Tom Wardill
@tom.theclacks.cloud.ap.brid.gy
Enthusiastic hobby collector, prone to rabbit holes. Makes things, codes things, professionally keeping servers happier.
Occasionally known to ride a bike.
[bridged from https://theclacks.cloud/@tom on the fediverse by https://fed.brid.gy/ ]
Occasionally known to ride a bike.
[bridged from https://theclacks.cloud/@tom on the fediverse by https://fed.brid.gy/ ]
Just had to restore my keyboard from backup.
I guess, yay, I had a backup, but also, booo, what the heck?
I guess, yay, I had a backup, but also, booo, what the heck?
November 27, 2025 at 8:56 AM
Just had to restore my keyboard from backup.
I guess, yay, I had a backup, but also, booo, what the heck?
I guess, yay, I had a backup, but also, booo, what the heck?
In an effort to attempt to spend less time mindlessly watching Youtube, I have started a baremetal STM32 course from Udemy.
I just made an LED flash. Genuinely makes me quite happy.
I just made an LED flash. Genuinely makes me quite happy.
November 23, 2025 at 2:43 PM
In an effort to attempt to spend less time mindlessly watching Youtube, I have started a baremetal STM32 course from Udemy.
I just made an LED flash. Genuinely makes me quite happy.
I just made an LED flash. Genuinely makes me quite happy.
Last year my partner ran Dragons Back and did very well.
I built a lamp using her GPS data, elevation profile and route.
Really quite happy with how it turned out.
I built a lamp using her GPS data, elevation profile and route.
Really quite happy with how it turned out.
November 21, 2025 at 9:10 PM
Last year my partner ran Dragons Back and did very well.
I built a lamp using her GPS data, elevation profile and route.
Really quite happy with how it turned out.
I built a lamp using her GPS data, elevation profile and route.
Really quite happy with how it turned out.
Starting to realise that the difficult part of attempting to learn some bare metal microprocessor skills is not the learning.
It’s working out which debug cable you need, and why you don’t own one yet.
It’s working out which debug cable you need, and why you don’t own one yet.
November 15, 2025 at 5:39 PM
Starting to realise that the difficult part of attempting to learn some bare metal microprocessor skills is not the learning.
It’s working out which debug cable you need, and why you don’t own one yet.
It’s working out which debug cable you need, and why you don’t own one yet.
Next years #bigproject is to go supersonic.
Done ‘very high up’ with a 25km altitude balloon.
Now I want something that goes ‘very fast’.
And maybe, eventually, flies some of my own code.
Done ‘very high up’ with a 25km altitude balloon.
Now I want something that goes ‘very fast’.
And maybe, eventually, flies some of my own code.
October 20, 2025 at 8:07 PM
Next years #bigproject is to go supersonic.
Done ‘very high up’ with a 25km altitude balloon.
Now I want something that goes ‘very fast’.
And maybe, eventually, flies some of my own code.
Done ‘very high up’ with a 25km altitude balloon.
Now I want something that goes ‘very fast’.
And maybe, eventually, flies some of my own code.
Anyone got a supplier for Hermann Miller Mirra (1) parts?
Ripped the mesh on the seat, and all the ones on ebay atm appear to have the same problem...
Ripped the mesh on the seat, and all the ones on ebay atm appear to have the same problem...
October 13, 2025 at 12:19 PM
Anyone got a supplier for Hermann Miller Mirra (1) parts?
Ripped the mesh on the seat, and all the ones on ebay atm appear to have the same problem...
Ripped the mesh on the seat, and all the ones on ebay atm appear to have the same problem...
I bought a new frame.work 13 last month.
I now regret that.
Not only sponsoring people with utterly hateful views, and promoting others with the same, but now arguing that a 'big tent' approach is somehow suitable.
Not even a hint of an acknowledgement that it might be a bad idea to give […]
I now regret that.
Not only sponsoring people with utterly hateful views, and promoting others with the same, but now arguing that a 'big tent' approach is somehow suitable.
Not even a hint of an acknowledgement that it might be a bad idea to give […]
Original post on theclacks.cloud
theclacks.cloud
October 9, 2025 at 7:24 AM
I bought a new frame.work 13 last month.
I now regret that.
Not only sponsoring people with utterly hateful views, and promoting others with the same, but now arguing that a 'big tent' approach is somehow suitable.
Not even a hint of an acknowledgement that it might be a bad idea to give […]
I now regret that.
Not only sponsoring people with utterly hateful views, and promoting others with the same, but now arguing that a 'big tent' approach is somehow suitable.
Not even a hint of an acknowledgement that it might be a bad idea to give […]
I have fairly basic electronics knowledge, but am designing a few PCBs these days.
Has anyone seen any guides/info on ‘rules of thumb for PCB design’?
I can just about operate kicad, but am missing the knowledge about actual PCB physical design that makes me nervous about wasting iterations […]
Has anyone seen any guides/info on ‘rules of thumb for PCB design’?
I can just about operate kicad, but am missing the knowledge about actual PCB physical design that makes me nervous about wasting iterations […]
Original post on theclacks.cloud
theclacks.cloud
September 20, 2025 at 7:27 AM
I have fairly basic electronics knowledge, but am designing a few PCBs these days.
Has anyone seen any guides/info on ‘rules of thumb for PCB design’?
I can just about operate kicad, but am missing the knowledge about actual PCB physical design that makes me nervous about wasting iterations […]
Has anyone seen any guides/info on ‘rules of thumb for PCB design’?
I can just about operate kicad, but am missing the knowledge about actual PCB physical design that makes me nervous about wasting iterations […]
Packed my travel weaving kit for a weekend away.
Enjoying the small frame for trying to get my head around some simple patterns.
Enjoying the small frame for trying to get my head around some simple patterns.
September 14, 2025 at 7:19 PM
Packed my travel weaving kit for a weekend away.
Enjoying the small frame for trying to get my head around some simple patterns.
Enjoying the small frame for trying to get my head around some simple patterns.
Fun time at Newark National Hamfest, on the RSGB stands in my role as the 'Maker Champion'.
Some great chats about making things, makerspaces, and what the crossover of the amateur radio community and the maker community might look like.
Especially appreciative of the couple of folks that […]
Some great chats about making things, makerspaces, and what the crossover of the amateur radio community and the maker community might look like.
Especially appreciative of the couple of folks that […]
Original post on theclacks.cloud
theclacks.cloud
September 7, 2025 at 1:07 PM
Fun time at Newark National Hamfest, on the RSGB stands in my role as the 'Maker Champion'.
Some great chats about making things, makerspaces, and what the crossover of the amateur radio community and the maker community might look like.
Especially appreciative of the couple of folks that […]
Some great chats about making things, makerspaces, and what the crossover of the amateur radio community and the maker community might look like.
Especially appreciative of the couple of folks that […]
Currently sat on the floor in the middle of my office trying to extract it from post-big-project mess.
I’ve rediscovered at least 3 different projects during this process and am trying not to get distracted.
I’ve rediscovered at least 3 different projects during this process and am trying not to get distracted.
September 7, 2025 at 10:03 AM
Currently sat on the floor in the middle of my office trying to extract it from post-big-project mess.
I’ve rediscovered at least 3 different projects during this process and am trying not to get distracted.
I’ve rediscovered at least 3 different projects during this process and am trying not to get distracted.
Via the power of the mighty mighty Honda Jazz, I am packed up and heading to National HamFest.
Come find me on the RSGB stand talking about how you should make things.
#hamfest #amateurradio #satellites
Come find me on the RSGB stand talking about how you should make things.
#hamfest #amateurradio #satellites
September 4, 2025 at 9:19 AM
Via the power of the mighty mighty Honda Jazz, I am packed up and heading to National HamFest.
Come find me on the RSGB stand talking about how you should make things.
#hamfest #amateurradio #satellites
Come find me on the RSGB stand talking about how you should make things.
#hamfest #amateurradio #satellites
I now have to make a spinning arm. It should move pretty slowly.
I will toot every time I get hit by the spinning arm.
I will toot every time I get hit by the spinning arm.
August 31, 2025 at 3:34 PM
I now have to make a spinning arm. It should move pretty slowly.
I will toot every time I get hit by the spinning arm.
I will toot every time I get hit by the spinning arm.
Final sprint on the CubeSatSim project for Hamfest.
Building up LED cable harnesses and replacing labels in the switches and then I think the Ground Station is hardware complete.
Got to do a bit more software to fix the mode changing, then work on the satellite rotator.
This message probably […]
Building up LED cable harnesses and replacing labels in the switches and then I think the Ground Station is hardware complete.
Got to do a bit more software to fix the mode changing, then work on the satellite rotator.
This message probably […]
Original post on theclacks.cloud
theclacks.cloud
August 31, 2025 at 8:45 AM
Final sprint on the CubeSatSim project for Hamfest.
Building up LED cable harnesses and replacing labels in the switches and then I think the Ground Station is hardware complete.
Got to do a bit more software to fix the mode changing, then work on the satellite rotator.
This message probably […]
Building up LED cable harnesses and replacing labels in the switches and then I think the Ground Station is hardware complete.
Got to do a bit more software to fix the mode changing, then work on the satellite rotator.
This message probably […]
I am very sick of running into cases in the GCP API that take a set or a list, but the allowable count is (1), and the only mention of this is deep in the API docs.
August 21, 2025 at 3:03 PM
I am very sick of running into cases in the GCP API that take a set or a list, but the allowable count is (1), and the only mention of this is deep in the API docs.
Prototypes are continuing. Scaled up a bit as while the ‘life size’ twist-lite replica was fine, I don’t actually have a whole console of them so it looked a bit lost.
Increased the size by 50% and redesigned the top cover to be a bit more printable.
Fitment […]
[Original post on theclacks.cloud]
Increased the size by 50% and redesigned the top cover to be a bit more printable.
Fitment […]
[Original post on theclacks.cloud]
August 4, 2025 at 8:25 PM
Prototypes are continuing. Scaled up a bit as while the ‘life size’ twist-lite replica was fine, I don’t actually have a whole console of them so it looked a bit lost.
Increased the size by 50% and redesigned the top cover to be a bit more printable.
Fitment […]
[Original post on theclacks.cloud]
Increased the size by 50% and redesigned the top cover to be a bit more printable.
Fitment […]
[Original post on theclacks.cloud]
@ku2y A question, if you have time :)
If I wanted to provide external power to the CubeSatSim without using the USBC connector, would 5V into the 'parallel battery pack connector' on the Battery Board work?
If I wanted to provide external power to the CubeSatSim without using the USBC connector, would 5V into the 'parallel battery pack connector' on the Battery Board work?
August 2, 2025 at 10:08 AM
@ku2y A question, if you have time :)
If I wanted to provide external power to the CubeSatSim without using the USBC connector, would 5V into the 'parallel battery pack connector' on the Battery Board work?
If I wanted to provide external power to the CubeSatSim without using the USBC connector, would 5V into the 'parallel battery pack connector' on the Battery Board work?
Reached the ‘next day delivery parts scatter’ phase of project crunch.
August 1, 2025 at 5:17 PM
Reached the ‘next day delivery parts scatter’ phase of project crunch.
To get the APRS based Command and Control working on this CubeSat Simulator I need to add a USB soundcard as it's only the beta 1.3 hardware.
Turns out I have a box of exactly them, designed exactly for this.
I do love it when previous projects come into play later.
Turns out I have a box of exactly them, designed exactly for this.
I do love it when previous projects come into play later.
July 20, 2025 at 2:28 PM
To get the APRS based Command and Control working on this CubeSat Simulator I need to add a USB soundcard as it's only the beta 1.3 hardware.
Turns out I have a box of exactly them, designed exactly for this.
I do love it when previous projects come into play later.
Turns out I have a box of exactly them, designed exactly for this.
I do love it when previous projects come into play later.
Having an incredibly frustrating time with a USB project.
FE1.1s chip wired up. Having 1 device connected to it is fine. Having 2 causes a bunch of usb errors and a semi-stable reboot loop.
No idea what's going on, and I don't appear to be able to fix it.
FE1.1s chip wired up. Having 1 device connected to it is fine. Having 2 causes a bunch of usb errors and a semi-stable reboot loop.
No idea what's going on, and I don't appear to be able to fix it.
July 15, 2025 at 6:00 PM
Having an incredibly frustrating time with a USB project.
FE1.1s chip wired up. Having 1 device connected to it is fine. Having 2 causes a bunch of usb errors and a semi-stable reboot loop.
No idea what's going on, and I don't appear to be able to fix it.
FE1.1s chip wired up. Having 1 device connected to it is fine. Having 2 causes a bunch of usb errors and a semi-stable reboot loop.
No idea what's going on, and I don't appear to be able to fix it.
Built up V1.0 of the PCB for SecretProject and it only has 1 mistake on it!
And 2 mistakes in the BOM.
Some bodge wires later and it’s on the air.
Pretty happy with the that. Now to do V1.1 and try not to break anything else at the same time.
And 2 mistakes in the BOM.
Some bodge wires later and it’s on the air.
Pretty happy with the that. Now to do V1.1 and try not to break anything else at the same time.
July 6, 2025 at 7:49 AM
Built up V1.0 of the PCB for SecretProject and it only has 1 mistake on it!
And 2 mistakes in the BOM.
Some bodge wires later and it’s on the air.
Pretty happy with the that. Now to do V1.1 and try not to break anything else at the same time.
And 2 mistakes in the BOM.
Some bodge wires later and it’s on the air.
Pretty happy with the that. Now to do V1.1 and try not to break anything else at the same time.
It's taken basically every electronics/radio tool I own ('scope, SDR, Glasgow, FTDI UART, PSU, DMM, VNA) and a heck of a lot of jumper wires but I finally have managed to build a transceiver using an SA-818S chip.
And now I can move on to using it for something useful.
And now I can move on to using it for something useful.
July 2, 2025 at 3:00 PM
It's taken basically every electronics/radio tool I own ('scope, SDR, Glasgow, FTDI UART, PSU, DMM, VNA) and a heck of a lot of jumper wires but I finally have managed to build a transceiver using an SA-818S chip.
And now I can move on to using it for something useful.
And now I can move on to using it for something useful.
I need some analog gauges for a project and I couldn't find any I liked, so I made some.
https://blog.howrandom.net/37g-servo-analog-gauges/
https://blog.howrandom.net/37g-servo-analog-gauges/
June 29, 2025 at 7:17 PM
I need some analog gauges for a project and I couldn't find any I liked, so I made some.
https://blog.howrandom.net/37g-servo-analog-gauges/
https://blog.howrandom.net/37g-servo-analog-gauges/
*Something* on my desk eats good SD/MicroSD -> USB adaptors and poops the crap ones.
June 27, 2025 at 7:55 AM
*Something* on my desk eats good SD/MicroSD -> USB adaptors and poops the crap ones.
Spent the morning playing with lasers and my analog dial project.
Got something that I’m happy-if-not-overjoyed with, which is Good Enough.
Then spent the afternoon transcribing a schematic and PCB layout for a Secret Project.
Got something that I’m happy-if-not-overjoyed with, which is Good Enough.
Then spent the afternoon transcribing a schematic and PCB layout for a Secret Project.
June 25, 2025 at 6:09 PM
Spent the morning playing with lasers and my analog dial project.
Got something that I’m happy-if-not-overjoyed with, which is Good Enough.
Then spent the afternoon transcribing a schematic and PCB layout for a Secret Project.
Got something that I’m happy-if-not-overjoyed with, which is Good Enough.
Then spent the afternoon transcribing a schematic and PCB layout for a Secret Project.