Shabakah v2 is just a stepping stone to v3. We are currently working on v3, but we decided to document Shabakah v2 since the PCB schematic and layout were done a long time ago. Plus, we have the parts in stock. So, we thought we might as well build it.

Why are we moving to v3 already? We have two major reasons:

1- Hard to find the desired processor: The processor we used for Shabakah v0.1 and v2 is the same, MGM210PA32JIA by Silicon Labs. Unfortunately, we could not find an easy, affordable way to keep sourcing these Silicon Labs processors. Even though they are powerful and have good documentation around them, getting these processors in our part of the world is just not feasible. Add to that the annoying trade restrictions that sometimes affect shipments coming from the US… We decided it’s best to just move on to a completely different processor. We have one in mind which we think will be an excellent fit for Shabakah moving forward.

2- A more user-friendly experience: We like Shabakah’s MGM210PA32JIA processor. However, a downside to working with it is that it requires users to do a lot of technical reading and write low-level C code, which can be fun! Depending on who you ask, of course. But we want to provide our users with an easy-to-get-into experience by having our boards support the Arduino IDE. We think that would allow users of all levels to get the most out of Remal boards and utilize them as best as they can in many different areas.