ARRL Technical Information Service General Information File: !tis.txt Updated: November 22, 1996 Author: Michael Tracy, KC1SX (email: tis@arrl.org) Prepared as a membership service by the American Radio Relay League, Inc., Technical Information Service. For your convenience, you may reproduce this information, electronically or on paper, and distribute it to anyone who needs it, provided that you reproduce it in its entirety and do so free of charge. Please note that you must reproduce the information as it appears in the original, including the League's copyright notice. If you have any questions concerning the reproduction or distribution of this material, please contact Michael Tracy, American Radio Relay League, 225 Main St., Newington, CT 06111 (email: tis@arrl.org). ----------------------------------------------------------------- The ARRL Technical Information Service The Technical Information Service (TIS) is a valuable ARRL membership benefit. TIS can help you find answers to difficult technical questions. As most long-time hams know, the answer to common technical questions can usually be found by looking in the ARRL Handbook for Radio Amateurs, the ARRL Antenna Book, or one of the many other good Amateur Radio reference books. In fact, when you call or write ARRL TIS staff, you will sometimes be referred to one of these books or to a past magazine article. A few good books go a long way toward answering the vast majority of your questions as well as enhance your knowledge and enjoyment of this fascinating hobby. Magazines are also a superb technical reference. An annual index of articles appears in the December issue of QST and other magazines. By searching these indexes, you can usually find an article or two (or six) about the topic you are interested in. Many QST indexes are also available on the World Wide Web at: ftp://oak.oakland.edu/pub/hamradio/arrl/infoserv/qst/ More QST indexes and a search program are available at: ftp://oak.oakland.edu/pub/hamradio/arrl/infoserv/bbs/programs/qstsearc.zip If you don't have the room in your own shack for a large collection of periodicals, try asking folks at a local ham club, flea market or on the local repeater to see if you can borrow the magazine you need. You may even find that several of these folks have experience with the same kind of problem or question that you have! If you would like a list of clubs in your state, send an SASE to ARRL HQ with a request for a "Local Club List". Lists of ARRL Affiliated Clubs are also available on the web at: ftp://oak.oakland.edu/pub/hamradio/arrl/infoserv/clubs/ The ARRL Field Organization is also a good resource for technical assistance! Each League section has a Technical Coordinator (TC) and/or one or more Technical Specialists (TS). These volunteers can offer "hands-on" help with local technical problems (such as RFI), and can provide personal advice about antennas, station grounding or other questions that are best answered in person. Your ARRL Section Manager (SM), listed on the first few pages of any recent QST, can refer you to your TC or local TS. Email addresses for SMs can also be found on the ARRL Web page: http://www.arrl.org/email.html Before you contact HQ with a question about a magazine article, keep in mind that the author is the most familiar with the text and is usually the best person to contact, especially for project articles. Write the author a friendly letter, asking your questions. (Always include an SASE!) Most authors will send you a prompt reply. If you offer feedback, try to be positive, even if you disagree with the author. Of course, ARRL Headquarters can answer technical questions, too. Our TIS staff is a valuable source of information and research for questions that cannot be answered by the Technical Coordinator or an article author. TIS has pre-prepared information packages and bibliographies which are available upon request to answer many technical questions (many of them are also available at no charge through email and via the World Wide Web - see list below). If you want to know if something has been previously published on a particular subject, the TIS staff can do research to help you locate this information. TIS can also help you locate a company that sells a particular product (such as air variable capacitors) or explain a technical point in person by email, telephone or letter. The Technical Information Service can also supply photocopies of out-of-print QST or QEX articles or article construction "templates" (as mentioned in the text of an article). Contact the hard-working Technical Department Secretary (email reprints@arrl.org) for information or help with reprints and templates. However, if you would rather have a complete issue of QST, contact our Circulation Department (email circulation@arrl.org) to see if it is still available. For more information about the ARRL Technical Information Service, contact: Michael Tracy, TIS Coordinator American Radio Relay League, Inc. 225 Main Street Newington, CT 06111 Tel: 860-594-0200 Email: mtracy@arrl.org Technical Information Packages and Article Bibliographies The following is a list of information packages and bibliographies that are available to provide assistance for technical problems and introductory information on topics of interest. To request paper copies of an information package, send a separate written request to the ARRL Technical Department Secretary. Enclose a check or money order for the amount of $2 for ARRL Members or $4 for non-members for each package requested (covers the cost of photocopying and mailing). To request paper copies of article bibliographies, send a written request to the Technical Department Secretary and enclose a large (9x12) envelope, self-addressed and postage paid. There is no fee for bibliographies, but there is a charge for article copies as explained on each article list. Most of these packages are also available electronically at no charge from the following sources: The ARRL Field Services telephone BBS. The BBS can be reached by dialing 860 594 0306, utilizing standard 8-n-1 parameters, connect rates from 300 baud up to 28,800 baud. Electronic Mail. From CompuServe, Prodigy, America Online and similar services, you can send email to the League's Internet Email Information Server. Send a message to info@arrl.org (this is an Internet address; contact your service provider for details on sending email to Internet). In the text of your message, write the single word HELP to get a set of instructions for using this service. File Transfer Protocol (FTP - Internet only). The League has a remote FTP archive site that contains all of the files from the email server. The descriptions below contain web addresses for those packages and bibliographies that are available in electronic form. PACKAGE TITLE DESCRIPTION ATV Information about Fast-Scan Amateur Television DSP General information on Digital Signal Processing Electrical Safety Reprint from ARRL Antenna Book (pgs. 1-8 to 1-16) Emergency Power Reference to QST, April 1993 Lab Notes EMI/RFI Pckg. General information about EMI/RFI http://www.arrl.org/tis/rfigen.html EMI - Audio Interference to audio equipment EMI - Automotive Automotive Interference solutions http://www.arrl.org/tis/rfiauto.html EMI - Bibliography List of QST articles about interference EMI - CATVI Interference to Cable Television Systems (Reprints from Communications Technology) EMI - CB Interference from Non-Amateur Transmitters EMI - Computer Reprint from QST, September 1995 Lab Notes http://www.arrl.org/tis/rficomp.html EMI - Consumer Consumer Pamphlet on RFI http://www.arrl.org/tis/rfipamp.html EMI - Electrical How to track and solve electrical interference http://www.arrl.org/tis/rfi-elec.html EMI - Ignition Suggestions for solving ignition noise RFI http://www.arrl.org/tis/rfiignit.txt EMI - Pacemaker Susceptibility of Cardiac Pacemakers to interference EMI - RF Bulbs Information about RF-driven lamps http://www.arrl.org/tis/rflamp.txt EMI - Smoke Detector Interference to Smoke Detectors (Reprints from QST, November 1980 and February 1981) EMI - Telephone/FCC FCC Information Bulletin on Telephone Interference EMI - Telephones Reprint from QST, October 1992 Lab Notes http://www.arrl.org/tis/rfitele.html EMI - Television Reprint from QST, March 1994 Lab Notes http://www.arrl.org/tis/tvi.html EMI - Touch Lamp Various QST Hints & Kinks reprints EMI - VCR Brief suggestions (see note 2) Grid Squares How to Locate them (Reprint from January 1989 QST, pg. 29) Indoor Antennas Select an Indoor Antenna (Reprint from QST, December 1992 Lab Notes) http://www.arrl.org/tis/antsind.html Kits ARRL Kit Mfg. List http://www.arrl.org/tis/kits.html LCF Calculator Copy of an old out-of-print LCF Calculator Lightning Protection Reprint of two-part Lab Notes column http://www.arrl.org/tis/lightnin.html Manuals How to Locate Manuals and Documentation http://www.arrl.org/tis/manuals.html Mobile - Marine Maritime Mobile Installation suggestions Moonbounce/EME Information about moonbounce (Reprint from QST, July 1985, pgs. 18-21) Packet Beginner Packet information http://www.arrl.org/tis/pktintro.html Parts List Ch. 35 of Hbk. & QST, August 1992 Lab Notes Printed Circuit Boards Sources for PCB prototypes and supplies Propagation Basics Propagation Introduction and Terms explained RDF Radio Direction Finding Receiver Tests Technical Descriptions RF Energy Safety RF Energy Safety (Reprint from QST and the ARRL Handbook) http://www.arrl.org/news/rfsafetyhbkrf.html RIG What Rig Should I Buy?? (Reprints from QST) http://www.arrl.org/tis/bestrig.html RTTY/AMTOR Getting Started with HF Digital Communications Satellites Information about amateur satellite operation http://www.arrl.org/tis/satguide.html Software Reference to QST, April 1992 Lab Notes SSTV Reprint from QST, January 1993, pg. 20 Stores US stores that sell amateur radio equipment http://www.arrl.org/tis/stores.html Synchronous Detection Reprint from QEX, September 1992, pg. 9 SWL Tips General information about short-wave listening TCP/IP Getting Started with Amateur TCP/IP TV Channels - CATV General Information Vacuum Tube Data General Information WEFAX Reprint from QST, February 1993, pgs. 31-36 Article Bibliographies The following items are lists of articles from many Amateur Radio magazines and other related publications by subject. Bibliography Description World Wide Web URL ------------------------- ----------------------------------------- Alternate power http://www.arrl.org/tis/bibs/altpwr.txt AMTOR Articles http://www.arrl.org/tis/bibs/amtor.txt Antennas, 160-40 Meter http://www.arrl.org/tis/bibs/ant16040.txt Antennas, 30-10 Meter http://www.arrl.org/tis/bibs/ant3010.txt Antennas, curtain type http://www.arrl.org/tis/bibs/antcurt.txt Antennas, J-Pole http://www.arrl.org/tis/bibs/antjpole.txt Antennas, limited space http://www.arrl.org/tis/bibs/antlimsp.txt Antennas, log periodic http://www.arrl.org/tis/bibs/antlog.txt Antennas, Loop http://www.arrl.org/tis/bibs/antloop.txt Antennas, Matching http://www.arrl.org/tis/bibs/antmatch.txt Antennas, Mobile http://www.arrl.org/tis/bibs/antmobil.txt Antenna Rotators http://www.arrl.org/tis/bibs/antrot.txt Antenna Switchers http://www.arrl.org/tis/bibs/antswitc.txt Antenna Theory http://www.arrl.org/tis/bibs/anttheor.txt Antennas, Vee http://www.arrl.org/tis/bibs/antvee.txt Antennas, Vertical http://www.arrl.org/tis/bibs/antvert.txt Antennas, VHF and up http://www.arrl.org/tis/bibs/antvhf.txt Computers, APPLE http://www.arrl.org/tis/bibs/apple.txt Computers, ATARI http://www.arrl.org/tis/bibs/atari.txt Amateur Television (ATV) http://www.arrl.org/tis/bibs/atv.txt Balloons and Ballooning http://www.arrl.org/tis/bibs/balloon.txt Basic Construction http://www.arrl.org/tis/bibs/basconst.txt Basic Electronics http://www.arrl.org/tis/bibs/baselect.txt Batteries, Nicads and Chargers http://www.arrl.org/tis/bibs/battery.txt BC-221 modifications http://www.arrl.org/tis/bibs/bc221.txt Bicycle Operating http://www.arrl.org/tis/bibs/bicycle.txt CB Conversion to 10 Meters http://www.arrl.org/tis/bibs/cbconv.txt Clover (Digital Protocol) http://www.arrl.org/tis/bibs/clover.txt Coax cables and feedlines http://www.arrl.org/tis/bibs/coax.txt Collins equipment http://www.arrl.org/tis/bibs/collins.txt Computers, general http://www.arrl.org/tis/bibs/compgen.txt Contesting http://www.arrl.org/tis/bibs/contest.txt Crystals http://www.arrl.org/tis/bibs/crystal.txt CTCSS http://www.arrl.org/tis/bibs/ctcssbib.txt Direction finding, Radio (RDF) http://www.arrl.org/tis/bibs/dfing.txt Diversity Reception http://www.arrl.org/tis/bibs/diverse.txt Drake Equipment http://www.arrl.org/tis/bibs/drake.txt Digital Signal Processing http://www.arrl.org/tis/bibs/dsp.txt DTMF - tone decoders http://www.arrl.org/tis/bibs/dtmf.txt Echoes (includes LDE) http://www.arrl.org/tis/bibs/echo.txt Earth-Moon-Earth Communications http://www.arrl.org/tis/bibs/eme.txt Electro-static discharge http://www.arrl.org/tis/bibs/esd.txt Amateur FAX/WEFAX http://www.arrl.org/tis/bibs/fax.txt Fiber Optics http://www.arrl.org/tis/bibs/fiber.txt Filters, audio http://www.arrl.org/tis/bibs/filteraf.txt Filters, IF http://www.arrl.org/tis/bibs/filterif.txt Filters, RF http://www.arrl.org/tis/bibs/filterrf.txt Phone patches and autopatches http://www.arrl.org/tis/bibs/fonpatch.txt Grounds http://www.arrl.org/tis/bibs/grounds.txt Handicap (suitable equip.) http://www.arrl.org/tis/bibs/handicap.txt Heathkit http://www.arrl.org/tis/bibs/heath.txt Historical References http://www.arrl.org/tis/bibs/historic.txt Homebrew Components http://www.arrl.org/tis/bibs/hmbrwcmp.txt Computers, IBM http://www.arrl.org/tis/bibs/ibm.txt Integrated Circuits http://www.arrl.org/tis/bibs/ic.txt ICOM equipment & mods http://www.arrl.org/tis/bibs/icom.txt Kenwood equipment and mods http://www.arrl.org/tis/bibs/kenwood.txt Keys, keyers and keying http://www.arrl.org/tis/bibs/keyer.txt Lightning http://www.arrl.org/tis/bibs/lghtnbib.txt Laser Communications http://www.arrl.org/tis/bibs/light.txt Maritime mobile operation http://www.arrl.org/tis/bibs/maritime.txt MFJ products http://www.arrl.org/tis/bibs/mfj.txt Microwave Operation http://www.arrl.org/tis/bibs/microwv.txt Narrow Band Voice Modulation http://www.arrl.org/tis/bibs/nbvm.txt Oscilloscopes http://www.arrl.org/tis/bibs/oscope.txt Packet Radio http://www.arrl.org/tis/bibs/packbib.txt PacTOR and G-TOR articles http://www.arrl.org/tis/bibs/pactor.txt Printed circuit boards http://www.arrl.org/tis/bibs/pcbrd.txt Computers, Programs http://www.arrl.org/tis/bibs/prog.txt Station Accessories Proj. http://www.arrl.org/tis/bibs/projacc.txt Propagation http://www.arrl.org/tis/bibs/prop.txt Public Service communications http://www.arrl.org/tis/bibs/public.txt Power Supplies http://www.arrl.org/tis/bibs/pwrsupp.txt QRP - Articles on low power http://www.arrl.org/tis/bibs/qrp.txt Radio Astronomy http://www.arrl.org/tis/bibs/radastro.txt Receivers, HF http://www.arrl.org/tis/bibs/rcvrhf.txt Receivers, VHF and up http://www.arrl.org/tis/bibs/rcvrvhf.txt Remote Control http://www.arrl.org/tis/bibs/remote.txt Radio Frequency Interference http://www.arrl.org/tis/bibs/rfi.txt RFI, Pacemaker http://www.arrl.org/tis/bibs/rfipcmkr.txt RF Energy Safety http://www.arrl.org/tis/bibs/rfsafe.txt Repeaters http://www.arrl.org/tis/bibs/rptr.txt Radio TeleTYpe (RTTY) http://www.arrl.org/tis/bibs/rtty.txt Safety http://www.arrl.org/tis/bibs/safety.txt Shuttle Amateur Radio EXper. http://www.arrl.org/tis/bibs/sarex.txt Satellite (amateur) http://www.arrl.org/tis/bibs/satbib.txt Speech Processing http://www.arrl.org/tis/bibs/speech.txt Spread Spectrum http://www.arrl.org/tis/bibs/spread.txt Slow-Scan Television http://www.arrl.org/tis/bibs/sstvbib.txt Surface Mount Devices http://www.arrl.org/tis/bibs/surface.txt Surplus Equipment http://www.arrl.org/tis/bibs/surplus.txt SWR/Power Meters http://www.arrl.org/tis/bibs/swr.txt Synthesizers http://www.arrl.org/tis/bibs/synth.txt Ten Tec products http://www.arrl.org/tis/bibs/tentec.txt Test equipment http://www.arrl.org/tis/bibs/testeqpt.txt Time Signals http://www.arrl.org/tis/bibs/time.txt Towers/tower safety http://www.arrl.org/tis/bibs/tower.txt Transverters http://www.arrl.org/tis/bibs/transvtr.txt Computers, Radio Shack http://www.arrl.org/tis/bibs/trs.txt Television http://www.arrl.org/tis/bibs/tv.txt Computers, microprocessor http://www.arrl.org/tis/bibs/up.txt Computers, VIC and Commodore http://www.arrl.org/tis/bibs/vic.txt Very Low Frequency (VLF) http://www.arrl.org/tis/bibs/vlf.txt WARC Band equipment http://www.arrl.org/tis/bibs/warc.txt Weak signal reception http://www.arrl.org/tis/bibs/weaksig.txt Transmitters, HF http://www.arrl.org/tis/bibs/xmtrhf.txt Transmitters, VHF and up http://www.arrl.org/tis/bibs/xmtrvhf.txt Yaesu equpipment and mods http://www.arrl.org/tis/bibs/yaesu.txt