Notes from the Electronics SIG Zoom meeting 21 November 2024

[Hugh Norwood]

Notes from the Electronics SIG Zoom meeting 21 November 2024

Six members attended
Tom Alexander, Graeme Dunbar, Stephen Elliott, Stephen Rainsbury, Jeffrey Sydenham, Hugh Norwood.

Hugh started a discussion on adapting screens (PC or TV) to show slide shows and/or videos – he has a spare monitor and wants to see if it can be used on the Society stand to show photos. The conclusion was that although a number of options are possible, for this particular monitor (mainly because it does not have a HDMI connector), it would be cheaper to buy a photo frame!

Stephen E brought us up to date on his continuing exploits with his extension to Dizzyworld. This will include a "skytrain" controlled by a shuttle system from (possibly) Heathcote – watch this space!
Jeffrey suggested that Stephen E might look at Block Signalling (blocksignalling.co.uk) who also make shuttle units.

Jeffrey is looking at using ESP (a microcontroller, not some super-hero talent!). This has WiFi and a broadcast mode; with one in each module, they will communicate with each other. With various add-in modules, the system will be able to take inputs from different sensors and control relays.

Stephen R has been busy with electronics, but not railway-related (for example a toy dinosaur...)

Graeme was feeling show-lagged, having been to 4 shows in 5 weeks, supporting the ScOONS Society stand at Aberdeen, Dundee, Elgin and Falkirk.

The next meeting will be on 9 January (TBC).

[Terry Mowles]

Just a comment re Hugh's mention of re-using various PC monitors at shows.

Hugh mentions one particular monitor not being useful as it doesn't have an HDMI input - there are different converters available that will take HDMI and convert it to VGA or DVI. I have a DVI one here that I use and our local Mens Shed used to use one to convert to the old video and audio input of a large TV from
HDMI off a laptop.

The converters are not expensive, I got mine off of Ebay.

[Hugh Norwood]

yes - but it's the fact I'd need the HDMI-VGA bit (with cables) as well as the box to host the slide show / video.  It's the faff of taking all the bits to a show and not losing half of them.  It's not completely off the agenda yet... 

Muddying the waters is some sort of rights-management system that prevents illegal transfer of media over HDMI - will that be required or not? (I don't understand that, myself.)

[Graeme Dunbar]

Hugh's position is similar to mine - I wanted to minimise the hardware needed to take to exhibitions, set up, pack away and the chances of forgetting or losing bits.  By pure chance I happened to have the equipment in the form of an inexpensive TV I bought from Argos a good few years ago for a Raspberry Pi-like microcomputer.

An advantage of having a device that is not too smart is it is less susceptible to 'finger trouble', i.e. I've used my laptop on occasion but I'd rather not have a keyboard or touch screen that can be played with. I've also used a laptop (out of the way) and a monitor, but whatever device is producing the video means another device and another power supply. A self-contained screen plus its power supply is a lot less hassle.

It seems that some 'smart' TVs have USB media player capability. Here is one that is similar to the one I bought several years ago, but my one was less expensive, under £100 I think.
Argos TV

A number of inexpensive TVs claim USB connectivity, but I'm not sure if this includes playing videos from them.

Electronic photo frames would appear to be another possibility as some appear to handle video files. Photo frames are usually quite small though. However they are often compact (thin). Another small video display device is the integrated media players for applications such as putting in cars to entertain the rear seat passengers (children I guess).

My TV is 21" which is quite a good size for displaying 009 News double page spread format.

If anyone knows of other inexpensive smart TVs, media players or photo frames with video capability then please pass them on as I would like to draw up a list.

[Terry Mowles]

Muddying the waters is some sort of rights-management system that prevents illegal transfer of media over HDMI - will that be required or not? (I don't understand that, myself.)

The HDMI converters I've used don't seem to concern themselves with such things.

Re playing video's via a USB stick on a smart TV, a lot of older TV's with that capability don't handle the newer video formats so won't play the video.

One thing to check on sets that do play the modern video formats is that the sound stays in sync, we have a couple of Samsung TV's (an older 6 year old one and a 12 month old one) and they are both woeful as far as maintaining audio sync.

[Dave Cooper]

There's a lot to be said for keeping it simple - exactly what information do you want to get across ? At a busy exhibition, I'd say your typical attendee (myself included) is 'swamped' with visual information /images from all sides...

Perhaps, something for them to take away (eg a printed leaflet) would be better for them to study quietly back at home.

Just a thought,
Dave

[Graeme Dunbar]

A bit of context regarding our use of video displays.

We started using a video display on the ScOONs (Scotland Area Group) stand in the first shows after Covid lockdown where previously we may have had spare copies of the 009 News for visitors to leaf through and perhaps take away - i.e. with social distancing still in place and definitely not wanting people pawing the exhibit.

I created a simple animated display to give the impression of turning the pages of sample 009 News.

Generally we base a ScOONs stand around a layout or micro layouts but there are occasions when it is an information stand. Sometimes exhibition organizers put society stands together and it is quite noticeable when you see a run of tables with sometimes bored looking representatives sitting arms folded behind a table with maybe a banner behind them a pile of leaflets in front of them and perhaps some static models.

Specialist exhibitions may be different but in a general model railway exhibition with a large proportion of the general (non-modeller) public attending, if nothing is happening they will walk straight past. Often when it is quiet I've cued up train movements so that as soon as someone is in the eye-line something starts to move. *

It may not be the pinnacle of quality modelling but (another aspect pertinent to the Electronics SIG) animations and so on do seem to attract attention.

I not a fan of the florid notices in galleries telling people what to think about a piece of art but I do think many layouts could be enhanced by the inclusion of additional information which could potentially be a video or slide show - for example a photo survey of the line being modelled, or a time lapse of a novel construction technique. I detest though the stands (usually traders) that have videos with with sound that often turned up too loud!

* Edit: another potential Electronics SIG project - a PIR movement detector to start something moving such as a short shuttle or a pizza layout operating intermittently - or an animation on a layout.

[Dave Cooper]

A bit of context regarding our use of video displays.

We started using a video display on the ScOONs (Scotland Area Group) stand in the first shows after Covid lockdown where previously we may have had spare copies of the 009 News for visitors to leaf through and perhaps take away - i.e. with social distancing still in place and definitely not wanting people pawing the exhibit.

I created a simple animated display to give the impression of turning the pages of sample 009 News.

Generally we base a ScOONs stand around a layout or micro layouts but there are occasions when it is an information stand. Sometimes exhibition organizers put society stands together and it is quite noticeable when you see a run of tables with sometimes bored looking representatives sitting arms folded behind a table with maybe a banner behind them a pile of leaflets in front of them and perhaps some static models.

Specialist exhibitions may be different but in a general model railway exhibition with a large proportion of the general (non-modeller) public attending, if nothing is happening they will walk straight past. Often when it is quiet I've cued up train movements so that as soon as someone is in the eye-line something starts to move. *

It may not be the pinnacle of quality modelling but (another aspect pertinent to the Electronics SIG) animations and so on do seem to attract attention.

I not a fan of the florid notices in galleries telling people what to think about a piece of art but I do think many layouts could be enhanced by the inclusion of additional information which could potentially be a video or slide show - for example a photo survey of the line being modelled, or a time lapse of a novel construction technique. I detest though the stands (usually traders) that have videos with with sound that often turned up too loud!

* Edit: another potential Electronics SIG project - a PIR movement detector to start something moving such as a short shuttle or a pizza layout operating intermittently - or an animation on a layout.

They sound like good applications for a Video /Slide show Graeme. Does the Society provide 'back-up' material for them to take away ? Perhaps, an extract from the Member's Handbook or, something similar...

[Graeme Dunbar]

They sound like good applications for a Video /Slide show Graeme. Does the Society provide 'back-up' material for them to take away ? Perhaps, an extract from the Member's Handbook or, something similar...

Thanks Dave. Yes we have the Society leaflets and often old issues of the News.

[Hugh Norwood]

I've now got a work-round for the display; I have an old laptop running Linux, and after checking it can run a slideshow, I blew the moths out of my wallet and invested £8 in a long hdmi-vga cable. Linux had no issues using the monitor and I can just drag windows across on to it.

[Graeme Dunbar]

That's good Hugh. I have an old laptop (well two - my old Samsung notebook and my son's old laptop) and I've been wondering about a very lightweight version of Linux that will run satisfactorily on 2 GB RAM.

[Dave Cooper]

I have an old laptop running Windows 'Vista' (yes, that old !). I'll have to check on the RAM position, but, I wouldn't mind giving Linux a go - probably "Ubuntu" if I can squeeze it in....

From the front screen, it looks like it may have a half-decent graphics board too. I think I used to run my Flight Sim's on it.

[Hugh Norwood]

I have Linux Mint on this one (It has 4Gb and runs the 64bit version)