What makes an engineer and/or ham radio amateur??

youtube ^ | 4-8-07 | EA2RKG

[smokingfrog]

What makes an engineer and/or ham radio amateur??

[JRandomFreeper]

I don’t remember much, but the imprint I left in the hollow core door behind me showed that I hit it pretty hard.

LOL! yep. That's about it.

I was 12 when it happened. Dad heard and came into the room and asked the standard "What the...?" He saw the final cover removed, the analog meter nearby, smelled the ozone and burned flesh...

And then he said "Don't do that." and walked out.

I did get it fixed before 40 meters opened up and made a bunch of QSOs that night.

/johnny

[HiTech RedNeck]

Kick like an e-mule.

[Gene Eric]

Like any one is taking 220 on electronics feed...

220, 3 phase max industrial.

[cynwoody]

20? 600V on the anode of a 6146A at RF frequencies.

That'll set your teef on edge, if you have 'em.

Lessee. 435VDC at 150. Tailor made. But we only need 145 ...

[21twelve]

There was a genius kid at my college (engineering) that while really SMART was a rebel too. (Some drugs, mischief, etc.)

Kids say he rigged up his stereo in his dorm room by tapping into 220v that serviced the nearby kitchen area. But I didn’t think that possible - but are you saying it is? (Obviously I’m not an E.E.!)

For a graduation prank he broke into the main building with the school bell and P.A. system one night and reprogrammed the computer so it would chime the Mickey Mouse song on the hour and half-hour!

[Fresh Wind]

Aw, heck, a 6146 is nothing. Now THIS is a REAL tube!

Western Electric 320A.

Filament 35 volts at 435 amps
Plate 18kv at 8 amps
Plate dissipation 150kw

[cynwoody]

That tube was built for use in "border blaster" transmitters. The border blasters were monster 500kw AM stations located along Mexico's northern border but directed into the US and broadcasting in English. They took advantage of Mexico's lax restrictions on transmitter power, much to the annoyance of US stations, which are limited to 50kw max.

[Fresh Wind]

Cool book:

Border Radio: Pitchmen, Psychics, and Other Amazing Broadcasters of the American Airwaves

[Gene Eric]

>> 220v that serviced the nearby kitchen area.

A number of places I visited in Europe are on 220. Would expect that to be the norm throughout.

It is/was not uncommon for electronics to have a 110/220 switch in order to support both levels.

[21twelve]

Thanks for the info. Looking at the tubes on this thread always makes me think if I missed out. Was cleaning out an old friends basement and he had a bunch of REALLY old HAM radio gear (60’s). His son took the radio set as a keepsake, but I helped him move 2 or 3 large boxes of old tubes, etc. to the dump. Some of the old tubes were pretty large (to me) - say 4” diameter x 8-inches tall. I should have kept some just as a keepsake.

[Gene Eric]

Still have a tube-based shortwave radio hanging around somewhere.

[cynwoody]

I helped him move 2 or 3 large boxes of old tubes, etc. to the dump. Some of the old tubes were pretty large (to me) - say 4” diameter x 8-inches tall.

You needed one of these: www.youtube.com/watch?v=j6quDzRr9y8