Show HN: Hacking a $20 4G wireless hotspot into a texting device
A hardware enthusiast details the process of hacking a $20 4G wireless hotspot into a custom texting device. The project involves installing Linux via the openstick project and integrating a Clicks keyboard to create a DIY mobile communicator.
Why it matters
This project demonstrates the accessibility of low-cost hardware for custom computing and the potential for repurposing consumer electronics.
Also known as: we have the Clicks Communicator at home.
I don’t organize my things well. I try to, but quite often end up with a bunch of stuff on my desk. From various aliexpress orders and projects I’m working on, all the way to gifts and stuff I didn’t have time to find a place for.
That is exactly how this project came to be. At one point in time I had, lying on my desk:
And of course, my caveman brain combined the 3.
Okay, okay, not to lie I was probably a bit conditioned by knowing about:
Due to the mysterious laws of supply and demand, and the magic of supply chains - somehow you can get a 4G modem with WiFi, bluetooth, a display, fully battery powered and completely unlocked - for less than $20 shipped. This, of course, is the cornerstone of our project.
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