hybridfree/eevblog-posts huggingface dataset:
NSW and South Australia had a bit of a shock this Morning  - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: Sionyn
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 23, 2012, 09:10:36 am
content: What a Vile ScamMany Aussies across New South Wales and South Australia had a bit of a shock this morning when they received an SMS threatening them with assassination. Although somewhat varied, the messages have typically read, 'Someone paid me to kill you. If you want me to spare you, I'll give you two days to pay $5000. If you inform the police or anybody, you will die, I am monitoring you', Police and the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission have warned that the messages are almost certainly fake, and that no dialogue should be entered into with scammers."http://www.theage.com.au/technology/technology-news/killthreat-sms-a-fake-authorities-say-20120723-22j6g.html

author: tom66
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 23, 2012, 10:44:46 am
content: Nasty. But I wonder if it is more intended as a (horrible) prank on a lot of people, rather than a scam. Hmm...

author: SeanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 23, 2012, 03:55:24 pm
content: I get the milder form of " you have won in the UK vodacare lottery. Please call Mr Joe Moer on <random not same network cell number> and quote ref xyz123 to claim your prize." sent from anoyther carrier's network.

author: bullet308
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 24, 2012, 12:31:38 am
content: I got one of those once. I found it non-amusing and I let the FBI hold it. I resisted the temptation to give him my address and dare his ass to show up.

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 24, 2012, 01:02:15 am
content: And if you made the mistake of emailing them, they then have your IP and can easily pinpoint the nearest suburb where you live. So the next message will likely be "I know your address in Blah Blah, if you don't pay I'm coming to get you."Thus escalating the (still bogus) threat in the mind of the victim.They'll eventually get a few who will bite. And then once you pay, they no doubt hit you again with another amount.Dave.

author: amyk
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 24, 2012, 08:29:40 am
content: Quote from: EEVblog on July 24, 2012, 01:02:15 amThat also immediately suggests using proxies to send them on a wild goose chase in the wrong directions. I believe the term for this is "scam-baiting".

author: tom66
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 24, 2012, 08:51:03 am
content: 419eater.com is great for this, and scam baiting is a lot of fun. Especially when you get them to do stupid things to waste their time so they cannot scam others.

author: T4P
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 24, 2012, 12:49:54 pm
content: Quote from: amyk on July 24, 2012, 08:29:40 am
cheap 4 channel oscillosocpe - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: SnakeBite
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: July 26, 2012, 09:18:06 pm
content: hello,i'm looking for a cheap scope for my bench but i can't find one with a decent price. all the 4 ch. ones are 1000$+ .do you know a scope that it's 4 channel DIGITAL scope in about half the price (500$)??thanksIdo

author: mariush
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 26, 2012, 10:58:15 pm
content: Batronix hasRigol DS1074BHigh quality 4 channel DSO with 70 MHz bandwidth and 2 GSa/s. Delivery including 4 probes, USB cable, pc software, power adapter and manual.Euro 670.00USD 845.-http://www.batronix.com/shop/oscilloscopes/Rigol-DS1074B.html

author: timcki
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: July 27, 2012, 12:40:37 am
content: Do you really need 4 channels?A 2 channel digital will be MUCH cheaper...How much do you want to spend?

author: slateraptor
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 27, 2012, 08:14:11 am
content: Tek TDS 400 series and HP 54000 series abound on eBay for under $500 shipped...the caveat is that the former are of notably shit build quality, and the latter are notorious for CRT burn in. But hey, ifcheapis what you want, you get what you pay for.

author: T4P
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 27, 2012, 04:10:16 pm
content: Rigol .... that's all but that's 8k memory length every channelAgilent's DSOX2000 is at 3.2k for a 100mhz 4chSiglent not much better, 1.8k for something with only 24k memory length
The forum lately got sloooow? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: IanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 21, 2012, 04:14:26 am
content: Just recently I've noticed the forum has long delays on page refresh and very slow redraw times. Other web sites don't have the same issue so it seems to be specific to eevblog. Anyone else observing the same thing?

author: Psi
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 21, 2012, 04:22:51 am
content: Yes, there is an issue, i'm having it as well.I did a trace and noticed ~1000ms ping times on the final hop, so that's where the delay is coming from.3. as17435.cust.bdr01.akl02.akl.VOC 0.0% 2 8.7 8.9 8.7 9.1 0.34. ten-0-3-0-120.bdr01.akl02.akl.VO 0.0% 2 9.1 8.8 8.5 9.1 0.45. ten-0-2-0-400.bdr01.akl01.akl.VO 0.0% 2 133.2 133.1 132.9 133.2 0.26. ip-54.199.31.114.VOCUS.net.au 0.0% 2 135.1 134.4 133.7 135.1 1.07. ten-2-0-0.bdr01.sjc01.ca.VOCUS.n 0.0% 2 132.7 132.8 132.7 132.9 0.18. ten-1-1-0.bdr02.sjc01.ca.VOCUS.n 0.0% 2 133.1 133.5 133.1 133.8 0.59. te2-6.bbr01.cs01.lax01.networkla 0.0% 2 140.3 140.6 140.3 140.9 0.510. ae19.bbr01.eq01.dal03.networklay 0.0% 2 189.5 179.9 170.2 189.5 13.711. ae0.bbr01.sr02.hou02.networklaye 0.0% 2 176.4 176.3 176.3 176.4 0.112. ae5.dar02.sr02.hou02.networklaye 0.0% 2 176.3 176.4 176.3 176.5 0.113. po2.fcr01.sr02.hou02.networklaye 0.0% 2 173.8 175.7 173.8 177.5 2.714. 184.173.12.165-static.reverse.so 0.0% 2 1162. 1162. 1162. 1162. 0.0

author: David_AVD
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 21, 2012, 04:32:06 am
content: I noticed it too. Very slow. Happened sometime in the last 24 hours?

author: Rerouter
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 21, 2012, 04:38:46 am
content: i havent noticed it myself, but my trace lines up with Psi's with that last jump, however on a few traces it had no effect, so it must be something intermittent

author: IanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 21, 2012, 04:48:11 am
content: Yes, it does seem intermittent. Sometimes it's fine, sometimes it isn't.

author: Psi
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 21, 2012, 07:40:29 am
content: Yeah, it does seem to come and go.Been fine for the past hour or so for me.

author: Mint.
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 21, 2012, 08:27:56 am
content: Last time I was on this thread it was fine, now its slow!

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 21, 2012, 11:24:43 am
content: Earlier today I ran an automated whole site backup from an external source, maybe that had something to do with it? I think it only took 30-60 min to run though.I don't notice anything my end.Dave.

author: robrenz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 21, 2012, 11:29:30 am
content: Same here comes and goes, when it is slow it is very slow.

author: McMonster
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 21, 2012, 11:55:17 am
content: No problems here, even though all the traffic is routed through USA.

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 22, 2012, 03:19:58 am
content: Ok, here's why I suspect.Something is sucking the server bandwidth...Dave.
Electro-Art? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: DrGeoff
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 19, 2012, 09:21:15 pm
content: Saw this one this morning.

author: olsenn
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 19, 2012, 09:55:19 pm
content: They're LED's; get it!

author: DavidDLC
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 19, 2012, 11:03:14 pm
content: I have this one:

author: Short Circuit
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 19, 2012, 11:13:47 pm
content: 18+ versions; how LEDs are madehttp://www.ledtuning.nl/index_site.php?Name=ledfun_EN

author: FenderBender
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 20, 2012, 01:46:26 am
content: I thought you meant there were over 18 pieces of art.Not that..hahaha

author: T4P
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 20, 2012, 07:27:46 pm
content: Saw that ... 2 weeks agoI thought making electro-porn was a crime

author: DavidDLC
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 21, 2012, 02:29:46 am
content: Just check the datecode on the chips, they should be 18 or older.David.

author: nitro2k01
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 21, 2012, 02:47:02 am
content: When we're on this subject, these images will be brought up sooner or later, so might as well post them. Hope you're of legal age to watch them, or that you mind is innocent enough not to understand.

author: Short Circuit
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 21, 2012, 03:04:44 am
content: No worries. Most 15yr old chaps come here with the wildest ideas, only to find these ideas and plansbeing burning to the ground after which they pack and go for another forum being more ignorant and thereforeproviding more understanding and support
Man turns retired passenger jet into luxury home ... - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: T4P
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 21, 2012, 08:06:10 pm
content: DISCLAIMER: I have no idea thou where have they taken it from, just ignore the sidebars ...http://singaporeseen.stomp.com.sg/stomp/sgseen/this_urban_jungle/1203864/this_guy_stays_in_a_retired_boeing_727.html

author: Chet T16
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 21, 2012, 08:17:00 pm
content: Luxury??Cool though

author: EEMarc
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: July 21, 2012, 08:23:23 pm
content: Yuck, I couldn't even stand up in there.
WOO_WOO And Lie Detectors  - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: Sionyn
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 21, 2012, 05:28:38 pm
content: first silly bomb detectors now lie detectors ?are the government that incompetent they lack critical thinking i mean there own report clearly states that efficacy of lie detectorsyet today we see thishttp://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-18916405is this real the standard of 'evidence' gathering by the uk government, what next magic wands ? psychics, clairvoyantswe really give these idiots power the theory and methods of polygraphic lie detection are not rocket science, indeed, they are not science at allwhy waste money on lie detectors when a Colander and photocopier will do the same

author: TheWelly888
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 21, 2012, 06:01:58 pm
content: The collander and photocopier "lie detector" can only possibly work with the dumbest criminal suspects! But it's so funny!

author: Bored@Work
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 21, 2012, 06:46:20 pm
content: Quote from: Sionyn on July 21, 2012, 05:28:38 pmNext? You are late to the party.http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/mobile/uk_news/8369369.stm
My display's a bit noisy  - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: deephaven
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 19, 2012, 03:59:10 pm
content: I thought this was rather cute:http://breakfastny.com/2012/06/reactive-super-speed-electromagnet-dot-display-per/#content

author: Ronbo
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: July 20, 2012, 12:19:24 pm
content: That's pretty slick!

author: Galenbo
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 20, 2012, 12:31:41 pm
content: They look as the front-end event team of a consumerised development.Pretty girls, guys with a gay-haircut, looking like a naive hostess team.Nothing to do with environments where products are developed/programmed.More the marketing/events stuff, with some put-together and configuration.

author: Simon
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 20, 2012, 01:56:18 pm
content: A pity YouTube is too shit to actually see the video !

author: tom66
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 20, 2012, 07:48:10 pm
content: Looks neat. Seems to lag in blocks though, maybe the update is not very synchronised. I imagine it draws minimal power idle, but how much when switching?Am I the only one who thinks it's a bit strange that they're essentially advertising to get viewers to view advertisements on TV? Seems a little overdone to me...

author: Mint.
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 21, 2012, 01:02:33 am
content: Weow! Thats awesome... I want one

author: amyk
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 21, 2012, 11:09:33 am
content: They work in a similar fashion to e-ink (electrophoretic) displays, but at a much larger scale and using electromagnetic instead of electrostatic drive.Quote from: Mint. on July 21, 2012, 01:02:33 amLook for old bus signs on eBay.
Where do you work? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: tec5c
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 20, 2012, 07:55:48 am
content: Firstly, I apologize if this topic has been covered before. I did a search, couldn't find anything.Seeing as I am still an EE student, I have not yet decided exactly what I want to specialize in as far as electronics goes. I do have a few ideas in mind, though I don't know the ins and outs of the profession so I am leaving it up in the air for now. I will add that I am aware you can always be on the edge of 'things to learn' too.I thought it would be worthwhile hearing about exactly what members do for work, along with a little history on how you came to do the particular work that you do/things you have studied.

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 20, 2012, 08:23:18 am
content: My work history is mostly on LinkedIn.The majority of jobs people get often aren't concious career direction choices, they are usually more opportunistic. Taking whatever comes along that sounds interesting (or necessary if you are desperate for work)I never would have thought I'd ever be working on ocean bottom oil exploration equipment design for example.Dave.

author: tec5c
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 20, 2012, 10:38:31 am
content: I had a look at your LinkedIn page Dave. Did you work for Thales at their Rydalmere location at all? Is that where you met Doug Ford, at Thales?I've been working at Thales since the beginning of the year as a tech. Every now and then over the loudspeaker you hear, "David Jones, contact reception. David. Jones.."It got me the first time I heard it.

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 20, 2012, 11:22:02 am
content: Quote from: tec5c on July 20, 2012, 10:38:31 amYep, and Yep.My first job was over the road in Clyde Street.Dave.

author: slateraptor
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 20, 2012, 01:48:53 pm
content: Admittedly, this thread led me to this thread:https://www.eevblog.com/forum/beginners/electronics-post-trade/msg125521/which, in turn, led me to this webpage:http://www.studyinaustralia.gov.au/en/Why-Study-in-Australia/Australian-Qualifications-Framework/Australian-Qualifications-Frameworkconsequently giving me a better understanding of AU's structure. Global perspective = winning. I apologize for the digression.
Mini plc,,,using avr(atmel) - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: jayris
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: July 17, 2012, 11:28:55 pm
content: plc cost is high,,,this is alternative,,,,any one try this?http://www.waltech.com/site/index.php/open-source-projects

author: olsenn
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 18, 2012, 12:34:09 am
content: This looks like it will be fine if you aren't looking for high speed logic and need to drawl a lot of current through the ouputs. This design will almost certainly be limited to the switching speed of the relays. I guess the real question is what do you need it for?

author: Spikee
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 18, 2012, 01:20:34 am
content: The industry uses plc because they are reliable , so they wont be cheap.It depends on your application but you probably don't need a plc for it , a simple microcontroller whit some relays , ssr will be sufficient.

author: Bloch
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 18, 2012, 10:55:05 pm
content: Quote from: jayris on July 17, 2012, 11:28:55 pmhttp://cq.cx/ladder.plQuoteNo i have not and will not use it for "work"PLC is getting much cheaper today. If you are willing to look some of the "new" players on the market. Pls ask if you want more info on the plc i use at work.

author: bilko
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 18, 2012, 11:07:02 pm
content: Quote from: jayris on July 17, 2012, 11:28:55 pmIt's probably OK for home or 'hobby' work but in industrial applications it is a non starter.This is because in industry, machinery must run 24/7, spares must be easily available. Most organisations want to standardise on one universal system that can cater for tiny projects to complete factory automation. They do not want to re-train for each quirky system that appears.So it really depends what you want to do, getting customer acceptance is virtually nil because of the lack of support and spares. Using it in a school would be OK as it would give users a taste of limited PLC progamming.

author: Bloch
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 18, 2012, 11:31:56 pm
content: Quote from: bilko on July 18, 2012, 11:07:02 pmThat like learning to do assembler on a windows PC.I know that ladder still is in the IEC 61131 but pls. learn ST, SFC and FBD.

author: bilko
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 19, 2012, 02:01:42 pm
content: Ladder is still the easiest for maintenance electricians to troubleshoot.Reducing down time is the goal for most industrial facilities, its OK writing fancy code in ST, FBD e.t.c. but if it requires an expert to diagnose a problem then its very expensive to industry.On the other hand, well written code written in ST and FBD should be as good as the PLC internal functions. No need to debug that code because it should have already been debugged.I would consider using the ldmicro in home or personal projects, but in industry, no way.
Teardown video of 1991 Thermal Imagine Camera - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: adrianblack
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: July 19, 2012, 07:55:43 pm
content: I subscribe to this guy's YouTube stream and he posted this amazing teardown of a vintage 1991 "Insight Starsight" thermal imagine camera.Insane analog stuff with so many pots and bodges. Wanted to share -- worth a watch.
Base for prototype station, ferrous or non-ferrous? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: beaker353
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 22, 2012, 08:27:19 am
content: I’m in the process of building a custom prototyping station. It will hold four of the large 3M breadboard units side by side and a number of binding posts for power connections all mounted to a single large 12’ish by 12’ish inch base. I am trying to decide what material I should use for my base. I’m figuring that a metal of some type would be the best, but I’m having trouble determining what metal I should go for. I deal with a lot of mixed analog (mostly audio frequency) and digital circuitry so I’m thinking that having the entire base as one huge ground plane (tied to ground of course) would be a good way to keep everything quiet and isolated. The idea being that any lines of flux from the above circuits will induce current within the metal and then get dumped to ground instead of the flux lines spreading to other parts of the breadboard. From my day job working with professional audio gear I have learned the true power of good shielding and what can happen when a manufacturer goes cheap and things sound like crap.First question, is my fundamental understanding correct that a base for this station made of the right metal would convert lines of magnetic flux generated by circuits above into current in the base and be dumped to ground to reduce that flux from inducing current elsewhere in the breadboards? Secondly, would I need to use a ferrous metal for this to be effective or would a non-ferrous metal like aluminum do just as well. I know enough to know that I don’t know enough...-EM

author: IanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 22, 2012, 08:42:18 am
content: I don't think you have to worry about magnetism. I'd say something like aluminium would work fine. Lightweight and easy to cut and bend.

author: SeanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 22, 2012, 08:52:30 am
content: I would suggest a thick plastic over a steel base. This would reduce the capacitance from the breadboard to the ground plane ( good in any case) and the steel underplate will provide some magnetic and lossy RF blocking. The plastic will most likely be acrylic ( easy to buy in thick ca 10mm sheets) and will need to be bonded to the steel with an epoxy resin after sanding both surfaces clean and washing them with a oil removing solvent to promote adhesion. Remember to paint the steel sheet underside afterwards with a good metal paint ( Hammerite is pretty good for this) and glue a rubber backing to it after the paint is cured to keep it stable.
Mike's Electric Stuff-videos vanished - why? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: almoehi
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: July 19, 2012, 07:44:56 am
content: Hi Mike,was checking if there is something new on your youtube channel and all the videos are gone. What's happening here? Where is all that cool stuff?Cheers;ArminUpdate:It's just the link on your homepage, that doesn't work anymore.This one does:https://www.youtube.com/user/mikeselectricstuff

author: Classicmacintosh
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: July 19, 2012, 07:51:01 am
content: They are still visible here in the UK.Have you tried shift-clicking the refresh button and seeing if they come back?

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 19, 2012, 08:37:30 am
content: I don't see any problem. Videos and channel still as normal.Dave.

author: mikeselectricstuff
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 19, 2012, 08:42:30 am
content: It was just the link from thewww.electricstuff.co.ukpage that was broken as Youtube have changed the way channel URLs work.
World's thinnest smart phone (and hammer) - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: nitro2k01
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 18, 2012, 08:03:22 am
content: Video:Oppo, otherwise known for their home entertainment equipment have released an Android phone, which apparently is the thinnest one in the world at the moment, and which also doubles as a hammer.Source:http://techcrunch.com/2012/07/17/watch-the-worlds-thinnest-smartphone-pound-a-nail-into-a-board/

author: DrGeoff
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 18, 2012, 09:36:22 am
content: Is there an engineering version that can be used as a screwdriver?

author: T4P
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 18, 2012, 10:13:41 am
content: Quote from: DrGeoff on July 18, 2012, 09:36:22 amIs there one that can take itself apart?

author: Stephen Hill
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: July 18, 2012, 11:28:50 am
content: I wonder why he didn't use it as a hammer while powered up... I smell bullshit!

author: vk6zgo
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 18, 2012, 11:54:58 am
content: Bummer! I thought they were going to make a smartphone thinner with a hammer!

author: Pack34
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 18, 2012, 01:30:41 pm
content: Quote from: Stephen Hill on July 18, 2012, 11:28:50 amTheres one with a guy using a Nokia Lumia. He hammers on every side with it powered on. No damage and no scratches.

author: AlphZeta
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: July 18, 2012, 01:38:57 pm
content: Code:I wonder why he didn't use it as a hammer while powered up... I smell bullshit!Na... I think it's plausible.

author: free_electron
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 18, 2012, 03:10:38 pm
content: They should make a tv that is also a canopener and a dvd player that is also an electric razor. How about a coffeebrewer that is also a litterbox ?A gps with built in tire-iron maybe ?How about people with brains ? Now That would be usefull....

author: Bored@Work
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 18, 2012, 08:14:39 pm
content: Quote from: ErikTheNorwegian on July 18, 2012, 07:15:59 pmOh, I see you have been in the army.
Owon sds7102 question - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: timcki
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: July 17, 2012, 03:07:07 am
content: I am looking to buy this scope probably from saelig.when looking around the web for reviews I see some units are grayish on the face and some are light blue.What is the difference between the two? both have the same model number.and yes i did read all through the owon sds7102 review but didnt see any mention...thanks..

author: aghp
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: July 17, 2012, 08:17:38 am
content: Quote from: timcki on July 17, 2012, 03:07:07 amThere is big differencies with photographs. Some may have really "vivid colors".Note: Rebranded may have they own colors, example Aktakom.It is something like this.Also here light was not natural light si some kind of color mismatch may be.
What's the cheapest, parctical scope? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: ivan747
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 13, 2012, 03:20:56 pm
content: I've been wondering if the Rigol is the only decent deal. I have seen some Owon branded oscilloscopes for the price of an iPod touch, so it leaves me wondering what should I buy? Maybe getting a bargain analog scope and pay the expensive shipping? ($60+). By the way, is anybody close to Florida willing to give one away?Perhaps it's better for me to get the cheapest logic analyzer I can find and use my current scope, a Velleman HPS-10 (not enough for digital work) for the analog work. That scope can barely handle DC-DC converters since it is 10MS/s, so the practical bandwidth is limited to 1MHz. Switching converters can easily reach that frequency, not taking into account ringing and harmonics.Yes I have posted many times about it, but the Rigol is outside of my reach. I should start selling kits or something.

author: vk6zgo
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 14, 2012, 08:06:37 am
content: Quote from: ivan747 on July 13, 2012, 03:20:56 pmI can only repeat my usual advice:Have a look for Amateur Radio activity in your country.Most Ham Radio national organisations ,or local clubs, hold at least one "Hamfest" each year.They often have cheap Oscilloscopes for sale at these events,& if not, the "Hams"are usually friendly,& may be able to point you in the right direction to obtain one.If you can find a 100MHz Tektronix,HP or Philips analog 'scope,you will be better setup for analog work.(Even a 10MHz 'scope would be better than the HPS-10).For the digital stuff,you may be able to find a very old (& huge) Tek or HP Logic Analyser,as some firms have a "first generation" unit sitting gathering dust in a cupboard somewhere!

author: Satchmoeddie
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: July 16, 2012, 02:41:05 am
content: If you can calibrate a simple used O scope, I found a GW 20MHZ for $20 + $15 to ship. I love it. I have a Z input and it will outperform most new low band width scopes which are rated to a higher freq. It is my bread and butter audio scope. 2 channel, and the trace is very very sharp with lighted graticle, and sweep trigger. All the usual stuff. I had to go to a 250 MHz scope and got two older Tektronix model 465 and 475B with the DVM and counter on top. Sawpping parts and some added modified parts I now have two scopes @ 150 and 200 MHz for my radio front end work. I have had to let a lot of really neat stuff go to pay bills and this is how I have to deal with it. My Tek 371A curve tracer is now a 1965 567 model. The price difference is about $20,000! (27,000 USD) in this case, but I had to throw in my test jigs and an IEEE4888 interface and old computer with programs and a network. I was stunned at how well the Goodwill (Instek) scope worked. A know was knocked askew. Resetting it and the scope was like new after a quick once over and very minor adjustments.
Dave's noisy wildlife noises are not as bad as mine!  - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: Satchmoeddie
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: July 16, 2012, 02:30:21 am
content: Arizona, Phoenix and Tucson metro areas in particular, are full of Aussie plants that were imported years ago. I heard frog and crickets in the background of Dave's video blog. Wait til you hear my video. WOW! Where is my shotgun? I had a request on how to silence a spring reverberation tank using a method I lucked out with on a very compact old solid state amp. I started my video tutorial. The birds are worse than an old jungle movie sound effects track. Now I can really relate! I will post a video reply so Dave can compare the noise. I KNOW the door was shut on the overview prep part 1 video. The modulated high pitched sound like filtered white or pink noise are cicadas. No more early morning videos after a rainfall. Australian trees and other plants were brought to the desert southwest for farm windbreaks and landscaping that would withstand the heat. When dad was alive his Aussie botanist friend had us growing some neat Aussie flowers. My ex as Australian and delighted to see so many things from home out here. Anyway back to the video subject. We need to get a spring reverb tank to not feed back. I coat them inside and out with thin sticky back closed cell foam after cleaning out decaying foam rubber. The results were great on a Baldwin C-3A Professional with a very small tank that also housed the electronics for the signal preamp, remix and other stuff. This amp is all old very hard to find Germanium transistors. They were incredibly unstable with under designed power supplies. The amp featured in this video is a very unique one that had a pitch shifting vibrato which panned from left to right on the stereo models. These were the most elaborate instrument guitar amps made before 1974. A mono amp has 4 voltage dependent resistors which clamp in a slow no knee bend more linear manner.
What makes electrolytic capacitors swell. - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: G7PSK
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 14, 2012, 05:15:31 pm
content: I have just been cleaning out my stores, I found six power factor correction capacitors that are part of a lot I had specially made by Philips capacitors back in the early 1980's.They have not been used yet two of them have swollen, I always thought that it was gas pressure produced by the boiling of the electrolyte but as these have not been used it must be some form of corrosion of the aluminium foils inside, am I correct in this assumption or is there something else going on.

author: madires
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 14, 2012, 06:05:33 pm
content: Hi!Electrolytes are quite complex chemicals and can decompose over time causing gas. Do you remember the bad cap scandal? That was similar, just in fast motion :-)Cheersmadires

author: SeanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 14, 2012, 09:12:59 pm
content: Pictures? These caps do deteriorate with time, especially if the seal let oxygen thorough to the inside, where it caused decomposition of the conductive electrolyte and gas formation.

author: G7PSK
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 14, 2012, 09:33:41 pm
content: The bulging ones just went straight into the skip as I did not have time for any thing else as I needed to get cleared up and out of the premises. I do have the remaining four though. I can do a picture of them.

author: NiHaoMike
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 15, 2012, 12:52:34 am
content: Quote from: SeanB on July 14, 2012, 09:12:59 pmWouldn't a leaky seal also let any pressure buildup to leak back out?I suspect the capacitors were exposed to high temperature at some point and/or may be marginal units that had abnormally high pressure from the final testing process. The use of electrolytic caps for power factor correction is a new one for me, since AC electrolytics generally are not designed for continuous use. Maybe that's why they're not used for that purpose anymore?

author: SeanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 15, 2012, 06:04:21 am
content: PFC capacitors are always made from aluminium, either as a thin foil with an insulating spacer ( and part of the dielectric) or a sputtered film on a substrate. They are filled with either an oil, or a proprietary formula as a dielectric and arc suppressor. This often can break down with time, as it is often not designed to be stable in the presence of oxygen from the air. Thus a leaky seal lets in oxygen, and may not let the reaction products out again, causing the cap to swell.
Kickstarter comes to the UK - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: Jope
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: July 10, 2012, 01:43:21 pm
content: That's what they posted onTwitter.

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 10, 2012, 02:06:13 pm
content: What about Australia?I want to use it for my PSU projects.At the moment I'll have to use Pozzible.Dave.

author: icon
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: July 10, 2012, 03:31:22 pm
content: Ah, I got all excited!Junior Kick Start Xmas 1986John

author: johnnyfp
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 13, 2012, 08:39:22 am
content: Its here in NZ. Maybe you could get a mate to help set it up

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 13, 2012, 09:23:14 am
content: Quote from: johnnyfp on July 13, 2012, 08:39:22 amWTF? Kickstarter is in NZ and not in Oz?Dave.

author: ivan747
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 14, 2012, 01:00:33 am
content: Are the entrepreneur Aussies mad at the kiwis?

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 14, 2012, 01:09:56 am
content: I looked at the terms and conditions on Kickstarter. Nothing has changed, you still need to be US citizen with a US social security number, a US driving license, and a US credit card.There are a few Oz people on Kickstarter, but they clearly must have someone in the US listing it for them.Same for NZ I'm sure.Dave.

author: ivan747
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 14, 2012, 04:21:06 am
content: I guess that sometime it's just not worth paying legal agencies thousands of dollars to bring a product to a country. It has happened a lot of times, but I think Australia is big enough to have a good market, unless lawyers are very expensive down under.

author: johnnyfp
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 14, 2012, 09:08:11 am
content: Weird. Your correct, but there are these listed on therehttp://www.kickstarter.com/discover/cities/western-springs-nzl?ref=home_locationwhich are definitely New Zealand based.I got all excited when I found these, but the Guidelines definitively sayCode:Eligibility requirementsTo be eligible to start a Kickstarter project, you need to satisfy the requirements of Amazon Payments:You are 18 years of age or older.You are a permanent US resident with a Social Security Number (or EIN).You have a US address, US bank account, and US state-issued ID (driver’s license).You have a major US credit or debit card.How annoying.

author: tinhead
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 14, 2012, 09:03:15 pm
content: Quote from: johnnyfp on July 14, 2012, 09:08:11 am"all creators must meet Amazon Payments’ eligibility requirements" so when you make Amazon Payments(Amazon Seller Central) happy i'm sure you can start project, no matter where you from.
Rigol Hack video on the Rigol site! - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 13, 2012, 10:07:48 am
content: http://www.rigolna.com/products/digital-oscilloscopes/ds1000e/Scroll down to "3rd Party Videos".Hilarious!Dave.

author: Psi
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 13, 2012, 10:14:12 am
content: That's pretty funny considering they stopped talking to you after that hack video.

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 13, 2012, 10:14:57 am
content: And dragged into a better position!Dave.

author: firewalker
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 13, 2012, 01:06:59 pm
content: There are 4 of your videos!Alexander.

author: MikeK
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 13, 2012, 02:10:00 pm
content: So the guy who was told to find DS1052E videos doesn't know what "hack" means, and didn't watch it?

author: krivx
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 13, 2012, 02:13:12 pm
content: It could be an automated system scraping youtube search results.

author: ivan747
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 13, 2012, 02:15:33 pm
content: Well, since they are discontinuing the 50MHz version, why don't they finally release the hack?

author: ivan747
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 13, 2012, 02:18:01 pm
content: Yeah, seems automated to me. And I think they sorted it by the number of views (or likes) notice that all of Dave's videos are listed first.

author: MikeK
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 13, 2012, 02:26:22 pm
content: So now we need a DS1052E titled video that's just full of young girls. That would wind up them dropping the "hack" video, though.

author: AntiProtonBoy
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 13, 2012, 02:29:42 pm
content: Quote from: Psi on July 13, 2012, 10:14:12 amHahaha, any back stories? I kinda missed the boat on this one.
Dave old video titler - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: Kiwi_frog
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: July 13, 2012, 03:40:43 am
content: Dave,Have you ever considered re releasing your video title unit using the MAX7456 instead of the stv5730. I just fitted one of your old titles into a unit I was working on, and was pleasantly surprised to see your name on the instructions as the author. Just a thought.Mike,

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 13, 2012, 04:05:55 am
content: Never thought about upgrading that really.Last I looked there were now several commercial units available.Dave.

author: David_AVD
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 13, 2012, 05:39:16 am
content: I made up a video overlay board a while back using the MAX7456, but the project stalled so no code was ever written for it.Not sure how hard the MAX7456 is to "talk to" as it was a couple of years ago now.

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 13, 2012, 06:06:40 am
content: I have fond memories of coding that thing in assembler. It just fitted in the 1K available on the PIC16F84 IIRCAnd that included the keyboard character lookup table and all the menu strings etc.Dave.
New Nanodevice Creates a Near Perfect Electron Stream - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: Psi
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 12, 2012, 04:54:22 am
content: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/07/120711101042.htm

author: G7PSK
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 12, 2012, 01:56:59 pm
content: So now we have to bin our amp meters and start counting electrons.

author: PA0PBZ
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 12, 2012, 06:22:48 pm
content: The dot can be filled with electrons and then raised in energy. By a process known as 'back-tunneling', all but one of the electrons fall out of the quantum dot back into the source lead. Ideally, just one electron remains trapped in the dot, which is ejected into the output leadby tilting the trapSo... they shake it out or what?

author: olsenn
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 12, 2012, 06:34:51 pm
content: QuoteIf you shake it more than twice you're playing with it!

author: G7PSK
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 12, 2012, 09:06:19 pm
content: You have to tip it out gently but be careful the electron does not fall on the carpet as they can be the absolute dickens to find.

author: AntiProtonBoy
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 13, 2012, 12:40:40 am
content: Use a magnet!
Photons New Adventure Pest Control  - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: Sionyn
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 10, 2012, 03:27:13 pm
content: a bit too far i think, possibly cruel

author: Short Circuit
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 10, 2012, 04:23:36 pm
content: Sure it's cruel, but so is poisoning the bastards, or feeding them to birds and fish, or simply smashing them.

author: Unknown
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 10, 2012, 04:34:15 pm
content: He's gonna get soo much heckling and booing for that that in the end I see another photoinduction comin'

author: SeanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 10, 2012, 06:02:40 pm
content: My fish won't eat snails, so i have to crush them up before they will eat the remains.

author: Sionyn
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 10, 2012, 06:35:22 pm
content: i could see how some could think he set it up to kill those snails if thats the case killing them for entrainment is unacceptablealso could see gaining some flac form peta

author: T4P
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 10, 2012, 06:56:01 pm
content: Quote from: Short Circuit on July 10, 2012, 04:23:36 pmAnd so is kicking them into canals... i do that all the time

author: hans
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 10, 2012, 09:49:31 pm
content: I'm not really feeling bad about zapping only 5 or something.We zap flies and bees with our electronic zapper thingies. Snails are not insects, but are mollusks, whatever that is. Those creatures don't even have something we call brains, they got a bunch of nerves called 'cerabral ganglion'. Yes I looked at this crap up. I'm not feeling any less or more bad about it though.Well, it's on the edge, and probably a bit over because they are not insects.Photographers put insects and 'things' (lets put it that way) in freezers all the time so they sit still. It's like knocking someone out with a bat so you can make pictures of his tattoo's.Ah whatever. Atleast he puts signs upfront in his video's for 13 year olds and photonbashers.

author: amyk
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 11, 2012, 06:53:25 am
content: I wonder what the residual glitter is - long after the snails have fallen off there are still a few sparkles, which was a bit unusual.Perhaps a bit too well done for escargot

author: T4P
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 11, 2012, 02:10:02 pm
content: Quote from: amyk on July 11, 2012, 06:53:25 amSparks from their body "liquid" arching the two wires

author: G7PSK
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 11, 2012, 02:37:35 pm
content: I had a transformer from an oil fired boiler that I used as a rat trap, the arc was such that if you put a plastic ruler in its path the arc would at first track around the edge for a second or so then it would punch a hole through it. No rat ever came out alive from the trap, Gone in a flash as they say.

author: eevblogfan
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 11, 2012, 05:12:52 pm
content: because of snakes here . I had to shoot many rats via slingshot...
Why are dead rats necessary? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: PeteInTexas
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 10, 2012, 05:52:12 am
content: http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/technology/2012/07/new-mccarthyism-described-by-climate-scientist-michael-mann/An interview with climate scientist Michael Mann where he describes an organized campaign of intimidation and harassment, complete with with dead rats in addition to the usual death threats.If he, and other scientist like him, are simply wrong on the merits why is it necessary to threaten their family with sacrificial rodents?

author: saturation
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 10, 2012, 12:11:56 pm
content: ... because if there is truth to the distribution of intelligence in humans, at ~half are below normal, and can act accordingly.The graph is based on the Binet scale. Below 70 are where the moderately impaired live, meaning working class but deficient, [aka morons and less, in older terminology], about 5% of the population.In the USA, for example, that would mean among 300M, about 15,000,000 are morons and less.While IQ is only one measure of intelligence, it is a clear measure of data analytical skills, which sadly, is what reading scientific data is about.

author: G7PSK
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 10, 2012, 12:19:21 pm
content: Quote from: saturation on July 10, 2012, 12:11:56 pmDon't forget that Europe in the 17th and 18th century's pushed an awful lot of those on the lower levels out to places like the Americas. So the USA is skewed as far that graph is concerned, Most of the Brains have been imported over the past hundred years.

author: vk6zgo
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 11, 2012, 06:31:07 am
content: Quote from: saturation on July 10, 2012, 12:11:56 pmIQ tests determine whether you have the thought processes of a 1950s American College Professor,& nothing else.A side effect is that it allows snobs to preen themselves!The obvious answer to the question in the OP'ssubject,is : Without them,we'd be neck deep in Immortal Rats!However,I don't think that was the actual question!

author: rolycat
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 11, 2012, 10:05:34 am
content: Quote from: G7PSK on July 10, 2012, 12:19:21 pmEven if the 'lower levels' were intellectually rather than just socially disadvantaged, the USA is famously a melting pot of people from a multiplicity of cultures, and it is likely that such societies benefit from heterosis or 'hybrid vigour', which would mean that their citizens were on average healthier and more intelligent than the more monochromatic source populations.In addition, regression to the mean suggests that any skew introduced three hundred or more years ago would be largely undetectable today.

author: G7PSK
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 11, 2012, 01:37:09 pm
content: Quote from: rolycat on July 11, 2012, 10:05:34 amMy answer was very much tongue in cheek.
"Beep" for voltage measurements in DMMs.  - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: firewalker
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 11, 2012, 09:38:40 am
content: Yesterday I faced a condition measuring some voltages in a weird position on a racing boat that wouldn't allow me to monitor the display. I used the min/max option to view the voltages. I had to crawl down and stand up multiple times.Is there any DMM (is it common and just I haven't come across it?) that you can set a voltage level, compare the values and produce a beep if ">=" (like the Agilent that beeps when a measure is competed in data logging mode)? I know the is DMM with removable display.Alexander.

author: rsjsouza
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 11, 2012, 12:27:00 pm
content: Depending on the voltages (I assume is either 12 or 24V range), you may try an automotive DMMHowever, if you are comfortable in making electronic circuits you could assemble your own based on a comparator and a 555 (for the tone generation). It would be a mix between the comparator and the tone generator of the two links below:http://www.ermicro.com/blog/?p=1578http://www.free-circuit.com/2011/05/20/low-voltage-warning-beeper-circuit-with-ca3160/Hey, you could even get fancier and generate a different tone per voltage by using the multi-level circuit below:http://www.electronics-project-design.com/electronic-circuit-project.html

author: bilko
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 11, 2012, 12:33:34 pm
content: What about a 'talking multimeter' several projects on the web using text to speech or PWM speech