Nanode Build Weekend Reminder

[asc]

Hello all

Just a reminder that the nanode workshop is being held at the space
this Saturday and Sunday.

Ken will kindly be around to advise and assist people between 10 am
and 6 pm.

If you intend to come please could you put your name on the wiki page
here, numbers are important to know!

http://wiki.hackspace.org.uk/w/index.php?title=Pledges/Nanodes&action=submit#Nanode_Build_Weekend

The hack space has the below tools, but it wouldn't hurt if you
brought your own in to use should supply run thin.

1. Soldering Irons + soldering accessories
2. Helping hands also useful
3. Side cutters
4. Network cables
5. USB leads


Ken has done a great job of this project having designed, tweaked,
improved and simply made something awesome that we can all enjoy.
Good work Ken and thank you. I am sure others too will give a well
deserved thanks this weekend in some form be it beers, hugs, high
fives, gold bars or chocolate.

-asc

[Martin Dittus]

What shall we bring? E.g.,

* I assume it will make sense to have your own USB cable for programming the thing. Is it a standard or mini USB connector?
* power sources? (FTDI cable, old phone chargers, ...) What voltage/current range? Or can it simply power from USB?

m.

[Ken Boak]

Martin,

 

I have a stock of 12 FTDI cables to loan out for the duration of workshop.

 

They will both power and program the Nanode.

 

 

 

Ken

[Martin Dittus]

Cool. Will it make sense to buy my own FTDI cable, in the long run, or are there alternative ways of programming and powering it once a boot loader has been set up?

(I've never actually programmed microcontrollers.)

m.

[Ken Boak]

Metaboard - sorry

On 2 June 2011 16:02, Ken Boak <ken....@gmail.com> wrote:

Martin,

 

We did want to use an alternative method of programming called Virtual USB.  This creates a USB port in firmware running on the microcontroller.  Metalabs in Vienna were the first to do this and produce their own board called Mataboard.  I had hoped to copy this economical method withNanode - but have not got around to trying the firmware (too much else on).  It saves the cost of putting the surface mount chip on the board (about £4) and the grief of more SMT.

 

In the meantime we are going to make do  with FTDI leads, and I can supply enough for the needs of the workshop. Unfortunately at £16 a pop - they are not "freebies". 

 

One of my next designs is a low cost FTDI adaptor board - for about £5. Saving the expense of the custom cable.

 

The FTDI lead is such a useful tool for any microcontroller work - almost justifies having your own.  All my designs in the last 5 years are fitted with a FTDI header as standard.

 

 

Hopefully someone with a little more time than me will get the virtual USB up and running  - so we can all share in the benefits.

 

 

Ken

[Ken Boak]

Martin,

 

We did want to use an alternative method of programming called Virtual USB.  This creates a USB port in firmware running on the microcontroller.  Metalabs in Vienna were the first to do this and produce their own board called Mataboard.  I had hoped to copy this economical method withNanode - but have not got around to trying the firmware (too much else on).  It saves the cost of putting the surface mount chip on the board (about £4) and the grief of more SMT.

 

In the meantime we are going to make do  with FTDI leads, and I can supply enough for the needs of the workshop. Unfortunately at £16 a pop - they are not "freebies". 

 

One of my next designs is a low cost FTDI adaptor board - for about £5. Saving the expense of the custom cable.

 

The FTDI lead is such a useful tool for any microcontroller work - almost justifies having your own.  All my designs in the last 5 years are fitted with a FTDI header as standard.

 

 

Hopefully someone with a little more time than me will get the virtual USB up and running  - so we can all share in the benefits.

 

 

Ken

On 2 June 2011 15:15, Martin Dittus <dek...@gmail.com> wrote:

[Martin Dittus]

Anyone selling FTDI cables (Mike/earthshine?): feel free to bring a bunch to the space. I have a feeling you might sell a few :)

I failed to plan ahead and am now wondering whether I should order one, though I'd probably prefer to have one on the day/when I get home that night.

Alternatively, are there any retail shops in East/central London selling them?

m.

[Ken Boak]

Martin - I can let you have one at cost

 

 

£16.15

 

 

Ken

[Martin Dittus]

:D much appreciated!

m.

[amx109]

Ken, if i manage to get one built on Sunday i will have a pop at this USB-in-firmware thing. im assuming you have the code and what-not ready to go?

will any further work be required to get it onto the nanode? ie re-work of the code, or configuration?

Amran

[Richard East]

Hi,

Would I be able to come along, please?
I have a lolshield from the Jimmy Rogers/Mitch Altman soldering night.
I want to desolder the connector to the arduino on the lolshield so I can solder an arduino stackable header in its place, because I want to use the analogue pins for a project I'm working on.
I've tried to desolder the connector at home and failed miserably. I was hoping someone would be on hand who could help.

Best regards,

Richard

[amx109]

Hi Richard

i believe we now have a desoldering machine at the 'space. perhaps that might be of use to you?

failing that, if you come on sunday (prob afternoon) i can have a look at trying to de-solder whatever it is that youre stuck with.

Amran

[Ken Boak]

Amran,

You are welcome to look at the Virtual USB and do an assessment.

I have one board built up already that you can use as a target.

The Vusb stuff is here 

http://www.obdev.at/products/vusb/index.html

My understanding of it is that it emulates a fairly slow usb connection, to allow programming of the ATmega via a special bootloader, but it does not actually add a full serial port, like the FTDI device does.

The FTDI cable is very overpriced, the next project on my list is to do a poorman's FTDI lead and programmer, possibly with a Bus Pirate.


regards,


Ken

On 2 June 2011 16:53, amx109 <amx...@gmail.com> wrote:

[Ken Boak]

Amran,

We have some basic examples running, such as webserver and DHCP connection to Pachube.

Sam Carlisle has been working on a configuration server, and there are many other suggestions in the pipeline.

I'm wanting to have a go at Bitlash - which is a kind of interpreted shell language, which would allow a remote Nanode to be programmed (via a telnet or browser session).

The main aim for this weekend is to get as many distributed, built and tested as possible.



Ken

On 2 June 2011 16:53, amx109 <amx...@gmail.com> wrote:

[M]

I'd like to pop in for a couple of hours on saturday, I  don't think I can be there all day unfortunately.. Is it OK to pop in?

[Ken Boak]

Sure,

We have a few people coming and going over the 2 days.

I think if you can be there at the start of 1 day (10am) you will capture most of what is being discussed.


Ken

[Richard East]

Hi Amran,

I think I can only make it on the Saturday. It would be great if I could use the desoldering machine!

Thanks,

Richard

[amx109]

ask around when you rock up to the space. im sure someone will point/guide you to the machine.

if youre not sure how to use it, look on the mailing list for the email containing the proposed pledge for the machine, i think there were some youtube videos on there.

if all else fails, just ask until you find someone that can help. always works!

Amran

[Adrian Godwin]

I'm planning to be in saturday and will give you a hand if you need it.

-adrian

[Richard East]

Adrian,

Thank you. Looking forward to seeing everyone tomorrow.

All the best,

Richard

[Paul Dart]

On 2 June 2011 17:41, Ken Boak <ken....@gmail.com> wrote:
> The FTDI cable is very overpriced, the next project on my list is to do a
> poorman's FTDI lead and programmer, possibly with a Bus Pirate.

There are some issues using a Bus Pirate to do this with some devices.
Timing/lag/general lameness of the bus pirate can cause it not to work
well. A dedicated device would be better imo.

You can get the chinese ripoff FTDI leads for a bit cheaper, closer to
£5 anyway.

Paul

[Ken Boak]

Paul,

Who supplies the Chinese FTDI leads?

Cool Components one is a definite Chinese copy - but still £16 by the time you pay the VAT.



Ken

[Mark Steward]

On Sat, Jun 4, 2011 at 8:18 PM, Ken Boak <ken....@gmail.com> wrote:

Paul,

Who supplies the Chinese FTDI leads?

Cool Components one is a definite Chinese copy - but still £16 by the time you pay the VAT.

Nokia DKU-5 cables are Prolific, but you can get them for a couple of quid on Ebay, and add your own pins.

Mark

 

[Mark Steward]

Various discussion (especially adding DTR) here:

  http://jethomson.wordpress.com/2010/02/21/diy-usb-to-serial-cable-for-3usd/

which links to an £11 FTDI, if you're not in the mood for bodging:

  http://www.tronisoft.com/2469.php

Mark

[Richard East]

Hi,

I just want to thank everyone who helped me de-solder my lolSheild on Saturday.

Thanks,

Richard