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Small Prop Board with VGA, PS2 and uSD — Parallax Forums

Small Prop Board with VGA, PS2 and uSD

Dave HeinDave Hein Posts: 6,347
edited 2014-09-18 19:11 in Propeller 1
Has anybody designed and built a Prop board that contains only VGA, PS1 PS2 and uSD connectors? I'm looking for the smallest board that's available. It could be powered from USB, or it could have a connector for a wall-wart.

Comments

  • jazzedjazzed Posts: 11,803
    edited 2014-09-17 13:53
    What's a PS1 ?
  • David BetzDavid Betz Posts: 14,516
    edited 2014-09-17 13:54
    jazzed wrote: »
    What's a PS1 ?
    A PS2 connector spelled wrong? :-)
  • Dave HeinDave Hein Posts: 6,347
    edited 2014-09-17 14:35
    Yes, I mean't PS2.
  • GenetixGenetix Posts: 1,754
    edited 2014-09-17 15:45
    Dave, will these work?
    http://www.parallax.com/product/40003
    http://www.parallax.com/product/32209
  • Dave HeinDave Hein Posts: 6,347
    edited 2014-09-17 16:16
    I have several QuickStart cards that I picked up at RadioShack, and I am planning on ordering the Human Interface card. I also have a C3 board that I do much of my development on. I guess what I'm looking for is something like a depopulated C3 that only has the VGA, PS2 and uSD connectors, and maybe in a smaller form factor and lower cost. I'm just curious if something like that already exists.
  • TubularTubular Posts: 4,702
    edited 2014-09-17 16:45
    Hi Dave

    My "PatchBox" from a while back had 2xPS2, uSD, and either VGA or 2xRCA phono for AV. Small enough to fit in the sleeve of a matchbox (at 2"x1.35")
    http://forums.parallax.com/showthread.php/108226-Introducing-PatchBox.TV-Propeller-in-a-Matchbox

    It evolved somewhat into the Und3rb3lly board that's in my avatar / on the Smorgasboard PCB. I added C3 style memories on the reverse side, that can be individually populated. You can have 2 uSDs if desired.

    There's also a 'cut version' that you select 2 cards to match up - so you choose color or greyscale vga, or tv, or whatever, via plugs or soldered through hole resistors.
    http://forums.parallax.com/showthread.php/129292-quot-Und3rb3lly-quot-Upgrading-the-Propeller-Proto-Board-to-C3-style-memory
  • WBA ConsultingWBA Consulting Posts: 2,934
    edited 2014-09-17 17:56
    That's a tough request, but one I have had myself! I have done some research on this exact same request and here is some of what I recall.

    If you could provide any more details as to quantity, max PCB size, etc, I may have a few more ideas.
  • Dave HeinDave Hein Posts: 6,347
    edited 2014-09-17 19:28
    Tubular and Andrew, thanks for the information. It looks like there are a lot of options to choose from. I'm basically looking for the lowest cost solution for providing a stand-along Prop-based system with keyboard, VGA display and an SD card.
  • Peter JakackiPeter Jakacki Posts: 10,193
    edited 2014-09-17 19:49
    Dave Hein wrote: »
    Tubular and Andrew, thanks for the information. It looks like there are a lot of options to choose from. I'm basically looking for the lowest cost solution for providing a stand-along Prop-based system with keyboard, VGA display and an SD card.

    I do have various boards (of course) but you wouldn't just have an introvert system would you? Wouldn't it have to connect or communicate with something else? Also I don't use physical PS/2 connectors as I prefer to forgo the gender-bender that comes with the PS/2 compatible USB keyboards and just have the keyboard plug into a USB socket as PS/2. The other thing is that some boards I have don't even bother with the bulky VGA connector as I have found it easier just to have an adapter plug, on some units I have an RJ45, on others pins headers, etc. But I do have boards (+case) with PS/2, RJ45 VGA, USB, RS232, RS422/485, SD, and optional Lantronix Xport in less than 3"sq, either bulk DC or USB powered. Pick a flavour.
  • Dave HeinDave Hein Posts: 6,347
    edited 2014-09-18 05:49
    Peter, do you have a website showing the various boards that you've developed? Your boards sound very interesting.

    The board I'm thinking of would be an "introvert" most of the time, but there are times when it would need to connect to the outside world. It would need to have either a serial port or a connector that would allow for expansion. So I think my ideal board would be something like a QuickStart, but with the touchpads replaced by VGA, PS2 and uSD connectors. It seems like there's enough room on the board to do this, especially given the fact that the C3 board has all of this and more.

    So the main board would have USB, VGA, PS2 and uSD, and be powered from the USB. A daughter card could have another PS2, audio I/O, RTC and a WizNet chip. This way the main board would provide the basic functionality at the lowest cost. The current cost of the QuickStart plus the Human Interface board is $70. Even with the RadioShack price for the QuickStart the cost is still $43. I would hope that the card I'm proposing could be built for less than that.
  • WBA ConsultingWBA Consulting Posts: 2,934
    edited 2014-09-18 15:54
    Forgot to mention this option as well, has a spot to solder on the uSD socket.

    https://www.tindie.com/products/Propellerpowered/propellerpowered-pocket-mini-computer/
  • Dave HeinDave Hein Posts: 6,347
    edited 2014-09-18 19:11
    Yes, I came across that earlier today. There is also the QuickStart Pocket Mini Computer, which would probably be the least expensive way to go when paired with an $8 QuickStart from RadioShack. Of course it's getting hard to find the QuickStart at a RadioShack store these days, but they still offer them online for $12.
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