Electronics 29-10-2025
building a retro Macintosh, perfecting your custom keyboard, Raspberry Pi projects
🖥️ Retro Computing
I’d like to present to you: The newest 2025 model year Macintosh IIci (lowendmac.com). Dan Schnur builds a 2025 Macintosh IIci with a brand-new purple logic board, ROM replacement, recapped power supply, Noctua fan, Ethernet card update, and test-driven debugging
Circuit Diagram Poster, KIM Hints, First Book of KIM (retro.hansotten.nl). Circuit diagrams poster and KIM hints, First Book of KIM; scans, versions, and related KIM-1 documentation and resources
6530 replacement board (retro.hansotten.nl). Compact 6530 replacement adapter for KIM-1, inspired by Corsham, using SMD parts with 6532 stacked atop
Reparing a Psion 5mx handheld computer from 1999 (pointinthecloud.com). Repairing a Psion 5mx: hinge repair, casing, CF card, battery, and 3D-printed ideas for a Psion-based cyberdeck
PC6502 Progress (maddox.pro). PC6502 progress: 14–17MHz 6502 timing fix, CPLD FT245 port, new PCBs, Apple II slot tests, allophone/FM demo, upcoming keyboard, CF card I/O, and Feersom VideoBeast integration
⌨️ Keyboards & Interfaces
96% keyboard layouts (rubenerd.com). Explores compact 96% keyboard layouts and a 96% Epomaker RT100 example for adding a numpad to smaller keyboards
franken keyboard (jmtd.net). FrankenKeyboard combines an 8bitdo retro mechanical keyboard with a DIY Shura kit, swapping Kailh Box White v2 switches and repurposing keycaps for Copy/Paste macros
A synth project (maddox.pro). Old XVA1/XFM2 UI project with 480272 TFT touch screen, OLEDs, encoders, CMOD-A7 FPGA, Adafruit DAC, and USB-C power
📡 Pi & Edge Projects
Sfera Baltic boat gets another Raspberry Pi-based makeover (raspberrypi.com). Sfera Baltic gains Raspberry Pi 5 and Compute Module 5 in a dual Strato Pi system upgrade for full IPMS automation
Comment on Stealth Macintosh Portable Case Mod by paulrickards (biosrhythm.com). Stealth Macintosh Portable case mod using Raspberry Pi 5, LCD from iPad 2, USB floppy drive, KMK keyboard, and Mini VMac on a Pi
SignalK Remote Alerting with Pushover and a Local Beeper (signalk.org). Using Pushover for remote SignalK alerts across Android and iOS, plus a loud local 12/24V beeper driven by a Raspberry Pi
[posts]: Setting up my clockworkpi uConsole (bacardi55.io). Debian Trixie on a ClockworkPi uConsole with i3wm, CLI/TUI apps, encryption, overclocking, and remote access setup
How to web enable a Silver-Reed/Knitmaster SK580 knitting machine using a Raspberry Pi Pico (pointinthecloud.com). Web-enabling a Silver-Reed SK580 knitting machine with Raspberry Pi Pico to upload images for automated knitting via a Micropython-based web interface
🔩 Small Electronics
C64 Tape Pulse Visualizer (lyonsden.net). C64 Tape Pulse Visualizer uses an Arduino Nano to visualize tape signal azimuth adjustments for Commodore Datasette with LED bar graphs
Tiny Continuity Tester (technoblogy.com). ATtiny202-based continuity tester uses analog comparator, bridged piezo, sleep mode, 50Ω threshold, and auto power-off for long battery life
Red Light Mask Redux: CurrentBody 2 and Shark CryoGlow Teardown (beckystern.com). Teardowns of CurrentBody Series 2 and Shark Cryoglow reveal internal LEDs, flex PCBs, cooling pads, controllers, and CT scans
Arduino Mini Amplifier (jayakody2000lk.blogspot.com). Compact Arduino Nano-based amplifier with TDA8425, Bluetooth AC6939, YDA138, 16-channel spectrum analyzer, and KiCad PCB designed for hand-soldering
Ghost Detector 3 (deejaygraham.github.io). Micro:bit ghost detector stores logged ghosts over time, uses internal file system, temperature sensing, and shake reset with a fading ghost image
MissChanger Docking Woes – Solved! (fpaynter.com). MissChanger docking issues solved by adding a foot post and ledge to prevent rotation during undock
🧰 Tools, Systems & Essays
Writing a RISC-V Emulator in Rust (book.rvemu.app). Rust-based 64-bit RISC-V emulator aims to run xv6, covering ISA, privileged architecture, exceptions, interrupts, peripherals, and virtual memory
Is the Arduino Uno Q Open Source Hardware? (michaelweinberg.org). Arduino Uno Q open source status analyzed via OSHWA standards, CC BY-SA 4.0 files, and Qualcomm processor licensing implications
Arduino App Lab: The Definitive Guide for Developers, Educators, and Makers (ikkaro.net). Arduino App Lab unifies microcontroller and Linux workflows, Edge AI, cloud sync, UNO Q, and educator kits in a single IDE
New video on the “Global Nerdy” YouTube channel: “How computers work ‘under the hood’” (globalnerdy.com). Learn how CPUs, transistors, 6502 processor, and assembly language illuminate computer hardware 'under the hood'
Assembling a Raspberry Pi Case Made Out of Paper (adamsdesk.com). Print and assemble an inexpensive paper Raspberry Pi case, modify cutouts, glue in corners, with GPIO access and ventilation considerations
New Country for Old Men (blog.mycal.net). Older engineers reunite with hands-on tinkering, AI tools, and retro tech to fuse experience with modern modeling and exploration
A Rendezvous with Traefik (tawandamunongo.dev). Adding Traefik as a Docker-integrated reverse proxy to simplify local domains like plex.local and dashboard.local
My Roof is Rusting (due to the Ham Antenna Mount) (adventuretaco.com). Rust mitigation for an NMO ham antenna mount on a Tacoma roof; rust removal, repaint, and switching from Diamond to STI-CO antenna to prevent future damage
🤖 Embedded Deep Dives
Brain Surgery (atomic14.com). DIY brain surgery on a Halloween toy using CH32V003, buzzer, and a lithium cell to power a modified LED-driven head
HPR4497: fixing 328eforth (hackerpublicradio.org). Arduino 328eforth setup: building, flashing with avrdude, and saving words across reboots
Front-Panel Booting an ATmega88 Microcontroller (linusakesson.net). Front-panel booting of an ATmega88 using a hand-built interface to load and run a tiny program
Debugging Embedded Graphics with Wokwi and AI: Solving a Raylib Color Mapping on ESP32 (developer.espressif.com). Wokwi simulation and Warp AI-driven debugging identify and fix RGB565_COLOR mapping when porting Raylib to ESP32, enabling automated visual testing
Artificial Brain Controlled Robot (gsnetwork.com). Instructions and wiring for an ESP32-based wireless artificial brain controlled robot with neural network, proximity sensors, and L298N motor driver