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Build a Universal Wireless Repeater appliance

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The beta-v24 version of the DD-WRT firmware has a new feature that allows it to function as a standalone range expander. This is similar to the functionality provided by a wireless distribution system (WDS) network configuration, but unlike traditional WDS, the repeater router emulates a standard client connection to the parent router. This eliminates the need to have two DD-WRT supported routers, running the same firmware, both set up specially for this purpose.

Simply put, you can configure a single repeater appliance and it will work in conjunction with the wireless router you normaly use at your home or office, regardless of the primary router’s model or firmware. There’s even an “AutoAP” option, which will allow your repeater to automatically monitor and connect to the access point with the strongest signal.

Complete instructions for getting this set up are available at the DD-WRT forums – Link.

Posted by | Thursday May 31st, 2007 10:28 PM

Categories: hacks | 2 Comments

Blogged – BASIC stamp based art installation gets bigger as it is blogged!

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Bill writes in with a fun art installation that gets bigger the more it is blogged…-

“Blogged” is an interactive installation artwork and one day net event dealing with the concept of being ‘blogged’. It attempts to pop 6 feet in diameter red balloon by using traffic from blogs linking to http://billshackelford.com/home/portfolio_blogged.

It runs on Thursday May 31, 2007 live from The Ohio State University Art and Technology show “Digescape”. During this one day event I will suggest a link for consideration to this installation to a number of blogs in hopes that they will blog it on their sites and include a link back to this page (http://billshackelford.com/home/portfolio_blogged). My web site will then monitor the traffic coming from these blogs and run an air compressor for 1 second for each visit, filling up and then pop the 6 feet in diameter red balloon live on the web. Visitors will be able to monitor installation with a live video feed where they can watch and listen to the air compressor fill up the balloon and then pop it if enough traffic is received.

The idea comes from a previous experience when my artwork was fortunate to be blogged by several blogs. I found it interesting to see how quickly artwork spread from blog to blog. It was also interesting to see as time passed and the posts about my artwork would fade into the blog archives, that the traffic to my site dried up almost as fast as it arrived. I think Blogged expresses the joy I felt when my artwork was blogged by other sites with the filling of the balloon with air and then the dose of reality that hits when the traffic dries up with the potential popping of the balloon.

How It Works

Blogged works by counting a visit for each unique IP address and URL referral combination to this page. For example if you followed a link from the blog Bit Babble to this page, then your visit would be counted. If you went back to Bit Babble again and clicked a link to this page, then your visit would not be counted the second time. But if you where to click on a link to this page from a different blog other than Bit Babble, then that visit would be counted too. Other blogs linking to this page are listed to the right.

The visits are logged in a MYSQL database and then used to determine how long to run the air compressor based on the total number of visits. Then the Parallax Basic Stamp with a Netburner network adapter receives the running time from the database and then switches the air compressor on using a solid state relay for the given running time filling up the balloon.

Blogged | billshackelford.com – Link.

Posted by | Thursday May 31st, 2007 4:00 PM

Categories: Art, Electronics | 2 Comments

MAX – headphone amp

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Jon writes -

The Millett Hybrid Maxed, or Millett MAX, or MAX for short, is a vacuum tube and solid state hybrid headphone amplifier. It is the latest refinement in a series of headphone amplifiers that began with Pete Millett, its namesake. This is a fantastic headphone amp. The design even includes vacuum tubes illumniated by blue LEDs!! Colin Toole is currently taking names and quantities for a group buy of the custom PCB designed for the MAX amp. The expected cost is $12, however, it could be less if enough people place orders. Orders can be placed until June 3rd. More than 253 have been spoken for so far.

MAX Overview – Link & here’s where to get the PCB.

More:
Altoids headphone amp – Link.

Make 656
From the pages of MAKE:
Mint-Tin Amp. MAKE 04 page 131. Pocket amplifier punches up headphones. Subscribers–read this article now in your digital edition or get MAKE 04 @ the Maker store.

Posted by | Thursday May 31st, 2007 2:00 PM

Categories: DIY Projects, Electronics | No Comments

LM555 Tick tick tick

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Dave writes in -

I wanted to see how few parts I could use, from what I had on hand, to build this clicking blinking LED device based on a 555 chip.

This article was submitted by Lee Bornifield as part of the “Hobby parts for articles ” program. Write something of interest to electronic hobbyist and receive parts for your next project.

Probably the most expensive part is the 9V battery. There is no circuit board, and no additional wires; just bending the leads of the components provides enough connections.

The earphone clicks and the red LED blinks at a constant 137 times a minute. The exact rate depends on the value of the resistor and capacitor. That rate will be maintained very precisely for the life of the battery. It’s not forever, but listening closely I could still hear the earphone faintly clicking after 6 days of continuous operation.

uC Hobby » Blog Archive » LM555 Tick tick tick – Link.

Related:
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555 timer – five boro bike tour time lapse- Link.

Folded Timer555
555 timer origami- Link.

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More 555 timer projects- Link.

Img 5400M-2
41 LED Flasher circuit using 555 IC- Link.

Make 654
From the pages of MAKE:
The Biggest Little Chip. MAKE 10 page 62. An introduction to the versatile 555 timer. Subscribers–read this article now in your digital edition or *BLOG SPECIAL* subscribe to MAKE (use code CMAKE for $5 more off USA + free digital edition!).

Posted by | Thursday May 31st, 2007 12:00 PM

Categories: DIY Projects, Electronics | 1 Comment

HOW TO – Make a Pinocchio marionette

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Andrew writes -

Master Replicas is planning to release an expensive ($300!) limited edition replica of the original Pinocchio marionette used by animators on the 1941 film as a reference model – you can see it online – but wouldn’t it be much more fun to make your own?

Someone recently sent in to my web site some beautiful scans of an old issue of Popular Science that explains exactly how to do just that. The article was part of Disney’s original Pinocchio publicity campaign in the 1940s.

I’ve posted the scans on my site along with suggested resources for anyone who wants to try making one of these themselves (some of the materials mentioned in the original article are no longer available).

Puppetbuilding.com – How to Make A Pinocchio Marionette – Link.

Posted by | Thursday May 31st, 2007 11:00 AM

Categories: Art, Retro | 1 Comment

Fake store front art piece in NYC

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Arist Lisa Reynolds constructed a fake store front (called “Your inner self”) along with “cloned” reflections of the store front in the Financial District of New York City, I watched hundreds of people walk by, glance briefly and no one noticed how truly odd it was upon further inspection here are a few photos and the NY Times has a pay only article, blah.. Link.

Update: Traci writes — “Thanks for the heads-up. I think the artist’s name is Beth Campbell though. And for all those NYers out there, according to the NYTimes “Potential
Store Fronts” will remain on view through June 24 at 125 Maiden Lane, Lower
Manhattan.”

Posted by | Thursday May 31st, 2007 10:00 AM

Categories: Art, Made On Earth | 7 Comments

Jtnimoy's brush for L.A.S.E.R tag

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Jtnimoy has a downloadable version of GRL’s L.A.S.E.R tag new brush style for their light / art projection system (source is on the site too) -

I coded this brush that turns a few mouse drags into a randomly generated bubbly blingy style. The brush code was then massaged into L.A.S.E.R. Tag. Here is the stand-alone version for your enjoyment and algorithmic plagiarism. I should quickly note for interested jttoolkit participants that this begins my attempted merging/joining/cooperating between OpenFrameworks and jttoolkit in hopes that they could eventually be one in the same ACU strain.

jtnimoy – work – Link & photos.

Posted by | Thursday May 31st, 2007 9:00 AM

Categories: Art | No Comments

They went completely Mentos

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After Maker Faire it seems that our friends went on to create the largest Mentos Geyser in history for the Guinness World Records! (pictured here, some of the action by The Enquirer/Jeff Swinger).

A total of 504 Mentos geysers launched on Fountain Square this evening, pointing Cincinnati toward the Guinness Book of World Records for something no one previously had done.

The event lasted mere seconds. After a countdown, the hundreds of poncho-wearing participants pulled a toothpick from a tube that was holding six Mentos, releasing the candies into a 2-liter Diet Coke bottle.

The Enquirer – They went completely Mentos – Link & here’s how to make your own (PDF) – Link.

Posted by | Thursday May 31st, 2007 8:00 AM

Categories: DIY Projects | 6 Comments

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From the Maker Shed

MSBUN36
Launch Price: $75.99

RedPark TTL iOS Cable Breakout Pack

Exclusively in the Maker Shed, this updated Redpark Breakout Pack for Arduino and iOS makes interfacing your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch with the real world easy! This bundle includes the new RedPark TTL Cable for iOS so a TTL adapter (and soldering) is no longer required.

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