DIY boat electronics, starting from scratch, what would you use?

[GILow]

Originally Posted by conachair

I keep banging the drum ........ No serious programming required for a Pi (unless you really want to just for the sake of writing code) , copy image onto a SD card, turn on....
Pi/esp combination works so well, a you need to to is send the data as signalk, a few extra lines of code on an esp.

I hear you, and I will bookmark this thread for when I have the time (and the inclination) to play.

[GILow]

Small aside.

Australia Post finally found my stuff. Only took three weeks, but very relieved to be reunited with all my electronics tools and components.

Despite this, I am still inclined to go ahead with the M5Stack. It just feels so much better than the picaxe for these jobs. I'll try them and report back with a separate thread on the build.

[OldGreyB]

FionaJC: Cool integration on your Ketch.

GIlow :

"Logical: I don't want to be debugging some other idiot's thinking in a crisis."

I hear you on that point! Glad OZ Post has found your tools.

conachair: Thanks for the link to the M5Stack. I had not seen that before.

I think this thread shows the true beauty of CF. The vast amount of real world knowledge and advice on any subject that is raised. May all your electronics learn not to smoke.

[conachair]

Seems lime a good overview of programming the esp8266, esp32 is similar.
https://ludzinc.blogspot.com/2019/07...velopment.html

[GILow]

Originally Posted by OldGreyB

May all your electronics learn not to smoke.

Well, that rules out using Lucas parts.

[Lake-Effect]

Originally Posted by conachair

Seems lime a good overview of programming the esp8266, esp32 is similar.
https://ludzinc.blogspot.com/2019/07...velopment.html

Heh. I fell across that site last week, and I agree - he has truly condensed a few years of struggle into a single page of excellent advice. I also arrived at about the same place after following the ESP8266 since late 2014.

One ESP8266 framework I have not yet tried is Annex Wifi RDS, a web-based rapid development environment based on a form of BASIC. I've not been a big fan of BASIC, but the redeeming feature of this system is the way it's been integrated into an easy to use system. Hoping to have a play with it soon.

[conachair]

Originally Posted by Lake-Effect

One ESP8266 framework I have not yet tried is Annex Wifi RDS, a web-based rapid development environment based on a form of BASIC. I've not been a big fan of BASIC, but the redeeming feature of this system is the way it's been integrated into an easy to use system. Hoping to have a play with it soon.

I've gone over to visual studio code with the platformio plugin for most arduino/esp stuff. Fair bit of a learning curve from the arduino IDE but worth it imho, links up to github & do all the python/esp/html in the same place. Plus save the libraries used so if someone changes a library in the future it doesn't break.
OTA is great as well, just add a little code and hide the esp away anywhere but still tweak the code without having to get a usb lead plugged in. Though I had to put it in a little loop with some delay to get it stable rather in the main loop.

[GILow]

Originally Posted by conachair

I've gone over to visual studio code with the platformio plugin for most arduino/esp stuff.

After staring at the Visual Studio IDE since version 6.0 in 1998, I can honestly say I NEVER want to see it again.

Not saying it isn’t any good, I am sure it is very good, but that part of my life is over now and I want it to stay that way n

[Lake-Effect]

Originally Posted by GILow

After staring at the Visual Studio IDE since version 6.0 in 1998, I can honestly say I NEVER want to see it again.

Not saying it isn’t any good, I am sure it is very good, but that part of my life is over now and I want it to stay that way n

You say that now... but spend a weekend with the standard Arduino IDE.

[GILow]

Originally Posted by Lake-Effect

You say that now... but spend a weekend with the standard Arduino IDE.

Ah... right. Fair point. I had a quick look the other day... it's umm... good for the price.

I concede, if I got serious I'd probably grudgingly go back to Visual Studio, but 30 years of programming for a living has left me wanting something else from my life, like sailing.

The plan is to knock out these three projects as quickly as possible and then settle down in the cockpit with a cup of tea and book for the next few years.

The M5Stack gizmos were posted to me yesterday, so should arrive within a week. Can't wait to get my hands on them.

[patja]

The biggest issue I would see for a Raspberry Pi in a critical application like this is the SD card which is the Achilles heel of the pi, and the assumption that the Pi will be shut down gracefully and not just have its power cut. You need to figure out how to boot it from more reliable media over the network, and boot up reliably whether the power was cut with or without uncommitted writes in play when the power was cut. Arduino and other microcontrollers which do not attempt to be full-blown computers don't have this problem.


Part of the problem is it will all work great for a while, and then suddenly the SD card will give up the ghost or you will have some other file corruption issue because the power was cycled unexpectedly.


You can solve all these problems with the Pi, but it does take some foresight and work.

[conachair]

Originally Posted by patja

You can solve all these problems with the Pi, but it does take some foresight and work.

Not that hard, just never turn it off
Don't think I've ever had a card fail yet, and crashed it a good few times playing around. It is worth getting a name brand though imho.

[abarrow]

I use Openplotter on an RPI, and an assortment of Arduino and ESP32 devices. I've just discovered M5Stack and M5Stick, and associated add-ons. What a great system! They are ESP32 based, so plenty of power, have nice little displays and cases. I'm looking forward to implementing them on the boat.

[blubaju]

Originally Posted by GILow

But the boat IS home.

I like to check my home=boat on sidetrips, like Kalahari or Kilimandscharo, or even next town. Might not be there where I left it or freezers cooling water pump stopped.....



Nice informative thread, thank you to all experts here!

[GILow]

Originally Posted by abarrow

I use Openplotter on an RPI, and an assortment of Arduino and ESP32 devices. I've just discovered M5Stack and M5Stick, and associated add-ons. What a great system! They are ESP32 based, so plenty of power, have nice little displays and cases. I'm looking forward to implementing them on the boat.

My three M5’s are on their way to me now in the post. I figured I’d share the results of my three projects here on CF when I get them. Keep an eye open for the thread in a month or so, or maybe you’d like to start a M5Stack thread if you’ve got stuff already that people here (me) would find helpful. [emoji846]