Re: Just got a Pi1B. What can you actually do with it these days?

On 06/06/2025 10:22, Theo wrote:

Richard Kettlewell <invalid@invalid.invalid> wrote:

TronNerd82 <tronnerd82@aol.com> writes:

If you can think of any productive use-cases for an original Pi model
B (not even the B+) let me know, and I'll consider it :-)

>
I have a couple of (much newer) Pis around the house with temperature
sensors on, feeding a Grafana instance. I expect the 1B would be fine in
a sensor host role, if you can arrange connectivity.

 Agreed, I'd suggest they're best as a 'one function' appliance.  I just used
an original Pi Zero to bridge between a USB OBD-II device and wifi, that
allow phone OBD-II apps to connect to the USB OBD cable I already had.
Installed OpenWRT and a few minutes of setup and that was it.  Similarly I
have a Pi 1 to bridge between Modbus and ethernet, and another Pi Zero as a
VPN endpoint.
 I'm sure I could do something similar with an ESP32 or a Pico or similar
microcontroller, but the setup with a full-fat Pi is quicker and easier.
 

I think that is my conclusin with the SZero
A Pico can run a single function, but once it gets more complicated - like a web server, a pi zero running linux is just *easier*

Main irritation is the Pi 1 doesn't have wifi, but a $5 wifi dongle fixes
that if you need it.
 

Or an ethernbet hat

Theo

--
    "Fanaticism consists in redoubling your effort when you have forgotten your aim."
  George Santayana