[Boatanchors] Receiver Antenna Input Question

[J Forster]

Hi,

I've looked a bit and can't find a reference right off, but I remember that some Ne lamps
(although perhaps not NE-2s) had either a small amount of radioactive gas and/or metal in
them to provide some continuing ionization so the start voltage is more stable. Maybe it's
just T/R tubes and voltage regulators and not pilot lights.

Interesting sidelight (to me). I was recently in a hotel and there was a hair dryer on the
bathroom wall with a neon pilot light. The light was flickering a bit., When you turned off
the room light the neon would go out completely, turn on the night light, the neon would
flicker, turn on the full lights and the neon would glow brightly. A perfect example of why
some residual ionization is important. (photoionization in this case)

FWIW,
-John

===========

Ken Kaplan wrote:

> John,
>
> What radioactive material is in an NE-2? I thought it was just neon (which is not at all
> radioactive). Of course there is some smoke in there somewhere even if you can't see it.
> Seems like smoke is the major component of all electronic devices.
>
> Ken