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Picaxe, Stamp, or Propellor. — Parallax Forums

Picaxe, Stamp, or Propellor.

whiteoxewhiteoxe Posts: 794
edited 2007-09-26 10:25 in General Discussion
I asked similar questions in Basic Stamp forum , however I am trying to make a decision and appreciate· yet more help/opinion from you guys.

I have actually only started programming, electronics, and microcontrollers in the last few months. I swap from VB.net, Java,to C#, to Basic. I know enough to be dangerous! Actually VB.Net was pretty cool but I was persuaded to try out C# after doing a course in Java.

Sorry lost my train of thought there., the picaxe is ok, its dirt cheap, has some annoying ram and eeprom limitations. I Ive managed a few successful projects by a lot of trial and error.

I want to learn a lot more about microcontrollers. I received the Parallax uncatalogued which has a suggested Education Flowchart. So despite the drain on my pocket I am thinking that this is perhaps the best way. To learn, but not save money [noparse]:)[/noparse], the stamps are relatively expensive it seems at least to me ?

Comments

  • John BondJohn Bond Posts: 369
    edited 2007-09-13 11:00
    There are countless option including Basic software for PICs and also some powerful Stamp "look alikes" that are better than the PICAxe that come from Korea. Each has advantages and shortfalls.

    The question is "What exactly do you want to achieve?" or "Where do you want to go?"

    Once you've chosen your platform (supplier), be slow to change because each platform has it's own idiosyncrasies.

    Parallax supplies very good documentation and fantastic support. They aren’t the most inexpensive but I reason that my time is worth US$15.00 per hour (I work in the 3rd world so I’m not well paid) so the hours saved in using Parallax products are worth the extra cost.

    F. W. Royce, the manufacturer of a good English car would never compromise on engineering quality because he said “The quality will be remembered, long after the price has been forgotten”. I think us Parallax users would change that to “The support and documentation will be remembered…”.

    On the other hand, I know a few guys who just dabble with Microchip PICs or 8051s. They look in amazement when I produce something with a LCD screen or RS232 with flow control. Then again, their chips only cost them under US$3.00 each.

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  • whiteoxewhiteoxe Posts: 794
    edited 2007-09-13 11:30
    Thanks John,
    Your point is well made. It addresed the Basic issues I am contemplating.. Time is money, and if I can spend more money and get faster results.. well that is my aim.

    I looked at the Propellor, seems an amazing chip, and about $12 [noparse]:)[/noparse] , however I think that is too big a jump, well I know it is for myself. Spin, no not another language just yet, without understanding the basics of a microcontroller.

    I am also really impressed with all the documentation, links etc. forum support( after only 2 or three posts)

    Im a little more convinced to go with Parallax everyday.

    Regards,, Mick.
  • RDL2004RDL2004 Posts: 2,554
    edited 2007-09-13 12:53
    Don't overlook the SX microcontrollers, they can be programmed in basic or assembly and are quite economical.

    http://www.parallax.com/sx/sx_products_overview.asp

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    - Rick
  • parts-man73parts-man73 Posts: 830
    edited 2007-09-13 18:30
    I actually started with PICAXE's but I was quickly frustrated by their lack of variable memory.

    I saw the introduction of the Propeller and that's what I've been using ever since. Spin wasn't too hard to learn, and judging by your past programming experience, you should have minimal problems transitioning to Spin. Any with the ample library of Objects available, it really isn't too hard to interface a plethora of peripheral devices to the Propeller.

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    Brian

    uController.com - home of SpinStudio
  • D FaustD Faust Posts: 608
    edited 2007-09-13 18:57
    If you are trying to learn the sasics of microcontrollers, I souonds like you need the BASIC Stamop activity kit.
    If you want to go on to robotics then the boe-bot kit might be better for you.· If you decide to move to the propeller after, the protoboard fits on the boe bot chassis.· I purchased the boe-bot in April or May of this year, and withy no prior programming· experience (I do not count the work I did with the VEX system) I feel that I have all but mastered the stamp.· You should take a look at the WAM book and the boe -bot book to see if the code looks easy.· if so, go with the prop or sx.· I have not used WAM, but heard it was good.

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    LOOKDOWN ThisThread, [noparse][[/noparse]Your_?, My_?, Cool_Thing], looknum
LOOKUP looknum, [noparse][[/noparse]1, 2, 3], subnum
ON subnum GOTO Hope_this_helps, Thanks!, WOW!!
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  • Kevin WoodKevin Wood Posts: 1,266
    edited 2007-09-14 01:45
    The Stamp modules are a bit pricey, but how many do you need? If only a few, you can try to catch one of the $49 sales that Parallax occasionally has. If you are planning a large scale deployment of a BS2-based product, talk to Ken Gracey. He'll work with you to find the best solution among the several Stamp options.

    If you want a very versatile kit to learn with, I suggest getting the StampWorks kit. The text is good, and the Professional Development Board is a lot more flexible than the Board of Education. You can still use most of the Stamps in Class kits with the PDB; you'll just need to figure out the wiring on your own.

    The last thing that I'll say is this. The BS2 can do a LOT more than the specs would seem to indicate. No, it's not the Propeller, but if you look through some of the user stories on the Parallax website, you'll be very surprised at the project that have been built with it. When you get to the technical proficiency level where you just can't get any more horsepower out of the BS2-series, you won't have too much trouble transitioning to another platform.
  • whiteoxewhiteoxe Posts: 794
    edited 2007-09-14 06:39
    Great. Im going to go for the BS2, maybe a javlin as well. Work my way up to the propellor in a few months time. I hope.! Or even as you suggest depending on the eventual scope of the projects try and work it out with Ken Gracey.

    Thanks everyone.
  • LoopyBytelooseLoopyByteloose Posts: 12,537
    edited 2007-09-14 13:21
    The Picaxe is quite cheap, but you won't learn much about microcomputers. It most is adapted to specific small projects.

    Nonetheless, it is the product that you are most likely to outgrow in a very short time.

    It is great for a grade school or middle school curriculum that introduces kids to something they can build.

    BS2 is never a mistake. When you move on, it is always there in your tool kit to help out.

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    "Everything in the world is purchased by labour; and our passions are the only causes of labor." -- David·Hume (1711-76)········
    ···················· Tropically,····· G. Herzog [noparse][[/noparse]·黃鶴 ]·in Taiwan
  • whiteoxewhiteoxe Posts: 794
    edited 2007-09-26 05:46
    Frustrating !!!!!!·· I finally ·ordered the BOE KIT that has everything to get started ? Except it came without the serial cable which it said comes with it all !!!!!!! argggg· [noparse]:)[/noparse] That's $261.00 dollars AU and no cable. I guess it was an oversite, I hope.
    ·· The only other serial cables I have are for picaxe connection to a stereo connetor [noparse]:([/noparse]
  • Mike GreenMike Green Posts: 23,101
    edited 2007-09-26 06:00
    Well, it sure is supposed to come with the serial cable. Be sure to call or e-mail Parallax (or your distributor) tomorrow to get the proper cable. If your PC uses USB, you can often plug a USB to serial adapter directly into the serial connector. I've used a Keyspan adapter that way ... I had to remove the posts for the connector's screws (temporarily of course) and it worked fine.
  • whiteoxewhiteoxe Posts: 794
    edited 2007-09-26 06:09
    yeah thanks MIke. I can work around the problem like you say. No big drama [noparse]:)[/noparse] , I just got grumpy for a second there. I have notified the distributor.
  • LoopyBytelooseLoopyByteloose Posts: 12,537
    edited 2007-09-26 10:25
    It said it comes with a serial cable AND it does. A kit is a complete kit. In fact I seem to have extras, each kit has one. The BOEbot, the Toddler, and so on.

    On the other hand, In June, I visited a computer store in Missouri to help a friend buy an InkJet. The printer was $55USD and the USB cable was $40! All the profit is in the cable and eventually the ink.

    I can understand your intial reaction. Someday we will buy cars for $100 and have to pay $2000 per month for parking.

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    "Everything in the world is purchased by labour; and our passions are the only causes of labor." -- David·Hume (1711-76)········
    ···················· Tropically,····· G. Herzog [noparse][[/noparse]·黃鶴 ]·in Taiwan
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