IoT with Sparkfun Data and analog.io

Two services are combined: 
Phant is no longer available. Sparkfun recommends Blynk, ThingSpeak, and Cayenne, all three tested.
R.I.P. Phant!

Send and Store with Sparkfun Data

Sparkfun Data is based on stream. A stream is just a flow of data. Each stream has a maximum of 50 MB. When the limit is reached, oldest data is erased. Sending data is limited to 100 pushes in a 15 minute window.

Data is stored at Sparkfun, or locally using Phant server, for example Installing Phant on a BeagleBone Black.
To create a stream, provide a name, select public or private, list the fields and click on Save. 

Once created, three keys are provided: public key, private key, delete key. The public key is an identifier, the private key a password and the delete key a special password to delete the stream.

To send data, just launch on a browser.
https://data.sparkfun.com/input/PUBLIC_KEY?private_key=PRIVATE_KEY&FIELD=VALUE

Sparkfun provides libraries and examples for Arduino. I strongly recommend using them, as the documentation lists many different ways to post data to the stream, some of which don't work. 

The cloud checks the data and acknowledges for success 
1 success
or provide an error message.
0 name is not a valid field for this stream. 
expecting: humidity, light, pressure, temperature
To display the data, just open the page on a browser.
data.sparkfun.com/streams/PUBLIC_KEY
The stream can be edited and deleted, and the data cleared.

Data can also be retrieved with multiple formats: JSON, CSV, MySQL, PostgreSQL and Atom. 

The documentation explain more advanced options: how to monitor the statistics and how to query with conditions.

Visualise with analog.io

However, Sparkfun Data provides no visualisation. Here comes analog.io. 
Select Import Stream, choose the host and provide the public key as identifier.

The available options include Local Host, Sparkfun Data, and a very similar ioThings.
The fields of the stream are listed. Select those to display, plot as a graph, define the units.

Some units —for example hPa for pressure— are missing. The Deburr option is documented in the blog.
And the graph is ready! 

Select the fields to display with the check-boxes on the left.

analog.io provides a Shortened Url to share the data, pictured below.

Click to enlarge

Conclusion

Compared with the previously tested Exosite solution, the combination of Sparkfun Data and analog.io was very easy to implement.

Both services are free but analog.io has a paying plan called Pro.

Now, both services are just starting. For example, I wasn't able to create a stream from analog.io. Similarly, I'd like to have the documentation at hand, without having to explore the blog.

This combined solution looks very promising.


Click to enlarge

Pros

  • Very easy to implement
  • Nice graphics
  • Local server with Phant

Cons

  • Some options are not documented yet

Wrap-Up

  • Highly recommended 

Links
Posted: Sept 06, 2015
Edited: May 02, 2018