Dock Options

Nikola Jankovic

Hey guys, I just received my survey concerning my omega2 and I'm meant to pick out a dock. This is the first development board I've ever used and have no previous experience - I really dont even know what exactly is required to operate it.

I'm wondering what dock I should select. I see that there's a Power Dock - do I need that one to run the omega2? I was unable to find information about specific docks anywhere. What's the difference between the docks? Do they all act as 'power docks' in the sense that they allow me to power the board?

Thanks or the help!

Kit Bishop

@Nikola-Jankovic Yes, you will need adock unless you want to wire the Omega direct for power etc.

A quick summary of the available docks as listed in https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/omega2-5-linux-computer-with-wi-fi-made-for-iot#/ is:

Mini Dock Provides two connectors that can be used as follows:
- mini-USB that will supply power from an external USB power supply
- standard USB that can be used to connect separate USB device(s)
There is no easy way to connect to the general pins
Expansion Dock Provides:
- mini-USB that will supply power from an external USB power supply
- standard USB that can be used to connect separate USB device(s)
- Connector that allows stacking of various Expansion Boards and access to the general pins
Power Dock Like the Expansion Dock and provides:
- mini-USB that will supply power from an external USB power supply but see below on battery
- standard USB that can be used to connect separate USB device(s)
- Connector that allows stacking of various Expansion Boards and access to the general pins
- Ability to connect a LiPo battery to supply power as an alternative to providing power via the mini-USB
But note that unlike the Mini Dock and Expansion Dock, it does NOT have on board USB-Serial chip
Arduino Dock R2 Provides the following:
- mini-USB that will supply power from an external USB power supply but see below on battery
- standard USB that can be used to connect separate USB device(s)
- Standard Arduino connectors to provide access to Arduino Shields - this includes the ability to provide power to the Omega via the Arduino power pins
- Also breaks out access to the general pins in same format as Expansion Boards but requires you to add the additional of headers required

Scott W Wood

@Kit-Bishop
Does the USB on the arduino dock connect to the atmel side of things or the Omega2 side of things?

Kit Bishop

@Scott-W-Wood I can only reply in connection with the original Omega and original Arduino Dock - I have not yet received my Omega2 and new Arduino Dock R2 - there is no documentation I can find on the latest versions that would allow me to respond definitively on them, though the photos shown on https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/omega2-5-linux-computer-with-wi-fi-made-for-iot#/ for the Arduino Dock R2 show that there are some differences and I don't know how significant these differences are.

However, from my experience with the original Omega and original Arduino Dock I can say that the USB connectivity is to the Omega in the same way as it is for the Expansion Dock and Mini Dock - see the schematics for the Arduino Dock (https://github.com/OnionIoT/Onion-Hardware/blob/master/Schematics/Omega-Arduino-Dock.pdf), Expansion Dock (https://github.com/OnionIoT/Onion-Hardware/blob/master/Schematics/Omega-Expansion-Dock.pdf) and Mini Dock (https://github.com/OnionIoT/Onion-Hardware/blob/master/Schematics/Omega-Mini-Dock.pdf)