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Got a R-Pi 0W... (Read 131 times)
Fernando
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Got a R-Pi 0W...
Apr 19th, 2017, 5:27pm
 
I went to Microcenter ( http://www.microcenter.com ) to pick up a couple of R-Pi's for my Latin American friends (one in Brazil and one in San Salvador) and found out that they are selling R-Pi 0W, for $10. But it is only for a limited time and while supplies last. So I picked one up.
 
It runs on the same Jessie Debian Linux as the others, and it does recognize that there is Wifi and BlueTooth on the system, but one should update it. Since it uses the same wireless chip as on the R-Pi 3, it still is a single core CPU and not a Quad Core like the R-Pi 3. It tries to remain compatible with the older R-Pies and from what I can tell it still does.
 
Though I have not tested it, I see (and read) the Wifi/Blue Tooth antenna is on the circuit board itself as a radiating chamber and not as a physical antenna; the R-Pi 3 has a tiny ceramic antenna on the board near the SD Card holder, and the O-Pies use a Rubber Duck Antenna for their wireless systems. The issues with the radiating chamber is that the R-Pi 0W must always be pointed towards the signal to receive it. This make is a Uni-directional signal device and not an Omni-directional device. One thing though, because of this "fluke," one can make it so that can be a signal tracker, with two or more R-Pi 0Ws being used to triangulate on a signal. It required a bit of work but with a GPS Module, one can track signals all day long. It is the right size to put into a "Cantenna" ( http://www.wikihow.com/Make-a-Cantenna ) to extend its directional range. Thus its issue being uni-directional, it it is not lined up with the Wifi Router, the R-Pi 0W will be dropping packets.
 
I will be putting the R-Pi 0W through its paces during the weekend... I would like to see how long it last on one of those cellphone battery extenders with Wifi on.
 
You should be able to order them and get it shipped. Thing is with the R-Pi 0s, the more you buy of them in one shot, the higher they cost as their price goes up. If is one is buying them from Microcenter, you should buy them one per order. (the R-Pi 0 and R-Pi 0W count as separate units, to buying both does not rise the price on either one. I'm going back to my habit of trying buying one a month for my projects. Its that the Microcenter in NYC is a 2 hour train ride into Brooklyn.
 
Other deals "while they last" at Microcenter:
Raspberry Pi 0W - $10  http://www.microcenter.com/product/475267/Zero_W
Raspberry Pi 0 - $5  http://www.microcenter.com/product/463189/Zero_v13_Development_Board_-_Camera_Re ady
Raspberry Pi 2 - $30  http://www.microcenter.com/product/473292/Raspberry_Pi_2_Model_B
Raspberry Pi 3 - $30  http://www.microcenter.com/product/461129/Raspberry_Pi_3_Model_B
Sense Hat - $30  http://www.microcenter.com/product/453920/Raspberry_Pi_Sense_HAT_-_AstroPi
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Hondo I. Sackett
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Re: Got a R-Pi 0W...
Reply #1 - Apr 19th, 2017, 8:31pm
 
Thanks for the heads up!
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Well the cowboy, like the red man, you had to leave your land
You can't raise your stock and plant your crop in the gumbo and the sand
Greed disguised as progress has put us to the test
They won't be glad until we're gone from our home out in the west
It's sad to see those good old days replaced with greed and doubt
Soon we'll leave the country, the campfire has gone out
Bid 'em all adieu, you can't turn the world about
The cowboy left the country, the campfire has gone out
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