Yeah, I know about these - but 256 bytes is even more amazing. Thanks for some other links, though!
Mod this dude UP^^^!
on
Dreamhack 2001
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· Score: 4, Interesting
I agree with you - 100 % - I think the most humble I have ever felt was after seeing this intro - 256 bytes - aggh! - and it still runs under NT!
Now, I want to see the same intro in Linux - I am not sure if there is a way to make it work and stay that small or not - I am just OK with x86 ASM, but not to that level!!!
I use @Home, via Cox - if I understand this correctly:
@Home provides email, web space, usenet, and DNS service, correct?
So, if they cancel their contracts, and the broadband provider (Cox, in my case) continues to run its hardware - then what have I lost?
I still have the pipe, right? As long as that stays connected, I still have the internet. All I don't have is (in order of "importance"):
1. DNS Service 2. Email 3. Usenet access 4. Web site hosting
OK, so I find another DNS provider (or set up BIND). I also need to find another Email provider (or set up Sendmail myself). I would definitely need a provider for Usenet (can't host that myself). I could host the Web site myself.
Remember that AUP? Isn't that with @Home - not really with COX (or whoever your BB provider is)? Could this be what a lot of "us" really want - a big fat pipe to do with how we choose?
I suppose if the BB provider was nice, they could do this, allow this. I have already looked into other DNS service options (from using friends to my work, etc).
Unless Cox shuts off the whole thing (why should they? They even say to leave your modem connected).
Try to find old copies of older (1970s, early '80s) TAB Books - especially the robot books by David L. Heiserman or Frank DeCosta (actually, look for some of my earlier posts on these books - I give all of the ISBN info in them). These give a ton of design info - on the Heiserman books details a full 8 bit processor design based around the 8080 (I think that is right).
Anyhow, I know you want to go even deeper from scratch, and get down into the dark and dirty underworld of processor design. If that is what you want to do, go for it - I am sure it would be an interesting thing to do to design your own CPU and instruction set.
I tried to find a link to a site that had such a design up - I remember I found the link in another/. article - I remember the design was pretty monstrous, but was exactly what you were trying to do. If I find it, I will post to this thread...
Some old LanCity POS (from what I understand, known as the "footwarmer" because the case is a huge curved heatsink) I lease from my cable co (I really should go out and buy one - but I may be moving in a few months, so I don't know what kind of service I will have/be able to get when I move).
Anyhow, I started looking into DOCSIS and capping a bit after posting - found the DOCSIS specs from cablemodems.com (IIRC), plus a couple of RFCs - most of it details protocols, etc.
I tend to wonder if there is a way to "spoof" the system, given appropriate hardware (which would all have to be custom built - talk about a major RF project). It seems like DOCSIS, even 1.0 - had provisions so that when the CM is plugged in and turned on, it gets its settings from the head-end, sets them, then compares the settings with the head-end a second time, as a verification step, then allows communication to take place - the spoof box would have to somehow do all of this, plus do it occasionally (because the verify process happens now and then). I also think it might not work, plus it might be detectable from the head end or elsewhere. In the end, it would probably take too much effort for not enough gain.
Thus, the cable operator (MSO) has no way of throttling bandwidth, especially upstream bandwidth.
Then how is @Home able to "cap" the upstream and downstream bandwidth for home users vs the "@Work" business users? Plus, the @Home system used to be pretty uncapped on the upstream, but then was capped severely...
Can you point to information regarding this? Is it possible to uncap from the client/consumer/user side? What limits this?
If you don't want to reply to this thread, email me.
What really makes me wonder is how cable co's would react to multiple neighbors using aggregate bandwidth (I think that's the right word ) - in other words, imagine each neighbor (say, four neighbors next door to each other) getting the cable internet service (let's say the service is 256K up/2M down). Each sits behind a firewall/router/NAT bridge of some sort, and has a network behind that. In addition, each neighbor runs a ethernet cable to the next house over, hub to hub (or better, switch to switch), behind the firewalls. So, you end up with a neighborhood LAN. With the routers set up properly, the neighbors could share a 1M up/8M down connection (max, for one person). Each would still pay for their connection.
What would the legalities of this be? No one is "stealing" anything. How would this be different than if one person got four seperate cable lines ran to his house (paying four seperate bills)? BTW, can someone do this? It would be interesting to ask about, certainly.
This is about greed - plain and simple. I would much rather have very cheap metered bandwidth (use as little or as much as I want, like ISDN or a T1, but much cheaper - maybe with an initial flat rate, then per meg after the limit), the pipe, an IP or two, then nothing else. Quit the fucking DHCP shuffle, and leave me static, and let me run what I want (clients, servers, whatever)...
I am not even sure what this device does, but from the description, it sounds like it would be an annoyance device, more than anything.
Already, I fall asleep (or attempt to) to the TV going, because my SO needs it on to fall asleep to. At first, slight noises on the TV (even when the volume was turned waaay down) would cause me to wake up - but since that time I have gotten used to it. Still, it isn't the best thing, but I tolerate it (earplugs and one of those eye pillow things help).
Anyhow, what would be better than this, if you wanted to "mess" with your dreams, would be something I have thought about playing with, but right now it is a back burner project.
How about messing with the REM stage? We have all seen those alpha brainwave machines (there are tons of plans on the internet as well - some even on my site) - what if you made a similar system, with the lights and sounds (using headphones, etc) to be triggered during REM sleep (using some kind of sensors on the eyelids to sense the REM stage) - see what can happen.
I have also wondered about using one of those devices (or just headphones) to have a computer monitor REM sleep, then speak a keyword (or story) to trigger lucid dreaming (now there is fun dreaming). Perhaps even give cues to control the lucid dream. If there could be feedback to the computer from the dreamer - dream games might be a possibility (maybe via brainwave monitoring, or other monitoring systems?)...
What do I mean by that? What I mean is try to learn or do something that you have thought about, maybe in passing, that you thought you could never really do - or didn't think you would need to know. Something totally unrelated to computers, maybe. Examples?
Woodworking is a good starter - simple whittling with a knife can be something too. Or, try a form of crafting - say, animated automata constructs made from balsa! Or try plastic crafting - building and shaping plastic. Or glass blowing (and we all know where this could go!). How about gardening? Or go for the mechanical - learn to work on your car or truck. Or, try building new mechanical stuff from old junk (want a fun task - build an electric "car" using junked bicycles and a automobile starter motor). Which leads into the best (ok, that is my opinion) different thing to do of all:
Metalwork.
Something I am currently learning - but promises to open a whole new world for me. Currently, I am learning how to arc weld, as well a how to use a cutting torch properly (man, do I love the torch - burning through 1/2 inch plate steel is FUN). My last project was a small "pounding" table built from scrap - I plan on building a stand for it later. Nothing will take your mind off "geek" stuff faster than metalwork - because if you aren't focused on the craft, you can fuck up the work (and more likely, yourself) faster than anything. Seeing molten steel run is exciting - just don't let it hit your shoe! Recrafting steel with an arc welder is just as cool (or hot, depending on your viewpoint). I might even try my hand later at small scale blacksmithing and forging - perhaps even casting! All of this is hot, dirty, smelly, stinky work. But what you gain out of it is beyond compare - solid stuff. Heavy stuff. Stuff that will last the ages (ok, at least until someone comes along and takes a cutting torch to your stuff - heh).
Those are my suggestions. Plus, you may come away with a skill that you can integrate into your regular geeky pursuits (I am a coder - I also know electronic design. I have built small robots. Now I am learning welding, etc. Hydraulics and pneumatics are easy to understand - see where I am going with this...?)....
Well, yeah - you have a point that if you can take it back, you have no risk.
Most stores here in the states employ idiots. Others employ people just making money, don't care about the return, let the manufacturer handle it. Most of the time the store will simply look in the box to make sure all the parts are there, and that there isn't any major damage. They won't take the thing apart.
Interesting that they do a thorough inspection in Japan - I wonder if that is because of major hacking on new stuff, causing a lot of returns, or what...?
Your concerns are a valid point, but sometimes risks are what "hacking" is about...
If you are careful, and rehearse what you are planning to do, and take a lot of precautions (such as a 15 watt soldering iron with a very small tip, SMT solder, a magnifing glass lamp, and LOTS of patience) - what I suggest is very possible.
But you have to be willing. I am certain someone out there will be in short time.
Besides - if you screw up, just clean up the board and take it back for an exchange under warantee, right (personally, I really wouldn't give a f--k - who are you hurting, really? Best Buy and Microsoft? Cry me a river!)?
If I owned one of these boxes (which I never will - not because I couldn't afford one, but rather because of reasons which are not part of this thread), I would:
1. Open it up. 2. Trace back from the video out connector to the nearest IC(s). 3. Write down all of the info for those ICs. 4. Find the manufacturer (on the web or elsewise). 5. Bother them (ie, email or phone) until they either:
a) Gave me specs b) Sold me the specs
Typically, if you dig deep enough on the web, you can find specs for just about ANY IC you care to name, unless it is made ultra custom for the system at hand. So do your web searching first.
One of those chips is doing the conversion from a digital video signal (RGB, HSYNC, VSYNC) to composite. It may be that with the specs, you could find out which pins have the digital signal coming in, then with an o-scope, figure out the p2p voltage level, and see if you need to do any kind of conversion, etc to run it into a monitor. It could also be that the chip is connected directly to the video buffer, and only outputs composite - but IC manufacturers rarely do this - typically they will cram as many functions on one IC as they can, unless it is custom (which in this case, it could be). If it is a standard video chip, then maybe the VGA or digital RGB output pins are merely disconnected (or hey, they might be connected to a header somewhere for that "future" upgrade)...
Of course, I am the kind of person who likes the smell of melting solder, so take my opinion however you wish...
This site used to have some pretty slick plans, but is now gone - however, it still exists in Googles cache here - at least a portion of it.
If you follow the last link (off the cache) entitled "Back to Eric's main hovercraft page", it will take you to this page, which seems to hint at a future "new" site - here is hoping it is true!
I used a model airplane prop (about a 4 inch, two bladed prop), and attached it to a small "hobby" motor (ie, one of those 3V mabuchi cheapo motors that are in toys everywhere). I then mounted it to a styrofoam plate, using cardboard braces extending from the edges of the air intake hole.
I then hooked the motor up to a 9V battery, and was able to get more than enough "lift" - without a skirt. Strangely enough, I didn't take the experiment further - it was just one of those "one off" deals.
Model airplane propellers can be picked up at most good hobby shops - or online at Tower Hobbies...
Hovercraft are cool. Either give me a working R/C model hovercraft, or a good set of plans and components. Or, let me know what will make a good liftfan because I can't find one so far when I'm trying to build my own:-(
Not necessarily. It depends on the "quality" of the video card. Some video cards will allow this, others require that you switch to a special "tweaked" settings mode to get TV-out, while still others have special routing circuitry that is set by a register on the card (or via some wierd I2C bus control). Here are some sites that might help:
As far as the LCD module is concerned - the EDE702 is a good choice - I would almost say with it and the LCD it would be 1/3 the cost of the Matrix Orbital (of course, what you are kinda paying on the MO device is the nice repackaging to make everything fit in a small area). As far as the EL backlight burnout: it might be possible to replace it - but I am not sure it would be worth the trouble. You can get EL kits from AllElectronics, that could be cut and adapted for the device - then you would have to take the LCD off the board and replace the EL portion (if the LCD is truely seperate - otherwise you would be taking the LCD apart - you may or may not get it back together again where it works properly).
I would go to EIO or AllElectronics and buy another display, personally.
The reason I ask is because you essentially want to convert a VGA signal, to a TV signal, then show that on an LCD panel. You have a lot of conversion going on there, and all to display what? Stats for the system?
Perhaps you could display some large text, or perhaps some largish bar graphs - but output in the manner you are wanting to do this is going to look very "fuzzy" - this is fine for games and video (ie, stuff that moves a bit) - but it isn't what you want for a text display - or at least a "clean" display.
If all you want are stats - save the LCD panel for another project. Drop the second card (unless you are using it for something), and add a simple LCD display via the parallel port, and run LCDPROC. A couple of cheap pushbuttons and some port monitoring and you can easily add page up/down capabilities from the case. I can't really see the need to do what you are planning, unless you are planning on running fancy screensavers or something on the box when it isn't displaying stats or whatnot...
It sounded familiar, and still does - so I started thinking it might stand for "Portable Bitmap Exchange" - some googling on that started yielding things - so do some more googling on "Portable Bitmap" and the PBM format.
It could be PDE are nothing more than renamed PBMs, perhaps. There does seem to be software out there that will do conversion, if it is a PBM (pbm2gif, etc). Also, if it is PBM, or you suspect it, the format spec can be found here.
Also, in response to the poster who couldn't find anything on these scanning stations by googling on "KV-F510" - google on "KVF510" - and you will get a few hits (but still close to none). However, to the original poster, maybe these "sellers" of the equipment might be able to give you some help (manuals, contact phone numbers, etc).
I am surprised the the manual or info you have with the equipment doesn't list the specs for the format, unless it is considered a dire secret, or what. Most manufacturers of the larger equipment give pretty detailed interfacing specs, or at least provide them to interested parties - you might contact Panasonic and ask. If they refuse you, ask them what the format is, or such. State your needs clearly. Maybe even offer them a copy of the package back in exchange?
Above all, be persistent - you will find the answer eventually...
No, the last version was QuickBasic PDS (Professional Development System) - which implemented quite a few new features (from what I understand) over QB 4.5. After QB 4.5, came VB for DOS 1.0 - which was dog slow (ie, the.EXE's compared to QB 4.5 EXE's).
Of course I don't think Iron Chef is really taken seriously - at least not by most people - but the show seems to take itself a little seriously (but not too much - that shit eating grin of Kaga's after biting the pepper shows that much). I don't think they will capture what Iron Chef is really about - which is more of the American Perception of Japan.
I really don't know how Iron Chef is (was?) perceived by the Japanese - is it a serious show for them, or is it more like a game show? Regardless of how they see it - we see it differently. I am sure if they took this American Iron Chef, dropped it in Japan with some dubbing - they would snarf it up madly (maybe).
I just hope they don't ruin the whole Iron Chef "idea" or feel...
I have needed (actually, still need) for a long while a "globally" accessible bookmark system. But I just don't want any system - I wanted to be able to search through the links, have a catagorical system, rankings, descriptions - plus, most important of all - security. I wanted to be able to set things up to have a server that would allow guest, user, and admin entry - based on login and password (obviously guest wouldn't need to login) - and have each link have security (so that guests could only see and search a subset of all links - users could see only a subset, plus all that guests could see, and so on) - plus, I wanted the ability to manage user names and logins - so that if I was over at a friend's house, I could say let him or her have access to the links.
I wasn't able to find anything that met all of these needs (some needs were met, but others weren't) - so, I figured I would have a go at it myself. I decided to do it in Perl (but really, Python or PHP would work as well) - and it has been a good way for me to learn Perl and CGI. I am still working on it - it is no where near completion.
I also figured I would add addresses to it, as well - and it would integrate OK - since all the links would be simple mailto:name@domain.com, etc. Just click the link and mail. Not perfect, and probably not what you really want - but it would help when you need an address you just don't have where you are at, and it would be accessible from anyplace you had an internet connection and a browser.
I am still working on this monstrosity - and when I get it to a point where it actually does something (which is not too far off), then on it goes on freshmeat as a GPL program, and onto my site for a download (as a tar.gz of perl scripts - install perl, drop in cgi-bin of apache and go).
FoodTV already tried their own "Iron Chef" wannabe - it was called "Ready-Set-Cook!"...
I think it only lasted a season or so - but it had to be the cheesiest of cheesy cooking shows: Picture two "chefs" on a set from "Price Is Right" , in front of a studio audience (behind the camera, though always panned to, and on cheap bleachers or chairs, or something) given (30?) minutes to cook the "theme" ingredient for judging. Add in a ditzy, flat-chested blonde bimbo for a commentator, making rude and obviously non-insightful comments ("and now contestent one is doing...are you coring an apple?!") - and you get the American equivalent of Iron Chef.
But this setup is sooo American - it wasn't taken seriously, but you could see the contestant "chefs" (they were apparently real chefs for real restaurants - but sometimes they would have "theme chefs" - think firehouse and navy ship cooks) were sometimes annoyed - some were even somewhat distraught or something - a very wierd look in their eye...
I don't ever think I will forget the time the theme ingredient was SPAM - IIRC, there was some sorta "famous" chef as a contestant (not from FoodTV, but supposedly had a few restaurants or something) - and he damn near looked like he was going to faint, as in "HOW IN THE F--K AM I GOING TO COOK THAT?!"...
Slashdot Mirror
Yeah, I know about these - but 256 bytes is even more amazing. Thanks for some other links, though!
I agree with you - 100 % - I think the most humble I have ever felt was after seeing this intro - 256 bytes - aggh! - and it still runs under NT!
Now, I want to see the same intro in Linux - I am not sure if there is a way to make it work and stay that small or not - I am just OK with x86 ASM, but not to that level!!!
DAMN! I bow before 3 sc hardcore!
I use @Home, via Cox - if I understand this correctly:
@Home provides email, web space, usenet, and DNS service, correct?
So, if they cancel their contracts, and the broadband provider (Cox, in my case) continues to run its hardware - then what have I lost?
I still have the pipe, right? As long as that stays connected, I still have the internet. All I don't have is (in order of "importance"):
1. DNS Service
2. Email
3. Usenet access
4. Web site hosting
OK, so I find another DNS provider (or set up BIND). I also need to find another Email provider (or set up Sendmail myself). I would definitely need a provider for Usenet (can't host that myself). I could host the Web site myself.
Remember that AUP? Isn't that with @Home - not really with COX (or whoever your BB provider is)? Could this be what a lot of "us" really want - a big fat pipe to do with how we choose?
I suppose if the BB provider was nice, they could do this, allow this. I have already looked into other DNS service options (from using friends to my work, etc).
Unless Cox shuts off the whole thing (why should they? They even say to leave your modem connected).
Or do I have something wrong? What am I missing?
Try to find old copies of older (1970s, early '80s) TAB Books - especially the robot books by David L. Heiserman or Frank DeCosta (actually, look for some of my earlier posts on these books - I give all of the ISBN info in them). These give a ton of design info - on the Heiserman books details a full 8 bit processor design based around the 8080 (I think that is right).
/. article - I remember the design was pretty monstrous, but was exactly what you were trying to do. If I find it, I will post to this thread...
Anyhow, I know you want to go even deeper from scratch, and get down into the dark and dirty underworld of processor design. If that is what you want to do, go for it - I am sure it would be an interesting thing to do to design your own CPU and instruction set.
I tried to find a link to a site that had such a design up - I remember I found the link in another
Some old LanCity POS (from what I understand, known as the "footwarmer" because the case is a huge curved heatsink) I lease from my cable co (I really should go out and buy one - but I may be moving in a few months, so I don't know what kind of service I will have/be able to get when I move).
Anyhow, I started looking into DOCSIS and capping a bit after posting - found the DOCSIS specs from cablemodems.com (IIRC), plus a couple of RFCs - most of it details protocols, etc.
I tend to wonder if there is a way to "spoof" the system, given appropriate hardware (which would all have to be custom built - talk about a major RF project). It seems like DOCSIS, even 1.0 - had provisions so that when the CM is plugged in and turned on, it gets its settings from the head-end, sets them, then compares the settings with the head-end a second time, as a verification step, then allows communication to take place - the spoof box would have to somehow do all of this, plus do it occasionally (because the verify process happens now and then). I also think it might not work, plus it might be detectable from the head end or elsewhere. In the end, it would probably take too much effort for not enough gain.
Interesting to think about, though...
For EVERYONE:
Database Nation
Thus, the cable operator (MSO) has no way of throttling bandwidth, especially upstream bandwidth.
Then how is @Home able to "cap" the upstream and downstream bandwidth for home users vs the "@Work" business users? Plus, the @Home system used to be pretty uncapped on the upstream, but then was capped severely...
Can you point to information regarding this? Is it possible to uncap from the client/consumer/user side? What limits this?
If you don't want to reply to this thread, email me.
Yeah, that makes me angry as well.
What really makes me wonder is how cable co's would react to multiple neighbors using aggregate bandwidth (I think that's the right word ) - in other words, imagine each neighbor (say, four neighbors next door to each other) getting the cable internet service (let's say the service is 256K up/2M down). Each sits behind a firewall/router/NAT bridge of some sort, and has a network behind that. In addition, each neighbor runs a ethernet cable to the next house over, hub to hub (or better, switch to switch), behind the firewalls. So, you end up with a neighborhood LAN. With the routers set up properly, the neighbors could share a 1M up/8M down connection (max, for one person). Each would still pay for their connection.
What would the legalities of this be? No one is "stealing" anything. How would this be different than if one person got four seperate cable lines ran to his house (paying four seperate bills)? BTW, can someone do this? It would be interesting to ask about, certainly.
This is about greed - plain and simple. I would much rather have very cheap metered bandwidth (use as little or as much as I want, like ISDN or a T1, but much cheaper - maybe with an initial flat rate, then per meg after the limit), the pipe, an IP or two, then nothing else. Quit the fucking DHCP shuffle, and leave me static, and let me run what I want (clients, servers, whatever)...
Can you tell this bothers me?
I am not even sure what this device does, but from the description, it sounds like it would be an annoyance device, more than anything.
Already, I fall asleep (or attempt to) to the TV going, because my SO needs it on to fall asleep to. At first, slight noises on the TV (even when the volume was turned waaay down) would cause me to wake up - but since that time I have gotten used to it. Still, it isn't the best thing, but I tolerate it (earplugs and one of those eye pillow things help).
Anyhow, what would be better than this, if you wanted to "mess" with your dreams, would be something I have thought about playing with, but right now it is a back burner project.
How about messing with the REM stage? We have all seen those alpha brainwave machines (there are tons of plans on the internet as well - some even on my site) - what if you made a similar system, with the lights and sounds (using headphones, etc) to be triggered during REM sleep (using some kind of sensors on the eyelids to sense the REM stage) - see what can happen.
I have also wondered about using one of those devices (or just headphones) to have a computer monitor REM sleep, then speak a keyword (or story) to trigger lucid dreaming (now there is fun dreaming). Perhaps even give cues to control the lucid dream. If there could be feedback to the computer from the dreamer - dream games might be a possibility (maybe via brainwave monitoring, or other monitoring systems?)...
The possibilities for such a system - wow...
Something totally different...
What do I mean by that? What I mean is try to learn or do something that you have thought about, maybe in passing, that you thought you could never really do - or didn't think you would need to know. Something totally unrelated to computers, maybe. Examples?
Woodworking is a good starter - simple whittling with a knife can be something too. Or, try a form of crafting - say, animated automata constructs made from balsa! Or try plastic crafting - building and shaping plastic. Or glass blowing (and we all know where this could go!). How about gardening? Or go for the mechanical - learn to work on your car or truck. Or, try building new mechanical stuff from old junk (want a fun task - build an electric "car" using junked bicycles and a automobile starter motor). Which leads into the best (ok, that is my opinion) different thing to do of all:
Metalwork.
Something I am currently learning - but promises to open a whole new world for me. Currently, I am learning how to arc weld, as well a how to use a cutting torch properly (man, do I love the torch - burning through 1/2 inch plate steel is FUN). My last project was a small "pounding" table built from scrap - I plan on building a stand for it later. Nothing will take your mind off "geek" stuff faster than metalwork - because if you aren't focused on the craft, you can fuck up the work (and more likely, yourself) faster than anything. Seeing molten steel run is exciting - just don't let it hit your shoe! Recrafting steel with an arc welder is just as cool (or hot, depending on your viewpoint). I might even try my hand later at small scale blacksmithing and forging - perhaps even casting! All of this is hot, dirty, smelly, stinky work. But what you gain out of it is beyond compare - solid stuff. Heavy stuff. Stuff that will last the ages (ok, at least until someone comes along and takes a cutting torch to your stuff - heh).
Those are my suggestions. Plus, you may come away with a skill that you can integrate into your regular geeky pursuits (I am a coder - I also know electronic design. I have built small robots. Now I am learning welding, etc. Hydraulics and pneumatics are easy to understand - see where I am going with this...?)....
Well, yeah - you have a point that if you can take it back, you have no risk.
Most stores here in the states employ idiots. Others employ people just making money, don't care about the return, let the manufacturer handle it. Most of the time the store will simply look in the box to make sure all the parts are there, and that there isn't any major damage. They won't take the thing apart.
Interesting that they do a thorough inspection in Japan - I wonder if that is because of major hacking on new stuff, causing a lot of returns, or what...?
Your concerns are a valid point, but sometimes risks are what "hacking" is about...
If you are careful, and rehearse what you are planning to do, and take a lot of precautions (such as a 15 watt soldering iron with a very small tip, SMT solder, a magnifing glass lamp, and LOTS of patience) - what I suggest is very possible.
But you have to be willing. I am certain someone out there will be in short time.
Besides - if you screw up, just clean up the board and take it back for an exchange under warantee, right (personally, I really wouldn't give a f--k - who are you hurting, really? Best Buy and Microsoft? Cry me a river!)?
If I owned one of these boxes (which I never will - not because I couldn't afford one, but rather because of reasons which are not part of this thread), I would:
1. Open it up.
2. Trace back from the video out connector to the nearest IC(s).
3. Write down all of the info for those ICs.
4. Find the manufacturer (on the web or elsewise).
5. Bother them (ie, email or phone) until they either:
a) Gave me specs
b) Sold me the specs
Typically, if you dig deep enough on the web, you can find specs for just about ANY IC you care to name, unless it is made ultra custom for the system at hand. So do your web searching first.
One of those chips is doing the conversion from a digital video signal (RGB, HSYNC, VSYNC) to composite. It may be that with the specs, you could find out which pins have the digital signal coming in, then with an o-scope, figure out the p2p voltage level, and see if you need to do any kind of conversion, etc to run it into a monitor. It could also be that the chip is connected directly to the video buffer, and only outputs composite - but IC manufacturers rarely do this - typically they will cram as many functions on one IC as they can, unless it is custom (which in this case, it could be). If it is a standard video chip, then maybe the VGA or digital RGB output pins are merely disconnected (or hey, they might be connected to a header somewhere for that "future" upgrade)...
Of course, I am the kind of person who likes the smell of melting solder, so take my opinion however you wish...
OK, here is what I have:
This site used to have some pretty slick plans, but is now gone - however, it still exists in Googles cache here - at least a portion of it.
If you follow the last link (off the cache) entitled "Back to Eric's main hovercraft page", it will take you to this page, which seems to hint at a future "new" site - here is hoping it is true!
I used a model airplane prop (about a 4 inch, two bladed prop), and attached it to a small "hobby" motor (ie, one of those 3V mabuchi cheapo motors that are in toys everywhere). I then mounted it to a styrofoam plate, using cardboard braces extending from the edges of the air intake hole.
I then hooked the motor up to a 9V battery, and was able to get more than enough "lift" - without a skirt. Strangely enough, I didn't take the experiment further - it was just one of those "one off" deals.
Model airplane propellers can be picked up at most good hobby shops - or online at Tower Hobbies...
Hovercraft are cool. Either give me a working R/C model hovercraft, or a good set of plans and components. Or, let me know what will make a good liftfan because I can't find one so far when I'm trying to build my own :-(
Merry Xmas!
BTW - the fan this guy is using looks like a PC case fan, though a bit bigger - I could be wrong, though.
Not necessarily. It depends on the "quality" of the video card. Some video cards will allow this, others require that you switch to a special "tweaked" settings mode to get TV-out, while still others have special routing circuitry that is set by a register on the card (or via some wierd I2C bus control). Here are some sites that might help:
VGA to TV Information Center
Chrontel
Video Timing Calculator
VGATV Homepage
As far as the LCD module is concerned - the EDE702 is a good choice - I would almost say with it and the LCD it would be 1/3 the cost of the Matrix Orbital (of course, what you are kinda paying on the MO device is the nice repackaging to make everything fit in a small area). As far as the EL backlight burnout: it might be possible to replace it - but I am not sure it would be worth the trouble. You can get EL kits from AllElectronics, that could be cut and adapted for the device - then you would have to take the LCD off the board and replace the EL portion (if the LCD is truely seperate - otherwise you would be taking the LCD apart - you may or may not get it back together again where it works properly).
I would go to EIO or AllElectronics and buy another display, personally.
The United States Government wants us to burn our books...
Perhaps those of us in supposedly "free" countries need anonymizing services now more than ever!
The reason I ask is because you essentially want to convert a VGA signal, to a TV signal, then show that on an LCD panel. You have a lot of conversion going on there, and all to display what? Stats for the system?
Perhaps you could display some large text, or perhaps some largish bar graphs - but output in the manner you are wanting to do this is going to look very "fuzzy" - this is fine for games and video (ie, stuff that moves a bit) - but it isn't what you want for a text display - or at least a "clean" display.
If all you want are stats - save the LCD panel for another project. Drop the second card (unless you are using it for something), and add a simple LCD display via the parallel port, and run LCDPROC. A couple of cheap pushbuttons and some port monitoring and you can easily add page up/down capabilities from the case. I can't really see the need to do what you are planning, unless you are planning on running fancy screensavers or something on the box when it isn't displaying stats or whatnot...
PBE, huh?
It sounded familiar, and still does - so I started thinking it might stand for "Portable Bitmap Exchange" - some googling on that started yielding things - so do some more googling on "Portable Bitmap" and the PBM format.
It could be PDE are nothing more than renamed PBMs, perhaps. There does seem to be software out there that will do conversion, if it is a PBM (pbm2gif, etc). Also, if it is PBM, or you suspect it, the format spec can be found here.
Also, in response to the poster who couldn't find anything on these scanning stations by googling on "KV-F510" - google on "KVF510" - and you will get a few hits (but still close to none). However, to the original poster, maybe these "sellers" of the equipment might be able to give you some help (manuals, contact phone numbers, etc).
I am surprised the the manual or info you have with the equipment doesn't list the specs for the format, unless it is considered a dire secret, or what. Most manufacturers of the larger equipment give pretty detailed interfacing specs, or at least provide them to interested parties - you might contact Panasonic and ask. If they refuse you, ask them what the format is, or such. State your needs clearly. Maybe even offer them a copy of the package back in exchange?
Above all, be persistent - you will find the answer eventually...
No, the last version was QuickBasic PDS (Professional Development System) - which implemented quite a few new features (from what I understand) over QB 4.5. After QB 4.5, came VB for DOS 1.0 - which was dog slow (ie, the .EXE's compared to QB 4.5 EXE's).
Of course I don't think Iron Chef is really taken seriously - at least not by most people - but the show seems to take itself a little seriously (but not too much - that shit eating grin of Kaga's after biting the pepper shows that much). I don't think they will capture what Iron Chef is really about - which is more of the American Perception of Japan.
I really don't know how Iron Chef is (was?) perceived by the Japanese - is it a serious show for them, or is it more like a game show? Regardless of how they see it - we see it differently. I am sure if they took this American Iron Chef, dropped it in Japan with some dubbing - they would snarf it up madly (maybe).
I just hope they don't ruin the whole Iron Chef "idea" or feel...
I have needed (actually, still need) for a long while a "globally" accessible bookmark system. But I just don't want any system - I wanted to be able to search through the links, have a catagorical system, rankings, descriptions - plus, most important of all - security. I wanted to be able to set things up to have a server that would allow guest, user, and admin entry - based on login and password (obviously guest wouldn't need to login) - and have each link have security (so that guests could only see and search a subset of all links - users could see only a subset, plus all that guests could see, and so on) - plus, I wanted the ability to manage user names and logins - so that if I was over at a friend's house, I could say let him or her have access to the links.
I wasn't able to find anything that met all of these needs (some needs were met, but others weren't) - so, I figured I would have a go at it myself. I decided to do it in Perl (but really, Python or PHP would work as well) - and it has been a good way for me to learn Perl and CGI. I am still working on it - it is no where near completion.
I also figured I would add addresses to it, as well - and it would integrate OK - since all the links would be simple mailto:name@domain.com, etc. Just click the link and mail. Not perfect, and probably not what you really want - but it would help when you need an address you just don't have where you are at, and it would be accessible from anyplace you had an internet connection and a browser.
I am still working on this monstrosity - and when I get it to a point where it actually does something (which is not too far off), then on it goes on freshmeat as a GPL program, and onto my site for a download (as a tar.gz of perl scripts - install perl, drop in cgi-bin of apache and go).
FoodTV already tried their own "Iron Chef" wannabe - it was called "Ready-Set-Cook!"...
I think it only lasted a season or so - but it had to be the cheesiest of cheesy cooking shows: Picture two "chefs" on a set from "Price Is Right" , in front of a studio audience (behind the camera, though always panned to, and on cheap bleachers or chairs, or something) given (30?) minutes to cook the "theme" ingredient for judging. Add in a ditzy, flat-chested blonde bimbo for a commentator, making rude and obviously non-insightful comments ("and now contestent one is doing...are you coring an apple?!") - and you get the American equivalent of Iron Chef.
But this setup is sooo American - it wasn't taken seriously, but you could see the contestant "chefs" (they were apparently real chefs for real restaurants - but sometimes they would have "theme chefs" - think firehouse and navy ship cooks) were sometimes annoyed - some were even somewhat distraught or something - a very wierd look in their eye...
I don't ever think I will forget the time the theme ingredient was SPAM - IIRC, there was some sorta "famous" chef as a contestant (not from FoodTV, but supposedly had a few restaurants or something) - and he damn near looked like he was going to faint, as in "HOW IN THE F--K AM I GOING TO COOK THAT?!"...
Oh, the joy...
Or have you never seen someone light a fart?