2. misc-audio
  3. 1024825709

How to keep housemates from using your rig?

I just about had it with my 2 college-aged, housemates. Their guests broke one of my Blue Room MiniPods during one of their soccer parties, and they kept knowledge of the damage from me until I did some investigative work and discovered it myself. (No wonder the speakers never ever fully-broke in...!!!). When I first asked them if they (or their guests) dropped my MiniPods, they lied to my face about it. Only after confronting them with evidence of the damage, did they mumble something about "Perhaps one of their guests dropped the speaker, and did not tell them about it." [That, btw, is a lie. I heard the crash and bang from my room, and when I came out of the room and asked what was that about, my housemates said a few DVD cases fell]. They agreed to pay for the damage, but pro-rated it against the last month of use, and as a result, are only paying me 85% of the full-price.

Being an easy-going fellow, I let that one slide after lecturing them on respecting the personal property of others. Kids will be kids...

Last night, I discovered that they have been using my other soundsystem--a set-up that amounts to a grand total of US$9,000. As I no longer trust them to honor their word and keep their paws off my system, I had to come up with a method of keeping them from turning it on. I am also pretty sure that (Gawd forbid!) if they broke or damaged my set-up (e.g. turning my amplifier to 100%, causing it to clip, and blow the speakers), they would not own up to me. [My present room is too small to contain these speakers within them. 2 months from now, when I move into the master bedroom, I will move the rig to my room, and end this headache].

This, so far, is my best idea. I am getting a chassis from RadioShack, and putting a power-strip inside it. This power-strip is equipped with a single On-Off switch. A 9V Radio-Frequency Controlled Receiver would be hooked up to servo motor unit, with a linkage, which turns the power-strip-switch On or Off. The receiver would be powered by a seperate 9V AC/DC power supply which sits outside the chassis.
All the power cords of my hi-fi system will be hooked up to this power-strip inside the chassis. The chassis will be secured by tamper-resistant allen head screws.

I will carry the transmitter (basically an R/C type) with me. This unit would turn the power-strip On or Off remotely.

Is this a good idea? I know for a fact that they cannot afford to pay up if they damage my system, but my current room is too small to hold my set up, and I didn't pay 1/3rd of the rent to hide everything in my room, and banish my stuff from the living room.

Suggestions/opinions are highly welcome.
atzen811
jameswei
795 posts
 
Your situation is upsetting to read about. Your housemates are selfish, unscrupulous, and dishonest. You should find a better place to live.

To address your question, the weak part of your plan is probably the servo + linkage. These need to be positioned reasonably precisely to operate the power strip switch properly. Unless they are very firmly afixed to the Radio Shack chassis, there is a likelihood that they will become misaligned with repeated use (or shaking or other abuse from your housemates). You may be attaching them to the chassis with screws which might be exposed to tampering. (One way to defeat the tampering would be to have another chassis surrounding the whole thing.)

Another issue: while you told us how unprincipled your housemates are, you didn't mention if they are mechanically inclined. Are you sure they can't buy a $1.98 set of Allen drivers and open your box? Maybe epoxy would be safer. Good luck!
vayasteve
171 posts
 
GET YOU OWN PLACE and that will solve the problem.
sdcampbell
2,136 posts
 
Here's a thought: have someone build a heavy steel mesh enclosure for your gear (except the speakers), and have it electrified with a high voltage current from an dedicated power source which only you can turn off...

If that idea seems impractical, you might try setting up a concealed "nanny cam" somewhere, so you have videotaped evidence to use in small claims court against them... Barring that, I'd move everything into your room until you can either get a place of your own or new roommates.

Last option: I can send you the contact phone number for my "friend" Rocco, who will "discourage" your roommates from ever touching your gear again. Rocco's rates are reasonable, and he guarantees his work, but his "work" is usually irreversable...
mwilson
430 posts
 
I have heard that a solution of cayenne pepper and water sprayed on the surface will discourage most housemates from perching. Wait - I forgot to ask, how many legs do your housemates have?

Seriously, I feel for you. I had to reinforce my door in college with stolen (not me, really) banquet tent-posts - these were hardwood poles with a metal rod down the middle as reinforcement. Someone still busted through my door, and ended up taking out the doorframe, reinforcements and all. Nothing went missing, but I did gain a 350lb drunk fatso snoring on my couch.

Put the hobby on hold, and get used to your roommate's Aiwa.
mwilson
anne_audiophile
42 posts
 
kick them out , i say. the stress you go through is simply not worth the rent they are paying you. it is bad enough that they don't respect you and your precious rig but to lie to your face like that...

good luck !
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