Femtofox - Tiny, low power Linux node!

[sour horizon]

Potato fork took 11m to bake 🥔

[polar ingot]

Best way to upgrade a system? Copy the contact config or??

btw, so far these have been significantly more reliable the the old luckfox os.

[sour horizon]

sudo: mprwd-menu: command not found```

Not sure if I missed something but ^

[mild hare]

Try no sudo

Just curious

[mild hare]

Will check out repo when I get home

[sour horizon]

Says can’t find package

On build

[mild hare]

... K, ty

[mild hare]

Something on your fork. It's fine over here

Yours also has both mechanisms for installing stuff, the old way and the new extensions way

Which I would imagine works but I believe you that it doesn't.

The new stock image is fine at least on pico max. Will check other boards later but it all looks good

Will check pico mini first though

[mild hare]

Not sure? Would guess backup what you need ya.

[sour horizon]

ubuntu-gnu-linux-24-04-3:~/build$ apt search mpwrd Sorting... Done Full Text Search... Done

[sour horizon]

I think I took all upstream

[mild hare]

Ok looking.

Not saying build but release image shows:

[sour horizon]

I hear ya; local repo?

[mild hare]

Nope, just dl and burned

[sour horizon]

Sure but I’m saying I apt search and nothing

[mild hare]

But ripping through repo looks like all is well for each board

[sour horizon]

So I can’t build on factory Ubuntu?

[mild hare]

mpwrd-os is Debian minimal console only (so far).

[sour horizon]

Ok well - I can’t build the OS anymore due to what looks like a missing packer

[mild hare]

The os, not the dev env

Meld or Winmerge your fork to main? Bet it'll show up whats wrong.

[sour horizon]

Ok well. I will leave it for now

I gave my feedback

[twilit mountain]

You need to build the way the guide says

E.g. using the configs, if you just build with the BOARD= you'll be missing quite a lot (everything in extensions/)

[sour horizon]

Everything but the menu is there

I shut down and switched gears so is what it is

I gave feedback

[twilit mountain]

/compile.sh luckfox-pico-mini and watch the log output

Not ./compile.sh build BOARD=luckfox-pico-mini

You're missing more than just the menu

[mild hare]

@sour horizon Also customize-image.sh on dev-box branch still uses old install method instead of new extensions, if that's what you using.

There's some feedback, gotta go deal with a failed print

[sour horizon]

I’m not missing more - the logs say missing package - when I search apt it also says no package

I’m only missing menu

[mild hare]

The new extensions install the repos. 2x check it.

[sour horizon]

I will another day

[restive scarab]

new wireless setup for zero w worked fine here 👍

[quasi onyx]

GitHub auctions my favourite :)

Can just let GitHub do all the hard work xd

[twilit mountain]

"Make Microsoft pay" ♥️

[quasi onyx]

Haha

Yea

[twilit mountain]

Thanks a bunch for testing that @restive scarab ♥️
If you have to attach a serial debugger, we have failed!

[restive scarab]

OH this was just the prompts over serial, haven't tried the AP but should be able to later today

[twilit mountain]

Yeah give the AP a shot 🙂 Just remember that the default wifi antenna setup is the ipex 😬 for now

https://github.com/armbian/linux-rockchip/pull/468
Just waiting for a merge to address that / provide an easy toggle

[restive scarab]

k, yeah I actually have a dinky little pcb 2.4GHz antenna on there so nbd

[restive scarab]

so ... stupid question: what's the password for the AP mode? I'm seeing armbiansetup-luckfox-lyra-zero-w AP just fine but iOS won't accept 1234 for the paswd due to length

and I guess what would be the PIN for the Bluetooth mPWRD-OS WiFi provision? not seeing it avail for pairing on phone or mac mini so not sure it'll actually require one but also missing info

ok found AP pass in wiki, iOS connects, can't access http(s)://10.42.0.1:8080, macOS saw AP but funkiness connecting until stopped phone's connection, forget network and then reconnected it finally prompted for passwd, then only accessible at http://10.42.0.1:8080 (not https)

and that worked...almost right - nothing in authorized_keys (file created, but empty) for my user and root, also ~/.ssh ended up chmod 0755 instead of 0700 (/root/.ssh is 0700 though)

[mild hare]

I had to turn off data on my phone to access too (android), that part is normal.

[twilit mountain]

Ahh thanks for that nitpick 👍 I updated the wiki (http:// instead of https://)

[twilit mountain]

Hmm I hadn't actually tested the ssh key stuff (just setting a user/password/wifi network)
If you could report the issue at https://github.com/Grippy98/armbian-web-config I'd appreciate it 🙏

[restive scarab]

k, i wanna try something later - thinking it could be something with my key's format (ssh-ed25519 ... user@host instead of just ssh-ed25519 ...)

huh, looks like armbian-web-config is still running too

[twilit mountain]

It should dissapear after a reboot (it disables itself in the final step of the setup process)

[sour horizon]

I’m back compiling properly; with the changes to only the chosen arm platforms,
Added a run-build.sh to properly inject the global and thusly the new extensions for the repro change

So with spud fork you should be able to make mpwrdOS for any arm

https://tenor.com/view/shocked-mr-cuddles-the-evil-octopus-canada's-got-talent-zoom-in-stare-gif-7351169412229651993

[chrome tide]

So is there a way to upgrade to mPWRD-OS 0.2.0 w/o having to reimage the card ?

[nova frost]

https://tenor.com/view/rose-apt-rose-blackpink-rose-mak-rose-apt-rose-gif-5948498849163160762

[chrome tide]

k

[twilit mountain]

For femtofox in particular, a simple apt update would do most of it, but many changes for other boards will require a reimage (not distributed as deb packages)

[chrome tide]

Hopefully my wifi issues will be fixed..

[hollow dragon]

It’s been a bit since I’ve checked in. Are there any updates for FemtoFox 🤔 i’ve been running meshing-around on it faithfully for a while 💯🌞 operating system is old 👀 reliable though

[nova frost]

Will be a major update soon.

There's links further up, I think.

[twilit mountain]

https://github.com/mPWRD-OS/mPWRD-OS 🙂 only suitable for testing currently but yes, a pretty big upgrade

[sour horizon]

Check a fork for meshing-around

[hollow dragon]

Mahalo for the information 🌺 still wanting to put the node out remotely on POE solar. I built it sometime ago.

[sour horizon]

I see mwrd menu got some of my ideas but no credit - I deleted my fork and won’t mess with it again

[mild hare]

Which ones? The only things added recently were requests and some display work I'm doing. I did add something a while back and did mention you. Man you need to dm or get a longer fuse. But ok.

Been working on overlays and uboot so we can squeeze more power savings outta picos. Optionally shutting off audio, camera, GPU and all the other stuff we don't use.

[nova frost]

https://tenor.com/view/just-like-old-times-tuson-the-impact-atlanta-nostalgic-feeling-bet-plus-gif-9474408819702098663

[sour horizon]

Always me that is an issue I get it

Where is @fiery finch

They don’t contribute to this anymore either - smart move

[brazen patio]

So catching up on this thread, I take it Foxbuntu is DOA then... 😢

[mild hare]

We replaced it with mPWRD-OS

[brazen patio]

hence the 😢

[mild hare]

Why the sad face? I worked on both and mPWRD-OS is leagues beyond. In fact we are about to get more power savings on Femtofox very soon.

@brazen patio Foxbuntu was breaking the ground with what I had available. mPWRD-OS is what happens when time is taken with sustainable development

[nova frost]

I hasten to add that it still works - which surprises me every time I go to update.

But yee, mprwrd-os ftw

[brazen patio]

Hard to accept when the MT team constantly nerfs shit

[nova frost]

well, I can't comment on that.

https://tenor.com/view/nerf-headshot-cry-sad-kid-gif-16636050

[mild hare]

Got some free time. Probably release Meshrunner alpha tonight.

[mild hare]

https://github.com/Ruledo/meshrunner/releases/tag/v0.0.1

[mild hare]

https://tenor.com/view/groot-dance-guardians-of-the-gif-19017604

[noble sequoia]

@mild hare what's the word on more FemtoFox units being manufactured? 👀

[mild hare]

I haven't in a while. Basically after tariffs I noped on principle. @nova frost has been doing some newer models (he's in the UK). There is a community build too that has instructions on how to order from JLCPCB. Ordering from JLCPCB seemed a little intimidating at first but it's easy and people here can help you with what options to click.

[noble sequoia]

I'll have to price it up and see. It may become moderately popular again for... Other networks.

[nova frost]

If you want to do a bulk order, I can do that for >10

I do the assembly and QC in the UK, cos the last couple of batches haven't been 100% and needed some rework.

If you want solar power or something to go with them I can do that too. I have a design incorporating a high efficiency charger that I'm confident will work well off almost any sensible panel.

[noble sequoia]

What's price per unit this way, so I can pitch it to the group?

[chrome tide]

Has there been a mPWRD-OS thread opened yet ? ;P

[brazen patio]

Speaking of rework, have you looked at what would take to use the e22p radios vs the e22?

[restive scarab]

cut TXEN trace + feed E22P 3.3V *on same pin

[nova frost]

I just use interchangeable modules now - mounted on mikrobus alike boards.

[brazen patio]

Ah okay that's a change since I had my PCBs made from the project.

Also looks the USB connector from the board to the Luckfox Pico Mini is new as well

[nova frost]

Yes, I incorporated some stuff I've been working on for the latest batch

[nova frost]

Fwiw, most of this is unlikely to make it into the CE version, beyond the mikrobus slot. My main aim with the CE version was to make it cheap enough that an individual could order 2 or 5 without feeling like they had to orchestrate a group buy to support it, and that people who had basic skillz could do it by hand. Fine pitch connectors, 0402 parts and all the rest is beyond most manual makers.

[nova frost]

Any takers for a new batch?

[twilit mountain]

https://github.com/armbian/build/pull/9801
Luckfox Pico will have devicetree overlay support soon 🤓

[twilit mountain]

And RTC support
https://github.com/armbian/build/pull/9812

[upper salmon]

Sure

[hollow dragon]

aloha - checking in it's been a year+ is there a OS update? honestly - it's been so reliable... I've been running @sour horizon meshing_around on it - w Alpha 5 att- sweet.

[mild hare]

OS has evolved into mpwrd-os.

https://github.com/mPWRD-OS/mPWRD-OS/releases

[hollow dragon]

where can i get that- i'll start over

i run ambian on what was a inovato - ok... i'll look into this - has @sour horizon played with this .env yet - hmmm

[sour horizon]

Yo there is a fork with the bot bootstrapped in yes 🤙🥔 I run on a le potato 🥔 as well as a femtofox

https://github.com/SpudGunMan/mPWRD-OS-dev-kit/tree/dev-box

[hollow dragon]

it's DA @sour horizon with aloha BRO! I'm doing a presentation on my app - sunday for my radio club - not much at public speaking

[sour horizon]

Make sure to include some quality dad jokes and it will go well!

[shrewd turtle]

oh hah, didn't you know were the one behind meshing around :P. Thanks sir

[hollow dragon]

so @sour horizon I'm going to try this on this hardware - the old OS is behind 100+ updates - mahalo for bundling meshing-around - it's been running on a hawaiinet channel around the island state for awhile now - any concerns with the install process? 73
https://github.com/SpudGunMan/mPWRD-OS-dev-kit

[sour horizon]

Should be turnkey for the most part - set up a service to auto launch is about all .. I didn’t do in this fork - didn’t think of it till just now

I might patch that in to the bootstrap.. but likely after weekend

Service templates in there anyway

[hollow dragon]

yeah i was thinking about that - nice it's uses trixie - so RTC and GPS is good?

[sour horizon]

RTC might be … gpsd would need edited in before build

[sour horizon]

I stuffed gpsd and chrony in just now

Didn’t test it 😄

[hollow dragon]

cool dude - i'll play with it - is the hardware getting updated or for sale? still would like to go for the original idea I had for Femtofox - solar - remote - meshing-around ala say bbs - wx etc - single board computing has gotten expensive - i'm glad I hoarded some boards... hihi

[sour horizon]

You can run on more platforms now! Build the mesh!

I saw things shaking that way today

Stay clear of lava when deploying nodes

[hollow dragon]

🔥 -- yeah Hawaii has 400+ meshtastic nodes throughout the island chain and growing - we get torurist that love to try and text the public channel often - funny - we are still on longfast - our big advantage is where we have the base nodes - way up on mountians - oh yeah - Mauna Loa, Mauna Kea - Haleakala and growing

[nova frost]

You're spot on about the price of foxes these days - they're something like 6x when we started.
I'm working on a solar board as I type. I've got it to the point I'm content to sell some (because I already have), but I'm working to make it true true MPPT

[hollow dragon]

MPPT algorithm - 🤔 is there new hardware involved with that? I bought a pi5 16gb $78 about 8mo ago - now it's OMG 🔥 the maker community is 😖

[nova frost]

The femtofoxen sold to date have no battery charging or fancy power management to speak of - it's entirely defensive.

[hollow dragon]

i think i saw i youtube where some dude attached a BME to it?

https://youtu.be/lOPbck4ysos?si=rHU0shHF0ZJArzY5

[nova frost]

yes - there's a couple of i2c ports, which are still my favourite feature

This was the slightly cursed solar prototype I made a while back

[quasi onyx]

mmmm

[hasty bolt]

https://tenor.com/view/jim-carrey-dance-moves-gif-9113173521075815017

[chrome tide]

So just booted up my MPWRD-OS board, again, using a PD PSU.. Need to figure out a way to connect to serial at the same time.. Just been to lazy/sick to look into it further..

[nova frost]

computer with 1A output should be fine

[chrome tide]

Im teying to figure out if its power related.for my KPs.. That's why im PD PSU..

[restive scarab]

DuPont ribbon cable to split UART and PSU?

[chrome tide]

@nova frost The pro board, has a second UART port, right ? That's the 4 pin JST next to the USB-C port ?

[nova frost]

yes - intended for GPS

[chrome tide]

Oh... So it can't be used for console ? How can I get console, when powering from a PD PSU ?

And why are you responding to me at like 3am your time.. LOL

[nova frost]

well, you could plug the pd into the fox port, and then use a data-only usb to the serial port adaptor

I think the CH340 can be powered from both directions

[chrome tide]

Then I wouldn't have wifi..

And no way to connect to the internet at that point..

[nova frost]

rj45?

For non-pro versions, there's a weird OTG adaptor that I have a few of

failing that, the fnirsi power meter allows silly combinations

i.e. USB-A & USBC

[chrome tide]

No network in my living room..

[chrome tide]

Anyone know of a USB-C cable that splits power and serial data ?

[chrome tide]

I found 2 that I ordered.. 1 is an rPi board..

[chrome tide]

https://www.amazon.com/GODIYMODULES-Interface-Splitter-Suitable-Raspberry/dp/B0DNS52HXZ/

[chrome tide]

So it doesn't seem to be a power issue.. Waiting for my board to try again..

[chrome tide]

IT WORKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[chrome tide]

Ok, having a brain fart.. How do I upgrade the MPWRD-OS again ? apt dist-upgrade ?

[chrome tide]

So my MPWRD-OS board doesn't seem to reconnect to wifi if it disconnects..

[chrome tide]

Got a KP during shutdown..

Nice... Now all I get is KPs........

[shrewd turtle]

Just need to download some more ram

[chrome tide]

Welp, guess I'm done working on this board.....

Nice that an upgrade makes the system unusable..

[shrewd turtle]

Not sure if that's the issue though

[chrome tide]

I have a Panda Wireless NIC..

PAU0B is the model.. It's a mt whatever..

[shrewd turtle]

That's an ac card right?

[chrome tide]

mt76x0u

[shrewd turtle]

Does it kp without wifi card?

[chrome tide]

Yup!

Here is entire boot that I can grab..

So my next question is, can I mount the SD card on another Linux system and recover a config backup...

[shrewd turtle]

meshtastic config backup? Its possible to recover data from actual proto files I believe, i thin you would have to manually deserialize it. Other option i think you may be able to copy the proto data to another meshtasticd instance

[chrome tide]

Or if there is a way to boot from the old kernel, that could work also.. I forget how to make that change, its been so long since ive had a KP at boot on a Linux system.

[chrome tide]

.

[chrome tide]

So any ideas on how I can get my board working again ?

[nova frost]

What are the symptoms?

[chrome tide]

KP at boot after updating.. #1329096340700921898 message

[nova frost]

Have you tried a fresh image on a fresh SD card?

[chrome tide]

Nope, don't have a backup of the config, so was hoping there was a way to recover..

tried to stop boot via serial, but I don't seem to get connected to serial in time..

[shrewd turtle]

tbh i think the wireless driver is just too demanding memory size. I feel like AC cards have this issue due the stack they pull in

[chrome tide]

wifi isn't even connected..

I found my EX2700, and have the femtofox board plugged into the ethernet port on it..

[shrewd turtle]

i think as long as usb is connected, the driver tries to load

i think its related to the size of the driver itself maybe, not sure

[chrome tide]

USB is only connected to the femtofox board, not the luckfox.

[chrome tide]

Seems like it's an issue w/ the kernel.. Once I get everything set back up on this board again, I'm going to do an update, and see if it KPs again..

[nova frost]

I'm scoping next gen features - @lavish sorrel has forced me to face up to some of my recent crimes and actually look at the schematics again.

How do we feel about usb-ethernet bridge chips?

And also rs485?

[lavish sorrel]

like the RNDIS gadget chips? Depends on how small it is... Because if it's the same size as the CH340E, count me out.

[lavish sorrel]

I'm just trying to keep you grounded...

[lavish sorrel]

Also about to try to connect the GND on a CH340E w/ 38AWG magnet wire and a C210-I soldering tip... pray for me.