lpm0 writes to inform us of a 3D model he found of the MSP430 Launchpad at 43Oh. The 43Oh crew describes their design: We were looking out for a 3D model of the Launchpad for one of our projects, but could not find any. So we whipped our own Sketchup Model. As far as we […]
Category Archives: documentation
Open Hardware Journal
Kelvin writes: Just to highlight that there is an Open Hardware Journal. Do check it out. Via the contact form.
DTMF Decoder using Goertzel algorithm on PIC18F4520
Debraj has been working on this project for DTMF decoding using the Goertzel algorithm on a PIC. Goertzel algorithm is well known in the DSP domain. It is used to detect the presence of a frequency or a number of frequencies. This algorithm is popular as the calculation required for implementation is lesser as compared […]
2600 Hacker Calendar 2012
Our friends over at 2600 have the official 2012 Hacker Calendar in stock! Filled with hacker trivia for every day of the year, the 2012 calendar’s theme is the science of telephony with a different related photo accompanying each month. You can get your own copy from the 2600 store for $14.99 plus shipping.
Hackerspaces – the beginning (the book)
Bre and Astera over at Hackerspace blog have assembled a detailed history of the hackerspace movement. Covering from their inception in 2008 to date, what they initially believed would be a 25 page booklet has turned into a 182 MB zip file containing a comprehensive, richly illustrated, community generated account of every aspect of hackerspace […]
Reference data for radio engineers, circa 1946
If you’re interested in reading about state of the art radio engineering data from way back in the day, then this may be for you.Tubebooks.org has a free download of Federal Telephone and Radio Corporation’s 1946 “Radio Data for Engineers, Second Edition” waiting for you. The 335 page PDF has loads of conversion factors, math, […]
Understanding Verilog warnings
Big Mess o’ Wires has a review of Verilog warnings: Those of you who’ve followed the blog for a while know about my many frustrations with Verilog. Because it feels sort of a like a procedural programming language, but very definitely isn’t one, I keep expecting to be far more competent at Verilog design than […]
CommodoreFree online magazine
If you are into retrocomputing with the Commodore C64 or clone then you will be interested in reading CommodoreFree. This is a free online magazine which has been published since 2007 and is now in its 53 issue. You can download all issues beginning with number 4 from the CommodoreFree website in PDF, text, Epub […]
1988 TTL logic data book
Daniel Brake writes: I don’t know if you guys have seen this yet, but TI has their 1988 TTL Logic Data Book for only $0.10. I have received 3 copies and the total cost, including shipping (US), was only $0.30! TI describes this book as: Texas Instruments presents pertinent technical information on their broad line […]
Comic book intro to the Arduino platform
Arduino newbies take note. Jody Culkin has produced an intro to Arduino in comic book format. You can download the 15 page PDF format here. Via the Hoz (contact form) via BoingBoing.
MIT online course: Principles of Digital Communications I
As part of their ongoing OpenCourseWare program, MIT is offering the free online course “Principles of Digital Communication I.” Course description: The course serves as an introduction to the theory and practice behind many of today’s communications systems. Topics covered include: digital communications at the block diagram level, data compression, Lempel-Ziv algorithm, scalar and vector […]
XESS download: FPGAs!? Now What?
Drone writes: XESS recently released their 92 page “FPGAs!? Now What?” book which is supposed to be a tutorial for the XuLA, but is really an informative read in-general; especially for someone getting started with Xilinx parts. You can download your copy of this 92 page PDF here. Via the contact form.
Chronoduino Arduino watch gets a homepage
orcinus documented the Chronoduino: It’s a wiki with all the relevant info and data concerning Chronoduino, including the EAGLE files and all the datasheets. The software section is still missing, but (current) hardware should be all there. I’ve also finished revision 0.3 of the main board, containing a bunch of power supply changes, and sent […]
Adding Bluetooth to your MSP430 project
NJC’s MSP430 Launchpad Blog has posted this tutorial on how to add Bluetooth to an MSP430 project. He chose the RN-42 module and designed his own breakout board (shown above). He writes: The RN-42 module, which is available at SparkFun electronics and Mouser, is a very cheap and simple way to use Bluetooth in your […]
Hackerspace passports
Here’s a really cool idea: hackerspace passports. Mitch Altman, developer of the TV-B-Gone and Brain Machine, has designed a Hackerspace Passport, to provide official, non-government issued credentials to hackers, makers and time travelers visiting hackerspaces and cons throughout the solar system. He writes: I created Hackerspace Passports to: -help promote people visiting as many hackerspaces […]
CPLD FLASH memory write cycles
All components using rewritable memory have a finite limit on the number of program/erase cycles they are specified to endure. Researching this issue yields the following data in regard to CPLD memory write cycle specs: Xilinx XC9572XL 10,000 Xilinx Coolrunner-II XC2C64A 1,000 Altera’s Max V CPLD 1,000 Altera’s Max 3000A/7000 100 Lattice Semi MachXO2 100,000 […]
FBI analyzes new gadgets for surveillance potential
If you look with a suspicious eye at new technology, wondering whether that new phone or gadget has the potential to intrude on your privacy, you’re not alone. According to this 84 page FBI Tech Newsletter, the Bureau has been paying attention to emerging computer and telecommunications technologies and assessing them to determine whether they […]
FPGA bitstream security broken
Researchers in Germany have released two papers detailing how security of the bitstream on Xilinx FPGAs can be compromised. The first paper (11 pages) discusses power analysis attacks and extracting keys from Virtex-II devices. The second (3 pages) describes an analysis of the Virtex 4 and 5 bitstream encryption mechanism. Via Slashdot.
DigiKey offers free MCU ezine
DigiKey is offering several of their TechZone electronics magazines available free online. One publication which looks interesting is the Microcontroller Solutions Magazine. Its not a glorified advertisement or catalog, but contains articles on both basic and advanced MCU topics such as “Understanding Microcontroller Performance Analysis Techniques” and “Developing Next-Generation Human Interfaces Using Capacitive and Infrared […]
Introduction to the Controller Area Network (CAN)
A controller area network (CAN) is ideally suited to the many high-level industrial protocols embracing CAN and ISO-11898:1993 as their physical layer. Its cost, performance, and upgradeability provide for tremendous flexibility in system design. This application report presents an introduction to the CAN fundamentals, operating principles, and the implementation of a basic CAN bus with […]