Hacking

Adding computer control to a Ham IV antenna rotator for satellite tracking, using K3NG’s rotator code on an Arduino Pro Micro with an LCD, and calibrating the heading.

An automatic fertiliser doser for the aquarium, made from a 230 V mechanical timer whose slow geared motor turned out to be just right for driving a syringe.

Turning a domestic oven into a PCB reflow oven with the Hobbybotics reflow controller firmware: PID temperature control, solder profiles, a display and a PC application.

Modding a PlayStation 1 with a programmed PIC mod chip so it plays copied discs: how the mod works, opening the console, programming and installing the chip, and testing.

Step by step: turning a 50 MHz Rigol DS1052E oscilloscope into its 100 MHz DS1102E twin with a firmware hack, then upgrading the firmware and calibrating the scope.