Examples of using your tech skills in real life?

[TimberWolf]

I build all my own desktop PCs and upgrade and fix laptops. Look after my own bikes as well. And I make my own audio cables.

How can I tell what's wrong with the headphone output on my PC? I know my headphones work (tested on other devices), Windows detects when I plug the headphone jack in and thinks it's working okay and the driver appears okay too (up to date and worked until today). I've tried switching it off and on, which has cured this problem in the past.

[Cliphead]

I remember making my own laplink cable when I got a pirated copy of Laplink early 90's I think.
I still have the cable too (I had to run an extra wire outside the sheath because there wasn't enough cores)

I did that too

[TimberWolf]

I made a serial cable and connectors from an old PC to a GPS. It was a bit Heath Robinson though.

[Cliphead]

I made a serial cable and connectors from an old PC to a GPS. It was a bit Heath Robinson though.

Hey, if it works...

[doodab]

I made a serial cable and connectors from an old PC to a GPS. It was a bit Heath Robinson though.

You should see the breakout I made for my Atmel AVR programmer. You can get away with a lot with low speed serial signals. Works though. Which is more than can be said for any of the code I've tried to run on it.

[Sysman]

I remember making my own laplink cable when I got a pirated copy of Laplink early 90's I think.
I still have the cable too (I had to run an extra wire outside the sheath because there wasn't enough cores)

Ah yes. How do I back up my first PC?

Grabbed a couple of RS232 connectors plus a long length of phone cable and made my own link. Nuts to the "experts" who wanted me to pay an arm and a leg for their solution.

Kermit over to a proper computer and thence to tape.

And when I got my first virus, I simply restored the lot.

[Diver]

I remember building my first DX 486. got the processor and the board from the states. by the time I'd got round to building it they were on the shelf at Dixons for less than the board and chip had cost me

[nomadd]

Examples of using your tech skills in real life?

I logged-on to CUK and posted on a thread.

[minestrone]

I would really like to get involved in some school after hours 'computer club', teaching the basics with the Rasberry Pis when they come out. It will never happen obviously but it would be something I would enjoy. Quite like training people up who are keen to learn, I think it is good for your skills to explain basic principles that you learned years ago to remind yourself of their importance.

[d000hg]

It will never happen obviously

Because you'd fail a CRB or because you'rea lazy git?