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Hackaday Podcast Episode 390 is a weekly roundup hosted by Elliot Williams and Kristina Panos, not a single-project tutorial. Its featured hacks range from a tiny DOOM-playing TV console and conveyor-belt keyboard to crystal growing, VHS games, ESP32 radio repair, and gardening with OpenSCAD. The official episode page was published October 9, 2026; its show notes are best read as a guide to linked stories, not as verification of each project’s specifications or results.
What Episode 390 covers
The episode page’s lead moves from news and mailbag items into the week’s hacks. Its title singles out DOOM, “Cranium Stuff,” and OpenSCAD, while the notes also point to quick hacks and other articles. That makes the episode useful as a varied discovery roundup rather than a step-by-step build guide.
Read the official Hackaday Episode 390 page and show notes.
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News and mailbag highlights
News items
- An Alexa auxiliary-input story.
- The Retrocomputing Contest. The October 9 episode page lists its deadline as 10 AM PDT on Tuesday, October 27, 2026.
- Tickets for the 2026 Hackaday Superconference, listed for Friday, November 6, through Sunday, November 8, 2026.
The contest deadline and conference dates are schedule details reported on the episode page and are time-sensitive; check the linked event information for current status.
#1 Best Overall
- 2.4GHz Dual Mode WiFi + Bluetooth Development Board
- Support LWIP protocol, Freertos
- SupportThree Modes: AP, STA, and AP+STA
- Ultra-Low power consumption, Compatible with Arduino IDE
- ESP32 is a safe, reliable, and scalable to a variety of applications
Mailbag audio bumper
The hosts introduce a new Hackaday Podcast audio bumper credited to Dakota Winslow. The page notes that Winslow said it contains Easter eggs, without identifying them in the summary.
Featured hacks: six different directions
The “Interesting Hacks of the Week” section names projects across retro gaming, alternative input devices, science, media, radio repair, and design tools:
Rank #2
- Dual-Core Performance Up to 240 MHz: Run sensor processing, wireless communication, automation logic and connected-device tasks on a 32-bit dual-core ESP32 platform designed for responsive embedded and IoT projects
- Built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 4.2: Connect to 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi networks or use Bluetooth Classic and BLE for wireless sensors, smart devices, remote controls, home automation and other connected projects
- Flexible Power-Saving Modes: ESP32 power-management features support dynamic clock scaling and low-power operating modes, helping developers reduce energy use in compatible sensing, monitoring and connected-device applications, suitable for battery-powered Internet of Things (IoT) devices.
- USB-C Programming with CP2102: Connect through USB-C for power, sketch uploads and serial monitoring, while GPIO, UART, SPI and I2C interfaces support sensors, displays, motor drivers and other modules (USB-C cable not included)
- Over-the-Air Update Support: Configure OTA functionality through a compatible ESP-32 software framework to update deployed firmware over Wi-Fi without reconnecting the board by USB for every revision
- “The World’s Smallest TV Console Plays DOOM” brings a miniature gaming build into the roundup.
- “Conveyor Belt GBoard Brings The Keys To You” is listed alongside an ErgoDex DX1 specification sheet.
- “How To Grow A Giant Crystal From Copper Sulfate” appears with a link to an automated crystal-growing rig.
- “Porting Video Games To VHS” is paired with a Dragon’s Lair reference.
- “Keep That Old Radio Alive With An ESP32” points to a radio-repair project using an ESP32.
- “Gardening With…OpenSCAD?” suggests an unexpected use of the 3D modeling tool in a gardening context.
These are the show notes’ project titles and associations. The episode page alone does not establish how the builds work, what parts they require, whether they succeeded under particular conditions, or how they perform.
Quick hacks and other articles in the notes
Quick hacks
The quick-hack list extends the episode’s range with a retro terminal bartop arcade topper, an RP2350 video project, a Commodore 64 keyboard font, a font-identification article, a dexterous robot hand, a transcranial magnetic stimulation story, an electronic busy board, and a mechanical radio.
Rank #3
- Powerful ESP-32 Board: Unlock the world of Internet of Things (IoT) and advanced electronics with the heart of this kit: the ESP-32 board. It features a powerful dual-core processor, integrated Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 4.2, making it perfect for building connected, smart devices that communicate with your phone or the cloud. It's fully compatible with the Arduino IDE for easy programming.
- Super Starter Kit: This kit contains over 35 different modules and electronic components, including sensors, displays, motors, and input devices. From LEDs and buttons to an OLED screen, servo motor, and keypad, you have everything needed to explore a vast range of projects in one box.
- Step by Step Online Tutorial: Jump right in with our detailed, beginner-friendly tutorial. Access 30+ projects with complete code, clear circuit diagrams, and step-by-step instructions. Learn the fundamentals of electronics, coding, and how to utilize the ESP-32's unique capabilities without any prior experience.
- Hands-on Learning for All Skill Levels: Perfect for students, makers, engineers, and hobbyists. Start with basic circuits and coding, then progress to intermediate and advanced IoT applications. Build practical projects like weather stations, smart home controllers, remote-controlled devices, and interactive gadgets. The skills you learn are the foundation for real-world innovation.
- Quality & Great Support: Elegoo is committed to quality. We provide a clear, detailed tutorial guide, refined code, and a well-organized component kit. All modules are carefully selected for reliability and ease of use. Our dedicated technical support team and active online community are ready to help you succeed in your learning journey.
Can’t-Miss Articles
The page also flags a Matrix server article and a headset article. These entries broaden the show notes beyond the featured build list; their inclusion is not, by itself, an endorsement or technical assessment.
What the ESP32 mention does—and does not—tell you
The title “Keep That Old Radio Alive With An ESP32” makes an ESP32 development board a plausible starting point for someone interested in that project. But the verified episode page does not name a board model, parts list, required interfaces, compatibility details, or a complete build procedure. It therefore cannot support a specific board recommendation or a claim that any particular board will work. Consult the linked project story for the actual requirements before choosing hardware.
Rank #4
- 2.4GHz Dual Mode WiFi + Bluetooth Development Board
- Support LWIP protocol, Freertos;ESP32 is a safe, reliable, and scalable to a variety of applications
- SupportThree Modes: AP, STA, and AP+STA
- Ultra-Low power consumption, Compatible with Arduino IDE
- 1PCS 30Pin ESP32 Development Board 2.4GHz WiFi Dual Cores Microcontroller Integrated with Antenna RF Low Noise Amplifiers Filters
How to use the episode page
Use Episode 390’s show notes as a map for finding projects that catch your interest. Follow the relevant links for technical details, and distinguish a project’s title from evidence about its design or results. The page is a roundup, not a product comparison, parts guide, or verified account of each linked project.
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Best Value
- 2.4GHz Dual Mode WiFi + Bluetooth Development Board
- Ultra-Low power consumption, works perfectly with the Arduino IDE
- Support LWIP protocol, Freertos
- SupportThree Modes: AP, STA, and AP+STA
- ESP32 is a safe, reliable, and scalable to a variety of applications
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