Archive for category Features
Updating a DIY CableCARD PC from Windows 7 RCI to RTM via Upgrade
Posted by Dave in Announcements, DIY, Features, Hardware, Structured Wiring on October 9, 2009
This week I finally decided it was time to ditch the RC1 build of Windows 7 and move to the RTM build. I was a little hesitant because I was afraid all of my CableCARD recordings would not be watch-able because of DRM issues, but thankfully that wasn’t the case. As a backup plan, I did a manual backup via Windows Home Server. Read the rest of the story for screenshots of the process. Read the rest of this entry »
Wiring a rack, Part 1: The equipment and the problem
One of the biggest things that plagues a lot of us is keeping our wiring neat and tidy, especially once you start to have a large system. When I started wiring my rack, I had the best intensions, and it actually looked pretty good. Fast forward 2 years and it’s a different story. With various pieces of equipment being replaced or relocated, its become quite a mess. In this series I will document my entire process of getting it “show ready”. Each segment will be detailed through photos and a list of equipment I used. I will admit, I will be getting some help from Sean Martel of Martel Automation throughout the process. Click the read link to follow the rest of Part 1.
Feature: DIY Touchscreen Review
With all the news coming out in anticipation of CEDIA, I thought I’d spend a little time on a topic very near and dear to my heart. One of the toughest parts of creating a professional looking DIY home automation system is finding a great looking and functioning touch screen. High end vendors such as Crestron and AMX have their own proprietary hardware that really looks slick, but they are cost prohibitive for most of us. A lot of us in the DIY home automation hobby have turned to Ebay to find several older, as well as newer web clients and tablet PCs to repurpose as touch screens for our projects. Over the years I have accumulated a “museum” of various products. Hopefully this guide will help you decide which one is right for you.