Neighbors and your lights...
Printed From: Aurora
Category: Whatever Else
Forum Name: Off Topic
Forum Discription: The name says it all
URL: http://www.aurorashow.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=419
Printed Date: 23 May 2024 at 1:39pm
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 9.06 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Neighbors and your lights...
Posted By: kedogn
Subject: Neighbors and your lights...
Date Posted: 27 Oct 2008 at 1:27am
|
Let me ask everyone this, cause its been kinda bugging me... I am not one to spend much time talking to my neighbors, not because I don't like them, I just am not the kind to go knock on a door and say "What's up?" With that said, if I see one outside when I am out, I will wave and say Hi, but that's it. I have lived here just over 3 years and actually have several neighbors I have not even spoken a direct word with...strange, maybe, but none have contacted us either, so fair is fair I guess. With that said, since you're doing a big lights display, would it be best to go talk to your neighbors to see how they feel about it, or let them come to you? If you chose to let them come to you, is it fair enough to assume that if none do, they must be golden with it? As I mentioned in another post, some neighbors have mentioned it to me in approval, none saying they didnt like it, but none of my immediate neighbors have said a word to me. I was told that the guy that lives almost directly across from us come over on Christmas Eve last year to tell me he loved the lights, but I wasn't home. From the story I got I was unable to tell if it was a serious or not, really. I mean when I kick on the icicle lights, it's bright enough to light his front yard across the street and the reflection in his living room window can't be missed. I still say that they have the best seats in the area, especially this year with us broadcasting our music, they can sit in comfort, flip on the radio and enjoy... but would they? Ya know? A big reason I am worried about this is that we are going from 32 channels last year to 112 this year and from about 7K in lights last year to over 20K this year....so what do y'all do... proactive or sit back and let them come to you? ------------- BOOMER SOONER! 
http://www.leefamilylights.com - Lee Family Lights |
Replies:
Posted By: JonB256
Date Posted: 27 Oct 2008 at 6:11am
|
This has been asked yearly on Planet Christmas. The consensus has been - don't ever ask for permission from your neighbors. If you do, and one says no, then what do you do? If it really bothers someone, they will let you know. The most common complaint will be about traffic problems and safety, not about the lights.
------------- JonB - D-Light user |
Posted By: bdkeen
Date Posted: 27 Oct 2008 at 6:45am
|
Ken - sounds like we live in almost the same neighborhood. Last year I ran the 6 channels of Mr. Christmas lights-N-Sound. Basede on the amount of sales I expected there would be alot of these boxes running lightsw on homes. Didn'e see another one anywhere around. If we saw 1 or 2 cars stop we thought we were doing good. It wasn't until later in the year through some idle conversation with our neighbors we found out there were cars parked up and down the street watching. All the neighbors seemed to like what we did. I warned them that this year will be much more, 112 channels, a bigger display, and possibly alot more traffic. Everyone came back positive and are anxiously awaiting the display. Several had tuned radios and commented on how they liked watching from their homes and how they look forward to doing the same this year. So I'd have to say the reaction around me has been positive. Jokingly I tell them to sell hot chocolate to the display visitors and make a few $'s on the side. ------------- 
|
Posted By: tonyjmartin
Date Posted: 27 Oct 2008 at 9:47am
As has been said on PC before: "It's easier to ask for forgiveness than for permission." That being said, I think that since our display has increased gradually since we moved here in 2002, it has always been eagerly anticipated with thoughts of "I wonder what they're gonna do this year?" In 2007 we more than doubled our light count (up to 30K) and added computer control, but we were still unsynchronized with the music over our FM transmitter, so the hype was kept to a minimum. Across town, a friend with 32 channels of LOR had traffic backed up around the block, and he was pretty worried about neighbor relations. He handled it by talking to everyone in advance and by hosting a "kick-off" dinner party for the neighborhood. Not asking for permission, mind you, but just letting everyone know what was up. And I think that everything went smoothly for all concerned, even though the front page add in the local paper did up the traffic count a lot. It was fun to see him standing outside passing out candy canes to carloads of spectators. I don't think that I'd be that brave at 10 degrees F! ------------- Let me never fall into the vulgar mistake of dreaming that I am persecuted whenever I am contradicted. -- Ralph Waldo Emerson |
Posted By: Pony_God
Date Posted: 27 Oct 2008 at 12:52pm
|
We're going to end up with a little party, family and neighbors to come to the grand starting. Unfortunatly for us, we're about 400' back from the road, and nothing is near the road (this year). We're also on a dead-end road, so that helps as well.
Beyond that, the ONE neighbor next to us has already seen previews and sings the preview song all year. And the one OTHER close neighbor is across the street 2 lots down. :)
This is why we live where we do! :)
I imagine next year we'd just do a little get-togeather for the start of the show season. ------------- Fine. You're so smart you rig up the lights. http://www.frappr.com/dlight - D-Light users Unite! 
|
Posted By: ChrisL1976
Date Posted: 27 Oct 2008 at 1:40pm
|
Same situation here....of 12 houses on my block....I have in 3 years, talked to 5.....talk to the one next to me once or twice a month. Like said above....I would not ask for permission. Its only up for one month....its not like its a year round thing. Unless your causing some major traffic issues, people would have to be pretty scroogish to complain.
------------- Chris www.lightsonsixth.com |
Posted By: BigDPS
Date Posted: 27 Oct 2008 at 5:24pm
|
I'm in the same boat...I'm not the type to go mingle with our neighbors.
Last year for the opening of our first show, we sat in the neighbor's yard across our house and drank wine. We didn't have a car radio to hear the lights but a boombox on our yard pointing at us. We could hear the neighbors on the other side of where we were commenting on how nice it looked but never had anyone come to me and approve or dissapprove for the light show. Going from 1700 lights in 2007 to over 5000 this year (more next year I hope!!) maybe that will change.  ------------- http://www.aurorashow.com/"> 
|
Posted By: bdkeen
Date Posted: 27 Oct 2008 at 7:02pm
I sort of like the idea of being 'That crazy old guy that lives up the street'  -------------
|
Posted By: kedogn
Date Posted: 24 Nov 2008 at 10:20am
|
UPDATE: I wanted to mention that yesterday while putting up lights and while running power cords and such I actually had a few of my neighbors comment on our lights... ALL POSITIVE! The ones I was afraid of most, the ones almost directly across the street, said they LOVED the light show, even commented on how much they liked our Halloween show (wasnt much really, but thats still cool to hear). Mind you, this is the first time I have ever talked to this guy and I told him I was glad to hear they did cause I was worried about the amount of light I was throwing their way and he says, "Really? No, we dont notice it at all when we close our curtains, so its great!" After talking for a few minutes I felt so much better. Had been worrying about that... especially about them. A few others stopped to comment as they drove by as well. I must have talked to a dozen or so that live in our neighborhood yesterday. Heck even my direct neighbors wife commented on how it was looking really good and how she really liked the little trees (mini trees) down front. Others commented on how they cnat wait to see it all lit up. Thats a load off my mind... ------------- BOOMER SOONER!
http://www.leefamilylights.com - Lee Family Lights |
Posted By: Pony_God
Date Posted: 24 Nov 2008 at 10:42am
|
MMMmmmm MIni trees, such cool little guys. I love them. -- Need more of them.
So that's cool, that every's happy.
Our neighbor's that 'don't compete' went out and bought new grapevine deer, and created a mega tree from thier flag pole. But they still aren't competeing... Even though that's more than we've ever seen them do. haha ------------- Fine. You're so smart you rig up the lights. http://www.frappr.com/dlight - D-Light users Unite!
|
Posted By: Comporder1
Date Posted: 24 Nov 2008 at 1:06pm
I wonder if they would like it if they knew their house was being broadcast to the world via your web cam!!
Maybe the wireless would reach so could mount it at their house pointing back at yours.
|
Posted By: kedogn
Date Posted: 24 Nov 2008 at 4:20pm
I have been debating myself to go ask them if I could do this. I would have to plug into their power and you know how some people can be about that... even though it couldnt take more than a buck or 2 to power it for a full month. Between that and not really knowing them.. not sure i am gonna ask. :) ------------- BOOMER SOONER!
http://www.leefamilylights.com - Lee Family Lights |
Posted By: LightChristmas
Date Posted: 24 Nov 2008 at 5:10pm
Had someone parked near my display for 15 minutes last night, and the display isn't even done - or ON yet!
------------- http://www.aurorashow.com/"> 
|
Posted By: kedogn
Date Posted: 24 Nov 2008 at 7:43pm
|
I noticed a van tonight slow down and back up and then sit in front of the house. All my lights were off, I thought, but what I figured out later is that 1 section of my Bethlehem Star was on.. they must have liked it cause they stayed there a while :)
------------- BOOMER SOONER!
http://www.leefamilylights.com - Lee Family Lights |
Posted By: Lightupky
Date Posted: 25 Nov 2008 at 12:22am
| i have been putting mine up for the last few weeks off and on as the weather would let me have about 15 kids between the ages of 5 and 10 that live on the same street i am on and days that i would be home working on the yard or roof they would all stop and ask when are you turning on your lights this year last year i used about 1500 to 2000 lights and the lights and sound box they all said it was great i have talked to a few neighbors that live within the line of sight of my house and found out that there were a good amount of cars stopping last year and all of them say they cant wait to see it this year i have even had a few of the kids offer to help untangle and straiten out the lights and a few of thier parent have even inquired about how i did it last year and how i am going about it this year they got a small preview at halloween and liked what i did then. |
Posted By: bdkeen
Date Posted: 25 Nov 2008 at 7:33am
|
I also did the lights-n-sounds box last year and people loved it. Ran about a 2.5 hour test several nights ago and alot of folks stopped looking. Folks have been stopping by looking at the lights off since the test night. Talked throughout the year with a few neighbors and they 've been anxious to see what I have up my sleeve for this year. Response has been positive so far. We get alot of speeders on our street and this will definitely slow them down a little bit so even the possible traffic problems isn't yet a problem.
It's almost showtime  -------------
|
Posted By: Lightupky
Date Posted: 25 Nov 2008 at 2:14pm
| almost show time and i dont have a full sequence done yet i have no ear for music and im never happy with what i have set up to run if its made outa nuts and bolts or needs welding i can do it but music my 11 year old nephew is better at doing the sequences than i am so he is staying with me thursday and friday to help me lol. |
Posted By: BigDPS
Date Posted: 25 Nov 2008 at 6:16pm
|
Don't feel bad about not having an ear for music or not being happy about the sequence you're doing. No matter how much you try, it never will be up to snuff. I had 16 channels last year and updated all my songs to 32 channels. I'm all done but I still don't like them. There's always something missing....
As for the neighbors, we have new ones in the front of our house. They have driveway lights that are some powerful. I told my wife that I can't wait to set the mega tree right close to the road and blast them with blinking lights....she thought I was childish!!!
 Afterall, I worked hard to setup this display. We have 8 trees with lights on, and this weekend, I have the mega tree going up along with the 10 mini trees that we built over 3 weekends. Sure is a lot of work to try and have fun with lights and music. I hope the neighbors appreciate all the hard work that I've been going through just for them!!! ------------- http://www.aurorashow.com/">
|
Posted By: Pony_God
Date Posted: 26 Nov 2008 at 8:19am
AMEN!
So when's the Borg implant comming out so that I can tweak it exactly how it should be while watching it live? ------------- Fine. You're so smart you rig up the lights. http://www.frappr.com/dlight - D-Light users Unite!
|
Posted By: BigDPS
Date Posted: 26 Nov 2008 at 2:28pm
|
Actually, I wish I could have Aurora integrated with the batting of my eyelids. It would be so much simpler to find the beats...or maybe not. ------------- http://www.aurorashow.com/">
|
Posted By: LightChristmas
Date Posted: 26 Nov 2008 at 9:49pm
|
I am MP-3 of Borg. Fidelity is futile!
------------- http://www.aurorashow.com/">
|
Posted By: bdkeen
Date Posted: 26 Nov 2008 at 11:00pm
Ahhh - There's your problem - WAV is the perferred and fixes everything -------------
|
Posted By: camdebuck
Date Posted: 29 Nov 2008 at 3:01am
|
This is our first year of doing this. I'm not much of a talker, but we have been in our neighborhood for 14 years and I know all of our neighbors. The wives of all of the couples think it is great and can't wait to see the show. All fo the husbands think I'm crazy, but that is okay. It has been a lot of fun, but has taken a lot longer than I anticpated. I actually started setting up in the middle of October and finished all of the lights last week (however, there were days when I went golfing instead of working on the lights). I ended up doing 16,500 lights and 96 channels (d-light controllers) .
Most of my testing was during the wee hours of the night (2am or later) so nobody really saw much. Tonight was the first time that we turned it on for everyone. We had some friends that came by and they loved it.
What kind of traffic should I expect? My wife is very involved with the PTA and I've heard her friends say they are all coming. Is it going to get crazy or what?
Thanks for the advice I've been able to gain thus far!!
--Cam--
|
Posted By: kedogn
Date Posted: 29 Nov 2008 at 11:05am
|
I have spent several hours outside each day of this past week and have met several people from our neighborhood. ALL comments have been very positive! I am so excited about that. I also met my neighbor who lives straight across from my driveway (they moved in just a few months ago) . They are very quiet people, keep to themselves, never really see them outside unless they are driving in and out of the garage or checking their mail. As the wife pulled out last night she stopped to talk to my wife and I and say how much they loved the lights and how everyone at their party on T-Day loved them. She was blown away with the FM Broadcaster and how it all worked. With that said, I have now heard from 3 of the 4 neighbors directly around me and they have all loved the lights. So glad to hear that! Also met another couple who live around the corner as they were walking their dog. They just moved in the area a year ago, loved last years show, and have been looking forward to this years. With that said, we really dont get a whole lot of traffic at one time. Over the course of a full night we get several cars, but never really more than 3 or 4 at once, usually less. Based on last year, our traffic increased the 2nd week of December and when our local paper did their "Tour Of Lights" and interviewed us for it, we picked up a bundle there. Traffic is certainly not an issue for us yet and I doubt it will be... but to me, thats a good thing cause lots people still see the lights, but its not a headache yet :) ------------- BOOMER SOONER!
http://www.leefamilylights.com - Lee Family Lights |
Posted By: bdkeen
Date Posted: 29 Nov 2008 at 12:24pm
|
I ran 2 nights prior to the 'official start' to shake out the bugs and had a good number of visitors. Have talked to most of the neighbors and they are loving it! They all have radios tuned in and are watching from time to time. They seem to be sort of glad that it's slowing drivers on our street (we live on one of those 25 mph streets where some folks drive 40-50). We seem to get 1 or 2 cars parked out there from time to time with as many as 5, but it's awful early to tell what the real impact might be. Not really knowing myself but anticipating the worst I've sort of tried to warn the neighbors in advance what could be expected. As word of mouth travels I'm feeling fairly certain that things could get a just little busy out here. So long as folks are considerate I don't expect any problems with the neighborhood. We're all getting a good laugh from time to time watching folks. Don't really care who might think I'm a bit crazy for doing the lights (sometimes it's fun being the crazy old guy with all the lights). It's been alot of fun, I've meet alot of good folks, and there's a sense of pride and accomplishment seeing everything up, together, and running. And kept me out of trouble (except perhaps with the wife whenever I bought more lights or more extension cords
). So far we're all having a pretty good time with this here within my neighborhood. -------------
|
Posted By: kedogn
Date Posted: 29 Nov 2008 at 8:36pm
|
Hey Bruce! 2 questions for ya... did you make your countdown sign in your yard or buy it? Love how big that is. Also, where did you get your web cam and how much? We have enjoyed checking in on your lights right along with ours :)
------------- BOOMER SOONER!
http://www.leefamilylights.com - Lee Family Lights |
Posted By: bdkeen
Date Posted: 29 Nov 2008 at 9:51pm
Thanks Ken. The countdown sign I made - It's really not all that big - I think around 18x24 inches. Got a cheap 4 inch LED 2 digit, 7 segment display on ebay. It comes with a little demo board so taught myself how to re-program the 10200 pic on the demo board to produce sort of a counter (code for programming is availabel on my website projects page). Count starts at 39 and isn't automatic. Have to set it manually each night. But that's easy.. I wired an external switch (salvaged reset button from an old pc) and each press of the switch drops the number by one. When it first powers on each night it shows 2 dashes (--) Once Christmas Day is reached it'll be left to just show the dashes. It's mounted inside a wooden box with a couple C7 bulbs - then an old scrap picture frame with glass forms the front of the box. The C7's provide backlighting for the rest of the sign. Other than the LED digits everything else was leftover yard sale stuff or scrap. Maybe next year I'll have a real clock behind it making it more automated. But for now it'll do ok.
The camera is one I had from work that is no longer being used.It's about 5-6 years old now. An AXIS 205, I don't even know if you can get them anymore, was probably around 200-300 in it's prime. It's a wired 10mbs camera so I have cat 5E running off one of my switches in the garage to the camera. I have a new camera (100mbs) comming soon that supports lower light levels and has sound capability. Hopefully it'll be a little better and I'll also broadcast sound if it works ok. Camera currently is only about 8 inches above ground so you get sort of a ground-hog's persepective of the display.
I got on your cam once (think I may have recognized the sequence playing that time )- most of the time it's been at the limit of allowed connections. But just got on it now with no problem.-------------
|