Interesting New Product, Propeller Memory Card

Duane Degn · 2013-08-14 14:49

I just noticed the announcement of a new memory card for the Propeller.

It has SRAM, Flash and a uSD socket for not much more than a plan old SD socket often costs.

It sure looks like an easy way to experiment with various memory options. I sure wish they had this board four years ago when I was first learning to interface with memory chips.

I'm sure I'll still get one with my next order.

I sometimes wish we could reply to announcements. I suppose the Propeller forum is better place to discuss this anyway.

Dr_Acula · 2013-08-14 17:48

Now that is a nice board. And great to see it has the new 128 kilobyte sram chip, schematic, code etc.

David Betz · 2013-08-14 18:05

I created a PropGCC external memory driver for this card when it was still under development. I have no idea why there is no mention made of it in the documentation or any code included in the source archive.

Duane Degn · 2013-08-14 19:04

David Betz wrote: »

I created a PropGCC external memory driver for this card when it was still under development. I have no idea why there is no mention made of it in the documentation or any code included in the source archive.

I was expecting some mention of how to use it with PropGCC. The memory card seem like a great match to use with larger C programs (particularly if there's already a driver).

xanadu · 2013-08-14 19:07

I forgot what I was going to post, I definitely need one of these.

LoopyByteloose · 2013-08-15 06:48

I suspect this is just the beginning. The Propeller2 is just begging to have parallel memory directly interface with it.

David Betz · 2013-08-15 06:50

Duane Degn wrote: »

I was expecting some mention of how to use it with PropGCC. The memory card seem like a great match to use with larger C programs (particularly if there's already a driver).

If you'd like to use this card with PropGCC I'd be happy to post a message describing how to do it along with the required driver.

cavelamb · 2013-08-15 08:01

David Betz wrote: »

If you'd like to use this card with PropGCC I'd be happy to post a message describing how to do it along with the required driver.

Please, David?
I remember the discussion, but didn't find a link to it.

I'm really hoping this is the last piece of the external memory problem falling into place.
That's really exciting.

Duane Degn · 2013-08-15 08:43

cavelamb wrote: »

Please, David?

I second the motion.

I haven't done much more than blink a LED with PropGCC but I think I'll be more likely use C once I have the memory card.

David Betz · 2013-08-15 08:46

Duane Degn wrote: »

I second the motion.

I haven't done much more than blink a LED with PropGCC but I think I'll be more likely use C once I have the memory card.

By the way, RayMan has had some nice memory modules that can be used with PropGCC:

http://www.rayslogic.com/Propeller/Products/FlashPoint/FlashPoint.htm

David Betz · 2013-08-15 09:22

cavelamb wrote: »

Please, David?
I remember the discussion, but didn't find a link to it.

I'm really hoping this is the last piece of the external memory problem falling into place.
That's really exciting.

I'll try to get this posted later tonight after I'm done with my day job.

David Betz · 2013-08-15 18:50

Here is a cache driver that should work with David Carrier's new Propeller Memory Card. You just need to put both of these files in /opt/parallax/propeller-load under Linux or the Mac or "C:\Program Files\SimpleIDE\propeller-gcc\propeller-load" under Windows and set your board type to "qs-hib-pmc". You should be able to use either xmm-single, xmm-split, or xmmc memory models. Please let me know if you have trouble with this driver. I have only tested it with a prototype Propeller Memory Card and I think there may have been some changes between the prototype and the production cards.

qs-hib-pmc.zip

Duane Degn · 2013-08-15 19:11

David Betz wrote: »

Here is a cache driver that should work with David Carrier's new Propeller Memory Card.

Thank you David.

Have you emailed anyone at Parallax to have your driver added to the "Downloads" on the product page?

attachment.php?attachmentid=103363&d=1376619038

attachment.php?attachmentid=103363&d=1376619038

David Betz · 2013-08-15 19:17

Duane Degn wrote: »

Thank you David.

Have you emailed anyone at Parallax to have your driver added to the "Downloads" on the product page?

They actually already had all of the source code and the compiled driver. I can send it to them again if they've lost track of it though.

David Carrier · 2013-08-16 15:00

David,
Your work is not forgotten. The Propeller Memory Card will have SimpleIDE support, but it was better to release it now without it than to delay the memory card while the SimpleIDE team was working to release version 0.9.40. Also, I implemented the changes mentioned in this post, so it might have broken the driver you posted.

Before getting it officially listed as a board type in SimpleIDE, I can add your C code to the product downloads section, or I can add a link to a forum post or object exchange entry if you want to be able to update it quickly. I can send you one of the final prototypes, essentially indistinguishable from the production units, if you would like to verify it with the new pinout.

— David Carrier
Parallax Inc.

Don M · 2013-08-16 18:03

Ok so I ordered a couple of these memory cards yesterday and now I see they are part of the daily deal today at over half off? That sucks! I could have gotten twice as many for the same money.

jazzed · 2013-08-16 18:48

Hi Don.

Send them email.

David Betz · 2013-08-16 19:13

David Carrier wrote: »

David,
Your work is not forgotten. The Propeller Memory Card will have SimpleIDE support, but it was better to release it now without it than to delay the memory card while the SimpleIDE team was working to release version 0.9.40. Also, I implemented the changes mentioned in this post, so it might have broken the driver you posted.

Before getting it officially listed as a board type in SimpleIDE, I can add your C code to the product downloads section, or I can add a link to a forum post or object exchange entry if you want to be able to update it quickly. I can send you one of the final prototypes, essentially indistinguishable from the production units, if you would like to verify it with the new pinout.

— David Carrier
Parallax Inc.

Hi David,

Thanks for the explanation. I should test the driver with a production memory card. I've asked Jeff Martin to send me a production card as well as a Demo Board so I can verify that everything works. Once I do that, I'll send you a new driver and you can post it along with the other files for the memory card.

Thanks,
David

jazzed · 2013-08-16 19:59

I bought some since they were on sale to help the store beta testing.

David Betz · 2013-08-16 20:12

jazzed wrote: »

I bought some since they were on sale to help the store beta testing.

I thought about doing that but had already sent email to Jeff.

RDL2004 · 2013-08-16 23:02

I tried to buy one of these memory cards since they were on sale, but I never could get the registration to work at the beta site. I tried under 2 different e-mail addresses, but each time I tried to log in, my password wouldn't work. I requested a new password for both but never received any e-mail instructions. Oh well.

Ron Czapala · 2013-08-17 06:07

RDL2004 wrote: »

I tried to buy one of these memory cards since they were on sale, but I never could get the registration to work at the beta site. I tried under 2 different e-mail addresses, but each time I tried to log in, my password wouldn't work. I requested a new password for both but never received any e-mail instructions. Oh well.

I am having the same issue trying to set up a new account so I sent an email to webbeta@parallax.com

Can't order the Propeller Memory card for the Daily Deal price on the old Parallax Store site...

David Betz · 2013-08-17 06:11

Ron Czapala wrote: »

I am having the same issue trying to set up a new account so I sent an email to webbeta@parallax.com

I was able to buy a card but I got an AJAX error at one point when I pressed the "continue" button a little too quickly.

Ron Czapala · 2013-08-17 06:24

David Betz wrote: »

I was able to buy a card but I got an AJAX error at one point when I pressed the "continue" button a little too quickly.

Looks like the Beta site is not ready for "prime time" -
Maybe they will extend the offer for people who couldn't register...

dgately · 2013-08-17 08:29

David Betz wrote: »

I was able to buy a card but I got an AJAX error at one point when I pressed the "continue" button a little too quickly.

I got the AJAX error as well, but was able to continue with the purchase after that dialog was dismissed. GOt an email that my order was indeed processed. Sent an email to the website with a screenshot of that error, so hopefully it is being investigated.

dgately

doggiedoc · 2013-08-17 08:48

I ordered 2 cards from the beta site with no problems or errors using Mac OS 10.8.4 and Safari 6.05. What browser/OS did you all use?

Doc

Ron Czapala · 2013-08-17 09:10

doggiedoc wrote: »

I ordered 2 cards from the beta site with no problems or errors using Mac OS 10.8.4 and Safari 6.05. What browser/OS did you all use?

Doc

I used Chrome, but the verification email component should be server-based.

RDL2004 · 2013-08-17 09:39

Wow, how did I miss that webbeta@parallax.com in the big yellow box at the top of the page? I guess I was pretty tired, it was after midnight.

I use Firefox ESR 17.0.8, I also use Noscript but I enabled everything except Facebook and twitter. I'm pretty sure when I tried registering again using the second e-mail account that I didn't even get an option to enter a password. I know it did the first time because I wrote it down.

I just tried to reset the password again and still no e-mail. It says that instructions have been sent, but nothing ever shows up.

Ron Czapala · 2013-08-17 09:55

I just tried registering again using my gmail account instead of my ISP accounts -

The confirmation email was received so I was able to login and make a purchase.

I tried sending emails back and forth between my gmail account and ISP accounts and they all worked properly.

Very strange

ratronic · 2013-08-17 10:17

I had this same problem until I figured out the responses from the beta site were showing up in my junk folder.

Ron Czapala · 2013-08-17 10:40

ratronic wrote: »

I had this same problem until I figured out the responses from the beta site were showing up in my junk folder.

That's not the issue in my case.
Without knowing the intricacies of email handling, I wonder if it has to do with SSL settings/ports -
Time Warner Cable does not support encrypted connections yet!!!

Interesting New Product, Propeller Memory Card

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