From http://forum.cinemaronline.com/viewtopic.php?p=89446
The basic control packet allows the third party controller to
- Toggle On/Off state of the Spa, Pool, Aux 1 - 7
- Enable or disable the Spa side remote(s).
- Cancel any current circuit delays (not recommended).
- Change/select heat source/method for Spa or Pool.
- Change/set desired temperature for Spa and/or Pool.
- Control Dimmers, (if unit has dimmers installed).
- Change/set the current time of day in LX3xxx control units clock.
The basic acknowledge packet allows the third party to determine
- Current state of Spa, Pool, Aux 1 - 7.
- Current state of Heater and Solar for both Spa and Pool.
- Whether LX3xxx is in Service mode (no commands should be sent).
- Current state of Spa side remotes (enabled or not).
- Current heat source selection.
- Solar presence.
- Freeze protection mode.
- Current water and solar temperature for Spa and Pool.
- Desired/set temperature for Spa and Pool.
- Air Temperature (Freeze sensor, not intended offer an accurate )
(air temperature )
- Status of temperature sensors.
- Current time of day stored in LX3xxx unit.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hardware Interface:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
The hardware interface is a simple half duplex RS-485 differential
pair. Any external add-on control units are responsible for all special
operations required. The hardware interface is terminated with a
non-standard 1000 ohm resistor. Since an adapter is required to configure
an interface to Compools RJ45 type cable connector, it is suggested that a
1000 ohm resistor be added there, and any termination on the interface be
disabled.
The external control unit MUST be treated as a LISTEN mode slave. It
should only drive the cable in transmit mode when required, and return to
receive mode immediately. Also to prevent unnecessary collision, the
external controller must check the line to be certain it is free before
beginning transmission.
The serial interface must be configured as shown below.
Baud Rate: 9600 bps
Start Bits: 1
Data Bits: 8
Stop Bits: 1
Parity: None
RJ45 Pin 1 DC/Reference ground
RJ45 Pin 2 DC/Unregulated 10 VDC ~100ma Max.
RJ45 Pin 3 +Data (RS485 Tx & Rx)
RJ45 Pin 4 -Data (RS485 Tx & Rx)
RJ45 Pin 5 DC/Unregulated 10 VDC ~100ma Max.
RJ45 Pin 6 DC/Reference ground
The ~100ma Max. refers to the max load the Compool unit can source.
If the interface supplies it's own power this is not an issue.
----------
| |
| ---- | <-- RJ45 cable end shown with locking tab on top
| | | |
| | | |
| ---- |
| |
------------
| 654321 | <-- pin umber asignments
| |
| | <----- flat cable
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Basic Command Packet: (Sent from controller to LX3xxx Unit)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Byte 0 SYNC BYTE 0 0xFFh (always)
Byte 1 SYNC BYTE 1 0xAAh (always)
Byte 2 Destination Address 0x00h (always)
Byte 3 Source Address 0x01h (always)
Byte 4 OpCode 0x82h (always)
Byte 5 Info Field Length 0x09h (always)
Byte 6 Minutes 0x00h - 0x3Bh (see definitions)
Byte 7 Hours 0x00h - 0x17h (see definitions)
Byte 8 Primary Equipment 0x??h (see definitions)
Byte 9 Secondary Equipment 0x??h (see definitions)
Byte 10 Heat Source 0x?0h (see definitions)
Byte 11 Desired Pool Temp 0x??h (see definitions)
Byte 12 Desired Spa Temp 0x??h (see definitions)
Byte 13 Switch State 0x??h (see definitions)
Byte 14 Byte Use enable 0x??h (see definitions)
Byte 15 Hi Byte of Checksum 0x??h (see definitions)
Byte 16 Lo Byte of Checksum 0x??h (see definitions)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Byte Definitions:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Minutes: (Byte 6) (Change minutes value)
0 - 59 / 0x00h - 0x3Bh Used to set the real time clock in the LX3xxx.
Note: Bit 0 of 'Byte Use Enable' (Byte 14) must be set, or this info is
ignored.
***************************************************************************
Hours : (Byte 7) (Change Hours value)
0 - 23 / 0x00h - 0x17h Used to set the real time clock in the LX3xxx.
Note: Bit 1 of 'Byte Use Enable' (Byte 14) must be set, or this info is
ignored.
***************************************************************************
***************************************************************************
Primary Equipment: (Byte 8) (Change Primary Equipment)
3x00/3830 3810 3820
Bit 0 Toggle Spa High Aux1 1 = Toggle State (On / Off )
Bit 1 Toggle Pool Low Aux2 1 = Toggle State (On / Off )
Bit 2 Toggle Aux1 Aux1 Aux3 1 = Toggle State (On / Off )
Bit 3 Toggle Aux2 Aux2 Aux4 1 = Toggle State (On / Off )
Bit 4 Toggle Aux3 Aux3 Aux5 1 = Toggle State (On / Off )
Bit 5 Toggle Aux4 Aux4 Aux6 1 = Toggle State (On / Off )
Bit 6 Toggle Aux5 Aux5 Aux7 1 = Toggle State (On / Off )
Bit 7 Toggle Aux6 Aux6 Aux8 1 = Toggle State (On / Off )
Notes: Bit 2 of 'Byte Use Enable' (Byte 14) must be set, or this info is
ignored.
Bit 5 Aux4 Toggle (Not Available on 3400)
Bit 6 Aux5 Toggle (Not Available on 3400)
Bit 7 Aux6 Toggle (Not Available on 3400 or 3600)
Also since the 3810 is a single body, dual temperature controller
rather than having a Spa and Pool ciruit it has a High temperature
and a low temperature circuit. Bit 0 (normally the Spa) is the
High temperature, and Bit 1 (normally the Pool) is the Low
temperature.
***************************************************************************
Secondary Equipment: (Byte 9) (Change Secondary equipment)
Bit 0 Remotes Toggle 1 = Toggle Spa Side Remote Enable (On / Off)
Bit 1 C/F Toggle 1 = Toggle Degrees C/F Display
(this only effects the way the Cpxxxx panel )
(will display the temperature, the data is )
(always handled in degrees C, as described )
Bit 2 Delay Cancel 1 = Cancel ANY/ALL Current delays
Bit 3 Spare
Bit 4 Aux7 Toggle 1 = Toggle Aux7 State (On / Off)
Bit 5 Spare
Bit 6 Spare
Bit 7 Spare
Notes: Bit 3 of 'Byte Use Enable' (Byte 14) must be set, or this info is
ignored. Except Aux7 Toggle requires that Bit 2 of 'Byte Use Enable'
be set.
Bit 4 Aux7 Toggle (Not Available on 3400 or 3600), also
this will not function if the circuit is configured as
a Backwash.
***************************************************************************
***************************************************************************
Heat Source: (Byte 10) (Change Heat Source)
Bits 0 -3 are always 0(zero).
Bit 4 Pool Lo Bit (see table) (Low temperature setting on the )
Bit 5 Pool Hi Bit (see table) (3810 controller )
Bit 6 Spa Lo Bit (see table) (High temperature setting on the )
Bit 7 Spa Hi Bit (see table) (3810 controller )
---------
|Hi |Lo |
|Bit|Bit|
------------------------------------------------------------------------
| 0 | 0 | Heat Source OFF (no heating allowed) |
| 0 | 1 | Heater ON (Pool will also use Solar if available) |
| 1 | 0 | Solar Priority ON (If Solar is not available,heater is used) |
| 1 | 1 | Solar Only ON (If Solar is not available,no heating is used) |
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Notes: Bit 4 of 'Byte Use Enable' (Byte 14) must be set, or this info is
ignored.
This byte has is not used with the 3820.
***************************************************************************
Desired Pool Temp: (Byte 11) (Change Desired Pool Temp)
This Byte sets the Desired Control temperature of the Pool water. The
value is given in 0.25 degrees C. Conversion of degrees F to Degrees C
must be done by the control unit sending the data. For example if
the desired temperature of the Pool is 20 degrees C / 68 degrees F.
The value would be set to 80 (0x50h).
Notes: Bit 5 of 'Byte Use Enable' (Byte 14) must be set, or this info is
ignored.
If this is a 3810 controller this is the desired low temperature
setting.
This byte is not used by the 3820.
***************************************************************************
Desired Spa Temp: (Byte 12) (Change Desired Spa Temp)
This Byte sets the Desired Control temperature of the Spa water. The
value is given in 0.25 degrees C. Conversion of degrees F to Degrees C
must be done by the control unit sending the data. For example if
the desired temperature of the Spa is 40 degrees C / 104 degrees F.
The value would be set to 160 (0xA0h).
Notes: Bit 6 of 'Byte Use Enable' (Byte 14) must be set, or this info is
ignored.
If this is a 3810 controller this is the desired High temperature
setting.
This byte is not used by the 3820.
***************************************************************************
***************************************************************************
Switch State: (Byte 13) (Dimmer Control)
3x00/3830 3810 3820
Bit 0 Switch Spa High Aux1 1 = Switch Pressed
Bit 1 Switch Pool Low Aux2 1 = Switch Pressed
Bit 2 Switch Aux1 Aux1 Aux3 1 = Switch Pressed
Bit 3 Switch Aux2 Aux2 Aux4 1 = Switch Pressed
Bit 4 Switch Aux3 Aux3 Aux5 1 = Switch Pressed
Bit 5 Switch Aux4 Aux4 Aux6 1 = Switch Pressed
Bit 6 Switch Aux5 Aux5 Aux7 1 = Switch Pressed
Bit 7 Switch Aux6 Aux6 Aux8 1 = Switch Pressed
Notes: Bit 7 of 'Byte Use Enable' (Byte 14) must be set, or this info is
ignored. This byte is currently only used to control the dimmers.
So only Bit 4 and Bit 5 are significant.
***************************************************************************
Byte Use Enable: (Byte 14) (Enable Active Control Bytes)
bit 0 1 = Use Byte 6 (Minutes)
bit 1 1 = Use Byte 7 (Hours)
bit 2 1 = Use Byte 8 (Primary Equip State)
bit 3 1 = Use Byte 9 (Info Equip State)
bit 4 1 = Use Byte 10 (Heat Source)
bit 5 1 = Use Byte 11 (Desired Water Temp)
bit 6 1 = Use Byte 12 (Desired Spa Temp)
bit 7 1 = Use Byte 13 (Switch State)
***************************************************************************
Hi Byte of Checksum: (Byte 15)
Lo Byte of Checksum: (Byte 16)
The checksum bytes contain a simple 16 bit checksum.
***************************************************************************
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Basic Acknowledge Packet: (Sent from LX3xxx to controller)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Byte 0 SYNC BYTE 0 0xFFh (always)
Byte 1 SYNC BYTE 1 0xAAh (always)
Byte 2 Destination Address 0x0Fh (always)
Byte 3 LX3xxx Version 0x??h (see definitions)
Byte 4 OpCode 0x02h (always)
Byte 5 Info Field Length 0x10h (always)
Byte 6 Minutes 0x00h - 0x3Bh (see definitions)
Byte 7 Hours 0x00h - 0x17h (see definitions)
Byte 8 Primary Equipment 0x??h (see definitions)
Byte 9 Secondary Equipment 0x??h (see defiintions)
Byte 10 Delay/Heat Source 0x??h (see definitions)
Byte 11 Water Temperature 0x??h (see definitions)
Byte 12 Solar Temperature 0x??h (see definitions)
Byte 13 Spa Water Temp 0x??h (3830 only - see definitions)
Byte 14 Spa Solar Temp 0x??h (3830 only - see definitions)
Byte 15 Desired Pool Temp 0x??h (see definitions)
Byte 16 Desired Spa Temp 0x??h (see definitions)
Byte 17 Air Temperature 0x??h (see definitions)
Byte 18 Spare/Future Use 0x??h (see definitions)
Byte 19 Spare/Future Use 0x??h (see definitions)
Byte 20 Equip/Sensor Stat 0x??h (see definitions)
Byte 21 Product Type/Stat 0x??h (see definitions)
Byte 22 Hi Byte of Checksum 0x??h (see definitions)
Byte 23 Lo Byte of Checksum 0x??h (see definitions)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Byte Definitions:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
LX3xxx Version: (Byte 3) (Version)
A value ranging from 0 to 255, given basic firmware revision code.
a value of 10 equals version 1.0, a value of 23 equals version 2.3, etc.
***************************************************************************
Minutes: (Byte 6) (Current minutes value)
0 - 59 / 0x00h - 0x3Bh Read from the real time clock in the LX3xxx.
***************************************************************************
Hours: (Byte 7) (Current Hours value)
0 - 23 / 0x00h - 0x17h Read from the real time clock in the LX3xxx.
***************************************************************************
***************************************************************************
Primary Equipment: (Byte 8) (Primary Equipment State)
3x00/3830 3810 3820
Bit 0 State Spa High Aux1 1 = Circuit On
Bit 1 State Pool Low Aux2 1 = Circuit On
Bit 2 State Aux1 Aux1 Aux3 1 = Circuit On
Bit 3 State Aux2 Aux2 Aux4 1 = Circuit On
Bit 4 State Aux3 Aux3 Aux5 1 = Circuit On
Bit 5 State Aux4 Aux4 Aux6 1 = Circuit On
Bit 6 State Aux5 Aux5 Aux7 1 = Circuit On
Bit 7 State Aux6 Aux6 Aux8 1 = Circuit On
***************************************************************************
Secondary Equipment: (Byte 9) (Secondary equipment state)
Bit 0 Service Mode 1 = On (all controller commands are ignored)
This is service mode, and only local switches
at the LX3xxx equipment pad are honored.
Bit 1 Heater State 1 = On (if 3830 this is the Pool heater state)
Bit 2 Solar State 1 = On (if 3830 this is the Pool solar state)
Bit 3 Remotes Enable 1 = On (state of the Spa side remote)
If OFF all remote Spa side switches are
ignored.
Bit 4 C/F 1 = Display in Degrees C / 0 = degrees F
This is for Cp3xxx display purposes only.
Bit 5 Solar Present 1 = Yes (if 3830 this is the Pool solar present)
This is required to decide whether to allow
the user to select solar as a heat method.
Bit 6 Aux7 State 1 = On (This would be Aux9 on a 3820, but is )
(not implemented )
Bit 7 Freeze Mode 1 = On (this indicates that the LX3xxx has entered
Protective freeze mode.
***************************************************************************
***************************************************************************
Delay/Heat Source: (Byte 10) (Circuit Delay & Heat Source info)
Bit 0 Spa Delay 1 = On (indicates that the pump is being forced
on by the delay function to allow the
heater to cool down)
Bit 1 Pool Delay 1 = On (indicates that the pump is being forced
on by the delay function to allow the
heater to cool down)
Bit 2 Cleaner Delay 1 = On (indicates that the cleaner is being forced
off by the delay function to allow water
to fill the pipes)
Bit 3 Spa Solar Pres 1 = Yes (if 3830 this is the Spa solar present)
This is required to decide whether to allow
the user to select solar as the heat method.
Bit 4 Pool Lo Bit (see table) (Low temperature setting on the )
Bit 5 Pool Hi Bit (see table) (3810 controller )
Bit 6 Spa Lo Bit (see table) (High temperature setting on the )
Bit 7 Spa Hi Bit (see table) (3810 controller )
---------
|Hi |Lo |
|Bit|Bit|
------------------------------------------------------------------------
| 0 | 0 | Heat Source OFF (no heating allowed) |
| 0 | 1 | Heater ON (Pool will also use Solar if available) |
| 1 | 0 | Solar Priority ON (If Solar is not available,heater is used) |
| 1 | 1 | Solar Only ON (If Solar is not available,no heating is used) |
------------------------------------------------------------------------
***************************************************************************
Water Temperature: (Byte 11) (Current Water Temperature)
Current Water Temperature given in 0.25 degrees C increments.
i.e. 80 (0x50h) = 20 degrees C. If this is a 3830, this is the
Pool water temp.
***************************************************************************
Solar Temperature: (Byte 12) (Current Solar Temperature)
Current Solar Temperature given in 0.5 degrees C increments.
i.e. 80 (0x50h) = 40 degrees C. If this is a 3830, this is the
Pool Solar temp.
***************************************************************************
Spa Water Temperature: (Byte 13) (Current Spa Water Temp - 3830 only)
Current Spa Water Temperature given in 0.25 degrees C increments.
i.e. 80 (0x50h) = 20 degrees C.
***************************************************************************
Spa Solar Temperature: (Byte 14) (Current Spa Solar Temp - 3830 only)
Current Solar Temperature given in 0.5 degrees C increments.
i.e. 80 (0x50h) = 40 degrees C.
***************************************************************************
***************************************************************************
Desired Pool Temp: (Byte 15) (Current Desired Pool Temp)
This is the current Desired Control temperature of the Pool water. The
value is given in 0.25 degrees C. For example if the desired temperature
of the Pool is 20 degrees C / 68 degrees F. The value would be 80 (0x50h).
Note:
If this is a 3810 controller this is the desired Low temperature
setting.
***************************************************************************
Desired Spa Temp: (Byte 16) (Current Desired Spa Temp)
This is the current Desired Control temperature of the Spa water. The
value is given in 0.25 degrees C. For example if the desired temperature
of the Spa is 40 degrees C / 104 degrees F. The value would be 160 (0xA0h).
Note:
If this is a 3810 controller this is the desired High temperature
setting.
***************************************************************************
Air Temperature: (Byte 17) (Current Air temperature)
This is the current Air temperature. It is used to determine Freeze mode
conditions. The value is given in 0.5 degrees C increments. For example
a value of 20 (0x14h) would be 10 degrees C / 50 degrees F.
***************************************************************************
Spare/Future Use: (Byte 18) (Not used)
***************************************************************************
Spare/Future Use: (Byte 19) (Not used)
***************************************************************************
***************************************************************************
Equip/Sensor Stat: (Byte 20) (Special Equipment and Sensor status)
Bit 0 Backwash State 1 = On This indicates that a programmed
Backwash Cycle is taking place. This
requires that Aux7 Has been configured
and programmed as a backwash circuit.
Bit 1 Floor Cleaner 1 = On This indicates floor cleaner system is
active.
Bit 2 Aux3 = Dimmer 1 = Yes This indicates that Aux3 is configured
as a dimmer rather than a standard relay
circuit. This requires a special dimmer
module. Note that on a 3820 this circuit
is refered to as Aux5.
Bit 3 Aux4 = Dimmer 1 = Yes This indicates that Aux4 is configured
as a dimmer rather than a standard relay
circuit. This requires a special dimmer
module. Note that on a 3820 this circuit
is refered to as Aux6.
Bit 4 Water Sensor 1 = OK This indicate that the Water sensor(s) is
is functioning properly. If this bit is
FALSE the user must be informed of
the problem. Heating will not be allowed.
This is ignored on a 3820.
Bit 5 Solar Sensor 1 = OK This indicate that the Solar sensor(s) is
is functioning properly. If this bit is
FALSE the user must be informed of
the problem. Solar heating will not be
allowed.
Bit 6 Air Sensor 1 = OK This indicate that the Freeze sensor is
is functioning properly. If this bit is
FALSE the user must be informed of
the problem.
Bit 7 Freeze Present 1 = Yes This bit indicates that at least one
circuit has been configured to protect
the equipment during a freeze.
***************************************************************************
***************************************************************************
Product Type/Stat: (Byte 21)
Bit 0 Error 5 1 = True (an error has been detected at the
Spa Side remote, it has been disabled)
Bit 1 Error 6 1 = True (not used)
Bit 2 Spa Heater 1 = On (3830 only)
Bit 3 Spa Solar 1 = On (3830 only)
Bit 4 Type - bit 0 (see table)
Bit 5 Type - bit 1 (see table)
Bit 6 Type - bit 2 (see table)
Bit 7 Type - bit 3 (see table)
-----------------
|Bit|Bit|Bit|Bit|
| 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
------------------------------------------------------------------------
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3400 System |
| 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3410 System (not used) |
| 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3600 System |
| 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3610 System (not used) |
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3800 System |
| 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3810 System |
| 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3820 System |
| 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3830 System |
------------------------------------------------------------------------
***************************************************************************
Hi Byte of Checksum: (Byte 22)
Lo Byte of Checksum: (Byte 23)
The checksum bytes contain a simple 16 bit checksum.
The checksum will be the 16 bit result of adding all previous bytes
in the packet.
The checksum will be a number between 0 and 65,536 decimal,
or 0x0000 to 0xffff Hex.
Example: if the checksum is 241 HEX, then:
Hi Byte = 02 HEX
Lo Byte = 41 HEX
***************************************************************************
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Simple Operation:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
During normal operation the 'Basic Acknowledge Packet' is transmitted
to all controllers approx. every 2.5 seconds. This can be viewed as a
"keep Alive" packet, or a system heartbeat.
Each time a Basic control packet is sent, it is answered immediately
with a simple ACK packet if it was received intact, or a simple NACK
packet if it was not. If a NACK is received, it is of coarse the
controllers job to resend the control data packet.
Assuming the control packet was received intact, and an ACK was
sent, it is followed approx 50ms later with the full 'Basic acknowledge
packet'. Giving the controller the current equipment state.
ACK Packet:
...................................................
Byte 0 SYNC BYTE 0 0xFFh (always)
Byte 1 SYNC BYTE 1 0xAAh (always)
Byte 2 Destination Address 0x01h (always)
Byte 3 LX3xxx Version 0x??h (see definitions)
Byte 4 OpCode (ACK) 0x01h (always)
Byte 5 Info Field Length 0x01h (always)
Byte 6 Packet type ACK'd 0x82h (always)
Byte 7 Hi Byte of Checksum 0x??h (see definitions)
Byte 8 Lo Byte of Checksum 0x??h (see definitions)
NACK Packet:
..................................................
Byte 0 SYNC BYTE 0 0xFFh (always)
Byte 1 SYNC BYTE 1 0xAAh (always)
Byte 2 Destination Address 0x0Fh (always)
Byte 3 LX3xxx Version 0x??h (see definitions)
Byte 4 OpCode (NACK) 0x00h (always)
Byte 5 Info Field Length 0x01h (always)
Byte 6 NACK data 0xFFh (always)
Byte 7 Hi Byte of Checksum 0x??h (see definitions)
Byte 8 Lo Byte of Checksum 0x??h (see definitions)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Examples:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Interlocks, Delays, and Configuration Considerations:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
A number of functional and safety interlocks are provided, and
may be configured via DipSwitch settings in the Lx3xxx circuit board.
Further information about these can be found in the owners/operators
manual.Hello! No, this domain is NOT for sale.
Hello anonymous person who asked via GoDaddy.
I’m not interested in selling my domain. It’s been part of my identity and businesses since the mid-90s. If you look at the domain registration, you’ll see I’ve had it continually registered and maintained since 2000 with the same registrar.
I’m flattered, but no.
Sincerely,
Martin
There’s a new French bakery in town!
Mandie and I discovered a great little bakery not far from our house on Parmer Lane! It’s called “Heaven’s Bistro Bakery” and it’s in the most UNIQUE building I’ve seen. It houses the bakery/cafe on the first floor, an architecture firm on the second, and three modern AirBNB apartments on the third floor.
They have awesome pastries and are a very welcome addition to our neck of the woods.
So many pastries 
Check out these Croissants 
Beautifully decorated inside 
What a modern exterior!
Another year, another post…
I got an email the other day… “Your website never updates” it said, and the person asked if I would give him the domain name… you know .. for charity.
Domain names are MUCH more than just for websites. I have my email ( for 20 years now ) on this domain. I do my finances on it and run multiple services on my server based on the igotu.com/.net domains. I have voicemail and phone services…
So, no… you can’t have my domain name. It’s part of my identity now.
Cleaning (Digital) House
My web server hosting provider is going away, so I have to migrate my data from the old machine to this new one. Â Â In the process, I lost most of my WordPress install ( it’s two years old! ).
So, this is a backup of the old database. Â I’ll see if I can restore the posts afterwards.
No joy .. iPhone is unhappy
Well, the theory the Genius had seems not to hold.  The phone is still acting oddly, so I’ll likely go back.
Now .. there is one other thing. The power of the Apple Store compelled me … oh god did it ever compel me. Allow me to show you what happens when you need to do a Capital Expenditure for a business near the end of the year:
Burning Man — Department of Mutant Vehicles
Today was the first (of many) processing meetings were the Department of Mutant Vehicles sorts through the submissions coming in to select the 2009 vehicles that will make it to the Playa. The people with early submissions were, for the most part, well thought out!
Can’t wait to see what’s in store in the year to come … and I hope to share some of the most creative ones here.
The importance of check-pointing
A simulation/benchmark that I’m running at work, and started mid-friday afternoon .. just crashed. It takes about 36 hours to run it, and because of the crash I have to go back into the office and restart it.
The 64-thousand-penny question is, now, did the test checkpoint (aka, save it’s state) before crashing? If it did, only the remaining tests have to be run. If it didn’t .. it has to be restarted from the top
ARGH!
Busy, busy, BUSY day….
Today I —
Crunched and crunched and crunched both on the hardware design and linux kernel modifications needed at the early stages of designing the seeekret project I’m contracting on.  Brain was dialed to 11 for most of the day.
I picked up a ‘Flip’ camera from Woot.com to hack on. They come with 2Gb of memory, and I’m going to see if I can use some Toshiba flash chips to get it up to a massive 8gb. The firmware seems to support variable storage, and even better — there’s an SD card carrier that isn’t populated on the motherboard. So, perhaps with some rework I might be able to solder one in.  The controller chip does seem to be present as part of the chip that runs the camera.
*grump* I also went to the gym, and huffed and puffed for an hour after work.  I don’t like the gym, but it’s the only way I’m going to get back in shape and get both my heart and body healthy again.
Finally, I made plans to go to the movies tonight with a new friend… and I think I made a complete, utter, total fool of myself doing so.  I really, really, really need to learn to let myself wind fully down from work before trying to be social.  As it was, I was nervous, and I know it both showed and make me feel foolish as all get go.   I enjoyed the movie thoroughly.  3D movies rock.
Sometimes I wonder if I ever will really be as socially smooth as my peers.  I’m good in groups, so/so when I’m one-on-one. Go figure.
Well .. It’s late, but I think I’m going to hack on the Flip camera for a while.  Then try to figure out how the 3D glasses from the theater work. Then sleep.
BarCampAustin was awesome…
Yesterday was Bar Camp Austin, and Whurley and company put together a great hacker unconference in the middle of SxSW.  Frankly, SxSW is an overblown, bloated mess. Tickets are $495, and I hate to say it .. but it’s mostly a bunch of geeks circle-bleeping with each other. SxSW was originally about independent music, independent film, and the creative spirit.   The addition of SxSW interactive was originally meant to do the same, and bring out the creative side of online content…
… what it’s devolved into is a tech conference, and an exclusionary one at that.  Dorkbot was there LOCKED BEHIND A FENCE. “Platinum badge, Gold badge, VIP…”
VI-fucking-P for a Dorkbot meetup. With a tent, music, and god knows what else.
So, thank you William Hurley for putting together Bar Camp Austin!  Thank you to the sponsors who pitched into the BarCamp and made it free for anyone to come and attend.  Somehow, I feel that more and better things happened there that day, than were going on at the big conference.
Bitter? No.  Not really.   I just have this feeling that enjoying independent film, music, and enjoying some time with hackerly peers doesn’t have to come with a $500, $700 or even $1000 price tag.