A Crummy Commercial

The USPS announced this: I am waiting on one Ebay item from China, I asked for a cancellation since I have been waiting for 10 days and it hasn't been sent (Lunar New Year delay ?).  So this USPS pause will just add more delay to a USPS that still hasn't recovered from the holidays. I was going to order some boards from JLCPCB (was waiting for them to start up after the Lunar New Year) but now I don't know. I received this email today: What it doesn't say is that they use copper clad circuit boards from China.  Also, they NEVER use the USPS except for billing.  AND they charge a huge minimum for "shipping/handling" which is usually more than an entire order from JLCPCB. Second, 10 percent is just another nail in the kit coffin.  It goes on top of the 5.5% that is now paid to Wisconsin sales tax. And of course this may change at any second, the tax could increase or be turned off (as with Mexico/Canada) at any time.  Whipsaw is the term used on Wall Street for ...

I found this book, Logic Design Projects by John F. Wakerly the other day: The one thing I remember from the book was this page: Must have been the chip sticking in the finger ! Here is my IC extractor, certainly a 20th century item: It works well not only for solderless breadboards but also with ICs in IC sockets.  It helps minimize bent pins.  The only thing is that some solderless breadboards don't have a wide enough channel under the ICs so it's a little harder to use but still better than using your hand or a screw driver. Best Regards, Chuck, WB9KZY http://wb9kzy.com/ham.htm

I came across this partially built board: Not sure what it is.  It might be a keyer board (noticed labels DI and DA on the right side) - also has a spot for a regulator chip a the top.  With pin 8 ID'd as ground it is probably an 8 pin PIC based keyer.  Possibly from FAR Circuits ?  That blue silk screen looks familiar as well as the single sided board.  I looked on this page: https://farcircuits.net/Keyers.html But nothing looks familiar, it may be a discontinued board.  I didn't see anything in my notebooks about this board or even a FAR order (shame on me).  Possibly I have some docs from FAR - I remember a heavy paper envelope with boards in it - another hunt is required ! Best Regards, Chuck, WB9KZY http://wb9kzy.com/ham.htm

Curious Marc (and crew) mess up at times: source:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=snP_Fp--_PM origin of the smoke: see the little orange dots just visible on the slip ring The magic smoke wasn't really their fault but Ken trying to explain it away ?  NG :)  Also forgetting the magic phase shift cap a couple times ? Take aways:  even though it's completely different, use polarity protection (your fave method) ALL the time - yes I hate the smoke !  Also, if available, use current limiting to let you know when there are shorts by having the supply voltage wilt. Also:  isn't it interesting that with a room jammed with HP meters of all kinds and generations they use a Tek meter to find the short ?: Curious Marc also likes to use HP scopes in favor of Tek :) Best Regards, Chuck, WB9KZY http://wb9kzy.com/ham.htm

who would buy kits and not build them: Now I am one of those people ! Best Regards, Chuck, WB9KZY http://wb9kzy.com/ham.htm