[HH] OpenSprinkler update

[Tom Metro]

I haven't been following the OpenSprinkler project, but apparently they
recently had a hardware and firmware update:

Announcing OpenSprinkler Hardware 2.1s (assembled), Firmware 2.0.4, and
a GUI-based Firmware Upgrade Tool
http://rayshobby.net/?p=8422

The main product seems to be a custom board with an ATmega644 MCU,
2-line LCD, and a bunch of screw terminals to attach up to 8 solenoid
valves (expandable; $40 for 8 more valves), all in a nice plastic enclosure.

It is Ethernet connected with a web interface and mobile app. It has
support for a rain (or I assume moisture) sensor.

The fully assembled product runs $150. Abut $100 for a D-I-Y kit, and
about $75 each for a version that is a companion add-on board for
popular development board platforms:

Open-Source Sprinkler Extension Board for BeagleBone Black
http://rayshobby.net/?page_id=7664

Open-Source Sprinkler / Irrigation Extension Board for RPi
http://rayshobby.net/?page_id=5816


A bit surprising to see they bothered to design not only a stand-alone
version, but two different add-on versions. That's going to make for
thin resources for an open hardware project, subdividing the community
into three groups, but I assume there is a fair bit of overlap in the
hardware and front-end software like the mobile app.


On a related note, a thread and an article on building moisture sensors:
http://forum.arduino.cc/index.php/topic,37975.0.html
http://www.instructables.com/id/Garduino-Gardening-Arduino/step4/Build-Your-Moisture-Sensor/


 -Tom