Difference between SX and BASIC Stamp
Dan Taylor
Posts: 207
I have the BASIC Stamp kit and was wondering what the main differences between the SX and the BASIC Stamp are. I was thinking of getting one but not quite sure.
Comments
The SX is just the blank microcontroller. You need to supply any voltage regulator and clock source. You also need a special device for programming (SX-Key) from a PC. Your program is compiled from a somewhat different form of Basic to assembly, then to a program in binary which is loaded into the microcontroller's program memory. You can add external EEPROM for storing data, but you can't really store your program there.
The Basic Stamp is easier to use, but much slower than the SX because of the interpreter. There are a number of features of the SX itself that the interpreter doesn't really use, but are available when programming directly in SX/Basic or SX assembly.
The BasicStamp is a complete system in a package:
The SX is just the microcontroller chip [noparse][[/noparse]unless you get a board that includes the system]
The BasicStamp is slower, but has a lot more educational support material:
The SX can be much faster, it is a far more flexible device as you choose the software and the speed
The BasicStamp is ready-to-go:
The SX is 'some assembly required
The BasicStamp plugs directly into a serial or USB:
The SX needs a programing device called an SX-KEY
Many of the choice are decided around your learning curve and your comfort with learning deeper levels of details. Just having the speed and power available in an SX, doesn't mean that you will ever really need it. After all, NASA has even used a BasicStamp in Space Shuttle missions. It is simple to program, simple to replace, and reliable. No one needs to pull out the soldering iron to resolve a failure.
Of course, the SX is just about one of the best entries to Assembly language programing if you are so inclined. And it is a bit cheaper if you build a lot of things. Expect to buy a copy of Guenther's text or work twice as hard to learn Assembly. In the meantime, SX/B and SX/C are free.
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PLEASE CONSIDER the following:
Do you want a quickly operational black box solution or the knowledge included therein?······
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Dan Taylor