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https://hackaday.com/2011/08/20/shrinking-coins-with-high-voltage/
|
High Voltage Hacks: Shrinking Coins
|
Brian Benchoff
|
[
"classic hacks"
] |
[
"high voltage",
"magnetic field",
"shrinking coins"
] |
The anthem for the Great Recession might be something along the lines of, “That we’re gonna do it anyway, even if doesn’t pay.” Some men just want to watch the world burn, so Hackerbot Labs posted a
great walkthrough
about shrinking coins and in the process making our pocket change worth just a little bit more.
Their build pushes 15,000 Joules (from a 10kV 300μF cap) through a coil of wire wrapped around a coin. This creates a magnetic field in the coil and the coin. These two fields repel each other, and there’s only one way that it can end: the coin shrinks and the coil of wire explodes. The team at Hackerbot Labs linked to a great
theory of operations
that
does a great job explaining the physics
has some awesome pictures.
During our research, we saw a few questions about the legality of altering currency.
According to the U.S. Code
, shrinking coins only illegal if it’s done fraudulently, like shrinking a penny down to the size of a dime to fool a pay phone or vending machine. Check out a video of the Hackerbot Labs setup putting as much energy as 100 heart defibrillators into a coin after the break.
[vimeo=http://vimeo.com/3803732]
| 22
| 12
|
[
{
"comment_id": "438446",
"author": "b1r6m4n",
"timestamp": "2011-08-20T13:10:07",
"content": "Photonicinduction tried this recently – failed because he needs more power!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "438465",
"author": "xorpunk",
"timestamp": "2011-08-20T14:03:55",
"content": "“and in the process making our pocket change worth just a little bit more”yeah because when merchants no longer accept it, it becomes more trendy and kewl..then people like Johnny Depp will buy it from you.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "438528",
"author": "Nardella",
"timestamp": "2011-08-20T17:20:46",
"content": "@xorpunkYou misinterpreted the statement. The destruction of the coin makesothercoins more valuable.Also, 10 foot science poles FTW.",
"parent_id": "438465",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "438474",
"author": "Ryan Mercer",
"timestamp": "2011-08-20T14:37:51",
"content": "FYI If you don’t want to do it yourself but want one,http://capturedlightning.com/frames/interesting1.htmlsells shrunken coins :)",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "438493",
"author": "Svengali",
"timestamp": "2011-08-20T15:23:11",
"content": "FYI according to the websitehttp://www.ramint.gov.au/designs/ram-designs/using.cfmDefacing and or Destroying Australian currency is illegal and can attack fines of $5,000 and 2 years in prison for individuals. Apparently you can also be charged with counterfeiting money if you alter it, They then go on to quote some random act of the copyright that could be infringed upon because of alterations.That being so i would hesitate about altering our currency, stick with the foreign money! :P",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "438542",
"author": "Mark A",
"timestamp": "2011-08-20T18:07:16",
"content": "Lucky it was only a US quarter dollar and not Austrian money.I hope you have never left any Austrian notes in your pockets and put then in the washing machine.2 years in prison and a fine of $5,000 for damaging your own money dose seam a bit surreal.",
"parent_id": "438493",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "438633",
"author": "Rob",
"timestamp": "2011-08-20T22:03:02",
"content": "It’s not our money. We only own it’s alleged value. The money remains the property of the country of origin.",
"parent_id": "438542",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "438799",
"author": "egasimus",
"timestamp": "2011-08-21T07:57:21",
"content": "I see what you did there…",
"parent_id": "438542",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "439230",
"author": "MrTaco",
"timestamp": "2011-08-22T03:12:52",
"content": "We do it all the time, because we don’t care. Plastic doesn’t have a problem with going through the wash ;)",
"parent_id": "438542",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "438634",
"author": "Brian Benchoff",
"timestamp": "2011-08-20T22:04:35",
"content": "I think the same law applies to all commonwealth countries, right?",
"parent_id": "438493",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "438742",
"author": "KillerBug",
"timestamp": "2011-08-21T03:30:41",
"content": "It is illegal to deface any US currency. However, the supreme court ruled that persons do not have to accept pennies for payments of debts, and therefor, they are not technically currency. This is why those penny crusher machines are legal.",
"parent_id": "438634",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "438497",
"author": "Mike",
"timestamp": "2011-08-20T15:40:34",
"content": "They have high speed video capture of shrinking too!http://www.flickr.com/photos/hackerfriendly/3618163583/in/set-72157613645586248/",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "438500",
"author": "Brett W. (FightCube.com)",
"timestamp": "2011-08-20T15:58:37",
"content": "This is very cool! …and those would make great xmas gifts for coin collectors ;-)",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "438516",
"author": "Spork",
"timestamp": "2011-08-20T16:46:23",
"content": "As a (not very serious) coin collector, I’d have to disagree. Most collectors want rare coins in perfect original condition, rather than smashed with 15kjoules.The engineer/scientist in me would love it though!~ Just be sure to tell me how you did it.",
"parent_id": "438500",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "438504",
"author": "bothersaidpooh",
"timestamp": "2011-08-20T16:02:15",
"content": "I have a bunch of ancient UK half penny coins here if someone wants to have a go at this :-)",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "438544",
"author": "Mark A",
"timestamp": "2011-08-20T18:13:24",
"content": "They only introduced 1/2 penny coins in February 1971. That means that I am ancient as I was born before 1971.",
"parent_id": "438504",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "438555",
"author": "Mental2k",
"timestamp": "2011-08-20T18:30:57",
"content": "I don’t know what your source is, but there have been British Half pennies since the 1100s.",
"parent_id": "438544",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "438769",
"author": "kj6epl",
"timestamp": "2011-08-21T06:11:33",
"content": "How many Farads was that cap?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "439229",
"author": "user four twenty",
"timestamp": "2011-08-22T03:11:45",
"content": "popular science had this in an article appx ten years ago…",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "439899",
"author": "Joe Bonasses",
"timestamp": "2011-08-23T00:59:00",
"content": "The anthem for the Great Recession might be something along the lines of, “Don’t let conservatives and their banking buddies rewrite banking and finance laws.”",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "440063",
"author": "Eric",
"timestamp": "2011-08-23T05:46:42",
"content": "Uh, didn’t you cover this in 2008?I even had the article printed out.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "440065",
"author": "Eric",
"timestamp": "2011-08-23T05:48:49",
"content": "Oh wait, the article only linked to it.http://hackaday.com/2008/09/20/24kj-capacitor-bank/",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
}
] | 1,760,377,109.106495
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2011/08/19/installing-linux-on-old-pcs-part-2/
|
Installing Linux On Old PC’s Part 2
|
Kevin Dady
|
[
"laptops hacks",
"Linux Hacks",
"News"
] |
[
"old computer"
] |
In part one I showed you that you could install a
linux distro on a new computer and transplant it into a 386
computer in a short amount of time and with little effort. Now it is time to move on to bigger and beefier machines like 486’s, Pentiums and better.
I am going to break this quick tutorial down into sections based on installed RAM. While this won’t be a “how to” for all old PCs in the world I hope to at least send you in the right direction. I will mention a few distributions mainly for the super low ram machines. Its not my intent to start a distrubution war, and I have not personally sat down with every single one to make a educated assessment. However, you’re more than welcome to chime in.
Join us after the break and see what options you have for that old “boat anchor” sitting in the closet!
Less than 16 megs of ram:
This is where my second laptop comes in. It is an old first run Pentium running at 90Mhz with 8 megs of ram. On machines with <16 megs of ram there is not much choice out there.
Much like the 386 install, you can use an older distribution, but you do have a couple of other options. One is DSL linux, which is no longer being supported outside of its community. Another is
Deli linux
, which is also not supported anymore, but has a fork called DeLicate. Since DeLicate does not have an installer, you need to install DeLicate 8 first and then upgrade through the package manager.
DeLicate and its fork have 2.4 kernels, which is still pretty new for modern applications. It will boot on 4 meg machines and if you fiddle with swap space you can even install it directly on your target hardware.
Since my old laptop does not have a CD ROM drive or a functioning floppy disk I put the hard disk in my desktop computer and booted the installer from a CD. With only 8 megs of ram I can get Xwindows up and running ok, but any activity and the system turns into a swap zombie.
(after about a half an hour here is gnumeric)
netBSD should work with 8 megs of ram, though every time I have tried this, it locks at boot on the target machine.
16 to 32 megs of ram:
Same as above, except you’re going to have a much better time running Xwindows and a windows manager. Again, you can either run an older mainstream distribution that will boot or you can run deli.
The BSD’s of the world should work fine on these machines as well, if you want the newest possible software.
The Heavyweights, 48 megs of ram or more:
If your machine has 48 megs of ram or more you have it pretty easy. Almost all distributions will boot and run without problem from this point on. Which distribution you choose totally depends on the power of your machine. For example, a lightweight ubuntu remix should run well on a Pentium 3, but you might not want to run that on your Pentium MMX.
Some of the standard distributions that I have had good luck with in the past include: Debian, Slackware, Tiny Core, gentoo, puppy and a million more. If you want a distribution that comes off of the cd with modern useful apps already installed, you might want to look at
connochaetos
or
slitaz
, which will function well in 80MB or 128MB of ram.
Most distros still allow hard disk installs and network installs if you can not boot from floppy or CD ROM. In the worst case you just pop your target drive into a more modern machine and install from a cd or usb stick.
I hope this helps your old machines find a second wind. We would love to see them. If you have dusted off an old boat anchor and got linux running on it, please share it with us in the
fourms
!
Thanks for reading and happy retro computing.
| 44
| 28
|
[
{
"comment_id": "438211",
"author": "mrguyorama",
"timestamp": "2011-08-20T01:11:55",
"content": "I actually just did this a few weeks ago. Got DSL working on a 1998 pentium 2 233mhz with 32 megs of ram. It originally ran windows 95b, which means it had fat32 support for drives larger than 2gb, which made it odd that it had a 2gb partition and an empty but fat32 formatted 1gb partition. Oh well, now that partition lets me dual boot DSL and win95b. I can now use usb flash drives to exchange files. Just turned my beloved boat anchor into a surprisingly functional machine",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "438253",
"author": "simonj48",
"timestamp": "2011-08-20T02:55:44",
"content": "Its really down to the limitation of the BIOS being able to address the harddisk past the 2gb limit with int13 bios call. Win9x used bios calls to access the drives without drivers so the limit was always there unless you partitioned the drive and/or loaded drivers as a patch.In saying that, I did have for several years a 386xs 16mb RAM running slackware as a NAS box. The bios limit was 512mb CHS but I would boot from a floppy with lilo and that’d allow me to bypass the BIOS and address and boot the 20GB drive I had installed there.",
"parent_id": "438211",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "438456",
"author": "mrguyorama",
"timestamp": "2011-08-20T13:32:48",
"content": "I assumed the BIOS was set for that, as it came out in 1998 and had early USB support. That fourteen year old box was the most stable thing ive ever owned. There is only one time it ever had a serious error. It told me that it couldn’t write to the C: drive half way through installing a game. It then promptly did it anyway and no files were missing from the game.Sort of on topic: Does anyone have any good resources for a linux newbie like me to learn as much as possible about using the OS?",
"parent_id": "438253",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "438215",
"author": "SanderSS",
"timestamp": "2011-08-20T01:20:27",
"content": "Why not compile a Linux OS to the machine? I mean, there is LFS(Linux From Scratch) which could be teach the basic details on the implementing, right? Wouldn’t it be a matter of getting older versions and/or embedded alternatives to programs/libs which are used…Or even Gentoo Embedded cross compiled to i386? I admit I don’t know much about Gentoo or build-from-scratch, but it seems to be something to be given a try.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "438433",
"author": "MrX",
"timestamp": "2011-08-20T12:46:28",
"content": "Yes! Gentoo is perfect for the job.# Step 1 – Emerge crossdevemerge crossdev# Step 2 – Create a 486 cross compilercrossdev -t i486-pc-linux-gnu# Step 3 – Cross compile your packages!i486-pc-linux-gnu-emerge busyboxThen just copy the relevant files to your new computer, copy the cross compiled kernel, setup the init scripts, tune in remaining details (root password, etc..) and you will have a bootable system :)",
"parent_id": "438215",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "438220",
"author": "John",
"timestamp": "2011-08-20T01:45:41",
"content": "What exactly does the PC (in the title) own?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "438252",
"author": "ChalkBored",
"timestamp": "2011-08-20T02:49:56",
"content": "Part 2, obviously.",
"parent_id": "438220",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "438225",
"author": "bty",
"timestamp": "2011-08-20T01:52:09",
"content": "My router is still a Pentium 133 box with 32MB memory running a 2.4 kernel. It has been for more than ten years now, and is still secure as hell. I should get around to replacing it as it’s probably not very power efficient. It is silent however, since it’s still passively cooled. Current uptime is 518 days :)",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "439405",
"author": "SSTSalazar",
"timestamp": "2011-08-22T12:08:40",
"content": "I’ve got a backup server where I currently work that have this configuration. Since we want a new one we´ve made a overclock on everything that we could, but it is running really stable for our surprise, and since we installed RedHat 7.1 and 64MB it runs quite smoothly.",
"parent_id": "438225",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "438242",
"author": "Germ",
"timestamp": "2011-08-20T02:30:30",
"content": "I spy with my little eye a IBM Model M keyboard?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "438764",
"author": "Kevin Dady",
"timestamp": "2011-08-21T05:32:06",
"content": "no, the model M is on my main computer. that keyboard is a clone wannabe",
"parent_id": "438242",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "438250",
"author": "fallout330",
"timestamp": "2011-08-20T02:46:53",
"content": "Hey bty, was curious on how that Pentium 133 router is physically set up…do you have a number of NIC’s installed? How many other systems do you have connected to that “router” of your.thanks",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "438402",
"author": "bty",
"timestamp": "2011-08-20T10:49:59",
"content": "Indeed, two old ISA cards if I’m not mistaken. There’s about 10 systems connected to the LAN. It has no problem at all doing 10Mbit internet. Some p2p apps that set up 100’s of connections might bog it down a bit sometimes though.It used to run a lamp environment, but those services are disabled since the packages are not current anymore, and pose a threat.Log files do indicate several dozen ssh login attempts per month from the usual culprits.",
"parent_id": "438250",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "438410",
"author": "barry99705",
"timestamp": "2011-08-20T11:32:48",
"content": "My smoothwall box blocks China. 99.99% of those have stopped.",
"parent_id": "438402",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "438549",
"author": "fallout330",
"timestamp": "2011-08-20T18:25:18",
"content": "Very cool, amazing to see old hardware like is still viable and useful. Thanks for the detail!",
"parent_id": "438402",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "438306",
"author": "Jac Goudsmit",
"timestamp": "2011-08-20T05:26:00",
"content": "I set up Gentoo on an old Dell laptop from (I think) 1997 or 1998 with a Pentium, just to see if I could do it, how long it would take and how fast it would get things done. It worked great and I could keep it running for hundreds of days on end. I used it as a NAS for a long time until the hard disk died and I decided to replace it with a “real” NAS so I could use a larger capacity hard disk.Using Gentoo is an interesting experience (slightly more interesting and less tedious if you set up distcc to make it do all it compilations remotely on a much faster machine) but if you just want to make the computer useful I recommend an easier distro like FreeNAS.Interestingly, I was able to expand the memory of that old laptop to the maximum by buying some EDO SODIMM sticks online, they were more expensive than a couple of gigabytes of DDR2 or DDR3 memory but at least they were available and that system is tricked out to the max: 48MB total :-)===Jac",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "438399",
"author": "bty",
"timestamp": "2011-08-20T10:42:19",
"content": "I installed gentoo on a PII 350 once, took two days of compiling before i was able to get X up. It was a very good learning project, but took way too long back then.",
"parent_id": "438306",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "439407",
"author": "SSTSalazar",
"timestamp": "2011-08-22T12:15:04",
"content": "Wait, what? only two days!?!?! Dammit, I tried to install it in a sempron 1.8GHz and took me like a 16 to get a simple Openbox machine with firefox. I would bet a 3-4 days at least to compile everything in this machine.",
"parent_id": "438399",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "440354",
"author": "bty",
"timestamp": "2011-08-23T15:53:36",
"content": "@SSTSalazarYeah you might be right, it was quite some time ago.",
"parent_id": "438399",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "548271",
"author": "Degru",
"timestamp": "2011-12-31T20:53:00",
"content": "Did you try to compile firefox? Even on a fast machine, it compiles for hours, even longer than X or GDM in my case. Try firefox-bin if you don’t want to compile it.",
"parent_id": "438399",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "438313",
"author": "M4CGYV3R",
"timestamp": "2011-08-20T05:34:45",
"content": "“Bigger and beefier machines like 486s”Never thought I’d see someone say that again!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "438335",
"author": "xorpunk",
"timestamp": "2011-08-20T06:47:51",
"content": "A lot of true vintage systems have to have DOS or CP/M with a TCP/IP stack. The RAM and HDD can’t handle even old Linux kernels.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "438370",
"author": "Ketturi",
"timestamp": "2011-08-20T08:04:54",
"content": "I had ubuntu 8.4 in my old toshiba satellite S710 which have Pentium celeron 600Mhz and 192 megs RAM, luxury :)I can’t use it anymore because i don’t have working 2.5″ HDD. But probably i by CF to IDE adapter and install some lighter linux on it.New ubuntus are so bloated that even my 2Ghz 2GB server can’t run them flawlessly. I’m stuck with 9.10, which run’s quickly and all features are working… I also have it in my better laptop, 2.1Ghz celeron + 1GB mem and i use it everyday at school.But back to topic, old laptops aren’t useless.You can make a weather station which receiver satellite-image and logs temperatures etc. like i have.Or, they probably can act as old, ugly picture frame with slow and blotchy display x)or something…",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "438376",
"author": "no label",
"timestamp": "2011-08-20T08:48:53",
"content": "Melting sunI found my grandpaps old IBM Thinkpad 600 laptopthat was geting dusted .Running Win95 it’s not myfavorite so I thought to give it a try with some other OS. Why is that? I couldn’t stand see itdumbed then the usb issue plus some hardwaremalfunction such as broken joy-pad button and arow of buttons that wouldn’t co-operate.After some linux distro checking I finally picked upCrunchbang/ #! ..fitted like a glove in its 4Gb HD and now.. boots up like really fast, i can use usbsticks, i bypassed the broken keyboard circuit withan external one ,and the most important of allI can load a playlist while I’m out cookingsteaks on the barbie",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "442828",
"author": "hwntgl",
"timestamp": "2011-08-27T20:03:53",
"content": "Thinkpad 600 will run XP, but I’m in the wrong place for mentioning that. Forgive me. It built like tank, tho.",
"parent_id": "438376",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "470915",
"author": "no label",
"timestamp": "2011-10-03T21:56:10",
"content": "melting sunThat’s ok with my book/xp/ and no need for asking apologize. The point is that the challenge here isto make an old machine run as you never had see it before. Comparing those two os(es) win ‘n lin for me is out of spec. I feel like my old fellow breathed another life",
"parent_id": "442828",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "438413",
"author": "oldfart",
"timestamp": "2011-08-20T11:52:43",
"content": "you mean there is hope for the 386 and 486 machines i have in my garage? might have to get them out and play a bit!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "438420",
"author": "meatman",
"timestamp": "2011-08-20T12:23:42",
"content": "This is great for real hackers as ebay is FULL of old industrial PC104 computers. Using an old useless 386 pc104 card computer will work as a robot is far more epic than any ardunio bot made.W00T for da OldSk00l Hax0rz Y0!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "438442",
"author": "mail junky",
"timestamp": "2011-08-20T13:01:12",
"content": "Old slackware has disk sets that you can load from floppy, but you will have to make the disks. Debian also has cd’s you can download for older versions. Tinycore should work at least i486, I think. I am running ubuntu 10.04 on a p2 server. I run debian on my other p2 boxes. Wattos, ConnochaetOS (formerly deli linux) and one other escapes me. I have heard of people running arch on old boxes, but you might have to wait a month for everything to compile.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "438445",
"author": "Bojan",
"timestamp": "2011-08-20T13:07:12",
"content": "Old systems can still do many jobs, but for new designs they are bad.386DX 33MHz gives about 11.4 MIPS.486DX 66MHz gives about 54 MIPS.PIC32 80MHz gives up to 120 MIPS, now have RetroBSD Unix port and consumes 0.5 Watts (passive cooling).",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "438525",
"author": "dk_millares",
"timestamp": "2011-08-20T17:13:40",
"content": "The basic linux has been a great option for cases like this. Perhaps it will be useful.http://distro.ibiblio.org/baslinux/",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "438588",
"author": "Piku",
"timestamp": "2011-08-20T20:06:14",
"content": "I can’t wait until they move onto part 3 with those ancient Core2Duo computers ;-)I think somewhere I have a copy of Minix on CD, installing that on a crusty old machine could be entertaining.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "438601",
"author": "Carlos in ATx",
"timestamp": "2011-08-20T21:03:17",
"content": "Puppy Linux 4.3 or earlier and Puplite 5.0 will run extremely well in older P3 machine. If you’ve got a 600mhz or faster machine with 512mb or more, they feel like a low end machine from about 2005-2006.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "438867",
"author": "WitchDoc",
"timestamp": "2011-08-21T12:11:15",
"content": "First tip:Get the smart bootloader (btmgr)http://sourceforge.net/projects/btmgr/for machines that do not have a cd-rom or do not support booting from one. btmgr also enables usb or network boot.Second:For the more advanced user. Setup PXE/TFTP on a server system (or another 486) and boot your target system install over the the network.Third:Debian has the “debootstrap” command. This command creates a minimal install debian in a target directory. using chroot you can change to this directory, install the apps youwantneed. The full directory tree can be copied to the root of the target machine.I’ve got a Compaq 486 LTE running a fairly recent 2.6 kernel this way. Just obtained a parallel port network adapter last week.Finally:The truly old systems may have troubles recognizing “bigger” harddisks. The Compaq for instance does not have user definable HD parms. The workaround for this problem is trying the available types. All the BIOS has to do is read the bootloader (grub). Grub and the linux kernel can work around the BIOS limitations. My Compaq does not support drives larger than 540Mb (or something like that) yet it’s booting and running smoothly from a 4Gig drive.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "439540",
"author": "Frank",
"timestamp": "2011-08-22T15:59:32",
"content": "After doing this for years I finally ended up with a second machine that’s fairly recent and decided to see what Linux can really do.As for those old boxes, I installed Windows 3.1 and OS2/Warp. What memories! (Mine that is, not the machines).",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "439558",
"author": "Dan",
"timestamp": "2011-08-22T16:31:03",
"content": "Does anyone know a way to get Linux up and running on that Mac Classic in the picture? I have one of those sitting around.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "440386",
"author": "Kevin Dady",
"timestamp": "2011-08-23T16:52:09",
"content": "Linux for mac’s require a MMU, anything with a 68020 or better will run 68k linux (and there a couple out there).That machine however is a MacSE … its got a 68000cpu in it, so no memory management unit so no linux on it =)",
"parent_id": "439558",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "439664",
"author": "CoreAn_Crack3rZ",
"timestamp": "2011-08-22T18:49:50",
"content": "Cool dude! :D got to try this out. i hope old rusty pc’s from my school can be reused.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "440293",
"author": "Raven",
"timestamp": "2011-08-23T14:22:34",
"content": "A few years ago I installed FreeBSD 6 (then current) on a box with a P166 MMX, 128MB (60nS 72-pin SIMMs), and 2MB PCI-based integrated video. The chipset is a Intel 430VX, if I recall. I went with FreeBSD because it was usable while Linux was not. The integrated IDE controller was totally dead so I was using a Promise Ultra66 card. Maybe now it can, but at least then Linux could not boot from a Ultra66 while FreeBSD could. I was going to nix installing X, but I was told on a newsgroup to do it anyway — and I did. I used icewm in X.Almost everything on that box moved at glacial speed. Updating the system sometimes took 3-4 days if I had to recompile a major package with a ton of dependencies which themselves have tons of dependencies. NAS and streaming .mp3 were about the only useful things possible. I took the box out of service after a little more than a year.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "449747",
"author": "Rob",
"timestamp": "2011-09-07T15:49:11",
"content": "For anybody trying to boot from usb on a computer that doesn’t support booting from it and for whatever reason, you don’t want to boot from optical media, check out plop boot manager.http://www.plop.at/en/bootmanager.html",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "467761",
"author": "Sudos",
"timestamp": "2011-09-30T02:57:05",
"content": "This is funny… About a year ago (January 2010?) I got around to playing with this Toshiba T4800CT I came into ownership of. had DSL installed on the original 500MB drive it wielded as its brains, which died for some reason… after a BIOS update, I was able to get a 1.4GB Toshiba drive recognized I had laying around at the time. Currently, the laptop runs Debian Sarge on a DX4-75 and 24MB of RAM. it’s not the best, but it gets the job done… it’s an IRCd linked to a small network, has a website up with Lighttpd and PHP5 via FastCGI (although a somewhat stripped version), and just a general farting around machine. no X stuff, and the limited space on it allows me to better organize by priority what files I keep on the box itself.http://uamd.lolcano.me:81is the address.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "478354",
"author": "lefty.crupps",
"timestamp": "2011-10-12T11:15:19",
"content": "I’ve had good luck with TinyCore 4.0 on my Pentium3http://gnuski.blogspot.com/2011/10/best-use-for-old-laptop-tinycore-linux.htmlTC just keeps getting better!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "480167",
"author": "Fredo",
"timestamp": "2011-10-14T18:39:31",
"content": "Here’s what I could do with a 1997 IBM Thinkpad (Pentium 133/16Mb RAM/No CD/No network)!http://agentoss.wordpress.com/2011/04/10/recycling-an-ibm-thinkpad-365x-as-a-mp3-player-with-slitaz-gnulinux-1-0/and BasicLinux works well, too",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "1079041",
"author": "Axuak",
"timestamp": "2013-10-19T07:42:49",
"content": "I have an old K-6 II system that I installed Debian Sarge on (the newer installers won’t boot). I then slowly upgraded up the chain (changing my /etc/apt/sources.list and adding keys every time) all the way to Wheezy. I also built a 3.10.x kernel on it (it took ~2-3days ). Sadly, it is only running at half-speed (the motherboard complains about some power-supply problem): 133MHz instead of 266MHz. It also has 192MB of RAM (all pre-DDR DIMMS are inter-operable and I had plenty of PC-100 and PC-133’s around).",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
}
] | 1,760,377,108.944051
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2011/08/19/adding-wireless-controls-to-vintage-stereo-equipment/
|
Adding Wireless Controls To Vintage Stereo Equipment
|
Mike Nathan
|
[
"classic hacks",
"Musical Hacks",
"Wireless Hacks"
] |
[
"iphone",
"pic",
"receiver",
"remote control",
"vintage",
"wireless"
] |
[Jean] was shopping around for a vintage stereo receiver, and happened upon a broken, but repairable Marantz 4240. After getting things back to working order, he thought it would be great if he could
use his iPhone to remotely control the unit
(
PDF Writeup
,
Schematics and Code
).
He scrounged around for parts, and after locating a PIC and a handful of parts from old copiers and printers, he got down to business. He etched some custom boards to house electronic bits, then strapped motors to the volume and source selection knobs. He also rigged up the push button power switch on the receiver, using a small servo and a bit of string.
Now, he can control everything using his iPhone, which communicates with the stereo over WiFi. While the power, volume knob, and input selector can be triggered remotely, he still has the ability to tweak any of these items manually if desired.
We think that this is a great way to add modern amenities to vintage electronics, without ruining the aesthetics of the components. Don’t take our word for it though, check out the video demonstrations [Jean] but together after the jump.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P-VqL7AyXtU&w=470]
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CR0XgLstFlo&w=470]
| 11
| 10
|
[
{
"comment_id": "438170",
"author": "willaim",
"timestamp": "2011-08-19T23:11:45",
"content": "thats pretty cool!! I thought about all this atone point or another but it just ended up being cheeaper to buy a new one :(",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "438177",
"author": "Addidis",
"timestamp": "2011-08-19T23:29:42",
"content": "Nice work, thats a hell of allot of work and gets points for doin it cause you can.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "438179",
"author": "Patenomics",
"timestamp": "2011-08-19T23:31:00",
"content": "Les Claypool ftw",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "438193",
"author": "Jac Goudsmit",
"timestamp": "2011-08-20T00:22:28",
"content": "That’s GORGEOUS! And kudos for the mechanics, that stuff looks as if it was already in there before you started! Great build!===Jac",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "438237",
"author": "Paul",
"timestamp": "2011-08-20T02:09:52",
"content": "Wow! Incredible work. The way the input selector was implemented is very clever, minimizing the (already substantial) strain on the servo. I really love how it’s a two-way implementation, with sensors passing manual data back to the phone.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "438393",
"author": "Mark A",
"timestamp": "2011-08-20T10:21:23",
"content": "Invite a friend round and ask him to turn the volume down.Then turn it up with your remote when he’s not looking and say ‘Please can you turn the volume down’Your friend may get a bit fed up after you do this a few times.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "438473",
"author": "pin",
"timestamp": "2011-08-20T14:37:51",
"content": "awesome receiver i was looking for one like it the other day to drive my speakers nice job one question why WiFi",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "438546",
"author": "Jean",
"timestamp": "2011-08-20T18:21:28",
"content": "Pin> Actually, the iPhone version is just to validate the concept, the motorizing stuff. I will make a standalone remote soon, as soon as I have the design thought through..Hackaday>Thx!!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "438635",
"author": "Alex",
"timestamp": "2011-08-20T22:08:11",
"content": "I used to have a more modern (but no where near as classic) marantz amp that had a motorized volum knob, kept me amused for hours (I am easy to please). This is a great idea though, I have often wanted this for source selection on my Kenwood 3020… btw, that era of marantz gear has a big following as it is really nice kit, I had almost the same tuner / amp and got ~£175 on fleabay for it…",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "2236401",
"author": "les",
"timestamp": "2014-12-11T17:15:48",
"content": "I have some vintage McIntosh amplifiers in a rack. I need some way of turning the amps on and off remotely. in the past stereo equipment had electrical receptacles for daisy chaining a number of components so turning on one turned on every component in the daisy chain. no more , now stereo equipment has proprietary triggers that only work within the same family of components. what am I to-do???",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "3292544",
"author": "Ray Bertrand",
"timestamp": "2016-11-29T01:45:12",
"content": "You need a CATV converters w/ remote. ( Panasonic, or Scientific-Atlanta or others that were used when cable was analogue.Try to obtain several w/ same name…that way one single remote is used simulta. for all boxes.They supplied high power back in the day….and can be used with common multi plug outletsthat will accept 3 to 5 power cords.Your primaries should be 1 or 2 power amps, then 2nd’s might be DVD and VCR players w/ other low power components such as mixers, equalizers and such.There, you have it.You’re welcome,Ray Bert",
"parent_id": "2236401",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
}
] | 1,760,377,109.050784
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2011/08/19/robotic-arm-and-claw-sculpted-entirely-from-shapelock/
|
Robotic Arm And Claw Sculpted Entirely From ShapeLock
|
Mike Nathan
|
[
"Arduino Hacks",
"Robots Hacks"
] |
[
"arduino",
"claw",
"mechanical",
"shapelock"
] |
[Alexey] wrote in
to share a mechanical claw
(
Google Translation
) he has been hard at work on for quite some time. While a lot of people will turn to some sort of 3D plastic printer such as the MakerBot if they need plastic parts built, [Alexey] didn’t have access to one. Instead, he carefully crafted the entire mechanism from polycaprolactone, or as it’s more commonly known, Shapelock.
Using a wide range of tools from hair dryers and knives to lighting fixtures, he manually sculpted the claw and its control arm out of plastic, piece by piece. We are particularly impressed by the gearing he was able to cut from the plastic, which can be finicky at times.
As you can see in the video below, The claw mimics each movement he makes with the control arm via a handful of Arduino-driven servos. Everything seems to work quite well, and despite the rough translation by Google, we think this is a great project. If you are looking to do something similar yourself, he has plenty of pictures on his site, which should give you a pretty good idea as to how things were put together.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P3PQP8FQU4A&w=470]
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1VrfoP-DH0g&w=470]
| 24
| 17
|
[
{
"comment_id": "438130",
"author": "aztraph",
"timestamp": "2011-08-19T21:56:28",
"content": "very neat",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "438142",
"author": "avrpunk",
"timestamp": "2011-08-19T22:23:25",
"content": "It’s a skutter.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "438288",
"author": "Jake of All Trades",
"timestamp": "2011-08-20T04:47:50",
"content": "Ha! I thought the same thing! Oh Bob…",
"parent_id": "438142",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "438144",
"author": "svofski",
"timestamp": "2011-08-19T22:27:29",
"content": "клево получилось!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "438145",
"author": "Brad",
"timestamp": "2011-08-19T22:27:41",
"content": "I’m really digging the control mechanism. That should be highlighted as much as the fact that he cobbled it together in an interesting way. Good find.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "438152",
"author": "veneficus",
"timestamp": "2011-08-19T22:40:06",
"content": "Wow! Having worked with Shapelock in the past, I admire the quality of the production and the use of different materials to shape the arm. Respect sir.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "438191",
"author": "Doug",
"timestamp": "2011-08-20T00:07:13",
"content": "Seems a fair amount of hysteresis introduced from the play in either the control or the shape lock.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "438304",
"author": "M4CGYV3R",
"timestamp": "2011-08-20T05:19:54",
"content": "It should be easy enough to iron out with a dead-zone(epsilon) checking function.",
"parent_id": "438191",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "438192",
"author": "ed3203",
"timestamp": "2011-08-20T00:12:28",
"content": "i want one! wait no, i want this merged with the hexapod posted earlier:http://hackaday.com/2011/08/18/morphing-hexapod-has-us-drooling/then i want it with AIthen i’ll be happymaybe.worth a shot :)",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "438198",
"author": "Hackerspacer",
"timestamp": "2011-08-20T00:42:44",
"content": "THIS ROBOT IS MADE FROM CHEESE!!!!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "438267",
"author": "Hackerspacer",
"timestamp": "2011-08-20T03:36:10",
"content": "Oops. Caprolactone is prepared industrially by Baeyer-Villiger oxidation of cyclohexanone with peracetic acid. So…. not actually made from milk products.",
"parent_id": "438198",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "438209",
"author": "f",
"timestamp": "2011-08-20T01:09:36",
"content": "Wow, that’s really cool.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "438266",
"author": "noonv",
"timestamp": "2011-08-20T03:32:37",
"content": "its not my job – its Zoltbrg (Alexey) work :)",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "438273",
"author": "John Berube",
"timestamp": "2011-08-20T03:47:44",
"content": "I agree with Brad. That control arm is just as cool as the robot arm.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "438368",
"author": "THeOReos",
"timestamp": "2011-08-20T07:53:56",
"content": "Did they really put condoms over the gripper for better traction!? I’ll never trust the advertisements again. ;D",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "438392",
"author": "Buzzles",
"timestamp": "2011-08-20T10:18:03",
"content": "Oddly, the more organic feel given by the hand scuplted Shapelock makes it actually look quite scary. Almost insect like.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "438501",
"author": "bothersaidpooh",
"timestamp": "2011-08-20T16:01:09",
"content": "Nice hack!I wonder if the same sort of idea would work to make a full function gripping prosthetic hand with off the shelf parts?When something basic costs £30K then you can see the advantage of a homebrew version.Combine with dry electrode EEG based control and this could help a lot of people use a PC, etc.Come to think of it, did anyone other than me come up with the idea of using eye iris diameter/ focus muscles as a control for people who have virtually no remaining muscle movements i.e. ALS patients? would make sense, as it is relatively easy to read the eye’s focal length using a simple CMOS camera and low power IR LED.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "438506",
"author": "Doug",
"timestamp": "2011-08-20T16:10:57",
"content": "Bothersaidpooh: can you point me to some info on focal length determination with CMOS and ir led please?TIA.",
"parent_id": "438501",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "439369",
"author": "PlastBox",
"timestamp": "2011-08-22T10:15:37",
"content": "I’ve thought about the same thing. Prosthetics seem ludicrously expensive for what is in essence some bits of plastic and silicone, 3 emg electrodes and amplifier, a microcontroller, a servo and some decent rechargeable batteries.Even more astounding is the fact that I have yet to see any off-the-shelf prosthetic device with any form of feedback!Sensory substitutionanyone? The cost of adding a couple of flex and force sensors coupled to button vibrators in contact with the skin seems negligible compared to the vast improvement in usability and the astonishingly high price of the device as is.",
"parent_id": "438501",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "438536",
"author": "Dennis",
"timestamp": "2011-08-20T17:53:27",
"content": "Looks like they have “Free” Shapelock with $4.95 shipping.http://shapelock.com/page3.html",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "438655",
"author": "Bob",
"timestamp": "2011-08-20T22:39:31",
"content": "That’s a 1.23oz trial. Amazon sells Instamorph for $9.95 for 8oz – with free shipping through Amazon Prime (free trials can be found – google “Amazon Mom”)I’ve never heard of the stuff before – might have to give it a try! I have a share of things that I wish I had a RepRap to print a part for – maybe this stuff could work?How many ounces of Shapelock would make the posted project?",
"parent_id": "438536",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "438804",
"author": "noonv",
"timestamp": "2011-08-21T08:09:28",
"content": "nope :)",
"parent_id": "438536",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "439376",
"author": "Alan Robinson",
"timestamp": "2011-08-22T10:42:19",
"content": "Wow am going to have to do a project like this i can think of lots of way i coulduse one",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "962385",
"author": "Costy",
"timestamp": "2013-02-19T13:43:42",
"content": "what type of servo did you use in this project?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
}
] | 1,760,377,108.769673
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2011/08/19/the-hand-mounted-haptic-feedback-sonar-obstacle-avoidance-asstance-device-or-the-tacit/
|
The Hand-Mounted Haptic Feedback Sonar Obstacle Avoidance Asstance Device.. Or The Tacit
|
Nick Schulze
|
[
"Wearable Hacks"
] |
[
"blind",
"hand sonar",
"tacit"
] |
Here is a hack that takes the stick out of the blind mans hand. [Steve] has been working on the
Tacit
, a wrist mounted sonar device with haptic feedback, it’s like strapping a bat to your wrist to help you see. The Tacit uses two sonar ping sensors to measure the distance to the nearest obstacle, the relative distance to an object is then fed back to the user using two servos which apply pressure to the back of the wrist. The Tacit is sporting an Arduino pro mini to control the ping sensors and drive the servos, and runs off a 9 volt battery.
This is not an entirely new concept,
haptic headbands
have been around on the net for a while, but the Tacit allows the user to detect obstacles on the ground waiting to trip you up. All in all a neat hack that may have a future in helping the blind. Check out the video after the break to see it in action.
[vimeo
http://vimeo.com/27675622
w=470]
| 14
| 12
|
[
{
"comment_id": "438105",
"author": "razorconcepts",
"timestamp": "2011-08-19T20:43:06",
"content": "Using haptic feedback through pressure is a neat change!If anyone is more interested in this stuff, here’s an interesting book:http://books.google.com/books?id=zMxncsODHNIC&pg=PA240&lpg=PA240&dq=mowat+sensor&source=bl&ots=sj9twa37x6&sig=qsmhMpfIoKysF7huWgYwgikNlZ4&hl=en&ei=fqCsTKGYAY6gsQOs6YTEAw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=14&ved=0CEYQ6AEwDQ#v=onepage&q=mowat%20sensor&f=false",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "438113",
"author": "Steve",
"timestamp": "2011-08-19T21:00:10",
"content": "I’m currently in the process of building a very similar device in a smaller form factor using a maxbotics lv-ez3, a tiny vibration motor and, probably an MSP430 microcontroller. Should take around 100ma at 3.3 volts, which is nice. I might even be able to fit it into a large ring form-factor.Tacit looks really nice, though.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "438127",
"author": "Luke",
"timestamp": "2011-08-19T21:31:36",
"content": "This is a great idea and not expensive to implement (relatively speaking). My hat goes off to the person/people behind it. In the future I wouldn’t be surprised to see more of these type of devices than traditional white canes.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "438133",
"author": "default",
"timestamp": "2011-08-19T22:03:10",
"content": "This is a great concept. Executed nicely. Are these planned for sale? If so, what price range?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "438148",
"author": "svofski",
"timestamp": "2011-08-19T22:31:30",
"content": "What is asstance? xD",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "438158",
"author": "ol' blind joe",
"timestamp": "2011-08-19T22:48:28",
"content": "As someone who is going blind, i think this is super cool!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "438171",
"author": "Matty",
"timestamp": "2011-08-19T23:12:20",
"content": "How does this work with every day interference? I seem to remember my Quadcopter thinking it was suddenly hundres of feet in the air when it neared refrigerators",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "438248",
"author": "KillerBug",
"timestamp": "2011-08-20T02:41:11",
"content": "This is great and all…but doesn’t the red tipped stick serve a purpose other than feeling around? A red tipped stick will stop traffic, and that a red fanny pack will not.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "438265",
"author": "Bob",
"timestamp": "2011-08-20T03:31:57",
"content": "Good",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "438271",
"author": "electronbee",
"timestamp": "2011-08-20T03:46:34",
"content": "Awesome. For a totally blind person this may not be the best as they do use the stick to help them feel ahead. They can tell if they are about to hit stairs, grass, a door, etc.But, for the legally blind, those with extremely poor eyesight, but can still identify shapes but lack any real depth perception, this device is awesome.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "438427",
"author": "Keith",
"timestamp": "2011-08-20T12:31:30",
"content": "Very cool!I wonder, if over time the areas on the back of the hand receiving feedback would become less sensitive from over use? Maybe the ultrasonic and feedback elements could be separated so each could be placed where the user would like?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "438489",
"author": "Random",
"timestamp": "2011-08-20T15:06:27",
"content": "The hand is used for many haptic devices because nerve density allows greater sensitivity. I’m not sure about constant stimulation eroding sensitivity: if the haptic compass devices don’t do it, this is unlikely to.",
"parent_id": "438427",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "438547",
"author": "Steve Hoefer",
"timestamp": "2011-08-20T18:24:15",
"content": "This is the reason I went with pressure rather than super common vibration motors. Exposing the various sensing nerves to vibration gives a bit more precise sensation since it activates three different kinds of nerve cells (Pacinian cells sense the onset of pressure, Merkel cells sense ongoing pressure, and and Messiner’s cells sense the release of pressure). However they go num pretty quickly when exposed to constant vibration. In fact, over the long term it can cause nerve dammage.I’ll admit I haven’t done long-term trials, but it has been worn for days without any noticeable effect. (Whereas the vibration motors drove me nuts within minutes.) If it’s a concern I would suggest alternating hands every day since it was designed to be right/left switchable. Separating the tactile elements from the sensors would certainly be possible but would make the device much more complex to use for the vision impaired.",
"parent_id": "438427",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "438558",
"author": "Microguy",
"timestamp": "2011-08-20T18:39:48",
"content": "I love this kind of stuff. But I would have gone with maybe a time signal or something. perhaps a short (two) electric pulse.The idea (and this should hold true for just about anything) is the brain can reroute itself. So once it becomes learned, it’s second nature, like eye sight. (I know I’m not describing it well).And probably use more sensors, like one for high and one for low objects.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
}
] | 1,760,377,108.632304
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2011/08/19/building-a-message-board-with-a-web-interface/
|
Building A Message Board With A Web Interface
|
Mike Szczys
|
[
"Arduino Hacks"
] |
[
"enc28j60",
"hd44780"
] |
[Sergio] is just getting into hardware hacking. He started by getting an HD44780 compatible LCD screen running with his Arduino. To take the project to the next level, he decided to
add a web interface for changing the message
displayed on the LCD.
He’s doing things on the cheap (a man after our own hearts), purchasing many of his components off of eBay. Unfortunately that decision came back to bite him when it was time to connect his Arduino to the network. The Ethernet Shield knock-off wasn’t the same as
the official version
. That one’s got a Wiznet W5100 ethernet chip with does a lot of the heavy lifting for you. Instead, [Sergio] is using a board with an ENC28J60. It took a bit of searching, but eventually he came up with an example to help him get his Arduino serving web pages and listening for updates from them.
The ENC28J60 is actually not a bad piece of hardware. It’s cheap enough, and there are a few
hardware/software demos
out there that are worth taking a look at.
| 10
| 7
|
[
{
"comment_id": "438074",
"author": "Sprite_tm",
"timestamp": "2011-08-19T19:17:46",
"content": "I can tell from experience the ENC28J60 has a few… let’s call them ‘interesting features’. An example: the device sports ethernet cable polarity autodetection… but when you happen to have the polarity wrong, it drops packets like no tomorrow. If you decide on using them, you may want to check out the errata-section of the datasheet first.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "438085",
"author": "Bogdan",
"timestamp": "2011-08-19T19:37:40",
"content": "This kind of thing has been done quite a few times on the internet. I remember using this (http://tuxgraphics.org/electronics/200702/article07021.shtml) a long time ago and there seems to be no problem with the amount of memory. It should work on your hardware.I also found the web interface from dangerousprototypes to be well featured at a good price, so you might like that for a more powerful and budget solution.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "438095",
"author": "Arthur Benemann",
"timestamp": "2011-08-19T19:59:50",
"content": "Open the web page to the world, it can be fun. Take a look athttp://www.instructables.com/id/WEBSD/.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "438101",
"author": "grido",
"timestamp": "2011-08-19T20:27:50",
"content": "tried using this kind of ethernet chip (ENC28J60). I gave up as my goal was not spend 90% of my time figuring out why the ethernet did not work. One guy on the arduino forum started to write a driver which would provide exactly the same type of feature as the standard ethernet library but for the enc28j60 chip. I don’t think he’s done yet (it is not working for me) but you can get his driver and give it a try there:https://github.com/turicas/Ethernet_ENC28J60/",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "438372",
"author": "marcus",
"timestamp": "2011-08-20T08:24:13",
"content": "for enc28j60, u need the lib ethershield. Not the lib ethernet shield.if u are using the right library, it is just a piece of cake.",
"parent_id": "438101",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "438560",
"author": "Jim Narem",
"timestamp": "2011-08-20T18:41:42",
"content": "There is another one of these, somewhat specific to a particular shield by Nuelectronics but all the enc28j60 interfaces are the same so you can just change the pin assignments:https://github.com/thiseldo/EtherShield",
"parent_id": "438101",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "438115",
"author": "meatman",
"timestamp": "2011-08-19T21:00:30",
"content": "Arduino for n00bs? Come on this is training wheels stuff.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "438187",
"author": "N0LKK",
"timestamp": "2011-08-19T23:56:41",
"content": "Nice work, but something tells me it’s not going to be in hospital operating rooms, assisting physicians any time soon.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "438189",
"author": "N0LKK",
"timestamp": "2011-08-20T00:00:25",
"content": "Obliviously I some intended to comment on another article.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "438876",
"author": "shade",
"timestamp": "2011-08-21T12:33:51",
"content": "still a valid point…",
"parent_id": "438189",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
}
] | 1,760,377,109.154326
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2011/08/22/video-shocking-jack-into-submission-with-high-voltage/
|
Video: Shocking [Jack] Into Submission With High Voltage
|
Jack Buffington
|
[
"Featured",
"how-to",
"Misc Hacks",
"News",
"Weapons Hacks"
] |
[
"dangerous",
"disposable camera",
"hackaday original",
"stun glove",
"video"
] |
Hackaday headquarters has recently been overrun by techno-groupies hanging around outside so we decided to take some measures to discourage that. A word of warning though, if last week’s video ruffled your feathers then you probably shouldn’t watch this one. In this video [Jack] shows you how to create a stun glove using a disposable camera and some leather spikes. To prove that it really works, he intentionally takes a jolt from it courtesy of Hackaday’s security chief [Vlad].
Check out the video after the break.
Like last week’s video, we don’t recommend that you actually try this. This is a weapon and is dangerous by its very nature. As [Jack] attests to in the video, it hurts to get zapped by a device like this. If you are to take anything away from this video, it might be that you should treat disposable cameras with respect if you choose to take one apart.
Like seeing our writers get shocked? Here is a video of [Caleb] being shocked with a Tazer at CES last year.
| 59
| 33
|
[
{
"comment_id": "439425",
"author": "Keba",
"timestamp": "2011-08-22T13:05:24",
"content": "Youtube:The uploader has not made this video available.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "439468",
"author": "Will",
"timestamp": "2011-08-22T14:17:48",
"content": "same here.I’ll also second that calling this a hack is like calling “Jackass” dramatic art. I love the HaD articles that show cool and novel ways to use or reuse things or that teach a useful technical skill. Watching people/objects getting zapped with high voltage gets old really fast.",
"parent_id": "439425",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "439523",
"author": "Caleb Kraft",
"timestamp": "2011-08-22T15:44:00",
"content": "We do a little of something for everyone. These fit into our theme going right now that is “high voltage”. I believe the next ones will be much more high-brow dealing with methods of design in CAD possibly.",
"parent_id": "439468",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "439714",
"author": "Jelle",
"timestamp": "2011-08-22T20:03:12",
"content": "I found it quite shocking to see that Taser has no problems of tasing a man that already had been restrained, just like so many of its customers like to do.Why is it that hundreds of people die each year due to their products, but none of them are policemen (or taser salespeople) training with this weapon. Non-lethal is non-lethal, after all?",
"parent_id": "439468",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "439707",
"author": "simon",
"timestamp": "2011-08-22T19:55:10",
"content": "I must say that i find it “shocking” how careless people are with electricity, and even advertise and encourage it over such a portal.Firstly, those videos (like already said) get old really fast. Secondly, zapping someone with a flash capacitor is very dangerous. The capacitor holds enough energy to kill a grown person, and in the wrong cirumstances that really could happen.What if someone has a bad heart? Or a Pacemaker? Or you zap a healthy person just in the right moment when the cardiac valve is in the wrong position?",
"parent_id": "439425",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "439758",
"author": "Patenomics",
"timestamp": "2011-08-22T21:09:01",
"content": "Good thing no one cares.",
"parent_id": "439707",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "439924",
"author": "b1r6m4n",
"timestamp": "2011-08-23T01:40:19",
"content": "Can we just lay off the wimp-safety comments for once? Comments like THIS get old fast. high-voltage does not.",
"parent_id": "439707",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "439428",
"author": "barry99705",
"timestamp": "2011-08-22T13:09:47",
"content": "I remember seeing something like this a few years back, but it was a commercial product. Was basically a stun gun built into a glove. The electrodes were on the thumb and index finger I believe. Made the Vulcan Neck Pinch a reality!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "439432",
"author": "Jason",
"timestamp": "2011-08-22T13:26:52",
"content": "When will the video be available?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "439433",
"author": "theodore",
"timestamp": "2011-08-22T13:27:30",
"content": "Man when I was in high school we used to make crude tazers from cameras. shocked the snot out of who ever held it ( I said crude tasers ) Oh the good old days……",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "439434",
"author": "Khordas",
"timestamp": "2011-08-22T13:28:38",
"content": "Seems like a good idea. Unfortunately where I live owning this would get me in more trouble than owning a pistol.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "439438",
"author": "Kristian",
"timestamp": "2011-08-22T13:40:48",
"content": "I have the upmost respect for disposable cameras, I was toying with a dismantled one a while back, charging the flash repeatedly. Short story short: I got a jolt which threw my arms straight out to each side. Don’t remeber it beeing too painful, but i was certainly surprised to find it so powerful.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "439723",
"author": "Gabriel",
"timestamp": "2011-08-22T20:14:17",
"content": "Same here… about 5 years back, I shocked myself with one of those disposable cameras, and had a physiological shock response to it. It was not cool. I stay away from HV applications these days.",
"parent_id": "439438",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "439439",
"author": "nah!",
"timestamp": "2011-08-22T13:41:29",
"content": "i dont like the sign saying “high voltage hacks”i mean the information is redundant",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "439440",
"author": "Bigdeal",
"timestamp": "2011-08-22T13:41:57",
"content": "I did it when I was twelve… got a hold of a lot of disposable cameras with flashes, and quickly found out about the 330V that are pumped into the big capacitor. Potential for neat sparks and great shocks. I brought those at school, shocked quite some classmates, then got detention.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "439614",
"author": "Tech Joker",
"timestamp": "2011-08-22T17:42:08",
"content": "I never got detention. Well not till I wired it up to the instructors seat. For some reason he didn’t find it amusing at all when it was him getting zapped, but he had no problem when my target was my classmates. The rest of the class rolled. I never served that detention and still graduated. I think perhaps the horseplay was getting just a touch out of hand.",
"parent_id": "439440",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "439441",
"author": "fhunter",
"timestamp": "2011-08-22T13:43:40",
"content": "Am I the only one, who thinks of Batou’s glove from Ghost in The Shell “Innocence”?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "439442",
"author": "retepvosnul",
"timestamp": "2011-08-22T13:52:45",
"content": "“1. break something open 2. connect two wires 3. zap something”Precisely the same as last week and possibly just as ethically and technically questionable.I also like to think that the larger part of the HaD crowd knows what capacitors do and probably do not need a video to learn to “respect” that.If, for some odd reason, HaD is transforming into the “jack-ass” of geek maker sites, please warn me so I can remove it from the watch list.The name could still be hack a hack, only with “hack” as in person not as in project.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "439521",
"author": "Sean Michael Ragan",
"timestamp": "2011-08-22T15:35:42",
"content": "Your superior ethical standards are evident to all.",
"parent_id": "439442",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "439580",
"author": "retepvosnul",
"timestamp": "2011-08-22T17:01:50",
"content": "As we know.",
"parent_id": "439521",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "439727",
"author": "Tech Joker",
"timestamp": "2011-08-22T20:20:15",
"content": "I can certainly understand your point. Though I don’t agree that it is “ethically and technically questionable”. A little horseplay every now and again is just what the Dr. ordered to keep us young.While I personally don’t have a problem with this type of post, it does seem to egg on the kind of behavior the powers that be here say they want to avoid.Technically I suppose it is a ‘hack’ Since that is not what the camera was designed to do. It seems to me that HaD is going for quantity over quality. Which is ok, but it does tend to bring the trolls out of the woodwork and draws non constructive comments.I still keep an eye on HaD, but lately I have already read many of the posts days earlier from other feeds by the time they make it here, and there are a lot of redundant posts as well. The post yesterday about making the USB to Parallel was decent, though light on process details.Personally I think HaD has sort of lost it’s way. They want to clean things up, but they want to post the low hanging over ripe fruit. Still every once in a while they come up with a real gem.Bottom line live and let live, no one is forcing you to follow.",
"parent_id": "439442",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "439868",
"author": "retepvosnul",
"timestamp": "2011-08-23T00:03:44",
"content": "I think it is surely a good idea to question the act of producing items that are obviously weapons meant to harm other people.I’m sure I do not have to elaborate on nuances here. I build the odd trebuchet but this is clearly something else then a fully functional “super hero” stun glove.The “humorous” presentation and the sheer simplicity of it all also begs the question “Does this appeal to people who’d like to emulate it for actual use?”. I bet, with a large enough audience, it does.The odds of some dick tying 2 wires to a flash-leed and aiming it at his neighbour is far more likely then the same person building a full blown siege-engine to smash the neighbours house down (although we humans are crazy enough).Alongside quality, I think it is very reasonable to, at least, question both those standards in this contribution.",
"parent_id": "439727",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "439871",
"author": "Jack Buffington",
"timestamp": "2011-08-23T00:13:40",
"content": "We realized that these first videos weren’t for everyone in our audience but in reality none of them will be. My videos will be all over the place. The two most recent ones were riding the high-voltage theme. Next week’s video will be on a totally different topic that is much more advanced. The down side is that it will be less interesting to a general audience so after a few weeks of that, I’ll switch to something fun but not too difficult like this. Hang in there. Eventually I’ll come to something you are interested in.",
"parent_id": "439442",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "439885",
"author": "retepvosnul",
"timestamp": "2011-08-23T00:34:09",
"content": "People know me mostly as a odd-ball out-of-the-box daring authority “cautious” person. Or I hope to think! But I do, alas, know a fair bit of commercialisation and advertising (shame on me).If you truly knew you’d miss you original target audience with this series, then what was the purpose? Attracted a whole new untapped resource of viewers? Yes,I might imagine! And so this is turning into h(j)acka(ss)day.",
"parent_id": "439871",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "439443",
"author": "adam",
"timestamp": "2011-08-22T13:53:28",
"content": "id like to see the video but it s not available n my country",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "439469",
"author": "Jakob",
"timestamp": "2011-08-22T14:21:10",
"content": "the video says: “the uploader has not made this video available.”",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "439493",
"author": "Caleb Kraft",
"timestamp": "2011-08-22T15:09:03",
"content": "trying to figure that out, it shows “public” in the back end.",
"parent_id": "439469",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "439478",
"author": "theodore",
"timestamp": "2011-08-22T14:31:19",
"content": "Still a better hack than my hammer, flashlight and duct tape",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "439487",
"author": "Sean Ragan",
"timestamp": "2011-08-22T14:53:45",
"content": "Aw c’mon! Is the video link broken, or did you guys get a call from legal? =]",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "439491",
"author": "Caleb Kraft",
"timestamp": "2011-08-22T15:06:46",
"content": "I have no idea why it is still locked down. It is set as public on youtube. trying to figure it out.",
"parent_id": "439487",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "439488",
"author": "Chris",
"timestamp": "2011-08-22T14:54:54",
"content": "Is Kipkay ghost writing for HAD?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "439515",
"author": "d01",
"timestamp": "2011-08-22T15:20:37",
"content": "In the next episode , we will make a spy-prank-taser!",
"parent_id": "439488",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "439518",
"author": "Psion",
"timestamp": "2011-08-22T15:29:21",
"content": "Can we shock YouTube into submission with high voltage, please?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "439547",
"author": "Sean Michael Ragan",
"timestamp": "2011-08-22T16:04:26",
"content": "Yes, please. Where do I sign that petition?",
"parent_id": "439518",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "439535",
"author": "henry82",
"timestamp": "2011-08-22T15:55:10",
"content": "lets just remove the video, making the post ultimately pointless.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "439546",
"author": "Sean Michael Ragan",
"timestamp": "2011-08-22T16:03:37",
"content": "I would like to see it. And judging by many of the other comments, here, I am not the only one.",
"parent_id": "439535",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "439602",
"author": "filespace",
"timestamp": "2011-08-22T17:28:55",
"content": "for those who have not seen the video,,, you are not missing anything except seeing the had idiot get shocked by a disposable camera… i must admit it was the hilight when he said “Owwww!!” just like a little girl… rotflmaotry thishttp://www.youtube.com/v/__7AiL3nJ6Uhttp://translate.google.com/translate?js=n&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&layout=2&eotf=1&sl=auto&tl=de&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3D__7AiL3nJ6U",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "439604",
"author": "filespace",
"timestamp": "2011-08-22T17:30:21",
"content": "hxxp://www.youtube.com/v/__7AiL3nJ6Uremove xx in http",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "439620",
"author": "khani3s",
"timestamp": "2011-08-22T17:50:13",
"content": "Where is the “Stun” part of the stun glove ?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "439640",
"author": "Will",
"timestamp": "2011-08-22T18:15:36",
"content": "I would like to suggest that HaD should be for showing people how to do cool things. I understand that because of lawyers and lawsuits and the shallow end of the gene pool that some things are dangerous and you should know what you are doing before trying them. And some things will be beyond the technical capabilities of a lot of us (e.g. almost anything that Jeri does). But if you need to have an overlay on your entire video saying “do not try this at home” while at the same time showing every excruciating detail of cutting and glue and wiring and even peeling off the label of the camera… well maybe you need to rethink why you are posting the video. If it is that dangerous, either show us the end result (I’ll admit, I couldn’t wait to see Jack get shocked) or find a different topic to post about.I am not advocating that every video be safer than a modern chemistry set. I am saying that the material should be presented clearly, the dangers researched and explained (not just “don’t do this!”) and the focus of the video/write-up on why the hack is useful or interesting and cut out the cheese, the camp, the mohawked “security guard” with a $15 knife in his belt (yes, I own that same knife) and get back to the geeky goodness.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "439733",
"author": "Tech Joker",
"timestamp": "2011-08-22T20:29:53",
"content": "When it is something created by HaD I agree 100%. They should produce something that shows others how to properly research, document, build, and demonstrate a hack.However, often times HaD is not the creator and merely passing on what has been found elsewhere. In that instance it is completely understandable for HaD to throw on a boiler plate disclaimer and move on down the hack path. They call it natural selection for a reason. One should realize when you might be in over your head or there are dangers present.Take it for what its worth. My opinion and $4 will get you a cup of Starbucks coffee, so there ya go.",
"parent_id": "439640",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "440193",
"author": "Will",
"timestamp": "2011-08-23T11:32:23",
"content": "You are right and I should have been more clear initially. HaD produced stuff should IMHO be several notches higher than the average content that other people post. This includes quality of hack (i.e. not crack something open and solder two wires as another poster pointed out), quality of scientific explanation and quality of presentation. And considering that most of the topics I’ve read in the past few months have set the bar pretty high in most or all of those areas it might be better for HaD to stick to user submissions in the short term instead of looking like someone arriving late to their own party.",
"parent_id": "439733",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "439679",
"author": "N0LKK",
"timestamp": "2011-08-22T19:06:44",
"content": "Why not mount the electronics on the glove? I’m not sure how this is anymore irresponsible than the more powerful devices that have been for sale to the general public for years now. The shock from camera flash will only make weenies cry. Get a taste of modern auto engine ignition power.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "439698",
"author": "grenadier",
"timestamp": "2011-08-22T19:40:08",
"content": "This seems a bit like the totse power glove…http://www.totse.info/bbs/showthread.php/4688-Electronic-weapons?p=64382#post64382",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "439704",
"author": "Ken",
"timestamp": "2011-08-22T19:46:38",
"content": "In the CES video above, why do they have to resort to political & geographic bashing. I live very near MO and consider myself conservative, yet I very much enjoy reading Hack a Day and other technology related blogs. I don’t sit around watching cows go by or whatever other stereotype you like. Can’t we try to keep things technical and unbiased here?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "439742",
"author": "Caleb Kraft",
"timestamp": "2011-08-22T20:46:36",
"content": "huh? I didn’t make fun of missourians. If anything I defended us. I think maybe you’re taking my use of the term conservative to mean the conservative political party. That wasn’t the case.",
"parent_id": "439704",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "439845",
"author": "Ken",
"timestamp": "2011-08-22T23:10:16",
"content": "My apologies.",
"parent_id": "439742",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "439933",
"author": "N0LKK",
"timestamp": "2011-08-23T01:57:36",
"content": "But…it was the pitchman who made the remarks about Missourians.",
"parent_id": "439704",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "439835",
"author": "IHATENWO",
"timestamp": "2011-08-22T22:46:55",
"content": "So in the spirit of getting ready for road warrior level collapse. Some one make a tutorial on how to mount a solar panel to a hat or backpack to keep this thing charged at all times! :)",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "443975",
"author": "Joe",
"timestamp": "2011-08-29T22:54:03",
"content": "Meh forget that, and just use motion-powered battery chargers. :)",
"parent_id": "439835",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "439883",
"author": "ferdie",
"timestamp": "2011-08-23T00:30:55",
"content": "cool but i will use a external flash module it have a bigger capasator more power and have a test button to fire ityou can pick one 2e hands for a dollar or 5 onlinei only think the police dont like a toy like this",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "439902",
"author": "AussieTech",
"timestamp": "2011-08-23T01:03:07",
"content": "‘tard is as ‘tard does.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "440070",
"author": "NewCommenter1283",
"timestamp": "2011-08-23T05:56:05",
"content": "ETHICAL? personally i grew up watching G-RATED cartoons FOR KIDS where the _____ shocks the _____ with a hand shocker. and you used to be able to buy those… bak when people did that to other people’s hands as a joke instead of trying to kill then by touching them in the neck or chest. im no expert but i think a shock right where u’d do a vulcan neck pinch MIGHT kill.then again we live in an era where the FBI arrests and jails for (up to) 10 years a man for putting an inflatable SEX-DOLL in a washroom of a highschool.TAX DOLLARS and yahoo FTW",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "440658",
"author": "TotallyFried",
"timestamp": "2011-08-24T02:49:48",
"content": "This works fine, however the capacitors charging time limits the effectiveness of it.It would be much more effective to crack open an electric fly swatter and perform the same process, perhaps extend the push switch on a wire for mounting and safety purposes (ie, it’s not constantly on to avoid accidental shocks).This should provide a pretty constant shock with roughly the same punch, these things sting.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "442236",
"author": "Jeremiah Blatz",
"timestamp": "2011-08-26T18:00:33",
"content": "I love that people are complaining about an electric shock when the passive part of the device is a glove WITH SPIKES ON THE FIST! It’s like hooking up an electric heater to a sword, so that in addition to your victim getting a deep, possibly fatal gash, they also get a nasty burn.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "443519",
"author": "Anon",
"timestamp": "2011-08-29T08:01:10",
"content": "Made something like this back when I was in middle school. I had the wires taped to my fingers with electrical tape insulating the back so if I grabbed someone it would shock the hell out of them.I only got to shock the hell out of myself a few times with it though, and it gave me a few nasty burns as well. I ended up breaking it during it’s first test by shorting it and cooking the wires, which were harvested from an off brand PS1 controller.Thanks for the nostalgia Hackaday.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "447480",
"author": "ellisgeek",
"timestamp": "2011-09-04T04:42:11",
"content": "if you make a MK II i would suggest puting the terminals (or studs/metal plates) on the fingers instead of the back of the glove for the effect of placeing your fingers/palm on someones arm instead of “Punching them”—Ellisgeek",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "447482",
"author": "ellisgeek",
"timestamp": "2011-09-04T04:47:30",
"content": "2nd burst of inspiration use a taser with a push button conveniently located and place contacts close enough to watch it arc then see people run :D",
"parent_id": "447480",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "531370",
"author": "Self Defense Products",
"timestamp": "2011-12-10T03:47:24",
"content": "Fact: TASER technology is non-lethal. Here’s an article that presents all the evidence you need:http://www.protectionnation.com/can-a-taser-kill-conclusions-based-on-research-and-logic.html. Like that article says: “Would you really doubt using a non lethal TASER against someone who is threatening to kill a dear family member of yours, just because he (the criminal) might probably have a heart condition?”. Think about that.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
}
] | 1,760,377,108.863081
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2011/08/22/hacking-a2dp-support-into-an-old-car-stereo/
|
Hacking A2DP Support Into An Old Car Stereo
|
Mike Nathan
|
[
"Cellphone Hacks",
"digital audio hacks"
] |
[
"a2dp",
"bluetooth",
"stereo"
] |
[Roofus] had an older car, and unfortunately his stereo’s cassette player just wasn’t doing it for him. He always wanted to simply get into his car, pull out his cell phone, and have his music ready to play without any fuss. After messing around with all sorts of different tape adapters, he got fed up and decided
to rig up an A2DP (Stereo Bluetooth Audio) adapter
on his own.
He pulled the head unit out and started looking around to see how he could wire an adapter in. He figured the best course of action would be to remove the tape deck, and fool the stereo into thinking that a tape had been inserted. After spending some time tracing wires and studying how his old tape adapters worked, [Roofus] had an A2DP connection wired in and was ready to rock out.
Greeted with nothing but silence, he turned to his favorite hacking site (Hackaday, naturally) for assistance.
Some friendly forum-goers helped him
identify a ground loop issue, and he set off to his nearest RadioShack for a pair of isolation transformers that would fix his problem.
Once he knocked out the ground loop issues, his adapter worked like a charm. He put everything back together, and aside from a tiny switch he installed to toggle between audio sources, you would never know it was there.
| 21
| 12
|
[
{
"comment_id": "439414",
"author": "fartface",
"timestamp": "2011-08-22T12:24:45",
"content": "Bad design. you NEED that a2dp module on the outside so it is not inside a faraday cage. install connectors on the radio and let the dongle hang outside the radio for far better BT coverage.Why? so friends in the back seat can stream audio or you can have your phone with you and in your pocket while you blast tunes and wax the spinner wheels.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "439419",
"author": "GoBO",
"timestamp": "2011-08-22T12:43:27",
"content": "I’m sorry, but you mustn’t have much experience with these things. The back seat would be fine.BTW, what if it was a coupe?",
"parent_id": "439414",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "439431",
"author": "Roofus",
"timestamp": "2011-08-22T13:23:24",
"content": "I actually considered that, it’d be easy enough to replace the top and bottom cover of the radio with acrylic if it were an issue, but it wasn’t a problem at all.",
"parent_id": "439414",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "439477",
"author": "XavierBlak",
"timestamp": "2011-08-22T14:30:14",
"content": "Wow. I just bought a a2dp receiver with plans to do something similar. My radio has an aux in so I don’t need to worry about the tape input. What type of phone are you using with this? My phone with android os doesn’t seem to reconnect automatically. I found an app (AutoPandora) which will launch pandora automatically when it sees the phone connect to a specific bluetooth source. But I still have to connect it manually each time. Not the end of the world but it would be amazing to just get in the car and music would just start coming out of the speakers.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "439610",
"author": "popoffka",
"timestamp": "2011-08-22T17:36:31",
"content": "My HTC Desire auto-connects to all paired Bluetooth devices when BT is on. I also saw some players (like Winamp or PowerAMP or Zim.ly) have the “autoplay when headset connected” feature (and this A2DP is treated like a headset).",
"parent_id": "439477",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "439873",
"author": "Roofus",
"timestamp": "2011-08-23T00:19:20",
"content": "I have a Motorola Atrix. My old Windows Mobile powered HTC Touch Pro 2 auto connected as well. Once in a while it will hiccup, but it’s just as simple as connecting from within the menu.",
"parent_id": "439477",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "439481",
"author": "Slacking",
"timestamp": "2011-08-22T14:41:20",
"content": "Nice, I have the same adapter and I have been thinking about hardwiring into my factory deck..hmm some investigation will need to take place now :)",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "439483",
"author": "mac",
"timestamp": "2011-08-22T14:44:12",
"content": "…. so why does your cell phone work inside your car?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "439486",
"author": "Zerodecoder",
"timestamp": "2011-08-22T14:51:50",
"content": "What A2DP adapter is that? I see the blackberry logo but I can’t find any info on it.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "439609",
"author": "popoffka",
"timestamp": "2011-08-22T17:35:16",
"content": "It’s Blackberry Media GateWay.",
"parent_id": "439486",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "439520",
"author": "lwatcdr",
"timestamp": "2011-08-22T15:33:36",
"content": "Makes me wonder if there is room for an MP-3 Player in there as well? You could just pop in an SD card and have it start playing like a tape player as well as having the A2DP adapter for using your cell phone.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "439875",
"author": "Roofus",
"timestamp": "2011-08-23T00:20:30",
"content": "But my phone is always synced with my music library, no fumbling with any cards. I also have my Google Music account wherever I go.",
"parent_id": "439520",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "439582",
"author": "RF",
"timestamp": "2011-08-22T17:02:14",
"content": "This is the A2DP adapter:http://us.blackberry.com/smartphones/accessories/music_gateway.jsp",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "439583",
"author": "AbortRetryFail",
"timestamp": "2011-08-22T17:02:49",
"content": "I’ve got the same A2DP adapter. You may want to wire up something so you can press the power/pairing switch without having to open up the head unit. Mine likes to error out and you have to re-pair it to get it working again.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "439876",
"author": "Roofus",
"timestamp": "2011-08-23T00:21:43",
"content": "I’ve had the same problem, but only once in a great while. I thought about making a tray so I’m able to pull it out through the tape slot.",
"parent_id": "439583",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "439660",
"author": "Rob",
"timestamp": "2011-08-22T18:46:47",
"content": "If you haven’t replaced the external source switch yet, I can’t help but think that one of those toggle switches with the red flip down cover would be perfect. Just replace the word “Nitrous” with the Bluetooth rune-logo!And there sure is a lot of extra room in that head unit with the tape mech. gone. The obvious question is, whatcha gonna put in next?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "439878",
"author": "Roofus",
"timestamp": "2011-08-23T00:23:43",
"content": "I could also strip down a lot of what I put in there, to be more compact. There’d be tons of room after that. Any suggestions?",
"parent_id": "439660",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "440260",
"author": "samnmax",
"timestamp": "2011-08-23T13:49:28",
"content": "I think it would sound even nicer if you bypassed the tape preamplifier, by connecting the A2DP module to the output of the preamp chip.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "441586",
"author": "Roofus",
"timestamp": "2011-08-25T17:33:13",
"content": "I’m actually adding that to the list of finishing touches I’d like to do. Hope fully it won’t be hard to find info on the preamp chip. I’m assuming it’s the one just below the tape input.",
"parent_id": "440260",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "440505",
"author": "Partizan",
"timestamp": "2011-08-23T20:31:39",
"content": "Nice! I wanted to do the same on my stock Toyota radio. This article is an inspiration. :)",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "441788",
"author": "gradouble",
"timestamp": "2011-08-25T23:54:42",
"content": "oh my, i was planning to do the same this week, after found a way to add an aux input with the LW band on a good old Alpine HU ! i bought the belkin look a like one",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
}
] | 1,760,377,109.557941
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2011/08/21/hackaday-links-august-21-2011/
|
Hackaday Links: August 21, 2011
|
Mike Szczys
|
[
"handhelds hacks"
] |
[
"r2d2",
"server",
"tardis",
"tiny",
"virus"
] |
Arduino + PS2 controller + R2D2
Here’s an
unbelievably real-looking R2D2
replica driven by a PS2 controller with an Arduino inside that plays sounds from the movies. Too bad we couldn’t find any more details about it. [Thanks Bill]
Server build time-lapse
[Justin] and his colleagues spent five days upgrading their server by building a 29-unit cluster. Lucky for us they set up
a web-cam to capture the process
.
Cockroach computer
Behold this working desktop computer
, complete with monitor and mouse. We’re not sure how it was done, or what it’s for, but worth a peek just because of its size. [Thanks Harald via
Dvice
]
Modelling self-assembling viruses
A 3D printer and magnets were used to build this
model of a self-assembling virus
. Shake the jar and it falls apart. Shake a bit more and it’ll rebuild itself… it has the technology.
Tardis cufflinks
[Simon] is exercising his geek chic with these
Tardis cuff links
. The Doctor Who inspired accessories were made from a model railroad telephone booth.
| 17
| 8
|
[
{
"comment_id": "439122",
"author": "Bill",
"timestamp": "2011-08-21T22:22:17",
"content": "Actually, I emailed Dan and got more details on the R2D2. I was going to forward them to you today Mike, sorry about that.Anyway, here’s the juicy stuff:“I’m a member of the R2D2 builders club and alot of other members have some great blogs and there is a wealth of info athttp://astromech.netMine is made almost entirety from styrene plastic with a spun aluminum dome. Most builders use a conventional radio control like model airplane’s use. A few use the Cheap Control Systems C6C which gives you 6 channels from a Ps2 controller ( 2 analog sticks and 2 of the back trigger buttons). I love the ability to use all the buttons that your library provides. I mapped the right stick values to a range of 60-120 and fed them to a sabertooth 2×25 speed controller that drives scooter motors in the back 2 feet. The left stick is connected to a servo that bumps one of two switches to turn the dome motor. I’m using a MP3 Trigger from Sparkfun for the sounds with a serial connection. I have an another arduino in the dome to controll the lights and eventually open some pannels son my next step is to figure out how to use your easy transfer library and soft serial to control that one with the Ps2 also. “",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "439140",
"author": "aztraph",
"timestamp": "2011-08-21T22:58:47",
"content": "The doll house PC looks awesome, but i don’t think it’s real, I have no doubt that someone could build a PC that size, but to successfully run windows 7? the math doesn’t add up.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "439151",
"author": "Jake of All Trades",
"timestamp": "2011-08-21T23:32:40",
"content": "I don’t think anyone’s claiming that’s the *whole* PC! Obviously the “tower” is a model, and the real guts are somewhere else. I imagine the LCD is from a viewfinder or something, and the ribbon cable goes down into the table through that wide base it has. No idea how the mouse would work though. That part might be bogus.",
"parent_id": "439140",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "439179",
"author": "tom61",
"timestamp": "2011-08-22T01:03:06",
"content": "The mouse ends up out of sync on several occasions in the video. Most likely this is just a video being played on the newer iPod Nano with the person timing the clicks (and not very accurately if you look at the video closely) to make it look like the mouse is being used.",
"parent_id": "439151",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "439211",
"author": "mindbleach",
"timestamp": "2011-08-22T02:20:09",
"content": "This mouse is fake, but if you wanted to do it for real, you could extract the LED and CCD from a small optical mouse and wire them up at a distance. The tiny button is best left bespoke. The real trick is fitting more than one usefully conductive wire in a cord that small.",
"parent_id": "439151",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "439294",
"author": "Otacon2k",
"timestamp": "2011-08-22T06:51:55",
"content": "And if you look closely at 0:45, the image shifts badly (looks like his movie editing skills are not that great). FAIL.",
"parent_id": "439151",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "439395",
"author": "aztraph",
"timestamp": "2011-08-22T11:44:47",
"content": "Actually Otacon2k, the screen looks good, the board it sits on shifts occasionally, and the screen moves with it, he probably has a cable going out the back that we can’t see. I agree with mindbleach that the cables are too small to be of any real use in a computer. ram would be an issue too.",
"parent_id": "439151",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "439402",
"author": "Otacon2k",
"timestamp": "2011-08-22T12:05:40",
"content": "You’re right. Mea culpa. Should have watched the video zoomed in…",
"parent_id": "439151",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "439810",
"author": "aztraph",
"timestamp": "2011-08-22T22:10:59",
"content": "no biggie, i had to look at in full screen to catch it myself, I was hoping you were right",
"parent_id": "439151",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "439838",
"author": "MaybeDick",
"timestamp": "2011-08-22T22:53:36",
"content": "2¢ = mini monitor panel glued to iPod Nano Touch playing .mov file",
"parent_id": "439151",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "439185",
"author": "tom61",
"timestamp": "2011-08-22T01:16:32",
"content": "I’m guessing that the doll house PC is Japanese, so anyone with knowledge of Japanese want to see if they can find the original post of the video? I’m guessing that finding the original would reveal exactly what’s being done in fxtrip’s video. Considering the pseudonym of ‘fxtrip’, it could be some sort of green screen or chromakey effect (which would be mildly impressive with a reflection like this one).",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "439186",
"author": "tom61",
"timestamp": "2011-08-22T01:17:25",
"content": "I’d guess thathttp://www.nicovideo.jp/would be a good starting place to look.",
"parent_id": "439185",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "439197",
"author": "John",
"timestamp": "2011-08-22T01:53:56",
"content": "Then GO AWAY, Thanks.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "439198",
"author": "John",
"timestamp": "2011-08-22T01:55:45",
"content": "I like the self assembling model, it’s an excellent demo. Don’t suppose anybody knows where to find a similar design?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "439204",
"author": "lost89577",
"timestamp": "2011-08-22T02:11:12",
"content": "i wish, i had the photos of my uncles r2d2 which built and was driving it around that the premier of return of the jedi in sydney, which was completely remote control it had working arms and all. when mark hammill asked him “when are you going to let the little guy out?” him and the rest of cast could not believe the was no one in side it. too bad George Lucas seen it in photos and made him destroy it (it cost him about $10,000 to build).",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "439244",
"author": "Hirudinea",
"timestamp": "2011-08-22T04:03:39",
"content": "Well if ILM is looking for model makers they need look no further.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "439345",
"author": "Harald",
"timestamp": "2011-08-22T09:19:44",
"content": "@Doll House:I also think it’s a fake – a quite good one -. If you follow the links in youtube you will get to his blog:http://blogs.yahoo.co.jp/fxtrip2000/36823012.htmlFrom the links I found (without beeing able to read kanji) it seems to be a weired japanese minature hobby stuff with unbelievable small parts.See also:http://img2.blogs.yahoo.co.jp/ybi/1/9f/43/fxtrip2000/folder/1007517/img_1007517_37235674_6?1301929002http://blogs.yahoo.co.jp/fxtrip2000/37606758.htmlhttp://blogs.yahoo.co.jp/fxtrip2000/37875663.htmlhttp://blogs.yahoo.co.jp/fxtrip2000/34580564.html",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
}
] | 1,760,377,109.002235
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2011/08/21/one-man-smd-assembly-line-shares-a-lot-of-tips-about-doing-it-right/
|
One-man SMD Assembly Line Shares A Lot Of Tips About Doing It Right
|
Mike Szczys
|
[
"Misc Hacks"
] |
[
"pcb",
"reflow",
"smd",
"solder paste",
"soldering",
"stencil",
"surface mount"
] |
Need to use that antiquated hardware that can only be connected via a parallel port? It might take you some time to find a computer that still has one of those, or you could try out this
USB to Parallel port converter
. It’s not limited to working with printers, as the driver builds a virtual parallel port that you should be able to use for any purpose. But what we’re really interested in here isn’t the converter itself, but the build process. [Henrik Haftmann] posted a three-part series of videos on the assembly process, which you can watch after the break.
The build is mostly surface mount soldering with just a handful of components that need to be hand soldered. The first of his videos shows him stenciling solder paste onto the boards. From what we can see it looks like he built a nice jig for this using scrap pieces of copper-clad which match the thickness of the PCB, and hold it and the stencil securely in place. There’s a bunch of other tips you can glean from the videos, like the image seen above. It’s a clamp that holds the PCB and USB jack together while they are soldered.
If you’re ever thinking of assembling a bunch of boards you should set aside thirty minutes to watch them all.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fv2mEQS7awE&w=470]
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KU3grl6Nu2U&w=470]
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M1rduCG0QLY&w=470]
[Thanks Panikos]
| 33
| 14
|
[
{
"comment_id": "439079",
"author": "avrpunk",
"timestamp": "2011-08-21T21:38:24",
"content": "Unfortunately USB is a packet protocol, and the speed at which the packets move is not reliable. There is too much jitter to use this for many higher speed io tasks. A PCI parallel port for $15 will work if you have a desktop.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "439304",
"author": "jc",
"timestamp": "2011-08-22T07:45:12",
"content": "But USB is deterministic. if you connect it directly to a host port so that you have all the bandwidth for your port converter I think you can be pretty sure that it’ll work with very low latency to change and predictably.",
"parent_id": "439079",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "439083",
"author": "sneakypoo",
"timestamp": "2011-08-21T21:49:53",
"content": "Interesting videos (albeit a “bit” repetitive). For some pure entertainment though you should read his list of demands when sending him e-mails:http://www-user.tu-chemnitz.de/~heha/email.html.en",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "439152",
"author": "Shahriar",
"timestamp": "2011-08-21T23:36:03",
"content": "Wow! He is pretty uptight about his email! ;)",
"parent_id": "439083",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "439177",
"author": "John Bokma",
"timestamp": "2011-08-22T00:57:21",
"content": "If most people would follow half of those rules a lot of time would be saved for people who actually have to read email and reply to it.I once emailed 2 questions to a customer of mine which couldn’t be replied with a simple yes or no. His top posted reply was “OK, John, I agree, go ahead”… When confronted with this he told me that he top posted to save time… Sure, he saved a lot.",
"parent_id": "439152",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "439416",
"author": "darkore",
"timestamp": "2011-08-22T12:32:18",
"content": "That dude is THE definition of a grammar nazi. What an uptight asshole.",
"parent_id": "439152",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "439184",
"author": "Steve0",
"timestamp": "2011-08-22T01:14:59",
"content": "He rejects mails with spelling mistakes, but I noticed a few grammatical errors on his email page:“these rules are to go without saying”“Do you have read this thoroughly?”“these rules are applicable for the vast of email users”I’d email him to tell him, but I’d be afraid that I’d violate one of his rules.",
"parent_id": "439083",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "439288",
"author": "Robert",
"timestamp": "2011-08-22T06:22:04",
"content": "This is also wrong, to me: “…otherwise I must guess first which project you refer) ” and “commata” should be “commas”.Sigh. I would have to reject his emails.",
"parent_id": "439184",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "439326",
"author": "edonovan",
"timestamp": "2011-08-22T08:39:48",
"content": "He allows spelling and grammar errors. Just not too many.I have something like this set up as a responder for people who are too inept to understand basic email etiquette. More or less it states that if you want me to read your message, make it readable before resending it.As for the videos, I thought they were quite entertaining. Could’ve used a change in music, though.",
"parent_id": "439184",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "439237",
"author": "f",
"timestamp": "2011-08-22T03:42:22",
"content": "I think he’s absolutely right.If you’ve been around the internet for over 10 years, these rules arenormaland quite self-explanatory. No one wants to read badly written e-mails without knowing what people are referring to; more often than not, spelling mistakes are a sign of laziness and experience shows that people aren’t only lazy when it comes to spelling, the actual content will suffer as well. So it’s absolutely understandable. I think it’s rather nice to actually write these rules, because I myself wouldn’t read e-mails which don’t pass his criteria if I got more than one e-mail a day.Also, he’s a nice guy, responds really quick and his answers to questions about his stuff are quite helpful.",
"parent_id": "439083",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "439403",
"author": "Bakamoichigei",
"timestamp": "2011-08-22T12:06:06",
"content": "Absolutely right, couldn’t agree more! Even if it makes me look like a bastard, I can’t stand it when people can’t even be bothered to write things coherently, it’s a goddamned waste of my time to read it AND it pisses me off.On a less serious note…of course he responds quickly; only 2-3 emails a week make it through his ‘filter’. ;P",
"parent_id": "439237",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "439864",
"author": "jf",
"timestamp": "2011-08-22T23:54:33",
"content": "No HTML? No attachments over 1MB?… That’s so 1990s. In the 2010s all those petty bandwidth concerns are already solved.",
"parent_id": "439083",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "440112",
"author": "c3p",
"timestamp": "2011-08-23T08:21:02",
"content": "I don’t care about the remains, but no HTML is just ignorant and unjustified.",
"parent_id": "439864",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "440649",
"author": "f",
"timestamp": "2011-08-24T02:18:22",
"content": "There really is no reason to send people unrequested 1 MiB attachments.HTML e-mails suck big time. They don’t flow properly and if some clown sends you everything in 24-pt yellow Comic Sans, you have to put up with it. So why do you need html e-mails? Isn’t it all about the text, the actual content, and not about how you’d like to look it on another person’s computer?Many people do exactly the same as him, the only exception being he sais up front what requirements he’s having for e-mails, whereas other persons would just delete the e-mail unread.",
"parent_id": "439864",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "480296",
"author": "N0LKK",
"timestamp": "2011-10-14T23:21:47",
"content": "I’m sorry bandwidth concerns have not been resolved completely, at least affordable bandwidth concerns anyway. I have a 1.5 M wireless connection to the internet, that’s affordable now, but I could be busted back to slow rural dialup connection at any time because of finances. Even an internet connection via satellite, isn’t a technological possibility for some, even if they could afford it",
"parent_id": "439864",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "439085",
"author": "Mike",
"timestamp": "2011-08-21T21:50:32",
"content": "From a “knows very little about what is actually going on” type of view it was a beautiful set of a videos to watch.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "439093",
"author": "Andy",
"timestamp": "2011-08-21T22:07:22",
"content": "Being new to SMD work, can someone tell me why he taps the reflow station to slightly move the boards?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "439120",
"author": "sneakypoo",
"timestamp": "2011-08-21T22:21:56",
"content": "It is to help the components align with their footprints. Surface tension will generally pull the parts into their correct position but sometimes they might need a little nudge to “jump” into place.",
"parent_id": "439093",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "439123",
"author": "Andy",
"timestamp": "2011-08-21T22:23:07",
"content": "Ah! Thank you :)",
"parent_id": "439120",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "439160",
"author": "franklyn",
"timestamp": "2011-08-21T23:53:09",
"content": "reflow station ? , you mean the iron that he clamped upside down :P ?.",
"parent_id": "439093",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "439127",
"author": "Tech Joker",
"timestamp": "2011-08-21T22:32:30",
"content": "I am not sure my hands are quite that steady anymore. But may have to give it a go sometime anyway.As avrpunk said there are many potential issues using USB to Parallel. However, I am sure there are a lot of things it would work for quite well too. It all depends on the application requirements.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "439133",
"author": "spinron",
"timestamp": "2011-08-21T22:49:00",
"content": "Kudos for this guy’s ingenuity (I particularly liked the through-hole to SMD part conversion process). He must either really love this kinda of stuff or have *tons* of time to spare. The friendly folks in Shenzhen would happily do the assembly for quite less than a buck per board (I’m assuming he wants to make at least a hundred of these).Unless the USB controller on the board does some pretty magical processing and buffering to de-jitter the USB 2.0 stream, this doesn’t sound very promising for all but very simple use-cases. Don’t try to use this if you need a parallel port to control something like a CNC machine. Maybe an old, slow printer?A PCI card or a PCMCIA parallel for (for a laptop) are a much better and more reliable solution. I’m not sure about PCI-E cards.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "440652",
"author": "f",
"timestamp": "2011-08-24T02:33:11",
"content": "I think what you’re seeing there is the mindset behind the “legendary German quality,” which has been long lost in industrial production.One defining moment of this is populating the LEDs–he built a jig to position them at exactly the same height so they’ll barely fit through the case’s holes. That’s just beautiful, but of course, it’s a total waste of time. You could also just place them on the PCB, solder, you’re done. At first I was mildly confused at his weird choice of connectors–there are through-hole DB25 and SMD Mini-USB connectors, so why the weird connectors and lots of time taken to prepare them? But then the answer hit me: Like this, everything will be in the middle of the case and it’s stable as hell, so these connectors can take a great deal of stress without breaking off or otherwise losing contact.It’s hard to understand he doesn’t use cheap and quick methods of production, but I think that would sacrifice “quality,” even if the level of quality so attained would probably still suffice.Also, as you can clearly see, it’s just a hobby. He sells these for a ridiculously small markup, even moreso if you look at the effort and time he spends assembling these things.",
"parent_id": "439133",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "439135",
"author": "Alexander von Gluck",
"timestamp": "2011-08-21T22:49:39",
"content": "after he has everything laid out… wouldn’t it make more sense to hit it with a hot air rework gun? They can be had pretty cheap on ebay now.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "439137",
"author": "Alexander von Gluck",
"timestamp": "2011-08-21T22:52:11",
"content": "Ha, nevermind.I thought the black thing was a soldering iron, he pulls out a heat gun right afterwards… a more precise hot air rework gun may still be a good investment though.",
"parent_id": "439135",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "439150",
"author": "Jake of All Trades",
"timestamp": "2011-08-21T23:28:57",
"content": "I bought a couple of these a few years ago from this guy. They are great!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "439194",
"author": "Charlie",
"timestamp": "2011-08-22T01:46:04",
"content": "If you’re gonna watch these vids, turn your sound down. the song gets annoying after the 3rd time through it.Other than that I thought it was an excellent walkthrough..",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "439228",
"author": "George Graves",
"timestamp": "2011-08-22T03:03:48",
"content": "I can think of a few things I would do to improve the work flow. (when you are self-assembling products, each step is money and time lost)Toaster oven to reflow a dozen boards at once.I’d suggest a thinner PCB so you don’t have to bod the DB connector.And, There’s got to be a better way of soldering the USB connector then the time consuming jig he’s using. That made me cringe a little.And the email thing. Yea.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "439339",
"author": "Ram",
"timestamp": "2011-08-22T09:04:16",
"content": "These tips are great, gives me a lot of info, since most of the time I work on repairing cellphones.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "439445",
"author": "Whatnot",
"timestamp": "2011-08-22T13:54:26",
"content": "If you watched all 3 videos completely you should know that you might actually be dead :O, it’s the only explanation for your patience.:)This does make all handmade products suddenly seem cheap though.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "439854",
"author": "BlueCoder",
"timestamp": "2011-08-22T23:26:29",
"content": "I must concur. The assembly process is way too elaborate. He must spend at least forty minutes making each component(including programming and testing). He can’t be making that much money.And yes this is of course for use with printers. As far as anyone thinking of using this for real time control from their quad core computer, they are idiots; it’s like trying to drive nails with a jackhammer. Microcontrollers are the DOS PC of old. Program the dedicated microcontroller to do all the real time stuff and communicate with a PC through asynchronous USB commands. Those old machines didn’t have microcontrollers but if they were made today they would.So what would really be cool and worthy is if he were were making a system on a chip reprogrammable interface computer. Something like a 128KB 25mhz computer. Just enough for program and buffer space.",
"parent_id": "439445",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "439666",
"author": "raidscsi",
"timestamp": "2011-08-22T18:54:19",
"content": "A wonderful how to video that doesn’t make me want to vomit!A+",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "439836",
"author": "mightymike",
"timestamp": "2011-08-22T22:49:51",
"content": "German Engineering.I use one of exactly those for a parallel-port copy protection module. works wonderful.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
}
] | 1,760,377,108.705062
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2011/08/21/resurrecting-an-electric-razor/
|
Resurrecting An Electric Razor
|
Mike Szczys
|
[
"Repair Hacks"
] |
[
"razor",
"rechargeable"
] |
[Salvatore Ventura] likes a close shave from an electric razor, and nothing shaves closer than a new set of blades. After shelling out for some sharp ones, the rechargeable batteries died so
he set out to replace them with a couple of double A’s
(not the ones pictured above as those are alkaline).
This fix actually increased the original battery life of the razor by about 30%. That’s thanks to a larger capacity than the battery that had come with the razor. But [Salvatore] didn’t get to enjoy the windfall for very long. One morning the charge light was blinking on the razor and it wouldn’t spin up at all. After testing the batteries with a multimeter he found that they had a full charge and figured it was the main board that had gone out.
The real question is, what is that board actually doing? A bit of study led him to the conclusion that it is just a charging circuit, and an on/off switch. He kissed the board goodbye, wired up the AA battery holders directly. Now he jams a paper clip into the recharging jack, shorting the pins to complete the circuit. He could even keep using rechargeables with an external charger if he was careful not to run them too low.
| 22
| 19
|
[
{
"comment_id": "439059",
"author": "Spork",
"timestamp": "2011-08-21T20:42:13",
"content": "Huh, I was hoping the paper clip had solved the ‘bad main board’ issue.I would re-wire the charger with circuit protection and use batteries with built in discharge protection… and not have to jam a paperclip in my razor to shave. It just doesn’t seem like a proper fix after he with through the effort to take apart and document it.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "439061",
"author": "EngrishBob",
"timestamp": "2011-08-21T20:44:01",
"content": "Not really a hack, more a simple repair job.OT: nothing shaves closer than a proper wet shave, electrics can’t even come close.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "439067",
"author": "vasskk",
"timestamp": "2011-08-21T20:56:01",
"content": "paperclip, wirehanger, zipties, ductape. = real hax ;)",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "439069",
"author": "Cri",
"timestamp": "2011-08-21T20:58:00",
"content": "Nothing shaves closer than a hand razor ;)",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "439073",
"author": "mjrippe",
"timestamp": "2011-08-21T21:26:05",
"content": "You mean a hand sharpened straight razor, I presume? None of those 8 blade disposables for us!",
"parent_id": "439069",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "439132",
"author": "scooter",
"timestamp": "2011-08-21T22:47:06",
"content": "I would probably just go buy a new razor and get back to hacking something that doesn’t have dead skin and whiskers all over it…jeezus, he could have at least cleaned it up for the pictures!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "439143",
"author": "fartface",
"timestamp": "2011-08-21T23:10:31",
"content": "REal men shave with a double bladed dagger.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "439169",
"author": "Philippe",
"timestamp": "2011-08-22T00:23:27",
"content": "Nah, real men shave with a blowtorch! Come on!",
"parent_id": "439143",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "445271",
"author": "Chris",
"timestamp": "2011-09-01T01:15:49",
"content": "Real men don’t shave at all. Then we braid that facial hair into a whip and tie a spiked mace head to the end of it. About 100,000 neck twists, and you’re ready for battle.",
"parent_id": "439143",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "439190",
"author": "treflar",
"timestamp": "2011-08-22T01:31:50",
"content": "I shave with a chain.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "439223",
"author": "Joe",
"timestamp": "2011-08-22T02:48:47",
"content": "Bad blade? Bad battery? Bad main board? Man, this guy should get a medal for his persistence. I would have just bought a new razor.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "439233",
"author": "Ben Wright",
"timestamp": "2011-08-22T03:27:12",
"content": "I was hoping for a ride on electric razor.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "439273",
"author": "Taylor Alexander",
"timestamp": "2011-08-22T05:22:39",
"content": "Haha, I just threw one of these exact shavers away because the batteries wouldn’t charge. I knew I could have fixed it but in my case I never used the thing anyway. Still, glad to see someone avoid the waste!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "439278",
"author": "Problex",
"timestamp": "2011-08-22T05:31:05",
"content": "Hope no one goes to use the razor then plugs in the mains power lead, that could end badly……",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "439372",
"author": "brad",
"timestamp": "2011-08-22T10:23:28",
"content": "@mjrippe i’m with you. i have a few straights, strops, and a coticule. i’m completely self sufficient. no more shelling out for new blades ever! :)oh, and no batteries required. :P",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "439394",
"author": "steve",
"timestamp": "2011-08-22T11:44:16",
"content": "In my opinion it is time to buy a new one!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "439444",
"author": "neamerjell",
"timestamp": "2011-08-22T13:53:58",
"content": "I believe this is how cordless electric razors should have been designed in the first place! I went through two rechargeables that wouldn’t hold a charge and finally said screw it, I’m sportin’ a (very) full beard! I finally found a corded beard trimmer.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "439554",
"author": "ScottInNH",
"timestamp": "2011-08-22T16:23:19",
"content": "A lot of these electric razors are “designed to fail”.Bought my wife a “Remington WDF-1600 Smooth & Silky Ultra Shaver”, which had high scores. Unfortunately I did not read the 2-star reviews, nearly all of which identified that the shaver screen breaks easily (snags on the blade, and rips a jagged piece of metal out).Guess what the cost of a new blade screen is? Same price as a new razor. What jackasses.I did clean it up and salvage the parts. There’s a decent geared DC motor inside. The housing and the buttons work fine. The 2 AA NiCD only output 2.4v, but a Maxim MAX756 free sample boosted it to 5v (basically the MintyBoost v1 circuit… don’t waste an $8 LT1302 Minty v2-3 on a very low power circuit).",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "439848",
"author": "Brian",
"timestamp": "2011-08-22T23:15:59",
"content": "I have tried to fix an electric razor too. It would no longer hold a charge, so I replaced the ‘AA’ NiCad batteries with known good NiCads and it didn’t work. The Razor has a built-in battery meter that is now really wacky – it will display 100% charged even when the battery is obviously nearly discharged, and sometimes it shows empty even when fully charged, and sometimes it works right. It never did this before the battery was replaced – so what’s the deal! I think that there is more going on in that charging circuit board that simply charging. I’ve already expended more time than I would like to, so now I just run it while plugged in. Still, it makes me wonder what’s going on inside that crazy razor. (I’m fighting the urge to jump to the conspiracy conclusion – “They want you to buy a new one”)",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "1191054",
"author": "Kieran",
"timestamp": "2014-02-10T14:02:24",
"content": "This sounds like a macgyver fix – great stuff!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "2420125",
"author": "Nick Braun",
"timestamp": "2015-02-07T06:17:45",
"content": "The newer versions of the best electric razor last much more than the older ones. I for one prefer the power of an old straight razor to take care of my beard and mustache.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "2987065",
"author": "Chris",
"timestamp": "2016-04-12T08:09:59",
"content": "Remington cordless shaver old model dead blades good motor and battery how can I Jimmy it up to not pull my hair anymore",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
}
] | 1,760,377,109.333688
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2011/08/21/this-glados-potato-is-a-lie/
|
This GLaDOS Potato Is A Lie
|
Mike Szczys
|
[
"digital audio hacks"
] |
[
"glados",
"lm386",
"portal",
"portal 2",
"potato",
"valve"
] |
Why settle for virtual reality when you can make the digital world into reality? [Josh] wanted to have
a GLaDOS potato accompany him through life
when
not
playing Portal 2. He set to work to see what kind of replica prop he could come up with. Judging from the image above, and demo video after the break, he nailed it right in the spud.
There’s no worrying about rot. The potato and a few parts were molded from
Sculpey
and baked in the oven. Since the fake spud is hollow in the center it’s easy to hide the bits that make it talk. An old MP3 player was loaded with quotes from the game, and plays them back via an LM386 audio amplifier circuit and a speaker hidden below the electronic eye. The eye is lit by five yellow LEDs which are also tied into the amplifier to make them blink and fade with the intensity of the audio signal.
A paint job and the nails and wire really make the build look just right. Now [Josh] needs to host a geek-themed Halloween party so he can really show this off.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V3BTteBSOE4&w=470]
| 24
| 17
|
[
{
"comment_id": "439013",
"author": "Cpt. Obvious",
"timestamp": "2011-08-21T19:10:48",
"content": "Could you run a microchip with an amplifier and a lef off of 1.2V and very small current?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "439014",
"author": "Cpt. Obvious",
"timestamp": "2011-08-21T19:11:22",
"content": "*LED",
"parent_id": "439013",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "439019",
"author": "Spork",
"timestamp": "2011-08-21T19:20:31",
"content": "LED won’t work with 1.2v, but you could use a DC-DC/buck converter to get you up to the 2.5v+ range and drive the LED. Seems like a Lion/LiPo would do you better at a standard 3.7v and less circuitry to worry about.",
"parent_id": "439014",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "439026",
"author": "dalado",
"timestamp": "2011-08-21T19:44:52",
"content": "It would be cool to integrate a phone… imagine the looks of the people in the subway if you start talking into a potato… just hope they do not call the bomb squad…",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "471091",
"author": "Illitranslation",
"timestamp": "2011-10-04T03:13:01",
"content": "I don’t think anyone would make that mistake. That is as long as you’re not in Massachusetts.",
"parent_id": "439026",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "439040",
"author": "The Timmy",
"timestamp": "2011-08-21T20:08:05",
"content": "ok, so we got GLaDOS in potato form, Wheatley, a dual portal gun, companion cubes, even the turrets are there.next I want to see someone build a panel configurable house complete with delievery ducting behind the scenes.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "440267",
"author": "MyL177l3Pwny",
"timestamp": "2011-08-23T14:00:50",
"content": "Need help with the blueprints….",
"parent_id": "439040",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "439052",
"author": "Phil",
"timestamp": "2011-08-21T20:24:36",
"content": "While I don’t know how much power anactualpotato gives, but could it not be done with one?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "447176",
"author": "Sora",
"timestamp": "2011-09-03T15:47:05",
"content": "A potato only gives about 1.2V. So I guess you could, but you’d still need something to amplify the voltage. The other problem is that with a real potato battery, it would only run until the zinc all got oxidized.",
"parent_id": "439052",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "984509",
"author": "ColdTurkey",
"timestamp": "2013-03-25T23:43:40",
"content": "So you have a talking GLaDOS potato that has a specific metal diet. Awesome!",
"parent_id": "447176",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "439055",
"author": "Deems",
"timestamp": "2011-08-21T20:30:19",
"content": "This would have been a lot cooler if it was a real potato battery powering the lights. Still a neat prop though. Fairly clean and accurate work.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "439212",
"author": "isama",
"timestamp": "2011-08-22T02:20:55",
"content": "I’m a potato.My first tought, in GlaDOS her voice ofcourse :DI think I’m going to use her voice for my home-human interface project I’ve been hatching slowly for the last couple of years. Still only ideas unfortunately, but when I get something cool done I will show you :)Damn! Her voice! It’s in my head!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "439259",
"author": "Alex",
"timestamp": "2011-08-22T04:37:43",
"content": "Certainly very well done, but I wish the potato weren’t so shiny. It kind of looks like something else…",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "439342",
"author": "Bigdeal",
"timestamp": "2011-08-22T09:09:25",
"content": "Very well done! I kinda expected it to be a little smaller, cause that’s one BIG potato, and if it has to hang on my portal gun…",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "439396",
"author": "Jason Knight",
"timestamp": "2011-08-22T11:46:13",
"content": "Way too shiny… needs a pass of dullcoat.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "439427",
"author": "elektrophreak",
"timestamp": "2011-08-22T13:06:39",
"content": "now that is a big turd :)",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "439460",
"author": "pin",
"timestamp": "2011-08-22T14:09:38",
"content": "i wonder if u can run a pic off a potato",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "439517",
"author": "The Timmy",
"timestamp": "2011-08-22T15:29:14",
"content": "would it be possible to recharge a potato?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "439808",
"author": "jf",
"timestamp": "2011-08-22T22:08:45",
"content": "If it wasn’t, you could always make fries :)",
"parent_id": "439517",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "441149",
"author": "Nick",
"timestamp": "2011-08-24T23:42:27",
"content": "that doesn’t look like a potato, the gloss makes it look like poop…",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "849321",
"author": "Galane",
"timestamp": "2012-11-01T07:53:39",
"content": "I want to see someone take all the GLaDOS speech from both Portal games, cut it up into phonemes and words then use that as sound samples for a phoneme based text to speech program so GLaDOS can say anything.Remember the BBC’s make Dr. Who say anything website, with the voice of Tom Baker? They have him record all the various bits so site visitors could type what they’d always fantasized about having Dr Who say.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "984427",
"author": "voxnulla",
"timestamp": "2013-03-25T20:43:11",
"content": "Why didn’t you hook up the 9volt brick to the fake nails an run the power threw those clip wires? That would have have been cool and that would save you the hassle of dismantling it every time you need to turn it off.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "1568056",
"author": "William DeRieux",
"timestamp": "2014-06-13T05:03:49",
"content": "Wow, I just found this and it reminded me of the the talking Space thing from skyrim–the was created by valve. (never played Portal though) … I wonder if the space thing could be made by the author.The electronics could be the same (and switch the sounds on the mp3 player)However, another model would nee to be 3d-printed to look like the space probe.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "2866197",
"author": "Mark Winterwolf (@markwinterwolf)",
"timestamp": "2016-01-02T15:09:32",
"content": "Valve!. Make the voice of GLaDOS open source!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
}
] | 1,760,377,109.459885
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2011/08/21/basic-animatronics-continued-servo-actuated-mouth/
|
Basic Animatronics Continued: Servo Actuated Mouth
|
Jesse Congdon
|
[
"how-to",
"Robots Hacks"
] |
[
"animatronics",
"PIC 18F452",
"servos"
] |
[Chris] is at it again and this time he has put together a tutorial rounding off his animatronic face by actuating the mouth.
His tutorial
covers two different styles of robot mouth: an LCD mouth which dims to imply actuation and a servo articulated flap.
[Chris] covers all the aspects of each mouth type, from the basics of human mouth actuation to servo motor control. In this case the LCD mouth is not quite as impressive so it gets installed on a face mock up while the servo mouth goes on the face previously featured in his other tutorials. The entire setup is still controlled using a single PIC 18F452. The circuit diagrams and code for both types of mouth are all available on the site including videos of the actuated mouth and a gif of the LCD mouth in action.
Check out a video of the articulated mouth below throwing down some classic season 6 Jean-Luc. If you are interested in the other parts of the face we have covered [Chris]’s other tutorials on the
eyebrows
and the
eyeballs
. These are a great jumping point for your own animatronic face project and do a great job of setting up all the know how you’d need to build your own emotional puppet.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KgCbQvBw-Bc&w=470]
| 4
| 4
|
[
{
"comment_id": "438984",
"author": "Brian Benchoff",
"timestamp": "2011-08-21T17:46:32",
"content": "In before “South Park Canadian”",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "438985",
"author": "Colin",
"timestamp": "2011-08-21T17:47:40",
"content": "that’s exactly what I was thinking, a Canadian from SP.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "439028",
"author": "bty",
"timestamp": "2011-08-21T19:49:07",
"content": "I have a project coming up where i need to move the mouth of a deer using 2 servos in sync with an audio stream.Any insights in the filtering for this. Coefficients and such. I’m thinking of an envelope follower followed by a LP ?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "439330",
"author": "Max",
"timestamp": "2011-08-22T08:44:12",
"content": "Mmm, first though: Live-action South Park.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
}
] | 1,760,377,109.503373
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2011/08/19/adding-usb-control-for-ikea-rgb-led-strips/
|
Adding USB Control For Ikea RGB LED Strips
|
Mike Szczys
|
[
"LED Hacks"
] |
[
"ambilight",
"at90usb162",
"dioder",
"ikea",
"lufa"
] |
Here’s
an altered PCB that gives USB control to an Ikea Dioder
. This is a $50 product that comes with four strips each containing nine RGB LEDs. The stock controller has a color selection wheel and a couple of buttons. [Rikard Lindström] wanted to use it to match ambient light to the colors of his computer monitor — yes, it’s
another ambilight clone
.
Since he already had a bunch of AT90USB162 chips on hand he chose that route. These chips have native USB support (he’s using the LUFA package which is
a popular choice
), but no on-board ADC. That means no need for the potentiometer from the original controller because there’s no easy way to read its value. Removing it made plenty of room for his add-on PCB. He also depopulated the PIC microcontroller that originally drove the unit, soldering to the empty pads in order to connect is own board. The finished product fits back in the original case, with the addition of a USB cable as the only visible alteration. Now he can dial in colors using a program he wrote.
In case you’re wondering, it looks like this is a newer version of control circuitry when compared to
the original Dioder hack we covered
.
| 12
| 6
|
[
{
"comment_id": "438047",
"author": "Kuy",
"timestamp": "2011-08-19T18:16:58",
"content": "The AT90USB162 has an an along comparator so one could use the old trick of creating a potentiometer-capacitor sub-circuit, charging the cap up with the pin acting as GPIO, then switching it to analog comparator duty and comparing against the internal bandgap voltage. Count how long it takes to discharge (i.e. for the comparator to change value) and you have a workable analog input for this job!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "438091",
"author": "Bogdan",
"timestamp": "2011-08-19T19:53:21",
"content": "And another way would be to replace the pot with a rotary encoder.",
"parent_id": "438047",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "438088",
"author": "wifigod",
"timestamp": "2011-08-19T19:45:40",
"content": "Just an FYI, DIODER’s are $39.99, not quite $50. I’m sure that extra $10 isn’t a deal-breaker, but I figured I’d let people know.http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/80192378",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "438096",
"author": "ranjoe",
"timestamp": "2011-08-19T20:02:54",
"content": "Thanks.Saves me from searching for it as well. I like links :)",
"parent_id": "438088",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "438135",
"author": "Kaz",
"timestamp": "2011-08-19T22:06:35",
"content": "There’s more than one product named DIODER.http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/50192365This one has the four strips with nine rgb leds and costs $49.99 like the article says.There’s also at least one more DIODER product that has the strips but with only white leds, so it’s really easy to get confused.",
"parent_id": "438088",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "438100",
"author": "Andrew",
"timestamp": "2011-08-19T20:25:31",
"content": "A suggestion for dioder-hackers: why not just reprogram the PIC and overload the existing inputs for communication (assuming there are no open pins)?A zero hardware hack (well except the programmer).",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "438394",
"author": "Rikard Lindström",
"timestamp": "2011-08-20T10:26:43",
"content": "I don’t really think a zero hardware hack could add much, some new light modes maybe. But adding a simple piece of hardware could really add a great deal of value, like an IR-receiver and an old remote.I don’t know much about PIC, but assuming it’s not locked down to make programming impossible the actual programming shouldn’t be hard.There is even test pads i assume is for factory programming which is big and easy to solder.I have some schematics here if anyone is interested:http://slashhome.se/p/projects/id/ikea_dioder_re/#project",
"parent_id": "438100",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "438123",
"author": "buescher",
"timestamp": "2011-08-19T21:21:14",
"content": "Here is another Dioder hack. This one is RF controlled and therefore has no additional cables. Its based on the TI-eZ430-RF2500 and fits nicely in the original housing (the old small one).http://www.e18.ph.tum.de/~dbuescher/dioder/",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "438405",
"author": "Philippe",
"timestamp": "2011-08-20T10:57:48",
"content": "Seems like the perfect project for my home theatre.Does anybody know of “ambilight” code that runs on a Mac?— there are no stupid questions, only inquisitive idiots",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "438424",
"author": "Rikard Lindström",
"timestamp": "2011-08-20T12:27:20",
"content": "My simple programs is written in Python using PyUSB (0.4) so if you install them the dioder_cli script should work (but it’s not tested on other systems), dioder_pulse and dioder_gtk have other dependencies that could be a quite a bit harder to satisfy on OS X.I haven’t tried analyzing video, but it’s not a high priority because the dioder hardware is single channel (all strips have same color), for edge color detection of video at least four channels is needed to get a good effect (one per edge).But if you think one channel is enough, and you are prepared to write some code it might be something for you.",
"parent_id": "438405",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "438600",
"author": "beckettman",
"timestamp": "2011-08-20T21:01:33",
"content": "Anybody have any luck getting this code to compile? Keep getting undefined references ti functions like USB_Init.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "439060",
"author": "Rikard Lindström",
"timestamp": "2011-08-21T20:42:36",
"content": "I suppose it’s about the firmware.On line 116 in the makefile you have to change LUFA_PATH to where ever you have uncompressed LUFA on your system (or use the same kind of directory naming as me).",
"parent_id": "438600",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
}
] | 1,760,377,109.402489
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2011/08/19/using-an-msp430-for-time-lapse-photography/
|
Using An MSP430 For Time Lapse Photography
|
Mike Nathan
|
[
"digital cameras hacks",
"Microcontrollers"
] |
[
"intervalometer",
"msp430",
"time-lapse",
"vistaquest"
] |
Hackaday reader [onefivefour] had an old VistaQuest VQ1005 keychain camera kicking around, and
wanted to do something useful with it
. A while back he hooked up a 555 timer and did a bit of time lapse photography, but he wanted more control over the process. Specifically, he desired the ability to tweak the delay between shots in a more granular fashion, as well as way to prevent the VistaQuest from going to sleep after sitting idle for 60 seconds.
His weapon of choice to get this task done was an MSP430, since the microcontroller can be found quite cheaply, and because it is relatively easy to use. He added a few header pins to the LaunchPad board wiring them up to the camera’s trigger as well as the on/off switch. When the wire connected to the trigger is pulled low, the camera snaps a picture. The wire connected to the on/off switch is always held low, ensuring that the camera is on and ready to go whenever it’s time to take a shot.
It’s a relatively simple project, but definitely useful. While there are many ways to build an intervalometer, the MSP430 is a great platform to use, especially for beginners.
Stick around to see a quick video [onefivefour] put together, showing off his time lapse rig’s capabilities.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mBQEt9WRtK8&w=470]
| 14
| 7
|
[
{
"comment_id": "438003",
"author": "Adam",
"timestamp": "2011-08-19T17:13:50",
"content": "Neat. I’m kind of confused though, does this mechanically press the button?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "438169",
"author": "onefivefour",
"timestamp": "2011-08-19T23:10:43",
"content": "It does not mechanically press a button; it is done electronically. The “T” wire is moved from 3V to 0VDC by using the MSP430 LaunchPad.",
"parent_id": "438003",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "438010",
"author": "Daniel",
"timestamp": "2011-08-19T17:19:35",
"content": "Nice work … and by the way: Cute kitties ;-)",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "438035",
"author": "Sebastian",
"timestamp": "2011-08-19T17:50:38",
"content": "Hi,I also hacked a camera (with an Arduino) and put it on a pan&tilt plattform:http://www.zipfelmaus.com/arduino-pantilt-system/It can take time lapsed pictures and ultra megapixel images (panoramas).Sebastian",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "438042",
"author": "pants",
"timestamp": "2011-08-19T18:06:11",
"content": "Nifty project. Unfortunately code is “All Rights Reserved” and no license so can’t be reused even though he says “Modify it if you want.” Please give it an open license like GPLv3 or Creative Commons. Thanks!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "438153",
"author": "onefivefour",
"timestamp": "2011-08-19T22:41:18",
"content": "You are correct. I will edit the code to remove ‘all rights reserved’.Thanks for the comment.[onefivefour]",
"parent_id": "438042",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "438099",
"author": "Tweeks",
"timestamp": "2011-08-19T20:20:52",
"content": "^^^^^^^^^^That sounds like Stallman.. :)Tweeks",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "438110",
"author": "f",
"timestamp": "2011-08-19T20:52:25",
"content": "Things the author could have done better:1) Better explain the soldering locations (I don’t have the camera, so I don’t know how obvious it is)2) Get the terminology right (the MSP430 is just the MCU, whereas in the article, the Launchpad is constantly called “the MSP430.”3) Provide working code. The include is partially missing and the last for loop doesn’t have a correct head.This is a very basic MCU project, but sadly, that’s just the very first basic program you’d want to write for the MSP430. I see two points for improving it:First, some conceptual things. Currently, if I get this correctly, the camera will be turned on at the start of the loop whenever a picture is to be taken, but it’s not turned off after a picture is taken. Because there’s so much time between pictures and the camera will use large amounts of energy compared to everything else, the first step is to turn on the camera, take a picture and then turn it off again, and only then wait for the next picture.Then, the whole MSP430 stuff is about low-power. Generally for any MSP430 code, you do not want your processor to actually run. That means posing some questions: (a) IF it needs to run, what frequency does it need to run at? Does it really need to run at a high frequency or can you spare the time and run it at a lower frequency? Lower frequency = lower power and because the MSP430’s clock system is flexible, you can easily jump between CPU clocks almost anywhere in your code. (b) Does it really need to run? Most instructions in the code here boil down to waiting. The processor doesn’t do anything but waste clock cycles. Because the number of cycles it has to wait is rather large, the better way to do is is to clock the timer from a slow clock source, turn the CPU off and fire timer interrupts to change the state of a state machine and then wake up the CPU to toggle pins. There are a couple of infos on low-power optimization on the launchpad website.Of course, the downside is having to change the way the LEDs blink, but they’re just indicators that something is happening, so I suppose it’s perfectly okay to flash them once every (couple of) second(s) or so, which will then be compatible with low-power optimization techniques (you could use the WDT for flashing the LEDs, for example).",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "438157",
"author": "onefivefour",
"timestamp": "2011-08-19T22:47:38",
"content": "[onefivefour] here…..All hacks and projects can use improvement. I’m just a dumb yuk wanna be coder with a geeky hobby, so feel free to modify and adjust the project to fit your needs.Thanks for checking out my hack.",
"parent_id": "438110",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "438624",
"author": "f",
"timestamp": "2011-08-20T21:52:19",
"content": "(Hopefully, the comment system here can take this somewhat lengthy comment.)I think low-power optimization is important. You’re a hobbyist, you seem to be smart enough to figure out how to program the MSP430, so there really is no excuse not to try optimizing your program.First, I couldn’t get it to run, so I guessed about the missing instructions and the timing was completely off. That’s a shame, because I really would have liked to use your program and convert it to something that needs much less power. However, I used it as a guideline to reimplement it, so not much was lost.Some advice: When programming, you absolutely need the Family User’s Guide (SLAU144). Without it, you’re totally helpless. It contains all the register settings you need to know, but beware the MSP430 is a large family of devices, so there are lots and lots of features which are described in the family user’s guide, but which don’t apply to the MSP430G2231 at all. And that’s just the guide for the MSP430x2xx series!So, first of all, a short list of some important concepts of low-power operation. A processor needs a clock to run. Higher clock means faster operation, but also more power needed. Usually, you can’t really decide on the clock as much as you’d like to, most likely because the clock system is somewhat inflexible or you absolutely need some component to be as responsible and as fast as possible (e.g. for communication). The MSP430 has a rather flexible clock system that allows the internal oscillator to be configured on-the-fly. One important thing to consider is the clock speed. Do you *really need* to be that fast? If you don’t, crank down the clock, it will save tons of energy.So, looking at your program, which really doesn’t do anything time-critical at all and just sets a few pins, you can be quite radical and set the clock to its lowest setting. I took some ballpark measurements on my launchpad with a program in an idle loop with the configuration the MSP430G2231 started in (so now low-power techniques like setting unused pins to outputs etc., so the energy consumption will now be exaggerated, but for the sake of comparison, that doesn’t really matter). When it was running at the “calibrated” 1 MHz, it was using about 420 µA. Running at 16 MHz (or rather 15.96 MHz), it used about 4.93 mA. Running at 102 kHz, the slowest DCO setting attainable, yielded a power consumption of about 120 µA. So, first thing to do is to set the clock to the lowest setting:DCOCTL = 0;BCSCTL1 &= ~(RSEL3 + RSEL2 + RSEL1 + RSEL0);When you’re doing things in bursts and the CPU is only on for a very short time, as we will be doing, it might actually be better to set the clock to the MIPS/W “sweet spot.” You can experiment with different clock settings to find that out.The next general technique in MCU programming in general, but one essential for low-power stuff, are state machines. Basically, you want to write programs which have “states” they’re in and a way to switch between states. It’s hard to explain, but your program is already written with states in mind.They are: (1) Turn on camera (2) Release camera on-switch (3) Trigger picture (4) Release triggerThe transitions between states can be complicated things such as users pressing buttons or new data coming from a communication interface, but in your case, transitions happen if enough time has passed. Now the clue about structuring your program to be a state machine is that if the actual program in the state has finished running, you just have to wait for the event which will trigger the transition to the next state. And waiting without having to do anything is great, because then you can put the MCU in a low-power mode and wake it up as soon as the transition happens. Your code waits A LOT, so low-power optimization will be especially helpful there.Now, how do you tackle the problem? First things first, organize your program into states. That’s quite easy. We need the four methods described above and a new variable to store the current state:void boot_camera();\t\t\t\t// will be state 0void release_on_switch();\t\t// will be state 1void trigger_picture();\t\t\t// will be state 2void release_trigger();\t\t\t// will be state 3volatile char state = 0;The methods now look something like this. You can figure out the remaining methods, but in release_trigger(), the next state will of course be 0:void trigger_picture() {P1OUT &= ~BIT5; // Drive Trigger signal low to take picstate = 3;\t// advance state// Some delay to process pic, save to SD card, etc.}We still need to add the delay. Of course, we could just use the loops from the original code, but that would defy the low-power purpose, so we need something else. The MSP430 features a timer/counter peripheral, which will increment its value register every once in a while. You can also set an interrupt to be fired when a specific value is reached. Because we know how fast the timer increments its register, we can use this mechanism to wait for a specific amount of time. If the timer clock is slow, this can be rather large. Now the idea is to let the processor sleep almost all the time and then be woken up by the timer interrupt, then do the stuff in the state it’s in, then set the next timer value to fire an interrupt and then go to sleep again. Sounds complicated, but it’s not.We’ll first have to do the boring stuff, i.e. setting the clocks and dividers and whatnot correctly. This can be a real hassle. From your code, it seems like having about 5 minutes of time between pictures will be sufficient. We will source the timer from the MSP430’s VLO, which runs at about 12 kHz. Mine runs at about 10.4 kHz, but if you need to be exact on the time, populating the 32 KiHz watch crystal probably is a better idea. The timer will accept clock input from everything, so we could also use MCLK or SMCLK, but looking at the low-power modes, only ACLK won’t be turned off in LPM3.What follows now takes a long time of looking up stuff in the family user guide, measuring clock outputs to be sure etc., so I’ll just describe what’s important. Ideally, we want our whole delay to fit in the 16 bits provided by the timer. That way, we don’t have to write software to “extend” the timer value to more than 16 bits. The longest time we will have to wait is about 5 minutes, so let’s see if we can come up with a way to accomplish this easily. The timer can count up to 65535, so it has 65536 values. ACLK is about 12 kHz and can be further divided by 1, 2, 4, or 8 by the clock system. If we used ACLK directly, we’d get a timer overflow interrupt every 5.4 seconds. So, we divide it by 8 and get our new ACLK of 1500 Hz. This will take about 44 seconds for a timer overflow interrupt to be triggered. So much for the clock system, that’s about as slow as it will get. But the timer peripheral itself has another configurable clock divider–the input clock can be divided by 1, 2, 4, or 8 again. If we use 8 as a divider there, we get about 349.5 seconds until the timer overflow, which is about 5 minutes and 50 seconds and thus absolutely ideal for our purpose.So, the code:// aclk:BCSCTL3 = LFXT1S_2;\t\t// select VLOCLK as ACLKBCSCTL1 |= DIVA_3;\t\t// divide ACLK/8 –> ACLK is now about 1500 Hz// timer configurationTACCTL0 = CCIE;\t\t\t\t\t\t\t// enable capture/compare interruptTACCR0 = 5*COUNTS_PER_S;\t\t\t\t// wait 5 seconds to start, just becauseTACTL = TASSEL_1 + ID_3 + MC_1;\t\t\t// select ACLK as the clock source; divide input by 8; count up (start the timer)// so, the timer needs 65536 / ((12000 Hz / 8)/8) = 350 s for one overflowNow we just need to configure the timer interrupt. This is slightly confusing and I can only recommend looking at lots of example code and reading the workshops and tutorials TI has posted somewhere on their site (e.g.http://processors.wiki.ti.com/index.php/Getting_Started_with_the_MSP430_LaunchPad_Workshop).The TimerA can trigger three interrupts: Capture/Compare0, Capture/Compare1 and Overflow. We’re using the Capture/Compare0 interrupt here, so it needs to be enabled by setting TACCTL0 = CCIE;To ease code development, I recommend putting some defines at the top of the code. I defined the number of counts per second the timer will make and the interval between pictures (not really the interval between pictures, but more the time the MCU will wait between having finished taking the picture in state 3 and starting at state 0 again):#define COUNTS_PER_S 187.5// COUNTS_PER_S = number of counts the timer is incremented in 1 second#define SECONDS_BETWEEN_PICTURES 30Now, we’re setting the TimerA’s capture compare register 0 (for Capture/Compare0) to 5*COUNTS_PER_S, so the timer will create the first interrupt 5 seconds after it was started, which we’re doing just for the fun of it. TACTL is configured to use ACLK as the clock source, divide the clock input by 8 and to count up until the value in CCR0 is reached, then reset the counter to 0. That way, we won’t get overflow interrupts.Then, what else do we need? Let’s decide on the timer interrupt. You could do all sorts of crazy stuff there, including handling the states of the state machine, but let’s just suppose you don’t want to do that. We just want the timer interrupt to wake up the processor from the LPM3 low-power state, so the timer interrupt is just:#pragma vector=TIMERA0_VECTOR__interrupt void Timer_A() {_bic_SR_register_on_exit(LPM3_bits); // just wake up from LPM}We’re almost done with the code, the only thing remaining is some structure to tie it all together, send the MCU into low-power operation and to actually call the methods based on the current state. We’re doing this in the classic while loop:while(1) {_bis_SR_register(LPM3_bits + GIE); // enter LPM3 + interrupts;switch (state) {case 0:boot_camera();break;case 1:release_on_switch();break;case 2:trigger_picture();break;case 3:release_trigger();break;default:break;}}_bis_SR_register(LPM3_bits + GIE); will enable interrupts (GIE) and set up LPM3. After this line, the processor basically stops and will only be woken up by the timer interrupt. After that, we’re deciding on what to do next based on the state, which by now should be somewhat self-explanatory.Of course, that’s not the only way to write code, nor is it probably the best way. Use your style and your experience to do things differently.So, what’s missing now?– Blinky LEDs like in the original code. This can be realized with the WDT, but I don’t have the nerve to go into that now. Probably later, if there’s some interest.– Even more low-power optimization. You’d tie all unused pins to VCC or GND externally, then enable the internal pull-up/pull-down resistor and make them outputs. That way, they won’t pick up signals and toggle. I didn’t do this because it’s a hassle to do on the Launchpad itself, requiring a whole loom of cables. Wouldn’t be much of a problem on a breadboard or in a circuit, however.So there you have it. Optimizing your code isn’t actually hard, it’s quite easy. Sure, it will take ages the first few times you do it, but if you structure your programs correctly, this will take less and less time and you’ll be able to do more things much quicker. For example, your code didn’t contain an actual formula to calculate time between pictures, so it was kind of a rough guess. By using timers with a defined clock source (the VLO could be calibrated with MCLK or even the 32 KiHz crystal), but now you can easily adjust time between pictures with a resolution of about 5 ms (depending on the actual VLO frequency, so to be exact, you’d have to measure it).-F.",
"parent_id": "438157",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "438160",
"author": "onefivefour",
"timestamp": "2011-08-19T22:57:23",
"content": "Regarding the ‘include’ statement in the blog. Since it is surrounded by a “” it was not not shown. You can send google an email and tell them to work on that…. I’m not a professional HTML web developer either. ;)I removed the . Anyone with the ambition to try the project will figure out the omission pretty quickly.",
"parent_id": "438110",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "439269",
"author": "BLuRry",
"timestamp": "2011-08-22T05:17:07",
"content": "Nice hack! I set up a similar thing to try to catch the big eclipse event (but sadly no results to show because of $#@!@ weather).I used the output pin to trigger a low-voltage sensing relay. I know this is probably overkill, I could use a transistor, etc… but I liked the idea of the camera trigger being on its own isolated circuit. I’m not an electronics guy, so I was going for what felt safe rather than what would make good engineering sense.From other programming experiences with Launchpad, I think the best route to tackle this for low power is to use interrupts triggered by the VLO. Use the internal clock and skip an external oscillator. Also set an interrupt for the P1.3 to toggle the modes. I guess this is where you could get creative, but maybe using a variable resistor pot and read it (appropriate the temp sensor code to help figure it out) that way you have a manual, tactile way of setting the duration.That being said, I used a single-shot for loop in my code and counted clock cycles. A total battery eater. Horrible style. But two AAA batteries lasted all night so I really couldn’t care less.",
"parent_id": "438160",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "453064",
"author": "David",
"timestamp": "2011-09-11T23:57:57",
"content": "I’m trying to learn to use the LaunchPad and know very little of C coding. The code here is extremely well commented and is a great place for new tinkerers to start.Thanks for sharing!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "948432",
"author": "Ironjungle",
"timestamp": "2013-01-27T16:30:05",
"content": "Thanks for the comment, Dave!",
"parent_id": "453064",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
}
] | 1,760,377,109.66495
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2011/08/19/heathkit-is-back-from-the-dead/
|
Heathkit Is Back From The Dead
|
Brian Benchoff
|
[
"News"
] |
[
"heathkit",
"kits"
] |
Although now it’s impossible for a DIY nut to build electronics for less money than a factory, this wasn’t always the case. For 45 years, Heathkit produced inexpensive kits for just about everything. Heathkit closed it’s kit business in 1992, but
now they’re back
. They’re starting out with a few DIY kits at first, namely an ultrasonic garage parking assistant and a wireless swimming pool monitor.
Heathkit is calling all builders to submit their ideas for future kits. While this comeback rings of
some other outlets
with a rich heritage, Heathkit is still remembered fondly; Barry Goldwater jetted out to the Heath HQ
twice a year
for kits. Not many people are that attached to Realistic and Optimus gear.
If you’re wondering about the kind of stuff Heathkit offered, feel free to check out the
1984 catalog
that features computers with 128kB of RAM available for only $1899.00 (yes, a very competitive price)
Tip ‘o the hat to [Jeffrey Bail (N1BMX)].
| 44
| 33
|
[
{
"comment_id": "437976",
"author": "chango",
"timestamp": "2011-08-19T16:09:22",
"content": "Radio Shack selling more parts, now Heathkit is alive again. What’s next, new issues of Byte?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "437980",
"author": "hpux735",
"timestamp": "2011-08-19T16:15:56",
"content": "Yes, please.Also, popular electronics magazine:http://www.swtpc.com/mholley/PopularElectronics/Popular_Electronics.htm",
"parent_id": "437976",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "437999",
"author": "Rob",
"timestamp": "2011-08-19T17:01:26",
"content": "Seriously! Welcome back, Heathkit! And please come back Popular Electronics. It’s nice to have Nuts & Volts, but it would be nice to have more than one electronics magazine in circulation… there’s plenty of room!",
"parent_id": "437976",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "438097",
"author": "Allen Moore",
"timestamp": "2011-08-19T20:16:36",
"content": "“Circuit Cellar” (still run by Steve Ciarcia, of “Byte” fame), “Servo Magazine”, and “Elektor” are also excellent magazines featuring hands-on electronics construction projects. “QST”, though specific to ham radio, also has good articles on electronics construction and theory.",
"parent_id": "437999",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "438205",
"author": "chromesitar",
"timestamp": "2011-08-20T01:04:20",
"content": "Actually, the publishers mentioned on TWIT recently that a BYTE resurrection is in the works. I’m to young to have read the original, but I look forward to zombie BYTE.",
"parent_id": "437976",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "438255",
"author": "Ken Mitchell",
"timestamp": "2011-08-20T02:58:55",
"content": "Nothing “zombie” about the revived Byte; even “Chaos Manor” columnist Jerry Pournelle will be coming back to it. (Although, Pournelle never QUIT writing it; his column has been posted generally monthly to hishttp://www.jerrypournelle.comwebsite all along.)",
"parent_id": "438205",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "437978",
"author": "David M.",
"timestamp": "2011-08-19T16:12:38",
"content": "Neat. Looks like the look and feel hasn’t changed a bit though, straight out of the late 70s. Doesn’t change the concepts you’re learning one bit, but lets face it, gizmos are often sold because they “look cool”.I’ll be eager to see how this develops.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "437979",
"author": "The Cageybee",
"timestamp": "2011-08-19T16:15:16",
"content": "Cool. Now all I need are a garage and swimming pool!;-)",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "437987",
"author": "iceguy",
"timestamp": "2011-08-19T16:29:50",
"content": "If you look the catalog near the end, they even had an online catalog back in ’84",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "438002",
"author": "fartface",
"timestamp": "2011-08-19T17:08:55",
"content": "What they need….Bring back the HERO1 and the Microprocessor learning lab kits.Screw this garbage like a parking helper. GO right back to their heyday of real stuff that creates real engineers and gives real education instead of the toys that make someone learn to solder.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "438104",
"author": "Willaim",
"timestamp": "2011-08-19T20:40:58",
"content": "HERO (Heathkit Educational RObot)You took the words right from my mouthHe was a three wheel robot with single drive wheel and awesome I’d like to see an updated version",
"parent_id": "438002",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "438174",
"author": "Dan B",
"timestamp": "2011-08-19T23:27:37",
"content": "HERO! Yes! I still want one. I wanted an Apple back in the day and I now own an Apple //e, monitor and drives and enough software to keep me happy.Now for a HERO and possibly some of the HAM radio gear that I was always dreaming about.",
"parent_id": "438002",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "438178",
"author": "Dan B",
"timestamp": "2011-08-19T23:30:21",
"content": "EDIT: forgot to mention, I own a Heathkit crystal controlled HAM xmitter, freq generator and a DVM… I do love Heathkit.",
"parent_id": "438174",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "438287",
"author": "Eddie",
"timestamp": "2011-08-20T04:46:08",
"content": "Hero?Today it’s called the Roomba.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roomba",
"parent_id": "438002",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "438005",
"author": "Adam",
"timestamp": "2011-08-19T17:15:44",
"content": "Heh, never heard of this before. Looks like I’ll be at the lab for most of this semester…",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "438016",
"author": "Chuck Simmons",
"timestamp": "2011-08-19T17:26:43",
"content": "I am so glad to see they are back! As a kid I really enjoyed getting Heathkit catalogs and looking at all the neat stuff.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "438018",
"author": "N1BMX",
"timestamp": "2011-08-19T17:28:28",
"content": "Thanks for making an article from my e-mail.I hope that radio ops that read hack a day E-mailinfo@heathkit.comasking for amateur radio kits.I would love to build a 2KW amplifier or things like Digital SWR meters would be nice.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "438022",
"author": "JohnConnor",
"timestamp": "2011-08-19T17:36:38",
"content": "If they started to produce kits for amateur radio folks like they did “back-in-the-day”, then maybe it would be a good start.Presently, only Elecraft is the only contender in that market niche.I still have my old Heathkit SB-104A HF rig right next to my Heathkit GC-1005 digital clock (both still going strong since I built them back in the late 70’s). Also had a Heathkit H-8, and H-11 computer. I regret having sold them.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "438038",
"author": "anyone",
"timestamp": "2011-08-19T17:56:14",
"content": "this is great news! i still have my decade resistor box and assorted capacitance value box. use them all the time!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "438044",
"author": "ENKI-][",
"timestamp": "2011-08-19T18:10:27",
"content": "Here’s to hoping they produce new items in the Heathkit Hero line. I’ve wanted a Hero ever since I saw it pictured in a magazine.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "438066",
"author": "Cubby",
"timestamp": "2011-08-19T18:53:46",
"content": "Good to see ’em making a comeback. I’ve got a capacitance tester that my father put together back in the early sixties and it still works!Just need to get a user manual for it, which got lost years ago.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "438077",
"author": "Shadyman",
"timestamp": "2011-08-19T19:29:47",
"content": "WINNING!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "438078",
"author": "veneficus",
"timestamp": "2011-08-19T19:30:48",
"content": "I never heard of HeathKit before but good luck to them. Their current products are very overpriced though: $310 for a solar tracker, $490 for an analog 25MHz Oscilloscope. It looks like they are stuck in the past.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "438087",
"author": "[oceans76]",
"timestamp": "2011-08-19T19:43:25",
"content": "Wow, back then you could get college credit from taking a Heathkit course.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "438092",
"author": "Allen Moore",
"timestamp": "2011-08-19T19:57:08",
"content": "Back in the day, I built one of their oscilloscopes (5 MHz!), a 0-50V/1.5A power supply, and a digital clock. I sold the ‘scope while still at college, but am still using the power supply on my bench, and my son’s using the clock. The quality of their kits and instructions was superb.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "6636384",
"author": "-jeffB",
"timestamp": "2023-04-28T03:46:15",
"content": "Just saw one of their 5MHz scopes at a hamfest a couple of weeks ago. Looked just like they used to in the catalogs, and still in working order, close to 50 years later. Think we’ll see many Rigols still working in 2070?",
"parent_id": "438092",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "438098",
"author": "Tweeks",
"timestamp": "2011-08-19T20:17:31",
"content": "HERO HERO HERO!Tweeks",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "438129",
"author": "Jody",
"timestamp": "2011-08-19T21:55:11",
"content": "This is awesome! Loved Heath stuff. I recently was given a 1970s Heathkit 23″ TV.I’m not sure of the policies of posting “sales” on here, but if anyone is interested in it, drop me a line atjodyathandh@gmail.com.everything is there and looks great, but the transformer has a little rust on it so I’m hesitant to plug it in without checking it out a little more.Manuals included (all 8 of them)heheBut yeah, it’s great to see Heath Kits are back!Heath Kit, Commodore 64 and Lego made me who I am today!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "438161",
"author": "Scott",
"timestamp": "2011-08-19T22:57:31",
"content": "This is GREAT news, I loved Heathkit.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "438173",
"author": "turbochris",
"timestamp": "2011-08-19T23:24:13",
"content": "haaa ha we had a Heathkit store on Long Island. It was closed by the time I had the means to actually afford any of their stuff. I did end up finding a nice Heathkit 2 1/2 digit NIXIE multimeter at a garage sale, the 1/2 digit was a neon bulb!it still works! An old friend built one of their TV’s a while back, part of the kit was building an oscilloscope to help finish the TV. My friend kept the TV but gave me the scope, it still works too! There was also Lafayette Radio Electronics on long Lsland, they became Circuit City. Fry’s is the closest thing to any of this right now near me( 2 hrs away….).",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "438202",
"author": "N0LKK",
"timestamp": "2011-08-20T01:03:11",
"content": "$1567.00 for a 25 MHz oscilloscope. In my opinion that kind of money would be better spent towards an education at brick,mortar tech school. Use their instruments, bread board, components. Hoping their instructors the the primary multi-media having worked in the field long enough to present the material well. I don’t see the new Heathkit home schooling company providing kit for Amateur radio gear, as the finished product would require license to use.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "438398",
"author": "KillerBug",
"timestamp": "2011-08-20T10:39:07",
"content": "An education at a brick and mortar tech school? That is $20K+…and when you are done, you are left with 10-year old information, no tools, and no job prospects. (ITT proudly proclaims that about 25% their graduates from last year are now in Iraq because that was the only job they could get…while about 25% of them are unemployed, and at least 25% are working in non-tech fields…of course they say all these things in happier terms like, “Many of our graduates go on to work for the military and more than 75% of graduates found jobs within 12 months of graduation”)",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "438407",
"author": "Jonathan Wilson",
"timestamp": "2011-08-20T11:11:33",
"content": "I recon someone should go back and make the modern incarnation of the Heathkit H-series computers or the Altair 8800 or the other kit computers.Something with a fully documented ARM or AVR CPU, flash RAM and ROM, some sort of connectivity for input/downloading code/file transfers (most likely USB), VGA for display output, small audio circuit/speaker so the thing can make noise and so on.Something for people who want a computer where all the hardware is documented and where you can write directly in machine code if you are so inclined and with no OS to get in the way of talking directly to the hardware. Something that isn’t just an undocumented black box or a mess of custom kernel patches and userspace blobs that tell you as little about the hardware as the manufacturers can get away with.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "438438",
"author": "Ryan Mercer",
"timestamp": "2011-08-20T12:54:18",
"content": "It would be cool to see them make some vintage kits too.",
"parent_id": "438407",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "438437",
"author": "Ryan Mercer",
"timestamp": "2011-08-20T12:53:50",
"content": "Awesome! :)",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "438552",
"author": "Microguy",
"timestamp": "2011-08-20T18:28:19",
"content": "Oh man!! HK was how I got my start in electronics (sort of). My folks bought me a SW radio kit inn the early 70’s. They figured instead of taking stuff apart to see how it worked, it’d be better to put one together!Worked great for many years. And I learned a lot, and it was the beginning of a life long career.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "440970",
"author": "dan",
"timestamp": "2011-08-24T16:33:55",
"content": "It’s not impossible for the DIY nut to build cheaper than they can buy. not by any stretch of the imagination.It’s just that you have to be looking at high ticket items and be competent at what you’re doing.Sure, it’s near impossible for a DIYer to bring a product to market at less of a cost, but that’s not to say it’s impossible.Do you really think that you can’t build a pair of floor standing, bi wire reference speakers finished in real wood for less than the few grand a corporation will want you to spend?Do you really think that the DIYer can’t make the icuffs featured on hack-a-day a few weeks ago for less than their over $100 price tag?Do you really think that you can’t build a guitar amp, that will give an awesome sound for less than the cost of buying a Fender or Marshall amp?The parking sensor is a start. and it’s exactly on the right track.Now stick the sensors on a wire and make the LEDs beeps and you have a retrofit system that fits into cars that don’t have them built in from the factory.http://www.maplin.co.uk/4-sensor-wired-reversing-kit-265097like that, except when you build yourself you can do it a lot cheaper than the £50(GBP) that they are asking. -I know I drive a fairly modern car that just doesn’t have this. I have the choice of a £200 retrofit from a manufacturer, a £50 kit from Maplin, but if I’m going the kit route I’d rather self assemble and have it only cost £10. probably not even that!they need to be looking at their old catalogues (and their competitors at the time) and seeing what can be brought up to date for the modern world.example:guitar amps,stereo amplifiers,(guitar) effects units,disco lights,clocks for use in the home,weather stations…Fair enough, some of those things won’t be cheaper, it’s probably now impossible to build a multimeter cheaper than they can be made in huge factories, but sometimes that’s just not the point.Sometimes building stuff yourself isn’t about making it the cheapest, sometimes it’s about making it the best, or just the satisfaction of doing it.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "441673",
"author": "William Ward",
"timestamp": "2011-08-25T20:30:20",
"content": "Hummmm, does this means that Don Lancaster will publish the “build your TV typewriter” again?Hummmmm, now I’ll need a KSR teletype machine!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "442203",
"author": "Bob Hill",
"timestamp": "2011-08-26T17:09:37",
"content": "Neat. I still have both my Analog and Digital trainers (and use both for breadboarding, built in power supplies are quite convenient) and have many fond memories. First DOS computer was a Zenith Z158 and I have many memories of the Heath/Zenith products. I’ve got a HK sig generator that still sees a lot of test bench use.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "560521",
"author": "Tim Plummer",
"timestamp": "2012-01-16T18:41:37",
"content": "The Heathkit Hero robot series to my knowledge are now owned by Robert Dooerhttp://www.robotworkshop.comNot sure that Heathkit can come back out with a Hero series unless they work out a deal with the one guy smart enough to buy up all the NOS parts and the name & printed material. Regarding the Hero 1, I’ve owned 3, really cool & in my opinion, high end tech for 80’s gear.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "696753",
"author": "Engineer Krause",
"timestamp": "2012-07-07T06:06:51",
"content": "Hero resurrection with Raspi controller would be kind of awesome>?The other cool thing would be an FPGA computer that would emulate various vintage computers.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "808643",
"author": "rohmell brills",
"timestamp": "2012-10-07T16:33:23",
"content": "Well, they didn’t last long… Looks like nobody wanted a parking or pool sensor.http://www.arrl.org/news/heathkit-educational-systems-closes-up-shop",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "1264062",
"author": "Chuck Vinson",
"timestamp": "2014-03-14T19:48:57",
"content": "Heathkit may claim they are back, but that is pure BS. The two major HAM radio magazines in the USA (QST and CQ) appear to be skeptical at best. Heathkit leaves no contact page, email, phone number or anyway to find out who is in charge of things. The Michigan authorities also do not seem to have a listing of the owners or any online permit for business according to CQ magazine. As much as I like Heathkit products, why must the “new” company owners be so secretive? It smells very fishy.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "3081476",
"author": "vern white III",
"timestamp": "2016-07-08T02:06:36",
"content": "I JUST BOUGHT A REAL RARE heathkit floor model tv that build back in 1976 very rare floor model tv was gonna go to thedump i bought it off the famliy for $20 bucks !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! and was just told this tv is worth over $1000,00 very rare andi have all the manuals and remote to im displaying it my toy room for the rest of its life",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
}
] | 1,760,377,109.740619
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2011/08/19/using-enclosed-relays-for-hv-switching/
|
High Voltage: Using Enclosed Relays For HV Switching
|
Mike Szczys
|
[
"Misc Hacks"
] |
[
"555 timer",
"relay",
"ribtu1c"
] |
After seeing many projects that use microcontrollers to switch mains voltages [Rob Miles] decided to share his preferred method. The shots you see above are an enclosed relay, part number RIBTU1C manufactured by Functional Devices Inc.
This in itself is not the full control scheme that he uses, but it takes care of the bulk of the hardware. He uses
a triggering circuit based on a 555 timer
(PDF). [Rob] mentioned that if you shop around, you can get the relay, 555 timer, and other components for under $15. This is a great solution for the money when you consider that you get an enclosure meant for handling high voltage and a nice terminal block to which you can connect the mains wiring. The relay itself can be triggered by a 9V battery via the transistor in the control circuit.
Notice the protoboard in the image above. There’s plenty of room for your driver circuit to rest inside the box, protected by that barrier from the HV circuitry. Check out the rest of the images he sent us after the break.
| 21
| 12
|
[
{
"comment_id": "437891",
"author": "Elias",
"timestamp": "2011-08-19T13:38:36",
"content": "That barrier looks fool proof :D NOT",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "437903",
"author": "MurphEngineer",
"timestamp": "2011-08-19T14:00:01",
"content": "Thanks for linking to that relay driver tutorial! Had I tried to pull this off, I almost certainly would have been tempted to use a micro to control the transistor that controls the relay. “Maximum source current? What’s that?”Of course, now I know that this would have resulted in tragedy. You may have just saved a few AVRs from a grisly fate!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "437911",
"author": "adam felson",
"timestamp": "2011-08-19T14:11:17",
"content": "Switching what? If you want to switch 100vac, use a a triac and an optoisolated trigger diac.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "437946",
"author": "Brett W. (FightCube.com)",
"timestamp": "2011-08-19T15:25:45",
"content": "+1 for this… I built one in High School with a hand drawn sharpie marker PCB, in one of radio shack’s smallest enclosures. AC cord in and out, and TTL compatible.",
"parent_id": "437911",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "437952",
"author": "Brett W. (FightCube.com)",
"timestamp": "2011-08-19T15:41:01",
"content": "The linked 555 article makes sense if you read it, but a normal NPN circuit to drive the relay only takes 1mA… easy for most uC’s. Then it starts talking about active low input, and how CMOS circuits might not be able to handle 1mA. I agree active low, but not necessarily active high. Then it goes on to build a 1uA active high 555 driver, fine I guess if you are using some kind of CMOS logic active low output to drive the 555’s input.I would just “get dumb” and use a NPN circuit with a relay – or go the opto-isolated Triac route.",
"parent_id": "437911",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "437953",
"author": "Brett W. (FightCube.com)",
"timestamp": "2011-08-19T15:42:53",
"content": "Oops, meant to say the 1uA active HIGH 555 circuit contradicts the need for it, since CMOS can drive active HIGH at several milliamps typically.",
"parent_id": "437952",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "437916",
"author": "Glenn",
"timestamp": "2011-08-19T14:18:35",
"content": "That’s what I’m talking about!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "437919",
"author": "mike bradley",
"timestamp": "2011-08-19T14:23:16",
"content": "i dont understand, instead of a micro use a relay? who uses a micro to do the actual swithing? maybe the control, but the title says a relay instead. not tryig to be rude, but i was very confused. and dont half the designs use a relay anyways?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "437935",
"author": "Will",
"timestamp": "2011-08-19T15:11:10",
"content": "I’m confused, what is the hack here?Using a relay to switch voltage higher than the micro’s Vcc? – been done since the dawn of timePutting a project in a plastic box? – umm, ok..using a 555 timer as a glorified FET? – seems a little overkill and wasteful if the point is to save money or spaceThe only link in the article was for a PDF that seems to imply that sometimes the bias current on a transistor is too much for a microcontroller IO pin so use a 555 timer. Umm, so use a MOSFET. A quick search on Digikey revealed 1,311 in stock N-channel MOSFETS that would do the job nicely for between $0.38 and $8.60 apiece. Right tool for the job…",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "437941",
"author": "SuperNuRd",
"timestamp": "2011-08-19T15:15:45",
"content": "Is the hack that his box looks nice?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "437950",
"author": "William Hightower",
"timestamp": "2011-08-19T15:32:10",
"content": "I have used devices like this before. However I Used in an HVAC setting where everything needs to be done to code. They are quite useful and if you are controlling line voltage of devices that are scattered around, say like lights or fans, these are great. And the LED indicator is a plus. Also if you are uncomfortable switching line voltage these are useful. Also it should be noted that there are a lot of different configurations, so take a look at the web site.http://www.functionaldevices.com/building-automation/pilot.phpAlso if you decide to use devices like this shop around. I general find that prices on Industrial and HVAC Control parts vary wildly for the same part.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "439471",
"author": "Ryan Nestor",
"timestamp": "2011-08-22T14:27:08",
"content": "Thanks for the link. The only thing that I can take away from this is the knowledge that components like these exist. Relays like these, which are “to-code” are a godsend, and might make some of our lives a lot easier. On the other hand, even with my limited electronics knowledge, my response to the 555 bit was: “huh?”.",
"parent_id": "437950",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "437964",
"author": "juice",
"timestamp": "2011-08-19T15:53:17",
"content": "I do not mean to be rude, but is it appropriate to call mains voltage high? When I read the title I thought that this hack was about much higher voltages, say a few kilovolts.What do you consider to be a high voltage? One hundred volts? Fifty volts? I think that the threshold is at about one kilovolt. I guess there is no official standard, so it’s a matter of taste.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "438119",
"author": "blackman",
"timestamp": "2011-08-19T21:11:07",
"content": "Australian standards dictated High Voltage as above 1000VDC and 1500VAC, this is by no mean HV switching",
"parent_id": "437964",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "439782",
"author": "Jelle",
"timestamp": "2011-08-22T21:36:17",
"content": "Yes I agree, HV implies something different. But if you turn it around, it is above 48V, so it is not low voltage. And since we are all binary nerds here: if it is not low, it must be high!",
"parent_id": "437964",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "440325",
"author": "dan",
"timestamp": "2011-08-23T15:05:36",
"content": "It’s not just that it’s greater than 48v.There are IEC definitions. (60038)Extra low voltage is <25vRMS (for AC) or 1000vRMS (for AC) or >1500v (for DC)So all mains equipment (including 3phase stuff) is low voltage, switching 110v (if you’re American) or 240v (if you’re American 3phase user, or British single phaser user) or 480V if you’re a British 3phase user is all low voltage.hence why those non-fixed appliances are subject to PAT testing laws -which deal with testing low voltage equipment…So yes everyone who says this isn’t an HV hack is technically correct.Still mains voltage is not something that the average person should be monkeying around with without properly knowing what they are doing.Then again, the PDF linked doesn’t say anything anywhere about high voltage, only high current…",
"parent_id": "439782",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "440469",
"author": "dan",
"timestamp": "2011-08-23T19:39:17",
"content": "my comment was eaten by the comment system, probably because I put triangular brackets for less than and the comment system doesn’t parse HTML properly, so it thought it was a tag?IEC 60038extra low voltage = less than 25v rms ac or less than 60v dclow voltage = 25 to 1000v rms for ac, and 60 – 1500 for DCthen high voltage is anything over that for either",
"parent_id": "439782",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "437968",
"author": "f",
"timestamp": "2011-08-19T15:55:03",
"content": "I am slightly confused as to the “high voltage” nature of this hack, as most other hacks filed under “high voltage” concern such things as Jacob’s ladders and Tesla coils. Mains voltage isn’t exactly “high voltage,” is it?Although a MOSFET would have been quite as fine for driving a relay, the 555 circuit has its merits just because it’s cheap and everyone has a couple of them around anyway. MOSFETs are more special, so you usually don’t have a suitable one available in your parts bin.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "438058",
"author": "cgimark",
"timestamp": "2011-08-19T18:45:56",
"content": "I don’t get the 555 being used to switch a relay, seems like building something just for the sake of building it. If your current transistor can’t switch the relay then pick a better one, an hfe of 300 will control a relay off any micro out there.What should have been mentioned is how to properly mount a relay on a board for working with mains voltage. You need to pay attention to routing of the wiring and keep the hot areas in their own section of the board with a clear division on the board between the hot/cold areas with no parts or connection in the hot area unless they have to be in those sections.I install the relay , triacs or whatever that are to be mains supplied and then use a sharpie marker to mark the top and bottom of the board as HOT, including writing the word HOT in bold in those areas . It keeps me from accidentally placing a lead of a part into those areas.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "438538",
"author": "DoktorJ",
"timestamp": "2011-08-20T18:03:23",
"content": "I am absolutely appalled that someone would have the nerve to post a tutorial on how to use a 555 timer in place of something else that might be cheaper and more efficient. How dare they! I can’t imagine that HackADay would post something like that, I mean considering how 555 timers should never, EVER, be used in place of something that makes more sense.Seriously, have you guys only been reading HaD for a week? They spent an entire month earlier this year posting about people who used 555 timers in the most ridiculous and convoluted ways possible. So, this guy used one in place of a MOSFET and suddenly everybody comes out of the woodwork to talk about how it’s not a hack because most people do it a different way. WTF?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "438559",
"author": "DangerousDiver",
"timestamp": "2011-08-20T18:40:10",
"content": "I’m with Dok J on this one. The site is called Hack A Day. If it isn’t used in a hacky or amateur way, it won’t get posted. Believe me, after submitting a few of my own projects (none of which used arduinos or misplaced 555 timer IC’s) only to receive zero response, I know. Seriously guys, not even a rejection? I don’t think the HaD staff is THAT busy…",
"parent_id": "438538",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
}
] | 1,760,377,110.598221
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2011/08/19/meet-radio-shacks-new-parallax-lineup/
|
Meet Radio Shack’s New Parallax Lineup
|
Brian Benchoff
|
[
"News"
] |
[
"parallax",
"radio shack"
] |
It looks like Radio Shack is pretty serious about their new found commitment to their focus on the DIY, inventor, creator and geek demographics. [Ken Gracey], Parallax forum guru, put up a post on the
Parallax stuff that will be sold at Radio Shack
. Everything is priced, “below spousal approval level,” but no word on what those prices are.
Here’s the (probably not conclusive) list we gleaned from the pics:
2-axis joystick
, gyroscope, GPS, compass and altimeter modules, an
infrared sensor
,
2×16 backlit LCD
,
BASIC stamp 2 board
, and an XBee 2-pack that we assume would be priced above girlfriend approval levels.
We’re curious about how many (and in what quantity) of these items will be stocked at the East Nowheresville strip mall, and again there’s no mention of improving the selection of individual components.
At Hack A Day, we were thinking how amazing a Radio Shack ‘component vending machine’ would be. A modified pick and place machine that will dole out caps, resistors, other components, and has the potential to be competitive with online stores. Anyone feel like sending that suggestion in?
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[
{
"comment_id": "437824",
"author": "Renee",
"timestamp": "2011-08-19T11:19:57",
"content": "LOL, they misspelled gyroscope as gyrocope on their packages. At my local Radio Shack I’ve noticed a huge improvement over the past few months.They went from a few pins of semi-organized and barely in stock components to full stock and a bunch of other stuff too. They carry lots of different protoboards and DIP breakouts as well as copper clad now.Also, +1 for “spousal approval level!” I may just go out of my way to buy something extra because of that.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "437851",
"author": "Brian Benchoff",
"timestamp": "2011-08-19T12:23:19",
"content": "Congratulations on delaying the shipments of the gyros for 2 weeks.",
"parent_id": "437824",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "437882",
"author": "Squintz",
"timestamp": "2011-08-19T13:26:22",
"content": "Hahaha… So true!",
"parent_id": "437851",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "437995",
"author": "Jen J.",
"timestamp": "2011-08-19T16:50:56",
"content": "Rest assured all typographic errors will be fixed before we send them to print. The packaging in the photos is NOT the final product. Although I wonder, what would a “Gyrocope” do?And I really like the vending machine idea. Small footprint in the stores and you’d help keep the hobbyists happy.",
"parent_id": "437824",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "438082",
"author": "Shadyman",
"timestamp": "2011-08-19T19:31:58",
"content": "I’d imagine a ‘gyrocope’ would help you cope with gyroscopic effects?",
"parent_id": "437995",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "438163",
"author": "supper man",
"timestamp": "2011-08-19T23:01:51",
"content": "LOLYou mistyped bins as pins.I just had to say it. Packaging mishaps happen. We are all human…at least until I get a hold on some sweet low-cost-driven-by-high-volume modules.",
"parent_id": "437824",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "438329",
"author": "Renee",
"timestamp": "2011-08-20T06:29:06",
"content": "Yeah, right after I posted I saw that. But then again, I’m not a design team for a major company and I’m not getting payed to type this. :)",
"parent_id": "438163",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "437825",
"author": "studioeng",
"timestamp": "2011-08-19T11:20:24",
"content": "I’m sorry, this must be an inside joke. “below spousal approval level” …. “priced above girlfriend approval levels”. All I can say, is that if I’m the one out earning and paying the bills, I’m the one who decides if it is priced appropriately!! /rant",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "437832",
"author": "Panikos",
"timestamp": "2011-08-19T11:31:31",
"content": "You’re probably either not married, not dating or not been doing either for long.",
"parent_id": "437825",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "437837",
"author": "studioeng",
"timestamp": "2011-08-19T11:47:55",
"content": "Had a partner for ~7 years and have a 3yo daughter! It’s a shame to think that *most* (I use that lightly) women are penny pinching spend-a-holics, they give the rest a bad name! It’s a shame we don’t have Radio Shack here in the UK. (Unless you include the ‘trader’ based in Edinburgh) We’re stuck with Maplin!",
"parent_id": "437832",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "438421",
"author": "Panikos",
"timestamp": "2011-08-20T12:23:54",
"content": "If I need things right away I use RS components. Just order online and pick up at the trade counter in the morning. Not the cheapest but if in a pinch….",
"parent_id": "437825",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "437833",
"author": "zuul",
"timestamp": "2011-08-19T11:33:09",
"content": "dump girlfriend, spend money on electronics",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "437835",
"author": "truthspew",
"timestamp": "2011-08-19T11:41:05",
"content": "I like the idea of the component vending machine. Takes up little space and has high revenue potential.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "437849",
"author": "Aaron",
"timestamp": "2011-08-19T12:16:28",
"content": "I should think it’d cost rather a lot to implement, though, and take quite some time to pay for itself and start turning a profit. Neat idea, and it wouldn’t surprise me if somebody at Radio Shack were keeping an eye out for exactly that kind of suggestion — but I’d have a hard time blaming them for not doing it, and especially not at first. Let people prove they’re actually willing to *go* to a well-stocked, competently run Radio Shack first, then let’s talk about spending a huge stack of money on satisfying the hobbyists. (Speaking of which, must stop into the one up the road this afternoon and see whether they’ve got anything good to sell me.)",
"parent_id": "437835",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "437864",
"author": "ocean",
"timestamp": "2011-08-19T12:44:52",
"content": "Fastenal already has these component vending machines implemented in industrial settings.http://toolguyd.com/2010/02/fastenal-smartstore-tool-industrial-supply-vending/",
"parent_id": "437849",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "437942",
"author": "ScottInNH",
"timestamp": "2011-08-19T15:18:02",
"content": "I can picture someone shaking the machine as their $30 arduino teeters on the edge of the spiral conveyor arm….. then while he goes to find help, someone uses a dollar bill modified with packing tape, and gets 2 arduinos for no money.",
"parent_id": "437835",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "438164",
"author": "GeekDoc",
"timestamp": "2011-08-19T23:02:22",
"content": "What about a machine for all the discrete components? Have it stocked with standard tape reels (do they still make them for through-hole items?) and reel out the desired number, then cut. I’m pretty sure several of us could come up with such a device with items we have in our parts bins.",
"parent_id": "437835",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "437838",
"author": "bacchus",
"timestamp": "2011-08-19T11:54:11",
"content": "“below spousal approval level”That would be free then?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "437842",
"author": "UKtheBUNNY",
"timestamp": "2011-08-19T12:02:05",
"content": "I would so buy into the Vending machine idea like a fat guy breathing hard for Cheetos.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "437868",
"author": "raidscsi",
"timestamp": "2011-08-19T12:58:56",
"content": "I needed a 9V battery clip, from my past dealings with the ‘Shack’ I didn’t expect them to have anything more than cell phones and overpriced toys but decided to give them a shot since there are no other component stores around.They have really improved their hobby section, almost back to where it was when I was a kid. Regarding selection, not prices. eBay and the intertubes still destroy the ‘Shack’ on prices.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "447933",
"author": "Ren",
"timestamp": "2011-09-05T02:39:43",
"content": "9 volt battery clip?You mean a holder? Otherwise just take the top off of an old 9 volt battery and solder on a couple leads. I always keep a couple ‘spent’ 9v batteries around for just that.",
"parent_id": "437868",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "458204",
"author": "DarkSotM",
"timestamp": "2011-09-18T03:35:24",
"content": "Great Scott, why didn’t I think of that?",
"parent_id": "447933",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "437869",
"author": "Nick",
"timestamp": "2011-08-19T12:59:17",
"content": "Component vending machines sound great – kind of like redbox, but better.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "437873",
"author": "madcows",
"timestamp": "2011-08-19T13:03:11",
"content": "I bet this hypothetical component vending machine could probably be broken for months before someone would notice at some RS locations.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "437877",
"author": "toojeep4u",
"timestamp": "2011-08-19T13:16:23",
"content": "How does the Parallax compare to the Arduino? I have never used a Parallax.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "437937",
"author": "Chris",
"timestamp": "2011-08-19T15:12:31",
"content": "Parallax has two basic models, the BASIC Stamp and the Propeller. I’ve worked with the BASIC Stamp, and I prefer the Arduino hands down. It’s a lot easier to program, libraries are easily accessible, and it just seems like there’s a lot more tutorials/examples/hacks on the web to do this or that. For beginners, IMHO, it’s much easier to get to “oooo, first blinky LED!” with Arduino.The Propeller lets you do actual multiprocessing as you have numerous (8, I think) individual MCUs running on one chip. If you had a project where you needed more than a couple interrupts, the Propeller might be better. (That said, I know there isworkon a parallel processing library for Arduino.)Cost wise, Arduino is generally cheaper.",
"parent_id": "437877",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "437989",
"author": "toojeep4u",
"timestamp": "2011-08-19T16:39:02",
"content": "Thanks Chris. I saw on Parallax’s website a lot of sensors that look just like the ones for sale on Sparkfun. Are they interchangable with the Arduino?",
"parent_id": "437937",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "438084",
"author": "Chris",
"timestamp": "2011-08-19T19:35:49",
"content": "They should be. There’s Arduino code out there for the RFID reader and the range finder. I can’t imagine it being too hard to come up with some on your own as long as you can get the datasheet for the unit itself or the components it uses.",
"parent_id": "437937",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "437885",
"author": "ahage16",
"timestamp": "2011-08-19T13:30:49",
"content": "The closest radioshack to me is in a mall, meaning mostly consumer electronics and one small rack of ridiculously overpriced components. Hopefully this changes that.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "437896",
"author": "Chris",
"timestamp": "2011-08-19T13:45:37",
"content": "I agree the “vending machine” would be really cool, but probably impractical.They used to have a special order service. You used to be able to get some parts that weren’t in their normal catalog, like NTE components. The parts would piggyback in on regular shipments, so shipping was free for you and them. You could pick them up at the local store in a week, sometimes as little as two or three days. I used it once in the 80’s. A decade later I asked about it and the salesman had no idea what I was talking about.Why not bring that back, and improve on it? These days, it could be much more automated. Ordering, payment, and notification when the parts are in store could all be done online. I’d expect RS would charge more than other distributors like Newark/Mouser; but without shipping charges, it could still work out in your favor *and* give RS an additional source of income.Oh, and I’m rather surprised that the Basic Stamp and Propeller are making it to RS rather than a *duino. Congratulations, Parallax!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "437927",
"author": "fred",
"timestamp": "2011-08-19T14:47:17",
"content": "Me too. If you go to their web site and search for Arduino, you get one result and it sure isn’t an Arduino board.",
"parent_id": "437896",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "437899",
"author": "Chris",
"timestamp": "2011-08-19T13:52:24",
"content": "Radio Shack permanently lost me when they sold out to become a typical junk electronics retailer like all the other big box stores.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "437901",
"author": "warpsix",
"timestamp": "2011-08-19T13:57:22",
"content": "” Let people prove they’re actually willing to *go* to a well-stocked, competently run Radio Shack first,” All the good Radio Shack Managers were fired when they were forced to offer Sprint long distance a few years ago.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "437902",
"author": "wiregeek",
"timestamp": "2011-08-19T13:58:33",
"content": "s@raidsci:true, but when i need a 25 ft coil cord or a 10 ft usb extension, or a mag mount wilson cell antenna with appropriate adapters, the shack is ten minutes away, while newegg takes days",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "437906",
"author": "psmay",
"timestamp": "2011-08-19T14:02:27",
"content": "It would at least be nice to see something like big box stores are doing now—making the items that are impractical to stock in-store online, then providing free shipping if you pick it up at the store. In absence of a vending machine (and I can understand why filling a vending machine with semi-obscure devices and saying “here you go” might not be economically sound) I think I’d actually use this option. It’d certainly beat having to come up with several dollars’ worth of extra parts to fill out a minimum order for a small project.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "437915",
"author": "ahage16",
"timestamp": "2011-08-19T14:18:26",
"content": "That would be perfect, I think, and definitely make me use radioshack. Right now my only option for a lot of things is to either buy online and pay huge amounts for shipping compared to how cheap the product is, or wait three weeks for it to come in from China.",
"parent_id": "437906",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "437914",
"author": "Tweeks",
"timestamp": "2011-08-19T14:15:27",
"content": "Trip to the Shack in College:RS: “Welcome to Radio Shack, can I help you?”Me: “Uhh.. yeah.. where are your TTL chips?”RS: “Oooo.. I’m sorry, we don’t carry that brand sir.”Me: “Uhh.. never mind..”Subsequent Trips to RatShack:RS: “Welcome to Radio Shack, can I help you?”Me: “No.. no can’t.”Tweeks",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "437924",
"author": "1000100 1000001 1010110 1000101",
"timestamp": "2011-08-19T14:39:03",
"content": "I just stopped at RS last week and asked if they started carrying microcontrollers yet. The nice young man said “No, the closest thing we have to that is switches.”",
"parent_id": "437914",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "438150",
"author": "Philippe",
"timestamp": "2011-08-19T22:38:21",
"content": "Think he was being sarcastic?",
"parent_id": "437924",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "437918",
"author": "chango",
"timestamp": "2011-08-19T14:21:08",
"content": "raidscsi: 9V battery clips are on the short list of components that I don’t think Radio Shack has ever stopped selling over the last half century.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "437936",
"author": "SuperNuRd",
"timestamp": "2011-08-19T15:12:16",
"content": "@toojeep4u the paralax is a great board like the arduino but it has a different handle on things if you try hard enough it should be easy.~I can’t add on to you comment because im doing this from my phone~",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "437938",
"author": "Veronica Connor",
"timestamp": "2011-08-19T15:14:47",
"content": "Interesting, I AM a woman, and I always approve of the prices of the stuff I buy. Weird.Oh, sexism, right. Now I remember.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "437949",
"author": "ScottInNH",
"timestamp": "2011-08-19T15:29:35",
"content": "@studioeng may take pride in being the “decider” who provides the discipline necessary to keep his woman from her natural gender inclination towards spendaholicism, but we do not need to hear about it.Thankfully sexism is dying out. Younger couples know that partnership means equality.",
"parent_id": "437938",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "437951",
"author": "Veronica Connor",
"timestamp": "2011-08-19T15:34:07",
"content": "Indeed, things are looking up. Still a long road to go, though. As someone with a male-dominated occupation and hobbies, I get it from all sides every day.",
"parent_id": "437949",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "437960",
"author": "studioeng",
"timestamp": "2011-08-19T15:50:03",
"content": "@Veronica Connor – That’s a very wide statement which could be take many ways.@ScottInNH – If you really believe that ‘decider’ rubbish then you’re reading my comment wrong! I was commenting from the angle that not all female partners are inclined to have to ‘approve’ of purchases. Thanks for your support anyway.Give someone a stick, they’ll take both ends!",
"parent_id": "437949",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "437969",
"author": "Steven-X",
"timestamp": "2011-08-19T15:58:34",
"content": "My son and his new wife have run up over $10 grand of debt in less than 6 months. The are equally stupid.My wife and I both discuss major purchases together. She finally relented on an Icom IC-718. “Wife approval level” (or spouse approval if you want a gender-neutral term) is the amount you can spend before the other one cares. $20, who cares. $200 might raise an eyebrow, $2000 means living in the RV.",
"parent_id": "437949",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "437954",
"author": "Luke",
"timestamp": "2011-08-19T15:44:34",
"content": "The quote is “below spousal approval level” which isn’t sexist. As in a spouse can be male or female – husband or wife. Just sayin’ is all.",
"parent_id": "437938",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "437956",
"author": "Veronica Connor",
"timestamp": "2011-08-19T15:46:36",
"content": "Radio Shack’s statement was fine (as corporate ones usually are, since they have an army of marketing people screening this stuff). It was the HaD post and the subsequent comments in this thread are concerning.",
"parent_id": "437954",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "437965",
"author": "Caleb Kraft",
"timestamp": "2011-08-19T15:53:53",
"content": "As any person in a relationship, which shares income and bills will tell you, there is a level of spending which requires consideration and approval from both partners.Brian has chosen his words well this time with “spousal approval”. Great job Brian. You’ll note that this is a non-sexist alternative to what we’ve seen in the past.We’re trying here.",
"parent_id": "437938",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "438154",
"author": "Philippe",
"timestamp": "2011-08-19T22:41:22",
"content": "And it still works regardless of sexual orientation. Good job!",
"parent_id": "437965",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "437947",
"author": "Ricky Cadden",
"timestamp": "2011-08-19T15:26:38",
"content": "Ricky here from RadioShack’s Social Media team – glad to see this covered on Hack a Day, and pleased to see such positive reactions. We’re most definitely listening.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "437959",
"author": "Veronica Connor",
"timestamp": "2011-08-19T15:49:35",
"content": "Glad to hear it, Ricky. Here’s one for you- the component drawers in my local Shack look like a fuel air bomb went off inside them, and the staff are clueless. That keeps me going back to online retailers, even though I’d pay more for instant gratification.",
"parent_id": "437947",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "437972",
"author": "Steven-X",
"timestamp": "2011-08-19T16:04:14",
"content": "I also make quick runs to Radio Shack for work-related projects. In my case even overnight delivery is an unbearable delay.",
"parent_id": "437947",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "438056",
"author": "Aaron",
"timestamp": "2011-08-19T18:38:18",
"content": "Stopped into my local Shack earlier (#12902) and found a surprisingly decent selection — components, tools, enclosures, PCBs and solderless breadboards, Mims books, all sorts of good stuff including some of the Parallax sensors (though not the GPS module I’d have liked to pick up there, hint hint) — I’ll definitely be stopping in again, and I’d say y’all have made a great start!",
"parent_id": "437947",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "438103",
"author": "Issac",
"timestamp": "2011-08-19T20:36:12",
"content": "I believe I’m your target market: tinkerer/mad scientist with disposable income and a yen for instant gratification.Seeing the local Radio Shacks begin to carry parts again is making me happy. I’ve spent over $100 at the nearest location in the last week as I work on a small robotics project.Here’s my suggestion for you: avoid the peanut-butter-but-no-jelly problem. If you have five of the seven components I need, I still have to place an order online. And if I’m already having to pay shipping and wait on stuff to come in, I might as well order the whole business online, avoiding sales tax. I realize that you can never offer the variety available online, but even with the new Parallax stuff coming in, I think you’ve got some gaps that need filling. A few specific suggestions: H-bridge chips, Tamiya motors/gearboxes, pyroelectric sensors, and Hall effect sensors.",
"parent_id": "437947",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "438180",
"author": "knuckles904",
"timestamp": "2011-08-19T23:33:26",
"content": "Radioshack does carry those parallax PIR sensors-$10, and you can use a 555/556 as an H-bridge (or just grab a transistor grab bag)",
"parent_id": "438103",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "438444",
"author": "Svengali",
"timestamp": "2011-08-20T13:06:10",
"content": "I think the earlier comment “create an online store and offer free shipping if the parts are picked up from a radio shack store” is a great idea! keeps costs down for you guys and opens up the variety of your stock very easily.Not that you have any stores in Australia…",
"parent_id": "437947",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "437948",
"author": "jeicrash",
"timestamp": "2011-08-19T15:28:00",
"content": "I really hope the Radio Shack in our town takes up this idea, you can’t even buy engineer notebooks anymore or the all-in-one kits for kids. It would be refreshing if prices where “online comparable” I’ll think about buying from the Shack again if they can at least get close to real inventory.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "437967",
"author": "Andr0id",
"timestamp": "2011-08-19T15:54:36",
"content": "sexism? ” spousal ” can be male or female, the assumption that only guys are interested in buying this stuff would be …. um…. ‘sexism’. Anyways in this day and age, a spouse could be either gender no matter what gender you are.As far as a vending machine, at least if it breaks down what is in the vending machine would probably have what you need to fix it!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "437970",
"author": "Veronica Connor",
"timestamp": "2011-08-19T15:59:35",
"content": "“…2-pack that we assume would be priced above girlfriend approval levels.”That’s what started it, but mainly my comments were about several of the other comments in this thread.I’m sorry if this seems like nitpicking to people, but this stuff does matter. Assuming you want more women in technical fields, it’s a million little things like this that create an atmosphere of unwelcomeness that keeps young girls from fanning the flames of their interest. If you don’t get ’em young, you likely won’t get ’em at all.I’ll stop now, I’ve spoken my peace. Sorry HaD, I didn’t intend to derail the conversation. I just couldn’t let some of the stuff said here lie unchallenged.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "438009",
"author": "Andr0id",
"timestamp": "2011-08-19T17:18:54",
"content": "Understood. Perhaps the comment could have been “‘… future spouse approval levels.” Either way, the wording might not have been politically correct but the intent is the same.Many years ago I took electronics in high school. The girls stuck with their interest in electronics despite any wording differences. They understood the meaning. Connectors at that time were male and female. It was all understood in a technical sense. Now its plug and socket; however, due to the change in wording it is now actually noticed more and I hear sex related comments with this wording where I never did growing up. My teenage girl has more interest in computer and electronics than my son does, she looks at it all at a technical level. I guess it all depends on how picky people are. For my two cents, if I have to watch everything I say to be politically correct instead of just getting the meaning across then its not worth it and all joy is gone.I’m not a crude talker and “try” to treat all with respect but we all make mistakes and I would hate it if a simple mistake would discourage them to following their interests…That being said, I do not fault your expressing your feelings, I just wish we all could take things less literal at times and see things for what they are and not read into things too much. Life ‘B’ too short…",
"parent_id": "437970",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "438007",
"author": "The Steven",
"timestamp": "2011-08-19T17:17:59",
"content": "I was hoping to see some Arduino branded stuff too. But since so much of it is “low level” stuff, it should cross the line quite well.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "438008",
"author": "Adam",
"timestamp": "2011-08-19T17:18:15",
"content": "lol @ the gyroscope misspelling. Radioshack just doesn’t want to die, does it? Everytime I drive by it’s a ghost town.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "438033",
"author": "dontpanic",
"timestamp": "2011-08-19T17:49:42",
"content": "Was Hackaday bought by RadioShack?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "438037",
"author": "BiOzZ",
"timestamp": "2011-08-19T17:54:25",
"content": "damn these are not in shoplife frindly flexable packaging like the old paralax stuff!do you really expect me to spend $40 on a 2×16 LCD?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "438043",
"author": "pt",
"timestamp": "2011-08-19T18:08:27",
"content": "this is great news and congrats to parallax, for people who love open source hardware this is also a huge milestone some/many of the products that will hit the shelves in radioshack will bee open source hardware and it will be indicated on the packaging that it’s open source hardware too.many people get their electronics online, but there are also people who rely on retail places like radioshack for purchases, discovery or just convenience.adafruit (my other job) doesn’t have a retail store, so soon we’ll be able to point people to the local radioshack when they need an xbee or something on sunday STAT.no matter what you think about radioshack, getting electronics in more places in always a great thing, let’s encourage every radioshack to stock all of this stuff (and more, for other vendors too!)",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "438048",
"author": "BiOzZ",
"timestamp": "2011-08-19T18:16:59",
"content": "i think they should partner with sparkfun!!!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "438054",
"author": "Ken Gracey",
"timestamp": "2011-08-19T18:36:28",
"content": "The gyrocope has been repaired – thank you! The point about pricing is that these items are between $8 and $50. My apologies if anybody was offended by the metaphor about the prices.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "438081",
"author": "Keith",
"timestamp": "2011-08-19T19:31:49",
"content": "Yea, but they are still not getting my phone number.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "438159",
"author": "Mike (NLV)",
"timestamp": "2011-08-19T22:49:19",
"content": "Sweet, this is really exciting to see! I hope the prices are indeed reasonable.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "438181",
"author": "knuckles904",
"timestamp": "2011-08-19T23:37:41",
"content": "Also, drop the prices on basic stamps or let them die already!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "438200",
"author": "matt",
"timestamp": "2011-08-20T00:57:37",
"content": "well done, i hate to shill but i’ve never had bad service at a radio shack",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "438230",
"author": "Nathan",
"timestamp": "2011-08-20T02:01:48",
"content": "Here’s my free suggestion to RadioShack:Partner with Monoprice. Stock every store with every sort of cable you could need, in various lengths and colors. And then sell them at just above monoprice’s prices. Then advertise the heck out of it. Make Best Buy look absolutely silly selling HDMI cables for $40 when you’re selling them for $4.99. Make it well-known that you stock all the cables people need AND have knowledable staff that can help anyone hook up anything to anything.That will drive people back to the stores and when your staff is actually helpful and knowledgable, they just might come back to buy that TV, even if you are selling it for close to what Best Buy does. And you can sell the accessories. Someone comes in to buy a cable to hook up a TV to a Receiver and they walk out with a cable and that Boxee you had on display playing YouTube videos…And the geeks will come pouring in when we need a cable and we need it now and don’t want to wait 3-5 days for it. And they’ll see the new hobby electronics…",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "438309",
"author": "therian",
"timestamp": "2011-08-20T05:31:10",
"content": "thanks but no thank I dont want 2 (insert primitive passive component here)in box for 5$",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "438316",
"author": "Az",
"timestamp": "2011-08-20T05:43:41",
"content": "This is great to hear, but I’m afraid that us Canadians will be left out of the loop, what with all the Radio Shack locations around here having been sold off to Circuit City and turned into The Source.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "438403",
"author": "KillerBug",
"timestamp": "2011-08-20T10:52:38",
"content": "The USA isn’t much better…I think the closest radio shack that hasn’t been closed must be at least 10 miles from my house…and I live in the city.I still see a very serious issue…selection is never going to be anywhere close to online selection. Even a site like Sparkfun can easily stock more stuff that Radioshack is going to stock. Worse, they don’t seem to be going for cross-purpose parts…like that display; it is a fixed color unit with a color that most people won’t want. For a few cents more they could have offered a version with an RGB backlight…that would have been like stocking units in all the backlight colors plus some that are only on RGB displays…but instead they went with the old green and black displays from the early 1980’s…and I’ll keep getting my displays online.",
"parent_id": "438316",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "438326",
"author": "flewdefur",
"timestamp": "2011-08-20T06:25:43",
"content": "I don’t mind paying a little extra for convenience.Hopefully the selection of components will improve…and it sure would be nice if the project boxes had pcb mounts that match the perf board they sell.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "438491",
"author": "Max",
"timestamp": "2011-08-20T15:19:40",
"content": "Holy cow! A good idea I never thought of … a vending machine that dispenses any combination of single components, any size, any value, from a machine. You go online, place the order, visit the machine, swipe your card, and get a bag full of the parts you want. I wish I had the money to develop a really good machine.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "438508",
"author": "NateOcean",
"timestamp": "2011-08-20T16:19:50",
"content": "Unless that vending machine takes $100-bills, I don’t see how it will work. I recently purchased a few of these Parallax parts on CLEARANCE at Radio Shack, and even at clearance prices they were a bit pricey. I noticed the accelerometers (not on clearance) were over $30, as was the ultrasonic distance gizmo.I’m sorry, that’s not a fair profit. That’s just gouging. Christ, accelerometers are under $4 from the manufacturer.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "438681",
"author": "Rollyn01",
"timestamp": "2011-08-21T00:02:13",
"content": "There are vending machines that accept credit cards for soda, why not for electronic parts?",
"parent_id": "438508",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "438540",
"author": "therian",
"timestamp": "2011-08-20T18:05:05",
"content": "I remember I had to visit 3 RS in order to get 4 freaking transistors for H-bridge, yes they have just 2 transistor in stock O_O",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "440108",
"author": "veneficus",
"timestamp": "2011-08-23T08:03:53",
"content": "Upon reading this I went and visited a local Radio Shack. Not only they were out of the Parallax modules they used to carry (PIR and Ultrasonic), they didn’t even know if anything new will be arriving or not. They had two employees, one was hunting down a replacement battery for a what seems to be a wireless phone from 1980s and the other one was hunting down an adapter of some sort for an old cell phone. That went for about 15 minutes until I lost my patience and decided not to buy the components I picked up. That’s the reality of Radio Shack though, it is no longer a place for a hacker to go pick some components and tools, It is a place to go to find batteries for your old electronics, and if they cannot find you a replacement battery, they’ll sell you a new cell phone right on the spot and perhaps a remote controlled car. It’ll take a lot more effort than promising to carry more Parallax stuff in RS’s account to change that image now.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "448346",
"author": "SexieWASD",
"timestamp": "2011-09-05T15:58:26",
"content": "My last trip to radio shack.clerk:”Can I help you?”me:”yea, I’m looking for a couple of servos”clerk:”umm, whats a servo?”me:”ahh, it’s like a little motor.”clerk:”ohh, well whats it for?”me:”a pumpkin.”clerk:”I’m sorry we don’t have any pumpkin motors”",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "453004",
"author": "mail junky",
"timestamp": "2011-09-11T21:31:26",
"content": "Yet to see the full line of parallax stuff. Just a marketing ploy?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "456948",
"author": "genericname",
"timestamp": "2011-09-16T17:03:36",
"content": "I read on the parallax forums that it’d be mid-to-late octoberish before they’d be in stores.",
"parent_id": "453004",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "458278",
"author": "spiritplumber",
"timestamp": "2011-09-18T06:04:11",
"content": "Moar Propeller please. We use it industrially and it can do incredible things for the price.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
}
] | 1,760,377,109.974204
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2011/08/18/project-25-digital-radios-law-enforcemnet-grade-vulnerable-to-the-im-me/
|
Project 25 Digital Radios (law Enforcement Grade) Vulnerable To The IM-ME
|
Mike Szczys
|
[
"Radio Hacks",
"Security Hacks"
] |
[
"apco-25",
"im-me",
"project 25",
"travis goodspeed"
] |
Would you believe you can track, and even jam law enforcement radio communications using a pretty pink pager? It turns out the digital radios using
the APCO-25 protocol can be jammed using the IM-ME
hardware. We’ve seen this ‘toy’ so many times… yet it keeps on surprising us. Or rather, [Travis Goodspeed’s] ability to do
amazing stuff with the hardware
is what makes us perk up.
Details about this were presented in a paper at the USENIX conference a few weeks ago. Join us after the break where we’ve embedded the thirty-minute talk. There’s a lot of interesting stuff in there. The IM-ME can be used to decode the metadata that starts each radio communication. That means you can track who is talking to whom. But for us the most interesting part was starting at about 15:30 when the presenter, [Matt Blaze], talked about directed jamming that can be used to alter law enforcement behavior. A jammer can be set to only jam encrypted communications. This may prompt an officer to switch off encryption, allowing the attackers to listen in on everything being said to or from that radio.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NW-jRRTPCuw&w=470]
[Thanks DanAdamKOF and Uhrheber]
| 73
| 34
|
[
{
"comment_id": "437485",
"author": "iHME",
"timestamp": "2011-08-18T22:07:32",
"content": "This is quite interesting.What a nice project.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "437487",
"author": "NewCommenter1283",
"timestamp": "2011-08-18T22:11:42",
"content": "maybe im just confused but three hours since posted and NO comments???DID THE YAHOO CENSORSHIP GOONS GET INTO THIS SITE???srsly i heard those radios were “unbreakable” even to expert coders… A KIDS TOY ??? wow.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "437615",
"author": "macona",
"timestamp": "2011-08-19T02:39:08",
"content": "The encryption may be unbreakable, but if the only way to use the radio is to turn off encryption then in a way its broken.",
"parent_id": "437487",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "437488",
"author": "NewCommenter1283",
"timestamp": "2011-08-18T22:14:06",
"content": "hmm my “1st” comment got beat by 4 mins, sry HAD staff. please remove my last comment.what i wanted to say:seriously, i heard those radios were “unbreakable” even to expert coders… A KIDS TOY ??? wow.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "444092",
"author": "Joe",
"timestamp": "2011-08-30T05:37:24",
"content": "I can ‘break’ a Rubik’s cube with a hammer. It doesn’t mean I figured out how to solve the puzzle.",
"parent_id": "437488",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "2446255",
"author": "steve",
"timestamp": "2015-02-20T02:46:19",
"content": "Application has use, figuring it out dose not.",
"parent_id": "444092",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "437497",
"author": "b1r6m4n",
"timestamp": "2011-08-18T22:33:33",
"content": "law enforcemnet? Spelling error in the title…Cool project btw!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "437502",
"author": "TacoStand",
"timestamp": "2011-08-18T22:39:23",
"content": "These radios are “unbreakable” in the sense they haven’t been broken yet. Any radio system is susceptible to jamming.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "437840",
"author": "tony",
"timestamp": "2011-08-19T11:55:44",
"content": "The Titanic was “unsinkable”. Arrogant humans.",
"parent_id": "437502",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "437917",
"author": "mess_maker",
"timestamp": "2011-08-19T14:20:11",
"content": "@tony, The Titanic was monikered “Unsinkable” by the media and myth. Arrogant posters…",
"parent_id": "437840",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "4449580",
"author": "Kieren",
"timestamp": "2018-03-30T10:00:03",
"content": "They have been broken in Australia.https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/hi-tech-hackers-crack-nsw-police-force-22-million-encrypted-radio-system/news-story/c4dd519b7edd72918212ca380ecfaded?sv=907f29a6cbe309c1bc439b303b733241and yes it was a P25 system.",
"parent_id": "437502",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "437516",
"author": "Hirudinea",
"timestamp": "2011-08-18T23:02:47",
"content": "So does this mean that GirlTech will now be a defence contractor? (I can hardly wait for the pink rifle!)",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "437526",
"author": "GirlTech",
"timestamp": "2011-08-18T23:17:19",
"content": "http://blog.riflegear.com/archive/2007/12/26/hello-kitty-ar-15—evil-black-rifle-meets-cute-and.aspx",
"parent_id": "437516",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "438156",
"author": "jesse",
"timestamp": "2011-08-19T22:43:07",
"content": "Too late!http://www.riflegear.com/blogimages/HelloKittyParts.jpg",
"parent_id": "437516",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "2446256",
"author": "steve",
"timestamp": "2015-02-20T02:48:42",
"content": "does that come in betty boop",
"parent_id": "438156",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "437536",
"author": "b1r6m4n",
"timestamp": "2011-08-18T23:34:08",
"content": "If you want to listen to unencrypted P25, I highly recommend the PSR-500 by GRECOM. I got it from scannermaster – it is awesome!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "437583",
"author": "ausy",
"timestamp": "2011-08-19T01:30:25",
"content": "“It’s going to be someone somewhere creating the Project 25 jamming kit and it’ll be something that you download from the Net,” Blaze said. “We’re not there right now, but we’re pretty close.”i’ll be looking for HAD to cover it when it comes out",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "437599",
"author": "rasz",
"timestamp": "2011-08-19T01:48:22",
"content": "Wonder if anyone did any analysis of Tetra.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "437798",
"author": "superlopez",
"timestamp": "2011-08-19T10:25:10",
"content": "http://tetra.osmocom.org/trac/",
"parent_id": "437599",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "437601",
"author": "superlopez",
"timestamp": "2011-08-19T01:49:08",
"content": "P25 was never designed to be jam-proof. There are some radio systems with anti-jamming techniques built-in, but mostly in military systems where jamming is a real threat.Google HAVE QUICK II , STANAG 4372 or AN/PSC-11.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "437614",
"author": "macona",
"timestamp": "2011-08-19T02:37:37",
"content": "Now THIS is hacking!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "437671",
"author": "John P",
"timestamp": "2011-08-19T04:31:47",
"content": "I myself have researched this radio standard for a few years now. I have found many more vulnerabilities than these guys have mentioned.I won’t share them for the sake of it falling into the wrong hands, but I can say that it’s enough to make me a little queasy.Not only are there problems with the security, the price is another factor. Many law enforcement agencies have to buy this equipment in order to keep up with surrounding areas. The vocoder itself is very expensive and has a hefty royalty fee.I have taken it upon myself to address these issues and turn speex into a new digital radio system standard. And Ham’s should at least benefit from the lower cost of my work.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "437944",
"author": "mungewell",
"timestamp": "2011-08-19T15:22:46",
"content": "@JohnSpeex is a little ‘heavy’ for HAM/NFM work, checkout CODEC2.http://www.rowetel.com/blog/?page_id=452",
"parent_id": "437671",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "437688",
"author": "Willrandship",
"timestamp": "2011-08-19T05:11:57",
"content": "What a lovely bit of Black-Hat hacking :P Of course, the officers could always switch to cell phones, which are spread spectrum and therefore harder to jam.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "437691",
"author": "KillerBug",
"timestamp": "2011-08-19T05:23:31",
"content": "Civilians are supposed to be able to listen to police broadcasts…encrypting their communications is wrong. I love that you can use a toy designed for little girls to do this.I wonder if the TI watch I have on the way could do the same?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "437754",
"author": "Zig",
"timestamp": "2011-08-19T08:50:20",
"content": "While I agree that official communications should be recorded and subject to review for accountability’s sake, I disagree that they should always be unencrypted. For example, consider a hostage situation in which law enforcement must coordinate without the knowledge of the hostage-takers or other parties in order to take them by surprise. There are times when encrypted communication is necessary for the effective execution of their jobs.",
"parent_id": "437691",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "437860",
"author": "fartface",
"timestamp": "2011-08-19T12:39:11",
"content": "Too bad police dont have magical devices called “cellphones” that already do this.Oh wait, this is what they do already.",
"parent_id": "437754",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "437945",
"author": "mungewell",
"timestamp": "2011-08-19T15:25:39",
"content": "Police comms should be encrypted to protect the operation and personal details…. however it should also be made available after the fact with any redactions explained.The police are public servants and should be accountable for their actions.",
"parent_id": "437754",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "438743",
"author": "Standard Mischief",
"timestamp": "2011-08-21T03:34:30",
"content": "There are some communications so private that they should never be made public. An example might be the name of a rape victim or an abused minor.There are some communications that need a delay, but only a short delay. Perhaps the oddball hostage situation.For the overwhelming majority of police radio communication, they need to be transmitted live and in the clear. I can’t tell you the number of times I’ve found out exactly why a helicopter had been circulating the area or what the huge firetruck response was all about. After an accidental chemical release or a terrorist attack I’ve found out exactly what was going on thanks to my scanner. The media has been less than helpful because usually only get a strange diluted version of what happened, after a delay, on the five o’clock news.Unfortunately this is exactly the reverse of what is happening. Puppycide and SWAT teams and garbage trucks bought with homeland defense pork spending. Super-seekret cross-state radio networks that encrypt even the mutual aid frequencies. Getting the recycling collectors and the dog catcher both on scrambled trunked radio systems. I can’t see any of this crap ending well.",
"parent_id": "437754",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "437801",
"author": "JohnConnor",
"timestamp": "2011-08-19T10:29:56",
"content": "This has received a lot of unwarranted publicity from the chicken little gallery. It’s also what happens when you have “IT” weenies with ZERO real world radio background focusing in on something to make themselves look credible in their industry (IT security).As someone on another message board suggested, I could write big headlines to the effect of “$.10 cent Home Depot part renders top secret national security million dollar device inoperable!!”…what might this be ? hey, i’ll just drop a screw onto a live circuit board inside say a control panel for an F-22 CDU.Some of you need to stop “skimming” articles and repeating the hype generated by a rag of CNET’s caliber.To Old Crows in the defense industry, and others in the radio business, this is no news. Heck there are literally dozens of more PRACTICAL ways to disrupt communications. The time/effort needed to implement this kind of EXPERIMENT, would be tactically unsound in the REAL WORLD (particularly when less complicated vectors to achieve the same goal exist).Also, you’ll notice the academic work focused on end users not selecting encryption-on. In other words they were transmitting un-coded messages. This is not a hardware issue, but a user issue of the feature being ignored.All hype, little substance of practical value (to anyone but IT weenies wanting to push buttons of clueless management types and politicians – presumably to give the illusion of elevating their own ‘value add’ to the organization).As I stated, dozens and dozens of more easier ways to disrupt a radio system.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "437830",
"author": "superlopez",
"timestamp": "2011-08-19T11:26:07",
"content": "Read the paper or watch the video, i agree that an army of criminals armed with girltech im-me jammers are not a real threat. but attack behind this using selective jamming of frame only needs 4db of power UNDER base station received power. Not to mention the ability of selective jam comms.These are pretty clever attacks.",
"parent_id": "437801",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "438024",
"author": "octel",
"timestamp": "2011-08-19T17:38:28",
"content": "You sure are angry on the Internet about Information Technology!",
"parent_id": "437801",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "437812",
"author": "bothersaidpooh",
"timestamp": "2011-08-19T10:49:11",
"content": "@John P, keeping the knowledge back does far more damage because when the “bad guys” do figure it out they will probably use it to greater effect.Better to publish what you know anonymously in a way that proves the system is fundamentally broken and let the authorities take appropriate action.Remember, security through obscurity is no security at all!!(Sony learned this the hard way, military grade security on the PSP and it could be defeated with a simple buffer overflow from the battery E2PROM)",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "455609",
"author": "mike",
"timestamp": "2011-09-15T04:26:04",
"content": "from what i read, it wasnt a buffer overflowit was a backdoor for recovering it from a bricked stateif the serial# is 0, it will boot off the memory stickthey simply left out any signed boot file checking on the backdoor",
"parent_id": "437812",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "437813",
"author": "therian",
"timestamp": "2011-08-19T10:51:41",
"content": "nothing to be wow about, single transistor can jam spectrum, gas lighter can jam, broken lightbulb can accomplish goal",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "998160",
"author": "Mojo",
"timestamp": "2013-04-26T12:47:20",
"content": "Can any of those just jam communications between specified people? Not really the same are they.",
"parent_id": "437813",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "437836",
"author": "truthspew",
"timestamp": "2011-08-19T11:43:17",
"content": "Haven’t been broken yet? Um, with a $15 toy and a small power amp you can make encryption useless so they have to switch to clear mode.I’d say that’s a fairly broken system.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "437865",
"author": "Will",
"timestamp": "2011-08-19T12:55:44",
"content": "@truthspewThere is a world of difference between knowingly talking on an unencrypted channel and talking on a channel you believe to be secure. The encryption itself hasn’t been broken/cracked. Having users mistakenly believe it is turned on when it isn’t is a Very Bad Thing(tm) but has nothing to do with the IMME attack. The attack is about two things, creating a positional knowledge of nearby radios and selectively jamming only the encrypted traffic so that users are forced to go unencrypted (though they should know this and therefore watch what they say a bit more). Both are very bad.@JohnConnorI don’t think you understood the attack. By sniffing the start of the packet, you can determine not only if it is encrypted, but which radio is sending it. So no, it is not a spectrum jam, but a highly targeted and specific jam. Like if you followed someone around in a crowd and only dropped banana peels in front of that specific person or waited to hear the first word of their sentence and if it started with a vowel then you would cough really loudly to drown out the rest.It sounds like this could be adapted to knock out or even replace specific radio IDs so that a legit user could be completely silenced or impersonated. THAT sounds like a scary scenario!",
"parent_id": "437836",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "437856",
"author": "JohnConnor",
"timestamp": "2011-08-19T12:35:07",
"content": "Are any of you noobs even comprehending the hype in that dubious IT resume padding article ?Encryption was NOT broken or “hacked”, in any way, shape or form ! The radio user did not switch encryption “on”. LUSER error. It can be configured out by the way, just program the talkgroup as “secure” only”.Besides, that $15 “toy” was hacked with custom firmware and an add on power amplifier. If I was an adversary, why the hell would I even bother with such troublesome and lengthy procedures when I can just buy a radio off e-bay, and jam the damn control channels at the tower sites ? You’ll really take down the system in that way. Repeat for each site for a wide area (multi-zone) system.Get off your “IT” weenie-geek momma’s basements, and enter the real world of terrorists using simple but cheap AK-47’s, or gas bombs with a match and a fuse… (NOT complex Arduino controlled timing mechanisms!)… sheesh…",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "438028",
"author": "octel",
"timestamp": "2011-08-19T17:41:30",
"content": "Wow, two comments full of the same drivel! You are real mad about Information Technology! Did a sysadmin break your heart, perhaps?You might not understand this, but maybe hobbyists don’t want to “enter the real world of terrorists”.Do you understand the term “proof of concept”?",
"parent_id": "437856",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "438422",
"author": "doubleup",
"timestamp": "2011-08-20T12:24:41",
"content": "You need to learn how to communicate with civility. I’m certain you have many wonderful things to say, but if you keep saying them in this manner, I fear that you will be banned, and then nobody will be able to learn from your wisdom.Please take a step back from the situation and re-evaluate your attitude, as it is hurtful to the free exchange of ideas.Thank you.",
"parent_id": "437856",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "437857",
"author": "fartface",
"timestamp": "2011-08-19T12:37:37",
"content": "Law enforcement grade? You mean commercial grade with encryption as they dont make “law enforcement grade”Motorola and others make commercial radios.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "437861",
"author": "JohnConnor",
"timestamp": "2011-08-19T12:39:48",
"content": "@truthspew.you don’t know what the hell you’re talking about.jam a channel and they can still use it in “clear” mode ? what universe do you live in where the laws of physics as we know them, don’t apply ?you jam spectrum (unless you’re running anti-jam milspec waveforms), the spectrum usage is negated for both coded and clear messaging.kind of like saying. dump oil on the highway, it’ll prevent Fords from driving, but Chevy’s can still operate.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "438395",
"author": "Makdaam",
"timestamp": "2011-08-20T10:28:07",
"content": "And here’s proof that JohnConnor didn’t even bother to read the paper/watch the video.A simple spectrum jam is easy to detect (radio not working), and with a single or unsynchronised jammers it’s easy to get the locations of the sources.This attack allows jamming only specific parts of the transmission for example herding the users to turn off crypto.",
"parent_id": "437861",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "437867",
"author": "atiti",
"timestamp": "2011-08-19T12:55:50",
"content": "very nice.Does anyone know if something similar could be done to the European version? (TETRA)",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "437879",
"author": "YaBa",
"timestamp": "2011-08-19T13:17:54",
"content": "Any change to upload new firmware to the IM-ME (spectrum analyzer) without using GoodFET ?Bus Pirate, ez430 dev kit? any other?Thank you.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "437884",
"author": "JohnConnor",
"timestamp": "2011-08-19T13:29:49",
"content": "@WillPlease describe to me the effort/reward ratio of the scenario you present.There are simpler ways to execute the radio ID spoofing you describe. The least of which is to clone a legit radio and put it on the system (remember the old AMPS days of cellular cloning?).Newer generation of core software these P25 systems are running (at least with one manufacturer), will be deploying dynamic radio authentication similar to what cellular phones do before being allowed access to the network. This is specific to that one vendor, and is permitted in the P25 specs as a “value added feature”.This is nothing but a tempest in a teapot. It has zero practical value for any adversary.Simple tactics are the most effective (a lesson the insurgents in the middle east have taken to heart).",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "438079",
"author": "Al",
"timestamp": "2011-08-19T19:31:07",
"content": "JohnConnor, I believe the P25 authentication you mention only works in trunked systems. I don’t think it prevents any of these attacks.Really, I don’t think you understand the work that you’re criticizing.Their paper is online. It is available at this link:http://www.crypto.com/blog/p25You might want to read it.I’m curious: why are you so angry about this?",
"parent_id": "437884",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "438514",
"author": "SynthShoppingDotCom",
"timestamp": "2011-08-20T16:37:50",
"content": "I think a lot of people become angry on the internet when they see something they recognize. For JohnConnor, it’s perhaps trivial to “clone a legit radio,” but for me and people on this website it’s easier to combine an RF poweramp with a kid’s toy. For us that IS the most elegant solution.Especially if our goal is learning more about the system and not just destroying it, as JohnConnor seems to be expert at. I think JohnConnor is pissed that us younger, more open-minded folks are not taken part in his Man-dance. He probably sees all of our activities as non-productive, materialistic ventures into stupid oblivion, but the world is more fluid now than it used to be and sometimes a random little project like this can stimulate one of us to do valuable, useful things.I like people like superlopez, who post useful links to the topic.",
"parent_id": "438079",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "438089",
"author": "rasz",
"timestamp": "2011-08-19T19:51:56",
"content": "You sound mad, you work for Motorola?",
"parent_id": "437884",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "440251",
"author": "Will",
"timestamp": "2011-08-23T13:35:32",
"content": "@JohnConnorWow, if you want to start a flame war, you should pick a less knowledgeable opponent or at least read up on the topic you’re debating… I have no love for “IT” types but I have even less love for anyone who has “manager” or related in their title. At least IT folks do real work… I myself am neither and never will be, I am a firmware engineer who started out in board level EE and mechE design, cut my teeth on software and has racked up a nice portfolio of high level software projects in C, Java, C#, etc. My current job is all about embedded RF chips just like the CC1110. But I digress.The attack vector as described in the video details using a $15 piece of equipment coupled with a piece of software allowing an attacker to:1) completely jam all P25 traffic2) selectively jam specific types of traffic (encrypted or unencrypted)3) locate, identify and monitor specific radios within range (using a second triangulation source)4) potentially impersonate (clone) a specific radio while at the same time knocking transmissions from said radio off the air.Any of the above is pretty darn scary considering what these radios are supposed to be used for. It is even scarier considering that any of this could be done for less than $1000. Does that mean that every BadPerson(tm) will pick this specific method to cause trouble? No. But then again it’s not your average Joe who has access to anthrax or a nuke either and we still worry about those.The thing about security is that you have to consider ALL risks and then weigh them based on probability of occurrence. This is why buffer overflows in software are a big deal. Sure they are unlikely and hard to find and a real pain in the a**. But if you were in any company I’ve worked at and decided to ignore them you’d be out the door or demoted to cleaning toilets so fast it would make your head spin. This particular attack looks to be pretty easy, very low cost, high availability and extremely disruptive. So yeah, it is a big deal unless it can be disproven based on technical arguments which you have yet to coherently voice.",
"parent_id": "437884",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "438011",
"author": "Adam",
"timestamp": "2011-08-19T17:20:04",
"content": "Not sure how ethical this is, but cool nonetheless!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "438094",
"author": "superlopez",
"timestamp": "2011-08-19T19:59:21",
"content": "Those interested in inner working of P25 and/or owners of old analog scanners will find this very usefulhttp://wiki.radioreference.com/index.php/Digital_Speech_Decoder_(software_package)",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "438118",
"author": "JohnConnor",
"timestamp": "2011-08-19T21:11:01",
"content": "@rasz.No, I work for a large defense systems integrator and Motorola is a partner on some of our ventures.The IT weenies muscled their way onto “turf” that used to belong to RF guys. Because of the presence of servers, management thinks “oh IT”… to which we say BS!@Al, you’re proving my point. “IT” people just don’t get RF (radio). If you’re speaking of “conventional” operation, there are even more simpler ways of spoofing.Come on, what next ? A paper on man-in-the-middle attacks on a microwave back haul ? or what about the publicity hounds on ATM “hacking” ? (and I don’t mean Asynchronous TM)… easy money, no ? well we don’t hear much about such high tech “hacks” – more low tech – dude drags the ATM away with a pick up truck!As stated earlier ‘tempest-in-a-teapot’. Nothing but academic toilet paper. We’ve all written them in our college days.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "438223",
"author": "Al",
"timestamp": "2011-08-20T01:51:27",
"content": "So, these people not only walked all over your turf, but they also had the nerve to discover problems that your way of looking at things didn’t regard as being problems?Yeah, I’d be pissed off too.",
"parent_id": "438118",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "438262",
"author": "Matt",
"timestamp": "2011-08-20T03:24:25",
"content": "+1 AlAnd for the record, JohnConnor, some of us that do IT stuff are also pretty well versed in EE.So don’t generalize just because you don’t like your coworkers.Furthermore, as a proof of concept, I think this is interesting. Hacks like this are a first step toward defeating the encryption entirely. I think you’d agree that would be a problem.HAD: I’d love to see more RF stuff. Every real radio post I’ve seen has been interesting.",
"parent_id": "438118",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "438194",
"author": "iHME",
"timestamp": "2011-08-20T00:26:55",
"content": "The interesting part of this is that they have cracked the P25 protocol.It could be interesting news for HAM radio operators. I live on the other side of the globe and we have P25 repeaters and people do own motorolas that do it.It would be sweet to send P25 compatible txt messages to people who own compatible radios.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "438387",
"author": "JohnConnor",
"timestamp": "2011-08-20T09:51:04",
"content": "The problem with IT geeks (even if they might have EE), is, they seem to be preoccupied with minutaie regarding the practicality of concepts.When I was an engineering manager for another firm, i’d constantly have to “reel” in overzealous software people who would want to expend resources on designing out scenarios that were statistically improbable, and would have prevented a timely product release.For example, one guy wanted to “seizure proof” a device so epileptics would be able to use it. My response was ‘hey, we don’t have to be ADA compliant!’.If I were the prof’s adjudicating a grade for this paper, i’d evaluate it for what it is. A mediocre PR stunt. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to go “hack” the ATM down the street (could use some extra cash). Oh wait, it’s easier to phone in a fake 911 call on the other side of town, crash a pickup truck thru the front door, and haul off the ATM to my garage. Screw all that “hacking” of crypto algorithims and spoofing magnetic strips, blah, blah, blah. Ah yes, that pesky concept of “REAL WORLD” adversaries is intruding.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "998263",
"author": "m1ndtr1p",
"timestamp": "2013-04-26T17:03:41",
"content": "Wow… Your pride must be incredibly hurt for you to harbor such anger towards “IT geeks”, the fact that a $15 toy and some “IT geeks” are able to circumvent security that had billions of dollars in R&D thrown into it says a lot about the way you “manage” your software engineers. Maybe instead of being so closed minded and telling them to stop “wasting time” trying to make the end product better, you let them do their jobs and you wouldn’t be in this position… But just like every other clueless manager out there, you think your way is the only way and that everyone who works for you knows nothing, newsflash my friend, most of those “overzealous software people” you’re putting down are MUCH smarter than you are, and most of the people you’re putting down on this very website are as well… So please, take your condescending attitude and ignorance out of here, we don’t need douchebags like you here, you’re absolutely useless.",
"parent_id": "438387",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "438553",
"author": "Al",
"timestamp": "2011-08-20T18:28:25",
"content": "So, you don’t think “minutaie” are relevant to the practice of security and cryptography, to say nothing of engineering in general? That’s certainly an interesting point of view.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "438719",
"author": "Rollyn01",
"timestamp": "2011-08-21T02:07:06",
"content": "Don’t tell that idiot anything. If he isn’t smart enough to know that many people may have epilepsy and not know it( the reason his programmers wanted to proof it), then he doesn’t deserve his positon. I may not have an ee or a mba, but I atleast know that it’s best to research every senario in this liability-sueing world. Btw, how does someone to down to hacking but suggestd using social engineering in the same breath?",
"parent_id": "438553",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "438720",
"author": "Rollyn01",
"timestamp": "2011-08-21T02:09:08",
"content": "*talk down about*",
"parent_id": "438719",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "775450",
"author": "phraek2",
"timestamp": "2012-09-07T16:17:36",
"content": "is there a guide on how to do this?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "1000415",
"author": "sonofthunderboanerges",
"timestamp": "2013-05-03T15:30:02",
"content": "Just as an FYI… Even if you do figure out how to do this with the IM-ME toy you will not be able to hear any traffic over the toy just make the Apco-P25 user switch-off thier encryption so you can listen on your pre-existing scanner. But I asuume most of you got that already.Speaking of legacy toys (now discontinued): Check out the Ohio Arts Zender (http://tinyurl.com/d2tbw53) still available via EBAY or Amazon. It was a 49 mHz 2-way messaging transceiver with a 500 foot range. It is said to exploit a *still* classified USAF radio encryption technology. Evidently Ohio Arts had/has some employees once associated with such stuff in their R&D dept. They evidently saw no reason why not use such technology sans permission from UNCLE SAM. The reasoning was all they had to do is request that the FCC keep the details sequestered, which they did. The PCB is all SMT electronics and good luck trying to reverse engineer the signals with your spectrum analyzers. Cool toy though.Other interesting 2-way messaging RF toy technology is the Russian-engineer-inspired CYBIKO. Also discontinued with only a small dedicated following special interests groups. It was a 900 mHz toy. This toy had really promising uses only the amateur-coder-programmer could imagine. Maybe that’s why it got pulled?Another is Hasbro ChatNow SMS walkie-talkies. Somehow the engineers designed a protocol that just can not be easily tracked with standard scanner, frequency counter, and analyzer tools. Evidently it sets up a control channel (maybe random) and then sends out data to other listening units to set up a messaging channel. Really intriquing design. Also discontinued.The next one is truly amazing and is NOT discontinued: The TriSquare TSX300 spread spectrum walkie-talkies. (http://www.trisquare.us/tsx300.htm) These things are not really toys but they are relatively cheap. And it appears possibly NO ONE can monitor you with a scanner! You can also do SMS text messaging.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "3931655",
"author": "sonofthunderboanerges",
"timestamp": "2017-08-23T21:12:22",
"content": "BTW – I spoke too soon. The TriSquare was shortly pulled from the US marketplace. Good luck finding one now at a reasonable price. I guess we HaDers have to hack out our own version with an Arduino or something. :-)Bill Bailey – Don’t give up on us that fast. Yes we like to argue a bit but we have some bright minds here on HaD. Browse around or use the search engine. What were you looking for? One of us could give you the info you seek(just as long as its legal!).:D",
"parent_id": "1000415",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "4474066",
"author": "Random Internet Commenter",
"timestamp": "2018-04-11T00:53:21",
"content": "Your comment is the only place in the entire internet that I have seen a reference to the Zender using USAF encryption technology. Can you provide more information on this as it is fascinating…",
"parent_id": "3931655",
"depth": 3,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "4475811",
"author": "sonofthunderboanerges",
"timestamp": "2018-04-11T20:04:00",
"content": "Random Internet Commenter says:April 10, 2018 at 5:53 pmYour comment is the only place in the entire internet that I have seen a reference to the Zender using USAF encryption technology. Can you provide more information on this as it is fascinating…I too noticed that same Internet anomaly. I’m beginning to suspect someone is skimming the Internet to “sanitize it” of sensitive subjects. The information by Ohio Arts was a long time ago. I may have got it from skimming subject matter discussion forums. Sometimes employees like JohnConnor let the cat out of the bag by complaining about stuff they should STFU about. I think JC is a Senior RF Engineer from Harris, RCA, Bechtel, Battel, or Philips but I could be wrong. Maybe some OA employee was blowing off steam or something. I only do OS information gathering.Or I may have got it from the public FCC database in where you can actually read the manufacturers pleas to make their stuff more secret from prying eyes. The FCC usually gives in too (sometimes not completely dumbed down). This particular USAF technology was briefly in the movie Fail Safe (1964). But it only showed pilot’s user interface not the radio’s inner workings (it was 1964!). I think it’s based on something like P25 as the Zender technology is based on X.25 encryption. That is also used in IT world for SNA3270 remote terminals with mainframe computers.",
"parent_id": "4474066",
"depth": 4,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "4476042",
"author": "sonofthunderboanerges",
"timestamp": "2018-04-11T23:12:46",
"content": "Just did some more OSINT researching and the FCC site has the LZ3333 unit which is the only RF transceiver Ohio Art Toy Co ever made. The inventor was the late James E. Watson, who was in USN and US Army. He died 12 years ago. Can’t find any USPTO data on it. It allegedly also uses the P25 format and was a popular calculator-like toy back in 1994.When listening on 49.86 Mhz you can barely hear it as it’s only little quick blips. It will transmit a full alphanumeric text sentence to it’s properly encoded partner unit. Range is upto 500 feet (152 m). I think you can still get some on EBAY. I heard it was Watson’s idea to use this technology as a marketing idea. Since there is no patent license to contend with, they just rolled with it.You could modify the output to a more powerful radio transmitter. However, you need to port the radio scanner input to this device as there is no known software that can decode it yet.https://thumbs.worthpoint.com/zoom/images2/1/0211/22/zender-text-message-tranceivers-ohio_1_2f0266ccc73223a7d7e30647e27e145a.jpg",
"parent_id": "4475811",
"depth": 5,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "6308801",
"author": "Jack M",
"timestamp": "2021-01-05T03:41:45",
"content": "I watched the 1964, AND 2000 versions of Fail Safe, and although the movies are almost identical, it would take an incredible stretch of the imagination to think of the Zender as even remotely close to the Fail Safe code device. I also watched Dr. Strangelove, and despite the device in that movie being larger, and electro-mechanical, the purpose, operation, and description is nearly identical the the operation of the Zender. I think you got your movies mixed up.",
"parent_id": "4475811",
"depth": 5,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "4480323",
"author": "sonofthunderboanerges",
"timestamp": "2018-04-14T02:44:11",
"content": "Random Internet Commenter – On 2nd thought, after reconsidering what I’ve already said, I think I may have mangled the last transmission. The Ohio Art Toy engineer PROBABLY meant that the toy exploits P.25 just like the other pink GirlTech IMME toy the OP is talking about. P.25 does have a clandestine past history and that’s probably what James Watson meant by saying a classified USAF encryption method was used. That was back in 1994, Not so much classified today. However, some guys in Australia allegedly broke it.https://goo.gl/XpC59U",
"parent_id": "4474066",
"depth": 4,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "3930737",
"author": "Bill Bailey",
"timestamp": "2017-08-23T07:49:03",
"content": "Good God! I came to this site for some useful info and I end up reading an argument (a gripping one at that. lol). No useful info here. Good luck…",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "6229840",
"author": "Fred",
"timestamp": "2020-03-21T00:25:24",
"content": "What did YOU provide…?",
"parent_id": "3930737",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "6339578",
"author": "Billy B",
"timestamp": "2021-04-14T00:43:23",
"content": "In regard to the post of “When listening on 49.86 Mhz you can barely hear it as it’s only little quick blips.”, those “quick blips” are roughly six seconds long, and as the unit sends them several times, what is heard can be likened to monitoring a national paging frequency for several tens of seconds. It’s harsh, loud, often, and gets old, really fast.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
}
] | 1,760,377,109.857744
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2011/08/18/diy-rc-sensor-board/
|
DIY RC Sensor Board
|
Mike Nathan
|
[
"Toy Hacks"
] |
[
"airplane",
"rc",
"remote control",
"telemetry"
] |
Along with hobby electronics, flying RC planes is one of [Diederich’s] favorite hobbies. When out in the field, he prefers to use an Aurora 9 radio controller, and while the remote is great, he was a bit disappointed in Hitec’s telemetry sensor lineup. He says that the sensors are pretty decent, though limited, and
he was positive he could build a better telemetry solution
.
His sensor board is completely open source, and comes with a long list of features. First and foremost, it emulates all of the messages that can be sent to the radio controller by Hitec’s off the shelf models, making it a simple drop-in replacement. He uses an ATMega8L microcontroller to run the show, including all sorts of input pins and connectors to support GPS as well as voltage and current monitoring.
He has made a DIY kit available for purchase online, but all of the sensor’s schematics and a BOM are available for free, should you desire to roll your own.
We love seeing DIYers show up manufacturers in this way, especially when they share the goods with their fellow hobbyists. Nice job!
| 5
| 5
|
[
{
"comment_id": "437458",
"author": "Olivier",
"timestamp": "2011-08-18T20:49:00",
"content": "Great !I wish R/C manufacturers where opening their stuff a bit more… Like providing with docs about the protocol of Hitec’s programmable servo.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "437545",
"author": "Oscar",
"timestamp": "2011-08-18T23:50:26",
"content": "This is pretty Cool. Is there a link that I may take a better look at the DIY kit?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "437546",
"author": "Oscar",
"timestamp": "2011-08-18T23:50:53",
"content": "lol. found it",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "437560",
"author": "Whatnot",
"timestamp": "2011-08-19T00:24:34",
"content": "I hope he has enough sales to keep the thing available, it’s nice for people to have access to such stuff, and he deserves to get some appreciation too.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "443228",
"author": "d68",
"timestamp": "2011-08-28T17:43:03",
"content": "Updated firmware and doc, pcbs available now",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
}
] | 1,760,377,110.070756
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2011/08/17/very-clean-android-headphone-controller-project/
|
Very Clean Android Headphone Controller Project
|
Mike Szczys
|
[
"Android Hacks"
] |
[
"control",
"dongle",
"headphone"
] |
Here’s an Android headphone add-on so clean that most people won’t know you built it yourself. [Will Robertson] was unsatisfied with the stock headphones that came with his HTC phone, but didn’t want to lose the control interface when upgrading. He built this
add-on that lets him control the Android music player
.
He was inspired to do this after
reading about the control interface in one of our previous features
. That hack detailed how to add control based on the 4-conductor headphone jack, but didn’t see us through to a clean finished product. [Will] picked up where it left off by designing a sleek surface mount board that hosts a headphone jack and three tactile switches. A patch cable is soldered opposite the jack, making this work as a pass-through device. The icing on the cake is the shrink tubing that masks the fact that this is a diy dongle.
If you want to follow his lead, [Will] posted his EagleCAD design files and footprints for the components he used in the post linked at the top.
| 15
| 10
|
[
{
"comment_id": "436866",
"author": "vasskk",
"timestamp": "2011-08-17T20:09:43",
"content": "wow awesome work.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "436881",
"author": "modhappy",
"timestamp": "2011-08-17T20:39:19",
"content": "stupid question:would this work with any android phone ?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "436964",
"author": "Will",
"timestamp": "2011-08-18T00:30:44",
"content": "Unfortunately not – I know for a fact that Samsung phones reverse the polarity of the function and the ground pins, but I’m not sure about other brands, Motorola etc.Fun fact: It works with an iPhone too (sometimes), but only the play/pause button.",
"parent_id": "436881",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "436883",
"author": "Bogdan",
"timestamp": "2011-08-17T20:46:29",
"content": "And still no volume control.. I actually doubt that would be possible as it would require disturbing the mic in a call and probably producing noise. The only button used in a call is the ‘call’ button which also shorts the mic and is used only for answering(no mic use at that moment) and ending (no mic use after that moment) a call.This is probably the reason why it was not implemented. My old nokia headphones had full control, but there was an IC inside the remote that sent data at higher frequency through the mic wire.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "437020",
"author": "Dan Fruzzetti",
"timestamp": "2011-08-18T03:06:10",
"content": "it’s really cool. but imagine if you shrunk the tubing a little too much and *aww* now the button’s stuck down. i’d mess up so many times trying to get it just perfect i would probably need to buy more heat shrink tubing.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "437021",
"author": "Will",
"timestamp": "2011-08-18T03:08:21",
"content": "Actually, the heatshrink is the *perfect* size by some miracle, it’s fully shrunk in that picture and it works beatifully.",
"parent_id": "437020",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "437030",
"author": "jon",
"timestamp": "2011-08-18T04:05:39",
"content": "I have been beating head against the wall trying to figure out the configuration for a droid x. I wanted to do something similar, but i have had no luck experimentally figuring out the headphone control. My searches have lead me nowhere. If anyone happens to know anything about the moto droid x headphone control I would love a reply!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "437031",
"author": "jon",
"timestamp": "2011-08-18T04:07:05",
"content": "Oh and great work by the way!",
"parent_id": "437030",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "437035",
"author": "Will",
"timestamp": "2011-08-18T04:12:14",
"content": "Cheers! Are there any commercially available headphone controllers that you could reverse-engineer? Or you could be unlucky and have some high frequency communications protocol on your hands ala iPhone. Good luck with the project though!",
"parent_id": "437031",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "437065",
"author": "Luiz",
"timestamp": "2011-08-18T06:24:44",
"content": "This is a cool project but why not just get the HTC headphones with the remote control and mic and just use the cable and controls replacing just the phones themselves?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "437100",
"author": "Pup",
"timestamp": "2011-08-18T08:31:41",
"content": "Or you could just long press the volume buttons to skip tracks forward/backward. ;)",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "437118",
"author": "Bogdan",
"timestamp": "2011-08-18T09:17:04",
"content": "I don’t know about you, but i like to have full control of calls and music player on the headphones. I don’t know why HTC decided not to include volume control on the headphones as I would put it as the next most important think after a call button. I find the volume control to be the most vital during calls.Anyway, i decided to opt for wireless bluetooth headphones… which makes me wonder, if a very small bluetooth remote could be made just for controlling the phone…",
"parent_id": "437100",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "437171",
"author": "Tom",
"timestamp": "2011-08-18T11:39:14",
"content": "heat shrink does not mask the fact its a diy dongle its blatently home made. Iv made something similar but really want to work out how to include a microphone into the schematic so u can make a hands free kit/music contoller.Try an app called ‘headset button contoller’ you can program double and triple presses of tbuttons to do other functions on ur phone.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "498199",
"author": "Kendall",
"timestamp": "2011-11-02T23:53:32",
"content": "I do like the project, but I also think that you could’ve just removed the original HTC earphones and rewired the headset with a better pair, maybe some cheap but powerful in-ear buds (with silicone/foam tips) perhaps?I’ve done it to quite a few headsets, they worked pretty well and gave me completely stock functionality. Kudos for providing an alternative though.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "1065392",
"author": "Joe",
"timestamp": "2013-09-25T23:44:43",
"content": "Also if you can use existing remote control like one from Sony Ericsson HPM-70 headset.You just have to cut the plug and replace it with 3.5mm 4 pin plug, or replace a whole cable as I did.It has only one button, but you can use single press for play/pause, double for forward, triple for backward (software control).Works perfectly. It has a mic also, but I haven’t tested it yet.You can get it on ebay for 2-3 bucks.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
}
] | 1,760,377,110.026723
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2011/08/17/tis-new-web-site-appeals-to-the-penny-pincher-in-us/
|
TI’s New Web Site Appeals To The Penny Pincher In Us
|
Mike Nathan
|
[
"News"
] |
[
"sale",
"texas instruments"
] |
We’ve got to admit, we’re pretty much cheapskates when it comes to buying electronic bits online. Whether its microcontrollers or PCBs, we hate to part with money. So, we were pretty excited to hear that Texas Instruments is dishing out deals two weeks at a time to hackers, makers, and the like.
Several of you wrote in to tip us off to TI’s new site:
TI Deals
. Basically, they are deeply discounting various products, changing the lineup every two weeks. Now, we were expecting something like 20%-25% off certain items, but so far the TI Deals look pretty sweet. Right now, they are offering the Chronos watch kit for 50% off – which is a pretty nice discount. We’re definitely interested to see what sorts of other things will go on the chopping block in the future.
Thinking of picking up a Chronos watch? Let us know what sort of project you have planned.
If you are on the fence and need a little inspiration, check out these Chronos-based projects we have featured in the past:
Printable gripping rover is wristwatch controlled
Google two-factor authentication in a wristwatch
Wireless Sniffing and Jamming of Chronos and iclicker
Texas Instruments watch claims it’s a computer mouse
| 99
| 50
|
[
{
"comment_id": "436831",
"author": "Addidis",
"timestamp": "2011-08-17T19:04:22",
"content": "Wireless dorm access",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "436836",
"author": "Aaaaarrrg",
"timestamp": "2011-08-17T19:12:06",
"content": "As of right now, their website now says “Error establishing a database connection” any time you try to get a coupon to actually buy one of these…",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "437689",
"author": "marcus",
"timestamp": "2011-08-19T05:19:35",
"content": "that’s TI ..very good in IT , very bad in biz . .",
"parent_id": "436836",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "436837",
"author": "L1nk3D",
"timestamp": "2011-08-17T19:13:23",
"content": "Seems like the site is down…",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "436838",
"author": "Nick McClanahan",
"timestamp": "2011-08-17T19:14:24",
"content": "I passed on the Chronos when it came out because I couldn’t really think of any interesting projects that would take advantage of it. Price wasn’t the problem. But if you’ve got a good project idea or just want a big wristwatch, this is a good deal.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "436841",
"author": "Aaaaarrrg",
"timestamp": "2011-08-17T19:17:37",
"content": "seems that the discount codes are working again now",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "436845",
"author": "Nathan",
"timestamp": "2011-08-17T19:30:01",
"content": "I’ve had 2 Chronos watches now. Both of them have started acting screwy within a month of using them. Certain segments of display would go out, or the whole display will go blank, or the watch will just reset (to “CC430” or whatever it displays when you first get it before setting the time). It only happens during or soon after I run with it, so I guess the seal lets sweat into the circuit were it shorts some things out. I’ll open the case after it does this and let it air out in a dry place and it’ll be good until the next time I wear it on a run. : (",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "436862",
"author": "Otacon2k",
"timestamp": "2011-08-17T20:03:24",
"content": "If it’s really sweat in/on the circuit, you should better clean it than just letting it dry. Salts from your sweat won’t evaporate but settle on the board. Even some condensation water (wonder if that’s the right word) could get them into solution back again causing short circuits.",
"parent_id": "436845",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "436872",
"author": "fred",
"timestamp": "2011-08-17T20:22:06",
"content": "From the web site:“Watch is 30m waterproof. See FAQ section in User Guide for details.”I would hope sweat isn’t the problem. Maybe it can’t take the vibrations?",
"parent_id": "436845",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "436876",
"author": "Nathan",
"timestamp": "2011-08-17T20:32:16",
"content": "Well, in addition to the other symptoms I listed, occasionally water condenses on the inside of the lens after a run. I know it’s *supposed* to be water resistant, but neither of mine (bought about 6 months apart) were resistant to my sweat.",
"parent_id": "436872",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "437114",
"author": "Otacon2k",
"timestamp": "2011-08-18T09:01:39",
"content": "@Nathan:Do you have to open the watch for programming? Maybe you missed some seal on reassembly?",
"parent_id": "436872",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "437244",
"author": "Nathan",
"timestamp": "2011-08-18T14:20:25",
"content": "@Otacon2k and @Haraldb:The 2nd watch failed before I had even opened it. There is a seal, and there’s a channel where it is supposed to go, and the rubber seal has stayed in that channel. I suppose it is also possible that the failure could be from the seals around the buttons, but I haven’t examined those.I’m sure the electronics of this watch are sound, but the case itself hasn’t held up to what I’d expect of a water-resistant watch. Unfortunately, that makes this watch unusable for the projects I’m working on.",
"parent_id": "436872",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "437779",
"author": "Otacon2k",
"timestamp": "2011-08-19T09:34:10",
"content": "@Nathan:Well, I just had a look at the manual. Here’s what it says:“Is my eZ430-Chronos waterproof?Yes, it is 30-m waterproof. This indicates that it resists splashes and rain. However, it cannot be used while taking a shower, swimming, diving, surfing, snorkeling or any other water sports. Set the watch before exposing it to excessive water. Pressing the buttons in water or heavy rainstorms may cause water to enter the watch.”So 30-m waterproof means it’s not really waterproof. I wasn’t aware of this misleading nomenclature, but I can imagine there’s some kind of norm about wristwatch-waterproofness that explains this bulls**t.This world is sometimes really silly. (Btw: here in Germany it would certainly be called “spritzwassergeschützt” (which means something like “protected from spilling/splashing water”). Which is at least a tad less misleading.)",
"parent_id": "436872",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "436848",
"author": "philleb",
"timestamp": "2011-08-17T19:38:27",
"content": "If you are asking yourself whats the difference betweeneZ430-Chronos-433 \teZ430 Chronos-868 \teZ430-Chronos-915I can tell you.433 is the frequence 433 mhz(wich is allowed worldwide)915 mhz is only Europe + India and 915 mhz is only for N. & S. America allowed. So please make care about this because you could get sucked if you order it and on the border they dont give you the acess to you device cause wrong frequence.Greets",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "436990",
"author": "Willy",
"timestamp": "2011-08-18T01:34:41",
"content": "Thanks for posting this, would’ve sucked if i bought the wrong one!",
"parent_id": "436848",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "437756",
"author": "Otacon2k",
"timestamp": "2011-08-19T08:51:53",
"content": "Actually there’s a typo. 868 Mhz is for Europe and India, 915 for N. and S. America.Besides that, the 868 and 915 Mhz watches use the same hardware, frequency can be chosen i software.The 433 Mhz version uses different hardware and can only be used for 433 Mhz.",
"parent_id": "436848",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "439475",
"author": "philleb",
"timestamp": "2011-08-22T14:29:41",
"content": "So, it just arrived me today. I ordered the 430 mhz version(i am living in austria) but they sent me the 868 mhz vers. LOL And yeah.",
"parent_id": "437756",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "436850",
"author": "cdilla",
"timestamp": "2011-08-17T19:43:49",
"content": "These deals really are very good. 50% off is good on it’s own, but free international shipping makes it even better.I have one on the way.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "436852",
"author": "philleb",
"timestamp": "2011-08-17T19:47:10",
"content": "Dito.",
"parent_id": "436850",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "436860",
"author": "Haraldb",
"timestamp": "2011-08-17T20:00:40",
"content": "Yeah i just bought one early today not sure what i’m gonna use it for yet.@Nathanyeah there is a lot of watches out there that are only waterprof til you open them up..",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "436861",
"author": "David",
"timestamp": "2011-08-17T20:01:55",
"content": "have been waffling on getting one, mostly because I like weird watches.. but partially cause i’m starting to mess with some electronics and programming of them.25 bucks is low enough for a trigger pull",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "436863",
"author": "lamer",
"timestamp": "2011-08-17T20:05:53",
"content": "they have had this deal several times before.and i have always missed it…been waiting for the longest time.“Ordered” haha let the hacking begin..once it gets here..",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "436867",
"author": "Brett W. (FightCube.com)",
"timestamp": "2011-08-17T20:12:03",
"content": "Does anyone have a direct link to a “buy” page? The TiDeals.com site is down and navigating Ti’s website is giving me a headache! I want one of the 433MHz watches… and have an application already. Would these be compatible with the 434Mhz (I know off by 1Mhz but maybe it can be tweaked)http://www.sparkfun.com/products/10534because they are cheap!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "436873",
"author": "Brett W. (FightCube.com)",
"timestamp": "2011-08-17T20:28:55",
"content": "Nevermind I got it ordered!Get a code generated here:http://www.tideals.comThen buy a watch here:https://estore.ti.com/Search.aspx?k=chronosAnd enter your code on the second phase of the checkout.Thanks HAD!",
"parent_id": "436867",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "436874",
"author": "chango",
"timestamp": "2011-08-17T20:30:31",
"content": "C’mon $50 Pandaboard… Daddy needs a new ARM cluster",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "436875",
"author": "h3po",
"timestamp": "2011-08-17T20:31:25",
"content": "let’s see if these can communicate with standard rfm12 modules…then i’ll know what to do with it. remote starting the coffee machine, controlling lights, outlets and such.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "436889",
"author": "Brett W. (FightCube.com)",
"timestamp": "2011-08-17T20:57:33",
"content": "That’s what I was thinking… well not the application but that module:http://shop.moderndevice.com/products/rfm12b-radioChronos is FSK modulated and so is the RFM12BThis Tx module (and matching Rx) on the other hand are ASK modulated:http://www.sparkfun.com/products/10534which won’t work.Report back if you get the RFM12B to work… I need to buy some of those next.",
"parent_id": "436875",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "436903",
"author": "Brett W. (FightCube.com)",
"timestamp": "2011-08-17T21:23:00",
"content": "This might help. Found mention of a guy trying to make the Chronos talk with a RFM12B on an Italian forum. Best aha moment was the following, but no success report yet.CC430 User Guide See page 568:http://focus.ti.com/lit/ug/slau259b/slau259b.pdfSerial mode, sync and async is available. So you can send and receive bytes as you want without the need to use packet mode.Still digging…",
"parent_id": "436875",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "436880",
"author": "Greg",
"timestamp": "2011-08-17T20:37:08",
"content": "The Chronos is a pretty cool toy. If anyone is interested, there’s another way to get it 50% off… AVNet is offering their “Texas Instruments Speedway Design Workshop“. The seminar is $25 but you get to leave with a new Chronos after a lab instruction. It includes lunch too.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "436888",
"author": "Randall",
"timestamp": "2011-08-17T20:55:34",
"content": "Sweet! I just got one",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "436891",
"author": "Richard",
"timestamp": "2011-08-17T21:04:10",
"content": "That was quick, website says the deal is sold out, if you can get past the error page…",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "436892",
"author": "Michael",
"timestamp": "2011-08-17T21:05:07",
"content": "It seems the run on that deal was pretty good. Ich just entered the captcha and got “Sorry, this deal is sold out!”.I hope they bring it back!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "437159",
"author": "Michael",
"timestamp": "2011-08-18T11:05:49",
"content": "They brought it back! See my reply “August 18, 2011 at 4:04 am”",
"parent_id": "436892",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "436898",
"author": "Decker",
"timestamp": "2011-08-17T21:19:25",
"content": "I encountered the “Error establishing a database connection” error a few times before it finally worked. Once i filled out the captcha to get my coupon code, it said the deal was sold out. Hopefully it’ll start working again.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "436899",
"author": "Seth",
"timestamp": "2011-08-17T21:20:05",
"content": "It seems they are sold out :-(",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "436900",
"author": "Paul",
"timestamp": "2011-08-17T21:20:34",
"content": "Deal sold out. I think you might have flooded their server with your post.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "436902",
"author": "Dean M.",
"timestamp": "2011-08-17T21:20:52",
"content": "No luck, they’ve already “Run out of deals”",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "436906",
"author": "Kain",
"timestamp": "2011-08-17T21:33:41",
"content": "They are “sold out” of coupons…",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "436912",
"author": "Elias",
"timestamp": "2011-08-17T21:47:08",
"content": "Yup, sold out it seems. Bummer…",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "436914",
"author": "Italo",
"timestamp": "2011-08-17T21:55:34",
"content": "Darn… Lost it… Does anyone know if there’s any chance there will be some more coupons? I’m really into buying one of these…",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "436918",
"author": "sheda",
"timestamp": "2011-08-17T22:16:45",
"content": "Sold Out… yarggg!!! Soooooo disapointed….. :'(",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "436925",
"author": "MrX",
"timestamp": "2011-08-17T22:54:26",
"content": "Ahhhhh.. sh*t! sold out :(",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "436930",
"author": "Arren",
"timestamp": "2011-08-17T23:01:14",
"content": "Just got one athttp://tideals.com/",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "436938",
"author": "Italo",
"timestamp": "2011-08-17T23:09:42",
"content": "Sweet! Apparently the lack of coupons was an error with the database!Just got one also.It’s also worth mentioning that the shipping to Brasil (worldwide, maybe) is included in the price.",
"parent_id": "436930",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "436944",
"author": "Tordre",
"timestamp": "2011-08-17T23:41:36",
"content": "I just ordered one at that price, Deals on.I also laughed at the customs questions they ask, are you using this for biological weapons development.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "436952",
"author": "Luc",
"timestamp": "2011-08-17T23:50:32",
"content": "Yay, a new toy to play with! Thanks for the hot tip.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "436956",
"author": "cmholm",
"timestamp": "2011-08-18T00:00:48",
"content": "Post-deal, as a reminder to anyone thinking of dropping the full $50: Recompiling the complete Chronos code requires either TI’s Code Composer Studio Platinum (recently reduced to a $445 download) or OpenChronos and the mspgcc4 toolchain.TI Chronos tool cost moaning:http://blog.erbbysam.com/?p=28OpenChronos:https://github.com/poelzi/OpenChronosmspgcc4:http://mspgcc4.sourceforge.net/",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "436986",
"author": "Craig",
"timestamp": "2011-08-18T01:24:03",
"content": "I think in this particular case the extreme discount might be a move to clear stock in anticipation of the metawatch launching in a few days.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "436988",
"author": "Troll_Dragon",
"timestamp": "2011-08-18T01:28:07",
"content": "Also to connect to anything wireless other than the computer USB dongle, will require another $50 add-on.http://focus.ti.com/docs/toolsw/folders/print/cc1111emk868-915.htmlAnd if you want to drive your EvalBot around with the watch you’ll need a $100 add-on for the Evalbothttp://focus.ti.com/docs/toolsw/folders/print/cc1101emk868-915.htmlHope these pieces go on sale as well. :)",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "436989",
"author": "Jake of All Trades",
"timestamp": "2011-08-18T01:29:26",
"content": "Sold out for some of you? Worked perfectly for me at like 7:00pm Eastern…",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "436995",
"author": "Willy",
"timestamp": "2011-08-18T01:45:19",
"content": "Oops!An unexpected error has occurred. The error message has been recorded for the system administrator. We apologize for the inconvenience.My CC already shows the $24.50 from “TEXAS INSTRUMENTS FUL”",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "437011",
"author": "cmholm",
"timestamp": "2011-08-18T02:49:50",
"content": "I guess the anticipation is over, as I see both a digital and analog/digital Metawatch in the TI store, $200/ea.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "437019",
"author": "Drake",
"timestamp": "2011-08-18T03:05:22",
"content": "Got mine … gonna make FIRST fun this summer!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "437029",
"author": "Okian Warrior",
"timestamp": "2011-08-18T04:03:31",
"content": "I’m hoping that these watches will make good biometric monitors.For example, wearing the watch 24/7 with a temperature sensor (possibly the built-in one) should allow someone to determine their Phase Response Curve:https://secure.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/wiki/Phase_response_curveI’ve been wanting to build biometric sensors for long-term data acquisition, but have been dreading the storage/power/size/wearable-convenience factors. This looks like it would solve most of those issues, leaving only the sensor design.A physician friend was interested to know if retinal degradation from retinitis pigmentosa correlates with amount of light entering the eye.Women who are trying to get pregnant might use these to monitor their body temperature.You can get frequency-specific light sensors pretty cheap nowadays. I wonder if a sensor similar to a pulse oximeter could be built to detect other things in the blood.Lots of possibilities.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "437585",
"author": "Ren",
"timestamp": "2011-08-19T01:33:03",
"content": "Your post reminds me of something I read on Usenet (a long time ago) about guys that tweaked the variable capacitor in their digital watches to push or pull the crystal frequency closer to WWV accuracy. One guy wore his watch to bed, he believed his body temp would stabilize the crystals temperature, therefore frequency.",
"parent_id": "437029",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "437041",
"author": "KillerBug",
"timestamp": "2011-08-18T04:29:41",
"content": "Just got mine…now I just need to get 4 good ducted fans…",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "437078",
"author": "Paul McGuinness",
"timestamp": "2011-08-18T07:06:18",
"content": "Shipping to UK also free – Nice :o)",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "437091",
"author": "Matt",
"timestamp": "2011-08-18T07:59:15",
"content": "Ordered mine too, nfi what I will do with it (Had to get the 433Mhz one, so no bike sensors etc) but I am sure I will find something. Shipping to Oz was free as well :-)",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "437158",
"author": "Michael",
"timestamp": "2011-08-18T11:04:41",
"content": "Yay! It seems they’ve made a non-individualized coupon so that everyone can order. Thanks TI!The coupon code isChronosTIDealsand it can be used on all three models:https://estore.ti.com/Search.aspx?k=chronos",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "437169",
"author": "MrX",
"timestamp": "2011-08-18T11:28:41",
"content": "Good thing the dollar is worth less than the Euro, I just got my chronos for really really cheap! :D",
"parent_id": "437158",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "437186",
"author": "jim",
"timestamp": "2011-08-18T12:31:12",
"content": "$25 to control my TV like I’m using a computer from the Minority Report?Deal. It’s also got nice future-retro styling.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "437228",
"author": "Diego",
"timestamp": "2011-08-18T13:44:11",
"content": "The deal is still working, now with the code “ChronosTIDeals”.Shipping to Argentina was even free! Great!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "437237",
"author": "tf",
"timestamp": "2011-08-18T13:59:28",
"content": "entered : ChronosTIDealssited returned :You are no longer allowed to use this coupon.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "437238",
"author": "Isotope",
"timestamp": "2011-08-18T14:00:31",
"content": "Is it me, or does it seem like TI is running their webserver in someone’s living room? Every time they push out a campaign like this their site goes down. What’s the deal, TI?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "437282",
"author": "Drake",
"timestamp": "2011-08-18T15:17:18",
"content": "Or it could be a flood of people trying to order everything at the same time … Gotta make sure you still have stock .. gotta make sure payments post … gotta make sure orders don’t get submitted twice … seems like a lot of non-concurrency to me",
"parent_id": "437238",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "437295",
"author": "Isotope",
"timestamp": "2011-08-18T15:39:01",
"content": "Well…yeah, exactly. If you and I can forsee it, why didn’t they allocate more to their servers? Plenty of other sites launch marketing campaigns that generate lots of traffic and their sites don’t throw errors every time. Just sayin.",
"parent_id": "437282",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "437251",
"author": "William",
"timestamp": "2011-08-18T14:37:21",
"content": "The promotion code doesn’t work for me anymore. I even called and tried to apply the coupon and it just couldn’t be done…:(",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "437281",
"author": "BW",
"timestamp": "2011-08-18T15:16:44",
"content": "Anyone else getting “You are no longer allowed to use this coupon.” ?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "437284",
"author": "Kildahl",
"timestamp": "2011-08-18T15:20:00",
"content": "Can I order without having a company?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "437309",
"author": "Lars",
"timestamp": "2011-08-18T16:09:09",
"content": "Anyone know if the deal is still running? I keep getting the message: you are no longer allowed to use this coupon. I’m hoping it’s just the site being wonky.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
}
] | 1,760,377,110.174428
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2011/08/17/bootloader-burning-basics/
|
Bootloader Burning Basics
|
Mike Szczys
|
[
"Arduino Hacks",
"Microcontrollers"
] |
[
"atmega644",
"bootloader",
"clock",
"isp",
"reprap",
"resonator",
"Sanguino",
"Sanguinololu"
] |
[Charles Gantt] and a few others were having trouble burning the Sanguino bootloader to an ATmega644 chip. With some help from the [Nils Vogil] via the RepRap IRC [Charles] got it worked out and wrote
a guide for burning the bootloader using an Arduino
as an ISP programmer.
We’re not familiar with the specifics of
the Sanguino
bootloader, but [Charles] mentioned that he was unable to flash it onto the AVR chip without a resonator. The resonator serves as an external clock source for the chip. We’d bet the programming process changes the fuse settings on the chip to use an external source. Without that source, you won’t be able to communicate with the chip afterwards.
The solution just adds the resonator to the programming circuit. This should be useful when burning any bootloader using an Arduino. But it does make us wonder if there isn’t an alternative method that would let you draw the clock signal from the Arduino itself?
| 7
| 5
|
[
{
"comment_id": "436824",
"author": "WitchDoc",
"timestamp": "2011-08-17T18:46:52",
"content": "Another option would be setting the fusesafteruploading the bootloader hex. I experienced the same problem trying to flash the arduino bootloader from the makefile. reversing flashing and fusebit setting in the makefile solved the problem.I even reported the bug but is was invalidated …",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "436826",
"author": "Coda",
"timestamp": "2011-08-17T19:00:34",
"content": "It’s not a bug, and it’s nothing to do with arduino, or even Atmel, the ‘issue’ is common to most embedded platforms. The fuses are always the last thing you program, especially if you’re changing oscillator options from defaults (I learned this myself the hard way, and had to wait for an oscillator to arrive in the post) and any ATMega/Tiny chip will lock you out if you don’t follow the right programming order.It’s handy to have a couple of spare oscillators lying around (8,12,16mhz etc and they are not expensive) even if the project that you’re building doesn’t need one, (i.e you’re relying on the inaccurate internal clock – and that’s fine for a lot of applications).",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "436904",
"author": "WitchDoc",
"timestamp": "2011-08-17T21:28:45",
"content": "The Arduino bootloader sourcecode comes with a Makefile that sets the fusebits first, then tries to upload the hex file.IMHO that is a bug.",
"parent_id": "436826",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "437124",
"author": "Coda",
"timestamp": "2011-08-18T09:28:05",
"content": "Now that I didn’t know (I just used the right hex file and an STK500 to burn my arduino chips manually. I will check it out – if you are right then I’d agree this isn’t proper behaviour, and I’ll also file a bug report.",
"parent_id": "436904",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "436939",
"author": "tech2077",
"timestamp": "2011-08-17T23:10:41",
"content": "A simple way to run it without an oscillator is to setup a pwm with a 50% duty cycle at 8MHz or higher. I have used this to fix supposedly “oscillator bricked” avr’s without the need of a HVP or a resonator.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "437427",
"author": "Charles Gantt",
"timestamp": "2011-08-18T19:52:06",
"content": "Thanks for the post Mike!Yes there are other methods to getting around this, but this was the easiest way we could come up with. We wanted to be simple and very easy to do so that the new people to RepRap who have no coding experience could just follow the standard Arduino as ISP methods and get their electronics up an running.We have ran into another problem with some older Arduino Mega bootloaders and I am working on an article to fix those issues as well. The new issue lies in the Monitor. It looks out for ‘!!!’ to tell it you want to use the monitor. Even if you’re in the middle of uploading a program. So if your compiled binary contains ‘!!!’ anywhere… the bootloader dies during the upload, every time. The latest Arduino Mega fixes this bug and the tutorial will cover burning the new bootloader to your Arduino Mega. There will be a file one can upload to test and see if you have the old bootloader or the new one.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "437990",
"author": "Charles Gantt",
"timestamp": "2011-08-19T16:39:27",
"content": "Just wanted to mention that Nils name is spelled incorrectly. It should be Nils Vogels. Nils is the owner of XYZ Printers.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
}
] | 1,760,377,110.374964
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2011/08/17/bobuino-arduino-based-on-atmega1284-goodies/
|
Bobuino: Arduino Based On ATmega1284 + Goodies
|
Mike Szczys
|
[
"Arduino Hacks"
] |
[
"atmega1284",
"bobuino",
"ds1307",
"rtc",
"sd"
] |
[Erik] wrote in letting us know that he just completed development of
the Bobuino, a Arduino based on an ATmega1284
. That chip is nice and beefy, most notably for having 16 KB of SRAM but it also boasts 4 KB of EEPROM, and 128 KB of program memory.
But the upgraded chip isn’t the only thing that it brings to the table. It’s easy to spot the on-board SD card slot in the image above. Also of note is the battery-backed DS1307 real time clock with a jumper that will route the square wave output to one of two pins on the microcontroller.
This design is compatible with standard Arduino shields thanks to the familiar pair of pin sockets, and can still be programmed via the USB socket. Since the AVR chip has more IO than normal there’s also pin headers to break out the PORTC pins, for a JTAG connector, and for an RS232 port.
| 13
| 7
|
[
{
"comment_id": "436794",
"author": "j_jwalrus",
"timestamp": "2011-08-17T17:28:12",
"content": "arduino lust!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "436818",
"author": "Brett W. (FightCube.com)",
"timestamp": "2011-08-17T18:13:53",
"content": "Very nice! Is it compatible with the Arduino IDE, with some file modifications? Or just AVRdude and the AVR Studio?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "436835",
"author": "Coda",
"timestamp": "2011-08-17T19:09:40",
"content": "Tons of SRAM, an RTC AND an SDCard slot. Just what I need for a current project. $80 though… :/",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "436879",
"author": "fred",
"timestamp": "2011-08-17T20:36:24",
"content": "Arduino UNO: $30SD shield with headers: $16RTC chip: $2You are at almost $50 without the extra IO, extra RAM, EEPROM and FLASH, 2 UARTS (one with real RS232 levels).$80 seems to be quite a bargain.",
"parent_id": "436835",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "436910",
"author": "Andrew",
"timestamp": "2011-08-17T21:46:18",
"content": "Teensy – $16micro SD adapter – $8RTC chip – $2total $26.",
"parent_id": "436879",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "437131",
"author": "Coda",
"timestamp": "2011-08-18T09:52:56",
"content": "Don’t get me wrong. $80 for a professionally made board like this is not so bad. I can’t justify $80 for one, as I can build it for a lot less (yes I have plenty of time ATM).I can’t find the 1284 in my usual stores, but the 1281 seems like the closest is about $15 here, then add about $10-15 for the rest of the IC’s and plugs etc (not including the FTDI chip as I use a handmade cable anyway).>16. 74AC125 3.3V driver chip to convert ATMega SPI pins to 3.3V. D30 (PD4) is dedicated to the SD socket chip select.^^ I think this is probably a mistake, hardwiring the CS to pin4 instead of SS_PIN (or using a jumper selector). I know that some sheilds use pin4 as standard instead of the SS_PIN (pin 10), but that also means you have a pin in the middle of your block doing CS work, when you may want to access that whole block with parallel bitwise math (as I do on a current project).",
"parent_id": "436879",
"depth": 3,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "1164132",
"author": "Cameron",
"timestamp": "2014-01-16T01:14:49",
"content": "arduino buono uno r3 (knock off) $8sd card reader $2I/O expander $2ebay is the cheeper way to go plus the buono r3 supplies up to a 2 amp I/O output vs the standard .5A",
"parent_id": "437131",
"depth": 4,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "436858",
"author": "Tweeks",
"timestamp": "2011-08-17T19:55:49",
"content": "Oooo…You’re.. to sexy for by bus..too sexy for my bus..sooo sexy such luuust! :)Tweeksp.s. So DOES it work with the IDE?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "436961",
"author": "CrossRoads",
"timestamp": "2011-08-18T00:22:38",
"content": "Hi,This is CrossRoads, the “Bobuino” is my design, all of its features can be see athttp://www.crossroadsfencing.com/BobuinoRev17.I would like to thank Erik for writing in about it.It is fully IDE compatible, I deliver the bootloaded board with several working Arduino-0022 sketches that I use to check them out prior to shipping and the modified pin mapping files for regular sketches and the SdFat library for the SD socket.The shield breaks out the usual D0-D13 & A0-A5/D14-D19 that you would find on a Duemilanove, plus the IO continues with D20-D31.I wanted a board that had the features of a Duemilanove with several additional features, and also took the suggestions of fellow Arduino-ites to flesh out the design.So – dual Serial IO, real RS232 driver, battery-backed RTC (CR2032 battery holder on the back), SD socket. Jumpers for: power selection, Reset enable, D18/D19 or SCL/SDA going to the shield, RTC square wave output to a hardware interrupt pin or to a regular pin, 2nd serial going thru RS232 driver, or disconneced for use as D2/D3 on the shield.$80 includes USPS flatrate shipping to your US location, international a bit more.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "437028",
"author": "KillerBug",
"timestamp": "2011-08-18T04:01:51",
"content": "For what it is, the price isn’t bad…the only issue I see is that it is far more than what is needed for most small projects, and it isn’t enough for big projects and stuff that needs lots of processor power. Well, that and a pin layout that prevents you from making shields from project boards…that is why my arduinos are gathering dust; I can’t make shields for them, so I don’t have shields for them.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "437128",
"author": "Coda",
"timestamp": "2011-08-18T09:41:17",
"content": "I made my own arduino on stripboard, and declined to use the strange spacing between the two headers (which was a mistake on the arduino team’s part which they decided not to rectify since), so for me it means it’s easier build my own shields (suits me) on stripboard or perfboard.BTW it is possible to use manufactured arduinos with hand-fabricated shields (and vice-versa) you just need to create a little offset jumper plug adapter.",
"parent_id": "437028",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "437470",
"author": "Brett W. (FightCube.com)",
"timestamp": "2011-08-18T21:13:11",
"content": "@KillerBug – If you are still waiting to get into Arduinos because of the header issue, wait no longer! Dust off that Arduino and sell it on eBay, then buy a Seeeduino v2.21. The SeeedStudio team have solved that header problem:http://www.seeedstudio.com/depot/seeeduino-v221-atmega-328p-p-669.htmlThey also have a Mega version if you need more power:http://www.seeedstudio.com/depot/seeeduino-mega-p-717.html",
"parent_id": "437028",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "588035",
"author": "Shadyman",
"timestamp": "2012-02-24T05:58:26",
"content": "Sweeeet.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
}
] | 1,760,377,110.331878
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2011/08/17/restoring-a-jukebox-with-an-arduino/
|
Restoring A Jukebox With An Arduino
|
Brian Benchoff
|
[
"Arduino Hacks",
"digital audio hacks"
] |
[
"arduino",
"arduino mega",
"jukebox",
"mp3",
"Seeburg Jukebox"
] |
[Jim] just finished
restoring an old Seeburg USC1 jukebox
for his father using an Arduino, replacing an electromechanical rats nest of wires. The stack of 45 records were replaced with an Arduino Mega 2560 with an
Sparkfun MP3 player shield
, and he jukebox lights are now controlled with 74595 shift registers. Because his jukebox isn’t taking in money, the dollar bill validator has been modified into a ‘skip song’ button, and when there are no songs in the jukebox queue, there are 500 additional songs on the SD card that will randomly play.
We’ve seen one of [Jim]’s builds before. Earlier this year he repaired a
thirty year old Pachinko machine
using the same Arduino + MP3 shield setup. It looks like [Jim] is pretty skilled at revitalizing bulky old electronics. The jukebox restoration is great and has a lot more class than the
internet-connected touch screen monstrosities
that we still pump money into.
Check out the video after the break for a walk through of this restoration.
| 37
| 23
|
[
{
"comment_id": "436777",
"author": "fartface",
"timestamp": "2011-08-17T16:24:30",
"content": "Did this with a Pioneer CD changer. They have RS232 control. I changed the numbers for choice to CD number/track number.with a 200 disc changer, it worked out great and you can easily print the paper inserts as there are templates all over the internet.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "4197151",
"author": "Otavio Fonseca",
"timestamp": "2017-11-12T16:39:25",
"content": "that is a brilliant approach. Can you shed more info on it? specific models, etc.",
"parent_id": "436777",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "436781",
"author": "Jac Goudsmit",
"timestamp": "2011-08-17T16:48:40",
"content": "I don’t really think gutting a jukebox and replacing the innards with an Arduino counts as a “restoration” (even if it plays back the sounds of a mechanism changing records), and I would have tried to retain at least some of the mechanics, but I guess it qualifies as a hack. Good work!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "436784",
"author": "strider_mt2k",
"timestamp": "2011-08-17T16:58:49",
"content": "Word.If it was all ripped out and replaced with stuff it didn’t originally come with then it would be more of a “resto-mod”.People who do ACTUAL restorations might get prickly over that distinction, as it is arguably much much harderer to restore a piece like this than to modify it with modern parts.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "436799",
"author": "NATO",
"timestamp": "2011-08-17T17:40:19",
"content": "Soooo…. What is the point here? He took a REAL jukebox and turned it in to a really crappy MP3 player (looking at the specs for this “MP3 shield”)?This is not a restoration, its an abomination. Also, yes, it’s a hack – A hack job!Really. Take out everything that makes it a juke box, and replace it with some cheapo beginner-level MCU experimentation kit? This is ugly :(",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "2368062",
"author": "johnny",
"timestamp": "2015-01-20T22:44:57",
"content": "Wow !!",
"parent_id": "436799",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "6533168",
"author": "mike g...jukebox resurections",
"timestamp": "2022-11-17T21:06:55",
"content": "unfortunately alot of the skilled people that existed to fix these old jukes have passed on…..however I have the same machine and have brought it back to life with all the original parts….I was hoping when I read the original article u might have related the very old selection system with an ardunio…but u didnt …shame really",
"parent_id": "436799",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "436802",
"author": "Schnickertukens",
"timestamp": "2011-08-17T17:49:43",
"content": "Nice hack, but NOT a restoration.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "436814",
"author": "ScottinNH",
"timestamp": "2011-08-17T18:04:10",
"content": "HAD editors-Typo: “Sparkfun MP3 player shied”",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "436821",
"author": "ScottinNH",
"timestamp": "2011-08-17T18:15:52",
"content": "Also – you guys are being FAR too critical about Jim’s project.First, he never even mentions “restoring” – just “bringing back to life”.The “restoring:” claim is just Brian’s wording (I would agree though, poor choice in words, but hardly intentional).Calling this an abomination is not playing nice.It’s not even a pristine factory model unearthed in a corner, having never been used, or some other one of a kind. This was once useful 30 years ago, but became junk, and now it is useful again… and that’s a common HAD theme.Lots of folks take old arcade games and place modern PC components inside, and this is no different.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "436897",
"author": "MooglyGuy",
"timestamp": "2011-08-17T21:12:11",
"content": "Scott, lots of people gut old arcade machines and replace them with PC parts, and speaking as a MAME developer, that’sjustas much of an abomination as what happened here. There are plenty of sites and groups out there for ACTUALLY restoring amusement machines such as jukeboxes and arcades, but the guy in this article couldn’t even be bothered, he just guts it and replaces it with an MP3 player that doesn’t even have particularly good quality. Well done, guy, well done!",
"parent_id": "436821",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "436927",
"author": "Karl",
"timestamp": "2011-08-17T22:58:50",
"content": "You can keep your relays and smoking TTL motherboards. Better yet, you can go through my garbage and have mine!",
"parent_id": "436897",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "436839",
"author": "lwatcdr",
"timestamp": "2011-08-17T19:15:10",
"content": "Using restoration was bad but the creator didn’t use it.I don’t know what condition this was in before he worked on it for all we know the changer was long gone.Now for an added coolness factor he should have used real 45s played on a record player and digitized into FLAC so it would have the crackle of a record.I will have to say this is the worlds biggest ipod at this point.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "6293414",
"author": "Jerry Arthur Gordon Ericsson",
"timestamp": "2020-11-10T22:01:20",
"content": "Man, I would love to have an old Jukebox in my living room to tinker with. I guarantee you I would have mine running an Arduino or ESP32 perhaps, playing high quality MP3’s. Right now I have my WIFI Radio setup running through a big old SONY AM/FM/Receiver driving some old 18 inch speakers from some kid’s back seat setup as well as a nice set of speakers left over from an old Hatachi Stereo that my wonderful wife of 51 years and 4 days purchased to play our old LP’S many years ago. I lost her to cancer a few months back, and certain tunes still bring streams of tears to my 70 year old eyes, GOD how I miss that old woman!",
"parent_id": "436839",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "436840",
"author": "Pete",
"timestamp": "2011-08-17T19:15:58",
"content": "“…and he jukebox lights are now controlled with 74595 shift registers.”That’s a whole lot of shift registers! jk.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "436868",
"author": "svofski",
"timestamp": "2011-08-17T20:12:43",
"content": "Hahahaahahahah",
"parent_id": "436840",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "436919",
"author": "Max",
"timestamp": "2011-08-17T22:26:49",
"content": "Haha, that’s good.",
"parent_id": "436868",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "436942",
"author": "Whoever",
"timestamp": "2011-08-17T23:28:50",
"content": "That was actually my first reaction (“what the hell is he using so many shift registers for?!”). I’m used to reading just “595” or “74xx595”, so the “74595” threw me off for a moment (a worryingly long moment I must add).",
"parent_id": "436840",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "437018",
"author": "tromano32",
"timestamp": "2011-08-18T03:01:51",
"content": "Hey,I have a similar Seeburg that I wanted to do that same thing with… only I am terrible at arduino Code… is this code going to be available for download?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "437054",
"author": "wmatl",
"timestamp": "2011-08-18T05:17:01",
"content": "other than some unfortunate wording in the HAD description I don’t see anything wrong with taking a nonfunctional juke box and gutting it to give it new life. So well done. I am sure your father enjoys it. For the purest out their you guys would have wanted my head. I would have gutted the case and put in a uATX mother board and gone the PC route. although I suspect that the Arduino route would be the easiest and require the least aesthetic changes to the cabinet. So again Well Done. I for one look forward to your future hacks.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "438396",
"author": "tah",
"timestamp": "2011-08-20T10:29:11",
"content": "How to restore this with Ardruino. i want to know this processplease tell me morethanut1314@gmail.com",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "438771",
"author": "jim",
"timestamp": "2011-08-21T06:22:54",
"content": "Thanks for the nice comments.It’s not perfect documentation, but if anyone wants the code and some info about how to do this, I’ll keep my code posted for a couple months at:https://rapidshare.com/files/3648726353/jukebox_release_Aug_2011.zipThis is as is and I can’t provide support, but it may help you.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "440156",
"author": "tah",
"timestamp": "2011-08-23T10:21:09",
"content": "Thank you.It’s make my inspiration.",
"parent_id": "438771",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "440969",
"author": "tah",
"timestamp": "2011-08-24T16:33:25",
"content": "Hey Jim.Where you live?",
"parent_id": "438771",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "6307658",
"author": "Michael",
"timestamp": "2020-12-31T07:03:30",
"content": "Jim, do you have the schematic or drawing of how you wired the buttons back to arduino for song selection ? I would also be interested in your code for the arduino please. I’m thinking of using the arduino for mechanical input and relay controls but serial communication to a Raspberry pi as the media player.",
"parent_id": "438771",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "443835",
"author": "tromano32",
"timestamp": "2011-08-29T18:22:54",
"content": "this is great.. I can’t wait to get started on mine.. I am very new at C programming.. so hopefully I can get this code working on my Arduino Uno … anyone know were to get the sparkfun board cheaper than $40?Thanks Again",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "443860",
"author": "ScottInNH",
"timestamp": "2011-08-29T18:59:09",
"content": "By Sparkfun board you mean the MP3+SD board? Well you can get the chip alone at SF for $20, or $17 on eBay. Maybe it’s a few cents cheaper at futurlec.. But why create more work?$40 is a fair price for the card and reader and libraries and support. But you could save a couple of bucks if you forget the board and wire the buttons of an old mp3 player.You can certainly save a few bucks using an unofficial Mega, but you’ll get no support.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "445124",
"author": "Jim",
"timestamp": "2011-08-31T21:27:45",
"content": "http://www.sparkfun.com/products/10628",
"parent_id": "443860",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "443914",
"author": "tromano32",
"timestamp": "2011-08-29T20:39:10",
"content": "I think you are right….. I will just buy the correct board … thanks !",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "443926",
"author": "ScottinNH",
"timestamp": "2011-08-29T21:11:29",
"content": "Yep. It is not practical to obsess over cost on an item you only need 1 of.If you just want cheap audio and don’t need audio codecs like MP3, don’t forget abouthttp://www.adafruit.com/products/94(currently sold out)While the Wave Shield would not be appropriate for this jukebox project, it is plenty powerful for lesser audio-related projects like holiday decorations or an interactive/educational installation.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "443932",
"author": "tromano32",
"timestamp": "2011-08-29T21:23:20",
"content": "I thought about that .. it would work because records were only Mono but I am new to C programming and its easier to get his code working if I have identical parts… I’m alot more of a mechanical engineer than a software engineer lol",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "2959830",
"author": "Tim",
"timestamp": "2016-03-20T15:59:25",
"content": "Hi Jim, I want to rebuild this project for my Seeburg 3W1, can you reup your jukebox_release_Aug_2011.zip? The Filehoster is closed. Thanks.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "3546887",
"author": "Maverick",
"timestamp": "2017-04-29T06:20:59",
"content": "Hey Jim…I have a dead WurliTzer I need to get going, and Arduino and spark fun seems like the ideal solution..Could you share the code again?, It’s no longer on the rapid share site…MaverickScootetdoc1@Gmail. Com503-341-5164",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "6217759",
"author": "adrian",
"timestamp": "2020-02-07T19:43:10",
"content": "Does anyone have the code for this?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "6728115",
"author": "Ed",
"timestamp": "2024-02-06T15:07:53",
"content": "Is there someplace to find the code for this? Thx",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8073641",
"author": "DL",
"timestamp": "2024-12-17T10:48:31",
"content": "I did something similar…https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KUMWmsVdf4Ahttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ekcRbFPkkY&t=13shttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HTVxOl_PTDU",
"parent_id": "6728115",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8073643",
"author": "DL",
"timestamp": "2024-12-17T10:49:44",
"content": "I built something similar this summer. Have a look…https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KUMWmsVdf4Ahttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ekcRbFPkkY&t=13shttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HTVxOl_PTDU",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
}
] | 1,760,377,110.444056
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2011/08/17/electric-longboard-uses-diy-hub-motors/
|
Electric Longboard Uses DIY Hub Motors
|
Brian Benchoff
|
[
"Toy Hacks",
"Uncategorized"
] |
[] |
As a student of MIT, [Jed Storey] has access to a ton of machine tools, so he decided to build an electric longboard with hub motors
by hand
. He wound up re-doing a lot of his project, so we can commiserate with him on the trials of R&D.
Inspired by the
BWD scooter
, [Jed]‘s longboard uses hub motors – the wheel
is
the motor. The rotors were fabricated in-house, and
off-the-shelf stators
were wound by [Jed]
by hand
. There’s a lot of work that went into this build, and the build log is really fascinating in this regard.
The board is controlled by a pistol-grip R/C controller
that had been modified
to include a dev board and an XBee. For power, an aluminum enclosure was fabricated, strapped underneath the deck, and
filled with LiPo batteries
. While the build is mostly done, [Jeb] is thinking about scrapping it and moving onto version 2, the HeavyBoard. Check out the
video
of the board in action.
| 12
| 10
|
[
{
"comment_id": "436738",
"author": "Alex",
"timestamp": "2011-08-17T15:10:37",
"content": "Very cool, but I sure hope they can get it going faster when they take it outside.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "436977",
"author": "Jamo",
"timestamp": "2011-08-18T00:53:39",
"content": "That will be no issue at all. Calculations from back EMF show a top speed of 30mph. After mechanical losses hes still getting 15-20 mph, which is still tons faster than I would like to go on a hands free EV ;)He has some great pictures in his build logs. Good work Jed!",
"parent_id": "436738",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "436741",
"author": "vasskk",
"timestamp": "2011-08-17T15:11:30",
"content": "Looks like the batteries hit the ground if you try to lean into corners…",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "436749",
"author": "APE",
"timestamp": "2011-08-17T15:24:24",
"content": "First link=404.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "436753",
"author": "Brian Benchoff",
"timestamp": "2011-08-17T15:28:06",
"content": "Looks like a quote got away from me there.Fixed the link. Thanks.",
"parent_id": "436749",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "436756",
"author": "Brett W. (FightCube.com)",
"timestamp": "2011-08-17T15:30:25",
"content": "Too Freaking Cool! Wish I could have gone to MIT ;-)",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "436780",
"author": "Wotan",
"timestamp": "2011-08-17T16:32:21",
"content": "Awesome. A little bit high apparent turn radius, but based on the fact that the board is 4WD I suppose that differential steering is included in the short term to do list../W",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "436809",
"author": "MyL177l3Pwny",
"timestamp": "2011-08-17T18:00:21",
"content": "Been working on something similar off and on for the past year. Never even thought of how it would affect the turn rate. Well back to the drawing board.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "436846",
"author": "crow1170",
"timestamp": "2011-08-17T19:35:35",
"content": "I know the intent of this project was probably to have a powered ride, but I think the real advantage here is “Accio Longboard!!”",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "436946",
"author": "Jed Storey",
"timestamp": "2011-08-17T23:44:06",
"content": "The turning radius is not affected by the fact that it is 4WD. The controllers use current control, so the motors automatically adjust their RPM in turns (outside wheels spin faster, inside wheels slower). It’s sorta like an electronic differential.The reason the turning radius sucks is because I used over an inch of soft rubber riser pads that don’t transfer the leaning torque into rotating the trucks…plus they are ancient MBS trucks, and are in pretty poor shape (they were what I had on hand when I was designing it).",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "437067",
"author": "KillerBug",
"timestamp": "2011-08-18T06:28:12",
"content": "Sounds like you have more custom fabrication to do…good thing you have all those pretty machine tools!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "2047222",
"author": "Alex",
"timestamp": "2014-10-27T00:52:50",
"content": "Awesome board you built there!What happened to the idea afterwards?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
}
] | 1,760,377,110.493609
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2011/08/17/who-knew-jacobs-ladder-builds-had-so-many-options/
|
Who Knew Jacob’s Ladder Builds Had So Many Options?
|
Mike Szczys
|
[
"Misc Hacks"
] |
[
"high voltage",
"jacob's ladder",
"transformer"
] |
[Grenadier] has a thing for the high voltage and, as you can see, he’s found
multiple ways to build the icon of HV toys
– a Jacob’s Ladder.
The three look similar, but they use different means of generation the voltages necessary to get a spark to jump through the air. The exhibit on the left uses a neon sign transformer, the one in the middle is based on a transformer from an X-ray machine, and the example to the right uses a microwave oven transformer. [Grenadier] discusses the pros and cons of each method, then links to his in-depth posts about working with each one them. There are also videos for all three. We’ve embedded the video for the microwave oven transformer after the break. That version of the Jacob’s Ladder requires some way to start the spark and in the video he’s doing it manually. There is always the option to add a solenoid to do the job but he does mention that you can’t just let it run because that cheap transformer will burn out before long.
If you like what you see here, perhaps you’ll be entertained when
he runs HV through some soda cans
.
| 20
| 15
|
[
{
"comment_id": "436659",
"author": "filespace",
"timestamp": "2011-08-17T13:11:11",
"content": "nice to see something posted that makes up for this complete and utter failure of a had branded youtube video….http://www.youtube.com/user/hackaday#p/a/u/0/N7xJxPSHTpI",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "436832",
"author": "John",
"timestamp": "2011-08-17T19:05:56",
"content": "haha… I noticed you went to the trouble of posting your insult in both places. How very thorough of you.However, you do seem to have forgotten to post a link to your own highly intellectual and visually entertaining video series.",
"parent_id": "436659",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "436954",
"author": "The Ideanator",
"timestamp": "2011-08-17T23:53:41",
"content": "+1",
"parent_id": "436832",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "437148",
"author": "retepvosnul",
"timestamp": "2011-08-18T10:48:06",
"content": "Do you also often go around telling movie and book critics to direct a movie and write a book ? Are you convinced that political analysts must first form their own political party or government before they may have an opinion ?",
"parent_id": "436832",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "438238",
"author": "John",
"timestamp": "2011-08-20T02:16:13",
"content": "Actually yes.Most good food critics have been in the restaurant business themselves for a number of years just as literature critics are (almost by definition) also writers. Most movie critics (at least the ones that anybody pays attention to) have a history in the movie business. A political analyst that is not an active participant in their own federal/state/local government certainly isn’t much use. That happens to be the difference between true criticism and mere opinion.",
"parent_id": "436659",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "436661",
"author": "Addidis",
"timestamp": "2011-08-17T13:13:25",
"content": "The microwave one definitely looks the best.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "436665",
"author": "retepvosnul",
"timestamp": "2011-08-17T13:19:57",
"content": "But can you zap weeds with them ?But how refreshing to see a combination of HV-fun and competence together in the same article.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "436671",
"author": "Chris",
"timestamp": "2011-08-17T13:27:59",
"content": "Did the fuses blow at the end of that vid?I’d like to try this, but I have a deep sense of foreboding…",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "436689",
"author": "default",
"timestamp": "2011-08-17T14:07:44",
"content": "@retepvosnulAgreed. The weed zapping video should have been completely redone, properly, or scrapped. I was very disappointed.This post is great though. <3 HV. Thanks @Grenadier!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "436704",
"author": "medix",
"timestamp": "2011-08-17T14:28:42",
"content": "It is interesting to note that a more stable arc can be had by increasing the current that the transformer supplies (30 – 60 mA for most – increase by removing limiting shunts in the core but at the risk of burning out the xfmr) or enclosing the electrodes in a tube (lexan, plexi) in order to shield the arc from rogue air currents.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "436716",
"author": "Chris",
"timestamp": "2011-08-17T14:41:03",
"content": "I used an 10,000 volt electric fence transformer for the one I built for the seventh grade science fair… 32 years ago :/",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "436730",
"author": "fartface",
"timestamp": "2011-08-17T14:48:17",
"content": "Neon sign xformer FTW… can run for DAYS…. we had one under a glass dome running for 2 weeks straight in the window of the office.. Plus they are easily obtained. go to a sign shop and pick up older ones for near nothing.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "436773",
"author": "Ken",
"timestamp": "2011-08-17T16:13:44",
"content": "ha ha ha ha “whoops” – Awesome.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "436791",
"author": "Drake",
"timestamp": "2011-08-17T17:19:44",
"content": "Wouldnt you be able to start the arc with a flame … just saying what would be cooler then fire and electricity …",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "436806",
"author": "Slanderer",
"timestamp": "2011-08-17T17:55:00",
"content": "Using microwave oven transformers for this is actually the stupidest thing I’ve ever seen on HaD. Ever.Using neon sign transformers? Common practice. Using X-ray transformer? Eh, different, but still a high voltage, (relatively) low current source.Microwave transformer? Fuck that. They’re a great way to kill yourself.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "436936",
"author": "aztraph",
"timestamp": "2011-08-17T23:08:17",
"content": "Amen to that, I’ll be watching the obits",
"parent_id": "436806",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "436822",
"author": "foolooo",
"timestamp": "2011-08-17T18:22:11",
"content": "And I made this,http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pTe_pGYcpnkUsing Jacob’s Ladder to play music :)",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "436825",
"author": "Vonskippy",
"timestamp": "2011-08-17T18:58:00",
"content": "Burning hair smells, seared flesh, the adrenalin rush of yanking back your hand at a zillion meters/second.Who can forget their first HV burn.Good times.Good times.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "436842",
"author": "dalado",
"timestamp": "2011-08-17T19:19:07",
"content": "A 3-phased one is missing for the perfect collection. And Drake’s idea with a flame-triggered Ladder is also a good thought.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "436974",
"author": "grenadier",
"timestamp": "2011-08-18T00:50:03",
"content": "O hai guiz",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
}
] | 1,760,377,110.651821
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2011/08/18/robotic-artist-listens-to-your-criticism/
|
Robotic Artist Listens To Your Criticism
|
Brian Benchoff
|
[
"cnc hacks",
"Misc Hacks",
"Robots Hacks"
] |
[
"art",
"artist",
"computer generated",
"robot"
] |
[Ben Grosser] built an
interactive painting robot
that’s pretty far removed from the LED and Arduino builds we usually see. The robot is adapted from
one
of the
many
CNC routers we’ve featured over the years. The control system is written in Python and uses genetic algorithms and a
microphone
to decide what to paint next.
Robot artists have been around for decades now. When [
Harold Cohen
] exhibited his robotic artist
AARON
, gallery patrons lined up to watch a robot paint.
The paintings
were originally just a monochrome line drawing that was later colored in by [Cohen]. [Ben] made his robot paint directly onto canvas with oil paints, so there’s no question of what the computer intends the final product to be.
[Ben] came up with a really neat build, but we’re wondering about having this robot artist on display inside a cavernous exhibition hall. Surely the echos from the servos and stepper motors would be picked up by the mic and interpreted by the painting algorithm. Barring some control systems, it would probably be the robot’s commentary on its own
decent into madness
.
Check out a video of the robot in action after the break, followed by a violin/robot duet the shows how the audio is interpreted.
[vimeo=http://vimeo.com/23998286]
[vimeo=http://vimeo.com/27759330]
| 8
| 5
|
[
{
"comment_id": "437424",
"author": "ColinB",
"timestamp": "2011-08-18T19:48:24",
"content": "It’s unfortunate when decent people (or robots) become mad.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "437464",
"author": "Paul",
"timestamp": "2011-08-18T21:01:28",
"content": "Wow, I can’t believe these have been around for decades and I’m just finding out about them. Information overload! The videos of the robots painting are splendid!Owner,Touch Tonic",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "437498",
"author": "ChalkBored",
"timestamp": "2011-08-18T22:35:36",
"content": "I’m curious, does copyright cover translating a song into a painting in a manner that can’t be reversed?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "437539",
"author": "Whatnot",
"timestamp": "2011-08-18T23:37:38",
"content": "Only in the sense that the drawing is automatically protected from others by the copyright act :)",
"parent_id": "437498",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "437751",
"author": "Otacon2k",
"timestamp": "2011-08-19T08:41:58",
"content": "I wonder what those piezos attached to the motors are there for? Filtering out motor sounds from mic input perhaps? Anyone got an idea?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "437845",
"author": "Max",
"timestamp": "2011-08-19T12:08:26",
"content": "I would guess that they’re the main audio sensors for the motors, and that the standing mic is either a prop or just for user input.",
"parent_id": "437751",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "437889",
"author": "PocketBrain",
"timestamp": "2011-08-19T13:37:43",
"content": "Daisy, daaaaiiissssyyyyyyyy",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "438339",
"author": "Fred",
"timestamp": "2011-08-20T07:00:30",
"content": "Give me your an-swer do",
"parent_id": "437889",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
}
] | 1,760,377,110.538207
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2011/08/18/gyroscope-based-smartphone-keylogging-attack/
|
Gyroscope-based Smartphone Keylogging Attack
|
Mike Nathan
|
[
"Android Hacks",
"iphone hacks",
"Security Hacks"
] |
[
"gyroscope",
"keylogging",
"security"
] |
A pair of security researchers have recently unveiled
an interesting new keylogging method
(
PDF Research Paper
) that makes use of a very unlikely smartphone component, your gyroscope.
Most smart phones now come equipped with gyroscopes, which can be accessed by any application at any time. [Hao Chen and Lian Cai] were able to use an Android phone’s orientation data to pin down what buttons were being pressed by the user. The attack is not perfect, as the researchers were only able to discern the correct keypress about 72% of the time, but it certainly is a good start.
This side channel attack works because it turns out that each button on a smart phone has a unique “signature”, in that the phone will consistently be tilted in a certain way with each keypress. The pair does admit that the software becomes far less accurate when working with a full qwerty keyboard due to button proximity, but a 10 digit pad and keypads found on tablets can be sniffed with relatively good results.
We don’t think this is anything you should really be worried about, but it’s an interesting attack nonetheless.
[Thanks, der_picknicker]
| 31
| 16
|
[
{
"comment_id": "437218",
"author": "Rob",
"timestamp": "2011-08-18T13:23:34",
"content": "Interesting indeed. My first thought was if handedness would affect accuracy, or would measurements simply need to be reversed.“The motion of thesmartphone during keystroke is affected by many factors, such as the typing force, the resistance force of theholding hand, the original orientation of the device, andthe location where the supporting hand holds the device.”I didn’t read the WHOLE research paper, but from this it seems they’re looking at the same hand doing the typing and holding the device. One would think the rotational forces would be the same when you touch the screen in the same spot from the opposite hand holding the device, but they would be significantly smaller.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "437224",
"author": "gman",
"timestamp": "2011-08-18T13:34:44",
"content": "If this could be more accurate it would be cool to see how it would work emulating keystrokes from a dummy keyboard with no electronics.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "437250",
"author": "kernelcode",
"timestamp": "2011-08-18T14:37:22",
"content": "You mean like have a plank of dumb wood with letters painted on then stick a gyro to the back of it and make it a keyboard?Cool idea, would definitely be interesting to see how well it worked.",
"parent_id": "437224",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "437647",
"author": "Maave",
"timestamp": "2011-08-19T03:43:14",
"content": "That sounds like a very interesting way to make a fold-out keyboard. Perhaps you could make a prototype or find somebody who would.",
"parent_id": "437224",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "2327867",
"author": "athenic",
"timestamp": "2015-01-08T01:18:42",
"content": "Then how do you press Ctrl+C? And when you put the keyboard on the desk it maybe more difficult for your PC to recognize the key. It’s a cool idea, and it is just an idea.",
"parent_id": "437224",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "437241",
"author": "Peter",
"timestamp": "2011-08-18T14:08:13",
"content": "I don’t think this is using a gyroscope– linked article even uses the work accelometer. I can’t think of a single phone that has a gyroscope. The new Wii (and maybe the new Playstation) controllers have gyros. Most smartphones have accelerometers.Accelerometers measure linear acceleration. Gyros measure rotational acceleration.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "437252",
"author": "kernelcode",
"timestamp": "2011-08-18T14:40:34",
"content": "I haven’t read the article, but phones with gyros are out there.The Nexus S and iPhone 4 to name two.",
"parent_id": "437241",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "437369",
"author": "darkirby",
"timestamp": "2011-08-18T18:00:27",
"content": "Gyros actually measure angular velocity, not acceleration.",
"parent_id": "437241",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "437242",
"author": "Khanzerbero",
"timestamp": "2011-08-18T14:16:29",
"content": "They can increase accuracy by having its output estimated letters compared as “words” usign a “hamming-distance styled” estimator with a dictionary and then those word level estimations can be grammatically parsed to estimate phrases.It all boils down to the enthropy of the language of the user and the total real information the gyro can get.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "437650",
"author": "Maave",
"timestamp": "2011-08-19T03:53:28",
"content": "I bet you could even use Android’s source code to get a lot of help. They have both good button-guessing and good dictionary matching.",
"parent_id": "437242",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "437249",
"author": "TinT",
"timestamp": "2011-08-18T14:35:23",
"content": "Very ingenious!But it will be (almost) useless with Swype.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "437606",
"author": "chrwei",
"timestamp": "2011-08-19T01:57:05",
"content": "LOVE the swype!",
"parent_id": "437249",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "437267",
"author": "zrzzz",
"timestamp": "2011-08-18T14:54:07",
"content": "Having successfully installed the gyroscope sniffing software, isn’t that the actual attack? I mean if you can install that, why not just install a straight-up keylogger? Anyway, I wonder if they can improve accuracy using the same auto-correct algorithm iPhone uses, or that T9word feature on some phones? Maybe that’s what Khanzerbero is talking about.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "437275",
"author": "Jessica",
"timestamp": "2011-08-18T15:06:44",
"content": "Sensor data like this can generally be accessed by any app that wants to. Just have to get them to install the app in the first place.Keylogger, on the other hand, requires exploitz.",
"parent_id": "437267",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "437844",
"author": "Khanzerbero",
"timestamp": "2011-08-19T12:06:00",
"content": "well kind of like that but T9 is very sensitive to the first guessed letters of the word to estimate the others, what im saying is that you can have a dictionary of words and compare whole words.",
"parent_id": "437267",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "437271",
"author": "kabukicho2001",
"timestamp": "2011-08-18T14:57:38",
"content": "then when u type ur phone disable accelerometer and or gyroscope!by now.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "437278",
"author": "D",
"timestamp": "2011-08-18T15:15:26",
"content": "If you’re trying to use this to get the phone’s password, the 72% isn’t such a big deal because you’ll have plenty of opportunities. Record multiple login attempts, and that should handle the error nicely.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "437294",
"author": "CMP",
"timestamp": "2011-08-18T15:37:19",
"content": "Easy enough to defeat though. Just lay the device flat on a table while typing.Without that, it would be interesting to see how the accuracy compares on a tablet vs. a smartphone.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "437304",
"author": "xorpunk",
"timestamp": "2011-08-18T16:02:32",
"content": "Then physical orientation matching and sound spectrum pattern matching are also holes.These ‘researchers”gotta be under some trademark or nobody would even be talking about this..",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "437314",
"author": "Buzzles",
"timestamp": "2011-08-18T16:19:31",
"content": "So, your touch screen presses generate distinct patterns, yes, that’s a given as it’s how phone games work for things like rotation.I see how this works to identify individual presses (aka, you can tell you’ve pressed *a* certain button) on a phone by phone/user by user basis.However, matching up those distinct presses to a value so you can actually figure out *which* button has been pressed is harder if not near impossible due to the variables involved.Ie, is phone free standing, on a surface, is left or right hand being used, in transit (vibrating/jittering around), on a motherchuffing boat, etc…I think this while a nice discovery and may end up causing things like accels/gyros to be accessed only by whitelisted or active apps, I don’t think it’s much of a security problem.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "437321",
"author": "Buzzles",
"timestamp": "2011-08-18T16:26:40",
"content": "Basically, what I’m saying is that graph up there showing “key 1” “key 2” et all, is misleading.The reason? Either the app has just designated it an arbitrary value of “key 1” when really it could be number 7 on the keypad, or the reseachers will have matched up keypad numbers to the correct profile manually while testing it, the app itself won’t (unless it has some pattern matching).",
"parent_id": "437314",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "437361",
"author": "TacoStand",
"timestamp": "2011-08-18T17:38:42",
"content": "Did you even read the article?",
"parent_id": "437321",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "437324",
"author": "Mental2k",
"timestamp": "2011-08-18T16:32:58",
"content": "I wonder how press any key and hold -> drag to key you want -> release would affect the results?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "437445",
"author": "Oren Beck",
"timestamp": "2011-08-18T20:18:31",
"content": "Seconded on the “Improve Accuracy” concept.@Khanzerbero: How did you arrive at the use of Hamming as opposed to several other tools for Error Detect/Correct? My background is more hardware than software and I am trying to learn :]This hack seems in two parts- accessing the sensor data and parsing it into the desired keystrokes. Hmnm- exploiting a market app for something innocent appearing that needs positional data+communications would serve as the judas data conduit? One part of exploit seems plausible to me. Of the many ways to hack the rest?One being grepping the keystroke handling of the firmware. As reputedly there are internal math models for device’s using variants of timing detection for several common categories of input error:berkeley.intel-research.net/~klyons/pubs/autowhiteout++chi08.pdfautowhiteout, in one phrase for the tl:dr version=detects timing and blanks a suspect keystroke/s which prompts the human to retype.The semi-related one for speech to text software:http://www.research.ibm.com/compsci/spotlight/hci/halverson99.pdfThat study by IBM of speech-to-text software offers little depiction of “math tools” so it only serves to help build our understanding of Human>Machine parsing correction “overview” in a limited case. But- it’s on track to taking a 70~% confidence level character stream and someday raising the confidence level far enough to risk burning up blown access attempts.Oh- I updated a friend’s phone to Android 2.2x and it’s feature of “haptic by vibrate” might offer a way to totally FUBAR this not even fully formed as an exploit keylogger CONCEPT.Which made me contemplate having the phone begin a soft vibrate after keystroke n to frustrate this proposed exploit rather completely.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "437549",
"author": "WhatNow",
"timestamp": "2011-08-18T23:55:21",
"content": "Don’t think vibrate would fubar, though I think it might hamper.Remember Sony when they said the vibrate function would mess with the motion sensing (yes, lame excuse to avoid paying royalties ;) ?But seriously, the vibrate occurs only AFTER you press a key, and it moves it predictably. All you’d have to do is basically use your gyro/accel to record it vibrating without a keypress and effectively “subtract” that motion.",
"parent_id": "437445",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "437848",
"author": "Khanzerbero",
"timestamp": "2011-08-19T12:13:34",
"content": "I was thinking about they first should do principal component analysis, develop son eigen-letters and then in the principal components space they shloud do an estimate at the letter level, and then at the word level a hamming distance based estimation against a dictionary, and then at the phrase level some semantic analisys.Why hamming? i guess its faster.",
"parent_id": "437445",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "437538",
"author": "Brett W. (FightCube.com)",
"timestamp": "2011-08-18T23:34:54",
"content": "Wow, this is some brilliant thinking!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "437699",
"author": "Roger Wolff",
"timestamp": "2011-08-19T05:58:17",
"content": "What everybody (or at least the hackaday poster) misses is that even with a statistical chance of 72% of being right, you weaken the security a lot.Suppose there is a 4-digit PIN that allows 10 tries, for a 1/1000 chance of breakin by random guesses. You have to steal on average 1000 phones and randomly try PINs before you hit the jackpot.But with say a 90% (the calculations are easier with a round number) chance of getting the numbers right from the attack means you have only 0.9^4 = 65% chance of getting the pin right on the first try. But if you didn’t get it right on the first try, you have 9 tries left. You often have a “next candidate”. So you can try the 4 “second-best” tries next. If the second-best has a 90% chance of being correct (given the first try was wrong), then we again have 65% chance of success on the next 4 tries… With 5 tries left, we can try a few two-wrong PINs but that doesn’t make a big difference. In this example with imperfect pin-stealing, the average number of phones to steal before the PIN can be guessed goes from 1000 to under two.With the reported 72% accuracy and only 3 tries, there is still a significant advantage over “blind guessing”. The first guess has a 27% chance of success. With the two next tries this can be raised to almost 40%. On average after stealing 2.5 phones you have guessed the PIN correctly within 3 tries.Now",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "437815",
"author": "Mike Nathan",
"timestamp": "2011-08-19T11:01:30",
"content": "If we had missed that point, we wouldn’t have posted it ;)",
"parent_id": "437699",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "438661",
"author": "Diddle",
"timestamp": "2011-08-20T22:52:18",
"content": "This, of course, assuming that you have captured the data unique to that handset / user.What would be easier is watching the owner unlock the phone.",
"parent_id": "437699",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "437723",
"author": "elektrophreak",
"timestamp": "2011-08-19T06:59:44",
"content": "now this is something that impresses me! great idea, brilliant!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
}
] | 1,760,377,110.895581
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2011/08/18/high-voltage-plasma-lamp-is-also-tasteful-steampunk/
|
High Voltage Plasma Lamp Is Also Tasteful Steampunk
|
Brian Benchoff
|
[
"Misc Hacks"
] |
[
"disposable camera",
"high voltage",
"neon bulb",
"plasma",
"plasma bulb",
"steampunk"
] |
Instructables user [Admiral Aaron Ravensdale] just finished a high voltage
plasma bulb
build that makes creative use of off-the-shelf parts. As a self-described steampunk, [Adm. Ravensdale] also earned some cred by included working gears in his build.
The heart of the build is a “flicker flame”
candle light bulb
. These light bulbs have two flame-shaped plates inside the bulb to act as electrodes. Instead of the Argon that normally fills an incandescent light bulb, the candle bulb is filled with Neon. When excited, Argon gives off a rather unnatural
purple glow
– not very convincing for a simulated candle and certainly not steampunk. The Neon in the flickering candle bulb gives off a brilliant orange, perfect for simulating a flame and will surely impress the duchess during afternoon tea.
After the right plasma bulb was found, [The Admiral] scavenged the rest of the high voltage electronics from disposable cameras. Attaching three electrodes to a brass gear, the entire mechanism was made to spin using parts from an old clock and a CD drive motor. We’re always impressed with the scavenging abilities of steampunkers – we’d still be waiting for our gears to arrive if we attempted this. Check out the video of this really cool and very inexpensive plasma bulb after the break.
| 21
| 13
|
[
{
"comment_id": "437202",
"author": "Bigdeal",
"timestamp": "2011-08-18T13:10:54",
"content": "Does it remind anyone else of that big machine that blows up in the beginning of Half Life?http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z1Re8CFyyaU:]",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "437219",
"author": "tony",
"timestamp": "2011-08-18T13:26:59",
"content": "Damn, I love that game.",
"parent_id": "437202",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "437221",
"author": "Boop",
"timestamp": "2011-08-18T13:27:41",
"content": "First thing I thought of too, and then I looked to the comments and you made me proud of the internet.",
"parent_id": "437202",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "437240",
"author": "Aeon Tom",
"timestamp": "2011-08-18T14:05:04",
"content": "yup i thought of the exact same thing. excelent game. excellent project. tempted to build myself one in homage to the game, but obviously nowhere near as good as the finish of this project.",
"parent_id": "437202",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "437912",
"author": "Mike",
"timestamp": "2011-08-19T14:13:33",
"content": "“They’re waiting for you, in the test chamberrr.”",
"parent_id": "437202",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "437222",
"author": "RFRatty",
"timestamp": "2011-08-18T13:30:10",
"content": "They’re waiting for you Gordon, in the test chamburrrrrr",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "437235",
"author": "kisar",
"timestamp": "2011-08-18T13:57:58",
"content": "oh that looks like some of Doc Browns early work before he added high speed spin servos and gyro controls. ;)",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "437246",
"author": "blue carbuncle",
"timestamp": "2011-08-18T14:25:23",
"content": "“we’d still be waiting for our gears to arrive if we attempted this” NOBecause you guys constantly tout your repraps and laser cutters that we are all supposed to have.–Get creative. I made my last gear set out of clay and epoxy.Insanely good build and wonderful to look at and I always appreciate scavenged parts!/also reminded me of HL :)",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "437253",
"author": "fartface",
"timestamp": "2011-08-18T14:44:03",
"content": "MY favorite part of steam-punkers.. they have more money than sense.. I built a GPS with a friend who is a jeweler. It adorns the top of a cane. when you are at your waypoint, you strike the ground with the cane and from now on the rosette of jewels will glow in the direction of that waypoint. I have 4 CR123 batteries doing down the shaft to power it for a long time and it works quite well.IT sold for $690.00 almost instantly and she has been overrun with requests to build them one at any price…",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "437277",
"author": "Slacking",
"timestamp": "2011-08-18T15:07:06",
"content": "Is there a link to this cane? That is an amazing idea.. now if it had a sword in it. I would pay anything… but I don’t have any money so it’s a great sentiment :)",
"parent_id": "437253",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "3246718",
"author": "Galane",
"timestamp": "2016-10-29T08:42:15",
"content": "Technology indistinguishable from magic. ;)",
"parent_id": "437253",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "437255",
"author": "Will",
"timestamp": "2011-08-18T14:48:08",
"content": "That is awesome!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "437274",
"author": "ejonesss",
"timestamp": "2011-08-18T15:03:28",
"content": "tasteful?whats not to be tastefull about it?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "437307",
"author": "Elias",
"timestamp": "2011-08-18T16:06:24",
"content": "Very cool! I think it would be better if it revolved a bit slower, that would also reduce the gear noise a bit.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "6159600",
"author": "John blackthorn",
"timestamp": "2019-06-25T23:46:46",
"content": "I had to turn the volume down, it seemed to do the trick.",
"parent_id": "437307",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "437323",
"author": "bothersaidpooh",
"timestamp": "2011-08-18T16:29:47",
"content": "I have one or two of those bulbs around here.Shame neon is so expensive as this would be a neat hack, make a DIY “gas plasma” display but using a spinning metal item mounted on an induction driven motor inside the tube.Once made one of those cheap mini plasma globes into a message display using tinfoil, this also works.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "437332",
"author": "Clifdweller",
"timestamp": "2011-08-18T16:53:21",
"content": "Its nice to see a piece of steampunk work where the gears aren’t just glued on for ornamentation. He should put a 555/556 in there to slow the motor down .Right now the video looks like it is sped up",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "437346",
"author": "gossiphog",
"timestamp": "2011-08-18T17:07:24",
"content": "Umm. Remind me why purple “certainly isn’t steampunk?”. Is there some kind of rulebook? Why limit yourself?The gps cane sounds pretty amazing, I’d love to see it demonstrated. But don’t bother with putting on the coattails and monacle before demonstrating. ;)",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "3246722",
"author": "Galane",
"timestamp": "2016-10-29T08:45:44",
"content": "Purple should be THE steampunk color. The first artificial dye, a nearly purple mauve, was accidentally invented in 1856. The Victorian era of British history was the period of Queen Victoria’s reign from 20 June 1837 until her death, on 22 January 1901.The chemical science of artificial colors exploded (sometimes literally) in the latter period of the Victorian era.",
"parent_id": "437346",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "442385",
"author": "scrape box list",
"timestamp": "2011-08-26T23:03:18",
"content": "Great post",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "503539",
"author": "michael",
"timestamp": "2011-11-08T23:23:18",
"content": "Would you be willing to make one and sell it?If so please reply.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
}
] | 1,760,377,110.706248
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2011/08/18/morphing-hexapod-has-us-drooling/
|
Morphing Hexapod Has Us Drooling
|
Mike Nathan
|
[
"Robots Hacks"
] |
[
"hexapod",
"morph",
"remote control",
"servo"
] |
Hexapod robots seem to be a dime a dozen lately, but we think you will be hard pressed to not be wowed by [Zenta’s] latest creation. He’s built a bunch of hex and octopods before, but
hasn’t tried building anything quite like this.
His MorpHex bot might look like your standard hexapod, but once it gets moving, you can see that it’s quite unique. Utilizing over 25 servos driven by a single ARC-32 controller, MorpHex moves in smooth, fluid-like motions, making it almost seem like it’s alive. The inner portion of the body can fan out, extending the overall length of the bot, though it’s more meant to allow the bot to morph into a ball and back, rather than increase its size.
In the teaser video below, you can see MorpHex in action, with its parts flowing together more like a jellyfish than any sort of land animal. While [Zenta] is continuing to work on MorpHex’s sphere-morphing capabilities, we think it would make for an awesome and creepy spiderbot!
[Thanks, weaz]
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bA9BlcwLlxM&w=470]
| 49
| 40
|
[
{
"comment_id": "437156",
"author": "Acid_Density",
"timestamp": "2011-08-18T10:59:28",
"content": "Finally the platform to allow me to take over the world!… Well, at least my back yard anyway. I’ll take two.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "619639",
"author": "Gilbert",
"timestamp": "2012-04-03T20:49:16",
"content": "This hexapod can also dance with an iPadhttp://www.hexapods.net/miniature_hexapods.php?h",
"parent_id": "437156",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "437157",
"author": "tomas",
"timestamp": "2011-08-18T11:02:04",
"content": "from the picture, I expected the robot to morph into a sphere and roll away… that would be super-creepy.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "437955",
"author": "Mayeu",
"timestamp": "2011-08-19T15:44:38",
"content": "From the blog post of his personnal blog it seems that he want to do that :)",
"parent_id": "437157",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "437161",
"author": "Mike",
"timestamp": "2011-08-18T11:07:36",
"content": "That is awesome. Very fluid.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "437166",
"author": "g5pw",
"timestamp": "2011-08-18T11:25:54",
"content": "Wow! Astonishing…. Great work! Also, +1 for the spiderbot!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "437172",
"author": "Max",
"timestamp": "2011-08-18T11:47:33",
"content": "This is pretty impressive. The fanning out could be used to make forward movement more effective though. I would also look a lot cooler. I can’t wait to see this finished.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "437175",
"author": "Max",
"timestamp": "2011-08-18T11:55:53",
"content": "Never mind what I said about that it could be made to look cooler. I’ve taken a look at the pictures on his site, and there’s no way my opinion has any weight against those. This thing is so incredibly cool.",
"parent_id": "437172",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "437174",
"author": "Stevie",
"timestamp": "2011-08-18T11:54:17",
"content": "That’s creepily similar to an animals movements!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "437181",
"author": "raidscsi",
"timestamp": "2011-08-18T12:15:43",
"content": "Site down? Youtube video was cool.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "437182",
"author": "Imi Votteler",
"timestamp": "2011-08-18T12:16:56",
"content": "The lineUtilizing over 25 servosmade me smile. How many then, 26?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "437266",
"author": "Daniel",
"timestamp": "2011-08-18T14:51:39",
"content": "31 Servos, actually. 30 for the legs, then 1 in the center for the expanding bit.",
"parent_id": "437182",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "438622",
"author": "Zenta",
"timestamp": "2011-08-20T21:50:33",
"content": "Morphex are going to consist of 26 servos not 31. I found it a bit to heavy and had to do some changes. The 6 upper sphere sections are going to be controlled by only 6 servos, not 12.",
"parent_id": "437266",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "437192",
"author": "Rhoads",
"timestamp": "2011-08-18T12:44:09",
"content": "Congrats Hack a day, you just kill the poor guy´s server lol",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "437617",
"author": "Thopter",
"timestamp": "2011-08-19T02:43:59",
"content": "Is HaD the new /.?",
"parent_id": "437192",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "437196",
"author": "dan",
"timestamp": "2011-08-18T12:58:11",
"content": "very, very cool",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "437199",
"author": "Max Allan",
"timestamp": "2011-08-18T13:04:53",
"content": "Part of me is going “cool” and another part is going “argh, quick poke it with a broom, flatten it with a book, make it go away”(Arachnaphobia is apparently hereditary. The people who survived in the past were the people who ran away from the big hairy spiders, not the ones who picked them up and got bitten.)",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "437247",
"author": "John Avitable",
"timestamp": "2011-08-18T14:29:05",
"content": "truth",
"parent_id": "437199",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "437220",
"author": "Kyle",
"timestamp": "2011-08-18T13:27:32",
"content": "…And others survived because they picked them up and ate them.Very nice bot!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "437289",
"author": "Paul",
"timestamp": "2011-08-18T15:26:17",
"content": "They taste quite bitter! Granted, I’ve never tried tarantula… hear that it’s better.I wonder how awesome this bot will be once both halves are finished.hmm…Will there be a second set of legs,inverted?Or it could have a hemispheric ‘hat’ that lowers onto the bottom as it contracts to complete the sphere.Considering the other projects on his site, this one is far from finished and it’s already an amazing build.",
"parent_id": "437220",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "437981",
"author": "Richard",
"timestamp": "2011-08-19T16:18:13",
"content": "put a turret on top with a web cam and GUN!",
"parent_id": "437289",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "437243",
"author": "Tod",
"timestamp": "2011-08-18T14:17:27",
"content": "Wow. The movement of this bot is really … BEAUTIFUL … FLUID … GRACEFUL.This is probably one of the most amazing demos I’ve ever seen. Good luck on completing this. I want one too!!!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "437299",
"author": "Gregory Strike",
"timestamp": "2011-08-18T15:42:20",
"content": "Wow we wow wow!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "437301",
"author": "David",
"timestamp": "2011-08-18T15:58:37",
"content": "wow.. that’s just creepyfirst thing I thought was with the “eggshell” from the picture wrap the bot in nylon and add googly eyes, it really would seem.. alive!not that it isn’t close already",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "437312",
"author": "Will",
"timestamp": "2011-08-18T16:15:42",
"content": "I love the photos on his website where the sphere pieces are made from a globe. Brings a whole new meaning to the phrase “The world is out to get me!” Hide this on a desk as a normal globe and then have it transform and chase someone. Good scene for a movie…",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "437365",
"author": "Renet123",
"timestamp": "2011-08-18T17:47:59",
"content": "i see a star wars destroyer droid in the making.. rolls in, takes a stance.. starts shooting.. YOU know the scene..",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "437366",
"author": "Andy",
"timestamp": "2011-08-18T17:50:00",
"content": "It’s.. It’s beautiful!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "437372",
"author": "Oscar",
"timestamp": "2011-08-18T18:10:43",
"content": "What I see is how this robot can also be used to fight battles in the real world. Just like the radio Controlled Traxxas that saved six lives in Afghanistan, it can seek out threats (bombs).",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "437380",
"author": "NiccoHel",
"timestamp": "2011-08-18T18:30:07",
"content": "Needs more legs. I’ve got a fever… and the only prescription, is more legs! That thing is frickin’ awesome. Why isn’t this guy working with NASA? Oh, wait, why isn’t this guy working with ESA? Or something?Ooh, ooh, ooh, mate it to one of those quadrocopters for aerial awesome-sauce!Somebody hire this guy to build big versions of that thing already!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "437384",
"author": "o",
"timestamp": "2011-08-18T18:36:01",
"content": "The only way to kill it is to wait until the panels unfold and shoot it between the gaps.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "437400",
"author": "brad",
"timestamp": "2011-08-18T18:52:19",
"content": "impressive.also creepy. very creepy.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "437410",
"author": "Kavius",
"timestamp": "2011-08-18T19:18:20",
"content": "Very cool. I keep envisioning automated surveillance of my property, but when the coyote comes to take a look, it just “turtles”… I want!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "437477",
"author": "Robert",
"timestamp": "2011-08-18T21:27:32",
"content": "Incredible! This is probably the best “walking” robot I’ve seen on this site. Excellent work.On a more lighthearted note, imagine that in Half-Life 3 (yeah right) with a big turret on top.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "437482",
"author": "Spork",
"timestamp": "2011-08-18T21:46:46",
"content": "Did no one else watch this and think “wow, how cool would that be 10x bigger?”I love the fluidity in the movement and the range of motion. Looks like this robot would be able to traverse rough terrain.So who wants to help me build the giant version?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "437495",
"author": "Matt",
"timestamp": "2011-08-18T22:29:48",
"content": "MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "437541",
"author": "scienceguy8",
"timestamp": "2011-08-18T23:43:00",
"content": "I recently started playing Quake 4 not too long ago. Didn’t I destroy this thing already? Where’s my walking tank?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "437680",
"author": "Jason",
"timestamp": "2011-08-19T04:54:39",
"content": "I’ve been scanning the hackaday website for almost a year and this is the first thing I’ve seen that’s compelled me to write a comment.Dear Designer. I’m certain you are holding this project near and dear to your heart, but this is honestly the coolest thing I have ever seen. I would LOVE to be able to build this myself. Is it possible for you to one day post the plans for us DIYers to try our hand?Make it public domain?Very very very cool.Thanks for sharing. Please keep us posted.Jason",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "437686",
"author": "default",
"timestamp": "2011-08-19T05:03:34",
"content": "Simply gorgeous! I anxiously anticipate a full demo video!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "437770",
"author": "bob",
"timestamp": "2011-08-19T09:15:55",
"content": "A vastly over-used word, but… awesome!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "437786",
"author": "SpiralBrain",
"timestamp": "2011-08-19T09:49:49",
"content": "I Likes it!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "438039",
"author": "Dan Fruzzetti",
"timestamp": "2011-08-19T17:59:34",
"content": "We love you, Samus! Maru Mari forever",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "438040",
"author": "Gregory Strike",
"timestamp": "2011-08-19T18:01:49",
"content": "It would appear he has some other bots onhis YouTube channel!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "438425",
"author": "svengali333@hotmail.com",
"timestamp": "2011-08-20T12:28:28",
"content": "All it needs is a microphone so when you bang on the table next to it it pulls in tight and hides :P",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "438935",
"author": "Richard",
"timestamp": "2011-08-21T15:26:04",
"content": "That robot has some of the most beautifully fluid movements I’ve ever seen in a hexapod – kudos for a well-constructed mechanism, but also some very good programming too… superb result so far. :-)",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "439196",
"author": "torwag",
"timestamp": "2011-08-22T01:51:53",
"content": "This is art",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "439377",
"author": "Alan Robinson",
"timestamp": "2011-08-22T10:43:56",
"content": "very nice i like the smooth movments exellent job",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "439801",
"author": "j8g8j",
"timestamp": "2011-08-22T21:57:49",
"content": "Beautiful… in an other-worldly sense.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "440809",
"author": "MadHatter",
"timestamp": "2011-08-24T09:15:08",
"content": "The fluid movements get help from the ARC-32 board. The 32 bit math hardware lets it calculate the Inverse Kinematics on the fly.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "533530",
"author": "darkblackcorner",
"timestamp": "2011-12-12T22:54:39",
"content": "Wow, the movements and co-ordination is stunning! I would LOVE to have one of these!!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
}
] | 1,760,377,110.978197
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2011/08/17/dumpster-hackers-and-junkyard-makers-get-their-own-tv-show/
|
Dumpster Hackers And Junkyard Makers Get Their Own TV Show
|
Mike Nathan
|
[
"News"
] |
[
"hackers",
"JUNKies",
"junkyard",
"Makers",
"tv"
] |
The Science Channel has
a new show premiering tomorrow night
that we think you won’t want to miss.
JUNKies takes a look at a group of junkyard engineers led by [Jimmy “The Junk Genius” Ruocco], who also happens to be the junkyard’s owner. From the trailer you can see below, the show looks like it will be pretty entertaining, combining the best parts of Junkyard Wars, Mythbusters, and even Jackass – with hilarious and interesting results.
The show includes crazy stuff that [Jimmy] and his crew piece together, as well as the creations of individuals that come by the shop looking for parts. When the crew is not busy concocting crazy machines, they seem more than happy to help random inventors and makers dig out just the right parts for their projects.
The show airs tomorrow night, 8/18, at 10 PM Eastern, so be sure to check it out and let us know what you think!
[via
Make
]
| 27
| 15
|
[
{
"comment_id": "436940",
"author": "Some_Guy",
"timestamp": "2011-08-17T23:13:17",
"content": "Is it not 8/17 right now?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "437003",
"author": "Paul",
"timestamp": "2011-08-18T02:01:33",
"content": "According to the episode guide from the source link:“Rocket RidePremiere:Thursday, August 18 at 10PM e/p”",
"parent_id": "436940",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "436951",
"author": "Maave",
"timestamp": "2011-08-17T23:49:14",
"content": "Heck yeah, been waiting for this debut since the commercials started airing. The stuff they’re making definitely reminded me of Junkyard Wars.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "436955",
"author": "tehnoo",
"timestamp": "2011-08-17T23:54:29",
"content": "8/18?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "436959",
"author": "David S",
"timestamp": "2011-08-18T00:16:14",
"content": "I hope I speak for others when I say, Science Channel?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "437197",
"author": "Ren",
"timestamp": "2011-08-18T13:01:03",
"content": "I’m sure it may have more science than the history you’ll find on The History Channel.",
"parent_id": "436959",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "436981",
"author": "HARaaM",
"timestamp": "2011-08-18T01:06:58",
"content": "I would love to watch the trailer, but it will not save. I am on dialup, in 50 years maybe we will have real interney in rural wyoming.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "436991",
"author": "Sean",
"timestamp": "2011-08-18T01:34:52",
"content": "Are you required to live in rural Wyoming? ‘Cause if so that kind of blows…",
"parent_id": "436981",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "437027",
"author": "tooth",
"timestamp": "2011-08-18T04:01:07",
"content": "have you looked in to cell internet or satellite internet its way better than dial up but the sat has a cap 5g i think and cell dose to unless you get unlimited a bit more$$$$$$$$. better than an hour trying to watch 20 sec clip. you could also try shotgunning your modems and get two phone line put in your house and a second dial number and modem for your computer.about the show looks sweat would love to watch it ill have to get a dvr. i work every day and its during thous hours :(",
"parent_id": "436981",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "437040",
"author": "reformer",
"timestamp": "2011-08-18T04:23:04",
"content": "Hughes Net has a 200 megabyte download daily limit before you get knocked down to slower-than-dialup speeds. You read that right 200 MEGABYTE. I browse a few pages then call it quits for the day. Never go with internet. Stay with dialup. It is not worth the price…I suppose it maybe worth it if dialup is not even available…but if you lived some place like that, I would guess internet would not really be a priority.",
"parent_id": "437027",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "437200",
"author": "Ren",
"timestamp": "2011-08-18T13:06:02",
"content": "Cell coverage in states like WY, ND, SD, MT is pretty much limited to major cities, towns and along major highways, the rest is static. Some rural telecomms still use telephone poles. and it is far too costly to expect DSL repeaters every 5 miles or whatever.",
"parent_id": "437027",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "437057",
"author": "pahosler",
"timestamp": "2011-08-18T05:32:23",
"content": "does your provider offer ISDN? at least it’s better than dial-up",
"parent_id": "436981",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "437087",
"author": "Eirinn",
"timestamp": "2011-08-18T07:50:40",
"content": "All this sounds crazy… i even have a 1GB limit on my 3G got 10$ a month (would probably be 5$ in the states).Haven’t had dial up since 1998.",
"parent_id": "436981",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "437006",
"author": "Keith",
"timestamp": "2011-08-18T02:15:24",
"content": "Don’t get your hopes up … we’re talkin about TV here.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "437319",
"author": "fotoflojoe",
"timestamp": "2011-08-18T16:25:19",
"content": "Absolutely agree.Like every other piece of reality crap on television these days, I’m betting this will be produced/staged in order to appeal to the lowest common denominator of viewership.That said, I’ll still watch an episode or three. However, I’m guessing that a visit to the yard itself would be much more interesting and informative.",
"parent_id": "437006",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "437012",
"author": "Dan Fruzzetti",
"timestamp": "2011-08-18T02:55:47",
"content": "haha italians and garbage… men in my family were salvage artists for three generations. compressors, drill presses, even a car my grandfather made out of two cars…my dad got out of it, but passed down the philosophy of “make it do something with stuff you already have” which is absolutely required in salvage hacking.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "437037",
"author": "Seshan",
"timestamp": "2011-08-18T04:15:45",
"content": "I loved junkyard wars, then USA came along and fucked it up.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "437044",
"author": "WestfW",
"timestamp": "2011-08-18T04:39:52",
"content": "I think I’d be happier without the “part jackass” description :-( (Still unhappy that the best venue for Robots involved battles on “the Comedy Channel”, too. Sigh.)",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "437203",
"author": "Ren",
"timestamp": "2011-08-18T13:13:17",
"content": "yeah, I guess the networks feel they have to throw interpersonal tension into each episode to spice things up. It is wasted airtime of two people acting like jerks that turned me off to the Orange County Choppers show and the Boyd Coddington, Jessie James shows. Now Speed channel has two teams rebuilding a couple of junkers in 72 hours, and it has the same name-calling, arrogant personalities showing their ignorance.",
"parent_id": "437044",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "437205",
"author": "Ren",
"timestamp": "2011-08-18T13:14:19",
"content": "At least I don’t see that stuff happening on The Carrot Channel. B^)",
"parent_id": "437203",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "437062",
"author": "andar_b",
"timestamp": "2011-08-18T06:16:34",
"content": "Junkyard Wars was the best, they even had Kryten for a host! One of my favorites was the T-Rex that ate brick walls and the football catapult that I KNEW wouldn’t work from the start.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "437103",
"author": "einballimwasser",
"timestamp": "2011-08-18T08:45:09",
"content": "May someone record and upload it? I’d love to see it, but unfortunately I cannot receive the science channel here in Berlin (No sattelite television), but I have a fast internet connection :o)",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "437111",
"author": "Formington Farnsworth Troughton",
"timestamp": "2011-08-18T08:57:50",
"content": "Yeah… I really miss Junkyard Wars. I hope this holds up, it’ll be great to have interesting “reality” TV for once!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "437121",
"author": "kak",
"timestamp": "2011-08-18T09:22:01",
"content": "meh..",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "437198",
"author": "Daley",
"timestamp": "2011-08-18T13:04:45",
"content": "I have high hopes, but low expectations with regard to the longevity of it. Producers have to appeal to the greater audience, and hackers just aren’t typically a TV-watching majority. I’d love to see more hacker-iffic shows, but like many others before it they don’t last long.I’m happy to see more and more shows appearing on the streaming networks however – Revision3 has a couple, as well as others.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "437359",
"author": "drew",
"timestamp": "2011-08-18T17:27:22",
"content": "Awe, accidentally reported this comment instead of replying.It’s not that we don’t watch TV, we just go out of our way to avoid watching the commercials they try to include ;)",
"parent_id": "437198",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "437454",
"author": "Praetor",
"timestamp": "2011-08-18T20:38:48",
"content": "Awesome show F’ed up title, we’re all going to here the PC’ers’ insist on the name change, while drug addicts are going to thinks it’s a mind f@&#. ROFLMFAO",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
}
] | 1,760,377,111.198446
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2011/08/17/build-your-own-sms-chatroom/
|
Build Your Own SMS Chatroom
|
Brian Benchoff
|
[
"Cellphone Hacks"
] |
[
"cell phone",
"chat",
"chat room",
"sms"
] |
While he was organizing a party, [Mike Seese] hit upon the idea of chatroom that would operate over SMS. Not being content with the ‘reply all’ function, [Mike] built a
Group Messaging Service
that runs on his home server.
The chat room is initiated by sending a text to a server. Your friends then reply, and the chatroom is then opened. The project was written in C++, and [Mike] put everything on
github
for your perusal. The software does use libraries from /n software’s
IP*Works
, but if you have any trouble obtaining those libraries feel free to drop [Mike] a line.
The great thing about this project is the fact that it’s platform independent – as long as a phone can do SMS, it’ll work. Seems like a great thing for those of us still using the old Nokia ‘bar’ phones. An SMS chatroom
has been done before
but this is the first time we’ve seen a build that will run off
your
server, and not internet-based services.
While it may not be the best idea for people without unlimited texts on their phone plan, it’s a really great idea and we’re wondering why something like this isn’t available via Google Voice.
| 10
| 8
|
[
{
"comment_id": "436957",
"author": "Sean",
"timestamp": "2011-08-18T00:02:22",
"content": "Groupme (linked in the article) works really well, so I haven’t made this type of hack a priority since I started using that service. I would, however, like to set something like this up for emergency notifications.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "436958",
"author": "angus",
"timestamp": "2011-08-18T00:07:22",
"content": "If only Australian phone carriers had email-to-SMS gateways…",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "436965",
"author": "cmholm",
"timestamp": "2011-08-18T00:34:03",
"content": "If you want to use Mike’s code, *definitely* need to drop him a line, since the libraries he’s using cost $300. But even as is, what’s on github is a good proof-of-concept for someone who doesn’t mind pounding out the POP and SMTP comm code themselves, in whatever language.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "437102",
"author": "beta4",
"timestamp": "2011-08-18T08:40:42",
"content": "Just wondering if it would be possible to replace the propietary library with POCO (http://pocoproject.org/features.html). It has classes for POP and SMTP clients and it’s opensource…",
"parent_id": "436965",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "436994",
"author": "toodlestech",
"timestamp": "2011-08-18T01:43:18",
"content": "Would be fun to code and use but if you just want to USE a service like this there is Google Huddle.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "437098",
"author": "J",
"timestamp": "2011-08-18T08:24:54",
"content": "Besides the cost of the libraries, it sounds rather lovely. And on that note, is the code also multi platform, or windows only.I did something similar, where I used SMS messages to a server to keep track of my friend’s man points and other such silly statistics, which they (and anyone else on the system) can query though SMS. Well, except mine used PHP.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "437106",
"author": "beta4",
"timestamp": "2011-08-18T08:54:18",
"content": "Code seems fairly portable (assuming the library it depends on is portable too). However it looks like a template project generated by visual studio and the author didn’t bother to replace the horrific windows-only main() signature that visual studio generates (see “int _tmain(int argc, _TCHAR* argv[])” in group_texting.cpp) with a plain simple “int main(int argc, char *argv[])”. That change (plus the removal of an “#include ” in stdafx.h) would likely make the code compile on Linux too.On a side note, I hope the author replaced the password in the source files with a dummy one before uploading the code to github.",
"parent_id": "437098",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "437227",
"author": "NATO",
"timestamp": "2011-08-18T13:41:19",
"content": "I’ve been doing this for years with Blackberry Messenger……..",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "437494",
"author": "Anonymous",
"timestamp": "2011-08-18T22:28:59",
"content": "I use Tropo.com for this and ir works great, IM too. Why re-invent the wheel?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "437581",
"author": "Vinh Vu",
"timestamp": "2011-08-19T01:29:43",
"content": "Google+ Huddle pretty much destroy any reason to do this……….",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
}
] | 1,760,377,111.023922
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2011/08/17/milliohm-measurement-made-easy/
|
MilliOhm Measurement Made Easy
|
Nick Schulze
|
[
"how-to",
"Tool Hacks"
] |
[
"milli ohmmeter",
"milliohm measurement"
] |
When [Kerry] wanted to
measure some very small resistances
very accurately he did not want to fork out the big bucks for a high end multimeter or a mico-ohmmeter, so he decided to build one himself. Measuring resistance is a simple enough concept, it directly implements Ohms law (V=IR). The problem with very small resistances is that when you apply a sensibly sized constant current to the load, the voltage to be measured is too small for conventional multimeter.
To overcome the problem [Kerry] designed a constant current source of very high accuracy using the AD8276 unity gain difference amplifier and the AD8603 high precision opamp. Then to boost the voltage across the load he used the LMP8358 programmable gain precision opamp, this allowed him to easily change the gain for different magnitude resistance, the circuit diagrams are all available on his site. Finally he used four point probes to eliminate probe wire resistance errors, ending up with the ability to measure small resistances with very high accuracy.
| 8
| 6
|
[
{
"comment_id": "436911",
"author": "JA12",
"timestamp": "2011-08-17T21:46:24",
"content": "Afrotechmods has the best (yes the best) tutorial of 4-wire resistance measurement.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0vMvCVyOp9g",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "437122",
"author": "andrew",
"timestamp": "2011-08-18T09:22:28",
"content": "That is an excellent tutorial for Kelvin measurement. I remember when I was just starting out in my career… I’d just got some new prototypes for a controller I’d designed, but they didn’t work. Lots of shorts under components and so on. The old timer (my eventual mentor) taught me how to find where the shorts where by using Kelvin measurements to measure the voltage drop of the power nets and then “home in” on the short by moving the probes one at a time until I could get the lowest reading. It was pretty damn cool, and something I never forgot.",
"parent_id": "436911",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "436926",
"author": "Phil",
"timestamp": "2011-08-17T22:56:59",
"content": "If it were me, I’d make a bridge with a piece of e.g. nichrome wire. Slide a probe along the wire and find the null point.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "436937",
"author": "steve",
"timestamp": "2011-08-17T23:09:09",
"content": "Excellent engineering. However, his 4-ponit probe looks like it doesn’t prevent errors from the clips.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "437123",
"author": "andrew",
"timestamp": "2011-08-18T09:23:33",
"content": "That’s why you don’t measure the clips. Your meter should be touching the component, not the clips. It’s potentially only a couple of mV, but when you’re trying to measure mOhms, these things matter.",
"parent_id": "436937",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "436976",
"author": "Seba",
"timestamp": "2011-08-18T00:52:19",
"content": "I dont know if it gives an exact measurement, that values of resistance are really small compared to any junction, wire etc. connected to the device under test.. also the thermocouple effect may be appreciable.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "437381",
"author": "Stan",
"timestamp": "2011-08-18T18:32:27",
"content": "This is also useful to read strain gauges. Thanks for the tutorial!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "437679",
"author": "crust",
"timestamp": "2011-08-19T04:49:59",
"content": "In a pinch you can get very close with just a LM317 and a single resistor. I use a 12.4 ohm and setup the LM317 for constant current. That gives about 100mA and is very good into the mV range (and easy to do the math in your head). I don’t even have a power switch on mine. It draws power when I put the probes on the board. I also use alligator clips and shielded cable to have distinct current and sense paths.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
}
] | 1,760,377,111.071384
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2011/08/16/easy-to-build-z80-single-board-computer/
|
Easy To Build Z80 Single Board Computer
|
Brian Benchoff
|
[
"classic hacks",
"hardware"
] |
[
"cpm",
"HHGG",
"infocom",
"single board computer",
"z80",
"zilog"
] |
[Alexis] sent in a
single board computer
he’s been working on. The project goal of his build was making it easily reproducible. From looking at the schematics, it’s one of the simplest fully-functional computers we’ve seen. The build runs CP/M 2.2 off of two 3.5 inch floppies. This opens up a lot of options as to what software is already available. Although it operates over a serial terminal, [Alexis] pretty much duplicated an
Osborne I
, only at double the speed.
[Alexis] got a little e-fame from his earlier
8088 homebrew computer
built from very early 8088’s rescued from an electronics junk shop. These 8088 computers made the blog rounds by playing
Still Alive
with a
SID chip
from a Commodore 64 and a
YM2151
FM synth chip.
For now, I guess we’ll have to settle for a video of [Alexis]’ Z80 computer running CP/M. Check out a video after the break of his computer running the greatest Infocom adventure,
Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy
.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=inXlE3OC55c&w=470]
| 27
| 23
|
[
{
"comment_id": "435919",
"author": "iHME",
"timestamp": "2011-08-16T13:15:59",
"content": "This is sweet.I’ll be building myself one in the distant future.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "435942",
"author": "abobymouse",
"timestamp": "2011-08-16T13:32:24",
"content": "I love builds like this. Awesome.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "435946",
"author": "John Boxall",
"timestamp": "2011-08-16T13:36:05",
"content": "Nice build. Similar to the Australian Microbee systems of the late 1980s.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "435950",
"author": "lwatcdr",
"timestamp": "2011-08-16T13:41:54",
"content": "So who is going to write the terminal for this? Maybe a Pic chip to bit bang out Video and interface to an old PS/2 keyboard?http://www.rickard.gunee.com/projects/video/pic/gamesys.phphttp://www.uxpro.com/cpm/www.cpm.z80.de/has some links to CP/M Stuff. How about ZCPR? Anyone know that software is still lurking on the net?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "435954",
"author": "isama",
"timestamp": "2011-08-16T13:44:45",
"content": "Wow, nice build! and I can’t believe i’ve never seen the 8080 portal video. now I really want to do something like that!Maybe something to learn netbsd with? or simply get it onto an arduino for pure lazyness :D",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "435970",
"author": "willaim",
"timestamp": "2011-08-16T13:59:22",
"content": "awesome.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "435971",
"author": "karl",
"timestamp": "2011-08-16T14:00:43",
"content": "Hate to rain on anyones parade – it’s a nice build, but its difficult nowadays to find a floppy controler chip.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "435981",
"author": "hboy007",
"timestamp": "2011-08-16T14:19:05",
"content": "There’s always a solution to deprecated logic chips: IP cores for FPGAs!A quick search brought up this discussion:http://www.vhdl-language.info/floppy-controller-in-vhdlI hope that in the future every standard IC will be available as a design, too.",
"parent_id": "435971",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "436023",
"author": "nes",
"timestamp": "2011-08-16T14:58:13",
"content": "I haven’t heard of anyone who’s done an HDL version of a floppy controller. Isn’t some sort of PLL part of the requirements which makes it tricky to do a generic FPGA core for?ISA bus super I/O chips, e.g. Winbond etc. are still available but AFAIK, they’re not format compatible with WD1797 used here, and you would need to find one which works off an 8-bit bus. You would get a couple of serial ports and a printer port for free though using one of those.",
"parent_id": "435981",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "436116",
"author": "zacdee316",
"timestamp": "2011-08-16T18:11:16",
"content": "When there’s a need someone will fill it. Sooner or later someone will dig up the old schematics and start reproducing the chips for the DIY community.",
"parent_id": "435971",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "435974",
"author": "Alex",
"timestamp": "2011-08-16T14:10:15",
"content": "Home built computers are one of my favorite things to see on hackaday.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "436005",
"author": "Ben Ryves",
"timestamp": "2011-08-16T14:36:45",
"content": "Very nice work. :-)One of the advantages of CP/M 3 is that it no longer ties you to a physical disk sector size that matches the logical record size of 128 bytes. My Z80 computer runs CP/M 3 from an SD card, which has a 512 byte block size. As SD cards are inexpensive and easy to communicate with (SPI) I found this to be a much easier solution than trying to use a floppy disk drive.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "436010",
"author": "xorpunk",
"timestamp": "2011-08-16T14:39:35",
"content": "Remembers doing a 20Mhz z80 and HTC TCIP stack based SBC way back..Nice to see something that isn’t content-marketing for arduino for a change..",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "436021",
"author": "Buzzles",
"timestamp": "2011-08-16T14:46:52",
"content": "Look at his desk, just look at it.Wire jungle springs to mind.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "436026",
"author": "retepvosnul",
"timestamp": "2011-08-16T15:15:06",
"content": "The spaghetti isn’t incorporated in the end product! He clearly left it out, hence it clutters his desk.Good thing..",
"parent_id": "436021",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "436024",
"author": "Morgauxo",
"timestamp": "2011-08-16T15:02:24",
"content": "I’ve never tried to make anything with a floppy controller chip so maybe I’m way off here but would old ISA floppy controllers contain the chips one needs for this? Those are anything but hard to come by!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "436029",
"author": "karl",
"timestamp": "2011-08-16T15:24:00",
"content": "Morgauxo: If you can find one that’s only a floppy controller, or floppy + IDE – it should do the trick [look for a 44 pin SMD package or 40 pin DIPIf it has “37C65” as part of its part #, you should be OK.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "436046",
"author": "Miroslav",
"timestamp": "2011-08-16T15:46:09",
"content": "Nice build. And CLI responds way faster than on a modern Windows/Linux (xterm) box. Something to ponder.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "436066",
"author": "APLFANBOI",
"timestamp": "2011-08-16T16:11:14",
"content": "Floppies are BEAST! Still use em.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "436092",
"author": "willow",
"timestamp": "2011-08-16T17:09:35",
"content": "I have a fully functional Osborn 2, haven’t touched it in years. Got it when I was like 11 or so to goof around with. Learned some DB coding just by plunking around.Memories..",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "436417",
"author": "Orinoko",
"timestamp": "2011-08-17T02:17:06",
"content": "Excellent build!! I really like how well the documentation is laid out and the circuit diagrams are easy to follow!!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "436666",
"author": "Chewie",
"timestamp": "2011-08-17T13:21:36",
"content": "Just when I thought I was growing tired of HaD, stuff like this comes up. Nice work, I love it!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "436796",
"author": "marc",
"timestamp": "2011-08-17T17:34:40",
"content": "If someone is interested to buy the floppy controller, I could have some of WD1770 for about $15, which is an equivalent to the IC mentioned in the project.If you are interested, leave a comment below.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "437055",
"author": "Willrandship",
"timestamp": "2011-08-18T05:22:02",
"content": "It shouldn’t be too hard to throw the z80 port of BBC Basic on there. Then, you get a whole bunch of pre-existing programs at your disposal!And it’s code-compatible with your TI-84+ :P",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "514384",
"author": "Some dude you don't know",
"timestamp": "2011-11-21T03:07:23",
"content": "Man, would I love to make a MSX2 console, but I’m not sure if I have a Z80 chip lying around.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "514386",
"author": "Some dude you don't know",
"timestamp": "2011-11-21T03:09:06",
"content": "Man, would I love to make a MSX2 console from this, but I’m not sure if I have a Z80 chip lying around. Also, I’m not very tech-savvy. :C",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "633975",
"author": "z80 computer freak",
"timestamp": "2012-04-20T23:30:20",
"content": "i am going to build one. looks great.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
}
] | 1,760,377,111.134935
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2011/08/16/autonomous-tank-will-track-you-down-cover-you-in-welts/
|
Autonomous Tank Will Track You Down, Cover You In Welts
|
Mike Nathan
|
[
"Arduino Hacks",
"Robots Hacks"
] |
[
"arduino",
"autonomous",
"radio controlled",
"tank",
"wii"
] |
[Dan] wrote in to share a project he recently finished up,
an autonomous Airsoft tank
. The toy tank makes use of a wide array of technologies to get the job done, and will stop at nothing to hunt you down (provided you are wearing an IR beacon).
An Arduino board is used to control the tank’s motors, while a Lego NXT module handles most of the other operations. The tank makes its way around using an ultrasonic sensor, which ensures it doesn’t get stuck on any errant furniture or hung up in a corner. While driving around autonomously is well and good, [Dan] upped the ante a bit by making the Airsoft turret completely autonomous as well.
He fitted a Wiimote IR sensor to the tank, successfully interfacing it with the NXT module after a bit of trial and error. Now that things are up and running, he can place his IR beacon anywhere in the room, and the tank will drive around scanning its surroundings until the target is found. Once the tank locks on, a flurry of Airsoft pellets take down whatever stands in its way.
We think that [Dan] did a fantastic job here, but see for yourself in the videos embedded after the break.
[via
HackedGadgets
]
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0hc7koZTO2c&w=470]
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FUtw6gEx31A&w=470]
| 14
| 13
|
[
{
"comment_id": "435835",
"author": "Flood_of_SYNs",
"timestamp": "2011-08-16T11:12:08",
"content": "I like in the second video when the tank is scanning and then finds the beacon, and stops as if to say “halt or I will fire upon you!”. lol",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "435837",
"author": "Mental2k",
"timestamp": "2011-08-16T11:19:22",
"content": "Cool little project that. Laser dot tracking would be an awesome upgrade.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "435843",
"author": "elektrophreak",
"timestamp": "2011-08-16T11:33:35",
"content": "hey that’s a great (and a bit scary) project. it looks like it works perfectly, good job.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "435844",
"author": "cyrozap",
"timestamp": "2011-08-16T11:33:49",
"content": "I had to read the title twice because I thought it said, “Anonymous tank will track you down, cover you in welts.”/exhaustionThis is cool. If it were let outside… EVERYTHING WOULD BE WELTED!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "435854",
"author": "Andrew Smith",
"timestamp": "2011-08-16T12:06:23",
"content": "epic",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "435856",
"author": "willaim",
"timestamp": "2011-08-16T12:08:53",
"content": "Id like to see this thing track radio transmissions shoot the person using the cell phone would be funny I can think of real world applications for this radio frequency tracking too but ill just keep my mouth shut",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "435939",
"author": "Abbott",
"timestamp": "2011-08-16T13:28:37",
"content": "Heh, I would love that. If nothing else, it would be of great use in our theatre. The ~~400Hz sound of the carrier on EDGE signals is annoying as hell over the comm systems. Every time someone pulls out a cell phone or gets/sends a text…",
"parent_id": "435856",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "435862",
"author": "Charlie",
"timestamp": "2011-08-16T12:25:09",
"content": "How about a pin hole camera to have action video of you taking out your enemy??",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "435866",
"author": "zacdee316",
"timestamp": "2011-08-16T12:33:07",
"content": "You should make a autonomous helicopter with a airsoft gun and make them fight each other. That would be awesome to watch.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "435884",
"author": "Madbenny",
"timestamp": "2011-08-16T13:01:34",
"content": "I thought it said Anonymous Tanks. ;)",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "436038",
"author": "Baka",
"timestamp": "2011-08-16T15:33:45",
"content": "say you released this thing in your living room…. would it shoot at anyone using a ir tv remote? that would be entertaining to watch terrify some unsuspecting victims.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "436081",
"author": "Mojoe",
"timestamp": "2011-08-16T16:47:19",
"content": "How about illuminating the target with an IR pointer instead of using a beacon.Then when someone says “Hey, why does it just wander around like that? What’s it looking for?”“I thought you’d never ask!” “Muahhh Ha Haaa!!”",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "436082",
"author": "Mojoe",
"timestamp": "2011-08-16T16:49:31",
"content": "BTW, I almost forgot…. I love it! Great job!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "436118",
"author": "Maurice Brown",
"timestamp": "2011-08-16T18:12:22",
"content": "Give me batteries. You have fifteen seconds to comply.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
}
] | 1,760,377,111.246554
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2011/08/15/controlling-muscles-with-high-intensity-magnetic-pulses/
|
Controlling Muscles With High Intensity Magnetic Pulses
|
Mike Nathan
|
[
"Medical Hacks"
] |
[
"high voltage",
"magnetic",
"neurons",
"stimulation"
] |
We’re not quite sure what’s going on with our fellow hackers lately, but they all seem quite interested in finding inventive ways
to scramble their brains
. [Ben Krasnow] has put together a pair of videos detailing his experiments in transcranial magnetic stimulation, a process that looks like it would go quite nicely with
the Brainwave Disruptor
we showed you just yesterday.
Instead of building a coil gun with a set of supercapacitors he had on hand, [Ben] decided to build a magnetic coil that can be used to stimulate his brain through his skull. Once his capacitor bank is charged, a high current pulse is sent through the coil held against his head. This pulse generates a strong magnetic field in the coil, which in turn produces neuron stimulation in his primary motor cortex.
Be sure to watch both videos embedded below, as the first one mostly covers the theory behind his experiments, while the second video gives us the goods.
[Ben’s] day job involves working with professional grade TMS devices, so he has some experience with this technology. Before you try this on your own, be sure that you are doing this safely, because a misdirected pulse of 1700 volts to the head does not sound like a fun time at all.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HUW7dQ92yDU&w=470]
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B_olmdAQx5s&w=470]
| 67
| 38
|
[
{
"comment_id": "435568",
"author": "Almonds & Walnuts",
"timestamp": "2011-08-15T22:14:24",
"content": "He’s nuts, just nuts.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "435579",
"author": "Cameron",
"timestamp": "2011-08-15T22:46:02",
"content": "Barring the outright destruction of cells from to sharp a focus the worst case scenario is probably a grand mal seizure… I wish I had the electronics knowledge to build something like this so I could work on the coil configuration. May something similar to a Gamma Knife would allow a lower voltage to be used.",
"parent_id": "435568",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "435574",
"author": "Cameron",
"timestamp": "2011-08-15T22:36:28",
"content": "What would it take to build a power source that could be discharged a a rate of 17Hz or higher? It could be synced to an EEG and with refinements to the coils focus could produce highly neat effects.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "435577",
"author": "Doktor Jeep",
"timestamp": "2011-08-15T22:44:50",
"content": "Let me guess, he had a full head of hair when he started. :-DThat is one project I won’t be trying at home.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "435578",
"author": "avrpunk",
"timestamp": "2011-08-15T22:45:42",
"content": "Why not just stick a butter-knife into an electrical socket? I’m sure it stimulates the brain as well.If I have a kangaroo pouch orifice cut into me to smuggle food out of buffets, is that worthy of hackaday?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "435580",
"author": "Steve-O-Rama",
"timestamp": "2011-08-15T22:51:23",
"content": "Electro-shock therapy without insurance? You bet!j/k I think this is a wee bit dangerous for the average person to tinker with. Just my opinion. But if any of you end up curing disease or coming up with mind-control devices based upon this sort of apparatus, I didn’t warn you. :D",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "435581",
"author": "JohnConnor",
"timestamp": "2011-08-15T22:51:33",
"content": "Geez, what’s happening here in HAD ?More and more Darwin Award entries ?What next, an Arduino controlled .357 revolverwith randomized solenoids to pull the trigger andplay Russian Roulette with ?Oh wait, I better not give anyone any ideas…",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "435936",
"author": "ellrabin",
"timestamp": "2011-08-16T13:26:50",
"content": "Challenge accepted",
"parent_id": "435581",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "435584",
"author": "Someonecool",
"timestamp": "2011-08-15T23:02:39",
"content": "I am really disappointed with the comments so far. How does this warrant a Darwin award? This guy does things like this for a living, so I am sure he has a lot of knowledge on the dangers of focused magnetic fields on areas of the brain.It also seems that he has a large amount of proper electronic tools, such as a few oscilloscopes, a proper work bench with good lighting, it seems he insulated the wire that goes to the coil well, so I presume that he also has knowledge on high voltage safety.I am sure as hell going to try this out, specifically with the visual cortex.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "435586",
"author": "Solidacid",
"timestamp": "2011-08-15T23:05:26",
"content": "please do keep us updated if you find something neat",
"parent_id": "435584",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "436349",
"author": "Someonecool",
"timestamp": "2011-08-17T00:18:34",
"content": "I am currently working on a power supply to enable such a device. Here is my work log for it.http://dangerousprototypes.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=19&t=2678",
"parent_id": "435586",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "435591",
"author": "Cameron",
"timestamp": "2011-08-15T23:10:07",
"content": "Good to hear someone not afraid to get their hands dirty. I was beginning to think that I came to the wrong site. I plan on trying it out on my prefrontal lobe. Irresponsible? Yes. Do I have the type of professional reputation that doing this would tarnish. Maybe but probably not.",
"parent_id": "435584",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "435789",
"author": "AdamD",
"timestamp": "2011-08-16T09:09:46",
"content": "I really am tired of the safety Nazis. What’s worse are the ones who’s ignorance of electromagnetics drive their fear. People have been inducing currents in brain tissue for a while. Hell researchers have even planted electrodes in other peoples heads to stimulate the brain with electrical signals. Electricity is not magic. Of course you could seriously hurt yourself if you ground a circuit with high electrical potential through your body; there’s always an inherent risk if you don’t know what your doing. Just because you won’t let the dangerous magic sparky stuff anywhere near YOUR head doesn’t mean if someone experiments on their own head that they’re wacko.",
"parent_id": "435584",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "435585",
"author": "Solidacid",
"timestamp": "2011-08-15T23:04:11",
"content": "streaming HD video straight to my visual cortex primary auditory cortex and… YES.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "435868",
"author": "The Ideanator",
"timestamp": "2011-08-16T12:38:49",
"content": "At first I was like WTF…But then(after I read your post) I was like OMG I need me some high energy magnetic fields!!In all seriousness though, I like body hacks(like with the current-sensing magnet under the skin one) and I would totally do some, but non-contact excitation of neurons scares me a bit though if I knew more about neuroscience I might not be so alarmed(on the other hand it could be far more alarming.",
"parent_id": "435585",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "435588",
"author": "damntech",
"timestamp": "2011-08-15T23:08:37",
"content": "I really like these crazy posts about messing with your brain and playing with radioactive material. The high risk stories can be the most interesting. But as intriguing as some of these things are I will not ever willfully partake in these experiments.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "435589",
"author": "plainnash",
"timestamp": "2011-08-15T23:08:58",
"content": "Not a week ago I actually took part in a medical study using TMS, it was damned interesting:Given the correct location on the brain and correct frequency of pulses, it’s possible to totally flip a person’s sense of right and wrong.As for the hack sense of this article, this most definitely counts in my book!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "435595",
"author": "Limey",
"timestamp": "2011-08-15T23:23:41",
"content": "Wow, that sounds really interesting :D, you know what its called or anything else I could read up on this? Coincidentally I watched a documentary a few weeks ago (cant remember what its called) were they were experimenting with low frequency magnetic pulses in a specific configuration near the brain and they produced what the called the ‘god experience’ were the test subjects all produced similar ‘spiritual’ happenings (all rather interestingly very similar to those apparently experienced by the ancient prophets in the bible according to the program). All in all bloody interesting and very crazy XD.",
"parent_id": "435589",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "435597",
"author": "plainnash",
"timestamp": "2011-08-15T23:28:14",
"content": "Agreed, I did it at the University of Birmingham for a Phd researcher; even without the financial recompense it was worth a few hours of my time!A quick Google of ‘TMS morality’ brings up a few news articles, apparently the US Military plan to use it to keep soldiers fighting…",
"parent_id": "435595",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "435596",
"author": "RoboGuy",
"timestamp": "2011-08-15T23:27:19",
"content": "Right as in 2+2=4, or right as in murder is bad?Because depending on the answer, I may need to start building a bunker equipped with a Faraday cage in my backyard.",
"parent_id": "435589",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "435599",
"author": "mjrippe",
"timestamp": "2011-08-15T23:36:30",
"content": "Owning a Faraday bunker is not a bad idea in general – unless you like listening to the radio. Would it actually block *magnetic* pulses though?",
"parent_id": "435596",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "435630",
"author": "Renee",
"timestamp": "2011-08-16T01:28:23",
"content": "The things about that though is that TMS is not permanent and the effects only work as long as the brain is being stimulated so you would have to have tons of people running around with the required equipment to do so.I also believe that it only changes peoples perceptions of other peoples moral actions.So if you normally considered that Robin Hood is doing bad, you would then think he’s doing good under stimulation.It doesn’t change your inherent sense of morality in that you would still consider what you’re doing to be no different than before.",
"parent_id": "435596",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "435822",
"author": "Dax",
"timestamp": "2011-08-16T10:48:20",
"content": "It seems that the stimulation “overworks” some parts of the brain that are responsible for moral judgement, so the brain falls back to more infantile modes of reasoning.The specific question asked in the study was, if I remember it correctly, to evaluate a man who tries to throw his wife off a bridge but fails in the attempt and the wife is left unharmed.The people recieving the TMS were more inclined to believe that whatever ends well is all well, but in the case he actually did manage to toss his wife, they too figured that the man is doing a wrong.The effect is a bit subtle. It’s not like you suddenly become a sociopath.",
"parent_id": "435596",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "435867",
"author": "willaim",
"timestamp": "2011-08-16T12:33:16",
"content": "oddly enough I was reading something a few years back about scaler waves being able to influence objects inside a faraday cage….scary stuff",
"parent_id": "435596",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "435667",
"author": "Okian Warrior",
"timestamp": "2011-08-16T02:51:00",
"content": "Ah… no.TMS uses more than one magnetic field to produce a localized effect. Two waves properly timed will constructively interfere in one spot, allowing researchers to “stimulate” specific areas of the brain.The spot so generated is necessarily large and diffuse (using current techniques) relative to the size of a neuron. You can’t stimulate individual neurons, or even individual cortical columns with current technology.The brain has a damping mechanism that prevents feedback resonance in the neural circuits. At any one time several brainwave frequencies are passed around the system with positive feedback. Without the damping mechanism the positive feedback would amplify the frequencies resulting in an epileptic seizure.Like gently pushing a playground swing in tempo with the swinging: eventually the cycles get so large…The damping mechanism is apparently easy to damage – that’s why the result of cranial damage is sometimes epilepsy. The brain swells, a small part is “bruised” and scars form, and the survivor has periodic seizures for the rest of their life.So if you want to believe that the effects are temporary because the induced electric field cannot possibly damage a thin gelatinous wire, feel free.And if you think that you can’t lock yourself into a seizure state such that you can’t turn the device off, or that your friends in the room will be able to handle it if you do, then by all means go for it.Oh, and for the record, TMS is relatively new. When you perform experiments on yourself you will be almost completely in the dark for expected results.",
"parent_id": "435589",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "435826",
"author": "plainnash",
"timestamp": "2011-08-16T10:55:54",
"content": "At the risk of kicking up an argument, TMS isn’t relatively new, the first successful test was done in 1985.By comparison, the first CT scan was only done in 1971…",
"parent_id": "435667",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "435836",
"author": "Benj",
"timestamp": "2011-08-16T11:18:23",
"content": "Assuming you’re referring to the Young et. al. study at MIT recently, in this experiment TMS didn’t exactly ‘flip a person’s sense of right and wrong’ (though the majority of media coverage seemed to go out of it’s way to push this interpretation for a nice sensational story), rather it impaired the ability of participants to use their knowledge of other people’s intentions to make moral judgements.I think if you have a search around, the paper (‘Disruption of the right temporoparietal junction with transcranial magnetic stimulation reduces the role of beliefs in moral judgments’ published in PNAS) should be obtainable without a journal subscription – interesting read.",
"parent_id": "435589",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "436114",
"author": "JackD",
"timestamp": "2011-08-16T18:07:06",
"content": "Found it hereand didn’t need special access for the full PDF. It’s pretty interesting.",
"parent_id": "435836",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "435590",
"author": "Gary",
"timestamp": "2011-08-15T23:09:19",
"content": "I think I’ll stick with the standard brain stimulation juice thank you.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "435592",
"author": "D1g1talDragon",
"timestamp": "2011-08-15T23:10:15",
"content": "Haters gonna hate. :) Interesting application, keep up the good work and let us in on anything exciting!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "435604",
"author": "anfegori91",
"timestamp": "2011-08-15T23:55:55",
"content": "Reminds me of Bender addicted to electricity … Is it possible to stimulate the brain in order to replace chemical stimulants????",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "435624",
"author": "grenadier",
"timestamp": "2011-08-16T00:50:42",
"content": "I think I’m going to try this.1700^2 * 150 * 10^-6 * .5is 216 joules.I’ve got about 300J of 50kV capacitors right here. Now that will make one hell of a magnetic pulse.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "435838",
"author": "JOBGG",
"timestamp": "2011-08-16T11:25:20",
"content": "hmmmm….by all means, try it, but make sure you don’t zap the wrong part of your brain and contact a doctor first. Good luck. You’ll need it.",
"parent_id": "435624",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "435631",
"author": "torwag",
"timestamp": "2011-08-16T01:32:17",
"content": "Sorry,I am really all about making and hacking.However, I have my doubts about this one. Sure he is a pro and he might now what he is doing. However, there are certain rules and certain ethic guidance in the scientific community and he might brake with most of them within the video.1. Guess the device should be designed according to medical device standards BEFORE attaching it to your head2. He could/should mention that he tested it before by e.g., detecting the magnetic impulse by some measurement device, confirming about the “hot-spot” location and strength3. There should be studies, he should mention studies confirming the effect of these impulses on neurons and brain tissue.4. Monitoring of the vital functions during the experiment to stop in case of an emergency.etc. etc. etc.The way he is presenting it, as a quick dirty hack without any measures of safety and testing, does misguide people. Somehow remembers me of the good old times where scientist was used to keep there high radioactive materials in there desk drawers.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "435634",
"author": "Devin",
"timestamp": "2011-08-16T01:59:32",
"content": "“However, there are certain rules and certain ethic guidance in the scientific community and he might brake with most of them within the video.”Good thing this isn’t the scientific community, then!",
"parent_id": "435631",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "435637",
"author": "jc",
"timestamp": "2011-08-16T02:03:52",
"content": "I am also concerned about the safety of this. Reading his blog comments and responses, he seems to think that somehow his job and prior TMS experience makes him immune to accidents.As far as I can tell there is small but real risk of seizure and fainting. Holding a charged coil in your hand during this might end badly. In the least he should have had another person nearby to render help in case something goes wrong.",
"parent_id": "435631",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "435784",
"author": "dan",
"timestamp": "2011-08-16T08:52:42",
"content": "There are certain guidelines to writing English too, but that didn’t stop you pissing all over them.Why should he follow any kind of guidelines? He’s presenting something that’s a bit fun to the world, it’s not a thesis, or paper. It’s not subject to any of the guidelines that you say.Sure, I *MUCH* prefer it when I read a really detailed write up, that mentions or at least links all prior research etc, but not everyone is going to do that.",
"parent_id": "435631",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "436486",
"author": "torwag",
"timestamp": "2011-08-17T04:56:53",
"content": "nice…take out the grammar and spelling gun if you have nothing else to say… I know there are mistakes. Sorry for that, typed on Android device with automatic spell check does often make things worse rather then better.My point was just he can do what he want, he can toast his brain or do all kind of wonderful stuff with it. He should just mention that this is not something you should try without precaution and knowledge about the topic.I did not disagree with the project just with the form of presentation. That’s all",
"parent_id": "435784",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "435664",
"author": "andrew",
"timestamp": "2011-08-16T02:44:24",
"content": "As has been mentioned, people are using a very similar technology to replace electroconvulsive therapy (formerly, electroshock therapy). The benefits of this approach are that the effects can be much more localized. There’s a psychologist in Canada who has been using this approach in a very specific area of the brain to induce feelings of contact with god (seriously, google the god helmet). Given the scope of the potential effects, I’d be concerned about not knowing either the precise location or effects upon the affected area.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "435672",
"author": "Oliver",
"timestamp": "2011-08-16T03:10:44",
"content": "Last experiment: Dude look I formatted my brain….humm…who are you?….who am I?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "436079",
"author": "Testwire",
"timestamp": "2011-08-16T16:45:51",
"content": "Oliver–No… more like, “No operating system found”;)",
"parent_id": "435672",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "435691",
"author": "BiOzZ",
"timestamp": "2011-08-16T03:42:30",
"content": "yeahhhthe last thing i want to circuit bend via brute force is my brainepilepsy machine anyone?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "435710",
"author": "KillerBug",
"timestamp": "2011-08-16T04:52:13",
"content": "So…could something like this be used to simulate the effects of marijuana or something? Just think…get high as a kite, and be 100% sober within a minute of removing the helmet…then go down to the clinic and pass a drug test. Something like that could really hurt the cartels.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "435768",
"author": "BiOzZ",
"timestamp": "2011-08-16T07:42:54",
"content": "maybe but its probably just safer to smoke some KBspice or some low grade salvia XDits probably safer to just do meth than shoot pulses of electricity randomly in to the brain XD",
"parent_id": "435710",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "435715",
"author": "Dj NurSpek",
"timestamp": "2011-08-16T05:04:02",
"content": "I wonder what kind of effect this would have cardiac muscles…",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "435770",
"author": "elektrophreak",
"timestamp": "2011-08-16T07:46:08",
"content": "@Doktor Jeephaha, my thought exactly :)",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "435780",
"author": "0xFFFF",
"timestamp": "2011-08-16T08:15:51",
"content": "Very cool hack, probably not going to try this though :P",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "435801",
"author": "Brainguy",
"timestamp": "2011-08-16T09:49:18",
"content": "Very nice! As a neuroscientist engaged in TMS-research I highly appreciate the boldness of building your own stimulation coils =). As to the dangers: This guy has some obvious experience and knows what he’s doing. Delivering single pulses holds virtually no danger and multiple pulses are somewhat out of reach of your average coil due to heat.As for ethics: Experimenting on yourself is never unethical in my opinion :), I’m guessing that he won’t be using it for treatment and or scientific research.Again, Nice job sir!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "435808",
"author": "Renee",
"timestamp": "2011-08-16T10:12:16",
"content": "What exactly does “working with” mean?I’m pretty sure a doctor has little to no clue as to how a CAT scan is built and I’m pretty sure a CAT scan engineer doesn’t know much about how the human body works.I just seems like this guy is someone who services the machines and I wouldn’t exactly trust his knowledge of the brain as much as I would a neurosurgeon.Still, it’s his brain to do so with and I’m impressed with his abilities.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "435945",
"author": "grenadier",
"timestamp": "2011-08-16T13:35:11",
"content": "You do know that CT scans are made with 250 x-ray images right?Thar be no magnetism.",
"parent_id": "435808",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "435819",
"author": "yoetama",
"timestamp": "2011-08-16T10:33:58",
"content": "nice, but I am very afraid of it, especially to try it",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "435842",
"author": "ejonesss",
"timestamp": "2011-08-16T11:32:00",
"content": "i seen this done on a discovery channel show zappedalso i am not sure how safe it is to do this yourselfhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transcranial_magnetic_stimulation.although it may be able to give a drug like high without drugs.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "435845",
"author": "Benj",
"timestamp": "2011-08-16T11:35:18",
"content": "Not sure why a few commenters seem think TMS might provide a high (doesn’t seem to be anything that suggests this anywhere?), might be due to the recent post on the brain machine.Afraid to say this isn’t going to happen.",
"parent_id": "435842",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "435855",
"author": "neo",
"timestamp": "2011-08-16T12:08:17",
"content": "talking about cardiac muscles (Dj NurSpek) this could be a viable replacement for de-fibrillation unit now, recent reports show they damage areas of an and around the heart, thoughts?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "435861",
"author": "willaim",
"timestamp": "2011-08-16T12:23:59",
"content": "Never thought of using my large bank of capacitors like this or maybe i did and erased the memory haha",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "435941",
"author": "danman1453",
"timestamp": "2011-08-16T13:29:35",
"content": "Wait, if the circuit fails, where does the ‘magic smoke’ come out? His head? or his electronics? Or both?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "436059",
"author": "Miroslav",
"timestamp": "2011-08-16T16:02:27",
"content": "Setup is fail safe :) If he zaps his head, coils falls from his hand and he will be ok :) Maybe.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "436122",
"author": "Koobs",
"timestamp": "2011-08-16T18:21:56",
"content": "I’m disappointed at all theFUDcoming out of the community here. This is a legitimately cool hack. If we all hide in our holes from the dangers of the world, we will never come up with world changing innovations.Do you know what happened in the early days of x-ray experimentation? One of Edison’s glass workers tested the tubes on his hands regularly. It ended with cancer, amputations, and death. Given what x-ray does for us today, I think it was worth it.Being at the forefront of innovation is dangerous, hard work. The innovators know this, and don’t need cowardly, ignorant haters casting them in a bad light with false claims and exaggerations.More personally, I know there are some bright people around the site here and would love to see some intellectually stimulating (no pun intended) conversation, rather than a pile of “This dude is crazy! That’s stupid and dangerous! [Electricity|Chemistry|Radiation] is scary!” comments. If you want safe, established science, I’m sure there’s a site out there for you that shows how to mix baking soda and vinegar.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "436495",
"author": "torwag",
"timestamp": "2011-08-17T05:10:13",
"content": "Maybe comments would be more positive if he presented it in a way that showed he cares about his brain.A little introduction about safety and health effects would demonstrate that he knows about it and is able to judge about the possible risks.The infamous “Don’t try this at home” might be worse to mention in any medical self-testing hack.Your example for xrays is not comparable. The poor buddy you mentioned had simply no idea about the danger. Curie and many other scientist died because of the same reasons. You really think they just ignored the safety issues for the sake of discovery?",
"parent_id": "436122",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "436533",
"author": "Koobs",
"timestamp": "2011-08-17T06:51:04",
"content": "Agreed. Point taken.I’m out of rants right now, but warning labels are a slippery slope that lead to “Caution: Hot” on coffee. A pointer to known, subtle, invisible dangers is wholly warranted in this case, though.That said, I don’t think a maker should be chastised here for not including warnings, ever. We’re grown-ups, we can do some google and find the documented dangers of our seizure-inducing epileptic death coil before we build it. Perhaps others don’t feel like I do that it goeswithout sayingthat science can be dangerous and that you should look before you leap and be prepared for the consequences.",
"parent_id": "436495",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "436166",
"author": "Gert",
"timestamp": "2011-08-16T20:17:15",
"content": "So you could basically kill someone with this and leave the police wondering how?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "436538",
"author": "bothersaidpooh",
"timestamp": "2011-08-17T07:17:09",
"content": "I was looking into using PCB coils with multiple concentric wires (aka Litz wire) driven from an array of smaller capacitors.This would get around the heat problem methinks.Stack the coils with bismuth layers (a diamagnetic metal) to somewhat shield adjacent coils.Monitor the resultant fields using magnetic viewing film double layered then laminated in clear plastic for 3-D like effect.Ought to generate a more finely tuned vertically addressable field, which could be enough to generate phosphenes.Just a thought…",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "436540",
"author": "bothersaidpooh",
"timestamp": "2011-08-17T07:22:59",
"content": "Pyrolytic graphite film would also work, you can get this as large sheets intended for use on power transistor arrays.Its crazy expensive though, but for this purpose graphite sheets and bismuth in thin layers might combine the effects of both.Essentially, the PG/Bi sheets act a bit like a superconductor but without the requirements for cryogenic temperatures, as attenuating the field in the undesired direction should be enough on its own.Think video full erase head here.Another idea, use Bi foil and then put Epoxy mixed with iron powder over the coil(s) on the PCB side with Superglue insulator to focus the field even further.I tried the Superglue technique on a homemade PCB N2 laser with silver paint as the capacitor plate, worked well with a good 10nF capacitance for about 2 in2 of plate area!!!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "436618",
"author": "Tr2sa",
"timestamp": "2011-08-17T11:42:23",
"content": "There is nice online book available online on bioelectromagnetism:http://www.bem.fi/book/http://www.bem.fi/book/22/22.htmI have not followed the progress on inductor development (and multichannel arrays) for some years but single point TMS is reachable for dedicated amateur and quite cheaply. I would say, that even some area mapping is possible using CNC.The main goal is to have smallest possible volume of excitation (depending on coil design) – the smaller you get the higher is the resolution.Considering safety – single pulse can be considered relatively safe. Repetitive fast TMS or experiments with deeper excitation starts to be the nono territory…If anyone knows more about the rumor of permanent VC damage (one comment of the original site) by TMS – please link.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "436653",
"author": "Matt",
"timestamp": "2011-08-17T12:58:48",
"content": "I love it. ‘Stimulate the motor cortex first … Then move to areas that are less obvious, like memory, or whatever’",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "440996",
"author": "David",
"timestamp": "2011-08-24T17:23:24",
"content": "I wanted to let you know that detailed design considerations and an actual, working circuit for a TMS is available in my book:D. Prutchi, M. Norris, “Design and Development of Medical Electronic Instrumentation”, Wiley Interscience, 2005.The TMS stimulator is described in pages 346 to 356. There is also a discussion of the energy levels required for magnetic-pulse stimulation of other tissues and organs (e.g. cardiac pacing, phrenic nerve stimulation, etc.)",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "936594",
"author": "BotherSaidMayans",
"timestamp": "2013-01-09T19:51:11",
"content": "Stimulate the visual cortex with audio, and you would feel like an acid trip.(Don’t do this!!)",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
}
] | 1,760,377,111.451148
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2011/08/15/shock-yourself-to-better-health/
|
Shock Yourself To Better Health!
|
Mike Nathan
|
[
"Medical Hacks",
"Microcontrollers"
] |
[
"electrotherapy",
"pic"
] |
Flickr user [n Bryan] has been keeping busy lately, trying his hand at developing some
cranial electrotherapy stimulation instruments
for home use. While visions of [Peter Venkman] electrocuting hapless college students initially came to mind, this sort of therapy is not the same thing, nor as painful as what is depicted in the film.
Cranial electrotherapy stimulation
relies on small currents which are pulsed along a patient’s skull at specific bioactive frequencies. It is believed that these treatments can have positive responses on the nervous system, and in fact has been approved by the FDA for certain ailments such as insomnia and anxiety. [n Bryan’s] rig is controlled by a PIC 16F88, which generates both the carrier and pre-programmed bioactive frequencies used in electrotherapy sessions.
As with all things that involve strapping electrodes to your head, take caution if you plan on replicating his work in any way, shape or form. With that said, we’d be willing to give it a shot.
[via
BuildLounge
]
| 14
| 11
|
[
{
"comment_id": "435546",
"author": "Daley",
"timestamp": "2011-08-15T21:08:30",
"content": "Shock Treatment!Sorry, had to…Certainly seems like an interesting project!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "435555",
"author": "ScottInNH",
"timestamp": "2011-08-15T21:34:58",
"content": "This would make for a good penalty in some kind of game, like Domination from “Never Say Never Again”.Hmm.. there already IS an Arduino “Pong” game, and the Painstation concept.. heh",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "435556",
"author": "xeracy",
"timestamp": "2011-08-15T21:36:01",
"content": "I got a ‘professional’ machine that does this kind of thing off of Craigslist. it basically generated a PWM square wave at various intensities/speeds on up to 10 pairs of electrodes. It was uncomfortable to use and was most likely junk science.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "435558",
"author": "The Cageybee",
"timestamp": "2011-08-15T21:41:04",
"content": "A bit off topic, but, does anyone know how those exercise machines that use electricity to stimulate muscles work, or even better give a link to a homebrew version?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "435571",
"author": "Chris",
"timestamp": "2011-08-15T22:27:19",
"content": "Those have been featured on HAD before. Search and you shall find. I have DIYed them before. Use a MOSFET to send short 12V pulses through a common 1:1 audio transformer like they used to (maybe still do) sell at Radio Shack. The inductive kick at the secondary will activate muscles very well, and is safer than a direct connection. Pulse width alters intensity of stimulation. Repetitive pulses are required to produce constant muscle activation. Higher frequencies than are required for that can produce some very strange crawling sensations in your skin.",
"parent_id": "435558",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "435587",
"author": "The Cageybee",
"timestamp": "2011-08-15T23:05:52",
"content": "Many thanks. The closest I could find was the ‘Possessed Hand’ project.http://hackaday.com/2011/06/29/possessedhand-controls-hand-with-electrical-stimuli/Don’t know how I missed it. It was only posted acouple of months ago.",
"parent_id": "435571",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "435561",
"author": "Hiatus138",
"timestamp": "2011-08-15T21:53:45",
"content": "cageybee, there is TENS, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation, which is used for pain relief (and by some people for “intimate” uses) which iI have used to treat neuropathy caused by a back injury. it uses quick pulses i’d say varied from 1 to 50 or 100 hz. I haven’t measured the voltage/current, but iI know it’s out there on the web.on higher settings of the device, which runs off a,9v battery, it’ll cause muscles to contract and twitch. iI believe the type used build muscles is approximately the same thing. I personally would be awfully leery of makimg one myself. the commercially made, FDA approved ones, wirth,all the safety features, they HURT if you turn the intensity and frequency high enough. they’re pretty cheap too.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "435613",
"author": "bob",
"timestamp": "2011-08-16T00:26:46",
"content": "Hay this has potential uses in the bedroom.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erotic_electrostimulation",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "435659",
"author": "very-disturbed",
"timestamp": "2011-08-16T02:36:58",
"content": "Bob… wtf?",
"parent_id": "435613",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "436020",
"author": "steve",
"timestamp": "2011-08-16T14:46:24",
"content": "10 mA through the skull? Hmm, I don’t know whether this is such a good idea…",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "436061",
"author": "Veronica Connor",
"timestamp": "2011-08-16T16:04:29",
"content": "This is a neat project, and I always like to see people solving engineering problems.Having said that, the concept behind this (and the muscle-twitch exercisers) has all the markers of pseudoscience. I’d be happy to see a set of peer-reviewed studies that demonstrate efficacy, though.The FDA approves things based on whether they are dangerous, not whether they work. For example Homeopathy is almost all FDA approved, because it contains no active ingredients and has no effects.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "436344",
"author": "Afterm4th",
"timestamp": "2011-08-17T00:03:45",
"content": "Reminds me of this old thing:http://www.hackcanada.com/homegrown/wetware/ces/index.htmlAlso check this:http://www.hackcanada.com/homegrown/wetware/",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "436430",
"author": "Old",
"timestamp": "2011-08-17T02:52:20",
"content": "There is a moral to this story which young readers should take to heart. Years ago, long before “Jackass” and “Borat”, Car and Driver magazine published an artsy fartsy editorial about pissing from a speeding car on deserted Texas highways as a means of not interrupting a long trip unnecessarily. Purportedly the technique was to unzip, open the driver’s door and hold it open with the left leg and then let fly all while maintaining 70mph.A couple months later an irate letter to the editor was published explaining the horrible mess that the above mentioned technique caused and the ruination of the interior of a very expensive sports car.Oh, a few years later the editor that wrote the article bragged his way into the Indy 500 and proceeded to have his last place qualified car cartwheel down the front stretch in front of gazillions of tv viewers. Just Google “Patrick Bedard”Just remember, don’t be a retard like Patrick Bedard.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "468165",
"author": "GEORGE",
"timestamp": "2011-09-30T16:38:03",
"content": "@Carl Yeah, I know sorry. Twitter changed API settings and I haven’t updated the service yet. Hopefully soon!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
}
] | 1,760,377,111.501309
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2011/08/15/converting-pwm-to-dc-signaling-for-more-precise-fan-control/
|
Converting PWM To DC Signaling For More Precise Fan Control
|
Mike Nathan
|
[
"computer hacks"
] |
[
"fan",
"gpu",
"pwm"
] |
[hedgehoginventions] wrote in to share a little modification he made to his video card in order
to keep it from overheating
during strenuous 3D tasks. Having swapped out the stock cooler on his Nvidia 9600GT graphics card, he found that it did not need to utilize the fan while doing mundane things like checking email, but that it still required extra air flow while playing games.
He figured he get the fan to shut off by tweaking the PWM signal, but he found that he could not get the duty cycle under 20% using software, which still caused the fan to run at all times. The circuit he built takes the PWM signal output by the card, cleaning it up before converting it to a corresponding DC voltage. The fan then runs at the same speed it would if driven directly by the PWM signal, though it can now turn off completely when not required.
It’s a nice way to do automatic fan control when you can’t otherwise get your GPU fan to shut off. Nice work!
| 24
| 13
|
[
{
"comment_id": "435486",
"author": "JuggaloStoopid",
"timestamp": "2011-08-15T18:38:14",
"content": "Dont see how not being able to shut off the power to the fan is a negative. I get doing it for the sake of doing it… But having the fan run at 20% doesn’t consume much power, and it does keep the processor’s cool, which speeds up all processes including the most mundane.. Like checking email…",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "435488",
"author": "KayDat",
"timestamp": "2011-08-15T18:47:27",
"content": "Maybe noise issues? 20% might still be too loud, depending on personal preference.",
"parent_id": "435486",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "435493",
"author": "fingmagnets",
"timestamp": "2011-08-15T18:57:20",
"content": "I’m not sure you read the whole thing. This is for his GPU, not CPU. Day to day tasks are not that hard on GPUs, hence the usage of weak onboard video for business laptops.Your processor will only slow down if it starts to overheat, at which point this fan would kick in since it is using the original PWM signal.He could be doing it for sound I suppose though I imagine it gets more annoying to have the fan spin up and down as he does stuff. Or, I could be overly sensitive to things like that.",
"parent_id": "435486",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "435496",
"author": "NewCommenter1283",
"timestamp": "2011-08-15T19:03:00",
"content": "#1) wow, i never thought about doing it that way, ive thought about it… Very interesting.#2) want a HUGE transistor? check the HOT or REG transistor of a tubeTV, tubeMonitor, or the switching transistor(s) of a SMPSs. Those should handle 1A or more but you might need 1 of ur existing transistors as a preamp.#3) PERSONALLY id rather know RIGHT AWAY when my fan fails to run… instead of a day later when the GPU……but you could always add a “BAD-FAN” LED.I think we ALL love LEDs here dont we? :D",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "435519",
"author": "Someonecool",
"timestamp": "2011-08-15T20:03:16",
"content": "A few things.Yes, the HOT in tv’s are massive, but they are designed for very high voltage instead of high current. You are right with requiring a pre amp though.The GPU would not fail in a graphic card if you disable the fan, at least I never tried it myself. The GPU would just shut down immediately when it reaches the Tj, which is usually 110C or so.",
"parent_id": "435496",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "435524",
"author": "Someonecool",
"timestamp": "2011-08-15T20:07:02",
"content": "A 9600 gt? Why would someone try to do anything graphic intensive on such a old low power card? What “strenuous” tasks can you do on a 9600 gt?Nice hack for it though, and I am also a proud owner of the Accelero S1 for my 8800gt. Other 8800gt uses the stock cooler because the S1 can’t be used in SLI with these cards. (The sli connector can’t go through the S1)",
"parent_id": "435496",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "435547",
"author": "brad",
"timestamp": "2011-08-15T21:13:39",
"content": "9600GT is old? i’m still running a 7900GS. :)",
"parent_id": "435524",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "435553",
"author": "Tomasito",
"timestamp": "2011-08-15T21:32:38",
"content": "Sorry trying to reply your comment i accidentally reported it.I have a 8400gs and it’s all I have, for now i can’t afford anything better. In my case, playing Stalker SoC at 800×600 may be graphics intensive for my videocard.",
"parent_id": "435524",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "435713",
"author": "Abbott",
"timestamp": "2011-08-16T04:58:21",
"content": "Actually a 9600GT is a fairly decent card… I’m running one in my machine and it works pretty darn well. Though I am thinking about upgrading soon.",
"parent_id": "435524",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "435514",
"author": "WildZBill",
"timestamp": "2011-08-15T19:46:27",
"content": "He could have had the same effect by putting in the correct RC filter…",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "435660",
"author": "cutandpaste",
"timestamp": "2011-08-16T02:42:19",
"content": "Please elaborate.I see no mechanism for a simple RC circuit to equate “20%” with being “off,” but I’m open to suggestions.I myself have an SLI pair of 9800GTs which are both noisier and warmer than I’d like, and would love to entertain different ways to optimize any potential modification.",
"parent_id": "435514",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "435518",
"author": "Paul",
"timestamp": "2011-08-15T20:02:08",
"content": "Where’d that orange breadboard come from?!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "435520",
"author": "Dax",
"timestamp": "2011-08-15T20:03:26",
"content": "There is a difference between running a fan on PWM and filtered DC.With the PWM, the motor does short high torque pulses as if it was running at full voltage. With DC it gets low torque all the time, and the speed control is non-linear because the motor responds differently to varying voltage, and starting the motor has a hysteresis where you have to apply a higher voltage to get it turning.The effect is that the fan doesn’t run reliably at low speeds anymore. At the lowest speeds it may randomly stop and not start again until the controller senses that the chip starts to overheat and raises the voltage considerably.The disadvantage of PWM is that it makes the motor buzz, and the sound easily travels in materials. However, every time I’ve used a linear regulator to run fans at low speeds, they eventually just stop, which is not good at all.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "435526",
"author": "Someonecool",
"timestamp": "2011-08-15T20:07:44",
"content": "A 9600 gt? Why would someone try to do anything graphic intensive on such a old low power card? What “strenuous” tasks can you do on a 9600 gt?Nice hack for it though, and I am also a proud owner of the Accelero S1 for my 8800gt. Other 8800gt uses the stock cooler because the S1 can’t be used in SLI with these cards. (The sli connector can’t go through the S1)",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "435668",
"author": "cutandpaste",
"timestamp": "2011-08-16T02:54:41",
"content": "Why not a 9600GT? It’s a few years old — so what? I only recently replaced the8600GT in my wife’s gaming rig, and she’s far more hardcore than I’ll ever be.He’s got what he’s got (you play the cards you’re dealt, etc), and this combination of cooler+mods will transfer easily to other cards in the future if he’s careful in selecting them.Is your newfangled GTX-whatever too loud at idle when it needn’t be making any noise at all? This hack fixes that.Alternatively: It fixes the “crashes under load with passive aftermarket cooler” problem, which is just the same thing (spelled rather differently).Open your mind a bit.",
"parent_id": "435526",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "435600",
"author": "hekilledmywire",
"timestamp": "2011-08-15T23:39:44",
"content": "As far as I know, all fans are brush-less, so giving it pwm or constant voltage will always result in switching noises.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "435680",
"author": "KillerBug",
"timestamp": "2011-08-16T03:25:15",
"content": "Running a fan below rated voltage will destroy the fan over time, eventually it won’t even turn on if you run it at the rated voltage.I am not sure how much of a noise savings could by gotten by reducing the speed form 20% to 0%, but if it was really that important, then he should have done it correctly…with PWM. This could be done easily using a TLC555 or an ATTiny45.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "436028",
"author": "JamieWho",
"timestamp": "2011-08-16T15:23:21",
"content": "You get a 100% noise reduction when you go from running (20%) to off (0%). That’s the point, the fan wouldn’t ever turn off completely.",
"parent_id": "435680",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "435698",
"author": "willaim",
"timestamp": "2011-08-16T04:14:58",
"content": "i made some simple temperature sensors set with a pot for my case fans couldnt the same idea be used here granted it doesnt have different speeds but its darn simple (transistor, temp sensor, and a small potentiometer) and its reliable just use one to set the lower threshold and use another transistor and pot to turn it on high speed….",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "435701",
"author": "willaim",
"timestamp": "2011-08-16T04:20:34",
"content": "btw my thoughts on this would be use the low limit to allow the pmw pulses to go through and when the high limit kicks in to cut off the pwm signal and apply straight 5 or 12 volts to the fan but as its his hack and if it works dont fix it… thanks for the info i always enjoy seeing others take on solving a problem",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "435727",
"author": "bigbob",
"timestamp": "2011-08-16T05:52:38",
"content": "There are a few large flaws in this design. As has already been been stated, running these types of fans at a lower voltage than rated is not optimal. They are designed with PWM drive, or constant rated voltage, in mind.My largest issue, however, is that it is noted that the fan now turns off. There are no provisions in the presented circuit for on/off control. If the fan turns off at 20% duty cycle, it is only because the voltage is too low to spin the fan. This is nothing more than a waste of power and fan life.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "435756",
"author": "Bogdan",
"timestamp": "2011-08-16T07:09:03",
"content": "The problem with this circuit is that it cannot output the whole 12V, as the opamp is limited to VCC-1.5V and there is the Vbe of the transistor limiting the max output to about 10V. This could cause problems with overheating at heavy use.As others have pointed, my choice would be to use a small micro to measure the original PWM and output a different one such that the fan starts at a higher level.Also, personal experience has shown that you need a higher duty cycle/voltage to start the fan than to keep it running and the graphics card might take care of this, applying high pwm at start time and then reducing to low 20%. with the circuit here you might be able to start the fan when things are already too hot.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "436033",
"author": "JamieWho",
"timestamp": "2011-08-16T15:30:28",
"content": "Did you read the article? He talks about how the 10.5V is not ideal, but acceptable (for him).The point of the whole hack is only run the fan when the card gets hot. He doesn’t slow it down when it cools off a little, he runs the fan until the thing is cool (under around 50C). Also, he doesn’t turn the fan on unless the card gets really hot. That was the whole point of adding a large aftermarket cooler to his video card. Unfortunately, the cooler can’t keep up when playing 3D games, so the fan is there to help out, at full speed (or almost).Great hack, but I want to see a picture of his breadboard sitting inside of his desktop. :)",
"parent_id": "435756",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "436041",
"author": "cgimark",
"timestamp": "2011-08-16T15:37:32",
"content": "i probably would have just used a single chip thermostat like the ones maxim has. Set the on and off temps and it does the rest.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
}
] | 1,760,377,111.564757
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2011/08/15/simple-device-answers-questions-just-like-your-boss-does/
|
Simple Device Answers Questions Just Like Your Boss Does
|
Mike Nathan
|
[
"Misc Hacks"
] |
[
"cmos",
"funny",
"leds"
] |
Like many of us, [Bertho] has had plenty if interaction with “Executive” types who seem to make decisions randomly, and most certainly not based upon any sort of reason. As he was picking through parts bins at his local hackerspace, he thought it would be fun to build an “Executive Decision Maker”. The device he had in mind
would answer questions at the push of a button
, with the kind of randomness that could only be carefully honed through years of barking orders from a corner office.
Constructed from third-rate LEDs and old CMOS chips that were lying around, the operation of the device is quite simple. Much like a Magic 8 Ball, a question is posed, and as [Bertho] states, “The Executive Decision maker automatically tunes into the aether and the subconscious of the user” pressing the “Decide” button. The device then makes a judgement, relaying its answer to the user via an LED display.
We definitely got a good laugh out of this one, so be sure to check out the video after the break to see the Executive Decision Maker in action.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=41WzqBAjGuI&w=470]
| 17
| 11
|
[
{
"comment_id": "435409",
"author": "Aaron",
"timestamp": "2011-08-15T15:52:58",
"content": "Awesome! It’s almost exactly like the one Radio Shack used to sell back when I was a kid!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "435428",
"author": "that1guy",
"timestamp": "2011-08-15T16:32:59",
"content": "The video gave me a good laugh and was well done. Pretty cool little project!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "435431",
"author": "CustomWelds",
"timestamp": "2011-08-15T16:41:36",
"content": "Finally I was able to put my mathematical skills to use. Thank you engineering calculus 3, diff eq, and linear algebra!There are a total of 35 “questions” asked,16 Resulted in NO (45.7142857%)19 Resulted in YES (54.2857143%)Pretty good probability, and pretty close to real executive decisions I’de say.Bravo, good build, good hack!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "435536",
"author": "Bertho",
"timestamp": "2011-08-15T20:18:54",
"content": "Thank you for the analysis. I thought about using the FIPS bitstream random test, but then I would have had to push that damn button 20000 times.It did occur to me that I could make a mechanical arm to push the button and then use some photo-sensors to record the result. However, I did not immediately see the parallel to the average executive. If there were a parallel, the mechanics would keep missing the button…",
"parent_id": "435431",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "435459",
"author": "j_at_chaperon",
"timestamp": "2011-08-15T17:56:53",
"content": "I especially like the looks. It is kept simple, no arduinos, no overkill, just a bunch of leds and some logic. The video is great, nice humour.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "435469",
"author": "Microguy",
"timestamp": "2011-08-15T18:12:26",
"content": "If it’s exactly like my boss does, why does it have a “YES” display?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "435479",
"author": "Bertho",
"timestamp": "2011-08-15T18:24:42",
"content": "That is why yes is in yellow, not green.Just like traffic lights, yellow indicatesmaybeand you, with high probability, lose that bet with the truck from the other side ;-)",
"parent_id": "435469",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "435521",
"author": "Piero",
"timestamp": "2011-08-15T20:03:57",
"content": "LOL!",
"parent_id": "435479",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "435476",
"author": "MisterPG",
"timestamp": "2011-08-15T18:20:40",
"content": "or… you could just flip a coin. i’m sure that’s what my boss does.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "435489",
"author": "Dave",
"timestamp": "2011-08-15T18:49:47",
"content": "Personally, I’d be happy with any decision at all.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "435530",
"author": "Bertho",
"timestamp": "2011-08-15T20:13:57",
"content": "Just disconnect the power and the emulation is again perfect.",
"parent_id": "435489",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "435499",
"author": "andar_b",
"timestamp": "2011-08-15T19:14:59",
"content": "You mean it doesn’t ridicule you for asking in the first place? Fail ;)Nice build.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "435504",
"author": "Nawak",
"timestamp": "2011-08-15T19:31:25",
"content": "Why the “fast” button? Is it really needed? Couldn’t the device accept rapid presses on “decide”? Or is there something I didn’t understand?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "435537",
"author": "Bertho",
"timestamp": "2011-08-15T20:21:14",
"content": "Executive think: two buttons must be better than one.",
"parent_id": "435504",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "435744",
"author": "cutandpaste",
"timestamp": "2011-08-16T06:38:44",
"content": "Perhaps the device is merely very sensitive and must bestarvedbetween decisions in order to obtain good results.",
"parent_id": "435504",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "435617",
"author": "bob",
"timestamp": "2011-08-16T00:32:40",
"content": "The fact that you HAVE to ask your boss for a decision would already indicate you do not understand the decision process yourself.So any comments about the ‘randomness’ of a bosses decision would be irrelevant.Plus the device is missing the all-important “Let me get back to you” tri-state.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "435828",
"author": "ClareLove",
"timestamp": "2011-08-16T10:59:15",
"content": "I guess that’s why they get the big bucks.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
}
] | 1,760,377,111.61846
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2011/08/15/power-up-with-knowledge/
|
Power Up With Knowledge
|
Kevin Dady
|
[
"Tool Hacks"
] |
[
"bench power",
"LM317"
] |
The LM317 is a favorite for many people who want quick, cheap, reliable and ajustable power. It only takes a few parts to set up and it does its job rather well. Sometimes though, you just need a power supply.While there are a million tutorials out there, not many go as in depth as [Phil] does
in his 2 newest videos
.
Covering everything from the wall outlet to the final output, [Phil] explains each part step by step, stating what it does and the math and formulas behind it all to produce quality results. He then goes over to a working model and reviews each part showing its real output on a oscilloscope, which is very handy if you do not have one yourself.
In the second video he takes that knowledge and builds it all up into a professional looking bench top model with LCD meter readout and varnished paper to complete the front look. If you’re looking to build your first bench supply or want a better grasp on what exactly is happening in the one you have now, you should join us after the break for these 2 quality productions.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2EFnqZUxFZ4&w=450]
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hUGzeeTaJCs&w=450]
| 18
| 12
|
[
{
"comment_id": "435245",
"author": "fartface",
"timestamp": "2011-08-15T13:26:44",
"content": "Look further and you will find a tutorial out on the intarwebs for using a pair of big t03 transistors to boost the output of the 317 to epic levels…When you need 5.1v at 65amps….",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "435330",
"author": "bty",
"timestamp": "2011-08-15T14:08:29",
"content": ">>When you need 5.1v at 65amps:OI don’t think you’re doing it right.",
"parent_id": "435245",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "435341",
"author": "MattQ",
"timestamp": "2011-08-15T14:14:54",
"content": "If you want 65 Amps, don’t use a linear regulator, even with a bypass transistor. You’re going to get uber inefficiencies.",
"parent_id": "435245",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "435404",
"author": "Alex",
"timestamp": "2011-08-15T15:31:59",
"content": "Fun fact: the VAX 11/750 had a 135A 5V power supply.http://computer-refuge.org/compcollect/dec/vax/11750/11750-5V-ps-big.jpg",
"parent_id": "435245",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "435767",
"author": "mvh",
"timestamp": "2011-08-16T07:40:28",
"content": "Another fun(?) fact: an older NEC letter sorting machine has a 300A 5V power supply.",
"parent_id": "435404",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "435414",
"author": "Addidis",
"timestamp": "2011-08-15T16:11:33",
"content": "video isnt playing back well, yet it plays flawlessly on youtube. Perhaps related to the plugin used?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "435418",
"author": "Bill",
"timestamp": "2011-08-15T16:17:17",
"content": "The LM317 is a variable voltage regulator chip. I’d wondered how those things work.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "435422",
"author": "Roel",
"timestamp": "2011-08-15T16:22:59",
"content": "Great vid, nice project!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "435424",
"author": "MattQ",
"timestamp": "2011-08-15T16:26:47",
"content": "Most modern desktop computer supplies have around 20Amp 5 volt rails, if not more. The five volt rail is usually low voltage high current, the 12 volt rail is higher voltage, slightly less current, but more total power.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "435452",
"author": "Dan B",
"timestamp": "2011-08-15T17:32:56",
"content": "Very useful info here. I was in the process of building a power supply myself. I am going to use it for future Arduino projects. My searching on the internet resulted in several schematics, but nothing with this much put together this well.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "435471",
"author": "egasimus",
"timestamp": "2011-08-15T18:13:02",
"content": "Anyone notice the mouse pointer in the screenshot yet?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "435531",
"author": "Kevin Dady",
"timestamp": "2011-08-15T20:14:51",
"content": "what mouse pointer ….",
"parent_id": "435471",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "435533",
"author": "Otacon2k",
"timestamp": "2011-08-15T20:16:38",
"content": "It was hiding behind my own pointer. Filthy little pointers that are.",
"parent_id": "435471",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "435601",
"author": "diego",
"timestamp": "2011-08-15T23:39:52",
"content": "i wonder what size fuses he used for everything?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "435605",
"author": "Mr.Non-Descript",
"timestamp": "2011-08-15T23:58:03",
"content": "Man… where was *this guy* when I was making my way through my Electronics courses in college??? Very nicely done – a lot of thought put into the presentation and not just a read of a text book.The actual build looks better than some commercial p/s I’ve seen (and he includes some good tips for beginners such as mains separation and discussion on building the bridge rectifier from discrete diodes vs. a single component).",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "435625",
"author": "N0LKK",
"timestamp": "2011-08-16T00:54:22",
"content": "Ladies and Gentleman, this is a fine example of how tutorials should be done. Then again I may be biased because this was the way where taught in tech school. Build it this way, measure and observe the results; next try these modifications, measure observe the results again. What changes did you see, why did you see those changes?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "435633",
"author": "doubleup",
"timestamp": "2011-08-16T01:36:26",
"content": "That was excellent! I am inspired.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "435652",
"author": "Jaspel",
"timestamp": "2011-08-16T02:22:15",
"content": "Love it, was planing on building another this weekend!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
}
] | 1,760,377,111.669025
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2011/08/17/a-stackable-motor-driver-shield-for-the-arduino/
|
A Stackable Motor Driver Shield For The Arduino
|
Jeremy Cook
|
[
"Arduino Hacks",
"Microcontrollers"
] |
[
"arduino",
"pcb",
"shield"
] |
The Arduino has been used for many purposes, and “shields” are available to make many common tasks easier. However, [Nick] wanted a stackable motor driver shield, so he
build one himself!
. There are many motor driver shields available for the Arduino, however, there aren’t any that allow one to drive as many motors as were needed for his project, and none that were stackable.
[Nick] had no experience designing and fabricating a custom board, but decided to try his hand at it anyway. Armed with a free version of
[Eagle]
PCB design software, he designed the board that he needed then sent it to
[Seeed]
to be manufactured. According to his article, a quantity of 10 Arduino-sized boards can be purchased for the price of $25. At that price point, some hobbyists may want to consider this option rather than manually creating their own circuit.
According to [Nick], he was able to manufacture his first board with no errors on his first run! Not bad for his first try at something like this.
| 30
| 5
|
[
{
"comment_id": "436655",
"author": "Addidis",
"timestamp": "2011-08-17T12:59:35",
"content": "you can never have to many motor drivers. nevarr!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "436658",
"author": "Addidis",
"timestamp": "2011-08-17T13:05:28",
"content": "Sadly he didnt post his source. #fail.",
"parent_id": "436655",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "436662",
"author": "Bill",
"timestamp": "2011-08-17T13:13:39",
"content": "Not to complicated to recreate. It looks like it’s just another AVR (ATtiny maybe) and a H-bridge with all the required external components. He had to have used the UART, SPI or TWI for communications and to allow multiple boards on the stack.But I agree, not sharing should be a major deal breaker for a HAD post.Also, another good source for PCBs isDorkbotPDX",
"parent_id": "436658",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "436669",
"author": "Addidis",
"timestamp": "2011-08-17T13:25:11",
"content": "Agreed bill, and yep that is who i use. Considering there are loads of open drivers a closed one has no interest for me personally.",
"parent_id": "436658",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "436680",
"author": "zing",
"timestamp": "2011-08-17T13:38:18",
"content": "Really?This looks like firmware and board files:https://github.com/arachnid/busdrivershield",
"parent_id": "436658",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "436681",
"author": "ferdinandkeil",
"timestamp": "2011-08-17T13:43:21",
"content": "Actually he sharedallhis sources on github.comYou can find them atgithub.com/arachnid/busdrivershield. In his documentation you can also find a picture of the schematic and board layout. This design isfarfrom being closed.",
"parent_id": "436658",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "436684",
"author": "Will",
"timestamp": "2011-08-17T13:50:00",
"content": "Twitter tag FAIL",
"parent_id": "436658",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "436694",
"author": "Nick Johnson",
"timestamp": "2011-08-17T14:21:45",
"content": "As ferdinandkell points out, I did post my source, though I could have linked it more prominently. It’s athttp://github.com/arachnid/busdrivershield/– schematics and source code both.",
"parent_id": "436658",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "436699",
"author": "Addidis",
"timestamp": "2011-08-17T14:24:53",
"content": "Yeah i didnt see it nick… Post a link in the post and consider using a more visible color for links, I had a hell of a time seeing them. Now that I know you did post the files, nice work.",
"parent_id": "436658",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "436742",
"author": "Brett W. (FightCube.com)",
"timestamp": "2011-08-17T15:14:01",
"content": "+1 forDorkBotPDX",
"parent_id": "436658",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "436685",
"author": "Addidis",
"timestamp": "2011-08-17T13:51:32",
"content": "Fair enough. I stand corrected.",
"parent_id": "436655",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "436752",
"author": "Mike E",
"timestamp": "2011-08-17T15:27:48",
"content": "I found it cool that the circuit design process worked the first time. I had a similar experience working on my Arduino sound synthesizer board, and I was amazed at how easy it is these days to go from simple design to production grade circuit board delivered right to your doorDespite technical criticism on board design, I applaud the efforts to just go ahead and do it, even if just to learn how.",
"parent_id": "436655",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "436812",
"author": "Brett W. (FightCube.com)",
"timestamp": "2011-08-17T18:01:48",
"content": "Looks like a very nice shield. A couple words of advice. I design motor controllers at my day job and these are some things I’ve learned along the way.Motors and I2C do not play nice with each other. You can get a ground bounce on the SCL line that will mess up your whole packet, so it’s a good idea to provide some handshaking and error detection between the Arduino and your slave devices (I2C is not inherently protected or immune to hardware noise). Also, it would not be a bad idea to opto-isolate the 5V logic from the Vin signals (a barrier between the ATtinys and the H-bridge IC). Potentially powering the Arduino Vin separate from the motor shield Vin, and just populate a DC jack on one or all of your motor shields.",
"parent_id": "436655",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "436921",
"author": "Nick Johnson",
"timestamp": "2011-08-17T22:39:49",
"content": "Good points, thanks. I’ll have to give some thought to what sort of error detection is practical given the constraints. Opto-isolation would be nice, but it seems unlikely I’ll be able to fit it on the board or within the budget. Were you suggesting this for noise-immunity, or circuit protection?Support for a separate DC jack is another thing I’d like to add in a v2 version, if there’s room. Powering off vin is fine for a couple of shields, but if you want to push the boundaries of what it can deliver, a separate power jack is probably a good idea. I could really use the advice of someone with more power engineering experience than me (eg, any) as to what the best design is isolation-wise, too.",
"parent_id": "436812",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "437501",
"author": "Brett W. (FightCube.com)",
"timestamp": "2011-08-18T22:38:53",
"content": "Opto’s shouldn’t be too large to squeak some in, even if they were on the bottom of the board…Opto’s primarily for noise isolation, but also circuit protection. You want to protect your Arduino main board in case you accidentally hook your motor shields up to a reverse polarity input, short the outputs or get a large back EMF that takes out a handful of circuitry.",
"parent_id": "436812",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "437510",
"author": "Nick Johnson",
"timestamp": "2011-08-18T22:51:43",
"content": "I looked into this after you suggested it – the problem is, I2C is a bidirectional bus, and affordable opto-isolators that are bidirectional are hard to come by, whilst building a bidirectional solution out of omnidirectional parts is also tough.How do they help with noise isolation if the power rails are still shared?",
"parent_id": "436812",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "437534",
"author": "Brett W. (FightCube.com)",
"timestamp": "2011-08-18T23:30:25",
"content": "I was suggesting to place them in the PWM path, between the I/O expander ATTINY uC outputs and the MOSFET H-Bridge Driver inputs. This way you should be able to completely separate the power rails.To isolate I2C if you should ever need to, you can use inductively coupled isolator IC’s designed for this. I’m pretty sure they are not cheap or multi-source drop-in replaceable though.",
"parent_id": "436812",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "437547",
"author": "Nick Johnson",
"timestamp": "2011-08-18T23:52:22",
"content": "Hmm. The H-Bridge (and the h-bridge side of the isolators, presumably) would still require a 5v logic supply, though. Actually, I’m not entirely clear on how noise from the motor rail would propagate to the logic rail, unless you’re talking about noise on the ground rail, which isn’t affected by using optoisolators on the inputs, is it?",
"parent_id": "436812",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "437644",
"author": "Brett W. (FightCube.com)",
"timestamp": "2011-08-19T03:38:23",
"content": "Nick, so when the H-Bridge is switching current to the motor a lot is going on: 1) your FET driver is sinking/sourcing current at high di/dt rates, and 2) when the FETs turn on current is very rapidly flowing from your Vin rail through the motor and back through the ground path. 3) When the FETs turn off, the motor inductance will create negative voltage spikes with respect to ground. 4) If you don’t have enough bulk capacitance close to the FETs, the motor load will also be yanking down on your positive rail… and all traces have resistance/inductance that succumb to the pressure and create voltage drops. 5) Shoot-through current is hella-bad and can easily occur because you set the gate resistors incorrectly, picked the wrong FETs, etc..So think about all of these current paths on a PCB. Now think of them flowing through several stackable headers as they compete for power consumption with the distributed I2C I/O expander uC’s and FET drivers.Yes you will have to generate a separate 5V rail on the motor side of the Opto, but it will completely isolate the micro controller ground from the motor ground.Check out this link for a nice quick and dirty overview of 40A opto-isolated H-bridge operation with included schematic:http://hades.mech.northwestern.edu/index.php/Driving_a_high_current_DC_Motor_using_an_H-bridgeI wouldn’t stop the motor as they do with 50% PWM, but it’s the only way they can do it based on how they are controlling the H-Bridge. They are using a very rudimentary switching scheme. Your FET driver and H-Bridge may be better I don’t know. The whole point is to show the opto-isolation though. Google “opto-isolated h-bridge” and read as much as you can stand.Good luck Nick! You’re off to a great start ;-)",
"parent_id": "436812",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "437696",
"author": "Nick Johnson",
"timestamp": "2011-08-19T05:47:06",
"content": "I mostly follow what you’re saying, but there are two power rails – 5v and the motor power rail. It seems to me that the motors are only going to affect the motor rail, aren’t they?Unfortunately, looking at the price of opto-isolators and the number of lines (6) that would need isolating, along with an extra voltage regulator, I don’t think it’s possible to do that and still keep the shield affordable.",
"parent_id": "436812",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "438184",
"author": "Brett W. (FightCube.com)",
"timestamp": "2011-08-19T23:47:49",
"content": "Well if you are powering the H-Bridge from Vin that enters the Arduino, it’s more coupled to the 5V than you think. Vin powers the 5V regulator on the Arduino and that regulator needs 2.5V of headroom, or 7.5V minimum coming into it to produce a steady 5V out. Dip the Vin too much and it will start dipping the 5V.If you ran the motor shields on their own power packs, you’ll be pretty close to having a decent separation between high current and low current. They will be connected by ground, but the current wants to return to the source. So as long as you make sure all of your different grounds are tied together at a common point as close to the motor shield Vin jacks as you can, you’ll be in pretty good shape. I.e., don’t connect one of your Arduino or ATTiny grounds to the motor shield ground close to the H-Bridge… you want it closer to the motor shield Vin jack. This will prevent high current “ground bounce” from affecting the low current stuff.As for cost, yeah opto’s aren’t free… but when it means you can stack 4 shields vs. not being able to stack even one shield due to noise… well I know I would design it to work and let everyone know it costs xxx for a reason. You should be able to just tie the enable lines high, as I’m pretty sure they just tri-state the motor outputs which would freewheel the motor…. not something you typically need. And if you do need it, you have other questions to answer to make sure you don’t blow your catch diodes or bulk capacitors.",
"parent_id": "436812",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "436667",
"author": "HHH",
"timestamp": "2011-08-17T13:24:22",
"content": "Anyone knows a cheap manufacturer for PCBs in Germany or the EU?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "436701",
"author": "Nick Johnson",
"timestamp": "2011-08-17T14:25:52",
"content": "Yeah, I admit I didn’t make it the most obvious. I’ve added a note up top linking to it. And yes, I need to revise my theme to make links more obvious. :)",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "436702",
"author": "Nick Johnson",
"timestamp": "2011-08-17T14:26:28",
"content": "Comment system fail. I swear I hit ‘reply’. :(",
"parent_id": "436701",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "436709",
"author": "Addidis",
"timestamp": "2011-08-17T14:32:06",
"content": "No worries bud… No one is perfect, and those that think they are are dangerous.",
"parent_id": "436702",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "436755",
"author": "retepvosnul",
"timestamp": "2011-08-17T15:29:04",
"content": "Excellent. When version 2 gets proper speed control and tacho feedback, I’m going to be first in line.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "436920",
"author": "Nick Johnson",
"timestamp": "2011-08-17T22:36:06",
"content": "v1 already has PWM speed control, and the hardware supports quadrature encoder feedback – I just haven’t written the firmware for that yet.",
"parent_id": "436755",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "437154",
"author": "retepvosnul",
"timestamp": "2011-08-18T10:49:48",
"content": "Short que !.",
"parent_id": "436920",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "437025",
"author": "o",
"timestamp": "2011-08-18T03:56:16",
"content": "How do you get at the terminal screws when they’re stacked? I guess you have to unstack them…",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "437026",
"author": "Nick Johnson",
"timestamp": "2011-08-18T03:57:51",
"content": "Yup – which is why I plan to use right-angle headers in v2.In fact, I’m pondering a complete redesign for v2, now, with surface mount components. Several people have suggested kickstarter.",
"parent_id": "437025",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
}
] | 1,760,377,112.051683
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2011/08/17/diy-pcb-exposure-box-looks-professionally-made/
|
DIY PCB Exposure Box Looks Professionally Made
|
Mike Nathan
|
[
"News",
"Tool Hacks"
] |
[
"exposure box",
"led",
"pcb",
"pic"
] |
[Stynus] was frustrated with the fact that he would have to flip his PCBs over mid way through the exposure process, so he decided the best course of action would be to build
his own double-sided PCB exposure box.
He scored some UV LEDs on eBay, and after waiting a few weeks for PCBs to arrive, he was ready to start construction. The box contains a sliding glass shelf, which is positioned between two sets of LED panels. The setup lets him simultaneously etch both sides of any PCB, up to 20cm x 30cm in size. The exposure box is run by a PIC 16F628P and features an LCD status panel as well as a small handful of controls. [Stynus] programmed the box to retain the length of the last exposure, making it easy to replicate his results time after time.
Towards the end of the build log he shows off some pictures of the completed exposure box, which looks very professionally done. It’s a great job all around, and we would gladly take one for our workshop in a heartbeat.
| 10
| 6
|
[
{
"comment_id": "436614",
"author": "kabadisha",
"timestamp": "2011-08-17T11:29:08",
"content": "Nice job!This is just the kind of thing your average Hackaday reader loves to see, a useful tool that you could make yourself for your workshop.Keep them coming :-)",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "436635",
"author": "ahWellYouSee",
"timestamp": "2011-08-17T12:17:43",
"content": "A friend once told me that all glass naturally provides some amount of UV absorption. Was he right? If he was, I’m making mine with a carrier ;)",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "436652",
"author": "Zoltan",
"timestamp": "2011-08-17T12:57:21",
"content": "“Ordinary window glass passes about 90% of the light above 350 nm, but blocks over 90% of the light below 300 nm” –http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ultraviolet",
"parent_id": "436635",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "436664",
"author": "Buzzles",
"timestamp": "2011-08-17T13:19:00",
"content": "Glass blocks most UVB (shorter wavelength, causes sunburn), but lets most UVA (longer wavelength) through.I’ve not yet got around to looking at whether that’s actually an issue with photosensitive boards, I expect not.",
"parent_id": "436635",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "436714",
"author": "Bogdan",
"timestamp": "2011-08-17T14:38:25",
"content": "Some glass lets UV pass, some doesn’t.All in all, it’s a great job done!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "436747",
"author": "Truth",
"timestamp": "2011-08-17T15:23:18",
"content": "physicist Richard Feynman claimed to be the only person to see the explosion without the dark glasses provided, relying on a truck windshield to screen out harmful ultraviolet wavelengths –http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trinity_%28nuclear_test%29#Explosion",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "436751",
"author": "Truth",
"timestamp": "2011-08-17T15:26:25",
"content": "It probably just means that you will need a longer exposure than you would otherwise. But apart from the glass I love it.",
"parent_id": "436747",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "436790",
"author": "S",
"timestamp": "2011-08-17T17:19:15",
"content": "An hexagonal LED pattern would have provided a more uniform light density.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "440551",
"author": "TheCapt",
"timestamp": "2011-08-23T21:19:21",
"content": "Maybe silly question, but why does he need the upper glass? Does he need to protect the UV LEDs from board off gassing or something?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "496036",
"author": "D",
"timestamp": "2011-11-01T06:41:02",
"content": "Think a little ! Its like your morning ham sandwich:Led ArreyGlassArt WorkPCB upper sidePCB lower sideart workGlassLed Arrey",
"parent_id": "440551",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
}
] | 1,760,377,111.714423
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2011/08/16/clicking-and-counting-with-push-wheel-switches/
|
Clicking And Counting With Push Wheel Switches
|
Mike Nathan
|
[
"Arduino Hacks"
] |
[
"arduino",
"beginner concepts",
"push wheel switch"
] |
Push-wheel switches are somewhat older technology, but [John Boxall] from the Little Bird Electronics blog shows us that
they are still quite useful today.
In a quick but thorough demonstration, he discusses how this input technology works, showing off both single digit and multi digit inputs. The former is pretty straightforward, with each of the counter’s outputs tied to an I/O pin on his Arduino. Using multiple counter units is ever so slightly more complicated, but the job is made easier through the use of an NXP 74HC4066 bilateral switch. He shares a snippet of Arduino code that toggles through each of the switches, reading in their values one by one.
His walkthrough is a must-see for those who are just getting their feet wet with Arduinos and various input methods. These counters are great for 1-4 digit input needs, but if you require more digits [John] says that a 12-digit keypad would probably be a better way to go.
Stick around to see a short video demo of the switches doing their thing.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UMJ_HtExnzU&w=470]
| 16
| 9
|
[
{
"comment_id": "436278",
"author": "Jon",
"timestamp": "2011-08-16T22:22:33",
"content": "Wouldn’t it be easier to skip the 74HC4066 and attach the commons to floating pins, bringing them high when each digit needs to be read?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "436302",
"author": "George Graves",
"timestamp": "2011-08-16T22:39:19",
"content": "I guess Birds on the Wire blog is the same ashttp://tronixstuff.wordpress.com?http://tronixstuff.wordpress.com/2011/08/15/tutorial-arduino-and-push-wheel-switches/",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "436331",
"author": "John Boxall",
"timestamp": "2011-08-16T23:44:27",
"content": "George – I post my articles on LBE’s blog as well.@tronixstuff",
"parent_id": "436302",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "436345",
"author": "George Graves",
"timestamp": "2011-08-17T00:08:31",
"content": "Ah! Well awesome stuff!",
"parent_id": "436331",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "436318",
"author": "loans",
"timestamp": "2011-08-16T23:09:42",
"content": "This is kind of a rough article for someone new to the game. His code could use some more thorough documentation, especially as regards his communication with the 7 segment shield he’s using. Someone new to programming won’t make much sense of his function related to that.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "436330",
"author": "John Boxall",
"timestamp": "2011-08-16T23:40:32",
"content": "There is a link in the article to an SAA1064 tutorial which thoroughly explains how to use it.http://bit.ly/p2XkIh",
"parent_id": "436318",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "436346",
"author": "loans",
"timestamp": "2011-08-17T00:14:00",
"content": "I still think it’d be worth a few lines in the article to discuss what’s happening in the code.",
"parent_id": "436330",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "436367",
"author": "justDIY",
"timestamp": "2011-08-17T00:55:42",
"content": "I’m curious Mike, why the plug for NXP in your summary? Could we use a Motorola 74HC4066 or a Texas Instruments 74HC4066, etc, etc?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "436605",
"author": "Mike Nathan",
"timestamp": "2011-08-17T11:03:55",
"content": "No reason, just listing off a part in the same manner he did. As you mentioned, any 74HC4066 should suffice.Don’t worry, we’re not in collusion with NXP, Adafruit, Arduino, or any other number of tinfoil-hat induced theories :)",
"parent_id": "436367",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "436382",
"author": "Doc Oct",
"timestamp": "2011-08-17T01:22:52",
"content": "These would be a really neat idea for a pseudo-retro homebrew ham radio. Instead of an lcd readout, use a set of these with the outputs rigged to a uC running a DDS or some sort of PLL.Probably best used for FM equipment actually. Probably wouldn’t work great with a hugeass VFO wheel most are used to using.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "436428",
"author": "willaim",
"timestamp": "2011-08-17T02:47:39",
"content": "aren’t these commonly called BCD switches? (binary coded decimal) Or is some other version of thumbwheel switches?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "436692",
"author": "Laura Harris",
"timestamp": "2011-08-17T14:20:43",
"content": "That’s one of the common formats.I used to use these a lot many years ago. In one particular design, I used a pair of them to input a bin location number to comparator. The comparator compared the input on the wheels to an index code on a rotating shelf.The comparator output told the motor which way to turn to reach the desired place on the shelf in the shortest time, and then to stop when when the code on the index matched the code set on the wheels. An all hardware implementation that worked great for the application.",
"parent_id": "436428",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "436474",
"author": "ldlux",
"timestamp": "2011-08-17T04:33:37",
"content": "I see a problem with using several digits of this as specified. Specifically that numbers with more than one closed bit are just begging for problems. For example, if you have 2 digits and set one to 7 and the other to 9, you’ll have all 4 bits shorted together and read both digits as F, which isn’t even a legit BCD digit.This problem is soluble in the same way it is solved with scanned keyboard matrices. Add diodes in series with the digit lines of each BCD switch. That way, the switch closures in one digit don’t interfere with the others.The examples in the article (4994, 6966, and 8421)convenientlyavoid this problem. Any instances of 3, 5, 6, 7, or 9 are asking for trouble, and will reap it if any of the other digits are one of those and share any of the on bits.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "436703",
"author": "chango",
"timestamp": "2011-08-17T14:27:21",
"content": "The first thing I thought of when I saw this article was CPE 1704 TKS. Are there really alpha versions of these wheels? If so, I know what I must build.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "436758",
"author": "f8l_0e",
"timestamp": "2011-08-17T15:32:58",
"content": "@chango: The sad thing, was that I knew exactly what that reference was by just looking at the string.War Games FTW!",
"parent_id": "436703",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "442659",
"author": "John Boxall",
"timestamp": "2011-08-27T11:28:38",
"content": "Part two of this article concerning multiple switches has now been published – seehttp://wp.me/pQmjR-1RW",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
}
] | 1,760,377,111.78736
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2011/08/16/amazing-60-year-old-robot-dog-is-a-mystery/
|
Amazing 60 Year Old Robot Dog Is A Mystery
|
Caleb Kraft
|
[
"Robots Hacks"
] |
[
"dog"
] |
The robot dog you see above is a mystery. [Daneil Dennet], a professor of philosophy at Tufts University found this in an antique shop in Paris. Apparently it has no identification and no one has been able to tell him anything about it. It was made in the 50s, and that seems to be all he knows. He’s offering a reward to whomever can reveal its secrets. There’s a
full gallery of pictures
to browse through that reveal some of the construction, but not a whole lot of the function.
We are just blown away by the construction here. Look at all those switches! Can you imagine how easy to reverse engineer things would have been back then? Surely in the right hands, someone could get this thing working again. Then again [Daniel] might like it kept completely original. If you know something about this robot, you can find [Daniel]’s
contact information here
.
Oh, and yes, we realize it looks just like
k-9
.
| 108
| 50
|
[
{
"comment_id": "436200",
"author": "DiRWiN",
"timestamp": "2011-08-16T21:11:26",
"content": "obviously just an early model of K-9, tell him to wait a couple hundred years and hell find out its history",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "436204",
"author": "anon",
"timestamp": "2011-08-16T21:11:42",
"content": "looks more like jimmy neutron’s dog, Goddard.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "436301",
"author": "Chris",
"timestamp": "2011-08-16T22:34:12",
"content": "I was thinking the same thing when I first saw it.",
"parent_id": "436204",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "6435400",
"author": "Joselynn Schmidt",
"timestamp": "2022-02-25T19:59:55",
"content": "It reminds me of K-9 on the older Doctor Who",
"parent_id": "436204",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "436216",
"author": "retepv",
"timestamp": "2011-08-16T21:16:43",
"content": "Why choose between keeping it original or repairing it? Why not copy it with all new materials?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "6435401",
"author": "Joselynn Schmidt",
"timestamp": "2022-02-25T20:01:29",
"content": "Yes! I agree.",
"parent_id": "436216",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "436229",
"author": "Max",
"timestamp": "2011-08-16T21:25:13",
"content": "K-9! Didn’t think I’d see you again here, now!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "436235",
"author": "Mr F",
"timestamp": "2011-08-16T21:26:12",
"content": "This thing is all kinds of awesome, it should be in a museum.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "436372",
"author": "Dr. Henry Jones",
"timestamp": "2011-08-17T01:11:13",
"content": "Indiana? lol. The dog’s name was Indiana.",
"parent_id": "436235",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "443568",
"author": "David",
"timestamp": "2011-08-29T11:41:11",
"content": "It is already in a museum. It is in the museum of the web where everyone can see it instead of being brought out every 20 years at some gallery managers whim and then mislabeled.",
"parent_id": "436235",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "436237",
"author": "bADitCH",
"timestamp": "2011-08-16T21:26:58",
"content": "That’s pretty sweet!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "436247",
"author": "Volectorus",
"timestamp": "2011-08-16T21:33:47",
"content": "404… meh ill try again later",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "436248",
"author": "MS3FGX",
"timestamp": "2011-08-16T21:38:01",
"content": "Wow, I have the feeling I’ve seen this thing before, but I can’t remember where…",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "436273",
"author": "nes",
"timestamp": "2011-08-16T22:15:30",
"content": "Yeah, I think I’ve seen a picture of it in an old book from the 70’s by something like Paulson or Powelson perhaps? IIRC there were blueprints too but for a different dog with a full cowling.The relays and tag boards look like pretty ordinary telephone exchange stuff to me. If so it shouldn’t be too hard to find spares for it.",
"parent_id": "436248",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "436296",
"author": "Nightstar",
"timestamp": "2011-08-16T22:29:59",
"content": "Same here. I feel I have seen this before. But maybe from the 60’s.",
"parent_id": "436273",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "436754",
"author": "zero",
"timestamp": "2011-08-17T15:28:21",
"content": "me too i feel like i know it from somewhere like Ive seen it but cant remember where the memory is like fading in my head……..",
"parent_id": "436273",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "436249",
"author": "anyone",
"timestamp": "2011-08-16T21:38:42",
"content": "is the site down or something? looks very cool. hopefully it becomes operational without adding newer than 1955",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "440580",
"author": "Seth",
"timestamp": "2011-08-23T22:55:54",
"content": "Funnily enough I heard Daniel talking about this dog in abit more detail whilst flipping though the i,robot bonus dvd the other day",
"parent_id": "436249",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "436250",
"author": "Tigger",
"timestamp": "2011-08-16T21:39:19",
"content": "Odd, I am getting 403 error. =\\",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "436251",
"author": "ironring",
"timestamp": "2011-08-16T21:40:30",
"content": "It looks very reminiscent of Grey Walter’s tortoises, but clearly more complex. Perhaps built by him or a student who worked with him?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "436279",
"author": "manchester1963",
"timestamp": "2011-08-16T22:23:28",
"content": "While it does look reminiscent of Gery Walters’turtles it does not appear to contain any valvesas his did. The use of relays suggests to me thatit is a sort of discrete state automaton.Since the original pictures link doesn’t seem to be working here is another showing more detail:http://cyberneticzoo.com/?p=5358",
"parent_id": "436251",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "436373",
"author": "Kaj",
"timestamp": "2011-08-17T01:11:57",
"content": "I’ve spotted some early GE germanium transistors amongst the photos, so it’s early solid-state.",
"parent_id": "436279",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "436590",
"author": "manchester1963",
"timestamp": "2011-08-17T10:29:45",
"content": "Well spotted! Here is a link to a page about the GE 2N43 Germanium transistor which first became available in 1953:http://semiconductormuseum.com/PhotoGallery/PhotoGallery_2N43.htmYou can see something like one of these at the lower right of the 8th picture up on the cyberneticzoo page",
"parent_id": "436279",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "436594",
"author": "manchester1963",
"timestamp": "2011-08-17T10:34:00",
"content": "And the picture above appears to show a bank of 2N107s.We really need a circuit diagram!",
"parent_id": "436279",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "437535",
"author": "Whatnot",
"timestamp": "2011-08-18T23:32:44",
"content": "The early transistors might have become available in the mid 50’s, but that does not mean they were easy to get and cheap immediately, as you can tell by how long TV’s ran using tubes rather than transistors (although that was because of the higher voltages too of course).I’d also say this thing might be from the (mid) 60’s like a few others that commented suggested.",
"parent_id": "436279",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "436253",
"author": "retepvosnul",
"timestamp": "2011-08-16T21:44:41",
"content": "Is there any indication that it does anything at all, apart from simply roll or do quarky movements.It all looks to pretty to be functional. I think its a movie prop with very very limited and non-automated movement if any.It mostly reminds me of steampunk constructions of nowadays.In 60 years, this story will be about a millennium falcon, having realized that Starwars is rubbish and having forgotten all about that horrid piece of spacepulp.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "436389",
"author": "Hirudinea",
"timestamp": "2011-08-17T01:33:26",
"content": "Thats what I was thinking, mabye its just a mostly nonfunctional art piece just made to look like a robot dog, like a comment on the future, the mechanization of man, etc, etc, etc… real neat looking though.",
"parent_id": "436253",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "436395",
"author": "Jeremy Cook",
"timestamp": "2011-08-17T01:40:52",
"content": "Haha, maybe you’re right.",
"parent_id": "436253",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "436647",
"author": "Bill",
"timestamp": "2011-08-17T12:43:25",
"content": "I suspect it was functional (or at least intended to be). Things like the transistors and wheel position encoders don’t add much to the look, but would be important if it was intended to actually do something.",
"parent_id": "436253",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "436255",
"author": "pidge",
"timestamp": "2011-08-16T21:47:31",
"content": "It reminds me of the battery-powered toy dog character inMaggie and the Ferocious Beast(I have kids, they happen to like the show)",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "436256",
"author": "John",
"timestamp": "2011-08-16T21:49:57",
"content": "It looks like the stuff of nightmares. Probably on par with the Daleks. Definitely don’t want to meet it in a dark alley.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "436259",
"author": "Tom",
"timestamp": "2011-08-16T21:52:04",
"content": "Has Hackaday just slashdotted its first site?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "436261",
"author": "Caleb Kraft",
"timestamp": "2011-08-16T21:55:21",
"content": "nope, we’ve crushed a few in our time. They just notified us that they are fixing some caching to get the site back on line.",
"parent_id": "436259",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "436271",
"author": "LeeRay",
"timestamp": "2011-08-16T22:12:44",
"content": "I remember reading an article several years ago about a guy in the 50s or 60s who claimed to have made a robotic dog that could find its charging station with blinking lights. I believe he was an animal behaviorist, and he was trying to show complex behavior erupting from simple rules before it was trendy. This looks like how I remember the picture from the article.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "436444",
"author": "Pilotgeek",
"timestamp": "2011-08-17T03:17:36",
"content": "William Grey Walter. He built tortoises that could indeed do that. But this was not one of his creations.",
"parent_id": "436271",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "436280",
"author": "Guillem",
"timestamp": "2011-08-16T22:24:07",
"content": "while the main site remains down you can check more pictures at:http://cyberneticzoo.com/?p=5358",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "436295",
"author": "Cubby",
"timestamp": "2011-08-16T22:29:34",
"content": "Hmmm….since someone mentioned K-9, is there a chance that anyone might have or know where a set of drawings and schematics could be found. I’ve always wanted to try to build a replica.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "436308",
"author": "liebesiech",
"timestamp": "2011-08-16T22:51:12",
"content": "All this years I wondered where my spare parts ending up all the time! Grandmaaaaa!!!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "436309",
"author": "ejonesss",
"timestamp": "2011-08-16T22:54:53",
"content": "forbidden.did you check the permissions correctly?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "436313",
"author": "Russell Williams",
"timestamp": "2011-08-16T23:05:58",
"content": "It’s not real, it’s just art. It was covered by TechTV (back in the day).",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "436320",
"author": "Rob",
"timestamp": "2011-08-16T23:12:20",
"content": "I swear, this thing was pictured in one of my school textbooks years back.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "436323",
"author": "Devon",
"timestamp": "2011-08-16T23:22:07",
"content": "Could it be this robot dog from Paris described in the May, 1930 Popular Science (p. 48):http://books.google.com/books?id=OigDAAAAMBAJ&lpg=PA48&dq=%22popular%20science%22%20robot%20dog&pg=PA48#v=onepage&q&f=false“Robot Watchdog Fights When Light Hits It”",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "436424",
"author": "Mr. Name Required",
"timestamp": "2011-08-17T02:31:32",
"content": "@Devon – Interesting article, but someone’s mentioned germanium transistors in it. Got to love the article a few pages further down in that issue: “Do Beavers Rule on Mars?” …fantastic stuff :)",
"parent_id": "436323",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "436431",
"author": "Tachikoma",
"timestamp": "2011-08-17T02:52:45",
"content": "That Popular Science mag is awesome.",
"parent_id": "436323",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "436651",
"author": "Fluffy",
"timestamp": "2011-08-17T12:49:39",
"content": "Very much agree. Theres so many little gems hidden in that particular one. Mentions of and early traffic light design to replace traffic cops caught my attention.",
"parent_id": "436431",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "436564",
"author": "ftorama",
"timestamp": "2011-08-17T09:06:02",
"content": "Transistors are here to say it’s younger, certainly 50’s or 60’s.I heard of the dog you’re talking about and I saw a picture of it (unable to find it again, sorry). It was a four-legged machine attached to its kennel, raising on its rear legs and barking, but no wheels.Given the apparent complexity of wiring, I wouldn’t say it’s only a piece of art, but I definitely can’t say more for now…I’m going to ask on a french electronic forum. There are a few electronic veterans there that could have heard of it.",
"parent_id": "436323",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "438436",
"author": "Reuben",
"timestamp": "2011-08-20T12:52:54",
"content": "The robot dog you refer to is the early version of the 1928 French “Philidog” see herehttp://cyberneticzoo.com/?p=368. For all these robot creatures, see herehttp://cyberneticzoo.com/?page_id=41.",
"parent_id": "436564",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "436327",
"author": "Axl Laruse",
"timestamp": "2011-08-16T23:30:28",
"content": "The gallery doesnt have the right permissions needed for accessing",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "436328",
"author": "acomputerdog",
"timestamp": "2011-08-16T23:30:44",
"content": "he needs to try and run it. i saw some batteries sticking out of one side, he should pop in some new ones and see what it does!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "436336",
"author": "barry99705",
"timestamp": "2011-08-16T23:50:40",
"content": "This is on a book that you can buy on Amazon.http://www.amazon.com/Brainchildren-Penguin-Science-Daniel-Dennett/dp/0140265635/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1313538615&sr=8-2",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "436375",
"author": "Dr. Henry Jones",
"timestamp": "2011-08-17T01:15:25",
"content": "So it is a troll then? Disappointing.",
"parent_id": "436336",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "436542",
"author": "retepvosnul",
"timestamp": "2011-08-17T07:24:49",
"content": "Some variation of man would consider mister Dennet to be a troll, but that is mainly because of that individual erroneous believes and lacking moral fiber.Somehow I do not think the information he is requesting is “It’s the dog on the cover of your book”.",
"parent_id": "436375",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "436398",
"author": "josh",
"timestamp": "2011-08-17T01:42:22",
"content": "Check out the author of that book and the name of the guy trying to find information on it.",
"parent_id": "436336",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "436439",
"author": "Jake of All Trades",
"timestamp": "2011-08-17T03:10:41",
"content": "Aw darn,that’swhere I know it from! I was really hoping I’d remember something useful. Fooey.",
"parent_id": "436336",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "436569",
"author": "jim",
"timestamp": "2011-08-17T09:16:52",
"content": "so yeah, they author used it on a book cover…this proves nothing either way as to its creation",
"parent_id": "436336",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "436352",
"author": "him@heyyeah",
"timestamp": "2011-08-17T00:21:38",
"content": "The only mention of it’s age I can find is on HAD. Why do we assume it’s made in the 50’s? It’s pretty common for individuals to use materials or tech in construction before their ‘official’ invention date or try and intentionally antiquate something.So who came to the conclusion that it was made in the 50s and how?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "436364",
"author": "Jeff Wallin",
"timestamp": "2011-08-17T00:48:39",
"content": "It reminds me of the dog from Nightmare before Christmas",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "436365",
"author": "cliff",
"timestamp": "2011-08-17T00:50:12",
"content": "The carriage reminds me of a GE canister vacuum cleaner from the mid 50’s.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "436370",
"author": "Bene",
"timestamp": "2011-08-17T00:57:57",
"content": "The picture on the cover is also Dennet’s dog:http://books.google.com/books?id=G2iYMnSuhL4C&printsec=frontcover&dq=brainchildren&hl=de&ei=OhFLTpKwDMXMswar1tDABw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CCoQ6AEwAA#v=snippet&q=cover%20image&f=false",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "436380",
"author": "madcows",
"timestamp": "2011-08-17T01:21:28",
"content": "Interesting. Looking at some of the additional pictures, you can see that this thing is littered with a ton of switches, some even integrated on at least one wheel. That makes me think it’s at least crudely “programmable”.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "436403",
"author": "Martin",
"timestamp": "2011-08-17T01:49:49",
"content": "See this link : 144 pageshttp://newstar.rinet.ru/~goga/biblio/dennett/brainchildren.pdf",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "436409",
"author": "Martin",
"timestamp": "2011-08-17T01:59:24",
"content": "At LastThis is : Tati195x – “Tati” the Cybernetic Dog – owned by Daniel Dennett (built in France / Belgium ?)from :http://cyberneticzoo.com/?p=5358",
"parent_id": "436403",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "436452",
"author": "OrganizedChaos",
"timestamp": "2011-08-17T03:35:31",
"content": "Please see original post.",
"parent_id": "436403",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "436419",
"author": "MaybeDick",
"timestamp": "2011-08-17T02:20:49",
"content": "A story:Boy meets Girl. Boy graduates MIT. Boy gets job at IBM. Boy slowly goes insane with repetitive tasks for what seems an eternity. One night, while sleeping in the garage due to marital distress, Boy finds broken Hoover vacuum cleaner. Boy steals parts from job, Boy spends nights assembling “new best friend,” Boy shows pet project to Boss, Boy gets promotion in exchange for rights of ownership, Boy takes Girl out to dinner to celebrate, Boy meets Girl again.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "436473",
"author": "xrazorwirex",
"timestamp": "2011-08-17T04:31:59",
"content": "I’d be very surprised if it was actually designed to work and wasn’t just all aesthetics…",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "436537",
"author": "bothersaidpooh",
"timestamp": "2011-08-17T07:09:46",
"content": "Yeah, a lot of these parts look like old telecoms components.You can get pretty elaborate behaviours with a simple array of electrochemical “memistors” and relays, even up to something that would take an FPGA nowadays to duplicate.Shame it doesen’t work, it would be interesting to see what it does when powered.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "436543",
"author": "kevin",
"timestamp": "2011-08-17T07:26:20",
"content": "looks like dennet is the one to contact. there is a cartoon of him with the mechanical dog.http://ase.tufts.edu/cogstud/incbios/dennettd/dennettd.htm",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "436545",
"author": "kevin",
"timestamp": "2011-08-17T07:28:43",
"content": "ok, that’s the guy looking for info on the dog… duh",
"parent_id": "436543",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "436557",
"author": "Nextuz",
"timestamp": "2011-08-17T08:37:51",
"content": "Steempunk meets Sony AIBO ;)",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "436563",
"author": "daqq",
"timestamp": "2011-08-17T09:02:42",
"content": "Sony sues steampunk.",
"parent_id": "436557",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "436560",
"author": "xorpunk",
"timestamp": "2011-08-17T08:55:01",
"content": "It has no sensors or analog gates, the lights just light up and it has switches to control direction for motor polarity.Whoever made it was exceptionally talented in multiple fields though. Whoever made it is dead or retired by now.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "436634",
"author": "noouch",
"timestamp": "2011-08-17T12:17:37",
"content": "The page on cybernetic zoo hints that the selenium cells function as a sort of directional control sensor cluster.",
"parent_id": "436560",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "436650",
"author": "Bill",
"timestamp": "2011-08-17T12:49:31",
"content": "I see parts that could be wheel rotation sensors and maybe switches that activate if it bumps into something.",
"parent_id": "436560",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "436776",
"author": "xorpunk",
"timestamp": "2011-08-17T16:23:37",
"content": "It’s purely lights, LV transformers, resistors, capacitors, junctions, and motors on the electric part. I looked too. Not a single sensor.",
"parent_id": "436560",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "444045",
"author": "Joe",
"timestamp": "2011-08-30T02:22:19",
"content": "Looks like something straight out of the Eureka show. :)",
"parent_id": "436560",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "436574",
"author": "Alex",
"timestamp": "2011-08-17T09:32:50",
"content": "That is one of the most buitiful things I have seen, I believe (mainly from the motor on the rear wheel and sensor on the front offside wheel) that this has basic functionality, looks like the mouth can be opened and closed also from the hook, though I would say 40 – 50% of the innards are for display purposes only or to “guild the lilly” as I would put it. It very much appeals to my desire to over-engineer everything I build :-)Stunning.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "436621",
"author": "hawkeye18",
"timestamp": "2011-08-17T11:44:18",
"content": "Ultra Pedantic Dick Moment: It’s “Gild the lilly”, not “Guild the lilly”. A Guild is an association of (generally skilled) people, usually craftsmen. (Or, on the internet, an association of nerds.) To Gild is to very thinly overlay with something, usually gold. Thus, gilding a lilly would be covering it in fine gold leaf, which is–I believe–the effect you were going for.The more you know!",
"parent_id": "436574",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "436668",
"author": "Anonymous Pedant",
"timestamp": "2011-08-17T13:24:53",
"content": "It’s a misquote – the original Shakespeare quote is “to paint the lily”, not gild. Am I king of the pedants now?",
"parent_id": "436621",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "436683",
"author": "guplik",
"timestamp": "2011-08-17T13:49:22",
"content": "Extra Ultra Pedantry:The original phrase uses “Lily” (a flower) not “Lilly” (a person’s name)…unless “Guilding The Lilly” is a personal phrase of Alex, in which case we’re both wrong ;)",
"parent_id": "436621",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "436584",
"author": "Ryan Mercer",
"timestamp": "2011-08-17T10:11:27",
"content": "That thing is awesome!!!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "436586",
"author": "muth",
"timestamp": "2011-08-17T10:17:48",
"content": "Pretty impressive, but what could be the power supply ? I cannot believe all these relay and motors are powered by the tiny red battery.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "436686",
"author": "guplik",
"timestamp": "2011-08-17T13:52:59",
"content": "It looks like there’s a couple of light-sockets at the back, perhaps it was plugged into the mains via a cable?",
"parent_id": "436586",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "436603",
"author": "Fili",
"timestamp": "2011-08-17T10:59:48",
"content": "I don’t understand why is everybody so excited about this. It’s just a vacuum cleaner with some wheels, a motor and lot of useless wires.I had some books from the 60’s that showed how to build something like this including light-following function with 2 photo-diodes (the large ones, like vacuum tubes). I did it when I was 12 or 13 years old (had to convert the schematics for modern components like tranzistors and stuff).",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "436615",
"author": "ftorama",
"timestamp": "2011-08-17T11:32:08",
"content": "It could be this, but it could be a historical piece like GEry Walters’ tortoises.Someone sent me to look at Albert Ducrocq’s machines. Look at this article (in french, try Google translation) talking about Job, its artificial rat:http://www.arts-et-metiers.net/musee.php?P=49&id=23&lang=ang&flash=f&arc=1",
"parent_id": "436603",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "438440",
"author": "Reuben",
"timestamp": "2011-08-20T12:55:49",
"content": "For all these robot creatures, see herehttp://cyberneticzoo.com/?page_id=41.",
"parent_id": "436615",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "436805",
"author": "IJ Dee-Vo",
"timestamp": "2011-08-17T17:53:29",
"content": "Your statement is based on what facts?",
"parent_id": "436603",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "436623",
"author": "Kevin",
"timestamp": "2011-08-17T11:49:51",
"content": "Google Image Search FTW:http://cyberneticzoo.com/?m=201105",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "436633",
"author": "ftorama",
"timestamp": "2011-08-17T12:11:16",
"content": "Looks like you found Daniel Dennett, the owner of the robot, and actually the guy looking after information about this robot.You should try to read the articles….",
"parent_id": "436623",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "436628",
"author": "Bloodlock",
"timestamp": "2011-08-17T12:01:09",
"content": "It looks more like that robots from Tom & Jerry show…",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "436700",
"author": "Miroslav",
"timestamp": "2011-08-17T14:25:30",
"content": "I would place the thing into 1959-1965 period, based on latter type of 2N107 transistors (http://semiconductormuseum.com/PhotoGallery/PhotoGallery_2N107.htm). Schematics anyone?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "436775",
"author": "Power it up!",
"timestamp": "2011-08-17T16:17:31",
"content": "I disagree that this device is nonfunctional.Y’know how you can admire the steampunk aesthetic of ornate brass glued onto a watch face, but you get a completely different sensation when you look at an actual Victorian watch? That’s the impression I get when I look at this dog. I haven’t a cluewhatit’s supposed to do, but it’s very clear that it doessomething.Every wire in those pictures appears to go somewhere. At least one gear attachment appears to govern head positioning, and another gear is in a suitable place to turn the eyes. The presence of transitors and selenium cells and what appear to be nearby coils/solenoids, plus the positional encoder that someone mentioned up there, does not appear to be coincidental. Transistors weren’t exactly cheap, and certainly not readily-available, at the time this thing was built. Printed circuit boards didn’t exist – the freehand wiring style (using terminal junctions and tiny wiring harnesses in preference to solder joints) is consistent with the wiring I’ve seen in a 1930s tube-based radio, and/or a 1950s tube-based oscilloscope.If I owned this, I’d take a close look at it, figure out what sort of power source it wants, clean and lubricate the mechanical bits as best as I could, and with the utmost of care, power it up.If it looks like it wants AC, use a Variac and a light bulb in series. If it wants DC, make damn sure you get the polarity right, and then try it for a second or two at 1.5V, 3.0V, etc, until something clicks, hums, or moves. Power it down and probe around it with a fingertip to see if anything’s getting unduly warm. Clean, lubricate, repeat.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "436804",
"author": "Frictor",
"timestamp": "2011-08-17T17:50:36",
"content": "Seems we have a number of good posts on this and that some of the previous posters have found the solution. So what about getting it confirmed by “History Detectives” on PBS? I’m sure they’d love to get their hands on this beauty, and they’d probably be able to provide an interesting story to boot.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "436807",
"author": "Frictor",
"timestamp": "2011-08-17T17:56:52",
"content": "Whoops, no solution found, just references to the man looking for more info on it. I’d still like to see it on “History Detectives” or some other show that digs up history on old things like this.",
"parent_id": "436804",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "436893",
"author": "Patrick",
"timestamp": "2011-08-17T21:05:11",
"content": "Some People who visit Bunnies Studios might have to say something about that dog too,but that is only a guess, because i#ve seen people identifying circuits and parts just from photographs.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "437132",
"author": "Whatnot",
"timestamp": "2011-08-18T09:53:14",
"content": "Looking at the plastics and the colorful PVC wiring I do not believe this was made in the 50’s.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "437177",
"author": "*robot",
"timestamp": "2011-08-18T11:59:25",
"content": "The Squee electric squirrel – 1951 – the first true robot has very similar construction:squee 1951Robots Squee, Rudy, and Franken 1952-1953 mentioned here:computer historyFranken maze robot mentioned here:blinkenlights berkeley report",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "437225",
"author": "Caleb Kraft",
"timestamp": "2011-08-18T13:36:44",
"content": "Wow, at first glance you’d immediately place the two from the same maker. After I looked at the color photo however, I’d say squee is newer or at least a cleaner build. They do have an almost identical frame though.",
"parent_id": "437177",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "438443",
"author": "Reuben",
"timestamp": "2011-08-20T13:01:18",
"content": "For all these robot creatures, see herehttp://cyberneticzoo.com/?page_id=41.Squee was designed and built when Berkeley couldn’t get Grey Walter’s plans for Elmer and Elsie, later published in 1953.",
"parent_id": "437177",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
}
] | 1,760,377,111.98367
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2011/08/16/i-have-seen-the-future-and-it-has-swarmanoids/
|
I Have Seen The Future, And It Has Swarmanoids
|
Mike Nathan
|
[
"Robots Hacks"
] |
[
"autonomous",
"robots",
"swarm"
] |
Imagine that you want a book that is located on a shelf several rooms over, but you do not want to get out of your chair. Short of developing telekenesis on the spot, there’s little you can do other than get up and fetch the book yourself – that is, unless you have
an army of Swarmanoids to do your bidding.
This robotic swarm is the pet project of [Dr. Marco Dorigo] from the Université Libre de Bruxelles, Belgium, and is impressive to say the least . As the Mission: Impossible-esque video plays out, you see several different robots working in concert, flying, climbing, and driving around to fetch a book from a shelf. The robots have no information regarding their surroundings, forcing them to learn and “speak” to one another in order to reach their goal once the target has been located.
It really is amazing to watch these robots work together, but don’t take our word for it. Check out the Swarmanoids in action below.
[via
Geek.com
]
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M2nn1X9Xlps&w=470]
| 20
| 16
|
[
{
"comment_id": "436144",
"author": "Ivan",
"timestamp": "2011-08-16T19:07:12",
"content": "Exterminate… exterminate!!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "436152",
"author": "JOBGG",
"timestamp": "2011-08-16T19:37:37",
"content": "Nice…certainly added to mental inventory.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "436153",
"author": "andar_b",
"timestamp": "2011-08-16T19:46:27",
"content": "I’d love to see a dozen of these on an ‘exoplanetary’ mission, that would be quite interesting.I really liked the interlock mechanism, it seemed simple, yet quite ideal for the task at hand. I wonder what they have come up with for outdoor environments where the eyebots and handbots cannot attach to the ceiling?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "436154",
"author": "Otacon2k",
"timestamp": "2011-08-16T19:48:32",
"content": "Damn, where’s my jaw?…Excellent quality build, must be the coolest swarmbot system I’ve ever seen.Kinda like directly from a science-fiction book with all those ridiculous ideas like the magnetic gripping rope and stuff.Put me on the list for a swarm.P.S.: +1 for getting a Dragonball book.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "436157",
"author": "Butterstick",
"timestamp": "2011-08-16T19:51:24",
"content": "Pretty cool, but I feel like there is a fair amount of silliness here that takes away from the technical accomplishments.That being said, definitely a nice job!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "436178",
"author": "Blue Footed Booby",
"timestamp": "2011-08-16T20:51:02",
"content": "I like that it’s not 100% spartan, utilitarian design. If you can’t do it with style, you either shouldn’t bother or aren’t drunk enough.",
"parent_id": "436157",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "436173",
"author": "Rob",
"timestamp": "2011-08-16T20:32:02",
"content": "Once battery technology improves I envision swarm robots being very usefull. The thought of them carrying weapons really scares me.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "436193",
"author": "turn.self.off",
"timestamp": "2011-08-16T21:08:31",
"content": "There is a model copter in the works that can carry a shotgun or grenade launcher…",
"parent_id": "436173",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "436196",
"author": "turn.self.off",
"timestamp": "2011-08-16T21:08:55",
"content": "Those footbots could use a speed boost.",
"parent_id": "436173",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "436265",
"author": "XiuiX",
"timestamp": "2011-08-16T21:59:49",
"content": "I find the Quadcopter Eye bot disturbing",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "436311",
"author": "austin",
"timestamp": "2011-08-16T23:00:57",
"content": "the bots need some speed improvements. faster engines perhaps, or a biomemetic approach. maybe instead of treads and tiny motors they could go with a hexapod approach, ive seen those things skuttle about…connection might be a bit more tricky…but workable.a swarm of hexapods…scary…replicators…",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "436435",
"author": "Leithoa",
"timestamp": "2011-08-17T02:57:38",
"content": "Well once the hexapods connect up it would just be a centipede type robot, and you could model the leg movement after a sin wave or something. I bet it’s not as complicated as getting them to link up in general or getting the speed a task needs without the bot tripping over its self.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "436502",
"author": "mjrippe",
"timestamp": "2011-08-17T05:21:30",
"content": "“I have seen the future, and it has Swarmanoids”The future can probably clear those up with some Preparation S.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "436578",
"author": "KillerBug",
"timestamp": "2011-08-17T09:39:48",
"content": "These are pretty neat…I was really impressed with the whole idea, and I assumed the slow speeds were either due to economical parts or intentional delays…but the ceiling system ruined the who thing. The crawler bots clearly won’t work anywhere with dirt, gravel, or even deep shag carpet, and other than the crawler bots, none of these things will work anywhere on earth except for this guy’s lab where the ceiling is specially designed to hold these things. The climbing hand was the saddest part…I’m not even sure if it was climbing or just going through the motions as the motor pulled in the zip line. What a waste of a climbing hand!Obviously there is a lot of talent at work here, and I look forward to future ideas from them…but this whole system is fundamentally flawed in that it is all useless in the real world.Now, make a flying eye bot thing with a robotic arm attached and a battery life long enough that it does not need to clamp itself to the ceiling…that I would be impressed with.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "436778",
"author": "Gesk",
"timestamp": "2011-08-17T16:26:38",
"content": "For your information, these robots were actually filmed in Switzerland at epfl, but the whole project is european.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "436844",
"author": "George",
"timestamp": "2011-08-17T19:24:51",
"content": "Why would you need ceiling grapples when you have quad-copters? Also why would you need quad-copters when you can grapple to the ceiling? This seems unnecessarily heterogeneous. Though it is quite satisfying to watch the cooperation involved.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "437692",
"author": "gadget00",
"timestamp": "2011-08-19T05:24:00",
"content": "I can just keep saying “WAO”…WAO.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "440018",
"author": "Jdub",
"timestamp": "2011-08-23T03:39:44",
"content": "…..and thus, SKYNET was born",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "444117",
"author": "Taufeeq",
"timestamp": "2011-08-30T07:39:00",
"content": "Ha ha, yeah great ! Was thinking about the same.",
"parent_id": "440018",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "444116",
"author": "Taufeeq",
"timestamp": "2011-08-30T07:38:23",
"content": "Reminds me of Cylons in Battlestar Galactica :)I dont want these “roids” to nuke the planet anytime soon.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
}
] | 1,760,377,112.107014
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2011/08/16/ps2-to-usb-keyboard-converter-also-logs-your-keystrokes/
|
PS2 To USB Keyboard Converter Also Logs Your Keystrokes
|
Mike Szczys
|
[
"Peripherals Hacks",
"Security Hacks"
] |
[
"keylogging",
"security"
] |
[Shawn McCombs] is up to no good with his first Teensy project. The board you see above takes the
input from a PS2 keyboard and converts it to a USB connection
. Oh, and did we mention that it also keeps track of everything you type as well?
From the beginning the project was intended to be a keylogger. It’s a man-in-the-middle device that could be hidden inside the case of a keyboard, making it appear to be a stock USB keyboard. Data is stored to an SD card so an attacker would need to gain access to the hardware after the data he’s targeting has been typed.
It works mostly as [Shawn] expected. He is, however, having trouble handling the CTRL, ALT, Windows, and Caps Lock keys. If this were actually being used maliciously it would be a dead giveaway. Many secure Windows machine require a CRTL-ALT-DELETE keystroke to access the login screen.
| 15
| 9
|
[
{
"comment_id": "436105",
"author": "fartface",
"timestamp": "2011-08-16T17:42:56",
"content": "http://x86ed.com/programming/arduino/programmable-arduino-usb-keylogger/Already done and smaller so it fits inside a keyboard easier.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "436120",
"author": "Jeffh",
"timestamp": "2011-08-16T18:17:21",
"content": "Adrian’s is not a keystroke logger as that article implies, it just acts as a HID and can inject key strokes, which can be used to install malware.",
"parent_id": "436105",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "436197",
"author": "Shawn",
"timestamp": "2011-08-16T21:10:02",
"content": "Thanks, Jeffh.",
"parent_id": "436105",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "436222",
"author": "Shawn",
"timestamp": "2011-08-16T21:21:34",
"content": "I admit my project is not the best, and needs work, but it does function. I plan to fix the problems, and eventually make a permanent build. The reason it looks so weird, and bulky now is because I need it for prototyping. Thanks everyone, hope you like it. Also if I can’t get the code for ctrl, alt, win keys to work. I am thinking of hardwiring them to the teensy as buttons. Any opinions? Objections?",
"parent_id": "436105",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "436111",
"author": "CrashSerious",
"timestamp": "2011-08-16T17:56:41",
"content": "Keyboard modifiers…My guess is he’s either having trouble with shift keys or has hard coded them in.Ctrl+A is sent as two key strokes; 0 + 65 IIRC.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "436121",
"author": "spiderwebby",
"timestamp": "2011-08-16T18:19:38",
"content": "This’ll be awesome once he gets the bugs ironed out. and it’ll save me a load of effort when I finally get round to making by dvorak keyboard usb :D",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "436126",
"author": "Urza9814",
"timestamp": "2011-08-16T18:28:22",
"content": "Was thing the same thing — this could be quite useful for making my old Model Ms USB, if it’ll work with them…though I’d probably just buy one of the existing adapters that are known to work, they’re probably cheaper since I don’t have the hardware for this already.Also, always nice to get a reminder of another benefit of using Dvorak. If it’s converting in software, a keylogger like this is just going to give gibberish. Sure, it’s a simple find and replace if they know what’s going on, but still, it’ll make the attacker’s job just a little bit tougher :)",
"parent_id": "436121",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "436156",
"author": "Pete",
"timestamp": "2011-08-16T19:50:09",
"content": "How convenient. I have been thinking about a project that I need to send USB keyboard commands from a microcontroller…",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "436264",
"author": "Paul",
"timestamp": "2011-08-16T21:58:51",
"content": "The teensy is perfect for emulating a USB keyboard.Check out the PHUKD lib for some neat ideas.",
"parent_id": "436156",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "436263",
"author": "Paul",
"timestamp": "2011-08-16T21:57:53",
"content": "Use keyboard modifiers to handle the alt, shift, ctrl and windows keys.The PHUKD lib has some examples.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "436432",
"author": "Grey Drifter",
"timestamp": "2011-08-17T02:52:51",
"content": "“… an attacker would need to gain access to the hardware after the data he’s targeting has been typed.” Would (s)he? I’ve been toying with a similar idea. Mr. Adrian has already posted a proof of concept on a facebook post and also photo resistor. While it increases the risk of discovery, a dial home function would not be difficult to implement. During an idle period, keystrokes have not been entered for a period and / or photo resistor is dark. Launch a browser, login to a disposable email account, recall / replay the contents of the sd card. If interrupted by a keystroke or change in light kill the task. Upon completion wipe the sd card. Granted a locked machine may hinder this approach.. and depending on security settings may lock the machine. A keep live of something innocuous of something like a shift key sent every 299 seconds. (Sticky keys…) (Plug one hole another will open up winkey+L.)",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "436434",
"author": "Shawn",
"timestamp": "2011-08-17T02:56:31",
"content": "I’m not having a issue sending out strokes, just receiving them.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "436622",
"author": "hawkeye18",
"timestamp": "2011-08-17T11:47:08",
"content": "We all have a problem receiving strokes, buddy.",
"parent_id": "436434",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "436556",
"author": "Anonymoose",
"timestamp": "2011-08-17T08:30:39",
"content": "I wish you luck. Even the commercial adapters can be somewhat flaky. I have one that doesn’t send anything for the macro key, and one that sends F12 for F11 and F5 for F6. I’m still looking for one that works properly, and building my own has come to mind a few times.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "441927",
"author": "crankmeup",
"timestamp": "2011-08-26T04:34:44",
"content": "Very nice job. This is certainly different than Adrian’s. Yours ismuchbetter. Keep it up.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
}
] | 1,760,377,112.160093
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2011/08/16/automatically-weed-the-celebrity-gossip-out-of-your-tv-time/
|
Automatically Weed The Celebrity Gossip Out Of Your TV Time
|
Mike Szczys
|
[
"Arduino Hacks",
"Video Hacks"
] |
[
"keyword",
"tv"
] |
[Matt Richardson] came up with a doozy of an idea: using an Arduino to
monitor the closed caption on TV and mute it
when news about ridiculous celebrities is on-screen.
He’s using the
video experimenter shield
to monitor the captions. This shield connects via composite video, and can be used to decode the binary code that carries the captions in the overscan at the top of the screen. When a keyword comes through, an IR LED sends the mute command to the television, then waits until 30 seconds have gone by since the last keyword before un-muting. It’s like
a troll-sniffing rat
for your television! Now we just need to figure out how to use it to mute during commercials too.
[Matt] suggests we should imagine all of the cool stuff we could do with access to the closed caption data; we were already deep in thought by the time he got around to the suggestion. This would be a fantastic prank in a location were the television sound is not being used. You could put the Arduino inline with the video feed, then program it to wait for keywords in the news report and alter them in funny ways… like a live
mad lib
.
You can see [Matt’s] video explanation of the project after the break.
| 32
| 17
|
[
{
"comment_id": "436045",
"author": "fartface",
"timestamp": "2011-08-16T15:45:12",
"content": "I do it by not watching TV other than what I torrent or rip from DVD’s I buy.I would buy TV shows if they offered them in a download format I want (Mpeg4 no DRM) or play on the player I have (XBMC)… but they dont want to. only streaming (no thanks) or only on a tablet or laptop running an inferior OS (Windows)",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "436074",
"author": "krylenko",
"timestamp": "2011-08-16T16:31:29",
"content": "@fartfaceWhat makes you think you have a right to enjoy other people’s effort for free, just because you don’t like the options/prices they’ve set?Seriously, I’m curious. So many people have this ridiculous sense of entitlement.It sucks that media companies have their heads up their asses. But how is it moral or acceptable to steal the work and thought of the creators of these shows you clearly value?Presumably you get paid for doing some sort of work; presumably you feel your effort has value. You and your employer may differ on that value, but would you accept it if your employer simply took the results of your effort and refused to compensate you?Of course not. How is torrenting any different?P.S. I noticed you buy DVDs, obviously I’m commenting on the torrenting.",
"parent_id": "436045",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "436078",
"author": "fartface",
"timestamp": "2011-08-16T16:41:45",
"content": "My tax dollars paid for the airwaves they get to transmit in and make a profit out of.Secondly, I’m curious why you think it’s “stealing” when they broadcast it for free over the air. How does it magically become stealing when it changes from my TV receiving the free OTA ATSC broadcast, or if I torrent it?Sounds like someone drank far too much “Intellectual property” cool-aid. IF you threw it to the winds for free, you cant claim someone stole it because they did not use an antenna to receive it.",
"parent_id": "436074",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "436088",
"author": "that1guy",
"timestamp": "2011-08-16T17:06:27",
"content": "You sound like a content creator – artist or musician perhaps? Regardless, making copies of TV shows has not been proven the same thing as stealing a DVD from a store. However morally wrong it may be, downloading the last episode of House or whatever (that aired for free and you just happened to miss) is really not that big of a deal, IMO. *I am not promoting piracy.",
"parent_id": "436074",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "436093",
"author": "Okian Warrior",
"timestamp": "2011-08-16T17:09:49",
"content": "His argument is valid and really deserves a response.The shows are literally given out for free, and there is no obligation of any kind on the viewer.If someone hands out a free newspaper supported by ads am I required to view the ads? Am I prohibited from removing the ad pages before reading?Your view on “rights” is interesting as well. I don’t have a “right” to remove the ads on a TV broadcast, because none is needed. I have the “right” to do ANYTHING, so long as it is not expressly prohibited.And the supreme court had a case which is on-point and directly addresses the issue. It is not prohibited, so yes he has the right to do it.You are trying to conflate the issue with downloading restricted content – DVDs and movies which were *not* broadcast for free.That’s a separate issue.Stop handwaving and conflating and construct a rational argument as to why we are prohibited from removing commercials from free content.Let’s see if you can do it.",
"parent_id": "436074",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "436095",
"author": "krylenko",
"timestamp": "2011-08-16T17:13:03",
"content": "If you’re torrenting shows broadcast over the air, absolutely, I agree.My experience has been that people who say “I torrent because I can’t get the formats/DRM options I want” are just grabbing anything and everything they can. Sounds like that’s not you, so my bad.",
"parent_id": "436074",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "436096",
"author": "krylenko",
"timestamp": "2011-08-16T17:17:50",
"content": "To the other commenters and for clarity – I don’t see any problem with torrenting shows available for free on the airwaves.Fartface didn’t make that distinction in his original post, so I jumped to a conclusion that he was making a similar argument to the one I saw last week, where a guy in the UK was defending torrenting shows broadcast only in the US because if he hadn’t, he’d “still only be on season 1 of Breaking Bad”.",
"parent_id": "436074",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "436164",
"author": "Bill",
"timestamp": "2011-08-16T20:16:30",
"content": "Even non-OTA shows being torrented has been rejected in court if you prove you were paying for cable at the time.The case I remember reading about they used one of the sub-clauses of the law that allows your neighbor to record a cable TV show for you on VHS, as long as you both are paying for cable. They (successfully) argued whether or not it’s on a tape or over the cloud makes no difference, as long as you could have viewed it legally on your TV anyway.",
"parent_id": "436074",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "436149",
"author": "JA12",
"timestamp": "2011-08-16T19:20:10",
"content": "I don’t watch TV either. I don’t even own one.",
"parent_id": "436045",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "436047",
"author": "raged",
"timestamp": "2011-08-16T15:46:14",
"content": "you could mute commercials?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "436051",
"author": "Brian Cribbs",
"timestamp": "2011-08-16T15:51:12",
"content": "Most commercials don’t have captioning data so it wouldn’t be too hard to mute the TV if you haven’t read anything. I’ve noticed that if there’s a music bed playing or random sound effects the caption track usually has something going along with that.",
"parent_id": "436047",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "436067",
"author": "nootropic",
"timestamp": "2011-08-16T16:12:47",
"content": "In fact, most commercials do have closed captioning. Locally produced commercials for local business don’t but most others do.",
"parent_id": "436051",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "436098",
"author": "Jihems",
"timestamp": "2011-08-16T17:21:09",
"content": "I think it is possible to determine when commercials pass on TV. But I think it should be done on the sound. In fact, during TV ads the sound is much more compressed than during a normal TV show or whatever. I think this can be detected with some kind of audio processing like looking at energy density spectrum or something like that. So commercials could be muted as well.It’s just an idea, I’ve got no TV and I’m happy without it!",
"parent_id": "436051",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "436147",
"author": "hawkeyeaz1",
"timestamp": "2011-08-16T19:16:24",
"content": "I have heard a low frequency tone is broadcast for commercials, and it usually isn’t filtered out, so in theory that would allow muting/unmuting.",
"parent_id": "436047",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "436181",
"author": "dru",
"timestamp": "2011-08-16T20:52:08",
"content": "Many times, there’s a single blank frame that separates the commercials from the main program. If you could detect those, just use it to toggle the mute on the TV.",
"parent_id": "436047",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "436050",
"author": "Brian Cribbs",
"timestamp": "2011-08-16T15:49:38",
"content": "The guy’s over the top cheesy but the project’s a good idea. I kinda like the idea of the closed caption hijacking. It’d be pretty cool to implement a pig latin translator and have it spit that out.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "436062",
"author": "stimpy",
"timestamp": "2011-08-16T16:04:38",
"content": "Clever, but not new. I remember a similar project in the early days of Microchip. A PIC monitored the CC for any reference to OJ Simpson (during his trial in 1995, he was the topic of about 40% of all new coverage in the US) and muted the TV for a fixed length of time.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "436068",
"author": "Tweeks",
"timestamp": "2011-08-16T16:15:18",
"content": "My MythTV uses several fading detection algorithms to detect commercials, flag them and delete them. (something that would never fly on consumer OTS systems like Tivo). Not really new technology.. but I always love hearing new ways of sticking it to marketers! :)Tweeks",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "436070",
"author": "Barefoot",
"timestamp": "2011-08-16T16:19:57",
"content": "Whenever I mute my TV (mostly at night when Mrs. Barefoot is sleeping), the captions are almost always 5-15 seconds late, and usually so horribly misspelled it’s almost laughable. At least, that’s my experience when watching (what they try to pass off as) news. So, I don’t see how this would help.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "436073",
"author": "Brett W. (FightCube.com)",
"timestamp": "2011-08-16T16:29:33",
"content": "+1 for Live Mad Lib",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "436084",
"author": "steve",
"timestamp": "2011-08-16T16:55:34",
"content": "Better solution: kick the TV out, use the spare time for hacking!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "436089",
"author": "nyuszifuben23",
"timestamp": "2011-08-16T17:07:19",
"content": "Wow nice project!Anyway to ID the ads during the movies??like a constant logo disappearing, or somehow with closed caption?Maybe displaying a basic screen saver during this time xDThis way you can stop being brainwashed by the media or your government.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "436099",
"author": "ENKI-][",
"timestamp": "2011-08-16T17:27:25",
"content": "Given the ‘word cloud’ demo produced by the creators of the video experimenter shield, it seems like it should be fairly trivial to adapt this to generate a markov model (if not quite so trivial to store it — I expect that anyone trying to keep a markov model of words on television with an arduino will need to hook up either to a computer or an SD card). Then, in addition to muting, the closed captions can be spoofed to be a first-order chain of closed captions from other types of material.Alternately, if you are masochistic, you can try to do this with audio and overdub annoying news stories with tenth- or twentieth-order markov chains of normal news story audio. If you are less masochistic, you can send the modified closed captions to some speech synthesis hardware and overdub it that way.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "436102",
"author": "ENKI-][",
"timestamp": "2011-08-16T17:29:26",
"content": "In fact, you could keep the overdub of markov-chain word salad on all the time. It would have at least as much content as regular prime time television but would be far more entertaining.",
"parent_id": "436099",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "436112",
"author": "Chris",
"timestamp": "2011-08-16T17:59:37",
"content": "I love this project idea, and can see that it could be improved slightly by using the RS-232 port on the back of the TV (provided it has one) to send the mute command instead of relying on an IR led. That’s my two cents.Thanks hackaday",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "436124",
"author": "Trebu",
"timestamp": "2011-08-16T18:24:55",
"content": "To take this down a darker rout you could give the CC random injections and make everyone have tourette’s syndrome.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "436125",
"author": "Wirebox",
"timestamp": "2011-08-16T18:27:39",
"content": "I see great potential here for some awesome pranks. Parse the video stream for a keyword, and when found, activate an x10 device or rf remote to make strange things happen in the house.For example, imagine a die-hard football fan who finds himself running to answer the doorbell every time the word “touchdown” is uttered during a game…Or how about a table lamp that flashes on and off every time somebody on television uses the word “light?”",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "436234",
"author": "N0LKK",
"timestamp": "2011-08-16T21:25:55",
"content": "Years ago one of the hobbyist electronics magazines feature a project that would mute commercials. I just can’t recall the details anymore.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "436350",
"author": "Luke",
"timestamp": "2011-08-17T00:20:10",
"content": "I had a VCR that would automatically fast-forward through commercials on a recorded videocassette. That means there must be some easy to recognize sign when going from show to commercial and back. Quick search says it’s called “Commercial Advance”.",
"parent_id": "436234",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "436384",
"author": "NatureTM",
"timestamp": "2011-08-17T01:25:32",
"content": "Ha! That’s clever!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "436660",
"author": "adnbr",
"timestamp": "2011-08-17T13:12:07",
"content": "If he can get this to work with the “Go Compare” adverts we have here in the UK I’m sure he would make a mint.If anyone’s curious take a look on youtube or somewhere. Terrible.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "436941",
"author": "Mark A",
"timestamp": "2011-08-17T23:15:40",
"content": "Instead of muting the TV, you could select by random a different channel and send the signal from the IR-LED.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
}
] | 1,760,377,112.4646
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2011/08/15/hacking-a-better-pressure-cooker/
|
Hacking A Better Pressure Cooker
|
Brian Benchoff
|
[
"cooking hacks"
] |
[
"cooking",
"pressure cooker"
] |
This
pressure cooker hack
on [Dave Arnold]’s great cooking blog was sent into us (thanks, [techartisan]!). Most pressure cooker recipes are written for pressure cookers that can go up to 15 PSI or 250° F / 121° C. At these temperatures, a lot of interesting chemistry happens in the food. The popular Cuisinart electric pressure cooker doesn’t reach these pressures and temperatures, so [Dave Arnold] set out to make his Cuisinart better.
After measuring the temperature with a thermocouple, [Dave] deduced that the Cuisinart cooker only reached 237° F and 9 PSI. After having a look at the
electronics
, he realized that adding a resistor to the temperature sensor circuit would give him the pressure he wanted. After soldering in a trim pot, everything went swimmingly and the cooker was able to reach 15 PSI.
[Dave] isn’t sure how his modifications will hold up – he doesn’t know how the cooker will hold up to overheating (and there are a few concerns about non-stick pressure cookers in the first place). That being said, it’s a great mod to get some more capabilities out of a Cuisinart.
| 60
| 31
|
[
{
"comment_id": "435193",
"author": "Willaim",
"timestamp": "2011-08-15T11:35:43",
"content": "I like a good hack as much as the next guy but I really have to question how wise it is to hack a pressure vessel that is under high heat and pressure??Before even worrying about teflon coatings (Im pretty sure they stay stable and intact up to 400 degrees and possibly higher) I would worry about the extra 13 degrees and especially the extra 6lbs of pressure on the release valve.When the emergency pressure release valve goes in this thing its going to spew 250 degree food and liquid all over the place I would definitely keep my face away from the top",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "435398",
"author": "Philippe",
"timestamp": "2011-08-15T15:18:51",
"content": "This hack doesn’t seem very safe to me either.I have a vision of sizzling hot food flying all over the kitchen.",
"parent_id": "435193",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "435453",
"author": "Rick",
"timestamp": "2011-08-15T17:32:57",
"content": "Did it occur to you that the release valve is not in the food mixture and actually is above in the air? So if it opened, it would just release a little steam and only enough to lower the pressure below the closing point of the valve.They actually post a hack and all you chumps whine about “safety” when you don’t actually understand the situation at all. Ugh. Middle schoolers shouldn’t be allowed summer breaks.",
"parent_id": "435193",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "435689",
"author": "willaim",
"timestamp": "2011-08-16T03:38:59",
"content": "Did i ever say not to do it? (I even called it a good hack) Just said keep your face away and did it ever occur to you that as the pressure is relesed quickly the liquid inside rapidly boils causing turbelence that tends to push food out the opening at high velocity? Ever seen the pressure release on one of these go i have and i found bits of ham potatoes and green beans everywhere. Not to mention the chunk of metal that is the pressure release valve put a good dent in my fume hood so thanks for your comment but just bc you read it in his blog doesnt mean the unexpected never happens…",
"parent_id": "435453",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "6307161",
"author": "Paul A Bock",
"timestamp": "2020-12-29T19:49:18",
"content": "Did it occur to you how volcanoes work? They have openings at the top and yet manage to blow lava and ash all over the place.I’m not mocking you, I am pointing out that magma rises into a volcano because gas bubbles in the magma make it less dense and so it rises and denser things sink, displacing it. As the lava rises there is less material above it, and so it is under less pressure. As the pressure on the magma drops, the gas bubbles expand in size and further reduce the density, increasing the velocity of the magma until you have a flow of expanding gas, like a rocket engine blowing bits of magma and ash far into the sky.When you heat a tub of liquid and solid food stuff to a high pressure and drop the pressure quickly, much of the liquid flash boils causing such an epic flow that the food solids get accelerated and go along for the ride.The safety valve blowing out of a pressure cooker is a great way to paint your ceiling with pot roast.",
"parent_id": "435453",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "435695",
"author": "willaim",
"timestamp": "2011-08-16T04:00:02",
"content": "By all means dont take this hack down but caution should be taken yes he said do at your own risk in his blog but it still needs to be said…. Back in the 90’s we were using banks of high capacity caps like 10-12 fared worth hooked together with brass bars and we decided to drop a ball bearing on it to see if it would take off wll it sure as hell did tore a hole through the roof on its way out the first thing i did was make sure my face was still intact and every time i told someone about our findings i was sure to give the warning…. Hey just looking out for peoples well being…. And faces",
"parent_id": "435193",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "435199",
"author": "henry",
"timestamp": "2011-08-15T11:40:42",
"content": "The specs are probably limited to 9 psi for a reason, might be because its not designed to withstand 15 psi.Trust me, pressurised boiling hot stew in your face is not nice, i found out the hard way when someone decided to cook a can on a fire without piercing a hole",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "435429",
"author": "Hackerspacer",
"timestamp": "2011-08-15T16:35:49",
"content": "Overclocking pressure AND temperature is a very, very bad idea.",
"parent_id": "435199",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "435203",
"author": "LeJupp",
"timestamp": "2011-08-15T11:52:46",
"content": "Technically, by the time it reaches your face, it’s only hot stew. Don’t know if that makes the experience any more desirable though…",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "435205",
"author": "Truth",
"timestamp": "2011-08-15T11:58:37",
"content": "I always think bomb for some reason when ever anything involving pressure is forced outside it’s design specification. But the thing still has a working mass based pressure release valve so it should still fail safe, I think, maybe. Well even if it does not properly fail safe it should turn into more of a ball shape with steam shooting out of it before it blows.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "435216",
"author": "Jaycee",
"timestamp": "2011-08-15T12:09:57",
"content": "“it’s a great mod to get some more capabilities out of a Cuisinart”Being run at nearly double its rated pressure,there’s a serious risk it will fail catastrophically.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "435217",
"author": "Barry Cunningham",
"timestamp": "2011-08-15T12:15:21",
"content": "You know, with the old low-tech version you could just put a little heavier weight on the vent and you were done. No soldering. No worries about the thick metal walls being able to handle the pressure.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "435269",
"author": "Strangerover",
"timestamp": "2011-08-15T13:34:11",
"content": "Pardon my ignorance. Isn’t 15psi just barely more than atmospheric pressure (about 14psi)? Are these pressures measured with atmospheric pressure as the de facto zero-point?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "435297",
"author": "blacketj",
"timestamp": "2011-08-15T13:50:45",
"content": "Yes it is using atmospheric as the zero point. It is called gauge pressure. It is the difference between the outside pressure (atmospheric in this case), and the internal pressure.",
"parent_id": "435269",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "435393",
"author": "Philippe",
"timestamp": "2011-08-15T14:59:23",
"content": "You’re absolutely right.I think they’re talking about the delta psi, or the pressure differential : 15 psi on top of the atmospheric pressure. Basically you would have 30 pounds pushing inside and 15 pushing from the outside on every square inch of metal.Seehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pressure_cookingExcerpt: “Most pressure cookers have a working pressure setting of 15 psi (approx. 107 kPa) over the existing atmospheric pressure, the standard determined by the United States Department of Agriculture in 1917. At this pressure boost relative to sea-level atmospheric pressure, water boils at 122 °C (252 °F) (refer to vapor pressure of water).”",
"parent_id": "435269",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "435315",
"author": "ColinB",
"timestamp": "2011-08-15T14:02:55",
"content": "I assume that the 15 psimeans “psig” (gauge pressure, relative to the surrounding atmosphere) rather than “psia” (absolute pressure). Everyday air pressures are usually measured in psig: tire pressure, etc.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "435321",
"author": "ColinB",
"timestamp": "2011-08-15T14:04:15",
"content": "P.S. We have a new contender for the 2011 Darwin Award!!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "435352",
"author": "RexOfRome",
"timestamp": "2011-08-15T14:23:46",
"content": "Under the new rules the above comments are unacceptable. You guys are too negative. Just tell him he did a great job and move along.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "435472",
"author": "macona",
"timestamp": "2011-08-15T18:16:30",
"content": "No, you can be negative, you just cant be an ass about it.",
"parent_id": "435352",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "435483",
"author": "jeff",
"timestamp": "2011-08-15T18:33:32",
"content": "@rexofromei have lot’s of respect for anyone trying new things and breaking/making stuff.and for me, having respect is telling things the way they are. if one of my friend is doing a stupid dangerous thing i will tell him.i personally know 3 cases where blind positivism led to death. “great idea!”, “good job nice work!”you know a safety officer has to CONFRONT others that think their methods are safe. it’s not out of lack of respect, it’s for concern and well being of others.risks and limitations ARE FACTS, NOT PERSONAL OPINIONS.",
"parent_id": "435352",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "435749",
"author": "N0LKK",
"timestamp": "2011-08-16T06:51:56",
"content": "Have to certain the new guidelines do not require yo say a good job if we believe it’s not, no doubt they require criticism to be civil. I agree some of the comments here where personal attacks, however the HAD staff allowed them to remain. Howsoever they moderate is gain, or their loss,the small stuff I’m not going to sweat.",
"parent_id": "435352",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "435357",
"author": "chic",
"timestamp": "2011-08-15T14:26:30",
"content": "My own pressure cooker was sold as a “low pressure cooker” (10psi istr). The point being that I can cook for say 15 minutes, then open it to add something or remove something, without waiting for a lengthy de-pressure phase. then go straight back up to pressure in a few seconds. I wonder if this person is actually overstressing a lp pressure cooker…",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "435390",
"author": "Chris",
"timestamp": "2011-08-15T14:57:54",
"content": "Good article. Didn’t know I was going to be getting an education on pressure cookers this morning. :) Never heard of Hamine eggs before and my curiosity (and appetite) is whetted.I’d think the pressure valve would release long before there’s any risk of damage to the pressure vessel. But there’s one other risk. There could be some plastic parts in the base that might be damaged by the higher temperatures. Might be worth taking a peek at the innards from time to time to make sure all is well.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "435394",
"author": "Pete",
"timestamp": "2011-08-15T15:02:38",
"content": "Regarding safety, what if you had a larger pressure chamber to put the electric pressure cooker into? That way the total pressure inside the pressure cooker would be delta P plus local (larger pressure chamber) atmosphere, but the pressure differential on the electric pressure cooker itself would remain within design specs.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "435400",
"author": "Kt",
"timestamp": "2011-08-15T15:24:28",
"content": "Cool hack,Worst case scenario the thing melts or catches on fire (not a problem as long as you’re around and have an extinguisher).Other possibility is that the emergency pressure plug blows and pokes your eye out (probably only an issue on the older 1970’s style pressure cookers, I think the newer ones aren’t as much of a hazard.)This is a modern pressure cooker, I’d be shocked if it didn’t have an emergency pressure release SOMEWHERE.It most likely will not blow up.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "435405",
"author": "ScottInNH",
"timestamp": "2011-08-15T15:38:05",
"content": "@LeJupp says:“Technically, by the time it reaches your face, it’s only hot stew.”Um, no, you are dangerously wrong.With a pressure cooker, you have water which is super-heated past boiling point.With pure water in the cooker, you will have third degree burns in an instant.Any cook can tell you about gravy and sauce burns. If you were cooking something thicker – like gravy – you will be hit with something that is BOTH having a higher thermal mass, and adhesiveness. Much more heat will be transferred into the skin.… and this is only for a scenario of the emergency pressure valve RELEASE. I assume this product has a safety valve to prevent any rupture. But if a pressure release valve failed you might end up with a containment breach, and then airborne hot food is the least of your worries.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "435411",
"author": "Luke",
"timestamp": "2011-08-15T15:59:26",
"content": "His point was that, once released, it is no longer _pressurized_ hot stew, but merely hot stew.",
"parent_id": "435405",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "435417",
"author": "lwatcdr",
"timestamp": "2011-08-15T16:15:44",
"content": "I wouldn’t worry too much about a kaboom. I am sure they have both a mechanical and electronic pressure cut offs. I would also bet that they test well past 100% of rated pressure. Simple reason is that all of that is cheaper than a court case.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "435430",
"author": "Hackerspacer",
"timestamp": "2011-08-15T16:38:19",
"content": "It *HAD* (maybe) an electric cutoff. It no longer does. The only thing stopping a kaboom is the manual pressure release.",
"parent_id": "435417",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "435516",
"author": "lwatcdr",
"timestamp": "2011-08-15T19:57:14",
"content": "He hacked the thermostat not a pressure sensor. In fact he didn’t see one. Yes there is a mechanical safety valve. So I still wouldn’t worry too much about an earth shattering kaboom.",
"parent_id": "435430",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "435432",
"author": "Hackerspacer",
"timestamp": "2011-08-15T16:44:24",
"content": "9 to 15 PSI is a change of 6 PSI. I would estimate this vessel to be about a foot in diameter and one foot tall. Taking the surface area of this cylinder in inches, you get pi * r^2 * h. Or 3.14 * 6^2 * 1. Which gives you 113.04.Multiply that by 6 and you have 678.24 additional pounds of force being applied equally to the walls of this vessel. It now has 1,695.6 PSI applied to it, up from 1,017.36.In a perfect world, a pressure vessel stated to be rated at 1000 PSI should in no way catastrophically fail if 1700 PSI were inadvertently applied to it – the pressure relief should kick in at around 10 PSI or so. Disallowing that to take place. Removing or disabling that is a recipe for disaster. This isn’t even a remotely safe hack and is a very bad idea. Buy a proper pressure cooker.",
"parent_id": "435417",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "435433",
"author": "Hackerspacer",
"timestamp": "2011-08-15T16:44:58",
"content": "Sorry, not 1700 and 1000 PSI, I meant 1700 and 1000 lbs of force.",
"parent_id": "435432",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "435517",
"author": "lwatcdr",
"timestamp": "2011-08-15T20:01:09",
"content": "A. He didn’t modify the relief valve.B. This is a proper pressure cooker.C. He did modify the thermostate.D. He did have a warning.Did no one read his blog? If they had they should have seen the mind numbingly scary and stupid thing that he says he did do.“Pushing pressures to an extreme, I’ve sealed potatoes in a pipe and thrown them in my deep-fryer set at 365 F, generating 148 psi. Wow, did those potatoes taste bad. Brown all the way through and gross. Possibly the worst stuff ever (see here).”That is a pipe bomb in hot oil! YIKES.",
"parent_id": "435432",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "435421",
"author": "SuperNuRd",
"timestamp": "2011-08-15T16:22:36",
"content": "@RexOfRome We say these things out of concern not of disqust.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "435441",
"author": "JohnConnor",
"timestamp": "2011-08-15T17:08:50",
"content": "Agree with ColinB.This “hack” is a ticket to a great Darwin Award.Has anyone considered the thermal cycling of the material the cooker is made out of (at double it’s rated design limit) ?Ever hear of “stress fractures” ?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "435444",
"author": "BigD",
"timestamp": "2011-08-15T17:23:17",
"content": "I’m more worried about overheating the plastic components and releasing toxic chemicals into the food. But, the thing is probably doing that already so have at it.",
"parent_id": "435441",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "435447",
"author": "bothersaidpooh",
"timestamp": "2011-08-15T17:26:37",
"content": "Probably a really dumb idea, but has anyone considered *negative* pressure cooking?e.g. take chamber down to 25% atmospheric and heat up to 65C. Water will then boil BUT due to the lower pressure less damage will be done to the food.Pressure cooker sous vide anyone?:-)",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "435455",
"author": "Cole",
"timestamp": "2011-08-15T17:38:08",
"content": "Thats how freeze drying works",
"parent_id": "435447",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "435477",
"author": "macona",
"timestamp": "2011-08-15T18:21:45",
"content": "As soon as you started boiling the ambient pressure would rise anyway and the food would dry out somewhat. If you kept pumping out the building water vapor you would end up with a brick in the bottom of the pot.",
"parent_id": "435447",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "435563",
"author": "DainBramage1991",
"timestamp": "2011-08-15T21:57:36",
"content": "Good hack, but… My biggest concern would be counting on only one failure-prone mechanical safety valve.Somehow I think it would be a better idea to just fork out the money for a higher pressure cooker.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "435572",
"author": "lemon",
"timestamp": "2011-08-15T22:34:08",
"content": "Just as a little exercise in pressure vessels, check what it would take to make this gauge of steel/aluminum rupture. (hint: quite a bit more than 15 psi)and don’t use hackerspacer’s calc, it isn’t the correct method.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "435616",
"author": "Hackerspacer",
"timestamp": "2011-08-16T00:31:43",
"content": "I took the surface area of the internals and multiplied that in inches by the PSI. What is incorrect about that?",
"parent_id": "435572",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "435759",
"author": "N0LKK",
"timestamp": "2011-08-16T07:13:38",
"content": "Best to ignore a comment that says something is wrong , but doesn’t offer the correct way. Yes your method is correct. However the weakest surface in kind of vessels is the ends, the reason they are generally domed. the force being applied to end is the force being applied the appliances lid lock. The walls of suck a vessel are the strongest surface.",
"parent_id": "435616",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "436031",
"author": "Luke",
"timestamp": "2011-08-16T15:26:52",
"content": "No, the calculation is wrong. What’s with the “h” = 1?If you want to calculate the axial load in the walls of the cylinder, then calculate the force on the ends (area of cap times pressure). Ignoring your “h” value, this means the axial load in the walls has increased by over 600 lbs. Now calculate the stress by determining the wall area (thickness of wall times circumference).To calculate the tangential load or stress in the walls, then take the area of the cross section (height of cylinder times diameter) and multiply by the pressure. If the height is 5 inches, then the area is 12×5 or 60 sq in. This times the pressure is 360 lb. The total area of the wall is twice the thickness times the height. Divide into 360 for the stress. To calculate the total peak stress, you have to take the vector addition of the axial and tangential stresses. BTW – twice the thickness comes from the fact that the both sides of the cross section of the pressure vessel carry the load.",
"parent_id": "435616",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "436032",
"author": "Luke",
"timestamp": "2011-08-16T15:29:28",
"content": "BTW – these calcs I did are for the increase in pressure, not the total. Hence the use of only 6 psi.",
"parent_id": "435616",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "435618",
"author": "Hackerspacer",
"timestamp": "2011-08-16T00:36:17",
"content": "When you take foods up to 100,000 PSI or so at room temperature, you can kill bacteria. Not very food takes kindly to this (squishy things like strawberries don’t) but most do (meat, most vegetables, etc).Not sure how well that would apply to killing prions or spores but since heat “scrambles” DNA in a similar way but this is done at room temperature…. it effectively sterilizes food without heat and without radiation.Now the trick is getting the food up to 100,000 PSI safely :)",
"parent_id": "435572",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "436326",
"author": "lemon",
"timestamp": "2011-08-16T23:27:57",
"content": "I think you’re mixing up your units. 100,000 PSI is an astronomical pressure. You’re looking at multiple times the pressure of a water jet at that value.Since it is requested that I do the calculation then I will work through this:Assumptions:Thin walled pressure vessel15 PSI internal pressure316SS ConstructionReferences:http://www.amazon.com/Cuisinart-CPC-600-1000-Watt-Electric-Stainless/dp/B000MPA044http://www.stealth316.com/misc/stainless_steel/stainless-steel_pressure-ratings.pdf(origin of the calc)Calculation:min working thickness (@150psi)= PD/2SE= 15*12/2*(14.4k*1)= 0.00625inThe most thin gauge of 316L sheet you could get would be twice this minimum, for 150psi operation.15 PSI is a kitten. And I know some of you won’t like the working class calc I did, but my day job is doing engineering work for large non-ferrous projects. You end up doing away with most of the prettier stuff you learn in school.",
"parent_id": "435618",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "435573",
"author": "Bubba Gump",
"timestamp": "2011-08-15T22:35:47",
"content": "Hmm…Underwriter’s Laboratories, UL136, covers pressure cookers. Not only electric pressure cookers, ones that are put on gas burners. Do ya think there is a reason for safety standards? You betcha…Normal pressure cookers are also not to be used for frying. Specialized pressure fryers (like those at KFC) are used.I think he should take his hack AND pressure fry some chicken…",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "435611",
"author": "Matt",
"timestamp": "2011-08-16T00:20:37",
"content": "Superheated steam is dangerous stuff. Even if the relief valve blows (rather than some other part breaking open), you will probably get serious burns if your hand is over it at the time, if is anything like the safety valve in my pressure cooker. It’s a rubber plug in the lid that will blow out if the pressure is too high.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "435612",
"author": "Techartisan",
"timestamp": "2011-08-16T00:24:13",
"content": "I used to use a modified pressure cooker as a pressure chamber for liquid plastic molding. Id remove the pressure release valve…drill the top and use fittings to couple the pots lid to my compressor.Around 50-60 psi most pressure cookers will rupture their rubber seal. Granted I wasnt raising the pressure through heat….but the principle is the same….I now use paint pressure pots at around 80psi simply due to their larger capacity per dollar expense….The dental lab I work in uses a pressure pot thats manufacturer markings indicate it was originally a pressure cooker….though it is sold modified much the way Ive described as a “Pressure Pot” by a major dental manufacturer.what he has done in his hack is merely modify an underperforming appliance….YOU NEED 15psi to properly pressure cook.I actually submitted this article for review having found the NONhack nature of the site and quality of the writeup GREAT.Given todays wealth of “electrocute yourself for fun” articles Im amazed at the comments this article has drawn.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "435731",
"author": "N0LKK",
"timestamp": "2011-08-16T06:05:17",
"content": "Wow!I did see the actual item in the photos, or read anything about the use of a proper pressure gauge for the testing. Because there’s no way to predict the failure mode, it’s impossible to predict the damage that may happen, if a failure occurs. I wonder if Cuisinart learns of the hack if they will send the dude appliances again?Oh well…",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "435766",
"author": "N0LKK",
"timestamp": "2011-08-16T07:36:24",
"content": "Big difference in the manufacture make, and test the mods. any that fact is not relative give use the appliance modified in the home shop is the same alliance in your work place. Browser word search only found gauge in the comment, not inn the mod derails. apology to Dave, but because he’s evidently guessing at the pressure. not a good practice. t the event an electric pressure that can attain 15 Psi, it make more sense the mod the appliance that is rated for 15psi to use electric power. In Dave does seem to have the skill to do that",
"parent_id": "435731",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "436027",
"author": "JamieWho",
"timestamp": "2011-08-16T15:19:05",
"content": "Wow, I love that any hack that could remotely become a safety hazard gets 20-30 comments immediately.If you buy a pressure cooker, it should cook the food under pressure, at the proper pressure. Also, he didn’t actually hack the pressure that the unit cooks at (not directly). He only increased the temperature cutoff so that it would cook food at 249F instead of 237F. The pressure was only assumed to be at a correct 15psi.Additionally, it is a dual pressure cooker. It has both a high and low pressure mode, so it was designed to be used at the “standard” high pressure.Yes, pressure cookers are dangerous. So are PC power supplies and remote controlled lawn mowers. That doesn’t mean they shouldn’t be hacked.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "436310",
"author": "Per Jensen",
"timestamp": "2011-08-16T22:57:53",
"content": "Great hack.Reading about that kind of pressure, i keep thinking of this ;-)http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jbreKn4PoAc",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "436715",
"author": "Mike",
"timestamp": "2011-08-17T14:39:13",
"content": "Not a big fan of whining about “the way things used to be” on a website, but I’ve gotta say it: since HaD exploded in popularity, everybody’s a freaking safety expert. I was on the fence about the “mains patch cable” a while back, but even that was an April Fool’s joke.The industry standard is 15 psi for pressure cookers. Just because Cuisinart sold this cooker operating at a lower temperature does not mean it’s rated below this. I have serious doubts that a steel container is going to rupture from 15 PSI. It also has a relief valve. Given this, I have to wonder how many of you actually read the article. He shows in great detail both the pressure indicator and relief valve.Regardless of how safe this is or isn’t, I’d think we all come here for the hacking, instead of just trying to pick everything apart. If you want industry-regulated consumer products that are “safer,” then please just go to Wal-Mart instead of coming here to tell everyone how their ideas are unsafe.Those of us that know the risks know how to mitigate them; those who don’t, find out quickly.Sorry for the long rant, but…come on, people. At least try and pretend you’re not the smartest person in the room for a few seconds.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "6494857",
"author": "Leon He",
"timestamp": "2022-07-19T07:00:50",
"content": "HI Mike, totally loved reading your comments. I have read Dave’s article twice in great detail. Totally enjoying this experimental journey.",
"parent_id": "436715",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "508295",
"author": "lentil",
"timestamp": "2011-11-14T16:13:54",
"content": "ive always wondered if rapid depressurization of food… lets say cheap beef cut… effectively tenderizes… perhaps wouldnt even need heat at all. just put that ‘ole steak in and pump 150psi from your air compressor in there. hold for ten minutes. vent rapidly.. gather with spatula and grill on coals. “guys, guys, the lentils just, like, exploded, man… heeeaaavy”",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "1695703",
"author": "Natalie",
"timestamp": "2014-08-07T13:12:26",
"content": "When buying a pressure cooker never go for one less than 15 psi, according tothis article. I think it’s tougher to find in electric pressure cookers but it shouldn’t be a problem for ones on the stove.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "2640688",
"author": "Jo Bar",
"timestamp": "2015-07-10T20:20:36",
"content": "This should answer some question about the safety of this hack. It’s quoted from Instant Pot website (http://instantpot.com/faq/faq-before-you-buy-your-instant-pot):“Why doesn’t Instant Pot operate at 15psi?The choice of a lower working pressure in Instant Pot is a trade-off of function and cost. The pressure cooker industry safety standard ANSI/UL-136 has a stress test case which requires no leaking at 5 times the working pressure. For 15psi cookers, this is 75psi; for 11.6psi Instant Pot, this is 58psi. The differences in material and construction are huge. We could build an Instant Pot that operates at 15psi, but not at under $150 level. It would be more like $300~500 level and our research indicates that most people are not willing to buy in that price range.On the other hand, operating at 10.15~11.6 psi only results in 7~15% increase in cooking time, i.e. about 3 more minutes in a 30 minute cooking. With the set-and-forget convenience, the extra cooking is more than tolerable. Furthermore, thanks to the air-insulated housing, maintaining pressure for the extra time consumes very little electricity. Our study shows that Instant Pot uses less than half of electricity comparing with a stove-top on a electric range, taking the same length of time.”",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "6171292",
"author": "Mark Sedgworth",
"timestamp": "2019-08-10T06:55:55",
"content": "What a great “engineering” answer from the company! I have one of these and the algorithms are really good, specifically the Sauté/Medium setting. It “Maillards” up the food but doesn’t burn. I also saw that in 2018 at least one competitor brought a “high pressure” device to market, claimed to be as high pressure as the old stovetop devices.I’m about as traditional a cook as you can get, but I find I use this “gadgety” Instant Pot about 5X more than I thought I would. I bought it for soup stock making, but again, that sauté function…Technical details: there are 2 thermocouples in it, one at the bottom (the heating coil sits in a “donut” around the central spring-loaded thermocouple) and one in the upper rim. All Instant Pot units appear to be identical when it comes to the “guts” – the actual cooker, pan liner, and thermocouples. The only thing they change is the front-panel interface. There is a little circuit board in the bottom of the unit, very easy to understand, that controls the heater and receives input from the thermocouples. The actual “brain” is in the front-panel interface, making it easy to connect to the heater control PCB. Additionally the heater control PCB has silkscreened call-outs for the thermocouples, heater, etc. It seems ideal as a prebuilt heating chamber with thermal protection, thermocouples, heater, control board, pan liner, lid, etc.",
"parent_id": "2640688",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
}
] | 1,760,377,112.559311
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2011/08/14/make-your-own-custom-hot-glue-sticks/
|
Make Your Own Custom Hot Glue Sticks
|
Kevin Dady
|
[
"Tool Hacks"
] |
[
"color",
"glue",
"stick"
] |
Hot glue guns can be very handy tools for bonding all sorts of surfaces, while getting you accustomed to plastic burns. The one thing they lack though is color, and while yes, you can on occasion find colored glue sticks, there is usually only a limited selection and they cost way more than the normal amber or clear sticks.
[Ken] solves the
blandness problem of hot glue sticks in his kitchen, as shown in this cool slideshow
. In a melt and recast process, glue sticks and crayons in a 3:1 ratio are slowly heated on an electric stove in a old can. Metal tubing is lined with silicone parchment paper to act as a release agent. The now vivid and scalding hot glue is poured into the tube and left to cool.
You might be wondering how mixing colored wax into ethylene-vinyl acetate effects the glue’s strength . According to the author if you need decrease the mix viscosity, you can add up to 10% paraffin wax by weight without effecting the bond strength. Color and viscosity control? Hot glue just keeps getting better!
| 63
| 26
|
[
{
"comment_id": "434666",
"author": "Spencer Haley",
"timestamp": "2011-08-14T22:27:07",
"content": "Love this website! I will definitely use the black glue stick on one of my projects. Is the strength difference noticeable?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "434739",
"author": "Ken Quast",
"timestamp": "2011-08-15T00:05:57",
"content": "I tried most materials generally acceptable for hot glue and found on loss of bond strength. Even with a 10% addition of paraffin.",
"parent_id": "434666",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "434678",
"author": "baobrien",
"timestamp": "2011-08-14T22:44:05",
"content": "I was playing around with hot glue sticks and toner a few days ago. That also makes a pretty strong mix.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "434685",
"author": "_glytch",
"timestamp": "2011-08-14T22:54:58",
"content": "I lub it :) and I just bought my first glue gun yesterday. Awesome.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "434689",
"author": "Dan B",
"timestamp": "2011-08-14T23:04:30",
"content": "My main problem with hot glue guns is a lack of adhesion. I want something easy to apply but the devil to get off and apart. I like the color idea – I know some crafters that would be standing in line to get some color glue sticks.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "435239",
"author": "brad",
"timestamp": "2011-08-15T13:11:39",
"content": "I’ve had the best luck with high temp guns. low temp guns don’t stick for me at all.",
"parent_id": "434689",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "435285",
"author": "grenadier",
"timestamp": "2011-08-15T13:43:11",
"content": "I have a hot glue gun with a semi-shorted coil. That thing gets incredibly hot, and of course the glue bonds it makes are incredibly strong",
"parent_id": "435239",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "435242",
"author": "Josh",
"timestamp": "2011-08-15T13:21:14",
"content": "A lot of the bond strength depends on the temp of the adhesive, the substrate it’s used on, and the type of application.",
"parent_id": "434689",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "435275",
"author": "Josh",
"timestamp": "2011-08-15T13:38:14",
"content": "I work with hot melt adhesive and its machinery as my line of business, so I’m getting a kick out of this.It may take some digging, but you can find the MSDS for hot glue sticks. Most of them are fairly inert and can be used in closed environments. If you’re going to make a lot of these, I suggest buying the glue in bulk as it would be cheaper and you can find a wider range of tack, flexibility, and color. Glue sticks in the store are very expensive if you’re going to do large batches. Just get a slow cooker and set it to 350F, which is the normal application temp for hot melt and let it melt in that. Better control of temp makes for less smoke. I’d also add a tub full of water to speed the cooling process.Also, you could use this same idea to make paraffin sticks to flush out the colored stuff. If that doesn’t work, try running some cooking oil through the gun. A small syringe should do the trick.",
"parent_id": "434689",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "435337",
"author": "Ken Quast",
"timestamp": "2011-08-15T14:13:02",
"content": "Some really good info here. I did find a generic MSDS but it is such a variable product that the information is not useful. I guess that I just like to err on the side of safety but you are right that the fumes should be no problem. Thanks for all of the insight and ideas!",
"parent_id": "435275",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "435559",
"author": "The Ideanator",
"timestamp": "2011-08-15T21:46:51",
"content": "I know its not hotglue and it takes a full day or 2 to set and harden generally, but E6000 is the best damn glue I’ve ever used. very viscous, about the same as semi-cool hot glue, its a fairly solid rubbery compound when set and it pretty much wont come off without a heavy duty solvent.I’ve used it as a hinge for a remote control battery door and after 3 or so years its still going strong, repeated flexing has not affected its structure in the least.",
"parent_id": "434689",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "435703",
"author": "willaim",
"timestamp": "2011-08-16T04:31:12",
"content": "E6000? who makes it where do I find it and or whats its chemical composition?",
"parent_id": "435559",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "435920",
"author": "willaim",
"timestamp": "2011-08-16T13:16:16",
"content": "http://www.biosafe-inc.com/e6000_series_retail.htm",
"parent_id": "435559",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "434690",
"author": "Hackerspacer",
"timestamp": "2011-08-14T23:04:54",
"content": "How to avoid bubbles in the colored sticks?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "434740",
"author": "Ken Quast",
"timestamp": "2011-08-15T00:09:00",
"content": "I find that the viscosity is sufficient to not support bubble growth. I have had voids but that was due to a very slow pour and it does not happen often if at all.",
"parent_id": "434690",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "435022",
"author": "Willy",
"timestamp": "2011-08-15T08:20:49",
"content": "If you do have bubble problems you could try to vibrate it somehow to get them out.(Sorry mods, I accidentally clicked the report button instead of the reply button)",
"parent_id": "434690",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "434691",
"author": "Hackerspacer",
"timestamp": "2011-08-14T23:07:59",
"content": "I also imagine that “switching over” to a new color requires a lot of flushing of clear sticks – and for some colors it’s just not possible (black to white).",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "434741",
"author": "Ken Quast",
"timestamp": "2011-08-15T00:11:45",
"content": "True, but partial sticks can be pulled out from the back if the trigger is not depressed. But you are correct. That supports the idea of multiple guns. I don’t have a solution for this yet.",
"parent_id": "434691",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "434755",
"author": "Hackerspacer",
"timestamp": "2011-08-15T00:28:16",
"content": "But some melt will inexorably remain in the melt area, even if you remove the partial stick.",
"parent_id": "434741",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "434758",
"author": "Hackerspacer",
"timestamp": "2011-08-15T00:30:53",
"content": "Why such a high pigment load? Surely, 3 – 5% of pigment alone (not in a crayon) would do the same coloring with no otherwise ill effects on adhesion, etc.",
"parent_id": "434741",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "434693",
"author": "william",
"timestamp": "2011-08-14T23:08:39",
"content": "I use hot glue in molds to make all sorts of things never thought of recasting them back into sticks though. I generally carry a few 1/4 round ones without the glue gun in my emergency electrical kit they are so versatile esp for waterproofing electrical connections just use a lighter r soldering torch. ill use the silicone paper idea for sure and the coloring seems like a good idea too.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "435223",
"author": "Willaim",
"timestamp": "2011-08-15T12:38:23",
"content": "Another handy thing dealing with waterproofing electrical wires is to place a dab at both ends of the connection or just thinly coat the whole thing and slide your heat shrink tubing over it while still hot and shrink the tubing it resembles the very expensive water proof heat shrink tubing and haven’t had any failures in 2 years and counting so far on cars that are in the worst conditions 24 hrs daily (cop cars)…I think we need a write up on 101 uses for hot glue I love this stuff…",
"parent_id": "434693",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "434696",
"author": "Hackerspacer",
"timestamp": "2011-08-14T23:11:37",
"content": "“According to the author if you need to increase the mix viscosity, you can add up to 10% paraffin wax by weight without effecting the bond strength.”Actually, he said 10% of paraffin wax will *DECREASE* the viscosity, not increase it.“You can also add up to 10% by weight of paraffin wax to reduce the viscosity without sacrificing bond strength.” is what the author wrote.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "434813",
"author": "Kevin Dady",
"timestamp": "2011-08-15T02:16:29",
"content": "fixed thanks",
"parent_id": "434696",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "434724",
"author": "Techartisan",
"timestamp": "2011-08-14T23:48:01",
"content": "a trip to any local art store can yield an array of dry pigments that can be incorporated into a glue stick with far less effect on the adhesive quality than crayons would have.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "434744",
"author": "Ken Quast",
"timestamp": "2011-08-15T00:16:10",
"content": "Actually glue sticks already have some wax incorporated in them along with plasticizers and tack agents. And the small amount of crayon used does not seem to have any deleterious effect.If you discover otherwise, please let me know. Good idea about other pigments.",
"parent_id": "434724",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "434760",
"author": "baobrien",
"timestamp": "2011-08-15T00:34:05",
"content": "Printer toner seems to work pretty well as a dry pigment.",
"parent_id": "434744",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "434788",
"author": "neimad",
"timestamp": "2011-08-15T01:36:54",
"content": "Tip for not burning yourself (as much) with hot glue: get a can of compressed air and turn it upside down, and gently spray the freshly applied hot glue. Gradually increase the spray of ice-cold compressed chemicals as the blast can come out very fast and distort the molten hot glue. Only do this in a well ventilated area. The frozen spray will instantly freeze your hot glue into solidity. It makes working with hot glue so much faster, as you don’t have to wait for anything to cool down and this reduces the chance that you will burn yourself if you come into contact with the hot glue in the melted state.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "434808",
"author": "Jeff Kincaid",
"timestamp": "2011-08-15T02:10:25",
"content": "Most of that canned air is propelled by difluoroethane or omething similar. Keep in mind that this chemical BOILS at -13°F. While I understand your idea, the possibility of a severe frostbite burn from the propellant is pretty high. That being said, I have used this technique myself, but I think ice cubes would be safer.",
"parent_id": "434788",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "435709",
"author": "neimad",
"timestamp": "2011-08-16T04:51:27",
"content": "yeah, this is true, it does give you two ways to burn yourself, one from heat and one from cold. I find that it is significantly easier to get burns from hot glue than from the freezing spray though.",
"parent_id": "434808",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "434792",
"author": "Jay",
"timestamp": "2011-08-15T01:44:23",
"content": "If you rub an ice cube over a pool of hot glue (while still hot) it will dry clear like glass. I’ve used this technique several times and I am very curious to know how this process would turn out after coloring the glue sticks. I’ll have to try it sometime.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "434800",
"author": "Ken Quast",
"timestamp": "2011-08-15T01:57:07",
"content": "Great idea with the ice cubes. Definitely on my to- do list, thanks for the tip.",
"parent_id": "434792",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "434819",
"author": "Jason Knight",
"timestamp": "2011-08-15T02:29:03",
"content": "since colored crayons are typically just pigment powder and wax, why not cut out the middle man?Typical cost is around 75 cents an ounce for most normal colors, and one dram of pigment powder would probably be overkill for hot glue.(since that’s how much I use to color my own home-made oil paints for around a quarter cup…)You can even buy some really powerful glow in the dark powders. — Though those tend to run anywhere from ten to thirty bucks an ounce!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "434851",
"author": "mjrippe",
"timestamp": "2011-08-15T03:14:08",
"content": "Glow-in-the-dark hot glue, now THAT I would pay extra for!",
"parent_id": "434819",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "435092",
"author": "Whatnot",
"timestamp": "2011-08-15T09:43:58",
"content": "In case you didn’t realize, most all hot-glue is very UV reactive, it glows when exposed to UV light, it’s an interesting property.",
"parent_id": "434851",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "5620260",
"author": "teodora vicheva",
"timestamp": "2018-12-20T18:24:33",
"content": "Yeah",
"parent_id": "434851",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "435212",
"author": "Renee",
"timestamp": "2011-08-15T12:06:43",
"content": "True, but a box of 96 crayons is only $3. I don’t imagine I could get as many colors for the same deal.It’s also a lot easier to find crayons as they are ubiquitous art supplies. Even living in a major metropolitan area I can only think of one store within decent distance that stocks pure pigments.",
"parent_id": "434819",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "435435",
"author": "Hackerspacer",
"timestamp": "2011-08-15T16:48:29",
"content": "The internet may offer a wider selection for you.",
"parent_id": "435212",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "435562",
"author": "The Ideanator",
"timestamp": "2011-08-15T21:57:15",
"content": "Buy cyan, magenta, yellow, and black pigments and mix accordingly.",
"parent_id": "435212",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "435632",
"author": "Renee",
"timestamp": "2011-08-16T01:36:27",
"content": "Possibly, but then you have to factor in shipping costs too. I can just go 5 minutes down the road and pick up hundreds of crayons for $5 dollars.I have a suspission that shipping alone would be more than $5 for pure pigments.I’m not lost on the idea of mixing colors, I have a degree in Art and I’m a makeup artist. I love working with pure pigments but in my experience I just can’t see the cost savings working with pigments vs crayons.Now, if someone could provide a website that provided lots of pigments in small and customizable quantities with reasonable shipping then I would gladly make use of that. I’ve looked but not found anything.",
"parent_id": "435212",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "434852",
"author": "Christian Black",
"timestamp": "2011-08-15T03:18:51",
"content": "I tried the Smooth-On brand of “So Strong” liquid pigments in hot glue a couple of years ago. These are made for pigmenting polyurethane resins but they are easy and effective for mixing into hot glue.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "434864",
"author": "Adam C",
"timestamp": "2011-08-15T04:17:04",
"content": "I love this hack. Custom colored glue sticks will come in quite handy for some future projects. I wonder how easily you could pour layered multi-color sticks… That said, youcanbuy colored glue sticks already.My local craft store carries:Colored glue sticksGlittery colored glue sticksAndGlow in the dark glue sticks",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "435350",
"author": "Ken Quast",
"timestamp": "2011-08-15T14:21:37",
"content": "Hey Adam..I have drilled out the center of a color glue stick that I made and filled with white hot glue. So, it was a two-tone stick with no purpose other than trying to do it. I bet that the crafter’s will take this process to some interesting places. Thanks, for the comment.",
"parent_id": "434864",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "434882",
"author": "nullset",
"timestamp": "2011-08-15T05:15:39",
"content": "Both of those ‘effect’s should be ‘affect’s. Otherwise, a really cool post.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "435055",
"author": "mightymike",
"timestamp": "2011-08-15T09:02:53",
"content": "now as you mention it: you can buy literally all colors, except black. but there are even sticks with glitter or silver tone….",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "435093",
"author": "Whatnot",
"timestamp": "2011-08-15T09:48:05",
"content": "I once bought some colored&glitter ones when it was near x-mas and they were the ones they had in stock locally, but then when I later needed clear glue I found it takes a bit before the glue-gun is clean again after using colored+glitter ones, it’s something I did not think of beforehand, that it’s not that easy to switch between colors, you’d need to invest in several glueguns if you are a more intense user.",
"parent_id": "435055",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "435221",
"author": "Willaim",
"timestamp": "2011-08-15T12:31:08",
"content": "the ‘dollar tree’ here (USA:Ohio/Indiana) has the mini glue guns for a dollar and as low as $3 from the other assorted ‘dollar’ stores they aren’t terribly durable but do the job they also have mini glue stick anywhere from 50-100 for a dollar",
"parent_id": "435093",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "435434",
"author": "Whatnot",
"timestamp": "2011-08-15T16:46:32",
"content": "True enough, you can get them for pretty cheap.the flaw of the cheap ones I find to lay not so much in durability but proper heating though, for some reason they very often are just a tad underpowered.But anyway, it’s something to keep in mind before you stick that fancy glue stick in, that that glue gun is pretty committed then for a while.",
"parent_id": "435093",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "435714",
"author": "willaim",
"timestamp": "2011-08-16T05:00:32",
"content": "actually I have taken apart a few and the very cheapest use what looks like a ceramic block embedded with aluminum with a metal plate on either side of it wrapped in what looks to be yellow cellophane I imagine the block could be ground thinner to reduce the resistance and increase the heat … Do at your opn risk and use a current limiting device…",
"parent_id": "435093",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "435271",
"author": "Matera the Mad",
"timestamp": "2011-08-15T13:36:28",
"content": "Uh…just had to say, Affect, not Effect. PLEASE. It hurtz mai eyez. :p",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "435292",
"author": "Josh",
"timestamp": "2011-08-15T13:45:53",
"content": "I work with hot melt adhesive and its machinery as my line of business, so I’m getting a kick out of this.It may take some digging, but you can find the MSDS for hot glue sticks. Most of them are fairly inert and can be used in closed environments. If you’re going to make a lot of these, I suggest buying the glue in bulk as it would be cheaper and you can find a wider range of tack, flexibility, and color. Glue sticks in the store are very expensive if you’re going to do large batches. Just get a slow cooker and set it to 350F, which is the normal application temp for hot melt and let it melt in that. Better control of temp makes for less smoke. I’d also add a tub full of water to speed the cooling process.Also, you could use this same idea to make paraffin sticks to flush out the colored stuff. If that doesn’t work, try running some cooking oil through the gun. A small syringe should do the trick.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "435328",
"author": "Jay",
"timestamp": "2011-08-15T14:07:16",
"content": "350F? Good to know. I’ve done a handful of projects that required me to melt down sticks in a pot, but I’ve always had to just crank up the heat until they melted. If you get too hot the mix turns brown and bubbles, so it will be nice to use the correct temperature next time.I’m assuming the low temp mini glue sticks start to melt at a lower temperature than that. I often use my mini glue gun to close up small cuts, broken finger nails, and especially cardboard and paper cuts! It is a tad hot, but it doesn’t feel like 350F haha. For paper cuts there is nothing better than a thin layer of hot glue people… any and all pain is instantly gone and you can go back to working as usual and it is as if the cut never happened.",
"parent_id": "435292",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "435349",
"author": "chango",
"timestamp": "2011-08-15T14:20:26",
"content": "Unfortunately I don’t usually have a hot glue gun running when I need to seal up minor cuts (usually pin header related) so I keep a tube of cyanoacrylate around for the same purpose.",
"parent_id": "435328",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "435368",
"author": "Josh",
"timestamp": "2011-08-15T14:27:32",
"content": "I should have clarified a little better. 350F is the normal operating temp for packaging adhesive. Melting temp for low-temp sticks is about 157, which is just a bit higher than hot water from the tap. Temp for regular sticks is about 250.",
"parent_id": "435292",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "435440",
"author": "Whatnot",
"timestamp": "2011-08-15T17:07:56",
"content": "Since there are various mixtures with varying resulting properties I think the old trial method might actually be best, since with most glue sticks I come across they do not give too much info, even with a online search.There’s lots of info on wikipedia about the kinds of stuff made:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hot-melt_adhesive#Materials_used",
"parent_id": "435368",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "435666",
"author": "N0LKK",
"timestamp": "2011-08-16T02:49:06",
"content": "I hadn’t seen my hot glue gun for a long time. I don’t miss it because I never found it satisfactorily filled my needs. Suffice to say I will not be making colored glue sticks, but I can see why the crafty types that depend on hot glue would, and this is good to know for them.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "435697",
"author": "echodelta",
"timestamp": "2011-08-16T04:14:01",
"content": "My hack is a coffee warmer with a thermostat out of a water heater. It keeps hot at about 140F the real and original hot glue (animal proteans). This is the prefered glue of woodcrafters. Aplied hot with a brush, as soon as it cools it gets the death grip and is self clamping. Made of renewable resources. It can stick to glass and will pull off the surface as it sets! This how they make frosted-cracked glass.Try to sand any other type of glue, it just remelts smearing all over the work and ruining sandpaper or belt.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "435707",
"author": "willaim",
"timestamp": "2011-08-16T04:41:00",
"content": "actually I took apart a few and the very cheapest use a block of what looks to be a ceramic block embedded with aluminum with metal plates on opposite sides wraped in what looks like yellow cellophane if you make the block smaller by grinding it slightly thinner i imagine it would get hotter…. Try at your own risk and plugged into a current limiting device….",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "1002070",
"author": "shery",
"timestamp": "2013-05-07T17:59:40",
"content": "Not sure if anyone is following this but how are you lining the metal tubing with parchment paper? How does it get in the tube?Thanks!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "1035175",
"author": "vhbv",
"timestamp": "2013-08-03T07:20:03",
"content": "actually you can use powder make up to color hot glue as well",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "1558441",
"author": "What evs",
"timestamp": "2014-06-08T23:15:14",
"content": "Never tried it but will!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "3532220",
"author": "Kim my",
"timestamp": "2017-04-19T06:03:42",
"content": "I tried this but my glue keeps drying before I put it in the tube. Can anyone help??",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "3532222",
"author": "Kimmy",
"timestamp": "2017-04-19T06:04:49",
"content": "I need help!!! How do you stop the glue drying before you put it in the tube??",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
}
] | 1,760,377,112.249851
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2011/08/14/largest-led-cube-weve-ever-seen-is-still-only-half-complete/
|
Largest LED Cube We’ve Ever Seen Is Still Only Half Complete
|
Brian Benchoff
|
[
"LED Hacks"
] |
[
"cube",
"fpga",
"led",
"LED cube"
] |
[Brendan Vercoelen] is a university student in New Zealand studying engineering. He says his recent
gigantic LED cube build
, “isn’t very serious” compared to other student projects, but that doesn’t mean it’s not impressive. The original plan for the build was a 16x16x16 tri-color LED cube. After realizing how much soldering that really was, [Brendan] scaled back his design a little to a 16x16x8 cube
oid
, but the other half can be attached when the project is complete.
From the cost breakdown, [Brendan] only spent about $550 USD – far less expensive than we expected. The most expensive item was the 4,000+ Red-Green-Orange tri-color LEDs. The largest LED cubes (
1
,
2
,
3
) we’ve covered have maxed out at 8x8x8, or 512 total LEDS. Even though [Brendan]’s build is only half done, it’s still four times larger in volume than the largest LED cube we’ve seen.
The gauntlet has been thrown down. This is the one to beat, folks. Check out a video of the cube after the break.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=17cYJqEV-4U&w=470]
| 35
| 17
|
[
{
"comment_id": "434631",
"author": "vasskk",
"timestamp": "2011-08-14T21:11:35",
"content": "how heavy is it.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "434636",
"author": "Matt",
"timestamp": "2011-08-14T21:23:25",
"content": "*Picks up Gauntlet*Theres a 32x32x32 one made by some Chinese folk here:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f1YNyQqbiF0",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "434640",
"author": "Azurus Nova",
"timestamp": "2011-08-14T21:27:17",
"content": "Well, looks like my post stands corrected.",
"parent_id": "434636",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "435487",
"author": "Emyr",
"timestamp": "2011-08-15T18:44:20",
"content": "And then a LED blows right in the middle!",
"parent_id": "434636",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "435805",
"author": "ZeUs",
"timestamp": "2011-08-16T10:01:24",
"content": "And no one noticed! I don’t think I would, only starts getting bad as whole columns start failing or the failure rate starts getting high enough.",
"parent_id": "435487",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "434638",
"author": "Azurus Nova",
"timestamp": "2011-08-14T21:25:07",
"content": "Only way to beat this is a full RGB cube now and play the Futurama intro in a 3D space of the cube. ;)",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "434651",
"author": "Truth",
"timestamp": "2011-08-14T21:46:38",
"content": "Getting 3D data from a 2D TV show would be nearly impossible, but I suppose at some stage someone would have said the same thing about colourizing black and white TV shows.Using current 3D films which are only stereoscopic would also be just as useless for a raw data source.So the only option would be to record your own data using some kind oftrue 3D video recording device. Possibly storing each frame as raw RGB voxels. But this would use a massive amount of storage and pushing that amount of data about for any real sized RGB display would rapidly get very scary.",
"parent_id": "434638",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "434753",
"author": "Andrew",
"timestamp": "2011-08-15T00:23:40",
"content": "While doing true 3d would be difficult or impossible for the futurama intro, someone could just divide it into planes, and give it the appearance of 3d at least from one angle.",
"parent_id": "434651",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "434645",
"author": "JOBGG",
"timestamp": "2011-08-14T21:34:11",
"content": "Wow…the chinese cube should be put into a plexiglass enclosure and put in some club…it’d look awesome",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "434905",
"author": "Otacon2k",
"timestamp": "2011-08-15T06:07:42",
"content": "you should have a look at their website mentioned in the end of the video, there’s much more to see there (click “more” on the website). Seems like they_re selling this stuff.",
"parent_id": "434645",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "434652",
"author": "Dave",
"timestamp": "2011-08-14T21:47:09",
"content": "Just curious, why no Blue?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "434682",
"author": "jack lecou",
"timestamp": "2011-08-14T22:52:46",
"content": "It’s not really “tri-color”. I expect the diodes are actually bi-color red/green. Those’d obviously be less wiring and probably cheaper than full tri-color with blue.The “third” orange/amber/yellow color is just what you get when you mix red and green.",
"parent_id": "434652",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "434770",
"author": "Brendan",
"timestamp": "2011-08-15T00:53:02",
"content": "Bi- and tri-color both have only two LEDs inside. Difference being tri-color has 3 pins to allow both LEDs to be on simultanously.This site explains the difference better:http://www.kpsec.freeuk.com/components/led.htmBut you’re right, a lot of people commonly use the term tri-color to mean RGB.",
"parent_id": "434682",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "434697",
"author": "Willy",
"timestamp": "2011-08-14T23:13:50",
"content": "I was wondering the same, maybe the red/green/orange LEDs are cheaper?",
"parent_id": "434652",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "434722",
"author": "Brendan",
"timestamp": "2011-08-14T23:46:29",
"content": "Yep your spot on. Including blue was just too expensive to keep under budget. There is still a large price gap between Blue LEDs compared to other colours due to the different technologies required to produce them.",
"parent_id": "434697",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "435391",
"author": "that1guy",
"timestamp": "2011-08-15T14:58:03",
"content": "RGB cubes are exponentially harder to make than single color or bicolor cubes. With an RGB cube you have the common cathode connection that is shared along a column, and then you have three sets of horizontal connection nets, one for each color of the LED. This results in a very complicated structure and mass of wires. Not only is it extremely difficult to put together (and have it look nice) but it creates very little through-cube visibility and it significantly diminishes the 3D effects of many animations. You simply can’t see as much of the cube with all those wires. Not to mention you then exponentially increase the overhead needed to run the LED’s. You need 3 PWM drivers (one for each color channel) for each LED and a column/row multiplexer to handle lighting individual LED’s. That doesn’t even factor in the overhead of the software needed to address and change color and brightness of each individual LED in the matrix. You need to write a very efficient animation engine that is modular and easily capable of writing “programs” for the animation. It’s simply unfeasible to program an animation voxel-by-voxel so you need to write modular cube transforms that will do things like scale, rotate, and move a cube “shape” in X,Y,Z directions. This way you can write new animations using the animation engine and provide inputs for color and brightness. Usually this has to be written in assembly for larger cubes and instruction cycles have to be monitored very carefully, unless you’re using a full size PC to run the cube hardware.Basically what I’m saying is that RGB cubes are DAMN HARD to build, and that’s probably why he decided to go with an admirable bicolor cube, which has more versatility than single color and much less overhead than RGB. To anyone who thinks it would easy to make an RGB cube, I dare you to do with a 5x5x5 cube let alone something this massive. You will soon realize how insanely complicated this kind of endeavor is.",
"parent_id": "434652",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "435522",
"author": "ColinB",
"timestamp": "2011-08-15T20:06:21",
"content": "Of course a bi-color (e.g., red+green) LED cube is harder than a single-color, but how is RGB (tri-color) exponentially more difficult than bi-color? It’s only one more line per column, and in fact it’s proportionally less incremental complexity than the jump from single-color to bi-color (adding the 8 bi-color lines to the 16 single-color lines is a +50% increase; adding 8 more to make bi-color into RGB is 24 + 8 or only a 33% increase in the number of signals).Also, calling the red+green LEDs “tri-color” is ridiculous. If you are going that route (counting R, G, and R+G as separate colors), then RGB LEDs should be called hepta-color LEDs (7-color: R, G, B, R+G, R+B, G+B, R+G+B). What about black? Then red+green LED is four-color! What about dimming? Then red+green LED is infinite colors, or at least limited only by digital dimming control resolution….",
"parent_id": "435391",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "435545",
"author": "that1guy",
"timestamp": "2011-08-15T21:06:48",
"content": "I’m not arguing the semantics of “bi-color” vs “tri-color”. You are right, they should be called bi-color LED’s. But yes, adding an additional channel is a huge huge deal. Bicolor LED’s are just 3-state LEDs really, color 1, color 2, and color 1+2. RGB covers the whole spectrum and depends on your PWM resolution. It requires a major hardware redesign, tons of PWM channels, and it is REALLY hard to physically construct the cube without damaging it, not to mention exponentially more time intensive. Like I said, you can’t complain about how easy you THINK it is until you actually try it and realize it’s not easy at all.",
"parent_id": "435391",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "434656",
"author": "labberdasher",
"timestamp": "2011-08-14T21:53:41",
"content": "http://www.sbb.ch/bahnhof-services/am-bahnhof/bahnhof/shopville-railcity-zuerich/ueber-uns/kunstwerke-im-hb/nova-eth-zuerich.htmlhttp://www.sbb.ch/en/station-services/am-bahnhof/railway-stations/shopville-railcity-zuerich/about-us-railcity/artwork-at-zurich-hb/nova-eth-zurich.html25’000 voxles. Not as big as the Chinese one, but been there since 2006.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "434660",
"author": "Don",
"timestamp": "2011-08-14T22:18:12",
"content": "“Only $550 USD” People have too much money",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "434862",
"author": "Richard",
"timestamp": "2011-08-15T04:09:44",
"content": "Others have universities to fund them ;)",
"parent_id": "434660",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "434757",
"author": "Volkemon",
"timestamp": "2011-08-15T00:29:06",
"content": "@Don.. not too much money, just enough drive and ambition. Hope you get there some day… Best to you.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "434833",
"author": "Matt",
"timestamp": "2011-08-15T02:54:27",
"content": "That is so pretty. Good work my man!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "434890",
"author": "Randy",
"timestamp": "2011-08-15T05:34:08",
"content": "You should photograph it in front of a mirror:-)Great job, a lot of work!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "435045",
"author": "Rachel",
"timestamp": "2011-08-15T08:52:03",
"content": "Does anyone make LEDs without internal reflectors? They might be better suited to these applications which require viewing from all angles.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "435066",
"author": "Steve",
"timestamp": "2011-08-15T09:18:55",
"content": "No idea how big this one is[youtubehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WpoZGmy4lC4&w=560&h=349%5DJOBGG > this one is hanging in a club.[youtubehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-2gslK59CYs&w=560&h=349%5D",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "435105",
"author": "Jim",
"timestamp": "2011-08-15T09:56:31",
"content": "Even more LEDs ???? After watching the other one, I was offered up this video …http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dVHP7Nhsn4ECounting on a freeze frame suggests this one is at least 48 LEDs high and is much wider than that.Can Hack a Day find out more details about this one for us all enjoy please?!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "435238",
"author": "SteveO",
"timestamp": "2011-08-15T13:10:40",
"content": "how about a NSFW warning next time….",
"parent_id": "435105",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "435416",
"author": "matseng",
"timestamp": "2011-08-15T16:13:13",
"content": "You must have very prissy bosses if this can be considered NSFW… ^_^",
"parent_id": "435238",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "435114",
"author": "Jim",
"timestamp": "2011-08-15T10:00:31",
"content": "Sorry, only second place! The details were there all along – 12*24*48=13824.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "435120",
"author": "Jim",
"timestamp": "2011-08-15T10:06:02",
"content": "But it still looks like more – what trickery could this be?!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "435158",
"author": "Jim",
"timestamp": "2011-08-15T10:41:28",
"content": "Ah! Multiple (6) of the above LED cuboid modules working together to give 48x24x72 (=82944) !!!Details here –http://www.3dled.net/ledsys9.htmI want some of their products!(Sorry about all the posts!)",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "435420",
"author": "matseng",
"timestamp": "2011-08-15T16:20:15",
"content": "Hmm… I really wouldn’t like to pay the electricity bill for this.2000 watt average and 9000 watt peak power consumption for a 32x32x32 cube. You’d need like a 100 amp fuse (if the system is running from a 110 volt source). In Europe it would need a three-phase 16 amp circuit.",
"parent_id": "435158",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "435833",
"author": "Jim",
"timestamp": "2011-08-16T11:06:37",
"content": "I’ll cancel that order! :-)",
"parent_id": "435420",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "436385",
"author": "Ren",
"timestamp": "2011-08-17T01:26:23",
"content": "I’d like to see Qix running in one of these cubes.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
}
] | 1,760,377,114.763949
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2011/08/14/automated-aquarium-chemical-dispenser-is-extremely-precise/
|
Automated Aquarium Chemical Dispenser Is Extremely Precise
|
Mike Nathan
|
[
"chemistry hacks",
"home hacks"
] |
[
"aquarium",
"dispenser",
"pumps",
"zero crossing"
] |
[Robovergne] prides himself on the beautiful reef aquarium that he has set up in his home. These sorts of water displays require constant maintenance due to the mineral requirements of living coral. Rather than add mineral solutions manually, he decided to
build a nano-doser using espresso machine pumps
(
Google Translation
).
These vibration pumps run on mains voltage, so he had several options as far as how to control them. Using relays would likely make things pretty noisy, so he chose to use a zero crossing detection circuit to precisely control the pumps’ duty cycles and output.
His setup uses a PIC to control everything from the zero crossing circuit to the display LCD. An amount of product and the distribution time frame are entered using a handful of buttons mounted on the front of his control box, leaving the PIC to do the heavy lifting. It will calculate the proper length of time to run the pump based on several factors, including fluid viscosity and height of release.
It really is an impressive system, and while his needs are very precise, we imagine this sort of setup would be quite useful in building less complicated dispensers, such as those found in
an automated bar
.
Continue reading to see a few videos of his Nano-doser in action.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kzyzu_yyVp8&w=470]
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k4KfTLjnx9U&w=470]
| 17
| 13
|
[
{
"comment_id": "434580",
"author": "Spork",
"timestamp": "2011-08-14T19:14:38",
"content": "Peristaltic pumps are great for moving/metering/dispensing liquids, but not so great for chemicals.The down side is the tubing can be dissolved by some, or leech plasticizers into the liquid. Just be sure that they’re compatible to be safe!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "434597",
"author": "Dormant Labs",
"timestamp": "2011-08-14T20:01:24",
"content": "Thats not a peristaltic pump though, its a vibration pump. Also peristaltic pumps are used with tubing that has high chemical resistance.I am very impressed with the overall execution and solutions to the design challenges faced in this project.",
"parent_id": "434580",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "434583",
"author": "BiOzZ",
"timestamp": "2011-08-14T19:20:57",
"content": "wow O.o … my fish are lucky if i remember to feed them every day",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "434607",
"author": "Horse-Pheathers",
"timestamp": "2011-08-14T20:21:54",
"content": "Pretty cool, and I can think of a ton of uses for a similar setup ranging from urban farming to certain types of bio and chem lab work. Hey, could even use a variant of this to dispense dyes or food colorings to precisely match a desired color, or supply nutrients to that live brain in a jar every mad scientist has to keep around per union regs….",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "434609",
"author": "Hackerspacer",
"timestamp": "2011-08-14T20:35:38",
"content": "“The down side is the tubing can be dissolved by some, or leech plasticizers into the liquid.”Use a platinum cured silicone tubing – should be fine for most things. That or norprene. Platinum (not condensation) cured silicone tubing is used in high end medical applications so leeching concerns should be moot.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "449624",
"author": "Eirinn",
"timestamp": "2011-09-07T12:30:47",
"content": "Norprene? Did you mean Neoprene?",
"parent_id": "434609",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "434614",
"author": "Hackerspacer",
"timestamp": "2011-08-14T20:37:39",
"content": "What is the advantage of this method over peristaltic pumps, pinch valves and flow meters?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "434626",
"author": "WarDave",
"timestamp": "2011-08-14T21:01:12",
"content": "I would like to see someone put one of these a washing machine. You could have it put in set amounts of bleach, fabric soft, and detergent.Throw in your clothes and have a button for whites that does bleach, detergent, and whatever.Normal clothes would have just the detergent.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "434737",
"author": "GregG",
"timestamp": "2011-08-14T23:57:56",
"content": "Finally, lethal injection for murder fish.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "435215",
"author": "rizsi",
"timestamp": "2011-08-15T12:09:09",
"content": "I have heard that maintaining the correct values of minerals in an aquarium is very hard. You have to measure many values and adjust them by adding minerals or water.With measurement tools integrated the whole control loop could be automatized. That would be the ultimate tool.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "435482",
"author": "macona",
"timestamp": "2011-08-15T18:32:00",
"content": "On small tanks, yes. It can be tougher since water evaporation can make a huge impact in all sorts of parameters. I had a 120 gallon reef tank with another 30 gallons in the sump. With a calcium reactor I never had to worry about adding any chemicals. A calcium reactor uses a tiny amount of CO2 to slowly dissolve crushed coral in a reactor. This is added to the tank water and supplies all the minerals needed.",
"parent_id": "435215",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "435323",
"author": "zzzomb",
"timestamp": "2011-08-15T14:04:38",
"content": "these pumps seem to be $50-$100. is there some advantage of these over a small cheapie water pump, such as a windscreen wiper fluid pump?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "435346",
"author": "Robovergne",
"timestamp": "2011-08-15T14:17:17",
"content": "HiActually, the ULKA nme pumps can be found for around 15$, which makes them much cheaper than other alternatives.",
"parent_id": "435323",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "435397",
"author": "zzzomb",
"timestamp": "2011-08-15T15:18:28",
"content": "I haven’t come across any in that range, but yes that would certainly make it seem suddenly very interesting to me. Anyone who has links to a well priced good supplier, go ahead and add linkage :)",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "435402",
"author": "zzzomb",
"timestamp": "2011-08-15T15:26:47",
"content": "In fact that makes it the go to choice of all manner of kitchen machines. Drink mixing etc. I’ll have to get my hands on one to see if it could handle something with thick viscosity such as pancake batter.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "435462",
"author": "Brian",
"timestamp": "2011-08-15T18:03:28",
"content": "rizsi – My thoughts exactly, he’s got a great set up here and with the right sensors this could be a fully automated setup!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "436060",
"author": "Gottabethatguy",
"timestamp": "2011-08-16T16:03:25",
"content": "Awesome, I wish the original article was in english. Damn my limited language skills!Very well put together nevertheless, I could definitely find a home for something like this in my shop.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
}
] | 1,760,377,114.227528
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2011/08/14/eye-see-you/
|
Eye See You.
|
Nick Schulze
|
[
"how-to",
"Robots Hacks"
] |
[
"animatronic eyes",
"robotic eyes"
] |
So you want to add animated eyes to your next robot? Now you can.. Using ping-pong balls, some scrap plastic and 6 servo motors [Chris] has created these
animatronic eyes
along with some nifty animated eyebrows. To get motion emulating realism [Chris] created a 2 axis gimbal using plastic rings and some nuts and bolts. The eyes (ping-pong balls) are held in the gimbal and actuated using two servos each. The eyebrows use another pair of servos and some tubing covered in electrical tape as the actual eyebrow.
[Chris] Kindly goes through the entire build process including information for beginners such as servo motor control. The whole thing is controlled using a PIC 18F452 and circuit diagrams and code are all available on the site. Check out the video after the break to see the eyes in action, you will also find more videos describing the build process if you follow through the tutorial.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4xEqbry2gFk&feature=player_embedded&w=470]
| 13
| 10
|
[
{
"comment_id": "434558",
"author": "Hackerspacer",
"timestamp": "2011-08-14T17:59:21",
"content": "Uncanny valley? Nope.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "434581",
"author": "Scott",
"timestamp": "2011-08-14T19:15:36",
"content": "Wasn’t this posted last week?!?http://hackaday.com/2011/08/05/basic-animatronics-tutorial-pic-based-servo-eyebrows/",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "434585",
"author": "ChalkBored",
"timestamp": "2011-08-14T19:29:21",
"content": "@ScottI though the same thing at first, but this deals with making the eyes move, while the other one was about controlling the eyebrows.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "434593",
"author": "The Timmy",
"timestamp": "2011-08-14T19:54:12",
"content": "I really need to get me some servos. I got tons of stepper motors from old floppy drives, but the servos seem a bit more popular.anyone care to explain the pros and cons and key differences between the two technologies? I guess there’s always google.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "434603",
"author": "andar_b",
"timestamp": "2011-08-14T20:18:43",
"content": "My understanding is, at the very least, that using a stepper you are able to precisely determine the position of the stepper at any given spot, based on how many steps it has taken. The downside is the complexity of controlling them compared to a servo. The robot a friend and I built a few years back used unlimited servos for the drive wheels, but it was very difficult to get it to drive straight, since the servos were slightly off. We had the same problem on our robot team in High School.",
"parent_id": "434593",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "434624",
"author": "Kuy",
"timestamp": "2011-08-14T21:00:27",
"content": "A servomotor (“servo”)is a negative feedback device, so you basically tell it what position to go to (rotation or displacement) and it applies the appropriate force to move to (and stay at) the desired position. The current position is measured and this signal is fed back into the control circuitry (typically inside the servo itself) to bring the current position ever closer to the desired one, until it can stop. Strictly speaking, so-called “unlimited servos” are not servos because they don’t exhibit this servomotor quality.Stepper motors(and other motors) do not have built-in negative feedback, so they just move or step as you instruct them to without constantly self-correcting like a servo.It’s possible to make an arbitrarily-complex servomotor if you implement the motor and the feedback/control system separately; e.g. use a stepper, a reduction gearbox and a rotary encoder whose measurement drives the stepper’s controller. Such a system would allow precise and continuous motion.",
"parent_id": "434593",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "434619",
"author": "daniel",
"timestamp": "2011-08-14T20:55:59",
"content": "servos have many coils (4 to 8 is common). these coils must be energized in the correct sequence for the shaft to rotate. each step in the sequence is called just that, a step. your floppy steppers are likely 1.6deg or 3.2deg steppers, meaning each step will rotate the shaft that many deg. this means you can rotate the shaft to a specific position, with a very high level of presision, simply by counting your steps. you can also hold in a specific pos, go backwards, vary your speed, etc. however, the control sequence is very complex. even more so when using half or quarter steps.servos, at least hobby servos, are very simple devices. they have a regular dc motor, gearbox, a variable resistor (that rotates as the output shaft rotates), and a small board that compares the position of the shaft (via the variable resistor) and an input signal. my view as to how the signal is processed may not be acurate, but it makes it easy for me to understand. the input signal is basicly a variable voltage, provided by a pwm output from some other device. the greater the voltage difference the more power is fed to the motor. the direction of the difference determines the polarity of the power.most servos are designed to rotate a specific amount, so this allows you to specify a position by altering your pwm signal. you can purchase ( or modify normal servos) servos that allow for continous rotation. this is done by disconnecting the variable resistor from the gearbox. after some tweaking the pwm signal then controls direction and speed.the specifics of the pwm signal: repeated 20 times per second, a logic high between 500us and 2500us, with a logic high lasting 1500us being ‘center’ or ‘stop’ (for a regular and continous rotation servo respectivly). this timing can vary from one servo to another, and for this reason hobby servos are less ideal for high presision work.high for 1.5ms, low for 1ms, wait 47.5ms then repeat to hold a servo in the center.high for .5ms, low for 2ms, wait 47.5ms then repeat to hold full in one direction.high for 2.5ms, drop pin low, then wait for 47.5ms for full roration ib tge other direction.of course you need to adjust for the min, max, and center for your specific servo. you can damage a servo if you dont adjust for min and max.advantage of a servo is the low overhead for controling many of them – send position and they wi do their best to rotate to that position. the down side is, youll never know if they do it. but without fancy encoders or reading rf from a stepper, i guess they have the same problem.im sure i have some of this wrong, and im sure im missing even more,",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "434622",
"author": "daniel",
"timestamp": "2011-08-14T20:58:36",
"content": "That has to be the longest thing I have ever typed in a cell phone. Please forgive any spelling or Grammer errors",
"parent_id": "434619",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "434667",
"author": "N0LKK",
"timestamp": "2011-08-14T22:28:25",
"content": "The perfect things to add to portraits. Mannequins maybe? Though I imagine both have been done already.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "434775",
"author": "Steve-O-Rama",
"timestamp": "2011-08-15T01:06:52",
"content": "The first thing I thought when I saw ping-pong ball eyes?Crow T. Robot! :D",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "434868",
"author": "Adam Outler",
"timestamp": "2011-08-15T04:36:11",
"content": "I kinda like this series… Lets see more!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "435436",
"author": "ThatGuy",
"timestamp": "2011-08-15T16:50:03",
"content": "I really want to take this project,this one:http://hackaday.com/2011/07/22/modded-wall-e-becomes-a-real-robot/and this one:http://hackaday.com/2009/02/14/voice-controlled-home-automation/and create a Gilliam (from Outlaw Star) type home system. You know, just for fun.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "436499",
"author": "Roger Wilco",
"timestamp": "2011-08-17T05:20:15",
"content": "reminds me of characters from south park",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
}
] | 1,760,377,114.323959
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2011/08/14/build-your-own-class-ab-audio-amplifier/
|
Build Your Own Class AB Audio Amplifier
|
Jeremy Cook
|
[
"how-to"
] |
[
"amplifier",
"audio",
"transistor",
"tutorial"
] |
[Dino Segovis] wrote in to tell us about his “hack”, making an
AB Audio Amplifier
. The advantage of this particular amp is that the transistors never turn off, which would cause distortion. A full schematic is given in the article as well as a parts list. A complete “bill of materials” makes any circuit building project easier, especially for the beginner.
Although this is by no means a new circuit design, (a similar setup is used in car audio equipment) [Dino] does a great job of explaining how things work in the article itself and in the video after the break. He also gives some great tips about transferring your drawn circuit to a breadboard in a neat and organized way at around 5:00 in the video.
[youtube
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-fIpj2eHL0k&w=470&h=349%5D
[Dino] tries to come up with something like this every week, so be sure to check back on his aptly-named site,
Hackaweek.com
for more fun stuff like this. Also, he mentions using the
“free music archive”
for his videos. This looks like a good resource for those that want to make other videos like this and need some music that legally doesn’t have to be paid for.
| 18
| 12
|
[
{
"comment_id": "434478",
"author": "martinmunk",
"timestamp": "2011-08-14T15:09:53",
"content": "Although this is by nO means a new circuit design?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "434481",
"author": "JammerX19",
"timestamp": "2011-08-14T15:12:08",
"content": "Second sentence leads me to believe that this amp WILL create distortion. Why would we want that?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "1101982",
"author": "Parzivail",
"timestamp": "2013-11-15T01:22:11",
"content": "No, if the transistors were to turn OFF, it would cause distortion. Here they do not, making it sound fine.",
"parent_id": "434481",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "434510",
"author": "Ryan",
"timestamp": "2011-08-14T16:06:19",
"content": "“The advantage of this particular amp is that the transistors never turn off, causing distortion.” It sounds like you’re saying that the advantages is that it causes distortion.Also, it’s strange to talk about the advantages of something in isolation. The advantage over class A is increased efficiency. The advantage over class B is decreased distortion.In my opinion, the real hack is class D. Its output isn’t even an analog signal anymore, but you can use filters to produce one. Since the amp doesn’t have to try to faithfully reproduce the input, the efficiency is greatly increased.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "434550",
"author": "Bob",
"timestamp": "2011-08-14T17:26:14",
"content": "I disagree with class D not being analog, it still produces a continuous signal.",
"parent_id": "434510",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "912453",
"author": "Tom",
"timestamp": "2013-01-02T20:37:13",
"content": "A class D amp shoves an analog signal through a digital circuit and into an analog low-pass to produce an analog signal.The amplifier uses both digital as well as analog portions.",
"parent_id": "434550",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "912779",
"author": "jim.chien.andalusia",
"timestamp": "2013-01-03T14:47:21",
"content": "There are such things as good class D amps. We’ll be seeing more of them in the future, even if it upsets the purists.",
"parent_id": "434510",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "434528",
"author": "Jeremy Cook",
"timestamp": "2011-08-14T16:55:32",
"content": "Sorry for the “readability” issues. Should be corrected. Thx for pointing them out.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "434532",
"author": "Brian",
"timestamp": "2011-08-14T17:16:30",
"content": "“The advantage of this particular amp is that the transistors never turn off, which would cause distortion.”That’s not always correct for a class AB amplifier. If the signal is very small, this may be true, but the class AB is designed to deal with the class B’s crossover distortion. The diodes provide some compensation at the bases of the output pair so that there is a small amount of overlap in the times they are conducting. The npn will continue conducting until the signal goes slightly negative. The pnp will conduct until the signal goes slightly positive. However, each will at a point go into cutoff mode while the other is still conducting.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "434533",
"author": "Bob",
"timestamp": "2011-08-14T17:16:57",
"content": "Actually the transistors in most class AB amps do turn off, if one transistor has to supply enough current into the speaker, the base-emitter voltage increases, and it decreases the base-emitter voltage of the other transistor, to the point where it won’t be enough to turn it on anymore.I do see some problems with this amplifier, there are no emitter resistors so there’s nothing that limits the idle current, that means it’s sensitive to thermal runaway.Another issues is that the loudspeaker is connected to the positive rail of the power supply, and the audio signal is referenced to the ground rail, this way any ripple on the power supply will be injected into the speaker signal.Simple fix, just reverse C1 and connect the speaker to C1 and ground.There’s no series resistor driving the base of Q3, so the amplification of this amp is dependent on the output resistance of the source, it’s probably fine if you use a potentiometer for volume control, but if you connect it directly to a soundcard the amplification will be huge.It’s still a nice project though :)",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "434773",
"author": "Triangle",
"timestamp": "2011-08-15T00:58:07",
"content": "Bob-I was thinking the same thing. Why not reference the speaker to ground?However, if you do, you have to make one additional change. R1 should be disconnected from the speaker and attached to B+ instead. Otherwise, there is no DC bias to the transistors.",
"parent_id": "434533",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "435399",
"author": "Bob",
"timestamp": "2011-08-15T15:22:40",
"content": "You’re right, I missed that, R1 is bootstrapped to make it a current source (at least as long as C1 stays charged).You need to connect two 500 ohm resistors in series from the anode of D1 to the positive rail, then connect a capacitor from the point where the two resistors connect to the amplifier output.",
"parent_id": "434773",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "434754",
"author": "t&p",
"timestamp": "2011-08-15T00:23:59",
"content": "dude so cool!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "434914",
"author": "Otacon2k",
"timestamp": "2011-08-15T06:14:28",
"content": "Thanks Dino for using free music! That way it’s no problem watching the video from everywhere in the world (certainly works here in Germany). Using hideymyass.com worked for watching the last video in the series, but I prefer taking the direct way.Really enjoyed the video!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "443324",
"author": "Karl Rosenqvist",
"timestamp": "2011-08-28T21:01:43",
"content": "I’ve been playing around a lote with amps lately. This one is very simple and useful. By using a more powerful Transistorpair on the output stage It makes for quite a good guitar amp, a small signal darlington driver on the preamp stage makes it a handy microphone amp and by playing around with the resistor- and capacitorvalues it can have a lot of interresting uses in radio or EMF.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "587781",
"author": "jchester",
"timestamp": "2012-02-23T18:39:03",
"content": "What is the power rating of the output of this amplifier?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "1178780",
"author": "Dave Knuth",
"timestamp": "2014-02-03T17:27:59",
"content": "What am I missing? The EBC configuration of the T092 cases on the breadboard seems incorrect to the schematic.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "2564678",
"author": "Harry Layne BSc.",
"timestamp": "2015-05-12T21:00:41",
"content": "Why make all that fuss about an amp that will not even push 1 watt. And all that fuss about distortion etc…just let your ears be the judge.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
}
] | 1,760,377,114.171024
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2011/08/14/playing-snes-with-an-rc-controller/
|
Playing SNES With An R/C Controller
|
Brian Benchoff
|
[
"classic hacks",
"Nintendo Hacks",
"Radio Hacks"
] |
[
"fubata",
"fubata code",
"nintendo",
"radio",
"rc",
"snes",
"software"
] |
Normally when we see an R/C transmitter used in a build we’re prepared for robots, quadcopters, or UAVs. [Alex] found a new use for his Futaba radio –
hooking it up to his Super Nintendo
.
We’ve seen a lot of builds using game controllers as interfaces to other hardware. The
N64 media remote
comes to mind, as does the
NES iPod dock
. Outside of a few builds to
automatically win in-game currency for you
, we haven’t seen much of anything to control a video game with additional electronics. [Alex]’s build happily bucks that trend, and
technically
gives the SNES an analog controller.
The build uses an
mBed microcontroller
to capture the radio’s button and stick positions. This is sent through a two shift registers to produce the 16-bit packet required of the SNES controller protocol. [Alex] posted all the
software
for his build, and from the looks of it the code seems pretty portable. [Alex] says he’s working on getting his Sega Saturn running with his Futaba, so we can’t wait to see some
Panzer Dragoon
action. Check out [Alex] demoing his controller with Gradius III after the break.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uMvOR4fW50Q&w=450]
| 5
| 4
|
[
{
"comment_id": "434391",
"author": "Punkguyta",
"timestamp": "2011-08-14T13:24:54",
"content": "Other than general proof-of-concept, what kind of advantage/additional features has this provided? The original SNES controller did not offer analogue directional movement, how is it going to differentiate “On” or “Off” if the controller hardware originally never could do it.Then again.. I vaguely remember some kind of arcade/joystick for the SNES, I know they certainly had it for the NES as the “Nes Advantage”http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NES_AdvantageCertainly Nintendo, or some Third party company produced something similar for the SNES, in which case I’ll eat my own words.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "434435",
"author": "kernelcode",
"timestamp": "2011-08-14T13:51:21",
"content": "I guess one thing would be it’s a wireless controller for the SNES – might be more useful than a wired one given the size of screens these days.You could maybe pulse the button presses and adjust the duty cycle to get some kind of analogue approximation. Wouldn’t work well in many cases, but could be handy on some games.",
"parent_id": "434391",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "434434",
"author": "Mimity884",
"timestamp": "2011-08-14T13:50:59",
"content": "Love",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "434445",
"author": "Alex McAlpine",
"timestamp": "2011-08-14T14:18:22",
"content": "It’s wireless.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "434507",
"author": "SuperNuRd",
"timestamp": "2011-08-14T15:59:24",
"content": "Correct me if im wrong but why didn’t he just remap the controler inside of it and then adapt it to be wireless it would be easier and cheaper than this curent setup.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
}
] | 1,760,377,114.270397
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2011/08/11/keeping-tabs-on-your-tabby-with-a-camera-and-gps/
|
Keeping Tabs On Your Tabby With A Camera And GPS
|
Mike Nathan
|
[
"gps hacks",
"Microcontrollers"
] |
[
"atmega",
"cat",
"gps",
"photography"
] |
[Janis] has an outdoor cat that
likes to roam all over the neighborhood
. He was curious to see what he was up to all day, so he decided to build a small cat cam to document the feline’s comings and goings. After the cat returned one evening with a snail riding along on his back, [Janis] thought it would be pretty interesting to see where the cat was going as well.
He calls his creation “CatEye”, and it consists of a small JPEG color camera and GPS sensor, both of which are managed by what looks to be an ATMega328. The camera snaps pictures as the cat roams around, while the GPS sensor records its location throughout its travels. All of the data is stored on an SD card, making it easy to transfer the pics and .KML files back to his computer. A few clicks later, he can see everywhere his cat has been, using Google Earth.
It seems like a pretty interesting project, and we would love to see some schematics and code so that we can strap one of these on
[Caleb]
our cat to see where he’s been all day.
| 31
| 25
|
[
{
"comment_id": "432722",
"author": "glenn",
"timestamp": "2011-08-11T20:55:00",
"content": "I like the idea, but I’m pretty sure I would lose a hand while trying to attach that thing to my cat :-)",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "432725",
"author": "SRElysian",
"timestamp": "2011-08-11T21:00:10",
"content": "I cannot tell you how many times I’ve wanted to do something like this. GJ.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "432727",
"author": "asheets",
"timestamp": "2011-08-11T21:03:41",
"content": "I’d do this, but all I would get is pictures of the cat puking grass out of its guts…",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "432728",
"author": "t&p",
"timestamp": "2011-08-11T21:05:12",
"content": "ah.I was hoping for some results about the cat.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "432729",
"author": "Slipster",
"timestamp": "2011-08-11T21:05:46",
"content": "I’m sure the cat loves wearing that small brick on his neck.Joking aside… have you thought about going smaller on the camera using one of those ‘808’ ebay-keychain cameras. Very small, have video, and easy to tear into.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "432975",
"author": "Janis",
"timestamp": "2011-08-12T06:19:36",
"content": "Initially I had no intention to spy on my cat. Once I was looking at GPS module, camera and Arduino in my hand trying to figure out how to kill some time and learn something new. And then I so a poor cat creature …",
"parent_id": "432729",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "585025",
"author": "Ian (@incommonworld)",
"timestamp": "2012-02-19T17:04:13",
"content": "kitty-discomfort? all in the name of science.minehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gIG12lu1V90",
"parent_id": "432729",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "432733",
"author": "austinmarton",
"timestamp": "2011-08-11T21:18:47",
"content": "I want to make one of these every day. So cool!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "432734",
"author": "Duncey",
"timestamp": "2011-08-11T21:19:33",
"content": "Seems a little cruel to force the cat to wear that thing whilst out and about. Also, there doesn’t seem to be any safety catch for if the collar gets caught on something whilst fleeing.nonetheless, great idea but i wouldn’t like to try the same on any of my own cats without a few design changes.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "432778",
"author": "Agent24",
"timestamp": "2011-08-11T22:59:49",
"content": "Yeah I don’t think this is very safe for the cat. I’ve seen cats get tangled up in even normal collars (which is why my cat doesn’t have one) – and this thing looks a lot worse for potential problems.Clever idea, but I think it’s a bad feline health hazard…",
"parent_id": "432734",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "433180",
"author": "Whatnot",
"timestamp": "2011-08-12T14:49:28",
"content": "I agree, but maybe to make one single video it’s OK, I mean you can keep an eye on things then too.But I’d certainly not put it on my cat.(And who is going to edit out the 18 hours of naptime anyway? :)",
"parent_id": "432778",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "432740",
"author": "andar_b",
"timestamp": "2011-08-11T21:31:37",
"content": "> strap one of these on[Caleb]ROFLMAO",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "432743",
"author": "Jerome Demers",
"timestamp": "2011-08-11T21:35:05",
"content": "@Slipster Someone already put a cheap camera like you said on a cat.http://www.mr-lee-catcam.de/pe_catcam.htmIt got so popular, he even started a eStore to sell stuff.But the idea of putting a GPS is cool! Can’t wait to see more info and pictures.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "432794",
"author": "localroger",
"timestamp": "2011-08-11T23:19:19",
"content": "@Jerome yeah I thought of Mr. Lee’s cam when I saw this, but adding the GPS is genius. It was obvous Mr. Lee’s owner had no idea where many of the pics were taken and in some cases little way to find out.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "432817",
"author": "MG",
"timestamp": "2011-08-11T23:57:10",
"content": "Mr. Lee also sells a GPS kit on his site.",
"parent_id": "432794",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "433002",
"author": "einballimwasser",
"timestamp": "2011-08-12T08:13:38",
"content": "Oops, I clicked accidently on “Report”.. Sorry for theat!Mr Lee’s GPS ist quite a good one! I bought one to do some stuff with it and it has quite a good reception even in rooms or in roofed hatches :)And it’s quite easy to control! :)",
"parent_id": "432817",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "432818",
"author": "william",
"timestamp": "2011-08-12T00:04:32",
"content": "I agree with the mention of a way to keep the cat from being strangled if it gets caught on something i think this idea would also be interesting placed on a car with actual video and audio to record accidents and police conduct",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "432851",
"author": "Willy",
"timestamp": "2011-08-12T01:18:18",
"content": "This post reminds me of this video:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uIbkLjjlMV8“How to stop cats pissing on your car, The best cat video ever!”",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "432855",
"author": "Duzzi",
"timestamp": "2011-08-12T01:24:32",
"content": "I read where someone else did this a few years ago, also out of curiousity… he found out that basically all his cat did all night was Hunt. I believe that mine does too, randomly bringing home various prey. Not sure if it is the same with a non-neutered young male cat but that is what his did.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "432904",
"author": "Chris",
"timestamp": "2011-08-12T03:22:31",
"content": "I have to join the other poster in reminding people thathttp://www.mr-lee-catcam.de/has been doing this for a long time.They have gone through many generations of product improvements.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "432949",
"author": "KillerBug",
"timestamp": "2011-08-12T04:48:06",
"content": "I was reading Mr Lee’s guide and one of his complaints is that the camera he used didn’t have a flash…he really does want to torture his cat!Now they need to add video to these…preferably using large reel-to-reel tapes for comic effect.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "432987",
"author": "Jason Tusi",
"timestamp": "2011-08-12T07:01:23",
"content": "this project is very cool,i think we can add a SD card or a Mini TF Card to avoid no-flash problem.in fact , i have a total solution on this idea and has used on car monitor with video and audio recording in china for police judge in trafic accident.do you have any question please feel free contract me",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "433008",
"author": "Fim F.",
"timestamp": "2011-08-12T08:22:18",
"content": "Degrading your cat – executing your voyeurism in your neighbourhood – is somewhat…I believe, that apparatus will shorten every cats lifespan – but who cares – if you have several… lives./\\_/\\____/ o o \\/~____ =ø= /(______)__m_m)",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "433035",
"author": "kak",
"timestamp": "2011-08-12T09:33:53",
"content": "wouldn’t it be easier to rather than attaching a bunch of expensive hardware but instead a good old fashioned cinder block? At least then you will know where had has been and currently is without fancy electronics..",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "433071",
"author": "Dino",
"timestamp": "2011-08-12T11:20:28",
"content": "Great hack! I’ve been thinking of making a doggie cam. Nice work.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "433131",
"author": "Sparticus",
"timestamp": "2011-08-12T13:19:32",
"content": "NYAN cat?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "433300",
"author": "b1r6m4n",
"timestamp": "2011-08-12T17:43:26",
"content": "That is a beautiful cat!Also, great hack!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "433817",
"author": "joe",
"timestamp": "2011-08-13T12:58:17",
"content": "this guy was doing it years ago, including video and GPShttp://www.mr-lee-catcam.de/",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "434117",
"author": "NATO",
"timestamp": "2011-08-13T23:52:55",
"content": "How about using a smaller camera??? There are much smaller models available that will record in VGA resolution.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "435681",
"author": "jasontusi",
"timestamp": "2011-08-16T03:25:12",
"content": "I find a tinny camera module can used in this hackmore infor you can visithttp://jasontusi.wordpress.com/",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "3176839",
"author": "pol71",
"timestamp": "2016-09-01T21:27:06",
"content": "Please, I need this. My cat has just spent time in hospital and almost needed his tail amputated because a neighbour kicked him. I want my cat to be a cat, he’s 12 years old and castrated. He has been blamed for other cats in the area I think because he always uses the cat tray. Please, so my little man can enjoy being a cat how do I get a device like this so I can also provide evidence should it ever happen to him again?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
}
] | 1,760,377,114.509137
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2011/08/11/boost-your-gardens-output-using-ultrasonic-mist/
|
Boost Your Garden’s Output Using Ultrasonic Mist
|
Mike Nathan
|
[
"home hacks"
] |
[
"aeroponic",
"gardening",
"ultrasonic"
] |
If you enjoy gardening, it’s never too early to start thinking about next year’s growing season. [Jared Bouck] over at InventGeek loves his tomatoes, but the slow grow rates of his dirt-bound plants were less than impressive. To get things moving faster, he created
a low-cost aeroponics system
that uses ultrasonic mist to produce some pretty impressive results.
The construction process of this ultrasonic aeroponics rig looks dead simple, and [Jared] said that he had everything assembled in about half an hour. A cheap ultrasonic mister was mounted in the bottom of a plastic tub, and holes were cut in the tub’s lid to make room for his growing baskets. Tomato seedlings were wrapped in rock wool and placed in a clay growing medium, suspended over the water bath. The mister was turned on, and after just a few days, the results were obvious.
In the last step of his tutorial, he compares his aeroponically grown plant to one grown in soil – the difference is unbelievable. Considering how reasonably priced his setup is, it seems like a no-brainer to start growing your entire vegetable garden this way.
| 97
| 34
|
[
{
"comment_id": "432662",
"author": "kevin",
"timestamp": "2011-08-11T19:16:51",
"content": "Do they stay in the mister, or do you transplant them? if you transplant them how do you deal with all of the loose roots and gets them set up in the soil properly?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "433119",
"author": "Matthias Welsh",
"timestamp": "2011-08-12T12:51:51",
"content": "I usually just transfer the net pots into larger ones and then into bubble buckets (5 gallon buckets with airstones at the bottom) for any fruit producers. They’ll get some serious roots going on later in life. For smaller stuff, strawberry’s, lettuce, spinach etc you can keep them in a setup about this size without too much trouble (probably a little bigger, I use a 12in deep container for lettuces.).",
"parent_id": "432662",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "432665",
"author": "Anon",
"timestamp": "2011-08-11T19:18:48",
"content": "*Replaces tomatoes with the real crop after blog pictures are taken*",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "432670",
"author": "loonquawl",
"timestamp": "2011-08-11T19:26:15",
"content": "Now let’s compare the calories of electrical input with the calories of food output…. the results are obvious.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "432677",
"author": "snowdruid",
"timestamp": "2011-08-11T19:40:13",
"content": "so? that real life you wont get something for nothing. its an obvious energy-time tradeoff.i for my part find it awesome knew all about the theorie never would have tought of using a fogger thought. to be even greener you coulde use a solar setup to complement this. will try this asap :P",
"parent_id": "432670",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "433651",
"author": "mike",
"timestamp": "2011-08-13T03:50:07",
"content": "but then you need to take into account the square footage of solar panels vs the same square footage in cropdo you get more per square foot by using solar panels to power the growth boost?would a larger crop just give more?",
"parent_id": "432677",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "432783",
"author": "drew",
"timestamp": "2011-08-11T23:11:07",
"content": "Well, given that a properly grown plant can produce 80 tomatos (http://www.gotomatogardening.com/2008/11/21/how-many-tomatoes-do-you-get-per-plant.html) and a tomato is 22 calories (http://www.thefatlossauthority.com/fat_loss_tips/tomato-nutrition-facts-how-many-calories-are-in-a-tomato) and he has 6 plants, that means the tomato energy is on the order of 12kW*hr in a season (http://www.wolframalpha.com/input/?i=6*80*22+dietary+Calories+in+kW*hr). Not, I was not able to find energy information on the mister, however an eBay link says its power supply is 24V at 800mA which feels quite high, but at that you are consuming approximatly 14kW*hr in a month. Now I know a season is more than a month, but what this says is that if you grew them for 4 months you would be 20% efficient (in terms of enegry) that’s pretty good. Also as is discussed below, you could rig the mister to a timer or sensor and not run it all the time as well. So if the mister only run for half the time you are up to 50% efficiency. All things considering that’s pretty good if you consider the efficiency of commercial food production.",
"parent_id": "432670",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "432786",
"author": "drew",
"timestamp": "2011-08-11T23:14:36",
"content": "you would be 25% efficient. Not sure what I was thinking, I guess you could be 20% if your season was 5 months. Either way. Still respectable.The above doesn’t account for the light and other factors, but in terms of the mister, it really isn’t using that much energy. If you want to talk cost. 1kW*hr typically costs 10 cents, so you are looking at ~$1.50 extra a month to run the mist…. if you compare that to the cost of tomatoes then you are WAY ahead.",
"parent_id": "432783",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "433116",
"author": "Matthias Welsh",
"timestamp": "2011-08-12T12:47:13",
"content": "Right, because efficiency is bussing your food around in plastic packaging on the back on 18 wheelers. Local is good, and it doesn’t get much more local than your house.",
"parent_id": "432670",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "433267",
"author": "Am",
"timestamp": "2011-08-12T16:53:28",
"content": "Agreed. Driving to the grocery store puts more gasoline usage into produce than shipping does. This project is awesome and could give small growers a huge advantage.",
"parent_id": "433116",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "432676",
"author": "mindstormy",
"timestamp": "2011-08-11T19:38:07",
"content": "Common guys don’t be jerks this is a pretty cool lil project.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "432678",
"author": "Sobachatina",
"timestamp": "2011-08-11T19:40:39",
"content": "This is awesome. I’m making one.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "432679",
"author": "Bob",
"timestamp": "2011-08-11T19:41:18",
"content": "Wow! The difference is amazing!I wonder if this can be used outside – I have a couple old plastic ~10ft rain gutters. I was thinking of inverting one over the other (forming a tube) and holesawing cup holes in the top and sealing the ends and joints – think it would work? I don’t think I want a “growroom” in my home…{I’m envisioning bell peppers the size of cantaloupes!}",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "433114",
"author": "Matthias Welsh",
"timestamp": "2011-08-12T12:45:10",
"content": "Something like?http://www.instructables.com/id/Hydoponic-garden-Gravity-feed/It would work well from lettuces/greens but the roots need a lot of room for tomatoes/peppers in my experience (5 gallon bubble buckets have been my finisher of choice). Also make sure you provide enough light. People concentrate on the nutrients thing too much sometimes, lights will make or break you.",
"parent_id": "432679",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "433202",
"author": "Jared",
"timestamp": "2011-08-12T14:53:58",
"content": "yes it absolutely can! but start your seedlings outside to so you dont stress them with the increase in light brightness.",
"parent_id": "432679",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "432680",
"author": "l0g1c",
"timestamp": "2011-08-11T19:41:20",
"content": "Very nice writeup! I’ve been growing herbs in an aeroponic setup for a couple years and just wanted to add some long-term tips.I would suggest wrapping your reservoir in something opaque to prevent the growth of algae.Adding an aquarium air pump and air stone to the reservoir will help oxygenate the solution a little more and discourage bacterial growth.Priming your rockwool with a little lemon juice helps normalize the pH a bit, and will help your seedlings start a little faster.Speaking of pH, it’s important to keep an eye on it and adjust as necessary. Large pH fluctuations will prevent your plant from taking up different nutrients.Anyways, I could go on forever. It really is amazing how quick & clean aeroponics is. I usually end up with way too many herbs, but my friends love to take them off my hands, as well :)Great job on the project and good luck!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "432690",
"author": "Philippe",
"timestamp": "2011-08-11T19:58:23",
"content": "Herbs ? Really…:-)",
"parent_id": "432680",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "432700",
"author": "Chris",
"timestamp": "2011-08-11T20:13:56",
"content": "I’ve been wanting to try this for ages! But I have a question about this:“Adding an aquarium air pump and air stone to the reservoir will help oxygenate the solution a little more and discourage bacterial growth.”Sounds like a definite improvement, but how much mist does this push out of the aeroponic setup? Increasing the room humidity, or dried nutrient deposits caking on the walls/floor around the setup, are both things I’d like to avoid.",
"parent_id": "432680",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "433177",
"author": "l0g1c",
"timestamp": "2011-08-12T14:45:14",
"content": "I run a sprinkler in my setup, so it would be hard to say if a the air stone(s) create enough mist to leave deposits. My guess is that with a deep enough reservoir, you wouldn’t have any problems. Most air pumps will be adjustable, too, so you can tweak that.Even with my sprinklers, I haven’t noticed a humidity change. I think my a/c and heater are enough to regulate it.",
"parent_id": "432700",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "433204",
"author": "Jared",
"timestamp": "2011-08-12T14:56:37",
"content": "Your dead on with the air pump. it will displace the mist and thusly push air, water and nutrients out of the tank. the net pots breath alot so its not critical to put in a air pump as you cant increase the surface area of the water vaporized more than it is.",
"parent_id": "432700",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "432706",
"author": "snowdruid",
"timestamp": "2011-08-11T20:22:40",
"content": "“Adding an aquarium air pump and air stone to the reservoir will help oxygenate the solution a little more and discourage bacterial growth.”i doubt that very much the only thing it will do is favor aerobic bacteria over microaerobic/anaerobic bacteria. but remember normal soil has millions of bacterias growing inside it as long as you dont have pathogenic once you’ll be ok",
"parent_id": "432680",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "432793",
"author": "David S",
"timestamp": "2011-08-11T23:19:18",
"content": "Do you have a website or resource you’d recommend for doing either hydro or aero? The idea of growing fresh herbs in an apt on the 14th floor is pretty sweet.",
"parent_id": "432680",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "433111",
"author": "Matthias Welsh",
"timestamp": "2011-08-12T12:40:57",
"content": "Depending on where you live, my best resource has been a local shop. Here in Raleigh we have “5th Season Gardening” and they’ve been a huge help as I’ve been experimenting over the years. Other than that, there are a ton of different instructables on all kinds of different systems. Herbs and greens/lettuces are a good place to start, I’ve always had trouble with fruit bearing plants.",
"parent_id": "432793",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "433118",
"author": "l0g1c",
"timestamp": "2011-08-12T12:51:48",
"content": "I drew from a bunch of different sites and did my research a while ago. I’ll see if I can dig up some resources for you.",
"parent_id": "432793",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "433209",
"author": "Jared",
"timestamp": "2011-08-12T14:59:50",
"content": "Deep Water Culture Systemhttp://www.inventgeek.com/2011-Projects/Deep-Water-Culture-System/Overview.aspxDIY General Hydroponics Drip Systemhttp://www.inventgeek.com/2011-Projects/General-Hydroponics-Drip-System/Overview.aspxDIY CFL Grow Lighthttp://www.inventgeek.com/2011-Projects/DIY-CFL-Grow-Light/Overview.aspx",
"parent_id": "432793",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "433105",
"author": "Rikard Lindström",
"timestamp": "2011-08-12T12:37:46",
"content": "I have been thinking of building something similar to this for quite a while, but i was thinking of using LEDs. Not only red and blue for the plants, but also UV to kill organisms in the nutrition fluid (only exposing the fluid and not the roots).Anything in the nutritions that’s sensitive to UV or any other reasons why it wouldn’t be a good idea?",
"parent_id": "432680",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "433121",
"author": "l0g1c",
"timestamp": "2011-08-12T13:01:06",
"content": "Ooh, that sounds like a neat idea! I can’t think of any downside to that. The nutrients are just minerals and salts.I don’t have any personal experience with LED’s, but I’ve read that they aren’t quite ready for this. I have seen people use them with success, though. If you’re just doing herbs, you don’t have to worry much about the red spectrum. Blue-heavy spectrum is what plants need in the vegetative growth stage. Red is for flowering/fruiting.",
"parent_id": "433105",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "433237",
"author": "Chris",
"timestamp": "2011-08-12T15:59:49",
"content": "UV sterilizers are often used in planted aquariums that use nutrient solutions similar to those in aeroponics.In theory, they may convert some nutrients to forms unavailable to plants. But in practice, no one has ever complained or reported an actual deficiency due to use of a UV sterilizer.So I say irradiate away. :)Note that common UV LEDs emit light in the wrong portion of the UV spectrum to effectively kill anything. Specialized germicidal UV LEDs are available, if you don’t mind paying hundreds of dollars. So for now at least, go with an old-fashioned germicidal fluorescent. Make sure it’s *really* a germicidal tube, your average blacklight won’t work.",
"parent_id": "433105",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "434859",
"author": "aarku",
"timestamp": "2011-08-15T03:52:03",
"content": "The ultrasonic transducer sterilizes the water. Really.",
"parent_id": "432680",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "1167424",
"author": "toni",
"timestamp": "2014-01-22T12:08:24",
"content": "Would the plants get the nutrients they need if I use a sonic transducer? Will the water need refilling more often?",
"parent_id": "434859",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "3232406",
"author": "Max Michael",
"timestamp": "2016-10-15T13:37:36",
"content": "Not really, cyanobacteria also known as brown algae infections are not prevented. The prevalence of that depends on water quality, so either distilled water or a very small amount of algaecide is recommended if problems occur.",
"parent_id": "434859",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "452312",
"author": "BobBstard",
"timestamp": "2011-09-10T21:18:15",
"content": "yeah cant get enough of the oregano and basilRAOTFLMAO",
"parent_id": "432680",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "432681",
"author": "Sollicitus",
"timestamp": "2011-08-11T19:43:32",
"content": "Is it just me or do they not look all that healthy? I cant imagine them getting as much nutrients / minerals as soil grown vegetables.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "432701",
"author": "snowdruid",
"timestamp": "2011-08-11T20:16:01",
"content": "actually the get more nutrients and minerals that soil grown vegetable thats why they are so big. they probably will look a bit strange due to the lamps not having the proper light spectrum.if power/money is not an issue metal halide/high-pressure sodium lamps or blue and red leds might be use to get an even bigger boost.",
"parent_id": "432681",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "432716",
"author": "andar_b",
"timestamp": "2011-08-11T20:45:19",
"content": "While I’m not sure of the science of it all, I know that plants actually make most of their needs. If you used a measured amount of soil in a pot, grew a huge plant, then washed the soil out of its roots, the soil volume would be nearly identical to what it was before.They do like some micronutrients, such as those found in Superthrive (which smells really odd, by the way) but many plant cuttings can live and thrive in a glass of water.In fact, you can preserve your outdoor tomato plant to get a head start on next year’s crop by taking a big cutting before the first frost, and keeping it indoors for the winter. They’re technically a perennial, but they’re not frost hardy. They’ll grow to resemble a small tree if they get the chance, just try growing a Brandywine or Pineapple heirloom tomato!",
"parent_id": "432681",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "432684",
"author": "Panikos",
"timestamp": "2011-08-11T19:47:16",
"content": "A bit ignorant on this so please dont make fun but would this have any added impact if it was also inside a greenhouse?Thanks",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "432724",
"author": "ScottInNH",
"timestamp": "2011-08-11T20:59:51",
"content": "@Panikos – If you put the system *as is* in a greenhouse, nothing changes.. except more sunlight and warmth.",
"parent_id": "432684",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "432731",
"author": "ScottInNH",
"timestamp": "2011-08-11T21:07:52",
"content": "This is a well written instructable, with as much attention to the guide as the photos. Well done!One thing that keeps me from *ponics is, my understanding is you must THROW AWAY the nutrient solution after about a week. Even though there may still be some nutrients left which you could “top off” or add more concentrate to. This seems wasteful.Can someone comment on the waste water? Is it safe to recycle in any way? I have a summer garden, and a compost pile. I’d rather dump the solution on one of those, than down the drain.Also – it is necessary to run the mister 24/7, or just for a certain number of hours per day? (thinking, a timer enhanced version now..)",
"parent_id": "432684",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "432742",
"author": "Mythgarr",
"timestamp": "2011-08-11T21:34:28",
"content": "The mister needs a certain amount of time to fill the container with mist. Anything above that is just going to cause the mist to bellow outward through every possible hole in the lid or container. If you put a humidity sensor inside you could presumably run it constantly for a certain amount of time to reach the desired level then operate it only occasionally to top off as the level drops, but I’m not sure you’d save much power (powering the sensors would probably cancel out the power savings from the humidifier itself – the power draw is fairly small).",
"parent_id": "432731",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "433090",
"author": "ScottinNH",
"timestamp": "2011-08-12T11:50:53",
"content": "Mythgarr – My take on it is a ultrasonic mister will draw MUCH MORE power than a powered Arduino with a humidity sensor (and even less with an ATTINY85 + sensor).A sensor and microprocessor draws very very little (could run on a single AA – with 1.5v to 5v booster circuit – for a month). Adding a relay switch will increase the power drain, but it would still be very low. I expect you could not power the mister off a AA for very long.I’m not suggesting the mister draws a lot of power, just more than a monitoring micro. You could measure the power draw if you have a Kill-a-watt. The cheap misters I looked at seem to use 5W power supplies. The nicer misters (bigger, made for ponics) use 125W power supplies)",
"parent_id": "432731",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "433126",
"author": "l0g1c",
"timestamp": "2011-08-12T13:09:04",
"content": "If you keep everything free of bacteria (poster above had a neat idea for UV light) and regulate your pH and PPM, you can go for quite a while without a water change. Water changes are nice for a “clean slate” if you’re having problems, but once per week is a huge waste of nutrients.And yeah, I kept my waste water in gallon jugs and used them to water my houseplants with no problems.",
"parent_id": "432731",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "433154",
"author": "Chris",
"timestamp": "2011-08-12T14:04:58",
"content": "Scott, I don’t know much about *ponics directly, but I know plenty about high-tech, heavily planted aquariums. They seem to be very similar, with the only difference being that the nutrient solution is diluted in a much larger amount of water.The problem with topping off a nutrient solution is knowing which nutrients are needed. You’d need a reliable (expensive) set of test kits for at least the major nutrients (N/P/K/Fe), and test regularly. Or you’d need to wait for visible deficiency/toxicity symptoms to show up, be able to accurately interpret them, and adjust your dosing regimen accordingly; which takes a lot of practice. Either way, you’d still be in the dark about most trace nutrients (test kits not available, visible symptoms ambiguous).That’s why it’s common practice when running planted tanks with chemical fertilizers to dose slightly more than you think you need, then do a 50% water change once a week to remove excess. Much like throwing out the *ponic solution.Many of us planted tank geeks buy common agricultural fert components in dry form, then make our own dry or liquid blends. A small amount lasts a very long time, so the cost over time is trivial compared to other costs (like lighting). My first $30 order of dry ferts lasted me six years before I ran out of *one* of the components (and I still have plenty of most of the others). Premixed liquid solutions marketed for planted tanks are marked up at *least* 2,000%, and for that you get a lot of water and packaging, but little actual fertilizer. It’s probably similar for *ponics.Some of us have environmental concerns regarding disposal of the wastewater too. Yes, you can put *some* of this in your garden/lawn; though for a *ponic solution, I’d think diluting it first would be wise. But not too much. I hear some nutrients (notably phosphates) bind strongly to soil and won’t be washed away by rainwater, so they can build up to toxicity if they’re added faster than they’re consumed.",
"parent_id": "432731",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "432686",
"author": "Miroslav",
"timestamp": "2011-08-11T19:52:55",
"content": "@loonquawlI’ll still rather have tomato in my salsa then electricity :)On the serious side, the right question would be how much does it cost (in electrical energy + prorated material cost) to get you crop days/weeks earlier.Let’s say that (per 6 plants) he’s burning 3x15W fluorescent lights (probably less) + 5W for foggerat 0.1$/kwh=0.0001$/Wh, and keeping it on for 4 weeks (=28 days=672hrs), for a total of(3*15W+5W)*0.0001$/Wh*672hrs/6plants = 0.56$The same math for soil grown, but 6 weeks under the same lights gives3*15W*0.0001$/Wh*1008hrs/6plants = 0.76$Not to say larger plants, less days you burn expensive lights, 2+ weeks earlier on the market (or into my salsa).Love the concept, not sure if that can be used during the season instead of hydroponic setup",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "432707",
"author": "James Holden",
"timestamp": "2011-08-11T20:24:41",
"content": "for those of us that use some electric heat, using HID lights to grow plants in the winter makes perfect sense- at least we get a yummy byproduct when we are heating our house.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "432709",
"author": "Luke",
"timestamp": "2011-08-11T20:30:20",
"content": "I’ve been trying my green thumb out with various brugmansia though they don’t seem to live long. This ultrasonic fogger method just might do the trick. As a kid I recall having a humidifier with the ultrasonic fogger mechanism so if anyone has a humidifier they were going to throw away it could be salvaged for a project like this. Thanks for sharing!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "432713",
"author": "nanomonkey",
"timestamp": "2011-08-11T20:41:55",
"content": "I tried this a while back and found that the ultrasonic misters where not reliable enough for their cost. Even with teflon coated transducer heads they would wear out quickly. It’s too bad as it seemed like a reasonably good system.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "433130",
"author": "l0g1c",
"timestamp": "2011-08-12T13:14:12",
"content": "I’ve heard this as well and it’s one of the things that made me decide on a sprinkler type setup. At $6 a pop, though, I might give them a shot in my next experiment.",
"parent_id": "432713",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "433139",
"author": "Matthias Welsh",
"timestamp": "2011-08-12T13:33:55",
"content": "I have a sprayer system based on a submersible pump that works pretty well using micro-sprayer heads from Home Depot. I’m sure it’s nowhere near as energy efficient as these, and I have to soak the heads between crops to get them degunked but they seem to work well enough.",
"parent_id": "433130",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "432714",
"author": "asheets",
"timestamp": "2011-08-11T20:42:31",
"content": "I do like the fact that Jared attempted to use a control (a regular potted tomato plant) in his experiment. Proper scientific methods aren’t done very much anymore, IMHO.The question I have is “Why a high oxygen environment”? I would think that using the standard 78/21.5/.5 N2/O2/CO2 mix would work just as well, and that bumping up the CO2 percentage by .5% would work even better. Supposedly, this is what some greenhouses do.Now, having made my pitch for increased CO2, I will note that once I did a similar experiment on tomato plants using the exhaust of one of those super-efficient flash water heaters. Supposedly, the exhaust of those things is just CO2 and H2O vapor. What I forgot to realize was that using such a high concentration of CO2 changed the pH of the H2O — effectively, I created acid rain and killed the tomato plants.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "432755",
"author": "Insipid Melon",
"timestamp": "2011-08-11T22:00:02",
"content": "The question I have is “Why a high oxygen environment”? I would think that using the standard 78/21.5/.5 N2/O2/CO2 mix would work just as well, and that bumping up the CO2 percentage by .5% would work even better. Supposedly, this is what some greenhouses doI assumed by “high-oxygen” he just meant the increased aeration of the roots from having them being misted instead of suspended in hydroponic solution or buried in soil. Roots of course would only benefit from increased oxygen–they don’t use CO2.",
"parent_id": "432714",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "433252",
"author": "Someone",
"timestamp": "2011-08-12T16:20:32",
"content": "Benefits of oxygen in the root zoneOxygen in the rhizosphere (root zone) is necessary for healthy plant growth. As aeroponics is conducted in air combined with micro-droplets of water, almost any plant can grow to maturity in air with a plentiful supply of oxygen, water and nutrients.Some growers favor aeroponic systems over other methods of hydroponics because the increased aeration of nutrient solution delivers more oxygen to plant roots, stimulating growth and helping to prevent pathogen formation.[1]Clean air supplies oxygen which is an excellent purifier for plants and the aeroponic environment. For natural growth to occur the plant must have unrestricted access to air. Plants must be allowed to grow in a natural manner for successful physiological development. The more confining the plant support becomes, the greater incidence of increasing disease pressure of the plant and the aeroponic system.[1]Some researchers have used aeroponics to study the effects of root zone gas composition on plant performance. Soffer and Burger [Soffer et al., 1988] studied the effects of dissolved oxygen concentrations on the formation of adventitious roots in what they termed “aero-hydroponics.” They utilized a 3-tier hydro and aero system, in which three separate zones were formed within the root area. The ends of the roots were submerged in the nutrient reservoir, while the middle of the root section received nutrient mist and the upper portion was above the mist. Their results showed that dissolved O2 is essential to root formation, but went on to show that for the three O2 concentrations tested, the number of roots and root length were always greater in the central misted section than either the submersed section or the un-misted section. Even at the lowest concentration, the misted section rooted successfully.[1]",
"parent_id": "432714",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "433455",
"author": "asheets",
"timestamp": "2011-08-12T21:04:39",
"content": "OK, so I take it the solution is to mist a higher concentration of O2 in the root zone, and a higher concentration of CO2 in the leaf zone.",
"parent_id": "433252",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "433458",
"author": "H3llphyre",
"timestamp": "2011-08-12T21:12:45",
"content": "Exactly. O2 to the roots, CO2 to the leaves. It get’s even more fun than that. Higher O2 during lights out, higher CO2 during lights on.I believe the Dept of Agriculture accidentally found out what high levels of CO2 do. They were trying to study how trees deal with higher CO2, so they injected a forrest with CO2 (pretty insane setup). The trees did grow a bit faster, but the poison ivy took over the ENTIRE area.The trick is to find the plants that won’t inhibit their growth given unlimited resources.",
"parent_id": "433252",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "432719",
"author": "Mythgarr",
"timestamp": "2011-08-11T20:47:31",
"content": "I’ve been thinking of trying a hydroponic herb garden for some time (fresh basil costs $$$) – this seems like a more viable solution for us. Only problem now is where to put the thing.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "433099",
"author": "Matthias Welsh",
"timestamp": "2011-08-12T12:25:07",
"content": "You’d be surprised how well a pot in the window will work. I have two basil plants and can make fresh pesto once or twice a week. But hydroponics are fun .",
"parent_id": "432719",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "432720",
"author": "Itamino",
"timestamp": "2011-08-11T20:48:36",
"content": "I realize that this is the new and IMPROVED Hack a Day, but i did this like two years ago. i didn’t post it here because i didn’t see it as much of a hack and lets face it there are the obvious parallel/connection to illicit materials. a quick google search for “diy ultrasonic fogger cloner” will yield a lot of similar results. i did have one question however what is the water temp in your reservoir. i would think that the fogger generates a lot of heat in a reservoir your size",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "433216",
"author": "Jared",
"timestamp": "2011-08-12T15:14:43",
"content": "79 – 82 F",
"parent_id": "432720",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "433347",
"author": "Itamino",
"timestamp": "2011-08-12T19:11:01",
"content": "79 – 82 degrees that seems a bit high for a hydro system. im assuming that youre leaving the fogger on and dont have any sort of timer setup going. you may want to switch to a larger reservoir and start using a “float” for your fogger. or if youre not already doing so use a timer and set it up to keep your roots moist/damp but still have a maintainable water temp.",
"parent_id": "433216",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "432721",
"author": "andar_b",
"timestamp": "2011-08-11T20:49:25",
"content": "Another interesting thought I’d like to suggest is using cuttings rather than seedlings. Tomato plants are extremely happy to grow roots when placed in a simple glass of water, let alone a complex hydro/aeroponics setup. I bet you could take cuttings from a mature plant in the fall, and overwinter them. Perhaps they wouldn’t produce a great volume of fruit in the ‘off season’ but they’d probably survive happily in the absence of frost.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "433100",
"author": "Matthias Welsh",
"timestamp": "2011-08-12T12:29:05",
"content": "If you’re bringing them indoors, you have control over the season. It’s all about light exposure.",
"parent_id": "432721",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "432730",
"author": "Moorbo",
"timestamp": "2011-08-11T21:07:28",
"content": "I’m wondering about mineral buildup on the mister over the long term and reliability. I’ve been thinking about implementing a sprayer system for a while now with scheduled spray, nutrient addition, and warning system. Also placing the system in a greenhouse to use natural light during the day and perhaps supplement with artificial at night.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "433101",
"author": "Matthias Welsh",
"timestamp": "2011-08-12T12:32:41",
"content": "I highly recommend this, especially during fruit production. I’ve always had trouble producing enough light with CFLS/LEDs to really have a tomato plant do well and investing in some real lights isn’t really in my budget, I’ve just been experimenting with different hydro setups. Through vegetative growth they seem to do fine, like he’s shown here but from there to the finish my stalks get weak and the tomatoes are few and far between. Lettuces seem much more practical for a full indoor grow.",
"parent_id": "432730",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "432739",
"author": "t&p",
"timestamp": "2011-08-11T21:31:20",
"content": "this makes me want to grow some plants.shame I don’t have a signal dollar to do it.but I think I may make a trip to the library and start reading up on the subject.it’s probably best if I do this before I start growing anyways.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "432764",
"author": "Jon",
"timestamp": "2011-08-11T22:18:40",
"content": "“The mister was turned on…”*tee hee*",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "432895",
"author": "Paul",
"timestamp": "2011-08-12T03:06:38",
"content": "Haha nice catch :-)",
"parent_id": "432764",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "432781",
"author": "Roberto",
"timestamp": "2011-08-11T23:04:33",
"content": "Combine this with their upcoming aquarium management and they’ve made food security for all, if you like eating fish and tomatoes every day.Replace the fertilizer with tank water, the fish fertilize it every day.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "433134",
"author": "l0g1c",
"timestamp": "2011-08-12T13:27:00",
"content": "Yes! There are some very successful hydro systems in use that are almost completely self-sustaining. All that’s needed is feed for the fish. Really amazing stuff.",
"parent_id": "432781",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "435827",
"author": "Heph",
"timestamp": "2011-08-16T10:56:12",
"content": "Well depending on the fish you can feed them with parts of the plants like shredded leaves (Talipi/Carp for example would work) and you could use water-spinach in the Aquarium.Seed some duckweed among the water-spinach and you could lower the food consumption of the fish even more.",
"parent_id": "433134",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "432782",
"author": "Corey",
"timestamp": "2011-08-11T23:08:40",
"content": "The biggest issue with the ultrasonic systems is the salts and scaling that build up on the discs after long term exposure to tap water and nutrients.Depending on the item they may have replaceable discs. I purchased mine as a pond fog and light display from ebay. It came with a replacement disc.I opted to sue mine as a separate humidifier to my plants with pure RO water to help extends it’s life.Algae is a real threat to Hydroponic systems. It gunks up the equipment and can kill the roots/plants. Black PVC buckets and shields over the hydroton are the best ways to keep algae from getting in there.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "433218",
"author": "Jared",
"timestamp": "2011-08-12T15:20:21",
"content": "That is totally true! Algae is a major issue with hydro. light + nutrients + water = algae. algae its self is not harmful, but it can clog systems and leach nutrients meant for your plants. As this was a simple experiment i didn’t care to take the time to spray the tank black, but i recommend this one mod. If you do DWC or a drip system black buckets are ideal, but hard to find and expensive. As an alternative lowes has there branded buckets that are grey that work perfectly as they are not opaque. Do not use the orange opaque home depot buckets or a white bucket.",
"parent_id": "432782",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "446354",
"author": "mbear",
"timestamp": "2011-09-02T12:04:27",
"content": "The biggest issue with the ultrasonic systems is the salts and scaling that build up on the discs after long term exposure to tap water and nutrients.Would running the water through an activated charcoal filter remove enough salts and scaling compounds* to increase the lifespan of the discs?*I don’t know what causes scaling.",
"parent_id": "432782",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "432784",
"author": "jeicrash",
"timestamp": "2011-08-11T23:11:23",
"content": "The foggers used in these systems are the exact same ones people use when they buy those mist lights (little glass bowl that usually glows and produces cool fog) The fogger uses the same electricity as any other household appliance would. In door gardening is not done to save energy but instead to produce (whatever you grow) all year around. The idea has been around youtube is full of examples, but this write up is very nice.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "432813",
"author": "A Mees",
"timestamp": "2011-08-11T23:49:24",
"content": "I searched all the comments and not a single question about the taste of the resulting tomatoes! I remember 35 years ago when my dad’s boss converted one of the labs in their engineering building into a hydroponics tomato garden. The results were astounding… huge plants and huge tomatoes in 1/2 the time. The only problem? The tomatoes were the blandest things you had ever tasted! They couldn’t understand why because they had the chemistry dialed in perfectly. Show me the results of the Taste-Off and then I’ll start building!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "432847",
"author": "Dj NurSpek",
"timestamp": "2011-08-12T01:14:34",
"content": "You should look into a DWC (deep water culture) or an EBB flow system. The ebb flow can use a 12vdc pump powered by a solar panel and a small timer circuit to make a super low energy hydroponic system. Maybe have a 12v battery with a solar trickle charger. You would have the same rubbermaid setup but instead of the system being on all the time, it would turn on once an hour and flood a table where the roots are suspended. Pretty cool tho",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "432849",
"author": "steve eh",
"timestamp": "2011-08-12T01:15:08",
"content": "I’ve got some tomatoes in 5gal buckets in my yard…but this is way cooler, i have some Bhut Jolokia chili pepper seed i have been waiting to grow, this might be a killer setup, any thoughts?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "433137",
"author": "l0g1c",
"timestamp": "2011-08-12T13:30:17",
"content": "I have a couple, actually. I tried to grow habaneros. The plant went absolutely bonkers in vegetative stage, but I couldn’t get it to pollinate by hand. Keep it outside, and iirc, peppers like a slightly more acidic pH (confirm this).",
"parent_id": "432849",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "432980",
"author": "bothersaidpooh",
"timestamp": "2011-08-12T06:39:39",
"content": "Yeah, bhut jolokia’s ought to grow fine.Re. sonic transducers being temperamental.I’ve had this happen, it seems that the cheap modules overdrive their transducers to get more fog which wears them out.Rumour has it that the failure mode is internal heating which depolarises the ceramic.This can in fact be fixed by heating up above the Curie point under oil and then re-poling with a high voltage.If anyone has some burned out transducers they would like to send me please mail mandoline at cwgsy dot netWonder if anyone’s tried using one of those 445nm LD’s and an old laser printer block and spinning mirror as a scanner?Scan the grow volume and exploit the higher efficiency of laser diodes compared to LEDs.Last time I checked they were nearly double which is substantially better power-wise than even halogens.Perhaps someone should do a phlatlight/445 version of this, with c@s!o projector parts?that would be a wonder to behold.Waste heat from the diodes should be pumped into the grow volume, as this will increase efficiency.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "433160",
"author": "Chris",
"timestamp": "2011-08-12T14:18:23",
"content": "Interesting, you’ve given me some things to look into.But no need to scan a LD. Uncollimated LDs are already rather diffuse, and can be diffused further with a simple lens.Plus pulsed (or scanned) light offers no benefit. Plants grow based on the average of the light received, not the peak intensity.",
"parent_id": "432980",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "433313",
"author": "snowdruid",
"timestamp": "2011-08-12T17:59:57",
"content": "actualy thats only partly true some research on algae suggest that photosynthesis can be “overdriven” slightly by using hi intensity light pulses.the theory behind this is similar to pwm instead of using hi intensity continuus light which might damage the plant using pulsed light enabels you to get more light to the plant without damaging it. the cumulated light pulses averages to more that the normal ilumination you would normaly use for the plant.",
"parent_id": "433160",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "433290",
"author": "drake",
"timestamp": "2011-08-12T17:34:01",
"content": "What temperature and what voltage ill give mine a shot",
"parent_id": "432980",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "433027",
"author": "unknown",
"timestamp": "2011-08-12T09:19:58",
"content": "great thinking bro, im making one today lol",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "433217",
"author": "h3llphyre",
"timestamp": "2011-08-12T15:17:28",
"content": "For anyone doubting the “hack” portion of this, there are so many methods of “grow hacking” that it’s not even funny. here are some examples1.) Spectrum dial-in using LEDs. Plants DO use the entire spectrum, but certain portions of the spectrum absorb more efficiently and also alter the plant physiology. For artificial light, you’re looking at both energy efficiency and growth multipliers. As has been mentioned, blue light for growth, red for flowering/fruiting.2.) Speaking of spectrum, the use of UV and Far Red light has some interesting effects on plants. Using Far Red, you can fool the plant into thinking a day is longer than 24 hours.3.) Once you’re off the spectrum experiments, you can jump into PWM land, pulsing the light. Lots of research into maximizing light absorption by pulsing the light with a 50% duty cycle at specific frequencies (712Hz is the growth sweet spot, 480Hz is the energy efficient sweet spot).4.) Nutrient delivery methods. Ultrasonic, high pressure mist, low pressure spray, ebb/flow, etc etc etc. They all have their up and downsides. Ultrasonics are awesome, but the reliability of what’s out there kind of ruins it, not to mention calcification on the discs themselves.There is a lot more to it. NASA has some great research (publicly available papers) on growing indoors (long term space travel food supply) and there are a LOT of academic papers as well. Beyond that, LEDs *ARE* there now, you just can’t use the 5mm variants. Pick up some 3 watt of above power LEDs and go at it. Maybe some day, I’ll post up some of the stuff I’ve been doing.Lastly, outdoor hydro is awesome. You can create dense gardens (space efficiency) and grow REALLY fast (important for us snow belt people).As for anyone saying the taste isn’t there… you’re either using the wrong nutrients or the wrong plants. I’ve personally ingested some Bhut Jolokia (Ghost) chili peppers growth INDOORS with hydro. They tasted excellent for approximately 500ms, then I wanted to die afterwards due to the heat. All in good fun.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "433253",
"author": "Chris",
"timestamp": "2011-08-12T16:21:41",
"content": "What effects would this have on plants?“Using Far Red, you can fool the plant into thinking a day is longer than 24 hours.”",
"parent_id": "433217",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "433259",
"author": "Jared",
"timestamp": "2011-08-12T16:33:29",
"content": "Especially during the vegetative phases it means you can bulk up the plant mass with less overall energy investment. However the PWM methods are also very effective for power savings and making a plant think it has received more light overall than it actually has. Remember that plants are like batteries. They save up sunlight in the form of sugars to feed them self’s during the night. plants grow larger to increase their capacity. but the rate they convert sun and nutrients to sugars is limited by resources and chemical / enzymatic reactions. So using less energy or differing forms of light that make the plant grow faster is the ideal result of these experiments. Though reds are used more in flowering and blues more in vegetative growth. So far red is likely for something producing seeds / flowers (wheat) and reds are more for succulents (lettuce). In most studies though, LED is still just not up to par with HID systems. Though augmentation with leds has shown major positive impact.",
"parent_id": "433253",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "433261",
"author": "Jared",
"timestamp": "2011-08-12T16:35:23",
"content": "EDIT:>>BLUES<< are more for succulents (lettuce).",
"parent_id": "433253",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "433332",
"author": "h3llphyre",
"timestamp": "2011-08-12T18:47:59",
"content": "The suspected mechanism behind using far reds, is that during sunset, “far red” is very prominent. The experiments out there show that when the main lights go off, you blast the plants with about 5-15 minutes of “far red”, and it simulates upwards of 2 hours of dark period.This goes against the OP of running his lights 24/7, which actually stunts growth. The typical photo-period for tomatoes (and weed) is 18/6 for vegetative, 12/12 for flowering/fruiting. Different plants vary, but that’s the basic formula.So, by being able to artificially add 2 hours of dark, you can run 18/4 and 12/10 cycles, meaning you get 1.08 growing days per actual day.Also, for everyone making the joke about growing illicit crops, those guys are driving a good portion of these experiments.As a side note, I still disagree with the notion that “LEDs aren’t there yet”. There are LEDs on the market today, that surpass every other form of artificial light, other than the super expensive/rare plasma bulbs. The other benefit is, as the OP showed, you can push LEDs right up against the plants (like CFL) without burning the plant with heat. Can’t do that with Sodium, MH, nor HID.",
"parent_id": "433253",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "433335",
"author": "h3llphyre",
"timestamp": "2011-08-12T18:50:38",
"content": "*EDIT* To clarify, far red tricks the plant into quickly switching to the metabolic/chemical processes that happen at night. By enhancing this process, the plant doesn’t require as long of a dark period to recover.Also, prior poster is dead on with the PWM pulsing. You’re essentially giving the plant a chance to recover, before being bombarded with more photons.Do I need to dive further into optimizing CO2 concentrations, O2 injection into the root mass, or barometric pressure control? LOL.Hacking plants is FUN",
"parent_id": "433253",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "433326",
"author": "UltimateJim",
"timestamp": "2011-08-12T18:42:33",
"content": "Tomatoes eh…",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "433337",
"author": "h3llphyre",
"timestamp": "2011-08-12T18:51:36",
"content": "Tomatoes are a direct analogous plant to that which you allude to. Just in case you’re interested. You can test growing theories on tomatoes.",
"parent_id": "433326",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "433357",
"author": "l0g1c",
"timestamp": "2011-08-12T19:34:46",
"content": "In response to a poster above, I’ll qualify my statement about LED’s. 2-3 years ago is when I did all my preliminary research, and while there were many manufacturers selling LED lights for plants, the people on various forums said they were getting spotty results. 2-3 years is a long time as far as LED’s are concerned. I wouldn’t be surprised to learn they’ve broken the barriers.I’m about to start my 3rd iteration of my herb garden soon, thanks in part to this post. I might try to hack an arduino into it for giggles ;) If I do, I’ll post.For those curious, here’s a photo of my last herb garden.http://www.flickr.com/photos/rei_ginsei/6035761857/If anyone has any questions that are too off-topic to post here, you can email me: rei_ginsei(at)yahoo_dot_com",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "433456",
"author": "H3llphyre",
"timestamp": "2011-08-12T21:09:03",
"content": "They’ve come leaps and bounds from 3 years ago. Both Cree and Philips have both developed and released LEDs that have the highest lumens/watt out of ANY light source (again, other than plasma bulbs, but good luck finding one, let alone affording it).Also, the LED lights on the market right now are under powered, over priced, and don’t have ANY of the features mentioned above (by me and others). No science behind them, just throwing a ton of LEDs together.Again, I’ll be posting up something soon (once work lets up) of one of my side projects. Maybe I can get my partner in crime to submit something to hackaday on his outdoor, low dollar, highly effective hydro setup.",
"parent_id": "433357",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "433802",
"author": "goo",
"timestamp": "2011-08-13T12:13:03",
"content": "I’m very familiar with a certain type of POTted plant and that second one in on the right is NOT a tomato plant. Not with those jagged leaves. Prolly not the best pic to use. Great idea and I and others will try implementing it. its always nice to see another ‘growers’ setup that brings a bigger yeild.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "433917",
"author": "dunks",
"timestamp": "2011-08-13T17:39:43",
"content": "They all look like tomatoes plants to me. Some varieties have have very frilly leaves.",
"parent_id": "433802",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "434191",
"author": "Bill Nye",
"timestamp": "2011-08-14T04:47:48",
"content": "they are roma tommatos you knuckle head!FGI!",
"parent_id": "433802",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "433855",
"author": "ScottinNH",
"timestamp": "2011-08-13T14:56:58",
"content": "This is a nitpick, but I’d round out that hole for the power cable. Then I’d put a drilled rubber bung (like a #3 or #4) in it. Using a bandsaw or careful razor, you could slit open the bung on one side so you can get the power cable in (the alternative is don’t cut the bung, and cut off the plug of your power cable and route it through the bung).This would look neater and more polished, and keep the box from overflowing mist out the hole.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "434582",
"author": "joebob",
"timestamp": "2011-08-14T19:15:38",
"content": "Nice to see you growing your own.BUTHOW IS THIS ULTRASONIC?(Ultrasonic=Audible levels that humand cant hear)As far as i can tell,this is just a simple aeroponic set-up.Nothing new or different about it.I will give you the benefit of the doubt and assume you have just got your words mixed up,somehow.The mist is ATOMISED(turned into really small droplets).",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "434707",
"author": "H3llphyre",
"timestamp": "2011-08-14T23:24:04",
"content": "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ultrasound#Ultrasonic_humidifierYup, you’re right, ultrasonics are sounds WAY up in the sound frequency… which happens to cause liquid water to atomize (yeah, not the right word, but everyone uses it in this context).So, it is an ultrasonic mister (nebulizer) used for aeroponics. Other devices are also used in aeroponics, this is just one of them.",
"parent_id": "434582",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
}
] | 1,760,377,114.637575
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2011/08/11/nanode-a-low-cost-network-enabled-arduino-ethernet-alternative/
|
Nanode: A Low-cost Network-enabled Arduino Ethernet Alternative
|
Mike Nathan
|
[
"Arduino Hacks"
] |
[
"arduino",
"ethernet",
"nanode",
"networking"
] |
The folks over at Hackspace London have been working hard to create a “very low cost, open source, Internet connected platform on which others can develop their ideas”,
which they have dubbed “Nanode”.
Essentially an Arduino with Ethernet networking on-board, the Nanode is armed with an ATMega 328 microcontroller along with all the other standard goodies you would expect from an Arduino-compatible device. The Nanode can be controlled with a web browser right out of the box, thanks to some custom Ethernet libraries. Additionally network of Nanodes can be easily configured to communicate with a “master” unit via a multidrop serial bus, allowing the device to be used for a wide array of distributed control tasks.
Obviously most of these features can be had in the form of an Arduino Ethernet board, or achieved by using an Ethernet shield. The Nanode is a touch cheaper than either option at $40 for a kit, and the native networking capabilities sound like they would be quite handy. That said, we are a bit bummed that it only has 10BaseT networking capabilities, though it is always nice to have options when it comes to choosing a microcontroller board.
[Thanks, TheHypnotist]
| 32
| 17
|
[
{
"comment_id": "432628",
"author": "Springuin",
"timestamp": "2011-08-11T18:22:51",
"content": "10BaseT is not a big point, the ATmega will not be able to use the whole 10Mbit anyway.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "432629",
"author": "Eraser",
"timestamp": "2011-08-11T18:25:17",
"content": "Who cares if it only has 10Mbs, There is no way it will handle a data stream of even 256 kbps…..",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "432641",
"author": "Phil",
"timestamp": "2011-08-11T18:45:18",
"content": "Finally! An arduino clone that mimics the most important function: a DIP socket. It’s all nice and fancy that therer are Teensys, Fezs, Netduinos, all sorts of nice flavours, but if a dev board is $20, and microcontrollers for them are $5, you better make sure I can swap them around..",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "432653",
"author": "ScottInNH",
"timestamp": "2011-08-11T19:05:43",
"content": "This looks pretty nice… really nice.Not only are the network libs pre-loaded, but I notice they say you can upload new sketches using TFTP. That’s AWESOME! I have an ethernet Arduino Uno which talks to an Asus wireless access point ($10 on rebate). It works pretty well, but when I want to update the code I have to go over and plug my USB in. Ethernet flashing looks good!Hopefully Sparkfun or someone starts carrying these PCBs. I could see building a few of them…",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "432658",
"author": "mike",
"timestamp": "2011-08-11T19:11:48",
"content": "http://www.sparkfun.com/products/10536they started carrying this a few weeks ago",
"parent_id": "432653",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "432664",
"author": "Mike Nathan",
"timestamp": "2011-08-11T19:17:45",
"content": "Close, but not quite the same thing. That looks more like a replica of the Arduino Ethernet board, minus the SD slot.As far as I know, the only place to get them is the nanode.eu link I posted, or by piecing one together on your own:http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:7497",
"parent_id": "432658",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "432661",
"author": "Mike Nathan",
"timestamp": "2011-08-11T19:12:50",
"content": "You can get the Nanode kit for $40 shipped to the US directly from the guys that designed it:http://www.nanode.eu/Also, everyone can take the 10BaseT comment with a grain of salt – occasionally we will point out a design choice that might be an obvious nitpick, in order to prevent a deluge of “zomg but it only XXXXXX!!!!” comments. I picked wrong this time.This guy also has a few more I/O ports than the Arduino, so it’s got that going for it as well. I forget how many, to be quite honest.",
"parent_id": "432653",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "432659",
"author": "Tweeks",
"timestamp": "2011-08-11T19:12:29",
"content": "Wow.. this is what I’ve been waiting for!Fun!Tweeks",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "432688",
"author": "Yazoo",
"timestamp": "2011-08-11T19:57:17",
"content": "Are they running their website on this? Because I sure as heck can’t connect to it :-)",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "432694",
"author": "rasz",
"timestamp": "2011-08-11T20:04:33",
"content": "so still twice the price of ethernet router running linux",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "432704",
"author": "mightymike",
"timestamp": "2011-08-11T20:19:17",
"content": "quite nice. and as said, 10Mbit should be more than enough.Anyone on here has also experience with the AVR-NET-IO?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "433761",
"author": "f",
"timestamp": "2011-08-13T09:56:55",
"content": "The AVR-NET-IO is an interesting platform, but suffers from a couple of downfalls compared to the Nanode. Basically, it’s not very development-friendly because pins aren’t broken out to anything useful (just a couple of screw terminals for the ADCs and a big DB-25 or similar plug for the rest), so you’d need to make your own cables for breadboarding.I find the Nanode quite appealing because it runs the Arduino bootloader, so development should be more or less hassle-free. Can anyone comment on the code size of the libraries supplied with the Nanode? ATMega328’s are expensive and their availability is so-so, whereas their smaller brethren can be bought for a much more reasonable price.",
"parent_id": "432704",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "432738",
"author": "Peter",
"timestamp": "2011-08-11T21:30:38",
"content": "An open source alternative is the web platform from seeed studios. Available for $37 shipped.40 MIPS1Mbit EEPROMAlready has the FTDI232R so you don’t need any other hardware to program. I don’t think you can program over ethernet but that seems like a possible vulnerability as well as a feature.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "432746",
"author": "Ken",
"timestamp": "2011-08-11T21:44:13",
"content": "Thanks from all of us on the Nanode Dev Team for covering the Nanode Project on Hack-a-Day.Since its conception in August 2010 – this open source project has been a whirlwind – and a lot of funIf you are in the US or Canada please contacthttp://wickeddevice.com/as they are the exclusive US resellers.The Nanode sells for $39.99 and comes with a year’s Pachube Pro subscription – worth $25.If you are in the UK or EU or rest of World contact me directly @Monsonite on TwitterFollow @Nanode_1 on Twitter for all our news and updates",
"parent_id": "432738",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "433163",
"author": "lwatcdr",
"timestamp": "2011-08-12T14:22:57",
"content": "I looked in the specs but didn’t see anything but this does support POE right?",
"parent_id": "432746",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "433165",
"author": "scottprive",
"timestamp": "2011-08-12T14:32:38",
"content": "This does not claim to support POE.However, Little Bird Electronics DOES have an Arduino with onboard Ethernet AND it supports POE – the EtherTen.Take a look… this is an AMAZING Arduino. It is a crying shame you can not get these in the USA (unless you order direct from Australia).I emailed Little Bird about US availability, and they expressed frustration that some US maker sites expressed interest but never came through.The official Arduino platforms need some updates, in my opinion. Would be nice to see standardized: micro/pro sized SMD 3.3v version with onboard 433MHz radio (like the JeeNode SMD), a shield-sized one with onboard ethernet and POE, and a shield-sized one with onboard wifi.These all do exist, but are carried here and there by custom manufacturers. Some standardization and higher production would do great things for the costs and adoption.",
"parent_id": "432738",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "433262",
"author": "lwatcdr",
"timestamp": "2011-08-12T16:36:40",
"content": "If you are going to put ethernet on a microcontroller it seems silly to not support POE.",
"parent_id": "433165",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "435535",
"author": "ScottInNH",
"timestamp": "2011-08-15T20:16:43",
"content": "“If you are going to put ethernet on a microcontroller it seems silly to not support POE.” – lwatcdrIf you are saying that Ethernet is not “worth it” without POE, a lot of folks would disagree with you).The only POE enabled Arduino ethernet boards I know of are the EtherTen and the Nanode. Neither are very easy to find in the USA (though it looks like the Nanode is close to real US distribution).",
"parent_id": "433165",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "432748",
"author": "Grapsus",
"timestamp": "2011-08-11T21:46:51",
"content": "Why does everybody want to stick things like Ethernet on an Arduino ? You can’t properly handle even 10 Mbps ethernet with a 20 MHz 8 bit device and if you do it will be with a shield that embeds a more powerful device than the Arduino itself, so what’s the point ?There are dozens of ARM or even FPGA devices out there that can handle 100 Mbps networking for 10$.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "432825",
"author": "Spork",
"timestamp": "2011-08-12T00:14:57",
"content": "I think the idea is that you already have Ethernet in your home. If you already have sketches/etc written for a familiar board and want to add Ethernet functionality without a lot of overhauling, this is the way to go. Sure an FPGA or ARM would be faster, but do you really need 10 or 100MBit speed to turn your lights on and off?Also when you go from 8bit micros to FPGAs there is a steep learning curve, which is not always appreciated.",
"parent_id": "432748",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "433175",
"author": "lwatcdr",
"timestamp": "2011-08-12T14:43:58",
"content": "Because it is often about the wiring and not the bandwidth. Suppose you already have a network in place and you want have this device send data to a pc. You could run a serial cable but that is a pain. You could get a pair of ZigBee radio but that is more expensive. Blue tooth? Again more expensive. This is cheaper than a lot of RS-232 to TCP/IP devices I have seen.How about combining this withhttp://hackaday.com/2011/08/11/add-a-real-life-hardware-terminal-to-that-newfangled-computer-of-yours/You could possibly write an SSH client for this and have it interface with the terminal. I don’t know if this device has the CPU power for the encryption since I have not worked with the arduino. If it doesn’t you could still use it as a display with a little custom code.Or interface with a few other parts like a thermometer, buttons, and and LCD display and make an net-workable thermostat for your home.Another use for this would have been an old phone system we replaced last year. It would log calls and was controlled over an RS-232 serial port. We had an old PC running a terminal hooked up to deal with it and a network cable into the PC.This board would have allowed us to remove the PC from the loop. We could have also used it to monitor the UPS for the phone system and even interfaced it to toggle the power on it by remote control for power cycling.",
"parent_id": "432748",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "432796",
"author": "kyle",
"timestamp": "2011-08-11T23:24:07",
"content": "£20 is $32",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "432889",
"author": "marcus",
"timestamp": "2011-08-12T02:49:21",
"content": "I bought one 2 weeks ago. Very nice!!Easy to use even for newbie like me.Examples are very helpful to newbie.Now the open question is, how to make use of it?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "433073",
"author": "Mojo Jojo",
"timestamp": "2011-08-12T11:25:18",
"content": "That’s easy, use it to take over the world (said in the voice of brain). That’s what all these hacks are intended for anyway right?",
"parent_id": "432889",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "433162",
"author": "scottprive",
"timestamp": "2011-08-12T14:22:54",
"content": "Use it to remotely control appliances (providing a suitable sized relay) or turn on a light when you are not home. Use it to remotely program your DVR (using an IR). You’ll also need a dynamic DNS service like TZO or easydns for these remote management tasks.How about a home weather or power management station which uploads stats to Pachube?",
"parent_id": "432889",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "433244",
"author": "Ken",
"timestamp": "2011-08-12T16:16:48",
"content": "When I designed the hardware for Nanode, I worked to a very tight budget. It had to appeal to college students, amateurs and hackers.Working in association with the London Hackspace I fixed the price (for members) at £18 ($30) and we initially built a batch of 100 units. We ran a couple of weekend workshops and built them up from kits. Shipping costs were not included – and we have seen a rise in some of the IC prices since then.That was in early June. Since then we have produced a total of 550 pcbs so far – and shipped 450 of them.Nanode is now available in the US, exclusively fromhttp://wickeddevice.comin upstate New York.Wicked Device will soon be making their own run of pcbs ready on the market in time for the NYC Maker Faire.From the start, Nanode had to be simple and straightforward to build – with conventional through hole components and socketed ICs. Following our pictorial assembly guide, I have seen dozens of Nanodes built by beginners – often their first real soldering project.We are not trying to compete in any way with 32bit ARM devices – but we wanted a board that worked like an Arduino with a few extra features, such as ethernet connectivity and easy wireless and wired networking.Nanode is intended as a starter kit for web connected devices such as remote control, home automation and smart sensors. Later on there will be other variants, with built in wireless and available as a very compact SMT module.Nanode does not yet offer PoE, and you will need a FTDI or similar USB to serial adaptor cable to program it. In that respect it is similar to the standard version of the Ethernet Arduino – but a fraction of the price.Nanode is looking for resellers in Europe and Asia. If you want to get involved either commercially or join in with collaborative development, please contact me via @Monsonite on Twitter.Ken",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "433328",
"author": "ScottInNH",
"timestamp": "2011-08-12T18:42:41",
"content": "I suppose (but do not know for certain) that modding for POE might involve hijacking an unised pin from ETH PHY. Then running a jumper to the Nanode DC in. Or is there much more to it?(I am deliberately simplifying, but wondering in general if this is that easily possible.)",
"parent_id": "433244",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "433302",
"author": "b1r6m4n",
"timestamp": "2011-08-12T17:44:10",
"content": "If you plug a 10MBit device into a 100MBit network, won’t the whole network slow down??",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "433331",
"author": "ScottInNH",
"timestamp": "2011-08-12T18:45:41",
"content": "No, not if your router is a switch, and just about all of them are.If you employ an old fashioned hub, possibly yes (who uses hubs anymore though?)",
"parent_id": "433302",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "433482",
"author": "Mike",
"timestamp": "2011-08-12T22:14:25",
"content": "These guys have been making Ethernet AVR boards for a while:http://shop.tuxgraphics.org/electronic/index-eth.htmlI’ve bought parts from them a number of times and it’s worked out really well each time.The ENC28J60 is also easy to program with a small register set and has a good datasheet with few significant errata.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "433672",
"author": "Devajyoti Barman",
"timestamp": "2011-08-13T04:24:41",
"content": "Aah, really is something that should have been there. And 10 Mbit is really too much for the controller. It’s not like you’d transfer huge amounts of data. Twitter updates, Web controlled home automation, a tiny webserver… that’s about all you can do.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "463339",
"author": "sascha",
"timestamp": "2011-09-24T12:50:52",
"content": "Got mine this week and soldered it at the local Hackerspace (thanks again, guys!). Works like a charm!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
}
] | 1,760,377,114.394055
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2011/08/11/portal-puppet-probably-wont-kill-us/
|
Portal Puppet Probably Won’t Kill Us
|
Brian Benchoff
|
[
"Robots Hacks",
"Toy Hacks"
] |
[
"molding",
"portal",
"styrofoam",
"wheatley"
] |
This incredibly detailed puppet
of the Wheatley from
Portal
was sent into us, and we a so very happy that we’re not writing about a GLaDOS build right now.
Hewn from florist foam and covered
Wonderflex
and Apoxie Sculpt, Wheatley pretty much tows the line as far as cosplay and prop builds go. What makes Wheatley interesting is his movement mechanism – he’s actually a hand-controlled puppet.
Portal
quotes come a small sound module that plays 10 Wheatley quotes. The
control system
has ten buttons and allows for the display of a lot more emotion than we would expect from a talking sphere. We really like the completely manual solution to an articulated robot eyeball – a really great, simple solution to a complex problem.
Like the
portal turret
and the
adorable and friendly companion cube
, we’re really impressed with the build quality of Wheatley. Yet again we’re left wondering why Valve doesn’t license some awesome toys like their
office sentry
.
Check out the intelligence dampening sphere in action after the break.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YzG94ct2d5k&w=470]
| 11
| 10
|
[
{
"comment_id": "432569",
"author": "Spork",
"timestamp": "2011-08-11T17:39:07",
"content": "Did not play Portal 2, but the first one was awesome.That said, the finish quality on this puppet build is fantastic. The texture and small details are hard to believe considering the medium used to create it. This would be about 100x harder to make with fiberglass or vacuum plastic. Nice work keeping it simple and still making a great end product.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "432581",
"author": "jwrm22",
"timestamp": "2011-08-11T18:09:00",
"content": "Whoa! Great build. I want one…",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "432640",
"author": "andar_b",
"timestamp": "2011-08-11T18:44:26",
"content": "Nifty. I want to get P2, but there are other things I’d rather spend the money on for the moment, I’ll wait until the price comes down.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "432833",
"author": "RebelHell",
"timestamp": "2011-08-12T00:42:49",
"content": "Just FYI, Steam dropped the price to $29 last week.",
"parent_id": "432640",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "432674",
"author": "default",
"timestamp": "2011-08-11T19:30:34",
"content": "Wow! Amazing quality and detail. Great articulation. I agree with spork on the medium of choice. Applause!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "432699",
"author": "Alex",
"timestamp": "2011-08-11T20:13:26",
"content": "Very, very well done! I love the article picture… Perfect.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "432804",
"author": "silvesterstillalone",
"timestamp": "2011-08-11T23:34:41",
"content": "Shocking bit of craftsmanship there. The only thing that gave it away as not a cg shot was the book was too detailed.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "432956",
"author": "jc",
"timestamp": "2011-08-12T05:09:55",
"content": "Wow, I’m loving this ! Also, the cake is a lie ;P",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "433004",
"author": "TWIG",
"timestamp": "2011-08-12T08:14:43",
"content": "love to see space puppet",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "433062",
"author": "rktokomak",
"timestamp": "2011-08-12T10:55:50",
"content": "Dude! you are a god! who can ignore such an opinionated thing.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "434108",
"author": "jim",
"timestamp": "2011-08-13T23:44:13",
"content": "now just to send it to space",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
}
] | 1,760,377,114.442865
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2011/08/11/adding-a-midi-input-to-a-game-boy/
|
Adding A MIDI Input To A Game Boy
|
Brian Benchoff
|
[
"Nintendo Game Boy Hacks"
] |
[
"game boy",
"game boy advance",
"midi",
"sprite_tm"
] |
[Sprite_tm] is back again, and his work never fails to impress. His latest project is a
Game Boy Advance MIDI synth
that takes MIDI data from a keyboard or sequencer and maps that to Game Boy sound channels.
Because he seems to
never
do
anything
the normal way, [Sprite_tm] decided to run the Game Boy without a cartridge.
We’ve seen this before
; the GBA boots into the synth software over the link cable with multibooting.
[Sprite_tm] designed a circuit around an ATMega168 to boot the Game Boy, receive MIDI messages, then translate and send them through the link port. The main Game Boy code also has a simple interface to display graphics on the screen and a sequencer that allows him to record MIDI messages into 8 different tracks. We’re thinking that being able to sequence Game Boy chiptunes with a keyboard is a huge improvement over
Little Sound DJ
.
As [Sprite_tm] freely admits he’s not the best keyboard player, he gave his GBA synth to a musician friend.
The resulting song
is a veritable deluge of 8 bit chiptunes. The electronics behind this build are very simple (and can fit inside a MIDI cable), so we’re ready to break out the iron for this one. All the relevant code is posted [Sprite_tm]’s build page. There’s also a video walking through the features of his creation, viewable below.
[youtube=”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=scgBbHuNVAE&w=470%5D
| 21
| 12
|
[
{
"comment_id": "432465",
"author": "Tampopo",
"timestamp": "2011-08-11T14:14:20",
"content": "Nice hack to obtain retro style GB sound. But the GBA hardware is infra utilised in this hack. GBA is capable of sample based synthesis and other nice things.The system is capable of 4-bit wave output acording to thislink.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "432751",
"author": "Sprite_tm",
"timestamp": "2011-08-11T21:51:52",
"content": "That’s why I built in the polyphonic 8-channel software synthesizer bit on MIDI channel 4. I was thinking about adding a complete wavetable synth, but I discarded it: if you want that, you’re probably better off picking any PC softsynth anyway :)",
"parent_id": "432465",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "432553",
"author": "Mohammed",
"timestamp": "2011-08-11T16:53:43",
"content": "too bad the GBA sound chip sucks.. I love the GBA but the sound chip (does it even have a chip?) on that thing is the worst thing about the system",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "432657",
"author": "Mikey",
"timestamp": "2011-08-11T19:10:45",
"content": "I beg to differ:Advance Wars Game PlayAdvance Wars with heavy drum beat.Sounds even better on a real console, this must be from an emulator.",
"parent_id": "432553",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "432698",
"author": "koe",
"timestamp": "2011-08-11T20:12:57",
"content": "Example of an (original) GB used as instrument:http://pornophonique.de/",
"parent_id": "432553",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "1697135",
"author": "Mishka",
"timestamp": "2014-08-08T01:52:04",
"content": "Just leaving this here for posterityhttp://knifecity.bandcamp.com/track/slam-dunk-lifestyle(This is the original gameboy’s sound chip)",
"parent_id": "432553",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "432564",
"author": "Skitchin",
"timestamp": "2011-08-11T17:17:03",
"content": "Seems to me this could(and perhaps should) be expanded upon for other purposes(like running your own code). I might have to play with this myself – I’ve got a few GBA’s laying around, would be cool if you could use them as a ready to go interface w/ an Arduino or other processor.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "432651",
"author": "Mikey",
"timestamp": "2011-08-11T19:02:27",
"content": "Oh right, I’d forgotten about that. The gameboy advance can totally boot from the link cable (you can write programs for it cross-compiled with an ARM-THUMB gcc port too.) With the caveat that the programs have to be under a certain size limit (much much smaller than the carts, program basically runs from ram.).. Still, way simpler than building a custom rom kart (and less risky than buying one with drivers that won’t work on any OS past windows 98… or an custom interface program that has all the dialogs in chinese…)",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "432697",
"author": "Sprite_tm",
"timestamp": "2011-08-11T20:08:23",
"content": "Mikey: The limit is 256K (the size of the EWRAM in the GBA) which is actually quite huge if you’ve just finished cramming your bootloader in the 2K the AVR provides for it ;)",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "432710",
"author": "nes",
"timestamp": "2011-08-11T20:38:29",
"content": "Hey Sprite™, Do you dump the whole ARM program using the multiboot protocol or do you use some sort of two stage boot loader which switches into regular UART mode? I have been looking at doing the same thing just recently but I have a 100kb of tables I want in GBA RAM and am worried it will take a while to start up over multiboot.",
"parent_id": "432697",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "432747",
"author": "Sprite_tm",
"timestamp": "2011-08-11T21:46:38",
"content": "My program is only 14K, so the upload usually is done before the GBA is finished with all the animations it does. 100K probably is a bit much indeed, you may want to ‘borrow’ the 2nd stage multiboot loader from the software I mentioned somewhere in my article.",
"parent_id": "432710",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "433003",
"author": "nes",
"timestamp": "2011-08-12T08:13:56",
"content": "^^^ Cool thanks for that.Awesome project by the way!",
"parent_id": "432710",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "432874",
"author": "default",
"timestamp": "2011-08-12T02:01:58",
"content": "I really like this. Classic sound. Great demo too.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "432903",
"author": "SynthShoppingDotCom",
"timestamp": "2011-08-12T03:20:50",
"content": "Wow, I remember when Brian Whitman and I did this back in like 1999. Here’s our source code:http://code.google.com/p/pushpin/it looks like sprite hasn’t written his own synth yet. he ought to use Pushpin. we already did all of the cycle-counting.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "434104",
"author": "Sprite_tm",
"timestamp": "2011-08-13T23:33:40",
"content": "Sorry, I can’t really re-use Pushpin: first of all I can only upload native GBA code that way, so I can’t run Pushpins Z80 code. Secondly, the AVR that uploads the code doubles as a MIDI-to-GBA-link-port-converter, so I don’t really need to cycle-count to acquire the MIDI-signal. Thirdly, I actually /have/ written my own synth-software, it’s the bit of code that makes all the noise when I press the keyboard keys.BTW: I have gotten a few mails from people wanting to buy one of the cables, so I may be going to whip up a small batch and sell them. Contact me if you’re interested.",
"parent_id": "432903",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "432997",
"author": "zuul",
"timestamp": "2011-08-12T07:59:16",
"content": "cool",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "434530",
"author": "lolol",
"timestamp": "2011-08-14T17:09:19",
"content": "so it is possible to build this on my own?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "435565",
"author": "Sprite_tm",
"timestamp": "2011-08-15T22:01:46",
"content": "Sure, if you have the means to program the ATMega168, the rest should be a cinch.",
"parent_id": "434530",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "434816",
"author": "Tusi",
"timestamp": "2011-08-15T02:20:50",
"content": "Cool",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "438327",
"author": "AdamX",
"timestamp": "2011-08-20T06:25:55",
"content": "Cool for sure but…“We’re thinking that being able to sequence Game Boy chiptunes with a keyboard is a huge improvement over Little Sound DJ.”LSDj supports MIDI in.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "1037931",
"author": "Septr",
"timestamp": "2013-08-09T09:48:35",
"content": "Has anyone had success with building one of these? More specifically flashing the AVR?I have a programmer and have been trying to get it to work with no luck. His readme text says to use the makefile, but I’m getting errors when I try that. prolly cause I’m not using WinAVR like he is (I’m using mac). I’ve been just using avrdude to set the fuses and upload the .hex file provided. I still can’t get any mutiboot response out of it though. I’m actually a beginner, so I don’t know anything past what I’ve been able to piece together from tutorials/forums/help texts. If anyone with actual knowledge and experience with this could tell me if I’m doing things right/wrong I would be very grateful. Here’s what I’ve been executing.$ avrdude -c usbtiny -p m168 -u -U flash:w:gbamidi.hex -U lock:w:0x2f:m -U hfuse:w:0xdF:m -U lfuse:w:0xFf:m -U efuse:w:0x00:mI found those fuse bit values inside his makefile.One thing that struck me as odd is that when I use terminal mode in avrdude and ‘dump flash 0 16800’ the lines 0000 all the way through 3800 are all ‘ff’, which if I’m not mistaken, that means blank. Though it might have something to do with something else I saw in the makefile. near the top under where he declares the MCU, it says ‘BOOTLOADER_ADDRESS=0x3800’. Like I said I’m a beginner so I don’t know much about any of this stuff. All I wanted was a MIDIboy Advance :(",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
}
] | 1,760,377,114.692168
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2011/08/11/add-a-real-life-hardware-terminal-to-that-newfangled-computer-of-yours/
|
Add A Real Life Hardware Terminal To That Newfangled Computer Of Yours
|
Mike Nathan
|
[
"classic hacks",
"Mac Hacks"
] |
[
"getty",
"mac",
"serial",
"terminal",
"vt200"
] |
If you find a crusty old IT guy and give him half a chance, he’ll probably regale you with stories of how things were done “in the old days” where no one had their own computer and everyone worked on mainframe-connected dumb terminals.
[JSTN] yearned for a true to life terminal display
that he could attach to his 2010 Mac Pro, and since there’s no chance anybody is bringing one to market any time soon, he pieced one together on his own.
He dug up a digital VT220 terminal, and got to work trying to interface this office relic with his shiny new Mac. He found a few helpful tips from someone
| 77
| 33
|
[
{
"comment_id": "432402",
"author": "Bigdeal",
"timestamp": "2011-08-11T11:22:11",
"content": "This is so cool! Well done!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "432404",
"author": "billy bob",
"timestamp": "2011-08-11T11:24:19",
"content": "I don’t really get it why you want to do this?An old PC can do exactly the same, without the need for hardware mods, no?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "687419",
"author": "Ryan",
"timestamp": "2012-06-24T23:50:21",
"content": "An “old PC” burns clock cycles, wastes power and probably interfaces with a new fangled million+ pixel RGB display. A terminal runs on a low baud interface and uses an 80×24 character array. You just won’t get it unless you’re an old timer or understand embedded programming.",
"parent_id": "432404",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "4832687",
"author": "Mark Penrice",
"timestamp": "2018-08-07T23:43:49",
"content": "Depends how old we’re talking. Could be a 5150 with an MDA or Hercules (which is about 128kpixel) and a very VT220-like appearance, and a more guaranteed compatible RS232 port (…well, so long as the previous owner installed a serial card, anyway). No need even for a hard drive, maybe not even booting MSDOS from floppy, just let BASIC load from ROM then bang in a few lines of code that will copy any characters from the keyboard to COM1 and echo anything that comes in from COM1 to the screen. Which will work as a very simple “glass TTY” terminal; if you want something a bit more complicated that can respond to VT100/220 (or even just VT52?) or ANSI control codes, there’s almost certainly suitable comms programs that can be loaded from floppy… I mean, I remember such sophisticated things being available for the ST, including the original low-RAM, no-ROM-OS, single-sided-disc models, so the PC should have similar.The original PC’s power supply was notoriously underpowered (which is why I specified that rather than the XT, or even a 286-class machine even though those were themselves often found supplied with Hercules cards and mono monitors, or even MDAs in some cases), bad enough that hard drives typically needed an additional PSU and maybe an external expansion enclosure, so it probably doesn’t waste a great number of watts vs a straight terminal…Though if you’re that bothered, get something like a C128, Amstrad CPC, BBC Micro, later Apple II, or any other old 8-bit micro that has an 80-column mode and a serial port of some kind. Green/amber screen 15khz monitors were also available, even as a bundle with the computer in some cases, and putting the two together plus whatever suitable comms software you can find for them might actually end up using less power than the terminal would have.",
"parent_id": "687419",
"depth": 3,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "4832710",
"author": "Mark Penrice",
"timestamp": "2018-08-07T23:53:04",
"content": "(Or in fact, better yet, a PCW; that’s essentially a modest sized monochrome terminal with a built in Z80 processor card, a pile of memory and one or two floppy drives… no separate system box, and as it’s CP/M based you can probably find some software that will not only operate as an actual terminal – with the enhanced 90×32 text grid no less – but as a one-way display-only device with the keyboard disconnected if you want to save desk space and just use it as an additional text-only monitor instead of a true terminal)…just thought, though – one advantage the VT220 offers is that it can run a 132 column mode, and I think maybe 50-row as well, which is something the PC couldn’t really do until at least the Super-EGA and multisync era, if not the VGA era (as you need at least 792 horizontal pixels for even a scrappy 6-pixel-wide font, and even EGA’s 350 lines would be somewhat cramped for 50 rows and is more comfortable with 43 or less). It might be a bit squint-tastic if you have the screen placed quite a long way back on the desk, but if you have it sat relatively close to your keyboard it’d be perfectly readable at 132×50 (I’m sure I’ve used that for Pine and Lynx at least) and fit a lot more information on screen, and even be capable of rather more useful block graphics at 132×100 or even 264×100… without being any larger than a typical monitor, with no separate system box, and no greater power use.",
"parent_id": "4832687",
"depth": 4,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "1618846",
"author": "RobBob",
"timestamp": "2014-07-06T07:20:03",
"content": "Really, it’s more of a nostalgia thing. The clock cycles wasted on emulating a terminal are so incredibly negligible that I don’t even want to think about them. But… nostalgia and cool factor taken into account, I totally get it.",
"parent_id": "432404",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "432407",
"author": "EccentricElectron",
"timestamp": "2011-08-11T11:31:01",
"content": "You can happily run multiple terminals off a single machine. This technique can be useful for home automation and similar – replace the glass TTY with an 2-line LCD/keypad/serial-port, and you have a quick, easy, cheap centralised control system.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "4832647",
"author": "Mark Penrice",
"timestamp": "2018-08-07T23:31:19",
"content": "Seems a bit like a reinvention of the X10 standard though? Which only manages about 100 baud, but that’s enough for most applications of that same type (you can’t type faster than 10 characters/sec, and it’d fill a 20×2 display in 4 seconds if using 8-bit ASCII), and has the advantage of not needing you to run multiple serial cables all over the place as it uses a powerline interface instead… and as it’s considered a bit old hat in these days of near-gigabit powerline networking and wifi/bluetooth controlled home smart-device hubs, should be quite cheap to put a system together with.",
"parent_id": "432407",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "432409",
"author": "g",
"timestamp": "2011-08-11T11:36:16",
"content": "It’s nota digital VT200 terminal(as in not an analog one) buta Digital VT200 terminal(as in one made by Digital Equipment Corporation). Tsk.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "432411",
"author": "Addidis",
"timestamp": "2011-08-11T11:50:15",
"content": "wasnt this posted a few days ago.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "432413",
"author": "Truth",
"timestamp": "2011-08-11T11:53:27",
"content": "One thing to take care of is not to power cycle a serial console, some UNIX machines receive a break signal from the power cycle of the tty and stop the OS, jumping into the boot prom.Not sure if it would apply to a Macintosh, probably doesn’t apply to the Intel based machines, but may apply to the PPC machines. But there is no harm in always connecting the tty powered on just to be safe.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "432421",
"author": "EccentricElectron",
"timestamp": "2011-08-11T12:24:06",
"content": "Never, ever, ever seen this happen in all my years interfacing serial terminals to unix boxes, sounds like a load of bunkum.A unix tty ‘break’ signal would never normally cause a reboot even if it was generated at the point a terminal was powered down. Think about it – if it did, any user could then reboot the host just by sending a break.My best guess – I think you’re mistaken – is that perhaps turning off the terminal in your case caused a power spike that triggered a reboot on flaky hardware.",
"parent_id": "432413",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "432428",
"author": "x",
"timestamp": "2011-08-11T12:38:31",
"content": "An RS232 ‘break’ signal will cause a Sun box to drop straight to the firmware prompt.http://www.google.com/search?q=%22sun+break+safe%22",
"parent_id": "432421",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "432443",
"author": "RandomUnixGuy",
"timestamp": "2011-08-11T13:28:27",
"content": "This indeed was the case with Sun hardware for many years. It would drop you to a monitor ROM, aka the OK prompt. I’ve never seen this on HPUX/AIX/DGUX/IRIX or any x86.Only a break on the console tty would cause this, meaning you had physical access.Whey purchasing a console server they even have/had a name for it, sun break-safe.Some models had a front keyswitch, others nvram settings that were intended to prevent this.",
"parent_id": "432421",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "432449",
"author": "Max",
"timestamp": "2011-08-11T13:33:57",
"content": "Never seen it in all your years… You obviously haven’t many years.I think it’s mainly Sun machines that do this and it’s got something to do with taking one of the signal lines low when the machine isn’t expecting it. That will push you out to the OK prompt.If you’re only running TX/RX and none of the other connectors (CTS/RTS/DTR…) then you won’t have seen it happen.It used to be a nightmare for me, serial ports connected to other machines and someone reboots their box and takes your’s down with it. They never tell you till you’ve been called out at 4AM…There is something similar if you short 2 lines together, that’s taken as a UPS panic signal and the machine will do whatever it should when power is not guaranteed (shutdown cleanly).",
"parent_id": "432421",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "4832593",
"author": "Mark Penrice",
"timestamp": "2018-08-07T23:16:29",
"content": "Well, there’s a simple way to check – get the article author to try it and report their experiences. I have a feeling that it won’t make a jot of difference to an OSX Mac with a serial-emulating USB adapter hanging off it… if only because the “console” will be considered as the computer’s main screen and keyboard, or at least the built in video adapter and the main USB keyboard driver. Any serial terminal you might connect to it would count as an additional TTY:, not the CON:. ISTR the distinction between those two things being important even under MSDOS; the CON could be redirected to various different TTY sources, whether the default built-in keyboard and screen devices, or one of the COM ports, or the LPT, some other exotic device with an installed driver and addressible device name… etc.Whereas for an old headless Unix server, the console *has* to be a connected terminal, but one that is connected to a particular dedicated serial port, and might be switchable through a KVM-type box that tricks each server you can switch the terminal’s IO to that the terminal is connected (and idle, rather than sending breaks or whatever) even when it’s actually sending to and receiving from a different one…",
"parent_id": "432421",
"depth": 3,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "4832630",
"author": "Mark Penrice",
"timestamp": "2018-08-07T23:26:13",
"content": "(though really you should be able to disconnect without that sending a break – that’s officially the sending of an over +3 volt active signal for longer than a full character space, ie about 9 to 10 bit times in common setups; maybe the signal remaining in the undefined -3v to +3v zone for more than about a tenth of a second (or ~8 bit times at 75 baud running 6-bit baudot, ~11 at 110 baud and 8-bit characters plus parity or 9-bit non parity…) would instead be taken as “console disconnected, panic stations!”… in which case all your switch box would have to do is hold the data line at a steady 3 or more volts negative… the other question I suppose is whether it demands acknowledgement from the terminal for each character transmitted to it, and panics if there’s no intelligent response for more than a certain period, but that seems like it would be very inefficient of bandwidth and a sort of backwards version of full-duplex remote echo mode…)",
"parent_id": "4832593",
"depth": 4,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "432448",
"author": "Techrat",
"timestamp": "2011-08-11T13:33:27",
"content": "As far as I know, this *DID* happen, but only with “headless” SUN hardware, and *ONLY* if it was connected to Serial A, which became the “console”, since there was no keyboard/monitor attached. If you had terminals connected to Serials B, C, D, etc., they could be turned off without issue, but the “console” had to remain powered on.",
"parent_id": "432413",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "432507",
"author": "hpux735",
"timestamp": "2011-08-11T15:55:13",
"content": "I’ve seen it on a sun also, but only on the console port. It’s a weird sun debugging thing. Come to think of it, I remember that there was some way to do it on a DEC Alpha…Having this happen to any old serial port is lunacy, though. When I was 12 or 13 I went to work with my dad when he was doing maintenance on an IBM RS/6000 and they had to have had at least 300 serial terminals on that machine. Each was connected to a port concentrator that hooked into the SCSI bus. We sometimes had to go through a huge list of devices updating the huge list of bauds in gettytab",
"parent_id": "432448",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "432963",
"author": "GCL",
"timestamp": "2011-08-12T05:33:09",
"content": "I can vouch for that. I have here an UltraSPARC5 who when running, typically wears a serial cable plugged into that port. And when I select the break command on the features pulldown menu for Putty, it promptly causes the system to present the OK prompt.A desirable function, as that machine always ran headless in its previous life, working in some fashion at a financial house in NYC.",
"parent_id": "432448",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "432554",
"author": "Nik",
"timestamp": "2011-08-11T16:53:55",
"content": "Some unix servers did in fact have a designated console serial port with special functionality that would shout down the system when the console (sometimes called the master terminal was powered off. On several Sun systems this would be handled in the openboot Forth interpreter, and the default actino was a shutdown. If you were familiar with forth, you could define an override behavior to the event that would stop the shutdown.AFAIK, Openboot eas used on systems from Sun, Iris, and Apple (some of the later PPC systes and the Tanzania based Apple PPC clones.This was only in effect on the designated console port. Other serial ports weren’t affected.Being a long time Linux user, and even alonger time Unix guy, (and a crusty old programmer at that), a test terminal is really handy when a system upgrade hoses you X configuration and disables your keyboard. Nowadays, I keep a net terminal connected through the network and a kvm switch, but I have a few old terminals stuck in storage.The vt220 have a lot of functions that can’t be made available in emulators. For example, keyboard remapping and the answerback buffer, which are harmless to a terminal, but major security holes on an emulator running on a PC.In linux, adding a terminal is as simple as plugging it in and adding a bash profile. at worst you may need to install the terminfo package and compile the ESRs ufo (unidentiified feeping objects) terminfo entries.",
"parent_id": "432413",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "432620",
"author": "Nik",
"timestamp": "2011-08-11T18:18:51",
"content": "I have an old hp125 which is a z80 computer built into a hewlett packard hp2621 serial terminal. The computer retains all of the terminal functions, using 2 cpus (one 4mhz z80 for program execution, another 4mhz z80 for the intelligent terminal functions, and an 8031 that controlls the IEEE488 bus for attaching disk drives and other peripherals.The terminal has 2 external serial ports. port 2 is a standard rs232c in every way, port 1 has a centronics style connector with signals for RS232, rs423, synchronous and bisynchronous signals. HP sold several pigtail adapters to permit connection to a wide range of serial interfaces. I want to wire a pigtail adapter for port 1 because the advanced functions of the hp 2621 terminal includes a full range of terminal passthrough device functions, which includes the IEEE488 bus devices and the ability to remote boot the cpm computer over serial port 1.I think a remote booting cpm computer would be really retro cool. The problem is that I’ve been unable to track down enough info on the protocol. Many older unix systems had a utility called hpio that could access the hp terminal passthrough devices, but I’ve had no luck finding source code.BTW, older Macs actually implemented RS422 signaling hardware, which is compatible with RS232 but capable of up to 10 mB/s with cable lengths of up to 4000 ft. One could network two macs through the serial ports.",
"parent_id": "432413",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "432415",
"author": "RFRodent",
"timestamp": "2011-08-11T12:04:10",
"content": "Aww, was hoping the terminal would show the boot-status of the machine it was connected to.Is such a thing possible?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "432510",
"author": "hpux735",
"timestamp": "2011-08-11T16:03:37",
"content": "Yes, at least on OS X server (on the Xserve). There’s a serial port on the back for console access.",
"parent_id": "432415",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "4832546",
"author": "Mark Penrice",
"timestamp": "2018-08-07T23:06:37",
"content": "Depends how smart the BIOS is and if it can recognise the USB adapter as a serial port in the same way as it can pick up the keyboard and mouse. Otherwise you’ll have to take a look inside the computer’s case and see if there’s an unused serial port header hidden away there… which is more common than you’d maybe expect, but not universal.",
"parent_id": "432415",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "432416",
"author": "YT2095",
"timestamp": "2011-08-11T12:06:32",
"content": "Nice to see!I use a Camdata microscribehttp://www.camdata.co.uk/telecomms.htmwith my homebrew z80 computer also, a Cambridge z88 is also a good piece of kit to use as well (at least for me anyway) as it also has a built in Terminal mode.and it`ll work quite nicely with these 433MHz RX/TX radio modules too, via a 74HCT06 or max232 chip.there`s plenty of cool things that can be done with these not-so-“Dumb” Terminals ;)",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "4832556",
"author": "Mark Penrice",
"timestamp": "2018-08-07T23:08:14",
"content": "Wait, using the Z88 as a terminal, or as a host that you plug the terminal into? The latter seems like it would make more sense, given the very limited built-in display compared to the actual power of the machine… all you really need to make it into a “proper” computer is a larger screen and software redesigned to take advantage of it… even using the terminal’s own keyboard would be strictly optional.",
"parent_id": "432416",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "432419",
"author": "Sigg3",
"timestamp": "2011-08-11T12:14:05",
"content": "I found several for cheap on ebay.com, but shipping to Europe was some $1000 USD.Yay.I think I’ll just keep an eye on the local flea markets..",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "432563",
"author": "mightymike",
"timestamp": "2011-08-11T17:15:25",
"content": "@Sigg3:i have a Terminal sitting around right here, anyone interested? Located in Germany.",
"parent_id": "432419",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "432420",
"author": "zrzzz",
"timestamp": "2011-08-11T12:21:15",
"content": "Really you’re just plugging a terminal into your serial port where it was meant to be all along. Unix was built around serial terminals. telnet, xterm, ssh, these were all made to imitate a terminal",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "432424",
"author": "Alex",
"timestamp": "2011-08-11T12:28:49",
"content": "Or maybe just having an amber tty console hooked up to your computer is novel and different, so we like it. But being an ass is cool too, I guess.",
"parent_id": "432420",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "432426",
"author": "ENKI-][",
"timestamp": "2011-08-11T12:34:10",
"content": "But to do this over USB (new Macs lack a proper serial port — as do many other Intel machines) requires a little bit of software hackery. Even running Linux and using a proper serial, you need to rebuild the kernel with a terminal-on-serial flag twiddled (and presumably wire up an adapter so that you can hook a modern 9-pin serial port to a pre-IBM-PC 28-pin serial port, either by digging up the proper connectors or just finding the pinouts and sticking loose solid-core wires into the holes). It may even be that a null modem is needed (and try finding a newly manufactured null modem that will connect two different varieties of serial port…)I suspect that this particular terminal is new enough that it uses the same line voltage as modern serial ports, but that isn’t necessarily true of even all glass ttys. On top of that, if you want to use a proper paper line printer, you might end up with one that uses baudot!",
"parent_id": "432420",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "432486",
"author": "lwatcdr",
"timestamp": "2011-08-11T14:40:11",
"content": "RS232 is RS232 and that is what most terminals use. Serial out on a modern mac? USB serial adaptor. DB-9 to 25 adaptor?http://www.cablestogo.com/product_list.asp?cat_id=101you can even buy a USB to DB25 adaptor. In fact he links to a place where you can buy all the parts you need.This is cool but not super hard to do which is a good thing. in fact he lists where he bought all the parts. Now if you want to take it a step farther you could make your own USB to serial cable that plugs right into the terminal, Or you could get a small micro with ethernet. Write your own SSH software and have a dedicated SSH terminal on your network. Replace with Wifi if you wish.",
"parent_id": "432426",
"depth": 3,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "432499",
"author": "Spork",
"timestamp": "2011-08-11T15:31:48",
"content": "I think making a cable with RS232-USB or using a micro to put a terminal on the network with an embedded device would make this a whole different project, however cool that sounds.I like the simplicity here because to most ordinary (MAC and PC) users this kind of hack is beyond their reach, but can bring some fun/learning/nostalgia into their new technology-loving home.",
"parent_id": "432486",
"depth": 4,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "4832416",
"author": "Mark Penrice",
"timestamp": "2018-08-07T22:20:20",
"content": "Null modem is just a particular type of cable, and it’s very easily available. Until Maplin shut down a couple months ago, you could just walk into a high street shop in the UK and buy one off the shelf… in fact I picked up one on the just-in-case for a pittance during their closing down clearance sale. But there were plenty of online sources for the same stuff (kinda why they went out of business), and so it remains. I had reason to order a couple at different times in my last job, because there’s plenty of modern day AV equipment that still includes a serial port as the defacto method of basic digital remote control and status reporting, and even if you already have a USB to serial converter for some other reason (eg hooking up an older interactive whiteboard), you still need the cable to go between the converter’s port and the one on the device you need to do some settings hacking on.",
"parent_id": "432426",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "4832538",
"author": "Mark Penrice",
"timestamp": "2018-08-07T23:04:17",
"content": "Also, the RS232 standard defines everything necessary to transmit data between any two arbitrary devices, including the voltage levels and the pin assignments for various common connectors. So as long as the terminal is RS232 compliant, you should just be able to plug it into anything else that’s also compliant, so long as you can get the passive adaptor to mate up their ports.Though the problem you might encounter is actually with cheap USB to serial converters; technically RS232 is supposed to use -12v as “0” (or idle) and +12v as “1”, but as they run off USB’s single +5V supply, and generally lack both the space and budget for a full voltage booster/inverter chip or circuit and likely just have a very simple inverter built in, can only really manage about +4.8V and -3.8V output.The letter of the standard says that anything from +3 to +15v and -3v to -15v should be accepted (with only -3v to +3v being the undefined, unacceptable zone that signals should only pass through briefly when switching between high and low), and enough devices actually produce just -5v and +5v that those levels should be accepted, but running even lower such to skirt close to the allowable minimum might end up running into incompatibilities, especially with longer cables. And as a mainframe that the terminal might connect to can be reasonably expected to have all kinds of voltages available well in excess of 15v both positive and negative it might not accept even +/-5v…The more likely problem though is that it’s designed for some other serial data standard than RS232, which is only really rated for cable lengths of around 15 to 50ft, and officially only 20kbit/s with the shorter cable run. RS422, 423 and 485 may be used instead, all of which are related to each other and RS232 but all mutually incompatible… but each support cable runs of up to 4000ft, and data rates of 100kbit to 10mbit, plus “multidrop” (ie several devices on the same cable) support and other things that would be useful for a one-server many-client setup.Happily though you can also get USB converters for RS422 and 485 (which are particularly exotic vs 232 because they use differential signalling rather than simple negative-vs-positive, to eliminate shot noise and other simple interference), and it might be possible to twiddle a 232 one into 423 compatibility as that’s non differential and officially uses +/- 6v signalling (though the levels are reversed, ie -6v is “1”, and the minimum is a higher +/- 4v) and shares some of the same control lines (ie RTS and CTS)…",
"parent_id": "432426",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "432432",
"author": "voodoo",
"timestamp": "2011-08-11T12:54:03",
"content": "Seems like the hardest part of this job was fighting through Apple’s somewhat-silly software work. I had a similar headache trying to get NFS working correctly on 10.5 (why disable getty anyway? it makes little sense). Nice job on this, it’s definitely got style!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "432435",
"author": "voodoo",
"timestamp": "2011-08-11T12:57:01",
"content": "Also, I still use a similar setup to control a fleet of HP servers that we have over their RS-232 connections (the machines forward their POST/BIOS over the RS232, as well as BASH once Linux boots), so I have 5 or so old 4-way serial switch boxes and a terminal emulator on my desk. Still easier to dial in the machine I want that to actually go and find the thing.",
"parent_id": "432432",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "432433",
"author": "JAngel",
"timestamp": "2011-08-11T12:54:45",
"content": "Can I ask why would you want to do this…just wondering…..",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "432547",
"author": "Moejr",
"timestamp": "2011-08-11T16:36:02",
"content": "Why do this? Because he can. Thats the whole point of this site. What fun is it to do things the easy way. Its more fun to learn new things and do it yourself.",
"parent_id": "432433",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "432436",
"author": "neoxide",
"timestamp": "2011-08-11T12:59:49",
"content": "I’ve got a VT220 in my garage that I’ve been meaning to do this to for ages… but not having a keyboard (the LK201) for it means this guy beat me to it! Good on him for paving the way, of course :D",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "432437",
"author": "neoxide",
"timestamp": "2011-08-11T13:03:41",
"content": "His website also looks just like the one that I’ve been meaning to make for myself all these years! I really need to start working on my own projects…",
"parent_id": "432436",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "432438",
"author": "abobymouse",
"timestamp": "2011-08-11T13:03:56",
"content": "This is a cool hack. Anyone looking for similar serial terminals could look in skips (dumpsters) or at tech recycling places. Or in the back of dusty cupboards at workplaces. These terms were used in many businesses.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "432447",
"author": "Peter",
"timestamp": "2011-08-11T13:33:25",
"content": "Meh. You kids and your VT-220s. Linedit and a Teletype is the real old-school way to go.//feel the pain",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "432453",
"author": "Max",
"timestamp": "2011-08-11T13:40:35",
"content": "I used a teletype once. It was in the corridor outside the computer room. The access to the room was controlled by a PIN that you could check by “cat /etc/pin” or similar. Of course you had to be inside to do that, unless you were brave enough to use the teletype.It really makes you realise why Unix commands are mainly 2-3 letters and with single letter options.None of this “–verbose-option” on a teletype.It also makes sure you check the code before leaving the room next time.Ah, those were the days.",
"parent_id": "432447",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "432493",
"author": "Peter",
"timestamp": "2011-08-11T15:06:24",
"content": "…and nothing, I mean *nothing* sounds like a Teletype. I miss the old boxes of bolts. Absolutely amazing what they did with levers and clutches to print serial data. Descended from the Morse code key, it made it into the computer age (just barely).",
"parent_id": "432453",
"depth": 3,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "4832397",
"author": "Mark Penrice",
"timestamp": "2018-08-07T22:14:23",
"content": "Even moreso than that, it’s a serial data transmission standard that *predates the telephone* by about 3 years, at least in original form, and more particularly predates the internal combustion engine. The more widely used “modified Baudot” form that then remained in use long enough to be turned into computer terminals was pioneered around the same time as the death of Queen Victoria in 1901, and came along only shortly after radio stopped being a short-range laboratory novelty and was itself starting to be used for telegraphy (the first marine use in fact being 1902) and was a standard that competed with Morse Code for continuous-wave (ie, before even the modulation of signals onto a carrier, let alone the modulation of *voice* or music signals) transmission…Which is why it’s all a combination of cams, clutches, and so-on. Because that’s how it was originally built in the 19th century and why change what works perfectly well, even if it’s a 60+ year old design? Especially when trying to synchronise a newer all-electronic version of the machine with the existing mechanical ones would have been about as difficult as just keeping the old design (which could be governed quite precisely by varying the motor speed and had both synchronising pulses to control that as well as a fair bit of slack to cope with mechanisms that were still somewhat adrift of the standard even so), especially in the vacuum tube or early transistorised age where the solid state gear wasn’t quite as reliable or consistent as what we expect in the present day.The wikipedia article about the standard alone is quite an eye opener, it’s a really clever bit of late-1800s tech and makes you wonder what might have been if Babbage had met with more success and someone had the idea to connect a teletype to a difference engine 50+ years earlier than the equivalent innovation actually happened…",
"parent_id": "432493",
"depth": 4,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "4832326",
"author": "Mark Penrice",
"timestamp": "2018-08-07T21:55:05",
"content": "I’ve had to use MSDOS with an inkjet printer as the TTY when my monitor blew up at exactly the wrong time and I needed to copy files off onto disc to finish editing elsewhere… even that was tedious vs the on-screen interface, even though the printer was reasonably quick and quiet (and let you prop the lid open to see characters as soon as they were free of the platen) and the normal keyboard was still functional. Having to deal with a clattery, whirring daisywheel impact printer for output and the clunky typewriter or even cash register-like keys (and ~11cps max both ways) of a real teletype for everything the computer does… no thanks. You’d definitely appreciate the ultrashort command names and their typically super-economical output feeds :)",
"parent_id": "432453",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "432456",
"author": "xradionut",
"timestamp": "2011-08-11T13:46:29",
"content": "Seeing the VT220 makes me think of the good ole days of VMS. :(",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "432459",
"author": "Infidellic",
"timestamp": "2011-08-11T13:49:48",
"content": "I use Mainframes everyday for work, using a 3270 terminal emulator is fine, but more than two colours is crazy! I want one of these but I’m not sure how the company would feel trailing a huge serial cable all the way from our z10’s though =^p",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "432463",
"author": "mansaxel",
"timestamp": "2011-08-11T14:06:23",
"content": "The 3270 is not a serial terminal, it is pretty much like the web without pictures and Javascript; the terminal gets a menu sent to it in a data burst, displays it, the user puts some data in fields, and sends the result back in a short data burst. Like the web, just from 1972. And no hyperlinks proper. More like menu selections.Serial terminals like the vt220 send every character down the line as soon as it is typed. Big difference. The display on the terminal then gets its data down the line from the computer. The fact that characters show up as soon as you type them is because a program on the host decides to echo them, whereas the 3270 does that by itself.SSH and telnet work the same way; the RS232 is substituted by a TCP connection with optional encryption, and the terminal is replaced by software in the client end. Still, the software of the far end of the connection echoes or not.I haven’t hooked a serial terminal up to a Mac, but frequently use my Mac as a serial terminal with an USB adapter; mostly to talk to routers and switches but also the occasional Unix host. I prefer the Prolific PL2303 chip, or one of the FTDI chips. Good drivers exist for both. ZTerm btw needs an Intel build.",
"parent_id": "432459",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "432467",
"author": "Infidellic",
"timestamp": "2011-08-11T14:18:56",
"content": "I did know most of this but was just being light hearted =^p thanks anyway :)",
"parent_id": "432463",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "4832313",
"author": "Mark Penrice",
"timestamp": "2018-08-07T21:49:35",
"content": "The 3270 and its ilk were amongst the first really widespread uses for corporate LANs, even – before there were any practical personal computers and certainly long before anyone thought of hooking *those* into internal client-server and peer-to-peer networks, they were using Ethernet and Token Ring to communicate with the local interface controller (equivalent to a router or switch, kinda) and through it the mainframe, whether in-house or at the other end of a high speed digital telephone link (at anything up to 56kbits… in the 70s!). IBM were actually doing some cutting edge stuff, which possibly explains – even whilst also making it surprising – how they ended up playing catch-up in the PC arena and had a few misfires before finally catching the public’s attention with the 5150… One of the common option cards for which in fact being a *hardware* 3270 emulator (because the machine itself lacked the power to keep up with the data bursts using software alone, and certainly didn’t have any suitable built-in ports…)",
"parent_id": "432463",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "432791",
"author": "wa5znu",
"timestamp": "2011-08-11T23:18:45",
"content": "Right, the VT-220 wasn’t used with a “mainframe.” Maybe a Vax or a PDP-11 or a PDP-10, which believe it or not were called “minicomputers.”",
"parent_id": "432459",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "432820",
"author": "lwatcdr",
"timestamp": "2011-08-12T00:06:53",
"content": "PDP-10 and PDP-20 where mainframes they where 36 bit machines. The PDP-11 was a mini and the Vax was a super called a super mini. Just for a bit of fun triva the PDP-10 is what ran compuserve.",
"parent_id": "432791",
"depth": 3,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "4832295",
"author": "Mark Penrice",
"timestamp": "2018-08-07T21:40:34",
"content": "The PDP-10 also seems old enough that it was mainly used with teletype style terminals rather than “glass TTY”s like the VT series. Though it might have been used with some of the early models like the VT52, particularly in the case of the Compuserve machines? Still, it seems rather more likely that you’d set up a mini like the PDP-11 with a CRT terminal, both as a space-saving measure (as you’d have an 11 because you lacked the space and electrical current for a mainframe and didn’t need hardcore computing power) and because you had a bit of money spare after buying the cheaper model of computer and not having to allocate as much budget to the energy bill… as well as it coming along a little later than the 10 and representing the vanguard of a newer, slicker computing paradigm.",
"parent_id": "432820",
"depth": 4,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "432470",
"author": "kain",
"timestamp": "2011-08-11T14:24:07",
"content": "Not a Mac Pro from the picture – that is an iMac.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "432666",
"author": "Kuy",
"timestamp": "2011-08-11T19:19:19",
"content": "It’s an Apple Cinema Display (previous generation) in the photo, not an iMac. [JSTN] also says it’s (connected to) a Mac Pro in the first sentence of the writeup.",
"parent_id": "432470",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "432485",
"author": "bothersaidpooh",
"timestamp": "2011-08-11T14:38:50",
"content": "Find an old 2*20 display in an old music centre.I have one here, which looks like serial input.A bit of PIC programming-fu and it could be used as a weather display etc.Even better hack, find one with a bargraph VFD and make a spectrum analyzer with it.A bit of hackery using an array of old TV tuners and a voltage divider… voila!Guess how many of these you can find down the scrap yard, just waiting to be saved from landfill.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "432487",
"author": "bothersaidpooh",
"timestamp": "2011-08-11T14:47:34",
"content": "@mansaxel Yeah, those are nice.Sparkfun do them last time I checked, and they make an ideal bootstrap chip for micros to connect to the PC.Wonder if anyone has tried doing serial over Bluetooth headset using the A2DP?i.e. use a LM567 tone decoder on the Rx end to convert the audio into serial.Wouldn’t be very fast but cheap as chips, and you could even update from your Iphone/fondleslab/Nokia/etc.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "432506",
"author": "Bigdeal",
"timestamp": "2011-08-11T15:53:39",
"content": "By the way, this looks like the perfect display to echo the lyrics of Portal’s credits song “Still alive”.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "432520",
"author": "fdawg4l",
"timestamp": "2011-08-11T16:12:46",
"content": "Serial to USB def works, but I thought the new Apple boxes with their EFI had a real serial console which would let you get to an OpenBoot like terminal. And, I think, even a LOM. No?Or is this just the server line I’m thinking of?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "432546",
"author": "Ken",
"timestamp": "2011-08-11T16:33:06",
"content": "do want…",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "432705",
"author": "mightymike",
"timestamp": "2011-08-11T20:21:27",
"content": "i still have a Digital terminal with keyboard on my attic. Anybody interested? Located in germany, shipping across europe should not be a big issue.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "432822",
"author": "cmholm",
"timestamp": "2011-08-12T00:11:32",
"content": "I’d love to try this. A terminal I could get away with putting down in the garage.My previous work site used PDP-11/70s as test bench controllers up until 1999, when they switched to PDP emulators on a PCI card. S/w inertia, it ain’t just for banks!I considered it a major advance when we finally managed to exchange VT-100s for VT-220s (or a 320!).",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "432840",
"author": "Paul",
"timestamp": "2011-08-12T01:02:23",
"content": "SO COOL! I can think of so many uses for this. If you are running a web server, why not tail your access logs? A geeky decoration that actually has practical value. Or, if you have snort set up, show snort alerts in real time. Or firewall blocks.This makes me get all hot and bothered.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "432856",
"author": "torwag",
"timestamp": "2011-08-12T01:30:37",
"content": "I like it but I really would like to see how to merge the two keyboards. My desk is already full with stuff and there is no space to put another keyboard down.Would be awesome to use only a single keyboard and somehow switch between the two systems. Maybe a regular keyboard switch (+ a uC) can be modified to provide terminal and PC output?!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "4832270",
"author": "Mark Penrice",
"timestamp": "2018-08-07T21:28:42",
"content": "Well, if you just want to use the terminal as a secondary display, you could set up whatever TTY server utility runs on the host machine to act as output-only and accept input from the local console as if it’s a remote one when its icon is clicked on, as well as messages from whatever other programs running on the computer are text-terminal compatible.",
"parent_id": "432856",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "432863",
"author": "Cyberteque",
"timestamp": "2011-08-12T01:40:56",
"content": "The first time I compiled Linux source, (Potato) I saw the option for “Console on serial port”.Never looked back!I use a Wyse mainly but I have a VT-100 and a VT-132 as well.Having man pages on the Wyse or running a session of pstree or top is great.One thing I have noticed is LONG after you have last the console on the host machine and cant get back to X, the serial port console will still be running, you can at least reboot or restart X.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "432972",
"author": "dustandechoes91",
"timestamp": "2011-08-12T06:04:34",
"content": "I just threw out 30 AS400 terminals last week…",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "433087",
"author": "Spark",
"timestamp": "2011-08-12T11:47:43",
"content": "You will pay for your sins.",
"parent_id": "432972",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "433083",
"author": "Dirk Penus",
"timestamp": "2011-08-12T11:36:56",
"content": "While this may be “cool” and all, it’s incredibly wasteful. A VT220 draws 60 Watts. That’s the same as 6 average laptops. Not to mention the wasted desk space.Hey, I did this too, a couple years back. Realized it was stupid pretty soon.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "433152",
"author": "Cyberteque",
"timestamp": "2011-08-12T14:01:53",
"content": "Is the 60W for the one in the photo?Mine is rated @30W.Why you think this is stupid kinda makes me wonder.I have a “few” Data General terminals, they are not ANSI, VT52 or VT100 compatable.What we did was make a “breakout box” that just diode OR’s all the RX and TX lines together.That rig has been doing the rounds @parties for years.People, especially drunk ones get a kick out of “local chat”, go figure.This is way more useful.As for the power consumption, since when was that a consideration?Seriously?",
"parent_id": "433083",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "4832260",
"author": "Mark Penrice",
"timestamp": "2018-08-07T21:25:44",
"content": "Well, it’s not particularly going to make the difference between fireball vs snowball Earth, but it’s worth bearing in mind in case the extra $30 a year in electricity is important to you. Though I expect that’s a maximum rating (whole screen set to flat high-intensity “white”, beeper sounding, and both sending and receiving at maximum rate with all the keys pressed at once) and the average consumption is probably closer to the idle level. Though as you’re running a CRT plus a fair amount of early 80s logic that was never designed with any kind of energy efficiency in mind, that could still be 15-20 watts…",
"parent_id": "433152",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "895037",
"author": "andy",
"timestamp": "2012-12-01T05:46:15",
"content": "i would so buy it!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "4832244",
"author": "Mark Penrice",
"timestamp": "2018-08-07T21:21:58",
"content": "Hmmm… I wonder if my old university has got rid of their green-screen VT220s from the library yet. When I was there in the early noughties they had been relegated from a presumably more prominent place in the main computer rooms to a couple banks of catalogue enquiry stations … but they retained an option on the menu to drop out to a terminal session running on the main server, and you could log in to your main account… fire up Pine for email, Lynx for textmodehttp://www... and some flavour of text editor though I forget what. Could probably have run other Unix programs but I never thought to try.Just those two apps were pretty handy though, if you just needed to do some simple information searching or reading/sending messages whilst all the main internet computers were tied up (this was in an age before internet to the halls of residence or your shared digs unless you were quite flush, never mind smartphones), and the experience was really rather pleasant… those old terminals were very nicely made, screens were sharp and easy on the eye, had decent keyboards and were surprisingly responsive even at something like 19200 baud… would be a fun thing to have as an additional screen running off the laptop when it’s on a desk maybe…",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "6292679",
"author": "Greg Chabala",
"timestamp": "2020-11-07T17:50:58",
"content": "Updated link to the source post:https://jstn.tumblr.com/post/8692501831",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
}
] | 1,760,377,115.137075
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2011/08/10/diy-smart-tweezers-make-smd-work-a-cinch/
|
DIY Smart Tweezers Make SMD Work A Cinch
|
Mike Nathan
|
[
"Tool Hacks"
] |
[
"capacitance",
"fluke",
"resistance",
"smd",
"tweezers"
] |
[Noel] does a lot of SMD work and wanted
a pair of “smart” tweezers
that could be used to place components as well as for reading their capacitance and resistance values on the fly. As we have seen,
these things can be somewhat costly
, and not really necessary if you already have a good multimeter. With that in mind, he figured he could build his own for almost nothing.
He started off with a pair of kids’ “training” chopsticks which are durable, but more importantly, non-conductive. He took a second pair of tweezers, this time made of metal, and split them in two. He soldered wire to a set of ring terminals, mounting one on each leg of his broken tweezers. The final bit of assembly involved using zipties to mount everything on the plastic chopsticks along with the addition of banana plugs to the end of his probes.
[Noel] says that the tweezers work quite well, and with such a low price tag, we can’t argue.
| 22
| 14
|
[
{
"comment_id": "432119",
"author": "andar_b",
"timestamp": "2011-08-10T22:33:24",
"content": "I recall a similar build using pieces of old ISA cards with the gold slot contacts on the points of the tweezer. I don’t know if I saw that here on HaD or elsewhere, though.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "432123",
"author": "Cubby",
"timestamp": "2011-08-10T22:43:38",
"content": "Very nice. Gonna build a set for myself.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "432165",
"author": "vtl",
"timestamp": "2011-08-11T00:01:26",
"content": "Considering you can buy this multimeter attachment off eBay for a few dollars why not just buy it?eg:http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/SMD-Test-Clip-Meter-Probe-multimeter-Tweezer-capacitor-/140564083563?pt=AU_B_I_Electrical_Test_Equipment&hash=item20ba45b36b",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "432466",
"author": "Jim",
"timestamp": "2011-08-11T14:14:40",
"content": "I bought a pair of those, and like all cheap tweezers the points don’t meet cleanly, but the metal is so thin at the tip that it is very difficult to bend. I can see myself carrying out an “improvement” similar to this hack on them in the near future.",
"parent_id": "432165",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "432168",
"author": "Ian",
"timestamp": "2011-08-11T00:02:58",
"content": "Uh, aren’t the long leads going to cause some accuracy problems with small values capacitors?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "432196",
"author": "bearmos",
"timestamp": "2011-08-11T01:13:25",
"content": "this was my first thought as well – you can forget about using this to figure out what crystal load caps you were trying to sort out. . . the leads are going to have more capacitance than the capacitor most likely.the example on his blog shows it measuring .22uF. i wonder how it does with smaller values?",
"parent_id": "432168",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "432190",
"author": "dave-o",
"timestamp": "2011-08-11T00:50:00",
"content": "Pomona makes them.http://www.pomonaelectronics.com/pdf/d5678_1_01.pdfAmazon sells them.http://www.amazon.com/Pomona-Tweezer-Sleeved-Banana-Plugs/dp/B0013XY48WI own the fluke 4 wire version for my bench meter. Very nice. The Pomonas are awesome though, and built every bit as well as the rest of the Pomona gear.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "432197",
"author": "bearmos",
"timestamp": "2011-08-11T01:16:33",
"content": "This would be really handy for something like 0603 or 0402 resistors, which aren’t labeled – I’d just do some initial testing before trusting it with capacitors.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "432325",
"author": "Mark A",
"timestamp": "2011-08-11T07:10:02",
"content": "I didn’t know what SMD stoud for as it’s AATNK (An Abrivation That Nobody Knows)or ASGORLTCSFAYWIT (A Stupid Group Of Random Letters That Could Stand For Anything You Want It To)I’ve looked up the meaning and found the answer athttp://www.internetslang.com/SMD.aspI hope you don’t do a lot of SMD work !",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "432334",
"author": "QW",
"timestamp": "2011-08-11T07:27:44",
"content": "Surface mount device. And everyone on HAD knows what it means but you.",
"parent_id": "432325",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "432346",
"author": "onitam",
"timestamp": "2011-08-11T08:09:59",
"content": "Yeah, good for you for looking that up. But you really didn’t need to get all snippy. Most if not all of us know what an SMD part is. The other abbrev would be SMT or Surface Mount Technology. If you click the little tag at the bottom of the post you can see that a wide variety of SMD stuff has been posted in the past. It really isn’t all that uncommon at all.",
"parent_id": "432325",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "432356",
"author": "Eirinn",
"timestamp": "2011-08-11T08:47:17",
"content": "Anyone with decent electronics knowledge knows what SMD stands for.",
"parent_id": "432325",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "432401",
"author": "sawo",
"timestamp": "2011-08-11T11:19:19",
"content": "Yeah, i always go on sites that cover a special field of interest, and then flame around that i don’t know the abbreviations that come with that particular interest. if you don’t know what SMD stands for and you are unable to look it up properly, you’re most probably wrong here.",
"parent_id": "432325",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "432384",
"author": "MCMLXII",
"timestamp": "2011-08-11T10:08:22",
"content": "SND stands for Strategic Missile Defenseor is it Sega Mega Driveor Simian Mobile Discoor Senile Macular Degenerationor Security Mounted Detectoror …",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "432423",
"author": "steve",
"timestamp": "2011-08-11T12:28:13",
"content": "Awesome. Here in Germany you can get them in decent quality for about 10 Euro/ 14 Dollar. But you have to pay shipping and wait for it. Building it yourself is a really good idea, as it is cheaper, quicker, can be built with BNC/SMA whatever connector and best of all – IS MORE FUN. Thanks!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "432425",
"author": "sawo",
"timestamp": "2011-08-11T12:31:42",
"content": "On my ebay.de i see them floating around for about 4€ including shipping…",
"parent_id": "432423",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "432621",
"author": "steve",
"timestamp": "2011-08-11T18:22:15",
"content": "True, but I want some decent quality. Everything with cables from Ebay, that costs just a few cent is notoriously full of plastic softener which gives me skin rashes.",
"parent_id": "432425",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "432490",
"author": "iHME",
"timestamp": "2011-08-11T14:58:00",
"content": "Didn’t some guy make those from PCB material too?I think it was posted here a few years back.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "432667",
"author": "gnusci",
"timestamp": "2011-08-11T19:22:20",
"content": "Nice DIY, I will build one, I am new to SMD, so very handy HaD post. Thanks.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "432844",
"author": "morganism",
"timestamp": "2011-08-12T01:10:47",
"content": "I used a pair of stainless steel chopsticks, hacked off the small ends, inserted sewing machine needles (they have thicker bodies), and brazed them on.Hacked off the back, and inserted stacked banana plus, so i can hook it thru a cheap meter, and my Blue ESR meter.Covered the length of the chopsticks with shrink Tube, and the barrels of the needles with electrical tape.Blue ESR doesn’t go as low as some, but makes a great board checking tool. and the needles get in deep under the can caps.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "433356",
"author": "kuhltwo",
"timestamp": "2011-08-12T19:34:33",
"content": "I have something similar. But this is a bit better.Some of the other suggestions sound worth trying out as well. Have to do some experimenting to see which I like the best.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "433578",
"author": "Whatnot",
"timestamp": "2011-08-13T02:26:43",
"content": "Ironically I’ve seen the tweezers for multimeters on sale, but I never saw those ‘training chopsticks’ before, so those would probably be harder to find for me than the ready-made electronics tweezers, go figure eh.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
}
] | 1,760,377,115.025728
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2011/08/13/juice-bridge-powers-your-breadboard-in-a-snap/
|
Juice Bridge Powers Your Breadboard In A Snap
|
Mike Nathan
|
[
"Tool Hacks"
] |
[
"breadboard",
"bridge",
"pcb",
"power supply"
] |
[Quinn Dunki] got tired of messing around with wires when connecting things to her benchtop power supply, so
she built herself useful little power bridge
that plugs directly into any standard breadboard.
The board is small and simple, but quite useful all the same. It was built to power both sides of the breadboard, and it can be easily switched between an unregulated power supply and a regulated 5v supply. An ammeter can be attached to the board via a pair of pins she set aside, allowing her to easily measure the current draw of the entire circuit.
We think her “Juice Bridge” would be very useful to anyone who frequently prototypes on breadboards. In fact, it would be a fantastic beginner project since it involves
etching and developing PCBs
as well as some simple soldering, while resulting in a handy takeaway tool at the same time.
If you want to build one of your own, [Quinn] has the schematics and Eagle PCB files available for download on her site.
| 28
| 17
|
[
{
"comment_id": "434028",
"author": "BiOzZ",
"timestamp": "2011-08-13T21:18:32",
"content": "seams to large to mebut it beats the crap out of getting an LM78XX for every breadbord",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "434055",
"author": "Keith Baxter",
"timestamp": "2011-08-13T21:40:31",
"content": "This is very nice. You should put it on kickstart and sell it with a wallwart. Forget the bench supply. I’d buy a couple.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "434116",
"author": "John Smith",
"timestamp": "2011-08-13T23:52:52",
"content": "No need to wait:http://www.adafruit.com/products/184",
"parent_id": "434055",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "434079",
"author": "Batou",
"timestamp": "2011-08-13T22:29:12",
"content": "A very useful beginner project. As said before it could be a bit smaller. I’d make the traces bigger (fine traces are a pain to make using press n peel)and fill the remaining unused space with copper to avoid depleting ferric chloride innecesarily.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "434083",
"author": "cliff52",
"timestamp": "2011-08-13T22:36:57",
"content": "Great hack and I love your website, too. This won’t be the last time you’re on Hackaday!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "434176",
"author": "sariel",
"timestamp": "2011-08-14T03:58:18",
"content": "actually this isn’t the first time she’s been featured.http://hackaday.com/2011/07/10/repairing-a-broken-salad-spinner/",
"parent_id": "434083",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "434086",
"author": "o",
"timestamp": "2011-08-13T22:39:42",
"content": "I don’t get what’s going on with those header pins in the picutre… they’re on the wrong side of the board.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "434089",
"author": "Matt",
"timestamp": "2011-08-13T22:51:30",
"content": "Sorry about the comment reported. The reply button is hidden underneath it.It would have been done that way so they could (easily) solder the pins in. They power the breadboard underneath, so by rights the black spacer should be underneath the board on the track side, but only being a single sided pcb that becomes very difficult to solder.Simple solution to an annoying problem. I like it.",
"parent_id": "434086",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "434093",
"author": "Renee",
"timestamp": "2011-08-13T23:01:09",
"content": "On her site you can see she has some wires running along those underneath. I imagine that if she but the nylon spacers underneath and then tried to solder wires there would have been problems or the headers wouldn’t have fit into the breadboard properly.",
"parent_id": "434086",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "434231",
"author": "Quinn Dunki",
"timestamp": "2011-08-14T07:45:06",
"content": "Yep, they nailed it- it’s a single sided PCB, so I used extra long headers stuck in from the top so I could solder to the pads underneath. Also, there’s superglue holding the nylon tops to the PCB top for strain relief.",
"parent_id": "434086",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "434493",
"author": "db",
"timestamp": "2011-08-14T15:30:48",
"content": "The upside down header pins are a good trick; I’ve used it too. Did you know you can also slide the pins through the nylon spacer until it is at the very end of the pins? Thus: (1) no too-short-to-use stubby pins on the top side of your board and (2) don’t need to source extra long headers.cheers!",
"parent_id": "434231",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "434522",
"author": "Quinn Dunki",
"timestamp": "2011-08-14T16:47:36",
"content": "I did not know that trick about sliding the header pins. Great tip! I’ll be doing that for sure next time.",
"parent_id": "434086",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "434092",
"author": "MS3FGX",
"timestamp": "2011-08-13T22:56:49",
"content": "Very clever little device here. I agree this would be an excellent first project for somebody getting started in electronics, both because it is easy to do, and because a reliable source of power is extremely important when working with electronics (versus becoming frustrated when things don’t work like they should).Which also leads right into the suggestion of putting this up on Kickstarter; either as a complete product (with wall wart power, as mentioned) or as a kit.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "434113",
"author": "Kuy",
"timestamp": "2011-08-13T23:50:48",
"content": "This is excellent – make a more compact, rugged version with over-current protection and shop it to SparkFun – you’ll easily sell hundreds.I’ve done something similar with a bottom-side approach: peel off the sticky foam under those breadboards and you can solder a specially-prepared PCB directly to the rails. I actually took it one step further and integrated an AVR ISP 6-pin header (mapped to certain pins to fit a ‘Mega48-328) and an adjustable voltage regulator.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "434118",
"author": "Slanderer",
"timestamp": "2011-08-13T23:56:50",
"content": "To those mentioning kickstarter:If you actually could use something like this, get a nice elegant one from sparkfun:http://www.sparkfun.com/products/9319Yes, it doesn’t have a jumper for measuring current, but its damn handy for quickly throwing something together on a breadboard. One thing to consider is that not all breadboards are standardized in terms of the spacing between the rows and the busses, so some may not fit.And if you really want to supply unregulated power to your board, get a breadboard mounted next to some binding posts–really handy for breadboarding analog circuits when using a variable DC lab power supply and/or a low freq (<1MHz) function generator.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "434135",
"author": "vic",
"timestamp": "2011-08-14T00:55:46",
"content": "That’s an useful thing to have. I just plug a 7805 in the breadboard an leave it in place, but I’m just lazy.The traces are awfully thin for a power supply though. It will heat a lot if you try to source a moderate amount of current.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "434137",
"author": "Haku",
"timestamp": "2011-08-14T00:58:54",
"content": "I’ve made a couple of these using plain stripboard, one that spread across to both power rails and another which was stuck to one corner to minimise space used. The biggest problem on one was that the spacing between the power rails and the center connections was not 0.1″ compatable.The main issue I have with the build pictured at the top of the page is that there’s a power switch that selects 5v or DC-in, because there’s too much of a potential to accidentally flip the switch and kill your components with the wrong voltage.I believe it should be a pin header+jumper solution, with pin header sockets so that you can work with +5v and or +3.3v and or DC-in for those projects where you’re running an IC @ 5v which can monitor/control things at say 12v.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "434153",
"author": "Alex",
"timestamp": "2011-08-14T02:04:46",
"content": "A breadboard power supply that plugs into the board is indispensable. I’ve bought them before, but it’s nice to see a home built one.My one criticism is that those traces look awfully small. Maybe it’s not a big deal, but that was my initial reaction upon seeing them.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "434228",
"author": "macegr",
"timestamp": "2011-08-14T07:30:15",
"content": "I would not have put the switch on there for unregulated supply. I think the use cases for it are vanishingly few compared to the heartache when a 5V circuit accidentally gets 12V. Most of the other breadboard supplies let you switch between 5V and 3.3V, which takes care of most of the typical circuits, and is less immediately disastrous if you get it wrong.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "434233",
"author": "Quinn Dunki",
"timestamp": "2011-08-14T07:51:29",
"content": "Thanks for the tips, everyone! Version 2 will definitely have thicker traces. We’ll see how this goes. Also, regarding the 5v switch, I like the jumper idea. I agree that switching is pretty rarely needed. I did take the precaution of using a very stiff toggle for that, so it’s hard to hit it accidentally. I suspect it will live in the 5V position anyway.As for kickstarter, I concur with others that Sparkfun and Adafruit have very nice ones indeed. I just wanted to build one myself, use up some salvaged parts, and test out a new PCB etching technique.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "435226",
"author": "fred",
"timestamp": "2011-08-15T12:42:43",
"content": "I saw your PCB etching entry on your blog. I will definitely try that out. I promise I won’t eat the chemicals though.",
"parent_id": "434233",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "435351",
"author": "Quinn Dunki",
"timestamp": "2011-08-15T14:23:25",
"content": "Cool, let me know how it works for you.",
"parent_id": "435226",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "434449",
"author": "Philip Albertsson",
"timestamp": "2011-08-14T14:23:09",
"content": "Oh nice!But i made a dual independent/tracking breadboard PSU a while ago. i May post it on hack a day sometime.Have anyone else seen a dual tracking breadboard PSU? or am i the first one to make one? Cause i can’t find any others.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "434856",
"author": "Ryo",
"timestamp": "2011-08-15T03:33:21",
"content": "more compact one!http://www.flickr.com/photos/nama/3317803425/in/set-72157614595431394",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "435354",
"author": "Quinn Dunki",
"timestamp": "2011-08-15T14:24:58",
"content": "That’s really great! Nice work! I may just steal that version. :)",
"parent_id": "434856",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "435423",
"author": "Bill",
"timestamp": "2011-08-15T16:25:11",
"content": "How standard are breadboard power rail widths? I bought a similar 3.3/5v power supply product from (a vendor who will not be named here), and it doesn’t quite fit on the breadboard I’m using, which is a basic vanilla Radio Shack or Sparkfun thing with red and blue rails down the sides. The pins in the center section of the breadboard are all standard tenth-inch spacing, but are the power rails the same standard, or do they vary by manufacturer?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "435450",
"author": "Quinn Dunki",
"timestamp": "2011-08-15T17:28:52",
"content": "Good question. I measured my own to make this, so I can only say for sure that it works on Jameco’s house brand boards. That’s the spacing between the output headers that you’ll see on the PCB layout file attached to my post.",
"parent_id": "435423",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "435494",
"author": "komradebob",
"timestamp": "2011-08-15T18:57:34",
"content": "Great project. Like any good project, the creeping featurism is an indication that it has a great deal of use.I’ve been doing this for many many years, and until I had good bench supplies, usually just tossed a 78xx regulator on the board. Now I have a cable that goes from a +/-12,+/-5,+3.3 supply at the top of the bench to a 6 pin 0.1″ header that gets plugged in at the top of the board I run all the strips run to there as appropriate.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
}
] | 1,760,377,114.965597
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2011/08/13/making-sata-drives-work-with-a-scsi-backplane/
|
Making SATA Drives Work With A SCSI Backplane
|
Mike Szczys
|
[
"computer hacks"
] |
[
"hard drive",
"nas",
"raid",
"sata",
"scsi",
"sever"
] |
The problem of persistent and reliable storage plagues us all. There are a myriad of solutions, some more expensive than others, but a dedicated and redundant network attached storage solution is hands down the best choice for all problems except natural disaster (ie: fire, flood, locusts) and physical theft. That being said, the issue of price-tag rears its ugly head if you try to traverse this route.
[Phil’s] had his mind stuck on a very large NAS solution for the last ten years and finally found an economical option. He picked up a powerful motherboard being sold as surplus and a server enclosure that would play nicely with it. It came with a backplane for multiple hard drives that utilized SCSI connections. The cost and availability of these drives can’t compare to the SATA drives that are on the market. Realizing this, [Phil] completely
reworked the backplane to make SATA connections possible
. It’s an intense amount of work, but there’s also an intense amount of documentation of the process (thank you!). If doing this again his number one tip would be to buy a rework station to make it easier to depopulate the connectors and extraneous parts from the PCB. Since he needs to keep using the board, the old blow-torch trick is out of the question.
| 24
| 13
|
[
{
"comment_id": "433946",
"author": "Bill",
"timestamp": "2011-08-13T19:08:55",
"content": "I misunderstood the HAD title and description. This guy is not making SATA drives work with a SCSI controller, just cutting holes in the SCSI board to route the SATA cables to a real SATA controller.The SCSI backplane is just used to hold the SATA connectors he glues to them.Still nice work though.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "434069",
"author": "Elias",
"timestamp": "2011-08-13T22:07:29",
"content": "Indeed the article is very misleading compared to what was actually done.",
"parent_id": "433946",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "434400",
"author": "Punkguyta",
"timestamp": "2011-08-14T13:33:33",
"content": "Agreed. I think a better title would have been along the lines of “modifying a SCSI backplate for hot-swapping of newer SATA drives”.I thought the same thing, that he was somehow making a scsi controller communicate with SATA drives… I knew it was too good to be true!",
"parent_id": "433946",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "433948",
"author": "Alex",
"timestamp": "2011-08-13T19:12:32",
"content": "Very neatly done, all things considered. Good use of JB Weld.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "433949",
"author": "Vonskippy",
"timestamp": "2011-08-13T19:15:32",
"content": "Nice hack.How about a photo of the finished box?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "433972",
"author": "retepvosnul",
"timestamp": "2011-08-13T20:29:46",
"content": "Is it me, or would etching a new board be much simpler ? Cut out a board of roughly those dimensions and very roughly trace the leads on that.Glue the SATA connectors to the other side and simply bridge solder them.That would make the layout much more tidy and uniform. It would probably be a lot quicker also.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "434063",
"author": "_glytch",
"timestamp": "2011-08-13T21:50:28",
"content": "That was my first thought too but after reading his write-up it appears a couple of the backplane’s original functions are still being taken advantage of.",
"parent_id": "433972",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "434094",
"author": "MS3FGX",
"timestamp": "2011-08-13T23:01:16",
"content": "Off the top of my head, I get the impression that it may be difficult to put something like that together without getting cross-talk and other interference issues at the rates SATA runs at.Though I could be completely wrong on that.",
"parent_id": "433972",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "434095",
"author": "_txf_",
"timestamp": "2011-08-13T23:01:57",
"content": "Even cheaper, would be to use a thin piece of wood or plastic and just cut holes in them to stick the relevant connectors.Making a pcb for data traces requires some care. The traces need to be a certain distance from each other and the length needs to be roughly the same. Sata uses LVDS (and I don’t think sata cables are shielded), so the signal should survive alright but one still needs to be careful.",
"parent_id": "433972",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "434109",
"author": "NATO",
"timestamp": "2011-08-13T23:47:05",
"content": "Actually, a differential signal at 3MBit/S is using super fast edge rates, any impedance mismatch will have a very bad effect on signal EYE quality. Making a PCB for this would that require the single ended and differential impedances are maintained within SATA specs to ensure that such a project worked right.Anyway, HAD needs to clarify that this guy did NOTHING but make SATA drives fit in an old SCSI housing – And at the end of the project, he shows no results but a PCB with connectors glued to it.So dissapointing :(",
"parent_id": "434095",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "434130",
"author": "slurm",
"timestamp": "2011-08-14T00:46:51",
"content": "Event simpler, buy protoboard, the One with the holes in it and copper on both sides. And buy 2 SATA connectors per hdd. Print Version. Put One on each side of the board and solder them directly to each other. Like a sandwitch. Connector, board, connector. Dont forget ti turn 1 connector 180 deg to maintain 1:1 Pin mapping.",
"parent_id": "433972",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "434123",
"author": "Bobby Joe",
"timestamp": "2011-08-14T00:35:17",
"content": "Theft prevention is easy: 4U server.Very nice conversion.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "434157",
"author": "Hackerspacer",
"timestamp": "2011-08-14T02:21:37",
"content": "Isn’t JB Weld a steel reinforced epoxy, and therefore um….. electrically conductive?Also – I don’t exactly understand the point of this. He wanted a large NAS. Aside from just buying a few SATA cards and doing software raid (trivially easy) he instead bought a XEON workstation to do hardware RAID…. seems overkill for storing a few seldom accessed files on a LAN but ok whatever floats your boat…..But why didn’t he just buy a hardware PCI-E RAID card and plug his drives in and call it a day? Why go to all this extra effort for no gains and a lot of extra work?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "434219",
"author": "cutandpaste",
"timestamp": "2011-08-14T06:34:35",
"content": "I thought so, too.But try though I might, I don’t find any meaningful conductivity in JB Weld.I also don’t find any meaningful conductivity in Arctic Silver thermal paste (which is just pure silver suspended in goo).Either one is easy enough to test: Just plop your meter probes into a glob of it and see.It seems that 2-part epoxy and/or silicone oil are both very good insulators, and that any conductive metallic “filling” is not so conductive at all once it forms a compound with the rest of the stuff that makes up these products.YMMV.",
"parent_id": "434157",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "434376",
"author": "Fool2cool",
"timestamp": "2011-08-14T12:53:57",
"content": "What voltage were you testing them at though? At higher voltages they may show some conductivity, we have a glue in the UK called UHU which i have found to be conductive even at low voltages, luckily i checked this before using it in my project.",
"parent_id": "434219",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "434227",
"author": "qdot",
"timestamp": "2011-08-14T07:19:16",
"content": "Not to rain on your parade (it’s a cool project), but for real homebrew applications it might be more sensible to do this.http://blog.backblaze.com/2011/07/20/petabytes-on-a-budget-v2-0revealing-more-secrets/I wonder if someone (myself??) could be bothered to port the case design from Protocase to Ponoko, fitting a straightforward steel box.Or perhaps there is a company which can do the same job as Protocase, but with the assembly left to the builder? It’s just a waterjet/laserjet, after all.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "434419",
"author": "Pouncer",
"timestamp": "2011-08-14T13:40:07",
"content": "I have to agree that this article is very misleading. I thought this guy had worked out the solution to my woes, as I have 4 PE2650’s that I’d love to put some IDE HDDs in rather than SCSI. He did however do an awesome job!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "434795",
"author": "stimp",
"timestamp": "2011-08-15T01:52:12",
"content": "new dell poweredge servers will nearly all be bought perc raid controllers.. these generally all are SAS and will take SATA drive but for production machine i will always use SCSI.You can buy cheap second hand SAS RAID controllers and then use SATA drive.. basically forget about IDE as these are too slow compared too newer SATA (hey 80-100 bucks for 2TB drives)",
"parent_id": "434419",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "434436",
"author": "Andrew Rossignol",
"timestamp": "2011-08-14T13:57:17",
"content": "Wouldn’t it have been cheaper to pick up motherboard and CPU and throw together a proper server without all the JB weld?My home server is a Pentium 4 with 5TB worth of hard drives (2.5TB usable, mirrored RAID). Aside from the hard drives the system cost me next to nothing to put together and it is capable of transferring files onto the network from hard drive at 45 MB/s. I lost a hard drive about a year ago and replaced it. The RAID synced and all was well.I really wouldn’t want this mess of glue in something that I trust my data to.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "434658",
"author": "retepvosnul",
"timestamp": "2011-08-14T21:58:23",
"content": "This definitely falls in the category “because one can”. That being said cabinets that sport these types of breakout boards tend to be very well build iron with tons of options to add and expand.Hacking a proper server housing to do you bidding in that sense probably is worth it.As for trusting ones data with whatever hardware, I trust mine (and his) soldering ( and glue ) skills to the extent that I prefer that over a Pentium 4 for a server any day.",
"parent_id": "434436",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "434897",
"author": "Doug Jackson",
"timestamp": "2011-08-15T05:49:25",
"content": "A great solution to a problem that I gave up on.I have often wondered whether some hardware vendors (HP, Dell etc) had replacement backplanes.Sadly, mose servers don’e allow their front pannel to operate without the backplane being installed :-(.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "435111",
"author": "Alan",
"timestamp": "2011-08-15T09:58:38",
"content": "Heh,I take it the reason for this is to get the satisfying feel of hot-plugging your drives into the front of a nice controller.For me though, having experience of failures in 2 different consumer RAID set-ups, I really would only consider 2 controller set-ups:1. Software RAID. We have ample processing power to spare for this today.2. Dual redundant controllers using SAS drives or similar (these having 2 ports each).The complexity and single point of failure that fakeRAID or even fully fledged but singular RAID controllers bring to the party simply aren’t worth it.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "435495",
"author": "leadacid",
"timestamp": "2011-08-15T19:02:38",
"content": "I totally appreciate the “look at this amazing thing I did” and am in awe of the work put into this project. I’m interested to know how that 3ware card will work out. I’ve been down this same road, but never comitted myself to a project quite like this. Unfortunately I take a very business-orientated view on these sorts of projects, since I’m trying to build a cost-effective SAN for work. ROI, ongoing maintenance, expandability, etc. all factor into my calculations. While good business, not fun at all. :-)It was unfortunate he didn’t get himself an Intel SR2400 chassis. Effectively the same chassis, but can use a SATA backplane. I’m working on an upgrade project for an existing server I have, which runs the Intel SR1400, the 1U version of the SR2400, and amazingly got the same RAID card as this person did. I’d like to see how it goes in the future.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "2479443",
"author": "Dean Moore",
"timestamp": "2015-03-15T07:33:37",
"content": "This is cool and very beneficial to me where do I get this.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
}
] | 1,760,377,115.264028
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2011/08/13/obama-1-desk-spy-satellite-aims-for-high-approval-ratings/
|
Obama-1 Desk Spy Satellite Aims For High Approval Ratings
|
Jeremy Cook
|
[
"Misc Hacks",
"Video Hacks"
] |
[
"goodwill",
"satellite",
"solar panel"
] |
This miniature
“spy satellite”
may not gain the ire of the Chinese People’s Army, but it will certainly look rad on your desk. Besides looking cool, this “satellite” is able to transmit video up to 300 feet away and has sun tracking solar panels for battery recharging. Additionally, it has a LED “thruster” and speakers.
One cool thing about this build is that the body was made out of a lamp from Goodwill. Recycled/thrift store enclosures always make a good addition to your project as they won’t break the bank. Additionally, they may yield some other bonus parts when taken apart. In this case, the lamp fit into the project scope perfectly, but anyone trying to duplicate it might not be so lucky.
Creative use of other household materials rounds out this build, with solar panels taken off home garden lights, and part of a nose hair trimmer used as the “thruster” body. This well-build project is a great example of how to convert household items into something totally different and unique.
[youtube
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pGqTmnSP71U&w=470&h=349%5D
| 22
| 12
|
[
{
"comment_id": "433910",
"author": "silvesterstillalone",
"timestamp": "2011-08-13T17:19:14",
"content": "Pardon me..God damn that is so cool. I love projects that can take care of its own needs and still be useful. It even looks great.Hack A Day is really improving fast as of late. Great work guys.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "433915",
"author": "Jeremy Cook",
"timestamp": "2011-08-13T17:35:12",
"content": "Awesome man! Glad you liked it!",
"parent_id": "433910",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "434516",
"author": "Patrick",
"timestamp": "2011-08-14T16:25:54",
"content": "Agreed. Thanks Jeremy for posting this and thanks silvesterstillalone for the high praise!",
"parent_id": "433915",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "433931",
"author": "Tel",
"timestamp": "2011-08-13T17:53:08",
"content": "When I see stuff like this, I can’t help but think, “Why isn’t this person working in the movie/tv industry?”. Awesome quality build!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "433935",
"author": "M-Byte",
"timestamp": "2011-08-13T18:10:20",
"content": "Great build.It’s only missing a fog machine facing downward ;)",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "433945",
"author": "sinep",
"timestamp": "2011-08-13T19:08:25",
"content": "Why is O-bong-ga’s name on it?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "434517",
"author": "Patrick",
"timestamp": "2011-08-14T16:26:39",
"content": "LOL. The decision was merely appearance based, not political based.",
"parent_id": "433945",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "435353",
"author": "KanchoBlindside",
"timestamp": "2011-08-15T14:24:47",
"content": "I was thinking because of the big ears, yeah.Or maybe that it was getting all its information from external sources and didnt contain anything of its own (lol). You could go as far as you want with political puns on this one.Nice clean design!",
"parent_id": "434517",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "434071",
"author": "Samsonite",
"timestamp": "2011-08-13T22:16:57",
"content": "Ultrasonic mister… that’s what you need for the rocket exhaust. Illuminating the mist with your LEDs could make thing awesome in subdued light.I like the Obama joke, too.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "434080",
"author": "ttom",
"timestamp": "2011-08-13T22:31:47",
"content": "This is the coolest project I’ve seen in a while! It seems like you had a great time building this.Great work!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "434084",
"author": "Hirudinea",
"timestamp": "2011-08-13T22:37:08",
"content": "Very cool, very cool, just one suggestion, put antennae on it, just like Sputnik (check out picture below)…http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/be/Sputnik_asm.jpg/732px-Sputnik_asm.jpgNot would antennae make it look more spacey but would increase its broadcast range. Now you just have to figure out how to get it into orbit! :)",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "434097",
"author": "M-Byte",
"timestamp": "2011-08-13T23:07:16",
"content": "Also, they could be used as a stand. That would remove the need for that plastic cup and make the satellite look even more awesome!",
"parent_id": "434084",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "434100",
"author": "MS3FGX",
"timestamp": "2011-08-13T23:15:02",
"content": "This does look pretty cool, and the build quality of the finished product looks fantastic.At first I thought the solar panels were a little self-serving, as it appears that the only point to the panels is to recharge the batteries…that move the panels; since the camera is powered by it’s own dedicated 9V battery. But he mentions in that in future revisions he hopes to use the MCU to turn the camera on and off, so in the end it will be a bit more cohesive.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "434124",
"author": "MrX",
"timestamp": "2011-08-14T00:41:42",
"content": "props to the builder. However I don’t understand why the tracking function doesn’t work in linear mode. I mean, instead of searching for (what it seems) the maximum light value at predefined locations, why isn’t he sampling the values at 180 degrees and then calculate the maximum using a simple search function or gradient descend algorithm?Anyway, the build is already very nice, thanks for sharing..",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "434129",
"author": "Conner",
"timestamp": "2011-08-14T00:46:19",
"content": "I like it just not the name! :)",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "434189",
"author": "Jeremy Cook",
"timestamp": "2011-08-14T04:41:19",
"content": "Haha, yeah, not trying to make a political statement one way or another, but that’s what it was named!",
"parent_id": "434129",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "434846",
"author": "Patrick",
"timestamp": "2011-08-15T03:11:04",
"content": "LOL. Just a nick name, and purely aesthetically based as noted in the instructable. I designed it with a Satellite in mind. Never thought of it as an orb etc. In the eye of the beholder I guess. Thanks for the compliment though.",
"parent_id": "434189",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "434279",
"author": "Otacon2k",
"timestamp": "2011-08-14T10:45:17",
"content": "second that. Personally I don’t care about the Obama, but about the “satellite”. Just because the chair I sit on has 4 wheels, I don’t call it a car.As this thingy doesn’t orbit around some celestial body (actually it orbits around nothing at all), I would hesitate calling it a satellite. IMHO “orb” is a word at least as cool as “satellite” and would fit better here.Besides that, great project!",
"parent_id": "434129",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "434174",
"author": "Blackpea",
"timestamp": "2011-08-14T03:51:18",
"content": "Really cool, I love the tracking panels.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "434570",
"author": "1000100 1000001 1010110 1000101",
"timestamp": "2011-08-14T18:32:20",
"content": "Nice project…but it’s a shame it couldn’t have been named after a pioneering contributor to communications, spaceflight, electronics, etc., rather than a politician.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "434661",
"author": "Obamination.",
"timestamp": "2011-08-14T22:23:10",
"content": "Not a fan of the name. Why not make the panels bigger so they could charge a battery to power the camera/transmitter?",
"parent_id": "434570",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "434843",
"author": "Patrick",
"timestamp": "2011-08-15T03:07:14",
"content": "As stated before the name was purely aesthetically based, not political, and a “nick name” at that. Theres no reason the solar panels couldn’t charge a 9V rechargeable, good idea!",
"parent_id": "434661",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
}
] | 1,760,377,115.20007
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2011/08/13/head-to-head-mountain-climbing-from-the-safety-of-your-game-room/
|
Head-to-head Mountain Climbing From The Safety Of Your Game Room
|
Mike Szczys
|
[
"Arduino Hacks"
] |
[
"mountain",
"servo",
"toy"
] |
Why risk frostbite and altitude sickness when you can marvel at the view from atop
your own mountain climbing game
?
[Jeff] built this delightful piece which you can see in action after the break. he combined several very simple ideas and he did it really well. The climbers are both mechanical. They grip the mountain’s face (which is covered with of carpet) with a tack pointed downward on the end of each limb. Their motion is provided by two tiny servos that make up the body of the climber. The two potentiometers in each controller directly affect the movement of the top and bottom limbs. The game plays music during the contest, and precisely detects a winner by sensing when an arm comes in contact with the metal snow cap at the summit.
Obviously weight was an issue during the design process. After some hemming and hawing [Jeff] decided to tether the climbers in order to avoid rolling a battery into each. But he overcame the issue with weighted cable management on the inside of the mountain.
[flickr video=http://www.flickr.com/photos/8190411@N07/6033663164 w=470]
[Thanks Morgan via
Make
]
| 21
| 20
|
[
{
"comment_id": "433872",
"author": "Limey",
"timestamp": "2011-08-13T15:24:13",
"content": ":O , this is brilliant, I want one on my bedroom wall XD.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "433876",
"author": "Brian",
"timestamp": "2011-08-13T15:36:24",
"content": "What an awesome little game! Looks like it is pretty fun and works amazingly well, nice build!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "433878",
"author": "Roberto",
"timestamp": "2011-08-13T15:37:55",
"content": "For one, I salute our new meatspace video game overlords.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "433887",
"author": "rob",
"timestamp": "2011-08-13T15:55:02",
"content": "That’s an awesome project! Great work. Do you have enough control of the characters to climb around an object on the face of the course?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "433897",
"author": "Limey",
"timestamp": "2011-08-13T16:22:43",
"content": "I just had a cool idea, what if the carpet was on a roller (like a conveyorbelt or treadmill) and there were obstacles attached randomly along the carpet by some sort of mechanism that you had to avoid? And you had to survive for as long as possible without either being too slow and falling off the bottom or getting knocked off by the obstacles.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "433951",
"author": "andar_b",
"timestamp": "2011-08-13T19:20:31",
"content": "Sounds like Matterhorn Screamer :p",
"parent_id": "433897",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "433901",
"author": "Mike",
"timestamp": "2011-08-13T16:43:32",
"content": "That’s an awesome song.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "433902",
"author": "Setatx",
"timestamp": "2011-08-13T16:43:48",
"content": "@Limey, I 2nd that!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "433919",
"author": "threeck",
"timestamp": "2011-08-13T17:42:49",
"content": "Loved the BG music. I was laughing and amazed at the same time..:)) this is a great build",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "433950",
"author": "Alex",
"timestamp": "2011-08-13T19:16:51",
"content": "Wow, I’m surprised by how well this works. I couldn’t see myself playing it a whole lot, but it’s a very cool project.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "433954",
"author": "liebesiech",
"timestamp": "2011-08-13T19:27:37",
"content": "Respect!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "434008",
"author": "Drake",
"timestamp": "2011-08-13T20:38:13",
"content": "Coolness … more like this please!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "434061",
"author": "lance",
"timestamp": "2011-08-13T21:45:00",
"content": "nice! I get the idea that tweaking the climbers makes a huge difference… so I can imagine it’s tough to have two completely similar climbers for head to head racing. Still, I know my friends would get a hoot playing one of these!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "434087",
"author": "Hirudinea",
"timestamp": "2011-08-13T22:43:01",
"content": "This game is just crying out for a kinect user interface.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "434145",
"author": "Rioexxo",
"timestamp": "2011-08-14T01:32:04",
"content": "BRilliant!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "434149",
"author": "Robby",
"timestamp": "2011-08-14T01:49:25",
"content": "This would bring “The Price Is Right”‘s climbing game to a whole new level.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "434181",
"author": "that1guy",
"timestamp": "2011-08-14T04:24:21",
"content": "I also thought of the Price Is Right, lol. Really really cool. I think it would be even better with some small obstacles placed strategically around the course. You might need a way of moving horizontally though, in the even of getting stuck below an obstacle. Still, fantastic job and it actually looks fun to play.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "435406",
"author": "[oceans76]",
"timestamp": "2011-08-15T15:39:06",
"content": "Cool project but it needs more yodel. [youtubehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DI2GGYppq7E&w=425&h=349%5D",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "435412",
"author": "Richard",
"timestamp": "2011-08-15T15:59:32",
"content": "That looks like a whole heap of fun, both to build and play.I do foresee a problem in this particular house though… we have a cat, and he’s sure to join in!Brilliant hack, respect. :-)",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "436056",
"author": "woutervddn",
"timestamp": "2011-08-16T16:00:08",
"content": "Well, if I can convince my roommate.. :D muhahahahaha",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "637457",
"author": "Warndog",
"timestamp": "2012-04-25T05:39:28",
"content": "haha wow it’s like QWOP, but for running and in RL. nice :D",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
}
] | 1,760,377,115.365076
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2011/08/13/hackaday-weekly-roundup/
|
Hackaday Weekly Roundup
|
Jack Buffington
|
[
"News"
] |
[
"weekly roundup"
] |
In case you missed them, here are our most popular posts from this week:
First up is [Bertho’s]
Pointless Switch machine
. This machine is yet another take on the ‘most pointless machine’. It looks like his server couldn’t handle the load from his video so he moved it over to youtube. You can find it
here.
Next is
The DIY nuclear reactor
, which links to a project by a fellow who was silly enough to post his nuclear experiments online. You can imagine how that went…
This week’s most popular post was the
tutorial
created by our writer [Brian Benchoff]. In this tutorial, he shows how you can insert your logo into a still-readable QR code.
After that is
this post
showing how you can resurrect your IBM model M keyboard to use it as a bluetooth device.
Finally, we wrap up our roundup with a
brainwave disruptor
. This device allows [Rich] to experiment with light and sound to see how it affects brain waves.
| 9
| 7
|
[
{
"comment_id": "433823",
"author": "1000100 1000001 1010110 1000101",
"timestamp": "2011-08-13T13:12:21",
"content": "I greatly approve of a weekly roundup post…thanks guys! Separate tag, perhaps?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "433830",
"author": "prem",
"timestamp": "2011-08-13T13:23:03",
"content": "i think you forgot to drink your ovaltine this morning.",
"parent_id": "433823",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "433824",
"author": "prem",
"timestamp": "2011-08-13T13:12:45",
"content": "top idea.somehow i missed that model m post",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "433829",
"author": "Jeremy Cook",
"timestamp": "2011-08-13T13:19:58",
"content": "Yeah, good idea I think.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "433854",
"author": "PJ Allen",
"timestamp": "2011-08-13T14:54:30",
"content": "Anybody know the name of the font used for the “Weekly Roundup” heading?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "434893",
"author": "Ryan Albright",
"timestamp": "2011-08-15T05:39:55",
"content": "I would like to know also, cool font.",
"parent_id": "433854",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "433875",
"author": "Dalebert",
"timestamp": "2011-08-13T15:25:45",
"content": "I gotta say that HAD has taken a round turn in the last few weeks. As much as I enjoyed reading the troll posts, the clean comments are an improvement in my opinion, and it really seems to make the rest of the HAD experience better.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "433940",
"author": "HARaaM",
"timestamp": "2011-08-13T18:52:51",
"content": "Trolls hungry, please…",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "436493",
"author": "error404",
"timestamp": "2011-08-17T05:07:03",
"content": "Yay, more useless posts from HaD in my feedreader.Would it be possible to exclude these from the feed?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
}
] | 1,760,377,115.3112
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2011/08/12/installing-linux-on-a-386-laptop/
|
Installing Linux On A 386 Laptop
|
Kevin Dady
|
[
"Featured",
"how-to",
"laptops hacks",
"Linux Hacks",
"News"
] |
[
"386",
"linux"
] |
The “cheap” and “easy” way in about an hour! A question that pop’s up from time to time is “I somehow ended up with an archaic old laptop / computer, can it run Linux?” Well of course it can, but that totally depends! On what? Well machine CPU, CPU speed, hard disk space, RAM and most importantly what you are expecting it to do.
Okay, why a Intel 386? Well number one I own a 386, but more importantly its the absolute bottom Intel CPU you can run Linux on. While it wont be able to do much, it will give you a basic system to kick around and “get to know” the insides of Linux without a million things installed and the worry of breaking it.
Unfortunately a 386 requires some special moves as the actual chip was dropped from almost all distributions long ago. All of the modern distributions I have looked at require at least a 486 CPU. This tutorial will be strictly for installing a basic bare bones Linux on a 386. Have a 486? Pentium? Faster? Never fear I will be covering that in a part II later this week.
Linux on a 386 in about an hour? Madness you might think, it probably takes Linux longer to boot on a 386 (and in some cases you are correct)! Want to know the trick? Simple, cheat!
Join me after the break for the parts and steps needed to get you started.
First we need a target machine, here is mine. It is a DEC PC325SL, which translates out to intel386SL (which is a 386SX CPU in a highly integrated package where much of the support hardware is also inside the chip) running at 25Mhz with 4MB of ram and 120MB of hard disk space. It also has 256K video memory and 640×480 color VGA display. If you can swing it, a 386DX CPU or a 386S(X/L) with a 387 math co-processor is recommended, no it doesn’t really matter if its an Intel, AMD, etc. It also needs an IDE disk up to 2G, sorry MFM drives.
Next we need a distribution that will actually work with a 386 CPU. This is where it gets to be confusing. Everyone still has a distribution called i386, but support for the 386 was dropped a while ago. I looked at some of my favorites, Debian, Slackware, FreeBSD, and NetBSD (which I know are not Linux but hey.) Here is what I found out:
Debian stopped support with 3 so anything earlier is ok.
Slackware stopped around the same time in release 9.
FreeBSD states that it requires a 386DX, but then says most 386 laptops are ok via math emulation, but in a more current readme it states that you need a 486 (confused?)
NetBSD says it should work on all 386’s but I never made it that far.
Well of course I am not a super Linux guru, and can really only futz around without running off to a forum or a book, so I went with Debian. Originally version 2.2 as it was the newest version that machine could run, and yes in fact it did. The problem is it took over an hour to boot with a year 2000 generic kernel and when it finally did it refused to move past the package installer.
You could spend a lot of time trimming and optimizing to get it running great, but I am facing a brutal truth here, and that is the best I could run is still over a decade out of date and its going to require a lot of work. So I just simply stepped back in time a bit further to find something a bit more appropriate.
In the end I used Debian 1.3.1, which is a mid 1990’s Linux, and that’s really the point. Use whatever you like but its going to have to be pretty old or require a ton of work, which at that point you might be better off doing it from scratch.
Tools for the cheat install:
x86 compatible Host PC with an IDE/ATA port, and a standard BIOS capable of booting into DOS. I used my dual core AMD A2X2 with a nvidia chip-set so its pretty safe to say most PC’s will. It also needs an Internet connection and some form of Linux installed or booted (I use mint)
CD ROM or USB stick you can boot from with a windows 98 emergency boot disk (EBD from here on), or since MS DOS does not know how to access USB or SATA CD ROM’s, I used a old IDE drive with a 100Mb FAT16 partition on it.
IDE to 3.5 IDE pin adapter
, they are cheap and handy I suggest you have one, just make sure you plug it in correctly you can kill your drive (as in magic smoke kill).
That should do it, lets get started
Step One:
Turn off your Host PC, plug in a spare IDE hard disk set as slave. To keep my self from borking my computers main drive I went ahead and unplugged it from the SATA port. Check BIOS to make sure its detected and that you are booting from your CD drive first, Insert the Windows EBD save changes and let the computer boot from the EBD.
You will see a Windows boot disk menu, choose to “start without cd rom support”. Once at the DOS prompt use FDISK to setup a 100 or so meg partition, be sure to tell FDISK no when it asks you if you want large disk support to ensure a FAT16 partition.
Exit FDISK, reboot with the EBD and use FORMAT C: (make sure that is the correct drive if you have others plugged into the system), then Eject the EBD. In my case I then plugged my SATA hard drive back in and set BIOS to boot from that disk and went on into Linux Mint, though you could leave your main drive unattached and use a live CD Linux.
I know that linux can make a FAT16 partition. I was having trouble with the EBD reading it while figuring this all out, so I just started making the partition with the OS that really needs it most.
Step Two:
Boot your Host PC into Linux, I am using (again) Linux Mint but It does not matter, it just has to be able to get on line, and mount a FAT16 partition. Point your web browser to the Debian archive and goto the following folder
Debian-1.3.1/main/disks-i386/1997-10-13/
Download the following files
base1_3.tgz
resc1440.bin
drv1440.bin
linux
loadlin.exe
root.bin
and copy them to your FAT16 partition.
Optional Step:
My 386 came with 120 meg disk, That might be large enough to squeeze a basic Linux system on, but I also wanted a little room for a MS DOS partition so I upgraded to a 540 meg hard drive. Of course 386’s and other <1994 machines have a bios limitation of 1024 cylinders limiting the drive to 500 megs. This computer is even more picky limiting my choices down to 2 DEC approved drives, the 120 meg or a 240 meg (probably sold as an option). In order to use this drive so that both DOS and Linux can live happily on it, I must use a drive overlay (ick). So far I have been avoiding the use of floppies, but I do have floppies, and the drive on the machine works fine.
I found a old copy of Western Digital EZ Drive 9.03, I also used a MS-DOS6.22 boot floppy image. EZ drive is simple but even if you do not want a DOS partition, you HAVE to have one or else EZ drive will scream “no boot partition” and halt. So make at least 1 MSDOS partition at the start of the drive, even if its only a megabyte in size.
Step 3:
Remove the hard disk from the 386 and attach it to your host PC, it should be MASTER on Channel 0 and the drive with the FAT16 partition we put the install files on. should be the SLAVE on Channel 0. Enter your PC bios and find your 386’s drive, and be sure to turn off LBA. If you are using a drive overlay set your bios where it boots from the 386 drive first.
Reboot the Host PC (I disconnected my main drive for now as well), if you are using a drive overlay let it boot the hard disk first, then tell the overlay to boot from drive A, insert your Windows EBD into your CD drive and it will eventually load. If you are not using an overlay just boot from the Windows EBD. When you come up to the EBD boot menu use the arrow keys to stop the timer, then hold SHIFT and press F5 which will just dump you directly to a command prompt.
Find the drive with the linux install files on it and run:
loadlin linux root=/dev/ram initrd=root.bin
The debian installer should fire right up, follow the menus until you come to the disk partitioner. Create 2 partitions, 1 as type 82 (linux swap) at about 16-32 megs big, and the other should be set up as you like as your space. I just used the remainder of the disk and it defaulted to a linux type. Write the changes and continue on with the installer. Also be sure to use the right disk, it should be /dev/hda
The installer should continue and eventually ask you to install lilo, which is fine on the MBR, then reboot. Remove any disks still left in the Host PC and Debian should start. Now you have to go though another round of configuration questions. Eventually you will get to the dselect package manager (which I hate). Once you figure out how to exit dselect you should still be root. Type in halt and the system should start shutting down, if you are logged into your user account you need to use su and enter the root password first to halt the machine.
Step 4:
Once everything is down, remove your 386 drive from the Host PC and place it back into the 386, with a little luck it should start up just fine. Though there is nothing but the bare basics installed, there is still a ton of stuff to check out and poke around through. Outside of reading this and getting everything prepared it should take about an hour.
Getting software packages into the machine, right now I am just downloading the deb files from the Debian archive on my mac and coping them over via floppy disks. Another option would be to use minicom and a null modem cable. If you are really lucky you can get networking going. I downloaded the entire binary-i386 folder for Debian 1.3.1 and its about 400MB, and while I am not trying to load the machine up, some things like a menu driven text editor (fte) and mouse support are nice.
Have fun and be sure to tune in for part II which involves my 8MB Pentium 90 laptop for linux after 386, you might find it surprising.
| 121
| 50
|
[
{
"comment_id": "433557",
"author": "roliver",
"timestamp": "2011-08-13T01:40:19",
"content": "Cool… I have an old Compaq 486 laptop that I was considering cross compiling Linux from Scratch for. Tried using a boot floppy and Puppy linux on a parallel ported ZIP100 disc before that but it wouldn’t recognise it. This kinda thing is always good for those one-upmanship, difficult linux installs conversations! :P Look forward to part two!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "434082",
"author": "MrX",
"timestamp": "2011-08-13T22:35:03",
"content": "Exactly! Have a look to the crossdev toolking in Gentoo Linux, it will simplify a little the toolchain creation and then the cross compilation of packages..I think it is nuts to install old versions of a Linux distro to run on old hardware, when you can just cross compile the kernel and relevant software…",
"parent_id": "433557",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "433568",
"author": "Agent24",
"timestamp": "2011-08-13T01:57:43",
"content": "This looks great! I’ve been wanting to get Linux installed on my old IBM 380ED for a while now…What do you do though when you’ve got a HDD larger than the BIOS supports?My HDD is 10GB but the BIOS only sees 8GB. For Windows 98 I currently use some DDO software.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "433577",
"author": "BiOzZ",
"timestamp": "2011-08-13T02:25:41",
"content": "well i cant think there is much you can do depending on the biosits generally not as simple as changing the number 8 to 10 in the asm but changing what integer it usestho i dont know what intager ends at a number arround 8 … 64 bit signed? … 2 unsigned 32 bit?again i have no idea how bios systems work",
"parent_id": "433568",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "433645",
"author": "Spork",
"timestamp": "2011-08-13T03:33:34",
"content": "Check the drive to see if there is a FAT32 enable pin, I have seen (even SATA) drives that will happily limit themselves to 4GB if you set a jumper correctly.Alternatively, you may be able to partition it off, if the BIOS still detects it as a drive.",
"parent_id": "433577",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "433831",
"author": "Plo",
"timestamp": "2011-08-13T13:23:49",
"content": "Linux does not use the bios for accessing the drive. My old laptop only sees 128GB of the disk but linux uses the full 500.",
"parent_id": "433577",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "433588",
"author": "Mantech1",
"timestamp": "2011-08-13T02:44:30",
"content": "You could partition the drive to create 2 or more virtual drives to divide that memory into easier to manage chunks. I use to do that with a Win95 boot disk.",
"parent_id": "433568",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "433962",
"author": "theonetruestickman",
"timestamp": "2011-08-13T19:44:41",
"content": "Like plo says, linux should see and be able to use the entire drive. You may need to have your boot partition within the first 8GB, though. I had Debian running on a 380 for a while (maybe still do – I haven’t looked at that computer in a few years) and it worked fairly nicely for console based stuff. X11 was a stretch. Never could get text console to use the whole screen, though…",
"parent_id": "433568",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "435871",
"author": "krzysieks",
"timestamp": "2011-08-16T12:52:00",
"content": "HDD larger than “BIOS supported” is not a problem. Do the following:1. Figure out the disk geometry (cylinders – a big number/heads – usually 16/sectors – usually 63).2. Select “user defined” disk type in BIOS setup and enter 1024 cylinders (old BIOS limit) and coorect numbers of heads and sectors.3. Create a small partition for booting, within these 1024 cylinders. It may store up to 504 MB of data, you won’t need that much. It is to be be mounted under /boot and has to contain the kernel and all lilo extras, so that BIOS will be able to read it.4. That’s all. You may organize remaining disk space as you wish, linux kernel is able to use large IDE disks even on very old machines. I did it many times, even attached a cdrom to so called “Multi I/O card”, containing serial/parallel ports, FDD controller and IDE interface.",
"parent_id": "433568",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "433569",
"author": "angus",
"timestamp": "2011-08-13T01:59:27",
"content": "While it wont be able to do much, it will give you a basic system to kick around and “get to know” the insides of Linux without a million things installed and the worry of breaking it.Yes, but if you were actually doing this to “get to know” Linux, you could do it much more easily on a virtual machine without needing extra hardware or an outdated distro. And you’d be getting to know Linux as it actually is, rather than as it was in the mid 90s.Installing/running/hacking old systems is fun. You don’t need to make up unrealistic “useful” reasons to do it.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "433680",
"author": "bandwagon",
"timestamp": "2011-08-13T04:47:20",
"content": "+1",
"parent_id": "433569",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "433788",
"author": "svofski",
"timestamp": "2011-08-13T11:36:14",
"content": "+1",
"parent_id": "433569",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "433851",
"author": "fartface",
"timestamp": "2011-08-13T14:47:51",
"content": "I do things with linux and 386DX computers daily that outstrips 99% of all projects here on HAD with my day job.the 386DX is still a common processor in the embedded world. you can still buy 386DX PC104 cards new for embedded system design and building.Anyone that poo poo’s the 386 is nothing more than a wannabe poseur who really knows nothing at all about electronics or computers in general.So dont worry about those that poo poo the lower speed processors. There is plenty of horsepower inside them for a lot of things.",
"parent_id": "433569",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "434155",
"author": "hrasdt",
"timestamp": "2011-08-14T02:11:11",
"content": "+1, I have two PC104s that have been needing an install for a while. They’d make great experiment boxes, just slow to compile.",
"parent_id": "433851",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "433571",
"author": "Pilotgeek",
"timestamp": "2011-08-13T02:08:13",
"content": "I should totally do this with my 386sx on a spare disk. However, I have DOS doing way more than Linux probably could on that hardware, just because of speed issues. GMail, Web Browser, heck, I even used the crap out of ANSI codes to get everything color coded like a Linux terminal often is.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "433572",
"author": "Pilotgeek",
"timestamp": "2011-08-13T02:08:40",
"content": "/Cool Story, Bro.",
"parent_id": "433571",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "433647",
"author": "Spork",
"timestamp": "2011-08-13T03:35:49",
"content": "@Pilotgeek,I’m not sure why you think DOS is more capable than Linux. I have built a few distros that were extremely lightweight and supported all of my hardware plus software that I didn’t think the hardware would be able to handle.",
"parent_id": "433571",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "433890",
"author": "jubs",
"timestamp": "2011-08-13T16:03:34",
"content": "Are we talking, like, multimedia applications? “driving a pc speaker while playing video” kind of stuff? Console emulation? I’m a cockslaving consumer, so break down how much crap these command-line driven linux distros can do.",
"parent_id": "433647",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "438693",
"author": "Pilotgeek",
"timestamp": "2011-08-21T00:33:25",
"content": "I’d say DOS is more usable on my 386sx @16mhz just because of the fact that it’s faster. I have web browsing, ssl email, ftp, telnet, ssh, and all the other net-based goodies running. I also have very nice ANSI colors on everything. In addition, I have a plethora of old dos games that it will run. With Linux, I honestly feel like I would be more limited.I’m certainly not against Linux, either. Damn near everything else I own runs Linux =P.",
"parent_id": "433647",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "434062",
"author": "Xan",
"timestamp": "2011-08-13T21:47:04",
"content": "Why not gentoo linux?",
"parent_id": "433571",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "618080",
"author": "gbsd",
"timestamp": "2012-04-02T01:29:42",
"content": "Gentoo – on a 386 – just be damn sure you have working NIC for distcc.Otherwise you’d type emerge world and the fsking world will end before it completes :)",
"parent_id": "434062",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "441646",
"author": "Charlie",
"timestamp": "2011-08-25T19:38:43",
"content": "Linux will be slow if you compile in every module known to man, run every service you can think of, and use a GUI. That’s how most commercial distros are built, because they need to be run on all kinds of hardware by end-users who have no *nix admin expertise. HOWEVER, if you compile linux specifically for your hardware and run only the daemons for the services you actually need, and stay away from the eye-candy, it outperforms everything else I’ve used.For example, I ran DNS and SMTP for nearly 400 people on a 386 computer fifteen years ago, no problems. Seriously! That’s equivalent to DOS for speed, but with far more capabilities.It could not run X-windows without BIND and sendmail becoming unacceptably slow, though, so it was a command-line only box.",
"parent_id": "433571",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "433582",
"author": "hiroshi",
"timestamp": "2011-08-13T02:28:34",
"content": "I wonder if a compact flash card would’ve been a good substitute for an obscure hard drive",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "433590",
"author": "BLuRry",
"timestamp": "2011-08-13T02:47:26",
"content": "CF cards absolutely fit the bill, but you have to be careful about how you partition the drive. Older bioses are really finicky about drive geometry — so if you can, run FDISK from the machine directly rather than another more modern machine to be on the safe side. Once you’ve partitioned it, you can set it up from your snazzier (read: actually usable) computer. I went through this sort of ordeal trying to breathe life back in to a call machine (which was basically a 486 PC on a card.)",
"parent_id": "433582",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "433596",
"author": "BLuRry",
"timestamp": "2011-08-13T02:49:44",
"content": "CF cards absolutely fit the bill, but you have to be careful about how you partition the drive. Older bioses are really finicky about drive geometry — so if you can, run FDISK from the machine directly rather than another more modern machine to be on the safe side. Once you’ve partitioned it, you can set it up from your snazzier (read: actually usable) computer. I went through this sort of ordeal trying to breathe life back in to a toshiba stratagy voicemail card (which was basically a 486 PC on a card.)",
"parent_id": "433582",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "433838",
"author": "retepvosnul",
"timestamp": "2011-08-13T13:45:55",
"content": "CF cards, being IDE drives basically, work great. No moving parts, low energy consumption. I hacked one onto an old thin-client box that now runs Debian from the CF card and acts as a home development server for LAMP. under 13 watts no moving parts.Unless you need really really spiffy file I/O, then CF cards have tons of potential.",
"parent_id": "433582",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "433916",
"author": "cutandpaste",
"timestamp": "2011-08-13T17:39:03",
"content": "CF cards work fine. As another poster mentioned, partitioning is something to watch out for (ancient BIOS + “small” modern 4GB CF card == interesting times).I have had success using old BIOS overlay software on CF cards to simplify things. (Overlay software has a bad reputation, but it’s not horrible with Linux. Since once the kernel is loaded the BIOS (and overlay) is out of the loop anyway in actual use. It just helps get things booted, and then the kernel recognizes the special overlay on the disk, and things work normally.)I’ve got an old, old, old 386SL laptop here running a suitable old version of Slackware from a CF card with an Ebay adapter, and it runs fine.(The box itself is a pile of hacks: The display housing was smashed when I got it, so I replaced that with some sheet stainless, aluminum angle, pop rivets, and nuts/bolts. The battery was toast and the AC adapter missing, so I soldered a not-very-heavy unregulated 12VDC wall wart to the battery terminals. The hard drive was a 90MB JVC, which worked but was small and had moving parts, so that’s where it gained the CF card for local storage. I have no floppy drive or CD-ROM for the thing, so I installed Linux on the CF card using another machine.The keyboard got lost in a flood, so it doesn’t have one of those either anymore (actually, the whole thing was submerged in flood water for a couple of days, but the keyboard got tossed).It still boots and runs flawlessly, using just a few Watts of power total. One of these days I’ll hang it on the wall and turn it into an NTP-synced clock with no moving parts.)",
"parent_id": "433582",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "433585",
"author": "destinal",
"timestamp": "2011-08-13T02:40:48",
"content": "This is great in that it can be done, but be aware that these old Linux distributions will have tons of known bugs that have since been fixed, including many critical security vulnerabilities that would let an attacker launch known exploits to get a root shell on your box and from there to go after your internal network.What would be more interesting is to see a modern distro modified to run on i386.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "433591",
"author": "Avaviel",
"timestamp": "2011-08-13T02:47:26",
"content": "Am I the only one who thought it mentioned an “Xbox 360” laptop? Because, while this is useful to those who can stand really old and slow laptops, if it was about installing Linux on a 360 – which happened to be a laptop – would be really cool.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "433947",
"author": "Decius",
"timestamp": "2011-08-13T19:10:28",
"content": "A Ps3 would be much more suited towards that idea than a 360. There’s too many advantages to list out why.",
"parent_id": "433591",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "433595",
"author": "David M",
"timestamp": "2011-08-13T02:49:38",
"content": "I wonder why it took a whole hour to boot, there couldn’t be THAT much extra going on. I first ran Linux (kernel 0.99pl12) on my 486-66 back in 1995, and it would boot up in just a couple of minutes.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "433615",
"author": "Kevin Dady",
"timestamp": "2011-08-13T03:04:40",
"content": "the year 2000 install took an hour to boot, the 1996 install only takes 2.5 minutes",
"parent_id": "433595",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "433631",
"author": "kaye",
"timestamp": "2011-08-13T03:17:53",
"content": "A large part of that is virtual memory. An old distro will be small enough to avoid it all together, but a new one will rely on it frequently. That’s a problem on an ide interface before ata66. Very, very, slow.Using a kernel tuned to need no loadable modules during boot, and disabling unneeded daemons will help quite a bit.",
"parent_id": "433615",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "434067",
"author": "hwertz",
"timestamp": "2011-08-13T21:59:08",
"content": "It took so long to boot because of lack of RAM almost certainly. New kernels (within the last year) are *slightly* better, but when the kernel runs out of RAM it really goes to pieces, it’ll freeze for like 30 seconds at a stretch deciding what to do.Regarding the distro being out of date — it sure is. But, a system quite this low spec is difficult. I started out with an early slackware in 1994, on a 386sx-16, 4MB of RAM, and a 40MB RLL hard disk. The 386 and 40MB disk were not such a big deal, the 4MB of RAM was the *real* kick in the nuts. Going to even 8MB makes things FAR easier (not the 386 has a limit of 16MB of physical RAM, although it does support the full 4GB virtual memory.) That is just how a full UNIX is, the early 1980s UNIX systems already wanted to have at least 1MB of RAM, and Suns and such started with 4MB by the mid 1980s.Oh, and you *CAN* use MFM and RLL drives 8-). I did it with my first slackware install. It is listed in the kernel configuration as “XT hard disk support”, and the device is /dev/xda (rather than /dev/hda or /dev/sda for “normal” hard disks). It is probably enabled even on very recent distros, just because as long as it’s compiles there is no reason to turn it off. Partitons are usual /dev/xda1, /dev/xdb1 etc. This will be slow though, I got around 750KB/sec off my disk RLL disk (ST-250R) and MFMs would be even slower; also the seek time was about 250ms. Which was much better than the ~150KB/sec it got in DOS, but yeah, not even 1MB/sec.",
"parent_id": "433595",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "433626",
"author": "kaye",
"timestamp": "2011-08-13T03:13:11",
"content": "Using qemu with an ide to usb adaptor works well. Saves writing a bunch of CDs and floppies. I’ve used it to get the latest slackware on a p75 ultraportable.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "433627",
"author": "Janez D.",
"timestamp": "2011-08-13T03:13:13",
"content": "Well, the last time I installed Linux on a 386 with 4MB memory I ended up with 8MB swap partition and booting from DOS because 2.0.x kernel took all of the memory while booting. Bootup was “fast” – around 10 minutes. I had internet with 10MB 3Com PCMCIA card but the gen of it all was the shutdown – it took around 30 minutes.Not really usable.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "433629",
"author": "arfink",
"timestamp": "2011-08-13T03:14:52",
"content": "I have seen people running CrunchBang on hardware that’s almost this old. Older Pentiums and such. (Crunch Bang = #!)",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "447797",
"author": "m1ndtr1p",
"timestamp": "2011-09-04T20:12:04",
"content": "I have Crunchbang running on an old P3 533 Mhz with 256MB of memory and it’s very snappy, I’m sure you could run it on even older hardware but probably not something as old as a 386 or 486. After bootup, the entire system running an FTP and VNC uses roughly 43MB of memory total… Minimum system requirements for Crunchbang are P3 with 256MB of memory for decent performance, anything under that would just be too slow… And considering that #! is based off of Ubuntu minimal install, anything under a 686 CPU (P3) just won’t work. It’s still a modern distro even though it’s super lightweight.",
"parent_id": "433629",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "433641",
"author": "Ivan",
"timestamp": "2011-08-13T03:31:20",
"content": "Exciting! I recently got hooked with the Tiny Core distribution using persistence! Great stuff.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "433652",
"author": "Joe",
"timestamp": "2011-08-13T03:53:12",
"content": "I did this about 10 years ago to an old Digital laptop…386 running at 25 mhz. The BIOS didn’t support a drive larger than 200 MB…but I found a way to bypass it by putting the Linux kernel + LILO on a floppy…and using that for the first stage of booting. Once inside the kernel, it could read the entire 1.2 GB drive I crammed in it. Loaded SuSE 5.1 on it with X…was able to run some basic apps…but mostly stayed in console land. In fact, I used this to take notes through my senior year of high school and first year of college.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "433653",
"author": "Mike",
"timestamp": "2011-08-13T03:54:50",
"content": "What the hell?I ran variants of Unix on 386s “back in the day”, and they most certainly did not take 10 minutes or more to boot. Somebody, somewhere is doing something wrong.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "433662",
"author": "Joe",
"timestamp": "2011-08-13T04:05:03",
"content": "Yes…but not everyone is as good at fine-tuning their start-up process. For example, my 25mhz machine (post above this one) took 15 minutes to boot…because back then I was still a n00b in the Linux world. Now that I know how to properly configure a Linux distro (and what not to install on a machine slower than my calculator)…I could make that system fly. :)",
"parent_id": "433653",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "433667",
"author": "Devajyoti Barman",
"timestamp": "2011-08-13T04:15:48",
"content": "This is certainly one of the best Linux posts ever. because the newer kernels still supports the old 386, cross compiling linux would be the best choice. And with tools like Crosstool-NG cross compiling is as easy as they come.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "433673",
"author": "azend",
"timestamp": "2011-08-13T04:26:47",
"content": "Does this mean I can’t get Linux to run on my 268 :(",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "433679",
"author": "Joe",
"timestamp": "2011-08-13T04:39:11",
"content": "The 286 processor was 16-bit. Linux requires an MCU (memory control unit), and I believe those weren’t introduced until the 386. Plus…the fact that all kernels are compiled for 32-bit platforms and above is a slight bottleneck…lol.",
"parent_id": "433673",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "433900",
"author": "·",
"timestamp": "2011-08-13T16:34:41",
"content": "The 286 certainly has an MMU – it’s the first x86 to have one (Intel announced this as Protected Mode). It is considerably less flexible than the one in 386 (no paging, no 32-bit pointers) and Linux was designed for the 386.",
"parent_id": "433679",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "434048",
"author": "colin",
"timestamp": "2011-08-13T21:35:11",
"content": "Linux needs a 32 bit CPU and the 286 is only 16 bit. However there was a variant built for 16 bit CPUs called ELKS if you really want to run Linux on a 286, seehttp://elks.sourceforge.net/",
"parent_id": "433673",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "434159",
"author": "cantido",
"timestamp": "2011-08-14T02:35:30",
"content": "Linux “needs” a 32bit x86 cpu because only the 386 and above have a real MMU. uClinux, which IIRC is actually in the mainline kernel now, does or at least did run on 16bit (depends on what you consider 16bit really) machines like the H8/300 and M68000 IIRC. There are few a “PC” assumptions in the kernel too, mainly in drivers that have never been tested on non-x86 machines, but its not impossible to get it running on some really crazy hardware.",
"parent_id": "434048",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "433682",
"author": "KillerBug",
"timestamp": "2011-08-13T04:52:03",
"content": "I had a 386 laptop myself back in the day…linux ran fast and furious on it…under two minutes to boot and less than 5 minutes more to get to a GUI. I guess the new builds have a lot more features tho (not that you can use any of them with an old 386 laptop).I’m afraid linux does not run on 16bit processor (except for some proprietary distros that don’t work with any apps). That is why I was never able to load it onto my old 8088.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "433689",
"author": "cantido",
"timestamp": "2011-08-13T05:24:40",
"content": ">>That is why I was never able to load it>>onto my old 8088.Lack of MMU would be the biggest roadblock. uClinux does run on some “16bit” processors.. I just don’t think there is any support for x86 in “flat mode” considering how old even the 386 is.",
"parent_id": "433682",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "433803",
"author": "qwerty",
"timestamp": "2011-08-13T12:17:09",
"content": "You can load “Linux” on a 8088, albeit an extremely cut down version of it, but you indeed can.http://elks.sourceforge.net/To the moderators: I apologize for hitting again the report link by mistake. Please consider adding a confirmation request.",
"parent_id": "433682",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "433889",
"author": "KillerBug",
"timestamp": "2011-08-13T16:02:30",
"content": "LoL…I don’t think I’ll be using that thing again any time soon… my arduino has more processing power and my smallest flash media is hundreds of times larger than the hard drive. It makes me sick to think of how much that 8MB of ram cost…",
"parent_id": "433803",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "433707",
"author": "bothersaidpooh",
"timestamp": "2011-08-13T07:21:44",
"content": "I have two 486 boat anchor laptops here kindly donated to me.Might be fun to make some use of them, as it turns out you can use a Flashpath adaptor as a cheap HDD alternative as these can take up to a 128MB SM card.Only snag is that without hardware modifications it won’t natively boot but this is hackable with a simple 10F206 microcontroller which dumps the boot sector into memory as soon as something tries to access Sector 0mailme mandoline at cwgsy dot net",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "433708",
"author": "bothersaidpooh",
"timestamp": "2011-08-13T07:25:52",
"content": "Also a lot of the early 386 laptops were run below max clock because of heat issues and the unreliable memory.If you can replace the memory then you can in fact overclock a 386 SX-25 to around 33 or higher without problems; someone has even managed to get one up to nearly 60 MHz using a peltier cooler on the CPU and chipset.The old trick of starting CPU at stock and increasing slowly works, a simple VCO using a tuning diode and voltage derived from a trimpot will work here… :-)",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "433732",
"author": "Max",
"timestamp": "2011-08-13T08:07:36",
"content": "It’s good to be reminded how hard it was back in the day to get a machine running just the way one wants it to. Sure, most of the extra steps required here come from the fact that the machine’s severely outdated, but it’s still a lot easier these days to install an OS (or multiple) on a computer.Boot loader config is still a mess, but not as much as it used to be.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "433733",
"author": "window cleaning se26",
"timestamp": "2011-08-13T08:14:15",
"content": "There are some interesting time limits in this article but I don’t know if I see all of them heart to heart. There’s some validity but I’ll take hold opinion until I look into it further. Good article , thanks and we wish extra! Added to FeedBurner as well",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "433735",
"author": "Rachel",
"timestamp": "2011-08-13T08:18:05",
"content": "Does anyone know of a modern tiny distribution? I’d like to play around with something like this, but everyone seems to be hung up on all the fancy new features. GUI, mouse support, networking…who needs them? I want a kernel, a shell, the basic supporting commands, a C compiler, and a text editor. Something which can boot in seconds like DOS, yet still give me all the shell power I need.Think of it as a big arduino with a nice 80 x 30 character LCD and keyboard for debugging.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "433759",
"author": "rso",
"timestamp": "2011-08-13T09:52:41",
"content": "try ttylinux, or blue dot linux. both available at minimalinux.org.minimalinux is distributed usable oob, but you’d have to supply your own C compiler, while blue dot is basically linux-from-scratch-in-a-script so you need anoter linux box first to get a bootable blue dot.",
"parent_id": "433735",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "433827",
"author": "Ed",
"timestamp": "2011-08-13T13:18:52",
"content": "You might find that LFS or DFS are good starting points for something like that.",
"parent_id": "433735",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "433828",
"author": "Ed",
"timestamp": "2011-08-13T13:19:38",
"content": "You might find that LFS and DFS are good starting points.",
"parent_id": "433735",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "433848",
"author": "A. Canuck",
"timestamp": "2011-08-13T14:40:11",
"content": "I am fairly certain that the latest release of NetBSD will run on a 386.",
"parent_id": "433735",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "433747",
"author": "t&p",
"timestamp": "2011-08-13T09:04:38",
"content": "what can you do with this one may ask.http serverquake serverserver stuffarduino thing like dude saidbunch o stuff.imagination is all you need!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "433748",
"author": "t&p",
"timestamp": "2011-08-13T09:06:35",
"content": "a dumb terminal would also be a good idea if you wana use more modern hardware that could be headless.",
"parent_id": "433747",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "433791",
"author": "svofski",
"timestamp": "2011-08-13T11:41:02",
"content": "play nethack",
"parent_id": "433747",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "433756",
"author": "bippy",
"timestamp": "2011-08-13T09:41:02",
"content": "@agent24you have to partition the drive so it sees it as two diffrent drives, the os will see it this way too so its a two steps foward one back kind of thing",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "433762",
"author": "Darkcon",
"timestamp": "2011-08-13T10:04:29",
"content": "linux on a 386 in 5 minutes, download openwrt x86 image, dd if=imagefilename of=/dev/hda1reboot",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "433799",
"author": "Tod",
"timestamp": "2011-08-13T12:01:37",
"content": "I think this is a useful posting for getting to know more about Linux, but I should point out that BasicLinux does this exact same thing (on 386 too, it claims). It comes on a two-floppy distribution, features add-ons for networking and user access, and can even use the packages from Slackware 4.0 (still available if you look hard enough) for additional features.I use BasicLinux to create network nodes in my personal router lab. They respond to ping, and I can create lots of them with 8MB RAM / 8MB Disk per node on a virtual machine host.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "433822",
"author": "Blars",
"timestamp": "2011-08-13T13:10:27",
"content": "Modern tiny distributions tend to be aimed at the embedded market — emdebian, dd-wrt, etc.Debian is a do-ocracy, if you are willing to put in the effort (and it isn’t small) you can continue support for old hardware. There is still an active 68k community in Debian, but it has been dropped from the main archive.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "433825",
"author": "MS3FGX",
"timestamp": "2011-08-13T13:14:14",
"content": "This is a complete waste of time if I ever saw one.If you want to run Linux and learn about it, don’t do it on a 386. Running a decade old Linux distribution isn’t going to teach you anything useful, and more to the point, there are going to be many bugs and possible exploits which will make running this machine in 2011 dangerous. If you actually connect this thing to the Internet, you are a fool.If you want to run something on a 386, use NetBSD, which actually supports the processor and is up to date with modern software and security updates. I can’t understand why the author admits he knows NetBSD is actually designed to run on this kind of machine, and then proceeds to suffer through this worthless Linux installation.I’m really starting to dislike the staff-created posts on HaD, it seems like everyone of them so far have been needlessly complex for the sake of making it look more important.This could have been summarized as:Install NetBSD = Use it to learn something usefulInstall Linux = Make a post on Hack a Day",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "433835",
"author": "nimitzbrood",
"timestamp": "2011-08-13T13:35:29",
"content": "Would you like some cheese with that whine? ;-)Seriously though this is something most die hard Linux/BSD geeks have done. It’s the drive to make all hardware you have useful and it’s within most true geeks. So why complain about it?As for me this rocks because if the system has a good screen of any type that makes it a winner for turning into a digital picture frame. I don’t know about anyone else but I have _tons_ of old B&W family photos that I’ve scanned that would look just fine on a monchrome display.Add an ethernet card/dongle with a cheap POE hack (take two unused wires on either end of the cable and use them for power) and you’ve got a single wire picture frame that can be put on the wall neatly. :-)",
"parent_id": "433825",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "433846",
"author": "Ivan",
"timestamp": "2011-08-13T14:35:05",
"content": "Busybox is currently used in many 386 platforms for applications such as small routers. I don’t see why you should be able to learn a lot of stuff by installing busybox/tinycore or such distributions to tweak your hardware and make your old box useful.",
"parent_id": "433825",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "433850",
"author": "Ivan",
"timestamp": "2011-08-13T14:43:56",
"content": "I see a lot of people complaining because some Linux distributions have evolved to run better on current platforms. This also happens on top of non-knowledgeable people trying it and liking it. That wouldn’t be possible if you give an average person a kernel and ask expect them to solve their problems with drivers and whatnot.If you want a Linux that runs in 386. There are many (Puppy, Tiny/Multi core, command line: Busybox). The applications you can run on 386 are multiple and it’s on the users to go ahead an check their routers or NAS (Yes, there are several companies shipping routers and NAS running busybox), etc.A regular Linux distribution with many fans, most probably is going to run into problems because… Hey, who supports 20yo platforms anymore, and why would they?I don’t see this post as a “tremendous hack” but hey is interesting that people want to try and probably motivate others to do fun stuff with a very old box. My webserver has a 1999 laptop with a broken hinge and has been running just fine. (It’s not older because I used to give away my old boxes to people I knew)",
"parent_id": "433825",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "433941",
"author": "Yolanda",
"timestamp": "2011-08-13T18:59:27",
"content": "http://www.netbsd.org/ports/i386/hardware.html“NetBSD/i386 Supported HardwareThe minimal configuration for a NetBSD/i386 system requires 4M of RAM and about 40M of disk space. For a full installation (including source and X11), at least 8M of RAM and 200M of disk space are recommended.Any i486 or better CPU should work – genuine Intel or a compatible such as Cyrix, AMD, or NexGen. ”Actually supports the 386, huh?",
"parent_id": "433825",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "433834",
"author": "retepvosnul",
"timestamp": "2011-08-13T13:35:21",
"content": "Linux is starting to lack in areas that used to be it’s strong point. The old “it runs on a toaster” gag used to be true but since a couple of years building systems on older or rare hardware has become a royal pain. Obsolete hardware really is obsolete again. Maintaining old DecAlpha’s or VIA chipset boxes for dedicated tasks requires a vast mishmash of distro’s, kernels and odd hacks to keep them up. In most cases the once much hated (by me) Debian distro seems the best match, but just barely.I don’t see Linux on the desktop happening, but if this last bastion of Linux keeps on getting worst, then I’m jumping ship.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "433852",
"author": "Ivan",
"timestamp": "2011-08-13T14:48:51",
"content": "Hey, there’s a lot of development. It’s sad that the segmentation of distributions has caused very poor decisions. But with mobile processors faster than a 90’s Pentium MMX (and this is my old HTC Wizard), 386 support seems like a big “Why?” to me. Then again, if you want your toaster to run linux, you want to find an appropriate distribution for your toaster, and not trying to instal Fedora Core or Ubuntu because it’s going to be difficult.",
"parent_id": "433834",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "434007",
"author": "retepvosnul",
"timestamp": "2011-08-13T20:37:54",
"content": "Well, I’m not talking about self inflicted pain from trying to cram a 2.6.x kernel with Xorg on a pinball machine. This project is rather extreme seeing as it is the first kind on machine that runs original linux (not the (later) no-MMU capable versions).Why does linux suck on Sparc, Via Cx, Alpha, PPC and mips when, not to long ago, it didn’t.You are right that a large part is due to brain-dead ideas crammed into installers. but really ! Ubuntu ! It is a nightmare, it resembles Win95 on most systems older than 3 years.",
"parent_id": "433852",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "433865",
"author": "Drone",
"timestamp": "2011-08-13T15:07:20",
"content": "What a waste of time. There are many alternatives for older/low-end x86 processors. NetBSD is friendly. If you insist on Linux, then take a look at this venerable and still active project:http://www.freesco.org/",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "433879",
"author": "Nathan Campos",
"timestamp": "2011-08-13T15:38:27",
"content": "The best rainy day project for me. I’ll try to find my old laptop here and do this too for sure! :)Congratulations",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "433881",
"author": "Chewie",
"timestamp": "2011-08-13T15:43:55",
"content": "I love Linux and I love old machines, but seriously HaD? You call this a hack? We keep seeing more and more posts like this that are certainly NOT hacks. Interesting? Sometimes. A hack? Not even close.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "433892",
"author": "KillerBug",
"timestamp": "2011-08-13T16:05:24",
"content": "It is a slow news day and it is interesting, plus it sparked a bunch of old timers to remember the old days, so stop complaining.",
"parent_id": "433881",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "433883",
"author": "Werner Heuser",
"timestamp": "2011-08-13T15:46:52",
"content": "There are even a fewinstallation reports for ELKS Linux on laptops with 286 CPUs.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "433884",
"author": "Progress",
"timestamp": "2011-08-13T15:47:00",
"content": "I could somewhat understand the appeal of undertaking something like this if computers still were expensive, but when you almost have to pay to get rid of systems that are 10 years newer than a 386, whats the point?Most people that have been around for a while remember how much “fun” it was to deal with chat scripts and ppp to use a dialup, and most probably have no desire to go back to anything that reminds them of that kind of tech.No idea why this guy wants to torture himself.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "433898",
"author": "kyle",
"timestamp": "2011-08-13T16:24:51",
"content": "I recently had a similar experience trying to install Linux and repurpose a Dell server with a PERC II RAID and no IDE/ATA. 4 Xeon 500mhz, 4Gb EDO, and more 9Gb SCSI drives than you can shake a stick at makes a handy dev server. Interesting but not a hack.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "433913",
"author": "MeToo",
"timestamp": "2011-08-13T17:25:25",
"content": "Reading the article, there seems to be a fundamental misunderstanding about the SX/DX division.The 386SX and DX differ mainly in that the SX only had a 16bit memory bus to allow it to be used with old 286 chipsets, where the DX (or just “i386”) had a 32bit memory bus.Neither had a math copro onboard – they both needed an external math processor – the 386SX could use the 287 or 387SX, the 386DX would use the 387DX, or often a third party processor from the likes of Weitek which were rather quicker than the Intel equivalents.This changed with the 486 where the main difference between the 486SX and 486DX was that the DX had a math copro on the die, where the 486SX didn’t – there was a 487SX offered for a while, but what it actually was was a 486DX in an odd form factor (different socket) that locked out the “main” processor when it was inserted, taking over all processing.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "433914",
"author": "silvesterstillalone",
"timestamp": "2011-08-13T17:26:10",
"content": "Oh wow check it out:http://linux.slashdot.org/story/11/08/13/1341240/Installing-Linux-On-a-386-Laptop",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "434012",
"author": "retepvosnul",
"timestamp": "2011-08-13T20:44:59",
"content": "Seemingly it is a similarly slow news-day for the old beards over at /.",
"parent_id": "433914",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "433933",
"author": "gnomad",
"timestamp": "2011-08-13T17:57:56",
"content": "Nostalgia moment: When I was running Minix on my 12 Mhz 286, I was lusting after a 386 so I could run FreeBSD. ;-)It is important to note that development on Minix has progressed as well, and now exists as Minix 3. Not only is Minix far more suited to this type of hardware, but the kernel still comes in at around 20,000 lines of code and can be fully understood by anyone who is willing to dedicate a bit of time to studying it.Another interesting option is RetroBSD, which are the BSD 2.11 sources ported to the PIC32. I haven’t played with it yet, but the kernel sources come in under 20,000 lines as well.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "433939",
"author": "dan",
"timestamp": "2011-08-13T18:46:14",
"content": "I’ve still got a copy of Yggdrasil Linux with a 0.97 kernel kicking around from 1995… I ran one of the first ISP’s in the Niagara Region, Ontario from that, back in the day on a ‘386…http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yggdrasil_Linux/GNU/X",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "433960",
"author": "fdawg4l",
"timestamp": "2011-08-13T19:36:27",
"content": "I thought there was a flag one could pass the kernel on boot (i.e. in grub) to take a modern disto, and turn off all of the architecture specific stuff found on i5 processors. One should be able to run a stock kernel with math emulation turned on (this may not be compiled into the kernel anymore) and a reported 486sx architecture. IIRC the 486 and 386 differed little other than the math coprocessor. I remember doing this not that long ago. I’ll try to dig up my kernel .config.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "434013",
"author": "Mattster",
"timestamp": "2011-08-13T20:45:52",
"content": "I think the next frontier is ARM based Linux. ARM stuff is usually “Just Enough” for most tasks especially loading up a web browser in the style of Citrix et al . I do have a bricked Tmobile G1 hmmmmmm",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "434046",
"author": "Penguin Sleuth2",
"timestamp": "2011-08-13T21:34:19",
"content": "I’m using a Dell b120 w/ Celeron M 1.4 Ghz processor. Has a 40 Gig Hd and 2 Gb of memory. It does great on Ubuntu 10.04 LTS.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "434101",
"author": "redfish",
"timestamp": "2011-08-13T23:19:15",
"content": "Compac Portable 386 has 1k ram, what can it run?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "434215",
"author": "Phillip",
"timestamp": "2011-08-14T06:21:44",
"content": "Try tinycorelinux.Does not get any easier.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "434217",
"author": "bothersaidpooh",
"timestamp": "2011-08-14T06:26:17",
"content": "I can see an old boat anchor like this being useful for running E2PROM programmers (i.e. fixing TVs/changing mac addresses/repairing old phones/etc), as well as home CNC setups.Also many of these older machines had hardware which the newer ones don’t, such as parallel, serial and infrared.Especially handy if you want to do low level stuff :-)",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "434343",
"author": "puffy",
"timestamp": "2011-08-14T12:08:07",
"content": "OpenBSD will run on a 486 or greater (or an entirely different architecture if that pleases you…hello ARM:http://openbsd.org/plat.html), and you actually get a modern and capable OS. The default install is very light (especially if you cut out some unnecessary install sets – ie anything x-related) and the documentation is great.http://www.openbsd.org",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "434521",
"author": "Joel Shasteen",
"timestamp": "2011-08-14T16:42:09",
"content": "I love this kind of thing. Reminds me of my first days with Linux installing Slackware from floppies onto a 486DX2-50.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "435449",
"author": "dolo724",
"timestamp": "2011-08-15T17:28:51",
"content": "Could you have left the HDD in place? Here’s what I did with my 386/33 Thinkpad (12MB), floppy drive, 40MB HDD and PCMCIA slot:Booted Debian 2.0.4 floppy, switch to driver disk for PCMCIA drivers. PItA to find a floppy that rawrite wouldn’t spit out.Connected via eth0 (PCMCIA) to dedicated server to install minimum Debian.I’m talking real minimum, no X, but I learned lots. Joe and aspell for documents.Eventually I wanted mc, but there wasn’t room for any compilers, so I compiled it on another machine and copied over the binary. Said laptop lasted me another 5 years.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "435570",
"author": "Shawn H Corey",
"timestamp": "2011-08-15T22:22:58",
"content": "“its the absolute bottom Intel CPU you can run Linux on.”Wrong. Back when 286s were state-of-the-art, I installed Red Hat on mine, with a full GUI.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "442614",
"author": "WitchDoc",
"timestamp": "2011-08-27T09:33:28",
"content": "That’s hard to believe as the 386 was introduced years before Redhat even started distributing. Linux did not exist when 286 was state_of_the_art",
"parent_id": "435570",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "435692",
"author": "Boris",
"timestamp": "2011-08-16T03:44:15",
"content": "There is lot of custom linux variant designed to run on old hardware with educational purpose.monkey linuxhttp://projectdevolve.tripod.com/text/descript.htmbasiclinuxhttp://distro.ibiblio.org/pub/linux/distributions/baslinux/etchttp://www.linuxlinks.com/Distributions/Mini_Distributions/",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
}
] | 1,760,377,115.56415
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2011/08/12/beer-chilling-in-the-name-of-science/
|
Beer Chilling In The Name Of Science
|
Mike Szczys
|
[
"Beer Hacks"
] |
[
"chilling",
"co2"
] |
We’ve all been there. The day is done and it’s time for a cold one but you neglected to put more beer in the fridge after imbibing the last bottle the night before. You could chuck it in the freezer and revisit your attempt at refreshment in an hour. But if you need a malty beverage right now there’s no faster route than a beer chiller.
This particular beer chilling device
is [Michael’s] entry in DEFCON 19’s Beer Chilling Contraption Contest. It can take a pint of beer from 90 degrees down to 45 degrees in just four seconds. Of course there’s a fair amount of setup time before you’re ready to use it. The device is a pipe within a pipe. The inner pipe houses the beer and the pipe surrounding it provides a containment area for a chilling liquid. [Michael] chose to use liquid carbon dioxide as a coolant because of it’s boiling temperature when under pressure. That is to say, the hottest part of the CO2 liquid is around the walls of the center pipe. By carefully dialing in the pressure of that outer chamber, the CO2 will boil away into gas as it cools the beer, making room for more liquid CO2 to contact the pipe and continue the cooling process.
| 19
| 14
|
[
{
"comment_id": "433504",
"author": "Spork",
"timestamp": "2011-08-12T23:12:22",
"content": "Pipe within a pipe…. inception?!What would be cool is a keg with an insulator layer, filled with liquid C02, then a coiled pipe for the beer. That way you don’t need a ladder… and it’s a recognizable device (keg). Your travel length could be shorter with a mild grade to provide the same cooling.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "433506",
"author": "Spork",
"timestamp": "2011-08-12T23:15:49",
"content": "An addendum to my previous post:I did RTFA and realize they used similar to what I posted in previous entries. — my thought was a flow-through device where you don’t need to hold chilled beverage, You simply crack a warm one, pour it and let it flow into your cup below.",
"parent_id": "433504",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "433525",
"author": "vox",
"timestamp": "2011-08-13T00:09:46",
"content": "I saw this thing. It was terrifying and awesome.That upper tube (the shorter one) is cast iron and black (or at least it was at DefCon). The white color is frost. Its packed with Dry Ice and the cap put on to build pressure.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "433683",
"author": "Spork",
"timestamp": "2011-08-13T04:57:45",
"content": "I think you may have mistaken what each part does because of how it looked in person. From the diagrams on the website, it seems that the inner most tube is metal and goes all the way through, while the outer (PVC) tube is for liquid CO2, then the secondary (smaller) chamber is for dry ice to reach a higher pressure where it melts to liquid CO2.",
"parent_id": "433525",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "433532",
"author": "ho0d0o",
"timestamp": "2011-08-13T00:32:15",
"content": "Definitely cool. Pun intended.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "433550",
"author": "Microguy",
"timestamp": "2011-08-13T01:20:16",
"content": "If you have to go the fridge route, it doesn’t take an hour. Just put it in some ice, and rotate it. Five minutes maybe. I lost a $5 bet to a bar tender on this because I didn’t believe it. It went from room temp to just about ice cold in just about five minutes.Never bet a bartender ANYthing.(as near as I can tell, the rotating it, gets the (currently) warm part of the beer in contact with the ice sooner than just leaving it there, you know, moving the warm beer in and out of contact.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "433574",
"author": "charliex",
"timestamp": "2011-08-13T02:10:51",
"content": "Part of the competition is speed, volume, as well as temperature.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "433634",
"author": "Craig",
"timestamp": "2011-08-13T03:22:42",
"content": "It’s a couple orders of magnitude less effective than this, but I’m still madly in love with asciimation’s jet engine beer cooler. He sticks the LPG tank feeding a jet engine in a bucket of water along with some beers. The engine uses so much fuel so quickly that the tank cools down, chilling the beer.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "433639",
"author": "echodelta",
"timestamp": "2011-08-13T03:29:00",
"content": "Rotation in ice melts a cavity that mates perfectly with the can-bottle thus transfering heat well.My hack is to place a 3 inch 110 volt power supply fan into the ice coated vintage refer for a quick chill, about 10 min. No good in the frost free jobs, unless full of cold items with a lot of water content. Fan is right up to bottle.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "433659",
"author": "Beamin1",
"timestamp": "2011-08-13T04:04:06",
"content": "Just put a 6 pack in a 5 gallon bucket and shoot in a small c02 fire extinguisher – instant cold 6pack..",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "433666",
"author": "Hackerspacer",
"timestamp": "2011-08-13T04:14:38",
"content": "Pipe within a pipe…!!?? You mean like a heat exchanger?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "433734",
"author": "MindParadox",
"timestamp": "2011-08-13T08:17:13",
"content": "take a bucket, put a gallon of water in it, and 1/2 cup of salt, add 1 gallon worth of ice, stir like hell for a minute or so, put beers in, add more ice (and about a 1/4 cup more salt)leave em in there, stirring the whole thing occasionally for all of 2 minutes, your beers will be pretty friggin cold :)",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "433750",
"author": "Phil",
"timestamp": "2011-08-13T09:11:46",
"content": "Why would I have a beer near boiling point? And what good would a 45 degree beer be? Is fahreneit so much better than the Si conventions that we still can’t get rid of it? Also, the fact that there is a diagonal pipe and speak of pi/2 and pi/4 degrees doesn’t really ease the comprehension!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "433815",
"author": "Olivia",
"timestamp": "2011-08-13T12:52:33",
"content": "@Mindparadox: that doesn’t work at all. I’ve tried it and just ended up with a slightly less warm salt coated beer.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "433905",
"author": "Will",
"timestamp": "2011-08-13T17:07:28",
"content": "I’ve had reasonable success with it. Ice + Water = better thermal conduction with the beer bottle. Salt (and plenty of it) helps get it much colder — just like with an old fashioned ice cream churn.",
"parent_id": "433815",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "433968",
"author": "Leithoa",
"timestamp": "2011-08-13T19:59:39",
"content": "@ sporkThe outer pipe is definately metal, possibly aluminum. On the build page there are some pictures of it not covered in frost. You wouldn’t be able to use PVC for this since the critical point for CO2 at ~87*F(31*C, 304K) is ~1100psi(7.8MPa). Normal Sch40 of any diameter would be unable to hold those pressures.@PhilThe USA uses imperial/customary units and will continue to do so for the forseable future. Just get used to using the context of the conversation to tip you off. As you said no one would want to drink a 45*C beer. You’ll note I added SI units in my response just for you.P.S.: Celsius is just as arbitrary as Farhrenheit.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "434081",
"author": "Kade",
"timestamp": "2011-08-13T22:34:01",
"content": "…except that SI units are used by almost every other country in the world and makes more sense relatively. 0 and 100 make much more sense than 32 and 212",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "434106",
"author": "Will",
"timestamp": "2011-08-13T23:40:40",
"content": "Hooray for the rest of the world. Get a calculator and work with it. Being conversant with both systems isn’t that hard.",
"parent_id": "434081",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "434120",
"author": "Leithoa",
"timestamp": "2011-08-14T00:10:59",
"content": "That’s where your hung up. Anders Celsius decided to use water as the basis for his temperature scale, and Danny Fahrenheit decided to use Mrs. Fahrenheits’ arm-pit as the basis of his scale(originally 100 moved around later for wahtever reason to 98.6) and the first Baron Kelvin decided to use the theoretical cease of (thermal) motion as his zero, a mathematical and emperical 0. Every other scale is by definition relative to something, and therefor arbitrary. I could invent a scale today based on melting point of taffy.You(non-specific) will encounter silly units in the real world best be versed in them. Just look up the FFF system for a truly useless(in every day life) set of units.",
"parent_id": "434081",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
}
] | 1,760,377,115.733293
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2011/08/12/stream-music-anywhere-in-your-house-with-these-wifi-speakers/
|
Stream Music Anywhere In Your House With These WiFi Speakers
|
Mike Nathan
|
[
"Arduino Hacks",
"digital audio hacks",
"home entertainment hacks"
] |
[
"arduino",
"ethernet",
"mp3",
"speakers",
"wifie",
"wifly"
] |
[Rui] needed an easy way to play music in several different zones from one centralized location, but he didn’t want to run any new wiring in the process.
He figured that the best way to do this would be to stream his music
directly to his speakers over Ethernet
. Earlier this year, he put together a handful of Ethernet-connected speaker nodes using a few Arduinos equipped with both Ethernet and MP3 shields. To interface with these speaker nodes, he wrote an application utilizing VLC’s network streaming engine. This software monitors his network for newly attached speakers, adding them to his inventory automatically. He can choose to play music on any set of speakers using a multicast audio stream.
The setup was pretty slick, but what about locations that didn’t already have Ethernet drops? He thought of that too,
revising his design just recently
. The newest set of speakers he constructed ditches the Ethernet board for a Wifly shield, all of which he crammed inside the speaker cabinets. Now, he has the ability to stream music anywhere he’d like, no matter what sort of infrastructure is in place.
If you have a need to do this in your home, [Rui] has made his software available for free on his site, so be sure to grab a copy.
Continue reading to see a short video of the speakers in action.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xX8JxCu89JY&w=470]
| 27
| 22
|
[
{
"comment_id": "433349",
"author": "tim",
"timestamp": "2011-08-12T19:15:06",
"content": "Great idea, but I work for a hi-fi audio IC manufacturer so the poor sound quality is a real turn-off for me",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "433425",
"author": "Jeremy",
"timestamp": "2011-08-12T20:01:50",
"content": "I wonder how much much this project costs to stream 32kbps audio? I get that hacks are way more fun than buying something off the shelf, but in this case that would be better and probably cheaper. Apple’s Airport Express is $99 and streams CD-quality audio over Ethernet and wifi, and there are even open-source streaming apps now that will run on your OS of choice.On the other hand, I can’t point at my Express and say that I built it myself. Doing that was pretty cool. :)",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "2539869",
"author": "Mike",
"timestamp": "2015-04-24T01:11:40",
"content": "Airport Express might stream CD quality audio, but it outputs it through an awful quality analog circuit. It sounds really bad.The audio jack on a Rasberry Pi is much better, while still being low-fi",
"parent_id": "433425",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "433426",
"author": "rasz",
"timestamp": "2011-08-12T20:01:53",
"content": "all this could be replaced by TP-link TL-MR3220/WL-500G with USB sound card ….",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "433493",
"author": "Patenomics",
"timestamp": "2011-08-12T22:47:22",
"content": "and yet it still wouldn’t be as cool as making it yourself",
"parent_id": "433426",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "433826",
"author": "MS3FGX",
"timestamp": "2011-08-13T13:18:26",
"content": "You would still be making it yourself, you would just be doing it in a way that actually makes sense and gives you more capability.",
"parent_id": "433493",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "2539873",
"author": "ledaero",
"timestamp": "2015-04-24T01:13:34",
"content": "Or even better with a Raspberry Pi and dac",
"parent_id": "433426",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "433427",
"author": "bogdan",
"timestamp": "2011-08-12T20:05:44",
"content": "this is one step closer to those commercially available media players that cost…a lot. At some point i wanted to have music in the bathroom and decided to send the music via stereo fm radiov(there is a simple stereo modulator with an avr).That would be cheaper and simpler. now moving to ether/inter net, there is a way to make aj internet radio receiver with a router. that might still be simpler/cheaper.anyway, the best way to make things would be to make a device that can read a shared storage and not rely on streaming….",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "433429",
"author": "lum",
"timestamp": "2011-08-12T20:09:38",
"content": "Timing issues bwtn. channels and possibly other media(video/games) come to mind. You know sync and delay…Look into the AVB standards.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Audio_Video_Bridging",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "433430",
"author": "Randy",
"timestamp": "2011-08-12T20:10:20",
"content": "Neat project – but it doesn’t look to be doing much in the way of buffering (unless the Ethernet library handles that). I think it’s actually transferring data from the Ethernet Shield to the MP3 Shield one byte at a time – and using digitalWrite to change the CS lines of the SPI devices.Using some of the ATMega’s RAM, or maybe adding one of those 32KB Serial SRAMs from Microchip, might help make higher bitrates work. There are probably some serious performance gains to be had replacing digitalWrite with a direct port write as well.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "433433",
"author": "cmholm",
"timestamp": "2011-08-12T20:18:18",
"content": "The VLSI VS1053b decoder can handle high bit rates, and I believe the ATmega168 has the beans to move more data from the network shield to the mp3 shield. So, I’m guessing the 32kbps limit is a software issue, either in the PC server code or the Arduino.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "433440",
"author": "Ben Wright",
"timestamp": "2011-08-12T20:34:02",
"content": "He still needs to provide power to the speaker location. I don’t see why it was easier to send the signal wireless and provide power at the speaker than to fish some wire in the attic to powerthe speakers.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "433443",
"author": "Ryan",
"timestamp": "2011-08-12T20:46:50",
"content": "The first annotation in the video states that the batteries used to power the speakers also power the circuit. Even if it did still require an external power source, this is still a much more portable solution.",
"parent_id": "433440",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "433449",
"author": "lwatcdr",
"timestamp": "2011-08-12T20:54:38",
"content": "Why not us FLAC? Transcode the audio on the server to FLAC and then send the FLAC to the speakers. Flac is easy to decompress.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "433485",
"author": "bogdan",
"timestamp": "2011-08-12T22:20:13",
"content": "from what i remember form some projects with ethernet a data rates of over 100kbps is achievable with an enc28j60, so there shouldnt be any problem achieving better quality. it might be a limitation with the arduino libs, they tend to be poor in terms of serious implementation.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "433490",
"author": "Sebastian",
"timestamp": "2011-08-12T22:27:30",
"content": "I am using an FM broadcaster, and self build FM radios to stream music in my apartment – this way I can make sure that the buffering does not cause me pain.But I do lack the flexibility of having multiple zones.I love this hack – since it shows you that there is clearly no magic in those overpriced sonos boxes.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "433502",
"author": "james",
"timestamp": "2011-08-12T23:00:21",
"content": "So (not including the wireless version) how much better is this compared to running speaker wire instead of ethernet cable?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "433513",
"author": "KingOfDos",
"timestamp": "2011-08-12T23:33:34",
"content": "the best way to make things would be to make a device that can read a shared storage and not rely on streamingWho defines what’s “the best” for a specific location/setup?I’m using multicast for most of my audio and video, because it just works. This does matter when your streaming 7 TV channels to a network (and 8x radio + 2x ‘MPD’ = 10x radio).Oh, and the multicast stream can be restarted on the multicast-host (or temp. connection issues), without any issue on most clients. You’d see a flicker or still image for a few microseconds (or ‘no sound’ in case of radio).The best does not exist. Only the best for YOUR situation/requirements (and maybe knowledge).",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "433518",
"author": "Hackerspacer",
"timestamp": "2011-08-12T23:56:28",
"content": "How does this deal with the desyncing effect inherent in multiple speakers at various distances all playing the same sound at the same time due to the speed of sound through air, the delay induced by distance and echos / various speeds of sound wave reflection? Disney addressed and fixed that long go – you just hear a constant level of sound no matter where in the park you go (that has speakers). My method of solving the multiple speaker over ethernet problem was solved by using VLC but streaming (multicasting) over to individual atom based PCs. Yes, it somewhat like using an arduino to flash a led but damn it, $120 or so each CPU plus speakers gives you $200 or so per “speaker”. Plus you have the extra CPU available if needed for other things – and a full linux OS to boot. Takes more power to run though.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "433543",
"author": "Fozzy Bear",
"timestamp": "2011-08-13T01:07:59",
"content": "That’s quite an IP STACK he has there!Wocka wocka!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "433754",
"author": "wvdv2002",
"timestamp": "2011-08-13T09:24:14",
"content": "If I had the time I would still like to try this using a PIC32, that microcontroller can decode MP3’s in software. You would need a wifi chip or use a PIC32 with build in ethernet controller. Output the decoded sound on two PWM channels with some low pass filtering. Cheap and reliable wireless sound. The PIC32 has enough RAM for buffering on chip enough power for decoding at least 192kbps streams.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "434111",
"author": "NATO",
"timestamp": "2011-08-13T23:49:28",
"content": "My GOD, for all this work you get that crappy sound? How about just going and spending a few bucks on some decent wireles speakers? I mean, how much is your time really worth to you?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "435037",
"author": "umbongo",
"timestamp": "2011-08-15T08:42:36",
"content": "i just did this with an openwrt usb router, a battery pack and a usb wifi card for the bathroom.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "435356",
"author": "DOT850",
"timestamp": "2011-08-15T14:25:41",
"content": "I’ve always wanted to know how complicated it was to do this. Very cool project!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "440633",
"author": "Tron781",
"timestamp": "2011-08-24T01:39:41",
"content": "I think this and the wired project are great, and people who crap on it are missing the point, you made something, while they bitched about this and that",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "697917",
"author": "fireater989",
"timestamp": "2012-07-09T02:04:19",
"content": "What about those ethernet adapters that transmit your network through your wall power? You could just plug your speakers in and connect through that",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "702676",
"author": "Marcus Chaves",
"timestamp": "2012-07-14T05:34:51",
"content": "Where can I find the program code, this is exactly what I’m looking for. Thanks!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
}
] | 1,760,377,115.628111
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2011/08/12/two-axis-panning-time-lapse-rig-built-from-lego/
|
Two-axis Panning Time Lapse Rig Built From Lego
|
Mike Nathan
|
[
"digital cameras hacks",
"Toy Hacks",
"Video Hacks"
] |
[
"arduino",
"lego",
"photography",
"time-lapse"
] |
[Jochem] wrote in to share a neat
time lapse camera dolly he constructed out of Lego bricks
. He is a big fan of the two-axis panning time lapse effect where the camera moves while recording images. He figured it would be easy enough to construct one of his own, so he dug out his pail of Lego and got to work.
The rig consists of a stationary motor platform which pulls a movable sled using a simple gear and string. The motor platform is controlled by an Arduino, which pulls the movable sled along every so often, snapping pictures along the way. [Jochem’s] Nikon D80 supports shutter release via IR, so he programmed the Arduino to send a quick IR pulse each time it has finished moving the dolly.
The rig looks like it works pretty well as you can see by the video below, but [Jochem] says that it still needs a bit of work. We just can’t wait to see what other time lapse movies he puts together once he finds an “interesting” time lapse subject.
[vimeo http://vimeo.com/26695600 w=470]
| 14
| 4
|
[
{
"comment_id": "433360",
"author": "Nomad",
"timestamp": "2011-08-12T19:39:02",
"content": "Ehm…TWO-Axis?That’s a wrong statement. I don’t know how good i am at counting to two, but I’m very sure we have only one-axis movement here.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "433424",
"author": "jmicz",
"timestamp": "2011-08-12T20:00:56",
"content": "Maybe the camera tilts??",
"parent_id": "433360",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "433446",
"author": "Nomad",
"timestamp": "2011-08-12T20:51:18",
"content": "Well i can’t see it in the video nor is there something about this in the text.",
"parent_id": "433424",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "433488",
"author": "jmicz",
"timestamp": "2011-08-12T22:24:58",
"content": "true",
"parent_id": "433360",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "433503",
"author": "spurt",
"timestamp": "2011-08-12T23:03:18",
"content": "Perhaps he’s counting time as the second axis? Hehe",
"parent_id": "433360",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "433529",
"author": "EFH",
"timestamp": "2011-08-13T00:29:03",
"content": "If it falls over while it’s being pulled along, that’s the other axis.",
"parent_id": "433360",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "433674",
"author": "jaded",
"timestamp": "2011-08-13T04:31:35",
"content": "Perhaps he meant two AXLES, as the camera dolly appears to be a rectangular tray supported by four wheels, one at each corner.",
"parent_id": "433360",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "433880",
"author": "Mike Nathan",
"timestamp": "2011-08-13T15:39:46",
"content": "The second axis exists where this editor swings the fulcrum located at the intersection of his arm and shoulder during the process of slapping his own forehead.I’ll totally take the blame for the terrible and inaccurate description. I watched the sled move while the clouds swept across the sky and in my head went, “That looks pretty cool – motion in two planes”Thus, two axes were burned into my brain, which caused my hands to type it into the keyboard.You’re not missing anything, it was me.",
"parent_id": "433360",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "433432",
"author": "furrtek",
"timestamp": "2011-08-12T20:13:25",
"content": "Same sort of thing:http://furrtek.free.fr/index.php?p=mods&a=trainrigWith custom controller:http://furrtek.free.fr/index.php?p=crea&a=dollyctl",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "433487",
"author": "Ben Ryves",
"timestamp": "2011-08-12T22:22:04",
"content": "Good stuff! I’m a little surprised that a single transistor and 4V is enough for the Lego motor (I presume it’s a 9V one, and I needed two transistors in a Darlington pair to switch mine on) and a little worried by the apparent lack of a back EMF suppression diode but it certainly appears to work. :-)I usedLego and a PICAXE to take 360° photosby rotating an object on a platform and taking photos as it goes. Unfortunately, my camera only supports remote capture through a fairly horrible piece of Windows XP-only software, so it’s a little inelegant, but it gets results.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "433491",
"author": "jmicz",
"timestamp": "2011-08-12T22:30:14",
"content": "took a look at the link… cool",
"parent_id": "433487",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "433782",
"author": "Olivier",
"timestamp": "2011-08-13T11:22:21",
"content": "Which camera do you have ? You say Canon but we don’t know the model. Have you checked CHDK ?",
"parent_id": "433487",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "433843",
"author": "Ben Ryves",
"timestamp": "2011-08-13T14:25:01",
"content": "I should have mentioned that it’s a PowerShot S50, and as such unsupported by CHDK.",
"parent_id": "433782",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "433540",
"author": "theborg",
"timestamp": "2011-08-13T01:04:15",
"content": "Awesome – the Arduino IR routine alone is a great find. Thanks for the ideas :)",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
}
] | 1,760,377,115.678919
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2011/08/12/overhaul-an-old-mechanical-keyboard/
|
Overhaul An Old Mechanical Keyboard
|
Jesse Congdon
|
[
"classic hacks",
"how-to",
"Peripherals Hacks"
] |
[
"keyboard",
"retr0brite",
"Teensy",
"vintage computing"
] |
Deskthority forum user [lowpoly] recently posted a writeup on his complete
overhaul of an Apple M0110
mechanical keyboard. Any one familiar with the satisfying
clack
of a good mechanical key under their fingers can appreciate the effort put into this project.
[lowpoly] removed the keyboard’s PCB, rewired the key matrix adding diodes, built in a teensy USB board, broke apart the mechanical switches and fit replacement springs and finally applied a generous portion of
retr0bright
to all of the aging plastic. Since the teensy has no mounting holes [lowpoly] had to create a mounting assembly out of some spare plastic. A usb mini cable is even fitted into the original RJ-11 connector. To compensate for the lack of PCB the key assembly was fitting with some rubber washers. To top off the whole thing some nice new rubber feet were taped to the underside of the M0110.
[lowpoly] reports that with the foam, new springs, and lack of PCB the keyboard is much quieter and easy to use. The end result is a slick retro looking modern keyboard. If you’ll excuse us we have to go rooting through some old storage bins to find our own ancient keyboards.
We have seen our share of
vintage
keyboard
hacks
which can be
useful
,
impressive
and sometimes just
odd
. This build keeps it down to a nice simple, functional, useful retrofit. Nice work!
| 16
| 9
|
[
{
"comment_id": "433282",
"author": "chango",
"timestamp": "2011-08-12T17:20:15",
"content": "Only IBM, Lexmark, and Unicomp ever made buckling spring keyboards. These are purely mechanical.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "433288",
"author": "Jesse Congdon",
"timestamp": "2011-08-12T17:25:43",
"content": "Yikes, you are correct! Fixed!",
"parent_id": "433282",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "433295",
"author": "ddh819",
"timestamp": "2011-08-12T17:39:02",
"content": "Would have been nice if he had the matching number pad and mouse!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "433301",
"author": "YT2095",
"timestamp": "2011-08-12T17:43:46",
"content": "maybe it`s just me, there seems to be a resurgence of Retro type/style hacks and equipment used lately.this can in my opinion only be a Good thing.It`s certainly a pleasure to see and read about these “old school” bits of kit finding a new life again!this totally gets a +1 from me ;)",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "433306",
"author": "DanAdamKOF",
"timestamp": "2011-08-12T17:53:31",
"content": "If it still works, why not still use it?",
"parent_id": "433301",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "433307",
"author": "austin",
"timestamp": "2011-08-12T17:54:28",
"content": "i like the teletype SMS myself.>.> wonder if a teletype would make a nice keyboard…",
"parent_id": "433301",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "433338",
"author": "xiuix",
"timestamp": "2011-08-12T18:55:57",
"content": "I thought the point was to have a keyboard with a loud *CLACK*",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "433345",
"author": "Jesse Congdon",
"timestamp": "2011-08-12T19:09:35",
"content": "I prefer a nice soothing *CLACK*.",
"parent_id": "433338",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "433355",
"author": "peter",
"timestamp": "2011-08-12T19:34:02",
"content": "i’ve got an old tandy laptop i’ve been meaning to do this with for a while… haven’t gotten around to it. this will be a handy readup.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "433655",
"author": "arfink",
"timestamp": "2011-08-13T03:56:31",
"content": "If it’s a Tandy 102 you could use it to pass input to a terminal session on a computer. Not the perfect solution, but not bad.",
"parent_id": "433355",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "433402",
"author": "macona",
"timestamp": "2011-08-12T19:50:29",
"content": "Another option I used to get the old keyboard working off my CNC lathe is use a Pokeys board. It gives you 55 IO and direct connections to USB. It will handle up to a 8×16 keyboard array. More expensive than a teensy but much simpler and easier. The GUI setup program makes programming the keyboard layout quick and easy.http://www.poscope.com/product.php?pid=2",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "433471",
"author": "Spork",
"timestamp": "2011-08-12T21:45:27",
"content": "I have a couple model M keyboards from IBM. They are definitely mechanical and have the wonderful feedback that I want from a keyboard.Nice work on the restore and thanks for reminding me about retr0brite, that is good stuff!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "433527",
"author": "The Timmy",
"timestamp": "2011-08-13T00:21:01",
"content": "I got a dasKeyboard for christmas.. best christmas ever!!before that, I had an old mechanical keyboard that felt and sounded just like the dasKeyboard, with the BTC logo on a the lable on the underside. it was an AT keyboard, I think with a switch for XT. so I used an AT to PS/2 connector, and connected that to a PS/2 to USB adapter.. and it would work, kinda.every so many key strokes, it would double. sso I woulld typpe noormallly and it wwould end up loooking someething likee this. does anybody know what’s going on with that? I would really like to use that keyboard again on another machine because it has a solid flip up/down cover and is actually retro instead of the pseudo-retro that the dasKeyboard provides. oh, and the bottom was also a powder coated metal plate instead of being all plastic.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "443639",
"author": "kaluce",
"timestamp": "2011-08-29T13:51:37",
"content": "that keyboard probably has a “bouncing” signal. if that’s the case, i’m not sure how you’d fix it, i remember something about how to fix it, but I dont want to steer you off. look up keyboard debounce circuit, you might pick up what you need",
"parent_id": "433527",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "1639674",
"author": "Justin Barker",
"timestamp": "2014-07-15T13:17:11",
"content": "To fix this you would neet a non-inverting schmitt trigger (or two inverting schmitt triggers in series…) All of the best input devices use these for a true hardware “debounce” most USB encoders use software debounce.",
"parent_id": "433527",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "433567",
"author": "Andrew",
"timestamp": "2011-08-13T01:56:55",
"content": "Beautiful, neat work.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
}
] | 1,760,377,115.982992
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2011/08/12/wii-homebrew-hack-no-game-discs-required/
|
Wii Homebrew Hack – No Game Discs Required
|
Mike Nathan
|
[
"Nintendo Hacks",
"Nintendo Wii Hacks"
] |
[
"homebrew",
"jailbreak",
"wii"
] |
Jailbreaking hacks have come and gone for the Wii, ever changing as Nintendo tweaks their software to prevent homebrew from running. Piracy concerns aside, there is a legitimate Wii homebrew scene, and
a new, easy to use tool has been released
for those looking to give it a try.
Many of the previous jailbreaks relied on
bugs found
within official Wii games, but there’s a new kid on the block that requires nothing more than an Internet connection and an SD card. LetterBomb is the latest jailbreaking tool, which was created by an individual named [blasty]. It seems incredibly easy to use, requiring little more than entering your Wii’s MAC address into a web form. The site generates a customized jailbreak file, which your run on your Wii via the SD card – that’s all there is to it!
If I had a Wii, I would be hesitant to enter any sort of globally-unique number that could identify my console into a random web site, but perhaps I am being overly paranoid. Either way, it would be great to see an open-source version of this tool released so that jailbreaks could be done offline, without any risk of having your MAC address recorded.
[Thanks, blurry]
| 50
| 25
|
[
{
"comment_id": "433227",
"author": "Koolguy007",
"timestamp": "2011-08-12T15:36:42",
"content": "I personally prefer the Bannerbomb method. Its easy to use and doesn’t require giving out ANY information.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "433229",
"author": "Mike Nathan",
"timestamp": "2011-08-12T15:39:55",
"content": "From what I saw, Bannerbomb only works with System Menu versions 4.2 and older, whereas this one works with 4.3.I wasn’t aware of any other ‘no disc’ hacks for 4.3+ consoles.",
"parent_id": "433227",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "433238",
"author": "BLuRry",
"timestamp": "2011-08-12T16:00:18",
"content": "You’re right — this is the first no-disc exploit. Other savegame exploits (Indiana Pwns, Return of the Jodi, Stack Smash) were our only option until now.I like that installing the homebrew channel only allows homebrew — and that you aren’t immediately enabled to run warez from the go. After you install the homebrew browser, it’s super easy to download a bunch of useful apps (e.g. WiiMC) and hit the ground running!",
"parent_id": "433229",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "433250",
"author": "junkman",
"timestamp": "2011-08-12T16:19:46",
"content": "I was able to use bannerbomb on 4.3u; but I did have to downgrade the firmware in the process.Also you can easily brick your wii using these methods if you don’t backup the nvram and install a bootloader so you can get back if it becomes bricked.",
"parent_id": "433229",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "433320",
"author": "Mike Rogers",
"timestamp": "2011-08-12T18:30:49",
"content": "@junkman, you were either previously modified, or mistaken. You did not use bannerbomb with 4.3",
"parent_id": "433229",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "433232",
"author": "Mike Nathan",
"timestamp": "2011-08-12T15:54:08",
"content": "For the sake of conversation, I would challenge you to justify comment.Jailbreaking, according to Wikipedia, is defined as such: “Privilege escalation is the act of exploiting a bug, design flaw or configuration oversight in an operating system or software application to gain elevated access to resources that are normally protected from an application or user. The result is that an application with more privileges than intended by the application developer or system administrator can perform unauthorized actions.”Sounds exactly like what is being done here. Jailbreaking iOS allows you full access to the device in order to run homebrew. ___________ on the Wii allows you full access to the device in order to run homebrew.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "433234",
"author": "RooTer",
"timestamp": "2011-08-12T15:55:46",
"content": "It shouldn’t hurt to try it out with randomly substituted two last bytes of the MAC address, right?also, not sure how Nintendo looks on MAC addresses but they are surely not globally-unique …",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "433260",
"author": "Bobby J",
"timestamp": "2011-08-12T16:34:57",
"content": "MAC addresses are globally unique if they are properly created (and not spoofed like might be done on a router).",
"parent_id": "433234",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "433309",
"author": "Dan",
"timestamp": "2011-08-12T17:55:58",
"content": "Why would they be spoofed on a router in particular?",
"parent_id": "433260",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "433472",
"author": "nagger",
"timestamp": "2011-08-12T21:47:17",
"content": "fyi, mac addresses are almost never manufactured correctly.in fact, my teacher owns 2 nic cards with the exact same MAC address..(causing headaches with his network, good thing its easy to spoof)obviously the same manufacturer, or a knockoff posing as the brand(never heard of/seen this with nic cards)its possibly limited to just a few manufacturers not correctly assigning them.",
"parent_id": "433260",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "433549",
"author": "Dissy",
"timestamp": "2011-08-13T01:15:52",
"content": "> Why would they be spoofed on a router in particular?Certain CPE devices, in my experence cable modems in my area are the worst, but a tech comes in to set things up and demands a Windows computer to do it.They connect the windows machine to the cable modem, issue it some (password protected) commands, and then the cable modem is locked to your PC’s MAC address.Want to use multiple computers? Or firewall that Windows box? Too bad, the cable modem won’t work with a different MAC on a different device.So routers now have the ability to spoof the MAC, so you can set it to match the Windows PC MAC that the cable modem was originally setup with.Then the router does some trickery so the PC with the cloned MAC will still function on your LAN and not confuse things.At that point the cable modem is happy, and you have a router/firewall that will then let you connect the rest of your computers to the internet.That’s one legit reason at least. Plenty of non-legit ones if you ponder about wifi MAC filters long enough… ;}",
"parent_id": "433260",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "433235",
"author": "BLuRry",
"timestamp": "2011-08-12T15:55:59",
"content": "Explain exactly what is different between this and a jailbreak. Let’s see: There’s an oppressive OS running on the device that uses crypto signatures and other methods to determine if you’re allowed to run OEM-blessed applications/games on a device and stop you from running custom homebrew. And this lets you subvert said oppressive OS to run your own code. That sounds exactly like a jailbreak on an iPhone, a root exploit on a driod, or this tool on a Wii. Can you explain the technical difference to me? Perhaps I missed something? The part that installs BootMii, HBC, etc, is the same SaveZelda utility from Team Twiizers that we’ve been fortunate to have for a long time — this mailbomb exploit is a chainloader to launch it basically but still the end result is a “jailbreak”.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "564375",
"author": "andy",
"timestamp": "2012-01-22T01:37:42",
"content": "as much as i love the passion kid, remember this. There are two types of “experts”. Those who can, and those who just talk about it, or should I say in this case, type about it.P.S Your momma dont say much, does she? Well I guess That dispells the ” Women and multi-tasking ” theory anyway…….",
"parent_id": "433235",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "433239",
"author": "CollinstheClown",
"timestamp": "2011-08-12T16:01:15",
"content": "Maybe you could enter a MAC address of all zeros, then open the file and edit in your number?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "433712",
"author": "wiisixtyfour",
"timestamp": "2011-08-13T07:33:37",
"content": "Nope, it is signed with the MAC address, it’s not just something you can switch once you download it.I was thinking a better solution would be to release an offline program that signs it for you.",
"parent_id": "433239",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "433873",
"author": "bno112300",
"timestamp": "2011-08-13T15:24:48",
"content": "the source is going to be added to the savezelda source.so people will be able to do it themselves.though team twiizers don’t like doing this as it makes selling their work easier. see:team argon",
"parent_id": "433712",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "433240",
"author": "Andrew Smith",
"timestamp": "2011-08-12T16:02:52",
"content": "This is harder than banner bomb that’s been around for ages. Also hasn’t needed discs for ages.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "433245",
"author": "Ben R",
"timestamp": "2011-08-12T16:17:51",
"content": "As stated already, seeing as how this is newer than Bannerbomb, it works on more modern System Menu versions. Bannerbomb hasn’t worked on current software versions in awhile.",
"parent_id": "433240",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "433278",
"author": "junkman",
"timestamp": "2011-08-12T17:10:44",
"content": "It still works for 4.3u. I did it 1 month ago no problems. I liked the twilight princess exploit years ago myself. With bannerbomb you don’t need a game.",
"parent_id": "433245",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "433713",
"author": "wiisixtyfour",
"timestamp": "2011-08-13T07:34:49",
"content": "@junkmanBannerbomb does NOT work on 4.3. You are wrong.",
"parent_id": "433245",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "525477",
"author": "Willrandship",
"timestamp": "2011-12-03T05:59:51",
"content": "Yeah, I can confirm that bannerbomb stopped working with 4.3, but the HBC itself was only partially broken (I think it uninstalled all my extra layers of bug removal, but all I can really say is that now half my homebrew doesn’t work) It’s great to hear there’s a new exploit out there!",
"parent_id": "433245",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "433248",
"author": "ScottInNH",
"timestamp": "2011-08-12T16:19:13",
"content": "That is a demand, not an argument. Why do you hate freedom, drew?Personally, I am NOW considering buying a Wii. I usually do not like closed consoles, but being able to run homebrew this way is appealing. The homebrew channel is very well done.All of the console makers would be wise to co-opt the homebrew community, allowing users to opt-in to the homebrew channels. Allowing end-users to make and share their own content is not in the interests of these console makers, unfortunately, but as open hardware gains momentum the console makers will be forced to relent and permit us more choice.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "433257",
"author": "steve eh",
"timestamp": "2011-08-12T16:28:06",
"content": "Sure…right after i spent $40 on one of the games needed…ahh well good to know this “jailbreak” is out there",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "433264",
"author": "Setatx",
"timestamp": "2011-08-12T16:40:33",
"content": "Very cool, always happy to see consoles ripped open!Personally, I found the smash stack much easier than any other option. Took me less than 10 min.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "433269",
"author": "austin",
"timestamp": "2011-08-12T16:57:55",
"content": "staff meeting at nintendo:“piracy has run rampant on the wii, everyone is modifying their systems. so i propose a plan:step one:make an exploit that works on current firmware *i know what you are thinking but bare with me*step two: set up a site that requires them to enter the unique mac address of their wii to get the exploitstep three: log all those mac addresses, cross reference with units sold for further analysis and possible legal action”",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "433284",
"author": "fartface",
"timestamp": "2011-08-12T17:20:43",
"content": "Step 5 go back in time and force companies to write down the mac address of the device and the customer information and send it to us.I have 2 Wii’s and nither one at the time of sale had anything written down. they scan the barcode (that is for a Wii, not big enough to include a MAC address to those out there that know nothing about barcodes)SO nice try at creating FUD. too bad you did not do any research at all on it before you made it up.",
"parent_id": "433269",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "433287",
"author": "andar_b",
"timestamp": "2011-08-12T17:25:21",
"content": "BUT… many of these are connected to the internet, where Nintendo could easily ‘search’ for those modded MAC addresses. Not that they could do a whole lot, but they could possibly do SOMETHING we know not what. What if they included something in 4.3 that allows them to push an update that could brick the console?I don’t believe they did, but it is a possibility.",
"parent_id": "433284",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "433305",
"author": "M-Byte",
"timestamp": "2011-08-12T17:48:54",
"content": "For many customers, they get that information, including stuff like credit card numbers, from the customers themselves. Most people tend to use real information to register for the shop channel. Especially when it comes to credit card numbers, this is also advisable as you would be commiting a crime.So if you think about it, austin’s comment is not that unrealistic.However, TT has been around for quite some time. So I believe, they can be trusted.",
"parent_id": "433284",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "433270",
"author": "Slegiar",
"timestamp": "2011-08-12T16:58:50",
"content": "i liked smash stack too. found a good tutorial with link for pre-loaded folders to load on the sd card and got it all done nice and fast.http://www.youtube.com/rvlhacks#p/a/u/0/CJ7qzU35Xrwif anyones interested",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "433276",
"author": "Jakw",
"timestamp": "2011-08-12T17:02:11",
"content": "OMG, Team Twiizers, might send me an email to my Wii, now that i have gave them my MAC address. Now I’m all for tinfoil beenies, but to what end. After years of hacking the Wii, i don’t think think they are going to turn round and brick everybody or spam their Wii’s.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "525479",
"author": "Willrandship",
"timestamp": "2011-12-03T06:03:50",
"content": "A MAC Address is not a Friend code. A MAC address is a (relatively) unchangeable number assigned to the networking hardware of your wii, and nintendo could very easily ban your console from their by simply checking for its MAC. In fact, I’m 85% certain this is how MS did the Modchip Live ban.However, Team Twiizers has had far greater opportunities, such as loading viruses into the HBC, and they never did, so I think they’re trustworthy.Just understand that sending an email is NOT the worst thing that could happen. Not even close.",
"parent_id": "433276",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "433281",
"author": "fartface",
"timestamp": "2011-08-12T17:18:13",
"content": "Yes it is, because it breaks the JAIL that keeps me from installing the home-brew channel.You seem to not understand hacking much and what the term “jailbreaking” means, that is ok, mainstream media makes people think that a term means something different than reality.the term jailbreaking has nothing to do with an iphone or ipad and has been in use by real hackers for quite a while now in reference to getting a unsigned app to run on a device. I jailbroke the Clarion AutoPC back in 1999 to get it to run unsigned software in the background as a service.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "433486",
"author": "IZsh",
"timestamp": "2011-08-12T22:20:45",
"content": "Well, tbh, we (the iphone dev team) used the term jailbreak for the iphone, not because we were runing unsigned code, or because we were freeing the phone from a higher evil,, but because the file system was chrooted, and therefore “jailed”. The first iphone jailbreak was only rebasing the afp service on / instead of the mobile directory. Hence the term “jailbreak”.Nowadays, its use has drifted away from a technical point of view, to a “political”/philosophical point of view.",
"parent_id": "433281",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "433342",
"author": "Solenoid",
"timestamp": "2011-08-12T19:05:28",
"content": "Exactly on time, a friend asked me to help him hack his WII, we saw there was no hack for 4.3 and we were considering buying one of the games where we could exploit a bug, the day after I saw this and everything want super smoothly.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "433417",
"author": "pencilneck",
"timestamp": "2011-08-12T19:52:42",
"content": "Now is there going to be a lawsuit out of this? Hacking what you own is a crime.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "525480",
"author": "Willrandship",
"timestamp": "2011-12-03T06:04:16",
"content": "No, it’s not. Piracy is a crime. Hacking is not.",
"parent_id": "433417",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "433457",
"author": "Alexander",
"timestamp": "2011-08-12T21:10:40",
"content": "You do not need to put your MAC into the website. That is just a ‘easy method’ to get you up and running quickly.The exploit uses the messaging system in the Wii, and the Wii uses your MAC to send messages between Wii’s and your Wii will only accept messages to it with it’s own MAC. Kind of like a mailing address, sort of in a way.There is absolutely NO REASON to consider it any more or less safe than any other jailbreaking method out there for anything–after all, you don’t look at the source code before you run it and they COULD be installing a backdoor into your system. So what is them having your MAC going to do to make you any less secure?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "433687",
"author": "Maave",
"timestamp": "2011-08-13T05:13:52",
"content": "Very true. Users are worried about entering a MAC address which could just be acquired by the post-exploit code anyway.And thanks for the info on how it works. Sounds neat. I’d like to see how these guys found this (or any other) exploit.",
"parent_id": "433457",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "433489",
"author": "ewookie",
"timestamp": "2011-08-12T22:27:03",
"content": "hmm…hope nobody sends a specially crafted ‘letterbomb’ to my wii…",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "433714",
"author": "wiisixtyfour",
"timestamp": "2011-08-13T07:38:07",
"content": "It cannot work by sending it, it has to be on the SD card. If it worked by sending it then there would be an automated thing similar to jailbreakme.com where you could email from your Wii and get a reply with the exploit in it. That would, however, be pretty cool.",
"parent_id": "433489",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "433520",
"author": "Koolguy007",
"timestamp": "2011-08-13T00:01:32",
"content": "I checked and the my homebrew channel is no more :(.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "433530",
"author": "BLuRry",
"timestamp": "2011-08-13T00:29:50",
"content": "I used Twilight Hack long long ago and it disappeared when Donkey Kong Country forced the 4.3u update. I used Indiana Pwns a few months ago and have HBC and other channels installed with no issues whatsoever. (and for some odd reason, the WiiMC app streams video over a SMB share with less hiccups that my PS3 does over DLNA from the same server… Maybe $0ny should stop wasting firmware release cycles on patching holes and focus on bugs that they haven’t addressed, like, ever. Such as poor buffering of streamed video content.)",
"parent_id": "433520",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "433547",
"author": "Alan Robinson",
"timestamp": "2011-08-13T01:14:31",
"content": "Nice. i have a few systems to do this is great news",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "433710",
"author": "wiisixtyfour",
"timestamp": "2011-08-13T07:28:47",
"content": "It was actually created by tueidj, not blasty.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "433870",
"author": "bno112300",
"timestamp": "2011-08-13T15:22:25",
"content": "though he says he was not looking for any recognition.and it was more of a collaborative effort.",
"parent_id": "433710",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "433766",
"author": "Ryan",
"timestamp": "2011-08-13T10:24:24",
"content": "Awesome! I have a Wii with System Menu 4.3 and a broken drive. Now maybe it will be possible to copy the save files off of it.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "434529",
"author": "D1g1talDragon",
"timestamp": "2011-08-14T16:56:16",
"content": "I can verify that this exploit works perfectly. Took about 5 minutes start to finish to grt HBC back on my Wii after the 4.3u update was accidentally installed a few months back.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "434557",
"author": "MarshmallowGoat",
"timestamp": "2011-08-14T17:56:55",
"content": "Great they will be releasing the source.. Definitely prefer to use this with an offline tool. Will wait till then.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "527708",
"author": "Pharaoh Tech",
"timestamp": "2011-12-06T05:35:35",
"content": "Thanks Jeebus I never upgraded to 4.3+. The orignal homebrew hack saved me bookoo’s of money on crappy ass games.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "592645",
"author": "Nidia Dingivan",
"timestamp": "2012-03-01T15:55:42",
"content": "Thanks Matt, not only am I skeptical but sometimes, just downright snarky because this whole modern school reform movement is just repeating the errors of the past and creating a few novel ones along the way. First, just about NOeven if your we allow that your new system is working and will work in the long term, scaling it up for wider adoption will be impossible. Hurricanes 1) just aren’t that common, especially big ones that overwhelm a broken levee system and 2) are geographically constrained to subtropical to marginally extratropical locations. So, I think you’d have a really hard time imposing a charter school system outside of the southeastern US.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
}
] | 1,760,377,115.932211
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2011/08/12/arduino-link-libraries/
|
Arduino Link Libraries
|
Kevin Dady
|
[
"Arduino Hacks"
] |
[] |
Arduino is great, but it sometimes gets in the way due to its entry level style of doing things. One limitation is making your own library that also includes other libraries.[Scott] has sent in a great tutorial that deals with just that issue.
He covers how to
make your own custom libraries while building off of preexisting ones
. That’s something Arduino’s automatic magic wont touch.He covers getting your library to compile while including aanother library, linking versus compiling, and getting it all linked up.
Add in clear examples, lots of explanation and a hand full of good practices for C with libraries (like Forward Class Declaration vs Includes, and Using Brackets vs Quotation Marks for Includes), and this is one tutorial that any aspiring AVR or Arduino developer should check out.
| 7
| 3
|
[
{
"comment_id": "433158",
"author": "Brett W. (FightCube.com)",
"timestamp": "2011-08-12T14:15:20",
"content": "Nice! Thanks for posting this :-D",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "433294",
"author": "qwerty",
"timestamp": "2011-08-12T17:38:01",
"content": "I like the Arduino but would like more being able to write applications for it in the old fashioned way: command line editor and compilers.Would anyone recommend some pointers to do that without losing its functionality? (ie. access to its libraries, etc.)",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "433324",
"author": "fred",
"timestamp": "2011-08-12T18:36:04",
"content": "Google is your friend. I did a google search and this was the second response.http://www.arduino.cc/playground/Learning/CommandLine",
"parent_id": "433294",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "433656",
"author": "tantris",
"timestamp": "2011-08-13T03:59:56",
"content": "one little trap there: the makefile is rather old (arduino-005 instead of 022) and looks for files that don’t exist anymore. further down the page is a link to a new version.",
"parent_id": "433324",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "433330",
"author": "tantris",
"timestamp": "2011-08-12T18:44:16",
"content": "and this:http://www.arduino.cc/playground/Code/Eclipseand this:http://www.nongnu.org/avr-libc/user-manual/index.html",
"parent_id": "433294",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "433350",
"author": "Chad",
"timestamp": "2011-08-12T19:17:48",
"content": "Found this in the arduino forum:The difference between and “” is where the compiler looks for header files. The “” means local (in the sketch folder). The is for library files (not in the sketch directory). Some compilers are not rigorous in enforcing this distinction.It was written by PaulS, arduino forum member.http://arduino.cc/forum/index.php/topic,69218.0.html",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "433654",
"author": "tantris",
"timestamp": "2011-08-13T03:56:18",
"content": "looks like your characters > < got removed..",
"parent_id": "433350",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
}
] | 1,760,377,116.129939
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2011/08/12/persistence-of-vision-helicopter-blades-with-rgb-leds/
|
Persistence Of Vision Helicopter Blades With RGB LEDs
|
Brian Benchoff
|
[
"LED Hacks",
"Toy Hacks"
] |
[
"helicopter",
"helicopter POV",
"persistence of vision",
"POV"
] |
A user named [BOcnc] on the rcgroups forums just posted his
RGB POV helicopter blades
.
The two blades are attached to the heli just as any other whirlygig. The
electronics
, though, are mounted underneath the blade with a battery pack. We covered a build
last year
that demonstrated weight added to a spinning blade won’t tear everything apart, but that build used only blue LEDs. This build is full color and makes us feel like we’re living in a cyberpunk future populated by
Recognizers
and Daft Punk.
The images are stored on an SD card that receives data from a USB port. The microcontroller is a PIC32, and from what we can assume from the schematics, the RPM of the blades is measured by an on-board hall effect sensor (don’t quote us on that, though). There’s no hope of a commercial release from [BOcnc], though. He can’t find anyone to manufacture the blades, and the entire build was too expensive. It sure looks pretty though, so check out the video of it after the break.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=giHx48q3dpo&w=470]
| 17
| 15
|
[
{
"comment_id": "433070",
"author": "Olivier",
"timestamp": "2011-08-12T11:17:21",
"content": "Very impressive, looks great !",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "433135",
"author": "Squintz",
"timestamp": "2011-08-12T13:28:02",
"content": "Looks great. I’m slightly more impressed that they were able to fly it in that low lighting.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "433147",
"author": "that1guy",
"timestamp": "2011-08-12T13:54:47",
"content": "Wowza, this looks incredible, even in screenshots.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "433170",
"author": "Whatnot",
"timestamp": "2011-08-12T14:36:06",
"content": "Pretty nice I think, although I don’t want all choppers to incorporate it myself, it’s nice when used sparingly.(the video sort of ruins it with the damn shaking though, but that’s another matter.)",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "433171",
"author": "abobymouse",
"timestamp": "2011-08-12T14:37:35",
"content": "Really cool. But, uh,as constructively as I can: How often are you *over* a helicopter’s blades?The builder could consider a system to fit under the blades of full size helicopters, that display a logo. That’s a bit more challenging because as well as rotor speed you also have the body f the copter in the way.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "433225",
"author": "tooth",
"timestamp": "2011-08-12T15:34:04",
"content": "it is actual mounted under the blades. you can see the image on top and underneath of the blades. it would be cool to see it on a full sized copter.the bat sign is sweet!!! i almost busted out my bat man cape (a black sheet off my bed) and started to fight crime.",
"parent_id": "433171",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "434260",
"author": "abobymouse",
"timestamp": "2011-08-14T10:04:03",
"content": "In that case – it’s awesome and the builder should move to a full scale prototype.That’s going to be a lot trickier with FAA etc approval, but still, builder could make a fortune.",
"parent_id": "433225",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "433230",
"author": "Tom the Brat",
"timestamp": "2011-08-12T15:46:06",
"content": "Wow. That takes POV to a whole new level! (Pun intended)",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "433241",
"author": "bADitCH",
"timestamp": "2011-08-12T16:08:05",
"content": "Wow!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "433465",
"author": "KiDD",
"timestamp": "2011-08-12T21:25:03",
"content": "Need one of these for BurningMan!!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "433496",
"author": "Spork",
"timestamp": "2011-08-12T22:48:57",
"content": "Wow that is cool.RGB POV is one thing, but on a heli is even better.I’m impressed that it:-Doesn’t add too much weight.-Doesn’t throw the heli off balance.Looks great in the video/picture, but I’d love to see it in person.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "433535",
"author": "James",
"timestamp": "2011-08-13T00:43:49",
"content": "Truely amazing. Love the fact that it can do different images on the top and bottom at the same time.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "433554",
"author": "booga",
"timestamp": "2011-08-13T01:28:49",
"content": "This is very cool, just imagine this incorporated on real choppers.A giant hello kitty in the sky nice!But more practical a police chopper with messages for the crooks they are chasing, ‘halt!’ or even a beacon to tell ground units where they are.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "433663",
"author": "aztraph",
"timestamp": "2011-08-13T04:05:58",
"content": "I’d love to see an acrobatic quad copter version",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "435426",
"author": "Adam",
"timestamp": "2011-08-15T16:31:32",
"content": "Having been to Berlin, I love that they used the stop/go Ampelmann street lights! Amazing build.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "435832",
"author": "robomonkey",
"timestamp": "2011-08-16T11:06:32",
"content": "How about putting this on a prop plane?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "1358812",
"author": "Galane",
"timestamp": "2014-04-18T05:03:53",
"content": "The next Batman movie must have a Batcopter with this!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
}
] | 1,760,377,116.040132
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2011/08/11/how-to-put-your-logo-in-a-qr-code/
|
How To Put Your Logo In A QR Code
|
Brian Benchoff
|
[
"Featured",
"how-to"
] |
[
"howto",
"logo",
"qr code"
] |
After writing
this post
on somone hacking QR codes,
Hack A Day commenters
came out in full force posting some
really cool links
about modifying QR codes to include a logo. I’ll fully admit I geeked out a little, but in the process I figured out some of the theory behind embedding logos in QR codes.
After getting my hands on the ISO 18004 specification for QR codes, I decided to try embedding the Hack A Day skull & wrenches inside a QR code. The tools I used were Photoshop,
this QR code generator
, and Microsoft Paint (I’ve never seen a program to edit individual pixels that has a better UI, so don’t laugh).
For this ‘how-to,’ I’m going to walk through the process of modifying a Version 6 QR code. The Version 6 QR code is 41 pixels square, and is a very good balance between the amount of data that can be presented and the physical size of the code itself. The graphic below shows what is absolutely required of a Version 6 QR code standard. In practice, what is actually necessary is a little different, but I’ll just go with the specs for now.
Black in this graphic will
always
be black, white pixels in this graphic will
always
be white, red is a “keep out zone,” and gray is “don’t care.” The alternating black and white band on the top and left side of the QR code is the ‘timing pattern.’ This is the little bit that divides everything on the QR code into columns and rows. The gray part of this graphic is separated into 172 8-pixel zones, as shown below:
If anyone wants to 4-color map theorem this, I’ll gladly update it.
Some of these zones are non-contiguous, so I drew black lines connecting the corresponding parts. Each of these 8-pixel parts translate into one byte of data in an alphanumeric QR code. Now, the million dollar question: why is knowing how the bytes are arranged in a QR code important? The answer is with a high level of error correction, about 30% of these bytes can be complete gibberish, and your phone will still be able to read the QR code. with 172 areas, that means about 51 of them can be altered in any way, shape or form.
So, how do we implement this? First, we start out with a crappily-drawn Hack A Day logo:
It’s important to include both positive and negative space when designing this logo. If there wasn’t a white border going around the logo, the random black and white pixels would be placed right against the logo. Of course, I’m sure someone will come up with a great design that ignores this technique, but
I’ll just do it this way for now
. After overlaying the Hack A Day logo on top of the color map of the QR code, we get this:
Then we
physically count
the number of 8 pixel cells that are obscured by the logo. Since we’re doing a Version 6 QR code, about 51 of these cells can be covered up. It looks like this graphic is okay, so we move onto the next step: putting a real QR code in this thing.
I used
this site
to generate all my QR codes for this post. It allows you to select the QR version number and the error correction level. After typing in “
http://www.hackaday.com”
; as the code I want embedded, I ended up with this:
This little guy is going on our business cards.
That’s all well and good, but what if you want to put a logo in a QR code that a little bit larger than what would ‘normally’ be permitted? What if, for example, you wanted to tread into the timing area on the top and left side of a QR code? This is where design comes in. If a logo already has alternating black and white pixels, like the AT&T ‘Death Star’ for example, it’s fairly easy to have that logo overlap the timing pattern.
Yes, I used a Version 14 QR code for this, meaning it’s 73 pixels on a side. I did come up with
smaller one
, but it really doesn’t look as good.
Notice the blue bars. QR code interpreters don’t care if a pixel is white, black, red, orange, or maroon – only contrast matters. Since the blue in Big Blue is fairly dark, it registers as a dark pixel. This can be exploited by adding both visual contrast and getting rid of the 1-pixel border that is required of a 1-bit graphic.
If the Firefox logo had a white border, the logo would cover more than 30% of the QR code. Putting in a full color graphic – especially one that defines itself from a background with a dark edge like an icon – gets around the need for a white border all the way around a logo. I’m sure there are more clever ways of toying with the palette of a logo, but I’ll let that go for another time.
But wait, there’s more. I’m not limited to the resolution of the QR code – I can overlay stuff at a higher resolution than the QR. This observation led me to this:
Yes, it works.
I’m hoping this how-to was at least a little helpful in demonstrating how logos can be put into QR codes. If you’ve got a neat example of this, leave a note in the comments or send it in on the
tip line
.
| 143
| 50
|
[
{
"comment_id": "432845",
"author": "altpersona",
"timestamp": "2011-08-12T01:11:38",
"content": "When I did mine, I just whited out an area in the middle and started filling black back in.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "432848",
"author": "Willy",
"timestamp": "2011-08-12T01:15:02",
"content": "That’s neat, Our local newspaper has been putting a QR code in it with a pig in the middle, and was wondering how that still worked.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "432850",
"author": "josh",
"timestamp": "2011-08-12T01:16:00",
"content": "hopefully this idea catches on and more people/sites/whatever start using it, cause its freakin sweet.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "497965",
"author": "Repsej",
"timestamp": "2011-11-02T19:46:54",
"content": "Here’s an example of it being used on an Android developers website:http://apps.akosta.dk/busy-status-app/:)",
"parent_id": "432850",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "432862",
"author": "o",
"timestamp": "2011-08-12T01:36:27",
"content": "Forward error correction at its finest.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "432873",
"author": "Austin Spafford",
"timestamp": "2011-08-12T01:57:50",
"content": "I hear you on most paint packages lacking decent per-pixel tools!For pixel-pushing, my favorite tool has been Paint.NET:http://www.getpaint.net/screenshots.htmlIt also supports C# custom extensions, which has mostly been useful for whipping up custom grid-filters to help align icons. :)Thank you for the how-to!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "433174",
"author": "Whatnot",
"timestamp": "2011-08-12T14:42:43",
"content": "Paint.net downloads/uses too much crap put out by microsoft, I used to use it but it just became too insane.Now I myself use the good old GIMP (also available in a portable version as well as being available on other OS’s than windows)But to each his own of course, paint.net does have a lot of functionality.The familiar MS paint in w7 is also much extended over their old paint btw.",
"parent_id": "432873",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "472110",
"author": "Ryan",
"timestamp": "2011-10-05T00:20:59",
"content": "Oh dear, Windows morons.",
"parent_id": "433174",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "574420",
"author": "Big_James",
"timestamp": "2012-02-03T16:39:18",
"content": "Gimp with the grid turned on and set to one px by one px and the snap to grid enabled is great for editing with a one by one px pencil tool :)",
"parent_id": "433174",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "432878",
"author": "GZ",
"timestamp": "2011-08-12T02:18:27",
"content": "I use photoshop for per pixel but I zoom way in. My all time fav for per pixel was deluxe paint on the amiga. Great article!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "432897",
"author": "sariel",
"timestamp": "2011-08-12T03:08:23",
"content": "Sadly the youth of today seem to think Photoshop is the cure-all to all things graphic design. This is why you have lots of online sites that have sub-par graphics. You may have great talent, but its wasted if you’re not using the right tool for the job. Try Fireworks, it’s way better at handling pixel based art. But like Brian said, paint so far has the best UI that I’ve ever run across.",
"parent_id": "432878",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "433096",
"author": "GZ",
"timestamp": "2011-08-12T12:01:40",
"content": "I have it but really dont like working in it. Haven’t given it enough time perhaps. I’ve gotten pretty good with ps for per pixel. Then again, I’ve used it since v2.5 so I’ve had a lot of time to get used to it.All of it’s come a long way since hand anti-aliasing graphics in dpaint.",
"parent_id": "432897",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "436043",
"author": "Justen Robertson",
"timestamp": "2011-08-16T15:39:20",
"content": "Professional pixel artists typically use Graphics Gale or similar specialized software (good news: it’s only $20 last I checked). MS Paint is crap comparatively, and Photoshop and Fireworks aren’t even in the right ballpark. There’s a couple of Linux FOSS pixel art suites but Gale is far superior to all of them.",
"parent_id": "432897",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "438312",
"author": "M4CGYV3R",
"timestamp": "2011-08-20T05:33:39",
"content": "I’m certainly not a ‘youth’ but I would always take Photoshop over GIMP, Paint.NET, or any other graphic drawing tool.Having used it for nearly 8 years, I can solidly say I can do more in Photoshop than other programs, including pixel editing.There is a fully color-selectable pencil tool. If CTRL-+ to zoom in is so difficult, perhaps Paint is the right way to go…",
"parent_id": "432897",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "502573",
"author": "carboncanyon",
"timestamp": "2011-11-07T23:20:04",
"content": "Or, they don’t see any reason to buy and learn another tool when Photoshop works fine for their one-time experiment.",
"parent_id": "432897",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "527772",
"author": "carboncanyon",
"timestamp": "2011-12-06T08:01:04",
"content": "Right… blame the tool not the designer.",
"parent_id": "432897",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "537975",
"author": "Dids",
"timestamp": "2011-12-17T06:53:45",
"content": "Well, if you loved Deluxe Paint, you’ll love grafx2!http://code.google.com/p/grafx2/",
"parent_id": "432897",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "433123",
"author": "MrX",
"timestamp": "2011-08-12T13:06:00",
"content": "Who cares about the image editor? For this application you can even use a text editor to edit a PGM or a 2bit BMP.",
"parent_id": "432878",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "433176",
"author": "Whatnot",
"timestamp": "2011-08-12T14:45:08",
"content": "lol, that’s thinking outside the box I guess :)",
"parent_id": "433123",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "437540",
"author": "DuMu",
"timestamp": "2011-08-18T23:38:34",
"content": "Am I missing something? I just created a 60×60 px image in MS Paint for W7 and saved it as a 542b monochrome bitmap. Opening it in GVim and Notepad2 it just looks like a load of control characters, Icelandic letter thorns, ys with umlauts etc. How exactly does one go about editing a bitmap with a text editor?",
"parent_id": "433123",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "443719",
"author": "weirdpercent",
"timestamp": "2011-08-29T15:32:54",
"content": "If one can use a text editor to edit these image files, this conjures up ideas of using Perl or some other language to write a logo-insert script. Perhaps even add in support to use a symbols font and select which symbol to insert. This would certainly be easier and faster than programming a pixel-based modification script or doing it by hand.",
"parent_id": "433123",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "448470",
"author": "Andrew",
"timestamp": "2011-09-05T19:53:25",
"content": "DuMu,Editing binary files in Vim:http://tech.zhenhua.info/2008/03/edit-binary-file-in-vim.html",
"parent_id": "433123",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "481637",
"author": "Wladyslaw",
"timestamp": "2011-10-17T02:40:23",
"content": "DuMu, the idea is to use an ASCII format such as PGM in your text editor, then if you want convert it with ImageMagick or so.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portable_graymap#PGM_example",
"parent_id": "433123",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "432881",
"author": "Mark",
"timestamp": "2011-08-12T02:24:41",
"content": "you’ve covered all the bases there. excellent job",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "432882",
"author": "jeicrash",
"timestamp": "2011-08-12T02:25:56",
"content": "Icon editors work pretty good, they snap to each pixel allowing easy black/white out of each space. Perhaps this will become a new phase for QR codes, re-write the software so the middle is simply ignored and allow for a logo space.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "432885",
"author": "Jay",
"timestamp": "2011-08-12T02:39:12",
"content": "Long live paint! :D",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "432886",
"author": "Darren",
"timestamp": "2011-08-12T02:39:53",
"content": "jeicrash: I think the point is that the software doesn’t need rewritten for these to work.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "432898",
"author": "MrX",
"timestamp": "2011-08-12T03:09:36",
"content": "Mm.. This is really neatbutwon’t it make the QR code less resilient to errors (i.e. waste of data redundancy)?Unless I’m wrong, this is the kind of stuff that usually comes out from a designer’s head – more eye candyness, less functionality.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "432926",
"author": "mike",
"timestamp": "2011-08-12T04:19:20",
"content": "yeah, thats what i was thinkingif you trash half the error recovery data, it will be less likely to recover from errorsso it will be harder to read the code, meaning you need a better (or more) pictures until it works",
"parent_id": "432898",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "433155",
"author": "engunneer",
"timestamp": "2011-08-12T14:09:08",
"content": "most people leave out the error correction anyway, as many applications don’t require it (labeling things indoors, business cards, or laminated signs), so if you weren’t going to use EC anyway, might as well use it for your logo.",
"parent_id": "432926",
"depth": 3,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "2340210",
"author": "noadvian",
"timestamp": "2015-01-11T04:19:21",
"content": "“But it is faster without error correction”It is always helpful when peeople impeach their own credibility.",
"parent_id": "433155",
"depth": 4,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "432902",
"author": "t&p",
"timestamp": "2011-08-12T03:19:44",
"content": "nothing wrong with M$paint (till they fucked it up in vista and even more in win7).It loads fast and very basic for simple editing.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "433329",
"author": "Joel",
"timestamp": "2011-08-12T18:43:34",
"content": "M$? just am observation, but I think Apple have overtaken them. Do you not keep up with the stock market? ;-)",
"parent_id": "432902",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "438319",
"author": "M4CGYV3R",
"timestamp": "2011-08-20T05:46:49",
"content": "Just an incorrect observation. Apple have nowhere near the market share of Microsoft, nor the overall profit and operating capital.",
"parent_id": "433329",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "438321",
"author": "M4CGYV3R",
"timestamp": "2011-08-20T05:48:02",
"content": "Just an incorrect observation. Apple have nowhere near the market share of Microsoft, nor the overall profit and operating capital.Apple may have grown their profits by twenty-some percent, but Microsoft was already several hundred percent ahead.",
"parent_id": "433329",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "440318",
"author": "Art",
"timestamp": "2011-08-23T14:54:15",
"content": "And we care about this thread here because . . . ?",
"parent_id": "433329",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "432920",
"author": "WhatULive4",
"timestamp": "2011-08-12T04:01:31",
"content": "For pixel editing try out GraphicsGale. Works great for all types of pixel editing/sprite animation etc.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "433233",
"author": "Jordan Gray",
"timestamp": "2011-08-12T15:55:05",
"content": "I tried using that, but they charge you for it. MSPaint works great (at least, the WinXP version does). It loads instantly (try doing that, PhotoShop!), saves quickly without hassles, and can do really great color erasing (right-clicking with the eraser–still haven’t figured out how to do that with PS). I like PS for its cloning/copying/aliasing capabilities, as well as a lot of plugins, but Paint is great for Pixel art. Sometimes (like when I make OS GUIs) I start with the shapes and color palettes in MSPaint and then work them up in PS. :)",
"parent_id": "432920",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "436054",
"author": "Justen Robertson",
"timestamp": "2011-08-16T15:58:35",
"content": "Paint is barely adequate. Gale is excellent and it’s only $20. There are a variety of other pixel art editors which are much better than paint, most of them FOSS.",
"parent_id": "433233",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "443316",
"author": "Pilotgeek",
"timestamp": "2011-08-28T20:45:50",
"content": "@Justen RobertsonPaint is completely adequate. It has a grid, a single pixel tool, and zoom. That is all you need to make pixel art.",
"parent_id": "433233",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "432923",
"author": "Punkymonkey1818",
"timestamp": "2011-08-12T04:03:58",
"content": "Where was this article when I was playing around with this last night? One other cool thing you can do with the codes is round the edges a bit. I used photoshop’s Filter>Noise>Median at 1px on the graphic I put together and it still scans just fine even with a logo in the middle.I put it up on my DA:http://goo.gl/73llb",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "432996",
"author": "Otacon2k",
"timestamp": "2011-08-12T07:58:11",
"content": "Hehe, that looks like playing old games on ScummVM with one of those nasty filters applied…",
"parent_id": "432923",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "432947",
"author": "Misfitsman805",
"timestamp": "2011-08-12T04:41:55",
"content": "Here is a QR Code that I made.http://misfitsman805.comxa.com/QR_CODE/Doom.png",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "2340215",
"author": "noadvian",
"timestamp": "2015-01-11T04:21:30",
"content": "Next time post inline as Data URI",
"parent_id": "432947",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "432958",
"author": "Scott",
"timestamp": "2011-08-12T05:11:52",
"content": "SWEET, and, yes, Photoshop is terribly overrated. i actually get fair pixel by pixel results in Photophiltre but paint is probably the best I’ve used for such a project.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "432962",
"author": "Decius",
"timestamp": "2011-08-12T05:30:41",
"content": "@Brian Benchoff“and Microsoft Paint (I’ve never seen a program to edit individual pixels that has a better UI, so don’t laugh).”MS Paint for per pixel editing FTW!! I wouldn’t laugh, I don’t and can’t photoshop so that’s really all the editing I can do xD",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "432981",
"author": "Brian Benchoff",
"timestamp": "2011-08-12T06:44:39",
"content": "It’s also great for planning Minecraft builds…So I’ve heard…",
"parent_id": "432962",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "908331",
"author": "tripartist1",
"timestamp": "2012-12-22T22:04:13",
"content": "+1",
"parent_id": "432981",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "432973",
"author": "andar_b",
"timestamp": "2011-08-12T06:14:21",
"content": "Honestly, I’ve used Fireworks and Paint, and others, and I don’t see how anyone can say those alternates are an improvement on Photoshop for pixel work.Yes, working with the correct tool is important, but so is knowing how to use a tool correctly. It is very simple to use PS for a pixel editor, you just have to know what you’re doing. For some tasks, though, I prefer Paint Shop Pro 7, but I don’t use it much any more.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "432984",
"author": "Spork",
"timestamp": "2011-08-12T06:56:24",
"content": "I have to agree with your sentiment. Photoshop is a great tool for many different things including per-pixel editing.The only valid argument is that paint loads faster and is simpler to learn. While that is important, I don’t think it’s fair to crap on Photoshop in general.On QR Codes:This is really cool, I have wondered how they work before. Great information to have. Thanks!",
"parent_id": "432973",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "437975",
"author": "Michał",
"timestamp": "2011-08-19T16:07:59",
"content": "Don’t you miss one difference between paint, gimp and photoshop? Is not photoshop a little bit more expensive than the others (I don’t use, I’m not sure)? :) And of course for Linux user the gimp will be the best choice from that trio, that is another difference :)",
"parent_id": "432984",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "630163",
"author": "Squidge",
"timestamp": "2012-04-15T19:36:14",
"content": "Saying photoshop is not ideal for pixel editing and loads slow is hardly crapping on the software lol.Thats like trashing a Ferrari for not having a roof rack and brush guard.",
"parent_id": "432984",
"depth": 3,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "2375530",
"author": "form you la",
"timestamp": "2015-01-23T20:05:39",
"content": "photoshop is much faster after ripping out the validation wrapper PRIOR to installationand like all windows software MORE RAM is more better… with a new minimum of 24 gigs",
"parent_id": "630163",
"depth": 4,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "432993",
"author": "Victor",
"timestamp": "2011-08-12T07:25:33",
"content": "These cookies are for sale in the Netherlands, and are branded with the slogan ‘Spread the love, man’. Their QR code reflects this:http://bit.ly/qLAzqKHas been on the shelves for a year or so, and are REALLY tasty!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "433000",
"author": "Middlerun",
"timestamp": "2011-08-12T08:09:20",
"content": "Just made one for my site, it worked out pretty well:http://i.imgur.com/YwjKC.png",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "433016",
"author": "Brian Benchoff",
"timestamp": "2011-08-12T08:46:06",
"content": "Okay, that’s actually pretty impressive.Nice job keeping the timing pattern. I’m guessing the exclamation mark was coincidental?",
"parent_id": "433000",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "433018",
"author": "Middlerun",
"timestamp": "2011-08-12T08:54:32",
"content": "Actually I ended up with a gap at the end, so I figured I should put something there. The exclamation mark was all I could think of.",
"parent_id": "433016",
"depth": 3,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "2340268",
"author": "noadvian",
"timestamp": "2015-01-11T04:50:27",
"content": "Python script for ImageMagick output options for qr, Aztec Code, svg, 32bit PNG",
"parent_id": "433018",
"depth": 4,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "433030",
"author": "Kiwisaft",
"timestamp": "2011-08-12T09:27:10",
"content": "did this a while ago, and it also works without the left alternating pixel linehttp://www.vogelmuell.de/temp/qr-gn-kiwisaft_250x250.png",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "473633",
"author": "Nico",
"timestamp": "2011-10-06T17:40:04",
"content": "Yeah. I also noticed that this pixel line seems not to harm the functionality. Does anybody know if this is intended (in fact this part of the QR code can also be damaged) or an error of the programmers which makes our work easier?",
"parent_id": "433030",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "2340223",
"author": "noadvian",
"timestamp": "2015-01-11T04:26:28",
"content": "Far more impressive would be a python script wielding ImageMagick working in 24bit PNG. Lossy formats are rarely prudent. Allow the agent to destroy integrity themselves; provide only quality yourself.",
"parent_id": "433030",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "2340225",
"author": "noadvian",
"timestamp": "2015-01-11T04:27:56",
"content": "Better yet prefer employing Aztec Code, an ISO standard in far wider use, as it is more tolerant to disruptions.",
"parent_id": "433030",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "433095",
"author": "Jack",
"timestamp": "2011-08-12T12:00:46",
"content": "I created an Android app that let’s you create customized QR codes like this on your phone. Check outhttps://market.android.com/details?id=com.rabidgremlin.android.mecodelite",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "2340230",
"author": "noadvian",
"timestamp": "2015-01-11T04:29:12",
"content": "Please upgrade to allow output in Aztec Code, an ISO standard in wider use",
"parent_id": "433095",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "2375538",
"author": "form you la",
"timestamp": "2015-01-23T20:07:17",
"content": "that’s a good start but it limits user to one of a small set of graphicons",
"parent_id": "433095",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "433102",
"author": "neorazz",
"timestamp": "2011-08-12T12:33:24",
"content": "some credit for sending in the hackaday logo in color in a qr code would have been nicehttps://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/QL78HKxVXDAlU5MaZsW10g?feat=directlinkbut the explanation on why it works is nice",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "433107",
"author": "Hassan Seth",
"timestamp": "2011-08-12T12:38:21",
"content": "Nice stuff. Now it can be used much like Microsoft Tags.http://tag.microsoft.com/",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "2375543",
"author": "form you la",
"timestamp": "2015-01-23T20:08:27",
"content": "OrDiscT@2orLabelFlash",
"parent_id": "433107",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "433124",
"author": "Eliment",
"timestamp": "2011-08-12T13:07:15",
"content": "Lol you guys are doing this the hard way… I been adding logos to qr codes for a while and the way I do it is I cut a logo in photoshop then add a 3 pixel stroke to the outside of the logo in white.. Then layer it over the qr code then keep adjusting the size of the logo til the qr code works well..test the code while adjusting the logo size then save it when it works. Simple as that no need to make it hard talking about counting pixels.. My method takes 2 mins after u get the hang of it.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "433164",
"author": "neorazz",
"timestamp": "2011-08-12T14:23:21",
"content": "thats what i did but instead of the pixel stroke i used a edge glow",
"parent_id": "433124",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "2375547",
"author": "form you la",
"timestamp": "2015-01-23T20:09:30",
"content": "I suppose you disable the Reed Solomon, too?(that’s bad)",
"parent_id": "433124",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "433150",
"author": "David",
"timestamp": "2011-08-12T13:58:48",
"content": "Sweet Post! What about making a QR code your Logo??",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "433168",
"author": "Craig",
"timestamp": "2011-08-12T14:34:30",
"content": "The article is only somewhat accurate when it says that you can trash 51 of the byte codewords. After reading the spec: Version 6 codes are broken into 4 main blocks. Each block has 15 data codewords and 28 error correction codewords. Error correction is handled on a per-block basis, and each block can tolerate 14 bad bytes. This allows us to kill up to 52 codewords, but as soon as we kill 15 in any given block the code will be unreadable.The good news is that the way the blocks are interleaved, wiping out any contiguous section of the code is likely to destroy all blocks reasonably equally.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "2340272",
"author": "Karmic E",
"timestamp": "2015-01-11T04:54:31",
"content": "Which is why we should prefer Aztec Code",
"parent_id": "433168",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "433173",
"author": "kkmobilemarketing",
"timestamp": "2011-08-12T14:42:24",
"content": "If you are looking for designer qr codes for you business check out Kalvin Kleen you can find them athttp://facebook.com/KKQRcodesorhttp://twitter.com/KalvinKleen",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "2340275",
"author": "Karmic E",
"timestamp": "2015-01-11T04:55:40",
"content": "An entity with such limited business sense deserves to fail",
"parent_id": "433173",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "433213",
"author": "supershwa",
"timestamp": "2011-08-12T15:08:10",
"content": "Been studying bar codes a lot lately, including QR codes. For those who do PHP work, here’s a slick barcode generator (includes EAN, ISBN, QRCode and many more.)http://www.barcodephp.com/You’d still have to manually embed your logo – Photoshop is cake (pencil tool – 1px in size; use “[” key to drop the pencil size to 1 px.)",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "433251",
"author": "Dazza",
"timestamp": "2011-08-12T16:19:51",
"content": "NeoReader on the iPhone seems to be unable to read colour QR codes. Annoying. Cool hack, thanks.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "433275",
"author": "elliottcable",
"timestamp": "2011-08-12T16:59:52",
"content": "For editing single pixels in images, I can definitely suggest Pixen:https://github.com/philippec/pixen",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "433299",
"author": "Troll_Dragon",
"timestamp": "2011-08-12T17:41:36",
"content": "Here is one I made for the Step Daughter…http://dl.dropbox.com/u/29361323/PROF%20QR%20Code.jpg",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "2375555",
"author": "form you la",
"timestamp": "2015-01-23T20:11:43",
"content": "perfidiously recalcitrant",
"parent_id": "433299",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "433318",
"author": "Dan",
"timestamp": "2011-08-12T18:18:05",
"content": "Whipped up a quick script that lets you embed a square image onto your QR code…check it outhttp://voltiercreative.com/qr_code/",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "2375559",
"author": "form you la",
"timestamp": "2015-01-23T20:12:31",
"content": "next time use github or similaryour page has become existentially challenged",
"parent_id": "433318",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "433319",
"author": "Max",
"timestamp": "2011-08-12T18:28:05",
"content": "Great article! My Laptop now bears a nice QR code with an embedded Logo",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "433454",
"author": "Tenchi",
"timestamp": "2011-08-12T21:03:10",
"content": "Nice tutorial, thanks :)I did a pixel art version of my logo for my QR Code:http://tenchi.me/site/.img/qr.png",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "433463",
"author": "Ben Campbell",
"timestamp": "2011-08-12T21:20:20",
"content": "Youobviouslyneed to use my dpaint-style paint program for pixel-wrangling:Evilpixie. It’s Free Software (GPL), and as it’s creator, I’m well placed to offer a perfectly neutral, unbiased opinion: it’s fantastic, and laboratory tests have shown that using it will automatically make you at least 37% hipper and 85.14% more attractive.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "433484",
"author": "Steve",
"timestamp": "2011-08-12T22:18:13",
"content": "But my logo IS aisa QR code!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "433514",
"author": "⬡",
"timestamp": "2011-08-12T23:38:51",
"content": "Inception.",
"parent_id": "433484",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "433594",
"author": "Whatnot",
"timestamp": "2011-08-13T02:49:03",
"content": "Wikipedia has an interesting variation where the logo goes beyond the borders:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Extreme_QR_code_to_Wikipedia_mobile_page.png",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "433853",
"author": "Zibri",
"timestamp": "2011-08-13T14:52:56",
"content": "Much nicer in this way:http://p.twimg.com/AWu4ES1CEAAdDLu.png",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "433863",
"author": "Dean Collins",
"timestamp": "2011-08-13T15:06:11",
"content": "1/ Stop trying to make QR codes look prettyhttp://blog.collins.net.pr/2011/04/stop-trying-to-make-qr-codes-look.html2/ If you must do QR code “enhancement” please use Overlay and not embedding. Overlay positions the QR code “within” a logo and builds a surrounding design.Want to see some examples of what that means – check outhttp://www.Cognation.net/QRparticularly the IronMan2 example from Warbasse design.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "442741",
"author": "c3p",
"timestamp": "2011-08-27T15:22:01",
"content": "1. Yes embedding QR codes is often better.2. Especially easy logos are _really nice_ inside a QR Code, like HackADay pixeled or the IBM example.there is a reason for both, also fuck error correction, if you don’t need it because your QR is digital, than use it for something else.",
"parent_id": "433863",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "433871",
"author": "Zibri",
"timestamp": "2011-08-13T15:23:24",
"content": "And even nicer!http://p.twimg.com/AWvL_W-CEAAdAvS.png",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "433955",
"author": "tz",
"timestamp": "2011-08-13T19:29:18",
"content": "I have an example up on harleyhacking of an LCD, and it is easy to do jpegs. I wrote a very compact and fast generator (for the arduino, among other things):https://github.com/tz1/qrduinoI did a Javascript port that shows it in html5http://code.google.com/p/jsqrencode/updates/list",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "433957",
"author": "tz",
"timestamp": "2011-08-13T19:32:08",
"content": "One other problem – you really don’t want to change the locators (those square target like areas) too much. If you can directly download an image where the pixels are perfect there won’t be a problem but if you photographs, they need the finders and alignment patterns to figure out where the square boundaries are.You can also do things with colors. as long as in monochrome light and dark are distinguishable.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "433961",
"author": "Iananan",
"timestamp": "2011-08-13T19:42:50",
"content": "Photoshop is fine for per pixel editing if you know what you’re doing. and also, this conversation is stupid.here’s a QR I edited yesterday, it has jesus’s face in it.http://i.imgur.com/b2jcy.png",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "434099",
"author": "Logan",
"timestamp": "2011-08-13T23:13:51",
"content": "hmm. I can’t tell if you’re an atheist or if you just thought it’d be ironic.I think it is pretty awesome thing to be able to do and I don’t understand why some people think it is stupid. In areas where error correction are unnecessary its pretty cool!I’m going to college so I put my face in the middle and added “Call me!” to the top. Geekiest way to give a girl your number, guaranteed.**Not actually guaranteed.",
"parent_id": "433961",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "2050171",
"author": "Bah",
"timestamp": "2014-10-27T16:53:01",
"content": "that’s totally cool. I wonder if JC really existed?",
"parent_id": "433961",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "434143",
"author": "Jacopo Tarantino",
"timestamp": "2011-08-14T01:29:53",
"content": "I loved this. After I read it I went right out and crafted a logo for my company. We don’t really have a use for it but it’s fun!http://blog.jacopotarantino.com/2011/08/13/qr-code-hacking/",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "434201",
"author": "MrTaco",
"timestamp": "2011-08-14T05:12:08",
"content": "Fuck yeah Paint Shop Pro! I still use v5 all the time (7 has some more features, though seems to crash for me more often so I don’t use it much). I grabbed a copy of 9 once since it’s the latest version that still runs on win98, but they ballsed up the interface on it so much, I hate it. But oh well, 5 still gets the job done.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "434506",
"author": "Tiago Maluta",
"timestamp": "2011-08-14T15:59:04",
"content": "VERY interesting theory. I embedded some logos inside QR-Codes too:http://www.coding.com.br/unifei/unifei-and-cacomp-qr-codes/I think that you can give a better design to visiting cards using this approach.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "434910",
"author": "Michael",
"timestamp": "2011-08-15T06:11:33",
"content": "I’ve made a .NET library (implemented in C#, .NET 4.0) that can generate these things automatically.You just put in the text to encode in the QRCode and a picture you want to embed, and the rest is done by the library.Here’s a link to the source code:https://sourceforge.net/projects/qrcodelogomaker/files/?and here’s a couple of examples:http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/38/resultsuccess2.png/http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/542/result.png/Ah, almost forgot, this uses code from the Messaging Toolkit project. check it out:http://twit88.com/platform/",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "436040",
"author": "Justen Robertson",
"timestamp": "2011-08-16T15:35:20",
"content": "The only trouble is the more you modify the less parity you have in your QR code, meaning it’s more prone to errors. It has really high parity because phone cameras and lighting situations can combine to a really shitty photo; if you wipe out parity with a graphical overlay, people have to take *perfect* snaps of QR codes or it’ll end up corrupted. Not to discourage anyone from having a good time hacking them, just a thing to be aware of that you didn’t really bring up in the article.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "437048",
"author": "modhappy",
"timestamp": "2011-08-18T04:54:49",
"content": "l337",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
}
] | 1,760,377,116.337936
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2011/08/10/control-led-lighting-with-an-old-stereo-receiver/
|
Control LED Lighting With An Old Stereo Receiver
|
Mike Nathan
|
[
"Arduino Hacks",
"LED Hacks"
] |
[
"led",
"lighting",
"receiver",
"rotary encoder",
"stereo"
] |
[Marklar] needed an IR receiver for a project he was working on, and his local electronics store was fresh out. He dug through his junk pile and found an old stereo receiver, so he decided to pull the IR module from it before tossing it out. Once he had it taken apart, he figured that he could utilize the wide array of electronic components he found inside, and
set off to start a new project
.
The control panel housed the components which interested him most of all. Using an Arduino, he was able to easily interface with the rotary encoders as well as the buttons, giving him a cheap and easy way to control his home lighting system. With a bit of programming, he was able to map lighting presets to various buttons, as well as use the rotary encoder to control the LEDs’ brightness and color. As an added bonus, he kept the IR receiver intact and can control his setup wirelessly as well.
Check out the video we have embedded below to see his scavenged control system at work.
[via
HackedGadgets
]
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PoX4be7YvoY&w=470]
| 8
| 8
|
[
{
"comment_id": "432088",
"author": "David M.",
"timestamp": "2011-08-10T21:12:07",
"content": "Great idea, I love it when people think to reuse larger pieces of electronics instead of only individual components..Have you tried to get the display working as well?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "432090",
"author": "Jason",
"timestamp": "2011-08-10T21:17:52",
"content": "I like how he’s made it unnoticeable unless it is turned on, though the wires could do with tidying.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "432185",
"author": "aztraph",
"timestamp": "2011-08-11T00:30:35",
"content": "OMG, wow, if your gonna do it, do it right! that is totally wicked.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "432189",
"author": "default",
"timestamp": "2011-08-11T00:48:30",
"content": "Wow… I absolutely love this hack! I’ve been interested in doing some LED lighting around my house, and also interested in reusing some old scrap electronics I have (including an old receiver too!) for something. You, sir, have made my day! Just great.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "432233",
"author": "Kiore",
"timestamp": "2011-08-11T02:22:05",
"content": "Nice job , maybe get the display wired up to show the preset numbers or pattern.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "432274",
"author": "Cynic",
"timestamp": "2011-08-11T04:29:02",
"content": "Wowzers… nice presets, but might’ve been cooler to lose the front panel, and just control everything with the remote.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "432483",
"author": "JamieWho",
"timestamp": "2011-08-11T14:36:48",
"content": "Now that is a hack. I love this. Functional, looks good, hacks existing stuff to do something different/better.Great overall.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "434571",
"author": "Joseph",
"timestamp": "2011-08-14T18:34:03",
"content": "Thanks for all the nice feedback.I looked at the display but it was very specific and I had already learned as much as I wanted from this project so I just ripped it out.I love the IR but having the feel / click back and speed of real dials is nice. What I don’t show in the video is I also have music responsive play and the volume control sets sensitivity. The dial is so much nicer than up/down IR buttons for this type of adjustment. I love the feel of using the high quality stereo components.The wires on the back are just laying around in a breadboard. I just tossed this together and have yet to even make a box for it or hone the settings. One day I’ll have the time to create a little board and box, etc :).Cheers :)",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
}
] | 1,760,377,116.087175
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2011/08/10/kinect-based-turntable-3d-scanner-looks-very-promising/
|
Kinect-based Turntable 3D Scanner Looks Very Promising
|
Mike Szczys
|
[
"Kinect hacks"
] |
[
"3d scanner",
"Kinect",
"rgbdemo"
] |
We know that the appearance of the Kinect 3D camera hardware, and subsequent open source driver hacking conquest, is a game-changer that brings the real world into much closer contact with the virtual world. But it still amazes us when we see a concept like this
turntable-based 3D object scanner
that works so incredibly well.
The concept is extremely simple. A box made from foamboard rests atop a turntable. At its center is the object you wish to scan being well-lit by a small LED light source at each upper corner of the box. First up some code and capture data about the sides and top of the object as it spins. To put the shoe back together in the virtual world, he used a modified version of
RGBDemo v0.6.0
, a Kinect focused project written by Nicolas Burrus.
[A.J] says that the scan comes out pretty well after just one pass, but that’s not stopping him from setting his sights on making this work with three of four Kinects at once. Don’t forget to check out his video demonstration which is embedded after the break.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V7LthXRoESw&w=470]
| 22
| 19
|
[
{
"comment_id": "432075",
"author": "Jordan",
"timestamp": "2011-08-10T20:35:05",
"content": "This looks really good to me!I think that this technology will, in the future, revolutionise game creation. If models can be added to that sort of quality in just a few minutes then – just wow.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "432078",
"author": "Roy",
"timestamp": "2011-08-10T20:44:09",
"content": "wow this is epic",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "432085",
"author": "raged",
"timestamp": "2011-08-10T21:00:12",
"content": "very impressive. I hope he releases the changes he made to the code.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "432094",
"author": "nul",
"timestamp": "2011-08-10T21:24:09",
"content": "i will have to try this if he releases the code",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "432104",
"author": "JOBGG",
"timestamp": "2011-08-10T21:53:29",
"content": "Imagine the box was 3d printed. It would “just” fit into the area of your 3d printer, and it would provide 3d models.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "432105",
"author": "JOBGG",
"timestamp": "2011-08-10T21:55:31",
"content": "Or wait….unlimited lowpoly rubble items for the gaming industry. They could put actual rubble in the box and just scan it instead of making it virtually.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "432218",
"author": "A.J. Jeromin",
"timestamp": "2011-08-11T01:52:26",
"content": "Thanks for the niceness all.The real greatness is in the code, which I did not write. It’s available for free here, compliments of Nicolas Burrus:http://nicolas.burrus.name/index.php/Research/KinectRgbDemoV6?from=Research.KinectRgbDemoV3The modifications I’d mentioned were to do with the 3D point grabbing frequency, however the software works as you see in the video perfectly well as it comes.Go get it! :D",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "432220",
"author": "A.J. Jeromin",
"timestamp": "2011-08-11T01:57:26",
"content": "BTW, RGBDemo does the point cloud accumulation using OpenNI to access the Kinect. Meshlab is used for the stitching and clean-up later on.Thanks for the write-up HAD!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "432234",
"author": "Hackerspacer",
"timestamp": "2011-08-11T02:25:08",
"content": "Looks kinda like a Nextengine scanner, a $3000 or so commercial version. Not sure how the quality levels compare though.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "432235",
"author": "A.J. Jeromin",
"timestamp": "2011-08-11T02:31:12",
"content": "NextEngine scanners are much more accurate and higher resolution, but they are SLOW! We have one at work, and it scans one section at a time (up to 9) with a single moving vertical laser line. It then attempts to stitch them all together (usually very well and with minimal effort).The great thing about the Kinect’s laser projection grid tech is that it captures an entire scene/side in 1/15th of a second (approximately). I cant wait until the next version is released, which will no doubt be of higher resolution.Another interesting “scanning” software solution is 3DSOM. Look it up if you’d like. They have a 14 days free trial. It’s silhouette and pixel comparison based, but not real-time by any means.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "447424",
"author": "KeithFromCanada",
"timestamp": "2011-09-04T01:13:59",
"content": "I tried 3DSOM a few years ago, but it has a major flaw: because it is silhouette-based, it can’t deal with concave areas.",
"parent_id": "432235",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "432273",
"author": "KillerBug",
"timestamp": "2011-08-11T04:25:56",
"content": "Ah crap…now I have to buy something from Microsoft!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "432367",
"author": "liebesiech",
"timestamp": "2011-08-11T09:09:30",
"content": "Very nice and thanks for sharing!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "432412",
"author": "Zee",
"timestamp": "2011-08-11T11:52:18",
"content": "KinectFusion was demoed yesterday by Microsoft too. It had 1mm accuracy!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "433268",
"author": "Whatnot",
"timestamp": "2011-08-12T16:55:02",
"content": "It’s interesting, MS has a system where you just move the kinect and wave it about and it accumulates accuracy and resolution and the view from various angles, so it’s like this on steroids without any hassle, and it makes me interested again in getting a kinect sensor device.A related link with video:http://techcrunch.com/2011/08/10/video-free-moving-kinect-used-to-map-room-and-objects-in-detailed-3d/",
"parent_id": "432412",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "432718",
"author": "anyone",
"timestamp": "2011-08-11T20:47:02",
"content": "anybody else thinking:this + 3d printer = replicator?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "433303",
"author": "A.J. Jeromin",
"timestamp": "2011-08-12T17:47:15",
"content": "Whatnot, they do have a cool thing there. Nicolas’ code does the same thing basically. I just chose not to use it that way for this.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "433560",
"author": "Whatnot",
"timestamp": "2011-08-13T01:46:36",
"content": "Are you sure it also does an accumulative increasing of resolution of objects? Because I though that was sort of new, at least I never saw it happen in any video I happen to watch (I did not see all that many of them though), accumulating scene info yes but enhancing the same object I didn’t notice before.BTW, I do like your version too, and that’s more available and not one of the many enticing videos MS puts out which then so annoyingly never pan out as you’d hope.",
"parent_id": "433303",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "433566",
"author": "A.J. Jeromin",
"timestamp": "2011-08-13T01:55:04",
"content": "Ah I see what you’re saying. No, from what I’ve seen it just adds point cloud data where it’s missing but doesn’t reevaluate and refine the detail accuracy. That is definitely cool! And definitely secretive and unreleased! :)I can’t wait until Nyko releases the zoom lense for Kinect. It allows 40% closer usage for small spaces, which to me, means potentially getting 40% closer to objects I’d like to scan! (I think).",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "433584",
"author": "Truth",
"timestamp": "2011-08-13T02:40:31",
"content": "Could be interesting when combined with 3D printing of clotheshttp://hackaday.com/2011/06/14/bikinis-of-the-future/",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "447432",
"author": "A.J. Jeromin",
"timestamp": "2011-09-04T01:39:22",
"content": "3D-SOM does concave now via vision based pattern recognition. :)",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "572006",
"author": "J&D",
"timestamp": "2012-02-01T00:00:12",
"content": "SO, six months later, anything new o report? One suggestion ripped from experience with optics and the David scan kit illustrations: Would it be a Good Idea to substitute numbered target bulls, possibly in a color that your software can render invisible later for the random pieces of tape in the barrel and making the Kinnect move, rather than the object – gives you a better idea of where you are at any time.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
}
] | 1,760,377,116.190515
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2011/08/10/color-changing-door-handles/
|
Color Changing Door Handles
|
Mike Szczys
|
[
"home hacks",
"LED Hacks"
] |
[
"door handle",
"polyester",
"resin"
] |
This
color changing door handle
was made using a very simple manufacturing process. [Barmak] already had experience working with polyester resins when making passive component filled drawer pulls (he included a couple of pictures at the end of his post). The same process was used here except that instead making it from one solid chunk of clear resin he decided to use alternating layers of dyed resin.
The build begins with a mold made out of MDF. This material has a very smooth surface finish which will help with the final look of the door handle. Threaded rod is inserted through carefully placed holes in the side of the mold — these will serve as the mounting hardware when complete. He then pours thin coats of resin to build up the complete handle.
An RGB LED strip is incorporated in the side of the handle that will go toward the door. It seems like the wires to control the device pass through a hollow spacer surrounding the threaded rod. He makes some mention of using a 555 timer to control the colors, but there’s not much more information than that. Still, the reflected light is a unique feature if you’ve got a place in your home that needs to be spiced up.
Once you’re done, you can use any leftover resin to
make your own project boxes
.
| 22
| 15
|
[
{
"comment_id": "432013",
"author": "zero",
"timestamp": "2011-08-10T19:01:51",
"content": "FIRST and this project is awesome i wanna do t now…….",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "432029",
"author": "Henrik Pedersen",
"timestamp": "2011-08-10T19:25:03",
"content": "Would be so awesome with a security system. I do however think the light is to bright against the door, would prefer the actual handle just glowing (maybe add that “pulsing glow” too?)Anyway, it’s a great door handle none of the less. Very cool compared to that standard crap you take for granted each and every day.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "432032",
"author": "Perry",
"timestamp": "2011-08-10T19:28:00",
"content": "first use that came into my head was for public toilets. To indicate cubical status.But security system is alot cooler idea :PProps to the maker for an awesome idea",
"parent_id": "432029",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "432354",
"author": "Eirinn",
"timestamp": "2011-08-11T08:38:02",
"content": "It has been done and the commercial version is extremely expensive…like eyepopping expensive.But yeah a DIY version would be neat :) I’d just make it glow red if busy so it doesn’t use power glowing green most of the day.",
"parent_id": "432032",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "432051",
"author": "Barefoot",
"timestamp": "2011-08-10T20:00:07",
"content": "My first thought was about roommates, as a way to discreetly tell the other one, “Get lost, I’ve got company!” Better than putting a wire hanger on the doorknob.",
"parent_id": "432029",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "432031",
"author": "Winston",
"timestamp": "2011-08-10T19:27:18",
"content": "sweet, maybe alternating colors to let you know who’s home and who isn’t.Black (un-lit)for no one home, Blue for daddy’s home, Pink for Mommy, different color for each child…",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "432377",
"author": "JS",
"timestamp": "2011-08-11T09:42:18",
"content": "Placing one of those in front doors would help a lot when searching the next house to rob:DGood idea",
"parent_id": "432031",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "432037",
"author": "zengar",
"timestamp": "2011-08-10T19:41:28",
"content": "Might be nice for a lab/workshop. Green for nothing dangerous in progress, yellow for dangerous experiment under construction/takedown, and red for lasers/high voltage/etc. currently in use.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "432039",
"author": "Reliq",
"timestamp": "2011-08-10T19:42:15",
"content": "Red = lockedGreen = unlockedJust like in (insert video game here)",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "432043",
"author": "Mark A",
"timestamp": "2011-08-10T19:50:22",
"content": "Red = lockedGreen = unlockedAmber = doing a number oneBrown = doing a number twoFlashing red = radio active",
"parent_id": "432039",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "432046",
"author": "asheets",
"timestamp": "2011-08-10T19:53:28",
"content": "Flashing brown = “you don’t want to know”",
"parent_id": "432043",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "432040",
"author": "LincKraker",
"timestamp": "2011-08-10T19:45:33",
"content": "would be great for a recording studio.Green – off airRed – on airOrange – commercial break(bathroom break)Purple – We jamming(listening to music or pre recorded audio)and so on.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "432044",
"author": "asheets",
"timestamp": "2011-08-10T19:52:24",
"content": "Playing with polyester resin is fun and little bit dangerous. You must use protective gear, work in a place with good fresh air flow and have a good water supply near by. Some countries may ask you special permission to transport and buy resin. Brazil is not one of those countries.I don’t know, but for some reason that last line made me laugh a bit.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "432045",
"author": "Jay",
"timestamp": "2011-08-10T19:53:21",
"content": "Pfft, this has been around since Doom. “You need the blue key.”Haha, just kidding. I think it looks great!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "432272",
"author": "zombiejebus",
"timestamp": "2011-08-11T04:18:37",
"content": "Yeah; Red/Green lock/unlock ala fps shooters was my first thought when I saw the picture for this post.",
"parent_id": "432045",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "432152",
"author": "Brett W. (FightCube.com)",
"timestamp": "2011-08-10T23:27:13",
"content": "I’m thinking a 555 clocking a 3-bit binary counter to generate 000 through 111 with the appropriate capacitive driver attached would generate a nice effect. It would be like the “breathing” LED’s but would fade between 8 different colors. And you could build a ripple counter out of 555’s if you have a bunch ;-) I designed one of these with a decade counter so I know it works. To get infinite colors I think I would just buy a BlinkM or MaxM and wire that in with a program, especially if it needs to communicate specific colors at different times.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "432163",
"author": "jeicrash",
"timestamp": "2011-08-10T23:56:35",
"content": "did something small scale back in school like this. except we had to use sheets of plastic and layered them together then had to router out the holes for lights. Cool project, the resin layers seam like they would hold up much better then glued layers over time.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "432188",
"author": "jim",
"timestamp": "2011-08-11T00:47:35",
"content": "Similar to jeicrash, at school we made key rings by gluing and clamping layers of acrylic scrap together, then cutting and polishing it. It looked exactly like this, but a lot smaller. The finished product was pretty much indestructible.With a bit of thought you could layer in a pocket in one of many ways, and it might be easier than mixing resin and waiting for it set.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "432296",
"author": "GeneralChat",
"timestamp": "2011-08-11T05:03:31",
"content": "Anyone see how it was being powered? I didn’t see any power sources/wires on his blog.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "432304",
"author": "Hackerspacer",
"timestamp": "2011-08-11T05:40:06",
"content": "“red for lasers/high voltage/etc. currently in use.”So, basically red all the time then.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "432472",
"author": "[oceans76]",
"timestamp": "2011-08-11T14:26:12",
"content": "That’s a bit wide for a handle, nine layers thinner and it could be gripped easier. Their electronic component resin knobs are cool.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "433072",
"author": "Merlin Zener",
"timestamp": "2011-08-12T11:21:51",
"content": "When I read the title my first thought was it was going to be on a car – probably a rice burner :)",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
}
] | 1,760,377,116.511349
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2011/08/10/feel-the-hum-of-electricity-between-your-legs/
|
Feel The Hum Of Electricity Between Your Legs
|
Mike Szczys
|
[
"green hacks",
"Transportation Hacks"
] |
[
"battery",
"lithium",
"motorcycle"
] |
Here’s a little eye candy for motorcycle enthusiasts everywhere. This is the newest iteration of
[Julian’s] electric motorcycle
. He obviously knows what he’s doing because everything fits into the frame in a way that is still very pleasing to the eye. But this is actually slimmed down from the original design. If you
take a look a back
at some of his older posts you’ll see that the four relatively small lithium batteries are a new addition.
The frame was designed to hold four lead-acid batteries. Those things really take up a lot of space and add considerable weight to the vehicle. His recent upgrade was also accompanied by a re-gearing that allows him to reach higher speeds (although he doesn’t say what the top speed actually is). You can’t really see it above, but [Julian] included a wooden insert where the tank on a gasoline motorcycle would have been. It houses control switches as well as a 48V voltmeter. It’s a fantastic finishing touch like the cherry on a sundae.
| 21
| 13
|
[
{
"comment_id": "431943",
"author": "Alan O",
"timestamp": "2011-08-10T16:39:14",
"content": "Great job! Best looking electric bike conversion that I’ve seen!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "432116",
"author": "julian",
"timestamp": "2011-08-10T22:25:44",
"content": "Thanks, and FYI, my wife was the aesthetician! She picked paint and made the wood pieces.",
"parent_id": "431943",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "431969",
"author": "Phil",
"timestamp": "2011-08-10T17:38:23",
"content": "Is that titlereallyappropriate?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "432055",
"author": "onitam",
"timestamp": "2011-08-10T20:11:20",
"content": "I don’t know…. it made me click :) That’s got to be a good thing, I was a little disappointed once I got here.",
"parent_id": "431969",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "431983",
"author": "Patrick",
"timestamp": "2011-08-10T18:01:55",
"content": "That is absolutely fantastic. I can’t believe we haven’t seen more of these, especially on the commercial side.Did I miss him mentioning the range?I wonder if moisture is an issue in the rain.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "432020",
"author": "jesse",
"timestamp": "2011-08-10T19:14:10",
"content": "There are actually quite a few electric bikes on the market now. The regular motorcycle magazines even do test rides and review them. Here’s a Popular Mechanics buyers’s guide for electric bikes:http://www.popularmechanics.com/cars/motorcycles/reviews/electric-motorcycles-buyers-guide",
"parent_id": "431983",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "432023",
"author": "Julian",
"timestamp": "2011-08-10T19:18:35",
"content": "Range is not tested yet. I drop .1v on each cell volts over ten miles of regular riding. I anticipate about 50miles or better from this arrangement of 48v@100AH cells.The motor can do about 300Amps, so on full juice without any regeneration on, I’d drain them out in 20 minutes.Alternatively I could keep a civil pace (under 100A) and go for an hour or so.As for top speed, my analog speedo is inaccurate but the GPS top speed I’ve hit is 56mph.",
"parent_id": "431983",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "431984",
"author": "Monty Werthington",
"timestamp": "2011-08-10T18:11:45",
"content": "Nice. now thats a green beauty.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "432017",
"author": "Peter",
"timestamp": "2011-08-10T19:09:11",
"content": "It would be nice we could get some details on his motor, battery and controller model/mfr, as well as his gear ratio?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "432027",
"author": "Julian",
"timestamp": "2011-08-10T19:22:56",
"content": "Ok, more detail..300A Alltrax 4884 controllerSEPEX DC Motor by D&D out of syracuse, NyChina hipoweer lithium batteries 3.2v each @100AH and 3-5Cgear ratio is 12T/60T or 1:5 ratio.",
"parent_id": "432017",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "432018",
"author": "fartface",
"timestamp": "2011-08-10T19:10:01",
"content": "He should do this next ot a Ninja as you can get carbon fiber rims and a lot of other CF parts to really lighten up the bike and reduce unsprung weight.Cool use of a old skool motorbike, but a lot of weight can be lost by using a modern aluminum bike frame and CF parts that are OTS.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "432019",
"author": "Hirudinea",
"timestamp": "2011-08-10T19:13:15",
"content": "I want one, even thought the title of the article sounds like a dildo ad. Also he should use the area of the former gas tank for storage.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "432024",
"author": "Julian",
"timestamp": "2011-08-10T19:20:05",
"content": "former gas tank will house the charger, like it used to with the lead-acid pack…",
"parent_id": "432019",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "432041",
"author": "zacdee316",
"timestamp": "2011-08-10T19:46:07",
"content": "This is cool as hell. Now it’s time to doll it up with some chrome and some sublime paint. It was an original color on late 60’s – early 70’s Dodge and Plymouth muscle cars. Looks great on a Superbee and a Roadrunner.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "432042",
"author": "zacdee316",
"timestamp": "2011-08-10T19:47:43",
"content": "Something like this but with some chrome trim.http://duplicolor.com/success-stories/servlet/FileDownloadServlet?cmd=image&res=L&key=TwGhnqaGQG",
"parent_id": "432041",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "432053",
"author": "bothersaidpooh",
"timestamp": "2011-08-10T20:04:37",
"content": "I just found out that you can recover bad phosphate cells, so maybe someone can use this to get cheap faulty large format cells and recover them for bike use.Seems that the “irreversible” discharge is not always so, there is a method to get them back.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "432059",
"author": "rasz",
"timestamp": "2011-08-10T20:14:54",
"content": "how much does it weight?and what was the range on leadacid?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "432084",
"author": "fotoflojoe",
"timestamp": "2011-08-10T21:00:10",
"content": "You forgot to mount a playing card to the fork, so as to recreate the Brrrrap sound of an I.C. engine…Great job!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "432170",
"author": "Anon",
"timestamp": "2011-08-11T00:15:25",
"content": "As much as I like the guy’s work and admire his skill, I would prefer not to sit atop a hunk of lithium batteries at high speed. Youtube what happens when they are punctured.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "432496",
"author": "Julian",
"timestamp": "2011-08-11T15:24:05",
"content": "LifePo4 is not as radically structured as some other Li chemistries and wont flame up if punctures, ruptured, overcharged, etc…",
"parent_id": "432170",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "432270",
"author": "willy wonka",
"timestamp": "2011-08-11T04:07:22",
"content": "i gotta admit, with a stain on the floor like that it sure looks real….",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
}
] | 1,760,377,116.451487
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2011/08/10/make-w7-64-bit-play-nice-with-your-programmer/
|
Make W7 64 Bit Play Nice With Your Programmer
|
Kevin Dady
|
[
"News"
] |
[] |
External EPROM burners are pretty handy gadgets to have around. They obviously can read and write EPROMS, but often times they will also handle a pile of PIC’s, some AVR’s, and other programmable logic like PAL/GAL and CLPD’s. While you can often find old models floating around for cheap (or free in my case) there are a few issues to be hammered out.
Typically the models you’re going to get for a song and a dance are old parallel port models that use software in MS-DOS or Windows and hasn’t been updated since. The software typically bit bangs the port using it like a 1 byte wide GPIO line, and this was a common trick, that is long gone from current operating systems by default.
[Doug] sought to find a solution to
using one of these gadgets on Windows 7 X64
, and lots of Google-fu, poking at libraries, and a little code modification he does just that getting his Sivava Willem EPROM programmer working like a champ on a nice new i7 with a parallel port add in card.
| 21
| 10
|
[
{
"comment_id": "431866",
"author": "mohonri",
"timestamp": "2011-08-10T14:15:57",
"content": "It sounds to me like there’s a market out there for a usb-based GPIO device. Since recent OSes don’t let you directly bit-bash parallel or serial ports any more, it’d be nice to have a cheap USB device that would allow us to do exactly that.Or is there one already that I’m unaware of?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "431873",
"author": "Alex",
"timestamp": "2011-08-10T14:27:40",
"content": "I’m sure there’s something out there, but a teensy-based device (or any USB capable AVR board) would be easy to make, fast, and quite extensible. Those qualities are certainly good to have in a product for hackers.",
"parent_id": "431866",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "431880",
"author": "chango",
"timestamp": "2011-08-10T14:39:12",
"content": "There is, but that doesn’t always solve the problem. At work we’re invested in a particular USB based SPI ROM burner that only has Win32 drivers. I discovered that this was a problem only after we upgraded a bunch of machines to Win7 x64",
"parent_id": "431866",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "431908",
"author": "anon",
"timestamp": "2011-08-10T15:32:55",
"content": "Try looking at FTDI modules, they are fairly easy to program, USB to JTAG/Serial/GPIO/etc.http://www.ftdichip.com/Products/Modules/DLPModules.htmI have used these for a number of different projects just to get quick and easy bit banging from a USB port.",
"parent_id": "431866",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "431909",
"author": "rizsi",
"timestamp": "2011-08-10T15:47:53",
"content": "There is no need to develop such a hardware. An Arduino with a simple program can do that. Just write a program that receives serial commands that can control the pins.The problem is the timing. USB has no guarantee to send your message in time so it is impossible to do anything real time through that. To handle a digital protocol fine you need exact timings many times. With a real time kernel and a PCI-parallel port adapter you have chance to fulfil your timing constraints.",
"parent_id": "431866",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "431912",
"author": "Tiersten",
"timestamp": "2011-08-10T15:52:56",
"content": "The problem is getting the existing software to talk to the device still. Doug bought a parallel port card but because it wasn’t at the usual IO address, it required extra work to get it running.rizsi makes a good point regarding timing as well. USB is horribly inefficient with small packets and prefers that you do big bulk transfers. The timing for most parallel port attached devices is usually all within the software and the device itself has fairly minimal intelligence.",
"parent_id": "431866",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "431881",
"author": "Franklyn",
"timestamp": "2011-08-10T14:40:20",
"content": "I think CLPD should be CPLD, I wanted to email Kevin but I have no idea where his email is.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "431914",
"author": "Kevin Dady",
"timestamp": "2011-08-10T15:54:40",
"content": "kevin@thissite",
"parent_id": "431881",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "431888",
"author": "Panikos",
"timestamp": "2011-08-10T14:54:54",
"content": "A thanks for sending the article in would have been nice Kevin.I wonder if this approach would work with a parallel to usb converter added to the mix instead of an expansion card?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "431911",
"author": "Luke",
"timestamp": "2011-08-10T15:51:15",
"content": "There is no such thing as a commercial usb-parallel adapter. The things you use to hook up a centronics printer to usb are only parallel print support. Really using them as gpio as you could do with real parallel ports doesn’t just work like that. There is some guy the built a real usb-parallel adapter based on an atmega8, but it really was buggy at times of xp x32 already…",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "431933",
"author": "cgimark",
"timestamp": "2011-08-10T16:20:44",
"content": "Actually there are usb-parallel adapters that have real parallel support. The problem is finding them for sale. The one made by epson contains the USS725 chipset . That chipset not only support printers but can even connect to ATA hard drives and provides true GP I/O . It is a shame it is so hard to come by now. I bought several when I took one apart and found out the chipset it uses. Very simple to interface too. It contains an external eprom to load the code to tell it what interface it should be , has usb lines on one side and the other side is straight I/O.Here is a page with more info:http://bjorn.haxx.se/uss725/",
"parent_id": "431911",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "431936",
"author": "Panikos",
"timestamp": "2011-08-10T16:26:08",
"content": "I also found this discussion on the same chip on the hackaday forums",
"parent_id": "431933",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "431932",
"author": "Ben Ryves",
"timestamp": "2011-08-10T16:16:55",
"content": "I’d be interested to hear if someone knows where the 64-bit issues come from (I’m still using 32-bit Windows for its support for unsigned drivers and 16-bit software). I initially used the 32-bit version of io.dll but replaced it with the mentioned 64-bit-compatible version having had reports from people that it fixed the issues for them on 64-bit Windows. Evidently it didn’t fix the issues for everyone, but at least I now know where to point people when I get the next support email. :-)",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "431955",
"author": "Doug Brown",
"timestamp": "2011-08-10T17:06:56",
"content": "Hi Ben,Thanks for creating that remapped DLL! I would never have thought to create something like that. It’s interesting that you got reports from people who had it working on 64-bit. Maybe I was missing a step or something. Oh well, now we have two different options for people to try :)",
"parent_id": "431932",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "432169",
"author": "Ben Ryves",
"timestamp": "2011-08-11T00:08:22",
"content": "Thank you, and I’m glad you’ve worked on the problem as it seems that what works on one machine doesn’t work on another for no apparent reason when it comes to parallel ports. The more options when it comes to fixing things the better!I made a mistake in my previous post, though – I meant the 64-bit compatible version of inpout32.dll, not io.dll. I think I only got feedback about this alternative DLL working on both 32-bit and 64-bit Windows some time after you published your article, though, so I guess that’s why it didn’t work for you at the time.",
"parent_id": "431955",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "432113",
"author": "Taylor Alexander",
"timestamp": "2011-08-10T22:22:12",
"content": "What blows me away is that many current shipping programmers still don’t support Windows 7 x64. Like ATMEL’s SAM-BA stuff. At least, a year ago it didn’t, and Windows 7 x64 has been shipped on probably half of all computers for several years now.Honestly, the idea that companies are just ignoring this issue is just insane. Our products don’t work on 50% of shipping computers? Eh, oh well. No biggie.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "432500",
"author": "KillBill",
"timestamp": "2011-08-11T15:33:49",
"content": "Maybe it’s more correct the other way round. M$ hasn’t managed it to create a proper backward compatible OS. For this very reason I changed to Linux years ago, also because of the huge amount of memory the new M$ OSes waste for themself. I still like to use my old SlotA Athlon with 1.5 GB Ram",
"parent_id": "432113",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "432238",
"author": "Jonathan Wilson",
"timestamp": "2011-08-11T02:42:07",
"content": "What I want to know is why no hacker has come up with an “open source” programmer/reader that can read and/or write all these chips. I mean “open source” in that the PCB design, schematics and code would be free and open for anyone to use.No more need to buy expensive addon modules to read obscure ROMs, if you have a datasheet or know how to talk to the ROM, you just build an adapter and write some code for the programmer that knows how to talk to the adapter.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "432288",
"author": "Andrew",
"timestamp": "2011-08-11T04:40:57",
"content": "An idea I have, but haven’t tried out yet to get the willem working on windows 7 64bit. The willem I’ve got uses portio32, which is a library to access ports. I’ve dealt with portio32 before, when dealing with flashing xbox 360 dvd drives. Since that’s a very common mod which requires direct access to a sata port (via portio), there are guides all over for getting portio64 to work on windows 7 64bit. Here’s a link to the dll:http://forums.360mods.net/downloads.php?do=file&id=19just put it in the same folder as the exe for the program that uses it, or in windows\\system32 (I think). You will also need to disable driver signing to get it to work.I have yet to do this, because I have a lot of old crap that doesn’t work on anything newer than XP (and I didn’t wanna enable test mode in 7 for unsigned drivers), so I just put a second hard drive in my computer and dual boot XP. It’s an HP with a dual core proc (1.6GHz) and onboard parallel. Pretty decent for $10 too ;)",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "432514",
"author": "Aviator747",
"timestamp": "2011-08-11T16:10:37",
"content": "I have win 7 64 bit and a Willem from Sivava and it works great. I am actually the first poster in the posted article. ;)",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "433325",
"author": "Whatnot",
"timestamp": "2011-08-12T18:37:29",
"content": "A amusing illustration of windows x64’s issues is that MS includes a driver for the hardware ‘beep’ speaker on the motherboard, but it’s not capable of making the damn thing actually beep, even MS can’t manage to figure out things when going x64.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
}
] | 1,760,377,116.396947
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2011/08/10/an-introduction-to-dc-boost-converters/
|
An Introduction To DC Boost Converters
|
Mike Nathan
|
[
"Arduino Hacks",
"Tool Hacks"
] |
[
"arduino",
"boost converter",
"pwm"
] |
If you are planning on creating some sort of Nixie tube display, you will undoubtedly need to find yourself a high voltage DC power supply. If you don’t want to add a transformer to your project, you can always opt
to build a boost converter instead
. [Andrew Moser] shows us just how easy it is to build one, discussing the theory behind simple boost converters along the way.
Boost converters are often driven by dedicated ICs, but in this case the PWM signal from an Arduino does the job just fine. [Andrew] covers the process of choosing the proper components for the circuit, discussing duty cycles and components to avoid lest your boost converter die an untimely death.
He shows us how to implement a feedback system to get a more precise output voltage, but as
Lady Ada has shown us
, an open loop works pretty well too.
For the beginners that want to just get things up and running, his instructions and code should be sufficient, but [Andrew] provides plenty of reference links for those looking to delve deeper into the subject.
| 17
| 11
|
[
{
"comment_id": "431849",
"author": "grenadier",
"timestamp": "2011-08-10T13:38:50",
"content": "Or you could just use a 555 timer :p",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "431850",
"author": "chic",
"timestamp": "2011-08-10T13:41:43",
"content": "The venerable old pickit 1 from microchip contained a great example of using a micro to generate the signals for a boost controller. The same pic, a 16F745, was used to communicate via usb, program the pic that was being used and control the boost supply to provide the 12v programming voltage. They eventually wrote up the design as an app notehttp://www.microchip.com/stellent/idcplg?IdcService=SS_GET_PAGE&nodeId=1824&appnote=en012103",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "431856",
"author": "Natalie",
"timestamp": "2011-08-10T14:01:26",
"content": "Looking at the breadboard layout, switched mode power conversion circuits are not so happy operating with such long lead lengths in the high current switching loops. if ya like to reduce the inductor size by increasing the switching freq to still conservative few 100 khz, a better layout and attention to capacitor ESR will be needed. What ya will find is the ideal conversion ratio of 1/(1-D) will not hold true for duty above ~.9 This is most likely why the circuit is “most efficient” at 30khz too.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "431872",
"author": "Jason",
"timestamp": "2011-08-10T14:26:33",
"content": "We are offering a super small form factor nixie power supoly that is perfect for the breadboard. It comes in a few flavors, with some simple resistor changes, you can have 100v to 150v 180v fixed or 150 to 200v. This was designed to be a removable module for a nixie clock project I am working on. It is a closed loop feedback power supply that has a very low ripple. We currently only have a few of these supplies on hand. Let us know if there is any interest in these supplies over at greskoindustries.com. I can set up a video of it in operation over at you tube as well.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "431904",
"author": "Peter",
"timestamp": "2011-08-10T15:21:03",
"content": "Have to put a plug in here for Linear Tech’s freely downloadable LTSpiceIV simulator.If you’re going to be playing with switching converters, it’s helpful to simulate them first (so as not to let the smoke out). You can load any PSPICE model you want into it, though it comes with all the LT devices and sample circuits preloaded.And the simulator also works for pretty much any analog circuit you want to simulate…not just switchers: amps, 555 timers, whatever.Freely downloadable off Linear’s website and designed to run on Linux under WINE.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "431905",
"author": "cpotoso",
"timestamp": "2011-08-10T15:21:44",
"content": "You’ve got to be kidding. An arduino as a controller for a boost converted? Just use a dedicated IC, they are cheap and reliable. I honestly do not see the hack value of this project. As a follower of H-A-D for more than 2 years, I am sad to find that lately Hackaday has become almost purely arduino-a-day…Note: disagreement with my opinion is no grounds for removal of my post… Only disrespectful comments, eh?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "431945",
"author": "Chris",
"timestamp": "2011-08-10T16:41:20",
"content": "Using an Arduino *just* to make a single boost supply is a bit wasteful. But if you’re driving nixie tubes, you’ll probably need an MCU of some sort anyway, in order to turn the segments on/off in a meaningful way; and having it perform *both* duties is a good thing.",
"parent_id": "431905",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "431951",
"author": "Mike Nathan",
"timestamp": "2011-08-10T16:51:09",
"content": "This is meant as a tutorial for beginners, who more likely than not, have an Arduino on hand. Whether it is the most efficient use of a microcontroller is another matter. As Chris points out, driving Nixies is typically just one part of a project, and the Arduino can do other things while also driving the boost supply.That said, if you feel that there are too many Arduino-related posts, please feel free to submit your own work, using other microcontrollers. We publish things that are sent to us as well as items we find online. Like it or not, the simple fact is that tons of people are using Arduinos to build things. We work with what we are given, so show us something different if you would like to see non Arduino-related projects.",
"parent_id": "431905",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "432048",
"author": "Renee",
"timestamp": "2011-08-10T19:54:12",
"content": "It clearly says this in the article, and it’s even underlined:“This guide is intended for educational purposes.”It’s not about some finished and polished, repeatable project. So, in a way, it is sort of disrespectful to go on a rant about something without even considering what the article is saying.",
"parent_id": "431905",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "431921",
"author": "Matt",
"timestamp": "2011-08-10T16:03:34",
"content": "What benefit is there to using a MOSFET driver? I see his warning about the FET’s gate capacitance…but it seems like you could accomplish the same isolation with just a 2nd (smaller) FET and a pull-up resistor. Am I missing something?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "431973",
"author": "Chris",
"timestamp": "2011-08-10T17:47:05",
"content": "The statement about the MOSFET’s gate capacitance “resonating” with the Arduino is an oversimplification.The faster you switch a MOSFET, the greater the gate capacitance becomes when switching (Miller effect); so the harder it becomes to switch.That starts becoming significant when you switch in the tens of Khz. So you must either:1) Make the pull-up resistor small. But then it will heat up when the smaller FET is on (since it’s effectively shorted).2) Or use a more reasonably-valued resistor, but then it won’t be able to turn off the MOSFET very quickly. The MOSFET produces extra heat since it spends more time in a “half-on” resistive state.Making a discrete MOSFET gate driver is easy. Making a *good* one takes some practice. There are many pitfalls, and ways to get weird results or inadvertently damage your MCU.As Andrew said, “My guide was written to get the nooblet up and on his feet.” Using a driver IC works better for that goal.If you really want to learn about discrete gate drivers, that’s better discussed separately. Check out “Design And Application Guide For High Speed MOSFET Gate Drive Circuits” by Laszlo Balogh; even if you don’t understand all the math, the sample circuits and explanations are still educational. And although specific to tesla coils, “Why MOSFETs fail in Solid State TC duty” by Richie Burnett is an excellent summary of every way a MOSFET can perform in unexpected ways. Both should come right up with a Google search.Try simulating drivers in SPICE. You can perform a lot of experiments in a hurry, without real smoke or a real oscilloscope. I went as far as designing a triple 100Khz switching regulator with resettable soft-start. It only uses a single LM339 IC, and a reasonable amount of discrete components. It was a great learning experience! If I ever get around to building it, and verify it works as well in the real world as it does in SPICE, I’ll be sure to release it and send the link to HAD.",
"parent_id": "431921",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "432009",
"author": "Matt",
"timestamp": "2011-08-10T18:44:52",
"content": "Thanks for the explanation!I’ve thought about simulating circuits in SPICE before, but I never managed to figure it out…maybe the SPICE software I found was crappy. I see a plug for LTSpiceIV…is there a particular SPICE software that you recommend? Any good tutorials on how to get started with SPICE?",
"parent_id": "431973",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "432102",
"author": "Chris",
"timestamp": "2011-08-10T21:50:47",
"content": "@matt: I’ve heard good things about LTSpice too, but haven’t used it yet. It’s probably worth checking out.The only SPICE I have experience with is NI Circuit Design Suite (formerly Electronics Workbench), courtesy of my employer. It’s too pricey for personal use, but that won’t stop a sufficiently motivated person from acquiring it anyway if so inclined.A good SPICE program needs few tutorials. Everything, even the virtual test equipment, is just like real world counterparts.The one exception is convergence errors. Real world components and wires all have a bit of parasitic inductance, capacitance, and resistance (LCR) which isn’t properly accounted for in SPICE. Without that to damp signals, some simulated circuits can feed back and oscillate in ways that would never occur in the real world. This usually results in a convergence error; the circuit is inherently unstable and cannot be solved. To fix this, you might have to insert a few milliohms of resistance here, a few picofarads of capacitance there, until sufficient to damp the unrealistic oscillation. It’s more of an art than a science. There are tips and guides all over the ‘net, plus probably a section in the manual for any SPICE you choose. NI’s software can fix most convergence errors automatically by experimentally tweaking simulation parameters until the problem goes away, which is a big convenience.Note that the reverse holds true as well – a circuit that works perfectly in SPICE may not work properly in the real world. Especially high frequency/power circuits on solderless breadboards; where the parasitic LCR can be quite large.Still, SPICE is a very useful tool.",
"parent_id": "431973",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "431961",
"author": "Natalie",
"timestamp": "2011-08-10T17:17:26",
"content": "reason for the fet driver is for any sort of R pull up circuit to be fast (ie fast edges) with a significant capacitive load, the R needs to be small and thus will have high power dissipation. with a small “logic level” fet, ya might get by with directly driving from the uPC output. though I’d add a small series R and diode clams to ground and Vss to protect the uPC.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "432030",
"author": "tantris",
"timestamp": "2011-08-10T19:25:41",
"content": "a giant step for the arduino community: pwm with analog feedback!blinking leds with pwm becomes interesting if you don’t just set a pwm-value but use a sense resistor to actually control the current.if you take this setup -or a similar one with a buck converter in the middle- and replace the voltage divider with a sense resistor in the leds path, it can be used for driving power leds.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "432086",
"author": "PocketBrain",
"timestamp": "2011-08-10T21:06:17",
"content": "Cool, I have a 9V to 56V bread-boarded converter driving 18 white LEDs in series with an op-amp relaxation oscillator (probably similar to [Chris]’s LM339 U1A) to switch it sitting right here on my desk. Just a little exercise in circuit design. It will boost up over 100V with no load, so as always, exercise caution. :-)",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "433711",
"author": "aeoncrown",
"timestamp": "2011-08-13T07:30:17",
"content": "I am making a DC booster for myself, too.I use ne555 directly drive a MOSFET( didn’t use a MOSFET driver)According to others’ result, I should get 500V but finally I got 340V(max).then I change duty cycle and frequency(1k~8kHz), I still get 340~345V.so my next test will add a mosfet driver,I suspect ne555 can really output 200mA for short rise time( like 200~400 ns).um….I just want to ask a question.Many books taught us change duty cycle and then the output voltage change.Is you result can see the change(about duty cycle)?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
}
] | 1,760,377,116.567362
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2011/08/10/impressive-lighting-console-offers-professional-features-for-a-fraction-of-the-price/
|
Impressive Lighting Console Offers Professional Features For A Fraction Of The Price
|
Mike Nathan
|
[
"Arduino Hacks",
"Misc Hacks"
] |
[
"arduino",
"capacitive touch",
"dmx",
"lighting"
] |
Hackaday reader [Michael] wrote in to share the build details of
an impressive lighting console
he has been working on for some time. He says that the 36+ channel console is on par with lighting rigs costing upwards of $5,000, but his was constructed for just around $1,000 – quite the substantial savings.
The console was constructed around an old IBM desktop computer, which handles all of the DMX output as well as preset management. An array of 20 ATMega 328Ps running the Arduino bootloader are scattered throughout the device, 18 of which are used to manage the six fader panels, while the remaining two handle management tasks. Aside from the fader banks, the console features a main control board featuring several LCD screens along with 17 capacitive touch buttons used for menu navigation and console control.
While [Michael] is finished building the board, he has just begun the documentation of the construction process. His blog should be updated regularly with more details, so be sure to check back often. Code, as well as hopefully tons of pictures and videos are all forthcoming.
[Edit: Cost comparison update]
| 31
| 18
|
[
{
"comment_id": "431798",
"author": "loans",
"timestamp": "2011-08-10T11:25:44",
"content": "The writeup is painfully sparse on details. It sounds suspiciously like he’s devised a preset board. While this might be an impressive feat for the home builder, having control over 36 channels is not a significant feat (especially if there’s no provisions for a cue stack), considering that many modern intelligent fixtures will eat up that many DMX channels in a heartbeat (and without an abstraction layer, will be impossible to control).",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "431801",
"author": "adnbr",
"timestamp": "2011-08-10T11:29:07",
"content": "For a finished project it’s a shame there aren’t any photos showing the end result.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "431803",
"author": "Michael",
"timestamp": "2011-08-10T11:34:13",
"content": "Actually, it does record scenes and chases. Chases can be advanced by tapping the flash button, by speed or by audio trigger.There may be a delay in the online documentation as I first have to document it for assessment first (final high school Design & Technology project)",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "431806",
"author": "loans",
"timestamp": "2011-08-10T11:39:45",
"content": "So, no cue stack? I don’t mean to denigrate the work, it’s impressive and I hope you can finish up some useful documentation as I’ve got a DMX-based project in mind, but claiming a preset board that can record ‘scenes and chases’ (and has no abstraction layer for intelligent fixtures) rivals a modern lighting console is a little over the top.What exactly does ’36+ channels’ mean? That your fader bank is paged? Does it output a full 512 channels of DMX?",
"parent_id": "431803",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "431851",
"author": "Abbott",
"timestamp": "2011-08-10T13:43:34",
"content": "Technically the word “scene” is synonymous with “cue”. This seems fairly advanced, well done to you, Michael.",
"parent_id": "431806",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "431853",
"author": "Abbott",
"timestamp": "2011-08-10T13:47:33",
"content": "Also, there are a few overpriced, semi-useless consoles (Read: Leprechaun) that cost around 8K that only record scenes and small chases. This computer console easily would beat them out in terms of performance and capability. I would love to have had one back in high school sometimes.",
"parent_id": "431806",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "431855",
"author": "loans",
"timestamp": "2011-08-10T13:50:03",
"content": "Scene -could- be synonymous with cue, or it could be used in the same context as a two-scene preset board. If a console doesn’t have a full-featured cue playback capability, then it’s hearkening back to decades past.",
"parent_id": "431806",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "431864",
"author": "gmichael225",
"timestamp": "2011-08-10T14:13:06",
"content": "I mean “scene” as in the Maxim sense of “scene” – a 1:many recording of a static state. “Cue lists” can be created by setting a chase to manual step and then using the flash button to advance and the menu system to skip/reverse.",
"parent_id": "431806",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "431808",
"author": "Panikos",
"timestamp": "2011-08-10T11:49:39",
"content": "Michael,for a high school project that is shockingly impressive. I don’t understand where the criticism in the previous comments is coming from.I don’t think its sunk in for all what you’ve put together. As you document the project better and its more clear it will sink in.Congrats. I look forward to reading your writeup.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "431811",
"author": "loans",
"timestamp": "2011-08-10T12:01:50",
"content": "It is impressive, yes. Like I said, I donotto denigrate the project, and am very interested in the continued writeup.I work in stage lighting professionally, and take issue primarily with the claim that this console rivals units costing $8000. That is, probably, an outlandish claim, as even ‘budget’ consoles of the modern age (In the $4000-6000 range) have provisions for extensive cue stacks, software abstraction for multi-channel fixtures and so on.I can’t wait for more details, but if this console isn’t even a memory board in the sense of the ability to record cues, it’s unfortunately a great exercise, and an impressive build, but not terribly significant as a practical lighting console beyond the high school cafetorium level of theatre.",
"parent_id": "431808",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "431816",
"author": "fartface",
"timestamp": "2011-08-10T12:10:38",
"content": "Um how is this a savings?Beringer DMX 24 channel board with FULL control not just presets $250.00 Oh and I can control that board via USB so I have full PC control and VirtualDJ can feed it beat information. so I have MORE integration than he does.Honestly where has he been pricing DMX lighting control equipment? because his prices are for the jewel encrusted, gold plated models.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "431818",
"author": "loans",
"timestamp": "2011-08-10T12:13:07",
"content": "If by ‘jewel encrusted’ you mean ‘professional equipement’ then I guess you’re right. An ETC element starts at $4k and offers control options suitable to people who have more demands than a DJ or small school stage.. 24 channels is a joke once you pass the ‘PARs on a stick’ stage.He hasn’t built a DJ controller.",
"parent_id": "431816",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "431823",
"author": "fartface",
"timestamp": "2011-08-10T12:18:47",
"content": "http://www.venuemagic.com/index.php/wheretobuy/vmstoreUnder $1000 and does more than the pro one. It’s used in many theaters and big name road shows.Still not near the $8000.00 price tag that DMX lighting gear had 10 years ago.",
"parent_id": "431818",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "431826",
"author": "loans",
"timestamp": "2011-08-10T12:25:54",
"content": "Hah. PC software without a physical control surface. What ‘big name road shows’ do you refer to? It might be a perfectly functional product, but if it’s not Hog, ETC or grandMA I really have to question how big those names are. Especially with only one universe of output, those shows aren’t carrying any movers, I’d wager.Yes, you -can- buy lighting gear for less than professional consoles (though, ten years ago I think you would want to add another decimal place, things are getting cheaper all the time), but being a niche product, manufacturing costs remain high.Earlier this year I was the ME for the 2nd national tour of The 39 Steps, and you couldn’t have paid me to go out with less console than my Road Hog, which is a full-featured touring console. MSRP beats that $8000 sticker by a factor of two.",
"parent_id": "431818",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "431820",
"author": "Mac",
"timestamp": "2011-08-10T12:14:23",
"content": "Hmm…nice project, great learning experience.But, I have to ask, why? There is free software and very low cost (or DIY) USB-DMX interfaces available that would allow you to get on with the business of programming lights WAaaaaY quicker.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "431821",
"author": "gmichael225",
"timestamp": "2011-08-10T12:16:29",
"content": "Okay, due to the hour at which the writeup thus far was written, I read the line for maxim L patpad rather than L – patpad. The figure should be closer to $5000. I’ll correct my pages and probably HaD should too – apologies for that inaccuracy. With regard to cue stacks, a manually-stepped chase is my answer to this use case for now. With regard to ML abstraction, this is something I intend to implement post-assessment by replacing one of the fader modules with an ML programming panel. However there are some features which allow for easier ML control, e.g. Using a manually stepped chase to step through colours or pan/tilt positions (combine with blind to jump) and the ability to set the 0-point of a “scene” such that it becomes a “gradient” so that it may fade not just from 0 to high but (for example) to record fade between two pan/tilt positions (e.g. At either end of a catwalk) to provide recall of parameters while retaining some flexibility.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "431838",
"author": "aaron",
"timestamp": "2011-08-10T12:51:35",
"content": "Stop complaining! This is an awesome project. Yes, some of the claims may be exaggerated a bit, but it is nonetheless impressive. You can find something wrong with any project. That doesn’t mean it’s not still valid and interesting. Sure this consone might not be useful in a professional setting, but it a gymecafetorium at a high school or even in a small college, this would be perfect. I would have given anything for a board as nice as this will be at my high school.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "431846",
"author": "mess_maker",
"timestamp": "2011-08-10T13:32:54",
"content": "@loans – While I am an audio engineer, part of my job used to include running a whole hog 3 with an expansion wing connected to a pretty nice rig – all moving head ( mirror ) and yokes ( well, and stobes of course ). THAT was a nice system, I do agree.Michael should be proud of what he has created, I would venture to say that he has probably learned more about how a lighting board is created than most operators. I applaud his efforts and look forward to the progress that he makes. I would love to see video of this working.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "431862",
"author": "gmichael225",
"timestamp": "2011-08-10T14:10:19",
"content": "Thanks, @mess_maker, I hope not to disappoint you with further posts. :)P.S. I’d love to work on a Wholehog 3, but at least I’m getting the opportunity to play with a Vista i3 in late September.",
"parent_id": "431846",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "431861",
"author": "Art",
"timestamp": "2011-08-10T14:08:18",
"content": "I think the complaints are stemming from the write-up, not from the project. This isn’t a board that rivals the professionally manufactured equipment. But that’s not really what this website is about is it? He built it from scratch and it meets his needs and those are the only two requirements for a great hack in my book. I wish the hackaday write-up would be revised to reflect the spirit of the hack a little better and not sensationalize it…As a project -it’s expandable. I’m looking forward to more pictures – but it looks like a really nice control surface that he’s got interfacing with a pc, and he’s got the pc talking to the dmx output module successfully. Soft-patch, grouping, timed cue stacks – even moving light profiles and shape generators can all be added in software at a later date if he needs or wants them. Running multiple cue stacks and merging HTP and LTP channels isn’t an insignificant programming task… let’s appreciate what he’s got done and give suggestions for next time.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "431879",
"author": "Matt",
"timestamp": "2011-08-10T14:38:52",
"content": "Very cool project.I’m another “pro” and agree this doesn’t compare with $8k consoles (I missed where that was said on the project blog).However, very impressive for a high school student.I’ve thought about building my own console from scratch… This seems to be a good starting point to build something very sophisticated.Kudos.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "431882",
"author": "Mike Nathan",
"timestamp": "2011-08-10T14:41:46",
"content": "For clarification, he mentioned the $8k pricetag when he wrote in to us, I don’t believe that detail was anywhere on his site.",
"parent_id": "431879",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "431885",
"author": "8472",
"timestamp": "2011-08-10T14:49:43",
"content": "Very cool Michael. Look forward to seeing more documentation, and maybe trying it out myself, and seeing what abilities this thing has.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "431944",
"author": "Paul",
"timestamp": "2011-08-10T16:41:19",
"content": "Very ambitious. In high school I was still ripping apart guitar electronics. Can’t wait to see some video.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "432036",
"author": "ewanuno",
"timestamp": "2011-08-10T19:38:19",
"content": "whilst this is very cool, you can buy a lot of console for 1000€ especialy if you’re counting pc based soltuions. in terms of features pc based solutions are normaly a lot better value for monney than “real” desks. (which are Much more reliable)i’m interested in knowing more about the motorised faders.what’s running on the pc? ola by any chance?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "432126",
"author": "Stuv",
"timestamp": "2011-08-10T22:56:55",
"content": "Big props to the kid for designing and assumably building a working console form scratch. Electronicaly this is an impressive project especialy with age and experience considered. It is, however, somewhat redundant IMHO. Greatly improved control options are available within this price structure reasonably “Off-The-Shelf”. Personally I use Freestyler DMX (freeware), with an ENTTEC USB-DMX Pro (AU$220), and a Behrninger BCF2000 Motorised MIDI controller (AU$299). so for a total of AU$519 (+ a laptop or PC you probably already own) you get what IMHO rivals the ease and capabilities of most commercial lighting consoles (limited 1 universe until next version release).",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "432246",
"author": "lastchancename",
"timestamp": "2011-08-11T03:03:18",
"content": "Oh – and also USB(serial) ability to upload/download configs and control the box from a PC applet.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "432265",
"author": "lastchancename",
"timestamp": "2011-08-11T03:40:01",
"content": "My first post was lost somewhere…No disrespect to the OP, but you can do more with less. Motorised faders are a nice touch but unnecessary.http://www.sl4p.net/images/DMX_16F887.JPGMy recent distraction… I needed to repair some DMX fistures.Single 20MHz micro, not a cluster of PC, AVR and function specific chips – 80 channels of DMX control – live and in your hand.80 chan, 255 cues, 32 user-definable sequences with variable rates. up to 10 fast-access user definable buttons to any cue or sequence.USB(serialupload/download configs and control the box from a PC application.Hardware cost < $30I may turn it into a box if there's interest… sell for AU$199 – $250… ?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "432312",
"author": "Tim",
"timestamp": "2011-08-11T06:18:12",
"content": "Very cool but as others have said it’s not worth $8k, even at $5k it’s a bit of a stretch.Could anybody recomend a good/cheap software + USB-DMX compination? Our school runs on a MaXim L but we only need intelligent lighting once or twice a year and even then it’s fairly simple.Cheers",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "432408",
"author": "Stuv",
"timestamp": "2011-08-11T11:34:42",
"content": "As above, My personal preference is Freestyler DMX + ENTTEC Pro + Behringer MIDI controller (optional)",
"parent_id": "432312",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "432693",
"author": "ewanuno",
"timestamp": "2011-08-11T20:02:55",
"content": "there are loads of pc based lighting solutions for free.you need to spend a bit of monney to have adecent interface, the standard is the enttec usb dmx pro.but also worth considering is dmxking which is compatible with the enttec pro.don’t bother doing any serious work with opendmx interfaces, even if they cost next to nothing (15€ diy)because they don’t have a microprocessor they glitch badly.freestyler is great! i don’t use it anymore because i have lightfactory (which i can’t recomend highly enough, but it does cost monney, although the support is seccond to none)more free beer apart from freestyler:dmxcontrol is really comprehensive but not really all that stable in my experience(it was a while ago that i used it though)MagicQ which also runs on linux! is a beast! but it’s not controlable with ordinary midi controlers because the company sells its own hardware. if you need to run some serious lighting once in a while but don’t want to pay cash this is the way to go.there is also showmagic which has a free 24channel version but i never used it because the interface is weird.theres not much in the way of opensource,but check out qlc which is a reasonably complete lighting controler,and ola which is a dmx router, filter and dmx over ethernet protocol converter, which really rocks.if you want to actualy pay monney for a pc based lighting solution then lightfactory is hard to beat (disclamer, i am a shill) i use it for lots of different shows, with two enttec usb dmx pro interfaces, one for output and one for input from whatever dmx desk i find lying about in the theater. just as powerfull as a real console, lots cheaper, and the customer support is the best i’ve ever seen for any software, ever.i work for circus theater shows where i normaly program the cues a half hour before the show, i have found lightfactory to be reliable and comprehensive. withh supportt for loads of fixtures(it shares zero88’s fixture library)",
"parent_id": "432408",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
}
] | 1,760,377,116.635027
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2011/08/09/an-earthcore-hexapod-with-minimal-mechanical-parts/
|
An “Earthcore” Hexapod With Minimal Mechanical Parts
|
Jeremy Cook
|
[
"Robots Hacks"
] |
[
"Earthcore",
"hexapod",
"PICAXE"
] |
Although hexapod robots have been featured on [HAD] many times,
this one
features a really cool minimalistic design. With few mechanical parts to support the three servos, the “Earthcore Hexapod Robot” has a unique gait, tending to quickly slide the driving legs rather than picking the whole robot up. Although it would probably have trouble on rough terrain, for use on a smooth floor or counter, this ‘bot is perfectly suited. Check out the video of it after the break.
Another thing that really stands out on this bot is the blue LED “eyes” and it’s tubing “hat.” The “hat” hides the wiring for the three servos, while most of the circuitry looks to be in between the eyes. The main controller is a PICAXE 18M2 micro-controller. 3 AAA batteries seen behind the tubing power the unit.
As for the name “Earthcore”, it’s based on a
book
by [Scott Sigler]. If there is a movie version in the works, we hope he calls [onefivefour] to help with the special effects!
[youtube
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B2R0Vv34Wg4&w=470&h=349%5D
For another small hexapod project, check out
this one
made from clear plastic!
| 5
| 3
|
[
{
"comment_id": "431544",
"author": "miked",
"timestamp": "2011-08-10T00:32:10",
"content": "This hexapod is “minimal” on details as well!! The link only has pics.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "619640",
"author": "Gilbert",
"timestamp": "2012-04-03T20:50:36",
"content": "There is another dancing hexapod with iPadhttp://www.hexapods.net/miniature_hexapods.php?h",
"parent_id": "431544",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "431573",
"author": "Stevie",
"timestamp": "2011-08-10T01:34:31",
"content": "“this one is features” – huh?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "431580",
"author": "Jeremy Cook",
"timestamp": "2011-08-10T01:54:55",
"content": "Right, fixed.",
"parent_id": "431573",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "433453",
"author": "Scott Sigler",
"timestamp": "2011-08-12T21:01:58",
"content": "I tried to comment on this a couple of days ago, but it doesn’t show here. So, my comment is “this is freakin’ awesome!”",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
}
] | 1,760,377,116.676143
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2011/08/09/enhance-your-magnetic-silly-putty-with-personal-lubricants/
|
Enhance Your Magnetic Silly Putty With Personal Lubricants
|
Mike Nathan
|
[
"chemistry hacks"
] |
[
"iron oxide",
"lubricants",
"magnetic",
"rare earth magnets",
"silly putty"
] |
Instructables user [killbox] seems to have come across a process that actually
makes magnetic silly putty “better”
, depending on your specific needs. He had tons of fun
making a batch of magnetic putty
, but thought that the addition of iron oxide made it stiff and a bit slow moving for his tastes.
He tried to find a household item that could act as silly putty thinner, but after trying various oils, gylcerin, and rubbing alcohol, he came up empty handed. Undeterred, he researched how silly putty itself is made, and based on its list of ingredients, decided to seek out some sort of silcone-based lubricant.
He headed out to the local sex shop, and spent some time browsing through the “personal lubricant” section, in hopes of finding what he needed. He settled on ”Gun Oil”, a silicone lubricant that also contained Dimethicone, an item on the ingredient list of the lubricant he initially used to make the batch of magnetic putty.
After adding the lubricant, he found that the putty retained its texture, but flowed far more easily. The thinner putty also consumes rare earth magnets more quickly than its unaltered brethren, as you can see in the picture above.
We’re not sure how far you could push the ferro-putty before it would become a mess, but it’s certainly warrants further experiments.
[Thanks, Mike]
| 20
| 16
|
[
{
"comment_id": "431440",
"author": "1000100 1000001 1010110 1000101",
"timestamp": "2011-08-09T21:07:51",
"content": "Going to the adult store in the name of science…",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "431500",
"author": "Bill",
"timestamp": "2011-08-09T22:42:01",
"content": "Seriously! I think any hack that involves “He headed out to the local sex shop” is going to be an interesting hack.",
"parent_id": "431440",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "431503",
"author": "isama",
"timestamp": "2011-08-09T22:54:03",
"content": "Even more interesting: going to the hospital after…But seriously, nice idea! I would never have come up with using lube for something other than lubrication :D",
"parent_id": "431500",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "431460",
"author": "Headshot",
"timestamp": "2011-08-09T21:23:37",
"content": "Ought to work.Sometimes you can get the strangest items in unusual places, for example did you know some phones use a circular vibrate motor that can be repurposed as part of a VR haptic glove?Good luck explaining the purchase of 10 bottles of this stuff to She Who Must Be Obeyed … !",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "431466",
"author": "adam",
"timestamp": "2011-08-09T21:34:22",
"content": "I’ve never seen gun oil at the….wait never mind. LOLThis pop’d up on my twitter feed and i had to find out.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "431467",
"author": "Becca",
"timestamp": "2011-08-09T21:34:23",
"content": "Looking for reasons to go to the sex shop….",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "431490",
"author": "SuperNuRd",
"timestamp": "2011-08-09T22:26:30",
"content": "Teehee wow how do I explain the random lube sittin on my work bench after being in my basement for a couple hours building my unique platform robot to my girl friend?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "431497",
"author": "mad_max",
"timestamp": "2011-08-09T22:36:10",
"content": "This one wins the award for “most interesting article title.”",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "431522",
"author": "Hackerspacer",
"timestamp": "2011-08-09T23:46:29",
"content": "Dimethacone is another name for PMDS, also known as polydimethylsiloxane, the primary ingredient in silly putty. PDMS is CH3[Si(CH3)2O]nSi(CH3)3, where n is the number of repeating monomer [SiO(CH3)2] units.You can buy silly putty as Dow Corning 3179 Dilatant Compound. Just call them up and order some in bulk, if you wish. It isn’t terribly expensive.Ingredient list for silly putty:65% \t– \tDimethyl Siloxane, hydroxy-terminated polymers with boric acid17% \t– \tSilica, quartz crystalline9% \t– \tThixotrol ST4% \t– \tPolydimethylsiloxane1% \t– \tDecamethyl cyclopentasiloxane1% \t– \tGlycerine1% \t– \tTitanium DioxideWhat you have done, in effect, is thinned the silly putty, making it flow more readily.The hydrogen bonds in silly putty can be readily broken. When small amounts of stress are slowly applied to the putty, only a few of the bonds are broken. Under these condition, the putty flows. When more stress is applied quickly, many bonds are broken, causing the putty to tear.What the author has done is essentially made the polymer chains “looser” and thus much more likely to flow past each other by diluting them with a very low viscosity silicone fluid (it is low viscosity because the linear oligomer chains are shorter and therefore less likely to “bunch up”).Very clever use of sex lube! I also use sex lube to lubricate lab instruments such as viscometers and such. As another aside, it is helpful as a standard to use IN viscometers for calibration purposes as the viscosity of these fluids tends to be extremely stable.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "431528",
"author": "macona",
"timestamp": "2011-08-10T00:06:52",
"content": "I have used it as food grade lubricant for seals in air cylinders and the like.",
"parent_id": "431522",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "432221",
"author": "Okian Warrior",
"timestamp": "2011-08-11T01:58:45",
"content": "Wow – great post. Thanks!",
"parent_id": "431522",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "431523",
"author": "Hackerspacer",
"timestamp": "2011-08-09T23:49:28",
"content": "To clarify, the “hydroxy-terminated polymers with boric acid” is a modified “end conection” that is grafted onto the end of dimethacone (PMDS) to foster linkages between molecules. The “straight” polydimethylsiloxane comprises only 4% of silly putty. By adding more, you obviously modify the ratios.I would hazard a guess that as much as 20 – 30% could be added although with a resulting and accelerated loss of physical properties past 10%.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "431529",
"author": "reza",
"timestamp": "2011-08-10T00:08:26",
"content": "interesting back story. gun oil was actually gun oil that soldiers were using for off-label uses. the mfg decided to commercialize it for a new market.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "431566",
"author": "austin",
"timestamp": "2011-08-10T01:18:00",
"content": "This seems like a SLICK hack,An answer to a SLIPPERY problem,A problem which could otherwise be a PAIN IN THE ASS,I could go on but I’m sure I’m gonna SLIP UPIts also a good alternate use of lube",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "431626",
"author": "Jonathan",
"timestamp": "2011-08-10T03:04:39",
"content": "Radioactive glow silly putty. I might have to use the previous post on how to build a nuclear reactor.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "431634",
"author": "bob",
"timestamp": "2011-08-10T03:22:12",
"content": "This lubricant is also sold as ‘mold release’ agent, for use in the plastics industry, or by most S&M shops since it is one of the few lubricants that can be used for polishing latex for a wet look without degrading the natural latex rubber.It just shows that most advances in technology including the internet will ultimately be used to ‘perv’ out.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "431720",
"author": "Killbox",
"timestamp": "2011-08-10T06:15:29",
"content": "Thank you all! I was wondering why the hit count on the lube instructable just went way up! :) And the one about balloon photography had not anywhere near as much! (and it had just won a runner up in the “launch it contest)Doing my part for science! BTW its probably hard to believe, two facts, one I have a girlfriend, and two shes the one who took me to the shop to check out the lube. (although it was my own idea to see if silicone lubes might be compatible.)",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "431915",
"author": "Mythgarr",
"timestamp": "2011-08-10T15:55:07",
"content": "I’m a little frightened at the lube expert to regular poster ratio here on hackaday… :)Neat hack. Simple, elegant way to solve a problem.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "431989",
"author": "nave.notnilc",
"timestamp": "2011-08-10T18:15:01",
"content": "add some graphite powder and it’ll be conductive, too?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "432148",
"author": "Pleiades",
"timestamp": "2011-08-10T23:19:18",
"content": "Sil-glyde sold at napa might work well",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
}
] | 1,760,377,117.079196
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2011/08/09/lighted-shoe-ruffles-hell-never-step-you-your-toes-again/
|
Lighted Shoe Ruffles — He’ll Never Step On Your Toes Again
|
Mike Szczys
|
[
"LED Hacks",
"Wearable Hacks"
] |
[
"conductive thread",
"led",
"sewing",
"shoe",
"throwies"
] |
Whether for fashion, emergency lighting, or just to make a statement,
these lighted shoe clips
make for a unique footwear accessory. [Becky Stern], who we’ve seen before
hacking automatic knitting machines
, tackles this quick lighted project.
The electronics are simple, two LEDs connected in parallel to a button battery by some conductive thread. The circuit is the same as an LED throwie, but she’s using a sewable battery holder. The ruffle is made by cutting out and folding several circles of fabric. We’re not too used to working with this building material and were glad to hear her tip on fusing the cut edges with a lighter. She’s also got a good tip about bending one LED lead in a square shape and the other in a round shape to keep track of the polarity. After sewing everything together and completing the circuit with the conductive thread [Becky] adds a paper clamp making this easy to use with any shoe. In fact, the guy’s don’t have to miss out on the fun as this could easily double as a boutineer.
Don’t miss [Becky’s] complete walk through video embedded after the break.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DsaZ8_uMt-Y&w=470]
| 11
| 11
|
[
{
"comment_id": "431424",
"author": "RM",
"timestamp": "2011-08-09T20:33:48",
"content": "I am sorry, but Al Bundy did it first with his “shoe lights.” in 1988/1989",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "431435",
"author": "daniel_reetz",
"timestamp": "2011-08-09T21:02:12",
"content": "Becky Stern is pretty awesome. ‘Nuff said.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "431504",
"author": "Decius",
"timestamp": "2011-08-09T23:00:26",
"content": "HOW COULD YOU RUIN THE PUNCH LINE TO THE JOKE IN YOUR OWN ARTICLE TITLE?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "431539",
"author": "macona",
"timestamp": "2011-08-10T00:12:20",
"content": "Wow, she is really light on her feet!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "431589",
"author": "GZ",
"timestamp": "2011-08-10T02:16:01",
"content": "A walk through for lighted shoes!Nice job, something any novice fashion hacker can aspire to and achieve!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "431757",
"author": "Necromant",
"timestamp": "2011-08-10T08:02:34",
"content": "When i saw some shoes with lights on the pic the first thought I had: Jeri is out to a party again. But then I read the text, and realized that not only Jeri Elsworth likes mixing electronics&clothing. Great work anyway!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "431822",
"author": "Pouncer",
"timestamp": "2011-08-10T12:18:03",
"content": "“Lighted shoe ruffles — he’ll never step on your toes again”I wouldn’t count on it.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "431857",
"author": "tw",
"timestamp": "2011-08-10T14:01:33",
"content": "If he’s looking at your feet while dancing, he’s more likely to step on them.…Or maybe it’s because it is easier to aim that way.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "432038",
"author": "Laura Harris",
"timestamp": "2011-08-10T19:41:45",
"content": "Ohh, fun!Must make one as a hair-scrunchie to go with the shoes . . .",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "432089",
"author": "therin",
"timestamp": "2011-08-10T21:13:06",
"content": "lets be honest, the idea is old, and implementation well there is no implementation here",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "434383",
"author": "YS",
"timestamp": "2011-08-14T13:12:14",
"content": "Really cool, no matter that the idea is old.I really love such type of posts, bacause I can send link on it to my female friends. :-) And – who knows? – maybe someone of them will be the next author here. :-)",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
}
] | 1,760,377,116.733529
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2011/08/09/play-by-play-of-a-high-altitude-balloon-flight/
|
Play-by-play Of A High Altitude Balloon Flight
|
Brian Benchoff
|
[
"digital cameras hacks",
"Misc Hacks"
] |
[
"balloon",
"gps",
"high altitude balloon",
"near space"
] |
[Greg Intermaggio] and [Shumit DasGupta] at
Techsplosion
launched a high altitude balloon last week that climbed to 90,000 feet above sea level somewhere over California. The
play-by-play
of the flight is one of the better stories we’ve seen on high altitude balloon builds.
The balloon, christened VGER-1, carried a
SPOT satellite GPS messanger
to send telemetry back to the ground. We’ve seen a few home brew
balloon tracking devices
, but [Greg] decided to use an off-the-shelf solution for the sake of simplicity. Like
other balloons
the VGER-1 carried a CanonPowershot camera with
CHDK
firmware.
The
ground track
of the balloon shows it being launched west of the San Francisco bay, going above the 60,000 foot limit of commercial GPS units about 15 miles South of Sacramento, and eventually landing just off Interstate 80 a few miles from Lake Tahoe. It’s great that the guys found an easy commercial solution to the tracking problem (that doesn’t risk a smart phone), but if we did this, we’d
predict the balloon’s trajectory
before launch.
[Greg] put up
an album
of some of the best pictures taken by his balloon. If you’re in the Bay Area this weekend, [Greg] and [Shumit] will be organizing a
group launch
of high-altitude balloons. Seems like a really great way to spend a Saturday if you ask us.
| 16
| 11
|
[
{
"comment_id": "431359",
"author": "MS3FGX",
"timestamp": "2011-08-09T19:08:11",
"content": "These builds always impress me. Would love to put together my own near-spacecraft like this one day.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "431379",
"author": "Squintz",
"timestamp": "2011-08-09T19:30:50",
"content": "Well done! That was a nice story with videos to back it up.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "431407",
"author": "miked",
"timestamp": "2011-08-09T20:07:27",
"content": "Good read but I don’t see any of the build info. Is the camera just set to time lapse? Does the SPOT just send out data continuously?I just looked at the CHDK firmware last night for doing some long exposure shots. The CHDK can do up to 64 second exposure.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "431920",
"author": "PapaD",
"timestamp": "2011-08-10T15:59:13",
"content": "The camera is set to take pictures every 10 seconds, and the SPOT is set to ‘tracking’, which gets it’s location from GPS satellites and relays it on commercial satellites to a website every 10 minutes. We went with the SPOT because we figured the extra investment was worth it if we landed outside of cell-phone range.",
"parent_id": "431407",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "431421",
"author": "anonymous",
"timestamp": "2011-08-09T20:30:45",
"content": "I read the title as “Play-by-play of a high altitude baboon fight” the first time and was expecting something really awesome.Also, the SPOT seems like a downgrade over a smartphone in almost every way. It retails for $169.99, and I can get a replacement for my phone if it’s lost for $75, so It seems like getting insurance on your smartphone is the cheaper way to go.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "431428",
"author": "N0LKK",
"timestamp": "2011-08-09T20:36:35",
"content": "They need to put a radio beacon in their future payloads, could help with homing in on it’s positions when it lands. Would be nice to see more details, and photos of the build.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "431445",
"author": "wayne",
"timestamp": "2011-08-09T21:15:58",
"content": "mhm, radio bacon!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "431482",
"author": "Headshot",
"timestamp": "2011-08-09T22:07:06",
"content": "I came up with a variant of this using a solar powered Lifter.Launch it at say 60K feet, having used an optimised setup with larger air gap to exploit the high altitude.Small gas canister to provide ions, maybe also use a supply of potassium sodium tartrate in liquid form dispensed from a small fogger unit onto the corona wires to give it a bit of a boost.Same idea as the flame triode, see?Ought to get near space, then use an ion engine based on xenon and a charged induction plate as it should be very lightweight, to get it the rest of the way.Sound plausible?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "431536",
"author": "macona",
"timestamp": "2011-08-10T00:10:30",
"content": "Have you seen the price of Xenon?",
"parent_id": "431482",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "431553",
"author": "austin",
"timestamp": "2011-08-10T00:47:33",
"content": "I lol’d at the star trek reference (vger from the first movie)",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "432127",
"author": "PapaD",
"timestamp": "2011-08-10T23:02:26",
"content": "I’m glad someone got the Trek reference ;)",
"parent_id": "431553",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "431783",
"author": "David",
"timestamp": "2011-08-10T10:22:20",
"content": "The free SDM software (branched-off from a very early version of CHDK) now has a complete balloon-mission script included and tested on a flight from Las Vegas two weeks ago.Just press the button and go !http://stereo.jpn.org/eng/sdm/index.htmGreg was also testing the script that captured high shutter-speed images, movies and computation of brightness level that took into account large areas of black space or views that included the sun.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "432446",
"author": "kevin mcguigan",
"timestamp": "2011-08-11T13:30:54",
"content": "I live in Las Vegas and was wondering if there is anyone doing balloon launches. I am very interested and would like to join in with someone here in Vegas that does that. Here is my address.liveone1232003@yahoo.com",
"parent_id": "431783",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "432458",
"author": "David",
"timestamp": "2011-08-11T13:49:17",
"content": "@KevinI will contact you.",
"parent_id": "432446",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "431891",
"author": "Headbonk",
"timestamp": "2011-08-10T14:59:17",
"content": "Hey – I know these guys. Greg’s buddy Shu is a friend of mine who is a science teacher. They are planning to put together a curriculum with easy build instructions for high school teachers.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "431946",
"author": "Josh",
"timestamp": "2011-08-10T16:42:17",
"content": "My friends and I did a launch over the 4th of July using a SPOT and a GOPRO camera.We had a problem with our SPOT, though, where it turned off after going above the altitude limit and didn’t turn back on on the way back down. Slight damage to the buttons makes us think that the high speed spin on the way down (4.25 rot/sec) shook the SPOT loose and ran it into other components in the case.A farmer found our payload and kindly called the number on the case, or we’d still be wondering where it all went.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
}
] | 1,760,377,117.021191
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2011/08/09/gods-own-keyboard-now-with-bluetooth/
|
God’s Own Keyboard, Now With Bluetooth
|
Brian Benchoff
|
[
"classic hacks",
"hardware",
"Peripherals Hacks"
] |
[
"bluetooth",
"clicky keyboard",
"ibm",
"Model M",
"ps2"
] |
For decades a thunderous roar rose from the bowels of IBM keyboards like the animus of angry and forgotten gods. These keyboards have fallen silent of late, due only to incompatibility with newer hardware. Now, Model Ms have been given a reprieve from landfills or recycling centers because of the work of [wulax] of geekhack and his
Model M Bluetooth controller board
.
Because of some very old and power-hungry electronics, the
Model M
sometimes draws more power from a PS/2 port than a computer can supply. That means
PS/2 to USB adapters don’t work sometimes
. In any event, PS/2 ports were
declared a legacy port
11 years ago. We’re surprised that new motherboards still include one.
[wulax] got around all these problems by taking the Bluetooth controller out of a
cheap mini keyboard
and mapping the Model M rows and columns to it. A PCB was made and a rather large battery was stuffed inside the Model M. Now a keyboard from 1984 is wireless and able to interface with just about every computer made in the last few years.
There are a couple leftover PCBs [wulax] is hanging onto. We’d
love
to see these Model M replacement boards manufactured as a drop-in replacement for Model Ms. Actually, we’re wondering why this hasn’t been done already. If you’ve got an idea, leave a note in the comments.
| 49
| 24
|
[
{
"comment_id": "431300",
"author": "DanAdamKOF",
"timestamp": "2011-08-09T18:04:08",
"content": "As a daily Model M user I wholeheartedly approve of this hack.If they mass-produce these PCBs, sign me up!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "431305",
"author": "Jac Goudsmit",
"timestamp": "2011-08-09T18:10:41",
"content": "A colleague of mine got a clicky keyboard fromhttp://www.pckeyboard.com. Looks different but feels and sounds like the real thing!(No, I don’t work for them)",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "431935",
"author": "Philippe",
"timestamp": "2011-08-10T16:26:02",
"content": "From their web site :“Unicomp was established in 1996 when we purchased keyboard technology from Lexmark International, the former IBM Division and long-time maker of high quality keyboards for IBM”Looks as good to me as the original…",
"parent_id": "431305",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "431315",
"author": "Tweeks",
"timestamp": "2011-08-09T18:33:55",
"content": "I have used the same 1984 Model-M for.. well.. a long time.Nice to hear folks are not only still using them on modern systems, but hacking them to work with MORE gear.. Although you couldn’t pay me enough to use that new-fangled bluetooth/wireless crap! It’s nottempest compliant.. plus, It’ll give ya brain cancer! ;)Tweeks",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "431332",
"author": "Tom Levesque",
"timestamp": "2011-08-09T18:40:21",
"content": "I’d buy one of these hacks in a heartbeat if someone manufactured them. I love my old IBM keyboard, and consider modern ones junk.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "431333",
"author": "MrBishop",
"timestamp": "2011-08-09T18:45:36",
"content": "I just got my hands on a good old Model M, needs a little cleaning, which is easy enough with a real keyboard. I really would love if this thing became available for purchase. I am quiet adept with a soldering iron, but I am only just getting into PICs and Micro-controllers so I don’t have the skill to build my own adapter. Also does anyone of of a mod for the Model M adding a Super key? (Windows/Apple Key)",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "431542",
"author": "Jon",
"timestamp": "2011-08-10T00:26:58",
"content": "I use Linux and a Model M Space Saving and it’s simple to remap the Caps Lock to the Super key:edit /etc/default/keyboard and add the lineXKBOPTIONS=”caps:super”reboot and you’re good to go.",
"parent_id": "431333",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "431336",
"author": "Mohammed",
"timestamp": "2011-08-09T18:49:07",
"content": "I’m a Filco Majestouch user.. I was going to get a Model M but I feel that I can’t live without the windows key.. I use it both in Windows and Linux. It would feel wierd without them. However, PCKeyboard.com manufactures new keyboards (though they really look like they were designed in the 90s)… with the same keys as the Model M.. so it’s all good..I still want one at the same time, but I already have my own mechanical keyboard.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "431837",
"author": "localroger",
"timestamp": "2011-08-10T12:51:23",
"content": "ctrl + esc = windows key on any keyboard.",
"parent_id": "431336",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "431978",
"author": "barc0001",
"timestamp": "2011-08-10T17:49:51",
"content": "Actually, not quite. Windows + L doesn’t work with that for example. I have a vintage 80s Model M I use at the office and have to do CTRL + ALT + DEL then select “lock this computer” with the mouse. Would love to be able to do it with a single keystroke but so far no dice.",
"parent_id": "431837",
"depth": 3,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "1059888",
"author": "matthew",
"timestamp": "2013-09-17T09:28:05",
"content": "You should try remapping caps-lock (or right-control, AltGr, Pause/Break, whatever) to the Windows key.",
"parent_id": "431978",
"depth": 4,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "431337",
"author": "mohonri",
"timestamp": "2011-08-09T18:49:17",
"content": "Christ at mg8.org hacked a USB interface into his Model M:http://mg8.org/rump/He published source code, schematic, and board layout for the Model MBased on his outstanding work, I did the same thing for my Model M2:http://blog.allgaiershops.com/2011/08/09/its-like-a-woodpecker/I’ve got an extra PCB for the M2, if anyone has it and wants to convert it.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "431347",
"author": "mohonri",
"timestamp": "2011-08-09T18:54:55",
"content": "Whoops, the guy’s name isChris. Gotta learn to proofread before hitting “submit”…",
"parent_id": "431337",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "431371",
"author": "Manatee Militia",
"timestamp": "2011-08-09T19:24:09",
"content": "Never woulda happened with mechanical key switches…",
"parent_id": "431347",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "1629352",
"author": "Evan",
"timestamp": "2014-07-10T21:48:32",
"content": "3 years late to the party, but do you still have that spare PCB? :)",
"parent_id": "431337",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "2717627",
"author": "0x4368726973",
"timestamp": "2015-09-16T18:23:03",
"content": "I prefer Soarer’s Converter. It adds key mapping capabilities right in the converter, providing for OS-independent key replacement, so, it works on any machine all the time, regardless the OS, or your access to do it.https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=17458.0",
"parent_id": "431337",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "431340",
"author": "Axel Roest",
"timestamp": "2011-08-09T18:51:35",
"content": "I would love to use my Model Ms on my Mac, which I presume these newfangled USB/Bluetooth HIDs will do out of the box. Please open source your hard work and people can make the circuit boards in their local friendly hackerspaces.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "431345",
"author": "Munch",
"timestamp": "2011-08-09T18:54:23",
"content": "Incompatible with modern hardware? Really? The comments above seem to suggest otherwise. The very existence of this hack *proves* otherwise.Connector sizes and scan-codes can both be adapted.They fell silent not because of incompatibility. That was a completely solved problem the day USB 1.0 first rolled out of the SIG and onto the market, in the form of PS/2-USB adapters.They fell silent because of market pressures. They’re expensive keyboards to make and maintain. They’re heavy, making transportation more burdensome. In contrast, contemporary keyboards are cheap, lightweight, and disposable. What do you think Ma and Pa Kettle are going to use for their Internet e-Machine? Which do you think a vendor is going to prefer to minimize their own shipping costs?Finally, and perhaps strangely the most important point, consider laptops. The same technology that goes into making laptop keyboards now appears in desktop keyboards (consider some recent HP and Apple keyboard offerings, just as a fer-instance). This reuse of manufacturing infrastructure further reduces costs.Find a way to integrate buckling spring keys in a laptop keyboard at competitive prices, and you’ll see the sudden resurgence of the Model M, built to modern specifications, using contemporary connectors, and USB scancodes for maximum compatibility, for both laptop and desktop platformseverywhere.BTW, you can still purchase used and new Model-M-type keyboards online. Moreover, Cherry keyboards are still around, where each key uses a Cherry switch, offering a tactile feel competitive with the buckling spring. And, lastly, there’s the Das Keyboard, offering buckling spring technology for modern keyboards. If, that is, you’re willing to pay the price. The products are out there. You just have to look for them.I must admit, I’m getting kind of tired of reading blatant misinformation on HaD’s articles. This is the 2nd time in as many days. I ask you to please stop, and think twice before you offer any “explanations” on various market-driven phenomena.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "431357",
"author": "Munch",
"timestamp": "2011-08-09T19:06:19",
"content": "For those Model-Ms which aren’t able to be powered off a PS/2-USB adapter, I can’t imagine that it’d be hard to replace the older microcontroller circuitry with newer parts, keeping the existing mechanical skeleton intact.Generating scanset-2 (PC/AT) codes isn’t too hard to do in software, so writing your own keyboard controller should be a relatively easy task as far as HaD projects go.",
"parent_id": "431345",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "431364",
"author": "mohonri",
"timestamp": "2011-08-09T19:15:09",
"content": "It’s been done for both the model M:http://mg8.org/rump/And the lesser-known M2:http://blog.allgaiershops.com/2011/08/09/its-like-a-woodpecker/Code,schematics, and board layouts are available for both.",
"parent_id": "431357",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "431393",
"author": "mansaxel",
"timestamp": "2011-08-09T19:52:28",
"content": "I could not agree more. My stash of Swedish Model M keyboards are mostly connected to USB adapters. Never had problems with power draw using only keyboards.. Adding a barcode scanner (one of those nice industrial Symbol PS/2 ones now thrown after you since they’re not USB…) makes for more interesting situations.A much more interesting hack (that’s been done) is a cheap Sun Type 5 to USB adapter. Much more expensive to buy (like €100) and not as available either.",
"parent_id": "431345",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "431399",
"author": "blue carbuncle",
"timestamp": "2011-08-09T19:55:37",
"content": "Agreed. Someone should have told my brother that they no longer work with machines lol. He never quit using his M. There was always some new tape or dongle every three years or so. Me, I could give a crap as long as it isn’t one of those ergonomic keyboards or has obvious “genetic material” on it.I guess the guy got what he wanted but with the BT dongle only operating a meter, what is the point of going cordless. This article just kinda made my head hurt.Also some of you need to look up the word macro if you want a windows key. I’m sure there is some convoluted reason that that is unacceptable, though-just like a BT dongle that has a shorter range than the original cord.",
"parent_id": "431345",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "440015",
"author": "Chrontius",
"timestamp": "2011-08-23T03:35:43",
"content": "That’s because sometimes you’re using a Mac, and you start jonesing for a good keyboard.",
"parent_id": "431399",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "1038848",
"author": "J0hnn0",
"timestamp": "2013-08-11T00:25:45",
"content": "Tired of misinformation? Such as the Das keyboard using buckling spring switches? And the Model M can just be converted with a USB adapter? Tsk, tsk…",
"parent_id": "431345",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "431348",
"author": "Perry",
"timestamp": "2011-08-09T18:55:14",
"content": "Still got my IBM 1391406….thing is a beast, as it has no windows key :P",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "431385",
"author": "Aaron",
"timestamp": "2011-08-09T19:40:47",
"content": "That’s the problem I have with my 1391401 — people have complained about the Windows key for going on twenty years now, but it turns out, having a fourth meta key? Really, really handy.Also, where the hell do you find the socket driver you need to get the casing open? It’s 7/32″ and countersunk in about a three-quarters-inch-deep hole with barely enough clearance for a tool; the only time I’ve seen anything marketed specifically as a Model M disassembly tool, they wanted sixty bucks for it, the bastards. Never have been able to find a similar super-narrow driver for anything resembling a reasonable price.",
"parent_id": "431348",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "431564",
"author": "bhtooefr",
"timestamp": "2011-08-10T01:06:44",
"content": "Get a 5.5mm deep 1/4 drive socket from Sears.(7/32″ is a bit looser fit, in my experience. 5.5mm is the actual size.)",
"parent_id": "431385",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "431356",
"author": "BiOzZ",
"timestamp": "2011-08-09T19:05:52",
"content": "i love my model m … my collages hate it because its loudi got an AT to PS/2 and a PS/2 to USB to run it … dont go cheap on the AT to PS2 because the fucker draws allot of power",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "431360",
"author": "Munch",
"timestamp": "2011-08-09T19:10:46",
"content": "Actually, the AT-to-PS/2 adapter is a completely passive device (the PS/2 connector is just a smaller version of the AT connector. Even the pin assignments remain the same between them). It’s the PS/2-USB adapter that’s active.",
"parent_id": "431356",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "431410",
"author": "BiOzZ",
"timestamp": "2011-08-09T20:17:00",
"content": "oh i was unaware because mine required an external power source XDi guess its just used to boost the power",
"parent_id": "431360",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "431361",
"author": "Andy",
"timestamp": "2011-08-09T19:12:28",
"content": "One of the main reasons they still support ps/2 ports is that you can gain full n-key rollover with mechanical keyboards via ps/2, but usb only allows a maximum of 6 n-key, so only 6 keys can be pressed at once and be recorded.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "431386",
"author": "Aaron",
"timestamp": "2011-08-09T19:41:21",
"content": "I assume there must be situations calling for >6-key rollover, but I can’t imagine what they might be. (Gaming, I guess?)",
"parent_id": "431361",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "431752",
"author": "eldorel",
"timestamp": "2011-08-10T07:31:07",
"content": "Yep, >6 key rollover for both gaming and emacs usage.Also, I’ve got shortcuts setup that identifty left and right side ctrl/alt/shift/meta as different keys.So LCtrl+a is different from RCtrl+a, and both at the same time is a third shortcut.So, LCtrl+LAlt+RCtrl+LAlt+LShift+RShift+Rwin+X is actually setup as a keybinding. ( It runs a script that kills all non-essential processes, if anyone is curious. )That’s 8 keys at once, and doesn’t work via USB.",
"parent_id": "431386",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "431775",
"author": "bhtooefr",
"timestamp": "2011-08-10T09:11:11",
"content": "That’s actually a myth – the 6KRO limitation is in boot mode only.http://geekhack.org/showwiki.php?title=Island:17458is an adapter for XT, AT, PS/2, and some IBM terminal protocols derived from the AT protocol, using the Teensy or Teensy++, that does NKRO over USB.I’ve got one installed in a 122-key IBM Model F terminal keyboard. Best. Keyboard. Ever. (So far, anyway.)",
"parent_id": "431361",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "2885248",
"author": "Peter",
"timestamp": "2016-01-14T16:19:52",
"content": "The scan interval for PS/2 keyboards is usually sub 10 ms where as USB keyboards can have intervals as high as 30ms. That means a PS/2 keyboard potentially registers your key presses faster than a USB keyboard.The PS/2 port is interrupt based which means it notifies the CPU of input. USB is a polling interface which means that the CPU has to constantly check the USB interface for input. So USB devices waste CPU cycles.",
"parent_id": "431361",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "431404",
"author": "NicodemusBC",
"timestamp": "2011-08-09T20:02:15",
"content": "Um…These are totally compatible with modern systems (this should be taken with a grain of salt as I know there will be exceptions to this statement). The trick is that a usb adapter won’t work you have to buy a usb converter. I got one when I got mine about 2 years ago. The converter cost about $15 and is significantly bulkier than the standard adapter.ClickyKeyboards.comhas them for about $15. I have a 1984 Model M that I use everyday with this adapter.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "431437",
"author": "asheets",
"timestamp": "2011-08-09T21:04:49",
"content": "The IBM Murder-Weapon, now complete with BlueTooth.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "431479",
"author": "Luke",
"timestamp": "2011-08-09T21:55:47",
"content": "I’ve got both a PS/2 and a USB-converted Model M. The latter is great for laptop use. No problems with power. Bluetooth sounds great.Both my keyboards were found in the trash several years apart. One didn’t have a cable – hence my incentive to convert it to USB internally.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "431549",
"author": "CampGareth",
"timestamp": "2011-08-10T00:35:57",
"content": "I love my model M, truly a keyboard of the gods (especially when dyed black to match a das keyboard ultimate something or other i.e. no key markings… and in my case no indicator LEDs because I went a bit nuts with the spraypaint). What I don’t like is accidentally treading on the amazingly long cable coming off it. I also don’t like the unused features such as that empty speaker grill on the base of my 1991 model and bluetooth could potentially allow something to be done with it.Enough ramble, I would love to see this project improved by having solar panels added to that top section of the keyboard that’s empty to recharge the battery, there’s enough space to collect enough juice surely :PMight want to add a raspberry pi if you’re going to the trouble of having batteries. Ooh, there’s space to fit all kinds of energy harvesting gear in there too!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "431550",
"author": "CampGareth",
"timestamp": "2011-08-10T00:38:17",
"content": "Bah, typing on a phone that doesn’t yet have a bluetooth model M is painful, especially when submit buttons are near letters.",
"parent_id": "431549",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "431607",
"author": "Joseph A. Nagy, Jr.",
"timestamp": "2011-08-10T02:56:56",
"content": "I would love to see a DIY kit (even with just the e-files for the circuitry and PCB) so we can all make one ourselves.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "432871",
"author": "bit0mike",
"timestamp": "2011-08-12T01:56:40",
"content": "Unicomp (pckeyboards.com) sells USB Model M’s. I’ve got several — they work fine on Macs.Older Model M’s are sometimes glitchy w/ USB-to-PS2 adapters because they tend to pull more than 0.5A of power.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "434578",
"author": "goo",
"timestamp": "2011-08-14T19:08:06",
"content": "Wow I have 10 of those keyboards in my basement collecting dust, never thought there was this much of a demand for them. just wow. Might clean em all up and test em out. if they work. I’ll sell em but keep one.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "510612",
"author": "Samir",
"timestamp": "2011-11-17T01:03:02",
"content": "I’ve been searching for something like this so I can use my M with the HP Touchpad. I hate these stupid touchscreens. Give me something with some real tactical feedback. It’s why I still use a phone with buttons (Treo 650).I got lucky and bought about 20 Ms for 50 cents each about 10yrs back. Everything has an M on it. :D",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "547669",
"author": "Phil C.",
"timestamp": "2011-12-31T03:11:17",
"content": "I’ve got a half dozen of these I picked up through thrift stores. I’d love to do this project, but the original BT module boards are not manufactured any longer. Anyone know where the boards are available for sale?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "682370",
"author": "Sean C.",
"timestamp": "2012-06-16T04:43:59",
"content": "A buddy and I are going to work on converting a couple of old ‘M’ keyboards to bluetooth over the summer. I’m still wondering about the logic bridge to use between the bluetooth device (UART) and the keyboard logic.I’m between using a UART IP Megafunction and developing an AT device IP for use on a CPLD, or using a PIC16 or PIC18 and bit-banging the AT interface (I’m not sure if one of the EUSARTs will be capable of creating the proper behaviors for an AT bus master or not, but I’m not banking on it).If anybody knows, please, by all means, show me the way! I’m super enthusiastic to start work, but I’d like to know that I have a solid design before then.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "829351",
"author": "needsakeyboard",
"timestamp": "2012-10-22T14:31:53",
"content": "uh hh.. comment below yours was meant for you Sean…. any luck?thx",
"parent_id": "682370",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "829349",
"author": "needsakeyboard",
"timestamp": "2012-10-22T14:30:38",
"content": "please tell me you did this ….exactly what I am looking for….how long before I can buy one :p",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "6044409",
"author": "René Tebbens",
"timestamp": "2019-03-30T15:08:38",
"content": "Hi Bryan,I know this is an old post but i’m curious if you can make or sell me one of these mods? I would really love to have my trusty Model M have bluetooth capabilities",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
}
] | 1,760,377,117.164045
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2011/08/09/stretch-your-circuits-battery-life-by-putting-your-pic-to-sleep/
|
Stretch Your Circuit’s Battery Life By Putting Your PIC To Sleep
|
Mike Nathan
|
[
"Microcontrollers"
] |
[
"pic",
"power savings",
"sleep mode"
] |
[Rajendra Bhatt] wrote in to share the latest in a series of PIC tutorials, which covers
the microcontroller’s Sleep mode
– a very useful tool for limiting current consumption in battery-powered applications.
He discusses how to put the PIC in sleep mode, as well as some common mistakes to watch out for, such as accidentally allowing I/O pins to sink or source current while sleeping. [Rajendra] also walks through the various ways a PIC can be brought out of sleep mode, focusing the majority of his tutorial to the mcu’s watchdog timer.
Using a PIC16F628A, he constructs a test circuit which allows him to demonstrate the power savings gained by using sleep mode rather than the microcontroller’s built-in delay function. The circuit simply blinks an LED every 4.3 seconds, using the watchdog timer for the first 2.3 seconds, and a delay() call for the rest of the time.
The power savings are quite substantial, similar to the results we saw
using AVR microcontrollers a few weeks ago.
[Rajendra] found that using the sleep function limited current consumption to about 4.5% of the current used when calling the mcu’s delay function – a huge savings.
| 13
| 7
|
[
{
"comment_id": "431291",
"author": "KNfLrPn",
"timestamp": "2011-08-09T17:49:22",
"content": "It should be noted that the microcontroller doesn’t have a built-in (implying hardware) delay function. delay() is done in software by making a huge loop of NOPs and leaves the uC fully powered and active; hence the higher power consumption than sleep mode.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "431814",
"author": "cgimark",
"timestamp": "2011-08-10T12:08:51",
"content": "Sometimes it is better to just use the processor idle commands instead of sleeping the cpu. It is a lot easier to program for and the gains between idle and full speed processing are pretty significant.",
"parent_id": "431291",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "431406",
"author": "steve",
"timestamp": "2011-08-09T20:06:17",
"content": "I get a bit the impression, that people here are giving lectures without being on top of things in the first place…",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "431676",
"author": "ewertz",
"timestamp": "2011-08-10T04:33:47",
"content": "“grew up in the 80′s banging away…but always assumed that someone had to be some kind of assembly language genius to do that.”Dude — were you in a coma the decade that the BASICStamp reigned supreme?In any event.. welcome back!",
"parent_id": "431406",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "432151",
"author": "XBMC^N",
"timestamp": "2011-08-10T23:25:33",
"content": "Yeah, I looked into the Basic Stamp back in 2006, but it was much more expensive, much less flexible, and much poorer performance-wise than what was available for PICs. I also didn’t want to invest money and time in a platform that I would soon outgrow. I have no regrets.",
"parent_id": "431676",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "431641",
"author": "XBMC^N",
"timestamp": "2011-08-10T03:55:53",
"content": "I’m not an electrical engineer, just someone who grew up in the 80’s banging away in Apple LOGO, then BASIC, then Turbo Pascal and Turbo C++. I kind of drifted away from the hobby before object oriented programming (quite rightly) became a standard.I’d always dreamed of playing around with embedded systems, building robots, home automation, etc – but always assumed that someone had to be some kind of assembly language genius to do that. When I learned that there was a compiler for BASIC available for PIC microcontrollers (picbasic pro,http://melabs.com), I decided it was worth a try.I bought a cheap Pic programmer (Pickit 2) — ordered some components from digikey, downloaded a bunch of datasheets and manuals… And spent my summer vacation trying to figure out how to build basic circuits, make LED’s blink, etc.My second project was a clock that interfaced with an LCD panel. It was incredibly satisfying, except I didn’t know anything about the relative imprecision of on-chip oscillators — so the clock was very inaccurate (would gain or lose 10-15 minutes a day). This ended up being moot, however because it would burn through a 9V battery in less than 4 hours. I’ve come a long way since then.I’m very thankful for posts like this one — most of this stuff is obvious to engineers, but to beginning-intermediate hobbyists like me, these kinds of articles are very helpful.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "431819",
"author": "cgimark",
"timestamp": "2011-08-10T12:13:12",
"content": "Even better for getting into pics is swordfish. It is a free basic compiler and very easy to learn and comes with libraries to support all kinds of hardware.http://www.sfcompiler.co.uk/swordfish",
"parent_id": "431641",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "431677",
"author": "Agent24",
"timestamp": "2011-08-10T04:35:12",
"content": "This is a nice and useful article.But while I don’t doubt that the PIC in sleep mode is going to draw less current I am a bit wary of the accuracy of the measurements here.In all the photos the multimeter is showing the low-battery warning symbol, and some meters can give quite large errors with a ‘flat’ battery.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "431684",
"author": "vtl",
"timestamp": "2011-08-10T05:08:41",
"content": "Very true, also the multimeter looks like its directly in series with the battery. When measuring stuff in the uA range, the shunt resistor value is quite high and give you a significant voltage drop called ‘burden voltage’. You should really have the thing hooked up to a variable supply to compensate for the voltage drop, otherwise your measuments could potentially be inaccurate.",
"parent_id": "431677",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "431710",
"author": "Otacon2k",
"timestamp": "2011-08-10T06:04:40",
"content": "The author used a 1:128 prescaler on the watchdog timer to stretch the 18ms the WDT takes to rollover to about 2.3s (0.018s*128 = 2,304s). Then he waits another 2 seconds using a delay loop (wasting energy in those 2 seconds).4.3s/0,018s = 238,… rollovers. Wouldn’t it be absolutely possible to just let the Watchdog rollover every 18 ms, increase a counter variable and check if it is bigger than (or equal to) 238, so counting the number of wakeups instead of the time and then just spending the last milliseconds using a delay loop?Considering the processor wastes power on wake-up as well, otherwise you could certainly get a better sleep/delay-loop-ration by using another prescaler? For example, using a prescaler of 64, rollover time would be 0,018s*64 = 1,152s. Let the processor wake up 2 times doing nothing, falling to sleep again. On the third rollover, 3*1,152s = 3.456s will have passed, so there’s only 4.3s-3.456s = 0.844s to be spend in a delay loop. More than a second of delay-loops saved at the cost of 2 more wake-ups. Saving power? Probably, I would guess so.(btw, I’m totally not into watchdogs yet, just as a disclaimer. watchdog-noob if you want so.)",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "431927",
"author": "Noctolater",
"timestamp": "2011-08-10T16:13:03",
"content": "I think the point of this was more to show how much power is saved, than to implement it the best way possible. At your point, why not just sleep the watchdog twice at 2.3 seconds, leading to 4.6 seconds of sleep time. Since it’s only turning an LED on for .5 seconds at the end of the loop, an extra .3 seconds of delay is not terrible. But, again, I think it was just to say ‘look at how much power sleep mode can save!’",
"parent_id": "431710",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "431852",
"author": "R-B",
"timestamp": "2011-08-10T13:44:44",
"content": "The author used the Delay_ms(2000) to measure the current consumption when the PIC is delayed by software so that it could be compared with the Sleep mode current (the first 2.3 sec of total 4.3 sec interval).",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "432159",
"author": "that1guy",
"timestamp": "2011-08-10T23:40:35",
"content": "In college, one of the labs we did in a circuits class was to build a simple detector that would wake up within X seconds when you put an index card in front of it. The challenge of the lab was actually to be the group that could meet all requirements with the lowest power usage (longest battery life). It was a competition between about 10 groups and we ended up winning by using a low power PIC running off a simple voltage divider/follower off of a 9V. I think I learned more about power consumption in that lab than anything else I did in college.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
}
] | 1,760,377,117.355086
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2011/08/09/quit-monkeying-about/
|
Quit Monkeying About!
|
Nick Schulze
|
[
"Kinect hacks"
] |
[
"Kinect",
"Monkey"
] |
This friendly little monkey is the latest creation from [Jan Sieber] and [Ralph Kistler]. Yes it’s another Kinect Hack, the Kinect tracks the users stance using the OpenNI Framework and OSCeleton. The information is sent to an Arduino crammed inside the monkey, also inside the poor little monkey are 10 servo motors and a nightmarish wire skeleton. The monkey is left dangling from the Kinect sensor by several cables, ready to follow your every move. The monkey seems fairly sprightly for someone who has had all their insides removed, it is able to copy a multitude of stances quite swiftly.
The video after the break shows the monkey in action for about 1 minute. Then the team go through the build and application of the clever little monkey in a musical/documentary style video. There is also a creepy section where the monkey draws its own skeleton then freaks out.. Enjoy..
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pWAud-9jNJY&sns=em&w=470]
| 16
| 14
|
[
{
"comment_id": "431262",
"author": "Chris",
"timestamp": "2011-08-09T16:24:17",
"content": "That is cute! I just watched the first minute three times. Now to watch the rest. :)",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "431265",
"author": "DanAdamKOF",
"timestamp": "2011-08-09T16:30:38",
"content": "Quite high production values for a video of a hack!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "431280",
"author": "Fili",
"timestamp": "2011-08-09T17:06:56",
"content": "Now that’s a hack!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "431288",
"author": "jswanson",
"timestamp": "2011-08-09T17:35:00",
"content": "Dabbing pretend blood from the incision… oddly creepy.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "431295",
"author": "BitMage",
"timestamp": "2011-08-09T17:55:18",
"content": "I didn’t know they were gonna show the brutal butchering of that poor monkey; I almost puked!:(",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "431303",
"author": "default",
"timestamp": "2011-08-09T18:05:51",
"content": "Awesome on so many levels",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "431358",
"author": "PocketBrain",
"timestamp": "2011-08-09T19:07:49",
"content": "It’s a monkeionette!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "431362",
"author": "PocketBrain",
"timestamp": "2011-08-09T19:12:54",
"content": "oh yeah, and anybody else get a flashback ofthe clown scenefrom F/X2?",
"parent_id": "431358",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "432125",
"author": "Jake",
"timestamp": "2011-08-10T22:50:17",
"content": "That was actually the first thing that popped into my head as I clicked on the link for the video. lol.",
"parent_id": "431362",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "431369",
"author": "Paul",
"timestamp": "2011-08-09T19:21:36",
"content": "Everything about that video is well executed other than some weird ring during the narrated portion. Yet, definitely among the most worthwhile entertainment I’ve experienced on the internet.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "431456",
"author": "Hirudinea",
"timestamp": "2011-08-09T21:18:22",
"content": "Isn’t this how they made the Planet of the Apes movie?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "431468",
"author": "ll",
"timestamp": "2011-08-09T21:38:13",
"content": "Nice video!Hack a day postcard on the wall (~4:28)!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "431469",
"author": "ll",
"timestamp": "2011-08-09T21:39:26",
"content": "My mistake just a skull and cross bones (sorry for double post)",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "431512",
"author": "Burnerjack",
"timestamp": "2011-08-09T23:14:10",
"content": "Brilliant!One could call this “Monkey see, monkey do”.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "431971",
"author": "Tane",
"timestamp": "2011-08-10T17:41:59",
"content": "It’s a termonkionater 100. O.oVery effective art installation though!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "432083",
"author": "Paul",
"timestamp": "2011-08-10T21:00:00",
"content": "Forgot to mention the incredible awesomeness of the backing track. MIDI blues got me groovin’ out.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
}
] | 1,760,377,117.216564
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2011/08/09/hacking-qr-codes-for-fun-and-profit/
|
Hacking QR Codes For Fun And Profit
|
Brian Benchoff
|
[
"Cellphone Hacks",
"Misc Hacks",
"Security Hacks"
] |
[
"qr code",
"QR hack"
] |
QR codes are everywhere these days, from being printed onto receipts to chiseled into granite tombstones. [Will] came up with a way to
modify existing QR codes
, and his hack has the potential to cause quite a bit of harmless mischief.
[Will]’s hack involves a little photo editing, transparency film, and some white-out/Liquid Paper/Tippex. After the ‘target’ and ‘destination’ QR codes have been imported into Gimp, the differences are found and the result printed out on a transparency sheet. After that, hang the transparency over the original and the QR code now goes to the URL of your choice.
On a ‘high’ level of error correction,
a lot of neat stuff
can be done with the design of a QR code including
putting logos
inside a QR code by modifying the 359 ‘data pixels’ of a
25×25 code
. We’re wondering if anyone has ever written a script to exploit the error correction of QR codes. In any event, it is possible to brute-force changes until the least number of pixels are changed.
The ISO 18004 standard is available online if anyone would like to take up that challenge. If a Hack A Day reader figures it out, send in the code on the
tip line
and we’ll put that right up.
| 45
| 28
|
[
{
"comment_id": "431204",
"author": "Zee",
"timestamp": "2011-08-09T15:14:10",
"content": "http://wordpress.mrreid.org/2011/08/06/hacking-qr-codes/If you modify QR codes this way you’re an asshole. This is not about security it’s about fucking over people when they want to save time.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "431228",
"author": "Tel",
"timestamp": "2011-08-09T15:38:50",
"content": "You need to relax. A prank is a prank. If you are soooo distraught over losing a couple seconds that you COULD have used to easily type out the address manually, then you really need to rethink your priorities.",
"parent_id": "431204",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "431687",
"author": "jaded",
"timestamp": "2011-08-10T05:13:00",
"content": "Actually, this is valuable as a teaching tool. People need to understand that just because the words says “google” doesn’t mean that’s what the black-and-white blocks have in them.Nothing is easier to forge than a barcode, because most humans simply can’t read them. They can’t inherently know if they’re looking at a good one or a malicious one.I see too many people who simply trust barcodes completely. They confuse the human readable for the data. Or they think it’s a good idea to slap on a barcode that represents the actual value instead of a pointer to the value (coupons).For that matter, you can even do SQL barcode injection attacks just like on the web. Some guy presented it at C3 a couple years ago where he hacked a video rental kiosk by injecting bad barcodes. Do you still think it’s a great idea to have your cash register scan your customer’s iPhone screen, Starbucks?",
"parent_id": "431204",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "1114885",
"author": "Xo Jo",
"timestamp": "2013-11-28T23:09:15",
"content": "I believe it is a reasonable teaching tool as well. The reason is very clear— If a person can manipulate the code this way, then what do you think they can do to your bank account information if or when you cash a check using this thing. Sometimes the easiest way to do something is not always the best way, and I believe this teaches the limitations, and problems with this type code.",
"parent_id": "431204",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "431206",
"author": "icebrain",
"timestamp": "2011-08-09T15:15:31",
"content": "Real link is a search away:http://wordpress.mrreid.org/2011/08/06/hacking-qr-codes/(the author probably edited the post so the date in the URL changed.)",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "431210",
"author": "Brian Benchoff",
"timestamp": "2011-08-09T15:18:36",
"content": "Thanks icebrain. I fixed the link. It looks like the author changed it in the last hour or so.",
"parent_id": "431206",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "431207",
"author": "matseng",
"timestamp": "2011-08-09T15:16:05",
"content": "Correct link ishttp://wordpress.mrreid.org/2011/08/06/hacking-qr-codesNot too hard to find yourself unless you’re a lazy sob that just likes to complain….",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "431211",
"author": "nave.notnilc",
"timestamp": "2011-08-09T15:19:54",
"content": "surely the true hack would be doing it with just a marker or something :P",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "431215",
"author": "Brian Benchoff",
"timestamp": "2011-08-09T15:23:33",
"content": "I’m sure it would be possible to modify a QR code withjusta marker, but you’ll invariably run into situations where you’ll need to change a black pixel to a white pixel.Looking at the ISO spec, it’s possible, but I can’t find anything on a script that will find themost efficientchange from an original QR code to a ‘target’ code.",
"parent_id": "431211",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "431212",
"author": "zehn",
"timestamp": "2011-08-09T15:21:09",
"content": "would it not be easier to print on a white sticker and place that over the qr code.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "431272",
"author": "zs",
"timestamp": "2011-08-09T16:45:28",
"content": "I was thinking the same thing. then you could just produce your code in mass, and stick them not only over other ones but anywhere in general.",
"parent_id": "431212",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "431378",
"author": "jjpertusch",
"timestamp": "2011-08-09T19:29:07",
"content": "100% what i was thinking. I guess the only advantage is that a transparent film could hang over anything where as a white paper could potentially look out of place against a colored background.",
"parent_id": "431212",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "431214",
"author": "daniel",
"timestamp": "2011-08-09T15:21:58",
"content": "wouldnt it be easier to generate a completly new on with the right size and just glue it over the old one?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "431251",
"author": "nerdrage",
"timestamp": "2011-08-09T16:03:03",
"content": "yes mon frere, yes it would. With the right type of sticker paper it would look official, albeit an official afterthought.Now I need a deck of pain series QR stickers in my wallet at all times.",
"parent_id": "431214",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "431216",
"author": "baobrien",
"timestamp": "2011-08-09T15:23:30",
"content": "Aaand it’s back",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "431219",
"author": "Logan",
"timestamp": "2011-08-09T15:25:37",
"content": "Hey guys, didn’t you read the post a couple days ago about Hackaday cleaning up their comments policy? Umm… d and zee you really need to take a peek. I’d say Matseng you too.http://hackaday.com/2011/07/27/hackaday-comment-policy-were-cleaning-up/",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "431229",
"author": "Tel",
"timestamp": "2011-08-09T15:40:35",
"content": "Just click the “report comment” button, the admins will take care of the problem :)",
"parent_id": "431219",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "431236",
"author": "Logan",
"timestamp": "2011-08-09T15:51:14",
"content": "Haha, you’re right. Didn’t think of that. lol",
"parent_id": "431229",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "431418",
"author": "Zee",
"timestamp": "2011-08-09T20:26:20",
"content": "Perhaps you should read it again. I am not breaking any rules.",
"parent_id": "431219",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "431419",
"author": "Zee",
"timestamp": "2011-08-09T20:27:16",
"content": "Perhaps you should read it again. I am not breaking any rules.I am no criticizing the hack but I am calling out the people that would use it just to spite people.",
"parent_id": "431219",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "431221",
"author": "hugo",
"timestamp": "2011-08-09T15:26:30",
"content": "I was thinking about this the other day when I noticed lots of stores hanging this on their windows for easy access to their website.Excellent “rick rollin'” target if you ask me.@Zee: QR codes are inherently unsafe. It is unwise to use them; at least with a URL you can see what it’s visiting. For all, it could link to a PDF file exploiting native browser or operating system vulnerabilities… THAT would be really nasty…",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "431338",
"author": "Drake",
"timestamp": "2011-08-09T18:50:55",
"content": "Excellent idea … We make a site that uses flash/pdf/whatever exploit to install a rickroll spyware.Software Description:Sit silently until a set of events occur (eg the user types “Rick”). Then turn the volume down low and play pieces of “Never Going To Give You Up”. The target will have that song stuck in their heads and not know why! Epic trolling!",
"parent_id": "431221",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "431391",
"author": "RunnerPack",
"timestamp": "2011-08-09T19:50:05",
"content": "I’ve only used one QR code reader (on my Android phone) but I would assume they all show you the decoded information and make you press a button to view the data (e.g. browse to the URL). Besides that, some codes aren’t even a URL at all, just text, etc.Now, that doesn’t remove the danger of “phishing” using a URL that, at first glance, looks legit, but that doesn’t make QR codes any more “inherently unsafe” than human-readable codes, if you’re paying attention.",
"parent_id": "431221",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "431654",
"author": "XBMC^N",
"timestamp": "2011-08-10T04:02:36",
"content": "If the QR code points to a shortened URL, this could be a real problem.",
"parent_id": "431391",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "431224",
"author": "Mad Myche",
"timestamp": "2011-08-09T15:31:21",
"content": "@zehn is right on. Just like people hack UPCs when they go school shopping to make the $100 Super Deluxe Graphing calculator cost $50",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "431256",
"author": "Hamtaro",
"timestamp": "2011-08-09T16:14:40",
"content": "This is just silly. As an aside. A lot of advertisement posters are actually put up illegally. So, the better question is: Is vandalizing a vandal’s work really morally evil?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "431268",
"author": "bootc",
"timestamp": "2011-08-09T16:36:03",
"content": "The BBC hacked a QR code to put their logo in some time ago:http://2d-code.co.uk/bbc-logo-in-qr-code/",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "431312",
"author": "gdogg",
"timestamp": "2011-08-09T18:28:36",
"content": "Umm.. why would you waste your time overlaying it and manually drawing in the white splotches when you could just print the QR code straight up and paste it over top or something similar?I get how the idea is neat, but it’s never pratical.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "431342",
"author": "Zbigniew 'zibi' Jarosik",
"timestamp": "2011-08-09T18:53:25",
"content": "Littleexample, how strong is error correcting alghoritm in QR.And my littlebusiness card ;P",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "431352",
"author": "Stevie",
"timestamp": "2011-08-09T19:01:14",
"content": "If you’re going to stick something over it then you may as well stick a whole new code sticker over it.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "431394",
"author": "wahacks",
"timestamp": "2011-08-09T19:52:29",
"content": "must…change…all…qr codes…to…goatse",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "431839",
"author": "JackTheVendicator",
"timestamp": "2011-08-10T12:51:42",
"content": "I had the same idea… I think goatse will have 99,99% mobile browser hits from now on..",
"parent_id": "431394",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "431463",
"author": "MS3FGX",
"timestamp": "2011-08-09T21:30:07",
"content": "I thought this was an interesting bit of research into how to analyze QRs and find their differences…but yeah, in practice it would make much more sense to simply cover over the entire QR.Like already said, if you are going to physically stick something over the code in the first place, you might as well replace the whole thing.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "431465",
"author": "Some Asshole",
"timestamp": "2011-08-09T21:31:21",
"content": "A friend and I had discussed this very thing, and had our Facebook profile pics set as QR codes.His led to a page that said “You just lost the game”Mine led to GoatseThe comedy potential for this is near-infinite.Protest Signs (HELLO news) are wonderful targets",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "431605",
"author": "Some Asshole",
"timestamp": "2011-08-10T02:53:50",
"content": "**** WARNING****this leads to Goatse, via a QR codehttp://tinypic.com/r/35clylz/7(you won’t get goatse on the link – just the QR code)****WARNING****",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "431731",
"author": "edonovan",
"timestamp": "2011-08-10T06:20:33",
"content": "I’m not sure why you would need to, but you could place these overlays on your own ad like a flip chart to have multiple QR codes without needing to take up more space on your advertisement.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "431766",
"author": "Roger",
"timestamp": "2011-08-10T08:43:27",
"content": "QR Code ‘switching’ or ‘code-jacking’ inthis old poston 2d-code.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "431796",
"author": "Frogz",
"timestamp": "2011-08-10T11:11:27",
"content": "i for one appreciate this for 1 reasonhe didnt take the obvious route of simply replacing it(which would work alot better)he went the needlessly complicated route for 1 reasonbecause he can appear geekier than ever!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "431797",
"author": "Marc",
"timestamp": "2011-08-10T11:14:26",
"content": "@edonovan: That’s actually a really good idea!I did that designing a couple of days ago, its actually quite fun :)http://img4.imageshack.us/img4/6522/qrcodea.png",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "431883",
"author": "Isotope",
"timestamp": "2011-08-10T14:42:48",
"content": "IMHO replacing a QR code isn’t much different from giving someone an obscure url like lemonparty…Or one that is supposed to look legit like bankofamerica.123.com. So in essence it’s not really a new thing.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "431922",
"author": "signal7",
"timestamp": "2011-08-10T16:05:08",
"content": "I predict that this will be the next wave in advertising. In the same way that websites have integrated ads until the usefulness of the web has been reduced to the point where I won’t go online without an adblocker, advertisers will start plastering QR codes all over the place. The fact that people can’t just look at a QR code and know what it says or where it goes makes most people an easy target. Even worse, most QR code apps don’t tell you what the code says before they happily send you to a target URL.I’m not looking forward to being QR rick-rolled.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "432128",
"author": "Spork",
"timestamp": "2011-08-10T23:07:09",
"content": "That is fine, as QR codes become more ‘viral’ QR code reading devices will be forced to become ‘secure’ in the sense that they will warn users of the site they’re about to visit.Hopefully the app makers will catch on quickly enough to where it’s not a real problem. Luckily we don’t have to get QR codes thrown at us like popups, we can simply ignore them.",
"parent_id": "431922",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "431977",
"author": "Erik Johnson",
"timestamp": "2011-08-10T17:49:26",
"content": "I’m with everyone else on simply overlaying a new barcode sticker. As for the graphic overlay; this has been utilised for a while. I’ve been overlaying my EJ logo over my codes’ centres without issue for a while.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "432455",
"author": "umbongo",
"timestamp": "2011-08-11T13:45:15",
"content": "we need to have an android app that programatically finds the smallest differences needed, and displays what you needed to colour in black/white. its all well and good saying its easier to print out a whole QR code, but i for one dont usually carry a printer around with me.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "433459",
"author": "KiDD",
"timestamp": "2011-08-12T21:14:46",
"content": "SO I plan on getting a QRCode tattooed on my neck with all my info in it and found a website about custom QR Codes but I can’t find it now… Similar to this site:http://qrarts.com/http://a7.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/199110_10150105942041646_506756645_6941799_1919320_n.jpghttp://a8.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/200315_10150105506036646_506756645_6936786_3310017_n.jpghttp://a6.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/199433_10150105552541646_506756645_6937589_147589_n.jpgThen I found EZCodes…http://a3.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/189794_10150105929501646_506756645_6941660_467024_n.jpgThey are smaller…Micro QR Code…http://a7.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/197042_10150105942111646_506756645_6941800_7163373_n.jpg",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
}
] | 1,760,377,117.302992
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2011/08/09/gain-wizardly-knowledge-about-crystals/
|
Gain Wizardly Knowledge About Crystals
|
Mike Szczys
|
[
"Misc Hacks"
] |
[
"crystal",
"oscillator",
"ring oscillator"
] |
Make sure your test equipment is handy, then
give this video series about crystal oscillators a spin
. [Shahriar] of the Signal Path Blog put together a four-part video blog post totaling about an hour. In the discussion he covers the ins and outs of crystal oscillators and ring oscillators. His focus is on how these parts are used as timekeeping devices for microcontrollers. This isn’t a lecture that skims the surface of the topic, it takes you down the rabbit hole, discussing theory, how the devices are built, how to use them, and the pitfalls of doing so.
Our favorite part is in the fourth segment when [Shahriar] measures the effect that temperature has on crystals by spraying them with an inverted compressed air canister. We always thought we were just screwing around when freezing stuff like that. It didn’t occur to us that we were conducting serious experiments.
We’ve embedded the first segment of the video after the break.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yYGwfVnGAdg&w=470]
| 19
| 16
|
[
{
"comment_id": "431197",
"author": "Shahriar",
"timestamp": "2011-08-09T14:54:27",
"content": "Thank you HaD for featuring this. I hope the viewers would also find the other videos beneficial. We hope to make a few videos every month.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "431199",
"author": "mike bradley",
"timestamp": "2011-08-09T15:05:27",
"content": "I loved it. I have some of those huge crystals too. I only just watched part 1. When I get to work I am going to watch the rest.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "431208",
"author": "default",
"timestamp": "2011-08-09T15:16:31",
"content": "@mike watching videos at work?… Awesome!Thanks for the post!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "431226",
"author": "rasz",
"timestamp": "2011-08-09T15:32:51",
"content": "> We always thought we were just screwing around>when freezing stuff like that. It didn’t occur to>us that we were conducting serious experiments.“you” must be amateurs ten. Compressed air is one of standard diagnostic tools when fixing electronics.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "431235",
"author": "Eugene",
"timestamp": "2011-08-09T15:51:09",
"content": "The freeze spray that is sold for diagnostics is the same stuff as the canned “air” (difluoroethane) with an internal dip tube. These oscillators are handy signal generators. I have a perf-board circuit with a 74HC4060 and a standard 14 pin socket wired with the common crystal oscillator package pinout to generate various clock signals.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "431248",
"author": "Shahriar",
"timestamp": "2011-08-09T15:59:47",
"content": "Yes, the spray cans are very handy.As for signal generations, it is interesting that even Agilent’s 70GHz synthesizers use a YIG oscillator at a few GHz and keep self-mixing and multiplying that signal to get to 70GHz, all of course use an internal 10MHz reference for syncing to other sources.",
"parent_id": "431235",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "431242",
"author": "Dave",
"timestamp": "2011-08-09T15:53:25",
"content": "That is a mighty fine bench he’s got there.I see 2 bench multimeters, 2 function generators and 2 power supplies. Awesome.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "431257",
"author": "Shahriar",
"timestamp": "2011-08-09T16:20:43",
"content": "Thanks, in the past decade or so my lab has been growing slowly. Recently I bought some broken equipment from eBay and fixed them up. In future videos I will try to demonstrate more of how these equipment should be used properly. To use a spectrum analyzer for example can be an art!",
"parent_id": "431242",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "431247",
"author": "Roel",
"timestamp": "2011-08-09T15:59:29",
"content": "HQ info in HQ video, a nice one! Watched it entirely.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "431290",
"author": "Morgauxo",
"timestamp": "2011-08-09T17:46:34",
"content": "Great Video!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "431376",
"author": "Keith",
"timestamp": "2011-08-09T19:26:57",
"content": "Very nice presentation and demonstrations!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "431555",
"author": "doubleup",
"timestamp": "2011-08-10T00:59:43",
"content": "Great stuff. Watched the whole thing in one go. This is very relevant to what I am learning in school.Thank you HaD for posting, thank you to the author of the video.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "431637",
"author": "Mike",
"timestamp": "2011-08-10T03:36:13",
"content": "Great videos, I didn’t expect to see my ECE331 TA on HaD lol. Shahriar, are you still using that tablet computer or have you moved on to an ipad?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "431870",
"author": "Shahriar",
"timestamp": "2011-08-10T14:24:25",
"content": "Hey Mike, nice to talk to you again. As for teaching, I am an adjust professor at Columbia university in NYC, do you want to take another course? ;)",
"parent_id": "431637",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "431675",
"author": "N0LKK",
"timestamp": "2011-08-10T04:33:41",
"content": "I’m no EE, but I’m certain there are now flaws with these presentations. Great videos and also great that people take the time to create, and share them. Thanks to Shahriar.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "431682",
"author": "t&p",
"timestamp": "2011-08-10T04:49:28",
"content": "wowjust wowwatched all 4 partsexcellent vidI loled at part 4 when he starts taking out the ones with ovens in them and was like, “lol damn”. Never knew there were such things with ovens on oscillators.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "431773",
"author": "Alex",
"timestamp": "2011-08-10T09:05:07",
"content": "Very nice videos!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "431840",
"author": "qwerty",
"timestamp": "2011-08-10T12:57:29",
"content": "Using big old crystals to show how they work was a great idea indeed. Well done!BTW, the bigger ones in the first video are called FT-243, and they were so big that you actually could change their resonating frequency by making the crystal element thinner using sandpaper. That task required a lot of care but many Ham Radio operators did it in the past when men were men and crystals cost a fortune.I would also love some similar video on practical uses of SAW resonators, which are very different from crystals and a bit harder to use properly, also due to their higher working frequencies.Well done anyway!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "435484",
"author": "sgf",
"timestamp": "2011-08-15T18:34:14",
"content": "Top tip from the video: ‘Amateurs often use oscillator modules’.As a noob on the practical side of digital electronics, I’ve spent far too long trying to find appropriate R and C values to get my crystal oscillators oscillating – it never seems quite so straightforward as the theory. If I just used a module rather than a raw crystal, I might have learnt a bit less, but I might also have made more progress!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
}
] | 1,760,377,117.410928
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2011/08/09/ever-wonder-where-cool-interactive-museum-exhibits-come-from/
|
Ever Wonder Where Cool Interactive Museum Exhibits Come From?
|
Mike Szczys
|
[
"Microcontrollers"
] |
[
"dtmf",
"fat",
"museum",
"sd",
"telephone",
"xmega"
] |
[Victor’s] girlfriend works at a museum and enlisted his expertise in
designing an interactive detective game for kids visiting the museum
. The vision was for the kids to discover phone numbers that they could call for clues. Originally he planned to display the clues on a character LCD, but obviously it’s much neater to hear the clues in the handset of the phone.
Quickly switching gears, [Victor] dropped the ATtiny2313 and started over with an Xmega chip — in fact, it was
our recent Xmega post
that inspired him to document his project. The microcontroller is responsible for a lot of goings-on. It scans the key matrix for inputs, simulates the DTMF touch tones, reads audio files from a FAT file system on an SD card, and plays them back over the hand set’s speaker. Since most of the hardware is already built into the phones, it was not hard to fit his add-ons inside the case. A simple audio amplifier circuit joins the microcontroller, which is patched into the rows and columns of the keyboard. Take a gander at the video after the break to see the device in action.
[vimeo http://vimeo.com/27451012 w=470]
| 13
| 10
|
[
{
"comment_id": "431177",
"author": "Victor",
"timestamp": "2011-08-09T13:54:10",
"content": "Errr.. It’s my girlfriend, not my sister. Otherwise the info is correct ;)",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "431198",
"author": "Mike Szczys",
"timestamp": "2011-08-09T14:54:39",
"content": "Oops, sorry. Fixed.",
"parent_id": "431177",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "431189",
"author": "hurt14",
"timestamp": "2011-08-09T14:39:30",
"content": "That’s pretty neat!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "431213",
"author": "xFred",
"timestamp": "2011-08-09T15:21:55",
"content": "Pretty interesting…For a single unit this seems like the easiest option….but I think using something FreePBX based and like a linksys PAP2 would be easier? All software, easier to program",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "431470",
"author": "Victor",
"timestamp": "2011-08-09T21:41:44",
"content": "Hey xFred,Did a bit of googling on what you mentioned, to be honest I did not know of the existence of those devices. Thanks for mentioning!Anyway, easy setup was a requirement, everything has to be put in a crate after the game is over; this phone only has a power cord. Also, cost was a big issue, the phone was EUR 1, the amplifier EUR 4 and the microcontroller board approx. EUR 50.",
"parent_id": "431213",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "431346",
"author": "Macpod",
"timestamp": "2011-08-09T18:54:44",
"content": "Looks like a fun project. For version 2, they should add the display too so kids with auditory issues can play.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "431471",
"author": "Victor",
"timestamp": "2011-08-09T21:43:10",
"content": "Hmmm… Never thought of that. Text could be set in separate text files or the like. Thanks for mentioning!",
"parent_id": "431346",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "431629",
"author": "Jake of All Trades",
"timestamp": "2011-08-10T03:11:30",
"content": "“Ever wonder…”? Ha! This is pretty much my exact career goal. BS in Electrical Engineering Tech and a grad cert in Museum Studies. I’m just finishing up that certificate now, and am preparing to dive into the job market. If anyone knows of a museum that might want this sort of thing…well… there is a link in my name ^",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "431756",
"author": "Øyvind",
"timestamp": "2011-08-10T07:51:27",
"content": "Wow! Great work! I’ve been thinking about making something like that for my kid, now I know where to start! :D",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "431867",
"author": "Ryan Nestor",
"timestamp": "2011-08-10T14:17:03",
"content": "Cool interactive. Great to see my type of work get a shout-out on H-a-D. If anyone is interested in what can be accomplished with more resources, check out my company’swebsite.We specialize in museum multimedia design and and development.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "432251",
"author": "Walter Moore",
"timestamp": "2011-08-11T03:21:41",
"content": "Nice work! We (Presentations, Inc.) built a similar exhibit feature a few years back for the temporary Iowa Writer’s Workshop Exhibit in the basement of the Old Capitol Museum in Iowa City, IA[Image]. We used an AVR development board from Sparkfun to decode the keypad, an rs232 controlled Compact Flash audio player with files named as the phone number – 3382932.wav from a 3rd party vendor, and a payphone replica found on the internet. Users dialed a phone number (it played the DTMF tones) to listen to the reading of a writer’s work. Along with that we also converted an old typewriter in to a USB keyboard for a feature called ‘Keys To The Future’[Image]. A fanless mini-itx pc running Linux is mounted in a locked desk drawer below and provides access to a related website displayed on a 23″ portrait mounted LCD acting as the ‘paper’. Nearby in the Diaries Exhibit there are two workstations featuring ‘books’ made of plastic wrapped with printed covers, they have embedded RFID chips inside. When inserted in the counter slot the RFID chip is read and content – A/V & Text – is displayed on the LCD screen using Flash on a PC, controlled using a large trackball and arcade style pushbuttons.We are a small group of designers, builders and hackers doing this type of work for a living in Iowa. If you are ever in the need, please contact us.You can see more of our work on our websites, blogs & social media –Presentations, Inc.Iowa CNC(Yeah, we hacked our CNC router too… It’s a ShopBot we converted to Gecko Drives, Mach 3 and a 3KW spindle, among other things.)Disclaimer: I work for Presentations doing the same type of work in the article, and I love it. I’m also an every day HaD reader with a never ending list of projects :)",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "466253",
"author": "wardy",
"timestamp": "2011-09-28T11:39:22",
"content": "What a great idea!An easier but considerably less awesome approach might use an Asterisk box and a few shell scripts, and some regular unmodified PTSN phones.Yours is way more interesting though.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "561950",
"author": "Black Soap",
"timestamp": "2012-01-18T14:54:38",
"content": "Interactive exhibits for kids are a real challenge. Are the phones sturdy enough to handle the abuse, or have replacement parts already been stocked up? Kid-interactive parts take abuse that would make engineers cry.Make sure to leave setup and repair instructions for whoever will maintain the exhibit in the future. One complaint I have heard from museum staff is that setups that fill two moving trucks have zero instructions and only fit into the packing crates one way (without a diagram) because the people who built them didn’t figure on the exhibit outliving the curator.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
}
] | 1,760,377,117.510644
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2011/08/09/sous-vide-crock-pot-controller/
|
Sous Vide Crock Pot Controller
|
Mike Szczys
|
[
"home hacks"
] |
[
"crock pot",
"outlet",
"PID controller",
"sous-vide"
] |
Tempted by what sous vide cooking has to offer, but balking at the price for a unitasker, [Lee’s] father in law set out to see if he could rig up his own
precision temperature controlled cooking system on the cheap
. He immediately hit eBay and shelled out about around $75 to get his hands on a solid state relay, PID controller, and temperature probe.
As you can see above, a crock pot serves as the cooking vessel. We’ve seen this method before, either
splicing into the power cord
, or providing
a single outlet on the controller
. This version provides a PID controlled outlet to which the appliance can be plugged in. The other outlet in the socket is always on and powers an aquarium pump that circulates the heated water during the cooking process.
The result works quite well, even though it wasn’t a huge cost savings. There are a few issues with positioning of the temperature probe, but that may be where experience comes into play.
| 12
| 9
|
[
{
"comment_id": "431158",
"author": "James",
"timestamp": "2011-08-09T12:51:05",
"content": "I built a setup like this and found that the crock pot didn’t have enough horsepower to regulate the heat. It would take a long time to reach my target temperature, then when I added some food the temp would drop and take a long time to recover – leaving the food in a sub-optimal temperature for some time. I switched over to a rice cooker and all my problems went away.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "431171",
"author": "theodore",
"timestamp": "2011-08-09T13:30:49",
"content": "A STILL! Right on. I can use this hack to make my still. Moon shine here I come!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "431258",
"author": "Chris",
"timestamp": "2011-08-09T16:20:56",
"content": "Good sous-vide build and documentation.Although it’s said this wasn’t a huge cost savings, the nice thing about this is you can always recycle many of the parts; they can be transferred to a larger or smaller crock pot as needed, a rice cooker like James suggested, or even to a DIY cooker built to your specs.But it sounds like the caterer served an intact *whole* chicken; and if he’s trying to duplicate that, I think he guessed the cooking method wrong.Dark meat and white meat have to be cooked to different temperatures. You cannot achieve that using sous-vide and a *whole* chicken (though you can easily do it with a cut-up chicken, which Lee already tried).Chances are the caterer brined the chicken. That enhances flavor, tenderness, and heat transfer (reduces cooking time). Even if the white meat is slightly overcooked, it can still be unusually tender; though if it’s cooked to perfection, it is spectacular.Then cook using some method where the dark meat heats faster than the white meat. There are many ways to do this. I usually slow roast on a V-rack, breast side down, for most or even all of the cooking time. Exact temperature varies depending on how much of a “hurry” I’m in; though times are still reasonable because the brine speeds cooking.Finally, if you must have not only a delicious but picture-perfect chicken, finish the skin with a torch or heat gun; or flip it and crank up the broiler.Works great for turkeys too. Everyone who’s tried my turkey says it’s the best they’ve ever had. I also give it a few injections with a mix of butter, white wine, white pepper, and some pureed onion and garlic. Little or no salt if you’ve already brined. Other herbs may taste good too, but careful about colors; pockets of green in the breast meat look odd. Stole that one from a caterer, which has a good seasonal business of shipping precooked turkeys packed in dry ice all over the nation every Thanksgiving. They had a pressurized CO2-powered injector, and it’s funny to watch a turkey inflate as easily as a helium balloon.Also, don’t be afraid to contact the caterer. While they may take their exact recipes to the grave, if you ask nicely and pile on the compliments, they will often share enough general details to point you in the right direction.Keep experimenting. Kitchen experiments are the best kind. Some day a caterer or restaurant owner may ask you for your recipe, and that is a great feeling. ;)",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "431590",
"author": "BigLeeH",
"timestamp": "2011-08-10T02:17:37",
"content": "Hello Chris, I am Lee’s father-in-law (also named Lee, as it happens.) I was aware that cooking a whole chicken to the temperature that makes the breast perfect will leave the dark meat a bit chewy. Actually I see that as evidence that the catererhadcooked it that way. They were slicing whole birds but the dark meat went on a plate to the side and was never pieced or offered to the guests.",
"parent_id": "431258",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "431261",
"author": "anyone",
"timestamp": "2011-08-09T16:23:23",
"content": "i wish people wouldn’t mindlessly blab so much in their blogs. totally turned off this guy’s project because it’s 8 miles of reading. could have been good stuff, if i had read more than the first 3 lines.tip to other bloggers, just show good quality pictures, numbers (math) and limited text to your projects. we are all busy and don’t have time or care to read your life story about the dog/cat/wife/kids/whatever.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "431595",
"author": "BigLeeH",
"timestamp": "2011-08-10T02:29:29",
"content": "Hello Anyone, Thanks for your interest. Here is a link to somepictures of my dogs.",
"parent_id": "431261",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "431306",
"author": "kyle",
"timestamp": "2011-08-09T18:16:07",
"content": "what a crock",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "431481",
"author": "Brian",
"timestamp": "2011-08-09T22:06:44",
"content": "Also note that you can order PID controller, probe, and SSR from virtualvillage.com for under $60 USD. Mine came straight from Hong Kong (to New Zealand), but seems to be decent quality and has been working perfectly for weeks.Still not sure I have the hang of sous vide, though. My cheap whatevers-on-sale steaks cooked for 24 hrs come out tender – but in a weird way – and not otherwise exciting.Also, I have to agree that a crock pot isn’t the best vessel. They’re meant to never boil even at full blast for hours, so they’re a bit under powered and not good at temperature recovery. A cheap deep fryer works well, though it loses a lot of heat to the room.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "431599",
"author": "BigLeeH",
"timestamp": "2011-08-10T02:38:28",
"content": "Hello Brian, I’m still trying to zero in on recipes myself so I can’t offer much help there except to say the getting a good sear on the meat after it comes out of the Sous Vide seems to be the key. As to crock pots being too wimpy, they work better is you fill them with water near the temperature you want. A 50/50 mix of tap-water and boiling water from a kettle will usually be within a degree or two of 140f. If you are going to be adding cold food add a bit more boiling water. With a PID controller they will hold temps in the 130-160f range like a champ.",
"parent_id": "431481",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "431498",
"author": "aztraph",
"timestamp": "2011-08-09T22:36:47",
"content": "I have a Groen 1967 steam kettle, 480 volt 3 phase, holds 40 gallons, think that would work? just dont ask why i have one.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "431742",
"author": "Mike",
"timestamp": "2011-08-10T06:43:08",
"content": "Built one like this a few months ago, also used a crock pot which I later switched for a rice cooker. Spliced a powerboard onto the PID so changing the device you use to cook in is easy and doesn’t require any modification. Drop the probe in, drop the pump in, go for it :D awesome stuff",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "431778",
"author": "Boduelmike",
"timestamp": "2011-08-10T09:29:13",
"content": "To those having trouble with “underpowered” slow cookers; start off with a mix of cold and boiling water from your kettle, above the cooking temperature; the food will cool it, and with experience you can just about hit the right temperature from the start.Works for me.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
}
] | 1,760,377,117.462342
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2011/08/09/a-robotic-turtle-platform-to-buy-or-build/
|
A Robotic Turtle Platform To Buy Or Build
|
Jeremy Cook
|
[
"Robots Hacks"
] |
[
"robot",
"sonar",
"turtle"
] |
This
electric turtle bot instructable
describes a fairly simple turtle-style robot meant to be laser cut out of acrylic (although other materials such as aluminum, MDF, or polycarbonate should work just as well). This frame is also optionally for sale, which should appeal to those that would like a mechanical robotics platform to play with, but don’t have access to machine tools. The build instructions include a detailed bill of materials which should come in handy.
As displayed in the video after the break, the robot uses a sonar sensor to navigate. This sensor is set up on a servo in order to scan the terrain, and, depending on how it’s programmed, hopefully avoid obstacles. As of when the video was taken, the little robot appears to sense an obstacle then scan with the servo left and right to see what the best way to turn is.
[youtube
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vA_kIY3MvTE&w=470&h=349%5D
If this little turtle robot doesn’t have enough power for your taste, check out this
autonomous ATV sentry.
| 5
| 3
|
[
{
"comment_id": "431127",
"author": "Andrew Smith",
"timestamp": "2011-08-09T11:30:01",
"content": "It’s impressive. but it doesn’t work very well. Id expect it to start to move down the corridor rather than continually go up and down the same strech.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "431130",
"author": "Drake",
"timestamp": "2011-08-09T11:38:39",
"content": "That’s for the programmer to figure out XD",
"parent_id": "431127",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "431246",
"author": "propellerheadgeek",
"timestamp": "2011-08-09T15:57:23",
"content": "I agree… my code isn’t up to snuff on this one.Working on some better code; Truthfully though, the instructable is about the chassis, it’s ability to be fairly generic and re-purposed for multiple builds and configurations without much fuss.",
"parent_id": "431127",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "431129",
"author": "Drake",
"timestamp": "2011-08-09T11:37:53",
"content": "Looks Fairly Interesting!If I do recall the Parallax PING sensor is on the steep side of pricing. Wonder how hard it would be to slap your own together ….Editors Note: Insert Break before video",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "431154",
"author": "zetsway",
"timestamp": "2011-08-09T12:47:20",
"content": "Please fix the link",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
}
] | 1,760,377,117.555432
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2011/08/08/diy-orb-display-puts-the-earth-in-your-hands/
|
DIY Orb Display Puts The Earth In Your Hands
|
Mike Nathan
|
[
"Misc Hacks",
"Video Hacks"
] |
[
"globe"
] |
[Nirav] liked the idea of having his own personal Earth at the tip of his fingers, and since that’s not happening any time soon, he decided to build the next best thing. Sure, he could have simply gone out and purchased a globe, but there is no fun in that. Instead, he shows us how he put together
an interactive spherical display
that won’t break the bank.
The sphere uses a Microvision SHOWWX to drive its display, which projects an image inside of a frosted glass light fixture. The pico projector gets some help from a 180° fisheye lens along the way, enabling the picture to be stretched across the entire inner surface of the globe.
[Nirav] used his 3D extruder to build a base for the globe, which attaches to the projector via a printed mounting plate. A GorillaPod was used to keep things upright while he dusted off his trigonometry skills in order to figure out how to get the image just right.
We think that he did a great job – it definitely looks to be on par (albeit a bit smaller) than the
eye of Sauron globe
we saw a while back. We can’t wait to see a video of this thing in action once it’s completely finished!
| 24
| 15
|
[
{
"comment_id": "430873",
"author": "Hackerspacer",
"timestamp": "2011-08-08T23:05:15",
"content": "Now add multitouch sensors so you can pinch zoom into different areas!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "430939",
"author": "PocketBrain",
"timestamp": "2011-08-09T02:32:59",
"content": "Also add a tour of world history. Watch as national borders move, appear and disappear. See Germany unify and the USSR break up!",
"parent_id": "430873",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "430962",
"author": "nrp",
"timestamp": "2011-08-09T04:06:10",
"content": "Oh, I like this idea. I’m going to do this if I can find freely licensed historical maps in a format I can read.",
"parent_id": "430939",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "431180",
"author": "kevin",
"timestamp": "2011-08-09T14:02:22",
"content": "Get an animated map of Pangaea to today",
"parent_id": "430939",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "430876",
"author": "Addidis",
"timestamp": "2011-08-08T23:18:41",
"content": "that is amazing, and perhaps link to google earth This has HUGE potential.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "430934",
"author": "jmicz",
"timestamp": "2011-08-09T02:18:37",
"content": "Chat that’s what i was thinking",
"parent_id": "430876",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "430877",
"author": "lostalaska",
"timestamp": "2011-08-08T23:28:21",
"content": "9 out of 10 evil geniuses agree this is badass.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "430880",
"author": "theodore",
"timestamp": "2011-08-08T23:48:47",
"content": "Can you combine this with a video phone and a kinex so you can have a 3d like video calls? I would do it but my idea of high tech work skills (duct taping a flash light to a hammer for night time nailling)",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "430915",
"author": "barry99705",
"timestamp": "2011-08-09T01:07:08",
"content": "Now that’s freaking funny!!",
"parent_id": "430880",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "1018038",
"author": "alex555",
"timestamp": "2013-06-20T21:55:05",
"content": "Best idea I’ve ever heard! I need to try this!",
"parent_id": "430915",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "430942",
"author": "andar_b",
"timestamp": "2011-08-09T02:42:13",
"content": "Reminds me of the Santa Trap I came up with when I was 6 or 7. Connect a flashlight to an alarm clock, so when Santa noticed my flashlight was on and went to turn it off, the alarm would wake me up and I’d get to see him.Grandpa wouldn’t help me make it, though. XD",
"parent_id": "430880",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "430898",
"author": "ZLD",
"timestamp": "2011-08-09T00:22:36",
"content": "Not only link it to Google Earth, but get cloud and weather data displayed on there. That would be amazing if you could write software to get the reported cloud data (I think it is updated every 5 minutes) and have it be 5 minutes behind, meanwhile interpolating a smooth animation from the previous frames to create a continuous moving, smooth cloud animation on there as well. I’d drop $1000 for something like that.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "430901",
"author": "wifigod",
"timestamp": "2011-08-09T00:30:53",
"content": "Reminds me of this:http://hml.queensu.ca/node/302I’m pretty sure that’s a few years old, curious if the price (“about $1000” was claimed) has since gone down for the required components. Might be worth some investigation. :-)",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "430907",
"author": "bdsmith",
"timestamp": "2011-08-09T00:54:54",
"content": "And not just Earth – the moon and mars. And entire solar system of planets in your globe. With zoom to to find the various landers.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "430916",
"author": "Whatnot",
"timestamp": "2011-08-09T01:08:32",
"content": "It’s just a pity that if you push pixels through a lens like that the whole thing becomes either extremely pixelated or needs a very expensive high-res projector.However I see the projector is mounted with elastics so you can just use the 3D thing when you want and use the projector normally the rest of the time, smart that!It’s more a 3D projector screen, to be used whenever you want, so it’s a pretty nice hack.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "430943",
"author": "andar_b",
"timestamp": "2011-08-09T02:45:52",
"content": "The point about the distortion from projecting a flat, low-resolution image through a fisheye lens reminds me of the project that used hanging filaments to create a volumetric display, by offsetting each level of depth by one pixel width. Of course the device was limited by projector resolution, but it was still quite cool.",
"parent_id": "430916",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "430937",
"author": "brad",
"timestamp": "2011-08-09T02:25:08",
"content": "i see potential here!a friend of mine works with science on a sphere.http://sos.noaa.gov/",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "458557",
"author": "nrp",
"timestamp": "2011-09-18T17:20:54",
"content": "Done:http://eclecti.cc/computergraphics/science-on-a-snow-globe-spherical-display",
"parent_id": "430937",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "430953",
"author": "Chip",
"timestamp": "2011-08-09T03:44:59",
"content": "Brad beat me to it.. I was about to post that link. If SOS opened up.. It could be done on a smaller scale with cheaper projectors by DIY-ers.. Maybe even taken into the classroom. They have hundreds of datasets publicly downloadable for the system. Maybe it could be made to work with this guy’s hack.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "430963",
"author": "Azurus Nova",
"timestamp": "2011-08-09T04:14:34",
"content": "Dude! This is straight out of SnowCrash!Good read, but this is literally what I see in the book when they describe it. :PImagen having live weather output onto the globe as well!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "430976",
"author": "J. Peterson",
"timestamp": "2011-08-09T05:00:02",
"content": "Not included: White lab coat, wild haircut, evil mad scientist laugh…",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "431007",
"author": "Jason",
"timestamp": "2011-08-09T05:44:22",
"content": "That is awesome. I think it would be very cool if it could display the location of orbiting satellites, clouds overhead or even demonstrate the amount of light pollution coming from different parts of the world. I want one so badly lol",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "431043",
"author": "matt",
"timestamp": "2011-08-09T06:20:28",
"content": "It’s always great to see the awesome stuff my former lab partner creates!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "435500",
"author": "Tony",
"timestamp": "2011-08-15T19:18:50",
"content": "I saw a globe similar to this at the Intel Museum in Santa Clara, CA last month. I played with it a bit, it was pretty cool.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
}
] | 1,760,377,117.614949
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2011/08/08/programming-the-kinect-to-work-with-android/
|
Programming The Kinect To Work With Android
|
Jeremy Cook
|
[
"Android Hacks",
"Kinect hacks"
] |
[
"android",
"Kinect"
] |
The Kinect has been hacked for many purposes, but this
Android implementation
tutorial is the first we’ve heard of it being used on a mobile phone platform. Although not a finished product at this point, [Raymond’s] tutorial is a good starting point for those wanting to experiment with fusing these two technologies.
The Kinect programming for this tutorial has been done with the Tegra Ventana development kit for Android 3.0. An Ubuntu-Linux installation is used, but this technique should be portable to any Linux system according to the author.
The procedure given is pretty straightforward, and the author even provides an example of the results in a video after the break. It’s interesting to note that, when connected, the Kinect is seen as two devices, “Xbox NUI Camera” and “Xbox NUI audio”. We look forward to new hacks to come out for this device, possibly using this set of tools.
[youtube
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DbWW-qRvblI%5D
For another related hack, check out this
robotic skeleton
controlled with the Kinect.
| 7
| 6
|
[
{
"comment_id": "430891",
"author": "RandomReader",
"timestamp": "2011-08-09T00:16:04",
"content": "Size of vid goes goes outside the site templateGood to see the kinect hacks still going strong and expanding ever more! nice work ^_^",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "447174",
"author": "Chief",
"timestamp": "2011-09-03T15:44:30",
"content": "Hello .. I know this isn’t on topic, I’m looking for a way to connect usb devices to android. Would it be possible to use other attachments.. I’m new to any type of hacking yet I’m very open to suggestions … Is there any tools you would recommend to get me on the right path towards my goal.. thanks in advanced :)",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "894052",
"author": "Armani",
"timestamp": "2012-11-29T04:37:17",
"content": "If your Android device is capable of USB-OTG (most new devices are, I believe), then you just spend a few bucks on an OTG cable and that’s it. Google that for your answer.I realize I’m replying to something over a year old. But there you go.",
"parent_id": "447174",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "456109",
"author": "bramfranz",
"timestamp": "2011-09-15T18:25:16",
"content": "thanks for the information. Your website was incredible,,,!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "1009825",
"author": "mike boyd",
"timestamp": "2013-05-29T18:39:53",
"content": "dude get ahold of is at hackforthedeaf.org and me athackforthedeaf@gmail.comwe need to talk about a very cool hack. We are about to enter critical mass to do complete deaf augmentation 2 way on glass",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "4421509",
"author": "robert",
"timestamp": "2018-03-13T23:04:23",
"content": "How do I video record using a 360 Kinect and a Android phone without using a computer?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "6164018",
"author": "Paul",
"timestamp": "2019-07-13T00:48:50",
"content": "Can you get the software for the Kinect sensor for a Amazon fire tablet ???",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
}
] | 1,760,377,117.745735
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2011/08/08/3d-printed-turtle-shell-racers-bring-mario-kart-to-life/
|
3D Printed Turtle Shell Racers Bring Mario Kart To Life
|
Mike Nathan
|
[
"Toy Hacks"
] |
[
"3d printing",
"makerbot",
"R/C car"
] |
Every once in awhile a project comes along that makes us say,
“
this
is why we want a 3D printer!”
[Skimbal] is pretty well known in 3D printing circles for the
incredibly detailed designs
he has put out in the past. This time around, his focus is on motoring, Mario Kart style.
His Turtle Shell Racers are ripped right out of the Mario Kart series of games, and are built in the form of the multi-colored turtle shells with which most of us have a love/hate relationship. Constructed atop cheap RC trucks, the Shell Racers require 20-some odd printed parts apiece, but looking at the final results we think the time and money spent would be well worth it.
After watching the videos below, we think you’ll agree that these things look like a blast to play with. The Shell Racers were actually so impressive that they managed to land [Skimbal] a permanent gig with MakerBot Industries.
If you want to try making a set of your own, there are extensively detailed build instructions and all the STL files you can shake a stick at over at
Thingiverse
.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YAd3e_UTW4c&w=470]
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wA-wY-Q_onU&w=470]
| 13
| 11
|
[
{
"comment_id": "430718",
"author": "eth3real",
"timestamp": "2011-08-08T20:46:40",
"content": "Anyone selling these to people who don’t have access to a 3D printer? Great work! :)",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "430735",
"author": "Carry The what",
"timestamp": "2011-08-08T21:04:18",
"content": "Actually, I was going to on myEtsy, but it was posted under a non-commercial license.Unfortunately, this means that unless the original creator decides to print and sell them, you will need a printer to play with it :/. Sorry!",
"parent_id": "430718",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "430727",
"author": "Sterling",
"timestamp": "2011-08-08T20:56:42",
"content": "These are amazing. He earned that job offer.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "430732",
"author": "jim",
"timestamp": "2011-08-08T21:00:50",
"content": "How much would it cost to print one excluding the cost of the printer?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "430739",
"author": "Jaydrive",
"timestamp": "2011-08-08T21:06:39",
"content": "In case Skimbal is reading – here’s an idea for you – The Bob-Omb Cart in Toad’s Turnpike!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "430850",
"author": "dombeef",
"timestamp": "2011-08-08T22:02:22",
"content": "Good thing someone else remembers that from the old N64 :DThis would be the first thing that I would print if I got a 3d printer.",
"parent_id": "430739",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "430770",
"author": "zacdee16",
"timestamp": "2011-08-08T21:47:40",
"content": "Someone should add some sensors to these so they chase moving objects and then attach them to this life-size Mario Kart.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MytfhzcSF-Y",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "430865",
"author": "default",
"timestamp": "2011-08-08T22:28:38",
"content": "@zacdee16 great idea!Awesome build idea!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "430938",
"author": "MrTaco",
"timestamp": "2011-08-09T02:27:17",
"content": "Neg points for the spines on the green Koopa Troopa shell. Also the spiny Buzzy Beetle shell :P",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "431011",
"author": "Chris",
"timestamp": "2011-08-09T05:47:31",
"content": "Wow, that brings back fun memories. :) Well done!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "431040",
"author": "ngd",
"timestamp": "2011-08-09T06:12:03",
"content": "police cars should have these equipped some one should make a video of a car letting one of these loose might need a system to send them off on the bottom of the car and might want a high performance rc car maybe a lil gas powered one.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "431392",
"author": "Maave",
"timestamp": "2011-08-09T19:50:48",
"content": "Now make the shell spin on top of the motorized base!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "605284",
"author": "a;ex",
"timestamp": "2012-03-17T03:16:28",
"content": "the spiny shell killing me when i in 1st place at mario kart",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
}
] | 1,760,377,117.796246
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2011/08/08/scott-made-a-single-chip-hellschreiber-on-earth/
|
[Scott] Made A Single-chip Hellschreiber On Earth
|
Mike Szczys
|
[
"Radio Hacks"
] |
[
"am radio",
"atmega48",
"enigma",
"Hellschreiber"
] |
[Scott Harden] is drilling teeth by day and
designing radios that send secret
messages by night. He’s set his sights on the Hellschreiber protocol which was used by the Germans in World War II along with their Enigma encryption system. The protocol is a viable alternative for transmitting and receiving code in environments with too much background noise for other communication systems.
His goal was to develop his own transmitter using just one microcontroller. He picked an ATmega48 and coupled it with a 40 MHz crystal oscillator. [Scott] mentions that there is no other hardware necessary, but static messages stored in an array so you’d need some other hardware to push your own characters through via the chip’s UART or otherwise. The AVR sends messages by converting the data into audio using PWM. That signal is fed into the crystal oscillator, which produces an amplitude modulated signal (AM) that can then be transmitted.
Check out his video after the break for a demonstration. He’s decoding the transmitted data using a free program called
Ham Radio Deluxe
.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_MJYwXvwTvY&w=470]
| 38
| 23
|
[
{
"comment_id": "430671",
"author": "MS3FGX",
"timestamp": "2011-08-08T19:39:22",
"content": "Alright, I give up, what’s the title of this article supposed to mean?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "430674",
"author": "Mike Szczys",
"timestamp": "2011-08-08T19:41:27",
"content": "Yeah, I know… It’s pretty wonky. I was going for a play on words parody of‘hell on earth’",
"parent_id": "430671",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "431770",
"author": "N0LKK",
"timestamp": "2011-08-10T08:58:03",
"content": "I must be pretty wonky, because it’s a groaner, I did get it.",
"parent_id": "430674",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "430680",
"author": "theodore",
"timestamp": "2011-08-08T19:57:59",
"content": "Well then the allies will have to build a single chip computer to break his code!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "430682",
"author": "Max",
"timestamp": "2011-08-08T19:59:38",
"content": "Hell is light as in “light blue”Schreiber is writer.So, it’s a “light writer”",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "430737",
"author": "ysgdhio",
"timestamp": "2011-08-08T21:05:11",
"content": "Except it’s not “hell” as in light. It’s Hell after it’s inventor,Dr. Rudolph Hell",
"parent_id": "430682",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "430686",
"author": "Sollicitus",
"timestamp": "2011-08-08T20:05:09",
"content": "I’ve made a few world-wide contacts on the HF bands with Hellschreiber.Operating a feldhell beacon would be pretty neat",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "430690",
"author": "DanAdamKOF",
"timestamp": "2011-08-08T20:11:59",
"content": "Not like I’ve seen much (only a few examples online), but that’s the cleanest Hellschreiber output I’ve ever seen. Obviously it’s because there’s nothing long-range involved, but my first reaction to the picture was “Oh wow, it’s not all tilted!”",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "430691",
"author": "DanAdamKOF",
"timestamp": "2011-08-08T20:12:43",
"content": "On second glance it is tilted, but definitely not much at all. OK, geek-out complete.",
"parent_id": "430690",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "430696",
"author": "chango",
"timestamp": "2011-08-08T20:27:17",
"content": "I really like the idea of doing the frequency domain encoding with PWM. This got me thinking of trying to find a SPI EEPROM that will clock out its data as a continuous bitstream with minimal or no supervision.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "430709",
"author": "RicoElectrico",
"timestamp": "2011-08-08T20:35:43",
"content": "There is 24C21 – designed for use in VESA VGA DDC contantly outputing 128 bytes clocked to vsync – monitor name, supported modes, screen size and so on.",
"parent_id": "430696",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "430699",
"author": "Elias",
"timestamp": "2011-08-08T20:29:28",
"content": "That is some really cool stuff! I was wondering about how easy this is lately when there was the new Batman movie wav file going around with a secret message.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "430703",
"author": "Circuit Choppa",
"timestamp": "2011-08-08T20:32:25",
"content": "The next step: Implant the single chip hellschreiberinsidea tooth, to send secret radio messages to the CIA.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "430705",
"author": "wa5znu",
"timestamp": "2011-08-08T20:33:29",
"content": "If you want to try hellschreiber on Linux use fldigi (which I contribute to). It also runs on Windows, Mac and BSD. We showed it at the maker faire sf bay 2011:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZpKigbKIqcA",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "430707",
"author": "wa5znu",
"timestamp": "2011-08-08T20:34:57",
"content": "More on radio modulation:http://wa5znu.org/2011/05/modulation/modulation.htmlGood background for understanding this project if you don’t know what some of the terms mean.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "430723",
"author": "zuul",
"timestamp": "2011-08-08T20:53:03",
"content": "cool",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "430726",
"author": "asheets",
"timestamp": "2011-08-08T20:56:30",
"content": "I’m more into radiofax myself, but a simple Hell’ setup like this could convince me otherwise.73 de kd0gzj",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "430742",
"author": "HackerK",
"timestamp": "2011-08-08T21:19:57",
"content": "I wonder what will FCC say about this…OK, given it is very low power you may not have a problem. But what’s the point when you can transmit for a longer distance, which will get you into FCC’s radar (no pun intended)",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "430849",
"author": "asheets",
"timestamp": "2011-08-08T22:02:20",
"content": "If Scott is in the US and has at least a General class license, then the FCC will have nothing to say about this. Please refer tohttp://sites.google.com/site/feldhellclub/Home/feld-hell-faq",
"parent_id": "430742",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "430882",
"author": "John Smith",
"timestamp": "2011-08-08T23:59:44",
"content": "They will have nothing to say about it if he uses a low pass filter on the output before connecting to an antenna. Without that, it will be transmitting harmonics that higher than allowed by the FCC.Making the low pass filter is very easy though:http://www.gqrp.com/harmonic_filters.pdf",
"parent_id": "430849",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "431446",
"author": "asheets",
"timestamp": "2011-08-09T21:16:46",
"content": "@John Smith — I honestly had never thought about possible harmonics from an oscillator can. But you are correct in that it is very simple to fix.",
"parent_id": "430849",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "430817",
"author": "ysgdhio",
"timestamp": "2011-08-08T21:56:08",
"content": "BTW, everything you’d every want to know about Hellschreiber can be found athellschreiber.com",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "430846",
"author": "r00tPTY",
"timestamp": "2011-08-08T21:58:49",
"content": "Just a clarification, the program used is not ham radio deluxe, it is DM780.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "430864",
"author": "default",
"timestamp": "2011-08-08T22:25:28",
"content": "Love me some audio data. Very cool build!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "430904",
"author": "Anonymous",
"timestamp": "2011-08-09T00:46:10",
"content": "Watch out, encryption over the radio is not always legal.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "430940",
"author": "chango",
"timestamp": "2011-08-09T02:34:07",
"content": "80 years ago this was encryption. Nowadays it’s encoding.",
"parent_id": "430904",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "431833",
"author": "Nathan",
"timestamp": "2011-08-10T12:40:35",
"content": "I don’t think it was considered encryption then. all you have to do is use the incoming pulses to draw dots… and as long as you’re anywhere between say 0.75x and 1.5x on your time sync you basically get the dots to print, using vertical scan lines…It’s a very very simple protocol. Hell is basically analog and has no sync.",
"parent_id": "430940",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "430932",
"author": "Scott",
"timestamp": "2011-08-09T02:01:18",
"content": "Thanks for all the feedback guys! I’ll note that I do have a FCC amateur radio license (extra class) which allows me to operate digital modes (such as Hellschreiber) using hundreds of watts of output power into a massive antenna if I desired to, as long as I stayed in the frequency ranges allotted to such activities – commonly around 3.5 MHz, 7.0 MHz, 14.0 MHz, and many more listed here:http://www.arrl.org/files/file/Hambands_color.pdfThe comments about low pass filtering are absolutely correct. Note that I’m simply powering a clock oscillator and producing square waves – that’s my only generation of radio signals. You have similar oscillators in your computers, TV, and various other devices. If you opened your case, read their frequency, and tuned to it on a radio, you’d hear its tone too. The output power is probably in the nanowatt to microwatt range, and if I were to walk 20 feet away it would probably be silent. In that state, it’s useless as a radio transmitter. It could become a great transmitter if you added a few amplifier stages. Do not add an amplifier to such a device unless (a) you are legally able to transmit on that frequency, and (b) you apply low pass filters to turn the odd-harmonic-rich square waves into pure sine waves. With that being said, this could easily be taken to 10 or 100 watts of output power, put on a long wire antenna, and be copied around the world!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "431442",
"author": "asheets",
"timestamp": "2011-08-09T21:09:58",
"content": "Not necessarily… with a decent antenna, you can QRP (low power operation) for at least several miles with just an oscillator can. A slight modification such as withhttp://www.sparkbangbuzz.com/easy-ten/easy-ten.htm, and you can probably DX (long distance). All you need is 1 watt or so.",
"parent_id": "430932",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "604622",
"author": "n0lkk",
"timestamp": "2012-03-16T10:13:53",
"content": "Yes we are allowed to use up to 1500 W. on many bands, but we are require to use only the minimum power neddedto maintain communications.",
"parent_id": "430932",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "430997",
"author": "Munch",
"timestamp": "2011-08-09T05:34:06",
"content": "Just a nit-pick — since when is Hellschreiber a “protocol?” It’s a line-encoding at best.“Protocol” implies a bi-directional, mutual agreement between at least two endpoints which must be agreed upon before communications can begin and/or continue. Hellschreiber has no two-way conversation semantics; you just transmit and hope the receiver can see it.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "431104",
"author": "Sigg3",
"timestamp": "2011-08-09T10:04:55",
"content": "This is hardcore. Gotta love it!Put it somewhere safe with a solar panel and you’ve got yourself a millenium broadcaster:)",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "431156",
"author": "t&p",
"timestamp": "2011-08-09T12:48:26",
"content": "why is dude a dental student?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "431829",
"author": "KB1KDW",
"timestamp": "2011-08-10T12:28:25",
"content": "Nice. I’m confused as to how you are listening on 3582.32kHz, but the signal is coming out of a 40Mhz oscillator. How does this work?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "431993",
"author": "iHME",
"timestamp": "2011-08-10T18:20:26",
"content": "I dont know where the talk about 40Mhz is comming. On his page all the pictures feature a 3582Khz TTL can oscillator. And that’s the thing getting modulated. I’ll grab on or two similar one’s from his sourse just to experiment on.And one could always build a AM/CW transmitter out of it for 80m, or with some bandpass filters 40m and maybe 20m, the squarewave is rich in harmonics.",
"parent_id": "431829",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "432100",
"author": "Scott",
"timestamp": "2011-08-10T21:37:37",
"content": "Yeah, I don’t know where Hack-A-Day got 40 MHz from… I just let it slide. I absolutely am using a 3.579545 MHz can crystal oscillator to generate square waves, and those are in the 80m amateur radio band (which I’m licensed to use). There are similar cans for a plethora of frequencies – I especially enjoy the ones around 28 and 29 MHz (just ordered a 10 on ebay this morning for about $1 ea) because they’re in the 10m amateur radio band, and handheld receivers are common for this frequency, and quarter-wavelength vertical antennas are small enough to be mounted on top of a car (similar to 27 MHz CB antennas). 28.704 MHz is the frequency of the crystals I got to go on my next high altitude balloon transmitter. With a small amplifier and a lowpass filter to keep it legal, it will make a wonderful telemetry transmitter!",
"parent_id": "431829",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "432101",
"author": "Scott",
"timestamp": "2011-08-10T21:41:44",
"content": "ebay search for “can oscillator”",
"parent_id": "432100",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "434823",
"author": "KE7VZW",
"timestamp": "2011-08-15T02:32:01",
"content": "Great job!!!!73 de KE7VZWFeld-Hell club #1173",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
}
] | 1,760,377,118.041649
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2011/08/08/electrographic-enlarging-sketchifier-does-your-drawing-for-you/
|
Electrographic Enlarging Sketchifier Does Your Drawing For You
|
Mike Nathan
|
[
"Misc Hacks"
] |
[
"art",
"drawing",
"fet"
] |
Back in the 80’s, there used to be a kid’s toy that would allow you to replicate an image by tracing a pre-drawn picture in one panel, while a mechanical arm laid down ink in another. We’d be hard-pressed to remember what the thing was called, but this
Electrographic Enlarging Sketchifier
would be a wonderful modern day stand-in.
flickr user [Imajilon] constructed this cool motorized pantograph out of tongue depressors, rivets, foam core board, and a handful of electronic components. Despite its bargain basement bill of materials, this thing is pretty darn cool. An optical sensor “views” an image and drives a simple FET circuit, replicating the picture automatically using an electrically driven pen mechanism.
Looking through her flickr stream, we thought the results were quite impressive. She does plan on making a second version of the Sketchifier with a smaller light sensitive area, which should allow her to resolve even smaller features of the source drawing.
[via
BuildLounge
]
| 10
| 10
|
[
{
"comment_id": "430637",
"author": "Cubby",
"timestamp": "2011-08-08T18:41:20",
"content": "I believe they were called, “Pantographs”.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "430638",
"author": "Warren",
"timestamp": "2011-08-08T18:41:27",
"content": "The machines were called Pantographs",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "430640",
"author": "Mike Nathan",
"timestamp": "2011-08-08T18:44:20",
"content": "Right, I know that the “technical” term is pantograph, but we all swear that they had some catchy 80’s name attached to them, which no one can recall.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "430651",
"author": "featheredfrog",
"timestamp": "2011-08-08T18:58:15",
"content": "Pantographs are FAR older than the 1980s.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "430655",
"author": "YT2095",
"timestamp": "2011-08-08T19:04:25",
"content": "yeah, it was called a sketch-a-graph ;)my wife still has hers!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "430662",
"author": "Laura Harris (Imajilon)",
"timestamp": "2011-08-08T19:17:20",
"content": "Hey, cool, you guys picked this up!I just searched and found the toy mentioned up thread (“vintage pantograph toy”)- and lo, it was called the ‘Sketch-a-Graph’ and made by Ohio Art way back when. Same basic idea but without the all-important sketchification factor. ;)Thanks for the post!Laura",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "430848",
"author": "Lew",
"timestamp": "2011-08-08T22:01:25",
"content": "It was and is called a Sketch-a-graph. You can still by them – mostly overseas though.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "430897",
"author": "Paul",
"timestamp": "2011-08-09T00:21:43",
"content": "Very well executed. The sketchiness is a cool effect. A second color would certainly add to it.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "430954",
"author": "Laura Harris (Imajilon)",
"timestamp": "2011-08-09T03:45:03",
"content": "Thanks, Paul!Based on the post over at the BuildLounge, I want to to clarify a key point about the way this works- you manually scan the pickup head over the original. I left the scanning as a manual function so I could use similar techniques to regular sketching.Not to say hooking up some servos or steppers to the linkage and driving them with a computer or microcontroller wouldn’t be cool- I’d love to see something like that myself! Maybe one of these days . . . :)",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "431195",
"author": "gmcurrie",
"timestamp": "2011-08-09T14:47:56",
"content": "Nice – like the fact that the human hand is involved & the result is not ‘robotic/perfect’ – each one will be unique.Interesting way of detecting colour at a single point here:http://profmason.com/?p=1413A bunch of pens each triggered by its own colour band might make for ‘posterised’ pix& could maybe do pointillism-style stuff:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pointillism",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
}
] | 1,760,377,117.9691
|
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