How to set up a solar powered webcam server using NanosG20 running Debian

NanosG20 is one of the most energy efficient Linux boards wtth a 400 MHz ARM processor, consuming <1 W when running and 25 mA from 5 V in power-down mode.With a webacm and WiFi stick power consumption is 2.5 W.
This is the right board if you need a low-power solution like when running on solar energy.

I have set up NanosG20 running on solar cell and 12V 8 Ah hattery in my garden house that is 15 m away from WiFi access point uploading pictures to the Internet.
A few days it was runing running on a Huawei GSM modem sending pictures from a city skatepark.

NanosG20 runs reliably. All Debian things more or less work. Board costs 99 EUR. Howewer for home use would reccomend to set up webcam on an OpenWRT router as every home needs a router.

The notes below contain the code that will help you to set up NanosG20.

00 Introduction.txt2 KB

01 copied SD card does not work in other machine.txt1 KB

01 date time set.txt185 bytes

01 make fresh SD card.txt4 KB

02 Building Kernel modules for Webcam 2nd try.txt1 KB

02 Building Kernel modules for Webcam.txt4 KB

02 mjpg streamer.txt2 KB

03 Compile error.txt89 bytes

03 Ifconfig not root user.txt10 KB

03 Wifi card driver compile.txt4 KB

04 Wifi find a free ssis and connect.txt677 bytes

04 wifi use.txt1 KB

05 Apache.txt1 KB

06 php.txt563 bytes

07 mysql.txt344 bytes

08 ftp.txt445 bytes

08 Huawei.txt7 KB

09 swap file.txt278 bytes

10 adc in.txt2 KB

11 crontab.txt249 bytes

12 Power saving and power downconverters.txt2 KB

13 GPIO.txt3 KB

14 keylogger.txt173 bytes

15 Power regulator comparison idle current.txt354 bytes

15 usb sound card not successful.txt612 bytes

15 vlc not finished.txt2 KB

16 easycap.txt623 bytes

17 1 wire built in bus.txt3 KB

17 1 wire digitemp.txt918 bytes

17 1 wire sh script CRC check.txt1 KB

17 1wire php crc check.txt1 KB

17 1wire sh crc check.txt671 bytes

18 rcinit.txt287 bytes

20 backup code on jugla1.freezoka.net.zip18 KB

20 backup my code on nanos G20.zip8 KB

21 moscow backup.zip5 KB

tassadar94 says: Mar 7, 2012. 1:44 PM

Thank you for sharing this great schematic! I was wondering if you could configure this to use a Verizon Aircard to upload images rather than WiFi, maybe 5 images or so per day. Do you think this could be done? Thanks!

janisalnis (author) says: Mar 8, 2012. 2:57 AM

I tried to attach Huavei modem. And after some hours of trying could get it working. Here is description
http://www.instructables.com/files/orig/FY5/I5G4/GT44H5Y6/FY5I5G4GT44H5Y6.txt
However do not know about compatibility with Verizon.

Now I would probably use WR703N. as it already has a built in functionality for GSM modems ppp. Would attach a USB hub and have on one port webcam and on antother GSM modem. I have tried only webcam, but not GSM modem. http://www.instructables.com/files/orig/F6T/4OO1/GZ6I5PO4/F6T4OO1GZ6I5PO4.txt

tassadar94 says: Mar 8, 2012. 9:00 AM

Thank you for the recommendation!

ndaines says: Sep 29, 2011. 5:46 AM

Details on the hardware construction would be nice, or even a link to another instructable that you may have used.

janisalnis (author) says: Sep 29, 2011. 9:03 AM

I have made instructable concerning solar part here

http://www.instructables.com/id/Solar-charged-12V-lead-battery/

In NanosG20 the only thing what was modified was to connect a 1Meg potentiometer on the analog input pin to increase the acceptable voltage range from 3.3 to 20 V. Analog input is used to monitor battery voltage that is showed in a dataplot online.