The Wand Company TOS Tricorder is coming!

[Trooper_trent]

GUYS!! PUBLIC SERVICE ANOUNCEMENT!
Be extremely careful touching the outer moire disc! I posted a little while ago that there was some play in it. It is only held in plate by the bezel and upper lip of where the bezel clips on. if you touch it just right, you can rotate it which will misalign it, making it so that the screen accurate pattern that is so famously present on the screen used prop is not achievable. I've been spending the last several minutes trying to find the video of Chris Bernardo stepping through the moire rotation to replicate the pattern to make sure I get it back in the right position. That upper disc is not keyed in anyway to lock it in the right position!

Just giving a heads up!

PS if anyone has that video of Chris doing the review of the prototype at that hotel convention (I know it's in this thread somewhere) Let me know. I found the one where he goes over that feature with Adam Savage but it's not as clear.

I think I have it close now but it's not like it was. I'm really curious now how they instructed the factory workers to rotate these during assembly and make sure they get it right each time.

 

[Simonized]

GUYS!! PUBLIC SERVICE ANOUNCEMENT!
Be extremely careful touching the outer moire disc! I posted a little while ago that there was some play in it. It is only held in plate by the bezel and upper lip of where the bezel clips on. if you touch it just right, you can rotate it which will misalign it, making it so that the screen accurate pattern that is so famously present on the screen used prop is not achievable. I've been spending the last several minutes trying to find the video of Chris Bernardo stepping through the moire rotation to replicate the pattern to make sure I get it back in the right position. That upper disc is not keyed in anyway to lock it in the right position!

Just giving a heads up!

PS if anyone has that video of Chris doing the review of the prototype at that hotel convention (I know it's in this thread somewhere) Let me know. I found the one where he goes over that feature with Adam Savage but it's not as clear.

I think I have it close now but it's not like it was. I'm really curious now how they instructed the factory workers to rotate these during assembly and make sure they get it right each time.

Yeah it just turns, does it when you align the compass. The only way I can see to prevent that is a drop of cement at the top and bottom inside, then just put the bezel on the right way. I think it should be facing straight up, mine is and this is the pattern I have.

 

[FANATICO]

Okay ... I was brutally reminded why I didn't utilise the Tricorder moire's I had

The moire set with the bezel sat on is the spare set I had, it's too large and the pattern isn't really that clear.

A Moire….

 

[Trooper_trent]

Yeah it just turns, does it when you align the compass. The only way I can see to prevent that is a drop of cement at the top and bottom inside, then just put the bezel on the right way. I think it should be facing straight up, mine is and this is the pattern I have.

Thank you! Yes! Just have the converging lines point straight down and it's perfect.

 

[FANATICO]

GUYS!! PUBLIC SERVICE ANOUNCEMENT!
Be extremely careful touching the outer moire disc! I posted a little while ago that there was some play in it. It is only held in plate by the bezel and upper lip of where the bezel clips on. if you touch it just right, you can rotate it which will misalign it, making it so that the screen accurate pattern that is so famously present on the screen used prop is not achievable. I've been spending the last several minutes trying to find the video of Chris Bernardo stepping through the moire rotation to replicate the pattern to make sure I get it back in the right position. That upper disc is not keyed in anyway to lock it in the right position!

Just giving a heads up!

PS if anyone has that video of Chris doing the review of the prototype at that hotel convention (I know it's in this thread somewhere) Let me know. I found the one where he goes over that feature with Adam Savage but it's not as clear.

I think I have it close now but it's not like it was. I'm really curious now how they instructed the factory workers to rotate these during assembly and make sure they get it right each time.

From Wand…..perhaps this will help…it should look like this when in motion

 

[FANATICO]

Alright so that tear-down video that FANATICO posted had enough information to not only confirm a way to give my tricorder video playback, but also showed me how to control the video with my phaser and hear the playback on my communicator.

Here ya go…..

“Btw perhaps you can extend the video playback as an OUT to be watched through a big screen TV via USB-C to USB-A”….

 

[Simonized]

A Moire….


View attachment 1954763

Shut it!

 

[edge10]

A Moire….


View attachment 1954763

 

[2vix]

Here ya go…..

“Btw perhaps you can extend the video playback as an OUT to be watched through a big screen TV via USB-C to USB-A”….

View attachment 1954765

Thank you for this; it made me smile.

Your illustration shows two options I didn't think of. One is using the speaker on the tricorder as well as the speaker on the communicator. this would be better and give me "stereo" sound, however i fear that with one speaker wired to the PI and the other coming from bluetooth, it would cause the audio to be out of sync between the 2 speakers. I might have to try to make it work somehow, because having video playing from the tricorder but no audio without the communicator seems wrong. Second is the video out to an external display, which is a good idea. I really don't want to add an HDMI port to the back of the trike tho. Maybe I can add a module to the PI that will add the "cast to device" feature that my windows PC has? That would need to utilize a wireless network tho. I could also look at adapting the existing USBC on the trike for video out from the PI, but if i do that i may never be able to restore the original wand co. operating system. Im not ready to commit to modifying the internals so much that i lose the ability to return the trike to its original functions. Right now my plan only requires me to disconnect the display from the existing board and use it as the display for the PI. If I do it this way, I can always go back in and reconnect it to restore the trike's original functions. Although... one thing I do want is to be able to plug the tricorder in so it can play episodes without needing -the battery, and if im not willing to add a second power supply port to the back of it, I am going to have to figure a way to use the existing USBC port to power the PI. I guess the other option would be to look into adding a wireless charging receiver to the back of the trike, like the communicator has...

 

[FANATICO]

Thank you for this; it made me smile.

Your illustration shows two options I didn't think of. One is using the speaker on the tricorder as well as the speaker on the communicator. this would be better and give me "stereo" sound, however i fear that with one speaker wired to the PI and the other coming from bluetooth, it would cause the audio to be out of sync between the 2 speakers. I might have to try to make it work somehow, because having video playing from the tricorder but no audio without the communicator seems wrong. Second is the video out to an external display, which is a good idea. I really don't want to add an HDMI port to the back of the trike tho. Maybe I can add a module to the PI that will add the "cast to device" feature that my windows PC has? That would need to utilize a wireless network tho. I could also look at adapting the existing USBC on the trike for video out from the PI, but if i do that i may never be able to restore the original wand co. operating system. Im not ready to commit to modifying the internals so much that i lose the ability to return the trike to its original functions. Right now my plan only requires me to disconnect the display from the existing board and use it as the display for the PI. If I do it this way, I can always go back in and reconnect it to restore the trike's original functions. Although... one thing I do want is to be able to plug the tricorder in so it can play episodes without needing -the battery, and if im not willing to add a second power supply port to the back of it, I am going to have to figure a way to use the existing USBC port to power the PI. I guess the other option would be to look into adding a wireless charging receiver to the back of the trike, like the communicator has...

All good stuff….I do show the tric USB-C to output to the Flat Screen with a USB-C to USB-A cable……Yeah an HDMI port modded to the tric would be a bit much.

That wireless charging receiver you show, if it’s that flat …it could be attached to the opposite side of the tric back panel/cover so it will never be seen…perhaps.

 

[edge10]

Not a dig, but it would have been cool if the tricorder used wireless inductive charging, through the base.

 

[2vix]

Before I get too carried away, I think the first step is to identify the display used in the tricorder, so I can see what connection options are available. The tear-down video didnt mention or show a close-up of the display screen, but i managed to spot this info on the ribbon cable:

The logo on the left appears to be from a company called Waveshare:

And the number looks like 2401032-A1, but a search of this number on there website doesn't turn up any results. I've sent a message to their support email and asked if they can give me any info about it, so we'll see what they come back with.

Im also thinking that the ribbon cable will be a pain to fish through the tricorders existing wiring route. It may be necessary to convert the ribbon to actual wires inside the Activities Unit before running down to the lower compartment. using some sort of adapter/converter.

Maybe Im over-complicating this. Maybe using a raspberry pi is the wrong approach. Im going to try and research portable video players and see if i can get lucky and find one that has a 24 pin display connection like the tricorder. I just did a quick search on the inside of an ipod classic and found this image:

Thats the ipod's display ribbon hes holding. Maybe its 24 pins? Unfortunately my ipod classic will not fit in the lower compartment without modification:

But like I say maybe there is a little MP4 player available out there somewhere that uses a 24 pin display connection? this would make it way easier, and if it had IR remote and bluetooth capabilities, id be set!

 

[Number 6]

Oh boy….here goes FANATICO again…….

Doesn’t the symmetry curve of the hood seem off when up against the curvature of the side? I’m thinkin the hood should be more curved and parallel the lines of the side…imo.

View attachment 1954618

Maybe the symmetry not matching the curvature of the aluminum frame more closely replicates the shape of the Greg Jein Tricorder. Since the original was hand made I would expect some imperfections. Considering Wand’s apparent, almost obsessive,
attempt to replicate the shape of the original by taking 3D scans, it could just be the way it is actually was shaped.
I guess it comes down to a question of what is preferable, a prop that replicates the original, warts and all, or more perfected, idealized one that irons out all the irregularities. Really just personal preference I guess.

 

[Number 6]

Obviously, if I do this, I will lose access to the original tricorder operating system and all its functionality, possibly including the lights from the 3 buttons and the moire lights and movement. This is the trade-off.
Also will it all fit? probably not.
This is just an unhinged, late-night idea I've concocted after finally seeing the inside of the "Activities Unit"
Will I do it? Probably yes. And right after I'm done someone will release a jailbreak for the tricorder OS and mine will officially be the dumbest way to get video playback on the trike screen.

Reading through your plans to get video playback on the Tric you concede that in the process you’ll probably loose all of the functionality of the existing Tric.
If having a Tric that has video playback is the goal you’d probably be better off gutting a relatively less expensive Diamond select Tricorder. Don’t mean this as a criticism, just seems that would be a less expensive way to go. Good luck! I hope, if you decide to to go ahead with is project, you create a thread showing your progress.

 

[2vix]

Reading through your plans to get video playback on the Tric you concede that in the process you’ll probably loose all of the functionality of the existing Tric.
If having a Tric that has video playback is the goal you’d probably be better off gutting a relatively less expensive Diamond select Tricorder. Don’t mean this as a criticism, just seems that would be a less expensive way to go. Good luck! I hope, if you decide to to go ahead with is project, you create a thread showing your progress.

100% agree with you. Believe it or not i tried to do exactly what you suggested 8 or 9 years ago. I bought the tricorder and disassembled it, and found a little video player that had the right sized screen. Unfortunately i gave up on the project half way thru. Im not even sure if the parts are still around the house here somewhere, but I would be smart to go look for them.

The reality is that TWC tricorder is far superior to the diamond select, and I have my heart set on adding video playback to this tricorder. As ive said in an earlier post, I get that this is silly, but 12 year old me wants to walk up to the table i have my Wand Co. landing party set displayed on, and control the video playback with my phaser and hear the audio from the communicator. Its dumb, but you only live once!

 

[JiminSTLouis]

You all can work on your fancy pants electronics mods. I did something REALLY important today.

I added felt to the med scanner cradle and in the areas where the upper and lower doors impact plastic or metal. On the lower door I added felt to the body of the Tricorder and the edge of the door. It made it a “little” quieter when closing them. The med scanner is also nice and snug in the cradle, and the rubber is protected from the hard plastic.

Someone here earlier had done something similar and I thought it was a good idea.

 

[CessnaDriver]

 

[CessnaDriver]

Ignore, double post.

 

[Number 6]

I’m happy now. Now that I have a Wand Tricorder I’ve been able to complete my exploration set collection. I have the Wand set, Master replica set, the Diamond Select set (all three Tricorder versions). The Playmates set and the Hallmark ornaments set. Although Hallmark only made a type 1 hand phaser.

Now I can get back to working on my Wah Chan concept Tricorder project. A designer on CGTrader has a very comprehensive well designed model for 3D printing that looks really good.

 

[Leinads]

i

Alright so that tear-down video that FANATICO posted had enough information to not only confirm a way to give my tricorder video playback, but also showed me how to control the video with my phaser and hear the playback on my communicator. All accomplished with a raspberry pi and some accessories. I don't know if anyone cares to hear my plan, but too bad here it comes:

The video clearly shows the LCD screen connects to the main circuit board via a 24 pin ribbon cable:

View attachment 1954651

If there is enough room for it, I can connect that cable to a 24 pin extender:

View attachment 1954652

And then run a second ribbon cable down to the lower compartment of the tricorder and connect it to a display adapter board:

View attachment 1954653

Which will connect to the pi:

View attachment 1954654

If I'm right this is all I need to make the tricorder screen a display for the raspberry pi, and adding a small flash drive to the pi will give me the ability to load up some episodes and watch them on my tricorder screen.
Now for the phaser remote. Also visible in the tear-down video is the back of the "sensor array", and like he says in the video, "In case you're wondering, behind this mesh screen... there is nothing."

View attachment 1954656

And a closer look at mine shows the screen is perforated, and should therefore allow the signal from an IR sensor to get through:

View attachment 1954657

So now I can add an IR sensor behind it:

View attachment 1954658

And then a bluetooth module for the sound output to the communicator:

View attachment 1954659

And finally a power supply for the raspberry pi:

View attachment 1954660

Obviously, if I do this, I will lose access to the original tricorder operating system and all its functionality, possibly including the lights from the 3 buttons and the moire lights and movement. This is the trade-off.
Also will it all fit? probably not.
This is just an unhinged, late-night idea I've concocted after finally seeing the inside of the "Activities Unit"
Will I do it? Probably yes. And right after I'm done someone will release a jailbreak for the tricorder OS and mine will officially be the dumbest way to get video playback on the trike screen.

Could you just run your operating system in parallel, with the ability to ‘toggle’ between your media system and Wand’s OS?