What's your specialty?

From: Tothwolf <tothwolf_at_concentric.net>
Date: Fri Feb 8 15:28:13 2002

On Wed, 6 Feb 2002, Tony Duell wrote:

> > I'm a hardware hacker by nature, and software hacker by necessity. I don't
>
> I have the 'Ciarcia Gene' ("my favourite programming language is
> solder") as well. I write code only to get the hardware to work :-)

Sounds like the same reasons I write code. My favorite stuff to work on
are old boards full of nothing but logic gates and such. Modern gear
usually contains a few ASIC chips and a few support components. I miss
being able to troubleshoot a board with nothing but a multimeter and a
logic probe.

> > have any inhibitions to working on a system down to its board or BIOS/boot
> > code level. I tend to repair boards and other hardware when possible
> > instead of replacing the whole unit.
>
> Good for you! I never replace a board unless I am absolutely sure
> what's wrong with the old one. The only reason I'd replace tha board
> then would be if the component was totally unobtainable.

Or, the part is so expensive, that replacement would cost more than the
whole board. In those cases, I pack the board away in a box with a note to
myself as to what is wrong with it and why I didn't repair it. I've later
repaired some boards like this, when the parts that were needed eventually
turned up.

> > I also collect vintage audio equipment, and don't mind the repair and
> > restoration of that kind of gear.
>
> I'll do anything electronic or mechanical :-). Audio, Video, Radio,
> Computing, Cameras, Clocks, you name it, I'll take a screwdriver to it
> :-)

I'm the same way. If it isn't potted in epoxy, I can repair it. I've
repaired a few small bits of stuff that were potted, but larger stuff is
somewhat difficult to unpot w/o damage. I've heard there are some solvents
that will soften the compound to allow it to be removed, do you know what
those might be called?

One bit of equipment I wish I had kept now was an original coda-phone made
by Bell. I scrapped it back in the early 90s, but kept most of its
internals. I think it had like 12-14 small relays and a few very old pc
boards in it. The wiring harnesses were tied up with waxed string, which
would have been typical for the time period that the thing was made in. I
think it was made in the early to mid 1970s, so if the folks that visit
lots of scrap shops could keep a look out for one of these, I'd appreciate
it. Size wise, it is about 2/3 of the size of a modern VCR, but weighs
about 25-30lb. It had a permanently wired handset (like those used on the
old Bell standard phones), which was gray in color and had a button built
into the handle. Maybe one of these days I'll find another one of those
units to put on the shelf :/

> > My favorite audio gear from the 60s to early 80s was typically made by
> > Pioneer, Sansui, or Sony.
>
> I prefer old (valved) Leak or Quad...

I'm just getting started with tube (valve) gear, but I really enjoy
troubleshooting the early transistor based amps.

-Toth
Received on Fri Feb 08 2002 - 15:28:13 GMT