Blink XT2 Thumbnail Failed Fix

Well, this is a bit frustrating. I have one outdoor Blink XT2 camera from Amazon which I installed about a year and a half ago...or maybe two years. I installed it on the corner of my garage to monitor my driveway. It's done a phenomenal job capturing everything from an attempted car break-in to my local trash panda visitors. 

Last week, I tried to view the driveway in the daytime but got the dreaded "Thumbnail failed" message. Figuring it was just a temporary network connection issue, I didn't think much about it. However, I tried again the next day and kept getting the same message. 

I have two cameras connected to the app and the other, an indoor camera  Blink camera was operating fine 

After doing some Googling (is that a word?) here's what I did to troubleshoot and fix it:

1. Check the settings. The XT2 was connected to my app. It showed "Battery OK," with a strong signal to the Sync module. The status timestamp was current as was the firmware. So that ruled out a connection issue. 

2. Reboot the sync module. Since one of my cameras was working over the same module, I thought this was a dumb step. But what do I know. Unplugged it, waited 10 seconds, plugged it back in. After a few minutes, both cameras reconnected. Still no picture on the XT2. 

3. Reboot my home internet. Again, a dumb recommendation since one of the cameras was working but wanted to eliminate this as a culprit. Again, everything came back up but no picture. 

4. Delete the XT2 from my app and add it again. Still didn't fix it. 

5. Reset the XT2 using the reset button on the back by the QR code. Add it again. Still not working. 

6. Replace the batteries(!) Even though my app said "Battery OK" I thought, but "what if it's not?" I noticed that when I tried to update the thumbnail or go into live video mode, there was a red LED flashing slowly under the infrared movement sensor "dome," which is below the camera lens on the front of the XT2. Since I didn't have any AA Lithium batteries handy, I just used two AA Duracell copper tops. To my delight, the thumbnail and picture sprang back to life!

The moral of the story is: do the most obvious thing first (change the batteries.) Most of the internet tips I found did not even mention a battery change. They jumped right into rebooting all the devices, routers, and gateways. Secondly, do NOT believe the battery gauge on the Blink app. Remember, is just read "Battery. OK" without any feedback on how good it was. Clearly, it was good enough to power the logic and radio, but not the camera itself. 

Another lesson learned. Onward!

#blinkXT2 #Amazon #Duracell #Blink #OutdoorCamera #Syncmodule #AmazonBlink  

Fix crackling Dell Laptop speaker, Windows 10

The audio playback on my new Dell windows 10 company laptop suddenly started crackling. 

It started when I was trying to add my Amazon Echo as a PC speaker (that deserves a separate thread.) At one point I updated the RealTek driver to the actual RealTek driver. Then audio playback was crackly on both Chrome and Windows Edge. The built-in troubleshooter thought everything was fine. 

I finally found the solution on the Dell Community. Apparently you have to make the RealTek soundboard use the Microsoft Windws HD Audio driver. Here's a link to the post and a screenshot. Let me know if you have any questions. 

https://www.dell.com/community/Inspiron/Speakers-Crackling-Sound/td-p/6228746

Liftmaster LA400 Gate Operator Strange Code 93 Issues - Check the batteries first!

My mother-in-law had a single gate with a Liftmaster Operator installed in 2016. For the last several months, she claimed, the opening/closing speed had dropped off. A few weeks ago, it stopped working completely.

I got out the troubleshooting manual and immediately started to learn the error codes. I was able to get it to partially move using the "move" buttons on the control board but would get a code 93, which basically means there's some sort of obstruction causing the arm to shut itself down to protect the motor. I even shorted the power leads to the motor directly and got the same behavior. 

I disconnected the gate end of the operator and made sure the gate swung freely, which it did. So I suspected that something in the arm itself was bad. So, I ordered a new arm for around $475 with shipping and tax. 

The new arm took a few days to arrive but once it did, I was certain the gate was going to be back to brand new. Well, it wasn't. In fact, I got the same behavior and error codes from the new arm as from the old. If I could get the gate to move at all, it was for a few feeble seconds then I'd get code 93. So I suspected the control board. Long story short, I installed a new control board and got the same results.   

I found a local Liftmaster dealer and tried to get a service call. Fortunately, after describing my issues to the salesperson, he said that low backup batteries can cause a host of strange codes to show up. After thinking on it, I realized that the motor runs on DC (duh) from the batteries which are kept charged by the AC line voltage. 

Since 2 new batteries cost about $45 with shipping and tax, I went ahead and ordered them. They arrived yesterday and I installed them (note: the old batteries had 1/8" spade terminals but the new ones came with 1/4" terminals - so I had to buy new crimp on connectors for the leads.) Thankfully, the gate jumped to life and I was able to program the limits and tie up every loose end...including programming the transmitter in my mother-in-laws 2019 Lexus to work the gate. 

Here's a link to the batteries: https://batteryclerk.com/products/liftmaster-la400-residential-12v-7ah-ups-battery You need to order two. 

 

The moral of the story is...don't be a dumbass. Ask for help early and, if you're getting strange codes, try replacing the batteries before any of the more expensive pieces. 

Now I'm off to ebay to sell a 2016 control board and LA400 motor/arm!

Google Chrome tabs close when clicked on - solution

This annoying behavior started in the middle of last year and comes up a few times a week.

I'll open a new tab in Chrome using the "+" sign:

Then I try to switch between tabs by left clicking on that tab. But when I do that, the tab closes! Super frustrating!

Here's how to fix it: If using a mouse with clickwheel, hold down the clickwheel for a couple of seconds. Yes, that's it.

If you're on a laptop using a touchpad, hold down the left and right buttons simulaneously for a couple of seconds. And yes, that's it.

Hope this helps you!

Mirror, Mirror

I attended the Friday Chapel service at my daughter's school today. Why? Because she just turned 11, and because it's already the 3rd to last Friday of this school year and I hadn't been to one since January. Thankfully, she is still willing to sit next to her "old man" instead of her classmates.

The theme of today's service was "Mirror, Mirror" and I was surprised to get more out of it than I expected.

The worship leader and scripture reader touched upon several topics that resonated with me but one of the most powerful questions was "Have you ever been afraid to look in the mirror?"

Full disclosure, for some weird reason, I don't look in mirrors or windows or take (many) selfies. This has been an issue for me for as long as I can remember...dating back to middle school.  I believe it has contributed to a crippling sense of self-worth and confidence that has produced impacts in my personal and professional life.

The service continued to warn against the trappings of our superficial society, warning about the pleasures of the flesh and how meaningless things such as outward appearance are to God. The liturgist/guitarist included a rendition of Colbie Callait's song "Try" which, though from a female perspective, perfectly captured the spirit of the service.

The concluding message was that God loves us for ourselves and that maybe we should see inner selves, accept that our flaws are trivial, and truly love ourselves as well. Which is a message that I must take to heart and work on as well, even at my advanced age.

Wednesday morning in Wilmington

I arrived here about 8 last night after a circuitous and exhausting day. One in which I'd planned to drive a rental car from Newpport News to Wilmington only to end up driving my own car frmo Charlotte.

Unable to calm my mind, I was up on Amazon.com looking for the best phone mount to use on the stem of my road bike. A weird obsession given the fact that I'm only 7 days past pretty severe shoulder surgery and am literally 12 weeks away from riding my bike out on the road at all. Such is the troubled mind.

Actually my work related obsession at the moment is to make my own short training videos. These would be for customers and cover simple topics that are often buried under our somewhat ponderous 1 to 2 hour training videos. Besides, knowing how to shoot, edit, and upload short videos is an absolutely critical skill these days. Perhaps I can enlist the help of my 10 year old daughter, as it would be a critical skill for her future as well. We could learn together!

Sunday morning progress update

Kicked off today bright and early at around 5 am after another on/off night. Sleeping about 2 hours at a stretch now. I had to take painkillers (2x5mg Oxy) at 4am because my shoulder was just really aching deep inside the joint. It had been over 18 hours since my last dose though so that was encouraging. I hope to be completely off the Oxy in another day or two...switching to Motrin/Advil if needed.

I did my PT exercises with Elizabeth's help. Theyre not much right now, merely 15-20 degrees of external rotation at 90degree elbow followed by 90degrees of anterior lateral raise at 180 extension. Then I did several minutes of light stretching movements along with my shoulder blade shrugs.

Elizabeth replaced my 5 standard bandaids with water proof versions so I could take a shower. She found the site of the incisions quite revolting, which I don't really understand...it's just pinched and stitched skin. Afterwards, I was able to easily take my first shower since Tuesday, although I could only wash my body and hair with my left hand. I kept wondering how much luckier I am than those veterans who lost limbs traumatically and have to deal with the aftermath of such losses for the rest of their lives. I really DO have so much to be grateful for and SO LITTLE to complain about.

I'm still super motivated to get my fitness back now. I WANT to become fit again to the point of being able to compete at a high level in strength and endurance events. I want to do cross fit, to lift heavy weights, to be ripped, to complete obstacle races and marathons again. I want my active life back! These are where my friends are and I miss having a support group. I want it back!