Blog

Too Many Development Tools: How to Organize Them with Virtual Disks!

shabaz

Introduction I recently bought a new laptop to replace an ancient one, and this time decided to put more thought into how I organized things. A problem for me is that I tend to install a lot of software tools and integrated development environments (...
- 4 Mar 2026
Weller ZeroSmog Guard fume filtration unit images

Jan Cumps

After the Micro Soldering Kit and Filtration Unit road test, I have a collection of unused photos of the Guard. Posting them here: For earlier photos, when I was setting up the system: Weller Micro Soldering Kit and Filt...
- 22 Feb 2026
FSK Demodulation with R&S FPC Spectrum Analyzers, or How I Achieved an Optimal Room Temperature

shabaz

Introduction I wrote a review (and created a video) for a Rohde & Schwarz FPC series spectrum analyzer eight years ago, and although I explored some of the demodulation capability back then, I never used it for a real-life scenario. Fas...
- 20 Jan 2026
Unlock the Secrets of Op Amps and Master Simulation with LTspice

Catwell

(Image credit: element 14) Operational amplifiers (Op Amps) are one of those fundamental building blocks found in just about every corner of electronics. They’re used to amplify, filter, and condition signals in everything from audio systems a...
- 28 Oct 2025
Unboxing Video of TOMLOV 602 Flex

meera_hussien

Unboxing the TOMLOV 602 Flex digital microscope from TOMLOV. In this video, I’ll take you through the first look, what’s inside the box, a quick setup, and my initial impressions—especially for electronics work like SMD solderi...
- 2 Oct 2025
Low-Cost Waveform Generators: Owon DGE1000 / DGE1030 AWG Review

shabaz

Table of Contents Introduction What is it? Motivation Unboxing Sine Wave Output 1.4 MHz Signal 10.7 MHz Signal 21.4 MHz Signal Internal Amplifier Noise Modulation Amplitude Modulation (AM) Frequency Modulation (FM) Low-Level Si...
- 15 Jun 2025
Miniature Table Saw (Bench Circular Saw): Proxxon KS 230 Unboxing!

shabaz

I purchased a very small (less than A4 paper sized footprint!) table saw called Proxxon KS 230 , and it arrived today. It's not my first Proxxon tool: Proxxon Rotary Tools Review: Micromot 50/EF, FBS 12/EF and NG 2/E The KS...
- 29 May 2025
Samtec's Severe Environment Testing Protocol Puts Interconnects Through Their Paces

Catwell

(Image credit: Samtec) Samtec recently announced the development of its Severe Environment Testing (SET) protocol, a qualification standard designed to test the reliability of Commercial Off-The-Shelf (COTS) interconnects employed in extreme environ...
- 13 May 2025
Short Circuits and Continuity: Building an Easy Continuity Tester

shabaz

Table of Contents Introduction How Does it Work? Building It Setting Up and Using It Summary Introduction Since time immemorial, the continuity tester has always been just a dial setting on multimeters. That’s adequate most of the time, bu...
- 26 Feb 2025
OpAmp as Schmitt-trigger

Jan Cumps

A Schmitt-trigger is a circuit that turns a non-perfect digital signal into a clean one. It has 2 main functions: recreate a good fast ramp for signals that have lost their oomph (or never had clean fast edges). provide a bit of hyste...
- 25 Jan 2025
Brush and Large-Area Multi-Meter Probes for PCB Reverse-Engineering: A DIY Approach!

shabaz

This blog post contains some ideas for creating a probe to aid with reverse-engineering PCB layouts. You'd use this probe to temporarily replace one of the normal pointy probes on your digital multi-meter (DMM). Often, you may want to run a cont...
- 5 Jan 2025
DIY Hydrogen Generator

Prajyot70

DIY Hydrogen Generator Table of contents Introduction Parts list Tools Preparations Let's build it ! Precautions Summary Introduction Hey everyone, you might know that our earth's surface is about 70% water but do you know what water is made up o...
- 1 Dec 2024
AiXun CM30 Automatic Soldering Tip Cleaner: A Quick Review!

shabaz

I recently purchased an AiXun automatic soldering tip cleaner. It has a couple of spinning brushes inside, a bit like an automated car wash but for soldering tips. Here's a five-minute video demonstration and review: https://youtu.be/Fj9V0nAMmqo So,...
- 28 Nov 2024
Fast Response Light Sensing with Photodiodes: Building a DIY Radiometer!

shabaz

Table of Contents Introduction Circuit Overview Building It Using It Summary Introduction Have you ever wanted to take a peek at what products that rely on light are actually doing? I have! A fast-responding light sensor can reveal the details. ...
- 16 Oct 2024
Portable Oscilloscopes will Require Upgrades to Become Widely Adopted

Catwell

Some o-scope users state they don't use portable equipment enough to warrant having one, while others feel they're limited in features. (Image credit: Flickr) Handheld oscilloscopes are compact, portable versions of their desktop counterpart...
- 4 Oct 2024
Organizing Small Tools: DIY Storage with Foam Cut-Outs!

shabaz

Table of Contents Introduction Using Steel Cutters Results Summary Introduction I’ve got a set of SMA adapters that I really don’t wish to lose. They are used with a Vector Network Analyzer (VNA). Some of the adapters came in a littl...
- 24 Sep 2024
Knipex Explored: What makes for Great Electronics Pliers and Electronics Wire-Cutters?

shabaz

It feels a bit weird writing a blog post where I’m merely pointing out someone else’s YouTube link (and some screenshots from the Knipex website)! But I found this video pretty interesting; it explains why, instinctively, many ...
- 9 Sep 2024
Knipex 11 82 130 Wire Stripping Shears Quick Review

shabaz

Introduction I was looking for a simple, fairly economical pair of wire strippers, and stumbled across these interesting scissor-like 11 82 130 wire strippers from Knipex. I thought I’d give them a try. They are intended for small wire dia...
- 15 Aug 2024
Low-cost Vector Network Analyzer: NanoVNA-H4 Unboxing

shabaz

I recently needed a VNA, and went with one called NanoVNA-H4. This short blog merely contains an un-boxing. If you’re interested in finding out what VNAs are used for, check out the earlier blog post: Vector Network Analyzer (VNA): A...
- 22 Jun 2024
New Functionality for Older Equipment: Adding USB and SCPI Programmability

shabaz

Table of Contents Introduction What’s the Problem being Solved? What’s Inside? Solution Overview Circuit Diagram Building It Software Testing It Summary Introduction This blog post shows how I went about adding programmability to an o...
- 10 May 2024
JBC CD (CDS/CDB) Soldering Station Quick Review

shabaz

Table of Contents Introduction JBC CDS / CDB 'Compact' Soldering Station Quick Tryout Negatives Summary Introduction My old JBC soldering station was purchased second-hand about a decade ago, and it recently started playing up. I thought I had fi...
- 27 Apr 2024
Electronics Parts/Storage: Labeling Parts!

shabaz

It’s sometimes handy having a label printer, but the costs for consumables can mount up. I recently needed to print a load of sticky labels for a school-related project, and I didn’t want to print them using a laser printer or handheld la...
- 5 Apr 2024
Mini Tool Vice / Flat Clamp Quick Review

shabaz

Doug mentioned vices ( PCB Holders ) , and I picked up a small tool vice recently. It’s low-cost (£15) which is good, but very small, therefore it is a niche product. It won’t hold boards greater than about 49-50mm long, ...
- 15 Mar 2024
Review and test a 0 - 1mA constant current source

Jan Cumps

shabaz designed an OpAmp based constant current source. It can deliver up to 1 mA. The current is controlled by a voltage. It's intended to be used with a DAC board for the Raspberry Pico. A constant current is a useful...
- 9 Mar 2024
Vector Network Analyzers for the General Reader, Part 3: Using a Commercial Calibration Kit

shabaz

Table of Contents Introduction What’s in the Box? Interpreting and Using the Datasheet Performing the Calibration Testing the Calibration Summary Introduction In a couple of earlier blog posts ( Vector Network Analyzer (VNA): A Practic...
- 5 Mar 2024