Whole Home Ad-Blocker
We don’t normally advise blocking ads. It’s how we pay our bills. Still, making an ad-blocker that works for every device in your home is a great learning project! These RaspberryPi (RasPi) based ad-blockers are known as Pi-holes. You’ll need:
A Raspberry Pi with network connectionAccess to your network routerRaspberry Pi case (optional)
Create a VPN For Your Home
A Virtual Private Network (VPN) is a huge step towards security and privacy on the internet. This can be done with WireGuard, an open source, free VPN client. Do this along with the Pi-hole project and you’ve got a more secure home network than you’ve ever had! It’s also an easy Raspberry Pi project to learn about RasPis and VPNs. You’ll need:
A Raspberry PiAccess to your network routerRaspberry Pi case (optional)
Parent Detector Motion Sensor Triggered Video Recording
A project from the official RaspberryPi site, the parent detector is meant as a fun build for kids. It could be used for anything though. The idea is that when someone moves in front of the motion sensor, the RasPi will start recording video. Then you can go back and see who’s eating your Halloween candy. You’ll need:
A Raspberry PiPIR motion sensor moduleSeveral female to female jumper wiresCamera board 360 gooseneck mount for the camera (optional)Raspberry Pi case (optional)
You’ll need:
A Raspberry Pi connected to internetSpeakerUSB MicrophoneRaspberry Pi case (optional)
Build a Raspberry Pi Google Assistant
You’ll need:
A Raspberry Pi connected to internetSpeakerUSB MicrophoneRaspberry Pi case (optional)
Ethical Hacker Workstation
Computer security is one of the fastest growing fields today. Companies and even countries are scrambling to get proficient security professionals. Consider learning to be an ethical hacker with a dedicated Kali Linux computer made from a RasPi. You’ll have a powerful and portable hacking station to practice anywhere. You’ll need:
Raspberry Pi with WiFi3.5 inch LCD touch screen and casePortable keyboard (optional but helpful)Raspberry Pi case (optional)
WiFi Library For Anyone
You’ve seen those little free libraries some people put on their front yard. It’s a great way to encourage reading, give back to the community, and just make the world a little more loving. This can also be done wirelessly! Using your RasPi and a bunch of free ebooks, you can set up a free WiFi library that anyone in range can use. They just connect to it like they would a WiFi router. You’ll need:
Raspberry Pi Zero with WiFi (can be done with other RasPis too)Tiny OTG AdapterUSB Cable – A to Micro B Portable keyboard (optional but helpful)Raspberry Pi case (optional)
Build a Raspberry Pi FM Radio Transmitter
Spotify and TuneIn Radio make radio at home almost obsolete. Maybe you just want to hear your own music and share it with the family on a good old FM stereo. Maybe you want to start a school radio station. This 30-minute RasPi FM radio transmitter project will make that happen. Add a decent antenna and you’ll be able to broadcast up to a 50 meter radius. You’ll need:
Raspberry Pi with Internet connectionMicrophoneRaspberry Pi case (optional)
Get Building!
Once you use easy Raspberry Pi projects to get started building things with the different Raspberry Pis available, it’s hard to stop. Kind of like eating real pie. They’re so affordable, easy to use, and yet capable of just about anything. Take the time to learn a programming language like Python and a little bit of electronics and the sky’s the limit.
