@Ken, I understand how the Daily Deal stuff works. I've been watching for the Proto Board USB to come by for a while now. I have an application that needs a couple but I don't have an urgent need for hardware yet. Should that come up after the PropScope comes available, I will probably order one of those also. I have a small list of items to include in the order, but the biggest savings would be on the PBUSB.
Besides that, are there any other boards in the works for the expansion port? The pinout of the port is probably in the documentation but will there be any hints on using it?
Take it slow...
Rich.
PS Remember, everything tastes better with Bacon!!!
I'll hold on the PropScope questions for the time being since the documentation and product will answer many of them.
@RichK, I promise you will see Prop Proto Board USBs on a Daily Deal. Do you want to order and receive them before Christmas? And what kind of deal would you like? How about four (4) boards for $100?
I agree that this PBUSB is really useful and it should cost less. I keep meaning to initiate a permanent price drop. We often don't do what we want to do because we sell to distributors (and they need a margin). Old style, isn't it? I'll get together with the marketing crew to discuss the idea.
Let me know if that works for you and I'll get it lined up with Lauren's help! Or, maybe you will be too broke to buy PBUSBs after you buy a PropScope.
Ken Gracey said...
I agree that this PBUSB is really useful and it should cost less. I keep meaning to initiate a permanent price drop. We often don't do what we want to do because we sell to distributors (and they need a margin). Old style, isn't it? I'll get together with the marketing crew to discuss the idea.
Didn't the price used to be lower, but had to be raised? I'm far from a marketing expert, but I would expect that a price drop would just be followed by another raise due to the same marketing factors.
@SRLM, yes, Cody. I'm not a marketing expert either. Nobody is, especially when dealing with a group of Propeller customers - more complex in my view than most products we've sold in the past.
But we can do whatever we want with the price, though it would be helpful if it generated more gross profit on the product line (or the whole Prop line). We can keep it lower, permanently. Sometimes, though, marketing folks see success at one price and think it will apply at a higher one as well so they raise the price to make more profit. Maybe that happened in this case - I think we used to sell these at $29.99 when they were first released. I'm pretty certain that we'd all be happier at that price again. We'll look into it pretty soon.
You might want to place a rush order with these guys: www.blendtec.com/willitblend/videos.aspx?type=unsafe&video=ipod
[noparse]:)[/noparse]
Nah, won't need it. But you need to know that I was dead serious about eating a PropScope on Friday. And I still am. If we don't see those things for sale then you'll find me at the Emergency Room on Friday afternoon. There's a guy in Guinness who ate a whole bicycle but I think it took him 15 years.
You guys can chide me all you want. I'm sticking with the promise!
At least you guys aren't using lead solder in the new products? Are you?
The list of bad things that lead can do the body when consumed is pretty scary stuff.
@OBC, no lead in most anything (the CCFL tubes have lead, and Cd is in the LDRs in the Boe-Bot), especially the PropScope. I already thought about eating lead. potatohead already showed us a way to blend the electronics down to something I can ingest if I need to.
But, I'm not going to be eating any PropScopes. AND PropScopes aren't shipping till we have confidence that the final bugs are hunted down and eradicated from the software. Exciting times around here.
Are we still on for lunch? Or have the bugs been eraticated?
Wanted to see Bass o' Matic ala Prop. Maybe a little Merlot?
"Ship the hardware, we will fix it in software" Been there, done that.
Jim
Ken Gracey (Parallax) said...
But, I'm not going to be eating any PropScopes. AND PropScopes aren't shipping till we have confidence that the final bugs are hunted down and eradicated from the software. Exciting times around here.
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Co-author of the official Propeller Guide- available at Amazon
Developer of ViewPort, the premier visual debugger for the Propeller (read the review here, thread here), 12Blocks, the block-based programming environment (thread here)
and PropScope, the multi-function USB oscilloscope/function generator/logic analyzer
Hanno,
I just ordered mine.
Is the communication format going to be documented so we can write our own PC software ?
Also, is the PropScope reprogrammable ? IOW could we write our own Propeller code for it ?
Bean.
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- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
1st rule of finance...Don't lose money.
Never be ashamed of making an honest·profit.
Live within your means...Make do, or do without. ·
@bean, we will open source the schematic under the Creative Commons license - so you can have at it!
The PropScope is reprogrammable, of course. I think the PropScope IDE can reload the firmware shipped with the scope, but the source isn't going to be released as it belongs to Hanno.
I'm also interested in what Ken is having for lunch today...
By Monday I'll post the communication protocol that the firmware and the PropScope software use. This will let you write your own PC software which takes advantage of my firmware, or replace the firmware with your own while using the PC software. Of course, since Parallax has posted the schematics, you can write all your software yourself as well.
The firmware runs all 8 cogs to:
- continuously sample the 32IO pins at 25Msps WHILE looking for triggers, thus letting you view your signals BEFORE the trigger event
- look for analog/digital/external triggers
- control the relays, external trigger level
- detect and recognize which external card is plugged in
- manage the full-duplex 1Mbps connection
- continuously output 600 eight bit waveform generation samples at 25Msps
Hanno
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Co-author of the official Propeller Guide- available at Amazon
Developer of ViewPort, the premier visual debugger for the Propeller (read the review here, thread here), 12Blocks, the block-based programming environment (thread here)
and PropScope, the multi-function USB oscilloscope/function generator/logic analyzer
Hi guys I just ordered, mine as well,, I am not complaining but I was wondering if anyone got the 10% discount advertised ,, When I checked out I paid the full amount??
I was wondering that also. Web site say "10% discount will be applied when order is proccessed by our Sale Staff" Interesting that an introduction would be done at the same time as a discount. Ken may have to have a talk...again...
...Calculating Stingray savings....
Jim
mikediv said...
Hi guys I just ordered, mine as well,, I am not complaining but I was wondering if anyone got the 10% discount advertised ,, When I checked out I paid the full amount??
Note:· The following contains some misinformation:· I placed an order today for some parts and was wondering whether the discount would be applicable. I read the announcement in the forum hoping for more details, but none were provided (I think more could have been supplied as the announcement thread is locked (it's nice artwork, but a definition would have been nice)). Putting on my pessimist hat, I guessed (only guessed) that it applied to phone orders of some kind, perhaps even corporate customers (probably not, but who knows). In that I'm abroad and had other things to worry about (like shipping), I went ahead and ordered, hoping I was wrong. Unfortunately, I wasn't.·** Update:· I was wrong about not being wrong (see posts below) ** ·My thinking was that all Parallax orders must pass through general staff members, but not necessarilly sales members, but I'm sure the wording is confusing for many readers, including me (seems you can't count on Propeller programmers being logical, lol). Anyway, I don't super mind making a small "donation" to Parallax (in ordering that one extra part just in case there was a discount) if it'll help with new design work. Onward! Upward!·** Update:·Enjoy the online 10% discount everyone!· **
Post Edited (JRetSapDoog) : 12/5/2009 1:24:24 AM GMT
" 10% Discount online Order", "10% discount will be applied when order is proccessed by our Sale Staff"
I suspect it would not apply to phone orders, due to the fact that would cost more,involve sales people's time, etc. That's what internet sales is all about.
I have always gotten the discount on my final invoice for the past few years when they ran this kind of discount.
Never fear. Parallax is you friend.
Jim
JRetSapDoog said...
I placed an order today for some parts and was wondering whether the discount would be applicable. I read the announcement in the forum hoping for more details, but none were provided (I think more could have been supplied as the announcement thread is locked (it's nice artwork, but a definition would have been nice)). Putting on my pessimist hat, I guessed (only guessed) that it applied to phone orders of some kind, perhaps even corporate customers (probably not, but who knows). In that I'm abroad and had other things to worry about (like shipping), I went ahead and ordered, hoping I was wrong. Unfortunately, I wasn't. My thinking was that all Parallax orders must pass through general staff members, but not necessarilly sales members, but I'm sure the wording is confusing for many readers, including me (seems you can't count on Propeller programmers being logical, lol). Anyway, I don't super mind making a small "donation" to Parallax (in ordering that one extra part just in case there was a discount) if it'll help with new design work. Onward! Upward!
I placed my order last night online and the amount charged to my credit card today reflected the 10% discount. The email confirming my order last night did not the 10% discount. I'm pretty sure that all purchases are seen and handled by the sales staff.
Comments
Besides that, are there any other boards in the works for the expansion port? The pinout of the port is probably in the documentation but will there be any hints on using it?
Take it slow...
Rich.
PS Remember, everything tastes better with Bacon!!!
A kind of beta proof read for the doc.
Tom
·
@RichK, I promise you will see Prop Proto Board USBs on a Daily Deal. Do you want to order and receive them before Christmas? And what kind of deal would you like? How about four (4) boards for $100?
I agree that this PBUSB is really useful and it should cost less. I keep meaning to initiate a permanent price drop. We often don't do what we want to do because we sell to distributors (and they need a margin). Old style, isn't it? I'll get together with the marketing crew to discuss the idea.
Let me know if that works for you and I'll get it lined up with Lauren's help! Or, maybe you will be too broke to buy PBUSBs after you buy a PropScope.
Ken Gracey
Parallax Inc.
Didn't the price used to be lower, but had to be raised? I'm far from a marketing expert, but I would expect that a price drop would just be followed by another raise due to the same marketing factors.
But we can do whatever we want with the price, though it would be helpful if it generated more gross profit on the product line (or the whole Prop line). We can keep it lower, permanently. Sometimes, though, marketing folks see success at one price and think it will apply at a higher one as well so they raise the price to make more profit. Maybe that happened in this case - I think we used to sell these at $29.99 when they were first released. I'm pretty certain that we'd all be happier at that price again. We'll look into it pretty soon.
Ken Gracey
Any chance the Propscope will be available by then? [noparse]:)[/noparse]
You might want to place a rush order with these guys: www.blendtec.com/willitblend/videos.aspx?type=unsafe&video=ipod
[noparse]:)[/noparse]
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Propeller Wiki: Share the coolness!
Chat in real time with other Propellerheads on IRC #propeller @ freenode.net
Safety Tip: Life is as good as YOU think it is!
Nah, won't need it. But you need to know that I was dead serious about eating a PropScope on Friday. And I still am. If we don't see those things for sale then you'll find me at the Emergency Room on Friday afternoon. There's a guy in Guinness who ate a whole bicycle but I think it took him 15 years.
You guys can chide me all you want. I'm sticking with the promise!
Ken Gracey
Parallax Inc.
At least you guys aren't using lead solder in the new products? Are you?
The list of bad things that lead can do the body when consumed is pretty scary stuff.
OBC
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New to the Propeller?
Visit the: The Propeller Pages @ Warranty Void.
But, I'm not going to be eating any PropScopes. AND PropScopes aren't shipping till we have confidence that the final bugs are hunted down and eradicated from the software. Exciting times around here.
Ken Gracey
Parallax Inc
Not releasing until all known bugs are out (or disclosed) is what makes a good company a great company
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Links to other interesting threads:
· Home of the MultiBladeProps: TriBlade,·RamBlade,·SixBlade, website
· Single Board Computer:·3 Propeller ICs·and a·TriBladeProp board (ZiCog Z80 Emulator)
· Prop Tools under Development or Completed (Index)
· Emulators: CPUs Z80 etc; Micros Altair etc;· Terminals·VT100 etc; (Index) ZiCog (Z80) , MoCog (6809)
· Search the Propeller forums·(uses advanced Google search)
My cruising website is: ·www.bluemagic.biz·· MultiBladeProp is: www.bluemagic.biz/cluso.htm
I keep telling my girlfriend this is a neat way to recycle *and* solve her Iron deficiency in one hit.
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If you always do what you always did, you always get what you always got.
Wanted to see Bass o' Matic ala Prop. Maybe a little Merlot?
"Ship the hardware, we will fix it in software" Been there, done that.
Jim
·http://www.parallax.com/Store/Microcontrollers/PropellerTools/tabid/143/ProductID/586/List/0/Default.aspx?SortField=ProductName,ProductName
Mine is on it's way.
Hanno
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Co-author of the official Propeller Guide- available at Amazon
Developer of ViewPort, the premier visual debugger for the Propeller (read the review here, thread here),
12Blocks, the block-based programming environment (thread here)
and PropScope, the multi-function USB oscilloscope/function generator/logic analyzer
I just ordered mine.
Is the communication format going to be documented so we can write our own PC software ?
Also, is the PropScope reprogrammable ? IOW could we write our own Propeller code for it ?
Bean.
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- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
1st rule of finance...Don't lose money.
Never be ashamed of making an honest·profit.
Live within your means...Make do, or do without.
·
With the Viewport engine, this will·certainley be a hit. Kudos to you and the Parallax team!
Jim
John Abshier
Best online sources for learning to properly use a oscilloscope?
The Propscope will be my entry into learn signal monitoring..
Any good projects for learning the basics?
Thanks!
OBC
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New to the Propeller?
Visit the: The Propeller Pages @ Warranty Void.
I am by no means an expert, but I found this helpful.
http://www2.tek.com/cmsreplive/tirep/2280/03W-8605-4_2009.04.02.14.31.49_2280_EN.pdf
There are also some pretty good simple videos that you can find by googling "How to use an Oscilloscope" on Google Video.
See this one - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rC8HBcsNm2g&feature=player_embedded
You might want to take a look at the Parallax's Understanding Signal pdf too!
http://www.parallax.com/Portals/0/Downloads/docs/prod/sic/Signals.pdf
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Whit+
"We keep moving forward, opening new doors, and doing new things, because we're curious and curiosity keeps leading us down new paths." - Walt Disney
Post Edited (Whit) : 12/4/2009 2:25:12 AM GMT
John Abshier
The PropScope is reprogrammable, of course. I think the PropScope IDE can reload the firmware shipped with the scope, but the source isn't going to be released as it belongs to Hanno.
Alternative firmware and IDEs are welcome!
Ken Gracey
Parallax Inc.
Great to see it available.
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Links to other interesting threads:
· Home of the MultiBladeProps: TriBlade,·RamBlade,·SixBlade, website
· Single Board Computer:·3 Propeller ICs·and a·TriBladeProp board (ZiCog Z80 Emulator)
· Prop Tools under Development or Completed (Index)
· Emulators: CPUs Z80 etc; Micros Altair etc;· Terminals·VT100 etc; (Index) ZiCog (Z80) , MoCog (6809)
· Search the Propeller forums·(uses advanced Google search)
My cruising website is: ·www.bluemagic.biz·· MultiBladeProp is: www.bluemagic.biz/cluso.htm
By Monday I'll post the communication protocol that the firmware and the PropScope software use. This will let you write your own PC software which takes advantage of my firmware, or replace the firmware with your own while using the PC software. Of course, since Parallax has posted the schematics, you can write all your software yourself as well.
The firmware runs all 8 cogs to:
- continuously sample the 32IO pins at 25Msps WHILE looking for triggers, thus letting you view your signals BEFORE the trigger event
- look for analog/digital/external triggers
- control the relays, external trigger level
- detect and recognize which external card is plugged in
- manage the full-duplex 1Mbps connection
- continuously output 600 eight bit waveform generation samples at 25Msps
Hanno
▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
Co-author of the official Propeller Guide- available at Amazon
Developer of ViewPort, the premier visual debugger for the Propeller (read the review here, thread here),
12Blocks, the block-based programming environment (thread here)
and PropScope, the multi-function USB oscilloscope/function generator/logic analyzer
On another prop scope subject which has been concerning me.
I keep seeing reference to 200 volt measurement capability and you even mention the term Electrical Appliances in another
prop scope thread. This type of measurement, even with x10 probes could be dangerous. I see the prop scope as a device for low
level measurments ie x10 probe on +,- 1 volt range giving a high Z input to look at Electronic signals 5v logic and Audio signals etc.
From looking at the drawing for prop scope it looks like the ground for the usb is seperate from analog ground( the probes alligator clip)
Even if it is I wonder what it's isolation is, meaning open circuit with an ohm meter at DC but not so to AC signals because of capacitive coupling.
I say this because I am not seeing Parallax warn in their initial docs either and Murphys law says someone is going to try and measure the power
line signal at his fuse box .
I attached something I snipped off of the web.
I felt this issue needed to be mentioned for saftey.
...Calculating Stingray savings....
Jim
Post Edited (JRetSapDoog) : 12/5/2009 1:24:24 AM GMT
" 10% Discount online Order", "10% discount will be applied when order is proccessed by our Sale Staff"
I suspect it would not apply to phone orders, due to the fact that would cost more,involve sales people's time, etc. That's what internet sales is all about.
I have always gotten the discount on my final invoice for the past few years when they ran this kind of discount.
Never fear. Parallax is you friend.
Jim
Post Edited (hover1) : 12/5/2009 12:30:58 AM GMT
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James Ronald
My Robots