February 2012
9 posts
Initial review: Hakko FX-888 Soldering Station
Introduction During many years of orbiting around the world of electronics and related fields, soldering was not really one of my strong points. After moving more seriously into this field it occurred to me that my choice of soldering weapons played a part in the end results. So a few days ago I pulled the trigger and ordered my first “real” station – the Hakko FX-888. Opening… After waving...
Project: Clock Two – Single digit clock
Introduction Time for another instalment in my irregular series of clock projects. (Or should that be “Time for another instalment in the series of irregular clock projects”?) In contrast with the extreme “blinkiness” of Clock One, in this article we describe how to build this single-digit digital clock: Once again the electronics of the clock will be based from an Arduino-compatible board...
Is this the world’s smallest Arduino-compatible...
Introducing the Freetronics LeoStick – one very small Arduino Leonardo-compatible board, in the format of a typical USB memory stick – the board for integration into smaller projects, on-the-go fun when travelling, or minimalism-enthusiasts: Whether or not the LeoStick is the world’s smallest Arduino-compatible board – it’s pretty darn tiny – for example: Note that the length includes the...
Experimenting with Surface-Mount Component...
Now and again I have looked at SMT (surface-mount technology) components and thought to myself “I should try that one day”. But not wanting to fork out for a toaster oven and a bunch of special tools I did it on the cheap – so in this article you can follow along and see the results. Recently I ordered some ElecFreaks SOIC Arduino Mega-style protoshields which apart from being a normal...
February 2012 Competition
It’s that time of the month again so we are running another competition. This month we have two prizes. Let’s check those out then follow up with the rules of entry. Prize One is a brand new Freetronics EtherMega board – the mother of all Arduino-compatible boards. As reviewed recently, the EtherMegacombines the power and versatility of the Arduino Mega2560, a microSD card shield, a full Ethernet...
Review - Freetronics EtherMega
In this review we take a look at what is possibly the most fully-featured Arduino compatible board on the market today - the Freetronics EtherMega. This board combines the functionality of an Arduino Mega2560, a microSD card shield, and an Ethernet shield that supports power over Ethernet with optional 802.3af standard. So instead of having these three mashed together at a great expense: ...
Review - Freetronics EtherMega
In this review we take a look at what is possibly the most fully-featured Arduino compatible board on the market today - the Freetronics EtherMega. This board combines the functionality of an Arduino Mega2560, a microSD card shield, and an Ethernet shield that supports power over Ethernet with optional 802.3af standard. So instead of having these three mashed together at a great expense: ...
Results – January 2012 Competition
Hello Readers The January 2012 competition has now closed. For the curious, the questions and answers were: Q – What does the acronym PWM mean? A – Pulse-width modulation Q – How many LEDs are contained in the Freetronics DMD? A – 512 Q – How many digital I/O pins on an Arduino Mega2560? A – 54 Q – What type of processor core does the PIC32 (from the Uno32 review) use? A – MIPS (or to be more...
January 2012
8 posts
Project: Clock One
Introduction For some strange reason I have a fascination with various types of electronic clocks (which explains this article). Therefore this project will be the start of an irregular series of clock projects whose goal will be easy to follow and produce interesting results. Our “Clock One” will use a Freetronics Dot Matrix Display board as reviewed previously. Here is an example of an...
Review – Freetronics Module Family
Welcome readers In this article we examine a new range of eleven electronic modules from Freetronics. When experimenting with electronics or working on a prototype of a design, the use of electronic components in module form can make construction easier, and also reduce the time between thoughts and actually making something So let’s have a look at each module in more detail… PoE Power...
Review – Digilent chipKIT Uno32
In this review we consider a Digilent chipKIT Uno32 development board made available by element-14. Introduction This is a development board that is based on the Arduino Uno, however uses a Microchip PIC32MX320F128 microcontroller instead of the Atmel ATmega328 we are used to: Digilent’s decision to use the PIC32 introduces some interesting changes to the Uno format, and the largest change to...
Arduino meets Las Vegas with the Freetronics DMD
Hello Readers Time once more to have some fun, and this time by examining the new Freetronics DMD “Dot Matrix Display”. We will look at the setup and operation of the display. In a nutshell the DMD comprises of a board measuring approximately 320mm across by 160mm which contains 16 rows of 32 high-intensity red LEDs. For example, in the off state: Connection of the DMD to your...
Review: Mayhew Labs “Go Between” Arduino Shield
Hello readers In this article we examine one of those products that are really simple yet can solve some really annoying problems. It is the “Go Between” Arduino shield from Mayhew Labs. What does the GBS do? You use it to solve a common problem that some prolific Arduino users can often face – how do I use two shields that require the same pins? Using a clever matrix of solder pads, you can...
Review: Mayhew Labs "Go Between" Arduino Shield
Hello readers In this article we examine one of those products that are really simple yet can solve some really annoying problems. It is the “Go Between” Arduino shield from Mayhew Labs. What does the GBS do? You use it to solve a common problem that some prolific Arduino users can often face - how do I use two shields that require the same pins? Using a clever matrix of solder pads,...
Review: Mayhew Labs "Go Between" Arduino Shield
Hello readers In this article we examine one of those products that are really simple yet can solve some really annoying problems. It is the “Go Between” Arduino shield from Mayhew Labs. What does the GBS do? You use it to solve a common problem that some prolific Arduino users can often face - how do I use two shields that require the same pins? Using a clever matrix of solder pads,...
Initial Review: Akafuino-X Microcontroller Board
Hello Readers Time to get back to work for 2012 and in doing so we review another interesting product from a new company based in Japan – akafugu. From their website: Akafugu Corporation is a small electronics company that operates out of Tokyo, Japan. We specialize in fun and easy to use electronic gadgets. Our goal is to provide products that not only make prototyping faster and easier, but...
December 2011 Competition Results
Hello readers Well December has well and truly passed on so it is time to announce the winners of our December 2011 competition. The lucky winner of the first prize, which consists of the eleven modules from the new Freetronics Module/Sensor range, as reviewed recently: Is Stephanie F. from Melbourne, Australia. I hope you enjoy working with the new modules. And the lucky winner of the second...
December 2011
11 posts
Welcome to “Silicon Chip” Magazine readers
Hello readers Published in the January 2012 issue of “Silicon Chip” magazine is an eight page feature article by Jonathan Oxer introducing the Arduino system and how the hardware and software work together to allow anyone to turn their technological ideas into reality. If you have read Jon’s article and were directed here – thanks for visiting! We have much more content than just Arduino...
Clock Kit Round-up – December 2011
Hello Readers If there’s one thing that I really like it’s a good clock kit. Once constructed, they can be many things, including: a point of differentiation from other items in the room; a reminder of the past (nixie tubes!) or possible visions of the future; the base of something to really annoy other people; a constant reminder to get back to work; a source of satisfaction from having...
Review – nootropic design defusable clock kit
Hello Readers In this review we examine an interesting, fun and possibly a prankster’s delight – the “Defusable Clock Kit” from nootropic design. The purpose of this kit is to construct a clock that counts down in a similar method to “movie-style” bombs, and it has terminals to connect four wires to the board. When the countdown timer is beeping away, you need to choose which wire to cut...
Review – nootropic design defusable clock kit
Hello Readers In this review we examine an interesting, fun and possibly a prankster’s delight – the “Defusable Clock Kit” fromnootropic design. The purpose of this kit is to construct a clock that counts down in a similar method to “movie-style” bombs, and it has terminals to connect four wires to the board. When the countdown timer is beeping away, you need to choose which wire to cut otherwise...
Project – Ultrasonic Combination Switch
Hello Readers Time for a follow-up to the Single Button Combination Lock by creating another oddball type of switch/lock. To activate this switch we make use of a Parallax Ping))) Ultrasonic sensor, an Arduino-style board and some other hardware – to make a device that receives a four-number code which is made up of the distance between a hand and the sensor. If Arduino and ultrasonic sensors are...
Review – Akafugu TWI 7-Segment Display
Hello Readers Today we review a product from a new company based in Japan – akafugu. From their website: Akafugu Corporation is a small electronics company that operates out of Tokyo, Japan. We specialize in fun and easy to use electronic gadgets. Our goal is to provide products that not only make prototyping faster and easier, but are also perfect for incorporation in finalized products. ...
Project – Ultrasonic Combination Switch
Hello Readers Time for a follow-up to the Single Button Combination Lock by creating another oddball type of switch/lock. To activate this switch we make use of a Parallax Ping))) Ultrasonic sensor, an Arduino-style board and some other hardware – to make a device that receives a four-number code which is made up of the distance between a hand and the sensor. If Arduino and ultrasonic sensors are...
Initial Review – Arduino v1.0 IDE
Hello Readers Recently the Arduino team have released version 1.0 of the IDE (integrated development environment) that we all know and love. This is a significant milestone as the IDE has previously been in alpha release since 2005. For the platform to have survived and thrived this long is a credit to the community and especially to the Arduino team themselves. Arduino? Not sure where to start?...
Initial Review – Arduino v1.0 IDE
Hello Readers Recently the Arduino team have released version 1.0 of the IDE (integrated development environment) that we all know and love. This is a significant milestone as the IDE has previously been in alpha release since 2005. For the platform to have survived and thrived this long is a credit to the community and especially to the Arduino team themselves. So moving forward, let’s have a...
December 2011 Competition
Hello Readers It’s that time of the year again so we are running another competition. First let’s look at the prizes, then review the rules of entry. — *** Prize One *** — Prize One consists of the eleven modules from the new Freetronics Module/Sensor range, as reviewed recently: With this range of modules you will be able to sense temperature, humidity, magnetic fields, light and sound...
Review – Freetronics Module Family
Hello In this article we examine a new range of eleven electronic modules from Freetronics. When experimenting with electronics or working on a prototype of a design, the use of electronic components in module form can make construction easier, and also reduce the time between thoughts and actually making something So let’s have a look at each module in more detail… PoE Power Regulator – 28V ...
November 2011
8 posts
Tutorial – Parallax Ping))) Ultrasonic Sensor
Welcome back Whilst being a passenger in a vehicle with a ‘reversing sensors’, I became somewhat curious as to how the sensors operated and how we can make use of them. So for this chapter we will investigate an ultrasonic sensor from Parallax called the Ping)))™ Ultrasonic Distance Sensor. It can measure distances between ~2cm and ~3m in length. Here is our example sensor: (Memories of...
Tutorial – Parallax Ping))) Ultrasonic Sensor
This is chapter forty-five (!) of a series originally titled “Getting Started/Moving Forward with Arduino!” by John Boxall – a series of articles on the Arduino universe. The first chapter is here, the complete series is detailed here. Welcome back Whilst being a passenger in a vehicle with a ‘reversing sensors’, I became somewhat curious as to how the sensors operated and how we can make use of...
Using an ATtiny as an Arduino
Welcome back In the last few weeks an article about how to use either an Atmel ATtiny45 or ATtiny85 microcontroller with Arduino software took my interest. The team at the High-Low Tech Group at MIT had published the information and examples on how to do this, and it looked like fun – so the purpose of this article is to document my experience with the ATtiny and Arduino. All credit goes to the...
Using an ATtiny as an Arduino
Welcome back In the last few weeks an article about how to use either an Atmel ATtiny45 or ATtiny85 microcontroller with Arduino software took my interest. The team at the High-Low Tech Group at MIT had published the information and examples on how to do this, and it looked like fun – so the purpose of this article is to document my experience with the ATtiny and Arduino. All credit goes to the...
Tutorial: Arduino and Numeric Keypads – Part Two
Welcome back fellow arduidans! This is the second part of our numeric keypad tutorial – in which we use the larger keypads with four rows of four buttons. For example: Again, the keypad looks like a refugee from the 1980s – however it serves a purpose. Notice that there are eight connections at the bottom instead of seven – the extra connection is for the extra column of buttons – A~D. You can...
Tutorial: Arduino and Numeric Keypads – Part Two
This is an addendum to chapter forty-two of a series originally titled “Getting Started/Moving Forward with Arduino!” by John Boxall – a series of articles on the Arduino universe. The first chapter is here, the complete series is detailed here. Any files from tutorials will be found here. Welcome back fellow arduidans! This is the second part of our numeric keypad tutorial – in which we use the...
October 2011 Competition Results
Hello readers October has now passed by (too quickly!) and it is time to announce the winners of the October competition. Congratulations to all those who entered – there was some great examples of creativity and enthusiasm. Although less people entered this month, the standard of entries was very high – which made judging very difficult. However with some deliberation we narrowed it down to...
Review – Agilent Infiniivision MSO-X 3024A Mixed...
Hello Readers In this article we examine the Agilent Technologies Infiniivision MSO-X 3024A Mixed Signal Oscilloscope. Before moving forward please note that this review is a work in progress, as it takes time and regular use to become proficient with the instrument. In the meanwhile if you have any questions or requests please leave them in the comments section below and I will do my best to...
October 2011
8 posts
Tutorial: Arduino Port Manipulation
Welcome back! In this article we are going to revisit the I/O pins, and use what is called “Port Manipulation” to control them in a much faster manner than using digitalWrite(). Why? Speed! Using this method allows for much faster I/O control, and we can control or read groups of I/O pins simultaneously, not one at a time; Memory! Using this method reduces the amount of memory your sketch...
Tutorial: Arduino Port Manipulation
This is chapter forty-three of a series originally titled “Getting Started/Moving Forward with Arduino!” by John Boxall – a series of articles on the Arduino universe. The first chapter is here, the complete series is detailed here. Any files from tutorials will be found here. Welcome back fellow arduidans! In this article we are going to revisit the I/O pins, and use what is called “Port...
October 2011 Competition
Hello Readers! As we say at tronixstuff… another month – another competition! This month we have three great prize bundles to give away from our friends atFreetronics in Australia and Snootlab in France. First let’s examine the prizes on offer, then review how to enter and the rules… — *** Prize One *** — Prize One consists of a Freetronics USBDroid and one Terminal Shield: Designed in...
Review – Tenma 72-7222 Digital Clamp Multimeter
Hello readers The purpose of this article is to examine the Tenma 72-7222 Digital Clamp Multimeter supplied for review by element-14/Farnell/Newark. The Tenma is a strongly featured yet inexpensive piece of test equipment – and considerably good value when you consider there is a current clamp for measuring high AC currents. So let’s have a look and see what we have. Initial Impression The...
Repurposing Cat5E Network Cable
Hello readers Just some random notes from my Saturday afternoon. While cleaning up the garage I found a rather long network cable hiding from a long-forgotten project in the past: However after trying to use it between my EtherTen and the router, the cable turned out to have a break in it somewhere. So what to do? Twentieth-century me would have just thrown it out, but that would be...
Kit Review – Snootlab DeuLigne LCD Arduino Shield
Hello everyone Another month and time for another kit review Once again we have another kit from the team at Snootlab in France – their DeuLigne LCD Arduino shield. Apart from having a two row, sixteen character backlit LCD there is also a five-way joystick (up, down, left, right and enter) which is useful for data entry and so on. This LCD shield is different to any others I have seen on...
September 2011 Competition Results
Hello readers September has now passed by and it is time to announce the winners of the September competition. Congratulations to all those who entered – there was some great examples of creativity and enthusiasm. We narrowed it down to six entries, and then randomly selected two winners – so here they are: First Prize Jeremías from Buenos Aires, Argentina submitted: Receiving Zigduinos, I...
Tutorial: Arduino and Numeric Keypads
This is chapter forty-two of a series originally titled “Getting Started/Moving Forward with Arduino!” by John Boxall – a series of articles on the Arduino universe. The first chapter is here, the complete series is detailed here. Any files from tutorials will be found here. Welcome back fellow arduidans! This will be the first of two chapters that will examine another useful form of input –...
September 2011
5 posts
September 2011 Competition
Hello readers! Another month – another competition! This month the method of entry will be slightly different. First of all, let’s have a look at the prizes: *** First prize is TWO demonstration Zigduinos – courtesy of Logos Electromechanical *** What’s a Zigduino? It is an Arduino-compatible microcontroller platform that integrates an 802.15.4 radio on the board. The radio can be configured...
Kit Review – the LoL Shield
Hello readers Another month, so time for another kit review. In this article we exame the LoL Shield by Jimmie Rodgers. So what’s all this about? Simple – the Lol Shield is a shield with nine rows of fourteen 3mm diameter LEDs, available in red or green. The shield has many uses, from being another form of hypnotising blinking LEDs, to displaying messages, artwork, data in visual form, or...
Kit Review – the LoL Shield
Hello readers Another month, so time for another kit review. In this article we exame the LoL Shield by Jimmie P. Rodgers. So what’s all this about? Simple – the Lol Shield is a shield with nine rows of fourteen 3mm diameter LEDs, available in red or green. The shield has many uses, from being another form of hypnotising blinking LEDs, to displaying messages, artwork, data in visual form, or...
August 2011 Competition Results
Hello Readers The month of August is now over and hence another competition. There were six questions hidden among the August articles, and for the curious the questions and answers were: In which country is the Gravitech Nano MP3 board assembled? – United States; If you had six pushwheel switches, how many numbers greater than zero can be displayed? – 999999; Which SMD package type is the...
Product Announcement: The Zigduino
Hello readers Recently the people at Logos Electromechanical have announced their new product – the Zigduino. The Zigduino is an Arduino-compatible microcontroller platform that integrates an802.15.4 radio on the board. The radio can be configured to support any 802.15.4-based protocol, including ZigBee, Route Under MAC/6LoWPAN, and RF4CE. It uses a reverse polarity SMA connector (RP-SMA) for...
August 2011
13 posts
Tutorial: Arduino and multiple push-wheel switches
Welcome back fellow arduidans! This article continues with the push-wheel switch introduced recently. In the previous article, we learned how to read the value of a single digit using the digital pins of our Arduino. With this instalment we will examine how to read four digits – and not waste all those digital pins in the process. Instead, we will use the Microchip MCP23017 16-bit port...