Easterfest 2013 Palace

The stage at the palace

Behind the screen on stage right.
Megan is on top of the ladder putting up giant piano keys.

Oh there she is.

In front and you can see the piano keys.

Out the back.  Ian's van, our donga where we switch the video and Paul's easy up where we make coffee & chill.

Tim and Jonno switching video

Marnie

Jason

Easterfest 2013 Palace 1

(Pictures to come later)

First day of the festival.  We are set up and running.  A usual array of techical glitches.

CAMPING
We are camping in the crew area.  Dan has a friend Jeb staying with him in his tent.

Chris has been the most fantastic helper.  Technicaly competent and willing.  He has gotten enthusiastic about the camera crane.

ONSTAGE VGA
We had a request from a band to connect their laptop that would be on stage to our video system.

Plan A - Long VGA Cable.  Hmm not long enough.
Plan B - VGA-CAT5 converters.
Glynn & co kindly donated some RJ45 connectors.  Cameron Todd kindly cut off a length of Cat-5 cable and crimped on the connectors.  Connected it all up to my laptop.  No picture.
So we tried various combinations and eventually gave up.  Personally I blame the Apple Display Port - VGA adaptor.
Plan - C
We borrowed from Derek a HDMI to SDI adaptor.  Then a llong length of coax from the stage to the vision switcher.
After much fiddling we set the laptop screen resolution to ???x720 and it started to work.
Band arrived and we were all cool and the audience went home happy.

SDI
The advent of digital video has resulted in a pletora of new interfaces / formats and other gobly goop.
Onec video consisted of a 1Vp-p analogue signal with about 10MHz of base band band width.  625 lines 50 frames per second interlaced 4:3 aspect ratio.  Now we have standard definition, high definition. 16x9 wide screen, Interlaced or progressive scan.

SDI is carried on 75 ohm coax with BNC connectors just like compsoite video.  For short distances liek a few meters you can use video coax.  However for longer runs

720p = 720 lines.  Progressive scan.
1080i = 1080 vertical lines.  Interlaced.
Our cameras are mostly

Easterfest 2013 - Home Construction

It's all systems go here at home.

CAMERA RISERS
To get a clear view of the stage, we put some of our cameras up on platforms called risers.  A couple of years ago, we had a bit of a flood through our venue and that kind of dissolved the bottom section of each riser and sometime in the last year the top sections were thrown out.  So I decided it was time to make some new risers.

Chris helped to cut, drill and screw.

Actually Dan helped me yesterday too to knock up a partial proof of concept construction.

Almost finished.

Strength test.  Put some overweight guy on and see if it collapses.

Then paint them black to make them look like they are meant to be.

And a white edge.  You know workplace health and safety.  What is not obvious is the white edge is actually raised up by about 10mm.  The idea is that the camera operator will hopefully feel the raised edge and not walk backwards off.  Also chairs and tripods will hopefully stay on more securely.

Having said that, I do not believe we have ever had a person fall off.  But as I said...











THEMEING

The white things are huge piano keys that will adorn our venue part of the time.  Yes there are black ones too.  They will be hung in various arty ways.

Megan recruited her dad to make things - piano keys (above) and here they are working on "wardrobe doors".

Dan - helping to make a fridge carton look like silky oak

A huge wild storm arrived and we had to move further in to the carport.  This is the last piece.

Swimming Carnival

Oxley swimming club had a swimming carnival today.  Chris and Jemma have been regular swimmers on Friday nights.  Dan has swum (Why can't I spell this s triple u m  suuum ?) on occasion.  They all ended up with a trophie or two even if only for participation.

Telstra USB 4G Prepaid compatability

The rain has gotten into the phone line at work that carries the fax and internet.  No internet is a major problem.  TPG being a low cost provider I guess are being slack dogs and finally agreed to sending a tech next wednesday.  Telstra are only marginally better promising monday.  My previous 3G USB bodem seems to have been misplaced.

I bought a Telstra 4G USB Prepaid dongle.  Somewhere I thought I read it was compatible with our ADSL modem but in typical modern style it would appear not.

http://crowdsupport.telstra.com.au/t5/4G-Broadband/4G-USB-Modem-compatible-Wi-Fi-Router/td-p/40081

The Netcomm 3G41WT is indeed compatible
 as well as the Airlink GX440 Multi-Purpose Intelligent Gateway.

Frank Rowing

http://youtu.be/w0DPlpVWnII

As you look at the video, my oar is the second one down on the right hand side.  I am number 4.

AVR Jungo Problem

Problems installing and programming atmel microprocessors.

I inadvertantly installed
http://www.atmel.no/beta_ware/usb/AtmelUSB.exe

Then I tried to install AVR studio 4

The setup has detected that version 11.00.000 of AVR Jungo USB is already installed.
This setup installs an earlier version of AVR Jungo USB (10.2).
You will have to uninstall the previous version before installing this version

tried this
http://www.petri.co.il/removing-old-drivers-from-vista-and-windows7.htm

Device Manager, right click on Jungo->AVRISP mk2 > Properties>Driver File Details
c:\Windows\system32\drivers\windrv6.sys

Still get this same error.  Suspect some kind of registry entry.
Logged a issue on the Jungo web site.  They called me - Wow.
Suggests that I need to locate and remove the .inf file but we do not know what it is called or where it is located.  He suggested re installing AtmelUSB.exe and seeing where it put the drivers.

Fired up AtmelUSB.exe and observed it gave an option to uninstall.  Chose that option.

Ran AvrStudio4Setup.exe and it said it was going to fix up the jungo driver.

Tried to program an Atmel
Got a new error.
X The program Can't start because WDAP1011.dll is missing from your computer.  Try reinstalling the program to fix this problem.

Chose Remove.  It said removing AVRstudio 4.19.  Opted to remove registry settings.
New error
Self-registration error
The following files did not self regisetr or unregister:
1. c:\Program Files(x86)\Atmel\AVR Tools\usb64\SComm.dll
The specified module could not be found.
To contine, click OK, otherwise Click Cancel.
One does wonder what will happen ifyou click cacel.  Does my life cease to continue?

Reboot.  (Make coffee)





------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The instructions to use AVR ISP 2 should read
1. Install Bascom
2. Install AVR Studio

Iphone 3G what does not work

Or should this post be "Tell me again why not to buy an i-anything"

Chris has given up on the old iphone 3G.
I gave him my LG Android phone.
Figured I would have a go at the old iphone before buying a new phone.
This reminded me why one does not by apple.
If it works it works really well but if it doesn't then it doesn't and there ain't anything I can do about it.

What is good:

• The keyboard & composing texts - really nice.
• Voice quality is excellent.  As I recall there is something like 17dB more headroom in the microphone circuit.

What does not work -

• Sync contacts with google.!!!
• Cant buy apps anymore.

On Jan 20 this year 2013 Google turned off the old method to syncronise contacts.  This method involved setting up an "exchange" account on the iphone and connecting using microsoft protocols.

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4872?viewlocale=en_US
iOS: Syncing with Google Contacts but then in small print
With iOS 5 or later, you can set up CardDav syncing with Google Contacts on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch.
Tried it.  Failed!.

Gave up.
Bought a android based Samsung Galaxy Duos for $149 from JB Hifi.
Entered my gmail address and password and walla email, contacts & calendar all just there ready to go. 

Frank Rowing Video

I (Frank) went rowing today and I took my sports camera (a $99 fake gopro type of camera from jaycar) and strapped it to the rigger of the person in front of me in the boat.

I am the person closest to the camera.  

Easterfest 2013 Planning - Video

Well it's that time of year and I had better get organised wrt the video for the palace.

This posting is a bit of a work in progress and so expect it to be updated as I get organsed.

A couple of new developments this year.
We are going to 16:9 wide screen and we are going HD (High Definition).

===================================================
TO DO LIST
Make camera platforms x 2  -> Done
Electrical test & Tag
Tripod 3/8 -> 1/4 adapters -> Commissioned manufacture x2
Get PD150's and And DVR








I have no HD cameras and my vision switcher can only do SD.  So Easterfest are sourcing some HD cameras and a HD vision switcher.  So this year we will have a mix of SD cameras that I will provide and some HD cameras.

We are also distributing the HD signal using SDI.  Serial Digital Interface.

This first picture is a bit of a diagram showing the major input and output devices.  Cameras, projectors and monitors.

This picture shows the inputs to the vision switcher.

Not shown:

• Mains Power (To avoid earth loop hum, we power everything from the one source)
• Cable lengths and locations. 
• Comms 
• Audio Interconnection and 
• switching to Easterfest TV Master Control

3/8 to 1/4 Camera thread adapter
Modern cameras seem to have 1/4inch threads.  This is the same thread used on consumer camcorders and all still cameras.  Old pro video cameras used to use a 3/8 thread.  The problem is that all the 'good' tripods I have access to have 3/8 threads.  'good' means a nice fluid damped head.  Apart from thinking straight a good head is essential to give a stable picture.

This plate is screwed to the underside of the camera using the 1/4 bolt.  Then that camera and block combination is attached to the tripod head using the 3/8 screw on the tripod.

Dan's Card Trick

Dan has taken up doing magic.  Here is an example. You tell me how he does it!

Model Areoplane Diesel Fuel

Chris has inherited a model aeroplane engine.  This type of engine is a diesel engine.  Problem is where to get fuel.

This is not your run of the mill diesel that you put in your truck.  These engines run on a mixture of Ether, caster oil and newts.  Funnily enough in "the smart state" the problem is to purchase Ether.

It is hardly surprising that kids don't do science and that Australia is unable to innovate to the degree that the Americans do.  There is too much over regulation here.
maybe this blog posting should be titled something like "Regulation stifles Innovation"

THE RECIPE
http://www3.bc.sympatico.ca/dieselcombat/diesel_fuel.htm

Kerosene - 42%
Ether - 30%
Castor Oil - 24%
Amyl Nitrate - 3% or iso-propyl nitrate

WARNING
Ether and Amyl Nitrate are likely to catch fire and are also BAD for your health.

RECORD OF CONVERSATION WITH HOBBY ONE
The problem became obvious when I phoned Hobby One here in Brisbane and they informed me that they can not get the fuel from their fuel supplier.  The problem apparently has to do with the laws governing the transport of hazardous substances.  I believe some issue that one law says this fuel must be in a glass bottle lets say and another law that says it must be in a metal tin or maybe the glass bottle can not be transported.  Anyway none the less can't buy premixed fuel.

So lets try to buy it.  Those from the older generation tell me that once upon a time they used to just buy Ether from the local chemist.


RECORD OF CONVERSATION WITH ROWE CHEMICAL
I figured next stop was to phone a scientific supply company.  Google & Yellowpages led me to Rowe chemical company in Sumner Park.
They advise me
1.
One type of Ether only known as "diethyl ether solvent" is available as a Schedule 6 poison.  500ml for $41.9 +GST.  a couple of weeks for delivery.  It appears that they can sell this retail. to me.  Ajax chemicals part number 1673 and Rowes part number CD1627.  So on that track we need to find out if "diethyl ether solvent" can be used to make plane fuel.
2.
All other types of Ether are classified as a Schedule 7 poison.  Apparently one needs paperwork to be able to purchase this.
Rowe can only sell it wholesale.  This means that I would have to have an account with them.  In addition I will require some kind of approval from Qld health of all people.  He commented at one stage "we can only sell to Government or mining companies".

DIETHYL ETHER RESEARCH
Good old Wikipedia
 Kindly informs me

"Diethyl ether has a high cetane number of 85-96 and is used as a starting fluid, in combination with petroleum distillates for gasoline and diesel engines^[6] because of its high volatility and low flash point. For the same reason it is also used as a component of the fuel mixture for carbureted compression ignition model engines."

 Mind you they also tell me it finds use as a recreational drug as one would expect.

but what is diethyl Ether SOLVENT I wonder.

A search for the AJAX chemical part shows the MSDS
https://www.thermofisher.com.au/godirect/TechInfo/msds/JXF05.pdf
 And in that it says that the thing is 100% Ether.  Does not give the chemical formula.  Does have all sorts of dire warnings about transport rules in Australia so that kind of gels with the phone call to Hobby One.

But also maybe the go to buy some.  But at $50 I reckon it is a science project rather than a serious ongoing thing.

8-MAR-2013 Update
Sent an email to Aussie? traders?
They are organising a quote.  It is $15 a litre plus shipping.  As it is a dangerous good I expect the shipping to be pretty heavy.  In the order of $50-$100.








 

Chris Rows in the Junior Head Of The River

2013 Brisbane GPS Rowing Junior Head of the River.
4:30am, Chris is collected from our place by another rowing family and taken to the boat shed where all the boys travel together on a bus to lake Kawana.
Personally I like the Kawana venue as there are pleanty of places to view the race.



View Larger Map

The weather is atrocious with wind and rain.
The juniors (Grade 9 and lower) row 1000m.

This is the first year that Chris has rowed and he seems to have really enjoyed it.  He rowed in "2".  The rowers are numbered from 1 at the front or bow of the boat.  through to 4 near the back of the boat.  Number 4 person is the "stroke".  Their job is to set the pace.  They have to be very consistent.  The rest of the crew just have to synchronise with the stroke.  Easier said than done.  Finally we have the cox.  At the most basic level, the cox steers the boat.  A good cox works with the stroke to keep the crew in time.

They had a good row comming in third place.