Ham radio is nothing new, however if your new to electronics, or interested in becoming a ham, we suggest reading one of Dan’s self-study guides. The RMS value of an AC signal is the voltage that causes the same power dissipation as a DC voltage of the same value. (G5B07) For an AC signal with […]
Category Archives: wireless
XBee wireless interface tutorial
Chris from PyroElectro has posted this tutorial on interfacing with XBee. He writes: Getting started with XBee can be tricky, even though it shouldn’t be. Here is a drop-dead simple guide to using XBee modules out of the box. The tutorial shows you how to build a wireless interface with XBee modules between two PIC […]
Microcontrollers and simple wireless data transfer
Getting started with microcontrollers and simple wireless data transfer: I thought you guys might like this article, it shows you how to get started using those $10 433 MHz RF tx/rx pairs. The article explains the theory, shows an example schematic for receiver/transmitter and has the project firmware for both available for download. Video below. […]
JeeLabs JeeNode combines Arduino, RF
JeeLabs has a product known as the JeeNode v5, which is essentially a miniature Arduino (Atmega328p) board with an onboard RFM12B wireless module. Boards are available with the serial interface (shown above) as well as USB. You can buy the kit directly from JeeLabs, or build your own using the schematic and documentation provided. While […]
REVIEW: Sure electronics WiFi web server module
We covered Sure’s WIFI web server module previously. This board has a MRF24WB0MB wireless module and a PIC24FJ256GB106 with USB (host and slave) capabilities. As a bonus the board also has a mini-sd connector for storing webpages. At a first glance the board looks very clean and well designed with a nice silkscreen. Cost was $59.90 […]
Arduino/Teensy code for nRF24L01 transceiver
Markus writes: Due to the recent nRF24LE1 DangerousPrototypes blog post I like to share some Arduino/Teensy code I have written for the nRF24L01+ transceiver. ITead Studio has ready-to-use modules for just $5.98. The attached code and the modules work remarkably well. Thanks Markus! Via the forum.
nRF24LE1 low power single chip wireless data
The nRF24LE1 is a single chip radio that can be used with a microcontroller for low power wireless stuff. It has lots of extras like an ultra low power analog comparator for voltage level system wake-up. Nordic Semiconductor provides an RF protocol stack and applications for microcontrollers. Via MDFLY.
Yet another Arduino GSM shield
Boris tipped us to another SIM900-based GSM/GPRS wireless data shield for the Arduino, this one is from Open Electronics: This is a very low cost and simple Arduino GSM and GPRS shield. We use the module SIMCom SIM900. It’s the cheaper module now available in the market. To connect this module to Arduino I make […]
GPRS Arduino shield with SIM900 module
McZ tipped us to the GPRS shield using the new SIM900 cellular data module in a followup to our position location with GSM cellular post. GSM/GPRS 850/900/1800/1900MHz … for voice, SMS, Data, and Fax in a small form factor and with low power consumption. It is controlled via AT commands (GSM 07.07 ,07.05 and SIMCOM enhanced […]
Position location with GSM cellular
Cellular mobile devices and Google Maps can be used to provide fast and accurate localization without GPS. Using a database of cell coordinates, the location of an object can be precisely determined. The cell names, coordinates, and the maximum distance allowed between the cell and the phone before it switches towers must be known first […]
Semtech RF data transmitter chips
Semtech has released a line of “power and go” inexpensive data transmitter chips. The new SX1240 and SX1242 ISM-band RF transmitters enable true data-in/RF-out capability, with only an external crystal and antenna impedance matching network needed. They simplify design by integrating “power-and-go modes,” which are pre-set for 434 MHz and 868 MHz (SX1240) or 345 […]
SCADA 101
Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition Systems (SCADA) present a means of networking industrial infrastructure monitoring and control systems. From a central reading location a SCADA system can track a number of remote sites equipped with Remote Terminal Units (RTUs) or Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs). The RTUs can measure an array of conditions and a wider […]
TI launchpad as morse keyer
echOs built a CW(Morse code) transmitter using a TI launchpad with a minimal amount of components. Only capable of low power transmitting, this would be use full for finding that lost high altitude payload, or fox hunting. Via: Hack a Day
Shmoocon 2011: intercepting FHSS radio signals
Q, Atlas and Cutaway gave a presentation at the Shmoocon 2011 conference held recently in Washington, DC, concerning interception techniques for Frequency Hopping Spread Spectrum (FHSS) radio signals. They demonstrate the use of low-cost, easily obtained hardware/software to conduct predictive channel hopping analysis coupled with crude spectrum analysis and ultimately identify any given hopping pattern […]
OpenPicus wireless development platform
OpenPicus is working on open source wireless hardware and a free application development platform. The current WIFI hardware has a PIC 24FJ256GA106 microcontroller, and an MRF24WB0MA module provides the wireless. An Arduino-like IDE has libraries and frameworks to simplify wireless development. If you have the grit to develop a wireless app without a proper debugging […]
Wireless Arduino message board
Uhclem has posted a wireless Arduino message board project on Instructables. The heart of the project is the Arduino with the Atmega328 interfaced with a Sparkfun Series I Xbee module, serial EEPROM and LDR. The display is an a LCD-compatible Noritake CU2009ECPB-W1J VFD character display compatible with the LiquidCrystal library. The purpose of this project […]
Intra-car wireless sensor networks
Wireless sensor networks are used in increasing numbers and levels of complexity in today’s automobiles. Here’s a lengthy, detailed analysis published by CMU, Pittsburgh, PA detailing their use and interaction in contemporary applications.
Shmoocon 2011: Exploring ZigBee Security
At the Shmoocon 2011 conference which recently concluded in Washington, DC, Ryan Speers and Ricky Melgares presented ZigBee Security: Find, Fix, Finish. ZigBee is a low-power, low-data rate wireless protocol based on IEEE 802.15.4. It connects lightweight embedded technology like HVAC, smart energy, security, and process automation systems, and is an attractive target as it […]
Packet radio and the Arduino Radio Shield
Packet radio is a means of sending data wirelessly over radio channels, and is often used by Amateur Radio Operators. (One form is APRS, described in our earlier post.) In the video following the break you get some idea of how packet radio communications are conducted. The video uses a piece of hardware known as […]
Implantable RFID temperature sensors
Implantable RFID chips have been around for years. Since at least 2004 these devices have been capable of including GPS data, and manufacturers have been researching other measurement capabilities. Implantable health sensors may soon be a real option with the launch by PositiveID of its ‘Wireless Body Platform’. Initially the health sensor system was designed […]