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ESP Quarantine

Posted: Sun May 24, 2026 1:52 am
by chipfryer27
Hi

In Sydney at present and being a bit bored and having already taken my Corby trouser press to bits, I went to my fabourite shop in the region, Jaycar. For those unaware of this Aladdin's cave, it is like the old Radio Shack / Maplins but on steroids. I could live in it.....

Anyway, after ages drooling over things I thought to buy myself an ESP32, not really caring which one. I could connect that to my laptop and do Flowcode stuff. I rarely travel with any dev boards after the TSA destroyed a suitcase by forcing off the (TSA compliant) locks to get inside. I had a multi-programmer and a combo board in my case.

Tons of Arduino / Mega / Uno boards, kits and modules but couldn't find any ESPs at all. Most strange as they are quite popular.

I asked the staff if they had any and they checked their computer. They then told me "We have to quarantine them" but could provide no further details.

Any ideas as to why ESPs are "quarantined"?

Never leaving that shop empty handed I grabbed some "I need that but don't know what I'll do with it" stuff and the latest edition of Silicon Chip magazine, all paid for in Jaycar points from previous purchases <s>

Wish UK still had similar shops.

Regards

Re: ESP Quarantine

Posted: Sun May 24, 2026 4:32 am
by jgu1
Hi Chipfreyer!

I can imagine it must feel like a five-year-old in a candy store :lol:

Let’s just hope the ESP boards are not infected with some kind of contagious virus. I have quite a few of them lying around myself, and so far I haven’t become ill… yet. ;)

Jokes aside, it does sound rather strange. I have not heard anything about ESP boards being placed in quarantine before.

If you are in need of one, I would be happy to help you out. A good Flowcode colleague should not be left struggling.

Br Jorgen

Re: ESP Quarantine

Posted: Sun May 24, 2026 4:46 am
by viktor_aust
Hi chipfryer27
Can you please say a few words about yours multiprogrammer?
What brand is it?
What MC it does?
Thanks

Re: ESP Quarantine

Posted: Sun May 24, 2026 5:32 am
by chipfryer27
Hi Jorgen

Many thanks for your very kind offer, I really do appreciate it. I have plenty back in my evil lab but as I'm on an extended business trip to Sydney I thought I would just grab one to play with. Well not if I am going to catch some horrible disease I won't 😂

HI Viktor

They are eBlocks from Matrix. I have quite a few of them going back over twenty years and you can see them all in the "History of Flowcode" post in General. Offhand I can't remember the eBlock numbers but it / they are the PIC Multi-programmer and associated Combo board. I will send numbers later tonight as I'm now out searching for a pub 🍺🍺

Regards

Re: ESP Quarantine

Posted: Sun May 24, 2026 11:07 am
by chipfryer27
Hi Viktor

The boards that caused me bother whilst flying are shown here

https://www.flowcode.co.uk/forums/viewt ... 4&start=20

and are an EB6 and Combo board. These were eBlock-1 boards.

Since then, and again shown in the post, I use the EB2 board (BL0080) to program PICs but instead of a Combo board I have various plug-in EB2 Boards depending on need. In saying that in practice I use both, depending on which one is closer to hand <s>

Regards

Re: ESP Quarantine

Posted: Sun May 24, 2026 11:11 pm
by viktor_aust
Thanks
Do you plan to visit Adelaide?

Re: ESP Quarantine

Posted: Mon May 25, 2026 12:12 am
by chipfryer27
Hi Viktor

I'm stuck here in Sydney until July sometime. If I'm not off anywhere straight after I was contemplating visiting a few places. I've been here a few times over the last 18 years or so but only to Sydney and Sunshine Coast, each time rushing off elsewhere. Surprised at how cold it gets. We never think of Australia having a winter. Just been to the Helly Hansen store to sort myself out....

Don't tell me about global warming and holes in ozone layer. Is that the same hole that's letting all the rain in... :lol:

Regards

Re: ESP Quarantine

Posted: Mon May 25, 2026 1:26 am
by viktor_aust
OK. Good luck with your visit to Au.
Yes, it is cold at morning in June, but summer is back at midday.

Re: ESP Quarantine

Posted: Mon May 25, 2026 1:51 am
by chipfryer27
Hi

Looking forward to some warmth. Been wet the last couple of weeks and at night, even with the aircon off I'm wearing a jumper. Very humid though, I'm drenched by the time I've walked a few hundred metres.

What's with the Friday night "win a ton of meat" at the pubs?

Regards

Re: ESP Quarantine

Posted: Mon May 25, 2026 4:49 am
by viktor_aust
I do not play this metaphorical 'ton of meat' Australian raffles (for local footy club?).
I am locked to the holiday home project 2.5 hours drive away from Adelaide now.
And I am too old, anyway...
About the 'ton" vs "tonne" prononciation.
Is it true, that ton pronounces as sun (imperial system) and ton = son (metric system)?