Should it be "Rand Paul 2016" or "Lamar Smith is a Commie" on my 8x44 billboard? IDEAS?

[SneakyFrenchSpy]

How much do you guys think it would cost to setup a giant digital debt clock? You wouldn't have to update it and it's more powerful when you see the count spinning.

 

[TruckinMike]

How much do you guys think it would cost to setup a giant digital debt clock? You wouldn't have to update it and it's morepowerful when you see the count spinning.

If I were going to make a giant display I would use leds and a parallax prototyping microcontroller board and multiple shift registers to run the giant homemade 7 segment led digits. It could be done - BUT with lots of effort - I would say less than $500 if you had the skills and time. After all that you would still need to interface with a data stream from the internet.( or just fudge it and simply make it count upwards at the proper rate)

Note: Arduinos are more powerful but I've never programmed them -- so if you are learning from scratch going with Arduino is not a bad direction, Not to mention they have lots of youtube how-to's. Just a thought.

But I'm not gonna do it.

However, I was thinking of a way to make the manual debt clock cheaper . Buy a blank black banner and get vinyl letters cut out by your local vinyl guy for the "national debt clock" and "$" text ( or cut out yourself for really cheap)-- Then order the numbers printed in that bright red glow digital text that I found. Cut out, sew on velcro, and you are done for less than $100.
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And the more I think about it - the more I like pacelli's debt clock banner strategy --- I guess he hasn't been following the thread to chime back in. Where did you go Pac man?

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

TMike

 

[FindLiberty]

Arduino(s) and LEDs

You beat me to it. YES! EZ

Selecting LED count/resolution would depend on viewing distance, time to read message and quality desired. Check out competition then DIY or buy their technology. It will need an alarm system to detect theft or tampering if it's on the ground!

Bright for day, dim at night. It still needs AC power though, solar/battery power source is possible, but that would be very large/costly.

 

[TruckinMike]

NEWS UPDATE:

If Rand succeeds in inserting the sixth amendment into the NDAA finance bill should I change the billboard --- My biggest beef w/ the NDAA was indefinite dentition of Americans citizens w/out trial. . ..but...I don't want people driving by thinking that Rand solved the problem , Thus making the point to my "NDAA is TREASON"banner obsolete in their minds.

Thoughts...

 

[TruckinMike]

You beat me to it. YES! EZ

Selecting LED count/resolution would depend on viewing distance, time to read message and quality desired. Check out competition then DIY or buy their technology. It will need an alarm system to detect theft or tampering if it's on the ground!

Bright for day, dim at night. It still needs AC power though, solar/battery power source is possible, but that would be very large/costly.

As for dim control - I would simply control the voltage with one I/O(via one modulated high current transistor). Easy fix.Better think about that some more.. ha ha --- And Harbour freight has a 45 watt panel for $200 I think. Then All you need would be 1 deep cycle battery. ($70+) I still stand with my less than $500 total. This would be a great project for someone that has a basic understanding of electronics --->especially if they know how to utilize Arduino or parallax microcomputers/controllers.

 

[presence]

Optoma Universal Projector Ceiling Mount

4.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (5 customer reviews)

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[TD="class: priceBlockLabel"]List Price:[/TD]
[TD]$159.00[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: priceBlockLabelPrice"]Price:[/TD]
[TD]$122.45[/TD]
[/TR]
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http://www.amazon.com/Optoma-Univer...TF8&qid=1353344315&sr=1-95&keywords=projector

 

[presence]

anyone know how to post a debt clock image on a forum?

 

[ronpaulhawaii]

Optoma Universal Projector Ceiling Mount

4.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (5 customer reviews)

[TABLE="class: product"]
[TR]
[TD="class: priceBlockLabel"]List Price:[/TD]
[TD]$159.00[/TD]
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[TR]
[TD="class: priceBlockLabelPrice"]Price:[/TD]
[TD]$122.45[/TD]
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http://www.amazon.com/Optoma-Univer...TF8&qid=1353344315&sr=1-95&keywords=projector

I have an Optoma projector ceiling mounted in my cave. Is a very light projector and I used a cct camera mount. The one I used is multi configuarable (I needed to mount on the t-bars of a drop ceiling)

http://www.mcmelectronics.com/product/MG-ELECTRONICS-CMB-1B-/82-11335

$5.49 + shipping

 

[TruckinMike]

Optoma Universal Projector Ceiling Mount...

I have an Optoma projector ceiling mounted in my cave. Is a very light projector and I used a cct camera mount. The one I used is multi configuarable (I needed to mount on the t-bars of a drop ceiling)

Are they robust enough to run for a few hours every night? Bulb cost,etc... Sounds good though. It sure would solve a lot of problems and garner a lot of attention. Video, stills, slides, etc -- awesome idea!

Nightly Garage door billboards! No permit required!

 

[ronpaulhawaii]

Are they robust enough to run for a few hours every night? Bulb cost,etc... Sounds good though. It sure would solve a lot of problems and garner a lot of attention. Video, stills, slides, etc -- awesome idea!

Nightly Garage door billboards! No permit required!

I wouldn't use it for the side of the trailer. The small projectors are generally 1k (lumens) At that kind of size it will be dim. I've been doing guerrilla video billboards for work lately and we mount 2 12k projectors in the back of a box truck...

Also, lamp cost on these type units can be a factor. You get a couple thousand hours from a lamp (used correctly; improper shut downs drastically affect lamp life). There are new LED projectors coming out where the lamp life exceeds the product life but that is kinda neither here no there. It is lumens you will need for large surfaces.

Using a projector for a "garage door" video billboard seems much more doable. I'd still look to get as many lumens as you can afford...

Remember in '07 when the AZ crew made those rooftop lighted billboards? I think they used christmas tree lights and a controller. Could that work for the trailer debt clock?

 

[ninepointfive]

Go with a positive message. Rand Paul 2016.

 

[TruckinMike]

Using a projector for a "garage door" video billboard seems much more doable. I'd still look to get as many lumens as you can afford...

Remember in '07 when the AZ crew made those rooftop lighted billboards? I think they used christmas tree lights and a controller. Could that work for the trailer debt clock?

The reason I mentioned garage door was because I remember people getting in trouble with their cities for too many signs or too big of a sign. I was thinking that this would be great for them. --Not to mention guerrilla tactics like yours (awesome!).

Question: Do you think its possible to project on a piece of fine see-through material and have it show up on the other side. If so I was thinking that the projector could be mounted on the inside of the garage then simply reverse the image and it would play correct on the opposite side. This way your projector is not exposed to the elements.

For my trailer I'm just going to print a banner. I don't know if I will even make the debt clock(maybe the vinyl one), I just liked the idea that pacelli had and was hashing it out for others.

Go with a positive message. Rand Paul 2016.

After reading the others opinions - I have come to the conclusion that it may be better to educate without a politicians name attached to the education materials. I want people to start thinking for themselves, they just need to be nudged a little - and without the attachment of a politicians name. I think the founders quotes are positive, at least for lost/sleeping conservatives. After two years of thinking they'll be ready for Rand.

 

[ninepointfive]

After reading the others opinions - I have come to the conclusion that it may be better to educate without a politicians name attached to the education materials. I want people to start thinking for themselves, they just need to be nudged a little - and without the attachment of a politicians name. I think the founders quotes are positive, at least for lost/sleeping conservatives. After two years of thinking they'll be ready for Rand.

That's a good idea

 

[presence]

I wouldn't use it for the side of the trailer. The small projectors are generally 1k (lumens) At that kind of size it will be dim. I've been doing guerrilla video billboards for work lately and we mount 2 12k projectors in the back of a box truck...

It might still be enough for a smaller debt clock on (or near) the trailer; just not main piece.

 

[presence]

Question: Do you think its possible to project on a piece of fine see-through material and have it show up on the other side. If so I was thinking that the projector could be mounted on the inside of the garage then simply reverse the image and it would play correct on the opposite side. This way your projector is not exposed to the elements.

I have used it several times with varying degrees of success. Through repeated used I think it produces the best image when rear projected onto a stretched surface of Visqueen which is framed, which eliminates wrinkles.

http://theatreface.ning.com/forum/t...ion-material?commentId=2529492:Comment:161776

http://www.amazon.com/Covalence-Pla...?ie=UTF8&qid=1353358558&sr=8-1&keywords=6+mil

 

[Mahkato]

Please invest a few $$ in getting a professional designer to do this.

 

[presence]

Please invest a few $$ in getting a professional designer to do this.

www.fiverr.com will kick it all day for cheap... but you don't like what he has going?

 

[Texan4Life]

awesome ideas truckinmike. (nice rig too )

My vote is for oath keepers or the debt clock. Then use it for a local 2014 election (if they are any candidates you like). than after 2014 come back around to the rand idea.

 

[pacelli]

If I were going to make a giant display I would use leds and a parallax prototyping microcontroller board and multiple shift registers to run the giant homemade 7 segment led digits. It could be done - BUT with lots of effort - I would say less than $500 if you had the skills and time. After all that you would still need to interface with a data stream from the internet.( or just fudge it and simply make it count upwards at the proper rate)

Note: Arduinos are more powerful but I've never programmed them -- so if you are learning from scratch going with Arduino is not a bad direction, Not to mention they have lots of youtube how-to's. Just a thought.

But I'm not gonna do it.

However, I was thinking of a way to make the manual debt clock cheaper . Buy a blank black banner and get vinyl letters cut out by your local vinyl guy for the "national debt clock" and "$" text ( or cut out yourself for really cheap)-- Then order the numbers printed in that bright red glow digital text that I found. Cut out, sew on velcro, and you are done for less than $100.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

And the more I think about it - the more I like pacelli's debt clock banner strategy --- I guess he hasn't been following the thread to chime back in. Where did you go Pac man?

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

TMike

Sorry! I absolutely have been following. Just been busy with work and other preparations to chime in. I like where things are going. My motivation in suggesting it is to mentally condition people over time to be focused on the location and the message. I am not sure about the details of the idea, but if it is one that you think is worthwhile, I am encouraging you to go the route where you can update regardless of power, for the lowest cost possible. The impact of the message will still be the same.

pacelli

 

[TruckinMike]

..