Adafruit
Onion Omega2+ Starter Kit
Ever wanted your own Linux-based IoT computer? A small one, that can be battery powered? The Onion Omega2 is sort of in-between a microcontroller (like an...
Ever wanted your own Linux-based IoT computer? A small one, that can be battery powered? The Onion Omega2 is sort of in-between a microcontroller (like an Arduino/CircuitPython/MakeCode running chip) and a full-fledged microcomputer (like Raspbery Pi). What you get is a bite-sized development board that combines the power-efficiency of the Arduino and the flexibility of the Raspberry Pi!
So, for example, it runs Linux, but isn't going to replace your desktop computer. It's low power and has a static filesystem, but still requires some time to boot up. It's based on the MediaTek MT7688, a WiFi SoC that was initially designed for devices like WiFi routers or complex IoT devices. It comes with a variant of OpenWRT (nicknamed Onion OS) that is a slimmed down version of Linux. It's not going to run node.js but it is Linux. So, you get WiFi built in, and a full TCP/IP stack with SSL/TLS with all the scripting/programming language support that you expect.
Unlike a Raspberry Pi, you don't get a desktop or even a console on HDMI. Instead, you use a serial connection/ssh and the command line, or the simplified webpage interface to program it. So it's good if you have a bit of experience with those things!
Where it excels is as a physical computing platform, with hardware and WiFi. Wanna know how to blink an LED, or even multiple (!) LEDs? You can do that! You'll be able to read switches and use shift registers. Blinking text? No problem! A 7-Segment display and an LCD screen are included! The Starter Kit comes with all the fixins' to get comfortable with IoT and programming languages, including Python, C++, Node js, php, Bash, Ruby, Perl, Lua, G, and more!
This starter kit has everything you need to dip your toes into Onion Omega2+ play and development. Once you have your project or product well-developed you can then purchase individual Omega2's and add-on boards from Onion.
This Onion Omega2+ Starter Kit includes:
- Omega2+ development board – comes with built-in Wi-Fi and onboard storage. 128 MB RAM and 32 MB Flash memory and microSD card for additional storage
- Expansion Dock
- Wall Charger
- USB Micro-B Cable
- Breadboard
- 20 x M-M Jumper Wire
- 20 x M-F Jumper Wire
- 20 x LEDs
- 5 x 100nF Capacitor
- 5 x 100Ω Resistor
- 20 x 200Ω Resistor
- 5 x 470Ω Resistor
- 5 x 1kΩ Resistor
- 5 x 5.1 kΩ Resistor
- 5 x 51 kΩ Resistor
- 12 x Push Button
- 5 x Slide Switch
- Digital Temperature Sensor
- 7-Segment Display
- 16x2 LCD Screen
- Shift Register
We also stock the Maker kit which comes with more stuff like an OLED, relay and servo/PWM board
Jargon buster
Plain-language definitions for the technical terms used above.
- CircuitPython
- A beginner-friendly version of Python designed to run directly on microcontroller boards. If a product supports CircuitPython, you can often program it by copying code files onto the board rather than setting up a more complex toolchain.
- Flash memory
- Non-volatile memory that keeps stored data even when power is removed. In this sensor, it matters because enrolled fingerprint templates can remain saved after the project is turned off.
- HDMI
- HDMI is a common digital video and audio connection used by computers, media players, and many displays. If a display kit has HDMI input, it is usually much easier to test with a single-board computer because it can act like a normal monitor.
- IoT
- Short for Internet of Things, meaning physical devices that connect to networks or the internet to send data or be controlled remotely. It matters if you want projects such as connected sensors, remote controls or classroom data-logging activities.
- LCD
- LCD stands for liquid crystal display, a screen technology that uses a backlight and liquid crystals to show images or text. It matters because LCD modules usually need a display driver and enough controller pins or a bus interface to send image data.
- LED
- A light-emitting diode is a small electronic component that lights up when current flows through it in the correct direction. In this kit, LEDs create the flashing effect, so polarity and correct soldering matter for the project to work.
- microcontroller
- A microcontroller is a small computer on a chip that runs your program and controls connected inputs and outputs. For this product, it is the part that reads buttons and sensors, drives the display and speaker, and communicates over Bluetooth.
- microSD card
- A microSD card is a small removable memory card used to store files such as audio tracks. For this product, the card is where the sound files live, so its capacity and formatting can affect how many sounds you can use.
- RAM
- RAM is temporary memory used while a device is running, and its contents are lost when power is removed. A “Run in RAM” mode is useful for testing settings without permanently programming the module, but it may not support every feature.
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