I absolutely agree with Ted. I design and build the things I WANT or HAVE to
homebrew. I pick and choose what I'm going to homebrew. I figure the time I
spent homebrewing stuff instead of buying stuff is time I don't get to spend
with my wife. By spending a few dollars instead of homebrewing, I can spend
more time on other things. Systems engineering of a high performance station
can involve purchased components. If everything had to be homebrewed, you'd
spend a lot of time making your own transceiver. I'm a professional software
engineer and I could easily write the code for a microprocessor controlled
rig. I have no desire to spend the time doing it however. Somebody who
wasn't a pro at it could learn a vast amount if they had to do it, but it
would take them literally months if not years to do it and that assumes that
they didn't have to write their own C compiler and RTOS (even though the GNU
stuff is free, but I digress).
In the past, I've homebrewed a sideband transverter for 23 CM. It was a
really high performance unit when I built it but I wouldn't do it again
today. I'd throw dollars at that instead. I might build my own LNA and will
definitely build my antenna mounted relays and possibly the high power amp,
but the stuff I could buy would get bought and not built.
The tradeoff for me is an easy one. I buy the Comtek box (I have two of
them, 80 and 40) instead of spending tons of time working on a W7EL phasing
unit for two bands. I homebrew the phasing unit for my 160 phased array
because that's not a four square and the phasing required is not anything
standard.
73, Jerry K0TV
----- Original Message -----
From: "Ted KT1V" <kt1vbulk@demop.com>
To: "'towertalk'" <towertalk@contesting.com>
Sent: Thursday, November 18, 2004 10:36 AM
Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] 80m 4Square Comtek box
If I homebrewed everything, I'd have 20% of the station I do now.
I'd love to homebrew much more, but often its a practical question of
time!At 08:34 AM 11/18/2004, Yo3ctk wrote:
>Jim,
>
>With all due respect, some people <have to> spend money on industrial
>products because they <don't have> enough time for homebrew, but at the
>same time they want to improve their stations.
>
>I assume all your equipment is homebrew, including transceivers, and that
>you have learned <lots> of technical stuff in the process. Good for you.
>Alas, some of us are just "ignorant" appliance operators.
>
>73 de Mike, YO3CTK
>
>----- Original Message ----- From: "Jan Erik Holm" <sm2ekm@telia.com>
>Cc: "'towertalk'" <towertalk@contesting.com>
>Sent: Thursday, November 18, 2004 2:24 PM
>Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] 80m 4Square Comtek box
>
>
>>People who likes to spend money buys Comtek boxes.
>>People who doesn´t makes a W7EL phaseing unit by
>>themself, not only will they save money but at the
>>same time they will get a better working 4 square
>>vertical array.
>>Also they might learn something technical in the
>>process.
>>
>>73 Jim SM2EKM
>>-------------------------------------------------
>Ted Demopoulos
>Demopoulos Associates, www.demop.com
>Aligning Information Technology with Business Objectives.
>
>Subscribe to our free E-newsletter "securITy"
>Send an email to <mailto:newsletter@demop.com>newsletter@demop.com to
>subscribe.
_______________________________________________
See: http://www.mscomputer.com for "Self Supporting Towers", "Wireless
Weather Stations", and lot's more. Call Toll Free, 1-800-333-9041 with any
questions and ask for Sherman, W2FLA.
_______________________________________________
TowerTalk mailing list
TowerTalk@contesting.com
http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/towertalk
_______________________________________________
See: http://www.mscomputer.com for "Self Supporting Towers", "Wireless Weather
Stations", and lot's more. Call Toll Free, 1-800-333-9041 with any questions
and ask for Sherman, W2FLA.
_______________________________________________
TowerTalk mailing list
TowerTalk@contesting.com
http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/towertalk
|