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[AMPS] Logic v. Magic

To: <amps@contesting.com>
Subject: [AMPS] Logic v. Magic
From: paulc@mediaone.net (Paul Christensen)
Date: Fri, 8 Sep 2000 15:32:26 -0400
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So then what was the root-cause of your SB-220's fireworks display? =20

-Paul, W9AC
  ----- Original Message -----=20
  From: Colin Lamb=20
  To: Amps reflector=20
  Sent: Friday, September 08, 2000 12:39 PM
  Subject: [AMPS] Logic v. Magic


  If an amplifier runs without problems for a period of years it would =
seem logical to believe the original design is satisfactory, and also =
logical to believe that future problems are related to deterioration of =
components. =20

  This is a generalization for which there are exceptions.  But, it =
should be safe to say that in most cases this statement would be more =
probably correct than not. =20

  Upon acceptance of this statement, it seems illogical to redesign =
numerous amplifiers based upon their failure decades after they were put =
in service.=20
  =20
  As an amateur scientist, I would rather work through and understand a =
specific problem than apply a generic parasitic suppressor kit that =
cures all problems. =20

  Because suppressors are designed to suppress something we cannot see =
or hear, they are given magical qualities.  And, if they have special =
qualities that guarantee they will work under all conditions and for all =
amplifiers, they have even more magical qualities.  Such a suppressor =
will be the magical shield that protects from all sorts of adversaries.  =
It will improve the amplifier so that it is better than original. =20

  A number of years ago, I had a Heath SB-220 that exhibited fireworks.  =
I installed nichrome parasitic suppressors and installed the other =
things recommended by Rich's original Ham Radio articles.  It still had =
fireworks.  His magic did not give me the magical shield I wanted. =20
  =20
  I concluded that the magical shield did not work because I was not a =
believer.  Simply stated, I was not worthy to have it work. =20

  Once I realized I had no magical protection, I went back to work to =
fix the original problem, and I must admit the science of working =
through a problem and making measurements, coming up with probable =
causes and cures and recording results was a very satisfying part of ham =
radio. =20

  For me, installing a generic parasitic suppressor into an amplifier =
that has worked reliably for a period of years is an admission of =
defeat.  It is an admission that I am not scientific enough to deserve =
the Extra Class ticket that I hold. =20

  73,  Colin  K7FM


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<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN">
<HTML><HEAD>
<META content=3D"text/html; charset=3Diso-8859-1" =
http-equiv=3DContent-Type>
<META content=3D"MSHTML 5.00.2919.6307" name=3DGENERATOR>
<STYLE></STYLE>
</HEAD>
<BODY bgColor=3D#ffffff>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>So then what was the root-cause of your =
SB-220's=20
fireworks display?&nbsp; </FONT></DIV>
<DIV>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>-Paul, W9AC</FONT></DIV></FONT></DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE=20
style=3D"BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-RIGHT: =
0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px">
  <DIV style=3D"FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV>
  <DIV=20
  style=3D"BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: =
black"><B>From:</B>=20
  <A href=3D"mailto:k7fm@teleport.com"; title=3Dk7fm@teleport.com>Colin =
Lamb</A>=20
  </DIV>
  <DIV style=3D"FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A =
href=3D"mailto:amps@contesting.com"=20
  title=3Damps@contesting.com>Amps reflector</A> </DIV>
  <DIV style=3D"FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Friday, September 08, =
2000 12:39=20
  PM</DIV>
  <DIV style=3D"FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> [AMPS] Logic v. =
Magic</DIV>
  <DIV><BR></DIV>
  <DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>If an amplifier runs without problems =
for a=20
  period of&nbsp;years it would seem logical to believe the original =
design is=20
  satisfactory, and also logical to believe that future problems are =
related to=20
  deterioration of components.&nbsp; </FONT></DIV>
  <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV>
  <DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>This is a generalization for which =
there=20
  are&nbsp;exceptions.&nbsp; But, it should be safe to say that in most =
cases=20
  this statement would be more probably correct than not.&nbsp; =
</FONT></DIV>
  <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV>
  <DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Upon acceptance of this statement, it =
seems=20
  illogical to redesign numerous amplifiers&nbsp;based upon their =
failure=20
  decades after they were put in service.&nbsp;</FONT></DIV>
  <DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
  <DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>As an amateur scientist, I would =
rather work=20
  through and understand a&nbsp;specific problem than apply a generic =
parasitic=20
  suppressor kit that cures all problems.&nbsp; </FONT></DIV>
  <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV>
  <DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Because suppressors are designed to =
suppress=20
  something we cannot see or hear,&nbsp;they are given magical =
qualities.&nbsp;=20
  And,&nbsp;if they have special qualities that&nbsp;guarantee they will =
work=20
  under all conditions and for all amplifiers, they have even more =
magical=20
  qualities.&nbsp; Such a suppressor will be the&nbsp;magical shield =
that=20
  protects from all sorts of adversaries.&nbsp; It will improve the =
amplifier so=20
  that it is better than original.&nbsp; </FONT></DIV>
  <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV>
  <DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>A number of years ago, I had a Heath =
SB-220 that=20
  exhibited fireworks.&nbsp; I installed nichrome parasitic suppressors =
and=20
  installed the other things recommended by Rich's original Ham Radio=20
  articles.&nbsp; It still had fireworks.&nbsp; His magic did not give =
me the=20
  magical shield I wanted.&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT></DIV>
  <DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
  <DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>I concluded that the magical shield =
did not work=20
  because I was not a believer.&nbsp;&nbsp;Simply stated, I was not =
worthy to=20
  have it work.&nbsp; </FONT></DIV>
  <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV>
  <DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Once I realized I had no magical =
protection, I=20
  went back to work to fix the original problem, and I must admit the =
science of=20
  working through a problem and&nbsp;making measurements, coming up with =

  probable&nbsp;causes and cures</FONT>&nbsp;and recording results was a =
very=20
  satisfying part of ham radio.&nbsp; </DIV>
  <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV>
  <DIV>For me, installing a generic parasitic suppressor into an =
amplifier that=20
  has worked reliably for a period of years is an admission of =
defeat.&nbsp; It=20
  is an admission that I am not scientific enough to deserve the Extra =
Class=20
  ticket that I hold.&nbsp; </DIV>
  <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV>
  <DIV>73,&nbsp; Colin&nbsp; K7FM</DIV>
  <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV></BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTML>

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