Radio Shack and my education
 

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 -

Radio Shack and my education
 

On Wed, 23 Nov 2005 14:28:47 -0500, 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, sounds like he is well on the way to a ham licence... did you
sign him up?

Owen
--

Radio Shack and my education
 

"Michael Coslo" wrote in message
...
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!

you didn't know that? its called frequency dispersion. fortunately it is a
relatively small effect and in normal bandwidths hams use it can be ignored.
for very high bandwidth signals like high speed digital stuff it can badly
distort the waveforms and can be the limiting factor in determining maximum
cable lengths without repeaters.

Radio Shack and my education
 

On Wed, 23 Nov 2005 19:43:15 GMT, Owen Duffy wrote:
On Wed, 23 Nov 2005 14:28:47 -0500, 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.

Mike, sounds like he is well on the way to a ham licence... did you
sign him up?

Too much ruckus has been focused on the 'No Code License' issue.
The ruckus should, instead, be focused on the 'No Clue License'.

Jonesy
--
Marvin L Jones | jonz | W3DHJ | linux
Pueblo, Colorado | @ | Jonesy | OS/2 __
38.24N 104.55W | config.com | DM78rf | SK

Radio Shack and my education
 

Dave wrote:

"Michael Coslo" wrote in message
...

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!


you didn't know that? its called frequency dispersion. fortunately it is a
relatively small effect and in normal bandwidths hams use it can be ignored.
for very high bandwidth signals like high speed digital stuff it can badly
distort the waveforms and can be the limiting factor in determining maximum
cable lengths without repeaters.



Oh yes, I've heard of dispersion. But that isn't what the guy was
talking about in our context. He was talking about gross effects.

- Mike KB3EIA -

Radio Shack and my education
 

On 23 Nov 2005 20:29:37 GMT, Allodoxaphobia
wrote:


Too much ruckus has been focused on the 'No Code License' issue.
The ruckus should, instead, be focused on the 'No Clue License'.

I never mentioned the no-code licence... we got over that over a year
ago down under.

I suggest it is not a matter of the no-clue licence, but the no-clue
licensee, who could be licensed in any grade.

Owen
(Spelling correct for country of origin!)
--

Radio Shack and my education
 

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 -

Radio Shack and my education
 

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 -

You can increase the velocity factor (and shorten the antenna) by using a good grade of Carnuba automobile wax to make the antenna slipperyer, which (because of skin effect) allows the signal to accelerate faster.

The Man in the Maze
QRV from Baboquivari Peak, AZ

Radio Shack and my education
 

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

Radio Shack and my education
 

Iitoi wrote:

Michael Coslo Wrote:

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



You can increase the velocity factor (and shorten the antenna) by using
a good grade of Carnuba automobile wax to make the antenna slipperyer,
which (because of skin effect) allows the signal to accelerate faster.

The Man in the Maze
QRV from Baboquivari Peak, AZ


Yah but it makes receiving signals harder because the incoming radio
waves find it hard to stick to the antenna. They slip off in the wind.

Radio Shack and my education
 

I do have a a small tin of that "antenna wax" around somewhere. Maybe I
should dig it up and put it on ebay ;)

Scott


Iitoi wrote:
Michael Coslo Wrote:

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



You can increase the velocity factor (and shorten the antenna) by using
a good grade of Carnuba automobile wax to make the antenna slipperyer,
which (because of skin effect) allows the signal to accelerate faster.

The Man in the Maze
QRV from Baboquivari Peak, AZ

Radio Shack and my education
 

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

Radio Shack and my education
 

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)...

BTW, Mike, Big Lots, Value City and WalMart usually have a variety of
USB cables from $4.99 to $7.99.

Dave K8MN

Radio Shack and my education
 

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

Radio Shack and my education
 

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.

Radio Shack and my education
 

Michael wrote:
From my son's perspective, a teacher must really know something to be a
teacher. Sadly, this is far from true.

When I was student-teaching in the early 60's, the regular
physics teacher told his students that transistors were
made out of geranium. :-)
--
73, Cecil http://www.qsl.net/w5dxp

Radio Shack and my education
 

Michael wrote:
My son took and electronics course at Benson High School in Portland Oregon.
The teacher was totally clueless and just made things up as he went along.

Ah yes. I attended Bensen Tech (so it was called then) in the Fall of
1953. We were taught to check light sockets for electricity be removing
the bulb and putting our fingers in them. Harmless fun :-)

Radio Shack and my education
 

Home Depot, GE brand $ 9.99 6 foot,
also other pc accessories under $ 10.00

usb dude

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 -

Radio Shack and my education
 

Owen Duffy wrote:

On 23 Nov 2005 20:29:37 GMT, Allodoxaphobia
wrote:



Too much ruckus has been focused on the 'No Code License' issue.
The ruckus should, instead, be focused on the 'No Clue License'.


I never mentioned the no-code licence... we got over that over a year
ago down under.

I suggest it is not a matter of the no-clue licence, but the no-clue
licensee, who could be licensed in any grade.

Owen
(Spelling correct for country of origin!)
--

Correct. I have personally met more extras without a clue than
generals, and that's not percentage-wise. Your personal mileage may
vary, but a lot of extras seem to be really code oriented or contest
oriented, and did nothing but memorize the technical questions answers
(US) to pass.

I do not maean to disparage anyone who got their license by legitimate
means.

Wasn't there a scandal around that sort of thing a while ago. The name
West comes to mind, but I truthfully don't remember anything more than that.

tom
K0TAR

Radio Shack and my education
 

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 -

Radio Shack and my education
 

Michael wrote:
My son took and electronics course at Benson High School in Portland Oregon.
The teacher was totally clueless and just made things up as he went along.
One of them was that the higher the voltage on a wire, the faster it travels
in the wire. It took me all day to make my son believe that his teacher was
just a clueless sot and to understand ohms law. From my son's perspective, a
teacher must really know something to be a teacher. Sadly, this is far from
true.


This is why there is a market for some pretty bizzare antennas out there!

The good news was that I was forced to take a more active part in his
education about electronics. We built and tested projects together and it
was good for both of us.


There ya go!

- Mike KB3EIA -

Radio Shack and my education
 

Dave Heil wrote:
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.

Sigh.... and then a few months later RS pulls the parts because "no one
is buying this stuff", and puts up more cell phone posters....

All because some doofus doesn't know inventory. 8^(

I don't want to diss my local shack too much tho'. They are the nearest
one to the local University, and they keep a pretty fair stock. Probably
because the Electro-geek level is a little higher than some other
places.I shop there when possible to help keep it going.

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.

It's just like testing ESP, or spoon bending. Something in the testing
process just changes something. You might ask those weenies if they have
any of those rocks that you are supposed to place someplace or another
to make the sound better.

- Mike KB3EIA -

Radio Shack and my education
 

Iitoi wrote:
Michael Coslo Wrote:

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



You can increase the velocity factor (and shorten the antenna) by using
a good grade of Carnuba automobile wax to make the antenna slipperyer,
which (because of skin effect) allows the signal to accelerate faster.

If you want a multiband, should you only wax portions of it?

- Mike KB3EIA -

Radio Shack and my education
 

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

Radio Shack and my education
 

"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.

Radio Shack and my education
 

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

Radio Shack and my education
 

Cecil Moore wrote:
Michael wrote:

From my son's perspective, a teacher must really know something to be a

teacher. Sadly, this is far from true.

When I was student-teaching in the early 60's, the regular
physics teacher told his students that transistors were
made out of geranium. :-)

Everybody knows they are made out of humurous ex-convicts [silly-con].

But, in the 60s I was production engineer making 'geranium' transistors.

Radio Shack and my education
 

Michael wrote:
My son took and electronics course ...

Michael, check your computer clock. Is it set
to PM instead of AM?
--
73, Cecil http://www.qsl.net/w5dxp

Radio Shack and my education
 

Phil Wheeler wrote:

Michael wrote:
My son took and electronics course at Benson High School in Portland Oregon.
The teacher was totally clueless and just made things up as he went along.

Ah yes. I attended Bensen Tech (so it was called then) in the Fall of
1953. We were taught to check light sockets for electricity be removing
the bulb and putting our fingers in them. Harmless fun :-)

I couldn't wait to be old enough to go to tech so I tried the light
socket test at home at age 7. Thus begun my lifetime love of communications
and electronics! The results of the experiments proved so valid that I never
again had the need to revalidate!

Irv VE6BP
--
--------------------------------------
Diagnosed Type II Diabetes March 5 2001
Beating it with diet and exercise!
297/215/210 (to be revised lower)
58"/43"(!)/44" (already lower too!)
--------------------------------------
Visit my HomePage at http://members.shaw.ca/finkirv/index.html
Visit my Baby Sofia website at http://members.shaw.ca/finkirv4/index.htm
Visit my OLDTIMERS website at http://members.shaw.ca/finkirv5/index.htm
--------------------
Irv Finkleman,
Grampa/Ex-Navy/Old Fart/Ham Radio VE6BP
Calgary, Alberta, Canada

Radio Shack and my education
 

My son took and electronics course at Benson High School in Portland Oregon.
The teacher was totally clueless and just made things up as he went along.
One of them was that the higher the voltage on a wire, the faster it travels
in the wire. It took me all day to make my son believe that his teacher was
just a clueless sot and to understand ohms law. From my son's perspective, a
teacher must really know something to be a teacher. Sadly, this is far from
true.

The good news was that I was forced to take a more active part in his
education about electronics. We built and tested projects together and it
was good for both of us.

Radio Shack and my education
 

It's interesting you mention that, Tom.

I just got my Extra last month. Now, I admit I am not an electronics
expert. I had to study really hard before I felt I could take the test.
What was funny was actually taking the test.

There were a total of six people testing. Myself and five others. Two
going for Technician, two going for General, and two going for Extra (myself
and one other guy I didn't know). So, I'm pounding away on the calculator
and the other Extra finishes before anyone. He must have only taken ten
minutes, if that. He had to of memorized the answers. Actually there were
a total of three people who had to have memorized the questions. No way
they could have finished so fast. Actually, I was the only one who brought
a calculator, so that tells you something.

What was really interesting to me was that the other Extra had now passed
all the writtens, but had never passed the 5 WPM code test. So, no HF
priveleges until he does that.

I was licensed fifteen years ago and got up through Advanced and took the
code tests. But I moved out of state and never got around to taking the
Extra. Now, it's all changed and there are only three tests.

Anyway, interesting experience.

Rod KI7CQ

Radio Shack and my education
 

On Fri, 25 Nov 2005 16:11:28 GMT, Irv Finkleman wrote:
Phil Wheeler wrote:
Michael wrote:
My son took and electronics course at Benson High School in Portland Oregon.
The teacher was totally clueless and just made things up as he went along.

Ah yes. I attended Bensen Tech (so it was called then) in the Fall of
1953. We were taught to check light sockets for electricity be removing
the bulb and putting our fingers in them. Harmless fun :-)

I couldn't wait to be old enough to go to tech so I tried the light
socket test at home at age 7. Thus begun my lifetime love of communications
and electronics! The results of the experiments proved so valid that I never
again had the need to revalidate!

I built my first light bulb at the age of 8 -- I used a test tube
from a chemistry set of mine and about 10" of bare copper wire that
I found in my dad's ham shack (the original W3DHJ). Hell, it sure
looked a lot like a light bulb! Then I poked it into the wall outlet
in my bedroom. BIG TIME mistake! I was an Army Brat and we were living
in conscripted housing in Bremerhaven, Germany at the time....
Thus began my lifetime love of of all things electronical.

(-: I suppose this OT thread should be in rec.radio.amateur.homebrew. :-)

Jonesy
--
Marvin L Jones | jonz | W3DHJ | linux
Pueblo, Colorado | @ | Jonesy | OS/2 __
38.24N 104.55W | config.com | DM78rf | SK

Radio Shack and my education
 

"Rod Maupin" wrote in message
...
It's interesting you mention that, Tom.

I just got my Extra last month. Now, I admit I am not an electronics
expert. I had to study really hard before I felt I could take the test.
What was funny was actually taking the test.

There were a total of six people testing. Myself and five others. Two
going for Technician, two going for General, and two going for Extra
(myself
and one other guy I didn't know). So, I'm pounding away on the calculator
and the other Extra finishes before anyone. He must have only taken ten
minutes, if that. He had to of memorized the answers. Actually there
were
a total of three people who had to have memorized the questions. No way
they could have finished so fast. Actually, I was the only one who
brought
a calculator, so that tells you something.

What was really interesting to me was that the other Extra had now passed
all the writtens, but had never passed the 5 WPM code test. So, no HF
priveleges until he does that.

I was licensed fifteen years ago and got up through Advanced and took the
code tests. But I moved out of state and never got around to taking the
Extra. Now, it's all changed and there are only three tests.

Anyway, interesting experience.

Rod KI7CQ


Instead of studying electronics you should have been studying the qusetion
and answer book. When the questions are the same as in the book , it is no
use learning anything for a test.
I had the tech license for about 25 years. Just did not want to take time
for the code and did not care anything for the lowbands anyway. The job I
had gave me some free time on the night shift so I finally decided to take
in some code tapes and learn the code on company time. Went to Advanced and
about a year later the Extra. I never did get a chance to look at the Q&A
book. I did not need a calculator fo rthe tests. The answers are usualy
broad enough you can almost guess at them and a quick check with a pencil
and paper will do.

I have not seen the new Extra exam but the old one was very easy compaired
to the old Advanced exam. By the way, in 1972 when I took the First Class
Phone license there were no calculators or Q&A books with the exect Q&As.

Radio Shack and my education
 

Rod Maupin wrote:
So, I'm pounding away on the calculator
and the other Extra finishes before anyone. He must have only taken ten
minutes, if that. He had to of memorized the answers.

Rod, I finished that trivial Extra exam in 10 minutes and
I can assure you, with a EE degree and MENSA membership,
I didn't memorize the answers.
--
73, Cecil http://www.qsl.net/w5dxp

Radio Shack and my education
 

Cecil Moore wrote:
Rod Maupin wrote:

So, I'm pounding away on the calculator and the other Extra finishes
before anyone. He must have only taken ten minutes, if that. He had
to of memorized the answers.


Rod, I finished that trivial Extra exam in 10 minutes and
I can assure you, with a EE degree and MENSA membership,
I didn't memorize the answers.


But it does happen. Back in the 20 WPM days, maybe ten years ago, one
ham I know .. who was a former Navy telegraph op .. passed the written
part by memorizing every Q&A. And it showed: He was a technical
know-nothing. Nice guy, though.

Phil

Radio Shack and my education
 

Well, that's impressive to me.

I didn't know anything about electronics until I became a ham. I still
don't know much. I know how to set up a station and how to put out a clean
signal. But I don't know enough to build anything. Which is a shame.
Seems like there are a lot of fun projects out there.

Rod KI7CQ

Radio Shack and my education
 

Rod Maupin wrote:
Well, that's impressive to me.

I didn't know anything about electronics until I became a ham. I still
don't know much. I know how to set up a station and how to put out a clean
signal. But I don't know enough to build anything. Which is a shame.
Seems like there are a lot of fun projects out there.

Rod KI7CQ


There are. You should checkout the Elecraft website: Fun!

Radio Shack and my education
 

Allodoxaphobia wrote:

SNIPPED


I built my first light bulb at the age of 8 -- I used a test tube
from a chemistry set of mine and about 10" of bare copper wire that
I found in my dad's ham shack (the original W3DHJ). Hell, it sure
looked a lot like a light bulb! Then I poked it into the wall outlet
in my bedroom. BIG TIME mistake! I was an Army Brat and we were living
in conscripted housing in Bremerhaven, Germany at the time....
Thus began my lifetime love of of all things electronical.

(-: I suppose this OT thread should be in rec.radio.amateur.homebrew. :-)

Jonesy

OR: rec.radio.amateur.need.insurance

Radio Shack and my education
 

Amos Keag wrote:
Allodoxaphobia wrote:

SNIPPED



I built my first light bulb at the age of 8 -- I used a test tube
from a chemistry set of mine and about 10" of bare copper wire that
I found in my dad's ham shack (the original W3DHJ). Hell, it sure
looked a lot like a light bulb! Then I poked it into the wall outlet
in my bedroom. BIG TIME mistake! I was an Army Brat and we were
living in conscripted housing in Bremerhaven, Germany at the time....
Thus began my lifetime love of of all things electronical.

(-: I suppose this OT thread should be in rec.radio.amateur.homebrew.
:-)

Jonesy


OR: rec.radio.amateur.need.insurance



Funny!

Phil W7OX