Project:Ethernet Arduino

From London Hackspace Wiki
Ethernet Arduino
Created 12/Aug/2010
Members Elliot
QR code

Discussions on the list highlighted great interest and demand for cheap Ethernet enabled Arduino compatible boards. A plan was hatched to produce a number of these boards for members and possibly for sale. Increased volumes would result in lower unit cost.

Meurig is currently constructing some similar boards using plans from Instructables and is therefore likely to be a good source of information. These boards are being etched at the space and are of 'through hole' type.

Information

Some Background.

The Arduino has had internet capability for the last couple of years following the release of the "Official Ethernet Shield" in 2008. This was based on the WizNet W5100 ethernet controller chip and will work at both with 10Mb/s and 100Mb/s. It is available in the UK for about £26 [1]

Whilst a very capable and well supported shield, the cost of the Arduino and ethernet shield together is the best part of £40. Other ethernet controller devices are available, and these started to attract the interest of the AVR hacking community, as a means of getting a very low cost ethernet connection for AVR based projects. These used the Microchip ENC28J60, which is a simpler and cheaper device than the W5100, but still offered acceptable ethernet connection and the means to build cost-effective micro web servers and web clients.

This project intends to build on some of the existing offerings (see below), to produce a low cost board fitted with ATmega328 and ENC28J60 which will allow simple servers and clients to be developed for about half the cost of an Arduino plus official shield, thus enabling this technology to be opened up to a wider user base.

A few members of the London Hackspace have decided to produce a batch of these ethernet boards, for the benefit of the members, and use them as a hardware platform on which to host fundraising training courses and workshop sessions.

It is possible that two versions of the ethernet board will be ultimately produced so as to meet two specific requirements.

  • Version A. Using conventional through hole components and DIL socketed ICs, with a connector pattern which is highly compatible with the existing Arduino shield range. Easily built by anyone who can do basic soldering.
  • Version B. A small footprint board, roughly compatible with the Arduino Nano, using mainly surface mount parts for a high specification device.

Regarding the ENC28J60 paired to the ATmega328:

Firmware & Libraries

  • This chip has been used by Tuxgraphics who I believe worked on the original code to pair it with the ATmega168/328.
  • NuElectronics also use it on their Ethernet shield - and have some code examples here.
  • Andrew Lindsay has rewritten the code to make it easier to understand and use. He has also written a Pachube client with twitter updates.
  • Simon Monk has produced a simplified Server Libray for the ENC28J60 shield
  • Trystan Lea begin_of_the_skype_highlighting     end_of_the_skype_highlighting begin_of_the_skype_highlighting     end_of_the_skype_highlighting is using this combination for his Openenergymonitor and has improved the Client library


Hardware & Mods


Device Datasheets

  • Datasheet for ENC28J60 1.64MB Note small SS and QFN package options avalable
  • Datasheet (Summary) for ATmega328 Note QFN package option

Board specification

  • Surface mount to reduce size
  • PCBs supplied by a 3rd party
  • Arduino compatible
  • atmega328 32pin quad package

Rough plan

  • Agree on specification
  • Breadboard prototype
  • Design board
  • Build a prototype board
  • Use it as a platform on which to base training courses and workshop sessions
  • Build up a lot of local expertise
  • ...
  • Profit!

Bill of materials

  • ENC28J60-I/SO
  • ATmega328
  • Magjack HanRun HR911105A or similar
  • 25MHz crystal HC49-4mm
  • 16MHz crystal HC49-4mm
  • LD1117 -500 5V regulator
  • LD1117 - 330 3V3 regulator
  • 74AHC125D (as per John Crouchley's Mod)
  • 2 x 1N5819S schottky diodes
  • 2 x 18pF 0603 ceramic caps
  • 2 x 22pF 0603 ceramic caps
  • 12 x 100nF 0603 ceramic caps
  • 3 x 10uF 10V tantalum caps
  • 4 x 49.9R 0603 resistor
  • 2 x 270R 0603 resistor
  • 1 x 330R 0603 resistor
  • 4 x 1K 0603 resistor
  • 1 x 2K 0603 resistor
  • 3 x 10K 0603 resistor
  • 1 x reset switch
  • 2 x 0603 Green LEDs (Power, Pin 13 LED)
  • 2 x 0603 Red LEDs (Serial Rx and Tx)
  • 1 x Ferrite bead 0805 (value TBC)
  • 2 x Header 14pin
  • 1 x Header 3x2 (AVRISP Header)
  • 1 x Header 6 pin (FTDI cable connection)
  • 1 x PCB

BOM compiled from NuElectonics Nano and NuElectronics Ethernet Shield parts

Individual interests

  • Elliot: Has components for prototypes and is willing to: prototype, make boards, write code, assemble, buy 4 of these boards. However, his skill may not be as great as his enthusiasm...
  • t0m Would love to buy 2/3 SMT kits myself to practice SMT soldering. If someone is organising a load of these, would be happy to spend a weekend soldering them up for the practice. (My regular soldering is good, I've never done any real SMT however)
  • tomwj: I too would be interested in making, soldering and general prototyping/production of these boards and buying a couple
  • nigle: I can turn a back of as fag packet sketch into a neat schematic and do the board layout, I do this stuff professionally so it should look pretty good! I might well suggest or even insist on improvements to the design - you have been warned :-)
  • Ken: I can help with general design, layout, SMT assembly, sourcing parts from China and might even be able to find a Shoreditch local sponsor for this project. Working on BOM - determined to get it sub-£12.
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