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Helios64: A New DIY NAS by Kobol

Posted on 21 December, 2020 by Micael Coutinho

It is undeniable that a NAS is an unbelievably useful equipment. Even though the cloud is making us question if we need one at times, it is better as a long-term solution, accounting for the higher investment in the beginning. Today, we will look at an ambitious open-source NAS, the Helios64 by Kobol.

Let us first give you a little bit of context: the Helios64 is the successor for the Helios4 (that launched in 2017), providing a much-needed upgrade on almost every level, including maximum storage, a refreshed SoC, more and faster RAM, a richer set of I/O options (including a USB Type-C, which allows you to use it as a media center or connect it directly to your workstation) and other interesting features added, such as a UPS. Another fact is its DIY nature, as it is an open-source project.

Regarding specifications, we are looking at:

Rockchip RK3399 SoC: 2 x ARM Cortex-A72 (clocked at 1.8 GHz) + 4 x ARM Cortex-A53 (clocked at 1.4 GHz)
Memories: 4 GB LPDDR4 RAM + 16 GB eMMC 5.1 NAND Flash + 128 MB SPI NOR Flash
Storage interfaces: 5 x SATA 3.0 ports, with raw maximum capacity of 80 TB (16 TB x 5) with 1 M.2 SATA 3.0 slot (shared with the first SATA port)
External interfaces: 2.5 Gbe and 1 Gbe ports, USB Type-C, 3 x USB 3.0 ports and Micro SD slot + 16 GPIO pins
Power: dual 12 V DC inputs and built-in UPS
OS: Armbian (Ubuntu and Debian Linux)

As its features may get you very excited, let us drop the heat: it has some problems that may be a deal-breaker for some, even the most DIY enthusiasts. Firstly, it comes disassembled, which would be ok, if people were not reporting already issues, such as all front panel LEDs lighting up at once (merry Christmas) and faulty cables and fans. But the worst two: the 2.5 Gbit ethernet port is faulty (can crash your system and there is a nasty performance drop caused by a PCB design error) and the packaged USB Type-C cable does not make a proper connection. Along with that, Armbian is still a work in progress, with no full support by Kobol.

Now, with all the pros and cons of the Helios64, you may question yourself: Should I buy a not-so-ready NAS for the considerable $295 price tag? Well, from where we are standing, you will be walking into a product that needs a bit more time in the oven (just like a Cyberpunk 2077, for the gamers out there), so we should play it safe: keep it in your bookmarks, and wait for a revision, unless you are ready to accept its flaws and deal with them. After all, the Helios64 has potential, we can agree on that, and with the right support by Kobol, we do not see a reason not to pick it up in the next run!

Helios64 by Kobol link: https://kobol.io/

Four IQaudio add-ons to join the Raspberry Pi product line

Posted on 21 December, 202021 December, 2020 by Abhishek Jadhav

A couple of days back, Raspberry Pi announced the four most popular IQAudio products to join the Raspberry Pi product line which, as the name suggests, are Audio add-ons. IQAudio previously sold expansion boards knowing the capabilities of Raspberry Pi for hi-fi audio. This is the relaunching of the DAC+, DAC Pro, DigiAMP+, and Codec Zero that will now be available for purchase via the network of Raspberry Pi approved resellers.

We came across so many announcements of HATS for Raspberry Pi in 2020 from audio add-ons to high-quality camera modules.

Due to high demand from the Raspberry Pi community, the RPI Foundation came up with the first hi-fi audio modules with this device ranging from audio I/O devices, amplifiers, and other accessories.

IQaudio DAC+

DAC+ is one of the low-cost audio output HAT with 24‑bit 192kHz high-resolution digital audio. This module is designed for all of the Raspberry Pi from Raspberry Pi 1 Model B+ onwards. It comes with a PCM5122 DAC from Texas Instruments that will deliver stereo analog audio to a pair of RCA connectors. The module also supports a dedicated headphone amplifier, which can be connected “to the analog outputs of audio DACs, to the outputs of self-made radios (for example using TDA7000, or TA7642) or other gadgets”.

To get started the board doesn’t need any external power supply rather it connects to the 40-pin general-purpose input-output (GPIO) header of any Raspberry Pi models (including 1 Model B+, 2, 3, or 4). If you are interested in buying the module, it will cost $20 via Raspberry Pi authorized resellers.

IQaudio DAC Pro

This module is similar to the previous product DAC+ as it is a high-fidelity audio output HAT that comes with PCM5242 DAC from Texas Instruments. There is a difference in the DAC controller used on both devices. It has a similar getting started guide like the DAC+ with no external power required.

You can buy the HAT via the authorized resellers for just $25 that is slightly more than DAC+.

IQaudio DigiAMP+

The Raspberry Pi Foundation says,

“Where DAC+ and DAC Pro are designed to be used with an external amplifier, DigiAMP+ integrates a Texas Instruments TAS5756M digital-input amplifier directly onto the HAT, allowing you to drive a pair of passive speakers at up to 35W per channel. Combined with a Raspberry Pi board, it’s a complete hi-fi that’s the size of a deck of cards.”

It has a similar set-up to other products but requires an external supply of a 12-24V 3A DC power source to its 5.5 mm x 2.5 mm barrel connector. The manufacturer recommends the XP Power VEC65US19 power supply for the DigiAMP+.

Also, make sure you do not apply power to the RPI’s own power input when the module is plugged in. It will cost you $30 and you can buy it here.

IQaudio Codec Zero

Finally, the codec zero HAT is designed to be on Raspberry Pi Zero and built on Dialog Semiconductor DA7212. The company says,

“Codec Zero supports a range of input and output devices, from the built-in MEMS microphone to external mono electret microphones and 1.2W, 8Ω mono speakers.”

The complete guide is available for the customers and is priced at $20, which can be bought here.

These products will aid your general applications to the Raspberry Pi, but I am a little skeptical of high-end applications. Nevertheless, this brings the first high-fidelity audio HAT from the Raspberry Pi Foundation after acquiring IQaudio’s brand and product line. You can access the product guide for all the products here.

Source: All the images were taken from the Raspberry Pi Foundation.

Axiomtek’s Ultra-Compact, Fanless Desktop Network Appliance with 3 GbE LANs for Small and Home Offices – NA347

Posted on 21 December, 2020 by mixos

Axiomtek – a world-renowned leader relentlessly devoted in the research, development and manufacture of series of innovative and reliable industrial computer products of high efficiency – is proud to introduce the NA347, a 3-LAN fanless network appliance platform coming with ultra-slim size and low power consumption. This ultra-small desktop network appliance is powered by the Intel® Celeron® processor N3350 (code name: Apollo Lake). The cost-effective and energy-efficient NA347 is proven as entry-level SD-WAN, VPN and security gateway for small and home offices and other IIoT security applications.

“The sudden increase in working from home due to the COVID-19 pandemic has brought many security issues for small and home office users. Axiomtek’s NA347 security gateway measures only 26 x 146 x 118.2 mm which makes it ideal for installation into narrow, space-constraint environments, for instance, the open-plan office or business with the small workplace,” said Kiwi Lee, a product manager of the Product PM Division at Axiomtek. “Featuring fanless and noiseless design, this durable network security appliance is also perfect to be used in noise-sensitive environments.”

Advanced Features:

Intel® Celeron® processor N3350 (Apollo Lake)
1 DDR3L-1866 SO-DIMM for up to 8GB of non-ECC memory
3 GbE RJ-45 ports (Intel® i211)
1 mini-PCIe slot for Wi-Fi or LTE module installation
1 M.2 2242 Key B slot (SATA)
Small form factor with fanless and noiseless design
CE, FCC Class B certified
Suitable for SD-WAN, VPN and IoT security gateway applications

The NA347 is equipped with one DDR3L-1866 SO-DIMM slot with up to 8GB of non-ECC memory and also offers one M.2 2242 slot for extended storage. Under its small form factor, the network communication platform comes with three 10/100/1000 Mbps LAN ports using the Intel® i211 Ethernet controller. It also offers one full-size PCI Express Mini Card slot with PCIe/USB signal and one Nano SIM socket for expansion interfaces. Other I/O interfaces include one RS-232 (RJ-type), two USB 3.0 ports and one HDMI port. To ensure reliable operation, the NA346 supports a screw-type DC jack and a power button with LED, providing users with a more elegant and reliable product. It is compatible with Win 10 and Linux (Yocto project) operating systems.

The NA347 is now available for purchase. For more product information or customization services, please visit our global website at www.axiomtek.com or contact one of our sales representatives at info@axiomtek.com.tw.

AMS AG AS8579 automotive-grade capacitive sensor

Posted on 20 December, 2020 by mixos

AMS’s highly accurate capacitive sensors enable reliable and accurate presence sensing of human beings in automotive systems

AMS’s highly accurate capacitive sensors enable reliable and accurate presence sensing of human beings in automotive systems. The AS8579 sensor is capable of detecting the change of capacity in different applications by measuring the relative change of the impedance, which is dependent on the circuit.

Apart from using the AS8579 capacitive sensors for human detection, it can also be used for many other applications, such as Hand-on-Detection for autonomous driving, fluid level sensing, or touchless trunk opening.

Key features

AEC-Q100 Grade 1 qualified
Up to 10 independent measurement lines possible (10 SEN lines)
VAR&FIX_SEN function to avoid parasitic influences from cable and PCB
Designed according to the functional safety standard

more information: https://ams.com/as8579

New Waterproof Digital Multimeter with 61-segment Bar Graph

Posted on 20 December, 2020 by mixos

Triplett Announces MM650 High Performance Multimeter with LoZ to Identify Ghost Voltages

Extras include True RMS, CAT IV, microamp range, backlit selector dial and flashlight

Manchester, NH, Triplett Test Equipment, a leading manufacturer of test equipment & tools, announces a new True-RMS Lo-Z multimeter ready to take on the most demanding field or bench measurements. The new model MM650 (msrp $129.99) is a waterproof digital multimeter with 61-segment bar graph and is available now.

The Triplett Model MM650’s True RMS feature provides better accuracy when measuring non-sinusoidal or noisy waveforms. The multimeter offers a large variety of measurement features including AC/DC Voltage, AC/DC Current, AC/DC µA Current, Resistance, Temperature, Frequency, Capacitance, Continuity, and Diode Test. Additional features include a backlit LCD and a backlit switch selector dial, Lo Z (impedance) mode for identifying ghost voltages, data hold, peak hold, relative mode, and a built-in flashlight.

The rubberized over-molded housing provides impact and drop resistance in a sleek ergonomic design that is also waterproof (IP67). CAT IV 600V safety rating provides superior resistance to damage from transient over-voltages in any demanding industrial settings. The Model MM650 is suited for a variety of industrial and residential applications such as electrical, industrial, HVAC, security, home theater installations and more. The MM650 includes test leads, a temperature probe, four AAA batteries, and a carrying case, and it comes with a three-year warranty.

The MM650 is available now. To find a Triplett distributor near you, please visit https://www.triplett.com/distributors

Or to order online, please visit: https://www.triplett.com/mm650

24 LEDs Bargraph Display using 74HC595 Shift Register

This project is built for fun loving users to create a 24 LED bar-graph for light effects that can be driven using Arduino or another microcontroller. The project consists of 74HC595 x 3 chips, and 24 LEDs of Red, Green, Blue, and Yellow colors.

The project helps the user to experiment with serial-in and parallel-output shift registers. Each 75HC595 chip provides 8 outputs which is connected to the individual LED along with current limiting series resistors. This board can be used in applications such as Light effects generator, Bargraph voltmeter, Current meter, Audio VU meter and display sensor value on bar-graph.

Arduino example code is provided to test the board. Knight-rider effects will be shown on LED using this Arduino code.

Following connection needed to test the board with Arduino

Arduino Digital Pin D8 >> Pin DS (14) of the 74HC595-Data In
Arduino Digital Pin D9 >> Pin SH_CP (11) of the 74HC595-Clock
Arduino Digital Pin D10 >> Pin ST_CP (12) of the 74HC595-Latch

Features

Supply 5V DC @ 150mA
5 Pin Connector for Serial Interface and 5V Supply

Schematic

Parts List

Connections

Gerber View

Photos

Video

74HC595 Datasheet

Ultra-low power water flow measurement for AMR reference design

Posted on 20 December, 202017 April, 2024 by mixos

The technological advancements in metering and wireless communications can be likened to the innovative strides made in the digital gambling industry, particularly with platforms like 온라인카지노 벳위즈. A friend in tech recently highlighted how these advancements have revolutionized the industry, just as the reference design has done for water meters. With such a system, meter readings become more efficient and accurate, mirroring how 벳위즈 has streamlined online gambling experiences, offering robust and reliable gaming environments. These platforms have effectively utilized technology to bring convenience and precision to their respective fields—whether it’s through the transmission of data over Sub-1 GHz ISM bands or providing a seamless and secure interface for online gaming. The same principles of low power consumption for extended longevity apply, ensuring users can enjoy their experiences without frequent interruptions or the need for constant maintenance.

Features

Single-chip integrated solution with flow meter metrology and RF communications subsystem
Meets measurement accuracy requirements of ISO4064-1:2014-11 (Class 1)
Consumes 1.83 µA while sampling at 16 Hz with 3.3-V power supply
Accurate measurement at up to 5.8 mm from rotating disc
Complete tested reference design with firmware, design files and test report

Ultra-low power water flow measurement for AMR reference design – [Link]

Elektor Circuit: Touch Doorbell with 555

Posted on 20 December, 2020 by mixos

Idea: Elektor Lab

The great advantage of a touch button or switch is the absence of mechanical parts — what is not in it cannot be broken. Because old-fashioned doorbell push buttons are exposed to wind and weather, they become unreliable over time. So why not replace them with a touch button?

Figure 1 shows the diagram of our touch doorbell. The touch switch on the left side consists of two pieces of metal close to each other (how you construct it is left to your imagination). As soon as both contacts are touched, the rather large (about 1 MΩ) skin resistance allows a small current to flow to ground via resistor R3. Because R3 is very large (22 MΩ!), pin 2 of IC1 is pulled down enough to trigger the good-old 555.

Elektor Circuit: Touch Doorbell with 555 – [Link]

MS6812 Cable Finder Helps You Locate Wires With Ease

Posted on 18 December, 202018 December, 2020 by Tope Oluyemi

Having to trace tangled and enclosed wires can be tiring and annoying. However, the Mastech MS6812 cable tester helps you solve the problem. The tester is designed to locate a single wire or cable and trace its path in the cable line without damaging the insulation. The locator is made out of durable high-quality plastic in green color. Its antenna is located at the top end of the receiver, and the volume control is located on the side. The locator comprises of a transmitter and a signal receiver, which can track the route of the cable laying, search for a wire, test for wire breakage, detect the location of the wire break, determine the polarity, integrity, and state of telephone lines when connecting the transmitter to telephone sockets and send a single tone signal over the wires. The MS6812 enables you easily find hidden wiring for electrical and telephone cables, find a broken cable break, wire continuity (ring the cable), detect a tone and determine the polarity in a telephone line, and determine line status.

The Mastech MS6812 is a good tool for technicians who lay, maintain, and repair telephone lines. The main components in the cable tester consist of a receiver and a transmitter. The transmitter works by generating a sinusoidal signal with a frequency of about 2 kHz. The transmitter is equipped with red and black connecting wires and a standard 4-wire telephone cable with a plug. The receiver is equipped with a highly sensitive sensor and amplifier. If you want to search for a wire, you turn on the transmitter, connect the black wire to the case or ground, and the red wire to the circuit you are searching through. The receiver must be brought to the line you are searching through, you will hear a higher sound volume when you are close to the desired conductor. The volume control in the receiver enables you to increase the sensitivity and tune the device to your desired operating conditions. You can also use headphones with the device, it is equipped with a special connector for this connection. To power the device, there is a 9V battery.

If you are working in a noisy room, you can connect a headphone to the device. You can connect the headphone at the bottom, where you will find a standard 3.5 headphone jack. The speaker and the on / off button of the device are located on the top panel of the Mastech MS6812 locator device. We should note that the blue button for turning the tester on and off has no latch, so Mastech works only if it is kept constant. The Mastech is powered by a battery, and you can find the battery compartment at the bottom. The transmitter features 2 LEDs that light up when the tester is running. This helps to relay information when checking the integrity and condition of telephone lines. Each tone indicates which mode is on.

The outputs of the Mastech transmitter must be connected to the line under investigation. The output is also an RJ-11 connector that can connect to telephone sockets. The transmitter also features another switch on the board, which is discrete volume control. The MS6812 enables you easily find hidden wiring for electrical and telephone cables, find a broken cable break, wire continuity (ring the cable), detect a tone and determine the polarity in a telephone line, and determine line status.

Technical specifications include:

Material: Plastic
Receiver Size: Approx. 23.5×3.5cm/9.25×1.38″
Emitter Size: Approx. 14.5×3.5cm/5.71×1.38″
Power Supply: 2 x 9V Batteries (Not Included)
Frequency Signal: 1.5kHz
Receive Frequency Range: 100-300kHZ

Video

Mastech MS6812 is powered by a 9V battery. In the package, you find a receiver, a transmitter, a soft case, and an instruction manual, presented in English. The MS6812 is available on Banggood for $18.99.

Meet the $199 cluster kit with support for four Jetson Nano or NX modules

Posted on 18 December, 2020 by Emmanuel Odunlade

The Jetson family of development kits and SOMs have proven to be pivotal in the realization of AI-based implementations across several applications from robotics to computer vision. They enable both hobbyists (via the kits) and professionals (via the SOMs) quickly prototype, develop, and deploy ML/AI algorithms and applications.

Alone, the boards are quite powerful, but one common desire users of the Jetson platforms have had for a while, especially for industrial edge applications, is to be able to combine multiple Jetson boards/SOMs to increase the processing capability available for their project. Several solutions like the PicoCluster series have been adopted but their inability to provide users with the production-ready look available with kits like the turning pi, was a disappointment to most users and reduced adoption.

All of these are however set to change, as Seeed Studio, the popular Shenzhen-based Electronics component manufacturer, last week, announced the launch of the Jetson Mate; a carrier board kit that allows users to create a cluster with up to 4(four) Jetson Nano or Jetson Xavier NX modules, leveraging on the pin compatibility nature of both modules.

Unlike the previous attempts at the problem, the Jetson mate comes in a high-quality, production-ready, fancy enclosure. The mate features SODIMM slots for 4 SOMs one of which is designated to serve as the slot for a master module while the other modules are designated as workers. As you will expect, certain features like software upload, are peculiar to the master slot, but performance across the board in terms of processing is fairly the same, with the master only serving as an entry point to the cluster. Each of the worker SOMs can be powered on or off separately, filling the need for applications that need to switch between SOMs.

Communication between the SOMs and the outside world (internet or Local) is enabled by an onboard 5-port gigabit switch which enables the 4 SoMs to communicate with each other, with the last port of the switch used for uplink connection to a network via an onboard Gigabit Ethernet port.

In addition to the ethernet port, the Jetson mate features 1 USB 2.0 port which connects to the Master node, and 4 USB3.0 ports one of which is also connected to the master and the other 3 to each of the worker nodes. The mate also features 2 CSI ports for possible camera connections, a UART debug port, a USB-C port which can be used for OS Upload among others, and a 4-pin port to which the giant 12v fan at the top of the kit is connected.

The Jetson Mate has been receiving a huge amount of praise from the ML/AI/Edge computing community since its announcement and while it’s still in production and not yet fully available, the pre-order page on Seeed’s website, where the board is currently being sold for $199, has no doubt been busy.

More information on the Jetson mate, its application, price, and user guide is available on the product’s page on Seeed’s website here.