Unbrick the Bullet2 with the Bus Pirate update

Unbrick the Bullet2 outdoor radio network node with the Bus Pirate:

I had the Bullet2 archived and i decided to update the firmware but i bricked it.

The bootloader did not work from the lan so I proceeded to open the Bullet2 and connect it to an interface Bus-Pirate , which is capable of emulating various protocols including the very old UART at 3.3V which is a transmission standar that uses 4 pin port and is locate onto the PCB Bullet2.

Via the contact form.

Get your own handy Bus Pirate for $30, including world-wide shipping. Also available from our friendly distributors.

Part Ninja v1 free PCB build

Ginpb built a free Part Ninja v1 PCB. After some initial issues with crystal load capacitors he was able to get his board to run.

The Part Ninja is a electronic component testing tool. It identifies electronic components like transistors and FETs, determines the pinout, and measures basic specifications. Several SMD footprints are included so surface mount parts can be tested too.

If you build a free PCB we’ll send you another one! Blog about it, post a picture on Flicker, whatever – we’ll send you a coupon code for the free PCB drawer.

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 get a coupon code for the free PCB drawer tomorrow morning. Pick your own PCB.

You get unlimited free PCBs now – finish one and we’ll send you another!

Don’t forget there’s free PCBs three times every week:

  • Tweet-a-PCB Tuesday. Follow us and get boards in 144 characters or less
  • Facebook PCB Friday. Free PCBs while you wait for the weekend
  • Free PCB Sunday, right here on the blog

Continue reading “Free PCB Sunday: Pick your PCB”

App note: Selecting and testing 32kHz crystal oscillators

Atmel describes how to select and test 32.768 kHz quartz crystals [PDF!] for real-time clocks. The basic tips on layout apply to any microcontroller project, not just those with AVRs.

This application note summarizes the crystal basics, PCB layout considerations, and how to test a crystal in your application. A crystal selection guide shows recommended crystals tested by experts and found suitable for various oscillator modules in different Atmel AVR families. Test firmware and test reports from various crystal vendors are included.

IETF 83


The Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) is currently meeting in Paris, France, throuch March 30, 2012. “The mission of the IETF is to make the Internet work better by producing high quality, relevant technical documents that influence the way people design, use, and manage the Internet.”

The IETF Meeting known as IETF 83 has their agenda online. The sessions are also setup for remote participation.

We like the motto on their t-shirts (which are already sold out, we’re told): “We reject kings, presidents and voting. We believe in rough consensus and running code.” What else needs to be said?

App note: Find the right battery for your project

Maxim describes how to select the batteries best suited to a specific project.

The main performance metric for batteries is, of course, battery life. On the surface, this is a simple spec, but in truth it has many dimensions. These include the system’s load profile (how much of the time it spends using full load current, a fraction of it, or just microamps); power-supply efficiency; system power management; battery type; and charging methods.

Image by Thomas Wydra: CC BY-SA

Arduino voice control with EasyVR shield


If you want to add voice recognition to your next Arduino project, you might want to consider the EasyVR Shield by VeeaR. It’s based on the EasyVR module, and combined with supporting libraries provides up to 32 user-defined Speaker Dependent triggers (in any language) or commands and voice passwords. The shield makes available three controllable GPIO lines and provides PWM audio output that supports 8 ohm speakers.

Visit the manufacturer’s product page for more documentation and downloads.

The EasyVR shield retails for about $50 USD at SparkFun and other distributors.

App note: Frequently asked questions about chip capacitor cracking

TDK Components describes how to handle chip capacitors to avoid cracking. Multilayer ceramic capacitors are very brittle components, and can be damaged if proper care isn’t taken.

Multilayer ceramic capacitors should be handled very carefully during mounting, soldering, and handling. Any damage incurred during these processes, no matter how small, can contribute to premature component failure. Handling a PCB with soldered components should be done with care to avoid any bending of the board. If steps outlined in this paper are followed, MLCC cracking can be avoided successfully.

Soldering Iron Driver v1.5 Mouser order

S7726 shared his Mouser part order for the Soldering Iron Driver v1.5. This board is still under development so we haven’t yet decided on all the parts we will use. One thing to note is to follow the partlist on the project page, as the schematic has some errors in component values that will be corrected shortly.

I ended up looking on mouser. I went with 1% for a lot of the resistors because they were cheap anyway. For the Headers I just tacked on a strip of 36 SIL for each line item (You can never have too many). I plan to use 2xSIL out of the extras for the DIL. This might be something to change for throwing it out to the masses.

MSP430: using ACLK and the 32kHz crystal


NJC was designing a home automation system, to control lights at preset intervals. He wanted to use the MSP430 Launchpad but found the high frequency clock source of the valueline MCU to be insufficiently accurate. He wrote this post on the MSP430 Launchpad Blog detailing how to install the 32.768kHz crystal and run an ACLK test to determine the accuracy of your time base. Code for the test is included highlighting the importance of including adjustments therein depending upon the value of the loading capacitors associated with the crystal.

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. More PCBs via Twitter on Tuesday and the blog every Sunday.

Don’t forget there’s free PCBs three times a every week:

Continue reading “Free PCB coupon via Facebook to 2 random commenters”

Bus Blaster v3 free PCB build

Erdabyz  built a free Bus Blaster v3 PCB, a high-speed JTAG debugger for ARM processors, FPGAs, CPLDs, flash, and more. v3 is a small update to v2/v2.5 with symmetrical connector placement to make it fit a case.

If you build a free PCB we’ll send you another one! Blog about it, post a picture on Flicker, whatever – we’ll send you a coupon code for the free PCB drawer.

You can get a Bus Blaster v2 for $34.95.

Week in (p)review: March 23, 2012

Here’s a summary of major developments over the last week. Free PCB Friday is coming up soon:

Coming up:

  • Free PCBs via Facebook on Friday
  • App notes on the weekend
  • Free PCB Sunday
  • New 3D model on Monday
  • Free PCBs via Twitter on Tuesday
  • Weekly roundup and preview every Friday

What are you hacking this week?

Updated Bus Pirate v3.5a DIY edition partlist

Bob shared a new Mouser shopping cart for the Bus Pirate v3.5 DIY edition. The Bus Pirate is an open source hacker multi-tool that talks to electronic stuff.

Get the Bus Pirate DIY edition PCB from the PCB drawer for $3.95. Get an assembled Bus Pirate for $30, including world-wide shipping. Also available from our friendly distributors.

Via the comments.

Digitaly enhanced vintage music box

A digitally-enhanced vintage music box:

“Digital Enhancement” is an interactive sound installation consisting of an electrified Symphonion Brevet No. 28, a synthesizer, an amplifier and four headphones. The Symphonion musical box dates back to the beginning of the last century and its mechanical workings are combined with digital technology to convert it into a MIDI sequencer. The original music, embossed on steel plates, can be played on the synthesizer, which is programmed to mimic the sounds of the Symphonion. In order to operate the sequencer, a hand-cranked dynamo serves as a remote control.

Via Hacked-Gadgets.

Make a supercapacitor with a DVD writer

Professor Kaner from UCLA demonstrates how to build a high-performance graphene-based supercapacitor with a DVD writer [PDF!]. The process uses a DVD writer to burn a pattern onto a plastic film coated with graphene. The resulting supercapacitor is flexible, and capable of storing enough energy to drive an LED for a few minutes.

There has been a video going around from researchers at UCLA about building super capacitors using a Lightscribe DVD writer and graphite oxide (GO), which I think looks really amazing and am interested in reproducing. I figured others might be as well so here is what I know so far.

Nabit started reverse engineering the process and left his research in the forum. Anyone interested in a home brew a supercapacitor?

MAKE How-To: Get Started with the BeagleBone


Matt Richardson from MAKE provides this introduction to the BeagleBone dev board. BeagleBone is an TI AM3358 ARM Cortex-A8-based microprocessor board that ships with a 2GB microSD card with the Angstrom Linux Distribution with node.js and Cloud9 IDE. It retails for $89 from MAKE and Adafruit.

Continue reading “MAKE How-To: Get Started with the BeagleBone”

Bus Pirate 802.15.4 ZigBee sniffer tools

Bruno hacked his Bus Pirate to be a ZigBee sniffer. He built a small protoboard adapter that connects the Microchip MRF24J40 module to the Bus Pirate IO header. He also wrote custom firmware that captures IEEE 802.15.4 traffic, and passes it on to a custom client app over USB. Check out his wiki page for further information and source code.

For those who want to connect a MRF24J40MA transceiver module to their Bus Pirate, I have put pictures of the small proto board adapter I use on the wiki page.

Thanks Bruno! Via the comments.

Get your own handy Bus Pirate for $30, including world-wide shipping. Also available from our friendly distributors.

WORKSHOP VIDEO #12: New Dangerous Prototypes workshop

Take a tour of our the new workshop that’s setup to document projects and make build videos.

Don’t miss last week’s Global Geek Tour to the electronics markets of Seoul.

We’ll be back next week with a PIC 18F2550 USB breadboard helper build video.

Check out our collection of workshop videos.

Bus Pirate v3.5a-SOIC DIY build

Tofutie posted his Bus Pirate v3.5a SOIC PCB build. These boards were designed with the larger SOIC PIC microcontrollers, making them easier to solder for beginners. You can get your own DIY Edition Bus Pirate in the free PCB drawer for $3.95.

Get an assembled Bus Pirate for $30, including world-wide shipping. Also available from our friendly distributors.

Via the forum.