Raspberry Pi Forums

Hi;

I have been looking at the PITS board which is designed for a Pi A+ or B+. Both are still available but which one should I get.
We are probably going to use a Web Cam as well as a Pi Camera.

Thanks

Link to the PITS board would be useful

asandford wrote:Link to the PITS board would be useful

Sorry I thought there was only one:

https://store.uputronics.com/index.php? ... duct_id=52

https://www.raspberrypi.org/blog/pi-in-the-sky-2/

It looks like there's models for both original RPis and the newer 40pin B+, A+, 2B & 3B RPis.

Having read the info, I thinks we will opt for a Model A+ due to the low power draw and extra flight time.
Anyone know who has a Model A+ in stock in the UK? I have looked at PiHut, ModmyPi and Pimoroni.

Thansk

The old PITS (for model A/B) is no longer available.

Best Pi for HAB remains the A+.

Dave

I seem to remember reading a post that stated there were problems using the A+ with the sensehat and Pits board in terms of data communication. I think it was perhaps an issue regarding compiling speeds and/or the rate at which data could be relayed? Sorry for the vagueness.....any idea if using an A+ with both these boards together will be an issue?

No the two work together. You need to make sure device tree is enabled (so ignore the PITS instructions where you are told to disable it). Device tree currently stops the DS18B20 temperature sensor from working but that's easily fixed.

We have a support page all about this - http://www.pi-in-the-sky.com/index.php? ... o-pi-board

Dave

Out of interest why is it that the DS18B20 cannot be used - is it a hardware conflict between the Sense and PITS boards?
Texy

No, there's no hardware conflict between the boards. The Sense HAT software requires that device tree is enabled, and that is what stops the DS18B20 from working.

Easily fixed with a config change, as per my link above.

Dave

daveake wrote:No, there's no hardware conflict between the boards. The Sense HAT software requires that device tree is enabled, and that is what stops the DS18B20 from working.

Easily fixed with a config change, as per my link above.

Dave

Device tree doesn't stop the DS18B20 working. The config change is the standard way of doing things.

Is it just that the instructions need updating?

The DT way of doing things has been current for a long time now.

rpdom wrote:

daveake wrote:No, there's no hardware conflict between the boards. The Sense HAT software requires that device tree is enabled, and that is what stops the DS18B20 from working.

Easily fixed with a config change, as per my link above.

Dave

Device tree doesn't stop the DS18B20 working. The config change is the standard way of doing things.

Is it just that the instructions need updating?

The DT way of doing things has been current for a long time now.

Yes - that's why I asked. I have DS18B20 working fine with DT and latest Raspbian with the default config.txt entry ( dtoverlay=w1-gpio ) and GPIO wiring.
Texy

texy wrote: Yes - that's why I asked. I have DS18B20 working fine with DT and latest Raspbian with the default config.txt entry ( dtoverlay=w1-gpio ) and GPIO wiring.
Texy

It's not the default - the as-installed config.txt does not contain that entry, so it needs adding, if device tree is enabled.

Dave

rpdom wrote:

daveake wrote:No, there's no hardware conflict between the boards. The Sense HAT software requires that device tree is enabled, and that is what stops the DS18B20 from working.

Easily fixed with a config change, as per my link above.

Dave

Device tree doesn't stop the DS18B20 working. The config change is the standard way of doing things.

Is it just that the instructions need updating?

The DT way of doing things has been current for a long time now.

It stops the DS18B20 working until config.txt is changed, which is the point I was making. So to use the DS18B20, either add that line to config.txt or disable devicetree.

Dave

daveake wrote:It's not the default - the as-installed config.txt does not contain that entry, so it needs adding, if device tree is enabled.

The DS18B20 doesn't work by default anyway. On the old method you need to either make changes to /etc/modules or include modprobe statements in your code.

It's just a different (more universal) way of doing things.

rpdom wrote:

daveake wrote:It's not the default - the as-installed config.txt does not contain that entry, so it needs adding, if device tree is enabled.

The DS18B20 doesn't work by default anyway. On the old method you need to either make changes to /etc/modules or include modprobe statements in your code.

It's just a different (more universal) way of doing things.

I didn't mean the default (un-edited) config.txt file, I meant the default (without any further parameter tweaked), "dtoverlay=w1-gpio" entry

Texy

rpdom wrote:

daveake wrote:It's not the default - the as-installed config.txt does not contain that entry, so it needs adding, if device tree is enabled.

The DS18B20 doesn't work by default anyway. On the old method you need to either make changes to /etc/modules or include modprobe statements in your code.

It's just a different (more universal) way of doing things.

Yeah, good point. The PITS startup script does the modprobe thing so the user doesn't have to do anything to enable the DS18B20.

Dave

daveake wrote:The old PITS (for model A/B) is no longer available.

Best Pi for HAB remains the A+.

Dave

Dave I have found a supplier of RPi A+ (That are in stock) did you mention somewhere that it is also advisable to get a B+ for testing purpose and what was the reason for this? (They also have B+ in stock).

Thanks

B+ is easier to network. A+ is possible but you'll need a USB-LAN adapter otherwise you need to set up wifi on it.

Dave

daveake wrote:B+ is easier to network. A+ is possible but you'll need a USB-LAN adapter otherwise you need to set up wifi on it.

Dave

So get both, B+ for developing and testing and A+ for the flight?

From http://www.pi-in-the-sky.com/index.php?id=support:

"The current (PITS+) board works with the model A+, B+ or V2 B Raspberry Pi. We recommend the use of a B+ for development and an A+ for the flight. The extra processing power of the V2 Pi is not required for this application."

daveake wrote:From http://www.pi-in-the-sky.com/index.php?id=support:

"The current (PITS+) board works with the model A+, B+ or V2 B Raspberry Pi. We recommend the use of a B+ for development and an A+ for the flight. The extra processing power of the V2 Pi is not required for this application."

Thanks Dave, couldn't find many stockist with supplies of either but did manage to order both in the end from PC Nation - never heard of them? We will see if they arrive

Farnell have started making more a+ boards. Should be available ..... soon?

http://uk.farnell.com/raspberry-pi/rasp ... dp/2536236

Yes, looks like it's getting an update to 512MB - see viewtopic.php?f=63&t=145178

I've ordered a couple from Farnell, and was told that delivery is expected w/c 18/07/2016.

The extra RAM won't make any difference to PITS so if you can get an A+ now then do so rather than waiting.

Dave

So;

Last weekend I ordered an A+ and a B+ from the only supplier showing stock (PC Nation) i paid for Next Day.
To date nothing, I Googled them and found loads of complaints and warnings about them!!!

Anyway checked my bank account and no money has been taken.

The problem is:
(a) I want to start testing now
and
(b) We are planning on a flight in June so with an estimated in stock date of July is a major problem, may have to use my only Pi Zero?