Differences

This shows you the differences between two versions of the page.

--- doc:appunti:hardware:raspberrypi_nas_x835_sata_board [2021/03/10 07:26] – created niccolo
+++ doc:appunti:hardware:raspberrypi_nas_x835_sata_board [2021/04/12 12:07] (current) – niccolo
@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 ====== Raspberry Pi NAS: The X835 board ======
+This page is about using the **SupTronics X835** with the Raspberry Pi, to be used as NAS and mediacenter. See the main index at **[[raspberrypi_nas]]**.
 In January 2021 I purchased an HDD shield for the Raspberry Pi, it is the **[[http://www.suptronics.com/miniPCkits/x835.html|X835]]** model produced by **[[http://suptronics.com|suptronics.com]]**. It is not so cheap: I had to pay about **32 Euros** on Aliexpress for the bare board, without a power supply. The board can accomodate a **3.5 inches hard disk**. I wish to build an **home NAS** with integrated **multimedia center functions** based on **[[https://kodi.tv/|Kodi]]**. The output will go to an HDMI attached 32 inches display.
@@ Line 12: / Line 14: @@
 So my advice is to **enlarge the holes in the board**, so that you can pass **#6-32 screws** to properly attach the hard disk.
-===== WiFi and USB 3.0 interference problem =====
+===== 2.4 GHz WiFi and USB 3.0 interference problem =====
+{{.:raspberrypi:wifi-forbidden.png?90 |WiFi Warning}}
 Long story short: the **USB 3.0** signals cause **interferences** on the **2.4 GHz** frequencies, so you can experience grave problems on **WiFi** connectivity or **keyboard/mouse wireless** dongles. People say that there are not problem on 5 GHz WiFi.
+Unfortunately I must confirm that the **2.4 GHz WiFi problem is severe**: I cannot connect to the **access point** which is just **some meters away** in the same room. Also my **wireless keyboard** (which uses an USB dongle operating on the 2.4 GHz band) become **unresponsive** when I walk away from the Raspberry Pi by just **one or two meters**.
+I tried to **shield** the X835 board from the Raspberry Pi using an **aluminium foil** grounded to the negative pole of the power, but it was useless. It seems that the interference is generated **into the Raspberry Pi circuits itself**, it is not  added by the X835 board. Infact you can read on the internet several story about Raspberry Pi, USB 3 and 2.4 GHz WiFi problems, which do not involve the SupTronics interface.
+So the only viable solution for **network connection** is to use a **5 GHz WiFi** access point or the **Ethernet** cable. If you need a **wireless keyboard** or **gamepad** you can connect the USB dongle to the Raspberry Pi using an extension cable; I use one about of 0.5 meters, taking care to arrange the cable as far as possible from the Raspberry Pi. In this way **I can operate the gamepad** in the room at a distance of about 5 meters.
+If you **connect the X835 board** through one **USB 2 interface** of the Raspberry Pi, you can solve the interference problem. I tried that configuration and I was able to use a **remote keyboard** and a **remote gamepad** (both using a 2.4 GHz USB nano dongle) with no problems. You have to forgo the hard disk performance granted by the USB 3.0 bus (e.g. 185 Mb/s read rate) and stuck to USB 2 (32 Mb/s).
   * **[[https://hackaday.com/2019/11/28/raspberry-pi-4-hdmi-is-jamming-its-own-wifi/|Raspberry Pi 4 HDMI Is Jamming Its Own WiFi]]**
@@ Line 21: / Line 32: @@
   * **[[https://github.com/raspberrypi/firmware/issues/1430|USB3 and 2.4 GHz Wifi]]**
+===== Web References =====
+  * **{{.:raspberrypi:suptronics-x835-board-raspberry-pi4.pdf|SupTronics X835 User Manual}}**