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I have spent over $750USD on BasicX products and been working at
understanding them for over a year.

A lot has been said about how great the Basic X is [and it is a nice
combined hardware and software package], but I feel very strongly
that ERRATA and OMISSIONS should be monitored and corrected
regularly. This is especially true of a 'first-rate' product line.

The Basic X Document Group seems to have been 'under-constrution' for
over a year. If it isn't doing anything, it is an embarassment to
offer such an illusion. [I realize that people start these sites and
then find the time too much.]

Netmedia seems to have in many cases just published Version 1.0 of
their documents [many of the documents don't market what version it
is]and left it at that. Though I was delighted to find out that they
have CRC in their BX-01 network software, no one would ever know if I
hadn't asked. Things like that should be out where people can read
about it and attracting customers.

While I did read of the death of one of their mainstays in 2004 and
want to sensitive to life throwing such set backs at anyone, I wonder
what to do.

To date, I have documentation that lists current source capacity
specifications as 'TBD'on the BX-35 [I have finally found out that
10ma is about the limit per pin], I have learned of resistors
mislabled 100K when they should be 10K, and I have a BasicX Scout
that has a Jumper {I think #8} that no one will explain. There are
mislabled pins on the RAMsandwich schematic too.

Usually when I read in detail, I note all ERRATA inside the cover
page. I have collected some. I am more than willing to send such
information along to a central clearing house for corrections, but
none seems to exist. And, such a place really should at least
acknowledge that they have received my email. Otherwise, I begin to
think it is all a waste of time.

In closing, I don't expect technical writing to be perfect. I work
with bi-lingual materials [Chinese-English] which suffer from a
constant barage of errors. I do understand that this on-going
revision requires effort and diligence, but I also am certain that it
sustains customer loyalty and brings in new business more efficently
and more cheaply than advertisements.

So, how does one constructively contribute information in this
environment?





(You need to be a member of basicx -- send a blank email to basicx-subscribe@yahoogroups.com )

> ... how does one constructively contribute information...

Pragmatically, I think you do it here, just as you are. Formally, also
send it to Netmedia, which will welcome it.

Sloan Thrasher's effort (www.bxdocs.com) is that of an independent. I'm
not aware that he has any relationship, other than as a Basic-X user, to
Netmedia. Comments about his site won't affect them, I suspect, and
there is little profit in attacking his energetic, if unfinished, work.

Many have commented, and I agree with you, that the documentation about
these products is wanting, and I suppose that - if I was a newbie, just
starting with this system of products - I might, too, stumble into
difficulty trying to get something that isn't correctly documented to
work. Still, many new users have waded through what documentation
exists and have built a successfully functioning device, many times.
I'm certain that frequently, correction, clarification and assistance
came from here - from many of us - and, then, from the newbie-no-longer
who might next offer help from his experience. Your BX-01 posts are a
fine example.

I suspect that, if you encounter an error in anything that Netmedia
produces, they will be delighted to hear from you and will - if you are
correct and reasonable - act on that information. You might try listing
your errata and sending it to both email:support@supp... and
email:chris@chri..., who posts here occasionally, and you might
share your errata with folks here, who will verify it. Tom



(You need to be a member of basicx -- send a blank email to basicx-subscribe@yahoogroups.com )

Hi Kramer!

Sloan Thrasher here - the guy that started bxdocx.com....

It's been stagnant for a while because of two things - time limitations, and
a lack of participation by other BX users. I guess I kinda let it fall
through the cracks since I seldom, if ever, get any email about it. Every
once in a while, I wander back to it, and start working on some part or
another. I do have the Netmedia docs in source form, and have a vb program
about half done to format it for the web, so it can be "enhanced" (i.e.
notes and errata added to each item in the docs)

If there's any real interest, I'm more than willing to get it up and going
again...

Sloan

----- Original Message -----
From: "G. Kramer Herzog" <hwanghetw@hwan...>
To: <basicx@basi...>
Sent: Friday, September 02, 2005 11:00 AM
Subject: [BasicX] What happened to www.bxdocs.com? - The Basic X Document
Group > I have spent over $750USD on BasicX products and been working at
> understanding them for over a year.
>
> A lot has been said about how great the Basic X is [and it is a nice
> combined hardware and software package], but I feel very strongly
> that ERRATA and OMISSIONS should be monitored and corrected
> regularly. This is especially true of a 'first-rate' product line.
>
> The Basic X Document Group seems to have been 'under-constrution' for
> over a year. If it isn't doing anything, it is an embarassment to
> offer such an illusion. [I realize that people start these sites and
> then find the time too much.]
>
> Netmedia seems to have in many cases just published Version 1.0 of
> their documents [many of the documents don't market what version it
> is]and left it at that. Though I was delighted to find out that they
> have CRC in their BX-01 network software, no one would ever know if I
> hadn't asked. Things like that should be out where people can read
> about it and attracting customers.
>
> While I did read of the death of one of their mainstays in 2004 and
> want to sensitive to life throwing such set backs at anyone, I wonder
> what to do.
>
> To date, I have documentation that lists current source capacity
> specifications as 'TBD'on the BX-35 [I have finally found out that
> 10ma is about the limit per pin], I have learned of resistors
> mislabled 100K when they should be 10K, and I have a BasicX Scout
> that has a Jumper {I think #8} that no one will explain. There are
> mislabled pins on the RAMsandwich schematic too.
>
> Usually when I read in detail, I note all ERRATA inside the cover
> page. I have collected some. I am more than willing to send such
> information along to a central clearing house for corrections, but
> none seems to exist. And, such a place really should at least
> acknowledge that they have received my email. Otherwise, I begin to
> think it is all a waste of time.
>
> In closing, I don't expect technical writing to be perfect. I work
> with bi-lingual materials [Chinese-English] which suffer from a
> constant barage of errors. I do understand that this on-going
> revision requires effort and diligence, but I also am certain that it
> sustains customer loyalty and brings in new business more efficently
> and more cheaply than advertisements.
>
> So, how does one constructively contribute information in this
> environment? >
>
> Yahoo! Groups Links





(You need to be a member of basicx -- send a blank email to basicx-subscribe@yahoogroups.com )

> Sloan Thrasher here - the guy that started bxdocx.com....

First of all, thank you Sloan for answering my posting here. {But,
you didn't answer my email serveral weeks ago to your site.}

From all I read, it seems that you can't find enough people that want
to help and cannot do it all alone.

This need to be centralized and able to maintain itself. It should be
a small programing load and low or no cost to maintain.
I am going to create an ERRATA and OMISSIONS folder here [in the
Yahoo Web Site] for any an all to post to. Please
classify 'SURE/VERIFIED/WELL-KNOWN' or 'UNSURE/PERCIEVED,
BUT.../UNKNOWN. We can see if that will work. If not we can either
dump it or forward it all to Netmedia to ponder.

Forgive me if I seem rude or demanding, it is just that my
expectations had been quite high because of Netmedia's advertisements
in Nuts and Volts and from what touting that is done here. And, I
have spent a bit of change.
>
> It's been stagnant for a while because of two things - time
limitations, and
> a lack of participation by other BX users. I guess I kinda let it
fall
> through the cracks since I seldom, if ever, get any email about it. I can understand that WEB PAGE projects become too much to handle,
but there is a time to let go if it is going nowhere. I someways I
think the web should just have a time limit on 'under construction
sites'. {Personally, I avoid setting up Web Pages or Databases
because my life becomes chained to tweaking a computer.}

Every
> once in a while, I wander back to it, and start working on some
part or
> another. I do have the Netmedia docs in source form, and have a vb
program
> about half done to format it for the web, so it can be "enhanced"
(i.e.
> notes and errata added to each item in the docs) This begs the question of Why? does an outside party or group have to
enhance the primary documentation to a commercial product?

AND, if you have useful and important ERRATA shouldn't that be
available as soon as received. >
> If there's any real interest, I'm more than willing to get it up
and going > again...
>
> Sloan





(You need to be a member of basicx -- send a blank email to basicx-subscribe@yahoogroups.com )

> Many have commented, and I agree with you, that the documentation
about
> these products is wanting, and I suppose that - if I was a newbie,
just
> starting with this system of products - I might, too, stumble into
> difficulty trying to get something that isn't correctly documented
to
> work. Still, many new users have waded through what documentation
> exists and have built a successfully functioning device, many
times. > Tom

When I was first getting started BasicX was too much for me. The
kind of program it provides is for a Library of routines and can be
very useful for a well organized, well trained programer or engineer
that wants to use the BX platforms in a technical setting.

It is not what a 'beginner hobbyist' can handle easily as an entry
point. You really don't need a lot of its features to make a few
servos roll around.

So, I went to another vendor to develop a better vision of where I
might go.

Still, I have had the Netmedia products on my table for a year and
felt I wasn't getting my full value out of them. Also, they do have
far more capacity in a Basic language and offer more features in one
package [like a real-time clock or several ADC devices].

My intial experience was that I wasn't getting much response about
anything from here or Netmedia. And I spent hundreds of hours
reading through the BasicX material to just get started. I must
admit that I did read a lot of electronics and other backgound
material at the same time. I found BasicX to be more of a
intellectual puzzles with less hands-on examples of practical use.

I do have a list of ERRATA and OMISSION that I will try to prepare
into a presentable series of files related to their particular
documents. Then, I will try to post them here. What happens to them
hopefully is that they will evolve into a process that is more
accessible and visible for all. For Netmedia, it is too expensive to
reply to these one at a time and for the user, the current situation
is too fragmentary - you have to look different places, solicit
communication, and wait for results. All of this should be easier
with a computerized world, but sometimes the computer works against
us.

The BX-01 insights are my way of contributing, so that I am not just
a whiner or flamer. [Recently,I have been trying to get a colored
markup of the RAMsandwich schematic to show more clearly where things
fit together, but I am struggling with my graphic software.]
Contributions build credability that help others understand that you
are worth listening to, not just quacking like a duck.

Having said all that, I also realize that when I started this hobby
my state of mind was pretty negative and combative. Though I try to
overcome such thinking, it seeps out at times.

Netmedia seems to be a very competent company at bringing useful
products to market. The SitePlayer, their video products, and the BX
microcontrollers all fill a need. But, the BX microcontrollers
certainly require more of a dialogue. Software related products are
in a constant state of discovery and evolution. They take far more
study to properly use. IT is quite unlike other products. And I am
sure that users will stay with a product that has that dialogue more
than one that doesn't. Still, it becomes a problem of overhead and
distraction from other forms of business and I often wonder if other
companies are making money or just caught up in being popular.




(You need to be a member of basicx -- send a blank email to basicx-subscribe@yahoogroups.com )

> ... The kind of program it provides is for a Library of routines []
for a well organized, well trained programmer [] in a technical setting.
It is not what a 'beginner hobbyist' can handle...

I'm not sure I understand that, but I think I entirely disagree. I
learned and I expect that students (and beginner hobbyists) should learn
"well organized" programming very well; it is a matter of survival in a
logical venue. Structured code makes sense. I believe that Netmedia's
implementation of VisualBasic-like coding is far easier to learn than
others I've encountered, but that's just me. This has been endlessly
argued by zealots on several sides. Like Lego? Go Lego.

> ... I often wonder if other companies are making money or just caught
up in being popular...

My power company doesn't accept poll results in lieu of cash. You're
not a businessman, right? "Overcome such thinking", indeed.

I look forward to your contribution of an Errata files section. Tom

**





(You need to be a member of basicx -- send a blank email to basicx-subscribe@yahoogroups.com )

I am posting a first batch to the ERRATA folder today (schematics).
Take a look and I hope you will be pleased. It is intended to
compensate for all my noise.

Electronics and other objective scientific fields seem to be full of
purist that latch on to one concept or philosopy and run with it. I
am 57 years old and I certainly did when I was younger. I even have
a friend who is a devout audiophile that can't get past the idea that
I am happy to listen to FM radio and not waste my money on imagined
audio perfection.

These days I am far more intrigued by subjective, commonly accepted
knowledge as it is what real language is [not that logical,
empiracal sub-set that is a computer language]. I know that is a
completely different subject and don't expect comment.

Learners will never do what you think they should when you want them
to do something, but they still learn. They need their different
approaches. It is a messy process and no matter how much I want to
share my knowledge and skills with someone, I have to accept their
need to feel comfortable with the presentation.

From what I can see BasicX's presentation appeals to more 'software
minded' people. There are a lot of Lego people that want a
tactile 'hardware minded' approach. Some learners of both groups get
around to learning it all because they are exceptionally motivated
and / or gifted. Not all people start out wants to create libraries.

For me, it was too much jumping from PUBLIC to PRIVATE section when
learning to program the XbotX Scout that drove me crazy. I often had
to infer and jump to an entirely different document to get a
commprehensive answer. There is no tutorial. And, no one has ever
offer me a complete schematic to the little guy. [ONCE AGAIN, CAN
ANYBODY TELL ME WHAT JUMPER PIN #8 DOES on the XBotX? Is it a big
secret?]

So forgive me if I think that rigorous documentation of both the
hardware and the software are important.

I do realize that the Man/Weeks involve in such a project are
daunting and I am willing to accept that you have to get your product
to market to survive.

But NetMedia seems to have stopped writting in 2002 or 2003 according
to the copyright notations on their documents.

--- In basicx@basi..., Tom Becker <gtbecker@r...> wrote:
> > ... The kind of program it provides is for a Library of routines
[]
> for a well organized, well trained programmer [] in a technical
setting.
> It is not what a 'beginner hobbyist' can handle...
>
> I'm not sure I understand that, but I think I entirely disagree. I
> learned and I expect that students (and beginner hobbyists) should
learn
> "well organized" programming very well; it is a matter of survival
in a
> logical venue. Structured code makes sense. I believe that
Netmedia's
> implementation of VisualBasic-like coding is far easier to learn
than
> others I've encountered, but that's just me. This has been
endlessly
> argued by zealots on several sides. Like Lego? Go Lego.
>
> > ... I often wonder if other companies are making money or just
caught
> up in being popular...
>
> My power company doesn't accept poll results in lieu of cash.
You're
> not a businessman, right? "Overcome such thinking", indeed.
>
> I look forward to your contribution of an Errata files section. > Tom
>
> **




(You need to be a member of basicx -- send a blank email to basicx-subscribe@yahoogroups.com )

Kramer, You are right, I could find no reference to the function of
JP8. Actually I did not find anything for JP2, JP3 either.

ANyway, I did a quick check with my VOM. One side of JP8 is
conmnected to pin 21 (+5v).

It then goes to a via on the right corner of the board, then to the
right front LED. From there it goes to R12. I could not see where
R12 goes. I would have thought it goes to ground, but I could get
continuity there. I did not power up the unit to see what will
happen.

What are JP 2,3?

-Tony

Anyway

--- In basicx@basi..., "G. Kramer Herzog" <hwanghetw@y...>
wrote:
> I am posting a first batch to the ERRATA folder today
(schematics).
> Take a look and I hope you will be pleased. It is intended to
> compensate for all my noise.
>
> Electronics and other objective scientific fields seem to be full
of
> purist that latch on to one concept or philosopy and run with it.
I
> am 57 years old and I certainly did when I was younger. I even
have
> a friend who is a devout audiophile that can't get past the idea
that
> I am happy to listen to FM radio and not waste my money on
imagined
> audio perfection.
>
> These days I am far more intrigued by subjective, commonly
accepted
> knowledge as it is what real language is [not that logical,
> empiracal sub-set that is a computer language]. I know that is a
> completely different subject and don't expect comment.
>
> Learners will never do what you think they should when you want
them
> to do something, but they still learn. They need their different
> approaches. It is a messy process and no matter how much I want to
> share my knowledge and skills with someone, I have to accept their
> need to feel comfortable with the presentation.
>
> From what I can see BasicX's presentation appeals to
more 'software
> minded' people. There are a lot of Lego people that want a
> tactile 'hardware minded' approach. Some learners of both groups
get
> around to learning it all because they are exceptionally motivated
> and / or gifted. Not all people start out wants to create
libraries.
>
> For me, it was too much jumping from PUBLIC to PRIVATE section
when
> learning to program the XbotX Scout that drove me crazy. I often
had
> to infer and jump to an entirely different document to get a
> commprehensive answer. There is no tutorial. And, no one has ever
> offer me a complete schematic to the little guy. [ONCE AGAIN, CAN
> ANYBODY TELL ME WHAT JUMPER PIN #8 DOES on the XBotX? Is it a big
> secret?]
>
> So forgive me if I think that rigorous documentation of both the
> hardware and the software are important.
>
> I do realize that the Man/Weeks involve in such a project are
> daunting and I am willing to accept that you have to get your
product
> to market to survive.
>
> But NetMedia seems to have stopped writting in 2002 or 2003
according
> to the copyright notations on their documents.
>
> --- In basicx@basi..., Tom Becker <gtbecker@r...> wrote:
> > > ... The kind of program it provides is for a Library of
routines
> []
> > for a well organized, well trained programmer [] in a technical
> setting.
> > It is not what a 'beginner hobbyist' can handle...
> >
> > I'm not sure I understand that, but I think I entirely
disagree. I
> > learned and I expect that students (and beginner hobbyists)
should
> learn
> > "well organized" programming very well; it is a matter of
survival
> in a
> > logical venue. Structured code makes sense. I believe that
> Netmedia's
> > implementation of VisualBasic-like coding is far easier to learn
> than
> > others I've encountered, but that's just me. This has been
> endlessly
> > argued by zealots on several sides. Like Lego? Go Lego.
> >
> > > ... I often wonder if other companies are making money or
just
> caught
> > up in being popular...
> >
> > My power company doesn't accept poll results in lieu of cash.
> You're
> > not a businessman, right? "Overcome such thinking", indeed.
> >
> > I look forward to your contribution of an Errata files section.
> >
> >
> > Tom
> >
> > **




(You need to be a member of basicx -- send a blank email to basicx-subscribe@yahoogroups.com )

Kramer,

I just powered it up, without the BX-24. I figured out what it is
realy doing. JP8 should not be used independently. JP8 will supply
+5 from the external regulator to the BX. The default setting of
all those jumpers in a line on each side of the BX (all connected)
means that the BX already gets raw 6 volt battery (or wall wart)
power on the unregulated +V pin and should not be connected to
regulated power on the +5 pin.

If you were to want to use JP8, then pull the jumper from pin 24.
See what a couple of minutes with a VOM will do!

-Tony
--- In basicx@basi..., "G. Kramer Herzog" <hwanghetw@y...>
wrote:
> I am posting a first batch to the ERRATA folder today
(schematics).
> Take a look and I hope you will be pleased. It is intended to
> compensate for all my noise.
>
> Electronics and other objective scientific fields seem to be full
of
> purist that latch on to one concept or philosopy and run with it.
I
> am 57 years old and I certainly did when I was younger. I even
have
> a friend who is a devout audiophile that can't get past the idea
that
> I am happy to listen to FM radio and not waste my money on
imagined
> audio perfection.
>
> These days I am far more intrigued by subjective, commonly
accepted
> knowledge as it is what real language is [not that logical,
> empiracal sub-set that is a computer language]. I know that is a
> completely different subject and don't expect comment.
>
> Learners will never do what you think they should when you want
them
> to do something, but they still learn. They need their different
> approaches. It is a messy process and no matter how much I want to
> share my knowledge and skills with someone, I have to accept their
> need to feel comfortable with the presentation.
>
> From what I can see BasicX's presentation appeals to
more 'software
> minded' people. There are a lot of Lego people that want a
> tactile 'hardware minded' approach. Some learners of both groups
get
> around to learning it all because they are exceptionally motivated
> and / or gifted. Not all people start out wants to create
libraries.
>
> For me, it was too much jumping from PUBLIC to PRIVATE section
when
> learning to program the XbotX Scout that drove me crazy. I often
had
> to infer and jump to an entirely different document to get a
> commprehensive answer. There is no tutorial. And, no one has ever
> offer me a complete schematic to the little guy. [ONCE AGAIN, CAN
> ANYBODY TELL ME WHAT JUMPER PIN #8 DOES on the XBotX? Is it a big
> secret?]
>
> So forgive me if I think that rigorous documentation of both the
> hardware and the software are important.
>
> I do realize that the Man/Weeks involve in such a project are
> daunting and I am willing to accept that you have to get your
product
> to market to survive.
>
> But NetMedia seems to have stopped writting in 2002 or 2003
according
> to the copyright notations on their documents.
>
> --- In basicx@basi..., Tom Becker <gtbecker@r...> wrote:
> > > ... The kind of program it provides is for a Library of
routines
> []
> > for a well organized, well trained programmer [] in a technical
> setting.
> > It is not what a 'beginner hobbyist' can handle...
> >
> > I'm not sure I understand that, but I think I entirely
disagree. I
> > learned and I expect that students (and beginner hobbyists)
should
> learn
> > "well organized" programming very well; it is a matter of
survival
> in a
> > logical venue. Structured code makes sense. I believe that
> Netmedia's
> > implementation of VisualBasic-like coding is far easier to learn
> than
> > others I've encountered, but that's just me. This has been
> endlessly
> > argued by zealots on several sides. Like Lego? Go Lego.
> >
> > > ... I often wonder if other companies are making money or
just
> caught
> > up in being popular...
> >
> > My power company doesn't accept poll results in lieu of cash.
> You're
> > not a businessman, right? "Overcome such thinking", indeed.
> >
> > I look forward to your contribution of an Errata files section.
> >
> >
> > Tom
> >
> > **





(You need to be a member of basicx -- send a blank email to basicx-subscribe@yahoogroups.com )

WOW!!
I had an old boss that I really disliked [he was a liar, a cheat, and
he fired me], but he did say there are 3 kinds of information.

1. Need to know
2. Nice to know
3. Garbage.

My original passion for figuring out Jumper 8 on the XBot Scout is
because I mistakenly moved either jumper 2 or jumper 3 there. (I
thought I needed to know.)

At the time, I really feared that I did some damage as the Scout's
didn't seem to function right [I still cannot get the Photovore or
Wallfollower to work properly with provided software or my own.]

I haven't yet tried your explanation, but from what you indicate it
seems possible that on a bad day,
[1] you could 'double regulate' the power and not have any operation
because the second regulator doesn't have a high enough voltage to
drive it.
or
[2] you could 'double supply' the power with unpredictable outcomes -
+5 to pin21 and unregulated to pin24 at the same time
0r
[3 you could 'eliminate all power' and not know how to restore.

Frankly, I am more concern with the diagram in the documents that
seems to indicate that turning on the servos and LCD backlight from a
wallwart may do real damage. It isn't a real schematic, so without
trying to reverse engineer the entire power distribute of the Scout -
I cannot be sure.

Messing with Jumper #8 does not seem like you can harm the BX-24, but
I may be wrong. Thusly, this appears to be a 'Category #2 kind of
information' depending on your point of view.

Since yesterday, I gave a lot of thought to what have been the most
difficult BasicX products for me.

First I would like to say that the BX-24 seems 'rock-solid' as an
independent unit and a real joy.

But here have been primarily two toughies:
My XBotX Scout
[several disappointments, but in particular in has been [1]too
complex and lacking the kind of documents that a beginner might
expect - including a complete schematic and [2] too complete to allow
hacking and modification of its features.]

{I would like to say that I am slowly overcoming most of my problems
with the software, but as a piece of hardware I find it almost
impossible to add needed improvements. For instance, the over/under
configuration of the IR send and receive causes it to not work in
extreme close proximity. The IR is shadowed by the board}

And the BX-01
[because it is so different that one really has to guess and infer so
much, the warnings about the Parallel Port are quite overblown and
unclear, the documentation and schematics are far afield from what
you can buy, and the RAMsandwich has a mere one or two pages of
explanation with some apparent mislabled leads on the schematic].

{I have a colored markup of the BX-01 RAMsandwich schematic that
greatly helps me to comprehend the vision of it as a system, but I
still haven't found a way to put it on the internet without buying a
scanner.}

This is great progress and I hope that it will bring some
satisfaction to any users just lurking in this group, but afraid to
join in.

--- In basicx@basi..., "arhodes19044" <spamiam@c...> wrote:
> Kramer,
>
> I just powered it {sic- the XBotX Scout} up, without the BX-24. I
figured out what it is
> realy doing. JP8 should not be used independently. JP8 will
supply
> +5 from the external regulator to the BX. The default setting of
> all those jumpers in a line on each side of the BX (all connected)
> means that the BX already gets raw 6 volt battery (or wall wart)
> power on the unregulated +V pin and should not be connected to
> regulated power on the +5 pin.
>
> If you were to want to use JP8, then pull the jumper from pin 24.
> See what a couple of minutes with a VOM will do!
>
> -Tony
**




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> {I have a colored markup of the BX-01 RAMsandwich schematic that
> greatly helps me to comprehend the vision of it as a system, but I
> still haven't found a way to put it on the internet without buying a
> scanner.}

Kramer. Go to www.analogx.com site. They have several tools to use for
networking and mostly music. However they have a Screen Capture
program that I use a lot and you can save it as JPEG or what ever.
its all free to download.

Ken Smith





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> ... I gave a lot of thought to what have been the most difficult
BasicX products...

Has it been raining alot in Taiwan recently? When does school start,
did you say? Tom



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Sadly, my colored markup is on paper. Screen capture won't do much good
unless I get it on a screen.

I am trying to use Adobe Photoshop Elements and the origial image
downloaded from BasicX documents. But it seems I can not get the
Layers option [to allow me to draw in a transparent overlay] to
function.

I suppose I could just use opague color and block out information, but
it ain't as pretty.
: > > {I have a colored markup of the BX-01 RAMsandwich schematic that
> > greatly helps me to comprehend the vision of it as a system, but I
> > still haven't found a way to put it on the internet without buying
a
> > scanner.}
>
> Kramer. Go to www.analogx.com site. They have several tools to use for
> networking and mostly music. However they have a Screen Capture
> program that I use a lot and you can save it as JPEG or what ever.
> its all free to download.
>
> Ken Smith




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See my reply in the errata thread

-Tony

--- In basicx@basi..., "G. Kramer Herzog" <hwanghetw@y...>
wrote:
> WOW!!
> I had an old boss that I really disliked [he was a liar, a cheat,
and
> he fired me], but he did say there are 3 kinds of information.
>
> 1. Need to know
> 2. Nice to know
> 3. Garbage.
>
> My original passion for figuring out Jumper 8 on the XBot Scout is
> because I mistakenly moved either jumper 2 or jumper 3 there. (I
> thought I needed to know.)
>
> At the time, I really feared that I did some damage as the Scout's
> didn't seem to function right [I still cannot get the Photovore or
> Wallfollower to work properly with provided software or my own.]
>
> I haven't yet tried your explanation, but from what you indicate
it
> seems possible that on a bad day,
> [1] you could 'double regulate' the power and not have any
operation
> because the second regulator doesn't have a high enough voltage to
> drive it.
> or
> [2] you could 'double supply' the power with unpredictable
outcomes -
> +5 to pin21 and unregulated to pin24 at the same time
> 0r
> [3 you could 'eliminate all power' and not know how to restore.
>
> Frankly, I am more concern with the diagram in the documents that
> seems to indicate that turning on the servos and LCD backlight
from a
> wallwart may do real damage. It isn't a real schematic, so
without
> trying to reverse engineer the entire power distribute of the
Scout -
> I cannot be sure.
>
> Messing with Jumper #8 does not seem like you can harm the BX-24,
but
> I may be wrong. Thusly, this appears to be a 'Category #2 kind
of
> information' depending on your point of view.
>
> Since yesterday, I gave a lot of thought to what have been the
most
> difficult BasicX products for me.
>
> First I would like to say that the BX-24 seems 'rock-solid' as an
> independent unit and a real joy.
>
> But here have been primarily two toughies:
> My XBotX Scout
> [several disappointments, but in particular in has been [1]too
> complex and lacking the kind of documents that a beginner might
> expect - including a complete schematic and [2] too complete to
allow
> hacking and modification of its features.]
>
> {I would like to say that I am slowly overcoming most of my
problems
> with the software, but as a piece of hardware I find it almost
> impossible to add needed improvements. For instance, the
over/under
> configuration of the IR send and receive causes it to not work in
> extreme close proximity. The IR is shadowed by the board}
>
> And the BX-01
> [because it is so different that one really has to guess and infer
so
> much, the warnings about the Parallel Port are quite overblown and
> unclear, the documentation and schematics are far afield from what
> you can buy, and the RAMsandwich has a mere one or two pages of
> explanation with some apparent mislabled leads on the schematic].
>
> {I have a colored markup of the BX-01 RAMsandwich schematic that
> greatly helps me to comprehend the vision of it as a system, but I
> still haven't found a way to put it on the internet without buying
a
> scanner.}
>
> This is great progress and I hope that it will bring some
> satisfaction to any users just lurking in this group, but afraid
to
> join in.
>
> --- In basicx@basi..., "arhodes19044" <spamiam@c...> wrote:
> > Kramer,
> >
> > I just powered it {sic- the XBotX Scout} up, without the BX-24.
I
> figured out what it is
> > realy doing. JP8 should not be used independently. JP8 will
> supply
> > +5 from the external regulator to the BX. The default setting
of
> > all those jumpers in a line on each side of the BX (all
connected)
> > means that the BX already gets raw 6 volt battery (or wall wart)
> > power on the unregulated +V pin and should not be connected to
> > regulated power on the +5 pin.
> >
> > If you were to want to use JP8, then pull the jumper from pin 24.
> > See what a couple of minutes with a VOM will do!
> >
> > -Tony
> **




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--- In basicx@basi..., "arhodes19044" <spamiam@c...> wrote:
> Kramer, You are right, I could find no reference to the function of
> JP8. Actually I did not find anything for JP2, JP3 either.
>
> What are JP 2,3?
>
> -Tony
JP #2 and #3 are in the documentation on page 9 [last paragraph] of the
XbotX Scout Programming Guide. Page 10 shows the same in schematic.

They modify the PhotoSensors so that they will function with another
brand of 24 pin microprocessor [assumed to be the BasicStamp or the
BasicAtom].




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I eventually found the reference you wrote of. Thanks.

Too bad there is no complete schematic for the whole device, but the
little sketeches they give of subassemblies gives most of the info.

-Tony

--- In basicx@basi..., "G. Kramer Herzog" <hwanghetw@y...>
wrote:
> --- In basicx@basi..., "arhodes19044" <spamiam@c...> wrote:
> > Kramer, You are right, I could find no reference to the function
of
> > JP8. Actually I did not find anything for JP2, JP3 either.
> >
> > What are JP 2,3?
> >
> > -Tony
> > JP #2 and #3 are in the documentation on page 9 [last paragraph]
of the
> XbotX Scout Programming Guide. Page 10 shows the same in
schematic.
>
> They modify the PhotoSensors so that they will function with
another
> brand of 24 pin microprocessor [assumed to be the BasicStamp or
the
> BasicAtom].




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--- In basicx@basi..., "arhodes19044" <spamiam@c...> wrote:
> I eventually found the reference you wrote of. Thanks.
>
> Too bad there is no complete schematic for the whole device, but the
> little sketeches they give of subassemblies gives most of the info.
>
> -Tony I hate to be always negative, but power distribution is not really a
minor thing and NetMedia seems to have poorly documented it.

The Development Board, the XbotX Scout, and the BX-01 board have
entirely different concepts of power supply. How can someone be left
to guess and then invited to hack?




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