Class Update
Sorry for the late notice, but I was just scheduled for a production deployment Friday night and Saturday morning, so I won't be in any shape to do the class. Not to mention that I've had a sinus infection for three weeks and haven't had a chance to prepare properly.
I'll set another date for April when I get a breather next week.
The code for the Barometer and Moisture sensor has been released on GitHub.
I'll finish the RTC code, the UV Sensor and the light sensor.
The communications between the Arduino and the Raspberry PI at first we will test with another Arduino as I have that code already debugged and working, and I'll add that to the weather station.
Then we will be working on the Raspberry PI section of the code which should not require any changes to the Arduino code.
Saturday I'm hoping to get all the Arduino code loaded and working, and then start discussing the Raspberry PI and go through the initial setup of a Raspberry PI. The final version of the software for the Raspberry PI will be available in a package you can download and just flash onto an SD card without having to make any code changes so it'll be easy to deploy. The advantage of doing it like this is you'll always have a way to restore the Raspberry PI to the default setup that works with the weather station so you can experiment and if something gets messed up you can just restore it from the package and it will start working again.
The first version of the newly refactored code we'll be working with next weekend has been updated on Github.
This is the new format we'll be coding in, and it includes the code for the temperature sensor.
I'll be working on the code for the other modules that will build on this and posting it to Github as I complete them.
I also have a surprise for everyone for the class next weekend, but you have to be there to receive it :)
Thanks to everyone who came to the refresher class. I'm sorry we couldn't cover more, but that was part of the reason I wanted to hold this class. I needed to get my feet wet again and get comfortable after not doing much with the Arduino's.
I'll be working on the updated parts list and I should have it up by Monday so everyone can get their parts together and make sure they are ready for the class in October. I'll be including the new light sensor I've picked out, just need to make sure it's still available, and also all the Raspberry PI components we need.
One point you don't need the latest and greatest Raspberry Pi to use for the weather station, the A, or any of the B models will work just fine so don't feel like you need the latest and greatest for this project.
Thanks again for everyone who came out, you're enthusiasm and questions were awesome and it all makes it so worth while to me.
Also thank you to David Mounts and Inmar for lunch and letting us hold the class here at Inmar, it was a very relaxed and nice atmosphere.
Ok, I've had at least one person respond so that's enough for me to have the refresher class. Right now I'm shooting to have it on 9/3, but I need to make the arrangements with my work and as soon as I confirm it I'll post the update here and announce it.
Our headquarters is right next to Wake Forest Biotech Place, and is very convenient to both I-40 and 52, along with the restaurants in downtown Winston.
As soon as everything is arranged I'll announce it.
Thanks
The next class has been scheduled for October 1st at the Red Cross. We will be working on the weather station with the refactored code and the new light sensor which I will have for everyone. I'll be reposting the updated parts list and the code before the end of the month so everyone can be ready for the class.
I know that the Shelby Hamfest is on the third of September, but I wanted to see if there was any interest in a refresher class for people who ar eavailable or are starting new. We would go over the basic Arduino environment, and help people get their laptops all setup in preparation for the October 1st class. If you are interested in doing this please email me asap. If we have enough interest I'll announce it here in the next week or so. If we do have that class I'm also planning on holding it at my work as its been graciously offered to provide space for the class.
Thanks
Ok, I know it's been a long time coming but it's time to start up the class on the weather station again.
I pulled out my circuit board and it's been the victim of scavenging for other projects. Considering this and that I want to make a change to the light sensor (I have enough for everyone, it'll just be an even swap for the sensor you have now) and how I'm distributing the code for the project (we'll start using GitHub) we'll be changing tactics a little.
I think the best thing is for me to rebuild my station to the point where we were before and document it along the way as I write the software for each sensor. By using GitHub you'll be able to see what's been added and follow along, and use what you want to use of the project. This will be helpful in our future projects.
This will also allow me to be caught up ahead of the class so we aren't doing as much scrambling on the Saturday and instead answering questions and troubleshooting any issues we find.
So to start with for those of you who are familiar with GitHub you can join the repository at https://github.com/NCBob/ArduinoClass. I've got the code for the DDSVFO posted there, and the last version of the weather station, but when I start the rebuild this will be changing back so the software will be updated as I add each sensor.
For those of you who the last paragraph was Greek do not despair, when we schedule the next class (once I get my board rebuilt and all the code documented) first thing we will do is go over what GitHub is and how to use it.
I've also been struggling with an editor to user for Arduino, as the default environment does not make me very happy. I recently downloaded the Visual Studio Code Editor and installed the Arduino extension and I REALLY like it. It's open source, and supported across Windows, Mac and Linux.
I'll be updating as I work on the documentation on the class and once I feel comfortable on when I'll have it done we'll post the next class date.
Thanks for everyone's patience and we'll be chugging ahead full speed again soon.
I've gotten my laptop fixed, so we're ready to start scheduling classes again. I'm going to check the availability of the Red Cross meeting room for January and post the next class date shortly.
Thanks
Unfortunately I've had to cancel the 10/17 class, right now the next class is tentatively scheduled for 11/14 pending confirmation of the room availability.
I'm also not happy with the light sensor so instead of the one we are currently using, we'll be switching to another one that has better range and functionality. I'll have them for everyone at the next class.
I'm also still working on the Raspberry PI documentation, they've just released an updated version called "Jessie" so I'm going to download it and work through the configuration using this latest version.
Thanks
I've created a Github repository to store and track the code we are writing for the Arduino Class. We'll go over in the next class what this is and how to use it, but it will be helpful to keep track of our code we are writing, especially now that we are doing more than just the Arduino code.
The link is in the 'Links' section for those of you who do know how to use Git and feel free to clone it and set it up to be used for the class.
Thanks
Pending verification that the Red Cross is available the next class will be held on 10/17.
It appears that there have been some significant changes to the raspbian system since the last time I installed it, so I'm going to do some testing on configuring the wifi and remote access, then I'll get the instructions out to everyone so we can ge as much done ahead of time as we can.
I am also building the weather vane and anemometer and will have an idea of the costs next week and I'll get reservations for the parts needed. Right now it looks like it will be no more than $25 for the parts for both.
I am also going to put the code up both on the class site and on GitHub to make it easier for me to track the changes we are making and keep everything up to date.
Thanks!
I've updated the website as you can see, the Arduino Class section is no longer hidden, and I've added a links page which has links that are useful for the class, or things we've discussed in class along with the code that we used to share with Bittorrent.
And if you didn't know you can actually subscribe to this blog and get automatic updates if you use a RSS reader. Just copy the link at the top of this page and add it to your favorite RSS reader. If you don't use a RSS reader, no problem, you can just keep reading the updates here. Or if you want to know what a RSS reader is and how to use one I can explain it in a few minutes during one of our upcoming classes.
I'll be making a list of suggested projects that we could start working on next, and I'm going to have a way for everyone to give their feedback, so we'll know what everyone wants to work on next.