miek - Network

and google won't share their cached pages anymore *but* the summary changes based on your search query, so by crafting them just right I...

and google won't share their cached pages anymore *but* the summary changes based on your search query, so by crafting them just right I can extract the info one sentence at a time!

ugh, I'm trying to figure out an undocumented feature on my VNA and I found a single perfect-looking search result... that links to the...

ugh, I'm trying to figure out an undocumented feature on my VNA and I found a single perfect-looking search result... that links to the forum Keysight recently took down 😒

ok, hear me out, but what if that wasn't a *complete* shitpost? it actually works!(*)(*) no, you may not look near DC

ok, hear me out, but what if that wasn't a *complete* shitpost? it actually works!(*)

(*) no, you may not look near DC

invert a signal with this one weird trick

invert a signal with this one weird trick

oops. I bought a fairly cheap used PoE switch and then, after trying it out once, had to spend the same again on parts to make it quiet

oops. I bought a fairly cheap used PoE switch and then, after trying it out once, had to spend the same again on parts to make it quiet

I'm using a strong light behind this PCB to see internal traces for reverse-engineering, but it also looks so cool with all the...

I'm using a strong light behind this PCB to see internal traces for reverse-engineering, but it also looks so cool with all the stitching vias lit up!

Found this while doing some reverse-engineering and I swear there must be a simpler way to do that 🤔

Found this while doing some reverse-engineering and I swear there must be a simpler way to do that 🤔

*hacker voice* i'm in

*hacker voice* i'm in

welp, measurements completed successfully but all the parts look good, so the problem is elsewhere 😔

welp, measurements completed successfully but all the parts look good, so the problem is elsewhere 😔

Seems to work so far, it makes a pretty graph! Now for the tedious process of going through all of them...

Seems to work so far, it makes a pretty graph! Now for the tedious process of going through all of them...

This is the varactor measurement jig I came up with. There's a PCB with an empty series footprint that I can place a part on, then...

This is the varactor measurement jig I came up with. There's a PCB with an empty series footprint that I can place a part on, then it's weighted down to make good contact. There's 100k resistors to ground and a power supply for biasing, then the SMA connectors go off to the VNA.

Today's fun task: trying to measure a bunch of tiny varactor diodes to troubleshoot a faulty VCO/PLL.I've got a backwards piece of...

Today's fun task: trying to measure a bunch of tiny varactor diodes to troubleshoot a faulty VCO/PLL.

I've got a backwards piece of kapton tape I can tack them down to, to hopefully try and keep track of them.

A while back I scored some active scope probe and scope probe accessories on ebay, but not many of the semi-disposable solder-in tips they...

A while back I scored some active scope probe and scope probe accessories on ebay, but not many of the semi-disposable solder-in tips they need - and they sell for ~£50 each 😒

So I got some made myself, just a few...

happy birthday to my tub of GC 10 solder paste. still going strong!

happy birthday to my tub of GC 10 solder paste. still going strong!

I got a few upgrades to my macro photo setup, so here's another shot of the very pretty optical to RF receiver I tore down a while...

I got a few upgrades to my macro photo setup, so here's another shot of the very pretty optical to RF receiver I tore down a while ago.

#electronics

Aurora picture from last night. After rain and cloud all day, the sky cleared just in time to catch it! 🎉 #aurora #AuroraBorealis

Aurora picture from last night. After rain and cloud all day, the sky cleared just in time to catch it! 🎉

#aurora #AuroraBorealis

forbidden ice cubes

forbidden ice cubes

had to get a closer shot of the transition to the APC-3.5mm connector on the outside of the case. those ribbon bonds are beautiful 🤩

had to get a closer shot of the transition to the APC-3.5mm connector on the outside of the case. those ribbon bonds are beautiful 🤩

this was for a quick test of using shunt pin diodes for some extra isolation (ultimately hoping to build a really high isolation solid-state...

this was for a quick test of using shunt pin diodes for some extra isolation (ultimately hoping to build a really high isolation solid-state switch design), so I just bodged up an old test board:

no ground plane nearby? no problem, nothing a rotary tool and some copper tape can't solve

no ground plane nearby? no problem, nothing a rotary tool and some copper tape can't solve