There are currently a few options, and up until recently they were all do it yourself options.
A friend and I didn't want to pay the $$ for the PCR's on ebay so we bought Skyfi's, hacked the home kit to add a serial connection to it then added a TOS optical link to the Skyfi. This then worked with PCR software like it was a PCR.
Now there are "commercial" options. Timetrax themselves seem to have a very good bundle going if that is your purpose(99.99). Along with the Direct PC (xmfanstore.com 159.99) and the other cable made by the car pc enthusiasts(49.99).
Unless you want to listen to XM on your computer there is no real need for any of this. Even with Time trax you don't get good songs that are perfect for burning.
Most songs will have some over blead from the previous song on it. Also it is very common to get some of the XM talk. It is good for time shifting, but you are not going to amass the best MP3 collection known to man that you can share with the world from it.
Plus they add your XM id into the ID3 tag *wink* *wink*.
I still say it was more fun to make it, rather than buy it.
I would use a multi tiered approach which is taken from other peoples past experiences.
In house Video/Audio Monitoring:
Go to a Security store (alarms etc) and get the night camera with sound. You then get the module that takes the video/audio signal and pumps it into your Cable system in your house. Whenever you are in another room you can then switch to channel 123(or whatever) and check on the kids.
A friend with twins had this and loved it. Any TV in the house could be used as a monitor and it was downright funny when the boy twin learned to climb out of his crib and you could see him climbing on everything.
Viewing.
Then you run this to your favorite encoder card with your favorit software on your computer. I personally wouldn't want full video when I was away however, a still show emailed to my cell phone every 1/2 hour/hour would be nice to make sure the house was still standing. That can be done easily with scripting or software products that are out there.
You could also timelapse at a shorter interval or record the time for later review.
Hope that gives some easy ideas to do what you want to do.
DRaiNO -- I've put the CyberPlumber out of business
I've used a Breakmate for years. There are some drawbacks as mentioned but they are all fixable easily with aftermarket stuff.
First you need a machine. They were made by Siemans up until the very early 90's however they are very modular and very easy to maintain. You can get them off ebay or from one of the few vendors out there. MrBreakmate.com was mentioned and he is who I use. He has machines, parts and all the aftermarket parts needed(which I mention below). One plus to using him instead of Ebay is that he offers a warranty and knows these machines better than anyone else.
Then you need to decide how you want it set up. You can hook into a water line, pay for the Watermate attachment or get a pump to pump straight from 5 gal water bottles. I like the pump and the 5 gal water bottles because you can then put the machine anywhere you want.
Then there is the C02 issue. Breakmates have a special proprietary CO2 tank. However, it is real easy to not be stuck with those. You buy an adapter that will allow you to hook into any regular C02 tank. CO2 can then be purchased at any FireExtinguisher place or welding supply house.
Syrup is another story. You have 2 choices. 1 is keep buying the syrup boxes or the other is to keep refilling the boxes you have. I opted to keep buying syrup boxes that fit in the BreakMate. I went down the refill it route for a while but it is messy and a hassle. Hint: don't leave a bag-in-the-box syrup box in the truck of you car for extended periods of time.
Maitainence is simple. You can even get the service manual. Parts are available from the vendors out there. I had a few issues with a valve and the pump. All were easily fixable. The design of these machines is actually pretty good. Most parts are just and easy out and replace.
The biggest pro of the BreakMate is cleaning. The other systems you need to take apart to clean the lines, take off the heads and soak them. With the Breakmate you clean the "dozers" when you change boxes and wash down the mixing tray and catch tray twice a week.
Its also small and portable. Self contained with no need for tons of hoses etc.
Just an informed view of soda machines and the BreakMate itself.
As I said above MrBreakmate.com has all the stuff which makes it real easy to just buy the stuff and have a soda machine. His prices are just as good if not better than the other guys out there.
SodaSteve
Slashdot Mirror
There are currently a few options, and up until recently they were all do it yourself options. A friend and I didn't want to pay the $$ for the PCR's on ebay so we bought Skyfi's, hacked the home kit to add a serial connection to it then added a TOS optical link to the Skyfi. This then worked with PCR software like it was a PCR. Now there are "commercial" options. Timetrax themselves seem to have a very good bundle going if that is your purpose(99.99). Along with the Direct PC (xmfanstore.com 159.99) and the other cable made by the car pc enthusiasts(49.99). Unless you want to listen to XM on your computer there is no real need for any of this. Even with Time trax you don't get good songs that are perfect for burning. Most songs will have some over blead from the previous song on it. Also it is very common to get some of the XM talk. It is good for time shifting, but you are not going to amass the best MP3 collection known to man that you can share with the world from it. Plus they add your XM id into the ID3 tag *wink* *wink*. I still say it was more fun to make it, rather than buy it.
I would use a multi tiered approach which is taken from other peoples past experiences. In house Video/Audio Monitoring: Go to a Security store (alarms etc) and get the night camera with sound. You then get the module that takes the video/audio signal and pumps it into your Cable system in your house. Whenever you are in another room you can then switch to channel 123(or whatever) and check on the kids. A friend with twins had this and loved it. Any TV in the house could be used as a monitor and it was downright funny when the boy twin learned to climb out of his crib and you could see him climbing on everything. Viewing. Then you run this to your favorite encoder card with your favorit software on your computer. I personally wouldn't want full video when I was away however, a still show emailed to my cell phone every 1/2 hour/hour would be nice to make sure the house was still standing. That can be done easily with scripting or software products that are out there. You could also timelapse at a shorter interval or record the time for later review. Hope that gives some easy ideas to do what you want to do. DRaiNO -- I've put the CyberPlumber out of business
I've used a Breakmate for years. There are some drawbacks as mentioned but they are all fixable easily with aftermarket stuff. First you need a machine. They were made by Siemans up until the very early 90's however they are very modular and very easy to maintain. You can get them off ebay or from one of the few vendors out there. MrBreakmate.com was mentioned and he is who I use. He has machines, parts and all the aftermarket parts needed(which I mention below). One plus to using him instead of Ebay is that he offers a warranty and knows these machines better than anyone else. Then you need to decide how you want it set up. You can hook into a water line, pay for the Watermate attachment or get a pump to pump straight from 5 gal water bottles. I like the pump and the 5 gal water bottles because you can then put the machine anywhere you want. Then there is the C02 issue. Breakmates have a special proprietary CO2 tank. However, it is real easy to not be stuck with those. You buy an adapter that will allow you to hook into any regular C02 tank. CO2 can then be purchased at any FireExtinguisher place or welding supply house. Syrup is another story. You have 2 choices. 1 is keep buying the syrup boxes or the other is to keep refilling the boxes you have. I opted to keep buying syrup boxes that fit in the BreakMate. I went down the refill it route for a while but it is messy and a hassle. Hint: don't leave a bag-in-the-box syrup box in the truck of you car for extended periods of time. Maitainence is simple. You can even get the service manual. Parts are available from the vendors out there. I had a few issues with a valve and the pump. All were easily fixable. The design of these machines is actually pretty good. Most parts are just and easy out and replace. The biggest pro of the BreakMate is cleaning. The other systems you need to take apart to clean the lines, take off the heads and soak them. With the Breakmate you clean the "dozers" when you change boxes and wash down the mixing tray and catch tray twice a week. Its also small and portable. Self contained with no need for tons of hoses etc. Just an informed view of soda machines and the BreakMate itself. As I said above MrBreakmate.com has all the stuff which makes it real easy to just buy the stuff and have a soda machine. His prices are just as good if not better than the other guys out there. SodaSteve