With 2024 just around the corner, we're taking a look back at designs and technical articles from previous December issues of Elektor Mag. We've got something for everyone, including an open source GPS tracking solution, an internet radio project and a DIY universal timer switch. Enjoy!
With 2024 just around the corner, we're taking a look back at designs and technical articles from previous December issues of Elektor Mag. We've got something for everyone, including an open source GPS tracking solution, an internet radio project and a DIY universal timer switch. Enjoy!
An open source GPS tracking platform (December 2021)
You probably have access to various GPS tracking modules. However, analyzing all the data can be challenging. That's why Elektor published an article about Traccar, an open source software solution that allows you to host the data yourself. The project involved installing Traccar on a Raspberry Pi.
Traccar software is compatible with x86 computers running both Windows and Linux, as well as Linux systems running on ARM architecture, such as devices such as the Raspberry Pi. This open source solution has been made specifically designed for tracking mobile assets.
“Access to all your data provides flexibility in further processing, builds on the tracking capabilities and improves the functionality of the system,” wrote M. Claussen. “The data can also be imported and processed into the ResQ Search and Rescue Tools project on our Elektor Labs project platform with little effort. “This would enable the creation of tracking maps that show the location of a missing person in a remote location where there is no cell phone reception, as long as the phone’s Wi-Fi or Bluetooth beacon signals can still be detected.”
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Internet radio with fluorescent display (December 2016)
Back in 2016, M. Bussar presented a DIY radio design with an old-school fluorescent display. The modern version was a Raspberry Pi and an internet connection. The first board contains the display with its drivers and latches, six buttons and a rotary encoder with a push switch. A second board contains the power supply and an ATmega32 MCU. The modules are mounted in a box with a Raspberry Pi.
“After assembling the boards and initial testing, the two boards can be screwed together to form a compact module,” noted the designer. “The module can then be mounted in a box together with the Raspberry Pi. [The image] shows the prototype installed in a clamshell housing. The board on the left converts the 12V from the external power supply into a stable 5V supply, which is also used to power the Raspberry Pi.”
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Elektor DSP Radio Scanner: Monitor, Log and Scan (December 2010)
Which antenna is optimal? When is the right time of day to receive a particular station? What is the source of ambient noise? Important technical questions, right? The adaptable Elektor DSP radio is ideally equipped to answer these questions, especially if you use PC-based scanning software.
“The DSPscan software presented here runs on a PC and controls the DSP radio, using it as a front end for a rudimentary RF spectrum analyzer,” explains the author. “It records the band occupancy and displays the received signal strength (RSSI) and signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of the signals in the selected band. It can be pre-programmed to scan at set times.”
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A Star for Christmas (December 2002)
For the 2002 Christmas season, Elektor presented a fun course that functioned as a simple light effects generator. The design created the impression of a star and was therefore ideal as a Christmas ornament or decorative element.
“The way the circuit works is as simple as the lighting effect it creates,” explained the designer. “A 555-based timer is configured as an astable multivibrator that clocks a decimal counter (IC2). After a reset, output Q0 is activated. The next output of the counter, Q1, is activated on the next clock pulse and so on. The counter outputs control the LEDs via buffer transistors. The seventh clock pulse causes a reset pulse, forcing counting to start again at Q0.
Universal timer (December 1991)
At the end of 1991, Elektor presented a simple, low-cost timer with a time range from less than 1 s to several hours and a thyristor-based network interface for controlling inductive loads. Check out the design!
Calculating the time was pretty easy. “Minimum wiring is required as all parts are housed on a single circuit board. The start and stop switch must be rated for 250 V as it is at mains potential.”
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More projects, more engineering
We'll highlight more in the coming weeks classic elector Projects, articles and technical tips. If you have any feedback, please share your thoughts with us in the comments section below. The creative engineering never stops!
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