We all loved the television show "Home Improvement." For years it was one of the highest rated sitcoms on TV. Especially popular was the "Tool-Man" himself, Tim Taylor. Do it yourself has become the rage in America. Every year thousands of books are published on various topics telling us how we can make our own, be our own, or do our own whatever it is we want to make, be, or do. So this How2 is for all you budding Bob Vilas, or Tim Taylors out there who are incredibly knowledgeable at home repair, and who want to share your expertise over the Internet. With this How2 you can host your own live show over the Internet, or host your show "Live-to-tape," it’s up to you. We’ll show you how to do both.

For this How2, we’re going to use a three-camera setup, but you can use however many cameras you wish, up to 16 maximum (but groups of 4 work best). Set up the XCam2 WideEye in a corner so that it has a great view of the shop area where you’re going to be working. Also make sure that it’s safe from being hit, knocked over, cut, painted or whatever else you may be doing in the building process. Then set up another camera near the workbench so that you can get a close-up of your work. And finally, set up another camera up above, and behind you so that you can get a rear-view picture of the project as well.

Next you’ll want to keep your ScanPower Remote where you can reach it easily. Just remember to keep it away from the skillsaw, the tablesaw, the hammer, the chisel, the lathe, or anything else that could rip it up into shreds or slice the buttons off of it. After all, Tim Allen’s mistakes are well planned so that nothing or nobody gets hurt. Yours won’t be.

Hook up the wireless receiver to your VCR.

On the power supply of the XCam2 WideEye, set the address at A1.

On the power supply of the XCam2, set the address at A2.

On the power supply of the overhead WideEye camera set the address at A3.

You can use more cameras if you want, focusing the camera on anything you feel is necessary. If you want the saw-cam, then set up a camera over the saw. Wherever you want, or wherever you feel one will be needed, set up your camera and simply change the address to fit the additional cameras. Set each additional camera to A4, A5, and so forth as you go up.

Make sure you’ve got all your supplies handy. It’s much easier to work on your projects if you have everything right there handy rather than having to look for them.

If you’re making a tape for your friends, then hit record on your VCR, and off you go. If you’re doing this live up on the Internet like a PBS show, then refer to our How2, How to use your camera as a webcam.

When you want to show the overall picture, you can use either the camera you placed in the corner, or you can use the camera you placed behind you. If you need to get in a little closer, then you can switch to the camera near your workstation. Just keep that ScanPad close so you can change the views. Again, remember where you’re setting it down so you don’t lose it to any mishaps.

And when it’s over, you have your own video show, with no editing.

However, if you put them on tape, you’ve got to go through the expense of mailing them to your friends. That’s fine for a hardcopy of your show, but if you show them live over the Internet, you can announce the time so that you have an audience. You could even start a weekly show among your friends around the world. If you wanted, you could set the rest of your friends up so that they too can participate with their expertise. So one day you could have "Retiling the Kitchen" by you, but the next week you could have "Weatherizing the Front Porch" by your friend in southern Italy. It’s teeming with possibilities.

So all you Bob Vilas and Tim Taylors out there get together and turn those homes into Better Homes and Gardens with the help of an X10 System.

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