freshwuzhere wrote:...My question is: - I need to buy a couple more phidget type devices for various applications. Is this still the correct technology to go with - or is Raspberry Pi or something else the way to go?
I like the sensors that are available with phidgets pre-matched and debugged - is the technology getting old?
Well, you actually asked 2 questions! v
1) You can use the RPi with Phidget boards and sensors. There are a couple of routes. First route: just install the Phidget libs (v2.1) and the Phidget web-service on the RPi and it will act like an SBC - expert, IMHO, it will be more reliable. Of course, you do lose the SBC web based management interface. But, depending on your unix capabilities, that may not be much of a loss. Second route: Use software like
VirtualHere on the RPi to mount the USB Phidget on the Mac and then treat them locally on the Mac.
Most of the original Phidget sensors are still current and quite usable. They work, I se no reason to change. Also, I do not like wireless devices, just one more thing to go wrong. The new Phidgets VINT devices seem to add a lot of flexibility, but not necessarily any more power. Also, the plugin is not (yet) compatible with the VINT devices. If the original Phidget meet your needs, I'd stick with them. There is not really anything better out there, just mostly things that feature IOT integration -- and that is exactly what you have when you use Phidget with Indigo.