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The Arduino's analogue pins represent one of the platform's most useful features: the ability to read a variable voltage from everything from photo-sensitive resistors to temperature probes, contrasted with the two-state on-off digital pins. Sadly, they're limited in number: the most commonly-used model, the Arduino Uno, has just six analogue pins, and even the impressively beefy Arduino Mega tops out at 16. If you're finding that limiting, the answer is a multiplexor - and maker Paul Brown has made using one particularly cheap model as easy as possible. The MC14051B multiplexor is available in breadboard-friendly through-hole format and adds eight additional...

We've written a few times about the maker movement's shift into the mainstream consciousness, and this really demonstrates how far things have come: the BBC is looking for inventors, makers, and engineers for a new TV series dubbed Britain's Most Spectacular Backyard Builds - and you've got a month to apply. "We're going to feature a variety of stories, from existing builds through to brand new builds. In particular, we're searching for ambitious, passionate and imaginative backyard builders who would like to create something as part of the show. We will give them a 10 week build schedule and document their...

When making your own printed circuit boards, there's a definite learning curve. A simple single-layer board can be built quickly and easily through a variety of methods, ranging from chemical etching to computer numeric control (CNC) milling; dual-layer boards become more involved thanks to the need to line things up accurately and to drill 'vias' which connect traces on both sides. The drilling is only part of the problem, too: once drilled, each via must be filled with a conductive material - typically for the hobbyist solder, which can introduce issues with bubbling and poor connectivity - in order to...

As November draws to a close, it's time to think about Christmas - now just over a month away. We're certainly getting ourselves into the Christmas spirit here at oomlout, and while rumours of early-morning eggnog are entirely unfounded that doesn't mean we aren't getting ourselves organised for some serious festivities - but that doesn't mean we're slacking off. If you're thinking about buying the maker in your life a little oomlout-themed gift for Christmas, we'd advise against leaving it to the last minute. As always, we despatch in-stock items within 24 hours during the working week - but our...

Uber, and similar technology-driven private-hire firms, is taking the world by storm. While a lot of its business practices are questionable at best, there's no denying that its basic central premise - bringing taxi hiring firmly into the 21st century using smartphone apps, GPS, and a user-accessible application programming interface (API) - is neat - especially when it leads to the creation of a surprisingly simple "take me home, James" button. Designed and built by Moustafa Nasr and published to Instructables, the Uber Button does exactly what you would expect: push the button and an Uber vehicle is despatched to...