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

Chris Albertson albertson.chris at gmail.com
Sat Aug 17 11:52:08 EDT 2013


$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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