1. What You Are Building
Fiveo1.Altoids.Tails is a small computer and networking system designed to fit inside an Altoids-style metal tin.
The finished device is intended to:
Run an x86-64 operating system
Create a Wi-Fi hotspot
Connect other devices
Provide network routing
Use Bluetooth
Monitor battery power
Eventually monitor solar charging
Automatically start Fiveo1 software
Optionally run a customized Tails-based system
The first goal is simple:
Computer → Fiveo1 Wi-Fi → Phone connects
Do not build everything at once.
---
2. Important Hardware Decision
Tails is designed for x86-64 computers.
Do not use a Raspberry Pi for the Tails version.
A suitable small x86-64 computer should have:
64-bit Intel or AMD processor
At least 4 GB RAM recommended
USB ports
Wi-Fi capability or a USB Wi-Fi adapter
Storage of at least 8 GB for testing Tails
Low enough power consumption for the planned battery
Possible hardware includes small Intel-based computers and x86-64 single-board computers.
Before purchasing anything, verify that the exact computer and Wi-Fi adapter work with the current Tails release.
---
3. Build Version 1 Without the Tin
Do not put the electronics into the Altoids tin yet.
First build everything on a table.
You need:
Component Purpose
x86-64 computer Main computer
USB storage Operating system
USB Wi-Fi adapter Wireless networking
Keyboard Setup
Monitor Setup
USB power supply Power
Phone or laptop Testing
The first version should use ordinary Debian Linux rather than a customized Tails system.
This makes troubleshooting much easier.
---
4. First Test
Connect:
USB power
|
v
x86-64 computer
|
+---- Monitor
|
+---- Keyboard
|
+---- Wi-Fi adapter
Start the computer.
Open a terminal and type:
ip link
Look for a wireless interface.
It may be called:
wlan0
or:
wlp2s0
The exact name depends on the Wi-Fi hardware.
---
5. Install the Wi-Fi Software
On Debian Linux:
sudo apt update
sudo apt install hostapd dnsmasq
Two important programs are being installed.
hostapd creates the Wi-Fi network.
dnsmasq gives connected devices network addresses.
Think of it this way:
hostapd = creates Wi-Fi
dnsmasq = gives devices addresses
---
6. Create the Fiveo1 Wi-Fi Network
First determine the wireless interface:
ip link
For this example, assume it is:
wlan0
Create the configuration:
sudo nano /etc/hostapd/hostapd.conf
Enter:
interface=wlan0
driver=nl80211
ssid=Fiveo1
hw_mode=g
channel=6
wpa=2
wpa_passphrase=Fiveo1Science
wpa_key_mgmt=WPA-PSK
rsn_pairwise=CCMP
Save the file.
Restart hostapd:
sudo systemctl restart hostapd
Check its status:
sudo systemctl status hostapd
---
7. Give Fiveo1 a Network Address
Run:
sudo ip addr add 10.5.1.1/24 dev wlan0
Then:
sudo ip link set wlan0 up
The Fiveo1 computer now uses:
10.5.1.1
as the address of the Fiveo1 network.
---
8. Configure DHCP
Create the configuration:
sudo nano /etc/dnsmasq.conf
Enter:
interface=wlan0
dhcp-range=10.5.1.10,10.5.1.100,255.255.255.0,12h
Restart dnsmasq:
sudo systemctl restart dnsmasq
Now connected devices can receive addresses.
For example:
Fiveo1 computer 10.5.1.1
Phone 10.5.1.10
Laptop 10.5.1.11
Tablet 10.5.1.12
---
9. Test With Your Phone
Open the phone's Wi-Fi settings.
Connect to:
Fiveo1
Password:
Fiveo1Science
The phone should receive an address such as:
10.5.1.10
At this point you have successfully created the first working Fiveo1 network.
---
10. Add Internet Access
The next version uses two network connections.
One connection connects Fiveo1 to the Internet.
The other creates the Fiveo1 hotspot.
The basic design is:
Internet
|
Existing Wi-Fi
|
v
Fiveo1 computer
|
+---- Fiveo1 Wi-Fi
|
+---- Phone
|
+---- Laptop
Using two network interfaces is easier for a beginner to understand and troubleshoot.
For example:
wlan0 = Fiveo1 hotspot
wlan1 = Internet connection
Internet routing and NAT can then be configured after the basic hotspot is working.
---
11. Create the Fiveo1 Live Module
The Fiveo1 Live Module is a startup program that checks the hardware and starts Fiveo1 services.
Create:
sudo nano /usr/local/bin/fiveo1-live
Enter:
#!/bin/bash
echo "Starting Fiveo1 Live Module..."
echo "Checking network interfaces..."
ip link
echo "Checking Bluetooth..."
systemctl status bluetooth --no-pager
echo "Checking battery..."
if [ -d /sys/class/power_supply ]; then
ls /sys/class/power_supply/
fi
echo "Fiveo1 Live Module started."
Make it executable:
sudo chmod +x /usr/local/bin/fiveo1-live
Test it:
sudo /usr/local/bin/fiveo1-live
---
12. Start Fiveo1 Automatically
Create:
sudo nano /etc/systemd/system/fiveo1.service
Enter:
[Unit]
Description=Fiveo1 Live Module
After=network.target
[Service]
Type=oneshot
ExecStart=/usr/local/bin/fiveo1-live
RemainAfterExit=yes
[Install]
WantedBy=multi-user.target
Then run:
sudo systemctl daemon-reload
Enable the service:
sudo systemctl enable fiveo1.service
Start it:
sudo systemctl start fiveo1.service
Check it:
systemctl status fiveo1.service
Now Fiveo1 automatically starts its module during boot.
---
13. Create Three Operating Modes
The Fiveo1 software can eventually have three simple modes.
Home
Internet: ON
Hotspot: ON
Bluetooth: ON
Power saving: OFF
Solar monitoring: OFF
Travel
Internet: ON
Hotspot: ON
Bluetooth: ON
Power saving: ON
Off-Grid
Internet: OFF
Hotspot: ON
Bluetooth: ON
Power saving: MAXIMUM
Solar monitoring: ON
---
14. Battery System
Do not connect a bare lithium battery directly to the computer.
Use a proper battery-management and charging circuit.
The basic system is:
Solar panel
|
v
Charge controller
|
v
Battery
|
v
Voltage regulator
|
v
Fiveo1 computer
The solar panel produces electricity.
The charge controller manages charging.
The battery stores energy.
The regulator provides the correct voltage to the computer.
---
15. Test Power Before Installing It
Before putting the system into the tin, measure:
Solar panel voltage
Battery voltage
Computer input voltage
Use a multimeter.
Record the measurements.
Example:
Measurement Example
Solar panel 5.2 V
Battery 3.8 V
Computer input 5.0 V
These are examples only. Use the specifications of your actual components.
---
16. Install Everything in the Tin
Only after the electronics work should you move them into the metal enclosure.
The metal tin can interfere with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth signals.
A basic arrangement is:
Wi-Fi antenna
|
|
+---------+---------+
| |
| x86 computer |
| |
| |
|-------------------|
| insulating layer |
|-------------------|
| |
| battery |
| |
+-------------------+
If the Wi-Fi signal is weak, use an external antenna or a non-metallic enclosure.
---
17. Battery Safety
Lithium batteries require careful handling.
Do not:
Short the battery
Puncture the battery
Bend or crush the battery
Charge it without an appropriate charger
Connect it directly to unsuitable electronics
Leave an experimental charging system unattended
For the first version, use a commercially designed battery pack or power bank with its own protection circuitry.
---
18. Add the Display
An optional small display can show:
FIVEo1
Wi-Fi: ON
Clients: 2
Battery: 78%
Solar: 4.8 V
Mode: TRAVEL
This is useful because it allows you to see what the computer is measuring.
---
19. Add Tails Last
After the Linux version works, experiment with Tails.
The important difference is:
Fiveo1 Linux
|
+-- Wi-Fi hotspot
+-- Routing
+-- Bluetooth
+-- Battery monitoring
+-- Solar monitoring
+-- Fiveo1 software
versus:
Tails
|
+-- Privacy-focused operating system
+-- Amnesic operation
+-- Tor
+-- Privacy applications
+-- Optional persistent storage
Tails is primarily designed as a privacy-focused live operating system, not as a miniature router.
Therefore, modifying Tails should be treated as a separate development project.
---
20. Recommended Development Order
Follow this order:
1. Buy/test x86-64 computer
2. Install Debian
3. Verify Wi-Fi
4. Create Fiveo1 hotspot
5. Connect phone
6. Add Internet routing
7. Create Fiveo1 Live Module
8. Make Live Module start automatically
9. Add Bluetooth
10. Add battery monitoring
11. Add solar charging system
12. Test power consumption
13. Build enclosure
14. Install electronics in enclosure
15. Test again
16. Install Tails
17. Test Tails hardware compatibility
18. Begin Fiveo1 Tails customization
This approach gives you a working project after almost every step.
---
21. Fifth-Grade Science Experiment
Once the device works, measure how different features affect battery life.
Experiment A
Wi-Fi: OFF
Bluetooth: OFF
Display: OFF
Record battery life.
Experiment B
Wi-Fi: ON
Bluetooth: OFF
Display: OFF
Record battery life.
Experiment C
Wi-Fi: ON
Bluetooth: ON
Display: ON
Record battery life.
Record the results:
Test Wi-Fi Bluetooth Display Battery Life
A OFF OFF OFF ____
B ON OFF OFF ____
C ON ON ON ____
Then create a graph showing which configuration uses the most electricity.
This turns Fiveo1 into a real science project involving:
Electricity
Energy storage
Solar energy
Radio communication
Computers
Networking
Temperature
Power consumption
---
22. Final Fiveo1 Design
Solar Panel
|
v
Charge Controller
|
v
Battery
|
v
Power Regulator
|
v
x86-64 Computer
|
+---- Fiveo1 Live Module
|
+---- Wi-Fi
|
+---- Bluetooth
|
+---- Battery Monitor
|
+---- Solar Monitor
|
v
External Wi-Fi Antenna
|
v
Fiveo1 Wi-Fi Network
|
+---- Phone
+---- Laptop
+---- Tablet
Official URLs
Tails:
https://tails.net/
Tails hardware requirements:
https://tails.net/doc/about/requirements/
Tails installation:
https://tails.net/install/
Tails customization:
https://tails.net/contribute/customize/
Tails build documentation:
https://tails.net/contribute/build/
Tails source code:
https://gitlab.tails.boum.org/tails/tails
Debian:
https://www.debian.org/
Hostapd:
https://w1.fi/hostapd/
Dnsmasq:
https://thekelleys.org.uk/dnsmasq/doc.html ← Back to Fiveo1