Build your own internet radio for just €14

For those of you who miss the golden age of digital music, the Volos Projects team has come up with a project that combines modern hardware with a retro aesthetic. It's an internet radio based on the Waveshare ESP32-S3 development board with a 3.9 cm (1.54-inch) LCD display. The total cost of the main components for this project is around 14 euros, making it an extremely affordable DIY venture for electronics enthusiasts.

The device uses Wi-Fi to stream online radio stations, and also allows you to play music from an SD card. The main attraction of the radio is its display, which faithfully simulates the classic Winamp interface using the LovyanGFX and Arduino GFX libraries. Users get all the nostalgic visuals without having to actually run a decades-old application on a modern microcontroller. For easy operation, there are three physical buttons on the top of the case, which correspond to the buttons in the Winamp interface itself.

The project is modular in design. Although the device is powered by a wall outlet, there is enough space in the housing to install a 1,000 mAh battery, which turns the radio into a portable player. The sound is provided by an audio output, to which users can connect external speakers for better quality. The system is ideal for anyone who wants to add a touch of the early 2000s to their desk, as the visual interface even includes recognizable buttons and a spectrum analyzer.

This project demonstrates how, with minimal financial resources, we can create a functional device that has not only practical value but also a strong nostalgic effect. The instructions and code allow anyone to assemble a unique piece of technology over the weekend, with a visual image that faithfully follows the motto of the Winamp player, which “really moved the llamas”.