Skip to content
October 18, 2026
TVG Report

TVG Report

Engineering-first robotics, AI, maker hardware, STEM, and creator technology reporting

  • Home
  • Tech News
  • Maker Culture
  • Robotics & AI
  • STEM Lab
  • NXT Bench
Main Menu

STEM Lab

STEM Lab covers STEM education, youth robotics, classroom technology, competitions, learning tools, and engineering literacy, with attention to safety, cost, reliability, and real-world teaching constraints.

US5881 Hall Sensor Stuck High? Add the Pull-Up Before Moving the Magnet
STEM Lab

US5881 Hall Sensor Stuck High? Add the Pull-Up Before Moving the Magnet

October 5, 2026October 5, 2026 - by TVG Editorial Team - Leave a Comment

The US5881’s output is open-drain, so it can pull a GPIO low but cannot drive it high. A pull-up and correct magnet orientation are required before software can see a clean switch.

US5881 Hall Sensor Stuck High? Add the Pull-Up Before Moving the Magnet Read More
Relay Flyback Diodes Protect the Driver but Slow Release
STEM Lab

Relay Flyback Diodes Protect the Driver but Slow Release

October 4, 2026October 4, 2026 - by TVG Editorial Team - Leave a Comment

A diode across a DC relay coil suppresses the turn-off spike, but its low clamp voltage lets current decay slowly. Faster release needs a deliberately higher, rated clamp.

Relay Flyback Diodes Protect the Driver but Slow Release Read More
555 Monostable Pulse Width: Calculate RC, Then Budget Component Tolerance
STEM Lab

555 Monostable Pulse Width: Calculate RC, Then Budget Component Tolerance

October 3, 2026October 3, 2026 - by TVG Editorial Team - Leave a Comment

A 555 one-shot follows t ≈ 1.1RC only when the trigger is clean and the timing parts behave as assumed. Calculate the nominal interval, then budget resistor and capacitor error.

555 Monostable Pulse Width: Calculate RC, Then Budget Component Tolerance Read More
MCP4725 Output Voltage: Calculate the DAC Code Before Writing EEPROM
STEM Lab

MCP4725 Output Voltage: Calculate the DAC Code Before Writing EEPROM

October 3, 2026October 3, 2026 - by TVG Editorial Team - Leave a Comment

The MCP4725 uses VDD as its reference, so DAC code, supply quality and EEPROM writes all affect the voltage that returns after power cycling.

MCP4725 Output Voltage: Calculate the DAC Code Before Writing EEPROM Read More
Logic Analyzer Sample Rate: How to Avoid Missing Short Pulses
STEM Lab

Logic Analyzer Sample Rate: How to Avoid Missing Short Pulses

October 2, 2026October 2, 2026 - by TVG Editorial Team - Leave a Comment

A logic analyzer can decode a bus while still missing narrow events or shifting measured edges. Use sample interval, pulse width, channel count and bandwidth to choose a defensible digital capture rate.

Logic Analyzer Sample Rate: How to Avoid Missing Short Pulses Read More
Mechanical Switch Debounce: Choosing Software, RC, or a Schmitt Trigger
STEM Lab

Mechanical Switch Debounce: Choosing Software, RC, or a Schmitt Trigger

October 1, 2026October 1, 2026 - by TVG Editorial Team - Leave a Comment

A mechanical button can produce several logic transitions from one press. Use the failure mode, response-time requirement and input circuit to choose software debounce, an RC network, or a Schmitt trigger.

Mechanical Switch Debounce: Choosing Software, RC, or a Schmitt Trigger Read More
Adafruit 10 kΩ 3950 NTC epoxy thermistor
STEM Lab

10 kΩ NTC Thermistor Math: From ADC Code to Temperature

September 30, 2026September 30, 2026 - by TVG Editorial Team - Leave a Comment

Convert a 10 kΩ NTC thermistor ADC code to resistance, then temperature, without reversing the divider or mixing Celsius with kelvin.

10 kΩ NTC Thermistor Math: From ADC Code to Temperature Read More
74HC595 Outputs Glitch at Startup? Hold OE High Before Latching Data
STEM Lab

74HC595 Outputs Glitch at Startup? Hold OE High Before Latching Data

September 29, 2026September 29, 2026 - by TVG Editorial Team - Leave a Comment

Keep 74HC595 outputs disabled through MCU boot, define both clock lines, shift a known byte, latch it, then pull OE low.

74HC595 Outputs Glitch at Startup? Hold OE High Before Latching Data Read More
5 V Buck Converter Drops Under Load? Measure Input Headroom at the Pins
STEM Lab

5 V Buck Converter Drops Under Load? Measure Input Headroom at the Pins

September 29, 2026September 29, 2026 - by TVG Editorial Team - Leave a Comment

A buck converter can regulate at idle and sag under load when cable, battery and switch resistance consume its dropout margin. Measure VIN and VOUT together.

5 V Buck Converter Drops Under Load? Measure Input Headroom at the Pins Read More
Set A4988 Current Limit From VREF, Sense Resistors and Full-Step Current
STEM Lab

Set A4988 Current Limit From VREF, Sense Resistors and Full-Step Current

September 28, 2026September 28, 2026 - by TVG Editorial Team - Leave a Comment

A4988 VREF depends on the carrier’s sense resistors, and a full-step coil-current measurement reads only about 70% of the configured current limit.

Set A4988 Current Limit From VREF, Sense Resistors and Full-Step Current Read More

Posts pagination

Previous 1 2 3 … 12 Next

Latest on X

@TVGReport
TVG Report review-policy graphic explaining supplied products, independent conclusions, and verified results

Wonder whether a supplied review unit changes the verdict? You're right to ask. TVG Report discloses supplied products, keeps conclusions independent, and separates manufacturer claims from verified results. Our review policy: #ProductReviews

Sep 18, 2026 · 10:03 AM PT

View on XRead the review policy
TVG Report infographic over a 3D-printing workbench highlighting first-layer, profile, and fit checks before adjusting and reprinting

You can lose an evening to a drifting first layer, a bad profile, or a part that prints cleanly and still does not fit. TVG Report looks past headline speeds to the checks, tradeoffs, and repair paths makers actually need. #3DPrinting

Sep 17, 2026 · 10:18 AM PT

View on XExplore Maker Culture
DS18B20 debugging infographic showing the 85.0°C power-on value, a three-wire probe, and checks for conversion, CRC, and power

A DS18B20 at exactly 85°C may be power-on data—not heat. Trust it after conversion completes and CRC passes. Our guide maps power mode and w1_therm checks.

Sep 16, 2026 · 3:54 PM PT

View on XRead the DS18B20 guide
Follow TVG Report on X

Latest Posts

Set DRV8871 Current Limit Without Confusing Peak and Continuous Current

Set DRV8871 Current Limit Without Confusing Peak and Continuous Current

October 17, 2026October 17, 2026

Calibrate PCF8523 RTC Drift and Check Backup Failures First

Calibrate PCF8523 RTC Drift and Check Backup Failures First

October 17, 2026October 17, 2026

GitHub License Compliance Goes GA as a Merge-Time Ruleset

GitHub License Compliance Goes GA as a Merge-Time Ruleset

October 17, 2026October 17, 2026

Adafruit LSM6DSOX six-degree-of-freedom inertial sensor breakout

LSM6DSOX FIFO Overruns: Set the Watermark From Your Drain Time

October 16, 2026October 16, 2026

Adafruit MAX31865 RTD PT100 or PT1000 amplifier breakout

MAX31865 RTD Readings Wrong? Check Reference Resistance and Lead Wiring

October 16, 2026October 16, 2026

GitHub code scanning alert with the Assign to Copilot control

GitHub Agentic Autofix Goes GA, but Validation Still Has Boundaries

October 16, 2026October 16, 2026

INA260 Alert Arrives Late? Calculate the Averaging Delay

INA260 Alert Arrives Late? Calculate the Averaging Delay

October 15, 2026October 15, 2026

MCP9808 Alert Pin Chatter? Match Hysteresis to Conversion Time

MCP9808 Alert Pin Chatter? Match Hysteresis to Conversion Time

October 15, 2026October 15, 2026

GitHub Actions Workflow Lockfiles Pin Direct and Transitive Dependencies

GitHub Actions Workflow Lockfiles Pin Direct and Transitive Dependencies

October 15, 2026October 15, 2026

TCS34725 Color Readings Drift? Control Gain, Exposure and Illumination

TCS34725 Color Readings Drift? Control Gain, Exposure and Illumination

October 14, 2026October 14, 2026

Seeed Studio reCamera Pro Review Preview: The Integration Is the Test

Seeed Studio reCamera Pro Review Preview: The Integration Is the Test

October 14, 2026October 14, 2026

DRV2605L Motor Silent? Separate Trigger, Actuator and Calibration Faults

DRV2605L Motor Silent? Separate Trigger, Actuator and Calibration Faults

October 14, 2026October 14, 2026

TVG Report

  • About TVG
  • Press Room / Media Kit
  • Event Coverage
  • Follow @TVGReport on X

Editorial Standards

  • Review Policy
  • Corrections Policy
  • Ethics & Editorial Disclosure

Business & Legal

  • Advertise & Sponsor
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Service
Copyright © 2026 TVG Report.
Powered by WordPress and HitMag.