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🎉  Happy 13th Birthday Raspberry Pi!   🎂   1,000+ deals in store!   🥳

Pirate Radio - Pi Zero WH Project Kit

by Pimoroni

Build your very own internet-connected radio with the Pirate Radio Kit!

Updated version! The kit now includes a Raspberry Pi Zero WH and the audio board now includes a pre-soldered header. No soldering required!

This kit has everything* you'll need, including a Pi Zero WH, audio board with VU meter LEDs, I2S DAC, and stereo amp, a 5W speaker, and a beautifully retro acrylic enclosure to make it look the business. It'll take you around 30 minutes to put together (check out our assembly guide for details).

Kit contents

  • Raspberry Pi Zero WH
  • Audio board with I2S DAC, stereo amp. VU meter, and six buttons
  • Single 5W 4Ω speaker
  • Blue acrylic enclosure **
  • 50cm USB A to micro-B cable
  • USB A (female) to micro B (male) adaptor
  • Mini to full-size HDMI adaptor
  • Sticker sheet (personalise your Pirate Radio!)
  • Comes in a reusable kit box

* Just add your own micro-SD card

** We've tweaked the design of the back layer and legs recently, and have updated the build guide with extra instructions for these new pieces.

This kit takes advantage of the built-in wireless LAN and Bluetooth on the Pi Zero WH, meaning that there's no longer any need for a USB Wi-Fi dongle.

We've put together three different software projects for your Pirate Radio: an internet radio, a Spotify streaming box, or an AirPlay speaker.

Features

  • Dual I2S DAC/amplifiers (MAX98357A)
  • 3W per channel
  • 2x push fit speaker terminals
  • DIP switch to select blended mono or stereo modes
  • 16 RGB LED pixels (APA102) in 2 rows of 8
  • 6 edge-mounted push buttons
  • Software installer and ALSA VU meter plugin
  • 5W 4Ω speaker with pre-soldered wires
  • 3-layer blue acrylic enclosure
  • Pi Zero W with single core CPU and built-in wireless LAN and Bluetooth
  • Adaptor kit
  • 50cm USB A to micro-B cable (power your Pi from an existing charger or computer)
  • Pre-soldered header
  • Python library

Software

Our nifty one-line installer will get your pHAT BEAT configured and install our VU meter plugin for ALSA that uses the RGB LEDs on pHAT BEAT to display sound levels.

We've also put together a Python library to allow you to control the LEDs independently, if you wish, and to program the buttons to do whatever you wish.

Notes

Assembled size of Pirate Radio is 135x85x70mm (WxHxD).

40 customer reviews

5 years ago
A bit overpriced in comparison of most other BME680 sensors available online but with this one, you're sure it's working with the Adafruit libraries. I had this issue when buying 2 BME280 sensors from China, one of the two was actually a BMP280 in stead of BME280 so, it couldn't work with the library even if written on the article description as compatible.
by Melvin about BME680 Breakout - Air Quality, Temperature, Pressure, Humidity Sensor via REVIEWS.io
6 years ago
Love the BME680. Very easy to install and the Example files are great for getting started. Have found out from this Pimoroni Forum post : https://forums.pimoroni.com/t/bme680-air-quality-low/6293/9 that the whole AQ subject is very complex, however It's a really interesting topic and one that I am looking forward to understanding better! I'd assumed that it was only detecting VOCs (volatile organic compounds) but there's a hint that it might be detecting other gases. (I'm using a Breakout Garden pHAT with PiZero W, BME680 and 11x7 matrix to show an AQ score.)
by Anne about BME680 Breakout - Air Quality, Temperature, Pressure, Humidity Sensor via REVIEWS.io
6 years ago
I appreciate the thought put into the design of this board. It is nice that the pins line up with the GPIO, it’s easier to assemble and more presentable to have around the house. I also appreciate that their software has a “try” statement that looks for an Adafruit addressed chip as well as this Pimoroni one, since I have a mix of both around. Very good product, very much recommend it!
by Paul about BME680 Breakout - Air Quality, Temperature, Pressure, Humidity Sensor via REVIEWS.io
6 years ago
The board is high quality and easy to mount (on a featherwing proto) - note to Pimoroni (perhaps you could develop sensors already mounted on featherwing format?). The driver software is a little harder to get working than I expected - still can't see have to get the AQI (air quality index) as an output from the Bosch library or through the wrapper Adafruit library.
by Anonymous about BME680 Breakout - Air Quality, Temperature, Pressure, Humidity Sensor via REVIEWS.io
6 years ago
I am glad I lived long enough to see this awesome technology! I was a bit out of practice with the soldering iron but even I managed to sort out the connection to the Raspberry Pi. It is now being used to monitor the environment in conjunction with a ground source heat pump via Home Assistant. Thank you very much!
by Gerald about BME680 Breakout - Air Quality, Temperature, Pressure, Humidity Sensor via REVIEWS.io
7 years ago
Very nice all in one sensor for most basic Environmental sensors. The Air Quality sensor (Gas Ohm resistance detection) does take awhile to stabilize (at least 20 min on first start, about 5 for ones after that). It might get better as I use it more, as I only used it for about 12 hours.
by Chad about BME680 Breakout - Air Quality, Temperature, Pressure, Humidity Sensor via REVIEWS.io
7 years ago
Up and running in minutes after a false start but recovered quickly owing the prompt technical support. Good excuse to refresh minimal soldering skills. Robust module supersedes previous models. Temperature (with humidity) sensors are a dime a dozen, the barometric sensor is an added plus but the air quality sensor is the deal breaker for the price.
by Matha about BME680 Breakout - Air Quality, Temperature, Pressure, Humidity Sensor via REVIEWS.io

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