Category: electronics

Oscilloscope

February 21, 2006

Yay! I just woke up in the middle of the night in order to bid on (and win) this oscilloscope. It’s a 20Mhz model made by LG, which appears that it’ll do what I need as far as audio stuff goes. Oh, and it also comes with the probes and whatnot.

I had originally been looking at this 60Mhz Tektronix 2213, but at the last few minutes the bidding jumped over US$100.

Now I’m going to go back to bed.

Later today I’ll attempt to get a adjustable DC power supply and some test clips… Then (provided my DMM works well) I’ll have all the electronics tools which I’ve been wanting en route.

Power Supply

February 19, 2006

To Do Tomorrow:
· Order Elenco XP-720K power supply kit.
· ~~Order additional soldering iron tips (very fine cone, or something similar, different from what comes with Weller WES51 (ETA).~~ Person at the place I ordered things from happily added to the order.
· ~~Look for a good deal on a scope (maybe 50mhz or so) on eBay. Hopefully less than US$100.~~ Currently bidding…

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Custom Printing Help

February 16, 2006

Hey everyone… I’m trying to find some place to get something printed at, but I’m really not sure where to start looking.

First off, I’m looking to have a set of overlays printed for the x0xb0x I hope to make soon. My idea for this overlay is to have something similar to an arcade game control panel overlay, which is similar to the heavy plastic adhesive ads stuck to the floor of some grocery stores.

My understanding is that these are typically printed on the back of a piece of plastic, and then the adhesive is applied to the back. Or, it is printed on adhesive vinyl then the textured plastic is applied to the top of that.

So, this brings about the question of where one would get something like this printed.

I’m thinking that I’ll first try the sign printing place in downtown Utica, as one of the services they advertise is custom printed car wraps, and this isn’t too different. But, do any of you know some place to get this made up?

Thanks!

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Limor Fried

February 14, 2006

Wow, I just realized that the person who sells the x0xb0x wrote the article in the DIY:Imaging article in Make three issues before the one I’m in. Her article (a timer for single-use digicams for use in kite-based photography) is much more nifty, though.

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x0xb0x

February 13, 2006

Well, my preorder for an x0xb0x has come up. I just wonder if I should buy one… US$315, although being a really nice TB-303 clone it’s likely worth a lot more once completed.

Hmm… Should I? What do you all think?

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iSight Tripod Mount Article

February 4, 2006

Yes! My article is finally being published!

iSight Tripod Mount: http://makezine.com/05/diy_tripod/

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Honda Music Link iPod Adapter Review

January 26, 2006

Just FYI, I have just posted Update #5 to my Honda Music Link iPod Adapter Review. It contains ramblings about what I want to do with the PIC programmer and some asm skill which I don’t have yet along with a link to the photo of the new iPod in the car which I posted yesterday.

Now, I go home. Or to my parents house. Or something.

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Honda Music Link Reprogramming

January 26, 2006

Woo! It appears that pins on the .100″ header in the Honda Music Link board connect to PGC (Programming Clock) and PGD (Programming Data) on the PIC. This is good.

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PICkit 2

January 26, 2006

Well, I just ordered a PICkit 2 Starter Kit. Hopefully using this I’ll be able to learn more about programming PICs, hopefully resulting in re-programming the PIC16F876A in the Honda Music Link Interface Box. With any luck, I’ll be able to build a proper interface between an iPod and the CD changer port on Honda head units and offer the firmware up for download for others to use. Maybe I could also charge $20 or $30 or so to re-flash other people’s Honda Music Link Interface Boxes as well, making the device work differently and better. That’s a goal, at least. :)

Oh, this morning there were also some especially nice things to look at on the way to work… As I left before sunrise, there was a wonderful sliver of brightly lit moon visible, with a whole bunch of earthshine on the dark part. Plenty of planets hanging out in the sky, as well, happily reflecting sunlight and looking pretty to everyone on Earth.

Also, as the sun started coming up, I was actually able to see a golden glow on the Chrysler building in Auburn Hills, visible from five or eight miles away. Quite impressive.

One other thing… The new iPod is so thin that with my headphones plugged in, it doesn’t set flat on my desk. I don’t know if this is good or not. :\ It’s also so thin that it’s a bit difficult to plug in the dock connector in the car. Maybe I just need to get used to it.

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Honda Music Link

January 22, 2006

So I’m sitting here with a disassembled Honda Music Link interface box (P/N 08A28-1H1-1000-01) on the workbench. It appears that the PCB inside is double layer, so I don’t think I’ll have too much of a problem making a schematic from it.

Now I just need to find some good software for making schematics… I used to poke around with Eagle, but I haven’t used that in quite a while.

electronics making things moved from livejournal