Diy on Pi Stack

Self-Hosted Kiln & Heat Treatment Controllers: Pi Kiln vs PIDKiln vs Reflow Oven Controllers

Sat, 06 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Introduction

Temperature control is one of the oldest and most important industrial processes — and it’s also one of the most accessible for makers and hobbyists to automate. Whether you’re firing pottery in a kiln, soldering PCBs in a reflow oven, or heat-treating metal in a forge, self-hosted temperature controllers give you precise digital control over analog heat.

Self-Hosted LoRa Mesh Networks: Meshtastic vs Reticulum vs Disaster Radio Compared

Sat, 06 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Why Build a Self-Hosted LoRa Mesh Network?

When cellular networks go down — whether due to natural disasters, remote locations, or infrastructure failures — traditional communication channels fail with them. LoRa (Long Range) mesh networking solves this by creating decentralized, low-power, long-range communication networks that operate independently of any infrastructure.

Self-Hosted Radiation Monitoring: DIY Particle Detector vs Safecast vs OpenRadiation

Sat, 06 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Why Monitor Radiation Yourself?

Radiation monitoring sounds like something only nuclear power plant operators need — but citizen-led radiation sensing has proven its value repeatedly. After the Fukushima Daiichi disaster in 2011, Safecast volunteers deployed thousands of portable sensors across Japan, generating the most comprehensive open radiation dataset ever created. Today, affordable silicon photomultipliers and PIN diodes let anyone build a radiation spectrometer capable of distinguishing between different radioactive isotopes — technology that previously cost thousands of dollars in a handheld device.

Self-Hosted Retro Gaming Consoles: Recalbox vs Batocera vs RetroPie vs Lakka Compared

Sat, 06 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Why Build a Self-Hosted Retro Gaming Console?

Retro gaming is experiencing a massive revival. Whether you grew up with the NES, SNES, Sega Genesis, PlayStation 1, or arcade cabinets, the nostalgia for classic titles runs deep. But original hardware is expensive, fragile, and occupies significant physical space. Emulation solves this — and self-hosted retro gaming operating systems take it a step further by turning a Raspberry Pi, old PC, or single-board computer into a dedicated console that connects directly to your TV.

Self-Hosted VR Streaming: ALVR vs WiVRn Compared — Stream PC VR to Your Headset

Sat, 06 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Why Self-Hosted VR Streaming Matters

Wireless PC VR is one of the most transformative experiences in modern gaming. The freedom to move without a cable tethering you to your computer fundamentally changes how you experience virtual reality. But the dominant wireless VR solution — Meta’s Air Link — is proprietary, requires a Facebook account, and only works with Quest headsets.

Self-Hosted Aquarium Controllers: reef-pi vs Mycodo vs TerrariumPI Compared

Fri, 05 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Reef keeping and aquarium maintenance demand precise environmental control — temperature swings of a few degrees, pH drift, or lighting schedule mistakes can crash an entire tank ecosystem. Automated controllers take the guesswork out of aquarium management, monitoring parameters 24/7 and triggering responses faster than any human could.