Tag Archives: teardown

Repair: Hitachi CL-8320B Rechargeable Hair Clipper

Posted on February 22, 2019 by lui_gough

From the same friend that bought around the broken soy-milk maker, I have a new repair challenge on my hands – a Hitachi CL-8320B Rechargeable Hair Clipper. The Item The unit was bought to me with its original box, which … Continue reading →

Posted in DIY, Electronics | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Failed, Teardown: Cowin E7 Pro Active Noise Cancelling Wireless Headphones

Posted on February 16, 2019 by lui_gough

It looks like I haven’t been entirely fortunate with Cowin products. After the HE5A failed, I reverted to using the E7 Pro for my day-to-day commuting needs. Just this week, the E7 Pro failed as well, which doesn’t do much … Continue reading →

Posted in Audio, Electronics, Tablet | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Quick Teardown: Mini VGA2HDMI Converter

Posted on February 2, 2019 by lui_gough

With my recent upgrade to 4K monitors, I’ve come to realise that VGA has (at long last) become obsolete. There are no analog interfaces at all on my new monitors – so how am I going to connect my vintage … Continue reading →

Posted in Computing | Tagged , , , , , , | 29 Comments

Quick Teardown, Pairing: J.Burrows Wireless 2.4Ghz USB Keyboard & Mouse Combo

Posted on January 28, 2019 by lui_gough

Earlier today, my Dad requested some assistance with his J.Burrows Wireless Keyboard and Mouse Combo that was purchased from Officeworks. It was a rather low-cost set, not one I would have chosen myself, but after the batteries in the keyboard … Continue reading →

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

Teardown: Cowin HE5A SportFree Active Noise Cancelling Wireless Bluetooth Earphones

Posted on January 26, 2019 by lui_gough

It was only a few months ago in November I was reviewing the Cowin HE5A SportFree ANC Wireless Bluetooth Headphones. While I was generally satisfied with the compromises the package entailed, I did mention that the lack of protective casing … Continue reading →

Posted in Audio, Electronics, Tablet | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Repair: SteelSeries Sensei “Pro Gaming” Laser Mouse (62150)

Posted on January 12, 2019 by lui_gough

I’ve always been partial to laser mice and high-DPI sensors ever since I bought a second-hand Logitech MX1000 Laser Cordless Mouse. When my MX1000 gave in due to battery failure and corroding battery charge contacts, I went to the Mionix … Continue reading →

Posted in Computing, Electronics | Tagged , , , , | 9 Comments

Troubleshoot, Repair: TP-Link UE300 USB 3.0 Gigabit Ethernet Network Adapter

Posted on January 12, 2019 by lui_gough

Whenever I drop in to see some of my old friends, it’s almost inevitable that there would be some computer problems that need solving. This time around it was no exception. With this being the season for new researchers starting … Continue reading →

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

Tech Flashback: Diamond SM56LE-PCT V.92 56k Internal PCI Modem (I56PSP-F40)

Posted on January 7, 2019 by lui_gough

A while back, I posted an article with what I termed the “definitive” collection of V.90 modem sounds. If you’re not familiar with it already, the characteristic sound that V.90 modems emit when they are attempting a “high speed” connection … Continue reading →

Posted in Computing, Tech Flashback, Telecommunications | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Review, Teardown & Test: Portable USB 18650 Li-Ion Rechargeable Fans (x3)

Posted on January 4, 2019 by lui_gough

It’s summer in Australia and this one is another scorcher! Our summers do get somewhat hot, but not usually this hot. Data from my own weather station in my backyard shows that the temperature over the period from Christmas Eve … Continue reading →

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

Random: Happy New Year (2019) – Reflections, ABC/TBS Satellite Feed & Other Stuff

Posted on January 2, 2019 by lui_gough

Happy New Year everyone! No, it’s not deja vu, we’re in 2019 … despite the blunder that occurred in Sydney’s NYE celebrations. Now that 2019 has arrived, it’s time to reflect on the year that passed and look at the … Continue reading →

Posted in Computing, Electronics, Opinion, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Salvage: Techway Endeavour II Computer (Part 1)

Posted on December 30, 2018 by lui_gough

Oh wow. A large package, wrapped in “fragile” tape with a load of stamps and a mention of “heavy parcel”. I wonder what that might be? A Christmas present? Indeed. The Story of the Parcel I went in to visit … Continue reading →

Posted in Computing | Tagged , , , | 12 Comments

Teardown: Eveready General Purpose (No. 909) 6V Carbon-Zinc Lantern Battery

Posted on December 30, 2018 by lui_gough

While going around the house looking for things to bin, I came across an old broken “dolphin-style” torch with missing parts. Of the parts that remained, the metal had oxidised and fatigued so much that the contacts to the switch … Continue reading →

Posted in Electronics | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Review: ADATA Ultimate SU650 480GB 3D NAND SSD (ASU650SS-480GT-R)

Posted on December 19, 2018 by lui_gough

Solid state drive (SSD) pricing has taken a pummelling over the last few months with a global flash oversupply. There has rarely been a better time to buy an SSD, especially when considering that many online stores have discount codes … Continue reading →

Posted in Computing, Flash Memory | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

Random: Crap Cables, USB Charger Repair, USB “Condom” & Win10 October Update

Posted on December 13, 2018 by lui_gough

At last! Another random post … code-word for “frustrations of the past few weeks that don’t quite deserve their own posting”. This time, it’s crap cables (again), repairing a problematic USB charger, building my own USB “condom” and being subject … Continue reading →

Posted in Computing, Electronics, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Review, Teardown: Alcatroz Airmouse Duo2 Wireless Mouse

Posted on November 3, 2018 by lui_gough

Being increasingly reliant on mobile devices to get some level of work done, I had a sudden need for another Bluetooth-capable mouse. While the Logitech M337 continues to serve me well with its rather unusual colour scheme, I was looking … Continue reading →

Posted in Computing, Tablet | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Not So Smart: TP-Link TL-SG105E V3.0 5-Port Gigabit Easy Smart Switch

Posted on November 3, 2018 by lui_gough

I’ve made a few mentions about VLANs in the recent past as it’s something that I find quite useful along with virtual APs with managing an ever-increasingly-complex home network. But as some more “basic” edge equipment may not be able … Continue reading →

Posted in Computing, Telecommunications | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 12 Comments

Teardown: A Sick Cooler Master SickleFlow X 120mm Green LED Fan

Posted on October 1, 2018 by lui_gough

It hasn’t even been a year since I built my new workstation and already, something seems to be amiss. Lately, it seems I haven’t been sleeping so well, because there seems to be an angry beast in my room. “Grrrrrrrrrr … Continue reading →

Posted in Computing, Electronics | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Tech Flashback: Landline Sounds & Telephone Teardowns

Posted on August 30, 2018 by lui_gough

I’ve always been interesting in telephones and networks, but I’ve never really thought of becoming a telephone collector. Rather unexpectedly, through a process of not-throwing-things-out (it’s not hoarding, I swear!), I now have a few phones but not much to … Continue reading →

Posted in Audio, Tech Flashback, Telecommunications | Tagged , , , , , , , | 9 Comments

Repair: Soyoung S-C18 Soymilk Maker

Posted on August 20, 2018 by lui_gough

This weekend, a friend of ours had a small emergency – her soymilk maker stopped working and was completely dead. The particular unit was a Soyoung S-C18 which claimed to be a unit specially made by Joyoung for the Australian … Continue reading →

Posted in Electronics | Tagged , , , | 7 Comments

Tested: EDUP 11AC 1900M Dual-Band USB 3.0 Wireless Adapter (EP-AC1621)

Posted on August 17, 2018 by lui_gough

In my quest for more wireless throughput, my hAP ac with three-stream 802.11ac wireless seemed to be the right choice. The problem was that I had absolutely no three-stream capable equipment to use with it – so I wasn’t seeing … Continue reading →

Posted in Computing, Telecommunications | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Teardown: D-Link DGS-1005A 5-Port & TP-Link TL-SG1008D 8-Port Gigabit Ethernet Switch

Posted on August 12, 2018 by lui_gough

After bathing in nostalgia looking over my old switch and hub, it’s time to come clean – there’s a place for Fast Ethernet and that was a number of years ago. While some of the old equipment might still be … Continue reading →

Posted in Computing, Telecommunications | Tagged , , , , | 8 Comments

Teardown: Iomega Zip 250 USB Drive, ATAPI Benchmarks & Defect Analysis

Posted on August 12, 2018 by lui_gough

In the last post, I documented the haul of gear donated by a generous reader. In this post, I take the time to see if I can make things better, do some experiments on the Zip ecosystem and report on … Continue reading →

Posted in Computing, Tech Flashback | Tagged , , , , , | 8 Comments

Teardown: Old Generic 9W GU10 LED Lamp

Posted on August 5, 2018 by lui_gough

A long time ago during a clean-up salvage, I stumbled across some GU10 LED lamps which were thrown out. I wasn’t sure exactly why, but it’s rare to come across such lamps. As I don’t have a GU10-compatible fixture, I … Continue reading →

Posted in Lighting | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Teardown: Mikrotik hAP ac & hAP mini Routerboards

Posted on August 5, 2018 by lui_gough

After my house move earlier this year, I was in a bit of a networking dilemma. As every self-confessed nerd knows – internet access is critical. I recently upgraded to a TP-Link Archer C7 AC1750 access point at the other … Continue reading →

Posted in Computing, Telecommunications | Tagged , , , | 5 Comments

Teardown: Grandcell Rechargeable Alkaline Manganese Battery Charger (GBTL208MB)

Posted on August 4, 2018 by lui_gough

Batteries have always been an interesting subject for me and after the test of disposable Alkaline cells, I felt there was another unanswered question. To help answer it, I dug up my old Grandcell Rechargeable Alkaline Manganese Battery Charger (GBTL208MB) … Continue reading →

Posted in Electronics | Tagged , , | 4 Comments

Tech Flashback: Ethernet Hubs & Switches (Netgear DS104 & Skymaster 8320-030)

Posted on August 4, 2018 by lui_gough

Ethernet has been around for so many years that we hardly ever take the time to stop and think about it. We take it for granted that most desktop PCs come with Ethernet ports integrated on-board, Ethernet switches are cheap … Continue reading →

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

Review: Cowin E7 Pro Active Noise Cancelling Wireless Headphones

Posted on July 5, 2018 by lui_gough

UPDATE (02/2019): Unfortunately, the review unit has failed due to a defect in the earcup hinge – see full teardown here. As a result, I no longer recommend this unit. For anyone who travels frequently on public transport or is … Continue reading →

Posted in Audio, Tablet, Telecommunications, Travel | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Mega Review: Fingbox Network Security and Troubleshooting Device

Posted on June 21, 2018 by lui_gough

Earlier this year, I visited CeBIT where I stopped by the Fing stand and had a chat about their app and Fingbox device. The Fingbox was pitched as a network security and troubleshooting device which worked with the Fing app, … Continue reading →

Posted in Computing, Telecommunications | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Review, Teardown: TBS 5220SE Universal TV Tuner USB Box

Posted on May 26, 2018 by lui_gough

Recently, I embarked on an adventure to scan the C-band satellites in the sky. Unfortunately for me, my TBS 6925 tuners are both rather unwell and my Prof Revolution S2 8000’s are not doing much better by showing similar “bursts” … Continue reading →

Posted in Computing, Radio, Satellite, Telecommunications | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Teardown: Generic Wall-Mountable Passive PoE Midspan Injector

Posted on May 10, 2018 by lui_gough

For a lot of modern networked devices, Power over Ethernet (PoE) is a big convenience, allowing the one cable to power a remote device (be it an access point, camera, etc.) and supply the data connectivity to it. While there … Continue reading →

Posted in Computing, Telecommunications | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment