Albeit, slow in getting there [issues installing SP1 for Windows® Vista]. Ultimately [ pun intended], I did a clean install. There was not anything I need to keep for the computer’s current role. I wanted the upgrade experience for future computer jobs.
Well, Procaster from Livestream connects and runs on my TPC, but it is not streaming my video. Plus, the frame rate is much too low [1-3fps].
It looks like my TPC will be back in its mobile bicycling mode and I’ll have to find a faster laptop for the video streaming. It was a good try, but no cigar. Anyone have a laptop with a Dual-Core CPU for sale?
Late this afternoon, FedEx delivered my repaired Tablet PC. After dinner and a nap, I began the process of installing Windows® 7 Ultimate on my TPC which has Windows Vista Business installed. It was long enough ago that I used it that the Vista SP1 is not installed. Well, to upgrade to W7, SP1, at a minimum must be installed. This will take a while.
I also have the possibility that my TPC is underpowered to be my WebCam Server for Livestream. Their Procaster has a minimum CPU requirement of a Pentium 4 – 3Ghz or Higher / Pentium Core 2 Duo 1.4Ghz or Higher. I have an Intel Pentium Intel® Centrino™ Mobile Technology with the Intel® Pentium® M Processor ULV 733 (1.1GHz) and 2MB of L2 Cache. My 1.1 GHz CPU is less than the stated minimum requirement. It is a matter of testing.
My TPC is not suppose to run Vista or W7. I know it runs Vista. My research says it also runs Windows 7. I have 1.5 GB of RAM. I certainly prefer to use my TPC than to have to purchase a faster "dedicated" laptop now. The effort here is to facilitate the use of WebCams not limited by USB maximum cable length. I’ll operate within the range of the Wi-Fi 802.11DraftN standard or approximately 600 meters for this device. All this to give me enhanced coverage potential for cycling events.
Now it gets interesting…
All of my MotionBased Activities [472] have been migrated to Garmin Connect! At this point, I cannot tell you when the migration began, but I know it took a long time.
Garmin Watch [monitor the migration of my activities from my MotionBased Digest to Garmin Connect as of 2:18 p.m. 11/23. NO activities remain to be migrated.
Migrated Total MB Activities Total GC Activities 452 452 475
Garmin Connect Garmin Forums 
I’m glad it is complete.
I
t shipped Friday, 11/20 following repair. This is GREAT news. I can now place the "brains" into my SCEPTER WebCam setup, rid myself of the USB umbilicals that connected the WebCams to my laptop. Now, I’ll confirm the software I will use, as well as the remote desk top function between the two computers.
Yep, I’m excited!
Don Saito has published his articles for the last leg [from northern California back to San Francisco] of his tour around the USA 48 contiguous states. He arrived back in San Francisco, last Saturday, 11/14. Here are links to the final 8 days of his tour:
- Day Two Hundred Fifty-nine, Date Saturday, Novembember 14, 2009
- Day Two Hundred Fifty-eight, 091113 – Stinson Beach, CA
- Day Two Hundred Fifty-seven, 091112 – Jenner, CA
- Day Two Hundred Fifty-six, 091111 – Albion, CA
- Day Two Hundred Fifty-five, 091110 – Westport, CA
- Day Two Hundred Fifty-four, 091109 – Miranda, CA
- Day Two Hundred Fifty-two thru three, 091107-8 – Arcata, CA
Don’s final metrics:
Day Two Hundred Fifty-nine, Date Saturday, November 14, 2009
Time in Saddle: 3:38
Distance for the Day: 27.86 miles From Stinson Bch To San Francisco, CA
Accumulated Trip Distance: 12,613 miles [highlighted & colored by me]
Altitudes: Starting/Ending 32’/22’, Highest: 207’ Accumulated: 806’
Speeds: Avg: 7.6 mph, Max: 30.1 mph
Weather: 40°
Expenditures: $13
We are thankful to Don for sharing his many stories and photographs. Again, we await his book on the awesome adventure.
Thanks Don!!!
obi_donkenobi said… Hi Mike, Jim, and Mark: Thank you, all! The final entries are coming soon – hopefully today (Sat, Nov 21). It’s been one hell of a ride, and/but I’m sad/glad it’s over. Let me know if you have any questions (and that goes to everyone), and I’ll respond. With answers, even! ;~Don
November 21, 2009 9:48 AM
In my last vid-short Umbrella in Motion], you saw a video from WebCam #2. This video [taken with my iPhone mounted in my OWLE Bubo, with a 37mm 2.0x Telephoto Lens] is of the AutoMate Panohead, Logitech Webcam Pro 9000, and my 64″ Golf Umbrella. This video simply shows the rotation of the 3 components.
E arlier, you saw my 64″ Golf Umbrella mounted on my AutoMate Panohead. Now, from my 2nd WebCam, here is a short clip of the panohead’s movement with the Logitech Webcam Pro 9000 and the umbrella attached. Notice the single white panel. It will be easy from a distance, without looking at a computer, to see the direction of the camera’s orientation.
Video2 in this series ~ Umbrella—Outside View
The 64" Golf Umbrella that I had on order, that is. I received it after dark yesterday and then spent the better part of 3 hours modifying, fitting, and finishing it for SCEPTER. Please note my cat still strides across the umbrella. I am very pleased with the results.
I have spent several hours taking pictures this morning and have not taken the shots I want to best show the rig with the umbrella atop. There is just too much going on in the background. Of the 4 sets I took, this shot from set #3 is the best, yet too busy.
I’ll shoot a couple of videos later. One from the on-board WebCam [the WebCam that watches the Web Cam] and one from my iPhone, using the OWLE Bubo.
I think the umbrella will give sufficient rain protection. Its design makes it practical in windy conditions. We will have to see just how far that goes. The equipment will have UV protection. Again, I am pleased with the result. One day, I’ll have to get a personal 64" Golf Umbrella.
Video1 is up ~ Umbrella in Motion
Video2 is up ~ Umbrella—Outside View
Soon to be back in my hands. It was damaged during the ‘08 Cycle North Carolina. I should have had it handled by one of the CNC staff. No, I packed it in my baggage—WRONG! Anyway, it will now be a dedicated camera server.
I’m excited to replace USB cables with WiFi and then use the Remote Desktop function of my laptop & TPC for TPC control of Livestream Studio. I’m expecting several hundred feet standoff. I know the iPaq Bluetooth Remote AutoMate Robot control works for over a block—tested.
It is to reduce the probability of my SCEPTER WebCams getting rained on. The small umbrella shown in this photo is a prototype. A 64" diameter is huge; yet, I think adequate for the purpose intended. I want to preclude equipment loss due to water. How long I shoot in the rain is to be determined. Of course, I’ll test. Look for pictures late next week.
Of course, this is with regard to the 100K Milestone Contest [Last Update].
You may recall my cycling friend from western North Carolina rides an upright, some call it a DF [diamond frame]. It is commonly referred to as a BIcycle. Zeke rides a lot. This past weekend, it was riding of a different sorts. Zeke also rides a MOTORcycle. Zeke rode with 2,000 of his and his wife’s [Kathy's] “closest” friends as they participated in the 18th Annual Haywood County Motorcycle Parade and Toy Run.
This year Zeke says: "When final totals are in, we expect to have raised another $14,000.00 in cash and another full Salvation Army Truck load of toys bringing the 18 year old event over the $100,000.00 mark for distribution to local charities serving children."
Zeke tells the story in his blog and gives us lots of pictures. BTW, the lady [Ellen] with Zeke is not his better half, Kathy. She, is in the photograph to the right.
Congratulation to Zeke and Kathy for another successful event and the magical results of your hard work and dedication as two of the event coordinators. Enjoy your cycling, be it BIcycling or MOTORcycling.
CHEERS!
Jim
Albeit, belated! CONGRATS Don. I checked his blog constantly, but did not get his Friday the 13th post until today. I feel like I missed the parade, but this is Don’s. I hope some one or more of you got to cheer him on on Saturday afternoon. What an amazing journey.
See the linked post above and the comments. Don says he will post the final daily blogs. He also says: "Thanks for following along! It’s been an incredible experience – an experience of a lifetime, and it was nice to have company along the way."
| Photos from my iPhone 3GS, using the OWLE Bubo showing images with no cropping. | ||||||||
|
I took this series of photographs to show one function of the OWLE Bubo—lens holder. It adds versatility to the phone—oh, it is a phone. As a reminder, I received a call during the photo shoot. I did not answer. It was a 888 caller anyway.
The reason for these pictures is that I replaced my initial Creative Labs Live! Cam Optia AF WebCam with a Logitech Webcam Pro 9000. It has superior resolution and frame rate. In addition, I can zoom, and have other nice to have features. What to do with the original WebCam—use it to take vids of the AutoMate [the robot] at work. I have a 29-minute video on Livestream that shows the movement of the AutoMate Robot as taken by the little Creative WebCam. Actually, they can take vids of each other—cute.
This preparation is to give me the capability to live blogcast cycling events such as the Trifecta of World Records in Maria Parker’s 12 hour ride. Next week, I hope to integrate my Tablet PC for WiFi connection with SCEPTEER. The TPC will run both boom WebCams.
Looks like a spectacular launch. I witnessed the last Shuttle Discovery launch—a night time launch. I’d love to see a day-time launch before the end of the shuttle program. The best to the crew of STS-129. They launched today at 2:28 p.m. EST from the Kennedy Space Center near Cape Canaveral, Florida.
The low light gives us a poor quality video, yet illustrates the importance of good lighting. In the float Terry [BROL tytrikes] gives his view. In the last third of the vid, I ride my RANS Citi Crank Forward, without its headlight because it is on the trike. The "be seen lights," a 400L headlight & taillight, work very well.
Future night videos will require lighting. I plan to use infrared lighting. Anyway, please note the video for what it is worth.
done
See also, Silk in Motion I
Well, my unofficial spreadsheet now has the UMCA OFFICIAL RESULTS [lap 13 above--bolded]for Maria Parker’s ride October 10, 2009. Congratulations Maria and crew. Now we knew [unofficially] she had ridden more than 241 miles. Here is what we did not know for sure [the other 2 records]:
- 100 Mile 4 hr 47 min 56 sec 4:47:56 20.84 mph
- 200 Mile 9 hr 55 min 34 sec 9:55:34 20.15 mph
I think there are many who would love to complete a century that fast. most would love to just finish a double-century. These records are a remarkable achievement by a remarkable person.
Thanks to Dr. Jim Parker for providing me the official results [e-mail addresses removed].
Today, SCEPTER [Single-purpose, Cycling Experiences, Pan & Tilt, Event Recorder ~ Thanks to Drew Robertson] captured Silk as I rode her for a few short neighborhood laps. Inspired by Terry Stankunas [BROL Member tytrike], I went for a few jaunts in the late afternoon and twilight.
done
Silk in Motion II, is up…
[Live Video now has a dedicated page]
I have located even better video streaming software [Livestream Procaster--and it is free] than the software I had originally tested [plus it cost $85.00]. I can embed the video in my blog, display my desktop, and display both 2D & 3D. I’m working on integrating my iPhone 3GS.
With the project I’m working on, I’ll have pan & tilt control of the camera. Again, I’ll use it for any event coverage I blogcast. I know of no amateur doing this and I’m expanding its potential.
For now, there’s nothing interesting to view. This is a test. I’d like your feedback. This package has a chat feature. I look forward to reading your comment and/or chatting with you.
Jim
Cmts:
- Pardon the ads. The cost to not have them is $350.00 per month. I’m no business. You can ‘X” them.
- Chat is on…
- Panning & Tilting [previously tested] used today
- There is a 3 second delay. I do not know why.
- Also tested the laptop’s WebCam for LiveStream Video. It works well. Particularly when controlled by the LiveStream Studio.
- Thanks to MJ Klein, I used a different template that placed chat beneath the video, when not in the full-screen mode. Toggle and see what works best for you.
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