this post was submitted on 06 Mar 2026
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[–] Aceticon@lemmy.dbzer0.com 8 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago)

The actual problem isn't at all making a 4G mini-computer: you can literally buy the necessary parts as modules and wire them together with a a half-way decent microcontroller board and an smallish LED display and then make some code for it in something like Arduino IDE (though I would recommend Platform IO + VS Code instead).

The problem is making it small (especially thin) and capable of running of batteries for days rather than hours.

For example, if you're trying to actually solve the hard part of the problem you would be better of using a micro-controller with an ARM core rather than the ESP32 as those things are designed to use less power. Also you wouldn't be able to use boards as those things usually waste power versus designing your own.

That said, it's a nice hobbyist project.

[–] solrize@lemmy.ml 30 points 4 days ago (1 children)

Nice. The 4g module is $17.90 from digikey, much less than last time I looked. I wonder if there's a 5g version. I also wonder if there's any issue using retail sim cards and making LTE voice calls.

[–] obbeel@lemmy.eco.br 10 points 4 days ago (1 children)

the reddit discussion is interesting

[–] Billygoat@piefed.social 18 points 3 days ago

Any particular reason?

[–] obbeel@lemmy.eco.br 14 points 3 days ago (2 children)

Why are people so pissed at this FelixCress guy? He is just wrong, there is no need to debate.

[–] notthebees@reddthat.com 6 points 3 days ago

I'm personally not pissed but I'm not sure if they're missing something or not. Or just old fashioned ragebaiting. If it's ragebaiting, they got me.

Because Felix is wrong and hates technology and the people who make it.

They probably hate Linux and being a vegan queer furry too.

[–] IllNess@infosec.pub 9 points 3 days ago (1 children)

I am really interested in where this project goes.

ESP32 projects are low powered. Not everything needs 5G and the latest Snapdragon.

[–] 0x0@infosec.pub 5 points 2 days ago

Esp32 isnt really known for being low powered when talking about modules like these in general, quite the opposite really.

Nrf and others are better alternatives

[–] MonkderVierte@lemmy.zip 5 points 3 days ago

Is hackster.io any good for tech news? And is it more of a general tech news site or more specialized?
And if so, any good software/hardware hacking site aside hackaday?

[–] bryndos@fedia.io 7 points 3 days ago

There must have been a phone marketed as ePhone before now?

If not maybe try Espressone

[–] Evil_Shrubbery@thelemmy.club 6 points 4 days ago (1 children)

Are ESP32 secure enough to have them directly on the internets?

[–] kn33@lemmy.world 10 points 3 days ago

It depends on the code you run on it, really. A lot of the time, too, 4G will be behind CG-NAT which at least means the listening ports aren't automatically on the internet.

[–] sol6_vi@lemmy.makearmy.io 1 points 3 days ago

How's RISC doing these days...

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