NERP

Virtual NERP: Link to the Jitsi videoconference

Jitsi Meet is a free open source videoconferencing platform. It runs in the browser and requires no account or log in. Just click the link: https://meet.jit.si/NERP- (07/XX/20)

Well, you live and learn, I guess. Use Google's Chrome browser or the standalone app for your platform. Ironic, isn't it?. Turns out Jitsi Meet's code isn't fully compatible with Firefox and Safari. It may work, but it might also drag down the connection for everybody else. They're working on it.,..

The Jitsi Meet session will start at ~7:20pm. Changes or corrections will be posted here.

Overview

Not Exclusively Raspberry Pi (NERP) is an interest group focused on demonstrations and open discussion of embedded systems, control, and general electronics.

Meetings

• Bi-weekly, Monday, 7pm-9pm
• Meetup.com group

Past

• Meeting #0: July 30, 2012
• Meeting #1: August 13, 2012
• Meeting #2: August 27, 2012
• Meeting #3: September 10, 2012
• Meeting #4: September 24, 2012
• Meeting #5: October 8, 2012
• Meeting #6: October 22, 2012
• Meeting #7: November 5, 2012
• Meeting #8: November 19, 2012
• Meeting #9: December 3, 2012
• Meeting #10: December 17, 2012
• Meeting #11: January 14, 2013
• Meeting #12: January 29, 2013
• Meeting #13: Feb 11, 2013
• Meeting #14: Feb 25, 2013
• Etc, etc, etc.

Raspberry Pi [This section is mainly of historical interest.]

Hardware

• Raspberry Pi
  • Newark: in stock (2013-Aug-13)
  • MCM Electronics: in stock (2013-Aug-13)
  • Chicago Electronic Distributors: in stock (2013-Aug-13)
• Gertboard: I/O expansion board
• Pi Box by Adafruit: clear acrylic case that Drew has shown at meeting
  • design files are open source and could be made with the PS1 laser cutter.
• Adafruit's full line-up of Raspberry Pi accessories, many are available locally at Chicago Electronic Distributors
• Sanoxy HDMI to VGA converter $27 converter Drew bought on Amazon works well
• 3.5" TFT LCD: $20 composite-input display Drew has
• RCA male-male coupler: very handy for connecting composite LCDs to the Pi
• Atrix Lapdock: Cheapest way to get a portable HDMI display for the Pi
  • Atrix lapdock tricks: documents how Jay has tried a super cap and a USB battery pack to buffer power to the Pi

Software

Linux

• Raspberry Pi Foundation downloads page has instructions on flashing the SD card
• Raspbian "Wheezy": recommended for general purpose
• Raspbmc: recommended for media center usage
• Adafruit Occidentalis: based on Raspbian "Wheezy" with improved hardware interfacing and wi-fi support
• Upgrade Raspbian for overclocking without reflashing

Applications

• Arduino IDE runs and uploads ok USB-connected Arduino with Raspbian "Wheezy"; just install via "apt-get install arduino".
• WiringPi is a Python library which aims to make electronics interfacing as high-level as Arduino
• GPIO examples in many languages
• Quake for the current Raspbian "Wheezy" image
• "hello world" programs in /opt/vc/src especially the 1080p HD playback demo: /opt/vc/src/hello_pi/hello_video/
  • More details in recorded webinar by Eben Upton

Support

• RaspberryPi.org Forum is a good resource
• Raspberry Pi group on element14 Community is quite active too and another place to ask questions
• The eLinux wiki troubleshooting guide
• Listing of verified equipment add your own once tested!
• WiFi adapter testing done by Drew

Tutorials

• Adafruit Learning System: excellent tutorials for the Pi by Adafruit
• element14 Raspberry Pi blog where Drew posts his tutorials
  • I2C interfacing: details of temperature sensor and real-time clock that Drew demo'd
• LED Clock: details of the LED 7-segment module clock that Drew demo'd
  • Adafruit has now made their own tutorial
• Intro to RPi.GPIO: Bonnie's "lightning" intro to controlling Pi's GPIO with Python
  • Slides

Reference

• GPIO protection circuits: different approaches to safely interfacing with RPi pins
  • SparkFun sensor interfacing: general tutorial for logic level conversion
• Max current for GPIO pins
  • GPIO pads control: documentation by SoC engineer Gert van Loo
    • All the electronics of the pads are designed for 16mA.
  • Understanding Output: explains relationship between voltage, current and impedence
    • A maximum of 16mA per pin with the total current from all pins not exceeding 51mA.
• Good Pinout Diagrams
  • Old and new pinouts from each numbering scheme.

Links

• Adafruit blog posts about Raspberry Pi
• Libraries, codecs, OSS: an informative post on the media playback architecture
• A Raspberry Pi, hosting a Raspberry Pi: for those wondering how well it would do as a low-power server