Orange Pi

[RCompassi]

As the prices of the raspberry pi are sky-rocketing, is it possible to use an Orange Pi?

Has anyone done it already?

Thanks

[EricClaeys]

@RCompassi Never heard of an Orange Pi. How similar is it to a Raspberry Pi? Same OS?

[RCompassi]

Check it out: https://orangepi.com/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=866

It can run Ubuntu and armbian (and android, but thats not our goal)

[EricClaeys]

@RCompassi I think you would be very unhappy with it, even if it were able to run Allsky.

• Not sure what camera you would use. No USB 3 and it's unlikely the RPiHQ camera would work.
• 1 GB memory max isn't much. I suggest people get 4 GB to avoid issues with swap.
• 32 GB max flash card is pretty small.
  I could be wrong though, so if you want to try, go ahead. We won't be able to provide any support though.

Are all models of the Pi hard to get?

Eric

[RCompassi]

I'm testing with a pi3 with 1gb ram and asi120, so far, no hiccups. I guess I'll give it a try!

Any recommended OS? Ubuntu or armbian will run all the scripts necessary?

[EricClaeys]

@RCompassi The Pi3 works fine. With 1 GB ram you'll want to add a couple GB swap - see the Wiki for instructions. And just so you know, most people with the 120 wish they had something else. It tends to be very noisy and is prone to problems. But, it's inexpensive and a lot of people can't afford anything else.

I'm pretty sure the Pi uses Debian as its base. You may want to first try with the Pi image. Probably won't work, but if it does, that'll make things much easier.

Eric

[khobar95]

I found this one on Amazon and have been wondering the same thing - would it work with the software? It says it has a RPi camera port, and it has 1xUSB3.0. The 1GB is shared with the GPU, but could this be overcome by running without a window manager?

I'm currently running on a Pi Zero W with only 512MB. It works reasonably well, but I'd like something a little faster.
Thoughts?

https://www.amazon.com/Orange-Pi-Raspberry-Wholesale-Available/dp/B07ZYLCC6T/ref=sr_1_2?crid=QIQR7WIC49T6&keywords=Orange+Pi+PC+Quad+Core&qid=1659628849&sprefix=orange+pi+pc+quad+core%2Caps%2C226&sr=8-2

[EricClaeys]

@khobar95 I think that's basically the same unit as what @RCompassi mentioned, so the same comments would apply. I don't see any mention of a USB 3 port, and the 3 ports it has are white (USB2), not blue (USB3).

[RCompassi]

I have successfully used an Orange Pi PC plus to run the software. It is a bit slower creating the timelapse (it takes longer than a pi3), using an Asi224, but it is WAY cheaper.

I used the Armbian_22.05.4_Orangepipcplus_bullseye_current_5.15.48.img and it runs very well

[EricClaeys]

@RCompassi That's good news. Can you send me whatever information you have on what you had to do to get the Orange Pi working, that's different than a Raspberry Pi? I'd like to add something to the Wiki because I'm sure other people will be curious about them.

I looked on Amazon an hour ago and the prices of an 8 GB Pi was $280 USD. I paid less than half that a year ago. WOW!

[RCompassi]

I didn't had to do anything, just burn this image: https://redirect.armbian.com/region/EU/orangepipcplus/Bullseye_current

I had to connect an hdmi monitor to create the root password and first user + password.

After rebooting, you can connect via ssh (I'm ussing PuTTY)

The installation process is exactly the same that on the raspberry.

The only thing that doesn't seems to work is the throttling status, I guess the architecture is different, but a little tweak on the code and it should be good to go

[khobar95]

RCompassi - thanks very much for the info. I just received my Orange Pi PC+ a couple of days ago - just powered it up today in fact, and I've since been able to get the Allsky software installed. However, I'm scratching my head over the CSI connector - it's different than the Raspberry Pi, and it appears different from the Pi Zero. I have a new IMX378 camera that I planned to use, but no way to connect it.

So, can you or someone else tell me what cable I need??

Cheers and clear skies!
Paul

[khobar95]

I am blind. Ugh. But what about the RPi camera port? And if the software worked on it, do you think this would be a significant upgrade from the Pi Zero W?

[RCompassi]

Maybe with some more powerfull versio, because the PC Plus versions seems slower than a pi3

[khobar95]

Well, I ordered one and will follow your lead on the image, etc. I think I have another RPi camera somewhere for quick testing. All I gotta do now is wait. ;)

Cheers!

[khobar95]

Ugh, not looking good at all. Coming to understand "CSI" seems like a generic term, and the two boards use incompatible interfaces, so even if the cable did fit, it wouldn't work anyway.

Unless??

[khobar95]

Okay, so given the technical issues, I decided to put the Orange Pi to use with Octoprint and my 3D printer, and pull the P4 from there to use as my second all-sky camera system.