New firmware release!
This is an alpha release of what will become the official Enviro firmware next week.
Key changes:
- Provisioning
- much better performance, more snappy
- no longer hangs in some setups
- empty and duplicate network names hidden
- better handling of config file writing
- Readings now synched to clock time rather than just relative to each other
- Battery voltage reported as a reading
- Poke button now works when plugged in via USB
- Boards all work properly when plugged into USB (previous had to use a battery)
- Enviro Weather 🌦️
- rain sensor trigger fixed
- improved wind speed readings at low wind speeds
- Enviro Indoor 🛋️
- basic support for VOC sensor/air quality readings added
- Enviro Grow 🪴
- auto watering / audio alert trigger support
- moisture sensor readings corrected
There have also been many small bug fixes and improvemnts made - it is well worth upgrading!
Please try it if you have the chance and let us know how it goes!
Download the firmware here: https://github.com/pimoroni/enviro/releases/tag/v0.0.8
Our Enviro range of boards offer a wide array of environmental sensing and data logging functionality. They are designed to be setup in location for months at a time and take regular measurements.
On top of their individual features the boards all share a common set of functions:
- on-board Pico W with RP2040 MCU and WiFi functionality
- accurate real-time clock (RTC) to maintain the time between boots
- a collection of wake event triggers (user button, RTC, external trigger)
- battery power input suitable for 1.8-5.5V input (ideal for 2x or 3x alkaline/NiMH cells or a single cell LiPo)
- reset button for frictionless debugging
- user button to trigger wake events or enter provisioning mode
- activity and warn LEDs to show current status
- Qw/ST connector to allow you to customise your sensor suite
These common features mean that the modules can run off very little power for long periods of time. During sleep (when the RTC remains active) the boards only consume a few microamps of power meaning they can last for months on a small battery pack. The modules wake up at regular intervals (or on a fixed schedule) to take a reading, store it, and go back to sleep.
As well as logging data locally the modules can also (if they have access to a wireless network) upload the data they capture to a service like Adafruit.io. Wireless communications takes a lot of power so this should be done as infrequently as possible.
- Enviro Indoor (store link)
- Enviro Grow (store link)
- Enviro Weather (store link)
- Enviro Urban (store link)
- Enviro Camera (store link) - coming soon!
Enviro boards are designed to run for months on a set of batteries so that you can install them wherever they can gather the best data - perhaps on that high shelf in the corner of the kitchen that you can't quite reach, under a Stevenson screen in the back garden, or tucked in the shed.
You can use 3xAA or 3xAAA (either alkaline or NiMH), a single cell LiPo battery, or a USB cable to power Enviro boards.