Open Hardware/Modding: ESP32 and More
-
Andrew Hutchings ☛ Repair of a Cirrus Logic VLB Graphics Card
Fellow vintage computer collector, Gammitin, challenged me to fix four VLB graphics cards, as well as upgrade the RAM on them. If I could do it, I could keep one for my 486 PC build. Can I do it? Let’s find out.
-
CNX Software ☛ MaTouch SmartKnob Assembled ESP32-based rotary knob with touchscreen display sells for $69
Makerfabs has recently released “MaTouch SmartKnob Assembled” based on the SmartKnob View open-source hardware design but enclosed in a plastic case. As a reminder, the SmartKnob View is an ESP32-S3-based DIY rotary knob built around a BLDC motor. With clever software and engineering, the motor is so configured that it can do software configurable detents, haptic feedback, magnetic encoder, and more.
-
Hackaday ☛ PCB Design Review: M.2 SSD Splitter
Today’s PCB design review is a board is from [Wificable]. iI’s a novel dual-SSD laptop adapter board! See, CPUs and chipsets often let you split wide PCIe links into multiple smaller width links. This board relies on a specific laptop with a specific CPU series, and a BIOS mod, to put two M.2 NVMe SSDs into a single SSD slot of a specific series’ laptop.
-
CNX Software ☛ GoogleFindMyTools locates ESP32-based Bluetooth trackers using Surveillance Giant Google Find My Device network
Leon Böttger's GoogleFindMyTools is a re-implementation of Google's Find My Device network. It works with Android devices and commercial trackers, but experimental support for ESP32-based trackers has recently been added.
-
CNX Software ☛ SONOFF ZBM5 Review – A 3-gang Zigbee Smart Wall Switch tested with eWeLink and Home Assistant
We will be reviewing a smart home device from SONOFF that we recently received right after the New Year, the SONOFF SwitchMan Zigbee Smart Wall (ZBM5). This is SONOFF’s first Zigbee-enabled Smart Wall Switch. In addition to functioning as a smart wall switch, it can also act as a Zigbee Router, making it easier to expand your Zigbee network at home in one shot. One of the key features of the SONOFF ZBM5 is that it can either operate in with-neutral (N) or without-neutral (N) wiring setups.
-
CNX Software ☛ Edge video processing platform features NXP i.MX 8M Plus, i.MX 93, or i.MX 95 SoC, supports up to 23 camera types
DAB Embedded AquaEdge is a compact computer based on NXP i.MX 8M Plus, i.MX 93, or i.MX 95 SoC working as an edge video processing platform and supporting 23 types of vision cameras with resolution from VGA up to 12MP, and global/rolling shutter. The small edge computer features a gigabit Ethernet RJ45 jack with PoE to power the device. It is also equipped with a single GSML2 connector to connect a camera whose input can be processed by the built-in Hey Hi (AI) accelerator found in the selected NXP i.MX processors.
-
Hackaday ☛ A Transparent BB-8 Build Using Christmas Ornaments
The cool thing about the droids of Star Wars is that they’re not that hard to recreate in real life. R2-D2 is a popular choice, but you can even build yourself a neat little BB-8 if you’re so inclined. [Piyush] has built a particularly compelling example that’s transparent, which lets you see the internals and how it all works.
-
Jon Chiappetta: Testing out the Lenovo ThinkCenter 1L MiniPC as a core firewall and router
This is a newly modified setup I’m testing out instead of the Linksys OpenWRT I am using the Lenovo M920Q with Debian. I also installed the StarTech 4-Port 2.5Gbps PCIe Card (Intel I225-V) and the PCIe 16x Riser Card. The M4 Mini has 2 attachments including the Sonnet Solo10G and the OWC 1M2.