• Home Mini Weather Station - Raspberry Pi project
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Moved out of sipwicket & gamecube for more room to talk. [B]Note that I live in the US.[/B] [B]The problem:[/B] My parents like knowing what the weather is like at most times of the day while they're at home, but hate waiting for weather forecasts on TV, they can't use their phones because they don't have a data plan & the capability, and don't feel like booting their laptops just for weather. Usually I'm the household meteorologist, but sometimes I get a little irritated doing that all the time. [B]The solution:[/B] Two small monitors and two Raspberry Pis constantly hooked up to the internet, displaying forecasts, radar, current conditions (such as temp, "feels like", wind speed, and dew point) and the like. One for their room, and one for the kitchen, the two places they're at the most while not at work. If two are not needed, one would suffice. [B]The problems/questions with the solution:[/B] What OS should I use? What weather API should I use? What is the best monitor for this project that's small (around ~11"), yet able to be seen from at ~3 ft. away? How would I keep it constantly connected to the internet without Ethernet cables? What would it's power source [I]exactly[/I] be? Data storage? I don't know shit about HTML or programming, so I can only gather the materials and set it up, really. [B]What I have planned already:[/B] HTML based, not native program as it seems easier to do. Need the most light-weight and RAM efficient browser for this purpose. Could this be done? I sure hope so, ever since I lost my android this whole thing has gotten difficult.
you could just buy a mini weather station...
[QUOTE=QuAtT;35512731]you could just buy a mini weather station...[/QUOTE] Not good enough! I want to do something productive for once instead of being lazy.
In that case I have no productive answer at all. All I can say is, that this is possible, you know.
OS: Debian? API: [url]http://developer.yahoo.com/weather/[/url] seems workable. Monitor: Small CRT portable with a composite input (2nd hand possibly?) Network: Cheap USB Wi-Fi dongle. Power: USB adaptor for wall socket. Storage: RPi uses a SD card to load its OS, just leave the files on that. As for the program, I'll see if I can throw something together.
[QUOTE=inconspicious;35512823]OS: Debian? API: [url]http://developer.yahoo.com/weather/[/url] seems workable. Monitor: Small CRT portable with a composite input (2nd hand possibly?) Network: Cheap USB Wi-Fi dongle. Power: USB adaptor for wall socket. Storage: RPi uses a SD card to load its OS, just leave the files on that. As for the program, I'll see if I can throw something together.[/QUOTE] That all sounds great, my only problem is: CRT. I was mostly thinking a small LCD. My parents and I especially have this inherent problem of every CRT we are around give us massive headaches from that high frequency buzz/non stop beep that tends to come from them. We have not come across a CRT that doesn't do this to us yet.
[QUOTE=SuperDuperScoot;35512850]That all sounds great, my only problem is: CRT. I was mostly thinking a small LCD. My parents and I especially have this inherent problem of every CRT we are around give us massive headaches from that high frequency buzz/non stop beep that tends to come from them.[/QUOTE] I get that too, the HT coil in CRT's drive me nuts. Keep an eye out for a small LCD on ebay then. You could even use the VESA mounts on the back to secure your Rpi's case to it, clean and tidy. Does that look like it gives useful enough info for you? [url]http://weather.yahooapis.com/forecastrss?w=2507854[/url]
[QUOTE=inconspicious;35512872]I get that too, the HT coil in CRT's drive me nuts. Keep an eye out for a small LCD on ebay then. You could even use the VESA mounts on the back to secure your Rpi's case to it, clean and tidy. Does that look like it gives useful enough info for you? [url]http://weather.yahooapis.com/forecastrss?w=2507854[/url][/QUOTE] Yes, exactly the info I need. Even looks simple enough to change the basic things if I wanted to.
[QUOTE=SuperDuperScoot;35512850]That all sounds great, my only problem is: CRT. I was mostly thinking a small LCD. My parents and I especially have this inherent problem of every CRT we are around give us massive headaches from that high frequency buzz/non stop beep that tends to come from them. We have not come across a CRT that doesn't do this to us yet.[/QUOTE] It seems to be a negative that is sort of inevitable with CRT's. Except for computer CRT's, those don't seem to do it as badly. A small LCD screen should be easy to get though.
The squeeling definately gets worse as they monitor gets older. My old Phillips CM8833 started[B] REALLY[/B] going for it before the flyback transformer exploded.
[QUOTE=Demache;35512990]It seems to be a negative that is sort of inevitable with CRT's. Except for computer CRT's, those don't seem to do it as badly. A small LCD screen should be easy to get though.[/QUOTE] Looking around Newegg atm, no small TV/Monitor has any other inputs other then A/V or USB which the Pi doesn't seem to support for my current situation. Unless there's some sort of AV/USB to HDMI/RCA/whateverthefuck thing out there that could be used.
[QUOTE=SuperDuperScoot;35513037]Looking around Newegg atm, no small TV/Monitor has any other inputs other then A/V or USB which the Pi doesn't seem to support for my current situation. Unless there's some sort of AV/USB to HDMI/RCA/whateverthefuck thing out there that could be used.[/QUOTE] I'm sure linux has drivers for USB monitors.
[QUOTE=inconspicious;35513131]I'm sure linux has drivers for USB monitors.[/QUOTE] But isn't the only USB port going to be used for the wifi dongle? Unless we resort to using a USB hub.
[QUOTE=SuperDuperScoot;35513037]Looking around Newegg atm, no small TV/Monitor has any other inputs other then A/V or USB which the Pi doesn't seem to support for my current situation. Unless there's some sort of AV/USB to HDMI/RCA/whateverthefuck thing out there that could be used.[/QUOTE] A/V usually implies composite with audio input, which the RPi does support.
Oh, I thought we were talking about the model B here. But sure, a hub would do the trick. I think a composite display would be cheaper anyway.
[QUOTE=Demache;35513157]A/V usually implies composite with audio input, which the RPi does support.[/QUOTE] But the... er... Wait, is that what the RCA thing means? Excuse my illiteracy...
[QUOTE=SuperDuperScoot;35513182]But the... er... Wait, is that what the RCA thing means? Excuse my illiteracy...[/QUOTE] Yep, the round connector is a RCA/composite output for standard definition.
[img]http://www.pandawill.com/images/old/8-11-17%20wii038-2.jpg[/img] You see, this is the usual connector for wii. White one is left, red one is right audio channel and the yellow one transports video. This A/V cable is called RCA. Now, RPi has only the yellow one, but it will work just fine. You can get a cable from 3.5mm audio to RCA and use all the cables if you want to.
You never know, you might want a klaxon to go off if a weather warning is issued, so hook the speakers up :v:
Ohhh, okay. It's just never called an RCA cable around here, just A/V. We've got plenty of those damn cables- and a converter I think- so that's covered now. The cheapest monitor around the size I'd be comfortable to use (all other sizes are ~15" which is too large) is this one: [url]http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16889262161[/url] And technically it's not even a monitor but a TV, but whatever, same diff. :v: For a moment I was looking at touch screen monitors just so I wouldn't have to use a keyboard/mouse for maintenance but... $500? No, no thanks...
[QUOTE=SuperDuperScoot;35513724]Ohhh, okay. It's just never called an RCA cable around here, just A/V. We've got plenty of those damn cables- and a converter I think- so that's covered now. The cheapest monitor around the size I'd be comfortable to use (all other sizes are ~15" which is too large) is this one: [url]http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16889262161[/url] And technically it's not even a monitor but a TV, but whatever, same diff. :v: For a moment I was looking at touch screen monitors just so I wouldn't have to use a keyboard/mouse for maintenance but... $500? No, no thanks...[/QUOTE] Once its initial setup is sorted, install a VNC server. Remote admin it from your computer.
Okay, I bet I could do that. Though I'm a complete newb to Linux/Debian/Whatever, so I might need help setting that up when the time comes. For now, the hardware setup: Monitor: [url]http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16889262161[/url] USB Hub (If needed for some reason): [url]http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817205010[/url] [B]USB WiFi Dongle that's compatible with Linux: N/A, can't seem to find one that isn't just Bluetooth[/B] Data storage: [url]http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820134617[/url]
16Gb is a little steep for a Linux install. You will be just fine with 4Gb. [editline]10th April 2012[/editline] Still, that card is pretty cheap, so I dont suppose it matters. [editline]10th April 2012[/editline] I found out that you can run Chromeium in fullscreen via an argument on the command line. Set it up to execute that command on boot, and you should be sorted. [code] chromium --kiosk <url> [/code]
you stole my idea bastard :v: I actually wanted to turn a raspberry pi into an alarm clock/weather station, with a small touchscreen and a wireless connection, with a battery backup.. Unfortunately I don't even have enough money for even a Raspi right now :(
[QUOTE=inconspicious;35514030]16Gb is a little steep for a Linux install. You will be just fine with 4Gb. [editline]10th April 2012[/editline] Still, that card is pretty cheap, so I dont suppose it matters. [editline]10th April 2012[/editline] I found out that you can run Chromeium in fullscreen via an argument on the command line. Set it up to execute that command on boot, and you should be sorted. [code] chromium --kiosk <url> [/code][/QUOTE] Is it possible to take it out of fullscreen like that? Granted you're talking about the browser still and not the Chromium OS....
Its like putting -noborder on the end of a shortcut for HL2, it opens the program up in that state. Using that command again will only open another chromium window. You may be able to press F11 and go to its normal state. (Chromium is the open source version of the chrome browser BTW)
[QUOTE=Lyoko774;35514173]you stole my idea bastard :v: I actually wanted to turn a raspberry pi into an alarm clock/weather station, with a small touchscreen and a wireless connection, with a battery backup.. Unfortunately I don't even have enough money for even a Raspi right now :([/QUOTE] and yet you still have 4870s you won't sell for a good price
This sounds like something I'm doing in South Africa. They sell the black and white CRT TVs that have AV Input and I used a modified VTech Precomputer Unlimited to get the statistics of the weather there. I have some siren system installed on one of the buildings in the city that go off whenever theres a bad storm approaching. I like the idea man. Storage wouldn't be an issue as it would be only a couple of 100kb for the weather data or maybe i'm wrong?
[QUOTE=digigamer17;35515222]This sounds like something I'm doing in South Africa. They sell the black and white CRT TVs that have AV Input and I used a modified VTech Precomputer Unlimited to get the statistics of the weather there. I have some siren system installed on one of the buildings in the city that go off whenever theres a bad storm approaching. I like the idea man. Storage wouldn't be an issue as it would be only a couple of 100kb for the weather data or maybe i'm wrong?[/QUOTE] Not even 100kb. If we are going off the rss feed alone and no satellite maps, it would be 1 or 2k in total. 500 for the application and whatever images are required for the UI.
[QUOTE=tratzzz;35513412][img]http://www.pandawill.com/images/old/8-11-17%20wii038-2.jpg[/img] You see, this is the usual connector for wii. White one is left, red one is right audio channel and the yellow one transports video. This A/V cable is called RCA. Now, RPi has only the yellow one, but it will work just fine. You can get a cable from 3.5mm audio to RCA and use all the cables if you want to.[/QUOTE] The connector type is called RCA. But Yellow/White/Red is composite. The yellow specifically is composite. The Red/White goes with composite and component or even VGA.
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