My first computer was an OSI running a 6502 @ 1 MHz, 48K of dynamic RAM
and dual 8" floppies. Cost $4,000 in 1980. (still have it - museums
want it) Sorting the 144/440repeater directory for Mi, N Oh, and W
Ontario, took over night, using file swapping. Next was an Amiga. Every
computer since then has been home brew (Currently four of them running 4
to 5 GHz, with 16 to 32 Gig of Ram. Even water cooled, but those suckers
are power hungry.), leading, or bleeding edge integrated into the
stations, but I think I'm only gonna keep one power house and use
simple, but fast for the stations and bookkeeping. BTW that 48K was
over $2,000
Outside of constantly building and rebuilding computers and repairing
amps, the next build is hoped to be a couple of those new SS boards from
Israeli into a loafing legal limit. OTOH as I have mentioned
previously, I have a number of tubes on the shelf that keep tempting
me. I could remote them over by the 80 gallon air compressor. Running
water to the shop is iffy as the zoning commission would then consider
my shop to be habitable and double my taxes which for a 1200 sq ft house
is more than my whole farm., but I could use the amps to heat the shop.
OTOH the gas fired IR, hangar heater is a LOT cheaper than electricity.
The SS amp would be quiet and put out a fraction of the heat. The
filaments on a couple of those tubes take almost as much power as I'd be
running. I don't have the coax or antenna setup to run real QRO. 8X is
pushed to run the legal limit on 40.<:-)
That is, as soon as I can use both hands again. Building computers is
about all I can do, until both hands work.
Degree is CS with a math Minor. Retired 19 years ago. I got away from
programming and into project management in just over 3 years. I always
considered programming as grunt work. There are those who like it, but 8
to 12 hours a day was enough! Prior to college, I had over 26 years of
building, designing and repairing, but the pay was really good.
73, Roger (K8RI)
On 1/5/2017 9:05 AM, Jeff Breitner wrote:
On Thu, Jan 5, 2017 at 6:40 AM, Rob Atkinson <ranchorobbo@gmail.com> wrote:
It occurs to me that one could have some fun and make a few bucks
homebrewing coax cable assemblies.
That's like the term "homebrewed dipole" an insult to anyone who
actually builds a major piece of equipment such as a transmitter.
In the days before these manufactured assemblies and dipoles were made
and sold, EVERYONE "homebrewed" their feedlines and antennas. those
SKs must be turning over in their graves.
As I am sure Grace Hopper has had a few spins of her own. Both amateur
radio and computing demonstrate that we all sort of stand on the stairs
built by our predecessors, and while I agree the term "homebuilt dipole"
shows a lack of technical sophistication, we all have to start somewhere.
I long ago quit building my own computers, so who am I to judge?
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