Tom Wardill
@tom.theclacks.cloud.ap.brid.gy
Enthusiastic hobby collector, prone to rabbit holes. Makes things, codes things, professionally keeping servers happier.
Occasionally known to ride a bike.
[bridged from https://theclacks.cloud/@tom on the fediverse by https://fed.brid.gy/ ]
Occasionally known to ride a bike.
[bridged from https://theclacks.cloud/@tom on the fediverse by https://fed.brid.gy/ ]
Tomorrowland might not be a great film, but fair play for the ending scene including artists, dancers, planters, creatives.
They could have gone full “tech bro will save us”, and didn’t entirely.
It’s a shame that the rest of the film was tech centric.
They could have gone full “tech bro will save us”, and didn’t entirely.
It’s a shame that the rest of the film was tech centric.
January 12, 2026 at 9:33 PM
Tomorrowland might not be a great film, but fair play for the ending scene including artists, dancers, planters, creatives.
They could have gone full “tech bro will save us”, and didn’t entirely.
It’s a shame that the rest of the film was tech centric.
They could have gone full “tech bro will save us”, and didn’t entirely.
It’s a shame that the rest of the film was tech centric.
Today was going to be a day of working on some Camera Pi stuff for a contract.
But I've come into the office and one of my speaker stands is at a very awkward angle, so Side Quest Initiated.
But I've come into the office and one of my speaker stands is at a very awkward angle, so Side Quest Initiated.
January 10, 2026 at 9:56 AM
Today was going to be a day of working on some Camera Pi stuff for a contract.
But I've come into the office and one of my speaker stands is at a very awkward angle, so Side Quest Initiated.
But I've come into the office and one of my speaker stands is at a very awkward angle, so Side Quest Initiated.
Parts and mirrors ordered for the telescope.
Printing continues.
Probably going to be a couple of weeks before I can attempt First Assembly.
Printing continues.
Probably going to be a couple of weeks before I can attempt First Assembly.
January 4, 2026 at 6:24 PM
Parts and mirrors ordered for the telescope.
Printing continues.
Probably going to be a couple of weeks before I can attempt First Assembly.
Printing continues.
Probably going to be a couple of weeks before I can attempt First Assembly.
3 projects on the go today:
* Firing up the printer to print an astrophotography telescope
* Trying to remember how METEOR satellite image collection works (last did this a year ago and failed to take notes)
* Design on my Morse/Discord bridge hardware to try and get it in a fab before I have […]
* Firing up the printer to print an astrophotography telescope
* Trying to remember how METEOR satellite image collection works (last did this a year ago and failed to take notes)
* Design on my Morse/Discord bridge hardware to try and get it in a fab before I have […]
Original post on theclacks.cloud
theclacks.cloud
January 4, 2026 at 10:16 AM
3 projects on the go today:
* Firing up the printer to print an astrophotography telescope
* Trying to remember how METEOR satellite image collection works (last did this a year ago and failed to take notes)
* Design on my Morse/Discord bridge hardware to try and get it in a fab before I have […]
* Firing up the printer to print an astrophotography telescope
* Trying to remember how METEOR satellite image collection works (last did this a year ago and failed to take notes)
* Design on my Morse/Discord bridge hardware to try and get it in a fab before I have […]
Stumbled across https://github.com/tierneytim/Pico-USB-audio for turning a Pi Pico into a USB soundcard and now one of my projects has gone from 'initial experiments show it'll be hard' to 'I can just wire up some buttons and I'm done'.
Once again, thankful for people doing things and making […]
Once again, thankful for people doing things and making […]
Original post on theclacks.cloud
theclacks.cloud
January 1, 2026 at 2:06 PM
Stumbled across https://github.com/tierneytim/Pico-USB-audio for turning a Pi Pico into a USB soundcard and now one of my projects has gone from 'initial experiments show it'll be hard' to 'I can just wire up some buttons and I'm done'.
Once again, thankful for people doing things and making […]
Once again, thankful for people doing things and making […]
New keyboard day.
UHK80.
Now to spend most of the next week trying to remember where all my keymaps live.
UHK80.
Now to spend most of the next week trying to remember where all my keymaps live.
December 31, 2025 at 10:24 AM
New keyboard day.
UHK80.
Now to spend most of the next week trying to remember where all my keymaps live.
UHK80.
Now to spend most of the next week trying to remember where all my keymaps live.
Although moving off gmail is hard due to family accounts on my workspace, I'm gradually trying to at least move *my* interaction with it to something more standards compliant and under my ownership.
The state of the art for 'I'd like to get my IMAP email onto something I control' is awful, even […]
The state of the art for 'I'd like to get my IMAP email onto something I control' is awful, even […]
Original post on theclacks.cloud
theclacks.cloud
December 29, 2025 at 8:18 AM
Although moving off gmail is hard due to family accounts on my workspace, I'm gradually trying to at least move *my* interaction with it to something more standards compliant and under my ownership.
The state of the art for 'I'd like to get my IMAP email onto something I control' is awful, even […]
The state of the art for 'I'd like to get my IMAP email onto something I control' is awful, even […]
Spent part of the day continuing my ongoing work to assemble an ARDF beacon from parts I have around.
truSDX as the transmitter, Pi Pico and some extra electronicsy bits as the Morse generator.
Made decent progress, it’s sending mostly the correct dits and dahs. Got to sort out some timing and […]
truSDX as the transmitter, Pi Pico and some extra electronicsy bits as the Morse generator.
Made decent progress, it’s sending mostly the correct dits and dahs. Got to sort out some timing and […]
Original post on theclacks.cloud
theclacks.cloud
December 21, 2025 at 8:46 PM
Spent part of the day continuing my ongoing work to assemble an ARDF beacon from parts I have around.
truSDX as the transmitter, Pi Pico and some extra electronicsy bits as the Morse generator.
Made decent progress, it’s sending mostly the correct dits and dahs. Got to sort out some timing and […]
truSDX as the transmitter, Pi Pico and some extra electronicsy bits as the Morse generator.
Made decent progress, it’s sending mostly the correct dits and dahs. Got to sort out some timing and […]
Just had to restore my keyboard from backup.
I guess, yay, I had a backup, but also, booo, what the heck?
I guess, yay, I had a backup, but also, booo, what the heck?
November 27, 2025 at 8:56 AM
Just had to restore my keyboard from backup.
I guess, yay, I had a backup, but also, booo, what the heck?
I guess, yay, I had a backup, but also, booo, what the heck?
In an effort to attempt to spend less time mindlessly watching Youtube, I have started a baremetal STM32 course from Udemy.
I just made an LED flash. Genuinely makes me quite happy.
I just made an LED flash. Genuinely makes me quite happy.
November 23, 2025 at 2:43 PM
In an effort to attempt to spend less time mindlessly watching Youtube, I have started a baremetal STM32 course from Udemy.
I just made an LED flash. Genuinely makes me quite happy.
I just made an LED flash. Genuinely makes me quite happy.
Last year my partner ran Dragons Back and did very well.
I built a lamp using her GPS data, elevation profile and route.
Really quite happy with how it turned out.
I built a lamp using her GPS data, elevation profile and route.
Really quite happy with how it turned out.
November 21, 2025 at 9:10 PM
Last year my partner ran Dragons Back and did very well.
I built a lamp using her GPS data, elevation profile and route.
Really quite happy with how it turned out.
I built a lamp using her GPS data, elevation profile and route.
Really quite happy with how it turned out.
Starting to realise that the difficult part of attempting to learn some bare metal microprocessor skills is not the learning.
It’s working out which debug cable you need, and why you don’t own one yet.
It’s working out which debug cable you need, and why you don’t own one yet.
November 15, 2025 at 5:39 PM
Starting to realise that the difficult part of attempting to learn some bare metal microprocessor skills is not the learning.
It’s working out which debug cable you need, and why you don’t own one yet.
It’s working out which debug cable you need, and why you don’t own one yet.
Next years #bigproject is to go supersonic.
Done ‘very high up’ with a 25km altitude balloon.
Now I want something that goes ‘very fast’.
And maybe, eventually, flies some of my own code.
Done ‘very high up’ with a 25km altitude balloon.
Now I want something that goes ‘very fast’.
And maybe, eventually, flies some of my own code.
October 20, 2025 at 8:07 PM
Next years #bigproject is to go supersonic.
Done ‘very high up’ with a 25km altitude balloon.
Now I want something that goes ‘very fast’.
And maybe, eventually, flies some of my own code.
Done ‘very high up’ with a 25km altitude balloon.
Now I want something that goes ‘very fast’.
And maybe, eventually, flies some of my own code.
Anyone got a supplier for Hermann Miller Mirra (1) parts?
Ripped the mesh on the seat, and all the ones on ebay atm appear to have the same problem...
Ripped the mesh on the seat, and all the ones on ebay atm appear to have the same problem...
October 13, 2025 at 12:19 PM
Anyone got a supplier for Hermann Miller Mirra (1) parts?
Ripped the mesh on the seat, and all the ones on ebay atm appear to have the same problem...
Ripped the mesh on the seat, and all the ones on ebay atm appear to have the same problem...
I bought a new frame.work 13 last month.
I now regret that.
Not only sponsoring people with utterly hateful views, and promoting others with the same, but now arguing that a 'big tent' approach is somehow suitable.
Not even a hint of an acknowledgement that it might be a bad idea to give […]
I now regret that.
Not only sponsoring people with utterly hateful views, and promoting others with the same, but now arguing that a 'big tent' approach is somehow suitable.
Not even a hint of an acknowledgement that it might be a bad idea to give […]
Original post on theclacks.cloud
theclacks.cloud
October 9, 2025 at 7:24 AM
I bought a new frame.work 13 last month.
I now regret that.
Not only sponsoring people with utterly hateful views, and promoting others with the same, but now arguing that a 'big tent' approach is somehow suitable.
Not even a hint of an acknowledgement that it might be a bad idea to give […]
I now regret that.
Not only sponsoring people with utterly hateful views, and promoting others with the same, but now arguing that a 'big tent' approach is somehow suitable.
Not even a hint of an acknowledgement that it might be a bad idea to give […]
I have fairly basic electronics knowledge, but am designing a few PCBs these days.
Has anyone seen any guides/info on ‘rules of thumb for PCB design’?
I can just about operate kicad, but am missing the knowledge about actual PCB physical design that makes me nervous about wasting iterations […]
Has anyone seen any guides/info on ‘rules of thumb for PCB design’?
I can just about operate kicad, but am missing the knowledge about actual PCB physical design that makes me nervous about wasting iterations […]
Original post on theclacks.cloud
theclacks.cloud
September 20, 2025 at 7:27 AM
I have fairly basic electronics knowledge, but am designing a few PCBs these days.
Has anyone seen any guides/info on ‘rules of thumb for PCB design’?
I can just about operate kicad, but am missing the knowledge about actual PCB physical design that makes me nervous about wasting iterations […]
Has anyone seen any guides/info on ‘rules of thumb for PCB design’?
I can just about operate kicad, but am missing the knowledge about actual PCB physical design that makes me nervous about wasting iterations […]
Packed my travel weaving kit for a weekend away.
Enjoying the small frame for trying to get my head around some simple patterns.
Enjoying the small frame for trying to get my head around some simple patterns.
September 14, 2025 at 7:19 PM
Packed my travel weaving kit for a weekend away.
Enjoying the small frame for trying to get my head around some simple patterns.
Enjoying the small frame for trying to get my head around some simple patterns.
Fun time at Newark National Hamfest, on the RSGB stands in my role as the 'Maker Champion'.
Some great chats about making things, makerspaces, and what the crossover of the amateur radio community and the maker community might look like.
Especially appreciative of the couple of folks that […]
Some great chats about making things, makerspaces, and what the crossover of the amateur radio community and the maker community might look like.
Especially appreciative of the couple of folks that […]
Original post on theclacks.cloud
theclacks.cloud
September 7, 2025 at 1:07 PM
Fun time at Newark National Hamfest, on the RSGB stands in my role as the 'Maker Champion'.
Some great chats about making things, makerspaces, and what the crossover of the amateur radio community and the maker community might look like.
Especially appreciative of the couple of folks that […]
Some great chats about making things, makerspaces, and what the crossover of the amateur radio community and the maker community might look like.
Especially appreciative of the couple of folks that […]
Currently sat on the floor in the middle of my office trying to extract it from post-big-project mess.
I’ve rediscovered at least 3 different projects during this process and am trying not to get distracted.
I’ve rediscovered at least 3 different projects during this process and am trying not to get distracted.
September 7, 2025 at 10:03 AM
Currently sat on the floor in the middle of my office trying to extract it from post-big-project mess.
I’ve rediscovered at least 3 different projects during this process and am trying not to get distracted.
I’ve rediscovered at least 3 different projects during this process and am trying not to get distracted.
Via the power of the mighty mighty Honda Jazz, I am packed up and heading to National HamFest.
Come find me on the RSGB stand talking about how you should make things.
#hamfest #amateurradio #satellites
Come find me on the RSGB stand talking about how you should make things.
#hamfest #amateurradio #satellites
September 4, 2025 at 9:19 AM
Via the power of the mighty mighty Honda Jazz, I am packed up and heading to National HamFest.
Come find me on the RSGB stand talking about how you should make things.
#hamfest #amateurradio #satellites
Come find me on the RSGB stand talking about how you should make things.
#hamfest #amateurradio #satellites
I now have to make a spinning arm. It should move pretty slowly.
I will toot every time I get hit by the spinning arm.
I will toot every time I get hit by the spinning arm.
August 31, 2025 at 3:34 PM
I now have to make a spinning arm. It should move pretty slowly.
I will toot every time I get hit by the spinning arm.
I will toot every time I get hit by the spinning arm.
Final sprint on the CubeSatSim project for Hamfest.
Building up LED cable harnesses and replacing labels in the switches and then I think the Ground Station is hardware complete.
Got to do a bit more software to fix the mode changing, then work on the satellite rotator.
This message probably […]
Building up LED cable harnesses and replacing labels in the switches and then I think the Ground Station is hardware complete.
Got to do a bit more software to fix the mode changing, then work on the satellite rotator.
This message probably […]
Original post on theclacks.cloud
theclacks.cloud
August 31, 2025 at 8:45 AM
Final sprint on the CubeSatSim project for Hamfest.
Building up LED cable harnesses and replacing labels in the switches and then I think the Ground Station is hardware complete.
Got to do a bit more software to fix the mode changing, then work on the satellite rotator.
This message probably […]
Building up LED cable harnesses and replacing labels in the switches and then I think the Ground Station is hardware complete.
Got to do a bit more software to fix the mode changing, then work on the satellite rotator.
This message probably […]
I am very sick of running into cases in the GCP API that take a set or a list, but the allowable count is (1), and the only mention of this is deep in the API docs.
August 21, 2025 at 3:03 PM
I am very sick of running into cases in the GCP API that take a set or a list, but the allowable count is (1), and the only mention of this is deep in the API docs.
Prototypes are continuing. Scaled up a bit as while the ‘life size’ twist-lite replica was fine, I don’t actually have a whole console of them so it looked a bit lost.
Increased the size by 50% and redesigned the top cover to be a bit more printable.
Fitment […]
[Original post on theclacks.cloud]
Increased the size by 50% and redesigned the top cover to be a bit more printable.
Fitment […]
[Original post on theclacks.cloud]
August 4, 2025 at 8:25 PM
Prototypes are continuing. Scaled up a bit as while the ‘life size’ twist-lite replica was fine, I don’t actually have a whole console of them so it looked a bit lost.
Increased the size by 50% and redesigned the top cover to be a bit more printable.
Fitment […]
[Original post on theclacks.cloud]
Increased the size by 50% and redesigned the top cover to be a bit more printable.
Fitment […]
[Original post on theclacks.cloud]
@ku2y A question, if you have time :)
If I wanted to provide external power to the CubeSatSim without using the USBC connector, would 5V into the 'parallel battery pack connector' on the Battery Board work?
If I wanted to provide external power to the CubeSatSim without using the USBC connector, would 5V into the 'parallel battery pack connector' on the Battery Board work?
August 2, 2025 at 10:08 AM
@ku2y A question, if you have time :)
If I wanted to provide external power to the CubeSatSim without using the USBC connector, would 5V into the 'parallel battery pack connector' on the Battery Board work?
If I wanted to provide external power to the CubeSatSim without using the USBC connector, would 5V into the 'parallel battery pack connector' on the Battery Board work?