SparkFun Electronics, Inc.

05/27/2026

Why Your USB Serial Data Looks Like Garbage (And How to Fix It)

When you’re wiring together fast embedded systems (like an ESP32 feeding data into a Teensy 4.1) it’s easy to assume USB will “just work.” After all, USB is fast. Way faster than UART, right?

That assumption is exactly what led to a subtle (and very common) bug: perfectly timed data turning into unreadable garbage.

Read our blog to learn more and find out how to fix this common mistake!

https://hubs.ly/Q04j4Gtd0

05/19/2026

We are inspired by the students and educators that participated in the first-ever Ag Tech Robotics Challenge at College of Eastern Idaho! Using the AgXRP, robotics, sensors, and automation, to work through real-world agriculture challenges prepares students for the evolving landscape in precision ag.

This event got some great coverage on local news outlets!

https://hubs.ly/Q04hcnY80

https://hubs.ly/Q04hcD4f0

College of Eastern Idaho University of Idaho Experiential Robotics East Idaho News Cornell Engineering

The College of Eastern Idaho hosted its first Ag Tech Robotics Challenge, bringing together high school students from Hansen, Aberdeen, and Driggs to compete in a hands-on competition focused on agriculture technology, coding, and problem-solving.

05/19/2026

Ooh! What Does This Button Do?

When you need a dependable, easy-to-hit input for your control panel, these 16mm Mushroom Head Pushbuttons, available in both red and green, can provide just what you need. Designed for high visibility interfaces and industrial setups, the oversized metal actuators deliver a satisfying tactile response. Each operates as a momentary switch, meaning the circuit stays closed only as long as you keep the button pressed, making it perfect for temporary activation circuits, reset functions, or machine controls.

We've also dropped the price on some popular concave arcade buttons! Check it out!
https://hubs.ly/Q04h8fHC0

05/12/2026

Teensy often serves as the "brain" of complex projects because of its tiny footprint and massive processing power. Inevitably, these projects require enclosures, mounting solutions, robotics parts, or other parts that can be 3D printed.

Turns out Teensy users have created an extensive collection of printable designs around Teensy boards. Take a look at these designs on our blog!

https://hubs.ly/Q04gj9lT0

05/08/2026

Introducing SparkPNT's newest precision timing device: the GNSSDO+

Featuring the mosaic-T from Septentrio part of Hexagon and the STP3593LF Double-Oven OCXO from Rakon , this disciplined oscillator provides ultra-precise timing output, enhanced frequency stability, and allows the reception of timing correction service Fugro AtomiChron® for accuracy better than 1ns.

Learn more: https://hubs.ly/Q04f_r--0

05/07/2026

Build Something Awesome: The WPI XRP Medal Challenge Is Here!

What else could the XRP robot become? That’s the question behind the WPI XRP Medal Challenge—and we would love to see how you answer it. Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI), in collaboration with SparkFun, DigiKey, Raspberry Pi, 3D Printing Nerd, and Experiential Robotics, is inviting builders of all kinds—educators, students, robotics teams and innovators—to push the limits of the Experiential Robotics Platform (XRP).

Learn more on the contest page at https://bit.ly/3QSh6TK

05/06/2026

How far can you push RTK corrections using LoRa? In our new video, we test a long-range base and rover setup using the SparkPNT Facet with a built-in 915MHz, 1W LoRa radio, achieving reliable RTK accuracy over 9 miles of line-of-sight distance!

Learn about all of our PNT products here: https://www.sparkfun.com/pntHow far can you push RTK corrections using LoRa? In this video, we test a long-range ba...

05/01/2026

No 3D printer no problem!

We now carry the the U-Frame and Single Pump Enclosure for the AgXRP, which is perfect for those of you who need replacement parts but don't have access to a 3D printer.

https://bit.ly/4cXD5Qf

04/30/2026

Last week, we released the Beta for the AgXRP Starter Kit, an open-source, autonomous robotics platform, that can turn your desk into a smart farm, an expansion pack for the AgXRP to monitor and maintain multiple planting zones, as well as DIY versions of these two kits that allow you to 3D print your own parts thus reducing the cost and barrier to entry.

Today, we released a series of new videos that will help you understand everything you need to know about AgXRP!

Watch them all on our blog ⬇️
https://hubs.ly/Q04f2j2z0

04/29/2026

We wanted to see if it was possible to replace a hub using LEGO® SPIKE components with hobby electronics… and it turns out... it is!

Today, we are showcasing a fun project demonstrating how easy it is to modify LEGO® components equipped with Powered Up connection interfaces! To illustrate this, we built a custom robot combining LEGO® SPIKE platform hardware with off-the-shelf hobby electronics, MicroPython programming, and 3D-printed parts. This build proves you can significantly expand the capabilities of your robotic creations using LEGO® parts beyond standard configurations. Expand your designs by adding custom sensors and displays, creating your own breadboard circuits, or integrating 3D-printed mechanisms!

https://hubs.ly/Q04dXllq0