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Machina Speculatrix

Electronics, robotics, home automation, hacking and more. The lab notebook of an amateur meddler who likes playing with things until they work — or blow up.

  • Retro
  • AVR
  • Zolatron
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    Why hobby programmers should use Git

    Why hobby programmers should use Git

    Version control isn’t just for professional coders. Even if you’re an amateur it offers real benefits.
    Go to the profile of Mansfield-Devine
    Mansfield-Devine
    Jun 22
    Homebrew computing: address decoding basics

    Homebrew computing: address decoding basics

    The CPU in your homebrew computer needs to talk to other chips. This is how it’s done.
    Go to the profile of Mansfield-Devine
    Mansfield-Devine
    Jun 19
    LEAPS Elliott 405: 1950s big iron

    LEAPS Elliott 405: 1950s big iron

    A small treasure trove of documents gives a taste of computing the old-fashioned mainframe way.
    Go to the profile of Mansfield-Devine
    Mansfield-Devine
    May 30
    Latest
    First steps to building a homebrew computer

    First steps to building a homebrew computer

    Not all computers are alike. And yours can be very special indeed.
    Go to the profile of Mansfield-Devine
    Mansfield-Devine
    Jun 10
    AVR Basics: more fun with interrupts

    AVR Basics: more fun with interrupts

    Interrupts allow peripherals to tell a microcontroller that they need its attention. And they are surprisingly easy to use.
    Go to the profile of Mansfield-Devine
    Mansfield-Devine
    May 26
    Lost software: Emerald Bay database

    Lost software: Emerald Bay database

    Even very recent technology can be quickly lost to time and become little more than a dim memory.
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    Mansfield-Devine
    May 25
    Zolatron: A homebrew computer of my own

    Zolatron: A homebrew computer of my own

    There’s no better way to understand computers than to design and build one of your own. All you have to do is go back in time.
    Go to the profile of Mansfield-Devine
    Mansfield-Devine
    May 22
    Fun with chips: SN76489 sound generator IC

    Fun with chips: SN76489 sound generator IC

    Audio is an important component of a computer’s power. And producing sound can be surprisingly simple.
    Go to the profile of Mansfield-Devine
    Mansfield-Devine
    May 19
    Debouncing fun with Schmitt triggers and capacitors

    Debouncing fun with Schmitt triggers and capacitors

    The humble switch is a treacherous device that needs to be tamed.
    Go to the profile of Mansfield-Devine
    Mansfield-Devine
    May 14
    Microcontrollers
    AVR Basics: Receiving I2C data

    AVR Basics: Receiving I2C data

    Getting information back from a peripheral device is a key part of the I2C protocol. Let’s see how to do it.
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    Mansfield-Devine
    Apr 23
    AVR Basics: Transmitting across I2C

    AVR Basics: Transmitting across I2C

    The I2C protocol is all about communicating. So let’s take a look at how you send data.
    Go to the profile of Mansfield-Devine
    Mansfield-Devine
    Apr 19
    AVR Basics: Getting started with I2C

    AVR Basics: Getting started with I2C

    Being able to communicate with other devices opens up a world of possibilities — if you know what’s going on.
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    Mansfield-Devine
    Apr 14
    AVR basics: Using the ATMEGA SPI bus

    AVR basics: Using the ATMEGA SPI bus

    Once you have the Serial Peripheral Interface (SPI) set up on your microcontroller, putting it into action is easy.
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    Mansfield-Devine
    Mar 31
    AVR basics: SPI on the ATMEGA

    AVR basics: SPI on the ATMEGA

    The Serial Peripheral Interface (SPI) on AVR microcontrollers is very versatile, once you understand it.
    Go to the profile of Mansfield-Devine
    Mansfield-Devine
    Mar 29
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