[TriLUG] OT Local Electronic DIY Store

[Roy Vestal]

Radio Shack at Cary Crossroads has them, i picked one up a few months 
ago. They are the main "store" for this kind hardware in the triangle 
stores, according to the employees I've talked to.

Also, there is a ham that was employed there the last time I was there.

-Roy
KK4ATD

On 6/14/13 3:54 PM, Ken Mink wrote:
> On 06/14/2013 02:59 PM, John Vaughters wrote:
>>>   If they were to become the "go to" place for Linux based 
>>> computing, MSFT and Apple would have a much greater situation on 
>>> their hands.
>>   That is a very interesting concept. We have to face the reality 
>> that the general public is Un-aware of Linux and a sales channel like 
>> Radio Shack could present that opportunity for exposure. It would 
>> harken back to their roots as well, where they were really a source 
>> of DIY electronics and not just a retail provider of consumer goods, 
>> but it would be a more modern DIY. It would offer a lower cost of 
>> ownership of a computer with a place to take it if things went wrong. 
>> They could host maker groups to promote their products.
>>   I wonder how their toe-in-the-water back to their roots with the 
>> Arduino is panning out for them? Late to the party and overpriced in 
>> a highly competitive internet world, the challenges are there, but I 
>> see that your idea is interesting, and as the article pointed out 6 
>> years ago, I too have predictied them to fail in the new electronics 
>> world, but they keep chugging somehow, but not from my sales, only 
>> under desperation will they get my business, which happens 5-6 times 
>> per year. If they went you route, that might change my habits at 
>> their store.
>>   Good thought!
>>   On a side note, I was in a small town near Springfield, MO and ran 
>> across an old Radio Shack store that was half Lawn Equipment and half 
>> Radio Shack. It was an awesome blast to the past. It was what I 
>> remember Radio Shack being when I was younger. Full of components and 
>> items needed to build and test electronics. Hardly any of the end 
>> consumer related products. They had everything I needed to fix the 
>> machine I had to service and was in a crunch to complete. It was a 
>> great experience. The owner knew how to fix everything. To give you 
>> an idea about this town, at least half the cars I saw were from the 
>> 60's and were still daily drivers. This was in 2006, so we are 
>> talking real old time town. Honestly I had to pinch myself to beleive 
>> my environment.
>>   John Vaughters
>
> The project I'm looking for the photocell for is something that would 
> have been right up Radio Shack's alley 20 years ago(if Ardiunos had 
> been around). I am using my TWC set top box with MythTV via a 
> Hauppauge HD-PVR. TWC pushes updates that cause the STB to reboot way 
> too frequently. I am going to tape the photocell over the power LED on 
> the STB and use Arduino to read it. If the LED is off, send the IR 
> command to turn the box on. Simple. I need an Adruino board, a 
> photocell, resistor and few wires. I bought an Adruino Nano for $11 
> online. The first light sensor I got needs white light and does not 
> see the green light from the LED, so I'm trying again. This is the 
> type of project that RS used to cater to. Now I didn't really consider 
> looking there for the photocell.
>
> Ken