I thought there was something wrong with the SI website

So I load si.com the other day, and I was presented an interface with no menus.

What? Did they redesign it? It was so awful to navigate without the normal menus.

I finally figured out that if you have the window narrower than around 1395 pixels that you get the "mobile version" without menus, otherwise you get the "normal version" with menus.

It'd be nice for firefox to have it's own top utility

I open a lot of tabs and some of those tabs use a lot of cpu.

It'd be great if there was a way to list all of your windows and tabs and show what % of cpu that they're using.

I run top from a command line and it tells me that firefox is using 133% of cpu. That doesn't tell me which firefox window is burning all of that cpu.

Maybe there ought to be a way to "suspend" firefox while I'm not using it to keep power consumption lower and have automatic reactivation upon demand.


Web browsers are practically an operating system unto themselves, why not have cpu/memory monitor and suspend functions?

Better to rule in hell than serve in heaven

I look at what's happening in the world and I keep coming back to this:

Better to rule in hell than serve in heaven...

which originates in Paradise Lost by John Milton.

That just really sums it all up.

Inside a projectable nightlight

I thought I'd show you what the inside of a projectable nightlight looks like. I had one that didn't work so I opened it up to have a look.

Opening it up:



The circuit board:



Inside the sphere, you can see the springs that make the electrical connection so you can spin the sphere to your hearts content.



The top half of the projector shaft:




The transparency which shows the graphic of the planets:

TZe carts have side pin holes on cartridge

What's the difference between TZ and TZe cartridges?

So I was studying the latest TZe p-touch unit that I bought, the PT-D210 and I noticed something interesting. Near the printhead, there's a bunch of pins that read pinholes on the side of the cartridge.

The old TZ cartridges had a set of pinholes on the bottom of the cartridge in the corner. TZe cartridges have those holes as well, for backward compatibility in older TZ machines. TZe cartridges add their own set of bottom holes in the middle of the cartridge.

But I never noticed that there's pins that go to holes in the side.

When the lever is pushed down by closing the cover, the pins are pushed out by the mechanism so they will go into the tape cartridge.


Here's the PT-D210 print head:



and a closeup of the pins:



Here's a 12mm (1/2) inch TZe cartridge: (Note the pins on the corner for TZ, pins in the middle for TZe)



and the side of the 12mm TZe cartridge:





comparing a TZe to a TZ cartridge, you can see that the TZ cartridge side is featureless, having a totally smooth side:




and if I flip the picture of the TZe cart horizontally and scale to match, you can see how it matches up with the pins and the white plastic tab:




The printhead mechanism of the PT-P700 has these pins too, but more of them (probably because it will print a full 24mm tape)



Remember that TZe carts will work in older TZ machines but TZ carts won't work in new TZe machines.

I always thought it was a bit silly to create a new standard for the tapes, as the newer TZe machines aren't able to use the collection of TZ tapes that I have.

Pvrusb2 troubles with an Hauppage HVR 1950 and Ubuntu 16.04

So I thought I'd try to get a Hauppage WinTV-HVR-1950 working with Ubuntu 16.04.

I got the firmware installed in /lib/firmware and everything looks good, but when I run tvtime it says:

inappropriate ioctl for device /dev/video0



and when I try to run VLC it doesn't work and I get this in the dmesg log:





cx25840 7-0044: 0x0000 is not a valid video input!


but here's the interesting part (which is most tantalizing)

if I run

cat /dev/video0 > test.mpg

and let that run for a bit, aborting with a ctrl+c, I can play the captured mpeg perfectly with vlc with sound and video.

vlc test.mpg




edit:

so I installed mplayer with sudo apt install mplayer
and sudo apt install libvdpau-va-gl1 because it kept telling me that it Failed to open VDPAU backend libvdpau_va_gl.so: cannot open shared object file: No such file or directory

so I can run mplayer with:

mplayer /dev/video0 -vo vdpau -ao sdl
or
mplayer /dev/video0 -vo sdl -ao sdl

and it works, but there's a one second delay after I press a button on my tv box remote. One thing that's good is that the audio and video are always in sync (since it's an mpeg stream).

I think the HVR 1950 defaults to channel 3 which is fine because I'm getting an analog tv signal from my comcast cable box. So I'm not actually having to tune the HVR 1950.

[   18.404327] pvrusb2: Hardware description: WinTV HVR-1950 Model 751xx
[   18.404506] usbcore: registered new interface driver pvrusb2
[   18.404508] pvrusb2: V4L in-tree version:Hauppauge WinTV-PVR-USB2 MPEG2 Encoder/Tuner
[   18.404509] pvrusb2: Debug mask is 31 (0x1f)
[   19.838732] pvrusb2: Device microcontroller firmware (re)loaded; it should now reset and reconnect.
[   19.927708] usb 2-1.5: USB disconnect, device number 4
[   19.927797] pvrusb2: Device being rendered inoperable
[   21.023784] Adding 4071420k swap on /dev/sda5.  Priority:-1 extents:1 across:4071420k FS
[   21.661918] usb 2-1.5: new high-speed USB device number 6 using ehci-pci
[   21.763560] usb 2-1.5: New USB device found, idVendor=2040, idProduct=7501
[   21.763565] usb 2-1.5: New USB device strings: Mfr=1, Product=2, SerialNumber=3
[   21.763568] usb 2-1.5: Product: WinTV
[   21.763571] usb 2-1.5: Manufacturer: Hauppauge
[   21.764691] pvrusb2: Hardware description: WinTV HVR-1950 Model 751xx
[   21.796494] pvrusb2: Binding ir_rx_z8f0811_haup to i2c address 0x71.
[   21.796517] pvrusb2: Binding ir_tx_z8f0811_haup to i2c address 0x70.
[   21.866875] lirc_dev: IR Remote Control driver registered, major 242 
[   21.912016] lirc_zilog: module is from the staging directory, the quality is unknown, you have been warned.
[   21.912042] lirc_zilog: module verification failed: signature and/or required key missing - tainting kernel
[   21.912049] lirc_zilog: module is from the staging directory, the quality is unknown, you have been warned.
[   21.912254] Zilog/Hauppauge IR driver initializing
[   21.913000] probing IR Rx on pvrusb2_a (i2c-7)
[   21.913021] probe of IR Rx on pvrusb2_a (i2c-7) done. Waiting on IR Tx.
[   21.913023] i2c i2c-7: probe of IR Rx on pvrusb2_a (i2c-7) done

...
[   21.999639] cx25840 7-0044: cx25843-24 found @ 0x88 (pvrusb2_a)
[   22.010348] pvrusb2: Attached sub-driver cx25840
[   22.094902] tuner 7-0042: Tuner -1 found with type(s) Radio TV.
[   22.094914] pvrusb2: Attached sub-driver tuner
[   24.371537] cx25840 7-0044: loaded v4l-cx25840.fw firmware (16382 bytes)
[   24.468208] tveeprom 7-00a2: Hauppauge model 75111, rev C3E9, serial# 4031558244
[   24.468210] tveeprom 7-00a2: MAC address is 00:0d:fe:4c:b2:64
[   24.468212] tveeprom 7-00a2: tuner model is Philips 18271_8295 (idx 149, type 54)
[   24.468213] tveeprom 7-00a2: TV standards NTSC(M) ATSC/DVB Digital (eeprom 0x88)
[   24.468214] tveeprom 7-00a2: audio processor is CX25843 (idx 37)
[   24.468215] tveeprom 7-00a2: decoder processor is CX25843 (idx 30)
[   24.468216] tveeprom 7-00a2: has radio, has IR receiver, has IR transmitter
[   24.468219] pvrusb2: Supported video standard(s) reported available in hardware: PAL-M/N/Nc;NTSC-M/Mj/Mk;ATSC-8VSB/16VSB
[   24.468220] pvrusb2: Initial video standard (determined by device type): NTSC-M
[   24.468225] pvrusb2: Device initialization completed successfully.
[   24.468327] pvrusb2: registered device video0 [mpeg]
[   24.468329] DVB: registering new adapter (pvrusb2-dvb)
[   26.673665] cx25840 7-0044: loaded v4l-cx25840.fw firmware (16382 bytes)
[   26.789971] tda829x 7-0042: setting tuner address to 60
[   27.076383] tda18271 7-0060: creating new instance
[   27.109872] TDA18271HD/C1 detected @ 7-0060


[   35.569155] cx25840 7-0044: 0x0000 is not a valid video input!
[   36.231924] usb 2-1.5: DVB: registering adapter 0 frontend 0 (Samsung S5H1411 QAM/8VSB Frontend)...
[   36.233310] tda829x 7-0042: type set to tda8295
[   36.268566] tda18271 7-0060: attaching existing instance
[   90.596577] cx25840 7-0044: loaded v4l-cx25840.fw firmware (16382 bytes)
[  171.841766] e1000e: eno1 NIC Link is Up 100 Mbps Full Duplex, Flow Control: Rx/Tx
[  171.841774] e1000e 0000:00:19.0 eno1: 10/100 speed: disabling TSO
[  171.841813] IPv6: ADDRCONF(NETDEV_CHANGE): eno1: link becomes ready
[  732.272832] ------------[ cut here ]------------
[  732.272845] WARNING: CPU: 2 PID: 2596 at /build/linux-W6HB68/linux-4.4.0/drivers/media/v4l2-core/v4l2-ioctl.c:1272 v4l_enum_fmt+0xd86/0x10f0 [videodev]()
[  732.272847] Unknown pixelformat 0x00000000
[  732.272848] Modules linked in: s5h1411 tda18271 tda8290 tuner cx25840 lirc_zilog(CE) lirc_dev rc_core pvrusb2 dcdbas tveeprom cx2341x dvb_core v4l2_common videodev media intel_rapl x86_pkg_temp_thermal intel_powerclamp coretemp kvm_intel kvm snd_hda_codec_hdmi snd_hda_codec_realtek snd_hda_codec_generic snd_hda_intel snd_hda_codec snd_hda_core snd_hwdep joydev irqbypass crct10dif_pclmul crc32_pclmul input_leds snd_pcm snd_seq_midi ghash_clmulni_intel snd_seq_midi_event aesni_intel snd_rawmidi snd_seq snd_seq_device snd_timer mei_me aes_x86_64 lrw gf128mul mei snd glue_helper soundcore ablk_helper shpchp cryptd serio_raw 8250_fintek lpc_ich mac_hid parport_pc ppdev lp parport autofs4 hid_generic usbhid hid i915 i2c_algo_bit drm_kms_helper syscopyarea sysfillrect ahci sysimgblt psmouse fb_sys_fops
[  732.272884]  libahci e1000e drm ptp pps_core video fjes
[  732.272889] CPU: 2 PID: 2596 Comm: vlc Tainted: G         C  E   4.4.0-62-generic #83-Ubuntu
[  732.272891] Hardware name: Dell Inc. OptiPlex 790/0D28YY, BIOS A18 09/24/2013
[  732.272892]  0000000000000286 0000000024cb5e14 ffff8800c130bbc0 ffffffff813f7c63
[  732.272894]  ffff8800c130bc08 ffffffffc04bca78 ffff8800c130bbf8 ffffffff810812d2
[  732.272896]  ffff8800c130bd70 0000000000000000 0000000000000000 ffff8800c1b85a00
[  732.272898] Call Trace:
[  732.272902]  [] dump_stack+0x63/0x90
[  732.272906]  [] warn_slowpath_common+0x82/0xc0
[  732.272907]  [] warn_slowpath_fmt+0x5c/0x80
[  732.272914]  [] ? pvr2_g_std+0x4c/0x70 [pvrusb2]
[  732.272919]  [] v4l_enum_fmt+0xd86/0x10f0 [videodev]
[  732.272924]  [] __video_do_ioctl+0x291/0x310 [videodev]
[  732.272927]  [] ? free_hot_cold_page_list+0x48/0xb0
[  732.272930]  [] ? release_pages+0xdb/0x2b0
[  732.272933]  [] ? __kmalloc+0x1b9/0x250
[  732.272938]  [] video_usercopy+0x336/0x5b0 [videodev]
[  732.272942]  [] ? video_ioctl2+0x20/0x20 [videodev]
[  732.272947]  [] video_ioctl2+0x15/0x20 [videodev]
[  732.272952]  [] pvr2_v4l2_ioctl+0x8a/0x100 [pvrusb2]
[  732.272956]  [] v4l2_ioctl+0xd3/0xe0 [videodev]
[  732.272959]  [] do_vfs_ioctl+0x29f/0x490
[  732.272962]  [] ? ____fput+0xe/0x10
[  732.272965]  [] ? task_work_run+0x86/0xa0
[  732.272966]  [] SyS_ioctl+0x79/0x90
[  732.272969]  [] entry_SYSCALL_64_fastpath+0x16/0x71
[  732.272971] ---[ end trace f35a617f02080aa8 ]---
[  734.435400] ------------[ cut here ]------------
[  734.435419] WARNING: CPU: 1 PID: 2596 at /build/linux-W6HB68/linux-4.4.0/drivers/media/v4l2-core/v4l2-ioctl.c:1272 v4l_enum_fmt+0xd86/0x10f0 [videodev]()
[  734.435422] Unknown pixelformat 0x00000000
[  734.435423] Modules linked in: s5h1411 tda18271 tda8290 tuner cx25840 lirc_zilog(CE) lirc_dev rc_core pvrusb2 dcdbas tveeprom cx2341x dvb_core v4l2_common videodev media intel_rapl x86_pkg_temp_thermal intel_powerclamp coretemp kvm_intel kvm snd_hda_codec_hdmi snd_hda_codec_realtek snd_hda_codec_generic snd_hda_intel snd_hda_codec snd_hda_core snd_hwdep joydev irqbypass crct10dif_pclmul crc32_pclmul input_leds snd_pcm snd_seq_midi ghash_clmulni_intel snd_seq_midi_event aesni_intel snd_rawmidi snd_seq snd_seq_device snd_timer mei_me aes_x86_64 lrw gf128mul mei snd glue_helper soundcore ablk_helper shpchp cryptd serio_raw 8250_fintek lpc_ich mac_hid parport_pc ppdev lp parport autofs4 hid_generic usbhid hid i915 i2c_algo_bit drm_kms_helper syscopyarea sysfillrect ahci sysimgblt psmouse fb_sys_fops
[  734.435479]  libahci e1000e drm ptp pps_core video fjes
[  734.435488] CPU: 1 PID: 2596 Comm: vlc Tainted: G        WC  E   4.4.0-62-generic #83-Ubuntu

Resetting Sharp TV password

I got an old sharp lcd tv that had a parental password set and had to figure out how to bypass it.

A little digging found me a PDF for a similar model, and following the instructions was able to clear it by holding the channel up and volume up simultaneously while it wanted a password.

Sharp calls it "clearing the secret number."





I did find a page at http://www.tvblanket.com/how-to-unlock-your-tv-parental-control-password/ but the instructions they give for sharp is:

Sharp TV Reset Sequence: Start but pressing the “menu” button on the TV. A message should appear to input secret number. Press and hold both the “VOL (+)” and the CH DOWN on the TV set until the message disappears. This should reset all passwords and settings.

It's not CH down but CH up for me.

You really feel like an idiot when you're pressing the wrong buttons and it doesn't work.

I suppose that you can just hold both CH up, CH down, VOL up and VOL down simultaneously to cover all the bases.

Killawatt and seasonic look identical

I put these two together and they look the same: Killawatt p4400 and seasonic power meters

P-touch PT-700 flash drive

I got one of these P-touch PT-700 TZe label printers and just for fun thought I'd see what knoppix thinks of it.



It's got a 4MB flash drive built-in to it that contains the PTLite editor app for both mac and windows.

Let's see what dmesg registers:



Hmmmm. It seems to think that the flash drive size goes past the EOD end of device.





fdisk -l says that the size of the device is 8161 sectors but the partition starts at sector 32 and is 8160 sectors in size, for 8192.



There's a big PTBLANK.BIN file on the drive that takes up the free space that isn't occupied by the application. Interestingly, you can write to the flash drive.

I never liked anything autorunning so maybe I'll get rid of the AUTORUN.INF. I'd rather use the full PTouch editor application anyway.

Fixing a TZ tape with a broken film

If you get slack in the TZ cartridge film, it will get sucked up onto the adhesive backing which is very problematic. Also this can happen if the tape has pulled out of the exit slot in the cartridge and gets caught up in the machine.


Here, you can see the film adhering to the backing. Note that the laminating layer won't stick to the backing since the film has taken its place.

There's 3 parts to a TZ cartridge,

#1: the backing which is essentially double back tape,
#2: the thermal film which prints on the back of the laminating layer
#3: a clear laminating layer which protects the label.




So it's time to get out the butter knife.



Break the label so the top will come off.




Here's the back of the top cover, you'll note that I've broken one of the locking tabs.




The open cartridge:




The spindle with the broken film. I've actually cut the film to take out the spindle and to make a clean join.




The spindle has a little metal finger protruding from it which fits neatly into a slot. If you look from the bottom of the cartridge, you can see the little metal piece. This finger is what keeps the film spindle tight so it doesn't develop slack.



The spindle turns counter clockwise as can be seen by this marking on the top cover.



Just take some scotch magic mending tape and cut a couple of strips. You may need to trim those strips with a pair of scissors to fit the width of the film. It's ok if the pieces don't exactly fit the film as long as it's narrower than the film. Take those strips and connect the broken pieces of tape together. You can tape it on both sides to make sure it's got a good hold. If the film has come off of the spindle, just tape it to the spindle and wind it a bit.



Put the film spindle back in and thread it properly and take out the slack. Slack in the film is very bad. Very very bad.



And put the top cover back on and get the backing and the lamination layer threaded and adhering properly.

You can see why there's always a bit of wastage with P-touch tapes because of the distance between the printhead and the final output of the cartridge, about an inch. That wastage has to occur to keep the laminating layer stuck to the backing and keep it all aligned and exiting through the final slot.

PT-1950 Info Mode

The info mode on the P-touch PT-1950 is a little bit different:



Head rank is B, Temperature (I think T is temperature) is ok, Voltage isn't ok (it doesn't like my 9V power supply and puts an X here but it seems to work just fine).



Apparently, you can set the country code.




The key word (I think it's letter U) lets you put in a 3 character code like a password, but no matter what I type it doesn't seem to do anything. In fact, to exit this I have to turn the unit off.




S will check the sram.



Since we've got USB, we have a USB IC check on letter A.





And if you plug in the USB port to a computer, the USB VBUS will display "ON" instead of "OFF". I think it's letter V that does this check.

I discovered that it won't enter info mode if there is any text entered or any styles set (like style=bold, style must be normal).