Tag Archives: review

R&S LCX200 Review – Pt.1: LCR Meter Basics & Market Survey

Posted on July 17, 2022 by lui_gough

The latest in Rohde & Schwarz’s line-up is the LCX-series of LCR meters. Comprising of the LCX100 (300kHz) and LCX200 (500kHz, code-upgradeable to 1MHz or 10MHz), these are versatile, precision instruments with a number of options and test fixtures to … Continue reading →

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Random: B’day Analysis, element14 Updates, Odd Repairs, Sad Chicken, Free Travel & More

Posted on April 25, 2022 by lui_gough

It’s another long weekend … but I can’t let this one get away from me. It’s time to celebrate, hack, despair and chuckle all in the one random post! Happy Birthday to Me … It’s hard to believe, but I’m … Continue reading →

Posted in Computing, Electronics, Opinion, Radio, Salvage, Telecommunications, Travel, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Teardown: Simplecom CH241 4 Port Ultra Compact USB 2.0 Hub

Posted on April 23, 2022 by lui_gough

Perusing OzBargain on the regular has its upsides – sometimes you spot a deal which seems just like what you want. In this case, it was a 4-port USB 3.0 hub for $2.95 delivered from AZAU, just another name for … Continue reading →

Posted in Computing, Opinion | Tagged , , , , , | 4 Comments

RoadTest Review: Keysight Smart Bench Essentials (EDUX1052G, EDU36311A, EDU34450A, EDU33212A)

Posted on April 18, 2022 by lui_gough

It’s been a quiet long weekend … no postings must mean one and only one thing – that I’m absolutely busy as can be! Over the past two months, I’ve been the fortunate RoadTester selected to give the Keysight Smart … Continue reading →

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Quick Review, Teardown: Creative Live! Cam Sync 1080p V2

Posted on March 20, 2022 by lui_gough

Working from home has been such an important part of keeping the world moving during COVID-19 lockdowns that increased demand had pushed the prices of various IT equipment including laptops, monitors and webcams through the roof. Fortunately, for me, my … Continue reading →

Posted in Computing, Photography | Tagged , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Quick Review: Wowstick SD Combo Manual Screwdriver Set (PD01020271)

Posted on March 13, 2022 by lui_gough

It’s probably true that most people could do with an extra set of screwdrivers. I know that when I go to reach for one, usually I have to go looking as it’s left behind somewhere, so when the Wowstick SD … Continue reading →

Posted in DIY, Opinion | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Unbox, Teardown: TP-Link TL-SG105 5-Port Gigabit Desktop Ethernet Switch

Posted on February 27, 2022 by lui_gough

Recently, I had set-up a 3D Printing room and a dedicated test-instrument review room with its own VLAN. I’ve also accrued more instruments over time, so my test equipment stack has needed a network expansion as well. These changes had … Continue reading →

Posted in Computing, Electronics, Telecommunications | Tagged , , , , , | 4 Comments

Quick Review(ish): Lenovo LivePods LP2 BT5.0 TWS Earphones

Posted on February 27, 2022 by lui_gough

Having recently purchased and quickly reviewed the Lenovo LivePods LP3 Pro, it may seem odd that I’m doing a quick review(ish) of an LP2, a seemingly lesser model. But there is a story with this one – my brother had … Continue reading →

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Review: Sofirn SP36 BLF Anduril 1 (4xLH351D, 5600lm) & IF22A (SFT40, 2100lm) Rechargeable Flashlights

Posted on February 6, 2022 by lui_gough

As proof that visiting OzBargain regularly can be damaging to your finances, I came across a few posts for Sofirn torches on discount from Amazon AU recently. Lacking the necessary self-control to resist the discounted price and having previous experience … Continue reading →

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Review, Teardown: Topvork Sprint 60W PD 6-Port Desktop Charger (TV-PC002)

Posted on February 3, 2022 by lui_gough

After reviewing a few USB-C PD chargers, it seems that both readers and vendors are quite interested in seeing more reviews of such devices. Not long after posting my last review, I was approached by a representative of Topvork who … Continue reading →

Posted in Computing, Electronics, Tablet | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Quick Review: Samsung EVO Plus 256GB microSDXC UHS-I Card w/SD Adapter (MB-MC256KA)

Posted on January 29, 2022 by lui_gough

Recently, I was shopping around for a large microSDXC card when I noticed Samsung has a new version of their EVO Plus line. Previously, I reviewed their 128GB version and it became one of my favourite cards. Will the new … Continue reading →

Posted in Computing, Flash Memory, Photography | Tagged , , , | 5 Comments

Quick Review: SanDisk Ultra PLUS 32GB microSDHC Card (SDSQUB3-032G-GN6MA)

Posted on January 23, 2022 by lui_gough

This quick review is a bit of a belated Christmas present courtesy of Sandisk Professional Academy. As part of their sign-up incentive to join their community, they were offering to send out some microSDHC cards to early registrants. Unfortunately, it … Continue reading →

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RoadTest Review: Digilent Analog Discovery Pro ADP3450 USB/Ethernet Mixed Signal Oscilloscope

Posted on January 13, 2022 by lui_gough

The RoadTest program at element14 is the gift that keeps on giving and 2021 was a bumper year for me. I applied to a staggering 14 RoadTest reviews and was awarded six of them, forfeiting one due to overlapping review … Continue reading →

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Review: Cygnett ChargeUp Go 5,000mAh Power Bank (CY3533PBCHE)

Posted on January 4, 2022 by lui_gough

This is another one of those strange “alignments” where I just so happened to be involved in a project at my work which we decided to procure some power banks (in bulk) for some urgent promotional purposes. Because of this, … Continue reading →

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Review: Kovol Sprint 65W PD 4-Port GaN Desktop Charger (Charging Mate)

Posted on December 31, 2021 by lui_gough

It’s time to close out the year with a review challenge review, this one arriving just days before Christmas courtesy of Kovol. In this modern world of gadgets, USB charging has become universal with lower powered devices using regular standard … Continue reading →

Posted in Electronics, Tablet | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Quick Review: FLIR TG267 Thermal Camera

Posted on December 30, 2021 by lui_gough

While I am usually quite well-equipped when it comes to test equipment, I have been long wishing to own a quality thermal camera. Where an infrared laser thermometer lets you measure the apparent temperature based on measuring long-wave infrared radiation … Continue reading →

Posted in DIY, Electronics | Tagged , , , , , | 4 Comments

#JBLXMAS: JBL Wave 100TWS & Betty’s Burgers Experience

Posted on December 26, 2021 by lui_gough

Christmas Day may have passed, but for me, it’s time to get into some Christmas presents. This season is always flush with competitions, and as someone who never turns down a chance to get their hands on something new, I … Continue reading →

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Quick Review: Lenovo Live Pods LP3 Pro BT5.0 TWS Earbuds

Posted on December 25, 2021 by lui_gough

Merry Christmas to everyone reading this on Christmas Day. Today, I have another gift to myself which doubles up as an impulse buy. I’ve never owned a set of true-wireless stereo in-ears before. Part of the reason is that in-ears … Continue reading →

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Quick Review: Bosch IXO 6 Li-Ion Cordless Screwdriver

Posted on December 23, 2021 by lui_gough

Heading towards the tail-end of the year, sometimes I can’t help but spoil myself with a few presents (to myself, of course). Because of the volume of online shopping clogging up courier services around the place, I started early but … Continue reading →

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Review: Lexar Jumpdrive M35 64GB USB 3.0 Flash Drive (LJDM035064G-BNSNG)

Posted on December 22, 2021 by lui_gough

Perhaps the last in my series of postings regarding flash memory products is another impulse purchase – this time, I bought three Lexar Jumpdrive M35 64GB USB 3.0 flash drives for about AU$8 each including delivery. It seemed a decent … Continue reading →

Posted in Computing, Flash Memory | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Review, Teardown: Kioxia Exceria 960GB 2.5″ SATA SSD (P/N: LTC10Z960GG8)

Posted on December 20, 2021 by lui_gough

My flashy Christmas continues with this impulse purchase. Readers will probably already know that I’ve got more SATA SSDs than I really need, but when I saw this one selling for AU$88.88 including postage, I suddenly decided that I needed … Continue reading →

Posted in Computing, Flash Memory | Tagged , , , , | 7 Comments

Tested: Panasonic RP-TMTA04DA1 4GB Consumer+ pSLC microSDHC Card

Posted on December 19, 2021 by lui_gough

Things have been a little quiet, save for a few “big” effort postings recently, but as we approach the tail-end of the year, things should get a little better as there may be a little bit more free time. I … Continue reading →

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Review: Rohde & Schwarz NGU401 Source Measure Unit (Overview)

Posted on December 9, 2021 by lui_gough

Source Measurement Units (or SMUs for short) are highly flexible, high-speed instruments offering precision sourcing of voltage and current. While often they are touted as a bi-polar power supply and high-accuracy metering in the one box, in reality, the whole … Continue reading →

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Review: Rohde & Schwarz NGU401 SMU – Ch5: Instrument Performance

Posted on December 9, 2021 by lui_gough

In this chapter, I test out the NGU401 where it really counts – instrument performance. By torturing it through several tests which try to measure operational characteristics, I’ll be able to find out where the NGU401 shines and where it … Continue reading →

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Review: Rohde & Schwarz NGU401 SMU – Ch4: Connected Operation

Posted on December 9, 2021 by lui_gough

Owing to its design, the power of a fast instrument such as the NGU401 can really only be fully utilised through connected operation with a host. This could involve automation through directly controlling the unit through SCPI commands, using the … Continue reading →

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Review: Rohde & Schwarz NGU401 SMU – Ch3: On the Bench

Posted on December 9, 2021 by lui_gough

Time for some fun, on the bench! Enough of staring at the unit from the outside, time to plug it in and put it through its paces as a bench SMU. For this, I’ll be commenting a bit on the … Continue reading →

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Review: Rohde & Schwarz NGU401 SMU – Ch2: A Look Around

Posted on December 9, 2021 by lui_gough

Unlike most of my other reviews, this item is a demonstration unit on loan, so I didn’t receive any of the original packaging or accessories. As a result, what would ordinarily be an “unboxing” has turned into “a look around” … Continue reading →

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Review: Rohde & Schwarz NGU401 SMU – Ch1: The NGx Family

Posted on December 9, 2021 by lui_gough

Rohde & Schwarz have been working overtime in recent years overhauling their DC power supply portfolio with the latest technologies, squeezing more power into a compact but solid rack-mountable chassis with the latest user interface improvements and software features. The … Continue reading →

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RoadTest Review: Rohm REFRPT001-EVK-001 8-Ch Power Tree Eval Board

Posted on November 16, 2021 by lui_gough

For the past month or so, I’ve been quietly reviewing yet another item bestowed upon me by the generous gods at element14 … … this very nice-looking Rohm Semiconductor REFRPT001-EVK-001 eight-channel power tree evaluation board. This board is targeted at … Continue reading →

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Review: Mushkin Source 2 1TB SATA III 2.5″ Solid-State Drive (MKNSSD21TB)

Posted on November 7, 2021 by lui_gough

The final installment of my flash-memory shopping spree is a 2.5″ SATA SSD. As I had a “shoestring” budget to spend and wanted something relatively capacious, I settled on the Mushkin Source 2 1TB (MKNSSD21TB). We don’t get much of … Continue reading →

Posted in Computing, Flash Memory | Tagged , , , , , | 3 Comments