ShopTalk Sunday: Another Million Dollar Idea!

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I can’t tell you how many “Million dollar ideas” I have given away – both here and on Peoplenomics – over the years.  But over a dozen.  Here comes another…

Usually they turn into real-life products but the 10-year lag is annoying as hell,  Still, I am not giving up and so this morning, here’s the next one.

Background of the Invention

I get involved in a lot of crazy shit.  Because whether it’s a 3D printed model, or here lately working on medical devices, there is always someone, somewhere, who needs a problem solved.

I get a fair amount of grief from people who say “What do you have all those tools for?  Tool slut!”

OK – that’s true. But I really like inventing things and so, there you go.

Why just this week I picked up a new ham radio; mostly out of curiosity.  It was an Alinco DX-SR8T and sure as hell, poor transmit audio.  Very tinny-sounding transmit.

And yet – with a 50-cent part and 20 minutes in the lab – it turns out to be nearly as good as an Icom 718 and they are similar except the Icom has great DSP.  But what it lacks in DSP, the Alinco makes up for with a remote moutable control head.  In other words, when installing mobile HF radio in the truck, the radio and the antenna couple can go anywhere but in view.  Just the remote head is needed.

Not that I will mess up the old truck, but a remote head radio might be interesting in the shop, for example.

Always several projects a week like this come wandering through.

Shop Bench Space Issue

This should be self-explanatory.

Now we’re to it: The Background of the Invention.

See all the screens?  There is a 24″ monitor, an arb. waveform generator, a good quality digital multi-meter and a 7″ oscilloscope.

What you don’t see – but useful when working out flyback voltages generated by feeding 5-amps of square wave into a 13-inch bifilar Tesla coil – are two other smallish handheld scopes.

And Suddenly the Inventor Appeared!

This is absolutely the best book you can buy (*bnot written by me…ahem) about how my brain works.  It’s because of being an engineer in my early days, a journalist as a second career, then management geek and then hiding out as a farmer that this insinct to solve really got honed.

This book is all about the 40, or so, dimensions along which a problem can be solved.  Bigger/smaller, or hotter/colder, or longer/shorter, or heavier/lighter… the Russian science of TRIZ  totally rocks.

“TRIZ, or the Theory of Inventive Problem Solving, is a methodology developed by Soviet engineer Genrich Altshuller in the 1940s to systematically address technical and engineering challenges. It is based on the analysis of thousands of patents, which revealed recurring patterns in how inventive solutions overcome contradictions—situations where improving one aspect of a system negatively impacts another. TRIZ provides a structured framework to identify and resolve these contradictions without compromise, using tools like the 40 Inventive Principles, the Contradiction Matrix, and the Laws of Technical System Evolution. By abstracting problems into universal principles, TRIZ enables innovators to apply solutions from diverse fields to their specific challenges, fostering creativity and efficiency.

The core idea of TRIZ is to move beyond trial-and-error by leveraging a knowledge base of proven solutions. For example, the Contradiction Matrix helps users pinpoint principles that resolve specific conflicts, such as increasing strength without adding weight. Other TRIZ tools, like ARIZ (Algorithm for Inventive Problem Solving), guide users through a step-by-step process to define problems, analyze resources, and generate solutions. TRIZ also emphasizes ideality, aiming for solutions that maximize benefits while minimizing costs and harm. Widely used in engineering, product development, and business innovation, TRIZ is valued for its ability to accelerate problem-solving and produce breakthrough results across industries..”

Yes – the Seven Major Systems of Life – used all the time on Peoplenomics has roots in this kind of approach.

Now Look at the Bench!

Count ther screens and add two more (the small hand displays).  See it?

Wjhat I want (because my eyes are not good here north of 76) is a single interface.

IDEA!!!

Why not have a whole line of accurate (but affordable) test equipment that would output everyting to HDMI?  That way, a single big screen with an external HDMI switch could display EVERYTHING.

I got on the AI stack and asked “Is this a cooler-than-shit idea, or what?”

“Test equipment with HDMI output, such as LCR meters, spectrum analyzers, or multimeters, is a compelling idea because it could reduce costs by leveraging external displays and enable more flexible data visualization. However, based on available information, there are very few, if any, mainstream test equipment manufacturers currently offering LCR meters, spectrum analyzers, or multimeters with HDMI output as a standard feature. Let’s break this down:

Current State of Test Equipment with HDMI Output

  1. General Observations:
    • Most modern test equipment, like LCR meters, spectrum analyzers, and multimeters, rely on built-in displays (LCD or TFT) or connectivity options like USB, LAN, GPIB, or VGA for external output. HDMI is rarely mentioned as an output option in product specifications from major manufacturers such as Keysight, Rohde & Schwarz, Tektronix, GW Instek, or Hioki.
    • The focus in test equipment design tends to be on rugged, self-contained units with high-resolution built-in displays or software integration for remote monitoring on PCs. Adding HDMI could increase complexity and cost, which might outweigh the savings from omitting a built-in display unless the device is explicitly designed for external display use.
    • Some high-end oscilloscopes and spectrum analyzers offer VGA or DisplayPort outputs for external monitors, but HDMI is less common due to its association with consumer electronics rather than industrial or laboratory standards.
  2. Specific Equipment Types:
    • LCR Meters: Products like the Keysight E4980A, GW Instek LCR-6000 series, or Hioki IM3570 are designed with built-in displays and typically offer USB, RS-232, or LAN for data transfer. No mention of HDMI output is found in their specifications. For example, Keysight’s LCR meters focus on precision and speed, with connectivity for PC-based control rather than direct video output.
    • Spectrum Analyzers: High-end models like the Keysight UXA or Rohde & Schwarz FSW series sometimes include VGA or DVI outputs for external monitors, but HDMI is not standard. For instance, the VIAVI CellAdvisor 5G has advanced connectivity, but its output options are geared toward network interfaces rather than video.
    • Multimeters: Benchtop multimeters (e.g., Keysight 34461A or Fluke 8846A) and handheld models typically use built-in displays or USB/LAN for data logging. HDMI output is not mentioned in product documentation, as multimeters prioritize simplicity and portability over external display connectivity.
  3. Closest Alternatives:
    • Some oscilloscopes, like the Siglent SDS2000X Plus or Rigol DS7000 series, offer VGA or HDMI-like connectivity for external monitors, but these are not LCR meters, spectrum analyzers, or multimeters. For example, Siglent’s oscilloscopes can output to an external display via VGA or HDMI for waveform visualization, which aligns with your idea of reducing display costs.
    • Software-based solutions exist where test equipment streams data to a PC or tablet via USB/LAN, and the PC’s HDMI output can then connect to a monitor. This is common in modern setups but requires additional hardware and software, negating the direct HDMI output advantage.
    • USB-based oscilloscopes or multimeters (e.g., PicoScope or Digilent Analog Discovery) rely on a PC for display, which could theoretically connect to an HDMI monitor, but the test device itself doesn’t output HDMI directly.

Why HDMI Output Is Rare

  • Cost and Complexity: While omitting a built-in display could save costs, integrating an HDMI output requires additional circuitry, licensing fees (HDMI is a proprietary standard), and processing power to render the interface for external displays. This might offset the savings unless the device is designed for mass-market use.
  • Target Audience: Test equipment is often used in controlled environments (labs, production lines) where built-in displays are preferred for portability and reliability. External displays are less critical when devices are networked or paired with PCs.
  • Alternative Connectivity: Manufacturers prioritize USB, LAN, or GPIB for data transfer and remote control, which are more versatile for automation and integration into test systems. VGA or DisplayPort, when offered, are more common in industrial settings than HDMI.
  • Durability: Built-in displays are ruggedized for lab or field use, whereas HDMI connectors and cables are less robust and more consumer-oriented, potentially reducing reliability in harsh environments.

Potential for HDMI-Enabled Test Equipment

Your idea of an HDMI-output test device is innovative and could be a game-changer for certain applications, particularly in education, small labs, or hobbyist settings where cost is a major factor. Here’s why it could work and what might be needed:

  • Cost Savings: Displays are indeed a significant cost component in test equipment. A device without a built-in screen, relying on HDMI to connect to TVs, monitors, or projectors, could be priced lower, making it accessible to students, startups, or DIY enthusiasts.
  • Flexibility: HDMI output would allow users to choose their display size and resolution, from small monitors to large TVs, enhancing visibility for presentations, classrooms, or collaborative work.
  • Market Gap: Since no major manufacturer currently offers LCR meters, spectrum analyzers, or multimeters with HDMI output, a company could differentiate itself by targeting this niche. A modular device with HDMI, USB, and LAN outputs could appeal to both hobbyists and professionals.
  • Challenges: To make this viable, the device would need a simple, low-cost processor to handle HDMI output, a user-friendly interface optimized for external displays, and robust firmware to ensure compatibility with various monitors. Licensing HDMI could add costs, so open standards like DisplayPort might be considered as alternatives.

Existing Products or Workarounds

While no LCR meter, spectrum analyzer, or multimeter explicitly advertises HDMI output, here are some workarounds or related products:

  • Oscilloscopes with HDMI/VGA: Devices like the Siglent SDS1204X-E or Tektronix MDO3000 series offer VGA or similar outputs. These could inspire similar features in other equipment types.
  • PC-Based Test Equipment: USB oscilloscopes, multimeters, or LCR meters (e.g., Hantek or PicoScope) rely on PC software, and the PC can output to an HDMI monitor. This is the closest existing solution to your idea.
  • DIY Solutions: Some hobbyists have modified test equipment to add HDMI output using Raspberry Pi or FPGA-based systems to process and display data. This is not commercial but shows the concept’s feasibility.
  • Future Trends: With the rise of IoT and remote labs, manufacturers might explore HDMI or wireless display options (e.g., Miracast) to make test equipment more versatile. Companies like Rigol or Siglent, known for cost-effective gear, could lead this innovation.

Recommendations

  • Contact Manufacturers: Reach out to companies like Keysight, GW Instek, or Siglent to inquire about custom solutions or future plans for HDMI output. Keysight, for example, offers customization options for some equipment, though this may increase costs.
  • Explore Open-Source Hardware: Platforms like Arduino or Raspberry Pi could be used to prototype a low-cost LCR meter or multimeter with HDMI output. Open-source projects like the “Transistor Tester” have basic LCR functionality and could be adapted.
  • Monitor Emerging Brands: Smaller companies or startups (e.g., Owon, Hantek, or UNI-T) might introduce HDMI-enabled test equipment to compete with established players. Keep an eye on crowdfunding platforms like Kickstarter for innovative test gear.
  • Advocate for the Idea: Share your concept on forums like EEVblog or X posts to gauge interest and encourage manufacturers to consider it. A groundswell of demand could prompt innovation.

Conclusion

Currently, no major manufacturer offers LCR meters, spectrum analyzers, or multimeters with HDMI output, likely due to cost, complexity, and the preference for built-in displays or alternative connectivity. However, your idea is forward-thinking and could address a real market need, especially for cost-sensitive users. Until such a product emerges, PC-based test equipment with HDMI-capable computers offers a partial solution. If you’re passionate about this, consider prototyping a DIY version or pitching it to innovative test equipment brands….”

Nope, screw that.  I’m too old, and have too much fun already with ham radio and a new music snyth showing up this week to “donate to corporations.”  Screw ’em – if you want to, though, go for it.  Or, if you do a GoFundMe, put me down as a beta site for the protos.

The biggest cost item of a new piece of gear is power supplies and displays – which is how everything got rolled over onto USB power.  Well, is it that freaking hard to figure out that a TV/computer display would drop costs even more?

OK..throw this in with our other million dollar idea (sell completed PCBs on Amazon and have an .STL file emailed to the buyer so they can print their own enclosures) is another billion dollar ERarth-Friendly that hasn’t gone anywhere because too many people are bullshitters and not doers.

Know what I’m saying?

Back to the shop then:  “Planning is overhead. Doing is equity.”

Write when you get rich,

George@Ure.net  ac7x

38 thoughts on “ShopTalk Sunday: Another Million Dollar Idea!”

  1. “Planning is overhead. Doing is equity.”

    “Doublethink means the power of holding two contradictory beliefs in one’s mind simultaneously, and accepting both of them.”
    ? George Orwell, 1984

    • Doublethink is a result of political indoctrination, where subjects are manipulated to believe what the ruling party wants them to believe, even if it contradicts their own memory or reality. Doublethink is a way of controlling people’s thoughts and actions.

      • Boy…. that’s the truth…..
        Recently, I found myself face-to-face with a bizarre and harrowing situation. I woke up to find text messages on my phone that were nothing short of pure evil—videos using my name and contact information, threats so personal and vile they chilled me to the core. The messages included violent, grotesque images and videos and nonstop threats I tried to dump social media get rid of cell phones and the threats followed to the home land line. Despite my calm, mild life, this was alarming on a level I hadn’t experienced even though those that know what my life travels have been one oh shit experience after another. I did the only thing I could—I turned it over to the authorities, hoping they’d unravel it. stop it..everyone said I was over reacting..

        But for those who know my life’s journey, they might say this is par for the course—another unbelievable chapter in what has been a sequence of wild, unpredictable events. I’ve spent my life trying to do the right thing, leading a nonviolent and straightforward life. So, naturally, this escalation has me deeply concerned. I dumped the phone to escape the relentless threats, only to have them find me through my landline—a reminder of how invasive those “get-to-know-you” information sites can be.
        In the chaos, I reached out to someone who lives in a gated community—the “other side” of life, so to speak—and they invited me over. What I found here is astounding. It wasn’t just a change of scenery; it was a complete shift in how life could be lived. No stress, no looming shadows of tension—just peace. Even the house taxes for a spacious, stunning property were a fraction of what we pay locally.
        A simple journey to the store yesterday was another eye-opener. Prices were a third of what I am used to seeing. I feel like I have wandered into a completely different reality, one where life wasn’t weighed down by constant struggle.

        But even in this peaceful environment, humanity’s struggles still flicker through. At the store, I noticed the checkout clerk—a hard worker—carrying an unspoken burden doing her job. but in Her eyes and expressions revealed an undercurrent of struggle beneath her professional demeanor something I can say I have seen that expression in my own life. I wanted to ask if she needed to vent, but I held back, pretending I couldn’t see the pain below the surface. After all, I’ve been there myself more than anyone should have to bear.
        For the first time in what feels like forever, I am experiencing a profound sense of calm. No stress, no battle to face—just a quiet, soothing peace. As my wife and I snuggled last night, I said, “Hun, it’s hard to believe that people can live like this.” and not know how life is on the other side.. this is the very first vacation I have ever had in my life..god I could get use to this.. the sad part..is I have to return to my own life in the end..

  2. April is not over yet!

    We can add to the April list… again.

    Driver, 30, plows SUV into crowd at Vancouver Filipino festival, killing at least 9 people…

    https://nypost.com/2025/04/27/world-news/driver-plows-suv-into-crowd-at-vancouver-lapu-lapu-festival-killing-multiple/

    At least 20 tourists killed after gunmen open fire at Kashmir resort in ‘devastating’ terror attack: officials

    https://nypost.com/2025/04/22/world-news/at-least-20-tourists-killed-after-gunmen-open-fires-at-kashmir-resort-in-devastating-terror-attack-officials/

    JC
    April 11, 2025 at 08:16
    “My point? Simply that it’s looking (again) like the Easter Rally will be along as we have been yammering about. And just in time to fish the BTFD crowd into the markets ahead of Israel popping Iran which seems likely this weekend.”

    https://urbansurvival.com/ppi-om-and-oobs-easter-rally-back-on-brain-amplifiers

    Bad things happen in April!

    Mark Leibovitz: April is a treacherous and difficult time… a negative month…

    The San Francisco earthquake in 1906
    The Bay of Pigs Invasion
    The Boston Marathon Bombing
    Assassination of Abraham Lincoln
    The Oklahoma City Bombing
    The Columbine High School Massacre
    Assassination of Martin Luther King
    The Sinking of The Titanic

    And more..

    https://www.howestreet.com/2025/04/markets-some-see-red-others-see-opportunity-mark-leibovit/

    • How many Phlipps can a SUV flip, if a SUV could flip Phlipps ?

      Sounds like a new sport, kinda like a mechanical dwarf tossing contest.

    • Are there many bad things in April in the Southern hemisphere?

      T.S. Eliot said it too, but he was in the North. He related it to melting snows, new workings after hibernation.

      Which is the cruelest month in the South?

        • re: “Another Million $ Idea”
          feat: Bird of Paradise blue flag

          JC,
          Thank you for your suggestion. As chance would have it, Filipino Muslims may prefer to reference Magellan vanquishing Chief Lapu-Lapu as King Pulaku (‘fruit that has fallen from the tree’), not to be confused with lapis lazuli (‘blue heaven/sky’) mined in Afghanistan. I wonder if the Servant of the People’s motorcade drove by an Islamic Republic’s Embassy building three days ago which is just down the hill from the South African government buildings? According to Google Maps, the Embassy appears to be situated within an easy stroll of a dining establishment which takes its name from South Africa’s national bird, the blue crane (anthropoidus paradisius).

          According to “Wikipedia”, South Africa’s Xhosa tribal name for the bird is “flag”. Important community leaders apparently wear the bird’s blue feathers to keep order over would-be-troublemakers.

        • Sorry? I know it looks like an official Iranian source but on what planet is Iran in the Southern Hemisphere? Mistranslation I think.
          Sometimes confirmation bias blossoms into something far worse………….

        • Sisyphus,

          Correct.

          Is Iran in the Western Hemisphere?
          No, Iran is not further west than the prime meridian (zero degrees longitude), which means it is not in the Western Hemisphere.

          Is Iran in the Eastern Hemisphere?
          Yes, Iran is further east than the prime meridian (zero degrees longitude), which means it is in the Eastern Hemisphere. The midpoint of Iran is further east than the prime meridian (zero degrees longitude) by approximately 2,454 miles (3,949km).

          Is Iran in the Northern Hemisphere?
          Yes, Iran is further north than the equator, which means it is in the Northern Hemisphere. The midpoint of Iran is approximately 2,241 miles (3,606km) north of the equator.

          Is Iran in the Southern Hemisphere?
          No, Iran is not further south than the equator, which means it is not in the Southern Hemisphere.

          https://www.crownscience.org/places/iran

    • On this day in 1865 the river boat / paddle wheeler Saltana boiler explodes killing 1,800 – mostly union soldiers heading home after being released from the southern POW camps. Considered to be the largest maritime disaster in U.S. History. The paddle wheeler was rated to hold around 300. The reason for boiler exploding is debated. Some say it was because of very bad maintenance during the war years., and some speculated it was an act of sabotage.

    • Confirmation bias. You hone in on April and disregard the random scatter of deadly events and natural disasters. Even focussing just on the US (and completely disregarding the rest of the world) you could argue that these events had a greater impact…

      September 11 Terrorist Attacks (September 11)
      Bombing of Pearl Harbour (December 7)
      Assassination of John F. Kennedy (November 22)

      Every year the same old April doom cycle gets rolled out.

      • Oh I forgot

        Covid Pandemic Release (September to December)
        April may soon be over but there are no end of dire events and outcomes in the wings. No need to wait another year for yet another unfulfilled prophecy………….

    • Wait what – not another agenda, program to condition & manipulate the sheeps? Huh, wonder the timing of all this uncivil war talk coming from the far east..

      Cowinkydinking from Chynah with luv, this guy has very interesting angle on the whole trade war kerfuffle. He is dead ballz accurate in what he lays out historically..https://youtu.be/mOnZ628-7_E

      60% of US Army Reservists are obese in 2025 !? hmmmmm

      Thats just enlisted pukes, cake eaters (officers)- ya know the Guys that leave candy wrappers on toilet seat after finished their business, generally in the 70-80% fat ass range…”black shoe, black shoe, Im in doubt, as to why Ure fat gut is hanging out, is it whiskey, or is wine, or is it lack of PT time?”..

      ? Big question been pondering is which population goes 4 it first ? US or Chynah – looks like a horse race right now..Ryders UP!

      GNR/Civil Wars -https://youtu.be/5e3sI5xkA0M?

      • re: Q Series suv
        feat: Magellan, Lightning II

        Folks,
        Today is the 405th anniversary of the Battle of Mactan situated in modern-day Phillipines. Explorer Magellan was taken out by warriors of chieftain LapuLapu. Earlier this month a Russian missile struck a dining establishment allegedly patronized by Nato members in the town of Kryvih Rih, Ukraine. Apparently the RoseMarine had previously been known as the Magellan Restaurant.

      • re: country 404

        Sorry, I made a typo. It is the 404th anniversary since the Battle of Mactan.

        • Five-Guys is really quite good. Their fries are very good, even fried in peanut oil (which is GM in the U.S.) They, Steak & Shake, Hardee’s / Carl’s Jr., Rally’s / Checkers, and In N Out are the only burger joints I’ve been to in the past few years where I couldn’t taste cellulose in the meat (or smell it cooking — smells like burning toast.) To be fair, I haven’t been to Whattaburger, Jack-in-the-Box, Sonic, or Fatburger in several years.

          I’d bet they’re all really good in Germany, where GM garbage and “meat extenders” are verboten…

      • 3 clues as to where he was last headed, after completing training/school.

        1) Birthplace of Neapolitan Pizza

        2) 1957 tv show Adventures of Tugboat Annie

        3)How do you know Ure car Tires were manufactured in Italy?
        When flat dago whop whop whop.

        • re: “The Godfather-Part 3”, 1990
          feat: ‘God’s Banker’

          bric mason,

          My understanding is that a South African embassy of the Supreme Leader of the IRI theocracy receives web service via Abr Arvan. It is a subsidiary of Fanap, known in Persian as “Aryan Pasargad Information and Communication Technology”. Fanap is in turn a subsidiary of Pasargad Bank Financial Group. According to its 2024 financial statement, the bank’s auditor is located on Derafsh Kaviani Street (Flag of the Blacksmith, a hero of Persia’s Sasanian Empire). Apparently the street runs parallel with the Modares Expressway and Nelson Mandela Blvd. The latter was renamed from an American Presbyterian missionary following the 1979 revolution. BPI (Bank Pasargad) takes its name from the UNESCO heritage site Pasargadae, capital of the Achaemenid Empire from 550bc under Cyrus the Great.

          The bank is a subsidiary of the holding company Pars Aryan Investment. According to the Iranian dissident group NCRI (National Council of Resistance of Iran), Pars Aryan Investment is alleged to be one of a dozen plus entities which serve to finance the Islamic Republic’s global terror operations. The NCRI is led by a descendant of the royal Qajar tribe which ruled Iran from 1789 to 1925. Her husband leads the Iranian opposition party MEK (Mujahedin of Iran) which seeks overthrow of the current regime.

          Interestingly “Wikipedia” alleges that NCRI was the first to publicize Iranian uranium enrichment programs in 2002. On the other hand, NCRI allegedly doesn’t publish financial statements or complete SEC990 charitable organization forms. So allegedly it’s difficult to ascertain levels of semitic donations if any as well as the total diaspora of contributions made to US lawmakers.

          To paraphrase Pink Floyd – “all in all it’s just another Bric in the Wall”.

          Stay comfortably numb.

        • Once again, our Winnipeg news analyst has caught most unaware with another obscure reference!

          The Sasanian Empire (224–651 CE) was a major Persian empire that succeeded the Parthian Empire and became one of the most powerful states in the ancient world, centered in modern-day Iran. Founded by Ardashir I after defeating the Parthian king Artabanus IV, it was ruled by the Sasanian dynasty and known for its centralized administration, sophisticated bureaucracy, and cultural achievements. The empire spanned much of the Middle East, including Persia, Mesopotamia, parts of the Caucasus, Central Asia, and the Arabian Peninsula, rivaling the Roman Empire to its west. It was a hub of Zoroastrianism, with significant contributions to art, architecture (e.g., grand palaces and fire temples), and science, while fostering trade along the Silk Road. The Sasanians engaged in frequent wars with Rome and later the Byzantine Empire, notably under kings like Shapur I and Khosrow I. The empire declined due to internal strife, economic pressures, and invasions, culminating in its conquest by the Arab Caliphate in 651 CE, marking the end of pre-Islamic Persian rule.

          there, all better now…

  4. A different typeface or a box, or anything, would help readers tell when it is your eminence or your remote head (AI) speaking.

  5. An interim partial solution for some devices might be a USB to HDMI converter $22.00. (please remember my engineering base is 30+ years old)
    https://www.amazon.com/AmazonBasics-Premium-Aluminum-Thunderbolt-Compatible/dp/B083KV1BR3/ref=sr_1_1_ffob_sspa?crid=23NJTXQFOKE40&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.CgB7ysQvkgK969FhhoAwokaHVpdUJBekSBkWg4_15eZ213epOFWj4WC32qnVmh2sm6Zo76_NAmX_u8pzRg72lRAUMf6uRH6wOBEg9RlS7SkwM1MLt6qVnOg9Th9M1FehJP2xzkL2zH1I524yTdKJBD6JGodr9hMiEVnxFmCQpX3xMRH0iIfMe-TVvxt2UeswFcpn0fk7ZmMcbq9zbMix7k40Qt6SKuv3qKVhDwBDHsc.70TOyXhjZ4J_0PZnB27ehGPURUqS4KTMnrYk6fDqP4o&dib_tag=se&keywords=USB%2Bto%2BHDMI%2Bconverter&qid=1745768842&sprefix=usb%2Bto%2Bhdmi%2Bconverter%2Caps%2C194&sr=8-1-spons&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9hdGY&th=1

  6. A very long time ago I interviewed with a big time Radio company when I was still interested in doing electronics, during the early days of microprocessors. Their recruiter asked me what my idea for the next Big Thing was. I told him I wanted to build equipment that could chat with the user/operator. I still remember the sneer and utter contempt that he exhibited.

    • OH, oh. My bad – and from a SKCC/FISTS member too…woe is with me. (OToH I did get a bunch of shit down around the farm, so….there is that…)

  8. It has been a ten day battle. No declared winner. Almost a stalemate. A couple of very noteworthy efforts though.
    My smoked chicken with pan fried green peppers with salsa verde enchiladas & my Huevos Rancheros breakfast platter. [ It’s a huge cowboy breakfast.]
    Her fire roasted green peppers and ground beef simmered in somos sauce tacos & her ten veggies with mexican corn-rice and spicy refried beans. [ A Mexican Charcuterie in a large bowl. Very good.]

    Honorable mention was my “Mega Nachos”

    Our.., I can make a better Mexican dinner then ‘you’ – challenge.., has come to close.

    Quality Mexican spices and ingredients., especially avocados are getting expensive.

    • We grow avocados here, but they are kind of seasonal. We laugh out loud to see the Mexican ‘Large’ avos in the store. Our local grown are grapefruit to football sized. Absolute best I ever found were ‘Kona Kreme’ purple footballs, no strings, like butter melting in your mouth. Vendor at the swap meet said “It’ll change your life.” He wasn’t lying.

  9. OR… Ure could design a custom shelving/rack system to mount all that displaying ‘stuff’ into a wall-like structure so they are all visible and accessible forming a back wall behind the bench, eliminating all the clutter on the workbench.

  10. I have occasionally used a monitor to display the output of a Anritsu spectrum analyzer . The MS2850A has a 15 pin connector to directly connect a monitor.

    It would be nice to be able to display an RF power meter on the same screen as the Analyzer.

    The Anritsu RF power meter I have is powered by a PC USB port and uses the PC to display the output and to run the application that operates it.

    Ideally I should be able to send the power meter screen to the same monitor the Spectrum Analyzer is displayed on and view them side by side but in the current configuration I would need to have a video switch with several inputs. One for the Spec An and one for the PC Power Meter and then toggle between them.

    • And a display for the bank balance – I use a sm,all 4″ VNA because some of those Anritsus are well-into the 5-sigi9nificant digit range. Not for this old man, lol.

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