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[mikedt]

Cool, discrete components. How '70's.

Well yeh, we got our Raspberry Pi™ or our Auduino™ etc. but if you really want to know know electronics actually works you start with the basic components, the building blocks of electronics, like resistors, capacitors, diodes, and trransistors.

 

[Fox Mulder]

Absolutely, there's plenty of those in modern devices you just can't see them.
I built stuff like that years ago and I can still do component-level repair on things that aren't SMD.

 

[mikedt]

Cool, discrete components. How '70's.

How 70s, or even 60s indeed.

It finally arrived. I only bought it, because I couldn't believe there's still a company in 2021 manufacturing old fashioned discrete component AM band transistor radios. And this actually uses germanium transistors, not silicon.

 

[mikedt]

And that reminds me, I've still got this kit to assemble, an AM/FM radio. Unfortunately it uses a single chip for most of its operation, rather than discrete components.

Construction guide:

 

[mikedt]

We also need a one valve(vacuum tube) MP3 compatible AM radio transmitter.

 

[Fox Mulder]

That's cool but I suspect the batteries don't last long (or do those wires go to a separate power supply for the tube?)
The germanium (PNP) transistors are definitely very 60's.

 

[Bearsyzf]

And that reminds me, I've still got this kit to assemble, an AM/FM radio. Unfortunately it uses a single chip for most of its operation, rather than discrete components.
View attachment 158025


Construction guide:
View attachment 158026

Looks like a bunch of jibberish to me

 

[lunatic59]

Looks like a bunch of jibberish to me

Gibberish [ 'jib • er • ish ] n.

1. From the word jib, which is the Angloromani variant of the Romani language word meaning "language" or "tongue". To non-speakers, the Anglo-Romany dialect could sound like English mixed with nonsense words, and if those seemingly-nonsensical words are referred to as jib then the term gibberish (pronounced "jibberish") could be derived as a descriptor for nonsensical speech.

2. From the name of a famous 8th century Muslim alchemist, Jābir ibn Hayyān, whose name was Latinized as Geber. Thus, gibberish was a reference to the incomprehensible technical jargon and allegorical coded language used by Jabir and other alchemists.

Can you get that to fit on a t-shirt? I'd buy it.

 

[Milo Williamson]

Hmmm, nothing much of lately just a few sodas for my friends, a red bull for myself.. Nothing too out of the blue ya know..

 

[olbriar]

I finally tossed my old earphones for a new pair. I went for the over the ear phones from Bose to give me some quality tunes at the house without disturbing the wife. These are noise canceling that I don't really need here at the house but oh well.

 

[Bearsyzf]

My last purchase was actually a meat package from Prime Selection, got tri tips, ribeyes, Steaks , Ground steak burgers and more.

 

[olbriar]

I had to replace my string trimmer yesterday. It had been in use since the beginning of 2018. Just guessing it trimmed around 2,200 lawns. No complaints. I replaced it with the same string trimmer Shindaiwa T262.

 

[lunatic59]

The wife and I re-upped our subscription to the Reading Symphony for the 2021-2022 season. Because of COVID and no 20/21 season a lot of current patrons let their long standing seats lapse so we were able to snag some most excellent seats. Center front balcony. You usually have to wait for someone to die to get these and then be lucky enough to get them before some insider gobbles them up. As long as they don't pull some "give them back to previous patrons" bull$h!t, we are going to keep these for a long LONG time.

Update to this one ... We just got a call from the Symphony with our permanent seat assignments. We were given seats 2 and 4 in the front balcony. Right in front -- I feel like royalty!! (which is quite an upgrade from court jester.)

 

[olbriar]

New siding and a paint job. Not that the house needed it.. I last replaced the siding 45 years ago.
I don't anticipate having to do it again.

 

[Milo Williamson]

Nothing yet Sorry I keep seeing this tread.

 

[Unforgiven]

Had to replace one that won't work anymore.

 

[Milo Williamson]

Okay went some grocery shopping, and nothing out of the blue, just small stuff for the trip we are taking again
(Not a typo)

 

[olbriar]

Had to replace one that won't work anymore.
View attachment 158298

I bought two for the cabin this spring. One unit just refused to run and the other added moisture instead of removing it from the room. What amazed me is the new units weighed so much less than the old ones they were replacing. I can't yet speak for the economy of the units but the new ones are supposed to be so much more economical to run. Enjoy the cool.

 

[Unforgiven]

One unit just refused to run and the other added moisture instead of removing it from the room.

The one I'm replacing ran, and you could feel cool air if you put your hand in front of it, but it wouldn't cool a room.

What amazed me is the new units weighed so much less than the old ones they were replacing.

QFT... ...The 8000BTU replaced a 6000BTU and it was probably only 80-90% of the physical size and weight of the old unit.

I can't yet speak for the economy of the units but the new ones are supposed to be so much more economical to run. Enjoy the cool.

I shouldn't say I'm not worried about the economy, but I realize window AC units are terribly inefficient, so I guess any little bit helps. I did have to swap it out as the first one I got was damaged (I swear when you order online for store pickup they give you the most beat up box just hoping the unit actually works) but now that I have a functional one in the window it is making happy cold.

 

[olbriar]

I think that I have that very unit in the cabin living room. It certainly looks the same. There are four units at the cabin. The cabin is only a two bedroom affair but very old. I suspect little if any insulation in the walls. I batted the attic which had some rockwool dust laying on the ceiling.
Economy is somewhat of a concern for me. I'm on a rural co-op spur. The meter alone with no usage costs $55 a month. I have no idea what kilowatt hour rate is but a couple of weekends a month runs me over $100 a month. Not a huge expense but it's not cheap.

 

[mikedt]

 

[Clementine_3]

Glasses. I'm giving Zenni a try, they should be here later today.

 

[Unforgiven]

Joining with my neighbor to dress up the area between our driveways. First 20 yards of topsoil of the initial 60. The neighbors will also get an additional 60 yards to do the other side of their driveway.

 

[olbriar]

Glasses. I'm giving Zenni a try, they should be here later today.

I've bought several pairs of glasses from Zenni. I've had zero complaints. I hope you like them.

Joining with my neighbor to dress up the area between our driveways. First 20 yards of topsoil of the initial 60. The neighbors will also get an additional 60 yards to do the other side of their driveway.
View attachment 158375

Looks like a lot of work to me. I'd like to have that dirt in my garden... looks good.

 

[olbriar]

I ordered an atomic clock for my desk. My old desk clock has started gaining time. It gains around five minutes a month. It's easy enough to correct but I think I've gotten my five dollars worth out of it. I'll not toss it until I confirm the new cheapie works.