Linker3000

IT Service Management by day. Electron wrangler by night. Into analogue and digital electronics, microcontrollers, vintage 8-bit computers, #Meshtastic 'n' stuff. STEM Ambassador (UK).
West Sussex, United Kingdom.

Public Key

npub1j79glqnwx0sd3nf2plps6dwjs2ufqkydhnjcupfn46v2ry87uknqqzflyp

NIP-05 Address

linker3000@mastodon-social.mostr.pub

Profile Code

nprofile1qqsf0z50sfhr8cxce54qlscdxhfg9wystzxmeevwq5e6ax9pjrlwtfspz4mhxue69uhhyetvv9ujuerfw36x7tnsw43q6at6f8

Publishing to

relay.ditto.pub

Author Public Key

npub1j79glqnwx0sd3nf2plps6dwjs2ufqkydhnjcupfn46v2ry87uknqqzflyp

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Last Notes

2026-10-21 13:54:39 UTC

Why are you reading this when you should be upgrading your instances of PHP, or having a nice cuppa because you've just finished?
NB: 'tomorrow' is now 'today'
https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/php-warns-admins-of-two-critical-flaws-emergency-patches-coming-tomorrow/

2026-10-11 11:25:23 UTC

That time you get an email from a cron job script on a server reporting that it's unable to send emails...🤔

2026-10-11 08:12:37 UTC

Can't login.. incorrect password.
Can't login.. incorrect password.
Gets password reset email.
Uses saved password from Bitwarden.
Told to choose another password - must not reuse previous ones.
Quits.
Logs in OK with existing saved password.
Is this the new multi factor authentication?

2026-10-03 07:55:34 UTC

Protip: Want to omit most AI slop sites from web searches:
1) Install uBlock Origin and enable the list: "Huge AI Blocklist"
2) Install uBlacklist and add this regex rule and make sure the plugin is enabled for your search engine/s of choice.
title =~ /\b(in|for) 20\d{2}\b/i
The toolbar icon shows a count of how many sites get blocked from the results, and clicking it allows them to be shown in case you want to check for false positives.

2026-08-04 20:11:01 UTC

After some sleuthing I've fixed two display issues on my Linux Mint PC running KDE Plasma on X:
1) Switching the second screen back from laptop use via a KVM often wouldn't display anything, even with autorandr and a manual xrandr command.
2) Both screens would come back on after a few seconds when the screensaver kicked in.
Fix: disable the Screen Management service (System Settings -> Startup and Shutdown -> Background Services).
It was fighting with autorandr

2026-07-08 19:31:56 UTC

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@nprofile…hl5m You're 45 mins drive along the A27 from me. If you need emergency rations or ice cubes let me know.

2026-06-27 10:33:49 UTC

I learned from the best.
I'm self-taught 😆

2026-06-24 16:33:04 UTC

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@nprofile…hl5m Ouch that'll be fun. Hope the course goes well.

2026-06-21 21:11:39 UTC

Smart people, have you used successfully any of the e-ink shelf label displays from AliExpress with https://www.openepaperlink.de/
I'm designing a system to display occupancy info outside meeting rooms, with no wiring, and central control from a room booking system.
Ideas appreciated.

2026-06-06 19:33:55 UTC

It's the end of an era. A house power outage killed this dusty motherboard which had been running in a Linux (Debian) server nearly non-stop since 2011. The CPU is a Q6600 (Core 2 Quad) + 4GB DDR2 RAM.
The replacement is an i3-9100 board + 8GB RAM for £75 off Ebay; so the server's caught up to 2019!
The board change was mostly easy. The main issue needed booting from USB to fix the IDs for the 2 x RAID 1 arrays as they'd changed and confused the boot process. Glad I wasn't running Windows!
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/116/704/798/474/976/637/original/96ae53dd1537975a.jpg

2026-05-26 15:59:39 UTC

HELLO...WHAT...NO... I'M ON A BUS...A RAIL REPLACEMENT BUS. YEAH, STUCK IN TRAFFIC. NO, NO AIRCON,... OK...UPDATE YOU LATER, BYE.
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/116/641/705/394/791/857/original/c682114668bb0de9.jpg
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/116/641/704/830/756/192/original/04ab5736eee6e75b.jpeg

2026-05-21 20:55:47 UTC

One TMS9918A graphics board for the RC2014 ecosystem. Just built but not yet tested.
#RC2014
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/116/614/552/536/592/709/original/132a417ad31ad7c7.jpg

2026-05-17 11:45:25 UTC

I seem to have bought a boxed 'For parts or not working' Commodore 64. How did that happen!? Looking forward to seeing what state it's in. #Commodore
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/116/589/744/619/465/624/original/65a3dd1729800098.jpeg
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/116/589/744/925/146/188/original/68a4bec7d9469a22.jpeg
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/116/589/744/625/024/987/original/4df214bad2c5042c.jpeg

2026-05-15 20:05:14 UTC

Am I "Working from home" or now "Living in the office"?

2026-05-12 21:08:47 UTC

Mrs Linker asked whether I ordered a pizza recently because there's a charge for Domino's on our credit card.
Nope. Uh, oh...maybe a fraudulent charge...?
Oh, wait, it says 'Domains' 😆

2026-05-09 20:54:31 UTC

My next RC2014 compatible board build will be the TMS9918A video card by J B Langston. I've ordered 5 PCBs and have enough parts to make up all 5, although I only have 2 x TMS9918As.
I'm thinking of making up all 5 boards and selling off 3 - WITHOUT the TMS chip* - for pretty much parts cost + a small amount for my time and solder + postage. Would anyone be interested?
*You can get them from various places as pulls or NOS. I suppose I could source and test them too.
https://github.com/jblang/TMS9918A

2026-04-26 20:19:36 UTC

Retrobrew computers' site is giving a 500 error.
Maybe I am just late to the party as it's ages since I've tried to go there.
Anyone know whether this is 'in hand' or have we lost the live site?
https://www.retrobrewcomputers.org/

2026-04-21 20:58:11 UTC

Where did William Shakespeare keep the rope he used for tying up his trousers?
In a bard cord box.

2026-04-06 20:11:56 UTC

Posting a comment about Gate Array Logic ICs (GALs) has just reminded me of a time a couple of years back when I received a bad batch of said devices ('New old stock'), and the supplier wanted a quick video of me running tests on a couple of chips, so I duly made a recording and sent it to them.
Naturally, I kept a copy of the test video...and that's how I had to show my wife and explain the contents of a folder on the home server called BADGALS.

2026-03-31 16:27:35 UTC

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There is also a Lower Dicker.
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/116/324/725/871/277/645/original/28907aa50799e7f6.jpg

2026-02-21 20:00:35 UTC

Forget all this fake online AI socialising.
Me and some mates get together regularly, in person, and have a cuppa & a lovely natter about all sorts of stuff.
We call it ChatPGTips.

2026-02-08 21:54:04 UTC

I managed to side load Christian Mader's httpclient app onto my Samsung smart watch and serve the config file, then take in http requests, using Node-RED to control MQTT and ZigBee devices. This deserves a write up and I'll share flows and notes in my repo on Codeberg.
https://github.com/cmader/HttpClient-WearOS
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/116/037/231/841/266/304/original/bd22466940bef7d0.jpg

2026-01-09 09:51:42 UTC

Oh no! My trusty old Thurlby Thandar PL154 bench PSU (15V 4A) suddenly went wonky. Voltage control worked, but current limit didn’t and short-circuit current was only 16mA.
Hmm...old caps, sense resistor, emitter resistors, or the bank of 2N3055s...
Dug out the schematic, put the PSU on the bench, started opening it… then noticed the banana socket pillars were loose and the sense straps effectively disconnected.
Tightened the terminals.
Job done.
Should have checked first.
#Overthinking
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/115/864/499/921/897/148/original/01749aaa45e36348.jpg
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/115/864/502/432/110/728/original/67d34a44f8dad309.png

2026-01-08 21:42:31 UTC

Whenever I am writing a computer program, or debugging one, I like to do it accompanied by a large glass of red wine.
I call it vine coding.

2025-12-25 08:26:11 UTC

Greetings of the day to everyone who's kept me informed, educated and entertained this year.

2025-12-16 20:09:56 UTC

I came across this old pic and thought I'd share. I aim to generate more original tech content in 2026:
Booting CP/M on my Z80 computer from a 4GB Hitachi Microdrive! Slower than compact flash, but the same power consumption. Worked first time. Fascinating old tech. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microdrive
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/115/731/053/889/209/986/original/3037d7cdd8c8463b.jpg

2025-12-10 08:03:07 UTC

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@nprofile…x4wz Hey, you didn't blow away then. Good news.

2025-11-27 19:49:52 UTC

My new fridge-freezer allows me to set the desired compartment temperatures, and it can detect when warm items are placed inside so it needs to work to drop the temperature. Is this done with simple temperature sensors? Nope, it's frikkin' AI...FFS! #InternetOfShit
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/115/623/394/772/812/756/original/79ae82d44e991a26.jpg

2025-11-11 12:15:08 UTC

Does anyone know whether if you register a domain at UK2.NET but don't host any services with them you still get full DNS management abilities? There's no info on their Web site and I'm 15 mins on hold with sales now. Been bitten by this before (cough..Stablepoint...cough).
Also, any suggestions for a good UK domain registration company that does provide full DNS management from the getgo so you can add records and point to other resources elsewhere?

2025-11-06 19:15:12 UTC

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Daft innit. I have the lovely 2.3-2.4 Dovecot upgrade challenge to ponder this weekend. Or I can just stick with 2.3.

2025-10-16 15:23:38 UTC

Why do people with a twinkle in their eyes seem to tell the funniest jokes?
Because they're cornea.

2025-10-07 14:39:55 UTC

What's a private audiologist's favourite dessert?
Profit-ear'oles.
/Sorry

2025-05-27 16:13:41 UTC

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@nprofile…x759 What kind of faults do you see the most?

2025-05-14 15:18:54 UTC

The BBC is reporting that Evri and DHL in the UK are merging. C'mon, what's the punchline here folks...

2025-05-11 13:08:05 UTC

Another tech question, this time for the Linux folks. Can you recommend a calendar and mail server setup that includes an easy way to set out of office messages so that people moving from Exchange aren't too intimidated. Failing that, recommendations for a commercial provider - UK /EU based. Thanks.

2025-05-04 15:00:29 UTC

What a palaver.
This PlusNet Hub One was modified years back to run OpenWRT, but a f/w update yesterday failed & it went into a panic loop.
I cracked it open & used the serial header put in first time round to RAM boot OpenWRT & then scp'd in the upgrade & ran an update from console. All fixed!
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/114/450/158/634/707/333/original/4f31387eddfb990c.jpg

2025-04-22 18:01:27 UTC

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@nprofile…28h9 @nprofile…xt5t Sounds like a plan. Say Hi sometime if you spot any L3Kx nodes.

2025-04-22 15:51:17 UTC

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@nprofile…28h9 @nprofile…xt5t Just confirming you don't mean a node in 'repeater' mode. Client mode is almost always good enough or 'Router late' if you really really must.
https://meshtastic.org/blog/choosing-the-right-device-role/
https://pole1.co.uk/meshtastic-roles/

2025-04-02 16:36:02 UTC

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@nprofile…mjxp So that's what's inside them (PSU-wise). Had one for ages, but never looked.

2025-03-27 22:51:00 UTC

Needed a new small server for my home automation system.
Raspberry Pi 5 4GB £57.30
Case £9.30
512GB SSD kit £52.80
Or (Second hand PC, new SSD)
Lenovo M900 Tiny i5 4GB £40.00
512GB SSD £31.00
Sorry Pi

2025-03-24 19:27:10 UTC

Time to upgrade the firmware on your Draytek router perhaps...
https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/draytek-routers-worldwide-go-into-reboot-loops-over-weekend/

2025-03-23 17:29:22 UTC

They don't make 'em like this any more. Old school #Electronics tech at my workbench.
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/114/212/927/080/921/372/original/091b19a32b867cc9.jpg

2025-03-22 12:29:33 UTC

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@nprofile…t4qe I'm taking a PoC from breadboard to perfboard and boxing it up. It's an ESP32-based electric strike plate controller with RFID/NFC reader to manage a secondary lock at my wife's offices. It uses Tasmota and hooks up via MQTT to Nofe-RED.

2025-03-03 15:05:13 UTC

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@nprofile…t4qe Poor you! Great scenery, but a heck of a trip to get there.

2025-02-16 19:11:09 UTC

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@nprofile…x759 In the 1970s a bunch of electronics R&D engineers (Marconi, I think) were told to dress smart the next day because an important guest was touring the offices. They all hired wedding suits and hats.

2025-02-01 17:48:16 UTC

It seems that no-one in our house likes mini bits of gritty coconut or peanut.
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/113/929/885/809/374/079/original/e8c430d60551e52b.jpg

2025-01-21 20:53:22 UTC

Our local news aggregator site has a cheery death banner. Lovely.
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/113/868/321/312/389/946/original/015deed815c391eb.png

2025-01-04 22:06:42 UTC

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@nprofile…t4qe West Sussex...4.5 degrees.
Down here we're soggy and watching/listening to news of everything further North copping it and grinding to a halt.
/Be safe

2024-12-28 22:20:18 UTC

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@nprofile…jpfa With jokes like that you could be edlin-ing a comedy festival.

2024-12-24 08:13:52 UTC

Super-complex, low-side switch PCB has arrived. This is going to be squished into a handheld #Meshtastic radio case to control power to the GPS module. Having power control apparently reduces battery drain by around 40%. #electronics
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/113/706/791/004/526/069/original/378f8974a78d8310.jpg
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/113/706/791/050/200/584/original/266e15b64a8a6462.jpg

2024-12-15 13:30:37 UTC

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@nprofile…8eay
CCFLs in PCs!?
Missed that one.
In my day, people were excited about having a sound card and CD-ROM drive fitted, or maybe a Cyrix CPU upgrade.
And for the corporate user: Do you want the 8-bit NE1000 network card...£148.
Or the 16-bit NE2000...£348?

2024-12-08 17:18:50 UTC

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@nprofile…8eay But shouldn't you finish off these big boyz first?
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/113/618/339/084/699/224/original/dca340346d60b068.jpg

2024-12-04 19:09:37 UTC

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@nprofile…8eay Viglen PCs (as used in lots of UK schools) didn't have mounting screws right at the inner end of the mbd and they'd warp, causing the VLB connector to go loose and give picture problems.
The fix was to get your fingers under the motherboard and push it up.
For stubborn, repeat offenders, you'd wedge s plastic pen underneath.
I wonder how many future engineers or vintage hackers thought someone had accidentally left the pen in there!
When the answer was 'Linker fixed that one'.

2024-12-02 22:02:06 UTC

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@nprofile…8eay Yep..
Who am I to disagree.

2024-12-02 15:52:16 UTC

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@nprofile…85f4 @nprofile…h9hy @nprofile…qjae @nprofile…t4qe We did an experiment in the electronics R&D lab where I worked and placed some UV EPROMs on top of the ends of fluorescent light tubes, just where the phosphorus coating ended and you could 'see' the UV light in the tube.
This was because our products might be illuminated by CFL tubes when installed.
We saw no bit flips in 6 months.
Never did sunlight.

2024-12-01 21:43:15 UTC

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@nprofile…t4qe Yep. I have had one for about 5 years. They work fine.

2024-11-26 14:27:26 UTC

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@nprofile…827z It also uses a decentralised LoRa protocol for monitoring purposes...Fantastic.

2024-11-22 12:12:50 UTC

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@nprofile…0tvd My fave for pretty much everyone is:
"Know when to stop"

2024-11-18 08:27:43 UTC

Having fun, but also the odd issue, with the RAK #Meshtastic Starter Kit (RAK Wisblock and RAK4631 module). The hardware seems fine, but there's a few quirks - for example, when using the Android app, the phone's Bluetooth connection to the kit kept disappearing every few seconds. After some head scratching and Web searching, I found out that the trick is to let the Meshtastic app make the connection and don't pair/ connect first with the phone's BT app, as in the quick start guides.

2024-09-08 18:22:38 UTC

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@npub17nv…96rn Ouch, jarring.

2024-09-08 18:21:04 UTC

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@npub17nv…96rn A really nice, talented bloke with a cheeky sense of humour. Met & spoke with him a few times at small, local gigs like Shoreham Airport (as it was rightly called back then).

2024-07-26 19:06:23 UTC

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@npub1dm5…5sqe I've had good experiences with tightvnc and ultravnc.
https://uvnc.com/

2024-01-10 22:08:31 UTC

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@npub1m26…2jhh Oh - and we're kinda related by the industries and services in which we work: I manage IT managed services for the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, although other teams handle radio & RNIR.

2024-01-10 21:51:08 UTC

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@npub1m26…2jhh What fun. I used to make my way from West Sussex to Thurso to run IT training courses for BT. Many an evening spent at the Weigh Inn, and a few walks up the road to Scrabster for a pint and some food just for a change. Novelty factor for a Southerner: horizontal snowing.

2023-12-23 17:46:56 UTC

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@npub178h…hyhr I see the PDFs of my letters, and appointment details on an app - but they still post me copies and there seems to be no option to stop that.
It's really daft when I get a letter one day after the appointment date, and in the same post a notification that the appointment has been cancelled AND a letter for the new appointment. What a waste of money.