What can I say... too many press conferences and not bother sending help to New Orleans the day after, the second day after, the third day after and the fourth day after.

I happen to be around San Jose yesterday and remembered that The Lovemakers were performing at Rasputin on Bascom to celebrate their record release. So I stopped by to see them live. They were great and the music was good and enjoyable. They are a local band from Oakland and I hope they make it bigger because they are that good at what they do.

Live shot:

Record signing. I got to meet them and they are very nice people.

Tonight I saw this local San Jose 3 piece band that rocks. I really enjoy watching them perform. I also remember seeing them before on Tech TV, The ScreenSavers. Their three track demo CD is really good too. The songs are the ones on their web site.
Blood on the Tracks
Check them out and support local bands.

Other local bands worth mentioning which my buddies are part of:

Marvin's band - Hi*Lo Souls

Rob's band - Parting Glance

You may use this information as reference for hard wiring your remote garage door opener to an additional rocker switch. This works only if you don't have the heated seat option. Even though this is not a major modification, you are doing it at your own risk. I will not be responsible for your action. Make sure you know what you are doing or else consult your Porsche dealer.
PURPOSE:
Integrate your remote garage door opener to an additional rocker switch. This will eliminate the pressing of the garage door opener by hard wiring it to the rocker switch. The remote garage door opener still uses battery and tucked underneathe the console. The new rocker switch will be illuminated by sharing power from the left window rocker switch. Overall, the look is aesthetic.
TOOLS:

Screw driver (standard/philips)

Soldering Iron / Solder

Electrical Tape

Digital Multimeter

3' of 22 AWG Wire

Wire Stripper

A Brand New Battery For Garage Opener

Window Rocker Switch ($26.00 from Porsche dealer)

01. This is what my console looks like. I'm going to replace the top dummy rocker switch with my garage opener switch.


02. I bought a window rocker switch from a Porsche dealership. It cost about $26.00 +tax. The reason I chose the window rocker swtich is that the image on it resembles a garage door opening and closing.


03. Start by removing the ash tray from the console and unscrew the two plastic torque screw with an "L" torque wrench. Mine came with the car bra I bought.


04. Once the screws are removed, pull the console out. Disconnect the light wire for the ash tray light.


05. Unlodge the top dummy rocker switch. This may require a flat head screw driver.


06. Pop the new rocker switch in the location of the dummy switch. The orientation of the switch should be the same as the window rocker switches. Click to zoom in.


07. It should look like this after the new rocker switch is popped in.


08. Disconnect the white window switch connector. The power for the new rocker switch light will be shared with this.


09. Solder two wires to the terminals one at each end of the white connector. This is the power source for the light. Left terminal of window connector to left terminal of new rocker switch. Same for the right side. Re-connect the white connector. See zoom image above for detail.


10. Take apart your garage opener and locate the contact switch. Use the digital multimeter to find out which legs of the contact switch provide the contact when the button of the garage open is pressed (sorry you have to be a little technical here). Solder a 1 foot wire to each leg.


11. For my garage opener I found the two legs that provide the contact to open the garage when the button is pressed. Click to zoom in so you'll have an idea of what its like.


12. Make a hole through the casing and run the wires thru it. Repackage the garage opener with the new battery.


13. Solder the other ends of the two wires from the garage open to the new rocker switch. The wires can be vice versa. As long one is tied together at the terminal. This way the garage will activate when the rocker switch is pressed in either direction. Click on the zoom picture above for detail.


14. Dress up the wires with electrical tape and cover all exspose terminals. To prevent the garage opener from making rattling noise, I stuffed it in a sock. Put the garage opener in first. Push it all the way inside the console, and make sure that it does not obstruct anything like the emergency brake mechanism. Re-connect the ash tray light connector.


15. Re-install the console by screwing in the two plastic torque screw and drop in the ash tray. Voila! Done! Complete. The switch works like a charm. It even lights up when the light is turned on. Now I don't have to mess with a garage opener that I always misplace. Good luck! Send me an e-mail if you have questions regarding this procedure.


16. Credit to my cat Slinky for helping out.

01. Gold and gaurds red model paint and two fine paint brushes can be purchase at your local hobby shop or hobby section of your local store for less than $10.00.


02. Remove the crests from the wheels and clean the surface thuroughly.


03. Start by painting the red area first. Mask one section out.


04. Shake the paint well. Lightly dip the brush into the paint and paint away. Don't use too much paint or else there'll be a blob of paint on that section of the crest. Let it sit for 15 minutes.


05. When the paint is dry, slowly peel off the masking tape.


06. Do the same for the rest of the three red sections.


07. Now we start painting the gold color. This is a little tricky. There is no need for masking. All you need is a calm and gentle hand. Use the other brush and lightly dip into the gold paint and start painting the gold sections. Take your time here.


08. This is result when you are done. Repeat the process for the other three crests.


09. What a difference and you just saved $150.00

After spending the entire weekend researching on how to open up the HMO feature and install backdoor on Tivo version 6.2, I completed with success. If you are interested in modding your 6.2 Tivo to unlock the HMO feature and install backdoor, check out this guide. The only part I was frustrated most about this hack was the Linux commands. I'm a Windows person and I know the OS in and out but I hate Linux.
To share your music and photos with Tivo, you must install the Desktop media server downloaded at Tivo.com.
A shot of the Music & Photos Tivo menu.

This is a little hack sequence I always tend to forget everytime the Tivo is reboot. Enter this request in your Tivo remote and you can forward 30 seconds with each click.

My Tivo just got updated to version 6.2 and my previous Tivoscript mod does not work anymore. I wish DTV hurry and realease the HMO feature. The only improvment in this update is the folder grouping of the recorded shows and faster guide search.

01. This harness allows you to operate your spoiler up or down while you are driving. The rocker switch seemlessly integrates into one of your dummy switch location. You can order the Plug and Play harness kit from www.boxsey.com . The harness kit comes pre-assembled so you just need to drop it into your Boxster. You also need a philips screwdriver. *The 996 spoiler switch comes in gloss and matte finish.


02. Remove the left switch panel. The piece is a snap on held down by two prongs that is part of the panel. . Get a hold of the lip and gently pull it straight out. Use a butter knife if you don't have long finger nails.


03. Drop one wire into the opening one at a time or else they won't fit. The wire should fall straight down and through the bottom.






04. Remove one of the three dummies switch or what ever is available to be replaced from the switch panel. Push the new rocker switch into the newly vacant switch slot until you hear a snap.


05. Snap the switch panel back into the dashboard.This is what mine looks like after the installation of the spoiler rocker switch.


06. Now remove the fuse panel on the bottom left of the driver's foot.


07. Use a philips screwdriver to remove the four screws that is holding down the carpeted panel.


08. Once the screws are removed, pull out the carpeted panel.


09. Where the wires were dropped down, run them across the vent tube and ty-wrap them to the existing cable strap.


10. Run the wires along the vent tube towards the relay panel and ty-wrap them to the bundle of harnessed.


11. Remove the connector that is being plugged into the existing spoiler switch. Gently wiggle it out.


12. Plug the bypass lugs into the connector you just pulled out accordingly.


13. Plug the three blue main lugs into the original spoiler switch accordingly.


14. Ty-wrap the connector to the bundle of harness to secure it down. Strap down any exceeded harnesses. Reinstall the carpeted panel and the fuse panel.
*More precise instruction comes with the kit*

This is not a mod or hack. It is just a basic oil change instruction. It is best if done with a left.

Tools and material:
8mm hex wrench
new replacement oil filter
9.25 quart of synthetic oil

01. Lift the car up high enough so you can get to the oil pan.


02. Use an 8mm hex wrench to remove the drain bolt. Make sure that you have a descent size container to hold the used oil.


03. Let the oil drain until the pan is empty. This may take 15 to 20minutes. Remove the oil filter cup to replace the filter.


04. Remove the oil filter and replace it with a new one. Replace the rubber seal and re-install the filter cup. Wipe the oil pan clean and screw the drain bolt back on. You may reuse the aluminum seal for the drain bolt, but it is recommended to have that replaced as well. I had to reuse mine because some stupid service guy at CARLSEN PORCH gave me the wrong smash ring even though I specifically asked for it for the Boxster.


05. Lower the car and open the trunk to fill up with 9.25 quart of Mobile synthetic oil.

I made home around mid-night on Sunday after driving about 14 hours straight from Bryce Canyon, Utah. I was suppose to fly back but I decided to visit Utah's national parks. I stopped by Moab first to witness the delicate Arch up close and personal. It was magnificent! I took these pictures with my SE K750i.

And then I swung by Bryce Canyon to see the Main Amphitheatre. That site really took my breath away. It was so beautiful.

Another business trip to Salt Lake City. I think this is my fourth time. This time I get to go hiking with a few co-workers. My first time on a ten mile hike to Lake Blanche. It was all worth it.

My previous trip back in February was just as awesome. I got to board Park City ski resort. The snow there was good but not as good as Tahoe.

This is one heck of an easy and useful hack with a cell phone handsfree headset so you could hook it up to your car's aux imput. I have the SE K750i that plays mp3 with a 1GB memory stick duo pro. I hacked the headset so I could plug the phone into my car's auxillary input to play my mp3 like an iPod which I don't need anymore. If I get a phone call while the music is playing, the music will stop and automatically switch over to voice call. The voice comes out of the car speakers and I just talk normal. The mic in the handsfree picks up my voice just fine.

Tools:
Pocket knife
Soldering iron and solder
wire stripper

Parts you need:
1\8" female jack extention cable from Radio Shack or your local electronic store. ($6.00)

SE K750i handsfree headset.

01. Use a knife to crack open the handsfree mic assembly.

02. Remove the front and back cover and set them aside.

03. De-solder the right ear piece from the solder point on the PCB.

04. Cut the 1\8" femail jack with about 6" of wire and strip 1" of the outter insulation. You'll see a black, red and ground wire.

05. Strip a little insulation off of the red and black wire and tint the ends with solder.

06. Solder the red wire to the +S and ground to the -S solder point on the PCB.

07. Solder the black wire to the hanging black wire to the other end of the mic PCB. You have to remove the heat shrink first.

08. Now tape up the bare solder of the black wire with electrical tape. Keep is thin or else it won't fit back into the covers.

09. You're done with the hack. Put the mic PCB back into the covers you removed in step 02.

10. Once the covers are re-installed, cut the left ear piece off.

12. Here is the completed mod.

Now mount the phone on the dashboard, plug the hands free into the phone and the other end to the car's auxillary input.

The sound quality is just as good as any MP3 players. I love the voice calling because the I don't need the headset in my ear.

WOW! This thing is gorgeous. Think of it as having a full blown PC in your dashboard. I wonder how much it will cost when it comes to our shore. I'm willing to give up a limb for this.
Infill Media Center PC HU

01. Buy a can of Rust-Oleum Hard Hat V2115 Silver Aluminum from Home Depot or your local paint store ($4.00).


02. Remove the wind stopper meshes and thuroughly clean them of dust and lint. Remove the rubber paddings from each of the three flanges. You may reuse them if you don't have replacement.


03. Start by paiting the top side of one mesh. Hold the can 12-16 inches from the surface of the mesh; spray in a steady back and forth to avoid runs and sags. Allow to dry and apply a second coat.



04. Turn the mesh over and repeat the process. Once done, allow it to dry and repeat the process for the other mesh.



05. Here are the completed meshes.


06. Apply new rubber paddings to all the flanges. In this case, I got them replaced.
 

07. Re-install the meshes back onto the rollbar.


08. Here is a before and after shot.

in America. As usual...