General Stuff(tm)

[rubber_jonnie]

Sorry, yes, ZX Renew. Too much retro in my head. :-)

:lol:

[stephen_usher]

This evening's fun... recapping a hearing loop module. Horrid green and gold 2200uF caps. Those green and gold ones are guaranteed to leak and are definitely the worst. One cap had a V-loss of 37%!

Then I switched to making three BT phone master socket with cables terminated with RJ11 plugs so that they can plug into the Mediatrix copper->VoIP box. I now have ringing phones! I bet that's the first time the OPD's phone ringer has rung in 35 years or more.

[stephen_usher]

So, what have I been up to this week other than making phone extensions and ZX Spectrum diag cards?

Well, I also purchased a new controller for the model railway...

IMG_3935.jpeg

Of course, it's networked, with it's own web server for some configuration and a VNC server so I can connect to it remotely and fully interact with the screen etc. :-)

Over the last couple of days I've been learning how to set it up and transfer the details of the locos and their functional controls over to it. Unfortunately you can't do this with a CSV file and there are only fixed icons for the functions, which don't often correspond with British locos, being mostly US and German targeted. The other problem was finding the English instructions as the manual (and addendum) are fully in German. I found the English main manual, even if it's an older version, on the ESU web site but not the addendum, which seems to be about them switching to a capacitative touch screen at the beginning of this year.

Anyway, it works well, but the GUI could have used a lot less space for the regulator dial and more for the function buttons, including space for a descriptive text label. Anyway, can't have it all.

[machapman]

On translation. I've found that using ChatGPT and Claude AI gives decent translations of manuals. I've been using them to translate German ST manuals to english (given that a lot of Atari software is german). It seems to handle code too.

[stephen_usher]

I’d have to scan and OCR it as it’s on paper. :-)

[rubber_jonnie]

I understand... I really shouldn't have spent so much this month other than a number of "buy it now or it's gone" things turned up and I'm having to prepare for Cyber Legends.

Anyway, the Byte Delight Spectrum tester is dead easy to put together. Took about an hour.


IMG_3923.jpeg


The repaired Spectrum checks out fine.

Talking about Cyber Legends, the data SIM for the 4G router still hadn't turned up after a week so I've requested that SMARTY Mobile send a replacement. Hopefully it will arrive in time to get the VoIP and view data stuff set up.

Out of curiosity, did the case come with screws?

[stephen_usher]

Yes, but only four, and that didn't include the one to hold the PCB down.

[rubber_jonnie]

Yes, but only four, and that didn't include the one to hold the PCB down.

Cool, thanks.

[stephen_usher]

So, the multicore solder I ordered from eBay last week has been doing a tour of Southern Britain.

On Saturday it arrived at the Royal Mail's "North Home Counties" sorting office... It's now gone to Norwich sorting office and is "on its way to the local delivery office"... Good luck with that, Oxford is not in the delivery area for Norwich.

I'm also still waiting for the two SIM cards from SMARTY mobile, the original and its replacement, both apparently sent first class. The first was sent 13 days ago and the second last Thursday. I do wonder what fantastic travels they've been on. Maybe they've gone on a World tour.

[rubber_jonnie]

So, the multicore solder I ordered from eBay last week has been doing a tour of Southern Britain.

On Saturday it arrived at the Royal Mail's "North Home Counties" sorting office... It's now gone to Norwich sorting office and is "on its way to the local delivery office"... Good luck with that, Oxford is not in the delivery area for Norwich.

I'm also still waiting for the two SIM cards from SMARTY mobile, the original and its replacement, both apparently sent first class. The first was sent 13 days ago and the second last Thursday. I do wonder what fantastic travels they've been on. Maybe they've gone on a World tour.

I had similar shenanigans with an item ending up in Manchester I think and being sent out for delivery. I live in North East Essex, so hardly the right delivery area, so you have my sympathies. As for you SIMs, it doesn't seem likely you'll be getting them any time soon. Perhaps you'll get a postcard from them, then you'll know where they've been.