I took the Christmas vacation to do some finalization of design on this project so I can begin prototyping. I decided that the CM4 module plan was a very good idea, so it's in and the Zero 2W is out. I found a pretty cool multiband receiver IC in the Skyworks Si4735, and I decided on a telescoping antenna to give it that mid-80s hacker vibe we all love. I'm definitely including a LoRa transceiver because I really feel like it has potential to be awesome, and it takes up very little power and volume.

Because the CM4 I ordered also included a dev board, I've actually got almost everything ready to go in a non-portable form so I can start testing these systems. Thus, this is my last Design entry for quite a while, as I'll be moving into the prototyping and development phase. I already have a short list of things I need to test: write and deploy keyboard/TP firmware to the ATmega32U4, get LCD working, get both radios working, buy a 4G/LTE data SIM and get cellular data and positioning working, get the camera working, and test that the power system I've designed isn't going to catch on fire.

Finally, I decided on changing the name, as the "___Berry" name scheme isn't that clever and isn't really descriptive of what I'm trying to make. I've come to realize that what I'm building is called a "fantasy console," also known as a cyberdeck. What I've designed is a multi-comms device for someone with interests in radio and hardware interaction that I can also use as an everyday consumer device, which is, yep, a cyberdeck. A nerdphone for nerds, if you will. Thus, the project will be known henceforth as the Outlander Cyberdeck. Why "outlander?" One of the best uses of radio is connecting people off of and outside existing comm infrastructure, like those who wander. Also it sounds cool.