[TenTec] (ham station computer choice)

Wed May 7 15:36:42 EDT 2014

Ron I agree.  The stories as broadcast on the local TV News as reported 
would likely scare the crap out of anyone using a Windows XP product.  "I 
know it has to be true because they said so on TV".  Grrrrrrr!

73
Bob, K4TAX

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Ron Notarius W3WN" <wn3vaw at verizon.net>
To: <tentec at contesting.com>
Sent: Wednesday, May 07, 2014 2:07 PM
Subject: Re: [TenTec] (ham station computer choice)

> 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
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> TenTec mailing list
>>> TenTec at contesting.com
>>> http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/tentec
>>>
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