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$1000 Hero 2000/Newark NJ — Parallax Forums

$1000 Hero 2000/Newark NJ

ercoerco Posts: 20,256
edited 2011-12-14 10:05 in Robotics
http://www.ebay.com/itm/heathkit-hero-2000-robot-/130597088867?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item1e68316e63

Anybody from Jersey? What exit? :)

Pick up and save shipping costs. Looks to be in decent shape. Charger and remote not pictured, Hmmm...
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Comments

  • ercoerco Posts: 20,256
    edited 2011-11-10 10:20
    Or a partially-built Hero 1 in Mass, for over $560 (reserve not met) http://www.ebay.com/itm/Heathkit-Hero-1-ET-18-Complete-Electronic-Robot-Kit-/330639887537?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4cfbac4cb1

    Or a new HE-RObot in Michigan (4 units) for $1200: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Heathkit-HE-ROBOT-Chassis-Build-Your-Own-Robot-/230638155262?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item35b31af5fe

    Truly something for everyone!
  • Tom CTom C Posts: 461
    edited 2011-11-10 10:24
    erco,
    The HE Hero robot kits are great only if you are into the "small scale integration" of the period. LOL
    Regards,
    TCIII
  • Ken GraceyKen Gracey Posts: 7,392
    edited 2011-11-10 10:34
    Will be a matter of minutes before RobotWorkshop arrives on this thread, I'm sure.
  • ercoerco Posts: 20,256
    edited 2011-11-10 10:51
    Yikes, a remote keyboard alone sold for $214: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Heathkit-HERO-2000-Robot-Remote-Console-w-Antenna-RARE-/320783896426?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4ab035cf6a

    If it's included with the robot, somebody back east oughtta snap this one up!
  • Kenny GardnerKenny Gardner Posts: 169
    edited 2011-11-10 11:27
    My poor Hero 1. I want to update it with Propellers, Arduinos, XBees, etc, but I also don't want to destroy the time frame that it represents.

    So it just sits.

    Kenny
  • hover1hover1 Posts: 1,929
    edited 2011-11-10 13:08
    erco wrote: »
    http://www.ebay.com/itm/heathkit-hero-2000-robot-/130597088867?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item1e68316e63

    Anybody from Jersey? What exit? :)

    Pick up and save shipping costs. Looks to be in decent shape. Charger and remote not pictured, Hmmm...

    Nice price, but not a lot of info. No indication of it even working, batteries included, etc. I have posted a question to the seller.

    By his description it looks like he found it in a closet and has no clue what it is.

    He did start the bidding price correctly, so he must have done some research.

    Jim
  • ercoerco Posts: 20,256
    edited 2011-11-10 13:29
    JUMP ON IT if you live close and want it.

    He replied a cryptic "Yes" to my question, "Do you have the remote keyboard & charger".

    Plan on replacing the battery anyway, a giant 12V gel cell. $80-100. Still a smokin' deal if everything else works. Tell him you want to end the auction early, pay cash & pick up today.
  • BamseBamse Posts: 561
    edited 2011-11-11 06:30
    Wish I had the money... ;-)

    I do have a non-functioning Hero 1 robot waiting for me to get time to replace the old electronics with a Propeller.
    Maybe make it round, paint it green and have it controlled by my Android phone.
  • RobotWorkshopRobotWorkshop Posts: 2,307
    edited 2011-11-11 07:29
    If the HERO 2000 robot on ebay has the remote and charger and everything is in operating condition it should/could go for three times what the seller is asking. Even if some of the extras are missing what is listed is worth the price. Over all the robot looks like it is in pretty good shape. It looks like it was a kit built robot and it looks like the arm may have the upgrades.

    Once a new battery is installed it shouldn't be too hard to get it going. I probably have just about all the parts on hand to repair/rebuild anything needed. Lots of new original parts on hand.

    Robert
  • RobotWorkshopRobotWorkshop Posts: 2,307
    edited 2011-11-11 07:31
    Bamse wrote: »
    Wish I had the money... ;-)

    I do have a non-functioning Hero 1 robot waiting for me to get time to replace the old electronics with a Propeller.
    Maybe make it round, paint it green and have it controlled by my Android phone.

    Why not just get your HERO 1 working as it is? It shouldn't be too hard. If you get stuck on any of the boards I have test fixtures setup here for working on and testing the boards.

    Robert
  • ercoerco Posts: 20,256
    edited 2011-11-11 11:16
    From the seller:

    Dear erco,previous times i had tried to sell locally, i took pictures of the keyboard and charger. they were both with power on, showing the keyboard display and charger light. the only thing i don't have is the charger for the keyboard. i use a radio shack nicad/nmh battery charger which works fine. i have the previous owners email address. he may still have the charger for the keyboard.- jimturbine
  • BamseBamse Posts: 561
    edited 2011-11-11 11:27
    Howdy...

    It would be a nice project but the teacher who gave it to me said that a lot of things are missing and that she didn't have any manuals or schematics...
    Basically I saved it from a trip to the landfill... ;-)

    Maybe I should google Hero 1 and see if I can find the manuals and Schematics...
  • RobotWorkshopRobotWorkshop Posts: 2,307
    edited 2011-11-11 11:28
    That is quite a bargain for the robot! I have some replacement chargers for the wireless remote so that isn't an issue.

    Someone should jump on this....
  • RobotWorkshopRobotWorkshop Posts: 2,307
    edited 2011-11-11 11:32
    Bamse wrote: »
    It would be a nice project but the teacher who gave it to me said that a lot of things are missing and that she didn't have any manuals or schematics...
    Basically I saved it from a trip to the landfill... ;-).

    Manuals and schematics aren't a problem. I have them on hand for the HERO 1 robot. Also many many bins of original spare parts, fasteners, and upgrades. Even have new original boards available for it if any are missing.

    Robert
  • ercoerco Posts: 20,256
    edited 2011-11-11 20:37
    10 hours, no bids! Oh what sad times are these when passing roughians can pass on a steal of a robot like this.

    NI!

    I sure hope someone swoops in before the auction ends. I already have one. If I lived within 100 miles of Newark and I could get it for $1000, I'd do it! Ten manuals shown, must be lots of goodies inside. Do I see an experimenter card inside there, Robert?
  • RobotWorkshopRobotWorkshop Posts: 2,307
    edited 2011-11-12 04:42
    erco wrote: »
    Do I see an experimenter card inside there, Robert?

    Very good eyes Erco! Yes indeed. There is an experimenter (breadboard) card installed as well as one Static memory card (which isn't fully populated with RAM).

    If someone gets it and wants to expand the memory all the way I still have some of my Memory/IDE cards left. I may even do one last run of floppy controllers if there is enough interest.

    Robert
  • ercoerco Posts: 20,256
    edited 2011-11-12 08:28
    Somebody nabbed it. Anybody here?
  • PublisonPublison Posts: 12,366
    edited 2011-11-12 08:40
    erco wrote: »
    Somebody nabbed it. Anybody here?

    Not me. :frown:

    It was well within driving distance, but wrong time financially.

    Another one got away.
  • BamseBamse Posts: 561
    edited 2011-11-12 14:36
    I didn't win the E-bay bid, but I did find the Schematics for my old Hero 1.

    Since the internet was out this morning, I dug through the garage to find the Hero 1 and the Microprocessor trainer (ET-3400).
    In the box with the ET-3400 documentation I found the schematic for the Hero as well... ;-)

    The Hero is missing a few parts but I don't think it would be impossible to restore it.
    However if I do decide not to restore it but to put a propeller in there, would someone be interesting in the old circuit boards ?
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  • ercoerco Posts: 20,256
    edited 2011-11-12 19:46
    @Bamse: Hey, for free, you're off to a great start. And since you're resurrecting it, it wouldn't be so bad to gut it and update it. Quite frankly, the original Hero 1 took a lot of work and usually underdelivered. But per Kenny Gardner's previous post, if you have one that's together and operational, it's a lot harder decision to gut it.
  • Kenny GardnerKenny Gardner Posts: 169
    edited 2011-11-13 11:48
    I keep telling myself to sell my Hero 1 but I just can't do it. Other than the thrill of buying my TRS-80 back in 1978, building the Hero 1 was one of the most exciting times of my life.

    Kenny
  • ercoerco Posts: 20,256
    edited 2011-11-13 17:31
    If you built it, it's yours for life. Congrats! :)

    I only built my Hero Junior in ~1987. Then I bought my Hero 2000 for $1000 back in 1989(?) when the Anaheim Heathkit store closed, their store demo bot. And then I got my Hero 1 off Ebay in 2003 for ~$400.
  • Martin_HMartin_H Posts: 4,051
    edited 2011-11-14 10:00
    The Hero is at $1,175.50 and the reserve has still not been met!
  • OppaErichOppaErich Posts: 48
    edited 2011-11-14 10:09
    Kenny Gardner wrote: »
    Other than the thrill of buying my TRS-80 back in 1978, building the Hero 1 was one of the most exciting times of my life.
    Kenny
    If someone wants to get rid of a Video Genie - I'll pay the shipping costs. :lol:
  • hover1hover1 Posts: 1,929
    edited 2011-11-14 10:39
    Martin_H wrote: »
    The Hero is at $1,175.50 and the reserve has still not been met!

    Martin,

    The Hero 2000 that erco was referring to in his first post end the 12th at $1000., a great price!

    I think you are referring to the Hero 1 currently up on ebay:

    http://www.ebay.com/itm/Heathkit-Hero-1-ET-18-Complete-Electronic-Robot-Kit-/330639887537?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4cfbac4cb1#ht_500wt_1413

    J    im
  • Martin_HMartin_H Posts: 4,051
    edited 2011-11-14 10:47
    Yes I was referring to the Hero 1 Erco linked to in his second post.
  • BamseBamse Posts: 561
    edited 2011-11-14 10:51
    @ Erco and RobotWorkshop,

    If I decide to gut my Hero 1 and put a propeller in it, would any one of you be interested in the old circuit boards ?
    Or do you know anyone who would be interested ?
    I'll charge a few bucks for shipping but I won't charge for the boards them self.
    It would be nice if the boards could be used for something rather than get thrown away...
  • hover1hover1 Posts: 1,929
    edited 2011-11-14 10:53
    Martin_H wrote: »
    Yes I was referring to the Hero 1 Erco linked to in his second post.

    Sorry, missed that one.

    Jim
  • RobotWorkshopRobotWorkshop Posts: 2,307
    edited 2011-11-14 11:07
    Bamse wrote: »
    @ Erco and RobotWorkshop,

    If I decide to gut my Hero 1 and put a propeller in it, would any one of you be interested in the old circuit boards ?
    Or do you know anyone who would be interested ?
    I'll charge a few bucks for shipping but I won't charge for the boards them self.
    It would be nice if the boards could be used for something rather than get thrown away...

    I'd be interested in the boards since I can use them to restore other HERO 1 robots. If you decide to get it going again as it is instead let me know and I can help. I've rebuilt many of these robots over the years and even have test fixtures setup for rebuilding/repairing the boards.

    Robert
  • Kenny GardnerKenny Gardner Posts: 169
    edited 2011-11-14 12:34
    That guy on eBay wants way too much money for his Hero 1. You would have to add the cost of 4 batteries to that price.

    I remember seeing the Hero 2000 at the Anaheim store and I wanted it so bad, but I was young and didn't have the money. I believe it was the same one Erco bought.

    The only thing wrong with mine (besides the yellowing of the outer shells) is that the plastic wrist housing has virtually disintegrated. Some kind of weird plastic. I got half of the housing from Robert but he didn't have both halves so the wrist is still messed up.

    I do have to clean the circuit board contacts every so often, but I bought a bunch of the CAIG DeoxiT and PreservIT stuff and it works miracles on the Zeneth type of circuit board connectors that Heath used.

    Kenny
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