Q's Set Up

[Qcybershop]

Hi
I'm new to wow multi-box set up and this is my basic set up( so far it's 4 but i'm in process of getting the 5th one since i read Xzin setup). I play on Detheroc Server (ally side)
http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e40/fileshoster/DSC00031.jpg


Also, i start a blog. http://qcybershop.blogspot.com/


Happy Multibox,
Q

P.S. some of you might ask why name Qcybershop. the reason is i own game shop :)

[Steph]

Hmm, that is a really curious setup you have there.
Are the PCs used for something else, or why dont you arrange it a bit more ergonomically?

[Qcybershop]

well i have to put them back to single station on the weekend for customer to use them. they play wow mostly. i play on weekend if the place is not fill up ^^;;;;

[Qcybershop]

i just add a 5th accounts to my set. now i lvl priest to catch up with my locks. also, i'm going to get x-key to help control mule O.o.

http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e40/fileshoster/DSC00043.jpg

Detheroc US ally :twisted:

[Xzin]

I like the concept but how the heck do you manage to actually monitor each screen with them so far apart? I mean - you have to literally scoot across the floor to see the other monitor.

You need something like what Ellay and I use if you are serious about multiboxing.

http://www.dual-boxing.com/Images/Ellay6box.jpg

[sabot7726]

Where's a pic of your setup Xzin? :)

[Wilbur]

*nods* Xzin's setup is fabled to be amazing, Picture please? :-D

[Xzin]

Nice try :) Not yet. I am actually revamping my setup as we speak in order to accommodate the 6x 30" monitors. I had to install an overhead I-Beam track and an elaborate set of aluminum structural pipe in order to manage movement of the 200 lbs of monitors and monitor supports.

I also revamped my input system, upgrading to dual X-Keys Pros and a foot pedal - on top of the X-Keys stick and X-Keys desktop. I added colored icons to the X-keys and I will be revamping my UI in order to prepare for BC.

On top of all of that, I am building a monster computer rig to run those 6 monitors (Triple Nvidia 8800s) and building a really complex computer chair based on a BMW 7 series car seat.

My computer chair will have memory and heated seats - among other things :) I have documented it and I plan on releasing detailed information on it when it is finished. The metal parts are off to be powder coated next week and I should wrap it all up within the next 2 - 3 weeks.

Oh - and my new company is coming along very well. My prototype is nearly completed. It's quite amazing :)

So - heh - I have been busy. I expect to post pictures of my old and new setup when I have finished although honestly my old setup looks like a better version of Ellay's. I opted for real mounts :) Ergotrons - solid and expensive but harder to find and discontinued (at least much of the DS100 line).

Patience :)

[Wilbur]

*drools* It sounds utterly amazing and I cannot wait to see the pictures. Personally I am planning an Ergotron LX based setup, and am going for a Deskless setup. The theory is that this will allow for maximum comfort and functionality, as well as giving way to on-the-fly Keyboard changes.

I guess the ultimate step would to be getting some Servo's and motors installed and having the setup move itself.

[Xzin]

I guess the ultimate step would to be getting some Servo's and motors installed and having the setup move itself.

And that's exactly what I am doing :)

BMW seat motors have memory and they can be adapted to do far more than just move a seat :) Wire one up to an overhead trolley and your monitor array moves along with the seat :) The seat thinks it is moving the steering wheel or the mirrors. Getting all this to function in theory is easy. Getting it to work in practice..... not so easy :) The seat complains that it is out of the car and refuses to operate memory without several extra modules. Guess how I figured that out - heh. Don't even get me started on heating. But when this is finally finished.... ohhhh man :)

The Ergodex stuff is solid but pricey. The mounts alone for my latest monitor array was just shy of a grand. I don't say that to boast - they are just that expensive. It's worth it though given the chance they could fall on me if the mounts fail. Shop around... you will be surprised at what you can find for cheap. I prefer pole mounts just because they are easier to deal with and allow for more options. I ordered my most recent ones from onlinemetals.com - they use 1.5" OD TUBE (not pipe). Aluminum is much lighter than steel and has comparable strength for this application. You should be able to get them powder coated for about a buck or two a foot at your local powdercoat shop or if you go with aluminum you can get it anodized for about the same price. That is if you want a custom size pole or the 36" model (which is no longer offered). Otherwise just shop around.

[Qcybershop]

Well the reason the screen is far apart 'cause i'm running a internet cafe(lan center) so when i'm not playing i can put back to single station faster :twisted:

[Xzin]

Do those do pretty well? I have seen some just rocking it and others languish as they have to upgrade all the time and never are able to make enough money. The concept never really rang true to me - people can buy their own computers rather than pay $X per hour. Although... are you located in the USA? Different countries play by different rules depending on the access to technology.

[Qcybershop]

yes i'm in USA (Georgia) i know that internet cafe or lan center in US is pretty hard to stay a float. but if you have the right location (ex. free rent :wink: ) and knowledge of computers(i'm computer tech :twisted: ) then should be good to go.


P.S. all my machines r AMD64X2 4200+ 2GB ram and ATI1900 graphic card with gigabit ethernet and i use dual boardband connection.

[sabot7726]

Xzin you are a larger than life kinda guy :p

You have a blog somewhere so I can pretend to be as productive as you?

[Xzin]

Edited - still working on new computer setup.

[daanji]

Zin,

You mentioned somewhere you are an Electrical Engineer?

May I ask why Major(s)/degrees you have? I'm just curious.

Myself, I graduated from college May 2006 with two degrees. One in Computer Science and the other in Electrical Engineering- Computer Engineering Emphasis.

What side of the globe are you in? I'm in the USA.

Currently, I'm thinking about using my FPGA experience to recreate a Vetra multicaster. It should be a fun project.

[Xzin]

Zin,

You mentioned somewhere you are an Electrical Engineer?

May I ask why Major(s)/degrees you have? I'm just curious.

Myself, I graduated from college May 2006 with two degrees. One in Computer Science and the other in Electrical Engineering- Computer Engineering Emphasis.

What side of the globe are you in? I'm in the USA.

Currently, I'm thinking about using my FPGA experience to recreate a Vetra multicaster. It should be a fun project.

I don't recall ever mentioning I was an EE. I am a college drop out - but that does not mean I am uneducated. I don't need books and courses to learn the things I want to learn. In fact, a lot of the things I learn are things that are not taught in classes - the material is just too new. I prefer to explore and figure things out on my own. It holds me back from getting a "real job" I suppose but since I don't work for a living as it is..... this really does not bother me too greatly. It might be hard becoming a medical / legal / etc professional though :)

The Vetra devices are not that complicated. PS/2 signals are very well documented and have been around FOREVER. I would guess there are some extremely well documented chips that are out there on digikey/mouser, etc for very low cost. I imagine I could eventually figure out how to build one but I usually need to make a judgment call on how much effort it is going to take - is it going to be interesting to learn about it - and what kind of usage patterns will I require from the final product. I would imagine somebody with a formal EE background would not find it too complicated to make one. The only downside might be patents - which would not apply if you are making one for personal use.

Another option is that the guys at Vetra are generally willing (for a rather large fee) to build pretty much whatever you want. If you want a single unit that has 5 outputs instead of 4 - they will make it. With a new enclosure, LEDs, etc. Of course, if you were so inclined - you could do the same thing yourself and make it as fancy or as plain as you wanted.

[daanji]

Wow, I'm impressed. I just assumed you went to college since you were so knowlegeable. I know too many college drops out that ended up doing some dead end job. My hats off to you for your success.

So you run/start businesses? That is awesome. I've always wanted to do something like that myself, just need a good idea. What kind of businesses are they?

May I ask how you got started? Did you have money to begin with (parents, etc) or started with nothing and created everything yourself.

As for the multicaster I plan on making, I think it is very doable. The data sent from the keyboard is serial data. All I have to do it receive it and multicast it. Perhaps I don't have to use an FPGA. Maybe if I simply split the signal 5 way and amplified each line. Hmmm.

[Xzin]

I did go to college, I just dropped out a few credits before I graduated. Everybody always assumed that one must be educated by normal means to be capable of intelligent discourse or thoughts. I disagree entirely. Not everybody learns by simply being fed information. Plus - and this is an entirely different rant - the school system in America is designed for the purpose of creating workers for the job market. I have absolutely no desire to work to enrich somebody else and thus I opted out of that game.

I start and run companies. The people I hire enrich me. Everybody needs an idea but there are SO MANY ideas out there. If I had 4 more of me, I would start up 4 more companies right now. Some are complex and some are simple but they all have potential. Not every idea is sound but there are PLENTY of ideas out there. You need to start thinking like an entrepreneur to begin to see them. Once you do - they become as clear as day - and most other people completely miss it.

I mostly create internet or high tech companies - thats my area of expertise - but I am thinking about moving to real estate or a rapid prototyping field just for fun at some point. Real cool stuff, that is.

I started with very little. I did have some initial financial resources, but not that much. I took a calculated risk and my first company paid off. If it had not, I would have started again with something else. Without a little help to start with, it would have likely set me back 5 - 8 years if I decided to work for a living or a few months while I secured financing. There is far more money than good opportunities out there - I find it hard to believe that so many people get held back because it is "too much risk" or "too hard to achieve". sure, people with 2 kids and 1 income might not want to bet the farm but still - you don't have to have all of the answers but you do need to have a clear path of what you are going to do, who your customers are and how exactly you plan on entering and exiting your company. You plan what you are going to do and adjust along the way - you don't haphazardly enter anything without a clear idea of what you want and at least double the initial capitalization you think you need.

Back to the PS/2 device. I don't see why you could not just split the signal. That would not work for a USB device as it needs to communicate both ways (and thus need to be emulated) but as long as you could trick the host device into thinking there was a PS/2 port attached - any data sent on it should just be picked up normally.

Maybe something like this? http://www.vetra.com/Elimina2.htm

It has promise, I suppose but no guarantees.

[Nekron]

Well today I learned that Xzin is my father. :wink:
Just kidding.

Its breath-taking, however, how you two have the same line of thought, and profession. Quite interesting. The only thing that differenciates you two is that he finished his degrees and took 2 years before he realized what you did and went his own way... found 4 people like-minded (including 2 former college friends) and they now start them, work them up to the public market value and then sell or keep when the opportunity presents itself.

Oh, also, he doesnt multi-box :lol:

Sorry if this is not topic focussed but it struck me.

Edit: Typo

[Xzin]

Son? Is that you?














just kidding :)