Monthly Archives: July 2013

Make the TP-Link look like a real Arduino Shield

Posted on July 24, 2013 by robertwilkie

As the author points out, wireless cards for arduino can run you 50-60 dollars.  So he not only adapted the TP-link for the arduino, but converted it to fit on the arduino like an arduino shield.  Me, thats too much … Continue reading →

Posted in Arduino, Cheap | Comments Off on Make the TP-Link look like a real Arduino Shield

Nice Dice Speakers

Posted on July 24, 2013 by robertwilkie

Clever idea for portable speakers.  The speakers are part of a kit, but I don’t see why you can’t use speakers from an existing item and “re purpose” them. http://www.instructables.com/id/Cool-Dice-Speakers/

Posted in Cheap, Tinkering | Comments Off on Nice Dice Speakers

Cool tank like seed spreader

Posted on July 22, 2013 by robertwilkie

But I would never build it.  It came out of a joint work with PopSci and Instructables. But its really small I think thats a hand spreader its using).  And the parts are ALLOT of money, just the wheels I … Continue reading →

Posted in Arduino, robots | Comments Off on Cool tank like seed spreader

Free ways to learn another language

Posted on July 22, 2013 by robertwilkie

Got an itch (or need) to visit another country?  Need to learn the language first before going and don’t want to fork out cash for a translator or lessons. Here is a nice article about some free alternatives. http://gizmodo.com/five-free-online-tools-to-learn-another-language-734123988?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+gizmodo%2Ffull+%28Gizmodo%29

Posted in Cheap | Comments Off on Free ways to learn another language

Want to learn about an ARM processor

Posted on July 22, 2013 by robertwilkie

Here is a nice 45 minute lecture on the basics of it.  NOTE you do need some hardware background for this. http://dangerousprototypes.com/2013/07/21/video-arm-architecture-fundamentals/  

Posted in Tinkering | Comments Off on Want to learn about an ARM processor

BIY Solar Tracker

Posted on July 22, 2013 by robertwilkie

Nice write-up on building a solar tracker for a solar panel.  Trackers are nice since they make sure the panel is always facing the sun.  However, sometimes the power consumed for the tracker is more than the gains…. http://www.mdpub.com/suntracker/

Posted in solar | Comments Off on BIY Solar Tracker

How to put your RPi into a domain

Posted on July 19, 2013 by robertwilkie

Nice write-up on how to do this so you do not have to memorize its IP address. http://www.howtogeek.com/167190/how-and-why-to-assign-the-.local-domain-to-your-raspberry-pi/

Posted in RaspberryPi | Comments Off on How to put your RPi into a domain

Nice intro to model airplane propellers

Posted on July 19, 2013 by robertwilkie

If you want to start taking your robots into the sky, you should watch this video. http://makezine.com/video/maker-hangar-episode-2-propellers/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=%24%7Bfeed%7D&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+%24%7Bmakezineonline%7D+%28%24%7BMAKE%7D%29&utm_content=%24%7BGoogleReader%7D  

Posted in robots | Comments Off on Nice intro to model airplane propellers

Convert a bike dymo to recharge your devices

Posted on July 19, 2013 by robertwilkie

Basically the author makes a simple filter to keep the line noise down to charge up a gizmo. http://makezine.com/video/recharge-your-mobile-device-using-pedal-power-with-weekend-projects/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=%24%7Bfeed%7D&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+%24%7Bmakezineonline%7D+%28%24%7BMAKE%7D%29&utm_content=%24%7BGoogleReader%7D

Posted in Cheap, Tinkering | Comments Off on Convert a bike dymo to recharge your devices

Turn a TP-link into a musicbox

Posted on July 19, 2013 by robertwilkie

I almost fell over laughing on this one.  The author uses a TP-link TL-MR3020 to play music thru a USB to audio converter.  I guess its a cheap low power way to have wireless speakers? http://pixelatedpic.blogspot.com/2013/07/turning-tp-link-tl-mr3020-into-audio.html http://dangerousprototypes.com/2013/07/18/turning-a-tp-link-tl-mr3020-into-an-audio-player/

Posted in Cheap, Tinkering | Comments Off on Turn a TP-link into a musicbox