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December 11, 2025 by Debashis Das - 7 Comments

IoT HDMI switch – An ESP32-C3-powered 2-source HDMI switch automated with Home Assistant

Designed by Guimpt in Spain, the IoT HDMI Switch is an ESP32-C3-based open-source HDMI switch that integrates with Home Assistant and ESPHome to automate up to two HDMI inputs for TVs, monitors, or projectors. It targets smart home setups that need seamless source switching without manually handling cables. It includes a 3D-printed enclosure for a compact install behind media equipment. The device also offers open hardware and firmware for easy upgrade, and it lets users switch inputs via phone, voice assistant, or a button. It also supports automations such as automatically selecting a game console or media player. It works with common HDMI devices like Chromecast, Raspberry Pi, PCs, and consoles, making it ideal for smart home enthusiasts, DIY tinkerers, and anyone who wants a hands-free media setup. IoT HDMI Switch specifications: SoC – Espressif Systems ESP32-C3FH4 Single-core 32-bit RISC-V microcontroller @ up to 160 MHz Memory – 400 KB […]

December 10, 2025December 10, 2025 by Debashis Das - No Comments

52Pi UPS Gen 6 UPS for Raspberry Pi 4/5 supports up to 4x external battery packs, PikaPython scripting

Rapsberry Pi 5 UPS with four external battery packs

The 52Pi UPS Gen 6 is another UPS solution for the Raspberry Pi 5 that supports external battery packs for long-duration projects, and uses I²C plus PikaPython scripting to manage power settings and safe shutdowns. Designed for the Raspberry Pi 5 and 4B, the module mounts on the bottom of the board and delivers power via pogo pins. It also includes an aluminum heatsink with an automatic fan for cooling. It runs on two 18650 batteries, which can be mounted to the Pi with spacers, and there is an option to add three more battery packs in parallel if you need longer runtime. The board also features a physical power button for manual control, a 12V power interface for SATA hard drives, and switching hardware (bumpless power transfer) that instantly falls back to battery power so the system stays on during a power outage. 52Pi UPS Gen 6 specifications: Main […]

December 3, 2025 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - No Comments

Silicognition ManT1S ESP32 board supports T1S single-pair Ethernet for robotics and automation (Crowdfunding)

Silicognition ManT1S is an ESP32 board with a 4-pole terminal block for T1S single-pair Ethernet (SPE) communication and daisy-chaining, as well as unpopulated headers for GPIOs and programming, and a Qwicc connector for I2C expansion. The IEEE 802.3cg 10BASE-T1S networking standard enables engineers and users to easily network and distribute power to up to eight T1S nodes over a single pair of wires, which makes it suitable for robotics, industrial/home automation, and other projects that benefit from a reduction in the number of cables and associated weight. The company also designed the ManT1S Bridge to interface a standard Ethernet RJ45 to a single-pair T1S mixing segment. ManT1S specifications: System-in-Package – ESP32-PICO-V3-O2 SoC – ESP32 CPU – Xtensa dual-core 32-bit LX6 microprocessor up to 240 MHz Memory – 520B SRAM Storage – 448 KB ROM Wireless – WiFi 4 and Bluetooth 4.2/5.x Memory – 2 MB PSRAM Storage – 8 MB […]

December 2, 2025December 3, 2025 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 8 Comments

XIAO ePaper DIY Kit features ESP32-S3 or nRF52840 SoC, supports 1.54-inch to 7.5-inch displays

Seeed Studio has launched two new ePaper display DIY Kits: the XIAO ePaper DIY Kit-EN04 and XIAO ePaper DIY Kit-EE04, respectively powered by a Nordic Semi nRF52840 or Espressif ESP32-S3 wireless SoC. Both kits support 24-pin and 50-pin ePaper displays, and the company offers 1.54-inch to 7.5-inch displays as options. The XIAO ePaper DIY kits also feature a battery connector with a power switch, a built-in charging IC, and come with one reset and three user buttons. They target low-power ePaper projects such as digital signage, electronic labels, and portable information boards. XIAO ePart DIY kit specifications: Wireless board Kit-EN04 – XIAO nRF52840 Plus Wireless MCU – Nordic nRF52840 Arm Cortex-M4F microcontroller @ up to 64 MHz with 1 MB flash, 256 KB SRAM, Bluetooth 5.0, NFC, 802.15.4 connectivity Storage – 2 MB onboard Flash Wireless Connectivity – Bluetooth 5.0 (BLE), 802.15.4, and NFC Antenna – Ceramic antenna USB – USB […]

November 20, 2025November 20, 2025 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - No Comments

Home Assistant Connect ZBT-2 Zigbee/Thread/Matter USB adapter launched for $49

Home Assistant Connect ZBT-2 is a Zigbee, Thread, and Matter USB adapter based on Silicon Labs MG24 wireless SoC and designed for Home Assistant, replacing cloud-based hubs from Hue, Ikea, and others. It’s an update of the Home Assistant Connect ZBT-1 (previously SkyConnect) Zigbee 3.0, Thread, and Matter USB dongle with an optimized antenna, a faster baudrate, and a form factor similar to the company’s ZWA-2 Z-Wave USB adapter introduced last August. Home Assistant Connect ZBT-2 (NC-ZBT-9741) specifications: SoCs Silicon Labs MG24 Arm Cortex-M33 @ 78.0 MHz with DSP instruction and floating-point unit, 256 kB RAM, 1536 kB flash, 2.4 GHz wireless ESP32-S3 wireless MCU used as USB-to-serial bridge (WiFi and Bluetooth present, but not used by the firmware) Wireless via MG24 Supported Protocols – Zigbee 3.0, Thread/Matter Tx Power 10 dBm (Europe) 8 dBm (rest of world) Antenna Frequency range: 2400-2483.5 MHz Peak gain – 4.16 dBi Radiation pattern […]

November 15, 2025November 15, 2025 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 1 Comment

FireBeetle 2 ESP32-C5 IoT development board offers GDI display interface, LiPo battery support

Just the other day, I lamented the lack of options when it came to ESP32-C5 boards featuring dual-band WiFi 6 support. The FireBeetle 2 ESP32-C5 IoT development board made by DFRobot shows that I needed to be more patient… The ESP32-C5 board features 4MB flash, a USB-C port, a LiPo battery connector, and two GPIO headers for expansion, as well as a GDI display connector designed to add an SPI/I2C touchscreen display. The new RISC-V board has about the same features and form factor as the FireBeetle 2 ESP32-S3. It adds 5 GHz WiFi and an 802.15.4 radio for Zigbee, Thread, and Matter, but loses a camera connector, and comes with less memory and storage. FireBeetle 2 ESP32-C5 specifications: Wireless module – ESP32-C5-WROOM-1-N4 SoC – Espressif Systems ESP32-C5 CPU Single-core 32-bit RISC-V processor @ up to 240 MHz Low-power RISC-V core @ 40 MHz acting as the main processor for […]

November 6, 2025 by Paisit Wongsongsarn - 7 Comments

Review of SONOFF’s latest Matter Smart Switches – Basic Gen5 and Tx Gen2

Today, we’re about to review not one, but two new Matter devices: the SONOFF Basic Gen5 Smart Switch and the SONOFF Tx Gen2 Smart Wall Switch. Both are upgraded versions of their previous models, now adding support for the Matter protocol (over Wi-Fi). The Basic Gen5 is the fifth generation of the popular Basic series, known for being affordable and widely used in the market. It’s a Wi-Fi smart switch that can control all kinds of devices, such as lights or small electrical devices. Basically, anything within its 10A limit. What’s new compared to the previous BasicR4 is the addition of Matter and near-field control via Bluetooth. As for the Tx Gen2 (T6), it’s an upgraded version of the older T2/T3 lineup. Besides adding Matter, it also brings a few new features, like adjustable backlight brightness and the Detach Relay mode. Both models support voice control via Apple Siri, Google […]

October 29, 2025October 29, 2025 by Debashis Das - 8 Comments

Waveshare MK20 macro keyboard features twenty mechanical keys with 0.85-inch color LCD keycaps

Waveshare MK20 Multi Functional AI Voice Control Panel

Waveshare MK20 is a multifunctional macro keyboard with twenty mechanical keys featuring 0.85-inch LCD keycaps. As an upgrade to the earlier MK10 model, it adds a 2.8-inch secondary display along with two control knobs. The device supports AI voice interaction, real-time data display, and smart home integration with Home Assistant. Like its predecessor, the MK20 relies on a dual-system architecture: an Allwinner T113-S3 dual-core Cortex-A7 processor runs Linux to drive the displays, and a GD32 microcontroller runs QMK for low-latency keyboard and knob input. Each LCD key offers 128×128 resolution and supports dynamic images, videos, and multi-layer overlays, while the 2.8-inch secondary display (428 × 142 resolution) provides status or customization information. The keyboard also includes two rotary encoders with aluminum caps for volume, playback, or timeline control. The device is built with an aluminum alloy top case and a 2.5D acrylic lens for durability. Waveshare MK20 specifications: Main Controller – Allwinner […]