Continuous Quality improvement
K8DO at aol.com
K8DO at aol.com
Sat Nov 11 13:08:54 EST 1995
This is a snip of a conversation, which I thought would be of general
interest....
begin snip
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In contrast we pre-assembled a KT34XA yesterday and the machining on it is
junk... really bad... the through drilled, bolt holes in all the swaged
pieces on the traps are about 15 degrees off center line, and do not line up
with the predrilled fiberglass rods which they mate with... all the tubing
with drilled holes had a big wad of burrs protruding through on the inside of
the tube, sign of a very dull, drill bit... we spent a fair amount of time
with round files cleaning this up...then we had to spend time with the drill
press remachining the numerous pieces with misaligned holes... on one end the
B straps were formed way off, and you have to sit there with pliers, and a
hammer, and a drift, rebending and then redrilling them... the boom had 4,
1/4" holes completely missing... luckily I had a drill bit long enough to do
the job... All of the slotted ends were only grooved the last third of their
length instead of slotted, and the unmilled aluminum had to be removed and
the slot filed clean... I have a good workshop, but... what was an annoyance
for us could be major problem for someone with limited tools and
experience...
end snip
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Was this the once in five years bad job that got out the door, or a trend? I
don't know.
I called KLM and while they were polite, they had no answer as to how their
product got out the door in such shoddy condition....
General comments:
There is no more excuse for this on a $700 antenna, than there would be for a
mercedes to be shipped with bad paint...
They have been building this model for what, 8 or 10 years? It is obvious
that they have no concept of CQI.... By this stage of production, the parts
should slip together like they were dipped in hot butter... there should be "
match the color paint stripes" on the mating ends of all parts... the
critical steps (like the A straps and caps) should be preassembled... the C
straps should be factory bent... the manual should have hi-res drawings, with
the assembly steps for each logical subassembly on its own page... etc. ...
This is only one example as to why other countries are kicking our
manufacturing butt all over the globe... (See Mario, I'm not always a bad
guy.. :)
Cheers ... Denny
>From peterj at netcom.com (Peter Jennings) Sat Nov 11 18:23:33 1995
From: peterj at netcom.com (Peter Jennings) (Peter Jennings)
Date: Sat, 11 Nov 1995 10:23:33 -0800
Subject: Digital QSLs
Message-ID: <199511111823.KAA21613 at netcom13.netcom.com>
As W6QHS has pointed out, it doesn't make much sense to transport a
piece of cardboard half way around the world to confirm a radio contact.
The technology now exists to send a QSL confirmation via email or
packet using public key cryptography for message authentication.
Following is an example of a digitally signed email QSL. The message
is not encrypted, but "signed" with a PGP signature which is a
function of the message contents.
-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE-----
V31DX is pleased to confirm the following QSO(s):
Call Date UTC Band RS
W6QHS 28-Oct-95 0654 80 59
W6QHS 28-Oct-95 0754 40 59
W6QHS 29-Oct-95 2331 20 59
W6QHS 28-Oct-95 1752 15 59
W6QHS 29-Oct-95 2135 10 59
73 & GL
John N6YRU, Vic KI6IM
Bill WA9L, Peter AB6WM
-----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE-----
Version: 2.6.1
iQCVAwUBMKTIj8XVNA0sVNNNAQEfYQP+KJLn1/P5CyEJqXDUqYVLOszaEZwIgf0D
o2TsD3Lmp2nMzisWiVr8UNhbOV2SvFXURE/ZjM4X9CIgBDsa8qd+dwHTS8O2/Oxx
Tft7kSSarFZMhnpUv9OKc11nxn6ze2PjvYjF2h7/kJ9kKyUjhsmnE/nEn3E8tZ7C
kTuxjCUbNis=
=nDdt
-----END PGP SIGNATURE-----
Anyone who has a copy of the V31DX public key can verify that the
above message has not been altered and that it originated from
V31DX. The V31DX public key is at the end of this message.
Technically, the level of security is extremely high. It is virtually
impossible to modify the contents of the message and have the signature
validate correctly. The degree of security depends only on the
confidence you have that the public key came from the real sender,
in this case V31DX.
In order for digital QSL confirmations to work, the ARRL, and other
award granting bodies, need to collect public keys directly from the QSL
senders and use them to authenticate digital QSLs submitted on diskette
or via email. Most of this can be automated.
The private key used to create the QSL message, and the password
protecting its use, always remain with the sender of the messages.
A MASTER LOG DATABASE
One way to simplify further the issuance of digital QSLs for contest
and DXpedtion logs, is to create a central site with all of the logs.
Digital QSLs could be issued from the site to be used for awards purposes.
In that way, the QSLs would be available to anyone who wanted to request
one via email or WWW. The site would be the digital equivalent of a QSL
manager. It would not be necessary for the contest or DXpedition operators
to answer individual QSL requests if their logs were available on the
master QSL database. Nor would it be necessary for the award granters to
do the database searching in order to validate each contact.
V31DX is pioneering this new approach to QSLing as a demonstration of
the technology. Our logs are available already at
http://mall.turnpike.net/~jc/v31dx.html
and we will soon be sending email QSLs like the one above to all who
request them. (When the program to automate the process gets written).
The next step is to generate discussions among the award granting
bodies in order to specify a standard for the types of digital signatures
that would be acceptable. After that, it's a simple matter of programming ;)
73
Peter AB6WM
--------------
For more information on PGP and public key cryptography, check out the
following URL:
http://www.yahoo.com/Computers_and_Internet/Security_and_Encryption/
This is a complex topic for which there are innumerable mailing lists
and newsgroups. Digital QSLs are a topic for the CQ-Contest mailing
list, but I suggest that the discussion of the background technology
might better be kept to the appropriate groups and email.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
V31DX Public Key for demo purposes only:
-----BEGIN PGP PUBLIC KEY BLOCK-----
Version: 2.6.1
mQCNAzCkwQ0AAAEEAMysS258wtZvhldCGbU4xcv9X+mKla8VHKKtl7rRTc+RS5Gb
zyQsKuWoWy6cEkOyeryvgAOpwcJkLj5UpzeCkd+c14aTdAjHHYvpSUfiKJ/UDc+h
Nt3+/oytA9m/Z4pkFuR2srtROLfmjJEspMCZbZMcuS8VoSm8KsXVNA0sVNNNAAUR
tAVWMzFEWA==
=jtJ8
-----END PGP PUBLIC KEY BLOCK-----
>From kp4xs at ix.netcom.com (Kenneth Ramirez ) Sat Nov 11 18:25:01 1995
From: kp4xs at ix.netcom.com (Kenneth Ramirez ) (Kenneth Ramirez )
Date: Sat, 11 Nov 1995 10:25:01 -0800
Subject: The Facts abt Guest Operating!
Message-ID: <199511111825.KAA14832 at ix13.ix.netcom.com>
HOLA!
What's this I hear about no respect for guest operators? Lot's of
time and no money? Megabuck station owners? No will and desire on part
of operator to put a station together? Hiding behind someone elses
money?
HOGWASH! Anyone who even thinks remotely like that hasn't been
around the hobby very long and hasn't got a clue!
I have guest operated from many stations in previous contests. One
reason has always been the lack of acreage for an antenna farm. A
townhouse in a Washington DC suburb does not lend itself well for a
contest antenna farm. Two acres here in my new QTH in South Carolina
still wouldn't be enough.
Another reason is a lack of Moolah! I know this hasn't kept others
from assembling world class stations I.E. W3LPL,etc. They are good at
scrounging. To tell you the truth; even if I had enough money to
assemble a world class contest station I wouldn't do it. Do you realize
how much work is involved in keeping that station running? Do you think
I want to get ulcers every time a storm front moves through? Do you
think I want to spend most of my summers up on a tower? Besides, If I
was rich I could think of dozens of other things I would rather be
doing.Some that come to mind are chasing broads down in the Caribbean,
or having fun with the local women over in the Phillipines or Thailand!
I am greatful to the LPLs of this hobby for allowing me to blow off
some pent up energies in a contest.
I am fully aware of the hard work and effort they have put into their
stations and the least I can do is put in 100% when given the
opportunity. I ain't lazy, I ain't unmotivated and I ain't HIDING
behind someone elses money and sweat! I Just have my priorities in a
different order! And that's the MAIN reason! 73 Ken KP4XS ex-KH2F
Member of the W3 Zulu Zulu Grid Pirates VHF Group and the
KP4XS WPXSSB Contest "Team Cabo Rojo". Where eating Seafood and
drinking a Beer is priority numero uno! See you in March!
>From mpickard at netcom.com (Mike Pickard) Sat Nov 11 18:42:13 1995
From: mpickard at netcom.com (Mike Pickard) (Mike Pickard)
Date: Sat, 11 Nov 1995 10:42:13 -0800
Subject: K7NPN SS CW Score
Message-ID: <199511111842.KAA25085 at netcom6.netcom.com>
Single Op Low Power Section WWA
Band QSO PTS
80 83 166
40 144 288
20 131 262
15 282 564
Total 640 1280 X 71 multipliers = 90,880
Club: Western Washington DX Club
Station: TS-140 NA V9 Cushcraft A3S @ 50' with Alpha-Delta Dual
Sloper on 40-80-160
Comments: Finesse and etiquette in maintaining a working frequency became
the key challenge in this one! The DSP 9+ was effective in pulling out
some weak stations. Well gotta run almost time for Contest College! 73
de Mike K7NPN mpickard at netcom.com
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