If you’re looking for free SatNav software for your Android phone or tablet that will work without a permanent internet connection then check out ‘Map Factor Navigator’ available on Google apps. Maps are regularly updated and it works well.
Samsung Galaxy SIII mini mobile phone and SatNav audio for Bluetooth
As standard my various Bluetooth headsets and car adapter only allow me to answer and make telephone calls with the phone. I’ve thought for some time that it would be really good to be able to use Bluetooth with the phone’s SatNav applications and I’ve found a really simple solution for this by using the free ‘Mono Bluetooth Router’ application downloadable from Google Apps. This is a great way to either increase the SatNav volume when used with a Bluetooth car kit or to enable SatNav audio when using a Blutooth headset with a motorcycle helmet.
Cynon Taf Community Housing
I had an enjoyable time at the University of South Wales this morning taking photographs of the team from Cynon Taf Community Housing, they’re a great bunch of people.
Glamorganshire Canal at Pontypridd
My Mum and I went along to the open day this morning. Great to see the progress that the volunteers are making restoring the lock.
Monitor fix and upgrade
Unfortunately my HP w2207h monitor recently failed leaving me with a computer and no monitors.
I really should have fixed my Samsung SyncMaster 225BW monitor a while ago! I stripped down the Samsung monitor and removed the power supply board, de-soldered and removed the five faulty electrolytic capacitors and replaced them with new ones and re-assembled everything. One monitor fixed in half an hour at a total cost of a couple of pounds.
Unfortunately I wasn’t so lucky with the HP monitor, it needed a new panel and while it is still possible to source a replacement panel I couldn’t be confident that it didn’t also have a back light inverter problem so I decided to replace the monitor with a LG 22EA53 IPS panel LED monitor bought from Novatech which I’m really pleased with.
No excuse now not to complete my VAT return!
Wharfedale Melton Tweeter Replacement
The original ‘purple’ tweeters finally failed in my Melton speakers – I’m surprised they lasted this long as they always had a very bad reputation for reliability. Last night I replaced them with a pair of Pyle 3.75 inch Aluminium Bullet Titanium Horn Tweeters that I’m very pleased with.
Of course the speakers look better once the front covers are back on!
Next projects are to replace a few electrolytic capacitors in my Samsung SyncMaster 225 BW monitor so that it will switch on reliably, if only manufacturers used better quality capacitors, then next on the list is to replace the fan in my notebook computer.
Rotary Club of Cardiff West Handover
My year as president of the Rotary Club of Cardiff West has now come to an end following our handover meeting this evening. It’s been a great year and we’ve raised money and collected items that have helped many charities and good causes. I was really pleased with our efforts to help Macmillan Cancer Support which was my charity for the year.
I was delighted to accept a presidential citation for our achievements this year.
Refurbishing a pair of Bang & Olufsen Speakers
The speaker cones on a number of B&O speakers are mounted using a very thin circle of foam rubber, unfortunately over time the rubber can perish which has a seriously bad effect on the sound quality. For many years I’ve repaired my various B&O systems and it was time to refurbish this pair of speakers. The first step is to unclip the speaker baffles from the front of the speaker enclosures to gain access to the speaker, then remove the four cross head screws that mount the speakers into the enclosures. After pulling the speakers out of the enclosures the colour coded wire connections can be unsoldered and the speakers removed.
As can be seen the rubber mounts were in a very sorry state.
The next step is to very carefully remove all traces of the old surrounds using a scalpel.
Next the new surrounds are glued to the speaker cone and speaker chasis ensuring that the cone is centralised.
It’s then just a case of refitting the speakers into the enclosures. They now sound great once again!
Twitter Posts
I’ve been having a few problems recently displaying twitter post on this blog but I think I’ve solved the problems and tweets from both myself and Cardiff West Rotary should now be displaying in the sidebar of my blog.
Samsung Galaxy S4 launch event
There are certainly some interesting features to this new phone.
http://www.pcpro.co.uk/blogs/2013/03/14/samsung-galaxy-s4-launch-live-blog/