Electricity measure and smart control device

I did buy this electricity measure Smart control programmable equipment on AliExpress

I expected this device would be controllable via WiFi, however unfortunately no. It can be controlled using the buttons on the device, via bluetooth and also via IR remote control.

See manual below:

Manual

EN	CN

Review and additional  info

To control the device using Bluetooth an app must be installed ( i used Android). I could not find the app in the Google App Playstore. However using a Google search i could find the app and installed it.

The buttons on the device can control more settings than using the app. 
As you can read above the manual is somewhat difficult to understand.

I could not easy find how to configure the device to be controlled using an IR remote control so i could not test this. The IR sensor is on the front side.
On the back side are connectors for the power input. The bottom can stand on your desk or some screw can be used to fixate it at the wall. Is is important to put some tape on the connectors that is not used for protection.  

I could not easy find how to control the separate power outlets.

There is power and current limit to switch off the power. The device also has a  timer to switch off power. As already mentioned the remote control options are somewhat limited as WiFi control is not possible. However the current and power measurement is nice. Unfortunately the values can not easy be exported or logged. Also my intended use of this device, to control and check power remote (e.g. in my shed) is not possible.
According to the schematic in the manual when using the screw connectors on the back ground is NOT connected !
Safety could be improved by changing the hardware design and add a plastic cover that can be moved to cover one of the the two connectors.   

So there is much room for the manufacturer to improve this device and the app.
 

Two Channel Function / Arbitrary Waveform Generator ET3360C -1-

This is my first blog post about the two channel function / arbitrary waveform generator ET3360C that i got end 2024 from AliExpress

Different models of this ET33C series waveform generator are available on AliExpress for an interesting price:  ET3320C, ET3330C, ET3340C, ET3350C, ET3360C The difference is the highest output frequency; 20Mhz, 30Mhz, 40Mhz, 50Mhz, 60Mhz,  

In this first post only some fotos of this interesting device. It came with a manual, power cable one BNC to BNC cable , two BNC to crocodile clips and one USB cable. The USB connection is on the back of the device.

The first thing i noticed is that the device is relative light. Software for this device and more info can be found on http://www.easttester.com . Besides the two independent output channels (that also have a phase synchronize function) he device has an input channel with two measure modes: frequency meter and counter. 

There is a power on/off button on the front, however to really switch the device complete off you need to use the power button on the rear below the power socket.

Also on this blog i hope to publish soon some results of experiments done with the ET33C . (And a copy of the manual).

4K Pro Box ( Video capture for computer)

 This 4K Pro Box Video capture systems came also from AliExpress. To my surprise a nice set of cables is included. (See photo). It needs to be connected to a computer using USB to digitize/capture/show video input from different formats ( HDMI and DVI-D). Software is not included, however it should work with some standard software.

For details see the photo from the short manual. (One side EN the other side in Chinese)

I selected this device as it, besides HDMI also can handle DVI-D (the video output format of my Yaesu FT710).   I did not yet test it with the Yaesu FT710 !

DVI splitter

 On AliExpress i found this cheap 2 port DVI splitter. It can send a DVI signal to two output ports.

I looked interesting, i did not test it yet and don't know if i will work for DVI-D signals. A power supply is included. See below for some more photos.

According to the manual the button is for EDID mode. I don't know how it should work. Here is a link to more info for EDID https://www.extron.com/article/uedid

Streamdeck

One of the items that i did buy end 2024 on AliExpress is a cheap StreamDeck. Below some photos of this item. And i also did buy a second one to give it as a present. What is a StreamDeck? I expect it is possible to fill multiple blog post about a StreamDeck and why you should want one. In short it is an USB hardware device with a display and buttons and some software. Using the software you can assign pictures and functions to the buttons. It is also possible to create a menu like structure to make different pages on the StreamDeck with other functions and pictures on the StreamDeck. 

There are functions for the menu structure, opening and closing programs emulating keystrokes and you can even assign multiple items to one key and add delays between starting these items. The program gices access to a 'playstore' where you can find multiple free functions for several programs. There are also functions for home automation, changing your hue lights and sending MQTT messages.

On youtube you can find several good videos about streamdecks (there are several form factors even with turning wheels) that explain it much better than i can do here in this blogpost.

Mini Compound Bench

 I did get this 'mini compound bench' from AliExpress in a cardboard box. It is to fixate items and accurate move them e.g. for drilling. The bench came relative fast, i expect as it was already in a warehouse in France.

It included is some hardware to fixate your object on the bench. Also two handles for the turning/adjusting wheels are included. 

Also a small instruction manual is included in the box

Unfortunately the picture how to disassemble (and reassemble) the compound bench is not in this manual and only on one side of the box

The two wheels for adjusting the X and Y position have a scale. It is unknown how accurate this scale is. Also one side of the bench itself (the long side) has a scale. According to the manual the units are metric in mm  (or cm). 

Unfortunately this is only on one axis of the bench. Both the adjusting wheels have a scale. However the accuracy of this scale is unknown and should be tested before use. I could not find a marker reference points to read the scale so i want to add them. So some small improvements and testing needs to be done. However for the price ( around 27 Euros) it is a nice tool to have.

Handle for my "outdoor radio table"

 Some time ago i did buy at the local Aldi a nice portable (camping) table to use outdoors with my radio. I used it some time and am very happy with this table. However i found one issue that i wanted to improve : The table only has one handle to carry it on the long side. When storing the table a handle on the short side would be better.

Therefore i did buy this handle on AliExpress and mounted it to the table. 
Now the table is much more easy to store and easy carry it when i want to use it. As it is currently to cold outside i did not yet use it outdoors. Perhaps in a few months i will post a picture of this table in use.

( I am already thinking about some other modifications: a better guide for cables and a [small] antenna mount. ) 

PD1LAB on QRZ (with Logbook)

FYI:  PD1LAB has also a QRZ page : https://www.qrz.com/db/PD1LAB

with logbook:

Mailbag 2024 backlog

 As i was playing with my Yaesu FT710 and some other items i received, and also was busy with some other things i did not give much attention to my blog. So a backlog of items for my mailbag blog grew rapidly. Yes i still did get some items on AliExpress (and also at some other stores). For some items i wanted to create a special blogpost, however here are already some photos of some AliExpress items from end 2024 / begin 2025.

	Probes
	Some flatcable
	Another DVI-D cable
	USB and 12V plug
	I used them on cables from and to my FT710 radio. I already ordered and received another set so i now have some spare.
	Switch with protection cap
	To create another hotspot using a Raspberry Pi. I did not yet use it
	Coax
	Protectors for PL259 coax connectors
	Small car antenna for the 2 meter and 70 cm ham radio band.
	PL259 coax connector
	Adapter to use bits in my drill
	Cheap bag for a porto
	Kenwood type plug.
	Some plastic rings
	Special cable ties. I found these special tie wraps that can be easy opened and reused again.
	Special cable ties. These tie wraps can be screwed on something.