[ARC5] Bear ''raslin', or, "The ATC and Me" (Very Long)

[Leslie Smith]

Hello list,

I read the description of bringing the ATC-13 "back" with great interest - although I'm not familiar with this set.    The nearest I had to this was a Collins TCS - the only similarity being the name "Collins" and "military".   Plus it was nicely made.   I'm ashamed to say I gave the TCS away; however since it went to a the Kurrajong Radio Museum, I have some relief from my shame.  However, to stay on topic ...

Despite not knowing the ATC-13 in detail I read every part of the process with great interest.  The observation in the first para comes from experience.  Everything takes time, and if you don't have time, don't begin.  I thought it was info well directed.

At the same time (last week) I was working on a different piece of gear (solid state, microprocessor controlled, own design) and couldn't help comparing the list of Dave's "bears" hurled snarling and clawing to the ground with bears on my list.

I'm in my early 60's and some of the difficulty I experienced last week was 100% my own making - eg I poked the return (common) wire into the uP "D" port (one terminal to the left of common) and blew up the uP.  Put it down to eyesight, put it down to carelessness, put it down to failure to check.  Would I have done this 20 years ago, when I could see more clearly than now?

Having blown up this tiny little card, it took me an embarrassingly long time to find the note I made 5 years ago about setting up a new card.  I believed I WOULD HAVE WRITTEN A NOTE.  I believed I HAD A NOTE.  I could NOT find the note.  Then I found the note.  Would I have taken so long 20 years ago?  Y'see, one of the problems with age is that focus is narrower or perception less broad.  

On the other hand, I know that 40 years ago I wouldn't have solved the problem full stop.  Experience was missing that far back.

It's very hard to GAUGE the size of a bear to rassle.
It's hard to gauge my CAPACITY to rassle bears.
Bears are a problem.

Good luck with the ATC-13

Les
ex VK2BCU



-- 
_______________________________________________
Surf the Web in a faster, safer and easier way:
Download Opera 9 at http://www.opera.com