I'm a nube to Arduino, been working on projects on my UNO R3 with sensor inputs, outputs, etc. for Home Automation and would like to add a Ethernet Shield, WiFi and sd card. At some point I would like to upgrade to a Mega board so I would like this shield to work with both. Which would be the better shield to get? All in one or not? Any help would be great!
The $6.50 eBay W5100 Ethernet shield is all you need. It runs on the 6-pin ICSP cluster, and works on Uno and Mega. An SD card slot is included. When using WiFi, I have simply connected the Ethernet shield into a WiFi repeater. No extra programming required, and much cheaper than an Aduino WiFi shield. The ESP8266 WiFi module is another possibility.
Nick_Pyner:
When using WiFi, I have simply connected the Ethernet shield into a WiFi repeater.
I didn't realize wifi repeaters came with Ethernet ports. Learn something new!
Is there a particular brand you like?
Thanks for the reply! How about different brands and types? What about the W5200 chipset?
ieee488:
Is there a particular brand you like?
I use eBay 381366769115 about $16. It is multi function and is currently serving as the main house router. When it was used with Arduino, it also served as a WiFi range extender. It has two RJ sockets. Unfortunately, it does not have interchangeable power plugs but has a fixed parallel pin plug and a rather crude adapter. This is not a problem if you live in the US, Japan or the like, but mine was getting knocked around in the laundry. If your Arduino runs off a wall wart, you would need a pretty pursuasive reason for using an Arduino WiFi shield.
MadTom544:
Thanks for the reply! How about different brands and types?
As far as I know, they are all the same no-name, and you just go for the best deal, which is about $6-50.
What about the W5200 chipset?
All I know is "The W5200 is an improve version of the W5100, smaller package and better performance with twice the buffer size of the W5100 and up to 8 simultaneous TCP/UDP connections."
and the price, which is about five times what a W5100 costs.
I have no idea what the former means, and in the light of that, the latter probably means it doesn't merit consideration. I also see that they are rare on eBay, perhaps for a good reason.
Nick_Pyner:
I use eBay 381366769115 about $16.
I searched on the part number, but nothing came up.
Yes it does. Google eBay 381366769115
Nick_Pyner:
Yes it does. Google eBay 381366769115
I didn't do that. I went to eBay and searched on 381366769115 which is the logical thing to do.
Now, I Googled, and still nothing.
I can't explain that. Both work.
MadTom544:
What about the W5200 chipset?
The W5100 is nice because it works with the stock arduino.cc Ethernet library. You need to install an alternative library to use the W5200 which is no big deal but it does add a bit more complexity for a beginner. If you want to go with something different than the W5100 I'd just go straight to the W5500. I'm transitioning from the W5100 to W5500 on all my projects now but mainly just because they have these nice little W5500 modules in a DIP form now that are much easier to incorporate into a project than the W5100 modules.
pert:
You need to install an alternative library to use the W5200 which is no big deal but it does add a bit more complexity for a beginner. xz
Haha, that IS interesting. I'm sure the blurb for the 5200 said the same library can be used.
I'm now looking at this Ethernet Shield, not $8 but for $29 I think it looks like a good deal.
I would like to know how large an sd card can be used?
Thanks!
Nick_Pyner:
I can't explain that. Both work.
Ah. The link explains it.
I am in the USA, so I use eBay.com.
You are in Australia, so you use ebay.com.au
Thanks for the direct link, but they don't post to the USA. :o
MadTom544:
I'm now looking at this Ethernet Shield, not $8 but for $29 I think it looks like a good deal.
I would like to know how large an sd card can be used?
Thanks!
That product is from the Arduino.org company.
You'll also want to pay attention to the reviews.
Personally, I would rather buy the shield from Sparkfun where there is support.
MadTom544:
Amazon.com
Just an FYI, that shield uses the W5500 chip which is not compatible with the arduino**.cc** IDE's standard Ethernet library. There are multiple libraries available that support this chip that you can easily install. They may require a small change in code written for the standard Ethernet library(changing the #include filename).
If you use the Wiznet library, nothing needs to be changed in your code.
It is compatible with all the Wiznet W5x00 ICs with a change in the define in the /utility/w5100.h file. I'm using it with the w5100.
edit: Just a FYI. If you use some W5200/w5500 boards, check the schematic. Some have the PWRDN and RESET on the Arduino digital pins. DFRobot's is one that does. If you don't set those pins correctly, the shield won't work.