The smallest esp32 module (so far…)

Some months ago, Espressif announced the production of a new chip, named ESP32-PICO-D4. It’s a complete SiP (System in Package), that is a chip which integrates the esp32 microcontroller, a 4Mbit flash memory, a crystal oscillator, filter capacitors and RF matching links. The chip datasheet is available on the official website. Using this chip, it’s possible to create very small modules. I…

BLE with Bluno Beetle

Some time ago my friend Mauro Alfieri showed me an interesting development board produced by DFRobot and called Bluno Beetle (now Beetle Ble). It seemed the perfect board to start “playing” with the Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) technology; therefore I ordered  one board directly from the DFRobot store. I expected to receive the usual anonymous parcel with…

SIM800 GSM module

Today I received from  Banggood a GSM module based on the SIM800 chip by SIMCom. I’m going to use this module in a future Arduino project that will allow me to remotely control devices. In this article I’ll show you how to test the module. The SIM800 is a quad-band (850/900/1800/1900MHz) chip and allows to trasmit/receive voice, SMS and data (using the GPRS network).…

BlueRelayShield: review

An italian company, Lemontech, kindly provided me a sample of their new Arduino shield, named BlueRelayShield:   The yellow-colored shield has: [checklist] a Bluetooth HC-05 module two SRD-05VDC relays  two 5mm 3 contacts screw terminals two status leds [/checklist] Using this shield you can switch on/off two loads (connected to the relays) sending commands via Bluetooth. HC-05 Module The included HC-05 module allows a Bluetooth device to talk with Arduino via…

Lipo Fuel Gauge

In my recent review about the Li-po Rider module, I wrote that a little problem was the absence of a chip that could monitor the state of charge (SoC) of the connected battery. You can find several IC for that function; I chose the MAX17043 by Maxim, for the following interesting features: [checklist] it doesn’t require an external sense resistor…

Li-po Rider

I’m working on a project that will be powered by a Li-Po battery, so I was looking for a power module that was able to charge the battery and to supply 5V to my circuit. Seeed Studio sells a very interesting module, named Li-po Rider; its main features are: [checklist] supports a single cell Lithium Polymer battery can charge the…

mbed NXP LPC11U24, review

Farnell kindly offered me to test and review the new microcontroller in mbed family, the NXP LPC11U24. mbed microcontrollers are designed for rapid prototyping: [checklist] run a microprocessor (ARM Cortex) with all the required components; connect to PC via USB for firmware uploading; have a breadboard friendly shape (DIP win 40 pins). [/checklist] Since a few weeks, the new…