Group:Hardware/Computers/PDAs/Nanonote

Introduction

The Ben Nanonote is a small PDA with 32MiB of RAM that lack wireless interfaces.

At the time of writing, it is still supported by LibreCMC.

LibreCMC also has more information about what hardware features were tested with LibreCMC.

Use cases and wireless interfaces

It doesn't come with any wireless interfaces. There are many use cases like music player, reading information (the screen is small), talking notes, etc that don't need wireless communication.

Since it has an USB port that can be in device mode (I didn't find any information for configuring it in host mode, so it probably doesn't support USB host), it might also be able to do Ethernet over USB to get access to a network.

IEEE 802.15 networks

IEEE 802.15 is a network layer. On top there can be protocols like 6LoWPAN which work fine with free software, or more problematic protocols like Zigbee.

IEEE 802.15 network with 6LoWPAN

The most promising way to get wireless working on the nanonote is through free protocols like 6LoWPAN on top of IEEE 802.15.

There is some documentation on how to make an IEEE 802.15 network between the nanonote and a regular computer running GNU/Linux.

It requires a wireless adapter (atusb) that can be plugged in a GNU/Linux computer with USB and another adapter (atben) that can be plugged in the nanonote.

To make it work between a self-hosted FSDG distribution (like Parabola, Trisquel, Guix, etc), it is best to review the source code to make sure it's 100% free and package wpan-tools in one of them and also in LibreCMC if it's not already packaged. Alternatively another option could be to review the source code in the free software directory and to tell users to build wpan-tools themselves.

Also note that there isn't any vendor selling these adapters in the RYF website. So it means that buying such adapters online with free software could fail if the website selling the hardware require nonfree JavaScript to function.

Though some people might also have second hand atusb or atben and it might be possible to try to find them and arrange a purchase or donnation without any nonfree software.

IEEE 802.15 networks with Zigbee

Another idea would be to network with another protocol, such as Zigbee, however zigbee the protocol may have problems:

• Zigbee, Linux, and the GPL
• RFC WIP IEEE 802.15.4 implementation for Linux
• Some people from OSU are close to having linux zigbee networking working. They are using the TI cc2431: """The TI cc2431 is the zigbee wireless solution. This chip contains an 8bit 8051 microcontroller core and the CC2420 radio core. This is a very flexible chip, and as such the current firmware is a UART interface that Linux will take advantage of. The firmware is based on TI's TIMAC software which provides the MAC layer of the networking stack. Programming of the cc2431 is not supported by current RADIX releases but is planned for the future. The firmware can be built using IAR Embedded Workbench (a evaluation version can be found here).""" At first glance it looks like the firmware code may be free, but require a nonfree compiler to build; I've asked on #oswald if this is correct (freenode irc).
• Arduino Xbee Shield uses [1] [2] modules.
• linux-zigbee
• http://www.bugcommunity.com/wiki/index.php/BUGbee

Research on compatible Libre Wifi cards

For Ben NanoNote use cases: Communications device and other purposes...

• Need FaiF TCP/IP I/O
• Only possible option at moment is expensive AR6001 card + ugly microSD to SD adapter [3]
  • The Eye-Fi Card - Dissected - looks like this may be a mass produced / cheaper alternative; has AR6001G wifi (need to double-check this doesn't load blob from external). But not clear it can be used just for its wifi.
  • Another SDIO ATH6001 card: SX-SDWAG - 40mA, 3.3V, Built-in antenna
• Idea: try to get someone to do a daughtercard that will add this functionality in a way FSF would accept. Perhaps something that would do USB in host mode and allow for internal USB dongles like the always innovating touch book. Or something with an rtl8187b. Or something that would allow any ExpressCard or PCI Express Mini Card to be used.
• Link to thread
• Reply to http://www.mail-archive.com/ath9k-devel@lists.ath9k.org/msg02356.html with 2 card options
• Possible rtl8187b PCI Express Mini card - http://www.promwad.com/technologies/wireless.html - "Wireless IEEE802.11b/g (WiFi) OEM module based on RealTek RTL8187 chipset for mobile application" - info@promwad.com
• ath9k PCI Express Mini card - http://cgi.ebay.com/802-11ABG-N-MiniPci-Express-802-11N-ABG-300Mbps-Atheros_W0QQitemZ110473201878QQcmdZViewItemQQptZPCMCIA_Cards?hash=item19b8b748d6#ht_6604wt_951
• Ethernet over USB with the mifi - although this might require Registration / NDAs with Novatel on the mifi side.
• Make a daughterboard that interfaces with an expansion board that includes wifi via UART or SPI, such as these do:
  • DAB-WLS-C01 [4] [5]
  • WiFly GSX WiFly Shield UART connected "black box"
  • RN 121

AR6001 (ar6k) options

1. SX-SDWAG (preferable as it has built in antenna) http://www.silexamerica.com/products/wireless_modules/sx-sdwag.html (Currently trying to source from a few places; one place had it listed but is currently out of stock; I'll see what they do with my order.)

2. CAW-SDIOG http://www.cardaccess-inc.com/products/index.php?a=wlan_burt