Most everyone's got one and it may (or may not) surprise you to know that about 30% of the readers of this newsletter look at it on a phone or other mobile device.

What other role does your smartphone play in your electronics hobby? Is it a virtual test device? Do you run any apps that assist in design, check datasheets, take notes or pictures to document a project? Maybe it plays music to solder by?

Here are a couple of fun and entertaining devices to build, to astound and confound your engineering pals this April Fool's Day.

Even the lowest grade frequency counters are often the most accurate instruments on the bench. Here, we'll describe their general principles of operation, construction and retrofitting into existing equipment, all the way to a full blown universal counter. 

If you spend a considerable amount of time assembling and soldering PCBs, then you're gonna love this "third hand." Even without all the bells and whistles, having a proper PCB assembly jig goes a long way toward making electronics a more enjoyable hobby.