Reply by Alex Gibson October 18, 20042004-10-18
"Peter" <peter@greatnowhere.com> wrote in message 
news:2t4648F1rrgtkU1@uni-berlin.de...
>> > consider this: it's going to be a >> > standalone unit, and connected to servers only via Internet >> > (Ethernet or serial PPP + GPRS modem). It will need to send off >> > data periodically to the server. Can a microcontroller handle >> > this? >> >> thats exactly what microcontrolers are for ! > > OK, point me towards a cheapo MC that has 2 serial ports + 1-wire > interface. > Basic Stamp could work, but it's awfully expensive for it's > functionality - > Maxim's TINI sells for ~80$ (2 serials + 1wire + ethernet + Java + ssh > access + ftp access + godknowswhatelse) > > Peter
8 bit micros atmel avr , microchip pic, TI msp430 www.atmel.com/products/avr www.avrfreaks.com www.bdmicros.com nice atmega128 boards for two usarts atmega162 http://www.avrfreaks.net/Devices/devices.php?action=1&devid=66 or atmega128 http://www.avrfreaks.net/Devices/devices.php?action=1&devid=54 www.microchip.com www.piclist.com 32 bit arm7 philips lpc2100 http://www.semiconductors.philips.com/markets/mms/products/microcontrollers/key_solutions/32bit/index.html http://www.olimex.com/dev/ cheap arm and other boards dsp chips freescale(motorola) 56f8xx series www.newmicros.com 56f80x boards and philips lpc2100 boards For some cheap boards www.futurlec.com http://www.futurlec.com/Boards.shtml http://www.futurlec.com/DevelopmentBoards.shtml http://www.futurlec.com/BasicControllers.shtml http://www.futurlec.com/TrainingBoards.shtml Alex
Reply by Michael Schnell October 13, 20042004-10-13
> OK, point me towards a cheapo MC that has 2 serial ports + 1-wire interface. > Basic Stamp could work, but it's awfully expensive for it's functionality - > Maxim's TINI sells for ~80$ (2 serials + 1wire + ethernet + Java + ssh > access + ftp access + godknowswhatelse) >
You might want to take a look at the Ubicom 2022. I think it can do all this (with exception of the interpreters for JAVA / PERL) with it's internal flash and RAM for some $7. You only need to add a crystal. It does have a power save mode that slows down or stops the CPU while a timer can wake it. They offer an upgrade path to the 3023 that is much more powerful but needs more external components. See www.ubicom.com -Michael
Reply by RusH October 13, 20042004-10-13
"Peter" <peter@greatnowhere.com> wrote :

> OK, point me towards a cheapo MC that has 2 serial ports + 1-wire > interface.
http://microchip.com/ choose, they are sub 5$ Pozdrawiam. -- RusH // http://randki.o2.pl/profil.php?id_r=352019 Like ninjas, true hackers are shrouded in secrecy and mystery. You may never know -- UNTIL IT'S TOO LATE.
Reply by Peter October 13, 20042004-10-13
> > consider this: it's going to be a > > standalone unit, and connected to servers only via Internet > > (Ethernet or serial PPP + GPRS modem). It will need to send off > > data periodically to the server. Can a microcontroller handle > > this? > > thats exactly what microcontrolers are for !
OK, point me towards a cheapo MC that has 2 serial ports + 1-wire interface. Basic Stamp could work, but it's awfully expensive for it's functionality - Maxim's TINI sells for ~80$ (2 serials + 1wire + ethernet + Java + ssh access + ftp access + godknowswhatelse) Peter
Reply by RusH October 13, 20042004-10-13
"Peter" <peter@greatnowhere.com> wrote :

> consider this: it's going to be a > standalone unit, and connected to servers only via Internet > (Ethernet or serial PPP + GPRS modem). It will need to send off > data periodically to the server. Can a microcontroller handle > this?
thats exactly what microcontrolers are for ! Pozdrawiam. -- RusH // http://randki.o2.pl/profil.php?id_r=352019 Like ninjas, true hackers are shrouded in secrecy and mystery. You may never know -- UNTIL IT'S TOO LATE.
Reply by Peter October 13, 20042004-10-13
> >Also, it takes regulated 5V while all solar > > panels/batteries I've been able to find are 12V. > > > > > > If you don't know about switching voltage regulators, please stop > thinking about building solar driven intelligent devices.
Hey, we all gotta start somewhere! ;) Will have to learn this stuph about voltage regulators I guess... this is a learning experience for me. Peter
Reply by Michael Schnell October 13, 20042004-10-13
 >Also, it takes regulated 5V while all solar
> panels/batteries I've been able to find are 12V. > >
If you don't know about switching voltage regulators, please stop thinking about building solar driven intelligent devices. -Michael
Reply by T Marchini October 12, 20042004-10-12
Peter wrote:
>>>Definitely cheap, $59.95. >> >><*Spits coffee all over keyboard*> >> >>(In comp.os.linux.embedded, $60.00 is cheap, but >>in comp.arch.embedded, $1.00 to $0.10 is cheap.) > > > Geez man, TS 7200 is 160$... definitely more expensive than Linksys unit! > >
The TS-7200 will have more capabilities and expandability. The Linksys will be more fun for hacking. Its really up to you. T.
Reply by Klaus Vestergaard Kragelund October 12, 20042004-10-12
"moocowmoo" <meltyb@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:ckgcv1$v1$1$8302bc10@news.demon.co.uk...
> > "Peter" <peter@greatnowhere.com> wrote in message > news:2t1nnbF1q4b45U1@uni-berlin.de... > > > > For an Ethernet/Web uC, look at > > > > > > > > http://www.maxim-ic.com/products/microcontrollers/micro_ethernet.cfm > > > > http://www.maxim-ic.com/quick_view2.cfm/qv_pk/3743/ln/en > > > > > > OK, that will take care of Internet connectivity via Ethernet. What > about > > > PPP dialup? Any MCs capable of doing this? > > > > Never mind, I found the answer... TINIm400 > > (http://www.ibutton.com/TINI/index.html) fits the bill perfectly: dual > > serial ports, ethernet, 1-wire interface (which I need for weather
station
> > anyway), Java runtime, PPP support, cheap (70$ or so + development > interface > > 100-150$). My only reservation about this board is that it plugs into
SIMM
> > connector which means I'll have to connect all physical connectors
(serial
> > etc) to it somehow. Also, it takes regulated 5V while all solar > > panels/batteries I've been able to find are 12V. > > > > > > You will need to regulate the solar cell output. If you want the thing to > work at night you will also need battery power. Look at a shunt regulator > for the charging the battery and a DC/DC converter to go down from 12V to > 5V. >
Be sure to put in a switchmode converter with MPPT to optimize the power from the panel. A shunt converter set at a fixed voltage will be very in-efficiant /Klaus
Reply by moocowmoo October 12, 20042004-10-12
"Peter" <peter@greatnowhere.com> wrote in message
news:2t1nnbF1q4b45U1@uni-berlin.de...
> > > For an Ethernet/Web uC, look at > > > > > > http://www.maxim-ic.com/products/microcontrollers/micro_ethernet.cfm > > > http://www.maxim-ic.com/quick_view2.cfm/qv_pk/3743/ln/en > > > > OK, that will take care of Internet connectivity via Ethernet. What
about
> > PPP dialup? Any MCs capable of doing this? > > Never mind, I found the answer... TINIm400 > (http://www.ibutton.com/TINI/index.html) fits the bill perfectly: dual > serial ports, ethernet, 1-wire interface (which I need for weather station > anyway), Java runtime, PPP support, cheap (70$ or so + development
interface
> 100-150$). My only reservation about this board is that it plugs into SIMM > connector which means I'll have to connect all physical connectors (serial > etc) to it somehow. Also, it takes regulated 5V while all solar > panels/batteries I've been able to find are 12V. > >
You will need to regulate the solar cell output. If you want the thing to work at night you will also need battery power. Look at a shunt regulator for the charging the battery and a DC/DC converter to go down from 12V to 5V. Peter --- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.745 / Virus Database: 497 - Release Date: 27/08/04