Project for SX starter kit

fishhead

Hi all. I am used to using the picaxe. I want to change to a more powerful chip. THe Basic stamp with all the books and experiments would be ideal but the cost is too m uch for me whilst I am job hunting.
So I am looking at the SX wich is inexpensive by comparison but does not have the support in the form of books and parts to learn along the way. Perhaps I should dive in and order the SX starter kit.

Perhaps there are projects to follow in the book that comes with the starter kit ?

Any advice would be very appreciated.

Fishhead [noparse]:)[/noparse]

[noparse][[/noparse]edited by Bean] I added a subject for you


Post Edited By Moderator (Bean (Hitt Consulting)) : 5/6/2009 1:25:22 AM GMT

fishhead

I would like to order the latest catalogue from Parallax but cannot find the link to do so !!!????

Mike Green

Click on the Resources tab and you'll see a link to Catalog Request

www.parallax.com/Resources/CatalogRequest/tabid/611/Default.aspx

There are several books, sample applications, etc. here:

www.parallax.com/tabid/460/Default.aspx

Browse the links under the Resources tab and under Downloads.

You might also consider starting with a Propeller. The Propeller USB Protoboard is only $40. The Accessory Kit is only $15 and gets you the ability to use the Protoboard with a VGA display and PS/2 keyboard. Particularly if you have a small breadboard, some LEDs, resistors, and pushbutton switches, you can do a lot of the experiments in something like the Propeller Education Kit without spending any more money.

whiteoxe

Thanks Mike. I have downloaded the new manual, not had a chance to look at it much. In the manual I have (2005) there is a bluetooth tranceiver. It does not state the range.

Does anyone know the range of this device ? I need around 30 or 40 meter range. Iwill contact silicon chip mag to see if they have any bright ideas.

Mike Green

Parallax's Bluetooth devices are Class 2 (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bluetooth) with a range up to about 10 meters. They're simply not designed for ranges on the order of 30-40 meters. I've seen similar devices with external antennas that can get better coverage and there are Class 1 devices with ranges on the order of 100 meters, but these are somewhat more expensive.

Here's one example: www.psism.com/bt-ap1.htm

RobotWorkshop

If you need a Class 1 device to work with the SX series chips (or Propeller) you may want to checkout the eb-501 modules and add the Antenna. I've have good results using them:

http://www.a7eng.com/products/bluetooth/productpages/eb501-ser.htm

Choosing a processor will really depend upon what you want to use the chip for. The Propeller is a fantastic chip but there are many cases where the SX chips make a lot more sense to use. One example is if you want to use the chip as a peripheral device for another controller. The SX chips are ready immediately while the Propeller has some latency while it reads it's program from an external EEPROM. Another consideration is that you need a few more extra components with the Propeller. Both great chips!

Robert

fishhead

I want several devices to transmit data over about 30 meters. I thought bLUETOOTH would be great as I believe if a number of units are sending data at once bluthooth would que and all data from different units would eventually arrive.

If I cannot find a bluethooth tranceiver that covers the distance could you help in suggesting any other way besides UHF.

Or is UHF the only other way to go ? I have heard of something called ZIG BEE but I havent a clue what that is.



thx , Mike.