Now featuring thumbnails

So I've been trying to think of some ways to do the various parts of this mod, including creative things to do with the channel changer windows and the window that was home to the clock. I made a diagram of a possible place where it would go.

I was thinking I would stick the USB ports in the windows of the channel changers but pulled back a little bit. Then cut a gap in the actual channel dials the approximate size of the window. This way I can turn the nob to the gap and plug in a USB device and turn it to a channel to make it look normal when there isn't any thing plugged in.

On that point I'm working on a boot up scheme of my own design to maximize possible HDD space. It involves an installation of Windows 98 with TV capture software, a CD, and a USB thumb drive. Use your imagination until I can get the prototype of the above ingredients working the way I want. I'll probably set up yet another subdomain just for that project.

In other news I managed to find a special site dedicated to mini-itx motherboards and accessories, called Mini-Box. This site sells tiny little fanless power supplies and combination packs of mobos and power supplies together at a discount. And here I was about to buy a normal ATX power supply that was real small. I also found Frozen CPU for other accessories including LCD displays. Both look good for this project.

Now I just need to learn how to dremel up somethin' crazy.

Super VCR Mod!!

First steps: 15th May 2004
Welcome to the attempt at modding an old VCR into a fully usuable PC. Since I finally have this sub-domain and all the images uploaded I can actually show you the before image that I so cleverly captured before I started. Here's what we got:



This is the way VCRs were made in the pre-1984 type era. Note the dial channel changers and RCA connectors on the front (which was a good idea but isn't done much anymore). The tape loader ejected up above the rest, you insert the cassete and push it back down. Very mechanical and 1930's sci-fi movie. Here's a another pic to give you an idea of the shear size of this montstrocity:



Try comparing a CD to your own VCR for the significance of this. And of course there's the back and top of the thing, as follows:





Now let me stop a moment and say I'm using the cheapest possible digital camera in existance. My sister got it for free from a friend (who got it for free) and gave up on it because of the seeming poor quality. But with some experimentation it appears you can pretty much make out what the image is. I just had to make the camera stationary on the ground and make as much light as possible (thus why most images will be taken outside). But I digress.

Further progress: 16th May 2004

Now on Sunday I did some further gutting of the VCR. Turns out this particular VCR is so big it has to compartments, large "motherboard" (that's what I'll call the largest of the circuit boards) and many, many circuit boards. Not to mention stainless steel, endless bundles wires, plastic wrapped around bundles of wires, and way, WAY too many drive belts and and unnecessary moving parts. Here is the initial image of the bottom of the "motherboard":



Next is a rough shot of half way gutted:



Then a little more progress: