ALIX.1D pros amd cons

and other offical x86 platforms like e-boxes and fitPC

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oliverb
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ALIX.1D pros amd cons

Post by oliverb »

I have been thinking about the ALIX.1D from http://shop.varia-store.com/product_inf ... IX-1D.html
preconfigured for 199 euros.

I have a WMR928 so I presume it will connect into the ALIX.1D serial port without the serial adaptor I use on my NSLU2?

I see it uses CF cards but are these reliable?

Size is not a problem but what are the pros and cons compared to the other Meteohub hardware?

Any info would be appreciated.
Brett.
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Re:ALIX.1D pros amd cons

Post by admin »

To my knowledge the ALIX systems are very reliable. CF card varia-store bundles with it is a top notch SLC based card (which makes it a bit more expansive). all in all ALIX is a much more reliable platform than NSLU2.

As ALIX can be bought from European sellers at a reasonable price, I personally would prefer it compared to eboxes which are harder to get and provided with a hefty uplift here in Europe.

For non-European users, eboxes might be more interesting as uplifts are the other way round.
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Re:ALIX.1D pros amd cons

Post by P3R »

oliverb wrote:I have a WMR928 so I presume it will connect into the ALIX.1D serial port without the serial adaptor I use on my NSLU2?
Yes, that's what I use and it works great.
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Re:ALIX.1D pros amd cons

Post by oliverb »

Thanks for your prompt replies.:)
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Re:ALIX.1D pros amd cons

Post by AAMFlyer »

I never tried the 1D but didn't have a good experience with the 3D2 on 2 different ones....I think I ended up having static electricity problems.....

Anyway for what it's worth....I got two Ebox 4300's here in the US and so far they are rock solid for me..... I have 2 running and one is in a remote shed with what I would call a harsh environment that see's on avg a daily temp swing of 40d F and temps as high as 100d F in the summer and so far as low as 15 d F in the winter.....not one problem yet.....and I've grounded the cases two....

Gregg
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Re:ALIX.1D pros amd cons

Post by oliverb »

Thanks for the info Gregg. I have seen a few posts about problems with the supplied PSU with the ALIX.1D.
The problem here in the UK is no one seems to sell any of the hardware.

I decided on the ALIX.1D as I have found a supplier in Germany who sells the whole kit with Meteohub preloaded at a very good price. The PSU will not work in the UK but from posts on this forum it seems the PSU need changing anyway.

I am also not sure about customs duty from goods purchased in the US. I bought an item from Canada this year only for it to be intercepted by customs. It ended up costing me tax, extra postage and a handling fee.

I will have to check if buying from an EU country I pay local tax only.
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Re:ALIX.1D pros amd cons

Post by skyewright »

oliverb wrote:Thanks for the info Gregg. I have seen a few posts about problems with the supplied PSU with the ALIX.1D.
The problem here in the UK is no one seems to sell any of the hardware.
Maybe you didn't find LinTx?

They are in the UK and both my ALIX-1D's came from there and I'd happily use them again - though I would not get the standard PSU. The PSU's I now use came from Watt-Power, they were a few pounds more expensive that the standard PSU's but much better suited to the job if your power supply is at all unstable.
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Re:ALIX.1D pros amd cons

Post by oliverb »

Thanks for the info. Added it to my bookmarks. Did you use a case from their site as well?
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oliverb wrote:Thanks for the info. Added it to my bookmarks. Did you use a case from their site as well?
Yes, and the CF card.

Since then I've made a slight modification to one of the cases (I used a hacksaw to cut a short slot in the back edge!) to allow access for the lead of a dual port USB that plugs into the 10 pin header on the Motherboard. That takes the total number of USB ports up to 4. I got the dual port USB from Maplin.
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Re:ALIX.1D pros amd cons

Post by oliverb »

Did you use this PSU (from another thread) in the end and if so any problems? http://www.watt-power.co.uk/catalogue/w ... ibuty_on=1

Thanks.
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Re:ALIX.1D pros amd cons

Post by skyewright »

oliverb wrote:Did you use this PSU (from another thread) in the end and if so any problems? http://www.watt-power.co.uk/catalogue/w ... ibuty_on=1
Yes. Model PSA15W-120.

I have two. Both have behaved well.

N.B. Remember that you will also need the appropriate adaptor to suit the power socket. For my ALIX-1D's that was JACK2.1-2.5.
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Re:ALIX.1D pros amd cons

Post by oliverb »

Thanks again skyewright.
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Re:ALIX.1D pros amd cons

Post by oliverb »

I am about to order an ALIX-1D from LinITX.com.
They have a couple of industrial 4GB compact flash cards listed
http://linitx.com/viewproduct.php?prodid=11950
and
http://linitx.com/viewproduct.php?prodid=12657

does anyone know if these are SLC type and if it is worth the extra for the 2nd card?

I am going for this case and will build my own PSU with battery backup if possible.

Thanks in advance. Brett. Image
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Re:ALIX.1D pros amd cons

Post by skyewright »

oliverb wrote:I am going for this case and will build my own PSU with battery backup if possible.
A PSU with its own battery backup would be very interesting to hear about.

Please let us know how you get on.
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Re:ALIX.1D pros amd cons

Post by netsigi »

This is a really huge case for ALIX...

PSU for Alix can be really small..
http://1wt.eu/articles/alix-ups/
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