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My Projects

RFIDGeek/Univelop RF500B RFID Module

RFIDGeek/Univelop RF500B RFID Module

This is the RFID Module sold by RFIDGeek/Univelop Tech. While this little module might not look like much, it IS true what they say, “Good things come in small packages”.

By wiring +5 and Ground, as well as RS232 RX and TX to the board, you can use the included program to read and write to/from MiFare cards.

The company website (RFIDGeek.com) does not do the module justice. This little ~1.35″*2.25″ RFID reader/writer module packs the following onboard:

Top Side:

  • Fudan Microelectronics FM1702NL (32-pin SOP): [PDF] Parallel or SPI Interface (Note, the higher models, FM1715NL and FM1725NL both share a common pinout, and offer increased features [see the PDF]. I wonder if the board would work with one of these instead of the FM1702…)
  • 13.56Mhz Crystal
  • Sipex SP232EEN: TTL-RS232 Converter

Bottom Side:

  • LSI 1021WI?: (8-pin SOP, bottom side of the module)
  • Unknown Microcontroller: (44-pin, ID has been shaved off)
  • 11.0592Mhz Crystal

There is space available to add pin headers to the board for each of the following: (All of these are subject to change and/or verification)

J1: Antenna Interface

  1. Ground
  2. Transmitting Antenna 1
  3. Ground
  4. Transmitting Antenna 2
  5. Ground
  6. Receiving Antenna

J2: Microcontroller Interface

  1. Control Output
  2. Buzzer Output (High)
  3. RS485 Control (Low)
  4. VCC
  5. Reset Onboard MCU (High)
  6. Ground
  7. UART Receive
  8. UART Transmit

J3: Microcontroller SPI? (For the “Module 500” Only?)

  1.  
  2.  
  3.  
  4.  
  5. SPI Clock Out from FM1702NL Pin 24

J4: RS232 I/O

  1. VCC (+5V)
  2. RS232 Receive
  3. RS232 Transmit
  4. Ground
FAKE Image Gallery

FAKE Image Gallery

These sites lure MSN users by pretending to be your buddies, messaging you a convincing link to their “photo gallery”, into which you must put your MSN username and password to gain access to see your friend’s photos. As soon as you put in your username and password, the sites log in with them, and send
further spam to everyone on your buddy list.

Sites: (including but not limited to:)

  • hostapic.info  (Update: Currently reports “Address not found”)
  • imagefrosty.info (Update: Currently reports “Address not found”)
  • get-that-stuff.info (Update: Domain is now some advertisement website)
  • imagegallerys.info (Update: Currently reports “Failed to connect”)
  • Update: imagezshak.com

They are all registered to a Mr. Jeff Fisher of TST Management,
Inc, located in Panama, with websites hosted in China.

Apparently this has been going on for a while, check out “Latest MSN scam records username and passwords…” article at jarred.brentp.net

I’ve reported these sites to the following:

MSN

Reported to MSN for Windows Live Messenger Abuse
I’ve heard nothing back from MSN yet.

eNom and NameCheap

NameCheap appears to be the affiliate of eNom that is the registrar for the domain, and the one taking care of the DNS servers. eNom is the one that provides the service to NameCheap.

Reported to eNom and NameCheap, the Registrars and hosts for the site.
The majority of eNom’s response email stated: <blockquote>Thank you for contacting us. Your email has been submitted to our Compliance Department. Please
note that due to the volume of complaints received, unless we need
additional information, you will not receive a reply or update from us.
Please be assured that we take abuse very seriously and investigate
every incident that is reported.</blockquote>

Yahoo

Reported to Yahoo.com, provider of “TST Management Inc”‘s email address.
The majority of their response email stated: <blockquote>We appreciate you contacting us about your concerns regarding this
possible abuse of Yahoo! services. We are not able to take action on
this complaint because the apparent instance of abuse is not hosted by
Yahoo!. If you wish to have action taken then you may wish to contact
any company which provides services that may be the subject of abuse.</blockquote>

Update: I have also reported imagezshak.com to eNom and NameCheap.

When Good Caps Go Bad

When Good Caps Go Bad

When this 0.22 Farad, 2.5 Volt super capacitor’s time came, it didn’t go easily. It put up a fight: It let all of its electrolyte out through its bottom and onto the PCB, leaving a hard, crusty layer, and a capacitor that doesn’t work.

It is typically used in place of a standard “battery backup”, and possibly to retain RAM contents between short resets.

Part Specs:
Manufacturer: Cooper Bussmann
Type: PowerStor Aerogel Type B, 0.22F 2.5V Capacitor

Digikey Part Number

Targus RemoteTunes for iPod

Targus RemoteTunes for iPod

This is the Targus RemoteTunes(tm) for iPod. I got it from XSCargo, where they currently have them available for CDN$9.99.

Its guts include a transmitter and receiver pair. Even considering I don’t have an iPod to use this with, for $10.. I’m not arguing.

The receiver has:

The transmitter has:

The receiver and transmitter both have some unused pins on them:

Receiver (Base):

  • J: ICSP Data 
  • C: ICSP Clock
  • V: VPP / !MCLR
  • G: Ground
  • +: 3.3V from iPod

    PIC Pins:

  1. Power (Vcc = 3.3V)
  2. ?
  3. (Something to do with the output jack)
  4. VPP (Programming Voltage) / !MCLR (Reset)
  5. Data (From HiMark Pin 8)
  6. ICSP Clock
  7. ICSP Data / Serial Transmit
  8. Ground

    HiMark Pins: (Pages 11-12 of Datasheet. Pins I especially care about are un-italicized.)

  1. Oscillator 2 (From Tunable Coil)
  2. IF filter output
  3. Comparator input A
  4. Comparator input B
  5. Comparator offset adjustment
  6. Ground
  7. Ground
  8. Data (to PIC Pin 5)
  9. Disable
  10. Comparator input C
  11. Limiter Input
  12. Limiter Feedback A
  13. Limiter Feedback B
  14. RF Amplifier Input (Virf)
  15. RF Amplifier Ground (Vee)
  16. RF Amplifier Output (Vorf) 
  17. Mixer Input
  18. Power (Vcc = 3.3V)
  19. Power (Vcc =.3.3V)
  20. Oscillator 1 (To Tunable Coil)

Transmitter (Remote):

  • J: VPP / !MCLR
  • C: Serial Programming Clock
  • Unlettered: Serial Programming Data
  • G: Ground
  • +: Batteries (6V)

    PIC Pins:

  1. Power (Batteries)
  2. ?
  3. Play/Pause Button (Center)
  4. VPP (Programming Voltage) / !MCLR (Reset)
  5. Volume Down (Bottom Left)
  6. Volume Up (Bottom Right)
  7. ?
  8. LED
  9. ?
  10. Crystal?
  11. ?
  12. Serial Programming Clock / Back Button (Top Left)
  13. Serial Programming Data / Forward (Top Right)
  14. Ground 

See also:
Apple iPod Jack Pinout – Explains the pinout and protocol for 2nd and 3rd Generation iPods.

(iPod is a trademark of Apple Computer, Inc.)

Anadigi GPS-R02 DIY GPS Kit

Anadigi GPS-R02 DIY GPS Kit

I got this little “Anadigi GPS-R02 DIY” car gps kit from eBay seller anadigi-hk, and it was mailed direct from Hong Kong.

[Edit: Apparently, the eBay Store and user are no more.]

It came with the GPS Circuit board and a little plastic case for it, an MMCX antenna with magnetic base, and a matching USB cable. The mini-CD came with drivers and a few test and diagnostic programs.

It works great; by the time my computer comes out of hibernation, it already has a signal lock. Talk about bang for the buck!

The receiver is based on the NemeriX NJ1030A [Datasheet – Archive.org], and includes WAAS/EGNOS support.

Markings on the box: (They look like the vitals for the GPS Antenna)

  • Product Model: GPS
  • Center Frequency: 1575.42 +/-3Mhz
  • LNA Gain (Without Cable): 28dB
  • Noise Figure: <1.5dB
  • VSWR: <2.0
  • DC Current: 10mA Max
  • Mounting: Magnetic Base
  • Housing: Black
  • Working Temp: -40*C ~ +85*C
  • Vibration: Sine sweep lg(0-p) 10~50~10Hz each axis
  • Humidity: 95%-100%RH
  • Weatherproof: 100% Weatherproof
  • Cable Length: 3m
  • Voltage: 3-5V
  • Connector: MMCX
  • USB to Serial Converter (onboard): PL-2303* (but the Prolific Windows driver doesn’t like it, errors with Code 10: Cannot start”, according to the Prolific website, that means it’s likely a counterfeit PL-2303 chip. I’ll have to dig out the CD that came with it again.)

Update: How to add GPS to your Eee PC @ beta.ivancover.com – That’s definitely one of the first things I’d do with an Eee.