Samwise Makers' News
Monday, September 21, 2026
FCC ISM Rules May Shatter LoRa Mesh Communities
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is weighing rule changes to unlicensed Industrial, Scientific, and Medical (ISM) band spectrum — the same frequencies that LoRa low-power mesh radio networks depend on. Amateur maker communities have deployed LoRa mesh networks across the US for off-grid messaging and emergency communication, using inexpensive modules and open-source firmware. The proposed regulatory changes could impose new restrictions that would make existing community mesh deployments non-compliant, forcing redesigns or shutdowns. Hackaday's analysis examines the specific rule changes under consideration and the timeline for public comment, which the maker community is being urged to engage with before the deadline.
Teaching A Robot Hand To Walk
Researchers demonstrated a robotic hand that walks by using its fingers as legs. The project, covered by Hackaday on September 19, 2026, repurposes an actuated multi-fingered hand platform — normally designed for grasping and manipulation tasks — to move across surfaces by coordinating its finger joints as locomotion limbs. The team trained a control policy that operates the hand's fingers in a gait-like sequence, enabling the device to navigate flat and slightly uneven terrain. The approach explores a form of hardware multitasking, where a single robotic platform can perform both locomotion and dexterous manipulation, reducing the need for purpose-built systems.
Making A Copper-Oxide Photodetector From Scratch
A maker fabricated a working photodetector from copper oxide, a semiconductor formed by oxidizing copper in a controlled process. The project, covered on Hackaday on September 20, 2026, uses copper as both the substrate and the active photoconductive material. Heating or chemically treating copper sheet creates cuprous oxide, a p-type semiconductor that changes electrical conductance in response to light. The build demonstrates that functional semiconductor devices — typically produced in industrial cleanrooms — can be made using bench-top chemistry and common workshop materials. The completed detector was tested for photoresponse, confirming its sensitivity to visible light without commercial sensor components.
The Concertina Goes Electronic
A maker converted a traditional acoustic concertina into an electronic MIDI instrument, documented by Hackaday on September 18, 2026. The project replaces the acoustic mechanism of the squeeze-box instrument with electronic sensing that tracks button presses and bellows movement, generating MIDI output to a connected synthesizer or digital audio workstation. The original instrument's ergonomics and playing technique are preserved — squeeze the bellows, press the buttons — while the sound engine is fully configurable. The build required opening the concertina's body, installing sensor hardware, and writing firmware for a microcontroller that maps physical inputs to MIDI note events and expression data.
Making A Digital Music Player For Cassette Decks
A maker built a compact digital music player that fits inside a standard cassette tape shell, letting any cassette deck play MP3 files through its existing playback head. The project, covered by Hackaday on September 18, 2026, packages a microcontroller, a digital-to-analog converter, and a rechargeable battery inside the cassette housing. The device outputs audio signals that the deck's read head interprets as magnetic tape, requiring no modifications to the deck. Music files are stored on a microSD card, and the unit is operated using controls accessible through the cassette's transparent window, making it a drop-in digital upgrade for any cassette player.
Reviving TEMPEST Attacks With An Injected Signal
Security researchers demonstrated updated TEMPEST-class signal leakage attacks using an injected radio signal to enhance the interceptability of electromagnetic emissions from nearby electronics. Classic TEMPEST analysis captures unintentional radiation from operating hardware — screens, keyboards, processors — to infer data without physical access. The updated approach injects a modulated carrier into the target environment, causing device circuitry to mix the injected signal with internal clock and data signals. The resulting emissions are stronger and easier to decode, extending the practical attack range. Hackaday's September 20, 2026 coverage describes the technique alongside discussion of countermeasures and shielding standards.
Top Crowdfunding
Kickstarter / Indiegogo
InfiMaker K1 — $4.29M raised, Kickstarter (live)
HeyGears G1 Series — $17.4M raised, Kickstarter (late pledge)
Xmachine WM-100 — $2.72M raised, Kickstarter (live)
GitHub Trending
Makers & Hardware
JustVugg/colibri — 7,441★ (run AI on your own hardware, pure C)
DarkFlippers/unleashed-firmware — 87★ (Flipper Zero custom firmware)
home-assistant/core — 480★ (home automation platform)
Upcoming Events
Maker Faire Bay Area — Sept 25–27, Mare Island, Vallejo CA
Hackaday Superconference — November 2026, Los Angeles CA
Open Hardware Summit — Check ohsummit.org for 2026 dates
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Curated by JD · samwise.agency