Shop OBEX P1 Docs P2 Docs Learn Events
Christmas gift idea for the true geek! TI ez430 development platform in a watch — Parallax Forums

Christmas gift idea for the true geek! TI ez430 development platform in a watch

WBA ConsultingWBA Consulting Posts: 2,938
edited 2010-05-27 12:31 in General Discussion
MSP430 Low power with wireless development platform inside a sports watch for $49.

temp, pressure, date, time, 3 axis accelerometer, low power wireless.....

focus.ti.com/docs/toolsw/folders/print/ez430-chronos.html?DCMP=Chronos&HQS=Other+OT+chronos

the 915Mhz version will be available on the 14th
www.ti-estore.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=EZ430-Chronos-915

▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
Andrew Williams
WBA Consulting
WBA-TH1M Sensirion SHT11 Module
Special Olympics Polar Bear Plunge, Mar 20, 2010
«1

Comments

  • Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi)Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi) Posts: 23,514
    edited 2009-12-02 00:22
    Here I thought that with the glut of electronic stuff I've got, I was becoming immune to gadget lust. But that thing is just toooo cool!

    -Phil
  • LeonLeon Posts: 7,620
    edited 2009-12-02 01:12
    I ordered one a few days ago. It should ship in a couple of weeks.

    Leon

    ▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
    Amateur radio callsign: G1HSM
  • TubularTubular Posts: 4,745
    edited 2009-12-02 03:42
    Andrew,

    I tried so hard not to click on this topic, for fear I'd be parting with hard earned $... but caved in.

    Then I read your brief description... and tried not to follow the link to TI... but caved in again.

    And now I'm suddenly I'm down $98 (cos its wireless, which means I have to buy two to really check it out).

    Dang reading this forum can be so expensive.

    But seriously, thanks for bringing it to our attention. Its just perfect for an application I have in mind which needs to gather heart rate, send to a pc for logging and analysis, and the PC can send status back to the watch... brilliant.

    tubular
  • Q*bertQ*bert Posts: 59
    edited 2009-12-02 03:46
    Just like Eve with an apple. I bit on it too... devil.gif
  • Q*bertQ*bert Posts: 59
    edited 2009-12-02 04:05
    By the way, after ordering one I found a discount code that cuts the cost almost in half.

    The code "MCU2009-06" will get you the watch, er... development system for $25 before shipping.

    Naturally I had to buy a second one!
  • Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi)Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi) Posts: 23,514
    edited 2009-12-02 05:08
    CSmith,

    Wow! Thanks for the coupon info! It's for $24 and only works for the first one ordered, but that's still a great savings. I'm in the process of ordering two, but I'm getting an error from the TI webstore when I click Continue:

    Unable to authorize payment: Error reading from 'https://www.ti-estore.com/auth.asp': Invalid HTTP response

    'Anyone else run into this? I hope it's just temporary.

    -Phil
  • TubularTubular Posts: 4,745
    edited 2009-12-02 05:31
    Phil, I'm getting the same thing. I tried three times, then thought I best wait and check my credit card statement

    CSmith many thanks for the coupon details. It makes an already good deal even better
  • Tracy AllenTracy Allen Posts: 6,667
    edited 2009-12-02 06:36
    Wow, what an interesting deal. Thanks for the heads-up and for the discount code.

    I got that same error message at the end too, twice, but then waited a minute and clicked on "Continue" once more without doing anything else, and it went through to completion.

    ▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
    Tracy Allen
    www.emesystems.com
  • Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi)Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi) Posts: 23,514
    edited 2009-12-02 06:52
    Tracy, you must've caught the hub sweet spot. My session ID expired, and I had to start over with an empty shopping cart. Now, after filling in all the blanks again, I'm back to getting the same error. :-(

    -Phil

    Addendum: Just got a new error:

    Miva Merchant has encountered a fatal error and is unable to continue. The following information may assist you in determining the cause of the error:

    Error Code: MER-OUI0-00003
    Description: Too many Authorization attempts! Please wait 40 seconds and try again! (oui0.mv:1848)

    It's the "Parallax Effect!"

    Post Edited (Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi)) : 12/2/2009 6:57:44 AM GMT
  • Cluso99Cluso99 Posts: 18,071
    edited 2009-12-02 10:40
    Oh no... will I resist???

    ▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
    Links to other interesting threads:

    · Home of the MultiBladeProps: TriBlade,·RamBlade,·SixBlade, website
    · Single Board Computer:·3 Propeller ICs·and a·TriBladeProp board (ZiCog Z80 Emulator)
    · Prop Tools under Development or Completed (Index)
    · Emulators: CPUs Z80 etc; Micros Altair etc;· Terminals·VT100 etc; (Index) ZiCog (Z80) , MoCog (6809)
    · Search the Propeller forums·(uses advanced Google search)
    My cruising website is: ·www.bluemagic.biz·· MultiBladeProp is: www.bluemagic.biz/cluso.htm
  • Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi)Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi) Posts: 23,514
    edited 2009-12-02 16:35
    Well, I finally got my order through — by phone. Apparently, they've had a deluge of online orders, and their server choked. In fact, the sales person, a very nice lady in Dallas, even had trouble getting in to enter it. The upside is that, "for my trouble", she comped me the FedEx P1 shipping. ('Looks like TI has been getting customer relation cues from Parallax! smile.gif )

    -Phil
  • Tracy AllenTracy Allen Posts: 6,667
    edited 2009-12-02 18:13
    Okay Phil, I'm glad you got through. It's like dialing the radio station for 2 free tickets to a Boss concert.

    Tubular mentioned needing two to get started. I don't think so. It appears that it comes with two USB dongles, the "eZ430 USB programming and debugging interface" and the the "CC1111 USB RF access point". And a CD and a "Mini Phillips screwdriver". The WIKI is informative.

    I'd been looking at the ANT wireless based on Nordic Semi radios for this type of thing, but the cost of entry is much higher. The TI system looks to become more accessible.

    ▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
    Tracy Allen
    www.emesystems.com
  • CounterRotatingPropsCounterRotatingProps Posts: 1,132
    edited 2009-12-02 18:21
    Wow this is cool...

    Remember the old "Dick Tracy" wristwatch radio ? [noparse]:)[/noparse])

    ▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
  • LeonLeon Posts: 7,620
    edited 2009-12-02 18:55
    A few years ago TI gave away an MSP430 "wristwatch" at their MSP430 Day seminars. I've still got mine.

    Leon

    ▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
    Amateur radio callsign: G1HSM
  • WhitWhit Posts: 4,191
    edited 2009-12-02 19:30
    Great gadget! Can't wait to see what you folks do with them.

    ▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
    Whit+


    "We keep moving forward, opening new doors, and doing new things, because we're curious and curiosity keeps leading us down new paths." - Walt Disney
  • CounterRotatingPropsCounterRotatingProps Posts: 1,132
    edited 2009-12-02 20:48
    There's three options:

    433 MHz = everywhere
    868 MHz = Euro & India
    915 MHz = America

    I'm in the US, in a medium density area - which freq. would be better? Or does it matter for general 'putzing around' ? [noparse]:)[/noparse]

    ▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
  • Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi)Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi) Posts: 23,514
    edited 2009-12-02 21:02
    'Depends on when you want it. The 433 MHz version won't be available until sometime next year. For me, "gotta have it NOW!" trumped "which is better?"

    -Phil
  • CounterRotatingPropsCounterRotatingProps Posts: 1,132
    edited 2009-12-02 21:08
    Well, at least you know what you want and when :-P

    ▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
  • Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi)Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi) Posts: 23,514
    edited 2009-12-04 01:57
    If you've placed an order with Ti, be sure to check your order status. Their system is really a mess. I couldn't get an online verification using the order number they supplied and had to call them again to make sure the order was entered. Their answer? "Well, yes but no. I'm really glad you called! We've got it worked out with IM now." After all that, I still don't get verification online.

    -Phil
  • BeanBean Posts: 8,129
    edited 2009-12-04 03:18
    I just received an e-mail that says it has been backordered. [noparse]:([/noparse]

    Bean.

    ▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
    - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
    1st rule of finance...Don't lose money.
    Never be ashamed of making an honest·profit.
    Live within your means...Make do, or do without.
    ·
  • Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi)Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi) Posts: 23,514
    edited 2009-12-04 03:59
    That may only mean they're not in stock yet. Delivery was not expected until 14 Dec. (At least you got an email.)

    -Phil
  • skylightskylight Posts: 1,915
    edited 2009-12-04 04:49
    Bit confused over the frequency coverage
    it says 433 for everywhere yet 868 for europe?
    I know 433 is acceptable in the uk but does that mean i could use the 868 as well (Uk is in the european market)
    read that the 433 version doesn't support the heart rate monitor function though [noparse]:([/noparse]

    besides would probably cost twice as much in postage to the uk, think i've just talked myself out of one.
  • Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi)Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi) Posts: 23,514
    edited 2009-12-04 04:55
    > besides would probably cost twice as much in postage to the uk

    Unless TI has a European distribution center.

    -P.
  • LeonLeon Posts: 7,620
    edited 2009-12-04 18:43
    They are charging me $16 for Fedex to the UK - $65 total. It might be under the UK limit for VAT and duty, otherwise I'll have to pay another 20% or so of the total. 868 MHz is OK here for license exempt operation:

    spectruminfo.ofcom.org.uk/spectrumInfo/ukpfa?service=all&submit=View+results+below&unit=MHz&freqStop=1000&freqStart=700&page=3

    Leon

    ▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
    Amateur radio callsign: G1HSM

    Post Edited (Leon) : 12/4/2009 6:51:08 PM GMT
  • Q*bertQ*bert Posts: 59
    edited 2009-12-05 13:58
    Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi) said...
    If you've placed an order with Ti, be sure to check your order status. Their system is really a mess. I couldn't get an online verification using the order number they supplied and had to call them again to make sure the order was entered. Their answer? "Well, yes but no. I'm really glad you called! We've got it worked out with IM now." After all that, I still don't get verification online.

    -Phil

    I hadn't thought of checking the status of my orders until reading Phil's email.

    Both of my orders show a "Ship Status" of "Shipped" via "FedEx 2-day" but then below that it says "1 Ordered, 0 Shipped, 1 Backordered."

    Their ordering system must have been coded by a former government employee. No, that can't be... There are no former government employees since no one in the government ever gets laid-off, gets fired, or quits!
  • Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi)Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi) Posts: 23,514
    edited 2010-01-08 23:03
    It came! It's here! After more than a month! Did anyone else have to wait this long?

    -Phil
  • Tracy AllenTracy Allen Posts: 6,667
    edited 2010-01-08 23:40
    Hi Phil,

    Mine just arrived too.

    The first comments about delivery on the ez430 Wiki are appearing only this week, so I think this is the first wave.

    Why would anyone want a tilt sensor on their wrist? I don't know but it is cool to see the little arrow flip from up to down as the number go through zero.

    The altimeter numbers go down as I climb the stairs, so maybe it thinks I am underwater and coming up. That may be true. I still have to read the instructions.

    It also came with two USB dongles, one for an RF link to the computer and one for development, and a CD. That is where the fun begins, given time to get to it...

    ▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
    Tracy Allen
    www.emesystems.com
  • LeonLeon Posts: 7,620
    edited 2010-01-08 23:56
    I got mine yesterday (UK). I must have been one of the first people to get one, as I was the first person to mention I'd got one on the MSP430 forum. I displayed accelerometer data on the PC, and synchronised the time setting to the PC, via the wireless link, without any problems.

    The altimeter and temperature functions have to be calibrated. I'm only a few minutes walk from the sea (the English Channel) so I can zero it at sea level quite easily.

    I can think of several sports training applications for the accelerometer, such as helping to develop a good golf swing, or improving one's tennis strokes.

    Leon

    ▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
    Amateur radio callsign: G1HSM

    Post Edited (Leon) : 1/9/2010 12:05:11 AM GMT
  • logan996logan996 Posts: 281
    edited 2010-05-25 19:23
    So could someone tell me what this is? is this kind of like a bs2 in a watch with sensors? what do you program it in? confused????



    '

    ▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
    "WOAH! that wasn't supposed to happen!"
  • LeonLeon Posts: 7,620
    edited 2010-05-25 19:36
    It uses a new TI MSP430 MCU with a radio transceiver on the same chip. It is programmed in C or assembler, like all MSP430 chips. Here are the details:

    focus.ti.com/docs/toolsw/folders/print/ez430-chronos.html?DCMP=Chronos&HQS=Other+OT+chronos

    ▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
    Leon Heller
    Amateur radio callsign: G1HSM
Sign In or Register to comment.