atomic14

The atomic14 newsletter focuses on DIY electronics projects, emphasizing the ESP32 microcontroller and related technologies. It covers PCB design, video decoding, USB power solutions, and practical applications like addressable LED curtains and minimalistic microcontroller development. The content also includes product teardowns, DIY tips for creating and improving electronic devices, and updates on the author's projects.

DIY Electronics Microcontroller Projects PCB Design and Fabrication Video and Audio Processing Power Solutions Product Teardowns 3D Printing DIY Tips and Tricks Technology Reviews Newsletter Updates

The hottest Substack posts of atomic14

And their main takeaways

That's a wrap!

692 implied HN points • 23 Dec 24
🕹 Technology Electronics Products Innovation Development Community
  1. The speaker has had a busy year filled with exciting projects, including working on small tech boards and experimenting with new materials.
  2. They recently launched the ESP32 Rainbow project, which is fully funded and aimed to be a product soon, with interesting development challenges along the way.
  3. The speaker thanks their supporters, including Patreons, and looks forward to sharing more content and projects in the new year.

Old School Tape Loading

173 implied HN points • 24 Nov 24
🕹 Technology Computers Software Programming Electronics
  1. Old school tape loading is a nostalgic experience for those who grew up using classic computers like the ZX Spectrum. It brings back memories of how we waited for games to load, often with characteristic sounds.
  2. Using modern technology, like the ESP32, makes it possible to load audio data directly instead of using tapes. This method is faster and more reliable, ensuring a better experience than the original tape loading.
  3. To protect newer devices from the risks of playing audio signals, a simple circuit can be set up. This prevents damage from high voltages while allowing the audio to be used effectively.

New PCB Design - I think this is it...

866 implied HN points • 15 Oct 23
  1. Always double-check your PCB design before finalizing it
  2. Consider sleeping on your design decisions to spot potential issues later
  3. Explore different connection options to maximize the functionality of your PCB

Decoding AVI Files For Fun And...

346 implied HN points • 26 Sep 23
  1. Decoding AVI files on ESP32 involves using JPEG frames for efficient video streaming.
  2. Connecting an SD Card to ESP32 for locally stored videos is easy and supports large files.
  3. AVI file format simplifies storing video files and can be easily navigated for video and audio data processing.

Live GPIO View

173 implied HN points • 01 Jan 24
  1. A project that allows you to view live GPIO pins on an ESP32 module.
  2. Simple setup process by including a specific header file.
  3. Limitations include only supporting digital or PWM and not handling complex protocols.
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I need more USB power...

177 HN points • 02 Nov 23
  1. USB-C powered devices are common in workspaces now.
  2. Having multiple USB powered devices may require more USB power.
  3. Consider using USB-C hubs with multiple ports for added convenience.

Blinking Heck! It Works!

173 implied HN points • 19 Aug 23
  1. The PCBs actually work despite some improvements that can be made.
  2. Followup videos will be made to test the rest of the project and make improvements.
  3. Overall feeling pretty pleased with the progress.

Making Hard PCBs At Home?

2 HN points • 16 Feb 24
🕹 Technology DIY Electronics Experiments Home
  1. DIY nickel plating on PCBs can be a surprisingly simple process, but attention to detail is crucial for successful results.
  2. Using a hard wearing coating like nickel plating on copper PCBs can improve durability and scratch resistance.
  3. Experimenting with electroplating at home requires careful setup, attention to details like cleanliness and voltage, and may lead to interesting results and improvements in PCB toughness.

"16-bit" Mini Handheld Video Arcade Game - What's Inside?

2 HN points • 27 Jan 24
  1. The mini handheld video arcade game mostly operates through a single chip on the PCB.
  2. The large IC in the device is meant for flash storage that holds 156 games.
  3. Despite its small size, the game's design is quite impressive with a single-sided board and innovative routing.

Easy - KiCad Symbol, Footprint and 3D Model!

1 HN point • 03 Feb 24
  1. EasyEDA has tight integration with LCSC parts catalog and provides symbols, footprints, and 3D models.
  2. KiCad allows exporting PCB as a 3D model in different formats, useful for enclosure design.
  3. To fill missing parts in KiCad library, users may need to create symbols, footprints, and 3D models themselves or search online resources.

TinyTV Teardown

2 HN points • 01 Aug 23
  1. The TinyTV teardown reveals interesting components like the tiny 3v3 Low Dropout Regulator.
  2. The remote control of the TinyTV uses an ATtiny441.
  3. The author is planning to create their own version of the TinyTV with parts ordered from AliExpress and PCB from PCBWay.

Interesting Addressable LED Curtain

1 HN point • 12 Dec 23
  1. Addressable LED curtains are very hackable with lots of opportunities
  2. The LEDs in the curtain are pre-programmed with their position on the string
  3. LED curtains can be easily driven using the popular WLED firmware

ESP32-S3 Which Pins Should I Use?

1 HN point • 22 Nov 23
  1. The ESP32-S3 is flexible but has specific pins that should not be used.
  2. Check out the helpful page for ESP32 pin references on Random Nerds.
  3. Feel free to contribute or suggest improvements to the ESP32-S3 pinout document on GitHub.

3D Printing… One Day I’ll Get It Right First Time…

0 implied HN points • 25 Oct 23
  1. The author struggles with 3D printing and often has to relearn everything from scratch.
  2. It took multiple attempts for the author to successfully create a working power supply.
  3. Despite the challenges, the author now has a safe power supply for future projects.

Sneak Peak At the Next Video

0 implied HN points • 25 Jun 23
  1. Early access to next video for newsletter subscribers
  2. Thumbnail choice for video not yet decided
  3. Sharing post available on different platforms

Printing PCBs At Home!

0 implied HN points • 12 Nov 23
  1. Printing PCBs at home can be done with machines like Voltera using conductive ink.
  2. There are limitations to home PCB printing such as trace width, component sizes, and fragile bonding.
  3. The process involves steps like printing the circuit, curing the ink, dispensing solder paste, manual component placement, and reflow.

SD Card Shenanigans - Using the ESP32-S3 in USBMSC

0 implied HN points • 10 Oct 23
  1. USBMSC allows mapping the SD Card through ESP32 for computer access.
  2. Speed limitations exist when using ESP32 as a mass storage controller over USB1.1 connection.
  3. Improving performance by using SDIO in 4 bit mode or writing in the background.

Arduino Nano ESP32 - It's nice - but maybe not for me...

0 implied HN points • 28 Aug 23
  1. Arduino Nano ESP32 is a nice board but can be slightly expensive.
  2. It is pin compatible with the existing Nano board which may lead to confusion.
  3. Using the Arduino pin numbers instead of ESP32 GPIO pin numbers can result in unexpected outcomes.

Visit to The Center of Computing History

0 implied HN points • 15 Jun 23
  1. The author visited The Center of Computing History in Cambridge.
  2. The visit resulted in a short blog post with photos and a video montage.
  3. The author's experience at the center was summarized in the post.

A Replacement For AliExpress? An Amazon Killer?

0 implied HN points • 17 Jul 23
  1. There's a debate about whether there's a replacement for AliExpress or an Amazon killer
  2. The products seem similar to what's available on AliExpress or slightly more expensive on Amazon
  3. The idea of ordering items to compare quality is discussed

Minimalist Microcontroller: Building a Bare-Bones Dev Board

0 implied HN points • 27 Jul 23
  1. Building a minimalist dev board using ESP32-S3 requires very few components.
  2. A fully functional dev board can be created with minimal resources.
  3. Video and blog content are available for guidance on creating the dev board.

We're DOOMed!

0 implied HN points • 13 Jul 23
  1. New video on the atomic14 YouTube channel features a wireless powered Raspberry Pi running DOOM.
  2. Accompanying blog post is available on the atomic14 website for those who prefer to read.
  3. The post was shared on various platforms like Facebook and email for wider viewership.

The Atomic14 Newsletter

0 implied HN points • 24 May 23
  1. Stay up to date with Atomic14 posts and videos by subscribing to the newsletter.
  2. Get notified about new blog posts and videos by signing up for the newsletter.
  3. Don't miss out - subscribe to the Atomic14 newsletter today!

Extras Video - DVD Repair

0 implied HN points • 25 Feb 24
🕹 Technology Videos Repairs
  1. The post is about an extras video on DVD repair that was shared on a substack platform
  2. There are links to the content creator's profile and social media platforms like Facebook and email
  3. The post was published on Feb 25, 2024, and involves sharing content and engaging with the audience

ESP32-TV Version 3

0 implied HN points • 14 Jan 24
  1. Fixed USB conflict with USB2244 and ESP32
  2. Corrected error with battery charging by not sending USB 5V to battery
  3. Added microphone to the board for new possibilities

Christmas Quiz - 9pm (GMT) tonight

0 implied HN points • 21 Dec 23
  1. There is a Christmas quiz happening tonight at 9pm (GMT).
  2. The event is described as the event of the year.
  3. There will be special guest stars at the Christmas quiz.

SD Card Video Player

0 implied HN points • 26 Sep 23
  1. Creating an SD Card video player is easier than expected.
  2. Playing AVI files from the SD Card works well with a few bugs in the code.
  3. The SD Card video player is functional despite possible bugs.

Sound And Vision! ESP32 Streaming Video and Audio

0 implied HN points • 20 Sep 23
  1. The project successfully achieved streaming video and audio using ESP32.
  2. While WiFi streaming was chosen, streaming from an SD card is also viable.
  3. Not having an SD card connected to the PCB is a current issue.

Adventures In Image Processing

0 implied HN points • 08 Sep 23
  1. The post is about Adventures In Image Processing
  2. The content is not specific to iOS, but interesting for the general community
  3. The author shared their talk about image processing at iOSDevUK 2023

Mailbag time!

0 implied HN points • 15 Aug 23
  1. The author received new PCBs for ESP32-S3 boards.
  2. They have a variety of items from AliExpress and Amazon for upcoming projects.
  3. There are enough projects planned to last through the end of the year.

New Blogpost Alert

0 implied HN points • 01 Jun 23
  1. Chris Greening has made a ChatGPT plugin that allows users to play chess.
  2. The blog post focuses on usage and costs statistics of the ChatGPT plugin.
  3. Read the full blog post for more insights on the plugin's performance.

A Potentially Explosive Error!

0 implied HN points • 20 Nov 23
  1. New PCBs for the ESP32-TV project arrived, requiring only one bodge resistor for operation.
  2. An error in the schematic led to both the ESP32 and USB2244 being active on the same USB connection.
  3. A more serious error was found on the PCB, prompting a review of the schematic for potential issues.

Unexpected Presents!

0 implied HN points • 25 Dec 23
  1. The writer received an unexpected gift from Unexpected Maker.
  2. They wished everyone a great Christmas.
  3. Expressed gratitude to subscribers, viewers, and commenters.

I feel the need… the need for hardware SPI

0 implied HN points • 30 Aug 23
  1. The importance of hardware SPI in achieving speed
  2. Some Arduino libraries default to software SPI
  3. ESP32-S3 has no restrictions on pins for SPI

The Fastest ESP32 JPEG Decoder?

0 implied HN points • 30 Sep 23
  1. SIMD instructions can speed up JPEG file decoding by operating on multiple data elements at once.
  2. New decoding library decoded a test image in 20ms on an ESP32-S3.
  3. Using DMA for pixel drawing with the new library can optimize the process and result in a fast frame rate.

Sound and (almost) Vision!

0 implied HN points • 13 Sep 23
  1. One step closer to TinyTV
  2. We've got sound and a working screen!
  3. Progress in achieving both sound and visual components

FNIRSI Freebies

0 implied HN points • 12 Sep 23
  1. FNIRSI sent a USB soldering iron and a 3in1 Oscilloscope.
  2. The author received these items to play with.
  3. The post includes images of the products being shared.