A few months ago we started working with the Gadget Factory to build an open source logic analyzer. After a very successful collaboration, we’re almost ready to order the first PCBs. Click here for a large PCB image [PNG]. The draft device has 16 buffered (5volt tolerant) input channels, and 16 unbuffered I/O channels on […]
Author Archives: Ian
Arduino logic analyzer
Merve is working on an Arduino-driven logic analyzer design in the Arduino Forum. It uses logic chips to drive SRAM memory during acquisition, the Arduino then dumps samples from the SRAM via a shift register. We’re really interested in the result of this design. We once attempted a logic chip-based analyzer, but the design got […]
Web platform: SD card web server demo
This is an old version, see the latest version on the documentation wiki. The goal of this demo is to serve files to a web browser from a microSD card using the web platform hardware. Microchip’s latest TCPIP stack demonstration includes an HTTP server that reads files from FAT formatted SD cards, so there’s no […]
Bus Pirate AVR programmer update
EGHM confirmed that the Bus Pirate will program ATMega8s at 3.3volts from AVR Studio. Thanks for the update. Public domain image by DustyDingo.
Bus Pirate case at Seeed Studio
Seeed Studio had cases made for the Bus Pirate v3, available immediately for $2.50.
Free PCB Sunday II: Web platform
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 professionally-made PCBs from one of our past or future projects, or a related prototype. This week we’re giving away free PCBs for our powerful new embedded web platform. The […]
Free PCB Sunday: Web platform
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 professionally-made PCBs from one of our past or future projects, or a related prototype. This week we’re giving away free PCBs for our powerful new embedded web platform. We’ll […]
Make's 2009 open source hardware guide
Dangerous Prototypes made it into Make’s open source hardware guide 2009! We got interested in open source hardware while reading Make and Hack a Day, this is a really special accomplishment for us. Our hackable LED Christmas ornament is featured on the cover. The web platform, #twatch, and Bus Pirate are all listed in the […]
Prototype: Web platform
This is an old version, see the latest version on the documentation wiki. The Dangerous Prototypes web platform is a tiny server designed for networked hacks where a full PC is inconvenient. There’s lots of interesting projects that bridge the internet to microcontrollers, but most of them have a PC in the middle to handle […]
Bus Pirate PIC programmer update
PIC 12/16/18/ds30 programming support for the Bus Pirate is progressing. Sean Nelson, a regular contributor to the Bus Pirate project, submitted a patch that adds serial port support to usbpicprog. The Linux patch compiles, but the Windows port still has some bugs. The picture shows our prototype 13volt power supply for the PIC programmer. It’s […]
Preview: Web platform prototype
Coming, hopefully, by the end of the week.
Bus Pirate AVRDUDE tutorial
Michal posted detailed instructions for programming AVRs with the Bus Pirate and AVRDUDE. But what happens if you have 2, 3, or even 7 AVRs on the same circuit board? Michal shows us how to use extra Bus Pirate pins to select among AVRs, or drive a 1-to-8 decoder to control even more chips. Michal […]
Bus Pirate IC test PCB
A discussion in the forum led to the creation of a new chip demonstration/test PCB for the Bus Pirate. This board has spaces for several commonly-sampled I2C and 1-Wire devices, and an HD44780 LCD tester: I2C 24LC EEPROM (PTH and SMD) TC74 temperature sensor (PTH) DS1085(L)/DS1077(L) frequency generator (SMD) PCF8563/DS1307 real-time clock (PTH) MCP3021 analog […]
Unbricking a WRT320N router with the Bus Pirate
If you’d like to hack your router, check out this thread about unbricking a WRT320N router using the Bus Pirate. There’s lots of good information about how to connect the Bus Pirate and reset the router. In related Bus Pirate news: We fixed a reported bug in the live UART monitor macro. An updated nightly […]
Flashrom GUI frontend
Sean Nelson has a design preview of a GUI frontend for the open source Flashrom utility. Carl-Daniel Hailfinger recently added support for the Bus Pirate to Flashrom, we covered it here.
Free PCB Sunday: Hackable Christmas ornament
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 professionally-made PCBs from one of our past or future projects, or a related prototype. This week we’re giving away free PCBs for the Hackable Christmas ornament. We made these […]
#twatch PHP library
Joost De Cock created a PHP control library for the #twatch. This video gives an overview of the features. Thanks Joost! Edit: Philippe Alexandre has an updated #twatch Perl control library as well. The #twatch Twitter scrolling, ethernet LCD backpack is currently in stock at Seeed Studio for $30, or $45 with an LCD attached. […]
Bus Pirate high voltage supply with only 6 parts
We used the Bus Pirate and 6 common components to multiply 5volts to over 120volts with a boost converter, a type of switched-mode power supply. Similar circuits are commonly used to power 180volt nixie tubes from low voltage power supplies. This circuit is a simple way to build your first SMPS, but be careful because […]
Hackable Christmas ornament to ship
Seeed Studio sent word that the Hackable Christmas ornament is out of production and should start shipping in a few days, about 2 weeks early. Great job Seeed! There’s still a couple of ornaments available. A surface mount kit is $12, and Seeed will assemble yours for $3 more ($15 assembled).
#twatch frame
Twitter user Tinyblob tweeted a photo of the #twatch in an acrylic frame. The #twatch Twitter scrolling, ethernet LCD backpack is currently in stock at Seeed Studio for $30, or $45 with an LCD attached, including worldwide shipping. The acrylic frame is $2.50.