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Post by jhornbr225 on Aug 6, 2019 15:14:32 GMT -5
I did catch a 42 minute video yesterday from Chris Titus Tech on Youtube about creating a minimialist ISO of Win10. It looks like it saves a lot of space, and runs lighter on resources. I thought about giving it a shot on the second APi that I have sitting on my desk.
Too bad I only made one power adapter plug. Although I do have the materials to make another, and I have another 5V 6A supply...
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Post by jhornbr225 on Aug 7, 2019 16:50:03 GMT -5
I brought my power supply and plug inside and hooked up to APi #2. I went though all the steps outlined by Chris Titus in his 42 minute video. Removed many components, debloated it and then changed privacy settings.
After installation of WIN10 Pro on the built in eMMC, I have 1.69GB left of the 13.9GB.
I tried to run Driveline, but with the weird sound hardware of the APi, I think it's better to use my USB sound card. I'll have to take it to the garage for that.
I would like to see how long it takes to boot to music after I put an external SSD or USB stick for music in it.
It's currently taking about 1 minute to get past the Ready in Driveline after plugging it in.
And there is no WiFi right now, even though it says the driver is installed.
Edit: WiFi was working. There was just no icon on the lower right. Once I connected to my WiFi network, I got an Icon.
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Post by jhornbr225 on Aug 8, 2019 15:35:51 GMT -5
OK, took the WIN APi out to the garage and got it hooked up. Added it to the Wifi, and started Pandora. Running one tab on Chrome (Pandora), I'm averaging 20% CPU and 42% memory.
It played one song on Pandora, then it stopped playing and I got a warning about an overzealous ad blocker. I had to go in and reset to Chrome defaults the privacy settings for Pandora.com, but since then it's been playing OK.
So, all in all, not bad. The only problem is that any Windows updates will probably break it. There is not enough room on the eMMC for any updates to download.
In the long run, unless I find some compelling reason to stay on Windows out in the garage, I might stick with the Ubuntu APi.
I did see a Linux forum where somebody had the same problem I had navigating on VLC. I guess there is an "Advanced Open" which allows full access to the network, instead of just the local stuff. I'll have to look for that.privacy
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Post by jhornbr225 on Aug 20, 2019 15:41:46 GMT -5
OK, since it was a hot day outside I really didn't have much to do with work while I wait on a response from Germany for a CAD file.
I thought I would try flashing the BIOS on my LattePanda Classic. In messing with the APi, I figured out that the normal screen that I use for testing HDMI outputs at my desk, a 7" Xenarc screen that I bought for my car years ago, but never used, didn't work any more. So I started using the screen on my Raspberry Pi Boombox, I just unplug the HDMI cable from the adapter board, power up just the screen, and hook the HDMI cable from the unit I'm testing into the adapter board.
So I hooked the LattaPanda to the adapter board, and plugged in the power supply, intending to try the Hard Reset procedure from the LattePanda forums again, just to be sure. As soon as I plugged in the power supply, I saw the two LattePanda eyes and squiggly smile on the screen... It was booting!
I'm thinking maybe it was not bricked after all, maybe just my screen quit working.
I'm letting it do all the windows updates now.
Looks like it updated and re-booted OK.
I'm copying some music over to it locally so I can test Driveline. I also copied my latest 3-11 Driveline with my mods.
So far so good.
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Post by jhornbr225 on Aug 23, 2019 10:42:54 GMT -5
I did a little research about Ubuntu on the Linux APi. Working in the terminal again, (dangerous I know), I was able to mount the location of my NAS as a local location. Now I can browse to it directly with VLC. I don't have to drag and drop files onto VLC anymore.
We'll have to see if it survives a reboot.
Also, for some reason, Pandora started playing music in Chromium without doing anything special. I was having to open an incognito session, then log into Pandora every time I wanted to use it.
Now the only problem I have out here in the Garage is that sometimes when I boot, my USB soundcard is not seen, and I have to unplug it, and then plug it back in.
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Post by jhornbr225 on Sept 3, 2019 12:55:36 GMT -5
I'm getting frustrated with the APi in the garage. Every time I boot up, it takes some messing around to get sound. Sometimes I have to unplug and re-plug my USB soundcard, other times I have to re-boot. I installed Psensor, so I can monitor the thermals on the CPU, and it has a CPU and memory monitor on it. Currently with two tabs open in Chromium, playing Pandora, I have 22% free memory, and it's running at 58C.
I watched a Chris Titus video a couple days ago about Ubuntu. He REALLY hates Ubuntu. But he admits that for beginning users, it's the easiest distribution to get started with. He made a script to debloat Ubuntu, and shut off a lot of not needed/invasive stuff. He suggests installing the minimal installation, then using his script to de-bloat it, shut off data collection and install some utilities he uses. Obviously I wouldn't need all the utilities he uses. For one, he installs GIMP for photo editing, and a video editing software package, neither of which I need.
I'm considering following those instructions for the APi. I feel that the lubuntu I had on here was working well, except for the fact some things I needed were missing. I just feel that full Ubuntu is a little heavy for this little underpowered board. I also need to get the 3D printer working and get a case printed with a fan for it.
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Post by jhornbr225 on Sept 5, 2019 16:27:38 GMT -5
I downloaded the latest Ubuntu, although I probably didn't need to, as the install .iso is the same for the full install as the minimal install, it's a selection during the install process.
So I did the minimal install, wiping out the full install completely. I ran the script from Chris Titus, with the stuff that I didn't need taken out.
Problem: Editing the Script on a Windows PC, and then saving it changed the format, so then it wouldn't run. I had to re-create it in a text editor in Ubuntu (DOS Format) to get it to work.
Everything seems to be snappier. Installed Psensor, and the memory usage looks the same, free memory is like 5%.
Samba looked to still be installed, as I had no problems getting to my NAS. I installed cifs-utils, and mounted my NAS music folder so I can get to it easy.
I set my USB soundcard as default, and did a terminal command line thing to make it wait for the USB Hub to connect.
I imported all my Chrome bookmarks, and copied all my .pdf manuals for the yard equipment, cars, etc. over to the APi so they are local in the Garage.
So we'll try this again. If this does not work, I may just stick with a Pi 4 in the Garage, after I buy one.
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Post by COMpulse on Sept 6, 2019 7:39:44 GMT -5
Windows uses CRLF for end-of-line, and also may save text files as unicode instead of ANSI. You can use Notepad++ and set the end-of-line type to LF instead of CRLF. That's how I edit linux files on my Windows PC.
I still haven't turned on my APi. And from your reviews and experience, I'm not really in a hurry to turn it on. I think a small ITX could have been close in price and much more powerful.
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Post by jhornbr225 on Sept 6, 2019 9:11:46 GMT -5
Remember, I'm at the $35 level. No additional support board. Home-made power connector from parts I had laying around. I also had the power supply laying around. I think I spent $8 on WiFi antennas. I also bought an Anker 4 port USB 3.0 Hub for $18.99.
I don't know if you can touch that price with mini-itx by the time you add memory, power supply, and WiFi.
But honestly, I don't spend time shopping for PC parts, so I'll admit I'm out of touch with hardware prices/specs.
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Post by COMpulse on Sept 6, 2019 10:42:46 GMT -5
At first, I sat here, checking Amazon for a good deal, and making an argument for reusable components, extra IO, and other luxuries of a full motherboard. But it was still like $100 in the end.
Then I realized I already own something that makes a great argument against the APi. My tablet.
I think my Winbook TW801 tablet is more functional than the APi and a better buy for the price. A whole tablet for like $90. It runs x86 Windows, never overheats, has HDMI out, 32gig storage plus micro-SD slot, quad core intel cpu, works with a standard 5v USB power supply and has a battery, camera, wifi, bluetooth, speaker, microphone, USB 3.0, and touch-screen built in. And it came with a Windows license.
I know they're impossible to find now. But you can find a lot of similar tablets, mostly USB 2.0 instead of 3.0, for pretty cheap.
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Post by jhornbr225 on Sept 6, 2019 12:56:11 GMT -5
Yeah, I was considering one of those when they were around in the MicroCenter stores. But as a store is not close to me, it didn't turn into an impulse buy, as it probably would have if a store was nearby.
Looks like both the MicroCenters in Ohio have plenty of stock of the Pi4. That might be the way I go. I had to mess with the settings for a minute or two to get sound again today out in the garage. I didn't have to unplug-re-plug the USB soundcard or reboot though.
I suppose I could bring the LattePanda out here. It's not like I'm using it anywhere else. Then it would stay updated, and I even have a case/fans for it.
I guess it's just the appeal of a $35 computer out here.
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Post by COMpulse on Sept 6, 2019 14:20:56 GMT -5
I get it. I bought one too. I don't want to just shit on the APi. Sometimes these little boards just frustrate me. They're SO CLOSE to being awesome, but there's always some hardware or software issue that gets in the way.
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Post by jhornbr225 on Sept 8, 2019 15:50:42 GMT -5
I ordered some 60mm 5V fans today. One day Prime Amazon delivery. I can either put them in my existing case for the Lattepanda, or put one on the APi. I might take the Windows one back out to the Garage. I know a Windows update will probably fail, but the sound probably won't flake out on me every time.
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Post by jhornbr225 on Sept 10, 2019 15:23:08 GMT -5
Went out to the garage today and soldered the 5V Fans up, and installed them in the Lattepanda case.
I also took a Pi 3B out to the garage. I had downloaded and burned the latest Raspbian desktop on an 8GB card and installed it. I plugged it in and set up the regional stuff and Wifi, and let it do an update. I plugged in my USB soundcard, and it found it right away. I then made a local folder to mount my NAS's Music folder to.
It's a little pokey, but the Wifi is built in, and I don't need an external antenna. And it's got 4 USB ports, so no Hub needed. We'll see how it survives a few reboots, and if it finds the USB soundcard reliably.
Edit: Did a reboot, and it failed to mount the NAS folder on boot. But when I went to the terminal and did a "sudo mount -a" to remount everything, it showed up. I figured it was trying to mount the share before the network was ready. I found a setting in Raspberry Pi Configuration for "Wait for Network". That fixed the problem. Looking good so far.
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Post by jhornbr225 on Sept 17, 2019 16:27:13 GMT -5
Worked on the LattePanda for the garage today. It took a little doing, as the HDMI to DVI cable I have didn't fit in the hole for the little case that a buddy had printed for me. I took the dremel to it and enlarged the hole. It took a little messing around with standoffs inside the case to make everything fit correctly. I took one of the Wifi antennas off the Atomic Pi, and fed it into the case and plugged it in. Once I did that and booted it up, it picked up the Wifi network from the house, but it was weak. I selected the garage Wifi, entered the password, and now I'm in business.
So, I have options out here.
1. Fight with Atomic Pi
2. Use Raspberry Pi 3
3. Use LattePanda
4. Get Raspberry Pi 4, and use that.
At least for now, with the LattePanda, I'm on Windows 10, and it's in a case.
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