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/guides · Research Library

Every guide. Primary sources.

Written from datasheets, reference designs, FCC filings, and field notes from TruSentry installs. Not rewrites of press releases. Not summaries of other people’s reviews. When we say a camera sensor runs 12-bit ADC, we pulled that from the sensor TRM. When we say a mounting bracket fails in high wind, that’s from a real install. No manufacturer pays to influence our analysis.

AI & Computing

Digital Signal Processor: 2026 Specs and Tradeoffs

Digital signal processor breakdown for 2026: single-cycle MAC throughput, one per clock tick, with cost data and setup tradeoffs from field tests.

9 min readRead →
Best RTOS 2026: Certification and OTA Architecture
Embedded Systems

Best RTOS 2026: Certification and OTA Architecture

The best RTOS 2026 selection hinges on certification evidence and OTA architecture for 10-15 year DSP success in security cameras and solar inverters.

6 min readRead →
NVR Security Systems Explained: PoE Cameras, Storage, and Se
Security Cameras

NVR Security Systems Explained: PoE Cameras, Storage, and Se

NVR Security Systems Explained: PoE Cameras, Storage, and Setup. Explore PoE power (802.3af/at/bt), storage needs, and local setup without subscriptions.

Apr 3, 2026 · ✓ Updated Apr 3, 20268 min readRead →
FFT: 2026 Specs, Costs, and Tradeoffs
DSP & Signal Processing

FFT: 2026 Specs, Costs, and Tradeoffs

FFT in 2026 gets clear fast. See why O(N log N) replaced O(N squared), with the 2048 point run that finished in 0.02 minutes.

11 min readRead →
Embedded Systems

QNX OS: BlackBerry's Microkernel in 275M+ Vehicles

10 min readRead →
Embedded Systems

What is an RTOS? Real-Time Operating Systems Explained

10 min readRead →
Embedded Systems

FreeRTOS Complete Guide: Kernel, Licensing, Architecture Support

10 min readRead →
Best Coding Podcasts in 2026
Software

Best Coding Podcasts in 2026

Best coding podcasts rank sixth among developer resources in 2026. Docs at 67.8%, search 58.7%, Stack Overflow 51.4%, video 50%, AI codegen tools next. Shows

16 min readRead →
Automation

Rate Monotonic Scheduling: Liu & Layland's 1973 Classic

10 min readRead →
Embedded Systems

Zephyr Project: The Linux Foundation's Vendor-Neutral RTOS

10 min readRead →
From Microcontrollers to Smart Thermostats: The Tech Inside
Embedded Systems

From Microcontrollers to Smart Thermostats: The Tech Inside

From Microcontrollers to Smart Thermostats: The Tech Inside Your HVAC. Explore how Cortex-M4 and ESP32 enable PID control in smart HVAC systems over FPGAs.

Apr 1, 2026 · ✓ Updated Apr 1, 20267 min readRead →
How AI Chips Evolved from Basic DSP Processors 2026
DSP & Signal Processing

How AI Chips Evolved from Basic DSP Processors 2026

How AI Chips Evolved From Basic DSP Processors in 2026, with 2026 source-backed architecture shifts, measured throughput, power tradeoffs, and price

Mar 31, 2026 · ✓ Updated Mar 31, 202612 min readRead →
Security Camera Local Storage: No Cloud, No Subscription, No
Security Cameras

Security Camera Local Storage: No Cloud, No Subscription, No

Security Camera Local Storage: No Cloud, No Subscription, No Problem. Keep recording during internet outages with local NVR storage, no subscriptions needed.

Apr 9, 2026 · ✓ Updated Apr 9, 20268 min readRead →
DSP & Signal Processing

Digital Signal Processing in 2026

Learn how digital signal processing works in broad terms, with 2026 context and bench-level examples from camera, audio, and sensor pipelines.

14 min readRead →
Audio DSP in 2026, CPU Limits and Timing Tradeoffs
DSP & Signal Processing

Audio DSP in 2026, CPU Limits and Timing Tradeoffs

Audio DSP in 2026 explains why 1 sample deadline math favors MAC-heavy cores over CPUs, with timing, power, and scheduler tradeoffs that change design

9 min readRead →
DSP & Signal Processing

FIR Filter: 2026 Specs and Tradeoffs

Understand FIR filter operation in 2026. We detail tap counts, coefficient loading, and the 256-value touch per sample, contrasting with IIR. Field

14 min readRead →
What is a Microcontroller: Architecture, Specs, and How to Pick One in 2026
Embedded Systems

What is a Microcontroller: Architecture, Specs, and How to Pick One in 2026

What is a microcontroller? A chip with CPU, flash, SRAM, and peripherals in one package. Covers Cortex-M tiers, real boards, interfaces, and how to choose.

Apr 29, 2026 · ✓ Updated Apr 29, 20269 min readRead →
Best Doorbell Camera 2026: Engineering Behind the Top Picks
Security Cameras

Best Doorbell Camera 2026: Engineering Behind the Top Picks

Best Doorbell Camera 2026: Engineering Behind the Top Picks explores H.265 bandwidth savings and local processing in Ring, Eufy and Nest for stable 4K video.

Mar 29, 2026 · ✓ Updated Mar 29, 20267 min readRead →
Embedded Systems

STM32 vs ESP32 vs RP2040: 2026 Decision Tree

STM32 vs ESP32 vs RP2040: 2026 Decision Tree. Find out which one fits your specific use case.

May 23, 2026 · ✓ Updated May 23, 20268 min readRead →
RTOS

Priority Inversion: The Bug That Froze Mars Pathfinder

10 min readRead →
Nyquist Theorem: 2026 Specs, Limits, and Aliasing
DSP & Signal Processing

Nyquist Theorem: 2026 Specs, Limits, and Aliasing

Nyquist theorem in 2026, with the 1949 source, aliasing limits, and what the math actually guarantees when you sample an analog signal.

10 min readRead →
Matter vs Zigbee vs Z-Wave: Which Smart Home Mesh Actually Fits Your House
Smart Home

Matter vs Zigbee vs Z-Wave: Which Smart Home Mesh Actually Fits Your House

Matter, Zigbee, and Z-Wave solve the same mesh problem with different frequency bets. Which one fits depends on your walls and your gear, not a winner.

Jun 12, 2026 · ✓ Updated Jun 12, 20266 min readRead →
Embedded Systems

Soldering Iron Buyer’s Guide 2026: From $25 Pinecil to $$$ JBC

Soldering Iron Buyer’s Guide 2026: From $25 Pinecil to $$$ JBC. Find out which iron is the right one for your needs and budget

May 16, 2026 · ✓ Updated May 16, 20269 min readRead →
Embedded Systems

RTOS vs Linux: When to Use Each (with Benchmarks)

10 min readRead →
DSP & Signal Processing

IIR Filter: 2026 Specs, Stability, and Tradeoffs

IIR filter behavior in 2026 starts with feedback. See why fewer coefficients can get steeper rolloff, and how 1 bad pole placement can destabilize it.

8 min readRead →
FPGA vs Microcontroller: Which Runs Your Smart Home Hub
Embedded Systems

FPGA vs Microcontroller: Which Runs Your Smart Home Hub

FPGA vs Microcontroller: Which Runs Your Smart Home Hub. Microcontrollers suit the I/O-bound protocol translation across radios in smart home hubs unlike FPGAs.

Mar 27, 2026 · ✓ Updated Mar 27, 20266 min readRead →
Digital Filter Design: Balancing Performance and Constraints
DSP & Signal Processing

Digital Filter Design: Balancing Performance and Constraints

Digital filter design balances stopband attenuation, phase response, load and stability against hardware constraints. The DSP signal chain maps to FIR, IIR and

Apr 7, 2026 · ✓ Updated Apr 7, 20269 min readRead →
AI Chatbot Development Services Cost $5K-$200K
AI & Computing

AI Chatbot Development Services Cost $5K-$200K

AI chatbot development services cost $5K-$200K in 2026. Basic bots run prompts on one LLM. High-end handle RAG, routing, logs, integrations across providers.

7 min readRead →
How the Inkless Printer Signal Chain Works
Hardware

How the Inkless Printer Signal Chain Works

The inkless printer takes Bluetooth data from your phone. The MCU decompresses it and calculates PWM pulses for the thermal head to avoid banding.

7 min readRead →
How DSP Powers Every Smart Home Device You Own
DSP & Signal Processing

How DSP Powers Every Smart Home Device You Own

How DSP Powers Every Smart Home Device You Own. DSP in MCUs samples analog signals via ADCs and runs real-time math to issue commands to motors and switches.

Mar 25, 2026 · ✓ Updated Mar 25, 20268 min readRead →
The Engineering Behind Solar Inverters: How Signal Processin
Solar & Energy

The Engineering Behind Solar Inverters: How Signal Processin

The Engineering Behind Solar Inverters: How Signal Processing Maximizes Output. Signal processing uses MPPT to maximize solar output and ensure grid sync.

Mar 24, 2026 · ✓ Updated Mar 24, 20268 min readRead →
2026 Raspberry Pi Home Automation: A Practical Setup Guide
Smart Home

2026 Raspberry Pi Home Automation: A Practical Setup Guide

Raspberry Pi Home Automation: A Practical Setup Guide. Pi 5 with Home Assistant OS beats Pi 4 for speed, I/O and reliability in 24/7 homes with 50+ devices.

Apr 9, 2026 · ✓ Updated Apr 9, 20268 min readRead →
Home Networking

What is a VLAN, and When Do You Actually Need One?

What is a VLAN? It splits one switch into separate logical networks with IEEE 802.1Q tags. Here is how tagging, trunk ports, and segmentation actually work, and when you need them.

Jun 17, 2026 · ✓ Updated Jun 17, 20268 min readRead →
PoE Security Cameras: Why Power Over Ethernet Changes Everyt
Home Networking

PoE Security Cameras: Why Power Over Ethernet Changes Everyt

PoE Security Cameras: Why Power Over Ethernet Changes Everything. It removes the need for separate power outlets and cuts installation complexity.

Mar 22, 2026 · ✓ Updated Mar 22, 20269 min readRead →
Home Networking

PoE vs PoE+ vs PoE++: How Much Power Each Standard Delivers

PoE delivers 15.4 W, PoE+ 30 W, and PoE++ up to about 90 W at the switch. Here is what each IEEE standard gives a device and which tier your cameras and access points need.

Jun 17, 2026 · ✓ Updated Jun 17, 20269 min readRead →
Home Networking

Cat6 vs Cat6a: When the Upgrade is Worth It

Cat6 runs 10 Gbps to about 55 m; Cat6a holds it to the full 100 m at 500 MHz. Here is when the thicker, pricier Cat6a is worth pulling and when Cat6 is plenty.

Jun 17, 2026 · ✓ Updated Jun 17, 20269 min readRead →
Embedded Systems

I2C vs SPI: Which Serial Bus to Use, and Why

I2C uses two shared wires and device addresses; SPI uses four wires and is far faster and full-duplex. Here is which serial bus to pick for sensors, displays, and memory.

Jun 17, 2026 · ✓ Updated Jun 17, 20269 min readRead →