LowPowerLab Forum

Hi,
I did a comparison between there 3 platforms and I thought interesting to publish it.
Robert

1. SIMILARITIES
All three are so called Arduino compatible developing platforms running on Atmel ATmega328p processor (Run@16MHz, Boot@16MHz, [email protected]) and therefore are programmable with the Arduino IDE.
SPI soldering tracks allows on board RF transceivers and external flash memory.
Pins headers connect the platform to the outside world. I/O pins layout and footprint are compatible for the 3 modules.
NB: Antenna foot print may differ  function of the platforms and the versions
2. PARTICULARITIES
Moteino R6 (the current version the time of writing)
The original platform of by Felix Rusu
•   FTDI UART VCC serial interface power 5V
•   5-12 V to 3V3 LDO (MCP1703) converting power for the processor, transceiver and flash memory
•   Powered via :
    ◦   FTDI VCC interface:  Connected to VIN
    ◦   VIN pin:  5-12V
    ◦   3v3 pin:  direct power
•   Bare platform: Available without transceiver and external memory
•   Transceiver types: HopeRF or SEMTECH equivalent if available
    ◦   RFM12, RFM69CW-HCW
    ◦   RFM95-96-98 (LoRa)
•   Flash memory: Winbond W25X40CLSNIG 4Mbits flash memory for on-the-air (OTA) sketch update/programming
•   Boot flash: Lowpowerlab: dualOptiboot (needed for OTA)
•   Libraries (see github):
    ◦   Lowpowerlab lib: rfm69, wirelessprogramming, spiflash
    ◦   Radio head lib: RH_RF69
•   Documentation : Lowpowerlab Web site: wide description of all components, including hardware schematics, revision history and pins layout
•   Support:
    ◦   Lowpowerlab : Github library reporting and active web forum
•   Availability: from USA: Lowpowerlab.com
Anarduino mini
•   FTDI UART VCC serial interface power 5V
•   5-12 V to 3V3 LDO (MCP1703) converting power for the processor, transceiver and flash memory
•   Powered via :
    ◦   FTDI VCC interface:  Connected to VIN
    ◦   VIN pin:  5-12V
    ◦   3v3 pin:  direct power
•   No bare platform available: comes always with flash memory, and transceiver. The transceiver type is part of the ordering reference
•   As a RTC clock: MCP7940 I2C
•   As a Reset switch
•   Transceiver types: HopeRF:
    ◦   RFM12, RFM69CW
    ◦   RFM69W-HW
    ◦   RFM92-95-96-98 (LoRa)
•   Flash memory: SPANSION S25FL127S 128Mbits flash memory
•   Boot flash: Duemilano (no OTA)
•   Libraries (see github):
    ◦   Lowpowerlab lib:  rfm69
    ◦    Anarduino lib: MCP7940 lib
    ◦   Radio head lib: RF_RF69
•   Documentation : only hardware schematics and pins layout
•   Support: anarduino  web forum (not very active)
•   Availability: from USA: anarduino.com web shop
Canique Mk2
Moteino R4 clone
•   FTDI UART VCC serial interface power 3v3!!
•   Optional 5-12V to 3V3 LDO (MCP1702) converter for powering the processor, transceiver and flash memory via VIN pin is used
•   Powered via:
    ◦   FTDI VCC interface:  3v3 not connected to VIN
    ◦   3v3 pin:  for direct power
    ◦   VIN pin: 5-12V  adding an optional LDO
    WARNING: VIN and FTDI Power interface may not be connected together
•   As an Additional capacitor to improve stability with respect to the Moteino design
•   As an U.FL antenna track for U.FL Connector
•   Bare platform available: no flash memory, and no transceiver
•   Transceiver types: HopeRF - RFM69W-HW
•   Flash memory: Winbond W25X40CLSNIG 4Mbits flash memory for on-the-air (OTA) sketch update
•   Boot flash: Lowerpowerlab: dualOptiboot (needed for OTA)
•   Libraries (see github):
    ◦   Lowpowerlab lib: rfm69, wirelessprogramming, spiflash
    ◦   Radio head lib: RH_RF69
    ◦   Documentation : Pins layout, and some technical aspects cover by the canique WEB site (No schematics)
•   Support: e-mail
Availability: from Europe (Austria) canique.com web shop

Nice comparison but why just the 3?
BTW The Moteino has a 3.3V FTDI interface, not 5V. The VIN on the FTDI should be 5V not the TX/RX. You might note that most FTDI or USB/serial adapters voltage for VIN and serial interface voltage can be configured independently. By default the LowPowerLab FTDI Adapter comes with 5V VIN and 3.3V serial settings (can be changed via solder jumpers).

Felix.

Why 3 ... Because I know only two Moteino (footprint) clones, I will be happy to extend this comparison to others  :)
OK when I mean FTDI 5V I mean the FTDI Serial Interface VCC power supply that is connected to VIN by default,  which is the big difference with the Canique which requires a FTDI Serial power of 3v3.
I will improve the comparison