Just received an email this morning from NetFlix announcing that they will be charging me $1 more per month for access to unlimited Blu-ray movies.  I've just been waiting to see the hammer fall, and it finally has. It's not a huge charge, so I'll live with it. I'd be much happier if they told me they were charging more to send me HD-DVDs

Dear Peter,

As you may know, Blu-ray movies are more expensive than standard definition movies. As a result, we're going to start charging $1 a month (plus applicable taxes), in addition to your monthly membership charge, for unlimited access to Blu-ray movies.

The additional charge for unlimited Blu-ray access will be automatically added to your next billing statement on or after November 5th, 2008 and will be referenced in your Membership Terms and Details. If you wish to continue getting Blu-ray movies for $1 a month more, you don't need to do anything. If not, you can remove Blu-ray access anytime by visiting Your Account at the Netflix website.

If you have questions about this change or need any assistance, please call us anytime at 1-888-638-3549.

-The Netflix Team

So, I've been doing some thinking.  Our last plan for getting a server involved collocation and and slim server. Both not cheap.  This was brought up last time, and I'm warming up to it: build a server (not worrying about size), and have someone host it @ their home with a static IP internet connection.

This way we don't have to worry about Bryan running torrents how much bandwidth we use. Sure, it will be a little slower in speed, but I'm willing to accept this.

Comments.. ready... set... go!

Last night, with a team of 2 others, we upgraded our ESDA Truck 586. It had an older Federal Signal StreetHawk lightbar.  It was upgraded to sport a Federal Signal Arjent S2 44'' LED lightbar. 

This bar was actually a treat to install. Only 3 cables run to the lightbar: +Bat, Gnd, and Cat5E.  Cat5E? wha?! Exactly! This cable runs to a little Serial Controller box that sits inside the vehicle. This box does all of the controlling/programming. It accepts multiple activation input wires and programs each mode.

For example, I programmed a switch to turn on Mode 1 warning and also flash the Take Downs and the Alleys. Another switch is set to turn on those Take Downs and Alleys solid.  The controller automatically will override the emergency pattern, stop flashing those lights, and turn them on solid. This would've been a pain to do on older lightbars. Now we are able to take advantage of as much emergency lighting as possible.

These lightbars will also go on our two 2008 Crown Vics later on this year.

Thanks to an *official* *unofficial*, who gives a **** , a simple registry key will unlock most of the WinTV lineup from Hauppauge in Vista Media Center

http://thegreenbutton.com/forums/permalink/293058/292728/ShowThread.aspx#292728

Photo taken with HTC Tilt by PeterFnet


Just make sure you try it with the latest drivers that are public, and you'll be in the clear. I did not even have to update my drivers. Works great! I don't have as many channels as I had in OTA, but this could be all that Comcast provides to me over Clear QAM. I'll see what the WinTV app finds for QAM channels and compare.  Once they get it working for the true dual tuner (HVR-2250), I'll be purchasing that!

Thanks to mjp14 for posting it!

REGEDIT4
;
; NOTE: this file should ONLY be used to enable Clear QAM support on Fiji
;  (ie, "Windows Vista Media Center Feature Pack 2008")
;
; Using this file WILL break applications that only support the legacy "ATSC Network Provider"
; Apps must be recompiled to use the newer "MS Network Provider" if this file is used
;
; These keys control exposing support of Fiji compatible QAM for various ATSC products
;  (of course, the HW products must be physically capable of supportting QAM!!!)
;
; You MUST restart you system after this file is installed for the changes to take effect
;
; HVR-1250, HVR-1290, HVR-1500q, HVR-1800, HVR-1850
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\HCW85BDA\Parameters]
"AllowQAM_PowerToy"=dword:00000001
 
; HVR-1600 (only some models support QAM; should list them here)
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\HCW18BDA\Parameters]
"AllowQAM_PowerToy"=dword:00000001
 
; HVR-USB2, HVR-1950
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\HCW73BDA\Parameters]
"AllowQAM_PowerToy"=dword:00000001
 
; HVR-950q
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\HCW72DTV\Parameters]
"AllowQAM_PowerToy"=dword:00000001
 
; HVR-2250 (not yet supporrted)

I had never been a Sprint customer, and had no plans until I needed a Nextel.  I was actually very impressed on how well it performed, and how useful it was.  Then, they surprised everyone by releasing QCHAT on their CDMA Rev A network which interoperates with Nextel. This was something they should've done the day they purchased Nextel.  Having two incompatbile networks just was a bad move and was why they bled customers.

So now that they have the late capability with some new handsets. About 4 phones I believe have this new QCHAT ability.  I've searched high and low to see if they're going to have QCHAT on their future Windows mobile devices like the Touch Diamond and Touch Pro.

I got official word from Sprint:

Question: Will future Windows Mobile phones support QCHAT PTT over CDMA?

Dear Peter Fattore,

 

Thank you for contacting Sprint Customer Service.  I will be happy to assist you in the device inquiries.

 

I do apologize, but we do not have any devices coming out with those qualifications.

 

If you have any questions or need further assistance please feel free to respond to this e-mail.

 

Thank you again for contacting Sprint Customer Service.  We appreciate your business.

 

Sincerely,

Ashley M.

Customer Service Specialist

Sprint

This brings a frown to my face. They have the only PTT network that people commonly know about. They need to have every freaking phone support their PTT and/or license it to other networks. It's rediculous that they don't have a common national PTT network.

Sorry for the rant, but I've tried to hope that Sprint would solidify their PTT network, but time will tell.

Now I am 'pretty' sure about this part. QCHAT uses Java, therefore it could work on a Windows Mobile phone

Computer
Front End - Streetdeck2
Large case - future will be ITX
Micro ATX Intel Motherboard
Windows XP SP3
DVD-RW drive in center console
M2-ATX 160W Intelligent DC-DC PSU

Internet
AT&T Tilt (HTC Kaiser)
HardSPL 3.56
L26 KaiserTouch V1 M2D ROM
Windows Mobile 6.1
Internet Sharing Application (Microsoft) over USB

Display
Liliput EBY-701 7'' LCD Touchscreen
Enclosure is custom and self made
Modified extra radio enclosure (dremel, super glue, bondo, sand, paint)
Powered off of 12V line from computer
Auto power on

Peripherals
ElmScan 5 USB OBD-II Scan Tool
US GlobalSat BU-353 Weather-proof GPS Receiver
Powered USB hub - Powered from computer's 5V line

Emergency Lighting
Whelen Talon - blue/blue - LED - (Front)
SoundOff Signal Headlight Flasher - (highbeam) - (Front)
Federal Signal S2 Viper Dual - blue/blue - LED - (Rear)
SoundOff Signal Taillight flasher - Brake/Reverse - (Rear)
Galls Five-Function Switch Box with 12V DC Receptacle

Radio/Network:
Icom V-8000 (auto power-on with relay)
Linksys Router with DD-WRT (pull power from computer PSU)

Todo:
Install (internet from ethernet/phone network adapter bridging ((dhcp from phone and ICS are same, must bridge)))
/\ /\ /\ Above is a major problem. If I use ICS from phone to computer, and ICS from computer to router, both ICS networks uses the same IPs and it does not work. I briefly tried bridging the USB Network connection from the phone and the ethernet port to see if the phone would hand off more than 1 IP, but no luck yet. There may have been another problem. I'll work on this more when it's warm.

Front Console - No descriptions - Larger Size

Front Console - With Descriptions - Larger Size

Front of Vehicle - Whelen Talon LED and Headlight Flasher On - Larger Size

Rear of Vehicle - Federal Signal S2 Viper Dual - Larger Size

Large case - P4 - 1GB RAM - MTX Sub - Larger Image

Updated February 13, 2009

Those who know me know I have a severely high level of nerdiness that probably borders on some form of a disorder.  My two largest projects recently involved my Vehicle and my Media Center PC.  A very detailed write-up on each project will be posted in the future.

Each project involved a very large amount of time, but wasn't too horrible on the budget at the same time.  This was pretty important since I was in college for most of it!

1. My 1996 ford explorer: On-Board x86 Computer Windows XP SP3, runs StreetDeck mobile software, GPS, touchscreen embedded in dashboard with custom bezel, MTX sound system, plenty of emergency lighting (not gaudy), and a 2-way VHF radio for ham/government

2. Media Center: Hauppauge HVR-1800 Cable Tuner with Digital OTA, 2 GB RAM, HD-DVD drive, Blu-Ray drive, ArcSoft TotalMedia Theatre, and VMC Netflix.