SparkFun LG290P Quadband GNSS RTK

I’ve been messing with GPS modules for a while now. I’m always on the hunt for the best bang for the buck or the best learning tool. I recently stumbled across the Sparkfun LG290P Real Time Kinematic (RTK) GNSS board.

RTK has the ability to geo locate you to within 1 CENTIMETER of your location. Most GNSS modules net you about a 3 meter tolerance.

That is crazy accurate. Many of these RTK engines cost big $$$. This module is based on the Quectel LG290P engine. The good news is that it is lighter, cheaper, and runs cooler than most other RTK modules. Sparkfun sets the cost at $189 which is amazing.

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GNSS200L GNSS Receiver Review

After digging through my GPS storage box I realized that I have never reviewed my GNSS200L GNSS receiver. I got mine at GPSWebShop a couple of years ago.

The advantage to this is that it is a puck and simply connects via USB to Windows, Linux, or MacOS.

There are no FTDI’s or serial converters needed. Just one clean USB connection to a computer.

Additionally, another major advantage is that because it is an authentic U-blox chip there is tons of documentation for it. If you buy some GPS module that is a knock off you aren’t going to get any documentation for it.

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Adafruit Ultimate GPS USB – Best Bargain GPS

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Adafruit Ultimate GPS USB – Best Bargain GPS

I love messing around with GPS modules. And I’ve said it before……..hooking a GPS up to a computer is a rite of passage for techies. I’m always on a quest to find a great module at a great price. Enter the Adafruit Ultimate GPS USB version ($29.99).

My favorite GPS modules are from U-blox however they tend to be a bit on the expensive side. That being said they have very powerful proprietary software that makes module configuration a breeze.

Not so much with the Adafruit modules which are based on the MTK3333 chipset which is definitely a great GPS chip. I know that you are thinking that you can buy GPS modules on Amazon or AliExpress for way less than $30, and you would be right. That being said almost ALL OF THEM are knock-offs and do not contain the chipsets that they claim. Yes, they are GPS modules, and yes, they work, however they are counterfeits mostly. I don’t like to spend my money on fakes.

Also places like Adafruit provide you tons of documentation to include command sheets, data sheets, and schematics. You get exactly what they say you get.

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Choosing a GPS Module

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Choosing a GPS Module

I tend to believe that connecting a GPS module to a computer is a rite of passage for techies. While grabbing your exact coordinates and seeing it on a map is big fun it doesn’t compare to learning about GNSS or GPS systems.

Probably the most useful thing you can do with a GPS module in a home lab is to use it as a time server. Pulses Per Second or PPS is ridiculously accurate. You can achieve this in your home lab relatively cheap.

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Waveshare GPS L76K With Raspberry Pi Pico 2

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Waveshare GPS L76K With Raspberry Pi Pico 2

For the first time in a LONG time I don’t have any reviews inbound to John’s Tech Blog. And what that means is that I now have time to write about my own projects. Up today is the Waveshare GPS L76K module paired with a Pi Pico 2.

This is a super simple project however it took me a day to figure out how super simple it is. I was way overthinking this. While I have tons of experience with Raspberry Pi and Arduino, the Pico ecosystem is unlike anything I’ve used before. Additionally, it took me a bit to work through it.

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Plum Chef Ice Maker

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Plum Chef Ice Maker – ZB-12BZ

I was recently provided an Air Fryer to review from the good folks at Plum Chef. Subsequently, they reached out to me to review their Plum Chef Ice Maker.

This is a Countertop Ice Maker that makes up to 26 lbs. of ice per day. The model number on the unit they provided is ZB-12BZ. The model number on the Amazon link above is ZB-12AZ which makes me think that they probably updated their line.

Some years ago when we bought this house I had a wine refrigerator installed.

The wine fridge came with a free ice maker. And while that was pretty cool, that ice maker was fairly huge and pretty heavy and was no fun to dump the water out of when it came time to do that. And finally, it took up a lot of valuable real estate on our kitchen island.

The Plum Chef Ice Maker is considerably smaller, lighter, and easier to fill and empty and doesn’t take up much space at all. It cranks out 9 cubes every 6 minutes or so. It also fills up pretty quickly. We recently hosted family for Easter dinner and the ice maker was such a blessing. And it is convenient for visitors to get ice without feeling like they are rooting around in your freezer.

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Holludle Ergonomic Office Chair

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Holludle Ergonomic Office Chair

If you are a geek like me or a cubicle worker you spend an awful lot of time sitting at a computer. The chair you choose to sit in is of vital importance to your health and well being. One great choice is the Holludle Ergonomic Office Chair. The specific model is referred to as the Vchair.

Additionally, the chair is designed to provide comfort for up to 8 hours. And it provides exceptional back support.

There are several ways to adjust the chair for maximum support.

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GL.inet MT3000 Router Update

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GL.inet MT3000 Router Update

In 2003 I reviewed the GL.inet Beryl AX (MT3000) Travel Router. To be honest I didn’t use it a lot and it seemed to be fine.

But recently I hooked it up on a spare port on my firewall to create another VLAN network in my house. I was wanting to segregate some smart home items.

And then I realized that it had problems. Big problems.

The device simply will not stay on. It reboots randomly. So I ran to Google and searched and it seems like a lot of other people are reporting the same condition. Un-commanded reboots. Meh.

It might work an hour and once it worked for a day but it always reboots itself.

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SVBONY SVGO3 Action Camera

Up for review today is the SVBONY SVG03 Action Camera. SVBONY is a world renowned leader in optics in the field of astronomy. And they have entered the field of action cameras. This is a field that definitely needs some competition.

We all know who the big name in action cameras is, and while they make a great product, the price tag is equally great. In a bad way. At $139 the SVBONY SVG03 Action Camera is well worth taking a look at. It can also be purchased from Amazon currently for $132.

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9 in 1 Adjustable Laptop Stand And Charging Hub

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9 in 1 Adjustable Laptop Stand And Charging Hub

This will primarily be a video review of the 9 in 1 Adjustable Laptop Stand from the Mukiya store on Amazon. ($59 currently)

The design is slick and the configuration of ports is more than what any casual computer would ever use. Due to its sleek design it folds down into a very small bundle which makes it ideal for road warriors and functioning off of a small hotel desk.

If you need to be compact and have accessibility to multiple types of ports this is perfect for travel.