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Wanting to start with Propeller — Parallax Forums

Wanting to start with Propeller

BritannicusBritannicus Posts: 98
edited 2011-04-17 22:07 in Propeller 1
Hi there,

Total newbie really to this kind of stuff, but I've been getting on very well so far with my Stamp2 BOE and feel I'd like to experiment with something more versitile and cost-effective.

I've been reading with interest about the propeller, and would like to experiment. I've had bad experiences in the past with PIC in the absence of support, gobbledegook explanations and projects with flawed circuits, which although built corectly just don' t work (what a difference from the parallax world !)

OK, so I've got that off my chest- what's the best way for a dummy to get his feet wet without breaking the bank. I need a sensible book, some fun projects and a stack of compatible bits - there seem to be a number of starter and education kits - what's the best way to go.???

Comments

  • MacTuxLinMacTuxLin Posts: 821
    edited 2011-04-07 04:03
    I would suggest PE Kit.
  • Oldbitcollector (Jeff)Oldbitcollector (Jeff) Posts: 8,091
    edited 2011-04-07 05:49
    @Britannicus

    Welcome to the world of the Propeller!

    There are many flavors to pick from, a couple personal favorites are the Gadget Gangster Propeller Platform w/ El' Jugador Shield and the Propeller Professional Development Board.

    There is also a world of Propeller information freely available,,,

    Gadget Gangster Tutorials

    Propeller Education Kit Labs: Fundamentals Text

    Game Programming for the Propelller Powered Hydra

    OBC
  • PJAllenPJAllen Banned Posts: 5,065
    edited 2011-04-07 06:02
    I say - go with the SpinStamp, especially since you have a BoE.
    You can't program the SpinStamp through the BoE 9pin connector - you have to buy the PropClip.
    [ ** I don't use the PropClip. I solder a right-angle header on the SpinStamp (where the PropClip would attach) which enables me to use a PropPlug.]
  • davidsaundersdavidsaunders Posts: 1,559
    edited 2011-04-07 06:17
    To get started it seems that the Propeller Education Kit is the way to go. It is a good, safe, system with very few limits. When I got started with the Propeller I looked at the PE text, in order to help get familiar with a chip that was new to me. While I have been playing with this type of stuff most of my life, I would still think that the PE kit is a good starter. It is a few breadboards, a Propeller (I recommend the DIP 40 version), some power regulators, a bunch of resistors, some caps, and various visual and audio, and mechanical IO, with a text that explains quite a bit.

    I may be slightly biased, as I still breadboard almost every circuit that I design, or use, before making a PCB, or putting it on perfboard (in the case of most one offs).
  • ElectricAyeElectricAye Posts: 4,561
    edited 2011-04-07 06:30
    davidsaunders wrote: »
    To get started it seems that the Propeller Education Kit is the way to go.... the DIP 40 version....

    I agree. (Note: Propeller Education Kit = PE Kit). Get this and follow the free tutorials you can download from here:

    http://forums.parallax.com/showthread.php?89958-Propeller-Education-Kit-Labs-Tools-and-Applications
  • potatoheadpotatohead Posts: 10,261
    edited 2011-04-07 07:13
    If you can afford one, get a pre-assembled board too. The PE kit is a excellent value. If your circuit skills are good, it's all you will need. If not, having a Demo Board makes for a nice test environment to verify code is doing something sane. Can be tough sorting both out at once. Secondly, a very large set of the code that's out there targets the Demo Board. You can often just load something up, make your connections and run it. For things like the video, this is a good thing.
  • prof_brainoprof_braino Posts: 4,313
    edited 2011-04-07 07:36
    potatohead wrote: »
    If you can afford one, get a pre-assembled board too.

    The C3 is my current favorite pre-assembled board

    I recommend PE+C3
  • blittledblittled Posts: 681
    edited 2011-04-07 09:26
    Another good development system is the Spin Studio from www.ucontroller.com. You can buy a base unit then add "modules" such as VGA, Audio & NTSC, Keyboard & mouse, NES Joystick interface, etherNet, XBee and others. These are all in kit form and have to be soldered though. What I like about this is it gives you a lot of flexiblity to pick and choose what items you want to interface with easily.
  • David BetzDavid Betz Posts: 14,516
    edited 2011-04-07 09:50
    PJ Allen wrote: »
    I solder a right-angle header on the SpinStamp (where the PropClip would attach) which enables me to use a PropPlug.]
    Does the SpinStamp have holes for the right angle header? The picture I saw looked like the holes were filled with solder.
  • Oldbitcollector (Jeff)Oldbitcollector (Jeff) Posts: 8,091
    edited 2011-04-07 10:36
    blittled wrote: »
    Another good development system is the Spin Studio from www.ucontroller.com. You can buy a base unit then add "modules" such as VGA, Audio & NTSC, Keyboard & mouse, NES Joystick interface, etherNet, XBee and others. These are all in kit form and have to be soldered though. What I like about this is it gives you a lot of flexiblity to pick and choose what items you want to interface with easily.

    There's also adding uController type sockets to the Parallax Protoboard if you want an inexpensive solution.

    Here's the details: http://ucontroller.com/cookbookexcerpt.pdf

    OBC
  • JLockeJLocke Posts: 354
    edited 2011-04-07 11:55
    Another good low-cost way to get started with the hardware is the 'Rock Bottom Propeller Kit' from Wulfden ( http://www.wulfden.org/TheShoppe/prop/rbpk.shtml ). Everything you need for a basic configuration for $15 (plus $2 shipping). If you need a programming interface, I would recommend adding the USB-BUB; together you're looking at $30 (plus the same $2 shipping).
  • PublisonPublison Posts: 12,366
    edited 2011-04-07 13:34
    My Spin Stamp does not have solder in the holes at the programming point, clean copper pads. I do notice the pictures on the Parallax site shows solder in the holes. Nothing a little solder wick or solder sucker couldn't take care of.

    Either way, the PropClip and PropPlug or both $14.99. A PropPlug is good to have on hand if you buy the cheaper Propeller Proto boards without USB.
    David Betz wrote: »
    Does the SpinStamp have holes for the right angle header? The picture I saw looked like the holes were filled with solder.
  • PJAllenPJAllen Banned Posts: 5,065
    edited 2011-04-07 14:24
    David Betz,
    The pads are clear on all of my SpinStamps
  • David BetzDavid Betz Posts: 14,516
    edited 2011-04-07 14:27
    PJ Allen wrote: »
    David Betz,
    The pads are clear on all of my SpinStamps
    Thanks! That's good to know. I was thinking of ordering a couple of SpinStamps and I don't have a PropClip.
  • davidsaundersdavidsaunders Posts: 1,559
    edited 2011-04-07 14:29
    The 'Rock Bottom Propeller Kit' does not include any form of board, so at very least you would need to add a bread board, or similar (as well as a programmer [If you go this way, I recommend a Prop Plug]).
  • MicrocontrolledMicrocontrolled Posts: 2,461
    edited 2011-04-08 07:04
    If you want the quickest way to learn the Propeller, I'd suggest the PE kit and/or the Propeller Demo board. Each are good for different things depending on what you want to do with the Propeller.
    If you want the absolute cheapest method (which is what I started on) buy just the Propeller, and a 5 Mhz Xtal if you want to do video or any time sensitive operation, and an EEPROM only if you want data storage after the power is off, than build the programmer with a few transistors you may have laying around and wire it directly to a D-sub 9 connector (serial port) on your PC. The schematic for that is here: http://www.parallax.com/Portals/0/Downloads/docs/prod/prop/SerialtoPropeller.pdf

    I was able to program a Propeller chip for only $15, and that was back when the Propeller was $12.95! at it's new $8 price this would only be about $10. Of course, I also just HAPPENED to have a 5.000Mhz Xtal laying around even though I had never owned a microcontroller besides the Basic Stamp! I still wonder to this day where that thing ever came from...... :-)
  • BritannicusBritannicus Posts: 98
    edited 2011-04-17 12:18
    Thanks guys, Been away for a couple of days, so only just catching up with the thread - A whole bunch of stuff to think about there - I've got Bread boards, wires, caps, diodes and transistors in a variety of flavours, so wonder if the PE board would give me much more than a manual and a Prop. The demo board sounds handy, at least to begin with when I'm trying to sort out if its my dopey programming or my dopey soldering which is at fault.

    Thanks for all the advice.
  • JasonDorieJasonDorie Posts: 1,930
    edited 2011-04-17 14:53
    I have a Demo Board that I got initially, and a PPDB I bought a while after I got going. To this day I probably use the demo board more - it's perfect for quickly testing new devices, sensors, etc - It's small, and only gives you direct access to 8 pins, but for a lot of things that's plenty to get a driver going, check it on the scope, and so on. It's also nice that most of the code that ships with the Prop tool is written for the pin configs on it. They're also cheaper now than when I bought mine. :)
  • Cluso99Cluso99 Posts: 18,069
    edited 2011-04-17 22:07
    Britannicus: Wlecome to the prop forum.
    Any of the pcbs or just the prop chip will get you started. The ProtoBoard USB is a cheap way in as it contains the inbuilt propplug circuitry. You could later cut tracks and add wires and a header to make it a Propplug. There is lots of manuals and info freely available and once you get running you can then decide where your interests lie. Help is only this forum away.
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