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Netduino Mini


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Poll: Netduino Mini (30 member(s) have cast votes)

Would you want a Netduino Mini (size like the FEZ Mini)?

  1. Yes (19 votes [63.33%] - View)

    Percentage of vote: 63.33%

  2. No (1 votes [3.33%] - View)

    Percentage of vote: 3.33%

  3. Maybe (10 votes [33.33%] - View)

    Percentage of vote: 33.33%

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#1 phantomtypist

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Posted 02 September 2010 - 04:26 PM

Would you want a Netduino Mini (size like the FEZ Mini)?

I'm considering making board schematics for it.

#2 greg

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Posted 02 September 2010 - 05:05 PM

Would you want a Netduino Mini (size like the FEZ Mini)?

I'm considering making board schematics for it.


To be honest I'd be more interested in something along the lines of the Rhino. More IO, more UART, blah blah blah. But I'm building a robot. :P A "mini" would be cool for things like remote sensor arrays for sure.

#3 phantomtypist

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Posted 02 September 2010 - 05:26 PM

To be honest I'd be more interested in something along the lines of the Rhino. More IO, more UART, blah blah blah. But I'm building a robot. :P A "mini" would be cool for things like remote sensor arrays for sure.


That is exactly why I am contemplating making a 'mini' version of the Netduino. The FEZ Mini is just too expensive for the remote sensor projects I have in mind.

#4 CW2

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Posted 02 September 2010 - 06:27 PM

To be honest I'd be more interested in something along the lines of the Rhino. More IO, more UART, blah blah blah.

How about exposing (all the) pins on side solder pads? I don't know/could not find the exact name for that, I mean PCB module for surface mount like GHI's EMX with all those half-cut vias on the edges.

#5 bryancostanich

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Posted 02 September 2010 - 06:34 PM

How about exposing (all the) pins on side solder pads? I don't know/could not find the exact name for that, I mean PCB module for surface mount like GHI's EMX with all those half-cut vias on the edges.


or add another couple header rows the way the illuminato does (which is a great board design). it still retains backwards compat with all the arduino stuff too.

#6 Szymon

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Posted 02 September 2010 - 06:51 PM

If you plan to use it as a sensor node maybe it would be worth adding some wireless options directly on the board. I'm thinking something like this guy: http://www.sparkfun....roducts_id=9712

#7 bryancostanich

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Posted 02 September 2010 - 10:03 PM

also, the fez mini is really nice if you have the fez proto thing that it sits in with all those cool connectors and other stuff. otherwise, it's less useful. would you be coming out with the companion proto base?

#8 muyinteresting

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Posted 03 September 2010 - 04:17 AM

To be honest I'd be more interested in something along the lines of the Rhino. More IO, more UART, blah blah blah. But I'm building a robot. :P A "mini" would be cool for things like remote sensor arrays for sure.



I agree. if anything, if this is intended for remote sensor projects.. if the chip is available, have an insane amount of I/O.

The netduino costs too much to only connect a couple sensors. Reduced clock speed/RAM, 1 or 2 UARTs, A simple collection device, with a ton of sensors to poll and report back to a more powerful platform.

I'm having trouble packing all the things I want onto my netduino, it just doesn't have enough pins for my needs. I guess I'll have to figure out some sort of multiplexing.

I'm dreaming though, this is supposed to be a mini platform, a tiny thing you can slip somewhere to collect data from a couple sensors. It would be nice to have, I could get my board(s) closer to the sensors they are monitoring. However, I'd expect to pay half or less of what the current netduino is. On account of the loss of size, and functionality.

They would sell well if you could pick a couple up for $10-15 a piece and deploy them quickly and easily.

#9 Chris Walker

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Posted 03 September 2010 - 04:40 AM

I can't say much, but we are working on a few things (on the size front and also on the extra pins front). Maybe I can sneak out some photos of the latter :)

#10 sweetlilmre

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Posted 03 September 2010 - 01:30 PM

Hi,

In as far as more inputs, would this help?
-(e)

#11 greg

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Posted 03 September 2010 - 02:00 PM

Hi,

In as far as more inputs, would this help?
-(e)


That's pretty nice - only drawback to it (for the netduino) is you lose a UART with it requiring pins D2/3. I need my UARTs. :P

#12 CW2

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Posted 03 September 2010 - 03:20 PM

In as far as more inputs, would this help?

It definitely would. IMHO the issue here is (and not only specific to Netduino, it applies to FEZ boards too and perhaps others) that the microprocessor already has ~60 (or more) general I/O pins, but only part of them are accesible (e.g. via pin headers). I am not saying that I want 2×32 pin header present on the board (although it would not add significant cost, can be placed on the section which could be cut off etc.), but I would appreciate an opportunity to extend the board interface if needed (mount the pin header, solder flat cable to some solder pads etc.). I don't really want to end up soldering thin wires directly to .5 mm pitch LQFP-100 pads...Posted Image

#13 CW2

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Posted 03 September 2010 - 03:23 PM

I forgot to mention that using Arduino-compatible layout was really brilliant design choice - as it is obvious by the amount of working shields and number of applications converted so fast...

#14 muyinteresting

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Posted 03 September 2010 - 03:45 PM

It definitely would. IMHO the issue here is (and not only specific to Netduino, it applies to FEZ boards too and perhaps others) that the microprocessor already has ~60 (or more) general I/O pins, but only part of them are accesible (e.g. via pin headers). I am not saying that I want 2×32 pin header present on the board (although it would not add significant cost, can be placed on the section which could be cut off etc.), but I would appreciate an opportunity to extend the board interface if needed (mount the pin header, solder flat cable to some solder pads etc.). I don't really want to end up soldering thin wires directly to .5 mm pitch LQFP-100 pads...Posted Image


I think I am in lurve with that board. However, if the I/O pins on the chip were DIRECTLY accessible, that would be even more amazing. No funky multiplexing strategy needed, just connect optional pin headers and away you go. Even if you just left them as solderable through-holes that could accept the pin headers somewhere off to the side. Cover them by default or something, to avoid mistakes. "remove plastic cover to expose extra pin holes."

If there was a netduino board with all those pins exposed, for pretty well the same gneral cost (it doesnt cost much more to add those pins..) I would buy one up right away.

#15 Niels R.

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Posted 07 September 2010 - 10:29 AM

I would definitely buy a Netduino Mini! I've now bought a Arduino Mini Pro because of the lack of a Netduino Mini.

#16 bart

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Posted 20 September 2010 - 04:08 PM

It seems to me that the entire .net micro community is waiting/craving for more io/features and what not more. It is the micro framework after all. Although it seems programmatic and resource overkill, I would realy like to use it to develop small sensors which require minimal io pins and at most a uart. The advantages would be rapid development in a great ide, and I would accept it's problems in needing more flash and memory and thus higher cost (development time cost would go down though so there is a offset there.

What I'm looking for is a .net micro capable processor in a "dil 16" package. Powefull but small. Digi connect rj45 size .net micro module is close to what I want but it still has ethernet which is an unneeded feature.

am I alone in wanting a easy to develop platform that is still small? If it exists can someone point it out to me?




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