5 Surprising Uses for Old Raspberry Pi Models

Do you have several old Raspberry Pi's hanging around the house? Don't worry, here are my top 5 best project ideas for older Raspberry Pi models.

00:00 Intro
00:33 Old Raspberry Pi capabilities
02:21 #5 Surveillance camera
03:30 #4 Digital photo frame
04:44 #3 Weather station
06:13 #2 Pi-hole adblocking server
07:25 #1 Storage & backup server
09:40 Conclusion

Photo frame:

Weather station:

Pi-hole:

[paulstubbs]

I'm using one as a 'serial terminal server', I have an old computer (SWTPC 6800) that you normally talk to with a serial terminal, as in good old RS232 at 9600bps. I've connected a pi so I can talk to that machine over my network, and use a Ethernet or WiFi device as a terminal, using either Telnet, or SSH. I.e. an old iPad etc.
Yes, I could plug a screen and keyboard into the pi, however being able to use the old computer from my regular computer desk, without having to find room for another screen and keyboard way more convenient.
Also being able to look up things on the web then cut and paste to/from that telnet session is very nice.

[shiruvaaa]

Many thanks for showing examples as well! Really helps in narrowing down the good stuff! :)

[tkonzl]

In case you were wondering if the pi-hole was an option with the very oldest 700 MHz 256 Mb memory B model - it is. I have it running in my home and it works well and these are what pi-hole is reporting at this moment for resource usage: Load: 0.1 0.11 0.13; Memory usage: 25.0 %; Temp: 31.5 °C; I have another of this model and will probably use it as a temp sensor bank for my network closet. These are great suggestions - thanks for the great information and video.

[HobbitTanoo]

great video! i also like the idea of using it for RGB light control, like the standupmaths christmas tree!

[DuroLabs]

Is it possible to run android image on a Rpi 1 Model B+ V1.2 ?? I have a STM32 usb SCOPE which with a app on playstore makes up a basic scope so i was thinking of running android on the pi and using that app ??

[Ard]

It is reallly usefull video. Can we get more about his topic?
And what is advandage of buying newer models?(it is not eassy to buy because expensive in some country.)

[reedyd]

Consider also running a VPN server using PiVPN and OpenVPN client(s). I have an original Pi Model B at a client site and even perform rsync backup of server data which can tax the Pi to >100% utilization but it recovers and actually outperforms a local copy using Kan Yabumoto's XXCOPY utility under Windows 10 Pro to an external USB drive.

[mysoundiicon]

the raspbery pi 1 is grate! for starters they use less power and yeah they are far from useless . vpn server, sambashare, webserver, stream audio over network or why not a fm radio transmitter so you can tune in with a radio.

[majinlao]

Pi hole says usupported OS, maybe it's not compatible with 32bit OS ?

[irinelcostin]

Pi Hole does not block youtube video adds...