Even though no electronics is involved, and it is a matter of simple
electrical
construction (some consideration given to constant impedance), how difficult
it is to manufacture our own plugs and sockets, despite that BNC and N have
been around for 70 years, with SMC some time later!

BTW, BNC is Bayonet Neill-Concelman, and not Bayonet Navy Connector
as some would believe. Neill created the N connector, and Concelman the C
connector and they combined forces to create the BNC (and TNC)

"gareth" wrote in news:lv91j4$gv9$1@dont-
email.me:

how difficult
it is to manufacture our own plugs and sockets, despite that BNC and N have
been around for 70 years, with SMC some time later!


Why do you want to do that? Some wheels are definitely best not reinvented.
BNC's can be had on eBay as easily as used matchsticks used to be seen on a
street, it's not like we have to make do without. N connectors are expensive,
but there are likely good reasons for that, partly bulk size, precision
requirements, and a lower size of market (by far) than for BNC.

Unless you wanted a bespoke connector at great expense to either do something
really new, or to freeze out an easy chance of anyone connecting to your
stuff, there is no point, the costs are extreme.

The last two big plug innovations I thought about much were the digital ones,
USB and FireWire. USB went for royalty-free manufacture, knowing that the
vast market would make it indispensible so they could get their money made on
sales to that vast market. FireWire was closer to the RF market in being
smaller, more demanding in quality and precision and power capability, and
went for royalties on the grounds that the smaller market tended to have
deeper pockets. Both methods worked, nether connector 'beat' the other.

As far as I know, the only connector easy to make cheaply as DIY is the 4mm
plug, and then only if you can do VERY tight tolerances for good fit, to
avoid having to make complicated springs and such.

The sim[plest, most common things, are often the most difficult and
expensive. How much does a transistor cost? 10 million bucks, until you made
more of them than you can ever count. It's not to bad with plugs but the
logic is similar.

Lostgallifreyan wrote:
"gareth" wrote in news:lv91j4$gv9$1@dont-
email.me:

how difficult
it is to manufacture our own plugs and sockets, despite that BNC and N have
been around for 70 years, with SMC some time later!


Why do you want to do that? Some wheels are definitely best not reinvented.
BNC's can be had on eBay as easily as used matchsticks used to be seen on a
street, it's not like we have to make do without. N connectors are expensive,
but there are likely good reasons for that, partly bulk size, precision
requirements, and a lower size of market (by far) than for BNC.

Unless you wanted a bespoke connector at great expense to either do something
really new, or to freeze out an easy chance of anyone connecting to your
stuff, there is no point, the costs are extreme.

The last two big plug innovations I thought about much were the digital ones,
USB and FireWire. USB went for royalty-free manufacture, knowing that the
vast market would make it indispensible so they could get their money made on
sales to that vast market. FireWire was closer to the RF market in being
smaller, more demanding in quality and precision and power capability, and
went for royalties on the grounds that the smaller market tended to have
deeper pockets. Both methods worked, nether connector 'beat' the other.

As far as I know, the only connector easy to make cheaply as DIY is the 4mm
plug, and then only if you can do VERY tight tolerances for good fit, to
avoid having to make complicated springs and such.

The sim[plest, most common things, are often the most difficult and
expensive. How much does a transistor cost? 10 million bucks, until you made
more of them than you can ever count. It's not to bad with plugs but the
logic is similar.

Just an FYI. Big G is trolling, here. He's currently being shunned in
uk.radio.amateur as the good and decent users of that group have finally
had enough of him. Consequently, he's starved for attention, hence the
inane postings he's vomiting left, right and centre. He's best avoided.

--
Stephen Thomas Cole // Sent from my iPhone

"Stephen Thomas Cole" wrote in message
...
Just an FYI. Big G is trolling, here. He's currently being shunned in
uk.radio.amateur as the good and decent users of that group have finally
had enough of him. Consequently, he's starved for attention, hence the
inane postings he's vomiting left, right and centre. He's best avoided.

A review of Cole's recent postings into uk.radio.amateur will reveal who is
really
the troll, for he never posts amythimg that is relevant to amateur radio,
and in the
2 years that he has been subscribing has attacked almost every real radio
amateur
with campaigns of gratuitous and offensive remarks, just as he does above.

His use of the emotive, "vomiting" says all that is need to be said about
him.

Stephen Thomas Cole wrote in
:

Just an FYI. Big G is trolling, here. He's currently being shunned in
uk.radio.amateur as the good and decent users of that group have finally
had enough of him. Consequently, he's starved for attention, hence the
inane postings he's vomiting left, right and centre. He's best avoided.


Well, no problem there. I just took up the suject as I saw it. I won't try to
talk to Gareth directly, he has never once responded to me as far as I know.
I suspect maybe I do not have the right kind of degree and gentlemanly air of
electromic authority for him to deign to even notice me.

"Lostgallifreyan" wrote in message
.. .
Stephen Thomas Cole wrote in
:

Just an FYI. Big G is trolling, here. He's currently being shunned in
uk.radio.amateur as the good and decent users of that group have finally
had enough of him. Consequently, he's starved for attention, hence the
inane postings he's vomiting left, right and centre. He's best avoided.


Well, no problem there. I just took up the suject as I saw it. I won't try
to
talk to Gareth directly, he has never once responded to me as far as I
know.
I suspect maybe I do not have the right kind of degree and gentlemanly air
of
electromic authority for him to deign to even notice me.

I replied to you on the 28th August last ...

"Lostgallifreyan" wrote in message
. ..
"gareth" wrote in news:lthnu9$ilc$1@dont-
email.me:
There have been designs published in Brit of using the steel of
wind-up tape measures, and this could be a potential starting point
for any discussion, by the use of flat metal tape.
I suspect my notion is not new, but what about a coil of wire, some well-
spaced trees, a long lanyard, a tennis ball, and a spud gun?
Someone will likely have one they prepared earlier, so I won't put the
bits
together.

A well-tried and tested solution to one problem, but I'd be interested in a
structure that when you go QRT, you could then retract it back.

"gareth" wrote in news:lva5pq$57b$1@dont-
email.me:

I replied to you on the 28th August last ...


I stand corrected.

Lostgallifreyan wrote:
Stephen Thomas Cole wrote in
:

Just an FYI. Big G is trolling, here. He's currently being shunned in
uk.radio.amateur as the good and decent users of that group have finally
had enough of him. Consequently, he's starved for attention, hence the
inane postings he's vomiting left, right and centre. He's best avoided.


Well, no problem there. I just took up the suject as I saw it. I won't try to
talk to Gareth directly, he has never once responded to me as far as I know.
I suspect maybe I do not have the right kind of degree and gentlemanly air of
electromic authority for him to deign to even notice me.

Sadly, he appears to be mentally defective.

--
Stephen Thomas Cole // Sent from my iPhone

On 9/16/2014 11:14 AM, Lostgallifreyan wrote:
"gareth" wrote in news:lv91j4$gv9$1@dont-
email.me:

how difficult
it is to manufacture our own plugs and sockets, despite that BNC and N have
been around for 70 years, with SMC some time later!


Why do you want to do that? Some wheels are definitely best not reinvented.
BNC's can be had on eBay as easily as used matchsticks used to be seen on a
street, it's not like we have to make do without. N connectors are expensive,
but there are likely good reasons for that, partly bulk size, precision
requirements, and a lower size of market (by far) than for BNC.

Unless you wanted a bespoke connector at great expense to either do something
really new, or to freeze out an easy chance of anyone connecting to your
stuff, there is no point, the costs are extreme.

The last two big plug innovations I thought about much were the digital ones,
USB and FireWire. USB went for royalty-free manufacture, knowing that the
vast market would make it indispensible so they could get their money made on
sales to that vast market. FireWire was closer to the RF market in being
smaller, more demanding in quality and precision and power capability, and
went for royalties on the grounds that the smaller market tended to have
deeper pockets. Both methods worked, nether connector 'beat' the other.

As far as I know, the only connector easy to make cheaply as DIY is the 4mm
plug, and then only if you can do VERY tight tolerances for good fit, to
avoid having to make complicated springs and such.

The sim[plest, most common things, are often the most difficult and
expensive. How much does a transistor cost? 10 million bucks, until you made
more of them than you can ever count. It's not to bad with plugs but the
logic is similar.


Ah, heck - don't make it so easy. A REAL HAM would mine and smelt his
own ore (using a garden trowel and blowtorch). He would create his own
insulating material from raw materials (bakelite would probably be
easiest), and finally shape and assemble the final product.

Anything less and he wouldn't be a REAL HAM.

--
==================
Remove the "x" from my email address
Jerry, AI0K

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

"Jerry Stuckle" wrote in message
...

Ah, heck - don't make it so easy. A REAL HAM would mine and smelt his
own ore (using a garden trowel and blowtorch). He would create his own
insulating material from raw materials (bakelite would probably be
easiest), and finally shape and assemble the final product.
Anything less and he wouldn't be a REAL HAM.

Setting aside the sarcasm that is in your post, what you outline is indeed
the
characteristic of the real ham, someone who is technically motivated and
finds
things out for himself.

One of the saddest aspects of today's technology is the arrival of computers
and
the opportunities to roll one's own programs and yet the CBisation of buying
software off the shelf has ruined that opportinity.

Still, for thee and me, it represents acertain degree of job protection!

(40 years real-time embedded softy)