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Which transmitter should I use with a BS2 — Parallax Forums

Which transmitter should I use with a BS2

Peter CoonsPeter Coons Posts: 1
edited 2007-11-11 03:57 in BASIC Stamp
Want to APRS, compas back to moble laptop
Is my best path to use a BS2 and a transmitter?
If so, has anyone done it or similar stuff? I'm looking for a hardware and software solution.
this is my first project.
PeteC

Comments

  • Steve JoblinSteve Joblin Posts: 784
    edited 2007-11-10 13:21
    what is APRS? what is "compas"?
  • Mike GreenMike Green Posts: 23,101
    edited 2007-11-10 17:45
    What kind of range are you talking about?
    Have you looked at the RF transmitters/receivers/transceivers that Parallax sells?
    Have you looked at their documentation and sample programs?
    Look up xBee on the internet. Martin Hebel at Selmaware (www.selmaware.com)
    used to sell xBee adapters for the Stamp. He no longer does this, but his website has some pictures
    and descriptions. SparkFun Electronics has some adapter boards for xBee modules and it's possible
    to duplicate what Martin had sold.
  • Martin HebelMartin Hebel Posts: 1,239
    edited 2007-11-10 19:18
    FYI, I've had numerous requests for more boards, and though I'm out of the populating business, I do have more boards left and will probably start selling bare PCB's with DigiKey part lists by the end of November. I think it will be $7 per board, including a little Propeller application boards (nothing special for the XBee though besides a solder area).

    -Martin

    ▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
    StampPlot - GUI and Plotting Software
    Southern Illinois University Carbondale, Electronic Systems Technologies
  • Mike GreenMike Green Posts: 23,101
    edited 2007-11-10 19:32
    By the way, you won't find a "hardware and software solution" here.
    You likely will find parts of a solution and some guidance on how the parts go together.
    For example, you will find sample code for sending arbitrary data and instructions for
    connecting a wireless transceiver to a Stamp. You will also find lots of information on
    the use of a particular compass (the HM-55B) with a Stamp processor, but nothing on
    specifically sending direction information to a laptop from the compass. There are too
    many ways to do that and all of them can work for different applications. For the APRS
    information, it depends on what you're using for the receiver and how that would connect
    to something else. It probably involves some kind of serial data stream and there are
    basic examples for that in the Stamp Manual, but you won't find anything specific for APRS.
    There are also programs available for the laptop to make it easier to get information into it
    like StampPlot. That's specifically intended for getting sensor information for plotting and
    graphing purposes, but could be used for logging and presenting direction information.
    Again, its use would have to be adapted for your purpose, but it might be able to be done
    easily.
  • Steve JoblinSteve Joblin Posts: 784
    edited 2007-11-10 21:59
    Wow Martin... $7 is kind of pricy for a bare PCB against Sparkfun's breakout board for $2.95 (http://www.sparkfun.com/commerce/product_info.php?products_id=8276).
  • aerodudeaerodude Posts: 22
    edited 2007-11-10 23:14
    Peter,

    As others said, XBee would be a good one for RF communication. I did a project an year ago to read data from GPS, Compass and 2-axis accelerometer using BS2 and transmit data wirelessly to a laptop.

    Check this link out...


    I used appmods from selmaware to mount the xbee on the BS2.

    satish
  • Mike GreenMike Green Posts: 23,101
    edited 2007-11-11 00:02
    Steve,
    Don't forget that Martin is just a small operation with a lot more overhead than SparkFun's. $7 is only $4 more than $2.95 and $4 doesn't buy that much these days. Be careful making simple comparisons. If Martin's board is more convenient than SparkFun's, the $4 difference may be cheap in terms of the time and inconvenience. On the other hand, SparkFun's may be just you want and you've saved $4 too.
  • Martin HebelMartin Hebel Posts: 1,239
    edited 2007-11-11 00:28
    Nice Job Satish, the interface looks great, glad I could be 'a part of it'.

    Steve, what Mke said, and it may be a little lower- I'm pricing boards if I have more made. But even then, it won't be worth the time I'll spend invoicing, packaging,stopping off to ship it, etc. I do it as a convience. Lacking on SparkFun is a manual showing users how to interface the device to their controller of choice with code examples, or a Propeller Object to access the higher modes of it, nor probably any support on device/code issues on the forums. And I hope you have room on your Boe-Bot for a 20 pin DIP package from Sparkfun along with room for a 3.3V regulator and 5V to 3.3V interfacing circuitry! Ok, probably sounds madder than I intended, but the point is I spent a lot more time and effort than simply shipping a breakout board. I have one (plus) full time jobs, hobbies are expensive [noparse]:)[/noparse]

    -Martin

    ▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
    StampPlot - GUI and Plotting Software
    Southern Illinois University Carbondale, Electronic Systems Technologies
  • aerodudeaerodude Posts: 22
    edited 2007-11-11 00:43
    Martin,

    SURE you were part of it. I still remember when I could not figure out where I was going wrong with the XBee development boards from MaxStream. Using these appmods was pretty straight forward and there were sample codes available. All I did was change the code as per my requirement. Thanks a lot.

    satish
  • Steve JoblinSteve Joblin Posts: 784
    edited 2007-11-11 02:23
    Well Martin (and Mike), I would sincerely like to apologize. I made a fast judgement call without looking at the detailed facts. Upon review of your boards, I clearly see that they are much more than just a breakout board. I absolutely see the value of your design and now understand the differences between the two products. To this end, I would like to purchase both the AppBee-Mod (5-12V) for the xbee at my PC and a AppBee-SIP (5-12V) for the xbee on my robot. Martin - I sent this note to you on your "support@selmaware.com" inquiring as to how I make payment and such.

    Again, gentlemen, my sincerest apologies.

    Steve
  • Martin HebelMartin Hebel Posts: 1,239
    edited 2007-11-11 03:57
    No biggie Steve, I didn't receive anything on my support addy as of yet. I need to set up some pages for ordering, etc, and that won't be until my Thanksgiving break, but happy to send you a couple now with parts list and we can settle up later. Shipping will be U.S. Postal for a few bucks (hoping you are in the U.S). I'll keep watching for a support Email.

    Sorry for hijacking the thread Satish!
    -Martin

    ▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
    StampPlot - GUI and Plotting Software
    Southern Illinois University Carbondale, Electronic Systems Technologies
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