Electronics 18-11-2025
open-source laptops, retro computing repairs, Raspberry Pi hacks, microcontroller marvels
✨ Creative Builds & Experiments
Building an Open-Source Laptop with Byran Huang (softwareengineeringdaily.com). Open-source laptop 'anyon_e' by Byran Huang explored, detailing hardware, software, and design across a full-stack development lens
Interim Stories PTF 4: “Zero Power Indicator: Designing Technology That Rests” (prototypefund.opendata.ch). Zero Power Indicator explores energy-efficient, open hardware indicators, with GaudiLabs' Miranda and Urs comparing approaches and documenting fabrication
Led filament, a first look (lucstechblog.blogspot.com). Explores rigid LED filament strips (3V/12V variants) driven via transistor switches and MicroPython on Raspberry Pi Pico with PWM dimming
Unicode Binary Input Terminal (iamcal.com). Rack-mounted keyboard device inputs any Unicode codepoint via toggle switches with visual preview, including emoji, by Cal Henderson
🕰️ Retro Computing
Why Recapping Isn’t Always the Cure: And Amiga 1200 Repair Story (linuxjedi.co.uk). Amiga 1200 repair story shows that recapping isn’t a cure; diagnostics, SMD cap orientation, Paula data lines, and RAM fault patching are key
Computers that I never had: the Acorn A3020 (celso.io). Restoration of an Acorn Archimedes A3020: battery leak fixes, RAM upgrade, HDD via Raspberry Pi, Gotek with FlashFloppy, and RISC OS 3.1 on a 2MB–4MB system
More Atari 2600 Video Mods (wolfgang-ziegler.com). Retro console repairs and a composite video mod for the Atari 2600, implemented via PCBWay PCBs and direct header integration
The OTHER Old School Gaming, Part 2 (theotherside.timsbrannan.com). Kitbash project: TRS-80 Model III case, Raspberry Pi 4-based DOS DOSbox setup, 5'' monitor, 3D-printed adapters, and a custom cooling solution
More work on retriggering issue with 1130MRAM (rescue1130.blogspot.com). Low‑pass filtering and ground-bounce fixes for 1130MRAM retriggering issues on an IBM 1130, with RC filters, open-collector parity bits, and simple bodge wiring
📡 IoT, Networking & Edge
Aqara FP300: The Ultimate Presence Sensor (Home Assistant Edition) (derekseaman.com). Aqara FP300 presence sensor review with Zigbee/Thread, Home Assistant setup, and battery-powered multifaceted sensing
Dredger-IoT: Ruby at the Edge – Open Source Industrial Telemetry (dominickm.com). Dredger-IoT offers a lightweight Ruby edge framework for reading, logging, and transmitting industrial or environmental data on SBCs like Raspberry Pi and BeagleBone
My Home (VPN) Network Setup (a14m.dev). A Raspberry Pi gateway runs Pi-Hole DNS, WireGuard VPN, and Ansible automation to route home devices through VPN or direct modes
Inherently Programmable Pi (ben.akrin.com). IPPs: a Python-for-GPIO web editor on a Pi with Zerotier access, auto-imaging, and local wifi fallback for teaching robotics
GPS PPS Separation (bruceediger.com). GPS PPS separation using two Raspberry Pi setups with GPS receivers (u-blox NEO-M8T and GT-U7), oscilloscope measurements, and PPS edge analysis
🖥️ SBC & GPU Hacks
All Intel GPUs run on Raspberry Pi and RISC-V (jeffgeerling.com). Intel Arc GPUs on Raspberry Pi and RISC-V with PCIe, firmware updates, and performance notes for Pi OS Trixie and eGPU setups
Using AMD GPUs on Raspberry Pi without recompiling Linux (jeffgeerling.com). Using AMD GPUs on Raspberry Pi with a patch-enabled Pi OS to run PCIe GPUs on Pi 5, CM5, or Pi 500+ via rpi-update and firmware packages
Discover GamerCard for handheld gaming and coding (news.sean.co.uk). GamerCard handheld device based on Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W enables gaming and coding with Qwiic GPIO access for education and reuse
Connecting to Your NVIDIA Jetson AGX Thor via Type C cable on macOS (ajeetraina.com). USB Type-C charging cable enables serial console access to NVIDIA Jetson AGX Thor from macOS for a headless demo
🎛️ Microcontrollers & Synths
Table tennis scoreboard (willempennings.nl). ESP32-based table tennis scoreboard with WS2813 LEDs, lasercut acrylic UI, and an HTTP web server for wireless score updates
Embedded Ludo (diy.viktak.com). Open-source ESP32-S3 powered Ludo board with 7 addressable LEDs, six modular PCBs, 3D-printed enclosure, and MQTT-enabled web controls
Upgrading the LM358 OpAmp to be RRIO with a NE555 (blog.pwkf.org). RRIO op-amp concept using a NE555 charge pump to power LM358 from a single supply, with simulations and breadboard tests
Arduino Alvik Maze Navigation - From Wall Following to SLAM (kevsrobots.com). Navigate an Arduino Alvik through a maze from wall following to ROS2 SLAM using Python, ROS2, and SLAM Toolbox
Embedded Rust Workshop: Reflections from Hackaday Supercon (shawnhymel.com). Intro to Embedded Rust workshop at Hackaday Supercon explores Rust on hardware via Raspberry Pi Pico 2, I2C, and Docker with hands-on projects
Raspberry Pi Pico Polyphonic DCO (polykit.rocks). Raspberry Pi Pico-based six-voice DCO uses RP2040 timing with Pico PWM amplitude control and Juno-106-inspired analog waveform generator for saw and pulse waves
M5Stack U187 MIDI in the house (sandsoftwaresound.net). Tiny M5Stack U187 MIDI unit explored with U125 buck converter, 4-pin JST wiring, and DIY signal routing for MIDI IN/OUT using blue JST ports
🛠️ Maker Fabrication
My Experience Using PCBWay for Sponsored Prototyping (mikecoats.com). Sponsored prototyping with PCBWay: UV printing, KiCad workflow, and hands-on assembly of AT42QT2120 Touchy Subject boards
Vault (figbert.com). Reimagines a 19th-century spiral feed as a vault door locking mechanism using 3D-printed spirals, laser-cut acrylic, magnets, and mixed fabrication
Building a Hand-wired Cosmos Dactyl Split Keyboard (julianyap.com). Hand-wiring a Cosmos Dactyl Split Keyboard with Pro Micro, VIA, and custom 3-thumb cluster layout
The Mega Tree | Christmas 2025 Part 3 (thestockpot.net). Mega Tree upgrade: DIY RGB pixel tree using 40 strings, 7,000 pixels, LightShowHub calculator, PVC base, and PCB wiring tutorials
How to use toner transfer to put graphics on basically anything (peterzimon.com). Toner transfer to apply simple, laser-printed graphics onto DIY synthesizer enclosures and other surfaces
🔬 Teardowns & Electronics Deep Dives
Seagate External Drive Teardown (blog.lewman.com). Tearing down a failing 4TB Seagate external drive reveals two 2TB Samsung spins and a custom RAID-0-like SATA board, with SMART tests and JTAG curiosity
MicroZed Chronicles: You Really Should Use a MicroBlaze V (adiuvoengineering.com). Using a MicroBlaze V soft-core to simplify and control complex I2C, SPI, GPIO interfaces in FPGA designs
A Gentle Power Off for ZEReader: Replacing the Hard Switch with a Latching Power Circuit (marx.engineer). Replaces a hard power switch with a self-holding latching circuit using MOSFETs, enabling graceful shutdowns for ZEReader and software-defined power control
Electronic Lighting Transformers (river.cat). Explores electronic lighting transformers using a JC403, with oscilloscope and current transformers to analyze high-frequency output and dimming effects
Train Simulator Controller: TPWS Control Panel (z80.me). Replicates a UK TPWS control panel for train simulators using 12V LEDs, CAN bus, and custom fabricated hardware
Thoughts on TT track (unnycoombelala.blogspot.com). Thoughts on TT track: hands-on notes on TT120 track, DCC design, isolation, and modelling with PECO