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  1. Home
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  3. nRF5 action!

nRF5 action!

Scheduled Pinned Locked Moved My Project
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  • NeverDieN NeverDie

    I finished the first pass, and it looks as though everything will fit:
    0_1496947558417_sam32d_top_v008.png 0_1496947562955_sam32d_bottom_v008.png

    A bit more work to do, but this is the approximate form it would take.

    TerrenceT
    TerrenceT
    Terrence
    wrote on last edited by
    #31

    @NeverDie NRF or RFM?

    NeverDieN 1 Reply Last reply
    0
    • TerrenceT Terrence

      @NeverDie NRF or RFM?

      NeverDieN
      NeverDieN
      NeverDie
      Hero Member
      wrote on last edited by NeverDie
      #32

      @Terrence said in Minimalist SAMD21 TQFP32 Pro Mini:

      @NeverDie NRF or RFM?

      Neither. This is just the MCU. If I can get it to run blink, then as a next step I'll add a radio.

      It's basically a subset of the sparkfun board, but in a different form factor, with a different USB, and all in 2-layer rather than 4-layer. This will be my first ARM board, so I'm just trying to keep it as simple as possible. The razzmatazz can come later.

      1 Reply Last reply
      1
      • NeverDieN
        NeverDieN
        NeverDie
        Hero Member
        wrote on last edited by NeverDie
        #33

        I polished up the USB and re-positioned the headers so they'd fit on a breadboard:
        0_1496971659835_sam32d_top_v010.png 0_1496971668079_sam32d_bottom_v0010.png

        The irony is: after having done all that, I can now more clearly see that it's just not a very efficient form factor. I think for future versions I'll make it not so narrow.

        TerrenceT 1 Reply Last reply
        0
        • NeverDieN NeverDie

          I polished up the USB and re-positioned the headers so they'd fit on a breadboard:
          0_1496971659835_sam32d_top_v010.png 0_1496971668079_sam32d_bottom_v0010.png

          The irony is: after having done all that, I can now more clearly see that it's just not a very efficient form factor. I think for future versions I'll make it not so narrow.

          TerrenceT
          TerrenceT
          Terrence
          wrote on last edited by
          #34

          @NeverDie It is an interesting exploration. It seems you don't see it until you get there.

          1 Reply Last reply
          1
          • NeverDieN
            NeverDieN
            NeverDie
            Hero Member
            wrote on last edited by
            #35

            I just now sent this to OSH Park:
            0_1497002095686_sam32d_top_v011.png 0_1497002112110_sam32d_bottom_v0011.png
            to see whether or not it works. I still don't know how many uH are the value for the one inductor that Sparkfun used though. Any guesses?

            Nca78N 1 Reply Last reply
            0
            • NeverDieN NeverDie

              I just now sent this to OSH Park:
              0_1497002095686_sam32d_top_v011.png 0_1497002112110_sam32d_bottom_v0011.png
              to see whether or not it works. I still don't know how many uH are the value for the one inductor that Sparkfun used though. Any guesses?

              Nca78N
              Nca78N
              Nca78
              Hardware Contributor
              wrote on last edited by
              #36

              @NeverDie said in Minimalist SAMD21 TQFP32 Pro Mini:

              I still don't know how many uH are the value for the one inductor that Sparkfun used though. Any guesses?

              I see no inductor on Sparkfun's schematic ? Only a 30 Ohm ferrite bead.

              NeverDieN 1 Reply Last reply
              1
              • Nca78N Nca78

                @NeverDie said in Minimalist SAMD21 TQFP32 Pro Mini:

                I still don't know how many uH are the value for the one inductor that Sparkfun used though. Any guesses?

                I see no inductor on Sparkfun's schematic ? Only a 30 Ohm ferrite bead.

                NeverDieN
                NeverDieN
                NeverDie
                Hero Member
                wrote on last edited by
                #37

                @Nca78

                Thanks! I guessing this part should do the business then: https://www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/wurth-electronics-inc/742792601/732-4659-1-ND/4310409

                1 Reply Last reply
                1
                • NeverDieN
                  NeverDieN
                  NeverDie
                  Hero Member
                  wrote on last edited by NeverDie
                  #38

                  Argh. For only a little more than what I paid for the Sparkfun SamD21, I couldn't have gotten the same MCU with an RFM69HCW! And it's already on a 2-layer board, not a 4-layer board:
                  https://www.adafruit.com/product/3176
                  https://www.amazon.com/Adafruit-Feather-RFM69HCW-Packet-Radio/dp/B01K62LWBC/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1497022595&sr=8-1&keywords=Adafruit+Feather+M0+RFM69HCW

                  <insert facepalm icon> I should have started with that instead, because that's already probably close to what I'll end up with.

                  TerrenceT 1 Reply Last reply
                  0
                  • Nca78N
                    Nca78N
                    Nca78
                    Hardware Contributor
                    wrote on last edited by
                    #39

                    It's a very good price. If you do it yourself you have a 3$ MCU, 3$+ radio, 1$ PCB and a few US$ for other components (like lipo charger). Leaving only 10$ left for assembly but if you do it yourself you need a lot of time even with a stencil.

                    1 Reply Last reply
                    0
                    • NeverDieN
                      NeverDieN
                      NeverDie
                      Hero Member
                      wrote on last edited by
                      #40

                      And believe it or not, the LoRa version can be had for as little as $15.99 each with Prime delivery:
                      https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01LHTU14W/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

                      Yeah, at that price I think this becomes a buy, not build, decision.

                      Nca78N 1 Reply Last reply
                      0
                      • NeverDieN NeverDie

                        And believe it or not, the LoRa version can be had for as little as $15.99 each with Prime delivery:
                        https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01LHTU14W/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

                        Yeah, at that price I think this becomes a buy, not build, decision.

                        Nca78N
                        Nca78N
                        Nca78
                        Hardware Contributor
                        wrote on last edited by
                        #41

                        @NeverDie be careful this is a "featherwing" = "shield" style board that you add to the basic "feather" board.
                        So you need 20$ for feather board + 16$ for radio ... not so cheap anymore ;)

                        1 Reply Last reply
                        1
                        • scalzS
                          scalzS
                          scalz
                          Hardware Contributor
                          wrote on last edited by scalz
                          #42

                          if i remember well, the adafruit board is SAMD21G.

                          Here another example, sort of feather i made a while for testing SAMD21E. The same it's rechargeable, and I added some features like a rgb led, sma connector for RFM69/95, flash, signing, MYSX etc..
                          0_1497025803973_MyAtsamBoard.jpg
                          mounted with a weather extension board i made. If there is an interest, i can clean a bit my files and upload it, it's working well ;)

                          Nca78N NeverDieN 2 Replies Last reply
                          2
                          • scalzS scalz

                            if i remember well, the adafruit board is SAMD21G.

                            Here another example, sort of feather i made a while for testing SAMD21E. The same it's rechargeable, and I added some features like a rgb led, sma connector for RFM69/95, flash, signing, MYSX etc..
                            0_1497025803973_MyAtsamBoard.jpg
                            mounted with a weather extension board i made. If there is an interest, i can clean a bit my files and upload it, it's working well ;)

                            Nca78N
                            Nca78N
                            Nca78
                            Hardware Contributor
                            wrote on last edited by
                            #43

                            @scalz said in Minimalist SAMD21 TQFP32 Pro Mini:

                            If there is an interest

                            There's interest here :D

                            1 Reply Last reply
                            1
                            • scalzS scalz

                              if i remember well, the adafruit board is SAMD21G.

                              Here another example, sort of feather i made a while for testing SAMD21E. The same it's rechargeable, and I added some features like a rgb led, sma connector for RFM69/95, flash, signing, MYSX etc..
                              0_1497025803973_MyAtsamBoard.jpg
                              mounted with a weather extension board i made. If there is an interest, i can clean a bit my files and upload it, it's working well ;)

                              NeverDieN
                              NeverDieN
                              NeverDie
                              Hero Member
                              wrote on last edited by NeverDie
                              #44

                              @scalz
                              I'm very interested too. It probably beats my bumbling attempts at making a Sam21DE18, and if it's already working well, what's not to like?

                              1 Reply Last reply
                              0
                              • NeverDieN NeverDie

                                Argh. For only a little more than what I paid for the Sparkfun SamD21, I couldn't have gotten the same MCU with an RFM69HCW! And it's already on a 2-layer board, not a 4-layer board:
                                https://www.adafruit.com/product/3176
                                https://www.amazon.com/Adafruit-Feather-RFM69HCW-Packet-Radio/dp/B01K62LWBC/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1497022595&sr=8-1&keywords=Adafruit+Feather+M0+RFM69HCW

                                <insert facepalm icon> I should have started with that instead, because that's already probably close to what I'll end up with.

                                TerrenceT
                                TerrenceT
                                Terrence
                                wrote on last edited by
                                #45

                                @NeverDie I love the Feather boards. Currently working with the RFM69 feather. Build in battery connector/charger is very nice to have.

                                NeverDieN 2 Replies Last reply
                                0
                                • scalzS
                                  scalzS
                                  scalz
                                  Hardware Contributor
                                  wrote on last edited by scalz
                                  #46

                                  @NeverDie @Nca78 oki noted!
                                  @Terrence yeah, agree too. i have assembled one for testing as it was new and not available. Unfortunately, regarding Mysensors use, there are no flash for ota (in case for future), no signing, no eeprom for routing table (atsam has no eeprom, only emulation if i remember), no sma connector ...

                                  TerrenceT 1 Reply Last reply
                                  1
                                  • TerrenceT Terrence

                                    @NeverDie I love the Feather boards. Currently working with the RFM69 feather. Build in battery connector/charger is very nice to have.

                                    NeverDieN
                                    NeverDieN
                                    NeverDie
                                    Hero Member
                                    wrote on last edited by
                                    #47

                                    @Terrence said in Minimalist SAMD21 TQFP32 Pro Mini:

                                    @NeverDie I love the Feather boards. Currently working with the RFM69 feather. Build in battery connector/charger is very nice to have.

                                    Good to hear! :) I ordered one today (after my posting above). There's a good chance I'll receive it on Sunday. I look forward to trying it out.

                                    1 Reply Last reply
                                    0
                                    • scalzS scalz

                                      @NeverDie @Nca78 oki noted!
                                      @Terrence yeah, agree too. i have assembled one for testing as it was new and not available. Unfortunately, regarding Mysensors use, there are no flash for ota (in case for future), no signing, no eeprom for routing table (atsam has no eeprom, only emulation if i remember), no sma connector ...

                                      TerrenceT
                                      TerrenceT
                                      Terrence
                                      wrote on last edited by
                                      #48

                                      @scalz >>Unfortunately, regarding Mysensors use, there are no flash for ota (in case for future), no signing, no eeprom for routing table in mysensors, no sma connector ...

                                      Well so one of you brilliant guys will come up with a FeatherWing that will add all of that functionality right? :thumbsup:

                                      1 Reply Last reply
                                      0
                                      • scalzS
                                        scalzS
                                        scalz
                                        Hardware Contributor
                                        wrote on last edited by scalz
                                        #49

                                        @Terrence and no usb goodies for protection. woops can't be added on an external board :) I'm kidding, well, i let others make this featherwing, enough busy on my side ;)

                                        TerrenceT 1 Reply Last reply
                                        0
                                        • scalzS scalz

                                          @Terrence and no usb goodies for protection. woops can't be added on an external board :) I'm kidding, well, i let others make this featherwing, enough busy on my side ;)

                                          TerrenceT
                                          TerrenceT
                                          Terrence
                                          wrote on last edited by
                                          #50

                                          @scalz Are you still working on that great looking PIR board?

                                          1 Reply Last reply
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