Hardware Hacking Projects for Geeks

Scott Fullam has been hacking hardware since he was 10 years old with his first RadioShack 100-in-1 electronic kit. He built an "intruder" alarm to keep his sister out of his room. Scott attended MIT earning Bachelors and Masters degrees in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science. While an undergraduate he built a "shower detection" system so that he could see if the community shower was in use. After graduating from MIT Scott designed children's toys and built close to 50 prototypes in 2 years. He then went to work at Apple Computer in the Advanced Technology Group designing digital still cameras. In 1995, Fullam co-founded PocketScience, which develops revolutionary mobile e-mail communications products and services. As the Chief Technology Officer (CTO), Fullam personally developed all of the algorithms for the company's products. Scott now works as an independent consultant assisting consumer electronic companies design high quality products. Never satisfied with how the consumer electronics products he owns work, he often takes them apart and enhances their capabilities.

Preface; Part I: Basic Hacks, Tools, and Techniques; A Tour of My Toolbox; The Basics; 1 How to Build a Portable Laptop Power Supply; Project Overview; Hardware Assembly Instructions; Project Demo; Extensions; Exhibit A: Bill of Materials; Exhibit B: Power Pack Schematic; 2 How to Build an Aquarium Inside a Macintosh; Project Overview; Hardware Assembly Instructions; Project Demo; Extensions; Exhibit A: Bill of Materials; 3 How to Hack 802.11b Antennas; Project Overview; Hardware Assembly Instructions for Recycled Can 802.11b Antenna; Hardware Assembly Instructions for Primestar Dish 802.11b Antenna; Exhibit A: Bill of Materials for Recycled Can; Exhibit B: Bill of Materials for Primestar Dish; 4 How to Build a PC Water-Cooling System; Project Overview; Before You Start; Hardware Assembly Instructions; Project Demo; Extensions; Resources; Exhibit A: Bill of Materials; 5 How to Hack a Furby (and Other Talking Toys); Project Overview; Hardware Assembly Instructions; Software Setup Instructions; A Quick Overview of Assembly Language and C for the Hacked Furby; Project Demo; Extensions; How to Hack a Generic Talking Toy; Project Overview; Hardware Assembly Instructions; Project Demo; Extensions; Exhibit A: Furby Bill of Materials; Exhibit B: Talking Toy Bill of Materials; Exhibit C: Schematic for Building Your Own Board; 6 How to Hack a Video Periscope for Your Car; Project Overview; Hardware Assembly Instructions; Extensions; Exhibit A: Bill of Materials; Exhibit B: Schematic Diagram for Power Supply; Exhibit C: Schematic Diagram for RC Servo Driver; Part II: Advanced Hacks, Tools, and Techniques; How to Identify Resistor Values; How to Identify Capacitor Values; How to Identify Transistors; How to Identify Integrated Circuit and Component Packages; How to Identify Connectors; How to Read a Manufacturer's Data Sheet; How to Use a Plug Board to Create a Simple Circuit; Summary 7 How To Build a Digital Video Recorder; Project Overview; Hardware Assembly Instructions; Software Setup Instructions; Project Demo; Extensions; Exhibit A: Bill of Materials; Exhibit B: Dedicated IR Remote Control Support Files; 8 How to Hack a Building-Size Display; Project Overview; Small-Scale Hardware Assembly Instructions; Large-Scale Hardware Assembly Instructions; Software Setup Instructions; Project Demo; Wireless Extensions; Exhibit A: Small-Scale Bill of Materials; Exhibit B: Large-Scale Bill of Materials; Exhibit C: Large-Scale Eight-Port Relay Driver; Exhibit D: Large-Scale Digital Interface to Relay Driver; Exhibit E: Small-Scale LED Driver Schematic, Page 1 Exhibit F: Small-Scale LED Driver Schematic, Page 2; Exhibit G: Small-Scale LED Driver Schematic, Page 3; Exhibit H: Small-Scale LED Driver Schematic, Page 4; Exhibit I: Small-Scale LED Driver Schematic, Page 5; Exhibit J: Small-Scale LED Driver Schematic, Page 6; Exhibit K: Small-Scale Shift Register Schematic; Exhibit L: Small-Scale Connectors; Exhibit M: Small-Scale LED Wiring; 9 How to Build a Cubicle Intr