Xitrix LED TV, LCD TV, Servers Feedback, Anyone?

Just came across this really enticing offer from a local Groupon clone seeling heavily-discounted Xitrix LED TVs for only PhP13,995.00 instead of the regular price of PhP24,000.00 "Xitrix 32-inch HD-Ready LED TV! Package includes a wall mount bracket and a 1-year warranty! Indulge to an audiovisual overload with this HD-Ready LED TV by Xitrix! Ignite your senses with the Xitrix 32-inch HD-Ready LED TV! This savvy LED 3D TV from Xitrix will definitely satisfy your yearnings for crisp and clear media entertainment. The Ultra-slim carries a brushed-finish 32-inch LED display with HD-ready 1360 x 720p resolution to lend a crisp, sharp and incomparable viewing experience. Push your media boundaries with the LED TV’s HDMI and USB ports, NTSC tuner, USB HD Video Playback for more options to amplify your viewing and gaming enjoyment. Started out as a computer systems company that provides computing products and sevices, Xitrix has manage to play an integral part in competing with other major electronics brands, making the brand, Xitrix a trusted name in the said industry. Xitrix takes pride in being ISO certified and continues to demonstrate its commitment in designing top quality electronic products as well as computer peripherals that corresponds to every customer’s electronics and digital need. Technical specifications Dimension: 77.2 x 48 x 4.9cm Resolution: Dynamic Contrast Ratio Pixel Pitch: 1360x720pHD Ready Display color: 16.7Million Display color" Quesstion: How reliable are Xitrix LED TVs? where is it manufactured? I supposed it's made in China. Local support or rather Xitrix service centers? There's the official website that points to a place in Cubao, Quezon City. most importatant question: are xitrix LED TVs worth it?

LCD TV Brands, Prices, Service Centers Information Needed

I'm really shopping for a new LCD TV to be used by my son in his playroom. Want something larger than 21 inches.

I canvassed around Centris Station SM Hypermarket and saw some cheap brands of LCD TVs including TCL LCD TV, Coby LCD TV, CDR King LCD TV, Fukuda LCD TV, Changhong LCD TV, Promac LCD TV, Nextbase, Union, Pensonic, Matrix, Skyworth LCD TV et al

a 19" LCD TV costs around PhP12,000.00 while the 22 inches around P4k more expensive. I wonder if anyone out there can give me LCD TV reviews and feedback, as well as problems where you have to take it to authorized service centers for repairs even if out of warranty.

Some names that came on my search popular with Home Theater enthusiasts: Theater Works (used to be in Trinoma but now selling online), Sights and Sounds 4th Level Shangri-la Mall, The Home Theater on Tordesillas St, Salcedo Village Makati. You might try your luck at Western Trinoma; Savers Appliance Depot, SM Appliance and Abenson's and even stores on Raon, Quiapo Surplus LCD TV's (try Manila South Harbor (Pier)).

I will update this post once I bought my own LCD TV...

UPDATE: I bought a Samsung Series 3 32" LCD TV for P21,000.00 with wall mounting brackets at P1050 (inlcuding installation) and P200 delivery (though I picked it up to save this)

Fujitsu Ten Car Stereo Repair (Head Unit Toyota Vios)

With the final push of car restoration, I needed to replace my Toyota Vios' head unit (car stereo) for i wasn't able to repair it due to power problems so unlike the more expensive digital intrument panel.

I thought i found the problem with a continuity check but after soldering and testing with my AC power adapter, still no power. Note that car head units have two power supplies, one's the main power and the standby power supply voltage regulator connected to the ACC of the vehicle and responsible for the settings and CPU/computer of the car stereo (actually quad since it's four channel) and for powering up the digital LCD display.

If only I can find a fujitsu ten car stereo schematic diagram for download but all I can find online is the toyota vios witing diagram for the car stereo/head unit.

Perhaps I just stop attempting to repair it for wasted time and effort and just head to Banaue (bawawe), Quezon City, Cubao Autocentro, Raon, Quiapo, Manila or even Evagelista St. in Makati for surplus car stereo even brand new ones like Pioneer, JVC, Alpine, Sony head units with auxiliary input, USB and iPod Control preferable 2 DIN for 1 DIN HUs need spacers and additional installation hardware that can cost me around P500 more (even with free installation that comes with the brand new unit price).

Pioneer KP-500 Car Stereo for that Vintage 80's Look

I've decided to assemble again some sort of a DIY audio setup at home centered on the classic Pioneer KP-500 car stereo, the 80's iconic car stereo with a rotary dial for the radio tuner.

I still remember it uses an 8-track cassette player and a AN214 integrated circuit power amplifier with bass and treble controls with a silver front panel.

I looked online for such a dinosaur car stereo but the results were not so encouraging due to the price. I intend to visit Quiapo's Raon one of these days to look around and hope to score one. I would like the car stereo to be my centerpiece along with two Pioneer PT-6 tweeters (i used to have one of these but now probably rusty at in Paete, Laguna).

My ultimate plan is to modify the circuit to add an iPod input instead of the tape player. Who know's I can even add it to my car stereo :P

Repair Digital Dashboard/Instrument Panel: Odometer, Speedometer, RPM and Temperature Gauges

I've been posting too many car-related articles here since Ondoy left my car damaged. After all the cleaning and mounting costs, here comes another one that I need: where can I have my Toyota Vios' digital instrument panel repaired?

My car's gauges were cleaned myself 2 days after Ondoy and I saw it working on the third day and even a month after. But when my car was revived, the instument panel was no longer working except the various indicator lamps: check engine, turn signal, parking brake, SRS, et al but the RPM gauges and meters: odometer, speedometer, fuel gauge and temperature are no longer there and also the indicator for Parking/Reverse/Neutral/Drive/L, 2

I was hoping to find someone who can repair digital instrument panel (Toyota Vios 1.5G part number: 83800-0DB20) to save on cost for a new one costs arout P20,000.00 (not Toyota Casa price). I don't need an odometer rollback as it's unethical to do so besides the fact that my car's actual mileage is just around 25,000 kilometers after 3.5 years...

Should you happen to offer the service, do let me know or if i find the time and courage due to desperation, I might even try to repair it DIY as i've been an electronics technician before I became an electronics engineer. I will need to buy new tools to re-kindle my interest in electronics though.

UPDATE:

I was able to repair digital instrument panel after a few days tweaking with it. Saved me P30k cost of new unit from Toyota casa :P

possible entry keywords:
Digital instrument panel repair, odometer hacking, odometer rollback, digital speedometer, digital dashboard, odometer repair, speedometer calibration, tweaking, Toyota (altis, corolla, fortuner, yaris, echo, funcargo), Honda (city, civic, accord, crv), Mitsubishi (lancer, montero), Isuzu, Mazda, Hyundai, Nissan (sentra), Ford, GM, et al

DIY Hardware Keylogger

Browsing the net is just one of my primary job requirements just to stay updated on many developments in this rapidly changing world. Though this is not new, I got interested in the DIY Hardware Keylogger featured here using a microcontroller. I don't have a microcontroller programmer so I won't be able to build this one.

I'm also looking for a DIY hardware kelylogger for USB like this one.

I want to have one of those devices since I'm always trying to find new ways to defeat keyloggers and other malware.

TENS: Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation

The what?

never mind the long name; simply call it TENS. TENS is simply application of very mild electric shock to certain parts of the body to ease pain.

This process, which feels like a tingling sensation, claims to relieve pain although modern studies are still inconsistent to its efficacy.



what I know and feel is that the mild electric sensation simulates a massage and leaves my back, suffering from chronic back pains, asking for more after the twenty minutes of therapy.

Back in college,I experimented with a DIY TENS gadget bought in kit from in Manila and right now my sister is using one.

DIY Photography Projects

been googling the net these past few days to find project ideas particularly DIY camera stuff. Found some links PhotoProjects plus those in PhiPho

Fow now, I'll concentrate on making my own LED-powered Macro ring light. I'm going to Raon in Quiapo again to buy inexpensive parts in Manila's electronic haven.

For now, I'm preparing to build a DIY drybox for my equipment using an airtight plastic container, silica gel adsorbent to pluck out moisture from the air inside the box and a hygrometer to measure the amount of water in the air.

A drybox will protect your camera, lenses and other equipment from the harsh effect of moisture such as molds, fungus and static electricity.

Will post updates on this next time

Vacuum Tube Gizmos

Found these vacuum tube amplifiers in a shop in Singapore that really looked trendy:





These vintage amplifiers are often sought after by musicians due to their warm, fuzzy sound never duplicated by their modern solid-state counterparts. Something to thank for for their continued existence.

I remember when I was a child, we we have a vacuum tube tv that I took apart and played with the tube that looked like those in a Physics book pictures. I took the tubes to a local electronics repair shop to ask around due to my insatiable curiosity. The electronics technician smiled when I showed him the tubes saying they're obsolete already and instead knowing my parents offered me apprenticeship in his shop.

About a month later, due to reading and excitement, I was able to assemble my first radio. Another two weeks and was able to fix my first television.

Got hooked into electronics and since then I know what I'm gonna be someday: an electronics and communications engineer.

That was 21 years ago when I'm still in my elementary days. Many children are playing in the streets while I was tinkering with electronics and enjoying the smell of molden lead used in soldering.

Now I'm thinking of resurrecting my old hobby.

The DIY Canon Remote Control

I need a cable release controller for my Canon 300D fast for the 2nd Pyro Olympics to in SM Mall of Asia.

I got myself film caps similar to my film camera days to serve as enclosures for the 2 switches- 1 for focus and another for the shutter release.

Materials used:

2 - push button switches, normally open
1 - baby plug (similar to those in headphones)
2 meters of 3 wired cable
1 enclosure (up to you)

all I needed to do was assemble the two switches on my chosen casing.
Solder them together in series with ground conector of the jack soldered to one end





the casing I used in my project, freely available and did a wonderful job unnoticeable to most people :)

Imagine the cost savings I got aside from the feeling of accoplishment I have of all my other DIY stuff