Introduction: 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.
Attachments
00 Introduction.txt
01 copied SD card does not work in other machine.txt
01 date time set.txt
01 make fresh SD card.txt
02 Building Kernel modules for Webcam 2nd try.txt
02 Building Kernel modules for Webcam.txt
02 mjpg streamer.txt
03 Compile error.txt
03 Ifconfig not root user.txt
03 Wifi card driver compile.txt
04 Wifi find a free ssis and connect.txt
04 wifi use.txt
05 Apache.txt
06 php.txt
07 mysql.txt
08 ftp.txt
08 Huawei.txt
09 swap file.txt
10 adc in.txt
11 crontab.txt
12 Power saving and power downconverters.txt
13 GPIO.txt
14 keylogger.txt
15 Power regulator comparison idle current.txt
15 usb sound card not successful.txt
15 vlc not finished.txt
16 easycap.txt
17 1 wire built in bus.txt
17 1 wire digitemp.txt
17 1 wire sh script CRC check.txt
17 1wire php crc check.txt
17 1wire sh crc check.txt
18 rcinit.txt
20 backup code on jugla1.freezoka.net.zip
20 backup my code on nanos G20.zip
21 moscow backup.zip
5 Discussions
8 years ago on Introduction
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!
Reply 8 years ago on Introduction
I tried to attach Huavei modem. And after some hours of trying could get it working. Here is description
https://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. https://www.instructables.com/files/orig/F6T/4OO1/GZ6I5PO4/F6T4OO1GZ6I5PO4.txt
Reply 8 years ago on Introduction
Thank you for the recommendation!
9 years ago on Introduction
Details on the hardware construction would be nice, or even a link to another instructable that you may have used.
Reply 9 years ago on Introduction
I have made instructable concerning solar part here
https://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.