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Posted on by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 2 Comments on RainbowLink-V2 compact USB-to-serial converter features 12V output, dual TTL, isolated RS-485 and RS-232 interfaces

RainbowLink-V2 compact USB-to-serial converter features 12V output, dual TTL, isolated RS-485 and RS-232 interfaces

RainbowLink v2 USB-to-serial converter

DFRobot’s RainbowLink-V2 USB-to-serial converter features four independent channels, namely one isolated RS-485, one isolated RS-232, and two TTL interfaces usable simultaneously. The compact tool also converts 5V provided from the host’s USB interface to 12V/800mA, 5V/2A, and 3.3V/200mA outputs, eliminating the need for a separate power adapter. RainbowLink-V2 (TEL0190) specifications: USB – 1x USB Type-C port for power and adata Serial 2x TTL (3.3V) via headers 1x fully isolated RS485 channel via lever terminal 1x fully isolated RS232 channel via lever terminal Baud Rate – 2400 to 128000 bps Misc 3x Power LEDs for 3.3V, 5V, and 12V 4x Link LEDs for TTL 1/2, RS232, and RS485 12AWG – 22AWG wires supported on lever-type spring terminals Built-in short-circuit protection and overcurrent protection (but users are still recommended to avoid short-circuiting to prevent damage) Input voltage – 5V via USB-C port Output voltage 3.3V up to 200mA via header 5V up […]

Posted on by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 1 Comment on ESP32-C5 bug advisory identifies and fixes PSRAM and sleep coexistence issues

ESP32-C5 bug advisory identifies and fixes PSRAM and sleep coexistence issues

ESP32-C5 Bug Advisory

Espressif  Systems has just published a bug advisory for ESP32-C5 chips that identifies and fixes three bugs related to PSRAM and sleep coexistence stability. New microcontrollers often have issues when they are first released, leading companies to issue errata listing bugs and potential fixes, as we’ve previously seen with the Raspberry Pi RP2350 A4 stepping, which fixes the E9 GPIO Erratum with a new revision of the silicon. Espressif identified three issues with the ESP32-C5: PSRAM Reset Hang – When ESP32-C5 series chips run ESP-IDF v5.5.1 with PSRAM enabled, CPU or digital reset operations may hang. This triggers a secondary RTC WDT reset. If the rollback feature (CONFIG_BOOTLOADER_APP_ROLLBACK_ENABLE, disabled by default) is enabled, this sequence may result in an OTA rollback. AES and SHA Access to PSRAM – When ESP32-C5 chips run ESP-IDF v5.5.1, PSRAM data may be corrupted when AES or SHA hardware accesses buffers that are not aligned […]

Posted on by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 3 Comments on Android 17 Beta 1 released with H.266/VVC support, camera improvements, and more

Android 17 Beta 1 released with H.266/VVC support, camera improvements, and more

Android 17

Google has just announced the release of Android 17 Beta 1 with performance improvements, H.266/VVC video codec support, smoother camera mode transitions, privacy and security enhancements, and more. The company is not releasing Developer Previews anymore, and instead follows the “continuous Canary channel” announced with the first Android 16 Developer Preview. So, with Android 17, the very first release is the “Beta 1” release. Some of the key changes in Android 17 so far: Developers can’t opt out of orientation and resizability restrictions on large screen devices (sw > 600 dp), so they’ll have to make sure their apps work on tablets, foldables, and desktop windowing environments. With one exception: apps categorized as games with android:appCategory flag. Google published a separate blog post about the change. Performance improvements and tools Lock-free MessageQueue that will reduce missed frames. Added Generational garbage collection to ART’s Concurrent Mark-Compact collector. This aims to reduce […]

Posted on by Debashis Das - No Comments on tinySA is a low-cost handheld spectrum analyzer with built-in signal generator

tinySA is a low-cost handheld spectrum analyzer with built-in signal generator

tinySA Spectrum Analyzers and Signal Generators

The tinySA is a compact, low-cost handheld spectrum analyzer and RF signal generator designed for hobbyists, radio amateurs, educators, and engineers. It comes in three different variants and can be used for RF debugging, signal inspection, interference hunting, filter testing, antenna-related measurements, and basic RF education, both in the field and on the bench. The product line includes the tinySA Basic, tinySA Ultra, and tinySA Ultra+, which mainly differ in their supported frequency ranges and performance. The tinySA Basic supports 100 kHz to 350 MHz on its low input and up to about 960 MHz on the high input, while the Ultra and Ultra+ models can observe signals up to 12GHz. The devices run from an internal rechargeable battery with USB-C charging, support firmware updates, internal self-test and calibration routines, marker and peak detection, configurable frequency span and amplitude settings, and PC control over USB. Input protection limits are specified at +10 […]

Posted on by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - No Comments on $19.90 XIAO Debug Mate ESP32-S3-based 3-in-1 multi-tool acts as a DAPLink debugger, serial monitor, and/or power profiler

$19.90 XIAO Debug Mate ESP32-S3-based 3-in-1 multi-tool acts as a DAPLink debugger, serial monitor, and/or power profiler

XIAO Debug Mate

Seeed Studio XIAO Debug Mate is an inexpensive ESP32-S3-based multi-tool designed for the company’s XIAO boards, offering DAPLink debugger, serial monitor, and power profiler modes. The debugger comes with 8MB flash, 8MB PSRAM, a 2.01-inch display to display debugging/power information, two 14-pin headers to provide easy access to the XIAO’s module I/Os, a 36 LED matrix for status indication, and a couple of buttons, plus a srcoll wheel to navigate the menu. The serial monitor function can also be used be Arduino, Raspberry Pi, or other boards. XIAO Debug Mate specifications: Wireless MCU – Espressif Systems ESP32-S3R8 CPU – Dual-core Tensilica LX7 microcontroller @ 240 MHz Memory – 512KB SRAM, 8MB PSRAM Wireless – Wi-Fi 4 & Bluetooth 5.0 dual-mode (Classic + BLE) connectivity Storage – 8MB SPI flash Display – 2.01-inch TFT LCD with 296 x 240 resolution Expansion 2x 14-pin female GPIO headers routing the XIAO module pins […]

Posted on by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - No Comments on Taradov’s open-source hardware pocket USB sniffer works with Wireshark

Taradov’s open-source hardware pocket USB sniffer works with Wireshark

Taradov USB Sniffer v6

Alex Taradov has designed a low-cost, open-source hardware USB sniffer compatible with the popular Wireshark packet capture utility, and also controllable from the command line, capturing data in the standard PcapNG format in either case. Wireshark has had built-in USB capture capability for many years, and I used it myself to reverse-engineer the software for a USB video capture card around 2007, but it’s not perfect since it does not capture low-level packets. For that, you need extra hardware, and last year we covered the tinysniffer USB sniffer based on a WiFi-connected Linux SBC. It does the job, but it’s sold for $199, and you don’t need an application processor to handle USB 2.0 speeds. Alex’s design is optimized for cost and built around three main components: Cypress CY7C68013A 8051 MCU, Lattice MachXO2 LCMXO2 FPGA, and Microchip USB3343 USB PHY. Taradov’s USB sniffer specifications: Microcontroller – Cypress CY7C68013A enhanced 8051 […]

Posted on by Debashis Das - 13 Comments on $69 Sipeed SLogic16U3 low-cost logic analyzer supports 3.2 Gbps bandwidth, 150+ protocols

$69 Sipeed SLogic16U3 low-cost logic analyzer supports 3.2 Gbps bandwidth, 150+ protocols

Sipeed SLogic16U3 USB3 Logic Analyzer

The SLogic16U3 is a compact, low-cost USB 3.0 logic analyzer with up to 3.2 Gbps bandwidth and 16 input channels, designed for debugging, reverse-engineering, and verifying digital circuits and embedded systems. The device supports sampling rates up to 800MS/s with four channels, 400MS/s with eight channels, and 200MS/s with sixteen channels via a 5 Gbps USB 3.0 interface. On top of that, it supports 0–10V inputs and features adjustable trigger thresholds (0–6V). Housed in a 40×40×10 mm compact aluminum case, it supports over 150 protocols like SPI, I²C, UART, CAN, and JTAG, and provides edge-based triggering with real-time streaming over USB. The device can be extended as an oscilloscope via an optional ADC module and integrates seamlessly with Sigrok and PulseView software for waveform visualization. SLogic16U3 specifications: MCU – TBD Input channels – 16 digital channels Sampling rates 800MS/s @ 4 channels 400MS/s @ 8 channels 200MS/s @ 16 channels […]

Posted on by Debashis Das - 7 Comments on WCH BLE Analyzer Pro – A Bluetooth LE sniffer, analyzer, and debugging tool

WCH BLE Analyzer Pro – A Bluetooth LE sniffer, analyzer, and debugging tool

WCH BLE AnalyzerPro A BLE sniffer debugging tool

WCH BLE Analyzer Pro is a USB-based Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) sniffer and debugging tool designed to capture, decode, and analyze BLE communication packets in real-time. The analyzer supports adjustable polling intervals, broadcast and connection packet tracking, address filtering, and detailed packet inspection with statistics and graphical representation. It can monitor BLE broadcast and connection data in real-time and includes functions such as PHY mode selection and whitening control. These features enable low-level monitoring of BLE communication, help identify transmission issues, and verify protocol behavior. Applications include use in R&D, testing, and debugging of Bluetooth-enabled products such as IoT devices, wearables, and sensors. WCH BLE Analyzer Pro specifications: Main chips – 3x CH582F Bluetooth LE RISC-V microcontrollers, and a CH334 USB hub (see board photo at the end of the post) Supported protocol – Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) 4.0/4.2/5.0 Capture range – BLE advertisement and connection packets Frequency band – […]