++++++++++++++++++ Reply-To: From: "Ron D'Eau Claire" To: Subject: RE: [Elecraft] Cans Date: Wed, 5 Feb 2003 16:05:17 -0800 Uh, Oh... the closest thing to "flames" I've seen around here was a year ago over the definition of "LID". When I was a "LID" it meant an inexperienced, inept and generally unskilled new operator likely to cause more commotion than communication. OT's put up with them in the (sometimes forlorn) hopes that they'd turn into operators one day. Some newer Hams seem to think that it's a compliment. If you're going back THAT far... how about: Growler. Loose Coupler Maggie (not the kind that makes microwaves) Basketweave coil Cage Antenna Aether (or "ether") Heaviside Layer That's enough... The only thing this has to do with Elecraft rigs is in relationship to the Heaviside layer under certain conditions. Oh? You want answers? See below. Ron AC7AC K2 # 1289 Growler - originally a pail with a lid used as a lunch box by many workers in the 1920's and 30's. A very popular transmitter monitor was built into one that consisted of a regenerative detector. The pail provided enough shielding to get a clear idea of what one's signal sounded like on the air. Hence, for some time, careful ops had a "growler" to check signal quality with. (Some operators today could use one). Loose Coupler - two coils with variable coupling (one usually slid into the other). Very popular before variable capacitors to make a tuned circuit become common. Maggie - the most popular detector following the coherer (oops, maybe I should have included the coherer - the original detector used by Marconi). A maggie used an iron strip that wrapped around two small wheels. It looked a lot like a small 1950's reel-to-reel tape recorder. A spring motor turned the wheels moving the iron band. The band passed by a horseshoe magnet that magnetized it, then the band passed through a couple of coils that were connected to the antenna, ground and headphones. R-F in the coils would be affected by the magnetic band in such a way as to make a noise in the phones. It was better than the coherer at sea, but it required the operator to remember to wind it up. C.F. Rockey (of regenerative receiver fame) wrote that at least one ship in easy hearing distance of the Titanic never heard the distress calls because the operator had fallen asleep at his desk and the "maggie" had run down. Believe me the K1 or K2 is a HECK of a LOT more sensitive, even with a bad antenna. Basketweave Coil - A special way of winding solenodal coils to minimize inter-turn capacitance and dielectric losses. The end result looked a bit like a basket. Cheap, simple, and worked good, I can tell you! Cage Antenna - large diameter antenna created by using a number of parallel wires held apart by separators and coming together only at the ends. Aether (or ether) - theoretical fluid that penetrated all space and matter to carry light and similar energy (including radio waves). Based on the Newtonian concept that there can be "no action at a distance" and therefore light (and radio waves) must travel "in" something. It was diligently searched for by physicists until Einstein's theories, which showed that Newton was wrong and there is no theoretical "need" for an ether, began to gain wide acceptance in the 1920's and 30's. Heaviside Layer - A theoretical series of layers high above the earth postulated by Heaviside that would responsible for the reflection of radio signals to account for over-the-horizon communications at HF (shortwave frequencies). It was the subject of much controversy for years about whether such a thing actually existed. It became accepted and known following WWII as the "Ionosphere". +++++++++++++++++++ From: N2EY at aol.com Date: Wed, 5 Feb 2003 20:42:45 EST Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Cans To: vze2gmp4 at verizon.net, rondec at easystreet.com Cc: elecraft at mailman.qth.net In a message dated 2/5/03 4:39:49 PM Eastern Standard Time, vze2gmp4 at verizon.net writes: > Bug Semiautomatic key makes dits automatically by mechanical means but dahs are made manually > Cootie key Sideswiper > 807 (not the tube) Beer in a bottle > Sky hook Antenna support > LID A poor operator. Derives from practice of inexperienced telegraph ops, who would put a tobacco can lid near the sounder to change/amplify the sound > Brass pounding Sending CW, usually with a straight key > ZED The letter Z > Reading the mail Copying code in one's head while not in a QSO > Goonie box Gonset Communicator. "You're closing the eye here, OM" > Benton Harbor lunch box Heathkit "Tener", "Sixer" or "Twoer" transceiver, sonamed for its size and shape. > Blooper Regenerative receiver > SSSC Single Sideband Suppressed Carrier - early name for SSB. OK, how about: Thyratron Megatron Dekatron Dynatron Transitron Rhumbatron Pliotron Gammatron Radiotron Ignitron Kenotron and Rectigon 73 de Jim, N2EY +++++++++++++++++++