Project...Lots of Projects! UPDATE: 5/4/05 Second MythTV frontend is done!

dude, 2.4 Terabytes of harddrive space...THAT'S A LOT OF PORN!!!! j/k. damn, that rivals the storage that the company i work for has! for their WHOLE network, this side of the US that is. can't wait to see this project underway. btw, i noticed that white keyboard, it looks nice where did you get it? is it a laptop keyboard?

 

The keyboard is made by kensington for the macs but it's just a standard USB keyboard. I'm relatively convinced it's an actual laptop keyboard with some sort of USB converter because it feels EXACTLY like my keyboard on my laptop which I like, some don't.

 

Got a link to that keyboard? ;O

 

Ask and ye shall receive
http://www.kensington.com/html/5463.html

 

Are you seting up to have 2.4 terabytes, or are you going to set up raid?

 

As of right now they're just setup as independent drives but once the budget allows for a few more drives where I can fill the IDE channels on the motherboard AND controller card I'll setup a RAID 5.

 

That is exactly what I want to do for my house. I look forward to seeing how this turns out

 

Alrighty, it's time for yet another update. I finally got myself a new job but won't get my first check for 3 weeks but at least I now know it's comming . I have been pretty busy with the project the last couple of days. Here is what I've accomplished: Built the platform for the stadium seating, Got mythtv .18 built and got my projector built. First off, Here's what we need to build a box to put the couch on:
O.S.B.
and 2x4s

Now as it turns out I forgot to take pictures of actually BUILDING it but it's not exactly complicated. Draw a 3D box and put plywood on the outside . With the platform done we'll put the couch on it to get our stadium seating done. You can see the final result of the O.S.B and and 2x4s. I'll be getting some black carpet to cover it once I get paid.

and the other side of the living room

You may notice the wires running up the wall behind the couch and ask "What's THAT for?" Well I'll show you. I left the back of the platform uncovered so that I could hide the HTPC/server underneath it along with the subwoofer/AMP for the speaker
hidden system:

and the subwoofer:

Yes the computer is sitting on a towel to isolate any vibration from transferring to the floor which is laminate and it also keeps it from scratching the floor . So that answers what is on one end of the cables, what about the other end? OK here ya go

Yep got my projector hung from the ceiling . And here is how I did it-
All the needed parts:

The LCD screen is from my room mate who wanted to see this done so props to him for helping.
we have 1 15" LCD screen in pieces

1 projector lid

4 homemade LCD retention clips,

2 fans and some misc screws for later. The fans were epoxied together and then epoxied to the projector lid. These are to cool the LCD and keep it from burning up. The masking tape covers a lip on the projetor top and keeps the LCD from getting scratched on the back. First we need to mount the LCD to the lid. I lined up the screen as center as I could and then drilled a hole and screwed down the attached controller board

Now since this thing will be hanging we need a way to keep the LCD from falling off the projector. What I came up with is simple and cheap. The LCD retainer clips are made from an ~2" strap of metal from a muffler U-bolt set . The black padding is exterior foam door sealer with an adhesive backing. So we cut the sealer into 4 small section and stick one to each metal bracket. Then we screw one down on each corner applying only SLIGHT pressure against the screen to keep it from sliding around. Here you can see mounted from the side:

And here it is with all 4 done

The corners where the retainers are one the screen cannot actually be seen because the opening in the projector is smaller than the outside of the LCD by about 1.5 inches. The screen is now solidly mounted and it's time to get it back on the main projector housing. Now we need to mount the inverter board and VGA controller board

somewhere. You probably noticed the red and black wires that aren't connected. These are for powering the fans and they are wired into the power supply recepticle ont he controller board. I had to mount it to the front of the projector because the cable to the screen is not long enough to be able to open the lid and change the bulb when it burns out without unplugging it every time. This way I won't have to unplug it to change bulbs. And here it is mounted

you can see where I mounted the power button and misc. controls board too. Here is a shot of the LCD in action when it's all done and running

"But how did you hang it?" you may be asking, well I'll show you.

I drilled pilot holes and screwed in these chain hangers from Home Depot which were like $1 for 4 and 2 feet of chain for $3 The chains are screwed into the ceiling joists. I'll get some pictures of the size of the screen once it gets dark as it's still too bright during the day to get a good picture. That's all I've got for now, Enjoy!

 

Sry but that is funny. Seeing a projector mounted on a ceiling. LOL

Ok besides that GJ. Really like that couch up server base thing. REally nice idea.

 

you should made the base longer so people could get up on the couch, and so there feet won't be hanging.

 

That is actually in the early planning stages. I had the couch on the coffe table before so I knew about the problem with it being higher but the seat is only really an inch or so higher than most people's behinds so it's not really that hard to get in. I also plan on underlighting the furniture so you can see around in the dark.

 

Looking good, seating idea is good, but the projector ;o madness the chain looks a bit small and your sitting under it ?

I know they will hold it but just if it fell it will likly kill you if it landed on your head.

I put my speakers on the wall which one is above my head and its about 4-5kg and its held in the wall by 8 2.5" screws, then thick wire stuff through to the celing mounted on wood attached to the beams in the loft.

Anyway enouth picking faults

Lets see some results of this projector!!!
Also get some black cloth or cardboard or something and build a frame from the lcd to mirror/lens will = brighter picture, less light around the room and overall a

 

Damn, its almost like modding a HOUSE! Good luck with what else you do!

 

Believe it not the projector is QUITE light. at the most it's 10 lbs. the chains are more than capable of handling it. The concern is appreciated though.

 

I'm hoping the screws are in wood not just drywall even if there anchored in the drywall. Yes I know it is only 10 pounds but drywall is not strong at all.

 

Yes the screws are screwed into the ceiling joists (bottom of the rafter)

 

Nice homemade projector, the OHP layout ones always look a little more ghetto, but it's all good.

Reminds me of Monty Python..

 

That is so ghetto, i love it!

 

Ok, it's not dark yet but it's getting close enough to take a picture where you can actually see something

The screen goes from the ceiling to the top of the floor molding. Dimensions are:
X:137"
Y:93.5"
It's actually quite a good image. I got the 400W bulb for the projector and it is quite a noticeable difference from the 350W. I used some black posterboard I had lying around and covered the areas of the projector that were leaking light into the room. It made a difference but I won't be able to get a good shot until it gets dark out. We're having an Xbox party here tonight .

 

$7 cheaper at newegg
http://www2.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16823155011

I'd love to build a myth box, but the rest of the family has a death-grip on the TiVo.