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Topic: DIY Bitcoin Blockclock - page 2. (Read 1034 times)

legendary
Activity: 2212
Merit: 7064
January 15, 2024, 03:28:55 PM
#33
I think I will get the DIY package and let you know how the build went.
I hope you know your way around soldering  Smiley
Better first to read instructions and watch few videos before you start making your own DIY device.

the one that is the same size as the BTClock is roughly $400
Than how big was nkv's coinkite clock in full size?

I can share some opinions once I have both.
That would be nice.
I think BTClock have big advantage that you can customize and change it however you want.
Developer is constantly updating it and adding new versions.
legendary
Activity: 2254
Merit: 2419
EIN: 82-3893490
January 14, 2024, 11:35:34 AM
#32

And that is mini, not full size version.
I could only imagine how much he would charge for regular big version, probably over $1000  Tongue

the one that is the same size as the BTClock is roughly $400

I have the coinkite one and have also ordered the BTClock one from @btc_hardware on twitter.

I should have that one next week - They look similar and have a lot of the same display features from what I have seen in videos/pictures.

I can share some opinions once I have both.
jr. member
Activity: 36
Merit: 1
January 12, 2024, 11:13:54 AM
#31
This is a really nice machine. You need to buy the eInk displays and and a board but they are stupidly cheap on Ali.

I think I will get the DIY package and let you know how the build went.

Thanks for sharing this.
legendary
Activity: 2212
Merit: 7064
January 12, 2024, 10:42:37 AM
#30
Hey! Is this "BTClock" in the picture built by you? I'd like to get one but I'm really bad building stuff
All pictures are from official website, so it's not mine.
Don't even try building BTClock yourself if you don't know soldering and making your own stuff.
Like I said, there is assembled BTClock you can purchase from website.

Indeed, it is [a blockclock mini alternative for the price of a blockclock micro is an absolute steal] and we can save almost €100 more [minus shipping] if we go with the DIY route.
And that is mini, not full size version.
I could only imagine how much he would charge for regular big version, probably over $1000  Tongue
legendary
Activity: 2968
Merit: 3406
Crypto Swap Exchange
January 12, 2024, 08:14:14 AM
#29
Compared to $400 for nvk-mini, this is a bargain!
Indeed, it is [a blockclock mini alternative for the price of a blockclock micro is an absolute steal] and we can save almost €100 more [minus shipping] if we go with the DIY route.
- Nice catch Wink
newbie
Activity: 3
Merit: 0
January 12, 2024, 05:09:38 AM
#28
Few days ago I found a perfect open source alternative for expensive overpriced blockclock by coinkite(coldcard.
I am already boycotting all NVK-coldcard products and I hope he won't be angry and pissed (again) because someone made cheaper and better product (again) and made it open source.

Let me present you BTClock , made by Djuri B. from Netherlands.
Open-source block-shaped clock that is showing Bitcoin related information including Block height, Moscow Time (Sats per Dollar), Price, Time, Halving Countdown.

You can currently purchase BTClock fully assembled and tested for €190, or you can purchase individual parts and build it yourself.
It is using genius design with multiple small eInk displays mounted on top of PCB.
Compared to $400 for nvk-mini, this is a bargain!

https://www.talkimg.com/images/2024/01/11/sO4S1.jpeg  https://www.talkimg.com/images/2024/01/11/sO79W.png

Build instructions:
https://github.com/btclock/btclock_v2/wiki

Source code: https://github.com/btclock

Official website: https://btclock.store/


Hey! Is this "BTClock" in the picture built by you? I'd like to get one but I'm really bad building stuff
legendary
Activity: 2212
Merit: 7064
January 11, 2024, 02:19:35 PM
#27
Few days ago I found a perfect open source alternative for expensive overpriced blockclock by coinkite(coldcard.
I am already boycotting all NVK-coldcard products and I hope he won't be angry and pissed (again) because someone made cheaper and better product (again) and made it open source.

Let me present you BTClock , made by Djuri B. from Netherlands.
Open-source block-shaped clock that is showing Bitcoin related information including Block height, Moscow Time (Sats per Dollar), Price, Time, Halving Countdown.

You can currently purchase BTClock fully assembled and tested for €190, or you can purchase individual parts and build it yourself.
It is using genius design with multiple small eInk displays mounted on top of PCB.
Compared to $400 for nvk-mini, this is a bargain!

 

Build instructions:
https://github.com/btclock/btclock_v2/wiki

Source code: https://github.com/btclock

Official website: https://btclock.store/
legendary
Activity: 2212
Merit: 7064
June 14, 2022, 04:23:16 PM
#26
I've modified nixie clock from aliexpress to countdown bitcoin price. And glow red/green depending on the market.
Cannot release the firmware/source yet because my wifi credentials are built in, need to code some kind-of UI to add wifi.
It's looking very nice!
Are there any easy DIY tutorial how we can do it ourselves, and it is complicated or not?
I prefer smaller compact size of Blockclock Mini, but current market crash would only hurt more whenever I would look at it  Cheesy
I guess I could just switch to mempool and transaction fees if that was possible.
Perfect device for me would be multipurpose device that could show both regular time, bitcoin info or any other info.
newbie
Activity: 1
Merit: 4
June 14, 2022, 05:27:53 AM
#25
Kind of like the voltage goat nixie price tickers.

I've modified nixie clock from aliexpress to countdown bitcoin price. And glow red/green depending on the market.
Cannot release the firmware/source yet because my wifi credentials are built in, need to code some kind-of UI to add wifi.


Here's how it looks:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cdwItoQubqM

https://i.imgur.com/Y7j3lsS.jpg
legendary
Activity: 3500
Merit: 6320
Crypto Swap Exchange
June 04, 2022, 05:08:49 PM
#24
I hate to break it to you, but currently, they're asking for "$149" to reserve it [I guess the price could only grow in the future].
Nice catch! I didn't saw they added it in Coinkite store already.
Nah I won't spend that much money plus shipping fees for Blockclock Micro, even if I like it, but I think that Coinkite/Coldcard is ripping people off... and I understand they are trying to make a living from this.

AT $150 it's a little expensive but not out of hand. For whatever reason they are not using off the shelf parts so there is a much larger cost then just using a stock RPi zero and an off the shelf display. The rest of it does not look that bad in terms of cost. Now, why they went non 'standard' components instead of something that can be bought everywhere is a valid question. But to design & test & build what is probably going to be a limited production run item does have a cost behind it. And they are building it domestically not in China / someplace cheap so a bit more cost there too.

Kind of like the voltage goat nixie price tickers. The standard parts that make them up are not that much, the custom built items like they do...that will cost you.
Separate non BTC nixie thing but political, if you want a nixie clock order one from here: https://nixieshop.com/store.html

-Dave
legendary
Activity: 2212
Merit: 7064
June 04, 2022, 03:07:00 PM
#23
I hate to break it to you, but currently, they're asking for "$149" to reserve it [I guess the price could only grow in the future].
Nice catch! I didn't saw they added it in Coinkite store already.
Nah I won't spend that much money plus shipping fees for Blockclock Micro, even if I like it, but I think that Coinkite/Coldcard is ripping people off... and I understand they are trying to make a living from this.
legendary
Activity: 2968
Merit: 3406
Crypto Swap Exchange
June 04, 2022, 10:41:30 AM
#22
but I don't know how much it is different from older models,
Based on the description part of the product in question, they should be the same:

  • I don't know how much they will charge for this product, but it should be much cheaper than Blockclock Mini and I would probably buy it if it was below $100.
    I hate to break it to you, but currently, they're asking for "$149" to reserve it [I guess the price could only grow in the future].
legendary
Activity: 2212
Merit: 7064
June 04, 2022, 02:13:23 AM
#21
I always like Blockclock Mini that is mady by Coinkite aka Coldcard, but I wanted something even smaller so I investigated all possible DIY solutions.
According to recent news and NVK tweet, Coinkite is working on releasing their newest device called Blockclock Micro that looks just about perfect for my taste.
We can see this new device is showing market price for Bitcoin, but I don't know how much it is different from older models, and what options it has.
I don't know how much they will charge for this product, but it should be much cheaper than Blockclock Mini and I would probably buy it if it was below $100.


https://twitter.com/nvk/status/1532785626944311296
legendary
Activity: 3500
Merit: 6320
Crypto Swap Exchange
December 05, 2021, 08:17:19 AM
#20
It should work just fine and I don't see any big difference in those two devices.
They are both ESP32 based and if you check parameters on both pages you will see that they are almost identical, same display, same processor, same SRAM,
and only difference I noticed is touch screen on device you want to purchase and better 390mAh battery.

EDIT:
This is even better option M5Stack Core2 ESP32 AWS (has ATECC608 secure element)

The screen is what actually concerned me, but I left it as a general question.
In theory it should not matter, however I have had a few RPi projects that specified non touch screens that got a bit off when you used touch ones.
Mostly because they did not expect the input. I know enough about RPi / linux to disable the touch part and they were better. But I don't know crap about the this unit or how to disable the touch screen input.

With that being said I ordered the Amazon one you linked above.

-Dave
legendary
Activity: 2212
Merit: 7064
December 05, 2021, 05:53:31 AM
#19
It should work just fine and I don't see any big difference in those two devices.
They are both ESP32 based and if you check parameters on both pages you will see that they are almost identical, same display, same processor, same SRAM,
and only difference I noticed is touch screen on device you want to purchase and better 390mAh battery.

EDIT:
This is even better option M5Stack Core2 ESP32 AWS (has ATECC608 secure element)
legendary
Activity: 3500
Merit: 6320
Crypto Swap Exchange
December 04, 2021, 04:11:02 PM
#18
Here is released github code v0.5 with instructions for creating your won BlockClock Micro device that is ten times cheaper than original BlockClock Mini.
In theory this should even work on cheaper esp32 devices but I didn't test it myself so I can't confirm it.

Quote
INSTRUCTIONS
Step 1) Follow this guide using M5Burner to flash the UIFlow firmware to your device.

Step 2) Ensure your device is connected to the IDE via WiFi before proceeding. If it is not connected, you will not be able to upload the code and images. You will need to reset the device in order for the IDE to detect the device.

Step 3) Upload the micropython code to the UIFlow IDE. To do this, open the blockclock_v0.5.py file in a text editor, and then copy and paste the code into UIFlow under the "Python" tab.

Step 4) Insert your WiFi SSID beside wlan_AP = and your WiFi password beside wlan_PW = in the code before flashing the device.

Step 5) Upload the images via the Device File Manager icon near the top right of the IDE. Add them one by one.

Step 6) Click the "Run" icon beside the Device File Manager icon to flash the firmware to your device.

Enjoy!
https://github.com/kkdao/micro-blockclock

I just opened an issue on github, but figured I would post here if anyone else knows

The linked m5stack is EOL: https://shop.m5stack.com/products/basic-core-iot-development-kit?variant=16804801937498
Will the clock work with the replacement?
https://shop.m5stack.com/collections/stack-series/products/m5stack-core2-esp32-iot-development-kit

I was going to get myself an early Christmas present but since that one is not around I'll go for the pyblockmicro that dkbit98 posted.

-Dave
legendary
Activity: 2212
Merit: 7064
November 28, 2021, 02:19:24 PM
#17
then most likely the display of the respective currency would be removed or what do you think?
This is not the topic about Blockclock device so I don't really care what are they going to do with 6th digit.
I was searching for cheaper DIY alternatives for this project, just like the topic and content suggest after reading.
legendary
Activity: 3304
Merit: 8633
icarus-cards.eu
November 28, 2021, 01:56:16 PM
#16

what would the display look like for a 6-digit Bitcoin price?
then most likely the display of the respective currency would be removed or what do you think?
newbie
Activity: 5
Merit: 1
September 15, 2021, 02:57:34 AM
#15
... including Moscow time Smiley.

I'm guessing then you are not US based. I was cleaning and just found a box of old RPi stuff that I was going to put up for sale. Probably not worth shipping 5000 miles.

Also, if you are not looking for DIY but open box & plug in don't forget about the nixie stuff https://www.voltagegoat.com/shop/tickers/ sells.
If i was not actively trying to shrink down a lot of BTC / crypto / electronic stuff in general I have around, one of these would be sitting on my shelf.

-Dave

Hi ! I'm looking to build this type of nixie ticker, but only to count the mined blocks. Do you know where I can find an info of doing it ? I need only to showing the blocks, nothing else. What parts does I need, and do I need to code something, or just to connect the device to the network ?
Huge thank you, if somebody can help me with this !!!
legendary
Activity: 3500
Merit: 6320
Crypto Swap Exchange
May 07, 2021, 06:46:07 AM
#14
Here is released github code v0.5 with instructions for creating your won BlockClock Micro device that is ten times cheaper than original BlockClock Mini.
In theory this should even work on cheaper esp32 devices but I didn't test it myself so I can't confirm it.

https://github.com/kkdao/micro-blockclock


Depending on where you are in the world the https://m5stack.com/products/basic-core-iot-development-kit may be cheaper at other places.

Check out https://www.adafruit.com/ you can put together a setup that you may like better (screen, case, etc)
They are a good business to support for all these kinds of things: https://www.adafruit.com/about

I get most of my RPi and other stuff from them.

Off to go spend some money on something else I don't need. Bitcoin @ $60k nah, that's cheap, all the collectables and other BTC related stuff, that's expensive...

-Dave
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