Heading into this summer weekend, I have a handful of fun Raspberry Pi projects for you to try.From home security upgrades to network infrastructure, here are three fun Raspberry Pi projects to do this weekend.Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W Brand Raspberry Pi CPU Quad-core 64-bit ARM Cortex-A53 The Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W is super tiny and super affordable, but it packs enough computing power for a variety of DIY projects.
You can use it to create a handheld retro gaming console, for Klipper/Mainsail, a super compact home or media server, and more. $40 at Amazon $19 at adafruit $16 at CanaKit Expand Collapse Build a security camera viewer See all your cameras at one time If you run a self-hosted NVR (network video recorder) at home to capture your security camera footage, then you probably also want a way to monitor those cameras, too.That's where your Raspberry Pi comes in.Since a Raspberry Pi is a full computer, you can easily set it up to monitor your security cameras.
One of the simplest ways to do this is to enable kiosk mode and then open the browser up to the IP address of your NVR, so long as it shows each camera feed.Another option would be to run camera software, like Scrypted or Frigate.These pieces of software could even run on the Pi itself and ingest all of the camera feeds to bring them into a single window for you to view.
All you'd have to do is hook the Pi up to a monitor or TV, and you now have a dedicated security camera viewer.There's not much more to it than that.If you're after a simple project to do this weekend, a security camera viewer is the perfect choice.
Spin up a backup Pi-hole instance Never let your network go down I run Pi-hole on my network to curtail what domains are allowed to be reached.While I do primarily use it for ad blocking, Pi-hole actually has a number of other uses.Since Pi-hole works at the DNS level, it's a great way to block devices from accessing any service.
For instance, you could block your smart plugs from phoning home to a remote server by blocking access to the server.However, if you only run one Pi-hole instance, then your network will go down if that instance also goes down.That's why I always have a secondary Pi-hole instance running on my network.
It's easier than you might think to do this.I use Nebula-Sync to keep the two Pi-hole instances in sync.Nebula-Sync runs on a schedule and takes the configuration from your primary Pi-hole instance and copies it to the backup.
This means that if your primary instance goes down for any reason, the backup is there and ready to take over with the latest copy of your configuration.The configuration holds everything outside of statistics, including block lists, allow lists, DNS zone records, and more.So if you're still only running a single Pi-hole instance on your network, make this weekend the time you spin up a second.
Your network will become more reliable, and downtime won't be nearly as big a headache as it used to be.Let your Pi print out your to-do list on a receipt printer Sometimes a physical list is better Ever since I first saw this project, I've wanted to do it.I still haven't yet, but maybe you will this weekend.
Your Pi can help you get more done every day with a pretty simple system.All it takes is your Pi, a little automation, and a thermal receipt printer.While there's no specific project to tackle this task, there's one that you can glean some information from.
The Ticket Printer Application project on GitHub is designed to allow other people to send you messages and have them print out on a receipt printer.What you'll want to do is use that project as a base and then modify it to work with something like n8n to print your task list out every morning.The exact workflow will depend on what platform you use for your to-do list.
Deals Save on Maker Gear: Raspberry Pi Deals for Weekend Builds Find big savings on maker and creator deals for Raspberry Pi projects - from single-board computers and thermal receipt printers to displays, cables, and home networking gear.Browse discounts on tools to build security viewers, Pi-hole backups, and printer setups.Deals Explore Maker & Creator Deals There will definitely be a lot of trial and error here to get the formatting correct for the printer, as well as the integrations hooked up on the automation side.
However, that's what this hobby is for, right? It's all about tinkering, testing, troubleshooting, and having fun while doing it.If that Raspberry Pi is just sitting in a drawer collecting dust, why not pull it out and put it to use this weekend? By the end of it you'll have a useful project on your hands, and you just might accomplish more next week than you ever imagined.Rongta POS Thermal Printer Brand Rongta Type Thermal receipt printer The Rongta POS thermal printer is perfect for any receipt printing applications you might have.
Whether you're running a small business or doing DIY projects on a Raspberry Pi, this thermal printer is sure to work for your application.It can be wall-mounted, and connects to your computer over USB, LAN, or a serial port.Plus, the auto cutter means you won't have to tear off finished receipts once they're printed.
$90 at Amazon Expand Collapse There are so many ways to use a Raspberry Pi In today's roundup, I showcased three very distinct ways to use a Raspberry Pi.The first one is with a display connected 24/7, the second requires zero display (or even input) at all, and the third also requires no display, but offers daily output.All that to day, there's no wrong way to use a Raspberry Pi.
There are thousands of projects out there that you can do with your Pi, so grab it out of your drawer and give that Pi some use this weekend.
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