Bluetooth signal quality on MacBook Pro

If you press the Option key then click the Bluetooth icon on your MacBook Pro then MacOS will show you the signal strength (RSSI) and other info about your Bluetooth devices. RSSI is the “Received Signal Strength Indicator” as explained by ChatGPT. The current RSSI for my bluetooth speakers is -67dBm, which ChatGPT explains:

An RSSI value of -67 dBm is generally considered a good signal strength when it comes to WiFi, and the same could be roughly said for Bluetooth and other wireless communication technologies. In terms of qualitative interpretation:

  • -30 to -50 dBm: Excellent signal strength. This is about as good as it gets. Usually, this is only seen when you’re very close to the access point or device.
  • -50 to -70 dBm: Good signal strength. For most general applications, this range provides a reliable, strong connection. Voice, streaming, and even video applications usually work well in this range.
  • -67 dBm: This specific value is often cited in WiFi scenarios as the minimum strength for reliable voice applications.
  • -70 to -90 dBm: Fair signal strength. The connection is more susceptible to interference and might not be reliable for all applications. Data rates will be lower, and minor obstructions can cause the signal to drop.
  • Below -90 dBm: Poor signal strength. The connection is unreliable and might drop frequently. It’s challenging to maintain a stable connection in this range.

So, an RSSI of -67 dBm is generally good for most applications, including voice and streaming. However, the actual performance can vary based on the specific wireless technology in use, the environment (presence of physical obstructions, other interfering signals), and the application’s specific requirements.

Fuse access

I rewired my ATX power supply breakout board so that I would have ready access to the fuses. Probably gonna blow a few of those! The fuses are 5A 250V fast blow (F5A250V) so I can’t draw more than 60 Watts (at 12V). You can see in the previous post and the picture at the bottom of this post that the terminals used to be connected above the fuses, impeding access.

The ATX power supply breakout board is a Geekcreit® XH-M229 Desktop Computer Chassis Power Supply Module ATX Transfer Board Power Output Terminal Module.

This is the new setup:
ATX power supply breakout board with 3.3V, 5V, and 12V wiring

This is the old setup:
Previously the fuses weren't accessible

Who is the girl in Massive Attack?

I asked ChatGPT who is the girl in Massive Attack? It told me:

I think that’s a pretty good answer. The girl I was thinking of was Elizabeth Fraser who sings Teardrop. Horace Andy is a man, not a woman, but ChatGPT just listed him as an aside, it didn’t claim he was a woman.

I checked Massive Attack band members and there were a few other female collaborators which ChatGPT didn’t list, but it didn’t hallucinate anything or tell me any lies. I’m not sure if I should give ChatGPT a B grade for missing a few female collaborators, or an A for giving me a simpler answer which contained the fact I actually wanted to know, viz who is the girl who sings Teardrop?

Unboxing #2: Unboxing of NBD Camera | Learning Electronics In The Lab With Jay Jay

This post is part of my video blog and you can find more information about this video on this show’s homepage which is here.

You can support this channel on Patreon: patreon.com/JohnElliotV

In this video I unbox my new NBD Camera. It’s cheap and terrible. I mounted it with an Arkon Wall Mount. In a future video I will demo my new camera setup. After we’ve done that we will replace the batteries in my friend’s hair trimmer. Riveting stuff! Stay tuned!

Note: I was confused while making this video, I thought the camera was a “HBD” camera, but it’s an “NDB” camera, and you will see me getting that wrong. Not a super important detail…

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Maxitronix 130 In 1 (130in1) Electronics Project Lab KitThis is an image of the product.notes

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Etudes for Programmers

From time to time I swing by norvig.com looking for signs of life from Peter Norvig, but it hasn’t been updated in years. However today I pushed on the internet a bit harder and I found signs of life over at github.com/norvig. Norvig continues to hack on his pytudes project, which is cool. I was reading its documentation today and I learned about the book Etudes for Programmers. If I had more money I would definitely buy myself a copy of that book, but at the moment AUD$355 is just a tad out of my league.