[Milsurplus] Things to avoid (was Re: please end the vituperation

[WA5CAB at cs.com]

Bill,

I'll mention one thing that seldom gets said here, possibly because most 
already know and don't think to mention it.  Plus most here don't discuss 
modifications, especially not unreversible ones, other than undoing them.  When 
"adding circuits that connect to the pins on both ends", or connecting an 
external power supply to the dynamotor connector pins, or whatever, never 
solder to the banana pins.  And if at all possible, don't solder to the mating 
sockets.  The sockets can be reclaimed so that they will work again, although 
it takes better equipment than most people have.  But once soldered to, a 
banana pin is history.

In a message dated 10/19/2011 19:36:08 PM Central Daylight Time, 
wrcromwell at gmail.com writes: 
> Hi,
> 
> I'm a latecomer to the list..not brand new but far far from a charter
> member. My surplus acquisitions are modest and few, especially compared
> to what many members have. I can't tell you how disappointed I am with
> the flames that have been flying everywhere on a couple of the lists. I
> had come to expect much more from everybody and especially from the "old
> timers".
> 
> I learned just from reading *intelligent* posts on these lists that the
> ARC-5 command sets that interest me most do not have to be modified at
> all to get the desired signals in and out of my ham shack. I canceled
> any plans I had to "hack" the gear I have beyond any changes that have
> already been made to any of it. Replacement caps and such are just part
> of maintenance but replacing each dead part with equal value..not
> something intended to change the original operation. Sure enough, the
> gear can work just fine without hack saws, boring bars, blow torches,
> fire axes or anything else. I can add circuits that connect to the pins
> on both ends and do some additional processing that way if I want to. A
> homebrew power supply can connect to the same pins that a dynamotor
> connected. I can build some "other" circuits that plug into the already
> present, working tube sockets and route cables out through a replacement
> top cover that does not punch a hole in the original (or just leave the
> top cover off). Modifications like that are easy to undo by the next
> owner. Just unplug them. I'll be all done with them...feel free to toss
> them in the trash can. Meanwhile I am amazed that some of the oldest
> gear I have works the best and is the most fun to operate. I wonder
> where my "pretty" radios will when they are that old. Proprietary parts.
> Top secret firmware. Long gone I expect.
> 
> Please, lets get back to the *intelligent* posts.
> 
> 73,
> 
> Bill  KU8H

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