[MRCA] Seventies Technology

[KA1LHZ]

Waaayy back in the dark ages when I was in the Air Force (and planes
were carved from logs) I worked on the flight line (fright line for the
in shop techs) on F-15's. Even the radar systems designed in the 1960's
had automated testing stations for repair. It would run through a
routine, blink a button, and when the tech pressed the button, continue
the test routine. I spent time in the shop and figured if I could invent
a machine to squirt out a banana when the button got pushed, we could
have a lower primate push the button when it blinked for a banana. Then
the humans could be freed up to actually fix something. I know it's more
involved than that, but complexity has only increased exponentially
since then. I figure when they start putting computers in toilets, then
it's time to get out of the service technician business.
Cheers and 73 from the rainy Peoples Republic of Vermont
De KA1LHZ
Steve

On 05/23/2014 10:26 PM, Al Klase wrote:
> 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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