Test Equipment Anonymous (TEA) group therapy thread

[mnementh]

My only experience with Amazon Prime is on a "smart" tv. There the fast forward is braindead to the point of dissuading me from using Amazon Prime; Netflix, OTOH, is perfectly usable.

With Amazon, to skip forward and stop you have to press buttons XYXZX. To zoom forward you press XYXXZX. If you are concentrating on what's on the screen then the tendency is to leave your finger on that second X, rather than preparing to stop at some time in the future by pressing Z. The, if I come to a bit that looks interesting, I instinctively press the button (X) and zoom forward. Getting back to the possibly interesting point is an exercise in frustration. GUI usability? No problem; the designers can use it just fine.

Yes, the Prime Video app on my Vizio in the LR is like that. Effing infuriating. Another thing it does is NEVER start out at full HD resolution; even going from one episode to the next it drops down to SHIT definition for the first 45-60 seconds. Ifni save you if the show you're watching does the "cold open" thing.  No, it's NOT my network connection; I pay for premium 100Mb service, and TV is connected via Cat6, and none of my other services do that.

mnem
 

[bd139]

Took a bit of a risk. Needed to measure HT and didn't fancy risking the 87V or the fuses on it so the free Brymen got the job.



Not bad for max 600V!

[tggzzz]

My only experience with Amazon Prime is on a "smart" tv. There the fast forward is braindead to the point of dissuading me from using Amazon Prime; Netflix, OTOH, is perfectly usable.

With Amazon, to skip forward and stop you have to press buttons XYXZX. To zoom forward you press XYXXZX. If you are concentrating on what's on the screen then the tendency is to leave your finger on that second X, rather than preparing to stop at some time in the future by pressing Z. The, if I come to a bit that looks interesting, I instinctively press the button (X) and zoom forward. Getting back to the possibly interesting point is an exercise in frustration. GUI usability? No problem; the designers can use it just fine.

Yes, the Prime Video app on my Vizio in the LR is like that. Effing infuriating. Another thing it does is NEVER start out at full HD resolution; even going from one episode to the next it drops down to SHIT definition for the first 45-60 seconds. Ifni save you if the show your watching does the "cold open" thing.  No, it's NOT my network connection; I pay for premium 100Mb service, and TV is connected via Cat6, and none of my other services do that.

Phew. It isn't just me in my pre-dementia phase.

I wonder if Amazon ever watched people try to use the UI for what the people wanted/needed to do? Jacob Nielson points out that most GUI infelicities can be uncovered by watching just 5 neophytes using it in anger. The Amazon UI's faults are so gross that I can't imagine they would have missed them.

[med6753]

Took a bit of a risk. Needed to measure HT and didn't fancy risking the 87V or the fuses on it so the free Brymen got the job.



Not bad for max 600V!

Yikes!    Get one of these..........

[med6753]

My only experience with Amazon Prime is on a "smart" tv. There the fast forward is braindead to the point of dissuading me from using Amazon Prime; Netflix, OTOH, is perfectly usable.

With Amazon, to skip forward and stop you have to press buttons XYXZX. To zoom forward you press XYXXZX. If you are concentrating on what's on the screen then the tendency is to leave your finger on that second X, rather than preparing to stop at some time in the future by pressing Z. The, if I come to a bit that looks interesting, I instinctively press the button (X) and zoom forward. Getting back to the possibly interesting point is an exercise in frustration. GUI usability? No problem; the designers can use it just fine.

Yes, the Prime Video app on my Vizio in the LR is like that. Effing infuriating. Another thing it does is NEVER start out at full HD resolution; even going from one episode to the next it drops down to SHIT definition for the first 45-60 seconds. Ifni save you if the show your watching does the "cold open" thing.  No, it's NOT my network connection; I pay for premium 100Mb service, and TV is connected via Cat6, and none of my other services do that.

Phew. It isn't just me in my pre-dementia phase.

I wonder if Amazon ever watched people try to use the UI for what the people wanted/needed to do? Jacob Nielson points out that most GUI infelicities can be uncovered by watching just 5 neophytes using it in anger. The Amazon UI's faults are so gross that I can't imagine they would have missed them.

Don't have those issues with the Fire Stick. My TV is non smart.

[tggzzz]

My only experience with Amazon Prime is on a "smart" tv. There the fast forward is braindead to the point of dissuading me from using Amazon Prime; Netflix, OTOH, is perfectly usable.

With Amazon, to skip forward and stop you have to press buttons XYXZX. To zoom forward you press XYXXZX. If you are concentrating on what's on the screen then the tendency is to leave your finger on that second X, rather than preparing to stop at some time in the future by pressing Z. The, if I come to a bit that looks interesting, I instinctively press the button (X) and zoom forward. Getting back to the possibly interesting point is an exercise in frustration. GUI usability? No problem; the designers can use it just fine.

Yes, the Prime Video app on my Vizio in the LR is like that. Effing infuriating. Another thing it does is NEVER start out at full HD resolution; even going from one episode to the next it drops down to SHIT definition for the first 45-60 seconds. Ifni save you if the show your watching does the "cold open" thing.  No, it's NOT my network connection; I pay for premium 100Mb service, and TV is connected via Cat6, and none of my other services do that.

Phew. It isn't just me in my pre-dementia phase.

I wonder if Amazon ever watched people try to use the UI for what the people wanted/needed to do? Jacob Nielson points out that most GUI infelicities can be uncovered by watching just 5 neophytes using it in anger. The Amazon UI's faults are so gross that I can't imagine they would have missed them.

Don't have those issues with the Fire Stick. My TV is non smart.

Mine was as dumb as I could get. Nowadays it is even becoming difficult to get 32" screens!

I specifically avoided voice control(WTF!) or if that hadn't been possible I'd have enhanced the microphone with BluTack or similar.

The remaining problem is that the EPG shows me all the channels, including the encrypted porn and unencrypted remainder goods marketplace channels. I've tried deleting the channels, and they do disappear - only to reappear when I next switch the set on. The manufacturer's droids are clueless. I suspect it is because I haven't set up an account(WTF!) with the manufacturer, so it can't phone home and tell them what I've been watching.

Victor Meldrew was right

[mnementh]

My only experience with Amazon Prime is on a "smart" tv. There the fast forward is braindead to the point of dissuading me from using Amazon Prime; Netflix, OTOH, is perfectly usable.

With Amazon, to skip forward and stop you have to press buttons XYXZX. To zoom forward you press XYXXZX. If you are concentrating on what's on the screen then the tendency is to leave your finger on that second X, rather than preparing to stop at some time in the future by pressing Z. The, if I come to a bit that looks interesting, I instinctively press the button (X) and zoom forward. Getting back to the possibly interesting point is an exercise in frustration. GUI usability? No problem; the designers can use it just fine.

Yes, the Prime Video app on my Vizio in the LR is like that. Effing infuriating. Another thing it does is NEVER start out at full HD resolution; even going from one episode to the next it drops down to SHIT definition for the first 45-60 seconds. Ifni save you if the show your watching does the "cold open" thing.  No, it's NOT my network connection; I pay for premium 100Mb service, and TV is connected via Cat6, and none of my other services do that.

Phew. It isn't just me in my pre-dementia phase.

I wonder if Amazon ever watched people try to use the UI for what the people wanted/needed to do? Jacob Nielson points out that most GUI infelicities can be uncovered by watching just 5 neophytes using it in anger. The Amazon UI's faults are so gross that I can't imagine they would have missed them.

Yeah pretty sure the Vizio Prime App is Android-powered; it's pretty obvious the underlying interface is intended for a touchscreen and cobbled together to use the menu direction arrows instead. Ifni forbid they should actually hire programmer to modify the API so it uses... oh, I dunno... THE FUCKING FF/REW/PLAY BUTTONS BUILT INTO EVERY VIZIO REMOTE MADE IN THE LAST DECADE...  LIKE EVERY OTHER APP FOR THE TV USES.   

mnem
*Clone Wars with my son time*

[med6753]

My only experience with Amazon Prime is on a "smart" tv. There the fast forward is braindead to the point of dissuading me from using Amazon Prime; Netflix, OTOH, is perfectly usable.

With Amazon, to skip forward and stop you have to press buttons XYXZX. To zoom forward you press XYXXZX. If you are concentrating on what's on the screen then the tendency is to leave your finger on that second X, rather than preparing to stop at some time in the future by pressing Z. The, if I come to a bit that looks interesting, I instinctively press the button (X) and zoom forward. Getting back to the possibly interesting point is an exercise in frustration. GUI usability? No problem; the designers can use it just fine.

Yes, the Prime Video app on my Vizio in the LR is like that. Effing infuriating. Another thing it does is NEVER start out at full HD resolution; even going from one episode to the next it drops down to SHIT definition for the first 45-60 seconds. Ifni save you if the show your watching does the "cold open" thing.  No, it's NOT my network connection; I pay for premium 100Mb service, and TV is connected via Cat6, and none of my other services do that.

Phew. It isn't just me in my pre-dementia phase.

I wonder if Amazon ever watched people try to use the UI for what the people wanted/needed to do? Jacob Nielson points out that most GUI infelicities can be uncovered by watching just 5 neophytes using it in anger. The Amazon UI's faults are so gross that I can't imagine they would have missed them.

Don't have those issues with the Fire Stick. My TV is non smart.

Mine was as dumb as I could get. Nowadays it is even becoming difficult to get 32" screens!

I specifically avoided voice control(WTF!) or if that hadn't been possible I'd have enhanced the microphone with BluTack or similar.

The remaining problem is that the EPG shows me all the channels, including the encrypted porn and unencrypted remainder goods marketplace channels. I've tried deleting the channels, and they do disappear - only to reappear when I next switch the set on. The manufacturer's droids are clueless. I suspect it is because I haven't set up an account(WTF!) with the manufacturer, so it can't phone home and tell them what I've been watching.

Victor Meldrew was right

Yea, my TV is a now ancient 6 year old Samsung 32 inch, 720P. Connected to it is the Fire Stick, Media PC, and a now rarely used Netgear NTV200 streaming player (similar to a Roku). 6 months ago I cut the cord with my Cable TV company and haven't looked back. I'd love to erect an HD antenna but even if I got the OK from the landlord I am too far from any stations. There's apps out there that you can use to determine what stations you could receive in your area and they come back and say even if I went 50 feet up the results would be marginal. So I do without and I survive just fine. I'm not looking forward to the day of no choice and the replacement TV is "smart" with all the BS and privacy issues that come with it.     

[bitseeker]

US$100 for a 5221A? Granted, it has options 02 and 03, badge, and feet, but wowzers.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-1969-Hewlett-Packard-Model-5221A-Electronic-Frequency-Counter-Nixie-Tube-/264205009124?nordt=true

   Guess we were both watching that one, huh?

-Pat

My, my. What a coincidence. We even posted about it consecutively.

The other one I was watching just went for $110 + shipping, and had only five digits.   
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-1969-Hewlett-Packard-Model-5221A-Electronic-Frequency-Counter-Nixie-Tube-/153391041638

That's a bit nuts, and *I* say that as a certified nut!

Yeah, I was watching it too, but was too busy to post or we'd probably end up posting simultaneously again. It beat out the previous one!

I wonder what's wrong with this one, though, because Option 02 should result in all six digits (and the last tube seems to be installed). The last one definitely looks dead.

[mnementh]

Yea, my TV is a now ancient 6 year old Samsung 32 inch, 720P. Connected to it is the Fire Stick, Media PC, and a now rarely used Netgear NTV200 streaming player (similar to a Roku). 6 months ago I cut the cord with my Cable TV company and haven't looked back. I'd love to erect an HD antenna but even if I got the OK from the landlord I am too far from any stations. There's apps out there that you can use to determine what stations you could receive in your area and they come back and say even if I went 50 feet up the results would be marginal. So I do without and I survive just fine. I'm not looking forward to the day of no choice and the replacement TV is "smart" with all the BS and privacy issues that come with it.     

Mmmokay... as long as the TV doesn't have my name and address, I couldn't care less what it sends back home to mommy. I agree; no voice, no camera, leave the WiFi disabled and plug in hardline.

I loathe commercial broadcast; it exists solely to broadcast commercials, any actual content that might come along is an afterthought. We cut the cord in '12 and haven't looked back. I didn't want my kids growing up thinking it was normal to be bludgeoned with high-volume, high-pressure advertising screaming for your attention 24 minutes of every hour.  If you count the high-speed internet, we probably pay just about as much as we did when we had basic cable. But the cross-channel noise in our home dropped instantly by at least 20dB once we stopped having the commercial PA system constantly blaring at us. We now have complete control of the shows they watch, we don't have to worry about them becoming hypnotized by some stupid advert for an inherently messy toy or product, and we are able to treat TV time as we do Internet time: as a parentally-supervised activity.

Even now, half the time we'll start some show for the kids and when it's done playing, they just let it stay paused until it shuts off; they're busy doing other stuff. Little girl playing educational apps on her iPad, and the boi has started actually reading stuff on his Kindle. Game time 1 hour a day limit, screen time 3 hours total all devices. Hell, even I have trouble sticking to that one; but they have each other to torment, so no end of playtime goodness there. 

If you miss broadcast, Winegard has a series of LNA-boosted attic antennas that are effing amazing; I had one of their "UFO" disc antennas years ago on top of my motorhome; I could get decent signal 50 miles from town. Looks like the 7550 is their TOL now, rated 70 miles. Only way to get better is their biggest Yagi. Manual is below.

mnem
*Toddling off to ded* 

[worsthorse]

I guess it is oscilloscope week... I just bought a Craiglist 2465 with two P6131 probes, along with the original service manual and original operating manual. Passed all the self tests, along with all of mine and, cosmetically, its a nine plus. 140USD. I think I need to stop looking at CL and ebay for a week or two.

[mnementh]

Yeah, I was watching it too, but was too busy to post or we'd probably end up posting simultaneously again. It beat out the previous one!

I wonder what's wrong with this one, though, because Option 02 should result in all six digits (and the last tube seems to be installed). The last one definitely looks dead.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/223024618695

But look what fleaBay tries to redirect you to now that auction is over... all that delicious HP red-dot goodness.   

mnem
*Knocks self unconscious with a clock mallet* 

[beanflying]

Hey Mr You want to buy some dots?  Sika Temperature Calibrator just turned up thread to follow.

[bitseeker]

Whuf... and that's why I don't like making videos; I'm so scattered most of the time I sound like a total tool. I either have to shoot a dozen takes, or I keep going back to revisit something I forgot like this guy does; only like 10 times worse. 
...
The guy really thought himself into a corner rather than properly leveraging what he already had, IMHO.

And that's why I rarely watch yootoob videos!

I suspect, without having spent an hour and a quarter of my remaing life watching it, that the information in it could have been conveyed in 10 minutes - or 2 minutes if I had been able to read a blog.

Cranking up the playback speed to 1.5x or 2.0x and judicious use of the J and L keys can help reduce the time commitment quite a lot.

[med6753]

I guess it is oscilloscope week... I just bought a Craiglist 2465 with two P6131 probes, along with the original service manual and original operating manual. Passed all the self tests, along with all of mine and, cosmetically, its a nine plus. 140USD. I think I need to stop looking at CL and ebay for a week or two.

Good deal. Consider recapping the PSU as insurance. See here:

https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/tektronix-2465b-oscilloscope-teardown/msg1658102/#msg1658102

[worsthorse]

That was actually one of my questions. Thanks for the pointer.

[med6753]

That was actually one of my questions. Thanks for the pointer.

And if the Seimens fan motor is noisy see further ahead in that same thread.

[worsthorse]

Quote from: med6753 on Today at 16:09:04

>Quote from: wch on Today at 16:05:14

That was actually one of my questions. Thanks for the pointer.

And if the Seimens fan motor is noisy see further ahead in that same thread.

I am going to spend some time going through the forum posts on this one before I make a plan, order parts, etc. It looks like any question I might have is already answered in one thread or another. I appreciate the help.

[bitseeker]

Yeah, I was watching it too, but was too busy to post or we'd probably end up posting simultaneously again. It beat out the previous one!

I wonder what's wrong with this one, though, because Option 02 should result in all six digits (and the last tube seems to be installed). The last one definitely looks dead.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/223024618695

But look what fleaBay tries to redirect you to now that auction is over... all that delicious HP red-dot goodness.   

Very nice dot display!

Aside: I made a Greasemonkey script to redirect eBay's stupid auto-redirect to the correct item page and flush the (more-often-than-not) irrelevant URL from my back-button history.

[Ero-Shan]

1029 pages...   

Uff, I'm not able to keep up the last weeks. On page 1013 right now*.

Still alive but reading.   

--
*-feeling like sysiphos..

What are you talking about? It's 1068 pages and I'm on 1029!
But I managed to catch up around 35 since yesterday.

I took a day off so I might finally reach the end of this thread. 

[bd139]

Took a bit of a risk. Needed to measure HT and didn't fancy risking the 87V or the fuses on it so the free Brymen got the job.



Not bad for max 600V!

Yikes!    Get one of these..........

I’ve got one. Somewhere  (couldn’t find it).

I cleaned out and reorganised and it was a bit of a failure because I can’t find everything now.

[tggzzz]

I guess it is oscilloscope week... I just bought a Craiglist 2465 with two P6131 probes, along with the original service manual and original operating manual. Passed all the self tests, along with all of mine and, cosmetically, its a nine plus. 140USD. I think I need to stop looking at CL and ebay for a week or two.

Don't forget to have a look at the delayed action smoke generators (and almost certainly replace them).
While in there, check the PSU electrolytics, replace if necessary (and realise the service  manual shows two in the wrong position).
If the A5 board has SMD caps, replace them before they leak.
Take a video of the contents of the cal ram (Test 02?), in case you need to replace it.

And then have fun, safely

[tggzzz]

I loathe commercial broadcast; it exists solely to broadcast commercials, any actual that might come along is an afterthought.

Ove here many "one hour" programs finish after 40 minutes

We cut the cord in '12 and haven't looked back. I didn't want my kids growing up thinking it was normal to be bludgeoned with high-volume, high-pressure advertising screaming for your attention 24 minutes of every hour. 

As opposed to (un)social media? That seems to have taken over the role of broadcast TV, and become a form of narrowcast entertainment.

[med6753]

I’ve got one. Somewhere  (couldn’t find it).

I cleaned out and reorganised and it was a bit of a failure because I can’t find everything now.

Been there, done that. But not with a HV probe. 

[med6753]

I guess it is oscilloscope week... I just bought a Craiglist 2465 with two P6131 probes, along with the original service manual and original operating manual. Passed all the self tests, along with all of mine and, cosmetically, its a nine plus. 140USD. I think I need to stop looking at CL and ebay for a week or two.

Don't forget to have a look at the delayed action smoke generators (and almost certainly replace them).
While in there, check the PSU electrolytics, replace if necessary (and realise the service  manual shows two in the wrong position).
If the A5 board has SMD caps, replace them before they leak.
Take a video of the contents of the cal ram (Test 02?), in case you need to replace it.

And then have fun, safely

You're a day late and a dollar short. See my immediate response to his post.

All 2465's are pin thru hole A5 board.

All 2465's use non-volatile EAROM for cal data. No worries unless the chip takes a dump.