[TenTec] (ham station computer choice)

Wed May 7 15:07:08 EDT 2014

Bob,

I don't want to veer too far OT, so let me just say this briefly:

There's a lot of misunderstanding & hype about Microsoft dropping Windows XP Support.  And frankly, a lot of that Fear Uncertainty & Doubt are being generated from those who'd like to sell you a new machine, whether you really need it or not.

I don't want to bore the bulk of the list on this.  So, if anyone is really interested in what my professional take on the situation is, go to http://www.n3sh.org/washrag.htm and pull up the April 2014 issue (http://www.n3sh.org/WASHRAG/WASH0414.pdf,  see Page 8)

73, ron w3wn

On 05/07/14, Bob McGraw - K4TAX wrote:

I agree Jim. As a beta test person in another commodity, yes it is those 
the grab it and run with it are in effect doing the beta testing for 
Microsoft. In that case, I'll let them get most of the bugs out before I 
move on and thus enjoy the fruits of their efforts.

As to XP support, the fact that MS will no longer support the product as I 
understand will basically then no longer provide updates. Now, if one 
should be using MS for security via the web, spam, and virus that could 
spell trouble. However, I use a 3rd party paid subscription to handle those 
chores and thus I have little to no concerns in these areas.

73
Bob, K4TAX

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Jim Allen" <jim.allen at longhornband.net>
To: "Discussion of Ten-Tec Equipment" <tentec at contesting.com>
Sent: Wednesday, May 07, 2014 10:09 AM
Subject: Re: [TenTec] (ham station computer choice)

>I just bought a Dell and wonder how to test it for suitability, get rid of
> all the add on nonsense. I'd be glad just to be up to speed on W7,
> actually, having put off moving from XP for a long time while you computer
> geniuses handled the beta testing.
>
> 73 de W6OGC Jim Allen
>
>
> On Wed, May 7, 2014 at 9:50 AM, K7TXO Radio <k7txoradio at gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> 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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