Inexpensive APRS Weather Station:  There are two kits you need to get for this weather station. The first is the outdoor sensor. It costs about $80 and can be bought online from the AAG. http://www.aag.com.mx This kit provides the sensor unit (some assembly required) and an interface that allows you to hook it up to your PC. They are slighly misguided in thinking a PC is a good weather monitoring platform :-), but we can forgive them this error because they provide us with a nice sensor package. In addition to the wind/temperature unit, they also sell a rain guage, also supported by this project. (electronic project added 11/05)

Inexpensive seismometer project:  (Circuit / schematic design added 6/06)

LCD Serial Terminal :  has RS-232 serial in/out, up to 20 programmable keys, Character LCD up to 2x40, 5 auxiliary inputs, 6 auxiliary outputs.    (electronic construction project added 2/06)

LED Sign :  uses two LED arrays to form a 7 X 10 matrix. It produces moving messages or animations stored in an EPROM.    (electronic construction project added 2/06)

Lost Foam Casting:  Lost Foam casting makes it possible to cast some parts that would require some very intricate wood patterns.  I use  foam for those types of castings.  If it does not turn out, cut some more foam!   Actually, it is great for some "quick and dirty" castings as well.  If surface finish is not critical, lost foam can produce "one off" castings faster than making wood patterns.  To date, the few lost foam castings I have done all turned out as hoped.  These castings are normally done in "loose sand", no ramming, and the sand is dry.  The only place for some moist sand might  be around the sprue so it does not collapse.  Using thin aluminum  tubes (soda cans, etc), for sprue holes, makes it easier.  I am using fine grit sandblasting sand at present.  My first lost foam was done in Petrobond,  but the burned foam does not do much good for the Petrobond sand.  There is much more to be said regarding lost foam, I would suggest checking some of the excellent websites out there.  Thats what I did.... (aded 2/06)

Mike Video Digitizer Construction Project:  (Circuit / schematic design added 6/06)

Minilogger V1.0:  Build your own a personal data logger for recording analog signal. The MiniLOGGER provides 8-channel analog input(-99mV to +999mV), 1-channel pulse input, battery backup 256kB SRAM, Real-time Clock, and RS232C. Start/Stop recording can be made by MANUAL switch or preprogrammed Start/Stop Time. The format of uploading data is ASCII format, suitable for importing and graphing by Excel or any Scientific Plot Program. Exemplary circuit used for measuring Insolation and Air Temperature vs. Time is included. ...(Circuit / schematic design added 6/06)