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Richard Clark · January 5th 09, 05:17 PM posted to rec.radio.amateur.antenna

On Sun, 4 Jan 2009 21:26:18 -0800 (PST), wrote:

After all, one could beat
your $1000 budget by saying that you should start with sand and iron
ore, and invest copious effort in smelting, refining, machining,
etc... Certainly, the cost of preparing the uncertainty analysis is
low, being paper and pencil, aside from the labor. The books sold by
Lindsay Books might be an example of how one can start with scrap
metal, and wind up with a machine shop, albeit at the investment of
substantial time.

Well Jim,

"Beating" the budget is a strange progression toward tackling a
problem, couched in sentimentality worthy of "Tess of the
D'Urbervilles."

Half that budget could buy the RF Head to the HP 8902 measuring
receiver. In my various standards labs, we would rent it for a month
at 1/10th the cost. $50 and fully traceable with an equivalent of
$9500 acquisition potential available from a budget barely nicked. If
you prefer to build it up from components of sand and iron, an abject
collapse of alternative solutions, then the remaining budget has no
utility. The defeatism of "sand and iron ore" capped that off
majestically.

I well anticipated that putting a budget to this would cast a pall of
failure if this problem's solution were cut off from infinite
resource. I'm amused it came with the sallowness of antiquity.

On Sun, 4 Jan 2009 21:39:12 -0800 (PST), wrote:
I'm not
about to go dragging out data sheets and doing an uncertainty analysis
which is of very little value to me, personally, and realistically, of
little value to anyone on this list.

I would tend to agree that technology, accuracy, scientific method,
measurement, and bench work have very little to do with the parade of
ego that passes as correspondence here. Typically, lurkers and those
put off by this lack of substance in response to their postings here
approach me through email for technical resolution.

However, I am happy to accord to the recreational purpose in posting
to the group. Many have expressed value in my own poesy. I am
willing to admit that value runs both positive and negative - Art
would strangle on his spit if he didn't have a target. ;-)

73's
Richard Clark, KB7QHC