[Boatanchors] Cheap & Easy Selectivity

[WA5CAB at cs.com]

I'm sorry, but I've been in this business since the 60's (that's 1960, not 
2060), and I disagree with both of you.

First, the standard gimmick is two random parallel wires usually twisted 
together.  Not two metal plates with a piece of stupid window glass.  Nor an 
unusually long aluminum screw is some piece of junk built by Heath.  

Second, many military sets including the majority of the Command Sets were 
built with solid wire, not stranded.  Mostly #22 R&SCC.  There is a well 
known gimmick mod published for Command recievers.  It actually works.  I made 
it in one around 1963 while at LSU.

The other common gimmick, more common in low-end civilian or commercial 
equipment is a length of zip cord cut to length.  Zip cord usually stranded.

In a message dated 8/21/2009 7:25:30 PM Central Daylight Time, 
km1h at jeremy.mv.com writes: 
> I think he shot his wad yesterday with one unqualified statement Bob.
> 
> Carl
> KM1H
> 
> 
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "rbethman" <rbethman at comcast.net>
> To: "Boatanchors" <boatanchors at mailman.qth.net>
> Cc: <jfor at quik.com>; "Carl" <km1h at jeremy.mv.com>
> Sent: Friday, August 21, 2009 3:37 PM
> Subject: Re: [Boatanchors] Cheap &Easy Selectivity
> 
> 
> >So I suppose that two metal plates separated by a layer of glass doesn't 
> >qualify?
> >
> >Look, a "gimmick" simply became a generic term for a quick and dirty 
> >hand-made capacitor.
> >
> >This has become a matter of semantics in lieu of a discussion of the use. 
> 
> >This is no different than the neutralization in Heath rigs of a threaded 
> >aluminum rod inside the final cage OR adjacent to the final to act as a 
> >capacitor.  They simply did NOT use the term "gimmick".
> >
> >BTW - most hookup wire in a radio is NOT solid.
> >That's what happens when someone whom isn't in the hobby steps in - 
> >mis-information!
> >
> >Bob - N0DGN
> 

Robert & Susan Downs - Houston
wa5cab dot com (Web Store)
MVPA 9480