Dontronics Message Board

What's New? Expanded Olimex range

donmck — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 00:39:12 GMT

What's New at Dontronics?

14-Sep-09 Olimex - A number of new products from Olimex to expand our current range: LPC-H2888 low cost compact LPC2888 ARM7 microcontroller header development prototype board, SAM7-LA2 development board for at91sam7ea2 arm7tdmi-s microcontroller, AVR-TLCD-128CAN development board with lcd display with touchscreen and ATMEGA128, ARM-JTAG-EW high speed arm usb jtag with target power consumption monitoring and external hardware breakpoint triggers, LPC-H2148 prototype header board for lpc2148 arm7tdmi-s microcontroller, MOD-GPS gps sirf star iii module with internal patch antenna 2 meter cable and uext connector, MOD-ENC28J60 Ethernet plug-in module with Microchip's SPI to Ethernet chip ENC28J60
http://www.dontronics-shop.com/lpc-h2888.html
http://www.dontronics-shop.com/sam7-la2-development-board-for-at91sam7ea2-arm7tdmi-s-microcontroller.html
http://www.dontronics-shop.com/avr-tlcd-128can-development-board-with-lcd-display-with-touchscreen-and-atmega128.html
http://www.dontronics-shop.com/arm-jtag-ew.html
http://www.dontronics-shop.com/lpc-h2148.html
http://www.dontronics-shop.com/mod-gps-gps-sirf-star-iii-module-with-internal-patch-antenna-2-meter-cable-and-uext-connector.html
http://www.dontronics-shop.com/mod-enc28j60-ethernet-plug-in-module-with-microchips-spi-to-ethernet-chip-enc28j60.html product page yet to be completed, waiting on full description from Olimex.

Forum: Hardware

What's New Soon? 4dSystems SOMO-14D Embedded Audio-Sound Module

donmck — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 01:08:10 GMT

What's New at Dontronics? 31-Jul-09 COMING VERY SOON! 4dSystems SOMO-14D Embedded Audio-Sound Module The SOMO-14D is a tiny Audio-Sound module that can play back pre-stored audio files such as voice and music from a micro-SD memory card. The module supports 4-bit ADPCM audio files with sample rates from 6Khz up to 36Khz. By using the freely available software tool, any WAVE(.wav) or MP3(.mp3) file can be easily converted to the ADPCM(.ad4) format which can then be can be saved to a micro-SD memory card. The compact 14pin drop-in-module takes up very minimal board space and is ideal for any application that requires embedded audio.
http://www.dontronics-shop.com/4d-somo-14d-embedded-audio-sound-module.html

Forum: Hardware

What's New? TCTEC Wireless 8 Module

donmck — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 10:24:49 GMT

What's New at Dontronics?

29-Jun-09 TCTEC Pty Ltds Wireless-8 Input-Output Module UHF Wireless module for remote control and data acquisition. 4 analog (12 bit, 0-5v) / digital inputs. 4 open collector digital outputs.Adjustable, frequency, bandwidth and power.Maximum power 1dBmRange: 200M line-of-sight.FM transceiver available in license-free in 433 MHz Band or 900MHz band.Open communication protocol with configurable center frequency / channel.
http://www.dontronics-shop.com/product.php?productid=16862.html

Forum: Hardware

What's New? - Tag-Connect's 10" Legged cable or 10 inch non-legged cable.

donmck — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 21:51:20 GMT

What's New at Dontronics?

23-Jun-09 Tag-Connect's 10" Legged cable or 10 inch non-legged cable. Introducing the New Standard in Cables for In-Circuit Programming... In-Circuit Programming Cables that Save Cost and Space on Every Board! ZERO Cost per Board! No mating connector required on PCB! Tiny footprint! High Reliability Pogo Spring Pins for Secure Connection! Rugged Design for Highly Repetitive Use! Designed so it can only be inserted the correct way round! Two versions both designed to cut your costs, save you time, and save space on your PCBs!
http://www.dontronics-shop.com/tag-connect.html

Forum: Hardware

Using the DT207 power and comms board for solderless breadboarding.

bluehairbob — Thur, 21 May 2009 00:03:05 GMT

I was planning a breadboarding project and started to think, "OK, I need to build or buy a small voltage regulator circuit and an RS-232 level shifter to plug into the breadboard." But, then it hit me, "HANG ON, I already have plenty of those already! If I take a DT207 and just add a few header pins where the Simmbus connector is, Pins 4, 7, 8, 9, I have everything I need!"

I have several extra DT207's around, some already built - all I needed to do was put some header pins in. Of course, it won't plug into a Simmstick motherboard anymore, but, like I said, I have an extra one.

Next, I will cut the traces to the bus connector and place the signals on the pins that will be most convenient for plugging directly into the Vcc and Gnd rails of the solderless breadboard. I will add pins to power both edges of the breadboard.

The TX and RX of the RS-232 will come out the top and I can put a jumper wire to where ever I want. I can do the same with the reset button just because it is there.

I think I will build another one with a +3.3V regulator (instead of +5V as well).

This is a really great solution!

Forum: SimmStick

What's New? 4dSystemsDRIVE-uSD-G1 is now FAT compatible

donmck — Mon, 04 May 2009 22:21:59 GMT

What's New at Dontronics?

05-May-09 4dSystemsDRIVE-uSD-G1 4D systems micro-DRIVE is now FAT compatible
http://www.dontronics-shop.com/product.php?productid=16692.html

Forum: Hardware

What's New? More Olimex products

donmck — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 23:43:34 GMT

What's New at Dontronics?

03-Feb-09 Olimex's PIC-P32mx Prototype Board for PIC32mx340f512 microcontroller. The NEW PIC32 32 bit MIPS 4K core processor from Microchip offer speed and performance at low cost. This is entry level board with PIC32MX340F512 microcontroller on it with 512 KB of Flash 32KB RAM, 80Mhz clock, UARTs, PWMs, DMAs. The board have both ICSP and JTAG connectors so it can be programmed with PIC-ICD2 or JTAG tool
http://www.dontronics-shop.com/pic-p32mx-prototype-board-for-pic32mx340f512-microcontroller.html

03-Feb-09 Olimex's MOD-NRF24LR RF 2.4ghz transciever module with NRF24L01. Low power transciever, UEXT to connect to host microcontroller (standard connector on our ARM development boards). The antenna shape in MOD-NRF24LS is srtight and gives few meter more distance in the communication, MOD-NRF24LR is more compact
http://www.dontronics-shop.com/mod-nrf24lr-rf-2.4ghz-transciever-module-with-nrf24l01-clon.html

03-Feb-09 Olimex's MOD-NRF24LS RF 2.4ghz transciever module with NRF24L01. Low power transciever, UEXT to connect to host microcontroller (standard connector on our ARM development boards). The antenna shape in MOD-NRF24LS is srtight and gives few meter more distance in the communication, MOD-NRF24LR is more compact
http://www.dontronics-shop.com/mod-nrf24ls-rf-2.4ghz-transciever-module-with-nrf24l01.html

03-Feb-09 Olimex's MOD-SMB380 3-axis Accelerometer board with uext connector. SMB380 digital 3-axis accelerometer from Bosch measure +-2/4/8 g software selectable.
http://www.dontronics-shop.com/mod-smb380-3-axis-accelerometer-board-with-uext-connector.html

Forum: Hardware

Microsoft Spark Contest Round 1 Winner using SimmSticks

bluehairbob — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 19:54:20 GMT

Microsoft was running this embedded systems design contest for Windows CE with the theme of "The Home of The Future". The top 50 ideas get a development platform and move on to round 2 where they have < 60 days to build a working unit. I made it in to round 2 and expect the dev kit to arrive in a few days.

The dev hardware is a VIA Artigo PICO-ITX system. It has Video, audio, and 4 usb ports - but no digital or analog I/O ports. So, I will use some SimmSticks to implement the inputs and outputs and hook them up to the target using a USB-Serial port adapter (because it won't take much time and I can spend the time I save on the Windows side where the judging will be done). You can see my entry on the contest site.

So, if I make it into round 3, it will be because SimmSticks still rock. I plan to use just off-the-shelf stuff as much as possible - no custom boards.

BTW, I got a note from a hardware engineer at the company I work for that he just sent my latest project (which happens to be a SimmStick compatible PIC18F4450 based board) off to the board house to get PCBs made. That isn't what I am using for the contest - just one for work

This would be even greater if I weren't just talking to myself and there were actually other SimmStick fans doing stuff too. I like to imagine that there are - I like to imagine that I can see Don's house from here too.

Did I mention that the USB mod for the DT001 allows you to put the PICKit2 underneath the PCB and makes a really slick little programming package? I will add pictures of what I am talking about to the appropriate thread soon.

Forum: SimmStick

Simple Modification to the DT001 for USB Programming

bluehairbob — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 19:40:32 GMT

I got a new little Netbook computer for Christmas (a little 10" screen, 1.6ghz CPU, 1GB Ram) - it doesn't have Parallel or Serial ports, just USB. So I started to think, "How can I program SimmSticks on this thing?"

Ya'll know I think the DT001 is the greatest. The snap in 30 pin connector of Simmsticks is the best platform ever devised - and the LOAD/RUN switch on the DT001 is brilliant! So, obviously, I wanted my solution to have both of those features - Simmsticks and the LOAD/RUN.

I took a careful look at the DT001 schematic and started to think, "Hey, what if I find a way to interface the DT001 to a cheap USB programmer? I still get Simmsticks and the LOAD/RUN capability and the advantages of a USB programmer. I bought a few blank DT001 PCBs recently for just this reason."

I found that the 18 Pin Zif Socket on the DT001 sits on "in front" of the LOAD/RUN Switch and there appeared to be no components that would prevent an external programmer from being wired in where the Zif Socket would go. This would seem to be the answer: leave off the DB25, the 7407, the 12V regulator, the transistors at Q1 and Q2, and the diodes - add 5 wires to the ZIF socket location and build the motherboard and RS-232 sections.

I needed a cheap USB programmer to try it out on. I have an ICD2 clone sitting around that I never use (because it isn't "strictly Simmstick", you know). Here is what i did:

Build a DT001 motherboard and add the RS-232 section - leave off all programming parts.
Wire a 6 pin ICSP header in the prototyping area to pins 4,5,12,13,14 of the ZIF Socket pads.
Add an RJ12 connector (to go from the ICD2 cable to the ICSP header). I used a connector intended to go from RJ12 to DB9F - the socket pins from the RJ12 fit nicely over the ICSP pins. Epoxy the RJ12 connector to the DT001 over the area where the 7407 and DB25 would have gone.
Connect the ICD2 clone to the RJ12.

I put the LOAD/RUN switch on LOAD, opened up MPLAB and told it to program the Simmstick - and it did!

I will post pictures and full instructions on my website later today - right now I have to go solder a few more Simm Sockets to the DT001 (I only added the one till I made sure it would work).

The ICSP header should allow ANY USB programmer to program SimmSticks in the DT001. The coolest thing would be for someone to build a little USB programmer that actually fit right on top of the ZIF socket location - no mods to the DT001 would be required at all. A tiny surface mount board with a mini USB connector would be perfect.

I have to say, I am really pleased with this thing. I call it the DT001-UHP, the "DT001-USB Hybrid Programmer"

Happy new year!

Forum: SimmStick

DT101/DT111 construction notes - preparing for the SimmStick 2009 Design Contest

bluehairbob — Thur, 18 Dec 2008 22:00:56 GMT

Hey, SimmStick PIC micro users - I have uploaded a Construction guide for the DT101/DT111 to the SimmStick area of BigBlueSparx.com in preparation for the SimmStick 2009 Design contest.

My understanding is that there may be some changes from previous years design contests, but I have not heard the final details yet. I think what may happen is:

All designs must use only off-the-shelf Dontronics SimmSticks
Prototyping areas provided by the boards may be used
Points may be awarded by the judges for:

How many SimmSticks you use - the more the better
How many of your project you think you can get your friends to build
How many SimmSticks you purchase in pursuit of your design
And, of course the normal "is it at all interesting or entertaining?"

You can't use any SimmSticks which are no longer in stock - only boards that Don can still sell will be allowed
Prizes include limited fame and glory along with all bragging rights you can come up with

This is just what I have heard, rumors and such, not an official announcement from the SimmStick Design Contest 2009 officials or anything like that. If anyone has more information, please share.

Bob

Forum: SimmStick

What's New? Arduino Pro - 3.3V/8MHz & FTDI Basic Breakout board

donmck — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 02:46:32 GMT

What's New at Dontronics? 15-Dec-08 Sparkfun's Arduino Pro - 3.3V/8MHz This is a 3.3V Arduino running the 8MHz bootloader (select 'LilyPad' within the Arduino software). The Arduino Pro is very much like the Skinny, but we added a handful of features to become a fully certified Arduino board. The power switch was moved to the side of the board (good idea Limor!) to allow control when a shield is attached. The FTDI Basic Breakout board for the FTDI FT232RL USB to serial IC. The pinout of this board matches the FTDI cable to work with official Arduino and cloned Arduino boards. It can also be used for general serial applications. The major difference with this board is that it brings out the DTR pin as opposed to the RTS pin of the FTDI cable. The DTR pin allows an Arduino target to auto-reset when a new Sketch is downloaded.
http://www.dontronics-shop.com/arduino-pro-3.3v-8mhz.html
http://www.dontronics-shop.com/ftdi-basic-breakout.html

Forum: Hardware

What's New? Web4Robot's USB Data Acquisition Lab "FlexLab"

donmck — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 02:38:26 GMT

What's New at Dontronics? 15-Dec-08 Web4Robot's USB Data Acquisition Lab "FlexLab" USB Data Acquisition Lab "FlexLab" can be directly connected to computer USB port as the intelligent peripherals. Its compact size and convenient features make it an ideal tool for your projects. FlexLab provides 3 basic functions: USB Data Acquisition System with programmable structure, USB to I2C Interface Converter, USB to Serial TTL Interface Converter.
http://www.dontronics-shop.com/w4r-usb-data-acquisition-lab-flexlab.html

Forum: Hardware

What's New? Olimex's SAM9-L9260 Dev. board for AT91SAM9260 Microcontroller

donmck — Thur, 11 Dec 2008 11:09:49 GMT

What's New at Dontronics? 11-Dec-08 Olimex's SAM9-L9260 Development board for AT91SAM9260 Microcontroller SAM9-L9260 is low cost development platform with ARM9 microcontroller, 64MB SDRAM and 512MB NAND Flash. The board have Ethernet 100Mbit controller, USB host, USB device, RS232 and 40 pin extension port with all unused SAM9260 ports available for add-on boards.
http://www.dontronics-shop.com/sam9-l9260-development-board-for-at91sam9260-microcontroller.html

Forum: Hardware

What's New? Web4Robot products

donmck — Thur, 27 Nov 2008 12:39:06 GMT

What's New at Dontronics?

27-Nov-08 Web4Robot's Dual Motor Controller, Serial LCD and Keypad Controller, Serial LCD 16x2 Blue/White, Serial LCD 16x2 Yellow/Black and Serial LCD 20x4 Blue/White
http://www.dontronics-shop.com/w4r-dual-motor-controller.html
http://www.dontronics-shop.com/w4r-serial-lcd-and-keypad-controller.html
http://www.dontronics-shop.com/w4r-serial-lcd-16x2-blue-white.html
http://www.dontronics-shop.com/w4r-serial-lcd-16x2-yellow-black.html
http://www.dontronics-shop.com/w4r-serial-lcd-20x4-blue-white.html

Forum: Hardware

What's New? Lawicel's AVR-ISP-CONV, CONV-10 & CONV-16

donmck — Thur, 27 Nov 2008 12:38:18 GMT

What's New at Dontronics?

27-Nov-08 Lawicel's AVR-ISP-CONV, CONV-10 and CONV-16 Here are three very cheap products from my good friend Lars at LAWICEL, that may be of great assistance for use with ARM/AVR programmers:
http://www.dontronics-shop.com/avr-isp-conv.html
http://www.dontronics-shop.com/conv-10.html
http://www.dontronics-shop.com/conv-16.html

Forum: Hardware