Control – Geronimo/370

Making a new clock (1)

Posted on2023-01-022023-01-202 Comments

As you could have read in my previous post, I decided to create my own digital clock to replace the old nixie clock (R.I.P). Components The components I will be using are: The casing of the old nixie clock An Arduino Uno (for programming the ATMEGA328p chip. Actually that chip… Read the rest

Fixing old Nixie Clock (3) ?

Posted on2023-01-021 Comment

Well, maybe you remember the previous posts about my dad’s nixie clock? I was very satisfied when I got it working again. Now, after 8 months it finally broke down completely. Oh well, it lasted for (I think) over forty years! New beginnings I decided to take the guts out… Read the rest

SDR control iPad app for ICOM sets

Posted on2022-04-162022-04-16

Today I came across a very nice app with which one can control Icom transceivers. It is available in the App Store and it’s called SDR-Control for Icom. It works for LAN connected radio’s, so no cables needed, you can operate your set via Wifi. Icom’s IC-705, IC-7610 and IC-9700… Read the rest

Retro Z80 computer (6) – It works!

Posted on2021-12-16

I am one happy maker, I got my Z80 computer working right after building. All went well! The first lines of output are the boot screen: CP/M And of course I wanted to see CP/M running: Z80 Basic And after that, on to Z80 Basic version4.7b:… Read the rest

My audio stack

Posted on2021-10-092021-10-09

Below you can see my audio stack. At this moment it is in use for work related Teams and Skype meetings, later on, when I passed my exam and have obtained my license, I will also use it for HAM voice activities (QSO’s). The stack: Audio stack Components One by… Read the rest

My command center

Posted on2019-12-242019-12-242 Comments

In the image you can see my ‘command center’. I run 5 emulated mainframes, four of them on Raspberry Pi’s and one of the in the cloud. With all five system you see a 3270 terminal and the emulator console next to each other: Top left is my cloud system,… Read the rest

Totem – Robotic arm

Posted on2018-08-04

Totem – Robotic arm The guys at Totem sent me a sample of their robotic arm to review (link points to the mechanical version without the electronics). The version I received contains several Totem Bus modules to drive the arm. It is described on their web page as an “easy… Read the rest

Totem – Side Panel One Libraries

Posted on2018-02-21

Totem – Side Panel One Libraries Together with the guys from Totem, I’m developing libraries and classes to make use of the Side Panel 1 components. We decided, for educational purposes, to make one library per component. At Github, you can find the libraries and an example program (still under… Read the rest

IoT : Internet of Things – beta test Totem Bus system

Posted on2018-02-14

IoT : Internet of Things – beta test Totem Bus system Feeling a bit privileged today… I’ve been invited to participate in the (beta) testing of the Totem Bus system. It is a system with which one can connect up to 128 modules on a “CAN Bus” and it includes… Read the rest

Totem Rotary encoder – explained

Posted on2017-12-182021-11-12

Totem Rotary encoder – explained How does it work? I was fumbling around with the Totem Mini Lab’s Side Panel 1, especially with the rotary encoder that s mounted on this side board. At first, I could not make heads or tails from it, but, using my oscilloscope, I’ve figured… Read the rest

Totem Side Panel 1 – rotary Encoder

Posted on2017-12-08

Totem Side Panel 1 – rotary Encoder I did some further investigation into the working of the rotary encode in the Side Panel 1. At first, I could not make heads or tails from it, but I think I’ve figured it out now. It appears that both connections – labeled… Read the rest

Totem Mini Lab – testing the Side Panel 1

Posted on2017-12-08

Totem Mini Lab – testing the Side Panel 1 The Side Panel 1 is powered from the Mini Lab board, using both its 3,3 Volt and the 5 Volt connections. NOTE: it is very important to set the Side Panel 1 to the same voltage as has been set in… Read the rest

Totem Mini Lab – Side Panel 1

Posted on2017-12-05

Totem Mini Lab – Side Panel 1 I suppose in thanks for my review and for making contact between the Totem team and a Dutch distributor, they decided to send me a pre-production version of their Side Panel 1. Functions It’s a board with a couple of functions that make… Read the rest

There’s no standard like your own standard

Posted on2017-11-15

There’s no standard like your own standard Because more than one person can be working on the program of a MINDSTORMS robot at our school, International School Eerde, I devised a standard that every robot builder has to adhere to. This makes it possible to work on the programming for… Read the rest

Real robots don’t drive straight

Posted on2017-11-15

Real robots don’t drive straight This is the title of a publication by Fred G. Martin of the Computer Science department of the University of Massachusetts in Lowell. Basically, what he is trying to tell us is that sometimes we tend to cut corners and hide the interesting stuff from… Read the rest