The VLF Transformation
People have long been interested in very low frequency (VLF) radio signals. But it used to be you pretty much had to build your own receiver which, luckily, wasn’t as …read more Continue reading The VLF Transformation
Author Archives: Al Williams
Silent Speak and Spell Gets Its Voice Back
While talking computers are old hat today, in 1978, a talking toy like the Speak and Spell was the height of novel tech. [Kevin] found a vintage one, but it …read more Continue reading Silent Speak and Spell Gets Its Voice Back
I, 3D Printer
Like many of us, [Ben] has too many 3D printers. What do you do with the old ones? In his case, he converted it into a robotic camera rig. See …read more Continue reading I, 3D Printer
Recto: In Case Programming isn’t Hard Enough
There’s long been a push to stop writing code as a sequence of lines and go to something graphical, which has been very successful in some areas and less so …read more Continue reading Recto: In Case Programming isn’t Hard Enough
The Nibbler was Quite a Scamp
The late 1970s were an interesting time for microcomputers. The rousing success of things like the 8080, the Z80, the 6800, and the 6502 made everyone wanted a piece of …read more Continue reading The Nibbler was Quite a Scamp
Suggested Schematic Standards
We often think that if a piece of software had the level of documentation you usually see for hardware, you wouldn’t think much of it. Sure, there are exceptions. Some …read more Continue reading Suggested Schematic Standards
Teletext Around the World, Still
When you mention Teletext or Videotex, you probably think of the 1970s British system, the well-known system in France, or the short-lived US attempt to launch the service. Before the …read more Continue reading Teletext Around the World, Still
Calibration, Good Old Calibration
Do you calibrate your digital meters? Most of us don’t have the gear to do a proper calibration, but [Mike Wyatt] shares his simple way to calibrate his DMMs using …read more Continue reading Calibration, Good Old Calibration
DIY Wind Turbine Gets a 3-Phase Rectifier
[Electronoobs] is using some brushless motors to make a DIY wind turbine. His recent video isn’t about the turbine itself, but a crucial electronic part: the three-phase rectifier. The reason …read more Continue reading DIY Wind Turbine Gets a 3-Phase Rectifier
For Americans Only: Estimating Celsius and Other Mental Metrics
I know many computer languages, but I’ve struggled all my life to learn a second human language. One of my problems is that I can’t stop trying to translate in …read more Continue reading For Americans Only: Estimating Celsius and Other Mental Metrics