fixed one of the big problems i was having with the computer configuration.... changed the /etc/resolv.conf to reflect my wireless nic ip address... the default was set to something else. anyway, this fixed the dynamic dns auto-update [ hooray! ] and it also made gpsd start on boot, which was on my list to fix, but i didn't really think this would solve that problem [ bonus ].
i really need to take some pictures of this... maybe later today.
okay, i've made some headway on the stompbox. i'll go into that soon enough... actually i'd like to get a few other things figured out here tonight before i spend time writing about it.
however, i've been talking to shan [ one of the metals students taking an elective in architecture this semester ] about projecting a time delayed video on the underside of the trailer.... the idea is to mount a small webcam to the back of the trailer that will record to some [ possibly remote ] location and then when it stops, that video will be played back and projected onto the modified underside of the trailer... so, things to figure out:
--how to record video to a local or preferably offsite location at a managable size [ test resolution and frame rate as well as different codecs... ] --how to access that video when the vehicle stops... --probably some other things too...
in the meantime, here's a test video [ via YouTube because i've heard that it's better to vlog ]
well... there's a bit of a steep road ahead here. with regard to the part of our group project that i am focusing on, that little part that i proposed which seemed so attainable now is becoming more difficult with each passing day...
since my last post which was [ ouch ] november 16th. almost three weeks ago... anyway, since then i have changed my plan. i'm using a soekris net4521 [ basically a linux router ] which was a project i first heard about from a colleague and then found in issue 03 of make magazine... anyway, i am working to build it as described in that project [ see stompboxnetworks ] before making a few small modifications to it. you can see a picture of the box below it runs on a customized distribution of pebble linux, a small version of debian [ very small actually... it runs on a 128MB compact flash card ] so here's what i've done so far and a couple notes about what i still need to do:
-bought almost everything [ still waiting on the wifi card, but this isn't critical for my application ] -set up the verizon wireless card and checked connection on a PC laptop -installed the USB card and verizon wireless card -installed and configured [ via hyperteminal on a pc ] the OS on a 128MB CF card [ i'd like to figure out how to do this with a mac... been trying using Zterm, but i have to go from USB to a null modem cable and i'm not really sure that works to begin with... anyway, i can't get into the machine via my mac yet ] -partitioned a 1GB CF card with the OS on the first partition. i'd like to get this configured so that i have some storage on the card for pictures. -set up a webpage with the php script i found in the forums but still need to set up mysql and get the thing tuned to my particular devices, file locations, addresses.... -i'd like to try to get some video out of this box to show a slide show on the vehicle... nothing too demanding, but this would require some tricky maneuvering and some luck.
thats about all i have right now... off to try to see if i can get the gps unit to show a location.