[TowerTalk] My Yearly Mistake

[Roger (K8RI) on TT]

We were having an off line discussion, but I thought I'd posy my answer 
to one.

I have mentioned several times that I never scored 100% on a math test. 
Lots of 95s, but I could always count on one dumb mistake and that's 
exactly what I did here.  Once I found the mistakes, it was so obvious 
that I fail to see how those schooled in mathematics missed it/them. 
It's been over 25 years since I graduated and I often hear the median 
referred to as the middle value, when in reality it is the middle, 
measured value. IOW you first arrange all the measure/observed values in 
order of the parameter you are keying on.  Then take the middle 
measure/observed variable.  IOW if there are 3 values, you take the 
value of the second. If there are 11 measured values. you take the 
6th.   What I did was to take the middle value between the minimum and 
maximum of the set.  Why?  I don't know.  Minor in math, but brain fart?

Well at least I have my allocated mistake for the year out of the way, 
so, I should be spot on for the rest of the year <cough><cough>

At any rate, as you said, we are playing the odds with lightening and we 
need to know the likelihood of those outliers.  At first the return Vs 
cost is great, but the law of diminishing returns quickly rears its ugly 
head where it costs a lot for a little increase in return.

One thing I do think missing in the ground rod Vs UFER comparisons is 
the area covered by the system.  How does that system area compare with 
the contact area of the ground rods and UFER contact area once the 
desired resistance has been achieved?

As hams with out a government budget where monstrous cost over runs are 
often tolerated, our auditors/wives are not nearly so forgiving of 
estimated costs, let alone, over runs.  <:-)

In corporate America, avoiding cost over runs is a good way to assure 
continued employment.

73

Roger (K8RI)

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73

Roger (K8RI)


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