After almost 18 years since the last time I had used this USB interface (eMPIA with EM2820 chipset) for acquisition of analog video signals i was curious to try if it still worked, especially due to a driver problem.

Well what can i say, it works perfectly with both video inputs Composite and S-Video, S-Video is the input that i’m using now with a Commodore 64.

Tested with Linux (Driver included in the Kernel) and with Windows 10 (Windows 8 drivers installed).

As a software i used Guvcview for Linux and VLC for Windows.

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Nightfall LAB – Commodore Rulez!

These are not the right keycaps chosen at the time for this color of the Commodore 64c case but since i don’t have the correct ones available at the moment and i had these left over instead, i wanted to take a chance, it could have been worse :-D

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Commodore 64c clear case with clear/translucent keycaps.

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Commodore 64c Red case with translucent keycaps

Follow me for the other keys replacements ;-D

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I have nothing else to say except that i miss the old days. :’(

I wanted to try this cheap fucking tester on offer on Aliexpress.

I don’t have much to say, it works quite well, i tried to make some measurements of a couple of electrolytic capacitors and making the comparison between LCR-T7 and the PEAK ATLAS ESR+ (paid almost 15 times more) the measurement result it’s almost identical.

Surely the positive side of this small and fragile object that will surely stop to working one day to another :-D which allows you to measure/test a fairly vast category of components.

Example:

• Diodes
• Zener diodes
• Resistors
• Potentiometers
• Electrolytic/Tantalum Capacitors
• Ceramic/Polyester capacitors
• Inductors
• SCR
• Triacs
• Transistors (N-E-MOS,P-E-MOS,N-MOS,P-MOS,N-JFET,P-JFET,N-IGBT,P-IGBT)
• Transistors PNP,NPN
• Battery (max 4.5v)

It also has an infrared remote control decoder which i find absolutely useless.

The microcontroller used in the LCR-T7 is a clone of the ATMEL ATMEGA328, the Lucky Green LGT8F328P which is practically identical to the ATMEL but with additional capabilities such as higher speed and has a higher resolution for converting analog signals and having a digital-to-analog converter as well.

Below are the photos of the inside.

Download: LCR-T7-Manual (807)

Replaced the first C64 with the colored keycaps.

Follow me for the other keys replacements ;-D

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Finally a useful object that works very well and i have tried many.

This mini vacuum cleaner (4hapa) that uses a BRUSHLESS motor (be careful when choosing which model to buy) besides the “vacuum cleaner” mode it also has the “blower” mode and i assure you that it BLOWS and quite a lot (two selectable speeds).

So finally i can finally say goodbye to compressed air spray!!!

The package includes over 4 spare filters (washable), various adapters, the USB battery charger (5v to 9v) and a bag.

The only negative note; Yes! it makes some noise! i’ll get a reason.

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source: aliexpress.com

Observing these two displays at first glance there are no big differences are noticed.

Wrong! the Display where you reads V2.0 (updated version of the previous one), also works perfectly if inserted very close to the PCB of a Switching Power Supply, the other one instead at Random resets and displaying 888 just move it 10 CM away from the Switching Power Supply PCB and it works perfectly.

I wanted to share this news because i’m not the only one with this bizarre problem.

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I have also bought a LED spectrum analyzer, very nice and impressive but certainly not suitable for professional use, but who cares!

The technical features are many and not very intuitive to be changed with just two buttons on the back.

However, I’ll summarize them very briefly:

• Automatic detection of Microphone or Audio Input (Jack 3.5).
• Ability to disable the clock.
• 12 display modes.
• 7 color modes.
• 84 display effects can be combined.
• 8 brightness modes.
• Clock adjustment.
• 4 time display modes.
• Alarm clock function.
• Custom RGB colors.
• USB 5v power supply.

Below are some photos of the inside.

The reset button is very curious can cannot be reached from the outside (missing the hole) and also a Micro USB connector unusable from the outside of the case.

I attach the datasheets of the integrated circuits that are used and the manual in English language that was sent to me via email, the one available by scanning the QR Code of the product is only Chinese :-D

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Download:

• LED Spectrum Analyzer PDF Datasheet (281)
• LED Spectrum Analyzer PDF English Manual (387)

source: aliexpress.com