Hardware advice for first project

Using Arduino Project Guidance
1

Hi guys :slight_smile:

I'm all new to Arduino, reading today my first bits of information regarding microcontrollers. I need to make an Arduino project for school, but am also quite enthusiastic since I'm going to do something related to my hobbies.

I have not decided yet, but I think I'll do one of the following:

  • Wifi weather station, recieving the data on a PC, and doing charts or whatever with it
  • Some cryptocurrency(think stocks) price tracker which is connected to a local wifi network, getting data from the web and firing custom alerts(for example when the price of x gets below y usd)

I can buy one of the following microcontrollers, but wouldn't buy the most expensive, if a cheaper one does the job well too:

  • Arduino Mini
  • Arduino Nano V3
  • Arduino Uno R3
  • Arduino Pro Micro
  • Arduino Leonardo R3
  • Arduino MEGA 2560

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What do you recommend ?

I'm gonna use a breadboard since it's easier for beginners, and I plan to power the controllers with batteries.. For both projects, I would need a Wifi module I suppose. What would be a cheap one, compatible with the microcontrollers I can get ?
Also, except of cables, and the obvious sensors for the first project, and speaker/leds/whatever for the second, what other parts would I need ? I'm just trying to make an idea.
Thanks for your time :slight_smile:

2

Get directly a board with embeded WiFi - like a WemosD1 mini- will be cheaper than 2 modules and better integrated

3

PaulRB (member here) made a weather station with a Wemos.
Leo..

4

Oops, forgot to mention I'll get Ardu clones. The originals are not available here(Eastern Europe) and international shipping would could a lot. The Mega, which is the most expensive one is about 14$ so it's not a problem. Also, it seems Wemos' are not available here.

5

The WemosD1 isn't the only board with ESP8266 WiFi. There are many.
You can also use the bare module, e.g. an ESP-12, and add your own 3.3volt supply and some resistors to it.
Read this guide.
Leo..

6

eBay ? Order from Asia I think they deliver in most countries if you have a bit of time and will be a few euros

7

Good news, I found a shop which also sells Wemos(clones) and a good price.
These are the two I could get :

They are close in price, but the second seems more complex. You can see the pin diagram of both if you scroll down. Which would be a better choice ?

Leo, thank for the guide, it went straight to bookmarks.
J-M-L, no time for Ebay, packages from China arrive in about 2 months in my location.

8

Watch some of the "Andreas Spiess" videos on Youtube.
I think this one answers your question about which board to choose.
Leo..

9

cpper:
Good news, I found a shop which also sells Wemos(clones) and a good price.
These are the two I could get :

They are close in price, but the second seems more complex. You can see the pin diagram of both if you scroll down. Which would be a better choice ?

Leo, thank for the guide, it went straight to bookmarks.
J-M-L, no time for Ebay, packages from China arrive in about 2 months in my location.

Go for the first one if good quality; the lolin is overkill for what you want to do and not well documented to date

10

Both look exactly like devices from the ebay or aliexpress but they cost less. You can order it directly from ebay or from ali. Shipping to EU is for free just delivery time is bit longer, 1-4 weeks.