Category Archives: Computer geek stuff

Gear to get for new home

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Office

One LCD screen for the laptop. (Look for sales)
One set of computer speakers for laptop. (Plenty of systems at CanadaComputers)
SSD HD for the desktop machine.
Desks. deeper – these desks? with filing cabinet

Home theater

Ceiling mount.
Cabinet for audio equipment. Thinking of a laundry/kitchen cabinet with 2 shelves. No doors?
One keyboard for the HTPC computer. Maybe a wireless one?

Server cabinet

1 TB drive for the UnRaid server machine.
Think about how to improve drive performance on the xenserver machine. Dual drives in RAID 0? SSD?

Workshop

Keyboard for the laptops in workshop, since their keyboards are broken.
Would also need a 2.5″ HD : Need to check on that one: The Acer machine has a HD, but could use a spare 2.5″ HD.
Chair for workshop table.

Garage

Air compressor. Canadian tire?

Home multi room audio system

Xantech 4 source, 4 zones kit from smart home – ORDERED
Speakers 3 pairs – AARTech Canada – Need to check attic, and see what brackets/boxes are installed in the ceiling. Will they take a 6.5″ speaker or only a 5.25″ speaker? : Checked ceiling. Box is huge. I went with the 6.5″ speaker. – ORDERED

HP RGS

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https://passport2.hp.com/hppcf/login.do?hpappid=PDAPI_SWD&TYPE=33554433&REALMOID=06-0002c444-4601-1b47-95c6-40d310ecb084&GUID=0&SMAUTHREASON=0&METHOD=GET&SMAGENTNAME=$SM$t2zwhymbqHWwGBRe%2ftyBrrpGYAeLRz0kurxmMO8kZ2duSfwHAY1mt5PgZEeQSy8s&TARGET=$SM$HTTPS%3a%2f%2fh20392.www2.hp.com%2fecommerce%2fefulfillment%2fgetsoftwareaction.do%3flang%3den%26cc%3dUS%26hpappid%3dPDAPI_SWD

Computer replacements

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For the car PC, I will RMA the current intel board, and get an ASUS ITX-220 ($78)mobo. The reviews I read report it faster then the Atom N230 boards, and hopefully it will not break when I stick it in my car!

So between selling the Atom board (maybe $55?), and getting this new one, I should only be out $30-$40 or so.

For the HTPC, I wanted a mini-ITX boars, so I’ll get a Zotac GF8200 Mobo ($116), with an Athlon LE-1640 CPU ($48),  and a low profile CPU fan ($25). Total = $189

Conversly, I could get a slightly larger case, and put a mATX mobo in there.Gigabyte GA-MA78LM-S2 Mobo ($67), Athlon LE-1640 CPU ($48), low profile CPU fan ($25), and a new case…

To make things even cheaper; make the current HTPC box dedicated to the projector. Movies and games. I can install XBMC on a USB stick to boot XBMC from it, or run windows for games, from the HD. XBMC will run beautifully since it has a tonne of horsepower under the hood.

For my workstation machine I can use ?? the VIA EN15000 mobo? (and rebuild the SageTV server on the VIA 1000 board)

GPS based Camera Tracking

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The camera (on a gimbal) will need to track  a subject some distance away.

The subject will have planted on them a GPS receiver with a XBee radio, and the camera will have a GPS receiver with a XBee radio, and controlling the camera rotation.

The sender unit (on the target subject) will be powered by a Arduino Pro microprocessor, sending GPS data through the XBee radio. an XBee radio hooked up directly to a GPS unit. Here’s how it’s done. Very slick.

The receiving unit (mounted with the camera) will also be powered by a Arduino Pro microprocessor. Using it’s own GPS unit, and the signal from the target GPS unit, a direction will be calculated and used to aim the camera, and constantly update the direction it is aimed so it always points towards the target. The receiving unit will also need to power 2/3 servos to rotate the camera and keep it aimed properly.

Parts List in order of purchase:

First, need just an Arduino board with one GPS. Learn how to control the servos and how to access the GPS data. Build a rig to allow the

Arduino Duemilanove USB Board : CND$31.77
Antenna GPS Embedded SMA : CND$12.68
Venus GPS with SMA Connector : CND$52.99

Total : $97.44 +S/H

Then get the other GPS unit and 2 XBee units.

Antenna GPS Embedded SMA : CND$12.68
Venus GPS with SMA Connector : CND$52.99
XBee PRO radio : CND$27.30

Total : $120.27

Bookmark list:

List of good sites to keep bookedmarked for future reference.

How to hook up a GPS to an Arduino unit.

xbmc revisit

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I had a XBMC box made, but it would not play HD content, since it was not powerfull enough.

Then I switched to using the WD TV Live, but I really don’t like the interface…

So after some reading on the XBMC forums, I’ve found this post. Pretty much what I was looking for. A complete build that I could copy. Inexpensive at that!

I have the case, the ram, etc. All I need is the Mobo and a remote…

To be continued…