Safety Of Ultraviolet Welding

Ultraviolet (UV) radiation -- the portion of the electromagnetic spectrum between X-rays and visible light -- is generated by the electric arc during welding. Excessive exposure to UV radiation can damage the lens of the eye and result in severe burns to the skin.

UV Radiation

So-called inert arc welding, in particular, produces intense UV radiation, anywhere between five and 30 times that produced by shielded arc welding. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OHSA) produces several standards relating to UV welding safety.

Eyes

Any employee in an area not protected from exposure to UV radiation by screening must be protected by filter lenses. If two or more welders are working in close proximity, they should wear filter lens goggles complying with OSHA standards beneath their welding helmets.

Skin

Welders and other employees exposed to UV radiation should make sure their skin is completely covered. Welding helmets and hand shields -- for use when helmets are open or removed -- should be free of leaks and highly reflective surfaces.

Tags: exposure radiation

Transfer An 8mm Film To Dvd

Relive childhood memories by watching your old 8mm films on DVD.

Playing old family films and short movies shot on 8mm film can be an arduous task in the digital age. Converting 8mm film to DVD allows easy access to all of your old home movies in addition to saving them as a digital copy for archiving. Preserving 8mm films can be accomplished through the use of a video card with a TV tuner and capture capabilities. There are several options available for video capture cards, including internal cards that plug into a computer's motherboard or external cards that connect via a USB cable.

Instructions

Capturing 8mm Film to MPEG-2

1. Install the video card into your computer, following the manufacturers recommendations.

2. Connect the 8mm player to your video card via the composite media cables. Composite cables consist of three colored plugs: yellow, red and white. The yellow cable is always used to display video information. The red and white cables represent the right and left audio streams respectively. Connect each cable to the corresponding colored hole on the video card.

3. Turn on the computer and launch the video card's capture function according to the manufacturer's instructions.

4. Select the option to save the video in the MPEG-2 file format. If given the option, set the frame rate to 16fps and the film ratio to 16:9 to avoid distorting the film during the conversion.

Creating a DVD

5. Open the DVD-burning software on your computer.

6. Select the option to create a DVD disc.

7. Select the MPEG-2 files that you created from your 8mm film.

8. Organize the files in the order that you want to display them on the DVD.

9. Choose the option to burn the DVD. Test the DVD on a DVD player before deleting the MPEG-2 files.

Tags: video card, cards that, MPEG-2 files, Select option, your computer

Create Macros In Excel

Excel contains an automated tool, called a macro, which can be used to perform common, repetitive tasks. A simple macro can be set to record keystrokes and mouse clicks when a user is performing a task, such as entering and organizing a list of names into an Excel spreadsheet. Once recorded, whenever it is time to enter a new set of the same kind of data, the user can have the macro perform this function by playing it back.

Instructions

1. Decide on the process that you want the macro to record. For instance, you can create a macro that will take care of summing up the numbers in a column.

2. Open a workbook in Excel. Click on one the cells you want to format.

3. Click on the "Tools" button on the tool bar. Highlight "Macro" on the Tools menu and then select "Record New Macro" from the Macro menu. A "Record Macro" dialog box appears which you can use to enter a name and description of your macro, select a shortcut key and choose a storage location.

4. Type a name for the new macro in the "Macro name" field. The name you choose must start with a letter and cannot include spaces. You can use a combination of letters, numbers and underscores.

5. Enter a shortcut key. This step is optional but it is a way to activate your macro quickly. Use any of the letters or symbols on your keyboard

6. Choose a storage option for your macro. You can store it in a new workbook, in the current workbook or in a personal macro workbook. Storing your macros in a personal macro workbook will make them available if you want to use any of them in a new spreadsheet.

7. Enter a description of your macro in the "Description" field. This step is also optional.

8. Click "OK" to continue and to begin the recording. A "Stop Recording" box will appear, showing that the macro has started recording.

9. Perform the tasks that you want the macro to record. When you have finished the process, click the blue button in the macro recording box to stop the recording.

Tags: your macro, macro record, description your, description your macro, macro workbook, personal macro, personal macro workbook

Transfer 8 Mm Film To A Dvd Or Vhs

Transferring 8mm film to a DVD takes several steps, including projecting and recording the film with a digital video camera.

Despite how popular it once was, 8 mm film has become archaic. The film format is seldom used, except by film school students searching for a particular look for their movie projects. For most people, it is beneficial to transfer these fragile and aging 8 mm films to digital or analog media. The longer these films sit, or the more times they pass through a projector, the more likelihood they will break or degenerate. Transferring the footage does not preserve the film itself, only the subject matter recorded on it.

Instructions

1. Place the film reel on the left reel of an 8 mm film editor. Place an empty take-up reel on the right side. Use the oil-based solvent on the lint-free cloth to gently clean the film as you slowly wind it from the left to the right reels. As you wind it back to the left, gently use the film lubricant on the film. Clean film provides a better picture and reduces the risk of breaks and scratches in the projector.

2. Set up your video camera on a tripod in a darkened area facing the projection screen. A cellar with the windows blacked out works well. The video camera should be near the projection plain of the film, off to either side of the projector. Set up the projector fairly close to the screen to project a small, bright image. Focus the video camera tightly on the projected image.

3. Start the video camera recording. Start the projector. Allow the entire film to project before turning off the video camera. If the video camera takes full-sized VHS tapes and you just want to convert the 8 mm film to VHS, you are finished. If the video camera records on some other format, you will need to rewind the tape. Hook up the camera to a video cassette recorder for the transfer. You will lose some quality in this process.

4. Connect the video out RCA plugs to the video camera and to the analog-to-digital converter. Plug the converter's USB or Firewire plug into the appropriate port on your computer. Start your video capture software. Start the video camera's playback. This recording, without compression, can take up a lot of hard drive space if you record many 8 mm films. For this reason, you may want to designate an external hard drive for the digitized recording.

5. Open your video editing software. Remove any lead-in or lead-out material you need to, and fix the image if it is needed. Export the digitized film to a compressed format such as MPEG if you need to get a lot of 8 mm films on a DVD. If you only have one, at between three and four minutes, compression becomes unnecessary.

6. Import the digitized film into your DVD authoring software. Set up the disk as you wish. Set the software to create the DVD image. Insert a blank DVD, and record the digitized film to it.

Tags: video camera, digitized film, your video, camera video, hard drive, Start video

Stepbystep Teleconferencing

By using technology that is readily available on your computer and adding a video camera, you can set up your home computer to teleconference. With the addition of more sophisticated teleconference equipment, you can hold meetings in more than one remote location for your business. Whether you use teleconference technology for personal or business purposes, it's an easy way to stay in touch.

Determine what you want to accomplish

If you are only going to occasionally videoconference, you may want to choose inexpensive equipment. But if you plan to use teleconference equipment on a regular basis, you need to look at more substantial products. A personal video camera and inexpensive microphone headset might do for simple teleconference meetings. For a professional teleconference, decide not only on the method of delivery but on the equipment as well. That might mean the purchase of a document camera and a projection system for your conference room.

Another determination is what type of software to use. You can use Microsoft's NetMeeting and not spend anything. Or you can purchase videoconference software. Another option is to use online subscription teleconference services.

Gather your teleconference equipment and install it

Whatever method and teleconference equipment you choose, it has to be available to all the participants in the conference. So each computer station needs audio and visual input and receiver equipment.

For a one-on-one videoconference, this can be a video camera and a headset. Each computer needs to have the same program loaded and each participant needs to understand operate the software in order for the teleconference to be successful.

A more formal conference would require more sophisticated teleconference equipment. A reliable T-1 Internet connection should be available at all locations on the network to ensure fast delivery of information. Make sure ample bandwidth is available at all locations to handle the increased traffic of a videoconference.

Install whatever software you choose to use. Or, if you are using an online service, make sure you know the proper log-on sequence. Set up contacts and/or groups.

Provide instruction to participants as necessary. Make sure everyone has the appropriate pass codes.

Hold a teleconference

Open your videoconference software or open the online program. Sign in with your designated password.

Start your meeting by pressing the appropriate camera or video button. At this time, you see yourself on screen.

Select the appropriate contact or group from your software. You're ready to start your meeting. You can now share text and graphics as well as video within your group.

Tags: teleconference equipment, video camera, available locations, more sophisticated, more sophisticated teleconference, sophisticated teleconference

Record Tv Shows To A Vcr

Record TV Shows to a VCR

There are so many movies and shows on TV you may want to watch later, so you want to record it for another day to watch or to just save it, so you can share it with friends and family, or whatever the reason is. Many of us have DVD recorders, DVR recorders, or Tivo's, so we really don't need a VRC recorder, but some of us still have them.

Instructions

1. Make sure the TV and VCR power is turned on before you begin to record; insert a blank cassette tape, or one that you want to record over. Be sure you check the cassette has an erase prevention tab in place, a small tab on the left side of the tape, if it doesn't have the tab, place a scotch tape over the missing tab.

2. If necessary, rewind or fast forward the tape to the point to which you want to begin recording on the tape. Press the up or down buttons to select the channel you want to record a TV show, or select the number channel with your remote control.

3. To select the desired tape speed, select the SPEED button, (SP, LP, or SLP) SP is to record for 2 hours, LP is to record for 4 hours, and SLP is to record for 6 hours. You may want to select SLP, so you can record up to 6 hours of recording time.

4. To begin recording, press the RECORD button, to start recording your favorite shows, or the shows that you will be recording for a friend or relative. Press the PAUSE button to temporarily stop recording the show, then press the PAUSE or RECORD button, to continue recording again.

5. To stop recording, just press the STOP button, this will finish your recording time. Rewind your VCR tape if you want to watch the show again, or to check to see how you recorded your TV show. Press the EJECT button to take out the tape from the VCR, and to watch at a later date.

Tags: record hours, want record, begin recording, hours record, hours record hours

Download From A Digital Camera To A Memory Stick

Adapter types and cables vary depending on the memory stick format type.

Downloading files from a digital camera to a memory stick requires the use of a memory stick adapter, other wise known as a memory stick reader. Note that technically speaking the term "Memory Stick" refers to a specific type of memory card used in proprietary Sony devices. However, the term has come to be a catch all for all types of memory card. Whether transferring data to a Sony Memory Stick or some other type of card, it is necessary to obtain an adapter that is compatible with your computer and your memory card.

Instructions

1. Insert the card into the corresponding slot on your adapter and plug the adapter into your computer's USB port. If using a PC, click the "Start" menu in the lower left-hand corner of your screen and select "My Computer." This opens a window displaying various locations on your computer. Look in the section labeled "Devices with Removable Storage." Your adapter should be present in this section. If using a Mac, you'll see the adapter on the desktop.

2. Plug the digital camera into your computer's USB port. Most cameras come with a cable that enables them to link to the computer. If not, you will have to purchase this cable separately. Just like the adapter, the camera will appear in "Devices with Removable Storage" on a PC or on the desktop if using a Mac.

3. Double click the camera's icon. Locate files on the camera you wish to transfer to the memory card. Single click a file to highlight it. If using a PC press and hold "Ctrl" and click on all files you wish to transfer (or click "Ctrl" plus "A" to select all). This highlights the files. Then press and hold "Ctrl" and "C" to copy the files. The procedure is the same on a Mac except that you substitute the key with the Apple icon for "Ctrl."

4. Go to the computer folder you want to move the files to. Click inside that location. On a PC hold down "Ctrl" and press "V." On a Mac, hold down the Apple key and press "V." This saves the files to the new location.

5. Look in "My Computer" to see what drive letter the adapter has been given (such as e, f, g, etc.). Right click the "Safely Remove Hardware" icon on the right-hand side of the tool bar at the bottom of your screen. The icon appears as an arrow above a storage device. A button appears that says "Safely Remove Device." Click this button and then click your device from those listed . Your computer may ask you to select from another list of devices and press "OK." Wait until your computer indicates that it's safe for you to remove your adapter before you unplug it. On a Mac, click the adapter and drag it to the trash can in the lower right-hand corner of your screen. When the adapter icon disappears from the desktop, it is safe to unplug it. Follow these same procedures for removing your camera.

Tags: memory card, memory stick, press hold, your computer, your screen, computer port, corner your

Work Night Mode On A Casio Ravine Phone

The Casio Ravine from Verizon Wireless comes with a 3.2 megapixel camera that includes a number of features, including Night Mode, designed for taking pictures at night. With this mode enabled, the camera's flash goes off, illuminating the foreground, but the shutter stays open for a few more moments, allowing the background to show up in the image as well. Using Night Mode on the Ravine is as simple as turning the feature on and taking the right kind of image.

Instructions

1. Flip the Casio Ravine phone open. Press the center of the directional pad, called the "Center Select" key, to bring up the main menu.

2. Scroll to the "Media Center" icon and press the "Center Select" key to select it. Press the number "3" to access the "Picture & Video" menu, and then the number "5" to take a picture.

3. Press the right soft key to access the picture options. Scroll down to "Night Mode" and select it. Choose "On" from the list of options. Press the red "End" key to exit the camera options menu.

4. Prepare your Night Mode shot. This requires something in the foreground of your picture and a night scene in the background. According to the phone's manual, the flash works best on subjects that are between 14 and 20 inches from the camera.

5. Hold the phone as steady as possible, since any movement during the long exposure will blue your picture. Press the center button to take the picture. The flash goes off, and it may take an extra second for the image to show up on your screen, as the camera captures light for a little longer than normal.

Tags: Night Mode, Casio Ravine, Center Select, flash goes, picture Press, take picture, your picture

Does A Plugged Window Air Conditioner Use Electricity While Not In Use

Set window air conditioner units above 74 degrees to save on electricity.

A window air conditioner left plugged in while not in use will continue to draw electricity, according to the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. Whether you should unplug your window unit when it is not in use is debatable, however. The cost of leaving a window unit plugged in all year while not in use is only about $1, the laboratory reports.

Vampires

Window air conditioners are one of many appliances that drain tiny amounts of electricity when left plugged in. They are called "energy vampires" because of their need to draw power while in standby mode. Some window air conditioners operate by remote control and need standby power to receive remote signals, for example. Other air conditioners may have keypads or status lights that draw power 24 hours a day.

Significance

Spending an extra dollar a year to leave a window air conditioner plugged in may not sound like much, but the costs can add up. The Lawrence Berkeley laboratory reports some households may have up to 40 products plugged in while not in use. The list includes multiple televisions, radios, smart phones, tablets, printers, dishwashers and lamps.

Considerations

Some people unplug their window units when they are not in use because air conditioning is expensive overall. The average household uses more electricity on air conditioning than anything else, according to Saving Electricity, a consumer information online publication. Window AC units use 500 to 1,440 watts of power to operate, compared to about 3,500 watts per hour for central air conditioning systems. A watt is a measure of electricity.

Alternatives

Other cooling devices use less power than window AC units. Ceiling fans use just 15 to 95 watts, depending on the speed and size of the unit. Floor fans set at the highest speed use about 100 watts. A combination of open windows, ceiling fans and floor fans can result in significant savings on electricity.

Tips

Purchase window AC units that are the right size for your room. Larger units cost more to operate because of their more powerful motors. Use programmable timers to turn the units on and off to suit your needs. Program timers so that the AC unit cools certain rooms just before you arrive home from work. Some units have timers built in. Or purchase a plug-in timer from a home improvement store.

Tags: window conditioner, window units, about watts, because their, draw power, laboratory reports

Use Night Vision To Find A Night Vision User

Night vision googles allow you to see in a dark forest at night.

Night vision goggles and other devices are commonly used in military, hunting and other overnight pastimes, allowing the user of the device to see as though the lighting conditions in the area were almost as favorable as that of day. Locating another night vision user is a useful skill in competitive endeavors such as paintball or warfare, giving you the leg up on your competition.

Instructions

1. Turn on the night vision goggles, binoculars or other devices.

2. Position yourself in an area where you think the other night vision user might pass by, such as at the edge of a clearing along a forest trail.

3. Position yourself in such a way that you will be mostly camouflaged, such as by lying in or under bushes, behind trees or near any other form of natural concealment.

4. Survey your surroundings with the night vision device, looking for the telltale signs of another night vision user, someone with a mask over his eyes or someone constantly holding a telescope or binoculars to his face at night.

Tags: night vision, night vision user, another night, another night vision, night Night, Night Vision

Difference Between F1 & F5

The difference between an F1 and F5 tornado is significant in both size and capability to inflict damage.

Severe thunderstorms spawn tornadoes, and to measure the severity of these natural wonders, the Fujita Tornado Damage Scale was introduced in 1971 by Theodore Fujita. This scale is used throughout the world, and it rates a tornado from an F0, the weakest, to F5, the strongest.

Wind Speed

The standard surface wind speed associated with an F1 tornado can range from 73 to 112 mph with a three-second wind gust of 79 to 117 mph. Wind speeds for an F5 tornado are significantly faster. The standard surface wind speed for an F5 tornado is 261 to 318 mph with a three-second gust speed of 262 to 317 mph.

Using the Operational Enhanced F Scale to determine tornado damage, the three-second gust speed of a F1 tornado is 86 to 110 mph. The Operational Enhanced F Scale for an F5 tornado states that the three-second gust exceeds 200 mph.

Damage Amount

The damage associated with an F1 tornado is classified as moderate. The F Scale reports a typical F1 tornado is powerful enough to peel off roofs, move cars and trucks off roads and remove a mobile home from its foundation. An F5 tornado can cause tremendous damage. An F5 tornado is strong enough to tear buildings from their foundations, carry an automobile-sized object 109 yards and debark trees.

Tornado Size

A study performed by the National Severe Storms Laboratory in Norman, Oklahoma, found that the average F1 tornado features a width less than 109 yards while Impact Forecasting reports the average width of an F1 tornado is 18 to 55 yards. The width of an F5 tornado is significantly larger. According to Impact Forecasting in a report titled "United States Tornado History," an F5 tornado features an average width of 1 to 3.1 miles.

Considerations

The damage difference between an F1 and F5 tornado is striking, but because of the unpredictability of tornadoes, the Fujita Tornado Damage Scale should only be used as an estimate of potential damage. All figures laid out in this article are averages, and are not to be assumed as typical.

Tags: three-second gust, associated with, associated with tornado, average width, between tornado

Test A Verizon 4g

If you have Verizon 4G service, you may wonder how fast your connection really is. To test the connection on a computer using a 4G cellular modem, you can use Verizon's Broadband Speed Test tool through the computer's browser. To test the connection on a 4G smart phone, use the Speedtest.net application. Both tests will give you upload, download and ping test results.

Instructions

Testig on a Computer

1. Close any applications you have open that use the Internet.

2. Open the browser on your computer and go to my.verizon.com/micro/speedtest/broadband.

3. Click the "Check My Speed" button. The site will load a disclaimer message. Read the message click "Continue."

4. Select your state from the list and click "Continue." A graphic of two computers will appear, along with a progress report.

5. Wait for the test to finish. It could take as long as two minutes.

Testing on a Smartphone

6. Download and install the Speedtest.net application from your device manufacturer's application market.

7. Open the application screen and launch the Speedtest.net app.

8. Touch "Begin Test" to start the speed test. The test process takes about 30 seconds.

9. Wait for the process to complete. The app will show you the results for upload, download and ping.

10. Touch "RESULTS" and tap the date of the test for more information, such as network, IP address and location.

Tags: click Continue, download ping, Speedtest application, test connection, upload download

Transfer Pictures Fom A Camera To A Computer

USB cords transfer pictures between cameras and computers.

Digital pictures provide the ability to store, edit and transfer photographs between devices. Transferring photo files to computers from a camera frees up storage space on the camera or memory card, and provides access to the pictures for editing. Transferring pictures to a computer requires connecting the camera to the computer with the USB interface on both devices and entering the appropriate photo Import commands that your computer system requires. The import process is different on two of the most popular operating systems, Macintosh and Windows. The steps to transfer pictures from a camera to a computer depends on which system is running on your computer.

Instructions

Windows

1. Insert the software disc that came with the digital camera in your computer's optical drive. Or, download the software and drivers for the camera from the camera manufacturer's website and launch the installation wizard.

2. Install the applications and drivers that allow your computer to recognize data on the camera by following the on-screen instructions that appear in the installation wizard. Consult the camera's manual for specific information about requirements for using the camera with your computer.

3. Connect one end of a USB cord to the camera, and the other end of the cord to an available USB port on the computer. Some cameras may require a high-speed USB port. Consult the camera's manual for specific information about connectivity requirements for your camera and consult your computer's manual for detailed specifications about the USB ports on your system.

4. Turn on the camera, switch it to data transfer mode and a pop-up dialog box appears on the screen. Click on the option that says "Import Using Windows" on the pop-up dialog box to begin copying the photos to the computer. A transfer status bar will appear and indicate the progress of the transfer.

Macintosh

5. Connect one end of a USB cord to the camera and the other end of the cord to an available USB port on the computer. Some cameras may require a USB 2.0 port. Consult the camera's manual for specific information about connectivity requirements for your camera and consult your computer's manual for detailed specifications about the individual USB ports on your Mac.

6. Turn on the camera and switch it to data transfer mode, if necessary. Consult the camera manual for specific information about the settings required on your camera to transfer pictures data to a computer.

7. Launch the iPhoto application, and click on "Import To Library" on iPhoto's File menu at the top of the screen. Or, select the "Use iPhoto" option if a pop-up dialog box appears, and asks whether you want to use iPhoto when a camera is connected to to the computer.

8. Click on the camera disc image in the Device menu on the left side of the Import Photos window to reveal the photo files that are stored on the camera.

9. Click on the "Import All" button on the bottom left side of the Import Photos window to begin transferring pictures from the camera to the iPhoto library on your computer. A status bar along the bottom of the iPhoto application indicates the progress of the transfer.

Tags: your computer, camera manual, camera manual specific, Consult camera, Consult camera manual, from camera, information about

Diy Sad Light Box

Light boxes can help relieve seasonal affective depression resulting from dark and cloudy seasons.

Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a type of mood disorder where people with normal mental health for most of the year become depressed during a particular season. Though some people become depressed during the summer, winter-related SAD is much more common.

Light therapy is one of the recommended treatments for SAD, which simply involves sitting in front of a light box for up to a couple of hours a day. Light boxes release a brighter and more focused light than most household lighting allows. Though light boxes can be expensive, you can build one yourself.

Instructions

1. Nail the four wood planks together to make the sides of the light box. Screw the wood plank to the bottom of the light box in such a way that you can easily remove the back to install lights.

2. Paint the inside of the box with white paint. Drill a hole in one side of the wood box. The hole must be big enough to thread electrical wire through.

3. Thread electrical wire through the hole. Place the florescent bulbs in the box and hook them up to the wire. Glue the bulbs to the back, or secure them with wire.

4. Apply glue around the top edge of the frame. Lay the translucent pane on top, press down and let the glue dry. Plug the wires for the bulb into the socket.

Tags: become depressed, become depressed during, depressed during, electrical wire, electrical wire through

Test An Hp Printer

HP and Microsoft have tools available to test a printer. Most HP printers allow you to print configuration or test reports by pressing a series of buttons on the printer itself. These are useful in troubleshooting printer problems because if it prints the report correctly, then a connection or software problem is usually the culprit. If the Microsoft test page prints correctly, then any problems are usually due to a problem with one application, not the connection, printer or Windows.

Instructions

1. Turn on your HP Printer. Make sure that it is connected to your computer. Place a piece of paper in the printer.

2. Check your HP printer manual for details on print a configuration report. This varies on each printer. On the LaserJet 2200, for example, press the "Go" and "Job Cancel" buttons simultaneously. On other models it is done by scrolling through the menu options on the printer.

3. Click the Microsoft "Start" button on your computer. Then select "Devices and Printers."

4. Right-click the HP printer. Select "Printer Properties." Click the "General" tab. Then click the "Print Test Page" button.

5. Wait for the printer to print the test page. Examine the test page for quality and read it for details about your printer and printer driver.

6. Navigate to the HP Business Support Center on your web browser. Then go to the "HP Printer Check tool" located in "Self Help Resources." Follow the instructions to us the HP diagnostic tools. This will test the drivers and configuration of your printer.

7. Download the Microsoft Fix It utility from the "Why Can't I Print?" page. Then double-click the utility and follow the steps in the troubleshooting wizard. This will test your drivers and software for any printing difficulties.

Tags: test page, correctly then, print configuration, This will, This will test, will test, your computer

Copy Dvds To Archos

Archos is a consumer electronics company that offers a large line of personal media players or PMPs, including handheld video devices. You can copy a DVD that you own to an Archos PMP after it has been converted into a correctly-formatted digital video file, such as an MPEG-4. Several applications are available online with presets that will copy a DVD into the correct video file for your specific Archos model. Once converted, the video file can then be copied to the player for later viewing.

Instructions

Copy

1. Download a DVD copying application and install it onto your computer. Several free copying applications are available online, including DVD Fab, DVD Decrypter and DVD Shrink. Click on the downloaded file and follow the directions to install it on your system.

2. Restart your computer after the installation has finished by clicking "Start", then "Restart".

3. Insert the DVD you want to put on the Archos player into your computer's DVD burner. Double-click on the downloaded software's icon if it doesn't automatically launch after you insert the DVD. Copy the DVD to your computer by following the directions for the application you installed; directions are usually available on the application's website or in its help files.

4. Close the program once the DVD has been copied to your computer by clicking the "X" on the window or selecting "File", then "Close" or "Quit".

Convert

5. Download a program that can convert the DVD file into a digital video file. For best results, choose a program that has built-in presets specifically for Archos devices, such as WinFF, Crazi Video for Archos and 4Videosoft Archos Video Converter. Both Archos Video Convert and Crazi Video are commercial software, while WinFF is a freeware application.

Install the application on your computer by double-clicking on the downloaded file and following the on-screen directions. Restart your computer when finished.

6. Click on the installed program's icon to launch it. Load the DVD image you copied into the program by click "Load", "Add" or "Browse"; the specific method will vary from program to program.

7. Scroll through the list of video presets for your specific player's make and model. For example, choose "Archos" as the make, and then choose "900" as the model. Choose a save location by clicking "Browse" next to the "Save" or "Directory" field, then select a folder in the browse menu that appears. Click "OK" after you've selected a save location.

8. Click the "Convert" or "Start" button and wait for the new video file to be created; the exact phrasing may vary depending on which application you are using.

Transfer

9. Plug your Archos' transfer cable into the device, then plug the other end of the cable into one of the USB ports on your computer.

10. Click "Start" on the desktop toolbar, then click "Computer". Look under "Removable Media" for your Archos device. Double-click on its drive to open its root directory.

11. Right-click on the video file you created in the previous section and choose "Copy" from the menu. Right-click on the "Videos" folder in the root directory of your player and choose "Paste." Wait for the entire video to transfer before continuing.

12. Right-click on the Archos drive in "Computer" and choose "Eject" from the menu. Unplug the transfer cable from your computer, then from the Archos player.

Tags: your computer, video file, applications available, applications available online, Archos player

Stop Solicitation Text Messages To Your Cell Phone

As of 2003, it is legal for telemarketing companies to solicit customers by calling or sending text messages to their cell phones. If you do not wish to receive these calls or text messages, you can register your cell phone number with the National Do Not Call Registry.

Instructions

1. Add your cell phone number to the National Do Not Call Registry list by calling (888) 382-1222. The Federal Trade Commission has provided this toll-free number for consumers to block their numbers from telemarketers. Follow each step within the automated message.

2. Log on to the Do Not Call website (see Resources) if you would prefer to register your cell phone number to this registry via the Internet instead of from your phone. Enter all cell phone numbers you want to register, including area code; you are allowed to add three different numbers per registration. Type in your email address.

3. Submit your phone numbers and email address. You will automatically receive an email receipt for registering. Click on the online URL contained in this electronic receipt to complete the registration. Once you have clicked this URL, you should receive the message "Registration Complete."

Tags: cell phone, cell phone number, phone number, Call Registry, email address, National Call

Setup Directions For The Cuddeback Capture Ir Digital Game Camera

The Cuddeback Capture IR is a digital camera designed for use in photographing animals in an outdoor environment. You mount the camera to a tree, leaving the device to snap a picture when its infrared detector is triggered. The Capture IR is capable of taking 5 megapixel color images during the day or 1.3 megapixel infrared pictures at night. The camera stores its images on a removable SD memory card; you can view the saved images on a home computer or on a separate viewing device offered by Cuddeback.

Instructions

1. Fit the camera's mounting bracket onto the back of the camera. Use the packaged screw to secure the mounting bracket to the camera. Find the hinge rod installed at the top of the cover. Slide the rod to the left and open the camera's cover. Examine the front of the camera and find the control switch located near the bottom edge. Turn the control switch to the setting labeled "Off." Insert the D-cell batteries into the two battery bays, located near the left and right edges of the front panel.

2. Examine the LCD display, located above the control switch. Wait for the LCD display to go blank before proceeding. Find the SD card slot, located to the right of the control switch. Insert the SD memory card into the SD card slot.

3. Find the two buttons labeled "A" and "B," located between the LCD display and the control switch. Turn the control switch to the setting labeled "Time." Press the "A" button to input the current hour. Press the "B" button to input the current minute. Turn the control switch to the "Date" setting. Press the "A" button to input the current month. Press the "B" button to input the current day. Turn the control switch to input the "Year" setting. Press the "A" or "B" button to input the current year.

4. Select the tree that you wish to use to hold the camera; choose a tree roughly 10 to 15 feet away from the area you wish to photograph. Use the camera's strap to mount the device to the tree. Point the camera towards the target area. Clear away any obstacles that may block the camera's field of view.

5. Turn the control switch to the setting labeled "Test." Slide the hinge rod to the right and close the camera's cover. Tighten the thumbscrew installed on the bottom edge of the cover. Walk in and out of the camera's field of view. Confirm that the camera's red LED, located near the center of the device's front panel, is illuminated, indicating that the camera has detected you.

6. Loosen the thumbscrew installed in the bottom edge of the cover. Slide the hinge rod to the left and open the cover. Turn the control switch to the desired time delay setting. Slide the hinge rod to the right and close the cover. Tighten the thumbscrew.

Tags: control switch, Turn control, Turn control switch, button input, button input current, input current

Diy Polarizing Filter

A good camera can be expensive without the filters.

In photography --- both color and black-and-white, film and digital --- a polarized filter is useful to filter out light that polarizes perpendicularly to the axis of the camera lens. Among other things, this saturates the image and darkens background elements by eliminating unwanted reflections. Unfortunately, factory-made filters can be quite pricey. However, there are hundreds of everyday objects that have polarized components that can repurposed for a perfectly usable --- and budget-friendly --- camera filter.

Instructions

DIY Polarizing Filter

1. If a filter is cracked or broken, you can take out the inside and repurpose the frame.

Find a filter attachment that fits on your camera. The easiest way to do this is to repurpose an old, damaged filter, but you can also make your own. See Resource 1 for more information on doing it yourself.

2. Many sunglasses are polarized to keep out UV rays.

Find a piece of polarizing material that is unscratched and big enough to fit over your lens. Examples of materials that can be used for this purpose are 3-D glasses (see Resource 2 for a video of this approach), a LCD computer screen --- which has two sets of polarized screens in it, on either side of the LCD itself --- and a pair of clear (or colored) polarized sunglasses.

3. Trace the outline of your camera lens onto the polarized material with the pencil.

4. Cut the shape of the lens out of the polarized material with your box cutter. Be sure to cut it just a little big bigger than the lens.

5. Sand the edges of the filter until it is smooth.

6. Mount the filter to your filter mount with glue. Let dry. Use as desired.

Tags: camera lens, material with, polarized material, polarized material with, Polarizing Filter, your camera

Install A Satellite Receiver Antenna

You've finally decided to make the leap to commercial-free satellite radio. However, you're not sure where or how the antenna needs to be set up. While placement will vary depending upon which satellite radio provider you use, set-up can be completed in a few simple steps.

Instructions

1. Find the right location. For either service you want a location that has a direct path to the sky without any branches, overhangs, buildings or other obstructions in the way. For XM radio, you want to mount the antenna so that it has a clear view of the southern sky. For Sirius, placement depends more on your location: Think of the satellites as being located over Minnesota and place your antenna accordingly, so it will likely be facing north and perhaps east or west depending upon where you are. You can mount the antenna in a window that has a clear view of the appropriate sky, on the outside of the home or possibly inside the home. For the latter option, test it to make sure that it works before proceeding to the next steps.

2. Plug the antenna cable into your satellite radio receiver's antenna in jack.

3. Plug your receiver into the power outlet and turn it on.

4. Wait for the receiver to register satellite strength on its indicator on the top of your screen; then adjust the antenna to get the strongest signal. You should also have a separate screen for displaying a more detailed signal strength indicator accessible in your menu. Rotate the antenna, adjust the tilt and move its location until you have found the best signal. You want to have the majority of the strength indicator bars filled in to ensure proper signal strength.

5. Mount the antenna. You can set the antenna on a table, bookshelf or entertainment center and stand it on its base. Alternately, mount the antenna to an indoor or outdoor wall using the screw mounts on the base.

6. Put your receiver where you plan to keep it and run the antenna in a non-intrusive path. Connect it and you're ready to begin playing your satellite radio.

Tags: satellite radio, strength indicator, clear view, depending upon, mount antenna

Specifications For A Fujifilm A820

Part of Fujifilm's A Series of digital cameras, the FinePix A820 is an entry-level compact digital camera, first released in 2007. Fujifilm designed the A820 with a simple interface for novice camera users. It also includes more advanced features such as image stabilization, a high ISO range and a Super CCD sensor to make it a well-rounded camera.

Image Processor

With 8.3 megapixels, the A820 takes images at a maximum resolution of 3296 by 2472 pixels. It uses the same Super CCD image processor found in the more expensive F Series of digital cameras from Fujifilm. It features an ISO range of 100 to 800, with higher ISO settings providing better image clarity in low light conditions. It also takes videos at a resolution of 320 by 240 pixels at 30 frames per second. Still images are stored in the JPEG format while videos are stored in the AVI format.

Lens

The focal length of the zoom lens is equivalent to a focal length of 39 mm to 156 mm on a 35 mm camera. The lens features a 4x optical zoom with an additional 7.6x digital zoom. The aperture range is between f2.9 and f6.3. The camera has a minimum shutter speed of four seconds and a maximum shutter speed of 1/1200 seconds.

Display

The A820 has a built-in 2.5-inch color LCD display. The display has a resolution of 115,000 pixels. The camera doesn't have an optical viewfinder.

Memory

The A820 features 10 MB of onboard storage to store images and camera settings. A memory card slot expands storage space and accepts an SD Card or xD-Picture Card.

Batteries

Two AA batteries power the A820. It will accept either standard or rechargeable NiMH AA batteries. The A820 also includes a DC power port to connect to an optional power adapter that lets you run the camera from a wall outlet.

Outputs

The A820 includes a USB 2.0 connection to connect the camera to a computer and transfer images. A composite AV cable is also included to connect the camera to a television set or other video monitor and view images on the screen.

Dimensions

The A820 measures 3.8 inches wide, 2.4 inches high and 1.3 inches deep. It weighs 5.5 oz.

Tags: also includes, connect camera, digital cameras, focal length, resolution pixels

Get Ringtones On A Samsung Juke

Whether you're looking for a single ringtone to replace your phone's default, or a series of new sounds to identify your friends by their own unique ringers, you can create ringtones for your Juke and send them to your phone for free in only a matter of minutes with Phonezoo.

Instructions

1. Visit Phonezoo.com and register for a free account. If you already have an account, log into it with the boxes at the top of the Phonezoo.com homepage.

2. Click "Ringtones" from the top menu, then click "Create From File" on the resulting page.

3. Click "Browse," and select the file you wish to turn into a ringtone. Click the appropriate button to indicate if the file is copyrighted, then click "Upload."

4. Adjust the Start, Length, Fade In and Fade Out parameters until you have isolated the portion of the file you would like as a ringtone.

5. Click the "Save & Send to Phone" button to send the ringtone in a text message.

6. Save the sound file that arrives with the text message to store the ringtone on your phone.

Tags: your phone, ringtone Click, text message, then click

Renew My Xm Radio Subscription

XM Radio offers sports, news and music channels.

XM Radio is a satellite radio pay-for-play service that gives listeners access to a number of radio channels not available without subscription. Some benefits of XM Radio make it a popular alternative to its traditional counterpart. For one, there are fewer commercial interruptions, since it is a paid service. Also, there are fewer regulations prohibiting speech because XM Radio is privately owned and operated. If you love your XM Radio and your subscription is about to run out, renewing it is simple and can be done online.

Instructions

1. Visit XMRadio.com and log on to your XM Radio online account. Make sure you have your 8-digit radio ID handy.

2. Click on the "my account" link in the upper right corner of the screen.

3. Enter your user name and password. The user name and password fields are located in the lower right corner of the screen. Click the "Log In" button when you are done.

4. Select the subscription you want and enter your 8-digit code.

5. Enter your credit card information.

6. Finalize the purchase by submitting your information, and print the confirmation page for your records.

Tags: corner screen, name password, right corner, right corner screen, there fewer, user name, user name password

Upgrade Your Verizon Cell Phone

Is your cell phone ancient? If so, you probably need to take some time to upgrade both it and its outdated plan. Follow these steps to find out upgrade your Verizon cell phone.

Instructions

1. Take inventory of what you already have. You'll need to know what kind of phone you own, including the make and model. Most of the time, that's printed right on the phone. You'll also need to be familiar with your calling plan. Check out your last billing statement for those details.

2. Know what your needs are. You should make a list highlighting your needs and wants concerning a cell phone and plan. Do you need a camera phone? Is that a want, not a need?

3. Know what needs to be changed. Do you want to change your cell phone or just the plan? Or is it visa versa? Write this down as well.

4. Do a phone upgrade. To start a phone upgrade, head to the Verizon website (see References below). There you'll see all the latest phones available to customers. Look around and see what you like and don't like.

5. Do a plan upgrade. The website is also the place to start your plan upgrade process, as well. Most of their plans are located on the site. Look around and see what fits you best.

6. Go to the store. While it may be easier to do everything from your computer, it's very likely that you'll get a better deal from the store. Go to the store and talk to someone face to face.

7. Wait for it. Just relax for two or three days. This will give you time to think over the deal. Don't impulse buy.

8. Talk to another existing customer. Find someone who has the phone or plan you want with Verizon. Ask them about the pros and cons of that phone or plan. They'll be honest.

9. Go back to the store and make the deal. Try to talk to the same person you talked to before to ensure that you get the deal you wanted.

Tags: cell phone, phone plan, around what, Look around, Look around what, phone upgrade, plan upgrade

What Do With The Netflix App

The iPad offers a good Netflix viewing experience.

The Netflix app on the iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad gives you a cinema experience on the go. You can download the free application in the Apple "App Store" on your mobile device and start watching movies and television shows via your Netflix account. The iPad, because of its large 9.5-by-7.3-inch screen, offers the best Netflix viewing experience. The iPhone 4's "Retina Display'' provides a stunning image, but on a smaller screen.

Home Screen

When you open the Netflix app on your mobile device, you will notice the default home screen. It provides a list of pre-selected categories and featured titles. You can select any title for a full description, title information and running time.

Title Page

On the title page for each instant-stream movie or TV show you are given the option to "Add to Instant Queue" or "Play." If you search for a title that does not provide instant-streaming capabilities, it will indicate "Disc only,'' meaning it is only available through Netflix mail delivery.

Genres

By selecting the "Genres" button you can narrow your instant-streaming choices by category. You can pick from "Television," "Comedy," "Drama," and "Documentary,'' to name a few.

Search

Select the "Search" button to enter titles or keywords. If the title is available, the Netflix app lets you tap the title image and in turn pulls up information about that film or show.

Instant Queue

By selecting the "Instant Queue" button you can view every title you have added to your queue. If you add titles from the Netflix website or from a household device, the titles are automatically synced across all devices. When you select a title from your queue, it will bring up a title page where you can tap the "Play" button to begin streaming.

Disc Only

Previous versions of the Netflix app gave users the ability to add titles to their DVD queue. However, the company has moved away from that strategy. Instead, if a title is not available for instant streaming, it is labeled "Disc only" in the search results. The app does provide recommendations, which are listed under "Similar titles to watch instantly." This change encourages Netflix users to use the application for instant streaming only.

Tags: Instant Queue, does provide, instant streaming, mobile device, Netflix viewing, Netflix viewing experience

Modify An Sx70 For 600 Film

Polaroid developed the world's first instant camera systems.

The Polaroid Corporation, bowing to pressure from digital photo systems, stopped selling instant film for its popular SX-70 and 600 lines of cameras. The two systems were similar, but with different film speeds, the 600 films being four times (two f-stops) more sensitive than SX-70 film. Because of this, a system was made to prevent interchange of cartridges between camera lines, a system that is simple to bypass. With one change to the SX-70, it can be used successfully with Polaroid 600 film, which is in more plentiful supply.

Instructions

1. Remove the filter glass from its frame. Carefully use the the needle nose pliers to bend the filter frame in two or three locations. With slight pressure, the glass will pop out.

2. Glue the removed filter glass over the lens in the center of the camera. Use hot glue sparingly on the ring around the outside of the lens and press the glass filter over it, holding the glass in place until the glue sets. This filter cuts the amount of light that will hit the more sensitive 600 film.

3. Open the film door on the camera. Insert the card in the opening, then place the 600 film cartridge on top of the card. Slide the cartridge in about half way, then remove the card, fully insert the cartridge and close the film door. The dark slide will eject and you are ready to take photos.

Tags: film door, filter glass, more sensitive

Take Silhouette Pictures

In a silhouette image, the subject in the foreground of a picture is only a dark, featureless shadow, while the content in the background is perfectly illuminated. Recreating a silhouette image does not take any major photography skills. In fact, as long as there is a controllable light source, you can create a silhouette picture whenever you want.

Instructions

1. Turn off all the lights in the room, if you are indoors. If you are taking the picture outside, make sure it is evening or later.

2. Position a light source behind the content you want a silhouette of. If you are outside, you can use a lamp post as the light source. Make sure no light is striking the front content you want a silhouette of. This ruins the effect of the image. You want all the light to behind the subject matter.

3. Focus your camera onto the subject matter. This gives the subject a clear outline, while still not revealing any features.

4. Take the picture with the flash off.

Tags: light source, content want, content want silhouette, silhouette image, subject matter, want silhouette

Vivitar 5600 Flash Specs

The Vivitar 5600 flash has an adjustable head similar to the flash pictured here.

The Vivitar 5600 is a full featured external flash unit that can be used with other cameras as well. The Vivitar 5600 was designed to be used on film cameras. Before you use the flash on your digital camera, test the flash on a voltmeter. If the voltage is too high for your digital camera, you could damage the internal circuitry in your camera. Refer to your digital camera's owner manual for maximum voltage guidelines.

Flash Head

The flash head on the Vivitar 5600 has a number of different features that make it appealing to photographers. The flash head on the Vivitar 5600 can be tilted towards the ceiling for bounce light photography. The head can also be swiveled, allowing for bounce light photography when shooting in a vertical position. Bouncing the light off of the ceiling or a bounce card attached to the flash creates more natural looking lighting conditions. The flash head also has a built-in diffuser that diffuses the light when shooting with a wide angle lens.

Shooting Modes

The Vivitar 5600 has four different shooting modes. By adjusting a slide switch on the left of the flash you can set the flash to work in full "Auto" mode or "M/TTL," which stands for manual/through-the-lens, where the flash takes metering information from the camera. You can also set the flash to fire at 1/16 or 1/4 power. These last two settings are very useful when you are using the flash as part of a multi-flash setup and need to balance the light against other flash units.

Lens Selector

Another setting on the back of the Vivitar 5600 allows you to tell the flash the focal length of the lens you are using. Four settings exist: "W" for wide angle lenses, specific settings for 35 mm and 50 mm lenses, and a fourth setting for telephoto lenses, which is identified with the letter "T." Using these settings will help the flash create the best light for the scene you're shooting.

Tags: Vivitar 5600, your digital camera, digital camera, flash head, your digital, bounce light, bounce light photography

Use A Nikon Digital Slr On A Telescope

Use your Nikon DSLR with a telescope to photograph the night sky.

Attaching your Nikon DSLR camera to a telescope lets you photograph distant objects in the night sky such as the moon, planets and stars. Long-exposure photographs reveal far more detail than you can see with the unaided eye, rendering in vivid color objects otherwise only faintly visible through a telescope. Use your DSLR to capture breathtaking images of the universe to share with friends and family or to document your observing experiences as an amateur astronomer.

Instructions

1. Turn off your camera. Detach the lens by pressing the lens-release button and holding it down while you turn the lens clockwise.

2. Attach the T-ring to the camera by screwing it counter-clockwise into the lens mount. T-rings differ from camera to camera, so make sure you purchase a T-ring compatible with your Nikon camera. Screw the T-adapter into the T-ring.

3. Insert the T-adapter into the telescope's focuser. Tighten the thumbscrew on the side of the focuser to ensure the camera does not slip out during use. Wrap the camera's carry strap around the telescope's tube to further secure the camera.

4. Configure the camera for astrophotography. Turn it on and set it for "Manual" mode. Disable the flash, autofocus and noise reduction. Switch from "JPG" to "RAW" mode to disable image compression. RAW mode provides the highest image quality possible with your camera and gives you more options when editing your pictures with image-editing software.

5. Set the ISO setting to 200 or lower if imaging bright objects, such as the moon or planets. Otherwise, set the ISO level above 200 if photographing fainter objects, including galaxies, emission nebulae and planetary nebulae. Higher ISO settings produce sharper images, according to FVAstro.org, but can introduce noise and discoloration into images because of the increased light sensitivity.

6. Configure the shutter speed. Set the shutter speed to 30 seconds or lower if using a "push-to" mount. Longer shutter speeds produce distorted images of the stars because the Earth's rotation becomes apparent with exposures above 30 seconds. If using a "go-to" mount that moves the telescope in parallel to the Earth's rotation, set the shutter speed to "Bulb." This will allow you to capture more light, producing more colorful, detail images than with shorter exposures.

Tags: shutter speed, your Nikon, Earth rotation, moon planets, Nikon DSLR

Calculate Time Delay

One popular subject for time-lapse photography is blooming flowers.

Stringing images together as a series of moments can capture change over time. This technique is called time-lapse photography. The photographer takes an image, waits a specified interval of time and then takes another image. This process can be repeated over the course of a long period. To create a successful series, you will need to make images at the correct intervals. Shoot too infrequently and your sequence will be too choppy; shoot too frequently and your sequence will not capture the way the scene changes.

Instructions

1. Study your subject thoroughly. This doesn't mean you should crack a book. Rather, practice observing your subject from many angles at various times throughout the day. Through this careful observation, you will become intimately familiar with your subject, growing to understand the ways it changes and looks in different light and at different times of day. This familiarity is essential for selecting the correct time delay in time lapse photography.

2. Take five test images at a set interval. One second is a good place to start. Look at these images in sequence and see if the subject's change can be seen in this sequence. If the sequence is too jumpy, shorten the interval until the sequence looks smoother and cinematic. If you cannot see the change in your subject in your test sequence, go to the next step.

3. Take five more test shots with longer intervals between photographs and judge the results. The length of these intervals is determined by how much your subject changes over time. If you are photographing clouds, for example, you wouldn't want to separate shots by much more than five seconds. On the other hand, a flower blooms slowly, so you would want to allow for much longer intervals between shots. Intervals can stretch into several minutes or even hours, depending on how slowly the subject changes.

4. Shoot a few hundred pictures at your selected interval and review the sequence of images. This can be done easily on a digital camera by quickly scrolling through all the images in the order they were taken. Again, look for jumpiness or sluggish change and adjust your interval accordingly. If you have trouble finding the right interval, move on to the next step.

5. Calculate the estimated length of the event you are photographing in seconds.

6. Determine the final length of the sequence you will be producing in frames. One second of video contains 24 frames which means that a 30 second video would contain 720 frames (24 frames per second x 30 seconds = 720 frames).

7. Divide the length of the event you are photographing in seconds by the number of frames you will need for the final movie. For example, a 10-hour event lasts for 36,000 seconds. If you are producing a sequence of 720 frames, divide 36,000 by 720 to get 50. The resulting number is the interval, in seconds, that each photograph should be separated by. Remember that this equation is to be used as a guideline and not a hard-and-fast rule.

Tags: your subject, sequence will, event photographing, event photographing seconds, frames second

Helicopter Tours In New Orleans

Get a bird's-eye view of New Orleans in a helicopter.

You can see one of the most distinctive and beautiful cities in the United States in a unique way by taking a helicopter tour of New Orleans. Helicopter tours blend the excitement of flying above the cityscape with the enjoyment of experiencing a new city firsthand. New Orleans, a place famous for its hospitality and one-of-a-kind tours, offers several helicopter excursions.

Crescent City Helicopters

Crescent City Helicopters offers helicopter tours in either a R22 Beta II or R44 Raven helicopter, both of which are ideal for taking pictures. The tour provides an aerial view of New Orleans. Crescent City Helicopters also flies over several key Southeastern Louisiana landscapes, including the wetlands and the MRGO industrial channel. You will also see the Chalmette Battlefield and National Cemetery where the Battle of New Orleans took place.

Crescent City Helicopters

6101 G Bellanca St.

New Orleans, LA 70126

504-914-5955

crescentcityhelicopters.com

Jesuit Bend Helicopters

You can fly over the entire city of New Orleans with Jesuit Bend Helicopters. The helicopter tour flies over the downtown area, providing views of the Harris Casino; the uptown area, providing a view of Lee Circle; and the famous French Quarter, where you will see Jackson Square. Personalized tours are also available.

Jesuit Bend Helicopters

12216 Highway #23

Belle Chasse, LA 70037

504-912-5300

nolaheli.com

Gulf South Helicopters

Gulf South Helicopters offers tours of New Orleans, flying R-22 and R-44 helicopters. The tours can accommodate one to three people. It also offers scenic flights of southeastern Louisiana areas such as the wetlands and coastal regions.

Gulf South Helicopters

1825 Gen. Pershing St. #6

New Orleans, LA 70115

504-236-4512

gulfsouthhelicopters.com

Panther Helicopters

Panther Helicopters offers personalized tours. With these private tours, you can build your own flight map based on the destinations you want to see rather than follow a predestined tour. Panther Helicopters is also experienced in aerial photography and can install special mounts for filming equipment.

Panther Helicopters

2017 Engineers Road

Belle Chasse, LA 0037

504-394-5803

pantherhelicopters.com

Tags: City Helicopters, Crescent City, Crescent City Helicopters, Panther Helicopters, Bend Helicopters, Gulf South, Gulf South Helicopters

Set Agp Aperture Size

When manufacturers first introduced the AGP video card interface, memory was expensive. Because of this, video cards shipped with less RAM than newer PCI-X models. To provide better performance with AGP video cards, many motherboard manufacturers included AGP aperture settings in the system BIOS. This allows users to allocate system RAM to video cards when running memory-intensive 3D games or applications. Generally speaking, the more memory an AGP video card has, the lower the aperture setting. Setting the aperture size in the BIOS is relatively simple and the process is about the same with all motherboards that support the feature.

Instructions

1. Shut down the computer and restart it. As soon as you see the computer manufacturer logo or initial boot screen, press the "Delete," "F1," or other designated key for entering the system BIOS menu. Many computers display the key used to enter the BIOS or "System Setup" menu during the boot process. If you are unsure which key you need to press to enter the BIOS, refer to the user guide or manual for your system or motherboard.

2. Use the arrow keys on the keyboard to move the cursor to the "Advanced," "Advanced Features," "Advanced Chipset" or other similarly named menu heading, and then press the "Enter" key. Alternatively, if your BIOS supports use of a mouse, click the appropriate menu heading.

3. Scroll down to the "AGP Settings," "Graphics Settings" or "Video Settings" header. Position the mouse over the "AGP Aperture" value, then press the "Enter" key. Some motherboard BIOS menus have an "AGP Aperture" setting on the first page of the "Advanced Settings" menu. While manufactures place the setting in different parts of the menu, the "AGP Aperture" value should be somewhere on the "Advanced Settings" or similarly named menu page.

4. Press the "Enter" key after you highlight the "AGP Aperture" value. Use the down-arrow key to select the amount of physical RAM memory you want to allocate to the AGP video card. Values for the setting vary by motherboard. However, most motherboards allow you to select between 64MB, 128MB and 256MB of memory for the setting. Generally speaking, you should choose the lowest value as long as you are not experiencing video card memory issues. A good rule thumb for the setting is as follows:

If your video card has 32MB or less of memory, select the 256MB AGP Aperture setting.

If the AGP video card has between 64MB and 256MB of on-board memory, select the 128MB setting.

If the card has more than 256MB of video memory, set the AGP Aperture setting to 64MB.

Tags: video card, Aperture setting, Aperture value, video cards, Advanced Settings, between 64MB, enter BIOS

Compare Gps Auto Trackers

GPS trackers come in all shapes and sizes to suit your needs.

A global positioning system (GPS) device will help you track any device. However, many have additional features that appeal to different lifestyles and needs. Comparing GPS tracking systems may be tricky, but there are some easy and effective ways to make sure you get to your chosen destination.

Features

Aside from providing step-by-step directions, ask yourself what features you want from your GPS. Some tracking devices have extended battery life, while others are easy to install. Get to know all of the features and decide.

Compare

Most electronic stores have websites that do all the comparison work for you. All you have to do is compare the different specifications and features of various GPS tracking devices. You can go in-store and see the devices and compare the different styles and prices.

Reviews

Once you've narrowed down the GPS devices that best fit your needs, read online reviews from other customers to get their take. If there are any obvious flaws or problems with the device, it will likely appear in these reviews. In any event, it will help you compare GPS trackers.

Tags: compare different, device will, tracking devices, will help, your needs

Work The Memorex Karaoke System

You can use one or two microphones on the Memorex karaoke system.

You can be the star vocalist on some of your favorite songs with a karaoke machine. The Memorex karaoke system plays standard CDs and CD+G karaoke discs. The CD+G discs plays the audio track of the song and displays the lyrics. Adjust the controls to increase the singer's voice or turn it down so you can hear the song better.

Instructions

1. Press the "Open/Close" button on the top of the Memorex karaoke system and insert a CD+G disc. The CD+G disc is a karaoke CD that features music, a video track and song lyrics.

2. Plug the microphone into the "MIC" jacks in the front of the machine. You can plug up to two microphones into the karaoke machine.

3. Press the "Power" button on the top left side of the machine to turn the karaoke machine on.

4. Turn the "Monitor" switch to the "On" position to see the song's lyrics and graphics.

5. Press the "CD+G Play/Pause" button to begin playing the CD. Both the "Play/Pause" and "CD+G" lights will turn on.

6. Press the "Vocal Auto" button to mute the pre-recorded vocals on the CD. Once someone starts singing the song's lyrics, the vocals will automatically turn on. If the singer stops singing, the pre-recorded vocals will come back on.

7. Adjust the "Mic Volume" to increase or decrease the microphone's volume.

Tags: karaoke machine, karaoke system, song lyrics, Memorex karaoke, Memorex karaoke system

Replace The Remote Battery For A Toyota

Toyota has added a very useful remote control for unlocking your car doors and gaining entry to your truck. These remotes can even start your engine or access your panic alert system, which provides security in vulnerable situations. Although these remotes can come in handy, they run on batteries, which lose power over time. If you haven't ever had to change the remote battery on your Toyota remote control, you're in luck. With the right instructions, you can change it in only a couple of minutes.

Instructions

1. Insert one of your car keys into the small hole that is located on the front of the remote, then pull it forward. You can identify this hole by the small indentation. Your remote's battery cover will now be removed.

2. Pull out the existing battery from the holder within the remote. The battery will be a round-shaped piece of metallic construction.

3. Insert the new battery in the place of the old one in the remote. Place the battery writing side up, so that the positive and negative sides correspond with the battery holder. The positive side goes to the positive(+), and the negative to the negative(-).

4. Click the remote cover back into place carefully. Be sure to line up the edges with each other so as not to break any of the connection pieces. Now your Toyota remote will be ready for use.

Tags: remote battery, positive negative, remote control, Toyota remote, your Toyota

Hook Up Any 12v Device In Your Car

This is a universal guide for hooking any 12V device up to your car. Anything from LEDs to neons to an amp and subwoofer. This guide focuses on smaller gauge wiring than typically used in an amp but the concept is the same.

Instructions

1. First make sure your wiring is compatible. It should be heat resistant because it's going in the engine compartment. Most hardware stores sell wiring specifically made for cars in their car department. The most common type of wire to use is stranded copper. Make sure it is the correct gauge to carry the amount of current that your device pulls. You can calculate it if you know the watts. For instance, an inverter powering two 12" neons is usually about 40 watts. So divide 40 by 12v and you get 3.3 amps. Pretty much any gauge of wire can carry that much. For most purposes 16 or 18 gauge wire will be sufficient because it can usually carry at least 10 amps. Check the wire's ratings on the package to make sure. If you want to make things really easy on yourself later, get two spools/packages of wire, one red and one black

2. Make sure your fuse is rated for the correct amount of amps as calculated above for the wiring. Usually it's best to have the fuse be about 50% higher than the expected amount of amps. So for example and 8 amp device should have a 15 amp fuse. Check out the picture to see the best types of common car fuse containers and the fuses that go in them.

3. Now make sure your ring terminal connector fits onto the bolts that are holding the clamps onto your battery terminal. If you've never seen a ring terminal connector, check out the picture. These rings will go on the bolts beneath the nuts

4. Now you need to open your car's hood and locate the battery. It's the huge box shaped thing with two terminals and wires coming off of it. Make sure your car has been off long enough to cool off because it's easy to burn yourself while working in a hot engine compartment.

5. Now it's time to decide which way you're going to run the wires. There's 2 common choices. One is to go from the battery to the side of the engine compartment and through the space between the side mirror and windshield right by the hinge of the hood. This will have the wires come out at the top left corner of your dash behind the steering wheel. From there you can run the wires across the dash, down the side of the dash, or through the ceiling. The other path is from the battery to the side of the engine compartment then across the rear of it and straight down to the hole in the car's firewall (metal wall at the back of the compartment). There should be a rubber stopper there called a grommet. If you run the wires this way, all you need to do is cut a tiny slit in the rubber and run the wires through. This way the wires will come out around your gas and brake pedals. The wires are more hidden this way and you can easily run them under your center console or your dash with less wire.

6. If you were smart and bought two reels of differently colored wire, tape the end of each to the middle of the battery, NOT the terminals, to simulate the required distance as if they were actually connected. Then run the wires to the side of your engine compartment and up it to whatever path you chose. There should be unused holes drilled on the ledge there where you can use wire ties to hold the wires in place. If you don't know what a wire tie is, check out the picture for this step. It is very important that the wires be held tightly to the side so they don't move freely inside the engine compartment. Make sure you don't run the wires around or touching places that get hot like the radiator tubing and also avoid moving parts like belts. Then run the wires through your chosen path. Once you're sure you have the length correct so the wires will reach from your battery to where your 12V device is going to sit, cut the negative wire. If you had to run the wires twice because you only bought one spool of one color, put some masking tape around both ends of the negative one and cut it then run the positive wire. If you did color code them, black will be negative and red will be positive.

I should mention that since your car battery is grounded on the car's chasis, it is possible to skip running a negative wire and attach your device to the chasis with a much shorter wire. This is way more dangerous and you have to sand and drill a hole in your chasis and after doing that, you may find out that it's a very poor place to attach it and doesn't conduct well and you've got a hole in your car for nothing. So just run a seperate wire.

7. Now it's time to add the fuse to the positive wire. Pick a location that you would like your fuse holder to be. Beneath the dashboard, under the steering wheel is a popular place. Just remember wherever you put it, you're going to have to get back in there to change it if it ever blows out. Cut the positive wire so it's long enough to reach your chosen location and strip it. Strip both ends of the fuse holder's wire if they're not already and attach either end to the positive wire you just ran. I made a diagram on twist and seal two wires together and attached it to this step. It's a little fuzzy but you'll get the idea. Just twist the two together tightly, push the twisted bunch to the side, and wrap electrical tape around it tightly. Make sure you're using electrical tape that's safe up to 180 degrees Fahrenheit and if you live somewhere where it gets cold, safe to 0 degrees Fahrenheit too. I'd strongly recommend using 3M's Super 33+ vinyl electrical tape because it has those ratings. That stuff is super tough and never melts or flakes off. This is one of the only safe ways to safely join two wires in car applications. Those wire caps that are used in house wiring can fall off and cause a massive short and aren't water tight so DO NOT use them. Attach the end of the remaining wire to the other side of the fuse holder now and join it the same way.

8. Now you need to choose a location for your switch. I attached mine to the center console with VHB tape but you may want to stick it somewhere on your dash or another location. Some common rocker and toggle switches are shown in the attached picture. There are thousands of different types of switches so shop around and find one you like. Note how they have two plug-like terminals on them. Avoid buying ones with three because they won't be useful in this particular application. Also make sure they are rated for at least the amount of amps you're using. Most are rated safe up to 25 amps. If you need one that can handle more, you may need to use breaker or battery main line cut off switches.

9. Now that you've chosen a location for the switch, run the positive wire to the location and cut and strip it. Strip at least a full inch off the wire because you're going to need enough to run it through the hole in the plate on the bottom of the switch then back down and twist it around so it is secure. Twist it as tightly as possible then wrap the entire thing in elecrical tape. Cover as much metal as you can to prevent shorting. It won't actually "short" in the traditional sense since both lines are positive but it will turn your device on while the switch it off if it shorts and you don't want that. Connect the reel of positive wire to the other side and run it to where the negative wire ends. This way the switch effectively acts as an interrupter to the positive line. Make absolutely sure that the switch is turned OFF at this point.

I know someone will mention this if I don't so...there are socket attachments you can add to the ends of your wires like the ring terminal connectors that slip onto the switch's plugs but my way was faster and cheaper.

10. So now your positive line is fused and switched and is alongside your negative one. Now strip the wires and attach them to whatever device you're powering and mount it in place (if that's what you're doing with it)

11. Now all you need is power going to your device. Go back to your engine compartment and untape both wires from the battery. Strip both ends and attach ring terminals. To attach them just stick the stripped wire into the bottom of it and use a pliers or wire stripper with crimper to flatten the metal tube holding the wire. Be careful that the wire doesn't slip out because it probably won't be very secure even after crushing the metal tube. Wrap several pieces of electrical tape around the plastic casing and the wire so it won't slip out. Once each lead has a ring on it, unscrew the negative battery terminal's clamp. The negative one should have a thick black wire coming off it and the other should be red otherwise the terminals should be marked + and -. Note that the nut on the bolt that applies pressure to the clamp sometimes does not come completely off because the bolt's threads were purposely cut at the top. If this is the case, you can loosen it and use two pronged, forked connectors instead of full rings on the ends of your wires. That will allow you to slip them on without having to take the bolt/nut completely off. Otherwise try to use a different, removable bolt attached to the clamp. If your car's terminal clamps only have one bolt, you may want to consider replacing them with ones that have a separate offshoot with a bolt for this exact purpose. See the attached picture for an example of a terminal with a second bolt to attach a ring to. The thin, red wire is tightly held on with the ring between the washer and clamp body. Yours should closely resemble that. When you have the negative wire attached, do the same with the positive and make sure both are very tight.

12. Now that you have power available, add the fuse to the fuse holder. The direction doesn't matter but it may only fit one way. It is important that you don't add the fuse until this point to avoid getting electrocuted or burned by large sparks when connecting the rings to the battery. Now that the fuse is in, flip the switch to the on position and your device should receive power and turn on (if that's what it does when it first receives power). If anything other than that happens, turn the switch off immediately and check the fuse and all connections to make sure it's all correct. If everything appears to work correctly, leave your device on for at least 2 minutes with your car off to make sure no wires heat up and melt and there are no shorts. Most car fuses don't blow immediately if the current limit (aka the amp rating) is exceeded. If the fuse does blow, check for shorts in the wires. A short is when the metal parts of the negative and positive lines touch each other. If everything is all set, double check that your wiring isn't going to fly around in your engine compartment and close the hood and start your car. Make sure you open your garage door first to vent the exhaust if that's where you are. With your car off the voltage on that circuit should be around 12.5V but with it running it should be around 14.5V and may be as high as15.5V in extremely cold weather. Ensure that your device won't get damaged by that high of voltage by leaving it powered on while running the engine for at least 1 minute. If it is meant to go in a car, it's an engineering standard to have it be able to run at voltages between 10.4 and 14.7 so there shouldn't be a problem.

Tags: engine compartment, your device, positive wire, make sure, electrical tape, fuse holder