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--- lab:argus [2014/02/24 09:22] – [Modifications] chrono
+++ lab:argus [2017/01/05 11:21] (current) – [Temperature & Relative Humidity] chrono
@@ Line 9: / Line 9: @@
 ~~CL~~
-Each node can be configured for individual needs and available budget. A basic node will only provide connectivity features, a fully equipped node will offer complete communication and RF-/Environmental-Monitoring options (distributed com/weather grid). Ideally, the ATMega, a low-power 4-Port USB Hub Controller and the power converters should be assembled together, on a matching daughterboard, to easily combine the ARM Host and the supporting infrastructure.
+Each node can be configured for individual needs and available budget. A basic node will only provide connectivity features, a fully equipped node will offer complete communication and RF-/Environmental-Monitoring options (distributed com/weather grid). Ideally, the ATMega, a low-power 4-Port USB Hub Controller and the power converters should be assembled together, on a matching daughterboard, to easily combine the Host and the supporting infrastructure.
@@ Line 15: / Line 15: @@
   * Data Delivery and Tracker Platform for [[lab:dspace|DSpace]]
+  * Data/Pinning node for [[https://ipfs.io/|IPFS]] (see [[https://github.com/yangwao/ipfs-hypercube|ipfs-hypercube]])
   * Environmental monitoring
   * WLAN mesh networking
     * Possible hosting platform for [[http://global.freifunk.net/|Freifunk]]
-  * Distributed SDR Grid (combined with RTL/OsmoSDR/UmTtrx)
+  * Distributed SDR Grid (combined with RTL/OsmoSDR/HackRF/Rad1O/UmTtrx)
     * Combined Aperture Array Radio Telescope
     * Distributed Cube/PicoSAT monitoring
     * Possible hosting platform for [[http://shackspace.de/wiki/doku.php?id=project:hgg|HGG (Hacker Global Grid)]]
-    * Autonomous APT/NOAA reception
+    * APT/NOAA reception
     * ADS-B Grid reception
     * POCSAG broadcasting
@@ Line 37: / Line 38: @@
 ==== TP-Link TL-MR3020 ====
-The TP-Link TL-MR3020 by itself consumes a maximum of **1.25W**. That totals at 30Wh per day and is, for the moment that is, the perfect choice for an  independent, self-sustainable embedded ARM Linux system with built-in WLAN capability. It will be interesting to see, what the RaspberryPi with additional WLAN (USB?) is going to consume, but for now, the MR3020 will be the host of choice.
+The TP-Link TL-MR3020 by itself consumes a maximum of **1.25W**. That totals at 30Wh per day and is, for the moment that is, the perfect choice for an  independent, self-sustainable embedded Linux system with built-in WLAN capability. It will be interesting to see, what the RaspberryPi with additional WLAN (USB?) is going to consume, but for now, the MR3020 will be the host of choice.
 ^ Specs ^ ^ ^
@@ Line 48: / Line 49: @@
 | Full Assembly Size | 60x62x17mm (incl. USB/LAN ports) |:::|
 | Orig. Case Size | 67x74x22mm |:::|
+==== GL-Inet-6416 ====
+There is also the GL-Inet-6416a, a HW compatible clone, which offers 64MB RAM (instead of 32MB) and 16MB Flash (instead of 4MB). It also has 5 GPIOs on a PIN header and a secondary network port, available from Deal Extreme. A couple of them have been in use here for quite some time and they've performed equally - while offering more features/flexibility:
+  * [[http://www.dx.com/p/gl-inet-6416a-micro-usb-powered-smart-router-w-16m-rom-white-335418|GL-Inet-6416a - with Case]]
+  * [[http://www.dx.com/p/gl-inet-wi-fi-router-openwrt-ssh-usb-64mbyte-ram-wireless-repeater-pcb-board-green-346531|GL-Inet-6416a - PCB only]]
+If you want to use an external antenna with the 6416, have a look at:
+[[mission:log:2016:09:12:howto-external-antenna-mod-gl-inet-6416]]
+==== GL-Inet AR300M ====
+Gl-Inet has released a new model, the [[https://www.gl-inet.com/product/gl-ar300m/|AR300M]], which is already available with two external RP-SMA connectors. They still connect to only one radio but allow for more throughput and better overall connection stability. If you don't want to hack around and want even more RAM, CPU and storage the AR300M is the perfect choice as of early 2017. 5 of these are running through their tests here and so far they can be definitely recommended. A self deploying mesh firmware is a current work in progress but hasn't been released yet. If you're interested in getting it or help working on it, just leave a comment or join us on IRC.
+If you're looking to build your own openwrt for the ar300m, you can use this repo:
+https://github.com/apollo-ng/openwrt-cc-gl-ar300m
 ==== Power & Performance Analysis ====
@@ Line 70: / Line 90: @@
 === External WLAN Antenna Hack ===
-The only major drawback of the TL-MR3020 is the lack of an external antenna connector, this however can be easily hacked in four simple steps and takes  less than 15 minutes. The [[http://wiki.openwrt.org/toh/tp-link/tl-mr3020|OpenWRT-Wiki]] for the TL-MR3020 has a good manual on how to open the case, it worked well here.
+The only major drawback of the TL-MR3020 is the lack of an external antenna connector, this however can be easily hacked in a couple of simple steps and takes  less than 15 minutes. The [[http://wiki.openwrt.org/toh/tp-link/tl-mr3020|OpenWRT-Wiki]] for the TL-MR3020 has a good manual on how to open the case, it worked well here.
+Although it appears as if the AR9330 has two symmetric antenna outputs on-board and the TL-MR3020 has two etched antennas on the PCB, the route to Antenna1 is actually going to Antenna2. The route originally going to Antenna2 is only partly equipped (probably termination) and not connected to any antenna.
+The lack of available datasheets for the AR9330 made this a guess and test hack and although the first approach (see below) worked for us, it unfortunately introduced EM related problems for some other people. This is the revisited hack, using a PCB edge RP-SMA connector to either use an antenna directly or connect better coax cable with less loss to the antenna. You should try to get these types of connectors, specifically designed to be attached to the side/edge of a PCB:
+{{:lab:pcb-edge-rpsma-connector.jpg|}}
-Although it appears as if the AR9330 has two symmetric antenna outputs on-board and the TL-MR3020 has two etched antennas on the PCB, the route to Antenna1 is actually going to Antenna2. The route originally going to Antenna2 is only partly equipped (probably termination) and not connected to any antenna. The lack of available datasheets for the AR9330 made this a guess and test hack and luckily the guess was right, as the final tests have shown.
+Of course there is also an example for a pigtail as well.
 <WRAP round tip>
 **HOWTO:**\\
-  - If you've already done the old mod: re-solder 0-Ohm resistor at J4 or create a solder bridge.
+  * **If you've already done the old hack**:
-  - Cut/file the edge of the PCB as shown in the image. Make sure that there is no connection left between the two golden strips at the edge.
+    Unsolder the pigtail and re-solder a 0-Ohm resistor at J4 or create a solder bridge.
-  - For Pigtail users: Solder the center of RG-174 (or the like) coax cable to the left pad (connected to C43 - see Image) and the braid/shield of the coax to the right strip (GND).
+  * **Mechanical PCB modification**
-  - RP-SMA direct: Solder the center pin (round) to the left pad (connected to C43 - see Image) and the right pin of the connector to the right pad (GND).
+Cut/file the edge of the PCB as shown in the image. Make sure that there is no connection left between the two golden strips at the edge.
-  - Use hot glue or something like it to fix the cable/connector right in front of the soldered points to prevent the pads from breaking off the PCB due to lift forces from the cable.
+  * **Option A: If you want to use a Pigtail**:
+Solder the center of RG-174 (or the like) coax cable to the left pad (connected to C43 - see Image) and the braid/shield of the coax to the right strip (GND).
+  * **Option B: If you want to use a PCB Edge RP-SMA connector**:
+Solder the center pin (round) to the left pad (connected to C43 - see Image) and the right pin of the connector to the right pad (GND).
+  * **Finishing Up**:
+Use hot glue or something like it to fix the cable/connector right in front of the soldered points to prevent the pads from breaking off the PCB due to lift forces from the cable. If you want to use the original case, drill a hole for the RP-SMA connector to stick out.
 </WRAP>
 [{{:lab:mr3020-antenna-premod.jpg?295|PCB/Antenna before}}]
 [{{:lab:mr3020-antenna-baremod.jpg?295|Cut/File edge of PCB}}]
-[{{:lab:mr3020-antenna-pigtailmod.jpg?295|Connect a pigtail}}]
+[{{:lab:mr3020-antenna-pigtailmod.jpg?295|Option A: Connect a pigtail}}]
-[{{:lab:mr3020-antenna-rpsmamod.jpg?295|Mount RPSMA PCB Edge Connector}}]
+[{{:lab:mr3020-antenna-rpsmamod.jpg?295|Option B: Mount RPSMA PCB Edge Connector}}]
 ~~CL~~
+Special thanks go to cosmo, for donating this device as a guinea pig to make this hack possible.
+<WRAP round important>
+If anyone has the datasheets and could share some insight on the AR9330's antenna configuration, to enable the 2nd antenna for MIMO/Diversity, please drop a note.
+</WRAP>
 <WRAP round alert>
-There have been reports of EM related damages to MR3020 routers that have been modded the way shown below. It seems that the cut off capacitors after J4 were put there for EM protection rather than matching the antenna. **Please follow the method shown above to have proper EM protection for your router.**
+There have been reports of EM related damage to MR3020 routers that have been hacked the way shown below. It seems that the cut off capacitors after J4 were put there for EM protection rather than matching the antenna. **Please follow the method shown above to have proper EM protection for your router's external antenna. The following images are only left as a reference for now**
 </WRAP>
@@ Line 99: / Line 137: @@
 [{{:lab:tl-mr3020-wlan-antenna-hack3.jpg?295|Final Overview}}]
-Special Thanks go to cosmo, for donating this device as a guinea pig to make this hack possible.
+~~CL~~
-<WRAP round important>
-If anyone has the datasheets and could share some insight on the AR9330's antenna configuration, to enable the 2nd antenna for MIMO/Diversity, please drop a note.
-</WRAP>
 ===== Microcontroller =====
   * ATMega328 based system control/monitoring and SPI/I2C data acquisition.
   * Modularized Firmware in C (one module per tasking option)
-  * Serial communication to ARM Host
+  * Serial communication to Host
-  * Monitoring & controlling battery supply/low power shut down of ARM Host
+  * Monitoring & controlling battery supply/low power shut down of Host
 ===== RF Tasking =====
@@ Line 134: / Line 168: @@
 http://www.mikrocontroller.net/mc-project/Pages/Projekte/Wetterstation/sensors/SHT75/SHT75.html
 http://www.mikrocontroller.net/topic/145736#1705005
+In order to protect the sensor from IR/UV radiation and harsh weather, the sensor must be housed in a special housing that allows airflow but keeps the sensor safe and measurements reliable. For that purpose stevenson screens have served well in the past. A new fully 3D printable stevenson screen has been developed for that purpose:
+{{:lab:model-complete-cutview.jpg|}}
+Source: https://github.com/apollo-ng/DIY-Stevenson-Screen
 ==== Ground Temperature ====
@@ Line 283: / Line 323: @@
 ==== MPPT Charge Controller ====
-In order to get familiar with MPPT battery charge controller I plan to build an ATmega based controller to handle peak power tracking to suck every mW of obtainable energy out of it. -> Fork Subproject
+In order to get familiar with MPPT battery charge controller, it's planned to build an ATmega based controller to handle peak power tracking to suck every mW of obtainable energy out of it.
 ''Basic MPPT Algorithm:''
@@ Line 321: / Line 361: @@
 {{:lab:projects:mppt_flow.jpg?300|}}
+<WRAP round tip>
+Work on the new, extremely efficient and reliable maximum-power-point tracking, buck/boost solar charge controller has finally begun: [[lab:ninjascc]]
+</WRAP>
 ==== Power Converter ====

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