Hardware projects, drones, DVRs and electronics — if it's not hard, it's not worth making.https://makehardware.com/en-ushttps://makehardware.com/2018/11/16/easy-gluten-free-dairy-free-cake-recipe-using-cake-mix/https://makehardware.com/2018/11/16/easy-gluten-free-dairy-free-cake-recipe-using-cake-mix/Have food allergies or restrictions? Here’s an easy to make gluten-free and dairy-free cake recipe. All you need is a box of gluten-free cake mix and store-bought dairy-free frosting. So simple and it tastes great too! I try to avoid suspect ingredients and artificial food…Fri, 16 Nov 2018 00:13:52 GMTFoodhttps://makehardware.com/2018/09/05/best-dance-shoes-for-kids/https://makehardware.com/2018/09/05/best-dance-shoes-for-kids/With school starting, it’s time to buy new dance shoes for your little dancers. I remember being daunted the first time I had to purchase dance shoes for my daughter. My daughter’s dance teacher has always been helpful with shoe recommendations. Now that my daughter has been…Wed, 05 Sep 2018 21:40:24 GMTKidshttps://makehardware.com/2018/01/24/stop-motion-animation-for-the-girl-scout-entertainment-technology-badge/https://makehardware.com/2018/01/24/stop-motion-animation-for-the-girl-scout-entertainment-technology-badge/I covered Part 2 of the Entertainment Technology Badge for Junior Girl Scouts at our troop meeting. At a previous meeting, we learned about badge requirements 2 (video game development), 3 (amusement park science), and 4 (special effects). For Part 2, we investigated badge…Wed, 24 Jan 2018 16:50:25 GMTKidshttps://makehardware.com/2017/05/16/maker-faire-bay-area-2017/https://makehardware.com/2017/05/16/maker-faire-bay-area-2017/The Maker Faire Bay Area is this weekend, May 19-21, 2017, at the San Mateo Event Center. MakeHardware had a booth at the Maker Faire last year, but we have been too busy to run a booth for 2017. We do plan to attend for a day to check out what other folks have been busy making!…Tue, 16 May 2017 13:33:14 GMTDroneshttps://makehardware.com/2017/01/24/teambuilding-with-robotic-insects/https://makehardware.com/2017/01/24/teambuilding-with-robotic-insects/I manage a team of electrical engineers, and at the end of every year I like to run a team building event. Last year I bought everyone a mini-drone, and we had a lot of fun flying them around a conference room. This year, I bought a bunch of remote control insect toys and the…Tue, 24 Jan 2017 23:44:59 GMTElectronicshttps://makehardware.com/2016/09/27/little-house-on-the-prairie-birthday-party/https://makehardware.com/2016/09/27/little-house-on-the-prairie-birthday-party/At MakeHardware.com, we love hosting elaborate birthday parties for our kids! I was all for having my daughter’s ninth birthday party at our local paint-your-own-pottery studio, but then my daughter suggested a Little House on the Prairie theme and I couldn’t resist! It’s the…Tue, 27 Sep 2016 20:25:22 GMTKidshttps://makehardware.com/2016/09/11/the-next-tivo-dvr-might-look-a-lot-like-a-tablo/https://makehardware.com/2016/09/11/the-next-tivo-dvr-might-look-a-lot-like-a-tablo/According to tech blogger Dave Zatz, the next Tivo OTA DVR might have an architecture that is a lot more similar to the Tablo series of OTA DVRs. What this means is that the Tivo DVR named “Mantis” would no longer connect directly to the TV, instead it would “transcode” video to…Sun, 11 Sep 2016 10:12:29 GMTDVRshttps://makehardware.com/2016/07/15/ota-only-households-growing/https://makehardware.com/2016/07/15/ota-only-households-growing/A recent survey has found that the number of OTA-only households in the US has grown from 15% in 2015 to 17% in 2016. I think that this is a reflection of several factors: Many households find cable/satellite too expensive for what it offers Streaming services still cost money…Fri, 15 Jul 2016 06:43:14 GMTDVRshttps://makehardware.com/2016/07/04/how-to-control-your-drone-from-a-computer/https://makehardware.com/2016/07/04/how-to-control-your-drone-from-a-computer/After reading my post about how I used my computer to fly a Cheerson CX-10 drone, several people have asked me if it is possible to control other drones in a similar way. It is in fact pretty straightforward, and in some cases you can re-use exactly the same hardware that I used…Mon, 04 Jul 2016 10:47:26 GMTDroneshttps://makehardware.com/2016/06/26/microsoft-putting-xbox-dvr-features-on-hold/https://makehardware.com/2016/06/26/microsoft-putting-xbox-dvr-features-on-hold/Back in August 2015, Microsoft announced they would be adding DVR features to the XboxOne. This was an exciting announcement for many of us, because it meant that DVR, serious gaming, and streaming could be combined into a single piece of hardware. Well, those hopes have ended…Sun, 26 Jun 2016 05:37:37 GMTDVRshttps://makehardware.com/2016/06/21/manual-exposure-vs-auto-exposure-for-elp-2-mp-usb-camera/https://makehardware.com/2016/06/21/manual-exposure-vs-auto-exposure-for-elp-2-mp-usb-camera/For our drone flying project, we have been using the ELP 2 Megapixel USB Camera. The auto exposure on this camera works in most situations, but we found that it does not always adjust to bright sunlight. In preparation for demonstrating our computer-controlled drone at the Maker…Tue, 21 Jun 2016 00:44:30 GMTDroneshttps://makehardware.com/2016/05/19/blob-detection-with-python-and-opencv/https://makehardware.com/2016/05/19/blob-detection-with-python-and-opencv/In my previous post, I described how to set up Python and OpenCV on your computer. Now I will show you how to use OpenCV’s computer vision capabilities to detect an object. OpenCV’s SimpleBlobDetector will be the primary function that we will be using. With the…Thu, 19 May 2016 00:12:21 GMTDroneshttps://makehardware.com/2016/05/17/find-out-which-channels-you-can-get-with-an-antenna/https://makehardware.com/2016/05/17/find-out-which-channels-you-can-get-with-an-antenna/There’s a great tool on TVFool.com to help you determine which channels you can receive over the air (OTA) at your house. Yes, your house. You type in your address and it will give a list of channels that you will be able to receive for free with an antenna! It will even show…Tue, 17 May 2016 23:26:21 GMTDVRshttps://makehardware.com/2016/05/10/how-to-set-up-your-python-opencv-development-environment/https://makehardware.com/2016/05/10/how-to-set-up-your-python-opencv-development-environment/For our drone flying project, we needed a way for our computer to detect the location of our mini-drone through the use of a webcam mounted above the flying area. We are not at all familiar with computer vision algorithms, but we do know how to call functions from a Python…Tue, 10 May 2016 22:58:57 GMTDroneshttps://makehardware.com/2016/04/24/teach-your-pc-to-fly-a-mini-drone/https://makehardware.com/2016/04/24/teach-your-pc-to-fly-a-mini-drone/A few months ago, I watched this TED talk where they setup an indoor arena and did some amazing things with drones. It got me thinking, and it inspired me to build something like that for myself – but on a much smaller and cheaper scale. In the video they use an expensive…Sun, 24 Apr 2016 16:32:20 GMTDroneshttps://makehardware.com/2016/04/24/what-is-an-ota-dvr-and-why-would-i-want-one/https://makehardware.com/2016/04/24/what-is-an-ota-dvr-and-why-would-i-want-one/OTA DVR stands for Over-the-air Digital Video Recorder. Basically, this is a digital video recorder (think Tivo) system that allows you to record programs from over-the-air broadcast signals. Long ago, before there was such a thing as cable or satellite TV, everyone watched TV…Sun, 24 Apr 2016 02:21:05 GMTDVRshttps://makehardware.com/2016/03/29/finding-a-low-latency-webcam/https://makehardware.com/2016/03/29/finding-a-low-latency-webcam/When trying to use a webcam in a computer vision application as part of a real-time control system, the latency is often just as important as the frame rate. Unfortunately, the latency for a webcam is often not specified, especially not for low-cost webcams. One simple way to…Tue, 29 Mar 2016 20:38:00 GMTElectronicshttps://makehardware.com/2016/01/23/how-to-get-your-boss-to-buy-you-a-quadcopter/https://makehardware.com/2016/01/23/how-to-get-your-boss-to-buy-you-a-quadcopter/Every year my boss asks for suggestion for a teambuilding activity to have with his staff. Past activities have included thrilling activities like bocce ball and an indoor trampoline park (tip: this is a great idea if your team consists of 8 year-olds). This year I suggested…Sat, 23 Jan 2016 16:36:58 GMTDroneshttps://makehardware.com/2016/01/10/3d-printed-spaceshape-blade-guards-for-the-cheerson-cx-10/https://makehardware.com/2016/01/10/3d-printed-spaceshape-blade-guards-for-the-cheerson-cx-10/If you’ve got access to a 3D-printer, or are just looking for an excuse to use one, these little blade guards are a neat project. Making your quadcopter look like a spaceship seems to be quite the thing, here’s links to some examples.Sun, 10 Jan 2016 09:33:56 GMTDroneshttps://makehardware.com/2015/12/22/cheerson-cx-10-repair-guide-and-tips/https://makehardware.com/2015/12/22/cheerson-cx-10-repair-guide-and-tips/For all of you who received Cheerson CX-10 mini-quadcopters as holiday gifts and are learning to fly, bookmark this page because you’ll need it soon. Here’s a list of some common repairs – you might as well learn about it now. FYI – The Cheerson CX-10 is also sometimes sold as…Tue, 22 Dec 2015 08:35:18 GMTDroneshttps://makehardware.com/2015/12/21/the-cheerson-cx-10-and-related-mini-quadcopters/https://makehardware.com/2015/12/21/the-cheerson-cx-10-and-related-mini-quadcopters/There are a few variations on the Cheerson CX-10, and it can be a little confusing as to what the differences are. Here is a quick guide. See below for more information on all of these. For those interested in hacking the CX-10, it looks like there has been at least 3 different…Mon, 21 Dec 2015 08:53:40 GMTDroneshttps://makehardware.com/2015/12/19/links-on-hacks-for-cheerson-cx-10/https://makehardware.com/2015/12/19/links-on-hacks-for-cheerson-cx-10/This is a compilation of links describing various hacks on the Cheerson CX-10 mini drone. The first one is my own hack where I control a Cheerson CX-10 from a PC using a webcam. This is a how-to on converting a Cheerson into a FPV. Pretty amazing! 3. This post describes how to…Sat, 19 Dec 2015 09:50:34 GMTDroneshttps://makehardware.com/2015/12/06/dancing-penguin-robots/https://makehardware.com/2015/12/06/dancing-penguin-robots/Total cost for each robot was about $2.50 per robot (primarily for the motor, battery pack, and batteries). The best place to get the vibration motor and battery pack is from Ebay. The other items are all on Amazon. Click the links in the table above to see the prices. Get your…Sun, 06 Dec 2015 21:41:26 GMTKidshttps://makehardware.com/2015/07/30/the-shenzhen-fba-fulfillment-by-amazon-business-model/https://makehardware.com/2015/07/30/the-shenzhen-fba-fulfillment-by-amazon-business-model/Someone asked me how all those electronics vendors in the Huaqiangbei make money. There are so many vendors, and many of them seem to sit there all day with relatively few customers coming by. Many vendors are too busy looking at their laptops or phones to even care if you look…Thu, 30 Jul 2015 11:44:02 GMTElectronicshttps://makehardware.com/2015/07/30/amazing-shenzhen-electronics-market/https://makehardware.com/2015/07/30/amazing-shenzhen-electronics-market/Shenzhen China has been getting some notice lately as a great place for makers who are building electronics. I recently had a chance to visit there, and it is truly an amazing place if you love electronics. You can buy lots of finished electronics (including name-brands as well…Thu, 30 Jul 2015 11:43:23 GMTElectronicshttps://makehardware.com/2015/07/28/windows-10-is-not-for-me/https://makehardware.com/2015/07/28/windows-10-is-not-for-me/Windows 10 is going to be released on July 29th, but one feature that many cordcutters will be missing is Windows Media Center. I am still happily running Windows 7 on all my PCs at home (I can’t stand the Windows 8 interface), so I was not planning on updating anytime soon.…Tue, 28 Jul 2015 14:20:21 GMTDVRshttps://makehardware.com/2015/07/28/broken-television-guide-in-windows-media-center-after-july-20-2015/https://makehardware.com/2015/07/28/broken-television-guide-in-windows-media-center-after-july-20-2015/Perhaps it was just coincidence, but the day before I wrote up my post documenting my build-your-own OTA DVR setup, Microsoft broke the free television guide service for many users. Apparently they switched providers from Zap2it to Rovi. I only noticed because my kids started…Tue, 28 Jul 2015 12:13:41 GMTDVRshttps://makehardware.com/2015/07/21/build-your-own-ota-antenna-dvr/https://makehardware.com/2015/07/21/build-your-own-ota-antenna-dvr/If there is anything that inspires this maker to action, it’s a monthly cable bill. TV is great, but it’s not $100-a-month-great. Luckily, there’s lots of streaming options these days (Netflix, Hulu, etc…), but getting local broadcast networks streamed over the internet is not…Tue, 21 Jul 2015 14:06:14 GMTDVRshttps://makehardware.com/2013/02/03/celebrities-biking-with-their-kids/https://makehardware.com/2013/02/03/celebrities-biking-with-their-kids/Biking with kids is so much fun, even celebrities do it! This is Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt bicycling with their kids in New Orleans in 2007. They each have a CoPilot Limo Bicycle Child Seat mounted on the back of their bike, and Brad is also towing an InStep Take 2 Double…Sun, 03 Feb 2013 16:40:08 GMTUncategorizedhttps://makehardware.com/2013/01/26/the-best-tip-ever-for-teaching-your-kid-to-ride-a-bicycle/https://makehardware.com/2013/01/26/the-best-tip-ever-for-teaching-your-kid-to-ride-a-bicycle/I was at the local park with my daughter, trying to teach her to ride without training wheels. I was running behind her bicycle and holding her seat to help keep her from tipping over. This was good exercise, but it was not very effective and eventually gave me a sore back.…Sat, 26 Jan 2013 02:37:14 GMTUncategorizedhttps://makehardware.com/2013/01/23/kids-strider-or-balance-bikes/https://makehardware.com/2013/01/23/kids-strider-or-balance-bikes/Whether they are called strider bikes, balance bikes, push bikes, or running bikes, they all refer to kids bicycles that don’t have pedals. These have been popular in Europe for a long time, but they are becoming more common in the US lately. My daughter’s present for her third…Wed, 23 Jan 2013 01:42:47 GMTUncategorizedhttps://makehardware.com/2013/01/06/childrens-bicycle-helmets/https://makehardware.com/2013/01/06/childrens-bicycle-helmets/It can be hard to find a bicycle helmet that fits well and is comfortable for small children, especially for riding in a trailer when they are 1 – 2 years of age. Shown below are the two models that we have used. Many people seem to have strong opinions as to the minimum age for…Sun, 06 Jan 2013 15:51:55 GMTUncategorizedhttps://makehardware.com/2013/01/05/bicycle-trailers-for-kids/https://makehardware.com/2013/01/05/bicycle-trailers-for-kids/One of the best things about being a parent is sharing the joy of a hobby or activity that you love with your kids. In my family, we enjoy cycling together, and having our kids ride with us has only made it more fun. In this series of posts, we’ll describe how we gradually went…Sat, 05 Jan 2013 08:56:36 GMTUncategorizedhttps://makehardware.com/2013/01/05/best-birthday-gifts/https://makehardware.com/2013/01/05/best-birthday-gifts/Kids these days have so many toys! When I give a child a gift, I want it to be something that the child and their parents appreciate. I try to think of something fun, but also a little off-the-beaten path and with educational value. I try to avoid toys from Toys R Us or Target…Sat, 05 Jan 2013 07:14:29 GMTUncategorizedhttps://makehardware.com/2012/03/10/book-review-of-free-range-kids/https://makehardware.com/2012/03/10/book-review-of-free-range-kids/Free-Range Kids, How to Raise Safe, Self-Reliant Children (Without Going Nuts with Worry) by Lenore Skenazy, published in 2009 There are times when I feel like a terrible parent and ridden by guilt for doing things like letting my kids run ahead of me at the store or play out in…Sat, 10 Mar 2012 08:15:37 GMTUncategorizedhttps://makehardware.com/2012/01/23/cancel-satellite-cable-and-build-your-own-dvr/https://makehardware.com/2012/01/23/cancel-satellite-cable-and-build-your-own-dvr/For about 4 years, I subscribed to DISH Network. I subscribed to the bare minimum package that gave me the local sports channels (e.g. Comcast Sports Network). This was primarily so I could watch Cal football games (Go Bears!), however I recently decided to cancel my…Mon, 23 Jan 2012 10:52:34 GMTUncategorized