Tools - DroneBot Workshop Forums

"Precision" frequency referece

Westislander — Fri, 27 Mar 2026 11:29:16 +0000

Hi everyone. At fabzone we have mostly loaned and donated electronic test equipment. To make a very long story short I want to check out the calibration of these near-antiques but have a very low budget. In the interest of hacking on a shoestring I have made an order for a low cost precision frequency reference. From Aliexpress .

Description:

OCXO 10MHz Frequency Standard Reference Module Crystal Oscillator Constant Temperature Board OCXO Frequency Module

URL if anyone is interested:

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005009042002973.html

I would not expect any serious electronics lab to depend on a $15 gadget to calibrate everything.

But for makerspace use this might be an extremely cost effective item to check my Tektronix, HP, and Kikusui instruments.

Fingers crossed that I will get to 10.000000000 on my readouts. Okay maybe not that may zeros.

I will report back later once this gizmo arrives.

Breadboard + Display + Clipboard = Project Board

tfpfau — Thu, 29 Jan 2026 01:51:35 +0000

I got some small 6x9in (155x225mm) plastic clipboards, mounted 20x4 displays and a couple of breadboards on them, and added some feet. I plan on using them for breadboarding ESP32 projects.

I find the displays useful as you can get output from your project without having to be connected to a PC by a USB cable. Mounting them on the clipboard keeps them oriented so you can read them and protects them from shorting against metal objects they might find on the workbench. If they are not secured to something I find they like to shift around every time the breadboard moves due to the stiffness of the wires. These clipboards are just the right size for this.

10607

Oscilloscope usefulness

DavidL — Wed, 24 Dec 2025 20:32:04 +0000

Hi,

I'm considering buying an oscilloscope. Please let me know if I should provide more information.

My immediate use case is to determine how RFI is affected by changes to a circuit (I get i2c failures when DC motors exceed a certain speed, and I've been told it's likely RFI).

My main questions (so far) are:

1. Is an oscilloscope a good tool for diagnosing RFI problems?

2. Is an oscilloscope overkill for somebody who works on electronics at most a few hours per week?

3. Could I use an SDRPlay to determine how changes (e.g. adding decoupling resistors) affect the RFI? I have an SDRPlay++ that I bought about 5 years ago. ChatGPT says I can use that in place of an oscilloscope, but I'd like to get a human answer too.

4. If an oscilloscope is a worthwhile purchase, is the FNIRSI-1014D-Dual-Channel-Oscilloscoe

I was considering this: FNIRSI 1014D Oscilloscope 2 in 1 Digital Oscilloscope DDS Signal Generator, 100X High Voltage Probe, 2 Channels 100Mhz Bandwidth 1GSa/s Sampling Rate Built-in 1GB Storage Space

https://www.amazon.com/FNIRSI-1014D-Dual-Channel-Oscilloscope-Generator-Bandwidth/dp/B097T5NRTZ/ref=asc_df_B097T5NRTZ?tag=bingshoppinga-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=79989590501873&hvnetw=o&hvqmt=e&hvbmt=be&hvdev=c&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=80421&hvtargid=pla-4583589116391923&psc=1

Thanks in advance!

Breadboard jumper wires

RoyB54 — Wed, 15 Oct 2025 00:24:35 +0000

Hi, I noticed that Bill has been using what looks like a heavier gauge jumper wires on his breadboard prototypes. These look to be a far better option than typical DuPont jumper wires. Does anyone know where these better jumpers can be purchased? Thanks, Roy

Power Supply (PSU) - AC/DC 220V->5V 5A

Silvester — Fri, 03 Oct 2025 17:26:49 +0000

I am building the WLED Dronebot audio reactive project but cannot find the right power supply. Just for the Christmas tree and family fun! I need a AC(220V)/DC(5V) 5A power supply for it to feed around 100LED's. Given values calculated by the WLED calculator! Can anyone help me finding or build the PSU. I will create a small housing for the project so the PSU must not be too big! Thanks a lot in advance for your advice.

Enclosures, where, anyone?

Tom B — Mon, 22 Sep 2025 15:42:47 +0000

Hey, gang. I have been looking for an enclosure for a power supply. I need one about 9x12, or 10x12, but simply cannot find anything like this. Have tried Amazon, Ebay, Jameco, Digikey, and various manufacturers. Anyone have any help on where to go?

Many thanks, Tom

Advice on choosing a schematic editor?

fransK — Wed, 17 Sep 2025 19:56:07 +0000

Hi, I want to start documenting my own not-so-complicated electronic schematics using an editor. My ubuntu linux pc has kiCad installed but that looks to have a steep learning curve. Searching this forum hinted on Fritzing had some negative points, o.a. badly documented custom part designer, but that message was more then 5 years old.

For me, an editor should run under linux, allow for custom parts (for using modules), support for stripboard and possibly breadboard. and export to image of svg. And have decent documentation.

I would appreciate advice on choosing such an schematic editor.

SEEED Studio XIAO PowerBread

Ron — Wed, 29 Jan 2025 18:50:27 +0000

I spotted this little gem a while back and due to shipping delays and illness have not got around to doing anything with it. Here is the link to the board and display LINK and here is the link to one of the possible boards to drive it LINK that is the RP2040, but you can also use the RP2350 and a few esp32s, but I would stick with the RP2040 (I think some things don't work with esp32s) and support is coming for SAMD. I just soldered on the XIAO hdrs, still need to do the hdrs for the usual power power selectors and a triple hdr in the middle I have not figured out the purpose of yet. I will post more later. I need to set up a circuit on the breadboard so I an show the stats screen and the chart screen. Anyone have a suggestion?

10097

Your oscilloscope

Yukon-Rose — Mon, 06 Jan 2025 09:51:04 +0000

To Bill

There are a number of "hobby level" oscilloscopes on the market today. Each comes with a bunch of "best thing since sliced bread" reviews. And there are some videos showing how flawed they are when put to practical use.

In your video titled "Using the ESP32 DAC - Voltages, Waveforms & Sounds" you present various test tools but you gloss over your oscilloscope. It is a Rigol DS1054Z model.

Would you buy this one again for your Arduino project testing? Why or why not?

Gary

18650 notes

Ron — Thu, 26 Dec 2024 16:38:34 +0000

I found a very useful diagram that I am posting here to do with the 3 different sizes of '18650' cells. The 18 is the diameter in mm, the 65 is the length except it isn't always. There are two kinds of normal (unprotected) cells, flat top which is 65mm long, and one with a button or pointy top that is 67mm long. What you most likely should be buying are the button or pointy type with a 'protection PCB' inside, it is 69mm long. That 'protection PCB' is actually one of several possibilities. Just know that the cell is protected from SOME bad events. If you need to use a 18650 in a situation or environment that could affect human (or doggie) health up to and including death, then do your research and deal with it properly. I use proper chargers, have a steel box lined with fire proof material, vented etc etc plus a fireproof bag in a fireproof bag while charging the big boys.

I have never had a problem with the 18650, but an ANKER power brick did swell up on me and it had not been used, or charged in months. That is about like having your Rolls Royce break down, it just doesn't happen.

9974