[MRCA] Seventies Technology

[Al Klase]

Jeep and the Group,

I've noticed similar lines of demarcation in military radios.  We can 
keeps the tube radios, BC-348's, command sets, Angry Nine's, etc. 
running for another hundred years.

The early hybrid and all-solid-state stuff, PRC-25, VRC-12, PRC-74 is 
serviceable.  They use pretty much generic components. However, they get 
complicated.  One needs proper skills, documentation and test equipment.

The next generation, e.g., PRC-104, are largely serviceable only by 
swapping major assemblies.  My only-half-kidding comment is that they 
are just a heartbeat away from being a wheel chock.  I don't even care 
to think about the latter equipment, but isn't it cool having a super 
computer controlling you mess kit?

Moore's law has led us here, and the only direction is forward, to a 
universal transponder embedded in you brain.

Al

Al Klase -- N3FRQ
Jersey City, NJ
http://www.skywaves.ar88.net/

On 5/23/2014 5:26 PM, D. Platt wrote:
> 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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