An Ardunio Starter Kit?

[Ross365]

Can anyone recommend a good starter kit? Prices seem to vary quite a lot!
Thanks

 

[fluxgore]

Whos it for or rather what are you wanting out of it?

 

[Ross365]

Whos it for or rather what are you wanting out of it?

It's for me - just feel I ought to take a look at Arduino, or something similar; seem to be various uses as parts of ham radio test systems.

 

[Keithmac]

I was looking at some Speeduino car ECU projects, would mean learning a new programming language though as I like to tinker.

 

[Scalarocco]

I was looking at some Speeduino car ECU projects, would mean learning a new programming language though as I like to tinker.

I'm just banging my head on this one at the moment. I bought a v0.3 board and want to run tunerstudio on a raspberry pi 4. It's not straightforward and programming isn't a skill I possess!

 

[Kram]

Arduino and the official IDE is not programing, its more like learning how kids type texts on there phones, a horrible mess. However you still need it as it and the examples form part of the documentation..

Esp32's are generally much better, will run the same code and you can use " VS code" with an extension as the IDE. I had a couple of projects before my old pc died.

So avoid starter kit, buy an esp32 or two off amazon, install vs code and the PlatformIO extension. There are lots of guides on the net.. first one off google..

Getting Started with VS Code and PlatformIO IDE for ESP32 and ESP8266 | Random Nerd Tutorials

Program the ESP32 and ESP8266 NodeMCU boards using VS Code (Visual Studio) with PlatformIO IDE extension. Install the software on Windows, Mac OS X or Ubuntu operating systems.

randomnerdtutorials.com

 

[m_c]

If it's to learn, I'd probably recommend a basic Arduino and basic beginner kit ( breadboard with some switches and leds is enough to try the basics).































The Arduino IDE is pretty limited, but it's still programming.



Default language in Arduino is C++, but you can still go baremetal C if you desire, it's C++ is more beginner friendly.

 

[ajlelectronics]

Arduino and the official IDE is not programming, it's more like learning how kids type texts on their phones.

How do you come up with that opinion? Arduino is C++ with slight differences. I call that programming...

<code>
void setup()
{
pinMode(5, OUTPUT); // Digipot power
pinMode(10, OUTPUT);// Digital ouput on pin 12
pinMode(11, OUTPUT); // RING
pinMode(12, OUTPUT); // PTT

pinMode(A6, INPUT_PULLUP); // Sense test mode
pinMode(LED_BUILTIN, OUTPUT);
Serial.begin(115200);

digitalWrite(digipot, HIGH); //Currently does nothing useful

Wire.begin();
Wire.beginTransmission(0x2F);// Put digipot out of range at 100K
Wire.write(0x7F);
Wire.endTransmission();


ibus.setIbusSerial(Serial); // Tell library which serial port is used for IBUS. Must be HardwareSerial port.
ibus.setScrollSpeed(1500, 1000, 200, 2); // Start delay, End delay, scroll speed & number of repeats. Defaults to 2000, 1000, 200, 2 if no alternatives specified
ibus.setIbusPacketHandler(packetHandler); // Define callback function. This is the function that is called by the library when it has a complete IBUS packet/message.
//ibus.sleepEnable(60); // Enable sleep timer, and set sleep time in seconds. Comment out/delete line to disable timer.
//debugSerial.begin(9600); // Set debug Baud rate
//ibus.setIbusDebug(debugSerial); // Tell library which serial port is used for DEBUG. Comment out line if debug disabled in IbusGlobals.h
//debugSerial.println(F("--IBUS reader V2--"));
attachInterrupt(digitalPinToInterrupt(9), startTimer, CHANGE);
pinMode(ledPin, OUTPUT);



}
void loop()
{

if (!runOnce)
{
delay(1000);
ibus.write(IKE_STATUS_REPLY_GLO, sizeof(IKE_STATUS_REPLY_GLO));
// ibus.write(IKE_STATUS_REPLY, sizeof(IKE_STATUS_REPLY));

proc_SourceSave();
runOnce = true;
}

ibus.run(); // This keeps the IbusSerial library running.

if (millis() - ringTimer > interval && digitalRead(RING) == HIGH) {
digitalWrite(RING, LOW); // needs to time out after 9 seconds
}

}


// This is where we compare the received message with all the message bytes
// in IbusGlobals.h, or to known source/destination, and respond accordingly.

void packetHandler(byte *packet) // callback function
{

byte source = packet[0];
//length = packet[1];
byte destination = packet[2];
byte command = packet[3];
byte data4 = packet[4];
byte data5 = packet[5];
byte data = packet[6];

proc_CDCtransmit(); // Transmit a status request to the CD changer every ten seconds.

// ************************** MID to RAD status handler ******************************

// Request from MID to RAD for its status
if (memcmp_P(packet, RAD_STATUS_REQUEST, 5) == 0 ) {


#if defined(FaceLift)
ibus.write(RAD_STATUS_REPLY, sizeof(RAD_STATUS_REPLY));
#endif
}




// Reply from CDC to LOC with its status
if (memcmp_P(packet, CDC_STATUS_REPLY, 6) == 0 ) {
CDC = true;
}

if (!runOnce)
{
</code>

 

[pint]

one of the Elegoo starter kits and dive in.

 

[Dev]

Or something like the key studio kits - depends what you Want to do but if you master sensors, displays and servos there’s a lot you can do.

They have a collection of projects to learn with https://wiki.keyestudio.com/KS0085_Keyestudio_Smart_Home_Kit_for_Arduino

 

[graffian]

I have a breadboard and bought a 20pin dip Atmega chip. To tight to buy an arduino?
however I ended up buying a 3 quid arduino nano to use as a programmer.
You can put the arduino sketches on a bare atmega/attiny.

At some point I bought an arduino mega, lcd, tc amp, CAN thinigies and an SD board adapter.
All from ebay, all cheap chinese sturf and all seem to work fine.
The only thing that doesnt work is a nano that actually said[i didnt notice at the time] uses an equivalent
chip to an atmega. Is the lookey likey to blame? Anyway that nano doesnt work as a prorammer and I
binned it.

 

[ajlelectronics]

The only thing that doesnt work is a nano that actually said[i didnt notice at the time] uses an equivalent
chip to an atmega;

Easy peasy. It is just a CH340 driver required for the serial interface. All the clones are like that and they work perfectly. The thing that might have got you is the boot loader. From China, many need the "old" boot loader, switchable from the IDE.

Loading the CH340 driver:
Here's how, Clicky.

 

[voipio]

It might be worth considering PicAXE, as an alternative to Arduino. It can be used for quite capable solutions to task automation.

Home - PICAXE

picaxe.com

 

[graffian]

Easy peasy. It is just a driver required. All the clones are like that and they work perfectly. The thing that might have got you is the boot loader. From China, many need the "old" boot loader, switchable from the IDE .

I clearly havent emptied the bin for years, so I fished it out.
I will try it again.

I bought it to use as a programmer, when I programmed with the code from the
arduino ide avrdude didnt moan at all, so I figured it was OK.
I had an atmega on a dip adapter when I tried programming it it didnt work and I
thought the most likely fault was my soldering of the tqfp package.
So I soldered another ic onto another adapter, it went much the same as the first try.
So I went and got the other programmer and the chips on adapters all work.

 

[skotl]

Can anyone recommend a good starter kit? Prices seem to vary quite a lot!
Thanks

I’d probably agree with most of what was written above, especially in the appeal of ESP32 and also for PICAXE (for more basic needs)

I have some arduino stuff here that I’m never ever going to use having moved wholesale over to ESP.

I’ll PM you and I can send you some bits gratis to have a play with. If you can use them the great, or if you end up back at ESP then you can move them on to the next good home.

 

[Kram]

How do you come up with that opinion? Arduino is C++ with slight differences. I call that programming...

<code>
void setup()
{
pinMode(5, OUTPUT); // Digipot power
pinMode(10, OUTPUT);// Digital ouput on pin 12
pinMode(11, OUTPUT); // RING
pinMode(12, OUTPUT); // PTT

pinMode(A6, INPUT_PULLUP); // Sense test mode
pinMode(LED_BUILTIN, OUTPUT);
Serial.begin(115200);

digitalWrite(digipot, HIGH); //Currently does nothing useful

Wire.begin();
Wire.beginTransmission(0x2F);// Put digipot out of range at 100K
Wire.write(0x7F);
Wire.endTransmission();


ibus.setIbusSerial(Serial); // Tell library which serial port is used for IBUS. Must be HardwareSerial port.
ibus.setScrollSpeed(1500, 1000, 200, 2); // Start delay, End delay, scroll speed & number of repeats. Defaults to 2000, 1000, 200, 2 if no alternatives specified
ibus.setIbusPacketHandler(packetHandler); // Define callback function. This is the function that is called by the library when it has a complete IBUS packet/message.
//ibus.sleepEnable(60); // Enable sleep timer, and set sleep time in seconds. Comment out/delete line to disable timer.
//debugSerial.begin(9600); // Set debug Baud rate
//ibus.setIbusDebug(debugSerial); // Tell library which serial port is used for DEBUG. Comment out line if debug disabled in IbusGlobals.h
//debugSerial.println(F("--IBUS reader V2--"));
attachInterrupt(digitalPinToInterrupt(9), startTimer, CHANGE);
pinMode(ledPin, OUTPUT);



}
void loop()
{

if (!runOnce)
{
delay(1000);
ibus.write(IKE_STATUS_REPLY_GLO, sizeof(IKE_STATUS_REPLY_GLO));
// ibus.write(IKE_STATUS_REPLY, sizeof(IKE_STATUS_REPLY));

proc_SourceSave();
runOnce = true;
}

ibus.run(); // This keeps the IbusSerial library running.

if (millis() - ringTimer > interval && digitalRead(RING) == HIGH) {
digitalWrite(RING, LOW); // needs to time out after 9 seconds
}

}


// This is where we compare the received message with all the message bytes
// in IbusGlobals.h, or to known source/destination, and respond accordingly.

void packetHandler(byte *packet) // callback function
{

byte source = packet[0];
//length = packet[1];
byte destination = packet[2];
byte command = packet[3];
byte data4 = packet[4];
byte data5 = packet[5];
byte data = packet[6];

proc_CDCtransmit(); // Transmit a status request to the CD changer every ten seconds.

// ************************** MID to RAD status handler ******************************

// Request from MID to RAD for its status
if (memcmp_P(packet, RAD_STATUS_REQUEST, 5) == 0 ) {


#if defined(FaceLift)
ibus.write(RAD_STATUS_REPLY, sizeof(RAD_STATUS_REPLY));
#endif
}




// Reply from CDC to LOC with its status
if (memcmp_P(packet, CDC_STATUS_REPLY, 6) == 0 ) {
CDC = true;
}

if (!runOnce)
{
</code>

I call that a headache. (On a £47k salary it gets boring quite fast!). Please google uncle Bob. Small well named functions, SOLID agile code etc.. use the language as intended. Yes on embedded theres a tiny overhead, but the compiler is better than you can dream. Esp32 easily manages any overheads vs arduino.

Comments are a sign of a lack of well named functions. Often god functions that do everything and need a dev to learn a map of the code before they can work (hell).

But dont misinterpret. It can easily go the other way, with new devs interfacing everything out, no idea how a system works and relying on the old guys to fix it!
My last project I spent ages seperating interfaced code so that it could be called from code rather than requiring device specific bluetoooth.. interfaces done wrong!

digitalWrite(digipot, HIGH); //Currently does nothing useful

Why is it there?

 

[sako243]

One that doesn't come recommended very often is the STM32 line. ST have been very clever in that you can buy development boards for them that are compatible with Arduinos (search Nucleo). The processors are vastly more capable but they've made the software compatible with the Arduino IDE. I.e. To get you started you can use the Arduino IDE and all their libraries to program up the STM32. When you've got your feet on the ground you can then change over to a better framework such as mbed OS or go bare metal with STM32 IDE. I normally hate IDEs but they've done a good job on this one and the debugger works really well in my opinion.

Oh and to boot they tend to be cheaper then the proper / official Arduinos. The downside being that they were very short of stock during the pandemic.

 

[m_c]

There are lots of options available, but as the OP hasn't said how much programming experience they have, if any, I'd advise any beginner to start with a genuine Arduino (or a good clone).
As much as the Arduino eco-system might be restrictive, it is well supported with lots of stuff aimed at beginners, and largely just works.

The other systems I've found aren't quite as well supported, and often require additional libraries installed to get them working, which isn't always clear, and is a potential nightmare for a beginner. Then there's other potential issues like uploading new code not being direct upload.
A good example is I bought an ESP32 based board to test something last year, and it took me several attempts to get any new code on to it due to library issues, and then you have to make sure it's in bootloader mode to upload new code. For a beginner, they would likely have given up in frustration.

 

[My Old Landy]

I have a box of Arduino stuff that I just add to if I want to make anything specific.

 

[Keithmac]

I'm just banging my head on this one at the moment. I bought a v0.3 board and want to run tunerstudio on a raspberry pi 4. It's not straightforward and programming isn't a skill I possess!

I learnt the basic .ASM programming for MegaSquirt a long while back, these are getting a rare ECU nowadays (but managed to find a brand new one for spares!).

The Speeduino would be a future proof update for my car but a lot of work to start from scratch all over again.