Options, gadgets and accessories: Good and Bad

[Phi for All]

Mixed feelings include the fax-scanner-copier-printer deal. Why get seperate units when you can do everything in one badly?

These units are great when you don't do much of any of those things. I try to be as paperless as possible in my work so mine works great. If you do more than a moderate amount of any or all of those functions, the all-in-one sucks multiple times.

 

There are many gadgets like that where it seems like they work well only if you don't use it much. The wife and I bought a pasta maker once and really got into it. Broke three of them before throwing up our hands at the expense of mailing it back to be repaired. Same part kept breaking and they kept repairing it the same way. It truly defined insanity.

 

then I have another gadget that`s a Remote Jammer, basily I flip a single switch and all remotes (anyones) ceases to function, Even if they get right up to the TV or vid etc... it`ll cover a good 5 metres too

Beyond making me grin evilly, does this have any practical functions? Is this one of your MI6 gadgets Q gave you to disrupt pacemakers, Mr. licensed-to-kill?

[YT2095]

erm, that IS a practical function isn`t it?

 

I know I`ve certainly used it a lot

 

scenario 1) you`re in a Pub, they have a stoopid TV blaring out something horendous when all you want is a nice quiet pint and a chat to your mate about something horrendous, well you ID the TV, switch it off, then turn on the jammer. since most TVs are wall mounted on brackets too high up to reach, they can`t turn it back on until you let them.

 

Scenario 2) you want to watch a science prog, your child (or wife is chan hopping) turn on the jammer, you may watch in peace

 

Scenario3) you want to buy a TV, you ask the sales guy for a demo, you turn the jammer on and off at random while he`s changing chans, and then ask for a discount as it doesn`t seem to be working all that good but you`ll take it anyway

 

I could continue...

 

and no, I can`t tell you where I got it from. and yes, it`ll take out Anything IR controled, incl PIR detectors for alarms, CCTV cams (it blinds them) etc...

[Phi for All]

and no, I can`t tell you where I got it from.

... or else you'd have to kill me? *gulp*

[GutZ]

The only gadget I have is a mp3 player...I'm lucky I haven't lost it yet.

 

What's bad is my VDSL TV. Well not the TV more like the the tech support, if you can even call it that. Complete F'in useless. I pray nothing happens so I don't have to call them. I've had this exclusive Condo set (I don't live in one, satilite TV, without the satilite)...Everytime! no one knows what I am talking about, fowarding me to 5 different departments, yet they have no problem billing me.

 

It is THEIR Technology, you'd think that atleast one person would know what it is. Never get Bell.

 

//end rant

[Phi for All]

Everytime! no one knows what I am talking about' date=' fowarding me to 5 different departments, yet they have no problem billing me.

 

It is THEIR Technology, you'd think that atleast one person would know what it is. Never get Bell.[/quote']I call this the UPS effect. I don't know if UPS started it, but they sure use it to their advantage. Probably 80% of their problems just go away because of user frustration with the system. The key is to get a case number IMMEDIATELY so it can be referred to on each call. If no one sets you up in the computer system, they are free to forget you. With the case number, they have steps in place to take care of you and refer to what made you happy in the past.

 

The other thing to do is keep asking for supervisors. If one person says they don't know how to help, ask for their super. Eventually, you reach someone who knows what they're doing, or the VP of Customer Satisfaction comes on the line and tells you to &*$# off.

[GutZ]

The other thing to do is keep asking for supervisors. If one person says they don't know how to help' date=' ask for their super. Eventually, you reach someone who knows what they're doing, or the VP of Customer Satisfaction comes on the line and tells you to &*$# off.[/quote']

 

That's already happened.

 

To them my set-up (TV and Internet [which I put a hold on]) doesn't exist.

 

Supervisor: Can you reset your internet modem.

Me: I don't have a modem. I have the TV for condo set-up which runs from my phone line to my TV box reciever then from that to my PC.

Supervisor: Oh Ok! So now I need to reset your modem.

Me: I don't have a mod...Hey look it works, thanks *click*

 

I've had CS give me additude when I phone the wrong department.

 

*Phone TV department*

 

Me: Hello! I have the Condo TV/Internet set up I have a problem with my internet.

Guy 1: Let me transfer you to the Internet department

Me: Sigh, ok (knowing it's the wrong one)

*wait*

Me: Hello! I have the Condo TV/Internet set up I have a problem with my internet.

Guy 2: I don't see your account here, please wait for the supervisor.

*wait*

Me: Hello! I have the Condo TV/Internet set up I have a problem with my internet.

Supervisor: Ummm is that the Internet that runs through the TV?

Me: Yes...

Supervisor: You call the wrong department, Don't do that.

Me: .....I was transferred.

Supervisor: Well don't do it again.

Me: Ok! bye. *click* Moron!

 

I'm going to write a letter to Bell if I have one more problem. I'll try that case number thing.

[Phi for All]

I'm going to write a letter to Bell if I have one more problem. I'll try that case number thing.

Do. Otherwise you're starting from square one every time you call.

 

 

 

I may start another thread on this but does anyone subscribe to any free podcasts for your MP3 player? A buddy recommended NPR's Wait Wait Don't Tell Me and I found a couple of science podcasts that looked good. There are so many it might take me a while to wade through the dreck

[5614]

and no, I can`t tell you where I got it from. and yes, it`ll take out Anything IR controled, incl PIR detectors for alarms, CCTV cams (it blinds them) etc...

Those 3 are very good uses!

 

And err, from what you said in the quote, are they just those normal ones you can build (free circuit designs around the net) or pick up in the local electronics/gadget shop for £5???

 

I know they jam the TV, but when you said about PIR + CCTV etc. I wondered if what you have is the kinda thing I've seen online.

[YT2095]

I have no idea to be honest, but this wasn`t from a gadget shop, nor is it home made, it Has been home modified though, it`s Eastern Bloc technology, with a few YT improvements

 

oh yeah, and another "Gadget" fave of mine is my 150mw laser, it`ll cut plastics and pop balloons even through glass, and will provide minutes of fun with a house flys trapped in a test tube also

 

yes, even I get Bored occasionaly.

[CharonY]

- the clips on pens and mechanical pencils (does anyone really use them?)...

Uhm actually I do. The pocket of the labcoats here are rather large and it takes ages of rummaging through them if I do not clip my pen onto it

- scented candles. All the one's I like are so faint you have to burn your nose to get a good whiff...

Actually quite the reverse here. I think they stink too much.

 

Bad: mobiles. They are pure evil. Especially if they can do everything you never wanted.

 

Good: usb sticks. I have got tons of them. Wouldn't know how to move my data otherwise.

[5614]

I have no idea to be honest, but this wasn`t from a gadget shop, nor is it home made, it Has been home modified though, it`s Eastern Bloc technology, with a few YT improvements

OK. What kind of mods have you implemented?

 

What I'm getting at is that do these remote control blockers have the potential (with say a power upgrade) the ability to mess with CCTV? Or do you need to add something (say a whole new output component)? Or is what you've got vastly different from what is on the market.

 

Just a quick google search came up with this design:

http://www.electronic-circuits-diagrams.com/funimages/4.gif

or this:

http://www.aaroncake.net/circuits/jammer.htm

or you can buy from here:

http://www.gadgetsuk.com/Remote-control-jammer-p-16266.html

 

One question regarding the jammers... do you need to hold down the button to continually block the remote signal? Or can you just give on pulse which will disable the remote receiver until, say, it is turned off?

[YT2095]

non of the above

 

the IC (a black Blob in the middle of the board with no numbers or anything, kicks out White Noise on a broad band (from what I can establish when I modified it).

I put the output on a spectral analyser and that was the output form.

the actual IR led is Extremely High output, infact some of it even makes it into the visible spectrum.

the mods now allow it to use Normal batteries (off the shelf stuff) the LED array has been modified to accomodate a wider band now (I can even do UV at 4000MCD and other band leds, as well as the driver trans upgrade.

the batt live is quite short, typicaly 3 and a bit hours with brand new Duracells.

and yes, just switch on and things become inert, switch off and they work again

I have plans for a broadband radio attatchment too, similar to the way Mobile fones go Dit ditdit dit didit etc... over anything around them, only it`ll be white noise instead.

a sort of Cloaking/Jamming device if you like

the device size is roughly about the same as that silver gadget in the last link though.

 

anyway, I think we`ve done enough to derail this topic now, don`t you?

 

and so back to Topic another "Gadget" if you can call it that, is an extremely powerfull and very tiny ring magnet I have as an earing, it`s capable of holding 500gr metal plate with ease, and comes in Very Handy for detecting low freq high power EM feilds it lets me "Hear them" it`s also great helping ID metals or up a ladder with tools and you need to hold a handfull of screws!

[jordan]

I'm bumping this thread because my company has started giving prizes for top sales. I've got a new laptop' date=' a Palm Treo, an iPod Nano and my new 30" flatscreen HDTV gets delivered week after next. I also bought a new bike and ALL these things are accessory demons. And the accessories are such obvious profit-monsters! I hate being a rube!

 

I have already figured out that a pocket is the cheap alternative to getting a $30 arm-holster for the iPod (if I take it running I'll use duct tape, dammit), the little plastic stickies are expensive but worth it to keep the screen of the PDA from getting scratched, and rear-view mirrors on your bike's handlebars look goofy, rarely point where you need them and can't beat a quick glance over your shoulder.

 

Any other recommendations, good or bad, for these and other gadgets for your gadgets?[/quote']

 

For the ipod I would recomend a car-radio adapter. You can find them on ebay for about $20.

 

(Be weary of the one's from Singapore or somewhere near there, they sell for about 10 cents with $20 s&h...something's a bit suspicious with those).

 

Anyway, they play your music through the car radio and charge the ipod battery while the car's running (very useful at times). When you get into your car you just plug the ipod in and hit the play button and your music plays right where you left off. Very quick. I've had three friends now see mine and like it enough to buy their own. All have said it's well worth the $20.

[Phi for All]

an extremely powerfull and very tiny ring magnet I have as an earing, it`s capable of holding 500gr metal plate with ease, and comes in Very Handy for detecting low freq high power EM feilds it lets me "Hear them" it`s also great helping ID metals or up a ladder with tools and you need to hold a handfull of screws!

What, with your ear?! You must have lobes of steel to be able to carry tools with your ears! Or is it just the screws?

[YT2095]

lol, no, the magnet itself can pick up 500gr of metal with ease, when looped through the silver ring in my ear 200g is the max it will hold.

I`ve never tried beyond this with my ear as the magnet wont take it, it just slides off.

I can lift easily a 500g load with the earing itself though (in my ear) it won`t pull out or cause any pain, it`s been in for 22 years though, I guess it`s kinda Healed and used to it as just part of me by now

but yes, it`ll hold a large amount of screws or nails or light tools without a problem, I don`t even think about it now, it`s just a case of stick it to my ear )

[Phi for All]

For the ipod I would recomend a car-radio adapter. You can find them on ebay for about $20.

 

(Be weary of the one's from Singapore or somewhere near there' date=' they sell for about 10 cents with $20 s&h...something's a bit suspicious with those).

 

Anyway, they play your music through the car radio and charge the ipod battery while the car's running (very useful at times). When you get into your car you just plug the ipod in and hit the play button and your music plays right where you left off. Very quick. I've had three friends now see mine and like it enough to buy their own. All have said it's well worth the $20.[/quote']Is that the one that plays through your auto cassette player? It looks like a cassette tape with a jack for the iPod? A friend mentioned that to me. I thought it sounded redundant since I can listen to CDs in my vehicle but I can see where not having to mess with disks and mix your own playlists would be handy. He also listens to a lot of podcasts which would be great for when you're driving.

[jordan]

The cassette is an option though not what I was talking about.

 

This one actually plays through the radio. You set the frequency on the device to one (mine's set to 88.7) and then tune your car radio to the frequency.

 

I recomended this one for two reasons:

1) Many people (like myself) don't have a cassette player in their car.

2) The cassette player broadcasts through the headphone jack. This means the volume is controled through both your ipod and the car stereo. Sometimes you'll forget and it can come on blasting or other times it'll be too soft to hear. Then you're always fiddling with volume (not always recomended while driving through heavy traffic...). The radio one doesn't use the headphone jack so it's only controlled by the car stereo which means that when you're listening to it outside the car you can set the volume to whatever you want and then when you get in the car you just press play and it's the same as the last time you were in the car. No unpleasent surprises.

[5614]

Thanks for the info YT.

 

Yeah those iPod things are good. But they're not only for iPods.

 

You can plug it into anything with a headphone jack (stereo, 3.5mm) and it will transmit the signal as an FM radio wave. My one comes with 4 frequency options and can either be powered by batteries or an in-car power lead.

 

These also means that if you had a cassette you wanted to listen to, but no cassette player you could get one of those hand-held cassette players, put it down in the car, plug in the FM transmitter and listen to the cassette via the car radio.

 

And you can get them for more like $10 (USD) or £5 (UK) from ebay.

[YT2095]

Or you could make one yourself for about 70 pence (or free if you salvage scrap)

 

I know as I have one (home made) built into my Guitar

[5614]

Cool

[jordan]

Or you could make one yourself for about 70 pence (or free if you salvage scrap)

 

I know as I have one (home made) built into my Guitar

Why do I get the impression that involves ingenuity though...

 

I wouldn't have any idea where to start on such a project.

[5614]

It's a simple radio, where the input is the two leads you get from the stereo jack.

 

The question is do you know how to make a simple radio...

 

YT is a genius with those kind of questions (even when the word "simple" is not involved!)

[why?]

What do they put in those tags that make them stick up like that' date=' Viagra?

 

And since geeks are the only ones who actually clip pens in their shirt pockets, wouldn't you think a geek would come up with something better? Pens that pop out of your secret decoder ring or something....

There's the next money-maker, a pitcher with two spouts, the little one for just water, the big one on the side for water and ice. [/quote']

 

I dont know wats up with those tags but I can sure explain the clip on the pens. Well i dont put them in my shirt, but in those small slit in hte jeans. There they come in handy coz they dnt fall out, otherwise they do. You just clip em on the slits or watever you call them ( the small pockets on the side.. or a loop ) and wuahala your done. Its better than putting in bag coz you have to find em, you have too much stuff to put in pockets already ( Even if you did the mechanical pencils really poke you places you dont want them to) and you can't put em in your shirt, coz thats just not cool.

 

Oh and howcome no one mentioned the clap on lights. They are the biggest thing to hit us since sliced bread. :-O . I mean its perfect unless your disabled ( which i dont want to make fun off ). All you gotta do is clap. Man gotta get me one of those.

And what about the electronic brushes. Aren't they something perfect. Just hold em there and the spinning thing does the work for you.

 

P.S. ironically i was writing something similar on my blog yesterday night. Its about stuff that makes us lazy.