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What you want is something like this . Plug it into the sound-out of a cabled media computer (or, heck, a Wireless Music/Media Player, if you feel the need to comply with the latest buzzwords). Put the computer wherever you have the space (closet, basement, attic) and keep your stereo clutter-free. Tune the FM transmitter to a free space low on the dial (89.3 or so), and listen to your streams on any stereo in/around/outside the house. So long as you aren't stepping on any other nearby frequencies, and the reception drops off significantly enough before you get more than a few houses away, you shouldn't have much worry about complaints.

Or you can drag your Wireless Music/Media Player out into the backyard the next time you want to host a barbecue. Of course, "wireless" doesn't usually apply to power cables and wall warts.

My first reaction was, "Well, you linked to what looks like a small business site, so either that site's going down or the hosting fees with bankrupt the company". But I digress.

that detracts from both my geek-drive and my wallet, both of which I'd prefer to keep as full as possible."

Well, I think your wallet's going to be drained either way. You need specialized components, software, etc for a completely automated solution. And even that's not going to be the end-all (corners, adjacent to fences, etc)

I would say start with a remote-controlled (as opposed to computer-controlled; mods, there is a difference) solution, see if you can rip apart some RC Cars, take their steering equipment out, see if you can interface to them using a RC Helicopter Remote or RC Airplane Remotes, connect up the servos, and perhaps sprinkle some detectors around your lawn.

Computer controlled would be difficult, to say the least. Perhaps even a Masters level thesis or a really good undergraduate senior project. Hell, if you can make it fairly cheap and efficient, you have your own business.

There are slightly larger, but similar in concept, planes available in hobby shops. Such as this Firebird II.

Based on my experience flying that, I'm skeptical about a few things:
- Flying conditions: The Firebird is quite a bit larger than that plane, but any winds above 5-10MPH or so make it difficult to control. That little plane would get tossed around even easier.
- Duration: One hour flight time would be excellent, but with something so tiny I'm not sure how they pack that much battery power. My firebird is lucy to get 10 minutes of flying time before a recharge.
- Flying through windows? - That seems unlikely with one of these units. That level of accuracy is very difficult, and at the speeds you need to keep it flying, you would not have much time to maneuver this thing. Also, in the article they describe plotting a destination on a map - like a GPS controlled craft. How the hell would you fly through windows in that scenario.

Anyway, the hobby store variety of these things are a blast.. I highly recommend picking a couple up ( a couple because you're sure to crater it several times when first learning ).

Where you want to go wireless is in the FM band. Something like this.

Plug it into the sound-out of a cabled media computer. Put the computer wherever you have the space (closet, basement, attic) and keep your stereo clutter-free. Serve the jukebox control interface via http on the local wireless network and control it via laptop, pda, whatever. Tune the FM transmitter to a free space low on the dial (89.3 or so), and listen to your streams on any stereo in/around/outside the house. So long as you aren't stepping on any other nearby frequencies, and the reception drops off enough a few houses away, you shouldn't have much worry about complaints.

But what got me started was the 50 in 1 electronic lab. Mine was made of wood and cardboard now they're plastic. The blasphemers.

Kinetic Flashlight technology is about 20 years old. It works and it lasts forever... Not the best power source for a laptop or palm, but look on the bright side: after using it for a few month you would be able crush rocks with your fingers.

Why 802.11? Here is a link to FM Transmitters for about I use my zaurus to control my PC playlist using Wifi and hear it using a transmitter talking to my radio.

:sniff:

She saw me reading the Radio Shack 'Getting Started In Electronic's book over and over again and (in between studies for various certifications) and decided to get me a kit.

She gave me bookmarks after chrismas... :)

Good list of kits: http://www.hobbytron.net/electronickits.html

I have the 300-on-1 which is $70 and is solderless.

Also check out http://www.kitguy.com/ - seems to be a definitive resource...

This device is advertised as having "128 Classic 70's & 80's Arcade Games" built in, and it's $50, and has dual controllers.

http://www.hobbytron.net/video-game-system.html

I just followed the Ramsey Electronics link in the main article, and they are all 1-shot-kits that I was recommending against.

I was about to post a link to a radioshack kit when I saw the AMAZING 500-in-1 Electronics Lab in a post on here from Usquebaugh. It's not cheap - $169.65 US - but if your kids take to it, it can easily be more valuable than a semester of math/science/computer courses in college.

If $170 is too steep the same site also has a page here starting at 50-in-1 for $20, 75-in-1 for $24, 200-in-1 for $50, and 300-in-1 for $70. (Note: based strictly on the pictures the 200-in-1 looks better than the 300-in-1?? The 300-in-1 seems to blow alot of space on the switches/dials/speaker, and what is the large white non-descript area in the middle?)

Without doubt the best electronics kit I ever got was the 300 in 1 kit. No soldering just easy to connect components.

I made all the circuits in the book and then started changing components to see what happened, oh look a change in capacitance causes the light to blink faster etc etc

This was 20 years ago and I can still remember blowing all the leds, I wanted to make them brighter. So then I learnt how to solder and then I learnt what a diode did :-)

Check this out, all I need is $170