Scratch build questions

[Cyrus Kalbrener]

Since I'm impatient, and KitHub is waiting on parts, I am scratch building a nano. All parts have either arrived or are still on order, but once the kit is put together there are still some open questions:

What would the device ID number be? I assume it is not the same as my user ID number.

Is there a solid reference for the SETTINGS.TXT properties? Some are obvious, but others not so much. I didn't see anything in the documentation.

How relevant is the timezone in the settings? Can't I just use UTC?

[Sean Bonner]

Hi Cyrus-

No need to change the settings, in fact changing them will cause problems. Once you have the device built you’ll need an ID number as anticipated and that will need to be changed on the file but otherwise leave everything as is.

Device IDs are assigned when the devices are built, so let us know when you get past the power on checks and we’ll get a number for you at that time.

Good luck!

-s

Sean Bonner
Co-Founder, Director of Global Operations
http://safecast.org

--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Safecast Device Discussions and Support" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to safecast-devic...@googlegroups.com.
To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/safecast-devices/9c882391-e48e-4e4c-95d4-b1a39fd02740%40googlegroups.com.

[Louis Bertrand]

Hi Cyrus,
Just curious, where are you sourcing the main PCB?
Thanks
--Louis

[cyr...@gmail.com]

https://oshpark.com/

It can out too $54.15 for three boards, which is the minimum order. 

--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Safecast Device Discussions and Support" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to safecast-devic...@googlegroups.com.

To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/safecast-devices/c4aa18ab-66f6-4a77-adfc-efccfa549ff7%40googlegroups.com.

[Cyrus Kalbrener]

I wouldn't want to cause problems, but as an open project it would still be a goos idea to document the settings in that file, along with the appropriate caveats.

Additionally, I was able to find every part but I had to call into IMI to order the iRover board over the phone as it is not listed for sale anywhere. It sounded like I was asking for a custom part to be assembled. While everything else is published in some useful form, the iRover not being readily available or documented is a hole in the Open Source/Off-The-Shelf practice. I don't know if pending design updates fix this, but in the meantime it is the biggest hurdle I found in sourcing the parts. Once I successfully put it together I'll post the sources here.

On Wednesday, June 19, 2019 at 5:22:00 PM UTC-5, sean wrote:

Hi Cyrus-

No need to change the settings, in fact changing them will cause problems. Once you have the device built you’ll need an ID number as anticipated and that will need to be changed on the file but otherwise leave everything as is.

Device IDs are assigned when the devices are built, so let us know when you get past the power on checks and we’ll get a number for you at that time.

Good luck!

-s

Sean Bonner
Co-Founder, Director of Global Operations
http://safecast.org

On Jun 20, 2019, at 1:42 AM, Cyrus Kalbrener <cyr...@gmail.com> wrote:

Since I'm impatient, and KitHub is waiting on parts, I am scratch building a nano. All parts have either arrived or are still on order, but once the kit is put together there are still some open questions:

What would the device ID number be? I assume it is not the same as my user ID number.

Is there a solid reference for the SETTINGS.TXT properties? Some are obvious, but others not so much. I didn't see anything in the documentation.

How relevant is the timezone in the settings? Can't I just use UTC?

--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Safecast Device Discussions and Support" group.

To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to safecast...@googlegroups.com.

[Sean Bonner]

Hi Cyrus-

Glad to hear you are making progress. As I’m sure you are aware the bGeigie Nano is now 8 years old. That a part is not as easily obtained in 8 years after the fact is not a hole in the practice, it’s simply how things works - to be honest we’re all lucky that is the only part that is more difficult to find now than it was when the device was designed. Here is a post from another builder who made a Nano from scratch 5 years ago and it’s noted that at that time you could just buy the iRover off IMI’s website:

https://timewitharduino.blogspot.com/2014/05/safecast-bgeigie-nano.html

To date we’ve not found another part that functions to the same level as the iRover, so despite many HV boards on the market, changing that part out will reduce accuracy of the bGeigie Nano.

And in keeping with the open nature of the project, if you have updates you feel are needed for the documentation please submit them on github where the documentation is so the other contributors can discuss. 8 years on if something seems “missing” from the documentation there may be a reason for that.

There are no pending design changes as the bGeigie Nano, while still a solid workhorse, it’s much yesterdays technology and will likely be replaced in function by other, newer devices in the future. Of course, being an open device you should feel more than welcome to update your own device and share the plans/results with the community.

Thanks again!

-s

Sean Bonner
Co-Founder, Director of Global Operations
http://safecast.org

To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to safecast-devic...@googlegroups.com.
To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/safecast-devices/c71a644e-b161-487e-bd93-4d3c57fe8b67%40googlegroups.com.

[Cyrus Kalbrener]

Yes, eight years is a long time. My reference to it being open source and documented was not just for builders, but also for the historical significance of this project. This will, hopefully, be referenced in the aftermath of a future tragedy, nuclear or otherwise, as a model of what can be done. The marriage of specific sensors with GPS and logging in a cheap-to-build kit that anyone can build and use to contribute has a powerful appeal even outside of a crisis.

It's also interesting to know that the iRover is a special component. I will ask IMI why they don't sell or license it. I'm guessing nobody else needs to pay 60+ dollars for a HV board when cheaper ones will do.

Thanks for the info.

[Sean Bonner]

Indeed - and to our position it is well documented. But again, we use the tools we do so that if you feel something needs further documentation then you can easily add that documentation.

Perhaps you misunderstood my point on the iRover - there is no other board that will do. There are cheaper boards, but they don’t work as well and with the bGeigie Specifically (and Safecast generally) quality, not price, is our primary focus. IMI spent significant time and money developing a board that is head and shoulders better than anything else on the market - and they are a commercial company not a non-profit. They likely stopped selling it because the demand for it isn’t there for individual/retail sales. They sell them in bulk commercially which is their primary business and where Kithub etc buy them in bulk at discounted rates, and exactly why we work with partners to produces a significantly cheaper and easier to buy kit. 

Buying the parts individually is possible, but not preferable.

-s

Sean Bonner
Co-Founder, Director of Global Operations
http://safecast.org

--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Safecast Device Discussions and Support" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to safecast-devic...@googlegroups.com.

To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/safecast-devices/4269464a-fa5a-4bc1-be1b-d39dddbbdf6b%40googlegroups.com.

[Cyrus Kalbrener]

Got it. thanks.

To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to safecast...@googlegroups.com.

[Harold]

Hi Cyrus,

If you still have it handy, would you share the list of sources you used for your scratch build?

Best,

Harold

[cyr...@gmail.com]

From Digikey:
Index Quantity Part Number Manufacturer Part Number Description Customer Reference Backorder Unit Price Extended Price
1 3 BC5183-ND S104Z93Z5VL83L0R CAP CER 0.1UF 500V Z5V RADIAL 0 1.86000 $5.58
2 1 1N4148FS-ND 1N4148 DIODE GEN PURP 100V 200MA DO35 0 0.10000 $0.10
3 1 CT2062ST-ND 206-2ST SWITCH SLIDE DIP SPST 50MA 24V 0 0.90000 $0.90
4 1 445-2525-1-ND PS1240P02BT AUDIO PIEZO TRANSDUCER 30V TH 0 0.68000 $0.68
5 1 EG1206A EG1206A SWITCH SLIDE SPDT 200MA 30V 0 0.67000 $0.67
6 1 EG1833-ND TL1105BF160Q SWITCH TACTILE SPST-NO 0.05A 12V 0 0.20000 $0.20
7 1 2SC1815-ND 2SC1815 PBFREE TRANS NPN 50V 0.15A 0 1.13000 $1.13
8 1 EG2448-ND 200MSP1T2B2M6RE SWITCH TOGGLE SPDT 0.4VA 20V 0 3.71000 $3.71
9 1 1516-1343-ND QBL7IB30C LED BLUE 3MM ROUND T/H CLEAR LEN 0 0.60000 $0.60
10 1 1516-1338-ND QBL7SA30C LED DEEP RED 3MM ROUND T/H CLEAR 0 0.54000 $0.54
11 1 47QBK-ND CFR-25JB-52-47R RES 47 OHM 1/4W 5% AXIAL 0 0.10000 $0.10
12 2 CF14JT4K70CT-ND CF14JT4K70 RES 4.7K OHM 1/4W 5% AXIAL 0 0.10000 $0.20
13 1 9.1KQBK-ND CFR-25JB-52-9K1 RES 9.1K OHM 1/4W 5% AXIAL 0 0.10000 $0.10
14 4 CF14JT1K00CT-ND CF14JT1K00 RES 1K OHM 1/4W 5% AXIAL 0 0.10000 $0.40
15 2 CF14JT47K0CT-ND CF14JT47K0 RES 47K OHM 1/4W 5% AXIAL 0 0.10000 $0.20
16 1 CF14JT100KCT-ND CF14JT100K RES 100K OHM 1/4W 5% AXIAL 0 0.10000 $0.10
17 1 1568-1058-ND DEV-10116 ARDUINO FIO ATMEGA328 EVAL BRD 0 26.95000 $26.95
18 1 1568-1368-ND DEV-13712 OPENLOG 0 15.50000 $15.50
19 1 1528-1153-ND 746 GPS BREAKOUT 66CH W/10HZ UPDATES 0 39.95000 $39.95
20 1 SAM15600-ND ESW-108-12-T-S CONN SOCKET 8POS 0.1 TIN PCB 0 1.06000 $1.06
21 1 1988-1059-ND 920-0018-01 CONN HEADER VERT 40POS 2MM 5PC 0 5.00000 $5.00
22 1 3M156866-19-ND 929834-03-19-RK CONN HEADER VERT 19POS 2.54MM 0 1.76000 $1.76
23 1 S9016E-10-ND GRPB101VWCN-RC CONN HEADER R/A 10POS 1.27MM 0 0.98000 $0.98
24 8 RPC4161-ND HTSN-M3-10-6-2 HEX STANDOFF M3 NYLON 10MM 0 1.40000 $11.20
25 4 RPC4163-ND HTSN-M3-8-6-2 HEX STANDOFF M3 NYLON 8MM 0 1.40000 $5.60
26 8 RPC1377-ND RBS-15 BUMPER CYLINDRICAL 0.63" DIA CLR 0 0.54000 $4.32
Subtotal $127.24

I think I MAY have ordered the wrong headers, and capacitors, so double-check those. It's hard to understand the sizes from the photos, and I remember they were either too big or too small.

I ordered the Geiger tube straight from LND, and iRover board from IMI (The board ended up being bad, which made it look like my Geiger tube was failing).
PCBs ordered from OSHPark (in purple, of course)
Display, lipo battery, and misc parts from Adafruit

I don't remember where I got the acrylic cut.

I hope this helps

To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to safecast-devic...@googlegroups.com.
To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/safecast-devices/e6a8764c-3465-4c36-bf68-d153b43a5c09n%40googlegroups.com.