Forget oxygen free - it's snake oil.
However, cable with a conductive plastic layer under the screen will eliminate microphonic 'scrunchies', and is well worth the extra cost.

Hi again. Looking at the drawing more closely - difficult! I'm now less likely to accuse C8, instead I'm wondering about D6 and/or C22 (I think that's the number), the one with one leg connected to D6 and the 4 amplifier inputs, and the other leg down to ground. What voltage do you get across this c...

If they are simple transformer-rectifier-cap then you'll get away with it, but probably won't get quite as much current as you expect. If they are regulated supplies of any kind then whichever outputs the (fractionally) greater voltage will try to supply the current. By the time its voltage drops en...

As James suggested, that looks like a basic bargraph level display. The voltages on that transistor are right if you assume that it thinks it's seeing no signal. You should be able to make the LEDs come on if you apply a DC voltage to the junction of C8,R8,D6. If that works, my first suspicion would...

Thanks for coming back on this. That is an interesting result (and much lower that I would have expected).

Is that for a signal actually being compressed (and if so, by how much), or is it the open-loop gain?

Having a look at the reassembly, a point of concern occurs to me. There is no stiffening where the tensioning screws actually go, which might make the MDF board tend to curl down at that point, and possibly even try to peel away from the braces. Looking at the earlier pictures, the MDF has been comp...

I'm lucky in that my employer is principally a repair/rework company, so nobody questions us wanting ordinary 60/40 solder. It makes life so much easier, and I have been known to 'forget' and use it on new work

If it's marked Tape Head Cleaner it is probably NOT isoprop. Most half decent tape head cleaners that I used (note past tense) were colourless and odorless and felt just like water. IPA and the like have a slight tint, a distinct smell, and that strange feel of a de-greaser.

Erm, since this is only the gobar deck, what's wrong with yer normal wood filler? Also if you're gluing-and-screwing, and it looks like you've got a decent thickness of board, could you not have screwed into the backside (insert fnarr-fnarr here)? Sure the screw joint wouldn't be so secure, but isn...

Actually I wasn't running MK down. Just a tongue in cheek reference to the fact that they don't use gold plated anything! Gold plating is only of any value on contacts that have very little mechanical loading, run at low current, and need to be resistant to corrosion due to hardly ever being moved. ...

Another reason for not doing this is that you are likely to create some very strange earth loops, even with identical units. If the units were not identical you could be in a world full of pain, as you won't know what type of rectifier arrangement was being used (could be bridge, voltage multiplier,...

Do not, under any circumstances, fit a local earth yourself unless you know exactly what you are doing. You could end up creating some rather large loop currents!

Soooo.
It's obvious really.
The best possible software, is whatever you find most enjoyable and productive to use. Go out, try stuff, and find out.

And many more equally happy returns Andy. Just remember when you are in your wtering hole of choice later, you have attained an age where you are no longer expected to have a drink for every year you have been on the planet! have a great day 8-) Well it's late now so your probably not at the comput...

I really must have a little chat with EDF about the contacts on their circuit breakers.

Next on the list is GEM, MK etc. about the rubbish they stuff in domestic distribution units.

What are those lumps? Looks like there are 5 of them. The poor thing hasn't been a victim of insect bites has it? ... Like I have

P.S.
Hope you enjoy your 'significant' Monday, whatever it is!

I knocked something up using mini-dexion from B&Q (suitably painted) and black ash effect 12mm MDF, all held together with 6mm roofing bolts. The advantage is you can make it to exactly the dimensions you want.
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Besides, it was the best fun I've had since I lost my Meccano set

"So look forward to pics involving chisels and wood shavings."
Wow! Sharp edges and curly bits. I think I need to go and lie down!

Just poking my nose in here... Don't be tempted to use a car battery as the power source. They seem like a cheap option but are the wrong type of battery and won't last. Without getting too technical, you need one that is designed for 'deep discharge' or 'cyclic' operation. Also, however the battery...

The advice I've had when using SSDs is first to make sure you've got plenty of spare RAM, then kill any swap file action (depends on the OS just how you manage that of course) and redirect any tmp directory to a RAM disk too. If the drive is doing almost nothing but reading ,then is should have an e...