[Amps] Emergency communication

[Roger (K8RI)]

I'll admit the average ham, or even most hams would have a problem 
understanding computer source code, but all it take is little studying 
of the particular language used to follow it.  OTOH there are some very 
complex programs out there that contain thousands of line of code, that 
the guys who wrote it have a problem reading it ten years later and I'm 
one of them. Yes I have a degree in CS with work toward a masters, but 
those are not necessary to understanding what that code is going to do. 
It does often require reading at least part of a book on the particular 
language.  I did say would take a little study as does every facet of 
Ham Radio.

Once you learn the basics, understanding well written source code can be 
relatively easy to follow, BUT like mechanical aptitude, not everyone 
will become proficient, or even grasp the concepts and there is a LOT of 
code that is not well written.

I was raised on a farm, many years ago when it was a different world.  
Improvisation was a key to fixing things when you didn't have the 
correct parts, or couldn't afford them.  It required that you had a 
fundamental understanding of the equipment at an early age. Worn out 
bearings? You made a wood block fitted to the steel bearing form, put it 
on the shaft and poured Babbitt metal 
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Babbitt_(alloy) into it giving a form 
fitting bearing, much like rod bearings in an engine although far more 
crude. Amateur radio was the same.

One thing I disagree with is SSB and transceivers were developed close 
together although the smaller and lighter SSB rigs certainly aided the 
practical development of the transceiver. SSB was around quite a while 
before transceivers became popular. Originally SSB was accomplished with 
adapters on AM rigs. We went through several generations of those before 
separate transmitters and receivers with SSB capabilities turned up.  
Collins 75AXX receivers and the KWS-1 transmitter (I had both 
http://www.rogerhalstead.com/ham_files/boat1.htm ), Hallicrafters HT32 
series ( http://www.rogerhalstead.com/ham_files/boat8.htm ). Then the 
S-line, and less expensive equipment  like HT37 turned up and suddenly 
sweep tube finals to be followed by amplifiers using sweep tubes became 
a relatively inexpensive rout to the latest technologies., but rigs were 
still relatively simple. with the CW and SSB modes being by far the most 
popular. SSB generation was relatively simple, using either phasing, or 
filter generation. USB and LSB were selected by simply moving the carrier.
I would add that BOTH Collins and Hallicrafters produced transceiver 
along with separate transmitters and receivers for quite a while.  Just 
the last generation of top end rigs and SDRs have been capable of 
reaching the clean signals of those S-lines. Unfortunately, they also 
gave hams access to stages that let them turn that excellent signal 
capability into garbage!

The sweep tube generation was the point where signal quality began the 
slide with the new, bipolar transistors adding to the decline.
Unfortunately there are many hams including old timers that do not 
understand why so many of us want to see the signal quality cleaned up.  
Yet if all the rigs had a signal as clean as the old Collins S-line we 
could squeeze more stations onto crowded bands with far less QRM

Schematics and programs tell me a lot about a rig and particularly if 
the program is open source with the source code. (source code=the 
program before it's compiled)
To me the SDRs are the easiest to follow with the source code, even if I 
have to back up and create a diagram.  Yes, it's time consuming, but IF 
the source code is laid out properly with "internal documentation" 
(internal documentation= complete explanation as to what that piece of 
code does and how it does it). This should be included in ever source code.

I will add that I've spent many hours reorganizing programs written by 
engineers to make them readable and added the documentation. I've also 
fought battles with department heads who read a book on programming and 
concluded they knew how to program.unfortunately some were higher up the 
food chain than I. Those are the worst to decipher, or to get other 
programs to work with them.

In the end, SDRs may turn out to be the easiest to understand, second 
only to the old SSB / CW rigs, but they will require a different mind set.

73, Roger (K8RI)

On 4/28/2017 8:37 AM, Catherine James wrote:
> Unless they provide you with the firmware/software, the schematic may not tell you everything you need to know anyway. They will become ever more true as the industry moved to SDR.
>
> --------------------------------------------
> <wlfuqu00 at uky.edu> wrote:
>>   Oh, I forgot, most radios don't come with schematics these days. You have to
>> purchase a service manual. I like to see what is in my radios.
>   
> _______________________________________________
> Amps mailing list
> Amps at contesting.com
> http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/amps
>


---
This email has been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus software.
https://www.avast.com/antivirus