And now the show...
2006 brings some change, but not much. More a move of some equipment from one spot to another. Ever try to move this kind of stuff once it has all been set in place? That is a MagicSat FTA receiver being programmed for a customer. A old Realistic DX-150A shortwave receiver sets on the shelf, it is used to listen to talk radio stations on the AM band. The antenna is connected by the "Frankenstein" knife switch on the wall and grounded to the building and room shield when not in use. All cable and electrical entries are made at one place into the building and bonded and grounded, the building is perimeter grounded with a a ring and all internal metal structure components are associated with that ground. We feel it works, we had a tree that was peeled like a bananna by lightning just 75ft from the building and we kept on going with NO damage. If you want to see some idea of how to protect your satellite or ham gear, take a look at this web page, Lightning Protection.
(Circa 2005). Dave's finally cleans up the tech room #1 and takes some pictures. This is our microwave test room. That is a vintage Lionel Type KW Train Transformer on the bench fixing to under go refurbishment and check out. We can do board level work and our capability is good to 40 GHz. We have complete capability to test and track the performance of LNBs and receivers. (A note to vendors, we do know when you give us a snow job on warranty repairs we send you!)
Hidden in the shadows is a ESD work station that we use on DCC installations for our model railroad customers. We can measure the DCC signals as well.
Three of our main tube test units. TUBES ! Yes, we stock nearly 50,000 tubes in inventory for sale. We have about 10 testers, these are Dave's favorite ones so to speak.
(Circa 1996) This entire room is built inside a RF tight screen room. When the door is shut, not much gets in or out signal wise ! This pic is just after the benches were built and equipment was starting to be added.
(Circa 1994). That is Dave trapped in the corner, and as usual, he is on the phone probably talking ham radio to a buddy. We used to refrequency and tune about 500 - 700 pagers a day in this work area. That is Billy on the left listening to tunes and turning out pagers.
Daughter "Misty" answers the phones and hammers on a WYSE terminal hooked to a Glenayre paging terminal. You can visit her at our retail store in the Historic District of Van Buren, Arkansas. Sorry guys, she is married now... (Yes, that really is a Tek scope being used for a door stop)
Loads of collectible Star Trek Goodies & GI Joes in storage...
