"Frank Dresser" wrote

"Jack Painter" wrote in message

Software defined radio is opening entire new applications in
communications.


I think WinRadios were first sold over ten years ago. Other computer
controlled radios such as the R-71 and NRD-525 date from the late 80s.

Hi Frank - that's not software-defined radio at all. SDR is the frequency
and bandwidth control by computer logic that uses entire sections of
spectrum, with channel separation as small as 10hz, and has the potential to
make 100,000 times the bandwidth available. It also has the potential to
really screw up the spectrum as we know it. It wll change things in a big
way, and the FCC has been working on ways to evaluate it in experimental
programs for a while now.

And washing machines, btw, are using vastly new technology to use a
fraction
of the water formerly required; they no longer twist/agitate during wash
and
use transmissions to literally spin things dry, reducing dryer energy
required.

Front load washing machines were always more water and energy efficient.
They date from the 50s, if not before. A common gag in the old
electronics
magazines of the early TV era involved someone who mistook a front loader
for a round screen TV.

Here again, was not my example, but I wasn't specific, sorry. New top-load
washers that are computer controlled use a fraction of the water formerly
required, and no longer agitate to clean. They can practically eliminate the
need for dry cleaning since all delicates can now be done in these new
machines. The energy savings from less water, less dryer time, and little or
no dry cleaning make the $800-1,000 price tags a real bargain, paying for
themselves in a very short time (like 2-3 years). Whether they last 10 years
remains to be seen. I strongly advise whole-house normal-mode (line to
neutral only) surge protection for homes that invest in these hi-tech
appliances, home entertainments systems and communications equipment!
They're not your Father's Oldsmobile, and power-strip surge protection (a
misnomer in the first place) will not protect these equipments.

I will admit I haven't kept up with the latest in gee-whiz appliance tech.
For all I know, marketers have decided we all want refrigerators which
need
remote controls and internet connected washing machines.

I see that G. Get out more Frank, there is some amazing techology to look
at, even if it means putting up with the sale-pitch crap from appliance
dealers, lol.

Whose to say that shortwave radio may not one day be integrated as a
form
or
source of messaging into the internet-streams for use by cellphone
information systems? Or even in reverse as a method of backup
communications
when cell towers are not available?

The problems are obvious. SW bandwidth is usually less than 30 MHz, the
signals have world wide interference potential, and propagation is
unpredictable.

Probably true, that was just an off the cuff example of the many
possibilities that bandwidth has. It will certainly be important to most
industries and hopefully

Back in the 60s, lots of people thought we'd have our own personal jet
packs, commuter flights to the moon and home robots which looked just like
cute actresses. Oh, well.

Remember when Ma Bell came out with the picture-phone in the early 70's?
They thought every home would have one. Turns out consumers thought it was a
really stupid idea, and the techonolgy was shelved when no one bought into
it.. It's still a dumb idea today, lol, but it may have contributed to other
ideas that were useful.


At one time, nearly all ships were sail powered. Steam power made sail
power obsolete. Sail power might be a back-up for steam power in some
ways,
but mostly it isn't all that useful for modern commerce or navies. That
hardly means sail power has disappeared. There are still plenty of
sailing
ships, and plenty of sailors for them. And you can be sure they these
sailors haven't been conscripted, impressed or Shanghai'ed. The crews of
current sailing ships are boating hobbyists.

I see shortwave in a similar way. Most of the applications for shortwave
can now be done in different ways, better ways. But the ionosphere is
still a wonderful natural resource, and will always be a playground for
radio hobbyists.

Frank Dresser

I agree, and I hope there is enough left to play in over the next decade or
2.

Jack Painter