[Hedda]

Tip! Borderless Electronics is currently selling a $9 Arduino-compatible starter-kit on Indiegogo for non-profit and offer is only available for 7 more days

http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/9-ardu...lectronics

This Arduino Leonardo compatible micro-controller can be used in many project, including creating a Ambilight clone for XBMC with Boblight addon

http://wiki.xbmc.org/index.php?title=Add...C_Boblight
http://forum.xbmc.org/showthread.php?tid=116331
http://forum.xbmc.org/showthread.php?tid=151559
http://forum.xbmc.org/showthread.php?tid=101406

So you could with this kit put together a 50-LED Ambilight-clone for less than $50! Or a 100-LED Ambilight-clone for less than $80 including shipping!

ADAlight is a do-it-yourself LED project design for example used Arduino Leonardo
http://learn.adafruit.com/adalight-diy-a...ing/pieces

Adalight ambilight amblone clone demod with 50 LEDs on a 55" HDTVMuch more Ambilight clone demo videos on YouTube via this search
http://www.youtube.com/results?search_qu...light+XBMC

Less expensive 12mm WS2801 Digital DC 5V RGB LED strips can be ordered from China
http://www.aliexpress.com/store/product/...02558.html
http://www.ledsee.com/index.php/new-prod...801-detail
http://dx.com/p/12mm-rgb-bare-point-sour...ght-111682

You also need a 5v 2a PSU to power 100 lights, or 5v 1a PSU to power 50 lights, and those can also be ordered from China
http://dx.com/p/5v-2a-regulated-switchin...220v-94518
http://dx.com/p/built-in-switching-power...-2a-151552
External 5V 2A+ power supply with 2.1mm jack instead above internal power supplies for soldering is optional
http://dx.com/p/5v-2a-power-adapter-char...lug-159396
http://dx.com/p/replacement-5v-2a-us-plu...-1m-124148
Female DC Power Adapter with 2.1mm jack is required for external power supplies
http://dx.com/p/jl0569a-2-1mm-dc-power-f...ack-140142
http://dx.com/p/5-5-x-2-1mm-cctv-dc-powe...pack-44060

[Nu7s]

Great Tip! I "ordered" one.

EDIT: Just wanted to share what components I bought, maybe somebody is helped with it:
5V 2A power supply (2x!):
http://www.aliexpress.com/item/2pcs-lots...59925.html
12mm RGB LED strand:
http://www.aliexpress.com/item/freeshipp...72558.html
DC power jacks:
http://www.aliexpress.com/item/Free-Ship...72255.html

[aptalca]

Let us know how the installation goes

[Nu7s]

I promise I will. *

*promises should be handled with care judging by the huge "box of unfinished projects".

[illiac4]

http://www.ebay.de/itm/Leonardo-Pro-Micr...fe=sidebar

You can also use this one. I have build one on them.

[Hedda]

12mm RGB LED strand:
http://www.aliexpress.com/item/freeshipp...72558.html

Be sure to read up a little on WS2801 verses WS2811 based RGB LED Strips before buying, as the ones I linked to are WS2801 and your are WS2811
http://auschristmaslighting.com/forums/i...pic=3718.0
http://forum.arduino.cc/index.php?topic=132750.0
While both will work, Adafruit recommends WS2801 for Adalight as they are faster and offer higher color depth, but do cost about twice as much

http://www.ebay.de/itm/Leonardo-Pro-Micr...fe=sidebar

You can also use this one. I have build one on them.

Arduino Uno clones can also be ordered from China for a little more, and while older they are more stable/reliable than than the newer Arduino Leonardo and its clones
http://dx.com/p/robotale-uno-atmega8u2-d...lue-178262
http://dx.com/p/funduino-uno-r3-mega328p...ols-150802
http://dx.com/p/d1201-uno-r2-usb-board-m...lue-181806
http://dx.com/p/uno-r3-development-board...ack-215600
http://dx.com/p/freaduino-atmega328-v1-2...ite-140827

[Nu7s]

Finally got around to give this WS2811 led-strand a try, and after 3 days I finally got them working! And they are working great. I'll maybe do a bigger write-up when I finish them by mounting them decently to my TV, but for those who are having problems getting them to work, here are some pointers:

Components:
If you havn't ordered anything yet, you better go with the WS2801 variant, it has much better support. But I already ordered so meh. I used:
50pcs WS2811 LED-strand from Aliexpress
5V 2A power supply from Aliexpress
*Maybe this should be a higher current. From the specifications, the LED's use 60mA max per LED on full white. So this would be 3A for 50 LED's. I'll order a better one soon.
Arduino (Funduino) Nano V3 board from hobbycomponents.com

Arduino code:
I found working arduino code on GitHub:
https://github.com/rosterloh/ambilight (Also see his blog: https://byteoutalife.wordpress.com/category/ambilight/ )
I used the ambilight.ino sketch. Connect the ground wire to GND on your board and DATA to PIN 4.

Windows
I first tested it on a windows build. I installed boblight from this XBMC thread:
http://forum.xbmc.org/showthread.php?tid=145908
I got it working with these settings, thanks to the above github entry.

Code:

#[global]
interface    127.0.0.1
port        19333

[device]
name    ambilight
output    /dev/com4
channels    150
type        momo
interval    20000
prefix        55 AA 55 AA 55 AA 55 AA
postfix    A5
rate        115200

output line depens on what com port the arduino is connected. You can check by selecting "extra -> serial port" in the arduino sketch.

Raspbmc
Same settings in the boblight.conf except the output line is now:
output /dev/ttyUSB0

Hope this helps someone and many thanks to the sources!

[RockerC]

Have someone submitted a "DIY Ambilight" writeup and video for Lifehacker?

EDIT: Fixed URL: https://byteoutalife.wordpress.com/category/ambilight/

Thinking of maybe ordering a kit myself but so much to do, so little time

[Nu7s]

Thanks, I changed the url, didn't notice the extra bracket.

Getting the kit to work with the above info should only take 30min, mounting the LED's to the TV took me the longest time. I did it with office tape to test it out, but took them back off. I need some DIN-rails from work but I'm sick with flew, so it will have to wait a week.

The only reason you should order WS2811 is because they are a bit cheaper. If you are willing to spend a little more money, get WS2801, they are better supported everywhere.