Last questions before start ...

rocsta · March 25, 2015, 04:33:51 PM

Hi all,

in the next few days I will hopefully receive my four Moteino Megas and start with the implementation of my "trap control"

I have two questions before I start:

1. Before trying the mesh network (using the radiohead library), should I first try the standard libraries? Or should I start directly with a mesh network?

2. I ordered only one ftdi adapter

, I slept during the order obviously. Can I use any other ftdi adapter, which I can buy here in Germany? For example:
This one: http://www.hadi-rc.de/FTDI
or this one: http://www.exp-tech.de/sparkfun-ftdi-basic-breakout-3-3v ?
Perhaps a stupid question ...

Kind regards and thanks for your help,
rocsta

Kylix · March 25, 2015, 06:32:14 PM

You can use a single FTDI adapter for programming all your moteinos.

I keep only the gateway connected to the PC through the FTDI adapter (for debugging in serial console) while the others are powered by phone power adapters (VIN and GND).

TomWS · March 25, 2015, 06:49:20 PM

Quote from: rocsta on March 25, 2015, 04:33:51 PM
Hi all,

in the next few days I will hopefully receive my four Moteino Megas and start with the implementation of my "trap control"

I have two questions before I start:

1. Before trying the mesh network (using the radiohead library), should I first try the standard libraries? Or should I start directly with a mesh network?

It depends... how adventurous do you feel?

You'll be able to get more support getting started if you're using the standard libraries and prototyping is quick enough that you can gain confidence with some really basic code and then branch out to new areas once you know what works.

Quote from: rocsta on March 25, 2015, 04:33:51 PM
2. I ordered only one ftdi adapter , I slept during the order obviously.

I''ve never done that before...

Quote from: rocsta on March 25, 2015, 04:33:51 PM
Can I use any other ftdi adapter, which I can buy here in Germany? For example:
This one: http://www.hadi-rc.de/FTDI
or this one: http://www.exp-tech.de/sparkfun-ftdi-basic-breakout-3-3v ?
Perhaps a stupid question ...

Kind regards and thanks for your help,
rocsta

You want 3.3V signalling, power has more margin if you have 5V power but 3.3V works too. The sparkfun adapter can be set for either 3.3V or 5V on both signalling and power so that's a good choice. But... YOU HAVE A SPARKFUN OUTLET IN GERMANY???

Sorry for the outburst, I guess I was just feeling 'possessive' about them...

Viel gluck and have fun,
Tom

rocsta · March 25, 2015, 07:49:22 PM

Quote from: TomWS on March 25, 2015, 06:49:20 PM
It depends... how adventurous do you feel?
You'll be able to get more support getting started if you're using the standard libraries and prototyping is quick enough that you can gain confidence with some really basic code and then branch out to new areas once you know what works.

No risk no fun. And in each hunter sticks a little adventurer. :-D [As you can see in my english sentences :-D]

Quote from: TomWS on March 25, 2015, 06:49:20 PM
I''ve never done that before...

Yesyes - it was also my first experience in this way. You should try it yourself. It's really funny. :-D

Quote from: TomWS on March 25, 2015, 06:49:20 PM
You want 3.3V signalling, power has more margin if you have 5V power but 3.3V works too. The sparkfun adapter can be set for either 3.3V or 5V on both signalling and power so that's a good choice. But... YOU HAVE A SPARKFUN OUTLET IN GERMANY???

I don't know, if ist an sparkfun outlet, but I have found a german Webshop, which annouces, that it has 64 of this sparkfun boards on stock... It's not cheaper, but faster on my desk.

Quote from: TomWS on March 25, 2015, 06:49:20 PM
Sorry for the outburst, I guess I was just feeling 'possessive' about them...

:-D :-D :-D

Thanks a lot !!!

rocsta · March 25, 2015, 07:54:45 PM

Quote from: fpaliuc on March 25, 2015, 06:32:14 PM
I keep only the gateway connected to the PC through the FTDI adapter (for debugging in serial console) while the others are powered by phone power adapters (VIN and GND).

Yes, this was also my plan (and this was the reason I ordered only one

). But for rapid prototyping and debugging the communication protocol to be developed (I would like to send some commands back to the end-node, interpreting them and resend a new state), I think a second would be very helpful. So I can put one the left hand (end-node) and one on the right hand (gateway), each connected with one laptop.

TomWS · March 25, 2015, 08:20:49 PM

Quote from: rocsta on March 25, 2015, 07:54:45 PM
<...snip>each connected with one laptop.

What?! You don't have multiple laptops, one for each trap?

I thought you were adventurous!

rocsta · April 01, 2015, 06:30:32 AM

... boah ... still waiting ...

USPS Tracking says:

Lowpower.ab was really fast in packing and sending and also USPS:
USA - Frankfurt: 4 days ... 6700 km - ~ 4 days - 70 km/h

but: German Customs and German Post:
Frankfurt - my hometown ... 200 km - ~ 10 days

- 0,69 km/h ... and still waiting ....

"Customs Clearance"

TomWS · April 01, 2015, 07:56:30 AM

Quote from: rocsta on April 01, 2015, 06:30:32 AM
... boah ... still waiting ...

USPS Tracking says:

Lowpower.ab was really fast in packing and sending and also USPS:
USA - Frankfurt: 4 days ... 6700 km - ~ 4 days - 70 km/h

but: German Customs and German Post:
Frankfurt - my hometown ... 200 km - ~ 10 days - 0,69 km/h ... and still waiting ....

"Customs Clearance"

Well, you do realize that the customs has to be extra careful with this super high technology stuff, especially from a questionable source like LowPowerLab!

It also take a long time to sift through the 1000s of boards that you've ordered!

Be happy you didn't order from China. I just received some components that I ordered February 4th.

Tom

rocsta · April 01, 2015, 09:11:20 AM

Quote from: TomWS on April 01, 2015, 07:56:30 AM
Well, you do realize that the customs has to be extra careful with this super high technology stuff, especially from a questionable source like LowPowerLab!

It also take a long time to sift through the 1000s of boards that you've ordered!

Be happy you didn't order from China. I just received some components that I ordered February 4th.

Tom

Yes, you are right.
because we have not only the German Autobahn, we have also the German "Gründlichkeit" (closeness).

And perhaps these things may be dangerous for ... I don't know.

So I don't think that I will have the possibility to tinker during the eastern holidays...

:-(

Felix · April 01, 2015, 04:40:06 PM

I recall some rare instances where the customer got upset with the customs delays and started calling the post office/customs etc. Only to find out that the item was sitting there idle for undefinite amount of time waiting for "something" to happen. After an unknown amount of time (can be months) the item is returned to the sender (me) in the happy case (unless it's destroyed). The reason is that nobody "claimed" it or the customs fees were not paid and package claimed. I think this happened in Germany and UK as far as I can tell.

rocsta · May 05, 2015, 11:37:46 AM

So, the Moteinos finally arrived.

It was really strange. They arrived on (I think March, 27) n Germany. Then the customs worked on it until April, 07 to calculate the customs fees (27,20 €). And then it took 2 weeks from Frankfurt to my hometown, and I had to pay directly to the postman.

So I started the implementation ....