About me

Hi there!

My name is Mario, I live near Ulm in Germany. As you have probably guessed by now, I am an electronics hobbyist (and electrical engineer), and this blog is about some of my personal projects.

The weird name of this blog comes from the fact that my last name sounds like the greek letter µ in German and also in English, which I rather like since I can write my name with a single letter that also perfectly matches my personal interests. I have always found electrical and mechanical stuff fascinating ever since my childhood, and this has continued to be my passion until today. Following a Master’s in electrical engineering, I am currently progressing towards a PhD in an attempt to make something I love to do my source of income – which some have called hopelessly romantic. Well, it has indeed worked out so far!

Since early 2014 I am a licensed “advanced” ham radio operator (called class A here in Germany) and tinkering with shortwave and mm-wave/microwave radio, including advanced RF instruments and sat equipment. Aside from RF stuff, my interests are broad: analog, audio, digital, high-power, microcontrollers…oh, and good old electron tubes!

Why I write this blog? Mainly to motivate myself to tackle new projects I can write something about, practice my english writing skills and maybe get to know some interesting people who stop by here from time to time. And also because I am not (or, should I say, no longer?) a reader of news collector/aggregator blogs that grab together all the cool tech stuff and keep me busy the whole day, trying to read up and watch other people do all the fun stuff that I wanted to do myself. It kills my motivational drive after some time. Unfortunately that also means that *you* are currently being kept busy reading about *my* activities – for which I am sincerely sorry ;-) But, as it is, you are also a welcome guest here, so why not use the chance to discuss whatever you find interesting.

So that’s it for the quick overview – any more you’ll have to ask me directly. Enjoy your stay, and if you happen to meet me someday and know this blog – well, wouldn’t that be something :-)

6 thoughts on “About me

  1. Hello Mario, I enjoyed reading the tips about the Sony Amplifier. I bought one off Ebay and was thrilled with its performance via two quite small Bose speakers. My thrill got less and less with poor switching between CD, phono ending up having to hold the switch off centre with a clothes peg! Anyway my CD player definitely packed up so I got another, simultaneously the left hand output failed completely no matter what I did with the switch. I managed to get the front off the amplifier and gained access to those notorious switches. I am on lockdown at present so made do with what I have and squirted ‘no deposit’ pcb cleaner whilst working the swith(es) the clicking sound got audibly clickier so re-assembled and Wow, like a new amplifier again. I checked for the tell tale signs of abuse/old age but spotted none, so I am very pleased. I thought it worth passing on the pcb cleaner approach as disassembling those switches would be quite another matter! How are your projects going? Regards Graham Paris I am English, living in France at present, retired.

  2. Hi Mario
    Reading the comments on your site with interest . I have acquired a SI4002 which displays no errors on self test howevever it does display ADR23. Could you send me some operation instructions on how to override this setting as it appears to override the button functions. Also any basic information on how to input and enter Control settingswould really helpful.
    Thanks
    73
    Hugh G1AUR

    1. Hi Hugh,
      I think ADR23 is the standard value, it can’t be set using front panel entry. You need to open up the left side compartment and pull the IEC adaptor card. This one has a ribbon cable going to it, the second-widest, and it should be labeled IEC BUS. On the card there are 8 dip switches to set the 8 address bits. Default is position 1+2+3+5.
      73
      Mario DL6MU

    2. A follow-up:
      Unfortunately, I don’t have a operating manual for the 4002. If you have any specific questions about data entry just ask, maybe I can help out.
      What do you mean by ADR23 overrides button functions? The address display is for the IEC bus remote control and only displays the currently set address. There is no further entry and no further test option beyond this. My guess would be that – like with any digital HP equipment – there is a hidden test mode which allows the service technician to execute predefined test programs by number entry and some kind of button combo. So far I have not found it.
      73
      Mario

  3. Hello Mario, I am Stefan Neuschl OK88AA ( Czech reublic) and I have on my desk Schlumberger 4002, which is also wrong, after schwitch on, there is no any nunbers on the display only all leds is lighting on. I se that I have wrong EPROM and program cannot by loadet. Do you thing, that you can help me to make copy of your EPROMs tu test if it will go on. I am working in company ELEX in BRNO and we do servis for test equpment if you have interest I can help you with your wrong 4002. I have lot of experiences with Stabilocks – I do servis for them.
    I will be glad to hear you .
    73 Stefan OK8AA

    1. Stefan,
      hope you got my email some time ago. Unfortunately, the flu interrupted my progress with the ICs. Good news though: An EEPROM reader is up and running. I’ll remove the board this weekend and run the chips through next week.
      73 DL6MU

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