Basic stamp 1 resonator

marzec309

OK, I am building a stepper motor controller with the BS1. I Built the BS1 with OEM components. my problem is I am currently out of 4MHz resonators. So I use a NE555 timer circuit for the resonator. I am able to get this circuit to supply the interpreter chip with about 1MHz clock frequency, but cant establish a connection with the programing software. I was wondering if it is possable to establish a connection with the 1MHz clock or is it mandatory for a 4MHz clock frequency. I understand that there will be timing issues with this slower clock but all i wanted to do was quickly test my circuit for operation until I receive my new resonators?

Bruce Bates

marzec309 -

To be perfectly honest, you're looking for nothing but trouble, IMHO. There are many PBASIC Stamp commands which directly or indirectly rely on the 4 MHz clock. Every one of the them that you use will have to be considered, in terms of the reduced timing impact, before you can use the command correctly.

Just by way of example (not that you're going to use it) the BS-1 Stamp is capable of asynchronous serial communication at a maximum of 2400 baud. Since 2400 / 4 = 600 you will only be able to communicate that way at a MAXIMUM of 600 baud. That goes back to the Dark Ages of communications! Other commands may be equally restricted.

Regards,

Bruce Bates

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There is no pleasure in having nothing to do;
the fun is in having lots to do, and not doing it!

marzec309

Bruce Bates said...
marzec309 -

To be perfectly honest, you're looking for nothing but trouble, IMHO. There are many PBASIC Stamp commands which directly or indirectly rely on the 4 MHz clock. Every one of the them that you use will have to be considered, in terms of the reduced timing impact, before you can use the command correctly.

Just by way of example (not that you're going to use it) the BS-1 Stamp is capable of asynchronous serial communication at a maximum of 2400 baud. Since 2400 / 4 = 600 you will only be able to communicate that way at a MAXIMUM of 600 baud. That goes back to the Dark Ages of communications! Other commands may be equally restricted.

Regards,

Bruce Bates

Yes, I do understand all that is stated above. All i was trying to achieve was to see if my circuit was working, didn't care about the impact on the programing. as i have the proper resonator coming but they are a week out. I was just having problems with the basic stamp editor seeing it. And with the reduced baud rate that is probably the problem guess i will have to wait for the resonators.

Wait would it be possible to use a R/C network to achieve a 4 MHz clock? The 1MHz is about all I can get out of the 555 timer.

Bruce Bates

marzec309 -

At the possible risk of being SHOT in the head with a sharply pointed DIODE ( --|>- ) <ouch>, would a FREE BS-1 Emulator keep you busy over the next week, until the 4MHz resonator comes in? If so, please be my guest at the link below. The program is provided by Al Williams, a long time friend of these Parallax Stamp forums:
http://www.awce.com/bs1emu.htm

Regards,

Bruce Bates

▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
There is no pleasure in having nothing to do;
the fun is in having lots to do, and not doing it!

marzec309

ok I have the resonator now and still cant get the windows editor to see it. is there a way to verify that this PIC chip is actually a BS1 as i bought them off of ebay.

PJAllen

Like skinning an onion...

It can't be just a PIC, it has to be a Parallax PIC, because it has the "tokenizer" programmed into it.

Mike Green

If you hook it up as shown in the OEM BS1 schematic and it works with the Stamp Editor, it's a Parallax BS1 PIC. If it doesn't work, it may be connected wrong or it may be someone else's PIC without the Parallax Stamp interpreter. There's no way to verify what's inside other than to see if it runs. The editor checks by resetting the processor, then sending it some identification information, then checking to see if it gets the right identification information back. This protocol is documented, but it's just as easy to see if the editor will identify the chip.

marzec309

Well thanks all is OK. I do understand it has to be a PIC programed by Parallax, and it is working now found a missing ground in my Home Brewed Programmer.

Thanks for all the help.