Pete Brown's Blog (POKE 53280,0)
Pete Brown writes on a variety of topics from XAML with the Windows Runtime (WinRT), .NET programming using C#, WPF, Microcontroller programming with .NET Microframework, .NET Gadgeteer, Windows on Devices, and even plain old C, to raising two children in the suburbs of Maryland, woodworking, CNC and generally "making physical stuff". Oh, and Pete loves retro technology, especially Commodore (C64 and C128). If the content interests you, please subscribe using the subscription link to the right of every page.
Archive for tag:
Hardware
-
In this post, I'll cover the migration of this web site from a
long history of local hosting to Widows Azure Web Sites.
I've had my own personal domains (GroupLynx.com followed by
irritatedvowel.com followed by 10rem.net) since the mid 90s. Early
on, I used regular hosts. I've run my personal website out of a
succession of servers in my basement for at least a decade. It used
to b...
-
This is the story of how I moved my infrastructure out of my
house and into the hands of people who do this for a living.
In addition to six laptops (two for me, one for my wife, one for
each kid, one for my CNC machine) several PCs, and countless other
connected screens (tablets, phone, game consoles, smart tv, STB,
blu ray player, and more), I actively run three rack servers. One
is...
-
The Maker Geek Roundup aggregates information of interest to
makers everywhere. Topics include .NET Micro Framework, Arduino,
AVR and other MCUs, CNC, 3d Printing, Robotics, Microsoft Robotics
Studio, Electronics, General Maker stuff, and more. If you have
something interesting you've done or have run across, or you blog
regularly on the topics included here, please send me the URL and
...
Published
Wednesday, May 23, 2012 |
Tagged:
CNC, Commodore, Synthesizer, Hardware, c64, Netduino, Micro+Framework, Electronics, Kinect, 3d-Printing, MakerRoundup, Maker |
-
I like to make things. Scott and I talked about it on a recent
podcast. When I was much younger, I used to build model kits
(airplanes, tanks, etc.). Later, when living on my own, I built a
lot of LEGO kits as well as model railroad stuff. I've played with
CNC, and have plans for a 3d printer. Building physical items lets
your mind exercise something slightly different from what you use
...
-
We homeschool our two children. Ben, is kindergarten age, Abby
is pre-school age. My wife does, by far, most of the work there,
including trucking them to specialized classes (art, music,
gymnastics, karate, our homeschool group single day school, etc.)
plus all the playdates with the other kids, and special events.
Melissa even teaches several of the classes at the home school
group. I...
-
This module implements a basic MIDI In and MIDI Out interface
for 3.3v to 5v microcontrollers. MIDI is a 5v protocol, so special
steps were taken to step up the voltage on output, and step it down
(if 3.3v board) on input. This module includes a specific .NET
Gadgeteer-compatible 10 pin connector for use with .NET Gadgeteer
mainboards and the
Netduino Go, as well as a 5 pin .1" standar...
-
For anyone interested in open source microcontroller
development, or why boards are named with *duino type names, this
1/2 hour documentary is a great watch.
http://vimeo.com/18539129
Arduino.TheDocumentary.2010.English explains the origin of the
Arduino in a relatively non-technical interview-based documentary
style, with interviews for people involved in the creation, as well
...
-
Over the Christmas break, I decided to replace my great Samson
C01U mic with something a little more high end. Today was the first
day I really got to try it out at work.
Criteria
I knew I wanted a new mic, but there were some specific things I
was looking for. For the new one, I had the following criteria:
Not a USB mic. Straight XLR
Must sound good for close-talking voice o...
-
Much like the fax machine, the printer is a relic of the 80s
that just refuses to die. I'm ok with bringing back 80s fashion,
even acid washed jean jackets, but please make printers and faxes
go away.
Few things waste more IT time than printer drivers.
So, a few months back, I was messing around with my HP LaserJet
1320 printer and tried to install a legit HP PostScript driver for
...
-
Today I spent a little time at the drill press in my shed, and
made a huge mess with aluminum and cutting fluid.
Before you read on, here are the other installments in this
series. You may wish to look them over first.
Part
1: Initial Circuit Design and Prototyping (also includes parts
list and info about the rack case)
Part 2: PCB Layout and Manufacturing
Part 3: Manufa...
-
The custom circuit board arrived from PCB-POOL while I was away
at MADExpo. Of course, I couldn't wait to put it together. In this
part of the series, I'll assemble the circuit board. For
information on the previous steps, and more photos, please see
these blog posts
Part
1: Initial Circuit Design and Prototyping (also includes parts
list and info about the rack case)
Part 2: ...
-
I'm in the mood to build something. What I really want to build
is a big old analog synth, but I haven't worked my skills up to
that yet. This kit from Doepfer (which this beautiful and awesome but somewhat weak-sounding synth is based on) is
definitely an option to get me started, and is now sitting in my
"to do" pile here. (Incidentally, if I started with that kit and
wanted to make a ...
-
The mid-Atlantic community has come together to create an
awesome developer-oriented family event for June 30 and July 1,
2011: the Mid Atlantic Developer Expo.
Yes, I said family-oriented. We'll have a great expo area with
demos of interesting hardware hacking, robotics and other cool
things from both inside and outside the Microsoft development
community, many of which will be g...
-
I've been running the Ultimate PC as my main PC for about 5 months
now. I thought I'd post a few things
The Good
The SSD is amazing. While it seems slower now,
I realize that is just my perception and not an actual slow-down.
How? Just go use a machine with a regular hard drive and endure the
wait. I'm very happy with this purchase and would not hesitate to
do it again.
The 980x...
-
When working with digital protocols, such as SPI, a logic
analyzer can be indispensible. Unfortunately, they can also be
really expensive. For example, my $399 oscilloscope had a LA
option, but that bumped the scope price up to $1500, outside my
price range and definitely outside the Wife Acceptance Factor
range.
Finally, after much UPS drama (yes, this is the delivery I was
complain...
-
Half the battle when getting started with Netduino and other
.NET Micro Framework devices, is finding out what's out there.
Sadly, for many of us, the local full-service electronics shop is
no longer (or is so watered down with normal consumer fluff, that
they have no room for geek bits). Here's my list of on-line stores
I frequent when looking for new project electronics for my .NET
Mi...
-
The .NET Micro Framework (.NET MF) is an open
source (Apache licensed) version of the .NET Framework designed to
work on microcontrollers. Since it is OSS, you can port it using
the porting kit (link at the bottom) to any processor you want, if
you have the know-how.
Luckily, there exist a number of boards with the .NET MF already
ported, with the addition of a number of features and ...
-
Around the middle of last year, I ordered an evalbot from Texas
Instruments. They were having an insane special on it at the
time for people who had attended an event in Boston. I got in on
that and got the eval kit for a great price. The kit is the
"Stellaris Robotic Evaluation Board for use with Micrium´s
µC/OS-III (EKB-UCOS3-EVM)"
From the TI Site, the evaluation kit includes the f...
-
We have tons of choices in the Arduino-pin-compatible market
these days. Plus, if you're a .NET programmer like me, there are
several Arduino-compatible options for you. Below are a couple
pictures of the four boards I have.
I no longer have a photo booth set up so what follows are two
shots: one with flash and one without. From the top left,
clockwise, we have the Fez Panda, the Netd...
-
Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) is the process of
alternating a signal between two extreme values with little to no
intermediate steps. On the Netduino, these values are 0v and 3.3v.
In its most basic form, the output resembles a square wave, where
both the min and max values have the same duration.
The square wave (which can be created with PWM) is the second
down. The others, from ...
-
Not too long ago, I got my hands on a Netduino (an
Arduino-compatible board you program using the .NET Micro Framework
and Visual Studio 2010), and did the
obligatory BlinkenLight application. Afterwards, Scott way
one-upped me and
built an awesome morse code app. The stakes were getting
higher, so I had to do something that seemed cooler than morse
code. Hard to top, I know. I bet H...
-
So, while messing around in the case, I did what is easily the
worst thing I've done to a PC: I overstressed and pulled-out one of
the wires in the power supply. Unfortunately, that's one of the
three cables that is hard-wired to the power supply, so I couldn't
simply order/fine a new cable. I spent about 2 hours trying to
repair it in a way that would make me comfortable using the PC, b...