🕰️ Retro Repairs

Reviving a Roland SoundBrush: Floppy MIDI Playback Without the Computer (linuxjedi​.co​.uk). Rejuvenating a Roland SoundBrush SB-55 to playback MIDI floppy disks without a computer using repairs and testing

Testing attempt on new 1130MRAM board (rescue1130​.blogspot​.com). Testing and assembly of an 1130MRAM board using JLCPCB fabrication, stencil tooling, and PCBytes connectivity checks

MEGAphone Cellular Modem and Power Control Hook-up for R3 Boards and Phone Call Handling (c65gs​.blogspot​.com). Building MEGAphone: MEGA65 R3/PMOD UART wiring for cellular modem and power-control, with MEGA65 FPGA/keyboard integration, debugging UARTs, and phone-call handling in C

🏠 Home Tech Stack

Vibe Coding: My ESPHome Bluetooth IRK Capture Tool (derekseaman​.com). ESPHome Bluetooth IRK capture tool using ESP-IDF; NimBLE, C++, VS Code, Claude CLI, Claude, Gemini 3, ChatGPT-5; Derek Seaman’s blog

New keypad for my RPi DIY security alarm (blog​.cavelab​.dev). Building a Raspberry Pi security alarm keypad system with a custom AlarmPanel class in Python and MQTT (zigbee2mqtt), including a new Develco keypad and Home Assistant integration

IKEA ALPSTUGA (danieldk​.eu). IKEA ALPSTUGA air-quality sensor review covering Matter over Thread, Sensirion SEN63C, CO₂ accuracy, display limits, and Home Assistant integration

A Wall-Mounted Homelab: The How and the Why (mbrizic​.com). A hands-on wall-mounted homelab with Raspberry Pi, Orange Pi, Pi-hole, Jellyfin, DIY 3D-printed mounts, and a DIY network setup

ESPHome Senseair S88 (danieldk​.eu). ESPHome integration for Senseair S88 CO2 sensor using ESP8266/ESP32, UART setup, and data filtering in YAML

💡 Displays & Lighting

Pixoo64 Ruby Client (tenderlovemaking​.com). Ruby client for Pixoo64 LED Display with PNG conversion and remote data fetch integration

LCDs & C++ & Linux = Beginner-Friendly? (bitbanksoftware​.blogspot​.com). Explores C/C++ for Linux on LCDs with Arduino, gpiod, framebuffers, and portable libraries

Smarte Hintergrundlampe (hymnos​.existenz​.ch). Smarte LED-Hintergrundlampe mit Shelly 1PM Mini, Hammerspoon-Skripten (Lua), ESP8266-Ansatz, DIY-Holzgehäuse und automatisierte Lichtsteuerung

Forever Snowing & Glowing Snow Globe (robdobson​.com). A DIY snow globe with perpetual snowfall and wireless LEDs, using USB power, MP1484M step-down, and inductive coupling tricks

🎛️ Input Devices

Train Simulator Controller: Dashboard Prototype Part 4, All the Panels (z80​.me). Designer documents four more panels for a UK Class 800-inspired train simulator using CAD, cardboard prototypes, laser-cut panels, and modular electronics

Neo75 and Neo98 Review (alexotos​.com). Neo75 and Neo98 review explores Arduino/ESP32-based keyboards, firmware, and build details with insights on Neo75/Neo98 boards

Flashing a Liatris Microcontroller (wiredspace​.de). Flashing a Liatris Microcontroller for Lily58 split keyboard using QMK, with Pro Micro compatibility and bootloader steps

🛠️ PCB Assembly Debug

ESP32 Rainbow QA - A tale of three boards (atomic14​.com). ESP32 Rainbow QA reveals three real-world manufacturing faults and fixes using reflow, USB continuity checks, and analogue keyboard rework

Interim method won't work; assembling new PCB (rescue1130​.blogspot​.com). Interim method fails; building new PCB with faster transistors, stencil soldering, and staged assembly for IBM 1130 read retriggering repair

Updated CI/CD for KiCad 9 and Gitlab (sschueller​.github​.io). KiCad 9 CI/CD with GitLab using a KiCad9_auto Docker image, automatic version/date stamping, iBom LCSC fields, multi-PCB support, and Kibot outputs

The RP2350-USB-A cannot see devices disconnect (qsantos​.fr). RP2350-USB-A hardware fix discusses USB pull-ups/downs, D+ D- behavior, and hot-plug issues with Waveshare board

🧠 Bio & Measurement

Review of HackerBox 0122 - Ouroboros (blog​.matthewbrunelle​.com). HackerBox 0122 Ouroboros review: OVcam, ESP32-based ECG kit, new tools, i2c/DMA notes, and hands-on soldering guidance

A cheap non-contact voltage detector (river​.cat). A look at a cheap non-contact voltage detector from Aliexpress, its hardware, operation, and potential repurposing ideas

Cerelog’s ESP-EEG is a new 8 channel biosensing board at a hobbyist-friendly price (autodidacts​.io). Open-source ESP-EEG 8-channel biosensing board (TI ADS1299) with Lab Streaming Layer/Brainflow support at hobbyist price

📚 Academic Research

EdgeSSVEP: A Fully Embedded SSVEP BCI Platform for Low-Power Real-Time Applications (arxiv:cs). EdgeSSVEP runs full SSVEP EEG acquisition, filtering, and classification on a 240‑MHz microcontroller at 222 mW. Makers can replicate low-power embedded biosignal projects and BCIs