WIWA HD95 i HD102 - porównanie

WIWA HD95 i HD102 to dwa bardzo podobne tunery DVB-T bazujące na układzie MSD7818.
Najistotniejszą różnicą jest rozmiar, brak zauważalnych różnic w firmware:

Tylny panel: inne złącza audio out, dodatkowy mechaniczny wyłącznik w HD102

 

Ze względu na problemy z działaniem (przerywanie) po ok. 1,5 roku użytkowania pilot z zestawu HD95 został rozebrany. Pilot posiada zatrzaski jedynie po bokach:

 

Porównanie działania pilotów wskazuje, że ten z zestawu HD102 posiada mikroprzełączniki jedynie przy przyciskach kierunkowych + OK, reszta oparta jest o gumki (co może być plusem). Z drugiej strony pilot z zestawu HD95 wydaje się wygodniejszy w użyciu (dużo lepiej układa się w dłoni) i ma subiektywnie lepiej dobrane funkcje (dodatkowa para P+/P- wygodniejsza w użyciu niż główny krzyżak).

 

AD009 jest popularnym układem przeznaczonym do pilotów uniwersalnych. Tu współpracuje z EEPROM 8kbit, ale podstawowe kody są prawdopodobnie zaszyte w pamięci OTP.

Nośna: 38 kHz.

Ciekawostką jest użycie nadawczej diody LED jako fodetektora, brak zewnętrznego rezonatora oraz tranzystora kluczującego LED.

Cienki laminat jest standardem, ale nie wróży długiego życia.

DT9205A multimeter review

DT9205A is extremely cheap digital multimeter. I've bought it for ~$7 plus shipping.
Specification looks fine. Few pages of instruction is shared with DT9201A, DT9202A, DT9203A, DT9204A, DT9206A, DT9207A and DT9206A. These other models differ mostly in function set selection, i.e. they offer frequency or temperature measurement in place of one of the 200MOhm resistance range. DT9203A and DT9204A have 4.5 digit reading and better nominal accuracy.

 Included probes are short (~60cm), made from cheap plastic (well, like anything else here) and very susceptible to damage - it feels like cable may tear out of plastic end at any moment.

Multimeter is based on ICL7106 chip (or its clone?). Two other ICs visible here are LM324. When looking at other disassembly pictures on the Internet it's clearly visible that actual PCB design varies greatly between particular multimeters marked as DT9205A. In particular many of them are built mostly with THT components placed on opposite side of the PCB. Schematic for those is easy to find and seems more or less matching this one - main difference is using 4 dual instead of 2 quad operational amplifiers.

 

Built quality and input protection is in pair with price.

 The lost art of using wire cutters:

 Input protection (MOV?) is almost touching transistor tester socket wires.

 Badly positioned LM324.

 Trace to nowhere (I doubt if this could be some kind of overvoltage protection; also I've already cut socket pins that were touching MOV here):

On a plus side: continuity tester has optical (LED) + acoustical signalization and indication works without any delay. Don't forget the price too.
Problems spotted:

• diode forward voltage measurement is highly inaccurate, i.e. it shows ~800mV forward voltage for red LED diode 

Fixing inaccurate wall clock

This cheap wall clock cost me ~$3. After few weeks it showed up that it is quite inaccurate being late ~40 seconds per week. While these plastic cogs tend to wear after few years causing clock to even stuck completely in some position it was unlikely that this kind of defect was present from the start.

Crystal resonator used in this clock had no markings and I think it may be production recoil. After changing it to another similar size crystal decent accuracy of the clock was restored.

Further testing showed that with new crystal clock is slightly speeding, so 20pF trimmer was added for adjustment.

Review: Patriot Rage 16 GB

Popular fast, "quad channel" USB pendrive.

 There seems to be serial number engraved on USB plug.

Advertised speed: 27/25 MB/s (R/W).

Real speed is little disappointing:

On second PC I'm getting write speed close to 17 MB/s - still not matching advertised.

USB descriptors:

Device Descriptor:

------------------------------

Value Valuename

0x12 bLength

0x01 bDescriptorType

0x0200 bcdUSB

0x00 bDeviceClass   

0x00 bDeviceSubClass   

0x00 bDeviceProtocol   

0x40 bMaxPacketSize0   (64 Bytes)

0x13FE idVendor

0x3800 idProduct

0x0100 bcdDevice

0x01 iManufacturer   (        )

0x02 iProduct   (Patriot Memory)

0x03 iSerialNumber   (0701281B2F1D5128)

0x01 bNumConfigurations

Hex dump: 

0x12 0x01 0x00 0x02 0x00 0x00 0x00 0x40 0xFE 0x13 

0x00 0x38 0x00 0x01 0x01 0x02 0x03 0x01 

Device Qualifier Descriptor:

------------------------------

Value Valuename

0x0A bLength

0x06 bDescriptorType

0x0200 bcdUSB

0x00 bDeviceClass   

0x00 bDeviceSubClass   

0x00 bDeviceProtocol   

0x40 bMaxPacketSize0   (64 Bytes)

0x01 bNumConfigurations 

0x00 bReserved 

Hex dump: 

0x0A 0x06 0x00 0x02 0x00 0x00 0x00 0x40 0x01 0x00 

Configuration Descriptor:

------------------------------

Value Valuename

0x09 bLength

0x02 bDescriptorType

0x0020 wTotalLength

0x01 bNumInterfaces

0x01 bConfigurationValue

0x00 iConfiguration

0x80 bmAttributes   (Bus-powered Device)

0x96 MaxPower   (300 mA)

Hex dump: 

0x09 0x02 0x20 0x00 0x01 0x01 0x00 0x80 0x96 

Interface Descriptor:

------------------------------

Value Valuename

0x09 bLength

0x04 bDescriptorType

0x00 bInterfaceNumber

0x00 bAlternateSetting

0x02 bNumEndPoints

0x08 bInterfaceClass   (Mass Storage Device Class)

0x06 bInterfaceSubClass   (Transparent SCSI subclass)

0x50 bInterfaceProtocol   (Bulk only transport)

0x00 iInterface

Hex dump: 

0x09 0x04 0x00 0x00 0x02 0x08 0x06 0x50 0x00 

Endpoint Descriptor:

------------------------------

Value Valuename

0x07 bLength

0x05 bDescriptorType

0x81 bEndpointAddress   (In-Endpoint)

0x02 bmAttributes

   Transfer Type:           Bulk-Transfer

   Synchronization Type:    None

   Usage Type:              Data

0x0200 wMaxPacketSize   (512 Bytes) 

0x00 bInterval

Hex dump: 

0x07 0x05 0x81 0x02 0x00 0x02 0x00 

Endpoint Descriptor:

------------------------------

Value Valuename

0x07 bLength

0x05 bDescriptorType

0x02 bEndpointAddress   (Out-Endpoint)

0x02 bmAttributes

   Transfer Type:           Bulk-Transfer

   Synchronization Type:    None

   Usage Type:              Data

0x0200 wMaxPacketSize   (512 Bytes) 

0x00 bInterval

Hex dump: 

0x07 0x05 0x02 0x02 0x00 0x02 0x00 

Other Speed Configuration Descriptor:

------------------------------

Value Valuename

0x09 bLength

0x07 bDescriptorType

0x0020 wTotalLength

0x01 bNumInterfaces

0x01 bConfigurationValue

0x00 iConfiguration

0x80 bmAttributes   (Bus-powered Device)

0x96 MaxPower   (300 mA)

Hex dump: 

0x09 0x07 0x20 0x00 0x01 0x01 0x00 0x80 0x96 

Interface Descriptor:

------------------------------

Value Valuename

0x09 bLength

0x04 bDescriptorType

0x00 bInterfaceNumber

0x00 bAlternateSetting

0x02 bNumEndPoints

0x08 bInterfaceClass   (Mass Storage Device Class)

0x06 bInterfaceSubClass   (Transparent SCSI subclass)

0x50 bInterfaceProtocol   (Bulk only transport)

0x00 iInterface

Hex dump: 

0x09 0x04 0x00 0x00 0x02 0x08 0x06 0x50 0x00 

Endpoint Descriptor:

------------------------------

Value Valuename

0x07 bLength

0x05 bDescriptorType

0x81 bEndpointAddress   (In-Endpoint)

0x02 bmAttributes

   Transfer Type:           Bulk-Transfer

   Synchronization Type:    None

   Usage Type:              Data

0x0040 wMaxPacketSize   (64 Bytes) 

0x00 bInterval

Hex dump: 

0x07 0x05 0x81 0x02 0x40 0x00 0x00 

Endpoint Descriptor:

------------------------------

Value Valuename

0x07 bLength

0x05 bDescriptorType

0x02 bEndpointAddress   (Out-Endpoint)

0x02 bmAttributes

   Transfer Type:           Bulk-Transfer

   Synchronization Type:    None

   Usage Type:              Data

0x0040 wMaxPacketSize   (64 Bytes) 

0x00 bInterval

Hex dump: 

0x07 0x05 0x02 0x02 0x40 0x00 0x00 

Whole Device Descriptor as hex dump: 

0x12, 0x01, 0x00, 0x02, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x40, 0xFE, 0x13, 

0x00, 0x38, 0x00, 0x01, 0x01, 0x02, 0x03, 0x01

Whole Device Qualifier Descriptor as hex dump: 

0x0A, 0x06, 0x00, 0x02, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x40, 0x01, 0x00

Whole Configuration Descriptor as hex dump: 

0x09, 0x02, 0x20, 0x00, 0x01, 0x01, 0x00, 0x80, 0x96, 0x09, 

0x04, 0x00, 0x00, 0x02, 0x08, 0x06, 0x50, 0x00, 0x07, 0x05, 

0x81, 0x02, 0x00, 0x02, 0x00, 0x07, 0x05, 0x02, 0x02, 0x00, 

0x02, 0x00

Whole Other Speed Configuration Descriptor as hex dump: 

0x09, 0x07, 0x20, 0x00, 0x01, 0x01, 0x00, 0x80, 0x96, 0x09, 

0x04, 0x00, 0x00, 0x02, 0x08, 0x06, 0x50, 0x00, 0x07, 0x05, 

0x81, 0x02, 0x40, 0x00, 0x00, 0x07, 0x05, 0x02, 0x02, 0x40, 

0x00, 0x00

The funny thing is I've tested similar (same model, same capacity) pendrive before and it's speed matched advertised. I can't blame formatting here as using Patriot Performance Formatting tool doesn't make much of a difference.

Tests conducted by others also show great variation in speed: nirsoft.net Patriot Rage tests.

Review: Sandisk Cruzer 32GB

Cheap 32GB Flash drive from Sandisk: SDCZ36-032G.

Speed test:

Maximum read and write speeds are disappointing (lower than in previously tested 4GB Cruzer Blade), but random write speed is decent.

USB descriptors:

Value Valuename
0x12 bLength
0x01 bDescriptorType
0x0200 bcdUSB
0x00 bDeviceClass
0x00 bDeviceSubClass
0x00 bDeviceProtocol
0x40 bMaxPacketSize0 (64 Bytes)
0x0781 idVendor
0x5530 idProduct
0x0103 bcdDevice
0x01 iManufacturer (SanDisk)
0x02 iProduct (Cruzer)
0x03 iSerialNumber (2004210333139B705B93)
0x01 bNumConfigurations
Hex dump:
0x12 0x01 0x00 0x02 0x00 0x00 0x00 0x40 0x81 0x07
0x30 0x55 0x03 0x01 0x01 0x02 0x03 0x01

Device Qualifier Descriptor:
------------------------------

Value Valuename
0x0A bLength
0x06 bDescriptorType
0x0200 bcdUSB
0x00 bDeviceClass
0x00 bDeviceSubClass
0x00 bDeviceProtocol
0x40 bMaxPacketSize0 (64 Bytes)
0x01 bNumConfigurations
0x00 bReserved
Hex dump:
0x0A 0x06 0x00 0x02 0x00 0x00 0x00 0x40 0x01 0x00

Configuration Descriptor:
------------------------------

Value Valuename
0x09 bLength
0x02 bDescriptorType
0x0020 wTotalLength
0x01 bNumInterfaces
0x01 bConfigurationValue
0x00 iConfiguration
0x80 bmAttributes (Bus-powered Device)
0x64 MaxPower (200 mA)
Hex dump:
0x09 0x02 0x20 0x00 0x01 0x01 0x00 0x80 0x64

Interface Descriptor:
------------------------------

Value Valuename
0x09 bLength
0x04 bDescriptorType
0x00 bInterfaceNumber
0x00 bAlternateSetting
0x02 bNumEndPoints
0x08 bInterfaceClass (Mass Storage Device Class)
0x06 bInterfaceSubClass (Transparent SCSI subclass)
0x50 bInterfaceProtocol (Bulk only transport)
0x00 iInterface
Hex dump:
0x09 0x04 0x00 0x00 0x02 0x08 0x06 0x50 0x00

Endpoint Descriptor:
------------------------------

Value Valuename
0x07 bLength
0x05 bDescriptorType
0x81 bEndpointAddress (In-Endpoint)
0x02 bmAttributes
Transfer Type: Bulk-Transfer
Synchronization Type: None
Usage Type: Data
0x0200 wMaxPacketSize (512 Bytes)
0x00 bInterval
Hex dump:
0x07 0x05 0x81 0x02 0x00 0x02 0x00

Endpoint Descriptor:
------------------------------

Value Valuename
0x07 bLength
0x05 bDescriptorType
0x02 bEndpointAddress (Out-Endpoint)
0x02 bmAttributes
Transfer Type: Bulk-Transfer
Synchronization Type: None
Usage Type: Data
0x0200 wMaxPacketSize (512 Bytes)
0x01 bInterval
Hex dump:
0x07 0x05 0x02 0x02 0x00 0x02 0x01

Other Speed Configuration Descriptor:
------------------------------

Value Valuename
0x09 bLength
0x07 bDescriptorType
0x0020 wTotalLength
0x01 bNumInterfaces
0x01 bConfigurationValue
0x00 iConfiguration
0x80 bmAttributes (Bus-powered Device)
0x64 MaxPower (200 mA)
Hex dump:
0x09 0x07 0x20 0x00 0x01 0x01 0x00 0x80 0x64

Interface Descriptor:
------------------------------

Value Valuename
0x09 bLength
0x04 bDescriptorType
0x00 bInterfaceNumber
0x00 bAlternateSetting
0x02 bNumEndPoints
0x08 bInterfaceClass (Mass Storage Device Class)
0x06 bInterfaceSubClass (Transparent SCSI subclass)
0x50 bInterfaceProtocol (Bulk only transport)
0x00 iInterface
Hex dump:
0x09 0x04 0x00 0x00 0x02 0x08 0x06 0x50 0x00

Endpoint Descriptor:
------------------------------

Value Valuename
0x07 bLength
0x05 bDescriptorType
0x81 bEndpointAddress (In-Endpoint)
0x02 bmAttributes
Transfer Type: Bulk-Transfer
Synchronization Type: None
Usage Type: Data
0x0040 wMaxPacketSize (64 Bytes)
0x00 bInterval
Hex dump:
0x07 0x05 0x81 0x02 0x40 0x00 0x00

Endpoint Descriptor:
------------------------------

Value Valuename
0x07 bLength
0x05 bDescriptorType
0x02 bEndpointAddress (Out-Endpoint)
0x02 bmAttributes
Transfer Type: Bulk-Transfer
Synchronization Type: None
Usage Type: Data
0x0040 wMaxPacketSize (64 Bytes)
0x00 bInterval
Hex dump:
0x07 0x05 0x02 0x02 0x40 0x00 0x00

Whole Device Descriptor as hex dump:
0x12, 0x01, 0x00, 0x02, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x40, 0x81, 0x07,
0x30, 0x55, 0x03, 0x01, 0x01, 0x02, 0x03, 0x01

Whole Device Qualifier Descriptor as hex dump:
0x0A, 0x06, 0x00, 0x02, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x40, 0x01, 0x00

Whole Configuration Descriptor as hex dump:
0x09, 0x02, 0x20, 0x00, 0x01, 0x01, 0x00, 0x80, 0x64, 0x09,
0x04, 0x00, 0x00, 0x02, 0x08, 0x06, 0x50, 0x00, 0x07, 0x05,
0x81, 0x02, 0x00, 0x02, 0x00, 0x07, 0x05, 0x02, 0x02, 0x00,
0x02, 0x01

Whole Other Speed Configuration Descriptor as hex dump:
0x09, 0x07, 0x20, 0x00, 0x01, 0x01, 0x00, 0x80, 0x64, 0x09,
0x04, 0x00, 0x00, 0x02, 0x08, 0x06, 0x50, 0x00, 0x07, 0x05,
0x81, 0x02, 0x40, 0x00, 0x00, 0x07, 0x05, 0x02, 0x02, 0x40,
0x00, 0x00