1914B Occidental Ave S (behind Krispy Kreme)
Free parking is available in front of the MakeSpace. If you're able, a $5 per person donation to the MakerSpace is appreciated.
What is Seattle Raspberry Jam?
It's a gathering for Pi enthusiasts of any level of experience. Come and learn new things, or show what you've learned to others. Don't know what to do with your Pi? We have lots of ideas. Can't figure something out? We'll help!
Possible talks for July (check back often, this list changes up until the last moment). - Making a Bluetooth keyboard using a Pi Zero W.
- Using a GSM cell module with the free FreedomPop data service.
- Interfacing to an old cordless phone display.
- Controlling a tracked vehicle chassis with an IR remote.
- What to do when you break your Pi, and all you have to work with is a Windows computer.
- Working in a constrained system: OpenWrt on the Raspberry Pi.
- Our give some, take some parts boxes. Kind of like the change tray at the store, but for hardware. If you're junk box is overflowing please bring stuff to add!
- Cookies!
We're always interested in presentations, both software and hardware. If you'd like to do one, contact the organiser: seattleraspberryjam at gmail dot com so we can list it on this page. You can also tell us at the beginning of the meeting. Use this as a chance to develop your presentation skills!
What happened at the June meeting?
- Step-by-step instructions were presented on connecting an IR receiver module to the Pi, including lirc software configuration. The result was you can use an IR remote as an input device.
- There was a demonstration of the piscope software. It turns your Pi into a 32 channel logic analyzer without adding any hardware.
- There was a demonstration of an mpu6050 IMU project. The sensor, connected to a Pi, sends it's data via a network connection to another Pi, where a wire-frame box is displayed and rotated in synchronization with the sensor.
- We've decided to apply for a booth at the Seattle Mini Makerfaire!
What happened at the May meeting?
What happened at the April meeting?
- A Nixie clock project was demonstrated. We discussed the merits of Nixie displays, and the possibility of production of new stock.
- A prototype modular 7-segment display was shown.
- A portable WiFi range extender using the Pi Zero W was demonstrated.
- We talked about the recent factors that allow inexpensive electronics experimentation and short run production. Things like DigiKey, OSH Park, and 3D printing.
- Our give some, take some parts box had some new items added.
- We discussed how to proceed on a project that will upgrade the capabilities of this commercial product.
- We talked about how nice it would be to have a combined poweron/poweroff button for the Pi. It was mentioned that for poweroff only you could use this. This product was mentioned as being overkill. Some weeks after the meeting, the organiser came across this product. It's exactly what we were looking for!
- We ate raspberry pie.
What happened at the March meeting?
- The State of the Pi: Pi Zero W is in stock regularly at all distributors. A new US distributor has been added: CanaKit. There is also a new version of Raspbian: it now includes VNC Connect.
- The Pi Zero W and the Official Zero case were in attendance.
- A simple C program for reading a push button switch, using the poll system call, was presented and explained.
- A lecture was presented on how to properly charge, discharge, and store Lithium batteries.
- A presentation was given on how to directly connect a Lithium battery to a Pi, which included a lot of information on the Pi device tree files and overlays.
- Our give one, take one parts box had a new item: a buzzer module.
- We ate Pi Day cookies.
What happened at the February meeting?
- A Ham Radio repeater was demonstrated. It was a battery-operated, Internet connected repeater, and used a Raspberry Pi and a radio transceiver board. It had all of the functions of a repeater that you'd typically find at the top of a mountain or hill, but with reduced range.
- The Internet of Frost Fans: We discussed a project that will allow wireless control and monitoring of frost fans as used in a vineyard.
- The State of the Pi: Adafruit has Zeros back in stock after being out for several weeks. There were no changes to Raspbian.
- Our give one, take one parts box had a few new items.
- We had Valentine cookies!
What happened at the January meeting?- State of the Pi: Adafruit is out of Zeros most of the time, and the compute module 3 has been released.
- A review was given on using PIXEL on the PC and Mac. On a 1.3 Ghz, 1 G ram laptop it's slightly better than a Pi 3.
- A quick talk was given on what it's like to use the Pi 3 for daily tasks, compared to a PI 2. Bottom line: it's a lot faster.
- A quick review of The Art of Electronics, Third edition was given. There's a lot of information in it. In a couple of words, "very dense".
- A talk and demo was given on using gadget mode to inexpensively turn an obsolete laptop into one that's "sort of" Pi powered. Project write-up is in progress here.
- Nothing really changed in this month's Raspbian.
- We're going to order a couple of these, and hopefully have them by the next meeting, in case anyone wants one.
- A demo of an improved version of this was given, along with an overview on how it was constructed.
- Orange Milanos and tea!
What happened at the December meeting?- We discussed the new security features in Raspbian.
- A simple analog circuit was presented that flashes an LED in response to sound.
- How to use three ultrasonic distance sensors and trilateration to determine an object's position was demonstrated.
- We started a traveling hacker box kind of thing, but without the traveling. Basically a bunch of interesting parts for attendees to grab from or donate to.
What happened at the November meeting?- There was a demo of a drum machine project. Kind of like this, but using only a Raspberry Pi. So far it works with one sensor.
- There was a demo of the Cloud9 IDE running in standalone mode on a Pi Zero. It was set up to use gadget mode, so it connected to a laptop with a single USB cable. It will be used to teach an introductory programming class.
What happened at the October meeting?- There was a status report on the OBD-II project.
- A demonstration was given on how to use an oscilloscope to troubleshoot Pi projects. We also discussed what to do when you don't have one available.
- We discussed how to reduce the cost of experimenting with robots. This turned into a discussion on how to reduce the cost of any electronics project.
- We had raspberry pie as a snack!
What happened at the September meeting?- A status report on the ODB-II project was given. The rest of the parts will be received in a couple of days.
- There was a how-to and demo of a small TFT display on the Pi Zero. It was really cute!
- We discussed the 10 millionth Pi milestone.
- We ate brownies!
What happened at the August meeting?- We brainstormed on how to get a family that attended on how to get started with the Pi: where to buy, what to buy, and what Python programming resources are available.
- There was an update on (unbundled) Pi Zero availability: Adafruit goes out of stock for less than one day per week now.
- A Pi Zero password keeper was demonstrated. It's probably the most simple and inexpensive Pi Zero project there is.
- An inexpensive OBD-II interface was discussed. Instead this board will be tried.
- There was an update on the Pi Zero powered cellphone: not much progress from last time.
- A project that controls a whole house fan with text messages was shown. It's having issues with Google's suspicious activity blocking.
- Tony Dicola from Adafruit attended to find out what projects we've been working on.
- There are some inexpensive LCD screens available now, so a project will be forthcoming.
- Some wrist bands were given out.
What happened at the July meeting?- The status of Pi availability at the local Fry's store was discussed.
- A new algorithm for acquiring a Pi Zero from Adafruit was presented.
- A finished version of a project that allows WiFi on the Pi using the gpio pins was demonstrated.
- A (partially completed) Pi Zero powered cell phone was shown.
- Powering a Pi Zero with a Lithium battery, without using a boost converter was discussed, along with Lithium battery precautions.
- We discussed options for controlling the Pi remotely.
- We discussed how much current the Pi GPIOs can safely source or sink.
What happened at the June meeting?- We talked about the increasing availability of the Pi Zero, and a foolproof method to order one.
- We discussed a Hackaday project that allows WiFi on the Pi without using USB. A sample build was shown.
- An overview was presented for Pi Zero headless access using the new simplified gadget mode and SSH.
- Status of official Android on the Pi was discussed. No code yet, but there's a placeholder in the source tree.
- We talked a bit about what device tree overlays are, and why they're important.
- Compiling kernel modules on the Pi the easy way was discussed, along with reasons you'd want to use a kernel module instead of user space code.
- Everyone that owns a Pi Zero received a Micro USB adapter shim.
- An Ultrasonic ranging/triangulation project was discussed. In particular we discussed ways the sensing nodes could communicate with a central Pi.
- We discussed our experiences purchasing electronic components and modules directly from China.
What happened at the May meeting?- We discussed the Pi Zero's new camera connector.
- There was a demo of Chrome OS on the Raspberry Pi. Not ready for prime time yet, but usable.
- The changes in the 2016-05-10 Raspbian were discussed. The card copy feature was well received.
- We discussed what to do when you fry your Pi, and how to keep it from happening again.
What happened at the April meeting?- We ate Kolache!
- A talk was given on interfacing to switches and switch matrices, which led into a talk on replacing a Model M keyboard controller with a Pi Zero.
- We made guesses as to what the mystery new feature will be that's going to be added to the Zero, and discussed the ramifications of each.
- An update was delivered on the status of the Pi controlled meat smoking project. Proto boards are in hand, and software is coming along nicely. And almost all of the GPIOs have been used up!
- A list of Pi resources was distributed.
- We didn't get around to discussing project casing techniques. Maybe next meeting.
What happened at the March meeting? - We discussed the Pi 3 some more.
- We looked at the entries in the Hackaday/Adafruit Pi Zero contest.
- There was a status update on the meat smoking project. The sensors are working, next steps are replacing the proto board and putting it in a case.
- Driving a 16 character LCD display module with the Pi Zero was demonstrated.
- The Pi Zero supplier availability was discussed again. Adafruit is improving.
- A work-in-progress portable Pi was demonstrated.
What happened at the February meeting? - Inexpensive VGA output on the Pi Zero was demonstrated.
- Also demonstrated was the obligatory Pi Zero installed in a mint tin, with lithium battery.
- We discussed a project one of the attendees is starting: using a Pi to monitor and control meat smoking.
- The Pi Zero supplier shipment schedule was discussed. Adafruit and The Pi Hut should have some soon.
- The peanut butter cookies were good. The recipe could be improved though.
- Three people learned how to solder! Woo!
What happened at the January meeting? - Gadget mode was demonstrated: https://sites.google.com/site/mincepi/pi2pi
- We discussed the feasibility of using the Zero for a portable license place recognition system.
- We discussed using voice recognition on the Pi. The monty project was mentioned as a resource.
- There was an update to the firewall rule-set.
- We discussed what's next after learning how to use ssh. The conclusion was remote X.
- The internet connected analog meter was demonstrated: https://sites.google.com/site/mincepi/pi2meter
- We decided that because of the introduction of the Pi Zero we need to do a soldering class at the next meeting.
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