How do you get started to create a protoboard?

rlingenf

Obvious there are experts here. Can someone point out a good book/reference or tutorial to do some SIMPLE projects? I suspect it is a matter of knowing what components are needed, how the components logically connected, where you would like to place them on a PCB, and perhaps some software to lay out the tracks. This is just a guess on my part though. You guys that do this create something special IMHO, and it is something 99% of the general population simply cannot do. I would like to give it a try, but would like a nudge in the right direction. I will do the reading, but would like a pointer on where to best spend my time learning the basics, from resources that this board feels are worth learning from.

Thanks,
Robert

Oldbitcollector (Jeff)

The PE kit labs which are included in your Propeller Tool are a good place to start.
Also, the book is freely download-able.

www.parallax.com/Portals/0/Downloads/docs/prod/prop/PELabsFunBook-v1.1.pdf

Of course the hard copies are a good addition to any library.

OBC

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New to the Propeller?

Visit the: The Propeller Pages @ Warranty Void.

tonyp12

download:
http://www.expresspcb.com/ExpressPCBHtm/Download.htm

Go to this page:
http://www.gadgetgangster.com/find-a-project/56.html?projectnum=168

look for this part·bottom of·the page:

Other Files
propeller_platform_v4.pcb PCB (Express PCB Format)

Schematic
schematic.sch ExpressPCB Format

rjo_

It depends on your background. The learning labs are so well written that you cannot make a mistake starting there. But... if you have experience, you might find it a fairly quick read. Then what? In Biblical terms... the Old Testament is Andre LaMothe's epic tome http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/André_LaMothe

available at the store
http://www.parallax.com/Store/Books/AllBooks/tabid/763/CategoryID/41/List/0/SortField/0/Level/a/ProductID/534/Default.aspx

You will also want the "holy cow!!!" Programming and Customizing the Multicore Propeller Microcontoller...http://www.parallax.com/StoreSearchResults/tabid/768/List/0/SortField/4/ProductID/637/Default.aspx?txtSearch=official+guide

In terms of projects... shoot for the moon. The way it works best is ... pick a project... something you would want to do but think is impossible... then do it with a Propeller[noparse]:)[/noparse]

For the absolute beginner... who doesn't want to read too much... try Oldbit's Cookbook.
http://ucontroller.com/

In the beginning one of the frustrating things for me... was getting anything I did to work right. That's where the education kit and the boards and products from folks like GadgetGangster and ucontroller.com were very helpful and very timely.


Rich

MagIO2

PCB? You really want to start with a PCB?

Fist of all .. for the first steps you'd only need a breadboard and a USB to serial interface. (Or a PC with an old style serial interface and some simple parts ... transistors, resistors)
For serial communication/TV/VGA it's recommended to run the propeller with a crystal. And yes ... for the first tests you don't even need an EEPROM.

Then you can immediately start trying some stuff ... attach it to LEDs / TV / VGA / displays / keyboard with only little efford - you only need some resistors for that.
Some more efford is needed for SD card / speaker ... but still it's not necessary to have a PCB.

There are a lot of good PCBs that you can purchase for the next step: Build some modules that you can change quickly. I've chosen the gadgetgangster propeller board - I put a small breadboard on top and build some modules for TV / LCD / SD card. So, this is what I call rapid protoryping - got a new idea, then plug in the needed modules and try the new part on the breadboard on top. If it works then make it a module.

I will start with my own PCBs when I have a) a concrete project and b) tried out all subsystems needed for that project with the gadgetgangster board.