Desktop Bus Board

Desktop Bus Board

I final had enough! Plugs, wires, usb etc. surprising how much things you can plug into your computer and soon you find there is no space left on your desk and it looks a mess!

So I decided to create a Desktop Bus Board,where everything "hangs" on  rather then occupying  precious desk space.

So here you goes. It looks like a lot of things, but at least they are all out of the way and on the same plane, which is a lot better then before. I can see wood on my desk now. Not much I admit, but at least it is there.

OK,things that got "hung" there:

1. Power bar x 2
2. Power supply for Monitor
3. Power supply for Computer
4. Power supply for USB CDROM
5. Power supply for eSATA Harddisk
6. Power supply for bedroom AP
7. Power supply for External USBHarddisk
8. 100M Switch  

Image all these used to occupy  the desk and thank God for zip tie and now they all hangs on the wall!

Now if I can the same thing with the other side of my desk.........

Random thoughts on My Home Network

Things I would like to have or already have:

1. Android TV for:
1. Games
2. Internet Browsing
3. youtube
4. low priority media player
2. BT downloader
3. NAS file server
1. File dump/archive
2. Media Server
4. Network Media Player
5. VM server

1. Android TV:

I really want to have something on my 42” Sharp LCD TV, it would be so awesome web surfing, reading your email etc. Purr to all these 7”/10” punny tablet. There are a couple of ways to go about this:

• Building one. I already have in my blog mentioning the Android x86 project, which I have install onto my EEEPC-701. Now this has a VGA output, which in theory could be use on the Sharp LCD TV. One would have thought VGA was pretty mature standard and it would be a simple plug and play. But reality is just that much different. I have try with success using Linux outputting onto the TV using the EEEPC, but android is a different kettle of fish! After finding a possible boot up setting, which re-direct the output onto the external VGA, but then the resolution/sync was not what I specify and guess what, the TV couldn’t sync. I have try and try, even with a normal VGA monitor and to no avail. I have try putting the problem to the net as well as the developer site. The answer is the same as I have done and it didn’t work. So I have given up for the moment.
• Buy one. That should be easy. The MK802II and Mele A1000/2000 look good. There is even dual core (?!) version, but that’s using a CPU know to have a very close architecture. I must say, the MK802II seems a good solution, although not very powerful, it will do what I want plus it is HACKable. Yes, you can run Linux on it and the Mele have all the interfaces/ports you even wanted (SATA, VGA, SDPIF, HDMI, Coax-Colour, SD and if you prepare to open the box, some GPIO and SPI/I2C). The down side it the Mele only got 512M, which is ok if you are running a headless server, but if you want any graphic, the GPU will take a large chunk of the 512M. So it all depends on what you want to do. For Android TV purpose, the MK802II looks like a better bet, with 1G RAM. They both can play some media file, but as Android support for these isn’t very good, it isn’t on the top of the list.

2. BT downloader.

I already have this running, sort of. I have a printer/usb network server (if you can call a embedded board with 48MB/400Mhz CPU running linux with network and two usb a server), similar to this:

http://dx.com/p/standalone-bittorrent-bt-client-usb-nas-ftp-samba-printer-upnp-sharing-network-lan-server-26320

Mine a different model, but I think the gut is the same. Anyway, it is now running Snake OS with transmission as BT Client:

http://code.google.com/p/snake-os/

It isn’t a bad setup, as long as you keep your expectation low, ie. don’t expect it to run too many download session and services togethers. It can even runs a mini upnp server call MiniDLNA and samba, FTP etc. but not all at once. One thing I like about it is that it runs Linux. You just have to love it! One more step for Linux in conquering the world!

3. NAS file server

Now I did have a NAS, with 2x1TB Storage, but the stupid Intel itx motherboard (with onboard celeron) just die. I haven’t/couldn’t figure out what’s wrong with it. The power light comes on and the HD spins up, but no beep/display, just nothing. Anyway, it wasn’t a very good board (only got two SATA and 100baseT) and I was think of replacing it. I did have an old AMD2 board, which at one time I was running as a VM Server with 2G RAM and 4xSATA Disk. Yes I know, very old board, but it does the job, and even runs a few VM on it. The only problem is, it is BIG, I mean full size ATX, in a really big tower case. Ok the case can house about 6-8 disk and has plenty of fan/vent/space inside. But it is big, noisy and general does not blend well with the rest of the furniture.

So what’s the solution? One solution is if I get rid of the case and have everything “nake” .
I have a  cupboard where I was suppose to put all my “server” equipment in at the sitting room. This is  where the broadband router sits  as well as the network for the house terminate. If I stripe the PC “nake” and just “place” all the component on a shelf in the cupboard, that would be ideal. The only problem is cooling; there isn’t going to be any, unless I starting cutting holes in the cupboard and I don’t think the wife going to like this much. So unless I can figure this one out, I am stick.

4. Network Media Player

This is solved or has some kind of solution. I did bought in a heat of a moment a Media Player. It does the job playing from SD, SATA HD and USB, it even as a UPNP player and does handle 1080i. Apart from it being a “close” box and properly dead end product (no hope/chance that it will even get any update/upgrade to the firmware). The GUI is a load of rubbish but then it does play all kind of media files. My alternative is the Raspberry Pi, at this moment load with RASPBMC (xmbc Raspberry Pi version), which is very good. The GUI is top notch, the only thing is that I need to control it through either the keyboard/mouse or Android or iPad/Pod XBMC remote apps., hence the kids can’t easily control it. One thing to watch out on the Raspberry Pi is that the ethernet controller can get very hot, due to a board mistake which wire it onchip 1.8v reg. with the board’s 1.8v supply. Mine get very hot, even with a memory chip heatsink on. Although all sources confirm it all within spec., but still high temperature cannot do good to longevity of any chips. The fixed mean doing major surgery to the board (cutting tracks and lifting pin), which I am not comfortable to do, unless I have another board to play with.

Update 16/10/2012:

Just heard from element 14 that a new version of Raspberry Pi board, with 512M memory compare with 256MB in the old one, same price. Most important, they fixed the 1.8v power supply problem and loads of other fixes as well. So I order one and should be on its way end of October I hope.

5. VM server

Now this would really be good, if I have:

• Space to put it
• Money to buy it

Since memory is now dirt cheap (8G DDR3 <HK$300). But then...............................

Glass Jar Speaker

Hi again,

Been busy at work and at home lately (no Phil. housemate any more and I have to do the washing up, take the trash out etc. ;-( ), so a small project, which in theory should not take long might just be the right.

I brought two 8ohm, 3W speakers a while ago. Looks a bit like tweeter to me, but for speech and light music, they should be ok. I am was looking for something to house them. 

The original idea was to use them as the speaker for the FM radio I was building, but thats' taken me longer to get the software right (just can't get it to auto scan, manual tuning is ok). Anyway, I have also order a small 3W Class-D amp. like this one:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/2-Channels-3W-PAM8403-Class-D-Audio-Amplifier-Board-5V-USB-Power-/190723806259?pt=US_Home_Audio_Amplifiers_Preamps&hash=item2c68065433

Could be power by an USB port. You will be surprise how small it is, well I am anyway. So may be I will put them together and make a pair of small powered speaker. I know you buy them dirt cheap, but whats' the fun in that?

Anyway on with the search for an enclosure. I saw this a while ago on the net:

http://sarahpease.com/audioJar

and thought I might do something similar. So on to the HK$12 shop and I found these candy jar, just right for the job! I one each with different colour cap, so I can identify which is left and which is right channel.  So on with the job. Now I already anticipated that most mechanical task will be cutting holes (thats' why I thought it will be a short project). Now cutting holes on the cap for the speaker is easy, just happen to have the right size hole cutting and there you go:

a bit of hot glue and it is looking nice!

But cutting hole in glass is another matter. I know you can do it, from the above website and there are special bit to do this, but I just never done it before. I started using very small engraving bit from my Dremal tool. Now, my advice is, if I was to do this again, is not to use a Dremal tool. They are far too fast! A normal drill with variable speed is a much better choose and you want to go real slow. Second, wet the place you going to drill before. This  serve two purposes; one it keep the drill/glass cool, so less chance of  it cracking, second, it remove the dust when you drill, glass dust in lung is not good! And the result:

Just one more thing, for those of us who is blessed with the marital blaze, do the drilling when the wife is not around. Glass drilling noise make wife nuts!

Here the finished product, the speaker side anyway.

Ben

Alternative Android Devices and ARM embedded device etc........

 Hi all,

On the thought of how Linux will conquer the world, I ran into these ARM based devices of which I could see unlimited hackabilities:

Allwinner based devices and board:
http://wiki.xbmc.org/index.php?title=Allwinner_A10_devices

and here another one just came out:
http://cubieboard.org/

Not much info on the cubie board, but the price is right and if people can latch on as much as the MK802, than it would be very interesting. It have similar spec. as the Mala A100 devices, maybe they just strip the case and sale the bare board instead, who know. Just quick search, you can now buy it on aliexpress (in limited quantity, 512MB as well as 1GB model):

http://www.aliexpress.com/item/cubieboard-prototype-512M-2012-8-8-revision/633682724.html

But as it said, it is prototype board, so you take your chances. 

Look at the embedded devices market, it is fair to say ARM based devices is taken a fair chunk of it and one reason is the adoption of  Linux on it. The tool chain seems to be quite well develop and it is quite easy to port from one model to another. All this is fine when you have 512MB or even 1GB to play around, but what happen if you just want it for a quick embedded application? An interest and very useful article from Jeelabs on the Ecosystem of development/enbedded ARMs:

http://jeelabs.org/2012/09/13/the-arm-ecosystem/

I think the main thing that will make or break the ARMs into the hobbist/maker market is an Open IDE, that is flexible enough to support different varies of the make/model/implementation of the chip. There currently so many different way to develop and upload application to an ARM board, and almost all of them are proprietary. This does not help with the adoption of ARMs; too many chooses is no chooses and a close system is no good to anyone. I think one of the reason why the Arduino platform is successfully, which in turns leads to the large adoption of AVR among the hobbist, is that it offer a open "standard", which everyone can follow. Now this "standard" might not be the best in the world, but it offer an entry point where people can enter. Once people start adopting this standard, they can stay with it, as it offer compatibility with other devices in the family or they can move on with the same standard, but with better or more advance coding, like C etc.   Now whether this will ever happens, we remain to see and I certainly will be watching, specially TI is selling this:

http://www.ti.com/ww/en/launchpad/stellaris_head.html?DCMP=stellaris-launchpad&HQS=stellaris-launchpad

TI is selling them for USD12.99 (was USD9.99 when I got mine). For that you get a ARM® Cortex™-M4F (2 in fact if you count the one which provide the USB host). Quite a powerful processor.

Ben

Update, 4/10/2012:

One step closest, but not sure about the direction. Anyway Arduino have the same idea of putting ARMs on Arduino format and hopefully an IDE to follow:

http://hackaday.com/2012/10/03/finally-an-arm-powered-arduino/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+hackaday%2FLgoM+%28Hack+a+Day%29 

Update, 5/10/2012:

Check this out for an IDE:

http://www.coocox.org/index.html 

Update, 14/1/2013:

Looks like apart from the cheap MK802 from China, the Korean are at it too. Take a look at this:

http://www.hardkernel.com/renewal_2011/products/prdt_info.php?g_code=G135341370451&tab_idx=1  

Yes, it is a Quad core Android/Ubuntu development board. It uses the same cpu as in the Samsung Android phone eg. Note II etc. 1G RAM and just about everything you need for a standalone server and at USD89! Quad core development board, now what will they think of next! It looks like better supported then the china one too. 

Raspberry Pi: The Adventure goes on.......

Hi,

Here again, just updating what I have been doing. From the blog before, I have so far:

1) Load Raspbian onto it.

Ran transmission, samba and mediatomb off it. Find the USB harddisk access will crash with cache write error, after a period of time (usually days) and will keep doing this is shorter and shorter period. Check the disk (ext4) and it say it is clean. Use the same disk on my Zotac under Linux and it is fine. I think this is a Raspberry Pi issue, may be usb related (may be firmware, as Raspbmc has the same issue). So far I have updated to the latest firmware and bleeding edge kernel, but makes no different.

2) Load up Raspbmc.

First impression was really good, well done Sam! Although it suffer the same usb harddisk issue, as I turn on upnp server. Just updated it to RC4, so far looks really cool. The only real quibble I have is during installation, DO NOT plug a keyboard in! It seem that it has a hard time resetting the keyboard and will not finish the installation. After it has completed the installation, then it will detect the keyboard  properly. I don't know if anybody else have the same experience, but here's my two cent on installation. So the next thing is to get a remote working. The Android remote works real good, but it would be nicer if I can get my aftermarkert PS3 remote working.

On the thoughts on what I really want to use the Raspi for, I beginning to have some reservation on it. I do understand it is a WIP and there are certain design feature/bugs that may have to live with (1.8v reg. making the Ethernet chip hot). So if I am looking for something that can be use for production, I might have to look else where.

Now something I really like to have is Android/Linux on the our main TV, in fact I would like Linux on just about everything and everywhere! Today your TV, tomorrow the world! So may be something like this will fit:

http://wiki.xbmc.org/index.php?title=Allwinner_A10_devices

But this is for another bolg.

DIY RC System

Re-activate this project again, after being temporary shelf by wife (the wife actually "put it away", so I have to dig it out again.

Here are some photo of the  Logitech Flight Force Joystick  for PS2, in pieces of course:

I pick it up here:

http://www.directbuyhk.com/product_html/PlayStation_1___2_Logitech_Flight_Force_Joystick.html

Not bad for HKD70, with USB, it even works on the PC too! Shame I have to "butcher" it, might get another one to play with on the PC.

This project is based on Ian Johnson excellent blog here:

http://www.ianjohnston.com/content/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=32:project-rc-joystick-tx&catid=3:hobbies&Itemid=8

and RC Group Forum:

http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1231017

So far:

1. Gutted the joystick; all the electronics, mounting is gone.
2. Re-wire all the buttons and pots; the button is map using some weird multiplex layout, I ended up just cutting tracks and re-wire all the switch to the connector. The connector only have 6 connection and there is ten switch not including the common wire, so I have add extra cable and solder directly to the buttons.
3. Found the latest version of Ian's software no longer fit on a ATMEGA168 ie. my old Bare Bone Arduino, so have to use my Arduino Nano, which happen to be on the Quadcopter. Just as well, since I just brought a Arduino Mini, thinking of replacing the Nano on the Quadcopter. This means I need a new shield for the Quadcopter! At this rate, I might never finish it! But thats' another story. Second though, might keep the Nano on the Quad and use the Mini on the joystick, since:
• Less messing about with the Quad
• There is a PCB already for the Mini
4. Make up a power cable from battery to Arduino and Corona CT8J. Must remember to put a Power switch in! 
5. Drill holes to mount the CT8J.

Things to do:

1. Make a shield for the Nano so all the button, buzzer, pots can connect to the Nano
2. Load the latest software onto the Nano Mini.
3. Get a pot and switch for the Aux inputs.
4. Drill mount holes for the Aux inputs, Power switch etc.
5. Some how mount battery and Arduino inside the joystick, double sided foam tape may be?
6. Connect everything and re-assemble the joystick (this is the hardest step).
7. Mod. my palm IIIx into a serial LCD display.
8. that's it!

Now if I can find time to do all these.......................

Update: 14/1/2013


Just found these:

ArduinoRCLib

http://sourceforge.net/p/arduinorclib/

and

Open source RC transmitter software for the Arduino | Arduino Radio Control

http://www.reseau.org/arduinorc/

The ArduinoRCLib are a set of Arduino Library, which you can build upon. It got all the ins and outs needed for an RC TX/RX system, but you have to put it all together, which is great if you need something quickly to test, ie. about 10 line of code.

While Open source RC transmitter is a complete TX system, all you need is a TX module and suitable input as in pot and switch.

So making an RC TX never been easier on an Arduino. Now only if I can find the time..........

Project so far.................

hi again,

2nd entry to my blog. This blog is not only about sharing my hacking/modding experience, but also keep me on track with all the different projects I am doing:

1) Raspberry Pi

Big plan for this one and since I receive my last month, I have already tested it on XBMC, which is a real kick ass Media Centre and Debian. At the moment, it is running Debian in server moment as an uPNP server (Mediatomb) and file server, serving off a 250GB External USB HD. I have other plan for it once I can get my hand on another one:

• Network Media Player/Entertainment Centre  - XBMC of course 
• This basically works, but I need another RaPi to run it on.
• Network Media/File Server 
• Done and running Transmission as well.

2) Quadcopter

• Finish my WIICopter
• Start 430Quad using DC pager motor 

Update 14/1/2013:

• New STM32F3Discovery based OpenPilot UAV. 
• https://github.com/lilvinz/OpenPilot/wiki
• http://wiki.openpilot.org/display/Doc/OpenPilot+Documentation

3) Android everywhere

• Continue to put/use Android everywhere. So far eBook, eeePC, mobile phone etc.

4) Home File Server resurrect

This is sitting sadly in a cupboard in my sitting room. Although the cupboard is space enough to house it, it has no ventilation, so have to think of a way to cool the server without making ugly holes in the cupboard.

5) Wireless router

• TL MR3020 Traveling router hacking
• Adding external Antenna 
• Wireless Network Media Player - Done. Might post something out once iron out a few wrinkle. Yes, it basically work, but the button debounce need some more work.
• Dumb AP - done
• Wireless Bridge - Still trying to figure out what is the best way to do this, since the wireless setting needs to be change.
• Internet Router
• All control by the slide switch
•  TL WR703n
• Wireless AP
• External Antenna

 6) DIY RC System

• Reinventing the wheel using an Arduino, PC Flight Stick and 2.4GHz RC TX module

7) Arduino

Making a few shield and interface circuit for Arduino. Project so far:

• Bluetooth Shield - Done
• Digital FM Tuner using TEA5767 - not all working yet. Basic tuning was ok using fix frequency, but I want all the bells & whistle, ie. manual tuning using button, LCD display, auto-scan tuning etc.
• Paper Arduino Leonado Clone - Basically, I done one, which doesn't work, there is a short somewhere, which I couldn't find and I think the ATMEGA32A is toasted! 2nd attend started, with some proper 1206 Res. & Cap. (use 0805 b4, since those are the one I got on hand, order some1206 since then). Also try to reflow solder (using a cloth iron, yes, one have make do with what one have). It works out quite good, all the joins were good and only a few need some more solder (properly work without, but just in case). No short so far, but will solder the rest of the through pin components in and see. Wish me luck!

Update: 14/1/2013

8) More toys!

• STM32F3Discovery
• Killer eval. board with ARM Cortex-M4 with 256 KB Flash, 48 KB RAM, and wait for it:
• L3GD20, ST MEMs motion sensor, 3-axis digital output gyroscope
• LSM303DLHC, ST MEMs system-in-package featuring a 3D digital linear acceleration sensor and a 3D digital magnetic sensor (what they mean is compass, yes, it got a compass build in, so you know your heading)

                A Quadcopter controller in one neat package. All you need to do is the wiring to RX and ESC and you have a complete controller. Not to mention the price, HKD100 for this! It's steal! Yes, the initial delivery schedule sucks (6 weeks I think), but it should ok now, plus they up the price to about HKD133 in element14 (RS still sells them for HK108 and have stock and ship in 2 working days). Someone has already done the software, see link above in Quadcopter section.

• TI Stellaris LaunchPad 
• Another dirt cheap ARM's development board in the same booster pack format as in the famous MSP430 LaunchPad. It host a ARM Cortex-M4 CPU with floating point, 256Kbytes of FLASH and bags of other tricks like 1MSPS ADCs, eight UARTs, four SPIs, four I2Cs, USB & up to 27 timers, some configurable up to 64-bits and so on. The price tag was USD9.95, but they up the price to 12.99 now. I brought mine at USD9.95, but have to wait about 2 mth. for them!

Android ICS x86 RC2 on EEEPC701

Hi all,

This is my first blog so bare with me while I get the hang of things.

I have been following the development of Android x86 for a while, since 1.6 and installed 1.6 and lately ICS 4.0.4 on my old battered EEEPC701, with 4G SSD and 2G RAM. I must say I am impressed, even more with release of ICS 4.0.4. Basically, it resurrected my EEEPC, which upto that point being gaining dust in the corner. 1.6 is useable, but ICS definitely make the EEEPC a viable alternative to tablet and even netbook running M$ OS.

As before, my EEEPC was running XP and even with 4G SSD, it barely able to squeeze XP onto it, let alone any usable program like Office. But with ICS x86, not only can it running a host of application from Google Play store (with Arm emulation hack, it even run Angrybird), it whiz alone in pace better than any of my purpose build Android tablet (much better than my Nook Color anyway and from the feel, on par with what Samsung have in offer). Reason could be it is running on 2G RAM, while most tablet has only 512M to 1G. But consider it is only running a single core Celeron at 1GHz or less, which in the PC world is lowest of the low end, it proves what you can do with a properly written OS. Yes, there is a lot of 'fat' in M$ OS, so much so that it seems with every new version, it demands a new generation of Intel processor.

Of course, it isn't perfect. It doesn't run HD, then it doesn't either with XP. You just can't have everything.

Anyway, for anyone who have one of those "netbook" lying around, I encourage you to try this and for those whose have some UNIX/Linux back ground, do the ARM emulation hack, it is worthy.

Where you can find the ISO and other info.:

http://www.android-x86.org/

For the ARM hack, a great tutorial and good site for other info:

http://android-x86.sceners.org/

Enjoy!


Bench