As part of RadioShack’s The Great Create campaign, we’re challenging all MAKE readers out there to complete any of our Weekend Projects. In return, you’ll win a FREE Maker’s Notebook ($20 value, pictured above), courtesy of the Maker Shed…
Working on the latest Weekend Projects Newsletter, about the Aircraft Band Receiver, sparked my own interest. Of course, like other readers, I had questions about hearing amplitude modulated (AM) sound on a FM-expanded receiver. And like any good blogger, within minutes, I had more opened tabs than I could deal with. I saved some […]
Ever wanted to eavesdrop on what those lofty control towers in the sky are chatting about? Well now’s your opportunity! If our previous project seemed a bit daunting, our latest Weekend Project, the Aircraft Band Receiver, couldn’t be easier! With only a simple analog-tuner pocket radio, some batteries, and a couple of small screwdrivers, you […]
Earlier this week I was glancing over all our existing Weekend Projects to take some notes, and found myself asking, “What do these projects have in common?” I then found myself juxtaposing images from each project to do a quick visual compare-and-contrast. Clockwise from the top-right, that’s Floating Glow Display, Electronic Whack-a-Mole Game, USB Webcam Microscope, and Add Volume, Jack.
It might not look like it, but this electronic Whack-a-Mole game is our most involved Weekend Project yet. This build has over 100 individual components and also includes instructions on how to etch your own Printed Circuit Board (PCB), making this our first real Weekend Project, one that will take most makers the weekend to complete.
For me, one of the pleasant side-effects to circuit bending with mono-speaker toys is the ability to leave the original speaker embedded in the device, while still having the option to amplify the device when you’re ready to rock out on stage or for an art installation. This means I can always hear the toy when I want to, without needing a full PA or powered speaker setup.
You had to know it wouldn’t be long before we dove into the wonderful world of circuit bending for our Weekend Projects series, brought to you by Radio Shack. For our third project, Add Volume, Jack, we’ll learn how to install an audio output jack and a volume knob onto any mono speaker toy circuit.
