InTheMail | Voltlog #488

In the latest edition of InTheMail, I unbox and review a treasure trove of electronics tools and gadgets from AliExpress and Amazon. From high-quality pliers to versatile USB-C connectors and even a unique IR pre-heater, this video is packed with valuable insights and recommendations for hobbyists of all levels.

Kicking things off, I share my honest thoughts on a set of pliers that failed to meet expectations, followed by a handy pair of scissor-type cutters perfect for trimming heat shrink and enamel wire. Next up, a carbon fiber spudger adds an anti-static and ESD-safe option to my toolkit. The video also showcases the compact and open-source olmBoard modules, featuring impressive specs like a wide input voltage range and low power consumption.

USB-C connectors, a magnetic rotary position sensor breakout, and a digital speaker amp board are also highlighted. For those working with DC motors, I review breakout boards for the DRV8871 H-bridge driver, offering overcurrent and over-temperature protection. Practical accessories like a tactical shoulder strap, corkscrew bottle opener, and wetsuit hanger are also covered.

One standout item is the IR pre-heater, which has revolutionized my soldering and desoldering workflow. By pre-heating PCBs, I can minimize stress on surrounding components and achieve better results, especially for double-sided or heavily populated boards. Finally, I explore the potential of syringe filters for cleaning and reusing ultrasonic cleaner liquids more effectively.

Adding WiFi Connection To Rigol DHO800 Series | Voltlog #470

Unleash the Full Potential of Your Rigol DHO800 Series Oscilloscope with this Simple WiFi Hack! If you’ve been frustrated by the lack of built-in WiFi connectivity on your Rigol DHO800 series oscilloscope, fear not! Thanks to the ingenuity of the eevblog forum community, there’s a straightforward solution that will allow you to add wireless connectivity to your device with minimal effort.

The key to this hack lies in the Android operating system running underneath the Rigol DHO800 series oscilloscopes. By leveraging the pre-installed drivers for the Realtek RTL8188 chipset, you can transform your oscilloscope into a WiFi-enabled powerhouse with just a simple USB WiFi adapter. To accomplish this, you’ll need to acquire a TP-Link TL-WN725N USB WiFi Adapter (version 2 or 3), which is widely available and affordable.

These adapters are specifically designed with the Realtek RTL8188 chipset, ensuring seamless compatibility with the Android drivers on your oscilloscope. Once you have the adapter, simply connect it to your oscilloscope using a USB hub (along with a keyboard for initial setup), and follow the step-by-step guide provided in the video.

By accessing the Android operating system’s settings through keyboard shortcuts, you can easily connect to your desired WiFi network and enjoy wireless connectivity. While this hack may not be officially supported by Rigol and may exhibit some quirks (such as the GUI showing “network disconnected” despite being connected), the benefits far outweigh the minor inconveniences.

With WiFi connectivity, you can access the oscilloscope’s web control interface, transfer screenshots seamlessly, and even adjust the display brightness – a feature previously unavailable through the GUI.

Voltlog #294 – InTheMail

Welcome to a new InTheMail, the series that will touch both your passion for electronics and your bank account at the same time. Before I get started I’m gonna take a second to remind you to subscribe to the channel and hit the bell notification icon because that’s the only way you will know for sure when I upload new videos. 

Depending on which part of the world you live in, you might be dealing with the same isolation measures as I am, the government is recommending we stay inside as much as possible here in Romania, to avoid contact with other people. So that gives me more time to work on projects, learn new stuff and of course discover and order stuff from the internet.

I’m gonna start with this notebook which has a retro looking leather cover, I think it’s quite neat looking, I’m not sure if this is real leather or not, description just said leather. I always keep a notebook around the workbench, it can be useful for drafting a quick schematic, some dimensions or just for writing down some measurements. Another cool feature of this notebook is the binder style clips you have inside, which allow you to insert or remove paper and what’s even nicer is that you can find this type of paper with different grid styles and they’re very affordable.