Category: Technology

Officer, I didn’t hack that computer mainframe, it was the Russians!!!

Using Software Defined Radios (SDRs)

by

February 20, 2024

12:12 pm

Comments Off on Using Software Defined Radios (SDRs)

Technology

, ,

Listening to communications, downloading weather data from satellites, capturing data from airplanes, SDRs are powerful SIGINT (SIG)nals INT(elligence) devices that are surprisingly cheap and useful. For a great introduction and facts on budget SDRs look at this article. We’re going straight into it.

Basic Tools/ Materials

SDR- For this article I’m using the RTL SDR, which can be found on Amazon, AliExpress, or Ebay. Get the V3 version as the newest V4 doesn’t have 100% compatibility at this time.

Antenna- Any antenna within the signal range of 500 kHz – 1766 MHz will work fine. To see how it works its great if you have a toy, radio antenna, anything that works within the SDR & experimental object you’re using’s frequency range. Ensure the antenna connection type is SMA male. The RTL SDR has an SMA female connector type. For more information concerning antennas, refer to my article 

Continue reading “Using Software Defined Radios (SDRs)” →

[Update: 1Apr24] 3D Printing 101/102

by

September 16, 2023

11:01 pm

Comments Off on [Update: 1Apr24] 3D Printing 101/102

3D Printing, Technology

, ,

3D printing is a not-so-new technology that has applications for day to day hobbies, industry, and surprisingly aerospace. I’m not going to try and sell 3D printing to you as that’s why there are other websites that do that. Let’s get into the meat and potatoes.

3D Printing 101

Getting Into 3D Printing

Very easy, occasionally mind melting when you feel that nothing is going your way, but as long as your a tinkerer and know how to use Google you'll be all good. I will be updating this article as time permits so it serves as a one stop shop for all your needs. Saves time and frustration as I've learned first hand since some videos and tutorials leave out key data points that would otherwise save you from tearing out your hair. Below is a list of upgrades that will enhance your 3D printing experience. Do you need to drop $700 now? No. But keep the chart in mind when you decide to do incremental upgrades, because as you gain more experience and start tinkering, you'll inevitably want to make some changes to your printer. And I know first hand.

Continue reading "[Update: 1Apr24] 3D Printing 101/102" →

Project Castle Guardian

by

March 27, 2021

2:32 pm

Comments Off on Project Castle Guardian

Arduino Programming, Discussions, Technology

I finally have enough technical skill and time to create one of my most advanced projects. This project will consist of having a self-arming home monitoring system complete with an alarm and a satellite communication network. The Satcomm (satellite communication) unit will alert me via email if Castle Guardian is armed, disarmed, detects an individual & from where, as well as track their movements around the house. It will also have night vision IP cameras installed which upon activation will give me a bird’s eye view of the house complete with servos to adjust the angle. I intend on this system being nearly autonomous with the only activities requiring human input is the arming and disarming of the system.

I also intend to integrate Castle Guardian with my AARCS (Automated Animal Residency Control System) Unit, which has already been installed, but needs an upgrade. AARCS+ is the upgraded system complete with radio control, allowing each unit to communicate with Satcomm in cases such as the enclosure gets too hot/cold or if the humidity exceeds bounds. It’ll also allow me to monitor each AARCS+ enclosure at a glance anywhere around the world. This by far will be my most complicated project, & I’m ready to make it.

Continue reading “Project Castle Guardian” →

[6April2020] Project Aurora

by

April 3, 2020

10:57 am

Comments Off on [6April2020] Project Aurora

Technology, Thinking Thoughts

Related Video:

 

End Goal: To have a fully automated solar panel system that maintains the health & welfare of all animals stowed there.

The time has finally come to move all of my animals to a larger, more comfortable space as their current location is becoming crowded. As I’ve grown my collection I’ve known that eventually I’d move to another space & that it’d have to be automated per the usual, which is where project Aurora comes in.

Aurora is a solar panel based project that uses the energy from the sun in order to power all arduino boards. The intent is for this to be a long term location for the animals as not only my collection grows but my programming abilities as well. I’d also like to spruce up the overall facility it’s in with a lighting system, office desk, & move my programming table out there as well. For now, here are the overall requirements for Aurora.

  Continue reading “[6April2020] Project Aurora” →

New ATMega FTDI/ Unit Updates

by

November 3, 2018

5:38 pm

Comments Off on New ATMega FTDI/ Unit Updates

Arduino Programming, Technology

Check Out Our Other Arduino Based Posts![/su_button]After a lot of inspecting, making, remaking my ATMega units, I’ve come to the conclusion that the issue isn’t with my ability to make them, but the FTDI programmer I’m using. I used to use this one, but as its description says, its not a genuine FTDI, so my computer likely bricked it. I bought a second one to ensure I didn’t just get a bad unit, but the replacement even stopped working. Perhaps there’s a variable I’m unaware of, but to be on the safe side I bought a genuine FTDI programmer & received it today with stunning success. Its capable of plug & play, & can program with 3.3v as well as 5v.

 

There are some gripes I have with the unit, one of which being that you need a M/F USB cord as the FTDI has a male connector instead of the usual female. Its weird, but is a small issue compared to how useful it is. A working FTDI means I can take the next step in my programming ventures by having a plug & play programmer to program my ATMegas. The picture below shows what I mean. I dislike having to make the pin connections, so for this ancient ATMega setup I used wires & make header pins to make it for me. A modern iteration of this setup is in the works for future use, but with major changes. Here are the public highlights:

Continue reading “New ATMega FTDI/ Unit Updates” →