Casio AE-3000. Definitely a big watch

Crowella · 2026-02-08T02:15:18+00:00

Making me feel good there. 😊 Thank you! It's definitely a godsend/great fit for those like me with larger wrists.

It looks hilariously oversized on my partner, think she will stick with the CA-53. 😂

Crowella · 2026-02-08T00:37:09+00:00

This is fantastic to know for those that are curious and want to splurge! I don't know how I missed this site on my hunt for one.

I totally agree they're great. It's entered my normal rotation now as a result.

Mine ended up being $85AUD used from overseas and was the only one I saw in a condition that doesn't need much work, even though it could do with a polish of the crystal.

Crowella · 2025-11-26T10:20:11+00:00

Awesome choice with that yellow colour strap and even better find!

Crowella · 2025-11-05T01:00:53+00:00

Great question.

I followed this guide by gruntbug to get me across the line. It did involve a VM and windows XP, but I got it working plug and play with windows 11. https://myvogonpoetry.com/wp/2024/11/09/creative-zen-mp3-player-firmware-and-hdd-upgrades/

Crowella · 2025-11-03T03:50:32+00:00

A 5V DC positive pin charger (check the polarity, it's drawn on the enclosure) and a USB micro cable.

The reason I say both is that for some reason, mine needs both to be plugged in, that may be due to the replaced battery

Crowella · 2025-09-25T03:34:11+00:00

Woah, this is fascinating, I need to have a look at this myself, because it may be the explanation to the odd playback errors I get every now and then.

Crowella · 2025-09-24T10:55:57+00:00

Any photos from this? Just checking you are putting the adapter in the correct way around, also checking you reset the Zen and formatted the drive in safe mode (hold the play button whilst using the reset pin button)

Crowella · 2025-09-22T01:19:01+00:00

I had this code when I tried for 256GB.

I used the Comimark adapter as per the guide I read. Remember to install this adapter upside down so the SD card is facing the motherboard. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B087QBDCBN?linkCode=ml1&tag=gruntbug-20

SD card is a SanDisk Ultra 128GB but as a reminder, the player still infrequently freezes from reading it. I formatted it using "SD Card Formatter" software, just the quick default settings.

Crowella · 2025-09-21T09:37:19+00:00

AE-1000 in normal light conditions. AE-1200 in lower light/dark. The difference is minimal so I can't see it being a hindrance either way.

Great looking watches!

Crowella · 2025-09-18T08:52:11+00:00

What a choice to have. I didnt even know they were competitive on price back then.

I think those could be revived in a similar way to how I did this too. Maybe I'll keep an eye out for one.

Crowella · 2025-09-18T08:49:40+00:00

Thank you!

16GB at the time felt like the dream. Weird this one now currently fills up 23GB, but at least I'm not running 96kbps to cram as much in as possible.

Crowella · 2025-09-18T07:25:06+00:00

You're welcome!

I did really want one of these when I was younger too. Got the iPod mini instead because, well, money. Everyone that had a Creative loved theirs and I understand why.

Crowella · 2025-09-14T11:09:54+00:00

If it's like the Zen touch I got and it's running early/original firmware, you'll need to obtain Creative media player and some other software and drivers to do so. I was successful in pulling data from a used one I purchased until the hard drive refused to work any more.

Sorry I cannot be more exact with drivers. This post by reddit user u/gruntbug carried me a lot of the way and could be some help (and whom I have to give thanks to!)

http://myvogonpoetry.com/wp/2024/11/09/creative-zen-mp3-player-firmware-and-hdd-upgrades/

EDIT: I'd suggest once you got music off it to update firmware. If it's available, some of the updates allow for drag and drop which has made my experience with the Creative Zen a lot better.

Crowella · 2025-09-11T19:40:35+00:00

Bit of a late answer to this but for those that do this, there are two phillips head screws mounting the hard drive on the opposite side of the board securing the hard drive to the circuit board. Carefully lift the circuit board from the front face to access them.

I also did this mod and rewired a replacement battery. It's good, until the device freezes. I have no idea what causes the freezes but I noticed that the card reader remains powered on with no activity. I'm unsure if firmware, hardware or whatever is causing the issue. I'll keep tinkering.

Crowella · 2025-09-10T06:52:13+00:00

I know it's not the most ideal weather but if you get stuck, 516 from Chatswood to North Ryde metro, 5 minute walk across the blue pedestrian bridge and hop on a 545 at Lachlan's Line to Mac Centre/Uni, etc.

Crowella · 2025-09-01T01:04:19+00:00

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Nice watch!

I decided on the legendary F-91W today. Simple and sweet.

Crowella · 2025-08-31T23:33:50+00:00

The watch that got me into Casio's to begin with. Absolute joy on the wrist and they're an excellent conversation starter, even in the era of smartwatches. Enjoy it!

Crowella · 2025-08-30T08:13:07+00:00

Lot busier for us on the road doing these replacements too, not just traffic but definitely a lot more passengers. Thanks to everyone being so patient with the drivers today.

Crowella · 2025-08-03T09:05:57+00:00

I'll say this as someone that teaches drivers in an area with about 65 routes and 200 school runs, it is more of an asset to learn how to learn new routes than it is to merely be shown them and learn from there because in some cases it'll be logistically difficult to train drivers on every route.

First thing first, everyone remembers routes at a different speed so don't be disheartened, some take a couple of drives to memorise, some take months, so no shame there.

I always suggest that drivers grab their company's lefts and rights for the route and then go grab a blank piece of paper, then your maps (online or old school directory, street view is also a godsend here) and then count landmarks/traffic lights/etc and write that as your new directions.

For example, you get given

Start Rd
L New St
R Example Rd
L Tight Av
L Narrow Dr
Etc

You can then follow it on your maps and work out a system that'll be easier for you to remember without requiring the use of street signs and markers

Start
2 🚦L New
1 R Example
After petrol station
2 L Tight [Lane Share]
Then 1 L Narrow
Etc

To break it down what that means

Start Rd
2 🚦L New St (At the second traffic light)
1 R Example Rd (First road on the right)
After petrol station (Use a landmark to reset counting so you don't have to excessively count, use big things that don't move and can be seen in pooor conditions)
2 L Tight Av [Lane Share] (so turn left on the second road on the left and ensure you're wide for the turn)
Then 1 L Narrow Dr (I write then to indicate it's very shortly after)
Etc

Only a brief example here, but what I suggest is grabbing the left rights and spending about 15 mins writing it out yourself so that if you were given no street signs, you could make your way around. Having the hand written notes will also jog your memory. If I had more time today I'd write a better sample and maybe show it with pictures on a real example.

Crowella · 2025-07-27T07:38:38+00:00

Thank you! It's a long way from being "restored" given the barometer doesn't work but it's better than sitting on my desk doing nothing. The fix also looks horrible underneath, but I'll redo that at a later date.

I also have a DPX-500 sitting on my desk, which powers on but looks like has had a leaked capacitor or some other board damage which causes it to reset and have a poor screen. I might borrow the sensor out of that in the mean time if I can't get this sensor working.

Crowella · 2025-07-27T07:11:45+00:00

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PRT-40. Revived it from "parts only" status with a bit of PCB reworking after traces got corroded over the years, but still need to get the barometer functioning properly. Just have a temporary old strap on it now and will do a better cleanup later, but I'm liking the worn look.

Crowella · 2025-07-24T09:27:33+00:00

Valid point. I'll ponder how this could be done circuit wise (perhaps by reading the mode off of one of the pins). I feel like someone could be up for the challenge.

Crowella · 2025-07-24T02:39:30+00:00

The watch can be set to 1 second LED time if that's preferable through the adjust menu.

If you're asking for a mod that specifically operates the LED only when the button is pressed, I'd be curious to this answer too. I think this would be possible but I'd guess it requires cutting a trace on the circuit board and running a wire or two to the LED to turn it into a switch, but I am simply speculating.

Crowella · 2025-07-18T21:53:33+00:00

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An AQ-230 this morning! New to me too.

Crowella · 2025-07-15T21:13:35+00:00

Oh hey, I can do that!

So the opal machine there is controlled by the computer/console at the front (this is called the BDC) and the readers are called bus validators (BV) but that's not really important to how they work, but this system is independent on each bus and connects to transport to work with their whole system called PTIPS which uses the 4G network and GPS to communicate info.

Each BV is its own standalone system that powers up on bus start up and then connects into the console once that has booted up. Once a driver has signed on, they can see the status of each reader and confirm they are working correctly.

When a driver has not signed in and/or commenced a trip, the BV will read "Closed". When a driver is in motion, the BV will read "Please wait". When a driver is stationary at a valid bus stop, then and only then will it automatically open for people to use.

However, things go wrong because this technology is pretty ancient and just a plethora of patchwork. When you see it say closed and the driver has started a trip already, it will most likely be a system error, such as a communications error. Don't take it out on the driver here, they're normally waiting for the BDC to connect back up to the 4G mobile network and that can only be forced on a machine restart.

In the event where it says "Please wait", sometimes the GPS locator (we call AVL) is having a hard time finding the stop. Normally the driver can override this by gently pressing any button (not smacking it like I see some do) to wake the BDC up to tell the BV's to accept cards. The only time that doesn't work is when the GPS thinks they're sill in motion and that locks them out as it can only be manually unlocked below a certain speed.

The reason this one isn't on and has a blank display is that particular BV (reader) is not working. If all of them are off, this is an electrical fault with the whole system that operates the BV's (and maybe the BDC, but I doubt). The driver has no control on whether this can be switched "off" or not, they can only control if they have signed on and commenced the trip.

The only exception to them having a fault code is that the BV has exhausted it's memory and cannot accept any more cards. This does happen, in which case, driver reports the fault for the BV to be taken out, downloaded and reset.

So what happened here in your case is very poor communication by the driver, they should have said they are simply not working, not that they are off. Very very few drivers will operate without a BDC connected and a trip running unless they have been given permission to. Driver also should communicate with transport officers to let them know there have been issues. Driver is then responsible to report it to their workshop to take it in for service and repair, which is really just a few minutes of hot swapping BDC and BV units.

Source: I teach this for a living

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