Grandbaby's First Raspberry Pi

• Apple Support's HowTo Use AirPlay or AirPlay Mirroring on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch

• Audio was a little trickier on Weezy

  • Audio Config - https://www.raspberrypi.org/documentation/configuration/audio-config.md

  • USB Sound Card setup from http://computers.tutsplus.com/articles/using-a-usb-audio-device-with-a-raspberry-pi--mac-55876

• Some WiFi struggles due to combination of RPI v2, Edimax adapter and Weezy (I think)

  • USB WiFi adapter went to sleep!  Created /etc/modprobe.d/8192cu.conf to prevent WiFi Narcolepsy

  • Struggles when WPA2 Password changed on my network (Error: Could not get status from wpa_supplicant)

    • Had to edit password in  /etc/wpa_supplicant/wpa_supplicant.conf 

    • AES and WPA2 - https://www.raspberrypi.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=28&t=50312

• Lego Case 

  • Roof Tiles via ebay were most expensive part of project!

  • Chimney to accommodate excess speaker wire

Software Optimized - Select [*] the following

1. • Media Systems->Shairport Sync
     // for AirPlay //

   • Remote Access->Remot3.it
     // Requires account, installer is now connectd-installer //

   • Hardware Projects->RPi.GPIO
     // For CutiePi lights/button action //

Software Additional - Some may have already been selected [*] by Optimized Software

1. • System->ALSA 
     // linux sound system //

   • Shared Libraries->Python Pip: python pip package installer
     // For CutiePi.py world //    

   • Networking->Avahi-Daemon: hostname broadcast (mac, pc bonjour)
     // For shairport-sync //

Remember to:  Install: Go >> Start installation for selected software

<Forced reboot>

Occasional Snap/Crackle/Pop (Which RARELY happens when the real CutiePi is sitting in my shop with me!  

• • Shairport-Sync seems to be adamant on sound devices that play CD Quality (44,100 fps).  I messed around with ALSA rate conversion to no avail.  

  • Dietpi Audio option "PSU Noise Reduction" seemed like a good idea ... BUT ... I have to remember that HDMI is OFF when option is set.  

  • Final issue ended up being speakers originally used for the project came fro, Papa's junk pile!  

V4 Features

• Simplify WiFi setup (Comitup wifi bootstrap)

• Push4Papa:  Add button, lights and a mic for chit-chat when Papa is online

• Alternative to uploaded songs/wav sound files (my ftp server disappeared)

• Config file, preferably local web page to pull some of this stuff together

Rough notes for now ... 

dietpi software selection (to ensure this stuff will all live together):

│    5    ALSA: Advanced Linux Sound Architecture                                                         │

│    16   Build-Essential: GNU C/C++ compiler, development libraries and headers                          │

│    17   Git: Clone and manage Git repositories locally                                                  │

│    37   Shairport Sync: airplay audio player with multiroom sync                                        │

│    69   Python 3 RPi.GPIO: Control Raspberry Pi GPIO channels in Python 3                               │

│    96   Samba Server: Feature-rich SMB/CIFS server                                                      │

│    103  DietPi-RAMlog: Makes /var/log a RAM disk, preserves file structure on reboot                    │

│    104  Dropbear: Lightweight SSH server                                                                │

│    130  Python 3: Runtime system, pip package installer and development headers                         │

│    152  Avahi-Daemon: hostname broadcast (mac, pc bonjour)                                              │

│                             

Other Software (as root)

• sudo apt-get install joe 

• Samba (smb):  copy files to/from cutiepi instead of FTPing

• pygame:  apt-get install pyton3-pygame

• gpiozero:  apt-get install python3-gpiozero

• ffmpeg:  apt-get install ffmpeg

Original CutiePi script (as dietpi) - [works!]

• via smb:  CutiePi source and cutiesounds

• One tweak to service:  use python3 instead of python 

Add Comitup:  Wifi bootstrap (from Pi in the Sky testing) - [ it works!]

• dietpi-config:  Enable Wifi, Turn off Boot wait for network

• Allow comitup to manage wifi world

  • remove wifi references in /etc/network/interfaces

  • Rename (or delete) /etc/wpa_suplicant/wpa_suplicant.conf 

  • IF there is one:  The systemd.resolved service should be disabled and masked to avoid contention for providing DNS service.

  • IF there is one:  The line dns=dnsmasq should not be in /etc/NetworkManager/NetworkManager.conf.

• Install via apt-get install comitup

  • Changed default ssid in /etc/comitup/comitup.conf - now ap_name: <hostname>-<nnn>

Push4Papa:  Looks like TalkiePi may drop right in ...

• Hardware ... 3 LEDs and a button.  Will also consider an RGB LED (4-pin) to simplify Lego block accommodations!

  • 4-pin LED info @ https://einhugur.net/blog/index.php/xojo-gpio/working-with-leds-and-wiring-4-pin-rgb-led-to-raspberry-pi/
    and https://www.digikey.com/en/resources/conversion-calculators/conversion-calculator-led-series-resistor
    and https://os.mbed.com/users/4180_1/notebook/rgb-leds/

  • TalkiePi @ https://projectable.me/i-built-a-wifi-walkie-talkie-for-my-kids-now-you-can-too/

  • mic via usbsound initially:  https://linuxconfig.org/how-to-test-microphone-with-audio-linux-sound-architecture-alsa

• Followed install from https://github.com/dchote/talkiepi/tree/master/doc

  • had to apt-get install pkg-config
    due to: "pkg-config: exec: "pkg-config": executable file not found in $PATH"

• Seems to run OK .... BUT it is an alsa-mixer hog, it locks on to alsa device, preventing use by CutiePi services

  • shairport-sync[585]: warning: alsa: error -16 ("Device or resource busy") opening alsa device "default".

  •  CutiePi.py just waits and waits and waits for mixer device to become available

  • Looks to be fixable ... will revisit if all this other stuff works too

    • Will need to learn go!   

    • hints/tidbits:  detacher.go, talkiepi/main.go, event.go

Spotify Playlists instead of uploaded sound files

• Raspspotify:  Nah, that's not what I was looking for - best description @ https://all3dp.com/2/raspotify-spotify-raspberry-pi-tutorial/

• Spotipy:  Seems to be what I need @ https://spotipy.readthedocs.io

  • More @ https://medium.com/@kothawleprem/how-to-play-a-spotify-audio-with-python-7daca30677e3

• CutiePi V4 Prototype is an amalgamation of the SmartiePi project (GCompris w/ Monitor & Keyboard) PLUS Musicbox capabilities ... thoughts/features

  1. Hardware:  Add a monitor and wireless keyboard/trackpad to facilitate visual learning environment

  2. Software:  Based on DietPi/Buster .... CutiePi Script and Shairport seem to work fine AND live in harmony in the following world ... . 

     • Incorporate SmartiePi environment.  

       • LXQt desktop (from DietPi optimized software library) 

       • GCompris.net  - nice educational software suite WITH a Raspberry Pi Beta (QT-Based)

     • CutiePi V3 - for push button / LED sound/music action

     • Shairport-Sync from DietPi optimized software library

• Couple of things to research/work on

  1. Sound file changes are a Pain in the Arse!   Locate sounds/music, convert to wav, ftp to CutiePi - need to find a better way!

  2. Sound SEEMED to work - CutiePi/Shairport ALSA, GComris PulseAudio, but more to learn here.  

  3. Performance on RPi3+ was pretty poor, more testing, possibly on RPI4 to see if this will even work!

  4. Letton mouse is very cute (pink and big) ... but ... SLOOOOOW!   I had to add one of these to /boot/cmdline.txt -> "usbhid.mousepoll=0"

• Considering a couple of options - Learning Platforms, simple OS or combination of the two - VERY early

  1. Kano OS - Looked really good, but may not be around.  My install tests @ ventures.tpedersen.net/errata/raspberrypi-os-alternatives

  2. SugarOS - It works, but seemed dated - My test notes

  3. Endless OS - Easy to use environment if I need to build it myself - Test notes

  4. Stumbled onto GCompris, which is installed on top of RaspOS.   It looks REALLY good

Notes/Logs

• Sticking with Dietpi Stretch for now ... number of general stumbles attempting latest/buster

  • Dietpi pings 1.1.1.1 to test network ... our ISP (TDS) seems to block 1.1.1.1 ... yeesh!)
    Changed to quad9 (9.9.9.9 in dietpie.txt, but end up with reboot issues)

  • Pygame sounds were flaky - occasional hiss/static instead of wav sound

    • Noticed that libav-tools was gone (not installable), installed ffmpeg instead.  Not sure if this was the issue

  • Enough was enough - Sticking with Stretch for now

Research

• Wait for any button - https://gpiozero.readthedocs.io/en/stable/migrating_from_rpigpio.html?highlight=wait_for_edge

• Crap! How did I miss THIS!  https://projects.raspberrypi.org/en/projects/gpio-music-box/6