Windows 7 STOP 0x7B VMWare resolution

Wanting to get rid of old hardware, I attempted to convert a Windows 7 x64 computer to a VMWare image. VMWare's P2V software would not convert my machine due to a GPT partition table. I manually converted my machine by doing the following after the break

Building the SoftRock SDR

This is covers the build and initial testing of my SoftRock SDR Ensemble RX 2. It is an extremely flexible low cost software defined radio. The purpose of buying and building this kit it to better understand the DSP involved in audio and radio applications.

There are tons of free SDR applications, but I'd like to write my own. It isn't my goal to write and distribute a professional SDR application, but to learn the DSP involved in software defined radio.

I absolutely want to implement single side band and AM. These modulations seem easy, and would allow me to listen to 'interesting' ham chatter.
Other than snooping on conspiracy theory chat, I really want to receive the WWV time broadcasts. There are a couple WWV transmitters in the frequencies that I can access, and the timecode modulation seems accessible.

PCBs at home with Acidic Copper(II) Chloride

What could possibly go wrong?!

It would be really cool to have my projects on PCBs instead of gigantic messes on my breadboard. The problem is at $99 a board getting them manufactured (in the US) is stupidly expensive. Making them at home looks reasonably cheap. I'd like to be able to do as small as 0603 parts at home, so lets see!

Quick update on LED display

A quick follow up on my last post about the LED message marquee. I've got it working!

Porting MinSoc to the Nexys2, part 2

So in my last post I expressed some frustration in porting the MinSoc to my board. Here I will resolve the issues I mentioned.

Porting MinSoc OpenRISC SoC to the Nexys2

I recently discovered the "MinSoc" project on OpenCores. Its boasts some really impressive features; A fully open source SoC with jtag hardware debugging, wishbone compliant bus, full simulation capabilities, full software toolchains, and a strong community behind it. The default distribution ships with support for a board very similar to mine, so how hard could it be?

LED Message Marquee

I came into possession of an LED message marquee in a state of disassembly. I have two of the modules pictured to the right. I have no idea how they work. In this post I'm going to figure it out!