Is there any "market" for old electronics, even for free?

[micky]

Is there any "market" for old electronics, even for free?

I actually found a recycler in driving distance who claims he will even
take my CRT tvs.

I know, except for some weird situation I won't find, no one wants a CRT
TV but what about....

A westell DSL modem Hub

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Westell-Wire-Speed-DSL-Modem-Model-A90-210015-04-/153433002888
still offered for $20 plus 9 shipping, but does that mean anyone can
use it?

My wifi router.

a router without wifi? (bought by mistake at a hamfest, when I didn't
notice it had no antenna. Otherwise it looked just like the one I was
using.

[Roger Blake]

On 2021-05-25, micky <NONONO...@fmguy.com> wrote:
> a router without wifi? (bought by mistake at a hamfest, when I didn't
> notice it had no antenna. Otherwise it looked just like the one I was
> using.

Many professional/commercial grade routers do not have built-in wifi.

--
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Roger Blake (Posts from Google Groups killfiled due to excess spam.)

18 Reasons I won't be vaccinated -- https://tinyurl.com/ebty2dx3
Covid vaccines: experimental biology -- https://tinyurl.com/57mncfm5
The fraud of "Climate Change" -- https://RealClimateScience.com
Don't talk to cops! -- https://DontTalkToCops.com
------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[k...@notreal.com]

On Mon, 24 May 2021 20:59:49 -0400, micky <NONONO...@fmguy.com>
wrote:

>Is there any "market" for old electronics, even for free?

Best Buy will recycle electronics. They charge $25 for any display
(no matter what the size) and everything else is free.

[Rod Speed]

micky <NONONO...@fmguy.com> wrote

> Is there any "market" for old electronics, even for free?

Depends on what it is. Quite a decent market for early personal
computers and some more specialised stuff like SCSI cards etc.

> I actually found a recycler in driving distance
> who claims he will even take my CRT tvs.

That's certainly a bit dubious.

> I know, except for some weird situation I won't
> find, no one wants a CRT TV but what about....

> A westell DSL modem Hub

None here, we have moved to VDSL2+ now.

Might still be some demand there.

> https://www.ebay.com/itm/Westell-Wire-Speed-DSL-Modem-Model-A90-210015-04-/153433002888
> still offered for $20 plus 9 shipping,
> but does that mean anyone can use it?

They can if they still have a dsl service.

> My wifi router.

Some do still use those as wifi access points to get more wifi access in
their house.

> a router without wifi?

A few do still use those.

[micky]

In alt.home.repair, on Tue, 25 May 2021 12:06:12 +1000, "Rod Speed"

Thanks everyone. The guy who says he'll take the CRT tvs will also
thaek everything else electronic, AC or battery, and I'm going to use
what I find in this thread and decide how much other stuff to take to
him and how much to dispose of elsewhere.

I've arranged to borrow a pickup to deliver to him, and there's a
hamfest the Sunday before that where I can just give some of the lighter
stuff to any vendor who might want to sell it and keep what little he
gets money.

(One year I had my own "booth" (tarp) for two days at the Gaithersburg
hamfest, and I did pretty well. Over night, I just left evefrything
there, with prices marked and a couple things were sold, with the money
put under the tarp. Nothing expensive.

I guess IIUC UPS would wrap things for shipping if I sold on ebay, but
I'm not ready for that yet.

[Peeler]

On Tue, 25 May 2021 12:06:12 +1000, cantankerous trolling geezer Rodent
Speed, the auto-contradicting senile sociopath, blabbered, again:

>> Is there any "market" for old electronics, even for free?
>
> Depends on what it is.

No shit, you ridiculous pathological "expert" in EVERYTHING! LOL

--
More senile "wisdom" from the senile Australian bullshit artist:
"Some things are much harder to do than others."
Message-ID: <h4qo0g...@mid.individual.net>

[T i m]

On Mon, 24 May 2021 20:59:49 -0400, micky <NONONO...@fmguy.com>
wrote:

>Is there any "market" for old electronics, even for free?

I guess it can depend on if there *is* a market for any of it for some
reason. Like, I was given a commercial Hard Drive storage unit that
was full of low capacity half height 3.5" SCSI HDDs that turned out to
be of use to people running / upgrading a game console of some sort
and they all sold on eBay for a reasonable sum.

>
>I actually found a recycler in driving distance who claims he will even
>take my CRT tvs.

We have a recycler who pays for old PCB's and even cables and
connectors as they recover any precious metals (primarily gold) and
even the lead from the solder. Old CPU's and RAM are good as they
often have gold plated pins.

So if I have something that is both dead and unlikely to be of any use
to anyone else (even if working) I generally take it to bits, recover
anything that might be of use to me (screws, switches, fuse holders,
IEC sockets, big caps etc) before recycling what's left.

Might be worth a quick check online (eBay etc) *before* you strip
something down as you can often be surprised how valuable some old
stuff can be. I stripped a couple of brand new / old stock 486 mobos,
only to see on eBay they were going for quite a bit (possibly old
engineering equipment that still used such). ;-(

Cheers, T i m

[HW]

On Mon, 24 May 2021 20:59:49 -0400, micky <NONONO...@fmguy.com>
wrote:

>Is there any "market" for old electronics, even for free?

It depends a lot on where in the world you are.

Here in Norway, everything is regulated to the bone. E-waste is no
exception.

Vendors who sell electronics are required by law to accept e-waste for
free. It does not matter where it was bought or how old it is.

Then, there is, of course, a tax: Vendors who collect less then what
they sell, measured by weight, must pay a tax for the amount of weight
they are "short". This means that the e-waste has actual value to the
vendors, so they lock their e-waste into steel containers to keep it
from getting stolen.

Fixers and tinkerers who just need a thermostat or a capacitor or
whatever, have no choice but to buy a brand new one. Probably from
China.

[ohg...@gmail.com]

On Monday, May 24, 2021 at 10:06:21 PM UTC-4, Rod Speed wrote:
> micky <NONONO...@fmguy.com> wrote

> > I actually found a recycler in driving distance
> > who claims he will even take my CRT tvs.
> That's certainly a bit dubious.

I don't know where Rod is, but in my state (U.S.), recyclers are required by law to accept CRT TVs if they want to accept any other electronic waste.

Here's an interesting tidbit: I was bringing four or five flat TVs to a recycler a week to clear out the stored crap, and after a few weeks, they told us they wouldn't accept any more from us because we were a business. I'm sure the fact that any good boards were long removed from these TVs had nothing to do with their decision. I don't know if they can deny us because we're a business or not, but it's clear that a good portion of their profits from recycling TVs is running an ebay TV parts store.

[micky]

In alt.home.repair, on Tue, 25 May 2021 11:38:36 +0200, HW <no...@no.no>
wrote:

>On Mon, 24 May 2021 20:59:49 -0400, micky <NONONO...@fmguy.com>
>wrote:
>
>>Is there any "market" for old electronics, even for free?
>
>It depends a lot on where in the world you are.
>
>Here in Norway, everything is regulated to the bone. E-waste is no
>exception.
>
>Vendors who sell electronics are required by law to accept e-waste for
>free. It does not matter where it was bought or how old it is.

And do they actually recycle it? Take it apart and save resusable
minerals?

>Then, there is, of course, a tax: Vendors who collect less then what
>they sell, measured by weight, must pay a tax for the amount of weight
>they are "short". This means that the e-waste has actual value to the
>vendors, so they lock their e-waste into steel containers to keep it
>from getting stolen.

Wow.

But what happens to it? If they just put in a landfill, that would be
no better than here.


Baltimore County no longer has what was called Bulk Collection, so if
you have something big to get rid of you have to have your own truck or
hire someone and they charge a minimum of over $100. That might be worth
it if you have a lot of things, but when there was free collection, once
a month, I think it was, you could just put out one thing. You didn't
have to save up your bulk trask for months until you have $100 worth.
So unlike other money-saving measures by the government, this is a
tremendous inconvenience.

There are 3 places in Baltimore County that accept recycling and trash
and it says they recycle electronics except TVs and monitors, which
they do take as trash. Which makes it all the more surprising that
this place I mentioned says it recycles them. (And not only that, it's
the only place within 50 miles that does so and it's only 3 miles from
here. It doesn't look big enough on satellite view but I talked to the
guy on the phone and he seemed sane and business-like. I'll have more
details in a couple weeks after I've been there.)

**Some things are only accepted at one of the three. I think I had
dirty kerosene that at the time only one place would take. They took
car batteries and other things, and I'm sure thy recycled them.

https://www.baltimorecountymd.gov/departments/publicworks/solid_waste/hhw/acceptedmaterials.html

This led to another one I coudln't find before, erevival.com that says
"Unlike other electronics and computer recycling companies, eRevival
Computer and Electronics Recycling offers the highest value for
retired/obsolete computers, monitors, hardware components, networking
equipment, media tapes, phone, fax and copier systems. eRevival
Electronics and Computer Recycling also have a competitive advantage
when it may become necessary to dispose of your equipment when it
exceeds the marketable value."

But doesn't list tv's.

[Tim R]

You would be surprised what gets repaired and used again in third world countries.

[Mike Coon]

In article <1uioag5fri8inn0j3...@4ax.com>, NONONOmisc07
@fmguy.com says...

>
> Is there any "market" for old electronics, even for free?
>
> I actually found a recycler in driving distance who claims he will even
> take my CRT tvs.

Maybe there's a market for recycled vacuum? ;-)

When I was a schoolboy in the UK back in the 1950s, local kids would
carry CRTs over a girder bridge across a town river in order to drop
them some distance to the water where they would implode.

I averted my eyes as I walked past (to school) in case one got cracked
on the girders while still being held by the child...

[Bod]

Was that part of a science lesson in those days? ;-)

[HW]

On Tue, 25 May 2021 12:10:15 -0400, micky <NONONO...@fmguy.com>
wrote:

>>Vendors who sell electronics are required by law to accept e-waste for
>>free. It does not matter where it was bought or how old it is.
>
>And do they actually recycle it? Take it apart and save resusable
>minerals?

The official story is yes. There are companies that are approved for
collecting (from the vendors) and recycling. Here's how one of them
presents itself:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bH0UH6fIiz8

(Don't worry about not understanding the Norwegian text. It is just as
pretentious as the video and music.)

>But what happens to it? If they just put in a landfill, that would be
>no better than here.

Over the years, there have been a few incidents where nosy journalists
have found hundreds of tons of Norwegian e-waste in remote African
villages. Let's hope that's no longer happening.

[Commander Kinsey]

On Tue, 25 May 2021 02:33:30 +0100, <k...@notreal.com> wrote:

> On Mon, 24 May 2021 20:59:49 -0400, micky <NONONO...@fmguy.com>
> wrote:
>
>> Is there any "market" for old electronics, even for free?
>
> Best Buy will recycle electronics. They charge $25 for any display
> (no matter what the size) and everything else is free.

Take it to the skip for free.

[Commander Kinsey]

On Tue, 25 May 2021 03:06:12 +0100, Rod Speed <rod.sp...@gmail.com> wrote:

> micky <NONONO...@fmguy.com> wrote
>
>> Is there any "market" for old electronics, even for free?
>
> Depends on what it is. Quite a decent market for early personal
> computers and some more specialised stuff like SCSI cards etc.

I found a 70s Commodore Pet (8KB RAM) going for 3 grand!

>> I actually found a recycler in driving distance
>> who claims he will even take my CRT tvs.
>
> That's certainly a bit dubious.

Why? Presumably they break it for materials, like with any electronics.

>> I know, except for some weird situation I won't
>> find, no one wants a CRT TV but what about....
>
>> A westell DSL modem Hub
>
> None here, we have moved to VDSL2+ now.

We have fibre optics.

> Might still be some demand there.
>
>> https://www.ebay.com/itm/Westell-Wire-Speed-DSL-Modem-Model-A90-210015-04-/153433002888
>> still offered for $20 plus 9 shipping,
>> but does that mean anyone can use it?
>
> They can if they still have a dsl service.
>
>> My wifi router.
>
> Some do still use those as wifi access points to get more wifi access in
> their house.
>
>> a router without wifi?
>
> A few do still use those.

I virtually never use my wifi. It's only for the mobile phone, and only because I run science projects on it which would eat 4G data.

[Commander Kinsey]

A guy rang my doorbell a few weeks ago having spotted a few car batteries (well 1 car battery and 4 sealed ones from a UPS) lying at the side of my garage (17m from the pavement) and asked if I wanted rid of them. I think you can get a fiver each in bulk, I know someone pays £2 each to a local garage to take dead ones from there, and presumably he makes a profit.

> I've arranged to borrow a pickup to deliver to him, and there's a
> hamfest the Sunday before that where I can just give some of the lighter
> stuff to any vendor who might want to sell it and keep what little he
> gets money.
>
> (One year I had my own "booth" (tarp) for two days at the Gaithersburg
> hamfest, and I did pretty well. Over night, I just left evefrything
> there, with prices marked and a couple things were sold, with the money
> put under the tarp. Nothing expensive.
>
> I guess IIUC UPS would wrap things for shipping if I sold on ebay, but
> I'm not ready for that yet.

Has to be a fair price to bother with that. Ebay take 10%, then you pay shipping. If it's not going to make a profit, put it on freecycle, there will be someone who wants to play with old stuff, and you don't have to bother packing it, they come and collect it.

[T i m]

On Tue, 25 May 2021 17:15:14 -0700 (PDT), Tim R <timot...@aol.com>
wrote:

>You would be surprised what gets repaired and used again in third world countries.

And 1st world, if you are willing to give it a go. ;-)

Daughter is currently enjoying a 40" Sony TFT TV that was about to be
thrown away for the cost of a capacitor. ;-)

I have a 23" Dell TFT monitor courtesy of my next door neighbour that
just needed a cheap SMPSU from China. ;-)

(I'm still working on the 12V 20A SMPS out of my 3D printer, awaiting
the switcher device). ;-)

Cheers, T i m

[Peter W.]

I have put stuff on "curb-alert" with Craig's List with 100% success - defined as *stuff gone within five (5) days*. This includes everything from old toilets & sinks to questionable electronics. Anything that has even a smidgen of residual appeal (to me) goes to Kutztown for the Buy-it-Now pile. The most amazing(ly awful) stuff gets a new home from that source.

But, I agree that for the most part, many things find their way to landfill due to very minor failures combined, the rarity of good repair options, and the cheapness of replacements.

Peter Wieck
Melrose Park, PA

[micky]

In alt.home.repair, on Wed, 26 May 2021 09:34:42 +0100, Mike Coon

I would not litter but I have broken open a couple CRT tvs, one to see
the shadow screen (is that what it's called?) that color tvs had with
one hole for every 3 dots. The other was a 6 or 8" tv and I broke away
enough of the neck and adjoining glass to plant a plant in it. The
thing grew really well, and I wonder if the phosphorus was responsible.

No drainage at the screen end, so I had to be carfeful not to overwater.

[T i m]

On Wed, 26 May 2021 05:07:49 -0700 (PDT), "Peter W."
<peterw...@gmail.com> wrote:

>I have put stuff on "curb-alert" with Craig's List with 100% success - defined as *stuff gone within five (5) days*. This includes everything from old toilets & sinks to questionable electronics. Anything that has even a smidgen of residual appeal (to me) goes to Kutztown for the Buy-it-Now pile.

Good to see there is some sort of plan though. Not everone has such
(judging by the things that are perfectly ok after *just* being
cleaned out or a fuse replaced).

> The most amazing(ly awful) stuff gets a new home from that source.

;-)

>
>But, I agree that for the most part, many things find their way to landfill due to very minor failures combined, the rarity of good repair options,

I like the idea of the 'repair workshops' where people bring stuff
along and volunteers try to fix it for the cost of any parts and a
charity donation or similar?

> and the cheapness of replacements.

What get's me is also when the replacement cost is pretty high many
just seem to chuck stuff away for the simplest of things (not to them
obviously), or worse (unless someone else can get to it and make use
of it etc), when there is nothing wrong with it but just last years
model or not a colour that matches their new decor. ;-(

I picked up a small Dyson cylinder cleaner that had been bought by
someone, apparently it had gone wrong and a new motor fitted, then had
gone wrong again and so given away on Freegle with 'needs repairing,
possibly a new motor'). I collected it, plugged it in at home, wiggled
the lead where it goes into the (moulded) mains plug, heard the motor
spin up briefly so just cut the lead off by the plug and fitted a new
one and it's been fine ever since. And this is probably around 200
GBP's worth of cleaner!?

I was chatting to a good mate last night and he commented on how many
people seem to be ignorant of even the most basic of 'life knowledge
and so 'of course' anything that relies on such knowledge would then
be a complete mystery to them ('everone to their own' of course). ;-)

Like without Ohms law, or a basic understanding of material science,
or the environment, or energy ... how could you then make informed
judgments on anything that relied on such?

I have had an electric car for over 30 years and you wouldn't believe
how often I've had the suggestion of 'Why don't you fit a dynamo on
one of the wheels and that would charge you up as you go along'. ;-)

Cheers, T i m

[Rod Speed]

Commander Kinsey <C...@nospam.com> wrote

> Rod Speed <rod.sp...@gmail.com> wrote
>> micky <NONONO...@fmguy.com> wrote

>>> Is there any "market" for old electronics, even for free?

>> Depends on what it is. Quite a decent market for early personal
>> computers and some more specialised stuff like SCSI cards etc.

> I found a 70s Commodore Pet (8KB RAM) going for 3 grand!

Its much higher with the earlier stuff.

>>> I actually found a recycler in driving distance
>>> who claims he will even take my CRT tvs.

>> That's certainly a bit dubious.

> Why? Presumably they break it for materials, like with any electronics.

There isnt much of any real value in a CRT tv.

Even the glass isnt of any real value because
its very specialised glass and there is plenty of
much more useful glass with used drink bottles.

>>> I know, except for some weird situation I won't
>>> find, no one wants a CRT TV but what about....

>>> A westell DSL modem Hub

>> None here, we have moved to VDSL2+ now.

> We have fibre optics.

We do too and all the new stuff is, but we also have VDSL2+
and so do you. I could have said the original better.

>> Might still be some demand there.

>>> https://www.ebay.com/itm/Westell-Wire-Speed-DSL-Modem-Model-A90-210015-04-/153433002888
>>> still offered for $20 plus 9 shipping,
>>> but does that mean anyone can use it?

>> They can if they still have a dsl service.

>>> My wifi router.

>> Some do still use those as wifi access points to get more wifi access in
>> their house.

>>> a router without wifi?

>> A few do still use those.

> I virtually never use my wifi.

I do for the smartphone which I use all the time
and for the kindle and for all the fully automated
lights etc and for all the stuff like echo dots, google
home minis and for the video surveillance too.

> It's only for the mobile phone, and only because I run science projects on
> it which would eat 4G data.

Yep, you are a real dinosaur tech wise.

[Rod Speed]

Commander Kinsey <C...@nospam.com> wrote
> micky <NONONO...@fmguy.com> wrote

Or the buyer does.

> If it's not going to make a profit, put it on freecycle,

The local facebook buy swap sell groups work much better.

> there will be someone who wants to play with old stuff,

Depends on what it is. No one ever
wants the old CRT tvs or monitors.

> and you don't have to bother packing it, they come and collect it.

Same with the local facebook groups.

[micky]

In alt.home.repair, on Wed, 26 May 2021 12:53:24 +0100, "Commander

Kinsey" <C...@nospam.com> wrote:

>
>> I guess IIUC UPS would wrap things for shipping if I sold on ebay, but
>> I'm not ready for that yet.
>
>Has to be a fair price to bother with that. Ebay take 10%, then you pay shipping. If it's not going to make a profit, put it on freecycle,

The freecycle here is dying away. Get far fewer emails from them than 5
years ago. Though someone did take my gas lawnmower on Monday, and I
got a small stack of Handyman magazines yesterday.

But those are exceptions.

> there will be someone who wants to play with old stuff, and you don't have to bother packing it, they come and collect it.

Ebay reaches more people. Those here who read Freecycle, or NextDoor,
or a community webpage I could use, don't know how to fiddle with any of
my old stuff.

[Rod Speed]

"micky" <NONONO...@fmguy.com> wrote in message
news:3jpsagha5gbknqhd3...@4ax.com...

> In alt.home.repair, on Wed, 26 May 2021 09:34:42 +0100, Mike Coon
> <gra...@mjcoon.plus.com> wrote:
>
>>In article <1uioag5fri8inn0j3...@4ax.com>, NONONOmisc07
>>@fmguy.com says...
>>>
>>> Is there any "market" for old electronics, even for free?
>>>
>>> I actually found a recycler in driving distance who claims he will even
>>> take my CRT tvs.
>>
>>Maybe there's a market for recycled vacuum? ;-)
>>
>>When I was a schoolboy in the UK back in the 1950s, local kids would
>>carry CRTs over a girder bridge across a town river in order to drop
>>them some distance to the water where they would implode.
>>
>>I averted my eyes as I walked past (to school) in case one got cracked
>>on the girders while still being held by the child...
>
> I would not litter but I have broken open a couple CRT tvs,
> one to see the shadow screen (is that what it's called?)

Shadow mask.

[Peeler]

On Thu, 27 May 2021 04:46:01 +1000, cantankerous trolling geezer Rodent

Speed, the auto-contradicting senile sociopath, blabbered, again:

<FLUSH the two subnormal sociopathic cretins' endless absolutely idiotic
blather>

--
TYPICAL retarded "conversation" between sociopath Rodent and sociopath
Birdbrain from August 26th 2018:

Birdbrain: "I have one head but 5 fingers."

Senile Rodent: "Obvious lie. You hairy legged cross dressers are so inbred
that you all have two heads."

Birdbrain: "You're the one that likes hairy legs remember?"

Senile Rodent: "The problem isnt the hairy legs, it's the gross inbreeding
that
produces two headed unemployables like you."

Birdbrain: "So why did you mention hairy legs?"

Senile Rodent: "Because that's what those who arent actually stupid enough
to shave their legs have."

Birdbrain: "You only have hairy legs if both of the following are true:
1) You're quite far back on the evolutionary scale.
2) You haven't learned what a razor is for."

Senile Rodent: "Only a terminal fuckwit or a woman shaves their legs."

Birdbrain: "There is literally zero point in having hair all over your
body."

Senile Rodent: "There is even less point in wasting your time changing what
you are born with."

MID: <fugfg5...@mid.individual.net>

[Peeler]

On Thu, 27 May 2021 04:40:42 +1000, cantankerous trolling geezer Rodent

Speed, the auto-contradicting senile sociopath, blabbered, again:

<FLUSH the two subnormal sociopathic cretins' endless absolutely idiotic
blather>

--

Typical retarded "conversation" between the Scottish wanker and the senile
Ozzietard:

Birdbrain: "Horse shit doesn't stink."

Senile Rodent: "It does if you roll in it."

Birdbrain: "I've never worked out why, I assumed it was maybe meateaters
that made stinky shit, but then why does vegetarian human shit stink? Is it
just the fact that we're capable of digesting meat?"

Senile Rodent: "Nope, some cow shit stinks too."

Message-ID: <fv5f1t...@mid.individual.net>

[Peeler]

On Wed, 26 May 2021 15:02:44 -0400, micky mouse, the notorious,
troll-feeding, senile ASSHOLE, blathered again:

> The freecycle here is dying away.

Let's hope all you troll-feeding senile asshole will do so too, quickly!

[Peeler]

On Thu, 27 May 2021 05:18:22 +1000, cantankerous trolling geezer Rodent

Speed, the auto-contradicting senile sociopath, blabbered, again:

<FLUSH the trolling senile asshole's latest trollshit unread>

--
"Who or What is Rod Speed?

Rod Speed is an entirely modern phenomenon. Essentially, Rod Speed
is an insecure and worthless individual who has discovered he can
enhance his own self-esteem in his own eyes by playing "the big, hard
man" on the InterNet."
https://www.pcreview.co.uk/threads/rod-speed-faq.2973853/

[Michael Trew]

On 5/24/2021 8:59 PM, micky wrote:
> A westell DSL modem Hub
>

> https://www.ebay.com/itm/Westell-Wire-Speed-DSL-Modem-Model-A90-210015-04-/153433002888
> still offered for $20 plus 9 shipping, but does that mean anyone can
> use it?

If you have ADSL... I still have 3M DSL from the telco... I bought my
older used modem on eBay a couple years ago.

[Peter W.]

> >But, I agree that for the most part, many things find their way to landfill due to very minor failures combined, the rarity of good repair options,
> I like the idea of the 'repair workshops' where people bring stuff
> along and volunteers try to fix it for the cost of any parts and a
> charity donation or similar?

This goes to a post I made some years ago when a British gentleman asked about initiating a 'repair cafe. I have been doing this along in the vintage electronics hobby for well over 20 years now - so my 'rules' are as follows:

I participate in the occasional radio-club related repair clinic, and give one twice a year in Kutztown, teaching basic diagnostic and repair techniques for vintage radios and electronics from the 1920s to approximately the 1990s. There are some basic rules for the protection of the clinician and the 'customer'.

a) Do not take money. Do not imply Fee-for-Service. The moment money is taken, there is an expectation of professionalism and expertise that conveys a level of liability.

b) Make it clear that you are doing this as a hobby, and that you are demonstrating technique and skills that may be useful to the customer in their future endeavors along the same hobby-related lines.

c) If parts are to be replaced, those parts *must* be obtained and supplied by the customer. Pointing to possible sources is OK, as long as you are able to point to more than one.

d) If power must be applied to an item during the process, the source must be isolated, and you must explain to the customer the reasons for it, and advise him/her why this is so.

e) Kluge repairs left in place are not acceptable, full stop. For instance, if one jumps out a damaged 'fuse resistor' to determine whether replacing it is worthwhile and the customer does not have the actual replacement - you may go as far as to suggest that the item is repairable - but not here, and not without the proper parts. Remove the jumper.

Whether or not an organization has "insurance cover', should there be an unfortunate event, the individual tech involved will remain involved whether liable for actual damages or not. And whereas most individuals are sincere and mean no harm, a fire, shock or other occurrence will change even the most gentle person.

I will teach technique, and I will show individuals how to make their own basic repairs such as re-capping, cleaning and similar. I will point them to books, manuals and sources. But in a situation where one is dealing with the *GENERAL PUBLIC*, I will take nothing for granted.

[three_jeeps]

On Monday, May 24, 2021 at 8:59:53 PM UTC-4, micky wrote:
> Is there any "market" for old electronics, even for free?
>
> I actually found a recycler in driving distance who claims he will even
> take my CRT tvs.
>

> I know, except for some weird situation I won't find, no one wants a CRT
> TV but what about....
>

> A westell DSL modem Hub
>
> https://www.ebay.com/itm/Westell-Wire-Speed-DSL-Modem-Model-A90-210015-04-/153433002888
> still offered for $20 plus 9 shipping, but does that mean anyone can
> use it?
>

> My wifi router.
>
> a router without wifi? (bought by mistake at a hamfest, when I didn't

> notice it had no antenna. Otherwise it looked just like the one I was
> using.

in the states, you may want to check with your municipal waste company that services your area. There are some that will collect electronics, including devices with CRT, paints, and some 'hazardous wastes' on a per call basis. They do this because it is part of their service agreement. I recently got rid of 4, 19" crt monitors and about 10 partially full 1-gal paint cans.

In some municipalities, there are 'dump sites' where people can take their trash. In these sites there is usually a room with tables where people can donate their electronics, books, games, etc. for anyone to pick up if they have a use. While visiting a relative in Lincoln, MA, I visited one of these places and picked up a nice apple 27" all in one. Assuming it did not work, and suspecting that it had suffered from the defective capacitor problem for units of that era, I got it, replaced the caps and had a nice system.

Some older devices like MBs have life on ebay. Certain FAX modems have a good afterlife - only for the FAX capability. There are a few that implement the fax protocol correctly and are useful in fax servers. Well, as long as faxes continue to exist but their usage is declining.
j

[Commander Kinsey]

On Wed, 26 May 2021 19:40:42 +0100, Rod Speed <rod.sp...@gmail.com> wrote:

> Commander Kinsey <C...@nospam.com> wrote
>> Rod Speed <rod.sp...@gmail.com> wrote
>>> micky <NONONO...@fmguy.com> wrote
>
>>>> Is there any "market" for old electronics, even for free?
>
>>> Depends on what it is. Quite a decent market for early personal
>>> computers and some more specialised stuff like SCSI cards etc.
>
>> I found a 70s Commodore Pet (8KB RAM) going for 3 grand!
>
> Its much higher with the earlier stuff.
>
>>>> I actually found a recycler in driving distance
>>>> who claims he will even take my CRT tvs.
>
>>> That's certainly a bit dubious.
>
>> Why? Presumably they break it for materials, like with any electronics.
>
> There isnt much of any real value in a CRT tv.
>
> Even the glass isnt of any real value because
> its very specialised glass and there is plenty of
> much more useful glass with used drink bottles.
>
>>>> I know, except for some weird situation I won't
>>>> find, no one wants a CRT TV but what about....
>
>>>> A westell DSL modem Hub
>
>>> None here, we have moved to VDSL2+ now.
>
>> We have fibre optics.
>
> We do too and all the new stuff is, but we also have VDSL2+
> and so do you. I could have said the original better.

Only in a very few outlying areas.

>>> Might still be some demand there.
>
>>>> https://www.ebay.com/itm/Westell-Wire-Speed-DSL-Modem-Model-A90-210015-04-/153433002888
>>>> still offered for $20 plus 9 shipping,
>>>> but does that mean anyone can use it?
>
>>> They can if they still have a dsl service.
>
>>>> My wifi router.
>
>>> Some do still use those as wifi access points to get more wifi access in
>>> their house.
>
>>>> a router without wifi?
>
>>> A few do still use those.
>
>> I virtually never use my wifi.
>
> I do for the smartphone which I use all the time
> and for the kindle and for all the fully automated
> lights etc and for all the stuff like echo dots, google
> home minis and for the video surveillance too.

I'm trying to set up video surveillance - testing some USB cameras, might go for IP cameras over an ethernet cable. But WiFi is nowhere near fast enough for several 4K video streams.

>> It's only for the mobile phone, and only because I run science projects on
>> it which would eat 4G data.
>
> Yep, you are a real dinosaur tech wise.

I only use tech that I need or want, you use it for the sake of it.

[Commander Kinsey]

Silly way of looking at it. When I buy I look at the whole price. Item + postage, or item + fuel for me to drive there. If something is worth £10 to Mr Smith, but it costs £8 to get it to him, you can only extract £2 from Mr Smith.

>> If it's not going to make a profit, put it on freecycle,
>
> The local facebook buy swap sell groups work much better.

Maybe they do over there, but here Gumtree and Freecycle work best. I went on a Facebook group and it had about 20 times less stuff. I put a cooker on Gumtree and was phoned in 2 minutes.

>> there will be someone who wants to play with old stuff,
>
> Depends on what it is. No one ever
> wants the old CRT tvs or monitors.

People with enough space that just want a crappy screen for a Linux server do.

[Commander Kinsey]

I've never found anyone on Ebay to come and collect. Ebay buyers seem to expect postage. Gumtree works best here for come get it stuff that's too big to post. Freecycle is fairly good too.

[Rod Speed]

That's not true.

>>>> Might still be some demand there.
>>
>>>>> https://www.ebay.com/itm/Westell-Wire-Speed-DSL-Modem-Model-A90-210015-04-/153433002888
>>>>> still offered for $20 plus 9 shipping,
>>>>> but does that mean anyone can use it?
>>
>>>> They can if they still have a dsl service.
>>
>>>>> My wifi router.
>>
>>>> Some do still use those as wifi access points to get more wifi access
>>>> in
>>>> their house.
>>
>>>>> a router without wifi?
>>
>>>> A few do still use those.
>>
>>> I virtually never use my wifi.
>>
>> I do for the smartphone which I use all the time
>> and for the kindle and for all the fully automated
>> lights etc and for all the stuff like echo dots, google
>> home minis and for the video surveillance too.

> I'm trying to set up video surveillance - testing some USB cameras, might
> go for IP cameras over an ethernet cable. But WiFi is nowhere near fast
> enough for several 4K video streams.

Plenty fast enough for the one for each camera.

>>> It's only for the mobile phone, and only because I run science projects
>>> on it which would eat 4G data.
>>
>> Yep, you are a real dinosaur tech wise.
>
> I only use tech that I need or want,

But what you need or want is stupid with smartphones.

> you use it for the sake of it.

Wrong, I use tech that I need or want.

[Rod Speed]

Commander Kinsey <C...@nospam.com> wrote

Yours is.

> When I buy I look at the whole price. Item + postage, or item + fuel for
> me to drive there.

So does everyone else with a clue.

> If something is worth £10 to Mr Smith, but it costs £8 to get it to him,
> you can only extract £2 from Mr Smith.

Silly way of looking at it.

>>> If it's not going to make a profit, put it on freecycle,

>> The local facebook buy swap sell groups work much better.

> Maybe they do over there, but here Gumtree and Freecycle work best.

Bullshit.

> I went on a Facebook group and it had about 20 times less stuff. I put a
> cooker on Gumtree and was phoned in 2 minutes.

The technical term for that is 'pathetically inadequate sample'

>>> there will be someone who wants to play with old stuff,

>> Depends on what it is. No one ever
>> wants the old CRT tvs or monitors.

> People with enough space that just want a crappy screen for a Linux server
> do.

There are far fewer of those than there are old CRT tvs or monitors.

[Rod Speed]

"Commander Kinsey" <C...@nospam.com> wrote in message
news:op.032cd...@ryzen.lan...

> On Wed, 26 May 2021 20:02:44 +0100, micky <NONONO...@fmguy.com> wrote:
>
>> In alt.home.repair, on Wed, 26 May 2021 12:53:24 +0100, "Commander
>> Kinsey" <C...@nospam.com> wrote:
>>
>>>
>>>> I guess IIUC UPS would wrap things for shipping if I sold on ebay, but
>>>> I'm not ready for that yet.
>>>
>>> Has to be a fair price to bother with that. Ebay take 10%, then you pay
>>> shipping. If it's not going to make a profit, put it on freecycle,
>>
>> The freecycle here is dying away. Get far fewer emails from them than 5
>> years ago. Though someone did take my gas lawnmower on Monday, and I
>> got a small stack of Handyman magazines yesterday.
>>
>> But those are exceptions.
>>
>>> there will be someone who wants to play with old stuff, and you don't
>>> have to bother packing it, they come and collect it.
>>
>> Ebay reaches more people. Those here who read Freecycle, or NextDoor,
>> or a community webpage I could use, don't know how to fiddle with any of
>> my old stuff.
>
> I've never found anyone on Ebay to come and collect.

Plenty do that with the bigger stuff in big citys and with cars, boats,
houses etc etc etc.

> Ebay buyers seem to expect postage.

Plenty don't with the bigger stuff in big citys and with cars, boats, houses
etc etc etc.

> Gumtree works best here for come get it stuff that's too big to post.

Bullshit.

> Freecycle is fairly good too.

Facebook local buy swap sell groups work much better.

[Peeler]

On Fri, 28 May 2021 05:44:46 +1000, cantankerous trolling geezer Rodent

Speed, the auto-contradicting senile sociopath, blabbered, again:

<FLUSH the two subnormal sociopathic cretins' endless absolutely idiotic
blather>

--

Another typical retarded "conversation" between Birdbrain and senile Rodent:

Senile Rodent: " Did you ever dig a hole to bury your own shit?"

Birdbrain: "I do if there's no flush toilet around."

Senile Rodent: "Yeah, I prefer camping like that, off by myself with
no dunnys around and have always buried the shit."

MID: <fv66ka...@mid.individual.net>

[Peeler]

On Fri, 28 May 2021 05:47:27 +1000, cantankerous trolling geezer Rodent

Speed, the auto-contradicting senile sociopath, blabbered, again:

<FLUSH the two subnormal sociopathic cretins' endless absolutely idiotic
blather>

--

Another typical retarded "conversation" between the two resident idiots:

Birdbrain: "But imagine how cool it was to own slaves."

Senile Rodent: "Yeah, right. Feed them, clothe them, and fix them when
they're broken.
After all, you paid good money for them. Then you've got to keep an eye
on them all the time."

Birdbrain: "Better than having to give them wages on top of that."

Senile Rodent: "Specially when they make more slaves for you
and produce their own food and clothes."

MID: <fvlcdc...@mid.individual.net>

[Peeler]

On Fri, 28 May 2021 05:40:15 +1000, cantankerous trolling geezer Rodent

Speed, the auto-contradicting senile sociopath, blabbered, again:

<FLUSH the two subnormal sociopathic cretins' endless absolutely idiotic
blather>

--
Another typical retarded "conversation" between the two resident idiots:

Birdbrain: "Indeed, in America they usually just shoot you."

Senile Rodent:"They hardly ever do that with cops."

Birdbrain: "Everybody shoots everybody over there,"

Senile Rodent: "Didn't notice Obama shooting anyone."

Birdbrain: "He's not American."

Senile Rodent: "Didn't notice Slick shooting anyone."

MID: <fvnuae...@mid.individual.net>
_____________________________________________________________________________

Pity that a 86-year-old cretin from Oz got nothing better to do during the
remaining days of his senile "life" than spread his "fame" as an obnoxious
Usenet troll!
_____________________________________________________________________________

--
Another typical retarded conversation between our two village idiots,
Birdbrain and Rodent Speed:

Birdbrain: "You beat me to it. Plain sex is boring."

Senile Rodent: "Then fuck the cats. That wont be boring."

Birdbrain: "Sell me a de-clawing tool first."

Senile Rodent: "Wont help with the teeth."

Birdbrain: "They've never gone for me with their mouths."

Rodent Speed: "They will if you are stupid enough to try fucking them."

Birdbrain: "No, they always use claws."

Rodent Speed: "They wont if you try fucking them. Try it and see."

Message-ID: <g3cjf7...@mid.individual.net>

[T i m]

On Thu, 27 May 2021 10:16:28 -0700 (PDT), "Peter W."
<peterw...@gmail.com> wrote:

>> >But, I agree that for the most part, many things find their way to landfill due to very minor failures combined, the rarity of good repair options,
>> I like the idea of the 'repair workshops' where people bring stuff
>> along and volunteers try to fix it for the cost of any parts and a
>> charity donation or similar?
>
>This goes to a post I made some years ago when a British gentleman asked about initiating a 'repair cafe. I have been doing this along in the vintage electronics hobby for well over 20 years now

Excellent.

>- so my 'rules' are as follows:
>
>I participate in the occasional radio-club related repair clinic, and give one twice a year in Kutztown, teaching basic diagnostic and repair techniques for vintage radios and electronics from the 1920s to approximately the 1990s. There are some basic rules for the protection of the clinician and the 'customer'.
>
>a) Do not take money. Do not imply Fee-for-Service. The moment money is taken, there is an expectation of professionalism and expertise that conveys a level of liability.

Understood. I have often done the same for friends of friends (who may
not already know 'the deal'). Best endeavours, no guarantees and no
liability accepted etc.

>
>b) Make it clear that you are doing this as a hobby, and that you are demonstrating technique and skills that may be useful to the customer in their future endeavors along the same hobby-related lines.

Check.

>
>c) If parts are to be replaced, those parts *must* be obtained and supplied by the customer. Pointing to possible sources is OK, as long as you are able to point to more than one.

Makes sense. A mate used to work that way in his car garage.
Mainstream new parts from manufacturer or factor or parts supplied by
the customer (where no liability for any consequences relating from a
failure of such excepted).

>
>d) If power must be applied to an item during the process, the source must be isolated, and you must explain to the customer the reasons for it, and advise him/her why this is so.

Are we talking auto/isolation-transformers here?

>
>e) Kluge repairs left in place are not acceptable, full stop. For instance, if one jumps out a damaged 'fuse resistor' to determine whether replacing it is worthwhile and the customer does not have the actual replacement - you may go as far as to suggest that the item is repairable - but not here, and not without the proper parts. Remove the jumper.

Good example. A Freecycle Colour Laser printer I picked up had two
(identical?) thermal switches in series in the fuser heater supply,
presumably so that there could be a 'failsafe' switch in case the one
became locked shut. I 'temporarily' shorted out the faulty one (and
applied a notice on the body of the printer to that effect) and it
remains so, but I never left the printer on and it's currently unused
in any case. I wouldn't have left it like that if it was going out of
my hands.

>
>Whether or not an organization has "insurance cover', should there be an unfortunate event, the individual tech involved will remain involved whether liable for actual damages or not. And whereas most individuals are sincere and mean no harm, a fire, shock or other occurrence will change even the most gentle person.

Agreed. A neighbour asked me if I could show him how he could service
the brakes on his own motorbike and because I was aware of his
complete lack of wrenching skills (and tools, experience, interest,
patience), I declined.

>
>I will teach technique, and I will show individuals how to make their own basic repairs such as re-capping, cleaning and similar. I will point them to books, manuals and sources. But in a situation where one is dealing with the *GENERAL PUBLIC*, I will take nothing for granted.

Wise words.

I often have to remind myself that some people don't have the same
range of skills as me (/us?). I'm only a 'Jack of all trades' (when
that is mostly anything practical that doesn't require lots of
training, (expensive) specialist tools or a specific mindset, like
plastering or coding) but was born into an era when 'make do and mend'
was still just about current and whilst I was always looked after by
my parents when it came to important stuff (school equipment etc), I
was generally left to sort out my own stuff, like bicycles, mopeds,
motorcycles and cars.

I also had an interest in 'things' from an early age and would
regularly open stuff up or take faulty things to bits to learn how
they worked.

Along those lines I was also often given old electrical stuff, radios
and record players by friends and family (mostly faulty at some level)
and would often repair them. A broken drive belt, a broken wire, blown
fuse or even a transistor shorted to the (earthed) can. ;-)

So I often assume everone else can learn to do the same range of
things (if I can, so can they ...) but that isn't always the case (it
seems).

A mate is also running Home Assistant home automation software to
mostly do things around his fish tanks and recently I dropped off all
the parts for him to assemble such a project (a CO2 controller [1])
and had overseen him configuring / programming the ESP32 board and
Home Assistant integration remotely over Teamviewer.

I setup the same thing here, tested it and sent him a picture.

His tasks. Solder some header pins onto a uUSB board (1x5, it breaks
out a uUSB connector), solder some header pins onto an ESP32 (2 x 19),
jumper 2 wires between uUSB board and 4ch opto isolator board (2
wires), jumper the output of the opto to the ESP32 (3 wires).

I'd provided him the circuit diagram for the opto board, the pinout of
the ESP32 and plenty of verbal guidance as to the goals.

Phone call the next day:

'I'm getting not 5V out of the uSB boards' (I had given him two boards
in case he screwed one up). I took him though various steps and it
turned out to be a dirty connection on his DMM.

Then it was a misconnection between uUSB board and input to the opto
(Gnd > Gnd, 5V to 'NC'!, 5V wire then moved to Input1).

Then there was a misconnection between opto and ESP32 (Gnd from opto
connected to a data pin next to Gnd pin on ESP32).

Once they were all resolved, it all worked as planned. ;-)

He actually added a Dallas '1 wire' temperature sensor himself and to
the right pins but it didn't work, turned out to *need* the / a pullup
resistor (sometimes doesn't, I was trying to keep it simple for him).
;-)

My point was that I thought he 'understood' what I was telling him but
it may well have been that he didn't, knew there was no point in
asking as he still wouldn't understand or remember and so let it wash
over him knowing I was at the end of the line for guidance, as / when
he needed it.

Cheers, T i m

[1] He has an expensive CO2 controller that monitors the CO2 level in
a fish tank and then turns on a mains powered solenoid to allow Co2 to
bubble though the water for the plants during the day. He didn't want
to waste CO2 gas during the night. I didn't want him playing with 240V
or tampering with the existing controller so he powered the solenoid
from a TP-Link WiFi smart socket controlled by Home Assistant and we
used a basic phone charger plug to supply 5V to the ESP32 input as a
binary trigger to indicate the CO2 controller was calling for CO2, but
HA would inhibit that via a condition in an automation between the
hours of 22:00 and 08:00.

[Peter W.]

> Are we talking auto/isolation-transformers here?

In my case, I use a Heathkit IP-5220 Isolated Variac - so, yes.

http://www.ipernity.com/remote/download.php/200/56/84/45315684.079e41d2.jpg?download=Heathkit%20%20IP-5220.jpg

[Commander Kinsey]

It is in the UK. We even got fibre to the home at 18% a year ago. Pretty much everyone has fibre to the cabinet, which is usually 40-80Mbit.

>>>>> Might still be some demand there.
>>>
>>>>>> https://www.ebay.com/itm/Westell-Wire-Speed-DSL-Modem-Model-A90-210015-04-/153433002888
>>>>>> still offered for $20 plus 9 shipping,
>>>>>> but does that mean anyone can use it?
>>>
>>>>> They can if they still have a dsl service.
>>>
>>>>>> My wifi router.
>>>
>>>>> Some do still use those as wifi access points to get more wifi access
>>>>> in
>>>>> their house.
>>>
>>>>>> a router without wifi?
>>>
>>>>> A few do still use those.
>>>
>>>> I virtually never use my wifi.
>>>
>>> I do for the smartphone which I use all the time
>>> and for the kindle and for all the fully automated
>>> lights etc and for all the stuff like echo dots, google
>>> home minis and for the video surveillance too.
>
>> I'm trying to set up video surveillance - testing some USB cameras, might
>> go for IP cameras over an ethernet cable. But WiFi is nowhere near fast
>> enough for several 4K video streams.
>
> Plenty fast enough for the one for each camera.

What is that in English? What I meant was Wifi is shared is it not? Between all the cameras.

>>>> It's only for the mobile phone, and only because I run science projects
>>>> on it which would eat 4G data.
>>>
>>> Yep, you are a real dinosaur tech wise.
>>
>> I only use tech that I need or want,
>
> But what you need or want is stupid with smartphones.

Bollocks, what am I not using that would benefit me?

>> you use it for the sake of it.
>
> Wrong, I use tech that I need or want.

Most of what you have are gimmics.

[Rod Speed]

Nope.

> We even got fibre to the home at 18% a year ago.

Not to all but a very few outlying areas you didn't.

> Pretty much everyone has fibre to the cabinet,

That's VDSL2+

> which is usually 40-80Mbit.

Mine will do 130Mb but I only pay for 50Mb.

All of our new ones and plenty of existing houses
are fiber to the home and that will do 1Gb

>>>>>> Might still be some demand there.
>>>>
>>>>>>> https://www.ebay.com/itm/Westell-Wire-Speed-DSL-Modem-Model-A90-210015-04-/153433002888
>>>>>>> still offered for $20 plus 9 shipping,
>>>>>>> but does that mean anyone can use it?
>>>>
>>>>>> They can if they still have a dsl service.
>>>>
>>>>>>> My wifi router.
>>>>
>>>>>> Some do still use those as wifi access points to get more wifi access
>>>>>> in
>>>>>> their house.
>>>>
>>>>>>> a router without wifi?
>>>>
>>>>>> A few do still use those.
>>>>
>>>>> I virtually never use my wifi.
>>>>
>>>> I do for the smartphone which I use all the time
>>>> and for the kindle and for all the fully automated
>>>> lights etc and for all the stuff like echo dots, google
>>>> home minis and for the video surveillance too.

>>> I'm trying to set up video surveillance - testing some USB cameras,
>>> might go for IP cameras over an ethernet cable. But WiFi is nowhere
>>> near fast enough for several 4K video streams.

>> Plenty fast enough for the one for each camera.
>
> What is that in English?

There is one wifi stream to each camera.

> What I meant was Wifi is shared is it not? Between all the cameras.

Not.

>>>>> It's only for the mobile phone, and only because I run science
>>>>> projects on it which would eat 4G data.
>>>>
>>>> Yep, you are a real dinosaur tech wise.
>>>
>>> I only use tech that I need or want,
>>
>> But what you need or want is stupid with smartphones.
>
> Bollocks, what am I not using that would benefit me?

Google maps to get to where you want to go with
real time turn by turn directions and traffic etc
when you are going somewhere you havent been
before for a gumtree or freecycle pickup etc.

>>> you use it for the sake of it.
>>
>> Wrong, I use tech that I need or want.

> Most of what you have are gimmics.

Wrong.

[Mike Coon]

In article <3sd1bgppdld79lk9k...@4ax.com>,
ne...@spaced.me.uk says...

>
> Are we talking auto/isolation-transformers here?
>

I was reading a sailing magazine that mentioned using an autotransformer
in the context of isolation. I felt impelled to write and point out that
because an autotransformer has part of the winding shared between
primary and secondary, isolation is one thing it definitely does not do!
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autotransformer

[Peeler]

On Sat, 29 May 2021 04:50:16 +1000, cantankerous trolling geezer Rodent

Speed, the auto-contradicting senile sociopath, blabbered, again:

<FLUSH the two subnormal sociopathic cretins' endless absolutely idiotic
blather>

--

[T i m]

Ah yes, thanks (didn't even need to look at the link but did <g>)
just dragging stuff up from the past in my mind. ;-)

Cheers, T i m

p.s. Do you sail and if so what OOI? Dinghy sailor and son of a Shell
Tanker Capt here. ;-)

[Mike Coon]

In article <6sf4bg5vmpgjk0jdo...@4ax.com>,
ne...@spaced.me.uk says...

2020 is the first year since 1974 that I have not been able to go on a
sailing holiday somewhere warm in the Summer! But it is decades since I
owned a sailing dinghy and have never owned any other boat. You
certainly know about the extremes! "OOI"?

[T i m]

On Sun, 30 May 2021 12:47:54 +0100, Mike Coon
<gra...@mjcoon.plus.com> wrote:

<snip>

>> p.s. Do you sail and if so what OOI? Dinghy sailor and son of a Shell
>> Tanker Capt here. ;-)
>
>2020 is the first year since 1974 that I have not been able to go on a
>sailing holiday somewhere warm in the Summer!

Shame. ;-(

> But it is decades since I
>owned a sailing dinghy and have never owned any other boat.

So you rent / charter something and if so what sort of thing?

>You
>certainly know about the extremes!

;-)

>"OOI"?

Sorry, 'Out Of Interest'.

Cheers, T i m

[Tim R]

> > But it is decades since I
> >owned a sailing dinghy and have never owned any other boat.
> So you rent / charter something and if so what sort of thing?

There's an old saying: If it flies or floats, you're better off renting. (sometimes there's a third F mentioned but i disremember what)

[Mike Coon]

In article <2ca7bgtiu20madnoj...@4ax.com>,
ne...@spaced.me.uk says...

>
> On Sun, 30 May 2021 12:47:54 +0100, Mike Coon
> <gra...@mjcoon.plus.com> wrote:
>
> <snip>
>

> So you rent / charter something and if so what sort of thing?
>

> Cheers, T i m

Fingers crossed, 2020 postponed will be on
https://www.sunscapeyachting.co.uk/yachts/jeanneau-sun-odyssey-389

A regular crew member lives in France and will probably not be able to
make it this year...

[T i m]

On Sun, 30 May 2021 19:22:52 +0100, Mike Coon
<gra...@mjcoon.plus.com> wrote:

>>
>> So you rent / charter something and if so what sort of thing?
>>

>Fingers crossed, 2020 postponed will be on
>https://www.sunscapeyachting.co.uk/yachts/jeanneau-sun-odyssey-389

Very nice. ;-)

Dad had a Leisure 23 in a marina on the East coast of the UK and his
mate had a Hurley 27 in the same marina.

https://www.sailingtoday.co.uk/uncategorized/hurley-27/

I remember as a teenager being hoisted up the mast to change the
masthead lamp. Even in the marina the view below me was constantly
changing between jetty, deck, marina and back. ;-(

The biggest other thing Dad sailed after coming ashore from the
Merchant Navy was a Norfolk Wherry, this one in fact (hired by a bunch
of ex Master Mariners). ;-)

>
>A regular crew member lives in France and will probably not be able to
>make it this year...

Shame.

Safe cruising. ;-)

Cheers, T i m

p.s. It seems I've always been into practical stuff as I didn't want
to make book-ends or a bathroom cabinet in woodwork at secondary
school so build a 6' pram dinghy from plans instead. ;-)

[T i m]

Yup. Dad used to say that a boat was 'a hole in the water into which
you throw money' but that said, I think they (Mum and Dad) got a lot
of value out of most of the boats they had later on, even going down
there and just sitting in them, sometimes listening to the radio and
drinking tea, or going to the clubhouse for a meal, even if it was
stormy outside. ;-)

Our family holidays were often on the Norfolk Broads, either in a
chalet or on a houseboat or even on our own boats (pocket / trailable
cruisers) with a dinghy for us kids.

One regret could be not going out with Dad more often but I am more of
a convenience sailor, wanting to go sailing when I want, not just when
the water shows up. ;-)

Cheers, T i m

[Bradley Bowman]

On Mon, 24 May 2021 20:59:49 -0400, micky wrote:

>
> I know, except for some weird situation I won't find, no one wants a CRT
> TV but what about....
>

People into classic gaming do. Harder to come by ones like Sony PVM and
BVM models can demand a fair bit of money. Not all CRTs are equal but
targeting gamers into that is an easy way to turn one into some amount of
$

[ohg...@gmail.com]

They won't be worth any real money until the day I finally give away or scrap out the last CRT TV I have..

[ohg...@gmail.com]

On Sunday, May 30, 2021 at 4:10:38 PM UTC-4, T i m wrote:
> On Sun, 30 May 2021 11:21:03 -0700 (PDT), Tim R
> <timoth...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> >
> >> > But it is decades since I
> >> >owned a sailing dinghy and have never owned any other boat.
> >> So you rent / charter something and if so what sort of thing?
> >
> >There's an old saying: If it flies or floats, you're better off renting. (sometimes there's a third F mentioned but i disremember what)
> Yup. Dad used to say that a boat was 'a hole in the water into which
> you throw money'

Another expression is that two best days of boat ownership is the day you buy it and the day you sell it.

[Peter W.]

> People into classic gaming do. Harder to come by ones like Sony PVM and
> BVM models can demand a fair bit of money. Not all CRTs are equal but
> targeting gamers into that is an easy way to turn one into some amount of
> $

Are you suggesting that our vintage 1999 32" Sony WEGA might be worth something? It followed us back from Saudi Arabia, so it is PAL1, PAL2, SECAM and NTSC, as well as voltage agile from 100 VAC to 240 VAC.

My wife is its only user, maybe I could trade it in for a 40" flat-screen.... they are so cheap these days, even for a 'name brand'. Thoughts?

[Bradley Bowman]

It shouldn't be too tough to find somebody who wants any Trinitron/WEGA.
I have a 27" from that time frame, US model though. Having PAL/NTSC
could be of interest to import collectors. Does that one have an RGB
SCART input?

A standard US Trinitron in good condition can get $50-100. SCART would
add value to the right buyer on this side of the pond. Some people SCART
mod them with varying results, having a proper factory-installed port
would be better.

I made a 4 hour round trip a few years ago for a Sony XBR960 (granted,
it's a sought after model)...some people contacting that seller lived 5,
6 hours away. There's a PVM listed nearby me right now for $700, which
isn't unreasonable.

I would encourage people to at least google the model # before recycling/
tossing.

[T i m]

On Wed, 2 Jun 2021 09:50:19 -0700 (PDT), "ohg...@gmail.com"
<ohg...@gmail.com> wrote:

<snip>

>Another expression is that two best days of boat ownership is the day you buy it and the day you sell it.
>

;-)

We have had boats that in hindsight, (change of circumstance) didn't
work out as planned and ended up costing lots of money.

For me the biggest example of that wasn't actually a boat but a 486
laptop I bought for around 1000 pounds with loads of idea as to how I
was going to get good use out of it. I probably ended up using it no
more than 10 times making it 100 pounds per go. ;-(

We haven't used the tandem cycle 'that much' either but for the times
we have used it (camping / touring holidays) it has justified the
purchase price and because it's dry stored (and with no marina /
mooring fees <g>) will probably recoup most of it's cost when sold.

Cycles don't go out of fashion quite like some electronics. ;-)


Cheers, T i m

[Mike Coon]

In article <sj7hbg99sr8p0qjfc...@4ax.com>,
ne...@spaced.me.uk says...

> We haven't used the tandem cycle 'that much' either but for the times
> we have used it (camping / touring holidays) it has justified the
> purchase price and because it's dry stored (and with no marina /
> mooring fees <g>) will probably recoup most of it's cost when sold.
>
> Cycles don't go out of fashion quite like some electronics. ;-)

Maybe having a partner on the back will turn out to be a longer-lasting
fashion/niche than e-bikes...

[Commander Kinsey]

So you admit I'm correct.

>> If something is worth £10 to Mr Smith, but it costs £8 to get it to him,
>> you can only extract £2 from Mr Smith.
>
> Silly way of looking at it.

No it isn't. If you have an item you're clearing out and are thinking of flogging it on Ebay, and it weighs a lot, you can only make the value minus the postage.

>>>> If it's not going to make a profit, put it on freecycle,
>
>>> The local facebook buy swap sell groups work much better.
>
>> Maybe they do over there, but here Gumtree and Freecycle work best.
>
> Bullshit.

You've never tried it here. There aren't enough people using Facebook, and it's fucking disorganised. On Gumtree, things are in categories, you can search for things, you can set up email alerts for when someone sells something you're looking for.

>> I went on a Facebook group and it had about 20 times less stuff. I put a
>> cooker on Gumtree and was phoned in 2 minutes.
>
> The technical term for that is 'pathetically inadequate sample'

It's a huge sample wen you look at what everyone is selling on Gumtree in the whole country, compared to FB.

>>>> there will be someone who wants to play with old stuff,
>
>>> Depends on what it is. No one ever
>>> wants the old CRT tvs or monitors.
>
>> People with enough space that just want a crappy screen for a Linux server
>> do.
>
> There are far fewer

It's "less". Do you have a separate word for more dependant on countability?

> of those than there are old CRT tvs or monitors.

But the CRTs have mostly died, so there's a lot less available.

[Peter W.]

Re: Repair Clinics http://www.dvhrc.com/pdfs/Oscillator%20Summer%202019.pdf Go to page 7. That is a shot from the September 2018 Kutztown Meet showing me at the repair table. I am fussing with a Hickok 6000 tube tester for the younger gentleman in front of me. The older gentleman behind me to the left is an observer. The speaker is sitting on the Iso-Variac (Blue Box). Hidden behind the speaker are the transmitters for Radio Free Kutztown, and various tools-of-the-trade including a Fluke meter are on my right. You will note an articulated light, a silicon baking pad and that I work over an old towel - dropped screws don't bounce on a towel, and a hot soldering iron makes no impression on a baking pad, nor does hot solder.

Also not shown are the big Hickok 539B tube tester, the signal tracer and generator, LCR and ESR meters.

https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQmwvnwckx-BUctbPMknxX1D5aktfm5X9Tzvg&usqp=CAU

Shows a shot from the actual event announced in the previous article, same lamp, and the tube tester. Same towel, same red baking mat.

[Commander Kinsey]

Look up the BT stats. That's where I got the numbers from.

>> Pretty much everyone has fibre to the cabinet,
>
> That's VDSL2+

We name it more recognisably.

>> which is usually 40-80Mbit.
>
> Mine will do 130Mb but I only pay for 50Mb.

Mine will do 54 (long way to the cabinet over copper wire) but I pay for 38.

> All of our new ones and plenty of existing houses
> are fiber to the home and that will do 1Gb

I dunno about new homes here, but I've seen a few people have it retro fitted. I bet when their next door neighbour asks for it, BT has to do fuck all to join it on, but charge them the same.

>>>>>>> Might still be some demand there.
>>>>>
>>>>>>>> https://www.ebay.com/itm/Westell-Wire-Speed-DSL-Modem-Model-A90-210015-04-/153433002888
>>>>>>>> still offered for $20 plus 9 shipping,
>>>>>>>> but does that mean anyone can use it?
>>>>>
>>>>>>> They can if they still have a dsl service.
>>>>>
>>>>>>>> My wifi router.
>>>>>
>>>>>>> Some do still use those as wifi access points to get more wifi access
>>>>>>> in
>>>>>>> their house.
>>>>>
>>>>>>>> a router without wifi?
>>>>>
>>>>>>> A few do still use those.
>>>>>
>>>>>> I virtually never use my wifi.
>>>>>
>>>>> I do for the smartphone which I use all the time
>>>>> and for the kindle and for all the fully automated
>>>>> lights etc and for all the stuff like echo dots, google
>>>>> home minis and for the video surveillance too.
>
>>>> I'm trying to set up video surveillance - testing some USB cameras,
>>>> might go for IP cameras over an ethernet cable. But WiFi is nowhere
>>>> near fast enough for several 4K video streams.
>
>>> Plenty fast enough for the one for each camera.
>>
>> What is that in English?
>
> There is one wifi stream to each camera.
>
>> What I meant was Wifi is shared is it not? Between all the cameras.
>
> Not.

Your WiFi access point will transmit at a certain speed, that's shared among all devices. Unless you have two access points on different channels, which is difficult as then neighbours start interfering.

>>>>>> It's only for the mobile phone, and only because I run science
>>>>>> projects on it which would eat 4G data.
>>>>>
>>>>> Yep, you are a real dinosaur tech wise.
>>>>
>>>> I only use tech that I need or want,
>>>
>>> But what you need or want is stupid with smartphones.
>>
>> Bollocks, what am I not using that would benefit me?
>
> Google maps to get to where you want to go with
> real time turn by turn directions and traffic etc
> when you are going somewhere you havent been
> before for a gumtree or freecycle pickup etc.

My Satnav does that.

>>>> you use it for the sake of it.
>>>
>>> Wrong, I use tech that I need or want.
>
>> Most of what you have are gimmics.
>
> Wrong.

Still waiting for something useful. Your Alexa isn't for a start you lazy bugger.

[Rod Speed]

They say nothing like that.

> That's where I got the numbers from.

But you didn't understand that fiber
to the cabinet isnt fiber to the home.

>>> Pretty much everyone has fibre to the cabinet,
>>
>> That's VDSL2+
>
> We name it more recognisably.

But you still couldn't work out that fiber
to the cabinet isnt fiber to the home.

>>> which is usually 40-80Mbit.
>>
>> Mine will do 130Mb but I only pay for 50Mb.
>
> Mine will do 54 (long way to the cabinet over copper wire) but I pay for
> 38.

I can have 25 but prefer 50 for the higher upload speed,
20. You only get 5 with a 25 download speed.

You can have 1Gb each way with fiber to the home
which lots have.

Nope, they each get that speed.

> Unless you have two access points on different channels, which is
> difficult as then neighbours start interfering.

Mangled again.

>>>>>>> It's only for the mobile phone, and only because I run science
>>>>>>> projects on it which would eat 4G data.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Yep, you are a real dinosaur tech wise.
>>>>>
>>>>> I only use tech that I need or want,
>>>>
>>>> But what you need or want is stupid with smartphones.
>>>
>>> Bollocks, what am I not using that would benefit me?
>>
>> Google maps to get to where you want to go with
>> real time turn by turn directions and traffic etc
>> when you are going somewhere you havent been
>> before for a gumtree or freecycle pickup etc.
>
> My Satnav does that.

Google maps does it much better with you being
able to do it by the name of the commercial
operation and with real time traffic info as well.

>>>>> you use it for the sake of it.
>>>>
>>>> Wrong, I use tech that I need or want.
>>
>>> Most of what you have are gimmics.
>>
>> Wrong.
>
> Still waiting for something useful.

You have got plenty in the past.

> Your Alexa isn't for a start you lazy bugger.

Google/nest is much better and you are just plain wrong.

Only a fool switches stuff off when going to bed and on
when getting up instead of saying "hey google, goodnight"
and "hey google, good morning" and getting the weather
forecast as well as the lights done. And don't try claiming
that you can just look out the window, I get up in the dark.

Same with the cooking timer for most meals, "hey google,
timer 3" sets 3 timers at once. Alexa cant do that.

[Peeler]

On Sat, 5 Jun 2021 04:51:03 +1000, cantankerous trolling geezer Rodent

Speed, the auto-contradicting senile sociopath, blabbered, again:

<FLUSH the two subnormal sociopathic cretins' endless absolutely idiotic
blather>

--

Another typical retarded "conversation" between the two resident idiots:

Birdbrain: "But imagine how cool it was to own slaves."

Senile Rodent: "Yeah, right. Feed them, clothe them, and fix them when
they're broken.
After all, you paid good money for them. Then you've got to keep an eye
on them all the time."

Birdbrain: "Better than having to give them wages on top of that."

Senile Rodent: "Specially when they make more slaves for you
and produce their own food and clothes."

MID: <fvlcdc...@mid.individual.net>

[T i m]

On Thu, 3 Jun 2021 15:08:46 +0100, Mike Coon <gra...@mjcoon.plus.com>
wrote:

I guess for many an eBike could be just a novelty (especially when
they leave the battery to die and go to get a new one) but I have a
neighbour who regularly commutes on his eBike and for him it really is
an essential tool.

Tandems have their downsides, one big one being car drivers only
seeing 'a cycle', going to overtake, find out it's going faster than
they thought and then running out of road with a bollard in the middle
of the road (often then cutting the tandem up rather than dropping
back). ;-(

Ours is more of an off-road tandem and it's generally much more
entertaining there. ;-)

Cheers, T i m

[Jeroni Paul]

> People into classic gaming do. Harder to come by ones like Sony PVM and
> BVM models can demand a fair bit of money. Not all CRTs are equal but
> targeting gamers into that is an easy way to turn one into some amount of
> $

Yes, for gaming I definitely prefer a CRT. There is something wrong in the LCD refresh or digital processing that makes the difference.
Also most CRT PC monitors allow 50Hz refresh for European games. Playing a 50Hz game forced at its right speed by the emulator in a 60Hz LCD is a jerky experience.

[bruce bowser]

Rush 2049 is a great classic game. PC emulator is great.

[bruce bowser]

Especially at the 1080 frames per second setting.

[root]

bruce bowser <bruce2...@gmail.com> wrote:
>> Rush 2049 is a great classic game. PC emulator is great.
>
> Especially at the 1080 frames per second setting.

You must have some video card.

[Michael Terrell]

Or some really strange drugs?