I thought I would offer my services for anyone having trouble finding a Raspberry Pi Zero with the header pins, or if you can only find the “W” variant. If you live in the US and aren’t comfortable with soldering on the headers and/or removing the chip to disable the radios, I will make the modifications for 50k sats (plus cost of the device and shipping to you). Currently the devices are usually around $35, so the total would come to around $65-$70 plus shipping. I’ll source the device (unless you want to send one to me to be modified), and will let you know if the only available options are over $35 before purchasing.
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I see on AliExpress there is a link to a Raspberry Pi Zero v 1.3
Is this appropriate for the Seedsigner build?
Yes, that looks like the Pi Zero H (though it could be Pi Zero WH – doesn’t seem to be from the title, but somethiing to be mindful off). Both the H and WH are compatible (the only difference is that with the WH, you’d want to rip out the chip that controls the Wifi/Bluetooth radios). If you decide to get that one, just take a close-up picture showing all of the chips, and I can tell you if it is the Zero H or Zero WH.
(BTW, the photo on the listing is the Zero H – but in my experience you can often get devices that are in a similar class rather than exactly what is listed on AliExpress. So you could possibly end up receiving an H, WH, 2H, or 2WH. All are compatible with SeedSigner (just that the W variants need a chip to be removed to disable the radios)
I have ordered one and I will post photos when I receive it.
Thanks
While we’re talking about the seedsigner, I’m unsure about the photographic method that’s described to provide entropy…how do you feel about it?
You’d still be trusting their algo/code to be correct which is falling for the same trap that caused the ColdCard debacle. Just roll the dice and stop trusting. If you can’t verify it yourself, assume it’s compromised.
I think it is a good method in principle, as long as the photo captures a lot of entropy. The best way to do that is to take a photo that captures the state of at least two separate complex systems (these could be things like laval lamps, candle flames in a slight breeze, chaotic pendulums, shaken snow globes, etc.)
But I agree with @PiedPiper, it is better not to trust that the algorithm has no bugs in it.
I’ve also heard when using dice rolls you can verify it using IanColeman.io.
Ben suggests on BTC Sessions (https://youtu.be/oMDPMZL5xLw?si=VuoSzMcQlfTbt6yj) that you download the whole webpage and verify the results by turning off WiFi on your computer and test your rolling Mnemonic Phrase this way. I believe his strategy was just to verify the integrity of the test roll…not a strategy for testing the final product.
I also heard the interview Seed did with Saif and they talked about generating a seed phrase on an old laptop that would eventually be destroyed after use.
Thoughts?
This is the link to the interview with Seed…very interesting.
Too risky imo. Just do it all on paper. https://thesimplestbitcoinbook.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/FINAL_Roll-Your-Own-Seed-Workshop_8.5x11_03_25_2025.pdf
Then when you’re done you can light the paper on fire.
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Thanks Pied Piper, I’ll spend some time with that.
I’m just wondering…without having verified your rolls with something like IanColeman.io, as a final check, wouldn’t you always be second guessing the result. Not sure I could ever trust myself, since my life savings will be wrapped up in this process.
Think about it. What exactly are you trusting yourself with that you’re scared about? Are you able to roll the dice? Are you able to write the number down in a place with no cameras? Are you able to match a value with a word in a printed list? If you’re capable of all of that then you’re capable of generating your own seed phrase.
Also, what exactly would you be verifying with that iancoleman website? If anything, you’re trusting that website to be correct which you shouldn’t. Remember that the last word in the 12 or 24 word seed phrase is a checksum so you will need the seedsigner or some other hardware wallet to generate that last word for you.
After you’ve generated your seedphrase, you can send a small test transaction to it and then send it out (will require you to sign) and if all of that works, that’s the only verification that matters.
Good point of view…thanks for the discussion.
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Hi Paul, I said I would post a photo of the Pi v1.3 that came from Ali Express. Can you verify that this is version of Zero that has no wifi/Bluetooth capability?
Yes that is the Pi Zero H (without the radios), so no modification is necessary. For comparison, this is what the board on a Pi Zero W(H) looks like:
Essentialy, the place that has a blank spot under the raspberry logo on your board, has circuitry for the Wifi and Bluetooth on the W board.
Cropping to the same section on your board for easier comparison:
…Thanks, looking forward to the build