Author Archives: Dan TheMan

Forcing Accelerator Key Labels ALWAYS ON in Linux Mate

Posted on May 10, 2017

Need to file this one away for future use. In Linux Mint / Mate, the underscores for accelerators keys is only on when you hold down ALT. I invariably forget this because they aren’t obvious, and don’t make use of … Continue reading →

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Cermetek CH1724 Modem PTH Adapter Board

Posted on March 2, 2017

I need to solder pins to multiple CH1724 modems which look like this: I tried soldering header pins directly, but that was a cluster. So I designed this little adapter board: You can layout header pins on a PCB, put … Continue reading →

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WiFi Target Spotting Scope

Posted on December 23, 2016

DISCLAIMER: If you build this device, I take no responsibility for any outcome. Make sure you are sighted-in well enough to be hitting the target everytime and place the equipment in a position to avoided being hit. Lithium batteries are … Continue reading →

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Tip o’ the Day: Gaffer Tape instead of Duct Tape

Posted on December 1, 2016

Duct tape is renown for its usefulness.  No argument there – I keep rolls in my vehicles, snowmobiles, ATVs, etc. for emergencies. Interestingly, it sucks for use on actual ducts. I tried that many years ago only to have the … Continue reading →

Posted in c-photo | Tagged | 1 Comment

Cleaning Flux from Printed Circuit Boards (PCB)

Posted on November 22, 2016

I got some professional looking PCB boards manufactured for a project recently. The boards look great compared to anything I could do myself. Problem is, after I solder on the components and try to clean the flux off, I’m always … Continue reading →

Posted in c-electronics | Tagged | 2 Comments

Automating Testing Using Video

Posted on October 11, 2016

I found myself needing to verify caller ID operation of a couple of troublesome telephone handsets. To properly test, I want to run 1,000 calls to the handsets and verify they decode caller ID every single time. During early testing, … Continue reading →

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Migrating Raspberry Pi Version 2 SD card to Raspberry Pi 3 Hardware Platform

Posted on September 26, 2016

My development RPI has been an RPI version 2 since version 2 was first released. Further, everything except the boot files have been moved to a USB-based hard drive to increase performance (using a procedure much like this: https://www.raspberrypi.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=29&t=44177) I … Continue reading →

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Making a Data Only Cable For Teensy/Arduino/Nano

Posted on August 26, 2016

Been working on a complicated teensy project that is going to the other side of the state for testing. So I’ve been building a testing platform that consists of a Raspberry Pi connected to the Teensy via USB. I can … Continue reading →

Posted in c-arduino, c-rpi, c-teensy, Uncategorized | Tagged | 1 Comment

Remote Monitoring and Upgrading of Arduino/Teensy via Networked Raspberry Pi

Posted on August 22, 2016

This post covers how to remotely monitor / upgrade an Arduino or other MCU behind a firewall. (Jump down to the Dec 2016 Update for Notes about the Duplicity Service that will easily and quickly allow remote access to an … Continue reading →

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Refurbishing a Skimmer Weir Gate

Posted on August 19, 2016

A weir gate is attached to swimming pool skimmers to keep the rubbish collected by the skimmer from floating back out into the pool. The ones I’ve seen use a Styrofoam float to keep the gate up.  I noticed my … Continue reading →

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