Best Arduino Starter Packaged Kits on Amazon. (also what about "Rasbery Pi"?)

[John R Retired]

New to Arduino, although I have done some programming.

There are many Arduino starter kits available on Amazon. There are quite a few configured package choices with different extra components included for the money. Which one would be considered the, "Best Bang for Your Buck" and would give you more
project situations to seriously learn various uses of the Arduino, rather than playing around with virtual "toys"?
Serious "Learning" is the key word.

Amazon Arduino Kits

Amazon.com : arduino

Also would learning Rasbery Pi be of any significant value or just an uncecessary extra acquisition to learn this microcontroller niche?

 

[danadak]

Consider buying a sensor assortment kit and seperately a UNO board....

https://www.banggood.com/search/arduino-uno.html?from=nav

https://www.banggood.com/search/sensor-kit.html?from=nav

https://www.banggood.com/search/jumper-kit.html?from=nav

https://www.amazon.com/s?k=solderless+prototype+boards&crid=2A2F5TGS2FGCV&sprefix=solderless+prototype+boards%2Caps%2C109&ref=nb_sb_noss_2

A couple of displays (generally get the I2C versions, saves GPIO)

https://www.banggood.com/search/lcd-blue.html?from=nav

Basically for same price get a better more useful set of tools .....

The pi board I would consider at a later time unless you hit on an unusual sale. Depends on
project goals you have which direction to go.

An ESP8266/ESP32 coupled with Tuniot (to develop code) might be a better more universal choice if
considering web based IOT projects. Additionally using Arduinos Freetos support doing RTOS stuff as
part of your learning ESP32 dual core versions excellent, and code development quite
fasicinating using multitasking. You can get ESP32 modules with OLED displays on topside
of module, very handy. Some examples (these ESP8266 examples, ESP32 latest direction)

Look at post #2 - https://www.electro-tech-online.com...programming-for-beginner.167135/#post-1459157

Arduino is open source, so one aspect of development is a ton of 3'rd part libraries with,
generally, not long lasting support. So you spend some time getting the right lib for projects.
And Arduino IDE updates are now better but lib authors generally dont keep up. So there is
some frustration. Just mentally know you will spend time, and get more proficient, at dealing
with this. And the Arduino forum very repsonsive and helpeful.

Regards, Dana.

 

[John R Retired]

Consider buying a sensor assortment kit and seperately a UNO board....

https://www.banggood.com/search/arduino-uno.html?from=nav

https://www.banggood.com/search/sensor-kit.html?from=nav

https://www.banggood.com/search/jumper-kit.html?from=nav

https://www.amazon.com/s?k=solderless+prototype+boards&crid=2A2F5TGS2FGCV&sprefix=solderless+prototype+boards%2Caps%2C109&ref=nb_sb_noss_2

A couple of displays (generally get the I2C versions, saves GPIO)

https://www.banggood.com/search/lcd-blue.html?from=nav

Basically for same price get a better more useful set of tools .....

The pi board I would consider at a later time unless you hit on an unusual sale. Depends on
project goals you have which direction to go.

An ESP8266/ESP32 coupled with Tuniot (to develop code) might be a better more universal choice if
considering web based IOT projects. Additionally using Arduinos Freetos support doing RTOS stuff as
part of your learning ESP32 dual core versions excellent, and code development quite
fasicinating using multitasking. You can get ESP32 modules with OLED displays on topside
of module, very handy. Some examples (these ESP8266 examples, ESP32 latest direction)

Look at post #2 - https://www.electro-tech-online.com...programming-for-beginner.167135/#post-1459157

Arduino is open source, so one aspect of development is a ton of 3'rd part libraries with,
generally, not long lasting support. So you spend some time getting the right lib for projects.
And Arduino IDE updates are now better but lib authors generally dont keep up. So there is
some frustration. Just mentally know you will spend time, and get more proficient, at dealing
with this. And the Arduino forum very repsonsive and helpeful.

Regards, Dana.

I don't understand those "banggood" prices. What am I missing? How can they sell that ridiculously low?

examples in your first links:

entire kits with components $1.80

"Flash Deals"
$5.39
----Is that "Per Sensor"?

https://www.banggood.com/45-IN-1-or-37-IN-1-Sensor-Module-Starter-Kits-Set-For-Arduino-Raspberry-Pi-Education-Bag-Package-p-1619901.html?cur_warehouse=CN&ID=514178&rmmds=search

 

[danadak]

Read the ads carefully but my experience is a flash deal is a one time immeadiate
purchase price for whats being shown. Not expert here I think you can open a chat
and they can give you a link to the definition of a flash deal.

I bought a sensor collection years ago and it was quite low. The sensor URL shows this
in the details :

This is a set of 37 sensors ready to be connected up to a microcontroller,e.g. Arduino or RaspberryPi.

No where is there a select a specific sensor, its for the whole kit of sensors shown.

Again always with offshore ads Read the ads carefully

 

[John R Retired]

Read the ads carefully but my experience is a flash deal is a one time immeadiate
purchase price for whats being shown. Not expert here I think you can open a chat
and they can give you a link to the definition of a flash deal.

I bought a sensor collection years ago and it was quite low. The sensor URL shows this
in the details :



No where is there a select a specific sensor, its for the whole kit of sensors shown.

Again always with offshore ads Read the ads carefully

I'm not familiar with Banggood. Where is that company located? Have you found them to be trustworthy?

"No where is there a select a specific sensor, its for the whole kit of sensors shown."

The reason I asked that is because the price $5.39 just seemed absurdly low for so many sensors

 

[Martaine2005]

Banggood is a legitimate Chinese company.

 

[Delta Prime]

Banggood is a legitimate Chinese company.

I like eBay myself. I sold my homing pigeon six times already on eBay. I have nothing bad to say about them.

 

[Martaine2005]

God damn homies

 

[John R Retired]

I use Amazon because they like to have their vendor production facilities and work force right behind their warehouses so you get
intimate quality control and fast delivery all at an affordable price. It helps the local economy also.

 

[danadak]

I have been using them for > 5 years now, I give them a 4.8 out of 5 rating.

Purchsed everything from simple jumper wires to instrumentation and had very good results.

I also, when looking for price, use aliexpress.com
Not necessarily as good a quality as Banggood, eg. soldering on modules, but overall they do drive price.
You have to read ads carefully there, make sure you know what your buying.
Example when buying ESP32's there are single and dual core parts, not always mentioned in ads.
So you have to do your homework, chat/email with seller, to clarify.
Like buying a used car in US. I was out years ago to buy a car for son (which he paid for) and went to a lot, sales guy and we jumped into a car, and vehicle tranny would not go into reverse.

The sensor assortment I bought by the way was well built, soldered.....

Regards, Dana.

 

[John R Retired]

I have been using them for > 5 years now, I give them a 4.8 out of 5 rating.

Purchsed everything from simple jumper wires to instrumentation and had very good results.

I also, when looking for price, use aliexpress.com
Not necessarily as good a quality as Banggood, eg. soldering on modules, but overall they do drive price.
You have to read ads carefully there, make sure you know what your buying.
Example when buying ESP32's there are single and dual core parts, not always mentioned in ads.
So you have to do your homework, chat/email with seller, to clarify.
Like buying a used car in US. I was out years ago to buy a car for son (which he paid for) and went to a lot, sales guy and we jumped into a car, and vehicle tranny would not go into reverse.

The sensor assortment I bought by the way was well built, soldered.....

Regards, Dana.

I feel kind of unsure of handing my credit card info over to a company in that Country. With Amazon you have a buffer between
Amazon and the vendors. In this case it would be a direct purchase. Maybe some people don't see a problem but with the world
political situation the way it is, especially with the economic conflict between the U.S. and China, you have to stop and think about it.

ALSO
Do you know the difference between an R3 and newer R4 UNO? Is it worth just getting the R4 with whatever new features it has?

Thanks

 

[danadak]

https://support.arduino.cc/hc/en-us/articles/9350551575964-What-s-the-difference-between-UNO-R3-and-UNO-R4-boards

 

[danadak]

I feel kind of unsure of handing my credit card info over to a company in that Country. With Amazon you have a buffer between
Amazon and the vendors.

Then use PayPal ?

 

[John R Retired]

I have been using them for > 5 years now, I give them a 4.8 out of 5 rating.

Purchsed everything from simple jumper wires to instrumentation and had very good results.

I also, when looking for price, use aliexpress.com
Not necessarily as good a quality as Banggood, eg. soldering on modules, but overall they do drive price.
You have to read ads carefully there, make sure you know what your buying.
Example when buying ESP32's there are single and dual core parts, not always mentioned in ads.
So you have to do your homework, chat/email with seller, to clarify.
Like buying a used car in US. I was out years ago to buy a car for son (which he paid for) and went to a lot, sales guy and we jumped into a car, and vehicle tranny would not go into reverse.

The sensor assortment I bought by the way was well built, soldered.....

Regards, Dana.

Consider buying a sensor assortment kit and seperately a UNO board....

https://www.banggood.com/search/arduino-uno.html?from=nav

https://www.banggood.com/search/sensor-kit.html?from=nav

https://www.banggood.com/search/jumper-kit.html?from=nav

https://www.amazon.com/s?k=solderless+prototype+boards&crid=2A2F5TGS2FGCV&sprefix=solderless+prototype+boards%2Caps%2C109&ref=nb_sb_noss_2

A couple of displays (generally get the I2C versions, saves GPIO)

https://www.banggood.com/search/lcd-blue.html?from=nav

Basically for same price get a better more useful set of tools .....

The pi board I would consider at a later time unless you hit on an unusual sale. Depends on
project goals you have which direction to go.

An ESP8266/ESP32 coupled with Tuniot (to develop code) might be a better more universal choice if
considering web based IOT projects. Additionally using Arduinos Freetos support doing RTOS stuff as
part of your learning ESP32 dual core versions excellent, and code development quite
fasicinating using multitasking. You can get ESP32 modules with OLED displays on topside
of module, very handy. Some examples (these ESP8266 examples, ESP32 latest direction)

Look at post #2 - https://www.electro-tech-online.com...programming-for-beginner.167135/#post-1459157

Arduino is open source, so one aspect of development is a ton of 3'rd part libraries with,
generally, not long lasting support. So you spend some time getting the right lib for projects.
And Arduino IDE updates are now better but lib authors generally dont keep up. So there is
some frustration. Just mentally know you will spend time, and get more proficient, at dealing
with this. And the Arduino forum very repsonsive and helpeful.

Regards, Dana.

How would you use the sensors you listed in the Banggood ads in practical application for everyday useful gadgets?
In other words, how would you use these sensors with Arduino to create helpful devices around the house instead of
just for Toys or meaningless fun gizmos? I always look at tools or bargans as to how they might add value to maintenance,
security, making home repair jobs better etc... you get the picture...
Thanks

 

[danadak]

T and/or Gas sensor for fire alarm ....

Current sensor for supply monitoring.....

Just google "sensors", jillions of hits.

 

[John R Retired]

Consider buying a sensor assortment kit and seperately a UNO board....

https://www.banggood.com/search/arduino-uno.html?from=nav

https://www.banggood.com/search/sensor-kit.html?from=nav

https://www.banggood.com/search/jumper-kit.html?from=nav

https://www.amazon.com/s?k=solderless+prototype+boards&crid=2A2F5TGS2FGCV&sprefix=solderless+prototype+boards%2Caps%2C109&ref=nb_sb_noss_2

A couple of displays (generally get the I2C versions, saves GPIO)

https://www.banggood.com/search/lcd-blue.html?from=nav

Basically for same price get a better more useful set of tools .....

The pi board I would consider at a later time unless you hit on an unusual sale. Depends on
project goals you have which direction to go.

An ESP8266/ESP32 coupled with Tuniot (to develop code) might be a better more universal choice if
considering web based IOT projects. Additionally using Arduinos Freetos support doing RTOS stuff as
part of your learning ESP32 dual core versions excellent, and code development quite
fasicinating using multitasking. You can get ESP32 modules with OLED displays on topside
of module, very handy. Some examples (these ESP8266 examples, ESP32 latest direction)

Look at post #2 - https://www.electro-tech-online.com...programming-for-beginner.167135/#post-1459157

Arduino is open source, so one aspect of development is a ton of 3'rd part libraries with,
generally, not long lasting support. So you spend some time getting the right lib for projects.
And Arduino IDE updates are now better but lib authors generally dont keep up. So there is
some frustration. Just mentally know you will spend time, and get more proficient, at dealing
with this. And the Arduino forum very repsonsive and helpeful.

Regards, Dana.

You are advising to get a seperate Arduino and some sensors.

What do you think about this kit or something similar?

Amazon.com

 

[danadak]

Is more limited, for total cost, than the banggood links I showed you but
its OK....

 

[John R Retired]

Is more limited, for total cost, than the banggood links I showed you but
its OK....

OK

so all I need then to get started with Arduino is:

1) an Arduino Uno device (Rev-4 has bluetooth I think)
2) that sensor kit you cited from Banggood
3) displays and ???

Thanks