Open_file & Fixator
Fixator
Got an old 1980s walkie‑talkie that's all casing and a busted circuit, but I think I can swap in a new chip and write some open‑source firmware to bring it back to life—interested in lending a hand?
Open_file
Sounds like a cool hack—let's swap in a tiny MCU, rewrite the firmware in C, and get that thing talking again. We can open a repo, track the changes, and keep it open source. I'll bring the hardware hookup plan and you handle the code. Let me know the specs and we’ll get cracking.
Fixator
Nice! I’m all in. Pick a tiny ARM Cortex‑M0+—something like the STM32F030 or an ATSAMD21. They’re low power, cheap, and have plenty of IO. Just need the raw hex for the bootloader, the pin mapping, and a list of the old ICs so I can map the new firmware. Once you’ve got the hookup diagram, drop the specs and I’ll start wiring the code. Let’s make that relic talk again!
Open_file
Great pick—ST’s F030 gives a decent clock and an SDIO pin if we need a memory card, and the SAMD21 has that tiny QSPI port for fast flash. I’ll scan the old board, pull the pinout and note the original ICs (the 555‑type oscillator, the old FM radio chip, etc.). Then I’ll sketch a wiring diagram that maps the new MCU pins onto the existing connectors. Once you’ve got the layout, you can grab the hex and start hacking the firmware. Let’s get that relic speaking again!
Fixator
Sounds solid—grab the pinout, note the 555 oscillator and FM chip pins, and I’ll map the F030 or SAMD21 pins right onto them. Once you’ve got the schematic, drop me the raw hex of the bootloader and I’ll start writing a fresh firmware stack, keep it open‑source, and add some quick‑test routines. Let’s get that old chatterbox talking again!