tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38425240375304130312024-02-19T04:54:15.991+00:00JC PhotographicMy website has been expanded to cover other interests apart from just showing some of my photographs.
This blog now adds another area to the site.John Crowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01620013534327960724noreply@blogger.comBlogger128125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3842524037530413031.post-84136348727221938302016-01-23T11:51:00.001+00:002016-01-23T11:51:48.733+00:00Malt ShovelOn the London Pride today.<div>Haddock & Chips do for dinner.</div>John Crowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01620013534327960724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3842524037530413031.post-54250343725877779922015-12-21T00:28:00.001+00:002015-12-21T00:28:18.738+00:00New PhoneThis is the first post using the new iPhone.<br><div>Let's see if I can keep it up-to-date.</div>John Crowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01620013534327960724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3842524037530413031.post-63352530184608676272010-11-18T20:50:00.000+00:002010-11-18T20:50:04.011+00:00Take Your PICHaving a couple of days off work to make a long weekend.<br />
Timed it right too, a new toy dropped through the letter box on Wednesday.<br />
<br />
Been playing with microcontrollers for a while now. I use Matrix Multimedia Flowcode Software, and their hardware.<br />
But just bought the Microchip PicKit2 to play with.<br />
1. Its Cheap £40.00 complete with usb cable and project board<br />
2. Its got in circuit programming capability & a built in logic analyser and UART (Missing from pickit3)<br />
<br />
So far Im very impressed,the 3 channel logic analyser is great for a simple bit of lit like this.<br />
<br />
Watch this spaceJohn Crowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01620013534327960724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3842524037530413031.post-34272110336711181972010-05-14T19:55:00.000+01:002010-05-14T19:55:11.627+01:00ShuttleJust watched the last ever launch of Shuttle Atlantis live on the web. Great HD video quality<br />
<a href="http://www.spacevidcast.com/">http://www.spacevidcast.com/</a><br />
Not many more launches left now, the end of an era.John Crowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01620013534327960724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3842524037530413031.post-82345488428954410622010-05-09T21:44:00.000+01:002010-05-09T21:44:43.031+01:00WebsiteI think its time to have a re-vamp of my website.<br />
Keep thinking about doing it using CSS. Its just finding the time to sit down and think about a layout and setting up the templates.<br />
<br />
The asthetics of the site is the hardest part, coding is easy. :)John Crowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01620013534327960724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3842524037530413031.post-81235383920350668912010-05-04T19:12:00.000+01:002010-05-04T19:12:32.706+01:00Long TimeWhere does the time go.<br />
Not put any entries on here for ages. Lat time it was snowing, now its the beginning of May and still cold, but at least no snow.<br />
<br />
The new PC is all setup and working well, and its quick - like greased lightning :)John Crowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01620013534327960724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3842524037530413031.post-77706451858090245322010-02-03T20:01:00.001+00:002010-02-03T20:02:02.443+00:00White StuffStarted sleeting as I left work at 4-30. Just starting to snow lightly when I got home 45mins later.<br />
<br />
Couple of hrs later we have a light covering :(<br />
Could do without that.<br />
<br />
Outside temperature @ 20:00 hrs + 0.6 Celcius.John Crowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01620013534327960724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3842524037530413031.post-88765165619982748792010-02-03T19:47:00.000+00:002010-02-03T19:47:34.895+00:00RIP Athlon 2800The Athlon 2800 Desktop System died last week. Just over 6 years old.<br />
The motherboard expired. Had been looking for a justification for upgrading :)<br />
<br />
Have now got a Intel Core I5-750 system on order.John Crowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01620013534327960724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3842524037530413031.post-26565059206585183692009-12-24T10:44:00.000+00:002009-12-24T10:44:56.925+00:00Happy Birthday Sir IssacSir Issac Newton was in born in Woolsthorpe, Lincolnshire on Christmas Day 1642.John Crowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01620013534327960724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3842524037530413031.post-36238278527229126792009-12-24T10:41:00.003+00:002009-12-24T10:45:16.208+00:00It's ChristmasThe holidays start here.<br />
Still loads of snow about, but surprise surprise, it wasn't freezing this morning, just because I did'nt have to go to work.John Crowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01620013534327960724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3842524037530413031.post-15762280156337337392009-12-21T19:30:00.000+00:002009-12-21T19:30:15.824+00:00Snow Snow SnowIts been %$^&*^ cold here last few days.<br />
Anyway, its nearly christmas. Two more days to go, too being able to relax and put my feet up.<br />
Well stocked up with the real alesJohn Crowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01620013534327960724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3842524037530413031.post-71843427993948990602009-12-03T19:25:00.002+00:002009-12-03T19:25:56.566+00:00Thought For The DayQ. Why do so many spiders work in I.T.<div><br />
</div><div>A. Because they are good at web design :)<br />
<div><br />
</div></div>John Crowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01620013534327960724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3842524037530413031.post-16828134463304568022009-11-12T21:13:00.005+00:002009-11-12T21:19:23.204+00:00Ultrasonic Distance Transducer IIThe Ultarsonic module (and other bits) arrived on Tuesday.<br />A 5 pin PCB header was quickly soldered to it, this way it can be plugged into the dev block, and connected to the PIC programmer.<br /><br />The flowcode program was loaded into the PIC, and the unit sprung to life.<br />Works over a range of 1cm to 60 cm.<br /><br />Want to try and make it indicate a decimal place next.<br />This will mean converting the measured value to a string to allow it to be displayed on the LCD.John Crowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01620013534327960724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3842524037530413031.post-54819709578557156732009-11-07T19:21:00.001+00:002009-11-07T19:23:18.216+00:00Ultrasonic Distance TransducerWatch This Space For Updates<br />Ordered an ultrasonic transducer module to use with the PICs. Should be here on Monday.<br />Got some interesting ideas to play withJohn Crowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01620013534327960724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3842524037530413031.post-18543373367532674492009-10-11T21:51:00.000+01:002009-10-11T21:52:43.984+01:00The ListThe List is the title of the new Rosanne Cash CD<br />Features some really BIG names dueting with her<br /><br />Great AlbumJohn Crowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01620013534327960724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3842524037530413031.post-75108445372803785702009-10-11T21:42:00.003+01:002009-10-11T21:49:08.545+01:00Microcontroller BookThe eagle-eyed among you will have noticed a new book in the "What Im Reading List"<br /><br />Been waiting almost a month for Smiths to get it for me.<br />Could have got it quicker from Matrix Multimedia, (Full Price), but Smiths had almost £10 off for buying on line, and picking up from the shop means no delivery charges either.<br /><br />It uses Flowcode and the E-Block range of hardware.<br />Flowcode is processer independant, though you do need the relevent version to compile the code for the 3 different types of processor. (PIC , AVR or ARM)<br />Currently, I'm only using PICsJohn Crowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01620013534327960724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3842524037530413031.post-6756595343583772312009-10-09T19:50:00.002+01:002009-10-09T19:54:38.816+01:00Bye Bye Windows 7 ExplorerAt last, Directory Opus is compatible with Windows 7.<br />That means not having to use the DREADFUL interface of windows explorer anymore.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.gpsoft.com.au/">Directory Opus</a><br /><br />One of the best software packages I have bought in a long time.<br />Currently in version 9.5John Crowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01620013534327960724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3842524037530413031.post-60567826190991859452009-10-02T19:07:00.004+01:002009-10-02T19:16:06.563+01:00PIC's & RFID's 2Im a happy bunny,<br /><br />I've got the card entry system working now<br />One card allows entry the other sets off the alarms<br />Once the correct card is detected, a pass code has to be entered.<br />Wrong code, (Or wrong card) sets off the alarms and a reset code is needed.<br /><br />Program developed using Flowcode 4, and <a href="http://www.matrixmultimedia.co.uk">Martix Multimedia</a> Hardware<br /><br />Next stages<br />Add more acceptable cards by storing them in the system.<br />Add more security by using the whole of the cards ID rather than the first byte of it.<br />Add a bigger colour display to allow better messagesJohn Crowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01620013534327960724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3842524037530413031.post-88191194848333766292009-09-27T19:05:00.002+01:002009-09-27T19:06:38.751+01:00ProfileUploaded a new profile pic.<br />This one has me in my new specs :)John Crowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01620013534327960724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3842524037530413031.post-25719474230387053912009-09-27T11:04:00.002+01:002009-09-27T11:09:23.301+01:00PIC's & RFID'sHaving another "play" with the PIC System.<br />Just added an RFID card reader module to it. This comes with a selection of cards to experiment with,<br />Been writing a simple card entry door lock system.<br />At the moment it will activate a relay if one specific card is inserted, and turn on the alarm with any other.<br />The cards all have a unique ID programmed into them. The current system is simple and uses only the first byte of the UID. Using the full one will make it more secure but needs a lot more program code.John Crowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01620013534327960724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3842524037530413031.post-48379045914546643332009-09-11T19:50:00.002+01:002009-09-11T19:56:46.444+01:00ThoughtsHaving a long weekend this one<br />Today , went and got measured up for new specs. One pair for seeing and one for reading/pc work etc.<br /><br />Tomorrow is the Leicester Radio Rally, though its not been in Leicester for many years. The last 10 its been at the exhibition centre at Donnington race track. Now thanks to Bernie E, its had to move since the centre was demolished.<br />Now at Loughborough University. Lets see what goodies I can find there.<br /><br />Final thought for the day.<br /><br />1 in 10 people understand binary, the other one doesn'tJohn Crowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01620013534327960724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3842524037530413031.post-44816033981331622042009-08-23T16:37:00.004+01:002009-08-23T16:41:05.987+01:00Who Knows Where The Time GoesThe weeks and months are flying by. Almosttwo months since my last post, and its nearly the end of August, and yet another year with a crap British summer.<br />Bank Holiday next weekend, so thats an omen for the rain:)John Crowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01620013534327960724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3842524037530413031.post-35549793761114356292009-06-25T21:24:00.002+01:002009-06-25T21:25:34.701+01:00WebsiteReally must get on and update the website.<div>Got a few ideas to add to it now.</div><div><br /></div><div>Watch this space !!</div>John Crowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01620013534327960724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3842524037530413031.post-2106337801887335772009-06-25T21:17:00.002+01:002009-06-25T21:21:20.072+01:00Kaspersky 2010The new version of Kaspersky has been released.<div>Good thing with their software, no matter how many new versions are released, you get a free update if your current licence is still active.</div><div><br /></div><div>Works well, had another update on the GUI as well.</div><div><br /></div><div>Running under windows 7 on the laptop and XP Pro on the desktop. Will try it on the 2nd hard disk on the desktop running windows 7 soon.</div>John Crowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01620013534327960724noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3842524037530413031.post-84550655110723021252009-06-16T20:09:00.002+01:002009-06-16T20:13:13.566+01:00Fedora 11Had a few problems getting it to install<div>Had to remove the SATA interface card, then V 10 would install</div><div>V 10 let me install V11 as an upgrade.</div><div>Got there in the end.</div><div><br /></div><div>Internet & Network configured</div>John Crowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01620013534327960724noreply@blogger.com0