🪛

Electronics: 5th August 2025

Newsletters sent once a week, unsubscribe anytime.

Published 5th August 2025

🔨 DIY Projects & Physical Computing

Learning basic electronics by building fireflies (a64​.in). Explore building blinking fireflies with basic electronics, using components like astable multivibrators, LDRs, resistors, capacitors, and DIY simulators

I spent 6 years building a ridiculous pixel display (benholmen​.com). A creative exploration of building Kilopixel, a web-controlled pixel display using Raspberry Pi, CNC, and various pixel technologies over six years

New MetaClockClock: Combining Art and Technology in Clocks (mcuoneclipse​.com). MetaClockClock features 60 analog clocks with dual-shaft stepper motors, RGB LEDs, and a CNC-cut oak enclosure for an innovative timekeeping experience

My DIY modular charging station (arun​.is). DIY modular USB charging station built using CNC-cut wood, Mophie Speedport, and ergonomic design methods for better cable management

Train Simulator Controller: Dashboard Prototyping, Part 1 (z80​.me). Christopher Mitchell details his prototype dashboard for a Class 80x train, focusing on CAD design, measurements, and components needed for Train Simulator

🏠 IoT & Home Automation

My doorlock and my digital sovereignty (jan​.wildeboer​.net). Exploring digital sovereignty through a review of smart door locks, focusing on Welock SECBN51's offline functionality and concerns over centralized services like Tuya

Building an Elixir App Around a Zigbee Button (blog​.aos​.sh). Explore building an Elixir app with a Zigbee button for IoT, using zigbee2mqtt and EMQX for MQTT messaging and database storage

Zigbee and more (esgeroth​.org). Integrating IKEA Vindstyrka air quality monitors with Home Assistant using Zigbee; challenges of using USB sticks and maintaining Z-Wave devices

Fixing the Biggest Problem with Robot Mowers (thestockpot​.net). Innovative robotic airlock solution integrates 3D printing and Home Assistant automation for seamless lawn care between separate yard areas with the Mammotion Luba Mini

Changing a Curtain Switch WiFi Network (morgandavis​.net). Guide for re-pairing MOES or BSEED Curtain Switch to a new WiFi network using Tuya app and creating an IoT subnet

đź’» Computing & Tools

Ergonomic keyboarding with the Svalboard: a half-year retrospective (twey​.io). Ergonomic keyboards, Svalboard, CharaChorder, QMK firmware, Dvorak layout, steno protocols, customizability, finger-oriented keyboarding, build quality issues, pricing considerations

Admitting Defeat (mikecoats​.com). Project cancellation of Battery-box Beasties: a USB-C powered alternative for batteries, battling design challenges and compatibility across various devices

Itemizing USB Connections (blog​.raymond​.burkholder​.net). Exploration of USB port details and device connections on an Asus X670e motherboard using 'lsusb' command output

⚙️ Manufacturing & Hardware Repair

3D printing is pretty darn cool, actually (ounapuu​.ee). Explores the practical applications and challenges of 3D printing, while sharing experiences with designs, materials, and aspirations for future prints

Custom CNC Desktop (peterlyons​.com). Custom desktop built using CNC router; features recessed areas for keyboard and mug, 3D-printed inserts, and a complex learning process with CAD/CAM tools

Upgrading the RAM Detective: A Firmware Adventure with RAMCHECK (linuxjedi​.co​.uk). Firmware upgrade adventure for RAMCHECK, involving disassembly, EEPROM chips, and collaboration with Adrian's Digital Basement to improve RAM compatibility

Beware of Spindle Controller Ground (pappp​.net). Beware of dangerous voltage issues in cheap spindle speed controllers and the importance of proper grounding and controller replacements

Bench test of 1132 printer power box - part 1 (rescue1130​.blogspot​.com). Bench testing the IBM 1132 printer power box reveals rodent damage, faulty parts, and successful repairs, using tools like multimeter and Variac

Testing 3d printed TPU pad (peterbabic​.dev). Peter Babič tests 3D printed TPU pads for sanders, exploring alternative materials when standard options aren't available

🔌 Microcontrollers & Embedded Systems

Decoding Meshtastic with GNURadio on a Raspberry Pi (jeffgeerling​.com). Explore Meshtastic decoding with GNURadio on Raspberry Pi, utilizing HackRF, LoRa SDR, and customizing setups for portable mesh networking

Benchmarking MicroPython (blog​.miguelgrinberg​.com). Performance comparison of MicroPython on microcontrollers, including ESP8266, Pico 2W, and Raspberry Pi 4 against CPython benchmarks

ESP32 Bus-Pirate for ESP32-S3DevKit (novamostra​.com). Compile and flash ESP32 Bus-Pirate firmware on ESP32-S3DevKit using Linux or Windows, enabling multi-protocol functionalities like Serial and I2C over WiFi

Real-World Test: PoE+ Router Pushes 3+ Gbps Simultaneously on WiFi 6 & 2.5GbE (supernetworks​.org). SPR PoE+ router on Raspberry Pi CM5 achieves over 3 Gbps with WiFi 6 and 2.5GbE, validating performance in real-world tests

Updating SongMatrix (paulcutler​.org). Paul Cutler updates SongMatrix, a CircuitPython project using Raspberry Pi, Shazam, AdafruitIO, and LED matrices for song recognition and display

🛠️ Hardware Design & PCB Engineering

How to reverse engineer an analog chip: the TDA7000 FM radio receiver (righto​.com). Reverse engineering the TDA7000 FM radio receiver chip, exploring transistor types, circuits, and components like capacitors and resistors in analog design

Making a custom CPU (popovicu​.com). Development of Mrav CPU platform, tools for embedded systems, automated workflows, insights from Google TPU experience, hardware/software co-design challenges

miniHDL: A Python Hardware Description Language DSL (nicholas​.carlini​.com). miniHDL: a Python-based DSL for hardware description, featuring a 32-bit RISC CPU, designed for deterministic simulation without complex clocking mechanisms

MicroZed Chronicles: High Speed Debugging of Logic. (adiuvoengineering​.com). High-speed debugging of FPGA designs using Exostiv probe, enhancing data streaming and visualization for image processing applications with efficient Vivado integration

Extensive desk checking of PCB and final design for core memory replacement for 1130 system (rescue1130​.blogspot​.com). PCB design and validation for IBM 1130 core memory replacement, addressing specific configurations and parts ordering using KiCAD tools

8580 SID Adapter (z80kits​.com). 8880 SID Adapter converts 6581 power for compatibility, enhancing audio quality for Commodore's SID chip with filter circuits and adaptable design

🎵 Audio & Speech Synthesis

Arduino and SP0256A-AL2 (diyelectromusic​.com). Explore driving the SP0256A-AL2 Speech Synthesis chip with Arduino, circuit design, code implementation, and future musical experimentation ideas

Drop the beat - with John Park (thebootloader​.net). John Park joins Tod and Paul to discuss floppy disk MIDI boomboxes, live-coding music, the RP2350 mini-computer, and retro computing updates

SP0256A-AL2 Speech Synthesis (diyelectromusic​.com). Explore the SP0256A-AL2 speech synthesizer's nostalgic charm, programming details, and allophone conversion using espeak-ng and lexconverter for retro projects

A Multifunction Audio Processor For SSB Use (n1fd​.org). Multifunction audio processor features include voltage regulators, a 4-channel MUX, audio amplifiers, and S-meters for efficient SSB transceiver operation

📡 Radio & RF Engineering

Let's Clone a Cloner - Part 3: Putting It All Together (trustedsec​.com). Finalizing a MaxiProx build, focusing on component arrangement, beeper switch installation, battery modifications, and securing the ESP RFID Tool for mobile hacking

An RF to IF Converter for QRP SSB Transceiver Use (n1fd​.org). RF-to-IF Converter for QRP SSB transceivers utilizes off-the-shelf parts, including TIA amplifiers, ADE-1 mixer, VFO, and Bridged-T Diplexer

Bamatech TP-III & Modern Morse Nameless (paul​.butzi​.org). Review and comparison of the Bamatech TP-III and Modern Morse Nameless paddles highlighting design, usability, and performance for portable amateur radio operators

Baseband fuzzing on budget pt.3 (something​.fromnothing​.blog). Explore baseband fuzzing techniques for LTE/5G, including firmware acquisition, reverse engineering, crashes analysis using tools like Ghidra, and specific example crashes

📚 Academic Research

DissolvPCB: Fully Recyclable 3D-Printed Electronics with Liquid Metal Conductors and PVA Substrates (arxiv:cs). DissolvPCB enables recyclable 3D-printed PCBAs using PVA substrates and EGaIn conductors, showcasing innovations like a Bluetooth speaker and a shape-changing gripper

đź‘‹ Before you go

I've got a big favor to ask - keeping Blaze running isn't expensive, but it does all add up, so I'm asking readers like you to help, if you can.
That's why I'm launching a Patreon page!. Nothing flashy, just a way for folks who find value in these newsletters to chip in a little each month. In return, you'll get:

  • Real say in how Blaze evolves — vote on new topics, features, topic curation ideas
  • First dibs on merch (details still cooking)
  • That warm fuzzy feeling knowing you're supporting something that saves you time and keeps you plugged into great tech writing

If you are getting value from blaze, checking this out would mean the world. And if you can't contribute, no worries—the newsletters keep coming either way, and you can follow along on patreon for free.
Thanks for reading and being part of this nerdy corner of the internet. All the best - Alastair.

You may also like

About Electronics

Our Electronics newsletter covers the latest developments, projects, and insights in hardware hacking, DIY electronics, and retro computing. Each week, we curate the most important content so you don't have to spend hours searching.

Whether you're a hardware engineer, maker, or electronics hobbyist, our newsletter provides valuable information to keep you informed and inspired for your next project.

Subscribe now to join thousands of professionals who receive our weekly updates!