************************************************************************** The following article (batterie.ps) is a short article about batteries and battery charging. It covers many types of batteries that amateurs might find useful around the hamshack. It does not cover small HT style batteries, although the principles would be similar. Most of the batteries that I use are from the local scrapyard, and were junked from industrial lighting systems, etc. I can usually get a couple of years of service out of almost any of them, with a little care, and some thought about bringing them back up to snuff. ************************************************************************** REVISION of 6 OCTOBER, 1994. THE JUNIOR OPERATOR'S GUIDE BATTERIES, BATTERY CHARGERS, AND BATTERY CHARGING. A Practical Compendium of All That Junk You Might Want to Know. By Robert D. Keys, NA4G Addenda to a presentation by Alan Pitegoff (AB4OZ) and Robert D. ``Boat Anchor Bob'' Keys (NA4G) to the Homebrew Special Interest Group of the Raleigh Amateur Radio Society (RARS) 26 August, 1992 and 26 May, 1993. The following document contains excerpts taken from numerous sources. Where possible, full citation of said sources in given. Where not possible, as full a citation as possible, based upon the author's existing information is given. This document is placed in the public domain and is freely copyable and distributable. Robert D. Keys, NA4G Raleigh, NC, 25 September, 1994. ************************************************************************** Enjoy 73 DE NA4G Boatanchor Bob ************************************************************************** * 73 TU SU SK DE NA4G ``Boat Anchor Bob'', an ol' CW fart. * ************************************************************************** * Morse has been in the family for over 100 years. * * Morse radiotelegraphy (Spark/CW) has been in the family since 1914. * ************************************************************************** * May you have fair winds and following seas on your watch at the key. * ************************************************************************** The following article ``bbagvfo.ps'' is an annotated reprint of an article from QST in 1947 for a small single tube vfo transmitter. It is a nice representation of a minimal low power rig for 80/40 meters. By scaling the coils appropriately, two bands may be covered by interchangeable coils. It should be used with a fairly well regulated power supply to keep chirping to a minimum. This work was presented as a construction project for the Homebrew SIG of the Raleigh Amateur Radio Society, RARS, in 1993. It is a typical example of a late 1930's through 1940's electron coupled Colpits oscillator which can be used as a stand-alone transmitter or as a VFO. In the modern era, its use is rather limited, but it does serve as a good historical example of a fairly well built, simple electron coupled oscillator of the period. The best use of this rig is as a QRP rig for 80 meters, in the long winter nights..... Permission to use this article was given, courtesy QST. The original article was by F.R. Nichols, W6JJI, published in the June, 1947 issue of QST, pages 54-55. The annotations are by Robert D. Keys, NA4G. Have fun constructing this fine little rig, but be careful of the high voltages present. All vacuum tube transmitters will use voltages that may be dangerous to your person. So, exercise due care around such high voltages. 73 TU SU SK DE NA4G Boatanchor Bob These programs are for calibrating the BC-221 and LM frequency meters. If you look at the source, you will find that they were originally written by Boatanchor Bob/NA4G back in 1980, revised in 1994, and the finished by Russ Schroeder/W2DYY in 1996. Russ did the yeoman work of bringing it to a reasonable working set of programs. Kudos to him! These are in the public domain. Use them and enjoy. If you have any bug reports or comments or suggestions for improvements, email to either Bob or Russ..... rdkeys@csemail.cropsci.ncsu.edu russ@eng.mc.xerox.com 73/ZUT DE NA4G/Bob DESCRIPTION OF THE 'DIALS' ARCHIVE OF POSTSCRIPT FILES * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * FILE: dials.readme The files in this directory are a series of various types of radio dial plates and dial decals that are useful to the home constructor. These designs are copyright by Robert D. Keys, NA4G. Permission to use these for any non-commercial amateur radio or antique radio purpose is expressly given by the author. The file collins2.ps is a replacement dial decal for the Collins R-388/51J type radio receivers. Many of these receivers have very poor dial drum decals that have flaked away with age. This replacement dial drum decal can be very easily installed over the original, and it will not affect the original in any way, if care is taken in the installation process. To use, affix the top end of the replacement dial drum decal over the original, careflully aligning it over the original, as closely as possible, with a small piece of clear mylar tape, at the sides. Wind the replacement dial drum decal over the original and affix the bottom end with a long strip of clear mylar tape. To remove, just carefully cut the tape and the replacement dial drum decal will roll off. The original Collins dial drum decal was black and red. My replacement decal is just black, and the type font style is slightly different from the original. But, it is a very close match at all the alignment points. The original dial drum decals are very hard to find, but this replacement is very nice in appearance, and looks just fine, installed. The file dials.ps is an assemblage of various kinds of dial decals and dial plates that I have used over the years. If you find any of value, you are welcome to use them. The file et8019a.ps is a replacement dial setting logging card for an RMCA ET-8019A marine HF CW transmitter. It is useful for any project that requires a dial setting logging card. Cut to suit and mount. The file namdial.ps is another assemblage of various kinds of dial plates that may be useful. If you find any of value, you are welcome to use them. Cut to suit and mount. The file round2.ps is a dial plate patterned after the classic National and Millen rectangular vernier dials. If you have a need for a half-round vernier dial plate, then this may be what you need. Cut and mount behind your vernier dial mechanism on the panel. You will need a pointer of some kind with the vernier, for it to work properly. The file scale100.ps is a linear sliderule dial plate for anyone that has the temerity to put together an old-fashioned '40s vintage type sliderule dial mechanism. Xerox it up or down in size, to suit, and mount on the panel under the sliderule pointer. Most of these smaller decals or plates can be mounted to a panel with double stick clear mylar adhesive tape. If you can xerox them onto two-wide mailing labels, that can also be made to work quite well. Alternatively, a dab of superglue or spray contact adhesive will also work quite well. The larger decals or plates can be cut out and mounted to a panel with screws at the locations of the dot screw holes. Enjoy.... Boatanchor Bob ************************************************************************** * 73 TU SU SK DE NA4G ``Boat Anchor Bob'', an ol' CW fart. * ************************************************************************** * Morse has been in the family for over 100 years. * * Morse radiotelegraphy (Spark/CW) has been in the family since 1914. * ************************************************************************** * May you have fair winds and following seas on your watch at the key. * ************************************************************************** ********************* END OF README FILE ********************** GENLOG.DOC: Genlog.zip is a pkzip archive file containing an amateur radio logbook. The glog.tex file is the TeX/LaTeX typesetter input to a generic amateur radio logbook. The output files .dj are for an HP DeskJet. The output files .lj are for an HP LaserJet. The output files .ps are for any PostScript printer. The logbook is 80 pages long. Single detailed record sheets for logging notes or operating particulars, etc., are in the files glogsht.*. The same extensions as above apply. 73/ZUT DE NA4G/Bob These are GNUzipped files of a Hartley Oscillator article by George Grammer from 1932 with notes and construction hints and adaptations to modern use by R.D.Keys/NA4G. This work was part of a series of HomeBrew construction articles by NA4G on early amateur radio designs for the Raleigh Amateur Radio Society HomeBrew Special Interest Group back about 1992. Permission to reprint provided courtesy QST. The files need to be ungnuzipped and printed on a postscript printer. MAKE SURE YOU HAVE AT LEAST 8 FREE MEGABAYTES ON YOUR HARD DISK IF YOU ARE UNGNUZIPPING ALL AT ONE TIME. Print on dos to a postscript printer as: print filename.ps The gg32text.ps is the normal sized printed text of the work. The gg32big.ps is enlarged print for myopic folks like me, whose arms got short with age. The gg32fig*.ps are the illustrations for the work. The glog.tex file is the TeX/LaTeX typesetter input to a generic amateur radio logbook. The output files .dj are for an HP DeskJet. The output files .lj are for an HP LaserJet. The output files .ps are for any PostScript printer. The logbook is 80 pages long. Single detailed record sheets for logging notes or operating particulars, etc., are in the files glogsht.*. The same extensions as above apply. 73/ZUT DE NA4G/Bob ************************************************************************** The file lmcard.eps is a dial card for the LM series of frequency meters. Print it out on card stock paper and cut to suit. Robert D. Keys, NA4G Raleigh, NC, 25 September, 1994. ************************************************************************** Enjoy 73 DE NA4G Boatanchor Bob ************************************************************************** * 73 TU SU SK DE NA4G ``Boat Anchor Bob'', an ol' CW fart. * ************************************************************************** * Morse has been in the family for over 100 years. * * Morse radiotelegraphy (Spark/CW) has been in the family since 1914. * ************************************************************************** * May you have fair winds and following seas on your watch at the key. * ************************************************************************** These files are the Boatanchors On-Line Historical Documentation Archives manuals for the Navy Model LM frequency meters. The files are gzipped using the GNUzip program. To unzip on dos or unix: gzip -d filename.ps.gz to make filename.ps which can be printed on a postscript printer. There are a cover page, 4 illustration pages and the main text body. Bob This zip file is an archive of dos pc programs for generating morse code and keying radio transmitters. It is my own collection of same. It will run on everything from a CP/M Kaypro II to a Pentium bigboyzbox. The source code is in basic (suitable for compilation --- I use verison 1.1 of the compiler because it generates much faster and tighter code than anything microschloth has released since then). The main use for this stuff is to program a computer to play background music for museum displays, or send automated code for special event broadcasts. That is what I use it for. One could also use it for teaching new hams the code, but that is another subject. There are several programs in the zip file. The mymorse.exe is a program that will read disk files and send them, as well as generate random code, and it is based upon a commonly found early dos basic program. The pcmorse.exe is a stripped down version that runs keyboard only for fastest code. I have expanded the early program to include the full ITU code character set, and to add weighting to the sending. The other ones are just for reference use. Credit goes to Elwood Downey, WB0OEW, who wrote the original code. The Oglesby text file is my Father's sparks newspaper from the merchantman Richard J. Oglesby, a liberty ship that my OM went to Saipan and Iwo on as sparks. It makes some interesting background music for playing at a museum display, an generates a raised eyebrow and smile amongst those who were there, and can read code..... The CFH and NMN text files are the final closing broadcasts from those stations when the went off the air. The UWAG file is the log of goings on during the sinking of the M/V Salvador Allende/UWAG. Some other historical messages are there, too, if you care to look in the various text files, including EXACT messages from the Titanic (I know this because I have a xerox of a message pad from the Russian steamer Birma with the handwriting of the operator thereupon which was published a few years back, and that is as close as one can get to the real thing). If the programs key too fast on your new Pentium processor, recompile the code slowing down the loops to suit. Now it works at 4.77 mhz. If someone wants to add the code to test the clock speed and adjust accordingly they are welcome. If it clips dits, you have bugs in your basic compiler library, and need to get a better or older version. I have run across several versions with this feature. Enjoy..... Good Luck, and may you have Fair Winds and Following Seas, on watch...... 73/ZUT DE NA4G/Bob % Equipment dial name plates generation file --- 40 per 8x10 inch plate. % Print out on laserjet or postscript printer on card stock or on mailing % labels and apply to your equipment. % Radio Receiver Dial Types % Dial size 0.50 x 4.0 inch, 0.50 x 2.0 inch, 0.50 x 8.0 inch. % +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Primary Condenser Tuning Primary Inductance Switch Detector Filament Voltage Primary-Secondary Coupling Antenna Tuning Condenser Secondary Condenser Tuning Secondary Inductance Switch Detector Regeneration Condenser Detector Telephone Condenser Antenna Inductance Switch % +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Antenna Output Current GROUND --- RF and DC Transmitter Input Line Transmitter Tuning Condenser Antenna Tuning Condenser Antenna Output Watts Reverse --- SWR --- Forward Antenna Output Line Antenna Inductance Switch Antenna Inductance % +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Ground Filament +6.0 Detector +22.5 Audio +45.0 % +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% % Article by Robert D. Keys (NA4G) on the National Electrical Code as it % % may apply to amateur radio stations. This is an interpretation based % % upon the author's experiences, studies, and reading of the Code. % %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% % This article is copyright, 1994 by Robert D. Keys (NA4G). % % All rights reserved, worldwide. % % Public non-commercial distribution of this work is authorized. % %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% % This article is typeset using the LaTeX Technical Typesetter. % %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% % REVISION OF 26 JAN, 1994 % %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% ABSTRACT This work was presented as a talk to the Homebrew Special Interest Group (HB-SIG) of the Raleigh Amateur Radio Society (RARS), on 15 January, 1991 and was revised for another presentation on 26 January, 1994. This document contains excerpts of the National Electrical Code (NFPA 70-1990) that, in the author's opinion, apply to the installation of amateur radio equipment as would commonly be found in most amateur radio stations. Direct excerpts from the Code are contained within inset quotations. Paraphrased excerpts from the Code are itemized. The author's interpretation and discussion of the Code is set full-width. The author's interpretation and discussion of various sections of the Code is not meant to be all-encompassing, nor the official interpretation of the National Fire Protection Association, nor of any offical governing body having legal authority of jurisdiction over electrical installations, but is meant to be used as a teaching tool for amateur radio operators. Robert D. Keys, NA4G Raleigh, NC, 25 September, 1994. Enjoy 73 DE NA4G Boatanchor Bob ************************************************************************** * 73 TU SU SK DE NA4G ``Boat Anchor Bob'', an ol' CW fart. * ************************************************************************** * Morse has been in the family for over 100 years. * * Morse radiotelegraphy (Spark/CW) has been in the family since 1914. * ************************************************************************** * May you have fair winds and following seas on your watch at the key. * ************************************************************************** ************************************************************************** These files (ral7schematic.ps, ralcard.ps) are files that are the schematic diagrams and the panel blank dial logging card for the Navy Model RAL-7 HF regenerative shipboard radio receiver. The .eps files and the .tex file are the original input files to the TeX/LaTeX typesetter. The manual will follow later..... The file ralcard.eps is a dial card for the RAL series of radio receivers. Print it out on card stock paper and cut to suit. Robert D. Keys, NA4G Raleigh, NC, 25 September, 1994. ************************************************************************** Enjoy 73 DE NA4G Boatanchor Bob ************************************************************************** * 73 TU SU SK DE NA4G ``Boat Anchor Bob'', an ol' CW fart. * ************************************************************************** * Morse has been in the family for over 100 years. * * Morse radiotelegraphy (Spark/CW) has been in the family since 1914. * ************************************************************************** * May you have fair winds and following seas on your watch at the key. * ************************************************************************** ************************************************************************** The file ralcard.eps is a dial card for the RAL series of radio receivers. Print it out on card stock paper and cut to suit. Robert D. Keys, NA4G Raleigh, NC, 25 September, 1994. ************************************************************************** Enjoy 73 DE NA4G Boatanchor Bob ************************************************************************** * 73 TU SU SK DE NA4G ``Boat Anchor Bob'', an ol' CW fart. * ************************************************************************** * Morse has been in the family for over 100 years. * * Morse radiotelegraphy (Spark/CW) has been in the family since 1914. * ************************************************************************** * May you have fair winds and following seas on your watch at the key. * ************************************************************************** % +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ % This is a file to draw a National Velvet Vernier Dial Plate % +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ % THIS IS A PLAIN TEX FILE % +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ % This is a TeX dial plate for a standard National Velvet Vernier dial % mechanism. % ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ % Cut along the outer box and mount on the panel behind the dial pointer. % Alternatively, cut a border evenly all around the outer box, to suit. % +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ % Use the large dot locations to position the dial shaft center and the % five mounting holes. % +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ This is Alfred Vail's 1847 writeup of Morse's Electric Telegraph. It is in postscript and MUST be printed on a postscript printer. That will make the cover (vailcov.ps) and the book (vailplai.ps) in printer-ready postscript format. THE FILES TAKE UP 5 megabytes of disk space so MAKE SURE YOU HAVE SUFFICIENT ROOM TO HANDLE THEM! Good Luck 73/ZUT DE NA4G/Bob