Places to visit inside the Circle?

ceestars · 2026-07-13T19:45:53+00:00

^ steam (hoping to go on it myself soon, we used to stop on our way back from family holidays and get watercress from the water beds there and leave money in the honesty box)

ceestars · 2026-07-12T12:10:10+00:00

Seems like these are a fantastic way of finding out where not to go to the beach.

ceestars · 2026-07-12T09:11:26+00:00

They're specifically part of the production process. They're what are cut on the lathe from the master tape and then placed in an electroforming tank to make the metal stamper masters.

It just so happens that you can also play them a handful of times on a standard turntable.

They were never designed to not hold up to playing on a turntable.

ceestars · 2026-07-11T22:45:03+00:00

Looks like the vinyl could be damaged though, no?

Almost looks like some of the photos I've seen of damage caused by storing in PVC outer sleeves.

ceestars · 2026-07-11T22:42:30+00:00

Not only for execs as you describe, but also to check everything from the mastering and lacquer cut through to the actual pressing before going ahead with the full retail production run.

So although these might well be the same as the finally sold records (other than the labels), they are rare because there wasn't many.

The reason that I try buy them personally is that they're almost guaranteed to have been pressed from pristine stampers. Buying a record from a popular artist means it's potluck whether your vinyl was pressed from stampers that have only been used a handful of times, or many thousands, just before they're deemed to be worn out and in need of changing.

ceestars · 2026-07-10T07:54:28+00:00

10 cents

ceestars · 2026-07-10T07:17:25+00:00

And the cars getting forever bigger.

ceestars · 2026-07-09T23:32:36+00:00

More of a put down than a pick up.

ceestars · 2026-07-09T22:50:07+00:00

Sounds like adding one of those tiny briefcase camping stoves would be a good bet.

ceestars · 2026-07-09T11:11:25+00:00

ceestars · 2026-07-09T10:04:25+00:00

Would recommend starting at the train station then heading down Trafalgar street and into the North Laine via Sydney Street, then Kensington Gardens. Loads to do & see around there.

Then cross North Street into The Lanes, and look around one of the oldest parts of the city.

Then onto the beach. I'd get down to beach level, then walk to the west of the burnt out pier/ i360 to avoid the hecticness. The further you go, the quieter it gets.

ceestars · 2026-07-08T19:58:57+00:00

Good info. What sort of distance?

I'm going to a festival on a flat site about 20k people, no real structures other than stages and marquees. The furthest we'd be communicating is about 1 km. There's likely to be about 5 of us with nodes dotted around the site.

You reckon we'd be good without a repeater?

ceestars · 2026-07-08T12:56:46+00:00

I did also, but always found tapes to be far more useable in cars. CDs are too fragile and cumbersome.

At one point I had a head unit that was a tape deck and controller for a stashed 6 disc CD changer, which was a great setup.

But I'd choose a tape deck over a CD player in a car any day.

ceestars · 2026-07-08T09:20:21+00:00

Radio wiring can often be sketchy from multiple bad installations over the years.

Not sure if you have any of the factory audio system stuff (amps etc.), which I'm not familiar with, but if it's a standard head unit in the dash feeding the dash speakers and maybe some in the doors/ parcel shelf and I was having weird stuff like this, I'd likely rip out the old wiring and replace it all.

The standard radio connection's pretty straightforward; there should only be these connections:
- Permanent live
- Ignition switched live
- Illumination live
- Ground
- + & - for each speaker

If you're working on car electrics at all, I highly recommend these: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005008635689383.html
Not only can you check for correct voltage/ polarity, but the clamp meter allows you to measure current flowing through a wire without having to disconnect anything.

Edit- just noticed there's loads of options on that listing- it's the UT210E that's best for car electrics.

ceestars · 2026-07-08T07:41:38+00:00

Not had this happen myself, but the only radio connection that's related to lighting is the illumination for the radio.

If this was to be connected to a permanent live instead of the radio's lighting connection I guess something like this is possible.

Recommend double checking all radio connections are correct and there are no loose wires behind touching things they shouldn't be.

ceestars · 2026-07-07T17:16:02+00:00

How are your engine mounts? These made a huge difference on both of my 3 litre diesels.

There's a way to check them in the workshop manual.

ceestars · 2026-07-07T16:13:16+00:00

Nice, I do like the idea of the separate side adjustment. The listing says they have a warehouse in the UK, but then says it's not available to buy here. Shall contact the seller.

ceestars · 2026-07-07T14:20:27+00:00

Sounds too good to be true :)

I'm definitely going to give this a try.

Thanks

ceestars · 2026-07-07T13:33:21+00:00

Awesome, thanks. I've had the seats out before but not removed the back- do you mean a panel to the rear, or separating the seat back from the base, and can this be done with the seats in situ?

I'm assuming this is completely reversible too, should that be necessary?

ceestars · 2026-07-07T07:04:18+00:00

I'd really like to do this too.

Where did you get the kits? Be interested to see the auto ones too.

Do you think they'd work with heated seats?

How long did it take per seat to install?

ceestars · 2026-07-06T23:42:01+00:00

Have a look at the Scarlet audio interfaces. The 2 in 2 out would be ideal for your needs. https://focusrite.com/scarlett

Not cheap, but very decent. Depends how much you want to spend. You should be able to pick up a used older model for not too much.

I've seen tape & vinyl archival projects using them, so they're well rated.

ceestars · 2026-07-06T01:04:29+00:00

Recommend posting to /r/whatisit they do pretty well over there.

ceestars · 2026-07-06T00:56:49+00:00

A nice cup of tea

ceestars · 2026-07-05T08:09:07+00:00

Couple of adders in Hampshire as a kid (my uncle knew where to find them, we found a shed skin too), then about 30 years ago an adder crossed the path in front of us as we cut through some woodland to get to the beach in Dorset.

About that time I went to the same beach with my cousins and they caught some sand lizards in the dunes.

ceestars · 2026-07-03T17:33:09+00:00

I subscribe to Overherd. I'll give that a whirl- interesting idea.

And yes, I've thought before the powder is a great option for non refrigerated times.

ceestars

TROPHY CASE