Stamp is overkill??
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Posts: 46,084
There were a couple of comments that the furnace filter changer this was
too simple a job for a Stamp. Well, only in the sense that a Stamp is
rather expensive, compared to using a plain old PIC. No job is too simple
for a "picoprocessor" (can't call them microprocessors - the Pentium and
friends started being called microprocessors).
Take a simple timing task that you might use a 555 for - say you want a
square wave, a -free running oscillator. This is easy with a 555, but
requires quite a few external components, since a 555 doesn't naturally
like to do square waves.
But with a PIC and a resonator, you can do this quite nicely. And the newer
PICs like the 12F675 are cheap like borscht.
I had a trivial task for my sailboat - controlling the bilge pump.
When the water covers two stainless steel screws in the bilge, turn on the
pump. When the water is gone, stop. I could have done this with a few
components, but a PIC is a lot more flexible.
The point of this is that there are a lot of things that don't need the
power of a processor, even very simple things, but using a PIC (or a Stamp
if the expense doesn't bother you) is frequently a lot easier. and a lot
more fun.
Stamp users that would like to use Stamps for simple projects but are
bothered by the expense (like me) can fairly easily start playing with the
native PICs. All you need is a programmer (the net abounds with both
commercial and home-brew units - you can build one for very little) and a
programming language.
There is a compiler (actually a couple) that speak Stamp basic (with
extensions) - I used PicBasic (and now PicBasicPro) from MicroEngineering
Labs - $99 for PicBasic, $249 for the Pro version - you can use a Stamp to
develop your ideas and then switch to the compiler and a PIC for the final
product.
Or you can use one of the other languages for which there are free
compilers - JAL (Just Another Language) is a good example.
I encourage Stamp users to broaden their computing horizons - the PIC
series has a lot of processors with nifty features that you don't get on a
Stamp, such as built-in 10 bit A/D converters, hardware serial ports,
analog comparators, timers --- things that require a bunch of additional
stuff to do with a Stamp - and they are cheap. I don't think you could pay
more than $10 for a PIC if you wanted to. And some are in the $2 range.
Have fun!
Larry
Larry Bradley
Orleans (Ottawa), Ontario, CANADA
too simple a job for a Stamp. Well, only in the sense that a Stamp is
rather expensive, compared to using a plain old PIC. No job is too simple
for a "picoprocessor" (can't call them microprocessors - the Pentium and
friends started being called microprocessors).
Take a simple timing task that you might use a 555 for - say you want a
square wave, a -free running oscillator. This is easy with a 555, but
requires quite a few external components, since a 555 doesn't naturally
like to do square waves.
But with a PIC and a resonator, you can do this quite nicely. And the newer
PICs like the 12F675 are cheap like borscht.
I had a trivial task for my sailboat - controlling the bilge pump.
When the water covers two stainless steel screws in the bilge, turn on the
pump. When the water is gone, stop. I could have done this with a few
components, but a PIC is a lot more flexible.
The point of this is that there are a lot of things that don't need the
power of a processor, even very simple things, but using a PIC (or a Stamp
if the expense doesn't bother you) is frequently a lot easier. and a lot
more fun.
Stamp users that would like to use Stamps for simple projects but are
bothered by the expense (like me) can fairly easily start playing with the
native PICs. All you need is a programmer (the net abounds with both
commercial and home-brew units - you can build one for very little) and a
programming language.
There is a compiler (actually a couple) that speak Stamp basic (with
extensions) - I used PicBasic (and now PicBasicPro) from MicroEngineering
Labs - $99 for PicBasic, $249 for the Pro version - you can use a Stamp to
develop your ideas and then switch to the compiler and a PIC for the final
product.
Or you can use one of the other languages for which there are free
compilers - JAL (Just Another Language) is a good example.
I encourage Stamp users to broaden their computing horizons - the PIC
series has a lot of processors with nifty features that you don't get on a
Stamp, such as built-in 10 bit A/D converters, hardware serial ports,
analog comparators, timers --- things that require a bunch of additional
stuff to do with a Stamp - and they are cheap. I don't think you could pay
more than $10 for a PIC if you wanted to. And some are in the $2 range.
Have fun!
Larry
Larry Bradley
Orleans (Ottawa), Ontario, CANADA
Comments
Help me out if you can. I was self taught using the basic stamp, BS1 and
BS2. As you know it is easy to use, however, expensive for many applications.
I am now using the SX chip from UBICOM (sold through Parallax) writing
programs in assembly language. The price is less than $10 including the
resonator. The drawback vs the Stamp is programming many commands is not as
easy, however, so far I enjoy the challenge of making the algorithms to
accomplish the task. Also, these SX chips are extreemly fast compared to the
BS2 which means there are some things I can do with the SX that I cannot do
with the BS2.
I hear a lot about these PIC controllers, which brings me to my real
question...
What is a PIC? Is the SX I spoke of a PIC? What is the initial investment?
What languages are used to program the PIC? After the initial investment what
do the chips cost? Any good books / documentation on the product.....etc,
etc?
Pehaps a web address can answer my questions. I am very happy with the SX
chip but always eager to broaden my knowledge.
Thanks.
ps This group can be quite entertaining at times! I really enjoy all the
"threads" on the furnace filter ideas!!!! "Grow wheat......and a wheatstone
bridge!!!!!!!" That's classic.
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