Amidst a relatively large number of more spammy seeming emails, Oracle sent me one pertaining to a Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) that they were repeating: Develop Java Embedded Applications Using a Raspberry Pi. Apparently there had been an overwhelming response to it the first time around. My source for this is the Oracle site “Based on the overwhelming response for the Java Embedded MOOC currently underway – we are offering the course again.”

Regardless, it seems right up my alley with respect to the other things I have going on in my life, so I figured I’d give it a shot. It also happens to be an excellent continuation for Cailyn as she had just started learning Java and was exploring the world of Arduino before we moved. She was working on a wireless temperature sensor, but that was pretty successfully interrupted by our huge life change. This seemed to both of us like an awesome way to get back on track.

They had one big kit of everything you needed for the course, fulfilled by Adafruit, which seemed pretty handy. You are able to buy the hardware kit bundled with a Raspberry Pi Model B, or without if you already own one. Cailyn and I both opted to get the pack with a Raspberry Pi, which leaves my first one open to the other half-baked side projects I’ve been trying with it. Unfortunately up until yesterday the expected wait time for either the pack was on the order of 15 – 30 business days, which is essentially unavailable. Yesterday I got a notification that they were available, and over the course of about 12 hours the stock dwindled to the same 15 – 30 business day availability. We went and found all of the components online and pieced it together ourselves, and the price ended up being similar, but not ideal. We paid more because nobody sells a single capacitor of exactly the type we need with no shipping charge, but it ended up in an acceptable ballpark.

We bought most of it from Adafruit anyways, and that showed up promptly. A couple more stragglers were purchased from elsewhere, or shipped to Ogdensburg (we order quite a bit there). Here’s a view of everything we’ve gotten so far (plus the bonus breadboard that Adafruit shipped as a gift in the top left corner.

Bill of materials

• 2 x Adafruit Assembled Pi Cobbler Breakout + Cable for Raspberry Pi[ID:914] = $15.90
• 2 x Raspberry Pi Model B 512MB RAM[ID:998] = $79.90
• 2 x USB cable – A/MicroB (3ft) [ID:592] = $7.90
• 2 x 5V 1A (1000mA) USB port power supply – UL Listed[ID:501] = $11.90
• 2 x USB to TTL Serial Cable – Debug / Console Cable for Raspberry Pi[ID:954] = $19.90
• 2 x SD/MicroSD Memory Card (4 GB SDHC)[ID:102] = $15.90
• 2 x USB MicroSD Card Reader/Writer – microSD / microSDHC / microSDXC[ID:939] = $11.90
• 2 x Full sized breadboard[ID:239] = $11.90
• 2 x Breadboarding wire bundle[ID:153] = $12.00
• 2 x Ethernet Cable – 10 ft long[ID:730] = $5.90
• 2 x Adafruit Ultimate GPS Breakout – 66 channel w/10 Hz updates (Version 3) [ID:746] = $79.90
• 4 x Photo cell (CdS photoresistor)[ID:161] = $3.80
• 2 x Miniature WiFi (802.11b/g/n) Module: For Raspberry Pi and more[ID:814] = $23.90
• 1 x Adafruit Perma-Proto Half-sized Breadboard PCB – Single[ID:1609] = $0.00

Sub-Total: $300.70
Sales Tax: $0.00
United Parcel Service (1 pkg x 4.74 lbs total – EXPRESS SAVER): $33.25
Total: $333.95

There was also some COD, but I have no idea how much that was yet. We’re waiting on a couple more pieces.

We got the BMP180 modules from ebay, because they were out of stock on Adafruit, which came out to $28.04 taxes and shippping in for the two of them. Ended up buying them from the UK, apparently as of ~4 months ago there was a global shortage of the sensors or something of that nature, so they were a little difficult to come across. It appears to be the same sensor that SparkFun stocks, but we’ll see when they get here. 

The last couple pieces we ended up buying through Amazon, and this is where we got more than we needed.

• 8GB SD card – 2 at 8.44 USD
• 12 pack of IM206 6x6x6mm tactile switches – 5.99 USD
• IL185 5mm Assorted Diffused LEDs with resistors – 8.99 USD
• Electrolytic Capacitor Kit – 11.90 USD
• Raspberry Pi case – 16.99 USD

So all told we purchased ~422.74$ worth of stuff for the two of us after taxes and shipping. Had we been able to purchase the packs through Adafruit it would have been 2 * 149.95 + ~40$ shipping, or around 340$. A difference of around 80$, or 40$ each, is significantly more expensive, but our options were limited. You can’t really buy a single capacitor and expect it to be economical, but that only explains about 1/3 of the cost. In the end the rest of the difference comes from not being able to get it all in one place. It really makes sense to get tiny hardware bits all from the same source because even if the item is only a couple dollars the shipping adds up fast. All in all, not ideal, but we’re both super excited to be able to participate in this course and have the equipment. The only thing we’re still waiting on right now is the BMP180 modules, so I’m hoping they come soon…