Test Equipment Anonymous (TEA) group therapy thread

[Specmaster]

As some of you are a lot more versed in computer matters, maybe someone can help:
- my T60 does have a headphone jack and an external mic jack. Does that mean that it will not take those headsets with a 4-circuit tip-and-ring connector?
- Can a computer headset have a PTT key?
- I'm looking for a lightweight headset, with minimal pressure. I would like it to have a volume control, and, if that exists, a PTT. But it should be able to work without PTT too. Should be good/premium quality. No gaming headset, no closed ones.

I have a Sennheiser Communications CC520 headset with USB connection. I recommend going that route. (based on your needs as dictated above, I'm assuming this is for audio/video conferencing) In my humble opinion, USB outperforms analog here; you get a dedicated sound device that can be reserved for the conference media, and in the Sennheiser case, the mute button on the USB dongle is teamed with the on-screen mute button in more than one conferencing app, so I can mute/unmute (no ptt, but a hardwire button is pretty close, especially if you get state replication on-screen) from the cable or by toggling in the user interface of for instance M$ Teams.

I second this answer, although you can also cheaper headsets as long as they are USB ones. I got mine from Amazon for something like £10 with inline dongle which has mic mute and volume up and down buttons, ideal for Discord etc. I’ll post a link to mine later when I can find them on Amazon.

[BU508A]

As some of you are a lot more versed in computer matters, maybe someone can help:
- my T60 does have a headphone jack and an external mic jack. Does that mean that it will not take those headsets with a 4-circuit tip-and-ring connector?
- Can a computer headset have a PTT key?
- I'm looking for a lightweight headset, with minimal pressure. I would like it to have a volume control, and, if that exists, a PTT. But it should be able to work without PTT too. Should be good/premium quality. No gaming headset, no closed ones.

I can recommend this one (I've bought it for the discord sessions, works nicely under Linux):

https://www.amazon.de/Sennheiser-PC-USB-Headset-schwarz/dp/B005HWEZGG/

[Specmaster]

As some of you are a lot more versed in computer matters, maybe someone can help:
- my T60 does have a headphone jack and an external mic jack. Does that mean that it will not take those headsets with a 4-circuit tip-and-ring connector?
- Can a computer headset have a PTT key?
- I'm looking for a lightweight headset, with minimal pressure. I would like it to have a volume control, and, if that exists, a PTT. But it should be able to work without PTT too. Should be good/premium quality. No gaming headset, no closed ones.

As mentioned in my earlier posting, here is the one that I got from Amazon. I did however get the pricing wrong, I actually paid £19.99 not the £10 I thought. I see that the price has now been increased to £33.99.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B06XX7SYP2/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o08_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

[Specmaster]

Labour sold them out under PFI. Conservatives are just finishing the job. Have Bupa free at work 

Edit: Just a moan as well about some of the shit out there and how it works. People bitch about amazon and say "hey it's unfair with local shops".

Amazon supply chain vs other retailers:

Supplier -> Amazon logistics -> you .... pay £74.99
Supplier -> local distributor -> retailer -> logistics -> you .... pay £109.99

Which is the issue with this case I'm looking at. The price differential comes from a more efficient supply chain which has environmental, pricing and support benefits. I stand by efficiency over job creation which is what we are really doing.

If only people stopped fucking. That'd solve all the problems 

In the long run monopolists owning the market and deciding how things go for everyone is never a good idea.

One of the great problems with monopolists is that you get a reduced choice. Its very much what they stock, take it or leave it, consumer choice is eroded.

[bsw_m]

New toy arrived. In new old stock condition


This is Voltmeter/Picoammeter.
With lowest metrologically significant current 10^-15A and resolution 10^-16A.
As voltmeter this unit can measure voltages from 10uV to 200V with input impedance is greater than 10^14.

This unit is 30year old, and demanded replacement of electrolytic capacitors, which was done. I'm replaced old capacitors with new Epcos B41858 and B41859 series.

Some techporn, input commutator with sapphire insulators: 

[AVGresponding]

As some of you are a lot more versed in computer matters, maybe someone can help:
- my T60 does have a headphone jack and an external mic jack. Does that mean that it will not take those headsets with a 4-circuit tip-and-ring connector?
- Can a computer headset have a PTT key?
- I'm looking for a lightweight headset, with minimal pressure. I would like it to have a volume control, and, if that exists, a PTT. But it should be able to work without PTT too. Should be good/premium quality. No gaming headset, no closed ones.

I just use one of these:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/3-5mm-Audio-Y-Splitter-Cable-Lead-Adapter-for-Mic-Microphone-Headphone-Headset/202736016425


They aren't horribly expensive. As for PTT, I just bind an infrequently used keyboard key in the app. Usually for me that means the right arrow key.

Labour sold them out under PFI. Conservatives are just finishing the job. Have Bupa free at work 

Edit: Just a moan as well about some of the shit out there and how it works. People bitch about amazon and say "hey it's unfair with local shops".

Amazon supply chain vs other retailers:

Supplier -> Amazon logistics -> you .... pay £74.99
Supplier -> local distributor -> retailer -> logistics -> you .... pay £109.99

Which is the issue with this case I'm looking at. The price differential comes from a more efficient supply chain which has environmental, pricing and support benefits. I stand by efficiency over job creation which is what we are really doing.

If only people stopped fucking. That'd solve all the problems 

In the long run monopolists owning the market and deciding how things go for everyone is never a good idea.

One of the great problems with monopolists is that you get a reduced choice. Its very much what they stock, take it or leave it, consumer choice is eroded.

It wasn't Labour that started the NHS fire sale, it was New Labour. Blairites were never socialists, they just used clever PR to hijack the party for their own ends.

Still one of the best anagrams I've ever seen is: Tony Blair MP = I'm Tory Plan B. How appropriate.

[Ero-Shan]

I don't think so. I will however get rid of a lot of stuff I need to get rid of.

Owning too much stuff is just a burden. Anybody interested in a couple of motorbikes, stereo sets, pinballs or my husband's knife collection 

If I had the space I'd be very interested in one (or even more  ) pinballs ... But I'm content with Timeshock on the PC.

[capt bullshot]

I don't think so. I will however get rid of a lot of stuff I need to get rid of.

Owning too much stuff is just a burden. Anybody interested in a couple of motorbikes, stereo sets, pinballs or my husband's knife collection 

If I had the space I'd be very interested in one (or even more  ) pinballs ... But I'm content with Timeshock on the PC.

Of course, a physical pinball is the real thing, but for the same reason I'm bound to TEA Tetris

[med6753]

It appears I am not the only one bursting at the seams with little room to spare. I am not quite sure what to do with the 561B after I finish restoring it. 

Sell something? Perish the thought. 

[bd139]

It’s cursed now so sell it 

Today my choices are: mow the lawn, fuck around trying to get a working media server. Think I’m going to skip both and piss off out for a walk.

[med6753]

Pray tell, how is it cursed? It's fully recovered from the fireworks display. 

[BU508A]

Undetected havoc after the fireworks incident?         

[med6753]

We shall see once I get the 2 plug-in's sorted out and installed. 

[tonyalbus]

New toy arrived. In new old stock condition


This is Voltmeter/Picoammeter.
With lowest metrologically significant current 10^-15A and resolution 10^-16A.
As voltmeter this unit can measure voltages from 10uV to 200V with input impedance is greater than 10^14.

This unit is 30year old, and demanded replacement of electrolytic capacitors, which was done. I'm replaced old capacitors with new Epcos B41858 and B41859 series.

Some techporn, input commutator with sapphire insulators: 

sweet!!!

[tonyalbus]

Yess .........Whoohooo........

)))))))))))))))))))))))))

[bsw_m]

Nice toy! 

[tonyalbus]

Nice toy! 

Thanks!

just in today.........  tonight i try it...... let's see how bad my frequency counters are adjusted ;-)
still waiting for the distribution amp with devider from 10Mhz to 1Mhz for teh Marconi which has an old 1Mhz ref and not 10Mhz..
hopefully next week...it takes a few mounths nowedays..

[Zucca]

tonyalbus nice puppy.

This is how my life was changed by TEA virus lately:

1) There was a nice discussion about DNS in some pages back and since yesterday I have my new pfSense box with internal DNS Resolver (Unbound) running.
I am still testing and learning, I do not know exactely how to fine tune this monster but something like this seems intesting:
https://docs.netgate.com/pfsense/en/latest/dns/redirecting-all-dns-requests-to-pfsense.html#

PS: This entire IP, DNS, Network IT seems so complicated but one day everything slowly becomes cristal clear some how.

2) Because the mech keyboard discussion (thanks bd), I bought a used cherry Mx red switches one (see here). I currently have an unLogictec brown switches one, curious to see how the difference is. 

[xrunner]

Yess .........Whoohooo........

)))))))))))))))))))))))))

Cool I got the 2017 version, but it works great and locks on fast.

[Zucca]

Am I the only one curious to know what Dave does think about us? He barely mention us.
PS: A big thank to you all, not only we do not need a mod, but also there is always something interesting to learn here and the tech level is very high for my standards.

[BU508A]

(Attachment Link)

Am I the only one curious to know what Dave does think about us? He barely mention us.
PS: A big thank to you all, not only we do not need a mod, but also there is always something interesting to learn here and the tech level is very high for my standards.

He's checking from time to time if the usual madness is still at work.   

[xrunner]

Am I the only one curious to know what Dave does think about us? He barely mention us.
PS: A big thank to you all, not only we do not need a mod, but also there is always something interesting to learn here and the tech level is very high for my standards.

He's probably scouring us looking for a nasty political debate so he can shut this monster down. 

[Zucca]

If you are interested in some DNS alternatives, perhaps you want to check out these:

https://securedns.eu/

https://dismail.de/info.html#dns

https://digitalcourage.de/support/zensurfreier-dns-server  (Sorry, it's in German)

https://www.digitale-gesellschaft.ch/dns/ (a service based in Switzerland, site is in German)

Sorry to dig out something old, any other DNS you can suggest? Even not free DNS is something I would consider (;-) my few $/year to fastmail are the best investment I made since a long time, sooo....).

  thanks folks!

[BU508A]

Yess .........Whoohooo........

)))))))))))))))))))))))))

I have the one without the display. Very nice device.   

https://www.ebay.com/itm/113744749751

[BU508A]

If you are interested in some DNS alternatives, perhaps you want to check out these:

https://securedns.eu/

https://dismail.de/info.html#dns

https://digitalcourage.de/support/zensurfreier-dns-server  (Sorry, it's in German)

https://www.digitale-gesellschaft.ch/dns/ (a service based in Switzerland, site is in German)

Sorry to dig out something old, any other DNS you can suggest? Even not free DNS is something I would consider (;-) my few $/year to fastmail are the best investment I made since a long time, sooo....).

  thanks folks!

securedns.eu is down
digitalcourage seems to have some technical issues
dismail and digitale-gesellschaft are looking okay, but I do not have any experiences with them.
mansaxel is the one with a profound knowledge about DNS, perhaps he can give you some recommendations.