👾 HDMI Video Throwie Workshop

In this workshop you’ll use a Pi Pico microcontroller to send low-res (320×240) digital video to an HDMI display. Despite its limitations, the cool thing about this device is that it’s inexpensive enough that you can plug it in somewhere (perhaps a wall of TVs at an electronics store) and leave it behind for prank/art/propaganda purposes. The term “throwie” usually refers to a battery-powered device such as an LED light or radio transmitter with magnets on the back, tossed onto a high metal surface where it can’t easily be reached.
Your Pi Pico will generate video in the DVI-D format rather than the newer HDMI standard. But because HDMI is backwards compatible with DVI-D, your device should work with any HDMI monitor or TV.
Here’s what’s in the kit:
- Pi Pico board w/ microUSB port
- Pico DVI video sock
- insulated wire (4″)
- heat shrink tubing (3″)
Here’s what else you’ll need:
- HDMI cable
- microUSB cable with data connection
- computer (macOS/Linux/Windows)
- soldering iron
- lead-free solder
- flux paste
- header pins (optional)
- wire stripping tool (optional)
➡️ Instructions
Register
coming soon!