Project description:
Intermittent failures in electronic systems are some of most difficult to diagnose. This device is designed to run for days at a time looking for a failure and logging the event.

Link: S-P-Y-D-A-R, Circuit Monitoring Device

Project description:
This device connects between the phone line, an answering machine, and your phones.  When a phone call comes in, the answering machine picks up the call and informs the caller to enter the access code to ring the phone or to wait for the beep and leave a message.  If the correct code is entered, the answering machine is immediately disconnected while the device generates phone ringing tones on an external speaker.

Link: Phone Call Interceptor

Project description:
After the recent demise of our multifunction signal generator, we decided to make one of our own. The circuit uses a PIC16F870 (about $3), an R/2R resistor ladder network (for a real fast and cheap D/A), and a few other parts.

Link: Function Generator, Sine Triangle Square Saw Burst Sweep Noise

Project description:
The Superprobe project was designed to see how much could be done with a PIC chip and just a few parts. The image shows the capacitance measuring mode.

Prob - Logic Probe
PULS - logic pulser
FrEq - Frequency Counter
Cnt - Event Counter
VoLt - Voltmeter
diod - Diode Junction Voltage
Cap - Capacitance Measurement
SIG - Signal Generator
ntSC - Video Patern
9600 - Serial Ascii
Midi - Midi Note
R/C Servo
Sqaure Wave
Prn - Pseudo Random Number
ir38
PWM

Link: Super Probe, 16 functions with very few parts

Project description:

Precise time is always a nice feature. In Europe, we have a public RF transmitter located in Mainflingen, Germany, providing standardized time information at 77.5 kHz. A cheap DCF77 receiver unit translates the RF data into PWM. A PIC 16F84 microcontroller performs software-based PWM decoding and transmits the data through RS232 to a PC.

Electronics used:

DCF77-Empfänger BN 641138

Link: DCF77 Test Interface 

Project description:

Two independent RS232 interfaces, with display of received ASCII characters and corresponding decimal values on the dot matrix LCD. ASCII values entered on one terminal window are transmitted by the first RS232 link to the controller, displayed on the LCD, and further transmitted across the second RS232 link to the other terminal window.

Electronics used:

MAX232, level converter

Link: Dual RS232 Communication Routine

Project description:
Fully software controlled RS232 reception and transmission for PIC16F8x. The microcontroller echoes every received RS232 character back to the RS232 terminal window on the host (i.e. the computer).

Electronics used:
MAX232, level converter

Link: Simple RS232 Interface 

Project description:
Small I²C 97×35 dots LCD with integrated controller and LED backlight.

Electronics used:
LPH7653-1
CMOS 555

Link: LPH7653-1:  97 x 35 dots graphic LCD interface 

Project description:
I have several GPS units with no display and I wanted an easy way to see my position. I have the option with the HamHUD II to see this, but it uses up precious display space that I rather use to display some APRS related information instead. So, I need a way to take the NMEA data comming out and display it in a simple format that can be read easily while driving down the road.

Electronics used:
LCD HD44780
MAX232, level converter
GPS,  that sends NMEA

Link: My GPS LCD Display Project

Project description:
Seven light emitting diodes spin, giving the illusion of numbers in the air.

Link: “Propeller Clock” Mechanically Scanned LED Clock

Project description:
If you want to build a standalone altimeter/variometer just for hiking or mountaineering then you will like this.

Electronics used:
ADC12130
NSC LMC660, a quad op-amp
MAX232, RS232 level shifter
MPXS4100A, absolute pressure sensor

Link: Precision Digital Altimeter 

Project description:
The EchoMp3 is a small DIY* MP3 player. It’s cheap and of excellent quality.

Electronics used:
VS1002D, mp3 decoder LQFP48
LCD NOKIA 3310
MAX1674, DC-DC step-up converter

Link: EchoMp3 v1.4

Project description:

This project supports both RDS (Europe) and RBDS (USA) Tuner FM band 88..108 MhZ (Europe and USA.)

Electronics used:
TDA7330
LCD NOKIA 3310
LCD Module 4×20
TDA7021T, FM tuner
TDA7040T, Stereo decoder
TDA7050T, Headphone amp
MCP41010, Single digital potmeter
MCP42010, Dual digital potmeter

Link: RDS/RBDS decoder with optional FM stereo receiver 

Project description:
Here is an example of how to interface a PIC18F452 to a PC  via the USB port. The windows-pc (98, Me, 2000, XP, 2003) runs a program (C# application, Microsoft Visual Studio .NET 2003) to communicate with the USB interface, which transfers data to and from the PIC18F452.

Electronics used:
FT245BM, USB interface chip from FTDI.
93C45AP
TC77

Link: PIC to PC USB 2.0 interface with FT245BM

Project description:
Measure the distance to an object within 25 cm to 8 meters using standard 40 kHz transducers. Takes around 20 samples per second. Very useful for robotics!

Electronics used:
24C256, i²c EEPROM
LCD NOKIA 3310
Standard 40 kHz transducers

Link: Ultrasonic Range Meter 

Project description:
NEC-SIRCS-JAPAN-RC5-SAMSUNG compatible, multiprotocol infrared remote control. Replaces up to 6 existing remote controls into one. With manual learning function, LED display and/or LCD. 2V6-3V2, low power (sleep function)

Electronics used:
TSOP34836 IR Receiver, Vishay
LCD NOKIA 3310, LPH7779 controller
74HC143D
24LC256

Link: Programmable IR remote control

Project description:
Readout of compass module CMPS03 to 8 LEDs (standard type or low current.) Second output (optional) to pc serial COM port (RS232.) Controlled by  a PIC16F877 at 4 MHz. Compiled  with Hi-Tech PICC.

Electronics used:
CMPS03, i²c compass module
MAX232, RS232 Converter

Link: PIC controlled compass CMPS03 to eight LEDs & RS232

Project description:
Wireless data transfer with these cheap modules from Velleman / QualityKits. This first prototype uses two breadboards. One sending and one receiving. My aim was to achieve a protocol with which transmitting & receiving data is pretty much reliable.

Electronics used:
RX+TX433, TLP & RLP wireless modules
DS1307, i²c RTC
24C256, i²c EEPROM
LCD NOKIA3310

Link: Wireless Radio Data Transfer with TX433 & RX433

Project description:
Weather station with pressure reading, relative humidity, indoor & remote outdoor temperature display. Both Celsius or Fahrenheit & mbar/hPa or mm Hg supported. With calendar & clock. Easy 3-button user-menu. 42 hour-history display (curve). Auto-memory & display of all high and low-values.
Electronics used:
MPX 4115A, pressure sensor
TC77 SPI, temperature sensor
H1, humidity sensor
RX+TX433, TLP & RLP wireless modules

Link: Weather Station