Shop OBEX P1 Docs P2 Docs Learn Events
connecting Hydra to a USB TV video stick — Parallax Forums

connecting Hydra to a USB TV video stick

gonzobrainsgonzobrains Posts: 27
edited 2010-10-13 00:18 in Propeller 1
Hi,

I want to take my Hydra board along with me to use with my laptop, but I don't want to lug a TV around. I was thinking, could I use a USB TV video stick instead of getting a portable TV? Then connect the Hydra to it and view the output on my laptop's screen?

gb
http://www.gonzobrains.com

Comments

  • BaggersBaggers Posts: 3,019
    edited 2010-09-19 04:05
    Yeah you can use a USB TV video stick instead of lugging a TV around with you :)
    it will have some latency though, ie, Hydra displays the image, which is read and scanned by the USB TV, which is then rendered to the screen buffer, which is then displayed on your laptop screen, other than the frame or two delay, it's fine!
  • gonzobrainsgonzobrains Posts: 27
    edited 2010-09-19 04:15
    cool. Would it be better to use a small, portable TV? Also, what are my options for portable power? Has anyone tried running it off a USB port? Perhaps a powered USB hub?
  • BaggersBaggers Posts: 3,019
    edited 2010-09-19 08:19
    No, I don't think it could directly, but, it possibly could, if you bypass the 5V regulator.
  • gonzobrainsgonzobrains Posts: 27
    edited 2010-09-19 08:38
    Is it true you can use a 9 volt battery or is a pack of AA's better? I'm trying to make my rig as portable as possible. I guess I could use rechargeable batteries and even charge them off the USB if I had to.
  • BaggersBaggers Posts: 3,019
    edited 2010-09-20 02:24
    yes you can use a 9v battery
  • potatoheadpotatohead Posts: 10,261
    edited 2010-09-21 21:55
    I do both of these things all the time.

    Get a couple of rechargable 9V batteries, or a nice 4 AAA pack, and you are good to go. A lousy 9V battery will run your prop board for a coupla hours. A great one might go 4-6, depending on what you do with it.

    USB video captures are either HD or SD. Get a HD one. You will appreciate the much improved captures over composite. I've captures all over this forum done that way.

    Finally, there are some apps, like dscaler, that will render the video with only a frame or two of latency. The preview in many DVD authoring tools does this as well. You've just got to look around and try some software.

    My best setup is a portable prop board, battery powered, with all the cables hooked up. You can connect the two USB cables, one for the Prop programming, one for the video / audio to the PC, and be off and running in a few minutes tops. I use a small carrying case, or pouch, with the cables maintained with twist-ties, or Velcro.
  • LoopyBytelooseLoopyByteloose Posts: 12,537
    edited 2010-10-13 00:18
    AA batteries are best for capacity, AAA are second best, 9V batteries tend to have the lowest capacity of the three.
Sign In or Register to comment.