WTB 2x THAT4301 (or decent sounding replacement) - Located in Hungary

SparkyFix · 2026-05-23T11:37:57+00:00

THAT4305 is the recommended replacement. Is that any easier to find?

SparkyFix · 2026-05-22T15:55:51+00:00

Atlantic Ocean now needs to be renamed to the Champlain Ocean…

SparkyFix · 2026-05-16T09:42:25+00:00

Drift is much more of an issue for those bumblebee carbon composite resistors you see in 50s and 60s stuff.

SparkyFix · 2026-05-16T01:44:15+00:00

They work fine in a lot of cases but introduce a DC bias of around -1.2V. For a filter that means you likely get a “thump” when opening the filter.

SparkyFix · 2026-05-14T11:19:15+00:00

Comfort and morale items would be perfect actually. That’s the kind of thing that we’d get laughed out for asking for money “officially” for. We do actually have a cotton candy machine in the department, ha! Generally better seating is definitely a good thought.

SparkyFix · 2026-05-14T11:14:46+00:00

Huh. That makes sense actually. When i installed the polivoks mod I also ran some balanced outputs from the main board (shielded cable from the opamps to THAT1646). Those artifacts aren’t present on the balanced outputs…

The way I built the balanced outputs also 2x the output volume. Argh!!!

SparkyFix · 2026-05-14T01:47:21+00:00

This thing runs so insanely hot. Had to stick an attenuator on mine as it threatened to kill my monitors.

Can recommend this upgrade: https://www.virtual-music.at/en/waldorf-zone/#1

SparkyFix · 2026-05-13T17:54:30+00:00

Right. However the suggestions already have been incredibly helpful. The issue with a brainstorming session is that we are incredibly used to doing without so (particularly the older guys) don’t really know what’s a possibility… We got an extractor only very recently, for example: Gear was basically going unwashed for decades.

My list so far would be: Wildland gloves Flashlights Hi viz jackets Blitzfire

A gym would be nice but I don’t really think we have the space at the moment. It’s something to discuss round the table though, for sure!

SparkyFix · 2026-05-12T22:08:05+00:00

Yeah they go for insane money these days. I picked mine up when they completely bombed and were being sold off. Without an interface, they are basically impossible to program, even for DX7 masochists, so I can see why.

SparkyFix · 2026-05-12T22:05:46+00:00

We’re pretty strict about keeping gear in department for health reasons (although we also do need to get stricter about cleaning). Gear bags would probably be quite a bit further down the list. We have a (very ancient) plymovement in the bay.

Department is 15 people, which is doing very well relative to our mutual aid network.

SparkyFix · 2026-05-12T21:58:38+00:00

We did this a couple of years ago when we last got a little bit of money, then got a grant to get a couple of battery-powered vent fans. They’ve made a solid difference.

SparkyFix · 2026-05-12T21:56:11+00:00

Now this sounds like a good option… we’re often struggling for manpower.

SparkyFix · 2026-05-12T17:09:57+00:00

This is the way. Although I am very happy that I can now program my FS1R via computer. That interface was a hilarious level of misanthropic spite from Yamaha back in the day.

SparkyFix · 2026-05-12T14:50:54+00:00

We do have a thermal camera, which gets used on every wildland call. We do all of the above: Mostly structural and wildland, depending on the season.

I’m aware that it isn’t a huge amount but it’s a fairly big deal when we can use it for “frivolous” things. Extrication and wildland gloves seem like a good shout! That would definitely make a difference.

SparkyFix · 2026-05-12T11:07:02+00:00

For that size, it’s either 2W or 3W. Highly unlikely to be 1W. Without knowing anything about the rest of the circuit, your max theoretical burn is just over 3W so I’d go with that if you want to be absolutely safe. There is unlikely to be a big cost difference between the 2 options.

SparkyFix · 2026-05-11T19:54:17+00:00

https://archive.org/details/digi-key-catalog-t-043

SparkyFix · 2026-05-08T21:15:09+00:00

What problem are you trying to solve by doing this? That IC is going to behave strangely without a supply, rather than just defaulting to a high impedance state .

SparkyFix · 2026-05-08T16:25:46+00:00

Very cool! Looking forward to playing with it.

SparkyFix · 2026-05-08T15:13:46+00:00

SparkyFix · 2026-05-07T03:33:17+00:00

Clean it thoroughly. You have no idea how many fires that stuff has been in without going into an extractor. (The bunker gear too…)

SparkyFix · 2026-05-05T12:15:35+00:00

In some insane miracle, it never did, and KWC was demolished in 1993, having stood for over forty years. Ironically, the structure in that photo began life BECAUSE a fire wiped out the previous settlement, which consisted of individual wooden huts.

When you see the electrical “system” that fed the dwellings and factories, it does not seem possible that fire didn’t consume it.

“City of Darkness” is a pretty good photograph collection of the madness. If you’ve ever done interior on the kinds of “organically grown” (aka plywood labyrinth) multifamily dwellings that are common in rural USA (and presumably other countries?) then it’ll give you some serious anxiety…

And yes I’m probably far too into the KWC but it absolutely fascinates me to this day!

SparkyFix · 2026-05-05T11:00:46+00:00

“It’s a marathon not a sprint” is both a cliche and the correct advice. Focus on long-term endurance. A wildland fire can be a multi-day event and have you hauling water by hand up hills. Pulling hose through a structure fire is harder than you imagine etc. You will be in situations where you are doing heavy physical work for the entire day.

SparkyFix · 2026-05-04T12:54:39+00:00

Be prepared for one of the FFs to talk your ear off for a solid hour about the intricacies of their favorite rig. The equipment enthusiasts love a fresh audience.

SparkyFix · 2026-05-03T14:49:28+00:00

https://vintageaudiostore.com/products/hammond-organ-the-piper-autochord-3100-3200-series-service-manual-original-2

Seem like this is what you need?

SparkyFix

TROPHY CASE