🧪 Prototyping & Firmware

Breadboards that are set up on my desk right now (circusscientist​.com). Breadboard updates showcase IR, accelerometers, CH32 chips, and microcontroller projects for DIY poi and Arduino experiments

Installing CircuitPython on an ESP32 Reverse Feather TFT (shallowsky​.com). Tutorial on installing CircuitPython on ESP32-S3 Reverse TFT Feather using Linux, Open Installer, bootloader updates, and CP deployment

MicroPython evolves: build in neopixel library (lucstechblog​.blogspot​.com). MicroPython adds built-in neopixel library for ESP8266/ESP32 and Raspberry Pi Pico with legacy options

🏠 Smart Home & Access

Cat Superpower: Opening Doors (robdobson​.com). Cat opens doors with a five-box IoT rig using ESP32, TMC2209, AS5600 feedback, HX711, MQTT, BLE, and a Web UI

Building a custom ESP32 thermostat (svendewaerhert​.com). Battery-powered ESP32 thermostat with e-paper display, deep sleep, Blynk and BLE control, RTC memory state retention, and custom PCB integration

Reminiscing Over Old Projects (sjg​.io). Reminisces about a 2014 door entry system prototyped at rLab, deployed at Wirehive, built with Raspberry Pi, RFID/NFC, and signed payloads

Using gpioset and gpioget to control the gpio pins on a Raspberry Pi with a relay board under Debian Trixie (neilzone​.co​.uk). Debian Trixie on Raspberry Pi: gpioset and gpioget drive a relay board via gpiochip0 for a DIY garage door project

Boiling with Homeassistant (wiredream​.com). Homeassistant-enabled boiler control and a paralleled aquastat bypass using a Nest-free setup with z-wave thermostats and a smart plug

⌨️ Keyboards & Interfaces

Glorious GMMK 3 keyboard repair. (s-config​.com). DIY Glorious GMMK3 repair teardown covers components, misfires, hall-effect switches, padding foam, and a DIY pad repair

Making a Custom Mechanical Numpad (skrasser​.com). Building a 4x6 keypad with media keys using Raspberry Pi Pico, QMK, KiCad, and a plate-mounted PCB design

no-drums 2025 green (gieskes​.nl). No-drums 2025 green presents a simplified green front panel for the no-drums project using compact hardware and basic soldering techniques

A very brief look into OpenSCAD (mwdales-guitars​.uk). Explores OpenSCAD for parametric design, its functional language, limitations like lack of filleting, and practical hobbyist use in guitar-related projects

📐 PCB Design & Debug

FEDEVEL Advanced PCB Layout: Post Lesson 2 notes (insanity4004​.blogspot​.com). Experiments with FEDEVEL Advanced PCB Layout, BGA routing, DDR3 layout, KiCad hints, and lessons from Reece

Hardware & Tools (infosecworrier​.dk). Overview of hardware hacking tools and resources including WHIDBOARD, Bruschetta, OpenOCD, flashrom, JTAGulator, data diodes, and IoT security standards

JTAG (philo​.gay). JTAG project explores hardware debugging with JTAG interfaces, leveraging Python and C, and features Philo and collaborators

💾 Retro Hardware Revival

Reviving an Amiga 600: From Dead Video to a Clean Boot (linuxjedi​.co​.uk). Amiga 600 repair: diagnosing reset circuits, replacing electrolytics, and swapping CXA1145 for CXA1645 to fix video output

Dando uma olhada numas velhas revistas de eletrônica (pakequis​.com​.br). Old electronics magazines explored by a blogger, touching on history of electronics and vintage hardware

Sinclair ZX81 (1981) (oldcomputr​.com). Personal account of repairing a Sinclair ZX81 (1981), membrane issues, ULA replacement, and design awards

📚 Academic Research

Spaceflight KID Readout Electronics for PRIMA (arxiv:astro). NASA and JPL engineers describe a low‑power, FPGA‑based readout system handling 1000+ RF detectors over 2.5 GHz for space telescopes. Makers interested in high‑channel‑count data acquisition, mixed‑signal FPGA design, and low‑power RF front‑ends can mine this for architecture ideas and constraints relevant to advanced DIY instrumentation

👋 Before you go...

I've got a big favor to ask - keeping Blaze running isn't expensive, but it does all add up, so I'm asking readers like you to help, if you can, by joining the Patreon page. Nothing flashy, just a way for folks who find value in these newsletters to chip in a little each month.

If you are getting value from blaze, checking this out would mean the absolute world. But if you can't contribute, no worries - the newsletters keep coming either way. Thanks for reading and being part of this nerdy corner of the internet. All the best for the coming week - Alastair.