PlantLab: A Complete Open-Source IoT Plant Care Kit for Beginners (Part 1: Hardware & PCB)

PlantLab open-source IoT plant care kit feature image with the final controller build

1. Introduction PlantLab is a beginner-friendly, open-source IoT plant care system built around a simple principle: use easily accessible, off-the-shelf modules—most of which you can buy on Amazon or AliExpress. No custom, hard-to-source parts, just affordable, ready-made modules and regular components. The purpose of the PCB is to link these modules together with connectors and … Read more

A Homemade AZ/EL Antenna Rotator for Ham Radio Satellite Communication Part 2

Homemade AZ/EL antenna rotator with gray controller enclosure, aluminum arm, yellow 3D printed bracket, Yagi antenna, tripod mount, water bottle counterweight, and an ICOM IC-705-style radio on the table in a portable ham radio satellite setup.

This is the second part of my article “A Homemade AZ/EL Antenna Rotator for Ham Radio Satellite Communication“. In the previous part, I introduced the project from its hardware perspective and mechanical structure. Today, we will center on its software concept, setup for use, and its known problems. Software Flows Upon power-on, the setup() function … Read more

SmartChamber-3D: A Partially Open-Source Chamber Control System for Enclosed 3D Printers

SmartChamber-3D chamber control system feature image for enclosed 3D printers

Disclosure: This is an independent introduction to SmartChamber-3D by maker ‘physton’. I am not the author of this project. The goal is to help makers decide whether it is worth studying, adapting, or building. Overview SmartChamber-3D is a chamber temperature control system for enclosed Bambu Lab P2S or P1S 3D printers. According to the OSHWHub … Read more

A Music Visualizer Clock with Low-Power Consumption

Low-power music visualizer clock with reflective display, battery, and DIY electronics parts

Disclosure: This is a review of the open-source project from maker TheLight, named “A Music Visualizer Clock.” It’s a small DIY desktop gadget that combines a digital clock, music visualizer, and environment sensor. The ultra-low power feature is the highlight of the project. We’re now sharing this handy maker project with electronics hobbyists around the … Read more

MPY Cassette Player V4: A Retro Cassette Player Reborn with RP2040 & MicroPython

MPY Cassette Player V4: A Retro Cassette Player Reborn with RP2040 & MicroPython

Disclosure:This article reviews the open-source MPY-Cassette-Player-V4 project by jd3096, a heartfelt tribute to classic cassette Walkmans reimagined with modern microcontroller technology. We aim to share this creative maker project that combines nostalgia and practicality with the global electronics enthusiast community. Overview This article covers the MPY Cassette Player V4, an open-source RP2040-based DIY project designed … Read more

JingShi Desktop Clock: A Stylish ESP32-Powered Timepiece with Smart Features for Makers

JingShi Desktop Clock: Stylish ESP32-powered smart timepiece with OLED display, featuring article title overlay "A Stylish ESP32-Powered Timepiece with Smart Features for Makers"

**Disclosure**: This article is a deep-dive review of the open-source JingShi desktop clock project by zhushengji. We believe in supporting the maker community by bringing hidden gems like this beautifully designed ESP32 timepiece to a global audience. Overview This article reviews the open-source JingShi (Quiet Stone) desktop clock, an ESP32-powered project designed by zhushengji. It … Read more