Amiibo Emulator Transformed into Pocket 2.4 GHz Spectrum Analyzer

The world of technology is constantly evolving, and what was once considered expensive lab equipment is now being made accessible to consumers in affordable devices. A perfect example of this phenomenon is the tiny displays that were initially marketed as Nintendo amiibo emulators. Thanks to the ingenuity of [ATC1441], one of these compact gadgets has been repurposed into a 2.4 GHz spectrum analyzer, all for less than the cost of a nice dinner.

The underlying technology behind these emulators is the Nordic nRF52832 SoC, which is also used in numerous low-power Bluetooth devices. The majority of versions come equipped with either a small LCD or OLED screen and can be powered by a coin cell or rechargeable LiPo battery. Given that they share the same core silicon as the original chipsets, [ATC1441]'s hack can successfully be applied across a wide range of models.

It's essential to note that this analyzer is not lab-grade quality and will only cover the frequency range supported by the Bluetooth chip inside. However, this limitation actually makes it perfect for identifying crowded channels and selecting the least congested one – precisely where Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Zigbee, and over a dozen other protocols vie for bandwidth.

The process of flashing the custom firmware is remarkably straightforward: simply put the device into DFU mode, drag over the .zip file, and you're done. For those who want to give it a try, all the necessary files, instructions, and source code are available on [ATC1441]'s PixlAnlyzer GitHub repo.

If this isn't your first foray into hacking amiibo gadgets, you might be interested in checking out some of the other creative repurposing projects we've featured in the past. Who knows what hidden talents these compact devices have yet to reveal?