[Les.]

Categories, I see now. Much easier (for me) this will be my entry point in future.

Les.

[Les.]

Maybe that explains it, that is the computer she uses for managing the Ebay account. But they ought to know.

[Les.]

I have just one gripe compared with the MM forum. I would quickly sweep through sections only looking to see if sections of interest were blue (fresh postings). If so enter, if not move on.

I now enter via the Forumite -tech forums route, and effectively need to run past every section looking at the date and time to see if I need enter or not.

May just me being picky.

Les

[Les.]

I am from the “Old School”, where things should be done right. I favour gravity systems, two pipe circulation, no pumps, radiators big enough, and LOCK SHIELD valves on all radiators. That includes towel rails. Problem is with lock shields, if you correctly calculated your radiator sizes, the lock shields need carefully balancing up. I don’t think I have EVER seen a properly balanced system other than my own. Today, the likely excuse is “No need, thermo valves fitted” – WRONG, they should always be balanced. If you are lucky, you may get a man with a calculator (tablet today) which spews out general sizes. If you sit down with pencil and paper, consider all aspects, you can design a system that WILL work properly from the get-go.

I hear about how efficient modern systems are, but the caveats are never mentioned. The oil fired boilers with pressure spray valves. These are set up to waste fuel, otherwise they will not burn the fuel completely. But I had better not go on about my vapourising burners again had I?

50 years ago, Which? did a booklet about designing your own CH (I think it was Which?). I still have an ex Ref library copy of  the 1959 year book of The Institute of Heating and Ventilation Engineering. Everything is in there, still in BThUs though, but that never bothered me.

Les.

[Les.]

The USB socket on a TV is sometimes controlled by software, not always in a sensible way. My current main TV allows me to plug the Ras Pi in for power, with the HDMI output sending pictures and sound to the TV.

The bedroom TV has HDMI, but no USB, so no power available.

Another little TV (21″?), Matsui I think, has both USB and HDMI, so I planned to put a spare Ras Pi on that for occasional kitchen use. However, when set for HDMI source, the USB socket has no power. It is present in normal DTV mode. Unfortunately, we lent this to Tamara’s GD, and when she returned it, the remote had gone walkabout, so IF it is accessible via Menu, I can’t get there.

Les.

[Les.]

Found it. I just use “Position and size” dialogue, F4 brings it up. Can change length, position, angle etc. using that box.

That will be use OFTEN in future.

I am slowly increasing my ability to do stuff. This will make my attempts at engineering drawings actually worthwhile.

I am currently modifying the design of an early 1930’s throttle slide, both drawing it out and making it. Now (well, soon) my drawing can be interpreted by others who can find dimensions even if I don’t give them.

Got to be good.

Les.

[Les.]

Lee, the way that is intended, you will need to select analogue TV. If you have digital only, you are out of luck. Our two TVs still have analogue available, but of course no signals.

I have something similar (but composite video + audio only) that I used to use years ago to send stuff upstairs from sources downstairs, such as the BSB sat receiver I bought, new and cheap, after its demise was announced.

Dave, that is interesting, supply analogue only TVs, so no chance of standard digital TV channels. However, if I was inside, I would want a pal to get one of these modulators, park outside in car, and transmit on a different channel. We could have messages sent, porn films, anything!

I used to have a CTV signal generator which could output a test pattern, or could be modulated with sound and video. Attach that to an aerial and you can transmit a fair old distance.

Les.

[Les.]

Well, I hope you more accomplished engineers have all seen my lathe   https://vimeo.com/130990021

It is a late ’60s Harrison L6, but it is my rotary converter you should be studying. It mostly get used for making or modifying motor cycle parts. I have just added a tiny little hand shaper to my stuff as I need to make some rather odd throttle slides for my pre war New Imperials.

Les.

[Les.]

Quite possibly a bit of ceramic has become detached from the catalytic converter. That would quickly find its way thro to the back box.

Les.

[Les.]

Category title? How about “Mini-computers”

Les

[Les.]

Lee, Yes, it was the home page, so I won’t bother trying to send again.
However,when I open FORUMS, I notice the text in “Freshness” is overrunning the headings such as GENERAL. I am guessing you already know, but if not, I can send you a screenshot. (I will save one now)
Les

[Les.]

OK, how do I load an image, a screenshot of my desktop.
Les.

[Les.]

I think there was a comment about the red (red? more dark reddish brown to me) banner hiding stuff yesterday. Today it does just that for me. Mint 64 bit and Firefox.
/home/les/Desktop/Screenshot from 2016-12-12 14:19:08.png

[Les.]

Has MM forum gone t-u again, or is it just update time.

I just get the spinning circles right now.

Les

(and apologies for coming here to ask question, when I suppose we should be here all the time).

[Les.]

Right, thanks for that both of you.

I tried Tamara’s laptop, no problem.

I cleared all history on mine, put the address in, and Voila, everything OK.

Busy now, will catch up later and see if I have missed anything, and try to log in then as well.

Cheers, Les.

[Les.]

No luck, can somebody give me a link that gets access? I googled for MM, and tried their link to forum, but any attempt to access any sub forum brings the slow whirlwind back.

Les.

[Les.]

Firstly, having remembered it was Calibre, it is now installed and AOK.

Secondly, I was unaware that MM was accessible. I had seen odd comments here suggesting some access, but never got beyond the rotating “whirlwind”. It is all down to old links? I will try again now.  Les.

[Les.]

Even to me!  Being an old Dinosaur, I have never allowed “friending” by anyone. Not being of the “Facebook” generation, it all seems so pointless to me.

Les

[Les.]

Back in 1997ish, when I was building PCs, we used to use a cheapish case, and a more expensive one. Right now I don’t recall the name, but I once came across a “Gateway” which obviously used their case. They were very well built, and the power supply units NEVER failed. I won a few when they were replaced after a year or two, and I passed my final one on to my son just before I put this Shuttle together. Some of the rubbish which followed it barely deserves mention. We started to get a cheapo, and one of the first I put together had a “hot resistor” smell at switch on. One or two failed to fire up their PSUs  However it was a maybe a year before they started failing in earnest; PSU over-voltage, followed by dead hard drive, and sometimes other stuff. So, the customer needed a new PSU and HDD, plus all his (not backed up of course) data. This overran into the era of the Fujitsu HDDs that screwed themselves up, and when a PC came in for a replacement HDD, but still working PSU, I had to diplomatically advice a new PSU would be a worthwhile addition. (or it will go bang next week, and you will need another HDD)!

Les.

[Les.]

In my first year at high school, the V bombers were new on the scene, and one crashed somewhere in our area, and I took a bit of melted aluminium (off a tea chest I think) to school and claimed it was off the V bomber.

I remember them “coming into their own” during the Falklands skirmish. I used to call in at a scrap yard (Uttoxeter?? area) after electronics stuff, and there was a real flurry going on. They had recently bought a load of scrap Vulcan spares, and had an embargo put on it, as RAF wanted some or all of it back ASAP.

Fantastic planes!

Les.

[Author]

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