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Read an article about my LED lighting that appeared in the  Arizona Republic back in April, 2008   by Peter Corbett - Apr. 24, 2008 08:15 AM

Don't look now, but that old light bulb illuminating this newsprint is a relic that will fade away over the next dozen years. A federal energy bill approved in December will phase out incandescent light bulbs and require a 70 percent increase in lighting efficiency by 2020. That is quite a few light-bulb changes away, but Roger Deane is not waiting to tap into the latest in green technology for lighting his Scottsdale home.

An admitted "electronics nut," he has converted all his interior and exterior lighting to light-emitting diodes or LED lighting. "I hate to say it, but it's as plain as day" that LED lighting is the way to go, Deane said from his home southeast of Lone Mountain and Scottsdale roads. Compact fluorescent light bulbs are the rage for reducing energy use with more efficient lighting but, LED lighting is touted as more efficient and it is a greener option than compact fluorescent lights, which have trace amounts of mercury.

LED lights efficient, clean ...
Durham, N.C.-based Cree Inc., an LED manufacturer, said its LED products use 50 percent less energy than compact fluorescent lights and 85 percent less than incandescent bulbs. An LED light uses 12 watts to produce comparable illumination to a 75-watt incandescent bulb, and the LED light can last 20 years in a home, Cree said. LED-lighting costs and availability are among the hurdles to lighting up the consumer market. A single LED light can cost as much as $100, and they are not yet readily available in big-box hardware stores, except for things like flashlights and night lights. But that will change, said Deane, who runs a company out of his house called Wired Communications. "As more of this type of lighting gets accepted the price will come down," he said.

Costly LED bulbs save energy...
Until then, Deane estimates that LED lights could pay for themselves within five to seven years by lowering energy use. He figures that he saved $20 off his monthly electric bill by changing to LED lights outdoors and an unknown amount from his interior LED lights. However, Deane said his homeowners association objected to the color of his original LED lights outdoors until he switched to a warmer, white color for the lights. Deane, 57, started in electronics repairing televisions in 1964 but switched to a mail-order computer supply business in 1987. He and his wife, Kim, now operate Wired Communications, an Internet-based business that sells cables and parts for computers, home theater and ham radios. He offers his products at a Boy Scouts computer swap meet at the Scottsdale Pavilions shopping center, Loop 101 and Indian Bend Road. The next swap meet is The third Sunday of every month.

LEDs known for longevity...
Deane, whose license plate on his hybrid Toyota reads LED MAN, is adding LED lights to his online electronic catalog. That includes flashlights, headlamps and strips of LED lights in an array of colors.
His home highlights the many applications of LED lights. Deane has LED light strips under his countertops, recessed LED lighting in his kitchen, LED spotlights over his barbecue and an LED spa light.
He also installed small LED lights in drawers and cabinets to make it easier to find items. And a granite bathroom countertop has red and green LED lights shining through embedded quartz. Deane admits that the LED lighting is not cheap but believes that it will pay for itself in the long run. "I'm getting close to 60," he said, "and I'll bet you that my lights will outlive me."

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In emergencies, Amateur Radio is more than hobby...

February 15, 2008 - 9:52PM

BY KRISTI BASILE, SUN STAFF WRITER

A few nights ago, George Scott was in his bathroom getting ready for bed when he felt one of the earthquakes that shook Yuma recently. He quickly got on his ham radio and found that three of his fellow operators were already on the frequency talking about it.

"That immediacy can be important sometimes," said Scott, a Yuma resident who became interested in amateur radio - often times called Ham radio - while in the Army stationed in Greece. He was there in the 1960s and during a period of political instability in the country, when English-language newspapers, magazines and television were shut down.

He and others at the base in Athens would listen to the BBC and the Voice of America on the radio to get their news. While in Vietnam, he did a lot of short-wave listening that included "tactical stuff." Later he took a civil defense class for licensing in amateur radio.

"I'm what they call a DXer, where I basically sit down and try to make contact with different countries trying to get my country count up to the point of saying I've contacted all of them. I'm about two-thirds of the way there," Scott said. He also has been involved with emergency communications in Hawaii and Yuma on and off through the years. "I started off as a short-wave listener. That's the way a lot of Hams get started. A lot of them are also CBers and they move up to amateur radio."

He's involved in the 4th annual Hamfest and Electronics Expo that started Friday at the Yuma County Fairgrounds. The event continues today from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., with a barbecue dinner tonight from 6 to 8. The event is open to the public. There is "on average about one Hamfest in the state of Arizona a month" with the main one being in Williams in July, says Scott. "It's kind of a state convention." Hamfests include tailgating, when people bring their old equipment and sell it from the back of their vehicles. There are also seminars offered on topics of interest, such as new technologies. For the first time at Yuma's event, there will be activities for the wives of the "Hammy" husbands, although Scott said there are some "lady Hams."

Scott noted the changes in the trend of new amateurs getting on board. "For years, we've been losing the number of amateurs in our hobby. But within the last year or year and a half, that trend has started up, and one of the ways we're assisting with that is by having amateur radio license testing at the Hamfest. People can come in and take the test to get the initial technician license or progress to a higher level."

 TERRY KETRON/THE SUN, Yuma AZ.

KIM DEANE, with Wired Communications of Scottsdale, will be at the Yuma County Fairgrounds

today with all sorts of audio, video, computer and communication cables and connectors.

Another reason for the boost is the recent omission of the Morse code requirement for the license, according to Scott. Besides the recreational aspect of Ham radio operating, the most important part of the hobby is the enormous amount of public service and volunteering that they do, he said. The Ameritime Net tracks those who are out at sea, and their direct contact with the police department through their Net station can be crucial if something happens. Locally, Scott said, "We pride ourselves on what we can do." They support police during events by barricading, traffic control and in one case, reuniting lost children with their parents. Scott said, "About two years ago, a member of the Bush administration staff said that amateur radio operators were the first of the first responders. That's quite an endorsement

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Details on How we Got Started...

We have been Electronics Service Technicians for over 30 years. Roger started his own TV Repair Shop in 1964, Then, on to start a mail-order computer supply house in the late 1980’s which was sold in 2001. Kim went to work at Pacific Bell right after high school in the mid-70’s, She then started Wired Communications in 1984. The combined forces of Kim & Roger Deane has created Wired Communications, your online cable source . We have recently acquired Carolyn Perrotta to assist in the eBay & Web orders, she's doing a terrific job! Specialist in Home Theater, HDTV, Telephone Systems, Computer Network Wiring and Whole House Audio-Video cabling. selling on eBay as user I.D. rogerdeane, here on this Website, and at various "meets" around the Southwest. You may contact me directly at roger@wiredco.com for any questions, help, kudos, or complaints. I'd love to hear from you!

At times, I will have the one-of-a-kind collectable, vintage, or just hard to get electronic item up on eBay or out at one of our shows. I suggest you check out my eBay store when you get the chance.

Wired Communications pays a visit to at least 4 Ham Radio and Electronics Swap meets a month! We frequent the "TRW" Ham radio meet every last Saturday of the month in Los Angeles, Ca. and the Scouts "ElectronicFest" Swapmeet right here in Scottsdale, Arizona every third Sunday. We try to make every other Amateur Radio meet in Arizona whenever they occur, the ACP Computer Meet in Santa Ana, Ca. and many others. If you'd like us to know about a special meet in your area, please let us know. I come to the Pacific Northwest once a year in March, the Bay Area of California during nice weather and certain other electronics meets in the Southwest. Hope to see one of you at one of my shows in the future!

Also, in the local area of Scottsdale AZ, Los Angeles, or Santa Clarita area, we can install just a jack for your Computer, TV or phone or can put in an entire master phone, voicemail, or computer network in your business. Please call or e-mail kim@wiredco.com to discuss.

From our humble beginnings in the heart of the computer revolution to our current global presence, you may also read about the thousands and thousands of not simply satisfied but completely thrilled customers Here.

Don't take our word for it - check our eBay feedback... 100% positive after 20,000+ transactions!

One Year Warranty on all new products! I promise every new item to be fully functional for a period of one year! Any cable assembly, connector, video adaptor or network cable will be replaced at NO charge.