Looking for a new project

[bdgbill]

My GBPVR setup is pretty much "done". It works perfectly and we rely on it so much that I really hate messing with it.

So...I'm looking for another project.

I have been reading a lot about arduino boards and some cool things that can be done with them. Seems like this may be a good intoduction to programming too.

I have just started teaching myself Joomla but I'm not all that excited about it.

I have another barebones P4 sitting under my bed. Thinking about taking another swing at Linux and building a file server / NAS device.

Anybody working on anything cool?

I'm looking to advance from Advanced Noob to entry Level Geek.

[Carlito]

Right now (and for the last year or so :p) I've been working on a wallbox to PC project. Essentially what I'm trying to do is get an old jukebox wallbox (see pic below) and hooking it up to a laptop running linux and some custom scripts to play mp3/ogg files.

I've gotten pretty far on it. I've gotten the wallbox itself functioning which required building a power supply for it since originally they were powered through the jukebox they were hooked up to. I've also developed some scripts that should figure out which song was selected and play it through a command line mp3 player. The only thing I'm stuck on at the moment is actually reading the signals (pulses) that come from the wallbox through the serial port.
Can't seem to figure that part out yet :confused:

Other then that, not too many projects going on right now...
I think I need some new ideas as well

in the picture the grey box to the left is the power supply I hacked together for it and on the right is (obviously) the wallbox.

[bdgbill]

Right now (and for the last year or so :p) I've been working on a wallbox to PC project. Essentially what I'm trying to do is get an old jukebox wallbox (see pic below) and hooking it up to a laptop running linux and some custom scripts to play mp3/ogg files.

I've gotten pretty far on it. I've gotten the wallbox itself functioning which required building a power supply for it since originally they were powered through the jukebox they were hooked up to. I've also developed some scripts that should figure out which song was selected and play it through a command line mp3 player. The only thing I'm stuck on at the moment is actually reading the signals (pulses) that come from the wallbox through the serial port.
Can't seem to figure that part out yet :confused:

Other then that, not too many projects going on right now...
I think I need some new ideas as well

in the picture the grey box to the left is the power supply I hacked together for it and on the right is (obviously) the wallbox.

Very cool! How old is it? I am just old enough to remember the last of these still in use when I was a kid.

[Carlito]

The one I have is a Seeburg 3W-100. They were in production from 1960 to 1967. I'm not sure exactly which year mine was produced but given the age of it it still functions quite well.
I have modified it so it doesn't need coins to operate. Just press your selection and it goes.

[Ted the Penguin]

Right now (and for the last year or so :p) I've been working on a wallbox to PC project. Essentially what I'm trying to do is get an old jukebox wallbox (see pic below) and hooking it up to a laptop running linux and some custom scripts to play mp3/ogg files.

I've gotten pretty far on it. I've gotten the wallbox itself functioning which required building a power supply for it since originally they were powered through the jukebox they were hooked up to. I've also developed some scripts that should figure out which song was selected and play it through a command line mp3 player. The only thing I'm stuck on at the moment is actually reading the signals (pulses) that come from the wallbox through the serial port.
Can't seem to figure that part out yet :confused:

Other then that, not too many projects going on right now...
I think I need some new ideas as well

in the picture the grey box to the left is the power supply I hacked together for it and on the right is (obviously) the wallbox.

are they TTL level pulses? and what kind of conection does the wallbox have... how many pins are you trying to hook up?

have you tried a digital IO board... you can get them that hook up to PC104 boards, might even be able to hide the whole thing inside the box

[SuMo]

WOW... these wall jukeboxes are so cool.... keep us posted on the progress would you ?

[pastro]

That does look cool. I assume you don't want to spend the $99 for the software and cable to control the wallbox.
If you find any info on the serial protocol, please post it if you don't mind.

[ACTCMS]

I remember seeing my first wallbox - I just couldn't figure out how you could get all those 45 rpm disks into that one small box (well, I was only about 11 or 12 years old at the time)

[Carlito]

What's that a picture of I am lost for words.. What are you doing?

It's a picture of a jukebox Remote Selector (also commonly called a Wallbox)
They used to be situated at tables in diners to allow patrons to select songs from the jukebox without having to leave the table. I'm converting one to plug into a serial cable and play mp3's instead.

I assume you don't want to spend the $99 for the software and cable to control the wallbox.

No I was trying to do it myself. I don't feel like paying $100 for basically a serial cable Hopefully I can figure out the reading of the serial port.

keep us posted on the progress would you ?

Will do. Not sure how much progress there will be until I can figure out the cabline/reading of the pulses though. Hopefully I'll get a bit of genius soon and figure it out

are they TTL level pulses? and what kind of conection does the wallbox have... how many pins are you trying to hook up?
have you tried a digital IO board... you can get them that hook up to PC104 boards, might even be able to hide the whole thing inside the box

And this is where I have to come clean and admit I know nothing about serial cable programming There are only really two pins to connect. A ground, and a pulse (well three if you count the 25VAC pin). As far as I can tell, it sends two chunks of pulses. One for the letter you chose, and one for the number. (ie. 1 pulse +short pause + 1 pulse + long pause + 1 pulse would mean you chose B1) Which pins I need to hook up and how to read those pulses I'm still at a loss for.

[JonnyCam]

I just couldn't figure out how you could get all those 45 rpm disks into that one small box

What are you talking about - CD's spin at a lot higher than 45 rpm