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Forum Index : Microcontroller and PC projects : Looking for a steer - which Micromite (or alternative)
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Nimue Guru  Joined: 06/08/2020 Location: United KingdomPosts: 420 |
Hi all In the almost 12 months that I've been a "shedder" (lurked for a while before I joined) and the proud owner of a CMM2, I've come to love the development environment and the ease of which the CMM2 makes my job as a teacher far more "obvious" -- and by that I mean, "look kids, plug it in and we can code using BASIC as before". The best recommendation I can give is the "it just works". Now I want to put on my big girl pants and use the ecosystem for something more challenging (at least for me). In collaboration with my students, we want to build a "semi autonomous" (ie not tethered to a pc when running) environment monitoring "device". We have prototyped some of the things on CMM2 -- temperature, light intensity and are waiting for a CO2 sensor (https://www.amazon.co.uk/KEYESTUDIO-CCS811-Dioxide-Quality-Arduino/dp/B08HHY15QV/ref=sr_1_3?dchild=1&keywords=co2+arduino&qid=1612534557&sr=8-3 ) but anticipate that being fine on the CMM2. Am looking at the 28pin Micromite -- https://micromite.org/shop/micromites/28-pin-micromites/explore28/ But am wondering about: (1) Running from a high capacity powerbank? (2) Saving / extracting data -- SD card? (3) Potential to upload (ftp??) data remotley? Interestingly, we have also been looking at the newest Rasp Pi -- but we wanted to stick with the MMBasic environment. Looking for suggestions for the easiest, cheapest and available solution that we can use that utilises MMBasic. Cheers Nim Edited 2021-02-06 00:24 by Nimue Entropy is not what it used to be |
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| Nimue Guru Joined: 06/08/2020 Location: United KingdomPosts: 420 |
Update --- essentially looking for something similar to this: https://www.hackster.io/ferrithemaker/weather-and-air-quality-home-station-with-esp8266-nodemcu-10d346 but using our ecosystem.... Or would it be "easier" to go down the pi / arduino route? Entropy is not what it used to be |
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| lizby Guru Joined: 17/05/2016 Location: United StatesPosts: 3378 |
Yes, but ... I'm looking to produce a PCB hat for the Armmite F4 which will include keyboard and ESP-01 (for net access) and 40-pin Pi-header type connector (in addition to the onboard LCD interface & SD & RTC). (Or perhaps for school use, matherp will revisit MMBasic on the pi on Buster (with the pi changes to underlying I/O which he hates, with reason.)) Edited 2021-02-06 01:04 by lizby PicoMite, Armmite F4, SensorKits, MMBasic Hardware, Games, etc. on fruitoftheshed |
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| Nimue Guru Joined: 06/08/2020 Location: United KingdomPosts: 420 |
Never considered the F4. Forgive the naive Q. The Armmite F4 is https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4000953664266.html with the appropriate flashed ROM?? Or do is the hardware something different? Entropy is not what it used to be |
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| lizby Guru Joined: 17/05/2016 Location: United StatesPosts: 3378 |
That's correct, the STM32F407VET6 Development Board. Original thread here: F4 announcement Otherwise search for "Armmite F4" in the subject. What I'm proposing to do is produce an Armmite F4 MMBasic computer, with keyboard, the appropriate peripherals, and console on the LCD. PicoMite, Armmite F4, SensorKits, MMBasic Hardware, Games, etc. on fruitoftheshed |
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| lizby Guru Joined: 17/05/2016 Location: United StatesPosts: 3378 |
Not to divert you from MMBasic, but the ESP32 with Annex basic is capable of doing what you want (wifi is built into the hardware, and html screen building in the software). I produced a PCB daughter board for the ESP32 D1 Mini which adds an ILI9341 TFT LCD, I2C, SD card, and sound, and additional I/Os, here. The PCB can be ordered from JLCPCB using the zip file in that thread (at the time, $8 for 5 boards, slow boat). Check out the youtube video for graphics on the LCD and sound. Drawback is that you need a PC (or tablet or phone) to program it (over the air, with a browser). ~ Edited 2021-02-06 02:45 by lizby PicoMite, Armmite F4, SensorKits, MMBasic Hardware, Games, etc. on fruitoftheshed |
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| Nimue Guru Joined: 06/08/2020 Location: United KingdomPosts: 420 |
Now that's interesting. OTA via a PC is "fine" (school hardware aside) -- much to consider. Nim Entropy is not what it used to be |
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panky Guru Joined: 02/10/2012 Location: AustraliaPosts: 1114 |
Also, the nice bit about Annex BASIC is that it is very, very close to MMBasic in syntax (commands, functions etc.) so the programming shift will be quite easy. It also has support for a number of the peripherals that are supported by the MM. The only drawback is that it is ONLY for non-commercial hobby use (unless you were able to get special dispensation from the creator, Francesco Ceccarella - cicciocb on TheBackShed). I'm an unabashed MM fanboy but I do like the ESP with Annex RDS BASIC. Doug. ... almost all of the Maximites, the MicromMites, the MM Extremes, the ArmMites, the PicoMite and loving it! |
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| lizby Guru Joined: 17/05/2016 Location: United StatesPosts: 3378 |
With a PS/2 keyboard on an F4, 320x240 LCD, with OPTION LCDPANEL CONSOLE 7, here's the Rock, Paper, Scissors program:  (Note--the actual LCD is sharp, but my phone blurs it.) The game playing  As an example of what's possible, here's Geoff's Gui Demo screen:  PicoMite, Armmite F4, SensorKits, MMBasic Hardware, Games, etc. on fruitoftheshed |
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