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Initial prop setup — Parallax Forums

Initial prop setup

Spiral_72Spiral_72 Posts: 791
edited 2011-01-07 06:56 in Propeller 1
A real quick question. A friend and I are considering starting the Prop. We use the BS2 now.

According to my reading, all we HAVE to have is:


The USB to Serial converter (which we have)
http://www.parallax.com/Store/Accessories/CablesConverters/tabid/166/CategoryID/40/List/0/SortField/0/Level/a/ProductID/378/Default.aspx

The Prop micro itself
http://www.parallax.com/Store/Microcontrollers/PropellerChips/tabid/142/CategoryID/18/List/0/SortField/0/Level/a/ProductID/332/Default.aspx

and a 3.3V voltage regulator..... Correct???

Comments

  • ElectricAyeElectricAye Posts: 4,561
    edited 2011-01-06 17:01
    You might want to look at what's in the Propeller Education Kit.

    http://www.parallax.com/go/pekit

    You'll need things like decoupling capacitors, for example.

    You might also look at this:

    http://www.parallax.com/Store/Microcontrollers/PropellerProgrammingKits/tabid/144/ProductID/416/List/0/Default.aspx?SortField=ProductName,ProductName
  • Cluso99Cluso99 Posts: 18,069
    edited 2011-01-06 17:15
    Spiral_72: You will not regret getting into the prop.

    For the prop to run it requires a 3V3 power supply and decoupling capacitors (connect both sets of power and ground pins on the DIP40 package).
    I am unsure about the circuit of the serial converter. Does it have a chip or transistors on the underside of the pcb? If so, you will need to invert the signals for the prop. You will also require the reset transistor circuit to connect to the DTR pin (see the Propeller ProtoBoard schematic for this - 1 transistor+capacitor+resistor). I suspect there is a how-to to connect the serial converter to the prop on either the sticky above or the home page/propeller section.
    The voltage regulator will require a cap on the input and output of the regulator. If you have a 5V regulated supply, you can make a temporary circuit using 2 series diodes to give ~3.6V.

    For now, you do not require a xtal nor do you require an eeprom.
  • Dr_AculaDr_Acula Posts: 5,484
    edited 2011-01-06 17:16
    Once you have got a led to blink you will probably want to move on to other things - keyboard, mouse, display, audio etc. I find this schematic quite useful http://www.parallax.com/dl/docs/prod/prop/PropDemoDschem.pdf

    Like Cluso99, I'm also not sure about the serial converter. It has a D9 on it but I'm not sure if that means it is true RS232 voltages. If it is, then either a transistor or max232 or max3232 converter will be needed. Or get the 'prop plug'.
  • Brian RileyBrian Riley Posts: 626
    edited 2011-01-06 18:12
    You may want to look at this ... its a rock bottom basic Propeller startup for under $20

    http://www.wulfden.org/TheShoppe/prop/rbpk.shtml
  • Spiral_72Spiral_72 Posts: 791
    edited 2011-01-06 18:52
    Hmmm, the passive components I'm not worried about. I've got quite the assortment including several breadboards, etc.

    On the bottom of the Parallax USB-Serial converter I have, there is an IC on the bottom of the board. It is covered, I'd rather not remove the shrink wrap to identify it, so I sent a question to Tech support.

    Unfortunately I don't have the $100 for the Education Kit now, however I may if my BS2 project is accepted by Parallax. We'll see.On a related note, I don't know how well the oscillator will work mounted on a breadboard so the dedicated kit may be nice for that. What I'd really like to have is: http://www.parallax.com/Store/Microcontrollers/PropellerDevelopmentBoards/tabid/514/CategoryID/73/List/0/SortField/0/Level/a/ProductID/515/Default.aspx

    I'm not sure if I'll ever use the video out or the keyboard and mouse, but the mic, audio and 8 cogs I will! The option of programming in assembler is really cool. It's been a while for that, but I very much prefer thar over the higher level languages. I just don't know if my brain can handle the assembler AND eight processors.

    Very cool. Thank you for the information. It looks like I have more reading to do after all.

    P.S. I've been pushing the limits of my BS2, so it's about time for another option! We are deciding between a pair of Arduinos or the Prop. My buddy is more interested in the Arduino, while I'm pushing for the 8 cogs...... :)
  • Spiral_72Spiral_72 Posts: 791
    edited 2011-01-06 19:00
    Brian Riley wrote: »
    You may want to look at this ... its a rock bottom basic Propeller startup for under $20

    http://www.wulfden.org/TheShoppe/prop/rbpk.shtml

    WHAT!?? That's incredible.. Thank you. With all the equipment I have, this option is looking pretty good.
  • Cluso99Cluso99 Posts: 18,069
    edited 2011-01-06 23:35
    There are plenty of people using the prop on a breadboard with the xtal.

    Just play away for now until you decide what you want to do. It's easy to get a TV output using just a single resistor of any value between say 220R and 1K (see my Debug 1-pin TV) in the OBEX. A keyboard is easy to connect too as long as you can give it 5V. And the obligatory Led demos are easy using 1k or more. I use 10K and ultrabright but they are a bit hard to see in sunlit rooms.

    Then you can decide what you require. The Parallax USB ProtoBoard is a good choice because it has the USB on-board (i.e. propplug). But you may want SD etc, depending on what you are into. So as I said, what you have will allow you to play a little and then make a better choice - you can ask here for alternatives once you tell us where your interests lie. Just remember, the prop is really powerful, so there are lots of things you can do!
  • Spiral_72Spiral_72 Posts: 791
    edited 2011-01-07 06:56
    Cluso99,

    This one right??
    http://www.parallax.com/Store/Microcontrollers/PropellerDevelopmentBoards/tabid/514/CategoryID/73/List/0/SortField/0/Level/a/ProductID/509/Default.aspx

    Yea that's a very good deal. I want the DIP package though.... I don't mean to be picky and I know I didn't specify DIP. I'm researching the Arduino now. To me there's no contest, but I could be proved wrong. I sure love my BS2 though :)
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