[R-390] DSP IF

[mikea]

On Thu, Apr 21, 2005 at 08:17:17PM -0400, Flowertime01 at wmconnect.com wrote:
> Bob,
> 
> Can we do DSP in hollow state, Rack and room size are no problem but I do
> so hate that sand state stuff even if I did slip a pair in for the 26Z5s?

Well, doing real DSP in hollow state will involve some hundreds or
thousands of tubes, with attendant heat, power, and reliability probs. It
could be done, I suppose, but you're talking about implementing a real
computer in hollow state, and that was found to be clunky and expensive.

To do it _all_ in hollow state, you'd end up using WIlliams-tube memory, 
instead of ferrite cores. Fun to watch, but prone to screen burn-in, hard
to keep aligned, and slow. 

Rack and room size probably _would_ turn out to be a problem. So would air
conditioning. In dead of winter.

-- 
Mike Andrews, W5EGO
mikea at mikea.ath.cx
Tired old sysadmin