
-----------------------------------
Notes
-----------------------------------

I measured about 600mA for Rpi alone,
750/800 when using the camera.

so .. to be safe, consider 800/900 mA when recording
and also parsing the input from serial port.


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for video recording scripting:

check the two record.py scripts,
the time is set but you can say "0" to record forever,
and use python to start/stop recording based on the external
GPIO triggering.

NOTE: make sure you test LONG files recording, see here:
http://www.raspberrypi.org/forums/viewtopic.php?t=45330&p=358772

the python library PiCamera is a GEM,
you can set a bunch of stuff and you can also make "segmented"
recordings in multiple files of a fixed size.

Make sure you check out the picamera usage here:
http://picamera.readthedocs.org/en/latest/api.html
also interesting:
https://github.com/waveform80/picamera/blob/master/docs/fov.rst#id5

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how to turn on/off an led:
see the python ledblinker example.
also useful here:
https://learn.adafruit.com/debugging-with-the-raspberry-pi-webide/debug-a-blinking-led

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to use an external signal to start the script:
see this example for poweroff
http://danielpecos.com/2013/09/raspberrypi-custom-command-button/
instead of doing a poweroff you can start the recording python script.

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to read from serial you will HAVE to disable the tty console.
https://learn.adafruit.com/adafruit-ultimate-gps-on-the-raspberry-pi/using-uart-instead-of-usb
NOTE: at this point in time you can only use SSH over ethernet to connect to your board. see this one:

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final trick:
I left a script called rpi_bootstrapper.sh under /etc.
you can enable the script in /etc/rc.local
if you plug a realtek/ralink supported wifi dongle,
it will automatically connect to your AP.

the beauty is .. if it fails to connect it will fall back to softAP!!!

1) plug your wifi dongle into the usb
2) set your SSID into the /etc/rpi_bootstrapper.sh
3) set your ssid/password into your /etc/wpa_supplicant/wpa_supplicant.conf

reboot and you are all set!
