Test Equipment Anonymous (TEA) group therapy thread

[0culus]

Got some new bubble LED goodness on the bench tonight....and it's not a calculator? 

Cute! A big clock with a f-ing tiny display.
Is it GPS synced?

Is it GPS synced?

GPS did not exist when the 59309A was designed. It has an input for an external frequency reference and can be set over HPIB so could be synced to GPS given a GPSDO and HPIB controller, but not it's not a GPS clock.
I've always wanted one though.

Yep, this. This clock is a product of the 1970s. 

[Specmaster]

The 310 fan base chassis has been cleaned up and repainted. Decided to go with a matte gray finish. Going to let it sit for 24 hours before reassembly.

Med, that looks lovely, what a transformation 

[AVGresponding]

I would but ebay is completely empty and everything I have works 

Huh?

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Solartron-Schlumberger-Model-7150-Digital-Multimeter-With-Power-Lead-and-Manual/184515833221


https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Vintage-JVC-7875GB-Television-For-Parts-03-11-JW9/264923745735


https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Fluke-28-II-True-RMS-Digital-Multimeter-Good-used-condition/264921038300


https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/HP-8664A-signal-generator/274557260156


https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Nicolet-Pro-60-4-Kanal-Digitaloszilloskop-Transientenschreiber-200MHz/353248067143


https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/FLUKE-87-true-RMS-Digital-Multimeter-with-backlight-leads-and-shock-BOXED/193734049795


https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Fluke-87V-True-RMS-Multimeter/393000057083


https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/HP-8904A-DC-600kHz-Multifunction-Synthesizer-opt-001-002-003-10/324101294632


https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Fluke-8100B-Digital-Multimeter-with-Nixie-Tubes/184486378815


https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Advance-Instruments-Digital-Multimeter-DMM2-vintage-rare/293783118443


https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/HP-3488A-SWITCH-CONTROL-UNIT/383727236913


https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Keithley-199-System-DMM-Scanner-1/224131612234


https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/GENERAL-RADIO-M5G3-3-PHASE-AIRCRAFT-FREQUENCY-VARIAC-8/324312200845


https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Hewlett-Packard-3468B-Multimeter/263969499580


https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/NICOLET-460-DIGITAL-STORAGE-OSCILLOSCOPE-4x200MHz-FFT-L533/284065726288


https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/AVO-TT169-Transistor-Tester-R4/324282714338


https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/EKCO-Electronics-M2212A-2/223999143594


That's just an edited down version of my watch list, as there are some things that I don't want you vultures laying your beady little eyes upon.

As for wanting stuff to repair, you could just lend something to Uncle Bumblebutt, I'm sure he could help you out there...

[bd139]

The 310 fan base chassis has been cleaned up and repainted. Decided to go with a matte gray finish. Going to let it sit for 24 hours before reassembly.

Excellent job. Couldn’t be in better hands 

[mnementh]

Is that actual matte grey, or are you doing it street-rodder style and stopping with the primer...?    If the latter... I've learnt the hard way that it really IS worth the time to give 'er a couple coats of satin clear acrylic.

The first dirty fingerprint you can't get off drives that point home, every. fucking. time.   

mnem
One of those gifts that just keeps on giving...

[xrunner]

The 310 fan base chassis has been cleaned up and repainted. Decided to go with a matte gray finish. Going to let it sit for 24 hours before reassembly.

Looks great. How do you clean out rust? Any tips?

[mnementh]

I would but ebay is completely empty and everything I have works 

Huh?




That's just an edited down version of my watch list, as there are some things that I don't want you vultures laying your beady little eyes upon.

As for wanting stuff to repair, you could just lend something to Uncle Bumblebutt, I'm sure he could help you out there...

As I've recently advised the group; Uncle BumbleButt is available for hire.

Is it just me, or is that thing really bleeding black demon ichor from its guts all over the screen...?

mnem

[tautech]

The 310 fan base chassis has been cleaned up and repainted. Decided to go with a matte gray finish. Going to let it sit for 24 hours before reassembly.

Looks great. How do you clean out rust? Any tips?

40% Phosphoric acid = Jenolite rust neutraliser.

[mansaxel]

I don't buy Lidl tools as a rule. Same as I didn't buy Rolson ones

I have no such policy. I have an air ratchet from them that is noisy and wastes air, but, since I've got a 3-phase compressor and ear defenders, it means that the price, ~nothing, actually, is totally acceptable.

It's sooo good to be able to loosen and pre-tighten awkward nuts and bolts on the car by air. The impact wrench I've also got is more or less permanently set to CCW, because it is a nut-fucker par excellence with its 250Nm torque.

I did break a M12 bolt once using just a breaker bar. That was fun.



Looks like whipped cream in the shear surface.  I had a new one; it came with the wheel bearing kit I was replacing.

[McBryce]

Perhaps there aren't that many Americans who can count left? 

Edit: in no way am I suggesting we're any better here. We're not far off rural Alabama in some places.

The ones that can't count are also the ones who breed and have 10 kids. We are fucked. 

This has already been documented in a film:
https://archive.org/details/idiocracy_202005       

Brilliant film  "If you have a bucket that holds 2 gallons and another bucket that holds 5 gallons, how many barrels do you have?" 

Depends on whether they are US or imperial gallons.

@med6753: Even your grey looks blue!

McBryce.

[Specmaster]

@AVGresponding, well for me and I suspect, much the same for bd139, these are too rich for my blood, we both tend to look for things that we can add value to, these don't seem to fit that bill. If they need anything done to them, by the time the auction finishes, they are likely to end up much higher price and then add in the extra parts etc, any possible margins later on are severely eroded or even disappeared.

[Specmaster]

Perhaps there aren't that many Americans who can count left? 

Edit: in no way am I suggesting we're any better here. We're not far off rural Alabama in some places.

The ones that can't count are also the ones who breed and have 10 kids. We are fucked. 

This has already been documented in a film:
https://archive.org/details/idiocracy_202005       

Brilliant film  "If you have a bucket that holds 2 gallons and another bucket that holds 5 gallons, how many barrels do you have?" 

Depends on whether they are US or imperial gallons.

@med6753: Even your grey looks blue!

McBryce.

See my later post, I screwed the quote up and altered the question and thus lost the impact and the punchline of the line in the film, it is not how many barrels do you have, it should be how many buckets 

[Cerebus]

@AVGresponding, well for me and I suspect, much the same for bd139, these are too rich for my blood, we both tend to look for things that we can add value to, these don't seem to fit that bill. If they need anything done to them, by the time the auction finishes, they are likely to end up much higher price and then add in the extra parts etc, any possible margins later on are severely eroded or even disappeared.

You're just trying to avoid the c________e word, aren't you? 

[Specmaster]

@AVGresponding, well for me and I suspect, much the same for bd139, these are too rich for my blood, we both tend to look for things that we can add value to, these don't seem to fit that bill. If they need anything done to them, by the time the auction finishes, they are likely to end up much higher price and then add in the extra parts etc, any possible margins later on are severely eroded or even disappeared.

You're just trying to avoid the c________e word, aren't you? 

Could be, if I knew what that word is meant to be 

Edit: If that word is cheapskate, then yes, guilty as charged and I'll happily wear that badge with pride 

[tonyalbus]

Can you believe this guy... now he it putting switches in the front of his WB-SG1 BG7TBL and FA-2 BG7TBL. 

[bd139]

You're the modern version of that guy who sticks a random toggle switch on the front of a Heathkit which simultaneously irks and puzzles various new owners.

I occasionally do that with a configuration flag in software for a laugh:

Code: [Select]

# do not change this
float32_correction_factor = 1.000000000001


[tggzzz]

You're the modern version of that guy who sticks a random toggle switch on the front of a Heathkit which simultaneously irks and puzzles various new owners.

I occasionally do that with a configuration flag in software for a laugh:

Code: [Select]

# do not change this
float32_correction_factor = 1.000000000001


If you really want to mindfuck people that think their unit tests are wonderful then there's a neat trick in Java: change the value of Integer(2).

I forget the details, but the implementation of class Integer contains a class java.lang.Integer.IntegerCache. That is an efficiency hack which contains instances of Integer between -128 and 127. Anytime you instantiate an Integer, if it is in the IntegerCache you get a reference to the unique cached version, not a new object. So simply locate the IntegerCache and, say, swap the cached versions of Integer(1) and Integer(2). That should bugger any non-trivial unit test

[bd139]

That's interestingly dangerous. Sounds similar to interning. You could, if you're a sick and twisted individual like me, swap them on DST change as well just to throw people off the problem

[mnementh]

Perhaps there aren't that many Americans who can count left? 

Edit: in no way am I suggesting we're any better here. We're not far off rural Alabama in some places.

The ones that can't count are also the ones who breed and have 10 kids. We are fucked. 

This has already been documented in a film:
https://archive.org/details/idiocracy_202005       

Brilliant film  "If you have a bucket that holds 2 gallons and another bucket that holds 5 gallons, how many barrels do you have?" 

Depends on whether they are US or imperial gallons.

@med6753: Even your grey looks blue!

McBryce.

See my later post, I screwed the quote up and altered the question and thus lost the impact and the punchline of the line in the film, it is not how many barrels do you have, it should be how many buckets 

But in all honesty... the way you said it makes about as much sense as politics today, so...    

mnem
"If you leave on a northbound train traveling at 40MPH... and Senator ArseMonkey leaves on a southbound train traveling at 60MPH... how many Oreo cookies before the second coming of Lord 'elpus...?"

[Specmaster]

Perhaps there aren't that many Americans who can count left? 

Edit: in no way am I suggesting we're any better here. We're not far off rural Alabama in some places.

The ones that can't count are also the ones who breed and have 10 kids. We are fucked. 

This has already been documented in a film:
https://archive.org/details/idiocracy_202005       

Brilliant film  "If you have a bucket that holds 2 gallons and another bucket that holds 5 gallons, how many barrels do you have?" 

Depends on whether they are US or imperial gallons.

@med6753: Even your grey looks blue!

McBryce.

See my later post, I screwed the quote up and altered the question and thus lost the impact and the punchline of the line in the film, it is not how many barrels do you have, it should be how many buckets 

But in all honesty... the way you said it makes about as much sense as politics today, so...    

mnem
"If you leave on a northbound train traveling at 40MPH... and Senator ArseMonkey leaves on a southbound train traveling at 60MPH... how many Oreo cookies before the second coming of Lord 'elpus...?"

You need to watch the film to get the joke...

[mnementh]

You're the modern version of that guy who sticks a random toggle switch on the front of a Heathkit which simultaneously irks and puzzles various new owners.

I occasionally do that with a configuration flag in software for a laugh:

Code: [Select]

# do not change this
float32_correction_factor = 1.000000000001


If you really want to mindfuck people that think their unit tests are wonderful then there's a neat trick in Java: change the value of Integer(2).

I forget the details, but the implementation of class Integer contains a class java.lang.Integer.IntegerCache. That is an efficiency hack which contains instances of Integer between -128 and 127. Anytime you instantiate an Integer, if it is in the IntegerCache you get a reference to the unique cached version, not a new object. So simply locate the IntegerCache and, say, swap the cached versions of Integer(1) and Integer(2). That should bugger any non-trivial unit test

Heh... reminds me of the MAGIC : MORE MAGIC switch from The MIT Folklore Project... 

http://www.catb.org/~esr/jargon/html/magic-story.html

mnem
*currently teaching my son to work smarter, not harder*

[Cerebus]

You're the modern version of that guy who sticks a random toggle switch on the front of a Heathkit which simultaneously irks and puzzles various new owners.

I occasionally do that with a configuration flag in software for a laugh:

Code: [Select]

# do not change this
float32_correction_factor = 1.000000000001


If you really want to mindfuck people that think their unit tests are wonderful then there's a neat trick in Java: change the value of Integer(2).

I forget the details, but the implementation of class Integer contains a class java.lang.Integer.IntegerCache. That is an efficiency hack which contains instances of Integer between -128 and 127. Anytime you instantiate an Integer, if it is in the IntegerCache you get a reference to the unique cached version, not a new object. So simply locate the IntegerCache and, say, swap the cached versions of Integer(1) and Integer(2). That should bugger any non-trivial unit test

People like you are the reason why all computers should be capability architecture machines.

[bd139]

You're the modern version of that guy who sticks a random toggle switch on the front of a Heathkit which simultaneously irks and puzzles various new owners.

I occasionally do that with a configuration flag in software for a laugh:

Code: [Select]

# do not change this
float32_correction_factor = 1.000000000001


If you really want to mindfuck people that think their unit tests are wonderful then there's a neat trick in Java: change the value of Integer(2).

I forget the details, but the implementation of class Integer contains a class java.lang.Integer.IntegerCache. That is an efficiency hack which contains instances of Integer between -128 and 127. Anytime you instantiate an Integer, if it is in the IntegerCache you get a reference to the unique cached version, not a new object. So simply locate the IntegerCache and, say, swap the cached versions of Integer(1) and Integer(2). That should bugger any non-trivial unit test

Holy crap that is actually sickening. I made it work (disclaimer: some is copy and paste. I am not a java programmer, usually anyway):

Code: [Select]

import java.lang.reflect.Field;

public class Main { 
   
  public static void fuckUpTheUniverse() {
     try {
     Class<?> integerCache = Class.forName("java.lang.Integer$IntegerCache");
        Field field = integerCache.getDeclaredField("cache");
        field.setAccessible(true);
        Integer[] cache = (Integer[]) field.get(null);
        for (int i = 0; i < 10; i++)
            cache[128+i] = 9;
     } catch(Exception e) {}
  }
   
  public static void main(String args[]) {
    fuckUpTheUniverse();   

    for (int i = 0; i < 10; i++)
        displayCount(i);
  }
 
  public static void displayCount(Integer i) {
    System.out.println("item is: " + i);
  }
}

Output:

Code: [Select]

item is: 9
item is: 9
item is: 9
item is: 9
item is: 9
item is: 9
item is: 9
item is: 9
item is: 9
item is: 9



 

Source if you want to play: https://jdoodle.com/ia/3Qw (pick JDK 8 or it complains)

Only happens if it goes through a type boxing operation i.e. the reference to Integer on the function call.

[tggzzz]

You're the modern version of that guy who sticks a random toggle switch on the front of a Heathkit which simultaneously irks and puzzles various new owners.

I occasionally do that with a configuration flag in software for a laugh:

Code: [Select]

# do not change this
float32_correction_factor = 1.000000000001


If you really want to mindfuck people that think their unit tests are wonderful then there's a neat trick in Java: change the value of Integer(2).

I forget the details, but the implementation of class Integer contains a class java.lang.Integer.IntegerCache. That is an efficiency hack which contains instances of Integer between -128 and 127. Anytime you instantiate an Integer, if it is in the IntegerCache you get a reference to the unique cached version, not a new object. So simply locate the IntegerCache and, say, swap the cached versions of Integer(1) and Integer(2). That should bugger any non-trivial unit test

People like you are the reason why all computers should be capability architecture machines.

If you look at the classic "Smalltalk: Bits of History Words of Advice", you will see a chapter devoted to Smalltalk on the iAPX432, which is not far off a capability machine.

If you look at the Burroughs computers (which have similar security guarantees), you will find a lot of their security rests on being forbidden from executing a program that wasn't created using the golden system tools.

[tggzzz]

You're the modern version of that guy who sticks a random toggle switch on the front of a Heathkit which simultaneously irks and puzzles various new owners.

I occasionally do that with a configuration flag in software for a laugh:

Code: [Select]

# do not change this
float32_correction_factor = 1.000000000001


If you really want to mindfuck people that think their unit tests are wonderful then there's a neat trick in Java: change the value of Integer(2).

I forget the details, but the implementation of class Integer contains a class java.lang.Integer.IntegerCache. That is an efficiency hack which contains instances of Integer between -128 and 127. Anytime you instantiate an Integer, if it is in the IntegerCache you get a reference to the unique cached version, not a new object. So simply locate the IntegerCache and, say, swap the cached versions of Integer(1) and Integer(2). That should bugger any non-trivial unit test

Holy crap that is actually sickening. I made it work (disclaimer: some is copy and paste. I am not a java programmer, usually anyway):

Glad to be of (dis)service.