Author: Dave Farquhar

Difference between SDHC and SDXC

Dave Farquhar Hardware
Difference between SDHC and SDXC

The difference between SDHC and SDXC can be confusing. It would be nice if we could just buy whichever one we thought we needed, but there are differences between the two and they aren’t fully compatible or interchangeable with one another. Here’s how to know which to buy, and what other important things you may need to look for.

The difference between SDHC and SDXC is capacity. SDHC tops out at 32 GB, but ExFAT, the technology that lets SDXC go beyond 32 GB, isn’t compatible with all devices or operating systems, so you need to check compatibility before you buy.

Read more

How to fix a broken wire

Dave Farquhar DIY, Hardware
How to fix a broken wire

If you run across a broken wire in the midst of a project, don’t fret. Depending on what materials and how much space you have to work with, you have several options. Here’s how to fix a broken wire.

The key to fixing a broken wire is to restore the connection, which means splicing the wire back together mechanically and electrically and insulating the joint. You can use connectors if you have room, or solder the wire if space is tight.

Read more

How to find the IP address for Roku

Dave Farquhar Hardware
How to find the IP address for Roku

Sometimes you need to know the IP address of your Roku, especially if you have a complex network at home. It’s buried a bit in the user interface, but you can find it. Here’s how to find the Roku IP address.

There are several reasons to want to find the IP address. Maybe there’s a strange device on your network and you want to know if it’s your Roku. Maybe you want to set up QoS for some reason.

Read more

How to hook up a Nintendo 64 to newer TVs

Dave Farquhar Retro Gaming
How to hook up a Nintendo 64 to newer TVs

Setting up a Nintendo 64 wasn’t supposed to be hard, but it can get tricky if you can’t find all of the cables. Cables from some other Nintendo consoles will work, but not always. Plus, TV sets have changed a lot since the 1990s, so an HDTV won’t have all the same options as an older TV, which makes it much more difficult. So here’s how to hook up a Nintendo 64 to a modern TV, even a smart TV, and how to troubleshoot the No Signal indicator if you get one.

Cables exist to hook up your Nintendo 64 over composite video or S-Video like a VCR, or over HDMI for TVs that lack those options. If you hooked yours up and are getting a No Signal indicator on your TV, there are three possible fixes.

Read more

Lionel tubular track vs Fastrack

Dave Farquhar Toy trains
Lionel tubular track vs Fastrack

Lionel Fastrack is certainly popular, but tubular track retains a cult following even as others love to hate it. Let’s take a look at Lionel tubular track vs Fastrack.

Lionel tubular track was the standard on Lionel layouts for nearly a century until Lionel introduced Fastrack, a track system with integrated plastic roadbed and a wider radius. Both track systems have their uses, though Fastrack has proven immensely popular.

Read more

What are keyboard o rings?

Dave Farquhar Hardware
What are keyboard o rings?

What are keyboard o rings? Do keyboard o rings work? I’ve installed them on my mechanical keyboards and I’m happy with them. Here’s why.

Read more

Removing black marks from linoleum floors

Dave Farquhar DIY
Removing black marks from linoleum floors

I like linoleum floors because they’re pretty resilient and easy to take care of. But they can get a bit marked up in some cases. Here’s how to remove black marks from linoleum floors and, more importantly, how to keep them from coming back.

Black marks on linoleum floors are usually a result of the feet on tables or chairs rubbing against the floor while you scoot it. They’ll come off with a mild abrasive and moderate scrubbing.

Read more

Windows 10 mouse cursor disappears? Try this.

Dave Farquhar Windows
Windows 10 mouse cursor disappears? Try this.

If your Windows 10 mouse cursor disappears, you’re not alone. It happens to me too. It’s a bit maddening but not super hard to fix.

Read more

Lionel HO scale

Dave Farquhar model railroading
Lionel HO scale

Every 15-20 years or so, Lionel ventures into HO scale again. Lionel is generally associated with bigger trains. But the HO scale market is so large, Lionel wants part of it. HO scale trains are, in terms of both scale and gauge, the smallest trains Lionel makes.

Read more

ESS Audiodrive: An underrated retro sound card

Dave Farquhar Retro Computing
ESS Audiodrive: An underrated retro sound card

Recently I’ve heard a few people singing the virtues of the ESS Audiodrive, a budget sound card from the 1990s. It turns out that in several regards, especially if you want to run older software, the ESS Audiodrive is a better Sound Blaster than the Sound Blaster 16.

The ESS Audiodrive is a 16-bit ISA sound card that can emulate older Sound Blasters. Some late 90s software supports it natively, but older DOS games use it as a Sound Blaster, Sound Blaster Pro, or Ad Lib.

Read more