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The Internet and Problem Solving

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Back in the "early days" if someone needed information, they went to the library.  Then the internet arrived and that put the library in second position regarding problem solving information.  True, some of the information on the internet is outdated, but that can be filtered.  The problem with printed information is that small bits of information are not easily added to print versions; they must wait for the "next edition".

Here are some recent experiences with the internet on problem solving.

After having my amateur radio transceiver sit idle for almost two years, I reassembled all the antenna connections to the transmitter and turned on the transceiver and, surprise, all the digital display modules on the frequency screen showed sixes and they were all jumping wildly.  So, I went to the internet and searched for problems with the Kenwood 440S, describing the problem with my set and discovered that a common problem with this older generation of transceiver was gunk that contaminated the oscillator due to decomposition of some insulating material.  This problem was described as the "dots problem" where the display showed only dots upon startup, no integers.  Correcting this problem required more skills than I have and so considered sending the set off to a repair shop.  Packing, shipping, repair and return shipping probably would cost $300.  I decided to search again on the internet to be really sure I had the right solution to my observed problem, so I joined the Kenwood 440S users group on yahoo.  I paged through all the files looking for my specific problem and found one thread where one of the users suggested that this was not the "dots problem" but instead was a mode setting upon startup.  He suggested a reset of the controls by pressing the reset switch upon startup.  I did that and the problem disappeared.  Money saved and time without the transmitter went to zero.  W8JAK was the helpful group member.

Then there is the problem with converting my home security system, a hard wired  service monitored system to  a do-it-yourself monitoring system where my smart phone can be the monitor. This is important for two reasons.  One is that I dropped the monitoring service two years ago and within some short time, will switch from wireline phone to VOIP phone service.  One solution might be to scrap my entire wired security system and buy a wireless system for about $600.  Thinking my wire system is too good to scrap, and $600 is a lot of money, I searched the internet for a way to convert my system to a DIY monitored system.  That would require a means to convert wired alarms to the internet.  What I found after just an hour of searching were two DIY home security supply companies that not only sold parts to convert the system, but videos on how to make the changes.  So I bought the part and have already successfully installed it.

Libraries have a critical place in society, but they would have  a tough time being current on this knowhow to compete with the internet.

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