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Good Ethernet boards for Prop — Parallax Forums

Good Ethernet boards for Prop

ParsecParsec Posts: 20
edited 2009-10-02 01:53 in Propeller 1
Maybe I'm over-thinking this one too much, but here are the boards I've found for Prop projects. I'm trying to decide which one(s) to buy:

Price is awesome, $19
www.futurlec.com/Mini_Ethernet.shtml

Price is $10 more than above:
ucontroller.com/documentation/PropNICDoc.html

Both boards are using the ENC28J60, so I'm "assuming" (such an evil word) that the stack that was written by Harrison Pham found in the OBEX obex.parallax.com/objects/196/ will work for both boards. Saves time not reinventing the wheel.

RabbitCore- might be overkill since this is an entirely separate microcontroller with its own features, language, etc. A little redundant. $79 is a little steep to achieve the goal of network connectivity. I'm sure it comes with a stack. www.rabbit.com/products/rcm3000/index.shtml

PIC-MiniWEb- $40, wouldn't have to write squat for stack, just interface & write some Prop logic, (although it NEVER ends up being that easy smile.gif )
www.sparkfun.com/commerce/product_info.php?products_id=7829

The search results from Google go on and on... I had no idea so much hardware was out there. Man, I've been out of the loop for too long! Which board(s) would you all go with? Any pro/cons from your experiences? Spend the ching and get a couple boards, experiment?

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Comments

  • Mike GreenMike Green Posts: 23,101
    edited 2009-09-30 18:50
    Don't forget the YBox2 from Adafruit.· It's an easy to put together kit with excellent instructions and is designed to fit in an Altoids tin.· It includes a multicolor LED, video output, IR input (for remote control).· There are places for headers for attaching to unused pins.· I've made a little piggyback board with a 32K SRAM, 2M flash memory, and a connection for a PS/2 keyboard.· For that you need 5V, but you can add a small low dropout 5V regulator and tap off the unregulated DC input.
  • Nick McClickNick McClick Posts: 1,003
    edited 2009-09-30 19:39
    The ybox2 is $75 (a little pricey, although it was what got me started with the Prop!). Never did put it in an altoids tin... Does the ybox2 use the Prop to generate a 25 Mhz clock for the enc? I only remember there being one xtal in there when I put it together.

    That futurelec board is CHEAP! It usually takes a while to get your shipment from them, but $19 isn't much more than the cost of the ENC28J60.

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  • Toby SeckshundToby Seckshund Posts: 2,027
    edited 2009-09-30 19:55
    Yes it does generate the 25MHz. And yes it,too, was the design that led me to the prop.

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  • BTXBTX Posts: 674
    edited 2009-09-30 21:06
    And what do you think about this ?:

    Propeller-Ethernet-Board.jpg

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    Regards.

    Alberto.
  • ParsecParsec Posts: 20
    edited 2009-09-30 21:20
    Hmm, well I was just about to post that I was sold on the ybox2 (thinkgeek.com has 'em for $75, Adafruit was sold out) and was placing an order until BTX posted the picture of his motherload of Prop boards with a RJ-45 jack smilewinkgrin.gif

    So, what's the scoop with these Alberto?

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  • BTXBTX Posts: 674
    edited 2009-10-01 01:00
    Hi Parsec.
    Sorry, but these boards are not enough professionally done for sale, I've used them to control a LED screen, like support of another boards.
    But if you like, send me a PM with your email, and I will send to you the gerber files of the PCB, and all details, BOM, etc.
    All parts are from DigiKey, so you'll have not problems to get it easy.

    PS: To sale boards for me is very hard...you know, I've to import all parts from USA, then assemble here, and get back to you, the cost for the boards goes up easily.

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    Regards.

    Alberto.
  • DynamoBenDynamoBen Posts: 366
    edited 2009-10-01 03:35
    I would suggest the Wiznet WIZ812MJ, its around $17. A propeller driver and more information is available here:
    http://www.parallax.com/Portals/0/Downloads/docs/prod/prop/27933_HYDRA_EtherX_Manual.zip
  • heaterheater Posts: 3,370
    edited 2009-10-01 06:36
    Gosh BTX. Here I am looking at the most beautiful picture of printed circuit boards I have seen for years and you say "not enough professionally done" !!

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    For me, the past is not over yet.
  • Cluso99Cluso99 Posts: 18,069
    edited 2009-10-01 08:49
    I have also seen some very tiny pcbs, not much bigger than the RJ45. If I remember who I will post the link :-(

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    Links to other interesting threads:

    · Home of the MultiBladeProps: TriBlade,·RamBlade, RetroBlade,·TwinBlade,·SixBlade, website
    · Single Board Computer:·3 Propeller ICs·and a·TriBladeProp board (ZiCog Z80 Emulator)
    · Prop Tools under Development or Completed (Index)
    · Emulators: Micros eg Altair, and Terminals eg VT100 (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
  • dMajodMajo Posts: 855
    edited 2009-10-01 08:51
    For sure the ENC28J60 based solution (with PoE) will be one of the cheapest.

    If you are considering the rabbit/pic solution I 'll suggest you instead a Lantronix Xport/XportAR or Tibbo·(EM203/1000/1202/1206 - wired and wireless available at the same time). The Tibbo solution is really very easy to understand/implement and the development software is free. As·more as I work with it more I like it (4P DevServer, serial splitter, udp tcp, web server/client, ftp server/client, smtp, dhcp, dns, sntp ...)

    Another interesting solution (because of the easy way of module/media interchange) is the Multitech Universal socket solution

    PEDIT: Don't forget also the [url=http://www.wiznet.co.kr/en/pro01.php?ss[2]=2]WIZnet modules family·[/url]

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    · Propeller Object Exchange (last Publications / Updates);·· Vaati's custom search

    Post Edited (dMajo) : 10/1/2009 9:05:25 AM GMT
    pdf
    pdf
    Embedded-Module-Matrix_new.pdf
    619K
    pdf
    pdf
    SocketModem_Product_Comparison_new.pdf
    205K
  • LeonLeon Posts: 7,620
    edited 2009-10-01 09:19
    I've got one of the little Olimex ENC28J60 modules, but haven't tried it. It's got 10 DIL pins, making prototyping easy.

    Leon

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  • BTXBTX Posts: 674
    edited 2009-10-01 11:54
    Thanks heater.
    But I mean they haven't 3.3V regulator on the board, plus a good connector for the VCC & I/O's, also they are hand assemble.

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    Regards.

    Alberto.

    Envio editado por (BTX) : 10/1/2009 12:01:42 PM GMT
  • Peter JakackiPeter Jakacki Posts: 10,193
    edited 2009-10-01 17:28
    Looks nice Alberto, well done. When you say hand assembled do you mean you do the smd parts with an iron? I'm guessing you do because it looks a little heavy on the joints.

    Here's a tip (actually, there is no "tip" involved [noparse]:)[/noparse] )

    If you can get hold of a syringe of solder paste with a nice nozzle you can paste and assemble your smd parts onto the board and pop it into a small toaster oven for a few minutes. Works very well and despite the many variations of this technique with all the fancy profiling etc I just pop the assembled pcb onto a foil tray and slip it in a preheated 220'C oven for 3 minutes then remove it with the foil tray supporting it. Let it cool for a few minutes and it's done. I have employed many techniques for assembling smd parts by hand since I first used smd parts almost 25 years ago (long time!) but this is the best all-round solution for any smd prototyping.

    If anyone is interested I might document it up. You don't need to be a micro-surgeon to do this stuff and even ones who are non smd savvy and a little heavy handed have tried this technique and been delighted with the results.

    BTW BTX - You could do away with the 25Mhz crystal and feed the clock from the Propeller.

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    *Peter*
  • lonesocklonesock Posts: 917
    edited 2009-10-01 18:10
    Peter Jakacki said...
    ...
    BTW BTX - You could do away with the 25Mhz crystal and feed the clock from the Propeller.
    On my board I go the other way...25MHz into the enc28J60, use the 6.25MHz clock-out line to drive the prop clock, so my prop is running at 100MHz, and no prop I/O pins lost. Very stable so far, even here in Redding,CA heat. [noparse][[/noparse]8^)

    Jonathan

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    lonesock
    Piranha are people too.
  • Nick McClickNick McClick Posts: 1,003
    edited 2009-10-01 18:19
    @Peter, sounds like you're making cookies! I've done the same basic thing many times without any problems. If I had a few thousand dollars of parts in the oven, I'd start reading profiles, but when you're doing just a few boards, what's the worst that can happen?

    @parsec - I've been working on a Video / IP module for the Propeller Platform, I just got prototypes in the mail yesterday. If you want to give the board a try and let me know what you think, I'll send you a kit. Just pm me your address and I'll drop it in the mail.

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    Post Edited (Nick McClick) : 10/1/2009 6:27:18 PM GMT
  • Joel RosenzweigJoel Rosenzweig Posts: 52
    edited 2009-10-01 18:27
    +1 for the YBOX2.· It's fantastic in every way, and I think it's a great value for what you get.

    Joel-

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  • FredBlaisFredBlais Posts: 379
    edited 2009-10-01 18:32
    Peter Jakacki said...

    If anyone is interested I might document it up. You don't need to be a micro-surgeon to do this stuff and even ones who are non smd savvy and a little heavy handed have tried this technique and been delighted with the results.
    Could be interesting [noparse]:)[/noparse] (with pictures too!)
  • BTXBTX Posts: 674
    edited 2009-10-01 19:31
    Hi Peter & thank you too for all !!

    Yes, I did soldering by hand with a flux gel and a iron solder (a cheap one).
    I'm interested too in your comments, I've a syringe of solder paste in my fridge too, but I thought that I need strongly a stencil to put it correctly in the board before owen.
    Sure could be a lot of people interested in soldering SMD parts in home though.

    Also a bit out of the thread purpose, do you think that a clk generated by propeller counter, is enough stable and capable to drive a CPLD or FPGA clk input too ?
    I tried it only once in my DE2 board, and works well, but not in a real working board.

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    Regards.

    Alberto.
  • LeonLeon Posts: 7,620
    edited 2009-10-01 19:51
    It depends on what the CPLD/FPGA is doing and how much jitter can be tolerated, and so on. There shouldn't be any problems in most cases.

    Leon

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    Amateur radio callsign: G1HSM
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  • ParsecParsec Posts: 20
    edited 2009-10-01 20:59
    @ Heater, I'd have to agree too, BTX's boards do look pimp (i.e. awesome) smilewinkgrin.gif

    @ Peter, thx for that info, my hands have gotten a little too shaky now to solder SMT chips...!

    I think I'm going to pick up the ENC28J60 board from Futurlec since it's just $19, pick up one WizNet WIZ812MJ board for $21 at
    www.ewiznet.com/goods_detail.php?goodsIdx=132 (same chip as the module used on the Hydra EtherX, but it's $60) and pick up the YBox2. I figure between these three I can get a good pros/cons list going and still have 3 functional boards (1 for breadboarding, 2 for real projects). Hopefully I'm not cutting a corner here by picking up the WIZ812MJ instead the Hydra board and an edge connector for the goldfingers. The documentation for the Hydra EtherX board is excellent, good docs are impossible to come by. I work for a software firm and it's unfortunate that docs are the LAST thing businesses spend money on... drives me insane mad.gif

    Thanks so much for everyone's input!

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  • HollyMinkowskiHollyMinkowski Posts: 1,398
    edited 2009-10-01 22:45
    @BTX

    Those boards are CUTE!
    I want a dozen smile.gif

    @Mike Green
    I'm a big fan of LadyAda, she is a great engineer smile.gif
    The YBox2 is a great kit....

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  • Mike GreenMike Green Posts: 23,101
    edited 2009-10-02 01:53
    @Holly
    Not only a good engineer, but she writes good documentation and teaches well ... an uncommon combination.
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