Introduction
Nov 28, 2007 The Netgear MP101 MP3 player was brought up before, in the context of somehow unbricking one using OpenWrt. The response then was that it could not be made to run OpenWrt because the factory firmware runs eCos. Consult the NETGEAR Media Server online help for full details about firewall settings. Note: The MP101 is a client that can only play music served from another source such as the NETGEAR Media Server or from an Internet music service such as RHAPSODY. Page 13: Next, Connect The Mp101. Using the PC where the NETGEAR Media Server software is running, download the new file MP101S3323.zip from NETGEAR 2. Use an unzip utility to extract the files to a convenient location (such as the Windows Desktop). Do NOT run the.exe file from inside the unzip utility 3.
The Bescor MP-101 is a motorized tripod head that in its original form is controlled by a four-button switch connected by cable.It's a popular and well-built device that is crying out for wireless control.
If you buy the very expensive CamRanger (~350 USD) for wireless control of your camera, there is an (expensive) accessory available that allows you to also control the Bescor MP-101. Many people love the CamRanger, but I find the system unstable, and when it hangs the server needs to be restarted, which is pretty annoying when it's on a mast 12m up in the air.
An alternative (and better) solution for wirelessly controlling a camera is DDServer which is donationware and runs on the same hardware as the CamRanger (the TP-Link MR3040, which costs around 40 USD when bought without the CamRanger firmware installed). I also find the interface of DSLRDashboard much better than that on the CamRanger.
You need to be (or know) a little bit of a nerd to install the DDServer firmware on the TPlink MR3040, but you're getting a better product and saving 300 USD.
However, DSLRDashboard can't control the Bescor MP-101 head, which is crucial for the mast jobs that I do, which is why I was really happy when I found this simple solution to wirelessly controlling it.
Parts
IC 2262 / 2272 4-channel remote-control kit (~ 4 USD on ebay)7-pin DIN plug and wire (Or you can cut the plug off the wired remote)
The IC2262/2272 is a wonderful system comprising a key fob with 4 buttons, and a tiny circuit board with 7 pins - power and ground plus a pin for each of the buttons (plus a pin that goes high when any of the buttons is pressed). And it needs the same 5v supply that the Bescor head uses, so you don't need an extra battery.
Construction
Decide which buttons you want to control which movements (I chose A=Left, B=Right, C=Up, D=Down))Connect the corresponding pins to the 7-pin DIN plug.(Leave the VT pin on the board, and the speed pin on the DIN plug unconnected)
And that's it ! Couldn't be simpler.
But it can be more complicated, if you want, so I have actually put an arduino microprocessor between the 2272 and the head so that I can do more complicated things in the future (eg programmed panorama stitching).
But that's a story for another day (see below).
Netgear Mp101 Software Download
Another day :The range of these remote controls is normally around 100m, but I found that was reduced significantly when I had the Bescor motor switched on, presumably due to electromagnetic noise interfering with the radio signals. The device still worked, but at longer distances the motor ran intermittently when a button was held constantly.
For this reason, plus future features, I added an arduino microcontroller between the receiver and the Bescor head, whose job was to create a one second pulseeach time a short signal was detected, thus smoothing out the noise (at the expense of the loss of a few degrees of positioning precision).
The wiring is pretty simple : Pins A,B,C, and D on the receiver are connected to Arduino input pins 8,9,10, and 11. VT is connected to pin 12, while ground and 5v are common to the Bescor, the receiver and the Arduino. Output pins 0, 1, 2, 3, and 4 on the Arduino are connected to the 7-pin DIN going to the Bescor.I also added an LED to pin 5, as a confirmation lamp.
Here you can pick up the Arduino code
© Mark Harris 2016, but feel free to distribute without changes.
Well, that was well and good for music, but I wanted to do more (view pictures, videos, etc). I first tried out MythTV and MediaPortal on a spare computer. They were ok, though a bit slow (particularly in startup time) and MythTV proved a little difficult to get working with the hardware I had. Though the biggest factor in not going that route was that my wife was not happy with the computer case sitting next to the entertainment center. Yes, I could buy a small form-factor case, motherboard, etc. and build a small PC to look like another audio component to fit in the entertainment canter, but I wanted to do this cheaply.
Then I ran into this article in Popular Science (printed edition) to build an 'Xbox Media Monster'. I knew you could hack Xboxes to run Linux or make them into media centers, but I thought you needed a modchip or good soldering skills (which I don't have), but apparently now you no longer need to do any hardware modifications! The instructions in the printed Popular Science article were a little too general, so I found more complete instructions here which include the specific part numbers you need for the original MechAssault.
So, I made a quick stop to GameStop to buy a used Xbox, an Action Replay memory device, and an original copy of the game MechAssault. Finding the original MechAssault was the only tricky part and required me to go to a second store. Then I simply followed the instructions and I was up and running XBMC (XBox Media Center) in no time. I used the XBMC BLINGBLING edition as it was the most up-to-date edition I could find.
I'm loving my Xbox Media Center now. Besides being able to view and stream my pictures, music, and videos from my Linux server, XBMC also contains a scripting ability for which many scripts are available to do things like view the latest videos on YouTube, Google Videos, or your favorite community video source, stream audio from Shoutcast, Live365, or other audio sources, view current weather radar, TV listings, etc. If there's a media source online, someone probably has a script to view it via XBMC.
Netgear Mp101 Hack Tool
XBMC can play video DVD and audio CDs (and rip them for you). You can use Xlink Kai to play games across the internet instead of a normal LAN (Local Area Network). Additionally, you can install Xbox apps like dvd2xbox to rip your Xbox games to the Xbox hard drive. Extracting your favorite game to the hard drive can help game performance. Another Xbox application you may want to try is MAMEoX to play your favorite classic arcade game on your Xbox.
XBMC includes a web server so you can remotely control your Xbox, and an FTP server to move files to/from your Xbox.
Netgear Mp101 Download
All in all, it's an impressive system for around $140 (for Xbox and all necessary accessories).