# Fixable products for India ### [Contribute on GitHub](https://github.com/nileshtrivedi/openhardwareindia/) Are you sick and tired of consumer hardware products that has a short life, is needlessly bundled with "smart" (but actually insecure and non-open software), is impossible to repair, is poorly designed and is made of parts that cannot be reused? Have you too been radicalized by the ["Buy Now" documentary on Netflix](https://www.netflix.com/watch/81554996)? {% embed url="" %} This site is our attempt to document various resources (like open hardware products, consumer-friendly brands, repair or [part providers](https://findparts.in/) etc) across various product categories - specifically for India. We have the following criteria for listing products on this site: * Better than industry-average warranty period * Third-party repair permitted and enabled (via availability of parts and manuals) * Modular design for reusability of parts * Preferably made in India for better product availability (i.e. no custom duty hassles) and service /support * Open-source schematics, code and CAD designs (like how [Framework](https://frame.work/) does it) There are other initiatives like: * [Repair Wiki](https://repair.wiki/) and [Consumer Action Task Force](https://wiki.rossmanngroup.com/) wiki by [YouTuber Louis Rossmann](https://www.youtube.com/@rossmanngroup) * [iFixit](https://www.ifixit.com/) which is famous for their teardowns and repairability ratings * OSHWA.org who tries to certify open-source hardware products (they have about [60 open-source hardware projects listed from India](https://certification.oshwa.org/list.html)). * [https://caps.wiki](https://caps.wiki/wiki/Main_Page)/ We intend our wiki to be even more helpful to Indian consumers. Over time, we hope to build a strong community and [influence OEMs and policies](https://righttorepairindia.gov.in/) by voting with our ₹, speech and votes. We would like to see *Framework* like companies in each of these product categories. * Electronics * [Earbuds & Headphones](/electronics/earbuds-and-headphones) * [Smartwatches & Smartglasses](/electronics/smartwatches) * [Smartphones](/electronics/smartphones) * [Computers](/electronics/computers) * [Projectors](/electronics/projectors) * [Keyboards & Macropads](/electronics/keyboards-and-macropads) * [Mouse & Trackpads](/electronics/mouse-and-trackpads) * [Monitors / TVs](/electronics/monitors-tvs) * [Tablets & E-readers](/electronics/tablets-and-e-readers) * [WiFi Routers](/electronics/wifi-routers) * [Cameras](/electronics/cameras) * [VR & AR](/electronics/vr-and-ar) * [Printers & Scanners](/electronics/printers-and-scanners) * [Smart Speakers](/electronics/smart-speakers) * [Development Boards & Kits](/electronics/development-boards-kits) * Mechanical * [3D Printers](/mechanical/3d-printers) * [Vertical XY Wall Drawing Plotter Robots](/mechanical/xy-vertical-drawing-plotter) * [Drones](/mechanical/drones) * [Robotic Arms](/mechanical/robotic-arms) * [Furniture](/mechanical/furniture) * Vehicles * [Smart helmets](/vehicles/smart-helmets) * [E-bikes and Kits](/vehicles/e-bikes-and-kits) * [EV Scooters](/vehicles/ev-scooters) * [EV Cars](/vehicles/ev-cars) * [Petrol & Diesel Vehicles](/vehicles/petrol-and-diesel-vehicles) * Household Appliances * [Vacuum Cleaners](/household/vacuum-cleaners) * [Water Purifiers](https://nilesh.gitbook.io/openhardwareindia/household/inverters-and-solar-systems) * [Air Purifiers](https://nilesh.gitbook.io/openhardwareindia/household/inverters-and-solar-systems) * [Inverters & Solar Systems](https://nilesh.gitbook.io/openhardwareindia/household/inverters-and-solar-systems) * [CCTV](https://forms.gle/d3McDANrAKmfffuZ8) * [Lighting](https://forms.gle/q4h8q7pc1wRA8nbBA) * Musical Gear * [MIDI Controllers & Effect Pedals](/musical-gear/midi-controllers-and-effect-pedals) We also have information on [how to buy from international sites](/buying-internationally) and [repair maps for various Indian cities](/repair-map-for-your-city). # Local Groups | City | Local WhatsApp Group | Resources | | ----------- | -------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | Ahmedabad | | | | Bengaluru | Yes | | | Delhi / NCR | Yes | | | Mumbai | | | | Hyderabad | | | | Kochi | | | | Goa | | | | Chennai | | | | Pune/PCMC | Yes | | Please join our whatsapp community to help improve this wiki for residents of your own city and find other like-minded people. # Find Repair Experts If you are a repair professional, you can list yourself here by [submitting this form](https://forms.gle/Kfu5hket6Rm9dZNv6). {% embed url="" %} # Find Parts & Components Here are some resources for finding parts and components for various devices: * (Search over 100,000 unique parts from across Robu, Sharvi Electronics and Probots) * [List of vendors by MakerVille](https://wiki.makerville.io/docs/Lists/hardware-vendors/) * * * * Mobile phone / tablet spare parts and repair tools: * * * # Fixability Score To provide a repair-friendliness score for various products, we plan to evaluate them on the following: * Does the manufacturer have a track-record of not changing the terms of the sale after the sale (for eg: soft-bricking after updates end)? * What is the product's [iFixit repairability rating](https://www.ifixit.com/repairability)? * Does the product have better-than-average warranty period for its segment? * Are the warranty terms transparently and legibly disclosed before the sale? * Has the product been listed on Indian Government's [Right To Repair portal](https://righttorepairindia.gov.in/)? * Are the repair manuals available to public without any cost? * Does the manufacturer sell replacement parts for the product? * If the product uses batteries, are they replaceable/removable? * Is the product made of standardized parts which can be bought from other vendors? * is the product available for direct purchase in India (without having to import it and going through customs) ? * Does the manufacturer provide repair services in India? * Is the product made or assembled in India? * Are the product schematics, firmware source code and CAD designs available as open-source? * Is the product [certified by OSHWA](https://certification.oshwa.org/)? * Is the manufacturer website properly archived on Waybackmachine / Archive.org to provide traceable history for various documentation and policies? * Can the device use standard USB-PD for power/charging? * Does the manufacturer open-source the products once they're discontinued? * Does the manufacturer have good communication channels with potential consumers and actual customers? * Does the manufacturer document expected lifecycle for parts and common failure scenarios? # Repair Tools & Resources ## Crowdsourced Repair Map for India We are collectively building [a curated map](https://www.google.com/maps/d/embed?mid=1cixlIAtcnax3OUIfCYN7BihHqoi0698\&ehbc=2E312F) of repair vendors and hardware stores for all of India. This is similar to RepairCafe's maps but those are not open to public contribution. To add new places to this map, please contact us in our whatsapp community. You will find a lot of useful material on the [Repair Wiki](https://repair.wiki/), either for a specific product or [general electronics repair advice](https://repair.wiki/w/Category:Repair_Basics) for things like Capacitors, Inductors, Diodes etc. You should also check if [iFixit](https://ifixit.com) has a repair guide for your specific product. There are other potentially helpful sources like [https://caps.wiki](https://caps.wiki/wiki/Main_Page). ## Generic * Screwdriver kit ## Electronics * Multimeter * There is [Hydra-meter](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JMexSal01gQ) a work-in-progress open-source, modular design for a multimeter but this will need to be modified for India's higher household AC voltage. * Soldering station ## Mechanical * Wrench set ## Books * Repairing Water Damaged Books: * ["How-to Treat Water Damaged Books" by CU Boulder Libraries](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QDuzIVFqvys) * ["Wet Book Rescue" by Syracuse University Libraries Preservation Department](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S9_fwmdCyzo) # Buying Internationally Many well-built and repairable products are not available for purchase in India directly. There are dropshippers who can make it easier. However clearing customs can be a hassle. Often customers are asked to produce generic documentation, visit customs office in person and pay a bribe. # Suggest Improvements You can either submit a pull request on [our github repo](https://github.com/nileshtrivedi/openhardwareindia/) or submit this form below. You should also consider joining our Whatsapp community. {% embed url="" %} # Express Buying Interest One way consumers can make a difference is by signaling to manufacturers that repair-friendliness is important to their buying decision. When the potential customer base is big enough, manufacturers will start prioritizing their [repairability score](/scoring-formula). If you're in the market for a repairable product, please fill this form. We will use these to show aggregated statistics (eg: "6525 people in India are currently looking for a repairable water purifier"). This can also enable attractive deals for group buying. {% embed url="" %} # Contributors Here are some people who have significantly contributed to this project: * [Nilesh Trivedi](https://nilesh.trivedi.link/) * [Pratyush Mohapatra](https://ativerc.com/) * [Anool M](https://github.com/anool) * [Anuj Deshpande](https://github.com/anujdeshpande) # TODOs & Updates * [ ] Improve wiki for all categories * [ ] Identify experts for each product category to moderate the wiki page and coordinate further research * [ ] Compile a comprehensive [scoring formula](/scoring-formula) for manufacturers (similar to iFixit's score but more relevant for Indian buyers) * [ ] Write a page about how to [buy things from international vendors](/buying-internationally) via dropshippers and deal with customs duties * [x] Finalize the [form to collect buying interest](/express-buying-interest) for any product category * [x] Finalize a domain name #### 17th Feb 2025 * Created contributors page * Created a whatsapp group for Pune #### 12th Feb 2025 •⁠ ⁠The wiki now has a permanent web address: \ •⁠ ⁠⁠There are 3 ways to contribute to the wiki: \ (1) Submit this Google Form: \ (2) Submit a pull request on our Github repo: \ (3) Edit via the Gitbook app: (DM me your email address if you’d like to get this access) •⁠ ⁠There is now a form on the site where you can express buying interest for better products. Please consider filling this form. This can become a useful signal for hardware entrepreneurs to improve their products’ repairability: \ •⁠ ⁠⁠We are also crowdsourcing an all-India map of repair service providers and hardware stores. Please help improve it for your own city: \ •⁠ ⁠⁠We now have city-wise groups for Delhi/NCR, Chennai, Kochi and Bangalore. I’m happy to create groups for any other city as long as at least 3 people from there are present and active. •⁠ ⁠I (Nilesh) am planning to speak about this wiki at the upcoming Barcamp Bangalore Unconference (8th March, Church Street). Please come to express support if possible: There is still a lot of work to be done: \ •⁠ ⁠⁠Improve the wiki. \ •⁠ ⁠Help build a consumer rights / repair / DIY-er community for your city using this site’s resources. \ •⁠ ⁠⁠Spread the word. Tell your local repair experts, or your fav youtube creators about this project. If you have other ideas to make this project successful, please start a conversation in the Fixable :: General group on whatsapp. #### 28th Jan 2025 Thank you for getting this community started. As for the next steps for all of us: •⁠ ⁠We need to encourage youtuber creators to talk about repair-friendliness of the products they review. Whenever you watch a gadget review on YouTube, please add a comment asking them to talk about this aspect. •⁠ ⁠We need to bring product repair experts to this community. Their interests are highly aligned to ours. Please tell your local repair shop guy (anywhere in India) to join this WhatsApp community. •⁠ ⁠Start systematic evaluation of products on our repair-friendliness score. This will require expert contribution so the previous step becomes even more important. •⁠ ⁠Indicate to hardware makers that demand exists for better products. Perhaps on each category, we can collect interest and present it as "6525 people want to buy a repairable water purifier" # USB Charger-Adapters While iFixit sells [this open schematics 65W GaN charger](https://www.ifixit.com/products/ifixit-65w-usb-c-ac-adapter) in the US, no such thing is available in India (remember we have different power socket standard and our household AC voltage is 220V, and not 110V). By the way, did you know there are 5 different protocols to supply power via USB cables?
[Metrix Instruments](https://www.metrixinstrument.in/products/usb-testers) builds and sells some useful USB testers in India. This can be a good alternative to [Power-Z testers](https://www.power-z.com/product_cat/tester) which can be difficult to find in or order from India. The [ChargerLab YouTube channel](https://www.youtube.com/@ChargerLAB) does detailed teardowns and testing of various USB chargers which you might find helpful. # Earbuds & Headphones Check out [iFixit's repairability ratings](https://www.ifixit.com/repairability/wireless-earbud-repairability-scores) for various wireless earbuds: ## Open Hardware Products It might be difficult to get them in India but worth trying: * [PineBuds Pro](https://pine64.org/devices/pinebuds_pro/) ([listing on FabToLab](https://www.fabtolab.com/pine64-pinebuds-pro%E2%80%93open-firmware-capable-anc-wireless-earbuds)) * [Fairbuds / Fairbuds XL](https://shop.fairphone.com/fairbuds) * [Variable OpenMod](https://variablestaticaudio.com/pages/variable-openmod) # Smart Speakers & Sound Systems * [Firmware update bricks Samsung Soundbar](https://us.community.samsung.com/t5/Home-Theater/Samsung-Q990D-unresponsive-after-1020-firmware-update/td-p/3168571) # Smartwatches & Smartglasses You can check [iFixit's repairability ratings for various smartwatches](https://www.ifixit.com/repairability/smartwatch-repairability-scores). DO NOT BUY Apple Watch. Apple [calls it a "non-repairable" product](https://x.com/PRKSpeaks/status/1896771346782404796), even though [people are clearly able to repair it](https://www.reddit.com/r/delhi/comments/way95h/apple_watch_6_repair_from_nonapple_repair_shops/). ## Open Hardware Products * [Pebble](https://store.repebble.com/) is back with 2 models on pre-order! * In January 2025, Google [open-sourced](https://opensource.googleblog.com/2025/01/see-code-that-powered-pebble-smartwatches.html) the original Pebble OS * This has been [celebrated](https://rebble.io/2025/01/27/the-future-of-rebble.html) by the open-source Rebble community * Pebble founder Eric Migicovsky has now [launched](https://ericmigi.com/blog/introducing-two-new-pebbleos-watches) two models with e-paper screen * [Apple continues to play dirty](https://ericmigi.com/blog/apple-restricts-pebble-from-being-awesome-with-iphones) * [CNX blog post](https://www.cnx-software.com/2025/03/19/the-pebble-smartwatch-is-back-with-the-core-2-duo-and-core-time-2-models-running-pebbleos-open-source-firmware/) about these new models * [HealthyPi](https://www.crowdsupply.com/protocentral/healthypi-move): open-source smartwatch with health sensors by [ProtoCentral](https://protocentral.com/) from india, successfully crowdfunded and now in pre-order * [Bangle.js](https://banglejs.com/) * T1: E-ink watch by [Ampere Works](https://www.ampere.works/), [presented at IndiaFOSS 2024](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jpTXz0AlL78) * [Watchy](https://watchy.sqfmi.com/): Open-source E-paper watch by SQFMI * [PineTime](https://pine64.org/devices/pinetime/) If you're up for building one: * [Open-Watch](https://www.pcbway.com/project/shareproject/Open_Watch_An_open_source_handmade_smartwatch_10560bbb.html) by an Iranian Developer * [Open-SmartWatch](https://open-smartwatch.github.io/) # Smartphones The key decision you need to make here is which operating system you want to run. There are just 3 choices currently: * **iOS** : This is completely closed and you should give up any hopes of a repair-friendly iPhone until Apple is forced by Right To Repair regulations (like they were in the EU). * **Android** : While Google does maintain the [Android Open Source Project (AOSP)](https://source.android.com/), this is not directly usable by most users. Instead you should look for devices supported by [LineageOS](https://wiki.lineageos.org/devices/), [GrapheneOS](https://grapheneos.org/faq#supported-devices) or [CaylixOS](https://calyxos.org/). First thing to check here is whether your device supports unlocking of the bootloader at the [Bootloader Unlock : Wall of Shame](https://github.com/melontini/bootloader-unlock-wall-of-shame). The current set of decent devices are: * [Fairphone](https://shop.fairphone.com/fairphone-5) (does not ship to India) * [HMD Fusion](https://www.hmd.com/en_in/hmd-fusion?sku=101SQ503H034-gaming-flashyindigoblue). They [seem to be](https://www.hmd.com/en_in/self-repair) supportive of self-repair, even for other models like Crest 5G. But they do not allow bootloader unlocking. * Check out [Libretech.shop](https://libretech.shop/) by [Mostly Harmless](https://mostlyharmless.io/). * Failing all, a pragmatic option might be to get Google Pixel phone which supports LineageOS and GrapheneOS well. * Custom Android Verified Boot keys is a feature which allows you to run a custom OS with a locked bootloader. It's rare to see a device which supports custom AVB keys, but some devices can be found [here](https://github.com/chenxiaolong/avbroot/issues/299). * Sony has an Open Devices program supporting AOSP for its xperia smartphones, but Sony [exited the smartphones category of India in 2019](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/gadgets-news/12-smartphone-brands-that-have-exited-india-market-in-the-last-decade/articleshow/107976381.cms) and are unlikely to return. * **Linux** : Though Android too is based on Linux, some people prefer to avoid Android ecosystem altogether. The OS comes in many variants like Debian, Ubuntu Touch or [PostmarketOS](https://wiki.postmarketos.org/wiki/Devices). Check out the following devices: * [PinePhone and PinePhone Pro](https://pine64.org/devices/pinephone/) * [Librem 5](https://puri.sm/products/librem-5/) * [Mecha Comet](https://mecha.so/comet) (coming to Kickstarter in Q1 2025) - a handheld Linux computer in a smartphone-style form factor with several extensible attachments via GPIO # Computers Check out [Libretech.shop](https://libretech.shop/) by [Mostly Harmless](https://mostlyharmless.io/). For low-powered usage, [Raspberry Pi 5](https://www.raspberrypi.com/products/) can be a decent option. The [Mecha Comet](https://mecha.so/comet) is a handheld Linux computer in a smartphone-style form factor with several extensible attachments via GPIO. ## Laptops MNT Reform Next is the second version of open-source laptop, [available for import from CrowdSupply](https://www.crowdsupply.com/mnt/mnt-reform-next). [Framework](https://frame.work/) laptops are amazing but they do not yet ship to India. Lenovo Thinkpad used to be a good choice but now we must double check before buying it. {% embed url="" %} The [anyon\_e](https://www.byran.ee/posts/creation/) is a fully Open Source laptop created by Byran Huang (a high-school student!!), with the mission to allow anyone to build their own laptop, completely from scratch. {% embed url="" %} # Projectors Projectors are simple gadgets in principle: Take a display source (like HDMI) and render it on a transparent LCD, take a light source (like a powerful LED) and shine light through the LCD, and use lenses/mirror to focus and project. [Keystone correction](https://www.cnet.com/tech/home-entertainment/what-is-keystone-correction-for-projectors-and-why-you-should-avoid-it/) is an extra nice-to-have. HDMI carries audio as well, so projectors often come with built-in speakers which are usually not of great quality. Some projectors can be operated using an infrared remote. But projector manufacturers needlessly complicate this by bundling in "smart" features like WiFi, BlueTooth, built-in Android (which is outdated and cannot be upgraded) to deliberately reduce the product's life. And it is almost impossible to replace parts for longevity of the product. What is frustrating is that these resources could have been spent on aspects that actually matter: display resolution, lamp brightness and build quality. Here are some resources for a DIY projector. * [DIY Perks: Building a TRUE 4k home cinema projector](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YfvTjQ9MCwY) * [DIY Perks: DIY Smartphone projector](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FKL9_bdtHq0) * [Pocket Projector built using a Raspberry Pi](https://www.mickmake.com/products/piprojector-1-x-series-documentation/) # Keyboards & Macropads ## Keyboards Computing enthusiasts are usually very passionate about their choice of keyboards. Here are some keyboard-related communities in India where you will find detailed information and strong opinions: * [subreddit for mechanical keyboards in India](https://old.reddit.com/r/mkindia/) (here's their [intro doc](https://old.reddit.com/r/mkindia/wiki/index)) * [IMKC (Indian Mechanical Keyboard Community) on Discord](https://discord.gg/PFKsdzes8x) [curated list](https://keebfolio.netlify.app/) of Open Source Mechanical Keyboard resources A good idea might be to check if the keyboard you are considering runs the [QMK open-source firmware](https://qmk.fm/) or [VIA firmware](https://www.caniusevia.com/). Here is [QMK's keyboard directory](https://browse.qmk.fm/) and [here is VIA's](https://www.caniusevia.com/docs/supported_keyboards). There is this other keyboard firmware, ZMK, but they [list only supported controller boards](https://zmk.dev/docs/hardware), not final products. There are many, many choices (because mechanical or not, RGB or not, split/ergonomic or not etc) for repairable keyboards (like [ZSA Moonlander](https://www.zsa.io/moonlander) split ergonomic keyboard), so a key factor might be to check if it is easy to acquire in India. Importing from outside India usually involves hassles around customs duties. ## Macropads * [CoryDora](https://shop.absurd.industries/products/cory-dora) by [Balu Babu](https://x.com/AskBaluBabu), [Shreshth](https://x.com/shreshthmohan) and [Absurd Industries](https://absurd.industries/) # Mouse & Trackpads You can [buy a component kit](https://wol3d.com/product/wireless-mouse-components-kit/) to build your own wireless mouse. 😲 # Monitors / TVs For TVs, we want the longest warranty period and lack of any "smart" features. However, nobody seems to be selling a non-smart TV anymore. This hurts consumers in many ways: * Useful life of the TV reduces because features like wifi or operating system gets outdated much faster than the display itself. * It fundamentally changes the relationship between the consumer and the TV manufacturer. Smart TV turns consumer into a *product* to be sold to media companies like Netflix or Amazon Prime. Utsav explained why this has been happening here (but did not touch on the problems above): {% embed url="" %} One solution here seems to be to buy commercial displays from Sharp/NEC and add the software smartness via a Raspberry Pi. [Here's Jeff Geerling's video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-epPf7D8oMk) about this approach. [NEC has a good catalog](https://in.nec.com/en_IN/solutions_services/display_solutions/large_format_displays/index.html) of such displays in India. Sharp even [flaunts their open-source approach](https://www.sharpnecdisplays.us/system-on-a-chip). However, NEC commercial displays are likely very expensive. A more practical option might be to buy any TV but NEVER use its smart features. Instead, use an [open hardware streaming stick](/electronics/streaming-stick-box) to access the content. # Printers All printer brands suck, [including even Brother](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bpHX_9fHNqE) (which used to be a good recommendation till recently). 😞 # Streaming Stick / Box Instead of getting Firestick / Apple TV / Google TV or the insecure software that comes with the TV, it is possible to get/build a nice open streaming stick. * [Build a Raspberry Pi 5 media center using LibreELEC and Kodi](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3hFas54xFtg) * [Pi Stick](https://hackaday.io/project/180969-raspberry-pi-cm4-tv-stick) # Tablets & E-readers * [PineNote](https://pine64.org/devices/pinenote/) (e-ink with stylus) and [PineTab](https://pine64.com/product-category/pinetab/). Seems to be [available at fabtolab](https://www.fabtolab.com/index.php?route=product/search\&search=pinetab) but watch out for GST) * [RasPad 3](https://raspad.com/products/raspadv3) ([can do desktop mode as well](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RP-tta_B9E4)) * [CutiePie](https://cutiepi.io/) - based on Raspberry Pi 4. [Jeff Geerling's 2021 video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t-ZQ9LRdXSk) about it. TBH this seems outdated, now that Pi5 is out. * [Kobo e-readers](https://gl.kobobooks.com/collections/all) are much nicer than Kindle, but still not fully open. * Google Pixel Tablet runs both LineageOS and GrapheneOS but is not offered in India directly, though it is available on Amazon. # WiFi Routers Check out [Libretech.shop](https://libretech.shop/) by [Mostly Harmless](https://mostlyharmless.io/). OpenWRT recent launched [One](https://openwrt.org/toh/openwrt/one) in collaboration with BananaPi. [Turris Omnia](https://www.turris.com/en/products/omnia/) has been there for a while. # Cameras * [Optocam Zero](https://github.com/dorukkumkumoglu/optocamzero): A Raspberry Pi Zero based compact digital camera made using off the shelf components. * Since smartphones typically have better camera sensors than webcams, you might be able to use an Android phone as either a webcam or a network camera using apps like [DroidCam](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.dev47apps.droidcam), [Alfred](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.ivuu) etc. * Do not buy Canon: [You can't use your $6,299.00 Camera as a Webcam. That will be $5/month](https://romanzipp.com/blog/no-you-cant-use-your-6299-canon-camera-as-a-webcam) ([video by Louis Rossmann](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xYLMZuKWLfE), [discussion on HackerNews](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=42735393)) ### Dashcams * [DIY Dashcam using Raspberry Pi Zero W](https://www.technicallywizardry.com/diy-dashcam-raspberry-pi-zero-w-motion-eye/) # VR & AR * [Relativty](https://www.relativty.com/) # Printers & Scanners While we do not have any recommendations for repair-friendly printers yet, did you know that [most printers print barely visible yellow dots to enable tracking of printouts](https://www.eff.org/pages/list-printers-which-do-or-do-not-display-tracking-dots)? # Development Boards/Kits ### List of development boards and kits made in India * * makes and sells ESP32-based dev boards. * is an ATMEGA32 trainer which can be used for data collection/device control via a Python/Android interface which have real-time access to HW registers. * # 3D Printers * [SmartPrintCoreH7x](https://boltzrnd.com/) by BoltzR\&D ([article on 3dprint.com](https://3dprint.com/309170/indian-startup-unveils-new-open-source-3d-printer-mainboard-on-github/)) * [Make3d.in](https://make3d.in/) has some desktop 3D printers but need to check if they are repair-friendly. Meanwhile, do avoid BambuLabs as they are [turning to the dark side by removing third-party access](https://www.reddit.com/r/BambuLab/comments/1i3gq1t/why_you_should_care_about_bambu_labs_removing/) and their [private key was leaked within 24 hours of this new announcement](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UYhYkpYpt58). # XY Vertical Drawing Plotter Because e-ink screens are still expensive (due to patents), if you want a large display that's always visible but does not consume power, an option you might consider is a XY Vertical Plotter (popularized by [Scribit](https://scribit.design/) - which costs $450 !!). * #### [CNC Wall Drawing Plotter](https://shopmakerq.com/product/cnc-wall-drawing-plotter/) by MakerQ (Kochi) * #### [Fumik](https://www.fumik.com/): Open-source, wall drawing robot ([video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QAVDT_W5Alc)) # Drones * [Drona Aviation](https://www.dronaaviation.com/) (an IIT Mumbai startup) products have open and repair-friendly drones. * [Crazyflie 2.1 Plus](https://www.bitcraze.io/products/crazyflie-2-1-plus/) (listing on [Seeed Studio](https://www.seeedstudio.com/Crazyflie-V2-1-p-5948.html)) # Robotic Arms * [SO-100ARM](https://github.com/TheRobotStudio/SO-ARM100) is a fully open-source robotic arm project by [TheRobotStudio](https://www.therobotstudio.com/). Here is [SeeedStudio's article](https://wiki.seeedstudio.com/lerobot_so100m/) about it. * Robu.in has a few options like Mycobot from Elephant Robotics etc. # Furniture * [Excellent video about Mattresses](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cLVmNjaxBLA) # Misc # Smart Helmets * # E-bikes and Kits * # EV Scooters A big frustration with EV scooters is that they are being built and sold like iphones. Batteries are not removable, firmware is closed-source and third-party repair is being killed. There are some positive signs. After a long wait, [Ola EV has started making genuine parts and manuals available](https://x.com/bhash/status/1982708635445928022) to customers and third-party mechanics. Now, the ball is in court of competitors like Ather, Bounce etc. Resources * : Price comparison of spares across categories like Motors, Li Battery Packs, Battery Chargers, Motor Controller etc. # EV Cars DIY is not possible when it comes to vehicles because of regulations. What can make a difference here is for buyers to organize and demand changes from manufacturers. Businesses do listen to $$. # Petrol & Diesel Vehicles # Smart Switches Instead of getting a smart bulb, or a smart fan etc, it might be better to buy a smart plug/switch instead which can be controlled over wifi. However, these days even these smart switches have started sending data to cloud servers. One possible solution here is open-source firmware like [Tasmota](https://tasmota.github.io/docs/About/). # Vacuum Cleaners [Oomwoo](https://makerspet.com/blog/building-an-open-source-robot-vacuum-meet-oomwoo/) : An open-source robot vacuum. [Valetudo](https://valetudo.cloud/): Software solution to free your vacuum robots from the Cloud Also check # Water Purifiers Amaldev wrote a blog post about [planned product obsolescence of water purifiers](https://amaldev.blog/planned-product-obsolescence-of-a-water-purifier/). Worth reading in full. Youtuber Vineet Malhotra has talked about the problems/scams for water purifiers in this (Hindi) video: {% embed url="" %} # Air Purifiers Commercial stand-alone air purifiers follow the razor blade & inkjet printer business model. The profit is made by selling poorly built but attractively designed machines with motors that burn out within two years, cannot be serviced and require expensive proprietary filters that only fit that specific air purifier model. **But aren't commercial air purifiers better?** Often not- depending on your use case. The use of centrifugal fans allows for more pressure than radial fans but at the cost of far more noise. Manufacturers often deceptively list the highest CADR their product can achieve but at its average or lowest noise levels. By using arrays of repurposed radial PC fans, we can make up the pressure- with far less noise. Those fans can also easily and inexpensively be replaced as needed. While there are open designs like [Nukit Open Air Purifier](https://github.com/opennukit/Nukit-Open-Air-Purifier/) or the [Corsi–Rosenthal Box](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corsi%E2%80%93Rosenthal_Box), [Prasun Jain on Twitter](https://x.com/prasunjain/status/1888212282980663786) followed a [youtube video](https://youtube.com/shorts/x1CBnVFT0K0?feature=shared) to build a cheap, effective, modular, DIY air purifier. Then Ankit D [replicated this setup](https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7294743752387018752/) and even [measured the fan loudness](https://x.com/ankitdaf/status/1889297564727747058). Akhil from our whatsapp community has suggested using USB-powered PWM fans instead of generic exhaust fans for quietness:
The Internet is full of [individuals](https://x.com/ankitdaf/status/1897924674111389896) building [DIY Air purifiers](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eYOvnqoW4H0) which are very effective, quiet, repairable and budget-friendly. [This particular design](https://www.electronicwings.com/users/NextBuilder/projects/6592/airsense---the-smartest-diy-air-purifier) is quite complete in terms of features and polish. # Inverters and Solar Systems # CCTV # Lighting ## Lighting ## HA (Home-Assistant) Compatible IoT products available in India | Brand | Product Range | Rating | Notes | | -------------- | ------------------- | ------ | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | Amazon branded | Tuya / "Smart life" | Good | Works with HA/[LocalTuya](https://github.com/rospogrigio/localtuya) integration | | Wipro | Tuya / "Smart life" | Good | Works with HA/[LocalTuya](https://github.com/rospogrigio/localtuya) integration | | Sonoff | Various | Good | Works locally with HA/[SonoffLAN](https://github.com/AlexxIT/SonoffLAN) integration | | Philips | Wiz | Good | Works locally with HA (Tested over two years ago | | Philips | Hue | Poor | Requires internet connection | | Hero | Qubo | Poor | Not recommended. No intergration with HA. No way to run locally. | ### Products tested to be working | Brand | Product | Link | | -------------- | ---------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | Amazon Branded | Smart Bulb | | # MIDI Controllers & Effect Pedals ## MIDI Controllers * [Linnstrument](https://www.rogerlinndesign.com/linnstrument) is a polyphonic touch-sensing MIDI controller, built with Arduino Due. It's firmware is [open-source](https://github.com/rogerlinndesign/linnstrument-firmware) and Geert Bevin shared some internals [here](https://www.slideshare.net/gbevin/from-arduino-to-linnstrument). ## Effect Pedals * * [Pedalshield Due](https://www.electrosmash.com/pedalshield) is an [Arduino DUE Programmable Guitar Pedal](https://projecthub.arduino.cc/electrosmash/arduino-due-programmable-guitar-pedal-fac038) * (not sure if active) You might find [this YouTube channel](https://www.youtube.com/@MoritzKlein0) helpful for DIY effect pedals.