Calista & Picos
Picos
Yo Cal, how about we turn a toaster into a Wi‑Fi node and set up a DIY mesh for the neighborhood? We could use the old USB port, some cheap modules, and see how far we can push a decentralised comms network. What do you think?
Calista
Sounds inventive, but let’s make sure we keep safety first. A toaster’s heating element and power draw could cause trouble if we’re not careful. Maybe prototype with a low‑power board first and test the mesh in a controlled setting before we roll it out to the whole neighborhood. Keep the plan tight and the risks low.
Picos
Right, safety first—let’s use a low‑power MCU and a cheap RF kit for the prototype. Hook the toaster up to a bench supply, add a fuse, and run a temp sensor so we can shut it off if it goes hot. Then we’ll test the mesh on a couple of nodes before going all‑out. Simple, clean, no surprises. Let's code the firmware and fire up a simulation on the Pi.
Calista
Sounds solid. Make sure the firmware checks the temp reading before enabling the RF module, and add a watchdog timer just in case. Keep the code modular so you can swap the MCU later if needed. Once the bench test is good, the Pi simulation should catch any timing hiccups before we deploy the mesh. Let me know if you hit any snags.
Picos
Got it, will hook up a temp sensor, wire in the watchdog, keep everything in separate modules so swapping MCU is just a copy‑paste. Bench test first, then run the Pi sim for any timing glitches. Ping me if the RF starts acting like a stubborn toaster—I'll debug it at 3 AM.
Calista
Sounds good, keep me posted and I'll monitor the logs. Happy to help if the toaster throws a tantrum at 3 AM.