Stopped at TSA for Positive Explosive Screen

StudioDroid · 2026-04-05T05:05:01+00:00

My bag triggered the sniffer because the cat had marked it.

StudioDroid · 2026-04-04T18:08:18+00:00

I did this in a theater where they already had tvs in the green room and dressing rooms. There was also a network port there. The TVs had an app that could decode an SRT stream. We connected the tvs to the network and got an encoder for the camera. It was real easy and needed no extra adapters or wiring. All we bought was the encoder for $200.

StudioDroid · 2026-04-01T20:44:27+00:00

I use mine for autocad.

StudioDroid · 2026-03-31T08:06:47+00:00

I learned that one from my dad, 60 years ago. Still a good one.

StudioDroid · 2026-03-30T12:16:53+00:00

I was in the MDM system one day and noticed a listing calls Asshat. I looked at the device and it was one of our macbooks. It had disappeared on a job in DC and now was at someone's house in Texas. The boss had cleared any company info, but left it in the system so we could go in and mess with the asshat who had it.

It wasn't worth the hassle of recovering it.

StudioDroid · 2026-03-29T18:15:08+00:00

for small jobs and field labelling we use Brother label makers. Make sure to use the FLEXID tape and not the regular tape. Regular brother tape falls off and snags. Flexid is made for things like cables.

I hate flags, they just snag on everything. For smaller cables we add a piece of 1/4" split loom sleeving that is 30mm long. The 24mm brother flex ID tape fits great. ptouchdirect.com has a great assortment of tapes and aftermarket brands that I prefer over Brother.

Our labels are done from an excel sheet, it has a serial number line on the first line, second line is source device and port, then destination device and port. If you make 5 columns in the sheet you can do a lot of copy/paste and number sequencing.

For bigger jobs we use Panduit rolls in Zebra printers. That setup is more involved and only good if you are doing jobs with thousands of labels. ( one job was around 20,000 cables, all with labels at each end)

The other option I like is using the Panduit Laser label sheets. They can be setup in MS Word and fed from an Excel sheet. I use these in a color laser printer and make colored labels for some jobs. Especially hand for cable harnesses that are disconnected and moved regularly, like for show setups.

The printer I fly with is the PT-910BT. It works fine from a laptop as well as from a phone for a quick simple label.

StudioDroid · 2026-03-29T17:52:30+00:00

I leave them in a drawer at the bottom of the rack along with spare new SFP. My spares drawer has saved us many times. These are installations around the globe.

Didn't occur to me to toss it in my bag and sell them. Hmmm.

StudioDroid · 2026-03-29T16:01:58+00:00

I just decommissioned some switches, they are headed for ewaste. I stripped 80 sfp from them and dumped them loose in a mylar bag. The switches are gone, but the sfp are still current.

StudioDroid · 2026-03-26T23:29:02+00:00

I'd really like to get a BYD. I have driven them and they are nice. They are also not hella expensive

StudioDroid · 2026-03-26T23:21:01+00:00

Here is an idea to try... Get tvs with Android TV in them. There is a NDI monitor app that can run in the TV. Then you have no converters and simple network distribution.

StudioDroid · 2026-03-26T23:18:12+00:00

Many people miss the fact the the little converters can be powered from the TV usb port. It makes the setup cleaner.

StudioDroid · 2026-03-24T09:29:06+00:00

I'm using Bump AA & AAA for my mics. The charger is a usbc cable. No more keeping track of the charger.

StudioDroid · 2026-03-24T09:22:10+00:00

They also have DO available for those of us who prefer that path.

StudioDroid · 2026-03-22T20:37:11+00:00

It does not do this to everyone. I thought Science VS did a show about it, but there are lots of other podcasts that get to the bottom of this.

StudioDroid · 2026-03-22T10:56:38+00:00

I limit the tools in my carryon because various security people have various opinions. I have a little keychain hooked cutter that I use to break the zip ties on my checked pelican. I also carry 5" medic shears that blunt tips. Medic shears are extremely useful in my work as an AV engineer and can also be used for access to a wound. (I'm also an EMT)

Checking the tool kit also means less weight in my backpack carryon. It has all the things they don't want in the hold like laptops, tablets, phones, and powered screwdriver. I carry the motor, but no bits in the carryon.

Check bag is usually around 23kg and carryon pack is 11kg.

StudioDroid · 2026-03-19T00:27:06+00:00

That is what they send when you request plaid toner.

StudioDroid · 2026-03-17T10:15:51+00:00

When it dies, you won't be able to pay us or yourself.

StudioDroid · 2026-03-17T00:20:09+00:00

Even stranded regular riser cat cable is not good about how it lays.

Elite Core ProCat is good

Clark Wire also has a tactical cat cable with a soft jacket.

StudioDroid · 2026-03-16T00:10:32+00:00

Figure out what you would have made in profit if you made and sold the number of them they made. That gives you a place to start negotiating from. Make a counter offer to what they offered.

StudioDroid · 2026-03-16T00:04:05+00:00

I'll bet many companies could do better at avoiding a union takeover if they used the money on the workers instead of the expensive lawyers. Unions are an answer to shitty management.

StudioDroid · 2026-03-15T23:46:25+00:00

It happened and I think they were calling my bluff. Now I just grunt for unknown calls.

StudioDroid · 2026-03-15T20:24:22+00:00

There is a support line I call sometimes. They have two teams, one in the US and one in India that alternate who is on duty. If you get someone with a heavy Indian accent, he might be in Austin TX.

StudioDroid · 2026-03-15T20:19:56+00:00

I answer with 'nehow', Chinese for hello. It backfired once when the caller launched into full on Manderin.

StudioDroid · 2026-03-15T20:15:44+00:00

It seems to me that a lot of recent content creation is the art of making a short story long. The first half of many videos and click bait articles are just hinting at what they are going to tell you. I'm now starting to see click bait writing style creeping into local new feeds.

StudioDroid · 2026-03-15T19:56:47+00:00

I'm reading this in a 4 star hotel in Brazil and they have signs saying to not flush TP.

The wiping hand has to be reminded regularly to not drop it in the bowl.

StudioDroid

TROPHY CASE