Submission + - Remote-booting USB-powered devices? 2
Another ubiquitous power source (in the enterprise environment) is Power over Ethernet. Active PoE splitters for 12V output are available for ~6-7 USD and up on eBay. With PoE you get networking and power over the same wires, and booting your (possibly borked) PoE device is a matter of instructing the PoE source to cycle the power on that port. (Also, USB chargers with 12V input are available for less than 1 USD on eBay. They are likely all crap, though.)
I am looking for the combination of these two concepts in a compact, affordable, quality product. I found one product offering USB power from PoE. That product appears to have left out Ethernet and has a MSRP of 30 USD. Otherwise, I find PoE wall sockets for a MSRP of USD 100 or more. It appears excessive, given the cost figures of the pieces listed above.
So, if it does not already exist... anyone feel like running with this on your favorite crowdsourcing platform? Any experienced electronics people who can do a back-of-the-envelope calculation for cost of parts and assembly?
Comment Re:Apple ][+ (Score 1) 81
Comment Re:Is there a volcano? (Score 1) 297
He just needs an amusingly short French manservant. That way he can be both Ricardo Montalban AND Scaramanga.
Or a fluffy white cat...
Comment There are only 3 COBOL programs... (Score 3, Interesting) 318
The "Update"
and the "Print"
At least that's what a lecturer told me many years ago when I did COBOL at uny. I didn't get on with it initially, then I got bored and opened the book... Then I learned that what the lecturer was telling me was his idea of what COBOL ought to look like and not generic. It got a little more interesting after that (along with the student competition to see how many errors we could make the compiler generate with the minimal amount of syntax errors - one mis-placed full-stop managed to get it to the limit of 999 once)
I've not written a COBOL program for over 30 years now. I don't miss it.
-G
Comment Re:Quality article, full of technical details (Score 1) 83
There is a problem with 60GHz though - range. It's the O2 absorption frequency, so max is 1-2Km...
However there are other frequencies in that area of the spectrum which I know are being investigated/used...
Comment 911 is already used in the UK ... (Score 1) 354
-G
Comment Re:Put stuff in sealed plastic cases? (Score 2) 434
I'm suspecting that the bit-density is so low that it's hard for them not to work, but I was still plesantly surprised.
Now all I need is an Apple II serial card so I can get some of the source code for stuff I write way back then off the floppies onto something else...
Comment Still at the prototype Stage? (Score 4, Informative) 74
Try this: http://shop.ciseco.co.uk/slice-of-pi/
Or this: http://www.skpang.co.uk/catalog/raspberry-pi-cover-with-breadboard-area-red-p-1071.html
etc. I currently have the SKPang one for my Pi.
Comment Best scenario... (Score 4, Funny) 228
Linux 3.2 Has Been Released 271
Comment Re:Oblig.... (Score 1) 271
Of-course someone might argue that needing the shift key is really another keypress, but they're probably emacs users...
Comment Re:Oblig.... (Score 1) 271
Comment Re:I want more than an arduino(s) (Score 1) 123
even with multiple arduinos, there's only so much you can do.
What about Arduino plus a propellor? http://www.xgamestation.com/view_product.php?id=51
Looks fun - wish there was more time to the day to play with these things...