#radxa

I have some Seeedstudio XIAO ESP32-S3 + WIO-SX1262 lying around, so let’s integrate it into my cyberdeck and give it built-in Meshtastic capability.

Meshtastic is an open-source, decentralized mesh networking system using LoRa radios for long-range, off-grid text messaging and data sharing without cellular or internet infrastructure.

First, designing the case to hold the Lora antenna externally, and another case to hold the modules internally. You can download the 3D files here.

Next, drilling a hole in the case to let the antenna cable into the case. The antenna case was mounted on the hard case using acrylic tape. It’s a surprisingly strong non-permanent bond.

This is the best placement for the antenna that I was able to come up with. The antenna can be folded down for convenient transport.

I didn’t want it to be on all the time, so I had to wire up my own USB-A to USB-C cable with a power switch to turn it on when needed. Used some male USB-A and USB-C breakout connectors and shielded 4-core cable.

Another improvement to my cyberdeck is wiring an external switch to the Mcuzone 5V5A Dual PD Power Supply module, so that it can be turned on or off as needed, while the powerbank can be left connected.

You can check out my post here on how to run the Mestastic web client locally.

Here is the list of parts I have used so far for my cyberdeck build. Many of the parts came from Aliexpress.

That’s it for this post. Hope it’s helpful in your own build.

Y’all thought radtron was dead. 

We’ve got a new member, and their name is @radxa

I used a relatively small hard case for my cyberdeck, so I have limited space to put things inside the case and on the front panel. Hence, why I decided to make some modules external. That got me thinking that I should also make some ports external to work with these external modules. The first is an external USB port. I got a waterproofed USB port to ensure my hard case stays waterproof. I dremeled a hole on the side of the hard case for this. I also bought a waterproofed RJ45 CAT6 port to put on the opposite side of the USB port.

For the external USB port, I wanted it to be connected directly to the Radxa Rock 5C, but I didn’t want it to be powered from the Rock 5C as I might connect some external module that might suck a lot of power and that would overload the Rock 5C. So, I wired my own USB cable that splits the power lines to get the power from the Mcuzone 5V5A Dual PD power supply module instead. That gives my external USB a full 5V5A if needed.

That’s it for this post. Now I can plug the RTL-SDR external module to the external USB instead of the front panel’s USB hub.

Two years ago, I built my first cyberdeck using a Raspberry Pi 4. It worked… kind of. Functional, yes—but painfully underpowered. It chugged through tasks like an old netbook running on fumes. So, it’s time for a serious upgrade.

If you are not familiar with the term "cyberdeck", it is a custom-built, portable computer inspired by cyberpunk fiction, like William Gibson's Neuromancer, where hackers use compact devices to "jack in" to cyberspace. In the maker community, it's typically a rugged, handheld rig assembled from single-board computers (such as Raspberry Pi), a touchscreen, keyboard, battery, and storage—all packed into a tough case for on-the-go computing, hacking, or survival scenarios.

Anyway, this time, I’m going with the Radxa Rock 5C—a beast powered by the Rockchip RK3588S2 SoC with an octa-core ARM CPU (4x Cortex-A76 at 2.4GHz + 4x Cortex-A55), a Mali-G610 MC4 GPU, and 6 TOPS NPU for AI tasks. Fully loaded with 16GB LPDDR4x RAM, it’s paired with the Radxa 8” Touch Display and backed by a 480GB SSD—a massive leap over my sluggish old Pi 4.

Power’s always a tricky part of portable builds. Since I plan to run this from all sorts of sources—power banks, USB-C chargers, or whatever’s on hand—I needed guaranteed juice. Enter the Mcuzone 5V5A Dual PD Power Supply, which ensures the Rock 5C always gets a clean and steady 5V 5A.

For the case, I wanted something tough but compact. I chose a waterproof hard case, resisting the temptation to go huge and cram in everything possible. Portability won this time. The case I got was 287x220x107mm.

Inside, I’m building the internal frame using high-density PVC foam board—surprisingly sturdy, takes screws well, and easy to shape with just a utility knife. PVC glue makes assembly quick, and a coat of spray paint gives it a clean finish.

I started by assembling the base frame, which will live permanently in the bottom of the case. 

Next came the faceplate—this will hold the display and components up top, screwed securely into the base frame. 

Designing mounts in such limited space feels like solving a 3D puzzle. Every millimeter counts. It might look a bit ad hoc, but I planned each placement carefully to keep wiring short and airflow decent.

Sure, an NVMe SSD would’ve saved space—but I already had a SATA drive from my previous build, and honestly, reusing parts adds character (and saves cash!).

Also, I had to get a longer 20cm FPC cable to connect the touch display to the Rock 5C.

Here’s a quick peek at how it’s shaping up: the components snug in their base frame, powered up, and running beautifully.

The flip stand that I built previously works, but it’s not as stable as I would have liked, because the top part of my cyberdeck is pretty heavy. So, I decided to redesign the stand.

The previous flip stand design works well, so I decided to reuse the same design, but to make two flip stands, making it much more stable.

Next, painting it matte black. I used acrylic tape to stick the stand on to the hard case.

Here’s a video of it in action.

Rivales Raspberry Pi: ROCK Pi 4

ROCK Pi 4 otra placa que se suma a la fiesta de los procesadores Rockchip RK3399. Esta vez con precios en teoría muy competitivos. Llega de la mano de Tom Cubie creador de las míticas Cubieboards y que luego creó Radxa con varias placas interesantes: Radxa Rock.

En primer lugar, esta placa además de tener un buen precio (unos 35€ el modelo más barato de 1GB de RAM, sin PoE y sin Wi-Fi). Incluye…

Radxa is accepting preorders for a compact, open, Android- and Linux-ready single board computer based on a 1.6GHz quad-core Rockchip RK3188 SoC. The $89 and $69 Radxa Rock and Rock Lite SBCs offer up to 2GB RAM and 8GB flash, WiFi, Bluetooth, and Ethernet connectivity, real-world ports for HDMI, Ethernet, USB, and S/PDIF, and numerous other interfaces on a pair of expansion headers.