Hello everyone
The only relavant info about me is that I'm into computers and recently into Home Theater. I don't know anything about electronics but hope to learn alot in the near future. The more I learn about comuters, the more I can't understand why the consumer electronics industry has steered away from integrating CE and computers. I know there is probably a name for this idea already, I just don't know what it is.
Basically, I want the seamless integration of home theater and my computer network. The most important feature for me is to use standard (or hacked) AV equipment to view media on any computer in the house. I have some ideas that may or may not be crazy for the DIYer to attempt, but I am optimistic.
One idea I have is to use a large disc changer mechanism to autoload a standard computer DVD writer, effectively creating a method to backup massive amounts of data without the need to ever handle disc over and over. I am wide open to feedback on the plausiblilty of the project and hope that people in this forum can help me get it done. I would of course treat this as "open source" and share any and all info I can get and eventually want to publish instructions for anyone to do this.
I realize this may be a very difficult thing to do, and not many people would see any use for such a device, but the opportunity to learn something and do something never done before is exciting to me.
Feel free to sumbit websites and guidance that you think may help me. Remember, I am starting from scatch on electronics knowledge. Where should I begin my quest? Are there any handy resources on reverse engineering?
thanks in advance for all that I will learn here
Scott
The only relavant info about me is that I'm into computers and recently into Home Theater. I don't know anything about electronics but hope to learn alot in the near future. The more I learn about comuters, the more I can't understand why the consumer electronics industry has steered away from integrating CE and computers. I know there is probably a name for this idea already, I just don't know what it is.
Basically, I want the seamless integration of home theater and my computer network. The most important feature for me is to use standard (or hacked) AV equipment to view media on any computer in the house. I have some ideas that may or may not be crazy for the DIYer to attempt, but I am optimistic.
One idea I have is to use a large disc changer mechanism to autoload a standard computer DVD writer, effectively creating a method to backup massive amounts of data without the need to ever handle disc over and over. I am wide open to feedback on the plausiblilty of the project and hope that people in this forum can help me get it done. I would of course treat this as "open source" and share any and all info I can get and eventually want to publish instructions for anyone to do this.
I realize this may be a very difficult thing to do, and not many people would see any use for such a device, but the opportunity to learn something and do something never done before is exciting to me.
Feel free to sumbit websites and guidance that you think may help me. Remember, I am starting from scatch on electronics knowledge. Where should I begin my quest? Are there any handy resources on reverse engineering?
thanks in advance for all that I will learn here
Scott
My knowledge is basic enough to look into buying one of those kits for kids. One of those that have 200 projects for a hundred bucks. I am a mechanical engineering major and I have taken one class on electrical engineering at college, but didn't get much out of it. Op amps really confused me, amung other things, so I didn't do to well in the class.
I will look into those books. At this point, nothing is too simple to learn.
thanks for the reply
Scott
I will look into those books. At this point, nothing is too simple to learn.
thanks for the reply
Scott
Ahh, with an ME background, Horowitz & Hill would be a perfect intro for you. It assumes basic math and physics, both of which should be no problem for you. Best of luck with this- electronics is FUN, and the thrill the first time you hear music playing though something you built is a profound one.
Thank you for the warm welcome
I agree that Windows GUI it not even close to ideal for a HT setup. From what I've seen so far from the recent attempts at integration, builders have been using linux and a Tivo-like interface. I think that even windows could be used (ie MCE) as long as it uses a menu driven UI.
Maybe there already are ecamples of what I want out of consumer electronics. Another idea I had was that all components could be networked, each one really being a true PC inside. For example, a stand-alone CD/DVD player vs. a very simple computer with the only function being to handle CDs and DVDs. The added benefit is that the networked PC could interact directly with all computers on the network and also, you wouldn't have to be limited to what kind of data is stored on the discs.
Most hacks I have found have been to simply bypass region codes on DVDs. With a computer-based system (pardon me if I now sound like a software engineer) this would be much simpler. This same example can be used for almost all HT components and the system would be completely scalable and accessible to standard networks right out of the box.
Maybe others have some input to this idea. This is my basic motivation for starting a project like this.
Looks like I have alot of reading to do, the Horowitz book is over a thousand pages! I look forward to reading it, though.
I hope and think you are right about the lightning strike. I tend to just get things without really knowing why they do make sense to me. Elestrical engineering, at the time, was not an interest and I didn't put much time into it. This time around, I have a personal reason for learning, not just to gain college credit. A very successful method for me to learn is to try and help someone. That is how I study at school. Wait for someone else to have a question, then try to solve the problem.
Thanks again. Please post other DIY electronics resources (forums, vendors, tutoruals, etc). I realize that this specific forum is dedicated to audio, but its the general knowledge and DIY mentality that are relavant to my project.
Scott
planet10 said:
I agree that Windows GUI it not even close to ideal for a HT setup. From what I've seen so far from the recent attempts at integration, builders have been using linux and a Tivo-like interface. I think that even windows could be used (ie MCE) as long as it uses a menu driven UI.
Maybe there already are ecamples of what I want out of consumer electronics. Another idea I had was that all components could be networked, each one really being a true PC inside. For example, a stand-alone CD/DVD player vs. a very simple computer with the only function being to handle CDs and DVDs. The added benefit is that the networked PC could interact directly with all computers on the network and also, you wouldn't have to be limited to what kind of data is stored on the discs.
Most hacks I have found have been to simply bypass region codes on DVDs. With a computer-based system (pardon me if I now sound like a software engineer) this would be much simpler. This same example can be used for almost all HT components and the system would be completely scalable and accessible to standard networks right out of the box.
Maybe others have some input to this idea. This is my basic motivation for starting a project like this.
SY said:
Looks like I have alot of reading to do, the Horowitz book is over a thousand pages! I look forward to reading it, though.
demogorgon said:
I hope and think you are right about the lightning strike. I tend to just get things without really knowing why they do make sense to me. Elestrical engineering, at the time, was not an interest and I didn't put much time into it. This time around, I have a personal reason for learning, not just to gain college credit. A very successful method for me to learn is to try and help someone. That is how I study at school. Wait for someone else to have a question, then try to solve the problem.
Thanks again. Please post other DIY electronics resources (forums, vendors, tutoruals, etc). I realize that this specific forum is dedicated to audio, but its the general knowledge and DIY mentality that are relavant to my project.
Scott
biff_mckeagan said:
This sort of stuff is starting to happen... i'll use an example from the mac (since i'm familar, and has a much more consistent & friendly UI). With iTunes you can suck your CDs (at full rez with lossless compression) onto your hard disk. Then audio out (digital on the newer Macs) to your hifi. You can also send this info wirelessly to an Airport Express which is designed to connect to your hifi (it could also be connected with an ethernet cable). Multiple Airport Express gives you the ability to distribute your music to different rooms (& PCs). Polk has even introduced a tri-amped in-wall speaker with built-in DACs that connects via Ethernet.
This stuff is very much in its infancy, but lots of stuff is coming on-line.
dave
Does anyone have any comments on the feasibility of my project? In case you don't want to read all the way through my original post, the project is to replace the disc reading electonics from a large disc changer (i.e. a Sony DVP-CX985V or a Sony CDPCX455) with a computer DVD+/-RW drive. I appreciate any input you have including redirection to a more relavant forum.
thanks
Scott
thanks
Scott
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