nRF5 action!

[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.

[Nca78]

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.

[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.

[Nca78]

@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 ;)

[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..

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 ;)

[Nca78]

@scalz said in Minimalist SAMD21 TQFP32 Pro Mini:

If there is an interest

There's interest here :D

[NeverDie]

@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?

[Terrence]

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

[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 ...

[NeverDie]

@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.

[Terrence]

@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:

[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 ;)

[Terrence]

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

[scalz]

@Terrence that's a bit OT ;) yep among others things, and i'm quickly distracted so i need to stay focused :)

[Terrence]

@scalz I think there is HUGE interest in a good working PIR solution. That gets my vote.:mag_right:

[NeverDie]

@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.

Have you found a cheaper source than Amazon for buying them?

[Terrence]

@NeverDie No, Adafruit is the maker/seller and before just recently you had to buy them from them and pay the shipping and slow order fill process.

I have Amazon Prime, so shipping is "free" and they show up in 2 days.

I have never seen them for lower than MSRP.

[Nca78]

Just discovered this, bought with no wifi (no need for it) and usb adapter. It's using a SAMD21E17 (so 16k/128k) but should be enough for playing a bit and I love the stackable usb adapter that you need to buy only once for all your boards.
http://www.wino-board.com/store/en/basic-modules/16-winoboard.html

[NeverDie]

What do you guys think of the NRF51822?
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/NRF51822-2-4G-Wireless-Module-Wireless-Communication-Module-Bluetooth-module-zigbee-module-DMX512/32726191346.html?spm=2114.01010208.3.16.u9URcX&ws_ab_test=searchweb0_0,searchweb201602_5_10152_10065_10151_10068_10130_10136_10137_10060_10155_10062_437_10154_10056_10055_10054_10059_303_100031_10099_10103_10102_10096_10052_10053_10142_10107_10050_10051_5030014_10084_10083_10119_10080_10082_10081_10178_10110_519_10111_10112_10113_10114_10182_10078_10079_10073_10123_10120_10189_142,searchweb201603_1,ppcSwitch_4&btsid=bdb83fff-e500-45cf-becd-3dfdfd896dad&algo_expid=5ab8c3b2-cd02-4c0a-8ea8-941792ebfedc-2&algo_pvid=5ab8c3b2-cd02-4c0a-8ea8-941792ebfedc
The dev boards are really cheap, and they come with a capable mcu.

[NeverDie]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WmCmqN2i_Xo