Hardware Reference
In-Depth Information
You are welcome to use a similar device of your choosing. A good alternaive will be to use an
Arduino with a Wi-Fi adapter/shield (for example, the ESP8266 Wi-Fi module can be found at
prefer, an Ethernet shield (as discussed in the previous task of this project).
Prepare for lift off
In this task, we will set up the Spark Core. Power up the Spark Core using a micro-USB cable
connected to a power source (5 V source). It can be powered using a batery pack, a laptop,
or a 5 V USB wall wart. Based on your project needs, you can use a batery pack if the sensor
node for the pet monitor has to be installed outdoors.
The easiest way to connect the Spark Core to your Wi-Fi network is through a phone
applicaion. This and other mechanisms are detailed o
n the Spark Core website (
http
://
docs.spark.io/connect/
). We will set up our Spark Core by downloading the applicaion
onto an Android phone and Samsung Galaxy S5 throu
gh the Google Play store (
https://
play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=i
o.spark.core.android&hl=en
). The
app searches for Spark Cores in range and if you supply the Wi-Fi password, it sends the code
to the Core(s) and lets it connect to your Wi-Fi.
The SparkCore board
