Author: ddingley

Wrote a LOT of software in BASIC

Back in the 80’s and 90’s I used to write software for users around the campus, before networks, so all were pretty much stand along. So I have a nice collection of routines that I would reuse. Even ended up making a menu system, and applications that would run in the background. All is VisualBasic or QuickBasic, it was great fun at the time.

Ended up using DosBox to create a means to run all my old software, including the development system with all the libraries. So nice to see, and see how far the world has come.

Biggest issue is networking, trying to use some of the old programs to interact with the real world and send info over the network. Not really working yet, but haven’t given up.

Even got AtariWin box working.. Was able to create lots of image files from old Atari disks. Very cool.. Trying to find a way to do Apple II disks nexts..

Reliving the Old Days

Starting rebuilding an Atari computer to revive old software that I used to write for the Atari Users Group in Miami, D.A.U.G. (Dade Atari Users Group). Already have an emulator running on my Windows Machine (Lenovo), just need to get some disk images created.

Have picked up some external devices that I really hope with the conversion.

So far I’ve had to purchase two used Atari 800XLs to get one that work, my old one was used for parts as well (total of 3). I have a 1050 floppy drive, but it doesn’t appear to work, so I’ve purchased 2 more from eBay, thus far one has arrived and works a little better, but isn’t reading any disks. The second one seems to have been lost in the mail, waiting for the outcome of that.

But look for future downloadable disk images in the future, just don’t know how far in the future.

Problems with RING, again!

A few months ago, after having more problems with one of the battery power security cameras, I decided to replace it with a powered unit. Little more effort to install, but I hoped it would be worth it..

Ring Floodlight Cam Wired Plus

It worked fine, almost for a month. It would appear on the Web and iPhone versions of RING App, but not on the computer version. I shrugged it off and just used it as is, until about 2 weeks ago, the camera stopped working.

After an hour of attempting to rejoin the network I called Ring, always a pleasure (sic). Finally after an hour of retrying everything I ready did, I was told it was my network, specifically my wifi. So all the other wireless Ring hardware continues to work, but not this NEW device. Tried replacing access points and wifi networks. Nope still not happy. Ended up having to install a totally new wifi network and a new device, to finally get the camera to appear on my iPhone and Web, it still doesn’t appear in the app.

For the price you pay for these things you’d expect them to last longer, why did they update the firmware to kick it off my network.. beyond me..

And they try to upsell, or newer stuff.. sorry if I can keep the older stuff working I aint buying all new AGAIN.

So don’t think I’ll be buy more ring equipment. Will keep you informed as to what replaces it. Any suggestions?

So it begins, I hope!

Back in 2010 I purchased a old Jazzy Select Elite wheelchair base, in hopes of using it as a base for a robot. Using that a old Vex robot parts left over from my kids high school days, and winter. Now might be a good time to start.

Jazzy Select Elite

From what I can gather from images and PDFs online, it appears the normal chair, uses two batteries. One for each of the two powered wheels. Increasing power to one, turns the chair on opposite side, kinda like a tank. Will be fun to control with a computer. Mar Rovers use sensors to calculate the amount of turn, need to figure out how to do something in between..

So, planning now.. Will try to keep world updated.

Ventage Computers

As you might know, I’ve been working on computers for awhile. And for the most part I never dump old systems unless they stop working. Did do some housecleaning over the summer, found a few systems that had died. Caused by rust and ‘melting’ foam. Over the weekend I dug out my old Atari 800XL and hooked it up. Worked pretty good, it does have sticking keys… What I found interesting was taking the machine apart, this thing was built like a tank, solid and heavy, not like modern computers..

Basically I can take keyboard apart and clean the leads.. Another weekends project.

Finding a TV to connect the computer was more difficult. I needs a old tuner. Lucky for me the flat screen in my office is older and has a turner..

Having worked in a Atari repair center, I had a demo cartridge and test cartridge.

Microsoft PowerShell – Surprised!

Having taking programming Decades ago as a possible career, but going in a different direction. Dabbled in many languages from Atari Basic, Apple Machine Language to LiveCode and many other odd short lived ones. I was putting so much effort not to use PowerShell, thinking it was just for scripting. Boy was I wrong. Today I compiled my first script.. Oh and by the way, that was on a Mac.

Think I’ll be using it more and more.

Thanks for the pleasant surprise Microsoft!

OH, and it is free!

MQTT – How simple …

Was able to add MQTT server using Mosquitto, as simple as they attempt to make it sound to setup and operate, it isn’t.

Using BREW to installed sounded simple, but never worked as all the instructions I could find. Doing a mix install using Brew and other installers I was able to get it working. You couldn’t just start and stop the service thru Brew you had to Force Quit using Activity Monitor, then use:

/usr/local/sbin/mosquitto -c /usr/local/etc/mosquitto/mosquitto.conf to restart.

Adding users was confusing but after a few tries I got it working.

mosquitto_passwd -b passwordfile admin mqttadmin1

Monitoring the server was make very easy using MQTT Explorer, thought understanding the data was a bit more of a challenge. Couldn’t tell when of of my devices was online or not, till about the 15th try. The it just showed up and started working.

My first device was a weather station by Pimoroni:

Enviro Weather (Pico W Aboard) – Board Only

Having purchased the sensors a few years ago from SparkFun. When I finally saw the sweet data appear I was overjoyed.

{
“device”: “nature-weather”,
“pressure”: 951.99,
“temperature”: 25.8,
“humidity”: 42.61,
“wind_direction”: 90,
“light”: 334.98,
“rain”: 0,
“timestamp”: “2022-08-21 15:51:03”,
“wind_speed”: 0
}

My next project is using Red-node to display the data as it is published to my broker (Can’t understand why they don’t just call it a server).

OH a note about Red-Note, don’t attempt to use Safari on a Mac, it doesn’t work. (See Photo Below) Wasted half an hour thinking i needed to install Modulars or something. Tried in chrome and it opened right up. Apple is become a real pain, IMHO.

Nature-Weather and Nature-Cam

Problem with Safari on Right VS Chrome on Left

Server Upgrade (sic)

The OLD Xserves we were using were starting to be difficult to upgrade. We tried to upgrade the OS, no go. Tried to upgrade services, no go. Mostly because the hardware was no longer supported, which caused the upgrades to state that hardware wasn’t supported. Even minor upgrades were becoming major headaches. SO we upgraded, from 10.6 to 10.12 Sierra. LOL. Not the end all but so far it has paid off. Also the hardware had to be upgraded, xserves, ALL of them, gotta go. Now we are using MacMinis, must admit is is quieter.

The effects kinda snow balled. Hard drives format weren’t readable, services needed to be upgraded, some things don’t work. Trying to find workarounds is the biggest pain. Jabber/Messages is a big one, however now there is something called MQTT. We are trying.

On a positive note our Raspberry Pico W’s have started to arrive. Weather station conversion finished and posting data. We are working on another one that’ll be mobile.

Expanding Network

After having to run cords across the floor to get to our test bench, we’ve opted to have new jacks installed.. IN WALLS.. A little more work, but much neater for the long run. New cat6 wire, all the way back to the gig switch.. NICE..

Thanks for all those that helped in the effort.