The Serial Bit Rate Converter runs an ARM7 CPU which is complete overkill for the simple job of relaying serial data. I’ve often thought I should redesign it to run a cheaper and less powerful CPU like a PIC or AVR. I originally designed it with an ARM7 simply because I like them and enjoy [...]

Finally I have all the parts and I spent last night assembling ten boxes to fill my first order. It looks not half bad.
Next I need to set up a web page and finalize pricing so anyone can buy one.
So what is a Volume Box I hear you ask? Well, the Volume Box is a [...]

I’m getting orders for the Volume Box already. I haven’t even put up a web page for it. But wouldn’t you know it, the plastic case I want is not in stock with any of my regular suppliers (at least, those ones who are not still on extended Christmas holiday) so I’m having to get [...]

The Volume Box board is assembled and tested, the last few firmware bugs are squished and the only thing missing now is the machined end panel for the plastic case and it is ready to sell!
Here are the lessons I have learned:
1. PICs can be a mighty pain in the bum to debug, particularly the [...]

I’ve finally taken delivery of my first batch of printed circuit boards for the Volume Box. They look real nice. As usual I got them from Gold Phoenix of Shanghai – The quality of the boards is pretty good and their prices are good for very small runs.
My chips and other parts have already arrived [...]

Phew, my parts have finally arrived so I can start taking orders again for the RS232 Rate Converter. I was really stressed over the last week about having no stock but now I can breathe easy again.

Sales of the RS232 Rate Converter were a little slow throughout October and November but they sure have caught up in the last couple of weeks. I thought I had enough stock to see me through until January but after a flurry of orders, I am now completely sold out.
So I’ve been frantically ordering parts [...]

Well, the RS232 Rate Converter is pretty mature now. It does it’s job well and there is not a lot of improvements to make to it anymore. So what to do next?
I’ve been talking with a friend in the home automation business and he reckons there’d be a small market for an RS232 controllable volume [...]

I liked the new Super Transcribe site that Bea designed for me so much, I copied the design to Serial Gadget too! It has the Silicon Sparrow logo at the top and a more prominent BUY button. The colour scheme is much improved and it ties in well with my current branding exercise.
It looks like [...]

I’ve just built the first of my new revision 3 RS232 Bit Rate Converter. It has the following improvements:

Cleaner, more stable RS232 output signal
Can accept a range of power supply voltages from 5V up to 12V
Has a professionally designed and printed vinyl label instead of the rather amateurish ones I was making myself

The design is [...]