I’ve recently started to write a bit more about long range LPWAN standards for IoT applications, especially LoRa and Sigfox, as commercial networks are being launched, and relatively low cost hardware platforms are being introduced to the market. There are also other highly expected standards such as Weightless and LTE Cat M that will bring more competition to the market. Ingenu RPMA (Random Phase Multiple Access) is another available standard that’s been in deployment for a while, and based on an earlier comparison of long range LPWAN standards, it comes with long range, supports up to 384,000 nodes per “sector”, operates in the unlicensed 2.4 GHz ISM band, and offers high combined uplink and downlink bandwidth than competitors. Ingenu recently contacted me and provided some more details and information about their technology and development kit. One of the documents includes an “independent analysis completed by ABI Research, Inc.” comparing features […]
How to Create a Bootable Recovery SD Card for Amlogic TV Boxes
I reviewed Rikomagic MK22 TV box about two weeks ago, and with the firmware I had, online firmware update was not enabled, and the company only released .IMG firmware for Amlogic USB Burning Tool, a windows-only tool that’s not well designed, and requires some procedure that vary slightly from boxes to boxes which in some cases forces to buy a male to male USB cable. I’ve now started reviewing R-Box Pro TV box also based on Amlogic S912 processor, online firmware update is not working either, and again I only managed to find .IMG firmware for the box on GeekBuying. However, I’ve been informed that “USB Burning Tool” firmware can now be flashed through a micro SD card, or USB flash drive with all recent Amlogic TV boxes, so I’ve tried this method instead of R-Box Pro, and decided to report my experience in this post following some instructions on […]
Voyo VMac (V1) Apollo Lake Mini PC is up for Pre-order for $195 and Up
Voyo VMac (aka Voyo V1) is the first Apollo Lake mini PC from mainland China manufacturers, and will come with either Celeron N3450 or Pentium N4200 quad core processor combined with 4GB RAM and 32GB eMMC flash, as well as an 128GB SSD. Voyo VMac/V1 specifications: SoC Celeron N3450 quad core processor @ 1.1 GHz / 2.2 GHz (Burst frequency) and 12 EU Intel HD graphics 500 @ 200 MHz / 700 MHz (Burst freq.); 6W TDP Pentium N4200 quad core processor @ 1.1 GHz / 2.5 GHz (Burst frequency) and 18 EU Intel HD graphics 505 @ 200 MHz / 750 MHz (Burst freq.); 6W TDP System Memory – 4GB DDR3L (upgradeable to 8GB) Storage – 32GB eMMC flash + 128GB M.2 SSD + micro SD slot Video Output – Mini HDMI 1.4 port limited to 4K @ 30 Hz Audio – HDMI + 3.5mm audio jack Connectivity – […]
Portwell Nano-6062 Nano-ITX Apollo Lake Board is Powered by Intel Atom E3900 Series Processors
We’ve seen a series of announcements of Intel Apollo Lake based boards and modules in the last couple of weeks, with community boards such as UP Squared to ASRock IMB-157 mini-ITX board, and industrial system-on-modules and carrier boards such as the ones offered by Congatec, Seco, and Adlinktech. One more embedded systems company has now unveiled their Apollo Lake solutions with Portwell Nano-6062 Nano-ITX motherboard powered by Intel Atom E3900 “Apollo Lake” SoCs. Portwell Nano-6062 Nano-ITX board support either of the new new Apollo Lake SoCs: SoC Intel Atom x5-E3930 dual core processor @ 1.3 / 1.8 GHz with 2MB L2 cache 1MB, 12 EU Intel Gen 9 HD Graphics (6.5W TDP) Intel Atom x5-E3940 quad core processor @ 1.6 / 1.8 GHz with 2MB L2 cache, 12 EU Intel Gen 9 HD Graphics (9W TDP) Intel Atom x7-E3950 quad core processor @ 1.6 / 2.0 GHz with 2MB L2 […]
Outernet Introduces Standalone & DIY Internet Satellite Kits for C.H.I.P Board, Raspberry Pi 3 Board, and Laptops
Outernet goal is to bring knowledge and/or emergency info to places without Internet either to remote places, or where Internet has been temporary shutdown due to natural disasters or political reasons through a satellite feed. In some ways, it works like a typical FM radio, but instead of receiving audio, you’ll get data. The first hardware was based on WeTek Play TV box, and called Lighthouse, but they now have a DIY kit that will work with Next Thing C.H.I.P, Raspberry Pi, or Laptops running Windows 7/10 or Linux, as well as a standalone Outernet Satellite kit including C.H.I.P Allwinner R8 development board. Let’s first check out “Basic Outernet DIY Kit” comprised of three items: L-Band Antenna Frequency: 1525 – 1559 MHz (Center frequency: 1542 MHz) 8dbi 4″ SMA Male connector Dimensions – 12 cm x 12 cm x 1.5 cm Weight – ~100 grams RTL-SDR Blog Software Defined Radio/Tuner […]
UP Squared Apollo Lake Development Board Comes with Up to 8GB RAM, 128 GB Storage for 89 Euros and Up (Crowdfunding)
AAEON Introduced a Intel Atom X5 based Raspberry Pi-like development board named “UP Board” last year that sold for as low as 89 Euros via a Kickstarter campaign. The company is now back with the first Apollo Lake development board for makers I’ve seen so far, powered by either a dual core Celeron N3350 or a quad core Pentium N4200 processor, featuring an Altera MAX 10 FPGA, and called UP2 (“UP Squared”). There are six variants of UP Squared board sharing most of the same technical specifications: SoC Intel Celeron N3350 dual core “Apollo Lake” processor @ 1.1 GHz / 2.4 GHz with 12 EU Intel HD graphics 500 @ 200 MHz / 650 MHz (6W TDP) Intel Pentium N4200 quad core “Apollo Lake” processor @ 1.1 GHz / 2.5 GHz with 18 EU Intel HD graphics 505 @ 200 MHz / 750 MHz (6W TDP) FPGA – Altera Max […]
GIGABYTE GB-BPCE-3350 Apollo Lake Mini PC to be Powered by Intel Celeron N3350 Processor
GIGABYTE GB-BPCE-3350 will be one of the first Intel Apollo Lake mini PCs powered by the entry-level Celeron N3350 dual core processor, with two SO-DIMM slots for up to 8GB RAM, SATA support, HDMI 2.0 and VGA ports, etc… and very much designed like an Intel NUC. GIGABYTE GB-BPCE-3350 specifications: SoC – Intel Celeron N3350 dual core processor @ 1.1 GHz / 2.4 GHz with 12 EU Intel HD graphics 500 @ 200 MHz / 650 MHz (6W TDP) System Memory – 2x SO-DIMM DDR3L 1333/ 1600/ 1866 MHz slot up to 8GB Storage – 1x 2.5″ SATA 3.0 bay for drives with 7.0/9.5mm thickness, 1x micro SD slot Video Output – HDMI 2.0 with HDCP 2.2 up to 4K @ 60 Hz, and VGA up to 1920×1200 @ 60 Hz; Dual independent display support Audio – HDMI out, 3.5mm audio in/mic in combo jack; Realtek ALC255 audio codec Connectivity […]
Voyo V2 Bay Trail mini PC with Battery Sells for $70 (Promo)
Voyo V2 is an ultra thin mini PC powered by Intel Atom Z3735F Bay Trail processor with the usual 2GB RAM and 32GB storage configuration, and depending on model an extra 64GB SSD, as well as a battery acting as a UPS. GearBest now has promotion with the mini PC without SSD, but with the 5,000 mAh battery, for $69.99 including shipping with CPVY2 coupon. Voyo V2 specifications: SoC – Intel Atom Z3735F “Bay Trail” quad core processor @ 1.33 GHz (Bust freq: 1.83 GHz) with Intel HD graphics System Memory – 2 GB DDR3 Storage – 32 GB eMMC flash + SATA II connector for 1.8″ SATA drives (via USB to SATA bridge) Video Output – HDMI 1.4b port Audio Output – HDMI, and 3.5mm audio jack Connectivity – Fast Ethernet, 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth 4.0 (Ampak AP6212 module) USB – 1x USB 2.0 host, 1x micro USB […]