Category Archives: open source

CMU Sphinx open source toolkit for speech recognition

CMU Sphinx is Carnegie Mellon University’s (CMU) open source toolkit for speech recognition. The project has published this article on Sourceforge describing the automation of language model creation procedures as a complete C++ application. The article is the latest in a series posted on the Sourceforge page describing this ongoing open source academic research program. […]

SNES FLASH/ROM runs custom Super Nintendo code

dext0rb from The Electrified Fooling Machine Company has just finished work on a project which allows custom Super Nintendo code to run on an SNES FLASH/ROM. He writes, “I wanted to make and play an updated version of NBA JAM an SNES hardware, so I made this device. Load a game ROM to the device […]

Open source USB echo demo ported to the PIC18F2550 Breakout Board

We ported the open source USB echo demo to the PIC18F2550 Breakout Board. It has only the bare essentials you’ll need to get a CDC class USB project going on a PIC18F2550. The code is setup for a 12 MHz crystal. To change to another just edit the #pragma config PLLDIV = 3 line in […]

HOW-TO: Open Source USB stack for PIC microcontrollers

This guide shows how to configure and customize the latest version of the JTR-Honken open source USB stack for PIC microcontrollers. The demo will run on most USB-enabled projects from Dangerous Prototypes. Be sure to check the wiki for the latest documentation and downloads. Many PIC microcontrollers have USB hardware. We use some of these […]

Decoding P25 with SDR#, DSD, and RTLSDR

This is another illustration of the amazing utility of the RTL-SDR and SDR# software. Here proct0r links the output from SDR# to a program known as DSD. DSD is an open source command line program originally coded in C by anonymous for Linux for the purpose of decoding digital protocols via a PC soundcard.

LALO.LI client-side short voice message service

We previously posted on Franz Enzenhofer’s project providing unofficial Google image search by drawing. Now Franz writes to inform us of a new project he coded up over the last weekend. He says, “last weekend I coded another prototype app Lalo.li, basically a 100% client side short voice message service. Some background information and code […]

PixelController LED control software update

Michu made some improvements to the open source PixelController software. This app is intended to control various  light-show drivers such as the Art-Net, Mini-DMX, LPD6803 and Seeedstudio’s Rain­bow­duino. I’m updating my PixelController software and did some major updates like an integrated GUI, Color Sets etc. Take a look at the Screenshot, the code is on […]

OSHW haptic interface

Diego Spinola writes, “Here’s a project I’ve just “completed” that I think you’ll like, it’s an OSHW haptic interface! It’s called VIMPHIN and it’s pictured in action above. Guess what logic sniffer I used to debug the actuator’s bus?” Our money would be on the open workbench Logic Sniffer! For more videos, info and links […]

Interesting radio frequency: pirates on SATCOM — 255 MHz

This video highlights another interesting frequency to try with your SDR dongle: 255 MHz. trylleklovn reports that, “Using gqrx with my newsky dvb-t dongle (rtlsdr) to listen to the geostationary SATCOM which is frequently utilized by Brazil radio pirates.” Gqrx is a free and open source SDR for Linux and Mac designed by amateur radio […]

28C3 – Introducing Osmo-GMR: Building a Sniffer for the GMR Satphones

In this video from the 28C3 Conference in Berlin, Sylvain Munaut describes the latest member of the Osmocom-family projects, osmo-gmr. This project focuses on the GMR-1 (GEO Mobile Radio) air interface used in some satellite Phones. Sylvain discusses the GMR protocol, the Thuraya network that uses this protocol in the Eurasian/African and Australian continents and […]

SDR#: C#-based SDR app

Here’s a new open source Windows SDR application. According to the developers, “SDR# (read SDR Sharp) is a simple, intuitive, small and fast PC-based DSP application for Software Defined Radio. It’s written in C# with both object design correctness and performance in mind. The main purpose is to offer a simple proof of concept application […]

Openmoko USB product ID and IEEE OUI (Ethernet MAC address) range available

Kelvin informs us that Openmoko is making available USB Product ID and IEEE OUI (MAC Address) allocations to the community. According to the Openmoko wiki, “As the Openmoko products have been discontinued, Openmoko Inc. is opening up the use of its Vendor ID for use by the Free and Open Source software and hardware communities. […]

Open source GCC builds for ARM MCUs and MPU

viswa informs us of a source for “Completely Free Open Source GCC builds for ARM MCUs and MPUs. This seems to be maintained by the official team which maintains GCC for ARM. This is useful for ARM Cortex M / Cortex R processors.” Pre-built GNU toolchains from ARM Cortex-R & Cortex-M processors, together with source […]

Carambola controlled quadcopter

Saulius writes: “I have just tested in the air my latest quadcopter telemetry link using low-cost open-source wifi board. This link can be used not only to relay telemetry data but control SU(A)V from joystick and get video back to ground station.” The copter uses the Carambola low cost, open-source WiFi (21.5 dB / 2.4GHz) […]

Simple Arduino motion sensor – SMS messaging project

Here’s an easy open source motion sensing project by Matt Williamson which sends you an SMS message when motion is detected. The hardware consists of an Arduino and Parallax PIR sensor (Part No. 555-28027). This arrangement communicates via serial with a Python server on an attached computer, which then uses the TelAPI service to accomplish […]

Open source Bluetooth stack for PIC24 and PIC32

Dpropicweb tipped us to a new Open source Bluetooth stack for PIC24 and PIC32. For hardware, a PIC drives a cheap USB Bluetooth dongle using a USB host interface. The Bluetooth part is open source, unfortunately is also uses Microchips undistributable USB drivers. The code is really easy to understand, very well documented and really […]

Receiving Oregon Scientific sensors with RTL-SDR

Kevin Mehall got his RTL-SDR dongle and wasted no time in developing a decoder using GNU Radio for the 433MHz transmissions of Oregon Scientific remote temperature sensors (v1 protocol). These devices transmit on 433.9 MHz sending data packets containing the temperature data every 30 seconds. The transmitter uses On-off keying and the 32 data bits […]

Super Boost 3.6A USB charger based on LM2700

Scrawny 500mA USB charger insufficient for your hunger for power? Try this 3.6 amp USB charger based on the LM2700 boost switch-mode IC. This design is inspired by the Minty Boost but it fixes some of the issues that I had with it. The Minty Boost is limited to 600mA due to the LT1302 chip. […]