Ez-b V4/2 Comm Upgrade And Ez-b Iotiny

Question

I would like to know if the comm bords of both IoTiny and the new v4/2 are the same? If yes, why does the v4 upgrade cost more than the IoTiny Thanks.

Dave Schulpius · Answer

Looks to me that the 4/2 board has more going on with it. Bigger, more digital, i2c, adc ports and comm ports.

fxrtst · Answer

/2 comm upgrade is $29.99 and the IOTiny is $24.99. /2 has more pins than the tiny. Protocol for comm, I believe are the same on both boards.

DJ Sures · Answer

Important to read the product descriptions 1) IoTiny is a self contained tiny EZ-B that has 8 digital pins, camera port, external speaker port, 1 i2c and 2 adc ports 2) Comm 2 upgrade is ONLY an upgrade to existing EZ-B v4 users 3) EZ-B v4.x/2 is a complete self contained EZ-B with 24 digital ports, 8 adc, 3 i2c, camera, and built in speaker

Proteus · Answer

Thanks for the answers. What i ment is the comm board itself. See Pics.  and this:

DJ Sures · Answer

The item you highlighted is the wifi antenna shielded by a metal case. All WiFi devices have a wifi antenna and module for wireless communication. Even in your laptop or mobile device. What would you like to know about it?

budel0 · Answer

@DJ How does the IoTiny compair to the EZ-B v4 and v4/2 performance wise? I'd like to use it to send serial commands to my arduino, which handles my navigation and add another camera. But the better the speed the faster I can load GPS waypoints and maybe add some SLAM to my project. I'm upgrading to v4/2 in any case, the smaller format saves me from chopping up a v4

Proteus · Answer

Speed and range. Are they the same? Thanks.

DJ Sures · Answer

You bet! The EZ-B v4.x/2 and IoTiny actually run the same new TCP Stack and the application protocol layer is the same as well. The performance will be identical between the two. The performance of READ/WRITE is incredible with the new stack and cpu. The previous version's Microchip Pic TCP stack was the best solution at the time for the first generation ez-b v4. Now, with ez-robot partnering with mxchip, the new module was customized for our needs. The new RTOS is quite impressive as well. Remember, the READ and WRITE of any UART/Serial features will be as slow as the selected baud rate. That means a baud rate of 2400 bps will pause/buffer communication until the data has been successfully transmitted. If possible, use a faster baud rate. The IoTiny does not have input UART, however. The IoTiny has output UART on all 8 digital pins, but no input. You would have to communicate with i2c to arduino.

CardboardHacker · Answer

Since we're asking questions, how is the microphone feature getting integrated?

DJ Sures · Answer

Microphone connects to ADC0. It awaits a firmware update

CardboardHacker · Answer

Sweet. Will it be possible for it to act as a operating system microphone? Or is some visual basic and a plugin in my future?

DJ Sures · Answer

I haven't completed investigation on what it takes to use as a native microphone just yet.

Proteus · Answer

Just recieved my new EZ-B v4/2 Comm Upgrade Must i perform any firmware update or do i just need to switch the old for the new one and connect as usual? Thanks

fxrtst · Answer

No firmware for the /2, only for IOTiny

Proteus · Answer

Ok, thanks.

thetechguru · Answer

Actually, there is a firmware upgrade available, it is just not critical that it be the first thing you do, but you might as well. Alan

Dave Schulpius · Answer

Are there any release notes that say what the newer v4/2 firmware are ? I've been looking over the website and can find little info about updating any firmware. I know by asking in this forum where I can find the update utility (in the EZ Robot folder the residues on my computer) but there is no documentation in that folder or anywhere on the EZ Robot web site I can find on how to do it or what it will change. As awesome as EZ Robot and their produit is, I continue to to be frustrated by the difficulty of finding information on this website and searching the community history for answers. stress

thetechguru · Answer

No release notes were posted. To do the firmware update, just start the updater application and follow the on screen instructions. Super easy (or should I say "EZ"). Works in either AP or Client mode, and just like ARC, it can find your EZ-B from its broadcast, so you don't need to know its IP address. Alan

DJ Sures · Answer

Dave, sounds like you are using Windows 8+. Windows 8+ does not put icons on the start menu automatically, and you must do it yourself. There's an All Apps button in the start menu to list all installed apps. Find out more with a website like this: https://m.winsupersite.com/windows-8/windows-81-tip-find-your-installed-apps Once you press that All Apps button, you will find the ez-robot section and it contains ARC and the firmware upgrade programs. Remember, a long time ago you asked how to add ARC to the start menu? Well, that's because windows 8+ changed everything. Please do not blame ez-robot for the changes to Windows 8+ operating system. You do not need to navigate through the C:\ to find programs. They are listed (hidden) in Windows All Apps start menu. Also, there's no reason to upgrade, otherwise we would have told you to.

Dunning-Kruger · Answer

As Alan said it really couldn't get any easier to update the iotiny or ezb... Saying that however maybe it would be possible to have an auto firmware updater? Something like when ARC connects to the ezb you can have (the option to) it check the firmware version on your ezb. Then if an update is required it can do it automatically from there by launching the updater software... Just a thought...

DJ Sures · Answer

Latest software operates like the v3 informing you of an upgrade if applicable. You do not see a message because upgrade is not required.

Dave Schulpius · Answer

Understood and thanks guys. I am using Windows 10 but am finding that as the Win versions move forward I'm having difficulty keeping up with all the changes. The added menu items looks like one of them I guess. Looks like technology is starting to pass me by. tired I started out by using Windows 3.3 years ago. eek Just for the record I don't blame EZ Robot for anything Windows does. Even though I don't know what they all are, I completely understand the challenges you guys face from version to version and working with Windows inherent quirks. I was just stating that I found it frustrating at times looking for information using the search function on EZ Robot website. For example I was looking for anything to do with updating the V4 Firmware and really couldn't find anything current. In defence of the website search function this could be because I couldn't find the proper combo of search words to use or as you all pointed out there wasn't anything new to find. Many thinks again and my apologies for opening a can of worms.

thetechguru · Answer

Dave, For complex searches, you can use Google and specify the site so it only searches the forum. Works much better, particularly when there are multiple words or a specific phrase you are looking for. The format is:
 site:https://synthiam.com/Community/Forum/ your search words. use quotes for specific phrases

Proteus · Answer

Yep, same here Dave. No joy searching for v4 firm update in the forum. Haven't had time to install the v4.x/2. Hope to do it tomorrow mad. Thanks guys.

Dave Schulpius · Answer

Thanks Alan. Now I remember you posting this a few weeks back. Sounds like an excellent idea.

thetechguru · Answer

Quote: Now I remember you posting this a few weeks back  Which of course, without knowing this trick, you probably would not have been able to find Alan

rbonari · Answer

Not sure if this is the correct thread to post this in but it does have to do with the IO TINY Board. I was thinking of using an ESP8266 on my robot along with the new EZB-V4/2 controller. They would be both powered up and online at the same time. They will be in fairly close proximity and was wondering if the would present problems with the wifi operation of both controllers? Also I will only be controlling a couple of relays with the IO TINY Processor Board. No camera and just using a couple of digital lines. I was wondering what the power consumption is when the IO TINY is up and running with just the wifi active. Would it be comparable with the ESP8266 processor? I find that the ESP8266 processor has some serious wifi connection problems and wanted to check to see if the IO TINY would fit the bill using only the wifi connection and a couple of digital outputs?

Jeremie · Answer

Hi @rbonari I would definitely try to separate your WiFi controllers as far as you can from one another. In the past, with Bluegiga modules, we've seen considerable radio communication interference from one wifi module to another at a foot away from each other. The IoTiny board typically draws 70mA @7.4V with no other peripherals connected. Sorry, I don't have any current draw specs for the ESP8266.

rbonari · Answer

Thanks Jeremiah, Are the Bluegiga modules the ones used in IO TINY and EZB-V4/2. Am I correct in assuming from what you said in previous post that there would be considerable issues with the IO TINY and EZB Controller when located within about one foot of each other? I want to locate both controllers on irobot create 2 so I would probably need to construct a shelving system to separate the controllers. Any other ideas on minimizing any interference would be much appreciated....Rick

Dave Schulpius · Answer

I'm not promising the same results but I have two V4 EZB's (not the new /2) sitting within 6 inches of each other and have no issues that I can tell. Both attach to my network in client mode just fine and operate perfectly.

Jeremie · Answer

Thanks Dave, That surprises me, but I'm glad it works for you It may have to do with the strength of your router. @rbonari The slash 2 and IoTiny both have the MxChip module on them. I haven't had a chance to do some "minimum distance of separation" tests. Maybe someone in the community has. Would you be using client mode? [Both modules connected to a router]

DJ Sures · Answer

It shouldn't surprise you because it's in client mode. Client mode uses the same wifi channel and the communication of all clients is synchronous, meaning they each take turn sending/receiving. If the ez-b's were in ad-hoc mode (access point), then i would be surprised about good performance if they were all on the same channel. A channel is a frequency the wifi "talks" on. When there are too many devices on the same channel, there will be interference. If you were to use a bunch of ez-b's all in access-point (ad-hoc) mode, then i would recommend following the FAQ which explains how to use Wifi Info to display available wifi channels and saturation here: https://synthiam.com/Tutorials/FAQ.aspx#9 For best performance of multiple EZ-B's, client mode is the best - unless your network is saturated with wifi communication of too many devices. Again, this doesn't mean wifi frequency interference, this is device communication over the single wifi channel of client mode.

rbonari · Answer

Thanks DJ and Jeremiah, I will be using them in client mode and it sounds like this is a good thing. I will go with the IO TINY when they are available ( any dates?). I would like to order two. The IO TINY sounds like a way better solution than the esp8266 for small IOT applications etc. The esp8266 has some serious WiFi connectivity issues anyway. Jeremie, you mentioned with no other items connected to the IO TINY that the current consumption is about 70 MA. Is this true when WiFi is on and communicating in client or AP modes?......Rick

Jeremie · Answer

@rbonari Well I did some quick measurements and found that it doesn't matter if the IoTiny is connected via AP mode or Client the current draw is the same. With these more recent measurements I found that it's actually ~50mA of draw (without peripherals). If you started to play audio it would go up significantly higher (depending on volume) but as-is the current draw is pretty low.

Proteus

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