Hot Other Devices How-Tos

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: 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: 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: 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 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: Repair headphones by soldering

Teaching the basics of soldering, you should be able to learn how to fix broken headphones. There should be two wires protected by a covering, one which is a silvery metal and an orange wire which is your copper wire. Taking the plate for your speakers, there should be two connections where the wires belong. Using your soldering material, melt some onto your soldering gun and apply it to the two sites of the connection on your speaker plate. Place your wires on the correct areas and carefully...

How To: Begin circuit bending

Looking to get into the weird world of circuit bending? In this four part video tutorial geared towards beginners, learn in thirty minutes how to circuit bend. Tools you will need include a soddering iron with innerchangeable tips (thin pencil preferred), thin sodder, hook-up wire, a wire cutter, a wire stripper, a drill with drill bits, plyers (needle nose included), and screw drivers of various small sizes. Other useful tools include cresent wrenches for toggle switches, jewelers files, & a...

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: 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: 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: 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: 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 magnetic card readers and writers with your PC

Magnetic card readers can make e-transactions far simpler, especially for people who are running their own small business. You can also watch this video to learn about card writers, which can let you create your own magnetic cards (such as a membership card) to track your customers' activity.

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: 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 own air conditioner with a fan and copper tubing

The heat can be oppressive, and air conditioning can be expensive. But you can build your own air conditioner for just $40, with a fan, styrofoam cooler and a length of quarter-inch copper tubing. Cool your home inexpensively with this mod!

How To: Troubleshoot refilled printer inkjet cartridges that won't print

If you've gone through the process of refilling your ink cartridges and your printer still isn't printing, don't get your hair in a bunch, watch this video! This video will give you some tips on how to get that old print cartridge working again for your Brother MFC-240C. This video uses rubbing alcohol and soft cloth.

How To: Use a Scosche flipSYNC key fob USB cable

Need some help figuring out how to use a Schosche flipSYNC key fob USB cable? This brief video tutorial from the folks at Butterscotch will teach you everything you need to know. For more information, including detailed, step-by-step instructions, and to get started using your own flipSYNC, take a look.

How To: Make a duct tape CD player holder

In this tutorial we learn how to make a duct tape CD player holder. First, measure your length, width, and height of your CD player. After this, cut out the color duct tape you like in strips that are the right size for your player. Now, take your first two strips and stick them together. Now, take the third one and apply it to the bottom, flip it over and stick another one on top. Keep overlapping these with several strips until you get to the height of the CD player. After this, place the s...

How To: Replace ink cartridges in an Epson Artisan

We all know how frustrating it can be to replace ink cartridges in a printer. With the Epson Artisan printer, the task is simple and easy. The hardest part about replacing the cartridge is selecting the correct one. Even this job is made easy by the numbers on the cartridge casings. Simply pull off the tab before replacing, pop in the new one until it clicks, and you're ready to start printing whatever your heart desires. Exceed your vision!

How To: Connect a DirectTV set-top box or DVR to the Internet

Learn how to connect a DirectTV set-top box or DVR to the Internet. You'll see the simple steps on how to connect a Set Top Box or DVR to the Internet using the power outlets in your home with MegaPlug Powerline Adapters from Actiontec Electronics.

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: 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: 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: 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: Set up and use the Sony Internet TV Blu-ray Disc player (NSZ-GT1 / Google TV)

If you've already gotten your hands on Sony's Internet TV Blu-ray Disc Player, powered by Google TV, then you know how powerful this thing is. But if you're thinking of getting one soon, this video series will help you learn what you'll be getting yourself into.

How To: Make your own solar panel

In this video, we learn how to make your own solar panel.The amorphous solar glass is the cheapest but it's also the least efficient. You can do anything you want with these and they are durable. The hexagon cells are the most efficient and most expensive as well. The poly crystalline is almost 2 watts a piece and can be purchase in lots of any size. You have to tab these cells together and they are extremely fragile. Be careful when you work with these. To make these, you will solder tabbing...

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: Hack your AppleTV with a USB stick to run Boxee

This useful step by step tutorial shows you how to download the ATV USB creator, which will allow you to create a patch stick for your AppleTV. Once you load this usb stick onto your Apple TV, you'll be able to run Boxee and get streaming Internet content directly to your Apple TV.

How To: Mod or hack your new AppleTV to increase hard drive space and run SSH and Xvid

Patrick Norton and Dave Randolph show you several ways to hack or mod your new AppleTV to increase functionality. Namely, you can increase the hard drive space, set up an RSS feed, and get your Apple TV running SSH and Xvid.

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: 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: Print on various media types with Epson Artisan 810

Epson sells many different digital imaging products, including ink jet printers and all-in-ones, digital photo printers, multimedia projectors for business, education, and home entertainment, scanners, digital photo viewers, professional imaging/wide format printers, and more. Check out this video to learn how useful and versatile your new Epson Artisan 810 all-in-one printer can be.

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: Build a computer numerical control or CNC machine

Take a look at this instructional video and learn how to build your own miniature computer numerical control (CNC) machine. A CNC machine acts as a controller that reads G Code instructions for machine tools such as drills and printers. To perform this task, you'll need some geared motors you can find in old analog camcorders with optical zoom.

How To: Upgrade the hard drive & battery life on Epson P-2000

Are you looking for a way to increase the storage space and the battery life on your Photo Storage Viewer? Take a look at this instructional video and learn how to upgrade the hard drive and battery life on the Epson P-2000. The tutorial goes through the disassembling and upgrading process step by step.

How To: Make a musical electric toothbrush

This tutorial video will show you how to modify an electric toothbrush so that it will play the radio through your skull while you brush your teeth. This handy device is similar to the store bought models but you could hook it up to any audio source (For example: ipod, mp3 player, radio).

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: Create a radiation detector using a digital camera and a plastic scintillator

If you're interested in creating a dosimeter using simple tools, take a look at this video. Using a digital camera, a plastic scintillator, and some tape a radiation dosimeter can be crafted allowing for radiation information to be collected with simple materials.

How To: Add Mic Input and Headphones Output to Samsung HMX-T10 Camcorder

This is the cheapest device to gather interviews as a small, easy-to-carry recorder. I started to use it for preproduction and film documentation after I bought it in a Polish discount shop for about 100 Euro. The only problem was very poor sound quality.