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ohger1s@gmail.com: Feb 21 09:26AM -0800 On Tuesday, February 21, 2017 at 11:04:21 AM UTC-5, Chuck wrote:   > --- > This email has been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus software. > https://www.avast.com/antivirus   I don't think that's an all inclusive statement. I've ordered batches of mosfets for plasma sustain boards and some lots of 50 would show different printing, different cases, different lead stampings, (which tend to support the theory that some might be original and some might be counterfeit) and some were clearly pulls.

Jon Elson <jmelson@wustl.edu>: Feb 21 02:15PM -0600 > What is the best place for a hobbiest to buy small amounts of electronic > parts?   I buy a lot of stuff from Digi-Key. They do have a minimum order, but it is not that bad. These days, if you buy a few chips as well as passives, you are pretty likely to go above their minimum (I think it is still $25). Their single-piece prices are not really steep.   Mouser is also pretty good.   Jon

oldschool@tubes.com: Feb 21 02:46PM -0600 On Tue, 21 Feb 2017 10:09:14 -0500, Ralph Mowery >for very small orders such as up to 8 oz shipped by the USPS.   >If you do go to ebay for the parts, watch out for the China places. >Some are good and some send junk parts.   I dont buy anything from China. (or any place outside of North America). It takes too long to get the items, if the stuff is defective, I'm stuck with it, and I do not trust giving out my credit card info. I only buy from the US and Canada. When I am on ebay, the first thing I do is set their filter to US Only. Otherwise my page is flooded with China items. Sure, I could often save a dollar or two buying from China, but it's not worth the hassle.   The one and only time I bought an ebay item from outside the US, I bought something from the UK. The order got all screwed up, and it turned into a huge hassle. I lost money, got an item I did not really want, and the seller lost too. I made a point to never buy from outside North America again.

rickman <gnuarm@gmail.com>: Feb 21 04:19PM -0500 > their filter to US Only. Otherwise my page is flooded with China items. > Sure, I could often save a dollar or two buying from China, but it's not > worth the hassle.   The only times I've had trouble with eBay orders is when I didn't follow up on keeping track of them. I find ebay sellers to be very responsive because they live and die by their rating. If all else fails (which it has sometimes) I dispute the charge on my credit card and have never failed to get the refund.     > turned into a huge hassle. I lost money, got an item I did not really > want, and the seller lost too. I made a point to never buy from outside > North America again.   It's just not that big a deal normally. Having to wait over a month before filing for an "item not received" refund is a bit of a pain, but I only use this for things I don't need any time soon.   --   Rick C

Clifford Heath <no.spam@please.net>: Feb 22 04:20AM +1100 > I dont buy anything from China. (or any place outside of North America). > It takes too long to get the items, if the stuff is defective, I'm stuck > with it, and I do not trust giving out my credit card info.   I agree with you regarding EBay sellers, but...   You're wrong to discount Aliexpress. You get access to thousands of vendors (same as EBay) but none of them see your credit card, and until you approve of the product *as delivered*, they don't get your money either. If you receive nothing, or they ship the wrong thing, or even if it's demonstrably faulty, Ali mediates a resolution. The most common resolution is that you bin the item and get your money back.   For China Post shipping of small items (3 cigarette packet size) you get free shipping... my orders are often under $20... no Western supplier will do this for you.   > bought something from the UK. The order got all screwed up, and it > turned into a huge hassle. I lost money, got an item I did not really > want, and the seller lost too.   This does not happen with Aliexpress.

root <NoEMail@home.org>: Feb 21 10:33PM >> turned into a huge hassle. I lost money, got an item I did not really >> want, and the seller lost too.   > This does not happen with Aliexpress.       I could not disagree more with your assertions about AliExpress. If you receive goods which were either defective or not as represented you can get your money back but only if you ship the items back to the sender at your expense. On a recent $105 order with AliExpress, the shipping cost to return the item was $48. It took weeks of email exchanges with the sender before they were even willing to take back the item. My experience with Amazon is the exact opposite.

Clifford Heath <no.spam@please.net>: Feb 22 06:20AM +1100 On 22/02/17 09:33, root wrote: > can get your money back but only if you ship the items back to > the sender at your expense. On a recent $105 order with AliExpress, > the shipping cost to return the item was $48.   Ouch. I haven't had a problem with a $100 order, only small ones.   For example, one vendor shipped a dangerous illegal "power saving" device (small capacitor and an LED) with a European socket, when I had ordered a 12V 3A power brick. Duh. It wasn't hard to convince Ali that it belonged in the bin, and I got my money back. A battery pack for a hand-held transceiver never arrived, though tracking said it was in a warehouse somewhere... after six weeks I got my money back. Another order for five magnets shipped one, so I got an 80% refund. Three problems in perhaps 60 orders...   So yeah, you can have problems... but none so far has cost me anything.   > My experience with Amazon is the exact opposite.   Yep, Amazon is good. They just don't have many of the things I want.   Clifford Heath.

Tim Wescott <seemywebsite@myfooter.really>: Feb 21 05:54PM -0600 On Tue, 21 Feb 2017 05:32:13 -0600, oldschool wrote:     > What (if any) online stores will fit my needs? > Maybe its none of these huge stores, but something smaller...   > Thanks   DigiKey and (I think) Mouser got rid of their minimum order prices years ago.   But they kind of make up for it by charging more per piece as you order fewer pieces -- as an example, 0604 resistors are $0.10 in onsies, and about $0.12 for ten.   You might want to check Antique Radio Supply for the tube-specific stuff -- www.tubesandmore.com. They'll have the tubes and sockets and transformers that DigiKey just doesn't carry. They may even have better deals on small quantities of the sorts of resistors and caps that show up in toob amplifiers than does DigiKey.   --   Tim Wescott Wescott Design Services http://www.wescottdesign.com   I'm looking for work -- see my website!

Rheilly Phoull <rheilly@bigslong.com>: Feb 22 08:48AM +0800 > turned into a huge hassle. I lost money, got an item I did not really > want, and the seller lost too. I made a point to never buy from outside > North America again.   Well, you might have to "man up" and enter the modern times of online marketing :-). As stated ebay with paypal or similar gives pretty good protection against problem trades. Also as you are only buying small quantities you will not be risking much. For buying small quantities from several traders ebay makes it easy for you by putting all the purchases in your "basket" with one payment. It's not as hard as you may think and you really didn't give it much of a go with one buy. Most of the asian traders are honest and paypal keeps them that way.

vjp2.at@at.BioStrategist.dot.dot.com: Feb 22 12:03AM I had a BLU DASH JR with H2O and Redpocket (both ATT resellers with $100/yr plans) until ATT dropped 2G. So I got a BLU R1 HD and only H2O worked when I got it on Saturday. I called redpocket and they said to call Tuesday. Today they got it to work. THen I realised H2O stopped working. But they BOTH worked on the DASH JR. CLues?     - = - Vasos Panagiotopoulos, Columbia'81+, Reagan, Mozart, Pindus, BioStrategist http://www.panix.com/~vjp2/vasos.htm ---{Nothing herein constitutes advice. Everything fully disclaimed.}--- [Homeland Security means private firearms not lazy obstructive guards] [Urb sprawl confounds terror] [Phooey on GUI: Windows for subprime Bimbos]

ohger1s@gmail.com: Feb 21 04:35PM -0800 > got it on Saturday. I called redpocket and they said to call Tuesday. > Today they got it to work. THen I realised H2O stopped working. > But they BOTH worked on the DASH JR. CLues?   Thanks, for the first time in my life, I truly feel old...

Clifford Heath <no.spam@please.net>: Feb 22 07:14AM +1100 > got it on Saturday. I called redpocket and they said to call Tuesday. > Today they got it to work. THen I realised H2O stopped working. > But they BOTH worked on the DASH JR. CLues?   Most "Dual SIM" phones are like that. The 2nd SIM only works on 2G, only one SIM can connect to a modern network.

mhploni@gmail.com: Feb 21 09:39AM -0800 Not sure if this is the right place but I certainly will appreciate any input anyone can give me.   I have a Homedics back massager that I purchased at Walmart for $100. I refuse to just throw it away and purchase a new one (as our manufacturers want us to do).   It has, I think, some sort of short or something that's preventing it from working correctly. It only starts sometimes and quickly stops.   I want to fix it myself, if possible.   I think it could use a replacement wire from the transformer to the unit (the OEM wire seems too thin and it may already be damaged inside).   Thing is, the transformer does not have screws to open it and I don't know how to so I can put it back together.   Can anyone answer my questions and, perhaps, guide me along a bit?   (iFixIt.com seems to only focus on computer and phone devices.)   Thank you for reading this.

"pfjw@aol.com" <pfjw@aol.com>: Feb 21 10:09AM -0800 > Can anyone answer my questions and, perhaps, guide me along a bit?   > (iFixIt.com seems to only focus on computer and phone devices.)   > Thank you for reading this.   Do you have any sort of schematic for this device? And how old is it?   Here is the issue: Those sealed transformers (some are even injection-molded around the core) are not designed to be serviced, and getting access to the connections is risky. You might try cutting it open with either a Dremel-type tool (very risky) or a hot knife tool (smelly) or some other means to get to the wires - and use super-glue to replace what you remove.   Do you have any means to apply power to the moving parts from another source? Do you have a VOM to do some basic diagnosis of the transformer or moving parts? Do you see your time as worth more than $0.75 per hour? Note also that the moment you cut into anything, you void the UL/CE/CA rating which is significant only if something is really wrong.... *ZAP*, or a fire or similar.   This is a soft way of suggesting that unless the repair is obvious and involves little time or treasure, exchange massages with your significant other, and eschew the mechanics. These little toys are not designed for the long term. Relationships, on the other hand, can always use a bit of massaging! Certainly that has been my positive and pleasurable experience.   Peter Wieck Melrose Park, PA

"Kenny" <me@privacy.net>: Feb 21 07:00PM wrote in message news:13aee07a-de35-44cc-a09f-78fadc6a465c@googlegroups.com...   Not sure if this is the right place but I certainly will appreciate any input anyone can give me.   I have a Homedics back massager that I purchased at Walmart for $100. I refuse to just throw it away and purchase a new one (as our manufacturers want us to do).   It has, I think, some sort of short or something that's preventing it from working correctly. It only starts sometimes and quickly stops.   I want to fix it myself, if possible.   I think it could use a replacement wire from the transformer to the unit (the OEM wire seems too thin and it may already be damaged inside).   Thing is, the transformer does not have screws to open it and I don't know how to so I can put it back together.   Can anyone answer my questions and, perhaps, guide me along a bit?   (iFixIt.com seems to only focus on computer and phone devices.)   Thank you for reading this.   I have same brand but it doesn't use external Tx, mains cable goes into bottom left corner of back, mains plug is moulded on type. Had a look to see if it would be easily worked at, the back cover has zippers which don't open in the normal way so I left it alone.I also have Homedics massage cushion which does have separate 12V DC PSU........Kenny

Look165 <look165@numericable.fr>: Feb 21 08:15PM +0100 First test the output of the transformer with a meter !   I'm quite sure the transformer is not guilty.

ohger1s@gmail.com: Feb 21 11:35AM -0800 > Can anyone answer my questions and, perhaps, guide me along a bit?   > (iFixIt.com seems to only focus on computer and phone devices.)   > Thank you for reading this.   If it has a bad wire, it would most likely fail right where it exists the power supply or right where it terminates at the plug (assuming it has one). If the wire goes directly into the device, try gently flexing right at the messager or back at the transformer.

"Phoena Greene" <raeanne.is@ratchet.hoe>: Feb 21 03:14PM -0800 <mhploni@gmail.com> wrote in message news:13aee07a-de35-44cc-a09f-78fadc6a465c@googlegroups.com...   > I have a Homedics back massager that I purchased at Walmart for $100. I > refuse to just throw it away and purchase a new one (as our manufacturers > want us to do).   You're acting like $100 is like a month's rent or a car payment. What does $100 get you these days? Sitre Magana can spend that in a week just stuffing his fat fucking face.   > (the OEM wire seems too thin and it may already be damaged inside).   > Thing is, the transformer does not have screws to open it and I don't know > how to so I can put it back together.   I usually get them open with either a hammer or by throwing them on the concrete. Which ever way works for you.

Neon John <no@never.com>: Feb 21 12:33PM -0500 >http://www.ohgizmo.com/2006/03/06/the-biggest-subwoofer-ever-made   Not even close. The approx 4 story tall horn that NASA built to reproduce the sound of an Apollo launch will take that honor. The speaker was used to test sound mitigating techniques. I believe it is located at Redstone.   John John DeArmond http://www.neon-john.com http://www.tnduction.com Tellico Plains, Occupied TN See website for email address

oldschool@tubes.com: Feb 21 02:09PM -0600 >located at Redstone.   >John >John DeArmond   I did not find that one on the web, but I did find THIS: http://alex-audio.com/en/prod/world-biggest-speaker/   The Woofers are 80 inches each.... Handle 5000 watts per channel.   Heck, that would involve a power amp with around 200 6L6 or 807 tubes in Push-Pull Parallel-Parallel-Parallel-Parallel etc... For EACH channel...... (And an output transformer about 3 foot big, weighing close to the weight of a Harley motor cycle, and costing 10X the price for a brand new Harley).....

oldschool@tubes.com: Feb 21 02:12PM -0600 >> http://www.ohgizmo.com/2006/03/06/the-biggest-subwoofer-ever-made   >Didn't ElectroVoice sell a 30 inch speaker? It wasn't as big but you >could actually buy one.   I do recall hearing about such a speaker.....   I recall in the early 70's when 15" was the biggest speaker sold, that some company came out with an 18". Of course I wanted a pair of them until I saw the price....

Jim Mueller <wrongname@nospam.com>: Feb 21 09:03PM On Mon, 20 Feb 2017 06:37:49 -0600, oldschool wrote:   > Back in the 70s, I used a red bulb with a special plastic tip that did > not melt. They were cheap and did a fair job.   The red bulb ones don't work very well; the bulb is too small. The ones with a larger blue bulb are much better. But the main problem with bulb type solder suckers is cleaning them. You can shake a fair amount of the old solder out of the bulb but quite a bit remains. You have to be imaginative and patient to get it out.   -- Jim Mueller wrongname@nospam.com   To get my real email address, replace wrongname with dadoheadman. Then replace nospam with fastmail. Lastly, replace com with us.

oldschool@tubes.com: Feb 21 04:07PM -0600 >type solder suckers is cleaning them. You can shake a fair amount of the >old solder out of the bulb but quite a bit remains. You have to be >imaginative and patient to get it out.   I've never seen the blue ones, but I remember having a lot of problems with the tip getting clogged in the red one.

Ralph Mowery <rmowery28146@earthlink.net>: Feb 21 01:18PM -0500 In article <83f2fc74-d2e4-4235-9220-a147ec320299@googlegroups.com>, ggherold@gmail.com says... > (I set up the 'scope with a microphone for my kids.. we then banged on the > piano and watched things in both the time domain and frequency domain at the same > time.. That was years ago.. I should do it again, they're older now.)   The digital scopes have came down. I bought a 200 mhz one for $ 299 shipped. Years ago I paid almost that for a used dual chanel 5 MHz analog scope. Some are even less expensive.   Seems that many of them are rated in MHz and price. They are suspose to be the same but different softwear. Sometimes the components are slightly different.   YOu did not say what MHz yours is, but there are plenty of hacks on youtube to upgrade them.   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DM3VU0FG_7Q

avagadro7@gmail.com: Feb 21 09:58AM -0800 > or 1000W, but there are 9 of them).   > From what I am seeing, those transformers are all under rated. A friends > house has 200A service and his transformer is only 8KVA.   last stop before our cell tower...a wrok in progress at that time ...we saw several lightning strikes and 2 transformer blowouts. I watched one go directly...the top blew off straight up to ? with a BANG followed by a rocket trail off flame n debris...very entertaining.

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