# Ep 353: Fantastic Peripherals, Fake or Not Fake Picos, and Everything on the Steam Deck

- Show: [Hackaday Podcast](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast)
- Published: 2026-01-16
- Length: 1h 08m
- Episode: 353
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2026-01-16-ep-353-fantastic-peripherals-fake-or-not-fake-picos-and-everything-on-the-steam
- Listen: https://hackaday.com/2026/01/16/hackaday-podcast-episode-353-fantastic-peripherals-fake-or-not-fake-picos-and-everything-on-the-steam-deck/

## Summary

Hackaday editors Elliot Williams and Tom Nardi discuss a variety of hardware hacks, starting with Kokenshaw Tech’s simplified open-source smart knob that uses standard brushless DC motors and an ESP module to make Scott Bez’s original design more accessible. They then examine a teardown of a fake Raspberry Pi Pico board by Electron Update, revealing it uses a genuine but older revision RP2040 chip alongside counterfeit supporting components to achieve a lower price point. The episode concludes with a deep dive into using the Steam Deck as a productive Linux workstation, highlighting its battery efficiency and the community's adoption of it for tasks like flashing Supercon badges.

## Chapters

- [0:01](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2026-01-16-ep-353-fantastic-peripherals-fake-or-not-fake-picos-and-everything-on-the-steam#t=1) Introduction: ISS Medical Emergency and Podcast Overview
- [2:24](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2026-01-16-ep-353-fantastic-peripherals-fake-or-not-fake-picos-and-everything-on-the-steam#t=144) Kokenshaw Tech Smart Knob: Simplifying Open Source Hardware
- [14:35](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2026-01-16-ep-353-fantastic-peripherals-fake-or-not-fake-picos-and-everything-on-the-steam#t=875) Electrarch 240: High-Frequency Current Path Demonstration
- [22:19](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2026-01-16-ep-353-fantastic-peripherals-fake-or-not-fake-picos-and-everything-on-the-steam#t=1339) Electron Update: Teardown of a Fake RP2040 Board
- [33:24](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2026-01-16-ep-353-fantastic-peripherals-fake-or-not-fake-picos-and-everything-on-the-steam#t=2004) Yukidama: Open Source Electromagnetic Resonance Tablet
- [40:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2026-01-16-ep-353-fantastic-peripherals-fake-or-not-fake-picos-and-everything-on-the-steam#t=2400) Dynamite: ESP32-P4 Retro Handheld Upgrade
- [47:11](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2026-01-16-ep-353-fantastic-peripherals-fake-or-not-fake-picos-and-everything-on-the-steam#t=2831) Quick Hacks: Smart Pot Doom, Chatbot Security, and CRT Spinning
- [52:59](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2026-01-16-ep-353-fantastic-peripherals-fake-or-not-fake-picos-and-everything-on-the-steam#t=3179) Steam Deck as a Productive Linux Workstation

## Topics

- [Industrial & consumer product design](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/industrial-design)
- [Microcontrollers & dev platforms](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/microcontrollers-and-platforms)
- [PCB design & layout](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/pcb-design)
- [Connected products & IoT](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/connected-products-and-iot)
- [Open-source hardware](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/open-source-hardware)

## Most relevant to

makers and hobbyists

## Mentioned

- Kokenshaw Tech (company)
- Scott Bez (other)
- ESP32 (chip)
- Yamato (other)
- Electrarch 240 (other)
- Electron Update (other)
- Raspberry Pi (company)
- RP2040 (chip)
- Yukidama (other)
- Wacom (company)
- Dynamite (other)
- ESP32-P4 (chip)
- Retro Go (product)
- Valve (company)
- Steam Deck (product)
- SteamOS (product)
- Supercon (other)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [ESP32 vs Pi Pico, ShaRPiKeebo Tiny Linux Deck, new Arduino kit and more!](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-electromaker-show/2022-05-13-esp32-vs-pi-pico-sharpikeebo-tiny-linux-deck-new-arduino-kit-and-more) (The Electromaker Show)
- [Cheapest 32-bit MCU, Pi Pico Special, Retro Computer Wifi, and More!](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-electromaker-show/2023-02-08-cheapest-32-bit-mcu-pi-pico-special-retro-computer-wifi-and-more) (The Electromaker Show)
- [DIY Streamdeck, Bela's beautiful STM32 module, ROCK 5 Model B, and more!](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-electromaker-show/2022-11-28-diy-streamdeck-belas-beautiful-stm32-module-rock-5-model-b-and-more) (The Electromaker Show)
- [PI Day, DOOM on the RP2040, Pockit Modular Computer, and more!](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-electromaker-show/2022-03-17-pi-day-doom-on-the-rp2040-pockit-modular-computer-and-more) (The Electromaker Show)
- [I2C on your PC with Pico, Pocket Integrator Goes Live, OrangePi Monitor, and more!](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-electromaker-show/2022-12-02-i2c-on-your-pc-with-pico-pocket-integrator-goes-live-orangepi-monitor-and-more) (The Electromaker Show)

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