Toastie

Welcome to the club - well as a certified late Boomer I say: I agree with your assessment! Here is to feeling old! Best, Thorsten

Oh no, I mean the LEGO DACTA Technic Control (TC) line of sets, 1030, 1032, 1034, 1038, 9700, 9750, 9765, 9767. This is the 4.5V system of Technic, which was computer controllable via LEGO Interface A (which was also sold outside the DACTA line as Technic set). Here is more on that: https://www.brickhacks.com/; @evank, and @alexGS know much more about the history. I am just playing with this stuff. Best, Thorsten

You mean migrate from BrickShelf to BrickSafe? If so, the latter may also become "unstable" in a foreseeable time, right? Best, Thorsten

I guess this is more about the link shared rather than having a backup. Once the links are broken, the shares are broken This will happen to +80% of my posts on EB - links to pictures (and programs/etc) gone. I do have all the backup copies here but do I want to update my posts? Maybe not ... But this is how it is, as you said. In essence, the net is and will remain volatile. Question is: If BrickShelf would "freeze in" (no more uploads, as it is since long with no additional users) then how much of an effort is it to remain as static "file system" on the web? I have no clue how that would work, just asking. Is BrickShelf running on a private computer? Could it be "copied" to another place? Again, I have zero clue regarding such things. Now, with regard to BrickSafe ... oh man. That would then affect the remaining links on my posts ... I was entertaining the idea of migrating from BShelf to BSafe, but having heard that ... hmmm Best, Thorsten

My bad! It should read "Technic Control all sets (1986 onwards, Interface A)" - sorry for the typo! Best Thorsten

This is funny - I simply don't care - none whatsoever - what falls out of rankings. There are not only way too many nowadays - they are always biased, with no exception. So I leave that behind (me) and ... here are (and no one cares, I know, so be it, it is my life after all) my very personal TOP Technic Sets: Mindstorms - RCX/SCOUT/Spybotics/MicroScout that is, all sets (1998 onwards) LEGO Technic Control, all sets (1996 onwards, Interface A) Control Centre I/II LEGO ControlLab LEGO CodePilot Best, Thorsten

Oh my - this is really so sad. Giving and serving for more than 2 decades ... "Far away, across the field The tolling of the iron bell Calls the faithful to their knees To hear the softly spoken magic spells" ... Time, Pink Floyd A deep bow to Kevin Loch and his family Thorsten

Yup, I am as well happy about these regulations. Many like diversity - but you know, 5V should come out of a universal 5V socket or plug. Custom "protocols" may very well have their own standard. And as TLG could not do anything about that ("USB-C it is in the EU, so ordered") - they added the new world-wide standard "USB-C for PoweredUp". Smart (WHOA! The Wrong Word Police is now in-situ! OK, here we go:) as*es they are Best Thorsten

Me too - but I have no issues? Win11/64bit, latest Firefox version with about 12 add-ons (adds, pictures, language ...) Hmm. Best, Thorsten

I completely agree. However, regarding "charging devices" (rather than wired data protocols), within the EU TLG did not do us a favor, they simply adhered to regulations: https://commission.europa.eu/news/eu-common-charger-rules-power-all-your-devices-single-charger-2024-12-28_en USB-C it is, including PoweredUp devices. Best, Thorsten

I found something, I found something (fingers clapping ... Yes Thorsten, what is it this time? *sigh* ^^) When I hover (not clicking) over the "PINNED" label in a forum's top section, the colored background - it suddenly turns white! Is this intentional? As that topic is pinned, should it not stay colored (don't ask me what color that is ... light bluish something grayish) Do I get a reward for this important finding (No, you don't and now sit down and solve the problems, which were handed out - and be quiet)

I really agree with @MAB on this. I am leaning towards the latter - as the saying goes: "Only used LEGO is good LEGO". But "sealed" + vintage ... = expensive + who knows what time, physics and chemistry have done to the parts inside. And these three suckers can accomplish a lot - particularly, when they gang up. Best Thorsten

Hi Christoph, I just noticed that the "your conent(?) has been restored" feature, when abandoning a reply to look somewhere else (either intentionally or accidentally), then reverting to the reply window (empty) and pressing return, and then this message came up, and the entire text I typed in before reappeared = was restored. Now it is simply gone, so one has to be careful not to leave that reply window. I t could a) very well be that this is just me and b) it is really not an issue when you know that you have to pay attention. All the best, Thorsten

Sure, that is why I wrote in my post: "And yes I know, they say 17W max., so you can't load at full speed on all three ports - the LEGO joke has only one port anyway." Absolutely, for all companies, and that is absolutely fine with me! It is just that in this case, TLG is the biggest grifter I've ever seen: They charge x-fold (not percent) more for a totally generic USB power supply and camouflage these by saying "for PoweredUp devices". That is what I find - simply grifting. People may not know what specs USB has, so they may conclude for PoweredUp devices, it must be the LEGO PoweredUp USB adapter. I have no problem when they sell "USB power supplies" rated at 2A/10W for $34.99. People believing in the LEGO sign still can get their LEGO branded USB power supply, most probably made in China, for less than one dollar; I get mine from IKEA, selling their 1A USB chargers for $2.50 (and make profit). I just bought 10 of those - after some Köttbullar with mashed potatoes - and a rather good coffee. Well, I am waiting for the LEGO USB-A/USB-C adapter cord for ... (random price generator on, with minimum set at ... $10) $15.99. So far, they don't offer that. I suggest adding a nice and shiny "LEGO" sticker (they are good at making stickers) around one of the plugs, saying "designed for PoweredUp" on the other side ... All I am saying is, just don't buy this thing from them unless you collect LEGO stuff. Best wishes, Thorsten

That's a 30 W (= 3 x LEGO) adapter. Their 20W adapter (=2 x LEGO) clocks in at about $15 if you don't really search; you can get that original Apple adapter for $12. TLG's record for a 10W adapter still holds - by far. I tried to find that silly wall wart at other places as well - to no avail. Why should I - every other comparable USB adapter (10W) on this planet is perfectly fine. Even 1A adapters or less will work; it will increase charging time >should< the LEGO device charging really suck-up 2 amps of juice - I doubt that, in that case it will for sure get warm, and thus you can sue them. So better charge at 0.5 amps, as the LEGO LiPo does (did). And Apple doesn't claim it is for Apples, it works on Bananas and the likes as well, it's USB. The LEGO version implies, it is for PoweredUp, which is even worse than the silly price tag. Best, Thorsten

TLG is "selling" the most expensive USB power supply currently offered on the entire planet Earth. Original text from website: "Keep your rechargeable LEGO® devices charged and ready to go with the LEGO Powered Up USB Power Adapter" for $34.99. Oh crap - USB is USB, the absolute total standard. In Germany, they "sell" it for €34.99 - without suitable USB cable of course, as any USB A -> X cable you have at hand works. 5V is 5V. They also don't show the "transformer" but the cardboard box on their website - not that you wonder hey, this is a plain vanilla USB A socket ... I wonder if ... And yes, your USB power adapter will work. Oh, it says "2A" or 10W, so we browse for a 2A USB power supply and find this: IKEA SMÅHAGEL! Short/overload protected, not only 1 but 3 ports, each port 2.3A ... for €5.99, which is 6(!) times less expensive. Not 10% or with VIP or-what-not points, 50%. No, 6 times less. And yes I know, they say 17W max., so you can't load at full speed on all three ports - the LEGO joke has only one port anyway. For $36.99, Amazon offers a 100W/20 port USB charger. Short/overload protected, of course. Available in Germany, delivery tomorrow. Wow. TLG is the absolute winner. Every other 1 port/2A/10W USB adapter I can find is at least 4 times less expensive. I did also check with 3 local stores, all 3 sell such a device for less than (€=) $7. I find that highly unpopular - or better, simply grifting. But so be it, it is not my money they get. Best, Thorsten

I voted no, because on 22:05 German time, before my vote, the votes added-up to 100.01% I fixed that by voting no - now all is good Best, Thorsten

Just to recall: All RCX PBricks (hardware) run fine and behave exactly with the same firmware. The RCX 1.0 had the (wonderful) power jack, TLG saved some money be removing that power circuit in version 1.5. The 2.0 RCX is just a 1.5 RCX with newer firmware ^^. So the best RCX ever is the 1.0 Best, Thorsten

Yes, understood. This seems to be remotely related to my "all message" controlled approach; each message data byte sent from my VB6 or QBasic programs is a call for an action or response from the PBricks. As they all have a unique ID, they all know who is meant ;) Also, broadcasts work fine, as PBricks do not reply to messages. I use this to e.g. tell all PBricks that handshake is on or off. When on, the individually addressed PBricks simply send back the incremented previously submitted data byte, so the VB6 program knows the PBrick did receive the message correctly. This is fun! Best, Thorsten

Hi @Bliss, this Python program is intended to (remotely) directly control an RCX, right? As the "driver" interfaces A/B require operating, correct? And not to program it, correct? With regard to PBricks (of all kinds), I like them to be "autonomous" in their own micro-environment. On "stationary PBricks", e.g. serving as bridge controllers, the local tasks (bridge position, up/down and stop upon reaching end positions) programs are running on the PBrick; it just gets messages invoking some action. This minimizes serial traffic (over IR/RF) and control efforts on the client side. But this is currently not what you are aiming for, right? Best, Thorsten

Thank you all - and particularly Christoph! Congratulations and all the best! Thorsten

These coffees are the very best, Christoph. Strong and hot. All you need! Here's a countdown, no idea - I am an Orion freak

Well, we all know that feeling, right? Sort of. @aFrInaTi0n: When 'ding' happens, it is all done - you wake up and in my world be - a hero! Looking forward to seeing y'all on the other side - it's gonna be fun! Best Thorsten

Well, it depends . You know, some folks believe that they travel close to the speed of light through this world - which means, they get far less older with time ... which in turn may suggest they're wrong about their speed. But - who knows. Yeah. I am very happy about that. It is - somehow - reassuring Thanks again guys, you are phantastic. SPELL CHECK ALARM: The web says: "OALD and Merriam-Webster have no entry for "phantastic". Dated means old language, no longer used. The normal spelling today is fantastic. If an auther uses the spelling phantastic he digs out the Greek spelling whatever may be the reason." (BTW, a universe-wide search for "auther" was going nowhere ...) All the best and here is to you: Thorsten

Oh, crap - EB was beamed into life in 2003 ... I was born in 1962. When the tags created in 2003 are "very old", then that means, I am - well, essentially - petrified. But still punching the keys ... this IS a weird world, isn't it? Time ... Time, flowing like a river time, beckoning me who knows when we shall meet again if ever but time keeps flowing like a river to the sea ... For some reason, Captain Jack Sparrows comes to mind. You'll find all these very old tags, I am sure. All the best and thank you for doing this! Thorsten