Vista

Scrapes data from the HughesNet usage page, displays on a Waveshare 7.5" e-ink display (epd7in5) and opens a web server for display management.

Requirements

• Raspberry Pi Zero, 3, 4
• Waveshare 7.5" e-ink display (V2)

Install

With included installer script

You can install everything by running:

cd ~
git clone https://github.com/thequib/vista
cd vista
chmod +x install.sh
./install.sh

Manual installation

Alternatively, you can install this manually

Install prerequisite packages

sudo apt update
sudo apt install python3 python3-pip python3-numpy libopenjp2-7-dev

Install Python dependencies

pip install -r requirements.txt

Enable the Pi's SPI interface

Using sed and tee

# Ensure any existing 'dtparam=spi' line is commented out
sudo sed -i 's/^\(dtparam=spi.*\)$/#\1/' "/boot/config.txt"
# Add 'dtparam=spi=on' to the end of the file
echo "dtparam=spi=on" | sudo tee -a "/boot/config.txt" > /dev/null

Using sudo raspi-config

• Enter sudo raspi-config
• Choose option 3, Interface Options
• Choose option I4, SPI
• Left-arrow to Yes, and hit enter
• Right-arrow twice to Finish, and hit enter

Copy project files

cd ~
mkdir /opt/vista
sudo cp -r vista/* /opt/vista

Create service for web app (optional)

# Create service file
cat <<EOF | sudo tee /etc/systemd/system/vistaweb.service > /dev/null
[Unit]
Description=Vista Web Service
After=network.target

[Service]
User=pi
WorkingDirectory=/opt/vista
ExecStart=/usr/bin/python /opt/vista/web.py

Restart=always

[Install]
WantedBy=multi-user.target
EOF

# Enable and start app
sudo systemctl daemon-reload
sudo systemctl enable vistaweb.service
sudo systemctl start vistaweb.service

Create cron job for the script to run every x minutes

Via command one-liner

CRON_JOB="@reboot cd /opt/vista && /usr/bin/python3 boot.py >> ~/vista.log 2>&1\n*/5 * * * * cd /opt/vista && /usr/bin/python main.py >> ~/vista.log 2>&1"
(crontab -l 2>/dev/null | grep -v -F "/opt/vista/main.py"; echo -e "$CRON_JOB") | crontab -

Manually

Open the crontab:

crontab -e
# Select your preferred text editor, default is Nano (1)

Enter the following

@reboot cd /opt/vista && /usr/bin/python3 boot.py >> ~/vista.log 2>&1\
*/5 * * * * cd /opt/vista && /usr/bin/python main.py >> ~/vista.log 2>&1"

Save the file

Uninstall

With included uninstaller script

You can uninstall everything automatically by running:

cd /opt/vista
# If you installed manually, you will need to run:
#sudo chmod +x uninstall.sh
./uninstall.sh

Manual uninstallation

Stop and remove the web service

This is only required if you installed the web service

sudo systemctl stop vistaweb.service
sudo systemctl disable vistaweb.service
sudo rm /etc/systemd/system/vistaweb.service
sudo systemctl daemon-reload

Remove the cron jobs

Via command two-liner

(crontab -l | grep -v -F "@reboot cd $INSTALL_DIR && /usr/bin/python3 $REBOOT_SCRIPT >> ~/vista.log 2>&1") | crontab -
(crontab -l | grep -v -F "*/5 * * * * cd $INSTALL_DIR && /usr/bin/python3 $REFRESH_SCRIPT >> ~/vista.log 2>&1") | crontab -

Manually

Open the crontab:

crontab -e
# Select your preferred text editor, default is Nano (1)

Remove the following

@reboot cd /opt/vista && /usr/bin/python3 boot.py >> ~/vista.log 2>&1\
*/5 * * * * cd /opt/vista && /usr/bin/python main.py >> ~/vista.log 2>&1"

Save the file

Remove the project files

sudo rm -rf /opt/vista

Useful resources

• [Waveshare] 7.5inch e-Paper HAT Manual
  • Working with Raspberry Pi
• [Waveshare] Raspberry Pi Guides for SPI e-Paper
• [Waveshare - Github] Repository with examples