Keep in mind that some web sites may no longer be available as they change from time to time.
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JANUARY 2004
Everyone assumes that California has the most hams of any state (true, 99,845).
Which state has the
fewest? (Delaware at 1,391). How about Kansas? (7,212). So, how many Kansas
licensed hams do not
actually live in KS, but live in Alaska? How about the average months until
license expiration of all U.S.
hams? (57.42 months). This site has all the license info you can dream up, not
only for U.S. but the U.K.
and Japan. Browse around, it's pretty interesting:
http://www.speroni.com/FCC/index.html
I'm sure all have heard that 73 Magazine has gone belly-up. The good news is
that all issues will soon be
on-line, all the way back to issue #1. You can, for some unspecified time, view
and/or download several
selected issues. Check out some of those great covers and articles. Yep, Wayne's
ramblings are also
included:
http://hamcall.net/73.html
This is a handy site and a great illustration of the power of Java script. Just
click on the color bands for value
of that resistor you are holding in your hand:
http://www.dannyg.com/examples/res2/resistor.htm
Now, back to thinking about scheduling some time to run a backup on this new
hard drive ......
Meanwhile, happy surfin'.
FEBRUARY 2004
You can download a neat CW program from this site, use CW over your local LAN
or the
internet:
http://www.mrx.com.au/d_cwcom.htm
I have not tried this guy's CW program and cannot vouch for his claim that
anyone can copy code
within 30 seconds of starting his program, some pix of the Mars rover also:
http://users.ev1.net/~wd0hco/
While on the subject of CW, you might want to visit this site, links to some
museums, software,
happenings:
http://www.chss.montclair.edu/~pererat/telegrap.htm
And jumping "forward" to the subject of computers, this site offers
the most complete chronology of digital
computers I have seen. Period covered is from 1644 to 1952 .... and you thought
computers were a 'recent'
invention?
http://www.davros.org/misc/chronology.html
For the techno-nerd who has all the modem electronic toys, how about a "Scope
Pocket Watch"? Yep, it uses
a real cathode-ray vacuum tube. Also check out his link to the larger model.
Note that the digits are not
"digital" but are drawn onto face of the tube. Neat!
http://www.cathodecorner.com/sc60.html
This month's pick for Site of Significant Historical Interests is a small country
newspaper down in Arkansas.
This issue (18 Jan 04) announces 'breaking news' that the Brits, are releasing
reconnaissance aerial photos
from WWII, will be viewable on-line. This news story was noted in only one other
newspaper, a large
metropolitan .....
http://ap.thecabin.net/pstories/technology/20040118/1810508.shtml
MARCH 2004
OK, this site is not exactly "Radio" but contains some great info
for refreshing your basic
electronics knowledge plus digital and analog audio, microphones, etc.
http://arts.ucsc.edu/EMS/Music/courses/126.html
While on subject of audio, this site reveals probably more than you ever wanted
to know about
headphones and proper matching a set to your rig or just about any receiver:
http://www.crystalradio.net/soundpowered/matching/index.shtml
Several sites have been suggested previously for determining MUF (Maximum Usable
Frequency). Here is a
new one that will take a bit of study but is in real-time and updated at 5-minute
intervals, for the MUF from
anywhere to anywhere:
http://www.spacew.com/www/realtime.html
This month's pick for Site of Significant Historical Interest is
http://www.gordon.army.mil/ocos/
home page for the U.S. Army Signal Corps. Although pages can be painfully
slow in loading, there
are some very interesting articles on history of the Corps, dating from Civil
War era.
APRIL 2004
Often when clicking on a URL link one runs into the old blank page and "Error
404- File Not Found".
This one is a bit different, advising you of the fact in dozens of languages:
http://www.ibiblio.org/pub/academic/agriculture/agronomy/ham/GLOWBUGS/ThePor
Do you have an ICOM radio and need a manual for it? Or maybe just interested
in specs on an
older model? You can download the complete manual from their support site. Most
all the recent
models are immediately available, or if like me and need an older model that
isn't listed, just send
them an email request, wait a few days and the Japanese folks will add it to
the list so you can
download, great!
http://www.icom.co.jp/world/support/index.htm
Or, maybe you need info and/or a schematic for an old tube radio? This site
has listings for dozens of
manufacturers of the old ones:
http://www.nostalgiaair.org/Resources/
and if you don't find it there, try this one:
http://techpreservation.dyndns.org/schematics/
Having a problem with your oscilloscope? You can download a Tektronix troubleshooting
guide
here:
http://w1.871.telia.com/~u87l38090/
Those who know something of the background of ARRL founder Hiram Percy Maxim
will remember that
he was, among other things, inventor of the Maxim Silencer. They are still being
manufactured, although
for other applications nowadays:
http://www.beairdindustries.com/products/silencers.html
Finally, this month's Pik for Site of Significant Historical Interest takes
you to a huge collection of Morse
keys:
http://www.zianet.com/sparks/index.html
MAY - None
JUNE 2004
What with all the rage of vanity calls, have you thought about a vanity telephone
number? Maybe this site
will assist you in planning one:
http://www.phonespell.org/
Or, if you really want to splurge and go for a vanity "800" number,
maybe you can select a really cool one
here:
http://businessesales.att.com/products_services/tollfreeproduct_cataloglookup.jhtml?salescode=attlfsmb
Remember those neat Hickok Cardmatic tube testers? You just inserted a card
into a slot, plug in
your tube, push a button to test. The modem technician can do away with all
those old-fashioned
cards, just plug the Cardmatic into your PC, plug a tube into a socket, launch
a program on the PC,
click the mouse on the appropriate tube number and test all tube parameters
automatically, even
display and print graphs for each tube:
http://tubesontheweb.com/matic.htm
Here is a quick one-page display of all ham frequencies, neat:
http://www.radioing.com/hamradio/hamfreqs.html
For those with an interest in military aviation, this site has much to offer
about the old ones, not
much on their communication gear however:
http://www.warbirdalley.com/acft.htm
And, our pick for this month's Site of Significant Historical Interest has a
lot to do with
communication, history of the Los Angeles police department communication division,
beginning
ca. 1931:
http://users.snowcrest.net/marnells/kma367-1.htm
JULY 2004
This nifty site allows you to view ham license plate examples from all the states:
http://www.k2bj.com/Plates.htm
Looking for radio-related software? This site has this and other technical applications
for free
download:
http://www.btinternet.com/~g4fgq.regp/
So, you think that brand new transceiver has perfect CW waveform? This site
analyzes key clicks
of some recent high-end rigs and offers graphic and audio examples of the problem
and fixes:
http://www.w8ji.com/keyclicks.htm
If none of the above links are your cup of tea, or maybe you just love to surf
the web in search of
radio sites, this one has enough links to keep you browsing for a while:
http://www.geocities.com/CapeCanaveral/9178/linkrad.htm
This month's pik for Site of Significant Historical Interest takes us to France
for a museum tour of
early Morse equipment, French and other early radios, as well as some other
interesting electrical
items. Be sure to check out the section on loudspeakers-outstanding!
http://jcverdier.museum.online.fr/nouvellepage2.htm