Next time try an outfit called "Big Lots"-- they had packs of 3
USB cables- for about 8 bucks, if memory serves!! And, their clerks
are dumb, and KNOW that they are dumb, so no lecture from them,
if you can even find one that "speaka d' english " ! They are an
overstock/closeout specialty store, and have everything from food to
computer disks and small handtools! Relatively inexpensive, too-- Jim
NN7K

Michael Coslo wrote:
Slightly OT, but kinda fun anyhow.....

I'd been trying to locate a reasonably priced USB cable over the weekend
It seems that you often pay as much for the cable as you fo for the
device you are connecting to the computer.

Has stereo voodoo physics entered the computer realm?

Anyhow, I ended up in a Radio Shack store, found the cheapest cable I
could, (20 bucks) and made the mistake of mentioning something to the
salesman about the funny claims on the packages. Big mistake, I had
blasphemed his religion. In the next couple minutes I learned that:

Turns out that different frequencies travel at different speeds down the
cable. Good cables have special formulations of wire that compensate for
this.

Everybody knows that!

He didn't know what velocity factor was, but let me know that he had
taken physics classes, so he knew what he was talking about.

So why have u antenna gurus been misleading us?!


Now that my eyes have been opened I understand....

Looking at an antenna, it becomes obvious that the lower the
frequency, the slower the signal moves. The extra length of the antenna
allows the RF to accellerate enough so that when it reached the end of
the antenna, it has enough velocity to shoot out and not float straight
up. Those really high frequencies are zipping by so fast that they
hardly need any wire to get to TOSP (Take-off speed)

Wow, I have reached true enlightenment...............



- Mike KB3EIA -

Jim - NN7K wrote:
Next time try an outfit called "Big Lots"-- they had packs of 3
USB cables- for about 8 bucks, if memory serves!! And, their clerks
are dumb, and KNOW that they are dumb, so no lecture from them,
if you can even find one that "speaka d' english " ! They are an
overstock/closeout specialty store, and have everything from food to
computer disks and small handtools! Relatively inexpensive, too-- Jim

Good tip, Jim! We have one of them here, and I'm going to check on Friday.

- Mike KB3EIA -

On Wed, 23 Nov 2005 14:28:47 -0500, Michael Coslo
wrote:

Slightly OT, but kinda fun anyhow.....

....

Wow, I have reached true enlightenment...............



- Mike KB3EIA -



My favorite RShack items are the $100+ "Monster" cables to hook up
TV/DVD players. Gotta get those optical electrons flowing just
right...

bob
k5qwg

Michael Coslo wrote:
Slightly OT, but kinda fun anyhow.....

I'd been trying to locate a reasonably priced USB cable over the weekend
It seems that you often pay as much for the cable as you fo for the
device you are connecting to the computer.

Has stereo voodoo physics entered the computer realm?

Anyhow, I ended up in a Radio Shack store, found the cheapest cable I
could, (20 bucks) and made the mistake of mentioning something to the
salesman about the funny claims on the packages. Big mistake, I had
blasphemed his religion. In the next couple minutes I learned that:

Turns out that different frequencies travel at different speeds down the
cable. Good cables have special formulations of wire that compensate for
this.

Everybody knows that!

He didn't know what velocity factor was, but let me know that he had
taken physics classes, so he knew what he was talking about.

So why have u antenna gurus been misleading us?!


Now that my eyes have been opened I understand....

Looking at an antenna, it becomes obvious that the lower the
frequency, the slower the signal moves. The extra length of the antenna
allows the RF to accellerate enough so that when it reached the end of
the antenna, it has enough velocity to shoot out and not float straight
up. Those really high frequencies are zipping by so fast that they
hardly need any wire to get to TOSP (Take-off speed)

Wow, I have reached true enlightenment...............

Funny that you brought this up today, Mike. I happened to hit my local
RadShack yesterday in search of a Cinch-Jones power connector. I told
the salesman what I was looking for, an 8-pin Jones plug/socket set. He
asked if I was looking for a microphone connector. I explained what the
Jones plugs looked like and told him that they used to be standard fare
in at Radio Shack and that they stocked them in 2, 4 and 8 pin
varieties. He told me that he'd never seen nor heard of them.

I told him that I could likely use a strip of the European-style nylon
electrical connectors with screw terminals. He'd never heard of those
and said RadShack didn't stock them. I walked to a different section of
the store and pulled two of them off the rack.

I've gotten into several heated discussions with audio weenies over
oxygen-free cable, gold-plated connectors, carbon vs. metal film
resistors and mylar vs. paper capacitors. All of these guys swore up
and down that they could hear a difference in one item vs. the other.
I've offered to set up blind tests to see if they could, but none would
ever take me up on the offer.

Dave K8MN

Dave Heil wrote:
I told
the salesman what I was looking for, an 8-pin Jones plug/socket set.

I made the mistake at RS of asking for a Molex connector.
--
73, Cecil http://www.qsl.net/w5dxp

Cecil Moore wrote:
Dave Heil wrote:
I told the salesman what I was looking for, an 8-pin Jones plug/socket
set.

I made the mistake at RS of asking for a Molex connector.

They actually have a few of 'em, Cecil. Our area stores keep them in
metal drawers now rather than hanging them on the wall.

Dave K8MN

Dave Heil wrote:
Cecil Moore wrote:
I made the mistake at RS of asking for a Molex connector.

They actually have a few of 'em, Cecil. Our area stores keep them in
metal drawers now rather than hanging them on the wall.

Oh, they had them hanging on the wall but said they didn't
have any. When I found them, they asked, "How do you know
that's a Molex connector?" :-)

Adopted from the IC-22S 30 years ago, I still use the 4-pin
version for low current 12 volt power in my shack and in my
pickup.
--
73, Cecil http://www.qsl.net/w5dxp

"Cecil Moore" bravely wrote to "All" (24 Nov 05 17:16:53)
--- on the heady topic of " Radio Shack and my education"

CM From: Cecil Moore
CM Xref: core-easynews rec.radio.amateur.antenna:220329

CM Dave Heil wrote:
I told
the salesman what I was looking for, an 8-pin Jones plug/socket set.

CM I made the mistake at RS of asking for a Molex connector.

But I'll bet they could have found you a Molex/RCA adapter! ;-)

A*s*i*m*o*v

.... Sho-ping. Martial art using technique of kew-pon.

I'd been trying to locate a reasonably priced USB cable over the
weekend
It seems that you often pay as much for the cable as you fo for
the
device you are connecting to the computer.

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

It's quite legal for traders to charge whatever price they think the
buyer can afford.

On the other hand, it is also quite legal for the buyer to haggle
about it. It's entirely up to you if you are unhappy.
----
Reg.

Reg Edwards wrote:
I'd been trying to locate a reasonably priced USB cable over the

weekend

It seems that you often pay as much for the cable as you fo for

the

device you are connecting to the computer.


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

It's quite legal for traders to charge whatever price they think the
buyer can afford.

Of course. And entirely up to me if I go into the store again.

On the other hand, it is also quite legal for the buyer to haggle
about it. It's entirely up to you if you are unhappy.

I'm trying to guage the reaction from the RS folks if I haggled over
the price!

My main point wasn't the price anyhoo, but the snake oil science used
to sell the "superior" cables. RS has no monopoly on that.

I've had trouble in the past with cables. Once with a too long SCSI
cable. But that was just a velocity vs timing, and a cheap-o video cable
that didn't have good shielding.

But those things make sense, not exotic wire formulations that speed up
or slow down certain frequencies.....

- Mike KB3EIA -