Tindie

Every Thursday we send out a curated list of featured products from Tindie. In case you missed it, here are last week’s products!

ATtiny Sensor Node PCB

PCB for wireless sensor node with RFM12B transceiver projects

Automatic Rubber Band Blaster Kit

History trembled the day the Rubber Band Blaster was first forged. Firing ~10 rubber bands per second, instantly reloadable…

AVRPi-328 for Raspberry Pi A+/B+/Pi2

AVRPi-328: Arduino compatible add on board for Raspberry Pi A+/B+/Pi2

GoBenthic – Specialized camera housing for GoPro

Shooting videos at extreme depth or in extreme conditions? This is what you need to protect your GoPro

pyMCU

pyMCU – the python controlled microcontroller

WIOT Board

WIOT is an Arduino Compatible, Li-Ion Powered, Wireless Internet of Things (WIOT) Development Board

Teensy 3.1 Breakout (Revision C)

This kit allows you to easily work with 23 additional pins on the Teensy 3.1 development board!

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This is part of our “A Hardware Maker’s Guide to Shenzhen” series. The first post was 26 Things to know before going to Shenzhen.

You know you are going to Shenzhen, now what? Here is the definitive list of things to do to prepare for your adventure!

• Book Flight
• Get Visa
• Prepare an unlocked phone
• International data plan on US phone
• Setup VPN
• Find your ATMs
• Save Metro Maps
• And final necessities

Book a flight to Hong Kong using Google Flights

I highly recommend Google Flights. It has many features to show if you there is a cheaper flight near your search. As an example, the search above shows there is a $75 cheaper option. $703 round trip across the Pacific!

But why Hong Kong? 2 reasons:

• Save $500 – flights to Shenzhen were $500 more expensive
• More people speak English

Once you land in Hong Kong, you’ll just catch a bus or van to one of the crossings into China. Super easy, and I’ll cover that in the next post in this series.

Time to get a VISA

If you live in the US, you’ll have to get a Visa to visit China. You do not need one to go to Hong Kong. There are services that will get this for you, but with a consulate near by, I just went up to San Francisco.

Paperwork

Here is the link to the China Consulate in SF’s paperwork page. Depending upon your situation, you will need different forms. The Visa Application Form must be printed with information typed out (leave intended number of entries blank).

Recently the US & China agreed upon 10 year visas – and that is what you want! Once your number is called, I just told the person I would be going frequently, and she gave me a 10 year – so hopefully this will work for you too.

Bring to the consulate:

• Printed Visa Form
• Your Passport (you will leave this at the Consulate while it is being processed)
• Flight information printed
• Letter from a company or your hotel reservation
• Passport Photos – I just got mine taken at a CVS

The process:

• Get up early, arrive an hour before it opens, and get in line.
• Once in, you’ll walk through a metal detector, get a number, and wait.
• Because my trip was in a few days, I had to have mine rushed for the next day. It cost $160 and I got it back the next morning.

Dealing with a Cell Phone in Hong Kong & China

I thought I would be clever, get a T-Mobile SIM card, and have unlimited data in China & Hong Kong – wrong. T-Mobile said I would had to have had an account for months for that to work, and I did not have months. If you are on T-Mobile, sweet! otherwise its time to get creative!

Have an old iPhone? Unlock it!

Once T-Mobile dashed my plan, it was time to get a phone that I could put a Chinese SIM card in. Fortunately, I had an iPhone 5 that was off contract. If you use AT&T, here is the page to unlock your old iPhone. It took a few minutes for it to process.

With an old iPhone, I could install all of the apps I thought I would need, and once in China, just throw a SIM card in and I’d be off and running.  For this reason (and for setting up a VPN), I don’t recommend getting a phone in China and setting it up over there.

Give yourself some international data

Most likely you’ll want some data for when you land in Hong Kong. There is free Wifi in the Hong Kong Airport, but once you leave, you’ll still probably want a lifeline to the world. I just got a 120mb international plan from AT&T for $30.

Apps to install on both phones

• Wechat – everyone uses Wechat for talking to friends, groups, businesses, you name it.
• Find My iPhone
• KTdict for English- Mandarin
• Convert – currency conversions

VPN

China’s internet is heavily filtered. You will not have access to Facebook, Twitter, Google, Youtube, and many other websites without a VPN.

I just used the $13 ExpressVPN Plan on my computer & iPhone. Install while you are still in the US!

ATMs in China

I bank with Schwab so I looked for banks in the Plus Network. China Merchants is in the network, so that is who I grabbed money from. You’ll want to check with your bank.

Also, VISA has an ATM locator that can show you where ATMs are.

Metro Maps

I like to have the metro maps saved in my phones just in case

Hong Kong Metro

Shenzhen Metro

Final necessities

Depending where you are, you may not have access to toilet paper, so bring some. Normal toilets in China are holes in the floor (you can Google this if you really want), that may or may not have toilet paper. That is why you should bring your own. In the newly constructed buildings like malls, there are western toilets.

If you have medical needs, you’ll want to bring some extra medicine just in case.

What’s next?

Next in the series will be the things to do once you land. Where are the vans to the border crossings? Which crossing should you take? Where can I get a SIM card in Shenzhen? We’ll cover all of these questions and more, so stay tuned! We’ll see you in Hong Kong!

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Shenzhen! It seems like every day I hear another person tell me they are going or planning on visiting. Having just returned, here are 26 things to know before you go:

You don’t have to speak Mandarin

Before my trip, the most daunting thing to me was the language barrier. I don’t speak Mandarin, and fortunately you don’t have to. At restaurants, many of the menus (but definitely not all) will have photos so you can just point. Many of the people in the markets will speak enough English to barter and sell. Basically in the city center, you can survive with English. Most signs are in English & Mandarin.

If you plan on going to factories or outside the city center, you will need a translator

One tip I was told, “factory managers have been working with westerners for 30 years, you won’t need a translator.” Well that turned out to be totally false. I went to 3 factories, and out of the hundreds of people I saw, as far as I can tell, only 1 person spoke English. My driver didn’t speak English either so it was an interesting adventure.

The city is built on manufacturing

As real estate prices go up, the factories have moved further and further from the center of town.

The city is incredibly modern

Outside of the city is much less modern

A contrast of new wealth and traditional Chinese culture

The subway is incredible

The subway is one of the best in the world – if not the best- I’ve ever been on. Clean, no crime, and not a sign of graffiti in sight. Note: you will have to put your bag though an X-ray each time you go through for security. However, for the safety, its amazing.

It is safe

Yes, you can buy knock-offs

The electronics markets at Huaqiangbei are MUCH bigger than you think

However that isn’t the full story – there is original hardware being produced by Chinese companies

There are startups in apartments just like in Silicon Valley

There are also companies that have raised millions of USD from venture capitalists

And then there are the huge tech companies, such as DJI’s 11 story office

The food is amazing and cheap

Even the Western food is better (but the same price you pay in the US)

Your dishes at restaurants may come wrapped in plastic

Western toilets are in the malls

Everyone chats on WeChat

Hong Kong is a ~1hr train ride away

Yes you can get tailored clothes for cheap at Luohu (much cheaper than Hong Kong)

With access to cheap clothes, people truly express themselves

There is a vibrant art scene at OCT

Traffic laws seem to be a suggestion, so make sure to be on the lookout for motorbikes on the sidewalk

If you get a China Unicom SIM card, this is only a welcome message – your phone hasn’t been hacked (phew!)

Google, Facebook, and Twitter are blocked, so you will need a VPN to access them

What’s next?

Next in the series will be the things to do before your trip. Issues we will cover –

• How to fill out your Visa form
• How to set up your cell phone situation before you leave
• and VPNs!

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Skrodahl is a new seller to Tindie and within a month has already completed nine orders. Their Muffsy Phono Preamp Kit (or PCB) has impressive documentation, descriptions, and photos on their product pages, all signs of a dedicated and proud product maker. The signs continue with their Instructable, which provides excellent detail on building this Phono Preamp and is perfect for beginners with only through-hole soldering required (no surface-mount components). Skrodahl even provides additional soldering resources for those who are new or rusty.

“With its no-nonsense, straight forward design that focuses on both performance and cost, this preamp caters to audiophiles and music lovers alike.

For once, there is no magic involved in a true audiophile piece of equipment. You get very precise RIAA compliance (within +/- 0.1 dB), ultra-low noise, a wonderful great sound stage and superior detail. All done with with a 90×51 mm PCB and standard, off the shelf, components.

This phono stage is suitable for:

Moving Magnet (MM)

High Output Moving Coil (HOMC)

…and even Low Output Moving Coil (LOMC) with a step-up transformer”

For even more detail, you can also visit Skrodahl’s Hackaday page for the project.

Do you have an Instructable for one of your products on Tindie? Let us know and we will feature you next!!

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Every Thursday we send out a curated list of featured products from Tindie. In case you missed it, here are last week’s products!

Custom Control Interface – CCI

A new USB device that provides a simple method for creating custom controls for applications or games through a standard HID PC interface

Digital Potentiometer Arduino Shield

A complete Arduino shield lab for experiments and applications on digital potentiometers (PCB only with options)

ESP8266 FTDI and breadboard adapter with 3.3V reg.

Connect ESP8266 WiFi module directly to 5V FTDI adapter and a breadboard.

Mixtile LOFT-Q

Mixtile LOFT-Q is an open-source mini single board computer based on Allwinner A31.It can easy connect via Ethernet ,WiFi and ZigBee.

p@ss Password Generator/Recall Key Fob

p@ss™: Forget Your Passwords.

Slim RFM69HW Breakout Board PCB

Build your own long range, easy to use, ISM band wireless RF module. Great for microcontroller / Arduino projects where you want an RF link.

I2C Soil moisture sensor

Capacitive soil moisture sensor interfaced via I2C. In addition senses light level and ambient temperature.

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CoolTools is a website where different tools are reviewed by readers. They also have a podcast in which they have guests talk about their favorite tools. The most recent episode is with John Edgar Park who not only works for Disney Research, but also writes for sites like Adafruit and Make. From big, more “unitasker” type items such as a drum coffee roaster to smaller, more versatile tools like digital calipers, John talks about his favorites and how he uses them in day to day work and hobbies. Don’t feel like listening to the 25 minute podcast? Get the transcript here instead.

Screenshot from John Edgar Park’s personal website

What are some of your favorite or must have tools? Is there a tool that you recently started using and can’t believe you didn’t have it sooner? I personally like the “helping hand” or “third hand” stands that have a magnifying glass along with alligator clips or other type of clamp to help with tasks such as soldering or holding small items for painting. I have used mine for painting small model pieces and even once used it for getting out a nasty splinter. Here’s one from our Tindie Marketplace! 

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Fast Company posted a 5 and a half minute video for their “Innovation Undercover” series in which they look into the steps taken by Pepsico to create their new “Deep Ridge” ruffled potato chips. I was surprised to find out that they used 3D modeling software to create different chip shapes and ridge depths and then printed the models on a Makerbot. Those models were given to consumer focus groups who then gave their feedback on the ideal chip type.

Screenshot from Fast Company’s video of the 3D printing of a chip sample

“On this week’s edition of Innovation Undercover, step into PepsiCo’s savory Culinary Innovation Center in Valhalla, New York to discover the secrets behind potato chip flavors like Flaming Crispy Chicken and Cheeseburger. These flavors were not dreamed up by some slacker dude with the munchies—they are the result of years of research, development, and, in some cases, failure. Watch the video above to find out what super-calibrated tech is required in order to make 30 perfectly ridged potato slices every second—and much more.”

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MakersBox has been a seller on Tindie for over a year and has been very successful with projects like the GeekHeart and Tacuino. Their Instructable on the Tacuino (a portmanteau of “Tic Tac” and “Arduino”) is extremely detailed and easy to follow. Lots of photos are attached with notes, diagrams, and close up, detailed shots. Additionally, after assembly instructions there are steps regarding software as well. Everything you need in an Instructable is here.

One commenter asked “….what is the use of this module?” and MakersBox answered:

“Ah, that is the golden question. A night light? A musical greeting card? Lights & siren for a Pinewood derby card? Your favorite stuffed animal with a blinking heart or glowing eyes.

Right now I am thinking of the blinking light and sound the TARDIS makes!

The actual answer is “anything an Arduino can do” and is limited only by your imagination!”

“The Tacuino (think Tic-Tac Arduino), is an extension of my SnapNsew project. It now includes the necessary hardware so that they project can be easily re-programmed by a student after the circuit is built.

The Tacuino is self-contained in that it includes:

• An inexpensive, commonly available CR2032 battery power source.
• Two inputs (touch and light sensors).
• Two output (sound and LEDs).

This is a just enough “umph” for a reasonable beginning project while demonstrating some of the amazing abilities of an embedded circuit!”

Do you have an Instructable for one of your products on Tindie? Let us know and we will feature you next!

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Every Thursday we send out a curated list of featured products from Tindie. In case you missed it, here are last week’s products!

TCPoke shield kit

Trade Pokemon from your Game Boy across the internet

SunAirPlus Solar Power Controller/Data Collector

 SunAirPlus – Solar Power Charge Controller, Data Collection Board – Build your own Solar Power System

usblinky

 A programmable usbstick for psychedelic blinky applications and more.

EzTemp: Easy Temperature and Humidity for RPi

Get air temperature and relative humidity accurately and easily on Raspberry Pi using the serial port!

MX-Board

A 3 button breakout board for Cherry MX switches. Connect nice mechanical switches to an Arduino or the RaspberryPi.

R/C Servo Signal Trigger

Turn an electronic device on/off remotely using an existing R/C transmitter & receiver, without losing any of your existing control channels

Easy Pulse Sensor Based on Photoplethysmography

Sensor to measure pulse rate from fingertips

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Whether you are a hobbyist or you are making a living by selling your products, creativity is at the core of every maker. If you ask someone in this community to describe themselves in three words, more than likely a trait you will hear over and over again is “creative.” I would describe myself as creative, but I struggle with my creativity all the time. My biggest issue is that I have so many ideas in my head that I can picture perfectly and when I go to make them, they come out all wrong. I have drawers and drawers of clay, fabric, paint, wood, electronic bits and pieces, etc that I have abandoned due to feeling frustrated when my first attempt flops.

I came across this Lifehacker article today about sabotaging your creativity and found myself agreeing with many of the points. Using our imaginations to form something tangible can be a frustrating process, but, especially in my case, we need to realize that being a maker means trial and error, experimenting, collaborating, and being ourselves. One part of the article that particularly “hit home” for me was this:

We tend to glorify stories about creative geniuses and attempt to recreate those creative bursts for ourselves. This doesn’t work. Steve Jobs started Apple out of a garage, but that doesn’t mean that you should start a company out of yours. Don’t emulate the specifics. Instead, integrate ideas that make sense to you and your system, then move on.

For the whole article, click here.

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