Knights in Shining Armour

pmrid (Peter) · #1 26-12-2013, 04:52 PM

It was not for the first time (but I sincerely hope it will be that last for obvious reasons) that I recently had to impose on the kindness of one of the IIS members. I have perversely refused to upgrade the Gemini 1 on my Titan - it works and works well. But twice in the past few years, I have been caught napping by electrical storms that have fried it's brains. Gemini seem to be particularly susceptible to this.

First time, the RS232 had to be replaced and this time both the CPU and the RS232 - and both times, the man with the avatar with that dreadful Elvis/Little Richard hairdo and the unlikely name of "wasyoungonce" from these forums has been able to bring my Gemini Lazarus-like back from the dead.

I am thankful that the skills and the generosity of our mutual friend have been there to help me. It has saved me a lot of money in upgrading and goes a long way to moderating my normally cynical outlook.

Thank you Brendan.

Peter

GeoffW1 (Geoff) · #2 26-12-2013, 05:48 PM

Love his hairdo

wasyoungonce (Brendan) · #3 26-12-2013, 06:41 PM

Well.....wots wrong with the hair...it is after all my hero Danny John-Jules...aka the cat in Red Dwarf. He has: style; attitude;pizzazz; and a wardrobe to match.

All traits I do not have, but aspire to.

Many thanks for the thumbs up Peter. I admired the Losmandy mounts and Gremini's from way back, so much I purchased one years back. I like them because, well you can get every nut/bolt and part from the mfgr and their PCBs were made to be repaired and are well designed.

Repairing them ......all started as an accident, fixing for a friend, David, in QLD then grew from that. Now I have a complete suite of parts, even the case screws, EPROMs etc. This was born from enjoying them and collecting a few spares for myself...and decades of electronics repair in the RAAF.

Oh, for Gemini 1 users, they have a quirk with ground loops so if your in an electrical stormy area, unplug them!

h0ughy (David) · #4 26-12-2013, 07:32 PM

+ 100 for Brendan's efforts and results

allan gould · #5 29-12-2013, 12:25 AM

++++++++ from me too.
Brendan is much worshiped in the Tempest Observatory every time I switch on my Gemini GoTo. Mumbled incantations have kept the demons away and electrons flowing.
Allan

wasyoungonce (Brendan) · #6 29-12-2013, 10:49 AM

Haaa that's funny...I keep IC's & parts I take out as some type of Voodoo shrine to appease the electron and smoke gods!

Maybe eventually I can make a necklace or a demi god from them!