AndreasSpiess

Are Fuses from AliExpress and Amazon really dangerous? How to test yours!

When I saw this video from Louis Rossmann or this one by Tom, a fellow HAM radio operator, I said to myself: Holy shit! I use these car fuses a lot, and I always expected that they protect my circuits from overcurrent and possible burning, but I never checked if they work. Particularly since I started to work with Lithium batteries capable of delivering huge currents and even burning if you are unlucky, the danger increased dramatically. Do I also have bad Chinese stuff? I am sure you want to...

How does NB-IOT and CAT-M compare to LoRaWAN (Tutorial)?

Smartphones connect nearly everywhere to the Internet. What if we could use all their towers to connect our sensors and other gadgets to the Internet? Would LoRaWAN or Sigfox be obsolete? If you are brave, you will follow my journey and learn much about cellular IOT technology and how to survive the minefield it is built on. Then, you can decide what to do with LoRaWAN.

Which LoRaWAN Gateway Is Best For Me? Part 2

LoraWAN is a widely used low-power, long-range network that consists of sensors and gateways. I will provide you with an overview and a comparison of the currently available LoRaWAN gateways, as well as how to select them. Because most gateways use the same chips and should have similar ranges, I will not test it. Still, you will see big differences in capabilities, software, and price.

Which LoRaWAN Gateway Is the Best For Me? Part 1

LoraWAN is a widely used low-power, long-range network that consists of sensors and gateways. I will provide you with an overview of the currently available gateways as well as how to select them. Because most gateways use the same chips and should have similar ranges, I will not test it. Still, you will see big differences in capabilities, software, and price.

MWC Barcelona

If you happen to be at this show and find some time to meet with me, just send me a notice.

I should be here till Thursday. 

Regards 

Andreas

Use the very attractive new ATTINY chips for your projects

Frequent viewers know that I like GreatScott's channel because he greatly develops people’s interest in electronics. When he showed a trigger board to keep a USB power bank on for small projects, I thought: Great idea, but this could be done better! And it is a perfect excuse to tinker with the new ATtiny chips. He used a 50-year-old 555 timer IC, and I want to use the same size and a similar price modern chip because this chip lets us put some “artificial” intelligence into the project...

Is the Raspberry Pi5 the better Proxmox Server?

When I proposed to leave the Raspberry Pi for home server applications, many viewers wrote that Proxmox is now also available on the Pi. The Raspberry Pi 5 is much faster than the Pi4, it comes with 8GB of RAM and, with its low power consumption, should be a perfect fit for a Proxmox server. So, let’s check if this is true. And during this process, you will learn a few tricks for the new Pi5.

Make USB-C work (Connector, Cable, PD, Data Transfer, Devices)

Charging and transferring data over USB cables has become much faster over the past years. With the standardization of USB-C connectors, it also became easier, right? Wrong. Because, without precautions, you still will encounter low transfer speeds and slow or even no charging at all.

Because the topic is complex, I will divide it into two parts. Today, we will start with Power Delivery. After the two videos, you will understand this new technology and will be able to avoid pitfalls. 2024-01-18 20:58:28 +0000 UTC View Post

Understanding Abstraction is Very Helpful in Electronics and Computing

Around the beginning of a new year, I usually choose a topic that is related to the channel and universal enough to be interesting for everybody’s life. Today, it is the topic of “abstraction” and its influence on our electronics projects. Understanding this topic also helps you decide on the next steps in your career.

Battery Protection for Smartphones and Tablets using Home Assistant (charges only from 20-80%)

Rechargeable batteries last way longer if we do not charge them up to 100% or fully discharge them. This is particularly important for batteries in expensive devices like smartphones or tablets because repairing a defective battery is expensive. It took Apple many years till, finally, the iPhone 15 can automatically stop charging at 80% and so extend the lifetime of your battery considerably. Maybe Android phones were faster. This is the best solution, but today, we will solve the problem for...

Simulate Arduino, ESP32, Pi Pico, STM32, And ATtiny with Wokwi

When I listened to The Amp Hour, episode #599, I was astonished by the project and its creator, Uri. He built a simulator for all kinds of MCUs and electronic parts. This project is so cutting-edge that I cannot believe only one young guy was able to create it. And because it is useful and fun, I invite you to follow me.

PTT Pedals for HAM Radio PC software

I use the SDRconsole software for my QO-100 station and SmartSDR for my Flex radio. Both have in common that they run on a PC. I like such programs because they work with a mouse. With one exception: I want a PTT, preferably a foot switch, to keep my hands free. I had to search and experiment till I found out how it works. I want to save you this time and share my learnings. No worries: It will be a short video.

Well timed mailbag to save your money Part 1

My year-end mailbag video contains devices and parts around our hobby, particularly around power and power delivery. It is divided into two parts. The first airs on 11/11, and the second part airs one day later. Both in time to grab the singles day discounts.

The new Wi-Fi on 60GHz: 1Gbit/s throughput in each direction. How far will it go?

We all know Wi-Fi. But do you know Wi-Gig? Can you imagine what it is? Invented by Elon Musk, where everything is called “Giga”? No, not really. Still, we will talk about Gigahertz and Gigabit per second. After the video, you will know the next frontier of Wi-Fi. As a bonus, I will tell you the story about why we do not need a license to use Wi-Fi. Spoiler: It is because of microwave ovens.

Radar Sensors from $3 to over $100: Which one is Best?

Lately, many radar sensors have become available for relatively cheap prices. In this video, I will give you an overview of what is available and how they compare. And, of course, we will have a look into how they work and test a few of them. After viewing this video, you should be able to choose the right sensor for your needs. And you should know which are overpriced.

Structured Guide to Find Noise Sources (QRM) including Power Supplies, PLCs, and Optimizers

Radio Frequency interferences, also known as QRM, have become a significant issue in modern times. Today, I will present a structured approach to tackle this problem and include interferences of Power Line Communication Devices (PLC) and solar optimizers. This video will provide valuable insights and benefits for individuals residing in regions where modern technology is prevalent. It will also prove particularly useful for those considering the installation of a solar power plant or for indi...

Upgrade your Raspberry Pi to a Homelab

The Raspberry Pi 5 was recently announced. It is faster than the old one, and you can add an SSD with a special adapter. The price went up, and now it needs a beefy power supply. Is it worth ordering one for our home automation server? Maybe you watch this video before you order.

Rutgers University Confirmed: Meshtastic and LoRa are dangerous

In 2020, I was the first YouTuber to make a video about “Meshtastic,” created by Kevin Hester. The project name was a merge between Mesh and Fantastic. Already then, I loved the project. But why is it the “most dangerous LoRa project”? Here is the proof: My video was included in a study titled “NETWORK-ENABLED ANARCHY” by an organization featured by the US government under the topic “instructions for encrypted messaging”. So stay tuned when I show you what you can do with it e...

Better than GreatScott's Coil Gun? A true story, how-to not do it

This is the last re-run of this summer break. In two weeks, I will be back with a new video.

I should have been warned: Some viewers on our summer project were against a gun on the tank. But I did not listen. This video shows what happened and how I was punished.  In Switzerland, every adult man is in the army and has his weapon at home. Maybe this is the physiological reason for my choice. I am not a psychologist; I am an engineer. So let's start with the story about How-to build ...

Why most Arduino Soil Moisture Sensors suck (incl. solution)

Unfortunately, most soil moisture sensors used in our Arduino, ESP8266, or ESP32 projects destroy themselves after a short while. We need a better solution. Today we will test different sensors, and I will show you how they work and why most sensors from China destroy themselves. And, of course, we will find a solution to the problem.

New: Comfortable and robust VOIP without PBX in AREDN networks

When it comes to emergency communications, it must be solid, reliable, and scalable. In HAM radio, we often use AREDN networks for that purpose. Because they run on 2.4 or 5.8GHz, their performance is high and allows to build mesh networks for flexibility and reliability. Today, we will add the next level: Redundant Voice over IP. Be with me when one of my dreams comes true!

https://youtu.be/m8dULatKgBQ

The Tools and Organizers I Use (with some tricks)

This is a re-run of a video made on May 6, 2018. Of course, some of the tools are replaced. But many stayed. I will pin a comment with the changed tools.  Which are the essential tools in a lab? Which one do I use, and how am I organized? A video for all who are curious about how it looks behind the camera. Maybe you will discover something you can use for your own work?

This is also one of my few "real" appearances on YouTube.

2023-08-05 08:06:32 +0000 UTC View Post

7 Sensors tested: Measuring Current with Microcontrollers (Arduino, ESP32, ESP8266)

During my summer break, I reupload successful videos of the past (for your rainy Sundays). This one aired on April 5th, 2020.  Measuring current is simple. Right? You just take a multimeter, connect it to the two cables, and read the value. If you want to do the same with a Microcontroller like an Arduino or an ESP, things get a little more complicated. Let’s dig into it to see how it works! And which is the best sensor for our projects?

2023-07-22 15:08:56 +0000 UTC View Post

Summer break and first "evergreen" video

Dear Patreons,
As every year, I insert a summer break and, to keep the rhythm, schedule some "evergreens" (this was proposed by a subscriber, BTW).
I want to thank you personally for your engagement. Patreons are a very important motivation for all YouTubers because it shows the value of their work in a very firm way. I can say that because I met a few of them during the ten-year YouTube Switzerland celebration.

Now I wish you a pleasant summer!

Your Andreas

2023-07-07 15:10:51 +0000 UTC View Post

The second Part of My Long Mailbag

This is the second part of my long mailbag video. It contains some products, some explanations, and experiments. And it shows a bit of my side projects.

Mostly Around Power for Projects. And More

A typical mailbag video with some explanation and experiments. Because it was too long for one, a part two will follow next week.

Hassle-Free ESP32 USB (ESP32-S2, ESP32-S2, ESP32-S3)

The USB feature of the new ESP32 chips is handy. Unfortunately, it is not easy to use because the information is hidden. This video shows how everything works and how you must set up the Arduino IDE to exploit the USB functionality. I promise it will save you a lot of frustration and time. And it is the basis for a future video about simple debugging with the new Arduino IDE 2.0

Matter and Thread: What is it? Is it needed? (Tutorial)

We have all heard of Wi-Fi and Zigbee. And Alexa, Google home, or Apple Homekit. And Home Assistant, IOBroker, or Node-Red. And maybe “Matter” or “Thread”. But how do they relate? Today and in the future? And how does this affect us? Let’s have a closer look.

7kWh LiFePo4 battery for Remote Station works!

Because the Remote Radio Station has no grid, we want to go solar. I built a battery with eight 302Ah cells, including a Daly 100A BMS. The 25.6V nominal (23.2 - 29.2V) is converted to a stable 13.8V by the grey buck converter.
On top, you find the needed fuses and breakers. As input, we have solar (an external MPPT) and a 25A charger (orange, background) to be connected to 220V of the generator if somebody is present.
I also added a DC solid-state relay that will be controlled by the m...

I Try to Build a Battery Charger for a Bicycle Battery

Today I will show you a project with several aspects. Even if you do not need to charge batteries with voltages of 35 volts and above using a solar panel, you will find learnings for your projects. Or you enjoy that not only you encounter some difficulties in your projects.