I assume most of the inputs to your A&H are line inputs Tony? If so I have a 'left field' idea which does involve a bit of outboard 'engineering'? Take input No 1 and have a box with a TRS jack out and two TRS jacks in and a switch, could be a button. Now input one can be 1'A' or 1'B' . multiply ...

GRRRRR!! NEVER EVER BUY A TCL TV! After a reset I had to log into my Google account, won't let you proceed otherwise. Five times I tried to get my password in using the remote. Bloody hard because the characters don't stay on screen. So, dug out a wired keyboard...STILL won't have it! Thinking I am ...

The new Firestick arrived an hour or so ago. "WI-FI 5" if that tells anyone anything? It setup without IP V6 being active (phew!) but in the process it told a porky AFAIam concerned! "We see you had a Firestick before. Do you want to setup all your apps as before?" Yes please! Bloody didn't! I still ...

Enlightening as ever Hugh! Hi fi VCRs were mentioned. I acquired a first model JVC. Had been dropped and the front PCB cracked across and I quoted the guy a serious sum to fix it and that I should even want a decent drink for trying! He said keep it! Took me hours of work under a glass to link out ...

"It was the decision to fit three pairs of audio samples per video line that gave rise to the wacky 44.1kHz sample rate that we all know and love!" Oh! I was always told Hugh it was Philips who insisted CDs must be the size they are for use in car players? If the sample rate was the more obvious ...

I've never heard of a Firestick being used on a laptop - I believe it was designed to plug into your 'smart' TV like Chromestick used to do? I have confused you Mr Admin Moderator! Yes, the stick normally lives plugged into my TCL TV (never buy one! Mine was a gift) but after nearly a week of ...

Where are we on the IP V4/IP V6 debacle? I have once again defeated IP V6 in my router and SoS forum runs like champ. Are there any downsides to not having IP V6? Re the Firestick. I reset my router to factory state. No joy. I have checked many online sites for help but none of the remote button ...

Re mic'ing a bass cab? The one time we tried it, admittedly in a small bedroom the bass caused every mortal thing in the room to rattle (including the then old single glazed windows) and the mic picked that up. Cab was a 6cu* ft reflex built to Fane's specification and contained a 15" 200W Fane bass ...

A Variac can be very useful in powering up old equipment safely and not subjecting it to full voltage from startup. I buy a few old valve receivers and transmitters, (I was brought up on valves), and I would never dream of plugging in, switching on and hoping for the best. And variable transformers ...

"an AC30 on steroids".? Might I venture to suggest it uses EL34s? I would go for a top quality ceramic valve holder. Yes, it uses a pair of EL34s and is supposedly rated at 60W. It is actually a PA amp but it also sounded good on guitars. It looks like an older version of the one in this video ...

"an AC30 on steroids".? Might I venture to suggest it uses EL34s? I would go for a top quality ceramic valve holder. AC30s are of course cathode biased and that technique probably accounts for some of their unique "tone"? Loud but with a form of compression. Not common for EL34s, they are mostly ...

Thanks for your comments and advice. I’ll try to get into the habit, with my less-used bits of kit. Dave, I’m unlikely to be touching any ancient valve amps, but I’m sure your advice will be useful to someone! Don't have to be "ancient" friend, just stuck in a garage or similar for few months. Real ...

". It's the only publication I subscribe to." Same here Dave...now. I subscribed to my local newspaper for decades but about 5 weeks ago they stopped publishing reader's letters. I sent 2 emails to the editor. No reply and not published. I spoke to a lady at the subscription service and told her ...

Thanks for your comments and advice. I’ll try to get into the habit, with my less-used bits of kit. Dave, I’m unlikely to be touching any ancient valve amps, but I’m sure your advice will be useful to someone! Don't have to be "ancient" friend, just stuck in a garage or similar for few months. Real ...

If you come across an old valve amplifier there are some particular things I would check. Firstly, if it is really damp, maybe the chassis has some rust? Don't power it up, get it to a tech if you think it is worth a few quid. Otherwise if it looks dry and presentable DO check mains earth pin ...

You really live a charmed life in the tech sphere ... Are the batteries good in the remote? Shouldn't that be "charmLESS"? Yes, batts are 1.66V new Duros. I now have the Fire TV app on my phone but it won't find the Firestick. I could search for it if I had its IP address...catch 22. Has anyone ...

There is some investigation going on behind the scenes but more cases would be useful. If/when anyone experiences the slowdown issue with the forum over the next few days please let us know (either by posting here or sending me a PM), citing your IP and browser version. If you don't know your IP ...

Sorry to bother you of a weekend chaps but I have gone through every process I can think of to get my Firestick back. Nothing works. I am pretty sure the router is back as it was before I turned off IP V6 but still the FS refuses to load. There are myriad setting in the router pages, some refer to ...

The Firestick should be fine. Only something with an open connection would be affected, and only when switching over. It's not. Yesterday I got the start up noise and the Firetv logo on screen and nothing else. Tried power cycling the stick. No joy. Pulled power from stick and TV and went to bed ...

Well done. You're a haX0r now. On my smart TV Netflix had an open connection, and complained. Solution -- restart Netflix. Any problems, restart the app. Oh well, I don't have Netflix, don't pay for any telly save the Beeb. I have a Firestick so I'd better check that out but if it comes down to SoS ...

I have now, at long last managed to disable IP V6 (why do they use terms like "stateful" ? Is it in the OED?) Now the forum is as speedy as one could wish.
Last question! Will having IP V6 disabled have any other implications and if so, what do I watch out for?

Dave.

Thank you Merlyn, sorry, I just used the term "hack" because I could not come up with anything else at the time! "Kludge"? I don't think I have been able to defeat IP V6. I am guessing it is not a good idea to post my router's inner details on a public forum? They are behind a password after all but ...

Oh ****! Gone slow again. Fine first thing then ten ago I tried to access The Lounge and nothing doing. Next checked the IP addresses and sho'nuff I now have both IP V4 and IP V6 whereas yesterday there was no V6. I have done a quick power cycle but it is still there and the forum is getting ever ...

I have not as yet had any request from BT to rate their service which is unusual since almost every firm you deal with these days wants some sort of glowing report. I generally tell them, if there is an opportunity to do so "a good company would not need to go touting for compliments! They would ...

Thanks to my mod powers I can see IP addresses. I don't think I'm giving anything away when I say that it seems BT posters who have an IP V4 address are fine but BT posters with an IP V6 address are having problems. Dave - you've been given an IP V4 address today so I would suggest not doing ...