Arduino but which one.

lochdara

Hey guys.
Im interested in an Arduino. I have some programming experience and lots of support from electronics guys. I want to build a few little programs and setup a small home automation project. There are a few Arduino models to choose from but which is the best one to buy.

Cheers

Sputnik

If you're just learning the Uno has proably been the standard place to start but the new Leonardo looks like it's a bit more capable. Just about any of them would work fine though.

lochdara

yeah to learn is the plan and i just want to get the one with the best options first time round, even if i never use them i know in my mind they will be there .

Timmaay

Two specific Arduinos that I'd recommend would be http://www.panstamp.com/, and http://www.freaklabsstore.com/ Both would be useful for home automation, and both also have wireless communication build into them, and a decent enough wireless library and tutorials to get setup quickly enough.

lochdara

Timmaay wrote: »

Two specific Arduinos that I'd recommend would be http://www.panstamp.com/, and http://www.freaklabsstore.com/ Both would be useful for home automation, and both also have wireless communication build into them, and a decent enough wireless library and tutorials to get setup quickly enough.

Does,the freaklabstore one run with all arduino software.it looks good. Maybe good to.order an uno and freaklabstore version. What is the base program language. It looks like java but some people code in C.

Timmaay

Yep the freaklabs one basically is an uno, with a wireless shield integrated into it, most arduino code works with it grand. The specific language is called wiring I think, and is supposedly very similar to C++. I have very little experience with Java, and its years since I looked at C++, but found it very quick and easy to get upto speed programming any of the Arduinos that I have, arduino.cc has a wealth of knowledge and plenty of tutorials and examples already done, as well as that the freaklabs forum was great for any specific questions about the freakduino.

My biggest problem is despite having several decent applications for the Arduinos that I think could well be commercial successes, I simply don't the time to develop them, and can't risk packing in the dayjob ha!

lochdara

I'm in college in the evening so time is an issue but I'd like to play a bit and use the coding as experience too. Imight hook.it up to a rasberry pi just for ultimate micro prototyping. Thanks for the info

lochdara

Is this the version you would recommend.

http://www.freaklabsstore.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=187:b815e0d408b78e345ba25badff5c50aa


How do you rate the individual components on dealextreme.

I was looking at a relay card http://dx.com/p/arduino-2-channel-5v-relay-module-expansion-board-137160 , just to play with switching power once i get upto speed.

Timmaay

lochdara wrote: »

Is this the version you would recommend.

http://www.freaklabsstore.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=187:b815e0d408b78e345ba25badff5c50aa


How do you rate the individual components on dealextreme.

I was looking at a relay card http://dx.com/p/arduino-2-channel-5v-relay-module-expansion-board-137160 , just to play with switching power once i get upto speed.

Hmm spend the extra few quid and get the one for $50, with a case and battery circuit etc! I got the 1/2 assembled version also, but I'm fairly confident with a soldering iron by now, If you go with that then make sure you can either solder well enough or know someone who can put it together for ya!

On the relay kit, I'm not too sure if that DX one will suit, I got this shield for it http://www.seeedstudio.com/depot/relay-shield-p-693.html?cPath=132_134 , plugs straight in and no soldering etc. It also comes with a library and its own examples, which will save you a good bit of development time.