Raspberry Pis and their uses.

[Paul Schulz]

Greetings,
I would like to know who has ordered and maybe even received their rasp-pi.
Now they are more generally available, I would like to know what people are doing with them...

[Sam Birbeck]

I have two. One is permanently hooked up to the living room TV as my media centre. The other I've been more experimental with but I'm now starting work on making a kind of retro computer out of it. I'm restoring an old Commodore 64 'breadbin'-style keyboard case and replacing the dead motherboard with the rpi, using the original keyboard. I am going to install an LCD screen in the shell of a dead JVC Videosphere TV and also retrofit an old Amiga mouse with optical guts. So the overall effect will be original-looking retro hardware with modern guts, DIY & as cheap as possible.

I really need to come down to the hackerspace some time soon and meet you all properly! To be honest I've just been leaving the house less and less over the past couple of years. I need to get over it & make some new friends :)

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[Tamsyn Michael]

I haven't gotten around to ordering yet, but my ultimate goal is voice control for Hexy.  Luckily someone else has done all the hard work:
http://www.aonsquared.co.uk/raspi_voice_control

I'd also like to get some kind of face tracking / vision system happening, but that's a lot less likely given the pi's specs / my skills.

--

[Tamsyn Michael]

PS - that'd be great Sam.  Hardly any of us bite.  :p. But, in all seriousness, the cool thing about hs is that it's only as social as you feel like being.  That's why we have projects.  :p. The retro beast sounds cool.  What will it be used for?

[Paul Schulz]

Hi Sam,
Would you be available during the Adelaide show to demonstrate the
equipment that you have?

[Sam Birbeck]

Thanks for the encouragement guys :)

I'm actually planning to go back to uni next year to study software development, and it kinda feels like I'm picking up where I left off in primary school days.... Back then I was teaching myself BASIC on the C64s at school! But as far as coding goes, I never really went further. I'm hoping that indulging my nostalgia will help bring back that enthusiasm so I'm planning to use my retro computer for homework!

Pros: Nostalgic, super cool, less distractions than using a more powerful multitasking machine w/constant net connection like my laptop

Cons: 8" Videosphere screen may not be optimal for long hack sessions..! This is probably a serious drawback but I can always make the text bigger I guess haha

[Sam Birbeck]

Hrmmm.. I'm really just starting this project and haven't even got all the parts yet! I also work 9-5 Mon-Fri which makes it hard.

[Paul Schulz]

Thanks Sam, not a problem (I have the same issue).

[Thomas Sprinkmeier]

On order.

If I get time to revive OGPC I might even use it for its intended purpose!

Thomas

[Dale]

-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE-----
Hash: SHA1

Hi Paul,

I have mine on order from RS Components and the delivery time is up to
15 weeks, I canceled my order through Element14[1] due to the
incompetents over postage and final payable amount.

Anyways I plan on using my Raspberry Pi to do ham radio related stuff
so can shut everything down that is 240V and run off of 12V and still
keep logging programs etc going on the raspberry pi and a 12V 7"-10"
lcd screen for motor car.

[1] http://blog.dale.id.au/archives/1389
- --
Best Regards
Dale

MB: 0488 932 022
WWW: http://dale.id.au/
Blog: http://blog.dale.id.au/
PGP/GPG Key ID: 0x58BD7FCE
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[Steve Roehrs]

I've had mine for about a month, when I first got it I downloaded RaspBMC and after giving up on their installer and downloading a complete image, I was somewhat underwhelmed to discover that it was incapable of playing back MPEG2 videos (even using a software decoder), so it went back in the box and sat on the shelf for a few weeks. 

 

Last weekend when they announced they finally sorted out the MPEG2 licences, I downloaded the new installer, paid for my licence, and I had full screen MPEG2 video (recorded on my mythtv backend) within minutes - completely controlled via HDMI CEC from my TV remote control.  As soon as I get a case and power supply, it will be installed on the back of my TV permanently as my new media centre.  From there I might end up integrating it into progressively expanding home automation system , starting by adding some new displays (house temperature monitoring, cameras, energy monitoring, whole-house audio etc.) to xbmc, and eventually some controls.

 

I've ordered a second one for my son who is into robotics and also building his own portable minecraft and/or MAME box.

Steve

 

--

[Jamie Mackenzie]

Steve, I'm interested in doing the same thing to my XBMC.  Could you direct me to some information on how you go about adding that kind of custom display to XBMC?

[Steve Roehrs]

I'll let you know when I find it myself :)  The skinning and plugin interfaces look quite powerful, I think they are XML based.  The xbmc wiki would be the place to start.  This is still future work for me, but I now have more incentive since I can afford to run the Pi continuously and have it turning the tv on and off as required, instead of booting up the xbox and tv every time.

 

Steve

[Jamie Mackenzie]

Awesome!  Some information on what you have already done would be cool too.  You need a blog that I can subscribe to :)

Think I might go order myself an R-Pi...

[Sam Birbeck]

Agreed! I'm constantly reading up on what others are getting up to with their rpis :)

On that note, I will be starting my own blog for my retro computer project soon. I've been taking inspiration from these people in particular:

http://retrotext.blogspot.co.uk/2012/06/its-complete-post-is-coming-soon.html

When I first had the idea to build my rpi into a C64 case I figured someone had probably already done it, and I was right. No point reinventing the wheel so I'll be using the Keyrah also. The Keyrah was originally developed by some German Commodore fans to make it easier to convert old C64s, VIC 20s etc into USB keyboards. Fortunately the design makes it relatively easy to wire it up internally to the rpi to make a self-contained computer.

http://retr0bright.wikispaces.com/

Rather than painting my C64 breadbin case, I want it to retain a stock appearance as much as possible. I don't want it to be ugly though! So I'll be trying out the retr0bright method to remove yellowing and stains and restore it to its original glory. 

http://thydzik.com/integrating-an-lcd-tv-with-the-videosphere/

This guy (an Aussie no less!) has been working sporadically over the past few years on converting a 70s JVC Videosphere into a self-contained computer. I've sourced an empty shell and I'm only really interested in installing an LCD screen & speakers in it, but I'm definitely taking notes on how he managed to fit the LCD nicely! Rather than hacking apart a portable TV though, I've ordered a bare LCD unit with VGA controller from China. Fingers crossed it arrives with no issues :) It's the sort of thing that might otherwise be used in a car or even ATM.

I'll try not to flood this list with more details about this but all it took was a little bit of interest in my project to trigger my enthusiasm, haha. When I do get my blog started I'll drop the link here for those interested. I do intend to document my progress in a fair bit of detail, including the software setup.

[Ryan Leach]

can't comment on the wait times as I can't remember, but it was similar to pix, I'm planning on using it as a media center + USB NAS / streamer when im not just hacking around with linux, the beauty of it its 1 sd card swap away from being the next thing you have in line for it.

Combined with an arduino or a gertboard for general input output and its gets surprisingly powerful for $40 odd dollars after exchange and postage.

[Thomas Sprinkmeier]

On 31 August 2012 10:35, Jamie Mackenzie <jrrmac...@gmail.com> wrote:
> Awesome! Some information on what you have already done would be cool too.
> You need a blog that I can subscribe to :)
>
> Think I might go order myself an R-Pi...

Element14 sell for $38, free shipping for orders above $70 and claim(*) that
95 will be available for delivery on 11 Sep, 2012
2 will be available for delivery on 23 Sep, 2012
1 will be available for delivery on 25 Sep, 2012
3 will be available for delivery on 26 Sep, 2012
2003 will be available for delivery on 27 Sep, 2012


If anyone else wants oneas well it'll give me an excuse to order a
second one....

Thomas

(*) RasPi fans no doubt know that such delivery schedules are to be
taken with a grain of salt

[Tamsyn Michael]

When do you need the cash Thomas?

[Thomas Sprinkmeier]

On 31 August 2012 13:26, Tamsyn Michael <tamsyn.j...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> When do you need the cash Thomas?

Unless it's a massive order I'm happy to wait for payment until I deliver them.


Thomas

[Tamsyn Michael]

Just the Pi then..Send your details and I'll put the cash in next week.  :)

[Tamsyn Michael]

Om nom nom, Pi.  Thanks!

[Thomas Sprinkmeier]

On 31 August 2012 14:41, Tamsyn Michael <tamsyn.j...@gmail.com> wrote:
> Om nom nom, Pi. Thanks!

I'll place the order 5-ish today in case anyone else wants in.


Thomas

[Steven Pickles]

Don't make me run, I am full of Pi.

Thomas

[Robert Hart]

http://www.synthtopia.com/content/2012/08/31/raspberry-pi-synthesizer-sneak-preview/

[Damien P]

On Friday, August 31, 2012 2:44:38 PM UTC+9:30, thomas wrote:

I'll place the order 5-ish today in case anyone else wants in.

I thought about it, but I think I'll wait until I have a use for it first!  I've got enough stuff I haven't done anything with yet...

If you're looking at media centres, this might be worth keeping an eye on:

http://www.ouya.tv/

it's supposed to be an "open" game machine, but it's meant to be hackable so no doubt it will run media centre software.  Their website contains little useful information, so try the Kickstarter page:

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/ouya/ouya-a-new-kind-of-video-game-console

[Thomas Sprinkmeier]

On 31 August 2012 14:44, Thomas Sprinkmeier
<thomas.sp...@gmail.com> wrote:

Tamsyn, they've Arrived!

Good news: stuff got in the way so I only finished the order
yesterday, meaning element14 is doing overnight delivery of Pie!

Bad-ish news: $38 obviously (in hindsight) didn't include GST.

Terrible news: I only make it to HS once in a blue moon, and we only
just had one of those...

Are you able to pick up from Mile End?


Thomas

[Tim Aslat]

In the immortal words of Thomas Sprinkmeier on 09/05/12 12:35:

I'm afraid I won't be making it to HS myself tonight, but I'm going on
Saturday for a change, and I work in Thebarton (right next to Mile End)
and I could drop it in on Saturday if Tamsyn can't make it.

Cheers

Tim


--
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Spyderweb Consulting
http://www.spyderweb.com.au
Mobile: +61 0401088479

[Tamsyn Michael]

Hehe!  Thanks Tim, bit I'll probably be playing with it before the hour is up.  >.<

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[Jamie Mackenzie]

I ordered a couple and mine arrived today too :)

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[Tamsyn Michael]

Cool!  Gonna be @ HS?

[Jamie Mackenzie]

Not tonight unfortunately.  Have to work late.

When I do eventually get home however, I'll be keen to try out RaspBMC :)

[Thomas Sprinkmeier]

On Wed, 2012-09-05 at 12:35 +0930, Thomas Sprinkmeier wrote:
> On 31 August 2012 14:44, Thomas Sprinkmeier
> <thomas.sp...@gmail.com> wrote:
> > On 31 August 2012 14:41, Tamsyn Michael <tamsyn.j...@gmail.com> wrote:
> >> Om nom nom, Pi. Thanks!
> >
> > I'll place the order 5-ish today in case anyone else wants in.
>
> Tamsyn, they've Arrived!

And (mostly) working!

Lessons learnt:
- buy the damn SD card that comes with it. Wasted lots of time
scrounging for a card that works
- forget messing around with video. get a straight-through Ethernet
cable and connect it to a DHCP server ("share this connection") and ssh
in (pi/raspberry)
- once logged in you're prompted to run "sudo raspi-config" to finish
setup.

audio over HDMI isn't working, but that might be the TV (it even has
trouble with the PVR's HDMI audio at times).


Thomas

[Jamie Mackenzie]

I have mine up and running :)

Downloaded raspBMC and had it working in about half an hour.  Took probably another hour to update my video library.

I then was able to listen to the audio of my videos due to the missing MPEG2 codec.  I ordered one but it didn't arrive till this morning.  I'll update tonight and things should be honky-dory.

Best part however, has been the HDMI-CEC thing that allows me to control XBMC straight from my TV remote!  I don't know why, but I was really blow away by that.

Thomas

[Paul Schulz]

Hi Thomas, which install image are you using?

On Thu, Sep 6, 2012 at 7:11 AM, Thomas Sprinkmeier

[Thomas Sprinkmeier]

On 6 September 2012 09:02, Paul Schulz <pa...@mawsonlakes.org> wrote:
> Hi Thomas, which install image are you using?

I downloaded
2012-08-16-wheezy-raspbian.zip
straight off the site.

DD-s onto a 2G stick. the "sudo raspi-setup" has an "expand to fill
the SD card" menu option.
I've only got a 2G stick but I assume that if you have a 4G stick
it'll resize / to make use of it.

I also got
archlinuxarm-13-06-2012.zip
but I haven't done anything with it yet.


Thomas

[Tamsyn Michael]

Oh, damn, that's what Simon was saying I should do last night Thomas (shell in).  My video worked fine though.  Both hdmi and composite.

I just need to find my usb keyboard and finish my install then I can play too.

Glad to hear the the new xbmc works Jamie.  Looking forward to hearing how the codecs do.

[Tamsyn Michael]

PS. Thomas - MSY's SD card prices are excellent atm.  Got a 16gig SanDisk card for $12.  Worked straight out of the box

[Steve Roehrs]

HDMI-CEC makes for a really tidy solution, and I think its the fact that it just works out of the box (well for most of us) that blows you away.

 

Once you get your email from the Pi store, the codec setup is dead easy and works beautifully, I haven't tried watching a straight DVD rip yet, but watching DVB recordings from my mythtv backend (direct, not transcoded) works well.  Only a few niggles so far:

 

- Skip forward (through ads etc) takes longer than my xbox xbmc used to, there's a buffering delay every time you press the button

- I've had one file (mp4) that had a glitch or somethign that just crashed the player and it absolutely could not play past that point.

- Screensaver can't be woken up from the tv remote, it takes a USB keypress, and then it's fine.

 

Apart from that, very impressed - now I can actually watch the HD recordings in the lounge instead of having to get the laptop out.  And I can watch h264 as well which the old xbox couldn't handle. I just need a small pi case that can bolt to the back of the TV, and a power supply solution instead of stealing my phone charger :)

 

Steve

[Damien P]

Does anyone want a small screen for theirs?  I noticed this one, which apparently has 468 lines which is unusual for a small LCD (most have about 240):

http://dx.com/p/125842

[Ken]

Good luck with it.
I've gone off DealExtreme of late.  The failure rate on their electronics is very high.
Last purchase included a small solar-charged battery for charging up phones etc. It had no output at all, even though charged (the LED 'torch' worked).
So it was probably never tested.  -Or a dry joint came loose in travel.  Haven't pulled it apart to look.
Previous purchase included a pair of Bluetooth headsets for use on motorbike etc. One was faulty on arrival.  :(
Cheap but shoddy.  And usually slow delivery.
</rant>

Last night I ordered some XBee stuff from Adafruit.  Hoping for much better quality from them.
If/when I get it working, I'll post some results on my website.

Ken.

[Tamsyn Michael]

Just found this:
http://elinux.org/RPi_VerifiedPeripherals#Problem_USB_Keyboards

Looks like Microsoft have a whole swathe of non-working usb keyboards.  Not sure of the model provided by Jon (cheers) - but thinking it's probably one of these.

Oh, and Pix (and others who don't like an SD card that sticks out:
http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/443556734/pio-microsd-adapter-for-raspberry-pi?ref=category

The adaptor I mentioned.  Sorry for the late notice (only 16 hours to go).

[Steven Pickles]

My Apple keyboard works as long as you don't try to use the hub ports on it. Even a mouse gets it dumped off the bus for over-current.

That adaptor is noice. I kicked it right in the starter.

pix

[Ken]

Sure begs the question - why wasn't the SD port micro in the first place?

[Thomas Sprinkmeier]

On 6 September 2012 12:04, Steven Pickles <thatp...@gmail.com> wrote:

> My Apple keyboard works as long as you don't try to use the hub ports on it.
> Even a mouse gets it dumped off the bus for over-current.

I used a 1200mA mobile phone charger to power the RasPi.

I ran an ancient USB keyboard with a mouse daily-chained off the
keyboards with 2-port hub.

Worked for Me (tm), YMMV.

Thomas

[Jamie Mackenzie]

I'm using a $30 logitec wireless keyboard-mouse combo without any major issues.  Sometimes a little slow to respond but that was only a issue when I played the snake game.  For the squirrel game I achieved Omega Squirrel on my first go.  OMEGA SQUIRREL!!!!

[Steven Pickles]

There is some discussion on their forums about this. They claimed that only full sized SD slots were through-hole, and hence robust enough. Of course they didn't think about the fact that it doesn't really matter how good your solder join is if you have a few cms of mechanical advantage sticking out of it.

pix

On 6 September 2012 12:06, Ken <k...@waggies.net> wrote:

[Tim Aslat]

In the immortal words of Steven Pickles on 09/06/12 12:04:

> My Apple keyboard works as long as you don't try to use the hub ports on
> it. Even a mouse gets it dumped off the bus for over-current.
>
> That adaptor is noice. I kicked it right in the starter.

I have one of these but it only seems to work as a keyboard, not as the
remote control, so I've got to work out how to change between modes.

http://www.jaycar.com.au/productView.asp?ID=AR1723

[Ryan Leach]

hey pix could you bump your pledge to 20? I'll grab one of you if you don't mind

[Steven Pickles]

I'm already getting two ;)

[Robert Hart]

Could one of these Raspberry Pis be used for a midi application? like I use on my cosmic ray detector? I'm building a larger LED display with higher LUX, I could easily fit one of theses inside its enclosure with my midi converter.

Robert

On 6/09/2012 12:22 PM, Steven Pickles wrote:

[Steven Pickles]

If you mean MIDI to Audio? I'm sure it would have enough grunt to run Timidity of fluidsynth (the latter is faster in my experience).

pix

[Tamsyn Michael]

http://www.raspberrypi.org/archives/1878

If that can be done...

Apparently the pi plays well with MIDI.

[Jonathan Wheare]

OK. I have an USB keyboard at home - I'll bring it along on Saturday
and swap it for the Microsoft keyboard.
Can bring your Pi on Saturday for testing purposes?

J.

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[Tamsyn Michael]

Would love to Jon.  I will look for mine too, but I think it's M$ too.

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[Paul Schulz]

Hi Robert, just saw the following.

http://www.instructables.com/id/Send-and-Receive-MIDI-with-Arduino/

On Sat, Sep 1, 2012 at 8:30 AM, Robert Hart <rob...@hardhack.org.au> wrote:
> http://www.synthtopia.com/content/2012/08/31/raspberry-pi-synthesizer-sneak-preview/
>
>
> On 31/08/2012 2:48 PM, Steven Pickles wrote:
>
> Don't make me run, I am full of Pi.

>
> On 31 August 2012 14:44, Thomas Sprinkmeier <thomas.sp...@gmail.com>
> wrote:
>>
>> On 31 August 2012 14:41, Tamsyn Michael <tamsyn.j...@gmail.com>
>> wrote:
>> > Om nom nom, Pi. Thanks!
>>
>> I'll place the order 5-ish today in case anyone else wants in.
>>
>>

>> Thomas

[Damien P]

On Thursday, September 6, 2012 10:16:07 AM UTC+9:30, Ken wrote:

Cheap but shoddy.  And usually slow delivery.

I'll agree; if I want something cheap and nasty I usually go to Ebay, because if it's listed it will be in stock.

[Tamsyn Michael]

Which powered USB hubs have people been using?  Any of the ones available at MSY?
http://www.msy.com.au/default.jsp?category=195

On Wed, Sep 12, 2012 at 6:12 PM, Tamsyn Michael <tamsyn.j...@gmail.com> wrote:

You can probably have them as well.  I'll look into it.  :)  I've been thinking of buying some of the natural / clear PLA (and that's what Jon has the most of).  Is that an okay colour?  There is also a purply pink colour, that's about it for colours atm.

I'll still pay for the pi though.  The cases are for the favour of grabbing mine and waiting for payment.  :)

Have you looked on thingiverse?

On Wed, Sep 12, 2012 at 5:21 PM, Thomas Sprinkmeier <thomas.sp...@gmail.com> wrote:

On 12 September 2012 17:18, Tamsyn Michael <tamsyn.j...@gmail.com> wrote:
> Hey Thomas,
>
> Don't know if you got my note.  I think I might have sent it through chat
> (from my phone).  Was just after your bank details so I could deposit the
> RPi moneys.  Thanks a lot, btw, it's been great fun!

I'd rather have for 2 printed cases :-)
Any chance of that?


Thomas

[Ryan Leach]

I've, been using the clear cased multi colour led one, seems to work, have attempted to power the pi from it but the keyboard "stutters" like a key is held down, apparently caused by power issues, it also back feeds power up the USB host cable, preventing the pi from fully powering off.

[Jamie Mackenzie]

I have just been using my phone charger but I'm keen to find a more permanent method.

Surely, given every new phone comes with one these days there must be some we can get cheaply.

[Tamsyn Michael]

Only not the totally cheap ones.  My 500A charger that's fine for my phone won't allow the pi to power a keyboard properly - or is that a pi power issue.

[Jamie Mackenzie]

Oh really?

Actually, just checked my charger and it's a 1.0A (I assume yours is 500mA, not 500A, hehe) so maybe that makes the difference re powering peripherals?

Also, the Element14 R-Pi page recommends a 1.0A or 1.2A power pack.  I might just grab one of these eventually - though I think $20 is a bit much to pay.

[Steve Roehrs]

I'm looking at trying one of these :

http://dicksmith.com.au/product/S4081/fujicell-multi-purpose-battery-charger-power-bank

The wall-wart part says it can put out 800mA which should be enough for the Pi I'm using as Media centre -  no USB devices, just Ethernet and HDMI.

It's only $10, worth a punt, and if it doesn't work, there are 1 Amp USB supplies available on fleabay.

Steve

[Sam Birbeck]

700mA is a bare minimum really, 1A recommended at least. I'm using a Cygnet phone charger from Harvey Norman, $12 or so and it's 2A. Rock solid.

[Steve Roehrs]

Great price - did you get it on special?  It's showing at $29.95 on their website :(

http://www.harveynorman.com.au/cygnett-iphone-ac-wall-charger.html

Steve

[Sam Birbeck]

I just found it in a big tub just inside the entrance of the city store. Probably worth having a look in person :)