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isw <isw@witzend.com>: Mar 22 08:59PM -0700 In article <io14dcl596n5pv02jql0344igk3im0i12b@4ax.com>, > <http://www.circuitbasics.com/how-to-hack-a-headphone-jack/> > I find myself using an ohms-guesser to check the connections just in > case someone decided to be creative.   I have found a number of (cheap, imported) cables that connect red to tip -- the wiring is proper, just the colors are not.   Isaac

avagadro7@gmail.com: Mar 23 03:59AM -0700 https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Navigational_aid

oldschool@tubes.com: Mar 22 02:26PM -0500 A young guy was bragging to some guys that he just got a brand new I-phone. One of the guys replied, "you got an eyephone", and I have an earphone. That's when an older guy walked up and said, "I got both of you beat, I got HEADPHONES"...... :)

bitrex <bitrex@de.lete.earthlink.net>: Mar 22 04:09PM -0400 > I-phone. One of the guys replied, "you got an eyephone", and I have an > earphone. That's when an older guy walked up and said, "I got both of > you beat, I got HEADPHONES"...... :)   <https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/564x/95/77/bc/9577bc4c7ab64e8c6db7428e2878dc1f.jpg>

John Robertson <spam@flippers.com>: Mar 22 01:39PM -0700 On 2017/03/22 1:09 PM, bitrex wrote: >> earphone. That's when an older guy walked up and said, "I got both of >> you beat, I got HEADPHONES"...... :)   > <https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/564x/95/77/bc/9577bc4c7ab64e8c6db7428e2878dc1f.jpg>   (from the original 1957 ad)   http://www.bonkersinstitute.org/medshow/thorazsenile.html   John

Jeff Layman <jmlayman@invalid.invalid>: Mar 23 10:41AM On 22/03/17 20:39, John Robertson wrote:   >> <https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/564x/95/77/bc/9577bc4c7ab64e8c6db7428e2878dc1f.jpg>   > (from the original 1957 ad)   > http://www.bonkersinstitute.org/medshow/thorazsenile.html   How to make the "chemical cosh" acceptable, eh?   But it's still around, and still being used, so it must have been working well for all these years. And not only in senility; looking at the other ads on that website it truly seems to be the "universal panacea"!   --   Jeff

bitrex <bitrex@de.lete.earthlink.net>: Mar 22 01:54PM -0400 On 03/18/2017 09:44 PM, Jeff Liebermann wrote: > tends to break inside the plug. A right angle plug is easier on the > connectors and uses less desk space for the cord: > <http://www.ebay.com/itm/231849537436>   Wow, that's a good price.   Have you peeked inside the brick by any chance? I saw a scary site a while back that had teardowns of some Chinese-made replacement power adapters that were all just repackaged e-waste with some wires bodged on inside...

bitrex <bitrex@de.lete.earthlink.net>: Mar 22 01:55PM -0400 On 03/18/2017 09:44 PM, Jeff Liebermann wrote: > tends to break inside the plug. A right angle plug is easier on the > connectors and uses less desk space for the cord: > <http://www.ebay.com/itm/231849537436>   With the right-angle connectors the shield wire tends to break at the joint... :-(

ohger1s@gmail.com: Mar 22 11:18AM -0700 On Saturday, March 18, 2017 at 4:06:17 PM UTC-4, bitrex wrote:   > Before I run out and make sure to pick up an OEM supply, is there any > way to ensure this is certainly a problem with the adapter and not the PC?   > Maybe a BIOS update is required?   Sometimes a firmware update will fix a "plugged in, not charging" condition (it did on my Dell Studio).   The problem is that the Dell won't allow a firmware upgrade unless the battery is partially charged lest it get AC interuptus bricking the main.   There is a technique to force the computer to run the bios flash (might be as easy as putting a /force at the end of the command line.

Jeff Liebermann <jeffl@cruzio.com>: Mar 23 01:21AM -0700 On Wed, 22 Mar 2017 13:55:34 -0400, bitrex >> <http://www.ebay.com/itm/231849537436>   >With the right-angle connectors the shield wire tends to break at the >joint... :-(   That's less likely than with the straight in connector, where the tiny center wire tends to break when you bend or flex the cord. That usually happens when the power connector is in back of the laptop, and one shoves the laptop into the wall. The cord hits the wall, bends to a sharp 90 degree angle, stretches the center wired, and eventually breaks it.   The straight in connector is also longer than the right angle connector. If the cord is pulled in the wrong direction, the connector will bend and eventually break the jack. The longer lever arm produced by the straight in plug does more damage than the shorter right angle plug.   -- Jeff Liebermann jeffl@cruzio.com 150 Felker St #D http://www.LearnByDestroying.com Santa Cruz CA 95060 http://802.11junk.com Skype: JeffLiebermann AE6KS 831-336-2558

Jeff Liebermann <jeffl@cruzio.com>: Mar 23 01:36AM -0700 On Wed, 22 Mar 2017 13:54:02 -0400, bitrex >> connectors and uses less desk space for the cord: >> <http://www.ebay.com/itm/231849537436>   >Wow, that's a good price.   Yep. I can't even ship an empty box for that price.   >Have you peeked inside the brick by any chance?   Nope. The only power supply bricks that I tear apart are the ones that have failed and where I think I have a chance at fixing. Most of the bricks are glued or solvent welded together making disassembly somewhat destructive. I have looked at various other brick power supplied and found the full range of quality from really good, to absolute crap. I don't know where this vendors bricks fit but can say I've bought a few bricks from him without any surprises or failures.   If you want photos of the guts, I can probably supply something as I vaguely recall tossing some in my "to be recycled" bin. No schematic so this might be limited to quality of construction.   >while back that had teardowns of some Chinese-made replacement power >adapters that were all just repackaged e-waste with some wires bodged on >inside...   Like this fake Dell PA-10 brick? <http://www.electricstuff.co.uk/acadapter.html> Some of the stuff I see that has failed looks like this. No input protection, filtering, or isolation. Undersize filter caps, inadequate heat sink, and no isolation between input and output sections. I can't say that the stuff I've been buying on eBay is in this class because so far I have not needed to tear one apart and analyze the design. -- Jeff Liebermann jeffl@cruzio.com 150 Felker St #D http://www.LearnByDestroying.com Santa Cruz CA 95060 http://802.11junk.com Skype: JeffLiebermann AE6KS 831-336-2558

oldschool@tubes.com: Mar 23 12:09AM -0500 On Fri, 17 Mar 2017 21:05:51 -0000, "Benderthe.evilrobot" >infiltrated on the back of an app installer.   >Any help?   >Thanks.   I cant help you, but I have seen the tv commercials for this Candy Crush Saga, and can not imagine how anyone would want to play anything that retarded.

oldschool@tubes.com: Mar 22 01:45PM -0500 On Wed, 22 Mar 2017 08:11:51 -0700, Jeff Liebermann <jeffl@cruzio.com> wrote:     >What things that you need to do is lacking in Android? That does not >mean which programs do you want to run. It's more like "what do you >want to do with your computah"?   It's been almost 2 years since I bought that Android notebook. It's been in the closet for well over a year now. So, it's hard to remember what all the quirks were. I bought it because I need to use a WIFI spot regularly (only dialup at home). I dont like leaving my laptop computer in the car because it can get damaged, since there is not place to sit it in the car where it's safe. But that notepad fits in the glove box and was pretty safe there. The other reason I bought it was so I always had a camera handy.   What I do remember is that I found it would connect to the WIFI, but the browser was not easy to use. I found I could install something more familiar (Firefox), but doing the installation was something I could not figure out. Its not just a matter of downloading it and running the installer, (like in Windows). I did fight with it and managed to watch some youtube videos. Saving them was not possible, like it is with Firefox. When I did save something and wanted to copy it to computer, that again was near impossible.   Then came the camera. The stupid thing was only for selfies. I have absolutely no need for that. I turned it around and without seeing what I was shooting, I snapped some pics of my yard, in good light. The pics were absolutely horrid, grainy and lousy.   The other thing I remember was that since it'sd owned by Google, I was constantly having google trying to get me to download games. I dont play games at all, and that was very annoying.   Overall, it was a waste of money. I should list it on Craigslist and get what I can for it. I just went back to what I have always done. Take my laptop to town when I want to use WIFI, and keep my digital camera in my glove box. I also have an inverter so I can connect my laptop to the car battery to charge the battery.   I dont care if XP is not supported. It works, works well, and personally I would not even want any of Microsoft's newer bloated operating systems. I know Windows 10 is filled with MS spyware, but it seemed to me that Android was filled with google spyware too.

nospam <nospam@nospam.invalid>: Mar 22 03:06PM -0400 In article <mag5dcd5rntgp7a1rg7jlh3sq0lu20j9vp@4ax.com>, > had a camera handy.   > What I do remember is that I found it would connect to the WIFI, but the > browser was not easy to use.   what about it wasn't easy?   > familiar (Firefox), but doing the installation was something I could not > figure out. Its not just a matter of downloading it and running the > installer, (like in Windows).   it's actually easier to install apps since there is no installer. you just download the app directly from the play store.   > some youtube videos. Saving them was not possible, like it is with > Firefox. When I did save something and wanted to copy it to computer, > that again was near impossible.   not only possible, but fairly easy.   > absolutely no need for that. I turned it around and without seeing what > I was shooting, I snapped some pics of my yard, in good light. The pics > were absolutely horrid, grainy and lousy.   use the camera on the back, not the front.   > The other thing I remember was that since it'sd owned by Google, I was > constantly having google trying to get me to download games. I dont play > games at all, and that was very annoying.   google doesn't own your tablet.   > I would not even want any of Microsoft's newer bloated operating > systems. I know Windows 10 is filled with MS spyware, but it seemed to > me that Android was filled with google spyware too.   oh, so you're a troll.

mike <ham789@netzero.net>: Mar 22 12:10PM -0700 > Android seems to be on a lot of devices these days, but I am surely NOT > impressed by it.   > Just my 2 cents!   Summary: I use my tablet a lot more than I thought I would.   Tablets come in two sizes. 1) too small to read and operate with fat fingers. 2) too big/heavy to hold comfortably.   The obvious solution is to have two or four.   For the first case, portability is a big plus.   Voice capability is amazing. I almost never have to pull a book off the shelf. I can get a conversion factor or food recipe just by asking. Even nonsense questions get answers. "How many milliliters in a week?" gets you everything you ever wanted to know about testosterone and baby formula. Both the cause and effect are covered. ;-)   I've been experimenting with an app called listnote. It does a pretty amazing job on English text with normal sentence structure. People bitch about how horrible speech recognition is. If you want to trip it up, it's certainly easy to do. If you try to work at the level it comprehends, it works amazingly well. Hmmm, wonder if we could get newsgroup participants to cooperate that way...but I digress. I type a lot faster than I can type. The amount of work needed to fix up my typos and dyslexia is on par with the amount to fix up voice recognition. Great for communication, but will be problematic if you need the nuance required to get that Pulitzer or Nobel-worthy chemistry paper.   Another benefit of typing with one finger is that it forces you to THINK about what you're saying and present it concisely. That alone would greatly enhance the newsgroup experience for all. Newsgroup readers also need a big button: "I've purged my indignation, so shitcan my outrage and move to the next topic." Or maybe we have to pay a nickel for each time we hit the send key. Wouldn't take long for some of us to reassess the value of our "contribution." ;-)   For the second case, a bluetooth keyboard/mouse solves the user interface problem. The screen is big enough to see. For watching videos, I chuck mine in a vehicle headrest mount and sit it on my stomach while lying down.   My desktops have their uses, but 90% of my actual screen time can be handled by a tablet. I'm gonna get a "convertible" when they start showing up in the free box at garage sales.   I've moved away from XP. Once you get used to the changes in the windows 7 user interface, It has a lot of helpful capability. Even win10 has settled down to the point that I find it tolerable. If they'd just quit forcing updates up my ass, I'd go back to metered internet and switch to win10.

oldschool@tubes.com: Mar 22 03:00PM -0500 >Tablets come in two sizes. >1) too small to read and operate with fat fingers. >2) too big/heavy to hold comfortably.   SInce I'm elderly, I dont have thge best eyesight anymore. Cellphones are way to small for me to see anything. One guy I know is always shoving his phone in my face and saying look at this. I repeatedly have to tell him I cant read it, and if it's a picture, I only see a blur. I do not make a habit of carrying around my reading glasses. I only have them on me if I plan to read something. And yea, the keys are too small on all that stuff. I like a REAL keyboard. I always have a tough time doing texts on my flipphone.   Anyhow, even if a laptop computer is large and hard to hold, it is much better for me to use.   >The obvious solution is to have two or four.   Nah, too much stuff to buy and maintain. My cellphone (flipphone) is just a phone, and that is all I really need to have with me. But if I want to use a WIFI, I have to plan in advance and bring my laptop with me. That's not always convenient, but it works. Besides that, owning a smartphone is too costly for my budget. I mostly just have a cellphone for emergency calls, but it does come in handy to call businesses to see if they have what I need, or if they are open, (when I am not home). But a prepaid cellphone is fairly cheap as long as the calls are short, whereas a contract for a smartphone is costly, especially when they allow for enough data to actually watch videos or spend considerable time shopping ebay or something like that.   These days, a person almost MUST have at least a basic cellphone, because there are no longer any pay phones, and in an emergency one needs some way to contact for help. But if I want to call and talk to a friend for an hour, I use my landline. I must keep my landline, because where I live (rural area), cellphone service is poor. Heck, a couple years ago, I saw smoke coming out of a building and could not get a cell signal, and there were no pay phones. By the time I drove to a place where I could get a phone signal, that building was entirely in flames and it was a total loss.   I later spoke with someone from the fire dept, and was told that they have been trying to get a cell tower in that area for years and all they get is a runaround. He said the population is too small to make it profitable. I proceeded to complain about why they removed the pay phone in that town, which was still there about 7 years ago, when they knew that there is no cell service there. He said they fought that with the local phone company too, and was told that pay phones were no longer maintained. Personally, none of that makes any sense.... Why was there better service back in the days before 2010? And why is maintaining a pay phone so difficult? It could have prevented a major fire, and could even save a life. STUPID STUPID....

jurb6006@gmail.com: Mar 22 01:16PM -0700 That's progress.

Ralph Mowery <rmowery28146@earthlink.net>: Mar 22 06:47PM -0400 In article <36k5dchl0pusjbb9lm1tdnhn84003qlo72@4ax.com>, oldschool@tubes.com says... > the calls are short, whereas a contract for a smartphone is costly, > especially when they allow for enough data to actually watch videos or > spend considerable time shopping ebay or something like that.   For a smart phone, check out Republic wireless. About $ 15 a month for one plan. You get unlimiated talk and text. When around wifi you get free wifi data. If you are in a bind and really need the internet when there is no wifi around you can instantally switch plans and then back to basic later.   I got lucky and got in on some of the first of it and have the plan for $ 10 per month.   I find I use my smart phone to keep up the the apointments I have. One thing that almost makes it pay for its self is the Walmart money back app. Take a pix of the bar code and a few dys later Walmart will check to see if any other store has a cheeper price. If so you get the difference. I usually save about $ 2 or more per week on a $ 200 grocery bill.     https://republicwireless.com/cell-phone-plans/

tlvp <mPiOsUcB.EtLlLvEp@att.net>: Mar 22 06:49PM -0400 On Wed, 22 Mar 2017 15:06:37 -0400, nospam wrote:   > use the camera on the back, not the front.   Many's the device with but a single camera, on one side only. -- Avant de repondre, jeter la poubelle, SVP.

nospam <nospam@nospam.invalid>: Mar 22 06:55PM -0400 In article <19falor94m7rc$.1oiedy6m2zadk$.dlg@40tude.net>, tlvp   > > use the camera on the back, not the front.   > Many's the device with but a single camera, on one side only.   usually on the back, not the front.   if there's only a camera on the front and the user wants something other than selfie's, then they have only themselves to blame for buying the wrong product.

nospam <nospam@nospam.invalid>: Mar 22 06:55PM -0400 In article <MPG.333cc921d8483c669898a7@news.east.earthlink.net>, Ralph   > For a smart phone, check out Republic wireless. About $ 15 a month for > one plan.   republic wireless requires specific phones which are modified to work with their service.   > You get unlimiated talk and text.   but no data.   data costs extra, as much as $90/mo for 10 gig data.   > When around wifi you get > free wifi data.   one need not sign up with any service to use wifi, which may not necessarily be free.

"Carlos E. R." <robin_listas@es.invalid>: Mar 23 03:21AM +0100 On 2017-03-22 19:45, oldschool@tubes.com wrote:     When you tack a new gadget with an unfamiliar operating system, Android in this case, you need an open mind. And ask around things that you find difficult to do, maybe you are doing it wrong.     > familiar (Firefox), but doing the installation was something I could not > figure out. Its not just a matter of downloading it and running the > installer, (like in Windows).   Installing an app is trivial in Android, but different than in Windows.   Just find the wanted app in "Google Play" app, tap "install", exit "Google Play", tap on the new app icon. Done.   > some youtube videos. Saving them was not possible, like it is with > Firefox. When I did save something and wanted to copy it to computer, > that again was near impossible.   This is intentional.   A tablet is not a laptop, it is different.     > absolutely no need for that. I turned it around and without seeing what > I was shooting, I snapped some pics of my yard, in good light. The pics > were absolutely horrid, grainy and lousy.   Most tablets have two cameras, one front, one rear (usually a better one). There is a button on the camera app to choose which.   The front camera is not only for selfies; it is intended, as in many laptops, for video conferencing.   If your gadget doesn't have a rear camera, well, then, you bought the wrong device. And cheap devices have lousy cameras, that's a fact.   That is, you can buy a tablet for 50 euros or dollars. But don't expect much from those. Just entry devices to explore and find out if you want a better one or not.     > The other thing I remember was that since it'sd owned by Google,   No, it is not.   > I was > constantly having google trying to get me to download games. I dont play > games at all, and that was very annoying.   That wasn't google. That was the vendor of your device. Some brands are bad at that.       > I dont care if XP is not supported.   You should. It is open to viruses. It can be used by hackers as a platform to attack other computers from other people.   > I would not even want any of Microsoft's newer bloated operating > systems. I know Windows 10 is filled with MS spyware, but it seemed to > me that Android was filled with google spyware too.   Google does want to know what you do, yes, but they don't hide that fact. They are quite open about it. They differentiate what is private and treat it as such.   On Windows 10 you can easily disable what is generally considered intrusive. You just need a list of those things and disable them, as several howtos in the net explain how to do it.   I'm not a Windows lover, my system of choice is Linux. However, I find Windows 10 quite good, considering, once customized. I prefer Windows 7, but 10 is safer.   -- Cheers, Carlos E.R.

Chuck <chuck@mydeja.net>: Mar 22 01:27PM -0500 >KLOSS ....   >https://www.google.com/#q=koss+KLH,+AR,+Advent,+ADS+NEW+ENGLAND+ELECTRONICS+INDUSTRY&*&spf=895   >the forum has historians   Other than Koss, all the other companies were located in Massachusetts. All have been absorbed by other companies.   --- This email has been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus software. https://www.avast.com/antivirus

oldschool@tubes.com: Mar 22 01:50PM -0500 On Wed, 22 Mar 2017 04:08:20 -0700 (PDT), "pfjw@aol.com" <pfjw@aol.com> wrote:   >Koss is doing just fine. Their electronics division is gone. Historically, many > transducer companies, starting with KLH, AR, Advent, ADS   OK, now I know that.... I'm sure this receiver was just rebranded by Koss. If I could find out who made the thing, I could probably find a schematic for it. But how to find that out seems near impossible.   Since you mentioined KLH, the speakers I am using are KLH brand. Great sounding for their small size.

"pfjw@aol.com" <pfjw@aol.com>: Mar 22 12:19PM -0700 Funny thing about this. As one who focuses primarily on legacy equipment I own one KLH Table Radio. I own six (6) sets of AR speakers, all from the Teledyne days, all in active service from 3as through Athenas. I also own one-each of their amps, receivers and tuners. I own an Advent 500 SoundSpace control and a 100A dual-Dolby unit (matched to my Revox A77). I own a pair of ADS speakers out on loan. I own three pairs of Koss headphones, including their electrostatics. Other equipment in the inventory includes:   Revox A77, A720 & 722, B225, B215, B290 Harman Kardon Citation 16, 17, 18 & 19, ST7, ST8, HK2000 Cassette. And several shelves of Dynaco tube and solid-state. Main speakers are Maggies. Multiple Sony Changers, 200 & 5 disc, all from thrift-shops.   So apart from the Revox, Sony and the HK2000, everything is from the US and from 'back in the day'. Much of it via dumpster-dives, and purchasing repair-shop leavings as my eyes and ears have always been larger than my wallet. I did drive 1,200 miles round-trip for the Maggies, however, after a friend auditioned them in-situ. The price was that good. They are truly worth it.   Peter Wieck Melrose Park, PA

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