Electronics

Analog

Antenna & Radio

  1. Gray-Hoverman, the wideband TV antenna - simple to build, with good gain over all TV bands.
  2. Make a wideband antenna matching transformer - DIY 4:1 balun.
  3. Transmission line baluns for VHF and UHF - DIY baluns from coaxial cable.
  4. How to identify an unknown radio tuner - gather data and learn to use it in your projects.
  5. How to align satellite dish - learn to point a dish.
  6. Connect multiple satellite receivers to a single LNB - see what is required to split signal from a LNB.
  7. Make a multifeed LNB bracket for your satellite dish - receive multiple satellites with a stationary dish.
  8. HF & VHF antenna amplifier without coils - simple S9018 based amplifier.
  9. Antenna switch with PIN diodes - connect two antennas to a receiver.
  10. Mods and improvements to the SPF5189Z LNA board - making these more reliable.

Audio

  1. 2.5W Audio Amplifier with Transistors - simple amplifier with common bipolar transistors and BD135/BD136 driver.
  2. 10W Stereo Audio Amplifier with Transistors - powerful amplifier with BD237/BS238 driver.
  3. Audio Amplifier with Common Transistors - a breadboard project.
  4. Stereo audio amplifier with TDA2003 - up to 10W of power from this IC.
  5. Stereo tone controller with transistors - a simple active Baxandall tone controller.

Electromechanics

  1. DC Motor Controller for PCB Drill - PWM controller with NE555 and MOSFET driver.
  2. Fixing a broken rotor coil of 775 motor - reconnecting a broken coil.
  3. Optical encoder motor control for printer slide unit - attempts at controlling a slide unit.
  4. PID control for DC motor with optical encoder - use Arduino PID to set position.

Power supply

  1. USB Power Supply for Breadboard - power test circuits with ease.
  2. Versatile LM317 power supply project - power supply with panel display.
  3. LM317 Lithium Ion Battery Charger - DIY charger based on LM317 and TL431.

Sensors & Alarms

  1. Volumetric sensor (broken window or opened door alarm) - with microphone, op-amps and 555 timers.
  2. Gas detector based on MQ-2 without microcontroller - with op-amps and 555 timers.

Other

Digital

Arduino (ATmega)

  1. Program Arduino Pro Mini with CH341A dongle - use this programmer with Arduino IDE.
  2. Light or dark activated switch using Arduino - a breadboard project with modules.
  3. Driver and Arduino code for unipolar stepper motors - build a simple driver.
  4. Drive stepper motors with Arduino (code) - use the driver with various sequences.
  5. Compute Heat Index with Arduino and DHT Sensor - and display it on LCD.
  6. Arduino Thermometer with... TV Output - display temperature on old TV.
  7. Measure RPM with Slotted Optical Switch - an Arduino tachometer.
  8. Ultrasonic Tape Measure with HC-SR04 Sensor - measure distances.
  9. C Code for Text Mode on ST7920 Graphic LCD - simple code for writing text.
  10. Simple Text Menu for ST7920 Graphic LCD - create a menu on this LCD.
  11. How to Count Frequency with Arduino - the proper way, not pulseIn.
  12. Counting time with Arduino (without RTC) - clock without RTC.
  13. Proper wiring of a 4 digit 7-segment display - to development boards.
  14. Drive the multiplexed 4 digit 7-segment display - Arduino code.
  15. Alarm clock with DS1302 RTC - Arduino based.
  16. Autoranging capacitance meter with LCD display - measures RC time constant.
  17. Air pressure, temperature and altitude with BMP280 sensor - estimation of altitude based on air pressure.
  18. Arduino: interrupts in class and callback functions - how to use interrupts in libraries.
  19. Attempts at reading parallel NAND Flash with Arduino - an unusual task for an Arduino.
  20. Read NAND Flash device signature with Arduino - the first steps.
  21. Dump data from NAND flash with Arduino - it takes a long time.
  22. Progress indicator with addressable pixel ring - a good looking display.
  23. 8-Channel relay controller with keypad and RS485 interface - remotely control a relay board.
  24. Attempts at reading data from MQ-2 gas sensor - Arduino computations.
  25. CO and LPG gas sensor with Arduino and LCD - build this gas detector.

ESP8266 & ESP32

  1. Build and install NodeMcu firmware on ESP8266 boards - reverting to default NodeMcu.
  2. Upload files from Arduino IDE to ESP SPIFFS - put your own files required for web servers.
  3. HTTPS Server on the ESP8266 NodeMCU - create a server with basic security and self signed certificates.
  4. DHT22 sensor web server on ESP8266 - display readings from a sensor on a web page.
  5. WiFi Analyzer with ESP8266 and ILI9341 LCD - scan the 2.4 GHz band.
  6. 30A MQTT relay with timer: hardware - MQTT controlled switch with display and relay.

Raspberry Pi Pico & RP2040

STM32

  1. Set up STM32 "blue pill" for Arduino IDE - install 3rd party support for this board.
  2. Program "blue pill" with STM32 Cores in Arduino IDE - install official support.
  3. Programming STM32 "blue pill" with HAL and Eclipse - using official libraries.
  4. STM32Cube code initialization for “blue pill” - quick-start your projects.
  5. STM32 “blue pill” easy development with Mbed - a different SDK for this board.
  6. Upload binary and debug STM32 bluepill on Eclipse - using Eclipse IDE to program this board.
  7. External interrupts on STM32 bluepill - how to create interrupts with HAL.
  8. USB multimedia keys on Arduino STM32 - with a modified library.

Modules

  1. Battery charging circuit of DS3231 module - finding a fault in this module's schematic.
  2. Useless sensor modules based on MQ-7 and MQ-9 - another design fault.
  3. Drive 8-Channel Relay Module with Bus Expander - when there are not enough pins.

Computer related

  1. Infrared protocol analysis with PC soundcard - connect IR receiver module to audio input and analyze signal in software.
  2. Audio Card Infrared Receiver - this time on a PCB.
  3. Simple DiSEqC monitor and signal analyzer - use computer audio card to analyze protocol.
  4. Make a buffered JTAG adapter (Wiggler) - parallel port JTAG programmer.
  5. CH341A Mini Programmer Schematic and Drivers - how to use this programmer.
  6. XTW100 Mini Programmer Schematic and Driver - a similar programmer.
  7. Use CH341A with AsProgrammer on Windows - a free tool for this programmer.
  8. CH341A I2C Programming (Windows API) - for custom I2C interface.
  9. CH341A SPI Programming (Windows API) - for custom SPI interface.
  10. XTW100 Mini Programmer Software and Tests - testing the programmer software.
  11. Alternative firmware for XTW100 Programmer - flash a new firmware on this programmer.
  12. Hardware serial port communication sniffer - capture data and inject your own.

Other

  1. Computer PSU start circuit with bicolor LED - build this simple circuit based on CD4069 to power on/off ATX PSU and monitor state.
  2. CD4017 and NE555 Light Chaser Circuit - from an easy to assemble kit.
  3. Front panel for 8-channel relay controller - a custom made 3D printable front panel.

Embedded Linux

  1. Add and configure WAN port on OpenWrt - set custom VLANs on router.
  2. Run a local MQTT broker on OpenWrt router - set up a self hosted MQTT server for automation.
  3. Install and configure Mosquitto™ on OpenWrt - second part.
  4. Configure Mosquitto™ broker with TLS certificate - strong security for self hosted MQTT server.
  5. MQTT Broker on Orange Pi Zero (Armbian) - MQTT server on better hardware.
  6. Configure Mosquitto™ MQTT broker on Armbian - second part.
  7. Self-signed certificates for MQTT server - secured server with certificates.
  8. Play audio streams on OpenWrt (Internet Radio) - using an USB sound card.

Tools and instruments

  1. How to build a simple soldering iron - with a copper rod and some nichrome wire.
  2. Homemade PCB with toner transfer method - make single sided boards at home.
  3. Making your printed circuit boards with PCBWay - a better way to get PCBs.
  4. Chucks for mini drill tools - make your own mini drill.

Software

Various

  1. Make a bootable Windows USB from Linux - and use it to reinstall Windows.
  2. UEFI NTFS: Bootable Windows USB from Linux - boot from NTFS over UEFI.
  3. Draw electronic schematics using LibreOffice - make your own template.
  4. Free EDA: Design and simulation with LTspice - use the free circuit simulator to test before you build.
  5. Free EDA: Good looking schematics using TinyCAD - draw good-looking schematics for free.
  6. Free EDA: Easy circuit board design with ExpressPCB - create PCBs with this free tool.
  7. Generate good looking PCB artwork from KiCad - a script to make PCB art.
  8. Set up the serial port in Wine - use hardware serial ports in Windows applications running on Linux.
  9. Compile and setup RF coverage prediction software SPLAT! - prepare to generate RF coverage maps.
  10. Compile SPLAT! RF coverage software on 64-bit Windows - updated tutorial.
  11. Radio link analysis using SPLAT! - analyze receiver-transmitter link.
  12. Generate radio coverage maps with SPLAT! - compute the coverage map of a transmitter.

SDR

  1. How to compile librtlsdr on Windows - build from source with MinGW.
  2. Turn RTL-SDR dongle into RTL2832U breakout board - cut the PCB and remove the tuner.
  3. Heatsink for RTL-SDR dongle - keep your SDR cool.
  4. FM Radio Player for RTL2832U sticks - lightweight software for FM radio.
  5. Virtual Audio Cable in Linux Ubuntu - create virtual sound devices in Linux.
  6. Receive DRM Radio on Linux with Gqrx and Dream - powered by RTL-SDR.
  7. Lightweight ACARS decoders for RTL-SDR - receive broadcasts even with embedded systems.
  8. Receive FT8 with WSJT-X and SDRSharp (Windows) - how to receive and decode digital FT8.
  9. Receive FT8 with WSJT-X and Gqrx (Linux) - same thing with Linux tools.
  10. Decode 433.92 MHz weather station data - in order to build a receiver/transmitter.
  11. Send data to weather station over 433.92 MHz - using Arduino with OOK transmitter module.

Hard to replicate (obsolete devices)

  1. MxL5007T tuner radio - control a tuner IC from DVB-T/C receiver.
  2. Debrick Huawei HG553 (BCM6358 based router) - flash bootloader over JTAG.
  3. Install OpenWrt on P.RG AV4202N router - JTAG another Broadcom router.
  4. How to control the (BS2)S7VZ6306 tuner - interfacing a DVB-S tuner.
  5. A different TM1628 7-segment display - interface this DVD-player front panel to Arduino.
  6. SC75823 13-Segment LCD Display - another front panel interfaced to Arduino.
  7. A 15-Segment VFD controlled by HT16515 - front panel of a DVB-S receiver.
  8. A better way to power car audio in home - trying to keep power to store settings.
  9. Install Sky Digital Key (AverMedia A867) on PC - force the installation of drivers.
  10. Using Magix USB-Videowandler 2 on Linux - compile drivers for this capture card.
  11. I2C Analog TV Modulator controlled by Arduino - interfacing a module from DVB-S receiver.
  12. TSA5523 Tuner Modules from PC TV Cards - interfacing these to Arduino.
  13. Crossfade Bicolor LED with PS/2 Touchpad - using the touchpad of an old laptop.
  14. Router's LCD and keypad interfaced to Arduino - a nice front panel.
  15. Truly LCD front panel: the backlight - first part of the front panel project.
  16. Arduino Library for HX8347-I Router Front Panel LCD - finally being able to use the LCD from router.
  17. Arduino Library for SX8646 Capacitive Button Controller - read touches from router front panel.
  18. Old Prolific USB-Serial cable as programmer for Arduino - DIY adapter for Arduino programming.