A detailed tutorial on how to make your own APRS iGate (Automatic Packet Reporting System) from Andrew Milluzzi: With the super cheap embedded Linux platforms (Raspi, Beaglebone, etc.) and cheap TV dongles, it is really easy to make your own APRS iGate, just like the one in the photo above. This tutorial will give you […]
Author Archives: DP
Hacking the Digital and Social System
Voja Antonic writes: When you live in a totalitarian, controlled and “happy” society, and you want to be a hacker, you have to hack the social system first. Being just an engineer doesn’t cut it, you have to be a hypocrite, dissident and a smuggler at the same time. That’s the motto of my personal […]
#FreePCB via Twitter to 2 random RTs
Every Tuesday we give away two coupons for the free PCB drawer via Twitter. This post was announced on Twitter, and in 24 hours we’ll send coupon codes to two random retweeters. Don’t forget there’s free PCBs three times a every week: Hate Twitter and Facebook? Free PCB Sunday is the classic PCB giveaway. Catch […]
Plugin soldering iron temperature controller version 2
As a follow up to the Soldering Iron PID temperature controller post, Mike Doughty of PCB Smoke blogged about on how to modify an ordinary plugin soldering iron to work with a PID temperature controller – second version: This new version has some improvements since the first version back in April, 2015. The soldering iron […]
USB to 3.3V – 5V serial TTL adapter
Dilshan Jayakody published a new build, USB to 3.3V – 5V serial TTL adapter: This post is about experimental USB to 3.3V/5V serial TTL adapter which we build recently to work with both 5V and 3.3V MCUs. This project is mainly based on CH340G seral-USB chip. CH340G is cheap and commonly available serial-USB convert IC […]
ESP8266 MQTT battery monitor project
Steve’s latest DirtyPCBs project, a wireless MQTT battery monitor: This board uses an ESP8266 (ESP12), a Texas Instruments INA226 I2C voltage and current monitor, and a Texas Instruments LMR12010X buck converter. This board is designed to wirelessly monitor 12 volt batteries and power supplies using an external current shunt resistor. The voltage across the shunt […]
PIC32 Tic-Tac-Toe: Demonstration of using touch-screen, TFT and the Protothreads threading library
Tahmid writes: I had previously used the Adafruit TFT display using my library (ported from the Adafruit Arduino library). I decided to optimize the library to improve drawing speed. The same display I use comes with a 4-wire resistive touch-screen as well. I decided to write a simple library for the touch-screen and give Protothreads […]
Free PCB Sunday: Pick your PCB
We go through a lot of prototype PCBs, and end up with lots of extras that we’ll never use. Every Sunday we give away a few PCBs from one of our past or future projects, or a related prototype. Our PCBs are made through Seeed Studio’s Fusion board service. This week two random commenters will […]
App note: Mechanical mounting for vibration motors to bulkheads
Vibration motor bulkheads mounting guide from Precision Microdrives. Link here The word bulkhead has a few different meanings, in this context we are using it to represent a large flat surface or sheet. For example, a large metal chute which is carrying materials which are prone to coagulating, may require a vibration motor. This bulletin […]
App note: Mechanical mounting for vibration motors to PCBs
Vibration motor PCB mounting guide from Precision Microdrives. Link here There are many methods for mounting a vibration motor to a Printed Circuit Board (PCB), each with their own advantages and disadvantages. Some techniques are specific to different types of motor. This guide will help you evaluate different mounting methods and perhaps introduce some options […]
App note: USB DFU protocol used in the STM32 bootloader
An app note from ST, USB DFU protocol used in the STM32 bootloader (PDF!): This application note describes the USB DFU protocol used in STM32 microcontroller bootloader. It details each supported command. For more information about the USB hardware resources and requirements for your device bootloader, please refer to the “STM32 system memory boot mode” […]
Install a pressurized water system on your car bumper
Want to add this on your car? Check out Eddie Zarick‘s video on how to install a pressurized water system on your car bumper: A step by step guide to me cutting up my 15′ Wrangler and installing some running water from my stock rear bumper using a 12v RV pump. Check it out! Via […]
Free PCB coupon via Facebook to 2 random commenters
Every Friday we give away some extra PCBs via Facebook. This post was announced on Facebook, and on Monday we’ll send coupon codes to two random commenters. The coupon code usually go to Facebook ‘Other’ Messages Folder . More PCBs via Twitter on Tuesday and the blog every Sunday. Don’t forget there’s free PCBs three […]
Stickers!
Stuart tweeted, “A few stickers were visible on my TV spot this evening! @PartsIO @embeddedfm @dangerousproto @hackaday @stem_network”
How to create a signed Windows 8 driver for USB Ir Toy
HakanL writes: As part of a home automation project I’ve been testing different infrared receivers/transmitters. One inexpensive USB-based transceiver is the USB Infrared Toy (v2) This uses the Microchip PIC 18F2550 microcontroller which acts as a virtual USB serial port. The problem is that the included driver isn’t signed so it can’t be used […]
An NFC implant to open doors and unlocking PCs
Fred over at the 430h forum shared another project using his NFC implant and an MSP4305529 to unlock his PC: I recent completed the prototype of my LoginNFC project. It’s a combination of MSP430 acting as a USB keyboard (and CDC serial for configuration) and a TRF7970A NFC reader. The prototype was done with a […]
WIFI Mains Power Dimmer / Switch with CBDBv2
MAINS Power Dimmer / Switch Module project by Tracker J: Now it’s about time to talk also about what many of you has asked for: DIMMING! It’s a total different story, little bit complicated but, as you will see, not so hard to understand. General considerations: There are several types of dimmers generally available. These […]
NExuS project
Adam over at Maniacal Labs has written up documentation on his NExuS weekend project: My main desires for this build was that the NES look completely stock and unchanged from the front and that original, unmodified, NES gamepads worked via the original gamepad ports. Fortunately, this turned out not to be too bad. First, I […]
2.2 or 2.4 or 2.8 inch SPI TFT LCD ILI9341 to Arduino Uno
Bob Davis has written an article on interfacing a 2.8 inch SPI TFT LCD ILI9341 with the Arduino Uno: Over the weekend I figured out how to interface a 2.8 inch SPI TFT that has a ILI9341 chip to an Arduino Uno. All it takes is eight 1K resistors. Most people use a 4050 IC. […]
#FreePCB via Twitter to 2 random RTs
Every Tuesday we give away two coupons for the free PCB drawer via Twitter. This post was announced on Twitter, and in 24 hours we’ll send coupon codes to two random retweeters. Don’t forget there’s free PCBs three times a every week: Hate Twitter and Facebook? Free PCB Sunday is the classic PCB giveaway. Catch […]