Chris writes “After reading this article about how to make a DIY Retro Cellphone Handset, I just had to post an article about how I made my Bluetooth Handset…surprisingly there is no how-to to do this (AFAIK). Although it’s very simple. Here is what you need: An old telephone or just the handset. I used an old telephone form former East Germany (GDR/DDR) called “Apart 2001″, produced in the VEB Fernmeldewerk Nordhausen/RFT in the year 1990.” Link.
Leadingzero writes – “Several projects on this site involve the modding of consumer electronics for new and inventive purposes. The NES tv remote for example used an old remote control as the base of the whole project. However, the circuitry inside was diverted to the controls of an old NES controller. This process of redirecting the internal circuitry of a component is what I call “circuit hijacking” because essentially, the circuitry is “hijacked” to a new location and purpose. This method is by no means new, nor is it even difficult but in this article I will attempt to described the best ways that circuit hijacking is accomplished so you can begin hijacking your own circuits.” Link.
“Mark McKeown loved the classic RCA Theremin so much that he built one to spec from scratch, down to the vintage power supply, coils, and cabinet. With authentic tubes and other details, this near-perfect replica can reproduce the instrument’s sound far better than a cheap kit. Mark includes links to resources for specs and supplies if you want to try it yourself.” [via] Link.
Chris has a great arcade building how to, he writes – “…the cabinet construction was completed in 24 hours, but it took about three months to get around to the last few bits (like decorating the unit), so don’t complain if after one day you don’t get something that looks like the unit on the left! Please browse through the links at the top and bottom of each page. They will cover the construction diary (in blow-by-blow detail), the finishing of the unit together with a shopping list, prices and then information on the PC inside the unit. Finally you will be able to download some plans we created after building the device, together with some of the graphics that are on the unit.” Thanks Rick! Link.
Great step-by-step guide on hacking the Atari Flashback 2 Console, adding a cartridge port to play old 2600 games – “So, you’ve decided to take your Atari Flashback 2 console to the next level? Well then, here are the basic details to help assist you in hacking/modding your console into a full fledged Atari 2600 system that can use your original cartridges.” Link.
Tips for getting rid of the annoying hum – “Of all the annoyances that can afflict any audio/video home theater or even a simple stereo installation, the notorious “ground loop” may well be the most difficult and persistent one to track down and eliminate. A “ground loop” is caused by the difference in electrical potential at different grounding points in an audio/video system. (All the grounds in an A/V system should ideally be at “0” potential.) A ground loop typically adds a loud low-frequency hum or buzz as soon as you plug in any of various audio or video components, including subwoofers, cable-TV outboard boxes, satellite-TV feeds, TV displays, amplifiers, A/V receivers or turntables. The buzz/hum is a byproduct of the multiple power supply cables and a ground voltage differential within your system and its network of interconnecting cables.” Link.
“GET LAMP: The documentary is a currently-in-production documentary about the story of the text adventure, a genre of game that flourished commercially in the early 1980s, with roots reaching many years before and with rebirths and innovations sprouting from it to the present day.” You can pre-order it now – [via] Link. Also, see our interview with the film maker about his last film, the BBS Documentary.
