"Eric" <none@nospam.npm> hath wroth:
>Actually, our interests probably do intersect quite a bit! Likewise, I'm
>also partial to test equipment and don't find anything that I really like
>for just $300. My "dream spec anny" is almost $30k! :-)
I've recently been buying test equipment on eBay. My circa 1970's lab
is starting to resemble a museum and has become a maintenance problem.
Mostly, I'm buying signal sources, sweepers, directional couplers, and
scope probes. (I have something like 10 scopes and 2 probes).
You don't need to spend $30K for a spectrum analyzer. For example,
the HP 8565a spectrum analyzer usually goes from 10MHz to 22Ghz for
$1500 to $3000 as long as you don't need HP-IB or storage. I've found
that I don't use my ancient SA all that often. Mostly, I use an RF
sweep generator and oscilloscope on the detector output. The key part
is the directional couplers, VSWR bridge, and RF detector. Basically,
I'm building a network analyzer in pieces without paying for the whole
mess in one box. These are handy for antennas, filters, amps, and
such. I recently picked up a Wiltron 0.1 to 4GHz sweeper for about
$250. However, the necessary VSWR bridge will cost at least $200.
I've also spend perhaps $200 on terminators, adapters, and cables.
Someone mentioned Wi-Spy. See:
http://www.metageek.net
For $100 US, it's difficult to ignore. However, it's not really test
equipment as there's no way to calibrate the device and has a rather
poor dynamic range. I use it solely for interference detection and
trashmitter hunting.
>Wireless robot butler! I'm imaging a robot butler bringing beer while
>watching football yesterday. Wouldn't that be cool! Not that its big
>chore, but everyone would get a kick out of it -- including my finance.
>(I'm fortunate to have a finance who is even a bigger football fan than I
>am.) $300 doesn't go very far here though.
Build you own in stages. I had illusions of doing that, but helping
the locals do it is more fun and easier on my budget. One high skool
student is well on his way building a robot golf caddy. Say the name
of the club (i.e. 9 iron) and it would hand you the 9 iron. It also
can wash the golf balls, follow the owner, and find lost golf balls. I
helped build the direction finder system (which barely works). My
guess is $6,000 burned so far, with no end in sight.
>PDA's... Got a few of them already.. One I use the most is an older HP
>Jornada 720 H/PC, as I really like the form factor (clam shell with
>keyboard) as I use it all the time for word processing and a SSH terminal.
>It has a Cisco Aeronet wireless card...
You're already over $200. There are various Linux and Windoze
"notebook" size computers that will do what you want. I have a Sony
Picturebook and a Panasonic CF-M34. Both are fairly portable,
wireless, and useful. However, the tiny keyboard is a problem. I
find myself typing with one finger simply because the keys are too
small to type normally. The plan was to use both exclusively for
email. Bad idea due to typing difficulties. I think "word
processing" and "notebook size keyboard" are mutually exclusive.
>Skype.. Thought about that once, but wondered how much use it would really
>get. Got an unlimited plan on my cell phone and the places that I work and
>play don't have any open 802.11 networks around..
If you've overpaid for you cell phone plan, then of course Skype is
rather of limited value. Perhaps if you made long distance calls, it
might be more useful. I have my laptop (of the month) setup for
Skype, which gets used occasionally instead of the cell phone. The
major application is that Verizon gets overloaded during commute hours
and sends all incoming calls to voice mail. It's not unusual to have
the notification of voice mail arrive about an hour later. So, if I'm
at a customers with wireless during commute hours, I fire up the
laptop, and login to Skype, GizmoProject, and GAIM. It's become
amazingly useful as a cell phone alternative, mostly to arrange
dinner.
If you really have an almost unlimited phone plan, you might think of
getting a docking station for the phone. Plug in a bunch of ordinary
phones, cordless phones, or VoIP, and you can pickup your calls
without dragging your phone around with you.
>Video camera / spying on neighbor.. I'd be scared that I might see
>something! My neighbor is a woman in her 80's! :-) Now, maybe some "up
>skirting" at the mall.. (I'm joking!). LOL
Web cams can have other uses if you have something interesting to
watch. (Hint: Something that changes). Use your imagination.
>Looking at the gadget list. At first glance, the wireless remote is
>sticking out...
Yawn, boring. I guess it will have to do. There are plenty of
wireless devices I would want that don't exist.
1. Wireless multimedia extension. 8+ channels of audio plus
switching in both directions via an external transparent bridge (or
over the internet). Kinda like SqueezeBox but flexible enough to be
used for anything from telephony to 5.1 Hi-Fi.
2. Wireless Video for LCD monitors and HDTV. Wireless USB and UWB
was suppose to do this eventually. I wannit now.
3. Mobile server with Wi-Fi connectivity. If you leave your vehicle
within line of sight of your PDA, you can store all your junk in the
vehicle server. See if:
http://www.mp3car.com
gives you any ideas. Look at the photos of what various people have
done:
http://www.mp3car.com/vbulletin/forumdisplay.php?f=25
I do something like this now by having my laptop in the car replicate
with my office computer via Wi-Fi.
4. Wi-Fi logger. Kinda like an imbedded version of Netstumbler.
Includes a GPS and Wi-Fi detector. You wear it all day while it
collects data. Plug it into your PC later, and it produces a map of
all the access points and junk it hears. Eventually, you have your
neighborhood or office building mapped out.
5. More but I wanna save those for paying projects...
--
Jeff Liebermann
jeffl@comix.santa-cruz.ca.us
150 Felker St #D
http://www.LearnByDestroying.com
Santa Cruz CA 95060
http://802.11junk.com
Skype: JeffLiebermann AE6KS 831-336-2558
I need a new wireless toy... 
Linear Mode
