Electrical Engineering

Sathya

02:26

@Kortuk just dropping by :)

Anindo Ghosh

03:52

grEEtz

jippie

05:50

good morning

angelatlarge

07:22

@jippie Hallo. Still here?

jippie

maybe

only for good news

angelatlarge

@jippie Don't know about good news: I was thinking about your answer to my problem: you still had error-type behavior using gcc 4.7.0 if you did not have -Os, right?

jippie

only -O0. avr/delay.h freaks out

you might need to update libc-avr too

if that is not in the same package

angelatlarge

@jippie No, avr-libc is something else. But the delay routines freaking out should not affect the logic of the code anyway. Did you happen to look at the address of latchingFlag in the -O0 compilation?

jippie

No, because it didn't compile.

angelatlarge

07:34

@jippie Wait, that should have been just a warning, so it should have compiled.

jippie

ba: 80 93 00 01 sts 0x0100, r24

I have a -Werror, because I have been bitten by 'just a warning' a few times.

and it is good programming practice to program without warnings.

angelatlarge

Ah. OK, well, in that case gcc 4.7.0 looks like will be the solution, if I can get it to compile under cygwin :)

jippie

I believe ubuntu 13.04 is at 4.7.2, but I won't be on 13.04 for another 2 wks

meaning to say that 4.7.2 apparently is a well tested release too.

/me is out. Have to get some work done that is actually paying my bills.

user61389

11:49

Hi there!

PeterJ

12:10

@CamilStaps, hi and bye! I'm hitting the sack, a long few days of working on a not very interesting non-ee database type project and I need to go to bed and dream of diodes or something.

user61389

@PeterJ hah, goodnight!

jippie

14:04

Will a 555 work when swithing the timing R's and C? So C to Vcc and R to GND?

I think not as the discharge transistor will actually charge the cap, same as the reistors do.

user61389

@jippie you were the guy of the experimental knowledge, weren't you ;) but indeed, I think not

user61389

Why would you want it?

jippie

because

user61389

:)

jippie

I was thinking the 72LED question. I added an inverter, then I thought could I change the 555 timer.

1

Q: Driving 72 leds with 555 timer

I want to make a circuit with a 555 timer to run 72 LEDs all at the same time. I have already made a circuit, but am not sure If it will work safe and long or not. I am putting the picture of the circuit and I want anybody who can help to look at it and see if it needs some extra components. Plea...

led

then I thought what if the cap attached to Vcc instead of GND

then I thought hmmm ... no

probably possible to misuse the discharge transistor for this use.

user61389

14:08

Hmm, I see. I'd love to hear the why?? for that question as well, by the way

jippie

but at what pin is disch.

user61389

7

jippie

how do you make it appear as a 7?

user61389

[7](http://www.ti.com/lit/ds/symlink/ne555.pdf)

jippie

pff

user61389

14:15

Basic markdown :P

user61389

The [text][n] ... [n]: some-link is complicated

jippie

¿

user61389

I don't think there is a Complicated SE, but Arduino ([arduino.se]) should work?

David Kessner

15:00

@jippie The whole premise of that Q is just WRONG. VERY WRONG.

What I've been working on: facebook.com/…

But I can't say more than what is in the FB post. :(

Johan Larsson

Anyone here with experience with air bearings?

jippie

@DavidKessner have you been hiding behind another login to ask how to light that scene with 72 LEDs?

David Kessner

15:17

@jippie I will not disclose my sock puppets! :)

@JohanLarsson Nope.

jippie

@JohanLarsson is that similar to an air hook?

rawbrawb

@JohanLarsson years ago ... probably not be able to help you, but you can ask. Are you making them or using bought ones?

jippie

easa.antville.org/stories/1699657

Johan Larsson

We have problems with vibrations in an air bearing in a machine. I'm gonna make a prototype to play around with to try to solve the problem.

It is a plate of steel with four pockets for air that rests on another flat plate of steel

My idea is to add porous sealings for the pockets

I'm thinking something similar to cigarette filter

The plate is 500x500 mm and we are lifting ~1000 kg

rawbrawb

Is this a new machine or is this a new behaviour for an old machine?

Johan Larsson

15:24

trying to solve the problem in old machines and develop a concept for future ones

rawbrawb

what frequency is the vibration?

Johan Larsson

hmm my guesstimate is ~10Hz

We have no sealings in the current design

rawbrawb

how much of an air gap are you generating? and the pressure used to lift?

Johan Larsson

My thinking is that that causes the pressure to build up and collapse and loop

rawbrawb

For you to get chatter with a 1000 Kg mass on there that's a pretty major event!

Johan Larsson

15:28

I don't have data for the pressure but if I remember correctly we adjust it to ~3bar

rawbrawb

@JohanLarsson that's almost certainly what it is. Is it damaging the bearing surfaces?

Johan Larsson

I don't really need to create a gap, lifting 950 kg would be sweet (to reduce friction)

@rawbrawb We have a failover design with teflon coatings on the bearing surfaces

We need to be able to use it without air now and then

There has not been that much wear on the surfaces

rawbrawb

My first thought is to have a wiper/seal around the outer edge of the air pocket, to make the transistion from sealed to unsealed less abrupt.

Johan Larsson

yeah

rawbrawb

Is that were you filter idea is coming in too?

Johan Larsson

15:31

Gonna send a couple of emails tomorrow to suppliers and ask for suggestions on what to use for seals

@rawbrawb yep

The problem main problem with the vibrations is that we loose accuracy. Need to position it with submicron precision.

rawbrawb

@JohanLarsson another thing would be to increase the volume (but not the cross sectional area) of each pocket. That increases it's springy-ness and changes that transistion. I wonder if baffles inside the pocket might also help with dampening it.

Johan Larsson

that is a good idea

rawbrawb

more and smaller pockets of teh same cross sectional area?

Johan Larsson

But i suspect that the low viscosity of air will let even a large volume of air to escape pretty quickly if there is a gap

rawbrawb

more pockets but run at less pressure?

@JohanLarsson yes, that is true, so if you have more volume behind it, the pocket doesn't collapse on the same time scale as the response form the inertia of the platform.

The Photon

15:36

@JohanLarsson You're getting close to some of my experience, but unfortunately not close enough I'd be able to help you in the least.

Johan Larsson

np, just though I should ask here.

got some good feedback

rawbrawb

I am imagining a bellows/type baffle on teh inside. I'll qucikly sketch something p an dget back to you in a second.

Johan Larsson

@rawbrawb another thing i have been thinking about is the bounds of the pocket. if there is a gap and air is leaking out there is probably a pressure gradient making the effective area with pressure larger. that will probably be solved by sealings as well

@rawbrawb I'm gonna try o-ring || x-ring also

rawbrawb

@JohanLarsson yes, but that just gave me an idea. what would happen if you deliberately taper that area? that will give you a better control response too!

Johan Larsson

hmm don't understand (kinda weak in English here :)

rawbrawb

15:41

@JohanLarsson I don't think O ring will work because of the abruptness of the o-ring unsealing. X-ring will be better.

@JohanLarsson this is meant to be rotationally symmetric.

Johan Larsson

the pocket to the left in the pic right? the sealing is the 'lip'?

rawbrawb

That is the inside surface of an airpocket (only one corner) the structure would act almost like a scraper but be compliant (flexible)

I'll draw it up to be clearer.

Johan Larsson

don't spend too much time on it

I'm going to ask around for suggestions on sealings and take it from there

it was good to get feedback that the idea with sealings is worth investigating

also 17:49 here, should go home soon, gf has dinner ready :D

I will try to remember to share my findings when i get responses from suppliers

& ty sir!

rawbrawb

OK good luck.

angelatlarge

16:13

Hi all.

Just mosied over to see the new What If, then clicked Previous and now I am wondering about how Randall Munroe feels about the last What If...

what-if.xkcd.com/40

David Kessner

@angelatlarge Yeah. But the use of pressure cookers for bombs is not new. Al Qaeda has referred to them in their literature for years.

rawbrawb

@angelatlarge that comment about flourine is appropos.

angelatlarge

@DavidKessner Sure (I take your word for it, not being familiar with Al Queda literature). I was just noting the appearance of "What's the worst thing you can do with a pressure cooker" on a popular boston-based comics site.

David Kessner

@angelatlarge I will bow with great respect to anyone who makes a baseball go the speed of light and just happens to blow up a city in the process.

I think we should bad high capacity pressure cookers. No responsible person would ever need more than 10 ribs in a cooker.

rawbrawb

@DavidKessner no responsible person would COOK ribs in a pressure cooker.

W5VO

16:27

@rawbrawb This is the true crime

David Kessner

@rawbrawb Terrorists are not like us.

W5VO

@DavidKessner Do they not respect our culinary traditions? What savage would cook ribs in a pressure cooker?

rawbrawb

@DavidKessner they need more ribs!

David Kessner

@rawbrawb PORK ribs, of course.

rawbrawb

@DavidKessner need you mention it?

David Kessner

16:31

@rawbrawb It depends on where you are. Beef in India. Pork in Israel. Tofu in Kentucky. Let's see, how can I make this more offensive... :)

rawbrawb

@DavidKessner Tofu .... thank you for that one. I really was LMAO ....

@DavidKessner seems like you kept your edge from yesterday.

David Kessner

@rawbrawb I'm trying to work on my consistency. I hope to get my sarcasm ISO-9000 certified.

jippie

I'm not even allowed to look at the current questions on Arduino proposal!?

rawbrawb

@DavidKessner but NOT ISO-14000?

@jippie is that a BAD thing?

jippie

@rawbrawb I want to know how many Fritzing diagrams are up (my worst fear for the Arduino proposal)

@rawbrawb and maybe it is much better than I expected, then I want in ;o)

rawbrawb

16:40

@jippie I guess that is a disease?

David Kessner

@jippie, we're worried about you. As your friends, we felt that it was our duty to intervene on this part of your life before you ruined it. First it's just a little Arduino. Before you know it, you're into hard core PIC's. We can't let that happen.

Anindo Ghosh

Jippie I can invite you.

jippie

These are Fritzing'like images I mean:

rawbrawb

@DavidKessner "hard core PIC" => A true Oxymoron

The Photon

@DavidKessner I think it's the other way. Pretty soon he'll be doing all his schematics in Fritzing and telling us a "sketch" should be good enough for anyone --- only dorks write C.

jippie

16:41

@AnindoGhosh Neh I feel like I am comitting to something I don't have the time and patience for. Thx.

Anindo Ghosh

Multi core pic

David Kessner

@ThePhoton Oh, it's worse than I thought!

jippie

@AnindoGhosh Which doesn't make me less curious about the site.

And when I tried to enter it said: 'Beta for one more day'

(at least)

so I'll come back tomorrow :)

angelatlarge

I have to admit, I feel dirty now for having a pressure cooker.

rawbrawb

@angelatlarge did you feel dirty for having driven a vehicle after Oklahoma city ? You're being silly.

angelatlarge

16:46

@rawbrawb I don't know. I've never have tried driving a vehicle in OKC

rawbrawb

@angelatlarge really trying hard to hang on to that one aren't you? ;)

@angelatlarge any new news on the ground i.e. local? it's tapered off in ROW, around here anyway.

jippie

What would a scope like "MSO71254C Oscilloscope: 12.5GHz, 50 GS/s - 100 GS/s, 10M point - 250M point, 4 Analog Channels " cost?

rawbrawb

@jippie only about 1000 euro, send the money to me in the next hour and I'll get you one fast!

jippie

@rawbrawb wait a minute, are these 100k$+ scopes they're trying to sell me?

rawbrawb

Oh and it comes free withe arduiino.se account! if you answer in the next 20 minutes

The Photon

16:52

@jippie First listing I found said $157k.

12.5 GHz is not for hobbyists.

rawbrawb

well then better act fast!

jippie

I found one at 237k

@ThePhoton why not?

I know how to use a scope

The Photon

@jippie Maybe if the hobbyist is Steve Wozniak.

jippie

@ThePhoton on the other hand I would probably sell it if I had one and buy a house for it

rawbrawb

@jippie if you sold it you wouldn't need a house for it.

The Photon

16:54

@jippie Would be a nice down payment around here, but wouldn't buy much of a house :(

jippie

For the 35% discount I can buy a new Cooper :-P

/me is out for a little

The Photon

17:15

I'm starting to think that the Velvet Underground wasn't the best choice for background music while trying to do layout...

rawbrawb

@ThePhoton LOL - Shiny Shiny, Shiny routes of leather!

angelatlarge

@rawbrawb A friend just told me that Wesboro Baptist is planning to protest the funerals.

rawbrawb

@angelatlarge Oooh crap, those pople are Evil.

I was going to correct my spelling but realized they aren't people so don't deserve a correction of a typo.

@angelatlarge Did you see that one counter protest where the people stood between those bastards and the family? a huge turn out! that's what you need to do!

The Photon

The Gift (The Velvet Underground song)

"The Gift" is the second track that appears on White Light/White Heat, the 1968 second album by The Velvet Underground. The song is over eight minutes long and mixed in such a way that a short story can be heard in the left speaker, while a rock instrumental is heard on the right. Elements Short story The short story, recited by a deadpan John Cale, was written by Lou Reed as a writing project during his college days. The narrative concerns Waldo Jeffers, a lovesick youth, who has engaged in a distressing long-distance relationship with his college girlfriend Marsha Bronson. After thei...

rawbrawb

@angelatlarge theweek.com/article/index/237980/…

angelatlarge

17:23

@rawbrawb Yeah, I was thinking of going to that. The only issue is that the first thing is tomorrow morning at 9am, and Obama will be there, which probably means a huge turnout anyway.

rawbrawb

@ThePhoton Ok, not a good choice for sure.

angelatlarge

@rawbrawb facebook.com/events/363949093715919

rawbrawb

@angelatlarge Let's hope that people don't get carried away...

angelatlarge

@rawbrawb Anyway, we should talk about EE stuff, and not things that might be considered politically charged.

Anindo Ghosh

Electrically charged is better

rawbrawb

17:31

@AnindoGhosh damn! I had that written up and was just about to send! Verbatem!

@AnindoGhosh I feel so sorry for you!

angelatlarge

17:49

Can someone tell me why 1 mhz crystals almost don't exist on ebay?

rawbrawb

@angelatlarge they would be too slow. a mhz is a period of about 16 minutes. I'd just use a 32KHz watch crystal and divide down ...

;)

angelatlarge

@rawbrawb I didn't say 1 hertz :)

rawbrawb

cue pink panther music....

pedant, pedant, pedant etc.

angelatlarge

@rawbrawb And the M in the question was for mega not milli

rawbrawb

@angelatlarge I was teasing you ....

angelatlarge

17:55

@rawbrawb I know. Hence the smiley.

rawbrawb

took you long enough ....

angelatlarge

I don't understand: you can get 20Mhz for 200/$1 (or so), but 1 mhz is $9/pop. WTF?

rawbrawb

Damn, there's that m again!

angelatlarge

But 1/2 Mhz is available on the cheap. Why, o why, Ebay?

jippie

who in his right mind would want to use a 1MHz crystal

angelatlarge

17:59

@jippie The same person who slows down their ATtiny to 200Khz

jippie

did you do that?

angelatlarge

@jippie No, but I heard of this Dutch person who did

jippie

I never heard of an ATtiny running at 200kHz (I presume you mean kHz, not Khz)

angelatlarge

@jippie Sorry, 500kHz. Pedant. :)

jippie

o.

I wouldn't know why I would use a 1MHz crystal, I mean have you seen the prices for those?

rawbrawb

18:04

@jippie LOL!

angelatlarge

@jippie Ha-ha

Funny. THere is 455Khz, and 1.8Mhz, and nothing in between.

user61389

@angelatlarge Dutchies are crazy

jippie

just take a 16MHz one and divide it down with a microcontroller

user61389

Why not use a xMHz and divi... ah :)

angelatlarge

@CamilStaps Because I'd rather just plug in the right one into my uC and not have to use an extra uC.

jippie

18:10

@angelatlarge make it a hybrid PCB, those look cool standing upright on your main board

user61389

@angelatlarge can't you use extra NOPs? :D

jippie

use the 8MHz crystal with the internal /8-prescaler

(not sure if that works thought), never tested that combination with an AT

angelatlarge

@jippie I wonder why you don't do that with your 20Mhz clock sources: Just use a 40mhz crystal, and add some external circuitry to generate a 20mhz clock source. It is more fun that way.

@jippie I am trying to avoid prescalers

jippie

right, now you do.

angelatlarge

Well, apparently, it is 455khz and 1.8mhz. That's all there is for my money.

Kortuk

18:16

I should get my Rpi today.

jippie

@Kortuk is your Arduino already working?

Kortuk

@jippie on my windows machine it works well, after those few hiccups.

:)

user61389

0

Q: Building a power supply, want to stay alive

there are some beginner's questions I'd like to ask you. I am building a power supply for a very old laptop. The circuit uses a transformer (220 V primary to 15 V secondary, 33 VA) and that worries me a little. (Please note that I an enthusiast and so far I have been running microprocessors at l...

power-supply transformer safety short-circuit fuse

user61389

Why that!?

angelatlarge

►

user61389

18:22

@angelatlarge :) this is really, well.

angelatlarge

@CamilStaps I can't say that I am appreciating the jeopardy format of that question.

Anindo Ghosh

@rawbrawb That was a classic.

user61389

@angelatlarge I still think we shouldn't answer questions when we're not entirely sure someone will take the needed security precautions, but it was discussed on meta and others felt differently.

angelatlarge

@CamilStaps Oh, can you post a link to that? I don't remember

user61389

9

Q: What is our policy on dangerous stuff?

I'm a regular member (tom66) on the electronics forum All About Circuits. One of the policies there is that there musn't be anything inherently dangerous suggested or asked about. For example, no support will be offered to people who want to modify their car's lighting system, because of potentia...

discussion

Anindo Ghosh

18:30

@angelatlarge ebay.com/itm/…

angelatlarge

@AnindoGhosh Too rich for my blood.

@AnindoGhosh But thank you

Kortuk

@CamilStaps Tell them what precautions you think would be safe, but remember, you are not their care taker, your lack of advice will not stop them from trying if you are worried about them, you could increase their safety by warning them to be safe. And 220V is not as bad as people make it sound. Most people here who do all the 5V stuff and are deathly afraid of mains, mains voltage is not that bad. You dont want to get shocked by anything, but getting shocked once is rarely a major event.

rawbrawb

@CamilStaps for someone so young you sure are a grandpa sometimes .... ;_

Anindo Ghosh

@angelatlarge If you're not in a rush, they sell for under 1$ locally, I can mail you one.

rawbrawb

@Kortuk you do realize that is the 6th time you said that today, right?

user61389

18:34

@Kortuk I know that's the rule of thumb here, but I just don't feel well at helping those people. So I basically just ignore those questions or leave a comment.

user61389

@rawbrawb heh :)

Kortuk

@rawbrawb !?!?! You are messing with me, no wai.

Anindo Ghosh

@Kortuk I think I'm slightly past the dirty dozen count.

Kortuk

@CamilStaps your feelings are fine, if that is how you feel go for it.

W5VO

@AnindoGhosh wow... that looks like a ripoff

Kortuk

18:35

@AnindoGhosh I shocked myself with 1kV 20 times in one day. I kept forgetting to discharge the capacitors!

rawbrawb

@Kortuk there's that forgetting again!

Anindo Ghosh

@W5VO Compared to the $9 for a single crystal, that seems not so much of a ripoff.

Kortuk

@rawbrawb haha. but honestly, why did you say that!?

rawbrawb

@Kortuk next you're gonna start talking about RF burns ...

@Kortuk say what?

Kortuk

@AnindoGhosh I think he means it is not the product that it is replacing but a knockoff version, but I think you know that.

Anindo Ghosh

18:36

@W5VO Why do you say so?

W5VO

@AnindoGhosh digikey.com/product-detail/en/MXO45HS-3C-1M0000/CTX745-ND/…

Kortuk

2 mins ago, by rawbrawb

@Kortuk you do realize that is the 6th time you said that today, right?

why say that @rawbrawb

@rawbrawb Did you miss your target?

Anindo Ghosh

@W5VO Yeah, but if I order from Digikey, minimum shipping is $27. eBay works for me, thank you.

rawbrawb

@Kortuk WHAT are you talking about? You keep repeating yourself.

Kortuk

I am assuming you are messing with me at this point.

rawbrawb

18:38

@Kortuk relax ... I'm messing with you.... ask grampa @CamilStaps

Kortuk

@rawbrawb yeah, i thought you were after one round...

Anindo Ghosh

@W5VO I don't get it: Digikey says $24.28 for 10, and $14.90 plus $2.50 shipping is a ripoff?

@W5VO There must be something I'm not understanding. Please do explain.

W5VO

@AnindoGhosh Why are you comparing the price of 10 against the price of 1?

angelatlarge

Can someone explain to me why 1mhz is hard to make?

Do they get too long :) ?

Anindo Ghosh

@W5VO Price of 1 at Digikey is 2.49, whereas the link I shared was for 10 of them. I still don't get it.

W5VO

18:41

@AnindoGhosh And I do see why it is more expensive - it's the <30ppm on the ebay osc

The Photon

@angelatlarge It does seem crazy. Mouser has 2 MHz for $1.38, 1 MHz for $12.something.

angelatlarge

@AnindoGhosh Thank you very much for a very generous offer. I don't need one badly enough for that though.

W5VO

@AnindoGhosh Oh.... I thought they were just writing 1.0** again. didn't see the quantity anywhere

angelatlarge

@ThePhoton But 20mhz sells for 5/$1 on ebay

Anindo Ghosh

@angelatlarge Was a freebie - paying it forward for kindnesses received here

rawbrawb

18:42

@angelatlarge I can assume .... lower frequencies are tuning forks, higher are fundmental resonances modes. For fundamentals, the crystal needs to get bigger and yeild drops by volume ^3 power. but it's too high for tuning fork (it would need to be to small! so both too small and too large.

Anindo Ghosh

@W5VO Ahhhh finally. In general eBay is always cheaper than digikey not even counting shipping, so I thought there was something obvious I was missing.

angelatlarge

@AnindoGhosh Still, if I really needed it I would definitely accept. But I was thinking that it would be nice to have one around.

W5VO

@AnindoGhosh Likewise... I was confused. There is this, but we're changing the specs some. digikey.com/product-detail/en/FXO-HC735-1/631-1122-1-ND/1868762

angelatlarge

@rawbrawb But there are 455 kHz rezonators and 1.8Mhz resonators, but nothing in between. Also, why?

The Photon

@rawbrawb Flipped back one page in the Mouser catalog. 1 MHz oscillators (not bare crystals) for $1.87. Must not be that hard to make.

Anindo Ghosh

18:43

@angelatlarge I have a couple of them in my oscillators & xtals drawer.

rawbrawb

@ThePhoton probably dividers?

W5VO

@ThePhoton Check the frequency accuracy in ppm - that drives the cost a lot past 50 ppm on digikey.

rawbrawb

@angelatlarge resonantors are different technology, there are ceramic powder based and sintered.

The Photon

@rawbrawb Better duty cycle that way anyway.

rawbrawb

But I am just guessing ... semi-edimacaucated guessing but guessing nevertheless.

Anindo Ghosh

18:45

@W5VO Yeah SMD parts are cheaper - Not so much in the local market here in Mumbai - Here the moment you ask for SMD anything, they assume your dad paid for your Lamborghini after he bought you your pick & place so they charge a HUGE premium. I'm talking 5x to 30x (slow-moving and fast-moving items)

angelatlarge

@rawbrawb And still unavailable in around 1mhz

On a different topic:

Why timer outside? And why glue?

Anindo Ghosh

@angelatlarge Wait, you want a 1 MHz Oscillator? Or just a Xtal?

The Photon

@W5VO Didn't dig into individual datasheets, but the $12 parts and $2 parts were same product family, part numbers differ only in frequency field, both 30 ppm.

angelatlarge

@AnindoGhosh Either

rawbrawb

@angelatlarge I can answer, but I thought you wanted to change subject ....

user61389

18:47

@angelatlarge do you want to make one yourself? :P

The Photon

@angelatlarge mouser.com/catalog/catalogusd/646/1154.pdf

Anindo Ghosh

@rawbrawb The problem I have with that guess is, 1.2000 MHz crystals are cheap, 655360 are cheap, so why the bias against something that fits fairly in between those two numbers?

angelatlarge

@CamilStaps Well, I am still waiting for terrorism.SE to be started up, so I have to ask here for now :)

The Photon

@AnindoGhosh Maybe if you were carrying a bomb around it would make you more nervous to have a bunch of nails & junk rattling around in the same chamber?

angelatlarge

@AnindoGhosh Ah, I didn't realize that 1.2 and .65 are cheap, thank you

Anindo Ghosh

18:48

@angelatlarge Glue so that they had something to sniff.

angelatlarge

@rawbrawb Yes please answer. I should have said "launching another subject"

@AnindoGhosh :)

rawbrawb

@AnindoGhosh because I went out and cornered the market? and now I'm trying to prevent the rumours from spreading and killing my profit?

Anindo Ghosh

@angelatlarge I don't think you can get .65. The closest is 655360, which I bought recently for a measly 20 cents each.

angelatlarge

@AnindoGhosh I meant .65 as a proxy for 655360

Anindo Ghosh

@angelatlarge Timer outside so they could shove an USB cable inside to flash a newer version with better flashing lights.

@angelatlarge Ahh sorry. Inference engine not fully functional.

rawbrawb

18:50

@angelatlarge for lift. if the shrapnel is at the bottom it won't go any where, so you need to hold it in place whilst you add the propellant. Outside because it's safer that way. less fiddly at the scene.

angelatlarge

@rawbrawb Wow. Them terrorists are smart.

rawbrawb

@angelatlarge not really ...

Anindo Ghosh

@rawbrawb I still think it's the USB cable to dev board thing

angelatlarge

@rawbrawb I assumed everyone presets their bomb timers before setting off from the house, but what you are suggesting is that the timer is activated at the scene.

rawbrawb

@AnindoGhosh you're probably right. I bet it's arduino

Anindo Ghosh

18:51

@angelatlarge If they were smart they would get themselves a job or something, instead of fooling around with sh*t like that.

rawbrawb

@angelatlarge stupid people would walk around with an armed bomb.

Anindo Ghosh

@rawbrawb But I thought the consensus was that PIC was better for everything (looking at @CamilStaps)

angelatlarge

@rawbrawb I guess if I was a terrorist that would be me. And then I would win a Darwin award

user61389

@AnindoGhosh uh, where's Olin? expecting to need help in the very near future

rawbrawb

@angelatlarge most are darwin award types by definition, they aren't smart they just read it somewhere. Clever people create and protect.

Anindo Ghosh

18:54

@angelatlarge Here's the thing: We're discussing whether those jerks activated the timer at the scene, and on the other hand, today the cops sent a directive to the electronics market here forbidding sale of GSM300 and GSM900 boards without a government approved ID, and the sellers are supposed to keep the ID photocopy for records. Clearly the cops know something the nasties don't.

W5VO

@CamilStaps Congrats on hitting 3k

now you can stop flagging questions to be closed :D

Anindo Ghosh

@rawbrawb I agree

user61389

@W5VO thanks! Yeah, didn't realize that, that marshal badge will have to wait :( glad for you though ;)

angelatlarge

@AnindoGhosh Are you serious about the GSM boards?

rawbrawb

@CamilStaps boy you can't wait for a beard can you? Grandpa, MArshal, Olin fan ....

@AnindoGhosh but those are the hassles that I don't mind ...

Anindo Ghosh

18:56

@angelatlarge Yes, apparently after the bomb blast in Bangalore this morning, someone figured the bad guys had used a GSM hobbyist module for remote detonation. I was at the market when the cops came around with the flyers.

angelatlarge

@AnindoGhosh Crazy.

Anindo Ghosh

@rawbrawb Next stop, Steward ;-)

user61389

@rawbrawb Olin is just one of the reasonable persons that use a PIC for everything. :)

rawbrawb

@AnindoGhosh bangalore! I HATE the western press! I didn't hear!

angelatlarge

@rawbrawb +1

Anindo Ghosh

18:57

@angelatlarge Not so crazy. Surprisingly insightful, coming from a department I've always been disdainful of (at least in this country) for the talent they have for going after the good guys and not understanding technology.

rawbrawb

@CamilStaps You keep that going! nicely done!

user61389

@AnindoGhosh working on that :)

Anindo Ghosh

@rawbrawb 17 people grievously injured, no mention of dead.

rawbrawb

@AnindoGhosh yeah, but in India injury it more likely to be worse than being dead for some people.

angelatlarge

@AnindoGhosh Well, I really have mixed feelings about this sort of thing. The same technology that enables creativity is the one that enables terrorism. Yes, we'll all be safer if we never congregate, but are we supposed to give that up because of a terrorism threat? What if they prohibit PIC sales because the Boston blasts were PIC-detonated, would that be reasonable? Are GSM boards any different than PICs?

Anindo Ghosh

18:59

@rawbrawb This is horribly true.

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