Technabob » nixie

GPS Treasure Box Will Only Open Up in Specified Location

Lambert Varias — Wed, 12 Jan 2011 13:05:41 +0000

By reversing the rules of geocaching, Arduino Forum member RickP has come up with a great way to hide treasure or play a game. In case you’re not familiar with the game, geocaching involves looking for hidden containers – geocaches – using GPS devices. It’s a more precise way of treasure hunting. RickP’s brilliant idea is a lot more cruel – you’re given the box right away, but you won’t be able to open it unless you’re at the right coordinates.

The box has a GPS module, a couple of LEDs and a servo, all mounted on an Arduino board. RickP used nixie tubes to display the distance. The box will search for a GPS signal for three minutes, after which it will display (in kilometers) how far it is from the target location. If it can’t get a signal, the Error LED will light up. Four D batteries power the box.

So what’s the prize? When you open up the box, you’ll find “instructions inside on how to reprogram it via USB and a serial console.” And the game begins anew. I wonder if the box can be programmed to open not just at the right coordinates, but also after a set period of time has passed. That way the game can be more interesting – even if you’ve found the spot, you’ll have to stay and defend the box for some time while other players try to take it from you. Check out Arduino Forum for more info.

[via Fashionably Geek]

Nixie Sudoku: Fun With Gas-Filled Tubes

Technabob — Sat, 10 Jul 2010 02:40:00 +0000

This has got to by my favorite Nixie tube creation in a very long time – a fully-playable Soduku board.

Trashbear Labs built this Nixie Soduku board using 81 individual tubes, arranged into a grid, and controlled by a couple of dials and a keypad. There’s even a built-in solver algorithm, in case he gets stuck trying to solve a particularly challenging puzzle.

Click to View Embedded Video Clip

Want one just like it? Trashbear has been kind enough to share all of the schematics, source code, and design files in one handy .ZIP archive here.

[via Hack A Day via Adafruit Industries]

Jason Von Nieda’S Tube Clock Tells Time in a Vacuum

Range — Sun, 27 Dec 2009 21:05:49 +0000

This awesome clock was put together by Jason von Nieda, and I have to say that it looks great. It’s definitely one of the best vacuum tube clocks out there!

Jason put together this clock in about 4 months. He built it around a retro Russian IV-18 Nixie tube. As inspiration, he cites Adafruit’s Ice Tube Clock, but didn’t like its acrylic enclosure. He decided to improve upon it and credits John Pfeiffer for the design of the enclosure.

Click to View Embedded Video Clip

The enclosure itself is great. It reminds me of some Apple computers, because of the perforated metal grills that are used in it.

I think that this clock simply look amazing. I’d love to have one in my bedroom or near my workstation.

[via Make]

Steampunk Broadcast Video Controller Actually Works, Only Plays Videos From 1932

Technabob — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 03:41:42 +0000

This wondrous steampunk contraption may looks like something out of an H.G. Wells time-travel story, but it’s actually modern broadcast video control system, concealed under the shell of a victorian-styled retro-mechanical facade.

Created by Hi Tech Systems, the Comptometer is a fully-functional broadcast controller for video mixing and editing software.

The intricately crafted controller was built using wood, brass, Bakelite, Nixie tubes, and other tschotchkes and even has some working mechanical components.

Not being a broadcast video expert, I’m not really sure how one would use this controller in the industry, maybe this video will give you some clue. Something about Grass Valley, Sony, Odetics and a gas turbine interchange – you figure it out.

Click to View Embedded Video Clip

[via The Steampunk Workshop]

Old World Nixie Tube Clock: Going for Baroque

Technabob — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 11:30:02 +0000

I’m not sure if this clock design qualifies as “steampunk” or simply anachronistic, but it sure looks different than just about any timepiece I’ve ever seen.

Combining retro Nixie tubes with a baroque antique bronze enclosure, it’s definitely different. For some reason, I’m betting your Grandma probably didn’t have one of these on her mantle.

Handcrafted by LCI Electronics, this clock is powered by six funky red Nixie tubes, and not only tells time, but offers a calendar and an alarm that plays four musical memories. And if red isn’t your thing, LCI also makes the same clock with clear Nixies as well.

You can find this unique clock over on eBay for $219.99.

Nixie Tube Clock Offers Retro Modern Time Keeping

Technabob — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 22:33:01 +0000

This certainly wouldn’t be the first Nixie tube clock that I’ve written about, but it is definitely one of my favorite designs. Maybe it’s the funky front-facing display tubes that make it super sweet.

There’s something just so right about the contrast of the sleek modern acrylic box which serves as a home for the intricate retro display tubes. As an added bonus, these special tubes gradually cross-fade between digits as the time changes. Cool!

And unlike many Nixie clocks, this one isn’t a kit. It’s pre-assembled and ready to go. If you’d like one for your desk, just head on over to eBay and plunk down your $118.

Wooden Nixie Clock: Where Nature Meets Technology

Technabob — Thu, 29 May 2008 11:40:42 +0000

I don’t know what it is, but I’m a real sucker for Nixie tube clocks. There’s something about the soothing orange glow tubes that offer a simple, yet elegant way to display any numeric information. I hadn’t seen a design that really caught my eye in a while, when I stumbled onto this wooden beauty.

The clock features a set of dramatic surface-mounted Nixie tubes which peek through the front of the warm reddish African Sapele wood case.

The only thing keeping me from putting one of these clocks on my mantle is the fact that it’s only sold as a kit. And between writing this blog, a day job (yes, I have one of those too), and trying to retain some semblance of a life, it’s almost impossible to envision having the time to build this sucker.

For those of you with more free time (and are more adept with your soldering skills than I), the kit comes with everything you need to build the clock, including pre-cut wood case parts, 6 Nixie tubes, a couple of bright neon bulbs for the hour:minute separator, and all the electronic parts you need. In all, there are 115 parts you’ll need to put the clock together.

If you’ve got the time on your hands to build your own clock, you can find this kit (along with a variety of other Nixie kits) from eBay seller Neonixie.

Zetalink Nixie Tube Clocks Offer Funky Fonts

Technabob — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 12:45:41 +0000

This wouldn’t be the first Nixie tube clock I’ve ever seen, but it sure offers some different display options than the typical numeric display they usually feature. Raymond Weisling’s GeekKlok not only can display time using traditional digits, it offers custom “fonts” which can tell time using special characters.

The GeekKlok comes in kit form, and can display 50 different character sets including everything from Roman numerals to Arabic to Chinese, Japanese and even Klingon. Time can even be displayed using special animated digits.

Kits range in price from $124 to $169, depending on the version, and if you want the parts already soldered on. Keep in mind that the kits only come with the PCB and electronics to drive the clock. You’ll need to dig up your own Nixie tubes and sockets (with a little guidance from the Zetalink guys), as well as a power supply.

And for those of you who want to know the current time in Klingon...

[via MAKE]

Nixie Clock Knocked Off in LCD

Technabob — Sun, 09 Sep 2007 20:49:33 +0000

For some reason, clock makers keep trying to bring back the magic of Nixie tubes without using any of the actual tubes. First, we had the LED “Nixie” Clock, and now we get this cheapo version that uses LCDs instead.

About the only thing the Marksman LCD “Nixie-Style” Alarm Clock has in common with a real Nixie clock is that it has clear tubular containers for each of the digits. Without the ethereal orange glow of the real deal, I think it’s really missing something.

I guess the only reason you’d want this is if you just can’t afford a clock with real Nixie tubes. If that’s the case, you can slum it with one of these on eBay for just $14.99.

LED Clock Mocks Nixie

Technabob — Sat, 04 Aug 2007 03:57:34 +0000

This clock looks quite a bit like those retro Nixie tube clocks, but instead of old vacuum tubes, it uses modern LED technology to achieve a similar result.

B&W’s Tubes Clock features six independent segmented red LEDs encased in little smoked domes. They’re then placed on top of a stainless steel and wood base to create a really dramatic effect.

One of the big problems with Nixie tubes is that they can burn out over time. By using LEDs, you’ll probably never have to worry about the display losing brightness or going bad.

The Tubes Clock is offered by British home decor shop Posh Pad for £98 (which works out to about $199 USD.)

Puhlmann Nixie Clock is Oh So Cool

Technabob — Wed, 11 Jul 2007 02:35:51 +0000

Here’s a really excellent retro-modern wall clock from Dutch designer Frank Clewits for design house Puhlmann.

To tell time, the clock uses some unique, forward-facing Nixie vacuum tubes that poke out of the face of a brushed steel plate. It’s decidedly contemporary, but with a serious steampunk feel to it.

Click to View Embedded Video Clip

The Puhlmann Nixie clock is currently on sale for € 249,95 (about $343 USD) from Puhlmann’s online shop.