N6ENV Newsletter, April 1998 BATTERIES INCLUDED By Mike, K6YPB If there were one thing that we hams do not seem to have a shortage of, it would be the number of and different types of batteries. Batteries are our lifelines to the freedom of the airwaves. To make things even worse, the radio manufacturers seem to be involved in a conspiracy between themselves and in their own product line. No single battery pack will power multiple radios. With the ultimate crime being a single battery working in radios from different manufacturers. When was the last time you took a look the A/C outlet in your ham shack. I bet it's over loaded with those small power cubes we call wall warts. A few companies have come up with good ideas, products that would permit the charging of different batteries with a single base unit. One company designed a basic charging unit and offered several different optional receiver "cups" to fit the particular battery being charged. Now the line in the sand has been drawn. MAHA, a local Southern California based company has introduced a new truly universal battery charger, the MAHA MH-C777 Universal Charger / Conditioner. Not only will the MAHA MH-C777 Universal Charger / Conditioner virtually any rechargeable battery, but it will also condition the battery. Plus it will work on NiCD as well as NiMH batteries, ranging in values from 4.8v to 12v. Regardless of size or shape, if your battery has exposed charging contacts, this unit will do the job. With the optional power cord, those batteries with just pigtails exposed can be charged. This desktop charger has a lightweight durable plastic construction. The charger is a mid size design when compared to some of the others I own. The size is approximately 7" x 4.75" x 2.25" high, which provides a stable charging platform for even the largest of batteries. The unit has four LED indicator lights, which permit the user to determine the state of the charging cycle with just a glance. There are only two switches on the unit. One is for starting the conditioning cycle or discharge, and the other reverses the polarity of the charging contact pins. Worried about over heating your rechargeable battery? Not to fear, there is a small magnetic temperature sensor to protect the battery from over charging. The chargers operating range is from 4.8v~12v when powered by the units home power supply. When powered by the included car cigarette lighter adapter, the operating range is 4.8v~9.6v. The first question I thought of was how does it know the value of a given battery pack. Was it magical like a thermos bottle, that age old question of how do it know? The MH-C777 is microprocessor controlled. First, the charger inputs a small current into the battery pack to determine its voltage. Now as you may know, sometimes the initial voltage can be an inaccurate representation of the battery pack rated voltage. To solve this problem, through out the course of the charging cycle, the charger compares (aprox. every 3 min), the charging curve with the simulations stored in its memory, and thus making an accurate determination of the voltage. This type of setup gives a very good accuracy to the charge. Accommodating just about any battery pack, the contact pins are easily adjusted to virtually any position in either height or distance between them This versatility gives the MH-C777 its true "universal" capability. I have nine different types of battery packs for my different hand held transceivers alone. I was able to condition and charge each pack using the MH-C777. The optional power cord was used for two different packs without charging contact pins. With the umbilical cord to the manufactures cut, I was feeling rather smug about my newfound independence. Looking down at a small box of dead but yet to be buried NiCD batteries, I was feeling like Dr. Frankenstein trying to bring a spark of life back. There were three batteries for my TH-79a, two ICOM BP-8, one FNB-17. All these batteries were old and very dead. The results of using the MA-C777, (oh, I need to add the disclaimer- individual results may vary, price based on MSRP and only entry per household), was the resurrection of 3 of the dead batteries. Two of the TH-79a batteries and one BP-8 are working like new. The Little FNB-17 for my Yaesu FT-911 would not even trigger the charging circuit. That's almost $200 in batteries saved! With the MH-C777 selling for about $50, I have already recovered my initial investment. The MAHA MH-C777 Universal Charger / Conditioner is a truly innovative step forward in design and product versatility. The newer units are being shipped with a more detailed user manual and the company has an 800 tech support telephone line. With OEM drop in charging units priced in some cases double that of the MAHA, the MH-C777 is a sound investment into the future. Not only will savings be realized do to the versatility but also in saving many dollars in replacement batteries. THE BIG BASH On February 8, 1998, the N6ENV Repeater Group sponsored a Pizza Bash, which was held at the Shakey's Pizza Parlor in Saugus,CA. About 45 licensed hams checked in and along with family members, there was about 60 people in attendance to participate in the festivities. The main theme of the get together was Teamwork through good friends and amateur radio. The party was also used as a platform to present the winning prizes in our membership drive. Joe, KF6OCP was the Yaesu FT-50r Grand Prize winner in the autopatch drawing. Tom, KE6YEY was the First Prize winner of the Indiglo Wrist Watch and Craig, KF6KBG won the Digital Multi-meter. In the Supporting membership drive, Bill, WD6EDE was the Grand Prize winner of the MAHA Dual Band Mobile Amp. James, KF6HGY was the First Prize winner of the AM / FM / TV/ Weather AC/DC Multiband Portable Radio and Julian, KB2RFM won the Digital Multi-meter. The Door Prize raffle, a MAHA Universal Charger/conditioner was given to a young ham, which unfortunately I lost his name in all the excitement. Our apologies to him. We also held drawings for 19 door prizes, for which everyone who showed was eligible for. We had a large selection of ham radio related literature graciously sent to us by several of the Manufacturers. Yaesu was the main sponsor and we wish to express our gratitude for their support. Nearly everyone who was there went home with something from our giveaway. Unfortunately, a local ham radio store over charged us for our main prizes and refused to make any adjustments. The total value of all the prizes given away was nearly $650. The N6ENV Repeater Group also picked up the bill for all the pizzas, chicken and potatoes. Who would have thought we could eat $320 in food. This was definitely the bash of the year!! Thanks to all who showed up and your support. THAT DRIVER MUST BE DRUNK! by Eliot, N6ZCX Hi everyone, my name is Eliot, N6ZCX and I am one of the control operators on this great repeater system. I thought I would share a story with you, in which I did my good deed for the year in 1997. I was heading to work and decided to look for a cop friend of mine in Burbank. I got off the 134 Fwy at Cahuenga and took Riverside Drive eastbound. There was this blue car ahead of me driving funny. I noticed that his right front tire was flat. He was going in both #1 and 2 lanes, slowing down, speeding up. This went on for a couple of miles and within that time, he was driving on just his rim. Just before Alameda and Riverside split, I pull aside of him and told him he should pull over and explained he was on the rim. He said ok and then sped off on Alameda. I thought this guy is really messed up, either on drugs or alcohol. He crossed Pass Ave and then Hollywood Way. I pulled ahead of him and noticed he finally stopped in the #1 lane. I then pull into the Kenny Rogers parking lot. I thought, great now I can call Burbank PD and someone check this guy out. I pulled the cell phone out and start to dial, then the guy starts up again. Hell, I couldn't even get the phone on , so I pulled out of the lot and pull a U-turn and as he goes though Olive Ave I'm right behind him (even though I ran the red light). He crossed Bob Hope Drive, and I run that red light. He then veered over into the on coming traffic lanes and was now driving next to the parked cars. Finally he stops. I pulled over and called Burbank P.D. Walking over to the car, I could see his right front fender was damaged like he was in an accident. Maybe a hit and run. Anyway, the police were on their way. I got to this guy and finally talked him into pulling over on the other side of the road. I then asked him for his keys and he turned the car on. This happened twice, then I asked him to get out of the car to look at his fender. Finally he did and I showed him. He didn't smell of alcohol or anything. I called Burbank again to see on the ETA of the unit. The unit was on the way, so we started asking the guy if he was on any medication. He said yes, but wouldn't say what. Five minutes later the unit showed up and I gave them all the info. This guy was uncooperative to them so he was on the way to jail. I had to get to work so that night I called my friend and asked what the outcome was. He got there a little while after I had left. They had the drug expert show up and this guy wasn't on drugs at all. He couldn't stand up or anything. They took him to the St. Joseph's, (50 feet from there) and found out he was in diabetic shock. The last thing he remembered was leaving Agoura Hills. Well I'll take the pat on the back. ARRL SPRING SPRINTS Spring is in the air. April marks the start of the annual ARRL sprint sprints. The object of each Sprint is the same for any other ARRL sponsored VHF/UHF contest. The only difference is that a single night will be dedicated to the most popular bands. As with life, there are a few exceptions. The first is the 6-meter band, where the contest will span the weekend. For those who operate 902, 1296 and 2304 Mhz, these bands will be combined. Object: To work as many amateur stations in as many 2 degrees by 1 degree grid squares as possible, using authorized amateur frequencies on the 50, 144, 222, 432, 902, 1296 and 2304 MHz bands. Most use the Sprints practice operating styles and test station operation when they are assured large numbers of other operators will be on the air. The 144 MHz Sprint will be from 7 PM until 11 PM local time on Monday April 13, 1998. The 222 MHz Sprint will be from 7 PM until 11 PM local time on Tuesday April 21, 1998. The 432 MHz Sprint will be from 7 PM until 11 PM local time on Wed April 29, 1998. The 50 MHz Sprint will be from 2300Z Saturday until 0300Z Sunday May 16-17, 1998 FIELD DAY 1998 If you missed Field Day 1997, last June at the Lake Piru Recreational Area, your chance to repent will be here soon. I am sure you had heard about this much talked about event on the weekly Sunday night nets, which followed. Activities included boating, fishing, water sports and food, Lots of food. Oh yea, a little bit of ham radio operation. Saturday afternoon, featured a group BBQ and Armine's, KE6IRC home made pies. With the 1998 Field Day date approaching quickly, Saturday and Sunday June 27~28. We need to choose a location for this year's event. We can reserve the Lake Piru facility again, but are open to other suggestions. Keep in mind, that keeping the Field Day site local will benefit those who can only come up for a day. Listen to the weekly nets for details and suggestions. N6ENV IS OPEN FOR BUSINESS The TRW swap meet is on the last Saturday of each month at the corner of Marine and Aviation in Manhattan Beach CA. The swap meet starts at 7:00am and goes until 11:30am. We have two adjacent spaces in the northeast corner of the lot. This is a high-traffic area, a prime spot, so lots of people will see us as they walk in from the east parking lots. N6ENV is selling some new and used equipment to help raise funds for upcoming repeater improvements. Members can also put their own items up for sale at the booth; we just ask for a small donation to help pay for the space. To get to the TRW swap meet: Take I-405 to Rosecrans Avenue, go west to Aviation Blvd (where the big railroad bridge crosses the intersection), then south on Aviation to Marine - you're there, follow the cars going in. The TRW ARC uses the talk in frequency of 145.32 Mhz. AN ALTERNATE TO HAM RADIO? By Forrest Oden, N6ENV Personal Radio Service was petitioned to the FCC by Radio Shack in 1995. It allowed groups or families to communicate via unlicensed radios putting out 1/2 watt. This gave them a range of 1 to 2 miles. The service was given 14 channels on 462 and 467 MHz in the uhf band. They use PLs just like we use in repeater operation. These keep the radios muted until a signal with the correct PL is used. Sorry, repeaters are not allowed. Radios sell for a little over $100.00 each. Crank your radio down to half of a watt on low power and you too can use these frequencies. They are: 462.5625, 462.5875, 462.6125, 462.6375, 462.6625, 462.6875, 462.7125, 467.5625, 467.5875, 467.6125, 467.6375, 467.6625, 467.6875, 467.7125. Give this a try but I hope you can split four places past the decimal? WHY YOUR RADIOS DO MORE AND COST LESS? By Forrest Oden, N6ENV Many years ago, those of us in the television game watched with great excitement as the first VHS/Beta tape machines were unveiled. How could anyone engineer a device that could produce an expectable picture on 1/2 inch tape? 20 years ago, when I went to work for CBS Network, right out of college mind you, we had to go to great lengths to set up one-hundred-ten thousand dollar tape machines to record shows with great precession. Oscillators set to exacting standards measured on complicated oscilloscopes. Video standard tapes played to set things like tip penetration and guide height. Velocity compensators tweaked to cover up banding...on and on! In those days the object was to set up a machine to record a "perfect recording." Then one-inch machines came out with the "new technology" of a dirty recording corrected during playback using time-base correctors. A lot of toys had to be put in a small box...so they invented better chips and smaller circuitry. And what do you know, the smaller one-inch machines cost half the price of the big monster 2-inch machines thanks to the advances in electronics. But back to our home VCR being developed. The one inch machine was about one sixth the size of the 2 inch and the new VHS and Beta machine being developed by Sony had to sit on top of the home TV with out breaking through the top or causing your grandmother to get a hernia! What a super task for those big Japanese minds with little tiny component sized hands to accomplish! "Ahhh...domo," said one Sony engineer to another, "surface mount technology?" Yes mount little tiny resistors, diodes and capacitors along with very small semiconductors on a circuit board. Cover them with "gooey liquid" and bake them according to mother Ito's recipe. Out came inexpensive, lightweight, labor saving, cheap, and throwaway technology! Just what this recyclable planet needed. Something so cheap to buy that when it breaks it is cheaper to buy a new one then to fix!!! See the correlation now? Thanks to VCRs innovative technology, chips and board components were readily available at cheap prices to make very small ham radio sets that Would make Marconi come to life and raid the nearest HRO store! Regrettably, little has been done for the "LIDS" that operate them! ------------------------ http://www.instanet.com/~scratchi/n6env.html (end of file)