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Posted by default on February 11, 2008, 7:42 pm
On Mon, 11 Feb 2008 09:48:47 -0800 (PST), mad.scientist.jr@gmail.com
wrote:
>I picked up Parallax's BASIC Stamp Discovery Kit to learn with, and so
>far so good. The documentation is good and it is simple to program.
>However Fry's/Digikey/Mouser/etc all charge $48-$59 for the
>microcontroller, so building devices could become expensive. Is there
>a "clone" of the module available for less? I would prefer one that
>can be programmed with the Board Of Education so I don't have to go
>out and buy new hardware... The language doesn't have to be BASIC
>(although it would help not having to rewrite any code) - I can
>understand Java, C, etc. As long as the dev software is free or
>inexpensive, and well documented. It's more important that the
>microcontroller has the same # of inputs/outputs and memory. Any info
>appreciated... thanks.
Picaxe
http://www.phanderson.com/picaxe/picaxe.html 3 chips for $10 with
programming resistors - you need a serial port and a solderless
breadboard plus free software - all of $20 to get started and they can
outperform some Basic Stamps. Available in 8-40 pin versions.
http://www.rev-ed.co.uk/picaxe/ Home of the picaxe and site for
software downloads.
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>far so good. The documentation is good and it is simple to program.
>However Fry's/Digikey/Mouser/etc all charge $48-$59 for the
>microcontroller, so building devices could become expensive. Is there
>a "clone" of the module available for less? I would prefer one that
>can be programmed with the Board Of Education so I don't have to go
>out and buy new hardware... The language doesn't have to be BASIC
>(although it would help not having to rewrite any code) - I can
>understand Java, C, etc. As long as the dev software is free or
>inexpensive, and well documented. It's more important that the
>microcontroller has the same # of inputs/outputs and memory. Any info
>appreciated... thanks.