EEVblog #680 - Mailbag

Mailbag Monday

How a Microwave Magnatron Works
PCB Holder
Magazine Memories
Memory Stacks
Isolated USB-RS232 Interface
LGB Model Train Controller & Decoder
Caterpillar Dump Truck Controller

Support the EEVblog through Patreon!

EEVblog Amazon Store (Dave gets a cut):
Donations:
Projects:
Electronics Info Wiki:

[FFcossag]

Wayback Wednesday sounds like a fantastic idea, Dave! I absolutely love old magazines, and you do a great job parsing through them. Please make it happen.

[lpower]

Regarding the Magnetron, Beryllium Oxide is typically coloured PINK, while a Alumina Ceramics are typically white. A lot of 1970/early 80's TV's used a solid BeO TO3 insulating washer, approximately 1/4" thick. I've a box of these salvaged from old TV's in my junkbox. 

Beryllium Copper is also used in high performance valve seats, as the beryllium is used to increase hardness and thermal conductivity.

[markwebcraft]

That ESD mat really does have a different tone of blue to it, weird... Another great show, I am really starting to anticipate "Mailbag Monday", keep them going, and the awesome knife. I love watching you wield an overly large knife to open a package that's half it size lol.

[Borednesss]

Definitely interested in way-back Wednesday

[SatyajitRoy]

Best loving part was the review of those old magazines. Awesome. It made me feel nostalgic again.

[GadgetAddict]

There's no point skipping ahead guys, it's over at 32 minutes.

[rbarkoch]

Always learn a ton from old electronics. Way back Wednesday sounds amazing!

[terawattyear]

Radio Shack - Where my parents bought me the Science Fair 50 in 1 Electronic Project Kit (1967) when I was about 10 years old. I didn't really remember that for sure until I saw one for sale on eBay. Instant recognition and amazement! I hadn't been aware that I started that young into electronics. Where are today's kids going to get their start? - Dave your mailbag is great! I have been watching your video series from the beginning in order. I decided though I'd better see what you are really like today. Not disappointed! Great job!

[redtails]

I don't mind wayback Wednesday. You'll surely get a lot of commentary from people who think you're stuck in the past and should review more modern stuff, but you're in some way building up quite a school-week (theory, practice, design, lectures, history). Go for it!

[quadcamv]

Wayback Wednesday would be awesome. Had access to my Uni's collection of ETI from 1970-?? a few years ago. Great stuff. 

[FXGreggan.]

Your lab is finally starting to look like a lab :)

[HyroDaily]

I also love looking at old electronics magazines and catalogs.

[yucannthahvitt]

Great mailbag, Dave! I enjoyed the old magazine segment. Radioshack is definitely on the way out here in America, my local store still carries a limited selection of components and even some arduino stuff, but I don't think they move much of it.

[LancePickup]

Funny RadioShack story: when I was in 8th-9th grade, before I got my own PC, I'd go to RadioShack in the mall after school almost daily to use the display TRS-80.  I'd bring my cassette tape to load and store my programs.  I'd go to the back of the store and grab a programming book (why buy the book or the computer when you can just use theirs?!) and go to the display computer and play with it for a few hours.  Eventually the staff wised up and got rid of the chair in front of the computer, so I had to kneel.  It kind of came to an end when my mom used to call the store and have them let me know that my dinner was ready!

[jo-anneflavel]

Wayback Wednesday sounds great. From a fellow Aussie Athiest

[Screamingtut]

those  were the days of troubleshooting to component level. I loved it.

[richfiles]

I have two Monroe calculators like the one shown at 42:10 A 1920 and a 1930.

The 1920 is broken, but my 1930 works flawlessly. Functionality was unusual... You selected the function you wanted with a switch. There were two banks of functions, so you could have two functions selected at a time, and then you had an action key to execute the switch selected function. This allowed them to have far more functions than actual keys.

I say bring back the Victorinox. You loved that old knife, and it really is far better suited for some openings. Just sharpen it. A dull knife is a dangerous knife, and I seemed like it had seen better years (and a better edge).

I also love the idea of a Wayback Wednesday! I LOVE retro gadgets. I have calculators front the mid 1960s, and even parts from a thyratron TUBE calculator!

[SecondsofAviation]

NEXT Video: That Caterpillar controller teardown. Pleasseee ! 

[redtails]

3:19 this is a really really good tip for a lot of young players. Keeping your wrists down on the table to pivot the soldering iron and solder instead of having your hands in free air. (or worse yet: holding the pcb in one hand and the soldering iron in the other, grrr)

[cemx]

The item at 4:50 was cool low tech.  I like how the wiring is reused 50 pair 22 gauge telephone cabling.  A cheap source of lots-o-wire. I still remember the two level color coding on each wire.