Samwise Makers' News
Saturday, June 13, 2026
Espressif's ESP32-E22 Wi-Fi 6E Module Earns Wi-Fi Certified Status, Open-Source Linux Drivers Released
Espressif's ESP32-E22, the company's first Wi-Fi 6E connectivity co-processor, has received its Wi-Fi CERTIFIED certification from the Wi-Fi Alliance, alongside freshly released open-source Wi-Fi and Bluetooth Linux drivers. The chip packs a dual-core RISC-V processor clocked at up to 500 MHz with 1 MB of RAM, supports tri-band operation across 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, and 6 GHz with 802.11b/g/n/ac/ax, and delivers Bluetooth 5.4/6.0. Certification testing confirmed WPA3-Personal and Enterprise security, Wi-Fi Agile Multiband, and 2×2 MIMO up to 160 MHz channel width on 5 GHz and 6 GHz. The ESP32-E22 connects to host systems via PCIe 2.0 or SDIO interfaces, targeting host-based wireless designs rather than standalone IoT deployments.
Sources: CNX Software
Hackaday Communicator Badge Gets FreeRTOS Makeover With Meshtastic and GPS Support
The Hackaday Communicator badge — a handheld gadget featuring a QWERTY keyboard, a LoRa radio module, and an ESP32 microcontroller originally distributed at Hackaday Europe — has received a significant open-source firmware upgrade. The new release swaps the original MicroPython codebase for FreeRTOS and adds native Meshtastic protocol support, enabling off-grid mesh messaging across the badge community. Developers have also added GPS module support and improved battery management for longer field operation. The original firmware shipped a basic LoRa messaging app; the rewrite expands the badge into a capable low-power mesh communication terminal compatible with the broader Meshtastic device ecosystem.
Sources: Hackaday
M5Stack Launches Capsule Kit v1.1: Compact ESP32-S3 IoT Controller for $19.95
M5Stack has launched the Capsule Kit v1.1, a compact battery-powered IoT controller built around the Stamp-S3A module using Espressif's ESP32-S3 Wi-Fi and Bluetooth microcontroller with 8 MB of flash and a USB-C port. The Stamp-S3A improvement brings an optimized antenna design and lower power consumption versus its predecessor. The kit integrates a BMI270 6-axis IMU for attitude and motion tracking, an SPM1423 MEMS microphone for audio capture, an IR transmitter for remote-control interaction, a BM8563 real-time clock for timed wake-up, a microSD card slot for local storage, and a 250 mAh battery. A Grove connector supports expansion. The Capsule v1.1 is priced at $19.95 on the M5Stack store.
Sources: CNX Software
Apna Dost Homebrew Macropad Delivers QMK, OLED Feedback, and Rotary Encoder in One Build
Maker np_vishwakarma has built a clean homebrew macropad called Apna Dost, and the results are impressively polished for a one-off DIY peripheral. The design incorporates a grid of mechanical switches, a rotary encoder, an OLED display for layer and state feedback, and runs QMK open-source keyboard firmware. QMK enables per-key RGB, macro recording, layer switching, and extensive remapping without proprietary software. The OLED gives real-time feedback on active layers and encoder function, a feature typically absent from commercial budget macropads. The build demonstrates that tight integration between hardware layout and QMK's configuration system can produce a custom input device that rivals off-the-shelf alternatives at a fraction of the cost.
Sources: Hackaday
Add Real Weight to 3D Prints With Plaster of Paris: A Clean, Accessible Technique
Joe Fedewa has shared a straightforward technique for adding mass to 3D-printed parts using plaster of Paris, solving a common problem for makers building props, models, or weighted enclosures. Standard FDM prints in PLA or PETG are lightweight even at high infill, making them feel insubstantial. Fedewa's method involves printing a hollow shell with access ports, mixing plaster of Paris to a pourable consistency, and filling the interior cleanly without mess or trapped air. The plaster cures rigid inside the print, adding weight without altering external geometry. The technique is compatible with any FFF printer and requires no specialized post-processing equipment, making it accessible to makers at all experience levels.
Sources: Hackaday
MSX Home Computer Emulated on ESP32-S3 With VGA Output, No External Framebuffer Required
Ivan Svarkovsky's S3-MSX-PC project achieves deeply optimized MSX home computer emulation on the ESP32-S3 microcontroller, producing composite VGA video output directly from the chip's Xtensa LX7 CPU cores without external framebuffer hardware. The MSX standard, developed in 1983, required a Z80 CPU, dedicated VDP video chip, and PSG audio chip — all emulated in software on the dual-core ESP32-S3. Svarkovsky's approach tightly couples the emulation loop to the VGA signal timing, using the LX7 cores' speed and instruction cache to maintain cycle-accurate Z80 emulation while simultaneously generating 640×480 VGA output. The open-source project demonstrates the ESP32-S3's surprising ceiling as a retro emulation platform.
Sources: Hackaday
Inside the Lagercrantz: Teardown of a Swedish Cold War Spy Suitcase Radio
Radio historian Helge Fykse has shared a detailed teardown of a rare Lagercrantz portable spy radio of Swedish origin, revealing the engineering that allowed a complete shortwave transceiver to fit inside a standard-sized hard-sided suitcase. The Lagercrantz radio was designed for clandestine field communication, requiring operators to transmit and receive without external antennas or obvious equipment. Fykse's examination exposes the compact vacuum tube circuitry, hand-wound coils, and integrated power supply packed into a civilian suitcase shell. The radio's design reflects Cold War-era constraints on both size and operational security. The teardown offers makers and electronics historians a rare look inside purpose-built covert communication hardware from mid-20th century Scandinavia.
Sources: Hackaday
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Upcoming Events
Maker Faire Switzerland — June 20–21, 2026, Switzerland
Maker Faire Thailand — June 25–27, 2026, Thailand
Maker Faire Bay Area (20th anniversary) — Sept 25–27, 2026, Mare Island, CA
Curated by JD · samwise.agency
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