Arduino + old LED sign = Newness
TJ continues to make progress in converting an older 12' long (7 pixels high) green LED signboard to run from an Ardunio (Atmel 328) instead of it's original controller. With the new controller the sign will act as a frame buffer off of a host computer, allowing it to act as a spectrum analyzer and other neat effects not possible with most LED signboards.
AMX Automation System Updated
Some minor updates are active on the AMX system at the lab. First, the front screen now has the video projector bulb hour counter displayed on it. It polls the projector every 15 minutes for this. This is the first time I've ever read external data into the AMX system.
There is also a "suspend lab" button on the home screen. It will shut off all downstairs lighting, the arcade games, the projector, and set the volumes to 0.
757 Labs featured on AltDaily
Just a heads up, 757 Labs was featured in an article written by Matt Labarge, published on AltDaily! Check it out here!.
Thanks to Alt Daily for the mention and Matt for the article!
SCEPTRE X9g-Naga V Monitor Fix
Just a heads up, TJ troubleshot a dead19" LCD monitor that was donated to the lab and it's time to share the fix.
SCEPTRE X9g-Naga V, (Sceptre, x9g). Monitor would not power on (power LED would flash a few times I believe.)
The problem - two 1000uf capacitors located next to the transformer on the power supply board. Made with faulty components, swollen tops. Replaced them, works like a champ. Much thanks to Mark G for the monitor! Radio Shack (MacArthur Mall) actually had the parts.
The Road Ahead
Light rail is still a ways off, but the construction in front of the lab is moving along nicely. The tracks pass by us, and are finished off. No sign of power yet, but the street is open in all directions at our intersection.
Sure the prospect of car/train collision is high, but if we get a camera pointed at the most likely point of impact, perhaps we can offer the feed to HRT and VDOT for faster incident response?
Hackerspaces in Space (space… space… space…)
Thursday saw a rather last minute meeting. Attendance was light, but moving forward is always good. At least until we need to move up.
For those of you that couldn't make it, or didn't find out about it until it was too late, the mailing list is working. Please, show it some love. If you're part of the project, and not on the list, contact Ethan or myself to be added.
757Labs Updates
Some random updates as to what is going on:
We've got 4 official members now! Soon possibly 5. This is great news and means there is hope for making it to year #2.
Python group has formed (meetup.com group) and will have first meet at lab on April 21st. CNC mill project has started. "Hackerspaces in space" high altitude balloon contest project underway, mailing list will be fixed shortly. Bug in online skill crane game with website, will be fixed shortly. Lab now has high quality foosball (might be time for electronic scoring system for it). TJ has done great things with plasma display using microcontroller. No environmental sensor network yet, but Skhisma and others working on it.
We had a visitor from Houston's hackerspace, Houston TX RX as well.
Microcontroller night report (3/27/10)
The 2nd micro-controller night was a success! A long night for some folks, indeed. Activities started off with trying to decode the protocol used by the UFO LED under car "neon" kit with a bus pirate board. Harold's USB oscope shed light on it but we will have to return to this in the future. Travis got an arduino microcontroller driving an Oracle LED sign (made by Sunrise Microsystems.) Very cool! The original control electronics were archaic and control software never worked right. Still some hacking to go before the entire 12' sign is running but much progress was made.
There was also discussion of the hackerspaces in space high altitude balloon project. It's going to be quite a challenge to stay in budget, and track this thing. There are stilll a few solutions to narrow down, but we've got the basic idea in place. Jody has created a new mailing list for this specific project, if you wish to join email him (jfranklin) or me (telmnstr.)
Chad set a new record on Galaga for the lab. Travis helped mount the whiteboard to hold the new record. A few new folks made it to the lab (Chad, Matt.)
Overall, good times!
HRGeeks ][ – March 18th 2010
The 2nd HRGeeks ][ meeting happened on March 18th 2010 and was a success! Adam Crosby gave his iPhone forensics presentation (slides are up on www.HRGeeks.com), and I went through a basic intro on the AMX automation equipment that is in use at the space to manage power, audio and video. Also, mega props to Brian for demoing a SICK laser rangefinder!
Next event will be a microcontroller night/boardgame night, open to all (watch the calendar.) Also, we're going to schedule some meetings regarding the high altitude balloon competition 757 Labs is entered in, "Hackerspaces in Space."
Progress!
It's been a little over two months since we first walked into the space. Since then the walls have changed from yellow to grey and we've managed to fill the space with some of the basic necessities of hacking - tables, chairs, and soda! The Lab looks so much different now than it did two months ago i'm not even sure our landlord recognizes the place. While the space isn't at 100% (and really will a hackerspace ever be at 100% - there's always more to do!) we're getting really close to a grand opening which has the whole team excited.
Look for more from us, including a bigger web presence, in the next few weeks.
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Links
User Groups
- 757 CCC Comic & Cartoon Creators
- 757 Objective C Group Objective C and Cocoa programming group.
- 757 Python Users Group
- 757.rb Ruby Users Group
- HR Geeks Hampton Roads Geek Community