Moteino + Pi starter kit

[jamosauce]

Heyo, I'm just learning about the moteino as a solution for transmitting data back to a gateway and I'm looking to ensure I have everything I need to get started. If I order 2 moteinos, a pi and a HD for the pi, what additional hardware would I need to get the remote moteino to send something back to the pi+moteino? Assume I'm a complete noob.

[Felix]

Hi jamosauce,
You will need an FTDIAdapter to program regular (non-USB) moteinos.
Also you need a way to power the remote moteinos. There are sample sketches that show how to send and receive data here.
You will need to solder any headers and the wire antenna to them before doing anything also.
The Pi will need a power supply and a SD card... a ready image to load on the Pi is linked on this page.

[wheato22]

Hello Jamo,

I'm a noob to Moteino/Aurdino/Pi technology as well. I have also ordered the same hardware and have downloaded Felix's Water Meter Sketch for the sensor Moteino. My application is to count pulses coming from my residential  water meter and then calculates three metrics derived from the pulses over time and then send the data to the Gateway Moteino/Pi combo.  Initialy I am looking to display those three values on the LCD display that Felix just delivered in his latest Gateway sketch.... when I get that digested i'll implement the push server aspect of the gateway so I can view my water use remotely.

Since I had little or no experience in C programming I have ordered a nice book that introduces new programmers to the arcane C language. It's helped greatly in decoding Felix's creativity.... don't tell Felix so he doesn't get a big head... Ha.

Since i plan on soldering a few headers on the Moteino's I have also ordered a new fine tipped solder station as well to insure everything looks as good as it works...

The only real questions I have not yet figured out is the initial SD card download of Rasperian and just where and how the Gateway Image is loaded on the Pi. That coupled on how to start and stop the Pi application... But thats for Phase II.

Good to have you on board... Hope fully you will share you application plans and new things you have learned that could be of assistance to me and other "noob's"

   Larry

[Felix]

Larry,
Please follow this guide for the image installation: https://www.raspberrypi.org/documentation/installation/installing-images/README.md

[wheato22]

Thanks Felix,
I assume you were referring the the process of loading your Pi Gateway image to the same SD card that I previously imaged the Pi Operating System.  Analogous to loading Windows and then an App to a PC HDD.

Is there a recommended version of a Pi OS... there seems to be a number of versions available. Since my intended use of the Pi is purely for your Gateway app I assume the smallest sized OS would be the best.

L

[Felix]

Raspbian is what I use and am familiar with

[jamosauce]

Hey Felix, I've got all the hardware now but I don't know how to connect the moteino to the gateway so that the remote moteino can communicate. Are there any resources / examples on how to do that?

[Felix]

Well throughout the forum the details are there but since I don't have a specific guide for that:

Connect your Moteino to your Pi:
VIN -> 5V from Pi
GND -> GND
TX -> RX
RX -> TX
Then talking to your Pi is done via the Pi's GPIO header serial port (typically smth like ttyAMA0).

If you got a MoteinoUSB just plug it in your Pi with a short cable.
Then a new serial port is emulated on your Pi and you should use that in your scripts etc.
Programming your Moteinos should be done prior to connecting to your Pi since it's easier.

[bagoette]

Maybe I missed it, but where can I find the Sketch file that goes in the Moteino that connects to the Pi?

[Felix]

It's here: https://github.com/LowPowerLab/RFM69/tree/master/Examples/PiGateway

[bagoette]

Thanks!