This is the second video in my media PC series. I'll split this video into two halves, the first will cover graphics card/GPU settings and setting up multiple video connections. The second half will cover an application of multiple display connections as well as setting up a network time server and setting TV recording defaults. Since most of my experience has been with NVidia-based video cards, I'll focus on those for this video. Other video card mfgs. likely have similar configuration tools, so check out their setup utilities and manuals for information. When switching from cable/satellite TV to over the air (OTA) broadcast TV, you may or may not notice some changes. That is, if you set up your PC and video card to display the added dynamic range of the OTA TV signal. At first I didn't do this and I only noticed some very minor picture differences between DirecTV and OTA TV, pretty much the difference of 720P vs. 1080i. Then it dawned on me what those extra video color settings were for and I found that the Full Dynamic Range setting made a huge difference in picture quality. I was watching a network TV show with a bright snow background and the action going on in a dark train tunnel opening. On DirecTV the dark area where the action was going on was pretty much all black, but flipping to the OTA broadcast, I could see all the action going on in the darkness. It's like you came in from outside and still had your sunglasses on, everything is dark, then you take off the glasses and now you can see much better. The other video card feature to consider are multiple video outputs. My GT-610 card has HDMI, DVI and VGA outputs. HDMI has digital video+audio, DVI is digital video, VGA is analog video. So I run my HDMI cable to my A/V Receiver (AVR) and I run a VGA cable to my TVs PC input. Then there of course is an HDMI cable connecting the AVR to the TV. I then set up both video outputs to the exact same resolution and layout and then set them up as duplicate displays, since I only have one physical display, the TV screen. I'll go into an example of using multiple connections in the second half of this video: - http://youtu.be/UTslzGOHSPw And in a following video episode, I'll cover some of the other reasons you might find multiple outputs handy when it comes to HDMI and HDCP: Stay tuned to this channel and playlist for updates as I put together additional media PC setup videos. If there are any topics you would like to see covered, post up in the comments section below. As always, thanks for watching! ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fh28SC7V8Ds

For this lamp, I decided to try a 10W PAR30 LED bulb and I really like the results. This bulb is taller than a normal light bulb, so required a half sheet tall shade. I made the first one out of white copier paper, that gives a little bit of texture when back lit. At the end of the video, I put on a shade made of Mylar inkjet photo paper and that has a non-textured appearance. You could also use a more heavily textured art paper if you wanted a different look. The Ecosmart 10W LED seems to consume a bit over its 10W rating, although my Kill-a-Watt meter reads a bit high on the low power range. Dimming is excellent, no flicker or buzzing at all. I like this bulb in my office, the dim setting works well for general use and on high, there is plenty of light for paperwork. If you wanted to do an LED conversion but did not want to use a top shade, you could always install a 10W+ flat high-power LED and driver on the bottom of the reflector. You may need to install a heat sink and/or small cooling fan on the higher wattage LEDs. An LED like that would give no down lighting, so the center translucent part of the lamp would be dark. Before: 300W, after: 10W, or a 97% energy consumption reduction! Music by: Austin Rogers http://drfiddle.com/show_tune.php?id=94 ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vc7iXS_hEBg

The 4-pole TRRS adapter from Kenable, Ltd. arrived. Lets open it up and see if it works. It took about 10 days for the package to arrive from the UK. It does appear to have the correct pin out from the TRRS plug to the RCA jacks. It fits nicely in the Raspberry Pi model B+ analog A/V output jack, it blocks the HDMI plug, but since only one or the other is typically used, that is not an issue. The TV A/V cable plugs right into the RPi A/V adapter. The USB power monitor shows an adequate supply voltage, it's about 4.75v with the RPi plugged in. So time to fire up the old TV and see what happens. I forgot that this TV comes up in DVD mode then you need to click through USB then flash Card viewing modes to hit "AV in" mode. UNfortunately, it looks as if I am not getting any video to display. The RPi seems to be working, it is pulling an expected amount of current and the LEDs are lit up like normal. So time for a little debugging to find out what is going on in the next video... - http://youtu.be/4f-NQdM6gWQ A keen observer might actually see the cause of the problem in the video! As always, thanks for watching! Image credit: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3APhoenix-Fabelwesen.jpg By Bertuch-fabelwesen.JPG: Friedrich Johann Justin Bertuch (1747-1822) derivative work: Tsaag Valren (Bertuch-fabelwesen.JPG) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YdBKdzN1CZE

Designing and printing a custom tape dispenser holder for a Harbor Freight parts bin rack. I needed some place to store a packing tape dispenser in the area used for packing up orders for shipment. So I had a 1.5" plastic pipe clamp I had printed for another project and it was almost the right size. If it was scaled up by 9/7 ratio the hole spacing would line up perfectly. Easy enough to do in the slicer and a 30 minute print later, here's a custom sized holder to fit the parts bin. While I had the model in the 3D printer SD card, I figured I would print a 2nd one for a backup tape dispenser. It seems the one tape dispenser always runs out just as the last items for the day are being packed. Now, instead of running around looking for another roll of tape. just holster the empty and grab the full one and keep on packing. So two problems solved with one quick fix. Storage Bin Rack: https://www.harborfreight.com/24-bin-bench-top-parts-rack-69572.html Pipe Clamp: https://www.mcmaster.com/#3192t55/=18x16tq Be sure to rate, comment and share And as always, thanks for watching Intro: Louisiana Fairytale by Austin Rogers http://drfiddle.com/show_tune.php?id=94 ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0H5I9ChfxQw