FDIM = Four Days In May, an event at the Dayton Hamvention sponsored by QRPARCI.
--
Buddy Brannan, KB5ELV - Erie, PA
Phone: (814) 860-3194 or 888-75-BUDDY
On Aug 10, 2011, at 10:44 PM, colin McDonald wrote:
> what is the FDIM?
> I know, I can google it, but a simpler explanation that doesn't require my
> own efforts should suffice hi.
> 73
> Colin, V A6BKX
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Buddy Brannan" <[log in to unmask]>
> To: <[log in to unmask]>
> Sent: Wednesday, August 10, 2011 8:34 PM
> Subject: Re: Idea for 2012 FDIM building contest
>
>
>> Oh yeah, I'm totally in, how ever they decide to do this. Kit building =
>> is really one thing I would really, really like to do.
>> --
>> Buddy Brannan, KB5ELV - Erie, PA
>> Phone: (814) 860-3194 or 888-75-BUDDY
>>
>>
>>
>> On Aug 10, 2011, at 10:21 PM, colin McDonald wrote:
>>
>>> this sounds like a blast.
>>> The only part I would tend to agree with is the high voltage =
>> thing...it's=20
>>> way too easy to accidentally, or insidentally touch that high voltage =
>> when=20
>>> your working on something...
>>> However, some basic soldering of medium to large sized components, and =
>> the=20
>>> tactile and a-semetrical suggestions are great.
>>> I don't know what, these days, would have high voltage anyway unless =
>> you are=20
>>> working with big power tubes...and me thinks that unless you are =
>> building a=20
>>> full legal limit amplifier, you wouldn't be near voltage high enough =
>> to be=20
>>> dangerous anyway.
>>> Even one of those QRP mono-band transceivers in a more accessible kit =
>> form=20
>>> would be cool.
>>> =20
>>> 73
>>> Colin, V A6BS
>>> ----- Original Message -----=20
>>> From: "Buddy Brannan" <[log in to unmask]>
>>> To: <[log in to unmask]>
>>> Sent: Wednesday, August 10, 2011 8:12 PM
>>> Subject: Fwd: Idea for 2012 FDIM building contest
>>> =20
>>> =20
>>>> Guys,
>>>> =20
>>>> This sounds like an awful lot of fun. I already know some of the =3D
>>>> objections some will raise to this proposal (sharp objects, =
>> soldering, =3D
>>>> high voltages), but bear in mind that a lot of us haven't really =
>> gotten =3D
>>>> to do a lot of soldering, nor have some of us played with high =
>> voltages =3D
>>>> directly, and the sharp objects thing is an understandable concern of =
>> =3D
>>>> someone who isn't very familiar with some of our methods. Still, the =
>> =3D
>>>> fact that Wayne is floating this idea is really exciting. I, for one, =
>> am =3D
>>>> totally in. All ideas and constructive feedback is, I'm sure, =
>> welcome.=3D20=3D
>>>> =20
>>>> --
>>>> Buddy Brannan, KB5ELV - Erie, PA
>>>> Phone: (814) 860-3194 or 888-75-BUDDY
>>>> =20
>>>> =20
>>>> =20
>>>> Begin forwarded message:
>>>> =20
>>>>> From: Wayne Burdick <[log in to unmask]>
>>>>> Subject: Idea for 2012 FDIM building contest
>>>>> Date: August 10, 2011 8:40:30 PM EDT
>>>>> To: Ken Evans <[log in to unmask]>
>>>>> Cc: Eric Swartz <[log in to unmask]>, Buddy Brannan =3D
>>>> <[log in to unmask]>
>>>>> =3D20
>>>>> Hi Ken,
>>>>> =3D20
>>>>> Hope things are going well for you this year. I'm really busy with =
>> the =3D
>>>> KX3 and other products, as you can imagine.
>>>>> =3D20
>>>>> We have a number of blind customers using K3s, etc. I was discussing =
>> =3D
>>>> with one of them (Buddy, copied on this) the fact that there are no =3D=
>>
>>>> radio or electronic kits (that we know of) that could be constructed =
>> =3D
>>>> entirely by a blind hobbyist. I then mentioned that I'd think about =
>> how =3D
>>>> to do this :)
>>>>> =3D20
>>>>> Then I realized this would be a novel theme for the FDIM building =3D
>>>> contest in 2012, assuming it hasn't already been tried. It would be a =
>> =3D
>>>> challenge for both the kit designers and target builders. For best =3D
>>>> results, they'd need to work together.
>>>>> =3D20
>>>>> The most important thing about such a kit is the sense of =
>> empowerment =3D
>>>> it would provide the blind builder. =3D46rom all my conversations =
>> with =3D
>>>> blind hams, it's clear they feel left out being unable to participate =
>> in =3D
>>>> some basic hands-on aspect of the hobby. I'm sure that's true of =3D
>>>> would-be blind builders in other genres as well. (Buddy may have =3D
>>>> thoughts on this.)
>>>>> =3D20
>>>>> Even a simple kit would be a challenge. Here are some potential =3D
>>>> constraints (again, Buddy will know better than I):
>>>>> =3D20
>>>>> - probably no soldering (safety concern)
>>>>> - suggest twisting component leads, or use spring terminals
>>>>> - no high voltages
>>>>> - all components that have the same size/shape must be carefully =3D
>>>> tagged or bagged
>>>>> or have a tactile label
>>>>> - all components with more than two leads (e.g., a transistor) must =
>> =3D
>>>> have
>>>>> an asymmetrical package so leads can be clearly identified; better =3D=
>>
>>>> yet,
>>>>> one lead can be extended beyond the others
>>>>> - no use of color codes (obvious!)
>>>>> - nothing sharper than a component lead
>>>>> - hardware should be large (#4 or larger)
>>>>> - if a PCB or other substrate is provided, it should be asymmetrical =
>> =3D
>>>> or have
>>>>> tactile guides
>>>>> - if knobs are used, they should have tactile pointers
>>>>> - manual either in Braille or in accessible electronic format (use =3D=
>>
>>>> with a PC screen reader)
>>>>> =3D20
>>>>> With care, one could build a simple transceiver that satisfies all =
>> of =3D
>>>> these constraints.
>>>>> =3D20
>>>>> Anyone entering such a kit into the contest should pair up with a =3D
>>>> blind builder -- or try building it blindfolded -- to prove that it =3D=
>>
>>>> works.
>>>>> =3D20
>>>>> Any interest in this idea?
>>>>> =3D20
>>>>> Thanks,
>>>>> Wayne
>>>>> =3D20
>>>>> =3D20
>>>>> =3D20
>>>>> =3D20=20
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