I’d like to use the Cisco Slice of Radio boards to link two Raspberry Pis. In particular, I wish to use one Pi as a ‘master’, running a control programme, and the other as a ‘slave’, carrying out the received instructions and reporting back for further instructions (preferably, all coded in Python).
Is this easily feasible?
Reason for asking: The two Pis are to be used in a marine environment (remote from land-based internet) and separated by distances where a cable connection would be difficult and inhibiting.
Definitely possible but you’d need to write some software to achieve it. :-)
There is some more information about getting two Slice of Radios talking to each other here (specifically step 3): http://openmicros.org/index.php/articles/94-ciseco-product-documentation/raspberry-pi/282-b023-slice-of-radio
Sounds like an interesting project, let us know how you get on!
That’s encouraging: thank you.
But I could use a little more advice:
- If I were to connect my Pis via an ethernet cable, I’d exploit the socket module to get them to behave (almost) like a single ‘SuperPi’. How would I achieve a similar level of integration using a wireless connection via their serial ports? (Which, incidentally, might get a bit crowded as I’m also hanging a GPS, a motor controller and a couple of accelerometers on the same ports - or the I2C.) It’s not clear to me from the suggested reading how I’d handle such problems.
- Which of your wireless products would you recommend? The Ciseco ‘Slice of Radio’ was the first to appeal to me but I note that you can also supply XRF, ERF, URF & ARF boards and an SRF stick. Wireless range shouldn’t be a problem (30-40 ft. max.) but radio noise might be (large marine diesel engine, brushed motors and lots of shipboard electronics, including 5 watt VHF transceiver).
I’d appreciate your guidance before final commitment.
Many thanks,
docjim
Just a possible suggestion. Have a look at “eRA Connect2 Pi”. The guys at lprs.co.uk are very knowledgeable and helpful. I have been using lprs for many years (with a similar product). Paul
Have you considered using Wifi? Configure one Pi with Wifi dongle as an access point, connect the other Pi to it. That way you would
- get a faster connection
- be able to use standard TCP/IP protocols without any special drivers
- leave your GPIO free for whatever you need to connect.
Radio interference still sounds like it would be an issue, possibly even more of a problem than with the “Slice of Radio” you mention.