ARRL Handbook redux

[W3RSW]

Topic pulled, but I read it .. all of page one until 11:00am est.
I think it should of been aired out.

Very valid topic with real world interaction.
From an outside party point of view, I thought nothing was really that offensive.

[ka3zlr]

Hi Rick,

I'll ask you I trust your opinions Hows the New Manual is it worth Picking up.

73
Jack.

[W3RSW]

Don't know, but the full page ad in QST looks like it might be one to pick up. I used to get a new one every five years..... then, every 10 years.  Um, last new one I have is the '85. Still Very useful for neat, through-hole QRP type stuff and QRO linears. Every thing else has gotten rapidly dated.  So I might pick one up. See some SMT in action.

('now where did I put that hair dryer and 20x 'scope....) 

Now I get most info from the net and I'm off to the world of SDR., QS1R, etc.
Phil's stuff is the neatest.  I typing this on an ASRock Atom 330 board. Just right for Phil's 'R board.

[ka3zlr]

Thanks Rick,

Ya see that's the thing I'm good to 09 and that's what i used to do every few years grab one up so that is my predicament, I appreciate yer help Sir.

73
Jack.




 

[N3WWL]

There were numerous personal attacks posted in that topic.
http://amfone.net/Amforum/index.php?topic=8406.0
Read number 5...

[W3SLK]

Ok back to topic. Does this handbook still have details for the 'A-frame' antenna support? Last (recent) handbook I got was from 1992 and it still showed that support made from lumber that is no longer commonly cut.

[W1RKW]

I authored the thread. It strayed from topic.  It's good that it got yanked.   If I had the control over my own post I would have done the same thing. To the powers that be and members, sorry for posting the thread. I didn't know that it would morph into what it did.

[W1RKW]

Ok back to topic. Does this handbook still have details for the 'A-frame' antenna support? Last (recent) handbook I got was from 1992 and it still showed that support made from lumber that is no longer commonly cut.

The '96 issue doesn't show it.  Just shows a temp setup using an extension ladder.

[Opcom]

I wish I could help, but the entire topic, not merely the off topic posts, was censored after I went to alot of damn trouble very late at night to provide an unbiased,  truthful, detailed, and informative post concerning the handbook's AM content.

I have the CDROM in the computer now.

But, I suppose if there is a dead and smelly and therefore very annoying rat suddenly found in a radio set, it is always a first impulse to quickly throw the whole set into the metal recycling machine and get rid of the icky creature at once, rather than taking some time to consider the option of removing the offending item and cleaning up around it. That's what my girlfriend would do anyway. And that IS funny, I don't care who you are. But then there is rule #7 so I am going to give the whole thing the big W and do the run/halt/continue on the handbook content.

I do request that my post about the AM content of the book be restored and put in this topic as it is exceptionally relevant to the subject at hand.

To answer your question Mr. SLK, it does not have the wooden A-frame plans or article, nor does it mention such construction, or the ladder. In its place are several other useful but different items.

The feeling I got from investigating the chapter on antennas is that it is from a safety standpoint that make-shift or large home-made supports are excluded. It may also be that the editors felt that many handy-craftsmanship skills are less-practiced today, and therefore they may have felt that such information would not appeal to as many hobbyists.

The volume seemed to expect that the radioman will choose a ready-made tower or pole over any other vertical support, except perhaps for a tree which would be used as an end support for a long wire. Methods of hooking that up are also discussed.

The section that deals with antenna supports/towers the most is the safety section, and it has alot of info on how to properly put up a pre-made tower. I would reccommend that.

It looks like this 1020 version is a major edit from the last one I had 4 years ago.

I can answer more questions as time permits.

[KF1Z]

Posted by Opcom, in "the other thread":

---------------------------------
Some examples by section or page: (fair use)

1.8
"Although more hams are embracing
digital modes every day, phone and
CW by far remain the most popular Amateur
Radio communication modes. Ham voice
modes are amplitude modulation (AM), which
includes the narrower-bandwidth single sideband
(SSB), and frequency modulation (FM).
For the most part, SSB is heard on HF, while
FM is the typical voice mode employed on
VHF, UHF and microwave bands.
The great majority of ham radio HF phone
operators use SSB (subdivided further into
upper sideband and lower sideband), but a few
still enjoy and experiment with the heritage
“full-carrier AM.” Once the primary ham radio
voice mode, this type of AM still is heard
on the standard broadcast band (530 to 1710
kHz). Today’s AM buffs enjoy its warm, rich
audio quality, and the simplicity of circuit
design encourages restoring or modifying
vintage radios or building from scratch. For
more information about AM operation, visit
www.arrl.org/tis/info/am.html."

1.6.1
"Despite the proliferation of cell phones
and other personal communications devices,
radio enthusiasts may have a parallel interest
in conventional AM voice transmission.
These activities take vintage radio fans back
to an era when amateurs knew how their
equipment worked and repaired it when it
didn’t." 
- now if that is not a strong statement concerning the skills I don't know what is.

1.9
AM is the first term in the glossary

also mentioned AM in sections/pages:

3.5
analog basics

4.7.1
microcontrollers - talks about how older CW, AM,and SSB gear was a bigger handful to make and use before micros.

8.1
modulation
rates discussed - CW is as to digital as AM is to NTSC TV video

8.2
designators

(a total of 45 times in chapter 8 on modulation and is but one of many modes (incl phase. etc.) compared with many types of digital modulations.)

section 8.2.2
"In addition to the noise and interference-
reduction advantage, angle-modulated
signals share with full-carrier AM the advantages
of non-critical frequency accuracy and
the continuous presence of a signal, which
eases the task of the automatic gain control
system in the receiver."

8.5.3
"For analog modes, modulation accuracy is
mainly a question of maintaining the proper
frequency response across the desired bandwidth
with minimal distortion and unwanted
signal artifacts. In-band artifacts like noise
and spurious signals should not be a problem
with any reasonably-well-designed system.
Maintaining modulation peaks near 100% for
AM signals or the proper deviation for FM
signals is facilitated by an audio compressor.
It can be either the type that uses a detector
and an automatic-gain-control feedback loop
to vary the gain in the modulation path or a
clipper-type compressor that limits the peak
amplitude and then filters the clipped signal
to remove the harmonics and intermodulation
products that result. SSB transmitters can
also use audio speech compression to maintain
the proper peak power level although, as
explained previously, clipping of the signal
before it reaches the modulator can cause
unacceptable distortion unless special techniques
are used."

chapter 10 -mixers, modulators, demodulators

10.2.2
using AM to send morse code

10.2.3
The many faces of amplitude modulation
includes also DSB and Single-sideband, full-carrier AM

.
.
.

17.1
"Power requirements also depend on the mode being used. Some
digital modes, such as PSK31, work very well with surprisingly
low power. CW is more power efficient than SSB voice. Least effective
is full carrier AM, which is still used by vintage equipment
lovers."


17.7.3 (power amps)
of muffin fans blowing on tubes:
"Many amateurs have used this cooling method
successfully in low-duty-cycle CW and SSB
operation but it is not recommended for AM,
SSTV or RTTY service."

18.2.1
"AM and SSB — There is no reason to limit
repeaters to FM."

I'm quitting here - that is 18 out of 30 chapters, and all of them seem to evenly discuss all modes where appropriate, even from my jaded view. No there are not any plans for high level modulators, 3-diode limiters, swinging-choke-input power supplies, and the like. It is likely that the that the state of that art has reached its zenith among the practicioners of the craft, magisters all, and there is only a little more to write about it. The fact that it does include AM pleasantly is a good thing, I find no fault. The book is not intended to be a tome on engineering replicas of antique radio equipment. There are many other and better books for that.

To be honest, I think the book gives AM a fair and factual treatment, without dengrating or cowtowing to it.
As for its worth, I have not bought an ARRL handbook in 4 years. This one has much new material to offer from that standpoint and goes into many informative details on the more new technology items (which hardcore glass and brass folks might not care about).

ON the CDROM itself:
AM is mentioned 365 times
CW is mentioned 476 times
FM is mentioned 482 times
SSB is mentioned 431 times
DSB is mentioned 23 times
QAM is mentioned 45 times
ATV is mentioned 235 times
SSTV is mentioned 210 times
DTV is mentioned 47 times
ATSC is mentioned 5 times
NTSC is mentioned 30 times
PSK is mentioned 22 times
RTTY is mentioned 112 times
winlink is mentioned 54 times
PACTOR is mentioned 112 times
PACTOR III is mentioned 20 times
tubes are mentioned 226 times
transistors are mentioned 350 times
FET are mentioned 165 times
Class E is mentioned 9 times (this may be found lacking)

[KF1Z]

Finally got my copy today...
Haven't had a lot of time to really dig in.

I guess the pages are thinner, and the type is smaller, because physically, it's smaller than 2 older issues...

But quickly thumbing through, I see a lot of the same diagrams and a lot of new ones....

Might actually be better description of certain types of tubes than in the most recent issues, but may just be the format made the pages jump out as I leafed through. Tubes aren't something I ever really take notice of anyway.. 


I can see already, the CD ROM will get more use than the hardcopy, as I find the glossy paper hard to read from, and the new pages very hard to turn!
(been a LONG time since I've bought ANY new books!)

I did notice some Class-E design software ended up in the companion software...
Not much other discussion on it, of course.... wouldn't have expected more than a mention.

[Opcom]

Thanks KF1Z !!


Did you notice the 250W MOSFET linear with band filters? Is is not the biggest thing on the block but it is important as a start. The filters are also interesting for tube stuff unless I am mistaken.

Maybe you and whomever else messes with class-E can help them out for next time. Someone has to start the class-E thing.

[KF1Z]

Opcom,
Still had the pages in temp internet files, took a while to fish it out, but not as long as you spent putting it together!



Yes, I looked that leeenyar over...

The VRF151 mosfets are actually obtainable, for a mere $65. each.
(I was expecting $100 + in small quantities.)

The trick to that one is getting enough people together that want to build it using nice PC boards, to make a good sized order of them.
They hinted it cost $300  to have 2 sets of boards made.
That's screen printed, masked etc...

The ExpressPCB files are on the CD, so wouldn't have to spend ANY time on layout, unless something NEEDS to be changed.

[W3SLK]

Bruce said:

Might actually be better description of certain types of tubes than in the most recent issues, but may just be the format made the pages jump out as I leafed through. Tubes aren't something I ever really take notice of anyway.. 

I'm surprised it still list tubes!!!! 

[W2PFY]

I wish I could help, but the entire topic, not merely the off topic posts, was censored after I went to alot of damn trouble very late at night to provide an unbiased,  truthful, detailed, and informative post concerning the handbook's AM content.

My statements are intended to be positive here. Generally when a topic is heading south, that is the time to make a copy of the entire  thread by selecting "Save Page As" under file so you will not lose your work. That's what I do but for other reasons that have nothing to do with this board.

[ka3zlr]

I Was interested in what the Handbook had to say an still am but what I can filter out from all the postings it's gona be a CD issue for me, I don't need another book with cheap pages and an it's an exercise to read the pic's are grainy an blaa blaaa...don't need it my eyes are getting worse up close an forget about SMT for me.

UM, as far as what has had or what transpired, poop happens, how many times on the forum do things transgress here an there, But... for some reason, there was quite a large sum of aggression up ended in that thread.... I think alot of it got released an I learned a Few things I wasn't aware of an that's a good thing,.

Stand up dust your pants off an let's go...

73
Jack.

[Pete, WA2CWA]

I Was interested in what the Handbook had to say an still am but what I can filter out from all the postings it's gona be a CD issue for me, I don't need another book with cheap pages and an it's an exercise to read the pic's are grainy an blaa blaaa...don't need it my eyes are getting worse up close an forget about SMT for me.

UM, as far as what has had or what transpired, poop happens, how many times on the forum do things transgress here an there, But... for some reason, there was quite a large sum of aggression up ended in that thread.... I think alot of it got released an I learned a Few things I wasn't aware of an that's a good thing,.

Stand up dust your pants off an let's go...

73
Jack.

The paper handbook comes with the CD. I didn't see a listing just for the CD.

[KF1Z]

I couldn't find a "cd only" version either, because that's what I wanted...

Kinda too bad they don't offer it that way...

There's more information on the disk, than in the book, and it's WAY cheaper to print a CD  !!

[ka3zlr]

I Was interested in what the Handbook had to say an still am but what I can filter out from all the postings it's gona be a CD issue for me, I don't need another book with cheap pages and an it's an exercise to read the pic's are grainy an blaa blaaa...don't need it my eyes are getting worse up close an forget about SMT for me.

UM, as far as what has had or what transpired, poop happens, how many times on the forum do things transgress here an there, But... for some reason, there was quite a large sum of aggression up ended in that thread.... I think alot of it got released an I learned a Few things I wasn't aware of an that's a good thing,.

Stand up dust your pants off an let's go...

73
Jack.

The paper handbook comes with the CD. I didn't see a listing just for the CD.

Thanks Pete I'll be looking into that I got one more test today an then I can call it a day.

73
Jack.

[WA3VJB]

I'm stayin' out of this one, except to say I'm stayin' out of this one.

; )

[W3RSW]

me too.  (from that standpoint.)
You never know when the cold steel of logic will stike the fire. 

How ya been OM?

[ka3zlr]

Yea,...that's really Heavy Duty dudes.... kinda like standing downwind just within earshot of that bee hive...


73
Jack.

[Opcom]

I does not seem to have a table of tube data, or maybe I have not found it yet. There are supplimental files. Some tube data is in an amplifier design program on the CD, an there is a sweep tube data file.
Thre is a whopping 2-page CRT theory file on the CD, from the 09 handbook.

Supplemental Files:
Supplemental files are included on the CD-ROM. They include additional discussion, additional projects, full-size PC board etching patterns, program examples and other useful information. Most template packages are available as PDF files and you can open them by clicking the file name in the table below. All of these packages are available on this CD-ROM in the Supplemental Files directory.
Note: Some supplemental files are not in PDF format. Those are not linked below. You may find these in the CD-ROM Supplemental Files directory.

Chapter Description File Name

2
Electrical
Fundamentals
Thermistors in Homebrew Projects by W0IYH,
Nov/Dec 2000 QEX
Thermistors in Homebrew Projects.pdf

3
Analog Basics
Large signal behavior of BJT and FET amps, from
2009 Handbook
Large-Signal Transistor Operation.pdf
Spreadsheet to calculate and display freq response Frequency Response Spreadsheet.xls
Cathode ray tube theory, from 2009 Handbook Cathode Ray Tubes.pdf

4
Digital Basics
Project: interfacing to parallel port, from 2009
Handbook
Interfacing to the Parallel Port.pdf
BASIC routines for parallel port interface various – in Parallel Port Files folder

5
Radio Design
Techniques
Introductory Smith Chart discussion, from 2009
Handbook
Reflections on the Smith Chart.pdf
Transmission line transformers discussion, from 2009
Handbook
Transmission Line Transformers.pdf

7
Power Supplies
12-V, 15 A power supply article by WA1TWX, Oct
1992 QST
12 V 15 A power supply article.pdf
Feedback and update for the 12 V 15 A supply, Mar
1993 QST
Revisiting the 12 V Power Supply.pdf
12-V, 15 A power supply PCB template 12 V 15 A power supply template.pdf
13.8 V 5 A power supply PCB template 13.8 V 5 A power supply template.pdf
28 V High Current Power Supply project from 2009
Handbook
28 V High Current Power Supply.pdf
28 V High Current Power Supply PCB template 28 V power supply PCB template.pdf
Dual Output Power Supply by VE3ERP, Nov/Dec
2008 QEX
Dual Output Power Supply.pdf
Four Output Bench Supply by K3PTO, July 2009
QST Four Output Bench Supply article.pdf
Four Output Bench Supply support files Four Output Bench Supply.zip
Micro M+ PV Charge Controller from 2009 Handbook Micro M+ PV Charge Controller.pdf
The Series Regulator Power Supply by W0IYH, May
1991 QEX
Series Regulator Power Supply.pdf
Series Regulator Power Supply PCB template Series Regulator PCB template.pdf

9
Oscillators and
Synthesizers
Oscillator Design Example Optimized for Phase
Noise & Power by N1UL
Optimized Oscillator Design - Rohde.pdf
Nonlinear Approach to the Calculation of Oscillator
Phase Noise by N1UL
Oscillator Phase Noise - Rohde.pdf
LTSPICE files for G3UUR Swissroll section various – in SwissRoll Files folder

11
RF and AF Filters
High Performance Passive CW Filter project from
2009 Handbook
Passive CW Filter project.pdf

12 Receivers Rock Bending Receiver PCB template Rock Bending Receiver template.pdf
10 GHz preamp PCB template 10 GHz preamp template.pdf
Binaural Receiver project from 2009 Handbook Binaural I-Q Receiver project.pdf

13
Transmitters
Companion amplifier for T2 transmitter by KK7B, part
1, Feb 2009 QST
Solid State Power Amps - Part 1.pdf
Companion amplifier for T2 transmitter by KK7B, part
2, Mar 2009 QST
Solid State Power Amps - Part 2.pdf

14 Transceivers RockMite transceiver project from 2009 Hbk Rockmite Transceiver Project.pdf
HEX file for Rockmite Rockmite.hex
Norcal Sierra transceiver project from 2009 Hbk NorCal Sierra Transceiver Project.pdf
Norcal Sierra PCB template and construction
information
NorCal Sierra PCB and addl info.pdf
Norcal Sierra parts sources spreadsheet NorCal Sierra parts sources.pdf
HBR-2000 article, by VE7CA, Mar 2006 QST HBR-2000 Transceiver.pdf

15
DSP and Software
Radio Design
DSP projects from 2009 Handbook
DSP Projects.pdf
files that accompany DSP Projects discussion various – in DSP Project Files folder
DSP sample calculations DSP Sample Calculations.pdf
files that accompany DSP Sample Calculations
discussion
various – in DSP Sample Calculation Files
folder

16 Digital Modes Baudot/ITA2 codes ITA2-CODES.pdf
ASCII character set ASCII-CHAR.pdf
PSK31 varicode character set Varicode Used by PSK31.pdf
MFSK16 varicode character set Varicode Used by MFSK16.pdf

17
RF Power Amplifiers
144 MHz Amplifier Using the 3CX1200Z7 by N7ART
from 2009 Handbook
144 MHz Amp.pdf
4CX1600B HF amplifier project by K6GT 4CX1600B HF Amp.pdf
Pi and Pi-L network equations and tables from 2009
Handbook
Pi and Pi-L Network Equations.pdf
W5FD PINET DOS software (for use with
equations/tables)
various – in W5FD PINET Software folder
Broadband transformers and combiners from 2009
Handbook
Broadband Transformers.pdf
Tuned (Resonant) Networks from 2009 Handbook
(for use with MATCH.EXE)
Tuned Networks.pdf
MATCH.EXE software (for use with Tuned
(Resonant) Networks discussion)
various – in MATCH folder
250 W solid state amplifier files -- PCB artwork, parts
lists, photos
various – in 250 W Solid State Amplifier
folder
3CX1500D7 HF amplifier files -- PCB layout, Pi-L
values spreadsheet
various – in 3CX1500D7 Amplifier Project
folder

20
Transmission Lines
Transmission line transformers discussion from 2009
Handbook
Transmission Line Transformers.pdf
TLA transmission line software various – in TLA Software Files folder

21
Antennas
K8SYL's 75 and 10-Meter Dipole by K8SYL, Jul 2002
QST
K8SYL dipole.pdf
An All-Copper 2 Meter J-Pole by KD8JB, Antenna
Compendium Vol 4
Copper J-pole.pdf

22
Component Data
and References
BNC crimp-on installation guide
BNC Crimp-On.pdf
N crimp-on installation guide N Crimp-On.pdf
Miniature lamp specifications Miniature Lamp Guide.pdf
TV deflection tube specifications TV Deflection Tubes.pdf
Properties of common thermoplastics Thermoplastics.pdf
Step attenuator construction details Step attenuator.pdf

23
Circuit Construction
Surface Mount Technology Part 1 - April 1999 QST
by N4UAU
SMT by N4UAU - Part 1.pdf
Surface Mount Technology Part 2 - May 1999 QST
by N4UAU
SMT by N4UAU - Part 2.pdf
Surface Mount Technology Part 3 - June 1999 QST
by N4UAU
SMT by N4UAU - Part 3.pdf
Surface Mount Technology Part 4 - July 1999 QST by
N4UAU
SMT by N4UAU - Part 4.pdf
Deluxe Soldering Station from 2009 Handbook Soldering Station.pdf
A No-Special-Tools SMD Desoldering Technique by
KH6WZ, Aug 2009
SMD Desoldering.pdf

24 Station Accessories
Trio of Computer Interfaces PCB template Computer Interfaces template.pdf
Tandem Match project from 2009 Handbook Tandem Match.pdf
Switched attenuator project from 2009 Handbook Switched Attenuator.pdf
Remote power controller project from 2009 Handbook Remote Power Controller.pdf
ID-O-Matic code and support files various – in ID-O-Matic folder

25
Test Equipment and
Measurements
Marker Generator PCB template
Marker generator template.pdf
Measure Inductance and Capacitance with DVM -
PCB template
DVM L-C Meter template.pdf
Calibrated Noise Source template Noise source template.pdf
Cathode ray tube theory, from 2009 Handbook Cathode Ray Tubes.pdf
Ferrite choke measurement by K9YC Measuring Ferrite Chokes.pdf

26
Troubleshooting and
Repair
Dip meter sources
Dip Meter Sources.pdf
Crystal controlled signal source PCB template Xtal signal source template.pdf
AF/RF signal injector template Signal injector template.pdf

27
EMC and Direction
Finding
Simple Seeker project from 2009 Hbk
Simple Seeker.pdf
Active Attenuator project from 2009 Hbk Active Attenuator.pdf
Active Attenuator PCB template Active Attenuator template.pdf

28
Safety
Electric Current Abroad booklet from US Dept of
Commerce
Electric Current Abroad.pdf

30
Space
Communications
WA5VJB's Cheap Yagi for LEO Satellites
Cheap Antennas - LEO Satellites.pdf

32
Image
Communications
Educational robot ATV setup details by WA8SME
various – in BOE-BOT Project folder

[W3RSW]

So close and yet so far....

30
Space
Communications
WA5VJB's Cheap Yagi for LEO Satellites
Cheap Antennas - LEO Satellites.pdf

Smoke em if you got em Paul  .

[ka3zlr]

There's quite a few reflections on the 2009 handbook ah well..

73
Jack.