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Working with wireless Communications is tricky, and users often have to really know what they’re doing to get a network up and running without problems. However, with the addition of the Particle Mesh Network Kits, this has become substantially easier than ever before, as these boards are specifically designed to make Mesh Networking easy – and this is why we’re so excited to see great additions to the general range like the Particle Ethernet FeatherWing ProtoBoard.
The Particle Ethernet FeatherWing, for short, is essentially a beautiful blend between two fantastic expansions, and is based on the popular and ultra-handy Particle FeatherWing Tripler, but improved with the addition of the Adafruit Ethernet FeatherWing. This Makes it the perfect sidekick for any of the boards within the Particle Mesh Network range, giving them a whole new level of communication, while also offering some extra benefits as well.
When looking at the board for the first time, you will notice that this clever amalgamation is comprised of an Adafruit Ethernet FeatherWing, with two Prototyping spaces apparent on one side. This is very much akin to the design of the FeatherWing Tripler, but of course only features two prototyping spaces instead of three. This enables you to install your Boron, Xenon or Argon board in the middle, utilising the pre-built Adafruit Ethernet FeatherWing on one side, and design a completely unique circuit or module on the other side to cater to whatever you project needs.
Particle Ethernet FeatherWing ProtoBoard - Technical Specifications: |
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– Particle |
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– Adafruit “FeatherWing” Design |
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– FeatherWing Modules | Particle Mesh Boards |
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– None | Preassembled |
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– 24g |
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– 71.2 x 55.6 x 17.3mm |
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– 71.2 x 50.6 x 11.5mm |
Typical Applications for the Particle Ethernet FeatherWing ProtoBoard:
The Particle Ethernet FeatherWing ProtoBoard is the perfect addition to any Mesh Network project in which users need to add even more communication functionality to the network. It is very similar to the FeatherWing Tripler that many of you probably already know about, but of course is primarily focused on functionality rather prototyping, due to the built-in Adafruit Ethernet FeatherWing. However, with that being said, the spare prototyping space on the opposite side is ideal for building any extra circuitry, making this more than just a communications FeatherWing, but actually a prototyping FeatherWing with built-in Ethernet capabilities.
These awesome features make the Particle Ethernet FeatherWing ProtoBoard great for a good range of different projects, with some great examples including:
- Creating a Reliable Network in an environment like a warehouse or industrial sector, in which wireless transmission noise levels are too high, or not allowed due to sensitive machinery.
- Integrating the Functionality of Power Over Ethernet (PoE) in locations where running power would be difficult or costly, allowing you to reach further and obstruct less with a single ethernet cable. (Note that this may require extra PoE hardware or adapters)
- Adding Internet Capabilities to an existing Particle Mesh Network, using a single Particle Xenon to broaden the network with additional Particle Xenon Boards.
If you love Electronics, communications and prototyping, then this Particle Ethernet FeatherWing ProtoBoard is the ideal tool to help you get started on truly magnificent projects. However, if you don’t necessarily need the Ethernet functionality, be sure to also take a look at the Particle FeatherWing Tripler too, which is very similar to this board, but has a third prototyping space instead of the Ethernet expansion.
Additional Resources:
- This is the official Particle Ethernet FeatherWing Documentation Page, containing more details and helpful tutorials for using this board effectively.
- This is the official Ethernet-Wing GitHub Page, with design files and further insights on the expansion board.
Particle is a comprehensive Internet of Things platform that is scalable, easy to use and secure, which was started as a Kickstarter campaign in as early as 2013. It was founded with the intent to make IoT easy and accessible for everyone, and by many people’s standards they have successfully achieved that, with over 70,000 engineers in over 170 countries utilising the Particle platform – including several Fortune 500 companies.
One of the recent utilisations of the potential of Particle tools is how it was implemented to connect a vital water-valve to the internet, allowing it to monitor the weather, identify the incoming Hurricane Irma, and prepare to move the water to where it needed to go – before the rain had even begun to fall in the area. This is just one of the many amazing examples of how Particle IoT can benefit more than just businesses or developers, as well as how Particle’s vision of IoT being integrated into almost everything – both online and offline – is quickly becoming a reality.