Teardowns on YKM's Corner on the Web

Review and Teardown of Creative Midi Blaster MB-10 synthesizer

Sat, 21 Feb 2026 00:00:00 +0000

The Creative Midi Blaster MB-10 recently entered my retro-collection 33 years after its first release in 1993. Seeing that there isn’t much detailed information about this device on the internet, I decided to do a review followed by a teardown of this device. I will also take some sample audio recordings of it.

Teardown & review of a new 386 system: Hand386

Mon, 05 Jun 2023 00:00:00 +0000

A new 386-based palmtop recently appeared on Aliexpress and was covered by sites like Tom’s Hardware. My curiosity was stoked and I quickly snapped one up.

Teardown of Habotest HT107E Socket Tester

Sat, 06 Aug 2022 00:00:00 +0000

During my volunteering with Repair Kopitiam, I noticed that an experienced coach had a tool that could plug into a socket to determine if the socket was wired up correctly. Fascinated by this, I wondered what such a tool was and how does it work?

Review, usage and repair of the Framework laptop

Tue, 21 Sep 2021 00:00:00 +0000

I finally received the Framework laptop, said by many to be one of the most repairable and modular laptops made so far.

Tons of professional reviewers and Youtubers have already given their opinions and made teardown videos. Instead of mimicking what has already been done, I decided to put myself in the shoes of an ordinary layman and share my thoughts from a personal usability perspective.

A major design flaw was found by some on this first-gen Framework product using the 11th-gen Intel CPUs, do read it before committing to purchase.

DME Theory and Teardown of Narco DME 890

Sat, 03 Jul 2021 00:00:00 +0000

A faulty aircraft avionics Narco DME 890 came into my hands recently. As this instrument was destined for the trash bin, I was given free reign to do whatever I wanted with it. What better way to do it than to conduct a teardown!

Before commencing a teardown, I have to go through some theoretical concepts of the basic operation of this device.

Teardown of an Aviation Radio Bendix King KX-155

Tue, 08 Dec 2020 00:00:00 +0000

A faulty aircraft radio model Bendix King KX-155 recently came to my hands.

As a private pilot of light General Aviation aircraft for about 2 years, I have used this model of radio in almost all the planes I have flown but never really looked at what goes on behind the scenes.

I decided to take this opportunity to do a teardown of the radio to inspect what are its major components to learn how it works.

Radar Theory and Teardown of Aircraft Transponder RT-459A

Sat, 20 Jun 2020 00:00:00 +0000

I recently got my hands on an old unserviceable aircraft transponder from my flying club. The tinkerer me was obviously very curious on what’s inside this piece of equipment. What better way to find out then to do a teardown!

Aircraft Radio Corporation (ARC) RT-459A

Approximate size: 16.5cm x 29cm x 4.5cm

Review and partial teardown of Fairphone 3

Sat, 07 Dec 2019 00:00:00 +0000

I was in the market recently for a new phone as I had to give my previous Google Pixel 2 away to a family member in need of one. With the emphasis these days on sustainability and environmentally-conscious purchasing, the Fairphone 3 came up at the very top of my research.

From the marketing words of this social enterprise, “Recycled and fair materials”, “Modular and repairable design”, “A commitment to fairness” and 10/10 score on iFixit’s Repairability Rating, I was sold!

Teardown of NDP2019 LED wristband

Sat, 03 Aug 2019 00:00:00 +0000

3 years ago, I tore down the NDP 2016 LED wristband as I got one during the Singapore National Day Parade (NDP) Preview. 3 years later, I got another one during the NDP preview held on 28 July 2019.

Board internals

Band in original condition

So time for another teardown!

(Partial) Reverse Engineering the NDP 2016 LED Wristband

Thu, 11 Aug 2016 00:00:00 +0000

(Checkout the 2019 version here!)

The Singapore National Day Parade (NDP 2016) happened on 9 August 2016 to celebrate its 51st birthday. For those who had the opportunity to attend the actual parade or its previews/rehearsals, they will also get to receive a funpack where one of the items will be a wearable LED band made by a company called Pixmob.

This band receives infrared(IR) signals from the organisers and then displays the LED colour of their choosing. There is also an onboard accelerometer. After the event when the IR signals disappear, the (single-axis I believe) accelerometer will cause the Red LED to light up when a shock is detected.

Here is the talk video on this subject I gave at Hackware v2.1.

Changing Casio watch to positive display

Thu, 24 Jul 2014 00:00:00 +0000

I recently got a new Casio Protrek triple-sensor watch. This watch model PRW3000-2 was released in 2013 featuring Casio’s new “Triple Sensor Version 3 engine” which is better than my previous fatter and heavier PAG-80. Not forgetting that it is solar-powered too meaning I will never have to change the battery in the usable lifespan of this watch! Ever since I got my PAG-80, my “OCD self” cannot live without knowing that I can measure the attitude, compass heading and temperature of the surroundings. So this PRW3000-2 is the next in the upgrade path.

I like the colour green, and the only green version available is in the negative display where the numbers are set against a dark background. Contrast that to the more typical positive display where the numbers are set against a white background like most calculators. As I did not own a watch with a negative display in the past, I thought it shouldn’t be an issue. Turns out it is HUGE one, take a look at the picture below.

[]images/2014-07-24-18.33.49.jpg)