SX/B books - resources ?

T&E Engineer

Is there any plans or something already available (with examples) covering SX/B besides the Help in the SX Key 3.1 program?

I have the downloaded PDF "Exploring the SX Microcontroller with Assembly and BASIC Programming".

I also have the 2 printed manuals that come with the SX Tech Tool Kit PRO but they are Assembly based (or not SX/B really).

I just want to have all of the resources available to me for SX/B as Assembly may take a while to fully learn.

PS: Also does Parallax carry a ZIF socket to easily take the BS2 and / or SX28 out of the PDB? - I would like to get a BS2P and don't want to damage it.

Thanks,

Timothy Gilmore

Rsadeika

I have been asking those types of questions for the last six months, concerning SX/B. I think that I have been 'blacklisted'. Maybe with some other people making inqueries, maybe the response will be forth comming.

Chris Savage

I don't think anyone has been blacklisted...I think Jon kind of answered this in the following thread.

http://forums.parallax.com/showthread.php?p=557560

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Chris Savage
Parallax Tech Support
csavage@parallax.com

Mike Cook

Timothy,

As for the ZIF socket, I don't think that Parallax currently has one. But this weekend, my PDB will be here, and I plan on installing a 24 or 40 pin ZIF socket on mine. If it works out I'll post the part numbers I used.

Mike

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"OEM NMEA GPS Module" Now available on ebay for only $19.99

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T&E Engineer

Mike,

That's great news. I'll be looking forward to it.

PS: I just ordered from Parallax a BS2P and some more 4, 20, 50MHz resonators, and a 1620 temp IC and a 16K EEPROM for the BS2P. I would like to move it to the PDB and put my original BS2 back on the BOE rev C.

Ken Gracey

Tim,

Absolutely. Parallax and Matt Gilliland are in the process of preparing a "Getting Started with SX" book which we expect to complete around the first of 2006. I concur entirely - there's a big education/marketing/support gap in our SX/B printed documentation. From our perspective it's also been useful for the last year to allow the compiler to mature before printing support and education books. At this point SX/B is stable and is ready for printed documentation.

This book, along with more SX hardware is forthcoming.

Ken Gracey
Parallax, Inc.

T&E Engineer

Ken,

That's very good news to hear. I am standing by awaiting to place my order. It's also great to hear about more SX Hardware.

I just need more ideas on what to do with my BS2, BS2P and SX28s.

I'm excited!

Thanks again,

Timothy Gilmore

LoopyByteloose

I have been watching the SX/B pop out new additions and new versions at a very fast clip and wondering when it might slow enough to get hard copy. I am not near a computer for much of the day so I have to carry the book or I never get to it.

BTW, how about a small development board for the SX-28 that looks something like the BS-2sx's OEM board. It would really compliment the SX-28 as a quick deployment tool.

I was considering buying a BS-2sx and hacking it, but I see that some pins are omitted, there is no way to attach an SX-Key or SX-Blitz, and the resistors and transistors really get tangled up with the need for that ATN line.

Just a suggestion.

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"When all think alike, no one is thinking very much.' - Walter Lippmann (1889-1974)

······································································ Warm regards,····· G. Herzog [noparse][[/noparse]·黃鶴 ]·in Taiwan

T&E Engineer

Kramer,



Haven't you seen these?

http://www.parallax.com/detail.asp?product_id=45181

http://www.parallax.com/detail.asp?product_id=45205

This is a smaller version similar to the one for the BS2 series as seen below:

http://www.parallax.com/detail.asp?product_id=27206

http://www.parallax.com/detail.asp?product_id=28150

It did not appear that you were aware of these boards.

John Couture

Guys, just buy a 400 or 1600 pin breadboard along with an LM7805, two 100mf caps, and a diode (1N4004) and you have a development board. I went to www.allelectronics.com and bought a bunch of 400 pin breadboards (Stock# PB-400) at $3 each. The SX is the best bargain of all! For less than $5 you can get the SX28 and for less than $2 you can get an SX18. Once you own an SX-Key the sky is the limit!

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John J. Couture

San Diego Miramar College

LoopyByteloose

Firstly,
I am aware of the boards mentioned above. I have the one for programing the SX-28 and even built another to program the SX-18.

While I can always build more from scratch, it seems like the oscillator and SX-Key circuits are better suited for a four layer board {direct runs and minimum EMI}.

What I was thinking of is an equivalent to the OEM board, but maybe with a few more pins on the one edge. I was also considering that it might have a Max232 socket on board in lieu of the less standard RS-232.

I suppose I should prepare a list of features and try to lay it out in Eagle. The board would be a convience that would allow you to have numerous sx-28 projects in a modular form. Maybe the board could be sold bare and in a package of 5 or 6 for a reasonable price. [noparse][[/noparse]That way you could solder in your own resonator and even select a 3.3 volt regulator it you prefer [noparse][[/noparse]Maxim has a 3.3volt RS232 chip with same pin outs]

I seem to be forever building from scratch and not getting into the software enough. This would move me ahead.

And secondly John, you forgot to mention the resonator circuit, the reset circuit, the serial interface, the SX-Key interface and the possiblities of other goodies [noparse][[/noparse]a RS-485 interface? etc.]. I am talking Ubicom products, not BasicStamp units.

There is a reason that the printed circuit board was invented. Right? Saves a lot of fuss and bother.

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"When all think alike, no one is thinking very much.' - Walter Lippmann (1889-1974)

······································································ Warm regards,····· G. Herzog [noparse][[/noparse]·黃鶴 ]·in Taiwan

Rsadeika

I may be wrong, but, back when the SX48/52 proto board was being discussed, wasn't their some mention about an Sx28 proto board also, or did someone just throw that in as a wish. I think that their are quite a few of us that bought the SX tech kit, so I guess we could use some kind of proto board where, after programming the sx28, on the tech baord,·you can plug it into the proto board and watch your project come to life, I could be wrong about this train of thought.

I am starting to think that, for me anyway, the sx28-SX/B·may be the way to go. If I need more I/O, then connect up two or more SX28's. I can see a proto board that would have sockets for multiple Sx28's and have the sockets hard wired for intercommunication (spi, I2C, .., etc), power supply, vertical pins that have access to all the available I/O, and so forth. Now, if that could be kept at reasonable price, and backed up by some good examples ... But then again, for Parallax,·how many hobby/prototypers would be interested in purchasing such a board.

T&E Engineer

Sign me up!

Since the PDB can not handle SX48/52, I am only developing with the BS2 and SX28.

I think it's a great idea if the price can be low enough.

Ken Gracey

Yes, we have an SX28AC/SS Proto Board. In fact, the design has been finished for nearly six months. We're sending it off to production this month. The issue is that we first had to put all of our resources on the SX chip packaging, SX-Key/Blitz re-design (a key part went obsolete) but now we're ready to move that product into production.

It'll be $9.95 like the rest of these boards. No availability date yet.

Ken Gracey
Parallax, Inc.

T&E Engineer

Will it come with an SX28 populated like the other boards (since they are surface mounted)?

Rsadeika

The sx28ac/ss is a suface mount chip, so yes, the SX28 will be onboard. If you look at the SX48/52 proto board, that is what it will look like, I think. Hope you like to solder a lot.

T&E Engineer

I think it would be better to have a DIP version of the SX28 since the PDB does not support surface mount ICs to develop code with. As long as their is a 4 pin connector for the SX-Key we should be ok either way.

pjv

Hi Tim;

Perhaps I should pipe up; I have developed just the thing I believe you may be looking for. I use it every day! Take a peek at the photo and description of my Parallax contest entry labeled, and I quote:

""Small Hardware and Development Prototyping Board for the SX28"

Notes from the judges:

As a tutorial or learning project, this project is entirely useful for people trying to understand how to use the SX efficiently.
Peter should be selling this product to SX users. "

Here's a link: http://www.parallax.com/sx/contest/design_contest.asp

It describes things quite well; but the BEST and most used feature of all·are the permanently wired CMOS buffered LEDS on every port pin. What a convenience; all port pins (in·and out) always show their hi/lo status without significant port loading.

LOTS of goodies on it. If you are interested, I'll figure out what I'm prepared to sell them for.

Cheers,

Peter (pjv)

Post Edited (pjv) : 11/18/2005 3:08:45 AM GMT

SteveW

Similarly, if anyone wants a board with an SX28 and a pile'o'stuff on it, they're welcome to get some made from the gerbers I submitted for the same contest. I use that board for loads of projects - any time I need a hefty motor controller, high power PWM ports, ADC, LEDs, EEPROM. Just ignore the motor & gearbox section, and fit the simple (7805) power supply rather than the huge switcher. All the SX28 IO pins are brought out to the side of the board, for easy wiring / LEDs.
It's Eurocard (160x100mm), so most PCB shops will etch it pretty cheaply.
I wouldn't recommend touching the competition code with a bargepole. Written far too late at night, ind in far too much of a hurry. I can dig out some SX/B templates to suit, though, which are rather more useful. Note that I'm not going to support you like Parallax do, though [noparse]:)[/noparse]

Steve

Guenther Daubach

You might also have a look at

http://forums.parallax.com/showthread.php?p=546497

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Greetings from Germany,

G

Ken Gracey

The boards Guenther designed are actually sitting on my desk at Parallax. Once our 2006 catalog project is out of the way I'll get these boards up on our web site. We'll sell them with most of the parts they require, since they are readily available in our existing inventory.

- Ken

T&E Engineer

Is this a kit then?

...or just the PCB with "some" parts available from Parallax.

Rsadeika

I just read Guenther's docs on the sx28 board, yes it's a pcb. Hopefully, when Parallax starts to market the board it will turn out to be a neat little kit, containing all the parts necessary to fully populate it. My problem is, do I still have the patience and eyesight to do a decent soldering job. As I get older I find convenience so self fullfilling. If you want to read the docs, goto projects and you will find the thread.

Ken Gracey

Hey there,

It'll be a kit with the various parts used on the PCB. Believe me, you don't want to pay our staff to solder it together for you. What's an evening hobby for some is a burdened rate hourly job within Parallax, so if you get the least bit of satisfaction from soldering you'll want to do this on your own.

More to follow on that soon.

- Ken

Rsadeika

First I whine to see if I can get somebody to feel sorry for me, and than do it for me LOL. I looked at Guenther's pcb again, and Heathkit came to mind. I know that this kit will not be anything like what that company used to provide, or will it. I have very fond memories of that company, in some ways Parallax reminds me of them, to bad that Heathkit is gone. Life goes on. If it was to subtle these were compliments for Guenther and Parallax. If I decide to get back into kits and soldering, Guenther beware, I will be asking "silly" questions.

Guenther Daubach

Rsadeika,

seems as if it is time to "out" myself - due to my age, I'm a member of the "Heathkit generation". Don't ask me how many Heathkits I have assembled in my life - according to my wife - too many .

I'm prepared for your questions - and there are no "silly questions" at all.

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Greetings from Germany,

G

Mike Cook

Timothy,

For the ZIF socket I used the following part number from www.mouser.com

535-40-526-10

Seems to fit the socket like it was made for it, of course you'll have to remove the ZIF socket if you want to program a BS1

Mike


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"OEM NMEA GPS Module" Now available on ebay for only $19.99

Product web site: http://www.allsurplus.net/Axiom/

Post Edited (Mike Cook) : 11/19/2005 12:28:01 AM GMT

T&E Engineer

Mike,

I ordered 2 of the ZIF sockets (same mfg part)·for my BOE and PDB. I just realized that the BOE is only 28 pins and it will hang off of it a bit. Oh well. I just got them in from Jameco.com this afternoon along with some parts (CD4028 and LTP-747 (could not find LTP-757 LED Matrix)) to build something similar to the ROBOLYMPICS board with the SX28.

So far it looks like a good investment for a little more than $7 each ZIF socket.

LoopyByteloose

Back to the original thread topic -- available SX/B documentation

If am finding ths SX/B examples and code are not centralized amongst the download documents.

Before it really becomes huge, can we gather together the SX/B code and put it in with all the other SX downloads?

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"When all think alike, no one is thinking very much.' - Walter Lippmann (1889-1974)

······································································ Warm regards,····· G. Herzog [noparse][[/noparse]·黃鶴 ]·in Taiwan

Post Edited (Kramer) : 11/26/2005 4:11:33 PM GMT

Jon Williams

The help file examples get installed when the compiler is updated, and we do post any updates/additions in the sticky thread that holds the compiler updates.

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Jon Williams
Applications Engineer, Parallax

LoopyByteloose

Thank you Jon.
I am afraid I am just a slow learner.
I just checked my SX/B files and found I had Version 1.21.

It is just beginning to sink in that I should keep up as you are at Version 1.42.
I must confess that intially, I didn't want to learn SX/B, but it finally occured to me [noparse][[/noparse]from reading one of your attricles] that each command offers an assembly code snipett that can be studied individually.

I thought it would be easiest to just stay with the two textbooks. But I see that most of the on-line support for beginners is leaning toward SX/B. You have certainly put in a lot of work on it this year.

I also see the wisdom in not putting it in with all the other downloads until the development phase have settled down to a more leisurely pace. At least now I understand that "SX/B central" is and remains in the SX/B help file for the interim.

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"When all think alike, no one is thinking very much.' - Walter Lippmann (1889-1974)

······································································ Warm regards,····· G. Herzog [noparse][[/noparse]·黃鶴 ]·in Taiwan