GoPro Media Mod microphone quality

GoPro makes great action cameras. Small, tough, with image stabilization and other cool features. For some time now, they can be used also for more “professional”, cinematic purposes. I’m recording quite a lot of my videos with the help of GoPro Hero camera. Previously with Hero 7 and Hero 8. Now with the Hero 10.

The problem with the latest Hero cameras is that they do not have the HDMI out or microphone port. To have them, you have to buy the Media Mod.

GoPro Media Mod has its own microphone that is supposed to be better than the one built-in into the camera itself. But is it?

GoPro Hero 10 Black

GoPro releases the new action camera every year. Usually around September. This year was no different and only a few weeks ago we’ve been presented the anniversary release: GoPro Hero 10 Black.

I purchased my Hero 10 a few days after the premiere. My target usage for this GoPro was: I need a smaller camera to record videos on the outside for my YouTube channels and maybe a better one to put on my FPV drones. One week later I know everything. For the first of those purposes Hero 10 is dope! For the second one, not so much.

FS1000A and XY-MK-5V - How they work - cheap 433MHz Arduino radio

The FS1000A transmitter and XY-MK-5V 433Mhz receivers are probably the cheapest options if you want to do any kind of radio transmission with Arduino. And many people assume that it will work in their application no problem.

The truth is, that it’s not that simple. The way how whose 433MHz radio modules are made puts multiple limitations: They do not add any encoding or packeting. It’s just a pure radio layer. Your Arduino code has to do the coding and decoding of the incoming signal. You can not transfer data too slowly, as the receiver will boost sensitivity and start outputting random noise on its output You can not transfer data too fast, as the signal will be lost

If you are interested, you can listed about all the details in this video

My YouTube streaming setup

Becoming a YouTuber was one of the most surprising things that happened to me. One day, while laying in my bed, I thought that if some other guys can do it, why can’t I? I know things, I’m not afraid to talk, so maybe it’s something I can do as well. And just like that, started to record my first videos for YouTube. When I look at them from the perspective of the time, oh boy, I sucked so much at it! Audio, video, my behavior, the way I speak, it all sucked!

Five years later I still suck, but that’s fine. I suck slightly less and apparently that’s just enough. Over the years of experiments, I gathered video and audio equipment that satisfies my requirements. It’s maybe not perfect, but it was reasonably cheap.

Gearbest bankrupted

Being an electronics retailer from China is not an easy piece of bread. Competition is fierce and current electronic prices are very high. On top of that, European Union VAT rules became much more strict. Every package that enters the EU has to have VAT collected from the recipient. As a result, fewer people are buying in China.

As a result, the first recognizable retailers filed for bankruptcy. GearBest website is down, you can not view, order or check your parcel.

Is 6S more efficient than 4S?

There is a popular opinion, a myth maybe, that drones powered by 6S LiPo batteries fly much longer and are much more efficient than their 4S counterparts. You know, lower current and lower KV motors need less current for the same torque.

The problem with this opinion is that it’s only partially correct. Yes, the higher voltage will have a lower voltage drop and the current is smaller, but the real-life difference is so small, that it adds nothing to the practical “efficiency”.

To compare 6S and 4S drones everything has to be equalized. KV of the motor scaled correctly, battery size and C-rating adjusted as well. And on top of that, it’s not voltage or current that flies the drone. It’s power. And like all energy, power has to be conserved. The lower current means higher voltage. Lower KV higher resistance and so on.

TVS - Transil diodes to the rescue

We like to think that voltage in electronics is, if not constant, then at least it’s not going above the supply voltage. So if we apply 5V at the input of the electronic device, it will never go unintentionally above 5V inside.

It is, however, not true. As soon as you add any type of inductive load (choke, coil, electric motor) things go wild. Current flowing through the inductive element does not like to be interrupted. If it does, it will produce a voltage spike that will propagate to the rest of the electronics. The voltage spike can be high enough to destroy sensitive electronics.

Matek F765-WSE flight controller preview

Who makes the best fixed-wing flight controllers? Most probably Matek. Their series that begun with Matek F405-WING in 2018 is still going strong. Some models are end-of-line and new ones are created. The Matek F765-WSE is the next generation of Matek WING flight controllers that will appear on the market in late Q3, early Q4 of 2021.

7-inch Source One long-range drone flies again

My 7-inch TBS Source One was my first 7-inch drone that flew great. For quite some time it was my favorite and the most advanced FPV drone. However, then I designed and started using Pirx Seven, Source One landed in a closet. The fact that it was not DJI HD FPV system compatible only made me fly it less and less over time.

Last week it changed. It turned out, I need an “analog FPV” drone to run some tests of the Sentinel AAT antenna tracker and perform INAV experiments. It turned out, this was my very last quad that still had an analog camera and VTX installed. As a result, 7-inch Source One is back from the grave, and even got some updates!

How to replace the 3d printer nozzle - Prusa i3 MK3S

The Prusa i3 nozzle is of good quality. If you treat it well, it will serve you for years. My Prusa i3 MK3S was printing without absolutely any problems for more than two years. Unfortunately, some of the failed filament experiments left too much fowling in the nozzle and although it was printing fine most of the time, at one point I said enough and bought a new one.

If you want to know which one, I got steel, nickel-plated E3D V6. The one that came with the printer was brass.

The process of replacing the nozzle on your Prusa i3 MK3S (and similar) is quite simple, but you will need a few tools:

• 2.5mm HEX screwdriver or Allen wrench to remove 4 screws
• 7mm flat wrench
• Adjustable wrench “Swede” type or something similar

Step 1