On Wed, 27 Jul 2011 16:49:59 -0700 (PDT), Gary
wrote:

Too bad you don't drink beer, the "Learn by destroying" gets really
easy after a couple. Or maybe it is just the destroying that gets
easier.

Well, the slogan is not quite what it seems. I was graduation from
Cal Poly Pomona back in the days when the skool slogan was "Learn By
Doing". The basic education plan was to get as much hands on
experience for the undergrads as possible. We modified the slogan to
"Learn by Destroying" which had more than a little truth to it. I
discovered quickly that the easiest way to understand how something
works is to (accidentally) break it, and then desperately attempt to
fix it before I'm discovered. It's a great way to learn, but does
tend to get rather expensive. A less drastic version is sometimes
called "sensitivity analysis" where one uses or installs a device in
some manner in which it was never intended to function in an attempt
to see how sensitive it is to installation and operation creativity.
This works well with antennas, where there are almost an infinite
number of ways to do it and still have it function.

We have some local hams that have never removed the screws from their
radios and looked inside. I often do this for them, while they
complain about warranty and loss of resale value. Tearing the radio
apart and giving them a tour of the guts (sometimes at radio club
meetings) is also fun (to watch them sweat).

You now have the unenviable task of acting as mentor to this new ham,
who apparently has the potential for more than minimal understanding
and knowledge. You may soon find yourself doing some furious reading
(or Googling) in order to just keep up with him. I've done this a few
times, where my usefulness eventually ends when the new ham tells me I
don't know anything. I just smile, and await the next victim.


--
Jeff Liebermann
150 Felker St #D http://www.LearnByDestroying.com
Santa Cruz CA 95060 http://802.11junk.com
Skype: JeffLiebermann AE6KS 831-336-2558