of hints, ti ps and general practical advice name a few . 190 pages Hardback £9 .95 Used properly . should enable most common faults to be
for all transmitting amateurs and short wave listeners. traced reasonably quickly. Selecting the appropriate fault
128 pages £5.95 NEWNES COMPUTER ENGINEER ' S description at the head of the chart . the reader is led
POCKET BOOK through a sequence of suggested checks until the fault is
PASSPORT TO AMATEUR RADIO This is an invaluable compendium of facts . figures , cleared . 635 x 455mm (approx) £0 .95
Raprlntad from PW 1981 - 1 982 circuits and data and is indispensable to the designer.
The famous series by GW3JGA. used by thousands of student . service engineer and all tho se interested in
su ccessful RAE candidates as an aid to their studies. Plu s computer and microprocessor systems . 203 pages Hard-
other useful articles for students of amateur radio . 96 back £8 .95
pages £1 .50 PRO... CT
QUESTIONS 8. ANSWERS
NEWNES ELECTRONICS POCKET BOOK
5th Edition
CONSTRUCTION
AMATEUR RADIO Presenting all aspects of electronics in a readab le and HOW TO DESIGN AND MAKE
F. C. Judd G2BCX largely non-mathematical form for both the enthusiast YOUR OWN P.C. B .• (BP121)
What is amateur radio? The Rad io Amateurs ' Exam and and the professional engineer . 3 I 5 pages Hardback R. A . Panfold
Licence . The technol0cfi Y' equfment, antennas, operat- £8.95 Designing or copying printed circuit board designs from
~j,~;;ocedure and co es use by amateurs . 122 pages magazines . including photographic methods . 80 pages
NEWNES RADIO AMATEUR AND £2.50
LlSTENER'S POCKET BOOK
RADIO AMATEUR'S GUIDE Stava Money G3FZX INTRODUCING QRP
RADIO WAVE PROPAGATION This book is a collection of useful and intriguing data for Collectad Articla. from PW 1983- 1 985
(HF Band.) the traditional and modern radio amateur as well as the An introduction to low-power transmission. including
F. C. Judd G2BCX short wave listener. Topics such as AMTOA. packet constructional details of designs by Rev . George Dobbs
The how and why of the mechanism and variations of radio. SSTV, computer communications . airband and G3RJV for transmitters and transceivers fro m Top Band
propagation in the h.f. bands . 144 pages £8 .95 maritime communications are all cove red . 160 pages to 14MHz. and test equipment by Tony Smith G4FAI. 64
Hardback £8 .95 pages £1 .50
RADIO AMATEUR'S MAP OF
NORTH AMERICA (USA) NEWNES RADIO AND ELECTRONICS MORE ADVANCED POWER SUPPLY PROJECTS
Shows radio amateurs prefix boundarie s. continental ENGINEER'S POCKET BOOK (BP192)
boundaries and zone boundaries. 760 x 636mm £2 .50 (17th Edition) R. A. Panfold
Kalth Brlndlay The pra ctical and theoretical aspects of the ci rcuits are
RADIO AMATEUR'S Useful data covering maths . abbreviations. codes. sym - covered in some detail . Topics include switched mode
PREFIX MAP OF THE WORLD (USA) bols. frequency bands / allocations . UK broadcasting sta- power supplies. preCision regulators . dual tracking regu-
Showing prefixes and countries, plus listings by order of tions. semiconduc tors. compone nts. etc . 201 pages lators and computer controlled power supplies. etc . 92
country and of prefix . 1014 x 71 1mm £2 .95 Hardback £8 .95 pages £2.95

POWER SUPPLY PROJECTS BP76 HF ANTENNAS 25 SIMPLE INDOOR
R. A . Penfold FOR ALL LOCATIONS (RSGB) AND WINDOW AERIALS (BP138)
This book gives a number of power supply designs L. A. Moxon G8XN E. M . NolI
including simple unstabilised types , fix.~d voltag~ regulat- Tak ing a new look at how h.f. antennas work. and putting Designs for people who live in flats or have .no ~arden~ ,
ed ty pes and variable voltage stabllrsed deSIgns . 91 theory into practice. 260 pages £5.69 etc .. giving surprisingly good results considering their
pages £2 .50 limited dimensions . 64 pages O/P
PRACTICAL POWER SUPPLIES * NOVICE ANTENNA NOTEBOOK
Doug DeMaw W1 FB 25 SIMPLE SHORT WAVE
Collected Articles from PW 1978- 1 985
Chara cteristics of batteries, tran sform ers, rectifiers , Another book from the pen of W 1FB , this time offering BROADCAST BAND AERIALS (BP132)
fuses and heatsinks . plus designs for a variety of mains- "new ideas for beginning hams" . All the drawings are E.M.NolI
driven power supplies , including the PW " M archwood" large and clear and each chapter ends with a glossary of Designs for 25 different aerials, from a simple dipole
giving a fully stabilised and protected 12V 30A d .c . 48 term s. 130 pages £5.95 through helical designs to a multi-band umbrella . 80
pages £1.25 pages £1.95
OUT OF THIN AIR
PROJECTS IN AMATEUR RADIO AND SHORT 25 SIMPLE TROPICAL
Collected Antenna Article. from PW 1977 - 1 980 AND MW BAND AERIALS (BP145)
WAVE LISTENING Including such favourites as the ZL Special and .2BCX
F. G. Raver G30GR E. M. Noli
16-element beams for 2m, and the famous ':Slim Jim" ,
Full construc tional details are given for all projects , Simple and inexpensive aerials for the broadcast bands
designed by Fred Judd G2BCX . Also features systems from medium wave to 49m . 64 pages £1 .75
including housing the units in a suitable case . All the for Top Band , medium wave / long wave loop designs
projects are either on p .e.b . or matrix boa rd . 90 pages and a v .h.f . direction finding loop . Plus items on propaga-
£4.95 tion , accessories and antenna design . 80 pages £1 .80
QRP NOTEBOOK
SIMPLE, LOW-COST WIRE ANTENNAS FOR
COMPUTING
~~~gb~oekMd~'::s~1~Bthe building and operating of a RADIO AMATEURS (USA)
W. I . 0 .. W6SAI and S. D. Cowan W2LX
AN INTRODUCTION TO COMPUTER
COMMUNICATIONS (BP177)
successful OAP station . Lots of advice is given by the
author who has spent years as an ardent ORPer . All the Efficient antennas for Top Band to 2m . including " invi- R. A . Penfold
text is easy to read and the drawing s are large and clear . sible" antennas for difficult station locations . 191 pages Details of various types of modem and their applications,
77 pages £4.95 £6.75 plus how to interconnect computers, modems, and the
telephone system . Also networking systems and RTTY .
THE ARRL ANTENNA 800K 96 pages £2 .95
15th Edition (USA)
A station is only as effective as its antenna system . This
AUDIO FREOUENCIES book covers propagation, practical constructional details AN INTRODUCTION TO
COMPUTER PERIPHERALS (BP170)
AUDIO (BP1 1 1) of almost every type of antenna , test equipment and
(Element. of Electronic.-Book 6) formulas and programs for beam heading calculations . J . W. Penfold
327 pages £14.95 Covers monitors . printers, disk drives , cassette record-
F. A. WiI.on
ers , modems, etc ., explaining what they are, how to use
This book studies sound and hearing . and the operation
of microphones. loudspeakers. amplifiers . oscillators.
them and the various types of standards. 80 pages
THE ARRL ANTENNA COMPENDIUM Volume 1 £2 .50
and both disc and magnetic recording . 320pages £3 .50 (USA)
This book makes fascinating reading of hitherto unpub-
lished material. Among topics discussed are quads and MICROPROCESSING SYSTEMS
loops, log periodic arrays , beam and multi-band anten- AND CIRCUITS (BP77)
nas , verticals and reduced size antennas . 175 pages (Element. of Electronic.-Book 4)
ANTENNAS (AERIALS) £9.25 F.A. WiI.on
AERIAL PROJECTS (BP105) A comprehensive guide to the elements of micropro-
R. A . Penfold THE RADIO AMATEUR ANTENNA HANDBOOK cessing systems, which are becoming ever more in-
Practical designs including active. loop and ferrite aerials William I. 0 .. W8SAI & Stuart D. Cowen W2LX volved in radio systems and equipment . 256 pages
plus acce ssory units . 96 pages £2.50 Yagi, quad . quagi , I-p, venica!. horizontal and " slope'" £2.95
antennas are all cove red . Also towers . grounds and
rotators . 190 pages £8.75
ALL ABOUT CUBICAL QUAD ANTENNAS (USA)
W . I. 0 .. W6SAI and S . D . Cowan W2LX
Theory . design . construction. adjustment and operation WIRES & WAVES MORS.
of quads . Ouads vs . Yagis. Gain Figures . 109 pages Collected Antenna Article. from PW 1980-1984
Antenna and propagation theory , including NBS agi X INTRODUCING MORSE
£5.50 Collected Article. from PW 1982-1985
design data Pra cti ca l designs for antennas from medium
Ways of learning the Morse Code, follo~ed ~y constru.c-
ALL ABOUT VERTICAL ANTENNAS (USA) waves to microwaves, plus accessories such as a.t .u.s,
tional details of a variety of keys including IambiC.
W. I. Orr W6SAI and S. D . Cowan W2LX s.w .r . and power meters. and a noise bridge . Dealing
Triambic, and an Electronic Bug with a 528-bit memory.
Theory. design . construction. operation. the secrets of with TVI. 160 pages £3.00
48 pages £1 .25
making vertical work . 191 pages £7 .50
W1FB'S ANTENNA NOTEBOOK
AN INTRODUCTION TO ANTENNA THEORY Doug DeMew W1 FB THE MORSE CODE
(BP198) Th is book provides lots of designs. in simple and easy- FOR RADIO AMATEURS (RSGB)
H . C. Wright to ~ read terms , for simple wire and tubing antennas . All Margaret Mill. G3ACC .
drawings are large and clear making construction much A guide to learning to send and . receive Morse code
This book deals with the basic co ncepts relevant to signals up to the 12 w .p .m . reqUired for the RAE. 19
receiving and transm itting antennas . Lots of diagrams easier. 124 pages £5 .95
reduce the amount of mathematics involved . 86 pages
pages £2 .88
£2.95 25 SIMPLE AMATEUR 8AND AERIALS (BP125)
~~~·t~~~~ld
THE SECRET OF LEARNING MORSE CODE
BEAM ANTENNA HANDBOOK (USA) 25 simple and inexpensive aerials . from a Mart< Franci.
W. I. Orr W6SAI & S . D . Cowan W2LX simple dipole through beam and t. r~angle designs t? a Designed to make you proficient in Morse code in the
Design. construction . adjustment and installation of h.t. mini-rhombic. Dimensions for specifiC spot frequencies, shortest possible time, this book points out many of the
beam antennas . 198 pages £6.75 including the WARC bands. 80 pages £1 .95 pitfalls that beset the student. 87 pages £4.95
~ 38 Before committing these salvaged scores, it's generally a lot easier to

De-soldering components to the junk box , test the repair than commercially built gear.
resistors with a multi meter to see that
Large numbers of resistors and capa- their value has not altered, as old
citors can be gained from one chassis. resistors tend to go high in value, while
Home Built
The snag is that these components, capacitors tend to go resistive or short Enjoyment
unlike those mounted on a p.c. b. , have circuit. If you're going to enjoy the hobby
their legs bent round the tag they are and not eventually look upon it as a
soldered to . This means that each joint
will need to be de-soldered using either Transistor Radios continuous drain on your financial
resources, then the only approach is to
braid or a solder sucker. After most of The author's experience with mod- build your own equipment. Remem-
the solder has been removed , each ern portable transistorised receivers is ber, kits are a good place to start in this
component lead will need to be me- that very few components can be sal- area of the hobby. You obviously can't
chanically unwound from the tag to vaged from them . Larger items such as compete with commercial equipment
which it was soldered. The upshot of loudspeakers, audio and mains trans- when it comes to bells and whistles, but
this operation is that each component formers and possibly variable tuning then just look how often you actually
is subjected to prolonged high tem- capacitors are the limit of what can need these extra facilities; it's surpris-
perature, which may be damaging. In easily be saved. This is a good point to ingly low. Who knows, if your home-
order to stop this, a heat shunt should remember; some equipment may be built equipment works well, you could
be applied between the component and old and large but in general it is much write up the design and get it published
the iron. A small pair of long-nosed easier to service. As equipment be- within the pages of this very magazine,
pliers make an excellent heat shunt. comes smaller and smaller, so it be- and be payed for it, too! PW
These can be clamped into place while comes harder for the average amateur
yo u're de-soldering the component by to attempt his own equipment servic- (I) Practical Handbook of Valved Radio R epair by
wrapping a strong rubber band over ing and repair. This is where well C has . E. Miller. PW Book Service £17.50 plus
the handle of the pliers. designed home or kit built equipment £0.7 5 for post and packing.

o
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interference with an ANTENNA TUNER. 100KHz-30MHz in
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Feature
Wireless in 1928
In Part 2, John D. Heys G3BDQ concludes his look back at this important year.
On 4 October 1927, the delegates from In future, transmissions were to be as transmitters during 1928. These
seventy-four nations began their deli- limited to pure c.w. and telephony. No were normally single or two-valve cir-
herations at the International Tele- spark or unrectified a.c. was allowed cuits arranged as Hartley, Colpitts or
graphic Conference that was being held and special reasons were to be given if t.p.t.g. (tuned-plate, tuned-grid) oscil-
in Washington DC. This was the first i.c.w. or Tonic Train transmissions lators. Just a handful of stations had
conference to follow the one held in were contemplated. Every station was m.o.p.a. (master oscillator-power am-
London in 1912, and the agreements to possess a piezo-electric crystal to plifier) arrangements which could re-
reached had important and wide-rang- enable the measurement of transmis- duce the frequency shift brought about
ing effects on the world of wireless. sion frequency and every effort must by antenna movements, keying, etc.
T hese new decisions changed many of be made to ensure frequency stability The transmitting valves most com-
the rules and conditions pertaining to with as little possible harmonic and monly in use here were the LS5 and the
the holding of amateur licences and the other unwanted radiation. DES . Both were power valves for driv-
regulations were due to take effect Messages to stations in this country ing the new moving coil loudspeakers,
towards the end of 1928. or abroad who were co-operating in the the Marconi LS5 had an amplification
Many amateurs were , as they experiments were allowed. This was factor of 5 and an impedance of 600n.
thought, dragged unwillingly into a significant; for up to that time it was It needed 5.25 volts on its filament at
new era of stable transmitters, closely outside British licence regulations to 0.8A and 400 volts h.t. The LS5 was
defined frequency bands, effective fre- contact foreign stations. Our amateurs, ideal for a station operating within the
quency measurements and the new list however, had long disregarded this 10 watt input limitation and cost 25
of "Q" codes and callsign prefixes. condition which had been formulated shillings.
1928 was perhaps the final year to when long distance contacts between Many amateurs found difficulty in
see the operation of the older transmit- amateurs were thought to be impossi- achieving the high voltage (smoothed
ting techniques and it saw the gradual ble. For the first time the index letter d.c.) for the transmitter valve anodes.
introduction of crystal controlled oscil- "G" ("GI" for Northern Ireland) was A lot of them lived where there was still
lators, tighter licence conditions and to be always prefixed to the call of the no mains supply and they were forced
the opening up of the ten metre OX station . This was good news for G6MN into using batteries or hand generators.
band. and other printers of QSL cards! Some agile or acrobatic types actually
The use of the general call "CQ" was managed to turn the handle of the
expressly forbidden , but the general wretched generator and operate the
call "test" was allowed. This odd regu- Morse key at the same time! The d.c.
The New Licence lation persisted right up to the big mains could be ideal for voltages
The British Post Office issue Me- QRT in 1939. Power was normally to around 200 but useless for anything
morandum No. K 702 on 5 September remain at 10 watts input and higher higher unless a motor generator could
1928 which defined the new condition powers were only to be allowed in be obtained, these noisy devices were
to apply to holders of the quaintly exceptional circumstances. often suspended in cradles with strong
named "Experimental Licences" for The most upsetting feature of the rubber thongs. The more fortunate
the use of sending and receiving appa- proposed new licence was the ultra- individuals with an a.c. mains supply
ratus. These new licences were to be cautious attitude of the Post Office could, of course, get any voltage they
issued between October and December regarding band edge tolerances. They needed from transformers, but then
and under no circumstances could li- lopped 25kHz from each band edge to there remained the problems of rectifi-
cences in the old form be allowed to ensure that everyone kept within the cation and smoothing. Some just ap-
continue after I January 1929. Sending bands. The RSGB protested vigorously plied the rectified d.c. to their trans-
was limited to the following frequen- but the Post Office were adamant and mitters and others put raw a.c. on the
cies: 1.74-1.97MHz, 7.05-7.25MHz remained unbending. anodes' The c.w. notes from the r.a.c.
and 14.06-14.34MHz and if a special stations were excruciating and almost
application was made operation might T I! Keying was a problem for the high
also be allowed on one or both of the Transmitters in 1928 powered stations. Many achieved this
frequency bands 28.1-29.0MHz and Most British and foreign amateurs by keying the primary of the h.t.
56.15-59.85MHz. were still using self-excited oscillators transformer.
:
I--j~ 1 1
j ~' rlO j; .
RAOIOo. O
h/, THIS COHF'RMS OUR QSO
Of ,. \ I ~ YOUR SIGHALS WER£ R 5
OUR TRANS. 'NPUT soa WATTS
\ r L 4'Ij \) ~ G.-'i~C L~ H. ~~ j\."1
GSDC rt= 1 1.,; .... ' .f ' '::. \:: o ._ ':. \-
The equipment of G5DC showing a high-power oscillator A neat station at NU2CTY in New York. The transmitter is
to the right again obviously a t.p.t.g. single valve oscillator
circuit. If high power operation was at 28MHz and this held back operat ion
Crystal Control contemplated, there was a danger that on that band. A few determined ama-
Not more than about IS per cent of the high r.f. currents through the crys- teurs persisted and they were reward l'd
British amateurs were using crystal tal would heat and fracture it, but this by the making of historic record D X
control during 1928. This deduction snag was neatly overcome by Cecil contacts.
was made from the close examination Goyder G2SZ. Goyder was the first The Frenchman Pierre Auschitsky
of many QSL cards for that year and it British amateur to contact New Zea- EF8CT made the first ever contact on
shows clearly that 1928 was perhaps land in 1924 and he devised his ten metres between Europe and No rth
the last year when uncontrolled trans- "Goyder Lock" circuit. A low power America on I January 1928. He used a
mitters were predominant. Quartz crystal oscillator was loosely coupled twin. valve t.p .t.g. oscillator (attributed
crystals were (and remain) relatively to the grid circuit of a high power to Professor Mesny) with 1200 volts on
expensive and the 20 or 30 shillings t.p.t.g. oscillator and the crystal oscilla- the anodes at 125mA (150 watts input)
needed for the purchase of a "rock" tor then "took over" the frequency and his receiver was a simple O-V-I
must have seemed quite exorbitant 61 control of the big valve. mounted on an old gramophone disc (0
years ago. This led the impecunious provide good insulation!
and more adventurous types to the Receivers and The antenna, then known as a "levy"
premises of long established opticians! Antennas consisted of two 5 metre long wires end
Here were often boxes full of old to end centre fed with open wire twin
quartz lenses of types no longer used in In the UK, amateurs used simple line. We would know call this a full
1928. Opticians could wear out com- two valve 0-V-I receivers. Such sets wave centre fed doublet. His wire ran
plete sets of tools for lens grinding if were, of course, low-noise devices from north to south and it gave him SS
they worked on quartz for a few weeks especially when operated from batter- to S6 reports from the station in New
so they were quite willing to let radio ies, but their selectivity left much to be Jersey, NU2JN. The contact was on
amateurs buy them for a nominal sum. desired . Hand capacity effects and the c.w. 'Phone was tried but NU2JN d id
Man y of these old lenses could be smoothness of their reaction controls not hear the French station. A listen er
induced to oscillate; and if the experi- became all important design consider- report on the telephony was, however,
menter was lucky one might be found ations. The detector ci rcuits were received from another American st a-
which had a natural frequency within usually of the Reinartz or Schnell types tion. The historic contact lasted fro m
or harmonically related to an amateur which had been de ve lop ~ d in the USA 1415 to 1645GMT.
band. The author has two such lenses during 1923. Later in the year, Jimmy Matthews
which can still be made to oscillate in a By 1928 antenna theory and practice G6LL who was the leading worker on
home-made holder. If over excited the had advanced beyond the use of simple ten metres in this country also contact-
crystals shoot out sideways from the top loaded Marconi systems with ed W2JN (USA stations began to use
holder! counterpoises and most stations were the W prefix in 1928) on October 21 .
There were at least two suppliers of using Hertz antennas cut to a resonant This was the first USA/G contact o n
quartz crystals in 1928. Messrs. Quartz length . These were normally half wave the band. Matthews had a home-b uilt
Oscillators Ltd ., of I Lechmere Road, (a full wave on 45 metres was too long sophisticated transmitter with cryst al
NW2 advertised in many languages on for the conditions of the licence!) and control on 80 metres followed by a
the back of the G5FS QSL card , and were either end or "Zepp" fed . At that chain of doublers and a final p.a.
the Oscillating Xtal Company in Cam- time there was no low impedance running at 50 watts. His receiver was
bridge had a price list of their products feeder or coaxial cable availa ble, but also the ubiquitous O-V-I and the
on the reverse of the QSL cards used by the single wire feeder system known as antenna a half wave vertical, Zepp fed .
G5YK. This company supplied crys- the Windom tap had been introduced
tals ground to a tolerance of ± 2.5kHz from the United States where it was Fun and Games
between 600 and 5000kHz. Standard becoming very popular. The Windom The May 30 issue of Wireless World
crystals cost £ I and heavy duty types is still used all over the world and is an carried a small paragraph which d is-
were 30 shillings. effective radiator. cussed the work of the Post Offi ce
In a t.p.t.g. circuit, the frequency is Detector Van and it went on. "Good
determined by either the anode or the Ten Metres missionary work regarding oscillation
grid tuned circuit. The circuit having The Licensing Authorities thought detector interference has been put in
the best Q will decide upon the output that the ten and five metre bands were by the Post Office but these vans have
frequency and if a quartz crystal is too high in frequency for more than spent most of their time tracki ng illi cit
substituted (or put in parallel with) the very short distance working and gladly transmitters" .
grid circuit, the crystal wi ll determine allowed their use by amateurs. As usual Piracy was indeed not unknown
output frequency regardless of the ad- the pundits were proved wrong! It was then, and the author's predilection for
justments or loading of the anode difficult to get many valves to oscillate collecting ancient and interesting Q SL
. ,
TE L. MONTCLAlR 7459
BPitish Expel'imental Station.
340 NORTH FULLERTON ,\ VE., UPPER M ONTC LAIR, N. J.
Q.R.A.= SOMEWHERE IN SURREY . If.'>.(' &./'7. ; '
T o Ra d io ...... cq ..(!~ .X Yr .. .a?I~ .... W ' d. uu CJ..:t 'l/i:: . J9?f
Q RK I? $':.4. QSS. ~{":. Q IU1. (1l} . " (JfU,
ad ... Q ] n1."4:.~~
, Tra nsmitter
- - ------_._- -- Hece;vcr
\ -r,P.-r.if l1.JJ.~--J : ~
• " 0" v. I). C. v d- ~ '_ <-<--Jcl
S', WATT-:
·'D .C. b '
]{ emar ks
~
......>... ..... ..... :'"
" ... 7.0. .'~J
'11,....... . ~. :,.
~J~~<r:.~
,;t./, . - l ' L' . ~' 0
;·~~~~~· f~r ·;.l:o~ ··· · ?&~·· ·fl:/f · ~e~t· 7\ ~ .•:····· ·
. _.
Q .S .L. - ~.
I -. / (~ . B .Il.S.
__ ._._..
'-.. . . ---
The historic QSL card from W2JN to G6LL to confirm the A QSL card used by E. J. Laker before he was licensed as
first 10m contact between the UK and the USA G6LK
Practical Wireless. April 1989 47
cards has brought to light one or two E.J. (Ted) Laker of Cranleigh in Surrey Most readers will know that Les
shady secrets from 1928. The late who also chanced his arm and defied Moxon G6XN is perhaps one of our
Austin Forsyth G6FO, founder and the PO regulations in 1928 before he leading amateur authorities on an-
Editor of Short Wave Magazine from received his transmitting licence. His tenna design and construction, his
1936 to his death, was a youngster "under cover" call was "BES" (for book on the subject will remain a
living in Newport in 1928. He was a British Experimental Station) and the standard work for some time. In June
keen s.w.1. with the BRS number 80. I QRA is shown on his QSL as "some- 1928 the almost juvenile Les Moxon
have a QSL card that he sent to G2CX where in Surrey", the QSO was with who had been recently licensed con-
reporting on that station's signals G2CX on 7 October 1928 and his TX tacted G5UF. In those days our an-
which is dated 16 October 1928. Also was a t.p.t.g. at 8 watts to a DE5 valve. tenna wizard was using a 5 metre
before me is a QSL card bearing the The card is signed on the back E. J. indoor wire for reception and a 16
call letters "SMD" from a motor Laker and the signature is identical metre inverted L only 2 metres up for
cruiser Leonie lying in Newport River with those on his later QSL cards when transmission. His transmitter ran 8 to
which confirmed contact with G5UF he was G6LK. 9 watts with half wave rectified but
on October 13 of the same year. It is an One wonders how G2CX felt when a unsmoothed h.t. and it had a.c. on the
obvious "under cover" card with a postcard was delivered to his London filament. He had already worked 12
London Mono-mark address and has house on II June 1928 which read : countries with from 2 to 3 watts input!
been written by the same hand as the "Dear Sir, Would it be possible for There is necessarily much more to
card from BRS 80. His receiver was a you to broadcast something more in- tell about the happenings during 1928,
0-V-I Reinartz and the transmitter was teresting than, 'Hello-Hello-Hel- that vintage year, but it is to be hoped
a Hartley running 8 watts to an LS5 lo-2WR' on Sunday mornings as you that this brief dip into the history of
valve. The second card also is marked interfere greatly with the musical pro- that year will prove as interesting to
"QSL No. 80"! gramme from Hilversum? Yours truly the reader as the original research did
Another well-known amateur was J. A. Bayley." to its compiler. PW
Feature
Practically Yours
By Glen Ross G8MWR
Imagine that you have just managed to letter and a two digit number, such as go through the alphabet the more
blow a semiconductor device in your an OC35. This system was based on an revisions there have been. Table I
latest constructional project. You look already existing valve coding system, shows the coding used.
in your spares box and find that al- the first digit showed the filament
though you have many transistors, voltage, in case of a transistor this is
obtained at various junk sales, you obviously zero and is depicted as the Table 1
don't seem to have a direct replace- letter "0". The second digit showed
ment. Something in the spares box the element configuration, C indicat- First digit
might do the job, but you are going to ing a triode or three element construc- o= Photo transistor
have to go through the data books to tion , referring to the Emitter, Base, I = Diode
make sure. Is there some way in which Collector sections of the device. The 2 = Transistor
you can narrow the field of search final figure was an in-house issue num- 3 = Field effect transistor
down? There is little point in looking ber. The code letters which you may
up a device that turns out to be a find are: A indicating a diode or rectifi- Second symbol
thyristor if you want an audio driver. er, AP meaning a photo diode, AZ used Always S.
for voltage regulators (Zener diodes), C
for a normal transistor and CP for a Third digit
photo transistor. A = High frequency pnp
The Code B = Low frequency pnp
All semiconductors carry a coded C = High frequency npn
type number which mayor may not be D = Low frequency npn
of help to you. The least useful is the JA Coding F = Thyristor p-gate
American system. The coding consists The Japanese decided to put more G = Thyristor n-gate
of the number and letter 2N followed information on the device. They car- J = Field effect transistor
by a serial number, so that we get such ried this to such an extent that they ran p-channel
things as 2N3055. Apart from telling out of space on the top of the transistor K = Field effect transistor
you that this is a semiconductor device and promptly truncated the coding. A n-channel
with two junctions, which you already full coding might appear as 2SC1234B.
knew, there is little or no information In this the first digit shows the type of
to be gained from the number. semiconductor, the second indicates
that it is a semiconductor, while the European Code
third symbol shows the type of use the The system which is used by nearly
device is intended for. The group of all European manufacturers is known
Old English figures is simply the device registration as the Pro Electron code. This carries
The early transistors made by such number (all Japanese devices are regis- much more information about the de-
companies as Mullard carried coding tered with an organisation known as vice than any of the other systems.
that does at least give some help . The JIS). The final letter shows a revision Next month we shall look at this
code consisted of a figure followed by a of the original design ; the further you codi ng in some depth. PW
On The Air
On The HF Bonds Reporls 10 Paul Essery GW3 KFE
287 Heol·yeoleg, Voyn or, Newlown, Powys SY 16 1AR
dates, listen to the South African Amateur

Conditions Spectrum programme, Saturdays 1445Z
Europe at the time of writing is good on
10- 15-20 from around 0500Z to 1200,
As always, up and down. What we need at on 21.590 for Europe, 25.790 for USA. with 7MHz " giving " in the same direction
this stage of the sunspot cycle is not more 11 .925MHz for Africa; on 1845Z Europe from 1300Z to around 2000 , The Malay-
sunspots but rather the quiet geomagnetic 15 ,345MHz and 17 .795MHz . Sundays sian OSL Bureau address , for the record is
conditions and absence of solar distur- 0245Z are for the USA on 9615 , 9580 PO Box 10777 , 50724 Kuala Lumpur,
bance wh ich enable us to make the best of and 11 .760MHz . Malaysia .
what is there. To be fair we have certainly Late word indicates, says The OX Bulle-
had some of those sort of conditions and tin that the Russian DXpedition to Vietnam
most readers will have taken advantage of may be operational at the end of February Top Band
them. On balance, one could say the band and through most of March , with the call Here we start with a note from the
has been better than one could have likely to be 3WOA ; on the other hand , I GB75DH team up there in Dunnet Head ;
expected throughout the period . know of no confirmatory word from the c lub lads found the exercise to be fun
RL8PYL or other team members . and th ere are thoughts of aTop Band
OXCC News activity from there with suitable ant ennas ,
Rather as expected, Rotuma has been letters and maybe GM3JDR at the key . That
sound s interesting indeed.
accepted for DXCC credit . However, Yes , I do get 'em , though to be sure I can G2HKU (Sh epp ey) says he has been
rather than start with the recent 3D2XX always use more! PA3EUS/ GOFGB wrote shifting the gear into a different room , so
operation, they have made it a country to ask for the address of th e " Navy most of the time has been taken up with
retrospectively to 1945, despite the fact Special " antenna manufacturers , and let it the installation of the gear, and wiring runs,
that an earlier application back in 1982 be known in passing that he is often out plus the ine vitable c hecks for TVI and so
was turned down. . Whatever the logic and about throughout Europe and even on . Nonetheless , on Top Band ON7BW
here, and it escapes me, there is a second- occasionally the UK . At home Godfrey has w as raised with s .s.b . plus OK 1KOJ using
ary problem for the older DXers . If you a terraced house, with a garden of 6 th e key .
previously submitted a card emanating metres wide and 12 metres long ; neigh- The only other report for this band
from Rotuma for Fiji credit, then you'll have bours complain if his antenna oversails concerns my activity ; this has come to a
to also send a second Fiji card to maintain their house , since the birds perch on it and grinding halt thanks to an antenna break-
the credit, Don't submit before June 1. leave droppings on the garden next door; age . However , thoughts are being applied,
M-V Island cards should not have been verticals are out thanks to the ORM from now we are brought to the crunch,
submitted before March 1. The operation, various computers and so a half-sized towards a significant improvement . , a
as previously stated, was a "new one" in G5RV just sneaks its nose over the roof at little difficult with such a small garden!
terms of DXCC credit , about 12 metres ; fine for working Europe Seriously , though , while it might be diffi-
Still with DXCC , we hear that the but not much DX! cult , the challenge of doing it is half the fun;
5UV386 is now accepted, but on the other Z0880B writes from Ascens ion Is watch this space!
hand there seems to be a mighty query where he will be for some three years , In According to OXNS , around January 1
hanging over the TU4BR/5U7 activity, the first month of operation, from Decem- conditions were pretty good ; it seems
seems like the TU authorities say the ber 8 , some 1800 contacts were made , GW3YDX was on the band from 0400-
licence had lapsed a while back and the 5U mainly 21MHz C.w " though some s,s .b. is 0700Z and worked 80 Americans , includ-
authorities had not given an authority to worked as a sort of relaxation! Bob says ing some 28 W6 / W7 ,
operate! So . . . if that were true , how did his mail address is PO Box 2 , Ascension
the presented documentation validate the Island , South Atlantic Ocean , and he will
case to DXCC? handle requests for OSLs as expeditiously The 3.5MHz Band
On the other hand DXCC has decided as possible. Clearly , if he carries on at the The DX is there on 3 .5MHz (80m), but
against reinstating Okino Torishima . present rate , the cost of mailing return under the man -made ORM!
Before you read this, I hear there will OSLs will be quite alarming , and so help GM3JOR (Wick) stu ck to c. w . and
have been another Laccadives operation with the cost of return OSLs would be rais ed JAODXG, JAOCWZ , JR 1EGJ ,
-virtually all of March , using VU7 APR and appreciated . JA 1HOT , JA 1CGM , JA 7HMZ , JA8DMB ,
VU7NR, with it is believed , possible side Last time we mentioned th e GB75DH JA7FS , JA2AAO , JH7LWK , UAOFDX ,
trips to other islands . station . Since then , a nice letter has come FM5BH , TA2AO , EA8AB , 8P9HT,
Revilla Gigedo XF4 activity is slated for in enclosing a picture of th e view to VP2MW , UA 1POL/UA9K, KX6DC for a
May-time according to OXNS, which also seaward (northwards) from the rear of the new one on the band , plus VEs, all JA and
notes that there is another rumour going GB75DH , apparently some 900-plus con- UA areas , operating between 0800 and
the rounds that suggests April , and a tacts were made in all contin ents , mostly 0915Z .
Clipperton Is . follow-up by the same on 14MHz with a wire antenna (th e beam GOHGA (Stevenage) is now using a
group. was delayed and couldn ' t be put up in Century 21 , although she is still ORP ; a
As for the Mellish/Willis operation, they time) . With much evidence of Auroral maximum of 20 watts , more often only 15
made some 25 000 contacts from Mellish, effects , conditions must have sounded watts before a warble sets in to make the
despite strong winds knocking down rather different to the noise we southern- note somewhat distinctive . On 3 .5MHz,
antennas; on the other hand the Willis ers hear . In conclusion , since the call was Angie has a low quarter-wave wire which
activity wasn't quite so successful , as " one-off " they couldn ' t set up the OSL one would expect would ask for lots of
conditions were not helpful. printing until the station closed down on wire in the ground to gi ve of its best.
Thailand: according to OX News Sheet, New Year's Ev e; but printing is in hand , However , there were shoals of Gs , LA3X,
K3Z0, Fred Laun in a letter to G3NL Y , and everyone will receive their OSL in due SM6EAN , HB9AZB, SP1MM, LA5VGA,
indicated that some 9513 Thais had taken course ; the club lads who helped with the SPORT , LY2ZG , YT2ZR , IK2HLB who was
and passed their radio amateur examina- station in so many ways , are involved in ORP , OK 1 FGF , SP6EVX , SP3CCT,
tion last July! Alas , there is no indication this activity too . It sound s to have been a OK2PAY , OK1FFL, RB5IFM , N1EA / MM
when they will appear on the bands . super effort all round . who was in PA. SP6BW , YL2BZ , LA2YE ,
Marion Island next; this one will be on Now we must go overseas , to Malaysia RA 1AOM and UA 1CGS not to m ention GI,
the air again from mid-April; ZS6PT is one in fact, where 9M2ZZ sends the greetings GW , ON, DL/ DJ , Vs , and a couple of old
of the meteorological team there from then of the locals there to all our readers . Kevin friends in G3L1K and G3SVK.
and will be applying for ZS8MI ; we gather says they have h.f. band activity aplenty
his tour lasts 14 months. The last opera- from 9M2 Peninsular Malaysia , 9M6 Sa-
tion was from ZS2MI back in 1979 . No bah , and 9M8 Sarawak . Power limits are The lMHz Band
amateur DXpedition as such will be permit- the same as UK levels, so som e " pinning- Love it or leave it seems to be the
ted, since South Africa observes the UN back of ears " is called for by DXers who feeling ; lots of people quietly fishing for DX
treaty which restricts landings on Marion assume every rare one has a bra ce of and keeping quiet about it. while another
to scientific studies only. For regular up- kilowatts at command! Propagation to lot avoid it like the plague! Certainly, it
does require a certain extra degree of 19S2 from Bob Roberts who then held the Turning northwards we come to
application , particularly if you like s .s.b. call but is now a Silent Key . Does anyone GM3JDR, who used c.w. to hook ZY5EG ,
G2HKU used c .w . from home to raise have the current OSL rout e for this one , or LU7D , UZOAWB , VP2MW, P40V, EL7U,
K3IPK , K2SWZ and KP4L , while from any other information? CW5A , PJ2X , PYSCC , LTSWW , ZY3TD,
Rochdale he managed a two-watt OSO HC2G, SU 1ER, 6V6A, FY5FE , KP2A,
with ON4AHO . The 21MHz Band SP9HT, HDSEX, J52US, VP2M/ND3A ,
Another c.w . addict is GM3JDR , he Ws and JAs ; as for sideband, it got across
First, another new reporter , GOIFI , of
worked UAOICX , 9Y4SB , UAOFDX , to TG9GI , KP4FBW, N06X/SV5, T A2AT,
Bridgwater. Perry has been hard at work
KL7CYL , ZS3Z , JHlOTC , RA9AAV , G4LJF / VP2A, FS/HB9COK , V44KI,
restoring a cheaply acquired Swan 260 rig ,
JA5AVI , JR 1SSH , JR4CSH , ZC4JL , HKOHEU , XE2RB, CE2BMU , VKs , Ws and
which for the expenditure of a few man-
UAOABB, KH6AK, KL7KJ, UWOFB , VEs .
hours , resistors and things has been re-
ZL7TZ, ZDSIAN , ZL3ABV, 7X4AN ,
stored to full output power and receiver
JH7BRG, SP6AU , ZL 1ST, JH7RWY ,
sensitivity . After a first fling with an
Oddments
P40V, YC6JRV , G4LJF / V2A , K7ZH , G3VTT , previously the ECM for G-ORP
inverted-vee on 14MHz, Perry built a verti-
WB7A , LY2ZZ, RAOZX, VP5U, K07N , Club with regard to EUCW matters, has
cal for 21 MHz (1 5m) and hasn't looked
VK3EGN , KP2A , SP9HT , EL7U , 3WSCW , been rather busy of late, and so the job has
back-he 's hooked on the band! First, it
UWOAJ , JA3BCK , JE lTSD , Jll FXS, passed on to GOHGA . G-ORP Club
was s .s .b . which raised KA20WZ ,
JA4AO, JR1CWY , F2JD / J7 , UJSAO , members and anyone indeed who has a
K7PSO , WKOS , VE30CP, WA3ZRO,
YBODPO, FR/DL4BBO, COl RH , YV4AU, query involving the EUCW group , please
W1SBM, W1EMH , VE3CRG , NE90 ,
VE7AGC , CX4CO , TA1AW , ZF2FK , ask GOHGA in future, either by letter or on
JH3KEA, JR3BOT and stacks of EUs .
OD50B , VKSAV , RHSAX , TA1AZ, the bands.
Then there came the thought " Why not
3DAO / ZS6BCR , PY1BYK , VP2VI and We hear a hint that a new Ten-Tec rig is
c .w ."-although , to be sure GOIFI had
HK1IU . soon to appear, called the Omni-5 ; similar
never before been taken with the mode. Be
GOHGA used her low power and end-fed in appearance to T en-T ec Paragon , but
that as it may , he was surprised at the
semi-sloper to work all round Europe on amateur bands only. It apparently contains
pleasure to be obtained in working , among
C.W .; of the more distant ones she notes
others , KB2ELY , VE3IJP, UC3CF, four 6 .3MHz i.f. filter positions as well as
EA lETF , UB5MDP, 12CZO, OK2PDL , 1.SkHz , 500Hz and 1SOHz filters in the
UV30GS , KA 1OPJ , UB5EPO and PY7MY .
IK6BAK, HB9FAB, SM5GU , SP3CUO , 9MHz i.f . Sounds a likely sort of tooll
Naturally the receiving speed is coming up
SM5FPZ , EA2NF , UC20R , OE5GM, News on the VE 1AL and CY9DXX
all the time and, after Perry had thought of
N 1 EA/MM in PA-Iand , YL2VZ and OSLs . Alan Leith has written to DX News
the Morse as an obstacle , he 's now finding
UB4MZA ; plus of course the usual crop of Sheet saying that "the OSLs will be an-
it the very reverse . One could wish a few
smaller fry , including a OSO with GB2SM swered when I have the time to answer
others were able to be as open-minded
at the Science Museum . them" going on to say of OSLs received
about Morse and so able to partake of the
pleasure they are missing . On a different via the Bureau system , "responding to
WARe Bands tack , Perry wonders about FY5BO on
December 17 , 14. 120. Probably French
them is far down my list of priorities"-but
(and this is the final insult) he says he
Here the main item of news is probably Guiana . expects to have cleared them by the end of
that the full release of the lS and 24MHz It was 21MHz c.w . for GM3JDR ; Don 199 1! My personal reaction is that if that is
bands is expected to be completed on 1 worked P40V , PJ1B , 6Y5JH , CWSB, his attitUde-he 's had his bit of fun, now
July 19S9 , following completion of the HDSEX , VK , W , VE and JAs this way . pull up the ladder, Jack, then one hopes
transfer process ; this should result in the With just her low power rig , Angie the VE authorities will take his licence
removal of existing limitations and the GOHGA managed c.w . two-ways with away. . amateur radio can live without
introduction of normal h.f . power limits on UZ4FWO , HA5XO, L Y2ZZ , HA5KF , that approach .
these bands . SM4GL and LA3EDA. In November 1976, G3LOP sent off a
G2HKU seems to have indulged in quite There was just one contact on 21 MHz OSL for an HL9VB contact enclosing an
a bit of 24MHz operation; OA4ZV , c .w . that G2HKU felt worth a mention, s.a.e. Recently , the envelope came back,
EASAB, W5L YM , OK 1 AEX / 5NO, N60R , namely that with VE3PHU . containing an HL9VB card and a note from
WSVSK / M, NA7R , K30AP, WA4SNI, WB5UOI the OSL Manager saying "Sorry
W 1PXA , N9FC , KC3M , K4BAI, N51R and
ZS 1VP were all swallowed into the log . The 28MHz Band for the delay Roger"!
On the subject of OSLs from Cuba,
No one else even mentions these bands , This band has been very active , for C07KR said that UB51LA was only a valid
alas . those who can be operational at the times route for several Cuban stations for USSR;
However , reading DX News Sheet, I when it opens up ; there are the usual but nonetheless, it has been noted that
notice that GW3AHN has 176 countries v.h.f.-propagation openings just as in the when several OSLs to the specified Cuban
worked , 120 confirmed on 24MHz ; and sunspot minimum years of course , but station fail to elicit a reply, one to UB51LA
12S/1 0 1 on 1SMHz . Who is going to often signals of this nature will be drowned has produced the goods forthwith. Black
overtake THA T? out under shoals of OX . In addition the mark to the COs , and ten out of ten to
band seems to retain that odd knack it has UB5ILA .
of producing a OX reply to a CO put forth To end up with, some OSL addresses
The 14MHz Band on an apparently dead band-an effect I which may help those athirst for wallpa-
Let G2HKU open the batting here ; on can recall from forty years back . per . SP9EM cards go to G3VBL; HKOHEU
s.s.b. there were the regular contact s with G2HKU is not often to be heard, but he to HKOFBF ; VP2EY to HB9SL; CP6RP to
ZL3FV , and from Rochdal e a two-watt did make one call on the band, to K4EF . Box 393 Santa Cruz, Bolivia; FY4FC to Box
c .w. OSO with DL 100 and LY2ZA . Now a first report from Peter Martin 6005, Cayenne, French Guiana 97306;
Low-power c .w . from GOGHA made the G4SDK/M who has been having fun oper- A45GY to K2RU ; HC 1ATG to Box S5 12
grade with DL6ZBA , OK2KLI , LA 1lE , ating on 2SMHz (10m) s.s .b. from the car, Ouito, Ecuador, enclosing $ 1 US; CE2BMU
DJ1JE , DL lNAZ , DKSNB , EA2BEF , using a FT-77 and a Navy Special antenna . to Box 3016 Valparaiso , Chile .
G3PDL, DK60K , DLSYDS , DF2SL / YL , In the first eighteen days of 19S9, Peter
worked HKOHEU , VP2EY , CP6RP, FY4FC,
UC7 A and DJ4SI.
Finally , the list from Dale , GM4ElV VU2DVP, A45GY , HC1ATG , SP9EM ,
GW3AX-Vale
(Glasgow) who uses 5 watts of ORP ; I CE2BMU, OD5YL, XE1JEO , 6Y5EW , Stan Thomas GW3AX has died; in
believe his list refers to 14MHz (20m) , but SP9AF , HZ1AB , VE7 AGC , VPSML , HI3JH, DXNS G3UML wrote an obituary tribute
for once GM4ELV doesn 't specify which VP2M / W06Y , ZF2NB / ZFS and and I would like to quote Laurie ' s last
band or mode he operated on . OSOs were KC4GL T / HH5 , while the gotaways in- paragraph: " I like to think that Stan almost
- made at 5 watts input with 6Y5NO , cluded VPSBUO, 9K2KW , TF3CW and invented the concept of helping others to
N200HOE , 905NW , YIOBIF , 9K2DR, SU 1ER . Peter also uses c .w . while mobile , work OX . To me, over a twenty year
9N1RN , SZS2COT , W200EXU , ZS1L1 , but on 2SMHz at least he finds that few OX friendship, GW3AX was the epitome of
ZS6AKW , VK3DPS who was also ORP , stations seem to be on to be worked ; over what amateur radio should be about."
3WSDX , YI 1BGD , SP9EM , ZS6BRZ , the same 1S days , only LU 1 AO was raised Thanks , G3UML-you expressed it
lZ9A , HH7PV , DU1KT , 4X40T , SN7LUB , on c.w . A welcome first report for which perfectly .
6W2EX , WP4AZS, WP4BDI, EW2AB- thanks ; Peter is based at Rubery,
(=UC2j, SV7CO , A22RA , LY2ZZ , VS6CT Birmingham. Finale
and 7X2SX. GOHGA has twenty watts or less of c.w. That's it for another month. Please let us
Incidentally , the 9K2DR , name of Mah- available , and that was enough to raise have your letters, news , views, OX
moud cannot be confirmed by G4BWP ; K20Z , K2SPO and an assortment of the worked or escaped , by the deadline
the latter only has logs up to 14 January more distant EU stations. quoted .
50 Practical Wireless. April J989
Reg Ward & Co. Ltd. I Western Parade, West Street, Axminster, Devon, EX13 SNY.
Telephone: Axminster (0297) 34918
o
mS7
Yaesu
HF TranS(;t1I\1er 1599.00 H IC76 1
ICOM
New Super HF TransceIVer P.O.A . I-I TS940S
KENWOOD
9 Band TX General eov RX 1995.00 I- I
FEX767(2) 2m Module (767) 169.00 (3.001 IC75 1A HF Transceiver 1465.00 I-I AT940 AutoJATU 244.88 (3.00)
FEX767170l lOcm M odule 17671 215.00 (3.001 IC73S New HF Transceiver 949.00 1-1 SP940 ht Speaker 87.55 (3.00)
FEX767 (6) Gm M odule (767) 169.00 (3.001 ATlOO 100W ATU (75tn451 365.00 13.501 TS140 HF 9 Band Gen Cov . TX/AX 862.00 I- I
SP767 Spea ker 69.95 (2.50) AT150 150W ATA (7351 315.00 (3.50) TS440 9 Band TX Gener al Cov RX 1138.81 I- I
FT290 MkU New Suocr 290 429.00 I- I PS55 Ext PSU 17351 185.00 13.001 AT440 AutolATU 144.82 13001
FTS90 Mklt 6m M/Mode 2-SW 399.00 (2.00) 1C505 SOMHl mulll·mode ponable ....00 I-I PS50 HIOuty PSU 222.49 (3001
2m 25W MJMode 5042.00 H AT230 All Sand ATUlPower M eter 208.67 (3001
~~~el:2!!ave
YHA'!> 7.50 (2.00) 1C2900
VHA44D 12.50 '2 .00) IC2BE 25WFM 359.00 I-I SP230 External Speaker Unit 66.49 (3.001
YM49 Speaker M ike 23.00 \2.001 IC28H 2m45WFM 399.00 (3.001 PS430 M atchrng Power Supply 173.78 (3.501
MM815 Mobile Bracket 14.55 (2.001 le M icro 2E New MIIlI HIH 239.00 13.001 SP430 M atching Speaker 40.81 (3001
FT23R 2m Mml HIH 209.00 (3.00) IC2E 2m The Onglnal K'H 225.00 (3.001 SM 220 Slation M onitor 343 .62 (3501
m3R 7Dem M ml t-VH 229.00 (3.00) IC02E 2m HIll 269.00 13.001 BSB Band Scope U nit (8301940) n.00 (2.501
FNB9 Nlcad Battery Pack (2:Y73) 34.50 12.001 IC275E New 2m 25W Base Stn 1039.00 I-I Tl922 101160 2kW linear 1495.00 17 .001
FN S 10 Nicad Battery Pack (23173) 34.50 (2.001 IC4E 70cm HlH 285.00 13.001 TH 21 2M Mini HIH 189.00 13.001
FN 8 11 Nicad Battery Pack (23173) 67.85 (2.001 IC04E 70cm HIH 299.00 13.001 TH4 1 70cm M inr HIH 218.00 (3.001
Ne. I SC Charger (23173) 17.71 (2.001 IC48E 70cm 25W FM M obile 449.00 13.001 TH205 2M HIll 215.26 (300)
SM C28 Cha rg er (23173) 13A Plug 17.1 1 12.00) IC490 70cm 1C10N M /Mode 611.00 I-I TH 215 2M ~ Keyboard 252.13 13.001
Ne.la Charger (23173) 11.71 (2.00) 1(3200 2mf70 Oual Band FM Mobile 556.00 I- I TR7S 1 2M 25W MlM M obile ... .00 I-I
<28.00 (3.001 TS71 t 2M 25W Base Sin (New l ow Price) 898.00 /1
~:~~~:~t~::~:,'(~3173)
NC.29 69.00 (3.001 IC 12E 23cm H/H
PAS 24.15 (2.00) teR71 Gen Cov RX 1125.00 I-I Tsal1 70cm 25W Base Stn (New low Price) 998.00 I I
MH l2A2B Speaker MIc 31.05 (2.00) IC7000 VHFIUHF Scanner 957.00 1-1 R2000 Gen Coverage HFIRX 599.00 I- I
MH1 8A28 Speaker Mic MinIatur e 123/7317271 31 .05 (2.00) AH7000 25·1J(X)MHl Dlscane 82.00 13.00) VCIO 118· 174MHz Convener (R20001 161 .94 (2.50)
FT727A 2mnOcm HIH 425.00 (3.001 SPJ Ext Speaker 61 .00 12.501 R5000 General Coverage HFIRX 875.00 I- I
FNB3 Spare Battery Pack 41 .00 (2.001 CK70 OC Cable lA701R7 11 7.00 (2.001 VC20 118· 174MHl Convener IR50001 167.2 1 (:750\
FNB4 Spare Battery Pack 46.00 (2.00) EX257 FM BoaHj (A701R71l 41 .00 (2.()O) BT2 Empty Battery Case TH21141 11.86 12001
FNBS Empl'r' Cell Case 10.00 12.001 GC5 World Clock 43.00 12.501 DC21 DC Pow er Su pply TH 21141 25.00 (200,
FAG9600M
PMC
6O·950M Hz Scanl1lr1g AX
Power Supply for 9600
509.00 I-I
29.00 12.001
A02
BC35
~i:rt~~?~e~ag aH Icom HIH
14.38 (2.001
70.15 12.501
EB2
HM Cl
Ext. San ery Case T1~2114 1
Headset wi t h Vox TH21 /41
6.77 [2001
32.9 1 (200)
MM81 0 Mobile Bracke\ 10.00 12.00) BPJ Sanery Pack 8.4V (214E/02J04E) 29.90 (2.001 PS21 Nicad Pack TH 21 /4 1 24.36 (2.00)
NC9C
PAJ
Charger
Car Adaptor/Charger
11.50 (2.001
21 .85 (2.001
BP'
BPS
Empty Battery Case 12I4E102I04E)
Banery Pack 10.BV
9.20 (2.001
" .95 (2.501
BCS
SCB ~~kc~,:r~2~~~1/41 99.00 (2.501
1186 12001
YM24A Spea ker Mike 31 .OS (2.00) BP7 Sanery Pack 13.2V lQ2I04E only} 74.75 (2 .501 SM C30 Speaker/M ic TH2 1/412600 28.31 12.001
FRG8800 HF ReceIVer 649.00 I-I BPa Banery Pack B.4V 71 .30 (2.501 MC50 4P Desk M ic 46.08 1300)
FRV8800 Convener 118· 175 101 above 100.00 (2.50) CPl 12V Charge Lead BP31718 6.90 (2.001 MC60A 8P Desk M ic 88.22 (3.001
FRD700 RX ATU ,",.00 12.501 DCl OCIDC converter operate fr om 12V 11.25 (2 .00) MCBO Electrrc Desk MIC 53.98 (300)
~~~etll~II~~~/4 wave Antenna IBN CI
MH1BB Hand 600 Bpm miC 21.00 (2.00) FA2 9.20 12.001 MCB5 Desk M ic Audi O level Comp 99.00 13.00)
MOl88 DElsk 600 Bpln miC 79.00 12.00) FAJ 9.20 (2 .001 MC43 8PF!st Mic 22 .22 (2.001
MF1A38 Boom mobile miC 25.00 llggl HM 9 Speaker/MIC 21 .85 (2 .50) M C35 4P Fist Mic 21 .72 (2 .001
YHl
YH77
YH55
lightweight phones
Padded phones
·Bool11 miC
19.99
19.99
28.75
2.00
2.00
HS 10
H5 10SA
HS10SB
Head set Boom M ike
Vox UnIt HS10 102I04f only)
PIT SW Box HS10
20.70 (2.001
25.30 (2001
20.70 12.00)
M C55
LF30
HS6
M obile M ic IGp.o . Spl
HF l ow Pass Filter
llgh tweighl H/phones
52 .67 13.00)
32.26 {2 .5OJ
24.36 (2 .50)
SBl
SB2
08
90
22.00
22.00
I
2.00
200
LCl
LC3
leal herelle Case 284E+ BP5
leatherette Case 284E + BPJ
6.90 (2.001
6.90 (2.00)
HS5
TW4 100
Deluxe H/phones
2!7Ocm FM Dual band model SPECIAL
37.54 (2 .50)
....00 (5.00)
21~
S810 700 22.00 lell leatherette Case 02E104E + BP3 9.20 (2.00) RZl 5OO,95QM H1 AM/FM $canne. ....00 (6 .00)
FT736 NEW 1,359.00
FT747GX 659.00 LC 14 leal hereHe Case 02E104E +SP51718 9.20 12.00) T5790 VHFIUH f TransceIVer 1495.00 I-I
FT2311R 415.00 SSl Shoulder Strap 10.35 (2.001
FT2 11RH 309.00 SM 6 6000hm BP Base M,c 46.00 (2.501
FT2 12RH 349.00 5MB 1.3k~1J BP Base M IC 82.00 12.50)
SMlO Camp/Graphic M ike 116.00 (3.00)
- - J)atong Products - - - - CW Keyers - - - - SWRIPWR M eters - -

HI ·MOUND HANSEN
PCl Gen . Cov. Con. 131.40 12.50/
42.49 12.00) W720S t 301440M Hl 201200W 52.75 12!lOI
VLF Very low frequency conv 12.50) HK 702 Straight key {adiustable tenSion!
34.90 HK703 Slra!ghl key ladtustable tension} 38.45 12.001 FS5E 3.5·150MHl 201200W 42.75 12.501
FL2 MlIltl ·mode audiO frlter 89.10 (2.501
HK704 Straight key (adlustable tension! 26.35 (2.001
FL3 AudIO filter for receivers 129.00 (2 .501
HK705 Straight key (adjustable tension I 22.49 12.001
ASP/ B d . speech clipper lor TrIO 82.80 (2 .501
HK706 S traight key ladjustable tenSion) 21.80 12.00)
ASP/A d . speech clipper lor Yaesu 82.80 12.50/
HK707 Straight key ladjustable tenSlonl 2015 12.001
ASP As above With 8 pin conn 89.10 (2.501
075 M anual RF speech clipper 56.35 (2.501
HK802 Straight key (Deluxe·Srass)
HK803 Straight I.;ey (Brass I
109 .00
104.50
(3.501
13.501
- - Misce/Ioneous - -
070 M orse Tutor 56.35 (2.50) SM CS 2U 2 Way 50239 SWi tch 18.95 {2501
M K703 Squee1e key 34.50 (2.001 SMCS 2N 2 way 'n' Ski S SwilCh 23.50 (2!lO1
RFA RF SWItched pre·a mp 36.00 (2501
MK704 Squeeze key 30.00 (2.00) Kenpr o KPllN 2 way SWll ch on' Sockel Deluxe (;J~)
AD210·M PU Aclrve dipole wllh mains p.S.u 51 .15 (2.501 21.00
MK70S Squee1e key 32.78 (2.00) T30
A0370·MPU Active dipole With mains p.s.u 69.00 (2.501 30W Du mmy load 10.29 t:>~1
MK706 Squee1e key 30 .A8 12.001 T100 l00W Dummy load 45.00 (3001
OCl44128 2m convener 39.67 12.501
ANF AulOmatlc notch filter 61.85 12.501 STARMASTER T200 200W Dummy load 65.00 13001
SAB2 Auto Woodpecker blanker 86.25 (2.501 Dewsbury ElectroniC Keyer UnI t (No Paddle) 54.70 (3.001 WAI Waveme ter 120-450MHl 24.95 (]001
RFA RF SWitched pre·amp 36.00 (2.501 Dewsbury ElectroniC M emory Keyer (N o Paddle) 95.00 13.001 PK232 PacketlATTY Termrnal 269.95 13001
In stant cr &<tit ava ilable.

STOCK ITEM S USUAllY DEUVERY /INSURANCE PRICES
MaillTelepho ne order by cheque or OPEN TUES.·SAT. 9.00-5.30
credit card . Cheques cl eared before DESPATCHED WITHIN 48 HRS. IN BRACKETS
(CLOSED MONOA VS)
goods despatched . (E&OE)
r~~~-GAR
~
EX T~~E~fAtt~~SRoco-~~ AOR 2002 §
~ ~~UR~_~ §
§ AOR900UK inc UHF Airband £235 : ~~vrsN~~-~~F~' o~0~~~:~~s3GHZ ~
(I
(I
BJ200 Mklll wide coverag e £ 1 9 9 · Computer interface
. 20 memories
socket 8(I
8 Cobra 925 Economy Base £149 ' Compact size ~ (I
8
g U 'd
nl en
200XL '
Inc
900MH
Z
£249 · 12V dc operation
• Up/down step control knob 8
(I
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THE COMPACT SCANNER THE SMALLER HANDY-SCANNER
AOR 800E §8
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· AM & FM all bands
830-950MHz
• AM & NFM programmable on all bands 88
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2} ~JVS'0 :~~~~~6~~~ ~e~~~~ri;~I Y 25" x 5.5"x2"
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9g~~;~~t6H~~~~0~5 14MHZ ~~~~wc~~~CO~~~:~~~e~e blh~~~OI~,'~~~/~/~~:~n'cvml:~~/~~ ~~~~~~~ ~~~~n~~eV;~~~~hAf~cJh~,~~~'d S

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• 12V dc & 240V ac
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REVCO PA3 mime masthead moael . wllh special mains psu . DC·1GHl mm 13dB gain £49.95 88
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MAIN DISTRIBUTOR OF REVCO PRODUCTS. PRICES INCLUDE UK P&P and 15% VAT. Ask lor details 01 our interest free credit.
ExtenSive range of P YE radIOtelephone spares - S.A. E. for list. Ask for our secondhand scanner bargain list.
~
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cr.....JQr'.....JQr'.....JQr'..ocr.....JQr'..ooor-JQr'....c:;.ooe;o-.....~.........................JQr'...................................J".....J"J"..........J"J"J"J"J"...............J"J"J"J"J".....JO'".....J"J"J"..........J"J"J"J"J"J"J"J"-"='
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UNIT P, UNION MILLS, ISLE OF MAN
Telephone: (0624) 851
LISTEN INTO THE WORLD

WIN 108 Scanning Airband Receiver. . . . . ............ .. . . .. .. £175.00
SAB9 POCKET AIR BAND-MW LW FM .... . ........... ... . . .. £21.50
MBR 7-9 BAND INC SW Air Marine Mains/Bait . ..... . .. . . .. ... £59.95
R537S TUNABLE AIR BAND-118-136MHz + 2 CRYSTAL
CONTROLLED CHAN ... ................ . .. ... .. .. . . .... . . £73.00
BLACK JAGUAR MKIII Hand Held Scanner with Air Band .. .. .. . £225.00
AUDIO TECH AT 9560 Electric Cond Lapel Radio
Microphone 100HT Range 88.108M Tunable . . . . .. ......... . . £52.80
PORTASOL GAS SOLDERING IRON 25-60watt Variable ... . . . .. . £19.95
ANTEX SOLDERING IRON Type CS 18 watt . ....... .... ... . .. . . . £5.95
S.E.M. ORM ELIMINATOR
Do you suffer from local interference? The answer is probably yes. If you moved
ANTEX SOLDERING IRON Type CX 25 watt . . " .......... . .. .. . . £5_95
SOLDERING IRON STAND ST4 . .. . .. . . .. ... . .. .... .... .... .. . . £2.95
N TYPE CONN ECTOR For RG58U . . . .. . ............... . . . .. . ... £2.95
your receiver into the country you would be amazed how quiet your reception N TYPE CONNECTOR For URM203 ... . . . .... . . ......... .. . .. . . £2.95
would be. The noises you hear on the H.F. bands are pnxlJCed by local N TYPE CONNECTOR FOR RG8IRG213 ..... ... . . .. .. . . .. ... ... £2.95
eIedricaI equipment. RG58 Cable . . .. ... . .. ..... .... ...... . . . .... . . ...... . . .. 25p per Mlr
RG213/UR67 Cable .... ...... . .. .. . . ............ . .... . .. . 75p oer Mlr
This completely new idea, developed by 8.E.M. can provide the complete BFO BUilt & Tested .. : .. . ... . . . .. . . . . .. . . . .. . .•. . . . .. ... . ... .£19.95
removal of any of these problems. You don't even have to know what or where .
the source is. ~ can be your own romputer next to your receiver or r.t. welding
~~~1~~'~S .. . .. .. ........... . .. . ................... £69.95

equipment in a factory several miles away.
The QRM Eliminator connects in your aerial lead (you can transmit through ~) ~
requires an auxilary aerial (this can be ANY other aerial e.g. a 2 metre one, or a ICF 76011. .. ... . . . .. . ... . .. . .•.. . .. . ... . . . . ...•..... £89.95
few metres of wire, because wide band amplifiers are used to boost the level of ICF 7600DA . . .. .. . . . ....•.... . . .. .. .. .... • ......... . £129.95
the QRM). Your unwelcome signal will arrive at the two aerials slightly out of ICF 7600DS ..... . . _. . . . . .. . . . ..... . . ..... . . . . . ...... £159.95
ICF SW1S. . .......... .. _. .. . _.... •. . ..... . . . .. . . ... £249.00
phase and by adjusting the phase of the signal from the auxilary aerial with the ICF SW1 E..... . . ... . . . .. . . . .. .. .. . ........ . .. . ..... £149.95
Eliminator controls, you can oompIeIely remove ~ BEFORE It ARRIVES AT AIR 7.. ..... . . . ... ........ .... . ... . .. . .... . .. £229.95
YOUR RECEIVER. Forget all the Inadequacies of noise blankers, this is a new, ICF 2001 D. ... ......... .. . . .. .. . ......... . .. . . .. . . . . £299.95
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is S 7 and you are rominax through 5 and 4." Practical Wireless review sa~ Radio Antenna AN3 . . . ... . .......... . ................ £44.95
"Does ~ WOI1<? Yes ~ doeS . Other romments "A remarkable achievement", 'It Radio Antenna AN1 . ........ .. . .. . . ...... . .. . ........ £49.95
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able to operate again after years 01 enforced inactivity because of some local ADD £2.00 PIP ON RADIOS
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Size: 6" x 'Z' x 3" deep. Sockets 802395. Supply 12 V (1(}14) 30 mA. SATURDAY, 9.30-5.30
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COMPONENT CENTRE
Price: £69.50 including VAT and delivery. 7 LANGLEY ROAD, WATFORD,
HERTS WD1 3PS
Tel: WATFORD (0923) 245335
COMMUNICATION CENTRE
OF THE NORTH
The largest range of communications equipment available in the North.
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S.E.M.
UNIT P, UNION MILLS, ISLE OF MAN
AIi tubing - wall brackets - rotators - insulators. Telephone: (0624) 8512n
FULL KENWOOD RANGE IN STOCK. S,E.M. TRANZMATCH MKIII. The only Aerial Matcher with UNBAL-
ANCED and TRUE BALANCED OUTPUTS. 1 kW 1.8-30 MHz, £135.
BIITTBINUT WBl Bui~-in EZITUNE (see below), £39.50. Bui~-in Dummy load, £9.90. Ex
HF2V 4(}.8)m vertical. ............................ £142.00 OCP5 5 band vertical with
radial kit................................................. £195.00 stock.
211 MRK 20m add on kit .......................... £33.49
HF6VX 6 band vertical .................... .. .. £151UO OCP4 40-211-15-10 vertical with EZlTUNE. Allows you to TUNE UP on receive instead of transm~.
TBRl60S lli1lmAdd on kit .. ... £5U9 radial kit .................................. ...... £147.111 FANTASTIC CONVENIENCE. S10ps QRM. Boxed unit, £45.00. P.C.B.
HF4B Triband Mini Beam ..................... f235JJO and fitting intsructions to fit in any ATU, £39.50.
JAYBEAM FREQUENCY CONVERTERS. V.H.F. to H.F. gives you 118 to 146 MHz
CUSHCRAFT VR3 3 band vertical ................................ fI1Ji6
A33 elementTribander ........................ f2IiZ.OII on your H.F. receiver, Tune Rx. 2-3OMHz, £59.50 ex stock.
TBl Rotary Oipole .. .. ................... £117.30
A44 element Tribander ........ .... ............. £3!iO.oo TB2 2elementTribander .............. ......... £234.60 H.F. to V.H.F. gives you 100 kHz to 60 MHz on your V.H.F. scanner,
lo-3CO 3 element lOm ........................... £115.00 TB3 3 element Tribander ................. £141.45 £49.50 ex stock. Plug in aerial lead of any receiver. Tuning from 100MHz
15-3C03 element ISm ................... ........ £139.15 up.
211-3C23 element 20m .......................... £231.00 SWRIPOWER METERS 2 or 6-METRE TRANSMATCH. 1kW, will match anything, G2DYM or
AP8 8 band 25ft vertical .......................... £1_ MFJ815 HF2kwSWRIPWR ................. £57.32
AV5 5 band 25ft vertical .......................... £12l.OO
G5RV? on VHF. £35.00 ex stock.
SWRTTwin Meter 1.8-50MHz ................ £25JIO DUMMY LOAD. 100 W. THROUGt-VLOAD switch, £24.00 ex stock.
18 element 2m Boomer ... .. ............ £1_ OIAWACN410M35-15OMHz ................... m.n
15 element 2m Boomer ............................. £lSJII OIAWA CN46IlM 140-450MHz ............... £&5.40 VERY WIDE BAND PRE-AMPUFlERS. 3-500 MHz. Excellent perfor-
ANTINNA TUNERS NS660P 1.8-15OMHz + PEP ................. £115.00 mance. 1.5 dB Noise figure. Bomb proof overload figures. £32.00 or
Kenwood AT231 .............................. .... . £2Il1.8O Welz SP220 ........................................... WJ5 straight through when OFF, £37.00 ex stock.
CAPCO SPC DlO .................................. f725.OO Welz SP421l .......................................... £5U5 R.F. NOISE BRIDGE. 1-.170 MHz. Very useful for aerial work measures
CAPCO SPC lXXIIl .. .... ... ........... £325.00 resonant freq. and impedance. £45.00 ex stock.
MFJ962B l.5kTuner ... ..................... £241.111 OOMMY lOADS IAMBIC MORSE KEYER. 8-50 w.p.m. auto squeeze keyer. Ex stock.
MFJ 949C3IXM'Versatuner ................... £157.111 Ol.6060watt ............................................ £111.9& Ours is the easiest to use. £45.00. Rrst class twin paddle key, £27.00 ex
MFJ94lOwattBasic ............................. £1Il5.00 Ol.6OO 600 watt ...................................... fliZ.15
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VHF Up Reporls 10 Norman Filch G:JFPK
40 Eskdale Garden s, Pur/ey, Surrey CR2 1EZ
1989 got off to a good start with a period 50MHz annual table 144MHz annual table
of useful tropospheric propagation to see Final placing. at 31 December 1988 Final placing. at 31 December 1988
the old year out and the new year in ,
followed by the Ouadrantids meteor Station Counties Countries Total Station Counties Countries Total
shower. Auroras have been frequent in GMOEWX 71 21 92 G1KDF 93 22 115
more northerly latitudes with a few good G1SWH 59 20 79 G1SWH 95 20 115
ones in the south , too . The 50MHz band G6NB 47 19 66 G4YCD 84 30 114
has produced some excellent F-Iayer GOIMG 49 17 66 GlElF 76 33 109
openings and winter Sporadic-E has been G4XEN 50 16 66 G4XEN 73 35 108
observed .
GW6VlW 50 16 66 G4ZEC 78 29 107
G1KDF 48 17 65 ON1CAK 72 34 106
G6HKM 47 15 62 G6HKM 78 28 106
Awards News GMOHBK 48 13 61 G3FPK 80 22 102
Congratulations to SOli (Szigy) lulius
GlTCH 31 19 50 GW4FRX 71 30 101
Y021S (KF 17e), member number 69 of the G4DEZ 33 16 49 G7ANV 75 26 101
144MHz OTH Squares Century Club who G1LSB 37 12 49 ON1COO 66 34 100
was awarded his 325 sticker on January G4SEU 35 13 48 G8LHT 68 32 100
26 . He submitted 41 new confirmations to GJ6TMM 30 16 46 G1LSB 71 25 96
bring his total to 349 . 24 OSOs were via GlIMM 35 11 46 GMOEWX 72 24 96
Es , 12 by meteor scatter and five on tropo . G4VOZ 28 14 42 GOEHV 23 91
68
Some of the best OX via Es were SM2L T A GW4HBK 22 18 40 GW6VlW 70 17 87
(JY), OH1AYO (LW) , UA3MAG (TR). G8XTJ 34 5 39 GMOHBK 57 22 79
ZB210 (XW). EA 100 (XD) and GW4VEO G1SMD 21 17 38 G1CEI 63 14 77
(XN). On m .s. Szigy lists PA3BZL (BN). GI40WA 19 18 37 GI40WA 58 16 74
SK3SN/3 (HV), KC3RE/T A (NY) a real
rarity , and UV 1 AS (PT) . G6MXL 27 10 37 G4ARI 60 13 73
G8PYP 22 9 31 G8XTJ 58 14 72
G6MGL 19 10 29 GlTCH 53 17 70
G8LHT 19 8 27 G6NB 54 15 69
Beacon Information GM1SZF 18 8 26 G8PYP 51 17 68
Geoffery Holland G3GHS has sent G4YCD 12 9 21 GlIMM 56 12 68
news about the Cornish beacons . The two G1DOX 16 2 18 GJ6TMM 44 21 65
new ones for 50 .0425 and 1296 .86MHz G3EKP 12 3 15 GOIMG 50 12 62
are ready but await a mast on which to G4WHZ 6 4 10 G6MXL 43 18 61
erect the antennas . This is down to British GM 1ZVJ 4 3 7 G6MGL 49 10 59
Gas and a meeting w ith the new site G2DHV 5 1 6 G4SEU 48 11 59
manager was pending but had not been GM1SZF 37 19 56
arranged by Jan 20 .
70MHz annual table G4WHZ 33 19 52
G3GHS is relinquishing the job of beacon Final placing. at 31 December 1988 GU4HUY 35 16 51
keeper, the new keeper being Maurice G4DEZ 30 16 46
Richards G3WKF who will deal with quer- Station Counties Countries Total
ies. The Mid-Cornwall Beacon and Repeat- G4AGO 38 8 46
G4SEU 67 9 76 G1SMD 25 18 43
er Group is also responsible for GB3HB GMOJOL 32 11 43
and GB3NC and would welcome donations G3NAO 60 8 68 GOHDZ 33 7 40
for the upkeep and running costs of the ir G4VOZ 60 8 68 G4ZVS 34 5 39
beacons and repeaters . The group' s trea -
G4WND 60 7 67
GW4HBK 53 7 60 G20HV 32 6 38
surer is Ted Warne G3YJX .
From aSB The Newsletter for Four Me- GOEHV 50 7 57 GOHGA 31 6 37
tres, I read that GB3CTC on 70 .030MHz G4XEN 39 5 44 G1DOX 22 5 27
GOIMG 36 6 42 GM1ZVJ 16 8 24
will be changing its callsign to GB3MCB G3EKP 7 4 11
(Mid-Cornwall Beacon) and that G8ROU is G8LHT 33 5 38
testing a 25W beacon TX he has built to G4ARI 33 4 37 430MHz annual table
be install~ at a site in the north of G1EZF 30 5 35 Final placing. at 31 December 1988
Scotland. G8PNN 21 3 24
G2DHV 22 2 24 Station Counties Countries Total
G6MXL 19 4 23 G1KDF 67 14 81
Scandinavian VHF Meeting G1DOX 19 2 21 G6HKM 54 19 73
In the February issue I mentioned that G3EKP 16 4 20 G4XEN 55 15 70
this year it is the turn of the Danes to host G4AGO 15 2 17 G8LHT 48 17 65
G8PYP 2 1 3 G1SWH 55 9 64
the Annual Scandinavian VHF/UHF /SHF
Meeting . I have now received a preliminary G4VOZ 35 8 43
leaflet from Soeren Pederson OZ1 FTU 1296MHz annual table ON1CAK 23 15 38
confirming the dates; June 9, 10 and 11 , Final placing. at 31 December 1988 GlIMM 31 7 38
" . . . somewhere in the lake district of G4DEZ 27 6 33
Silkeborg .' , Station Counties Countries Total G4SEU 29 4 33
Lectures are planned on e.m.c ., micro- G6HKM 31 15 46 ON1COO 16 15 31
wave antennas, computer simulation of G1KDF 38 7 45 GOIMG 26 5 31
144MHz Vagi antenna gain and " G4DEZ 34 10 44 G6MXL 20 9 29
hopefully many more interesting topics ." G6MXL 9 3 12 GJ6TMM 10 11 21
Facilities are planned for measurements of G8LHT 6 2 8 G4AGO 12 4 16
antenna gain - 430MHz and above - pre-
amplifier gain and noise figure and general
G4WHZ 6 2 8 GMOEWX 10 3 13
G6MGL 4 2 6 G8PYP 11 2 13
TX and RX measurements . G1DOX 2 1 3 G6NB 7 5 12
Joint organisers are the Horsens division GMOHBK 8 3 11
of the Danish national society , EDR, and G2DHV 8 2 10
the DAVUS Group . A provisional pro- DXpedition News
gramme and final invitations will be sent Mike Ray G4XBF (SRY) has sent a brief G1DOX 5 2 7
out in March , meanwhile OZ 1FTU would report about a short period of activity from GlTCH 6 1 7
like to hear from anyone who would like to XK square in the December Geminids GW4HBK 4 2 6
shower . The other members of the team G3EKP 5 1 6
give a lecture . His OTH is Krumstien 10 A , GM1SZF - 1 1
DK-2730 Herlev, Denmark. were Alan McMillan G4SS0 and Paul Pas-
quet G4RRA. Operation was from the Annual v.h.f./u.h.f. table
home of Mike Atkinson G8ZVM and his Final placings at 31 December 1988
wife Sheila , using the callsign G4XBF / A.
The station was QRV from 0000 on Dec 50MHz 70MHz 144MHz 430MHz 1296MHz Total
StatIOn Counties Countries Countll!sCountrles CountlesCountnes Counties Countries CountlesCountfles Pomts
10 through 0700 on the 12th during which
time 15 out of 24 skeds were completed G1KDF 48 17 - - 93 22 67 14 38 7 306
with DL3RBH , EA3AQJ, EA3BTZ, G4XEN 50 16 39 5 73 35 55 15 - - 288
HG7KPL, LA9BM (EU) , OE3JPC (11) , G6HKM 47 15 - - 78 28 54 19 31 15 287
OK lOA , SM5BEI (JU) , SM5MIX , G1SWH 59 20 - - 95 20 55 9 - - 258
SM7FWZ , Y27BL , YU3MC , YU3ZW and G8LHT 19 8 33 5 68 32 48 17 6 2 238
YU7AU (KE). All those were via m.s. but G1LSB 37 12 - - 71 25 55 19 - - 219
one with DF8LC (FN) was on tropo , and all G4SEU 35 13 67 9 48 11 29 4 - - 216
stations needed the square . GOIMG 49 17 36 6 50 12 26 5 - - 201
The equipment comprised a Yaesu FT- GMOEWX 71 21 - - 72 24 10 3 - - 201
225RD, an amplifier using two 4CX250Bs G6MXL 27 10 19 4 43 18 20 9 9 3 162
and two 19-ele home-made Yagis . There
G4DEZ 33 16 - - 30 16 27 6 34 10 162
were many reflections but all were very G4VOZ 28 14 60 8 - - 35 8 - - 153
short . In 72 hours of operation they each GW6VZW 50 16 - - 70 17 - - - - 153
had only about ten hours' sleep and would GlIMM 35 11 - - 56 12 31 7 - - 152
like to record their gratitude to Mike and GMOHBK 48 13 - - 57 22 8 3 - - 151
Sheila for putting up with them .
During a recent QSO Dave Johnson GOEHV - - 50 7 68 23 - - - - 148
G6NB 47 19 - - 54 15 7 5 - - 147
G4DHF (LCN) gave a few details of the trip
ON1CAK - - - - 72 34 23 15 - - 144
by the Five Bells Contest Group to the G1EZF - - 30 5 76 33 - - - - 144
north of Scotland at the end of 1988. They G4YCD 12 9 - - 84 30 - - - - 135
operated as GB4XS from Betty Hill (HLD) in
Sutherland from Boxing Day. They caught GJ6TMM 30 16 - - 44 21 10 11 - - 132
the tropo opening on Jan 1/2, best DX ON1CDO - - - - 66 34 16 15 - - 131
being AJ square. In an Aurora on Jan 5, GlTCH 31 19 - - 53 17 6 1 - - 127
Dave used the call GM4DHF /P and made G8PYP 22 9 2 1 51 17 11 2 - - 115
GI40WA 19 18 - - 58 16 - - - - 111
over 60 QSOs, mostly with D and PA
stations. At the very end of this event he G8XTJ 34 5 - - 58 14 - - - - 111
was called by R09GMS with 52A reports G4ARI - - 33 4 60 13 - - - - 110
but the station faded out. He is quite sure G4ZEC - - - - 78 29 - - - - 107
he got the call right but it does not ring any GW4HBK 22 18 53 7 - - 4 2 - - 106
bells. I am sure there is no such prefix as G3FPK - - - - 80 22 - - - - 102
R09 ; very puzzling . GW4FRX - - - - 71 30 - - - - 101
This year the Square Bashers DXpedi- G7ANV - - - - 75 26 - - - - 101
tion Group plans to operate from Porto G6MGL 19 10 - - 49 10 - - 4 2 94
Santo , a small island to the north of GM1SZF 18 8 - - 37 19 - 1 - - 84
Madeira CT3, probably IM 13 square. The G1SMD 21 17 - - 25 18 - - - - 81
proposed period is May 31 for a fortnight .
G4AGO - - 15 2 38 8 12 4 - - 79
Colin Mister GODAZ (HWR) is one of
G2DHV 5 1 22 2 32 6 8 2 - - 78
" . a crew of about ten ardent Bashers " G1CEI - - - - 63 14 - - - - 77
planning to make the trip . More details G1DOX 16 2 19 2 22 5 5 2 2 1 76
later . G4WHZ 6 4 - - 33 19 - - 6 2 70
G3NAO - - 60 8 - - - - - - 68
Contest News G4WND - - 60 7 - - - - - - 67
The resu lts of the Barking Radio and G3EKP 12 3 16 4 7 4 5 1 - - 52
Electronics Society 's contest on Aug 14 GU4HUY - - - - 35 16 - - - - 51
GMOJOL - - - - 32 11 - - - - 43
last have finally reached me. Although
many stations were active there were only GOHDZ - - - - 33 7 - - - - 40
four entries listed in each section. The low G4ZVS - - - - 34 5 - - - - 39
power part was won by G 1PJM /P (SXW) GOHGA - - - - 31 6 - - - - 37
with 3552 points from 89 QSOs. G4DFI GM1ZVJ 4 3 - - 16 8 - - - - 31
(LDN) was runner up with 1875/58. The G8PNN - - 21 3 - - - - - - 24
high power section winner was G8JA Y /P
(GLR) with 7379 points from 149 con-
tacts, runner up being G4XBF (SRY) with participate in the Scandinavian 144MHz 430MHz to 1.8MHz from as many islands
5031/117. Activity contest , 1800-2200UTC . The as possible. A helicopter from the Sullum
Now for forthcoming attractions taken first Thursday sees a similar 430MHz Voe oil terminal may be available for island
from the RSGB's list . The final two legs of event while the first Monday is devoted to hopping . The return trip from Lerwick at
the 70MHz Cumulatives are on March 12 the microwave bands. 1200 on June 9 will provide further oppor-
and 26 , 1000 to 1200 on the 12th and John Fitzgerald G8XT J (BKS) has ad - tunities for - / MM operation, including
0900- 1100 on the 26th, both UTC . There vised that the 144MHz W AB contest date " wet" square ZS .
are two section , F being for Single-op fixed has been altered to June 25 , 0900- Colin Roberts GMOAVR has bought
stations and 0 for all others. QTH informa- 1600UTC to avoid the RSGB 50MHz event th e Coastguard lookout h~t on Housay
tion exchange is required . Entries go to on the 18th . The QRP events ar e on July 9 Island (NGR HU6827 13). the largest island
G4FRE at 15 Ferry Lane, Cavendish Park , with the 144MHz leg 0900- 1300 and the in the Out Skerries group . He is equipping
Felixstowe , Suffolk IP 1 1 8UR. 430MHz one 1400- 1800 . The contest the hut at his own expense so that it can be
March 12 , 1300- 1700 sees the Derby manager is lan Webb G6TNW w ho is used as a base for amateur radio operation
and District ARS 144MHz contest, details QTHR and the G 1SGB group , of which Col in is a
of which you can find on page 60 in the member , will be using this facility . For full
February issue . The 50MHz Fixed Station details about the hut send an s.a.e . to Colin
event is on April 9, 0900- 1 500, another Shetland Islands Activity at 4 Ladieside, Brae, Shetland Islands. His
two section F and 0 affair but with county Steve Bryan G15GB (YSS) has sent telephone number is Brae (080 622) 406 .
and country multipliers. Radial ring scoring comprehensive details of his team 's next
up to 650km thereafter all contacts are trip to the Shetland Isles . They pl an to
worth the same 25 points . Entries to depart from Aberdeen at 1800 on May 26 The 50MHz Band
G4NBS at 10 Quince Road, The Limes, to arrive in Lerwick at 0800 . On the way From some of your letters it is quite
Hardwick, Cambridge CB3 7XJ . they have permission to operate - /MM obvious that those who are adhering to the
Mark down April 9 as the first leg of the on 144MHz and possibly 50 and 70MHz . e.r .p . limits permitted in the British licence
10GHz Cumulatives ; full details awaited. Then they take another ferry from Vidlin to are becoming increasingly frustrated by
Further afield, a reminder that the first base camp on the Out Skerries. those who are blatantly ignoring them .
Tuesday each month is when you can Operation is promised on all bands from During good DX openings they rarely get a
chance to be heard beneath those who Annual c.w.ladder John Jennings G4VOZ (LEC) reckons
appear to be runn ing considerable power. t hat act ivity slumped during the Oct-Dec
One regular contributor likened it to the Bind (MHz) period . In November. 40 CO calls w ent
1.8MHz situation. suggesting that people Points unanswered . But since Christmas the band
Station 50 70 144 430
either stick to IOW and work little or has come alive with lots of activity .
nothing or " . . take the easy alterna- G4ZEC - - 785 - 785 Between Jan 1 and 19 he lists G4100
tives ." Another is so disgusted that he G4NZU 7 17 291 - 315
G4XEN 42 26 221 11 300 (SPE). G4APL (SRY) . G3SDL (KNT) and
wrote to ask that his entries in the tables G40UT - 16 278 - 294 G1DOX (AVN) on ss .b .. G8YLB (WMD)
be deleted . Fortunately I persuaded him G4AGO - 39 170 12 221 and G4PWD (SFD) on f.m .
not to take this course . The main event was the Ar on the 11 th
All this leaves a nasty taste in my mouth GOHGA - - 221 - 221 which yielded GM3WOJ . GI40NL and
as it means I am inadvertently reporting GOHlT 14 - 195 - 209 EI9FK. John mentions the growing tenden-
the successes of those who have been PA3FAO - - 199 - 199
G4WHZ 21 - 157 - 178 cy among A licensees to use s.s.b. during
cheating. Yet if some operators are run- Auroras which tends to slow down a OSO
G4VOZ 31 102 - 23 156
ning much higher power than that permit- unless signals are very good . He moni-
ted but do not appear to be causing any GODJA 12 - 107 - 119 tored several contacts where incorrect
problems for other services. then why not GOHEE - - 111 - 111 details were confirmed. so suggests that
scrap these power restrictions? G6DIF 13 - 94 2 109 c.w . be the preferred mode . He says that
During a recent OSO w ith Marc De G4ARI - 29 80 - 109 EI4RF is the best Ar indicator on 70MHz .
Munck ON5FF he mentioned that he G2DHV 10 37 45 4 96
much better than GB3ANG . The main
expected that Belgian amateurs would get G4ZVS - - 80 - 80 event was detected from about 1800 to
a 50MHz allocation w ithin the next couple G3FPK - - 70 - 70 2030 but EI4RF kept coming through
of years . At present there is a TV station in GU4HUY - - 59 - 59 spasmodically. tone A till 2230.
Antwerp on Ch . E2 (4B .25MHz vision . GW4HBK 21 33 - - 54 The January issue of 058 includes an
53 .75MHz sound) and one in Liege on E3 GOGKN - - 52 - 52 Activity Table for 70MHz. Other interest-
(55 .25/60 .75MHz) ing items are a brief report on the Jan 11
Several readers have suggested that G1SMD 21 - 15 - 36
G1DOX 3 5 - - 8 Ar. details of the Out Skerries expedition.
with frequent transatlantic openings . the news that Mike Webb GD61CR is ORV
band is little different from 2BMHz . Your from Peel. conversion of a 144MHz Europa
letters indicate DX openings via F-Iayer. Ar Number of different stations worked
throughout 19BB. transverter to 70MHz and Part 2 of the
and Es on virtually every day from Dec 20 4CX2S0B amplifier project . For subscrip-
through Jan 23 . Therefore I will give the In addition to those already mentioned tion details send an s.a .e. to G4WND at
broad outline of what has been heard and the above information was compiled from Rivendell . Kiln Way. Polesworth. Tam-
worked . letters from the following readers : Bob worth B7B 1JF.
On Dec 20 the band was open to WB . Nixon G1 KDF (LNH). John Palfrey
W9 . VEl and OH . On the 21st to WI-5. G4XEN (NHM). John Lemay G4ZTR
WB . VE 1 with HC5K heard. 22nd . KP2. (ESX) . Vic Van Den Bergh G6DIF (LDN) . The 144MHz Band
VE 1. W5 and P43. 23d . Wl. W2 . W5 and Ela Martyr G6HKM (ESX) . Bill Biltcliffe GODAZ has been working a few of the
WB with HC1BI heard. Ken Osborne G6NB (OFE). John Pi lags G8HHI (HPH). " bigger" stations off the moon recently.
G41GO (SOM) heard Far East signals on Colin Redwood G6MXL (DOR). lan Har- successes being SM2CEW. VE7BOH.
Ch. E2 from Sabah (9M6) . 24th. F-Iayer TV wood G8LHT (YSS). Steve Damon W7IUV . N5BLZ. WSUN. KI3W. W4ZD.
on Ch . RI. Wl . W3 . W4. W9 . VOl . VE2. G8PYP (DOR). Colin Robertson OK1MS. PAONIE . KFOM and KB8CRO. He
J52US. HC 1BI and the FY7 beacon GMOHBK (HLD). new contributor Alan uses four 14-ele Yagis . Dave Thickett
copied. Harper GM 1 SZF (HLD). and Paul Baker GOFEH (WKS) has recently moved from
More F-Iayer RI TV on Christmas Day. GW6VZW (GWT) . Chesterfield to Leamington Spa and asks if
FY7VHF was S9++ at G41GO from 1149- Welcome to two more new contribu - he will have to start collecting squares
1232; HC 1BI. HC5K . KP2A . KP4EIT. tors . First Dave Brown GD4XTT. th e from scratch . As the distance exceeds
PZ 1 AP and TI2HL. Dec 26. W 1. VE 1 and Chairman of the Isle of Man ARS . and SOkm . the answer is " yes." OM . On Dec
HC 1BI. On the 27th G41GO identified TV newly ORV on the band with 0 .4W and a 31 he worked EA 1BCB (IN63) and Fs in
carriers from the Far East on E3 . probably home-made 2-ele Vagi . The first three southern France .
9M2 . 9M6 and HS. 085B-0926 . This days' operation brought a OSO with lan Rose GOHDZ (ESX) has been off the
means the m .u.f . was around 5BMHz . G4AHN (SRY) . A small amplifier is envis- band for a long while but is now ORV
5B4CY beacon heard 091B-0927 . F-Iayer aged and he should do well from his cliff again .
RI TV . Wl . W3 . W4 . W5 and WB . top site 213m a.s.1. He suggests that Peter Hirons G1 CEI (HPH) found cond i-
ZDBVHF beacon heard 1633-1640. fellow Manx amateurs GD3FOC . GD3TNS tions to the north good on Jan 2 and
Dec 2B . WI-5 . VEI-3 . Dec 30 J52US and GD4HOX are disappointed that few worked GM 1EHK (FFE) and GM7BUD
keyer heard 1535- 1602. 31 st . FY7VHF mainland stations seem to beam towardS (TYS) . He complains of f.m . OSOs in the
copied around noon . Jan 3. OH stations in them . beacon band . 144.BS-144 .99MHz . One
KPlO. 5th . OHs and CTOWW beacon via Second David Wright GW1 MVL station on 144.87SMHz said he was
Es. later GB4XS . GM4DHF / P and (CWD) who is trying hard to get going on taking part in a TV contest and was using
GM3WOJ via Ar . Jan 6 . VE 1. More Es on the band. He is using a Hy Gain transceiver. the frequency as an alternative to
the 10th to 9H 1BT. plus VE 1. also VE 1 on converted to 2BMHz . and Spectum trans - 144.700MHz .
the 11 th . 12th. GI8YDZ via Ar and verter with a 4-ele Jaybeam Vagi in the G 1KDF mention strong signals from
HP3XUA heard from Panama . attic but it was all rather unstable when he EA 1 on Dec 31 and Jan 1 and wonders
Jan 13. VE 1 and W2 worked from wrote . I think the Hy Gain product must be why we never hear any CT stations in
Jersey . 14th. WB and W9 . An Ar on the a Citizens Band job. these lifts . Bob worked EA 1s BCB. DOD
15th with GMBMBP (GRN). From GJ . (lN73) and TA (INS3). OE2CAL (JN67) .
G3GJO/ 5NO S9 at 0930 . 17/ lBth VE 1. HB900 (JN47) and several Fs. Pat BiI-
19th WI -3 . 20th. Ar OSOs with HLD .
The lOMHz Band lingham G4AGQ (SRY) heard the HB9HB
GRN . SCD regions in Scotland and with lan Cornes G40UT (SF D) only started beacon on Jan 1 but no Swiss stations.
NLD in England . 22nd . W 1-4 . W8 and VE 1 on the band last December and. on c.w . in G41GO would like to thank those readers
and on the 23rd an extensive opening to January he contacted G3UEY on the 2nd who sent reports on the Es events on 31
North. Central and South America which and G4APA and G4XEN on the 5th. Dave July 1988. but was somewhat disappoint-
will have to be chronicled next month . Lewis GW4HBK (GWT) got off to a good ed that " well known" operators did not
Geoff Brown GJ41CD is claiming the start thanks to an Aurora on Jan 11 . His respond . G40UT found tropo conditions
first GJ/FY7 OSO with FY7 AU (GJ35) at contacts began at lB37 and were with good to Germany on Jan 19 and worked
1225 . and the first GJ / HH contact with G4WND. G4SEU . G6DER . EI9FK. G4APA. DJ4GJ and DLOUD on c .w . lan was very
HH7PV (FK2B) at 1326 on Jan 19. The HH GM3WOJ (1077). GI40NL (LDR) and finally sorry the RSGB dropped the February c.w .
only worked one other British Isles station. G8XVJ at 201S . The event faded at 2040 . contest .
GJOJSY . In a big opening on Jan 22 Geoff OTE was 35S· with nothing heard to the During the Jan 11 Ar. Nick Peckett
worked 139 stations in 41 squares in east. Beacon EI4RF was a good signal G4KUX (DHM) worked an SM2 in KZ
North America between 1600 and 1710. throughout but GB3CTC was weak . A (KPOS) square which is most unusual. Not
His best DX north was FNB6 . west EM79 second phase was heard from 2337 to only was the actual distance large but the
and south FM 16 . Most signals were ex- midnight with EI4RF. but no amateur sta- latitude difference of over 10· was a bit
tremely strong and the band was full of tions heard . The GI was an all-time new over his boundary fence.
stations from 50.05 to 50 .300MHz. country . Dave Dibley G4RGK (BKS) is finding it
difficult to work new squares now with 2.5\N from a Yaesu FT-290R and a 10-ele year with 33 countries in the log by Jan 20 .
280 in the log. Therefore any new ones via Jaybeam Vagi and use c .w. a lot . In a These include GU2FRO (SRK) and GU3EJL
m .s. mode are long distance attempts telephone call Keith Boleat GJ6TMM (ALD) . Paul would like QSL information for
such as SM2CEW (LZ) finally worked after reported tropo QSOs with OK 1s FFD/P, HG7JAS , HG2NP and DL8HCZ . If anyone
nearly five years of trying . He has heard BL/P, DDO and VRY , plus OK2MMW can help , he is QTHR or telephone
signals from UV 1AS (PT) but the sked was (JN89, a new square!, but I forgot to write Cwmbran 60921 .
incomplete. The Ar on Jan 5 produced down the date .
GB4XS and GM4DHF /P for a new square, John Eden GMOEXN ran a special The 430MHz Band
and another on the 11th brought UR 1RWX event station GB75DH from his QTH in The good news is that from now on
(MT!, LA3NGA (ET), SM6CMU (FR) and December and was QRV in the Christmas Syledis QRM should be less . This follows
assorted GMs. Day Aurora , thanks to a tip off from the Ministry of Defen ce ruling that the
G4XEN completed with UR1RWX on GM4ILS . Between 1730 and 1830 25 system should not be used within 100km
Jan 3 at what John concluded must have station were worked in D, G, GM , PA, with of the UK coastline . The main frequency
been the peak of the Quadrantids shower, OZ llPU (J057) and SM7NJH (J066) for will now be 438MHz except for a sector
but he did not mention the time. He good measure . between North Foreland (KNT) and Beachy
detected an Aurora at 1604 on Jan 5 and GMOHBK worked D, El. G, OZ and PA in Head (SXE) where 432MHz will still be
worked a few GMs including GB4XS and an Ar on Dec 24 including DK3LL (FO) and used for a while .
GM4DHF/P . He records other Ar events OZlLO (FP!, two new squares. A weak Ar G 1KDF worked OE2CAL and HB9ASB
on the 11th and 15th. The 15th also on the 31st brought GB4XS and (DG) on Dec 31 , his first Austrian and
brought excellent tropo propagation from GM4DHF / P. Colin worked southern Gs Swiss QSOs in 1988. Bob also contacted
2100 and D, y , OK and SP stations were and FA 1NRM (AJ) by tropo on Jan 2 . He F6HPP / P (BJ) . In the Jan 16 tropo, G4XEN
worked including OK2KZR / P (JN89) the thought the Quadrantids shower very poor heard OK2KZR/ P but John could not make
following morning . with only DG6LS (FO) worked on the 4th , a Q50 . G6DIF asks, "Does the world
Roger Colwell G4ZEC (BKS) had 972 0000 to 0055 . A good Ar on the 5th know 70cm exists?" I think we all realise
c .w . QSOs in 1988 and sent a detailed brought D, El, G, GM , ON and OZ Q50s . that outside of lifts , it can be a bit of a
analysis of them by country and prefix . By On the 11th, D, F, G, GI , GM , GW , ON, OZ desert in spite of activity nights .
far the most numerous , in almost equal and PAs were worked including OZ8TU John Tye G4BYV (NOR) takes up
numbers, were GOs and G4s while the (GP) and F6DWG (BJ) . Other Ar events DA4RG ' s comments about the apparent
overseas league table shows D, F, PA , and were recorded on the 13th- 17th, the 17th lack of u.h.f activity on the continent . He
ON in descending order . He proposes to bringing a c.w . contact with LA5SAA/P says this is because they will not move off
give the c.w. ladder a miss this year, but (J039) . On the 20th SK7JD (IR) on c .w . the .200 calling frequen cy so do not hear
reserves the right to change his mind! was new and yet more Ar propagation us calling CQ. In the Cumulatives he re-
G6HKM worked OE2KMM (GH) at 1528 was noted on the 21st and 22nd. ports that one G was on .200 all evening .
on Dec 31 and was delighted when the John Lincoln GMOJOL (HLD) caught He has been on the band for 20 years and
good tropo conditions continued into the the Christmas Day Ar, best DX being seems a bit exasperated w ith th e " plan-
New Year . Ela worked into EA, El. F, ON DL9LBH (J044) . The Jan 11 event was in ners " who have fiddled around w ith calling
and PA and in a brief tropo opening to the two phases . The period 1900-1930 frequencies over the years . (Why do they
northwest on Jan 2 she contacted brought D, G, GM and PA contacts, the never consult the regular use rs , I wonder .)
GMOEWX and GMOHBK on Skye. In the 2330-on session El, G, ON and PA QSOs. On Jan 2 G6HKM had a pleasant QSO
German contest on the 7th she made 13 GM1SZF 's station comprises a Yaesu with G 1GEY (TWR), usually only worked
QSOs as far as the E line of squares . On the FT-726R, Microwave Modules 100Wam- with difficulty in contests . In the wee hours
15th, two Berlin stations were worked and plifier and a 14-ele MET Vagi at 6. 1m a.g .1. of the 16th , Ela worked Y26CI (J050) and
Y 46PH (J05 1) . In the early hours of the The Christmas Day Ar brought contacts DD8AK (J052) and in the afternoon of the
16th her CQ call was answered by OK 1IAS with 5M7LXV (GP!, DF8LC (FN!, LA3EDA 19th DG8EAJ (J031) and Y21NB (J053).
(J060) and on the 18th, HB9SLU (DG) was (FU) as well as El. G, GM , GW , ON , OZ and G6MXL found HB9AGE (JN37) on Jan 1,
netted . Many DLs were worked from 1344 PA QSOs . The next day was a weaker also worked by G8HHI the next day plus
on the 19th, plus OE9NHI (JN47), affair with best OX DL5SAC (EN) at 1455 . HB9MIN / P (DH)
OE5PAM (JN78), LX 1 SI (JN39) , On the 11th from 1727 SM7SCJ (GP!, Although tropo conditions on 144MHz
HB9SJE/P (JN36) , HB9DFP (JN37) and Y22UC (GN!, Y23KO and Y23BD (GM), were good on Jan 15 / 16 , G8LHT's CQ
Y27DO (J062). In an Ar on the 20th Ela Y22ME (HM), SM7FMX (GP) plus D, G. LA , calls on 432MHz went unheeded.
worked into ATM, CTR, DHM , HLD, LDR and ON , OZ and PA. Next the 16th with EI3GE GJ6TMM worked DK3FB, DJ6XV ,
OZ1JVX (J046) . Not a bad start for 1989. (WN) plus G, GI. LA and SM QSOs . The DC1EX , DG6EAE and DG8EAJ , all in DL
G6MXL worked into EA 1 on Jan 1 as did 17th LA and SM in GT and GR squares plus square and DC5NA and DD5TD / A in EJ .
G8HHI who reckons that a lot of the DX D, G, OZ and PA and lastly , on the 20th When he wrote on Jan 22, GMOHBK ' s
QSOs were " going overhead ." John says Y21NB (FM) , Y23KO and Y26HO (GM), beam was down but prior to that , Colin
the GWs were having a field day . On the SM7FMX and GOJXY in AN , another new had worked a couple of GMs .
2nd he worked FC 1EAN (AG) and heard square. GW 1MVL uses his FDK-750E w ith Ex-
GMs in the Ar on the 20th . John Hilton GMl ZVJ (L TH) uses just pander-430 running 1OW . His antennas
For G8LHT, EA 1BCB on Dec 31 was the 2 .5W and a lO-ele Vagi yet manages to are an 88-ele Multibeam or a three times
first new square since last September and make Ar QSOs . On Jan 5 he found G8ECI five- eig hths wavelength collinear mounted
lan also worked Fs in IN94 and JN29 with (AN) and heard many G, OZ and SM on a bin lid . With th e latter he has worked a
EA 1DOD the next day. The Ar on Jan 11 stations . The extensive Ar on the 11th DL in J030 getting an S8 report . Both
brought GMOHUO (1086) . In the Jan 15 produced QSOs with G8XVJ , G1SWH antennas are in the attic , the bea m fixed
late evening tropo he worked DL 7 AKA , (MC H) and Gll JUS (A TM) . pointing SE .
DC7KM , Y23KO and Y28FO, all in Berlin , GW1MVL uses an FDK-750E running
SP3RBF (J07 1!, OK 1USZ (J070) and a lOW to an 8-ele Apollo Vagi at 9m a.g.1.
PA. He remarks on the deep QSB and that Oavid lists some respectable OX worked in The Microwave Bands
signals did not beam up in the right F, ON and PA on Dec 30 / 31 , Jan 3 and 8 . GODAZ is now QRV on 1.3GHz using
direction . Did other readers notice this He worked his first stations via Ar on the four 21 -ele Yagis buried among the 144
phenomenon? 11th, GMOHBK and GMOEWX(l067) . For and 432MHz arrays . Col in has 27 squares
G8PYP rightly points out that for south WAS fans he is in SJ24 and will take skeds so far . G 1KDF tried with F6KPP / P on
coast stations, Auroral events are usually any time . 1.3GHz on Dec 31 but was not heard in BJ
weak and rare so hopes those further John Nelson GW4FRX (PWS), with the square .
north will give them a chance to work the help of Andy Steven GM41PK who paid a G6HKM worked G4BYV on Jan 2, a
GMs, etc. He appreciated GI1JUS calling brief visit, has completed the fine tuning of good start since Ela never worked Norfolk
for G stations between working the OX on the matching of his new four 18-ele Cush- at all last year . In th e afternoon of the 19th
Jan 1 1. On tropo, Steve lists Ds worked craft 4218XL Yagis . The s.w .r. is 1.08 : 1 the DL bea co n was up to S9 and QSOs
on Dec 22 and Jan 15/16. and the pattern exceptionally clean after with DG8EAJ and DL5EAG followed . The
Erik Gedvilas G8XVJ (CHS) mentions making sure the power was being shared next day G 1RER (LDN) was worked.
the widespread nature of the Dec 31 equally by all four antennas . In the Jan 20 G4BYV had a 30 minute QSO on Dec 21
tropo. Within 15 minutes he worked four Ar he detected two distinct scatter with DCOOA on 1.3GHz, almost a year
HB9s and EA 1s in XD and VD squares. reg ions , one at 070-080' where he heard since he first work ed him on 5 .6GHz. On
The Ar on Jan 5 brought two each OZs and an SP4, the other at 010'. The band was Dec 29 John worked DF6WE and DJ6UT
SMs and an LA. full of stations at 1840 but at 1935 (DL) , and F8ZW (DI) all on 1.3GHz. Apart
GD4XTT and GDOEL Y are active every someone switched the Aurora off. from that he said there was not much
week, not just in lifts . Dave and Joyce use GW6VZW got off to a flying start this microwaves news .
~
C M HOWES••
COMMUNICATIONS
~
[ VISA
Eydon, Daventry,
Northants NNll 6PT
j(mail order only)
Phone: 0327 60178
CTU30 HF Bands (and 6M) ATU.
ADD-ON GOODIES! We designed the CTU30 as a high performance antenna matching unit to cover all
the HF bands for both receiving and transmiUing at up to 30W RF. It will tune long
A good quality kit makes an excellent way of adding an accessory to enhance wire. coax. or balanced feed antennas. A 4:1 balun is included - this is an item
the performance or facilities of your station. This month we are featuring a few normally only found on expensive high power units. The "T" match circuit
of our popular accessories, but don 't forget that we also oHer a highly configuration gives a useful performance benefit with the popular general coverage
succesful range of receiver and transmitter kits too (receivers start at £14.80, sets. in that it helps reject the "half frecuency" stations that often cause problems
with these radios (try 14.2MHz at night and see if you hear 7.1MHz broadcast
and transmitters, £13.80). A copy of our catalogue will give you information
stations). High quality parts are used. including Jackson Brothers air spaced tuning
abput the whole range (yours for an SAE) .
capacitors. There are 12 SWitched inductance settings. All parts are PCB mounted.
ASL5 Dual Bandwidth Receive Filter. It's good on " Six" too!
The ASL5 simply connects inline with the external 'speaker or headphone Several customers have reported success wi th the CTU30 on 6M, SO I decided to
output of your radio to increase the selectivity of the set. It gives a CW try one out in my own station. I hooked up a HOWES HC266 6M transverter to an
FT290 and an SWR meter. My 5 ele MET beam. fed via the CTU30, could be tuned
bandwidth of 300Hz ( - 6dS) and a sharp roll oH for speech modes so that
for spol on 1:lover the whole band . Without the CTU30 the SWR was far too high
interferance rejection is over 50dS at about 3.3kHz - thi s is a considerabl e
at the top end of the band to allow operation. So what they say is true. The CTU30
increase over the performance oHered by the standard fitment IF filters in is a wider range unit than we have been ctaiming up 'till now! It's worth buying for
most receiversitransceivers. The unit operates from a 12 to 14V DC supply. the 6M performance alone l
It is surprising how much more pleasant copy can be on noisy, or crowded CTU30 Kit: £27.90 Assembled peB Module: £33.90
bands, by adding the ASL5 to what was previously regarded as a well filtered SOME OTHER ACCESSORIES Kit Price Assembled
set! Many letters from customers confirm our findings that the popular general PCD
coverage receivers and transceivers show a very cost eHective improvement AA2 Active Antenna Amplifier .1 to lOMHz. £7 .50 £11.50
with this filter. If you need any further convincing , read the review in the April APJ Automatic Speech Processor £15.90 £22.80
87 Shortwave Magazine l CM2 Quatity Mic with VOGAD £11 .90 £15.90
ASL5 Kit: £14.90 Assembled peB Module: £22.50 CSL4 Internal Speech & CW RX Filter £9.90 £15.90
CV220 2M Converter for 20M RX £17.50 £23.90
SWB30 SWRlPower indicator/Load. CV620 6M Converter for 20M RX £17.50 £23.90
This unit enables you to check your SWR on all bands from 160 to 2M. Its ST2 Sinewave Side-tonelPractice oscillator £8.80 £13.50
operation is rather diHerent from most units. in that whilst SWR is being XMl Wide range crystal marj(er/calibrator £16.80 £21 .90
checked, an attenuator is placed in line with the TX so providing less O RM on Please add £1 .00 P&P to your total onler value.
the band, and importantly, protecting your rig from any mismatch that may be All HDWES kits come With full . clear InstrucllOns. good Quality
present on the antenna. The unit has a monitor facility that keeps the meter glass fibre PeB (drilled and linned with screen printed parts
indicating whilst in normal transmission. The specially manufactured moving locations) and all board mounled components . Delivery is
coil meter has both SWR and RF Power scales. ORP rigs of as little as lW normally within 7 days. Help . adVice and sales are only a
will drive the meter easily, but it can also be used with lOOW rigs, provided a phone call away (oHice hours) . An SAE will bring you a
tuning signal of 30W or less is available. A great little unit, and very easy to copy of our catalogue . and Information sheets on any
build . specifiC products you are interested In .
SWB30 Kit: £12.50 Assembled peB Module: £17.30 73 from Dave G4KQH , Technical Manager
OUT
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Final Miscellany run on other Amstrad machine s, as they
are.
s.a.e. to John at 64 Parsons Heath, Col-
chester , Essex C04 3HY .
I have copied my Amstrad PCW soft- G4ZTR thinks that some QSLs for Finally , the 1989 tables will start next
ware for several readers and have recently G84XN contacts in 1986 and 1987 sent issue so make sure you send your latest
added PCWINDEX , a database program via the bureau may have gone astray . claims to the specified address by the
useful for record keeping. A little error has Anyone needing a ca rd should send an deadline date .
come to light in the ELSAT program . line
3570 should end with GOTO 160 and not
170, or the predictions may not be correct
for your QTH ; sorry . Please note the
The next three deadlines are
programs are written for the 8256/8512
computers and I cannot guarantee they will
Mar 29, Apr 26 and May 31
RTTY Reporls 10 Mike Rlchords G4 WNC

200 Ch llslchurc h Rood. Rlngwoo d. Hanls BH24 3AS
Esmond Aguilar F6GOV /G4KBJ has facility I would recommend that you con- 100 watts out. The final prefix list for the
written from Mouvaux in France reporting tact the dealer who supplied your unit as contest was quite impressive with 32
his experiences with FAX reception . Al- the software tends to be frequently states and 36 cou ntries including 22
though retired now, Esmond has spent updated . states on 28MHz! Two interesting stations
many years in the commercial FAX busi - More news on the FAX front from R. that were noted but not actually worked
ness and would now like to try his hand at Selmes of Bexhill-on-Sea who is a keen were 9Q5BG (Zaire) and KP2N (Virgin Is .).
amateur FAX transmission and reception. FAX listener . For reception he is currently On the home front, John has finally
The equipment in use at present is a using a Realistic HF OX 302 receiver but is ditched his Amstrad PCW computer in
Kenwood TS-940S transceiver and a hoping to upgrade to a Lowe HF-125 in the favour of a 1512 IBM PC compatible . John
FAX-l decoder from ICS Electronics . The near future . The FAX decoding is per- also managed to work a new country,
only problem is that the FAX-l is a receive formed using a Spectrum computer run- which is quite a feat when you have
only device and Esmond would like to ning the G41DE FAX program and an already worked as many as he has! The
transmit . His question therefore is quite Alphacom thermal printer . elusive call was 7P8DR (Lesotho) and if
simple-where do I start if I want to use a This type of station is ideal for anyone anyone else managed a contact, the QSL
computer for FAX transmission? new to this mode as it represents a very address is PO Box 521 , Maseru , Lesotho .
Unfortunately there are not very many economical starting point and with ca reful My thanks to John for this report which
FAX transceive programs around . Prob- use can produce some very reasonable made the deadline by the skin of its teeth!
ably the most recent to enter the market is results. Good pictures were received
the AMIGA FAX from ICS Electronics between 14.1 MHz and 14. 117MHz which
which seems to produce very good results is the most popular h.f . FAX frequency . By Packet Activity
for a modest outlay (that is if you already the way, the antennas used are an external I have received a very interesting report
own a Commodore Amiga computer!) . inverted V and a multi-b and dipole mount- from Peter Strauss ZS6ET regarding
One of the main problems with comput- ed in the loft . packet activity in South Africa . Apparent-
er generated FAX is that of obtaining your Finally , if you know of any useful FAX ly , as in the UK , the level of activity has
image in the first place . With a convention - transceive programs or indeed have any increased dramatically over the past two
al electromechanical FAX machine all you information which would help amateurs years from some 40 or 50 operators to the
had to do was fit the sheet of paper with get started in this fasacinating mode , then present level of 250 plus. To put this in
the image to the drum and start the please drop me a line . perspective , there are approximately 5000
machine. With computer FAX you can licences issued in South Africa w ith about
only send images that are stored in the 2500 being members of the South African
computer's memory . Because of this limi-
ARRl Contest Report Radi o League .
tation most computer FAX users create John Barber has sent in his usual com- Th e first packet activity was on the
images for transmission using graphics prehensive report on this contest . Condi- 144MHz band and in the absence of
programs which can store the resultant tions were apparently terrible except for dedicated digi-peaters the voice repeaters
picture either in memory or on disk for 28MHz which was doing quite well on the were used during quiet periods . The main
transmission later . The snag here is that Sunday after 14MHz and 21 MHz had died! centres of activity are Johannesburg , Pre-
the process of creating the image can be John operated th e co ntest with G4 TSW toria , Durban and Pietermaritzburg . There
quite long winded and time consuming , Tiverton South West Radio Society are currently some twelve digipeaters
also you are stumped if, for example, you from a portable site . The antennas used working in these areas on the 144MHz
want to send a photo of the shack . were a 7MHz :l- wave vertical, which was band .
On the bright side , there is a way to also pressed into service on 21 MHz and The frequencies used for BBS access are
overcome this problem by using a device 28MHz, 14MHz :l- wave vertical and an 144.65 and 144.675MHz, with all major
called a digitiser . This normally comprises inverted V for 3 .5MHz . Th e transceiver towns being connected by an h.f. forward -
a software package and interface which , was John 's normal home-brew , running ing system on 14MHz .
when combined with a video camera,
allows visual images to be stored on disk .
The digitiser works by taking the ana -
logue output of the video camera and
processing it using an analogue to digital
converter which gives a digital signal that
can be handled by the computer and
stored on disk .
Although computer FAX may appear to
be rather appealing , the old electrome-
chanical machines generally give a far
superior image and offer ease of use .
There is always a snag , and in the case of
the older mechanical machines it's the
smell which can be rather unpleasant espe-
cially if your shack is in the house!
Another possibility for FAX transmis-
sion is to use one of the multi-mode
terminal units that have this feature includ-
ed, e.g. PK-232 . The same problems exist
with these as with the computer FAX
described earlier but you do have the
advantage of being able to receive many
other modes .
For more information on this particular Fig. 1: FAX picture received by Esmond Aguilar
Linking the ZS network with the ASIA and low tones . be contacted once per band . The ARRL OX
network is achieved using regular forward - Morse : Auto-tracking from 4 to 250 countries list will be used plus each W /K ,
ing by YB50Z and ZS 1RO . The link to the w .p.m . VE/VO and VK call area counting as sepa-
UK is via the DCE (University of Surrey AMTOR: ARO and FEC with fast rate countries.
Digital Communications Experiment). the synchronisation . Messages must consist of Time in UTC
UoSA T 11 UK ground station being UoSat : 1200 baud UoSat 1 and 2 as a four figure group, RST and message
GB3UP . In South Africa , data forwarded transmissions. number. You score 2 points for all two-
from GB3UP via UoSat 11 is off-loaded by ASCII: All standard baud rates. way RTTY contacts inside your own
the ground control station ZS61T and then Although this company has become well country; outside your own country it's 10
forwarded to the AMSAT BBS ZS6SAT . known for its software interface programs points, there ' s 200 points for each country
UK operators can send messages as MAIL like the RX-4, this latest version uses a worked including your own (and that's on
to specific destination callsigns , e.g ., SP dedicated hardware interface. The inter- each band) .
ZS6ET @ ZS6SA T and mark the header face sits between the computer and the You work the score out by taking your
" pse forward via DCE ". Alternatively , you receiver and features 4-pole filtering when two-way contacts points multiplied by the
could send a message to all ZS amateurs receiving narrow shift modes. total number of countries then add that to
using the normal convention " SB ALL @ The RX-8 has been designed to run on a the total country points multiplied by 200
ZS$" . BBC B computer with software in a 16K multiplied by the number of continents
Links to Germany via DBOAHA are nor- ROM . The package costs £259 .00, worked (max 6) . If that sounds complicat-
mally routed via the Netherlands and then though existing users of the RX-4 and TIFI ed you can always send an s.a.e . to
up-loaded via the DCE. interface can obtain some discount . BARTG for the rules .
Peter also reports that the use of h.f . to Further details can be obtained from Tech- The logs must be in the usual format and
v .h.f . gateways has increased dramatically nical Software(2). be received by May 27 . Send to Peter
with most of them linking between 14MHz Whilst talking about Technical Soft- Adams G6LZB , 464 Whippendell Road,
and 144MHz. One exception is the recent ware , several readers have been having Watford, Herts WD1 7PT.
addition of a gateway between problems demodulating AMTOR using the The second is the Spring VHF/UHF
10. 147MHz and 144MHz. There are also RX-4 programs . I have contacted Richard RTTY Contest which will be held between
plans in hand to introduce a link between Wilmot of Technical Software and appar- 1800UTC on Saturday April 15 and
South Africa and South America . ently the trick is to keep the audio level 1200UTC on Sunday April 16. All stations
In addition to all this , regular activity is to down to a minimum . All new versions of will be required to take and declare a 4
be found on 7MHz, 28MHz , and 50MHz . the program will be supplied with revised hour break during the contest period.
My thanks to Peter for a most interesting instructions pointing out this fact . Bands: 144MHz, 432MHz and 1296MHz.
report and if any readers are able to send Regular readers will recall that I recently Operators : Licensed amateurs within
me general reports on national packet mentioned a program which allowed com- zones 14 and 15 who are permitted to use
networks I would be delighted to hear from plete control of a Yaesu FRG-8800 receiv- RTTY . Contest logs from short wave
you . er using an IBM PC computer. Well , I have listeners will also be very welcome.
just received a letter from Barry Dale(3) Messages :
who also produces a computer control Time : Start time of contact in UTC using
New Packet Guide program for this receiver but in this case full four digit group passed in both
Still on the subject of packet I have just using a BBC Master computer . directions.
received news of a new guide to packet One very interesting feature of this pro- RST : Normal three figure group .
operation . This A4 size book titled YOU! gram is that you can still gain access to an Number: A three figure number starting at
Gateway to a Basic Understanding ofAX25 external decoder for data reception. 001 and incrementing for each contact .
Packet Radio (phewl) has been written and Another interesting point is that the recep- Locator: Maidenhead system preferred but
published by the South Hams Radio Group . tion log is actually a quite sophisticated may be given as town or bearing and
The book is aimed at the beginner who database and can be displayed in any order distance from a town .
perhaps has a computer, but has not yel you specify . For example you could list the Logs: Logs for each band on separate A4
bought a TNC. log in date order or alternatively in frequen- sheets preferably BARTG accompanied by
The book has sections covering-TNC cyorder. a cover sheet giving correspondence ad-
selection , computers, software, radio link, For further details contact Barry directly dress, site and equipment details.
understanding AX25, getting started, BBS with a s.a.e. or send two 5.25in disks Scoring : For 144 & 430MHz 0-50km = 1
and networks . There are also appendices formatted for 80T ADFS with £ 12 for your point and 2 points for each subsequent
covering the common BBS command set, copy of the program . 50km . 1296MHz contacts score 1 point
hardware connections, various networks per kilometre .
and some useful addresses . Awards : Single operator, Multi operator
The book costs £3.50 and is available Contests and s.w .1.
from Vince Bobin G1 FBH(1) . In case you A busy month for contests this month All logs must be postmarked no later than
are wondering where the profits are going, with two from BARTG . Saturday May 27 to qualify . Send to :
they will be used to fund the operation of The first contest is the BARTG Spring HF BARTG Contest Manager, Mr. J . Alder-
SDN2 (G 1FBH-2) and the establishment of RTTY Contest which runs from 0200UTC man , 38 Greenacres, Shoreham-by-Sea ,
GB7KB-7,1,4and6. Saturday March 18 until 0200UTC on Sussex BN43 5WY.
Monday March 20 . Although the total (1) Vince Bobin, 13 Homelands Place,
Equipment contest period is 48 hours no more than
30 operating hours are permitted . The
Kingsbridge, South Devon T07 10U.
(2) Technical Software, Fron, Upper
Technical Software have sent me a breaks can be taken at any time but each Llandwrog, Caernarfon, Gwynedd LL54
press release covering the latest addition one must be more than 3 hours long . 7RF .
to their range of decoding packages, the The bands are the 3 .5, 7 , 14, 21 and (3) Barry Dale, Cimbri Glimpse, Powfoot,
RX-8 . This multi-mode receive only pack- 28MHz amateur bands . A station may only By Annan , Dumfriesshire DG 12 5PS .
age looks pretty impressive and covers the
following modes: FAX : Most speeds and
10Cs.
Packet : v .h.f. 1200 baud and h.f . 300
baud.
The next three deadlines are
SSTV: Mono and colour display with many
useful controls.
RTTY : 45-300 baud including both high
Amofeur Sofellifes Reporls 10 Pol Gowen G310R
17 Healh Crescenl, Hellesdon, Norwich, Norfolk NR6 6XO
The next set in two months' time will be on the original W31WI " basic orbits" and
Keplerian Elements for 1989 and if your program does not those written by GM41HJ will run without
The set of Keplerian elements for all the have automatic annual sidereal time cor- amendment year after year, but some
major satellites of general interest again rection " built in " it may be necessary for programs have sidereal times for a limited
come from Birger Lindholm of Dalsbruck, you to put the new correction into the right number of years , whilst some others will
Finland , They will be the last set for 1988 line(s) of your listing . function for the current year only . This
and should work well into the New Year. Most of the latter day programs based limitation will become very apparent when
Practical Wireless. April 1989 59
you attempt tracking in the following year, Mean Motion : 15.73667622 15.41588884 electron dense highly attenuating direct
or put in the sets based on 1989 derived Decay: 6 .7323E-4 5 .53583E-4 path (which is to be expected frequently in
elements , as grave timing and tracking Epoch Rev .IOrbit : 16858 40532 March and early April this high solar flux
errors will be displayed. With these lower orbiters , it may be year) it may be clearly heard. Reports on all
Although it is often possible to bluff your necessary to manipulate the drag factor in signals , with particular reference to trans-
computer into correct function, by say order to update the set to equate to found equatorial. auroral, non-great circle and
calling the 1 January , December 32, or the AOS, TCA and LOS times until the next set sub-horizon hearings would be welcomed
1st day of the 13th month , etc ., eventually is available to ensure accurate continuity. by the University of Surrey . Sadly, as one
it becomes a headache , especially with The Keplerian element sets that have up may note by the increasing mean motion
leap years around . Far better to update to now been provided on a daily basis by and drag factor, UoSA T -1 is now coming
your program and find the line that relates the ARRL bulletin will terminate soon, as it down much faster as the sunspot number
to the current sidereal time , which for is felt that other sources are sufficient. increases atmospheric heating and expan-
1988 will say something like LET G = These include the numerous national and sion . Guesses at the time of its final
.27469296 or IF Y(n) = 88 (or 1988) LET international AMSA T nets, the packet ra- demise vary, with some sources saying at
(or THEN LET) G = .27469296 or similar. dio sources , the AMSA T bulletin board least two more years and others saying as
Change the year to ' 89 and the number to service of WDOGML on USA area code early as October this year. G310R, aided
.27676777 and your tracking will work 314,4473003 , the request available AM- more by a crystal ball than by his comput-
well again . SA T -UK booklet, this column, the RS data er, and considering the NASA data from
If you use the " AMS81 " program from on the RS-l 0/11 satellites and the space the solar mesosphere explorer satellite, is
AMSA T , you will by now be out of data information nets on the satellites them- plumping for 23 November 1989 at
and it will be necessary to update the selves. If you are dependent upon ARRL as 1830UTC . If any readers would like to
array. Courtney Duncan N5BF and Ralph a source, please write to Don Champer have a go at guesstimating the time of re-
Wallio WORPK advise the following rou- K80CL, at 7800 Hartwell Street , Deer- entry (to the nearest minute) a prize in the
tine. After loading the program, break in born, Michigan 48126 , USA , who will form of a superb brand new 308-page
with the space key, and then type in DIM arrange revision of the source closure. hardback book by Wernher von Braun,
G(2 1) and ENTER. You can now assign Frederick Ordway and Dave Dooling enti-
each value of the G array, which com- tled Space Travel - A History (with many
mences with 1979 . Confirm this by typing
OSCAR-9 superb colour pictures) will be sent to the
PRINT G( 1) which should show Not only are the 21 .0018 and winner, whose entry must be in by 31
.27518504. To maintain the array format 14.0013MHz h.f . beacons now comple- August 1989 . While you are writing,
it will avoid problems if you put in the G menting the 145 .825MHz beacon , but please send us your news and views for
sidereal values for past and future years, suddenly the 29.510MHz beacon has ar- this column .
which will let you carry on tracking for the rived on the scene too! It sounds like the
next ten years . Type in : LET other h.t. beacons , sending a long carrier
G( 1)= .27518504 and ENTER (This for to enable Doppler shift measurement and OSCAR-tO
1979), LET G(2)=27452194 ENTER and detection of mUlti-path propagational This never-say-die transponder has
so on increasing the G number by one anomalies, followed by the first ten chan- never been so good as the past month ,
each time and giving the value, so that nels of telemetry, ending with the call especially just after perigee. It has been
G(3)= .27659675 and so on . The next " AMSAT" all at some 8 w .p .m. Morse transponding even 10 watt to 10-element
value is .27593365, then .27527055, code keyed carrier . The new arrival is quite Vagi signals to give an excellent downlink
.27460745 , .27668226 , .27601916, strong, some 8-1 OdB over noise and can for twenty-four hours per day, and thus
.27535606 , .27469296 , .27676777 be heard well at sub-horizon times , going providing lots of really solid good OX
(this year , G(ll) , . 27610467 , very tone" A " auroral when close to the QSOs all round the world . Keith Dunn
.27544157, .27477847, .27685328, magnetic pole . G1 NDK, of Staplehurst in Kent expresses
.27619018, .27552708, .27486399, Why this should have suddenly come his admiration for the satellite, which he
.27693880 , .27627570, finishing up about is not clear. Whilst a faint possibility prefers to OSCAR-13 . "I have been having
with that for the year 1999 , LET of the source now being below the main F2 many perfect QSOs with many stations
G(21)=27561260. attenuating layer has permitted audibility, but, surprisingly, I find the numbers of
The listing of Keplerian elements given or whether the "stuck" gravity gradient users very low . They all seem to be
will need the latest updates for both MlR, boom used as an antenna has released, or competing with each other on A-O-13 .
which has just used the old Progress for whether it was a self healing electronic , Thankfully, most of the 'alligators' have
propulsion into a higher orbit, and for mechanical or software command error migrated there also!"
OSCAR-9 which is now being severely that did not permit earlier tests to be heard OSCAR-l0 has been heard at good
affected by the escalating average drag is unknown . Careful listening amid the readability even using G310R/M with a
factor . Here as a "stop press " are the enormous din on and around 7.002MHz half-wave whip! It has been out of eclipse,
latest Laser Radar set to hand , which are may well reveal the presence of this bea- and at a good sun-angle, but sadly not for
working well in early February : con also. Whilst your columnist has heard much longer, as lan Ashley ZL 1 AOX
Satellite : MlR OSCAR-9 what might be a weak slightly shifting reports that a new eclipse period will
Epoch Year : 89 89 carrier and slow Morse sending numbers commence on February 15. It will prove to
Epoch Day : 23 .7680704415 .41913433 in moments of temporary respite of terres- be necessary to maintain the battery
Inclination : 51 .6217 97 .5857 trial QRM on high elevation passes, the call charge in eclipse conditions by restricting
Right Ascension : 13 .2748 61 .3120 "AMSAT " has yet to be fully identified. the Mode B transponder operating time ,
Eccentricity : 0 .0016375 0 .0001495 Perhaps following a Dellinger fade out, the changing mean anomaly times for
Arg . of Perigee : 106.6311 339 .7929 this removing all ionospheric propagated which will be supplied on the various
Mean Anomaly : 253 .7443 20.338 signals and cancelling the otherwise free AMSAT nets . Even at other times, the
Fig_ 1 Fig. 2
J. BIRKETT
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battery will not be fully charged , so it is
again requested that all users minimise Satel! i te Name . . . . . . . . . . . . . • . OSCAR 9 OSCAR 1 0 • OSCAR 11 OSCAR 12
Intern at i anal Desi gnat ion . . . . 81 - 1008 83 -0 588 • 8 4 - 0218 86-061B
their uplink power to that bare minimum Cal atogue Object Number •••••• 12888 • 141 29 1 6909
• 1 4 781
needed for QSOs , and not to transmit to Element Set Number •• • •• • .••••
Epoch Year •••• • .••• •• •• • .••. .
·3 86
1988
• 37 1 • 3 77 * 1 23
the satellite at all if any f.m. is heard on the Epoc h Day.Decimal Da y _ •• ••• •• 362 .26039431
• 1 988
354.41 :;:'62227
• 1988
:?·61.23588 4 14
•
•
1988
3 47.7 7684405
145.810MHz beacon . I n cl ination . . . . . . . . •• . . . . . . .. 97.5906 2 6.8622 98.0282 50 . 0 1 3 4
Ri ght Asc . of Ascendi n9 Node . 41. 4 2 82 2 89. ·3 5 4 5 • 58.9 4 4 2 151. 3381
FUJ/-OSCAR-12 Eccen tricit y . •. .. . . . . . . . . . . ..
Argument of P@,-igee ••••• _ .•..•
(1 .00032 19
44 . 1511
0.60 46459 0.00 1 3 479 * 0.00 11 202
2.1727 141 .77 40 • 229.0 4 90
Mea n Anomal y •• •• ••• ••• • • • ••• • ':;· 15.99 22 359 . 5722 2 18 .4416 t 1 30 . 9375
Due to escalating battery storage and Mean Moti on (Orbits pe,- Day) . 1 S . 4 0 14 5445 2 .05881 205 14.6';;.7 16293 1 2 . 44 3 969T~·.
decaying solar-cell problems , the periods Decay o r Drag Factor . . . . . . . . . 3 . 5082 E-0 4 • - 3 . 6E - 07 • 2 .158E- 05 -2 .5E - 07
Revolu tion or Orbit Number .. . 4 0237 * 4151 t 25725 1061 9
of activity are protracted and are usually Noda l Period (i n minutes) • ..• 9 ·3 .558174 * 699.1815 98.505789 11 5 . 65 2 956
now followed by a further re-charge ses- Longitude Incr e ment deg.West . 23.386 147 * 1 75.35 1 3 2 4 . 627313 29 . 239286
Beacon FrequencY( 5 ) in MHz .• • ~ 1. 0(l:::1 * 14 5 . 810 MHz t 14 5.8261 4 ·'2·5 . 7971
sion . The long-term schedule is still 145.8251 * 145 . 987 MH z t 4 35 .025 1 • 4 3 5.91 ·3 MH z
unknown , but a good hint is given by the 4 ·35.0251 • 2 4 0 1.5 MHz
2 401. 0 MH z
latest schedule given at the time of writing Referen ce E Qu ~tor Cr oss ing . . . 0 1 Jan 1989
Orbi t Number . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4(1 3 10
• 3(1 Dec 1988
41 T!·
* 01 Jan 1989 • 3 0 Oec 1 988
this column, but some of which will be 2581 0
Time UTC ( HHMM.HM ) . . . • • . . . . . . . 0003 .98 Utc
*
!)220 . 62 Utc 01 1 2.6(1 Ut c * 0104 . 0 4 Utc
dated by the time it is read , which goes : Longi tude Degrees West • . . . . . . . 55.:::7 Deg 206 . 26 Deg t 5 4. 2 2 Deg * 16.4 6 Deg
February 11 0624UTC to February 12
0733UTC; Mode JA
February 15 0449UTC to February 16
0553UTC ; Mode JA Sate ll i te Name ... . . . . . .. .• .. . OSCAR 13
88 -0 51B
* 87 SALJUT 7
R S 1 0/ 11
-05 4A
82-033A
* 86-0
Ml R
17 A
International Designation ... .
February 18 0409UTC to February 19 CaI atogue Object Number .. . . . . 1 9 2 16 18129 • 13 138 16609
0558UTC ; Mode JA El emen t Set Numb er •••• ••••••• 23
1988
618
1988
* 375
1988
* 617
1988
Epoch year .. ...• • . . • .••..• . ..
February 25 0154UTC to February 26 Epoch Day.Dec i mal Da y . • ... • .. 345.71673632 362.93785 4 75 363.00 4 6982 1 * 363 . 3 588174 1
0506UTC; Mode JD Inclination . . . . • • . . . . . . . • ...• 57.4058 82 .9258 * 51. 6109 * * 51. 6215
February 28 0724UTC to March 01 Right Ase. of Ascending Node . 228.3882 4.648 2 • 71.960 1 * 149. 7265
Eccentricity . .••••..•.. . . . ••. 0.6620691 0 . 0012233 0 . 00007 42 * * 0.0019625
0630UTC ; Mode JD Argument of Per i gee . . . . . . . .•.. 19 5.2309 160. 4 359 * 97.2977
262 . 7544
* * 2141
17.9962
.8254
Mean Anomal y . . . . . . . . . • • . . . . . . 126. 3 564 199.7266
Following this, it is highly probable that Mean Motion (Orb its per Day) . 2 . 0 9698504 13.71925425 15 . ~· 580298 4 1 5 . 76 4 58728
the transponders will be turned off to Decay or Drag Factor . . . . . • • . . 7.0E-08 2 . 92E-06 * 2 . 9658E-04 * 3.B 1 79E-04
permit a further 11 day battery re-charge Revolution or Orbi t Number . .. 376 7591 * 3 818 3 •* 16441
Nodal Peri o d (in minutes ) .•.• 686.6514 1 0 5 .0209 2 4 93.700549 * 91.2820 15
session before a next similar schedule . Longi tude Increment deg. West . 1 72 . 193 9 2 6 . "!·81005 23 .8051 1 7 * 2 .3 . 209951
Beacon FreQuenc y(s) in MHz . . . 145.8121 • 29 . 357 / . 4 03, • 19.95.3 MH z 14::. . 625=voice
This satellite has had rather a chequered 4 35 .651 MH z • 145.857/.903, 1 66.125=data
history . It was almost six months before • 29 .407 1 .4 53 . (AM)
145 . 907/.953 MH :z
its JD digital mode was activated and a Ref eren ce E q uator Crossing... 16 Dec 1988 3 1 Dec 1988 1: 02 Jan 1989 .. 3 1 Dec 1988
further four months before the 8J 1JAS Orbi t Number . . . . . . . . . . • . ... . . . 388
Time ' UTC (HHMM.HM) • . . . . • . . . . . . 1!) .3 0 .57 Utc
• 7633
*
000 1. 3 9 Utc
• 3 8260
• 002 1 . 02 Utc
* 16483
0030.32 Utc
mailbox was put into operation . Despite its Lon gi tude Degrees We st . . . • . • . . 15. 27 Deg • 97 . 60 Deg 59 . 2 4 Deg * 331.25 Deg
large memory, it was found that only fifty
files could be placed into the memory until
the first one was discarded . Users found
that the data flow transmitted by the
Satell i te Na me . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . NOAA 9 *NOAA 1 0 * NO AA 11 • METEOR 2- 15
beacon was often held up, when a connect Internat ional Oeslgnation ... . 84 - 1 23A • 86 -073A * 88-089A *
B7 -001A
or disconnect was executed immediately, Ca l atogue Object Nu mber . . . • . . 154 27 *16969 t 1953 1 1 7290*
but it often took several minutes before El ement Set Number ... .. • . . . . . 3 11
1988
174
1988
30
1988
207 *
Epoch year . . . . . . . . . . • . . . • . . . . 1 988
the prompt ··JAS" was indicated showing Epoc h Day. Dec i mal Da y . ... ..•. 358.95485 4 27 • 36 1.9414 ~.q86 * 359.6054 7 806 359 . 30694998
In c l i nat ion . . . . . . .. . . . . . . ... . 99.1244 1: 98.6596
*
98.9 1 99 *
82.4699
readiness for command input. Right Asc. of Ascend ing No de . 3 ."36.6674
0.0016566 *
29.5865
0 . 00144 4 .3
298. 6616
1: 0 . 00 1 2 640
*
29 4. 0 3 60
Heinz Hildebrand DL 1 CF, is an all- Eccentri city . . . . . . . . • . . . . . . . .
85 . .3005 *33 . 0 946
0.001 4 557
Argument of Perigee .. .. . . . . . . . • 9.64 33- 35 . 826 3
round satellite enthusiast . His photograph Mean Anomal y •• . ••• . . . •••. .• •• 275.00 57 *327. 1 13 4 350. 498 3 *
324.3866
is shown in Fig. 1, a group of DX satellite Mean Motion (Orb its per Day) . 14 . 1173 6596 14 . 22726000 14.1 072 1 588 13.83 635640
Decay or Dr ag Factor . . . . . . . . . 6. 18E- 06 5. 98E-(l6 .. 6 . 07E-06 2.7 4£ -06
users taken at the AMSA T -UK colloquium Revo luti on or O,- b it Number . . . 20772 *11 9 44 1285 994 3 *
at the Univt:1rsity of Surrey in July last year. Nodal Period (in minutes) . . . . 1 02 . 0 58·3·3 ·3 *10 1. 27 1 39 5 1 02 .132065 • 1 04. 1 32 118
Longitude In c r e men t deg.West . 2 5.512356 25 . 3 180 1 5 * 2 5.5325 1 0 26 .162303
Shown from left to right Michael Meerhan Beacon F reQuenc y(s) in MHz 1 ·3 7 . 620=APT 1 ·3 7. 5 00= APT * 1 3 6. 995=APT 1 ·3 7 . 8S0=APT
GOjPA3BHF ; Colin Richards 9M2CR; your 1 ·3 7 . 770= 05B *1 36.7 70=DSB
author G310R; Heinz DL 1CF and Nico Reference Equator Cr ossi ng 01 Jan 1989 ·3 0 Dec 1988 * 30 Dec 1 988 30 Dec 1988
PAODLO . Heinz also specialises in the Or b i t Number . . . . . . .. • . ..• . ..•. 20886 11988 * 1362 10022
digital mode of communications on FO-12

Time UTC (HHMM.MM ) .. . . . . . . .. . . 00 49.60 Utc * 005 1. 60 Utc 0 1 3 6.03 Utc * 0028 .43 Utc
Longitude Degrees West . . . . . .. . 1 28 .17 Deg • 7 8.96 Deg 178.64 Deg • 176 . 32
and has some useful information to input
on overcoming some of the JD mode
difficulties experienced . He points out that
many stations using a TNC version 1.1.4
of the T APR software were experiencing Sate ll i te Name . . . . •. . . . . . . . . . METEOR 2-16 *
METEOR 2 - 17 METEOR 3-02 *
COS MOS 1 766
considerable problems and that only after lnternati onal Desi gnat i on .. •. 87 - 0 68A *
88 - 005A 88-064A 86-0 SSA
Ca l at ogue Ob jec t Number . . . . . . 183 1 2 18820 * • 19336 16881
switching to the W A8DED software was E l ement Set Number . . . . . . . . .. . 209 72 * 97 47 3 *
Epoch year . . . . . . . . . . ••••• .. .. 1988 1988 1988 1988
there a significant improvement. In the Epoch Da y .Deci mal Day . . . . . .. . 36 1. 91873676 355. 187 4 '2.177 • 3 6 2 .05485 448 2 .91188984
meantime, some of the FO-12 uploaded Incli nat ion . . . • . . . . .•.. •. ••. . 82.5590 • 82 . 5 44 0 • 82.5470 *
82 . 5229
software was also improved, with new Right Asc. of Asc ending Node . 3 56.0300 *
62.80 11 * 2 97 .44 3 4 *
1 90.6154
Ecc entri ci ty . . . . & ••••••••••••
0.000 8 735 • 0 . (10 18056 0 . 00 14900 *
0.0022 4 12
commands and by raising the memory ArQument of Perigee . . . . . . . .. . . 3 26.52 3 5 55 . 0150 253 . 263 9 279 . 7576
Mean Anomaly .. . •.. _. _ •... . . . . ~'~" 5587 305.270 1 * 106.6816 80.1257
capacity up to 200 files . He also believes He-a n Mot ion (O rbi t~ p v r Day) . 1 3 . 83386684 *
1 3 .841)6894 '2 13 .16848207 14.74184930
that some software errors may have been Decay or Drag Fa ctor • . . . . . . . . - 2 . 06E-06 *
3.28E - 06 3 . 91E -06 1. 373E- 05
corrected over the same time period . Rev o l ut ion or Orbit Number .. . 6869 449 2 * 1: 2 0 25 1 309 3
Nodal Pe,-iod (in minutes) . . . . 104.150972 *
1 0 4. 099 649 * 10 9.40964 1 97.740900
During the problematic time Heinz took Longitude Incr e ment deg . We st . 2 6.166 333 *
26.153620 27 .471041 • 2 4 .564795
part in many discussions as to the poten-

Beacon F r equency (5) in MH z 1 37. 4 00=APT • 1 3 7. 300=APT 1 37 . 850=APT *
137 .400=APT
tial cause of the difficulties and performed

some research himself after noting that
Re ference Equator Crossing .3 0 Dec 1988 • 2 8 Dee 1988 * 30 Dec 1 988 * 06 Jan 1989
O,-bi t Nu mber . . . . . • . . . . . . •.•... 6912 * 46 01 2 064 131 3 9
some terrestrial packet signals were not Time UTC (HHMM."'M) ..• . . .. . . . . . 00 41.47 Utc 0136.73 Utc 0025 . 97 Utc 004 9.19 Utc
totally correct, some observed as having

Longi tude Degrees We st 115.48 Deg 64. 39 Deg * 169.81 Oeg * 290. 15 Deg
differing deviation of the two tones . A

check of his own signals showed that the After his findings were verified and TNC-1 SO that it was possible to give a
higher frequency tone generated a signifi- reports of successful modifications came deviation of 3-4kHz from the transmitter
cantly higher deviation than the lower from G3RUH and ON6UG, Heinz decided to output.
frequency tone . The pre-emphasis of the modify his equipment as follows : 2 . G3RUH's modem was modified by
modulation amplifier of the transmitter 1. The output signal from the TNC-1 was replacing the 270kO R3 with a 10kO
was proved to be the cause , as virtually all removed from the microphone input of his resistor , changing the 1.8kO potentio-
operators were feeding the TNC's signals TS-711 E and put into the data input of the meter R5 to a 20kO potentiometer and
into the microphone input, giving different multiple accessory jack ACC-2 on the rear replacing the 10nF C9 with a foil capacitor
deviations of the individual tones , depend- panel. Following this, it was found neces- of value 11JF.
ing upon the particular equipment in use. sary to increase the output level from the The output signal was now routed from
the wiper of the 20kO potentiometer to the to measure, and the findings may be more strate their satellite receiving capability . A
f .m . modulator of the TS-711 E via the data to the variations of path attenuation than c. w . signal in steps of reducing uplink
input jack ACC-2 on the rear panel. The to any significant differences . power will be sent to the OSCAR- 13
deviation of the transmitter was set RS3A operator Andy Mirinov, who reg- satellite , to provide a step reduction of
to 3 .5kHz by adjusting the 20kO poten- ularly works many stations through the downlink on a selected frequency of
tiometer and immediately came Heinz's transponders , sent in the photograph that 145 .840MHz .
big break through in digital satellite is our Fig . 2 , showing him at the controls . The copy, together with the station ' s
communications! Considerable problems are evidenced details , etc ., plus a s.a .s.e. with two IRCs
"Occasionally there are still link-resets on RS-10 resulting from the enormous should be sent to Andy McCallister
when the orientation of FO-12 is so unfa- improvement in terrestrial 29MHz propa- WA5ZIB, 14714 Knightsway , Houston ,
vourable that its quarter wave stub receive gation . The very added ionisation provid- Texas 77083 , USA , who will send a
antenna is shadowed from the ground ing m.u.f . elevation that gives such good handsome certificate stating the level of
station by the satellite structure ," writes world-wide paths between earth users is achievement . In the ZRO test conducted
Heinz . "This undesirable phenomenon oc- that which brings about severe attenuation from 1600 on January 14, stations were
casionally can be very noticeable on mode of the 29MHz down link and extinction of able to copy the content when the uplink
JA (the analogue mode) and strong QSB the telemetry beacon , the ROBOT and the was less than 4 watts e.r .p ., i. e. the level
results, giving serious signal degradation, transponded signals . Just as the word was that would be given by using a 5 watt
with power increases of up to 1OdB giving got around to keep the section 29.400 to hand-held transmitter with a 170mm long
no improvement ." 29 .450MHz clear of the strong and wide quarter wavelength whip antenna!
Since performing the modifications, f .m . use , the passband changed to that of If you should still speak to them , it is
Heinz has been having a ball with his RS- 10 , 50kHz lower in frequency . asked that you advise some of the " alliga-
satellite packet radio communications , Readers are asked to request 10m f .m . tor" OSCAR- 13 users of the test , as it may
having used some 90 orbits in the past users to not now use the section from bring home to them that using over 1kW
year , inputting nearly 450 different files 29.350 to 29.400 inclusive, that is Chan- e.i.r.p . is quite unnecessary. Above all , ask
into the 8J 1JAS mailbox . He finds that the nels 5 to 10 on CB co nversions , even them to listen rather than transmit during
main activity comes from some 25 mode when the satellite is not on a pass over the test , otherwise the test will be ren-
JD active stations in Europe , with files also their area, as signals from many thousands dered useless by the esc alation of a.l.c.
from JA 1-JAO inclusive , LU 1 and 8, AL 7 of ki lometres away are destroying the attenuation that they normally create by
and KL7 , VK zones 2 , 3 , 5 , 7 and 8 , VS6 , weaker satellite contact possibilities . their excesses , destroying any logically
W 1 to 0 inclusive, ZL 1 and 2 and from powered uplink signal transponding
ZS6 . capability .
Heinz would like to see a number of OSCAR-13 It is hoped to commence such tests on L
improvements made on t he forthcoming Considerable improvement has resulted mode soon , and any stations who are
JAS-1 B system , which is now scheduled with the positional changing of this newest willing to conduct these are asked to
to be launched with the MOS satellite in satellite . It is becoming apparent that the contact Andy WA5ZIB , to offer their
July this year. He hopes that a better beamwidth is less than that of OSCAR-1O services .
receiving antenna will be designed and and hence the spin modulation and signal
used , so that the satellite itself does not strength is markedly impaired when the
obstruct the uplink path . He points out that pointing angle to earth is not optimised . Semi-Major Axis
a power budget which permits the mailbox The best time for satellite employment has
A number of readers run satellite track-
to remain open in JD mode every orbit is been just prior to the time when it switches ing computer programs that ask for an
needed and that it is hoped that the future to mode JL, when the antennas are looking input of the SMA of the particular satellite .
Fuji should be so designed as to retain its at earth . Until March 13 , the schedule is :
Whilst this is unnecessary for programs
memory contents when it switches from Mode B from mean anomaly 03 to mean
that use the mean motion and can in any
digital to analogu e co mmunications mode. anomaly 100.
case be ca lculated from this mean motion
" If no significant improvements result in Mode JL from mean anomaly 100 to as shown earlier in this column , here are
the new JAS-1 B in comparison to its mean anomaly 150. those requested for the current amateur
predecessor, the stations currently active Mode B from mean anomaly 150 t o
satellites, taken at the end of 1988:
in mode JD will transfer t hei r activities to mean anomaly 240.
OSCAR-9 (UoSAT- 1): 6823.8201
the upcoming PACKS A T micro-satelli- Transponders off between mean anom-
OSCAR- 10: 26101 .0302
tes," states Heinz . " Sin ce we anticipate alies 240 and 03 .
OSCAR-11 (UoSAT-2) : 7062 .55839
additional digital amateur satellites in the At this time, no mode S time is given ,
OSCAR-12 7866 . 160079
future, this mode of operation will continue but this will come about again just as soon RS - 10 / 11: 7370 .80826 .
to gain importance ." as the pointing is ideal again . The schedule
Be warned that OSCAR-9 is dropping fast
In next month 's colu mn , we shall be is likely to change again soon , to adjust for
and needs very regular updates!
giving out a lot more new information that re-orientation and changing sun -angles .
has arrived from DB20S and N5BF on the For those who use SQUINT or similar
new micro-sats , including the PACKS A T computer programs so as to determine
details . optimum use times from the A .LONG and MlR
A .LAT of OSCAR- 13, the numbers deter- Activity from MlR has been at a very low
mined for January 30 were 178.7 long and ebb , with only the resident medical doctor
RS-10/11 -0 .9 lat . On February 6 it was 178 .8 long Valery Polyakov U3MIR having been heard
Since the beginning of the year, RS-10 and -1 .7 lat . The rate of change was twice in mid-January over the USA and
has been the activated satellite, with its A .LON 0 .016 degrees per day, and A .LAT once whilst over Europe at 1847UTC on
transponder on all the time. It is providing -0 . 1 degrees per day . This will change January 23, by OK3AU . It is hoped that the
many opportunities of pre- and post-hori- when the satellite is turn ed by its magno- new ten watt transceiver may have, gone
zon , often being heard well whilst over torquers . ZRO tests . aboard with the supply launch from the
Indonesia , Japan and China in the morn- In memory of Kaz Deskur K2ZRO , latest Progress and that a new surge of
ings and coming up whilst over southern AMSA T are conducting a series of tests activity from the new cosmonauts would
Africa in the evening passes . Comparison permitting participants to find and demon- have been brought about .
with the RS-11 transponder seems to
show that the sensitivity and downlink
power of the RS- 10 transponder is slightly The next three deadlines are
down , and that the a .l.c. time constant is
slightly greater . It is very marginal , difficult
Reports /0 Ron Horn
Propagafion Foraday . Greylnars, S/arrlng/on, West Sussex R20 4HE .
In the February issue I referred to the diary full of contemporary information including tion Section of the RSGB's Radio Experi-
entries of the late Nell Corry G2YL which the occurrence of aurora , blackouts , echo- mental Section, published in the July 1936
proved that Dennis Heightman G6DH and a ing on signals , extraordinary DX and any issue of the Society's journal The T. & R.
number of other radio enthusiasts heard available details about solar eruptions . Bulletin . This piece , covering the period
solar radio noise (hissing) in the h.f. bands, I found further evidence of all this in March 14 to June 3 , is a good example
between 1935 and 41 . NeWs diaries are Cosmic Notes , compiled by the Propaga - because it lists such items as "fade-outs "
265!
250
1
220
205
190
175
Fig. 1
logged by G2NJ , G2XG and the magazine

Wireless World, "hissing" heard by BRS25 ,
G2YL, G50J and G6DH ; solar activity,
described as " Bright eruption on the Sun " Fig. 2 Fig. 3
by Wireless World; " Very vigorous eruptive
prominences on the sun " (May 6). " Pro -
minence near CM on sun " (May 25) and Oecel ber 8B Jonuary 89
" Prominence of May 25 dying out" (May 8e.w~~~~~~ ~~~i~~~~2~~~~~ ~~~~~20 21 22 23
A~2BSY I X . X.-'.
X..1 t2JLllQ ~..I'K. BSJ I
26) observed by a Mr . A .M . Newbegin .
From my research into the "hissi ng " OFOAAE Ix Ix 1 X..1 II X -'1 ..1 l! ..1 ll.J. II .J. ..1 II l! II l! II II l! II Ix Ix Ix X
phenomenon back in 1972 I believe that OLOIGI Ix Ix lx I x X I X X Xl ..1 l! . ! ll.J. II J. ..1 II l! ..1 l! ..1 II l! II Ix I x Ix X
this is Mr . Algernon Montagu Newbegin EA2HB I x X I xx X .Il!. 11 l Xl
FRAS , an active astronomer, whose home EA6AU I x XI X XI x , X . X I x Ix X I x
and observatory in Sussex was called EA6W Ix I X x X Ix I x ' x X X X I x x I X x I x . X X I x Ix X Ix X I x I x Ix I Ix I

EA7RC( X X xIx X X XI XIx X Ix
Starween . I was reminded of this after
IY 4~ I X X X i x X X X X XI x X X X X Ix X I x ! X I x Ix x I x Ix I X 1 1
visiting a Chichester Book Fair recently
KIl2.a6.\ X Ix X
where I found a third edition (1887) of an
K8 4Ue , I X ..1 LIx x X..1 .J. ..1 II .J. ll.J. l!. J. .J. II l! ..1 l! ..1 II l! II I x 1 Ix X
astronomical classic entitled The Story of
KC 40P( X
the Heavens , by Sir R.S. Ball , with the fly -
K04EC x I X X I IXI x X X X X I x , X l!.I I x 11. .J. L I 11 l! 11 1 l!. J. ! I x X I x I
leaf bearing a large pencilled signature ,
KE201 I x I X X X x i x X X X X X 'X Ix X I x I X X I x I x X I x X I x I x X 11 1 11 I
G.J . Newbegin . 1888. KF4~S 1 1x I X , I X X X I x X X X X I X X I x I x X I x x I x I x X 11 1 11 1
However, amateur work continued until KW X X X X X X I x I X X Ix I X
the outbreak of war and the July 1939 LASm I x I X X I X X X I X X X .X I X I X X X I x I X I x I X I x X I x X I x X 1 11 1
issue of The T. & R. Bulletin carried a chart Ix IX Ix I X
entitled , " The Hissing Phenomenon And
LUM. 1 X II
N4LilZ. X ' I I 1I I x ,X X 'X Ix I x I X I xx X
Bright Chromospheric Eruptions On The IlKill. XU II .J. U Ix Ix lll! l!Lx
Sun Recorded During 1938", showing that OH2ill l! U .J. U II .J. U .J.I Ix 11 Ix 1..l.J.. l..l U Lx U l! l..l U II 1I Lx .J. I x X I x X
solar radio noise was heard by BRS25 and PIlMi .J.. 1Il!
BRSl173 on July 10; BRS3003-Sep- E12.aJl I x LI .J. .J. U .J. U .J..J.. Lx ..1U .J.1I .J. 1I .J. 1I l! .J. I x X I X X
tember 21 , October 17 and December 7 ; YE l nUf ll.J. .J..J.. .J. .J.ll .J..J.. 1I J. U l!.J. .J.U .J. IX X
BRS3179- March 21 and October 14 ; YE2HOl 11 X.J. .J. 1I .J. U .J..J.. .J. 1I l! .J..J.. .J. Ll Lx .J. 1I .J. 1I .J. 1I II .J. I X X I x X
G2YL- January 3 and July 12 and 31 ; YElill l! LJ .J. .J. U I U .J..J.. .J. 1I l! .J..J.. .J. 1I Lx .J. U .J. 1I J. 1I II .J. I x X I x X
G6DH-January 16 and 17 , March 21 , VEW 1-' 1I .J.U .J. .J.
April 7 and 15 , July 26,29 and 31, August YK2RSY 11 .1 ..1 l!. ..1U .J..J.. Lx 1I 1I .J. I X X Ix
1, September 19 , October 14 and Novem- YKSWI I X X 1 ! I Xl .J.
ber 11 and 12 ; G2XC-April 15 and 24 YK6RWi I X X
and July 10; G6YL-ApriI25 , July 31 and VP98A X X X X X X I X X X X X X X ! ! X X ! X X ! X X X X I I I
September 21; GM6JJ-July 10 and VS6 TE~ X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X x X I
VU2AN-July 31 and November 6 . WA4DH X X X X I X X X X X X I X X X X X X X X X X X 1 I I I
Although the " hiss " was mainly ob- WB4JH, X X X I X I I
served at 28MHz, G8MH heard it on WB9F VR X X 1 X X X X X X 1
14MHz on April 24, G2XC said it was loud lliIl. .1.! .1. X..1 .1._ .L ..1.L ..1.1. ..1.1. ..1.1. ..1..1 .1..1. .J....1 ..1.1. ..IX X X X
from 7 to 28MHz on July 10 and 2BIL and .m .1.
G6YL recognised it on 56MHz on the 31 st. mo X X ..1 X .1. X J.J. .1..1. .1..X ..1.1. .1..1. .1..1. .1...1 .1...1 .1..1. ..IX X X XI
In that year , eruptions on the sun's surface my x x ! ! J X..1
were seen on January 16 and 17, April 7 , wml ) .J..
15 , 24 and 25, July 10, 29, 30 and 31 , mxo I I X X X ! I I X X X..1 .1...1 .1..1. ..1.1. 1.1 .J...1. .1...1 X I x X
September 19, October 14 and 17 and Z08HF X X X X X X X X X X X 1 1 X X I 1 ! .X .1. 1 X X I I 1
November 11 and 12 . Now let's take a ZmHf x x X X
look at the happenings in December 1988
ZS I LA X X X X X X X X X X X X X ! X X X X X X X X I I X I
ZSSYHf X X I X I X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X 1 X X
and January '89.
ZS6PW 1 X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X 1 1 I
Z2I ANf X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X I X X X I X X X X X I I I
Solar S84CY : x X x x x x x x X x X x x x X I X X X X I X X I X X I I I
5Z'EER 1
" For the first 13 days of December, the
9L i FN X
solar flux climbed from 155 s.f.u . on the
1st to 186 on the 13th . On the 14th, the
solar flux leapt to 215 and continued to
Fig. 4
rise to a monthly high and also a high for
Cycle 22 of 255 on the 22nd before falling
back to 182 on the 31 sl, " wrote Neil
Clarke GOCAS (Ferrybridge) . He pointed 68MHz) on the 23rd, John Woodcock and in its full glory at 1125 on the 14th,
out that the solar flux remained above 200 (Basingstoke) heard what sounded like Fig. 3.
units for 16 consecutive days. The daily north-American RT traffic . However, the Although the sun was low in the sky and
variations can be seen on Neil's comp uter following morning he listened to Radio made observation difficult for Ted Waring
print-out , Fig . 1. From his observatory in Australia 's propagation forecast and learnt in Bristol , he managed to count 25 sun-
Edinburgh , Ron Livesey located around about the high level of solar activity . spots on January 4 and 21 on the 22nd .
eight active areas on the sun on De cem ber Patrick Moore (Selsey) sent his draw- At 1048 and 1110 on January 22 , Dave
5 , 11 , 24 and 26 and 10 on days 19,21 ings of the giant sunspot group which he Coggins recorded bursts of radio noise
and 22 . observed, with difficulty through a gap in from the sun, at 143MHz, with his experi-
While looking for TVDX in Band I (48 - the cloud at 1505 on January 12, Fig . 2 mental radio telescope using a 5-element
"',
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Vagi , 144MHz converter, Yaesu FRG-
7700 communications receiver, home-
brew d.c. amplifier and a pen recorder.
Cmdr Henry Hatfield (Sevenoaks) us-
ing his spectrohelioscope , located three
sunspot groups , 22 filaments and eight
quiescent prominences on the sun's disc
at 1402 on January 2; 2g , 19f, 6qps and a
region near the east limb almost flaring on
the 6th ; 4g , 20f and 12qps on the 10th ; 5g
on the 11 th ; three flares in one group on
the 13th; 4g , 25f, 11 qps , three small
flares and a very bright patch on the 14th;
3g- one with two spots and a very large Fig. 5
" fuzzy " patch , 22f and 8qps on the 18th ; signals plus a co uple that he could not
3g , 24f and 5qps on the 19th and 2g , 16f resolve , Ted Waring heard "TEST
and 12qps on the 21 st . Unfortunately, VE3LOE " on January 8 . In addition to his
cloud cover hampered his observations on The 28MHz Band good haul of 28MHz beacons , John
days 4, 11 and 13 , however, he recorded Dave Coggins heard a 28MHz OSO , via Coulter logged KB2BBW on 28.281 MHz at
individual bursts of solar radio noise , at meteor scatter , between Tony Usher 1413 on January 22 and 23 .
136MHz, on December 20 and 21 and G4HZW (Knutsford) and SM6EHY during Information about beacons in the other
January 2 , 4 , 5 , 7, 12 , 17 and 19 and the Ouadrantids meteor shower on Jan- amateur bands is equally important as far
periods of continuous noise on December uary 3rd. Dave has also been listening , at as propagation studies are concerned and
21 and 28 and January 4 , 9, 10, 13 , 16 midday, to the BBC on 25 .750MHz and during this period Ern Warwick copied
and 17 . Henry described the burst at 1220 Radio France on 25 .820MHz and noted signals from IK6BAK (24 .915MHz) , CT3B,
on December 20 and at 1500 on January 9 their signals were echoing on most days JA2IGY, OH2B, ZS6DN/B, 4U 1UN/B and
as " very powerful " and "very violent" between January 1 and 22 . 4X6TU/B (14 . 100MHz) and DKOWCY
respectively . The former sent his record- While listening around 28MHz , John (10 . 144MHz) . Greg Lovelock received
ing pen against the upper stops . At pre- Levesley GOHJL (Bransgore) heard sta- IK6BAK (24 .915MHz) at 599 on January
sent he is experimenting with a second tions from Africa , Europe, the Middle East, 11 and John Coulter logged PY2AMI
radio telescope to observe the sun at Scandinavia and the USSR on December during the early evenings on 24 .900MHz .
1298MHz . 26 , South America on January 2 , Europe ,
the Middle and Far East on the 15th,
Europe and South America on the 21 st and Tropospheric
the USSR on the 23rd . The slightly rounded atmospheric pres-
Magnetic During his routine beacon checks on sure readings in Fig . 5 , were taken at noon
Neil Clarke reports that the Ap index for January 1, Mark Appleby (Scarborough) and midnight from the barograph at my
December was generally unsettled with a also logged a couple of stations from home in Sussex. Although the pressure
quiet period from the 5th to 9th . The most Ecuador and several from Turkey and the remained high throughout the period the
unsettled day was the 17th when the index USA . tropo openings were few and short lived.
was up to 33 . However, during the new year opening,
Kevin Phillips (Bexhill , Sussex) logged
The magnetometer used by Karl Lewis
in Saitash , recorded " magnetically stor-
Propagation Beacons BBC and ILR stations in Band 11 and identi-
my " conditions after 1900 on the 17th, First of all my thanks to Mark Appleby, fied 144MHz repeaters from the Midlands
2200 to 0015 on the 18th/ 19th, minor Chris van den Berg (The Hague), Dave and Wales and I found a number of
storm from 0800 to 1900 on the 25th and Coggins , John Coulter (Winchester), Va - continental stations between 87 and
2300 on the 26th and up to 1200 on the clav Dosoudil OK2PXJ (Kvasice), Henry 108MHz on January 24 .
27th . Hatfield , Don Hodgkinson GOEZL (Han- In Maldon, Ted Owen 's barometer was
Ron Lives ey ' s " jam-jar" magnetometer worth), Ken Lander G3LCX (Harlow), also generally high with an average reading
measured disturbed conditions on days John Levesley, Greg Lovelock G3111 of 1029mb (30.4in) between December
15, 16, 17 and 25 and to a lesser degree (Shipston-on-Stour) , Ted Owen (Maldon), 26 and January 23 . His instrument peaked
on the 5th and 31 st . Fred Pallant G3RNM (Storrington), Ted at 1041 mb (30 .75in) on January 1 and 2
Waring and Ern Warwick (Plymouth) , for and his lowest was 1012mb (29 .9in) on
their extensive 28MHz beacon logs which the 12th .
enabled me to compile our monthly chart ,
Fig . 4 and show the value of their com-
Aurora bined efforts . 934MHz
Ron Livesey is the auroral co-ordinator Among the new beacons heard by Don " The old year went out and the new year
for .the British Astronomical Association Hodgkinson this time are EA6AU came in with high pressures of
and received reports of auroral '· glow " (28 . 230MHz) La Palma , EA7RCC 1037/1039mb (around 30 .6in) providing
from observers in northern Scotland over- (28 .283MHz) , KB2BBW (282 81 MHz) favourable working conditions , passing NE
night on December 11/12 and 15/16 , New Jersey , N4LMZ (28 .232MHz) Ala- to SW across the country, but of short
" active aurora" seen from northern Scot- bama , W3SV (28 .250MHz) Pennsylvania duration ," wrote Terry Wyatt UK-848
land and Helsinki on 16/ 17 and 25 / 26 and and WB9FVR (28 .259MHz) in Florida. He from Walton on Thames . During the period
" quiet arc " from Oulu , Finland, as the year also reports that the Australian beacon Terry contacted stations rang ing from the
changed. Auroral reflected radio signals AX2RSY has reverted to its original call- Isle of Wight at 110km to Bedfordshire
were reported by Doug Smillie (Wishaw) sign VK2RSY and he heard VS6TEN after a and Cambridgeshire at 100 and 120km
during the early evenings of days 14, 15 , long absence on January 2 and 5Z4ERR respectively. He also heard stations in
16 and 19 . (28 .246MHz) on the 7th . Surrey working into Guernsey (225km),
Dave Coggins received tone-A signals " VS6TEN back on the air, giving 'DE Leicester (120km) and Northants (11 Okm) .
from stations in Scotland on 50MHz and VS6TEN ' on 28 .290MHz," wrote Vaclav John Levesley UK-627 received signals ,
Ireland, Norway and Scotland on 28MHz Dosoudil and says that EA 7RCC is operat- from Guernsey on December 29 and Jan-
around 1945 on January 11 . He also heard ed by Radio Club of Cordoba and puts in a uary 7 . During the opening on January 1,
such signals from the 50MHz beacons in strong signal to Vaclav . His report has he heard sta tions on high ground in north
Anglesey (GB3SIX) , Inverness (GB3RMK) been verified by their OSL card . Dorset working into the Midlands , and
and Potters Bar (GB3NHO) and reports that Mark Appleby had a wonderful day on OSOs between stations in Bournemouth,
the aurora manifested again around 2330 . January 6 when he logged 30 beacon Essex and London .
The next three

deadlines are NOW IN STOCK
Mar 29, Apr 26 1989 World Radio TV Handbook
and May 31 See our Book Service
Broodcosf Round-up Pe/er Shore
Despite the advent of the new generation frequencies are used, there will be benefits 2030-2125 on 15.56, 11 .74,9 .54 &
of DBS television channels, short wave to listeners in Europe and North America . It 9.895MHz (Flevo & Madagascar)
radio remains a newsworthy medium . is thought that Radio New Zealand will be Programmes coming in the next few
Much has been happening in and around asked to put together the programmes for weeks:
the bands in the past few weeks, and there the new external service which will no Wednesdays-from March 1, a repeat
is more to come in the months ahead. longer simply consist of a relay of the of last year's series More than Tulips
Now that jamming has stopped on the domestic service . looking at the Dutch provinces including
frequencies of Radio Free Europe and Nearer to home, in Scandinavia, there is Lirtlburg, Overijssel , Ze e land and
Radio Liberty , the station is toying with the more news of a possible link between Gelderland .
idea of reducing the number of channels it Radio Norway International and Danmarks Thursdays-Media Network on March 9
uses to send its programmes into the Radio . We reported some months ago in looks at local radio in West Germany ;
Eastern Bloc countries. At the present this column that plans were afoot to make news from everywhere on March 16 , and
time , several frequencies in almost all of more efficient use of the transmitters of on March 23 presenter Jonathan Marks
the bands are used-try tuning around and Radio Norway which are presently used for will visit the Bonaire relay in the Nether-
you will find Russian , Czech, Ukrainian, a maximum of 45 minutes in each hour, lands Antilles, and MN will stay in the
Romanian and all of the other RFE/Liberty possibly by changing to a half-hour pro- Caribbean on March 30 looking at the
language programmes booming out . It will gramme format , and that Danmarks Radio , influence of video in the Caribbean , and
clearly be of benefit to listeners and broad- whose external service is similar in es- whether it is still an important area for
casters if this rather uneconomic way of sence to that of New Zealand, would hire international broadcasting .
sending signals across the kilometres can transmitter time from Norway. However, Saturdays Over to You-call in your com-
be changed. One wonders what will be- negotiations have yet to be completed and ments on 010 31 35 218700 (note the
come of the new VoA/RFE/Liberty trans- the talked about start date of May this year change in this telephone number!)
mitter site in Israel-is it really needed , or could be postponed . The Danish govern- Radio Norway is expanding its use of the
will it simply be an expensive white ment will pay for the transmitter hire , and 11 metre band from March 5 wh en its
elephant? probably the programmes , too , although European day-time schedule will be:
However, jamming by Bulgaria of Bulgar- Danmarks Radio will continue to make the 0500 on 15 . 165 & 15 . 175MHz
ian language transmissions from Radio programmes in its national headquarters in 0600 on 25 .73 , 15 . 165 , 9 .59 &
Beijing, Voice of Greece , Radio Tirana , Copenhagen . Co-operation may not be 5.98MHz
Vatican Radio and RAI in Italy continues . limited to Norway as Danmarks Radio 0700 on 21 .73 , 17 .78 , 15 . 165 &
Comments from Soviet officials have would like to introduce foreign-language 9 .59MHz
suggested that transmitters used for jam- services , and is talking with Radio 1000 on 25 .73 , 21.705 & 15 .235MHz
ming , located mainly in city centres, are to Sweden . 1100 on 25 .73 , 21.705 & 15 . 18MHz
be dismantled or turned into local radio On January 1 7 broadcasts from Spain 1200 on 25 .73 , 21705, 15 ,32 5 &
transmitters. Since the jammers were of- for abroad changed their names: in Span- 15.165MHz
ten situated in areas of high population, the ish, the station identifies as Radio Nacional 1300 on 21 .705 , 9 .59 & 6 .035MHz
radiation produced was often well above de Espana-Radio Exterior, and in French as 1400 on 25.73 , 21.705 & 15 . 19MHz
the permitted levels . Radio Nationale d'Espagne-Radio Exter- 1500 on 25 .73 , 21 .705 & 17 .84MHz
On January 26, BBC World Service in ieure whilst the new English name is 1600 on 25 .73 , 21 .705 & 15 .265MHz
Russian carried a live phone-in programme Spanish National Radio's International Ser- 1700 on 21 .705 , 15 .22 & 9 .655MHz
with Paul McCartney , who answered ques- vice . There is no immediately apparent 1800 on 25 .73 , 21 .705, 15 .22 &
tions from all over the Soviet Union reason for the changes. 9 .655MHz
through an interpreter. Some of his music 1900 on 21.705 , 15 .22 & 9 .59MH z
was played, including the track "Back in 2000 on 17.78 & 15 .31MHz
the USSR" . It is interesting to see how Radio Vilnius in Lithuania , part of the
much things have changed with glasnost Europe USSR, has started an experimental media
and perestroika: during the National Union All times UTC (=GMT). or OX programme, broadcast fortnight ly in
of Journalists' one day strike at the BBC a The Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation's the English service which is heard daily on
few years ago (over the "Real Lives " broadcasts to the UK are now heard on 6 . 1OMHz at 2230 until 2300 . A m edium
affair), all regular programming on every Friday , Saturday, Sunday on 9 .580, 7 . 18 wave transmitter on 666kHz also carries
service was suspended . The Soviets, who and 6 .03MHz at 2215 until 2245. this service .
at the time jammed BBC Russian, thought The Voice of Greece has a new English The new Radio Moscow World Service
they would save some money by leaving language service to Australia at in Russian, which has taken over from the
the jamming transmitters switched off on 0800-0850 on 17.55MHz. composite service for listeners abroad ,
that day. Music was played instead across Italy broadcasts in English to Europe as known as the Fifth Programme , has. its
all BBC channels-but when "Back in the per: own programmes at :
USSR " was played , the Soviet jammers 0425-0440 on 7 .275 , 6.165 0300-0500 on 13 .615 , 12 .020, 7 .38
were immediately switched back on .. ! 1935-1955 on 9 .575,7.290,7 .275. & 6.89MHz u.s.b .
News from down under concerning Ra- RAI also uses the Radio Luxembourg 1000-1200 on 12 .07 , 12 .02 &
dio New Zealand . Both domestic and over- medium wave transmitter on 1.440MHz 1.386MHz
seas broadcasting is about to change for an Italian broadcast at 1830-1845. 1800-1900 on 12 .07 , 10.67 usb ,
when on April 1 Radio New Zealand will Radio Netherlands English language 7 .30 & 6.89MHz u.s.b .
become a limited company , with each of schedule has undergone one or two minor 2100-2200 on 15.455, 13 .645 , 7.1 4
the 36 RNZ station managers around the alterations recently , and is now: & 6 .02MHz
country responsible for making their re- 0730-0825 on 9 .715 & 9 .63MHz (to The frequencies shown are only a small
gional stations profitable. The country ' s New Zealand via Bonaire) selection of those available at those times.
radio and TV licence fee, currently around 0830-0925 on 21.485 & 17.575MHz At other times, Radio Moscow World
NZ$45, will finance the Broadcasting (S .E. Asia via Madagascar) Service in Russian carries Radiostantsiya
Commission which will allocate money to 1030-1125 on 9.505 & 6.02MHz (Aus- Rodina, For Those at Sea, or a selection of
the NZ Special Broadcasting Service, tralia/Caribbean via Bonaire) news broadcasts and other programmes
which is to take over from the National 1130-1225 on 17 .605, 9.715 & from the Moscow First Programme . Short
Network, and a small portion of the licence 5.955MHz (to Europe) wave usage for the Mayak (Lighthouse)
fee, together with a Grant-in-Aid from the 1130-1225 on 21.615 , 21.48 & Second Programme has decreased as fre-
Foreign Office , will keep Radio New Zea- 17.575MHz (to Mid East/Asia) quencies have been switched to this new
land's external service on the air. More 1430-1525 on 17.605 , 17.575, Russian-language overseas service .
than NZ$3million is to be spent on upgrad- 15 . 15,13.77 & 5 .955MHz News from home-BBC World Service
ing the short wave service , including the 1630-1725 on 15.56 & 6 .02MHz (to is rumoured to be considering dropping
introduction of a new lOOk W transmitter Africa via Madagascar) the long established frequency of
to take over from the two ageing 7 .5kW 1830-1925 on 21 .685 , 17.605, 18.08MHz in the summer, something
senders currently in use at Titahi Bay. The 15.175 & 6 .02MHz (Bonaire/Madagascar) which has come about as a result of the
new transmitter will be near Taupo, 1830-1925 on 6.02MHz (via Flevo to deliberations at WARC-HFBC back in
beamed to the South Pacific , but if good Europe) 1979 .
Africa Radio Australia can be heard clearly in
the early evening on 15 . 14MHz at around
11 .87 and 9 .645MHz. The Far Eastern
service at 1200 has also been noted in
Africa No . One in Gabon is now using 1600-1730, a time when 7 .205 and Europe on 12.015 , announcing 9 .615MHz
17 .63MHz for its daytime transmissions, 6 .0 35MHz c an suffer from heavy which is unheard here.
only weakly audible here in the UK. This interference .
frequency is used until 1600 when 15.20 All India Radio has brought in a new
is engaged with 4 .83 in parallel from English language news transmission at
1700.
Radio RSA in English at 1500 now uses
1430-1435 on 9 .95 and 7.412MHz. The Americas
The Overseas Servi ce of the Voice of the
2579 , 21 .59 and 21 .535MHz . RAE , Buenos Aires has retimed its Eng-
People of Kampuchea broadcasts in Eng-
lish services to an announced 1630 on
lish at 0000-0015 and 1200-1215, re-
15 .345 (unheard at the time of writing) and
Middle East ported on 11 .94 and 9 .695MHz .
Radio Veritas Asia in th e Philippines is to
2100 , also on the same frequency , which
Programmes in English from Radio has been noted here .
inaugurate a new 250kW transmitter in
Jordan: HCJB in Quito, Ecuador, is using 11.835
March which should improve audibility in
0630-1415 on 11 .955MHz between 0700 and 0830 . Other frequen-
Europe .
1400-2200 on 9 .56MHz cies used at this time include 6 .205 , 9 .61
Whilst conditions have been good re-
in Arabic and 9.745MHz.
cently for long path reception from the
0330 on 11 .81 , 9 .54 & 9 .53MHz New North American station KJES is
west, Papua New Guinea has been noted
1530 on 11.81 & 9.53MHz testing w ith a 5kW transmitter combined
(a 2kW transmitter) at 0800 on 4 .89MHz ,
English from the Voice of the Islamic with a high-gain antenna between 2300
and New Caledonia 's relay of RFO has
Republic of Iran are heard : and 15 1 5 on one of the following frequen-
been heard weakly on 7 . 17MHz at around
1130-1225 on 11 .79 , 9 .685, 9 .52 & cies : 17 .84, 15 . 14, 11 .73,9.665,6 .095
1000. For night-birds , Radio Madagasiki ra
7 .23MHz or 6 .07MHz. The station is located in New
has been heard around 0300 on
1930-2030 on 9 .022 & 6 .02MHz Mexico, and the address is:
4.958MHz.
Baghdad in English : 3720 Greenwich Drive , Vado, New Mex-
Radio Ulan Bator beams in English and
2100-2300 on 9 .70MHz (to Europe) ico 88072
French to Europe at 1940 until 2010 on
0100-0300 on 9 .51 5MHz (to the The Christian Science Monitor is testing
Americas) its two new 500kW transmitters at Cy-
0230-0430 on 7 .28MHz (to India and prus Creek in South Carolina. The provi-
Pakistan) sional schedule, for broadcasts beamed to
Any reports for Canada, is:
0000-1000 on 7 .315MHz
Asia and the Pacific Broadcast 1000-1400 on 6 . 15MHz
Radio Afghanistan ' s External Service in 1400- 1600 on 11 . 58MHz
English uses 17 .72 and 15 .435MHz at
0900-1030, both relayed from sites in the Round-up 2000-2200 on 15 .225MHz
2200-2400 on 15 .205MHz
USSR. This station ' s continued use , again Am erican station WHRI puts in a good
through Soviet transmitters, of 6.02MHz should be sent signal in the UK at 0700 on 6 . 10MHz,
during the evening period for European con tinuing after 0800 on 7 .355MHz . Its
listeners continues to cause problems for to the PW offices programme from Radio Libertas in Serbo-
Radio Netherlands which transmits in Eng- Croat continues to be heard at 1600 on
lish at 1830 on this frequency. 21.48 and 15 . 105MHz.
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3 Farndon Green, Wollaton Park, Nottingham NG8 IOU Oelivery within t4 days if aVdilahle 9Jm- t pm & 2pm·4pm SAT
00 Ring Rd .• between A52 Road) & A609 (IIkeston Road) 2" hr ,mswering. ClOSELJ SUN DAY & MONDAY
: C LOSED 10.00 a .m. to 5.1Xl .m.
UNIT 66, MARA60UNT INDUSTRIAL ESTATE,
VISA
DORCHESTER, DORSET. TEL: 0305 62250
~-=""
For the serious listener and the BBC computer
Packet Radio -
FAX
Now in Watford! Charts and photographs to screen and printer.
Andrews Computer Services are pleased 10 announce the opcning oJ their
All speeds and IOCs. Automatic operation .
Retail Shop in WatJord. We have a live demollStration Packet Station availahle /()
you, so that you can compare our range oJ p roducts or discover w!tar Packet
Radio is all abow . The shop is open Monday to Saturday 9:00am to 5:30pm and is
PACKET
within easy reach oJ MI and M25 m otorways (see map) aTllI BR rail links. HF and VHF. No-tune HF decoder eliminates
We hold a good range oJ both Packet Radio TNo· and Cnmpllfer Products at tiresome fine-tuning.
our shop , so whether YOllr interest is in Packet Radio or Computers (or both) we
can help you. Don't waste time - call ,« first!
SSTV
Products:- Line sequential and Robot colour and mono
Pacu t Radio CompuJers
AEA PK2J2 - 7 Mod. TNC
AEA PK88 Budgtl VHFIHF TNC
il79.95
£/09.95
Amiga range from
Alari ST range from
U58.85
£199.00
display. Printout, automatic operation, flywheel
PK Fax and PK Packrall from [19.95 Amslrod 151211640 range from U 58.85 synchronisation fo r reliable HF operation and
Pac,Comm TINY·2 VHF TNC £/09.95 Amslrad Pt201!1J from l688.1l5
Poc,Comm TNC220 I'HFIHF TNC l/39.00 A,rutrad PPC Irom £458.&5 much m ore.
Poc·Comm TNC225 VII FlIIF mllJlimodr £/79.00 Many man)' more - ring for prices.
Poc·Comm PC TNC IRM Card VIIFIHF £/89.00
All TNCs now cumi' K';rh CW ID jilted.
RS232 Srrial Cahles from l5.95
Public Domai" Ham Radio Software
al1ai/able for all the abrwl' with purchase. RTTY
PrinUrs ACS CompUltr Rang' All options and baud rates 45-300.
Ciriu n 120D 9 pin dot fTUJlrix £/49.95 XT. 20Mb Disk Mono, 5.25". 640K [915.00
Panasonic KXPI08IJ Q pin dOl nw/m [172 .50 A 7286. 20Mb. Mono, 5.25", 640K [1145.00
pIlau ring for others - /00 nwny 10 lisl hat' A T386. 20Mb. Mono, 5.25" JM
- rail fo r dtrQiJs and full prier lisl.
12075.00
AMTOR/SITOR
FkJpp, Disks and Bom
/Ox5.25" DSDS 48TPI (SlIil Pc. BBC. fie) 14.95 SofroYUr
Fast synchronisation of ARQ, FEC, NAVTEX.
IOx3.5" DSDS J3.1TPI 19.95 Full range of home and husiness 5u[t'H'llrrfo,
SlOragr Bom 3.5" & 5.25" 100 (apacify [7.95 PC range ar (ompflilil'e priCl.'.s. Addiruma
Priw INCLUDE I'ATaI15 %

50 capacil)' 15.95 }lQrd~'are upgrades also ami/ahit' eg hunJ
disks. /Opts/reamer,I', expaflJio'l cunLs. f{e ere
MORSE
All facilities for the best copy ava ilable.
We are authorised Amslrad, ICS, and Siskin dealers and as S IICl!
provide FULL support. - Call us /IOW for our lalest catalogue.
v .... U;)theerf
UoSAT
A ndrews Computer Services Ltd. , Telemetry and satellite news from UoSAT 1 & 2,
35a Chalk Hill, Watford, Herls WD I 4BL.
RSG8 VHF
Convention,
Telephone:- 0923-229222 (Sales and Advice)
0923-242102 (Fax)
Sandown Park, ASCII
a!:I ~ 0/ -950-9381 (24 Hour Mail Order) 16th A ri! Decodes all options 45-300 baud.
All modes have effective tuning indicators, on-
r SOUTH MIDLANDS screen status display and full printer support,
5 At. COMMUNICATIONS
Large text store with comprehensive review
facilities.
Multimode interface contains all necessary f ilter-
ing r demodulation, FAX scan rate generation
BARGAIN CORNER
Now's the chance to obtain one of the most coveted Transceivers ever
and FAX & PACKET tuning indicators, In BBC
manufactured by Yaesu and at an incredibly low price that will bring a smile to
cream and black.
your face while leaving the VAT man thinking he 's in the middle of a
depression I Unbeatable software on 16k EPROM, very easy
Supplies of both these classic Transceivers are very limited so give us a call to use,
today to avoid disappointment.
All this and much, much more can be
yours with the
FT ONE. PREVIOUS RX-8 MULTIMODE RECEIVE SYSTEM

Complete system (EPROM , interface, leads and
PRICE £1995 full instructions) £259.00 inc VAT and p&p.
NOW ONLY £1395
FREE!
The first 50 purchasers of RX-8 get a FREE copy
of Klingenfuss 1989 Guide to Utility Stations,
worth £20.
FT980. PREVIOUS DISCOUNT
PRICE £1795 to existing RX-4 users. £15 for your tape/d isc
NOW ONLY £1395 plus £20 for your TIF1 interface (not kit),
Don't forget all our other programs for BBC, Spectrum,
CBM64 and VIC20. See previous adverts or more info on
PRICES SUBJECT TO AVAILABILITY everything from
SMC LTD, SM HOUSE, SCHOOL CLOSE, CHANDLERS FORD
INDUSTRIAL ESTATE, EASTLEIGH, HANTS S05 3BY. ~ technical software (P.W.) Z
Tel: (0703) 255111 . Telex: 477351 SMCOMM G, ~ Fron, Upper lIandwrog r Caernarfon LL54 7RF.
Fax: (0703) 263507 ~ Tel. 0286881886
-USE 'I'HIS~ ~
}
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i sent to the Classified Advertisement Dept. , Practical Wireless,
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~~SPA(:E:
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Telephone (0202) 678558. magazine.
Receivers and Components Service Sheets

SCANNING? For a copy of our new catalogue of frequency
listings and radio modifica tions. send a large s.a.e. to S.S.c. ACCESS TECHNICAL INFO SERVICES (PW) MASTERCARD
PO Box 71. Bournemouth . Dorse t BH9 lOT. 7& CIturdI St., LarItMII, laIIrttsIIire MI.9 1HE
Callers durinti business !lOIn III 2 JaIIn SIne\, 1MbIIl MI.9 2fT
EUROCARD
I'IIanI . . 884585 MooI-fri 9-5, . . IIII33M lIlY atIIor tinoe FOR FAST QUOTES
QUARTZ CRYSTALS and FILTERS 1lllEDlATl: IlESPATaI OF All I'IIanI 0nIen by ACCOS, etc. Of III UstIId ~
WORLD'S LARGEST COLLECTION OF SERVICE MANUALS . . Irom £3.50 to £50 . . Most unobtainable elsewhere
large numbers of standard frequencies in stock for amateur. Every issued FULL SIZE SERVICE SHEET in stock; CN's or Combinations £3 .5OISingles £2 .50; Plus LSAE
CB. professional and industrial applications. I.SAE far lIlY Quatatian, plus FREE t.ge CaIaIague, STREE RevIew, Pric:ellsts, etc.
Stock crystals £5.00 each (inc. VAT and UK post) . Any For £3 . . . CootprehenslVe SeNice "'anuals & Sheets Catalogues PLUS 1988 Chassis Guide & £4 Vouclters
frequency or type made-to-order from £6.SO. Spectrum Repair & Service Guide £5.00 Video Recorders Service Guide 3rd Ed £211.00
Phone or SAE for lists.
i**********************
GOUEOGE ELECTRONICS
Memon. Somerset, TA16 5NS.
lel: (0460) 73718.
TECHNICAL MANUALS. AR88. CRtOO. R2tO. HRO. £4
each. Ci rcui ts only t50 pence . plus LSA E. lists thousa nds. WORKSHOP SERVICE MANUALS i
Video Recorders - £12.50
Bentley. 27 De Vere Ga rde ns. IIfo rd. Essex [GI 3EB. Phone
RADIO COMPONENT BARGAINS. Details from:
D. Edmunds & Co., 2 Cedar Lodge. Wolverton. Milton
Ot-554 663 1.
**; Please
MosI Colour TV. Audio, Test, Vintage.
Amateur etc. - £6.00
state MakeIModeVType with order.
;
**
Keyncs MKI 2 5ES. (0908) 319245. *FREE Catalogue Unique Repair Gulcles*
and Data
Software *** Cherry all

with orders orLSAE
MAURITRON ELECTRONICS LTD (PW),
copy.
for your **
* 8 Tree Road, ChIn nor, Oxon, OX9
Telephone: (0844) 51694. **
4QY.
For Sale COMMODORE 64 converts fro m MHz to metres. calculates

aerial length . testca rd and colour bars. menu driven. Cassette
**********************
£5. R. Measey, 8 College Crescent . Oa kley. Nr Aylesbury.
H1-{;RADE Um'/HF action monitors. 53- tBOMHz + 200cH's
tUl llm . Integral squelch/VFO. whip antenna. hand-compact
Bucks . Situations Vacant
6v . All signals. hi-perception, incredible value at £29.50 post
paid. (or SOOCH version at 02.50) . Freq. lists incl uded . FAX FOR YOUR SPECTRUM SALES PERSON
CWO/CO D return di spatch . Tay lor DfT (de pt. PW). Office based sales person required lor busy "Landmo-
RECEIVE FAX PICTURES ON YOUR SPECTRUM .
8 Emmer.;on St .. Crook. Co. Durham. U.K. 0388 763323 WEATHER MAPS ETC. bilelMarine" radio communications oompany to adminis-
( JU day satisfact ion o r refund) . ter the sales of the same. Experience 01 sales in one Of
REAL TIME CLOCK. CONTRAST CONTROL. both areas is preferable. Some exhibition wor1< and
WIOTH CONTROL. SCREEN STORE ETC. traVelling in connection with sales (up to six weeks a
year) will form part of this job. Salary negotiable accord-
SAVE RECEIVED DATA TO TAPE OR DUMP TO YOUR Ing to expelience. Please write with c.v. to:
PRINTER Mrs. C. Webster, Communique UK Ltd.,
THE PROGRAMME NEEDS AN EXTERNAL DRUM Communications House, Pulley Avenue,
MCS _ _ .t",>" _ SPEED GENERATOR . London NW2 1SB.
Fully variable.
Operates from PROGRAMME ONLY £9.00
240V A.C
""'-' tJm: -- & I ORUM SPEED GENERATOR £24.00
size 9xS'l2x3ins. Transceive programme nearing completion, send Educational
• '11 '1 s.a.e. for details of this and all our other products.
~ J.B.f B.EC1'PlJ'ICS IT[l ::m:c CO URSE fOR CITY & GUILDS. Radio A mate urs
Exa minati o n . Pass this impo rt ant exam inati o n a nd
Unil 45, Meadowhill Est. , Dixon Street, o bt ain your lice nce. with an RRC Home Study
Kid<lerminster DYlO IWW. Tel: (0562) 753893 Course. For de [ai ls o f Ihis and o[her courses )GCE.
6146B QRT'? Ouatity & output down (new ba tch just returned GCSE. Ca reer and professio nal examinations. e[c.)
' COMMODORE COMPlITERS (+4. C t6. 64. 128). " M] -
as ·unsellable). Some old stock Sylvania. A very good batch. CROCOM" cw/rtty tx/rx with supe rb mor", tutor. "TURBO write or pho ne : TH E RAP ID R ESU LTS CO L-
full output & no noises on receive. while they last £33 matched LOG" ultimate high speed station log. " MICROCOM W LEGE. De r !. J X26. Tu it ion House. Lo ndo n SW! 9
pair. G6D6 gree n banded B6 pair p.p. 6JS6C N.E.C. £38 pair TERFACE" ready built . S.A.E. to: Moray Micro Comput- 4 DS . Te l. 111 -947 7272 (9am-5 pm) or use o ur 24hr
p.p. 12BY7A N.E.C. ill p.p.. [2BY7A G.E. £7 p.p. G3LLL. ing. Enzie Stackhead. Buckie. Moray. AB5 2BR. Tel. 0542 Rccordaca ll Service : 111 -<)4(; 11 112 quoti ng Dcp!.
7384. J X26.
GJLLL e.W. filLTERS ETe. FTlOt ZD. 902. 7m & tm.

XFR.9HCN. atso XF1!.2HCN for FTl02. aU£40 p.p. FM uni ts
ORDER FORM PLEASE WRITE IN BLOCK CAPITALS
FT[ OIW Mk3 £45 p.p. Toshiba 2SC2290 outputs FTIm etc. Please insert the advertisement below in the next available issue of Practical Wireless
£48 pair p.p. Black Star counters 204GHz 035 p.p. 600MHz for insertions. I enclose Cheque/P.O. for £ .
£145 p.p. FTlOt Mkt. Mk2. B&E ware band kits £19.50 p.p.
Double balanced mixer fo r quie te r RX on old FTlO I's £1 9 CAT. heading
p.p. Datong A.S. P. (the best speech processor) wired FTt02. (Cheques and Postal Orders should be made payable to Practical Wireless)
7m. 757, 747. 726 etc £82.80 p.p. Yaesu J Beam Drae packet
Amlor elc. stocked . Holdings, Amate ur Electronics. 45 John-
ston St .. Blackl>urn BB2 IEF. (0254 ) 59595 . (Closed Thurs).
ICOM IC7JS and matching PS55 boxed wi th handbooks.

immaculate . ba rgain £695. mm 455549.
NAME PRACTICAL WIRELESS

Classified Advertisement Dept.,
Enelco House, The Quay,
Wanted ADDRESS. Poole, Dorset. Telephone (02021 678568
Ra te Gp per word. m inimum 12 words.
Box No. 60p extra.
PLEASE ADD 15% VAT TO TOTAL
CIRCUIT DIAGRAM SERVICE info lor CTE International Company registered in England. Registered No. 1980539. Registe red Office: Towngate House. 2 Parkstone Road,
Jumbo Aristoc rat 26-30MHz RF linea r amplifier. 0506 Poole, Dorset, BH15 2PJ. 4189
416365 . eve nings.
70 Practical Wireless , April 1989
Valves Antennas
TRAPED VERTICAL SLOPERS. Outslanding DX perfnr·
HAVING DIFFICULTV OBTAINING AN OBSOLETE mance is well known . Auto matic band switching. hang from
25ft . or higher support, easy to instal. kit includes all pa rts and
V AL VE/TRANSISTOR/I.C.? SOft. of feeder + plugs . from 21. T raped Dipoles. One neal
antenna which will work like 6 sepa rate antenn as, c m he u:-;ed
in attics, tops of ho uses o r inverted v. kit induding 70ft of
(or Magn etron. Klystron . CRT , trav wave tube etc) 720hm feeder from 35 . ML-G rcgor Antennas. 42 Abbe y Ilill.
PLEASE NOTE : MINIMUM ORDER £20 + VAT Edinbu rgh. 031 557 060X. SAE for lis!.
We specialise in obsol ete types and stock all popular types at competitive prices!
All good quality brands , guaranteed by us. Special prices for orders over £100
Official orders from gvt depts, equipment manuf'rs, P.L.C .s, overseas etc. welcome
PHONE/ FAX/ TELEX FOR UP TO DATE PRICES ON YOUR REQUIREMENTS Miscellaneous
Visa/Barclaycard telephone orders welcome
WE WISH TO PURCHASE VALVES (esp.EL34 KT66 KT88 PX4
PX25) TRANSISTORS, I.C.s,PLUGS ,SOCKETS,CONNECTORS MISSION !SVoIR One 10 One 40, 15 and 10 aod One Patnt Ftve 10 Doe III aod ~l
AND SYt\.'s, AND lONG AND MEDIUM WAY£. BANDS FOR Ba:$.. Loops 21
If possible send written list for offer by return IOChes SQUare or mangle. No special skills reqUired. CircuItS, Parts l.Jsts 'NI'!h
sources 01 supply assembly data. HKiH R8lJENCY LOOP III ID 10 Metres £S..
BILLINGTON VALVES
LONG AND MEDIlII1 WAY£. LOOP lor BCt·s D. LONG WAV£ MEDIlN WAVE
AMI SItORT WAVE lOOP 1500 10 10 Metres RIft lItE Ba. AMI SWlIJ. SHORT
WAVE AnJ RIft lOOP OR LONG WIlE AHJIMjA [4. SHORT WAVE AnJ BlIT
IN PRE NIIP fUR LOOP OR LONG WME O . Pre-amp lW. MN aod SrNave a
JItN LOOP WIth pre amp ATU O. PRf AIIIP fOR G2Vf HF Loop or ATU [4. SAE
GOOD OUALlTY - LOW PRICE - RARITIES A SPECIALITY - Minimum Order £20 to, details. AI protects DIY. Photo Copy HRD Manual (4
39 Highlands Road. Horsham. Sussex RH13 5LS. England ICallers by appointment onlYI F. G. RyIands. II Portcside A...... Mi....... ~ SOt 9AF
Phone 0403 210729 Fax 0403 40214 Telex 87271 OUice hours: Mon'fri 9 am · 5.30 pm I ' 24 hr. answerphonel Tel. 107031 7l!iIl64
WAVFA;UlDE. FLANGES & DISHFS. All slandard s;zes &

Kits a lloys (new matcria l only) from stock . Special sizcs 10 I.micr.
a .11: EARTH STA' n ON 0 1·228 7876. 22 Ho"i" ~Ireel.
London SWI I 4AR .
KANGA PRODUCTS
Kits for the Amateur, Budding Amateu r or the Usteoer
lQOWatt Dummy loacI £8.95 ~ F.J.P. KITS & COMPONENTS :z MORSE CODE PREPARATION
MorseCode PractICe OsoltalOl' C9.95 AlL P.W. KlTSSIDcied.ltnonlprites. TEL.: 1JSat.64,I1 Cassette A: 1· 12 ....,xn !or amateur.
TXlRXConlrOlBoard £9.95 Cassene B. 12·25 wpm for professional exarnnatJon pr~abOn.
Crystal MarkerKIL [10.95 AJI kits have Repnnts If ff!QUMed PROPRIETOR f POWELL G6 RGH
TheV.F 0 Kit .. .. £:10.95 Each cassene IS rype COO.
TranSYeflers W11tl 1 Swans output tor 6 or 4·2 m1rs 1~lJ e IF . £45 Butl Em Pnce 01 each cassene I ~ booklets) £4.95
P.S.U. Regutalor Kit & SCRKII £: 11 .00
iambic KeyerKlt £:12.95 TranS'o'ef1ers as above IOf 2 m1re IF 'M1tl PTI sVr11ch nd 4m £"6.50 Bull £J1 Morse key WIth sepasale banery (PP3) - driven solid-state oscillator
FrequencyCOUnt6fIDtal...... .... C1 .95 Matching llOeaI !or above 0 5-2 watts III 8-20 W001 WI!h FiIIef m .GO RaMI OS and sound transdJcer produces dear tone for sending pradX:e. Price of
Single Band $uperhet Racerver.. .. 01 .95 TranS\'ef1erstJ.Htt arxlanlestedcostonlyasllttleaslhlsl8-20wan £1 15guIfT key 'NIth elearOl""lic l.II"iI ca.95.
Duat Band Superilel AecefVer ... [36.95 PW Badgef 2m Re<; Oct 88 fuI klIloc box £fiG.OOBuII £110 Pnce .-dudes postage eIc. E"'W" oriy.
OuatBandTranSffilnertoMatctl ..... C28.95
Top Band tor the FT707 & FT77 . .. ......... .. .. . £29.95
P W Meoo 0 5 wan 0UI1or l00mY In at 10 or 2mlre IF kif IIlC box £41 .00 Bull £15
P W R f Speed! prOl::eSSOl" lull kI! £39.50
Mt;t2 ELEc:;~~. <a.:~e~ : 'SW)
(some kits are supplied S8mI-complete) Please aOd £1 00 P&P
P W ~I vancap vetSlOO full kl1 IIlC box . £fiG.DD Bull £110
SEND A LARGE SASE FOR FREE CATALOGUE P W one! 50 mhl If.'CeIYeI WlUl metal WOfII £49.00
.. 3.l!MES ROAD. FOLKESTONE CT19 4AU ! "" i
~ TeI , 0303 276171 P W Zennar diOOe teste! £12.00
P W WesltJury If 455- no KIll WolltlUator [15.00 Bull £30 A229 LOOSE 28lh May Maidslone Y.M.CA . Radio Rally
MINIATUR E VHF T R ANSMITTER wi th mirnlpll<lll r. size AJI bUln unrts are all tes1ed and gu.nnteed WlUl leads lrade sIand bookings. Phone GIAIlO 0622 8'Xl 167 Now'
approx I V.( x tr.". £.1.99. Telepho ne tran smillcf . VHF , uS\... s flil Terms Gash . ~ . Visa. Access . PO , dellverytrt retumonplasticonkrts oroerslo
hatteries! £4.75. Automatic tdcphone recording sw il dl. tX l)l,. atJo.oe 63 Pnncess Street. Oladsmoor , Can/"lOdt, Starts WSl1 2JT ENGLAND OVERSEAS
ADO Cl 50 extra Subtect to <JValiabl1Ify .'EATUKIT U. K. Sp;Lre, :lnd S~. .'rvire Cenlrc . CEDAR
Price s include p&p. Access holda~ telephonc 054JX 7 1l)(12 (24
huur) . SAE calalugue. Chequc/P.O . 10 i\ .c. 101.[( TRON· F I.FCrRONICS . Uni l 12. Station Dri\I..... Bn:don . Tl'"~C~'
le'S. Dept P.W .. 94 Greenhca lh . H cdnc~fllnl. Staff:o. . L\ur:-:. (illl'. T cl. (II(...'W) 7.1127 .
SPECIAL NOTICE TO READERS

Although the proprietors and staff of PRACTICAL WIRELESS take reasonable precautions to protect the interests of readers by ensuring as far as practicable that
advertisements in PRACTICAL WIRELESS are bona fide. the magazine and its Publishers cannot give any undertakings in respect of claims made by advertisers,
whether these advertisements are printed as part of the magazine. or are in the form of inserts.
While the Publishers will give whatever assistance they can to readers having complaints under no circumstances will the magazine accept liability for nor'receipt of
goods ordered, or for late delivery. or for faults in manufacture. Legal remedies are available in respect of some of these circumstances, and readers who have
complaints should address them to the advertiser or should consult a local Tradings Standards Office. or a Citizen 's Advice Bureau, or their own solicitor.
ACS Systems
INDEX TO ADVERTISERS 65 FJP Kits 71 Navico 11
AH Supplies 65 Nevada Communications 8
AJH 39 Garex 51
AKD 10 Golledge Electronics 70 Quartslab 39
Andrews Computer Services 69
A.R.E. Communications Ltd 3 Radio Component Specialists 70
Hamgear 29 Radio Shack Ltd 72
Arrow Electronics 45 Howes, CM Communications 57 Randam Electronics 65
Billington Valves 71 RAS Nottingham 68
Birkett J 61 Icom (UK) Ltd 4,5,45, Cover 3 Raycom Communications Systems 21
Bitcom 68 ICS Intertext 65 RST Valve 8
Bredhurst 65 Rylands FG 71
J & P Electronics 70
Cambridge Kits 45 SEM 53
Capco 61 Kanga Products 71 Short Wave Magazine 35
Colomor 39 South Midlands Communications
Communique 70 Lake Electronics Cover 2,6,7,69
61
Component Centre 52 Langrex Supplies Spectrum Communications 68
8
CPL Electronics 45 Stephens James 52
Cricklewood Electronics 57
Magnum Rally, Scotland 29 Tandy 25
Datong 10 Maplin Cover 4 Technical Info Services 70
Dewsbury Electronics 29 Mauritron 70 Technical Software 69
Dressier Communications Ltd 39 Merlin Systems 8
M.H. Electronics Ltd 71 Ward Reg & Co Ltd 51
Elliot Electronics 61 Microwave Modules 2 Waters & Stanton 9

YOUR LOCAL DEALERS
CORNWALL IRELANO LONDON ESSEX
SEAWARD Radcom Electronics Henry's Selectronic

Ico m, Yaesu and most Amateur 27MHz/934M Hz Rig s & The UK's leading suppliers of
ELECTRONICS Radio Accesso ries ex stock. accesso ri es in stock.
934MHz personal radio
Hobby Kits, Test Meters, Satellite TV and Lists - S.A.E. (A4) - 26p
NEW PREMISES :- equ ipment
Amateur Radio Team CB Rigs and Accessories. Full catalogue (TGIP) -
Unit 4, Albert Quay, large SAE £1.00 203 High Street, Canvey
Unit 5, Lynstone Industrial Cork City, 404 Edgware Road, Island, Essex
Estate, Bude, Cornwall. Tel : 021-632725 and London W2 1EO Tel : 0268 691481
Tel: 0288 55998 088 553947 Tel : 01 -724 0323 IOpen Man -Sat 9-5.301
Send or phone for lists. (Mon-Fri 9-5 and Sat 9-3.45) (Ope n 6 days a weekl Amateur radio equipment also In stock
HERNE BAY SOUTHAMPTON PORTSMOUTH DEVON

o
ICOM South Midlands Nevada Reg. Ward & Co. Ltd.
ICOM (UK) LIMITED Communications Communications The South-We st's largest amateur
radio stockist. Approved dealer tor
The Official Icom Importer Importers of the Nevada Kenwood , Yaesu and Icom
Unit 8, Sea Street Official Yaesu Importer range of 934MHz equipment 1 Western Parade,
Herne Bay, Kent CT6 8LD S.M. House, School Close, 189, London Road, West Street, Axminster,
Tel : 0227 369464 Chandlers Ford Industrial Estate, North End, Portsmouth, Devon, EX13 5NY
fax: 0227 360 155 Eastleigh Hants SOS 3BY. Tel : 0297 34918
Open Mon -Sat 9-530. Hants, P02 9AE
Ilunch 1-200 pml Tel: 0703 255111 Tel : 0705 662145 IClosed 1:00-2:00 and all day Mondayl
BUCKINGHAMSHIRE SOUTH WALES YORKSHIRE YAESU
Photo-Acoustics Ltd. ELECTRO

TO Fill THIS o
ICOM
Approved Kenwood, Yaesu and

Icom dealer (part exchange DlSPOSALS SPACE Alan Hooker
always welcomel 2000 sq h of su rpl us equipment Electronics
58 High Street, Newpon Pagnell,
Buckinghamshire MK16 BAD
and components
UNIT 31 , LONLAS WORKSHOPS
CAll: 42, Nethernall Road, Doncaster.
TeI : 0302 25690
Tel : 0908 610625 Open Mon-Sal 1()-Spm
ITu es -hi 9:30-5 :30. Sat 9:30-4:301
Ctosed Mondays
SKEWEN, NEATH .
Tel: 0792 818451 0202 678558 Closed Thursdays
MERSEYSIDE WEST SUSSEX ~~'~IlOROER ~
MGR SERVICES PLEASE MENTION BREDHURST 2C

Wirral based communications
ICOM - YAESU - M.MOOULES - HOWES
- CIRKIT - WOOD & DOUGLAS - PRACTICAL WIRELESS ELECTRONICS LTD.
High St, Handcross, West Sussex
PART-EX - AERiAlS - PMR - MARINE -
MET ANTENNAS - AlINCO -
HEATHERlITE - SPECTRUM COMMS WHEN REPLYING TO · Tel : (04441 400786
Situated at Ihe Southern end 01
I
M23EasvacceSSIOM
. 25and
48, SltrewslKiry Road , .~ South London YAESU
Orton, Birllenhead, L43 2HZ. 0
Tel: 051 653 3437
(Callers by appOintment 9 am-9 pm . Man-Sal) ADVERTISEMENTS Open Mon ·Fn 9am-5pm
excep~:~~a~_~~~,30pm. ICOM
RECEIVERS - TRANSCEIVERS - SCANNERS

le 32E KENWOOD R5000 200 Channel Handhe(d
PRO - 34
FREE Nicads
Icom 's dual- FREE Charger
band Handheld FREE Postage £249.95
with a host of
features including
cross band
duplex operation , THE HF RECEIVER PRO-2021
power saver FREE Alkaline Memory Battery
circuit and 20 dual
band memories.
£875 FREE The UHFNHF Freq. Guide
FREE Postage
Including FREE
next day delivery. £199.95 Now £169.95
raI RADIO SHACK LTD ~~~~~~A~;~~:~ GARDENS, ~
~ (Just around the corner from West Hampstead Station on the Jubilee Line) ~
Giro Account No. 588 7151 ~ Telephone: 01-624' 7174
Puhlishl.'J \Hl the . . cltllld Thll ", d . t ~ II I l·;td l 11111111h h~ I'W l'uhh"llIll,l!. I 1I1lIInL l"ol'ln l I h IU'l'. l"ht: OLJ ; ' ~. 1'11\ lk. l)t lr'tOl Bi l l :' 1PP. Prlnt L'd III 1: II!!Lllld h~' Ik llh am & ( '" l ,illll h.:lI , C"lchl."h.'r, E!>.sc'( ,
Di strihulI.'d by Sl'Y"Hlur , WIlllbm 111I1I'l', 1'::70 1.ll lldo ll I{Pdd , Nllrhur v , I.lIlllhm SWlh-lD II. tL' iLpiltllll.' 11J ' (17lJ l~tN , 1:/\ ,' \ 111 ·117l l :-;1,11)7, 'l L'k'x XX I '29-l ." , S{lk' AgL' llh lor A u:-.tralia an d Nl.'w f ..A.'a lanJ -
GllrLlun ;lIld (ill tL'h IA,,;t) Ltu , So uth " hi e ! ( 'I.' lIl r;tI NI.' w, J\~I.' lll'V l id SUh:-'I.TlpltPlh INL .. \ ,' JD ll :'i51 1, Ll IR(H'I ' U:-; , ()V I ' RSE AS thy ASP) (11) , p:tyahk In PRACTICAL W IR ELESS,
S uhscriplillll Lkpi trtTlll' llt. "!:tn \Vd I, In ll't n:tl tllll:!1 1,Id . P,() , I h,.\ '\1111 , l ,l' t(l"ll" I H N (IAA PR :\( T IC.-\I. \\'1RL:LLSS I' ,tlld "," /111.'(1 III IhL' 1ll llllwin!! I.'tllldn ion:-., namd y th a l it . . hall not. without thl.'
writtcn \.'nll:.l.'nt o f thl.' Puhh ... hl'f', lir"" ha\lIl!! hl.'\.'1I ,!!IV\.' Il , lx' kill , Il',"lld ,t1lrnl I'ut oil II lh ..:I\\I ... \., d l... ,"tl"'L'd III h\ \\.t~ (11 Tr,llk ,11 mllr\.' I~an th\.' rl.'l'o1llm\.'!llkd , dlilll! prin' . . hoWIl till t~ll' (ovcr. ~I nd Ihat 11 . . hall
lll)( tlt' !l'nl , r l'''''lld, hln: d tlU l llr tllhlT'\ I ~' dl ... j'lt l......,d 1,1111 ,IIllUltL'lI.'t l U lIldllltlt llll III :111\ ulI,l tl l h , m "'l'd \.'1 1\ I.'r h~ \\;t~ III I f,llIt:, tlf ,lIllxnlllllll' :1:-. part III an } p u hhc ltltHl Il r ad vcrI"IIlg., 111I.'r; lr:- tlr pl l'hmal
matll.' r IAhat~\(.'\l'f.
o
ICOM Countonusl
IC-735 Compact HF.
As predicted the leom IC-735 has Scanning functions include program scan,
rapidly gained the reputation it deserves. memory scan and frequency scan. The HM 12
This compact transceiver is ideal for mobile, scanning microphone is supplied.
portable or base station operation. It has a
RF output is approximately 100 watts
general coverage receiver from 0.1 Mhz to
and can be continuously adiusted down to 10
30Mhz with superb sensitivity in all modes,
watts. The IC-735 is one of the first HF .
SSS, CW, AM and FM. Spectacular
transceiv'ers to use a liquid crystal display,
specifications are also achieved on RF
which is easily visible under difficult
Intercept, Dynamic Range, Reciprocal Mixing
conditions . Controls that require rare
and I.F. Blocking. As HF conditions improve
adjustment are situated behind the front cover
oV'e r the next few years it is equipment like the
but are immediately accessible.
IC-735 that will provide clear reception even
under the worst pile-ups. Options include the PS-55 AC Power
Supply, AT150 Automatic Antenna Tuner,
The IC-735 has a built-in receiver AH2a Automatic Antenna Tuner, SM6 and
attenuator, preamp, noise blanker and RIT SM8 Desk Mics, SP7 External Loudspeaker.
passband tuning and a sharp IF notch filter Why not find out more about the IC-735
ensures clear reception . The twin VFO's and contact your local ICOM dealer or contact
12 memories can store mode and frequency. ICOM (UK) LIMITED.
- -~- - ----~--------------------------------------------------------~--~~~~
Icom (UK) Ltd.

Dept PW, Sea Street, Herne Bay, Kent CT6 8LD. Tel: 0227 363859. 24 Hour.
Helplina: Telephone us free-of-charge on 0800 521145, Mon-F ri 09.00- 13.00 and 14.00- 17.30. This service is strictly for obtaining information
about or ordering Icom equipment . We regret this cannot be used by dealers or for repair enquiries and parts orders, thank you.
Datapost: Despatch on same day whenever possible .
Access & Barclaycard: Telephone orders taken by our mail order dept, instant credit & interest-free H .P.

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26 Packet Radio Update-2

28 SlmplUled Filter Design Routine

30 Understanding Circuit Dlagrams-13

36 All About Lamps-2

38 Kitchen Konstruktlon No. 11

Editor Technical Artiat Editorial and Advertiaement Manager

Practical Wireless, April 1989

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Td: nl-997 76