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Five Things You Need to Know About the Raspberry Pi Zero

It's always exciting with the Raspberry Pi Foundation launches a new board, and we know that you're bursting with questions about the all-new Pi Zero. We certainly were.

 

So here are our top five questions about the Pi Zero that we're anticipating you'll have, along with their answers, of course.

 

1) What are the technical specifications of the Raspberry Pi Zero?

    • CPU: Broadcom BCM2835, can be overclocked up to 1GHz.
    • RAM: 512MB on board.
    • Power: 5V, supplied via micro USB connector, drawing160mA (even when connected to an HD display).
    • Dimensions: 65mm x 30mm x 5mm
    • Storage: MicroSD card.
    • Video & Audio: 1080P HD video output. Audio output via mini-HDMI connector.
    • Operating System: Linux, installed via NOOBS.
    • Click here for an exploded image of the Pi Zero's features.

 

 

2) Where can I buy a Raspberry Pi Zero?

    • The new Raspberry Pi Zero is available to order from Thursday, 26th November. Initial stocks are extremely limited, with small pockets of availability in the US and UK. Unless you're one of the lucky few to get your hands on one of the first batch, the next deliveries are due towards the end of December.
    • You'll be able to order the new Pi Zero in the majority of countries as more stock becomes available.
    • Click the Buy Now buttons here to check for availability.

 

3) Does it still run Linux?

    • Yes, it does indeed. You install it the same way as always:
      • Download NOOBS and unzip it to a microSD card; connect the Pi Zero to a monitor, USB hub, keyboard and mouse; power it up and follow the on-screen prompts to install the Linux build of your choice.
      • element14 is offering a Pi Zero package that includes a NOOBS microSD card to make your installation quicker and easier.

 

4) What's the difference between the Raspberry Pi 2 Model B and the new Pi Zero?

    • The Pi Zero uses the single-core BCM2835 processor with 512MB RAM as used in the Raspberry Pi 1 series, versus the newer, faster BCM2836 quad-core processor on the latest high performance Raspberry Pi 2.
    • To save space the following products have been replaced with alternative solutions or removed completely:

      • 4 USB ports and Ethernet port have been replaced with one Micro USB data port on the Pi Zero.

      • 40 pin GPIO still contains the same pin out on both boards, but the connector remains unpopulated on the Pi Zero.

      • The full size HDMI port on the Raspberry Pi 2 has now been replaced with a Mini HDMI port on the Pi Zero. This requires an adapter to be fitted before connecting the Pi Zero to your TV. The Pi Zero still supports full HD 1080P output.

      • The camera and display interfaces have been removed as well as the 4-pole stereo and composite video port.

 

5) Why did the Raspberry Pi Foundation create the Pi Zero?

    • The Pi Zero follows the same philosophy that gave birth to the Raspberry Pi platform in the first place; low cost computing for everyone. The Pi Zero complements the other models in the Raspberry Pi family by providing an entry-level model with stripped down components to target users with specific solutions in mind.
    • Is it the same as the other Raspberry Pis? Yes and no. It's still a fully functioning Linux-based computer with 1080P video output, but it's also much more closely related to the small, efficient, single-purpose world of IoT.

 

Got any other questions or observations about the Raspberry Pi Zero? Ask them in the comments below.

 

Find out more about the Raspberry Pi Zero right here.

  • The foundation has the nerve to tell everybody: "and the end-user price is: ... ". This means that this is a very low-margin product and everybody selling them wants to sell additional stuff going along with the zero. And on the production side: I have the impression that they  have setup a line to build raspberry pi's, and that they start making zeroes when they don't need to make raspberry pi three's.

  • in reply to Former Member

    Pi Zero on a custom motherboard with a PIC . . . embedded situations . . . intelligent front end

    Absolutely great idea !!

    Not sure why Pi Zero is still in short supply.

    An opportunity wasted - shame.

  • in reply to alysson
    PPDescriptionPP1USB +5V InputPP6GNDPP83.3VPP14SD CLKPP15SD CMDPP16SD DAT0PP17SD DAT1PP18SD DAT2PP19SD CDPP22USB D+PP23USB D-

     

    I hope this helps.

  • in reply to Former Member

    Hi Mike,

     

    First you develop your application. During that time you might use a raspberry pi 2, or three, have assistance from keyboard and a monitor, or use a network connection and develop through ssh. Whatever is most convenient for you. Or you could use the actual pi zero and use an USB hub to connect the devices that are required during development.

     

    Anyway, once you have your script running, you simply add it to /etc/rc.local .  If you want to run it as a normal user instead of "root" use su [user] -c /path/to/the/script. (fill in the username for [user]) .

    Keep in mind that the path at that point in time might be a bit frugal. So either use full pathnames, or set the path yourself.

     

    Oh, keep in mind that the system is considered "not booted" until the script you call has ended. So you might want to start it with an & in rc.local.

  • As you can see, I am wanting to use a Pi Zero in an embedded application. This means without a keyboard or monitor (or SSH etc) or any network connection. I want it to start and then run a program without any user intervention when I power on. How do I remove the need for a username and password and then get a program to run? Happy to have a shell script that runs on power up. But how.?

     

    Mike B

  • in reply to Former Member

    Any wireless USB device that works for any other Pi in AP mode should work for the Zero.

    Regarding suitable chipsets and Pi configuration, there are a couple of guides here which contain the information on how to configure to use as an AP:

    RPI-Wireless-Hotspot - eLinux.org

    https://learn.adafruit.com/setting-up-a-raspberry-pi-as-a-wifi-access-point/overview

    The information will be relevant for the Zero too.

  • Further to my previous posting, I hope to get a Pi Zero (second hand) tomorrow. Our application requires the Pi Zero to run as an ad-hoc server, connecting directly to Smartphones. (No Internet, home routers etc). Has anyone done this yet? Some WiFi dongles are advertised as being Pi compatible and others do not. Is there a special requirement for use with a Pi? What dongle is recommended, given that it will need to implement DHCP and Bonjour / Zeroconf. ( a true soft_AP). Are extra drivers required or is it in the Jessie distribution?

     

    Mike B

  • We are planning to use a Pi Zero (when we can get any!) as a WiFi interface between a Smartphone App and a CAN network. Hopefully, the Pi Zero (with Linux) will act as a true WiFi server with DHCP and Bonjour / Zeroconf from the Linux. The Pi Zero will be a daughter board to a custom motherboard with a PIC processor (18F25K80) providing the CAN frame handling. I see the real value of the Zero for such embedded situations or intelligent front ends rather than as a cheap PC for schools, where the full Pi is better. By the time you have added a monitor, keyboard, mouse, power supply, WiFi dongle  and loads of cables  you may have been better getting a laptop anyway.

     

    However, a couple of questions.

    What current can I take from the 3.3V pins on the 40 way connector? It would be nice to power the PIC from this.

    What are the pins 24 and 26 for when labelled as SPI_CE0_N and SPI_CE1_N? Is this another SPI channel?

    What is the maximum speed of the SPI interface?

    What is the maximum Baud rate of the USART on pins 8 and 10.

     

    Is there a useable technical manual for the Pi Zero? I agree that if the Pi Zero is going to be used for embedded systems, we do need this kind of information. Even for embedded schemes in Schools like robotics !

     

    Mike Bolton