PyCom alternatives

[Andreas]

@techykermit 1 Oct 2022

Hi! Since PyCom is potentially shutting down as a company ^[1], I have started looking for some alternatives. Ideally looking for devices that are already CE certified, have cellular capabilities, and doesn’t require too much of changing to code written for PyComs (so, a device that runs MicroPython). Should also be capable of being battery-powered and support flash encryption. Any viable alternatives?

– PyCom alternatives? | Pycom user forum

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1. PYCOM Limited – In Administration ↩︎

[Andreas]

Walter ESP32-S3

Daan Pape (DPTechnics) aims to step in.

@Daan Pape 7 Nov 2022

Our idea is to make a 100% compatible board but with improvements with lessons learned from the current GPy. Also we want to produce in Europe (Belgium and Netherlands) as we have our facilities here.

@DPTechnics 16 Nov 2022

I’m glad to release a sneak peek of our upcoming module crowdfunding. A very small CE and FCC certified board with WiFi, Bluetooth, LTE-M, NB-IoT and GNSS (GPS and Galileo). We are preparing a crowdfunding to launch in the coming weeks, so checkout our pages to find out more soon

– https://twitter.com/DPTechnics/status/1592873546036162568

@Daan Pape 31 Dec 2022

Hi all,

It took some weeks longer than expected due to component lead times but I’m so glad to release Walter today. We have taken as much advice as we could and are convinced about the way we took. Get to know Walter on https://www.quickspot.io/

Happy New Year!

Walter 5G ESP32-S3 certified module

Walter ESP32-S3 board supports NB-IoT, LTE-M, and GPS - CNX Software

Open source ESP32 module supports 5G and GPS connectivity

[Andreas]

insigh.io Main Board

@Antonis Gotsis 20 Oct 2022

We (at insigh.io) have also developed a Cellular IoT board (NB-IoT/LTE-M/GSM/GNSS embedded) that runs Micropython and has many power supply options, like battery, solar panel and USB. I believe it could serve the purpose of “smoothly migrating” from Pycom modules.

You can check the tech specs here: https://docs.insigh.io/hardware/board/latest/
The codebase is open: GitHub - insighio/insighioNode: The core libraries, utilities and application scenario for insighio nodes

Interesting fact: Our first board edition was a Pycom host board (https://docs.insigh.io/hardware/insighio-board-generic/) but then we decided to develop a complete board with an integrated micro-controller as well. More details can be provided through private communication of course.

[Andreas]

Particle Boron LTE and Challenger RP2040 LTE

@Don-iot 19 Oct 2022

I am investigating as well and Particle’s Boron seems like one viable path. Challenger RP2040 is another one. But I am not certain any of these are viable as replacements. Perhaps @robert-hh has great ideas as always?

@robert-hh 19 Oct 2022

Both the particle Boron and the Challenger RP2040 look interesting. Both MCUs are supported by the standard branch of MicroPython, although the RP2040 port is more evolved, I had seen as well a XBEE LTE board. But XBEE maintains their own somewhat restricted version of MicroPython. In any case, the LTE embedding is to be done.

Boron / Challenger

[Andreas]

@Antonis Gotsis 20 Oct 2022

The codebase is open: GitHub - insighio/insighioNode: The core libraries, utilities and application scenario for insighio nodes

This is a pretty impressive MicroPython library. Kudos, @ftylitak.

• insighioNode/insighioNode/lib at main · insighio/insighioNode · GitHub
• insighioNode/lib-external at main · insighio/insighioNode · GitHub