Celebrate Rarely, Grind Daily
- Colin Cowherd, podcast 02/09/16




Posted 8:03 AM    |    1 comments    |    Permalink   

Quick checklist of the things that need to be checked to allow remote connections to SQL server

• Firewall off or add exception
• SQL Server Management Studio - Properties on SQL Server itself (the db listing in the tree) - Allow Remote Connections
• SQL Server Configuration - SQL Server Network Configuration, ENABLE TCP/IP
• SQL Server Configuration - Start SQL Server Browser

Posted 11:33 AM    |    0 comments    |    Permalink   

Goofing in Palm Desert pool, Avery grabs Ben from behind around the waist, Ben: "they're soft and smooth"
(Reference: some bagels B and Jamie recently got at the store, had that on the packaging, "soft and smooth".  Relating that to his belly rolls)




Posted 4:11 PM    |    0 comments    |    Permalink   

I always seem to have problems getting audio working through HDMI cable to external monitor / TV.
This time in particular, it's from my Surface Pro 3, to my TV (testing for tomorrow's HS volleyball banquet slide show)

Cable:  Display Port to HDMI, from MonoPrice. Confirmed it DOES support audio in the cable. This is the cable I have.

Searched to the end of the internet, and found a grasp-at-straws attempt, and tried it.

Uninstalled Intel Display Audio drivers and reinstalled.
Combine that with a reboot, and Changing the Default Format did the trick.

#1 - Uninstall drivers and reinstall.
Device manager, Audio inputs and outputs.
SAMSUNG (Intel Display Audio).
Right click, uninstall.

#2 - Change the Default Format of the Audio
Plug in the Display Port to HDMI cable.
Control panel, sound, choose the device where you are trying to send audio (and presumably the video is already working).
Right click and set it as the Default Device
Right click Properties, Advanced.
Change Default Format down to the first setting (16-bit, 32000 Hz FM radio works for me, probably depends on the device you're sending audio to).
Click TEST to see/hear if it works.

















Prosper.







Posted 7:20 PM    |    0 comments    |    Permalink   

(oops - this is pretty much the same info as the last post, I guess I outsmarted myself, should have looked here at the blog first)

Latest remote that comes with Whole House DVR - how to program to work the Onkyo receiver.
Remote: RC122

Tell remote to control volume via Receiver

• Hold both OK/SELECT and CBL until device buttons blink
• Enter 993
• Press the AUX key

(now with the steps below, the volume should be run through the receiver)


Tell AUX about the Onkyo Receiver

• Hold both OK/SELECT and AUX until device buttons blink
• Enter 3222 (for Onkyo receiver)
• Now prove to yourself the remote controls the receiver

Manual for remote

Posted 7:02 PM    |    0 comments    |    Permalink   

Finally got around to getting Whole House DVR equipment and service.

DVR boxes;  Motorola DCX3510-M
Remote:  Phillips RC122
Instruction manual for remote: http://www.timewarnercable.com/en/residential-home/support/pyr/twc-philips-remote.html

Program remote for other devices.

Onkyo receiver
HOLD AUX + SELECT/OK
3222

Control receiver volume when in CBL mode
HOLD CBL + SELECT/OK
993
AUX

Guide / DVR from the web
http://video2.timewarnercable.com/






Posted 9:16 PM    |    0 comments    |    Permalink   

Update; 06/18/15
Onkyo receiver was losing audio very often, usually when scrubbing around on DVR.  Even jump back 30 seconds, then the audio would be lost (just silent) for 20 seconds or more.
Suspected cable box since this Time Warner equipment is so lame, but narrowed it down to receiver.  Hooked up straight from cable box to TV and played through those speakers (bypass receiver all together).  No loss of audio.

Found this on how to reset the receiver.
http://forums.onkyousa.com/viewtopic.php?t=8036&p=29305
Did just step one:  unplug the receiver power for 30 seconds.  Now trying same content that was causing audio loss previously, and so far so good.





Finally got around to setting up sweet sound for the new room. Here are the details.
As you can tell, got it from WOOT.
09/18/13

Onkyo HT-RC560 7.2 Channel 3D-Ready Network A/V Receiver w/ Bluetooth and Wi-Fi



Got 5.1 speakers through Amazon.

Leviton AEH50-WH
Come with mounting brackets for the 5 (including center) satellite speakers.







Posted 2:07 PM    |    0 comments    |    Permalink   

I'm using LapseItPro to create time lapse movies, but despite the setting in the app to disable the camer shutter sound, I still get the CLICK.

Posted 3:20 PM    |    0 comments    |    Permalink   

Wahoo! Got a Slingbox HD for xmas (bought it for myself with my pile of Best Buy gift cards - ended up costing me $3 pre-tax).

Some links and info:

Windows Desktop software. Looks like this is "legacy" software now, in favor of the web based viewer. If you want to use custom remotes, you have to use this desktop software.

30-second advance. Since the actual remote for my DVR doesn't natively support this feature (I assigned it to a dead button with a hack), it's natural that the Slingbox UI remote doesn't have it either. Here is a discussion of a guy that tweaks the BIN files that define the remote. Learn more about this! I have the Motorola DCX3400, so check out this thread.

Building custom remotes.

Posted 9:04 AM    |    0 comments    |    Permalink   

Galaxy Nexus vs. Droid Bionic vs. Droid RAZR: Battle of the Verizon LTE Phones | News & Opinion | PCMag.com

Posted 2:04 PM    |    0 comments    |    Permalink   

Not sure if WIRNS is still being updated, but giving the newest version a try. 3.0 beta.

Install is much better than before. First run of the service (according to the logs), detects 64-bit OS, and swaps out the SqlLite DLLs. Nice.

Still get crash when the service starts. Debug logs say format exception. Apparently it can't figure out our own machine's IP address.

• Add value to REGISTRY to give WIRNS at clue. Info here. [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\WiRNS\configuration]
  "wirnsip"="192.168.1.200"

We're up and running.

Configuration

• Instead of using "Configuration" from the system tray icon ("severely limits" the configuration functionality), browse directly to the WIRNS service on the local machine. http://10.1.1.11/manage/index

http://wiki.wirns.com



Posted 4:21 PM    |    0 comments    |    Permalink   

Ready to re-install WIRNS after a machine rebuild, and it has to be on port 80 (Replays only talk on that port). Fine - I move IIS to another port. But, WIRNS installer says it's still in use.

Long story short, it's not IIS (it *was* on 80, but I moved it), lots of peeps on the tubes saying various other processes: SQL Reporting Services was the most popular.

For me, it was Web Deployment Agent Service. MS docs about it here.
Even with IIS running on 80, it's somehow *sharing* that port, and sticks around after IIS has been moved. Telnet localhost 80
HTTP/1.1 400 Bad Request
Content-Type: text/html; charset=us-ascii
Server: Microsoft-HTTPAPI/2.0
Date: Sun, 14 Aug 2011 21:11:43 GMT
Connection: close
Content-Length: 326

Anyway - I'm not remote deploying anything to this box, so this service is now disabled. Port 80 - free again!



Posted 4:17 PM    |    0 comments    |    Permalink   

I'm definitely not an iPad fan, but since my kids have one, I have to track a few of these "tips and tricks" pages.

50 really useful iPad tips and tricks




Posted 11:28 AM    |    0 comments    |    Permalink   

I repaved our home machine, and I'm struggling to get iTunes back to it's old self. Here are a few reminders on how to configure stuff.

Export purchased songs as MP3
The "export" menu option (select a particular song, then context menu or Advanced menu) is by default "Create AAC version". This is still DRM'd. To change that to MP3, have to adjust "import settings" (stupid that they're related).

Edit, Preferences, General, "When you insert a CD" = "Ask to import CD".
Import Settings, choose MP3 Encoder, and bit rate quality (I do 192 kbps).

Now the "Create ... Version" should say MP3 instead.

Rebuild "Purchased Music" playlist
According to their installed help, it will get rebuilt the next time you purchase music. (lame!)

To see history of purchases, go to your store account, and choose purchase history. This is just an online list of purchases and their music.

Still to figure out:

• How to change the default folder structure of music. I loathe the Album name folder in the structure (just want flat list of music for an artist), but can't find any customization in iTunes.

My Process
After purchasing a song from iTunes, I want it as an MP3, ready to use from the Zune side.

1. purchase song, now it's an m4a in the lame iTunesMedia folder structure
2. find it in iTunes, right click, Create MP3 version (now it's in the same directory as the original)
3. right click the MP3 version, "show in windows explorer"
4. windows explorer, CUT from this spot and put it in the main MP3 directory structure (that zune watches)

Since iTunes is watching the MP3 (non iTunes) directory structure, it *SHOULD* eventually wake up and find those MP3s and show them in addition to the DRM'd crap. Haven't seen this happen yet...

Posted 1:01 PM    |    0 comments    |    Permalink   

Always have trouble remembering / finding where the pics are uploaded to.

https://kinectshare.com/Landing.aspx

Posted 11:46 AM    |    0 comments    |    Permalink   

http://www.overclock.net/faqs/91945-info-how-play-bots-battlefield-2-a.html

Following these steps, Connor and I got local LAN working with us playing on 2 different machines, same team, against AI bots.

Posted 3:07 PM    |    0 comments    |    Permalink   

Since I only do this once a year, I always forget the couple sneaky steps I have to do to pull this off.

• Outlook Contacts, select "Christmas Cards" view
• Tools, Mail Merge. Select New document, and Labels (at the bottom) of the dialog
• (Now over in Word, get the layout of the labels, but no data yet)
• Cursor in first label (top left corner), choose "Address Block" in Mailings ribbon tab. (this puts the field in the first label, and fields in all the rest.
  
• Click "Update Labels" in the Mailings ribbon tab. (this adds the in all the rest of the fields)
• Click "Preview Results" in the Mailings ribbon tab to see the data.
  
• Review each label to make sure the names look good (some might have first & last name reversed)
• When layout and addresses on that first page look good, click "Finish & Merge" in the Mailings tab. This creates the final document with the labels spanning multiple pages in the doc that you will print. You can still make more changes in these addresses before printing (but those changes obviously won't make it back to the source address info in Outlook)

Posted 8:37 PM    |    0 comments    |    Permalink   

The Market app on my Droid phone has been "stuck" for the past couple days trying to update the Google Maps application. Connectivity was fine, other apps could update themselves, browser works, etc. Tried canceling the download a few times, which would force close the Market app.

Finally searched a little more tonight and found a work-around.

Phone Settings - Applications - All, find Google Maps ("Maps"). Drill in and choose "Clear Data".
Do the same for the Market app.

Now run the Market (unfortunately you get the EULA since we just removed one of the many "cookies"), and update Google Maps.

Worked for me. Your mileage may vary.

Posted 6:40 PM    |    0 comments    |    Permalink   

TV is probably about 8 years old. Turning off on its own, red light on front blinks 34 times, and then picture comes back on.

Original specs on TV here.

Looking around the internets, I'm not alone.

Used system menus per instructions here and reset lamp timer. (was at 15,109 hours. yikes. 1.7 years of continuous watching)

Cheat sheet to reset lamp timer:

• With TV OFF, press the following buttons on the remote: Display, 5, vol +, power
• Use 2 and 5 to move through categories (whole pages of info)
  
• Look for "Option E" category
• Once there, use 1 and 4 to move through items in that category
• First one (item # 0) is the Lamp Time Operating (in hours)
• Show/change data with 3 and 6 keys.
  
• Hours shown when data is changed to 1.
  
• Hours reset when data is STORED as 0. (I had to store as 1 first, then back to 0)
• STORE a value by pressing MUTE, then ENTER (see red "WRITE" text top right of screen)

Didnt seem to fix anything right away. Turned it off and we'll see what happens.

Otherwise, maybe need a new bulb.

According to this post, get one from eBay and self install?

search eBay for "REPLACEMENT LAMP SONY XL-2100U", from seller "niosales"
$129
(make sure you get lamp that includes entire lamp housing, not just the bulb)

Can I self install?

(update 10/12/10)
Yep. Ended up buying this one, and self installing. TV works again, and no blinking red light!

(update 12/19/10)
Worked great for a while, now it's back to its old tricks. Every 20 mins or so, picture goes out, red light blinks 34 times, and then picture comes back.

We found a brand new bulb (same kind I ordered) in a box in the closet here at the house. Think it was the one our Sony extended repair guy ordered for us ("for safe keeping") before the warranty was over. Tried putting that one in, and now getting no picture, and red light blinks 3 times at startup.

This doesn't look good: "overvoltage, IC is faulty..."

DOH! After screwing with it for a while, realized that I was trying the TV without putting the lamp cover back on. Once I put that back on -- it works!! (safety issue I'm sure - TV cant turn on without the cover)

Now we just hold our breath and see how long this lamp lasts...

Posted 9:15 PM    |    0 comments    |    Permalink   

Google announces voice commands for Android on Droid, etc.

"send text to billy hey lets have lunch" ...

Need:

• Voice Search application from Google. (market)
• Google Search widget (market)
  

http://androinica.com/2010/08/12/google-introduces-voice-actions-for-android-allows-users-to-control-their-phones-with-voice-commands/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+androinica+%28Androinica+-++A+Google+Android+Blog%29&utm_content=Twitter

Posted 8:33 PM    |    0 comments    |    Permalink   

Just a place to track all the new features in Android 2.2 "Froyo"

• Flash support (download from store) - can set browser plug-ins to run "on demand" if you want to choose when flash will play
  
• 2 dedicated soft buttons on home screen - phone and browser
• Exchange support (auto discovery, remote wipe, exchange calendars with sync)
• Camera updates - settings, LED light while recording video
• Gallery - "zoom out" to see a stack of pics
• WiFi tethering and hotspot (carrier has to enable)
• Keyboard - swipe up from top to get a number row of keys, multi-lang support
• Speed: JIT compiler, apps 2-5x faster
  
• V8 JavaScript engine: web apps 2-3x faster
• Cloud-to-device API: browser extension for Chrome and Firefox. Send "intents", web pages, emails, etc. to phone (via cloud)
• App data backup and restore
• Apps can run from SD card
• Apps can auto-update from the store
• "Update all" apps

Posted 1:55 PM    |    0 comments    |    Permalink