[TriEmbed] (POE) Ethernet microcontroller

[Glen Smith]

I feel guilty for sending my previous message and then not following up on
it. The last note in the string from Scott actually helped me understand a
little bit about where the problems with Ethernet come into play, and why
some projects that hare written up seem to have no problem with "Ethernet
Arduino's" where others do.

The application that I'm looking at would be controlling and monitoring
some number of points at many different locations - say 5 each digital in
and out, bi-directional audio would be absolutely fantastic, but not
necessary. This would be new (commercial) construction, and rather than
running dedicated wires for each of these functions, just run a single CAT6
to each location. Going with POE may eliminate the need to run a second
cable for power to each end point. Security would be a concern, so WiFi is
out, besides the need for power requires running a cable anyway.

So thanks to input from the list, and some more Googling, I came up with
some additional Ethernet microcontrollers that I was not aware of:
(Links provided solely as a means of information, I have no exp with ANY of
these devices.)

The Sparc Core has been discussed both in this thread and at some recent
meetings:
https://www.spark.io/
WiFi + Arduino + cloud code deployment in an area that looks to be about
3x5 cm for $40 (not shield compatible).

The IBoard EX from Freetronics:
http://www.epictinker.com/IBoard-EX-p/it-iboard-ex.htm
Ethernet (Wiznet chip) + nRF24L01 interface + XBee interface + MicroSD
socket + Arduino for $26 (not shield compatible).
I suspect this one has solved the constrained memory problems the original
Ethernet shield had by going with the Wiznet chipset that the Ethernet POE
has.

Add Ethernet to the Due for $16.
http://www.epictinker.com/category-s/1862.htm
Just Ethernet, but apparently interfaces via SPI to the 32 bit ARM Arduino
Due ($49).
Given that this is 32 bit processor, from what I understand Scott to say,
memory shouldn't be a problem.

Freetronics also has an EtherTen board for $70 and an EtherMega for $119.
They both have onboard Wiznet W5100chips.

So much to learn, so many projects to make...
Glen


On Thu, Mar 13, 2014 at 4:15 PM, Scott Hall <scottghall1 at gmail.com> wrote:

> Remember where the limitations and abilities come from.  The AVR
> controller in the Arduino is an 8-bit MCU, whereas the Netduino, UNO32,
> ARMduino, and the like are 32-bit MCUs.  The Arduino Ethernet POE solves
> the problem by using a 32-bit dedicated MCU for the ethernet interface,
> communicating to the AVR like the USB interface, leaving the same code and
> RAM space that you normally have.
>
> You can get more insight about this by looking at the C source code
> implementing the Ethernet and TCP/IP stack.  You see how 32-bits helps a
> lot in the structures and functions involved.
>
> - sgh
>
>
> On Tue, Mar 11, 2014 at 8:26 AM, Glen Smith <mrglenasmith at gmail.com>wrote:
>
>> I forgot to ask last night during the meeting: Does anyone know of an
>> easy to use POE micro? I know that there is the POE Arduino, I have heard
>> that by the time the TCPIP stuff gets implemented there is very little
>> memory space for code. Is there a workaround for this or am I misinformed?
>> The other problem with this is the cost - $80 seems steep compared to the
>> $39 WiFi Sparc-core for instance. (How do they get WiFi and cloud based
>> over the air updates into a product for 1/2 the cost of hard wired?)
>>
>> If I step away from asking that POE be on the board and power it some
>> other way - even perhaps using a POE-injector/splitter set of cables, are
>> there any controllers that have training wheels on the Ethernet portion?
>> Coding is not my strong suit, so I'd like to be able to see some results
>> and make things happen at the other end of a CAT6 cable and have status
>> updates via a web page without having to learn and program my own network
>> stack.
>>
>> Some Googling brings up the netduino family, which looks like it has a
>> slightly better price point than Arduino Ethernet, and according to
>> AdaFruits site: "*The Netduino Plus 2 has Ethernet cooked in already!
>> There is a full TCP/IP stack with examples ready to go, and a microSD card
>> slot for storing files"* While this looks attractive, it also looks like
>> it is programmed in C# via Microsofts Visual C# Express, which means
>> another learning curve - though this one may be more widely applicable,
>> since C# and C++ and the "Arduino programming language<http://arduino.cc/en/Reference/HomePage>"
>> share so much.
>>
>> Any thoughts?
>>
>> Glen
>>
>> _______________________________________________
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>> TriEmbed at triembed.org
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>> TriEmbed web site: http://TriEmbed.org
>>
>>
>
>
> --
> Scott G. Hall
> Raleigh, NC, USA
> scottghall1 at gmail.com
>
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