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Forget Waldo, Where's the BS2 HW Board? — Parallax Forums

Forget Waldo, Where's the BS2 HW Board?

ercoerco Posts: 20,256
edited 2015-04-30 18:01 in General Discussion
I nabbed a 10-pack of Serial Homework Boards, just delivered today. Between the sale price, free ship, and "Qty: 1" listed, I couldn't help myself. I just looked at https://www.parallax.com/product/28158 and it says "Not Available". I was expecting to see "Backordered".

What's up, Parallax? Did I actually get the last ten pieces? Sure, the USB version is still available, but the serial board was cheaper, and an old friend since I still use it and have taught several classes with it. If so, an end of life notice would have been nice.

If it's really gone for good, will the FTDI USB adapter soon be gone too?

Comments

  • Steph LindsaySteph Lindsay Posts: 767
    edited 2015-04-29 15:03
    Hi Erco,

    Actually, the Serial HomeWork Board was discontinued more than a year ago.

    Just recently, I found that we still had 13 of the 10-packs in the warehouse that had been saved for a different purpose but never used, and that need has passed. So, we made these available at a deep discount as part of our Spring Cleaning Sale. The hourglass on this, and any, product page is a reminder that the item is available for a limited time.

    The USB to Serial Adapter is alive and well. There are many, many serial Parallax boards in existence, and the serial Board of Education and S2 robots are still in production.

    -Steph
  • ercoerco Posts: 20,256
    edited 2015-04-29 15:29
    ACK! I have just invented the killer billion-dollar game changer revolutionary super dynamo product that would have made Parallax (and me) filthy stinking rich, but it only works with the serial HW board. Pity that!

    Glad I go the last ten. If I would known that, I would have asked the whole Parallax gang to sign the box!
  • xanaduxanadu Posts: 3,347
    edited 2015-04-29 15:57
    DB9 is so much better. What a loss. These USB mini jacks have seemingly limited number cycles of plugging before they start to fall off.

    Four pin header and FTDI is the best combo, then there's the heavy bulky yet highly reliable DB9.

    When did soldering a USB mini jack onto PCB become acceptable for constant re-plugging? There is too much force on that connector IMO.

    I hate it, sorry, and thanks for listening.
  • ercoerco Posts: 20,256
    edited 2015-04-29 17:14
    Totally unrelated, but be sure to look for erco's Collector Edition, Final Run of Homework Boards on Ebay. Given the emotional, last-opportunity-to-buy drama that comes with these wonderful, priceless, pristine, part-of-history, game-changing boards, it's really hard to know how to price them. I think $500 each is a very good start. Free shipping! Remember, the proceeds go straight into my twins' college fund...

    Even if I just sell one at that price... :)
  • xanaduxanadu Posts: 3,347
    edited 2015-04-29 17:42
    ebay /report_seller /set not_fair

    <notfair.jpg>
  • mindrobotsmindrobots Posts: 6,506
    edited 2015-04-29 18:04
    I'd say eBay owes you one, Mr. Barnum! :D
  • Steph LindsaySteph Lindsay Posts: 767
    edited 2015-04-30 14:59
    xanadu wrote: »
    ...These USB mini jacks have seemingly limited number cycles of plugging before they start to fall off... There is too much force on that connector IMO.

    I hate it, sorry, and thanks for listening.

    Understood! As we have been designing new boards or updating existing boards that have the USB connector, we are using a thru-hole package instead of purely surface mount for increased durability. And as I mentioned previously, the serial Board of Education is currently available.
  • NWCCTVNWCCTV Posts: 3,629
    edited 2015-04-30 16:11
    Slightly OT but not much. I am tiring of the same issue with my laptop and desktop. It seems that now I have to press down on the top of the USB cable whenever I try to program any of my boards. At first I thought it was a cable issue but since I have tried several that is not the issue.
  • xanaduxanadu Posts: 3,347
    edited 2015-04-30 16:39
    Steph Lindsay wrote: »
    Understood! As we have been designing new boards or updating existing boards that have the USB connector, we are using a thru-hole package instead of purely surface mount for increased durability. And as I mentioned previously, the serial Board of Education is currently available.

    Thanks, that is a great solution. Didn't mean to rant on this post, bad day, short staffed etc.
  • Martin_HMartin_H Posts: 4,051
    edited 2015-04-30 18:01
    I'm a big fan of DB9 as well. Once you make the investment in a USB to serial cable it's usually cheaper because there are some really cheap line drivers available.
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