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#136
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Dell computer with no input (now CD writing, and TV for the blind!)
In message , Paul
writes: [] Since I never did buy any media that was LightScribe enabled, I never had a chance to find out. I think I did install the driver, but I don't think there was a designer, and I don't know what step(s) were required to run the one I had. OK. (I've never bought any such media either - I'm pretty certain I've never actually seen any such!) I'm currently trying to find one where the controlling software is usable by the blind (basically that means, can be operated without a mouse, and anything highlighted is text, not a symbol or a _picture_ of some text). I also want it to play the AD (audio description) channel when available, along with the normal sound. But finding out whether it is accessible is virtually impossible. What I'm currently going for is probably the 292e, as I've been assured that that works [] Some kits come with a remote control, with a channel change, and volume up-down. For my current tuner, I would have to go back to the company web site, as there are two kits for retrofitting various remotes. My SKU was missing the remote control bits (the full retail package is required for that). I've been wondering under what circumstances the remote control actually works: for example, does it always work, overriding any instructions from the controlling software? If so, it could well be easier for my blind friend to use. [] (My blind friend has: XP, 10, iPhone, and an Android-based machine [] Nothing about tuners is "easy"... unfortunately. Think of your wish as being as much a "development project" as it is a "simple gift purchase". Remember that I barely got mine running, and suffered hair loss (I checked the shower drain). I am definitely getting that impression )-:! And I'll have the added difficulties of the accessibility aspects. But I'm used to those. And the fact that the tuner industry is ailing, means that you don't have as wide a selection of things to choose from. Even if I spotted something on the web, I'd have to check whether anybody had stock. For example, the tuner I bought, is now no longer available. There's something to take its place, but doesn't have the same feature set. Paul The one I'm tentatively going for - 292e - does seem to be available from lots of UK sources. Expensive though. For less than half the price, there's another one that also does DAB radio and comes with an amplified aerial - http://ebay.eu/2ibhzwv - any thoughts on that one? It also specifically mentions Windows 10, which apparently the 292e needs extra fiddling for. -- J. P. Gilliver. UMRA: 1960/1985 MB++G()AL-IS-Ch++(p)Ar@T+H+Sh0!:`)DNAf I was never drawn to sport, to which I attribute my long life. - Barry Humphries, RT 2016/1/9-15 |
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#137
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Dell computer with no input (now CD writing, and TV for the blind!)
J. P. Gilliver (John) wrote:
In message , Paul writes: [] Since I never did buy any media that was LightScribe enabled, I never had a chance to find out. I think I did install the driver, but I don't think there was a designer, and I don't know what step(s) were required to run the one I had. OK. (I've never bought any such media either - I'm pretty certain I've never actually seen any such!) I'm currently trying to find one where the controlling software is usable by the blind (basically that means, can be operated without a mouse, and anything highlighted is text, not a symbol or a _picture_ of some text). I also want it to play the AD (audio description) channel when available, along with the normal sound. But finding out whether it is accessible is virtually impossible. What I'm currently going for is probably the 292e, as I've been assured that that works [] Some kits come with a remote control, with a channel change, and volume up-down. For my current tuner, I would have to go back to the company web site, as there are two kits for retrofitting various remotes. My SKU was missing the remote control bits (the full retail package is required for that). I've been wondering under what circumstances the remote control actually works: for example, does it always work, overriding any instructions from the controlling software? If so, it could well be easier for my blind friend to use. [] (My blind friend has: XP, 10, iPhone, and an Android-based machine [] Nothing about tuners is "easy"... unfortunately. Think of your wish as being as much a "development project" as it is a "simple gift purchase". Remember that I barely got mine running, and suffered hair loss (I checked the shower drain). I am definitely getting that impression )-:! And I'll have the added difficulties of the accessibility aspects. But I'm used to those. And the fact that the tuner industry is ailing, means that you don't have as wide a selection of things to choose from. Even if I spotted something on the web, I'd have to check whether anybody had stock. For example, the tuner I bought, is now no longer available. There's something to take its place, but doesn't have the same feature set. Paul The one I'm tentatively going for - 292e - does seem to be available from lots of UK sources. Expensive though. For less than half the price, there's another one that also does DAB radio and comes with an amplified aerial - http://ebay.eu/2ibhzwv - any thoughts on that one? It also specifically mentions Windows 10, which apparently the 292e needs extra fiddling for. The IView could be similar to one of these. This page points to other devices. https://www.linuxtv.org/wiki/index.php/Geniatech_T230 The 292e has a picture here. It's a two board sandwich, and draws 5V @ 210mA all the time, as the power management isn't working in Windows. http://blog.palosaari.fi/2014/04/nak...tick-292e.html It's funny that pictures of the product, seldom seem to show the IR port on the stick. The take-apart shows a hole, and that could be an IR input for the remote. But one purchaser was only getting a six-inch range for the remote, and I was initially assuming this was a 27MHz style RF remote or something. If you get the right style of remote, it would make it easier for the blind user to feel for the channel up-down and volume buttons, in the cross part in the center. The "rectangular" remotes don't really have a notion of a "home row". Even though my tuner doesn't have a remote right now, the software installed an "IR service" executable which is running all the time. The software needs to register with that, to get channel change info. Like, how would you connect that to VLC, such that VLC opened if the IR service received input ? Dunno. Paul |
#138
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Dell computer with no input (now CD writing)
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#140
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Dell computer with no input
On 12/02/2017 11:41 AM, Paul wrote:
[snip] AFAIK, 56K is 56K down and 33K up. It's "UP TO" (those 2 little "negawords" that take away much of the meaning of anything they're used with) 56K. You probably never get 56K. I commonly got 48K down (I don't remember about up, maybe 21K). (See Wikipedia V90 and V92 articles for more details. The "X2" I mentioned was a predecessor to the v.90 standard (IIRC, there was another one called KB56flex). IIRC, the modems were software-upgradeable to v.90. We never got V92 here as far as I know. I don't think any providers switched over to V92 support.) I don't know of any either. [snip] -- 22 days until the winter celebration (Monday December 25, 2017 12:00:00 AM for 1 day). Mark Lloyd http://notstupid.us/ "All religion, my friend, is simply evolved out of fraud, fear, greed, imagination, and poetry." [Edgar Allan Poe] |
#141
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Dell computer with no input
On 12/02/2017 07:58 PM, pyotr filipivich wrote:
[snip] "Magnetic media" (floppies, tapes, wire if you go back far enough) and magnetic drums and cores. are all subject to fluctuating magnetic fields, not to mention "decay" in the magnetic signal. CD/DVDs lack that property - but have others (delaminating discs being the big one). |
#142
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Dell computer with no input
On Sat, 02 Dec 2017 12:41:22 -0500, Paul wrote:
AFAIK, 56K is 56K down and 33K up. (See Wikipedia V90 and V92 articles for more details. We never got V92 here as far as I know. I don't think any providers switched over to V92 support.) Down here in the States, '56k' maxed out at 53.3k due to power limits, so perhaps you folks up north had it slightly better. "In the United States, government regulation limits the maximum power output, resulting in a maximum data rate of 53.3 kbit/s." https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Modem#Using_digital_lines_and_PCM_(V.90/92) Even though the theoretical max was 53.3k, I remember seeing an awful lot of connection rates that were somewhat less than that, so the max would only be reached under ideal conditions. -- Char Jackson |
#143
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Dell computer with no input (now CD writing)
On Sun, 03 Dec 2017 02:28:02 -0500, Paul wrote:
J. P. Gilliver (John) wrote: In message , Nil writes: On 02 Dec 2017, "J. P. Gilliver (John)" wrote in alt.windows7.general: Did you need special software to both design and burn the "label"? Yes. You need special software to burn a Lightscribe label on a disk. Did it come with the Lightscribe-capable drive? (I don't think any came with mine.) My first LightScribe drive, had a separate software package on the installer CD. At one time, "Retail" drive packages included mounting screws and as many as two software CDs. Packages like a lite version of Nero was on one disc, as well as some sort of DVD movie player. It was easy for them to include the separate LightScribe package, on one of those CDs. For that particular optical drive, you could *only* determine what software was on the CDs, by driving to the store and reading the side of the box. The CD software content was *not* documented on the web. That helps ensure a "bricks and mortar" purchase :-) But since that era, I've bought a few more drives as the OEM "brown bag" versions, which just gives a drive, no mounting screws, and no software discs. If I needed a lightScribe driver for that case, I'd have to hunt on the web site for it. ******* In the BD era, you'd again be advised to carefully review the software situation, as a BD drive can be a "big boat anchor" if you don't have the right materials in hand. If you offered me a BD drive in a brown bag, I'd have to decline your kind offer, as it probably wouldn't do anything without nifty software. ******* There are lots of hardware purchases, where you dare not buy them without the right software to go with them. When I got my TV Tuner a couple months ago, I couldn't even test that the card worked at first, because of the lack of materials on the CD. All the CD had, was a basic driver, and no way to view a picture on the computer screen right away. The first solution I got running properly, was Linux based, and I could at least see that the tuner could scan channels properly. And that's when I discovered the new tuner was more sensitive on receive, than my digital STB (both fed off the same signal via a 2:1 75 ohm splitter). I purchased additional software from the tuner card maker, and it took ten days for physical delivery of a disc. Apparently they've never heard of just sending a license key via email :-/ The software was already on their web site, ready to just plug in the license key to make it work. But we're made to wait for the CD. Like it was 1970 again. I eventually got Media Center running. It takes a registry key edit, and it took me a while to track down what needed to be edited, to make my new purchase work. Initially it was telling me there were "no channels to look at". Geez. By default, all it would do is an NTSC scan, and we don't have any analog OTA channels here. The registry edit made the ATSC scan work in Media Center, and finally I had a digital TV list to look at. Speaking of declining 'kind offers', if someone offered me a TV tuner and it didn't have the name SiliconDust on it somewhere, I'd have to decline. Most of the other guys offer internal cards or USB-based tuners, and I'm not sure why anyone goes for any of that. Once you have an Ethernet-based tuner, you won't go back to anything else. -- Char Jackson |
#144
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Dell computer with no input
Char Jackson wrote:
On Sat, 02 Dec 2017 12:41:22 -0500, Paul wrote: AFAIK, 56K is 56K down and 33K up. (See Wikipedia V90 and V92 articles for more details. We never got V92 here as far as I know. I don't think any providers switched over to V92 support.) Down here in the States, '56k' maxed out at 53.3k due to power limits, so perhaps you folks up north had it slightly better. "In the United States, government regulation limits the maximum power output, resulting in a maximum data rate of 53.3 kbit/s." https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Modem#Using_digital_lines_and_PCM_(V.90/92) Even though the theoretical max was 53.3k, I remember seeing an awful lot of connection rates that were somewhat less than that, so the max would only be reached under ideal conditions. I would get 42K or 44K or so on my 56K V90 dialup. The phone system in Canada likely has the same amplitude limits. And no, I've never seen 53.3K, ever. There's a "steep hill" between 44K and 53.3K. Pikes Peak. Paul |
#145
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Dell computer with no input (now CD writing)
Char Jackson wrote:
Speaking of declining 'kind offers', if someone offered me a TV tuner and it didn't have the name SiliconDust on it somewhere, I'd have to decline. Most of the other guys offer internal cards or USB-based tuners, and I'm not sure why anyone goes for any of that. Once you have an Ethernet-based tuner, you won't go back to anything else. It's a bit big though, and the USB key style ones suit laptop users. You're right about my purchase though - I got a PCI Express card and there would be nothing wrong with a black box for the AV rack. Paul |
#146
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Dell computer with no input (now CD writing, and TV for the blind!)
In message , Paul
writes: J. P. Gilliver (John) wrote: [] I've been wondering under what circumstances the remote control actually works: for example, does it always work, overriding any instructions from the controlling software? If so, it could well be easier for my blind friend to use. [] The one I'm tentatively going for - 292e - does seem to be available from lots of UK sources. Expensive though. For less than half the price, there's another one that also does DAB radio and comes with an amplified aerial - http://ebay.eu/2ibhzwv - any thoughts on that one? It also specifically mentions Windows 10, which apparently the 292e needs extra fiddling for. The IView could be similar to one of these. This page points to other devices. https://www.linuxtv.org/wiki/index.php/Geniatech_T230 The 292e has a picture here. It's a two board sandwich, and draws 5V @ 210mA all the time, as the power management isn't working in Windows. Yes, I've read it runs warm. http://blog.palosaari.fi/2014/04/nak...tick-292e.html It's funny that pictures of the product, seldom seem to show the IR port on the stick. The take-apart shows a hole, and that could be an IR input for the remote. But one purchaser was only getting a six-inch range for the remote, and I was initially assuming this was a 27MHz style RF remote or something. Yes, I read that (though I assumed it was exaggerating for humorous effect). But, if it works, it wouldn't be a problem anyway. If you get the right style of remote, it would make it easier for the blind user to feel for the channel up-down and volume buttons, in the cross part in the center. The "rectangular" remotes don't really have a notion of a "home row". True, but we can stick bumps on relevant keys. Even though my tuner doesn't have a remote right now, the software installed an "IR service" executable which is running all the time. The software needs to register with that, to get channel change info. Like, how would you connect that to VLC, such that VLC opened if the IR service received input ? Dunno. Paul I think we'd be willing to start software to use the stick - autostart on IR would be nice, but isn't really necessary. I'm currently thinking I'll try the IView - less than half the price, comes with an amplified aerial, does DAB as well as DVB-T and -T2 - first; if that fails, I'll have it for myself, and get him a 292e. (Unfortunately I don't live with the blind person - I'm going to visit them for Christmas [we're about 300 miles apart, Kent to Newcastle], so no real chance to find out how accessible it is beforehand; however, I'll be staying long enough to get an alternative if the first doesn't "work".) From the links you've provided, I'm really sorry we aren't "into" Linux, as it looks as if there's a lot more understanding there; however, I think both they and I are too old to learn it now. (Not open to discussion.) -- J. P. Gilliver. UMRA: 1960/1985 MB++G()AL-IS-Ch++(p)Ar@T+H+Sh0!:`)DNAf What's awful about weird views is not the views. It's the intolerance. If someone wants to worship the Duke of Edinburgh or a pineapple, fine. But don't kill me if I don't agree. - Tim Rice, Radio Times 15-21 October 2011. |
#147
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Dell computer with no input (now CD writing, and TV for the blind!)
J. P. Gilliver (John) wrote:
In message , Paul writes: J. P. Gilliver (John) wrote: [] I've been wondering under what circumstances the remote control actually works: for example, does it always work, overriding any instructions from the controlling software? If so, it could well be easier for my blind friend to use. [] The one I'm tentatively going for - 292e - does seem to be available from lots of UK sources. Expensive though. For less than half the price, there's another one that also does DAB radio and comes with an amplified aerial - http://ebay.eu/2ibhzwv - any thoughts on that one? It also specifically mentions Windows 10, which apparently the 292e needs extra fiddling for. The IView could be similar to one of these. This page points to other devices. https://www.linuxtv.org/wiki/index.php/Geniatech_T230 The 292e has a picture here. It's a two board sandwich, and draws 5V @ 210mA all the time, as the power management isn't working in Windows. Yes, I've read it runs warm. http://blog.palosaari.fi/2014/04/nak...tick-292e.html It's funny that pictures of the product, seldom seem to show the IR port on the stick. The take-apart shows a hole, and that could be an IR input for the remote. But one purchaser was only getting a six-inch range for the remote, and I was initially assuming this was a 27MHz style RF remote or something. Yes, I read that (though I assumed it was exaggerating for humorous effect). But, if it works, it wouldn't be a problem anyway. If you get the right style of remote, it would make it easier for the blind user to feel for the channel up-down and volume buttons, in the cross part in the center. The "rectangular" remotes don't really have a notion of a "home row". True, but we can stick bumps on relevant keys. Even though my tuner doesn't have a remote right now, the software installed an "IR service" executable which is running all the time. The software needs to register with that, to get channel change info. Like, how would you connect that to VLC, such that VLC opened if the IR service received input ? Dunno. Paul I think we'd be willing to start software to use the stick - autostart on IR would be nice, but isn't really necessary. I'm currently thinking I'll try the IView - less than half the price, comes with an amplified aerial, does DAB as well as DVB-T and -T2 - first; if that fails, I'll have it for myself, and get him a 292e. (Unfortunately I don't live with the blind person - I'm going to visit them for Christmas [we're about 300 miles apart, Kent to Newcastle], so no real chance to find out how accessible it is beforehand; however, I'll be staying long enough to get an alternative if the first doesn't "work".) From the links you've provided, I'm really sorry we aren't "into" Linux, as it looks as if there's a lot more understanding there; however, I think both they and I are too old to learn it now. (Not open to discussion.) My purpose in hunting down chip IDs (by checking for linux documentation), is so I can locate alternate (Windows) software packages. If they exist. Some of the software used for these things, is protected with a license key (that is printed on the CD that came in the box). So it isn't always possible to move some package over to run some other stick. For sticks where the claim is they're "rebranded", as long as the VID:PID hasn't been messed up, some other software might run without modification. The trick with this "crap" hardware, is the lack of good software. You have to be prepared to look underneath rocks, for some sort of package to use. On the Newegg reviews, quite frequently the product would be made useful, by one of the reviewers reporting they found something to run it with. Even if a CD comes in the box, there is *no* guarantee the software is worthy. Before you buy, you generally want to read as many reviews as you can find. I don't know if I've seen a tuner yet, where the users found the software "exceptional". Usually the reviews are nothing but whining :-) Paul |
#148
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Dell computer with no input (now CD writing, and TV for the blind!)
In message , Paul
writes: [] My purpose in hunting down chip IDs (by checking for linux documentation), Ah, understood. is so I can locate alternate (Windows) software packages. If they exist. Some of the software used for these things, is protected with a license key (that is printed on the CD that came in the box). So it isn't always possible to move some package over to run some other stick. For sticks where the claim is they're "rebranded", as long as the VID:PID hasn't been messed up, some other software might run without modification. Right. The trick with this "crap" hardware, is the lack of good software. That certainly seems to be the case! Too many variants. You have to be prepared to look underneath rocks, for some sort of package to use. On the Newegg reviews, quite frequently the product would be made useful, by one of the reviewers reporting they found something to run it with. Indeed. Even if a CD comes in the box, there is *no* guarantee the software is worthy. Before you buy, you generally want to read as many reviews as you can find. I don't know if I've seen a tuner yet, where the users found the software "exceptional". Usually the reviews are nothing but whining :-) From what I've seen in the past, it certainly seems that it usually has been written by someone who wants to do things a different way just for the sake of it. Paul John -- J. P. Gilliver. UMRA: 1960/1985 MB++G()AL-IS-Ch++(p)Ar@T+H+Sh0!:`)DNAf By most scientific estimates sustained, useful fusion is ten years in the future - and will be ten years in the future for the next fifty years or more. - "Hamadryad", ~2016-4-4 |
#149
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Dell computer with no input
On 12/02/2017 01:54 PM, Ken Blake wrote:
On Sat, 2 Dec 2017 10:12:16 -0600, philo wrote: I never saw the point of a tablet. Small and light, so easy to travel with. But a smart phone is even smaller and lighter, and I now use mine instead of my tablet. I tend to use my Android for just about everything. |
#150
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Dell computer with no input
On Wed, 6 Dec 2017 20:51:39 -0600, philo wrote:
On 12/02/2017 01:54 PM, Ken Blake wrote: On Sat, 2 Dec 2017 10:12:16 -0600, philo wrote: I never saw the point of a tablet. Small and light, so easy to travel with. But a smart phone is even smaller and lighter, and I now use mine instead of my tablet. I tend to use my Android for just about everything. Android what? Phone? Tablet? Other? -- Char Jackson |
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