Need some help to put together a laser scanner

I think I know where I could get one locally.

That RIYA DAC will work fine.. Eventually you'll probably want to upgrade to something better, but the RIYA works well.. The multi-bus supports ethernet connectivity which is always a huge bonus if you plan on controlling the scanner from a remote location.

Ok great.

Would this work well as a base plate?

5052-H32 Aluminum Plate .190" x 12" x 12" on eBay.ca (item 360200985957 end time 22-Nov-09 11:31:48 EST)

ElektroFreak said:

That RIYA DAC will work fine.. Eventually you'll probably want to upgrade to something better, but the RIYA works well.. The multi-bus supports ethernet connectivity which is always a huge bonus if you plan on controlling the scanner from a remote location.

Click to expand...

Can I ask you what the SD card slot used for?
And what is ILDA?

The SD card slot is for storing frames on, I believe. Frames are files that tell the projector how to produce the images and shapes it projects. The RIYA can function using direct computer software control or DMX control. The SD card slot is for DMX control. I don't own a RIYA personally, but this is how I understand it to work..

ILDA is the International Laser Display Associacion. ILDA is also a file format for laser display frames. Most laser display frame files end in .ild

Ok, so how do I wire this all up?

There is a detailed explanation here: http://laserpointerforums.com/f47/first-scanner-advice-needed-right-step-into-scanners-42089.html

If you read this thread and have more questions, post here. Pretty much everything you need to know about wiring it all up is there.

Ok, now a software question :

I have a MacBook on which I have installed Windows XP, and I wonder if I will have any compatibility problems...

And about that Ethernet connection, is there any way I can use it with my wireless network to run a program from my desktop computer to a scanner in a living room?

If you get a ethernet to USB hub like a Belkin F5L009 Network 5 port USB hub and control the scanner from anywhere you get signal..

ElektroFreak said:

The SD card slot is for storing frames on, I believe. Frames are files that tell the projector how to produce the images and shapes it projects. The RIYA can function using direct computer software control or DMX control. The SD card slot is for DMX control. I don't own a RIYA personally, but this is how I understand it to work..

Click to expand...

That isn't quite right. The SD card allows you to store entire shows. You can select them by the little buttons on the DAC or through USB or ethernet commands via the RIYA driver. The DAC is not controllable by DMX. The DAC is a DMX controller so that you can use it to control other devices.

In an earlier post you said he would probably want to upgrade to a different DAC later if he bought the RIYA. I don't know why you said that. They are good DACs.

BuildAbluraylaser said:

Ok, now a software question :

I have a MacBook on which I have installed Windows XP, and I wonder if I will have any compatibility problems...

And about that Ethernet connection, is there any way I can use it with my wireless network to run a program from my desktop computer to a scanner in a living room?

Click to expand...

I have no idea if Spaghetti will work on a Mac Windows instance. I have never even thought of trying it since I don't have a Mac.

Well I guess I'll be the first one to test.

I have downloaded the alpha version to see if it would power up, but since I don't have a license or a scanner, I wasn't able to test it fully.

carmangary said:

In an earlier post you said he would probably want to upgrade to a different DAC later if he bought the RIYA. I don't know why you said that. They are good DACs.

Click to expand...

You mean we're not all born with genetic code that makes us desire and long for Pangolin products? Try telling that to the guys over on PL..

Gary, you know I'm a soundcard DAC guy. One of my biggest goals is to maximize what can be done with one. The better Spaghetti gets, and the better LFI player and others get, the less I'll need to get anything else at that level of hardware, but that's just me. The RIYA is a great DAC (from what I understand) but most of the folks I've talked to will tell you that there are better solutions out there if you have the $$.

The soundcard DAC has a similar output quality to any premade DAC I've seen so far.. even pangolin. I've been blown away ever since I built it. If you tune it properly with a scope, you simply cannot beat it for the money. I compared the text and graphics quality of a soundcard DAC to a demonstration af an FB3 and the only difference I saw was the FB3 was a tiny (TINY) bit smoother. Definitely nothing to write home about.. The overall similarity in quality was stuinning considering the price difference.

dont know pangolin

its the best money can buy and i have a few dacs so can say its the best money can buy

The fact that you can save programs on the RIYA DAC is great for me since my desktop works way better on Windows than on my laptop.

andy_con said:

dont know pangolin

its the best money can buy and i have a few dacs so can say its the best money can buy

Click to expand...

No argument from me.. The FB3 was slightly superior to my DAC, but I was still surprised by just how good the soundcard DAC was.. Also, as I've said many times and will continue to do so: You can't build your own pangolin product..

I also do plan on owning a pangolin system, but not an FB3.. My soundcard DAC does well enough on that kind of level, but A QM2000.net.. now THAT's the best money can buy.. That's what I'm currently saving up for.