[Boatanchors] Re: troubleshooting shortcuts

[R.J. Keller]

Well, I sure didn't expect to create a mad rush to Amazon but this
morning they had 9 copies at $4.89 and now there is only one at
$15.99! Guess they figure there is a demand so they jack up the price
for the last copy. Sorry about that.
73, Dick KF4NS
Keep the glow!

----- Original Message -----
From: "R.J. Keller" <rkeller@ij.net>
To: <drake@mailman.qth.net>; <heathkit@mailman.qth.net>;
<boatanchors@mailman.qth.net>; <collins@listserve.com>;
<collins@mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Friday, July 12, 2002 12:55 PM
Subject: troubleshooting shortcuts


| From time to time we all get questions from new ham operators that,
| although we know the answer, we can't explain it clearly. A
gentleman
| asked me how the pins on tubes are numbered. Of course I said CW
from
| the bottom and CCW from the top. He said, "how do you know that"?.
So
| I broke out all the references I could think of including the
several
| Handbooks, E&E, Sam's, RCA RC's, electronic course books, etc. etc.
| etc. Hundreds of book in my library but not one about how to count
| pins.
|
| Finally I came across a paperback that came as part of the deal with
a
| hardbound I had purchased in the late 70's. I had never read it, but
| decided to check it as a last resort. The book is called ELECTRONIC
| TECHNICIAN'S HANDBOOK OF TIME-SAVERS AND SHORTCUTS (not a short
title
| though) by Carl G. Grolle.
|
| With the recent comments such as "don't have the time" and "not
enough
| test equipment", all you have to do is go to amazon.com and buy this
| book (used) for less than $5 and you won't be able to keep your
hands
| off the equipment. (not so good for us with fading eye sight and
| arthritic fingers though)  This guy gives so many shortcuts and ways
| to troubleshoot without test equipment other than a VTVM, as well as
a
| wealth of simple circuits to build for testing and how to use them.
|
| I guess what I am saying, if we can have fun and simplify some of
the
| gobble-de-goop that we were taught but find tough to apply
sometimes,
| there will be no more excuses not to be do-it-yourselfers. There are
| probably other not-so-technical books out there hiding on the
shelves,
| ready for new or old to get the desire to dig in and have fun. Good
| luck.
|
| 73, Dick KF4NS
| Keep the glow!
|