My Beagleboard is kaput

know it is very stable as some experiments elsewhere showed me that the rotational speed of a zip drive (100mb one) seems to vary depending on voltage (which is horrific – there’s no vreg? it isn’t a sync’d stepper?)

I had a turntable¹ with that kind of drive, unfortunately the sync was derived from the mains and that 50Hz isn’t quite as regular as people think, at least not at the time I was using that kit. A number of cycles per period which averages as 50/s

I trust voltage regualtors more

¹ You know the things that vinyl LPs play on.

You know the things that vinyl LPs play on.

Hey! I’m old enough to have experienced both the LP and the just as big laserdisc. I remember life before MP3s, had an original Walkman and an original Watchman!

My turntable has this cool neon-strobe thing on the front that illuminates a series of silver bumps on the edge of the turntable. So to get the correct speed, just twiddle the knob until the correct bump freezes…

I have tried sampling music (80s pop etc), but I don’t have an RIAA filter so the raw results are a bit odd sounding, and I’ve not found a digital filter to apply that makes things sound correct (basically it is bass light and tin heavy so fairy simple to boost, but not really happy with the results).

A also have a portable player in a sort of vanity case, mono turntable with speaker in the lid. The amp runs off a thermonic valve. Takes a while to get this thing going, but the richness of sound (even in a little mono jobbie) is quite extraordinary.

On topic… Um… Um… Well, the Beagle has a line input. Is there freely available software for RISC OS to record to a wav or mp3? Can it fix from RIAA profile? (^_^)

Well, the Beagle has a line input. Is there freely available software for RISC OS to record to a wav or mp3?

IIRC there was some stuff done by people playing with the Iyonix sound input. Also from recollection there were discussions about the quality.

Mind you the beagle has more modern sound devices so thats probably improved anyway.

;-) I think the basic premise is “if it costs less than a pint, run like hell in the other direction”.

Now I don’t drink so I don’t know the price of a pint, but I figure something that will be posted from Hong Kong and cost a fiver all in is not something I want connected to a device that I value.

I don’t drink either but on that basis Maplin are charging £20 per pint. Perhaps I should have said ‘appropriate’ rather than ‘trustworthy’.

Hmm, RISC OS seems to be a sobering experience, don’t drink either. Never had a turntable though, which really sucked because I couldn’t play the only record I ever owned: TRON.
IIRC the BB sound input was a bit crap, could be wrong though. Wasn’t there something witheither RiscDJ or the usable range (whatever that is)?

Hmm, RISC OS seems to be a sobering experience, don’t drink either.

Just for balance: various college programming exercises¹ were done at the pub. I’m a CAMRA member and drink looking for quality not quantity, which I suppose relates to RISC OS.

¹ Z80 assembler, notes done on beermats. I once had to hand over the notes rather than the write-up as the lecturer was off in the afternoon. Impressed he was not, well decidedly sour-grapes upset actually.

Impressed he was not, well decidedly sour-grapes upset actually.

Jealous, was he?

Wasn’t the outline of the first Harry Potter scrawled on a napkin?

Napkins, beermats… don’t knock ‘em. I think people coming up with ideas in a comfortable environment where they can think freely create better ideas than people stuffed into an office.
When I was at college, we’d go to the cinema to watch a film, then we would go for a walk to talk about it. Doesn’t matter if it was pouring rain or the middle of the night, we just felt a lot more able to discuss the film than if we sat around a table. Oddly enough, the discussions were a lot politer and less prone to fall into fanboi arguments.

Upps, I’m right here?
At first, I’m also very old ;-) I have the original vinyl Sex Pistols “Never Mind the Bollocks” and I record this to wav via Irlam 24i16 on my RiscPC and burn with CDBurn. It was many years before. I search a way to do this on the Beagle/Panda/RPi ;-)
Thats not the reason for this post.
In the morning I have controled any things with no results. I used a new calibrated measuring instument from work. The powersupply I use have 5,2V (cheap and expensiv one), also this from RS (http://uk.rs-online.com/web/p/desktop-power-supply/6675492/).
For my portable Beagles I have a stepup/stepdown voltage converter to convert the 12V from accu (look “Bilder” at http://home.arcor.de/raik_fischer). I recalibrate this and I ave seen the voltage error on BBxM comes at 5,4 (5,35)V. Calibrate to 5,2V, all things are ok.
Sorry, a diagnosis from a distance is a bit difficult. I’ll still think about it a little. I have experienced the xM always be very insensitive.

Reading (dangerous, I know) I’m being given the impression that all switched mode power supplies are regulated by design. Is that so?

In theory. But whether the regulation is any good depends on the design and how many corners were cut. I particularly like this one which has been, err, ‘optimised’.

In theory. But whether the regulation is any good depends on the design and how many corners were cut.

So how does one tell? What to look for?

Replaced BB -xm & power supply. Surprised to find that now I can run everything including the HDD from the BB’s internal USB. Had to use a powered hub for the HDD before. Got the Meanwell PS as mentioned by Raik above though I had to source it from Meanwell’s UK distributors direct. RS will only sell to plebs online with a credit card.

Moved house in the meantime. Now to catch up. What to do with a dead BB -xm?

Look

“Repairs

Repairs and replacements only provided on unmodified boards purchased via an authorized distributor within the first 90 days. All repaired board will have their flash reset to factory contents. For repairs and replacements, please contact ‘support’ at BeagleBoard.org using the RMA form:

Register board

RMA request "

Repairs and replacements only provided on unmodified boards purchased via an authorized distributor within the first 90 days.

I think November 2011 is a slightly longer than 90 days.

I think November 2011 is a slightly longer than 90 days.

Aren’t you supposed to get two years statutory (as a European)?

Worth asking about a return/repair at any rate – the worst they can do is say no.

All repaired board will have their flash reset to factory contents.

…except the xM doesn’t have any flash, as far as I am aware.

What Rick says. Maybe you have no guarantee (that would be still to be clarified), but what can happen. It costs nothing to ask. The worst happen is no change for you, the best thing that can happen, your board has a known bug and this will be fixed as a gesture of goodwill or you have guarantee.

RMA requested. Let’s see.

In terms of EU 2 year guarantees, wouldn’t my contract be with Farnell Element 14 rather than Beagleboard,com?

Not that I’m concerned – just musing.

RMA approved! Hmm, best way to send it?

RMA approved! Hmm, best way to send it?

Packaging? If it were me I’d put it in an antistatic bag, in an LTO3 or LTO4 tape case (we have a few empties around at work) and then pack that in a reasonable postal package.

Packaging?

Ah, no. I’ve got the original packaging. I was thinking more postal service to the US of A.

Ah well, the BB’s on its way courtesy of Her Maj’s mail.

Weren’t R-Comp interested in dealing with their faulty boards at one point?

Heard from the Beagle Hospital (it’s like the vet – they keep you informed of the patient’s progress). They found that U31 & U32 (power management) were ‘bad’ & have replaced them.They’re going to test then return the BB -xm.

Thanks Raik & Rick for nudging me to do it.

Thanks for the info. Good to know that it works well. Cost you anything?

Cost you anything?

They haven’t mentioned money. Hopefully that’s where the vet comparison fails.

Without cost would be very good. I’ll keep my fingers crossed.