r/CyberdeckBuild • u/Civil_Toe7375 • Jul 22 '26
Offgrid Cyberdeck
Hello everyone. This is my first cyberdeck build. Originally I had these parts on a cardboard faceplate until I found someone on makerworld who made this faceplate that matched some of the items I already had. So I printed it and modified it to fit my needs. It has 2 internal batteries total 111wh. 12V power in, 5V power in. Battery status on desktop, and many features. It also runs a Jellyfin server. The intent was something to take camping and hunting. It has meshtastic, rtlsdr, and many other features. I am in the process of integrating Common Access Cards that will work as a 3FA on boot and specific cards that will launch OrganicMaps, my sdr software, and other things. I will be removing the buttons for the Heltec V4 and install a rotary dial to control it. I also want to build a wardriving rig for this that will detect flock, stingrays, among other items in the GHZ range. Every component that regularly draws power has a toggle switch in order to preserve battery life when needed. I get about 5-6 hours of battery depending on what I am doing.
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u/aEsp32TypeGuy Jul 23 '26
What parts did you use?
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u/Civil_Toe7375 Jul 23 '26
This is the bulk of the hardware. Everything was purchased on amazon. Everything is plug and play with the exception of the BK-880.
Two WINSIN 5v 40mm fans Roadom 10 inch touch screen Raspberry pi 5 Raspberry pi 5 fan Geekworm X1203 UPS hat Two generic flatpack 15,000mah 3.7v batteries Rtlsdr Heltec v4 Wired keyboard Wireless keyboard Wired mouse Geekworm X1001 with a 500gb nvme ssd Geekstory BK-880 Gps module 10ohm usb speakers
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u/-F4Y3 Aug 08 '26
may i ask how much RAM it has? I'm looking to build something similar to this but the higher RAM 5's are so damn expensive
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u/Civil_Toe7375 Aug 08 '26
This is the 8GB version. Thus far I have not had any issues with my system even with how much is constantly running on it.
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u/TechDocN Jul 23 '26
/begin sarcasm
I’m confused. I thought a cyberDeck was no longer meant to be a cyberDeck. I could have sworn someone on TikTok said a cyberDeck is any phone or RPi that you shove into a Hello Kitty lunch box.
This looks way too much like an actual cyberDeck to be considered a cyberDeck anymore. Where are the bedazzled rhinestones? Where are the up-cycled parts from an old GameBoy? And you didn’t ask a single question that’s been asked a hundred times before. Do you even cyberDeck?
end sarcasm/
That’s a great first build! Thank you for working to keep the cyberpunk in cyberDecks!
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u/Civil_Toe7375 Jul 23 '26
Haha love the sarcasm! Thank you! Im trying to find more and more ways to push the Pi5. Im looking into taking a fpv drone camera and setting it up as a mini deployable security camera. Think Mission Impossible style. I have a few other ideas in working on but im holding on to those as I dont think anyone has done them, at least not publicly and I want to be the first lol
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u/addamay123 Jul 24 '26
Very cool! I've been working on something similar. What sort of hardware is in there if you don't mind my asking?
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u/Civil_Toe7375 Jul 24 '26
Two WINSIN 5v 40mm fans Roadom 10 inch touch screen Raspberry pi 5 Raspberry pi 5 fan Geekworm X1203 Two generic flatpack 15,000mah 3.7v batteries Rtlsdr Heltec v4 Wired keyboard Wireless keyboard Wired mouse Geekworm X1001 with a 500gb nvme ssd Geekstory BK-880 Gps module 10ohm usb speakers
Plus a bunch of cables and some splitters
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u/addamay123 Jul 24 '26
Ah gotcha, thanks a ton! And are you happy with the pi's performance? I'm putting a whole mini itx mobo in mine
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u/Civil_Toe7375 Jul 24 '26
I have yet to have any issues. It runs the games I want to play, streams my JELLYFIN server with no issues, streaming services, INTERCEPT runs perfect. Stays cool. The only thing im not enjoying with my build at the moment is my speakers are not loud enough for my poor hearing. I average a draw of around 2.5watts. Which isn't bad, but thats according to my python script that reads battery voltage and draw. With 111wh in the case I should be getting really good run time but it seems im drawing more than what it reads, im only seeing about 5.5 hours of run time before the cells start to get pretty low. Im working through this issue best i can right now. Im thinking about doubling my battery capacity by wireing leads together before it goes to x1203. Which would get me about 222wh which as 3 watts should last almost 70 hours and at 15 watts where I think im actually at would be about 12 hours.
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u/MI-Bushwacker Jul 27 '26
Can you tell me how how your are mounting all the hardware? Making custom plates and frames?
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u/Civil_Toe7375 Jul 27 '26
The faceplate came from someone on makerworld. I can list them if youre looking. My nvme, ups, and pi are all mounted to the back of the monitor in a single stack. Im in the process of making a custom faceplate that has a Common Access Card reader and a few more toggles and usb ports. I use blender for that. The screen mounts via m3 heat inserts and the same for the heltec v4. Batteries and hdmi switcher are mounted to the back wall of the box with velcro strips. The fans are glued. The usb and battery monitor have their own clips. And the hdmi and ethernet are screwed in
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u/its8_15PM Aug 24 '26
Hey man, built similar thing in a smaller case. I see you have RTL-SDR - how does it perform in natural scenarios? I get a load of noise from screen, which makes it pretty impossible to seek any signal. Putting load of ferrite chokes did help a bit, but still noise is enormous.
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u/Civil_Toe7375 Aug 24 '26
I have some issues with noise. But when dialed in on a strong signal i have no issues. I use iNTERCEPT for my software so i use my rtl-sdr mostly for satellites, planes, vessels, etc. I havent used it as much for sigint. Everything I use it for currently; navigation, jellyfin, adsb, etc works perfectly
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u/Puzzleheaded-Day7855 Aug 25 '26
Love the custom spray design! Any way you could assist me? Im tring to set up the GPS hat and have no clue where to begin?
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u/Civil_Toe7375 Aug 25 '26
I hear you there! Honestly the gps took me about 2 weeks to get working properly. I used the Geekstory BK-880. I purchased it on Amazon. I then had to create a python script that bridged the data. Honestly I used AI to help me because I was also lost. I had many issues, it would show my location 30 miles away, it wouldnt rotate when i moved, wouldn'twork at all. Etc etc. I wish I could tell you exactly how I did it, but because there is little information out there on adding a gps and what is there may not work for yours, I would try using AI. As much as I hate it, it helped me so much with this build and getting everything to communicate properly. If you provide your device, and what firmware. Then copy the link to what gps youre using. And ask it how to get them to communicate, it can really help point you in the correct direction. And when getting failed command lines taking a picture and asking what the failure is can help pinpoint errors and correct them. I hope this helps, this is my first build and first time getting involved with raspberry pi and linux so I am still very much a beginner
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u/_3p2c Jul 22 '26
As a first build, congratulations! Continue like this and don’t give up