Comments on: Make a dollar-store parabolic microphone http://boingboing.net/2008/06/20/make-a-dollarstore-p.html Brain candy for Happy Mutants Fri, 24 May 2013 14:55:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: mysterytune http://boingboing.net/2008/06/20/make-a-dollarstore-p.html#comment-216586 mysterytune Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-216586 @ Antinous - Sorry! Won't happen again :( @ Antinous – Sorry! Won’t happen again :(

]]> By: eustace http://boingboing.net/2008/06/20/make-a-dollarstore-p.html#comment-216605 eustace Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-216605 If you want to make a sturdier parabolic reflector, using that umbrella is probably not your best bet. I design reflectors (parabolic, elliptical/parabolic) for RF use. If I wanted to make a reflector in my garage I would start with a block of styrofoam, cut out half the shape I need (the curve from the center to the outside diameter) in cardboard and use it as a template to shape the styrofoam. Cover the foam with plastic sheet, then 2 thin layers of fiberglass (you can get fiberglass repair kits at hardware stores that have quite a bit of cloth). The coolest thing IMHO about RF reflectors is the layer of copper cloth that actually reflects the signal. It has such a fine mesh that you could make a suit out of it (a very expensive suit). If you want to make a sturdier parabolic reflector, using that umbrella is probably not your best bet. I design reflectors (parabolic, elliptical/parabolic) for RF use. If I wanted to make a reflector in my garage I would start with a block of styrofoam, cut out half the shape I need (the curve from the center to the outside diameter) in cardboard and use it as a template to shape the styrofoam. Cover the foam with plastic sheet, then 2 thin layers of fiberglass (you can get fiberglass repair kits at hardware stores that have quite a bit of cloth).
The coolest thing IMHO about RF reflectors is the layer of copper cloth that actually reflects the signal. It has such a fine mesh that you could make a suit out of it (a very expensive suit).

]]> By: hyperkine http://boingboing.net/2008/06/20/make-a-dollarstore-p.html#comment-216616 hyperkine Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-216616 Very cool and it something I could actually do. Very cool and it something I could actually do.

]]> By: mysterytune http://boingboing.net/2008/06/20/make-a-dollarstore-p.html#comment-216412 mysterytune Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-216412 @ William - I think it's an iRiver, because my old one could do the same thing. http://www.iriver.com/product/p_detail.asp?pidx=35 You might be able to find a cheap one on Ebay. @ William – I think it’s an iRiver, because my old one could do the same thing.

http://www.iriver.com/product/p_detail.asp?pidx=35

You might be able to find a cheap one on Ebay.

]]> By: Antinous http://boingboing.net/2008/06/20/make-a-dollarstore-p.html#comment-216417 Antinous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-216417 mysterytune, No bloglink in your comments, please. That goes on your profile page. mysterytune,

No bloglink in your comments, please. That goes on your profile page.

]]> By: FunkDaddy http://boingboing.net/2008/06/20/make-a-dollarstore-p.html#comment-216218 FunkDaddy Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-216218 Neat. Would you get better reception by lining the inside of the umbrella with some thing more reflective, like mylar or tin foil? Neat. Would you get better reception by lining the inside of the umbrella with some thing more reflective, like mylar or tin foil?

]]> By: Evil Jim http://boingboing.net/2008/06/20/make-a-dollarstore-p.html#comment-216477 Evil Jim Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-216477 Woah! You can get MP3 players at the dollar store these days? Woah! You can get MP3 players at the dollar store these days?

]]> By: Takuan http://boingboing.net/2008/06/20/make-a-dollarstore-p.html#comment-216279 Takuan Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-216279 how does one go about canonizing someone these days? how does one go about canonizing someone these days?

]]> By: william http://boingboing.net/2008/06/20/make-a-dollarstore-p.html#comment-216284 william Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-216284 @Funkdaddy: Good idea. I was thinking some spray-on plastic-ish substance. @Funkdaddy: Good idea. I was thinking some spray-on plastic-ish substance.

]]> By: strider_mt2k http://boingboing.net/2008/06/20/make-a-dollarstore-p.html#comment-216540 strider_mt2k Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-216540 I'm still circuit bending my clearance table dollar store electronic guitars. (2 for a buck!) :) I didn't see any of these hats, however I'm kind of on a circuit bending jag for the moment, so I'll keep an eye out for 'em. Very very cool project. I’m still circuit bending my clearance table dollar store electronic guitars. (2 for a buck!) :)

I didn’t see any of these hats, however I’m kind of on a circuit bending jag for the moment, so I’ll keep an eye out for ‘em.

Very very cool project.

]]> By: william http://boingboing.net/2008/06/20/make-a-dollarstore-p.html#comment-216299 william Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-216299 Anybody know good MP3 players for that? The one in the video <a href="http://www.fuzing.com/vli/00067417d215/Mp3-player-with-Line_in-record-direct-Encoding-and-FM-radio-recording-functions" rel="nofollow">seems to be this one</a>. But I can't find it <a href="http://www.uetechnology.com/productlist.asp?id=14" rel="nofollow">on the manufacturer's product page</a>, and I can't figure out who sells their products in the US. I'd especially like to find one with a built-in microphone plus mic jack and a UI that isn't entirely hostile. Anybody know good MP3 players for that?

The one in the video seems to be this one. But I can’t find it on the manufacturer’s product page, and I can’t figure out who sells their products in the US.

I’d especially like to find one with a built-in microphone plus mic jack and a UI that isn’t entirely hostile.

]]>