Invented by actress Heddy Lamarr in World War II. See CDMA.

On Wed, 25 Aug 2004 18:18:03 GMT, "Frank Dresser"
wrote:


"Jack Painter" wrote in message
news:wdJWc.100538$Lj.85170@fed1read03...

"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.



That sounds like spread spectrum radio. The military has been using it for
decades, and radio amateurs have been playing with it for about 20 years.
Yeah, I read something by some guy who claimed vast amounts of bandwidth
would be released if only every TV and radio system in the world would go to
spread spectrum. The concept sounds unworkable to me for most consumer
purposes. And I have a hard time believing there's a bandwidth crisis when
so much of the bandwidth such as the VHF lo band is so lightly used. A
fiber optic landline net would have virtually unlimited bandwidth, and seems
more practical to me. Not to mention the possibility that launching large
satellites might get cheaper.





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.

OK, I gotcha. Another article I read about fuzzy logic made those claims
for the new generation of washing machines. I think I read the article over
10 years ago, but I'm not completely sure. Supposedly, the washer would be
able to weigh the clothes, estimate how dirty the clothes are, and come up
with the best cycle for washing the clothes. The internal computer would not
only figure out how to wash the clothes better but also save water and
energy and needless wear and tear on the machine. Again, I'm skeptical
about the claims. If the savings are real, the most enthusiastic customers
for the new controls ought to be the commercial laundrys and laundromats.
My local laundromat looks like a fairly new installation, and there's no
indication there's anything special about the washing machines. I'd expect
there'd be some large sign in the place telling us what wonderful hi-tech
treatment our clothes were getting, all for the small price of a bunch of
quarters. There's not even a sticker on the machines reading "Washer Brain"
or something.


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'll let the laundrymat do the test drive on that one. When they decide
it's worth pulling out the hulking stainless steel Speed Queens and install
"Washer Brains", I'll be sure to share the news.


I strongly advise whole-house normal-mode (line to
neutral only) surge protection for homes that invest in these hi-tech
appliances, home entertainment's systems and communications equipment!


Surges happen, but in my limited repair experience, the most common failures
in modern electronics are dried up elecrolytics and solder joint failures.
I've fixed all sorts of odd things like flaky motherboards, including the
one I'm using now, just by resoldering the large solder joints. Such
repairs are cheap and kinda fun, but do not inspire much confidence in
hi-tech gizmos. Maybe the boards in the washing machines are built to a
better standard, but I honestly don't think anybody outside hospitals and
the military gives a damn about such stuff.

They're not your Father's Oldsmobile, and power-strip surge protection (a
misnomer in the first place) will not protect these equipments.

My mom had the Oldsmobile, I drove a 1963 Galaxie until 10 years ago. The
Galaxie was a good example of mature technology. The Galaxie, in good
condition, would be just as usable today as it was in 1963. Sure, modern
cars are somewhat safer, ride a bit better and get better gas mileage, but
there's not an overwhelming difference. There was far more automotive
progress in the 41 years between 1922 and 1963. A Model T, or most any
other car of that era, would be just about unusable in traffic today or
then.

I think that's the way it goes with just about any technological product.
Improvements come much quicker, and are far more significant, when the
product is new. Certainly that's been true with radios. There was were
many important changes between the radios of 1925 and 1935, but the changes
between 1915 and 1925 were even more significant. There have been a few
changes in radios in the last 10 years, but nothing which compares to the
early days of radio. The most significant change lately is just that
they're making radios even cheaper in China, now.


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.

Of course, I wasn't serious about the internet connected washing machine.
Somebody else is:

http://www.lge.co.uk/products/appliances/washing/

Jeez, even my smart-ass comments are behind the curve.

Future generations will determine if the first day of the internet connected
washing machine was as important as the day they yanked off the wringer and
put in a spinning drum.

This internet-access refrigerator doesn't mention a remote control, but how
could they make one with Built in stereo speakers, video camera, microphone,
MP3 player and TV tuner, without a remote?

http://www.lge.co.uk/products/appliances/refrigeration/

I'm sure it's happy new owners will most appreciate the refrigerator's:

"Self diagnostic system for highlighting faults"



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