[TowerTalk] re; Whiskers growing where you cannot shave them

[Jim Lux]

> It makes more sense to me now. Heck, I always have to watch
> PC board suppliers because they try to charge a premium for
> close trace spacing when the closest I normally get on
> layouts is .035 inches. I live in a wide spaced trace world
> for now.
>
> Probably the only concern for Hams and Ham antennas is in
> the cell phones we use to order beer and pizzas that
> maintain our seat padding.
>
> Thanks,
> Tom

Considering all the fine pitch SMTs used in modern ham gear, I'd say it's
actually more of a concern than you might think. Very few ham radios use
conformal coating, and lots use very dense PWBs.  Even my relatively ancient
FT-757 has fairly fine traces, and if you bought a radio in the last 5
years, I'll bet it has 50 mil pitch connectors, and even closer pitch SMT
devices.