Cool products from China

[DeaD_EyE]

I was seeking for a Micropython developer board in China. I found following:

http://www.micropython.net.cn

I'm very interested in this board: https://item.taobao.com/item.htm?spm=a23...=20#detail
It has GPS?, GPRS and a LCD Display. The rest is standard. I am unsure if this board also has GPS. It could not find it in the specification: www.micropython.net.cn/product/tpyboardv7002/4.html

36$ is very cheap for this product.
I sent them a message, maybe i get more information about the GPRS and GPS modules.
Then I'll update this post.
Maybe I'll order this product in China and test it :-)

Edit:
I got a reply, that was fast:

Dear Müller,
I'm glad that you're interested in TPYBoard V702.
1st: GPS is compatible with GNSS.
2nd: TPYBoard V702 is using an integration module for GPS. use the AT command to control it.
3rd: We have some documents in Chinese, Want to help you, I wish you success.

On the picture I saw, that they are using this Module: https://de.aliexpress.com/store/product/...51854.html

[Larz60+]

That's got a lot to offer for the price.
What are your requirements?
Also, what does 'Telephone function' mean?
Since it has SMS capability can it transmit/receive from a tower?
My friend owns a company here in the US, but has 5 facilities all located near Dong Guan
It amazes me what can be bought for so little money these days.

[DeaD_EyE]

I guess you can also transmit Data. I don't have special requirements. Just for experimenting and checking out for later use. I have some cool Ideas for Industry 4.0 and IoT.

For example a real System which has prepared small developer boards in a magazine, which are pushed out on a belt. A robot takes this boards and puts then into a a case. At some point is a station, which programs the selected mode. For example, when you want to have a micro controller with Micropython, you select it. A Python Program receives the selected mode over a socket connection or OPC-UA and programs the micro controller.

My Idea is, to be able to select a prepared program for an end user (non-programmers), or a developing Board with different language support.

At the end, the user receives something in a present package. I like the connection between real world and software.

[Larz60+]

I don't know how good your Chinese is, mine is basically non-existent, so
I was relying on google translate for the description. With a bit more research,
found that this is being offered by adafruit (at a reasonable markup to $44.95)
but they have done the due-diligence (I hope) to get  the specifications correctly
translated: url: https://www.adafruit.com/product/2390
This is version 1.1, I didn't get the version of the one you found from the translation,
but expect it to be even more recent based on the capabilities.

• STM32F405RG microcontroller
  
• 168 MHz Cortex M4 CPU with hardware floating point
  
• 1024KiB flash ROM and 192KiB RAM
  
• Micro USB connector for power and serial communication
  
• Micro SD card slot, supporting standard and high capacity SD cards
  
• 3-axis accelerometer (MMA7660)
  
• Real time clock with optional battery backup
  
• 24 GPIO on left and right edges and 5 GPIO on bottom row, plus LED and switch GPIO available on bottom row
  
• 3x 12-bit analog to digital converters, available on 16 pins, 4 with analog ground shielding
  
• 2x 12-bit digital to analog (DAC) converters, available on pins X5 and X6
  
• 4 LEDs (red, green, yellow and blue)
  
• 1 reset and 1 user switch
  
• On-board 3.3V LDO voltage regulator, capable of supplying up to 300mA, input voltage range 3.6V to 10V
  
• DFU bootloader in ROM for easy upgrading of firmware
  

Version 1.1 adds:

• High-speed crystal changed from 8MHz to 12MHz
  
• LDO changed from MCP1802 to MCP1703
  
• USB VBUS power diode replaced with silicon diode
  
• JST battery connector pads added with protection FET
  
  A video is available here: http://youtu.be/5LbgyDmRu9s
  
  They don't mention SMS messages which are only sent over cellular networks,
  the page you pointed to does, and also mentions telephone function, as well as
  a barometer, and GPRS for packet radio (possible mode for transmitting the GPS output
  and amateur radio applications).
  
  I spent a lot of my career working with embedded systems going back as far as the old
  s-100 bus cards (like Intel 8080, Rockwell 6502, etc.), so even though I am retired, i
  still get excited when something new comes on the market.
  
  You could take your idea even further. Since it has a photosensitive buzzer circuit (which
  might be used to trigger other functions beside buzzer, like triggering a timer for example).
  
  Looks like a fun board. If you want help with your apps and can use an old dude, let
  me know!

[Larz60+]

More Info:

Introduction:

TPYBoard_V702 is a MicroPython development board based on MicroPython licensed by MIT
and manufactured by TurnipSmart.

It is based on the STM32F405 microcontroller and transmits data through the USB interface.
The development board:

• built-in 4 LED lights
  
• an acceleration sensor
  
• on-board communication positioning chip
  
• the voltage between 3.5V-6V normal work.
  
• So that you can also grasp the basis of zero-one microcontroller and GPRS communication
  positioning technology!
  

Support Python language communication positioning development board!

Main features:

• ARM CORTEX-M4
  
• MCU running the highest speed: 168MHz
  
• Flash: 1024KB
  

Specification:

• MCU (master chip) STM32F405RGT6
  
• RAM  Flash: 1024KB
         Ram: 192KB
  
• Storage support - SD Card (up to 8GB)
  
• power supply - Micro USB, can work in 3.5V-6V voltage
  
• USB port - 2x USB 2.0
  
• Button
  
• USR button: to the right of the TF card slot
  
• RST button: next to the USR button
  
• led: LED * 4 (followed by the chip is red, yellow, green and blue)
    Red power light
  
• OS (= firmware)- TPYBoardV10X
  
• size - 96mm x 81mm
  
• interface:
     o GPIO (30)
     o SPI (2)
     o CAN (2)
     o I2C (2)
     o USART (5)
     o ADC (12)
     o DAC (2)
     o SWD (1)
  
• Hardware resources
     o GU620 communication positioning module 1
     o Photosensitive sensor system 1 set
     o Buzzer 1
     o Acceleration sensor 1
     o 1 temperature and humidity sensor
     o LCD5110 display 1
     o TF card slot 1
  

LCD5110 Specs:
FEATURES:

• Single chip LCD controller/driver
  
• 48 row, 84 column outputs
  
• Display data RAM 48 × 84 bits
  
• On-chip:
     o Generation of LCD supply voltage (external supply also possible)
     o Generation of intermediate LCD bias voltages
     o Oscillator requires no external components (external clock also possible).
  
• External RES (reset) input pin
  
• Serial interface maximum 4.0 Mbits/s
  
• CMOS compatible inputs
  
• Mux rate: 48
  
• Logic supply voltage range VDD to VSS: 2.7 to 3.3 V
  
• Display supply voltage range VLCD to VSS
     o 6.0 to 8.5 V with LCD voltage internally generated (voltage generator enabled)
     o 6.0 to 9.0 V with LCD voltage externally supplied (voltage generator switched-off).
  
• Low power consumption, suitable for battery operated systems
  
• Temperature compensation of VLCD
  
• Temperature range: -25 to +70 °C.
  

General Description: The PCD8544 is a low power CMOS LCD controller/driver,
designed to drive a graphic display of 48 rows and 84 columns. All necessary
functions for the display are provided in a single chip, including on-chip
generation of LCD supply and bias voltages, resulting in a minimum of external
components and low power consumption. The PCD8544 interfaces to microcontrollers
through a serial bus interface. The PCD8544 is manufactured in n-well CMOS
technology.

[DeaD_EyE]

Yeah, nice. I ordered on of this developer board. Hopefully it will arrive before I travel back to Germany.
I think it should be delivered before the 2018-01-04.