Kearney, take a note in your Newton..

Spotted on the Foxtel TV guide a few times. Any Simpsons fan should get this one




Seen on one of the noticeboards at work. I suspect this person isn't studying either english, commerce or economics. $1999 for /that/? Tell 'im he's dreamin'!

Christmas Wish list..

Mostly for my benefit to keep track of it. It's all too expensive for friends to get me.

- 2006 Royal Australia Mint Uncirculated Set ($24)
- 2006 Royal Australia Mint Proof Set (Yes, both) ($80)
- Dremel Multitool (Corded or 9.6V cordless) ($??)
- Flexglow CyberSnipa (Groan) ($66)
- Windows MCE Remote (for the receiver only) ($63.80)

Any other suggestions? ;)

What to do with the rest of the mouse? :D

So it's been pointed out that the MCE remote will only work with Media Portal and not the video player we use on the PC. The alternative is to use a general WinLIRC receiver and one of the magic profiles for the Harmony 880.

Which brings me to the rest of the mouse. Here is a sample circuit for a WinLIRC receiver. It contains the following - 4.7μF electrolitic capacitor, 5V 100mA TO-92 78L05 voltage regulator, 4.7kOhm resistor, 1N4148 universal diode and a TSOP 1738 IR receiver. With the exception of the TSOP 1738 IR receiver, 4.7μF electrolitic capacitor (it only has a 0.47μF one :P) and the 78L05 regulator, the mouse's circuitboard contains all of these items.

I've pulled a 78L05 out of a dead motherboard (thank you bios update..), which means all I need now is an IR receiver, a .47µF cap, and hey presto, WinLIRC :D

Update: I work at a University.. I have a friend in the Electrical Engineering Department who I know fixes VCRs. I got the missing parts, I just had to take apart a VCR to get them. Meh! :D However, the IR sensor is two wire as well. It's on a sub assembly with a bunch of caps, a resistor and an IC which connects to the main board via three wires, but I don't know if it logically works as a transistor with a pre-amp like the specified component does, it may do, given the age of the thing. I also grabbed IR sensors out of two mice.. one has two wires, one had 4 (1 x NO, 1 x NC?), and I don't know how to adapt the circuit for them. Realistically, just buying the component for $5 would be easier, but where's the fun in that? :)