Find It!

Of the numerous technologies currently available to help you locate a lost item, most have the same limitations: they are only useful if the items are within Bluetooth’s 30- to 100-foot (10 - 30 m) distance limit, or they require you to purchase a cellular modem and pay a monthly service fee so that you can send GPS data across the cellular network. This article will show you how to locate items that are up to miles away (without a cell phone, cellular network or GPS receiver) — not only showing you the distance, but also the direction to that item!

This article describes the electrical design and software requirements for a keyless entry control panel comprised of a numeric entry pad, an LCD display, relay contacts for unlocking a door and a USB interface. Even though this writing will delve into the inner workings of FTDI’s FT2232H and its Bit-Bang Mode, understanding the technology will require neither an in-depth knowledge of USB nor the use of a microcontroller!