Tuesday, March 08, 2005
Cheap Online Ink
I know this will sound like SPAM (come to think of it, so will a lot of my suggestions/reviews), but:
Want a quick tip on how to get some cheap ink for your inkjet printer?
I go to InkSell.com.
There they have a neat selector that lets you pick a generic version of the ink for your printer at about half the cost.
Want it right away with free shipping? Select the 2-day shipping at $4.95. Then, put in coupon code fastship. You'll get the 2-day shipping for free.
SHHHHHH
Want a quick tip on how to get some cheap ink for your inkjet printer?
I go to InkSell.com.
There they have a neat selector that lets you pick a generic version of the ink for your printer at about half the cost.
Want it right away with free shipping? Select the 2-day shipping at $4.95. Then, put in coupon code fastship. You'll get the 2-day shipping for free.
SHHHHHH
Friday, March 04, 2005
Cheap Wireless Headphones
THE PROBLEM:
I spend a lot of "computer face time" at work, so music is often a necessity for getting things done. I was always knocking over stuff on my desk with the 6ft wire to the headphones I use to listen to music on my computer. I looked into getting wireless headphones, but they typically cost around $50-100 which is definitely out of my price range for just a pair of headphones.
THE SOLUTION:
Cheap headphones by broadcasting my own FM radio station!
Well, that's a bit of a stretch. I bought a cheap FM transmitter (SI-Link, $18 at Target) and broadcast my music to a headset radio. See the FM transmitter in the image (with a CD player) below.
Despite what the link to the above product says, the trasmitter can transmit in a continuous tunable range from 88MHz to 89.5MHz, per the label. Here in Austin we have a powerful radio station broadcasting at 89.5MHz, so I set the frequency as far "left" as I could, tuning in at 87.5MHz. (Note that there is a little offset between the advertised frequency and what it actually does).+
Don't bother to listen in, my broadcast coverage is about 15 feet, much smaller than the 50 feet advertised, although I can occasionally hear my music when walking to the printer.
At first the sound had a lot of static until I realized that my computer volume was set too low. Since before going "wireless" my only volume control was on the computer, the sound was set to a comfortable level. By increasing the computer's output volume and reducing the headphone radio's volume, you increase the SNR (signal to noise ratio, in radio speak). Increasing SNR is a fancy way of saying that you reduce the static in your signal.
In addition to that, being a gadget gearhead, I had to take apart the FM transmitter to see if I couldn't improve the antenna somehow. Removing the screws and prying it apart, I was able to find a single long red wire behind the circuit board that serves as the unit's antenna.
Using a knife, I made a little notch in the plastic covering and guided the wire through the notch to the outside world. So now the FM transmitter has a red wire sticking out the side, which I haven't yet scientifically proven to improve the reception.
So now I'm jamming away to "Dan FM", my own little personal radio station at work-- no strings attached.
Only wish is that the company who makes the SI-Link provided where I could get the DC adapter to go with it. Looks like I may have to hack that one myself...
--IG
I spend a lot of "computer face time" at work, so music is often a necessity for getting things done. I was always knocking over stuff on my desk with the 6ft wire to the headphones I use to listen to music on my computer. I looked into getting wireless headphones, but they typically cost around $50-100 which is definitely out of my price range for just a pair of headphones.
THE SOLUTION:
Cheap headphones by broadcasting my own FM radio station!
Well, that's a bit of a stretch. I bought a cheap FM transmitter (SI-Link, $18 at Target) and broadcast my music to a headset radio. See the FM transmitter in the image (with a CD player) below.
Despite what the link to the above product says, the trasmitter can transmit in a continuous tunable range from 88MHz to 89.5MHz, per the label. Here in Austin we have a powerful radio station broadcasting at 89.5MHz, so I set the frequency as far "left" as I could, tuning in at 87.5MHz. (Note that there is a little offset between the advertised frequency and what it actually does).+
Don't bother to listen in, my broadcast coverage is about 15 feet, much smaller than the 50 feet advertised, although I can occasionally hear my music when walking to the printer.
At first the sound had a lot of static until I realized that my computer volume was set too low. Since before going "wireless" my only volume control was on the computer, the sound was set to a comfortable level. By increasing the computer's output volume and reducing the headphone radio's volume, you increase the SNR (signal to noise ratio, in radio speak). Increasing SNR is a fancy way of saying that you reduce the static in your signal.
In addition to that, being a gadget gearhead, I had to take apart the FM transmitter to see if I couldn't improve the antenna somehow. Removing the screws and prying it apart, I was able to find a single long red wire behind the circuit board that serves as the unit's antenna.
Using a knife, I made a little notch in the plastic covering and guided the wire through the notch to the outside world. So now the FM transmitter has a red wire sticking out the side, which I haven't yet scientifically proven to improve the reception.
So now I'm jamming away to "Dan FM", my own little personal radio station at work-- no strings attached.
Only wish is that the company who makes the SI-Link provided where I could get the DC adapter to go with it. Looks like I may have to hack that one myself...
--IG
Thursday, March 03, 2005
Welcome!
Welcome to the birth of my new blog. This is my second foray into blogspace, the first being an astronomy-only article one at http://www.skywonders.com.
The goal of this blog is to have a place where I can post neat ideas, gadgets, or websites related to ANYTHING that I think are useful, useless, cool and neat. I'll stay focused mostly on gadgets, my forays onto the web and neat tricks of things I've discovered to save me time and money.
Since this blog hasn't even been wiped off yet (just been born, ewww), please forgive the mess until I get the template (the look) just where I want it.
I'll eventually add an article for anyone (yes you) to be able to contribute ideas also-- but for now you'll just have to listen to my drivel.
-- Inspector Gadget
The goal of this blog is to have a place where I can post neat ideas, gadgets, or websites related to ANYTHING that I think are useful, useless, cool and neat. I'll stay focused mostly on gadgets, my forays onto the web and neat tricks of things I've discovered to save me time and money.
Since this blog hasn't even been wiped off yet (just been born, ewww), please forgive the mess until I get the template (the look) just where I want it.
I'll eventually add an article for anyone (yes you) to be able to contribute ideas also-- but for now you'll just have to listen to my drivel.
-- Inspector Gadget
