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
> way too easy to accidentally, or insidentally touch that high voltage when
> your working on something...
> However, some basic soldering of medium to large sized components, and the
> tactile and a-semetrical suggestions are great.
> I don't know what, these days, would have high voltage anyway unless you are
> working with big power tubes...and me thinks that unless you are building a
> full legal limit amplifier, you wouldn't be near voltage high enough to be
> dangerous anyway.
> Even one of those QRP mono-band transceivers in a more accessible kit form
> would be cool.
>
> 73
> Colin, V A6BS
> ----- Original Message -----
> 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
>
>
>> Guys,
>>
>> This sounds like an awful lot of fun. I already know some of the =
>> objections some will raise to this proposal (sharp objects, soldering, =
>> high voltages), but bear in mind that a lot of us haven't really gotten =
>> to do a lot of soldering, nor have some of us played with high voltages =
>> directly, and the sharp objects thing is an understandable concern of =
>> someone who isn't very familiar with some of our methods. Still, the =
>> fact that Wayne is floating this idea is really exciting. I, for one, am =
>> totally in. All ideas and constructive feedback is, I'm sure, welcome.=20=
>>
>> --
>> Buddy Brannan, KB5ELV - Erie, PA
>> Phone: (814) 860-3194 or 888-75-BUDDY
>>
>>
>>
>> Begin forwarded message:
>>
>>> 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 =
>> <[log in to unmask]>
>>> =20
>>> Hi Ken,
>>> =20
>>> Hope things are going well for you this year. I'm really busy with the =
>> KX3 and other products, as you can imagine.
>>> =20
>>> We have a number of blind customers using K3s, etc. I was discussing =
>> with one of them (Buddy, copied on this) the fact that there are no =
>> radio or electronic kits (that we know of) that could be constructed =
>> entirely by a blind hobbyist. I then mentioned that I'd think about how =
>> to do this :)
>>> =20
>>> Then I realized this would be a novel theme for the FDIM building =
>> contest in 2012, assuming it hasn't already been tried. It would be a =
>> challenge for both the kit designers and target builders. For best =
>> results, they'd need to work together.
>>> =20
>>> The most important thing about such a kit is the sense of empowerment =
>> it would provide the blind builder. =46rom all my conversations with =
>> blind hams, it's clear they feel left out being unable to participate in =
>> some basic hands-on aspect of the hobby. I'm sure that's true of =
>> would-be blind builders in other genres as well. (Buddy may have =
>> thoughts on this.)
>>> =20
>>> Even a simple kit would be a challenge. Here are some potential =
>> constraints (again, Buddy will know better than I):
>>> =20
>>> - 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 =
>> tagged or bagged
>>> or have a tactile label
>>> - all components with more than two leads (e.g., a transistor) must =
>> have
>>> an asymmetrical package so leads can be clearly identified; better =
>> 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 =
>> or have
>>> tactile guides
>>> - if knobs are used, they should have tactile pointers
>>> - manual either in Braille or in accessible electronic format (use =
>> with a PC screen reader)
>>> =20
>>> With care, one could build a simple transceiver that satisfies all of =
>> these constraints.
>>> =20
>>> Anyone entering such a kit into the contest should pair up with a =
>> blind builder -- or try building it blindfolded -- to prove that it =
>> works.
>>> =20
>>> Any interest in this idea?
>>> =20
>>> Thanks,
>>> Wayne
>>> =20
>>> =20
>>> =20
>>> =20
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