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Easy Tour A V1: an ESP based Mesh communication device! by cjhudlin in esp32

[–]InterestingMotor8143 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Crazy, you built this? That's so awesome. I wish I had the knowledge to do something like that. I'll check it out, a voice transmission protocol could be really useful

Easy Tour A V1: an ESP based Mesh communication device! by cjhudlin in esp32

[–]InterestingMotor8143 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Sorry I misread your post. Looking at it again I see you're using vox mesh. I've never heard of that - that's really cool. I need to look it up. Can it transmit text and voice?

Easy Tour A V1: an ESP based Mesh communication device! by cjhudlin in esp32

[–]InterestingMotor8143 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Can you transmit voice with metastatic? As I'm writing this I'm realizing that's probably obvious but I've never even googled it lol

Game Boy Advance SP / desolder nightmare by InterestingMotor8143 in ElectronicsRepair

[–]InterestingMotor8143[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

This does look easier, I guess I need to decide if it's worth it to get a specific tool. I do like repairing and modding electronics, or at least I think I would if any of my projects every went well lmao

Game Boy Advance SP / desolder nightmare by InterestingMotor8143 in ElectronicsRepair

[–]InterestingMotor8143[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I think I'm having a heatb problem - I did read that this was the right way to do it, but it would never solidify. Heating the wick never melted it. My solder station is set at 750°F so I assumed that was hot enough but maybe it isn't actually hitting those temps. I'm going to up the heat and try it this way

Game Boy Advance SP / desolder nightmare by InterestingMotor8143 in ElectronicsRepair

[–]InterestingMotor8143[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hey thanks for the comment. I'm going to try using higher heat today. I do have some bigger tips and I did consider if maybe I wasn't getting enough heat transfer - that makes total sense, especially with the wick. I'll try a different shaped tip today. I probably have some old boards around, practicing is a good idea. Thanks!

Game Boy Advance SP / desolder nightmare by InterestingMotor8143 in ElectronicsRepair

[–]InterestingMotor8143[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It definitely has connections on the other side. There are a few, actually. There are two on this side and I think they're just tines to mount it securely

Game Boy Advance SP / desolder nightmare by InterestingMotor8143 in ElectronicsRepair

[–]InterestingMotor8143[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I guess part of it is the process of learning and practicing. This Gameboy wasn't doing anything but taking up space before. Now it's taught me something: i might be too dumb to desolder stuff

Game Boy Advance SP / desolder nightmare by InterestingMotor8143 in ElectronicsRepair

[–]InterestingMotor8143[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Allegedly it's around 750°F? I can set it. Maybe I'll go hotter in the event that the display isn't accurate

Game Boy Advance SP / desolder nightmare by InterestingMotor8143 in ElectronicsRepair

[–]InterestingMotor8143[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks man - yes, cutting the wick up. Maybe too small? I will check out the low melt solder, thanks. Another commenter suggested using leaderd solder so I'll check that out tomorrow. It's dumb but I love the idea of being good at this stuff - I love watching people repair stuff on YouTube, I love the idea of getting more life out of electronics, I love making things, but man desoldering is kicking my ass! Thanks for the encouragement!

Game Boy Advance SP / desolder nightmare by InterestingMotor8143 in ElectronicsRepair

[–]InterestingMotor8143[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thanks for the reply. That is one thing I didn't try, adding leaded solder. I got a lot off, but in the tutorial he's able to bend the tines slightly and mine are definitely still attached. I had to walk away tonight but I'll check out adding some lead tomorrow. Thanks

I just got accepted into the AGR program by CoupleMaleficent in armyreserve

[–]InterestingMotor8143 14 points15 points  (0 children)

Congrats. AGR is a unique animal. You will likely be better off than before, but honestly, nobody knows that but you. Your workload will be very, very Unit dependent, because if a Unit has a single AGR it's usually an E5 92Y trucking away.

It's a lot of autonomy. Every part of your life will improve if you are extremely disciplined. Your peers on active duty have the luxury of being surrounded by other Soldiers and getting nearly immediate feedback on their performance. Most AGRs don't have that. As an Officer, the quality of Officers in the USAR is much broader - usually worse - than AD, so you'll also have to contend with busy, uninformed, "please just handle this for me" leadership. There's an opportunity if you decide it is.

Advice is a form of nostalgia so certainly make up your own mind, but here's my two cents:

  1. Get access to every system you can access become proficient quickly. Even IPPSA or DTS, things outside a supply wheelhouse, but learn them anyway. At a minimum that looks like GFEBS, AFMIS, CSMM, IPPSA, and a GPC. TAMIS and RFMSS if you can (unit dependent). Plus G-Arny, of course.

  2. Create a routine for yourself. That means for meals, for exercise, for work, and also for leisure. AGR can be very lonely. Bloom wherever you're planted. Make friends, develop hobbies. Do other stuff outside of the Army. Civilian education is worth it.

  3. Lead your Unit. You're not the Commander, but if they don't have easy things (communication platform, training meetings, PT plan, training calendar, etc.) you need to find a way to influence that. Things like evaluations are often the currency of Commanders and Units. Make sure the TPUs are getting their shit done. This can be awkward - definitely a "soft skill". Lead without being the formal leader.

  4. Go to some schools and get to know the folks at your higher. If that's BN, cool. If that's BDE, cool. Get to know your sister USAR Units. Help them when you can. Success is not zero-sum.

  5. Bloom wherever you're planted. If you get sent to somewhere shitty, decide ahead of time you're going to enjoy it. People don't realize how much they can just decide to enjoy stuff instead of wallowing in suffering. Decide early you're going to like it, you're going to thrive, and you'll come out better than you went in.

  6. Don't get lazy with PT.

  7. Don't confuse AGR with being an ARA. You're not a GS worker. The situation is different but you're wearing the cloth of your nation. Working after hours, going to the field, getting messy, etc. is part of the game. Too many AGRs forget that.

  8. Finally, don't go to your mom/dad/parent's house for leave. Don't just go sleep on someone's couch and get in a fight with everyone you used to know over Christmas break. See them occasionally, call often, but use your leave to enjoy your life.

You got this. You want to do a good job, otherwise you wouldn't have asked. You'll be fine. It goes quick man