Episode 14: Geek Tools 101 [Discussion]

[chuckles]

Take a peek at the tools and equipment Patrick Norton and David Randolph have acquired over the years as they walk you through the must have gadgets every geek should have on their workbench.

[anordb]

Take a peek at the tools and equipment Patrick Norton and David Randolph have acquired over the years as they walk you through the must have gadgets every geek should have on their workbench.

I will have a peek once your tracker authorizes the torrent.

"Failure: Requested download is not authorized for use on this tracker."

[chuckles]

I will have a peek once your tracker authorizes the torrent.

"Failure: Requested download is not authorized for use on this tracker."

It should be good now. I am able to download via bt from a remote host.

-chuckles-

[anordb]

Yup, works like a dream now.

[optimus]

God I love this show. VERY informative episode for this noob, thanks!

[cl191]

Haven't watch it yet, but I guess it's true that this is going to be Patrick's new home...kind of sad, missed you on DL.TV already!

[sh1fty]

great episode. they fogot to mention tweezers. you'll definitely need them if you work with surface mount components and they're very useful even if you work with regular ones ;)

[nonio]

I've been waiting for an episode like this. :)

[schacht7]

Systm just isn't what it used to be. I've decided to stop watching it because of the path it's going, especially after this episode.

[jmp2071]

I thought the episode was awesome. I've been waiting to see one like this. Good work guys.

[harshbarj]

You never got back to the oscilloscope :(.

Hoping your next episode is on the avr again (but covering more advanced topics). I'm officially addicted (getting a mega soon).

[vahnx]

Systm just isn't what it used to be. I've decided to stop watching it because of the path it's going, especially after this episode.

Systm has changed, but it's for the good. Kevin Rose started with thebroken, then came out with Systm, and now is working on Diggnation full time. In his spare time, there's time to work on thebroken, so Systm wasn't going anywhere anyways.

[rowlodge]

heard some scuffling behind the camera then "sorry about that", did joey make a move on patrick?

[optimus]

Systm just isn't what it used to be. I've decided to stop watching it because of the path it's going, especially after this episode.

It sure isn't! No more BI-YEARLY episodes! :D

[wonky73]

Systm just isn't what it used to be. I've decided to stop watching it because of the path it's going,

The path to the land of awesome. Great episode guys. I really like the "new" Systm with Patrick and David. Hopefully, Pat will be able to do more shows now that he isn't doing dl.tv anymore.

[suzq]

I'm downloading it now! Can't wait to watch it!

[joebonhomme]

they totally forgot to mention lighting. you need to have lots of it. mounted or head set or stand alone. i have been there and done that so, i dont know why they missed this crucial need.

anyways, great show.

thanks.

[jesseww]

Systm just isn't what it used to be. I've decided to stop watching it because of the path it's going, especially after this episode.

well the general consensus of this forum is that the show is awesome so i dont think anyone cares that this guy doesn't like it.... so HA

i too would also like them to go back to the oscilloscope....

great work guys

thanks

jesswilk

[drandolph]

Thank you to everyone that enjoyed the show. For those that didn't like it @#$% you. Just kidding. Actually it is important to note that SYSTM has to appeal to people in the beginning parts, the middle parts, advance parts of systm design/mods/hacks/how-to's. This causes a great deal of conflict when we sit around doing show pitches and throwing around ideas. Sometimes I just want to do a dragged out show on resistance color codes but then someone else might like to do a show on how to install windows, while someone else might like to do a show on tricks with eggs and baking soda.

Basically we like to cover every aspect of electronics. Sometimes it might be an intro lesson or an advance lesson. So my hope is that if a show is about something you already know then come into the forums and contribute your knowledge, point out our flaws, show a better way, give advice. If you use what you learned from an episode, please come in and show us.

But then again.... If you hate an episode please let us know that to.

[tempesta]

But then again.... If you hate an episode please let us know that to.

loving 'em dave, lovin em

[bigron18]

Before changing my college major to nursing, I was an electronics engineering major. I had fun working on circuits, but it wasn't what I wanted to do for a career, just a hobby. Systm is perfect for me. My knowledge isn't zero, yet I haven't done much for many years. One aspect I'd like to see is programming/re-programming IR remote controls with a JP1 connector. I've done some of this in the past. For more info on JP1, see http://www.hifi-remote.com/forums/ .

[solex]

Hello guys,

New watcher, been subscribed since work bench and watched the back epps. One note, can you give out the make/model of your claw like vice, ive been trying to find one in the uk and so far only found like £200 ~ $400, thanks guys, you have re-kindled my love of making electronics that a bad electronics teacher in school squashed.

Rock on :)

solex

[drandolph]

Hello guys,

New watcher, been subscribed since work bench and watched the back epps. One note, can you give out the make/model of your claw like vice, ive been trying to find one in the uk and so far only found like £200 ~ $400, thanks guys, you have re-kindled my love of making electronics that a bad electronics teacher in school squashed.

Rock on :)

solex

http://www.panavise.com/f/vises/index.html

Here is the link for the company that makes my favorite vises.
They sell it as a combo or as parts.
The 3 parts that make a full unit is a head/base/mount.

The two vises you saw in the show were
1. The 303 head with the 380 vacuum base which doesn't need a mount.
2. The 315 circuit board holder with the 300 base and the base mount 312

They also sell them as combo units with all the pieces as one part number.
1. The part number for the 303 head and 380 vacuum base is the 381 combo
2. The part number for the 315 circuit holder/300 base/312 mount is the 324 combo.


If you find a place that sells them in the UK could you do us the favor of posting a link for them? We seem to have a lot of viewers over there and i always feel bad only giving links to American companies.

[vincent12234]

Very good show this week, loved it keep it up!

[cmg63]

Great episode.

However when discussing keyboards and the need for having PS2 keyboards around, David said stay away from wireless keyboards. He did not elaborate because Patrick moved on to something else.

David, care to elaborate?


Charlie

[blazes816]

Fantastic episode. I love they 'new' systm. I did, however, also like the episodes with the apple TV, asterisk, etc. So if you guys did one of those every now and then I'd be a very happy camper. Also, I hope that Kevin and Dan arn't gone from the show forever. I love all four of the hosts, so it'd be nice to see some of all of them.

[drandolph]

Great episode.

However when discussing keyboards and the need for having PS2 keyboards around, David said stay away from wireless keyboards. He did not elaborate because Patrick moved on to something else.

David, care to elaborate?


Charlie

Simple reason but not really a technical reason. If your trying to fix/mod/build something the last thing I want to worry about is if the batteries are good and is the keyboard synced up with the receiver or do I have the right drivers? Also most wireless keyboard sets do not have an LED for Num lock or CAPS lock. I like to see them flash when i power on a machine to tell me it sees the keyboard. This is also the reason I like to have a wired PS/2 Optical mouse around still as well. The light comes on there to, some USB Mouses wont turn on the light till the driver is active.

It wont hurt if you use a wireless keyboard/mouse, but I like to remove as many variables as I can when working on something.

[toddcountry]

I saw episode 14 and had never seen a combodock. Can drandolf tell me where he got his?? I liked his the best but am having problems locating it on the internet. Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks,

Renee

[drandolph]

I saw episode 14 and had never seen a combodock. Can drandolf tell me where he got his?? I liked his the best but am having problems locating it on the internet. Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks,

Renee

Here you go.
http://www.vellemanusa.com/us/enu/product/view/?id=522812

[toddcountry]

Thank you for your quick response. But this isn't the item I was referring to. I was asking about the combodock where you can attach a hard drive via a usb cord without having to pop open your case. You had a slicker one than Patrick but I can only find the one that Patrick had. Any help is welcomed.

Thanks drandolf,

Renee

[drandolph]

Thank you for your quick response. But this isn't the item I was referring to. I was asking about the combodock where you can attach a hard drive via a usb cord without having to pop open your case. You had a slicker one than Patrick but I can only find the one that Patrick had. Any help is welcomed.

Thanks drandolf,

Renee

No worries, here you go.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16812232002

[toddcountry]

Thank you so much!!!!!

Renee

[jcapogna]

Just wanted to pop in and say thanks. I watched this episode when it first came out and I just watched it again. You guys have motivated me to finally jump into electronic tinkering as a hobby, something I've been wanting to do for a long time but have never started. This episode was a perfect way for me to feel comfortable going out and buying some starter tools.

[bman]

I have only really watched acouple episodes, just watched this one.

And when Patrick takes the iphone and says i'll put it somewhere safe, drops it......that was toooooo funny

[bmichels]

I notice you don't use your terminals. Since I'm usually cheap and don't want to put out the bucks for a tabletop power supply, I use an ATX power supply and have a connector attached to my 4 posts.

The project on the board is version 3 of my IDE project that I never finished. It used a Scenix SX52 CPU and I was in the process of interfacing a 10-base-T interface to it.
http://www.barrymichels.com/ide

[scienceking]

Nice setup there barry. I do the same thing, but usually just run a jumper into the ATX connectors to the breadboard...probably not the best idea ever.(yes, the obvious badness has happened: I still won't learn)
Another great thing to do is to look for really old computers and computer like products from the 80s. My school's chemistry department threw out an old robot controller for mixing chemicals that was broken...Turned out the PSU was just not calibrated right, but whatever.
The PSU in it is of amazing quality and puts out an almost noiseless/perfectly regulated DC signal while suppling quite a few watts of power at 12V. I hooked it up to the o-scopes at school(nice 8mhz digital ones) and I still can't believe how amazingly made it is noise/regulation wise(nothing like a switched mode supply). It was housed in a little brick solid Aluminium case with heat fins all over it too. If you can buy anything like it anymore, it must cost quite a bundle. It also has calibration screws that let you tweak the voltage down to about 5V and up to about 15V. Quite a steal for free. Also got some other high quality stuff out of it, but nothing comparable to that PSU.

[price_of_life]

I was wondering what kind of cordless drills or powered screwdrivers these guys use. Also if anybody knows of a good one. Not for super heavy use, but modding and light use for around $30 - 40 or is it even worth it to get one that cheap.

[drandolph]

I was wondering what kind of cordless drills or powered screwdrivers these guys use. Also if anybody knows of a good one. Not for super heavy use, but modding and light use for around $30 - 40 or is it even worth it to get one that cheap.

My favorite cheep drill that i use more than everything else is a ryobi 7.2 volt.
There is enough power for driving screws and drilling small to medium holes.
http://www.ryobitools.com/powertools/tool/hp572k/

But for the true tool geeks out there it is important to note my favorite all around drill is a dewalt one. It is more power than i need most of the time other than when im doing serious wood or plastic work.
http://www.dewalt.com/us/products/tool_detail.asp?productID=8780

Now when I'm building computers or just taking something apart I go extremely light weight because the other ones are to big and hard to fit into tight spaces or has way to much torque .
http://www.blackanddecker.com/ProductGuide/Product-Details.aspx?ProductID=15249

I have a few more than that but those are my top three.