NanoPC-T1: Linux Feedback, HDMI, LCD, Running Application

Hello all,
I finally managed to Install Android and then Linux on the NanoPC.

I have Linux running right now and it runs a test pattern on the two LED's,
and I understand there is no HDMI support as per the documentation.

My questions:

1)
I understand an LCD needs an accessory board from friendlyarm to be able to
connect to the 41-pin interface, but I wanted to avoid bulking up my setup
with that.
Has anyone out there done the HDMI driver part by any chance?

2)
Feedback aside,
What technique could be used to run an application program from the SD card
after Linux starts up? Can I just create a script that points to the
executable on the card? Sorry if that's naive, just getting started on
Linux too.

3)
Is there source for this Friendlyarm Linux version, or for the LED demo
application?  

Thank you very much!

1) There are PCD panels recommended by FriendlyArm that just plug in.

I had specific LCD panels for NanoPi, NanoPi2, NanoPC-T1, T2 and T3.  But,
I see there is no recommendation for your unit.

If you are talking about bare LCD without the driver chips then you are
probably in for quite a bit of work.

2) In /etc/rc.local you can just add a line before the exit 0

   ie, cd /home
       ./run_my_script.sh  and add a & if you want it to run in the
background.

3) Had to have a look as I never had one of these.  I see this unit is
pre-Debian Jessie, so can't answer that one.


Do you want to cross-compile your own code for this unit?

But, you probably don't have /etc/rc.local as that is the way Debian does
it.

There are other ways of running a script after boot.  I had to do it for
the mini2440.

Wow thank you for the prompt answers davef.

1) 
Yeah for the NanoPc-T1 I would have to use an LCD interface board due to
the voltage levels
http://nanopc.org/FT-LCD1833.html

But I'd rather not add another board to all this if I can.

I was wondering if anyone has made the HDMI driver for Linux by now, but I
doubt it.

2)
Ok thanks, I'll try these things as soon as I get a terminal going.

3)
Well if I can hook it up to a tv or lcd and have gcc etc, I could code on
the board itself. 
The other option is, yeah, to cross-compile on Windows and dump the
executable on the SD-card like I mentioned.

Thanks again!

Ouch, I didn't realise the different LCD interface.  I see they say it
allows more LCD modules to be used.  Maybe "more" means "any".

Just some issues to be aware of: 
- some of these earlier boards have heatsinking issues.
- you will get very little support for this unit.
- the only units I have seen native compilation running on are the Rasp**Pi
- the lack of a toolchain
- the 4412 in the NanoPC-T1 is one-off, kernel support I believe would be
non-existent, ie you would have to do all the kernel patching yourself

I don't know why they didn't have a Debian Jessie root file system for this
unit, I used one on the original NanoPi

Seriously, I would consider a NanoPC-T3 (with heatsink) or the NanoPi NEO
Air.  The latter is proving to be quite popular.

1) I am sure there was a LCD that didn't need an interface board.
Unfortunately, they are at a place I won't have access to for 3 months, or
I would check.

2) As it has a HDMI connector and HDMI appears in the feature list I would
assume that running the provided Ubuntu Desktop you should be able to use
that.

> I understand there is no HDMI support as per the documentation.

Where do you read this?

Thanks again davef

Yeah the chip does get quite hot, i could slap a small heat-sink myself I
guess, but the other issues you bring up seem more problematic. 

The NanoPC-T3 is absolutely brutal, eight cores? wow! I'll try a few more
things and consider upgrading to that one, I would just hate to waste this
T1, but oh well... 

One more question, I will happen to be visiting Guangzhou soon, do you
think it's possible to buy the boards in-person? forgive my question if you
are not really involved with that.


>> I understand there is no HDMI support as per the documentation.
>Where do you read this?

http://nanopc.org/NanoPC-T1_Feature.html

I meant for stand-alone Linux only, no HDMI support :(

It's strange that there is like three or four sites spun out for all this,
I still don't understand that.

Don't feel bad I have two T1s doing nothing!  Just make sure you get the
heatsink if offered for any of the new units.

In person ... maybe try sending a PM to tech support on the new forum. 
Never been to China.

The T3 is a nice unit.  The NEO AIR is quite popular and has Armbian
support.  I was a bit apprehensive moving away from Samsung parts, maybe
some day I will try a AllWinner dev board.

How those "three or four sites" fit together is a bit of a mystery.  I
believe nanopc.org was a re-seller.  There was a thread on this site about
people's impressions how things worked there.

FriendlyArm -> Friendly Elec are the people developing and supporting the
product, as far as I am aware.

Good luck!

Doesn't look like there has been any new stuff at nanopc.org for a few
years.

The T1 page at wiki.friendlyarm.com does not mention any limitations on
HDMI.  I suspect when the product was introduced there may have been an
issue, but then FriendlyArm sorted it.