Where to put new (or old) DIY projects.

[Bryce]

Hi All,
      I have a few hardware projects that I designed over the years, that have never been put on the interwebs. I joined the CPCWiki not only to add my general knowledge of all things CPC, but also to possibly release my designs into the WWW. The only problem I have is that there isn't really a place for DIY projects on the Wiki, although there are some DIY projects scattered throughout the Wiki. My question is, should I/we/somebody create a Hardware DIY section where all DIY projects can be found, or where should one sort these items?

Bryce.

Just in case anyones interested, the first (easiest to document) projects are 'Converting an MP1 to an MP2' and 'Getting Scart quality on an LCD/Plasma TV' (Which I built this week after discovering that my Scart cable doesn't work on my new TV), which I will post as soon as I know where I should put them.

[Octoate]

It would be great to see more DIY projects in the CPC Wiki. Currently some of the DIY articles are linked in the peripherals article, but if the number of DIY hardware will increase in the future it would make sense to add an own DIY article. However, we should create a DIY category to mark the current articles.

[Bryce]

In the Peripherals section alone, there are already 7 or so DIY projects which could be moved to a DIY Page. My suggestion would be to add a menu link in the Hardware menu on the main page, maybe grouped together with Reapir, ie: a "Repair and DIY" section. I have a good few projects I could add to the section and we could start a Do-it-yourself repair section with fault finding tips and step-by-step guides... Just a suggestion.

Bryce.

[arnoldemu]

In the Peripherals section alone, there are already 7 or so DIY projects which could be moved to a DIY Page. My suggestion would be to add a menu link in the Hardware menu on the main page, maybe grouped together with Reapir, ie: a "Repair and DIY" section. I have a good few projects I could add to the section and we could start a Do-it-yourself repair section with fault finding tips and step-by-step guides... Just a suggestion.

Bryce.

Run with it. Your suggestion is good and I think you should continue.

[TFM]

Run with it. Your suggestion is good and I think you should continue.

Yes! Great idea! I only can encourage to do it that way! Ride on ;-)

[Bryce]

I'd love to, but I have no idea how to edit the menu on the left side of the main page? Can someone tell me how to, or if I don't have the authority to do so, can someone add the menu items "DIY Projects" and "Hardware Repair" to this menu. Between Peripherals and Gallery would probably be the best place. I have been working on the first article (Getting a CPC working on an LCD/Plasma TV) whic I will probably upload at the weekend.

Bryce.

[Bryce]

Hmmm...
        I uploaded the first DIY project to peripherals/monitors/LCD And Plasma Solutions, when a suitable DIY section is available, I'll move it over there.

Bryce.

[Gryzor]

Heya guys, Bryce, so sorry to haven't replied yet.

To begin with, such knowledge as yours is really, really welcome and extremely valuable. So I could really see such a section, and I could add it in a sec if we all feel one should be added. The LCD guide, btw, is really wonderful and I wish I could do it to hook up my CPC directly to my Bravia...

On the other hand, there's always the "Technical docs-tutorials" link at the sidebar, which leads to the Technical Documentation page*. I have a feeling this is maybe enough, especially given the relatively small number of articles there... Or is it?

In any case, it's really easy to modify the sidebar and start a new section, just let me know what you think about the existing page, people!

Cheers
Gryzor

*Bt, I have added the LCD tutorial to that page too

[Bryce]

Hi All,
      just added my latest DIY Project. "How to convert an MP1 into an MP2"

Bryce

[fano]

Nice article 

[Bryce]

Thanks. Glad I got that one finished, now I can finish some other hardware tricks I've been working on. The next project to come is a stand-alone mouse interface for modern PS/2 and USB Mouses/mices/ mees? It will be fully AMX compatible for those who want to use any AMX compatible software and maybe even scroll-wheel compatibility, if I can get it working. I should have it finished and documented before christmas, if I have the time.

Bryce

[Gryzor]

The link is here and, from a quick look, it's really how HowTo's should look like - great stuff!

Bryce, does this mean you won't need my photos? I had arranged to go by my mothers' tomorrow to unearth it...

The mouse guide would bre really sweet to have. I wonder how you would implement the wheel's functions though...?

[Bryce]

Morning Gryzor,
         I'd still like the photo, just to see what's inside, if that's ok. Yes, the scroll wheel is what's holding up the project at the moment. I have built a working version for a non-scrolling normal mouse, but it uses an expensive processor, so my first goal is to convert the project to a processor (PIC) that is affordable. The problem is just trying to cram the mouse type auto-detection and all the other bits into a cheap PIC. Depending how long that takes, I may release Version 1 without the scrolling feature. The AMX mouse doesn't use all the joystick inputs, so I could link the scroll wheel to the other unused pins. Obviously the old AMX programs won't be able to make use of the scroll wheel, but newer CPC Operating systems, that are AMX compatible could take advantage of this feature. We'll see, depends how much free time I have over the next weeks.

Bryce

[nocash]

Heya. About the "Technical docs-tutorials" link (in the frame menu). Do you know how that sounds like? It's like fire and ice. Like good and evil. Like asm and hll. I mean if you are looking for serious info, and see "Technical docs" then you think: "Great". But then you see "tutorials" and your smile freezes and you try thinking of something else.

Tutorials is if you tell people which end of the screw-driver must point towards the screw. I think the webpage would look a lot smarter if you remove the "tutorial" word, at least it should not be used for referring to the tech docs.

NB. something else: The http://cpcwiki.eu/index.php/I/O_Port_Summary is now complete with links to the corresponding webpages for all known ports. Even the mysterious "Hard Disc" ports are resolved - turned out to the dobbertin xddos ones.

[Gryzor]

Heya mate, sorry for the late reply.

I do see your point, but on the other hand: aren't there tutorials for advanced users? And, in any case, there are some simple things thrown in with more serious stuff in there.

I don't disagree with your point; it's just that I don't feel there's enough material there yet to warrant a second category. If we manage to augment the material/articles in that category, then it'd be nice to split them. But for not, wouldn't it be a bit too much? Dunno, I'm asking! Keep the opinions coming

[Bryce]

This isn't something I'm likely to say very often, but..... I agree with nocash

The section for DIY Hardware / Electronics is something I feel is lost under "Technical docs / Tutorials", or at least I'd never go looking for it there, if I didn't know it was there in the first place and it definitely doesn't describe what you find there. There are currently 33 DIY projects, and when I get some time, there are more to come. Along with all the detailed hardware breakdowns being done by Gerald, nocash, myself and others, it would be nice to have an Electronics section where this all comes together, rather than having to search out each device seperately. I would suggest it should be a seperate "Electronics" Link, with sections for CPC Schematics, Chip details, peripheral schematics, DIY projects and Repair tips and information. And this section should be under hardware and not literature.

But that's just my opinion as a hardware person.

Bryce.

[arnoldemu]

This isn't something I'm likely to say very often, but..... I agree with nocash

The section for DIY Hardware / Electronics is something I feel is lost under "Technical docs / Tutorials", or at least I'd never go looking for it there, if I didn't know it was there in the first place and it definitely doesn't describe what you find there. There are currently 33 DIY projects, and when I get some time, there are more to come. Along with all the detailed hardware breakdowns being done by Gerald, nocash, myself and others, it would be nice to have an Electronics section where this all comes together, rather than having to search out each device seperately. I would suggest it should be a seperate "Electronics" Link, with sections for CPC Schematics, Chip details, peripheral schematics, DIY projects and Repair tips and information. And this section should be under hardware and not literature.

But that's just my opinion as a hardware person.

Bryce.

Gryzor!!!!!!!!! sort this out.

[Gryzor]

By gods, mates, I've had this topic open since morning, but didn't have the time to give it the attention it deserves. Wait a bit

[Gryzor]

Ok, so yesterday I had a day-long meeting and I started thinking about the organization of things...

First of all, I'm not too sure 'Electronics' would be correct: after all, there is a "Hardware" section with significant overlapping, no? Also, how about a simple DIY like a belt changing - does it go under Electronics or under Tutorials?

You see it's not that simple...

Anyhow, what I propose to do is split the subject in two indeed:

-Documentation/Guides/How To's (but need to shorten this down for the sake of the sidebar) and
-DIY/Electronics.

But:
-What about the Schematics section? Should it be incorporated?
-Service manuals - where do they go? They're as much 'documentation' as they are 'electronics'...
-User manuals: should they be incorporated to the Documentation section?

Cheers
Gry

[Bryce]

Ok, so how about this....

There's already a "Hardware" heading in the left frame, under this heading there could be a "DIY / Repair" link which would contain all DIY electronics projects AND instructions on connecting Floppies cables / printer cable / pcpara cables / changing belt instructions etc. The Documentation Section could be renamed to "Amstrad Documention" or "Original Documention" or even "Official Documentation" where the schematics / service manuals and handbooks could be found (ie: all documentation that was released by Amstrad or other commercial companies).

This way the link names would fit the content? Or maybe others see it differently?

Bryce.

[arnoldemu]

Ok, so how about this....

There's already a "Hardware" heading in the left frame, under this heading there could be a "DIY / Repair" link which would contain all DIY electronics projects AND instructions on connecting Floppies cables / printer cable / pcpara cables / changing belt instructions etc. The Documentation Section could be renamed to "Amstrad Documention" or "Original Documention" or even "Official Documentation" where the schematics / service manuals and handbooks could be found (ie: all documentation that was released by Amstrad or other commercial companies).

This way the link names would fit the content? Or maybe others see it differently?

Bryce.

Gryzor. Please sort this out.

[Gryzor]

Gryzor. Please sort this out.

I'm munching my hat right now.

[Bryce]

Ok, so munching your hat..... The hat is Hardware AND you are doing it yourself, so this would come under "Hardware - DIY". Unless of course you have chewed it long enough that it could be considered software, but is it then commercial (you probably bought the hat) or was it just a demo?.... A difficult one that.... 

Bryce.

[Gryzor]

Ok:

-Created "DIY&Repair" link.
-Keeping "tech docs/documentation" for the time being, until the stuff has been moved
-Where to put the Service Manuals?
-We should also have a Regular Manuals page...

How's that for starters, mateys?

[Bryce]

I'm speechless ! Off to sort the projects now.....

Just being fussy, but can you add spaces to the DIY&Repair - ie: DIY & Repair.

The Tech docs/documentation shouldn't ever be deleted, that's where the service manuals and handbooks should stay.

Bryce.