Thanks for the info, hover1. You're pretty crafty (get it?). That was actually my first order directly with Parallax, so I didn't have the benefit of your experience with discounts. And when I received an e-mail detailing my order (including tax and shipping) without a discount, I just assumed that it was another kind of discount. Also, I either forgot about or didn't really notice the part of the ad about "online order" in trying to discern the meaning of "sales staff." Apologies for the misinformation. Thanks for setting me straight. It's good to be wrong when it means you pay less than you expect (still need to check my card, though). Of course, it'd be more ideal if the final checkout would show the discount, as well as the e-mail receipt, but apparently some human-intervention is needed or something. Anyway, within just a few hours of receiving my order, I already had another e-mail stating that it had shipped and providing a tracking number. That's good service!
** Update **· Based on what I'm seeing from my credit card's available balance, I did indeed·receive the 10% discount on my order (before shipping, of course).· There's some more bucks I can·invest Parallax's way on the next order.· Anyway, discount or not, I'm just happy to order from a caring, innovative and customer-oriented company.
Post Edited (JRetSapDoog) : 12/6/2009 8:46:18 PM GMT
The reason the Sales Staff takes the discount during processing is probably because our on-line software shopping cart system is probably not capable in this regard. Feature-less. . .perhaps. Not sure - I'll find out. In any case we won't keep the 10% that belongs to you, our customers.
Yes I have to say I did order online and when I did the final checkout it showed full price no discount, but I did not check credit card charge so perhaps they will apply discount to my credit card??? It takes a while for my bank to post credit card charges so I will check in a few days
hopefully I will have my prop scope by then, It will be nice to retire the old giant analog Tektronics and the giant hp 1600 , it will give me more room on my work bench so I can fill the space back up with more junk,, To be honest I can not wait to see the hacks I am sure you guys are going to make for this device I have been eating up all the gadgets you guys have been building and posting I a drooling over this..
Hey guys update I just got an email from the sales guys from Parallax , evidently there is something in the way the discount is stated that you have to do to qualify don't ask me what becuase I did not get it, the email just says to read the 10% discount to understand how it is applied
I checked with my credit card and I was charged the full amount with shipping no discount?????
I just ordered as well. What a great Christmas present. Is there a manual and such available on line? I will be watching Hanno's site for more information.
Can someone help answer the "high-voltage" question?
Here some facts about the scope and probes:
The scope hardware measures -10..10V signals and is compatible with standard BNC probes. The probes included with the PropScope can be switched to 10x, which attenuates the incoming signal by 10x. In that setting, signals from -100..100V will be attenuated to -10..10V. You can purchase higher attenuation probes- for example, a 100x probe attenuates a 1000V signal to 10V.
Notice I have not recommended that you play with 1000V or even 100V signals without understanding them!
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 have two usb o'scopes in mind and cannot decide on which to go with. One of course is the Prop Scope and the other is the Vertins VT DSO-2810F which can be seen at http://www.virtins.com/index.html They are both $250, the Prop Scope does have extra features such as the Spec-an, function generator, Logic Analyzer etc... and though the Vertins only comes with the Oscope, the others are about $25 to $50 a piece to add on a spec-an, function generator etc... Another aspect is that the Prop scope has a logic analyzer whereas the Vertins does not provide that capability but on the other hand, the Vertins does sell and LCR meter that will work as an add-on. Some of the spec differences are hard to compare with little information being put out on the Prop scope...the Vertins is sampling at 50 to 100Mhz real time whereas Prop scope is max at 25Mhz, whether I would see a big difference there, I'm not sure. The user interface for the Prop scope looks really good and gives you the feel of an actual scope right there in front of you. What is catching my eye with the Vertins is the fact that it is used by MIT and Boeing, which would be telling me it must work well, up to their standards, I'm sure the Prop scope would get good ratings but with it being so new, there are no testimonials on it as of yet if I'm not mistaken. So anyway, I'm torn between the two, I want to make a purchase and I'm trying to figure out what would be the best for me as far as practical use, durability, options etc... Any insight would be appreciated, pros or cons?
Would it make sense to ask Parallax to create a forum just for the PropScope? I think having one place with all of the information and ideas would make sense. How will the discussion here differ from the discussion on Hanno's forum? I selected this scope for one reason, the highly active community that we have.
lnielsen said...
I selected this scope for one reason, the highly active community that we have.
Ditto.
Others offer scopes, but others will not help you re-write the firmware for it(or even LET you write your own firmware), or release the schematics open source.
This is why I like the propeller, it forces open development.
Whats that saying? The best things in life are free?
A forum specifically for the PropScope? It's an interesting proposal. We have one for the Hydra, and this is also a major product from our company. What is more important than the actual sales from the product is the fact that this specific product is mostly open sourced (hardware is yours for adaptation for any purpose, comm protocol to be released, etc.) and it serves as a real Propeller product (moving more chips out our door).
If that's what you want, we can provide it to you. We better send one to Mike Green first, though. He never asks for anything from Parallax but I imagine this would be helpful to him as he nears his 12Kth post answering our questions.
Give that man whatever toy he wants [noparse]:)[/noparse] Heck, I'll contribute to a "Thanks Mike" happy fun, warm fuzzy fund.
Might I suggest a Parallax Dedicated Products forum? Seems to me there will be other devices with Propellers in them. Start with the Propscope, then drop others in over time. Should any one product end up dominant, a sub-forum could be made at that time.
I think the idea of a PropScope forum is a very good one... and so is the idea of sending one to Mike!
Ken Gracey (Parallax) said...
A forum specifically for the PropScope? It's an interesting proposal. We have one for the Hydra, and this is also a major product from our company. What is more important than the actual sales from the product is the fact that this specific product is mostly open sourced (hardware is yours for adaptation for any purpose, comm protocol to be released, etc.) and it serves as a real Propeller product (moving more chips out our door).
If that's what you want, we can provide it to you. We better send one to Mike Green first, though. He never asks for anything from Parallax but I imagine this would be helpful to him as he nears his 12Kth post answering our questions.
Ken Gracey
▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔ www.mikronauts.com Please use mikronauts _at_ gmail _dot_ com to contact me off-forum, my PM is almost totally full Morpheusdual Prop SBC w/ 512KB kit $119.95, Mem+2MB memory IO board kit $89.95, both kits $189.95 Propteus and Proteus for Propeller prototyping 6.250MHz custom Crystals run Propellers at 100MHz Las - Large model assembler for the Propeller Largos - a feature full nano operating system for the Propeller
Yes, I think it behooves you to send one to Mike (sounds reindeer-related, and if cash-flow is tight, I'll chip in (not that mine isn't tight, lol)), and throw in a stipend, too, for his faithful fielding of questions from both experts and newbies (place me in the latter category, having just made my first direct-from-Parallax order).
Good luck with the new product. Maybe you could also consider some kind of wall-panel or desktop-based science-and-electronic experimenters product, something that would stand vertically and provide a lab-like experience for young gals-and-guys (and us older ones, too). Such a system would use at least a DVM/O-scope LCD screen along with another one for instructions, along with audio. That is, your chips are fairly inexpensive, so perhaps there's money to be made in providing a good-quality product for home-use (as you are already big on education in schools). I would have loved to have had something like that on the wall/desk as a teenager. You could become Radio Shack's "Forrest Mims" of tomorrow, and could offer a wide-variety of kits. You could create a whole line of kit-based products based around your Prop or Prop II core, eh...cores, offering all kinds of attachable modules, all of the modules and core having injection-molded plastic cases (or whatever). You could become the new Heathkit Zenith, though you're obviously already a player. But I digress...again.
Post Edited (JRetSapDoog) : 12/6/2009 8:49:40 PM GMT
12K? I show him approching 13,700. He's fast..but not that fast.
Ken Gracey (Parallax) said...
If that's what you want, we can provide it to you. We better send one to Mike Green first, though. He never asks for anything from Parallax but I imagine this would be helpful to him as he nears his 12Kth post answering our questions.
Oh my. Last time I checked he was at ~11K of so and now he's nearing 14K. I am pretty sure he doesn't have carpal tunnel (sp?) syndrome. No idea how he does it, really.
I asked Jim C. to send him a PropScope on Monday so he knows what it's all about.
I'll wait till several of you receive your PropScopes, and then we'll look into opening a new forum.
Mike is a machine. I can not say how much information that man has given me, not directley, but just reading his·short, and to the point, factual responses.
Propscope delivery..T Minus 1 day.
Jim
Ken Gracey (Parallax) said...
Oh my. Last time I checked he was at ~11K of so and now he's nearing 14K. I am pretty sure he doesn't have carpal tunnel (sp?) syndrome. No idea how he does it, really.
I asked Jim C. to send him a PropScope on Monday so he knows what it's all about.
I'll wait till several of you receive your PropScopes, and then we'll look into opening a new forum.
I just fired up my PropScope and I really like it.
The first thing you will want to do when you get it is to take off the yellow rings on the one scope probe and put on the blue rings so the probes match the colors on the screen.
So far I have only found one little problem. In the spectrum Analyzer display, when you put your cursor in the window it shows frequency and magnatude that you are on. Well the readout is right on top of the scale numbers. I have attached a screen capture for Hanno.
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.
Congrats Bean on being first. Did it arrive with software? The getting started guide says to download the software from http://www.parallax.com/go/propscope but there is nothing there. I am going to have to comfort my self by reading since this is a Christmas present. I can't wait for Christmas morning...
lnielsen said...
Congrats Bean on being first. Did it arrive with software? The getting started guide says to download the software from http://www.parallax.com/go/propscope but there is nothing there. I am going to have to comfort my self by reading since this is a Christmas present. I can't wait for Christmas morning...
Live PropScopes- Yeah!
Congrats Bean on your first consumer PropScope post.
Thanks for the compliment.
Sorry, you're not the first to report the spectrum analyzer text bug- Parallax found it last week. Luckily it's already fixed- I'm 2 releases ahead of the Parallax site. To check if you have the very latest, go to "Help-Check for Updates" in your PropScope software.
▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
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 Hanno,
I get a broken link when trying to download 1.02. I have the software installed, but no hardware yet, (The Postal Service must be playing with it on the truck).
Jim
The massive demand for PropScope software must have taken down my hosting service. [noparse]:)[/noparse]
I'm with dreamhost, and they've actually been really good, with very little downtime in the past 3 years. But now even their "unbreakable" status pages lists: "brb"... http://www.dreamhoststatus.com/
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
Looks like the server is back up [noparse]:)[/noparse]
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
Jim,
Version 1.0.2 is now on the Parallax Product page. I got it from there.
Bean.
▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
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. ·
Assuming no pilot errors on my part as I am just firing it up for the first time
and trying things I have a couple of issues. When I use 10x probe setting I have
an offset on Channel 1. Channel 2 is fine. Also a minor issue is the screen goes wild
when I tried triggering on a 1khz sine wave. Ok if level is switched to Normal.
I attached a pdf with two screen images and some notes above the images.
Page break got me on the second pic.
Also when switching ranges I see the screen garbage for a flash sometimes, that
does not bother me.
I really like what I see of the propscope and it is a real bargan.
I have to get use to setting the trigger as it looked right at times and others I
think I piloted it wrong.
Comments
** Update **· Based on what I'm seeing from my credit card's available balance, I did indeed·receive the 10% discount on my order (before shipping, of course).· There's some more bucks I can·invest Parallax's way on the next order.· Anyway, discount or not, I'm just happy to order from a caring, innovative and customer-oriented company.
Post Edited (JRetSapDoog) : 12/6/2009 8:46:18 PM GMT
Have a fantastic weekend,
Ken Gracey
hopefully I will have my prop scope by then, It will be nice to retire the old giant analog Tektronics and the giant hp 1600 , it will give me more room on my work bench so I can fill the space back up with more junk,, To be honest I can not wait to see the hacks I am sure you guys are going to make for this device I have been eating up all the gadgets you guys have been building and posting I a drooling over this..
Hey guys update I just got an email from the sales guys from Parallax , evidently there is something in the way the discount is stated that you have to do to qualify don't ask me what becuase I did not get it, the email just says to read the 10% discount to understand how it is applied
I checked with my credit card and I was charged the full amount with shipping no discount?????
Post Edited (mikediv) : 12/5/2009 1:46:48 AM GMT
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BioProp: Robotics - Powered by Bioloids and controlled by the Propeller
Congrats on your purchase!
The Getting Started Guide is here:
www.parallax.com/Portals/0/Downloads/docs/prod/prop/32220GettingStartedv1.0.pdf
Can someone help answer the "high-voltage" question?
Here some facts about the scope and probes:
The scope hardware measures -10..10V signals and is compatible with standard BNC probes. The probes included with the PropScope can be switched to 10x, which attenuates the incoming signal by 10x. In that setting, signals from -100..100V will be attenuated to -10..10V. You can purchase higher attenuation probes- for example, a 100x probe attenuates a 1000V signal to 10V.
Notice I have not recommended that you play with 1000V or even 100V signals without understanding them!
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
I have two usb o'scopes in mind and cannot decide on which to go with. One of course is the Prop Scope and the other is the Vertins VT DSO-2810F which can be seen at http://www.virtins.com/index.html They are both $250, the Prop Scope does have extra features such as the Spec-an, function generator, Logic Analyzer etc... and though the Vertins only comes with the Oscope, the others are about $25 to $50 a piece to add on a spec-an, function generator etc... Another aspect is that the Prop scope has a logic analyzer whereas the Vertins does not provide that capability but on the other hand, the Vertins does sell and LCR meter that will work as an add-on. Some of the spec differences are hard to compare with little information being put out on the Prop scope...the Vertins is sampling at 50 to 100Mhz real time whereas Prop scope is max at 25Mhz, whether I would see a big difference there, I'm not sure. The user interface for the Prop scope looks really good and gives you the feel of an actual scope right there in front of you. What is catching my eye with the Vertins is the fact that it is used by MIT and Boeing, which would be telling me it must work well, up to their standards, I'm sure the Prop scope would get good ratings but with it being so new, there are no testimonials on it as of yet if I'm not mistaken. So anyway, I'm torn between the two, I want to make a purchase and I'm trying to figure out what would be the best for me as far as practical use, durability, options etc... Any insight would be appreciated, pros or cons?
▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
BioProp: Robotics - Powered by Bioloids and controlled by the Propeller
Ditto.
Others offer scopes, but others will not help you re-write the firmware for it(or even LET you write your own firmware), or release the schematics open source.
This is why I like the propeller, it forces open development.
Whats that saying? The best things in life are free?
I third this..
OBC
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New to the Propeller?
Visit the: The Propeller Pages @ Warranty Void.
If that's what you want, we can provide it to you. We better send one to Mike Green first, though. He never asks for anything from Parallax but I imagine this would be helpful to him as he nears his 12Kth post answering our questions.
Ken Gracey
Give that man whatever toy he wants [noparse]:)[/noparse] Heck, I'll contribute to a "Thanks Mike" happy fun, warm fuzzy fund.
Might I suggest a Parallax Dedicated Products forum? Seems to me there will be other devices with Propellers in them. Start with the Propscope, then drop others in over time. Should any one product end up dominant, a sub-forum could be made at that time.
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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!
It's time to find and bump and "Mike Green is Awesome" or "Mike Green is Santa" post.
OBC
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New to the Propeller?
Visit the: The Propeller Pages @ Warranty Void.
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www.mikronauts.com Please use mikronauts _at_ gmail _dot_ com to contact me off-forum, my PM is almost totally full
Morpheusdual Prop SBC w/ 512KB kit $119.95, Mem+2MB memory IO board kit $89.95, both kits $189.95
Propteus and Proteus for Propeller prototyping 6.250MHz custom Crystals run Propellers at 100MHz
Las - Large model assembler for the Propeller Largos - a feature full nano operating system for the Propeller
Good luck with the new product. Maybe you could also consider some kind of wall-panel or desktop-based science-and-electronic experimenters product, something that would stand vertically and provide a lab-like experience for young gals-and-guys (and us older ones, too). Such a system would use at least a DVM/O-scope LCD screen along with another one for instructions, along with audio. That is, your chips are fairly inexpensive, so perhaps there's money to be made in providing a good-quality product for home-use (as you are already big on education in schools). I would have loved to have had something like that on the wall/desk as a teenager. You could become Radio Shack's "Forrest Mims" of tomorrow, and could offer a wide-variety of kits. You could create a whole line of kit-based products based around your Prop or Prop II core, eh...cores, offering all kinds of attachable modules, all of the modules and core having injection-molded plastic cases (or whatever). You could become the new Heathkit Zenith, though you're obviously already a player. But I digress...again.
Post Edited (JRetSapDoog) : 12/6/2009 8:49:40 PM GMT
I asked Jim C. to send him a PropScope on Monday so he knows what it's all about.
I'll wait till several of you receive your PropScopes, and then we'll look into opening a new forum.
Ken Gracey
Propscope delivery..T Minus 1 day.
Jim
The first thing you will want to do when you get it is to take off the yellow rings on the one scope probe and put on the blue rings so the probes match the colors on the screen.
So far I have only found one little problem. In the spectrum Analyzer display, when you put your cursor in the window it shows frequency and magnatude that you are on. Well the readout is right on top of the scale numbers. I have attached a screen capture for Hanno.
Bean.
▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
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.
▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
BioProp: Robotics - Powered by Bioloids and controlled by the Propeller
http://www.parallax.com/Store/Microcontrollers/PropellerTools/tabid/143/ProductID/586/List/0/Default.aspx?SortField=ProductName,ProductName
Jim
Congrats Bean on your first consumer PropScope post.
Thanks for the compliment.
Sorry, you're not the first to report the spectrum analyzer text bug- Parallax found it last week. Luckily it's already fixed- I'm 2 releases ahead of the Parallax site. To check if you have the very latest, go to "Help-Check for Updates" in your PropScope software.
Or, go to this site to download the latest version:
hannoware.com/propscope/updates.php
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
I get a broken link when trying to download 1.02. I have the software installed, but no hardware yet, (The Postal Service must be playing with it on the truck).
Jim
I'm with dreamhost, and they've actually been really good, with very little downtime in the past 3 years. But now even their "unbreakable" status pages lists: "brb"...
http://www.dreamhoststatus.com/
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
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
You can get to the website fine, but trying to download the .exe is what creates the broken link.
Jim
Version 1.0.2 is now on the Parallax Product page. I got it from there.
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.
·
Thanks. Just got the software.
USPS just came through. I am holding a nice blue baby in my hand.
Off to play with new hardware.
Jim
Shame I'm working late! Bah! I'll be up even later!
OBC
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New to the Propeller?
Visit the: The Propeller Pages @ Warranty Void.
Assuming no pilot errors on my part as I am just firing it up for the first time
and trying things I have a couple of issues. When I use 10x probe setting I have
an offset on Channel 1. Channel 2 is fine. Also a minor issue is the screen goes wild
when I tried triggering on a 1khz sine wave. Ok if level is switched to Normal.
I attached a pdf with two screen images and some notes above the images.
Page break got me on the second pic.
Also when switching ranges I see the screen garbage for a flash sometimes, that
does not bother me.
I really like what I see of the propscope and it is a real bargan.
I have to get use to setting the trigger as it looked right at times and others I
think I piloted it wrong.
Tom