Good thoughts here Mike. I agree. Thank You! BRETT K WINCHESTER PM KD7JN mailto:[log in to unmask] http://www.icbvi.state.id.us/brochure/RADIO.HTM READING SERVICES MANAGER ICBVI - IDAHO COMMISSION f/t BLIND & VISUALLY IMPAIRED P O BOX 83720 BOISE IDAHO 83720-0012 208-334-3220 ext 104 or 103 +7 = voice mail non-business hours fax 208-334-2963 >>> Mike Freeman <[log in to unmask]> 09/27/01 09:25AM >>> Some may call me "chicken" but I am *very* leery of soldering on the current generation of manufactured gear. Much of it uses such space-saving wrinkles as surface-mount technology and therefore things are crammed in so tightly that I can almost guarantee you that I'd ruin something in the process of fixing something else or adding some new gizmo. Also when working with etched PC-board, it's not always easy to figure out where things go by touch -- those photo templates just don't do much for me. I am more comfortable building things from scratch or from kits. It's not that I am not adventurous or unwilling to carry on the ham tradition of modifying gear etc. It's just that I believe we're living in somewhat of a different age with different building conditions and some of this gear is sufficiently expensive that I am unwilling to make it the subject of my crispy-critter experimentation. Mike Freeman <[log in to unmask]> Amateur Radio: < K 7 U I J > On Thu, 27 Sep 2001, JEFFREY MICHAEL KENYON wrote: > okay, sorry about that, I had an idea come to mind for people who are > beginning out soldering, and that could be to try experimenting with those > toy walkie talkies, or room monitors or an older cordlers phone or > something like that. > > > > > > On Wed, 26 Sep 2001, Brett Winchester wrote: > > > No, he is not blind. > > > > Thank You! > > > > BRETT K WINCHESTER PM KD7JN > > mailto:[log in to unmask] > > http://www.icbvi.state.id.us/brochure/RADIO.HTM=20 > > > > READING SERVICES MANAGER > > ICBVI - IDAHO COMMISSION f/t BLIND & VISUALLY IMPAIRED > > P O BOX 83720 > > BOISE IDAHO 83720-0012 > > 208-334-3220 ext 104 or 103 +7 =3D voice mail non-business hours > > fax 208-334-2963 > > > > >>> JEFFREY MICHAEL KENYON <[log in to unmask]> 09/26/01 10:25AM >>> > > Is this engineer also blind then? If so how doew he work on transmitters? > > > > > > > > > > > > On Wed, 26 Sep 2001, Brett Winchester wrote: > > > > > My broadcast engineer has a cool little pencil he got from Fair radio or = > > =3D > > > something that is about $4.00. his rationale is that it is cheep enough = > > =3D > > > that if it gets lost or thrown away it is no great loss. He keeps = > > these =3D > > > for field work naturally, keeping the variable heat one for bench work. > > > > > > Thank You! > > > > > > BRETT K WINCHESTER PM KD7JN > > > mailto:[log in to unmask] > > > http://www.icbvi.state.id.us/brochure/RADIO.HTM=3D20=20 > > > > > > READING SERVICES MANAGER > > > ICBVI - IDAHO COMMISSION f/t BLIND & VISUALLY IMPAIRED > > > P O BOX 83720 > > > BOISE IDAHO 83720-0012 > > > 208-334-3220 ext 104 or 103 +7 =3D3D voice mail non-business hours > > > fax 208-334-2963 > > > > > > >>> Butch Bussen <[log in to unmask]> 09/26/01 09:38AM >>> > > > What I use is a weller 8200. It is a dual heat gun. Fast heat up and > > > cool down. I cna't believe what those things cost these days.. Last = > > one > > > I bought was almost $50.00 > > > > > > 73s > > > Butch WA0VJR > > > > > >