Memory

jason_lakewhitney

Is it possible to add memory to the board/circuit for data storage?
In other words, how do you store data that is collected of a period of time?

Mike Green

There are all kinds of ways to add memory for data storage. One possibility is to use the Stamp's own program memory. On the BS2, this is somewhat limited, but all other models have additional 2K "slots" which can be used for additional programs or for data. The BS2pe is specifically intended for data logging and has a total of 32K of which half is specifically for data storage (can't be used for programs).

You can add external memory of different kinds to all of the Stamps. Most commonly used is I2C Flash memories which come in 8-pin DIP ICs in sizes up to 128K bytes and more than one can be used on the same I2C bus (2 I/O pins). There are I/O statements built into the BS2p models and the same functionality can be accomplished with subroutines on the BS2/BS2e/BS2sx models. There are some Nuts and Volts articles specifically on this that can be downloaded from Parallax's website.

There are other, somewhat more difficult to use, flash memories that use an SPI protocol and come in sizes up to 32MByte. You can also buy external modules from Hitt Consulting, GHI Electronics, and Vinculum that allow you to use SD cards or USB thumb drives for data storage. Hitt Consulting's module www.sddatalogger.com is easy to use, low power, and is specifically intended for use with a Stamp. It is somewhat limited in functional capabilities (no deleting or rewriting of files, no subdirectories, only 32MB of storage accessible), but really is very nicely done for datalogging as opposed to general purpose SD card I/O.

jason_lakewhitney

Well, you have absolutely given me the information and heading I was hoping to find. By the way, I just received my first BS2 and board yesterday!![noparse]:)[/noparse]
Yall should be differently hearing more from me later.

Thanks,
Jason