Communication

ESP8266 is an IC that delivers a true revolution in the world of makers, especially in the world of IoT (Internet of Things). This is a complete 32-bit SoC (System on Chip) with built-in flash memory, frame and EEPROM which can even be programmed directly from the Arduino interface, without the need for additional micro-controller. With all this, the most important point is that in itself has a built-in WiFi (AP, STA, AP + STA), all that for “little money”.

ESP8266 in this form (ESP-12) is suitable for direct soldering to a printed circuit board as an SMD component or directly solder the wires since the pin has its holes. It also comes with a PCB trace antenna.

Note: ESP8266 is an IC that works at 3.3V! Connecting directly to 5V, or track Arduino or Croduino plate will destroy it! Use logic level converter.

RF transmitter and receiver is a high-quality combination for RF communication between two devices (eg. Dasduino) often used for remote controlling or wireless communication.

This logic level converter board module gives us a translation of logic level between two signals. In layman’s terms, if we take a signal with logical “unit” on 5V convert into a signal which logical “unit” has on 3.3V this module will help us. Something like this is useful in this case if we want to achieve communication between two devices from whom one works on 5V and the other on 3.3V, or any other combination of voltages. Directly connecting we would “burn” a device that works on 3.3V and a module gives us to avoid that.

• Max. voltage: 30V
• Number of channels: 4
• Dimensions: 22 x 22mm

This antenna is designed for LoRa modules based on 868MHz frequency (Europe).

• Frequency range: 868MHz (Europe)
• Impedance: 50ohm
• Lenght: 200mm
• Connector type: SMA male

The ESP32 is a more advanced successor to the well-known ESP8266. It is a SoC (System on Chip) that can function as a standalone microcontroller and has everything you need on WiFi and Bluetooth 4.0 (BLE 4.0, low-energy) communication. With nearly 30 I / O pins and low power consumption, ESP32 will almost certainly be the leader in the Internet of Things for years to come.

The microcontroller itself works at a frequency of 160MHz (up to 240MHz), while the module has a built-in flash memory of 4MB. It has all the classic protocols like 4x SPI, 2x I2C, 4x UART, and there are many built-in peripherals like 18x 12-bit ADC, 2x 8-bit DAC, 10x capacitive touch GPIO, temperature sensor, SD card controller, Ethernet interface, PWM, etc. The list is really long. It should not be forgotten that this module has FCC certification and PCB trace antenna.

• SoC: ESP32
• CPU: Xtens 32-bit LX6, 160MHz to 240MHz
• Flash memory: 4MB
• RAM memory: 520kB
• Exact module name: ESP-WROOM-32
• Number of pins: 38
• Dimensions: 18 x 25.5 x 2.8 cm

RFID readers come in many shapes and varieties, one of them – the RDM6300 – operates at 125kHz and comes with an external antenna that can be attached to the case, while the rest of the board is inside the case. Communication is serial (UART), which makes it easy to connect.

If you order additional cards / tags with this reader, make sure you use the ones that work at 125 kHz, which is compatible with this reader!

• RDM6300
• Frequency: 125kHz
• Reading distance: 2-5 cm
• Communication: serial
• Voltage: 5V
• Dimensions: 3.8 x 1.8 x 1.2cm

Bluetooth Module HM-10 enables Bluetooth 4.0 (BLE 4.0) communication between your project and another Bluetooth device, such as mobile phone. A connection with Croduino is simple via serial communication and the module operates at standard voltage of 3.3V and 5V. This module will work with iOS6 and higher systems as well as with Android 4.3 and greater.

• Bluetooth standard: 4.0
• works with iOS6 or higher and  Android 4.3 or higher
• Voltage: 3V – 6V
• Current: 60uA – 400uA
• Antenna: on the PCB
• Dimensions: 43mm x 16mm

RFID is a kind of communication where the information is transferred wirelessly. Nowadays it is more and more popular and can be found in numerous and different kinds of cards: driver’s license, access control to facilities, public transport, etc. This module brings in that kind of communication to Croduino, a reader reads off information from the RFID card or tag and sends them to Croduino through SPI communication.

Global Navigation Satellite Signal Systems (GNSS), or as we all like to call it “GPS”, enable precise location determination on Earth. Thanks to this module, you can use GNSS for your project and use the device for asset tracking or create a wearable device. The module is small, energy-efficient, high-performing, and easy to use thanks to the built-in antenna.

L86-M33 is a GNSS receiver, which means it can receive signals from GPS, GLONASS, and Galileo constellations. Equipped with EASY (Embedded Assist System for self-generated orbit prediction) and AlwaysLocate technologies, L86-M33 ensures fast and accurate positioning even in challenging environments. Its advanced internal logger LOCUS allows you to store your routes and location data.

Our breakout board, in addition to the previously mentioned L86-M33 module which has an integrated antenna, also has a connector for a CR1220 battery which is used as a backup for timekeeping and GPS data. The module can operate without the battery, but every time it will have to fetch data from satellites afresh (cold start). If the integrated antenna is insufficient, there is an IPX connector on the board for adding an external, stronger antenna. The antenna we suggest can be found here. To easily access the module pins, the pins are extended on the board for accessibility. There is also a switch on the board to change the I2C address.

RFID is a type of communication in which information is transmitted wirelessly (Wikipedia article). Today, it is becoming increasingly popular and can be found in numerous and various cards: driving licenses, access control to buildings, public transportation, etc.

RFID readers come in many forms and variants. This reader, from our production, enables easy connection to a microcontroller, thereby opening up possibilities for developing various projects based on RFID technology. The breakout comes in two versions, and depending on the version, it is programmed and ready for communication via pins on the board. It has a switch for changing the data transfer speed (baud rate) as well as a connector for connecting the antenna that comes with the breakout.

If you have a device you want to connect to a WiFi network, by using an IPX connector, all you need is this antenna. Use the IPX connector to establish connection with your device and it is ready to connect to a 2.4GHz WiFi network.

Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS), or as we all like to call it “GPS,” enable precise location determination on Earth. Thanks to this module, you can use GNSS for your project and employ the device for asset tracking or create a wearable device. The module is small, energy-efficient, highly effective, and easy to use thanks to its built-in antenna.

L86-M33 is a GNSS receiver, meaning it can receive signals from GPS, GLONASS, and Galileo constellations. Equipped with EASY (Embedded Assist System for self-generated orbit prediction) and AlwaysLocate technologies, the L86-M33 ensures fast and accurate positioning even in challenging environments. Its advanced internal logger, LOCUS, allows you to store your routes and location data.

In addition to the aforementioned L86-M33 module, which has an integrated antenna, our breakout board also has a connector for a CR1220 battery that is used as a backup for timekeeping and GPS data. The module can operate without a battery, but each time it will have to pull data from the satellites anew (cold start). If the integrated antenna is not sufficient, there is an IPX connector on the board for adding an external, stronger antenna. You can find the antenna we recommend here. To easily access the pins of the module, the pins are exposed on the board for easy access.

Additional passive RFID tag for use with our RFID readers. In a plastic PVC case, waterproof, with 3M adhesive tape on one side.

Self-adhesive RFID tag comes in two variants, 125kHz or 13.56MHz.

NFC sticker (Near Field Communication) is a wireless communication system that succeeds RFID. This sticker has a small NFC tag at a frequency of 13.56MHz with a 1kB EEPROM memory in which you can write up to 100 thousand times.

This small and simple module gives us a translation of logic level between two signals. In layman’s terms, if we take a signal with logical “unit” on 5V convert into a signal which logical “unit” has on 3.3V this module will help us. Something like this is useful in this case if we want to achieve communication between two devices from whom one works on 5V and the other on 3.3V, or any other combination of voltages. Directly connecting we would “burn” a device that works on 3.3V and a module gives us to avoid that.

This board is specialized for signal conversion for any communication protocol, and for this conversion, it uses a special integrated circuit that enables communication at high speeds.

• Max. voltage: 30V
• Number of channels: 4
• Communication protocol: any besides I2C
• Dimensions: 22 x 22mm

This module allows you to connect a Dasduino, or similar microcontroller, to a RS-485 communication protocol. The RS-485 is used to send data over long distances (up to 1200m) at 20Mbps and in high-noise environments, such as industrial. The module works on 5V and requires between 120μA and 500μA of current.

• Voltage: 5V
• Based on: SN65176BDR
• Dimensions: 38 x 2mm

The RS-232 is a standard and very popular protocol for communication between two devices. It is a full-duplex protocol which means it can receive and send data at the same time, and data is sent at voltages from + 3V to + 15V for a digital “one” and from -3V to -15V for digital “zero”. This provides a more secure environment for data transmission which is resistant to noise or interference, which is why the RS-232 is often used in industry. This module converts serial communication to RS232.

• Communication lines: TX, RX
• IC:232 MAX

• Voltage: 3.3V – 5.5V
• Dimensions: 22 x 22 mm

Connecting the NRF24L01 can be tricky – you have to pay attention to the layout of the pins, adjust them to match those from the library and add a capacitor. This board solves all that, and it already comes with soldered headers, so just plug this board into your Dasduino and that’s it!

• Comes with NRF24L01+ module
• Dimensions: 38 x 22 mm

A module which enables the use of micro SD cards with Arduino via SPI communication. You can save various types of data on the SD card, create logs, read the information from it or perform various actions.

Have you ever found yourself wanting to connect more than one I2C device to a single controller and couldn’t because they have identical I2C addresses? There you have it, I2C multiplexer (I2C MUX) allows you to use up to 8 devices with the same address on the same bus! If we mention that TCA9548A, the IC on which this breakout is based, has three adjustable pins for the I2C address, which means a total of 8 possible addresses. We can reach 64 devices with the same address on the same bus. For example, it is possible to connect 64 BME680 sensors that are read by only one microcontroller.

This adapter is particularly practical because it enables multiplexing of easyC devices.

This small USBUART adapter converts USB communication into UART (serial) communication, and everything you might need is already on this small board. In addition to the classic UART pins that are arranged in the standard layout: DTR, RXD, TXD, VCC, CTS, GND, other pins available of the CH340 chip are also available on header: RS232, RI, DCD, DSR, RST and CTS. Indication LEDs show activity on RXT and TXD lines, and a 500mA fuse protects this programmer, the USB port of the computer that is connected, and other devices connected to it from damage.

Additionally, there is a voltage regulator and a switch on the board, and it is possible to choose the output voltage of 3.3V or 5V, depending on the device you are using. The logic of the UART signal is always 3.3V, but don’t worry, 5V devices will work with 3V3 UART logic without any problems. Use a USB-C cable to connect.

CONNECT programmer is designed to allow extremely simple programming of boards based on ESP8266 and ESP32 microcontrollers. It contains all the necessary electronics and logic so that programming can be done by plugging USB cable into CONNECT programmer and connecting CONNECT programmer to the programming header. Electronics that take care of timing and signal sequence are also on board, so it puts the ESP uC into bootloader mode.

ESP programming header can be found boards made by Soldered based on ESP8266 or ESP32 microcontrollers that do not have a USB-UART converter, but this programmer can be used for any other ESP32 / ESP8266 board as well.

• IC: CH340
• Pin layout: GPIO0, RESET, RX, TX, 3V3, GND
• LEDs: RX, TX, power
• USB: USB-C
• Dimensions: 38 x 22 mm

LIN (Local Interconnect Network) is a serial network protocol used for communication between components in cars. The LIN bus is an alternative to the CAN bus, and the difference is that LIN has a lower speed and supports a smaller number of simultaneous devices, but also has drastically lower costs. LIN is used for communication between microcontrollers. The operating voltage is 18V.

Master/Slave is a communication model where one device (Master) controls one or more devices (Slave), and the Slave then listens to the commands it receives from the Master. One Master on the LIN protocol can control up to 16 devices.

CAN Transceiver (Controller Area Network) is a network technology that enables fast communication between microcontrollers, and is the most commonly used standard in cars. Our CAN breakout uses an MCP2518FD CAN whose communication between microcontrollers takes place on SPI protocol. In addition there is a CAN transceiver. This breakout allows use of both standards (CAN 2.0B and CAN Flexible Data (FD)). Access to the CAN bus is possible via CANH and CANL pins on the screw terminal. The 120ohm terminator resistor is also located on the board and can be connected to a jumper.

• Standards: CAN 2.0B i CAN FD
• Voltage: 2.7V i 5V
• Current: from 10uA to 12mA
• SPI interface
• Dimensions: 38 x 22 mm