[MRCA] Seventies Technology

Tue May 27 18:31:06 EDT 2014

You're too late. There have been 'puters in toilets (seats) for over 40
years.

-John

====================

> 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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>>
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