3DSage’s Metal Gear Solid Codec build is not a smartwatch or a covert digital communicator. It is a pair of custom 3D-printed, wrist-mounted walkie-talkies with animated LCD interfaces, keypad input, motion sensing, and a separate infrared accessory that creates a simulated jammer effect.
The radio handles voice communication. A Waveshare RP2040-Zero handles the display and interaction layer, while an IMU, keypad, and infrared receiver make the prop feel like the Codec from the game.
What is the Metal Gear Solid Codec?
In Metal Gear Solid, the Codec is primarily presented as a communications interface. Players interact with character portraits, radio frequencies, tactical information, and conversations on-screen, while the games leave much of the physical hardware open to interpretation.
That ambiguity gives a maker room to create a plausible wearable version. The 3DSage project is therefore best understood as fan engineering rather than an official, screen-accurate reconstruction. Its shape, controls, and proportions are practical design decisions built around available electronics and wrist-worn ergonomics.
Recommended Free Tools
#1 Best Overall
- 【Full Skeleton Open - Design for Watch Enthusiasts】 This all - open skeleton watch is a dream come true for watch lovers. You can watch the intricate mechanical gears spin in real - time, a sight that's sure to captivate at business meetings, weekend get - togethers, or while you're out on a casual stroll. It's not just a watch; it's a wearable piece of art that showcases classic mechanical craftsmanship.
- 【Pre - Calibrated Automatic Movement for Any Occasion】 Every movement is pre - calibrated before shipping, ensuring accurate timekeeping (within ±20 seconds a day, meeting industry standards for mechanical watches). Whether you're in a high - pressure business environment, on a relaxing vacation, or just going about your daily routine, this self - winding watch powered by the swing of your wrist has got you covered. No need to worry about batteries; it's ready for whatever your day brings.
- 【Tough Stainless Steel Build for Versatile Use】 Crafted from durable 304 stainless steel, this watch is scratch - resistant, rust - proof, and comfortable for all - day wear. Its sporty design with blue accent markings makes it a perfect fit for outdoor activities like hiking or running, as well as for formal business presentations. It transitions seamlessly from the boardroom to the basketball court.
- 【Daily Waterproof (30M) for Everyday Scenarios】 With a 30M waterproof rating, it's safe for handwashing, sudden rain showers, or accidental splashes during your daily activities. However, for swimming in the pool or taking a shower, it's best to keep it dry to protect the delicate movement. This watch is designed to handle the minor water encounters of your everyday life.
- 【Ideal Gift Choice】 Packaged in an elegant gift box, this skeleton mechanical watch is a perfect gift for fathers, boyfriends, or watch lovers on birthdays, anniversaries, or holidays. We offer 24/9 customer support.
Coverage of the project appeared in Hackster, Hackaday, and All3DP.
What the real-life Codec actually does
Two finished units can communicate by voice using inexpensive walkie-talkie electronics. The microcontroller does not replace the radio; it controls the theatrical interface surrounding it.
- Short-range voice communication through donor walkie-talkie hardware
- Codec-style LCD graphics, including signal effects and caller information
- Numerical keypad input for local interface interaction
- Motion-reactive graphics driven by an IMU
- Optional map, tracker, radar, or reticle screens
- A separate infrared jammer-effect prop
- A custom, military-radio-inspired 3D-printed enclosure
The keypad is interactive, but available reporting does not establish that it transmits numerical data between units. Likewise, the jammer is not an RF jammer. It sends modulated infrared light that the Codec units recognize, causing firmware to enter a local lockout state.
How the system is organized
[Walkie-talkie radio board]
│
speaker/microphone
│
[RP2040-Zero]
├── LCD display
├── keypad
├── IMU
├── IR receiver
├── transmit-enable lockout
└── status LEDs / effectsFor a pair of units:
Codec A walkie-talkie ⇄ Codec B walkie-talkie
│ │
RP2040 A RP2040 B
│ │
LCD/keypad/IMU LCD/keypad/IMU
▲
│ infrared control signal
│
JammerThis separation is the key design idea. The donor radio provides the audio and radio path; the RP2040 provides the user interface and state logic; the infrared accessory controls the simulated jammer behavior.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsParts required
For each Codec unit
- One inexpensive walkie-talkie or DIY walkie-talkie kit
- One Waveshare RP2040-Zero
- A small LCD, with secondary coverage identifying a display of approximately 1.8 inches
- An MPU6050-family IMU or comparable accelerometer/gyroscope
- A numerical keypad or compact button matrix
- Speaker and microphone wiring from the donor radio
- An optional upgraded microphone if the donor unit’s audio is poor
- An infrared receiver
- Status LEDs and appropriate resistors
- A rechargeable battery system and charging circuit
- Point-to-point wiring or a custom PCB
- 3D-printed case, bezel, buttons, wrist hardware, screws, connectors, and strain relief
The reported build used an RP2040-Zero, MPU6050-style motion sensing, a small LCD, a rechargeable 9V-form-factor battery, an upgraded microphone, and custom 3D-printed housings. The exact donor walkie-talkie model, LCD model, battery capacity, wiring diagram, GPIO assignments, firmware repository, and total cost have not been established by the available coverage.
For the jammer-effect accessory
- Infrared LED or transmitter
- Current-limiting resistor
- A transistor or driver if the transmitter requires more current than a microcontroller pin can provide
- Push button
- A small controller circuit
- Battery and enclosure
Each Codec unit needs an IR receiver. The transmitter should use modulation rather than simply emitting continuous infrared light, allowing the receiver to distinguish the intended signal from sunlight and other ambient infrared sources.
Build the electronics on the bench first
Do not begin by cramming every board into the printed case. The donor radio is the most uncertain part of the project, and the final enclosure will be difficult to troubleshoot once assembled.
1. Prove the donor radios work
- Confirm that both radios communicate in their original housings.
- Identify the microphone, speaker, battery, power, push-to-talk, and ground connections.
- Measure the donor radio’s supply voltage.
- Photograph the original board and wiring before modification.
- Check that the radio still operates outside its factory shell.
- Determine which controls and antenna components must remain accessible.
Do not assume that two visually similar toy radios have the same wiring or pinout. Preserve the RF circuitry wherever possible and interface only with permitted low-voltage controls and audio connections.
Windows Errors? Fix Them Before They Spread
Repair common Windows errors and clear accumulated junk for a smoother, more stable PC - no reinstall needed.Free scan · no reinstallOutdated Drivers Are Slowing You Down
One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware match2. Test the RP2040 and LCD
- Connect the RP2040-Zero over USB.
- Run a minimal display test before adding other peripherals.
- Confirm the display’s supply voltage and logic levels.
- Test backlight control separately.
- Add the keypad and verify each key.
- Add the IMU and confirm stable readings while stationary.
- Add the IR receiver last.
Exact GPIO assignments should come from a verified schematic for the individual build. The available reporting identifies the components and functions but does not publish a complete pinout.
Firmware architecture
A small state machine makes the behavior predictable and easier to debug:
IDLE
CALL_READY
TRANSMITTING
RECEIVING
JAMMED
LOW_BATTERY
ERRORThe firmware should keep display drawing, input scanning, sensor processing, and radio-control logic separate. A representative structure might look like this:
loop() {
read_keypad();
read_imu();
read_ir_receiver();
if (jammer_detected()) {
state = JAMMED;
disable_transmit_control();
}
if (state == JAMMED && jammer_timeout_expired()) {
state = IDLE;
enable_transmit_control();
}
update_tracker_graphics(imu_data);
update_codec_screen(state, keypad_input);
}In a practical implementation:
- Debounce keypad switches so one press produces one event.
- Average or low-pass-filter IMU values before using them in graphics.
- Require a valid IR carrier and pulse pattern instead of accepting a single pulse.
- Avoid long blocking delays that make the interface feel unresponsive.
- Add a watchdog or a reliable power-cycle recovery path.
- Include a diagnostic screen for battery, IMU, IR, and radio-control status.
Designing the Codec display
The screen is what makes the prop recognizable. A green or monochrome tactical treatment can include:
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Rank #2
- Skeleton Watches for Men Automatic: Glenaw automatic skeleton watch features a 43mm case diameter, 15mm case thickness, and 22mm strap width with a hollow mechanical dial that showcases the beauty of mechanical design
- Mechanical Mens Watches: Operates without battery using automatic self-winding technology, though proper manual winding is indispensable to effectively reduce time deviation (Note: Mechanical watch is different from quartz watch and insufficient mechanical kinetic energy will cause the watch to stop, please wind it in time)
- 30M Waterproof Men's Wrist Watches: 3ATM waterproof watch can withstand damage caused by daily splashing, hand washing, and sweat, but it is not suitable for diving and hot water environments
- Suitable for All Occasions: This Glenaw self-winding men's watch is carefully packaged in a fashionable and black watch box
- How to use : Winding the Watch，This is a mechanical watch, so it requires manual winding to run properly，Wind it by rotating the crown (the small knob on the side) clockwise， Wind regularly to avoid the watch stopping due to insufficient kinetic energy， Setting the Time，Pull the crown out to set the time，Rotate it to move the hands to the correct time，Push the crown back in when done，Reading the Dial.
- Caller identification or an original character portrait
- Frequency or channel information
- Signal bars and connection indicators
- Animated static and noise overlays
- Map, radar, or tracker-style screens
- Keypad feedback
- A large
JAMMEDstate - A tilt-reactive reticle or scanning graphic
For a legally safer fan prop, create new graphics that evoke the period and interface language without redistributing extracted game files, character portraits, logos, or other copyrighted assets. Private cosplay use is not the same as a blanket license to sell copies or distribute original game material.
Mechanical design and 3D printing
The enclosure is functional engineering, not just a cosmetic shell. It must accommodate the donor radio board, RP2040, display, keypad, battery, speaker, microphone, antenna, wiring, and mounting hardware.
The reported enclosure was modeled from scratch and printed on a Bambu Lab P1S, according to All3DP. The development process involved breadboard testing, fit refinement, and custom-circuit work.
Plan for:
- A bezel and light-blocking surround around the LCD
- Acoustic openings aligned with the speaker and microphone
- Clearance around the antenna and original radio controls
- USB charging access and battery serviceability
- Internal standoffs that prevent boards from touching
- Heat-set inserts rather than repeatedly driving screws into printed plastic
- Strain relief for wires leaving the boards
- A wrist strap that supports the case without pressing on the screen
The donor radio, battery, speaker, and antenna impose a hard lower limit on size. If the result is too large for a wrist, a separate pocket radio with a smaller wrist display may be more realistic than endlessly shrinking the case.
Power design
Power is one of the easiest places to create an unreliable prop. The radio and RP2040 may need different voltage rails, and radio transmission can create current peaks that reset the display controller.
- Check the voltage and current requirements of every board.
- Measure voltage during transmission, not only while idle.
- Use suitable regulation and local decoupling.
- Secure and insulate the battery physically.
- Protect the charging input against reverse polarity and shorts.
- Do not improvise an unprotected lithium-ion pack.
- Do not treat a rechargeable 9V-shaped lithium battery as electrically equivalent to an alkaline 9V battery.
The reported build used a rechargeable 9V-form-factor battery containing lithium-ion and USB-charging electronics. That is a component choice, not a universal recommendation. Chemistry, protection, charging method, capacity, output voltage, and current capability must be checked for the specific design.
If the screen resets when the radio transmits, test separate regulated rails where appropriate, improve grounding and decoupling, and verify the battery-protection circuit under load.
Adding the infrared jammer effect
Call this a simulated jammer, infrared lockout, or jammer-effect prop. It does not interfere with a radio carrier.
Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
The accessory sends modulated IR light. Receivers on the Codec units detect the recognized pattern, and firmware disables the transmit action while displaying a jammer graphic. The radio itself is not being blocked.
To reduce false triggers:
- Use a defined carrier frequency.
- Require a minimum pulse count or valid packet.
- Reject isolated pulses.
- Use a detection time window.
- Test under sunlight and near ordinary remote controls.
- Provide a timeout or power-cycle recovery method.
This design produces a convincing gameplay effect without the legal and safety problems associated with an actual RF jammer.
Testing checklist
Bench tests
- RP2040 boots consistently.
- LCD initializes after a cold boot.
- Every keypad key registers once.
- IMU readings remain stable while stationary.
- IR detection ignores sunlight and ordinary remote controls.
- The jammer works at different angles.
- Radio audio works before and after enclosure installation.
- The battery charges without excessive heat.
- Transmit control cannot activate while the unit is jammed.
Wear and range tests
- Test communication in an open indoor area.
- Test both units on opposite wrists.
- Use the antenna orientation intended for the finished prop.
- Check whether the enclosure reduces range.
- Test transmitting and receiving in sequence.
- Confirm that the IR accessory affects only the intended units.
Recovery tests
- Power-cycle a jammed unit.
- Remove and reconnect the battery.
- Remove the jammer signal.
- Enter invalid keypad input.
- Test low battery during transmission.
- Test display failure while preserving radio operation.
What the replica can and cannot do
| Feature | Result |
|---|---|
| Voice communication | Yes, through walkie-talkie hardware |
| Animated Codec interface | Yes |
| Keypad input | Yes, for local interaction |
| Actual numeric data transmission | No, based on available reporting |
| Motion-reactive graphics | Yes |
| Infrared jammer effect | Yes, as a firmware lockout |
| Long-range encrypted communication | No |
| Official Konami hardware | No |
Radio, safety, and legal limitations
A toy or inexpensive walkie-talkie is not automatically legal to modify simply because it is inexpensive. Check its operating band, approval status, antenna arrangement, output stage, and intended operating conditions. Local rules differ, and U.S. readers can start with the Federal Communications Commission’s wireless-device guidance.
The safest approach is to leave the RF circuitry intact and interface with low-voltage controls, microphone, speaker, and user-interface signals. The new enclosure must not obstruct or detune the antenna, and readers should verify applicable rules before modifying or operating the radio.
What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
Rank #3
- Movement: Japanese quartz movement 2115, more accurate than automatic watches
- Materials: The case and band are made of 316L stainless steel.It has full brushed steel band，convex mineral glass with anti-glare blue coating
- Size: 41 mm case diameter, 48 mm lug to lug length, 20 mm lugs width,13 mm case thickness(including glass and case bottom), watch net weight is around 163 g. The whole length of the watch is 220 mm
- Luminous watch: The blue luminous hands and hour markers are made of Super-Luminous BGW9 powder, which provides excellent long-lasting luminous time and high brightness. The time is clearly visible at night and darkness
- Good for diving: This diver watch is water resistant to 200 M and with unidirectional steel bezel. It is suitable for daily water use and water sports such as washing hands, showering, swimming and diving
Three sensible build tiers
1. Display-only prop
Use an RP2040, LCD, keypad, IMU, and printed case. This is the best starting point for a beginner because it delivers the visual experience without donor-radio integration, RF concerns, or audio troubleshooting.
2. Functional communicator
Add two donor walkie-talkies and preserve their audio and radio functions. This provides the most direct route to a working voice prop, but the radio board, antenna, battery, and push-to-talk integration become the main engineering challenges.
3. Full replica-style build
Add motion-reactive graphics, custom circuitry, upgraded audio, integrated charging, serviceable mechanical design, and the infrared lockout accessory. This is closer to the reported project and requires substantially more testing.
Alternative architectures
Donor walkie-talkie versus custom digital radio
A donor radio is the simplest route to local voice communication and keeps software requirements modest. Its disadvantages are uncertain pinouts, bulky boards, limited audio quality, and RF-integration constraints.
The Tool Desk
Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →A Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, LoRa, or Raspberry Pi communicator can support actual data, custom call states, and richer software. It also adds networking, power, software, and sometimes internet or phone dependencies, so it is no longer the same simple local walkie-talkie architecture.
RP2040-Zero versus Raspberry Pi
The RP2040-Zero is well suited to fast boot, low-power sensor and display control, and a small embedded prop. A Raspberry Pi is more appropriate for networked voice, recording, playback, and sophisticated graphics.
The Raspberry Pi Codec Zero provides a documented audio-oriented alternative with digital audio, microphone and speaker support, LEDs, and a button. It requires a Raspberry Pi host and is not a drop-in replacement for the RP2040-plus-donor-radio design. Raspberry Pi’s audio documentation provides the relevant setup context.
LCD versus e-paper
LCD is the better match for animated static, maps, and signal effects, although the backlight consumes more power. E-paper uses less idle power but is poorly suited to rapid animation and noise effects.
Breadboard versus custom PCB
Breadboards and point-to-point wiring are ideal for experimentation but fragile inside a wearable enclosure. A custom PCB is cleaner and more repeatable, but should follow a confirmed schematic and tested pinout. The reported development path from breadboard experiments toward custom circuitry is a sensible model.
What is still unknown
The available project coverage does not establish the exact walkie-talkie model, LCD model, complete wiring diagram, GPIO assignments, firmware language, public source-code repository, print-file licensing, battery capacity, radio frequency, range, total build cost, or exact microphone replacement part.
That means this should not be presented as a turnkey kit or a fully open-source build. It is a documented project concept and architecture that readers can reproduce in spirit, but component compatibility must be verified during their own build.
Commercial and practical choices
The closest reported architecture is an RP2040-Zero paired with a suitable donor walkie-talkie. Beginners should start with the display-only version. Readers who already own a printer may fabricate the case themselves; occasional makers may save money by using a makerspace or print service.
A conventional smartwatch does not solve the donor-radio, custom-enclosure, jammer-logic, or prop-control problems. A genuine RF jammer is unnecessary and inappropriate for this project. Likewise, a generic rechargeable 9V battery should not be selected by shape alone.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
