ChApTEr 2 ■ hArdwArE for IoT SoluTIonS
components directly to the board. I have used a number of Prototino boards for projects where I have added
the components to the Prototino and installed it in the chassis. This allowed me to create a solution using a
single board and even build several copies quickly and easily.
Like the Sippino, the Prototino doesn’t have a USB connection, so you have to use an FTDI cable to
program it. Figure 2-11 shows a Prototino board.
I’ve used the Prototino in a number of projects where I had prototyped a circuit on a breadboard and
wanted to quickly transfer it to a permanent board.^6 In fact, I started using the Prototino in many of my early
projects because it was so easy to work with the breadboard layout of the solder pads.
Like the Sippino, the Prototino is available only as a self-assembly kit. You can find specific
documentation for the Prototino at http://spikenzielabs.com.
Sparkfun ESP8266 WiFi Module
There is one last board I have in my collection of third-party Arduino boards. The ESP8266 WiFi module
is one of the latest additions to the category. It is sometimes listed under the IOT category because of its
unique features. Sparkfun’s ESP8266 Thing has many cool features such as a LiPo battery connector, on/off
switch (very handy), an external antenna connector (also handy for increasing range), a USB programming
port, and of course all the available pins broken out. The board is also very small.
Figure 2-11. Prototino
(^6) Well, permanent until you unsolder it!