- 2022
- Mar
- 26
Updating the Linksys WML11B media player for the modern age
It’s interesting to note that consumer grade Ethernet has been with us, in a standard comes-with-everycomputer way for about 25 years. This means there’s a wealth of Ethernet-enabled devices out there that may not be good for the professional or other use they were originally intended, but are fine for the home lab hobbyist. One of those items is the Baytech RPC-3 Ethernet connected power switch. A fully obsolete device with only a telnet server, it’s perfect for home use.
A device that came out of the early days of Web 1.0 is the Linksys WML11B Wireless-B/Ethernet enabled Internet Music Player - think those streams you played in Winamp back in the day. Officially streamed by the Shoutcast server package, there are now open source replacements (Icecast) that do the same thing. A small machine like a Raspberry Pi and some music means you can stream your own stuff, if you’re so inclined. (Keep this to yourself, the music industry giants are unfriendly towards anyone they think may be depriving them of a dime.)
While it’s common now to lock a device to a single service so the device dies with the service, this wasn’t really the case back then. The WML11B did have a music directory service provided by Linksys, and later by a third party - those are long gone. What makes this device of interest is it will still connect and play Shoutcast/Icecast streams without issue.
There are a couple of caveats, however. You need to update the firmware to the last package available, the one provided by the third party music service. However, even though this service doesn’t exist, the firmware is simply a modification of the last Linksys firmware and makes the device available on a local network. That firmware package and the updater can be downloaded from this dropbox link:
Firmware https://www.dropbox. … mls11b_files.7z?dl=0
The other caveat is that it works on Windows XP, and nothing higher. I tried Windows 7 with no luck. 8, 10, and 11 are right out. So you’ll need to find a friend with an old XP machine, or dig one up for yourself. Inside the file (You’ll need the 7zip archiver to open it) are a number of files. Start with the ones marked FAQ and you should have a good handle on where to start.
The rest of the files are various firmware versions, data and documents on the device, and other things of interest. This all came from the Yahoo! groups forum, now gone sadly. If you’d like to read those messages, you can download them here:
Message archive https://www.dropbox. … s11bmsg.tar.bz2?dl=0
This is a direct raw dump from the Yahoo! group, and is in .tar.bz2 format. 7zip should have no trouble with this.
It’s kind of a pain to get it updated, but once you do you’ll find an interface similar to other Linksys products. If you’ve messed around in a router you shouldn’t have any problem with this.
(I think it goes without saying, don’t open a 802.11b wireless network. Connect this thing with Ethernet.)
- 2022
- Mar
- 25
Pictures from the Findlay, Ohio Hamfest 2021.
Findlay was an excellent show, which I’ve come to expect. The only year I’ve seen a limited turnout was during a very wet day, and even that wasn’t too bad.
I concentrated mostly on tubes this time around, picking up things I thought I’d need to keep old equipment going. A few odds and ends including an old AC Line meter made it home with me, but by far the largest purchase was a giant HP RF synthesizer that kept the back of my car from blowing away.
The pictures are by no means everything there, just what seemed interesting to me.
- 2022
- Mar
- 24
Breezeshooters Hamfest - June 4th and 5th, 2022
After two years of the Earth making mountains out of molehills, Breezeshooters Hamfest is happening in 2022.
Breezeshooters is a moderate size hamfest in Prospect PA, located just outside of Butler, PA. Located at the Big Butler Fairgrounds, this show usually has enough vendors to keep you busy for a few hours, if not more, and always has some good stuff to take home, without the “Dayton” prices.
I usually punctuate this trip with a visit to the Monroe Hotel Restaurant in Butler, at 400 E Jefferson St, Butler, PA 16001.
Where:
Big Butler Fairgrounds Route 422 Between I79 and Butler
1127 New Castle Road
Prospect, PA 16052
When:
June 4th and 5th, 2022. Usually opens fairly early.
- 2022
- Mar
- 23
Dayton Hamvention - May 20, 21, and 22 2022
The granddaddy of radio events, the Dayton Hamvention, is scheduled to happen this year after two years of being afraid of our own shadows. This year, as before (starting in 2017,) it will take place in the Xenia Expo Center, a clean and modern venue.
There was always a certain excitement about arriving at the past venue, Hara Arena. Coming up Needmore Road (ha!) to see the event, with those trucks from vendors that always seemed to be there parked out front. But Hara was suffering under the weight of a bickering family, and it showed. A broken parking lot that was difficult to walk on, toilets that would burst their lines and flood the event area, an inside event area that was “Tolerable” at a charitable best, and food options that amounted to hot dogs and nachos that would make even the most hungry of hams go “Maybe I should just wait…”
But it was our event, and we went because of what it was, not where it was. It still amazes me that this cash cow, a venue that had nothing else like it for miles, was allowed to fall into ruin and eventually meet it’s end at the hands of a small tornado that passed through.
The Xenia venue is clean, modern, has an easily walkable area, and has food choices that rival a small fair. It’s everything that Hara wasn’t, but…you know what I mean.
This year’s event is scheduled for May 20th, 21st, and 22nd of 2022, the weekend before Memorial Day. Tickets can still be purchased via mail (as of the date of this post,) but that is quickly coming to an end and online sales will be held at the will-call office.
Hope to see you there, and pictures will be here as soon as I can upload them.
- 2022
- Mar
- 23
Pictures from the Columbus Hamfest 2021
The Columbus, Ohio hamfest happened on August 7th, 2021 after a year’s hiatus because someone got scared. There was lots of good stuff to be seen, and a lot of good bargains to be had. I picked up some parts, and a couple of pieces of test equipment including the Eico signal tracer and the Realistic Patroman radio (what am I doing to do with this?) shown in the pictures.
It was a beautiful day, and seeing all those smiling faces with “We wanted to get out, we’re happy there’s a show going on!” on everyone’s lips made for one of the best small shows I’ve been to in a long time.
This is by no means everything, just a small sample of things that caught my eye. Looking forward to the show in 2022.
- 2022
- Mar
- 23
Cuyahoga Falls Amateur Radio Club Hamfest - April 9 2022
I’m debating on attending this show. It’s a bit of a drive, but I’m itching to get out of the house and drag home more junk.
If I do end up going, I’ll post some pics of the “good stuff” I bring home.
Where: Emidio & Sons Banquet Center, 48 E Bath Rd, Cuyahoga Falls, OH 44223
When: April 9th 2022, 8A-1P EDT
- 2022
- Mar
- 23
Just because it fits doesn’t mean it will work…
One of the things you have to deal with while using old equipment is ancient batteries.
This 1985 Kaypro 2X+88 machine has an early real-time clock, but hasn’t kept time for the better part of two decades.
Interestingly, the battery (the yellow cylinder in the right of the picture) was still available as an off-brand replacement. Voltage checked ok, but soldering the battery on the board resulted in a no-boot condition. The battery was removed and the board completely cleaned of any flux before re-installation and successful boot.
I’m not sure what happened here, but that’s another danger of old equipment - stuff may just not work anymore. I assume that either the little bit of flux on the board was causing issue, or perhaps the clock chip is now damaged from the long-term low voltage. In either event, I need to see if I can get a NOS clock chip before replacing the battery with an off-board 3V pack made up of standard alkalines.
The machine seems happy, and has been sitting at directory for quite some time.
This post is from my LinkedIn profile, you can view it here:
- 2022
- Mar
- 23
Don’t overlook the power cord.
One of my pieces of bench equipment needed some minor maintenance recently.
This Eico 147A Signal Tracer, used for tracking audio down in equipment as well as pulling a demodulated signal off AM circuits, needed a new line cord. There really wasn’t a lot to do here save to be careful when working around older components.
The device itself is very clean inside, and appears to have seen very little actual use before my acquisition. As you can see by the picture of the cord itself, it was well past time for replacement.
This post is from my LinkedIn profile, view it here:
- 2022
- Mar
- 23
I don’t know if I want to.
I snapped this picture years ago while taking some scrap in for recycling. Not only do I not have any clue what they were actually doing here, I’m not sure I want to do it in this somewhat rough area…
