[OT?] a SIMPLISTIC RS232 data logger using some flash device --- does it exist commercially?

Paul E. Bennett wrote:

> Richard Owlett wrote:
> 
> 
>>I didn't know of PDA's using USB to connect with a desktop PC. I had
>>only noticed units using RS232 or Bluetooth ( I wish to use neither of
>>those. )
> 
> 
> If either of those options exist then the converters from RS232 or 
> Bluetooth into USB are readily available and quite cheap (Bluetooth/USB) 
> dongle is about �10/$14). Although I am also certain that one of the PDA's 
> allows hook-up to a PC via USB and also features RS232.
> 

The major problem with Bluetooth/wireless anywhere in system to be 
air/spectrum pollution and a pending system security headache. OK I'm 
known to be fanatic on certain issues. I am one of those that surfing 
*WITHOUT* Java/JavaScript and/or cookies is only sane way to go :)

BTW your previous references to Triangle Digital Services and reviewing 
there offerings of development systems encourage me to keep searching 
for someone who had already done all the hard work.

dmm from "down under" has recommenced
"About half-way down the page there's a rs232 to MMC/SD card kit using a 
pic. http://www.compsys1.com/workbench/ "

That whole site has the flavor of what I was looking for.
I suspect my final solution will be formed around their modules.

Once again my thanks to comp.arch.embedded for their tolerance and 
encouragement.

On Fri, 24 Jun 2005 13:48:24 -0500, Richard Owlett <rowlett@atlascomm.net> wrote:

>dmm wrote:
>> [snip]
>> 
>> 
>> About half-way down the page there's a rs232 to MMC/SD card kit using a pic.
>> http://www.compsys1.com/workbench/
>> 
>> 
>
>*THANK YOU* *EUREKA* *ALLELUIA*
>Can you tell you have identified what I was grouping towards ;}
>
>I was dreamin of pre-assembled and tested.
>Although haven't used a soldering iron in quarter century, guess I still 
>remember which end burns fingers.
>[ PS I'm so old that I won a Blue Ribbon in a Jr. High Science Fair with 
>a 6AL5 full wave rectifier ;]
>
>I'll have to spend some serious time on that site. They have some things 
>there that open up a plethora of possibilities. I say plethora  to hint 
>at benign version of "Pandora's box".

You're most welcome.

On Thu, 23 Jun 2005 16:53:48 GMT, CBFalconer <cbfalconer@yahoo.com>
wrote:

>Grant Edwards wrote:
>> Mat Nieuwenhoven <mnieuw@dontincludethis.zap.a2000.nl> wrote:
>> 
>... snip ...
>> 
>>>> I envision each <CR><LF> terminated "sentence" being stored in a
>>>> sequential block. [ Reading software responsible for ignoring any
>>>> thing after <CR><LF>. ]
>>>
>>> I believe all XP supported USB card readers expect the card to
>>> have a file system on them, because they identify themselves to XP
>>> as a mass storage device type.
>> 
>> I don't see the reasoning behind that statement.  There is no
>> connection between a device being a mass storage device and a
>> device requiring a filesystem.   I've used dozens of various
>> card-readers and none of them expected/required the card to
>> have a filesystem even though they were all mass storage devices.
>
>You might do well to emulate the CP/M system, as used for script
>(submit) files.  The storage was originally based on the 128 byte
>sector size of an 8 inch SSSD floppy (and subsequent other formats
>were mapped into this).  The submit file consisted of one line per
>sector, <cr> terminated.  Although the file was a part of the file
>system, the only addressing necessity was sequential sectors.
___
I'd use a PIC with AD converters and USART, say a 16F877A.  Use the
24FC512 EEPROM for local storage-it holds 64 kbytes or 32 kbytes of
10-bit AD conversions.  You can daisy-chain up to 8 of them for 256K
readings.  When you are ready to process the data, hook up an RS232
connection between the PIC and your computer and transfer the raw AD
readings to the computer.  Then let the computer do all the number
crunching to convert the AD readings to voltages, and create a
voltage.txt file on your computer that you can import into a
spreadsheet.

Richard Owlett wrote:

> The major problem with Bluetooth/wireless anywhere in system to be
> air/spectrum pollution and a pending system security headache. OK I'm
> known to be fanatic on certain issues. I am one of those that surfing
> *WITHOUT* Java/JavaScript and/or cookies is only sane way to go :)

I can understand that attitude.
 
> BTW your previous references to Triangle Digital Services and reviewing
> there offerings of development systems encourage me to keep searching
> for someone who had already done all the hard work.

I thought that the majority of the work had been done by Triangle. This 
link describes what you need to order from them and goes on to describe the 
software and logging operations (it is almost a one stop shop in that 
respect - leaving you just the case, the power supply arrangements and the 
assembly of the programme components from the library with any special code 
you needed).

http://www.triangledigital.com/man2020f/ch7gps.htm#gpsloggermoduleoperation

I can understand that the cost of that set-up may be more than you desire 
to pay for such a capability and I won't hold that against you (or anyone 
else). For some jobs I know the basic boards can be too expensive to 
consider. I can also understand that the Triangle modules may be physically 
too large for your project.
 
> dmm from "down under" has recommenced
> "About half-way down the page there's a rs232 to MMC/SD card kit using a
> pic. http://www.compsys1.com/workbench/ "

Looks like a very small and neat module (I am assuming you meant about 1/3 
down the page and are referring to the Ulrta Compact SD/MMC board). If you 
already have a GPS receiver that gives you the position data then this 
module could act as your logger and data-go between in any one of the forms 
that have been discussed in this thread.

> That whole site has the flavor of what I was looking for.
> I suspect my final solution will be formed around their modules.
> 
> Once again my thanks to comp.arch.embedded for their tolerance and
> encouragement.

You are welcome.

-- 
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Paul E. Bennett ....................<email://peb@amleth.demon.co.uk>
Forth based HIDECS Consultancy .....<http://www.amleth.demon.co.uk/>
Mob: +44 (0)7811-639972
Tel: +44 (0)1235-811095
Going Forth Safely ....EBA. http://www.electric-boat-association.org.uk/
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