[MRCA] Seventies Technology

[D. Platt]

I recently gave a talk on the applicability and availability test 
equipment for the radio amateur.  What I've found is that there exists a 
practical demarcation in the type and kinds of test equipment that the 
ham operator can reasonably afford to have.   One type is the throw-away 
test sets like DVMs, inexpensive L/C meters and the like.  There is also 
a wholly different ilk of equipment that includes 3rd (70's vintage) and 
4th gen test equipment as provided by the likes of TEK and HP, to name a 
few.  This equipment may be excellent for the ham up to the point when 
it fails.  A good deal of 3rd gen equipment could arguably be repaired 
by the ham with reasonable tech experience, along with the requisite 
documentation and access to spares (also see axiom at the end).   Repair 
by a PMEL provider is generally not a real choice, owing to the very 
high cost of same.   4th gen equipment is fine, again, up until it 
fails.  4th gen equipment generally requires trained PMEL techs, a lab 
environment, and full access to factory support.   The hamfest circuit, 
maybe even Epay, is a great source if one exercises a bit of///caveat 
emptor/, along the way.  If the price is too good, probably better check 
it out.. on site, if you can!  That said, the "lab" (sic) here has some 
very nice HP, Boonton, and Tek equipment that has done yeoman service 
for a while, now  If (when) it finally fails, though, I'll be in a real 
bind.  When I worked for an R&D outfit a number of years ago, we had a 
saying in our group.  With any equipment you have, always have two, a 
pair, and a spare.  That way, one always have back-up and spares.... hi!!

Y'all use those 6db pads  (fuses!)... hear!!

Jeep - K3HVG
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