[BC] EMP - SS versus thermionic finals

[Rich Wood]

------ At 08:36 AM 2/27/2007, Scott Todd wrote: -------

>If the licensed broadcasters aren't taking this threat seriously, I
>hope some of the hams who have modified old tube transmitters for 160
>can quickly re-tune them to the AM broadcast band and provide
>emergency communications as needed.
><<<
>
>I plan on doing just that.

I'm curious. Are all the utilities using non-solid state equipment 
throughout their systems? I suspect those big control rooms have 
solid state control systems to switch circuitry. I took a look at a 
local farm supply store and their generators had solid state 
regulators. Where's your electricity going to come from to run a 
power hungry broadcast transmitter?

Why does it have to be the broadcast band. Other than collectors I 
don't know anyone who still has a tube receiver. If the receivers are 
toast, what's the point? I can't seem to get that point through to 
IBUZ folks, so why do you think anyone else is going to listen. 
Without receivers nothing makes a radio sound.

I wonder how many tubes are in the new Airbus-380. How about the 
traffic control systems. Even if they add the tons of tubes to 
replace solid state stuff will there be anyone to communicate with 
them. I see hundreds of planes plunging to the ground. Even the good 
ol' tube displays are gone.

What about the millions of people listening to IBUZ secondaries? We 
can't keep those operating even on a good day. Can we wait a week for 
someone at the station to notice they're silent and no one heard the 
Armageddon warning?

We've made our beds by making dirt do all our work. Silicon Valley 
applies to the entire world. I have the utmost confidence in the grim 
reaper running Homeland Security to keep us all safe. I think most of 
the folks in New Orleans who've been waiting more than 18 months for 
FEMA help will agree with me.

I'll bet before Cheney's pacemaker craps out every warhead still left 
will have been launched in all directions just to make sure we get 
whoever set off the initial blasts.

Rich