RaceMouse wrote:
> 
> Greetings,
> 
> How much hardware are you able to make yourself (schematics, pcb etc) ?
> 
> I ask because I was thinking about an AVR kit, but that needs a 
> programmer that is easily made if you have the recources to manufacture 
> such yourself.

The good news is that there are a lot of good choices around and very 
few rotten/bad these days.

The AVR ICE-Cube at $40 from http://www.ecrostech.com/ solves both the 
device programmer and in-circuit emulation/debugging problems with AVR. 
Can (usually) bring up a new raw chip fresh out of the shipping tube 
with this tool. No need for a bootloader or other existing code in the chip.

While you are at ECROS spend another $20 on the Butterfly Carrier (which 
includes prototyping space to play in), and $20 on an AVR Butterfly from 
Digi-Key. The Butterfly is practical to prototype on, then move your 
final design to a more appropriate AVR. Is much easier to move code 
between different AVRs than between Microchip PICs.

An advantage of the AVR family is that there is a wide range of 
inexpensive parts in both SMT and DIP packages. Not all are available in 
multiple packages.

Another advantage is that avr-gcc works extremely well on the AVR. A 
professional grade compiler for free that is not limited to Windows 
hosts. Many use avr-gcc on Linux, FreeBSD, and Macintosh. WinAVR brings 
gcc (and other tools) to Windows.

Jim Granville wrote:
> Donald wrote:
> 
>> akarui.tomodachi@gmail.com wrote:
>>
>>>
>>> Hi L:
>>> Thanks for your prompt reply.
>>> You are right (reference from your previous reply), I should have
>>> better introduction of my "hobby project".
>>>
>>> Here is my VERY first project plan:
>>> 1) To develop a program which will output to a LED display board
>>> showing numbers one at a time (0 to 9).
>>>
>>
>> You have two differing specifications.
>>
>> VERY first project does not require USB.
>> and
>> 1) USB connectivity
>>
>> So, do you want a "hobby project" that will allow USB some time in the 
>> future ?
>>
>> All other spec's can be done with many off-the-shelf circuit boards, 
>> many different architectures. (PIC, 8051, AVR, ARM, MSP430)
>>
>> I would suggest finding a cpu chip with a USB interface built in and 
>> learn that "family". Starting with a smaller chip, i.e. without USB.
>>
>> When you are doing simple "0 to 9 displays", you can look at "1) USB 
>> connectivity".
> 
> 
>  This can also mean "Connect via USB", and most of the lowest cost
> pathways these days, do exactly that.
>  The Ez430, and SiLabs systems are USB_Stick type mini-development 
> systems. The USB portion is essentially invisible to the designer: it 
> provides the power, and the debug comms.
> 
> -jg
> 
> 
You are very correct jg.

I guess the OP needs to chime in and let us know what he really wants.

donald

akarui.tomodachi@gmail.com wrote:
> I wanted to do some hobby projects and request your recommendation for
> microcontroller development kit/board which should have included with
> following features and parts. As this is my hobby project, my budget is
> around US$100:
> 
> 1) USB connectivity
> 2) Firmware downloading thru serial (or USB) port (I don't have any ROM
> burner)
> 3) Some input switches or sensors
> 4) Some output LEDs
> 5) Power supply
> 6) ANSI C compiler
> etc. etc.
> 
> Thanks in advance.
> 

Greetings,

How much hardware are you able to make yourself (schematics, pcb etc) ?

I ask because I was thinking about an AVR kit, but that needs a 
programmer that is easily made if you have the recources to manufacture 
such yourself.

/Race

Ethernet instead of USB....


http://www.netburner.com/products/development_kits/network_development.html

or

http://www.netburner.com/products/development_kits/network_development.html#kit_price

$99.00 for 32 bit ethernet attached hardware , RTOS TCP./IP stack and eclipse based development tools.

Paul
(CTO Netburner)

Donald wrote:
> akarui.tomodachi@gmail.com wrote:
> 
>>
>> Hi L:
>> Thanks for your prompt reply.
>> You are right (reference from your previous reply), I should have
>> better introduction of my "hobby project".
>>
>> Here is my VERY first project plan:
>> 1) To develop a program which will output to a LED display board
>> showing numbers one at a time (0 to 9).
>>
> 
> You have two differing specifications.
> 
> VERY first project does not require USB.
> and
> 1) USB connectivity
> 
> So, do you want a "hobby project" that will allow USB some time in the 
> future ?
> 
> All other spec's can be done with many off-the-shelf circuit boards, 
> many different architectures. (PIC, 8051, AVR, ARM, MSP430)
> 
> I would suggest finding a cpu chip with a USB interface built in and 
> learn that "family". Starting with a smaller chip, i.e. without USB.
> 
> When you are doing simple "0 to 9 displays", you can look at "1) USB 
> connectivity".

  This can also mean "Connect via USB", and most of the lowest cost
pathways these days, do exactly that.
  The Ez430, and SiLabs systems are USB_Stick type mini-development 
systems. The USB portion is essentially invisible to the designer: it 
provides the power, and the debug comms.

-jg

akarui.tomodachi@gmail.com wrote:

> 
> Hi L:
> Thanks for your prompt reply.
> You are right (reference from your previous reply), I should have
> better introduction of my "hobby project".
> 
> Here is my VERY first project plan:
> 1) To develop a program which will output to a LED display board
> showing numbers one at a time (0 to 9).
> 

You have two differing specifications.

VERY first project does not require USB.
and
1) USB connectivity

So, do you want a "hobby project" that will allow USB some time in the 
future ?

All other spec's can be done with many off-the-shelf circuit boards, 
many different architectures. (PIC, 8051, AVR, ARM, MSP430)

I would suggest finding a cpu chip with a USB interface built in and 
learn that "family". Starting with a smaller chip, i.e. without USB.

When you are doing simple "0 to 9 displays", you can look at "1) USB 
connectivity".

Good Luck

donald

In article <1165433462.499902.139740@j72g2000cwa.googlegroups.com>, 
zwsdotcom@gmail.com says...
> 
> akarui.tomoda...@gmail.com wrote:
> 
> 
> > Here is my VERY first project plan:
> > 1) To develop a program which will output to a LED display board
> > showing numbers one at a time (0 to 9).
> 
> Buy a single seven-segment LED display, roughly $1. Add it to the $20
> kit, with seven resistors. Total cost, about $22.


TI ez430 - $20

LED display - $1

"So you Wanna Be an Embedded Engineer (Edwards)" - $39.95
 
Knowledge when you are done experimenting - Priceless!


:-)


<http://www.amazon.com/You-Wanna-Embedded-Engineer-
Engineering/dp/0750679530/sr=1-1/qid=1165462701/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/002-
8034090-5955248?ie=UTF8&s=books>

On 6 Dec 2006 11:02:15 -0800, akarui.tomodachi@gmail.com wrote:

>I wanted to do some hobby projects and request your recommendation for
>microcontroller development kit/board which should have included with
>following features and parts. As this is my hobby project, my budget is
>around US$100:
>
>1) USB connectivity
>2) Firmware downloading thru serial (or USB) port (I don't have any ROM
>burner)
>3) Some input switches or sensors
>4) Some output LEDs
>5) Power supply
>6) ANSI C compiler
>etc. etc.
>
>Thanks in advance.
If your brand new to it and electri=onics in general, can't go wrong
with this:
http://www.parallax.com/detail.asp?product_id=27207

joep1000@yahoo.com wrote:

> Jim Granville wrote:
> 
>>akarui.tomodachi@gmail.com wrote:
>>
>>
>>>I wanted to do some hobby projects and request your recommendation for
>>>microcontroller development kit/board which should have included with
>>>following features and parts. As this is my hobby project, my budget is
>>>around US$100:
>>>
>>>1) USB connectivity
>>>2) Firmware downloading thru serial (or USB) port (I don't have any ROM
>>>burner)
>>>3) Some input switches or sensors
>>>4) Some output LEDs
>>>5) Power supply
>>>6) ANSI C compiler
>>>etc. etc.
>>>
>>>Thanks in advance.
>>
>>Look at
>>http://www2.silabs.com/tgwWebApp/public/web_content/products/Microcontrollers/en/USBToolStick.htm
>>start at ~$10
>>
>>Their new F41x/F520/F530 devices are wide supply ( 2.5-5V ) operation,
>>with high peformance ADCs
>>
>>If you want LEDs mounted already, ( and something bigger all round..)
>>try ZNEOCTK0100KIT for $49.99 from Mouser. Free C compiler without limits.
>>
>>-jg
> 
> 
> when is silabs going to switch over to an ARM processor, they have such
> great chips otherwise

  There have been rumours of ARM devices, but there is more pressure for
things like 5V operation, and better ADCs/DACs.
  ie I have products that need those features right now, I don't have
products that _need_ an ARM core to work.

  The 25-50MIPs of Silabs 8 bit cores is plenty.

  If you want good ADCs + ARM, look at Analog Devices.

  With 8 bit uC out-selling ARM devices over 20:1, there is plenty of 
scope for 8 bitters for the forseeable future.

-jg

Jim Granville wrote:
> akarui.tomodachi@gmail.com wrote:
>
> > I wanted to do some hobby projects and request your recommendation for
> > microcontroller development kit/board which should have included with
> > following features and parts. As this is my hobby project, my budget is
> > around US$100:
> >
> > 1) USB connectivity
> > 2) Firmware downloading thru serial (or USB) port (I don't have any ROM
> > burner)
> > 3) Some input switches or sensors
> > 4) Some output LEDs
> > 5) Power supply
> > 6) ANSI C compiler
> > etc. etc.
> >
> > Thanks in advance.
>
> Look at
> http://www2.silabs.com/tgwWebApp/public/web_content/products/Microcontrollers/en/USBToolStick.htm
> start at ~$10
>
> Their new F41x/F520/F530 devices are wide supply ( 2.5-5V ) operation,
> with high peformance ADCs
>
> If you want LEDs mounted already, ( and something bigger all round..)
> try ZNEOCTK0100KIT for $49.99 from Mouser. Free C compiler without limits.
>
> -jg

when is silabs going to switch over to an ARM processor, they have such
great chips otherwise