[time-nuts] time-nuts Digest, Vol 109, Issue 57

[Bob Camp]

Hi

Assuming that TI does it the same way as the rest of the world, the pricing is even more crazy. They sell the stuff at cost to below cost to get people interested in their chips. For them It's part of the marketing process rather than a profit center. Not all the demo / evaluation stuff gets done this way, but the boards we're talking about certainly do.

Bob


On Aug 17, 2013, at 11:52 AM, Chris Albertson <albertson.chris at gmail.com> wrote:

> $60 seems high.  Yes I understand why you'd have to charge that much for a
> low volume run. but an Arduino-like device costs $30 and TI sells their
> "MSP430 Launch Pad for $10 (shipped) and all you need to add to it is the
> 2x16 display and those or $6.    So you could assemble something for $20.
> 
> What's going on is that TI builds tens of thousands of these and sells them
> at cost.  It is really hard to DIY a uP on a PCB for less than a LaunchPad.
> 
> 
> On Sat, Aug 17, 2013 at 8:42 AM, Didier Juges <shalimr9 at gmail.com> wrote:
> 
>> Looking at the high price (and closed software) of what is currently
>> offered, I have been thinking of making a kit of my GPSMonitor (see
>> KO4BB.com)
>> 
>> I think I could sell an assembled and tested kit with a 2x16 char display
>> for $60 or so if I get 50 people interested.
>> 
>> Of course, the source code is free. You can build your own using info on
>> my web site.
>> 
>> If anyone is interested, send me a private message.
>> 
>> Didier KO4BB
>> 
>> 
>> Russ Ramirez <russ.ramirez at gmail.com> wrote:
>>> Hi Chris,
>>> 
>>> The fundamental issue was that the same code that worked elsewhere
>>> could
>>> not decode the 0x8F-AB packet data 100% of the time. I saw the length
>>> of
>>> this packet vary by a few bits at the code level, so I used a logic
>>> analyzer with serial decode to examine the raw data coming in to the
>>> Arduino, but that was perfect 100% of the time, and thus the serial
>>> port
>>> breakout card was functioning OK as I expected. I am reasonably certain
>>> my
>>> code was fine, but there is always room for some uncertainty there. The
>>> project was not so important to me that I was going to spend the time
>>> to
>>> wrestle down the problem until it was solved.
>>> 
>>> I like the Arduino platform, and because of Wiring and Processing it
>>> definitely has a place out there and have had no issues using the same
>>> UNO
>>> with XBee for example doing some neat mesh networking projects. I also
>>> have
>>> a Leonardo and a Netduino and about a dozen other micro-controller
>>> boards,
>>> but I just felt that had I used a TI or a PIC board I would have nailed
>>> this first-time with less effort. As far as a PCB goes, you're correct
>>> of
>>> course, but I already do that sort of thing and would not shy away from
>>> it.
>>> 
>>> Yeah, if you can get a LH-like application, maybe optionally driving a
>>> color LCD, that would be very cool. For any of these TB apps, I agree
>>> that
>>> using a PC is overkill, but when you already have them sitting around
>>> it's
>>> not so bad. I like Adam's board, and any approach like this, because
>>> when
>>> you put together a TB and a power supply in an enclosure, you're
>>> probably
>>> going to have room to add a control panel and I think it makes for a
>>> nice
>>> self-contained solution.
>>> 
>>> Russ
>>> 
>>> What was the problem you found.  Other then a "new to you" platform?
>>> I'm
>>>> trying to understand why reading serial data would be hard.
>>>> 
>>>> An advantage of the Adruino is that you don't need to make a PCB.
>>> Even if
>>>> you want to do something like add a graphical display or and SD card
>>> for
>>>> logging they just plug in, no solder required.
>>>> 
>>>> Of course the pre-buillt display is even easier but can't be
>>> modified.
>>>> 
>>>> One of my loner term goals is to move lady heather like functions
>>> onto a
>>>> small uP based device.  It seems wasteful to use a PC for this.
>>>> 
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> time-nuts mailing list -- time-nuts at febo.com
>>> To unsubscribe, go to
>>> https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts
>>> and follow the instructions there.
>> 
>> --
>> Sent from my Motorola Droid Razr 4G LTE wireless tracker while I do other
>> things.
>> _______________________________________________
>> time-nuts mailing list -- time-nuts at febo.com
>> To unsubscribe, go to
>> https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts
>> and follow the instructions there.
>> 
> 
> 
> 
> -- 
> 
> Chris Albertson
> Redondo Beach, California
> _______________________________________________
> time-nuts mailing list -- time-nuts at febo.com
> To unsubscribe, go to https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts
> and follow the instructions there.