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| Okay so I've kept adding to this page and
it's huge now, if your not one for reading scroll down there are
pictures :) A short intro: TheGeekbox.net started in May 2006 with two webcams plugged into a dell laptop. Which really wasn't up for the job, this was then replace by a computer from ebay for £55 in January of 2007 it was an ex-school computer also not really up to the job. I then gave up being cheap and built my self a "proper" server in may of 2008 and it's still going strong. Currently there are three USB webcams and webcam 4 being a IP camera at the end of a 26m network cable. . RandomRampage.com which is my radio station started in January 2007 around the same time I got the second sever also broadcasts from this server. Here is some server data and below that are some pictures of the setup Current Server Info (Late May 2008 onwards...):
Second Server Info (Janaury 2007-May 2008) : Current
First Server Info (May 2006-Novemeber 2006):
How the Controlable things works: -K8055 (low voltage motors) Current  On the right is K8055 board. When a link for the car, or coaster is pressed it turns on one of the ouputs from the board making the realys turn on thus making the car or coaster's motors move. -X10 (mains lights)   I use a program plug in for ablecam to control the computer interface on the left. When a link is pressed the interface will tell the appliance module on the right to come on (one pictured is for the coaster lights). The modules are in short larger remote controled realys like those used on the K8055. These are simplified explanations but will hopefully will give you an idea into the workings. How the weather info works: This comes from a WMR 918 weather station which is outside about 10meters from the house. It sends data to a base station in my bedroom. This is sent down 35meters of cable to TheGeekBox server where Weather Display records the data and outputs it as images which can be seen on the weather page. The Rain Gauge, Solar panel behind:  Wind:  Indoor: The serial cable converts to RJ45 to make it to the server.  The old La Crosse Technology WS2300:  Webcams: -One is a sphere which can pan and tilt showing both coaster and car:  -Two looks at the path leading to front door and has motion detection:  -Three looks out the front window at a golf course:  -Four is a IP camera, at the end of 26 meters network cable looking at the rabbit.  -Five Is a Sony camcorder conected to the 9100A video server  TheGeekBox through out the ages...  May 2006 with the first car which only lasted a few weeks. All run from a Dell Laptop which only allowed for 2 webcams.  Agian from May 2006 with crash barriers.  Late July 2006- A view from webcam one looking at the first car.  2007- Before the new car and K8055 board.  2007-Router on the left a DG834PN and 9100A video server on the right. Before they where moved on top of the server  2007-Screaming serpent knex roller coaster November 2007:  So i've just totally missed out two years and here's what that mass of wires looks like in 2010  The k8055 is abit tidier now in the old server's case, normally has its cover on  Duck tape continuities inside the server case...  TheGeekBox Layout abit outdated  |
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