OT: Scam electronics

[mm]

On Tue, 14 Dec 2010 03:46:08 -0800, Smitty Two
<prestwhich@earthlink.net> wrote:

In article <ie7geu$m5k$1@news.eternal-september.org>,
"N_Cook" <diverse@tcp.co.uk> wrote:

I will be giving a talk on scam electronics, ie totally bogus devices sold
to the public. I have full details of a couple of such devices but would
like to know of a few others - particularly any giveaways or signatures to
them being scams , without having to open the boxes. Pointers etc to some
scam products would be appreciated - or www site specializing in exposing
them. Adverts appearing in the respectable press, for such items ,is no
guarantee of genuinness .

I don't think you'll find it on the market any more, but I had an
otherwise respectable friend marketing a biofeedback type gadget for a
while. Twiddling a knob adjusted the rate at which an LED flashed. Worn
on a lanyard around the neck, it was said to slow the heart rate and
deepen the breathing. I think you were supposed to reduce the flash rate
incrementally over time, to promote a yoga-like winning combination of
relaxation and energy.

Wow. I got the relaxation down without any electronics, but if I
could get some energy, that would be great. Can you send me your
friend's email address.

 

[Smitty Two]

In article <167gg6trnmiuqc4k7sl89djl53kmrhapo4@4ax.com>,
mm <NOPSAMmm2005@bigfoot.com> wrote:

On Tue, 14 Dec 2010 03:46:08 -0800, Smitty Two
prestwhich@earthlink.net> wrote:

In article <ie7geu$m5k$1@news.eternal-september.org>,
"N_Cook" <diverse@tcp.co.uk> wrote:

I will be giving a talk on scam electronics, ie totally bogus devices sold
to the public. I have full details of a couple of such devices but would
like to know of a few others - particularly any giveaways or signatures to
them being scams , without having to open the boxes. Pointers etc to some
scam products would be appreciated - or www site specializing in exposing
them. Adverts appearing in the respectable press, for such items ,is no
guarantee of genuinness .

I don't think you'll find it on the market any more, but I had an
otherwise respectable friend marketing a biofeedback type gadget for a
while. Twiddling a knob adjusted the rate at which an LED flashed. Worn
on a lanyard around the neck, it was said to slow the heart rate and
deepen the breathing. I think you were supposed to reduce the flash rate
incrementally over time, to promote a yoga-like winning combination of
relaxation and energy.

Wow. I got the relaxation down without any electronics, but if I
could get some energy, that would be great. Can you send me your
friend's email address.

I think you know enough electronics to make your own adjustable LED
flasher, mm.

 

[mm]

On Tue, 14 Dec 2010 21:26:51 -0800, Smitty Two
<prestwhich@earthlink.net> wrote:

In article <167gg6trnmiuqc4k7sl89djl53kmrhapo4@4ax.com>,
mm <NOPSAMmm2005@bigfoot.com> wrote:

On Tue, 14 Dec 2010 03:46:08 -0800, Smitty Two
prestwhich@earthlink.net> wrote:

In article <ie7geu$m5k$1@news.eternal-september.org>,
"N_Cook" <diverse@tcp.co.uk> wrote:

I will be giving a talk on scam electronics, ie totally bogus devices sold
to the public. I have full details of a couple of such devices but would
like to know of a few others - particularly any giveaways or signatures to
them being scams , without having to open the boxes. Pointers etc to some
scam products would be appreciated - or www site specializing in exposing
them. Adverts appearing in the respectable press, for such items ,is no
guarantee of genuinness .

I don't think you'll find it on the market any more, but I had an
otherwise respectable friend marketing a biofeedback type gadget for a
while. Twiddling a knob adjusted the rate at which an LED flashed. Worn
on a lanyard around the neck, it was said to slow the heart rate and
deepen the breathing. I think you were supposed to reduce the flash rate
incrementally over time, to promote a yoga-like winning combination of
relaxation and energy.

Wow. I got the relaxation down without any electronics, but if I
could get some energy, that would be great. Can you send me your
friend's email address.

I think you know enough electronics to make your own adjustable LED
flasher, mm.

Oh, yeah, you're right. I'll be working on it tonight. It's only
1:30 now. I feel energetic already.

 

[N_Cook]

Jeff Liebermann <jeffl@cruzio.com> wrote in message
news:qkhfg6920mbslnas74fljbndjm77i9bnsi@4ax.com...

On Tue, 14 Dec 2010 16:56:58 +0000 (UTC), Meat Plow
mhywatt@yahoo.com> wrote:

Thing that plugged into an outlet to turn your whole house's wiring into
an antenna.

That's what got me started in electronics. I was an 11 year old brat
reading Popular Electronics at the time. Plenty of ads for "Turn your
house wiring into a giant TV antenna" all over the place.
http://books.google.com/books?id=4NsDAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA33
Inside the box was a "capacitator", which coupled the twinlead to the
AC power line. If you happen to have an AC/DC TV, with no power
transformer, you ran a 50% chance of getting electrocuted by the hot
chassis. I liked the concept, which inspired me later to invest in
the TV sales and repair business, where one could cheat the customers
without also electrocuting them. Set top antennas that look like
radar dishes, signal boosters, picture enhancers, bizarre looking
outdoor antennas, "premium" cables, garrish colored power strips, etc
are all part of the business. I've also thought of expanding one of
those cell phone "signal enhancer" stickers to TV size, but don't
think there's an area large enough on the current HDTV sets to attach
one. I was thinking that Liquid Crystal TVs might benefit from
installing a quartz crystal or other semiprecious gem stone nearby in
order to benefit from the healing properties of the stone to repair or
possibly prevent post warranty failures.



--
Jeff Liebermann jeffl@cruzio.com
150 Felker St #D http://www.LearnByDestroying.com
Santa Cruz CA 95060 http://802.11junk.com
Skype: JeffLiebermann AE6KS 831-336-2558

and plenty more ideas if you wanted to move into the hifi market
http://sound.westhost.com/satcure/scam.htm

 

[JW]

On Tue, 14 Dec 2010 14:22:23 -0000 "N_Cook" <diverse@tcp.co.uk> wrote in
Message id: <ie7v1h$k16$1@news.eternal-september.org>:

Rich Webb <bbew.ar@mapson.nozirev.ten> wrote in message
news:isqeg6d1me2hnlgafd0et79nuos9lnf1iv@4ax.com...
On Tue, 14 Dec 2010 10:18:34 -0000, "N_Cook" <diverse@tcp.co.uk> wrote:

I will be giving a talk on scam electronics, ie totally bogus devices
sold
to the public. I have full details of a couple of such devices but would
like to know of a few others - particularly any giveaways or signatures
to
them being scams , without having to open the boxes. Pointers etc to some
scam products would be appreciated - or www site specializing in exposing
them. Adverts appearing in the respectable press, for such items ,is no
guarantee of genuinness .

The IED "detectors" reportedly being used at bomb checkpoints in Iraq.

http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2009/11/04/when-antiscience-
kills-dowsing-edition/

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/04/world/middleeast/04sensors.html?_r=3&hp#s
econdParagraph

--
Rich Webb Norfolk, VA


"costs from $16,500 to $60,000 each" can anyone better 60,000 for a scam
device?

Some Audiophool stuff might come close if you were to put together an
entire sound system.

 

[Geoffrey S. Mendelson]

JW wrote:

Some Audiophool stuff might come close if you were to put together an
entire sound system.

IMHO MOV surge surpressors are a prime example, here in 230 volt land, not
only do they short when they fail, but cheap ones without fuses have been
known to catch fire. Even when they are still working, they "leak" dangerous
voltages.

The only good ones, IMHO are the ISO-BAR ones made by Trip-Lite which use
among other things patented inductance networks to slow down the surges
and Trans-Tector ones which use silicon avalanche diode arrays.

Keeping it togehter with the post I am referring to, the Trip-Lite patents
ran out a few years ago, and someone is making Trip-Lite clones targeted
to audiophiles and large screen TV buyers. Trip-Lite units cost $50-$100
while these were well over $300 for essentially the same unit.

Geoff.

--
Geoffrey S. Mendelson N3OWJ/4X1GM
Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to misquote it.

 

[William Sommerwerck]

Some Audiophool stuff might come close if you
were to put together an entire sound system.

Strictly speaking, these products are not "scams", because their purveyors
almost always think they really do what is claimed for them. "Scam"
generally implies a conscious hoax, a deliberate attempt to defraud the
customer.

 

[lsmartino]

On 15 dic, 06:03, JW <n...@dev.null> wrote:

On Tue, 14 Dec 2010 14:22:23 -0000 "N_Cook" <dive...@tcp.co.uk> wrote in
Message id: <ie7v1h$k1...@news.eternal-september.org>:





Rich Webb <bbew...@mapson.nozirev.ten> wrote in message
news:isqeg6d1me2hnlgafd0et79nuos9lnf1iv@4ax.com...
On Tue, 14 Dec 2010 10:18:34 -0000, "N_Cook" <dive...@tcp.co.uk> wrote:

I will be giving a talk on scam electronics, ie totally bogus devices
sold
to the public. I have full details of a couple of such devices but would
like to know of a few others - particularly any giveaways or signatures
to
them being scams , without having to open the boxes. Pointers etc to some
scam products would be appreciated - or www site specializing in exposing
them. Adverts appearing in the respectable press, for such items ,is no
guarantee of genuinness .

The IED "detectors" reportedly being used at bomb checkpoints in Iraq.

http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2009/11/04/when-antisc....
kills-dowsing-edition/

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/04/world/middleeast/04sensors.html?_r=....
econdParagraph

--
Rich Webb     Norfolk, VA

"costs from $16,500 to $60,000 each" can anyone better 60,000 for a scam
device?

Some Audiophool stuff might come close if you were to put together an
entire sound system.- Ocultar texto de la cita -

- Mostrar texto de la cita -

What about this one:

http://www.altmann.haan.de/tubeolator/default.htm

Excerpt from the site:

"The ALTMANN “TUBE-O-LATOR" lacquer is a high performance overtone-
filter coating-compound, designed for plastic encapsulated analog- and
mixed-signal-semiconductors.

The ALTMANN “TUBE-O-LATOR" lacquer is applied only on the top surface
of plastic semiconductor packages of AD-converter-chips, DA-converter-
chips, OP-amps and discrete transistors.

After application, the overtone spectrum of these active devices
changes immediately and permanently.

The new sonic signature will be natural, full and tube-like."

I guess these products have a market, because I just found another
one:

http://www.ennemoser.com/c37theory.html

This one is another lacquer but at least the creator of it has taken
the time to construct a bogus science explanation for it.

I suppose that anyone that pays 500,00 € for a bottle with 250 ml of
varnish, and ruins their speakers with it, will for sure hear *a
difference*

 

On Tue, 14 Dec 2010 11:36:20 -0800, "William Sommerwerck"
<grizzledgeezer@comcast.net> wrote:

There is one drawback -- I keep getting attached
to metallic objects!

"I am... De Clraw."

"Well, Mr Craw..."

"Not De Craw! De Clraw!"

'Get Smart'

PlainBill

 

[William Sommerwerck]

There is one drawback -- I keep getting
attached to metallic objects!

"I am... De Clraw."

"Well, Mr Craw..."

"Not De Craw! De Clraw!"

'Get Smart'

Yes! How old are you?

 

[mike]

Ron wrote:

On 14/12/2010 12:12, N_Cook wrote:
Adrian C<email@here.invalid> wrote in message
news:8mp4c7FatcU1@mid.individual.net...
On 14/12/2010 10:18, N_Cook wrote:
I will be giving a talk on scam electronics, ie totally bogus devices
sold
to the public. I have full details of a couple of such devices but
would
like to know of a few others - particularly any giveaways or signatures
to
them being scams , without having to open the boxes. Pointers etc to
some
scam products would be appreciated - or www site specializing in
exposing
them. Adverts appearing in the respectable press, for such items ,is no
guarantee of genuinness .



Shake Lights, and the rip-off 'Fake Lights' that hide batteries ...

http://www.flashlightreviews.com/features/fff.htm

--
Adrian C



That the sort of thing I was interested in rather than "faith" type
scams ,
it would be just my luck there would be a scientologist in the audience.

One of the scams that keeps resurfacing is this from 1994, when you crack
open the box there is in effect nothing inside, p40 and 43 of
http://www.skeptics.com.au/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/theskeptic/1994/1.pd

f
These scams work by the price they can set so purchasers cannot be
bothered
sending back for a refund if not "satisfied with the product"

Of course with electronic smog around these days it would be possible to
grab energy from the ether and do some sort of short duration low energy
something



I`m sure you have heard about the electronic devices which fit around
your water pipes and claim to reduce limescale build up, and the miracle
petrol saver which simply clips to your fuel lines and saves you big
bucks by somehow energising the petrol.

Did you know that a great many beer cellars use a device which claims to
reduce the need for weekly line cleaning?

"By slowing the deposits of yeast, beer stone and other residue in
beer lines, cleaning intervals are extended to at least four weeks"

"it works by generating a pseudo random spread of low frequency RF
using a microprocessor, this signal is transmitted as an electrical
signal to a transducer placed around the outside of the beer line keg.
The electromagnetic field of varying frequency, which this arrangement
creates around the beer line, is what delivers the results."

http://www.cellarmiser.com/?gclid=CLKl_s3k66UCFVAf4QodbzXjng

Is it a scam? I don't know, I`ve spoken with people in the trade, and
those who use the system say it works. They say beer line cleaning is
one of the major expenses of running a bar, and reducing the frequency
of line cleaning saves an awful lot of money which far outweighs the
cost of renting the device.

Ron(UK)
This is worse than a scam.

People who are gullible enough to buy stuff that doesn't work for them
deserve what they get.
People who let pathogens thrive in MY beer deserve to be shut down.

 

On Wed, 15 Dec 2010 11:34:32 -0800, "William Sommerwerck"
<grizzledgeezer@comcast.net> wrote:

There is one drawback -- I keep getting
attached to metallic objects!

"I am... De Clraw."

"Well, Mr Craw..."

"Not De Craw! De Clraw!"

'Get Smart'

Yes! How old are you?

Old enough to have seen the episodes when they were first broadcast.

Heck, old enough to have seen 'My Favorite Martian' and 'The Baileys
of Balboa'

PlainBill

 

[William Sommerwerck]

'Get Smart'

Yes! How old are you?

Old enough to have seen the episodes when they were first
broadcast. Heck, old enough to have seen 'My Favorite
Martian' and 'The Baileys of Balboa'.

Ditto.

 

[Allodoxaphobia]

On Thu, 16 Dec 2010 09:30:13 -0700, PlainBill47@yawho.com wrote:

On Wed, 15 Dec 2010 11:34:32 -0800, "William Sommerwerck" wrote:

There is one drawback -- I keep getting
attached to metallic objects!

"I am... De Clraw."

"Well, Mr Craw..."

"Not De Craw! De Clraw!"

'Get Smart'

Yes! How old are you?

Old enough to have seen the episodes when they were first broadcast.
Heck, old enough to have seen 'My Favorite Martian' and 'The Baileys
of Balboa'

Old enough to have watched "Big John and Sparky".

"When you go down in the woods today, ......."

 

[William Sommerwerck]

Yes! How old are you?

Old enough to have watched "Big John and Sparky".

Hmmm... That was a Sunday-morning radio program, where BJ & S read the
comics. I don't remember it being on TV.

 

[Dave M]

I don't remember watching Big John & Sparky, but I sure remember listening
to the show on radio from north Alabama. I heard it on WCKY, Cincinnati.
On good days, I could pick it up on my little rocket radio (anybody remember
those?), with the clip hooked to the bedsprings.
One of the first TV series that I remember watching after we finally got a
TV was Captain Midnight. Loved the Roy Rogers movies on Saturday morning
too

--
David
dgminala at mediacombb dot net



Allodoxaphobia wrote:

On Thu, 16 Dec 2010 09:30:13 -0700, PlainBill47@yawho.com wrote:
On Wed, 15 Dec 2010 11:34:32 -0800, "William Sommerwerck" wrote:

There is one drawback -- I keep getting
attached to metallic objects!

"I am... De Clraw."

"Well, Mr Craw..."

"Not De Craw! De Clraw!"

'Get Smart'

Yes! How old are you?

Old enough to have seen the episodes when they were first broadcast.
Heck, old enough to have seen 'My Favorite Martian' and 'The Baileys
of Balboa'

Old enough to have watched "Big John and Sparky".

"When you go down in the woods today, ......."

 

[Allodoxaphobia]

(Earlier attributions lost..)
On Fri, 17 Dec 2010 06:23:22 -0800, William Sommerwerck wrote:

Yes! How old are you?

Old enough to have watched "Big John and Sparky".

Hmmm... That was a Sunday-morning radio program, where BJ & S read
the comics. I don't remember it being on TV.

You are probably correct. I do remember it being on radio. But,
my (faulty) memory claims I watched it on a 9" B&W Dumont. Many
radio shows Back In The Day attempted the move from radio to TV.
Not all were successful in doing so...


OK. I _do_ remember watching Crusader Rabbit.
That's my story, and I'm sticking to it.

Jonesy

 

[William Sommerwerck]

You are probably correct. I do remember it being on radio.
But my (faulty) memory claims I watched it on a 9" Dumont.

How can anyone "watch" anything on a 9" TV?

 

[William Sommerwerck]

I don't remember watching Big John & Sparky, but I sure
remember listening to the show on radio from north Alabama.
I heard it on WCKY, Cincinnati. On good days, I could pick it
up on my little rocket radio (anybody remember those?), with
the clip hooked to the bedsprings.

Oh, God, yes. $2.50 at the drugstore. Good sound -- the bandwidth was a
couple hundred kilohertz!

 

[Michael A. Terrell]

William Sommerwerck wrote:

You are probably correct. I do remember it being on radio.
But my (faulty) memory claims I watched it on a 9" Dumont.

How can anyone "watch" anything on a 9" TV?

How about a 3.5" HDTV for $41.99?

http://www.geeks.com/details.asp?invtid=ATSC-300&cat=TVS


--
For the last time: I am not a mad scientist, I'm just a very ticked off
scientist!!!