This device just came out, the iTach
wifi to IR. .
I've been waiting for a device to come out like that... good find. Not needed on my boat but sure would be nice with some stuff around my house (the "contact closure" functionality)
My new WiFi/Cellular Network Design
- Thread starter Four Suns
- Start date
I've been waiting for a device to come out like that... good find. Not needed on my boat but sure would be nice with some stuff around my house (the "contact closure" functionality)
- Feb 4, 2007
- 7,251
- Boat Info
- 1996 450DA, TNT, Caribe dink w/15hp OB.
- Engines
- 3126 427HP TD transmissions
- Feb 4, 2007
- 7,251
- Boat Info
- 1996 450DA, TNT, Caribe dink w/15hp OB.
- Engines
- 3126 427HP TD transmissions
Just ordered my indoor directional Cell repeater antenna. I'm slowly catching up to Gary's setup. Just need 438 more items.
douglee25
Well-Known Member
Which one did you order?
Doug
Doug
- Feb 4, 2007
- 7,251
- Boat Info
- 1996 450DA, TNT, Caribe dink w/15hp OB.
- Engines
- 3126 427HP TD transmissions
I have this package, but found out from Gary that I had the wrong indoor antenna, which is why it wasn't working. So I order the square looking antenna thingy.
douglee25
Well-Known Member
Does that 'package' have a model number?
Doug
Doug
- Feb 4, 2007
- 7,251
- Boat Info
- 1996 450DA, TNT, Caribe dink w/15hp OB.
- Engines
- 3126 427HP TD transmissions
douglee25
Well-Known Member
That looks like a nice system.
Doug
Doug
OK... Have you ever started a project and then 80% into it wish you had not started it? I'm there.
So here's the last piece...
This is the shelf that holds the Mac Mini, external 2 TB drive, power supply and video scaler:
Front view:
And here is how it assembles into the cabinet mockup:
and then the network shelf goes on top:
Then the face plate:
and
The hole with the wires is where the control panel goes....
It's a clean look... lots of complexity in the background but to the user, it looks pretty easy.
As I said, I'll write up the whole Mac Mini thing in a separate thread. Putting the external hard drive coupled with 1) a Mac can not be shut off nicely from the power button and 2) video doesn't support component for routing and 3) audio is either digital OR L/R and I need both - made this not a trivial exercise... but it works now.
So here's the last piece...
This is the shelf that holds the Mac Mini, external 2 TB drive, power supply and video scaler:
Front view:
And here is how it assembles into the cabinet mockup:
and then the network shelf goes on top:
Then the face plate:
and
The hole with the wires is where the control panel goes....
It's a clean look... lots of complexity in the background but to the user, it looks pretty easy.
As I said, I'll write up the whole Mac Mini thing in a separate thread. Putting the external hard drive coupled with 1) a Mac can not be shut off nicely from the power button and 2) video doesn't support component for routing and 3) audio is either digital OR L/R and I need both - made this not a trivial exercise... but it works now.
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douglee25
Well-Known Member
Looks clean Gary. I am just curious why you went the mac mini route with an external drive? What were the driving factors? I did some research and there are plenty of media devices made specifically for network sharing that can be coupled with external drives that support the audio/video you're looking for without the use of a scalar (I think).
Doug
Doug
Because I'm stupid?
I will say that a lot of these "specialized" devices coming to market now have a lot of caveats with them. For example, the Sony Blu Ray player supports "Netflix", "Pandora" and other streaming and photo sharing things... but it's not really "Netflix" or "Pandora" that you have on your computer. For example, with Sony, you have to go register with their Blu Ray center/web server and you can tell they are trying to compete with Apple... and they'll never get there. For Netflix, you can't pick a movie from the Netflix library to watch but have to log into your account with a computer and put the movie in your "Instant Watch" que and then go back to your Blu Ray player and it will appear so you can watch it. Ridiculous...
I also have a lot of iTunes locked down music... and this makes it easy... I tried the AppleTV but it was very constraining (no disk space, locked into their movie format, etc).
I will also add that the devil is in the details on these projects. For example, the simple task of switching from shore power to generator power and not disrupting the AV and network equipment has to be well thought out. You would say "just plug the 110v stuff into a small UPS" but then you can not control the power via the breaker panel and it becomes clumsy and looks/works like a hack. Those of you with KVH sat dishes know how painful it can be to hear kids and the wife SCREAMING because you interrupted their show and it takes 10 minutes to reboot and re-acquire a signal... telling them "life's tough" is like swatting a hornet.
At the end of the day... I did it because I thought it would be cool and it's a hobby so I can't justify it... Anyone want to run a web server on your boat? Geo location server? Database server? I'm going to put all the boat manuals on it as well... but it's a toy. It was either this project or 3 million watts of blue led lights...
I will say that a lot of these "specialized" devices coming to market now have a lot of caveats with them. For example, the Sony Blu Ray player supports "Netflix", "Pandora" and other streaming and photo sharing things... but it's not really "Netflix" or "Pandora" that you have on your computer. For example, with Sony, you have to go register with their Blu Ray center/web server and you can tell they are trying to compete with Apple... and they'll never get there. For Netflix, you can't pick a movie from the Netflix library to watch but have to log into your account with a computer and put the movie in your "Instant Watch" que and then go back to your Blu Ray player and it will appear so you can watch it. Ridiculous...
I also have a lot of iTunes locked down music... and this makes it easy... I tried the AppleTV but it was very constraining (no disk space, locked into their movie format, etc).
I will also add that the devil is in the details on these projects. For example, the simple task of switching from shore power to generator power and not disrupting the AV and network equipment has to be well thought out. You would say "just plug the 110v stuff into a small UPS" but then you can not control the power via the breaker panel and it becomes clumsy and looks/works like a hack. Those of you with KVH sat dishes know how painful it can be to hear kids and the wife SCREAMING because you interrupted their show and it takes 10 minutes to reboot and re-acquire a signal... telling them "life's tough" is like swatting a hornet.
At the end of the day... I did it because I thought it would be cool and it's a hobby so I can't justify it... Anyone want to run a web server on your boat? Geo location server? Database server? I'm going to put all the boat manuals on it as well... but it's a toy. It was either this project or 3 million watts of blue led lights...
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douglee25
Well-Known Member
I got you. Well the locked down music thing makes sense to me. I know you're 'pro apple' but I didn't know if the mac mini choice was based on anything super concrete. I was researching something similar to what you're doing for the boat but for the pool outside. Basically a media sharing point that you could play music, videos, show pictures, etc. Of course it could also be shared for inside use as well. I know from the little research I did that these units use some sort of proprietary media app that is stored on the unit and it just pulls the media right from the drive and outputs it via HDMI or composite, etc.
Either way, it appears to be quite the kick ass system!
Doug
Either way, it appears to be quite the kick ass system!
Doug
I don't want to be labeled "pro Apple"... really... I like OSX... I'll even say I love OSX... but I used to love Solaris as well and Apple took UNIX mainstream... and windows just sucks.
Many of the media servers out there are based on Linux variations with open source stuff... I would rather have control over it with a Mac and OSX.... plus the Mac just looks better. It's like owning a Sea Ray vs. a Larson for example.
Many of the media servers out there are based on Linux variations with open source stuff... I would rather have control over it with a Mac and OSX.... plus the Mac just looks better. It's like owning a Sea Ray vs. a Larson for example.
douglee25
Well-Known Member
Yeah, yeah, yeah....
- Feb 4, 2007
- 7,251
- Boat Info
- 1996 450DA, TNT, Caribe dink w/15hp OB.
- Engines
- 3126 427HP TD transmissions
I'm still worried about rats eating the wires.
The coating of Boeshield T-9 keeps the rats off... they don't like that stuff.
http://www.boeshield.com/
Every boater should buy this stuff by the gallon.
http://www.boeshield.com/
Every boater should buy this stuff by the gallon.
- Mar 25, 2008
- 5,526
- Boat Info
- 2006 Sea Ray 58 DB
- Engines
- MAN CRM V8-900s, Twin Disc Drives; Onan 21.5 Generator
Don't forget to use plenty of "aquarium super seal silicone" to seal the holes you drill in your hull...
douglee25
Well-Known Member
How is this part of the project coming? Is it installed yet?
Doug
Doug
Two Peas
Member
- Jun 24, 2008
- 914
- Boat Info
- 360DA 2002, Raymarine C80, SR50 Weather, Radome, DSC, Baltik 9'6" with 6hp Tohatsu
- Engines
- 8.1 Horizons w/V-Drives
Well looky here. A Boeshield reference that I missed just a week ago. Cool.
- Feb 4, 2007
- 7,251
- Boat Info
- 1996 450DA, TNT, Caribe dink w/15hp OB.
- Engines
- 3126 427HP TD transmissions
Ok, here's a question... What about Satellite internet? It looks like direct TV can add this service through another provider. can these dishes we have on the boat pickup a signal for internet? Then just add a router?
