Category Archives: Technology

World’s Most Complicated FM Radio [RTL-SDR]

Posted on June 6, 2012 by jwk

After many hours of trial and error, I’ve turned my computer into one of the most complicated FM radios imaginable – and it’s nearly free. With just a cheap ($11) TV tuner based on the Realtek RTL2383 chipset and some … Continue reading →

Posted in DIY, Electronics, Music, Radio, Technology | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

The Canadians Invade: Highway Advisory Radio Interference in Seattle from Saskatchewan (CBK)

Posted on May 14, 2012 by jwk

Flammable cargo was prohibited under the Washington State Convention Center on I-5 last weekend according to the large Smarter Highways signs along SR-520 in Washington, as there’s some sort of maintenance happening. There’s a highway advisory radio station on 530 AM … Continue reading →

Posted in Commentary, Radios and Tubes, Technology | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Build Log and Review: Mable Audio VT-86PP Kit Hi-Fi Amp Project [Chinese Gear]

Posted on March 30, 2012 by jwk

About a year ago, someone left a comment that really looked like spam on one of my pages advertising a web store selling tube audio gear and parts for guitar and audio amplifiers. Against everything I’ve ever learned about behaving … Continue reading →

Posted in Electronics, Hardware, Photos, Projects, Radios and Tubes, Technology | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Unboxing my Sharp PC-4501 classic Personal Computer

Posted on January 9, 2012 by jwk

It’s 1987 and I’ve been needing a new laptop. After a careful process of comparison shopping I settled on my Sharp PC-4501 from Montgomery Ward. Let’s open it up and take a look! For only $699.99, it’s a state of … Continue reading →

Posted in Commentary, Electronics, Hardware, Photos, Vintage | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 9 Comments

October Projects

Posted on October 3, 2011 by jwk

September was a good month for projects. I accomplished all the things I set out to do and more: I’ve finished the Hornyphon radio for my customer Repaired and began using the Hallicrafters Got the broken ViewSonic monitor going again … Continue reading →

Posted in Commentary, Electronics, Internet, Projects, Radios and Tubes, Software | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Friday Brain Dump [Random Thoughts]

Posted on September 9, 2011 by jwk

A recent random assortment of ideas: It’s easy to get media content from a computer to a television, but it’s difficult to get any kind of external media back into a computer. I have a fairly involved computer setup at … Continue reading →

Posted in Commentary, Ideas, Projects, Technology | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Testing CCFLs [Salvaged Electronics]

Posted on August 26, 2011 by jwk

I scrounged these up a while back and just now decided to test them out as a part of another project I’m starting. They’re CCFL bulbs, cold cathode fluorescent lamps. Each driver powers two lamps; I have 8 connected. Naturally, they’re … Continue reading →

Posted in Electronics, Hardware, Projects | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Adventures in Dumpster Diving: Samsung 225BW LCD Repair

Posted on August 22, 2011 by jwk

I found a Samsung 225BW LCD sitting on top of my apartment’s dumpster, and figured I’d drag it upstairs. It’s a few year old model but it’s better than the current older Dell LCD that I’ve been using (1680×1050 versus 1440×900). … Continue reading →

Posted in Electronics, Hardware, Projects | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Burned Up Aiphone

Posted on March 10, 2011 by jwk

This is what happens when you connect the high level output of an audio amplifier, to an input designed to be hooked up to an MP3 player or other line level audio source. This Aiphone PA amplifier was incorrectly installed … Continue reading →

Posted in Commentary, Hardware | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Cost Engineering in 2011

Posted on January 18, 2011 by jwk

While the power transformer in my previous post may have lasted for years, it ultimately still succumbed to poor design and the transformer is widely regarded as a weak point in Zenith sets. Cost engineering to pick the exact right … Continue reading →

Posted in Commentary, Hardware, Technology | Tagged , , | Leave a comment