Gimbal Overloaded DJI Mavic Air 2s FIX

I recently I ran into the error of "Gimbal Overloaded" on my DJI Mavic Air 2s.  You see the error and the camera is super shaky.  I fixed it.  

I did the video watching work for you and will probably work with any drones, regardless of brand or model.  

So instead of having to comb through and watch dozens of YouTube videos filled with extra, unnecessary commentary, here is what I did to fix. 

1. Recalibrated the gimbal TWICE.  This did not fix my drone, but it may fix yours.
   You recalibrate in the app.
2. Another video recommended that you blow out the gimbal with air.  Don't use an air compressor or your mouth since it can and will contain moisture.  You'll need some sort of manual bulb that you compress with your fingers to push air through the gimbal.
3. I noticed some sand caked on the back of my gimbal.  This was probably there because I flew it on the beach a few times on the previous day.  So I stuck the drone in front of a desk fan for about 30 mins.  It blew all the sand off.
4. Recalibrated again.
5. Problem solved.

I don't know what I'm talking about, but I'd wager to say that the gimbal is super sensitive.  I suspect that the little bit of sand that was on the back of my gimbal threw the weight balance off, which caused it to be overloaded.  So it seems that even the smallest amount of foreign matter on gimbal assembly can generate this error.

Or maybe I'm just lucky and you have to recalibrate 3 times.  Who knows.

Pulling network cable through whole home central vacuum system

In 2016, I purchased a home built in 1994 that had a whole home vacuum system.  Allegedly, the vacuum system worked, but I couldn't ever get it working, so it just sat idle.

Recently, I decided to make use of the large conduit and pull cat5 network cable from one vacuum inlet into the closet that houses the central vacuum system as well as my "work in progress" wiring closet.

In the wiring closet, I cut a section of the vacuum conduit where the wire would be coming in.

My wire pull was going to be about 60 feet or so from my desktop to the wiring closet.  

During my first attempt, I tried to push a fishing tape through the conduit.  I may have gotten halfway, but I think the friction and tight 90 degree turns stopped the fishing tape in it's tracks.

IF I couldn't push something through I was going to pull it through.  I went to Lowes and bought some masonry string and some heavier rope.

The first thing I did was to tie some washers to the string.  Then connected my shop vac in the wiring closet conduit and turned it on.  I went back upstairs and fed the string (with washers) through the vacuum inlet.  I could hear and feel the suction from the shop vac.  3-4 mins later, the string was through!  SUCCESS.

After attaching the network cable to the string, I tried to pull it back through.  I may have gotten half way through the pull and it just stopped moving.  Eventually I pulled the string and the wire apart.  The friction of the string was causing a cut to form in the inlet conduit.

I repeated the same process with the heavier rope.  I got the rope through with ease, but hit roadblocks when pulling the network cable back through.  The cut in the inlet conduit was getting deeper.  When I pulled the rope back out after failure, it was warm and had melted in some spots due to friction.  I can only assume that there were multiple 90 degree turns in the conduit causing a ton of friction when I pulled.

I gave up and just settled on wireless, which was really good, but not as good as a wired connection.

Over Christmas this past year, an old friend was in town visiting.  This topic came up and I told him my tale of woe of how this tiny wire couldn't pass through this giant conduit.  He laughed and said, "Dude, just get some wire lube and it'll slide right through."  I'd never heard of such thing.

So I gave that a go, except this time, I recruited some help.  My dad came over and fed the string while I waited for it to get sucked into the shop vac.

String came right on through with no problem.  We tied it off to network cable.  I started pulling the string through and he was lubing the cat5 cable as it went into the vacuum inlet.  We hung up a few times due to the string getting caught in the aforementioned friction cuts, but that was remedied by him pulling the wire back a foot or so.   A short time later, maybe 7-8 minutes, we had pulled about 60 feet of cat5 network cable through the central vacuum system.  Wire lube was the answer!

SUCCESS!!!  An hour later, after punching down some wires, I had a wired connection from my desktop to my wiring closet.

But wait, there's more....sadly.

The central vacuum wall plate is not standard, so my keystone plate didn't match up to the holes.  Also, the vacuum screws are much larger than your standard wall plate.  Currently, I have one vacuum wall plate screw holding my keystone plate on.  Google has not returned any results for an adapter or anyway to kludge a good fit.

If anyone knows a good fix for the wall plate mounting, please let me know!!!

TLDR Version:

• Much easier with 2 people
• Attach small weight to string
• Suck string through conduit with shopvac
• Pull cat5 network cable back through using WIRE LUBE!!
• Wire lube was the key to my success
• If you have a solution to match a standard keystone plate up to central vacuum box, please let me know!

Exchange with scammer from craigslist sale

Almost 2 weeks ago, I attempted to sell a pushmower on craigslist for 125.00.  NAturally, I got hammered with scammers.  I strung one along and am still stringing him along for my own amusement.

I managed to convince the scammer to pay me $3650.00 for my $125.00 lawnmower.

He even sent the check.

Below you will find screenshots of our SMS exchange since I got the check.













Check from 2nd scammer

Manually Update Plex Server on FreeNAS

Original post for this appeared here.  This gentleman deserves the credit.  

This fellow offered the workaround.

I am merely compiling up to date information.

• 1 - Connect to your FreeNAS Server via SSH or open the Shell via Web GUI
• 
  
• 2 - Type: jls and note the # of your Plex Media Server Jail
• 
  
• 3 - Type: jexec #jailnumber csh (for example: jexec 1 csh)
• 
  
• 4 - Goto https://www.plex.tv/downloads/ turn on ‘Plex Pass Downloads’ and select ‘FreeBSD’ from the drop down
  
  
• 5 - Copy the URL of the ‘DOWNLOAD 64-BIT’ button (right click button and copy URL)
• 
  
• 6 - Type: fetch -o PlexBuild.tar.bz2 {updated URL for new version goes here}
• 
  
• 7 - Type: chmod 755 PMS_Updater.sh
• 
  
• 8 - Type: ./PMS_Updater.sh -l PlexBuild.tar.bz2 -vv -a
• 
  
• 9 - Profit! You are on the newest version again.

Let me know if this is failing. I may have copied and pasted some stuff wrong.

Simple way to fill out NC4 EZ

This blog post is a followup to my Simple way to fill out at W4 post.  This works well for filling out NC4 EZ and W4 for teens and single adults with no children.  This tax form is required to be filled out if you work in the great state of North Carolina.

Be advised that I am no financial adviser or tax adviser.  I am just an employer that has hired 100s of people that look at these documents with great confusion.  I have just grown weary of the lack of simple, straightforward resources on the web on how to fill these things out.

Here is best way to fill out NC4 EZ.  It matches up with the W4 from this post.



A few bullet points of interest:

• I am no financial or tax adviser.  I have created this graphic from experience and internet research.
• This solution is best suited for teens at their first job or single people with no children.  (However, I am married with 3 kids and still use the same figures)
• This solution is for SIMPLE taxes and finances.
• You can replace the 1's with 0's.  You will have MORE tax taken from your check each pay period.
• However, having 0's means you will get a larger refund. Keep in mind, if you use 0's, this means Uncle Sam has been sitting on your money all year when you could have had it for yourself.
• See my other post on how to fill out the W4.
• Don't forget to fill out the other personal info: name, address, SS#, sign, and date.
• If I have made a gross error here, please let me know in the comments so I can update my post.

Simple way to fill out a W4

I've hired 100s of people over the last 10-15 years.  For most folks, it's their first job.  They go cross eyed when they have to fill out a W4.  It is way more complicated than it has to be.  This post mirrors my blog post about how to fill out the NC4 EZ.

So, if it's your first job or you have simple taxes/finances the image below will tell you exactly how to fill it out correctly.



A few bullet points of interest:

• I am no where remotely close to a tax or finance advisor.  My online research helped me develop this solution.  I've just seen lots of confused people.
• This is only meant for extremely simple taxes and finances.  Perfect if you are a teenager or single with no children.  (Although, I am married with 3 kids and still am at a 1.)
• You can replace the 1's with 0's if you would like a larger refund when you file your taxes.
• IF you use 0's instead, you will pay MORE tax throughout the year -- hence the larger refund.
• Using 0's means Uncle Sam will be sitting on YOUR money all year when you could have had it all along. 
• If you are working in North Carolina, this is how to fill out the NC4 EZ.
• DO NOT ADD ADDITIONAL TAX.  Unless you anticipate on winning the lottery.  :)
• Make sure to fill out the rest of the stuff --- like your name, address, SS#, and for the love of God, please sign and date it.
• If I have made a gross error here, please let me know in the comments so that I can update my post.

How to get USB Block Erupters working on a USB Hub

These are destructions for getting your USB Block Erupters (Bitcoin Miners) working with a USB hub.  I'm currently running 6 block erupters on one hub with 2 more due in Friday.

STEP 1

Install CGminer 3.1.1 CGminer 3.1.1 According to my research, this is the newest version that will work with block erupters.  IF you try any newer version, CGminer won't even see them.

STEP 2

Install these drivers.  These drivers will allow your computer to "see" the block erupters.  In Windows 7/8, this will be in your "Devices and Printers" section in the control panel.  Note the COM numbers denoted by COM##, you'll need to know this later.

STEP 3

Plug in the miners if you haven't already done so.  You should hear the standard USB "device connected" sound.  From the research I've done, the Anker Hub seems to be the best hub to get.  It has enough power to power multiple miners.  It's pricier than most, but it will run 9 or 10 miners.

STEP 4

Create a new shortcut that looks like this:

C:\CGMiner\cgminer-nogpu.exe -o pool:port -u username -p password --icarus-options 115200:1:1 --icarus-timing 3.0=100 -S //./COM9 -S //./COM12  -S //./COM21 -S //./COM20 -S //./COM19 -S //./COM22

This one is for my computer's COM ports.  You'll have to plug in your own info in regards to the pool, username, password, and any additional (or less) "-S //./COMXX flags.  This shortcut is also setup for 6 miners, denoted by the 6 different COM ports.

STEP 5

Run your CGminer Shortcut!  Then you should see something like this:

OTHER INFO

Don't plug your hub into a USB 3.0 port. It won't work. Works fine with USB 2.0.

Only use CGminer 3.1.1.

The USB hub of choice seems to be the Anker 10 Port USB 3.0 Hub

Might not hurt to get a USB Fan.