Helpdesk

I purchased the Joy-Pi-Advanced V1.1, everything should be pre-installed. Connect a RaspberryPi 4 with the Board Connector. 

Issues:

• Looked at the pdf-manuals (English, German). These are for the Joy-Pi, NOT for the Joy-PI Advanced.


• Tried to run some Python examples. nothing works.


• Shortcut on display doesn't work (invalid link).

So, I installed the latest version of for Joy-PI-Advanced myself, same issues.

Looked then at the Learning Center at Windows, doesn't help me either.

Bit confused here: pretty expensive product, wrong installations, no proper manual.

Hello Hans,

the pdf manual works without any problems, have you made sure you chose the right product category? Here is a direkt link to the working manual.

Please try reinstalling with a fresh install of the Raspberry Pi OS. The software should run without any issues.

Best regards
Jens

Thank you Jens, appreciated. 

Well, I finally decided to do the whole process from scratch, as I was not able to install properly the Joy-Pi Advantage environment. I installed a Raspberry PI 4 image from scratch, then added the Joy-Pi Advantage image. Worked out well.

So, I was able to enter the lessons/project area. But ... Extremely confusing, and many issues encountered when running lessons/projects.

To be honest: my goal was to set up en experimenting environment for 10+ students (age 12-16), but with all these troubles I am not so sure whether to continue or not.

Howe mature is this environment? Don't see many (positive) reviews and guidance (Youtube) on the Internet, which makes me wonder.

Best,

Hans

Hello Hans,

wich exact issues did you encounter? 

The Joy-Pi Advanced is designed for students who have at least a very basic understanding of electronics and programming. Depending on their prior knowledge, the Joy-Pi Advanced is certainly suitable for younger students as well. 

If you can provide me with a detailed description of the issues, I'll be happy to look into it in detail.

Best regards,
Jens

Hi Jens,

Thanks. Well, I am an electrical engineer with a strong programming background, also a teacher. Did many projects with Raspberry and Arduino.

My feeling is that not all libraries are not properly installed. As an example, I tried to run the “Electronic Dice” program, and got the runtime error “ws2811_init failed with code -5 ((mmap() failed)”, probably due to an access right issue “Can’t open /dev/mem: Permission denied”. Same error message when trying to run “Automatic Brightness Control”.

Other example: “Water Temperature Measurement” generates no output, same for “Weather Station”.

Question: is there an image available, including Raspberry Pi 4 OS and the Joy-Pi Advanced application?

Best,

Hans

Hello Hans,

I am very sorry that you encountered these problems, it seems that there were some updates in the operating system and some libraries which caused your problemes. We were not aware of these updates yet. 

We will of course update our software as quick as possible. In the meantime, please use this software image. 

Best regards
Jens

Hi Jens,

Thanks. For what Raspberry Pi is the image?

Hans

Hello Hans,

the Image is for the Raspberry Pi 4.

Best regards
Jens

Successfully loaded this image, but same error messages. This is becoming rather frustrating to be honest!

Hans

Two things found:

1. Error message regarding ws2811_init seems indeed to be caused by access rights, python script should be run as a superuser?


2. the file "joypiadvanced.cfg" list version 1.0, whereas I have version 1.1. Can this cause (other) problems?

Well, after a thorough research, I found the article "JOY-PI Advanced im Praxiseinsatz" vom ELV-Journal, January 2024 (link attached). It lists all my issues, as well as the work arounds.

Sorry to say, but I have been struggling for more than a week with problems, that have been known for more than 2 years, without providing a solution/update.

My conclusion is that Joy-It does not actively support this product, so I see no reason to buy 10-20 products for my students.

Or am I overlooking something here?

Thanks,

Hans

https://media.elv.com/file/253950_praxiseinsatz_des_joy_pi_advanced.pdf

Hello Hans,

I tested the image myself before answering you and again after you issued about your problems and could not reproduce your problems. The electronic dice program is running without any issues.

Yes, the script is supposed to be run as superuser. This program will not run without superuser rights.

Regarding your other thoughts: The joypiadvanced.cfg file is correct as it is. This won't cause any issues.

Best regards
Jens

Hi Jens,

Thanks.

1. I encounter all the errors as described in the ELV-Journal. I would have expected an update. Either a proper image that secures running projects as a superuser, or a description how run python programs as a superuser. At this stage, the desktop interface launches projects without the superuser rights, causing many issues.


2. The issue with the electronic dice program is that the RGB-Matrix is not controlled with B10 (as described in the knowledge base) but with B9 (as displayed on the board). I would expected this to be updated as well.

So, as long as there is no update addressing the several issues, I will not proceed with my students.

Best,

Hans

Hi Jens,

No update planned?

Best,

Hans

Hello Hans,

we have taken note of the reported issues. An update is currently in development where we will take the reported issues into consideration as a part of our update process.

Best regards
Jens

Hi Jens,

Thanks. So, what is the planning? The issues mentioned in the ELV-Journal are from early 2024, apparently nothing has happened since then. 

Best,

Hans