Chris Tersteeg Launches an Easy-Solder THT FujiNet Alternative to Bring Wi-Fi to Atari Micros

Vintage computing enthusiast Chris Tersteeg has launched an open-hardware build-it-yourself FujiNet board, designed to make it as easy as possible to solder up your own Wi-Fi adapter for eight-bit Atari microcomputers.

First unveiled in 2019, FujiNet is a project to create a low-cost yet high-performance Wi-Fi network add-on for the Atari family of eight-bit microcomputers. The present design is based on an Espressif ESP32-WROVER module, but Tersteeg's alternative variant swaps surface-mount components out for through-hole equivalents — making assembly easier for those less confident with a soldering iron.

"The PCB is designed for flexibility in building, with different cabling options and headers for the buttons and LEDs if you want to mount this in your own enclosure," Tersteeg notes. "Most components are 'jelly bean' parts you may already have or can be purchased for one or two cents in quantity from the usual China based suppliers. Total cost of the build should be around $20, depending on where you source your parts."

The core of the board is, as with the official FujiNet design, an ESP32-WROVER — but as a breadboard-friendly development board, rather than a surface-mount module. The primary target device is the Espressif ESP32-DevKitC-VE, but Tersteeg notes: "You could probably also use a ESP32-DevKitC-VIE board, but you will need to use an external IPEX connected antenna since it lacks the on-board PCB antenna."

There's one key caveat to Tersteeg's design, though: "Currently this board is not supported by the FujiNet updater app," he advises, "so you will need to use Platform IO to build and upload your own binaries. Build with the 8MB flash target since the devkit boards have half the flash of the 16MB WROVER modules used on the SIO mounted FujiNet designed by mozzwald."

Design files and Gerbers for the FujiNet DevKit Shield are available on GitHub under the CERN Open Hardware License Version 2 — Strongly Reciprocal license, while boards can be ordered for $4 — plus $0.50 or $1 for surface-mount or through-hole microSD add-ons respectively — on Tersteeg's Tindie store.