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[-] NeatNit@discuss.tchncs.de 113 points 2 days ago

I desperately want to know if this is:

  1. A toy factory actually finding a creative use for excess stock of the doll head
  2. A creative parent fixing their child's toy
  3. Just a joke for a meme
[-] higgsboson@piefed.social 46 points 2 days ago

Cheap things from China often have recycled or re-purposed parts. I had an antenna that came apart and is actually a tape measure with some rubber over it just soldered right to a threaded connector.

[-] Deebster@infosec.pub 15 points 2 days ago

I think that must be fairly common as I remember a video talking about using a tape measure being used on a satellite.

I've found it! I thought it would have been Scott Manly, but it was a question in Tom Scott's Lateral quiz: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RrsBn1pzQFE

[-] MonkderVierte@lemmy.zip 3 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago)

Uh, did the antenna work? Not a RF guy but as far as i know, the dimensions of the "wire" matter.

And btw, cheap chinese plastic things are likely to leak some hazardous chemicals.

[-] higgsboson@piefed.social 7 points 2 days ago

It "works" but isnt perfect. The length matters, but it does work and is the right(ish) length. I don't have the instruments to test it properly.

More, it just isnt very practical because it doesnt work much better than a small whip antenna. I do have a more powerful radio I need to test it on eventually, but it uses the wrong connector for that and I have to buy an adapter

[-] psud@aussie.zone 2 points 1 day ago

The aim with simple antennas is to get their length right to match the radio waves. Often at 1/4 of the wavelength.

The type of metal an antenna is made of matters, as the speed of light is different in different materials.

I suspect if it doesn't work well it's because the manufacturer either made it the wrong length or used a fibreglass tape measure rather than a steel one

[-] ripcord@lemmy.world 1 points 2 days ago

Right but what about this case specifically

[-] muhyb@programming.dev 3 points 2 days ago

I would say it most likely came from a Chinese toy factory. They really have a creative way to use recycled/unused/broken parts. Sometimes it can get worse though.

[-] expatriado@lemmy.world 40 points 2 days ago

don't dismiss creative toddler

this post was submitted on 10 Oct 2025
523 points (98.3% liked)

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