Amen, Brother Phil! (Double Amen to the labeling - those 40 unlabeled pins can drive you nuts sometimes!)
Anything to ease frustration. It should be a bullet proof hardware design so if you're a new user, you know that you shot yourself in the foot with any problems you are having and that the board design isn't helping you shoot yourself. You wonder if there are a lot of people that have bought their Quickstarts, hit the resistor problem and given up.
@PB, I took jazzed's comment to refer back to Ray's comment about being curious if Parallax or others have ever noticed this problem, and simply stating that the authorities have been aware of the problem, not that there wasn't any point in discussing or asking anymore it since it's been asked and answered.
What would be especially embarrassing (i.e. entertaining for others) is to find a thread on this selfsame subject that I'd already commented on. I'd like to say it's never happened before, but ...
-Phil
Phil, you already have! The subject was slightly different though, and thus not embarrassing
Yes, the pins not being labeled is borderline idiotic. I may take my quickstart board back, as it is pretty subpar to what I would expect from Parallax.
IMO, the resistor appears so fundamental to the success of the Quickstart (as opposed to frustration for newcomers to the Propeller) that it really needs to be incorporated onto the board. I'd also add a pull-up on P31 so the Prop won't receive garbage when externally powered with the USB disconnected. Moreover, I'd change the values on all the pull-ups (P28-P31) to 4.7K. On a heavily-loaded I2C bus, especially, 10K may not be stiff enough for maximum-speed operation. Next, I'd make sure that the sigma-delta input pins are on the same 0.1" grid as the main dual-row receptacle, so that the proto board can connect to them via a header/connector pair. Finally, I'd figure out some way to label the pins on the receptacle, even if it means including stickers for it or laser etching the nomenclature onto it (there being no room on the PCB itself for a slkscreen legend).
Yes, the pins not being labeled is borderline idiotic. I may take my quickstart board back, as it is pretty subpar to what I would expect from Parallax.
Brad,
Don't give up on the QuickStart yet. PM me your address and I'll send you some labels. You can see a picture of the labels in this thread where (one of the places) I list all the cool things I've done with the QuickStart board.
Oh yeah, some other people have also done cool things with the QuickStart board too. Phil also made some labels that look a lot better than mine and are easier to read.
I just wanted to publicly thank you for going to such great lengths to get me these labels. I guess knowing how desperate I was to know which pin I was using inspired you to drive from Idaho to Md in just under 9 hours to hand deliver them. Although you already have seen this in person, I just thought I would share them with everyone else, the quick start looks fabulous with its new pin labels. Thanks again, let me know what I owe you for gas money.
Don't give up on the QuickStart yet. PM me your address and I'll send you some labels. You can see a picture of the labels in this thread where (one of the places) I list all the cool things I've done with the QuickStart board.
Oh yeah, some other people have also done cool things with the QuickStart board too. Phil also made some labels that look a lot better than mine and are easier to read.
I've sent labels to several forum members but I didn't recall sending you any. I also thought you wouldn't be having a problem with the pins if you already had the labels. And while I can be forgetful, I was pretty sure I hadn't made a recent trip to Maryland.
It finally dawned on me, I had uploaded the file used to create the labels and you must have a Brother label maker. Very cool! It pleases me immensely to see someone else making these labels.
Thanks for sharing the picture.
I personally think Parallax should include a set of labels (like Phil's) with each QuickStart board.
I am now on my second Quickstart board and the very first thing I did with it was to attach the labels you sent me. They make using it so much easier. I agree that Parallax should think of labelling it - either on the board or with stick on labels. Stick on labels are probably best.
Sorry about that, just trying to liven up the forum a little. Yes, I found your label file and then remembered that I too had a brother label maker, so I dusted it off and printed out the file and it fit perfectly. I've made the Maryland to Idaho drive once going to Jackson Hole/Yellowstone and it definitely would take longer than 9 hours : )
Thanks a lot for being kind enough to get the spacing correct (I'm sure you wasted a couple of labels there) and then uploading the file for everyone, it worked great.
I've sent labels to several forum members but I didn't recall sending you any. I also thought you wouldn't be having a problem with the pins if you already had the labels. And while I can be forgetful, I was pretty sure I hadn't made a recent trip to Maryland.
It finally dawned on me, I had uploaded the file used to create the labels and you must have a Brother label maker. Very cool! It pleases me immensely to see someone else making these labels.
Thanks for sharing the picture.
I personally think Parallax should include a set of labels (like Phil's) with each QuickStart board.
I'm using 1.3 without any adjustments to the delay and had the problem without the resistor. The resistor is necessary and will, hopefully, be added to the next QuickStart rev. Leaving a buffer input floating is never a good idea.
Comments
Anything to ease frustration. It should be a bullet proof hardware design so if you're a new user, you know that you shot yourself in the foot with any problems you are having and that the board design isn't helping you shoot yourself. You wonder if there are a lot of people that have bought their Quickstarts, hit the resistor problem and given up.
@PB, I took jazzed's comment to refer back to Ray's comment about being curious if Parallax or others have ever noticed this problem, and simply stating that the authorities have been aware of the problem, not that there wasn't any point in discussing or asking anymore it since it's been asked and answered.
If I kissed more arrears, I *might* get better responses.
My comment was to indicate that it has been discussed before, not that it shouldn't be discussed anymore.
Phil, you already have! The subject was slightly different though, and thus not embarrassing
http://forums.parallax.com/showthread.php?135735-stdio-bug-no-QuickStart-Quirk&p=1050223&viewfull=1#post1050223
Is it likely this problem could affect the PropBOE which also has a buffer, although a different chip, without a pull up resistor.
I apologize if this has been discusssed and resolved elsewhere or if I am missing the obvious, I am just curious to know.
Jeff T.
The Prop BOE does have the pull-up on TX.
-Phil
Brad,
Don't give up on the QuickStart yet. PM me your address and I'll send you some labels. You can see a picture of the labels in this thread where (one of the places) I list all the cool things I've done with the QuickStart board.
Oh yeah, some other people have also done cool things with the QuickStart board too. Phil also made some labels that look a lot better than mine and are easier to read.
I thought I'd be at least #3 on the list. :frown:
I need to start showing off more.
I live vicariously through your projects, since you get things done and I don't! :frown:
-Phil
I just wanted to publicly thank you for going to such great lengths to get me these labels. I guess knowing how desperate I was to know which pin I was using inspired you to drive from Idaho to Md in just under 9 hours to hand deliver them. Although you already have seen this in person, I just thought I would share them with everyone else, the quick start looks fabulous with its new pin labels. Thanks again, let me know what I owe you for gas money.
You had me thoroughly confused for a while there.
I've sent labels to several forum members but I didn't recall sending you any. I also thought you wouldn't be having a problem with the pins if you already had the labels. And while I can be forgetful, I was pretty sure I hadn't made a recent trip to Maryland.
It finally dawned on me, I had uploaded the file used to create the labels and you must have a Brother label maker. Very cool! It pleases me immensely to see someone else making these labels.
Thanks for sharing the picture.
I personally think Parallax should include a set of labels (like Phil's) with each QuickStart board.
I am now on my second Quickstart board and the very first thing I did with it was to attach the labels you sent me. They make using it so much easier. I agree that Parallax should think of labelling it - either on the board or with stick on labels. Stick on labels are probably best.
Regards
Richard
Thanks a lot for being kind enough to get the spacing correct (I'm sure you wasted a couple of labels there) and then uploading the file for everyone, it worked great.