I am trying to set up a ionosphere detector for my Astronomy class. Here is a link to the basic program that is run by Stanford Univ. I have the SuperSID equipment in my possession. All I need to do on the equipment side is to build the antenna out of PVC pipe.

http://solar-center.stanford.edu/SID/sidmonitor/

I have a 2003 or so Windows XP era desktop that I was hoping to use but it is so slooooow. Knowing that someone on this list may have received a new computer for Christmas you might also be looking for a way to get rid of your older desktop or laptop. If you are near the eastern side of Guilford County, NC I would be happy to take it off your hands. I can meet you somewhere, and by eastern side of Guilford County I can drive a bit, in the Triad. I also have connections around AppState and Catawba County and I have family I visit in Chapel Hill as well. I can happily write a note for tax purposes.

I may have to do a DonorsChoose for this, but if I do I will not ask on here for any help. I don't like asking more than once a year and I don't want to get in the way of the S&C 700 Club either.

I can wipe the hard drive and I don't need keyboard or mouse or monitor. I can take those but I just need a speedier CPU. I don't need anything new of course. Something post 2009 should work just fine. To be honest I will take anything and in the event it is not going to work for me I will tear up the hard drive and dispose of any remains at the e-waste facility in Greensboro. If you are worried about hard drives and security I can take a CPU sans hard drive if I must. I would need a Windows install Cd or some sort of product ID code. This can run on Linux as well, so I don't have to to a Windows machine. I think the main program is a python script, for those that are into that sort of thing.

I'll slap a block "A" on anything donated and if this gets in the local news I will try and work in the App State angle. Once up and running I hope to contact some sort of local media about this.

Any help is appreciated.

I have multiple desktop computers we recently switched out. What are the hardware requirements?

Not much, but a bit more than what an 11-year old computer can handle it seems.

The programs runs the easiest in Windows, but in theory it should run inside of Linux. I was not able to get that to happen today, but it should work.

It needs a USB port and an audio-in port. Both are standard for the last decade. The audio card needs to sample at 96000 Hz (HD audio) but I can find something I am sure if I need to put in a card to override any on board sound that does not meet this requirement. And these old 2003 era computers I have in my room have the correct sound input so I am sure anything more recent would as well.

Though I am asking for this particular project if you have something else I would love to either have more computers or get rid of some old almost junk from my room. Most of what I need for probeware and graphing does not need to be that recent, but I have some limits. I had a student give me some WnME era stuff recently and that found its way to the computer networking class so they can practice tearing down and rebuilding this coming semester. Had they not needed it I would have recycled the parts.

I have never had enough computers in my room to suit my needs so I don't get rid of anything until it breaks beyond repair. I have a Vista era laptop with a busted LCD screen. Using a 12 year old CRT display with the video out and I have a computer working as an example. Ugly as crap but hey, it works. This is actually the computer that will run the SuperSID if nothing comes through, though it is making some crazy sounds so I am not sure how long it will last to be honest..

TL;DR I'll take most anything to be honest.

I have two Dell Dimensions E310. Pentium processor, 2GB Ram, XP Pro, 80 gig hard drive, 6 USB ports.

I have one Dell Dimension E521. I assume it to be at least as powerful as the others. It has XP Pro and 6 USB ports.

App74 wrote:I have two Dell Dimensions E310. Pentium processor, 2GB Ram, XP Pro, 80 gig hard drive, 6 USB ports.

I have one Dell Dimension E521. I assume it to be at least as powerful as the others. It has XP Pro and 6 USB ports.

That is more than enough I would think. My gifted Dells are in the 1/2 GB ram range which is one of the problems with the speed.

If you are offering I will be glad to take them off your hands one or all three. I have no idea where you are located. Send me a private PM if you like about at your convenience for date/time/locations. My username gives away my location.

Thanks!

I'll send you a message tonight.