🔧 Tool of the Week
PulseView (sigrok) — 0.4.2 / AppImage builds A solid, free GUI for logic analyzers, mixed-signal captures and protocol decoding. If you use Saleae clones, DSLogic or cheap USB analyzers, grab the PulseView AppImage or installers — it’s the quickest way to get decoders and cross-platform captures running. 🔗 Downloads / PulseView 0.4.2 and AppImages. (sigrok.org)
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🛒 Deals & Finds
- SparkFun GPS Breakout — NEO‑M9N (Qwiic / U.FL)
– Modern multi‑GNSS module that’s a practical step up for any timing or location project (works well for stationary timing/GNSS builds). 🔗 SparkFun NEO‑M9N product page. (sparkfun.com)
- Ruideng UM24/UM24C USB power meter (color LCD, Bluetooth option)
– Cheap, reliable USB voltage/current/energy meter for bench power checks, battery tests and PD debugging. Good tool to keep next to the bench. 🔗 UM24/UM24C review / buyer notes (MakerAdvisor). (makeradvisor.com)
- LHT00SU1 / low‑cost 8‑ch logic analyzer (Saleae‑clone)
– If you need a budget logic analyzer for UART/I2C/SPI work, these 8‑channel Saleae‑style units still give huge value for basic protocol debugging. Expect to use PulseView as the UI. 🔗 Example listing (eBay). (ebay.com)
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🧪 Cool Build
Stratum‑1 / PTP GNSS Time Server (GNSSTimeServer) A practical, open build that turns an ESP32/ESP32‑P4 + GNSS module into an NTP/PTP grandmaster — handy if you need accurate local time for testing, SDR, or lab instrumentation. The project is well documented and includes a web dashboard and parts lists. 🔗 [Hackaday writeup — "This DIY Time Server Is More Accurate Than You Need"].(https://hackaday.com/2026/07/08/this-diy-time-server-is-more-accurate-than-you-need/) (hackaday.com) 🔗 [Project repo (GNSSTimeServer) on GitHub].(https://github.com/Montecri/GNSSTimeServer) (github.com)
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📚 Worth Reading
- Reverse Engineering And Self‑Hosting The OBI Smart Energy Tracker – Practical walk‑through of reprovisioning or replacing cloud firmware on a cheap energy tracker; useful if you do local MQTT/LoRa/IoT work. 🔗 [Hackaday article].(https://hackaday.com/2026/07/07/reverse-engineering-and-self-hosting-the-obi-smart-energy-tracker/). (hackaday.com)
- Is Now The Time For Volumetric 3D Printing? – Short, clear survey of the current state of volumetric additive manufacturing and where it might fit in a maker’s toolbox. 🔗 [Hackaday article].(https://hackaday.com/2026/07/07/is-now-the-time-for-volumetric-3d-printing/). (hackaday.com)
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⚡ Quick Hits
- OpenOCD user guide updated for release 0.12.0+dev (note: check your toolchain if you rely on a specific OpenOCD feature). 🔗 [OpenOCD docs].(https://openocd.sourceforge.io/doc/html/index.html). (openocd.sourceforge.io)
- PulseView 0.4.2 installers and AppImages are available (AppImage is the fastest way to try it on Linux without packaging hassles). 🔗 [PulseView downloads].(https://sigrok.org/wiki/Downloads). (sigrok.org)
- SparkFun’s NEO‑M9N hookup guide — good reference if you’re wiring GNSS for timing or position work. 🔗 [NEO‑M9N hookup guide (SparkFun Learn)].(https://learn.sparkfun.com/tutorials/sparkfun-gps-neo-m9n-hookup-guide/introduction). (learn.sparkfun.com)
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📺 Cool Videos
- [001] Sigrok and Logic Analyzers (OpenTechLab)
– One of the best primer videos on why cheap logic analyzers + sigrok/PulseView are useful and how to use them. 🔗 [YouTube: 001 Sigrok and Logic Analyzers].(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dobU-b0_L1I). (epanorama.net)
- Maker Faire entry / demo — GNSSTimeServer (Cristiano Monteiro)
– Short demo / presentation pages and photos; useful if you want to see the project running in the wild. 🔗 [Maker Faire project page (GNSSTimeServer)].(https://makerfaire.com/yearbook/projects/wi-fi-enabled-stratum-1-gnss-time-server-built-from-scratch-2023/). (makerfaire.com)