Hot Other Devices How-Tos


How To: Troubleshoot common problems with a CD player
CD players are largely a thing of the past, but their audio quality is still top-notch. If your old CD player is broken, watch this video for ideas on ways to troubleshoot common CD player problems and repair them.

How To: Make a burning laser pointer that produces heat
In this video tutorial, viewers learn how to make a burning laser pointer. Users will just need a regular 5Mw green laser pointer. Begin by unscrewing the top of the laser pointer and take out the batteries. Carefully with a pair of pliers, break the glue seal and remove the laser. Using a micro screwdriver, make sure that the screw on the laser is tight. Now using a soldering iron heat the 03 component shown in the video for a few seconds. Then assemble the laser back together. This video wi...

How To: View a waveform of an inverter on a oscilloscope
Checking the waveform on a car plug-in inverter, like the type you would use to power a laptop computer in a car. I used my NLS MS-215 Miniscope to view the waveform. As you can see it is much more like a squarewave than a sinewave, like a staircase waveform.

How To: Print 2-sided (duplex) w/ an Epson all-in-one printer
The Epson video describes how to print two-sided on one piece of paper. When document is ready, go to "File" and then "Print". Click the "Properties" button and select Page Layout tab and turn on the two-sided printing option. Click "OK" in print window. Wait for Epson printer to complete the first page. Take paper, flip over and put it back upside down in the paper feeder. There are instructions that will pop out on screen for this. Click resume and the second page will be printed on the bac...

How To: Use a multimeter and check for ground
Learn how to use a multimeter to check for proper ground with help from this quick video. Also shown, is how to use a Fluke probe to pierce wires to test voltage. You can uses these practices when installing car alarms, fog lights, car stereo, and accessories.

How To: Transform Multiple Screens into One Big Virtual Display
The Junkyard Jumbotron is an amazing project that allows a collection of random web browser enabled displays—laptops, smartphones or tablets—to share a single image split across the group, creating one large virtual display. Created by Rick Borovoy at MIT's Center for Future Civic Media, the app is completely free and open, meaning you can do it yourself in a matter of minutes. It works like this:

How To: Calculate compound interest using a TI-84 and solver
This is a video tutorial in the Electronics category where you are going to learn how to calculate compound interest using a TI-84 and solver. Press the apps button on the calculator and press enter to load the TVM Solver which is the 1st choice. Here the meaning of various notations are N is time, I% is the percentage, PV is present value, PMT is payment, FV is future value and C/Y is compounding period. The problem is find the compound amount and the interest earned on $12,903.45 compounded...

How To: Resize a Breitling watch bracelet
Here is a video showing how to resize a Breitling Watch Bracelet. If you have small wrists, or just like a loose fitting watch, just get a screwdriver and watch.

How To: Hack someone's web cam or online security camera
This tutorial will let you hack into a wide selection of web cams and online security cameras. The hack is actually quite easy, and is best done with a browser like Mozilla Firefox. Navigate to Google in your browser, and then type in "inurl:viewerframe?mode+refresh". This piece of code will open up a list of active webcams. Then just surf through your choices and watch whatever you want. You can even change the camera angle and zoom in and out of the picture!

How To: Remove a stuck cartridge on a Kodak G600 Printer Dock
This interactive Kodak printer tutorial takes you through every step necessary to fully remove a stuck cartridge on a Kodak EasyShare G600 Printer Dock. If you have a Kodak EasyShare digital camera, you probably have one of these G600 printers, and you've probably had a problem with it, like a stuck printer cartridge, so fix it yourself, let Kodak teach you how. Remove a stuck cartridge on a Kodak G600 Printer Dock.

How To: Clean a cassette player
Learn how to clean a cassette player. Cassette players may be outdated, but if you've still got tapes, you're going to want to keep them in good condition.

How To: Use a TI-84 calculator as an MP3 Player!
With the help of a program called TItunes & standard earbuds (and adapter) we can listen to music played by a TI84! Mod you calculator to play music. This only works on a TI84, not a TI83.

How To: Make a lensless microscope
Turn a video camera into a lensless microscope and record what you see! This is a fun and easy project to do.

How To: Use an external hard drive for extra storage with your AppleTV
Movies, TV shows and other media content can fill up even the most generous hard drive quickly. You can use MediaUSB on aTV Flash to connect an external USB drive to your AppleTV for extra media storage capability, and this tutorial shows you how. Make the most of your Apple TV!

How To: Transfer programs to your TI-84+ and TI-84+ Silver
Wouldn't your TI calculator be way cooler with some sweet programs like Nintendo or Tetris? This is a short tutorial on extracting the files from a ZIP archive, and transferring them to your calculator.

How To: Graph Mario on a TI-83 Calculator
When it comes to graphing and comparing functions, the TI-83 graphing calculator is the end-all device for math and science students. But one of the most entertaining aspects of Texas Instruments' powerful algebraic and trigonometric calculator is not the equations themselves, but rather the art that can be "equated" on them—just think of them as the mathematical equivalent of the Etch A Sketch.

How To: Make your laser pointer run on AAA batteries
This video shows us the method to make your laser pointer work with AAA batteries. Take a metal casing made of metal. In the video, we take a Duracell mini flashlight and remove the front and back part. Unscrew the top and back of the laser pointer and remove the batteries. Roll some aluminium foil and put it in the metal casing. Put the AAA batteries in the casing with positive side inside. Put the casing and the laser pointer together and the laser works. Bind the two together by two rubber...

How To: Use a multimeter to test common household appliances
If you're doing any sort of electrical work at home, a multimeter is an invaluable tool to have. But as invaluable as it is to have a volt/ohm meter, it is obviously even more invaluable still to know how to use one. And, with this electrician's how-to, you'll learn how to do just that. For more information, and to get started using and reading multimeters yourself, watch this free video guide.

How To: Strip your Casio fx-82MS calculator
Take a look at this instructional video and learn how to take apart a Casio fx-82MS calculator. First, you'll need to get a screwdriver the take off the calculator's backplate. Make sure not to misplace those screws afterwards. You should be able to see the motherchip after taking off the plate, this is the next item you'll want to remove. These screws are extremely small so it might be best to use a knife to unscrew them. Lift the motherchip and take out the rubber key pad off. To put it bac...

How To: Make a laser out of a lighter
Kipkay has a new cool project for you. In this video, you'll learn how to make a laser out of a lighter. All you need to do is a cheap butane lighter. Any one will do, including one bought from a convenience store. Just watch this how-to video, and you'll be playing with your laser pointer in no time at all!

How To: Repair the Vivitar 285's Flash Foot
In this tutorial, we learn how to repair the Vivitar 285's Flash Foot. First, remove the flash foot using a soldering iron. Melt the solder just enough, don't ruin the wires or the backing. Now, set the iron down and then short the wires out, you will see the flash go off when you do this. Trim of the exposed wire from the end, then wrap a small amount of electrical tape around the wires. After this, you will repair the metal around where the wires were connected. Then, solder the wires back ...

How To: Make your own 6v battery pack for the Vivitar 285HV
You can make your own 6 volt battery pack for the Vivitar 285HV camera. The Vivitar 285 is known as the "cockroach" flash because it is well put together and it is very hard to kill the flash. Manual mode settings and the color setting are explained briefly. Instead of using four double A batteries to power this flash you can make your own 6V battery to power it. This is beneficial because the 6V battery will last longer and some of them have the ability to be charged up.

How To: Connect a wireless camera receiver to a Cambox DVR
Have a Cambox portable/professional DVR? Well, if you're one of the lucky few, then this video tutorial from Vofoo could help you out.

How To: Make crossover cable from an ordinary LAN cable
In order to connect two personal computers to each other, you will need a crossover cable. If you don't have one, that's not a problem. Take a look at this instructional video and learn how to make a crossover cable from and ordinary LAN cable with a small connector block, a knife, tape, and a lighter.

How To: Wire a radar detector directly into your dashboard
Radar Roy demonstrates in this video tutorial how to hard wire a dash-mounted radar detector. The advantage of direct wiring your radar detector is getting rid of that wire mess going to your cigarette lighter. So, if you don't want another speeding ticket again, install your radar detector the right way, the direct way! All it takes is a little electrical know-how, and maybe a little automobile know-how.

How To: Use a metal detector to find gold and gold nuggets
This video will show you how to use a metal detector to look for gold. There are gold nuggets in rivers and hillsides all over the United States, waiting for you to find them. With the proper equipment and a little know how, you can strike gold!

How To: Use a laser pointer without causing eye damage
Although laser pointers are the favored pointing tool of teachers at large college lecture halls and can be great for directing students to various signs or areas in the classroom, often times students and kids have these pointers as well and use them just for fun.

How To: Run Mac OS X on an AppleTV with an external hard drive
You can get OS X running on your AppleTV without having to open up your system - all you need is an external hard drive. This tutorial shows you how to create a hard drive on your partition and create a file modification to allow OS X to boot on an Apple TV.

How To: Troubleshoot ink cartridge problems on the Brother MFC-240C
Replacing ink cartridges can be a pain, but a bigger pain is when they don't work correctly. Even after you put them in, some Brothers will still show that there is no ink, or that you're still low on ink. In this video you'll learn some of the various troubleshooting steps that you can take to discerning the problem and correcting it.

How To: Burn a video to DVD using DVD Flick and ImgBurn
In this Electronics video tutorial you will learn how to burn a video to DVD using DVD Flick and ImgBurn. Do a Google search for 'download DVD flick' and download the program from the first link in the search result and install it. Then go to Download and search for 'imgburn', download and install it. Now open up DVD Flick, click on 'add title' on the right side and drag and drop the video file you want to burn. Then you go to 'menu settings', select the menu you want and click 'accept'. Then...

How To: Skip commercials with your Comcast DVR remote control
In this tutorial, we learn how to skip commercials with your Comcast DVR remote control. First, press the cable button, then press and hold the set up button until the cable button blinks twice. Now, enter in "994" on your remote. After this, the cable button will blink twice again. Now, press the setup button again and type in "00173", then press a button you don't use a lot. Now, the cable button will blink again. Now, turn on a show you have recorded and it will just through the commercial...

How To: Simply read a binary clock
Sydus 93 teaches You Tubers how to read a binary clock by demonstrating the following process: A binary clock is made up of four rows and six columns of colored or uncolored dots. The rows, from bottom to top, represent the numbers one, two, four and eight. From left to right, columns one and two represent hours, three and four minutes and five and six are seconds. In order to tell time using the binary clock, begin at the left of your chart and simply determine which dots are filled in and a...

How To: Navigate your Epson printer driver options
Your Epson driver controls your printer to your computer. You can change options to more suite your work. This video will demonstrate how to use the Epson priter driver.

How To: Build a 3D scanner from a $25 laser level
Systm is the Do It Yourself show designed for the common geek who wants to quickly and easily learn how to dive into the latest and hottest tech projects. We will help you avoid pitfalls and get your project up and running fast. Search Systm on WonderHowTo for more DIY episodes from this Revision3 show.

How To: Control AppleTV with your iPhone
All you need to remotely access your AppleTV library is your iPhone. Learn how to control Apple TV with your iPhone with this Howcast guide.

How To: Make your own radio station
This instructional video offers a description and overview of how to set up your own FM broadcast station. Operating from 88 MHz to 108 MHz. It describes how a FM transmitter works and how to make one. It presents a simple di-pole radio antenna for FM broadcasting and how to make one. And finally it explains how with theses two components one can set up their own station from anywhere. The video was made by Seth Gadsden in collaboration with Stephen Dunifer and Free Radio Berkeley.

How To: Program a calculator with basics
If you've ever had a little trouble trying to program your calculator, you may find a little relief with this four-part video tutorial. Here, a Texas Instruments (TI-84 Plus) calculator will be used to explain the programming process. The four parts include:

How To: Set up an X10 spy camera
The spy camera shown in this how-to video has a 60 foot cable, and is full color and has audio. This spy cam can be used as a security device, or to feed paranoid delusions or stalking urges. Watch this video tutorial and learn how to set up an X10 spy camera.

How To: Clear a cartridge jam on a Kodak G600 Printer Dock
This interactive Kodak printer tutorial takes you through every step necessary to fully clear a cartridge jam on a Kodak EasyShare G600 Printer Dock. If you have a Kodak EasyShare digital camera, you probably have one of these G600 printers, and you've probably had a problem with it, like a stuck printer cartridge, or a cartridge jam, so fix it yourself, let Kodak teach you how. Clear a cartridge jam on a Kodak G600 Printer Dock.

How To: Load paper into a Kodak EasyShare G600 Printer Dock
This interactive Kodak printer tutorial takes you through every step necessary to fully load paper into a Kodak EasyShare G600 Printer Dock. If you have a Kodak EasyShare digital camera, you probably have one of these G600 printers, and you've probably had a problem with it, or not, like a stuck printer cartridge, but lets not get into that. Just follow this tutorial to see the steps to load paper into your G600. Let Kodak teach you how. Load paper into a Kodak EasyShare G600 Printer Dock.