On Mar 17, 2022, at 23:07, Lothar baier via groups.io <Lothar@...> wrote:

? What source power are you using? What is the serial number and fw revision of your source??

On Mar 17, 2022, at 23:05, Willy via groups.io <ratn9ne@...> wrote:

?With the 6 foot cable my system seems to be about 40% working.

From 20-40GHz S12 and S22 sometimes fully work. S11 and S21 only up to ~30ghz works, then the NO IF FOUND errors comes up. Changing the source power has an effect on how far the sweep gets before failing. Sometimes I also get a phase lock error. I notice that the LED on the sweeper source gets very intermittent when the NO IF error shows up.

The sweeper has been tested good with a 8515 before this 8516 was thrown into the mix.

On Mar 17, 2022, at 23:05, Willy via groups.io <ratn9ne@...> wrote:

?With the 6 foot cable my system seems to be about 40% working.

From 20-40GHz S12 and S22 sometimes fully work. S11 and S21 only up to ~30ghz works, then the NO IF FOUND errors comes up. Changing the source power has an effect on how far the sweep gets before failing. Sometimes I also get a phase lock error. I notice that the LED on the sweeper source gets very intermittent when the NO IF error shows up.

The sweeper has been tested good with a 8515 before this 8516 was thrown into the mix.

BTW the 4438C has reverse power protection but there are a few differences depending on the frequency!
The 4438C was available in 2GHz , 3GHz , 4GHz and 6GHz , versions to 4GHz were protected up to 50W to 2GHz and 25W above 2GHz as well as 50V DC , the 6GHz version used a different attenuator and had no DC protection and could only handle 1W RF ( dont ask me how i know ?)
Also while the power handling was 25 or 50W the RPP actually tripped at 1W
On Mar 17, 2022, at 22:31, Lothar baier <Lothar@...> wrote:

? I guess my question would be why you want sweep to begin with ? If you want to measure filters than sweeping is only half the rent, you still need some way to display your response in a dB linear format so that brings you to a scaler analyzer or a VNA but most signal generators with sweep function are not compatible with scaler analyzers ! Also I have to point out that the sweep on sig gens usually is a digital sweep which depending on step size can be taking some time
On Mar 17, 2022, at 22:22, Radu Bogdan Dicher via groups.io <vondicher@...> wrote:

?
Honestly, probably worth its separate topic is how many of these units have AC and/or DC protection on their output. DC - far more important in my book.

In a hobby environment of experimenting and tinkering with design, repairs, alignments, etc., this seems a pretty critical selection criteria. As a hobbyist, once you spend a few hundred bucks on your unit (and probably weeks of hunting on ePay, 100 miles drive to hamfest, etc. etc.), disabling it for an undetermined length of time, due to an inadvertent connection is a huge nuisance. Maybe this will become less of a problem than I tend to see it right now - I have not yet disabled any of my units, ever, because of this - or maybe I just have to keep a DC block attached to its output at all times, but I still feel it's good insurance.

* HP 8643A/8644B: "50W reverse power protection" (is this what I think it is?). This is in Table 2-1. Specifications (2 of 4).
* HP 8662A: nothing seems to indicate such protection.
* (non-sweeping): HP 8657A/B: "Reverse power protection to maximum output frequency: 50W; Maximum DC voltage: A: 50V; B: 25V (p.3 in Profile).
* Agilent E4438C: no such spec I can find. BTW, this guy seems to have everything I may want and more. It goes for one more digit than what I'm looking for, $-wise.
* (non-sweeping): HP 8648: "Reverse power protection" 50W into 50 ohms under 2GHz (Specifications, p.4-4)

Radu.

On Thu, Mar 17, 2022 at 8:00 PM Radu Dicher <vondicher@...<mailto:vondicher@...>> wrote:
Ruben,
You're right, there's just two sweepers on that list, which complies with my original requirements.

But I decided to keep the list a bit "looser" than how I started it; besides, there's just two sweepers that were put forth and didn't get disqualified for various reasons. I'd be very happy to hear of other candidates, but maybe these two are the only ones that warrant being on the shortlist.

Out of those two, the 8643/8644 has a bit of an edge, in no small way due to their apparent less clout (at least at the time of this publication ;)), so prices seem to be a bit better than the 8662. Also, there's about 15lbs worth less bricks in it (there's some entire, respectable units that weigh as much as the difference!). Specs are very similar.

Still evaluating and still inviting more recommendations!

Thank you all very much for your input.
Radu.

On Thu, Mar 17, 2022 at 12:50 PM Lothar baier <Lothar@...<mailto:Lothar@...>> wrote:
Not sure about the newer IFR/aeroflex stuff but the marconi stuff I worked on back at tucker was horrible in terms of signal quality and reliability


On Mar 17, 2022, at 14:33, RubenRubio via groups.io<> <rubenrb2019@...<mailto:[email protected]>> wrote:

?

Radu

At first you want to sweep, and none of those, except for 8662A and 8643A, can sweep.



Regards,
Ruben

On Mar 17, 2022, at 22:31, Lothar baier <Lothar@...> wrote:

? I guess my question would be why you want sweep to begin with ? ?If you want to measure filters than sweeping is only half the rent, you still need some way to display your response in a dB linear format so that brings you to a scaler analyzer or a VNA but most signal generators with sweep function are not compatible with scaler analyzers ! Also I have to point out that the sweep on sig gens usually is a digital sweep which depending on step size can be taking some time

On Mar 17, 2022, at 22:22, Radu Bogdan Dicher via groups.io <vondicher@...> wrote:

?

Honestly, probably worth its separate topic is how many of these units have AC and/or DC protection on their output. DC - far more important in my book.?

In a hobby environment?of experimenting?and tinkering?with design, repairs, alignments, etc., this seems a pretty critical selection criteria. As a hobbyist, once you spend a few hundred bucks on your unit (and probably weeks of?hunting on ePay, 100 miles drive to hamfest, etc. etc.), disabling it for an undetermined?length of time, due to an inadvertent connection is a huge nuisance. Maybe this will become less of a problem than I tend to see it right now - I have not yet disabled any of my units, ever, because of this - or maybe I just have to keep a DC block attached to its?output at all times, but I still feel it's good insurance.?

• HP 8643A/8644B: "50W reverse power protection" (is this what I think it is?). This is in Table 2-1. Specifications (2 of 4).?
• HP 8662A: nothing seems to indicate such protection.?
• (non-sweeping): HP 8657A/B: "Reverse power protection to maximum output frequency: 50W; Maximum DC voltage: A: 50V; B: 25V (p.3 in Profile).?
• Agilent E4438C: no such spec I can find. BTW, this guy seems to have everything I may want and more. It goes for one more digit than what I'm looking for, $-wise.?
• (non-sweeping): HP 8648: "Reverse power protection" 50W into 50 ohms under 2GHz (Specifications, p.4-4)

Radu.?

On Thu, Mar 17, 2022 at 8:00 PM Radu Dicher <vondicher@...> wrote:

Ruben,

You're right, there's just two sweepers on that list, which complies with my original requirements.?

But I decided to keep the list a bit "looser" than how I started it; besides, there's just two sweepers?that were put forth and didn't get disqualified for various reasons. I'd be very happy to hear of other candidates, but maybe these two are the only ones that warrant being on the shortlist.?

Out of those two, the 8643/8644 has a bit of an edge, in no small way due to their apparent less clout (at least at the time of this publication ;)), so prices seem to be a bit better than the 8662. Also, there's about 15lbs worth less bricks in it (there's some entire, respectable units that weigh as much as the difference!). Specs are very similar.?

Still evaluating and still inviting more recommendations!?

Thank you all very much for your input.?

Radu.?

On Thu, Mar 17, 2022 at 12:50 PM Lothar baier <Lothar@...> wrote:

Not sure about the newer IFR/aeroflex stuff but the marconi stuff I worked on back at tucker was horrible in terms of signal quality and reliability

On Mar 17, 2022, at 14:33, RubenRubio via <rubenrb2019=[email protected]> wrote:

?

Radu

At first you want to sweep, and none of those, except for 8662A and 8643A, can sweep.

?

Regards,
Ruben

On Mar 17, 2022, at 22:31, Lothar baier <Lothar@...> wrote:

? I guess my question would be why you want sweep to begin with ? ?If you want to measure filters than sweeping is only half the rent, you still need some way to display your response in a dB linear format so that brings you to a scaler analyzer or a VNA but most signal generators with sweep function are not compatible with scaler analyzers ! Also I have to point out that the sweep on sig gens usually is a digital sweep which depending on step size can be taking some time

On Mar 17, 2022, at 22:22, Radu Bogdan Dicher via groups.io <vondicher@...> wrote:

?

Honestly, probably worth its separate topic is how many of these units have AC and/or DC protection on their output. DC - far more important in my book.?

In a hobby environment?of experimenting?and tinkering?with design, repairs, alignments, etc., this seems a pretty critical selection criteria. As a hobbyist, once you spend a few hundred bucks on your unit (and probably weeks of?hunting on ePay, 100 miles drive to hamfest, etc. etc.), disabling it for an undetermined?length of time, due to an inadvertent connection is a huge nuisance. Maybe this will become less of a problem than I tend to see it right now - I have not yet disabled any of my units, ever, because of this - or maybe I just have to keep a DC block attached to its?output at all times, but I still feel it's good insurance.?

• HP 8643A/8644B: "50W reverse power protection" (is this what I think it is?). This is in Table 2-1. Specifications (2 of 4).?
• HP 8662A: nothing seems to indicate such protection.?
• (non-sweeping): HP 8657A/B: "Reverse power protection to maximum output frequency: 50W; Maximum DC voltage: A: 50V; B: 25V (p.3 in Profile).?
• Agilent E4438C: no such spec I can find. BTW, this guy seems to have everything I may want and more. It goes for one more digit than what I'm looking for, $-wise.?
• (non-sweeping): HP 8648: "Reverse power protection" 50W into 50 ohms under 2GHz (Specifications, p.4-4)

Radu.?

On Thu, Mar 17, 2022 at 8:00 PM Radu Dicher <vondicher@...> wrote:

Ruben,

You're right, there's just two sweepers on that list, which complies with my original requirements.?

But I decided to keep the list a bit "looser" than how I started it; besides, there's just two sweepers?that were put forth and didn't get disqualified for various reasons. I'd be very happy to hear of other candidates, but maybe these two are the only ones that warrant being on the shortlist.?

Out of those two, the 8643/8644 has a bit of an edge, in no small way due to their apparent less clout (at least at the time of this publication ;)), so prices seem to be a bit better than the 8662. Also, there's about 15lbs worth less bricks in it (there's some entire, respectable units that weigh as much as the difference!). Specs are very similar.?

Still evaluating and still inviting more recommendations!?

Thank you all very much for your input.?

Radu.?

On Thu, Mar 17, 2022 at 12:50 PM Lothar baier <Lothar@...> wrote:

Not sure about the newer IFR/aeroflex stuff but the marconi stuff I worked on back at tucker was horrible in terms of signal quality and reliability

On Mar 17, 2022, at 14:33, RubenRubio via <rubenrb2019=[email protected]> wrote:

?

Radu

At first you want to sweep, and none of those, except for 8662A and 8643A, can sweep.

?

Regards,
Ruben

Honestly, probably worth its separate topic is how many of these units have
AC and/or DC protection on their output. DC - far more important in my
book.

In a hobby environment of experimenting and tinkering with design, repairs,
alignments, etc., this seems a pretty critical selection criteria. As a
hobbyist, once you spend a few hundred bucks on your unit (and probably
weeks of hunting on ePay, 100 miles drive to hamfest, etc. etc.), disabling
it for an undetermined length of time, due to an inadvertent connection is
a huge nuisance. Maybe this will become less of a problem than I tend to
see it right now - I have not yet disabled any of my units, ever, because
of this - or maybe I just have to keep a DC block attached to its output at
all times, but I still feel it's good insurance.

- HP 8643A/8644B: "50W reverse power protection" (is this what I think
it is?). This is in *Table 2-1. Specifications (2 of 4)*.
- HP 8662A: nothing seems to indicate such protection.
- (non-sweeping): HP 8657A/B: "Reverse power protection to maximum
output frequency: 50W; Maximum DC voltage: A: 50V; B: 25V (p.3 in
*Profile*).
- Agilent E4438C: no such spec I can find. BTW, this guy seems to have
everything I may want and more. It goes for one more digit than what I'm
looking for, $-wise.
- (non-sweeping): HP 8648: "Reverse power protection" 50W into 50 ohms
under 2GHz (*Specifications*, p.4-4)

Radu.

On Thu, Mar 17, 2022 at 8:00 PM Radu Dicher <vondicher@...> wrote:

Ruben,
You're right, there's just two sweepers on that list, which complies with
my original requirements.

But I decided to keep the list a bit "looser" than how I started it;
besides, there's just two sweepers that were put forth and didn't get
disqualified for various reasons. I'd be very happy to hear of other
candidates, but maybe these two are the only ones that warrant being on the
shortlist.

Out of those two, the 8643/8644 has a bit of an edge, in no small way due
to their apparent less clout (at least at the time of this publication ;)),
so prices seem to be a bit better than the 8662. Also, there's about 15lbs
worth less bricks in it (there's some entire, respectable units that weigh
as much as the difference!). Specs are very similar.

Still evaluating and still inviting more recommendations!

Thank you all very much for your input.
Radu.

On Thu, Mar 17, 2022 at 12:50 PM Lothar baier <Lothar@...>
wrote:

Not sure about the newer IFR/aeroflex stuff but the marconi stuff I
worked on back at tucker was horrible in terms of signal quality and
reliability


On Mar 17, 2022, at 14:33, RubenRubio via groups.io <rubenrb2019=
[email protected]> wrote:

?

Radu

At first you want to sweep, and none of those, except for 8662A and
8643A, can sweep.



Regards,
Ruben

On Mar 17, 2022, at 22:22, Radu Bogdan Dicher via groups.io <vondicher@...> wrote:

?

Honestly, probably worth its separate topic is how many of these units have AC and/or DC protection on their output. DC - far more important in my book.?

In a hobby environment?of experimenting?and tinkering?with design, repairs, alignments, etc., this seems a pretty critical selection criteria. As a hobbyist, once you spend a few hundred bucks on your unit (and probably weeks of?hunting on ePay, 100 miles drive to hamfest, etc. etc.), disabling it for an undetermined?length of time, due to an inadvertent connection is a huge nuisance. Maybe this will become less of a problem than I tend to see it right now - I have not yet disabled any of my units, ever, because of this - or maybe I just have to keep a DC block attached to its?output at all times, but I still feel it's good insurance.?

• HP 8643A/8644B: "50W reverse power protection" (is this what I think it is?). This is in Table 2-1. Specifications (2 of 4).?
• HP 8662A: nothing seems to indicate such protection.?
• (non-sweeping): HP 8657A/B: "Reverse power protection to maximum output frequency: 50W; Maximum DC voltage: A: 50V; B: 25V (p.3 in Profile).?
• Agilent E4438C: no such spec I can find. BTW, this guy seems to have everything I may want and more. It goes for one more digit than what I'm looking for, $-wise.?
• (non-sweeping): HP 8648: "Reverse power protection" 50W into 50 ohms under 2GHz (Specifications, p.4-4)

Radu.?

On Thu, Mar 17, 2022 at 8:00 PM Radu Dicher <vondicher@...> wrote:

Ruben,

You're right, there's just two sweepers on that list, which complies with my original requirements.?

But I decided to keep the list a bit "looser" than how I started it; besides, there's just two sweepers?that were put forth and didn't get disqualified for various reasons. I'd be very happy to hear of other candidates, but maybe these two are the only ones that warrant being on the shortlist.?

Out of those two, the 8643/8644 has a bit of an edge, in no small way due to their apparent less clout (at least at the time of this publication ;)), so prices seem to be a bit better than the 8662. Also, there's about 15lbs worth less bricks in it (there's some entire, respectable units that weigh as much as the difference!). Specs are very similar.?

Still evaluating and still inviting more recommendations!?

Thank you all very much for your input.?

Radu.?

On Thu, Mar 17, 2022 at 12:50 PM Lothar baier <Lothar@...> wrote:

Not sure about the newer IFR/aeroflex stuff but the marconi stuff I worked on back at tucker was horrible in terms of signal quality and reliability

On Mar 17, 2022, at 14:33, RubenRubio via <rubenrb2019=[email protected]> wrote:

?

Radu

At first you want to sweep, and none of those, except for 8662A and 8643A, can sweep.

?

Regards,
Ruben

So you are telling me that the modules sold by adafruit or any of the other stores don’t come with any example code and integration examples because I sincerely doubt this
-----Original Message-----
From: [email protected] <[email protected]> On Behalf Of Bruce via groups.io
Sent: Thursday, March 17, 2022 9:22 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: BS, was Re: [HP-Agilent-Keysight-equipment] Spread the word -- Swap Meet Returns!
ABSOLUTELY DISAGREE - Different yes - less challenging or technical NO. Natively the module knows little except a protocol at sole level.
DOING something with that basic functionality is the challenging and interesting part.
Would you say that attitude control software for a drone is less
complicated that designing an application specific board? What
about modifying, or extending a communications protocol?
Cheers!
Bruce
Quoting Lothar baier <Lothar@...>:

Buying a Bluetooth or zigbee module and tacking it on a mcu module is
not the same as designing a circuit all the way to the circuit board
and then building and testing it just saying

-----Original Message-----
From: [email protected]
<[email protected]> On Behalf Of Dave McGuire
via groups.io
Sent: Thursday, March 17, 2022 9:06 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: BS, was Re: [HP-Agilent-Keysight-equipment] Spread the
word -- Swap Meet Returns!

On 3/17/22 21:56, Lothar baier wrote:

They might be building stuff but nothing that has to do with RF ,
maybe microcontrollers robots and drones ....

...and Bluetooth and Zigbee and LoRa...They certainly ARE doing RF,
just mostly not the same RF that you did. And that is ok!

As far as HAM RADIO goes ( and I am a HAM btw ) 'giving them out "
is about correct ...... if I compare the questions I had to answer
back in 85 when I got my first license in germany and the questions
now ....... well I am not going there but the german DARC pushed more
and more to make things easier to bring more people to the hobby and
it shows

True, all true. But to assert that it's somehow not an area of
interest for young people today is patently false.

-Dave

--
Dave McGuire, AK4HZ
New Kensington, PA

Buying a Bluetooth or zigbee module and tacking it on a mcu module is
not the same as designing a circuit all the way to the circuit board
and then building and testing it just saying

-----Original Message-----
From: [email protected]
<[email protected]> On Behalf Of Dave McGuire
via groups.io
Sent: Thursday, March 17, 2022 9:06 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: BS, was Re: [HP-Agilent-Keysight-equipment] Spread the
word -- Swap Meet Returns!

On 3/17/22 21:56, Lothar baier wrote:

They might be building stuff but nothing that has to do with RF ,
maybe microcontrollers robots and drones ....

...and Bluetooth and Zigbee and LoRa...They certainly ARE doing RF,
just mostly not the same RF that you did. And that is ok!

As far as HAM RADIO goes ( and I am a HAM btw ) 'giving them out "
is about correct ...... if I compare the questions I had to answer
back in 85 when I got my first license in germany and the questions
now ....... well I am not going there but the german DARC pushed more
and more to make things easier to bring more people to the hobby and
it shows

True, all true. But to assert that it's somehow not an area of
interest for young people today is patently false.

-Dave

--
Dave McGuire, AK4HZ
New Kensington, PA

Buying a Bluetooth or zigbee module and tacking it on a mcu module is
not the same as designing a circuit all the way to the circuit board
and then building and testing it just saying

-----Original Message-----
From: [email protected]
<[email protected]> On Behalf Of Dave McGuire
via groups.io
Sent: Thursday, March 17, 2022 9:06 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: BS, was Re: [HP-Agilent-Keysight-equipment] Spread the word -- Swap Meet Returns!

On 3/17/22 21:56, Lothar baier wrote:

They might be building stuff but nothing that has to do with RF , maybe microcontrollers robots and drones ....

...and Bluetooth and Zigbee and LoRa...They certainly ARE doing RF, just mostly not the same RF that you did. And that is ok!

As far as HAM RADIO goes ( and I am a HAM btw ) 'giving them out "
is about correct ...... if I compare the questions I had to answer
back in 85 when I got my first license in germany and the questions
now ....... well I am not going there but the german DARC pushed more
and more to make things easier to bring more people to the hobby and
it shows

True, all true. But to assert that it's somehow not an area of interest for young people today is patently false.

-Dave

--
Dave McGuire, AK4HZ
New Kensington, PA

Buying a Bluetooth or zigbee module and tacking it on a mcu module is not the same as designing a circuit all the way to the circuit board and then building and testing it just saying

-----Original Message-----
From: [email protected] <[email protected]> On Behalf Of Dave McGuire via groups.io
Sent: Thursday, March 17, 2022 9:06 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: BS, was Re: [HP-Agilent-Keysight-equipment] Spread the word -- Swap Meet Returns!

On 3/17/22 21:56, Lothar baier wrote:

They might be building stuff but nothing that has to do with RF , maybe microcontrollers robots and drones ....

...and Bluetooth and Zigbee and LoRa...They certainly ARE doing RF, just mostly not the same RF that you did. And that is ok!

As far as HAM RADIO goes ( and I am a HAM btw ) 'giving them out "
is about correct ...... if I compare the questions I had to answer
back in 85 when I got my first license in germany and the questions
now ....... well I am not going there but the german DARC pushed more
and more to make things easier to bring more people to the hobby and
it shows

True, all true. But to assert that it's somehow not an area of interest for young people today is patently false.

-Dave

--
Dave McGuire, AK4HZ
New Kensington, PA

They might be building stuff but nothing that has to do with RF ,
maybe microcontrollers robots and drones ....

As far as HAM RADIO goes ( and I am a HAM btw ) 'giving them out "
is about correct ...... if I compare the questions I had to answer
back in 85 when I got my first license in germany and the questions
now ....... well I am not going there but the german DARC pushed more
and more to make things easier to bring more people to the hobby and
it shows


-----Original Message-----
From: [email protected]
<[email protected]> On Behalf Of Dave McGuire
via groups.io
Sent: Thursday, March 17, 2022 8:49 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: BS, was Re: [HP-Agilent-Keysight-equipment] Spread the
word -- Swap Meet Returns!

On 3/17/22 21:37, Lothar baier wrote:

Dave with all due respect , I been selling microwave parts at local
hamfests for over 10 years so I know the crowd that builds stuff ,
license statistics mean nothing , there might be more hams than 10
years ago but most of them are plug and play !

No, the kids aren't buying microwave parts at hamfests. This is
what I was meant when I said "it is DIFFERENT now". They are buying
parts from Adafruit, SparkFun, and Amazon, and hundreds of other
places. And they are building stuff like crazy.

And yes, ham radio has changed too. I was first licensed in the
early 1980s; I've watched it changed quite a lot over the years. A
lot of the inventiveness has moved to software, where even people with
no money or no mobility can be creative. Have you seen any of these
new-fangled digital modes? Some of them are downright amazing.
License statistics mean quite a bit; they're not giving them out to
people who haven't asked for them.

It is not so bleak as you say. Actually it's not bleak at all.
It is wholly unreasonable to assume that nothing in as forward-looking
a field as this one will never change, and then complain when it does.

...And I can analyze those signals with my 89441A!

-Dave

--
Dave McGuire, AK4HZ
New Kensington, PA

Buying a Bluetooth or zigbee module and tacking it on a mcu module is not the same as designing a circuit all the way to the circuit board and then building and testing it just saying
-----Original Message-----
From: [email protected] <[email protected]> On Behalf Of Dave McGuire via groups.io
Sent: Thursday, March 17, 2022 9:06 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: BS, was Re: [HP-Agilent-Keysight-equipment] Spread the word -- Swap Meet Returns!
On 3/17/22 21:56, Lothar baier wrote:

They might be building stuff but nothing that has to do with RF , maybe microcontrollers robots and drones ....

...and Bluetooth and Zigbee and LoRa...They certainly ARE doing RF, just mostly not the same RF that you did. And that is ok!

As far as HAM RADIO goes ( and I am a HAM btw ) 'giving them out "
is about correct ...... if I compare the questions I had to answer
back in 85 when I got my first license in germany and the questions
now ....... well I am not going there but the german DARC pushed more
and more to make things easier to bring more people to the hobby and
it shows

True, all true. But to assert that it's somehow not an area of interest for young people today is patently false.
-Dave
--
Dave McGuire, AK4HZ
New Kensington, PA

They might be building stuff but nothing that has to do with RF , maybe microcontrollers robots and drones ....

As far as HAM RADIO goes ( and I am a HAM btw ) 'giving them out "
is about correct ...... if I compare the questions I had to answer
back in 85 when I got my first license in germany and the questions
now ....... well I am not going there but the german DARC pushed more
and more to make things easier to bring more people to the hobby and
it shows

They might be building stuff but nothing that has to do with RF , maybe microcontrollers robots and drones ....

As far as HAM RADIO goes ( and I am a HAM btw ) 'giving them out " is about correct ...... if I compare the questions I had to answer back in 85 when I got my first license in germany and the questions now ....... well I am not going there but the german DARC pushed more and more to make things easier to bring more people to the hobby and it shows


-----Original Message-----
From: [email protected] <[email protected]> On Behalf Of Dave McGuire via groups.io
Sent: Thursday, March 17, 2022 8:49 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: BS, was Re: [HP-Agilent-Keysight-equipment] Spread the word -- Swap Meet Returns!

On 3/17/22 21:37, Lothar baier wrote:

Dave with all due respect , I been selling microwave parts at local hamfests for over 10 years so I know the crowd that builds stuff , license statistics mean nothing , there might be more hams than 10 years ago but most of them are plug and play !

No, the kids aren't buying microwave parts at hamfests. This is what I was meant when I said "it is DIFFERENT now". They are buying parts from Adafruit, SparkFun, and Amazon, and hundreds of other places. And they are building stuff like crazy.

And yes, ham radio has changed too. I was first licensed in the early 1980s; I've watched it changed quite a lot over the years. A lot of the inventiveness has moved to software, where even people with no money or no mobility can be creative. Have you seen any of these new-fangled digital modes? Some of them are downright amazing. License statistics mean quite a bit; they're not giving them out to people who haven't asked for them.

It is not so bleak as you say. Actually it's not bleak at all. It is wholly unreasonable to assume that nothing in as forward-looking a field as this one will never change, and then complain when it does.

...And I can analyze those signals with my 89441A!

-Dave

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Dave McGuire, AK4HZ
New Kensington, PA

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