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Get started programming a USB development board for under $20

Programming a development board can be very exciting but it doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive. Especially when you have the Arduino integrated development environment and community as a resource.

In this segemnt I get started programming the Teensy USB Development board. This inexpensive board ($19 USD) from PJRC comes with cross platform software that makes it simple to load programs, read debug code and even integrate with the Arduino IDE.

In my segment I demo compiling under linux, the software loader, and integrating with the Arduino IDE. I plan to use this board for future projects including the HakHouse Rover. If you have ideas for other projects be sure to let me know!

–Darren Kitchen

3CX – An IP-PBX for Windows in under 10 minutes

Recently on Hak5 I showed how easy it was to setup a Windows based IP-PBX using software by 3CX, a company out of the small country of Cypress.

After having an urgent need to replace our aging PSTN based telephone system which costs $100/hr for some monkey to come in and make a simple extension change, my company decided it was time for something we could control.

I had been through this motion about a year prior, and in that time, came away with a solution from Mitel which ended up costing around $30,000. Now this was a great platform, (IP3300 if I remember correctly) Office Communications Server 2007 integration, remote site support, Exchange 2007 UM integration, all of the key features that I had spent tireless hours implementing in our infrastructure to hopefully take advantage of in a new phone system.

However, the current economic conditions as they are, we could no longer justify a $30,000 price tag for a new phone system; Enter 3CX.

After searching google for about a half hour, and looking at all of the asterisk based IP-PBX systems, I came across the 3CX IP-PBX platform which ran on top of Windows. Now I know there are those of you out there that may be reading this thinking to yourselves, AHHH MORE WINDOWS. Well you can go to hell, seriously. My company is a Microsoft shop, end of story. I have no need, nor the time to do something in linux that would take me personally longer than it would in Windows. You may be quicker, and that’s good for you, but I can’t be bothered. Windows works for my company, and that’s all that you need to know.

Back on track… After downloading the free version (yes it’s completely free if you don’t need some of the advanced features such as Exchange 2007 UM integration, or call parking, etc.) I literally had a functioning internal phone system up and running in about 10 minutes. The installation is painless, and the configuration steps a breeze.

So I decided to kick it up a notch. I ordered a single Linksys SPA962 IP Phone from 888voipstore (I highly recommend these guys, sure you can find stuff for 10-15 bucks cheaper, but at the end of the day, I’m speaking to someone I understand, and who is very attentive to their customer) After receiving said phone, I plugged in the mac address to the 3CX back end, and auto provisioned the phone. CAKE! Nice and moist, just the way I like it.

Next came the all important decision of how many people we’re going to roll this out to in Phase 1. Answer? 16

I can handle 16, and apparently so can 3CX. I had 16 extensions and phones configured in about 2 hours. That includes the time it takes to upgrade the phones to the latest 6.1.5a firmware available from Cisco.

All in all I’m pretty satisfied with the 3CX package. While I can’t get into every nitty gritty detail of my phone system, I don’t need to. The software works, a few small issues not withstanding) and I can eventually turn over basic user maintenance to someone who isn’t an IT person because it really is that easy to use.

I really would suggest anyone with a Windows machine lying around the house who has a need for a basic PBX for use with either a VOIP provider, or a PSTN gateway look at 3CX. I know I’ll be deploying a server here at the hakhouse for some other business purposes, and don’t have to worry about much beyond which machine I’m actually going to throw it on.

For more info on 3CX or to download the free version OR their enterprise version with a free demo license which unlocks all of the software’s functionality, but limit’s it to 2 concurrent calls should visit http://www.3cx.com

–Matt Lestock

In this episode we had the pleasure of having Ron Gula, CEO and CTO of Tenable Network Security on the show to talk about Nessus

Thanks to those who’ve contributed to the success of Hak5. Your donations are greatly appreciated!

I’m a little upset for a few reasons. First one segment had to be shelved for another episode. Second another segment had to be re-shot due to low light. Third, the most recent segment may not even air due to legal reasons. It’s a cool hack that’s a little shady, but at this point a run in with a legal department could put a premature end to Hak.5. I’m still thinking of a workaround because I really want to include it in the release. Grr.

I’m also having a ton of problems encoding h.264 in Vegas 4.0. I know, I need to upgrade to Vegas 6, Get Premier, or get a Mac and Final Cut but it’s just not in the non-existant budget right now. Remember, Hak.5 is free with no sponsors. We’ll be getting a bigger hard drive, a couple wireless mics and a lighting kit soon but it’s starting to add up. Anyway, if you have any suggestions on encoding h.264 in Vegas 4.0 please drop me a line. I’ve tried x264 and MainConcept H.264 Encoder but neither integrate with Vegas.

On a lighter note, we should have a trailer of Ep 2 out tomorrow that I just know you’ll get a kick out of.

Thanks for seeding the torrents and voting in the poll. That information really helps out.

Also, polls are finally up and more changes to the site are on their way. Wess and I are geared up to lay down some tracks this week, but again if you’re willing to donate music we’re all ears. No pun was intended there. Honest.

TMNT Rules!

It’s a shame this will be cut, I liked the composition

Again big thanks for everyone who is supporting Hak.5 by listing the show, seeding the torrents, giving us feedback, or watching. We can’t wait to release again.

–Darren

The images below are from the last three days of shooting:

Wess and I back at the lab ready to take on another homebrew hack

I’ll just let you guess on this one. Might not make the final cut.

Trying not to overuse the desk & backdrop set, Alli comfortably gives us a spiffy tip

That’s all for now. It’s creeping up on 5am so I had better get sleep before we start our “Power Sunday” (Sunday, Sunday, Sunday, at the Megaplex! Iron Raptor takes on the Graaaaaave digger!!! Kids 6 and under FIVE DOLLARS!) Sorry, just had to.

–Darren

Can’t wait to get black wireless lapel mics.

Beth researching on the editing box

Shooting a Random Bit; Beth on Cam1

We’ll hopefully pick up some speed on these next two segments, then glue it up on the weekend. Then I pack up and head to Alaska for a week.

Thanks for the continued feedback on Ep1, I can’t wait to finish up Ep2 and get it out to you guys. We’ve taken all of the feedback and used it to make this next release a ton better.

–Darren

PS: 1 GB != 1,000,000,000 bytes. No matter what your HDD manufacturer says

Saturday was the pre-shoot meeting where we kicked around ideas, finalized the segments list, and wrote up the production schedule. There are so many great ideas it’s hard to choose which ones to do first.

Today we put together the set, acquired more lighting gear, and shot a mod with Wess. I even learned a very important lesson about not touching soldering irons!

Behind the scenes at Hak.5. We still need to get a pro lighting set and replace the aging mixer.

Wess got down and dirty with his next mod, nailing almost everything on the first take.

I got a little friendly with the soldering iron. Mental note, no touchy!

We’re going to try to finish one segment a day this week. The production schedule for this episode is really tight as I’ll be in Alaska by the end of the month. If all goes well I’ll have all next week to edit and encode. If you’ve got some links that would help me get the Xvid looking better, or the Quicktime in H.264 to share it would save me some googling next week.

–Darren