Samwise Makers' News
Thursday, July 9, 2026
DIY Satellite Time Server Hits Nanosecond Accuracy with ESP32-P4
Maker Cristiano Monteiro has released an upgraded version of his satellite-backed time server, this time built around the ESP32-P4 microcontroller, to support the Precision Time Protocol (PTP) accurate to nanoseconds — far beyond the millisecond-range of standard NTP. The ESP32-P4 was chosen specifically for its hardware-level PTP support, which is required because software timing alone cannot achieve nanosecond accuracy. A navigation-grade GNSS receiver provides the ultra-precise time reference. Monteiro designed the case in OpenSCAD for 3D printing and included a front panel with status LEDs, keeping the build accessible to makers. Complete documentation is available, continuing the maker-friendly approach of his original 2021 GPS time server.
Maker Cracks Amazon Echo Show 8 via Direct eMMC Access
Amazon’s Echo Show 8 (3rd gen) runs Linux in the form of Amazon’s FireOS, but bootloader access and ADB have been locked down on this model, frustrating would-be tinkerers. A user known as [Vowed] from XDA forums developed a workaround: directly tapping the device’s eMMC storage using an eMMC programmer, after physically cutting open or removing the metal shield covering the chip. The process references the iFixit teardown guide, which is notably complex, but ultimately yields full root access to the device’s Linux environment. With that access secured, the Echo Show 8 becomes a maker-controlled touchscreen Linux computer.
polyUAnalog Brings True Analog Polyphony with Raspberry Pi Pico and AS3397
The polyUAnalog is a fully open-source polyphonic analog synthesizer built around the AS3397 synthesizer chip, with each voice implemented on its own PCB paired with a Raspberry Pi Pico for per-voice control over I2C. A central conductor board, itself running another Pi Pico, handles MIDI input and distributes note data to each voice module. The architecture avoids patch cables entirely, making it more akin to a conventional instrument than a modular synth. Multiple voice boards can be stacked to achieve polyphony. Source files for both hardware and firmware are published on GitHub, inviting makers to build and modify the design.
Raspberry Pi 5 Becomes 8-Channel Sound Card with TOSLINK Output via Single LED
Developer Oliver has turned a Raspberry Pi 5 into an eight-channel USB sound card running CamillaDSP — and found that TOSLINK digital audio output can be achieved using nothing more than a single LED wired to one GPIO pin. TOSLINK carries S/PDIF audio at 3.1 Mbit/s, a rate trivially manageable by the Pi 5’s gigahertz-speed processor, making dedicated hardware unnecessary. CamillaDSP handles the software audio processing layer, providing flexible EQ and routing between inputs and outputs. The project demonstrates how the Pi 5’s raw processing speed unlocks digital audio interfaces that previously required specialized DAC hardware, keeping the bill of materials minimal.
ESP32 Bit Pirate Turns a €5 Board into a Browser-Based Hardware Lab
ESP32 Bit Pirate is an open-source firmware ecosystem that turns a budget ESP32-S3 board — available for around five euros — into a browser-based hardware debugging workbench. After flashing the firmware, the board can be controlled entirely through a web browser using Web Serial, without installing any native software. The tool covers an extensive range of protocols including I2C, SPI, UART, JTAG, SWD, CAN, 1-Wire, Sub-GHz radio via CC1101, USB host and device, BLE, and more. Features include bus scanning, logic capture, SPI flash dumping, and protocol bridging. The project targets students, makers, and small labs wanting a versatile embedded debugging tool without platform lock-in.
Sources: Hackster.io Share ↗ ✉︎ Email 💬 Text
KKSB Launches Rack Panels for Raspberry Pi Clusters in Standard Server Enclosures
KKSB Cases has launched a range of rack panels purpose-built for Raspberry Pi clusters, fitting boards into standard 10-inch and 19-inch server enclosures. The lineup covers three configurations: a 10-inch 1U panel holding two boards at $22.90, a 19-inch 1U panel for five boards at $42.60, and a 19-inch 2U panel accommodating ten boards at $69.80. Compatible with Raspberry Pi 5, 4, 3, and 2 boards, each panel exposes USB and Ethernet ports at the front for easier cable routing. Built-in vertical clearance accommodates both the official Raspberry Pi Active Cooler and standard HAT boards, addressing the thermal requirements of the more power-hungry Pi 5.
Sources: CNX Software Share ↗ ✉︎ Email 💬 Text
IBM Home Director: How Big Blue Tried to Automate Your Home in 1996
Maker [Ionic1k] has examined IBM’s Home Director, a home automation system bundled with IBM Aptiva PCs in 1996, built on the X10 powerline protocol. Like similar systems from RadioShack sold at the time, Home Director communicated over existing electrical wiring rather than dedicated cable runs, requiring no additional installation work — users simply plugged modules into standard wall outlets. IBM envisioned it as a consumer home control system, predating modern smart-home platforms by nearly three decades. The X10 protocol underpinning Home Director remains widely used in DIY home automation today, giving this historical hardware a direct connection to the tools and projects contemporary makers still reach for.
Top Crowdfunding
Kickstarter / Indiegogo
1. CardputerZero — Compact maker computer, Kickstarter
2. xTool WonderPress — Heat press for makers, Kickstarter
3. Revopoint POP 4 — 3D scanner, Kickstarter
GitHub Trending
Makers & Hardware
1. projectgus/GUIslice — Embedded TFT GUI for Arduino/Pi ★1.4k
2. cariboulabs/CaribouLite — 6GHz SDR for Raspberry Pi ★1.3k
3. jetpax/PiZZa — Arduino framework for Pi Zero 2 W
Upcoming Events
Open Healthware Conf — Jul 9–10, San Francisco, CA
Maker Faire Edmonton — Jul 17–19, Edmonton, AB
Maker Faire Bay Area (20th Anniversary) — Sep 25–27, CA
Curated by JD · samwise.agency