Building HTPC media center

I had an idea to build an home media center based on PC. First try was Pentium 3 with TV card and remote. It was very noisy. I've decided to build something silent. Mini-itx, DC-DC converter and 12V power supply. Mini-itx and DC-DC converter was ordered from seller mitxpc on Ebay. All parts have arrived fast, successfully and in new, working condition. And instead of a case - old videotape was chosen.
I have removed all boards - it was very painfully for me . Except front panel - I've planned to use it.

This is a Jetway VIA C7 1.2 GHz motherboard inside

Front panel:
This is a power button and wires connected to "power on" connector in motherboard

This is an IR receiver with all contacts marked - thank you "Sony"I have connected to this receiver +5v and Ground. Output I've connected to MAX232, found on one of my previously developed boards. You can see it in front of case. After convert level to RS232 I've connected it to COM2 DCD line - as found on LIRC
This is a back panel - a most difficult work.

This is a pico-psu 120 DC-DC convertor. It supplies all voltages to motherboard from regular 12V 5A power supply.
The software:
I use Windows XP with WinLirc, Girder and Meedio. This PC connected to my home network via router, so I can easily upload movies to it. And I don't need a DVD drive. If I will - I still have a place inside for it

Video surveillance

After I successfully built a automatic light system in my stairs room (look on my previous post), it is time to add a video camera to it. Someone comes - light is turns on and I see him on display. No need to come to door. So I installed a tiny camera on top of my door and installed a small 7.5 inch display. Camera looks like this - upper part is a ceiling

and this is a display on my work table

I use the same power supply as for my light system - 12V and I use the same Ethernet cable for video signal. Now I'll be lazy and fat. And not open my door :)

Atiny13 and Sharp proximity detector

This is Atiny 13 available from http://www.sparkfun.com
It is AVR microcontroller with 4 A/D channels.

And this is a Sharp GP2Y0A02YK proximity detector available from http://www.junun.org

I've decided to build a small system that turns on the light in my stairs room when someone comes. I've connected proximity detector to one of A/D inputs and connected a relay to one of outputs. After this I've written a small program that turns on relay when proximity is closer than 50 cm. And turns relay off after 1 second. Like a button next to my entry door.
This is a sensor on my door:


And system connected to light button contacts

The power (12 volt) is supplied via Ethernet cable.

Finally it looks like this:

Technorati Profile

Wireless Slackware on PC/104

I've got a PC/104 board and I've decided to put Linux on it. And some wireless. On Ebay I've bought a wireless PCMCIA card. I choose "Safecom" because of Linux driver available to download. After some games with different distributions, I've found that Slackware is the best for this (I believed in Suse before, sorry). I've compiled the driver, and checked all on HDD. Everything was worked. But who are playing with these noisy hard drives. I've bought on Ebay HDD-CF adapter and put Slackware on CF card (without swap of course). And whoa! - this is completely standalone noiseless station. It connects automatically to my wireless router and receives IP address. After installing OpenSSh I can connect to it from any place. But what can I do with it? Well, I will think about it. And now some pictures.


Here is "The system"

This is a CPU side - it is a Compulab 586Base
This is a PCMCIA side with "Safecom" card

Slackware's LILO starting

Booting, receiving IP address, etc.

Lets start this blog. Here I will post devices (or gadgets) that I have created.