Re: [Repeater-Builder] Re: Repeater Kerchunk

2009-03-16 Thread Gordon 'Yeti'
I agree with this - example being that there's a repeater that's fairly 
distant to me (easily managable from the house, but quite difficult from 
a car until I'm about 10 miles closer to it than I am at home). There's 
also 2 repeaters that are really distant and can vary depending on 
conditions.

All 3 of these repeaters operate as mentioned here  - If I key up and 
let go, there's a tiny bit of carrier as I unkey. If the carrier's too 
badly broken, I don't give my call, as it wouldn't make it in anyway and 
would just be plain annoying.

One of these repeaters needs a fairly long over before it actually opens 
fully and IDs itself. New users (including myself at one point) find 
this annoying, thinking that it's not working. I still forget 
occasionally to length my call by giving it in phonetics, and have to 
re-do it to make it long enough to open the repeater.

The local UHF repeater opens fully at any 1750Hz tone or CTCSS on the 
input, which means someone kerchunking it, or not making it in fully, 
results in 10-15 seconds silent carrier and the full ID every time (It's 
nearly 2KHz off frequency too, but that's just it's age!).

By comparison, the last repeater round here to not have CTCSS is a 
complete pig to open - deliberate or otherwise - and this results in 
virtually zero use.

Geert Jan de Groot wrote:
>
> > We have some on our repeater frequency, that just like to kerchunk
> > the repeater to hear it come back or ID. Is there any way we can
> > eliminate this annoying situation? I suspect that we may have
> > an unlicensed individual with a 2meter radio.
>
> This actually isn't technology, it's psychology.
> Consider this:
>
> A guy, either licensed or unlicensed, got himself a radio but doesn't
> have lots of reasons to get active, either because he does't know
> the crowd, is new, perhaps not licensed (yet!) or just because he
> wants to test access to the repeater. You and I, each with more than
> 20 years of experience, know what to expect; for someone new,
> this is cause of concern and something to explore.
>
> Asking for a report may be difficult - perhaps because he doesn't know
> the group of people that all seem to know eachother for years,
> perhaps he looks up to the user community, perhaps the license thing
> sits in the way.
>
> The easiest way to get what he wants, is just to kerchunk the repeater.
> So that's what he does.
>
> There are 4 things to do:
> 1. Make the kerchunk event as non-disruptive as possible.
> Make sure the repeater's response is there, but as non-intrusive
> as possible. My machines just have a 500 ms hangtime;
> if people kerchunk, they just hear the plop when they unkey,
> know that the repeater still works, and be done with it.
> Certainly, no roger beeps, bloops, ID's or significant hangtime.
> Just enough response to allow for testing and be done with it.
> (Dutch regulations allow me to periodically ID; hence, I don't
> need to make this dependent on user activity and, as you'd guessed,
> the ID thing is completely independent of activity, be it kerchunkers
> or regular users).
> 2. Believe it or not, make kerchunking easy. One of the machines I manage,
> used to have a "speech detector". Kerchunkers, instead of quietly
> keying the microphone, were supposed to ID.
> They were supposed to, but what happened was that people would whistle,
> rub the grill of the microphone or do something else to circumvent
> the "speech detector". When the machine got renovated, I removed this
> misfeature, allowing just plain carrier, and the user community
> picked it up quickly, supposedly because the other machines work
> like this.
> Again: kerchunking is going to happen. Make it easy, minimize it's impact,
> and make it a non-event and be done with it.
> 3. Don't talk about abuse issues. Never, ever, mention the kerchunker.
> This, and the rationale behind it, should be known to members of
> this group; check the abuse files for the reasons behind it.
> 4. Create a friendly, inviting environment where newcomers feel themselves
> welcome. With luck, the kerchunker(s) will join the community
> and become a valuable addition to your user group.
> I know this has happened several times on my machines, and I do consider
> this a feature.
>
> 73,
>
> Geert Jan PE1HZG
> janitor, PI3EHV, PI2EHV, PI6EHN, PI8EHV
>
> 
> 
>
>
> No virus found in this incoming message.
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> 14:07:00
>
>   



Re: [Repeater-Builder] CB operators, then and now

2009-02-24 Thread Gordon 'Yeti'
I'm in south west scotland, and it's often dead here for hours on end.

I can't remember the last time I did actually speak to someone on the CB 
here that I hadn't phoned before to arrange it!

Bruce Bagwell wrote:
>
> *Way off topic.*
> *One comment then everyone please drop this thread?!?!
> 
> *
> ** 
> *In the '70's, you could ask for A "Radio Check" any time, on any 
> channel, and someone would come back with their location, (10-20), 
> signal strength, etc., .  But that doesn't happen these days!  I got 
> back into radio for the first time in years...   After listening 
> through the cussing, etc., I asked for A simple radio check..Hey, 
> first time I had this rig on the air at all...Can  anyone tell me 
> if I am getting out?  I just about had to Cuss someone out to even 
> respond, and all I got was, YeahI can hear you.Nothing about 
> their "20", no idea if they were base or mobile, Nothing!*
> ** 
> *A few weeks ago, I hooked that $35 CB radio into my 10 meter Inverted 
> Vee antenna.  That antenna was not even right for 10 meters, much less 
> 11 meters (CB).  I just was curious to see if it would even RX.  It 
> did.  The first thing I heard on CB 19 was "Road Rage?".  2 guys 
> cussing at each other on the air saying stuff like"Well, follow me 
> into this parking lot and we will have A fun time finding out who is 
> right about that, etc, etc.."*
> ** 
> *You had to have been there...I knew that cheap CB radio would not 
> like it if I keyed the mic.  I had NEVER checked SWR on that 
> antenna...Like I really cared...The CB was about $35 
> NEW..and I can not stand what I hear on the CB bands anyway, so I 
> am worried about the cost*
> ** 
> *Again, you had to have been there.  I keyed the CB Mic and 
> broadcasted on CB (Legal so far as I know?)...I said this is (HAM Call 
> Sign, Phonetically), Federally Licensed Radio OperatorThat is why 
> I went to the HAM bands..You will NEVER hear HAMS picking A fight 
> on those bands(HAM Call SignCLEAR!)*
> *CB Channel 19 was DEAD Quiet for over 5 minutes!!  That was 
> one you just had to be there to get it the way I mean it!  Have you 
> EVER heard CB 19 quiet for 5+ Minutes?*
> ** 
> *Bruce in Texas*
> *KE5TPN
> 
> *
>
> On Mon, 23 Feb 2009, Don Kupferschmidt wrote:
> > Also reminds me of when I was *DUMB & STUPID* in my earlier years of
> > CB (before I got my ham license), and I asked on air for a radio
> > check!
>
> We still hear those today:
>
> "Am I making it in?"
>
> --
> Kris Kirby, KE4AHR
> Disinformation Analyst
>
> 
> 
>
>
> No virus found in this incoming message.
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> Version: 8.0.237 / Virus Database: 270.11.3/1968 - Release Date: 02/23/09 
> 18:22:00
>
>   



Re: [Repeater-Builder] Somewhat OT - How to make HDTV *really* work

2009-02-23 Thread Gordon 'Yeti'
Each state is just like it's own country anyway - it's own laws, taxes, etc.

Don't see why organising some radio transmitters seems like such a big 
deal - apart from that the US never made the jump to UHF, and buy the 
sounds of it, hasn't given itself proper preparation for Digital TV either.

Don't see why someone who knows about radios should find it so difficult 
to understand that the channel number displayed isn't always the channel 
matching the frequency the transmission is actually on.

Chuck Kelsey wrote:
>
> You've got to keep in mind the population densities here - all spread out.
>
> If we were talking about trying to blanket only 94,000 square miles of 
> land,
> like the size of the UK, we probably wouldn't have any coverage 
> difficulties
> either. That's about the size of the state of Michigan.
>
> Chuck
>
> - Original Message -
> From: "Gordon 'Yeti'"  <mailto:coltturbo%40omne.uk.net>>
> To:  <mailto:Repeater-Builder%40yahoogroups.com>>
> Sent: Monday, February 23, 2009 4:39 PM
> Subject: Re: [Repeater-Builder] Somewhat OT - How to make HDTV 
> *really* work
>
> >
> > We have pretty much complete coverage (even in hilly areas) with UHF
> > transmitters (and lots of repeaters).
> >
> >
>
> 
> 
>
>
> No virus found in this incoming message.
> Checked by AVG - www.avg.com 
> Version: 8.0.237 / Virus Database: 270.11.3/1966 - Release Date: 02/22/09 
> 17:21:00
>
>   



Re: [Repeater-Builder] Somewhat OT - How to make HDTV *really* work

2009-02-23 Thread Gordon &#x27;Yeti'
This is to be expected from a country that managed to vote George W bush 
into power twice really.

You'd have thought you'd have discovered UHF TV a long time ago, like 
back in the 70s, like we did in the UK.

We have pretty much complete coverage (even in hilly areas) with UHF 
transmitters (and lots of repeaters).

Anyway, From the quick skim I've had here, Here's what I've read:

The TV channel named "Channel 7" is/was on VHF channel 7.
It's also now on UHF channel (30?)
So it's not long ON channel 7, altough it's CALLED "Channel 7".

Simple!

wd8chl wrote:
>
> Nate Duehr wrote:
> >> You realize that the "channel" displayed on the TV is a data 
> element, and
> >> has nothing to do with the actual RF frequency the station is 
> transmitting
> >> on in DTV, right?
>
> Paul Plack wrote:
> > Your local analog channel 7, which has been using 174-180 MHz, sets
> > up its digital transmitter on 33, but the screen still says "7-1." So
> > what you're calling "digital channel 7" is now 584-590 MHz. No change
> > in antenna performance should be expected? How is that just a change
> > in modulation type?
> >
> > I hope nobody goes to a lot of expense to optimize an antenna system
> > for these interim channels. They'll be really disappointed If "7-1"
> > goes back to the actual VHF channel 7 allocation after June 12th!
> >
> > 73, Paul, AE4KR
> >
>
> dammit! read it again! I said channel 7 is channel 7! You are taking a
> channel 7 and moving it!
> the only concern is the channel-i don't give a  what the screen says!
> geez guys this isn't that hard!
>
> > - Original Message - From: wd8chl To:
> > Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com 
>  Sent: Monday, February 23, 
> 2009 7:10
> > AM Subject: Re: [Repeater-Builder] Somewhat OT - How to make HDTV
> > *really* work
> >
> >
> > I should be able to use any normal TV antenna. If it works on analog
> > Ch 7, for instance, it should work on digital ch 7. Period. If it
> > doesn't, there is something inherently wrong with the medium. Again,
> > RF is RF. The antenna doesn't care how it's modulated.
> >
> >
> >
>
> 
> 
>
>
> No virus found in this incoming message.
> Checked by AVG - www.avg.com 
> Version: 8.0.237 / Virus Database: 270.11.3/1966 - Release Date: 02/22/09 
> 17:21:00
>
>   



Re: [Repeater-Builder] Re: Somewhat OT - an interesting antenna design

2009-02-19 Thread Gordon &#x27;Yeti'
You should all be using Firefox anyway. Using any version of IE is like 
putting a sign up at your door saying "burglars help yourselves".

Chuck Kelsey wrote:
>
> Worked OK with IE7.
>
> Chuck
> WB2EDV
>
> - Original Message -
> From: "Scott Zimmerman"  >
> To:  >
> Sent: Wednesday, February 18, 2009 11:55 AM
> Subject: Re: [Repeater-Builder] Re: Somewhat OT - an interesting antenna
> design
>
> > This site seems VERY paranoid!! I tried to access it with IE8 and it 
> threw
> > a
> > hissy fit. It said I was trying to download the whole site.
> >
> > I then tried FireFox. I got to the homepage OK enough, but Didn't 
> see much
> > content there without creating a login.
> >
> > Too many hoops to jump through.
> >
> > Scott
> >
> > Scott Zimmerman
> > Amateur Radio Call N3XCC
> > 474 Barnett Rd
> > Boswell, PA 15531
> >
>
> 
> 
>
>
> No virus found in this incoming message.
> Checked by AVG - www.avg.com 
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> 07:07:00
>
>   



Re: [Repeater-Builder] Re: OT: Radios and Coms in TV and Movies

2009-01-17 Thread Gordon &#x27;Yeti'
Class B was the old day equivalent of FRS, Class C is the Class D 
'alpha' channels.

With regard to Die Hard 2 - No wonder the military didn't have much luck 
decoding the scrambled signals - the handies are 440Mhz FM, and the base 
rig they have is tuned to the MGM segment of 2 metres!

JOHN MACKEY wrote:
>
> Class B was something on UHF, and class C was 27 MHz remote control.
>
> -- Original Message --
> Received: Sat, 17 Jan 2009 12:09:19 AM PST
> From: MCH mailto:mch%40nb.net>>
> To: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com 
> <mailto:Repeater-Builder%40yahoogroups.com>
> Subject: Re: [Repeater-Builder] Re: OT: Radios and Coms in TV and Movies
>
> > Wrong.
> >
> > GMRS is "Class A CB" (FCC designation) while the 27 MHz band is 
> "Class D
> > CB". I don't recall what classes B and C were offhand. FRS didn't exist
> > until recently and has never carried an official CB label even 
> though it
> > too is under Part 95. MURS is even more recent.
> >
> > Both Class A and Class D CB used to require a license. The Class D
> > license was dropped around 1980 or so. The Class A frequencies still
> > require a license.
> >
> > MURS is also not a CB band - it is a business band. Although families
> > can use those frequencies, so can literally anyone else - for any 
> reason
> > (yes, hams too, although only with FCC TA'ed equipment). It's truly one
> > way hams can legally communicate with other services - such as your
> > local Public Safety or EMA personnel.
> >
> > Joe M.
> >
> > Bracy Poppell wrote:
> > > Correction. UHF CB is FRS (Family Radio Server). GMRS (General Mobile
> > > Radio Service) requires a license and is not considered CB by the FCC.
> > >
> > > Also VHF CB is called MURS (Multiple Use Radio Service) and we all 
> know
> > > the tradition HF CB as "CB".
> > >
> > > Bracy
> > >
> > > --- In Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com 
> <mailto:Repeater-Builder%40yahoogroups.com>, wd8chl  wrote:
> > >> Gordon 'Yeti' wrote:
> > >>> You think?
> > >>>
> > >>> In Die Hard, the terrorists brough 'CB radios' - which were
> > > obviously
> > >>> UHF (Does the US still have a UHF CB frequency?)
> > >> FWIW-Yes-it's called GMRS.
> > >>
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > 
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > Yahoo! Groups Links
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> >
>
> 
> 
>
>
> No virus found in this incoming message.
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> Version: 8.0.176 / Virus Database: 270.10.8/1898 - Release Date: 16/01/2009 
> 15:09
>
>   



Re: [Repeater-Builder] OT: Radios and Coms in TV and Movies

2009-01-16 Thread Gordon &#x27;Yeti'
http://www.rigpix.com/silverscreentrivia/silverscreentrivia.htm

wd8chl wrote:
>
> Eric Lemmon wrote:
> > Albert,
> >
> > If you do find such a site, let me know! I was watching the Bruce Willis
> > flick "Live Free or Die Hard" and noticed that every government 
> agency and
> > the DC Police used an ADI AR-147 2m mobile radio in their cars. I guess
> > "interoperability" has finally taken hold, because every radio in 
> the movie
> > was displaying 144.330 MHz! Geez- you'd think that someone on the movie
> > staff could do better than that...
> >
> > 73, Eric Lemmon WB6FLY
> >
>
> I'd sure like the FCC to come down on them-HARD. But they used Kenwood
> TH-41AT's in the first Die-Hard, and nobody even noticed they were 
> illegal.
>
> 
> 
>
>
> No virus found in this incoming message.
> Checked by AVG - http://www.avg.com 
> Version: 8.0.176 / Virus Database: 270.10.8/1898 - Release Date: 16/01/2009 
> 15:09
>
>   



Re: [Repeater-Builder] OT: Radios and Coms in TV and Movies

2009-01-16 Thread Gordon &#x27;Yeti'
Sorry - you're right, 45's were in the SECOND movie.

wd8chl wrote:
>
> Eric Lemmon wrote:
> > Albert,
> >
> > If you do find such a site, let me know! I was watching the Bruce Willis
> > flick "Live Free or Die Hard" and noticed that every government 
> agency and
> > the DC Police used an ADI AR-147 2m mobile radio in their cars. I guess
> > "interoperability" has finally taken hold, because every radio in 
> the movie
> > was displaying 144.330 MHz! Geez- you'd think that someone on the movie
> > staff could do better than that...
> >
> > 73, Eric Lemmon WB6FLY
> >
>
> I'd sure like the FCC to come down on them-HARD. But they used Kenwood
> TH-41AT's in the first Die-Hard, and nobody even noticed they were 
> illegal.
>
> 
> 
>
>
> No virus found in this incoming message.
> Checked by AVG - http://www.avg.com 
> Version: 8.0.176 / Virus Database: 270.10.8/1898 - Release Date: 16/01/2009 
> 15:09
>
>   



Re: [Repeater-Builder] OT: Radios and Coms in TV and Movies

2009-01-16 Thread Gordon &#x27;Yeti'
Further question - are you sure it was the 41AT? And why were they illegal?

wd8chl wrote:
>
> Eric Lemmon wrote:
> > Albert,
> >
> > If you do find such a site, let me know! I was watching the Bruce Willis
> > flick "Live Free or Die Hard" and noticed that every government 
> agency and
> > the DC Police used an ADI AR-147 2m mobile radio in their cars. I guess
> > "interoperability" has finally taken hold, because every radio in 
> the movie
> > was displaying 144.330 MHz! Geez- you'd think that someone on the movie
> > staff could do better than that...
> >
> > 73, Eric Lemmon WB6FLY
> >
>
> I'd sure like the FCC to come down on them-HARD. But they used Kenwood
> TH-41AT's in the first Die-Hard, and nobody even noticed they were 
> illegal.
>
> 
> 
>
>
> No virus found in this incoming message.
> Checked by AVG - http://www.avg.com 
> Version: 8.0.176 / Virus Database: 270.10.8/1898 - Release Date: 16/01/2009 
> 15:09
>
>   



Re: [Repeater-Builder] OT: Radios and Coms in TV and Movies

2008-12-22 Thread Gordon &#x27;Yeti'
You think?

In Die Hard, the terrorists brough 'CB radios' - which were obviously 
UHF (Does the US still have a UHF CB frequency?) - Die Hard 2 - Kenwood 
2m rigs, with speech inversion. The handy on the Janitors desk clearly 
shows "144MHz" on it. Die hard 3 - Cobra 21 CB in the taxi, Cobra Marine 
band radio on the boat - with the lack of radios on the "police and FBI 
frequencies" clearly showing the writers are into radio. All the 'Police 
and FBI' radios in Die Hard 4.0 were 2m rigs, as said. Oh, and don't 
forget the geek in the basement with his 'CB' on 66.6MHz

The radio shown in the series opener for CSI:NY fitted to the police car 
was an Alinco on 220MHz.

Eric Lemmon wrote:
>
> Albert,
>
> If you do find such a site, let me know! I was watching the Bruce Willis
> flick "Live Free or Die Hard" and noticed that every government agency and
> the DC Police used an ADI AR-147 2m mobile radio in their cars. I guess
> "interoperability" has finally taken hold, because every radio in the 
> movie
> was displaying 144.330 MHz! Geez- you'd think that someone on the movie
> staff could do better than that...
>
> 73, Eric Lemmon WB6FLY
>
> -Original Message-
> From: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com 
> 
> [mailto:Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com 
> ] On Behalf Of Albert
> Sent: Sunday, December 21, 2008 4:33 PM
> To: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com 
> 
> Subject: [Repeater-Builder] OT: Radios and Coms in TV and Movies
>
> I was wondering if anyone had links to any websites that talk about
> radios used in TV and Movies.
>
> What got me thinking about this was that I had been watching the old
> TV show Emergency on Netflix. (remember squad 51, rampart hospital, etc.)
>
> I know some of the stuff is just props but I thought some of it might
> be real equipment that I don't recognize. For instance one of the
> characters (Roy) often carries an HT into the hospital when they drop
> off a patient. I think it is an HT220 since it has a telescoping
> antenna, but might be a MT500.
>
> Thanks
>
> 
> 
>
>
> No virus found in this incoming message.
> Checked by AVG - http://www.avg.com 
> Version: 8.0.176 / Virus Database: 270.9.19/1860 - Release Date: 21/12/2008 
> 15:08
>
>