This blog focuses on electronic engineering, including hardware and software design, as well as other related topics. Before delving further into these subjects, allow me to introduce myself. My name is André aan 't Goor, and I have recently retired after working for over 40 years in the design of technical information systems and embedded hardware and software for law enforcement and crime-fighting purposes. In addition to my professional work, I am an A-licensed radio amateur (PA3AJR) and a shortwave enthusiast who has explored digital transmission technologies such as RTTY, Amtor, Packed Radio, WSJT, and FT8. However, my interests extend beyond technology. I am an avid fan of progressive pop music, particularly YES!, indie, and classical music. I have dabbled in making music myself, but I quickly realized that my true passion lies in collecting guitars and experimenting with soft synths, MIDI, and other related technologies.
I decided to pursue a career in electronics while in primary school. At the time, radio tubes were giving way to transistors, followed by a series of other semiconductors and basic logic circuits. My primary interest was in RF electronics, particularly transmitters and receivers. However, in the mid-1970s, my focus shifted increasingly toward digital electronics and embedded systems, including the 6502, Z80, MCS48/51, RISC processors from Microchip and Atmel, and now ARM processors, particularly the STM32 series. In terms of programming languages, I have worked with Assembly, Pascal, PLM, C, C++, Java, and C# for web-based applications.
In my work on enforcement and investigation, I have been primarily involved in research and development on satellite positioning (CLS ARGOS, GPS), miniature embedded systems for storage and communication, license plate readers (ANPR and its predecessor CatchKen), and GIS, AIS (location-based systems such as Aquatrack) in the inland shipping and maritime sectors. While my professional career increasingly involved managing R&D departments and addressing policy aspects related to technology, legislation, and criminal investigation, my love for technology has always remained.
On this site, you can also find various designs for Domotics and IoT, often based on SOCs from Espressif Systems (ESP8266, ESP32), RF modules from HopeRF (RFM69), and EZRadioPRO chips from Silicon Labs. I also plan to add Zigbee and zWave initiatives. My goal is to help others by providing schematics, PCB artwork/Gerbers, and source code, as well as answering questions and directing fellow hobbyists to my own sources. I typically have my printed circuit boards manufactured in China, where I collect a number of designs to save on shipping costs. Due to minimal orders, I often have extra components that I can offer to help others. Feel free to contact
Finally, it's worth noting that this site is not commercially motivated, and I don't profit from it in any way.