To make sure my ham shack computer is focused on applications I use in ham
radio, I order business computers from DELL. It does not have to be a DELL
brand but the point is, I order a computer with just an Operating System on
it. Nothing else. And then I install the programs I want. The difference
really is that a store bought "consumer" computer comes loaded up with all
kinds of software. Some of the programs are already running to some degree
when the computer is powered up, occupying cpu cycles, memory space and
possibly some disk drive-head activity.
Fortunately new computers we buy today are more powerful than ever so even a
store bought computer will tend to handle all of this background activity
ok. But why not start clean? Of course you can still build a computer from
parts. After years of working with equipment in EMI/RFI labs, I yearned for
the times when someone would bring a computer containing an interface card
for compliance testing that was a hand-built system. Basically a smoke 'em
if you have 'em session from the otherwise rather dull process of testing;
it sometimes was a great joy to watch some of these computers smoke and even
catch on fire under test. If we didn't burn these up, at the very least
some of them would have issues that made them cute transmitters at some
frequency (or frequencies) that you would not want in your ham shack. Or
anywhere in your house in some cases. In most cases the issue would be bad
or loose bonding that could easily be fixed but our job in the lab was to do
testing, not troubleshoot and fix equipment. And please note that just
because a power supply or motherboard, PCI card, etc. says it is
FCC/European accepted does not mean it really was. Unfortunately there is
deception in the world. And finally there were cases that collectively, the
assemblies used in a hand built PC would not pass but on an individual
basis, some of these assemblies can be within tolerance.
We can therefore expect that a major brand name computer that is built
correctly should be clean for emissions and at least less susceptible to
external sources of radiation. I prefer to start with a descent computer
that also has either zero software on it from the manufacturer or just an
Operating System. Computers can be frustrating enough either because of
issues from non-compatible assemblies, bad grounds, non-compliance or
perhaps a plethora of software conflicts. "A clean computer is a happy
computer". (And a happy user.) And we might get away with less performance
if the computer is not already tied up with rubbing it's cpu chip and
patting it's memory too much, at the same time.
DELL Optiplex may be a choice to look into. I have spec'd these for years
for use with specialized interface cards including Digital to Analog and
Analog to Digital converters for external devices. Optiplex computers can be
purchased new at a reasonable price, direct from DELL. These computers are
not typically sold at retailers; they would be rather boring for the
consumer looking for something to plug in and play games or run a word
processor or spreadsheet, AOL, etc. because none of this is loaded. Watch
out for purchasing a refurbished unit. I tried one I ordered through
WALMART. Filthy inside with dust balls. The DVD read only drive was
busted. Rather than send it back, I cleaned it and put in a DVD Writer I
had intended to put in it anyway. Hard disc failed after about 6 months
but I had a good, current backup. A new drive and a reload of the backup
got most of my ham station configuration running pretty quickly. So I
recommend a new computer where you have zero hours on the system. More time
to use the radio, hi hi.
Gene / K7TXO
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