EMP vs RFI....

["Thomas E. Francis" <tomf@domain.elided>]

Hi all,

I've been watching this EMP discussion
and have to throw in my two cents.

There is a difference between EMP and
Radio Frequency Interference.  EMP is
produced by a large source of power that
produces a broad spectrum, high power
Electro Magnetic Pulse.  Something on
the order of a solar flare or an air burst
nuclear explosion produces EMP.  An
example was the solar flare last summer
that blew transformers, moved satellites
out of orbit, messed up phone lines, etc.

RFI is what is really being discussed.  That
can be produced by anything - including a
quartz wrist watch.  Due to manufacturing
costs, modern electronics is usually less
than perfect in terms of RF shielding, hence
the problems with ignition systems, etc.

And the sci-fi book that discussed magnetos
being a sorce of ignition power was written
by Theodore Sturgeon way back in the late
fifties - can't remember the name at the
moment.

Thanks for the time.

Later,

Tom Francis (tomf@domain.elided)
S. Woodstock, CT
1953 IHC R-132 platform dump
1937 Farmall F-12