Need a Reactalyser?
We’ve noticed a recent surge in people recreating old projects from vintage electronics magazines, and we approve. After all, parts and PCBs are easier to get than ever, so other …read more Continue reading Need a Reactalyser?
Author Archives: Al Williams
WolfIP Doesn’t Allocate
For some types of embedded systems — especially those that are safety-critical — it’s considered bad form to dynamically allocate memory during operation. While you can usually arrange for your …read more Continue reading WolfIP Doesn’t Allocate
Thermostat? Do It With a 555!
It is a running gag around here that whenever a project posts, someone will inevitably point out that it could have been done with a 555 timer IC. [Stephen Woodward] …read more Continue reading Thermostat? Do It With a 555!
So Expensive, A Caveman Can Do It
A few years back a company had an ad campaign with a discouraged caveman who was angry because the company claimed their website was “so easy, even a caveman could …read more Continue reading So Expensive, A Caveman Can Do It
In Space (Probably) Everyone Can Hear You.. Well, You Know
The news is full of reports from the moon-bound Integrity, otherwise known as Artemis II. Mostly, the news is good, but there has been one “Houston, we have a problem…” …read more Continue reading In Space (Probably) Everyone Can Hear You.. Well, You Know
Heathkit Tuner Saved from Junk Pile
We miss the old Heathkit. You could build equipment that rivaled or even surpassed commercial devices. The cost was usually reasonable and, even if you could get by with less, …read more Continue reading Heathkit Tuner Saved from Junk Pile
Ask Hackaday: Using CoPilot? Are You Entertained?
There’s a great debate these days about what the current crop of AI chatbots should and shouldn’t do for you. We aren’t wise enough to know the answer, but we …read more Continue reading Ask Hackaday: Using CoPilot? Are You Entertained?
Spy Tech: Conflicts Bring a New Number Station
If you know much about radios and espionage, you’ve probably encountered number stations. These are mysterious stations that read out groups of numbers or otherwise encoded messages to… well… someone. …read more Continue reading Spy Tech: Conflicts Bring a New Number Station
Hackaday Podcast Episode 363: The History of PLA, Laser DIY PCBs, and Corporate Craziness
What did Elliot Williams and Al Williams read on Hackaday last week? Tune in and find out. After a bit of news, [Vik Oliver] chimes in with some deep PLA …read more Continue reading Hackaday Podcast Episode 363: The History of PLA, Laser DIY PCBs, and Corporate Craziness
Retail Fail: The :CueCat Disaster
Digital Convergence Corporation is hardly a household name, and there’s a good reason for that. However, it raised about $185 million in investments around the year 2000 from companies such …read more Continue reading Retail Fail: The :CueCat Disaster