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Post by silverdragon on Feb 20, 2016 7:59:21 GMT
Sounds like it has moved a LONG way from my (at that time) illegal Muppets Mids and Alpha's rig from last century.
You were not allowed dual band radio's back then.
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Post by wvengineer on Feb 20, 2016 12:53:52 GMT
I can't say anything regarding UK law, but in the US, multi-band radios are very common. My HF radio's cover between 8 and 12 different bands depending on the model. Handhelds are commonly dual band with tri and quad band setups available. Same with mobile rigs.
These days it is more common that the limiting factor is the antenna design. Many new radios are purely SDR (Software defined radio) that do both the receiving and transmitting purely in computer chip. That chip can cover a wide range of frequencies and multiple bands.
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Soldering
Feb 20, 2016 14:16:27 GMT
via mobile
Post by GTCGreg on Feb 20, 2016 14:16:27 GMT
Don't understand why multi band radios would be illegal. Heck, my Yaesu 6/2/70 can even operate as a cross band repeater.
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Post by the light works on Feb 20, 2016 14:41:42 GMT
Don't understand why multi band radios would be illegal. Heck, my Yaesu 6/2/70 can even operate as a cross band repeater. only reason I can think of would be related to licensing and sumptuary laws. - obviously you can't have a radio you don't have an FCC license to operate; and civilians are not allowed to be capable of transmitting on police bands. not that either rule is really all that enforceable, unless someone is making a nuisance of themselves. edit: note some bands do not require a license. |
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Post by silverdragon on Feb 21, 2016 9:01:53 GMT
Don't understand why multi band radios would be illegal. Heck, my Yaesu 6/2/70 can even operate as a cross band repeater. only reason I can think of would be related to licensing and sumptuary laws. - obviously you can't have a radio you don't have an FCC license to operate; and civilians are not allowed to be capable of transmitting on police bands. not that either rule is really all that enforceable, unless someone is making a nuisance of themselves. edit: note some bands do not require a license. Cant remember the dates, but, all CB radio was illegal, only Ham licences were allowed, then they legalised "Muppet's" band, which is why its called muppet here, (27 meg?) because every muppet baby got one for christmas. So the wise amongst us of the old school variety went and added a Mid-band to the radio. Which is Ham radio bordering frequency. Being that that band was not legal for Muppets, it was deemed illegal to own one. Also running a Burner, more than 4wat of power, was ALSO illegal. So my rig, at that time, running muppet mid and alpha with a pre-amp and max 20watt power, was off the scale. I did have a ham licence at that time, but didnt use it. |
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Post by wvengineer on Feb 24, 2016 9:59:28 GMT
an RJ-45 plug is made to take #24 wires. if you have a gauge that fine, you can tell. - or if the seller is competent enough to know what size wires are inside the PS/2 cable. Got the cable in, bur haven't done anything yet due to lack of time. The packaging says it uses 28 gauge wire. Will that work in an RJ45, or is it too small? |
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Post by the light works on Feb 24, 2016 15:14:44 GMT
an RJ-45 plug is made to take #24 wires. if you have a gauge that fine, you can tell. - or if the seller is competent enough to know what size wires are inside the PS/2 cable. Got the cable in, bur haven't done anything yet due to lack of time. The packaging says it uses 28 gauge wire. Will that work in an RJ45, or is it too small? I couldn't guess. too big would be more of a problem. |
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Post by GTCGreg on Feb 24, 2016 18:38:53 GMT
an RJ-45 plug is made to take #24 wires. if you have a gauge that fine, you can tell. - or if the seller is competent enough to know what size wires are inside the PS/2 cable. Got the cable in, bur haven't done anything yet due to lack of time. The packaging says it uses 28 gauge wire. Will that work in an RJ45, or is it too small? I don't think you will have a problem with 28ga. Just be aware that some RJ-45 plugs are designed for flat cable and some for round. It's the design of the strain relief part that determines that. |
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Post by c64 on Jun 3, 2016 12:30:42 GMT
Got the cable in, bur haven't done anything yet due to lack of time. The packaging says it uses 28 gauge wire. Will that work in an RJ45, or is it too small? I don't think you will have a problem with 28ga. Just be aware that some RJ-45 plugs are designed for flat cable and some for round. It's the design of the strain relief part that determines that. Nowadays there is often only one kind offered which damages the round ones or splits in half all by itself after a year and which lets the flat cables slide out easily. I prefer the flat cables since they are much easier to insert properly and you can fix the strain relief issue by adding a piece of the insulation on top of the cable so the strain relief actually works. |
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Post by c64 on Jun 3, 2016 12:37:03 GMT
Here is the most convenient solution I know: Buy an inexpensive(!) ISDN coupler meant to extend ISDN phone lines using bits of ISDN cable you have laying around and/or patch cables. They have a RJ45 connector on both ends:  The inexpensive kind can be pulled apart easily. You end up with two identical parts with a short length or wires in between. Cut the wires and solder your (PS/2 extension) cable on. Then fill the thing with hot glue. I prefer the "nicotine yellow" couplers and pyrolytic hot glue which happens to have the same colour, the result looks absolutely professional and is very sturdy as long as you don't leave them sitting on the dashboard of your car in mid summer! |
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Post by silverdragon on Jun 4, 2016 5:30:34 GMT
I have a question for some who may know.
My Kid has been gifted a TV from someone who bought new.
The HDMI sockets are broken...
He could have it repaired, at a cost of around £60.
I have suggested a "dongle" to convert HDMI to VGA, as the TV has a working VGA plug....
I have been informed by a usually reputable electronics firm that the dongles available for about £12 on amazon "Dont work properly", and that I should pay for a £50 box of tricks to do the job properly?...
I suspect I was informed badly there?...
I still believe the £12 dongle from Amazon to be better value than the £50 box of tricks from Maplins.
Otherwise...
Its not beyond my ability to solder on a HDMI socket to the board inside the back of the TV.
Has anyone out there had experience of this?..
The board is a smaller "fly-out" connection to the main board, I suspect I can dis-assemble and remove that smaller board to save having to have the whole TV on the bench.
Where do I get a reputable HDMI "Female" socket from on-line?... any suggestions for a "safe site" to use?.. or safe traders via amazon?...
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Soldering
Jun 4, 2016 12:46:51 GMT
via mobile
Post by GTCGreg on Jun 4, 2016 12:46:51 GMT
I have a "cheapo" HDMI to VGA adapter that I use on my projector. It works just fine. The only problem is it does require external power. Replacing a connector on a double-sided circuit board is not an easy task if you're not experienced at it. . I'd try the adapter first.
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Post by silverdragon on Jun 5, 2016 4:00:04 GMT
I have a "cheapo" HDMI to VGA adapter that I use on my projector. It works just fine. The only problem is it does require external power. Replacing a connector on a double-sided circuit board is not an easy task if you're not experienced at it. . I'd try the adapter first. Ta Greg, any particular recommendations?.. and its not a time sensitive issue, so anywhere in the world and 28days shipping, no problem?.. |
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Post by c64 on Jun 5, 2016 12:26:30 GMT
The inexpensive converters work with a few resolutions only and none of which matches a TV standard. You'll get a rather poor picture quality.
The best solution would be a Raspberry Pi feeding such a converter running Kodi. This turns the TV into a very good smart TV capable to play anything from a network and DVB USB-receivers. Still not the very best quality due to the detour over analogue signals.
Replacing the HDMI socket would be the best solution although HDMI is always "fine pitch" and very sensitive to errors. HDMI is an ultra high speed network after all.
Contact the manufacturer and spare parts dealers and try to get a replacement PCB, that's exactly how the £60 fix would be done, you safe the labour so it should cost you about half as much.
Also you can always try to buy a simmilar broken TV ("shot screen") to get your spare part. And try to google with the numbers on the HDMI PCB.
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Post by GTCGreg on Jun 5, 2016 12:55:54 GMT
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Post by c64 on Jun 5, 2016 13:44:28 GMT
Replacing a connector on a double-sided circuit board is not an easy task if you're not experienced at it. Double sided is not much of a problem at all. If there are more than 2 layers, chances are high that you break the connection of an inner layer and there is no way to fix that! But the number of layers isn't a problem when it comes to HDMI since there are no HDMI connectors in THT (Through Hole Technology), they are all SMD (Surface Mounted Device) except for some early experimental ones when HDMI was not meant for much more than 576i. The trouble is that thera re 5 different categories of HDMI jacks and each category has at least 2 different incompatible footprints. Finding a HDMI connector which fits on the PCB is real hard! |
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Soldering
Jun 5, 2016 13:50:13 GMT
via mobile
Post by GTCGreg on Jun 5, 2016 13:50:13 GMT
Considering the nature of the TV, unless SD can happen to stumble across a replacement board, I'd say the best solution is a cheap VGA converter.
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Post by the light works on Jun 5, 2016 14:32:25 GMT
you have two very valid points in that using the VGA connection will give VGA, at best; and that this, IS, in the large picture analysis, a free TV, and it is easy to get carried away and spend more on a workaround for the problem that it would cost to buy a new TV. |
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Post by silverdragon on Jun 6, 2016 7:44:36 GMT
Thanks all... problem with one though, the raspberry Pi is hdmi output?...
And if the connectors are SMT, surface mount, than I may have a problem,, I never could get them right when I did hand soldering... but worth a try.
We are now trying to contact the manufacturers for that separate board as you suggested.... maybe thats a better workround after all.
But as you say, the TV is free, and free is free until it costs more than replacing the whole thing.
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Post by GTCGreg on Jun 6, 2016 13:28:57 GMT
Thanks all... problem with one though, the raspberry Pi is hdmi output?... And if the connectors are SMT, surface mount, than I may have a problem,, I never could get them right when I did hand soldering... but worth a try. We are now trying to contact the manufacturers for that separate board as you suggested.... maybe thats a better workround after all. But as you say, the TV is free, and free is free until it costs more than replacing the whole thing. Yes, the Raspberry Pi's video is HDMI out. So I don't see how that is a solution to your problem. Besides, do you want to program a computer or watch TV? Sometimes C64 gets lost in the overkill. But then, he is a German engineer. |
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