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

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.

Svbony SVGo M3 Action Camera Review

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Svbony SVGo M3 Action Camera Review

I was contacted recently by Svbony and asked to review their new line of action cameras. One of the cameras they provided me was the Svbony SVG0 M3 ($99).

If you have never heard of Svbony there can only be one reason. That you aren’t an astronomy or bird watching geek.

Svbony is a world renowned leader in telescope and spotting scope equipment.

And along those lines I imagine that with such detailed knowledge of precision optics that they probably make a pretty doggone great action camera.

Just as the astronomy fans can’t believe how great their optics are for the price point so it seems to be in the action camera realm as well. Their offerings are a heck of a lot easier on the wallet.

If you think I’m just playing fan boy because they sent me some cameras you would be 100% wrong. I spent a good portion of my working career in the (now) Department of War, Aircraft Carrier and Shorebased Visual Landing Aids program. When Maverick in Top Gun says “Roger Ball, I’ve got the ball” that’s one of the systems I supported. I mostly worked on Shore Based Trainers but the equipment was the same. What’s my point? My point is that I know a thing or three about optics and more specifically OPTICS THAT ARE IN MOTION. You’ll get my honest take here because this was my thing.

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Plum Chef Air Fryer – A Must Have Kitchen Gadget

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Plum Chef Air Fryer – A Must Have Kitchen Gadget

I get a lot of things sent to me to review. And over time those items have gotten pretty diverse. When Plum Chef contacted me to review their Plum Chef Air Fryer 11QT Compact 2-Slice Air Fryer Toaster Oven I asked my wife if I should review it. She said YES!

Key Takeaways

The Plum Chef Air Fryer is an 11 QT, 2-slice model praised for its attractive design and lightweight build.
It effectively reaches temperatures of up to 450℉, with even heat distribution throughout.
During power testing, it operates around 1000 watts, which drops to 500-600 watts when maintaining temperature.
Cooking tests with the Plum Chef Air Fryer yielded impressive results, even with a discerning chef in the house.
The review showcases a mix of tech analysis and culinary experiences, highlighting the versatility of the air fryer.

You see, I’m a Tech Guy but my wife is a foodie. I’m on a first name basis with all the stars of the Food Channel and my wife is an amazingly great cook. While I think I have a few brain cells she constantly throws out cooking and food term words that I have never heard before.

So what you are going to get here is a mix of John being a Tech guy reviewing some hardware, and my wife cooking up some goodness. We make a great team.

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