journal of irreproducable results (indirect Audi content)

[isham-research.freeserve.co.uk at pop.pol.net.uk]

> Weeks later, they found the problem. Turns out there is a rack of neon
> lights in part of the computer (D to A converter, or something), and the
> ionization potential of a neon light ("firing voltage") varies with the
> ambient light. Each night, the engineers turned off the room lights and
> went home, and the ionization potential changed - instant garbage! In the
> morning, the room lights went back on, the ionization potential changed
> BACK, and of course everything worked OK again.

The 'neon lights' could well have been Decatron tubes - often used for
registers in early non-mechanical (I hesitate to say 'electronic')
computers.

> I heard this from the guy who led the project . . . a few years later he
> helped design the on-board command computer for Apollo.

Which would have given him ample time to apply to join Team Doorhandle,
which I'm sure he did.

--
 Phil Payne
 UK Audi quattro Owners Club
 Phone +44 7785 302803   Fax: +44 7785 309674