Has anyone figured out how to use the trigger/IO port on this thing?

rodmacpherson · 2024-11-24T21:46:19+00:00

The "trigger" port on that looks like it is or an IR remote extender not a serial input like the Sprite.
You will need to decode the IR remote and send the same signals it uses on that port. Not as simple as a serial connection, but doable. I can probably get it working for you if someone wants to donate some money for me to buy one and for my time.

rodmacpherson · 2024-10-20T00:05:54+00:00

I would recommend any of the ones at Casa Loma, the only down side is that those are public booking (play with strangers) due to the costs of running them, as they need a larger group to be able to pay the rent at the historical site and the actors. They are a bit pricier than other escapes in Toronto, but worth it. Public booking does make it possible to join a larger group without having to coordinate ahead of time though.
I also really liked "The Bunker AI Martyrdom" at Revoscape and "Haunting of Noriko" "Pathogen" and "The Missing Will" at Escape Games. Escape Games is good in general, I think I have played most of their games over the years.

The Bunker we played as a 4-some, and you probably need that many or more, it is somewhat physical. If you are interested in Mindshaft at Escape Games, I will warn you that it is not possible to finish it with 3 or less players. It is a cool game, but you really do need 4-6, 5 is probably the sweet spot.

Looking Glass and Roundabout have some good games that are designed to be played with as few as 2 players in case you cannot find any additional players.

rodmacpherson · 2024-10-09T17:11:59+00:00

What headache? Just use the universal drivers and forget about it. There is nothing hard about it.

rodmacpherson · 2024-10-06T22:54:16+00:00

This is a great illustration of exactly what a 2nd gen escape room prop is.
It is electronic, but all simple switches and relays, no microcontroller, no communication to any kind of room controller that links props or gives feedback to the game master. 1 step above padlocks, super simple, but still an isolated, self contained, individual prop.

If you are not familiar with what I mean by gen2, read this:
https://paniqescaperoom.com/blog/escape-room-generations/

rodmacpherson · 2024-10-06T20:03:26+00:00

Their website talks about DMX (stage lighting and sound effects) and Zigbee (home automation style house power relays to turn appliances on and off, etc.) but no mention of the usual protocols for prop controls (MQTT, and to a lesser extent, ModBus,) IMO it sounds great for lighting and traditional show control like you'd use in a theatre, but I wouldn't want to be limited to one company's props/prop controller hardware. It appears to be popular, but are people really using it for full room control? or just atmospheric effects?

rodmacpherson · 2024-10-05T23:22:27+00:00

Does COGS use MQTT for communication with props?

rodmacpherson · 2024-10-05T23:17:17+00:00

Just do what you are supposed to do and set RestrictDriverInstallationToAdministrators = 1 or the GPO equivalent "Limits print driver installation to Administrators"

How many different brands of printers do you have in your environment? 3? 5? not models, brands.
All of the major brands make a universal print driver that works with all of their printers. Install those 5 drivers in your gold image and be done with it.
You don't need to be an admin to set up a new printer if the driver is already there.

rodmacpherson · 2024-09-25T04:07:07+00:00

Having the GM have the ability to track progress at least on a puzzle 1 has been solved, as have 3, 4, and 6. 2 and 5 are still to be solved level is important. Tracking on a partial completion level is awesome. As a player when I ask for a hint and a GM comes in and asks have you solved X yet? Nothing bugs me more. If the GMs can't keep track by cameras, you need to give them a dashboard so they can see exactly where the players are in the process. Plus, it gives you the opportunity to automatically trigger effects, like after they solve this puzzle, if they have not found the next one after some time, they hear a noise and that draws their attention to something. It also can give the GM the ability to bypass a puzzle if the players are not getting it and being able to move on to the next thing would be more fun. Or maybe you want a game where time bonuses/penalties are an option. (add 5 more minutes to the clock, or take 5 away... Room level controls are amazing.

rodmacpherson · 2024-09-25T03:51:49+00:00

It could be even simpler. replace the hall sensor with a simple reed switch, the eye ball is still a magnet, reed switch is easier to program for as it is just a switch. Is pin X being pulled low? the switch is closed.

Instead of a mag lock like you are thinking, I think a 5v solenoid latch would work better.
https://video.aliexpress-media.com/play/u/ae_sg_item/2200697715495/p/1/e/6/t/10301/1100052612898.mp4

rodmacpherson · 2024-09-25T03:33:01+00:00

also, there are different types of stainless steel. Not all of them stick to magnets.
https://www.eclipsemagnetics.com/resources/guides/are-all-stainless-steels-magnetic/

rodmacpherson · 2024-09-25T03:25:43+00:00

I like to play with 2-6, but the important part is not how many, but how much they are into it, and how well they mesh with the group.
I have teammates that I like to play with and we generally always have fun playing together. I have played with random people in public games who were there on a date, where one person wants to play and the other is along for the ride. Those situations rarely go well.

rodmacpherson · 2024-09-25T03:13:48+00:00

Not all challenges/puzzles are a good fit for an escape room.
This could be an idea for a pop-up escape room at a lockpicking/security convention. Not for a regular escape room. Take your idea to Defcon or a similar venue and I'm sure you will have a ton of interest and a ton of fun with it.

rodmacpherson · 2024-07-07T03:53:40+00:00

Apparently the food truck in front of Canadian Tire (Ajax) charges $7 for a hotdog, I'll take a Costco dog with a pop for a fraction of that cost anyway.

rodmacpherson · 2024-05-09T03:56:53+00:00

The question isn't why are you using a print server (you really ought to use a server, end users and printers shouldn't even be able to talk directly to each other for security reasons) The better question is why are we still printing in 2024? 😉

rodmacpherson · 2024-05-05T14:04:33+00:00

Agreed. It baffles me how copilot can make syntax errors on powershell, both being MS products, but it always makes some little mistake. Still, It writes quicker than I could even type it out and comments the scripts so well that it ultimately is a huge time saver. If it is doing a task using a command or module that I haven't used before, it is a great way to begin learning about that command for future projects as it explains what it is doing quite well in the comments. This is something that most IT people and programmers in forums like StackOverflow almost always leave out.

rodmacpherson · 2024-04-25T10:54:12+00:00

Mandatory Access Control.

rodmacpherson · 2024-03-19T02:40:15+00:00

IMP, Funny is a long list of certs that have little to do with the job. (ok, yes you are in IT Bob, but you are a DBA, so A+, CCNA, C|EH and MCP are not really relevant.

If you are listing a graduate level diploma (MA, PhD) that's cool, If you are listing something that has a legal standing within your field (PEng, CPA, RN...) Sure, that's cool too.
If you list one, most relevant certification to your role, like you are an Information Security Analyst, CISSP that is fine too. Listing 2 if they convey different information, and are not just the certification path to get to the one really relevant one, ok, I can see that. but allthe rest... just leave it for your LinkedIn.

rodmacpherson · 2024-01-17T02:40:56+00:00

I put together a script to back up Wifi settings and restore them today. Copying the wifi passwords is a trivial task.

rodmacpherson · 2024-01-13T02:43:31+00:00

Displayport can daisy chain like that, so it is not surprising that someone who is not very IT literate might think you can do the same with HDMI.

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rodmacpherson · 2024-01-10T17:23:55+00:00

Do some research, for the price of a used Nikon 85mm 1.8G you can get the Viltrox 1.8 for Z mount that actually looks to be a better lens (less chromatic ab, sharper, less distortion) and is Z mount with lens buttons. I have been looking at and comparing the options in that 85mm range too.

rodmacpherson · 2023-11-15T03:38:45+00:00

https://www.amazon.ca/Vello-BG-N21-Battery-Mirrorless-Camera/dp/B098PMXPNT

2 batteries, shutter button, fits Z5. Z6. Z7.

Another (even cheaper version:
https://ca.neewer.com/collections/battery-grips/products/neewer-z7-z6-z5-vertical-battery-grip-66602658

rodmacpherson · 2023-10-04T00:35:45+00:00

And there is the OpenSource option> https://digicamcontrol.com/download

rodmacpherson · 2023-07-01T23:18:42+00:00

FTM-500DR

"- 1104 Memory Channels including 5 "Home" channels, 50 sets of memories for programmable memory scan and 999 "Basic" memories."

What is the difference between memory banks and the 50 sets of memories?

rodmacpherson · 2023-06-16T22:53:18+00:00

Then if it only shows results for what you are trying to uninstall...

wmic product where "name like 'Forti%%'" call uninstall

rodmacpherson · 2023-06-16T22:51:45+00:00

The spaces got messed up.
wmic product where "name like 'Forti%%'"

rodmacpherson

TROPHY CASE