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Archive: Telecommunications
January 6, 2009
Ready for digital TV?
In our house, we haven't had cable tv for about 6 years. When we moved in, there was an antenna on the roof and coax cable to a bunch of locations where tvs could go. In the basement is a signal amplifier that seems to help all the equipment find the signal. It took some getting used to, but most of what we watch is on over the air broadcast anyway. Free over the air broadcast is the way it should be. The 40ish year old antenna on the roof was recently replaced with a fresh one from the dump.
Most of what is on tv is useless, so why pay for the mind numb? Well, I am not the only video consumer in the manse, so when the big date for Analog to Digital broadcast comes along, I will have to do something.
At this writing, a few stations are dropping their analog signal. A football game here, morning cartoons there, public service announcements hinting at what is to come and eventually the screen will go blue.
So not everything can be watched online, though there are some great resources for watching.
Hulu, youtube, Vimeo, PBS and lots of other online outlets will help keep you up to speed with lots of good video based information.
Make:TV may be reason in itself to get a digital converter box for every tv in the house.
The most useful piece of information on the change from Analog to Digital I have seen is a show on PBS. They have a half hour segment where the hosts go through a neighborhood and help check out the houses' digital connectivity. Take a look at the show and see where you stand.
What is your plan for the great Analog to Digital changeover? Where do you get your information? What do you like about digital tv? How do you record tv shows now that video tape is just about extinct? What are your solutions to surviving and prospering in the digital tv age? Add your comments to the discussion and contribute your photos and video to the Make Flickr pool.
Posted by Chris Connors |
Jan 6, 2009 02:00 AM
DIY Projects, Electronics, Gadgets, Something I want to learn to do..., Telecommunications, Wireless |
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December 29, 2008
The Von Slatt deconstructed workshop telephone
Jake made this funky-cool workshop phone by uncasing a classic Bell System wallphone and refinishing and remounting the parts. As he points out, if you do a phone like this, you'd likely want to cover the terminal block for safety purposes.
Posted by Gareth Branwyn |
Dec 29, 2008 12:51 PM
Remake, Retro, Telecommunications |
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December 26, 2008
HOW TO - Make a "Chatter telephone" - a real phone from a Fisher-Price Chatter Telephone!
I remember making pretend phone calls on my Fisher-Price Chatter Telephone when I was 7 or 8, and wondering if it was possible to turn it into a real phone. That question stayed with me, and when I saw a Chatter Telephone and a Crosley Princess Telephone recently at Target, I knew the answer was yes. I brought them home and made it work, and it was easier than I expected.Read full story
Posted by Phillip Torrone |
Dec 26, 2008 12:00 AM
DIY Projects, Electronics, hacks, Kids, Mods, Retro, Telecommunications, Toys and Games |
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December 9, 2008
It's email time - Make an "email clock".... the more kb you get the more the clock ticks!
IT’S EMAIL TIME - Innocent-looking “clock” monitors the unread-message pileup in your inbox - by Tom Igoe.
I have a lot of anxiety about email. Every kilobyte in my Inbox destroys another minute of my life, but I can’t stop checking it. So I decided to embody my anxiety in a device that would worry about my incoming mail for me. I’ve always liked clockwork mechanisms, so I made my email fetish object in the form of a clock. For each kilobyte of new mail I receive, the clock ticks relentlessly forward.Read full story
Posted by Phillip Torrone |
Dec 9, 2008 12:00 AM
DIY Projects, Electronics, hacks, Telecommunications |
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December 2, 2008
VideoMan releases protest art onto city streets
"VideoMan", is a performance / street intervention project by Mexican artist Fernando Llanos where the artist wears a custom built suit comprised of a video camera, projector, large portable battery pack, power inverters, amplifiers, and other noise generators. Walking around city streets, Llanos projects varied imagery of news broadcasts and other themed material. Check out some of the videos of the piece in action at the link below.
Posted by Jonah Brucker-Cohen |
Dec 2, 2008 06:00 AM
Arts, Telecommunications, Wearables |
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November 27, 2008
Build a Skype server and replace your land line
With some of my family overseas, Skype and iChat have become important tools for voice communication, second only to the cell phone and face to face protocol. It occurred to me that outside of telemarketers and the very occasional late-night pizza dial, the land line has become a relatively unused service. Unused, yet a consistent and not insubstantial monthly bill.
With thoughts of finally ditching the land line, but still a bit resistant to going completely phoneless in the home (what about when my cell battery dies?), I came across an article in Linux Journal by Andrew Sheppard, author of Skype Hacks, that shows you how to reconfigure your home telephone system to be completely routed through a server running Skype and Linux.
My solution was to build a Skype server that provides 24/7 phone service with the minimum of hassle and fuss. By dumping your regular phone company and taking back control of your home phone wiring using a Skype server, you will have not only a phone system with nearly the same capabilities as before--indeed, in some ways better--you will also save a bundle of money! In my case, I save a little less than $700 US each year (this year, next year, and the year after that, and so on), or about 82% off of my old phone bill.
Using a Skype server plugged in to the existing copper phone wiring of your home means that you can lift a receiver anywhere in your home, at any time, and get a regular dial tone. Incoming calls either from Skype users or regular phones ring all handsets throughout your home. Basically, you can make Skype behave like a regular phone line, but at a tiny fraction of the cost.
There are some big benefits to switching to a Skype server. It's likely a lot cheaper and if you're a regular Skype user, you can now use the service with any handset in the house instead of sitting at your computer.
There are also some downsides. The phone system still remains one of the most reliable services. It's more likely that I'll lose electricity than I won't have a dial tone, which may be of some concern for fire and bugler alarm systems. You also wouldn't have 911 service in this scenario, but if you have a cell phone anyway, this may be a moot point.
What are the rest of you hackers doing for phone service these days? Is it time to give up the land line entirely, simulate it with a Skype server or VoIP service, or are you still happily rocking the POTS? Give us a shout in the comments.
Build a Skype Server for Your Home Phone System
Andrew Sheppard's Skype Hacks - Tips & Tools for Cheap, Fun, Innovative Phone Service
Posted by Jason Striegel |
Nov 27, 2008 10:00 PM
hacks, Telecommunications, VoIP |
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November 11, 2008
Redfly terminal, priced right for hacking?
JC sent in a link in response to 24 hours of Android. He was suggesting an adapter for the headphone, essentially usb to 1/8" stereo. The $6 purchase price indicates that there must be a simple way of doing it. While checking out some of the other accessories for HTC phones, I came upon this neat little terminal. Redfly is apparently a keyboard and screen to go with your smartphone. With no processor, memory or much else, it is likely pretty light. It looks to be about the size of the micro laptops or notebook computers running processors similar to the OLPC. It rides off the USB connection from the phone.
So what are the possibilities in these little computers and terminals when combined with the new, powerful phones on the market? Could I get my MSI Wind to be a terminal for my G1? That would have been handy last night, where I had ok coverage on the 2G network, but no wifi. Out here in the cellular fringe, 3G is not an option. The small screen and keyboard of the Wind would have been easier to use than the tiny screen and keyboard of the phone. Since both devices have USB ports, then it should be possible to program them to talk to each other.
If you have been poking around with this idea, then post up in the comments!
Posted by Chris Connors |
Nov 11, 2008 07:16 AM
Cellphones, Computers, Gadgets, Telecommunications, Wireless |
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November 5, 2008
More on that big news for RF Makers
A follow up our previous post (now with PDF & another)... Pete writes -
The FCC is deregulating "white-spaces", which are the unused bits of the TV spectrum. This is important to us Makers, since RF circuits for the TV spectrum are easy to find and modify for cheap (just tear apart an old TV, VCR, or cable modulator for transmitters or receivers), and amplifiers for this band are also cheap and easy to find and make. I'll hopefully be able to post a tutorial soon on extracting and modifying RF circuits for this band.Full FCC OET report on some WSDs (WhiteSpace Devices) that are already coming out of some of the larger companies. Still no word on power limitations or specific frequencies. In the mean time, if you want to get started in RF, head on over to http://www.arrl.org/ and get your Amateur Radio License! It's a great way to get started.
73 de KC2BJT.
Stay tuned to MAKE, we'll building a lot of new projects around this and covering it all throughly - it's just like when makers starting hacking around with Wi-Fi!
Posted by Phillip Torrone |
Nov 5, 2008 09:30 AM
Telecommunications |
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November 4, 2008
FCC OKs use of white spaces to deliver broadband
Big news for makers out there today, the FCC OK'ed the use of white spaces to deliver broadband - this might mean a whole new class of devices soon, just as Wi-Fi took off we'll likely see even more wireless devices flourish along with super-fast broadband speeds...
The Federal Communications Commission voted Tuesday to open up unused, unlicensed portions of the television airwaves known as "white spaces" to deliver wireless broadband service.
The vote is a big victory for public interest groups and technology companies such as Google Inc. and Microsoft Corp. that say white spaces could be used to bring broadband to rural America and other underserved parts of the country.
"White spaces are the blank pages on which we which we will write our broadband future," said Jonathan Adelstein, one of two Democrats on the five-member commission. Adelstein added that white spaces could represent a "third channel" to reach consumers beyond the telephone and cable networks that represent the primary competition in today's broadband market.
The vote came over the objections of the nation's big TV broadcasters, which argue that using the fallow spectrum to deliver wireless Internet access could disrupt their over-the-air signals. Manufacturers and users of wireless microphones — including sports leagues, church leaders and performers of all stripes — have also raised concerns about interference.
The next step for the main opponent, the National Association of Broadcasters, could be a lawsuit to stop the FCC plan from taking effect. NAB had no immediate comment.
Four commissioners voted to approve the plan with one commissioner — Republican Deborah Tate — dissenting in part. Among her concerns, Tate raised questions about how potential interference problems would be handled.
Last month, a technical report by FCC engineers concluded that interference could be eliminated with the use of wireless transmitter devices that rely on spectrum-sensing and "geolocation" technologies to detect nearby broadcast signals.
Posted by Phillip Torrone |
Nov 4, 2008 03:30 PM
Telecommunications |
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September 14, 2008
Want some radio? Saw off a piece
Back in the old days we'd just saw off another piece of radio when we needed it via NOTCOT.
Posted by Phillip Torrone |
Sep 14, 2008 05:00 AM
Arts, Telecommunications |
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July 15, 2008
History of the payphone - mystery book
This is a long shot, but does anyone know anything about this fantastic indy publication "Payphone History" ? - it seems to be a small run "book" about 130 pages, excellent information and I love the paste up style. Here is the cover and table of contents.
Posted by Phillip Torrone |
Jul 15, 2008 10:30 AM
Retro, Telecommunications |
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July 14, 2008
Hand-powered radio broadcaster
Robert writes in to point out the P2P Radio Broadcaster -
Remember those little pirate radio stations in the 80's? Enter the p2p radio broadcaster by Juan Esteban Rios, this little device provides a means to transmit audio content to local radio receivers, and by having the listeners act as peers, the network can be expanded as much as it needs to. Overlooked communities in remote areas or poor urban environments can now take back the radio airwaves. The device is also powered by handcranking it, 1 minute for every 40 minutes of airtime.- P2P Radio
Posted by Collin Cunningham |
Jul 14, 2008 02:00 PM
Telecommunications |
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July 10, 2008
46 years of Satellite TV
46 years of Satellite TV @ Retrothing -
The Telstar 1 communication satellite was launched from Cape Canaveral, Florida on July 10, 1962, ushering in the modern age of intercontinental broadcasting and telecommunication. It was owned by AT&T and developed at Bell Telephone Labs as part of an international project sponsored by the USA, UK and France. Its $3 million trip atop one of NASA's Thor-Delta rockets was the first commercially sponsored launch.Telstar was placed in a medium altitude elliptical orbit that circled the earth approximately once every 2 3/4 hours. This resulted in a short 20 minute window during which intercontinental communication could be established between Andover Earth Station in the United States and Goonhilly Satellite Earth Station in Cornwall, England or Pleumeur-Bodou in France.
Goonhilly became the first ground station to receive a live intercontinental TV feed on July 23, 1962, although the French were the first to receive a patriotic American test image from Andover, Maine.
Posted by Phillip Torrone |
Jul 10, 2008 11:03 AM
Telecommunications |
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June 30, 2008
IM bark notification
Matthew replaced the controller in a robotic dog, and through some scripting, made a barking instant messenger notifier. The dog barks when you receive a message, leaving your speakers free to play music, and helping him stay polite without being glued to his computer.
More:
- Chatter Pillow - Adium, PHP, Arduino, LEDs... wireless notification pillow
- Slow Messenger makes you care more about instant messaging
Posted by Becky Stern |
Jun 30, 2008 06:00 PM
Computers, DIY Projects, Electronics, Telecommunications |
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June 19, 2008
Origami folding robot will also remove your spleen
This incredible video shows an example of "tele-surgery" techniques with the example of a surgeon remotely controlling robotic arms to fold a penny-size origami crane. Although the precision is pretty amazing, we wonder how much the average citizen will want a robot (even though it is remotely attached to a doctor) poking around inside their intestines.
[via]
Posted by Jonah Brucker-Cohen |
Jun 19, 2008 05:00 AM
Robotics, Science, Telecommunications |
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June 10, 2008
HOW TO - Make a DTMF phone dialer
Here's how to make a fun DTMF Phone Dialer via Zedomax (source and schematics included). Alex writes...
The company I work for recently upgraded their phone system. They got a new IP phone system that can supposedly do everything - the new phones have big LCD screens with fancy menus, lots of different modes, PC connection for remote control of the phone, e-mailing voice messages, and tons of other features. All that said, there was a critical piece missing from the picture - a way to dial a stored number while already in a call. This is a feature I use often - I'm using a calling card to call home and I need to first dial the 800 number and then send my calling card pin number. Well, believe it or not, the cool new phones with all the fancy software couldn't do this and I had to switch back to pencil and paper! "We will include this feature in release 8.0 or possibly 8.5" was the response from the phone company. Yeah right, like I'm going to wait for 8.5!So, here is the obvious solution - a dialer box that connects to the phone and can be used to store and dial phone numbers, pins, credit card numbers and what not. The circuit uses a NTE1690 DTMF dialer chip and a PIC16F690 microcontroller.
Because this is an IP phone and I cannot just send the DTMF tones over the line, the easiest place to plug in the box is between the phone and the handset. The box has two RJ9 ports at the back - one gets connected to the headset's port on the phone, the other to the headset itself. The dial tones are sent over the microphone line. This way, it works both on IP-phones, and on standard (old fashioned, non-IP) ones.
Posted by Phillip Torrone |
Jun 10, 2008 09:00 AM
DIY Projects, Electronics, Telecommunications |
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May 15, 2008
RFID @ HOPE - Hackers track visitors to New York City
MAKE will be at HOPE (Hackers on Planet Earth, July 18-20). We will be doing talks, having a mini-Maker Faire and I think this going to be one of the biggest tech-hardware-hacking conferences of the decade - here's an announcment about the RFID they'll be using during the event!
This summer, hackers from around the world will track the movements of thousands of visitors to New York City.Images via - OpenBeacon.org.As part of a social experiment, attendees at a hacker conference in July will be issued badges with electronic tracking devices. Large displays will show in real-time where people go, with whom they associate, for how long and how often.
The tracking technology, known as RFID, is fast becoming an unseen part of everyday life. This July, for the very first time, the general public will be able to participate in the transparent operation of a major RFID tracking program.
Conference attendees will participate in games built around the tracking system. Players will seek ways to protect their privacy, find vulnerabilities in the tracking system, employ data mining techniques to learn more about other participants, and choose how much personal information they will disclose in order to play.
This demonstration will be open to the public at The Last HOPE conference from July 18-20 at the Hotel Pennsylvania in New York City. The first 1500 preregistrants will be guaranteed an RFID badge enabling them to participate in the game. More information and preregistration is available at http://www.hope.net/.
Posted by Phillip Torrone |
May 15, 2008 04:00 PM
Events, Telecommunications |
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Lighten your wallet - use a phone
Here's a good a idea, scan in all those loyalty cards on to your phone!
Posted by Phillip Torrone |
May 15, 2008 06:00 AM
DIY Projects, Gadgets, Telecommunications |
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April 15, 2008
Numbers station bingo
Numbers Station Bingo a game using the mysterious shortwave radio broadcasts via Waxy.
Posted by Phillip Torrone |
Apr 15, 2008 01:00 PM
Gaming, Telecommunications |
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April 8, 2008
Phy2Phy at Dorkbot SoCal
Thomas Edwards, former overlord and co-founder of Dorkbot DC, has moved to LA and is now involved with Dorkbot SoCal. At a recent SoCal gathering, he reached out (over IP) to touch DC-area Dork Mark Adams, using his Phy2Phy system.
Video: Dorkbot SoCal Meeting - April 5, 2008
Phy2Phy Physical Interactions over IP
Posted by Gareth Branwyn |
Apr 8, 2008 05:00 PM
Electronics, Events, Telecommunications |
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