What tools and supplies to bring to UPEW?

Lev

Hi All:

The UPEW will be my first propeller expo and I can't stop thinking about what stuff to bring. When the tools and parts become enough to fill a marine freight container, I scale back to a mini breadboard and a piece of wire. I figure the sweet spot is somewhere in between.

Does anyone have any advice on what to bring along? Maybe a "Top Ten List of UPEW Essentials"? I am flying (in a plane).

Thanks,
Lev

jazzed

Bring a project or two and ask for some table space if necessary in advance. I packed a bunch of stuff last year and never touched it even once while I was there.

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Ken Gracey

@jazzed - don't forget extra laptops for the hacker kids.

@Lev - bring anything you may need, except for soldering stations because we'll take care of that part. It's a great time to get input on your projects, so I'd be prepared to share my code and hardware and see what could be learned from others. You'll have many ideas after a UPE event so I'd also bring a pad of paper or PDA to record my various thoughts through the weekend. It's really inspirational to be around a bunch of entrepreneurs, creative types and self-motivated people like you find at this event.

One other nice tool would be a laptop and memory stick so you can easily share files, download tools, etc.

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Ken Gracey
Parallax Inc.

Follow me at http://twitter.com/ParallaxKen for some insider news.

potatohead

My trip included Laptop, that "in work" prop board, video capture if that's your thing, camera, sd card and reader, usb stick, breadboard, wire, components you might be working with, and lots of energy. For me, this stuff will fit into a laptop bag.

The camera was great for taking photos of all the projects, and people. During the day, there are a lot of presentations, where everybody is just enjoying those, tinkering with stuff on breaks, or uninteresting parts. As soon as those wind down, we've got the all night session. Many of us just broke into groups, each working on something, or exchanging ideas. That time was great actually.

Bring some cash too. People will have stuff they want to show, tell and sell. I didn't have much last year, and was totally bummed out on that. Snagged a coupla 100Mhz xtals from Bill, and that's it. This year, I can do it differently.

My mistake last year was bringing too much. Go lean, but bring an extra bag, just in case!

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Oldbitcollector (Jeff)

All of these are great suggestions!

UPEW is a special event, because unlike UPEC and UPENE, we have extra time to relax and work on projects
toward the evening. Last year Casslan was able to get a few heads together and find several solutions which
led to the finishing of his propeller based EDIT program.

Video capture is excellent as are those little portable LCD screens if you are going to work on an NTSC project.
I suspect we could talk Ken digging out a screen of two if someone gets in a jam.

I'm personally fishing for a setup for the airplane which won't frighten the other passengers or get me
acquainted with the air marshals. [noparse]:)[/noparse]

OBC

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potatohead

OBC, my air setup ended up being the USB capture, battery, and small box containing a board. Poke holes in the box, then feed the smaller USB end through, connect to the board, ideally with a knot to keep them secure. Connect the battery, plug in the two USB cables, and go! Not all that possible to do interactive things, as that's extra scary wires and such. But it is possible to write code and see results...

The whole works fits into a pocket, which is what I did last time. Before boarding, load your pocket. Then, when seating, pull the computer out of the bag, stow that, have your seat by the window, pulling the cables from your right hand pocket...

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Beau Schwabe

Oldbitcollector,

"I'm personally fishing for a setup for the airplane which won't frighten the other passengers or get me
acquainted with the air marshals. [noparse]:)[/noparse]"

...And those 1Watt 9V solar panels we sell would be PERFECT to stick in the window of the plane ... never mind that I have a aisle seat


Actually I know exactly what you mean... I'm debating on an opaque carrying case where you can almost SEE everything that's inside that would send the message "I'm not really afraid to hide anything so it's no big deal" or go the other way and bring an enclosed metal case that sends the message "I'm Mr. suspicious, you better have a look at my bags" ... I think I will go with option #1 however, and just throw in a bunch of business cards.

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Beau Schwabe

IC Layout Engineer
Parallax, Inc.

Bill Henning

I am seriously considering FedEx to send all the stuff ahead of me.

Beau Schwabe (Parallax) said...
Oldbitcollector,

"I'm personally fishing for a setup for the airplane which won't frighten the other passengers or get me
acquainted with the air marshals. [noparse]:)[/noparse]"

...And those 1Watt 9V solar panels we sell would be PERFECT to stick in the window of the plane ... never mind that I have a aisle seat


Actually I know exactly what you mean... I'm debating on an opaque carrying case where you can almost SEE everything that's inside that would send the message "I'm not really afraid to hide anything so it's no big deal" or go the other way and bring an enclosed metal case that sends the message "I'm Mr. suspicious, you better have a look at my bags" ... I think I will go with option #1 however, and just throw in a bunch of business cards.

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Lev

Thanks for the great ideas, especially about ways to avoid raising unnecessary concern with the security folks. I was wondering if my PPDB would get confiscated. The 6 dig 7 seg display could look scary to the uninformed.

Lev

hover1

I tend to carry a PDF of the documentaion in a 3-ring binder that show a picture of the board and the intended use as an educational device.

I just don't have the display doing something while in the airport.
Jim

jazzed

Lev said...
I was wondering if my PPDB would get confiscated. The 6 dig 7 seg display could look scary to the uninformed.

Especially if it seems to be counting down [noparse];)[/noparse] UPEW will be a blast.
And it will be hot outside! Inside was pleasant last year, but my car was burning up.

Hover, get a cheap-o portable DVD player. I use an Audiovox D1817.

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Propeller Pages: Propeller JVM

Post Edited (jazzed) : 6/8/2010 4:14:49 PM GMT

Beau Schwabe

Just a friendly word of advise to everyone!!

If you have a key chain that includes a pair of pliers, knife, etc. You might want to put it in your check in baggage beforehand. I had this USB Swiss Army knife confiscated on the return trip because I didn't even think about it (<--It made it out there through security, but coming back home I got nabbed). ... fortunately they at least allowed me to remove the USB drive.

I have one of these Leatherman Squirt E4 also that fortunately I have remembered to put in my checked baggage.

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Beau Schwabe

IC Layout Engineer
Parallax, Inc.

schill

I found it was useful to have a set of small screwdrivers at UPEC this year. I loaned one to somebody and used one myself to take apart something that I bought [noparse]:)[/noparse] . That's about all I used during the event itself. I had other stuff that I used the night before and after in my hotel room (pliers, cutters, etc.). I drove so I didn't have to worry about flying with this stuff.

Regarding the swiss army knife... I always carry one in my pocket (the Victorinox Tinker variant with pliers). But I don't want to lose it so it never goes with me anymore when I fly. I'm so used to carrying it, though, that I hide it the night before I travel to make sure that I don't pick it up as part of my normal getting ready in the morning. I always feel like something is missing until I get home.

The SOG multitool that usually lives in my EDC bag these days never gets packed. That would disappear really quickly at security.

John R.

I haven't flown in a long time, so let me get this straight:

* They will/may confiscate a small pocket knife that you are as likely to cut yourself with as anyone you attack.
* They will let you carry on something like this Pilot Roller Ball that could easily penetrate someone's neck or even temple.

Go figure...

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John R.
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schill

John R. said...
* They will let you carry on something like this Pilot Roller Ball ...

But you have to be especially careful with liquid ink pens like that. They like to leak due to the reduced cabin pressure in flight.

W9GFO

Last year, with the 107 deg temps and so many people inside the building the air conditioning had a tough time keeping up. This year there will be more people. Be sure to bring warm weather clothing such as light shirts, shorts and sandals.

Rich H

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