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Open Hardware/Modding: ESP32, Banana Pi, and More
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CNX Software ☛ UltraBar X – A high-end modular desktop smart-hub with a 5:1 ultra-wide touch display, magnetic snap-on modules (Crowdfunding)
The UltraBar X is a modular desktop command center/smart-hub built around an ultra-wide “CoreBar” touch display with a system of magnetically attachable input modules. Designed as an intelligent hub for Windows, macOS, and GNU/Linux environments, it also works as a smart home controller.
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Linux Gizmos ☛ NET2 Line Leverages ESP32 to Bring Wireless ISA and PCI Connectivity to Modern Systems
ARS Technologies is developing a new product line that brings vintage ISA and PCI cards into modern computing workflows. The NET2 family builds on the company’s USB2 and XPRS series, adding wireless connectivity so legacy peripherals can be used from Linux, macOS, or current backdoored Windows systems.
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Linux Gizmos ☛ Fanless AIM101 Edge System Integrates Intel Processor N150 and PCIe AI Accelerator Support
The system is powered by the Intel Processor N150, a quad-core N-series SoC with clock speeds up to 3.6GHz. This platform integrates Intel Ethernet capabilities and supports Intel’s OpenVINO and oneAPI toolchains for accelerated edge analytics.
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CNX Software ☛ EBYTE ECM50-A industrial ESP32-S3 controller offers RS232, RS485, DI/DO, Ethernet, and 4G LTE or LoRa connectivity
EBYTE ECM50-A is a compact, industrial-grade programmable controller built around the ESP32-S3 wireless SoC designed for IoT and edge control applications, such as environmental monitoring and remote telemetry in the smart industry, energy, and utilities sectors As it’s built around the ESP32-S3, it features Wi-Fi and Bluetooth LE, but the controller also supports Fast Ethernet, 4G LTE or LoRa connectivity, and offers RS232/RS485, two digital inputs, two digital outputs/relays, and two analog inputs (4–20 mA/12-bit), as well as a microSD card slot for data logging.
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CNX Software ☛ Heltec WiFi LoRa 32 (V4) – An ESP32-S3 off-grid LoRa/Meshtastic communicator with solar input, GNSS, and 28dBm Tx Power
While searching AliExpress, I found the WiFi LoRa 32 (V4) shell set, another ESP32-S3-based off-grid LoRa/Meshtastic communicator designed for long-range wireless applications. Compared to devices like Blackout Comms, Wio Tracker L1 Pro, and ThinkNode M2, this device features built-in solar charging, optional GNSS, a removable battery, and a higher transmit power. The device features a Semtech SX1262 LoRa transceiver, an amplifier delivering up to 28 ± 1 dBm transmit power, along with integrated Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 5/Mesh connectivity. It adds solar charging, an 8-pin GNSS connector, upgraded battery management, gold-plated 40-pin headers, and a fully protected 0.96-inch OLED, as well as a few I/Os for expansion.
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CNX Software ☛ Banana Pi BPI-CM6 – A SpacemiT K1 RISC-V system-on-module compatible with Raspberry Pi CM4/CM5 carrier boards
Banana Pi BPI-CM6 system-on-module (SoM) is powered by a SpacemiT K1 octa-core RISC-V processor and compatible with most carrier boards for the Raspberry Pi CM4 or CM5 modules. It ships with 8GB LPDDR4 and 16GB eMMC flash by default, a Gigabit Ethernet PHY, and a WiFi 5 and Bluetooth 4.1 wireless module. It exposes most interfaces through three 100-pin board-to-board connectors with HDMI 1.4, MIPI DSI, three MIPI CSI, five PCIe 2.1 lanes, USB 3.2/2.0 interfaces, and more. While it can work with Raspberry Pi CM4/CM5 carrier boards using two of the B2B connectors, the company also designed the BPI-CM6 IO carrier board to make full use of all the interfaces, especially the PCIe lanes. Banana Bi BPI-CM6 SoM Let’s check the module itself first.