subject dev kit using OV5647 camera module
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I have been working with the ESP32-CAM board (AI-THINKER) for several weeks and am fairly comfortable coding for it. I have written a sketch that utilizes the board and camera as a websocket client, and it works well enough.
I recently purchased the subject dev board. Using the ESP32P4 Dev Module I am able to upload and run sketches that do not explicitly use the camera. However, when I attempt to upload the example Camera Web Server sketch, the process fails with esp_camera.h: no such file or directory. I assume that the board definition does not support the camera (obviously could be a bad assumption).
Question:
Is there a more appropriate board definition for the subject dev board? Also, is there an existing example sketch (and any additional required libs) for the subject dev board camera, (once again assuming the example sketch is not applicable)?
Note: I did find a set of defines for the dev kit pin definitions for the camera. Of course I have no idea if they're correct because I can't get past the include issue.
I work with many camera boards but never yet with the eps32p4. I checked the board libraries but I am unsure how to interpret the results. What I do know is the same include works with an esp32s3 but not an esp32p4. Here is a screen grab showing the results.
Is there anything special about the P4 that you need? If not, get a board that is supported, which will be a lot easier than learning IDF. My current favourite is the SEEED XIAO. I am making game cameras, and when the camera is as small as my thumbnail, it's easier to hide.
The SEEED ESp32S3 Sense (Camera) is a good board, I am working on a mini LoRa tracker board that can use it take and transfer images over long distances.
SEEED recently changed to supplying the board with an OV3660 camera, this camera can be put into low current mode via a register write, whilst the original supplied OV2640 camera used heaps of current once it had been used with no sleep mode.
The image\file transfer software has been working for a while.
Lots of people assume that because LoRa can go extreme long distances, at very low data rates, that’s all its good at.
UHF LoRa devices can run at 60kbps over some kms with a decent setup, and 2.4Ghz LoRa devices can run at 200kbps in LoRa mode or 2600bps in FLRC mode.
For sure LoRa cannot compete with using mobile phone comms for the image\file transfers, but if you you are in an area with no mobile coverage the only other option would be satellite comms.
The ESP32CAM is not a good platform for a remote LoRa Camera platform since there is a critical shortage of GPIOs. The ESP32S3 Camera Development Boards are a far better alternative, come with camera and SD card sockets and plenty of GPIOs. The SEEED XIAO ESP32S3 sense is good too, small and enough spare GPIOs for the LoRa etc.
I think this is the first time I am hearing of a 2.4Ghz LORA. That is a bit confusing as higher frequencies don't go as far in leafy environments. For direct line of sight they might be better depending on the humidity but in the game camera situation lower frequencies are much better.
It sounds like I will stick to TF cards.
“If the full 17dBm (50mW) of the transmitter was used the distance covered could increase to 2200m”
“There is more, for this test the signals were being sent at a LoRa® data rate of 1562bps, if the data rate was lowered to 150bps, which is fine for a lot of data gathering and control applications, range would increase by a further 3 times when using the same power.”
Wow, that is very encouraging, 6km with full power and lower data rate (enough for me). With the gear I have been using I was barely able to get maybe 200m but that is through two apartment buildings.
Can you tell me exactly what boards they used to get that range?
“This third picture is the test transmitter, an Arduino Pro Mini and RFM98 LoRa® device placed in a metal box. A ¼ wave wire antenna is used for the transmitter and receiver.
Although that test was back in 2018, these days a lot of LoRa modules use the updated SX1262, capable of 22dBm. There are plenty of LoRa modules around now that go up to 30dBm, if thats legal in your part of the world.
SEEED do a tiny SX1262 module that will plug into the XIAO board, not tried it with the camera board though;
