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ZL3AI > APRDIG 03.11.06 02:47l 251 Lines 9449 Bytes #999 (0) @ WW
BID : 8963-ZL3AI
Read: GUEST
Subj: [APRSSIG] Vol 29 #1, 1/3
Path: DB0FHN<DB0MRW<DK0WUE<SV1CMG<TU5EX<HS1LMV<ON0AR<ZL2BAU
Sent: 061103/0142Z @:ZL2BAU.#87.NZL.OC #:12752 [Waimate] $:8963-ZL3AI
From: ZL3AI@ZL2BAU.#87.NZL.OC
To : APRDIG@WW
Today's Topics:
1. Re: Service monitors (Tate)
2. Re: *** TNC Test CD Update - Mirror Server Now Available ***
(Stephen H. Smith)
3. A recent trip (Rich Mulvey)
4. desirable laptop computer features? (Rod,VE1BSK)
5. RE: A recent trip (Cap Pennell)
6. Re: desirable laptop computer features? (KA8VIT)
7. Re: desirable laptop computer features? (Stephen H. Smith)
8. RE: Re: *** TNC Test CD Update - Mirror Server Now Available***
(scott_at_opentrac.org)
9. Re: *** TNC Test CD Update - Mirror Server Now Available ***
(Gregg Wonderly)
10. Re: Re: *** TNC Test CD Update - Mirror Server Now Available ***
(Gregg Wonderly)
11. Re: *** TNC Test CD Update - Mirror Server Now Available *** (KA8VIT)
12. Re: desirable laptop computer features? (Dale Blanchard)
13. Re: desirable laptop computer features? (Gregg Wonderly)
14. Re: *** TNC Test CD Update - Mirror Server Now Available ***
(Stephen H. Smith)
15. Re: desirable laptop computer features? (Stephen H. Smith)
16. Re: Service monitors (Tyson S.)
17. Re: Service monitors (Ron Tonneson)
18. Re: Service monitors (Mark Earle)
19. Re: desirable laptop computer features? (Rod,VE1BSK)
20. Re: Service monitors (Ian ZL1VFO)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Message: 1
Date: Tue, 31 Oct 2006 11:00:13 -0700 (MST)
From: "Tate" <kc7zru_at_kc7zru.net>
Subject: Re: [aprssig] Service monitors
Scott,
Just noticed item # 330042641580 - it's an IFR FM/AM 1200 Service Monitor.
Used one for a while when I was in the two-way biz. Nice, rugged and very
capable unit. Currently under $800 bid with 6 hours left.
If I had a spare $K I'd be all over this like white on rice.
73
On Tue, October 31, 2006 10:02 am, scott_at_opentrac.org wrote:
>Can anyone recommend a good, affordable service monitor? I'm assuming just
>about anything would be OK for setting deviation and such, but I also want
>a spectrum analyzer and the ability to show recovered FM audio to examine
>packet waveforms and analyze preemphasis. Operation up to 500 MHz would be
>good, but I'd settle for 200 MHz.
>
>The HP 8920A with appropriate options looks good - I just got outbid on
>eBay, though. Guess I'll have to wait for another one to come around.
>I'm hoping to find something under $2500. Might have got it this time if I'd
>been about 10 seconds later on my bid.
>
>Any suggestions?
>
>Scott
>N1VG
------------------------------
Message: 2
Date: Tue, 31 Oct 2006 10:11:43 -0800
From: "Stephen H. Smith" <wa8lmf2_at_aol.com>
Subject: [aprssig] Re: *** TNC Test CD Update - Mirror Server Now
Available ***
mwrobertson_at_comcast.net wrote:
>With the raw ISO images, most burners that I am familiar with, take
>right off and you're there. Our problem, (mine), is not RTFM and I
>apologize.. I had not see this method or heard of it, the dual CD I
>mean, so I learned something again yesterday! Thanks...
>
>Robbie
I would have FAR FAR preferred to use the .ISO format which is supported by
just about ALL CD recording applications, but unfortunately it won't work
with mixed-mode CDs.
As I explained on the web site (and in the readme file), I used CD audio
tracks rather than regular CD-ROM data .WAV audio tracks to avoid the
timing errors present in many motherboard-based sound systems on low-cost
PCs.
I first discovered this problem several years ago when I was trying to make
test recordings for SSTV slant correction. I found that many low-cost
sound systems integrated into PC motherboards have substituted
interrupt-driven software for the timing functions traditionally done by
dedicated crystal-controlled hardware in conventional sound cards. The
main clock osc of a PC motherboard (from which the interrupt timing is
derived) is normally controlled by a dirt-cheap crystal that is not very
accurately calibrated and not very temperature-stable. Further, the rate
actually varies depending on how many other software processes are running
(and competing for interrupt services) at the same time. Many of these
"brain-dead" no-hardware sound systems supposedly running at the standard
11025 Hz sampling rate were actually off by 5-7% or more.
This problem is steadily getting worse as more and more traditionally
hardware-based functions are offloaded onto software models multitasking on
today's super-fast CPUs. Dirt-cheap color printers that use the Windows GDI
(graphics device interface) rather than dedicated processors inside the
printer, and nearly zero-parts-count 56K modems that are basically just an
audio transformer and interface are two of the biggest offenders. The
characteristic nature of these "brain dead" devices is that they have
HUGE (multi-megabyte) drivers loaded from CD-ROM that then suck up
massive amount of system resources and hard disk space compared to their
hardware-based predecessors.
With these cheap sound systems, it is virtually impossible to keep SSTV
programs like mmSSTV, MixW, ChromaPix, etc properly slant-corrected, UNLESS
you make a point of shutting down ALL other programs including background
utilities like virus scanners, firewalls, anti-spyware, printer status
monitors, etc.
Even inexpensive audio players (boomboxes, DiskMans, car stereos or even
the headphone output on a CD-ROM drive) etc) have dedicated
crystal-oscillator timing chains that are far more accurate AND STABLE than
most of todays cheap PC sound systems. Consequently, I opted to make the
test disk play CD audio rather than CD-ROM data.
--
Stephen H. Smith wa8lmf (at) aol.com
EchoLink Node: 14400 [Think bottom of the 2M band]
Home Page: http://wa8lmf.com --OR-- http://wa8lmf.net
NEW! JavAPRS Filter Port 14580 Guide
http://wa8lmf.net/aprs/JAVaprsFilters.htm
UI-View Misc Notes and FAQ
http://wa8lmf.net/aprs/UIview_Notes.htm
"APRS 101" Explanation of APRS Path Selection & Digipeating
http://wa8lmf.net/DigiPaths
Updated "Rev G" APRS http://wa8lmf.net/aprs
Symbols Set for UI-View,
UIpoint and APRSplus:
------------------------------
Message: 3
Date: Tue, 31 Oct 2006 13:27:32 -0500
From: Rich Mulvey <aprs_at_mulveyfamily.com>
Subject: [aprssig] A recent trip
Hi All:
I just got back from a whirlwind trip up and down the East Coast with my
family - we went from New York, through PA, MD, VA, NC, SC, GA, and to FL,
and then back up ( mostly ) the same way, with the exception of also
passing through WVA, in 10 days.
We took my wife's car, and used a D700 under her callsign, KC2PAK.
A couple of things surprised me as we traveled.
First, we found the occasional APRS bulletin about local repeater
frequencies to be VERY helpful. Much more than I would have expected. It
sure beat the heck out of using the ARRL repeater guide. There was also
one or two posits for local highway rest areas around VA, which we found
very nice to have.
Second, I was surprised at the lack of APRS coverage around some of the
major metro areas and routes. For example, we were being digipeted around
the relatively remote Santee Wildlife Refuge in SC very well, but that was
the last time we had coverage traveling down I-95, until we were well past
Savannah. Thinking that a city as large as Savannah must have coverage, I
checked the net when we got into our hotel that evening, and, sure enough,
no posits from anyone at all around that stretch of the I-95 corridor.
Third, I was surprised at the extremely good coverage in Eastern NC, VA,
and WVA, in the mountain areas. I had expected it to be relatively
minimal, as we traveled up routes 77 and 79, and went through some of the
deeper valleys, but I honestly doubt we ever went more than 10 or 15
seconds without hearing APRS packets being transmitted.
And finally, if you point your friends and relatives to findu, they will
*obsessively* keep checking on your progress, and will start to actively
get worried if they don't see new position reports all the time. ;-)
All in all, I found APRS to be a very handy resource on our trip - enough
so that I'm thinking of setting up another rig at home to transmit our
local repeater info, etc. for travelers.
- Rich, AA2YS
------------------------------
Message: 4
Date: Tue, 31 Oct 2006 15:06:57 -0400
From: "Rod,VE1BSK" <rodpadmore_at_ns.sympatico.ca>
Subject: [aprssig] desirable laptop computer features?
What are the most important features found in an APRS friendly computer
available in today's market place? Does anyone have other suggestions such
as brand and model? Thanks to anyone that has an informed opinion on these
questions. 73 de Rod.
------------------------------
Message: 5
Date: Tue, 31 Oct 2006 11:08:14 -0800
From: "Cap Pennell" <cap_at_cruzio.com>
Subject: RE: [aprssig] A recent trip
FB! Thanks for the report! Today I see "Mom's taxi" KC2PAK-1 using a
digipath of WIDE1-1,WIDE2-2 and would like to suggest that instead using
WIDE1-1,WIDE2-1 would be a better routine.
73, Cap KE6AFE
------------------------------
Message: 6
Date: Tue, 31 Oct 2006 14:10:20 -0500
From: KA8VIT <ka8vit_at_ka8vit.com>
Subject: Re: [aprssig] desirable laptop computer features?
Legacy ports...
Real serial and parallel ports !
Just my opinion.
73
Bill KA8VIT
--
Bill Chaikin, KA8VIT
USS COD Amateur Radio Club - W8COD
WW2 Submarine USS COD SS-224 (NECO)
ka8vit_at_ka8vit.com
http://ka8vit.com
http://www.usscod.org
QRP-L NBR: 2596
FP#-1043
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