May 2000 QST

180 Pages·2000·42.05 MB·English

(cid:1)
May 2000 Volume 84 Number 5
CONTENTS
David Sumner, K1ZZ
Publisher Technical
Mark J. Wilson, K1RO
Editor
Steve Ford, WB8IMY 33 Automatic Amplifier Selection for the ICOM IC-746, -736 and
Managing Editor -706MKII Transceivers Paul Hewitt, WD7S
Joel P. Kleinman, N1BKE
What happens when you have several amplifiers that you want to use with a
Associate Technical Editor
single ICOM transceiver? This project offers an easy solution.
Larry D. Wolfgang, WR1B; Dean Straw, N6BV;
Robert Schetgen, KU7G; Charles L. 37 Build a Flagpole Antenna Booster Frank Ingle, KG4CQK
Hutchinson, K8CH; Paul Pagel, N1FB
Senior Assistant Technical Editors During public service events or emergencies you often need to get a VHF
Joe Bottiglieri, AA1GW antenna in the air in a hurry. Here is a simple project that will give you the
Assistant Technical Editor “altitude” you need.
Ed Hare, W1RFI; Zack Lau, W1VT;
Mike Tracy, KC1SX; Al Alvareztorres, AA1DO 39 Improving the Hamtronics R139 VHF Weather-Satellite
Laboratory Staff Receiver Interface Jim Kocsis, WA9PYH
Rick Lindquist, N1RL Make a great weather satellite receiver even better.
Senior News Editor
Rosalie White, WA1STO 42 PSK31 2000 Steve Ford, WB8IMY
Public Service In little more than a year, PSK31 has blossomed into one of the most popular
Dan Henderson, N1ND HF digital modes. Find out where we stand today.
Contests
Mary E. Lau, N7IAL 60 Product Review Joe Bottiglieri, AA1GW
At the Foundation QST inspects the Kenwood TM-D700A, a dual-band
Bernie McClenny, W3UR FM mobile transceiver with a built-in packet TNC,
How’s DX?
and the ACOM 2000A HF linear amplifier.
Bill Moore, NC1L
DXCC, VUCC
John Hennessee, N1KB
Washington Mailbox News and
John Troster, W6ISQ; Emil Pocock, W3EP; 60
Diane Ortiz, K2DO; Stan Horzepa, WA1LOU;
Features
Paul L. Rinaldo, W4RI; Al Brogdon, W1AB;
George Fremin III, K5TR; Roger Burch, WF4N;
John Dilks, K2TQN; Rich Arland, K7SZ;
H. Ward Silver, N0AX
Contributing Editors 9 “It Seems to Us. . .”: Real Hams
Michelle Bloom, WB1ENT 15 DC Currents Steve Mansfield, N1MZA
Production Supervisor
A new spectrum bill arrives in the Senate as League officials visit
Jodi Morin, KA1JPA
Assistant Production Supervisor/Layout Capitol Hill.
Sue Fagan 28 Operating in the UK: A Primer for US Hams Ian Poole, G3YWX
Graphic Design Supervisor
When your vacation plans take you to merry old England, don’t forget to pack
David Pingree, N1NAS
Senior Technical Illustrator your radio!
Michael Daniels 30 DXing on a Shoestring Roger Sullivan, WA0ETE, and Hugh Tinley, K0GHK
Technical Illustrator
Not all DXpeditions are budget busters. Belize is an overlooked travel bargain
Joe Shea, Paul Lappen
Production Assistants and a desirable DX destination.
Steffie Nelson, KA1IFB 32 Dayton Hamvention 2000: A Once-in-a-Lifetime Gathering
Proofreader
This historic event will combine the world’s most Jim Graver, KB8PSO
John Bee, N1GNV
Advertising Manager popular Amateur Radio convention with the ARRL National Convention.
Hanan Al-Rayyashi, KB1AFX 58 Confessions of a DXing Dad James Kates, N9GBB
Advertising Production Coordinator
Amateur Radio and parenting do go together.
Melissa Yrayta
Advertising Assistant 80 Happenings Rick Lindquist, N1RL
Debra Jahnke
Phase 3D could launch in July; League files partial reconsideration petition;
Circulation Manager
Dayton Hamvention announces award winners for 2000; court denies
Kathy Capodicasa, N1GZO
Deputy Circulation Manager KV4FZ appeal; more...
In order to ensure prompt delivery, we ask that
you periodically check the address information QST (ISSN:0033-4812) is published monthly as its official journal by the American Radio Relay
on your mailing label. If you find any inaccura- League, 225 Main Street, Newington, CT 06111-1494. ARRL yearly membership dues (including a
cies, please contact the Circulation Department subscription to QST), are $34 worldwide. To compensate for additional postage for mailing outside
immediately. Thank you for your assistance. the US, please remit $47 for Canada and $54 for other countries. Complete membership information
is shown on page 5. Periodicals postage paid at Hartford, CT, and at additional mailing offices.
See page 10 for detailed contact information.
Telephone: [phone] POSTMASTER: Form 3579 requested. Send address changes to:
QST, 225 Main St, Newington, CT 06111-1494 Volume 84, Number 5
Fax: [phone]
4 May 2000
QST Workbench
46 The Doctor is IN
Adapting ladder line to a coax-only station; horizontal vs vertical polarization;
temperature extremes and LCD displays; more!
48 Practice Morse Code with a Java Applet Martin A. Minow, K6MAM
Two for the price of one: an introduction to the Java programming language
and a clever code practice application you can use on your own computer.
51 Test Your Knowledge! H. Ward Silver, N0AX
Five "painful" questions.
52 Short Takes Dan Henderson, N1ND
The Heil Sound Goldline Studio Microphone.
53 The Help Desk
A chart of US amateur bands.
54 A No-Tune 2-Meter Bandpass Filter Zack Lau, W1VT
Put a stop to annoying intermod!
56 Hints & Kinks Bob Schetgen, KU7G Our Cover
A fold-down mobile antenna mount; a solid-state flashlight, more... QST Senior News Editor Rick Lindquist, N1RL,
captured this bustling scene in Hara Arena during
1999 Dayton Hamvention. Believe it or not, the
30
floor of Hara Arena contains only a fraction of the
Hamvention exhibits. The rest are scattered
throughout the convention complex. There is still
time to make your plans to attend the historic 2000
Dayton Hamvention and ARRL National Conven-
54
tion. Hamvention General Chairman Jim Graver,
KB8PSO, tells you why you should, on page 32.
Membership in the ARRL, including a subscription
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Age 65 and over, with proof of age, $28 (US only).
Licensed radio amateurs age 21 and under may
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Subscription rate for libraries and institutions:
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Operating the US.
Membership without QST is available to the
immediate family of a member living at the same
address, and to anyone who is legally blind,
66 Armed Forces Day 2000 Stations and Frequencies for $5 per year.
Foreign remittances should be by international
81 1999 ARRL International EME Competition Results Dan Henderson, N1ND postal or express money order or bank draft
negotiable in the US and for an equivalent amount
83 2000 ARRL June VHF QSO Party Rules
in US funds.
84 2000 ARRL Field Day Rules Copyright ©2000 by the American Radio Relay
League Inc. Title registered at the US Patent
Office. International copyright secured. All rights
Departments reserved. Quedan reservados todos los
derechos. Printed in the USA.
QST®, DXCC®, VUCC® and DX Century Club®
At the Foundation..............................90 Op-Ed.................................................80 are registered trademarks of the American Radio
Contest Corral....................................91 Public Service....................................73 Relay League, Inc.
The ARRL and QST in no way warrant the
Coming Conventions.........................94 QRP Power.........................................87
products described or reviewed herein.
Correspondence................................24 Radios to Go......................................89 QST is available to blind and physically
Digital Dimension..............................88 Section News.....................................97 handicapped individuals on audio cassette from
the Library of Congress, National Library Service
Feedback...........................................45 Silent Keys.........................................92 for the Blind and Physically Handicapped.
Call 1-800-424-8567.
Ham Ads...........................................148 Special Events...................................96
Indexed by Applied Science and Technology Index,
Hamfest Calendar .............................95 Strays.....................................51, 80, 92 Library of Congress Catalog Card No: 21-9421
How’s DX?..........................................75 The World Above 50 MHz.................77
Reprint Permission
Index of Advertisers........................174 Up Front in QST.................................19 For permission to quote or reprint material from
QST or any ARRL publication, send a written
New Books.........................................41 W1AW Schedule................................93
request including the issue date (or book title),
New Products.........................36, 50, 92 We’re at Your Service........................10 article, page numbers and a description of where
you intend to use the reprinted material. Send the
Old Radio...........................................86 75, 50 and 25 Years Ago..................93
request to the office of the Publications Manager
(e-mail [email protected]).
May 2000 5