[BC] EMP - SS versus thermionic finals

[Bob Tarsio]

Rich:

A lot of sensitive electronics are already nuclear hardened due to 45 years
of cold war training. I suspect that the traffic control system, critical
government communications systems and yes even critical control elements of
the power grid are hardened to some degree. EMP can be a non man made event
too. The Hydro Quebec bump about twenty years ago was caused by natural
phenomena. In that case all the hardening of control circuitry in the world
wouldn't have helped. The pulse hiccupped as a common mode signal back up
through the grid. 

The Soviets went in one direction for hardening and we went in another. Many
of the Soviet critical defense systems remained vacuum tube based not
because they were backward but because they made a conscious choice to
remain in the hollow state which is more impervious to EMP etc. They
actually propelled tube development beyond what we did here in the states
due to the military requirements. They made some really neat compact tubes
sort of like the types that Sylvania used to make for hearing aids except
these tubes had much higher gain/bandwidth products for R.F. use. The
Russians are still the kings of tube manufacturing. It's a good thing too
because if I can't get 6550's anymore I am going to have to buy a new stereo
amplifier for my home entertainment system! I tend to think that we went in
the more prudent direction on hardening though!

Bob 
 
www.Broadcast-Devices.com
 


-----Original Message-----
From: broadcast-bounces at radiolists.net
[mailto:broadcast-bounces at radiolists.net] On Behalf Of Rich Wood
Sent: Tuesday, February 27, 2007 14:13
To: Broadcasters' Mailing List
Subject: Re: [BC] EMP - SS versus thermionic finals

------ 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  

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