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

[Didier Juges]

Silabs sells the 8051 board described on my page for $10 and you can use my free source code with it, unlike and arduino or a TI board for which you have to write your own code from scratch, so if you are looking for the rock bottom price, there is no better alternative. The LCD is $10 at Mouser.

But since some are willing to fork $160 for a closed source project that is already built, I thought I would offer an intermediate price point with open source software and a custom, professionally made board.

50 pieces is the smallest quantity I can have built at reasonable cost.

Didier KO4BB


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.
>> >>
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>>
>> --
>> Sent from my Motorola Droid Razr 4G LTE wireless tracker while I do
>other
>> things.
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>
>
>
>-- 
>
>Chris Albertson
>Redondo Beach, California
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-- 
Sent from my Motorola Droid Razr 4G LTE wireless tracker while I do other things.