The Evolution Of The Cost-Effective TrainCam

David Graham writes: "Recently, I incorporated a wireless camera into an HO scale 74' passenger car to make a TrainCam, and this is the story of its construction. Lacking space to build a set in my rented single room, I built a simple 18" radius track on the carpet, going through the frame of my bed. On it, I added a short Amtrak train and watched it go in decidedly boring little circles. Not long after I started running the train, it derailed and clearly demonstrated why carpets are not the best place for model trains to be. Meanwhile, upstairs in his room, one of my house-mates had just bought a small wireless camera, battery pack, and receiver for a little over C$100 and was demonstrating its ability to broadcast conversations and images from as far as 200 feet away back to his computer screen, with the help of a TV capture card. It wasn't long before I started coveting the little camera and I soon bought myself one. It was not for the purpose of listening to my friends' conversations so much as it was to record the train as it chugged around the uneven little track on my floor." For the whole story on the project, read on below.

It took me a few seconds to set up the little camera and immediately, my comically slow little trains which, when travelling at maximum speed, could easily be passed by a heavily-burdened pedestrian, began to look almost life-like. On my television screen I saw Amtrak engine 231 chugging toward me as I have so often at St-Albans station in northern Vermont. Following it were two streamlined phase III passenger cars and each, in turn, went around the corner as if on a real track.

Around the same time, I was able to move my track onto a 3'x5' desk, using blue-tack adhesive as a temporary track-bed.

The camera idea was working well. I felt like I was standing beside the tracks and the noise of the miniature train cars rumbling along the desk through the camera's microphone sounded nearly realistic, but there was something missing.

When I was in grade 3, the last train came to my home-town, a simple 20 car freight train hauling a giant transformer. I went to watch with my father as it waited for clearance to leave the station. Beyond the station, the tracks had already been lifted and sold to be reprocessed as razor blades. Standing on the platform looking intently at the train paid off, though, when every youngster's dream came true and the engineer invited me up into the engine while he waited, showing me all the controls and explaining how he needed someone to come up by car to tell him he could leave because we were out of radio range. Looking out the front of the train, I could see the tracks ahead and the elaborate set-up of switches, bells, signal lights, and level crossing signals.

I wanted to recreate that feeling with my simple model train and inexpensive wireless camera. It became my obsession to build a self-contained traincam that could record the tracks as it came and went, possibly even towed by one engine, recording another, giving a movie feeling. But I wanted to do something unique - I wanted to do it so I could publish basic steps for building one, and I wanted to make the whole thing as inexpensive as possible.

My first step was to figure out what rail-car to convert into my traincam. I decided that a dummy engine base with its large truck protruding would be ideal. The truck would allow the camera to better follow the angle of the track rather than the angle of the car. But the camera was too big. The eye itself is slightly wider than the car, and it had a base, battery box, and transmitter to contend with as well. Using a hacksaw and a variety of other tools not usually associated with delicate electronics, I disassembled the camera and extracted its motherboard, transmitter, and eye without damaging any of the wires or circuits. Using my favourite adhesive - blue-tack - (second, perhaps, to duct tape), I attached the camera eye to the front truck of the dummy engine, put the motherboard in the middle, supported it with two hair-elastics, and attached the transmitter to the rear truck. The camera's power source was a battery pack nearly three times the width of the track which had 4 AA batteries and a small circuit board. The power was sent to the camera via wires separated with a plug, and the wires added up to more than 6 feet in length.

Unperturbed, I took an old caboose, took part of the top off, and stuffed it full of wires. Next, I used a flatbed which had been part of my older brother's set at my grandparents' place when we were young and, again using blue-tack, attached the oversized battery pack to its surface.

But all this led to a problem. If you've ever driven a car with a trailer, you know that reversing with a trailer is far more difficult than reversing without a trailer. If you add a second trailer, the vehicle becomes four times as hard to steer in reverse, and if you add a third trailer, the car becomes 16 times harder to reverse. On a train track, the problem is reduced by the metal guides which the cars are forced to follow, but any abrupt movement by an engine pushing three unbalanced cars attached together by stiff wires is very likely to cause a derailment. So the camera could only be pulled, and I found myself spending a good deal of time watching where I had been rather than where I was going, defeating the purpose of the entire exercise - namely to feel like I was watching out the front of a train.

To solve the problem I would need to do what I had originally set out to do - build the entire camera system into no more than one rail-car, and there had to be one more condition: the car could not exceed the length of an 85 foot car, in order to ensure that it could be run on nearly any HO gauge set-up. It also could not exceed the height of an auto-carrier excess-height car (anything less would not have been possible with the size of the transmitter) so it could run on any track with reasonable tunnel and bridge heights. The answer was a 74' Northern Pacific observation passenger car, made by Athearn, because that company's cars' covers detach from the base, giving me more room to work.

There was still one more problem, though. The battery pack was too big to fit in anything short of a garden train, and it had a circuit board inside it, whose purpose I had not yet determined. My first thought was to put four AA batteries inside the car and attach them to a plug of the same type as that on the camera, but the circuit board stopped me.

Using a voltagemeter, it became apparent that the circuit board was a voltage multiplier, which increased the batteries' 6 volts to 24 volts. This gave me five options:

1. build my own circuit board with the same function
   
2. use a second car and fill it with 16 AA batteries
   
3. use 2 12V remote-control batteries
   
4. disassemble the battery pack and use its circuit board
   
5. run the camera off the track's power
   

Option 1 - building my own circuit board - was out of the question. I had neither the necessary experience nor the know-how to build my own voltage multiplier.

Option 2 - using a second car to hold loads of batteries - had some appeal to it; a model rail-car weighing that much would not derail if it was rammed by a real one, but the cost of 16 batteries and the extra space needed seemed prohibitive. Besides, I explicitly wanted to limit this project to a single car.

Option 3 - using two small 12-volt remote-control batteries - was a good idea. The logic seemed OK to me. I knew that two 12V batteries would cost me about $14 to replace and that they would have a shorter life-span than multiple AA batteries, but they were tiny and left lots of extra room in the car for the motherboard, wiring, camera, and transmitter.

Option 4 - disassembling the existing battery pack for its circuit board - was also a good idea, but I was concerned that I might damage the board while extracting it.

Option 5 - running the camera off of track power - sounded like the best idea. With nickel metal hydride or lithium ion rechargeable batteries (the type used in laptops), I thought that I could possibly keep enough charge to run the camera when the tracks were off, and have it constantly recharge when the tracks were on. But the problem lay in the fact that the camera ran at 24V and the track ran at between (-15V) and 15V, a circuitry nightmare for someone without the knowledge to build a simple multiplier.

I settled on option 3, which involved purchasing two small 12-volt batteries, and, believing I had solved all my design problems, took the cover off my observation car and began adding the camera, its motherboard, and transmitter. The camera fit nicely at one end of the car, but the motherboard and transmitter were too tall and could not be left like that. Realising that the car would probably be heavy enough with the camera, I took the ballast weights out of the bottom of the car, and the motherboard fit very well into to centre, where the base is lower than elsewhere. The transmitter also fit, though it exceeded the height of an auto-carrier excess-height car by a fraction of an inch. Everything up until this point was being held down with blue-tack.

Putting the motherboard in the centre allowed a tiny selector switch on it to be accessible from the side holding the camera. The switch allowed for choosing which channel the camera would use within the 2.4GHz band, and in turn would allow 4 different cameras of this type to operate in the same area at the same time.

In order to use the top of the car, I had to cut most of an inch off the front of the cover to allow room for the camera, and cut off the observation window and a strip of plastic most of the way to the opposite end of the car from the camera, where the motherboard and transmitter would be allowed to protrude, as well as a large un-train-like power switch. For power, I used a single AA battery holder cut in half and glued to the base with the two halves separated to be a little bit longer than it was originally intended. Then I added the two 12V batteries, put the cover on the car, and turned on the switch.

On my television screen was a nice view of the tracks looking forward from my traincam. I attached an engine to the back of it and turned the engine on, pushing the camera. It worked perfectly. My very own traincam was going happily around my miniature, undecorated set-up. I was excited.

I mentioned earlier that 12V batteries would probably have a shorter life span than multiple AA batteries, and as it happens, I was right. As the camera approached the end of its first lap, the television screen went fuzzy and then turned to blue. The batteries had lasted a total journey of nearly 14 feet in 15 seconds. My heart sank. My traincam would not make it around the first bend of any respectable set-up before running out of juice, so it was back to my list of options.

The logical thing to do with the failure of the 12V batteries was to go with option 4: disassemble my existing battery pack and remove its circuit board. That sounded nice in theory, but the inside of the traincam had very little room left, certainly not enough room to hold four AA batteries let alone a small circuit board and additional wires associated with another board.

In spite of myself, I disassembled the battery pack, carefully removing the circuit board with a large pair of pliers in a manner reminiscent of the way junk-yards recover engines from discarded vehicles. Having extracted the board, I cut the wire leaving the battery pack at the plug and I finally had my power solution -- with one problem. I still had to fit 4 AA batteries in the confined space of a one-inch wide train car with the added challenge of making them easy to replace without having to disassemble anything. In the true spirit of ruthless destructiveness, I carefully cut away a huge section of the frame and was able to fit four batteries between the camera and the motherboard, using the cut-away piece of frame as a battery cover. I then cut the wires to the glued-down base of the 12V battery holder and rewired the train to have an extra circuit board in its place, capable of multiplying 6V to 24V.

Having tested all the wires before reassembling the case, I was confident that the camera would work flawlessly and, using model cement, I glued the cover onto the base, covering all the circuitry and leaving only the batteries exposed. Using blue-tack, I attached the removed section of cover over the batteries and was amused by the yellow stripe on the side of the car being no longer quite so straight.

On to the next step: the test.

I turned the camera on, expecting to see the track show up on my television screen.

Instead, a visible spark, and a blue screen lacking only the familiar message "Fatal error" greeted me.

Removing the cover with the glue half-dried was an experience in itself, and when I finally did manage to get the traincam open, I found that the circuit board from the battery pack's negative wire, which I hadn't insulated, had made contact with the camera's motherboard, resulting in a short circuit and an unwelcome interruption in service. With a little electrical tape for the short circuit and all other exposed wires, it was time to add more glue and test the camera once again.

I attached the camera to a U.S. Army engine and turned the transformer on. The camera car very smoothly allowed itself to be pushed rapidly around the track. Holding my breath, I turned the camera on and let it go around the track once again. On my television screen I saw the tracks zip by, and the batteries even lasted for a while.

The next morning I turned the camera on, and it had no life. Some quick tests with the voltagemeter revealed that something had drained my batteries during the night. I'd have to disassemble it and figure out what was draining the batteries in my sleep.

I decided I would use the opportunity to add lighting to the camera. In the dark, such as in a tunnel or simply in an unlit room, there was no image. With the help of a lighting kit, which consists of 2 small lightbulbs and some wires, I affixed a light bulb on either side of the camera lens.

This created a new problem, however, as the camera was too big for the lights. I would have to disassemble the camera head, too, and that meant cutting, stripping, and reattaching some extremely fine wires. Meanwhile my battery draining problem was forgotten.

I removed the screws holding the wheel truck in place under the camera and fed the wires for one of the lights down through the tiny hole. One of my lights, I decided, would be track powered. The other light would be attached to the battery pack and come on when the camera came on. The two lights are clearly visible in the front of the traincam. On-board batteries power the one to the left, and the one seen to the right is powered by the tracks. The one powered by the batteries is dimmer than the one powered by the tracks as it is being connected to the camera's electrical system before the multiplier, resulting in a lower voltage -- and better power conservation to power the all-important camera.

With the now reduced camera with its exposed circuitry sitting in a bed of blue-tack near the front of the traincam, I was finally able to fit the lights in place, using still more blue-tack, on either side of the camera, behind the front ledge of the lens so that they would not overpower an image the camera tried to capture. Seeing that the camera and lights were all exposed to the elements, I began to glue back the front inch or so of the shell which I'd cut off to make room for the original design. This provided a shelter for the camera and lights in the event of a derailment (which could be catastrophic on my desk, as trains derailing have the annoying habit of plunging 2 feet to horrible destruction on the floor) and a way of focusing the light from the two lightbulbs forward, illuminating the view for the camera in the event that ambient light would not be strong enough.

The track-powered light worked flawlessly. It was about time something on this camera did. In a dark room, the track-powered light at full power was strong enough to read by from more than a foot away.

The other light, the one attached to the internal circuitry of the camera, still posed a problem. The only wires that were not insulated, and so didn't involve a complete disassembly, were the connectors where the batteries made contact with the voltage multiplier. But that left a problem: as long as the batteries were plugged in, the light would be on. It would make my existing power-drainage problem a walk in the park by comparison.

My power-drainage problem? I had forgotten about that! Forgetting about the problem of the light draining the battery pack, I set back about my original task of fixing the power drainage. It wasn't long before I put 2 and 3 together and was pretty sure I'd come up with 5. My battery pack went straight to the multiplier, the multiplier then sent power to the switch and from there to the camera's motherboard. That meant there was only one place that could be drawing power: the multiplier.

I carefully removed the multiplier and all the wires from the guts of the traincam, and with wires hanging everywhere and blue-tack getting stuck to everything, I thoroughly examined the multiplier. What, I thought, could I do about this problem, without completely rebuilding the system?

It was simple. There was a tiny wire on the multiplier I'd previously ignored, and attached to it was a small switch. Obviously, that switch was not just an on-off switch for the camera: when on, the multiplier was draining power even if there was no draw on it.

With this piece of information I was able to kill two birds with one stone. I attached one of the battery-powered light's wires to the switch, and moved the switch to somewhere where I could reach it outside of the jumble of wires inside the traincam's shell. Using electrical tape and blue-tack, I affixed it to the transmitter antenna.

With that solution in place, I installed fresh batteries, put all the innards back into the train's open hole, sealed it up with electrical tape, and tested it.

Now the natural assumption here is that it worked, and it wouldn't be a bad assumption. But it would be only half right.

I turned on the switch attached to the voltage multiplier, and the light on one side of the camera came on. That was a good start. I took a deep breath, and turned the camera switch on.

The audio static on my TV set disappeared, and I waited expectantly for the video static to do the same. I had sound but no sight. What good was a train camera that had sound but no sight?

I removed the battery section's cover, removed the battery pack, and unceremoniously squeezed all the fine wires I'd earlier stripped and spliced to get the camera out of its shell. Then I put the battery pack back in and the cover on.

This time, it worked. Properly. The lights cast a glow on the track in front of it sufficient to give a night feeling to the image, the image showed up on the screen, the audio came over the speaker, and just to be sure, the traincam promptly derailed.

The problem turned out to be a weight imbalance. The end of the traincam with the batteries was heavy enough to pave a road, but the other half of the car, which held only the switch, the transmitter, and some wires, was too light and could easily be imbalanced and leave the track. With the help of a pair of container weights and some more electrical tape, I was able to easily remedy this last problem by strapping the weights under the car and holding them there with the tape. At long last, I had a traincam that worked. A comparable traincam on-line would have cost a minimum of US$360, approximately $550 Canadian, and would still have required a train car to mount it in and some assembly. Purchasing a traincam built into a railcar cost even more.

This cost-effective self-contained traincam was completed for an estimated cost of C$170 (approximately US$115) and uses the following components:

(Prices are approximate and in Canadian currency)
* X-10 Wireless 2.4GHz wireless camera receiver (model VR31A) (attached to VCR)
* X-10 Wireless 2.4GHz wireless camera and components (model XC10A) (camera, motherboard, transmitter)
* X-10 Wireless camera battery pack components (model ZB10A) (voltage multiplier) (all camera components C$118)
* Athearn Northern Pacific 74' observation car (C$20)
* Small screw-on electric switch (C$2)
* 4 AA batteries (C$7)
* 2 small lights (C$5)
* Container weights (C$5)
* 2 AA battery holders with 9V battery style plugs (C$5)
* 2 9V battery style wires and plugs (C$2)
* Electrical tape (C$1)
* Model cement (C$2)
* Blue-tack (C$3)
* Wires (scavenged from 6' of wire attached to camera) (C$0)

Copyright (c) 2002 by David Graham. All rights reserved. David Graham has a passion for model trains and computers. He can be found at http://cs-club.org/~canada/. Slashdot welcomes reader-submitted features and reviews. Thanks to cdlu for this one.

Comments

What a Post!

[NetNinja]

Now this has to be the biggest Slashdot Post I have seen to date!

Re:What a Post!

[Whatever Fits]

Now this has to be the biggest Slashdot Post I have seen to date!
Obviously you haven't read anything by John Katz!

Re:What a Post!

[pete-classic]

So someone tipped you off to filter Jon Katz before you ever saw one of his "Features?"

-Peter

Re:What a Post!

[rjamestaylor]

Not only big as a post, but the biggest X10 add I've ever seen!

Re:What a Post!

[Stonent1]

Not only big as a post, but the biggest X10 add I've ever seen!

Not only that, the biggest spelling of "ad" I have ever seen in your post ;)

Re:What a Post!

[Anonymous Coward]

no kidding! All this text should be in a separate web site somewhere (with photos)

Re:What a Post!

[Anonymous Coward]

Obviously you haven't read anything by Katz!

He said biggest post, not biggest pile of shit, silly.

Re:What a Post!

[alphatool]

I don't know, some of those X10 pop-ups were fairly big.

umm pictures?

[McFly69]

Does he have any pictures? Its nice and all to describe it, but pictures... damit we need pictures!!

Re:umm pictures?

[Anonymous Coward]

knowing the editors, this guy probably did submit
pictures but they were deleted when the article was accepted.

Re:umm pictures?

[McFly69]

IF there were deleted, then the pictures were in malformed links. Which is the resonsibility of the poster. Personally I think the poster just made it up quickly, to get some /. fame.

Re:umm pictures?

[cdlu]

I have pictures. If you can mirror them somewhere slashdot-safe, let me know (address in story). It's 3M of pictures/captions.

Re:umm pictures?

[cdlu]

I selected a couple of the pictures in the interest of bandwidth preservation:
http://pkl.net/~cdlu/trainpictures/

Re:umm pictures?

[McFly69]

Sggestion.. trying making a nicer external body. Maybe even painting?

Re:umm pictures?

[dildatron]

I contacted him for a mirror, so feel free to slashdot my univerity's lowly linux server:

Behold, here is a mirror

Re:umm pictures?

[DanCo]

Wow - that looks a lot better than I'd expected from reading your story. :) I'd envisioned a much more mutilated car that wasn't quite so stream-lined and integrated. One question, though - is it as top-heavy as it appears? It looks like it wouldn't take much from the side to knock it over...

Re:umm pictures?

[ReadParse]

How you say? Ah yes, anticlimactic. I would have preferred the story a little longer and the photos a little crappier.

Re:umm pictures?

[dildatron]

here is a full mirror with all the pictures for your enjoyment. it's not running IIS, so there is no way in the world we can slashdot it!

mirror

Re:umm pictures?

[farnham]

I was wondering what might suck more than the text only post. Behold! Pictures made it suck more.
The guy just taped the load of crap together. There is NOTHING to see here!

Actual quote
"The second version of the traincam is seen here passing Amtrak engine 231, which has the dubious distinction of being the first engine to derail on my carpet."

This person hasn't quite gotten past the infant self-absorbed state. And here we are encouraging it.

Bah

Re:umm pictures?

[cdlu]

The batteries are at the base and there are counterweights under the underbelly of the railcar so it's actually very difficult to knock over. It's also kind of heavy and has a knack at knocking over the other train cars if it... gets too close. (Also makes for great footage. ;))

Re:umm pictures?

[technoCon]

the guy rocks, but he says he only uses Lynx. He's image deprived.

Re:umm pictures?

[rworne]

And exactly what is odd about seeing Amtrak and derail in the same sentence? I do all the time in the newspaper...

Re:umm pictures?

[Anonymous Coward]

Guess what- everywhere is "slashdot-safe" for these pictures. People arent exactly lining up to see pictures of your toy choo-choo.

Re:umm pictures?

[zonker]

yeah that would be nice. i'm feeling very patriotic today and like the good american i am, there are way too many words here to read. how about a synopsis with a few pictures...

Re:umm pictures?

[Nubrian]

Oohhhhh maaannnnnn you wrecked the train.......

Re:umm pictures?

[Anonymous Coward]

People arent exactly lining up to see pictures of your toy choo-choo.

Not so sure about that. I got more than 120 clickthroughs to a fecaljapan troll thinly disguised as the train pictures, so there definately is interest in them... Usually such a troll gets only tens of clicks. But maybe, what probably helped is the fact that moderators were a little bit, uhmmm, slow. The thing is still at zero.

Re:umm pictures?

[i chose quality]

i'm a bit dissapointed...

reading the article made me think of a camera-waggon undistinguishable from an unmodified one. just an opening in the front and those switchies in the back.

but what i see on the pics just looks ugly and so not 1337... :-(
just imagine showing this thing to your pals! can you proudly say: "hey, it cost me 170c$ and two days (?) of work. i know it looks ugly and stuff, but, hey..."

i would have gone for one of the commercial waggons if i were you.

but it's ok, if you like your work.

From the cry for help dept.

[Anonymous Coward]

Wow, and I thought I didn't get out much....

Re:From the cry for help dept.

[Anonymous Coward]

Yeah seriously, I want to throw "C++ for dummies" and a woman at this guy.

Wow

[Anonymous Coward]

10 pages to say "I strapped a wireless cam on a toy train"?

Re:Wow

[Anonymous Coward]

Hey, it's better than "I decorated a computer."

Re:Wow

[Lev13than]

10 pages to say "I strapped a wireless cam on a toy train"?

For an encore, maybe he'll tell us about the time he made a diorama using pre-packaged Star Wars characters, still in their display box.

Re:Wow

[Anonymous Coward]

"I strapped a wireless cam on a toy train"

It isn't a toy train.

Re:Wow

[stanmann]

Of course not, it's an HO scale Toy train.

Re:Wow

[orallo]

Yeap, you are right it is not a toy train, and I am sure he gets laid a lot too.

Re:Wow

[TwP]

For an encore, maybe he'll tell us about the time he made a diorama using pre-packaged Star Wars characters, still in their display box.

"I bent my wookie."

Re:Wow

[Anonymous Coward]

Of course not, it's an HO scale Toy train

Of course not, it's an HO scale model train.

a toy train is something totally different.

How to overcome the /. effect...

[ath0mic]

... post your website ON /.

Re:How to overcome the /. effect...

[Dark Lord Seth]

Ah, but what if shalsdot would slashdot itself? That'd be odd, because if slashdot would slashdot slashdot, people can't reach slashdot and thus cant continue to slashdot slashdot on slashdot anymoe, after which is repeats when people manage to get on again, only to slashdot slashdot again in a vicous circle effect! AAAH!

Maybe it's time to go to bed. Yes, think happy thoughts, happy thoughts.

Re:How to overcome the /. effect...

[Cyno01]

/. gets /.'d sometimes, they just put up a static page. You know those times you cant log in or anything?

WTF?

[Anonymous Coward]

Yawn, change the channel Marge.

What, no pictures?

[AJWM]

Man, what a tease.

And next week...

[nizo]

Next up he will post live camara shots of grass growing in his backyard! I can't wait!!!

Re:And next week...

[Anonymous Coward]

Really, this guy needs to get out more often.

Re:And next week...

[Anonymous Coward]

Nah he'll post 10 pages about how he set his camcoder to time-lapse mode (!) so we can see the grass growing at high speed. No pictures or video though.

Re:And next week...

[tiwason]

From the sounds of it, he is in snow country...

that grass growing cam will be pretty boring...

Re:And next week...

[Bighund]

That's already been done: http://www.iowafarmer.com/corncam/corn.html

Re:And next week...

[arb]

Nah he'll post 10 pages about how he set his camcoder to time-lapse mode (!) so we can see the grass growing at high speed.

Why high speed? That would spoil all the fun.

Personally, I can't wait for his next 20k article on how to set up a wet-paint-drying-cam.

X-10!!

[NineNine]

I can see it now... X-10 popups that instead of having pictures of a scantily dressed woman, now have pictures of a model train set. "NOW! Get your X-10 camera to ...uhhh... well, get a live feed from the point of view of your toy trains... AND spy on naked women!!"

Re:X-10!!

[Anonymous Coward]

I can see it now: a .gif animation from the point of view of the model train as it rounds a bend and drives straight toward the bulging cleavage of a faceless model. "Great for home security!" the caption will exclaim.

Re:X-10!!

[Tenebrious1]

Why do we see all these articles about "alternative" uses for the X10s? Doesn't anybody out there use them for their intended purpose, to spy on the neighbor's daughter?

Re:X-10!!

[MCMLXXVI]

The real idea would be to have tracks running into places with naked woman to spy on with the traincam. Just as they notice it chug away down the tracks to the next place.

Re:X-10!!

[Anonymous Coward]

More like rather than having pictures of a scantily dressed woman, now have 20KB text descriptions of a model train set...

Very touching story...

[Anonymous Coward]

I am not sure if the connections between model railroading and computing have ever been well discussed or explored. I myself became interested in computing when I was 12 out of a desire to control and automate a train set. I suspect there are many other similar relationships between the two.

Re:Very touching story...

[Bighund]

It's actually pretty amazing what has been accomplished with "Digital Command Control" (DCC) in this hobby in the past few years. Try Googling "DCC MODEL RAILROAD"

Re:Very touching story...

[cide1]

Im an O-Gauger myself, and am quite partial to Lionel's Trainmaster Command Control system. I view the differance as akin to Solaris vs. Linux. DCC is an open standard, many differant companies make many differant product. TMCC has one main manufacturer , although many companies incorporate it, has somewhat open standards , but one has the advantage of one stop place for support. Plus, efforts to bring DCC to 3 rail, AC powered trains failed pretty badly.

Re:Very touching story...

[Anonymous Coward]

This was back in the early 70's, when the only thing available was a new 6502 on a micro controller board with 1k of memory and a hex keypad...there were no digital control systems for trainsets then.

Re:Very touching story...

[AndroidCat]

The connections go wayback. Read Steven Levy's book Hackers about the origins of the hackers at MIT from the Tech Model Eailroad Club. Chapter here

Re:Very touching story...

[beetinkle]

I agree with the aspect of model railroading becoming high tech. Screensaver had a very interesting segment on DCC last week.

"Cost effective"

[Lemmy Caution]

I'm not sure that the term "cost effective" applies to a project with a future revenue stream of ... zero.

Re:"Cost effective"

[nytes]

Hey, it worked for the dot-coms.

This is a STORY?

[realmolo]

I mean, whoop-de-fucking-doo. He put a camera on his toy choo choo train. Which goes around his room. Who cares? Now if if he had naked girls in his room (which I guarantee he doesn't) it might be fun. I can see the URL now... http://www.tittytrain.com By the way, that domain name is available. ;)

Re:This is a STORY?

[Anonymous Coward]

I dunno about that there's definitely some distinctly non train related action going on in some of the photos..

http://pkl.net/~cdlu/photos/Laura_David_kissing.jp g

(all photos availble here)

http://pkl.net/~cdlu/photos/

I don't get it.

[Em Emalb]

I am not sure whether the author likes trains or not. Could someone clarify for me please?

Anyhow, nicely written article. Some may argue this isn't news for nerds, but my goodness, if it isn't, then what the heck is this news for?

Re:I don't get it.

[sulli]

Yes. Model trains are certainly a nerdy pursuit, and (having raced my own as a kid) I can certify that they can be much fun.

What we need, though, is wrecks. Trains going around in circles are boring. However, trains crashing into each other at 79mph (scale) are not. Particularly if cars, pedestrians, houses, etc. can also be made to fly around the room with vigor.

Re:I don't get it.

[minion]

Yes. Model trains are certainly a nerdy pursuit, and (having raced my own as a kid) I can certify that they can be much fun.

You need to read the book "Hackers" by Steven Levy. The Tech Model Railroad Club at MIT is what started it all.

Re:I don't get it.

[Speare]

http://www.addamsfamily.com/addams/train.jpg

Re:I don't get it.

[Cyno01]

Model trains crashing into eachother at 79mph (not to scale) is even more fun.

This is ridiculous.

[cybermace5]

I can't believe Slashdot was assaulted with this.

Timothy, you posted the ENTIRE run-on account, of some guy fumbling with little toys.

It's not even like a model railroad club, with beautifully detailed mountains, towns, and tunnels did this. It's a guy with no clue ripping apart toys and sticking them together with rubber bands, and running a train around on his desk.

This is not cool, it's dumb.

Re:This is ridiculous.

[Anonymous Coward]

A whole shitload of text about something inane? If you've seen his website, you'd understand.

Re:This is ridiculous.

[Anonymous Coward]

It's not dumb, it's retarded and depressing.

Re:This is ridiculous.

[nicsterrr]

I have a suggestion for you.. If you aren't interested in a story, don't follow the link and don't read it. It's very easy. I presume that noone is holding a gun to your head forcing you to read every slashdot story that comes up..

Re:This is ridiculous.

[Anonymous Coward]

Then don't read it.

Re:This is ridiculous.

[dildatron]

actually, someone IS holding a gun up to my head, forcing me to read every comment and post, you insensitive clod!

Re:This is ridiculous.

[kent_eh]

This is not cool, it's dumb.
As opposed to all the lame case mod stories and operating system religious flame wars on /. ?

That said, pics would have been good, if he could find a host that can withstand the /. effect.

Re:This is ridiculous.

[GMontag]

If you aren't interested in a story, don't follow the link and don't read it.

Normally I would give the same advice. But as I read the story it got more horrible and more horrible, I could not look away.

It was like watching a trainwreck...

Re:This is ridiculous.

[Anonymous Coward]

I'd let him shoot me, if I were you!

Re:This is ridiculous.

[cybermace5]

I mean, come on, he's talking about his track-powered light and says that at full power it was bright enough to read by, one foot away. It's like he never heard of a decent white LED.

Not sure why anyone thinks this stuff is cool, anyway. I dig cooler stuff out of my junk box before breakfast. Here's something I did one Sunday afternoon when I was bored. I did update the program, and now I can bookmark coordinates; *clickclick* on a list item and *whirrwhirr* the camera is on target. I plan to draw up some parts and write a HOWTO. Since it's tiny and clear, I've had people at my (otherwise uncluttered) desk wondering where the camera was. I've even done research into setting up a kit for people to build their own, and so far have the materials cost, including two RC servos, near $25.

BUT I would never write a novella about it in excruciating detail. Not to mention downright painful wording, pompous descriptions of everyday activities and products, and little asides that are supposed to be humorous, but leave you questioning the future of society.

And anyone who would publish close-up shots of himself kissing is sick. And his girlfriend is sick for putting up with it, if she knows.

Re:This is ridiculous.

[another_mr_lizard]

In Soviet Russia *EVERYONE* has a gun pointed at their heads.....

Re:This is ridiculous.

[Anonymous Coward]

This has been around for quite sometime, camaras in HO trains. and doesnt need black tape lol to hold it on. It fits nicely in the cab of the trains. Oh well we all get boards at times

Enough with these cool projects already!

[ekrout]

I'm still trying to finish up my very own personal hobbit hole!

Photos

[Cave Dweller]

There are some photos here and here

Re:Photos

[Anonymous Coward]

That is your idea of cute?! Scuse me while I go cough up my lunch...

Re:Photos

[Anonymous Coward]

Not standard, maybe, but Barbie dolls have never really appealed to me. I think she's cute, sure, she's got that dirty geek-girl thing going. I'm sure I'm not alone on this. Anyone?

Re:Photos

[Anonymous Coward]

Looks like you're alone.

Actually I'm surprised, I figured almost everyone's standards around here were as low as they could go. I guess all that pr0n keeps them unrealistically high.

Re:Photos

[geoswan]

This really bugs me. There is another, more flattering, picture of the cdlu's g.f. linked on the cdlu's .plan page, pointed to by the original article. But there is nothing wrong with this picture. I think cdlu's project is interesting. And it bugs me that we repay his generosity for sharing it by criticizing his g.f.

I look at this picture and see a nice, wholesome, normal, attractive young woman. She looks happy. I think anyone who can't look at a trim, healthy, wholesome, young woman and acknowledge that she is attractive is going to face a lot of disappointments. News at eleven: glamourous celebrity gals, spend a lot of time and energy looking glamourous. Most normal women don't have time for that. Glamourous celebrity gals only bother going to that trouble when they are going to be on camera. When they are off-duty they don't look any different than the girl next door.So, lay off.

So lay off.

Does this fulfill the mission?

[Anonymous Coward]

News for nerds? Hmph... maybe. Stuff that matters? Absolutely NOT.

I'm off to dig up a story on black holes colliding, Internet taxation, a new kernel release (2.2.x, mind you), or toy trains fitted with camer... er...

Time

[mallfouf]

You definitly have a lot of free time in your hands. :) Post some pics. I might try it at home.

TrainCam, whats next?

[MC68040]

What's next? Make an AI for the train? And then what... Let it start blogging all the horribile things it sees from it's place on the floor?

Imagine, the world beeing taken over by blogging, camming, trains!
Oh wait... Well it was kinda neat anyway. /040

Northern pacific car?

[gully42]

Good idea, if it had been Amtrack, it would take three extra hours to get out of the station, and
then derail on straight track.

-Nick
Rio Grande: The Action Road.

2.01 GPA

[Anonymous Coward]

Lacking space to build a set in my rented single room...

No wonder it takes some people 7 years to get through a 4 year degree...FOCUS MAN!

I'm almost finished...

[stratjakt]

...with my 20 page manifesto about the time I put a GI Joe in my Batmobile.

Stay tuned!

Re:I'm almost finished...

[Anonymous Coward]

let me guess: you don't have any pictures either.

I'd like to see some traincam pics

[georgeha]

perhaps of a schoolbus stalled on the tracks?

Re:I'd like to see some traincam pics

[Anonymous Coward]

well, i thought it was funny, georgeha.

Re:I'd like to see some traincam pics

[Anonymous Coward]

thanks, but I was just posting something innnocous to get more mod points, I need to post about once a week or so.

PIX

[Anonymous Coward]

just follow the links. here's david smooching his girlfriend for example! no traincam pix though.

What to do with your trains: Just camera's?

[dagg]

It's a really cool idea to turn your childhood toy into a house-roving camera. That's really cool. Here's another idea that someone just happened to mention to me just last night:

Why not replace the train cars with plastic containers? Why not make the train tracks a little wider? Why not make it possible for the train engine to pick out a specific plastic container and bring it to you (assuming you are somewhere along its track) ?

That would be a really geeky/lazy butt thing to do. You could just sit on your couch and request via remote control for your train to bring you things.

Re:What to do with your trains: Just camera's?

[SoCalChris]

I've thought many times about building an LGB train around the house. Specifically with a tunnel going through the refridgerator, with a Lego Mindstorm robot inside to put bottles of beer on the train so the train could bring them to me without me having to get up.

Beer, Lego robot, & model trains all working together. Now what could be more newsworthy stuff for nerds than that?

And yes, I really have put a lot of thought into this, and have been pondering doing it for a while. I just doubt that my wife would let me put a tunnel through the fridge :)

Re:What to do with your trains: Just camera's?

[phavens]

Just throw in a remote controled door... and make sure that it's a beer fridge (ie. a junk fridge for the guy to fill up with his favorite brew and not worry about wasting room better spent to broccoli and leftovers that never get eaten.)

I bet your H.I.S.S. tank has one too.

[mkelley]

What are you, 10?

While this might seem cool, it's not. I'm sure trains can be a hobby, but only if you're 10, retired, or an actual train conductor. If you're over 15 and not one of the three above, then you need help.

Re:I bet your H.I.S.S. tank has one too.

[Anonymous Coward]

Oh, yeah, and sitting on yer fat butt watching Enterprise or Farscape is a great hobby. At least he gets to (1) use his hands for something besides wanking, (2) meet new people (assuming he goes to shows or whatever), and (3) have a sense of accomplishment at the end of the day. What have you done for yourself this week?

Too many people today don't have hobbies of real consequence - they have TV or the Internet instead. Don't belittle the guy for doing something you don't do.

Re:I bet your H.I.S.S. tank has one too.

[Anonymous Coward]

What have you done for yourself this week?

Probably upgraded the hard drive in his TiVo so hey can rip even more Farscape. That would be like even way more cool. Wait till his dad found out what he did! he will shit!

Trains are soooo immature. /. is so way better.

Re:I bet your H.I.S.S. tank has one too.

[mkelley]

Sorry, wrong answer. Not your stereotypical geek here. Don't like Anime, SciFi, or sitting on my ass. No, I belittle the guy because it's just lame.

Re:I bet your H.I.S.S. tank has one too.

[Anonymous Coward]

Sorry, wrong explanation.

It's more likely that you belittle the guy because of some insecurity about your own personality, than it is because of some fundamental "lame"-ness with what the original poster has done.

Put a call into Dr. Phil ASAP.

Re:I bet your H.I.S.S. tank has one too.

[mkelley]

You just made me spit water on my monitor. Funny. No, not insecutiry more like realism. But you know what. Everyone collects something, Pez, Watches, and trains. Just like "Ishtar" or "Cool as Ice" is someone's favorite movie. To each their own, but it was just a lame post to have on /.

Great description

[fuzzy1]

I will use this as an example for some of my Girl
Scouts who want to know how to do things.

Thanks
rcb

NEED PICTURES NEED PICTURES NEED PICTURES!!!!!!!!!

[NDPTAL85]

This post ........ .......needs pictures needs pictures needs pictures needs pictures needs pictures needs pictures needs pictures needs pictures needs pictures needs pictures needs pictures needs pictures needs pictures needs pictures needs pictures needs pictures needs pictures needs pictures needs pictures needs pictures needs pictures needs pictures needs pictures needs pictures needs pictures needs pictures needs pictures needs pictures needs pictures needs pictures needs pictures!!!!!!
Oh yeah, some shots of the trains would help.
And some pictures. K PLZ THX!!

MR

[Anonymous Coward]

I propose we nickname this guy "Master Rambler". Besides taking 10 pages to say "I strapped a cam to a toy train", his web page is totally formatless. Here's a quote:

Formatting has been lost and I haven't found need to fix it.

I have!

Other Ideas

[4of12]

1. How about wall mounting brackets for the track so the train can run at a higher level?
2. Miniature cable car hanging camera for virtual "flying"?
3. Pet mounted cams to see what Rover's getting into these days. Probably very exciting when he's chasing cars...

Re:Other Ideas

[milesbparty]

How about a decent train layout that doesn't look like a bunch of junk. There's an idea...

Re:Other Ideas

[bigboard]

3. Pet mounted cams to see what Rover's getting into these days. Probably very exciting when he's chasing cars...

Although not too nice when he's sniffing other dogs butts.

The formula

[arpit]

1. Strap on cam to train
2. Copy site on slashdot
3. ????
4. Profit!

Watch out!

[Superfreaker]

Those zany Canadians are back at it again with their crazy shenanigans!

What's really amazing...

[Cap'n Canuck]

A comparable traincam on-line would have cost a minimum of US$360, approximately $550 Canadian, and would still have required a train car to mount it in and some assembly. Purchasing a traincam built into a railcar cost even more.

It sounds like there are products out there that already do exactly what this guy's camera does. And they probably do things a lot better (i.e. take power from the rails, offer a "swivel" camera so you can take pictures front, back, or side) - but you get what you pay for. As interesting as this is, I don't see how he did things any better. To me, it's just a miniature version of Junkyard Wars, except:
- he's not competing against anyone else
- there's no prize
- there's no time limit
- he did the basic equivalent of destroying a perfectly working car in order to construct a motorcyle that weighs twice as much, and only runs in one gear
- he doesn't get to meet Cathy Rodgers

Re:What's really amazing...

[Anonymous Coward]

- he doesn't get to meet Cathy Rodgers

then... what's the point? Why should that guy from Black Flag have all the fun?

Re:What's really amazing...

[zornorph]

It sounds like there are products out there that already do exactly what this guy's camera does. And they probably do things a lot better (i.e. take power from the rails, offer a "swivel" camera so you can take pictures front, back, or side) - but you get what you pay for. As interesting as this is, I don't see how he did things any better.

This could have been said of Linux when it first got started (and I'm sure many people did):

"It sounds like there are products out there that already do exactly what this guy's (operating system) does. And they probably do things a lot better - but you get what you pay for. As interesting as this is, I don't see how he did things any better."

In time, perhaps this traincam will become even better as he refines his technique and passes on the information on how to do it to others.

Re:The formula

[Modern Fix]

Did we need a dual post of this?

the Crimson Guard cam

[inteller]

Ya know, with my GI Joe Crimson Guard Twins I can take their little skyhook thingy, attach a camera to them, and slide them down the stairs...that'd be so cool! But mom says I have to be in bed by 8 so I'll post my story about it tomorrow!

Why is this here post.

[Night0wl]

I'm often left rolling my eyes and mumbling "just shut up and let it be" to people who post threads like, "Why?" and, "Why for?" and the like.

But for a chance, It's my turn.

Why is this here? Trains are neat yes... but I don't find it particularly geeky one mans tail of Duct tape and product placement.

Now if it ran linux, or could have Beowulf implications then perhaps I'd see justification, for the bad posts alone.. but? Why? ....

Re:Why is this here post.

[strictnein]

no kidding... this is definitely not "News for Nerds" and it definitely doesn't matter.

The whole article can be summed up in 1 sentence:

"I attached a camera to a train"

This has already been done to many different electronic items and has been posted many times on slashdot (the last one was when a guy put a camera on a really fast RC car. at least that had movies and was somewhat interesting since the car was moving at 30-40mph))

My favorite quote:

Around the same time, I was able to move my track onto a 3'x5' desk, using blue-tack adhesive as a temporary track-bed.

Whew! Talk about exciting!

Re:Why is this here post.

[Night0wl]

WOAH THERE BUDDY! SLOW DOWN!
That's like, putting a window's machine, next to a g4 tower, and then putting a linux machine in the room!

Way to much excitement for me.

Katz?

[PD]

So Jon Katz is playing with little trains and cameras now?

I wondered where that windbag went to...

Saw this at The Childrens Museum..

[slug0]

I saw a train that had a cam hooked up to it at The Childrens Museum in Indianapolis. Its a Christmas exhibit and the train goes through a village and through tunnels. When the kids have there faces looking at the train you see a large head on the screen above. Kinda scarry...maybe not.

Re:NEED PICTURES NEED PICTURES NEED PICTURES!!!!!!

[strictnein]

here you go!

http://www.cs-club.org/~canada/cdlu-rr/David_Sca ry .jpg

Ahhhhhhhh!

No god! Please! Send the monster away!

In other news: Slashdot Now Offers Free Hosting!

[Greedo]

For all your hosting needs, Slashdot is now pleased to offer:

- text only hosting (linking to images on external servers permitted).
- HTML markup (limited)
- free message board on each page
- Slashdot-Effect protection (tm)

Optional features include posting your webpage several times a week for maximum exposure, and limited spelling and grammar checking.

Act now, and get a free CowboyNeal.

If he has video Icangetit posted at live.curry.com

[linuxislandsucks]

Someone should tell him that if he has video I should be able to get itposted at live.curry.com the owner is an online friend of mine...:)

Ok, I gotta say it...

[Quasar1999]

Everyone is thinking it, so I gotta say it...

WTF???

Seriously.. Nothing interesting is said in this story... the guy ripped apart an x10 camera and threw it in a model train... I've ripped apart many things, mostly old robot toy type things, and stuffed motors, speakers, microphones, etc in them, but then again so has countless other people... and it's not interesting enough to post to the world... just like this article...

This is actually interesting

[MagPulse]

It reminds me of beginning programmers. They will sit and talk for an hour about how they wrote the number guessing game in C and it took them a week. It's important for them to do this, because that's the level they're at. When I was at that level and I read expert programming books, I thought it was bizarre that they didn't show every line of source or how to structure the code. Now I realize that all programming texts make assumptions about the reader's ability, and only talk at a certain level.

So cut the guy some slack, even though this was an inappropriate post for the front page. Maybe in five years he'll be working for that company that makes the $350 product with a cam already installed.

Re:This is actually interesting

[Anonymous Coward]

and they might even sell two or three of the units....

Re:This is actually interesting

[Anonymous Coward]

They'll branch out into cams for those little RC cars that are being spammed for like crazy right now. The main use of these will be to look up dresses and spy in university dorms. They'll sell millions. (Profit!)

Re:This is actually interesting

[Symb]

Ego waffle anybody?

Re:This is actually interesting

[ryanvm]

Hey, does that mean I'm a moron for enjoying his submission?

Re:This is actually interesting

[Anonymous Coward]

yes

Re:This is actually interesting

[slashhax0r]

Your are right, actually this guy did not a bad job of it, Most of you guys on here who are bitching and saying "how could slashdot be assaulted with such crap" probably don't have the balls to post such a thing. It's a cool little bit, granted it's not professional level, but he took something, modded it to his needs and it works. :)

Hell, if I had 1/10 of the negative feedback on the stuff i've hacked together to learn on (or whatever) I'd be a computer/electronics hating luddite.

Give the guy a break. I think he did an admirable job!

Re:This is actually interesting

[Anonymous Coward]

Actually it's only $199.98. TrainCam

Timothy needs to go

[farnham]

I'm really tired of timothy's posts. It's clear he's not a geek, nerd, or interestd in news. He just posts things he likes.
there is NOTHING geeky about this project. It's stupid. Perhaps if the submitter had actually done some nifty wiring, or taken the time to make a website including pictures, or made it controllable from the internet. I dunno, i'm grasping on how to make this good.
This just sucks and dosen't even include any links. I thought that was a rule for posting on the front page.
I was hoping they would take his editorial privelages away for the monkey automatons.

It's becoming clear that they keep him around to make the other editors look good.

YUK
(mod me however you like I'm not a troll and i don't post often enough to care about my karma)

Crap, all kinds, cheap, from Slashdot

[Animats]

More and more, I get the impression that Slashdot staff are just hanging on, pretending to work until VA Whatever goes bust. The duplicate stories are bad enough, but this one is the lamest yet. Hello? Earth to Slashdot, get a clue.

What really worries me is that if Slashdot is this fucked up, what's happening with SourceForge? A big chunk of the open source world will be in trouble if SourceForge goes under with little or no notice. SourceForge users should be prepared for it to disappear any moment. Back up any SourceForge project you're involved with; don't rely on their copies.

When you see a company screwing up things they used to do right, that's a strong sign that they're in deep, deep trouble.

Re:Crap, all kinds, cheap, from Slashdot

[Anonymous Coward]

More and more, I get the impression that Slashdot staff are just hanging on, pretending to work until VA Whatever goes bust.

Funny, I figure they were out organizing a union and left some union stooge in charge of story approval!

Re:Crap, all kinds, cheap, from Slashdot

[Mignon]

When you see a company screwing up things they used to do right, that's a strong sign that they're in deep, deep trouble.

Wait until Jon Katz takes apart an X10 camera, straps it to a dirt bike, and jumps a shark.

Re:Crap, all kinds, cheap, from Slashdot

[Anonymous Coward]

... but this one is the lamest yet.

I believe the article about composting was the lamest.

irony

[viper21]

I made a cool kickass train cam.

But the pictures are MINE! ALLL MINE! YOU MUST BUILD YOUR OWN TO ENJOY MY KICKASS TRAIN GOODNESS.

Signed,

The X10 Train Mastermind.

Nature will take care of 'em

[Anonymous Coward]

I'm not too worry about this post....Darwinism should kick in, as I can imagine that ten page manifestos on strapping webcams to trains definitely says something about mating potential. Of course, watch him wind up fathering a supreme race or something.

boring!

[Anonymous Coward]

good grief, could this story be any more boring...10 pages of some dude playing with his toys, big woop!! why was this posted?

Re:Slow news day?

[easter1916]

We all also know that Freud's theories have long been discredited.

Be afraid....

[Anonymous Coward]

I fear you have missed the main point....
Your house-mate has a spy cam!!!! Be afraid, be very afraid....

Try again

[Anonymous Coward]

I'd rather see a wireless cam attached to a strap-on.

Hmmm

[Anonymous Coward]

I just got an idea of buying one of those remote controlled airplanes or helicopters, and mounting a small camera on them. Then I'd hook up the receiver into my radeon 64 ViVo. I could then record.

Re:Hmmm

[Anonymous Coward]

i have several remote controlled airplanes and helicopters. i also have a friend that is into micro wireless cameras. we have strapped one of his color wireless video cameras to some of my planes and gotten some great footage. i plan to do the same with my helicopters this weekend. i wonder if slashdot readers would be interested in an article documenting this project?

Re:Hmmm

[Anonymous Coward]

I'd be interested in an article documenting your project. You know what would be even better? Somehow having a trap-door on the airplane or helicopter with a few eggs....and somehow opening it over a target. Bombs away!

Re:Hmmm

[La.swamprat]

Laser guided egg bombs???? The knock at the door is Homeland Security.

Blah

[fizban]

And now we return you to "Days of our Sad and Boring-Ass Lives."

"When last we saw Billy, he was demonstrating his lack of social skills by building a circular train track in his crap-infested apartment. Look at it go, Billy! Around, and around, and around, and around, and around..."

Ughh, who actually read this story? Crapola to the max, man!

Re:Blah

[peterprior]

ROFL

That just about made my day

Big scale, big deal

[r_j_prahad]

Now if he'd gotten it fitted into a 'Z' scale loco, that would've earned him some serious bragging rights indeed! HO is for people with big basements; us apartment-dwellers are stuck with 'Z', or if you're unmarried with a spare bedroom maybe 'N'. BTW 'Z' scale = 1:220, the smallest commercially available scale.

Re:Big scale, big deal

[foistboinder]

I was thinking of doing something like this with my N-scale trains.

If I had the money, I'd like to do a Gomez Addams train layout in N.

Re:Big scale, big deal

[Anonymous Coward]

I live in an apartment, and have a very nice HO scale 4 by 10 layout thankyou. HO scale is for people with ingenuity, which this guy definitely has!

News for Nerds.

[Anonymous Coward]

Slashdot is going down hill. I say this, not because of this story, but because of the comments. Someone told people this site was cool, then a bunch of non-Nerds show up. Now they complain constantly about Microsoft bashing and nerdy stories. I just hope they get sick of it and leave, but I know that wont happen.

About time...

[PoorCoder]

I liked that (already ordered). I am also trying to find cam parts small enough to fit my modified AFX car going 750 scale miles an hour on the old figure 8 tracks.

Oh! By the way... think about it! if you set up two TV sets and watch both AFX car and HO train crashing into each other.

Humm...

Later, I gotta keep on hunting the www.digi-key.com web site.

Why oh why....

[Anonymous Coward]

Well, here is the 0.0001% response rate the spammers look for...X-10...great! There goes another terabyte of spam into my mailbox...

Errgggh..

[mstyne]

Worst ... slashdot ... article ... ever.

He strapped a camera to a train. This doesn't even fall into the category of "Why bother? Because you can!" I'm gonna strap a camera to my wang and do a 10 page write up on it. And *I'll* have PICTURES.

Re:Errgggh..

[Anonymous Coward]

gonna strap a camera to my wang and do a 10 page write up on it. And *I'll* have PICTURES.

I can see it now... "What do you mean, that's not a thumbnail?" ;-)

Re:Errgggh..

[__aatskl8715]

I'm gonna strap a camera to my wang and do a 10 page write up on it. And *I'll* have PICTURES.

If you're like most /. readers, methinks that the traincam's pictures will be much more interesting than those from your wang-cam, unless you spend some of your budget on other *things*.

Finally.

[Anonymous Coward]

News for Nerds. maybe not stuff that matters, but definitely News for Nerds.

actually, I kind of like it

[Anonymous Coward]

it gives a "beefier" feel to /.

kind of makes you feel there's some substance here.

you know -- kind of the way "E! True Hollywood Story" compensates for "Wild On..".

Some Constructive Criticism

[istartedi]

Yes, there are pictures if you follow the link, but I have yet to find one that looks like it was taken from a wireless cam on a train. Instead, they are just pictures of his train setup, which isn't very spectacular. The guy needs to either light his subject better, or fix the gamma correction. The only way I can see half of them is to change the gamma to something like 3 or more. Also, the extensions are .jpg, but apparently they are uncompressed BMPs (!). Compress and give us some thumbnails, dude.

Re:The formula

[Anonymous Coward]

a dual post with the first one marked as Redundant and the second one marked as Funny. Was it better the second time around???

Woah...

[Night0wl]

Do you find your self a bit befuddled by this article appearing here? Go visit his webpage, you'll be quite confused then.

He was an extra in a movie, and had 30+ roommates! ...

Someone hold me, I'm scared.

Re:The formula

[Anonymous Coward]

Jokes get more funny the 1e+9:th time you hear them, right?

Tonight, on a very special "Blossom"...

[Lethargica]

Standing on the platform looking intently at the train paid off, though, when every youngster's dream came true and the engineer invited me up into the engine while he waited... and then he touched me!

Boy! Get a life!

[Anonymous Coward]

Get a girlfriend man! It is much better than playing with this train.

Re:Boy! Get a life!

[squibix]

Yeah! And spend more time posting to slashdot, too!

Good job

[Anonymous Coward]

Any mod like this is cool. Sure, he probably could have just bought something similar for (not too much more) money. But the point is to learn something. I bet the next project he does will be cooler - and maybe somebody else will be inspired by his account, too.
Make your own fun! If you buy it, it isn't fun it's entertainment.

I agree

[Anonymous Coward]

this has no business being posted here. Is the story Q that bad today?

Why so negative?

[pknoll]

There sure are a lot of replies here that don't get it. What this is, young ones, is a good old-fashioned HACK.

The very cradle of modern geek society was heavily into model trains as well; read up on the TMRC sometime. They were the spiritual leaders of a lot you consider to be cool now.

Re:Why so negative?

[Anonymous Coward]

There's a difference between a hack and a hack-job. One is elegant, the other a mishappen thing you hide.

This falls into the latter category.

Re:Why so negative?

[stratjakt]

He taped a camera to a toy choo-choo.

The camera itself was already small, cheap, and wireless. He just taped it to a toy choo-choo.

Nothing clever. No "hack" here. Not even creative or original. As a kid I taped one of those fisher price video cams to my BMX. This is no more or less interesting.

Maybe I need to say this again.

He taped a camera to a toy choo choo.

We get it just fine.

Re:Why so negative?

[bergeron76]

Uhh, clever is relative...

If you don't like the article, don't read it. And more importantly, don't post about why you don't like the article and "why is it here". I actually found it interesting. More importantly, I really think that all the whiners on here are causing more harm to slashdot than the quality of the articles.

Re:Why so negative?

[adb]

Can't read, huh? The article describes the very involved technical hackery required to get it to work a whole lot better than "just taping it to a toy choo-choo" (i.e., at all).

Re:Why so negative?

[TheCrazyFinn]

While a neat hack, the technical ability involved is less than that necessary to wire a cab control layout with blocks. He simply spliced wires to reconfigure the camera's guts to fit in the Vistadome car.

Now for a real neat project, build yourself the CTC-16 command Control System described in the Dec 1979-April 1980 Model Railroaders. Bonus points if you can get the receiver units down to a size that will fit in most HO scale Locomotives (The projects decoders need their own dummy unit due to size).

Re:Why so negative?

[techstar25]

There arent enough good old fashioned hacks on slashdot anymore.

Re:Why so negative?

[adb]

I agree that the article is not proof of the enormity of the author's metaphorical intellectual penis. My contention is that this article is appropriate for Slashdot because the project is both technically cool and within the scope of what many random slashdotniks might actually do, and because the article is a good writeup of the project.

Re:Why so negative?

[Anonymous Coward]

It would seem that he is not really a geek after all, this is his WOMAN: http://pkl.net/~cdlu/lan.jpg

Re:Why so negative?

[Anonymous Coward]

Take of the blinders and weights... free yourself from your shackles and impediments and use your brain... geez... it was inane and boring. Kind of listening to the 10 year old boy next door explaining why putting cards in his spokes helps him go faster.

Timothy must be sitting there giggling over the ruckus this caused.

Diana Moon Glampers

Re:Why so negative?

[echucker]

Thanks for the post. I found it one of possibly 3 threads on the whole page worth reading. The rest were filled with whining and rants. Sad to say I would have run through mod points in nanoseconds today, as there were so many deserving of the troll and flamebait monikers.

I, for one, found it interesting reading, and eagerly await the day it can be done on my Marklin Z-gauge set.

Re:Why so negative?

[echucker]

Gah! My mod points have arrived, but 24 hours too late :-P

in other news

[MarkoNo5]

I reported that my 21" monitorzilla br0ke down yesterday. Since I wouldn't be able to see the images, I didn't bother to attach a camera to it.Can I have a frontpage story now ?

IN SOVIET RUSSIA

[Anonymous Coward]

In Soviet Russia, the trains ride you...

Speed reading course

[Anonymous Coward]

if ever I had a need for a speed reading course this post would more than justify the cost.

But then, I don't give a hairy horseshit about this dude's stupid train camera.

Slashdot has lost a reader/lurker *sob

Mastercard Style

[dr_dank]

* X-10 Wireless camera battery pack components (model ZB10A) (voltage multiplier) (all camera components C$118)
* Athearn Northern Pacific 74' observation car (C$20)
* Small screw-on electric switch (C$2)
* 4 AA batteries (C$7)
* 2 small lights (C$5)
* Container weights (C$5)
* 2 AA battery holders with 9V battery style plugs (C$5)
* 2 9V battery style wires and plugs (C$2)
* Electrical tape (C$1)
* Model cement (C$2)
* Blue-tack (C$3)
* Wires (scavenged from 6' of wire attached to camera) (C$0)


* Sticking out as the biggest geek on a site full of geeks (Priceless)

Re:Mastercard Style

[MikeLRoy]

Careful or mastercard will ask you, er, sue-your-ass-off, to get you to remove your post.
http://slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=01/04/10/162211 &mode=nested&tid=133

Other Ideas II

[flyneye]

how about hat cams for cops so we can randomly monitor them or other public officials.
senate and congress cams in each office so we can see what they REALLY do all day.
mechanic cams so we can see if they really worked those hours they charged for

You don't /really/ want pictures

[Symb]

See http://pkl.net/~cdlu/cdlu.jpg

5 steps to eternal fame

[MarkoNo5]

1. take some old trash
2. attach a wireless camera to it
3. describe what you see in 43525 words and submit to slashdot
4. ?
5. eternal fame

Re:5 steps to eternal fame

[Anonymous Coward]

4 = profit?

Um, who gives a shit?

[Pop n' Fresh]

I woke up this morning, and thought to myself: I would like to recapture the spirit of yesterday when I got out of bed and checked my email. My first step was to get out of bed. I knew that if I were to put one foot on the floor, then the other, that I could then walk over to the bathroom. Of course, the bathroom was not my ultimate destination, but I had to pee. I had several options:

1. Throw off the covers, put my left foot on the floor, then my right. Then I could proceed to the bathroom or the desk.
2. Slide out from under the covers, put both feet on the floor simultaneously.

And so on...

like on the simpsons...

[bje2]

that reminds me of the simpsons episode where Stan Lee forces the "Thing" into the Batmobile, thereby breaking it...

Kid: "You broke my batmobile"
Lee: "Broke? or made better?"

something like that...hilarious though...

well at least...

[Anonymous Coward]

Lacking space to build a set in my rented single room

Well at least he doesnt live with his parents. That's a step in the right direction.

Re:HEY, WHERE ARE ALL THE -1 POSTS? THEY'RE ALL AT

[Anonymous Coward]

No, they're not.

Time waste

[DTCDAN]

I was initally annoyed at myself for reading this whole thing, but then I realized, Hey, I'm at work!

Easy solution

[Codex The Sloth]

Just don't show posts from Timothy (like we all do with John Katz). Don't worry! If it's important, it will get posted as a dupe!

Re:Easy solution

[farnham]

It would be better if he was replaced beacuse over half of the frontpage is his stuff right now.
Twelve posts yesterday!
I would have to give up so much of the content that slashdot would be pointless to me.

I get the feeling that the paid editors have all gone and it's only the ones that do it for free left.

Excellent point on the dupes though.

imagine

[MarkoNo5]

a beowulf cluster of X10 cams attached to a toy train...

forward looking?

[kriebz]

I thought the cam looked forward. I see no pics looking down the track ahead.

I really wonder...

[AndroidCat]

What the warchalking symbols outside this guy's place would look like?

Re:I really wonder...

[rat7307]

What the warchalking symbols outside this guy's place would look like?

Something like ( L0s3r/n0lif3) Perhaps??

WHAT??!?

[frunch]

An X-10 cam that's NOT being used to spy on naughty teen girls?!? Heaven forfend!

That's it!!

[Drunken_Jackass]

I'm finally blocking Timothy stories from my account. I've given him the benefit of the doubt for far too long!

Re:That's it!!

[Anonymous Coward]

Good idea. I've blocked Katz for years now and I think this straw just broke the camel's back. Timothy really does post some horseshit stories!

If you liked getting in a locomotive ...

[The AtomicPunk]

I strongly suggest you visit the Portola Railroad Museum (http://www.oz.net/~samh/frrs/)
where you can not only get in, but learn to OPERATE a locomotive for an hour for $100. It's DAMN FUN. :)

Re:If you liked getting in a locomotive ...

[jhawkins]

I work on a similar project, only in Pennsylvania (just outside Harrisburg), and on a 101-year old steam locomotive. As of 2 years ago, it was the only remaining operable PRR steam locomotive.

Our locomotive will be out of service for probably 2 years or more for boiler work, but once it returns to service, we hold a week-long steam show in August, and people can take a half-hour engineer's class and operate our engine for $50 (it might be $100, I just started working with this group and haven't been around when the locomotive was in service).

Our organization's web page seems to be AFU at the moment, but here's a picture on my personal (free hosting) web page. Please be gentle.

Re:Mona Lisa, Mona Lisa, men have named you...

[mstyne]

I know this got modded off topic, but it was *very* funny.

Thomas the Tank Engine

[sxltrex]

I believe this is the same method used to create the 'Thomas the Tank Engine' series.

maybe....

[nebenfun]

Amtrack could use that domain as a new marketing ploy to attract men.

I know I'd ride the "TittyTrain"....
nbfn

Re:In other news: Slashdot Now Offers Free Hosting

[Anonymous Coward]

Journals?

I have pictures, and I am not afraid to show them!

[Anonymous Coward]

Click here

I predict....

[nebenfun]

a summons on DMCA-grounds for unlawful use of product.

nbfn

In related, actually interesting news...!

[Anonymous Coward]

My research group is buying a toy train set to run and demonstrate using image processing, Prolog, databases, web servers, etc. to control the train and automate itself, or allow for intervention, to duplicate a production line. We have a load of very nice features and a nice concept behind it, but I won't talk about that until we have the paper out :)

Sufficed to say, as an offshoot, you get to control the thing using an iPaq and a wireless card while wandering through the middle of our city... :)

You Lost Me At

[orallo]

...HO scale 74' passenger car to make a TrainCam...

Powering from the rails

[Ionizor]

You can fairly easily put the voltage from the rails up from 15V to 24V - all it takes is a resistor.

Just as a disclaimer, I'm a Software Engineering student applying my 1st Year Physics knowledge so this will get you the desired voltage but likely will not get you the desired effect. It could also burn out the camera, the train's motor, etc.. Don't try this at home unless you know what you're doing.

Voltage = Current times Resistance
V = I * R

Initial Voltage: 15 = I * R
Desired Voltage: 24 = I * (R + r)

You can substitute in R = 0 because the starting resistance is irrelevant, giving you a value of I = 15 for the first equation (note that this isn't the actual current in the circuit unless R = 0 which can't happen). Current (I) stays the same for the desired voltage so we have:

24 = 15 * (0 + r)
24 / 15 = r
r = 1.6 ohms

The (+/-) voltage problem can be eliminated using a diode which will restrict electron flow to one direction. I wouldn't suggest that you try this unless you know exactly how a diode works, however.

Re:Powering from the rails

[DanCo]

IANAEE, but - how does adding resistance equate to more voltage? Also - just adding a diode would give you positive output with positive input, but no power with negative input. You'd need something a little bit more complicated than just a diode for that.

Re:Powering from the rails

[sacherjj]

I'll take your 1st year Physics and raise it one Electrical Engineering Degree. The sound you hear is Ohm turning over in his grave. Adding resistance doesn't magically create voltage.

Re:Powering from the rails

[Ionizor]

This is why I'm in software, not electrical.

Re:Powering from the rails

[Jubedgy]

Using ohms law, if you play around with the current and resistance you can get voltage to change. However, it is fairly trivial to step up AC voltage: get a transformer. That'll step up the voltage to whatever you need, then all you have to do to get DC is a simple bridge rectifier, filter that signal (a couple capacitors, inductors, and/or resistors will suffice), then slap in a zener diode (in parallel! Don't forget the series resistor!) to give a flat DC signal.

--Reid

Re:Powering from the rails

[TheCrazyFinn]

You can get voltage drop to change, but not voltage. Whatever DC voltage is applied to the circuit is equal to the voltage drop accross all sreies components in the circuit. In order to boost the DC voltage, you need a voltage multiplier circuit, which is doable, but non-trivial unless you have some training in the field, as it requires a fair bit of silicon.

Boosting AC is trivial, only requires a step-up transformer.

Re:Powering from the rails

[Idarubicin]

Just as a disclaimer, I'm a Software Engineering student applying my 1st Year Physics knowledge

Dear God. Please, please promise us you'll never attempt to do anything that involves Hardware Engineering.

As a slightly off-topic note, this sort of thing is exactly why real engineers get annoyed with universities that give out degrees in software "engineering". Proper engineering curricula preclude graduates from giving advice where they oughtn't.

Re:Powering from the rails

[saider]

The problem is that by adding the resistor in a passive circuit, you will reduce the current going into the circuit. Your equations would look more like this...

Initial Voltage : 15 = I * R
New Voltage : 15 = (I - i) * (R + r)

The value of i is left as an excercise for the reader ;-)

Voltage multipliers require some active components that (If I remember my solid state courses) manipulate capacitance to raise the output voltage over the supply voltage. I think they work by injecting current into a small capacitor. The added charge increases the voltage.

Re:Powering from the rails

[misterhaan]

You can substitute in R = 0 because the starting resistance is irrelevant, giving you a value of I = 15 for the first equation (note that this isn't the actual current in the circuit unless R = 0 which can't happen). Current (I) stays the same for the desired voltage

i'm sorry, but this post is more proof to my theory in college that software engineers think they know a lot more than they actually do. i expect that there are some software engineers who know more about software engineering than i do and maybe even are not cocky about it, but in my experience i have only met cocky SE's who know a good deal less about SE (and especially EE) than they think they do.

you cannot engineer anything based solely on equations you do not understand, and 15 = I * R does NOT turn into 15 = I when you set R to zero--it becomes 15 = 0.

by the way, IAAEE

Re:Powering from the rails

[Ionizor]

Proper engineering curricula preclude graduates from giving advice where they oughtn't.

Firstly, I'm not a graduate.

Secondly, if I were a graduate, I wouldn't give out advice like this - it makes people think it's good advice. I didn't say this was good advice. Actually I said that it probably wasn't good advice (don't try this at home). Not only that but I also know that anything I say after I attain my degree can be held as the advice of an Engineer, even something like telling my neighbor that he ought to use screws to build his deck instead of nails. If my neighbor's deck collapses I can be held liable and lose my Engineering license.

The software engineering program I'm in is "real" engineering, as you put it, and I'm rather disappointed that you don't view software as being worthy of the engineering profession. My program was reviewed by the PEO and is accredited as an engineering discipline.

Absolutely I wouldn't put my own life in the hands of a piece of computer hardware I had built - I don't have the training to build hardware and I stated that in my original post. Similarly, I wouldn't build a building I had designed - I'm not a Civil Engineer. I would, on the other hand, put my life in the hands of a mission critical or failsafe piece of software that I wrote. Who wrote the software that's going to run my pacemaker when I'm older? I'd make damn sure it was a Software Engineer.

Re:Powering from the rails

[CityZen]

As far as I know (which isn't very far on this topic), a DC voltage multiplier turns the DC into AC, runs it through a transformer (which can easily multiply AC), then rectifies it again. At least, that's one way to do it.

Re:Powering from the rails

[Anonymous Coward]

Holy crap you're dumb.

Re:Powering from the rails

[Ionizor]

Okay, my understanding is limited but I'm not completely braindead. Setting R to 0 was a mistake that I overlooked - I meant to set R to 1. You didn't read my responses to previous posts, it seems.

I don't claim to know much about Electrical Engineering - that's not what I'm studying. I was trying to be helpful but I obviously don't know enough. I wasn't trying to sound authoritative or cocky.

I also don't claim to know a lot about Software Engineering - I'm only in Second Year. This sums up what I know about software design:

Step 1: Help the user determine what the problem they are trying to solve is.

Step 2: Determine the best tool for the job.

Step 3: If the best tool is an algorythmic one, break the problem down into smaller and smaller parts until you've got a whole pile of single tasks.

Step 5: Design an algorythm to perform each task. Test thoroughly and examine all cases.

Step 6: Implement your algorythms on the computer if it's appropriate.

Step 7: Test the fuck out of your implementations then assemble them into a program. Then test the fuck out of the program.

Step 7: Let the user play with the program and get their feedback.

Step 8: Repeat steps 1 - 7 as necessary.

I hope that shows you that I know something about SE and that I'm not completely full of shit. I know I've still got a lot to learn.

Re:Powering from the rails

[Anonymous Coward]

Lots of problems get real easy to solve when you can divide by 0, don't they?

Re:Powering from the rails

[Anonymous Coward]

And your post is more proof to my theory that misterhaan is a thick-glassed, pear-shaped virgin. And dont expect any of those winning qualities of yours to change anytime soon.

Re:Powering from the rails

[Anonymous Coward]

You might want to figure out how to spell algorithm before you start trying to show off how much you know about Software Engineering.

Re:Powering from the rails

[Anonymous Coward]

Actually, you're making me think that you don't really know anything about SE at all by posting those steps...

What's your real name, so I know to never hire you?

Re:Powering from the rails

[Anonymous Coward]

A couple of points:

-A real SE knows how to count from 1 to 9 without repeating numbers
-A real SE knows how to spell algorithm
-Anybody that has ever programmed knows these steps because they are common sense (especially #6)
-You are just making yourself look dumber with every post

Re:Powering from the rails

[Anonymous Coward]

Since you are in college and you still have an academic view of software engineering, here is a preview of how this goes in the real world.

#1- Figure out what marketing buzzwords you can put in the feature list of your product
#2- Figure out how to implement it using your existing tools because there is no way you will get new ones
#3- Watch managment slash your budget and move up the product release date
#4- Start working on the project while making some sarcastic jokes about managment
#5- Require some last minute heroics from somebody on the team to get the project done in time
#6- Push it out the door hoping that the product is "solid enough"

Re:Powering from the rails

[DanCo]

HO scale trains are DC, by the way. O gauge is AC, except when throwing the whistle switch on the transformer, which sends a shot of DC down the line.

Re:Powering from the rails

[saider]

That is one way to do it, but you can't (easily/cheaply) put a transformer onto silicon. Integrated circuits are mostly transistors and small capacitors, which are easy to fabricate. Resistors are not really difficult, they just take up a lot of space. Inductors are very tricky and it is cheaper to just use transistors to inject current into a circuit.

Again, this is if my memory serves me right.

big deal

[jessejay356]

Come on. This so much simpler then this guy makes it out to be. Gut the x-10 camera. (10 minutes max with a dremel.) Then take the ac power supply and cut the end off. Use a multimeter to find + and - Use the end you cut off and a 9 volt battery connector. Get the polarity right and viola. It runs fine, I've used this setup with my RC car and it runs for hours on one 9 volt battery! Plus I'll fit in ONE train car.

How About A BeauWolf Custers Of Those?

[orallo]

I couldnt let this thread go without the mandatory idiotic remark about the BeauWolf custer.

A tome and a half

[Anonymous Coward]

Jeezus! This guy wrote a freaking tome here! This has to be the longest /. story I've ever seen and there aren't even any pictures! What is so cool about a fucking train-cam if you don't have any pictures of it!

In case it gets slashdotted,

[Openadvocate]

In case it gets slashdotted I have pasted the page here,,,
wait aww, nevermind.

Evolution

[Anonymous Coward]

EVOLUTION is such an understatement. Human evolution didn't take as long as it took to read that post. Oh - and btw - who gives a shit about some 29 year old virgin and his train car. It's nice to know the 29yo perverted virgin is using his x10 SPY CAM for other things not-related to spying on his 14 year old female cousin taking a dump ... Whatever - this is one lame ass story. This is the shit i used to do when I was 13 and bored on summer vacation - AND IT STILL DIDN'T TAKE THAT LONG. I god knows - i sure didn't document all 45000 pages of the 3 step procedure. Was there something i missed about that story? Maybe slashdot is having difficulties paying the bandwidth bills and are trying to push hits away with lame stories???

It's a parody..

[Anonymous Coward]

. of slashdot. At least I think it is.

The best ones make you stop and think for a bit before you realize they are making fun of the status quo.

-- ac at work

I really, really hope that your Physics prof

[Anonymous Coward]

doesn't read /.

Well, at least you got the division right.

Lame Joke Warning

[scotch]

Welcome to my killfile, asshole. Oh wait, I thought this was Usenet.

ARGH!!!

[Andy Dodd]

Where are my mod points when I need them!

For one - You can step voltages down with just a resistor, but NOT up. The voltage drop across a resistor is, as you said, I*R - If you know the device consumes 100 mA, then you know what value resistor you need to drop 24v to 15v, not vice versa.

That said, such an approach only works for constant-current devices. Other than LEDs, incandescant lights, and trickle battery charging, I can't think of any other apps where simple voltage dropping works. (For trickle charging - Use a large resistor such that the voltage drop between your power supply and the battery voltage results in only a few milliamps of charge current, NiCd and NiMH batteries can take very light constant overcharges if the current is VERY low, like C/16 to C/25 or so. (C being the current needed to charge the battery to full capacity in one hour - i.e. for a 100 mAh battery, C is 100 mA and C/25 would be 4 mA)

And as to your equations...

15 = I * R
"You can substitute R = 0"
15 = I * 0... OOPS. That comes out to I = 15/0. DOH.

The +/- voltage issue is easy to fix with a rectifier (Simplest form = diode)- You'd need a variant of a full-wave rectifier for this, which would require 4 diodes.

Re:ARGH!!!

[Ionizor]

Alright, in classic slashdot style I don't actually know that much about what I'm talking about but I did state that in the post.

About constant-current devices - as I mentioned, I'm applying my 1st Year physics course here which didn't cover this.

"You can substitute R = 0"
Bleh. Yes I screwed it up. I was thinking R = 1 which changes everything. Oops.

Incidentally we didn't cover rectifiers in my course either, I just happened to know that diodes direct current flow from tinkering with my electronics kit as a kid.

*mod self down*

Hmm...

[Andy Dodd]

Yes? :)

Actually, even though I have a feeling I could do a much better job (I have an EE degree), I still found it amusing. Even for an EE, it has a lot of base information on dos/donts/gotchas. (Like the balance/weight issues.)

Jesus, man, get a grip!

[Thud457]

"I just doubt that my wife would let me put a tunnel through the fridge "

You mean you don't have a beerfridge in the garage? You've got a long ways to go...

Almost done...

[dark-br]

...with my 30 page how-to about how to tie a GI-Joe to that rails and have a cool avi of it.

Stay tuned!

alot of work to save a little money...

[Lumpy]

here is a cheap one... installed in a boxcar for about the same amount of money this poster spent minus the pain and suffering.

remember, whenever you are going to start something... chances are that someone somewhere else has a better product to use (as in the camera.. i have a camera+transmitter that runs off of a 9 volt battery and is the size of 4 quarters stacked for my indoor remote control airplane (mini-park flyer is what they are called)

Great though at the modifications to the camera and train cars!

Synopsis.

[Anonymous Coward]

I had a model train.
My mate had a mini-camera.
I wanted one.
So I bought one.
And stuck it on my train.
It needed batteries to run, because the train doesn't always run.
But the batteries went flat
And I was too dumb to buy a 12-24V voltage doubler from my local hardware shop. (They're common as muck.. They're in every truck)
I added some underpowered lights.... They weren't very good. The batteries went flat quicker.

Whoo whoo... Look.. it looks just like a little camera glued to a model train.

and...

[Anonymous Coward]

he has a girl friend . . .

Mod this poster Down

[Anonymous Coward]

Another sick fsck.

Pointless.

[Anonymous Coward]

Truly pointless.

I love it. I've always wanted to have a train circling my room. Hmm..

I know! I'll one up this guy by having a train travel through my computer!

Now that's what I call a case mod!

Mod this poster up

[Anonymous Coward]

Eye-popping pictures!

Am I the only one to wonder

[Anonymous Coward]

how come this story is twice as long as the PGP story, which is actually about something important? I guess fun IS important, but really, this is interesting only to those bbeing paid to work at this time of day in north america. Like me.

Virtual Interface

[davisshaver]

What about a comman console that controls the track and has cameras on the trains that you can switch through

It's all been done...

[ocelotbob]

It's all been done before...</song>

Interesting hack, nonetheless. Personally, though, I'd rather have a cam in a model rocket or plane, something that can give aerial shots.

god...

[Anonymous Coward]

if only didn't have a life either... still a very enjoyable read. and with this you could still say "this is hardly news"

To quote Jimmy Fallon...

[gloohufr]

NERD ALERT!!!! Exhibit A: The corkboard. Certificates from mathematics contests and Canadian flags (yes, flagS). Look no further.

Re:In other news: Slashdot Now Offers Free Hosting

[jhawkins]

Don't forget lots of karma by replying to your own article! I'm counting 12 points so far.

(I'm just jealous...)

Re:In other news: Slashdot Now Offers Free Hosting

[Greedo]

Absolutely right!

Traincams

[daviddennis]

Marklin happens to be the ideal company to make something like this because they have a digital train control system where the track voltage is fixed and train throttles are controlled through command signals coming from the digital controller. So you can simply run the power off the track.

They have a beautifully made version of this that I believe costs a mere $1,400-odd. Unfortunately, I don't think it's available in the US; I think the technology is PAL, not NTSC.

I have a Marklin Digital HO setup, and it's both very cool and back-breakingly expensive.

D

I'm a troll, and I feel so lonly...

[Anonymous Coward]

...nobody is modding me down. Sniff!

...this makes slashdot?

[dopeghost]

a post on recreating fond memories of childhood...

maybe i should consider submitting a paper sharing my experiments into the attachment of banger rockets to household pets.

trains

[Anonymous Coward]

Ya know, it seems really funny to me. I work for one of the worlds largest designers and producers of railroad signals and switches, and you seem to know a hell of a lot more than me when it comes to trains. Granted, I'm a sys admin, but that's not the point.

On first look

[pctainto]

At first I thought he said he was putting this on a 72' train and I was going to say.. wow, Slashdot has a lot of articles that only apply to a small amount of people, but, who seriously owns a 72' train. Oh well.

Re:HEY, WHERE ARE ALL THE -1 POSTS? THEY'RE ALL AT

[Anonymous Coward]

The moderator who modded them down was stoopid enough to participate in the discussion, which undid his moderation. Good thing too, this blunder brought at least 118 clickthroughs to fecaljapan. Groovy! Never had so much fun trolling!

Re:HEY, WHERE ARE ALL THE -1 POSTS? THEY'RE ALL AT

[Anonymous Coward]

118 clickthroughs to fecaljapan.

Sorry, 120 now.

Re:The formula

[The Notorious ASP]

Wow. I never saw it coming, but that joke just officially became... not... funny... anymore...

I hate him!

[shreak]

I hate this guy for the same reason I hate my (ex-)office-mate and (still-)best friend.

Because he no-doubt got his X-10 cam by clicking on one of those annoying pop up ads, thereby encouraging more pop-ups!

A while back my friend got a puppy. He and his wife worked so they wanted to keep an eye on him during the day. One easy click on an X-10 ad and POOF! the dog-cam was born. It was really cool to, the only downside was...

HE CLICKED THE POPUP! Not only that by $$$ were actually generated by the popup. EVIL! EVIL! EVIL!

Anyway...
Dog-cam, simple but cool.
Train-cam, simple but cool.

Shreak

Oh, Canada...

[djcatnip]

ok, ok, you're Canadian, we get it, mister shaky hands... ;)

Another good source for cameras is...

[callipygian-showsyst]

...All Electronics. (I'm not affiliated with them!).

Especially if you want to boycott X-10 on priniciple--if you're against those pop-up ads and the exploitation of large-breasted women.

Lighten up, dude.

[Woodmeister]

Blah, blah, blah. Bitch, bitch ... ad nauseum

Instead of interpreting this article as how some guy thinks he's really 'leet or whatnot, perhaps he just felt that a story of how a little sweat, experimentation and curiousity can oftentimes lead one up the path to both a neat project where one can save some dough and _learn_ something in the process.

In fact, I see this story as a reminder that as curious beings, we should not feel afraid of trying something for ourselves instead of relying on fully "plug-n-play" solutions. I often think that too many things these days come "ready to use!", "Use once and throw away!", "No need to think and fuss, just plug-n-go!".

It's an adventurous experimental heart like this that will either discover the next phenomenon or invent the new revolutionary tool.

I used the same gear to build a poodle-cam

[RexDevious]

Well, actually it was a minature pincher named "Loki" and I called it Loki-cam. I ran into the same issue with the batteries myself actually - and the problem you had was not that 12v remote control batteries don't last long enough - but they don't produce enough amps. I had to build very light battery packs for the camera (the dog weighs about 5 pounds), and for the receiver (we put the dog in a "dog parade" and wanted to be able to film things from it's perspective). The trick to replacing chords with battery packs is to look at the specs on the power adapter. The x-10 needs 12volts and about 300amps. You probably put the 12volts in parallel, giving you the same 12 volts, but twice the amps, only if you had put them in serial would you get 24 volts. As for me, I just bought a drumel (kind of a spinning router which you can easily cut and sand plastic with) and re-shaped the 4AA w/amp circuitry to be very light and fit smoothly on a dog harness, then shaved away unnecessary bits on the camera, attached the whole thing to a dog harness, stabilized it with electrical tape, and presto: a mobile camera rig which weighed less than 1 pound. For the reciever, I used 8 C batteries in serial (1.5 volts X 8 = 12volts and a LOT of amps), and then spliced the end of the original powerchord to the battery pak so we could freely walk around filming. The reciever RCA outs went to a regular video camera. If anyone really cares, I'll post the movies from the dog parade (it's hilarious) and from the NYU film student who then made a movie using the Loki-cam. I'm also happy to post pix of how it's put together and answer any questions for people doing it themselves. BTW, one thing those 12v remote batteries are great for is for making battery packs for those thinkgeek.com pc light strips. I made one for a orange-red one which I taped around the edge of my guitar - that's where I got the idea that it would be "easy" to build a wireless tiny dog camera.

Getting there

[ShadowDrake]

I think it's been in the neighbourhood of 10 years since the first variations of this sort of thing were done. Remember? Lionel did one under the name Railscope. It ended up fairly similar... a camera car (mocked up to look like an Alco FA) that sucked back batteries like nobody's business and had to be pushed by an engine. It cost a fair amount... something like USD 300 back then IIRC.

I recall a big complaint in the early reviews was that you couldn't get it in whatever model you wanted... a DIY system could handle that nicely.

One of the problems mentioned, the variable track voltage as a power source, could be bypassed if you used a DCC wiring system-- those typically have 16vac on the rails at all times. Rectify, transform, and go.

It's surprising where the "gaps" in creating a quality model railroad are. We can put cameras in our engines, but the only cars we can put on the roads are static or limited in motion. Very few control panels have moved out of the "array of toggles on a sheet of board" level (why not electronic?) We can get about five different quality affordable implementations of the EMD F7, but you'll still pay a fortune (or spend hours starting with a crude kit) for a halfway-decent F59PH, SD50/60 or SD45, at least in 1:87.

I actually believe there would be a good market for custom "voodoo figurines" for layouts. One General Electric C44-9W, one Electro-Motive SD60M, and a 1:87 representation of the laptop that swallowed my notes. Wheee!

Oh for Pete's Sake!

[Luminous]

A guy did something. He thought it was cool and wanted to share and a guy here agreed and posted it to the front page. If you don't like it, stfu and don't read the article. Freedom, its a powerful thing. Yes, you are free to criticize, but look at what you are criticizing, a guy who wanted to mod something. I don't care if it could have been purchased cheaper, if it is of limited use, that he didn't have beautiful panaramic pictures of HO scale Grand Canyon. I care that I learned something new, I learned that model railroad enthusiasts want cameras on their trains. I don't know how valuable that info is to me at this time, but now I know, and knowing is half the battle.

Man, who the hell would..

[Frank of Earth]

waste their time..

I am proud to be a citizen of the social-democractic country we call Canada.

Ahh... nevermind.

Passenger train video

[Anonymous Coward]

Jeez, when I read the headline I was hoping that someone had recorded the scenery of an entire trip taken on a passenger train. That would be pretty cool exploration material.

Slot cars too

[Denial of Cervix]

Funny that this appears the same day as this post on the Slot Car Illustrated Message Board:
http://pub83.ezboard.com/fpockitfrm2.showM essage?t opicID=2538.topic

(remove spaces, yadda yadda)

Not a hack (sorry) but apparently a commercial product. I guess trainheads are not alone in wanting "that experience", although slot cars are a bit more of an engineering challenge - you can't attach three cars of circuit boards and batteries to the back!

Enjoy!
DoC

IN SOVIET RUSSIA

[Anonymous Coward]

The trains are on the camera.

C$100???

[AyeRoxor!]

"[...]one of my house-mates had just bought a small wireless camera, battery pack, and receiver for a little over C$100[...]"

You mean we in the US can get a set like this for just five bucks?! Rock on!