Building a custom network rack from steel box section
09 May 2026 11 min read
Upgrading Our Home Network Rack: Custom Steel Frame Build, 10Gb Switching & UniFi Setup
Search Results
305 results found
30 year Windows user switches to Mac
18 February 2026 14 min read
After using Windows as my primary computer operating system for over 30 years, I am finally switching to Apple Mac as my daily driver computer and operating system.
3D printed PCB assembly jig
16 February 2026 7 min read
Building an adjustable 3D printed PCB assembly jig to hold circuit boards when soldering
Shimano Di2 to Bluetooth Keyboard remote control mod
29 November 2025 13 min read
Modifying a Shimano Di2 road shifter to control virtual shifting in Rouvy and MyWhoosh and a smart trainer using Seeed Studio XIAO nRF52840 module as a Bluetooth Keyboard
Shimano Di2 to Zwift Click v2 remote control mod
15 November 2025 13 min read
Modifying a Shimano Di2 road shifter to control virtual shifting in Zwift and a smart trainer using Zwift Click v2 controllers
Building a DIY bike trainer rocker plate for Tacx Neo 2T trainer
25 September 2025 11 min read
Building a DIY bike rocker plate to use with a smart bike trainer to try to keep fit over the winter months
Zwift Cog and Zwift Click v2 Controllers with Tacx Neo 2T
11 September 2025 9 min read
New Zwift Click v2 Controllers upgrade on the smart cycle trainer and troubleshooting Bluetooth connection issues
ASP.Net Core Google Site Map Generator
24 July 2025 6 min read
How to Generate a Google Sitemap File Using ASP.NET Core and C#
Raspberry Pi Pico, LoRa & Home Assistant remote soil monitoring
17 May 2025 19 min read
How to monitor soil moisture levels on our allotment and view the data in Home Assistant using a pair of Raspberry Pi Picos & LoRa radio modules to send and receive the data
Kenwood TS-850S HF Transceiver LCD Display Repair
17 April 2025 5 min read
Fault finding and repairing a faulty Kenwood TS-850S HF Transceiver with a dead display backlight, replacing the compact fluorescent lamp with an LED strip
An introduction to our other hobby, growing food on an allotment
07 April 2025 12 min read
Thinking about growing your fruit and veg? An allotment is a brilliant way to enjoy fresh fruit and veg, get outdoors, and learn new skills
The Importance of Proper Form Validation and Meaningful Error Messages
01 March 2025 5 min read
Website form validation is a critical part of any online form, ensure your website visitors and customers have a good experience when trying to place orders
Introducing a blog for Retro Computing Enthusiasts, Retro Bits and Bytes
13 January 2025 3 min read
We have launched a new blog dedicated to all things retro computing and classic computers from the 1970s, 80s and 90s
Quansheng UV-K6 with HF mod with UVK5CEC firmware
01 January 2025 14 min read
Installing a HF modification board into a Quansheng UV-K6 HAM radio to add HF receiver with CW, SSB and USB radio modes using UVK5CEC firmware
Rigol DHO804 Oscilloscope Quiet Fan Mod
12 December 2024 7 min read
We fitted a quiet Noctua fan using a 3D printed mount to the back of our Rigol DHO804 oscilloscope to make it quieter when in use
Integrating Stripe Express Checkout in an ASP.NET Core 8 Ecommerce Website
07 November 2024 23 min read
This post shows how to add Stripe Express Checkout in an ASP.NET Core 8 Ecommerce Website using C# and the Stripe.js sdk
Zwift ESP32 Bluetooth Wireless Keyboard Controller
27 October 2024 13 min read
Making a custom controller for the cycling training software Zwift, with a ESP32 Feather Bluetooth wireless keyboard controller using a Adafruit ESP32 Feather V2.
Monitoring Air Quality with the AirGradient Open Air Outdoor Monitor and Home Assistant
23 October 2024 4 min read
Using an open source air quality monitoring system from AirGradient, we have added outdoor air pollution data logging to Home Assistant and our long term data logger online.
New Smart Gas Meter Broke Home Assistant long term logging
13 September 2024 9 min read
New smart energy meters promised better logging, but it broke our Home Assistant install and long-term energy logging. Here’s what went wrong and how it’s affecting Home Assistant in our smart home
Amazon Echo Spot Teardown - Smart speaker with LCD
11 September 2024 31 min read
Welcome to a in-depth teardown of the 2024 Amazon Echo Spot Smart Speaker with LCD display. In this blog post, we'll be taking a closer look at the inner workings of this popular smart home device, uncovering the components that power its advanced features, and exploring its construction
Twelve years of Raspberry Pi Development Boards
26 July 2024 7 min read
For over 12 years, AB Electronics UK has been designing and developing Raspberry Pi development boards. Throughout this time, we've gained extensive experience in developing high-quality circuit boards specifically designed for hobbyists and developers.
PartFinder 2.0 Core component inventory manager
21 June 2024 11 min read
This is a new release of the PartFinder component inventory manager I released four years ago in March 2020 which now runs on Windows, Mac and Linux.
Trooli Fibre Internet and a new UniFi Dream Machine Pro Network Upgrade
03 May 2024 9 min read
We now have much faster internet thanks to a new fibre connection and internet using Trooli and upgrading from our PFSense firewall to a Ubiquiti Dream Machine Pro
ESP32 RGB Microscope LED Ring Light
13 April 2024 15 min read
Designing a new RGB LED ring light for our microscope with an ESP32 WiFi controller using a manual control and web interface
What’s happening and plans for 2024
29 March 2024 11 min read
An overview of what I have been doing for the past few months and changes to work and plans for my businesses Apexweb and AB Electronics UK
Ikea Styrbar with Home Assistant as a Sonos Remote Control
04 March 2024 5 min read
Using the Ikea STYRBAR, four-button remote as a simple controller for Sonos Smart speakers with Home Assistant
Radxa X2L Computer Custom 3D Printed Case
29 February 2024 8 min read
Enhance your Radxa X2L Computer with style using a custom 3D printed case with STL files on GitHub to print your own
Radxa X2L and ADC Pi, Microcontrollers with Linux
10 February 2024 13 min read
Adding analogue inputs to the Intel Celeron J4125 Radxa X2L using an ADC Pi Raspberry Pi development hat with micro python
Fujinon Pro 2010 Night Vision Scope Infrared LED Mod
30 January 2024 4 min read
We added an infrared LED into our Fujinon Pro 2010 night vision monocular to help with night vision illumination
Three Elgato Key Light remote control using an ESP32 Wi-Fi module
26 January 2024 15 min read
Building a remote controller for three Elgato Key Lights using a low-cost ESP32 Wi-Fi module with push switches and indicator LEDs
Elgato Key Light remote control using an ESP32 Wi-Fi module
20 January 2024 15 min read
Building a simple remote controller for Elgato Key Lights using a low-cost ESP32 Wi-Fi module and a push switch
Raspberry Pi High Quality Camera Fungus image quality problems
15 January 2024 2 min read
Our Raspberry Pi High Quality Camera had a fungus problem which made the camera unusable until it was taken apart and cleaned
Fujinon Pro 2010 night vision monocular teardown and repair
12 January 2024 5 min read
Teardown and easy repair of a Fujinon Pro 2010 night vision monocular
Home Server upgrade to an Intel N100 fanless ASRock N100DC-ITX
20 December 2023 8 min read
Upgrading our home Linux server again with a new low-power Intel N100 fanless system with 32Gb RAM and 1Tb NVMe storage.
BOBOVR M3 Pro battery pack inductor noise fix on Meta Quest 3
25 November 2023 5 min read
Modifying a BOBOVR M3 Pro VR headstrap battery for the Meta Quest 3 to reduce audible noise from the battery pack.
Modding Beat Saber on the Quest 3 with ModsBeforeFriday
05 November 2023 9 min read
Using ModsBeforeFriday or QuestPatcher and SideQuest to mod Beat Saber on the Quest 3 to add custom songs and mods
John Smith, Googlebot and abandoned shopping carts
07 September 2023 3 min read
GoogleBot is pretending to be an e-commerce customer called John Smith and abandoning the order at the payment stage
First year of data and savings from Solar PV array upgrade
02 September 2023 8 min read
Our solar PV system has saved us £847.18 in the past 12 months, and heating the hot water for free on sunny days with the myenergy eddi solar diverter
Buying Used Test Equipment from Ham Radio Rallies
21 August 2023 9 min read
Visiting FRARS Hamfest in Wimborne and buying used test equipment from Ham radio rallies
Amazon Echo Pop Smart Speaker teardown
23 July 2023 13 min read
New teardown and looking inside the latest Amazon Echo Pop smart home speaker and Amazon Alexa smart home device
TP Link Tapo TC65 Camera image capture using OpenCV for a webcam
02 July 2023 12 min read
Using a low-cost tp-link Wi-Fi security camera and OpenCV, a popular computer vision library, we have created a Python script that captures high-quality images from the RTSP (Real-Time Streaming Protocol) video stream generated by the camera and uploads to our Virtual Swanage tourism website.
Learning Code, Raspberry Pi, Fruit, and Growing Food
06 May 2023 8 min read
May 2023 updates, website changes and projects and how we grow our own food on a small allotment
Air Quality in Your Home: Measuring using Home Assistant with Ikea Vindriktning and Netatmo
15 January 2023 11 min read
Using Home Assistant with Ikea Vindriktning & Netatmo to measure the air quality in your home or office.
Energy Savings and Solar PV Upgrade, Six Months of Data
27 December 2022 13 min read
After lots of small changes to our usage, device upgrades and replacing some old household appliances, our energy usage is around 45% lower
Amazon Echo Dot 5th Gen Smart Speaker Teardown
28 November 2022 9 min read
Taking a look inside the latest Amazon Echo Dot 5 smart home speaker and Amazon Alexa device, now with a new larger speaker and temperature sensor
ModBus to MQTT WiFi Bridge for a Solis 1.5kW Inverter
30 October 2022 7 min read
Using an ESP32 WiFi module to create a ModBus to MQTT WiFi Bridge for a Solis 1.5kW Solar PV Inverter to log data with Home Assistant
Ham Radio Asterisk Allstar Gateway with a Tait 8110 and Raspberry Pi
08 October 2022 16 min read
Setting up the hardware and software for an AllStar Link Gateway using a Tait TM8110 which is a 25W PMR radio with a Raspberry Pi and USB sound card interface
Nest Thermostat to Home Assistant via 1-Wire, Arduino and MQTT
22 September 2022 4 min read
Connecting our Nest Thermostat 3rd Gen to Home Assistant via 1-wire and an Arduino Uno to capture the 1-wire sensor data
USB Programming Cable for Tait TM8110 PMR Radios
08 September 2022 5 min read
Making a USB Programming Cable for Tait TM8000 series PMR Radios to use as Ham Radio repeaters
myenergi eddi solar power diverter installation with WiFi
28 August 2022 7 min read
We got the new eddi V2.1 from myenergi with built-in WiFi and ethernet to add to our home solar system and Home Assistant.
Home Solar PV Panels Upgrade Finished
19 July 2022 7 min read
Our new 1.6kW solar array has now been fitted and is working much better than we expected
Home Assistant remote ESP32 ePaper Display
08 June 2022 9 min read
Making a remote display using an ESP32 eInk ePaper module to show data from our Home Assistant system
Solar Upgrade Solis 1.5kW inverter and Raspberry Pi RS485 Logging
17 May 2022 32 min read
A new solar PV inverter installed with Raspberry Pi RS485 data logging
Yaesu FP-1030A Power Supply Repair
06 April 2022 6 min read
Fault finding and repairing a Ham Radio Yaesu FP-1030A Power Supply which had a hidden manufacturing defect on the PCB
Solar Panel Supplier Zero Home Bills Scammed me out of £640
26 March 2022 4 min read
I fell for an online scam from a fake online store for solar panels and lost a lot of money
Failed TP-Link Kasa Smart KP115 WiFi Plug with energy monitoring relay replacement
13 March 2022 5 min read
Repairing a Failed TP-Link Kasa Smart KP115 WiFi Plug which has a dead relay
Home Assistant Setup in 2022
18 February 2022 8 min read
This post details our journey with Home Assistant since we first tried the software in 2016 and various upgrades with our hardware sensors and software to automate some of our home.
Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W external antenna mod
06 December 2021 6 min read
Modifying a Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W to add an external antenna with a U.FL RF connector
Amazon Echo Show 5 2nd Gen Smart Display Teardown
30 November 2021 20 min read
Tearing down an Amazon Echo Show 5, 2021 2nd generation smart speaker and display
Saving power on the home network
07 November 2021 7 min read
As part of our ongoing quest to reduce our energy usage and carbon footprint, we have installed a compressive home energy logging system which uses various sensors to monitor our energy consumption, generation and environment data, which are collated in Home Assistant and also on our home logger
Adding a Zigbee Smart Thermostatic radiator valve to Home Assistant
13 September 2021 6 min read
Controlling our loft radiator with a Zigbee controlled thermostatic radiator valve and Home Assistant.
Adding Gas Meter Energy logging to Home Assistant
03 September 2021 3 min read
Adding new MQTT sensors to Home Assistant to log Gas meter usage data
Shelly EM Power Logging with Home Assistant
26 August 2021 11 min read
Adding Shelly EM power monitoring in the loft with Home Assistant
Mastervolt Soladin 600 Wi-Fi logging adapter with ESP32
20 August 2021 9 min read
Adding remote Wi-Fi data access to our Mastervolt Soladin 600 solar PV inverter using an Espressif ESP32-WROOM-32UE module
Washing Machine notifications via Home Assistant and Sonos Smart Speakers
15 August 2021 4 min read
Audio notifications for when the washing machine needs to be emptied via Home Assistant and Sonos speakers
Sonoff POW R2 Smart Switch power consumption mod
15 August 2021 6 min read
Modifying a Sonoff POWR2 Smart Switch with energy monitoring to reduce its power consumption when being used to monitor a device's energy usage
OBS Microscope Wi-Fi Remote Control
03 August 2021 7 min read
Creating a wireless remote control to switch between video capture scenes in OBS Studio to select between our Microscope and other cameras or desktop capture using a Wi-Fi Remote Control
Home Data Logger Zigbee Sensor Upgrades
15 May 2021 6 min read
We have added several new Zigbee sensors to our smart home system which runs Home Assistant and the sensors talk to the home Linux server using Zigbee2mqtt
Scam emails from a "certified photographer"
20 April 2021 3 min read
Yet more scammers using emails claiming to be from a certified photographer who says your website has copyrighted images hosted
Apple iPad Air 2 vs Android Nexus tablet teardowns
06 March 2021 1 min read
Teardown time with some old tablets that no longer work or charge, some Apple iPad Air 2 and Android Nexus tablets
Workshop ESD Anti-Static upgrades
15 February 2021 2 min read
Trying to avoid zapping electronics by adding new ESD Anti-Static matting on the bench and floor in our workshop.
Raspberry Pi High Quality Camera on the Microscope
29 January 2021 5 min read
Adding a live video feed to our Brunel BMSZ trinocular stereomicroscope using a Raspberry Pi High-Quality Camera module and USB interface
ESP8266 Wifi RGB LED Controller
18 January 2021 2 min read
Adding RGB to all the things in the loft workshop using an ESP8266 Wifi module to make a custom RGB LED Controller
AMD Ryzen 9 3900X PC build in Fractal Design Meshify S2 case
14 January 2021 2 min read
PC built time for the loft workshop with a new AMD Ryzen 9 3900X PC build in Fractal Design Meshify S2 case
Amazon Echo Dot 4th Gen Smart Speaker Teardown
19 December 2020 8 min read
Teardown time with an Amazon Echo Dot 4th generation smart speaker, find out how Alexa is listening to you
Amazon Echo Dot 3rd Gen Smart Speaker with Clock Teardown
18 December 2020 6 min read
Teardown time with an Amazon Echo Dot 3rd generation smart speaker with a built-in LED clock on the side
New Workshop Video Recording Setup
18 December 2020 5 min read
Lights, Camera, and Action in the loft workshop with our new workshop video recording setup with some powerful LED lighting panels
Workshop LED Light Panels
12 December 2020 4 min read
Building LED Light panels and brightness controllers to improve the desk lighting in our workshop for photography and video production.
Sonos Door and Window Alerts from Home Assistant
01 November 2020 5 min read
Using Zigbee door and window sensors to trigger alerts in Home Assistant to our tablets, phones and Sonos smart speakers.
Kasa Smart Plug by TP-Link Power Consumption Mods
25 October 2020 4 min read
Modifying a Kasa Smart Plug by TP-Link Power to reduce its power consumption when being used to monitor a device's energy usage
Adding 10Gb Fibre to the home network
24 October 2020 9 min read
Everyone needs some fibre in their diet and we have added more to the home network using 10Gb Fibre to connect our computers and Synology network storage devices via a MikroTik CRS309-1G-8S+IN network switch
Back Pain with Sciatica during Lockdown
17 October 2020 18 min read
In March I damaged my lower spine when working on our allotment resulting in a herniated disk at the base of my spine pressing into the nerves causing bad pain with sciatica during covid lockdown
Record Vise No 1 and No 2 Restoration
23 September 2020 7 min read
See how I restored a pair of old Record Vise No 1 and No 2 models from rusty to shiny
Social Meta Tag Generator
05 July 2020 3 min read
Some code which may be useful to someone else, a Social Meta Tag Generator for your website to generate all the different social meta tags for social media sharing
Transferring Apple Watch workouts into Garmin Connect
19 May 2020 5 min read
Find out how you can import your Apple Watch workouts into Garmin Connect using the HealthFit app on your iPhone to iCloud
Blackmagic Intensity Pro 4K Heatsink mod
02 May 2020 3 min read
Trying to make our Blackmagic Intensity Pro 4K quieter with a new heatsink modification
Phone cradle with Garmin Quarter turn mount
13 April 2020 3 min read
Making a custom mobile phone cradle with Garmin Quarter turn mount to use with the bike on the smart trainer at home
Yaesu VX-6 New Data Cable Fix
07 April 2020 4 min read
Modifying a new eBay USB data cable for a Yaesu VX-6 radio which was sending wrong voltages to the radio and other missing parts from the circuit
PartFinder component inventory manager
29 March 2020 6 min read
After spending far too long looking for components and parts, I wrote a component inventory manager called PartFinder and released it as open source for anyone to download and use
Amazon Echo Flex Teardown
28 March 2020 20 min read
Teardown of an Amazon Echo Flex smart plug which listens to your commands via the Alexa service and replies using a very tiny speaker
When lightning strikes
17 March 2020 9 min read
Antennas vaporising, telephone sockets launching across the room. What happens when lightning strikes a house?
Pioneer SX-N30 Stereo Receiver 12V Remote Output Mod
11 March 2020 4 min read
Modifying a Pioneer SX-N30 Stereo Receiver to add a remote control 12-volt output
Synology DiskStation DS411+II Repair - Blue Flashing LED
28 February 2020 5 min read
Fixing a blue flashing LED problem on our Synology DiskStation DS411+II NAS drive due to a bug with the Intel Atom C2538 processor
The importance of checking your data backups
22 January 2020 5 min read
Check your data backups regularly. Don't wait until you need them and find out your backup system has failed
Sony Bravia 55XE90 KD-55XE9005 Teardown VR Damage
15 January 2020 6 min read
An unfortunate VR accident involving my 55-inch Sony Bravia TV created a perfect opportunity for a tear-down.
Collecting old photos of my hometown of Swanage
30 December 2019 3 min read
Keeping history alive by collecting old photos of my hometown of Swanage
Amazon Echo Input Teardown
03 December 2019 7 min read
Teardown of the Amazon Echo Input and trying to extract the firmware
Developing a new product to sell
29 November 2019 7 min read
The steps we take when designing a new product to sell
12V SLA Battery Testers
21 November 2019 3 min read
Creating new low-profile 12V battery testers to monitor sealed lead acid batteries
Trying to Save Power and Lower our Energy Bills
04 October 2019 8 min read
Looking at ways to reduce electricity consumption, help the environment and save some money.
Aim-TTi TF930 3GHz Frequency Counter Internal PSU
02 October 2019 3 min read
Adding an internal power supply to our Aim-TTi TF930 3GHz Frequency Counter
Workshop Tool Storage Rack
02 October 2019 3 min read
Building a bespoke oak and pine wooden storage rack for the hand tools in our workshop.
New Brunel BMSZ trinocular stereomicroscope
25 September 2019 4 min read
We have a new microscope, a Brunel BMSZ trinocular stereo microscope
Oculus Rift broken Cable repair attempt
18 September 2019 5 min read
Trying and failing to repair the cable which connects the headset to the computer for my Oculus Rift virtual reality system
New C.I.F FT 03 Batch reflow oven
05 September 2019 5 min read
Our old reflow oven finally died so we ordered a new C.I.F FT 03 Batch reflow oven
Echo Dot 3rd Gen Digging Deeper
10 August 2019 30 min read
Digging deeper into the Amazon Echo Dot 3rd Generation smart speaker
Sony MDS-JE440 Minidisc loading belt replacement
29 July 2019 3 min read
Replacing the loading belt on an old Sony MDS-JE440 Minidisc player.
Echo Dot 3rd Gen Smart speaker Teardown
21 July 2019 5 min read
Teardown of the Amazon Echo Dot 3rd Generation Smart speaker
Broadband problems with REIN interference
16 July 2019 7 min read
Some of our electrical equipment was transmitting on random frequencies where it shouldn’t and causing problems with our broadband internet with REIN interference
SMA 50-ohm terminator dummy loads
16 July 2019 3 min read
Making some tiny SMA 50-ohm terminator dummy loads
Ford sync 3 interference white noise from speakers
05 July 2019 1 min read
Our Ford sync 3 system in the car has a random interference issue which makes very loud white noise from speakers
CNC Mill new Fixed Z Axis Upgrade
19 June 2019 8 min read
Upgrading our CNC Mill with a new more stable Fixed Z Axis
CNC Mill Driver and Motor Controller Upgrades
02 June 2019 4 min read
Upgrades to our CNC Mill with a new driver and motor controller improvements
CIF CF02 reflow oven heater module upgrade
12 February 2019 4 min read
Replacing the old IR lamps in the CIF CF02 reflow oven with new heater modules
Be quiet silent loop water cooler fail
15 October 2018 2 min read
Be quiet silent loop water cooler failed after only a few months
GoPro Hero 7 Black first ride videos
29 September 2018 6 min read
Sample videos from the new GoPro Hero 7 Black when out on the bikes in the Isle of Purbeck
Solar Hot Water to 1-Wire Interface
30 May 2018 3 min read
Adding a 1-Wire Interface to our Solar Hot Water Controller to allow it to talk to our home server and data logger
Bitmap to Byte array for e-ink display
28 April 2018 2 min read
Bitmap to Byte array for e-ink display software
Twenty Years of being Self Employed
04 April 2018 9 min read
Building websites, taking photos and running an e-commerce electronics shop.
Mosquitto MQTT and Home Assistant Data Logging
14 March 2018 4 min read
Using Mosquitto MQTT and Home Assistant Data to log sensor data for our home using different types of wired and wireless sensors
Gigabit Internet Gateway Network PC
16 December 2017 4 min read
Upgrade time for our home Linux server with a new low-power Gigabit Internet Gateway Network PC
Pick and Place Software Version 2-2 Update
06 November 2017 2 min read
New and improved software for the DIY Pick and Place machine with version 2-2 update
tp-link LB130 Smart Wi-Fi LED Bulb Python Control
30 August 2017 12 min read
Controlling a TP-Link LB130 Smart Wi-Fi LED Bulb using Python on a Raspberry Pi.
Milling Machine Ballscrew End Float Fix
28 August 2017 2 min read
Fixing the end float on our milling machine with new threaded adapters
Home Network Upgrade - 48 port switch
22 August 2017 3 min read
A big upgrade to our home network with a new 48 port switch and patch panel
Setting up Home Assistant on Raspbian Jessie Lite with I2C
10 August 2017 6 min read
Instructions for setting up Home Assistant on Raspbian Jessie Lite with I2C on the Raspberry Pi
Pick and Place Software 2017
21 June 2017 2 min read
A new version of Pick and Place Software to use on our DIY PNP machine
Raspberry Pi Zero Handheld Barcode Scanner Part 3
02 June 2017 9 min read
Part three of our Raspberry Pi Zero Handheld Barcode Scanner project
Testing 18650 Li-ion Batteries
11 May 2017 2 min read
Buying cheap 18650 Li-ion batteries from eBay and testing their performance.
Building a Linux server with an Asus Tinker Board
28 April 2017 9 min read
Using an Asus Tinker Board to build a small low powered Linux server
Raspberry Pi Zero Handheld Barcode Scanner Part 2
23 April 2017 6 min read
Part two of our Raspberry Pi Zero Handheld Barcode Scanner project
Raspberry Pi Zero W external antenna mod
04 March 2017 6 min read
Modifying a Raspberry Pi Zero W to add an external antenna with a U.FL RF connector
HP MediaSmart EX475 VGA Port Mod and Linux Install
19 February 2017 6 min read
Adding a VGA port to an HP MediaSmart EX475 home server and installing Linux
Raspberry Pi Zero Handheld Barcode Scanner Part 1
15 January 2017 4 min read
Part one of our Raspberry Pi Zero Handheld Barcode Scanner project
CIF CF02 Reflow Oven Upgrade to Zallus Learning Controller
09 December 2016 11 min read
Adding a Zallus Learning Controller to our CIF CF02 Reflow Oven to give Android tablet control of the reflow process
Nextbase 512G Dashcam low profile mount mod for Ford Focus
30 October 2016 6 min read
Making a low-profile mount mod for a Nextbase 512G Dashcam in my Ford Focus
Ford Sync 3 USB Drive Music Playlists
22 October 2016 4 min read
Creating music playlists to use in my Ford Focus and Ford Sync 3 software to play music from an external USB drive
Home Energy Solar Logger Update
06 September 2016 2 min read
More updates to our Home Energy Solar Logger
10Mhz Frequency Standard Distribution Project
04 September 2016 8 min read
Creating a 10Mhz Rubidium Frequency Standard with an SMA distribution board
Camera Carry Grip Handle
29 August 2016 5 min read
Making a custom aluminium camera carry grip handle for my Canon DSLR
Oculus Rift first impressions and VR sickness
31 July 2016 7 min read
Trying VR for the first time and regretting trying a flight sim on the first day
Summer 2016 Workshop Update
19 July 2016 9 min read
An update on the state of our workshop after the slate roof on our house was replaced.
CIF Relflow oven forced air cooling fan addon
23 April 2016 6 min read
Adding forced air cooling to our CIF Reflow oven
5uH LISN Tester Project
16 April 2016 3 min read
Building a 5uH Line Impedance Stabilization Network Tester Project
Garmin Edge 810 and GoPro Hero 3 GPS Interference
21 February 2016 3 min read
My GoPro Hero 3 was causing GPS Interference with my Garmin Edge 810 bike computer
Gas Meter Hall Effect Sensor
13 January 2016 4 min read
Modifying a reed switch-based gas meter sensor to use a hall effect sensor to allow us to record gas usage
ESP8266 Mains Energy Monitor
01 January 2016 7 min read
Building a custom ESP8266-based Wi-Fi mains electric and gas monitoring system
Virtual Swanage 20 years old
01 January 2016 5 min read
Our tourism website Virtual Swanage is 20 years old. A look back at the history of the website.
Nest and Solar Logger Update
12 December 2015 7 min read
It has now been a week since we installed the Nest 3rd Gen Learning Thermostat and we have been able to try the auto learning and heating / hot water schedules the thermostat offers
Nest Learning Thermostat 3rd Gen Hot Water Installation
04 December 2015 8 min read
Replacing our old dumb central heating controller with a Nest Learning Thermostat 3rd Gen and Hot Water Installation
Starting your own ecommerce business
03 December 2015 11 min read
After building websites for customers for over a decade we decided to start our own e-commerce business.
Raspberry Pi Solar Data Logger Version 2
30 November 2015 12 min read
Time to replace our Raspberry Pi solar data logger with a new version 2 revision with more features and sensors
Mastervolt Soladin 600 Optical Interface Noise Fail
11 November 2015 4 min read
Trying to add an optical interface to our Mastervolt Soladin 600 solar mains inverter but had problems with unwanted RF noise from the inverter
USB MultiComms Part Four Case
11 November 2015 4 min read
Putting everything together in an enclosure and making custom front panels.
USB MultiComms Part Three UART Board
11 November 2015 4 min read
Designing an isolated USB to UART interface.
USB MultiComms Part Two RS232 Board
31 October 2015 6 min read
Designing an isolated USB to RS232 interface.
USB MultiComms Part One USB Board
15 October 2015 3 min read
Designing a modular serial interface for RS232, RS485, I2C, SPI and JTAG.
Sinclair ZX81 Kit Build
13 October 2015 3 min read
We purchased a boxed and unopened Sinclair ZX81 Kit from eBay and decided to build it and see if it still worked after being in a box for over 30 years
Hope One LED Light GoPro mount
30 September 2015 4 min read
Making a custom Hope One LED Light and GoPro mount
QuietPC Silent Fan Upgrade
22 August 2015 4 min read
Upgrading the cooling in our mini PC with a QuietPC Silent Fan Upgrade
USB Smart Charger with Bluetooth LE
11 August 2015 6 min read
Designing a USB smart charger with wireless power monitoring.
HackRF One Shielded Case Installation
01 August 2015 3 min read
Installing a shielded case for our HackRF One software-defined radio
Powerpole Fused Distribution Board Case
31 July 2015 1 min read
Making a plastic case for the Powerpole Fused Distribution Board
Designing a PIC24 Development Board
08 July 2015 3 min read
Designing a PIC24 Development Board to use with different microcontrollers
July Storms and Flooding
07 July 2015 2 min read
Summer storms in July and local flooding in Swanage and the Isle of Purbeck
Windows 10 IOT Libraries for Raspberry Pi
15 June 2015 2 min read
Writing Windows 10 IOT Libraries to work with our Raspberry Pi development boards.
DIY Pick and Place Speed Updates
19 May 2015 3 min read
Software tuning to make our DIY Pick and Place place components faster
DIY Soldering Robot Project Completed
04 May 2015 12 min read
We made a soldering robot to solder dual-row headers for Raspberry Pi development boards
Soldering Robot Designing the Motor Driver Board
07 April 2015 7 min read
Designing the Motor Driver Board for our soldering robot project
Soldering Robot Temperature Controller
06 April 2015 6 min read
With the mechanical side of the soldering robot well underway the next stage was to begin work on the electronics that will control it.
Soldering Robot Solder Feeder
25 March 2015 3 min read
Making a pinch roller style feeder for the Soldering Robot project
HackRF One SDR EMI Shield installation
23 March 2015 2 min read
Adding an EMI shield to our HackRF One SDR
Soldering Robot Head Assembly
14 March 2015 2 min read
Building the head assembly for the Soldering Robot project
Antex TCS230 50W Temperature Controller Part 1
08 March 2015 5 min read
Making an Antex TCS230 50W Temperature Controller
Cycle Training with Video Routes
26 January 2015 4 min read
Cycle Training with Video Routes to use with the Wahoo Fitness KICKR smart bike trainer
Raspberry Pi board Test Jigs
21 December 2014 4 min read
How we test our Raspberry Pi boards with custom test jigs
Postal Address Parser
22 November 2014 85 min read
A Postal Address Parser that is written in C Sharp
Cateye Micro Wireless Bike Computer interference
09 November 2014 4 min read
LED lights causing RF interference with Cateye Micro Wireless Bike Computer stopping the speed sensor from working
Maynuo M9812 Serial to USB Adapter
19 October 2014 4 min read
Making a serial to USB adapter for our Maynuo M9812 programmable DC electronic load
SMC Vacuum and Air Valve Upgrade
12 October 2014 5 min read
SMC Vacuum and Air Valve Upgrade on the DIY pick and place machine
Maynuo M9812 Programmable LED DC Electronic Load
02 October 2014 3 min read
We added a Maynuo M9812 Programmable LED DC Electronic Load to our workshop
Mastervolt Soladin RF Filtering
04 September 2014 4 min read
The Mastervolt Soladin 600 solar mains inverter has an issue where is it causing a lot of RF interference so we added additional RF Filtering and screening to try to reduce the unwanted radio emissions
LEE Bug Filters and GoPro Hero
31 August 2014 2 min read
Testing new LEE Bug Filters on the GoPro Hero camera
ModernUI Pick and Place Controller Software
10 August 2014 2 min read
New software for the Pick and Place robot with ModernUI-themed Pick and Place Controller Software
Mastervolt Soladin 600 Inverter RF Interference
18 July 2014 2 min read
Tracking down the source of RF Interference across the HF bands and it was the Mastervolt Soladin 600 Inverter
Vacuum Valve air flow modification
09 July 2014 2 min read
Modifying the vacuum valves on our DIY pick and place machine.
Pick and Place Controller V3 Part 2
09 July 2014 3 min read
More updates to our Pick and Place robot with a new controller V3 Part 2
Powerpole Fused Distribution Board
09 July 2014 2 min read
Making a low-voltage power distribution board using Powerpole connectors and automotive blade fuses
DIY Pick and Place Design Files
24 June 2014 1 min read
DIY Pick and Place Design Files available to download from GitHub
Pick and Place Controller V3 Part 1
12 June 2014 2 min read
More updates to our Pick and Place robot with a new controller V3 Part 1
Pick and Place Cable Upgrades
22 May 2014 2 min read
Pick and Place Cable Upgrades with Chainflex CF240 data cable from igus GmbH
Railway Sky LED Controller
23 March 2014 7 min read
Making a custom ATmega328P-based Railway Sky LED Controller
SolarStorm X2 LED Bike Lights Mount Modifications
18 March 2014 3 min read
SolarStorm X2 LED Bike Lights Mount improvements
GoPro Hero 2 Handlebar mount
15 March 2014 2 min read
Making a custom handlebar mount for the GoPro Hero 2
Pick and Place Picker Software Upgrade
04 March 2014 2 min read
Bug finding in the Pick and Place Picker Software
PSU Temperature Monitor
27 February 2014 5 min read
Adding a cooling fan controller for our bench power supply with a custom PSU Temperature Monitor
Atmel AVR Dragon Programmer Case
20 February 2014 1 min read
Making a plastic case for our Atmel AVR Dragon Programmer
Pick and Place USB Control Software
08 February 2014 2 min read
The first version of the Pick and Place USB Control Software
DIY Pick and Place USB Controller Board
28 January 2014 4 min read
Making a USB Controller Board for the DIY Pick and Place machine
Variable RF Signal Sampler
16 January 2014 3 min read
Building a variable RF signal sampler to check the outputs on amateur (Ham) radios transmitters.
Metcal SP200 Soldering Station Repair
14 January 2014 3 min read
Repairing one of our Metcal SP200 Soldering stations
Canon Camera Wireless Remote Control
23 December 2013 5 min read
Canon camera wireless remote control with an Android tablet
Manual Pick and Place V2
05 December 2013 2 min read
Making a new version two manual Pick and Place machine to place components on custom PCBs
DIY Pick and Place V2 Project Complete
23 November 2013 18 min read
Our DIY Pick and Place V2 Project is finally completed and running building circuit boards
DIY Pick and Place V2 Base Vision LED Array
02 November 2013 1 min read
Making a custom LED array for the base vision camera on our DIY Pick and Place V2 project
DIY Pick and Place V2 Vibratory Chip Feeder
27 October 2013 2 min read
Building a vibratory chip feeder for our DIY Pick and Place V2 project
DIY Pick and Place V2 Vacuum Nozzle Holders
24 October 2013 2 min read
Making Vacuum Nozzle Holders for our DIY Pick and Place V2 project
DIY Pick and Place V2 Pick and Place Vision System
17 October 2013 2 min read
Creating the camera vision system for our DIY Pick and Place V2 project
DIY Pick and Place V2 All Axis Testing
12 October 2013 2 min read
Testing all the stepper motor axis on our new DIY Pick and Place V2 project
DIY Pick and Place V2 Feeder Activator build problems
01 October 2013 2 min read
Resolving problems with the feeder activator on the DIY Pick and Place V2 project
DIY Pick and Place V2 Picker X Axis build update
26 September 2013 2 min read
More work on the X-Axis on the DIY Pick and Place V2 Picker project
DIY Pick and Place V2 Picker Y Axis gearbox and drive
16 September 2013 2 min read
Adding the Y-Axis gearbox and drive to our DIY Pick and Place V2 project
DIY Pick and Place V2 Picker Head Assembly
04 September 2013 3 min read
Designing and milling the parts for the Picker Head Assembly on the DIY Pick and Place V2 project
Agilent InfiniiVision MSOX2024A Oscilloscope I2C Analysis
21 August 2013 2 min read
Using our Agilent InfiniiVision MSOX2024A Oscilloscope for I2C analysis
Raspberry Pi Solar Data Logger v2 Plans
22 July 2013 4 min read
Planning to build a new Raspberry Pi Solar Data Logger version two to replace our current data logger
Raspberry Pi GPIO Protection
06 July 2013 5 min read
Building a protection circuit for the Raspberry Pi GPIO ports
Landrover Defender Replacement crossmember fitting
29 June 2013 4 min read
The Landrover rot had attacked the back of my Landrover Defender so I fitted a replacement heavy duty cross member
Workshop ESD Protection
19 June 2013 1 min read
Adding an ESD antistatic mat and wrist straps to our workbench.
Cental Heating Control via Windows Phone and Raspberry Pi
10 June 2013 2 min read
Using a Windows Phone and a Raspberry Pi to control our home's gas-powered central heating system
Raspberry Pi solar data logger after one year
06 June 2013 2 min read
Twelve months of data from our Raspberry Pi solar data logger
Land Rover Defender roof insulation upgrade
31 May 2013 2 min read
Adding insulation into the roof of our Land Rover Defender to try to keep it warmer in the winter
Solar Air Removal Upgrade SpiroVent RV2
31 May 2013 2 min read
Adding an automatic air removal vent to our solar thermal system using a SpiroVent RV2
TECHNO SD 240 Manual operated stencil printer
18 May 2013 2 min read
Reviewing a commercially made manual-operated PCB stencil printer.
Dangerous LED Outdoor Floodlights
05 May 2013 2 min read
Dangerous LED outdoor floodlights with no earth connection on the metal body
Kent Hand Morse Key Restoration
29 April 2013 2 min read
I purchased a used and very tatty Kent Hand Morse Key from eBay and restored it to a new condition
Apple ATI Radeon HD 5870 Fan Upgrade
28 April 2013 2 min read
Improving the cooling on an Apple ATI Radeon HD 5870 graphics card
Android Tablet and Arduino DIY pick and place component selector
14 April 2013 4 min read
Using an Android Tablet and Arduino on the DIY pick and place component selector
Etching your own PCBs
01 April 2013 3 min read
Creating Your Own PCBs Using UV Exposure and Etching Fluid: A Step-by-Step Guide
Vacuum Pickup upgrade
27 February 2013 2 min read
Upgrading the vacuum pickup on our DIY manual pick and place machine.
Automatic component feeders DIY pick and place Part 2
27 February 2013 2 min read
Automatic component feeders for the DIY pick and place machine Part 2
Low Voltage Cut off using MAX8212
10 February 2013 1 min read
Using a MAX8212 to add a low voltage cut-off on our off-grid solar PV system
Raspberry Pi model A vs Model B
06 February 2013 3 min read
Comparing the Raspberry Pi model A and the new Model B
Yaesu FT 817 Cat Control Headaches
23 January 2013 2 min read
Problems with the programming / CAT cable for my Yaesu FT 817 transceiver.
Small Space Workshops
05 January 2013 3 min read
Showing how we work in a workshop which is only 4x3 meters for our electronic and other projects
Automatic component feeders DIY pick and place Part 1
01 December 2012 2 min read
Adding automatic component feeders to the manual DIY pick and place Part 1
New Raspberry Pi Analogue to Digital converter
20 November 2012 2 min read
We have a new version of our Raspberry Pi Analogue to Digital converter
Panasonic Pick and Place Feeder Hack
13 November 2012 2 min read
Modifying a commercial Panasonic SMT feeder to use on a custom pick and place machine
Diy Manual Pick and Place Machine
19 October 2012 5 min read
Building our own DIY Manual Pick and Place Machine
T962 Infrared Reflow Oven Vent Hack
02 October 2012 2 min read
Modifying a T962 infrared reflow oven to try and improve its cooking performance.
RF Shielding on a Mains Inverter
19 September 2012 2 min read
Our mains solar inverter is causing RF interference on our ham radio transceivers so we put it in a metal case to improve the RF shielding
ADC Pi Raspberry Pi I2C Analog to Digital Converter boards available to buy online
14 September 2012 3 min read
ADC Pi Raspberry Pi I2C Analog to Digital Converter boards available to buy online from our new shop at AB Electronics UK
Axminster SIEG Super X1 Micro Mill Z Axis Ballscrew Upgrade
05 September 2012 3 min read
Adding a ballscrew to the Z-Axis on our Axminster SIEG Super X1 Micro Mill
Cheap Sources of Components
19 August 2012 3 min read
How do we find cheap sources of electronic components
XBee Central Heating Control via Raspberry Pi
10 August 2012 2 min read
Using an XBee wireless module and a Raspberry Pi to control a Drayton Lifestyle LP522 central heating programmer.
Raspberry Pi central heating controller
08 August 2012 3 min read
Modifying an ACL Drayton Lifestyle central heating controller to work with a Raspberry Pi
12v iPad Charger
01 August 2012 2 min read
Making a 12v iPad Charger to use with our off-grid solar system
The Hackaday Effect
25 July 2012 2 min read
What happens when a blog post appears on the Hackaday website?
Raspberry Pi Solar Data Logger
24 July 2012 2 min read
Building a data logger using a Raspberry Pi to record data from our solar PV system
Raspberry Pi Fan Controller and Interface
20 July 2012 2 min read
Raspberry Pi Fan Controller and Interface
Raspberry Pi I2C Microchip MCP3428 ADC Reading
14 July 2012 1 min read
Using a Microchip MCP3428 ADC via I2C and the Raspberry Pi to read voltages
Raspberry Pi I2C Analog to Digital Converter
11 July 2012 3 min read
Our first Raspberry Pi I2C Analog to Digital Converter with a power supply
Raspberry Pi I2C Microchip MCP9800123 Temperature Sensor
06 July 2012 2 min read
Using a Microchip MCP9800123 temperature sensor with a Raspberry Pi
IOIO Android I2C Light Levels using TSL2561 Logging Code
26 June 2012 7 min read
Measuring Light Levels using TSL2561 and IOIO Android board via I2C
IOIO Android I2C Temperature Logging Code
26 June 2012 5 min read
IOIO Android I2C Temperature Logging Code
From Arduino to IOIO and Android Solar Logging
11 June 2012 2 min read
Moving from an Arduino board to the IOIO platform and Android Solar Logging Project
Arduino Solar Logging Installed
26 May 2012 2 min read
Our new Arduino based solar PV data logger is installed
Arduino Mains Voltage and Current Logging
13 May 2012 1 min read
Measuring mains voltage and current using an Arduino
Solar Hot Water Install Dual Coil Cylinder
13 May 2012 2 min read
Solar Hot Water Install Dual Coil Cylinder
Solar Hot Water Install Stage One
02 May 2012 1 min read
Starting the installation of our new solar hot water system
Arduino based Solar PV and Hot water monitoring and logging
29 April 2012 3 min read
Using an Arduino to add monitoring and logging to the Solar PV and Hot water
BlackMagic Intensity Pro HDMI capture of Galaxy Nexus and iPad 2
07 February 2012 3 min read
Using a BlackMagic Intensity Pro HDMI capture card with a Galaxy Nexus and iPad 2
Wiring Land Rover Defender Heated Seats
22 January 2012 2 min read
Fitting and wiring TDCI/ PUMA Defender heated seats into our Land Rover Defender.
Website Design the day job update
04 January 2012 3 min read
Updates on what I have been doing in my website design day job.
Camera mount with finder scope fitting for HEQ5 PRO mount
21 December 2011 1 min read
Camera mount with finder scope fitting for HEQ5 PRO mount for nighttime photography
Fitting a Redbooster Clutch Servo kit to an TD5 Landrover Defender
08 November 2011 3 min read
Fitting a Redbooster Clutch Servo kit to a TD5 Landrover Defender to reduce the weight of the clutch pedal to make driving with a damaged knee easier
HTC HD7 and Apple iPod Touch Wooden Stand
29 August 2011 2 min read
Making a custom HTC HD7 and Apple iPod Touch Wooden Stand
Canon MPE 65mm to Sigma EM 140 DG ringflash adapter
30 June 2011 2 min read
Making a Canon MPE 65mm to Sigma EM 140 DG ring flash adapter
iPod dock in dashboard for Landrover Defender
07 March 2011 3 min read
Making a custom hidden iPod dock in the dashboard for Landrover Defender to hide the iPod
Fitting a Raptor Dash into a 1999 TD5 Defender
22 January 2011 1 min read
Fitting a Raptor Dashboard into a 1999 TD5 Land Rover Defender
PDF Printing from a Server using C#
21 December 2010 1 min read
Code to enable PDF Printing from a Server using C#
Acuter Merlin Orion Motorised AZ Mount controlled by a Wii Nunchuk with remote zoom
17 October 2010 7 min read
Making a Wii Nunchuk controller work with an Acuter Merlin Orion Motorised AZ Mount with remote zoom
Land Rover Defender Split Charge Setup
08 October 2010 2 min read
Adding a split charge system and second battery in our Land Rover Defender
Excess Packaging from RS Components
03 September 2010 1 min read
Huge package, tiny component, excess packaging from RS Components
Merlin Panohead Modifications to take Canon 5D Mk 2
13 August 2010 2 min read
Modifying a Merlin Panohead to take Canon 5D Mk 2 Camera and lens
Axminster SIEG Super X1 Micro Mill Dremel Addition
31 May 2010 1 min read
Making a bracket and mount for a Dremel on our Axminster SIEG Super X1 Micro Mill
HTC Desire Custom Wood Dock
02 May 2010 2 min read
Making a custom wood phone charging dock for an HTC Desire
Axminster SIEG Super X1 Micro Mill Ballscrew Upgrade and Modifications
13 February 2010 4 min read
Adding ballscrews and other upgrades to our Axminster SIEG Super X1 Micro Mill
Axminster SIEG C1 Micro Lathe Modifications
25 January 2010 3 min read
Replacing the plastic gearbox on our Axminster SIEG C1 Micro Lathe
Apple G5 iMac Screen Flickering and Screen Corruption
19 January 2010 2 min read
Blown capacitors causing screen flickering and corruption on an Apple G5 iMac
DIY Rotary 360 Table for Product Shots
30 December 2009 1 min read
DIY Rotary 360 Table for Product Shots
CNC Mill Controller for Stepper Motor Milling Machine
21 November 2009 2 min read
Making a joystick-controlled CNC Mill Controller for the stepper motors on our milling machine
DIY Camera Laser Break Beam Trigger MK 2
26 October 2009 2 min read
Making a new version of the DIY camera laser break beam trigger MK 2
DIY Camera Laser Break Beam Trigger
18 October 2009 3 min read
Making a new optical camera laser break beam trigger
Apple Mac Pro Tower High Pitch Whine
11 October 2009 2 min read
When your Apple Mac Pro tower has an annoying high-pitch-whining noise
DIY Chromakey wall
29 September 2009 2 min read
Making a big DIY chromakey wall for green screen recording
Logitech Harmony 885 remote control 12 Volt Solar Charger
27 June 2009 2 min read
Making a 12-volt solar charger for a Logitech Harmony 885 remote control
DIY LCD monitor flush wall mount
26 June 2009 2 min read
Making a slimline DIY LCD monitor flush wall mount
aluminium imac hard drive upgrade guide
16 November 2008 3 min read
Upgrading the hard drive in a 2007-2008 Apple iMac to a 1.5TB drive
RC Bike Project with Carbon frame
29 September 2008 3 min read
Designing a custom 1/5 scale radio-controlled electric motorbike using a carbon fibre chassis and adjustable pivot suspension unit
Watercooled Xbox 360
29 July 2008 2 min read
Attempts at milling a CPU cooling block and water-cooling an Xbox 360 games console
External Button Connections
14 May 2007 3 min read
Adding external button connections to an Xbox 360 steering wheel
Steering wheel bearings upgrade
15 December 2006 2 min read
Upgrading the wheel bearings in an Xbox 360 steering wheel to use a metal bearing rather than a plastic bush
X1 Project First case change for a classic Xbox games console
10 June 2006 2 min read
A custom case based on an old CD player for a classic Xbox games console
X2 Custom case built to make the Xbox console as small and quiet as possible
09 June 2006 3 min read
A custom aluminium and wood case for the Xbox. Trying to make the Xbox console as small and quiet as possible
XMobile Xbox console in a car
08 June 2006 3 min read
Modifying an Xbox and LCD display to fit into the dashboard of a Citroen Saxo and run XBMC