- 2022
- Apr
- 11
Cuyahoga Falls Amateur Radio Club Hamfest - Show pictures
I wasn’t sure about attending this one, but I have to say that it turned out to be an excellent small show. I planned on an hour or two, but it rapidly turned into a “stay until almost close” event. There was quite a lot to see, a good crowd of people, and as always, I brought home way too much junk treasure. This is an event that I’ll probably put on the attendance schedule for next year assuming we’re not all afraid of the sun coming up in the morning like last year.
The only thing this show didn’t have (beyond a few parts vendors) was a vendor selling new equipment. But that’s ok, that can be had elsewhere. We’re here for the good junk. And there was a lot of it.
The pictures from the show are in this post, you can see the stuff I drug home here: https://pygg.xyz/pro … ahoga-falls-hamfest/
- 2022
- Apr
- 3
The “gotchas” of cheap technology.
This was originally published on my Blogger page of the same name.
Some time ago, I had the idea that I’d like to develop something with the popular and inexpensive ESP line of microcontrollers. These offered a mature WiFi stack, a relatively large amount of program space, and were available in many easy to use packages that include a very cost-effective pin header version.
One of the things that I didn’t do during the development stage is pull the FCC paperwork for the device. Device is kind of a misnomer here, since there are multiple devices and only the chipset in a particular configuration seems to be certified. Had I done that, this probably would have been avoided.
I had designed and deployed a number of different boards to do temperature and humidity testing around the house. When I started to have issues with other systems, there were probably about 10 units operating in various capacities. However…
The original production run Wetbird device.
Version 2.2, cleaned up a little.
A Hotbird temp device and an OWL expansion board.
A Hotbird using an unobtanium ESP-002.
My first clue that something was amiss was the fact that my garage door opener had started acting up. It being several years old, I blamed age and potentially some new radio equipment installed at a nearby airport. This device operates at 320MHz… The next clue was that my old RF X10 control system had quit responding to the controller, and refused to operate no matter what module or receiver I tried. Since I had NOS devices available, and they didn’t work, I figured there was something amiss here. The X10 devices operate on 310MHz in the USA…
So what had changed? On investigation, I noticed that the signal indicator on the garage door opener was solid on, indicating it was receiving something. I still wasn’t sure what was going on, but I ran into another issue. The humidity sensor I used on the boards, a cheap device commonly available in the hobby market, had started failing. They would quit responding (sometimes!) and come back with a power cycle. I took them offline to try and troubleshoot the problem, and every other system started working again.
On a hunch, I grabbed my cheap SDR stick and set it up to look at the spectrum from about 305-325MHz. And right there it was, a big spur at 319.98MHz. Close enough to the opener’s frequency to kill it, and wideband enough to interfere with the X10 system’s unfiltered receiver. I took the few remaining devices offline and everything went back to normal.
It turns out that there are a number of spurs emitted by the ESP chipset. One of those, the important one for my testing, was right around 319.98MHz. You can view that particular document here: https://fccid.io/2ANHN-ESP8266 but note the device tested doesn’t look anything like the ones available for consumption.
This is a crying shame, because the ESP chipset shows up in many places and is so cheap and easy to use. The next available alternative is the Arduino WiFi devices, but those are fairly expensive at $50ish, and still have certain issues that have been poking around for years.
For now, I’ve shelved that project but have thought about reviving it. The new RP2040 chipset is available with a wired interface for about $10, and while it won’t be as easily deployed as a wireless device, the wired connection insures it won’t have any spurs knocking my garage door opener off the air.
- 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.)
Here’s some notes from 2025 me:
These things don’t seem to like gigabit connections. I don’t know why, but the two I have will play for about 20-30 minutes, maybe an hour - and then drop off the network. There’s some interoperability problem there, but I don’t know what it is.
I’ve also noticed that more and more streams are going https:// - these things do not understand that at all.
Since they’re becoming less useful by the day, I’ve retired my two units in favor of some more (almost as ancient) Logitech / Lyrion Squeezebox players. The server for these is still being updated regularly, and the devices are still out there as the “Radio” device was made en masse. They understand https:// since it’s a local proxy connection, and they don’t care about gigabit Ethernet.
These had a good run, almost a quarter century. Say that about any other computing product, I dare you!
- 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 last paved in the 70s 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 lot is now just an empty space, grass filling the cracks where cars and antique technology once sat.
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: