The picture above is the entirety of Coobro Labs.  Coobro Labs is run out of my 800 sq. ft. condo in Minneapolis, MN.  This is where we kit and ship the Coobro Geo, and work on future open source hardware kits.  The reason for sharing this with you is to hopefully encourage those of you out there who think you need a lot of room, and a lot of expensive equipment to start your own KitBiz.  Let me break down the things that we find useful, and things we couldn’t live without.

1. An impulse sealer – This is a must have piece of equipment that we picked up brand new off of ebay for about $50.  This tool takes rolls of anti-static tubing (see item #2) and heat seals the ends to create bags on-the-fly.  You can buy impulse sealers with or without a built in cutter.  The cutter isn’t really necessary, as it is just as easy to cut the bags with a scissors.
2. Rolls of anti-static tubing – These are 500 foot rolls of anti-static tubing picked up from uline.com.  The reason for buying the rolls of anti-static tubing versus simply buying pre-made bags is that you can adjust the size of the bag to whatever length you want, and they are cheap at $25-30 per roll.
3. Laser printer – Below our workbench, we have a used Kyocera EP C170N laser printer that we picked up off of Craigslist for less than $50.  While it isn’t mandatory, laser printers are much more cost effective, and the ink won’t be affected by moisture.  We use the laser printer mainly to print out shipping labels.
4. High quality soldering iron – Having a decent soldering iron is what I feel is the most important tool I own.  The difference between a quality soldering iron and a cheap hardware store model is huge.  I used to find soldering frustrating and stressful, now I find it enjoyable and relaxing.  We have an Aoyue model 2900 soldering iron, but Adafruit’s Hakko FX-888 is a great choice.
5. Fume extractor – A fume extractor is one of my most recent additions, and I can’t believe it took me so long to get one.  There are a lot of toxins in solder, and breathing them in is very dangerous.  I used to simply solder in a well ventilated area, and hold my breath until the smoke cleared.  This is about as stupid as closing your eyes to avoid the arc flash while welding without a mask.  I own the Weller WSA350 model and it works really well.
6. Hot air reflow station – Once I started to get into soldering surface mounted components, this is the first tool I bought.  Before I made my own reflow soldering oven, I used this tool to solder surface mounted components.  While you certainly can use a good soldering iron to solder surface mounted components, this tool will save you a lot of headache.  We have the Aoyue 852A++ model, which can be had for around $150.
7. Reflow oven controller – We use the Rocket Scream Electronics Reflow Oven Controller ($40) Arduino shield.  We have done some testing with our reflow oven by simply cranking the oven temperature up until the solder reflows, then shutting the oven off and letting the board cool in the oven with the door closed.  This seems to work just as good as using a reflow oven controller that follows a specific reflow curve.
8. Toaster oven – This is a toaster oven that we bought in a Woot-Off for about $30.  It is really nice because it has a ‘Stay On’ feature, and it’s a convection oven, so there are no hot spots.  If you don’t plan on working with surface mounted components, you don’t need to worry about the last three items.
9. All-in-one printer – I have owned this HP PSC 1510 inkjet printer for a few years now and it has worked really well for me.  The important thing here is that it has a built in scanner.  You will need a scanner to be able to scan your signed purchase orders for component suppliers.  A scanner basically replaces a fax machine.
10. Component storage – I have a nice collection of Sparkfun shipping boxes that I have saved and used for component storage.  Simply slap a label on the top or front of the box to remember what is inside.  These also work great for project boxes.  You can also see other items we have used for component storage such as mint tins.
11. More component storage – When you are just starting out, this is really all you need.  We store all of the components needed to build up Coobro Geo kits in this small parts organizer from our local hardware store.  Through hole components, even in quantities of 1000+, take up very little room.  Eventually, as we release more kits, we will need to upgrade, but this system works well for the time being.
12. Ikea hacked workbench – My workbench is really just a bunch of components I picked up from Ikea.  The shelving is just Ikea CD storage boxes stacked in between some Ikea birch shelves.  The CD storage boxes work great for tool, parts, wire, and other large component storage.

As you can see, there really isn’t a whole lot to Coobro Labs.  There are obviously some items missing from the picture, such as shipping supplies, but this really is the majority of the Coobro Labs kit making business.  If you have a great idea for an open source electronics kit that you think others would also be interested in, there really isn’t anything standing in your way.

For more inspiration, see how we designed and developed the Coobro Geo, read Ladyada’s other kitbiz tips, or join the kitbiz conversation on the Adafruit forums.

NEW PRODUCT – UP501 Breadboard-friendly 66 channel GPS module w/10 Hz updates. When we saw this breadboard-friendly module used in the Coobro Geo kit, we were excited to carry it as a separate product. It’s a no-nonsense, high-quality GPS module that can track up to 22 satellites on 66 channels, has an excellent high-sensitivity receiver (-165 dB tracking!), and a built in antenna. The chipset is the latest MTK3329 which can do up to 10 location updates a second for high speed, high sensitivity logging or tracking. Of course the icing on the cake is the use of 6 x 0.1″ spaced holes on the side which make it trivial to add to any breadboard or perf-board project. This has the same chipset as what we’re using for the FLORA GPS module.

The only thing you’ll need to watch for is that the module is designed to run at about 3.3V, and shouldn’t be powered by 5.0V. If you’re using an Arduino, simply connect the GPS power pin to the 3.3V pin. If you want to configure the module, you’ll want to put a 10K resistor divider on the RX pin so you don’t put 5V on the data pin. We include these resistors, as well as a 6 pin header you can solder to the module in order to plug it into a breadboard.

Get started in a jiffy: after soldering together the module, follow our wiring diagram to connect it to your Arduino or other microcontroller. Then run our example sketch which will allow you to quickly set the update rate and select which NMEA sentences you want to have spit out.

• Satellites: 22 tracking, 66 searching
• Update rate: 1 to 10 Hz
• Position Accuracy: 1.8 meters
• Velocity Accuracy: 0.1 meters/s
• Warm/cold start: 34 seconds
• Acquisition sensitivity: -145 dBm
• Tracking sensitivity: -165 dBm
• Operating voltage: 3.0-4.2VDC
• Operating current: 25 mA current draw during navigation
• Output: NMEA 0183, 9600 baud default
• WAAS/EGNOS supported
• Weight: 9 grams
• Dimensions: 22mm x 22mm x 8mm

In stock and shipping immediately.

NEW PRODUCT – Coobro Geo Kit – DIY GPS Geocaching Pendant. The Coobro Geo is an easy to assemble GPS navigation kit. Upload coordinates, turn it on, and the Coobro Geo will help you navigate to any destination on earth by using LEDs to show you the correct direction and distance remaining. Before you leave on your quest, press and hold the breadcrumbs button and the Coobro Geo will remember your location and help you navigate back. Store up to five pre-entered destination coordinates and five breadcrumbs, or modify the open source code and store as many coordinates as you want.

We met the maker of this project our weekly ASK AN ENGINEER show-and-tell, and liked his product so much we wanted to carry it!

Use the Coobro Geo to help you find geocaches, store and navigate between hot fishing spots, complete a scavenger hunt, or simply help you find your car after a hike.

Features:

• High quality Fastrax UP501 GPS module with 66-channel receiver
• All through hole kit is easy to solder and requires minimal tools
• Completely open source hardware and software
• Program the software using the Arduino IDE
• Stores breadcrumbs in EEPROM so it remembers locations when turned off

Kit Includes:

• 1x Fastrax UP501 GPS Module
• 1x Atmega328 DIP Processor
• 1x Coobro Geo PCB
• 14x Bright Blue LEDs
• 2x 10 Ohm Resistor Networks
• 4x .1uF Ceramic Capacitors
• 1x 10uF Electrolytic Capacitor
• 2x Slide Switches
• 1x Push button
• 3x Header pins
• 1x Atmega328 Socket
• 1x 8MHz Ceramic Oscillator
• 1x AAA Enclosed Batter Holder
• 1x Lanyard
• 1x Power Supply Jumper

This kit requires assembly by the user. It’s not a difficult kit, and can be put together even by a beginner using a soldering iron, solder, diagonal cutters and other small hand tools. Notice: in order for this kit to work, you’ll need to have an FTDI cable or an FTDI breakout board such as our FTDI Friend they are not included. You may also want to pick up some AAA batteries, 3 are required and are also not included.

Open Source Hardware: This kit is 100% open source hardware. The makers provide the Eagle Cad design files, schematics, and software for your hacking pleasure.

In stock and shipping now!

Military jamming of GPS in Scotland suspended…

Jamming of global positioning signals (GPS) during Europe’s largest military exercise has been suspended, following complaints from fishermen. The Royal Navy issued warnings in September and October that GPS in parts of Scotland would be disrupted during Exercise Joint Warrior.

Needs a little record player to tell you the directions

Feb. 14, 1989: GPS Enters Orbit | This Day In Tech | Wired.com…

The first of 24 satellites that will make up the global positioning system is put into orbit.

GPS revolutionized navigation, both at sea and on land, by providing position reports with unprecedented, pinpoint accuracy. Each satellite is placed in a specific orbit at a specific altitude to ensure that four or five satellites are always within range from any point on the planet. A GPS receiver picks up signals from the satellites and trilaterates the data to fix the position.

This satellite system is so valuable — besides navigation, GPS has applications in mapmaking, land-surveying and the accurate telling of time — that even though it was developed and is maintained by the U.S. Department of Defense, it’s been available since 1993 without charge to anyone, anywhere on Earth.

Although GPS has eliminated the need for determining a ship’s position by shooting the sun or stars, no sailor worthy of the name would put to sea, even now, without the ability to use a sextant. Electronic navigation devices fail, and even GPS isn’t immune to the odd glitch, and the open ocean is a lonely place to be if you don’t know where you are.

GPS shield for Arduino kit with data-logging capability. After building this easy kit, you can create your own geo-locative project.

This shield is designed to make GPS projects straight-forward and easy. Plug in a supported GPS module and run any of the example Arduino sketches for parsing GPS data (NMEA sentences), logging to a FAT16-formatted SD flash memory card and storing analog sensor data along with precise location, date and time in CSV format.

The shield is designed specifically for use with the EM-406a module: the small surface-mount GPS connector is pre-soldered for you. (It is a high-quality engine with quick time-to-fix and excellent reception, even in downtown New York City!) It can also be used with a Tyco A1035D, EB-85A or Lassen IQ module (see the webpage for more details).

GPS module, Arduino, and SD memory card are not included. Please check the parts list to see what is included. Please note that the library is rather bulky, requiring 12K of flash and more than 1/2 K of RAM for buffering SD card memory blocks. The examples work fine on ATmega168-based Arduino (or compatible) but for more complex projects I strongly recommend upgrading to an ATmega328!

Run-time is approximately 3 hours with a 9V battery and up to 12 hours using a MintyBoost, assuming no power-saving features are enabled.

NEW PRODUCT – Basic GPS module – PMB-648. We picked up a few of these lower-cost GPS modules specifically for those that want to use them for time-keeping purposes. They function perfectly fine as a GPS, but they are not as accurate or low-power as the EM-406 modules we carry for location applications. For that reason, we don’t suggest them for precise, battery-powered location logging.

However! They will still get you precision time, can get a fix while near a window, and have a built in RTC. Great for hacking your Ice Tube Clock (as seen in our tutorial) or MONOCHRON, or other DIY clocks.

The PMB-648 GPS features 20 parallel satellite-tracking channels for fast acquisition of NMEA0183 v2.2 data for robotics navigation, telemetry, or experimentation. There is a built-in patch antenna; rechargeable battery for memory and RTC backup; cable for power, TTL and RS-232 connections.

• SiRFstarIII chipset
• 20 parallel satellite-tracking channels for fast acquisition and reacquisition
• Built-in rechargeable battery for memory and RTC backup
• Supports NMEA0183 V2.2 data protocol
• Includes cable for power, TTL and RS-232 connections
• Power requirements: 3.3V – 5V DC @ 65mA
• Communications: TTL or RS-232 asynchronous serial @ 4800 bps
• Dimensions: 1.25 x 1.25 x .35 in (32 x 32 x 9 mm)
• Operating temp range:o32 to +158 oF (0 to +70 oC)

Product Specification + Connection Diagram (.pdf)

In stock and shipping now.

Fun hack for the Ice Tube clock! Who doesn’t want satellite-precise timing? This firmware mod allows you to add any 4800 TTL NMEA GPS module. Check that the module can run from 5V power, and has a wire that outputs NMEA 4800 baud at TTL levels. Do NOT use any RS-232 level outputs, they can easily damage your clock!

Devlin writes -

Our favorite Soviet-Era display that found its way into a present-day kit now displays time from orbiting satellites. A GPS module patched into an Ice Tube Clock with modified firmware will be able to provide a satellite-synced time. The firmware, modified by yours truly, parses the GPS module’s NMEA RMC sentences for the time and date information and then updates the clock’s time and date. Fun was had making sure the alarm went off at the correct times when the time was updated by the GPS. Overall, it was a fun project and we look forward to seeing additional Ice Tube Clock hacks.

We picked up a few of these now-discontinued GPS modules specifically for those that want to use them for time-keeping purposes. They use an older chipset and our testing determined that while they function perfectly fine as a GPS, they are not as accurate as the EM-406 modules we carry for location applications. For that reason, we don’t suggest them for location logging.

However! They will still get you precision time, can get a fix while near a window, and have a built in RTC. Great for hacking your Ice Tube Clock (as seen in our tutorial) or other DIY clocks.

• SONY CXD2951GA-4 chipset
• 12 parallel satellite-tracking channels for fast acquisition and reacquisition
• Built-in rechargeable battery for memory and RTC backup
• Supports NMEA0183 V2.2 data protocol
• Includes cable for power, TTL and RS-232 connections
• Power requirements: 3.3V – 5V DC @ 80mA
• Communications: TTL or RS-232 asynchronous serial @ 4800 bps
• Dimensions: 1.25 x 1.25 x .35 in (32 x 32 x 9 mm)
• Operating temp range: 32 to +158 F (0 to +70 C)

Above is an an example of the new track feature in Google Earth 5.2 (released today) showing a bike route to work. You could/can use these new features to do all sorts of great data logging and display.

Visualize your hiking, biking, and running tracks – Google Earth has always been a great tool for viewing your outdoor activities, whether it be hiking, running, biking, skiing, sailing, or just about any other way you choose to explore the world. With the release of Google Earth 5.0, we added the ability to connect your GPS device directly to Google Earth and import your track. Now, with Google Earth 5.2, we’ve added the ability to view elevation, speed, and other data as a graph directly in Google Earth. Just connect your GPS device to upload your track, and select “View Elevation Profile” from the menu. This will bring up elevation and speed graphs. If your GPS device records additional information such as heart rate or cadence, these will also be available to view in the graph. You can also see statistics such as total elevation, maximum slope, and average speed. You can select a portion of your ride and get statistics for just that section.

The age of cheap, plentiful sensors, tracking everything from heartrates to the noise pollution slowly driving everybody insane is here. Joe Saavedra’s modular neuroid is a wearable, reconfigurable sensor system that monitors pollution we probably don’t wanna know about.The modular part of the system is that it works with different kinds of sensors. Currently there are working sensors for methane, liquid petroleum, light and sound pollution, and carbon monoxide. The flagship device, built with an Arduino + Adafruit GPS system and three connection points for sensors, is a little bulky—more of a bag-hanger than a pocketable unit, but it’s easy to see how it’ll be miniaturized over time. It pairs up pretty nicely with a Nokia N900