CNX Software - Embedded Systems News

August 1, 2020 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 3 Comments

IoTSDR Linux Board Targets the Development of IoT Gateways with Standard or Custom IoT Protocols (Crowdfunding)

Xilinx Zynq-7010/-7020 powered iotSDR board by EmbedINN enables the development of IoT gateways with support for LoRa, SigFox, WeightLess, Bluetooth, BLE, 802.15.4, ZigBee, as well as custom IoT protocols. The board also supports GPS, Galileo, Beidou, and GLONASS navigation systems thanks to a Maxim Integrated MAX2769 GNSS chip. iotSDR key hardware features and specifications: SoC (one or the other) Xilinx Zynq-Z7010 (XC7Z010-1CLG400C) dual-core Arm Cortex-A9 processor with 256 kb on-chip memory, FPGA fabric with 28,000 logic cells, 17,600 LUTs, 2.1 Mb block RAM, 80 DSP slices Xilinx Zynq-Z7020 (XC7Z020-1CLG400C) dual-core ARM Cortex-A9 processor with 256 kb on-chip memory, FPGA fabric with 85,000 logic cells, 53,200 LUTs, 4.9 Mb block RAM, 220 DSP slices System Memory – 512 MB DDR3 Storage 128 Mbit QSPI flash memory for firmware Microchip AT24MAC602 SPI EEPROM for RF transceiver MCU firmware and data Radios “IoT” Radios RF Transceivers – 2x Microchip/Atmel AT86RF215 European band – […]

July 31, 2020August 3, 2020 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 5 Comments

T-bao MN22 Mini PC Features AMD Ryzen 3 2200U Mobile Processor

T-bao MN22 is an NUC-like mini PC powered by an AMD Ryzen 3 2200U mobile processor with a 12 to 25W TDP, coupled with up to 16GB RAM and 512GB NVMe SSD storage, as well as dual 4K video output thanks to HDMI 2.0 and DisplayPort video outputs. T-bao MN22 specifications: SoC – AMD Ryzen 3 2200U dual-core/quad-thread mobile processor @ 2.5GHx / 3.4 Ghz (Turbo Bosst) with Vega 3 Graphic; TDP: 12 to 25 Watts (Default: 15W) System Memory – 2x SO-DIMM DDR4 slots fitted with 8GB or 16GB RAM by default Storage – M.2 NVMe/SATA SSD socket with 128GB or 512GB NVMe SSD by default, SATA port for 2.5″ drive up to 7mm thick Video Output – DisplayPort, HDMI 2.0 Audio – 3.5mm audio output jack, 3.5mm mic-in jack Networking – Gigabit Ethernet, dual-band 802.11b/g/n/ac WiFi 5 and Bluetooth USB – 4x USB 3.0, 2x USB 2.0 Misc […]

July 31, 2020 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - No Comments

BCM MX4305UE Industrial Mini-ITX Motherboard Features Intel Celeron 4305UE Processor

Intel Celeron 4305UE Industrial Mini-ITX Motherboard

Yesterday, as I wrote about AAEON UP Xtreme SBC, I realized that while I had seen some other Intel Celeron 4305UE Whiskey Lake boards with 3.5-inch and Pico-ITX form factors, I’ve just found out an industrial mini-ITX motherboard from BCM Advanced Research equipped with the processor. Just like other similar industrial Whiskey Lake SBC’s, Intel Core i3/i5/i7 Whiskey Lake-U Embedded processors are offered as options/upgrades for BCM MX4305UE motherboard, and the company says the board is designed for power-sensitive IoT devices and embedded applications such as video wall control management system, point-of-sales systems (POS), kiosks, automated vending machines, panel PCs, digital signage, medical and gaming devices. BCM MX4305UE mini-ITX board specifications: SoC Default – Intel Celeron 4305UE dual-core Whiskey Lake processor @ 2.0 GHz (base, no turbo frequency) with Intel UHD Graphics 610; 15W TDP Options Intel Core i7-8665UE quad-core processor up to 4.40 GHz max – TDP: 15W Intel […]

July 31, 2020August 24, 2021 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 2 Comments

CrowPi2 Raspberry Pi 4 Learning Kit Review – Part 1 – Unboxing and First Boot

Last month, we wrote about Elecrow introducing CrowPi2 Raspberry Pi 4 laptop and electronics learning kit for its launch on Kickstarter crowdfunding website. The company has now sent one of its kits to CNX Software for evaluation and review. I’ll start by checking out the content of the package, and boot it up, before publishing a more detailed review in a few weeks. The package is fairly big and highlights it’s made for kids over 8 years old with close to 100 course resources and over 20 electronics modules. The back of the package list the main features and package contents with for example a 11.6″ Full HD display, Raspberry Pi 4 4GB board running a customized (Linux) system or Retropie for game emulation, electronics components and modules like servos and motors, as well as some resources for gaming including two USB gamepads. The first things we get when opening […]

July 30, 2020February 21, 2021 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 4 Comments

Espressif and Amazon Introduce ESP32-PICO-V3-ZERO Alexa Connect Kit Module

Espressif Systems & Amazon have recently announced ESP32-PICO-V3-ZERO Alexa Connect Kit (ACK) module providing out-of-box connectivity to ACK cloud services, support for features such as Alexa control, “Frustration-Free Setup” and Amazon Dash replenishment for connected devices. The tiny (23 x 16 x 2.3mm) module is based on the company’s ESP32-PICO-V3 System-in-Package (SiP) based on ESP32-V3 dual-core Xtensa LX6 WiFI and Bluetooth SoC, a 4 MB SPI flash, a crystal oscillator, filter capacitors, and an RF matching network. The module supports 2.4 GHz 802.11 b/g/n WiFi, Bluetooth, and Bluetooth Low Energy connectivity and comes with a PCB antenna and a u.FL connector to plug in an external antenna [Update: That should be an RF test connector instead, see comments]. ESP32-PICO-V3-ZERO module interfaces to a host MCU through a UART interface, and to speed-up time-to-market the module comes pre-certified for regulatory certifications such as FCC, CE, SRRC, IC, and RCM. The module […]

July 30, 2020July 30, 2020 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 4 Comments

Beelink Gemini M is a Thin Mini PC Powered by Intel Celeron J4125 Gemini Lake Refresh SoC

The first Intel Gemini Lake Refresh (GLK-R) processors were announced last November, but we haven’t seen that many devices with the new processors, and so far we only covered some FUJITSU thin clients, as well as ODROID-H2+ and ODYSSEY-X86J4105 SBC’s with the “refreshed” processors. Beelink is about to launch a rather thin mini PC – Beelink Gemini M – powered by a 10W Intel Celeron J4125 Gemini Lake Refresh SoC coupled with 8GB RAM, and offering two independent 4K video outputs. Beelink Gemini M specifications: SoC – Intel Celeron J4125 quad-core Gemini Lake Refresh processor @ 2.00 GHz / 2.7 GHz (Turbo) with Intel UHD Graphics 600; 10W TDP System Memory – 8GB RAM Storage – 64GB eMMC flash, M.2 2242 SATA socket, SD card reader Video Output – 2x HDMI 1.4 ports up to 4K @ 30 Hz Audio – 3.5mm headphone+mic jack, digital audio output via HDMI Connectivity […]

July 30, 2020July 30, 2020 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 4 Comments

UP Xtreme Lite Whiskey Lake SBC is Made for “Developers on a Budget”

AAEON UP Xtreme Whiskey Kake SBC launched last year for 249 Euros via a crowdfunding campaign, and the single board computer can now be purchased from UP shop from $299 for the Celeron 4305UE version with 4GB RAM, and up to $799 with an Intel Core i7-8665UE quad-core processor and 16GB RAM. But soon, you should be able to purchase a more affordable version as the company just unveiled UP Xtreme Lite board made “for developers on a budget” and “designed to provide developers with a platform that’s flexible, powerful, and great value while not sacrificing performance”. UP Xtreme Lite specifications with the differences against the original UP Xtreme either stricken though (when removed) or highlighted in bold (for new features): SoC (one or the other) Intel Celeron 4305UE dual-core processor @ up to 2.2 GHz with 2MB cache, Intel UHD 610 graphics Intel Core i3-8145UE dual-core 4-thread processor @ […]

July 29, 2020July 29, 2020 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 2 Comments

HydraNFC Shield v2 Delivers Up to 1600 mW with STMicro ST25R3916 NFC Chipset

When Benjamin Vernoux is not working on open-source firmware & tools for AirSpy R0/R2/mini SDR, he spends his time on other projects such as HydraBus STM32 board with NFC support which we covered back in 2014. The HydraNFC Shield that came with the board was based on Texas Instruments TRF7970A NFC chipset with limited features and not compliant with any RF/NFC standard. Benjamin has now launched HydraNFC Shield v2 powered by STMicro ST25R3916 NFC chipset and equipped with a differential antenna. The new version of the shield still works with the original HydraBus board and allows much more output power (1,600mW vs 200 mW) and supports a wider range of NFC features & standards. HydraNFC Shield v2 features and specifications: NFC Chipset – STMicro ST25R3916 high-performance NFC universal device supporting NFC initiator, NFC target, NFC reader and NFC card emulation modes Antenna – Differential antenna with power up to 1600mW […]