The Death of a Weather Satellite as Seen by SDR
https://hackaday.com/2019/08/12/the-death-of-a-weather-satellite-as-seen-by-sdr/
What is this world coming to when a weather satellite that was designed for a two-year mission starts to fail 21 years after launch? I mean, really — where’s the pride these days?
All kidding aside, it seems like NOAA-15, a satellite launched in 1998 to monitor surface temperatures and …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/08/12/the-death-of-a-weather-satellite-as-seen-by-sdr/)
https://hackaday.com/2019/08/12/the-death-of-a-weather-satellite-as-seen-by-sdr/
What is this world coming to when a weather satellite that was designed for a two-year mission starts to fail 21 years after launch? I mean, really — where’s the pride these days?
All kidding aside, it seems like NOAA-15, a satellite launched in 1998 to monitor surface temperatures and …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/08/12/the-death-of-a-weather-satellite-as-seen-by-sdr/)
PaperLedger: An e-Ink Cryptocurrency Ticker
https://hackaday.com/2019/08/12/paperledger-an-e-ink-cryptocurrency-ticker/
For a long time it seemed like e-ink displays were outside the reach of us lowly hackers, as beyond the handful of repurposed Kindles that graced these pages, we saw precious few projects utilizing this relatively exotic display. But that’s changed over the last couple of years, and we’re thrilled …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/08/12/paperledger-an-e-ink-cryptocurrency-ticker/)
https://hackaday.com/2019/08/12/paperledger-an-e-ink-cryptocurrency-ticker/
For a long time it seemed like e-ink displays were outside the reach of us lowly hackers, as beyond the handful of repurposed Kindles that graced these pages, we saw precious few projects utilizing this relatively exotic display. But that’s changed over the last couple of years, and we’re thrilled …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/08/12/paperledger-an-e-ink-cryptocurrency-ticker/)
That E-Cig Battery Probably Fits Into Sunglasses
https://hackaday.com/2019/08/12/that-e-cig-battery-probably-fits-into-sunglasses/
E-cigarettes use electrical power to rapidly heat and vaporize a base liquid such as propylene glycol, and that power comes from a battery. These devices are functionally straightforward but it can be a messy process on the inside. Thankfully though the batteries can be salvaged once components like heating elements …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/08/12/that-e-cig-battery-probably-fits-into-sunglasses/)
https://hackaday.com/2019/08/12/that-e-cig-battery-probably-fits-into-sunglasses/
E-cigarettes use electrical power to rapidly heat and vaporize a base liquid such as propylene glycol, and that power comes from a battery. These devices are functionally straightforward but it can be a messy process on the inside. Thankfully though the batteries can be salvaged once components like heating elements …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/08/12/that-e-cig-battery-probably-fits-into-sunglasses/)
EL Wire Makes For A Great Faux-Neon Sign
https://hackaday.com/2019/08/12/el-wire-makes-for-a-great-faux-neon-sign/
Neon signs are attractive, but require specialised tools and skills for their manufacture. If you don’t have time to learn glass blowing and source the right gasses, you’re pretty much out of luck. However, EL wire can give a similar aesthetic, and with an off-the-shelf power supply it is easy …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/08/12/el-wire-makes-for-a-great-faux-neon-sign/)
https://hackaday.com/2019/08/12/el-wire-makes-for-a-great-faux-neon-sign/
Neon signs are attractive, but require specialised tools and skills for their manufacture. If you don’t have time to learn glass blowing and source the right gasses, you’re pretty much out of luck. However, EL wire can give a similar aesthetic, and with an off-the-shelf power supply it is easy …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/08/12/el-wire-makes-for-a-great-faux-neon-sign/)
KVM Foot Switch In A Few Steps
https://hackaday.com/2019/08/12/kvm-foot-switch-in-a-few-steps/
[Radishmouse], despite the handle, is not a mouse guy. Give him a keyboard and he will get around just fine in any OS or program. As it is, he’s got a handful of ThinkPads, each running a different OS. He wanted to be able to switch his nice mechanical keyboard …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/08/12/kvm-foot-switch-in-a-few-steps/)
https://hackaday.com/2019/08/12/kvm-foot-switch-in-a-few-steps/
[Radishmouse], despite the handle, is not a mouse guy. Give him a keyboard and he will get around just fine in any OS or program. As it is, he’s got a handful of ThinkPads, each running a different OS. He wanted to be able to switch his nice mechanical keyboard …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/08/12/kvm-foot-switch-in-a-few-steps/)
Giving The Amstrad CPC A Voice And A Drum Kit
https://hackaday.com/2019/08/12/giving-the-amstrad-cpc-a-voice-and-a-drum-kit/
Back in the ’80s, home computers weren’t capable of much in terms of audio or multimedia as a whole. Arguably, it wasn’t until the advent of 16-bit computers such as the Amiga that musicians could make soundtrack-quality music without having to plug actual studio gear up to their machines. [Michael …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/08/12/giving-the-amstrad-cpc-a-voice-and-a-drum-kit/)
https://hackaday.com/2019/08/12/giving-the-amstrad-cpc-a-voice-and-a-drum-kit/
Back in the ’80s, home computers weren’t capable of much in terms of audio or multimedia as a whole. Arguably, it wasn’t until the advent of 16-bit computers such as the Amiga that musicians could make soundtrack-quality music without having to plug actual studio gear up to their machines. [Michael …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/08/12/giving-the-amstrad-cpc-a-voice-and-a-drum-kit/)
Shop-Made Tools Turn Cheap Steel into Telescoping Tubes
https://hackaday.com/2019/08/13/shop-made-tools-turn-cheap-steel-into-telescoping-tubes/
Beginning metalworkers are often surprised at just how cheap steel can be. It’s a commodity made by the gigaton, and there are always plenty of extra pieces and scraps left over from big projects that are available for pennies a pound. But what you’ve got is often not what you …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/08/13/shop-made-tools-turn-cheap-steel-into-telescoping-tubes/)
https://hackaday.com/2019/08/13/shop-made-tools-turn-cheap-steel-into-telescoping-tubes/
Beginning metalworkers are often surprised at just how cheap steel can be. It’s a commodity made by the gigaton, and there are always plenty of extra pieces and scraps left over from big projects that are available for pennies a pound. But what you’ve got is often not what you …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/08/13/shop-made-tools-turn-cheap-steel-into-telescoping-tubes/)
Spin Me Right Round, Baby: Generator Building Experiments for Mere Mortals
https://hackaday.com/2019/08/13/spin-me-right-round-baby-generator-building-experiments-for-mere-mortals/
How many of you plan to build a wind-powered generator in the next year? Okay, both of you can put your hands down. Even if you don’t want to wind your coils manually, learning about the principles in an electric generator might spark your interest. There is a lot of …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/08/13/spin-me-right-round-baby-generator-building-experiments-for-mere-mortals/)
https://hackaday.com/2019/08/13/spin-me-right-round-baby-generator-building-experiments-for-mere-mortals/
How many of you plan to build a wind-powered generator in the next year? Okay, both of you can put your hands down. Even if you don’t want to wind your coils manually, learning about the principles in an electric generator might spark your interest. There is a lot of …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/08/13/spin-me-right-round-baby-generator-building-experiments-for-mere-mortals/)
Automate the Freight: Platooning
https://hackaday.com/2019/08/13/automate-the-freight-platooning/
On yet another one of those long, pointless road trips that seemed to punctuate my life starting when I got my license, I was plying the roads somewhere in eastern Pennsylvania with a friend. He told me that on long trips he’d often relieve the boredom by finding another car …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/08/13/automate-the-freight-platooning/)
https://hackaday.com/2019/08/13/automate-the-freight-platooning/
On yet another one of those long, pointless road trips that seemed to punctuate my life starting when I got my license, I was plying the roads somewhere in eastern Pennsylvania with a friend. He told me that on long trips he’d often relieve the boredom by finding another car …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/08/13/automate-the-freight-platooning/)
Electric Dump Truck Tricycle is No Toy
https://hackaday.com/2019/08/13/electric-dump-truck-tricycle-is-no-toy/
There are some utility bicycles on the market, some with electric motors to help carry a good bit of cargo. If you really need to haul more weight than a typical grocery-getter like this, you’ll want to look into a tricycle for higher capacity loads. Nothing you’ll find will match …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/08/13/electric-dump-truck-tricycle-is-no-toy/)
https://hackaday.com/2019/08/13/electric-dump-truck-tricycle-is-no-toy/
There are some utility bicycles on the market, some with electric motors to help carry a good bit of cargo. If you really need to haul more weight than a typical grocery-getter like this, you’ll want to look into a tricycle for higher capacity loads. Nothing you’ll find will match …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/08/13/electric-dump-truck-tricycle-is-no-toy/)
Retrotechtacular: Predictions that Just Missed It
https://hackaday.com/2019/08/13/retrotechtacular-predictions-that-just-missed-it/
Few occupations are more fraught with peril than predicting the future. If you are a science fiction author, it might not matter, but if you are trying to design the next game-changing piece of hardware, the stakes are higher.
It seems like, for the most part, even if you manage …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/08/13/retrotechtacular-predictions-that-just-missed-it/)
https://hackaday.com/2019/08/13/retrotechtacular-predictions-that-just-missed-it/
Few occupations are more fraught with peril than predicting the future. If you are a science fiction author, it might not matter, but if you are trying to design the next game-changing piece of hardware, the stakes are higher.
It seems like, for the most part, even if you manage …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/08/13/retrotechtacular-predictions-that-just-missed-it/)
Bolt-On Stepper Motor Driver For The Raspberry Pi
https://hackaday.com/2019/08/13/bolt-on-stepper-motor-driver-for-the-raspberry-pi/
For his entry into the 2019 Hackaday Prize, [Tobius Daichi] is working on adding some motion control capabilities to everyone’s favorite Linux SBC. His 3+Pi board attaches to the Raspberry Pi’s GPIO header and gives you a convenient way to control four individual stepper motors. Perfect for a 3D printer, …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/08/13/bolt-on-stepper-motor-driver-for-the-raspberry-pi/)
https://hackaday.com/2019/08/13/bolt-on-stepper-motor-driver-for-the-raspberry-pi/
For his entry into the 2019 Hackaday Prize, [Tobius Daichi] is working on adding some motion control capabilities to everyone’s favorite Linux SBC. His 3+Pi board attaches to the Raspberry Pi’s GPIO header and gives you a convenient way to control four individual stepper motors. Perfect for a 3D printer, …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/08/13/bolt-on-stepper-motor-driver-for-the-raspberry-pi/)
Mix And Match Parts To Build A Better Mountain Bike Derailleur
https://hackaday.com/2019/08/13/mix-and-match-parts-to-build-a-better-mountain-bike-derailleur/
Mountain bikers take their sport seriously, and put their bikes through all manner of punishment in the course of a ride. This has given rise to a wide range of specialist equipment, such as suspension, disc brakes and even clutch derailleurs, which help reduce chain slap when riding over rough …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/08/13/mix-and-match-parts-to-build-a-better-mountain-bike-derailleur/)
https://hackaday.com/2019/08/13/mix-and-match-parts-to-build-a-better-mountain-bike-derailleur/
Mountain bikers take their sport seriously, and put their bikes through all manner of punishment in the course of a ride. This has given rise to a wide range of specialist equipment, such as suspension, disc brakes and even clutch derailleurs, which help reduce chain slap when riding over rough …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/08/13/mix-and-match-parts-to-build-a-better-mountain-bike-derailleur/)
Itty Bitty MIDI Piano Sings With Solenoids
https://hackaday.com/2019/08/13/itty-bitty-midi-piano-sings-with-solenoids/
Toy pianos are fun to plink around on for a minute, but their small keyboards and even smaller sound make them musically uninteresting pretty quickly. [Måns Jonasson] found a way to jazz up a two-octave toy piano almost beyond recognition. All it took was thirty solenoids, a few Arduinos, a …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/08/13/itty-bitty-midi-piano-sings-with-solenoids/)
https://hackaday.com/2019/08/13/itty-bitty-midi-piano-sings-with-solenoids/
Toy pianos are fun to plink around on for a minute, but their small keyboards and even smaller sound make them musically uninteresting pretty quickly. [Måns Jonasson] found a way to jazz up a two-octave toy piano almost beyond recognition. All it took was thirty solenoids, a few Arduinos, a …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/08/13/itty-bitty-midi-piano-sings-with-solenoids/)
1940s Portable Radio Is A Suitcase
https://hackaday.com/2019/08/13/1940s-portable-radio-is-a-suitcase/
The meaning of the word portable has changed a bit over the years. These days something has to be pretty tiny to be considered truly portable, but in the 1940s, anything with a handle on it that you could lift with one hand might be counted as portable electronics. Zenith …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/08/13/1940s-portable-radio-is-a-suitcase/)
https://hackaday.com/2019/08/13/1940s-portable-radio-is-a-suitcase/
The meaning of the word portable has changed a bit over the years. These days something has to be pretty tiny to be considered truly portable, but in the 1940s, anything with a handle on it that you could lift with one hand might be counted as portable electronics. Zenith …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/08/13/1940s-portable-radio-is-a-suitcase/)
Simple Bluetooth Car Audio From A Pi Zero
https://hackaday.com/2019/08/13/simple-bluetooth-car-audio-from-a-pi-zero/
When [Sami Pietikäinen] realized that the Bluetooth built into his car didn’t support audio, he didn’t junk it and buy a Tesla. Instead, he decided to remedy the problem by building a small Bluetooth device that plugged into the Aux socket. To do this, he used a Raspberry Pi Zero …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/08/13/simple-bluetooth-car-audio-from-a-pi-zero/)
https://hackaday.com/2019/08/13/simple-bluetooth-car-audio-from-a-pi-zero/
When [Sami Pietikäinen] realized that the Bluetooth built into his car didn’t support audio, he didn’t junk it and buy a Tesla. Instead, he decided to remedy the problem by building a small Bluetooth device that plugged into the Aux socket. To do this, he used a Raspberry Pi Zero …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/08/13/simple-bluetooth-car-audio-from-a-pi-zero/)
Print Your Own Heat Shrink Labels for Factory-Chic Wire Naming
https://hackaday.com/2019/08/14/print-your-own-heat-shrink-labels-for-factory-chic-wire-naming/
Heat shrink tubing is great for insulating wires. Labeling wires in a bundle is always useful, too. [Voltlog] has a cheap Brother label printer and discovered he can buy knock off label cassettes for a lot less from China. However, he also found something else: cassettes with heat shrink tubing …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/08/14/print-your-own-heat-shrink-labels-for-factory-chic-wire-naming/)
https://hackaday.com/2019/08/14/print-your-own-heat-shrink-labels-for-factory-chic-wire-naming/
Heat shrink tubing is great for insulating wires. Labeling wires in a bundle is always useful, too. [Voltlog] has a cheap Brother label printer and discovered he can buy knock off label cassettes for a lot less from China. However, he also found something else: cassettes with heat shrink tubing …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/08/14/print-your-own-heat-shrink-labels-for-factory-chic-wire-naming/)
Remote ADS-B Install Listens in on All the Aircraft Transmissions with RTL-SDR Trio, Phones Home on Cellular
https://hackaday.com/2019/08/14/remote-ads-b-install-listens-in-on-all-the-aircraft-transmissions-with-rtl-sdr-trio-phones-home-on-cellular/
When installing almost any kind of radio gear, the three factors that matter most are the same as in real estate: location, location, location. An unobstructed location at the highest possible elevation gives the antenna the furthest radio horizon as well as the biggest bang for the installation buck. But …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/08/14/remote-ads-b-install-listens-in-on-all-the-aircraft-transmissions-with-rtl-sdr-trio-phones-home-on-cellular/)
https://hackaday.com/2019/08/14/remote-ads-b-install-listens-in-on-all-the-aircraft-transmissions-with-rtl-sdr-trio-phones-home-on-cellular/
When installing almost any kind of radio gear, the three factors that matter most are the same as in real estate: location, location, location. An unobstructed location at the highest possible elevation gives the antenna the furthest radio horizon as well as the biggest bang for the installation buck. But …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/08/14/remote-ads-b-install-listens-in-on-all-the-aircraft-transmissions-with-rtl-sdr-trio-phones-home-on-cellular/)
Cheap Electric Scooter Gets a Big Brake Upgrade; Unlocks Proper Drift Mode
https://hackaday.com/2019/08/14/cheap-electric-scooter-gets-a-big-brake-upgrade-unlocks-proper-drift-mode/
The last few years have seen a huge rise in the prominence of electric scooters. Brushless motors, lithium batteries, and scooter sharing companies have brought them to the mainstream. However, electric scooters of a variety of designs have been around for a long time, spawning a dedicated subculture of hackers …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/08/14/cheap-electric-scooter-gets-a-big-brake-upgrade-unlocks-proper-drift-mode/)
https://hackaday.com/2019/08/14/cheap-electric-scooter-gets-a-big-brake-upgrade-unlocks-proper-drift-mode/
The last few years have seen a huge rise in the prominence of electric scooters. Brushless motors, lithium batteries, and scooter sharing companies have brought them to the mainstream. However, electric scooters of a variety of designs have been around for a long time, spawning a dedicated subculture of hackers …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/08/14/cheap-electric-scooter-gets-a-big-brake-upgrade-unlocks-proper-drift-mode/)
Data Mining Home Water Usage; Your Water Meter Knows You a Bit Too Well
https://hackaday.com/2019/08/14/data-mining-home-water-usage-your-water-meter-knows-you-a-bit-too-well/
The average person has become depressingly comfortable with the surveillance dystopia we live in. For better or for worse, they’ve come to accept the fact that data about their lives is constantly being collected and analyzed. We’re at the point where a sizable chunk of people believe their smartphone is …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/08/14/data-mining-home-water-usage-your-water-meter-knows-you-a-bit-too-well/)
https://hackaday.com/2019/08/14/data-mining-home-water-usage-your-water-meter-knows-you-a-bit-too-well/
The average person has become depressingly comfortable with the surveillance dystopia we live in. For better or for worse, they’ve come to accept the fact that data about their lives is constantly being collected and analyzed. We’re at the point where a sizable chunk of people believe their smartphone is …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/08/14/data-mining-home-water-usage-your-water-meter-knows-you-a-bit-too-well/)
India Launched a Moon Orbiter, Lander, and Rover All In One Shot with Chandrayaan-2
https://hackaday.com/2019/08/14/india-launched-a-moon-orbiter-lander-and-rover-all-in-one-shot-with-chandrayaan-2/
On July 22nd, India launched an ambitious mission to simultaneously deliver an orbiter, lander, and rover to the Moon. Launched from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre on a domestically-built GSLV Mk III rocket, Chandrayaan-2 is expected to enter lunar orbit on August 20th. If everything goes well, the mission’s lander …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/08/14/india-launched-a-moon-orbiter-lander-and-rover-all-in-one-shot-with-chandrayaan-2/)
https://hackaday.com/2019/08/14/india-launched-a-moon-orbiter-lander-and-rover-all-in-one-shot-with-chandrayaan-2/
On July 22nd, India launched an ambitious mission to simultaneously deliver an orbiter, lander, and rover to the Moon. Launched from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre on a domestically-built GSLV Mk III rocket, Chandrayaan-2 is expected to enter lunar orbit on August 20th. If everything goes well, the mission’s lander …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/08/14/india-launched-a-moon-orbiter-lander-and-rover-all-in-one-shot-with-chandrayaan-2/)