Awesome article on using vi/vim:

Do whatever you want. Don’t learn it if you feel it’s too much effort just for nothing. Learn emacs instead. Or stay in your IDE using a lousy editor. Whatever. But in any case, don’t ever claim again that those ‘vi guys are nutheads’ - I hope that I have succeeded in showing you why they (we) stick to it, and you should at least be able to understand its power, even if you prefer to stay away from it.

I first used vi around 1996 and it is still my preferred text editor while working with configuration files or even light coding. It sort of defied logic, but me, as well as unix geeks around the world, feel compelled to continue using it. This article is a great writeup for the advocacy of a great text editor.

I happened upon a great site for a list of names. The list is meant to be used to get pet names, however I happened across this when I was looking for a list of themed names for servers. It includes both self-hosted pages and also links to other lists of names.

List of names by theme.

Even if you aren’t looking for a name, this site still includes interested lists to look through, if you are a geek like me

If you use a windows ssh terminal client, or even macosx’s terminal.app, the functionality of your page up and page down key may not behave like you want it to. For example, in SecureCRT using pageup will actually page up your scroll buffer, and pagedown will scroll down your page buffer.

You’ll need to remap your keys to send the correct signal to your terminal. Change it from the default system function to “send string” and the following strings:

PageUp = \033[5~
PageDown = \033[6~

\033 is a shortcut for the ESCAPE key (esc) since in some programs you can’t type in the actualy escape key.

Here are some other codes as well in case you need to remap keys.

Pause = \032
Macro = \003 # Break (Shift-Pause)
Home = \033[1~
Insert = \033[2~
Remove = \033[3~ # Delete
End = \033[4~

In SecureCRT the area to remap your keys is Tools -> Keymap Editor.

This is especially handy if you use command line IRC clients such as Irssi or BitchX.

Here is the problem: you have a DVR/HTPC hooked up to your TV downstairs, but you have other televisions in your house you wish to use to access the HTPC. How do you distribute the Audio/Video signal to these other television sets?

One solution to this problem is Crossbar MediaCaster, which was kindly provided to me for review by SnapStream Media.

The basic idea of this hardware is that you are creating a “private access channel” AKA Avcast® entertainment network, which is then provided content from any device which outputs an RCA signal.

 

 

In the box:

• 1 x CableCaster - Establishes the Avcast entertainment network
• 1 x MediaCaster - Provides the content for the Avcast network
• 1 x IRcaster - sends IR signal over the Avcast network
• 1 x IRdetector - receives IR signal
• 1 x Notch filter - filters a channel range to allow Avcast network to utilize a channel
• 2 x Coax Cable - to connect MediaCaster/CableCaster to coax network
• 1 x RCA Cable set - to connect HTPC to MediaCaster

The setup of the system is rather complicated and requires that you both have access to, and know the setup of your home coax system which is already built into the majority of homes built in the past 30 years. If you have cable television, then you most likely have this internal network already set up.

Step 1:

Locate where the cable comes into your house. You need to intercept it where it splits off to go into separate ends of the house.

 

 

The CableCaster unit plugs in here. Also you will need A/C power. There is a plug for input - the input cable from your cable provider. Also in between the cable provider and the CableCaster goes the Notch Filter. This device blocks a channel range, so that the CableCaster can broadcast on this channel.

Step 2:

The MediaCaster is then plugged into cable network near or at your HTPC. You will need to have access to the coax network in your home if you don’t already have this near to your HTPC. This part will also need A/C power.

Step 3:

 

 

Plug your Audio/Video device (in this case, a DVR running SnapStream BeyondTV). This means you will need to output the video and audio in RCA format - so make sure you have the necessary cables/converters to do this.

Step 4 (optional):

At the remote end, connect the IR Caster and IR Receiver to the coax network. This will allow you to use the IR remote at a remote location to the intended receiver, the signal will be broadcast over the Avcast network to the MediaCaster unit.

In my case, I used the BTC Wireless Remote and Firefly remote, which were both able to reach to my upstairs room and control my PC.

Now that everything is set up, you can see my remote TV with my HTPC desktop running!

 

 

I must admit, it was very cool to be operating my HTPC from another room while seeing the content broadcast over a CATV channel. This signal is now available from anywhere in my house - allowing me to enjoy my recorded content over any cable-equipped television set.

There are several large drawbacks or flaws to using this system.

- First, the HTPC must output in 1.33:1 ratio format, meaning if you have your HTPC set up to output to an HDTV in widescreen format (16:9). I could only get my setup to output one or the other, meaning I had to make sure my aspect ration stayed in Standard format.
- Secondly, the notch filter also seemed to filter out content which it should not be filtering. Specifically, my Motorola set top box became useless. On Demand stopped working, as well as HDTV signal quality dropped dramatically - causes dropouts in signal.

These drawbacks really limit how you are able to use this system. In my case my wife really relys on the OnDemand service from Comcast - so this is a deal breaker for me. If your cable TV provider is not comcast, then you might not have this same problem. Also the system is fairly complicated to set up, so it is for advanced users only.

Final verdict:

 

Recommended
Recommended to those with advanced knowledge of cable/HTPC workings and specific requirements

 

Product provided by: SnapStream Media
Review date: 5/1/2007

If you have an HTPC which uses software such as BeyondTV you can use a remote for the majority of the time but there are times where you will want a good old fashioned keyboard, for surfing the web or other PC maintenance tasks. Sure you could use a wired keyboard or mouse, but who really wants to be tied to your Television which might be across the room. Typical wireless keyboards may only work several feet away from your PC. The 9019URF works at least 3.5 meters (10.5 feet) away from your PC, and in my experience it worked in another room on a different level, through the walls. It uses Radio Frequencies (RF) which can go through walls and does not require line of sight.

The box contains everything you need to use the keyboard:

• Wireless RF Keyboard
• USB PC Interface
• CD with optional drivers and manual
• 2 x AA batteries for the keyboard

Installing the keyboard is as simple as installing the batteries, and plugging the USB PC connector. The keyboard works out of the box in this setup. However, if you want to use the special “media” keys to launch your internet browser or e-mail, you will need to install the software which came on the CD, or download them from BTC’s website.

As I have hinted above, the BTC 9019 includes a pointing device right on the keyboard.

This pointer works fairly well while using your keyboard. It also has left click built in - if you wish to use right click, you will need to use the button to the immediate right of the pointer. Also to the immediate left, a scroll up and scroll down button have been placed. This is very handy while you are viewing any web pages.

Integration with any HTPC or DVR software, such as BeyondTV, works just as well as with any other keyboard. It is nice to be able to use the finess of keyboard/mouse combo when controlling BTV, or your system in general.

I had a small issue with the receiver where it seemed to lose its connection when I held the keyboard at a certain angle. This only seemed to be at a certain range, and moving the angle of the keyboard always fixed the issue. After moving the receiver on top of my entertainment system, rather than behind, the issue seemed to go away. This indicates to me that this keyboard might be susceptible to RF interference from components. When placing the receiver, make sure it is as far away from components as possible.

Overall the keyboard feels solid and not as cheap as I expected considering it’s bargain pricetag. At $35 as of 5/2007 from the SnapStream Store, it is a great deal.

I give this keyboard a:

Highly Recommended

Would Recommend to Family and Friends

Provided by: SnapStream
Review Date: 5/1/2007