EEVBlog Live #1, Water and Electricity

[safarir]

That was... funny ....

http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/7163781

[Kiriakos-GR]

I am on it .... water on the laptop       still watching 

[Kiriakos-GR]

Hey  found and part No 2   

http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/7164569

[fireraisr]

Dave, i didn't think it was possible for you to make the show any better. Boy was I wrong. The live was AMAZING, I had a blast. It was great being able to do the whole Q&A with everyone there. It was staggering the rate those comments were streaming across the screen. It was nice to be able to get answers to those questions that would never warrant a full blog segment. I can't wait for the next one. It would be great for you to stagger the times occasionally since I know that some people can't make it certain days. Also you should do at least two of these per month, being able to reference an engineer is fantastic. When you do get around to posting the vid and linking the comment record I think it would be great if someone were to go through the list so that you can reference all the topics that were covered.
Anyways, I'm rattling on, thanks again and keep up the great work.

[EEVblog]

Thanks fireraisr, glad you enjoyed it, I had a ball, so I'm sure there will be more. It was one hell of an opener killing the laptop!
Need to work on the technical details and timezone thing though.
I haven't watched the recorded footage yet, it doesn't work at work. Will take a look tonight and see what I can edit together.

Dave.

[EEVblog]

I've downloaded the recorded versions and am watching.
The one shot in the lab on the notebook via the wireless connection is terrible!
Perfect audio, but the video just drops out and is still for 10's of seconds at times - awful!

The 2nd part in the office on the desktop is however almost perfect, I haven't seen a single dropped frame in 20 minutes so far. Audio is not great because the gain was not right.

Given that both were recorded by the Ustream server it is obvious that the problem lies in either my eeePC notebook and/or the wireless connection. So it's possible to get good results from Ustream, I just have to sort out how to get the same connection in the lab.

So I'll see if I can nail this down in future episodes.

Dave.

[JohnDowdell]

I think i must have logged on during the "technical difficulties" period. I saw a couple of strange comments in the chat room about something that had gone wrong before i accidentally kicked the power cord out of my own laptop which is lacking battery atm. Takes a while to boot up again. The second half looked like it went pretty smoothly. I should have tried to boot again to join in.

[Varal]

But doesn't on-the-fly compression slow you down as well?

[EEVblog]

Dave, may i make a suggestion to smoothen the live show? or if you already know, just a reminder:
1) reduced video resolution (width x height)?... i dont care if its 320x240, i'll be happier if its smooth
2) increased compression setting? but not up to the point where the quality is compromised.
just a suggestion

1) It was already streaming at low res.
2) I don't think Ustream offers compression.

Given that the 2nd feed from my desktop was almost flawless, at least at Ustream's server, the answer is to simply not use the notebook/wireless combo again.
But at present that means that I am limited to my study instead of the lab.

BTW, the notebook survived!, I'm out of the dog house 

Dave.

[avrfreaks]

You ever thought about http://www.shoutcast.com/ ,
Works perfectly for me, glad you got your laptop going.....

[dengorius]

Ahah you almost got in deep troubles. Btw get some dessicant bags if you can, moisture might build up.

And great vlog ofc.

[TheWelly888]

Just watched the first recording, thank God you used a high quality microphone otherwise it would have been a nightmare as it was impossible to lip-read you!!! I know you got it right the second time round and am grateful you are fussy about the audio...

One of the adverts that popped up was offering "Maritime Expert Witness Service" which seemed apt with you spilling water on your missus' notebook!

[EEVblog]

You ever thought about http://www.shoutcast.com/ ,
Works perfectly for me, glad you got your laptop going.....

Yeah, I thought about a radio show via Shoutcast at one stage, even got the plug-in for my audio player, but I don't know how that would go down. I guess it would be ok if it could be a similar chat session type thing? I haven't looked to see if that's possible though.

Dave.

[avrfreaks]

Chat is separate on Shoutcast, It is however better because you only stream Video + Audio in HD and record your live audience and have 4 conversations at once or separate clips you can play, ect...
A. Notice from a web developer; Streaming video and chat at the same time lags both user and host and crap comes out.
B. I am assuming you have cpanel hosting so both Creating a separate Shoutcast + IRC (Internet Relay Chat) will increase production. Both are free as well.
C. If you want, check out yugo.fm for shoutcast if your host does not provide it, My host does for $2.99 + $2.99 for hosting and shoutcast.
D. I am a web developer so ask if you have questions, Thanks.
E. Also Dave could you post a advertisement to my website like I do you. Thanks.

[EEVblog]

I didn't know Shoutcast did video casting as well?, I thought it was just audio like a radio station.
i don't think my host (HostMonster.com) offers Shoutcast, but yes it's using cPanel.

Were do you advertise the EEVblog? On avrfreaks.net?
I generally don't do reciprocal links, because if I did then the site would be filled with ads. So I have paid ads only on the site.

Dave.

[avrfreaks]

Your Probably better off not purchasing a shoutcast server then, my host does, a alternate site you can check is http://www.justin.tv/#r=vqWDLKU~.
Like I said it is better to broadcast via video and audio on one server and chat on another server site.
1. There are a lot of IRC chats available,
2. Free streaming video sites + most offer 3 way comm except your video chat your using now.
3. Get a fast frame webcam, I got mine at Radioshack for $20.00 in HD.
PS:
Also do you have any more banners I might be able to place on the top of my website, forget about making a link.
Thanks,

Robo-X Team - IT Hosting Solutions.

[fireraisr]

Hey Dave,
I was re-watching the live to catch the stuff I missed while reading that insane chat log. I had an idea at the beginning and decided to index the questions you answered. I must say this list is true geek pron for us electronics buffs. I'm not sure I spelled everything perfect but I think I got it all. Anyways, here you go.


Questions for Dave:

04:30 Aluminum PCB
05:45 What are College EE Classes Like?
06:15 Going back to college: Is there still room for an analog specialist?
07:07 Do I have to incur another NRE charge if I change my design?
08:00 What program do you use to design PCB's?
08:16 Tell us about the license Plate.
09:35 How did you start your formal electronics study at 15?
10:24 How about a tutorial on PCB design techniques or a book on the subject?
11:26 Is it possible to get 20Kw out of a battery on an electric bike?
12:17 Would you ever consider doing a blog on the Parallax Propeller?
12:55 Dave do you etch your own PCB's?
13:38 Could you revise the PCB design tutorial?
14:43 Do you only tinker with modern stuff?
15:27 FPGA's: Zylinx or Altira?
16:16 For embedded design, what degree track should I pursue?
18:46 What percentage of your time at work to you spend on design?
20:22 Do you have any experience with ZigBee?
20:40 Do you recommend a language for quick and easy PC interface?
21:01 How can a software developer manage to design electronics?
21:50 Is Arduino watering down the field of embedded design?
23:06 The Rigol 100Mhz bandwidth, When the DAC's are running is that because of multiple DAC's?
23:30 When will we see you on the Jerry Ellsworth channel? Your voice is loaded on the text to speech.
24:41 Multimeter, have you been using the Agilent 1253?
25:06 Why are LCD modules so expensive?
25:52 Can you manually modify cheap digital multimeters to make them safer?
26:36 We want to hear about engineering in extreme environments.
27:48 When it comes to getting your lab setup would you build or buy?
29:02 Do you have any patents?
29:53 What logic family should you use when prototyping and designing digital circuits?
30:20 Will you make a proper blog on making lab equipment?
30:36 What is Pod Sweat?
32:28 Do you know analog calculation technologies very well?
32:55 What do you think of the Fluke 17B?
34:28 Would you buy scopes off dealextreme?
35:32 What video editing software do you use?
36:24 When are you going to teach us spectrum analysis?
36:46 What do you think of USB logic analyzers?
38:23 Did you ever build spy equipment?
39:44 Is there any interest in around the house projects you have done?
40:34 Dave what do you think of developing any community projects?
41:14 Have you looked into laser microphones?
42:45 What line of microprocessors do you like to design with?
43:45 Do your designs consider eco “green” issues?
45:25 What does it mean when an oscilloscope is Gaussian?
45:50 Don't you hate it when electronics come in that impossible plastic?
46:22 What other field of engineers to you find it difficult to work with?
47:03 How can you be sure that the rigol soft-mod doesn't mess it up?
47:45 When's the next live blog?
48:10 What is your main source of components for hobby projects?
48:40 What do your employers think of the EEVBlog?

[joelby]

I found the expensive LCD module question a bit mystifying (unless they meant huge TFT displays). Ultrakeet is a Sydney-based supplier that sells 16x2 modules for $5.95, as well as other interesting goodies.

[fireraisr]

Yeah, I think the LCD question was about graphical multicolor LCD's. I know in the limited research I've done they can be quite pricey from a hobbyist perspective.

[orbiter]

How did you lot find out about when this was happening? I missed it but did request info before it went out live Oh well recordings will have to do

https://www.eevblog.com/forum/index.php?topic=554.0

[marianoapp]

it was announced in the home page.. http://www.eevblog.com/2010/05/21/the-eevblog-live-show/

[orbiter]

it was announced in the home page.. http://www.eevblog.com/2010/05/21/the-eevblog-live-show/

Oops thanks mariaaopp I've only got the forums page in my favourites Sorted now though

regards

orb